New Beginnings
Chapter 5

Modron and Rhiannon returned to the Glen a few days later. Both had bruises and cuts beneath their armor. Neither would speak about what happened.

“Did you at least save the castle?” Rowena asked impatiently.

Modron stared at her. “Yes,” she said, “Hogwarts is safe for now.”

Rhiannon excused herself to go to bed. Modron followed her.

Rowena pulled Helga outside. “I want to know what happened,” she said.

“I do too,” said Helga, “But unless they tell us, we won’t know.”

Rowena smiled. “That’s not exactly true. I know a spell that borrows memories. After we remove them, we put in a pan of water and watch.”

“Have you ever done it before? That sounds like very powerful magic,” said Helga nervously.

“I’m a very powerful witch,” said Rowena, “Now either you help me, or I’ll do it myself and not tell you what I saw.”

Helga sighed and agreed. Quietly the two girls crept into the room where Modron and Rhiannon slept. Rowena looked at Helga and nodded. Helga rubbed her hands together and murmured a spell. A few moments later her hands started to glow. Helga opened up her palms and blew on them. A mist arose and surrounded the sleeping women. It immediately disappeared.

“They’re asleep,” said Helga, “Whose memory are we going to use?”

“Mother’s,” said Rowena, “I don’t trust Modron’s memories, and besides, Mother will be less angry if she finds out.”

Helga closed her eyes, put her face in her hands, and shook her head. Rowena crept over to Rhiannon’s side.

“She looks so peaceful,” Rowena said. She put her hand to her mother’s head but removed it. “Too difficult,” she said.

For an instant Helga thought (with relief) that Rowena was going to give up. Instead Rowena unfastened her wand and touched it to Rhiannon’s forehead. Helga was shocked, but even more so when Rowena lifted her wand and a slight silver cloud clung to it.

Rowena put the memory into a pan of water. It slowly swam around the pan, but showed nothing.

“Now what?” asked Helga.

“I don’t know,” said Rowena, “I think we watch.”

The memory continued to float peacefully.

“It doesn’t seem to be working,” said Helga.

Rowena glared at her. “We just have to move in closer,” she said.

They leaned down a bit.

“Yeah, this is great,” said Helga, “Now I know everything.”

“Lean in closer,” said Rowena impatiently. She put her hand behind Helga’s head and forced her down into the pan. At the same time she moved her own head down closer. Their noses touched the silvery water.

Both girls felt like they were falling. When they looked around, Rhiannon was standing in front of them. Her eyes blazed. “Well?” she demanded angrily.

“I’m sorry, Aunt Rhiannon,” said Helga, “I know it was wrong.”

“They’re an alliance of wizards from across the continent,” came Modron’s voice from behind. She sounded no less angry. Rhiannon’s shoulders sagged.

“We’re in the memory,” whispered Rowena, “We’re not really here.”

“If we’re not here, then why are you whispering?” whispered Helga.

“Because I don’t want to miss anything,” hissed Rowena.

“Who invited these barbarians?” demanded Rhiannon.

“I don’t know,” said Modron, “But whoever he is, he’s dangerous. I listened to their babbling. They’re all descendents of the Evil One. The one who summoned them here is a Parselmouth.”

“Why did they come?” asked Rhiannon.

“Among the descendents of the Evil One, there’s a pact, that if a Parselmouth calls for a favor, the rest have to obey. They’re a legion. Only a small battalion is here. Once Hogwarts has fallen, the rest will invade the country.”

“That’s a small force?” gasped Rhiannon, “There must be over two hundred wizards.”

“Exactly two hundred and fifty-six began the siege,” said Modron.

“How do you know that?” Rhiannon asked suspiciously.

“Because now there are two hundred and fifty-five,” said Modron.

Helga suppressed a shiver. She looked over and saw Rowena bite her lower lip.

The world around them vanished and reappeared. It was night. Rhiannon and Modron sat together watching the fires in the enemy camp. Hogwarts Castle was sealed shut. By the light of torches above the castle, Helga saw the shadows of archers.

“You’re sure that Slytherin is responsible?” Modron asked.

“Yes,” said Rhiannon, “No one mentioned him by name, but they repeatedly referred to the wizard of the western fen who summoned them. He’s close enough to the castle to spy on the Gryffindors. The fall of Hogwarts would be advantageous if he wants to rule.”

“No Dark Wizard will defile this country,” snarled Modron, “What’s the news from within the castle?”

