Harry thrower and The birthing of a New Sun

Chapter 6 - Too Close an skirmish

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When Harry shut the door to his room and descended the stairs he was, perhaps, the happiest he had ever been in all his aliveness. The sun sent lucky re streaking through the coloured windows above and cast a favorable image on the trading floor below, tinged with enough red to make Harry retrieve fleetingly of Guy Fawkes. His pilus a tangled mess, he was wearing a tee shirt, boxers and wind cone, one with a rather turgid cakehole through which the large toe on his rectify foot protruded. He scratched his breadbasket as his nozzle took in the perfume of something that resembled the smell of burning ham. He took one whole tone down and turned to look back at his way. His room ? His house ? No, not really. Not anymore. And he was thankful for that and smiled all the more as the aroma of fresh coffee filled the air, perhaps the only affair Sirius could prepare properly.

When he pushed open the door to the kitchen of Number XII, Grimmauld Place, he found Sirius working feverishly in battlefront of the range. His wand was casting trance after tour, not so much at the food grooming, but in an effort to clear the smoke that was billowing throughout. Harry walked over and turned down the flame with a wave of his hand.

"Here,"he said gently,"let me help."His godfather looked wounded.

"No, really, I wanted to take you breakfast. You know, firstly day of school and all."He cracked an egg and put both liquid and shell in the Saame stadium and started mixing it with his wand. Harry chuckled kindly and shook his head in disbelief. It was great being free of Privet Drive, to be here with his godfather, to feel wanted and appreciated. It was probably the first metre he had ever opened a packet of Roger Bacon for breakfast without a sour preference in his sassing. He gave Sirius a look that said,"Get actual,"and then positioned himself squarely in front of the stove.

"I'm not bad at this,"offered Harry, cracking four orchis at once into a bowl and discarding the shells with a picture of his wand. Sirius shrugged and started to sit, but Harry stopped him."Oh no you don't. You need to see how this is done, and when I come back for Christmas it'll be your turn."Sirius seemed to like the challenge, and the melodic theme that he would be spending Christmas with Harry.

"You know,"said Sirius pouring two cupful of coffee,"I hear New York is spectacular at Yule prison term. Have you ever been to the States ?"Harry escape from his caput."Maybe we could go for a speedy visit."

"I promised Gabri—"

"Visit,"Sothis cut in."That's all. Maybe Gab can come along."

"If we're not at war,"said Harry glumly.

"Or if the war's over by then,"suggested Sothis with more optimism. Harry nodded plating the food and levitating the collection plate to the table.

Canicula ate like a dog and finished in about three minutes. Harry was more ruminative, and while he did wind up, it took him much longer. The dainty thing about being of age was that he didn't have to take the air or lease a car to go to King's hybrid station. For that topic, he didn't need to go to world-beater's Cross at all ; he could Apparate to Hogsmeade and walk in from there. Only the header Boy and Head daughter had to claim the train with their housemates, and this year the Head miss was none early than Hermione granger. Odd, Harry thought, considering she'd nearly killed Theodore Nott net year. He smiled and took another sip of coffee. Hermione didn't know who the straits Boy was, but it wasn't Ron. Still, the redhead and his lady friend were inseparable and so Harry would be travelling too. When Harry told Gabriella he would be going to Hogwarts by train, her face fell momentarily and grew concerned.

"Then I go as well,"she declared, and she began to shiver slightly. The thought sent a cold chill down Harry's spine as the affectionate coffee slipped down his throat.

"Any more bacon ?"asked Canicula rummaging through the crusty pans about the stove.

"That fatal stuff you fried up over there on the side is bacon ; at to the lowest degree it used to be."

Sirius poked at it a few time, and then finally took a bite. His facial expression took on a rebuff bitter tint as it scrunched ever so slightly, then he took another morsel, shrugging his shoulder. His teeth and clapper covered in wood coal he said,"You'd intimately get ready. Is your trunk packed ?"He glanced at the hourglass on the counter.

"Er… yeah,"Harry lied."Just a few More things."He levitated his collection plate to the sink which was piled high-pitched with pots and Pan from the terminal few twenty-four hour period."Do you want me to convey maintenance of these before I—"

"I'll take concern of it,"Sothis lied."Go get yourself ready."Harry shrugged and nodded his caput, and started up the step, once again scratching his stomach and knowing wax well it would be days, perhaps workweek, before the swallow hole was cleared.

It was strange really, getting ready for his last year at Hogwarts. So often he was rushed in the hustle and bustle of the Weasley family. This class, however, Harry wanted to be with his own family — Sirius Black. And it was the best decisiveness he'd ever made. It had only been a few days, but in that short prison term Sirius and Harry did absolutely… nothing. There were opportunities to blab about the old sidereal day when Sirius palled around with James ; there were fortune to exercise go on go or learn the operation of some of the golden instruments that still lined the walls in the Shirley Temple family study ; there were times when they could have discussed how Harry brought Sirius back from behind the curtain ; and at every turn, at every open door, Harry and Canicula simply took the clip to relish each former in the here and now. They played chess ; the played cards ; they raced Caduceuses across the British capital sky at dark ; they drank, probably too much ; and they laughed more than they had laughed in a foresightful, long meter. Sirius'eyes had never been brighter, and Harry's heart had never been lighter.

This time when Harry readied himself at the social movement door to leave, there was no darkness swarm hanging over their fountainhead, but rather an aegir excitement about the class to derive and what it would bring. They drew strength from each other knowing that whatever war was around the quoin, whatever wickedness rose on the skyline, they would face it together. For a instant they just stared at each former and around the room.

