Disclaimer: Harry Potter and related characters and settings belong to J. K. Rowling. The Lord of the Rings and related mythology belong to the heir of J. R. R. Tolkien.
A/N I had a very tough time figuring out the title for this chapter. Its "Disturbing news": "prestol" is Sindarin for "disturbing" and "siniath" is Sindarin for "news".
Chapter 11: Prestol Siniath
A few minutes later found Harry and Hermione seated before Dumbledore in his office. Several members of the Order of the Phoenix were hovering around including, Hagrid, Angnathron, McGonagall, Lupin, Moody, Tonks, and Snape. Fawkes was perched on the arm of Harry's chair, humming softly at him. Hermione was holding Harry's hand as Harry took a few sips of hot chocolate, trying to calm himself after explaining to all those present what he had just seen. Ron was hovering by the doorway, clearly torn between being concerned for Harry or remaining angry toward him.
Dumbledore sighed wearily, his age truly showing on his face. "This is most alarming," he said. "For more than just the chalices; Voldemort's increased powers seem to be able to surpass your abilities at Occlumency. I might be able to train you harder at shielding your mind but who knows how much more protection we can provide it?"
"I'll just try to see every image he sends me with a grain of suspicion, Headmaster," said Harry. "But Professor Dumbledore, do you suppose that the images he sent me were false?"
"No, I am entirely certain that the images you saw tonight were true," said Dumbledore.
"Damn Fudge throwing away all of those men!" said Moody. "We could've used their help but he just rushes into suicide!"
"Aye, the foolishness of seeking glory and an escape from desperation can make even the most rational of men do crazy things," said Angnatharon. "Not that Fudge was ever rational."
"We will have to place that in the past," said Dumbledore. "It appears that I was correct in assuming that Voldemort-Sauron was seeking to claim the three chalices hidden within each of the three schools."
"Dumbledore, just what are those chalices?" asked Lupin.
Dumbledore sighed and said the words no one had ever expected would come from his mouth: "I don't know."
A silence of disbelief permeated through the room for a moment. Finally, Snape forgot about dignity for a moment and incredulously asked, "You don't know?"
"I don't," said Dumbledore as he stood up and started pacing around the room. "There are some things that I do know surrounding the chalices but no one, save Voldemort-Sauron knows what the true purposes of those chalices are."
"Wormtail appeared to know," said Harry.
For a moment, Dumbledore actually looked perplexed and disappointed in himself at the fact that Peter Pettigrew knew something he didn't but it was gone in a flash. "He most likely came up on the information some time ago," said Dumbledore. "I suppose his animagus abilities were useful for that."
"What is it that you know surrounding the chalices Professor?" asked Hermione.
"The oldest recordings of them in history goes back to the founding of Hogwarts," said Dumbledore, "Of course, if what Voldemort-Sauron says is true, they would in reality be far, far older." Dumbledore stopped pacing and looked out the window to the night sky. "1000 years ago, Godric Gryffindor managed to gather all three chalices and hid them within Hogwarts. He thought they were safe there until Salazar Slytherin attempted to claim them, shortly before he left the school. Fortunately, they never fell into Slytherin's hands but Gryffindor decided that it was too risky to have all three chalices together and asked the other two founders to safeguard two of them away from Hogwarts. Helga Hufflepuff hid her chalice within the castle that would eventually become Beauxbatons and Rowena Ravenclaw entrusted the care of her chalice to the family that would soon found Durmstrang. Gryffindor meanwhile hid his chalice somewhere within this school where it remains to this day."
"So Gryffindor knew the true purpose of the chalices?" asked Hermione.
"Perhaps, but as he never actually recorded the purposes of the chalices, we don't know for certain whether he actually knew them or not," said Dumbledore. "What Gryffindor knew for certain was that the chalices contained within them a power of great evil. He deemed that they must never fall into the hands of the dark side."
"But You-know-who's already claimed one of them," said Ron from the back of the room.
"That is true Mr. Weasley," said McGonagall. "However, the chalices really are nothing more than worthless pieces of antiques unless all three of them are together. So long as the other two can be protected, things should be OK for now."
"Why were the magical schools chosen as the locations to hide the chalices if they were that important Professor?" asked Hermione. "I can understand Hogwarts since it's said to be the safest place to hide things but why the other two schools? Wouldn't places such as Gringotts or European Ministries be safer?"
"My dear Miss Granger, have you never realized the specific reasons why the magical schools were built where they stand today?" said Dumbledore. "The locations of the schools were chosen very specifically because they all stand where great cities of the ancient world once stood."
"Oh," said Hermione. "I suppose the various founders wished to incorporate the various magicks that must've still been powerful in those areas."
"You are indeed correct," said Dumbledore. "Durmstrang is located where the sister city of Minas Tirith or Minas Anor once stood: Minas Ithil. It rivaled Minas Tirith in glory at its height but was eventually captured by the Nazgul and renamed Minas Morgul. That influence still exists, which is why Durmstrang has consistently been associated with the Dark Arts.
"Beauxbatons on the other hand is located within what once used to be the fortress of Isengard where the tower of Orthranc stood. Though not as bad as Durmstrang, there has been some problems with the history of Beauxbatons as well since Isengard was for a while also in the hands of the Dark Side; in that case the White Wizard Saruman."
"And Hogwarts?" asked Harry.
