Fan Fiction ❯ The Weaver Telarius ❯ The Coming War ( Chapter 11 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

I was not comfortable, I can tell you that much. Christmas was to arrive, exams were on, and people would be heading back to their homes over the winter, save those few who had requested to remain at the school for that time. Usually such a request required a signature from the guardians of the student, but Dumbledore was kind enough to wave such a thing for myself and my newfound companions. A place to stay was not the source of my discomfort, for that issue obviously was solved. No, it was at dinner the night before some of my exams, when I sat across from both Meriam and Cordelia. They had been asking me many questions since the duel that day, and I was running out of ways to tell them that I did not know.

Why was this a problem? Well, you see, I had established myself among them as someone with a good bead of what was going on. Did I want leadership? Hell no. I was given it, though, and as long as I was to be making the decisions, I needed the respect to not have my decisions questioned. It was not a matter of pride that stopped me from admitting, outright, that I knew nothing of what they were asking. Moreover I wanted them... needed them to think that I knew what I was doing that day.

"Why did you stay your hand those times that you did?" Meriam inquired.

Finally, a question I could answer. Unfortunately, it was not to be answered at this time, in such a social environment, with Vincent within earshot. "I cannot say for the moment," I responded, politely. I'd taken up a habit of avoiding eye contact with Meriam.

"And what of your wands turning into swords? How in the world did that occur? What does it mean?" Cordelia chimed in.

That was about it for me. "I don't know," I said in a soft voice.

"What?"

I gritted my teeth. "I said I don't know!" the exclamation was a little louder than I would usually have liked with sound mind and judgement. The entire hall was quieted and turned to me. Not since Dumbledore two years ago, I later learned, has anyone spoken with a voice that shook the hall.

I resolved to lower my voice after looking about at all the pairs of eyes upon me, two of which belonged to one close to my heart, and two more a dear friend. Both showed concern. I turned again to Meriam and Cordelia, only now I spoke with a hiss in my tone for inflection, but also to keep the volume down. "I have no idea. Xorlempt has not spoken to me since the incident. I've been able to find nothing in the library on the subject of wands turning to swords, much less the weapons we wielded. I know only that Mr. Olivander had the wand in his shop, and it was before his time. The wand is, indeed, indestructable, as he said it would be. Why this is, I cannot say, and he obviously did not know. How it even came into his business' possession is beyond me. I am as much in the dark as the rest of you, and am rather annoyed at that. Do forgive my outburst."

Meriam gave a simple nod. Cordelia, though, seemed still curious. ~And why did you surrender the duel to him, when victory was clearly yours, and you need the money to return here?~ her mind asked of me.

I stood, slammed my hands on the table, and shouted once more to fill the room. "What business is it of yours?! Stay out of my head and enough with your questions! If you will excuse me!"

I imagine I made quite a spectacle of myself, storming out of the Great Hall with the entirety of it being silent. I knew I had just made a lot of people quite worried, but my mind was not focused on that matter at that particular moment. I wanted answers and I was getting questions. It is more frustrating than you could possibly imagine. I felt a single presence follow me down the hall, and I summoned an old friend from school with my wand as suspicion crept over me. It proved one thing for certain. Wherever I was, I could acquire items which I knew from my life in my world. That was a moderately comforting thought.

I rounded a particularly dark corner and waited as the footsteps approached me. Just as they approached the corner, I stepped out, the point of my rapier in front of me.

It was pressed a little close for comfort in Draco's throat, and I quickly withdrew it. "Mr. Malfoy. What can I do for you?"

"That outburst in there... highly uncharacteristic of you."

"Yes, I know. Hardly my style," I sheathed the weapon and hid it beneath my robes, "I am sorry if I brought you any concern."

"Well, some. It served a purpose, though. I've been meaning to ask you something for quite some time, and this is the best opportunity to catch you, I believe."

"Very well, then. Speak your question, and hope it is not too invasive."

He studied me for a long time. "Are you... muggle-born?"

I blinked. "Pardon?"

"Your parents... could they perform magic?"

"Not that I know of. Why?"

