аааааааа"She's coming," James said as he trotted to a stop next to his friend. "She just takes forever to get ready. What is it about girls and getting ready?"
ааааааааRalph shrugged. "Fiera Hutchins says that girls take longer to get ready because they actually get ready. She says boys just matt their hair down with spit, slap on some cologne, and call it done."
аааааааа"So what's wrong with that?" James muttered.
ааааааааRose approached them from behind. She was looking cool and, James had to admit, much more prepared than he was. "I told you I was right behind you," she admonished.
аааааааа"What's in the basket?" Ralph asked, nodding at the small satchel slung over her shoulder.
аааааааа"Let's see," Rose said, cocking her hip. "My wand, some water, a few biscuits, a Bug-repellent Charm, a field knife, a pair of Omnioculars, an extra pair of socks, and some sunglasses." She looked back and forth between Ralph and James. "What? You said we were supposed to come prepared to walk!"
ааааааааJames shook his head. "How can you be so like your mum and your dad at the same time?"
аааааааа"Just fortunate, I guess," Rose sniffed.
аааааааа"We're supposed to be prepared to walk?" Ralph asked, furrowing his brow. "Is that anything like hiking?"
ааааааааJames set out across the rotunda floor. "Come on, Merlin said he'd meet us at the entrance, and when he gives directions, he means them."
"I don't even own hiking shoes," Ralph lamented, following.
ааааааааThe three stepped out into the warmth of the afternoon. At one time, centuries ago, the rotunda entrance had been the main entry to Hogwarts castle. Now it was virtually unused. The portico's huge doors were almost always left open, looking out over a long field of weeds and heather, ending at the edge of the Forest.
аааааааа"Those are creepy," Rose said, looking back into the gloom of the rotunda at the remains of the statues. "They must have been enormous before they were broken. Whatever happened to them?"
аааааааа"The statues of the founders?" James replied. "They were destroyed. A long time ago. In a battle or something."
аааааааа"You don't know, do you?" Rose challenged, raising her eyebrows.
ааааааааJames didn't, but he wasn't about to admit it. He made a show of watching for Merlin.
ааааааааRalph frowned thoughtfully. "I wonder what ever happened to the pieces. You think they're still here, stored away in a cellar or something?"
аааааааа"I wouldn't be surprised," Rose agreed. "There's room enough here for them to keep everything. They say the original founders themselves are buried here somewhere, although nobody knows where. All except Salazar Slytherin."
ааааааааRalph blinked at her. "Why isn't he buried here?"
аааааааа"I thought you said you read Hogwarts: A History?"
ааааааааRalph turned to James. "Is she always like this? If so, remind me not to ask her any more questions."
аааааааа"He's not buried here," James answered, "because he had a big row with the other founders and got kicked out of the school."
ааааааааRalph grimaced. "I probably don't want to know what that was about, do I?"
аааааааа"I'm sure you can guess," James replied. "It's a good thing times have changed, eh?"
аааааааа"Times never change," a deep voice said. James glanced up and saw Merlin climbing the steps from the field below. "But people do. Greetings, my friends. Are we ready to disembark?"
аааааааа"If that means are we ready to hike," Ralph said tentatively, "I'm not sure I'm prepared to answer that."
ааааааааMerlin turned on the steps and began to descend again into the grassy weeds at the bottom. James looked at Rose and Ralph, then shrugged and ran down the steps to follow.
аааааааа"So how are we getting there, Headmaster?" Rose called. "Portkey? Broom? Side-Along Apparition?"
аааааааа"I thought Mr. Potter had already informed you," Merlin replied without looking back. "We are going to walk."
аааааааа"The whole way?" Ralph said, tripping over a patch of heather.
ааааааааMerlin seemed to be enjoying himself. "It'll become easier as we go, Mr. Deedle. In my dayЧand I admit that that day was quite a long time ago indeedЧpeople walked virtually everywhere. It is good for wizards and witches to move within nature. It reminds us of who we are."
