Marriage Law

Marriage Law Chapter 22






Marriage Law
Chapter 22

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

When the mark of thunder shines upon one

And Darkness retreats into the night to rest

The midnight sun shines bright in the sky

 

One with fathers taken twice shall rise into
the light

Plunging darkness into he will fall

Within him power will grow

 

Two paths here are laid

Light and Dark will be inside

Cleaving one into two

 

The answer lies with the givers of life

To show the path

Under the sea

 

“I think you need
to go talk to the Amazons.”

 

***

 

“How do you do, Hermione?”
asked a tall witch with thick dark red hair. She had stepped through the
fireplace in the Snape ballroom moments before. Hermione was relieved her
receiving witch was fluent in English.

&nb
“
“Fine, thank you,”
said Hermione.

 

“I am Alexandra,”
said the witch bowing slightly. Her thick grey robe parted slightly and
Hermione law light blue robes that resembled a toga underneath. “Shall we be
going?”

 

“Of course,”
Hermione said.

 

Alexandra held out a
rubber duck and Hermione placed her hand on the portkey.

 

They appeared on a small
sheet of ice floating in the middle of the ocean. Icebergs and chunks of ice
floaby. by. The ice they were on seemed stable and Hermione noticed it seemed
to be floating in a specific direction. As they rounded an iceberg Hermione
breathed in.

 

A tower carved in
ice rose out of the water thousands of feet in the air, its stark white
standing out in a clear blue sky. An immense drawbridge began lowering for
them. It was clear glass and looked as if it were carved out of crystal.
Frosted ice links formed into chains that slowly lowered their path. The
position of the sun told her they were several time zones away.

 

Hermione and
Alexandra walked up the incline of the drawbridge into the receiving hall of
the Bibliothecha oo Amazon.

 

The first floor was an immense white single room with the ceiling over
a hundred feet above her. Large windows near the top of the walls let in
sunlight that reflected off the walls and illuminated the room. White
staircases spiraled up support poles, accented with gold wrought hand rails of
ivy.

 

Fireplaces lined the walls and witches in different light colored toga
style robes popped in and disappeared in a burst of green flame. White doves
carved of ice flew about with parchments and scrolls.

 

“This is incredible,” Hermione breathed.

 

“A lot of thought went into it,” Alexandra said. “It holds some of the
most valuable and rare books in the world.”

 

“I’m hoping you’ll be able to help us with our dilemma,” Hermione
admitted.

 

“If we can’t I’m not sure who will be able to,” Alexandra said. “No
doubt you have already asked the Brotherhood for help.”

 

“They have helped us with part of our problem, but another has arisen,”
said Hermione as Alexandra stepped onto one of the spiraling staircases.
Hermione was relieved to see the stairs moving of their own accord. “Our answer
was rather cryptic.”

 

“All things of true importance are,” said Alexandra seriously.
Hopefully mother will be able to help you.”

 

The staircase stopped at a landing with a gold eagle worked into the
ice of the door. Hermione had noticed that while the building was cool, it
wasn’t cold. The walls must be enchanted to prevent them from melting and
prevent the occupants from freezing. The door slid upwards and Hermione was
shocked at the interior of the room.

 

No windows decorated tallsalls of the small room. Dark wood paneling
lined the walls and only a few candles burned for light. A few overstuffed dark
colored chairs crowded the room and a tiny witch hunched over a parchment,
scribbling furiously behind a light oak desk.

 

“Hello,” she smiled as Alexandra and Hermione wound their way around
the chairs and small tables stacked with books. Her small wrinkled face beamed
at them and her white hair was pulled behind her in a thick braid.

 

“This is the girl, mother,” said Alexandra bobbing softly.

 

“I am Sophia,” said the older witch. “And you have a problem.”

 

“Yes, I do,” said Hermione, reaching into an inside pocket of her
robes. She brought out Charlie’s translation.

 

“You do not have the original?” Sophia asked, taking the translation.

 

“No,” said Hermione. “I was just given this.”

 

“Have you seen the original?” asked Sophia.

 

“Yes,” said Hermione.

 

“Get the Pensive, Alexandra,” said Sophia. “And a bit of tea, dear.
Thank you.”

 

“You had to find a translator?” asked Sophia.

 

“Yes,” said Hermione. Sophia rose and walked out from around her table,
leaning on a thin knobby cane. Her robes were dark grey and tied with a pewter
cord.

 

“Why didn’t the Brotherhood have a translation?” asked Sophia. “Tve
ve
had it in their possession for some time.”

 

“I don’t know,” said Hermione, wondering why she hadn’t thought of that
before.

 

“Probably because they didn’t know it was missing,” snorted Sophia.
“Damn knowledge hoarders.”

 

Hermione shivered slightly about being in possession of something
stolen from the Brotherhood. Severus could have at least warned her.

 

“Here’s the Pensive,” said Alexandra, setting a wide stone bowl on
Sophia’s desk. She left the room again, Hermione suspected to get tea.

 

“Have you ever used one of these before?” Sophia asked.

 

“Yes,” said Hermione taking her wand out and placing the tip to her
temple. She pulled a smoke-like thought about the parchment from her head and
placed it carefully in the bowl.

 

Sophia put her face in the bowl. Alexandra came back in the room and
Hermione turned around. She watched as Alexandra waved her wand and shrank some
of the books and furniture so there was room for them to sit and drink.