He walked over to the corner and sat down, his back against the wall. I walked to him, slowly. He seemed a bit upset. "All my life, I've been taught to dispise muggles, and any wizard or witch descended from them," he confessed, "But... then there is you. You display all the traits I admire in a person: confidence, power, dignity, grace... and yet, you are the very type I've been told to dispise. Yet, I could not picture you not being here at Hogwarts, nor not holding high position later in your life in the wizarding world."

I had talked much with Malfoy before, but this was the most personal that we've ever gotten. I was touched. "Draco... I can't tell you how to lead your life. To me, all life is precious, though there are times when killing becomes a necessary evil. I don't like causing pain in any form, but I'll do it if I have to," I paused to meet his eyes, "You're a victim, Draco. A victim of years of prejudice and spite. I've seen it before. It happened in a country called America, where it is a part of the history of the nation. It happened in Germany, with a group called the Nazis. All over the world, you will find people who just can't let go to aged traditions that have long since been proven amoral."

"I can't just change how I see things overnight!"

"Yes, I know. Once something is solidified into a belief, it is hard to let go of it or change it even slightly. People are quite firm in their beliefs, I've found. But progress with either leave you in the dust or force you to join it. The more you resist, the more enemies you will find yourself with. You have talent, Draco Malfoy, and I'd hate to see it go to waste, but I see it day by day. Simple kindness and generosity, a kind word, a tear fallen in sadness or joy... all of these bear more power than any act of hatred or prejudice. If you truly have the ambition to land yourself in Slytherin, then you must see that ambition, that thirst for power, in your case, through to the ultimate end, or waste yourself away. Trade anger for happiness, hatred for kindness... you will find yourself more powerful in a matter of weeks than you have ever been. Is it an easier road? Hell no. It is actually the hardest road you will ever travel. It is, indeed, the road less travelled by. However, the finest and toughest steel is that which has been forged in the strongest flames," I paused, "Is any of this making sense to you?"

He nodded. "Some. How do I even begin such a venture?"

"Time. Patience. Willpower. With these, everything will fall into place."

He studied me again for some time. "You've a way with words. Who are you, really?"

I smiled. "Prove to me that you've changed yourself sufficiently, and you will have gained my trust. Do that, and I will reveal to you my true identity."

A grin graced his cheeks. "Is that a challenge?"

My grin matched his. "Nothing else for a Slytherin."

* * *

It was quite cold that night, and I found Deanne in the library as I had so many nights before. The restricted section, of course, for Filch's cat was fond of me and thus he tended to turn a blind eye to my flagrant disregard for the rules. It seems that mine was a position of exception in the halls of Hogwarts.

"What happened at dinner, my love?" she asked, her concern more evident than the smell of aged books which permeated the area.

I hugged her, as I often enjoyed doing. "I got upset. Lost control. I've a nasty habit of trying ot bear the world on my shoulders, you know."

"Indeed, I know. And yet, you continue along that path every time an opportunity presents itself toward that end."

"What can I say? I'm a creature of habit."

She lovingly stroked my hair. I yearned to be home with her. I had always wanted an adventure, but this was a nightmare. I felt as though I was endlessly spiraling downward. I confessed this to her, as best I could. "I feel like shit."

After withdrawing from our embrace, she looked my face over. "You've not slept in a while. I can tell. The look in your eyes is all too familiar. Though they may have changed shape and colour, your mannerisms with them seem constant in any body. Your pupils are ever more dialated, causing you to seek darker and darker places, for the light pains your eyes. Also, you rub your forehead and temples constantly, for you are always under the pain of a headache that begins when you get up in the morning. Your behaviour becomes more impulsive, your manners diminish, and you tend to speak more curtly, even with those that you care for. I fear that we have burdened you with the position of leadership."