аааааааа"I know who I am," Ralph grumbled. "I'm a bloke with cruddy shoes and a preference for food that comes in wrappers."
ааааааааThey reached the edge of the Forest and Merlin stepped into it without breaking his stride. There was no path, but Merlin seemed to know where to step. He barely made a footprint or bent a stalk of grass. James paused for a moment at the edge of the woods. Merlin wasn't slowing, andJames knew that if he didn't keep up, he would quickly lose the big wizard in the density of the trees. He plunged in after him, trying as well as he could to match Merlin's giant stride.
аааааааа"Hold up a minute," Rose called, plucking burs from her jeans as she walked. "Not all of us can commune with the oneness of nature and all that."
ааааааааAs they progressed, however, James noticed a strange thing. In some small way, he did seem to be connecting with the woods around him. It was as if the Forest blended with Merlin as he moved, opening for him and closing up again once he was past. If James, Ralph, and Rose kept closeenough, they travelled in the wake of that opening. Briars bent away from them, streams sprouted smooth, dry stepping stones, and even the grass and brush laid down flat, softening the ground for their feet. No branches snagged them despite the fact that the woods were exceedingly dense. Even the reddening sunlight seemed to wend its way through the thick treetops, laying down a trail of light for them.
аааааааа"Hey, James," Ralph said quietly, "how far do you think we've gone?"
аааааааа"We've only been at it for half an hour or so," James replied, glancing up at the sun. "We can't have gone much further than Hogsmeade, depending on what direction we're heading in. It's hard to tell, isn't it?"
ааааааааRalph nodded. "Yeah, it is. I swear it feels like we've been walking only a few minutes and about a week at the same time."
аааааааа"Your mind is playing tricks on you," Rose said. "It happens on long trips. The monotony gets to you. We're probably hardly out of sight of the castle. If only the trees would thin out a bit."
ааааааааAs Rose spoke, Merlin stepped into a blaze of orange light. James squinted as he followed, then gasped, catching himself and throwing out his hands to stop Ralph and Rose. They bumped him from behind.
аааааааа"Hey," Rose replied, dropping her satchel, "why are we stoppingЧ"
ааааааааHer voice trailed away as she looked up. A blindingly beautiful sunset filled the view before them, blazing with oranges and pinks and deep lavenders, but that was only half of it. Fifteen feet in front of James' feet, the stony ground fell away, plunging dizzyingly to a rocky beachpounded with surf. Mist roared up on the wind, wetting their faces and beading on their eyelashes.
аааааааа"Is that the ocean?" Rose asked breathlessly. "That's impossible!"
ааааааааA voice called indistinctly. James tore his eyes from the sight below him and saw Merlin some distance away. He was standing on a narrow path that threaded along the crags of the cliff. He waved for them to follow. After a few awed moments, they did.
ааааааааThe roar of the ocean and the whipping wind filled their ears as they skirted the cliff, catching up with Merlin. While they were still some distance behind him, Rose slipped in next to James.
ааааааааKeeping her voice low, she said, "James, why did you ask me to come along on this trip?"
аааааааа"That's easy," James replied, treading as quickly as he could on the uneven path along the cliff. "I had to pick someone who could keep a secret. Besides, I knew you had some doubts about Merlin. I wanted you to see him up close and personal."
аааааааа"I have to tell you that so far I'm not feeling much better about him," Rose confided. "Somehow, he just walked us about a hundred kilometers in a half hour. But still, I'm just wondering, James: why didn't you ask Albus to come?"
ааааааааJames glanced over his shoulder at Rose. "I don't know. You were the first person I thought of."
аааааааа"I just think it's curious, that's all."
ааааааааRalph had caught up to them. "Why'd you ask me to come?" he asked, panting a little.
аааааааа"Merlin asked for you specifically, Ralph. He said he knew you and me were good at keeping secrets."
