Schola Obscura

Chapter VI

They Apparated near the stairway leading to the Cueva. Severus held Harry's arm firmly and led him down the steps. When they arrived at the bottom of the stairs, the darkness was complete.

Suddenly, a golden light appeared. They could see the cave - the moss-covered bedrock walls, the leveled floor, and the cobwebs hanging from the ceiling. The beam of light hit the surface of a wall and, as if he were watching a film, Harry could see the a group of men wearing animal skins and furs gathered in a circle. That image was replaced by another, of giants talking to dwarfs and plain men wearing tunics. Then a man who Harry imagined to have lived in the time of the Roman Empire appeared alone, looking at the entrails of a bird.

"It's an Auspex," said Severus. "He is examining the entrails of the bird in order to interpret the wishes of the gods."

That image gave way to another one, showing a group of Moors. Many groups of Moors followed in succession. Gradually, a few Spanish (or other European people) started to appear as pupils of the Moors. The Moors taught them many subjects, from Maths to Astrology to Divination. Some practised Necromancy; others, Alchemy and Hermetic Cabala; still others studied dreams. Grimoires were written and their teachings were transmitted from generation to generation. People danced around a pentacle, chanting invocations. They didn't use wands or spells like the wizards and witches Harry knew.

When the beam of light focused on a man wearing flowing robes, a close-girt waist, and a pointed cap, Severus squeezed Harry's arm. "Look! It's Michael Scot. He was the one who introduced the new fashion for wizards: the robes and the pointed cap."

"But we don't use belts!" protested Harry, smiling because Severus's comment had sounded very gay.

There weren't any Moors in the images that followed; just Spanish people. A sort of priest conducted the rites. The priest had a copper key hanging from his neck. Apparently the priest kept his position until his death, and then he was replaced by another one.

One image succeeded another, and other groups came into sight. People reading books, writing Mathematical symbols or drawing on the cave walls in the flickering light of candles. Ill people were brought in and healed; other people had visions and hallucinations. People became invisible or vaporized in a flash; other people appeared out of nowhere. Some people could control the winds, the waters, and influence the stars; others could raise earthquakes.

People's clothing changed according to their time. Images of men wearing linen shirts with a ruffled collar and matching wrist ruffs were followed by images of other men, wearing wigs and sleeveless jerkins. As in a strange, static fashion show, one fashion followed the other: doublets, many different styles of hose, baggy breeches, pantaloons... Women wearing flamboyant hats and large full skirts talked to men in frock coats. Women in corsets and bonnets; men in coats, suspenders and side-whiskers. The bob cuts of the Roaring Twenties, and the mini-skirts of the Sixties.

They were approaching the contemporary times. The long hair and the bell-bottom jeans of the Seventies were a hit when a young priest started to conduct the rites. Harry thought he knew him, but it was only after he watched a few more sequences of images, when hair became shorter and clothes more colourful, that Harry recognised him: it was the mysterious Señor Clavero, the owner of the Posada del Clavero. The last image they saw showed themselves, two days ago: Harry holding Ginny, Severus embracing the imaginary Harry, and then Severus between the real and the imaginary Harry.

When the last images vanished away, Clavero appeared in front of Severus and Harry. "I'm glad you came."

"Señor Clavero, I believe you owe us an explanation," said Severus.

"Please, have a seat," said the old man, pointing to a tiny amphitheater with seats covered in red velvet.

They descended some steps. Harry chose a seat and sat down. Clavero sat a few seats from him, at an angle. Severus took the seat beside Harry.

"As you probably could see, this place has been used for more than a thousand years for the practice of magic," began Clavero. "Some say it was the Orculi, or Dactyls, and the Janae who taught the secrets of magic to the first men. I myself cannot tell for sure, because, as you must have guessed, this place shows their guests exactly what they want to see."

"Like the Mirror of Erised," said Harry, but he had barely spoken when he realised Clavero wouldn't be able to understand the reference.

"I am not acquainted with this object, Mr Potter, but I suppose you wizards have many wonders I have never heard about, or even imagined!"

"You mean that, in spite of your powers, you don't consider yourself a wizard?"

"I am not part of your community," replied Clavero.

"He is a Muggle, Harry. He and all the people whose images we have just seen, perhaps with the exception of Scot." Severus turned to Clavero. "'Muggle' is the term we use to describe non-magic people."

"I see. It seems to me that you wizards have segregated yourselves from the non-magic people, and jealously keep your knowledge for yourselves. But we, the so-called Muggles, have magic potential too. A potential that can be developed."

"Unfortunately, the Wizarding World believes wizards and witches are born, not made," said Harry.

"Very well said, Mr Potter: unfortunately. First, because you are wrong, and the Cueva is the evidence of your error. Second, because your mindset will eventually create dangerous animosities between our worlds. In fact, this is already happening, right now."