"Yet it makes the most sense at this time for that to be it. If I could comfortably give others their turn, I would. I am the only one trusted by all, though, for I am the only one known by all. You've only met Meriam and Phillip, and Cordelia is quite the wildcard. She can be the most brash person I know, and has a tendancy for doing incredibly foolish things. In order to keep her in check, I must continue to hold my position," I sighed, "However, the burden of leadership is weighing upon my mind. Everyday I go through our assets and detriments, pitting the group against any scenario my mind can cook up and attemping to find a solution where no one is harmed. There is a subtle difference between having a group of friends and leading a faction of people. In the former, you feel obligated to save lives, and would commit any number of sacrifices toward that end. When you lead a faction, that is an expected duty. I have become responsible for what happens to each of us. The more I think about it, the more I dread the storm which each of us feels drawing nigh."

"And yet I know that you will shine brightest when the time arrives, Telarius."

I chuckled. "Your confidence in me is assuring, as always. I thank you. Still," my brow wrinkled in thought, "How am I to prepare for what is coming if I've not an inkling of what it might be? I only know that I have somehow aided the enemy, for anything which can disturb Professor Snape is quite a trouble indeed..."

"Hold on... what are you talking about?"

I paused my train of thought, realizing, suddenly, that I hadn't told any of them about the incident with Snape. "This could be important. I fear that I've not been totally true in my duty of telling everyone everything. Can you help me to rouse the others?"

"If we link our psyches, we can boost our telepathic abilities enough to broadcast the signal."

"If we do that, though, won't everyone receive it?"

"Yes, so we'd need a reference that only we would get... Any suggestions?"

We both set to pondering. In a moment, I had an adequate message. "We can summon them with a song. The song I sung at the challenge. It even makes sense. We meet by the lake, in the fog. The song will be calling them to it. The melody is, indeed, haunting, and we will be traveling far beyond these castle walls."

She beemed. "I only hope that they'll get it."

"They will... or I'll beat them over the head."

And so, Xorlempt the Dragon and Fyrlex the Pheonix, our psyches, merged and broadcasted the song. In an hour, everyone was gathered at the lake, obscured by fog and black clothing. We travelled into the Dark Forest, it being the only place where we could talk in private at this time of night. Upon entering, though, we experienced some misgivings, and I recommended that we apparate to a different location. After giving everyone a mental image, via Cordelia, we apparated.

* * *

"Where in the world are we?" Meriam was the first to ask.

"A lab I established a while ago. I've half been considering expanding it into a full blown headquarters, should the need arise. I've got more than enough space for building," I replied.

"Where is it, though?" Phillip asked.

I proceeded to tell them, and they all seemed to understand. Remarkable, that. "So, what, pray tell, has caused you to drag us out of our comfortable beds in the middle of the night through a broadcasted telepathic song?" Cordelia never was too subtle.

I smiled. "Have a seat, everyone," they each found some way to sit, whether it be in a chair by the computer, on one of the desks and tables, or just on the floor. Of course, there being only four companions and four different locations listed, you can imagine somewhat what the scene must have looked like, "I'll have to acquire some more chairs," I thought out loud.

"It has recently come to my attention," I motioned toward Deanne, "That, in my absentmindedness, I neglected to inform you of a major event which occured prior to the first challenge. The reason that I was in the hospital wing before that Quidditch match, one day."

I proceeded to spin them the proper tale of my encounter with Professor Snape. It did not take long for Deanne's eyes to widen. "This is worse than I thought," she spoke gravely.

"How do you mean?" I asked.

All eyes of the group were on her. "Tom Riddle. Tom Marvolo Riddle," she brought out her wand and wrote the full name in letters of fire. She rearranged them for us, and it was, indeed, horrifying.

"Voldemort!" Meriam exclaimed.

Deanne nodded, greatly. "Voldemort summoned Telarius here, and apparently Telarius has already woven a spell which Voldemort wished him to. Also, there was that thing about the army..."

"Have you been making an army, Telarius?" Phillip asked of me.

"I cannot deny it. Since that day, I saw the prudence in it," I responded.

They looked at me with wary eyes. Deanne's seemed to be the only ones that trusted me completely in that moment. "So you _are_ in league with Voldemort, then?" Meriam asked, her hand inching towards her wand.

I rolled my eyes. "Indeed. In fact, we're old high school chums. Good old Riddle and I used to go out by night and kill people for the sport of it! Wonderful fun, that was!" I glared at her, mostly at her hand, which had shied away from her wand at my sarcasm, "If we are to work together, you're going to need to trust me more than that!"