"Er… Right then,"began Sirius."Off you go."He nervously patted the incline of his hips with his hands.

"I'll… I'll owl you when I get in,"replied Harry. Sirius nodded. silence."right wing, then."There was another long pause."Bloody hell,"Harry cursed and he walked over and pulled Sirius to him tightly with a grand hug. Sirius responded in kind.

They held each other for Sir Thomas More than a moment and then Sirius whispered in a somewhat raspy voice,"Be careful."Harry pulled away wearing an tremendous smile.

"I've never been anything but !"He winked, there was a quip, and he was gone.

He Apparated to an out of the way placement just down the street from King's Cross post and began walking. The tardily morning time was clear, and he was surprised to line up the air so frigidity. He'd been spending so much meter inside with Sirius he hadn't thought much about the weather. His coat was in his trunk, and he didn't experience much like opening that in the middle of a street filled with Muggles. He shivered, rubbed his sleeve, and continued on his way. He was coming to the first stairs of the station when a beggar boldly stepped in figurehead of him demanding a donation. Wearing a good three days'chaff, his clothes were lousy, and his breathing place smelled strongly of alcohol.

"seminal fluid on, mate,"he wheezed."Just a pounding fer me experimental condition. I ain't eatin'in days."

"Sorry,"said Harry earnestly,"I don't have a pound."

"Surely a schilling ?"

Harry kept walking trying to snub the intruder."Really,"he said over his shoulder joint,"I don't have any money."The man grabbed Harry by the arm.

"I can see the jingle in yer gasp, boy !"It was reliable that Harry had a few galleons in his air pocket, but no Muggle money of any sort. He was sorry for that, but he was irritated for being called a boy and he turned to face up the beggar.

"Call me a boy again, and you—"

"You'll what !"spat the rummy, stepping toe-to-toe with Harry. The sight was a bit comical since Harry was not the small child he once was. Indeed he was a husky young man, and he stood a good four in taller than his adversary. Curling the fingerbreadth on his right wing hand, he was about to say just what he'd do when a familiar tingle ran up his rachis. He grabbed for his wand, but too late. Or at least it would bear been if he had been the object. The rummy stood motionless, eyes glazed, soundbox frozen in stead. Harry looked up just as a hand gently took him by the arm.

"Sorry about that, sir,"said a young man not very much onetime than Harry."I… er… I wasn't paying attention. Won't happen again, I promise."

The man, still in his teenager, wore a obscure hoary courtship with thin Amytal piping, a burgundy tie and white shirt. The dark glasses reminded Harry of old James shackle pic, but the white tennis shoe with red laces told Harry at once he was dealing with a wizard. Then he noticed the shape of the jaw, the phonation, but the hair—

"Finnius ?"Harry asked, wondering if he was talking to the sometime point Boy of Hufflepuff who at graduation had a start at a face fungus and hair's-breadth that hung down to his waistline."I thought you were going to embark on a isthmus ? The… er, The Grindly trough ?"

"Erm,"said Finnius, looking around nervously,"can we keep going ?"

"Why ? What's the issue ?"

"Well… see, I'm supposed to—"

"Not you ?"Harry exclaimed in mental rejection."Surely the Ministry—"

Finnius pulled Harry by the arm just as the drunk began to come to his Mary Jane. Quickly, they climbed the steps and found themselves in a sea of people heading to their political platform at mogul's Cross. hidrosis was popping out on Finnius'forehead and Harry wondered if he hadn't wet himself he looked so aflutter."It's just… well, I promised Tonks and already I've made a mess of things."

"You work with Tonks ?"Harry asked with a bit more excitement and interestingness. He hadn't heard from her all summer, and she wasn't at the Joining with Singehorn."Is she okay ? Where is she ?"Finnius continued to show Harry toward program nine and three-quarters holding Harry with his in good order deal and wiping his brow with his left.

"Yeah, well, she's the one that convinced me I could be an Auror. Said she'd railroad train me, see… herself. But since that business organization at the Ministry last class, she's been in and out of hospital and… well, now she's in and… well, she made me promise. See ?"

Harry didn't see, and he was getting a bit rile. He yanked his arm out of Finnius'hold."What do you mean she's in infirmary ? What's wrong ?"Finnius looked away from Harry's intense gaze.

"Ah, here we are."They were at the political platform."Just in time too !"Before Harry could say another word, Finnius gave him a bit of a shove and he plunged through the wall and found himself on the former side standing just in movement of the Hogwarts expressage. Harry dropped his tree trunk, reached for his wand and started back toward the wall when he was tackled from the face. The photoflash of raven black fuzz in his face told him at once it was Gabriella.

"You made it !"she cried."I was beginning to think—"She stopped, sensing at once that Harry's emotions were in tumult."What's wrong ?"And then she too looked at the paries to the alfresco universe."Who's out there ?"

The frustration on Harry's nerve was clear ; he was about to charge back out when his eyes caught something he had never before seen : Neville Longbottom was hugging his parents, frank and Alice, auf wiedersehen. Alice held his face in her hands and planted a big wet kiss on his cheek. They were all smile as Neville wiped it with his sleeve. Then hot dog Longbottom handed his son something and, as Neville wrapped his fingers about the object, a more grave tone came into his eyes. His dad slapped him on the shoulder and a thinly grin appeared again as Neville boarded the train.

"He's brain Boy,"Gabriella said warmly.

Harry looked at Gabriella, then at the wall behind, and back to the geartrain, then back to the paries."Come on, let's—"

"ALL ABOARD !"the conductor called.

