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Nine

“You want me to what?” Godric asked. Only a few hours had passed since the council had closed, and Harry had only got a few hours of sleep before Merlin summoned him again. They'd been trying to explain Harry's idea to Gryffindor for nearly ten minutes.

“Simple. You drink a potion my friend Hermione knows how to make and it makes you look like someone else for a while,” Harry repeated for what seemed the twelfth time.

“But I have to have bits of them inside this potion? No offense, Harry, but that's the most disgusting thing I've heard in a long time!” Gryffindor yelled.

“That's not a very brave attitude, Godric,” Harry admonished him.

“I don't care! I really don't care! That's disgusting!” was the reply.

“Come on, Godric! You get to sneak around in someone's skin. Imagine going straight into Le Fey's castle and having her none the wiser. Think how dangerous it's going to be!” Harry began.

“Harry, we're going to be sneaking around wearing the skin of someone everyone is going to expect to be there. It's hardly going to be dangerous,” Godric replied.

“The potion only lasts an hour. We'll have to be in and out of there, with Sanan, in less than that time, or all hell breaks loose. I don't know about you, but I call that dangerous,” Harry replied.

This clearly piqued Godric's interest. “An hour? What happens if we stay over the hour?”

“We change back into ourselves, and everyone notices it,” Harry told him.

“So you're telling me that we're sneaking into the maw of Death, looking like someone else for a little while and considering who Death happens to be, we might not make it out alive?”

“Er. Something like that,” Harry conceded.

“Now that sounds like fun,” Godric said.

“Well, maybe. Except for the getting killed part. If it's all the same to you, I'd like to get out of there with my skin still on.” Harry muttered.

“Harry, I'd like to think you know me better than that. I have no intention of dying by Le Fey's hand. But I still think this could turn out to be fun.”

“Oh,” was all Harry could think of to say.

“How long does this potion take to brew, Harry?” Merlin asked.

The color drained from Harry's face, “A month.”

Merlin's face fell. “That's a bit more time than I want to wait, Harry.”

“Well, maybe Hermione will have some idea. She's the smartest witch I know,” Harry muttered. Merlin nodded and sent a servant to fetch her.

Hermione was bleary-eyed and irritable when she finally arrived.

“What?” Hermione asked, accepting a cup of tea from Merlin.

“We're going to use Polyjuice to get Sanan back. If you can remember how to brew it,” Harry told her.

“Well, yes. But it takes a whole month--” Hermione began.

“I’ve had an idea about that,” Harry explained, his eyes lighting up.

“Well...?” Hermione mumbled, before taking a huge gulp of tea.

“You could brew it in the council chambers. Time sort of stops in there.”

“That is an excellent idea. If you can tell me what the ingredients are, and how the potion is brewed, I may be able to help you, Hermione,” Merlin told her.

“Well, they're lacewing, and toenails, and--” Hermione yawned again.

“I'll leave you two to it. I'm going to go take care of some things,” Harry said, also yawning. “Hermione, quit that. It's contagious.”

With that, Harry left Merlin's home and began to wander across the grounds. It wasn't long before he was back in his own bed, regardless of how uncomfortable it might be. Unfortunately, he soon discovered that since his body knew it was daytime he wasn’t going to get any more sleep. He got up again, grumbling.

Breakfast was served to him in his room. More unidentifiable goo. He choked it down quickly and went over his plans again inside his head.

***

Merlin’s voice whipcracked through Harry’s train of thought several hours later as he was passing the old man’s house.

“What do you mean she’s …” Merlin’s voice faded and then got louder again, “I don’t – I can’t accept that explanation!”

“Where else could she possibly be?” the voice of Nimuae snapped right back, “You’ve not located her have you? I don’t see any other possibility!”

A thud came from within, and Merlin’s voice followed it, sounding distinctly more subdued, and more tired than Harry had ever heard him, “I know. I know. I just…there’s no way to get her back from that…place.”