"Still, if he could summon you here, that means he must be back and roaming the world!" Cordelia proclaimed.

"Not necessarily," Deanne corrected, "Spells can be set to go off at a specified time by a powerful sorceror. Voldemort was, indeed, such a magic user."

"One thing I've never gotten since I've been here... what's the difference between a wizard and a sorceror?" Cordelia asked.

"I'd have thought you more studious than that," Phillip replied, "When it comes to classifying magic users, there are two general types: Wizards and sorcerors. Wizards learn magic through academia. They rely heavily upon wands and lore, and the more studious they are, the more powerful they will become. Sorcerors, on the other hand, are born with magic. They can wield their power without the aid of a wand, and grow in power as they flex their magical muscles. Many magic users in this world are both, in some ratio or other. Take Hermione Granger, for example. It could be said that she is probably 90% wizard and 10% sorceror. You need a bit of sorceror in you for Hogwarts to acknowledge you, usually, unless you are from a well known wizarding family, like Draco Malfoy or Filch."

"And what about Voldemort?" Meriam chimed in.

I exhaled, deeply. "Voldemort is a more specific type of magic user. A wyld mage, very powerful. They wield the very tapestry of creation as their weapon or shield, though usually weapon, for they tend to be mentally unstable. Along with insane amounts of power, wyld mages are adept at all forms of magic, including lost spells of chaos that no one else would dare meddle with."

Everyone looked at me. "How do you know this?" Deanne asked me.

I looked down to the ground. "I spoke with him... though I did not know it was him at the time."

"Then he is back!" Cordelia spoke in horror.

"Nay!" I shook my head, "His form was incorporeal, and he came to me in a dream the first night I was here at Hogwarts."

Everyone seemed at least relieved to hear that. "A wyld mage, huh? You say that they have a tendancy to become mentally unstable?" Phillip asked.

"Yes, though not always toward the psychotic end. They will develop some kind of psychosis, for the raw chaotic energies that they draw upon overtake the mind and ensnare the senses until there is no way out. Still, they can remain calm and in control on the exterior. Such was so with Voldemort, as I read he was quite level-headed," I responded.

"Well, I'm glad you're not on his side," Meriam said, "Wyld mages sound like scary business. Nothing I'd want to be associated with."

Everyone seemed in agreement with that assessment, which made my next bit of information even harder to reveal. I turned to face Phillip, and he looked at me. "I know what you are going to say," he spoke.

I nodded. He was quite intelligent, after all, and had figured it out for himself during my speech. He turned to the group, and sighed. "If you want not to associate with a wyld mage, then I'd best take my leave of you, for that is what I am."

Everyone gasped. "Tell-tale signs, really," I said to break the uncomfortable silence, "He could cast any spell that I could weave, yet could not bring himself to weave. His power is another dead giveaway. Finally, in my training sessions with him, we have discovered that he is capable of undoing any spell I have woven from the magical matrix. Such is the power of a wyld mage."

There was another uncomfortable silence. "So... does that mean that Phillip will eventually go insane?" Meriam asked.

"...mayhap," I responded, "But Phillip is made of sterner stuff than Voldemort ever was. Phillip is a man who went through fire and shadow and storm and never allowed himself to lose ground. His will holds, and will continue to do so, so long as he has reason to remain grounded," I shot him a genuine smile, "No, Phillip will hold through this, and have enough to spare for a few more major conflicts, should the need arise."

"Then Phillip is to take on Voldemort?" Cordelia asked, in wonder, looking to him in a sort of mixed confusion.

"No," Deanne spoke, after being silent for some time.

Phillip looked a bit disappointed. "Why not?" he asked, then turned to me, "You said it yourself. Anything you can weave, I can cast. My abilities are limitless."

"Do not forget who summoned me here, Phillip. We still do not know his motives. I know only that he is clever... clever enough to get in the first shot, and that is all he needs. There is only one in this world with the power to take him down, and it is indeed his destiny to do so," I responded.

"Harry Potter," came Deanne's voice from the floor.