ааааааааRose frowned. "I want to know who he's keeping secrets from."
аааааааа"Shh," James hissed as they neared Merlin.
ааааааааHe had stopped at the crown of a steep, rocky promontory. As the three climbed to meet him, they realized they were at the point of a narrow peninsula. Only when they joined Merlin at the top did they see that the peninsula extended ahead of them, making a natural bridge out over the crashing surf far below. The peninsula was barely as wide as the path, with a sheer drop on either side. At the far end, the stony bridge connected to an enormous craggy monolith, nearly the same size and shape as a Hogwarts turret. The top seemed roughly flat and was covered with blowing grass.
аааааааа"We're not going out on that," Ralph stated flatly. "I mean, we're not, right? That would be totally mad."
ааааааааEven as he finished speaking, Merlin stepped out onto the rocky spine. "Follow closely, my friends. It is less dangerous than it looks, but it is not harmless. I will catch you if you fall, but let us work to avoid that necessity."
ааааааааFortunately, James wasn't particularly afraid of heights. Keeping his eyes on the large man striding easily along the narrow path, James stepped forward to follow.
аааааааа"Oh bugger," Ralph muttered from behind, his voice almost lost in the whipping, salty wind.
ааааааааIt was actually quite exhilarating, in a giddy, terrifying sort of way. The wind shifted restlessly, tugging at James' sleeves and pant legs. He knew he shouldn't look down, and yet he couldn't help studying the path, watching for the firmest footing. Occasionally, James saw hints of stonework and large bricks embedded in the path as if it had been shored up in the distant past, perhaps repeatedly. Dry weeds grew sparsely in the rocks, hissing in the incessant, shifting wind. On either side, the surf pounded and boomed against the rocks far below.
аааааааа"This is insane," Ralph called in a high, wavering voice. "What do we do if we fall off the side? Call out, 'Oh Headmaster, I'm plummeting on the right side, a little help when you get a mo'?'"
ааааааааJames thought about how Merlin had found him in the halls the previous night, and how he'd known exactly what they were up to. "I think he has ways of knowing what's going on. Don't worry about it, Ralph."
ааааааааRose, directly behind James, said, "That's fabulously reassuring."
ааааааааFinally, the path began to widen. The cliffs were obscured as they walked through a sort of gate made by a tumble of worn boulders and scree. James finally allowed himself to look around as he stepped into the clearing atop the monstrous monolith. It was indeed covered in long grassand brush, but it wasn't entirely flat. Instead, it was vaguely funnel-shaped, dipping to a hidden depression in the middle. Merlin was standing in a narrow path that threaded down into the center.
аааааааа"Exhilarating," he called heartily. He looked grimly happy, his cloak whipping freely about his legs and his beard streaming in the wind.
аааааааа"Actually," James answered, "yeah, it was!"
ааааааааRose and Ralph caught up and gathered near the wizard.
аааааааа"Are we there yet?" Ralph asked, raking his hair out of his eyes with his fingers.
ааааааааMerlin turned and looked into the middle of the plateau, which dipped out of sight. "We are. Watch your step from this point. It gets a bit tricky."
аааааааа"Oh, good," Ralph muttered helplessly.
аааааааа"Buck up, Ralph," Rose said, tying her hair back with a short length of ribbon. "This is the best adventure you'll never be able to tell anyone about."
аааааааа"I don't know why everyone seems to think I like adventures. I never even read adventure stories."
аааааааа"Stay close," Merlin said again as he began to descend the path.
ааааааааAs the four worked their way down the funnel-shaped plateau, the dry grass began to give way. James stopped for a moment as the true nature of the monolith became apparent. The center grew steeper and steeper, dropping deep into a natural pit fifty feet across. The path transitionedto huge stone steps, and then to a narrow stairway carved around the inside of the pit. The stairs were obviously ancient, rounded and slick with moss. The heart of the pit was filled with ocean water, roiling and heaving in and out of a hundred fissures worn through the stone. The boom of the waves was nearly deafening.