 

Sophia pulled her head out of the bowl and smiled at her daughter.

 

“I do need to tidy up a bit, don’t I?” she cackled merrily as she
walked to a chair. Hermione placed her thought back into her head and sat in a
purple chair near the table. Sophia waved her wand and a plate of biscuits
appeared. “Your translator was good. One of the Brothers?”

 

“Friend of the family,” Hermione said shaking her head.

 

“Convenient,” said Sophia, nodding as she took a cup and dipped a
biscuit in it.

 

“So what do you need to know?” asked Sophia.

 

“Well, it’s obviously about Harry,” Hermione said hesitantly. “I would
think the mark of thunder would mean his scar. And his father and godfather
were both taken from him.”

 

Sophia nodded.

 

“What else?” the elder Amazon asked.

 

“It sounds as if Harry’s going to have a struggle between dark and light
within him,” said Hermione. “Are they suggesting Harry’s going to be tempted to
join Voldemort, because if they are-“

 

“We don’t know anything,” said Sophia. “Continue.”

 

“Then it says the givers of life will show the path to under the sea,”
said Hermione. “That’s where it confuses us.”

 

Sophia nodded.

 

“Such things are never conveniently clear,” she said pog heg herself
another cup of tea and waving off Alexandra when she tried to help her. “Perhaps
it is not meant to be clear yet.”

 

Hermione frowned.

 

“But what if it’s important and I don’t see it?” Hermione worried
aloud.

 

“Then you are not the only person who did not see it,” said Sophia. “We
will be here for whatever you need.”

 

“You are very gracious,” said Hermione recognizing a dismissal when she
heard one. “Thank you.”

 

“Hermione,” said Sophia. “We have heard about your talents with the craft
and your dedication to study. We would like to involve you with our
organization, at least on a trial basis if you’re interested.”

 

“It would be a great honor,” said Hermione, suddenly realizing she
needed to find out as much about the Amazons as she could. It was on a trial
basis, after all. Perhaps it would aid her in her mission for the Order.

 

Sophia said her good byes and Alexandra escorted Hermione back to the
ground floor and to a fireplace to floo back home.

 

Hermione walked into her kitchen and was greeted by Severus and Charlie
who were eating piroshkis for lunch.

 

“How did it go?” asked Severus handing her a pastry.

 

“They want me to become involved in their organization,” said Hermione.
“Because of my grades and work ethic.”

 

“Are you serious?” asked Charlie, his jaw dropped.

 

“On a trial basis,” said Hermione quickly. “Why? Is this bad?”

 

“On the contrary,” said Severus. “It is exceptional. Cherv!”

 

The little house elf scuttled around the corner into the kitchen at
Severus’ bark.

 

“A bottle of wine,” said Severus. “We have celebrating to do.”

 

“Yes, master,” said Cherv. He zipped away and returned shortly with an
opened bottle and three glasses on a silver tray.

 

Hermione, Charlie and Severus toasted Hermione’s good fortune, although
she still wasn’t sure what they were so happy about.

 
w diw did it go with the translation?” said Charlie.

 

“She said it was dead on,” said Hermione. “And if we don’t see it maybe
we aren’t meant to yet.”

 

“Typical,” spat Severus. “Fat lot of help they are.” He took a deep
drink from his glass.

 

“But maybe with what I learn there I’ll be able to see what it means,”
said Hermione.

 

“This is true,” said Severus, spinning his glass between his finger and
thumb. “When are you supposed to return?”

 

“They’re going to owl me,” said Hermione.

 

“That’s not a surprise,” snorted Charlie. Hermione looked at him oddly.
“You’re born an Amazon, Hermione. They don’t recruit.”

 

“Then why me?” Hermione squeaked.

 

“That’s a very good question,” said Severus. His face darkened for a
moment. “Stay on your toes.”

 

“I will,” said Hermione. “Maybe they want me because I can chronicle
Harry, being so close to him.”

 

“That’s a good reason,” said Charlie, relaxing a bit. “That would make
perfect sense.”

 

“Still,” said Severus. “Be careful when dealing with them.”

 

***

 

“Are you sure, mother?” asked the red haired girl as she cleared the
afternoon tea. “All the way to Atlantis? No one has even had contact with them
for centuries.”

 

“It will be a most difficult journey,” said Sophia. “And it will be a
most important story. If we can get the girl interested now we can get the
first chronicle if they succeed.”

 

“Does she have any idea what is going to happen to her friend?”
Alexandra asked.

 

“No,” said Sophia sadly. “It is best she not know. Her anger will fuel
her determination when she finds out.”

 

“It must be a burden to See so clearly,” said Alexandra feeling a bit
sorry for her mother.

 

“Perhaps,” said Sophia shrugging. “But I have never known any other
way.”

 

Sophia padded out of the room in silk slippers and rode the stairs
leading up from the landing to the library. She would be there for a long time
today.

 

***

 

“I think we should go out for dinner,” said Severus. “I don’t feel like
staying in. Do you like the ballet?”

 

“Dinner would be nice,” said Hermione. “I’ve seen ballet on the telly,
but I’ve never been.”

 

“Well then, it will be something new,” said Severus. “Be prepared to leave
at 7 o’clock.

 

“I will,” said Hermione. Part of her felt confident. Another part of
her worried what to wear.