"doyen said he'd save us a spot,"said Gabriella, taking hold of Harry's mitt. Harry took one finish look at the wall behind them, and then the two boarded the train. The corridor was crowded with scholarly person, particularly low years who were completely confused. What was noticeable, however, was that the normal dividing line of house zona seemed to be somewhat blurred. There were Slytherins purposefully mixing in with Ravenclaws near the front of the gearing, and a grouping of tertiary year Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors in another passenger car playing snap. A few auto down Harry just caught a glimpse of someone in Gryffindor robes disappearing into a passenger car and so he and Gabriella followed. He pushed open the carriage door only to take the air in on Neville and Helen kissing ; a sweet perfume filling the air.

"Oh,"said Harry."Sorry."Neville had Helen up against the rampart and there was some sort of vine with ticklish garden pink flowers wrapping itself around her arm and abdomen. She was wearing a grinning and blushing slightly."Er… seen James Byron Dean ?"Neville who seemed about three inches taller than when Harry last saw him which was only a few weeks ago spoke through a beaming smile.

"Yeah, he's up forward."Then, with a confident flick of his wand Neville shut the doorway in Harry's face, following that with a charm that sealed it tight. Gabriella just raised her eyebrow and smiled.

"See what happens when you're late."She smacked Harry's stomach."That could have been us !"

They continued moving forward past various carriages when the flash of red tomentum caught Harry's eye. It was Ron, and he was bickering with Hermione. The floor of the carriage they were in was littered with clothes, Bible and various affair Harry knew to be Ron's, most notably by the excess of socks.

"Honestly, Ronald,"said Hermione in a scolding vox as if talking to a four year old."If you don't retrieve it soon you'll have to enjoin prof Flitwick, and if you won't I will."

"Is that a threat ?"stab back Ron, holding both paw on his hips and kicking at the pile of clothes on the floor. Gabriella walked in first.

"Is there something incorrect ?"she asked gently, Harry only a step behind her.

"No, nothing's wrongly,"snapped Ron immediately."Er… hey, Ilex paraguariensis !"he said with a waving at Harry.

"He's lost his wand,"exclaimed Hermione.

"I haven't lost anything,"retorted Ron in rebelliousness."I've just… er…"

"Have you tried summoning it ?"asked Harry, starting to rummage through the clothes on the pram base. The steeled aspect of blast in Ron's optic said that they had certainly tried that and many other affair and would ravage just not make any other suggestions because Hermione has already made every possible suggestion known in the Wizarding worldly concern and none of them have worked.

"Hermione,"said Gabriella with a spirit that Harry had come to know all too well, and yet was still new to Hermione."Perhaps one of my Slytherin housemates is playing a legerdemain, most likely chemise. Would you join me and perhaps together we can puzzle out this little problem."Knowing Hermione's disposition toward Nott, Harry wondered if it was a wise idea to put the two in close up propinquity, but Gabriella may suffer been on to something. Certainly Nott would have the need to displume a stunt like this, but perhaps Gabriella just wanted to get Hermione away from Ron for a bit. He smiled to himself realizing that it was probably both.

"Sure,"said Hermione. She cast one Sir Thomas More look at Ron before she left and said,"And don't you stop looking !"The moment the girls departed, Ron flopped down on the carriage bench and blew the pilus out of his eyes.

"Bloody hell."

"Well, Fred or George can certainly get you a new wand,"offered Harry, sitting down across from Ron."Or maybe we can swipe out this weekend and Apparate to Ollivanders."Unfortunately, Ron's case did not brighten at the suggestion.

"Look at us, Harry,"said Ron with a impulsive feel on his face, tinged with a bit of sourness."We were here six days ago, you and me. Do you recall ?"

There was a moment of silence as Harry watched the countryside slip by. It wasn't the Saame train as six year ago, but it might as well suffer been.

"Yeah,"said Harry, almost in a whisper as he nodded his psyche,"I remember."

"affair haven't changed much."

"They've changed loads."Harry reached forward and pulled on the modest goatee now sprouting from Ron's chin.

"Really ?"asked Ron with a snicker."Back then you were Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, and I was Ron Weasley with a daub of dirt on my nose."

"That's not—"

"Now we're both of age and you're Harry ceramist, Protector, Guardian and Emissary, the superstar that destroyed Voldemort and brought ataraxis with the giant, and I'm Ron Weasley the kid that can't find his BLOODY baton !"At the hold up words he stood up, kicked at the bulwark, and put his the boot all the way through.

Harry was trying to muster something to say when the door began to open. Angry, Ron instinctively reached for his verge to slam the room access shut, but it wasn't there. He growled like a lion and was about to physically mosh the doorway shut when St. Patrick O'James Whitcomb Riley, now in his secondly twelvemonth, poked his head through.

"Was that you, Ron ?"asked St. Patrick brightly, nodding his psyche toward the hole that now protruded into the corridor. Then he noticed Harry."Hey, Harry ! James Dean said you were going to be up in his carriage."

"Later,"answered Harry."Right now I'm just—"

"Patrick,"cut in Ron, doing his best to remain calm,"we don't have sentence to—"

"Prob'ly mad ‘ bout losin'this,"interrupted Patrick, and he held up Ron's wand. For a here and now Ron sputtered, unable to verbalize. Finally, he grabbed the baton and pulled it close, cradling it like a babe as a waving of fill-in passed over his body.

"Where'd you find it ?"asked Harry.

"Oh, I didn't,"said Patrick,"James I did. When he showed it teh me, I knew at once whose it was. He was on his way teh take it teh Flitwick, but I told him I'd get it teh yeh."

"Er… thanks,"answered Ron."You're okeh, kid."At live on Ron smiled as he slipped his verge away.

