Chapter Eleven

Thanks to peskipiksi once again for the friendship and the betaing! You are the best! The chants used in this chapter are variations on a call written for public use by Silver Ravenwolf...

Dinner was again a joyous affair. It certainly seemed that luck, or at least Luna's Swillowswots, was finally on their side. As they sat down to eat, a lynx Patronus found Albus, and he was delighted to welcome Kingsley Shacklebolt to join them at long last.

"We wondered if you would ever get the chance to slip away, Kingsley," Minerva told the Auror as he sat down beside her.

He smiled brightly, "Well, I managed to secure the day off to recover from the excitement at the Ministry. It seems the head of the Aurors got the idea that I was extremely upset about the breach of security and needed some time off." He looked down the table to Tonks who grinned back unrepentantly. "Thanks, girl, I owe you one!" Kingsley's booming laughter was infectious, and soon the entire table was surrounded in giggles and guffaws, sniggers and chuckles.

Tonks recovered from the howls of laughter that wracked her body and shot Kingsley a thumbs up. "Any time, mate, I reckoned you were tired of dealing with Umbridge so I thought I'd give you a break! Besides, we need to know who from the Aurors we can include in our last stand against the Death Eaters!"

With that comment, talk at the table turned from common, generic topics back to the battle brewing under what was left of Voldemort's nose. Ideas as to where and when things should culminate led to serious discussion of everyone's roles in the upcoming fight.

Albus addressed Molly and Arthur first. "I know that most of your family will be joining us in this fight, but does anyone know about Percy? And when will the twins, Charlie and Bill arrive? And has Ginevra decided to assist Poppy in the Hospital Wing?"

Molly answered immediately. "Ginny's agreed. She knows that her help will be needed there. None of us has heard from Percy, so we don't know where he stands for certain. We've decided, as a family, that we won't approach him, just in case he isn't with us. Fred and George sent word several days ago that they would be ready whenever they were alerted. They decided that they couldn't close the store just for this meeting; the wrong people might notice. We don't want any suspicion falling on us, of course."

Arthur nodded at his wife, then took up the conversation. "Good thinking by the boys, and Bill agreed, so he won't leave his job at Gringotts until he hears from us. Even if the Goblins claim neutrality, we don't want them to alert the other side. Charlie will be home in the morning. He's taken time off from his duties at the dragon reserve. His partner at the reserve was injured recently, so they were authorised time away from the dragons."

Albus accepted this information, a very pleased look on his face, and he spoke to Molly first. "Perhaps you would send Ginevra to Poppy when we have decided on a date. She could help Poppy prepare." He then addressed the table at large. "You all know that there are others in the Order, some you know, some you don't, but we won't summon them until we fight. I feel that this is a large enough group to have to keep under wraps. Now all we have to do is determine what date to send the Ladies to the Vale and proceed from there."

Severus and Hermione conferred for a moment on the best time to proceed, and then Hermione addressed the group. "The best time to do this ritual is the night of the full moon. We can easily access the power needed to summon the Carn from its hiding place. If I'm not mistaken, the next full moon will be soon."

"Yes, the full moon occurs on the twelfth of January. I am in the process of brewing Lupin's Wolfsbane, and it is at the half-way point now." Severus and Remus shared a glance and a slight nod.

There were murmurs around the table, but after a few moments everyone was in agreement.

"When should we attack? Do we wait, or do we act as soon as we have the dagger?" Harry asked.

"I think that we should attack as soon as the dagger can be delivered to Harry," Ron stated. "In fact... where did Arthur and the Black Witch fight?" He got a faraway look in his eyes as he asked this.

"They fought near Camelot itself. Arthur had tracked the Witch far and wide, but never had any luck with the search. Merlin was growing impatient with the lack of results and ordered the Witch to Camelot. He, of course, absented himself so that no one would realise that he was the summoner. Because of this, he never knew about the Carn." Severus looked at Ron, hard. "Yes... I see where you are going with this. A rather brilliant move, Weasley."

Ron almost swallowed his tongue at the compliment, but recovered quickly. "It seems the most logical course, Sir."

"Indeed... "

The others stared at the two in bemusement until Hermione asked wryly, "Is there something that we should know?"

There were chuckles all around as Ron stammered and blushed, and Severus answered for him. "The site of the final battle, we should fight in the same place King Arthur fought the Black Witch."