I nodded. "There is no counter for the Killing Curse, my friend. I fear you would last all of the time it took him to speak it, and that would be the end of you. He would get the initiative... he's had practice at it, I'm sure."

Phillip was daunted for a moment, then nodded. "I see. I did not consider that."

"Not only that, my friend, but I fear his power is greater than even yours. What he lacks that you have is a weaver on his side. If one allied with him, the world would be lost for sure."

"Lucky that I corrected some of your mistakes, eh?"

"Indeed. If you hadn't erased some of the spells I made, this game would be over."

"So, do you know why he summoned you here?" Cordelia asked of me.

I turned to her. "No. He said that he needed me. Said something was brewing. A conflict which, if successful, would secure his rise to power. I have made preparations for a war, and I fear that they may be necessary."

"What are these preparations?" Deanne asked. Even she had not been told of them in full at that point.

"Come with me," I spoke. I lead them down several flights of stairs into the labratory area of the complex. There they saw my work.

"Giants?" Phillip asked me.

"Half-giants, actually," I answered him, "Thanks to the DNA donated by Hagrid, and my knowledge of science coupled with the power of magic, I've been able to incubate these. I accelerated the growth hormone, and applied all their magical power to a form of magical resistance. Many spells will not effect them at all. Others less so. Avada kedavra is the only spell which will still have the full effect."

"What of training?" Phillip persisted in his inquiry.

I paused a moment. "Training is the next phase of the operation. It won't be ready until mid-January."

"Who is to train them?" Meriam asked.

I smiled, then led them up to a large catwalk, the stairway built so that the half-giants could climb it easily, but with steps inbetween for humans and other, smaller creatures. I opened the rather large door and walked in. Therein were five half-giants, each a bit more distinguished than those downstairs. They seemed to be individuals, even. One of them, the largest, came forward and saluted by placing his balled left fist against his open right hand at the solar plexus level and bowing. I did the same, in turn, for it was the salute that I chose to use.

"Report, General," I commanded.

"We have studied your texts at length, sir. Are you sure the men will be capable of wielding such weapons? It seems to require a fair amount of mobility," the one called General replied.

"Remember that, if you are to face those smaller than you, your stride is larger. If they are of the same size, then you both will have the same impaired mobility. Practice as such?"

"Of course, sir! How foolish of me!"

"You are but three weeks old. Mistakes are bound to be made. I'm not expecting perfection, merely functionality, understood?"

"Yes sir!"

I nodded, then stepped to the side and waved to my companions. "These are the others I spoke of, your other commanders. Their orders are to be taken as I said, but not above mine."

"Yes, I remember," he saluted again, "I pleasure, sirs and madams."

I chuckled a bit as the group attempted to perform the salute with marginal success. Phillip was the only one to get it right on, but I expected as much. He had seen it before, after all. "That will be all, General. We shall take our leave of you. Keep up the good work!"

"Yes sir!"

We left and came back to the room with tables. "Are you sure that is right?" Meriam asked.

"If what is right?" I was a bit confused by that question.

"Breeding them to fight and die, and no other reason."

I crossed over to her, now daring to make eye contact, for I was not in a mood to be aroused by her. "You'd rather I make them individuals and citizens? Create a population of half-giants? They are _soul-less_, Meriam. Nothing more than constructs. They may act as though their will is independant, but they are pawns, and nothing more. I created them, and as their creator, they owe me their lives. If I ask them to give me their lives, that which I created, they can not dispute," I paused to breathe a moment, "I had considered giving them free will, at first. I decided against it, because that would make it less right to send them into battle, especially if they did not wish to die. Without that will, it is easier. Each day we feast upon beef and chicken, carrots and mushrooms. All of these are living things, but without sentience. Because they are not self-aware, we use their live to further our own. Other animals do it as well. It is not amoral, it is necessary, and part of the cycle of nature. They are not self-aware, save the commanders which you saw, and I have every intention of keeping them alive..."

"But they still may die," Meriam insisted.

"Yes, they may. People died in World War II. People with souls and lives and families to care for and go home to. Some of them were barely out of high school. These constructs have none of that," I retorted.

