Chapter 7:
The wind picked up as Cei went further from the village than Lily and Rose had ever been. Even the shrieking shack was a distant memory.
The wind brought with it cold, autumnal rain that caused the two girls to be bent almost double in an attempt to shield themselves from the elements. Their school regulation cloaks sodden within minutes of the rain beginning to fall.
They began to walk up a steep hill; the ground beneath their feet a treacherous mix of mud and loose stones: all of them a dull, unblemished grey.
"How much further will he go?" Rose muttered, gasping for breath and clutching a stitch at her side.
Lily didn't reply, she was concentrating on ignoring the water that was soaking her feet and looking for places they could use to hide from Cei in this barren landscape. Shivering, she pointed to a lichen covered rock that would at least provide some shelter from the wind.
They reached cover just in time; Cei had stopped walking and, strangely, had the beginnings of a smile. He glanced in the girls direction and apparently satisfied that he was not being watched, took a small glass dagger and an ancient ring from a hidden pocket in his robes.
He also took out a scroll which was then carefully unrolled. Cei held the scroll in his right hand, the ring - which from a distance looked like copper - in his left hand and had placed the dagger on top of his old book like a paper weight.
Rose's eyes widened as she watched the fingers of his left hand play with the ring while his eyes feasted on the contents of the scroll.
Lily nudged her cousin and spoke in a whisper, "hey, look at the dagger, what does it remind you of?"
Rose blinked away raindrops that had landed on her eyelashes, "I've no idea sorry, Lily."
"Did Binns not do South American wizard's of the medieval period with you?"
Achieving the impossible, Rose's eyes widened further, "Ooh, you mean that's a sacrificial blade?"
Lily nodded and turned back to watch Cei, whose face glistened with moisture; Lily assumed her own face looked similarly wet.
"Is he crying?" Rose asked.
"What? How can you tell from here?"
"Water dripping from his eyes is at a different angle to everywhere else."
"I didn't know your eyes were so good. Remind me why you don't play Quidditch..."
Rose laughed surprisingly loudly. She immediately gulped and glanced towards Cei again. The boy remained oblivious to his company.
He had taken his eyes off the scroll and was now studying the ring. With a noticeably deep breath - Lily and Rose could have sworn he temporarily added 2 inches to his already impressive height - Cei put the scroll inside his book and picked up the dagger. Eyeing the blade with apprehension, he sliced into the palm of his left hand with enough force to cause the fingers of that hand to involuntarily twitch. Soaking the ring with his blood.
* * * *
"What is Teddy doing that means he no longer has time to visit us?" Ginny accosted Harry as they sat for a late breakfast.
"He's working for the department of Mysteries so I don't know." Harry sighed, hating this weekly conversation.
Sensing his mood, Ginny changed the topic to one more agreeable to her husband's taste, "I got the tickets for that christmas eve game. When should we tell Albus and Lily?"
Harry allowed a grin to cross his features, "let's keep it a surprise for now."
"But what if they choose to spend christmas at Hogwarts?"
"Have they ever?"
"No, but..."
"Can you see them not wanting to attend christmas at the burrow?"
"No, but..."
"Are they scholars?"
"No, but..."
"Then the library here will suffice for their homework needs as it always has, yes?"
"Yes, but..."
"Stop worrying. They'll be here. Neither of them is James."
Harry instantly wished he had not mentioned their eldest son. He winced at the look of hurt on Ginny's face and leaned forward to comfort her.
Ginny pulled away from Harry and screamed, "You never cared about him! You've forgotten him! Have you even looked for him? NO!"
Stung by Ginny's words, Harry remained motionless as she stepped away from him and disapparated. He fell back on to his chair, holding his head in his hands as tears began to fall.
* * * *
When Lily uncovered her eyes, she noticed a bright ring on Cei's right hand, completely different to the one that he had been playing with - it was still copper-like in colour but much shinier.
She was also surprised at how close he was to herself and Rose.
"Good morning ladies, any reason you were stalking me today?" Cei's voice was cold anger, matching the frown that creased his forehead.
Lily noticed redness around his eyes, evidence that he had indeed been crying.
"Just enjoying the, ah, weather," Rose stammered, quickly concluding that Cei was indeed a psyco.
Cei smiled sickly, "the weather? Really? Why do I get the impression that's a lie?"
Lily decided honesty would be better, "We came because I thought you were upset and wanted to comfort you. Just wanted to do this." Lily's first sentence was said defiantly, her second followed by a hug as she leapt to her feet and wrapped her arms around the boy.
Rose gulped as Cei blinked at the small red head clutching him, scared that he may throw her cousin off without a second glance.
To the surprise of both girls, Cei returned the hug, lifting Lily off her feet as his expression changed from one of grief and anger to warmth, happiness and relaxation. He began to whisper to Lily, softly and quickly so only she could hear.
His mood suddenly changed again.
"Why did you two bring Goblin's intent on destroying what's left of my family with you?"
"Goblins? What Goblins?"
"The horde behind you." Cei. gestured with his left hand - somehow unmarked from it's encounter with the blade.
Both Lily and Rose screamed as they took in a large amount of red cloaks with various weapons pointing from them.
"RUN!" Cei bellowed, moving between them and the charging horde.
Lily ran until she was certain that no one on the hill top could see her. Her mouth agape as she watched the goblins clamber onto Cei like baby spiders up a web. She heard a final roar of defiance before her own world turned to darkness.
* * * *
"You know, I thought I packed this in over twenty years ago. Any idea why Griphook would select me for this trip?"
Ogranak looked at his wizard colleague; they had been in Mexico for three fruitless weeks and Bill had not complained once. Ogranak's ears twitched as he replied in a quiet voice. "It's all very simple. You are part of Harry Potter's family. Griphook's religious leader doesn't want wizards to know what he's up to."
"Aha, that would explain all the sudden reassignments of tomb breakers based in britain?"
"Yes. Shaman Krull has got ideas above his station."
"Is that why you're here?"
"I'm here because I asked too many questions."
Bill laughed, "you're siding with wizards?"
"The goblin leaders believes your ministry doesn't give goblins the respect they deserve. I believe that 25 years is not long enough to change the prejudices of the masses."
"Okay, good to know."
"No it isn't. We cannot forward this information to anyone - owls are being intercepted."
Bill laughed again, "Don't worry, Ogranak. Have you heard of the fellytone?"
A/N: an unnamed chapter for no other reason than a lack of imagination on my part am afraid.
I hope you all enjoyed it nonetheless. Chapter 6 Chapter 8