*****

The twelfth of January dawned cold and snowy at Hogwarts. Severus rose early and made the preparations he needed to be ready for the evening. Finally, it would end one way or another. He sincerely hoped that it ended well for him; he had so much to live for now. He briefly thought about his wife and son, and the upcoming anniversary of the handfasting that had led to this unaccustomed happiness he felt. Three nights ago, on the evening of his birthday, Hermione had offered Severus a platinum ring and asked if he would make their bond permanent. He had no words to answer her, but he showed her more than once throughout the night that his answer was, unequivocally, yes. He had returned to Hogwarts for the first time in a long time, with hope. Now, he would leave once again, burgeoning with that same hope.

No one noticed as he made his way to his hidden spot on the Black Lake. It was the only part of Hogwarts grounds that had no Anti-Apparation Jinx. No one, not even the Headmaster, was aware of it. Severus had found it by accident one night when he had been so wounded by the Dark Lord that he was delirious. He had tried to Apparate, and rather than focusing on the grounds in front of the main gates, he could only think Hogwarts. He woke to find himself half in the lake, half on shore, but fully inside Hogwarts grounds, and luckily, not splinched. After experimenting several times to ensure it wasn't a fluke, he created a circle blood-warded to himself alone. Severus assumed that it was because of the proximity to the Black Lake, and somehow Nimue had helped him. Well, now this circle would serve as a portal to his future, however it would play out. It was finally time to slip out of the yokes of his masters, and take his place as his own man, as Knight of the Carn.

*****

The Lady and Dagger Inn at Argante was no more crowded on this day than any other. Once again, the handful of locals making use of the warmth and ale ignored the passage of strangers in their midst. Over a period of several hours Severus met the Vale Ladies one by one and led them to the bridge and through the test of the bloodlines. When all met on the other side, the Vale came to life, magic trilling through the land and waking the dormant power ensconced there.

Eileen and Posey had readied the Lodge for the group of women to prepare for the ritual that would be held when the full moon reached its zenith over the Vale. Hermione and Eileen, through their research, had determined that the glade protected by the copse of trees nearest the house was the place intended to be used for rituals, so they made sure everything that would be needed was secured at the site. They also went over the particulars of what Hermione herself would need to do, so that she needn't worry about her lack of vision. All they were waiting for now was evening, and for all the Ladies, and their Knight, to be prepared.

The Lodge didn't seem overly large on the outside, but the interior had obviously been created for lots of people to inhabit. As each Lady entered the house, more rooms appeared. In no time, there were three new suites of rooms branching off the main central staircase. When Hermione mentioned this to her mother-in-law, and asked why she hadn't been given rooms, Eileen simply answered, "Perhaps the house knew you and Severus were destined for each other." Hermione pondered that statement, feeling even more secure in her decision to make her bond with Severus permanent.

After time in the library to determine what role each Lady would take, and to ensure that each knew the ritual completely, the Ladies retired to their rooms to bathe and dress in preparation. Then each Lady proceeded to the dining room, where they were greeted with a light repast. They spent time in fellowship with each other, amazed at how they all felt as if they had always known each other.

"Have you spoken to Neville?" Luna asked Alice as they sat at table, four sisters in power, if not blood.

Alice looked sadly at her plate. "No, I have seen my mother-in-law only because she knew I was missing from the hospital, but felt I couldn't see Neville until after this is over. Augusta agreed that it would be too much of a distraction for him and for me. I am so proud of him, though. We spent an entire night looking at pictures, and Augusta told me everything about him."

The others looked sympathetically at Alice. "When this is over, we will come back here and drink a toast to our families, and to the end of the darkness that has overshadowed us too long!" Andromeda declared. "But now the hour draws close. Let's have a toast to us, sisters, to success, and to Nimue. May she see us though our task now, and through the task yet to be."

"To Nimue and success!" was chorused around the table.

"To all who have gone before in the fight against the dark, and to those who will fight and give all at this full moon," Alice toasted and was answered.

Luna took her turn and offered, "A toast to everyone who has fought and survived, and who will fight and survive the coming battle. Let them know peace."

Finally, Hermione spoke. "To our loved ones. May we never lose sight of them, whatever happens or wherever we may be."

Silence settled over the four as they waited for their escort to the copse. Only too soon, Severus, resplendent in dark green robes, knocked on the door to the dining room. "My Ladies, it is time."

Hermione rose, and he slipped a heavy cloak over her shoulders. The others, in turn, followed suit and slowly, the procession made its way to the copse and their future.