"But don't they deserve a chance at it?" Meriam protested further.

I sighed, then looked down. The pause lasted for a long time, and the silence was frightening. "Do you know how many people died the last time Voldemort was in power?"

Everyone was silent. I felt that they each had an inkling of the point I was about to make. "The numbers are available to all who wish to look. Harry Potter's parents were among them, I might add. You need only look in his eyes when he is thinking of them to know how much pain deaths like that cause. That is what will happen if he rises to power," I walked over to a table at the head of the room and turned to face them all, "If it is to come to war, and it will, and I leave my army dormant, then the armies of the world of magic will have to step in. Aurors and other such wizards will give their lives to stop Voldemort... the very people that will be neaded to slow him should he ever rise again. If that is for naught... if they lose, the world is doomed," I turned to Meriam, "I cannot fully justify what I am doing to you. I respect your views. If you like, I shall offer freedom to all of my army who survive... the chance at life that you believe they deserve. I am not in total disagreement with you about that. However, it is, I fear, necessary. If you are to understand anything... understand this."

"What would a war be like in the wizarding world?" Cordelia asked.

"Normally, spells are flung out to incapacitate opponents. In the case of Voldemort, they will be killed. However, I have a way to neutralize the Killing Curse, and so ancient weapons will be used. Steel on steel. Such a conflict is what I will force, and hope they cannot counter it," I replied.

"Will you attempt to coordinate your efforts with the wizarding world's armies?" Meriam asked.

"No. I hope that they will not be necessary," I replied.

A dark silence crept over the room. "There is still more planning to be done, and I'll need all of your support and wits. Do I still have it, after all that has been revealed?" I broke the silence with that question, which had been begging to be asked since the start of this day.

Silence once more. Deanne stood and walked over beside me. "I shall always stand by you, my love. You know that, and should not need to ask."

Phillip moved to face me, and he performed the salute once more. "Desparate times call for desparate measures. We cannot idly sit by and watch people die and this world crumble. I am with you, friend, and with me all the aid I can muster."

Cordelia was the next to join the trend. "I do not fully know the scheme you are cooking up, Telarius. Whatever it may be, though, you have my support. I know you well enough to know that you would not knowingly do anything foolhardy. Your mind is clear and your convictions sound."

Everyone turned to look at Meriam. "I don't like war or death," she said, shaking a bit, her mind obviously deep in thought.

"No one does," I said, "But it is being forced upon us, and we entered too late in the game to stop it from happening. All we can do is our best to see that justice is done."

She gave me a long look. I knew that I would need her, before the end. All of them were necessary to my plan. Her's was a difficult role, so she would have to be in full support of me. I feared that, so long as she wavered, my plan would fail, and the world would be doomed. Our eyes met, and it was as though she could read my thoughts, even though that talent was restricted to Cordelia. For a time, it became my true self asking her true self of a favour. I truly believe it was that revelation which turned the tide of her thought for the better.

"Alright. Tell me what to do, and I'll do it."

I exhaled, deeply in relief. It was the best news I had heard in a while. "Alright, here's our first move. Deanne and Phillip, try to find out how Harry Potter survived avada kedavra the first time around. That's how I plan to nullify that threat. Meriam and Cordelia, I need you to figure out what the next challenge is supposed to be... covertly, understood? That goes for Deanne and Phillip as well. We can't let the enemy know what we're looking for, and it's against the rules for someone to know of a challenge before it happens. We will meet again one month from this day, at this location. Until then, I don't want to hear anything between any of us except for friendly things and trifles. It may be a facade, but it is necessary, and could prove condusive to mental health... if not yours, then at least mine."

They all seemed to understand, and we apparated back away from campus, each of us sneaking into our houses, for it had grown quite late. Luckily, none of us were seen. I rested on my bed a while, hoping sleep would come to me soon. The first meeting of that nature had gone well, but I feared that I had thrown out too much too fast. I could not sleep that night, and so I set to more planning, trying to find a way to strategize that would be most condusive to positive results, and yet could be explained to them so that they did not have to trust everything I did without reason. The answer was a lot simpler than I thought it would be.