ааааааааFinally, just above the level of the surf, the stairway met a large cave. Merlin led the three into the dimness. He stopped and tapped his staff on the rocky floor, lighting it. Purplish light filled the space, making hard shadows in every crag and crack.
аааааааа"Nice hiding place," James said, whistling.
аааааааа"It sure is," Rose agreed, "considering it's underwater half the day. We're in the middle of low tide right now."
аааааааа"Is that where you have your stuff hidden?" Ralph asked, pointing toward a large door-shaped hole in the rear of the cave wall. "There's writing over the door, but I can't read it."
ааааааааRose peered at it, stepping closer. "It's Welsh, isn't it?"
аааааааа"It's an old form of what you'd call Welsh, I suppose," Merlin said, approaching the door. "Roughly translated, it reads, 'This is the cache of Merlinus Ambrosius; do not enter on pain of death.'"
ааааааааRalph squinted at the barely legible letters. "So much for secret riddles and magical passwords."
аааааааа"I do not believe in toying with the lives of treasure seekers," Merlin replied. "The mention of my name was enough to repel most who came this far. Those that ventured further deserved fair warning."
аааааааа"Isn't there some sort of key or something?" Rose asked.
аааааааа"No, Miss Weasley. The trick is not to get in. In fact, quite the reverse. Which is why you and Mr. Deedle will wait out here."
ааааааааRalph brightened. "That's the first good news I've heard since we started this trip. But why?"
аааааааа"Your wand is a fragment of my staff," Merlin smiled grimly. "Thus, it is the only other magical instrument on the earth that can reverse the doorway."
ааааааааRalph nodded, waving his hand. "Good enough for me. Just tell me what to do when the time comes. Happy pot-holing."
ааааааааRose asked, "What about me?"
ааааааааMerlin produced something from the depths of his robes and handed it to her. It was a small mirror with an ornate golden frame. "Do you know how to make an Occido Beam?"
ааааааааJames saw Rose struggle not to roll her eyes. "I know how to reflect the sun with a mirror, yes."
ааааааааMerlin nodded and looked at James. "Follow me, Mr. Potter, and stay close."
ааааааааWith that, he turned and stepped through the doorway. His staff lit the interior of the chamber with its purple glow. James glanced at Ralph and Rose, shrugged, and followed Merlin into the cavern.
ааааааааImmediately, his footsteps crunched unpleasantly.
аааааааа"Ugh!" he exclaimed. "Bones!"
ааааааааThe floor was covered thickly with tiny skeletons. The remains of birds, fish and rodents were piled several inches deep. Merlin didn't pay them any attention.
аааааааа"An unfortunate cost," he said, moving deeper into the cavern. "The one-way stone is rather unforgiving. My rune-warnings are rather less effective now than they were a few centuries ago."
аааааааа"You made warnings for the birds and rats?" James asked.
ааааааааMerlin looked back at him. "Of course, Mr. Potter. The creatures do not enter to thieve, but merely for shelter and food. I embedded a Hex of Dread in the stone of this place. It told their small minds that there was no good thing to be found here, and to stay away. I underestimatedthe longevity of those hexes however. I am not happy to be responsible for the loss of these creatures. I will repay the earth for their sacrifice."
аааааааа"What do you mean by 'one-way stone'?" James asked, but as he turned back toward the doorway, he saw for himself. The entry was gone, replaced by rough, seamless rock. By all appearances, James and Merlin were trapped inside a sealed cave. He shuddered and hugged himself, glancing around the dark, craggy space. Something caught his eye.
аааааааа"Er," he said, trying to keep his voice calm, "that's not the bones of a bird or a rat, is it?"
ааааааааMerlin followed James' gaze and saw the human skeleton leaning against a dark alcove. The skeleton was draped with the remains of rough armor. A rusted sword lay near the skeleton's hand.