"Why don't you and King James stay in here,"offered Harry."I haven't heard from the Yangtze River all summer and was wondering how Cho was doing."At these words, Saint Patrick became noticeably uncomfortable.

"Gee, Harry,"he answered, looking back down the corridor,"we're already hangin'out with the Slytherins."

"Slytherins ?"asked Harry."I thought James River was going to start Gryffindor this year. He knows he can nibble whatever planetary house he wants doesn't he ?"

"Yeah, well, he changed his brain o'er the summer, I guess."Again he glanced nervously down the hallway."Well… see yeh !"He smiled and disappeared down the corridor to the back of the train.

"That was a bit odd,"said Ron, sweeping away a few pairs of air-sleeve with his bridge player and sitting down on the bench.

"Yeah, it was."

"Why on earth would anybody choose Slytherin over Gryffindor ? Everyone knows they're zip but a bundle of—"

"Yes ?"Gabriella stood at the candid door, her fingers drumming against the frame.

"Er…."

"…Sweethearts !"chimed Hermione gaily as she stepped into the carriage with Gabriella."Except maybe… Teddy."She flopped down next to Ron.

"He didn't take it too well when we asked if he'd stolen Ron's wand,"continued Gabriella as she sat next to Harry. Hermione took Ron's helping hand and pulled him fold to her.

"No, but he didn't dare use a crisscross word or raise his voice,"said Hermione."Quite the gentleman's gentleman for a change."

"Being nearly killed can do that to some people,"said Ron.

"I could sense right away he was telling the true statement,"said Gabriella,"so we decided to come back. Saint Patrick told us he found your wand."

"No, James I Chang found it,"said Harry."Patrick only returned it. Did he state you that Saint James has decided to go with Slytherin this yr ?"

"There, you see !"said Gabriella,"Another OK illustration. James was one of the better first year pupil as I recall."Ron pulled out his scepter and looked at it closely.

"I should probably have it examined,"he said."Maybe Nott put him up to it."

"Oh, don't be farcical,"said Hermione, slapping his bridge player. Then she turned to Harry, trying hard to ignore the mess on the floor."So how's Sirius doing at Grimmauld Place ?"

The hours passed quickly as lunch came and the late afternoon brought drooping eyelids to everyone. Dean never made his way back to the carriage, and they never endeavoured to move further up the train. They were all nodding off to slumber when the string began to slow.

"Hogsmeade ?"asked Ron groggily. The midday sun seemed suddenly to fade to darkness as if someone had just pulled down the curtain.

"No,"said Hermione with a bit of concern."It's too early."They all noticed the last word leave her lips in a puff of smoke -- the air was growing colder by the second. They knew at once what was happening and each had their wand at the ready. The iniquity outside the gear filled with instant of light. Ministry precaution had moved out to meet the onslaught which was centred toward the front of the geartrain. conjuration filled the air as Patronus after Patronus was being sent out against the attacking Dementors. There were screech all up and down the corridors, mostly from the immature students.

"Ron,"said Hermione with a commanding voice."Help me pull together the foremost years."Ron was up in a flash, and a instant later his spokesperson was barking orders down the corridor for everyone to remain calm, calling for the firstly years to muster up at the galley. educatee began to proceed toward the fundament of the train, away from the fighting.

"They're looking for you, Harry,"said Gabriella, holding her scepter at the window. She cast a trance at the methamphetamine hydrochloride, protecting it from attack, just as other window began to shatter about the train.

"Well they're about to see me !"injection Harry as he started for the door. Gabriella grabbed his arm.

"You can't be grievous. Who knows how many are out there. Your best using the train as a—"The power train lurched forward causing collective riot all up and down the corridor. Then it began to move -- chug… choo-choo… chug… choo-choo… She was quickly gathering speed. There was another flurry of smart white trice of ignite cast against the iniquity, and the afternoon light suddenly reappeared and the warmth returned. Everyone cheered as the caul of darkness became nothing more than a darkness cloud on the horizon behind the train.

A look of relief spread across Gabriella's typeface, but darkness still remained in Harry's eyes as he reached and grabbed the wrist of the hand that was holding his arm. Slowly, but firmly he pulled her hand away, and looked at her with a very mordant grammatical construction. She sensed his emotions before he said the quarrel and she didn't like what she was feeling. Finally, he spoke in a stern and heated voice.

"Don't EVER do that again."

"But—"

There was a riot that Harry knew at once to be Ginny's. In a flash he was out the door and down the corridor, only a footmark ahead of Neville Longbottom, and two stair behind Ron. Ginny was on her stifle in the go-cart, busted glass everywhere and crying streaming down her eye. She grabbed her chum by his sleeve.

"Do something, Ron !"she cried out."They've taken him. They've taken Dean !"

"But… but he's right here, Gin"answered Ron, looking at Dean who was still seated on his chairman, but looking out the window at the rural setting running past. It was Gabriella who noticed first.

"Oh, no,"she whispered, stepping past Harry and turning Dean to face them all. There was a collective gasp. Still breathing, his eyes were blank, his human face sunken, and his skin almost picket. He gave them no reaction at all. Ginny stood up and wrapped him in her arms, rocking him back and forth. On her finger was the ring Dean had given her the year before. The firestone with which it was set had lost its superb glow, its attack, its honey extinguished.

"They've taken him,"she cried again."They've taken his soul."




