Something Wicked No More

A few students loitering at the castle entrance noticed the impeccably dressed wizard taking the castle steps two at a time. Unused to what Englishmen would term mild spring weather, Guild Vizier Khalil Hamdi opted for thicker robes of deep burgundy with gold trim and hemmed with metallic geometric shapes. He carried with him a medium-sized rectangular trunk.

"So, it's time at last. Good." He gave Minerva a bone-crushing hug. "Where is Albus?"

"Albus is attending to the world right now." Minerva appraised the well-favored younger man. He would always be his charming eight year old self in her mind's eye.

"The world?"

"We came to an agreement a long time ago because our working styles differed so. I'm organized and he's not. I like detail. He loathes it. He likes theory as do I, but I value the practical implementation of the theory more. We compromised. I mind Hogwarts while he took care of the rest of the world."

"Albus is a bit of a disorganized ponderer." Khalil took out a coin and his wand.

"I have never met a man who turns problems over in his mind as much as he does - sideways, upside down, every which way."

"Knowledge can only propel us forward, never backwards." The coin was transfigured into a wheeled tray standing high at waist level. He placed the trunk on top.

"I agree but he's also wont to look for more questions than when he first started. It's maddening listening to him explain his thoughts in ever-widening circles of consequence. Circles inside circles inside circles. At some point, he is so far from where he started, he has to start over again."

Khalil began to push the tray in front of him."And is it not equally maddening when you fixate on one point to the exclusion of all other possibilities?"

"Touché. Over the years, he has learned to be more focused and I've widened my scope a bit more." Minerva had been casting surreptitious glances at the mysterious box since she had laid eyes on it. She could no longer contain her curiosity. "Khalil, what is that thing?"

"The key to your memories."

"A pensieve?"

"Not exactly."

"You are becoming as annoyingly cryptic as Albus."

"I shall take that as a compliment."

They ascended the staircase to Albus' office. The men embraced warmly. Minerva poured out pumpkin juice for all of them.

"It's been too long, my boy."

"Seven years since my last visit."

"The family all right?"

"My two oldest have completed their guild master apprenticeships this year. That leaves me with a year to recover before Jamilah Minerva begins her apprenticeship." Khalil collapsed his lanky frame into a plush armchair. He looked at Minerva. "I do believe she has decided to follow her aama Minerva and specialize in Transfiguration."

Minerva clapped her hands. "How wonderful! Simply wonderful!"

"I don't suppose all those Transfiguration-related books included with her birthday presents had any impact at all," teased Albus.

"The discipline could well stand to have another fine woman scholar. Jamilah will be exceptional. Mark my words."

Khalil added. "I would be honored, Minerva, if you would administer Jamilah's final masters exam when the time comes."

"Thank you. I would love to." Minerva's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "And how is Yasmine? Is she done with her doctorate?"

"My wife finished three months ago. Thank, Allah. She was in the foulest of moods while waiting for the results."

"I don't suppose I could ask one of your boys to teach here?" Albus asked.

"Hmm, despite the weather here Kadin Albus may be open to a suggestion. Samir is committed to the Guild for the next five years. I am grooming him to succeed me. Kadin feels he has too much wanderlust to stay in one place."

"A well-traveled man is a well-informed one. Young as he is the students would relate better to him. He needn't teach classes formally, perhaps elective courses with less than five students at a time."

"I thought your Ministry had rejected the idea of group, cross-discipline teaching?"

Minerva snorted. "They have, repeatedly. The Education committee insists that NEWTs level courses are enough. They don't realize the benefit that our most talented and dedicated students could derive from close one-on-one mentoring and instruction in topics not in our standard curriculum."

"Minerva has been lobbying the Ministry for the last two decades. One day it will change."

"I'm certainly not giving up." Minerva declared. She eyed Khalil's mysterious trunk. "Albus, can we get started please? The sooner we finish the better."

Albus sat down in a chair next to her. Khalil sat straighter. "I am prepared. You may remove the Secret Keeper charm when you are ready, Minerva."

Minerva glanced at Albus before saying. "I'm afraid I can't do that." .

"I don't understand."