"What exactly is the Cueva?" asked Severus.

"A place with magical properties where people face their own desires and learn to get in touch with their magic powers."

"Señor Clavero, do you know why we came here?" asked Harry.

"Yes. You came because of Parejo."

"Did you already know who we were when we arrived at your inn?"

"In fact, before that. It wasn't by chance that you went to my inn. Let's say that I... interfered in the course of events."

"In this case, you owe us a full explanation," said Severus in his lowest tone.

Mr Clavero nodded, a smile on his lips. "Parejo was my pupil. When he discovered the existence of the Wizarding World, he became angry. He hated the wizards and witches for segregating themselves from the normal people. Parejo wanted to show the witches and wizards that he could be better than them. He was determined to conquer what he considered the most advanced centre of the Wizarding World, the United Kingdom. And he was succeeding when he was caught."

"There's something I don't understand. Who are you?" asked Harry. "Just normal people who study magic?"

"I couldn't have expressed myself better, Mr Potter," said Clavero.

"All right... But, what has the Devil to do with that?"

Clavero laughed. "Those are just superstitions of people who don't know anything about magic. We, from the Schola Obscura, let them think what they want. If we let the truth be known, we would be persecuted both by the Wizarding World and the... Muggles who reject magic."

"The first night we came here, we saw the ghost of the Marquis of Villena," said Harry.

"He helps me watch the place. When he heard Mr Snape saying the Wizarding World would destroy the Cueva, he decided to do something. He asked me to let you in. He thought you would succumb to your desires and stay in the Cueva. He was wrong." Clavero looked at them with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Or not?"

"So you are like a Secret Keeper, I mean, you are a kind of guardian of the Cueva," Harry inferred.

"Yes. I am, to be more precise, the Clavero. The keeper of the keys. It's up to me to decide who can enter the Cueva and who can't. I decided to let you in."

"Why?" asked Severus, looking intrigued and concerned.

"I knew the Wizarding World would send people to investigate Parejo. It was inevitable. I diverted you to my inn, so that I could keep an eye on you."

"Why did Parejo die?" asked Severus. "Is there some sort of pact of silence involved here?"

"Of course we have a pact of silence, but no one dies because of it. Parejo died because he programmed himself for that. He would rather die than betray the Schola."

Harry was impressed, and also concerned. "Mr Clavero... You're putting me in a difficult position. I have to report what you told me to my superiors."

"If you do that, the Wizarding World will destroy what we have here," said Clavero.

"He is right, Harry. There is no possible accommodation between the Wizarding World as it is today and a group of Muggles with special powers who can threaten our world."

"What shall we do then?" asked Harry, feeling lost.

"I would like to make you a proposal," said Clavero. "Our organisation has a fund, made up of donations from our members, especially the most affluent ones, through the years. With this money, I could hire you to teach in the Schola Obscura. We cannot afford high salaries, but you could live in my inn. You would have both bed and food, and a little money for your extra expenses."

At first, Harry rejected that proposal as unacceptable. How could they leave the Wizarding World? But then he turned to Severus and saw a spark flickering in the depth of his eyes.

"I would be honoured to teach in the Schola Obscura, Señor Clavero," said Severus, straightening up in his seat.

"Severus!"

"I have nothing to contribute to the Wizarding World, Harry. Mr Clavero is offering me a respectable position. What is more, I am sure Mr Clavero's proposal is not a one way street: I have a lot to learn here too."

Harry knew Severus was right. Severus was a pariah in the Wizarding World. Clavero was giving Severus his dignity back.

"I'm flattered by your words, Mr Snape, and place myself at your disposal," replied Clavero, a radiant smile on his face.

"Besides," said Severus, smiling and turning to Harry again, "San Isidro is a pleasant place to live, and Salamanca is an interesting city."

"I'm sorry, but I won't leave the Ministry!" said Harry

"There is no need to make a hasty decision." Severus turned to Mr Clavero. "I would like to discuss this subject with Mr Potter..."

"As you wish, señores. We may talk again tomorrow morning. I will stay here and meditate upon the subject. The Cueva has always given me good advice."

Back to the inn, Harry paced the room. Severus was sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard.

"Do you really think the Ministry might create problems for the Schola Obscura?" asked Harry. "The Ministry of Magic doesn't even have jurisdiction over Spain! The case would have to be taken to the International Confederation of Wizards and the International Federation of Warlocks."

"The Schola Obscura is not a wizarding institution," said Severus.

"Well, our Ministries are linked to the Muggle governments," Harry argued.

"Which is an absurd state of affairs," commented Severus.

"I know you disagree with everything the Ministry does, but can we please concentrate on the situation at hand?"