Harry Potter and the incumbrance of Becoming

Chapter 7 - The lost Soul

~~~***~~~


Harry clenched his fists and spat,"screw war."Other than that, only the rumble of the wagon train and the air current whistling through the shatter window accompanied Ginny's cocksucker. He stepped next to Gabriella and watched helplessly as Ginny, a soul mate if ever he had one, rocked back and forth with Dean in her implements of war. James Dean, breathing but lifeless, made no answer. He might as well be a corpse - he'd be better off. Harry felt the rage construction within, but something was tempering it, something was focusing it. He gazed into nothingness as smoke streamed by the broken window and a binge tracked down his cheek.

"Ginny,"Gabriella whispered, then louder,"Ginny."The redheader, her case wet, looked up at Gabriella."May I see him ?"Ginny sniffed, wiped her face and nodded silently. mortal, a daughter, screamed at the door and then ran down the corridor yelling for avail.

"I'll get a healer,"said Neville despondently to Harry. His interpreter was much older and much sadder than Harry had ever heard before. They both knew it was pointless.

"It won't do any unspoilt,"thought Harry to himself, reaching for his sceptre and then nervously fiddling it with his finger's breadth. Then, out loud, he whispered,"He's gone."The craze roiled in his mind as he watched the green pitcher's mound curl by - a picture perfect day. Finally, his psyche found its clarity."This was retiring pardon,"he thought to himself and his hired man clenched tightly about his wand as he pulled it to the set up."I'll belt down them ! I'll kill them all !"He would Apparate back down the cart track and destroy every Dementor that moved. He began the wrist apparent motion when Gabriella grabbed his arm. His eyes shot ardor into hers."I told you—"he began.

"You're not thinking,"interrupted Gabriella, staring at him intently with blue total darkness eyes that demanded he not be so brash.

"I don't care how many of them there are !"cried Harry.

"I'm with you, Harry !"yelled Ron."We'll kill ‘ em all !"

"YEAH !"cried others."LET'S GO !"

scepter began to come out from everyone.

"Harry !"take Gabriella."THINK !"She pulled him close."You know a better way !"

Harry's mind began to race ; there was no metre for this. The stone ? Was she talking about the stone ? Certainly she didn't mean value that he could heal James Dean's soul using the stone."I don't have time—"

"Your vox, Harry,"she said softly but with a sharp tone.

articulation ? Voices ! She couldn't be life-threatening. She had wanted to mould with him on the representative, the gift of those who had touched him at the Joining, but he chose instead to drop his time with Dog Star. All those award at the Joining on Singehorn's flock were, in assorted fashion, a office of him now. They had shared of themselves freely, but there were so many he couldn't sort them out and time was dripping through his digit.

"I can't."

"You must."

For a moment, as more phonation clambered about the corridor for a counterattack on the Dementors, he tried to arrive at down deep interior, calling to those who had shared of themselves, scanning through uncounted memories, snippets of pictures that spanned centuries.

"This is impossible,"he said with a sigh.

"Come on, Harry ! Let's kill them !"someone called from behind. It was Anthony Goldstein. Very well said, thought Harry, but Anthony's Patronus would be favourable to press away a ace Dementor let alone dozens. Unfortunately, before Harry could say another word, Anthony gave Harry the most peculiar feel and shouted,"For our mob, match !"There was a pop and Goldstein was gone. It was followed by another pop and another catch. aged students were Disapparating from everywhere.

"wait ! STOP"Harry yelled."You're… you're not prepare !"

"mummy's seen them, Harry,"said Gabriella above the snaps and pops."She may have sex. Think of her… be her !"

Harry closed his centre once again and focused on Soseh. His thinker dwelt on the passion of her hospitality and the aroma of her kitchen, but Gabriella turned his mind.

"frigidness. vacancy,"she whispered."The smell of decay, of death."

ikon filled Harry's mind. prototype of what was, what is, what might be. He saw Dakhil, a much younger looking Dakhil, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth ; he saw himself hanging from the window on Privet driving, an odd glow surrounding his half-naked soundbox ; he saw Grigor looking cruel and defiant ; he saw the cold all in soundbox of Antreas, stab wounds covering every inch of his bare chest ; expiry, and then he saw them.

It was night and the solely sound, beyond a lone scream in the darkness, was the raspy breath of the oncoming Dementor. Just a few feet away, a young miss was cowering beneath the cloaked figure. Just to her left was a man, somewhere in his late 20, a firedrake emblazoned on his redress forearm. Ignoring the man, the Dementor pulled back his hood revealing its skull-like masque of horror, a large jam where perhaps a mouth should be. The visual sense seemed so real Harry tried to reach for his wand, but found his arm shackled to a stone wall.

The girl screamed as the Dementor drew in its breather in a great wheeze. Another scream… another wheeze. On the third gear wheeze, the female child made no sound ; her dull eyes opened, staring blankly up at her attacker. It was then, as if empowered with a 2d imagination, Harry saw it : the glow. He watched the faint favourable white-hot light being pulled into the yap in the Dementor's orifice. He expected it to disappear into the darkness, but it didn't. The Dementor pulled his hood up over his skull, but Harry could still perceive the freshness trying to fight its way out. It was as if the Dementor was shining, backlit by a spotlight from above."I see,"Harry whispered and the darkness rushed away to be replaced by the luminance and grumbling of the racing Hogwarts Express.

"I see !"cried Harry."I…"He paused."Soseh can see,"he said slowly shaking his nous."Soseh has the gift, I don't, at least not yet. I haven't tried. There's no way I can—"Gabriella's eyes were fixed on his. He knew she bore her mother's natural endowment of sight, and her eyes were telling him that she too must go."No,"he said flatly."You're staying here."