"Hogwarts is another story all together," said Dumbledore. "The four founders were indeed highly blessed to be able to select this very location for their school. It is one of the reasons why Hogwarts has been hailed as the greatest of the schools. You see, while the other two schools stand where once great Numenorean cities stood, Hogwarts's location is of Eldar origin."
Hermione's eyes lit up. "Professor, is it from here that the Elves went into the West?"
"Indeed," said Dumbledore, "This very land we are upon was once the Gray Havens of Lindon, the last stop of the Eldar upon Middle-Earth before they set sail for Valinor and the Undying Lands. This land had never fallen into the powers of the Dark Side and the protection of the Elves still blankets over Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, to this very day."
A silence descended over the room for a few moments. That silence was broken however when none other than the part-veela Fleur Delacour burst into the room looking some what disheveled, desperate, and near tears. "Professor Dumbledore, I am in need of your 'elp," she cried, her French accent slightly faded.
Everybody present was somewhat alarmed by Fleur's sudden appearance. "Mademoiselle Delacour, whatever is the problem?" asked Dumbledore.
"It eez my school! Beauxbatons! My school needz 'elp!" wailed Fleur, "My school! My sister! Gabrielle!" Fleur was on the verge of hyperventilating when none other than Bill Weasley showed up: his huffing indicating that he had run after Fleur.
"Fleur, calm down," he said, as he gently rubbed Fleur's back. Fleur considerably calmed down.
"Bill! What are you doing here?" exclaimed Ron.
"I'm here to support a friend," said Bill. "Professor Dumbledore, about two hours ago Fleur received an owl from her sister, Gabrielle containing most alarming news. There is an army marching upon Beauxbatons: an army consisting of goblin like creatures."
"Olympe! Is she alrigh'?" exclaimed Hagrid.
"Madame Maxim eez not at ze school right now," managed Fleur, "She eez attending a meeting in Paris. But zere are so many students at Beauxbatons. And my sister..."
Dumbledore caught Moody's eye and nodded. Moody stood up and yelled, "Lupin! Tonks! Angnathron! You're all with me! Hagrid, you stay here for now." He turned to Bill and Fleur and said, "Weasley perhaps you should come as well. Mademoiselle Delacour, if you would like to accompany us." Fleur managed to nod.
"I want to go to," shouted Harry, standing up.
"No!" yelled Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, and Hermione all at once.
"Harry, you are not ready to leave on your own, especially now. Voldemort-Sauron has not quite learned that you are the Heir of Elessar yet but once he does, he will hunt you down even more fiercely."
"I can't just stand by idly!" exclaimed Harry.
"Don't be outrageous, you'll just end up getting yourself and others killed!" snapped Snape.
"And we all know how much you'd love that," Harry snapped back.
"Potter!" admonished McGonagall.
"Harry please," said Hermione, her hand on Harry's arm and her eyes starting to get tearful. "What if this is another trap? Please just think this through rationally."
Harry still felt indignant at being forced to stay behind but he knew full well that he couldn't afford to go against Hermione's logic any longer. "Fine," he snapped at Snape. He then turned to Hermione and sighed resigning, "OK, I'll stay." Hermione smiled and gave him a hug.
"Very well then, everyone be on your guard," said Moody as he tossed various items, all clearly portkeys to Angnathron, Lupin, Tonks, Bill, and Fleur. "I've set the portkeys to activate in thirty seconds, take no chances!"
"Good luck everyone," said Dumbledore. "And remember Alastar, 'Constant Vigilance'."
"When have I ever forgotten that, Dumbledore," said Moody, grinning cheekily back at his old friend. The next second, the members of the Order of the Phoenix were gone.
"What do we do now?" asked Harry.
"The only thing we can do," said Dumbledore. "Wait for the outcome and go on with our lives in the mean time."
"Precisely," said McGonagall, "So hurry on back to bed all of you or you will be late for class tomorrow morning."
* * *
"France. Don't you just love the French countryside? The beauty? The smell of French vines in the air?" said Tonks as the Order of the Phoenix made its way down south a cobblestone road not too far from Calais. In the distance down the road stood Beauxbatons, more like a marble palace than a castle, though it had steeple towers higher than those of Hogwarts.
"We aren't here to oogle the countryside, we're here to fight!" growled Moody.
"Oh, lighten up Mad-Eye," said Tonks.
"I'm actually rather amazed that you're able to even joyfully gaze at the landscape like this," said Lupin, "given that we're probably going to be in a battle soon."
"Well the way I see it, you can either becoming a terrified, nervous wreck or try to stay optimistic," said Tonks. "I opt for the latter."
"No matter what eez ze situation, zis place makes me feel relieved," said Fleur. "How eez eet the English say? Home is where ze heart is?"
"Exactly," said Tonks. "Lets all just relax for the next few hours before all the serious stuff happens."
Unfortunately, this was not to be so for no sooner had Tonks said those words, a large exploding sound rocked the land and a large fireball burst forth from the tallest tower showering debris all over the surrounding land.
"Look out!" yelled Bill as he pulled Fleur out of the way of some falling debris.
"Oh my God!" exclaimed Tonks.
"Ze castle!" exclaimed Fleur. "Gabrielle!"
"What are you all waiting for?" shouted Moody. "Move! We have to get to the castle as fast as we can!"
To be continued...
A/N Ugh, I am so sorry that this chapter took so long to write. I had meant to write it sooner but unfortunately I got stuck with a case of writer's block these past two weeks. It's a little short but I'm sure this will be good enough. Next chapter should come out sooner. In the meantime, I'm just going to some up my reaction to the election in one phrase: WOOHOO!