Harry had heard enough. He stepped up to the door and raised his hand to knock but never got the chance.

“Come in, Harry,” Merlin sighed. Harry entered, feeling sheepish.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” he assured Merlin, looking askance at Nimuae.

“You’d have heard eventually,” she assured him, sitting down on a chair next to Merlin.

“What’s going on, Professor?” Harry asked. Merlin raised his eyebrows at the title, but said nothing about it.

“There is an island quite some distance from here, where Nimuae believes Sanan is being held. Neither she nor I nor any of the council have ever been able to scan it, but it’s well known that Morgana Le Fey frequents the area.”

“So, what’s the big problem?” Harry asked. Nimuae’s face went white while Merlin shot out of his chair, only to return to it half an instant later.

“I keep forgetting where you come from,” the old man explained. He gestured to Nimuae, who took up the conversation.

“There is a prophecy about an island named Ascrib. That’s where we think she’s been taken.”

“Ascrib?” Harry asked, shaking his head.

“It’s in the North Sea, in a bad spot for ships and the like. I’m told that even the animals try to avoid it,” Nimuae explained.

“You mentioned a prophecy?” Harry asked. Nimuae nodded.

“A mysterious darkness conquered the island of Ascrib. There was either a god or a demon who controlled the island, and no one tried to go there. A centaur from the island forest told of a green light which stuck the island. The green light penetrated deep into the island’s underworld. For hundreds of years, the island had been purged of all living things, each of whom were challenged, and destroyed, by the island’s energy. Legend says, ‘never approach the island, for a sleeping beast in the darkness waits for a great awakening.”

Merlin picked up from there. “Since that time, no living things have been able to survive on the island, except for Le Fey’s minions. I don’t know how she managed it, but I can tell you it’s magic most wizards wouldn’t be doing under any circumstance.”

“Nasty stuff then,” Harry muttered, “Sounds more like a story than a prophecy though.”

Merlin nodded and explained, “The original prophecy is much more complex, but this is as close a translation as we could come up with.”

“I see,” Harry replied, “When do you start on the potion?”

“As soon as Hermione finishes gathering the ingredients,” Merlin replied, “I have most of them but a few of them are in the castle.”

“It’s best you be off now, dear,” Nimuae said to Harry, “Merlin and I have some delicate magical preparations to make so that he may make use of the council chambers.”

With that, Harry left. He was waylaid by Thomas a short while later. The older man seemed beside himself with worry, clenching and unclenching his fists as if he didn’t realize he was doing it. To Harry’s surprise, Ginny was close behind.

“She’s not dead,” he said, seemingly speaking more to himself than to Harry. Even so, Harry found himself reassuring his friend.

“No, of course not. She’ll be back here soon.”

“You don’t know that. Merlin isn’t even mounting some sort of rescue attempt. I don’t know what I’d do without her, Harry.”

“Of course Merlin is planning something. Have faith in him,” Ginny said softly. Thomas didn’t seem to hear her.

Thomas fidgeted for a few more seconds, and then exploded. “This isn’t fair! How could anyone possibly get her here at Camelot? How could I have let her down like this? I should have been able to protect her. I should--”

Knowing Thomas would work himself into a fury, and realizing he’d feel like a jerk later, Harry did the only thing he could think of. He drew his wand and said, “Stupefy!”

Thomas collapsed against Ginny, who lowered him slowly to the ground with Harry’s help.

“You’re never going to hear the end of that,” she muttered softly.

“I know. But he would have--”

“I know, Harry,” Ginny muttered.

“Mobilicorpus,” Harry muttered, causing Thomas’ limp form to drift up from the ground. At that point, Harry realized he had no idea where Thomas actually lived. So he and Ginny took Thomas to Harry’s room, where they laid him to sleep on Harry’s bed. Ron was nowhere to be seen. Thomas snored.

“I hope you’re gone before he wakes up,” Ginny whispered. Harry snorted.

