Litha

Litha

June 20th: Litha or the Summer Solstice is traditionally celebrated by the Wizarding world. Young people spend the night tending a sacred fire and greet the longest day of the year at dawn. Every year, Litha is celebrated at a stone circle in Great Britain. This year, Litha will be celebrated in Cornwall at standing circle called the Merry Maidens. To see a picture, go to this site:

http://www.stonepages.com/england/england.html

The Ministry doesn’t condone the ceremony and it’s kind of like a rave for Wizarding teenagers. Only the young know where it will be celebrated. Everyone under the age of twenty five and over the age of fifteen usually makes their pilgrimage to Litha at least once in their life.

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

Alicia Spinnet shivered as she apparated into the zone just outside the Merry Maidens. She stepped out of the apparition point to wait for Katie and Angelina. They were right behind her. She gave a relieved smile as she saw her mates appear seconds later.

Alicia eyed the growing crowd with trepidation. It had been ages since Litha had been celebrated. A moratorium had been placed on the rite of passage until the second and final fall of Lord Voldemort. In fact, it had been a long time since she had seen this many witches and wizards in one place. For the past few years, she had been living as a muggle. In fact, she didn’t know if she would have even come back to the Wizarding world if her parents hadn’t died in a car accident last year. She had been so grateful that Angie and Katie had welcomed her back with open and sympathetic arms. She still felt strangely out of place.

“There it is,” pointed out Angelina as she came to stand beside Alicia. Ally looked over at the Merry Maidens. Muggles could only see small stone ruins set in a circle. Alicia eyed the towering monoliths with awe. This circle was reputed to be nearly as old as Stonehenge. She could see the sacred fire flickering to life in the middle of the circle. The fire would be tended all night until the sun came to life over the eastern horizon in the morning.

“I see Lee and Fred over on the other side of the circle,” said Katie as she nudged Alicia.

“Honestly Bell,” said Angie with a laugh. “You should have been a seeker with eyes that sharp.”

Ally gave a slight smile as she followed her friends through the crowd. She felt the mental burdens she had been carrying since graduating Hogwarts start to melt away as she greeted her old housemates. It was almost like going back to the carefree days of her youth when all she thought about was Quidditch and cute boys. Quidditch had been her salvation when she had been thrust unknowing into the magical world when she was 11. She had missed her broom and flying.

“Drink?” said George Weasley as he moved over so Ally could sit on the blanket that the boys had used to outline their territory just outside the Maidens.

“Please,” said Katie as she bumped shoulders with Lee.

“One season with the Harpies and you are already an experienced drinker,” said Fred in a mock sad tone.

“But isn’t the point of tonight to eat, drink and be very merry,” asked Angie with a raised eyebrow at Fred.

“True,” said Fred briskly as he poured Katie a stiff drink.

“Are you going to tend the fire tonight Katie?” asked George in a sly tone.

“No,” said Katie with a smirk.

“Ahhhhhh,” said George with interest. “Does that mean what I think it means?” He asked the question with his eyebrows wriggling suggestively.

“What are you on about?” asked Lee with confusion as Katie punched George.

Alicia shrugged as she had no idea what George was talking about.

“Only a virgin can tend the sacred fire,” said Katie dryly, “and unfortunately for you, George, a female virgin.”

“Ouch,” said George melodramatically.

“It is a great honor,” said Angelina. “My parents were on about how I had to try to be one of the maidens tonight. I hadn’t the heart to disabuse them of that notion.”

“I have never heard of this part of Litha,” said Alicia with curiosity. Being muggle born, she had no idea of the rites and customs associated with the magical world. In fact, most of the rites slightly frightened her with their pagan undertones. Alicia always guessed that her muggle religious upbringing had something to do with her reaction.

“The circle chooses 13 maidens magically who come to tend the fire. After midnight, only those thirteen are allowed in the circle,” said Lee with enthusiasm. He was right in his element. He loved talking about pretty much everything. His enthusiasm about life was reassuring to Alicia. He never made fun of her for her lack of knowledge either.

