Chapter 19: Stone!

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"Well you certainly took your time about coming here, I trust your shopping went well?" Orion asked me.

I nodded, "it did, I got everything I should need, and I can always go back to get some more, though I'm a little hesitant about letting Kreacher take me, his way of travel is a little sore on one's stomach"

Orion nodded, "yes Kreacher is getting on in his years and his magic isn't what it used to be, evidenced by how the manor has fallen into such disrepair"

I nodded my head in agreement, "yes I have seen as such when I came in, the manor is in much need of repair but I fear that Kreacher will not be able to do much on his own, perhaps if we could acquire another elf it might make things easier for him," I suggested.

Orion seemed to nod in response to my idea, "yes a second elf would be beneficial I think, but such are hard to come by most if not all are owned by the pureblood families, you would have to get in touch with one and request to purchase one, and even then I suspect the price would be very high as they are a hard to come by and those who breed them control the prices."

I frowned at that but nodded none the less, I had an idea about how I could go about getting another elf but at this stagelike.

It might affect things more than I would like if I was to do so, I would have to think more about this before I did anything.

Coming out of my thoughts I cleared my throat, "Grandfather? Grandmother said something about my needing to raise the wards and that you could show me how to do so?"

Orion nodded, "Yes I was just about to mention that actually," he said before gesturing to the bookcase behind the desk, "third shelf, third book from the right, push it inwards and stand back"

I nodded and walked to behind the desk and did as instructed, the shelves were lined with a number of old books, each covered with a layer of dust having not been touched or moved in so longdominum.

I counted out the books and found the one grandfather had told me about and pushed it inwards.

I heard a clicking sound and then the whole middle area of the bookcase shuddered and I stepped back.

The middle section of the bookshelves sunk back behind the sections on its right and left, until it was well behind them and then with a second click it slid to the right, revealing a hidden section of the room behind it.

The area was only two meters deep but in it was an altar with a large stone on it with a number of runic symbols carved into its surface that seemed to pulse weakly, and next to it was a stone bowl with a silver knife in it with similar etchings.

Behind me my grandfather's portrait spoke, "That is the master ward stone that controls the wards and enchantments placed inside the manor, you might have noticed some of the rooms don't seem very grand or spacious, that is because their enchantments were suspended in order for the ward stone to save what was left of its limited magical supply," he explained.

"Once it is reactivated the enchantments will restore themselves and the wards will link themselves to you, while normally it would be the lord of the manor that would control the wards, in his and his lady's absence the Heir takes command of them"

I nodded in understanding, "and how do I reactivate the stone?" I asked, though looking at the knife and the bowl I think I already had an idea.

"Blood," my grandfather said, "your blood, you must fill the bowl with your blood and then pour it over the stone while chanting the incantation to simultaneously recharge the ward stone and connect it to you, your ring will have the information on the incantation."

I nodded and stepped into the small area picking up the bowl and placing it in front of the stone while I lifted the knife, I could see the edge of the silver glisten along its edge.

I took a breath as I put my left hand over the stone bowl and placed the edge of the blade to my palm knowing that if I had to fill up the bowl then a small cut on my finger wasn't going to do it this time.

With another breath to brace myself before I pulled back on the blade and let out a hiss as the razor sharp edge of the blade cut into my skin and blood immediately began to pool in the palm of my hand.

I put the knife to the side as I tilted my hand and let the blood begin to pour into the stone bowl on the altar and watched it fill with my blood, no sooner had it reached near the rim did my bleeding stop and the cut on my palm heal up.

I gave a relieved sigh when I saw my cut close up, part of me had been worried that it wouldn't; given the Black's dark nature but I shook that off.

I needed to remember there was a difference between dark and evil, the fact that I was just being foolish came to mind given that it was highly unlikely that a lord would use a knife on himself for such a purpose and not have it charmed to heal the wound after the fact.

I took up the bowl and held it over the ward stone and as I did so I felt the knowledge of what to do come to the front of my mind and began to chant as I began pouring the blood, "familia custodiis restituet," I said as the blood poured over the stone and seemed to seep into it as the ruins glowed brighter as I continued my chant, "sanguis sanguinem meum" the blood continued to pour and I finished my chant, "Coniungere ad novum dominum."

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