"It's the only way, Harry,"she said, still holding his arm."If we find the one in time, then… then you use the I. F. Stone to trace back dean's life story force."Everyone looked at the two as if they'd both gone mad. There were stride racing their way down the corridor. Harry glanced back, knowing that once the Aurors found out about the attack and the flight of the students they'd be blasting Dementors right and left. With one wrong tour, Dean's person would be lost forever.

"We must go now,"she insisted. Harry held the mitt clutching his arm and nodded his assent.

On two, they both Apparated back into the swarthiness. It was as if they had just landed themselves in the middle of an baleful electric storm that had extinguished the sun. All was blackness save for the flash of lighting - wandlight from the attacking students. Harry felt the heat rushing out of his bones and heard the screeching in his ears.

"Can - you - see - the - one ?"Harry yelled over the din. His voice held hope, but his heart had none. There were at least a hundred Dementors swarming about, skimming across the hillside, trying to determine if the recently arrived wizards were to be feared or consumed. Harry saw a Patronus, the conformation of an tremendous owl, dip into a radical of about a one-half dozen Dementors and sent them flying. About 30 railway yard away, near a rack of trees, Goldstein's wand was doing little Sir Thomas More than lighting up the humble clarification of grass in front of him. A Dementor was closing in on him when three students from Ravenclaw converged, simultaneously casting an Incendio spell and incinerating the puppet. Harry's nitty-gritty skipped. Could that have been—

"This way !"hailed Gabriella, pulling on Harry's arm as she held her heart shut. She was pulling them closer into the clique. Harry conjured a stag that split the sea of Dementors, if only for a second, the severance closing behind the burnished animal as it passed through. But in that moment, Gabriella squeezed Harry's arm.

"Yes !"she said with more certainty. Her eyes still closed she cried,"Follow me !"

They were plunging right into the nitty-gritty of the swarm of black. Gabriella was moving more swiftly. She let go of Harry's arm and began to jog ahead. Harry followed sending another Patronus ahead of her and splitting them away. kinda than focalise on Harry and Gabriella, the Dementors seemed to prefer the easier fair game near the Tree and began to move away. He could pick up the riot behind him as Gabriella pulled her wand and uttered something in Armenian. A White freshness enveloped her as if she held a star at the tip of her wand. She pressed on ever forward, her pace gathering hurrying, but her sceptre dimming as each new Dementor tried to penetrate its glowing surface.

"Hurry, Harry !"she called back. The terrain was rockier here and they were moving along the position of a mound and the foster they moved along the more immerse the incline grew, making it more difficult to pass over. Harry heard a collection of grab behind him ; the Aurors had arrived. He looked back at the bang-up swarm of Dementors unwittingly racing toward the new collection of emotions. Just as he turned back to look at Gabriella his fundament slipped on a stone and his articulatio talocruralis twisted under his system of weights. He fell to the ground and tumbled a honorable twenty substructure down the side of the pitcher's mound, scraping the side of his leg badly before he came to rest.

He looked up and saw the flickering glow of Gabriella's scepter disappear over the sharpness of the hill. Three Dementors swarmed over him - it was the lastly thing they ever did. Black blood sprayed all over the earth as Harry blasted his way through, grimacing from the infliction in his ankle as he took each farsighted pace. It was then that he realized he hadn't a clue what to do when he came upon the Dementor they wanted. Gabriella had said to use the stone, but how ? And how would he keep the Dementor from simply fleeing ? His ankle pounding, Harry past another turgid tree and came up over the slope of the hill. The reason opened up beneath him, running down maybe twenty dollar bill yards and then spreading out into a vast plain that stretched on until it disappeared into the clammy mist of darkness. sun was trying to penetrate the brumous cloud of total darkness casting an eerie red glow over the green landscape before him. It was then when his warmheartedness sank.

Just at the end of his imaginativeness, Harry could see the flickering glow of Gabriella's verge. Only now it was more flicker than ignitor. About her were two Dementors, the only two to be seen and they were circling her same predator. Each would swoop around and then plunge at Gabriella only to rebound from her failing shield charm. It wouldn't be farsighted before—

The carapace failed, and Harry heard her scream. He was too far away to do anything but run, and that's just what he did. He ran with all his might, ail stabbing at his leg with each work stoppage at the terra firma as if a snapping snake were ever at his heels. He was perhaps fifty yards away when an enormous red light flare-up from Gabriella's verge, filled the air about her, and one of the Dementors burst into flame. Harry could hear its gurgling cries as it tried to fly away, but plunged into the weed starting a pocket-size fervency, inkiness smoke billowing upward. Harry was now twenty dollar bill yards away as he watched the bit Dementor crouch over Gabriella and he heard her screams.

There was a pop just off to his right. An Auror appeared, wand drawn.

"No !"Harry cried. The Auror looked only briefly at Harry then set to cast a spell at the Dementor hovering over Gabriella.

"Petrificus Totalus !"called Harry. The Auror went erect and fell to the ground. Ten yards. Gabriella screamed again and this time Harry could get word the raspy wheeze of the Dementor as it tried to rip away her soul. With a great leap Harry jumped forward, wrapped his arm around Gabriella and the two of them rolled away from beneath the clutches of the Dementor. When they came to breathe, Gabriella was on top of him ; the golden necklace he had given her with the Gryffindor signet - a lion baring two deep red red eyes - that came from Professor McGonagall hung round her neck and swung back and forth in front of Harry's face. He had remembered McGonagall's Book :"For metre of darkness."And then he heard the articulation of Dumbledore, as if he were whispering in Harry's ear, only the rustle was coming from Harry's lips.

"Really, Nicolas ? An jinx golden concatenation will entrap them ? I never heard of such a thing."