“The first thirteen girls-,” said Fred with surprise. Lee cut him off.

“No,” said Lee. “The circle chooses which thirteen virgins it wants. It is completely random. When it chooses one, the girl glows as she steps through the entrance of the circle.”

“They have to tend a fire?” asked Alicia as she sipped her drink. She gave a confused smile as her mates snickered.

“Well,” said Lee with a slight blush. “Kinda.”

“The maidens tend the fire nude in the firelight,” said Angie with a smile at Ally. “As they tend the fire, wizards come and stand outside the circle in the gaps between the stone circle to offer themselves.”

“Offer themselves?” asked Katie with surprise. She had no idea about this part of the rite.

“Honestly,” said Fred. “It is a fertility rite. The greatest way a Litha maiden could honor the green goddess is to give her virginity to one random wizard. Most Litha maidens honor the green goddess in this way. If a child results, it is considered an omen of great luck and fortune.”

“So,” said Alicia scandalized. “The maidens ……..shag some random men?”

“In the moonlight by the sacred fire,” said Angelina. “Honestly Ally that is not the only random shagging that goes on at Litha, it’s not even the most scandalous.”

Katie laughed as the boys refilled the drinks.

“But in front of everyone?” asked Alicia with shock. God, she really wanted to embrace the Wizarding world more completely now that she was on her own in the world but this Litha rite was more than she bargained for.

“No one is paying attention,” said Lee. “Besides, it is very hard to see inside the circle after midnight and you basically have to be a pureblood to even get a chance at ‘offering yourself’”

“Oh,” said Katie in surprise.

“All the old Wizarding families have their chances first,” said Fred. “I hear it is a requirement in some pureblood families that a bloke has to offer himself at Litha at least once.”

“And most of the maidens will tend to take the heir of a wealthy old family in the hopes of the off-chance of snaring herself a rich husband,” said George with a smirk.

“You two are purebloods, mates,” said Lee with a big smile. “Are you both gonna try?”

“No,” said Fred. “My mother will have a fit if I tried. I heard Bill did but that’s Bill.”

“Perfect, perfect Bill,” said George with a grimace.

“I agree with that sentiment,” said Angie with a purr. The girls started to giggle.

“Yes, yes, yes,” said Fred. “I know. Pervy girls.”

“So,” said Alicia with confusion. “What happens outside the circle?”

“Basically a bacchanal,” said Lee. “Drinking.”

“Shagging,” said Angie with smile.

“Dancing,” said Katie with excitement in her eyes.

After many more drinks, Alicia watched the sun sink in the western sky with a dreamy smile. She could hear people toasting the setting sun and it gave her a warm feeling in her chest. This world was where she belonged. No strange looks and no averted eyes when something magical happened in this clearing. They were all witches here.

“Let’s go for a walk,” urged Angelina with a bright smile as she tugged on Katie and Ally’s hands. “Let’s go see who is here.”

“We won’t know people,” said Ally with a shake of her head.

“Now Ally,” said Katie. “You forget. There are not that many magical folk in Britain. It’s like a Hogwarts class reunion here.”

The girls wound their way through the thickening crowd. They smiled as many people in the crowd had familiar faces and accepted the glasses that were pressed on them.

“Not too much, love,” said Angelina with a smile when she saw Alicia’s glazed eyes.

“Mead is very potent,” warned Katie with a grin that turned into a grimace.

“What’s wrong?” asked Angie as they wound their way through the crowd and headed for the stones.

“Let’s go this way,” urged Katie as she bit her lip and steered everyone towards the merry maidens.

“What is it?” asked Ally curiously as she looked into Katie’s blushing face.

“Nothing,” said Katie determinedly as she practically pushed her mates through the now thick crowd.

“Bell,” said a strangely familiar raspy voice.

Alicia looked behind her with surprise. It sounded like someone she used to know. But the tall man behind her was unfamiliar. He was green eyed and handsome but also disturbingly familiar. She looked at Katie with surprise when she heard Katie swear under her breath.