“I plan on it,” Harry deadpanned. “Merlin and Hermione were supposed to go brew the potion in the council chambers. With any luck--”

Hermione’s voice came over the air, urging Harry to return to Merlin’s house. Harry shrugged. He and Ginny jogged off to the cottage, where Merlin stood with Hermione, reassuring Gryffindor yet again that no harm would come to him from this potion.

“And how is this…ugh…goo supposed tot taste?” Gryffindor was complaining.

“Like you got kicked in the stomach by a warhorse and lived to tell about it,” Harry cut in. Gryffindor went a little green and shuddered.

“On the other hand, in our town only the most adventurous and daring even attempt something like Polyjuice Potion,” Ginny spoke up. She smiled briefly at Godric, “You’re a brave one, right?”

Gryffindor’s face went so hard it might have been cut from granite. Harry waited for him to turn away before leaning over and whispering, “You don’t play fair,” into her ear.

“I have six brothers, Harry. What’s a girl to do?” she replied in a falsely sweet tone. Harry considered for a moment.

“Remind me never to play any card games with you that involve bluffing,” he told her. She smiled again, an evil twinkle in her eye.

“That’s a wonderful idea, Harry,” she started, but Merlin cut her off.

“If you want to succeed, you will need to leave immediately. The island is several days distant, and the lake is not easy to navigate.”

“And how do you propose –” Godric began, but Merlin overrode him.

“I’ve arranged for the Lady of the Lake to assist you in this endeavor. I had to call in a favor, but…” Merlin trailed off and clapped his hands once. “Let’s get started shall we?”

*

Merlin refused to allow anyone not going to Le Fey’s island to journey with them, though Ginny’s pleas had been nothing to laugh about. Merlin’s reasoning was simple. The more people of power who traveled in a group, the more likely Le Fey would notice and they would never see Sannan alive again. Ginny’s protests had lost wind after that. She had kissed Harry on the cheek and left quickly, much to Harry’s shock. The journey to the place they would set sail from was cold and unpleasant. They traveled by night, eating cold rolls and dried ham from the kitchens of Camelot. Harry had suggested they conjure something, but Merlin vetoed that idea. Le Fey was likely to detect any magic they would use outside the walls of the kingdom, and they needed the element of surprise. They slept under the open sky, with nothing but their cloaks to cover them. Much to Harry’s displeasure, the mosquitoes of this time period seemed to think he was a free meal as he slept. Eventually though, they arrived.

“I can go no further with you, lest the enemy know we are here. I wish you all the best of luck.” Merlin told the two men solemnly. With that he was gone, as though he had never been there.

Now that they were underway for real, Harry’s brain began working overtime, asking him why he thought this would be a good idea, and what had possessed him?

A vision of Thomas’ tear-stained face cut those thoughts off. His jaw firmed and Harry boarded the boat the Lady had supplied. It would navigate itself, Merlin had explained, but they should aware of any dangers the water might contain.

As the boat left the shore, Harry got a brief glimpse of what Merlin had meant. The plants here were dead and twisted like grotesque skeletons fighting to escape a doom they couldn’t leave. He shared the observation with Godric, who glared at him and looked away. After several hours, Godric spoke.

“Dangers indeed, mostly of boredom,” he whispered.

“Agreed,” Harry said shortly. He adjusted his position in the tiny craft, but couldn’t find a way to make himself comfortable. He growled.

“Get some sleep, mate. I’ll wake you in four hours. Comfortable or not, you are going to need it,” Godric whispered to him. Harry muttered his agreement and covered his eyes with an arm.

His dreams were terrifying. Creatures from before recorded time haunted his nightmares. Others, better known but still long dead, joined in. After a particularly horrible dream about twenty foot sea scorpions, Harry woke up.

“You still have two hours to go,” Godric muttered to him. Harry waved it off.

“Forget it. You go to sleep. I’ve had about enough.”