"Khalil, I can count on one hand the number of people who know about Albus and myself being married. You are one because you're our Secret Keeper. Poppy Pomfrey knows because she's the school nurse. And Albus' brother Aberforth knows. The portraits in this room know but they are bound and so cannot reveal our secret."

"But you remember now, do you not? Why would you not want to reveal it?"

"No weapon would wound me more than Minerva being used against me." Albus held her hand in his. "I would never willingly put Minerva in that position."

"As long as you keep our secret, Khalil, no one will ever have proof. Oh, someone may suspect but nothing would come of it. Gossip would die before it had a chance to flourish." Minerva's voice softened. "We may walk arm in arm in the halls yet all any would see are two dedicated friends being affectionate with the other. That is how we need it to be."

"Forever?"

"We are prepared for that," Albus said. "Are you willing to continue on as our Secret Keeper?"

"I would not ask to be relieved of this privilege and service."

"Very good. Thank you." Albus rose. "I will retrieve the pensieve."

Minerva looked puzzled. "I thought that's what Khalil brought with him."

"No, my dear. That ... thing ... will play its part later." Albus returned a short while later with a large pensieve. He positioned a low table next to Minerva's chair and balanced the pensieve on the table. "This pensieve contains all the memories and knowledge that were obliviated from your mind. For completeness, there are memories here from Reza, Theodore and myself. They have been combined into seamless streams so you may have access to all our memories at one time." Albus brandished his wand. "Khalil, I will take Minerva in. Please watch over us in the meantime. Ready, Minerva?"

"What memory will we begin with?"

"We will start with our entry into Abraxos' tomb." Albus hesitated. "Minerva, what you will see is the truth. I am not proud of what I had to do. If you feel differently about me afterwards, I will understand."

"Understand this, I will not let the truth come between us in any way, shape or form." She grinned up at him. "You will have to think of something more creative than that to get rid of me."

Albus waved his hand over the pensieve. The conscious reality was replaced by the past.

"Stop. Wait!" Albus shouted ahead of him to prevent Minerva or Piers from going into the tomb. Beside him, Reza matched his long strides.

"What do you know about this situation?" asked Reza.

"Abraxos was a vizier of Amenhotep. He was assassinated by jealous courtiers. Minerva discovered that this tomb is his. You heard Khalil's account. What do you make of it?"

"It brings to mind a case of possession. An ancient djinn or ifrit is a malevolent spirit that refuses to find peace."

"What is the best defense against one?"

"There is no defense. We must render it harmless before it does the same to us."

"And how do we do that?"

"With speed and power." Reza touched his arm. "Albus, we must permanently immobilize this spirit."

"Kill it, of course."

"Killing an ifrit would take more power and skill than both us combined possess. We must force it into a ... a vessel or a form and once in that form, we must make sure it cannot escape."

"We use a statue or a -"

"No, Albus, Khalil's accounting makes it plain that Abraxos is hunting for another body. It will possess a man ... or a woman immediately. A willing possession is his goal but I do not think he will hesitate to force one. He will have power over a forced host. The important thing is that we cannot allow Abraxos to transfer from body to body now or in the future, do you understand me?"

"We have to deal with him now. No choice there," said Albus. "There will be four of us in there. He can't choose Minerva."

"She will not be his first choice as she is a different gender but he is desperate. We must act swiftly. Abraxos must be imprisoned in whatever body it first possesses. There cannot be any exceptions."

"Do ifrits possess animals?"

"No. An animal's lack of sentient intelligence does not make it a viable host."

"Good. Minerva has a cat form. That should keep her safe."

"That leaves three," said Reza. "The both of us are skilled in Occlumensis. Abraxos will need to expend power to possess either one of us. He is weak and so will choose the weakest among us."

Albus stood still. "Piers?"

"Yes. When the possession is in progress, I will act. Do I have your agreement that you will not interfere?"

"You are asking me permission to ... to send a man to certain death."

"It will be far worse than death. Piers has committed several crimes. One of them against you. I have decided that this will be part of his sentence. Do you agree?"

"If I do not?"

"The longer justice is delayed the higher chance that Rampal will escape. How can we show mercy when he showed none to Hema, to Abdul and to Minerva?"

Albus could see Minerva preparing herself just a few meters away. He nodded at Reza. Then he began to close his mind.