*****

The brilliance of the full moon drowned an ocean of stars as it painted a path through the heavens. The deep water of the Vale river flowed quicksilver smooth, and reflected the moonlight, intensifying it, giving the earth an otherworldy seductiveness. The procession, almost invisible in their black hoods and cloaks, reached the copse of sacred trees. Between the molten river and the stand of sacred magical woods stood an altar nestled in the protective embrace of a grove of Nimue's apple trees. The magic of the Vale, and of Avalon, pulsed here, filling the five that stood in silence awaiting the apex of the moon's orbit.

Before they were to move into position, Alice remarked suddenly, "We must summon the Watchtowers before we perform the Carn ritual. Evil is afoot; I can feel it edging along the boundaries of the Vale magic. It is searching for us."

Andromeda agreed. "I can feel it as well; as I come to be more in tune with the magic here, I can sense that someone is feeling for our magic."

"The Ministry is tracking magic. It has that feel about it. Only the Watchtowers will be able to prevent the Ministry and You Know Who from discovering us before we accomplish our goal. We certainly don't want this to be known until Harry is prepared to use the Carn," Alice said.

As the eldest priestess by right of blood, Hermione stepped forward and removed her hood and cloak as the moon reached its zenith. The light pooled down, bathing the altar and apple trees in silver light, and making Hermione's ceremonial robes glow. Even without her sight, she walked confidently around the grove of trees, casting a circle of protection. She took her place at the top of the circle and waited. Luna then stepped forward, then Andromeda, then Alice, each asking for permission to enter the circle, then taking their respective places according to birth. The last to ask permission to enter the circle and to take his place, just inside the trees as protector, was Severus, Knight of the Carn. He stood inside the protective circle, but in a place where his magic wouldn't interfere with the Ladies'.

As soon as the circle sealed behind him, and the four priestesses stood ready, Hermione began her quarter call.

"I call upon the Guardian of the Watchtower of the North.

The earth, the rain,

Protect us now, upon earth plane."

As she finished her chant, Luna began hers.

"I call upon the Guardian of the Watchtower of the East.

The sun, the wisdom, the sight,

Protect us now, this sacred night."

Andromeda intoned from her position of South,

"I call upon the Guardian of the Watchtower of the South.

The power, the passion, the gift,

Protect us now in this energy shift."

Lastly, Alice called her quarter to ensure the hiding of the Carn ritual.

"I call upon the Guardian of the Watchtower of the West.

Gates swing wide;

I seek the protection that lies inside."

A flare of colour flashed from the cardinal points where each priestess stood and fanned out, engulfing the grove and beyond, to the river and copse of trees. The women could feel the presence of the Guardians and began to work the ritual to summon the Carn and rid the world of Voldemort for good.

Hermione led the others in the chant to Nimue, asking for her help in opening the way to Carnwennan. The wind rose and swirled around the altar, catching the white robes that the Ladies were wearing. They continued the chant, hands raised in supplication, when suddenly a sharp cry sounded. Their concentration was broken when they realised it was Severus. He was on his knees, obviously in pain, which seemed to increase as the ritual broke and the winds faded.

"Concentrate, quickly. Resume the chant." Andromeda cried. "His pain got worse as we stopped. Something is trying to keep us from retrieving the Carn!"

The Ladies began to chant once more, and Severus' cries got lower. He pulled himself up from the ground, but lost his balance as he tried to regain his former position. He fell completely from the sheltering grove of trees and into the circle surrounding the altar. Hermione and the others continued to chant and the winds got stronger, grabbing at hair and robes. Suddenly Severus seemed to convulse. He scrabbled on the ground searching for purchase to pull himself back up. His hand hit roughly against the altar, which he then used to lever himself into a standing position. The pain hit again and he grabbed at his robes, pulling them off. He screamed and ripped at his shirt, tearing it in an effort to remove it as well.

Hermione acted first, the fiery glow that emanated from the shreds of Severus' shirt spurring her into action. The others followed suit, continuing to chant as Andromeda had directed. Luna grabbed one arm and Alice the other as they manhandled Severus fully onto the altar, and Hermione ripped the remains of his shirt to the ground, exposing the light fully. It was the dagger tattoo, glowing like molten metal. As the chant continued and the glow brightened, Hermione suddenly pressed her hand against her husband's back. As soon as she did, the glow disappeared and Hermione fell back, grasping her hand in pain. The chant ended abruptly when Hermione reached out and showed her sisters the Carn she held in her hand.

She looked to the altar and saw Severus lying there, panting heavily, eyes barely open. She scrambled to his side. "Severus, we have it. We have the Carn." She stopped, overwhelmed. "Oh, gods, Severus, I can see you."