“Tomorrow they’re going to mount an attack to break the siege. The people of Hogwarts are brave but they despair. They’re dreadfully outnumbered and, save for Lord Ferdiad, not a one can stand alone against a group of Dark Wizards.”

“There are too many Dark Wizards?” asked Modron.

“Yes,” said Rhiannon.

“Then we do something about it.”

“Do what?”

“Follow my lead, girl,” said Modron.

From within the camp, one of the fires burned brightly, rising into a pillar of fire. Screams rose from the tents followed by the confused shouts of different spells. Charms summoning water, hexes to extinguish the fire, chants to dispel illusions. None of them worked.

“Leave!” moaned an eerie whisper from within the fire. It reverberated throughout the camp. “You cannot win. Leave now and keep your lives. This is your only warning.” The fire burned out.

There was a rustling from within the camp followed by the loud babbling of several different languages.

“Did anyone run?” Rhiannon asked. Mordon smiled. “Maybe one or two.”

“Ah well. I guess it’s my turn,” said Rhiannon grinning.

The fire rose again, even higher this time. “You didn’t heed the warning,” the eerie voice said, “Now you will suffer.”

Rhiannon took her sword and plunged it into the ground. The earth began to shake. Frightened yells erupted from within the camp. Rowena gasped and put her hand to her mouth. “I never knew my mother could do that,” she said.

“Very good, girl, but that’s not enough,” said Modron. The ground around the entire camp burst into flames, as did tents, wagons, and supplies. Helga could almost feel the heat. A flood of men rushed away from the flames, some of them on fire themselves. Rhiannon continued to make the ground shake.

The world changed again. The sun rose above the charred remains of the camp. Only about fifty Dark Wizards remained. They were organized into rows and marched toward the gates of Hogwarts. Standing in front of them were Rhiannon and Modron, fully garbed in armor.

“There’s just two men,” shouted a man from the front, “Kill them!”

Modron rushed toward the wizards, her sword drawn. Rhiannon held back. Modron slashed her way through the army, decapitating five men with her first sword stroke. Helga looked away. The attack caught the Dark Wizards by surprise and they drew back from Modron’s furious onslaught. After a few moments, they all raised their wands to curse her. But their wands melted onto the ground as Rhiannon joined in the battle.

After losing about ten more men, the Dark Wizards finally managed to surround Modron and Rhiannon and crossed swords with them. Rhiannon and Modron were far better trained, but despite their skill, they still received wounds. Rowena clenched Helga’s arm tightly.

“Look at that, Godric,” a powerful voice rang out from atop the castle, “Two warriors, who owe no allegiance to the Gryffindor Clan, are defending the castle alone. Men of Hogwarts, can we do any less?”

Everyone on the battlefield, including Modron and Rhiannon stopped what they were doing and turned their heads.

Rowena and Helga looked up. There was a man and a boy watching the battle from one of the towers. The man jumped out, waved his wand, and floated down in front of the castle gates. He wore gold battle armor and his breastplate bore a red lion insignia. Neither Rowena nor Helga needed to be told that was Ferdiad Gryffindor.

Behind him the gates opened and a mob of wizards brandishing swords, wands, and pitchforks charged out of the castle. The Dark Wizards retreated, but the people of Hogwarts pursued them. In the confusion, Rhiannon and Modron slipped away.

“I think you’ve seen enough of this,” Rhiannon’s voice said. But it was not the Rhiannon they were watching. The two girls were back in the Glen and Rhiannon was angrily staring at both of them.

“Which one of you put on the sleeping spell?” Rhiannon asked, her face red.

Helga timidly raised her hand.

“It was good. I slept well,” growled Rhiannon, “Don’t ever do it again.”

Helga nodded and lowered her eyes.

Rhiannon put her hand in the pan of silvery water. Her arm shook a bit and the memory vanished into her skin.

“Don’t be angry at Helga, Mother,” said Rowena, “It was my idea.”

“I know,” said Rhiannon without looking at her. Rowena’s face fell.

“You invaded my mind,” said Rhiannon, “That’s a sacred trust and you both violated it. You have to face your punishment.”

Rowena and Helga both nodded.

“You can’t live in the Glen anymore. I’ll arrange for provisions, but you have to live elsewhere. Far away from me.”

Rhiannon stormed out of the room. Helga glanced at Rowena. She was pale. Helga feared for them both.