Worthy Of Magic

Part 48 - Decisions

First September, Nineteen Ninety Six, Avalon.

"Thanks," he said and slid off the chair. He headed towards the open entrance which was now bright with light and stepped into the streets of Avalon.

It was busier than he expected.

The fog had cleared and the sun shone through a clear blue sky. The roads were extensive and buildings of all forms are architecture neatly lined up on either side disappearing through the horizons. He looked at the sun and then at the one side that was the start of the forest. The forest lay South. Did it matter? he wondered.

Symmetry felt important in the magic of Avalon. He deduced the entrance to the Badlands must be North.

He walked past the Tibetan Monastery, across a Shiva Temple and under the arching stone building with the name Armistice Keep engraved in big bold letters above the metal entrance.

There were dozens of strangely dressed folk walking in and out of all the structures he could see. He saw the Succubi mingling in the sparse crowd, looking for prey.

All of them radiated immense power. The Monks, the Pandits, the Swordsmen, the Shinto Priests; all dressed in traditional robes, keeping to themselves but creating an aura of caution around them.

They were all here for a purpose, Harry realised. And it definitely had something to do with the Badlands.

His excitement grew and he stopped in front of a grey building named Dany's Hotel. It had no windows that he could see and just a single metal door in its raw form that radiated with words of rules and punishment.

He didn't feel like resting, he wanted to explore. But his body chose that moment to force a yawn and he decided it was wiser to be completely rested.

It had been a long journey so far. Almost four years long, he now realised. The length of it was hitting him now. He needed a calm before the final storm.

Time Unknown, Gringotts.

Deep within Gringotts, an ancient secret was kept. Known only to those with Goblin blood and sworn to secrecy bound by magic.

It was a mysterious cavern in the oldest sections of the Gringotts tunnels easily spanning ten Quidditch fields wide and fifty fields high. A small opening in the stone lay at the bottom of the chamber with rail tracks peeking out.

The walls were peppered with glowing runes that bathed the cavern in white light.

This was where the Warrior Goblins regenerated after death. This was the secret behind the long age of their leaders and champions. And abnormal numbers.

Half breeds were forbidden from learning these secrets but there was one who conquered all and did.

Filius Flitwick felt his consciousness return as his body reformed in the centre of the chamber.

Life returned to him with a deep gasp and heavy, mind numbing, breathing.

He felt himself fall on the stone floor and rolled onto his back with a groan.

The memory of almost dying was fresh. He almost hadn't activated the rebirth enchantment in time.

He slowly stood up, stretched his short limbs and cracked his neck with a grimace. He had never imagined he would return to this hell and didn't waste any time heading to the exit. He had to return to Hogwarts. He prayed it wasn't too late.

He tiredly walked to the rails were a cart was waiting for him and climbed in with a deep sigh. The other side was going to be one battle challenge after the other. Such was the way Goblins who regenerated in the cavern were greeted. They had to prove their worth for being granted a next life.