Godric shrugged and closed his eyes. To Harry’s intense annoyance, the man slept like a rock. The comments about Godric’s maternal ancestry were probably best left unheard. Several hours into Harry’s watch, something began to crash into the hull of the boat. It hit the hull gently at first, but then with more force. Godric woke with a start.

“Company,” Harry muttered. Godric leaned over and peered beneath the boat. He shuddered.

“Inferi,” was all he said.

“Animated?” Harry asked. Godric looked again.

“No, they look to be simple dead bodies. The water must be moving them around.”

Harry leaned over to get a good look and scrambled backward as one of the dead seemed to reach for him. He silently willed the boat to move faster. To his amazement, it did. Apparently it didn’t like this any more than him.

A sea monster decided to attack the next day. Godric knew about the species and the men were able to defeat it, but not without the use of Harry’s wand.

“Now we’re in for it,” Godric muttered. “She probably knows we’re here now.”

Nothing else happened over the next three days, to the relief of both. Finally, the boat landed upon the shore.

Harry whistled softly as he looked around. Though there were trees and other plants, not a sound could he hear. No birds, no insects. No life at all.

“Stay low,” Godric muttered. ‘We need to head for the center of the forest.” Harry nodded, huddling more tightly inside his cloak.

They crept silently along the shoreline, ducking into the trees as soon as they could. The travel here was torturous. Plants seemed to reach out and grab at him. More than once he stumbled and nearly fell. Godric had no better luck. Harry cursed under his breath as Godric suddenly stopped and held out his arms, saying, “Hold.”

A moment later, Harry realized why. He had been wrong about the life on this island. Merlin had said something about the island being purged of all life…Harry supposed that meant all animal life. But here were voices, muttering, cursing, and snarling.

“Hide,” he whispered. They did so just as a band of trolls was passing beneath them. Harry overheard one of them speaking.

“Stupid witch. Grossnose works us all day, all night, all day again with nothin’ but nothin’ to eat in between.”

Another troll spoke up, “You wants it the way it was afore? Chief no likes our face he feeds us to Goroognac.”

“Grr. No wants the way it was afore. I no likes Goroognac,” the first one said.

“Or maybe he sends us to live with goblinsis,” another one suggested. The whole group shuddered at that.

“Goblinsis stink. They ugly, and they stupid,” one of the trolls yelled. The whole group burst into a loud laughing fit at this. Suddenly a very large troll growled. The others shut up.

“I smells humansis,” it said in a gravely voice.

“You fell on your head too many times, Stinkrump?” another one asked it. “No humanses on this island but witch.”

“I SMELLS HUMANSES!” Stinkrump yelled. Harry paled. Seeing several small pebbles next to Godric gave him an idea though. Before Godric could say anything, Harry winked and grabbed the rocks. He aimed and threw one. It smacked into the back of the head of one of the trolls, who turned and punched the one behind him.

“What you did that for?” it yelled, punching him back.

“You hit me head!” the first one screamed back. Harry threw another rock, hitting the screaming troll in the head again. It whirled around and punched the one in front of it.

“GRAWR!!” the one who had just been punched said. Harry threw another rock, hitting the growler in the left ear. He lashed out with a fist. In moments, the entire band of trolls was fighting amongst themselves. The two humans snuck away.

“That was close,” Harry muttered when they had put some distance between them and the brawl. Godric looked at him proudly.

“What gave you that idea?” he asked. Harry shrugged.

“Oldest trick in the book.”

“I’m going to have to remember that one,” Godric replied.

Unfortunately for both of them, they came into sight of the castle only a half hour later. There were several guards at the main gate, and hundreds more along the battlements. Harry saw humans, trolls, a minotaur…and several things he couldn’t identify. From somewhere deep in the castle Harry could make out a very shrill scream. It chill went down his spine as he realized that was probably Sannan.

“I think we need a plan,” Godric muttered angrily. Harry nodded. Whatever happened in the next few hours, Harry was sure it would not be pleasant.

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