An Opus Alchymicum Vol 4: The Dæmon's Crucible

The Dusty Road Home

Harry stood up and blinked as he looked around, trying to find his bearings in this strange, new environment. For this was unlike any world he had yet been in.

For he seemed to be facing a wall of the most impossibly bright light. He shielded his eyes against it with his hand. Hermione had turned Seren so that she wasn't facing it, while Papageno and Marici sat in guard positions either side of her with both their heads turned from the light.

Harry squinted, looked as much as he was able, and then, after a minute or so, a discernible darker shape emerged from the light wall. It was vaguely person-formed, but the edges were blurred and shimmering against the brilliant dazzle.

"Who are you?" Harry called out, still covering his eyes.

The dark shape became more defined and seemed to come closer without moving. "I am the entity with the name of Cavalier Louis. But we, are Dust."

"Cavalier Louis?" Harry asked. "The being that helped Sirius in Ellora? You are Dust?"

"Yes ... we are."

"How many of you are there?"

"Uncountable millions."

"And what are you?"

"Angels."

Harry gasped aloud as the words hung like an echo.

"Angels?"

"Yes. And we are Shadow Particles. And Dark Matter ... and Magic."

"Magic? Are you saying Magic is a living force?" Harry hushed.

"Yes."

"And it is the same as Dust?"

"Yes. But different, also," said Cavalier Louis. "It can guide you and infuse you, but can also obey your commands."

Harry considered that a moment. "Did my Magic help me to use The Subtle Knife so easily?"

"Yes."

"And it brought me here?"

"No ...we brought you here, Harry Potter."

Harry blinked in surprise. The light dimmed slightly so that he could see, or maybe he was just used to it now.

"You brought me here?" Harry queried. "Why?"

"To thank you," Cavalier Louis replied. His voice was like the shadow of an echo. It was so weird. "You fought the demon, Voldemort, and drove him away. You came to the aid of Dust when you had no reason to."

"I had plenty of reason," Harry disagreed, smiling shyly at Hermione. He wasn't sure she could see him ... he rather thought it was just him and Dust and nothing else existed in the universe just then. But he smiled at her anyway.

"She is important to you?" Cavalier Louis asked. There was little inflection to his voice and Harry couldn't fix on his intended meaning. But the answer was the same, anyway.

"Yes, she is. More important than anyone."

"You love her?"

"I don't know ... I'm too young for that, aren't I?"

"Love is love, whatever age you are lucky enough to experience it. So ... do you love her?"

Harry swallowed deeply and looked inside. The answer was the easiest yet.

"Yes. I do."

"Then you are a worthy champion, and she is a worthy equal of you," Cavalier Louis said. "We could not have hoped for better."