The gray cat bounded down the corridor setting its collar bell pealing frantically. The three men followed her at a run with Reza in the lead followed by Piers then Albus. Piers had mocked the overcautious Reza who demanded that Minerva keep to her cat form and the men would follow in fixed order. Dumbledore had said not a word.

Soon they reached the antechamber where they found the corpse of Professor Hammadi. Crouching by the body, Piers confirmed its identity. Behind him the ruby eyes of the ibis glowed softly. In the dimness of the room, the glow was hard to miss.

Albus scooped Minerva in one arm and shielded her eyes with his other hand. Under his breath he repeated the spell to keep her from transforming. He could feel a strong, determined presence battering his mental shields.

Reza pointed his wand at the ibis status. It shattered sending shards flying in all directions.

Piers shot to his feet as a marionette on strings. "What's happening!" His head lolled downward. "NO! NO!" One arm flailed in the air. The other clutched at his heart. He groaned. "Help ... help me ... please! NO! Help me!"

Reza wasted no time. "Abscindo membratimo!" A stream of blue light shot out from his wand hitting Piers on the chest. Piers was outlined in a nimbus of blue sparks.

Minerva dug her claws into Albus' arms trying to free herself. She squirmed and hissed but Dumbledore held firm even as droplets of blood appeared on his sleeve. Albus and Minerva watched in horror as the spell did its work on Piers' flesh.

Jagged lines of blue electricity zigged and zagged across his body slashing through his clothes. His skin erupted along natural seams - ankles, knees, thigh socket, pelvis, wrists, elbows and shoulder socket. Reza incinerated each severed body part as they fell to the ground. Piers' torso and head still hung twitching in mid air. His mouth was slack. Blood trickled from his nose, mouth and ears. Ruby red eyes gazed back at Reza full of fury and hate.

Reza, sweat dripping down his face, screamed the final spell, "ABSCINDO MEMBRATIMO MORTE!"

Piers' chest exploded. The severed head landed hard on the ground.

Sickened, Albus looked away. Minerva lay unconscious in his arms.

"Take her outside, Albus. We are done here," ordered Reza.

In a room at one of Luxor's best hotels, Albus flinched at the open hatred on Minerva's face. He gently fended off Minerva's fists.

"He was begging for help and you ... YOU did NOTHING!" Minerva flew at him again and again. "You held me back. WHY? WHY! "

"There was nothing anyone could have done."

"You don't know that. YOU DON'T !"

Albus wrapped his arms around her and cast a sleep spell over her. He carried her back to her bed. Theodore pushed aside the duvet. Albus laid her down gently.

"I cannot bear to see her like this, Albus." Theodore looked down on Minerva. Even in sleep she was restless. "I want to take her to Beauxbaton."

"Not yet. We know that Piers did not invoke the charm. The Forgesi Deziro is not permanent. An antidote could reverse it still. We must keep trying," said Albus.

"It has been two weeks. We must think of Minerva now. She is drowning in grief and rage."

Reza entered the room. "We have consulted with all our Guild masters. None believe an antidote is possible. I am truly sorry."

Theodore's expression was set. "We must consider the other alternative."

Albus turned. He leaned against a window sill.

"You would give your permission, Theodore?" asked Reza.

"I want her free from this overwhelming, misguided emotion," said Theodore. "For that freedom, I will give my permission."

Albus whispered, "Just a little more time. Please. She's fighting it. I know she is."

"She has immense power. More than any witch I have ever encountered. That very power works against her," said Reza. "The Forgesi Deziro has taken Minerva's measure and by its properties made itself greater."

"She's fighting for us," said Albus. "She did not want to forget. She made sure she would not. There are other masters. Armando is still consulting-"

"The dark elements of the potion are consuming her from within. It eats at her strength and will," said Reza.

Defeat and desperation etched in his face, Theodore said, "I cannot watch her die. I cannot."

Reza stepped closer to Albus. "Hope lives as long as Khalil does. My entire Guild will protect the boy all his life. We will teach him, guide him and keep him safe all his days."

Albus extended his right hand towards Reza. "Swear an unbreakable vow."

Without hesitation, Reza clasped the offered arm. Theodore performed the spell invoking the vow.