"Harry, politicians are the same everywhere. If people feel threatened, the politicians will have to act. The only way to change this situation would be to enlighten the public about what the Schola Obscura is. Unfortunately, our press and our politicians are not reliable. I believe you, with your popularity, can have an influence, but, for that, we have to gather evidence that the Schola Obscura doesn't constitute a threat to the Wizarding World."

"We need time," concluded Harry.

"Exactly."

"But you understand the difficulty of my position, don't you? If I go back to London and report the situation to Robards, I'll put the Schola Obscura in danger. If I resign and stay in Salamanca, Robards will surely assign the case to another Auror, and the Schola Obscura will still be in danger. If I go back and tell Robards I didn't find anything, maybe Robards will hand the case to another Auror, maybe not, but..."

"Your prestige will suffer," finished Severus.

"I'm not worried about my prestige!"

"But I am. The Schola Obscura might need your support and your influence. The more popular you are, the more helpful you can be."

"My popularity has nothing to do with the Ministry."

"Very true. And yet, the Ministry is a strategic institution. It's crucial for the Schola Obscura to have an ally there."

"So you want me to stay in the Ministry?" asked Harry, not knowing how to interpret Severus's attitude. Harry had grown accustomed through the years to the feeling of being used, but he didn't expect that from Severus.

"Harry, you said you wanted to stay in the Ministry! I respect your decision. As for me, I have already made my decision."

A knock on the door was heard. Harry opened it and found Clavero there, a twinkling smile on his face. "Excuse me for disturbing you, but I saw the lights still on, and... Well, I had an idea, and would like to submit it to you."

"Of course. Please come in. Have a seat," said Harry, indicating the armchair.

"Oh, no, I will be quick," said Clavero, entering the room and nodding at Severus, who had stood up. "It's late, and we may discuss the subject in detail tomorrow. When I was meditating in the Cueva, it occurred me that there is another possibility: Mr Potter could tell his superiors a... slightly different story."

"How slightly different are we talking about?" asked Severus, quirking an eyebrow.

"We, from the Schola Obscura, have been tracking the movements of a group of Dark Wizards with branches in many European countries and the United Kingdom. Mr Potter could link Parejo to this group. I know this is not fair to the memory of Parejo, but if he were alive, I'm sure he would agree. This group, the Neo-Walpurgians, is planning an attack on your Ministry."

"What? And you weren't going to inform us?"

"Oh, they are disorganized, pitiful terrorists. You would have blocked them easily."

"But what is the link between them and Parejo?" asked Harry, bewildered.

"There is no link whatsoever. But I have a few documents... including a map showing the location of their headquarters in London. You could say you found them in Parejo's house. I could give you his address and the documents tomorrow morning."

Severus and Harry exchanged a knowing look.

Then Harry turned to Clavero. "I'll talk to you first thing tomorrow."

There was still a problem to solve. Severus had decided to live in Salamanca and teach at the Schola Obscura, and Harry would be returning to the Ministry and the Wizarding World.

Harry knew that what they had was not a solid relationship yet. But he also knew he didn't want to give up on Severus. He sat at the edge of the bed, close to Severus.

Severus wrapped his arms around Harry's waist and whispered in his ear, "I will be here. You know where to find me. But don't forget that I will be working at night."

Harry turned around to embrace Severus. "I'll come every Friday night and spend the weekends with you. If you have to work on Friday night, I'll wait for you here." Harry pushed Severus down against the bed. "Just don't let Consuelo get too close to you. I don't trust Spanish women. They are too calientes..."

Severus's eyes sparkled. "You are jealous."

Harry knew it was immature to be jealous like that, but Severus's joyful reaction was even more endearingly immature and made his heart flutter.

Severus made love to him slowly, drawing out each intimate caress, driving him crazy with need. When Harry came, Severus stayed inside him. Harry opened his eyes and saw Severus gazing at him in silent adoration. Harry reached out to gently touch Severus's face.

"Severus..." was all that Harry managed to say.

Severus stayed still, but his cock pulsed inside Harry.

"I know what you want to do. But I don't want to come again," said Harry. "I want to feel you coming inside me."

"Just this once, I will indulge you," Severus replied, leaning to kiss him and holding Harry's hips, before thrusting deep inside him again.

Harry clung to him with arms and legs and matched the rhythm of Severus's thrusts. Every spasm of pleasure, every jolt of sensation coming from Severus seemed to reverberate in Harry's body. Finally, Severus's body arched and stiffened, and Severus let out a choked cry, filling Harry with his hot semen. Severus collapsed on top of him. Harry wrapped his arms around Severus, and noticed his heart was beating as fast as Severus's.

The next morning, Severus insisted on accompanying Harry to Parejo's house. It was a small house in the Calle Espoz y Mina, in the centre of Salamanca. As they had nothing to do there, they just entered, took a look at the tiny four rooms, and exchanged a last long kiss in an attic cramped with parchments, statues and terra-cotta reliefs.