аааааааа"I wouldn't get too close, Mr. Potter," Merlin warned mildly as James took a step nearer the skeleton, morbidly fascinated.
аааааааа"Wow," James breathed, "there are still rings on the fingers. And hair on the skull. Gah, there's the remains of a mustache! Who do you thinkЧ"
ааааааааThe skeleton suddenly lunged forward, throwing up its arms and waving the remains of the decrepit sword. James leapt backwards, tumbling into Merlin.
аааааааа"Avaunt!" the skeleton cried, waving its arms and swiveling its head. "Reveal yourself lest I run you through for sport!"
аааааааа"It's all right, James," Merlin said wryly, helping James get his feet under him. "Just stay back from it." Then, to the skeleton, he said, "You cannot see us because you have no eyes, Farrigan."
аааааааа"Merlinus!" the skeleton cried. "Where are you, you devil's son? How dare you trap me?"
аааааааа"How dare you breach my boundary and attempt to steal my cache, my old friend?"
аааааааа"Friend, pah!" the skeleton spat. Its jawbone squeaked as it spoke. "You were quit of the world. Dead! What good was it to you?"
аааааааа"You hoped I was dead, but you knew otherwise. My cache was bequeathed to no one but me, either way. Austramaddux made you well aware of that."
аааааааа"Austramaddux is a mongrel cur," the skeleton of Farrigan growled. "I'll put his head on my wall for this trickery. And what mean you that I have no eyes? It is merely dark. Light your staff if you are Merlinus, curse you."
ааааааааMerlin looked at James, his eyes hard. "He will be released from his bond to this world when we leave. It was part of the curse of anyone who dared breach this place that they should remain until my return. Now that that time is come, the curse will end. Can you bear to wait with him? He is quite harmless as long as you keep your distance."
ааааааааJames looked at the skeleton. It lolled against the wall, working to pull its leg bones together and make them work. It muttered squeakily to itself. James swallowed.
аааааааа"Yeah, I guess. How long will you be?"
аааааааа"Mere minutes," Merlin replied, then he raised his voice. "Miss Weasley, can you hear me?"
ааааааааRose's voice came through the invisible entrance clearly. "I'm right here. I'm looking right at you through the door. What's going on in there?"
аааааааа"Nothing consequential. Can you direct the Occido Beam now? The waning sunlight should be finding its way through a large crack to the left of the cave mouth."
ааааааааJames heard Rose's footsteps as she walked away. A moment later, a narrow beam of sunlight speared the dusty air of the cavern, penetrating the one-way stone of the doorway.
аааааааа"Very good, Miss Weasley," Merlin said. "Up just a bit, please."
ааааааааThe beam of sunlight pierced the depths of the cave. It bobbed and roamed as Merlin directed Rose, carefully aligning the beam. Finally, it lit upon a shiny burnished symbol embedded in a far distant wall. It flared brightly and suddenly, amazingly, a long golden cord dropped out ofthe beam of sunlight.
аааааааа"Thank you, Miss Weasley," Merlin called, reaching to collect the end of the cord. "You have done exceptionally well. Whatever you or Mr. Deedle do from this point on, under no circumstances should you enter the cavern, regardless of what you hear."
ааааааааJames felt a chill as Merlin turned to him.
аааааааа"Your duty is very simple, Mr. Potter, but absolutely essential. You must hold the end of this cord."
ааааааааJames took the cord in his hands as Merlin handed it to him. It was thin, finely woven from bright golden threads. "All I have to do is hold it?"
ааааааааMerlin nodded, maintaining eye contact with James. "But be sure, James Potter, as long as you hold this cord, you hold my life in your hands. You cannot let go for any reason until I return. Do you understand?"