Minerva and Albus returned to reality. Khalil steadied her as she swayed on her feet. She leaned on his arm as he led her to a couch. Albus sat down beside her.

Minerva reached for Albus' hand. "I understand. All of it."

"I allowed Piers to be executed. I gave up on us. I made -"

Minerva placed a finger over Albus' lips. "No more guilt. You did what was necessary."

Albus swallowed hard. "There's more to come." Albus motioned for Khalil to take over.

Khalil began. "In my country, crimes are punished harshly. A thief has a hand cut off. A malicious gossip loses a tongue. A murderer as Piers Rampal was forfeits his life. But an ifrit's existence is not easy to end." Khalil pushed the tray towards the center of the room. "As such, Piers Rampal continues to serve his sentence with Abraxos for company."

Her eyes shifted from Albus to the the trunk to Khalil and back to the trunk. "What are you saying?"

Khalil unlocked and opened the trunk. Inside lay the desiccated head of Piers Rampal. Its skin was yellow and scaly. Bile dribbled from dry, peeling lips. A gaping hole marked the place where a nose would have been. Shriveled eye lids fluttered open to reveal red glittering orbs.

It spoke in a snakelike lisp, "Greetings, Miss McGonagall.".

Minerva was too stunned to be repulsed. "Piers?"

"The whelp? Nay. You speak with Abraxos."

"May I speak with Piers?"

"That would be fruitless. He is without merit. May we discuss this place?" The head swiveled to the left then to the right. "Fascinating. I rarely leave the Guild you see. I have many questions."

Khalil addressed Abraxos. "Abraxos, need I command you?"

Abraxos said petulantly. "Very well." The scarlet eyes dimmed.

The voice when it came was familiar. "Minerva?"

"Yes, it's me, Piers."

"You're lovely. I love you this -"

"Stop! I remember everything you did to me, to Albus. I know about Abdul and Hema."

The head slanted up. "My murderer sits beside you. What gall he has! Were it not for HIM ... " The head shook violently causing flakes of skin to fall off. "He didn't deserve you. He never did. I did if for us!"

"I feel quite ill. Goodbye, Piers. I wish you and Abraxos many, many years together."

Khalil closed the lid. They could hear the muted voice of Piers still raving.

"Are you all right?" Albus asked.

Minerva snuggled closer. "I am now."

Khalil locked the trunk and put a silencing charm on it. "In my mind, Piers died in the tomb. That is the official story. We will return to the Guild and nothing more will be said about this."

"How long will it exist?" Minerva asked.

"Several hundred years at least, perhaps more. Abraxos' powers are fading with time but it is taking a long time. He was a very powerful magician."

"That is a long time to be locked in a box."

Khalil laughed. "The Guild consults Abraxos on many projects, Minerva. He is rarely idle or bored."

"And Piers?"

"He is not very pleasant or knowledgeable and so there is no call for his services. Abraxos has so much to teach. When he is motivated, he has been known to be quite helpful."

"How do you know what he tells you is accurate?"

"My second wish assures that Abraxos always tells me the truth. We ascertain accuracy by verifying with other sources."

"Other sources? Like other heads?"

"That I cannot say." Khalil gazed at the portraits lining the walls. "Portraits would be a bit less messy."

Albus looked curiously at Khalil. "Speaking of wishes, what was your third wish?"

Khalil's smile stretched wide. "Minerva gave me the idea. My third wish is a gift to you, Albus."

"If I remember correctly you gave me a beautiful tapestry before I left Egypt."

"Then, yes. When I made my third and last wish, I was uncertain if it would ever come true. To tell you would have been to give you false hope." Khalil placed a hand on Albus' shoulder. "I wished that Minerva would gain what she had lost in your lifetime."

Both Albus and Minerva were rendered speechless.

"In hindsight, I should have specified an earlier, shorter time period."

They all shared a good laugh and headed off to the hall.

FIN

*** AUTHOR'S NOTE ***

6/18/2018 Yes, it seems strange to revisit a story completed ages ago. But questions were raised and it was a first draft the first time around. I hope I've filled in the gaps. Full, final revision is complete. Thanks to all reviewers. I hope I've answered some of your questions. New readers, how did you like the story? Leave a review and let me know. Thanks!