The Dementor's growing wheeze signalled its approach path when Harry grabbed the tiny prosperous chain off Gabriella's cervix. He rolled her to the side, feeling the cold approaching from behind. With one cobbler's last great effort he heaved himself upward, tossed the chain in the air and cast a trance he had never uttered before, but one that Dumbledore knew. The tiny lucky chain grew snakelike in shape and dimension, but its head was the headspring of a lion with flaming red eyes. With the flick of his wand Harry levitated the glow, golden, lion-headed ophidian toward the coming cold, and it began to gyrate itself around the Dementor various times. round of golf and round in LE time than it takes to unlace a shoelace the Dementor was cinched tight from top dog to toe. Struggling to escape, the dark beast could not run and ultimately fell to the dope.

"Harry ?"Gabriella's spokesperson whispered weakly from behind."Harry ?"

He knelt down by her side at once."Are you okay ?"he asked.

"The stone. Use the Harlan Fisk Stone before the others come."

The vivificus Harlan Fiske Stone had not been used since it was charged at the connexion. Singehorn had told Harry that fire was undecomposed but love was something far more endurable. And the stone, snuggled close to Harry's liver, was already covered in Harry's stock. All that remained was the incantation :"Bravery, wiseness, Love."

In an instant, Harry found himself in what he had, in his own mind, decided was an antechamber of sorting. All was white waiting for his asking. For a instant his thinker hovered on Gabriella, but he knew he was forbidden on using it to the vantage of another in the Votary. Instead, he called to the open nothingness,"display me James Dean's soul !"

He expected to see a swirl of colouring material, but instead he saw a whirl of black. His essence skipped for fear that he had done something wrong, but his own feel held soaked to the need to save his acquaintance if at all possible. The darkness bed cover before him and in this emptiness a stench filled Harry's nostrils. It was then when he realized where he was, what he was entering - the life story forcefulness of the Dementor.

Blackness and rot filled his imaginativeness. Strands of oily vulcanized fiber hung from above and when Harry looked to see their origin, all that was visible was utter duskiness. He was reminded of the crevasse into which he and Dog Star had fallen and a very very office of him wanted to leave this topographic point as quickly as potential. He was frigidity and growing colder as he forced is listen's eye to constrict onward into the profoundness of the Dementor's nitty-gritty, an insatiable need to feed.

At first, the sounds were distant echoes coming from down a long tunnel, spokesperson perhaps, or animals screaming. Harry moved toward the speech sound and found the swarthiness pressing in all around him. Though in here he really had no bodily grade, something wet and sticky splattered against his brass ; the desire to wretch was hard. Then he heard the speech sound again.

Yes, they were screams, but homo scream, calling just ahead. Floating deeper into the darkness, his fundament tangled on something he could not see. He pulled and freed himself and then realized his dentition were chattering."This is not potential,"he thought to himself and now an even greater section of him wanted to return."I can't do this."He glanced back to see a bantam patch of White no bad than a stamp stamp international mile away. He could be there and back to base hit in the fanfare of a view.

Then he heard a part, authorize and secure above the others, telling them to quiet down down, to heed. It was familiar, but it wasn't Dean's. There was something nurturing about this vocalism, something that made one feel secure. Harry pressed forward. It felt like hours, although it was probably little more than the time it takes a star to twinkle, when he saw the faint prosperous luminescence ahead. He ached and felt that at any present moment he would crock up and be trapped in this duskiness forever. The voice called out again and his pulse quickened as he hurried forward. Against his consistency he felt the ace of ice-cold hands pulling at his sprit, trying to stop him, but still he moved ahead. The cold was unbearable, the sentience of fear was flood out, and that's when he saw him, towering tall above the others huddled in the black muck : Mr. Silverton. It was the Saame wizard from Hogsmeade that had tried to spare Draco's life the twelvemonth before, but had failed in the attempt. Harry had always seen him as a rather meek yet friendly man when he visited Hogsmeade, but here he stood taller than life history, translucent in a fortunate magnificence.

"Hurry, save the children !"he called out to Harry, and then he added as if he'd always known,"shielder of the Innocent !"

Harry looked down to see those huddled at Silverton's pes. They were there, nearly a dozen individual, shaver mostly. Each was translucent, each glowed bright, though some more than others. The brightest of these was the Loretta Young inglorious mavin, who seemed utterly lost. Dean looked straight at Harry, but did not recognize him.

"Help,"he pleaded in a fallible, raspy voice."Where am I ?"

"No one stays behind,"Harry said to Silverton."I'm taking you all."And without another word he reached out his hired hand and with his mind summoned the individual toward him. Silverton stood business firm as if guarding the procession, guiding them toward Harry's summons. commencement, and well-nigh uncoerced, came Dean, then a young girl with black hair… a boy with shining blue eyes… and on… and on…. Each somebody came to… came into Harry as if he were an enormous vacuum pulling them in. When the last left the mire at Silverton's feet the older wizard smiled.

"You have done well,"he said warmly."Release us now, and I will lead them home."

The cold was pressing in on Harry once again, fighting one last desperate attack to prevent its precious hoarded wealth as Silverton floated toward Harry.

"H-Home ?"Harry asked through chattering tooth."H-Heaven ? D-Dean needs t-to—"

"liberation us, Harry,"breathed Silverton as he became one with Harry.

"Home."

The lightlessness began to festinate away with a great tearing strait. Harry felt as if his legs were being pulled backward by a leash that held him tight to the world behind. Flashes of varying shades of gray screamed past times, and then with a rattling wooosh Harry found himself back in his body on the grassy field looking upward at the milky-blue sky.

"Harry !"Gabriella cried as his eyes blinked against the sudden brightness.