“Flint,” said Katie coolly as she turned with her shoulders squared.

“Flint?” mouthed Alicia as she stared at the man.

“Holy Merlin,” said Angelina with utter surprise. “Flint?”

Marcus Flint just rolled his eyes and repeated Katie’s name.

“Yes?” asked Katie with a challenging look in her flashing eyes. She and Flint seemed to be having a silent conversation. Then Marcus smiled.

“I forgot my jumper at your flat last night,’ drawled Flint with a smirk. “Can I come over to get it tonight?” His raspy voice dropped and became darkly seductive.

Angie’s mouth dropped and Ally just looked at Flint through her big dark eyes.

Katie flushed a dark crimson.

“No,” hissed Katie, “I am going to be here.”

“Hmmm,” said Flint with a lazy look in his eyes. “Why don’t you come tuck me in later?”

Katie’s licked her lips uncertainly.

“I’ll see you later then?” asked that raspy suddenly seductive voice.

Katie nodded and grabbed her mates by the arms and hustled them away. Alicia could hear Flint’s throaty laughter following them.

“Impossible man,” fumed Katie.

“Wait one second,” said Angie determinedly as she dug in her heels.

“What?” asked Katie as she tried to avoid eye contact.

“Since when have you and Flint been fucking?” asked Angie heatedly.

“Never mind that,” said Ally. “When did he get so good looking?”

“Years ago,” said Angie dismissively. “Took a bludger to the mouth during a game with Falmouth, came back a few months later with straight teeth, longer hair and the witches went crazy. But Katie, you’ve been shagging him!”

“We aren’t?” said Katie weakly.

“Liar,” said Angie with her hands on her hips.

“Okay,” said Katie with a sigh. “We have been seeing each other for months.”

“But he’s still Flint,” said Angie with a frustrated wave of her hands.

“But he’s just so…,” said Katie as she bit her lip.

“What?” asked Ally.

“Delicious,” finished Katie with a slight grin.

“Oh god,” said Angie with a groan. “He has a reputation.”

“I know,” purred Katie.

Alicia’s eyes went big then she blushed at the look of utter satisfaction on Katie’s face.

“He has the most beautiful eyes,” said Katie dreamily. “All mossy green.”

“You are falling in love with him,” hissed a suddenly horrified Angelina.

“Are you mad,” said a blushing and flustered Katie. “NO!”

“Hmmmm,” said Angie suspiciously.

“His family was cleared of any wrong doing,” said Katie earnestly.

Angie rolled her eyes.

As they were talking, the girls moved closer and closer still to the entrance of the merry maidens. Ally looked up at the mossy stones in wonder. She could feel the magic humming through them. Alicia touched the one stone with a finger tip. Suddenly, she could hear drums in her head and her eyes closed.

Behind her eyelids, she could see them. Painted blue, the druids were standing in the circle beckoning her in. She moved towards them. She could hear her name being called but she needed to go to the druids. They needed her.

When she opened her eyes, she was standing in the centre of the circle. There were druids there but they were dressed in white robes and they were not painted blue. She looked around in confusion. Where was she?

“Your name?” asked one of the men who reminded her of Dumbledore with his kind eyes.

“Alicia Spinnet,” said Ally breathlessly.

“You come to honor the green goddess,” asked the druid.

“Yes,” said Alicia.

“You heard the call?” asked the druid softly.

“Yes,” whispered Alicia. “I heard the drums.”

“Then Alicia Anne Spinnet,” said the druid. “The Merry Maidens honor you tonight.”

Ally looked around her in shock as she heard a cheer go up from the crowd beyond the circle of stones. A strong magically enhanced voice rose up.

“The stones have chosen,” said the voice.

A shocked Alicia let the druids lead her to the alter where they magically changed her clothes into a long clingy, white silky robe and her hair was taken down. The kind-eyed druid placed a wreath of flowers on her head.

“Don’t be afraid,” said the druid. “Let the goddess guide you.”