"Hermione," he rasped. "Finish the ritual and close the circle. We need to get back to the Lodge." Severus' eyes closed as he talked. "You can see me?"

"Yes, my love, I see you. Something happened when your tattoo began to glow and, then, when I touched your back, I could see clearly." She pressed a kiss to his temple.

"It must have been magic," he quipped. "Hurry – finish so we can start the next phase of our plan." With that, Severus passed out.

As quickly as was possible, Hermione led the Ladies into the ritual chant that took up the circle surrounding the apple grove altar. As soon as they were done there, it was time to thank and release the Watchtower Guardians. When that was done, the Ladies and the Carn got Severus back to the Lodge as quickly as they could.

*****

After several hours of doctoring and tears, ritual baths and sending owls, the Ladies and their Knight met in the library. Eileen was already waiting with Posey and a large tea tray. She stood up and met her son before he could sit and hugged him tightly. "I never knew you could be hurt, Son, I'm so sorry," she cried. "And, Hermione, how is it you have your sight? You must tell me everything while we wait."

When everyone had a cup of tea and some of the cake that Posey had provided, the story was told. Hermione started. "I cast the circle like we rehearsed. I knew exactly where to step. We called the Watchtower Guardians because Alice and Andromeda detected a foreign magic trying to feel into the Vale. After the Guardians appeared, I cast the smaller circle and we began the ritual to call the Carn. That's when Severus began to be affected. He screamed out and fell. When that caused us to stop the ritual, it made his pain even worse, so Andromeda rallied us and we continued chanting."

Alice took over from there. "Severus was in real pain at this point and when he breached the circle, it got worse."

Severus was nodding in agreement. "As soon as I touched the altar, it felt like my spine was on fire. All I could think of was getting my robes and shirt off. I don't remember anything else."

"Hermione reacted to the light that surrounded Severus," said Luna. "She went right up to him like she was being pulled forward. We continued the chant, and suddenly she touched him and it was all over. That's when we realised she had her sight back."

Eileen frowned at her son and daughter-in-law. "Can you explain?"

Severus shrugged. "It's merely a theory, but from what was written about the Carn, I think it must have an affinity for dark magic. King Arthur was able to defeat the Very Black Witch because part of the dark power was absorbed by the dagger. If you will recall, the dark taint was why it had to be hidden and why only a certain few can handle it."

"You had no idea that your tattoo was the actual dagger?" asked Hermione.

"Not at all. I remember when my uncle died – the next day I had a new tattoo. Luckily, mum had an inkling of what was going on and was able to reach me before I went to my associates to demand who had done it and how," Severus answered.

"Hmmmm. I wonder if it only hurt because of your Dark Mark. Perhaps the Carn was trying to remain where it was, in proximity to the darkness there. If it didn't hurt when it manifested, it stands to reason it wouldn't hurt when it left your body," Hermione mused. "I know it burned my hand when I touched your back."

Severus looked up intently. "It burned your hand? Did your eyes hurt too?"

Hermione closed her eyes in thought. "Now that I think about it, yes, they did ache for a short time. But they have ached off and on since the spell was cast on me, so it didn't even register with me."

Alice spoke up. "The Carn resisted the summoning because it was attracted to your Mark. When Hermione physically claimed it, it drew out the dark magic in her eyes. It makes sense when you look at the dagger and even your tattoo, when it was there."

Everyone stared quietly at the dagger lying on the library desk. It was definitely metal, but was burnished black, with silver runes and designs etched into the blade. The pommel and hilt were gilded with additional runes. It was a beautiful weapon, but there was a sinister undertone to it. It made one feel as if one wanted to move away from it rather than to actually pick it up. As they sat there waiting and looking, the enchanted Galleon that Hermione had given Severus to pass to his spy vibrated.

He addressed his charges. "It's near time for you to go to Hogwarts. I will be summoned any moment now. We won't meet again until the battle. I ask you all to be safe. Let us meet again in a world free of this darkness."

Each Lady embraced Severus and offered a blessing to him before standing aside for Hermione. She embraced her husband, kissing him fiercely. "Stay safe; take no chances. I expect you to help me raise our children after we seal our bond when the year and a day are up."

"Children?" gasped Eileen. Hermione and Severus both laughed and brought her into their arms.

"Yes, children. As many as Severus wants."

Anything else that would have been said was cut off by the burning of Severus' Dark Mark. "It has begun. My Ladies, we must go to Argante. When next we meet it will be in battle. Fight well."

Eileen was left standing alone, crying and praying to whoever and whatever would grant her the honour of listening to her pleas.