ааааааааJames frowned, puzzled. He nodded. Without another word, Merlin turned and walked into the dimmer recesses of the cave, holding his staff ahead of him. The cave was apparently rather deeper than James had initially believed. As the wizard strode slowly away, his staff illuminated a much larger cavern connected to the one James stood in. The floor was very dark, nearly black. Strangely, Merlin was walking on the golden cord, placing each foot carefully on its length. The cord stretched into the depths of the cavern, disappearing into darkness. With a start, James saw that the floor of the larger cavern was not simply dark, as he had initially thought. It wasn't there at all. Merlin was walking on the cord alone, suspended over an apparently bottomless abyss.
ааааааааThere was a dry chuffing sound and James glanced over at the skeleton. It appeared to be laughing.
аааааааа"Off to get his treasures, is he?" it said. "Left you in the lurch, methinks. Favor me with your name, oh demon."
аааааааа"I'm not a demon," James said. "My name is James."
аааааааа"Ah, a great name, that is. Tell me, Master James, if you are not a servant demon, why do you hold the son of the devil's cord?"
ааааааааJames shook his head. He knew he shouldn't talk to the pathetic Farrigan. It chuffed laughter again, wearily, and dropped its sword. The rusted blade broke off the hilt and the skeleton drew a great sigh, crackling its ribs.
аааааааа"I have divined my state now," Farrigan said. "Austramaddux was right about the trap. I have been here an age, have not I? I am long dead, bound to this earth only by the curse of that abomination. And for what? I came not to thieve, but to destroy. Can you understand that, oh James, who holds the cord of the very man? I came to end it once and for all. But I have failed, and now it is begun. It is a good thing I am dead after all, and shall not see of it, yes?" The skeleton chuckled.
ааааааааJames' curiosity got the better of him. "What is it? What is begun?"
аааааааа"Say not that you be such a fool as to be blind to Merlinus' skullduggery," the skeleton replied, turning its head toward the sound of James' voice. "You, who even now assist him in his aims. Tell me not that you have not heard of the Curse, my young friend."
аааааааа"I don't know what you're talking about," James answered. "Merlin's not who you think he is. I don't know what he was like in your time, but he's different now. He's good."
ааааааааThe skeleton threw itself forward, cackling and beating its bony thighs with its hands. Finger joints broke away and pattered amongst the animal bones. "If you believe that, then perhaps your world deserves what is to be dealt it."
аа а а а"What is it?" James asked, feeling simultaneously fearful and annoyed.
ааааааааThe skeleton of Farrigan stopped cackling. It twisted its head toward James again, its blank eyes penetrating. "How can you not know that the Gate is rent open? Merlinus has torn the curtain. His return to the world of men is a rift, connecting the realms. Things have come through, and are even now loose among men."
аааааааа"The Borleys," James said to himself, considering.
ааааааааThe skeleton nodded. "But that is not all. It is coming. The Gatekeeper. The Sentinel of Worlds! Merlinus is its Ambassador. Fool! Even now, you hold the cord in your hands! Release it! Perhaps the Gate may still be shut! Release the cord and rid the world of the Curse, for it is nearly complete! Believe not the lies! Release it and send him to his deserved doom!"
аааааааа"No," James said, gripping the cord tightly, as if his fingers might betray him. He looked out along the length of the cord, but he could no longer see Merlinus. He could feel no weight on the cord. He knew he shouldn't pay any attention to the deranged skeleton. Obviously, Farriganwas an ancient enemy of Merlinus. Probably, he had broken into the cavern to steal the cache, as Merlin alleged, and become trapped by the one-way stone. The skeleton was lying. There was no Curse. And yetЕ
ааааааааWhat if the skeleton was telling the truth? James had been responsible for bringing Merlin back into the world, duped by the horrible Madame Delacroix and her accomplices. He, James, had been consulted about whether or not Merlin should become the new Headmaster of Hogwarts. If there was any truth to what the skeleton said, it would be entirely on James' head. Perhaps it was destiny, then, that had placed the cord in his hands, the cord that could cut Merlin off again, undoing all that James had unwittingly done. Perhaps now was his only chance to set things right again.
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