Alicia stood beside the sacred fire and helped tend to it as the night began to fall over the plain. She was joined by eighteen other women.

“I am afraid,” said Alicia quietly as darkness descended. “I don’t know what to do.”

“My mother said to listen to the stones,” said a dark eyed little witch who was gazing out into the crowd.

“Every time one of us decides to honor the goddess,” said another girl breathlessly. “The fire burns brightly for an hour.”

“Do you have to take one of the men who come to the entrance,” asked another girl.

“No,” said the kind-eyed druid. He had come up into the huddle of girls. Another group of girls were standing around the circle facing outward. Those girls were unafraid of offering themselves up. It was his task to coax the reluctant ones.

“Your heart will choose,” said the druid softly. “When you see the man you are meant to share the night and honor the goddess with, the stones and you will know instantly.”

“Really,” said the dark eyed witch hopefully.

“You will have eyes for no other,” said the druid.

Alicia gazed into the fire and bit her lip. She joined with the others as they brought the flagons of mead to their lips. She felt her doubts melt away as darkness fell and the drums began. It seemed natural to start dancing around the fire.

Through the corner of her eyes, she could see one by one, wizards come into the circle and join a dancer by the fire. They danced in the bright moonlight. Alicia could feel the drumbeats in her heart and in her mind.

The ceremony was wildly pagan but it felt right to Alicia. Her heart exulted. This world felt right. It was where she belonged. Then she felt it -a humming that was coming from the stones. She turned in mid-dance to stand and stare towards the stones. He was there.

Ally stood and waited for him. The man the stones had chosen for her. Her heart was pounding but she felt wildly excited. Her breath caught in her throat when she caught sight of his clear blue eyes. His eyes were smoky and hot with desire. It seemed natural when he came up and grasped her around her waist. They swayed there beside the sacred fire. Her arms twined around his shoulders as he pressed his hot lean body against her soft curves.

“Alicia.”
“Terrence,” whispered Alicia thickly. Her blood was running hot and she could feel the desire pooling in between her thighs. How had the stones known? She had wanted him since she was a flat-chested second year. But he was a pure blood and a Slytherin.

Ter looked down at her dark slumberous eyes and felt the desire he always had for the muggle born Gryffindor flare to life. He gave a wry grin as his mouth claimed hers in a fiery kiss. His father would kill him for even touching her. But his father was in Azkaban prison with the rest of the death eaters. He had always wanted to touch her even when she had been so young.

She gasped into his hungry mouth as he kissed her. His mouth was greedy. Her lips softened under his onslaught. Then his kisses gentled as he coaxed her mouth open. His tongue slid into her mouth and Alicia’s knees went weak. But his strong hands kept her upright as they kissed.

Her hands were fisted in his hair but Ter didn’t care as he slid his hand up to caress her plump breast. His fingers rubbed at her hard nipples through the fabric as he heard her gasp and moan. He pushed his hips into her stomach and was rewarded by a soft moan as she felt his aching erection. A thrill went through him as he contemplated her flushed passionate face for a moment. She was a virgin and she was his.

Ally could feel him hot and hard against her stomach. She trembled then shyly pressed her stomach back at him. He groaned in his throat and lifted his head to look at her. She closed her eyes as she felt suddenly shy. Her face went red as she felt him press harder but against the apex of her thighs. She was aching there. Ally whimpered as Ter pulled her by her backside to lie heavy against his throbbing cock. She opened her eyes and looked up into his face.

“Ready?” gasped Ter.

Ally trembled but nodded. She wanted something more and she knew he had what she wanted. He would make the ache go away. She heard the drums get louder and lifted her arms for Ter as he pulled the shift off of her. She was gloriously naked in the moonlight and she did not care. She watched with avid eyes as he pulled off his robes without care. Then Ter was naked with her.

Ter growled in his throat as he took her into his arms and felt her silky skin caress his own. He bore her down to lie in the soft grass beside the fire. He gave her a soft kiss and moved to lie on top of her beautiful body. He parted her knees and moved into the apex of her thighs with a heartfelt groan. He had wanted her for so long, for as long as he could remember.

Alicia shivered as she felt him move on top of her. He looked purposeful and very hungry. She looked up at him with a trace of fear in her in her dark eyes. His eyes softened and he kissed softly and gently. Ally wrapped her arms around his shoulders and felt the drum beats come through the earth. She could feel him, the smooth head of his throbbing cock, pressing against her softness and she parted her legs for him wider. Her eyes opened wide with shock when he slid deep inside of her with one twist of his slim hips. She looked up into the night sky and saw the flames of the sacred fire climb high and gave a cry.

He heard her cry out when he penetrated her tight hot pussy for the first time. He was hurting her. She was very tight - a virgin, his virgin. He ran a trembling hand over her face and felt her tears.

“Don’t cry,” whispered Ter against her mouth. He kissed her face apologetically as his hips began a rhythm as old as time. He delved into her tight pussy with slow thrusts of his hips. He watched her face carefully.

Alicia moaned as he moved inside her untried body. He felt enormous, too big. But she held him in her arms as he labored over her. She welcomed his hot mouth as his face dipped to taste her lips. Then she felt it, the drums, the fire and the earth and began to move her hips to his rhythm. The pleasure began to flow through her veins as she let go of her fear and pain.

Then, they were moving together, man and woman. Ally looked up into Ter’s passionate face and said his name. He whispered hers back and she knew then that the stones were right. This was the man she had been waiting for.

Ter’s hips were pumping as was his heart. He was focused on her lovely face. He was waiting for her. His body was waiting for her. Then he felt her sheath compress him in ripples and her rhythm broke as her orgasm flashed through her body. Then he took his pleasure inside her sucking sheath. He closed his eyes as his world went white. Intense pleasure went though his straining body. He could hear himself yelling her name over and over but he couldn’t help himself.

Alicia gave a silent scream as she felt pleasure like she never felt before go through her. He was bucking and moaning on top of her. She clenched her eyes closed. She could feel him. She could feel him coming inside of her with hot spurts. And it spurred her satisfaction.

Much later, she opened her dazed eyes to find him still on top of her, still inside her. He lifted his head to look into her slumberous eyes and he kissed her. Then they made love again and again until the sun broke over the horizon and the druids began to sing ancient hymns. Litha was over.

In silence they left the stones hand in hand. She let him lead her towards a grove of trees over intertwined bodies and through the sleepy stragglers around the stones. He stopped beside a stream and took off her hastily thrown on shift and his own torn robes and led her into the cold water. Alicia gasped but felt the current make her feel refreshed and alive. Her veins were still pumping with exhilaration and excitement. She was not the least bit sleepy. They had not exchanged a single word.

Ter looked around at the peaceful woods then into her glowing face and his heart lurched.

Alicia looked off into the distance and said the first thing that came into her heart.

“I don’t think I can leave you,” whispered Alicia.

Ter only looked into her dark tremulous eyes and gave no indication of the conflict roaring in his heart. He was from a dark family. He had escaped Azkaban only because he had been thought of as too young to answer for the sins of his father. He had kept his arms bare of any mark. He was a wily Slytherin. He had read the signs. The Potter boy could not lose. His duty was to now carry on the pureblood tradition of the Higgs family.

But she was all he ever wanted. He looked deep into her eyes and touched her face ruefully.

“Then stay,” said Ter roughly. He would find a way through. She was his; the stones gave her to him. After all, he was a Slytherin; he could spin this situation to his advantage. Alicia Spinnet belonged to him.

Unaware of his inner conflict, Alicia gave him a glowing smile that lit up her face. Finally, she found her place in the world and it was with Terrence Higgs. The stones had given him to her.

The old druid watched from the trees and smiled. The stones had spoken. Another old pureblood family would be saved from extinction by the child the girl carried. The child she did not know she conceived that night. Litha was for new blood, since the dawn of time it was so. The stones were never wrong.