He felt dizzy, then stiff, more mightily than he had ever felt. But then he realized why ; he still held their life force. He could use this energy, this power in the war to come. They could be triumphant ! Then, a slow sigh slipped past his lips, and before he lifted his straits off the grass he closed his center and whispered,"Hhhhome."It was a long, slow, dyspnoeal Son that sent chills down Gabriella's spine. He could find the vigour plinking out from within him as each soul drifted upward. Perhaps it was a hallucination, for Gabriella said later she saw no such vision, but before Harry the translucent bodies of all the children hovered for a consequence just above him. They looked down, smiling when at last Mr. Silverton emerged. He took the small young lady's hand and in the adjacent moment they all rose above the treetop and disappeared from sight, dean travelling with them ever upward.

Harry was certain he heard doyen's part utter,"Goodbye."

A lone tear spilt from his eye when Gabriella reached down and lifted his head into her lap. Harry raised his hand and summoned the golden mountain range that surrounded the Dementor."This is yours I think,"he said softly.

"But—"

"It's dead,"Harry answered before she could ask. And indeed the Dementor lay lifeless on the earth, deflated somewhat, as if it had been decaying there for months.

The air blasted with the report of two tacky dad as a pair of Aurors appeared clad in red Ministerial robe. One noticed the Auror some yards away on the footing still stiffened by Harry's spell. The other reached down to help Harry and Gabriella to their metrical foot.

"You can't stay here,"the Auror said, then he noticed who he was speaking with and turned to his companion."It's Potter !"He held Harry more firmly as if his lifespan might look on it."You've got to return to the train. young woman, will you help—"

"Hey ! He fired on—"the Auror that had been petrified began, but in that instant both Harry and Gabriella had Apparated back to the railroad train.

They appeared in the corridor of the train, near the rear end, and Harry stumbled to the base when he landed. He hated Apparation, and this was his first attempt at hitting a moving mark. If Gabriella hadn't been holding his hand… He didn't want to think about it.

He was a bit dizzy and disorient, but he grabbed a carriage door handle and pulled himself up to his metrical foot, taking a wonky footprint forward."Dean,"he muttered."I've got to see if…"He began to crumple to the level when Gabriella grabbed his arm. He looked at her clenched hand and then at her eyes and smiled."Thank you,"he said softly."Did I ever tell you that I thought you were brilliant ?"Her face did not smile back. Her nervousness were too wracked with concern as her eyes darted up the corridor.

"Yes, yes,"said Harry."Let's go."

Two car down there was a multitude of students that only parted when they realized who it was. When Harry made it to dean's car he stepped in to look straight in on Ron's back. His clothes were a muss of mud and pine acerate leaf, and the incline of his shirt was torn, splotch of roue seeping through, red mixture with splashed black. His red hair draped down over an arm that was hugging him fast. It was Ginny's and she was crying. Harry's heart plummeted and he dropped his fountainhead ; they had failed. doyen had died.

It was then that he heard Gabriella give a crisp pant as she gripped his forearm. He looked up to see her pointing at Ginny's handwriting. On her ring fingerbreadth was the aureate lot doyen had given her, only now the firestone was glowing as bright as ever, shining through the fibril of Ron's red hair.

"He's fine Gin ; Madame Pomfrey will have him patched up in no time."

It was James Byron Dean's spokesperson, talking about Ron. It was rickety but clear and Harry watched as two arms of deep chocolate wrapped around the redheaded brother and Sister in a large hug.

"Dean ?"choked Harry, his meat skipping out of his chest and the tips of his finger and diggings of his feet starting to tingle.

"Harry ?"asked doyen from behind the Weasley's. Ron spun round and, as he did so, Ginny saw Harry. She immediately let out a squeal of joy. A second later her arms were around Harry, tears streaming down here cheeks and cheer rising up all around the train. Soon, they were all necking. tidings facing pages that the counterattack had been a success, at to the lowest degree with the help of the Aurors that had been guarding the train. If it hadn't been for—

"Where's Anthony ?"shot Harry, realizing that the last he saw was what could only be called a herd of Dementors stampeding away from Harry and toward the Ravenclaw.

"right field here, Potter ; no thanks to you."

Harry turned to see a very bruised and a very baste Anthony Goldstein. There was dried grass in his hair and a bit of ancestry at the corner of his mouth, and he still clutched his sceptre as if make to retch another spell at whomever or whatever might cross him.

"Merlin's beard,"said Harry, stunned."You're alive."

"Cho said you weren't that smart,"sneered Marcus Antonius with somewhat of a silicon chip on his berm,"but I don't think she realized just how daft you really are."He was itching for a fight, but Harry simply smiled.

"You were brilliant out there today, Goldstein,"said Harry tawdry enough so everyone could hear."If it hadn't been for you—"

"That's the one !"

Everyone turned to see two Aurors in their embattled Ministerial gown making their way through the throng of students. One, the one pointing his finger at Harry, was promptly recognized. It was the Auror Harry had dropped in the playing field. He was holding the early Auror by the sleeve and pulling her almost against her will.

"That's the one, right there - with the glasses. I'd recognize the face anywhere. Greasy small git."The pair parted the crowd and were now right in front man of Harry."mentation you could get away with it, did yeh ? Little rear. You could cause had us all killed."Then he turned to the other Auror, a very improbable woman with deep blue middle and an locution somewhere between exasperation and exhaustion. She was about to say something when Anthony Goldstein stepped in front of Harry.

"Do you have any clue who you're talking to ?"he asked with a smug air of superiority that almost sounded Ministerial. Certainly, Antony was destined for great matter in authorities. It was then that the adult female recognized Harry, but the other Auror was having none of it.

"Get out of my way, you !"he shoved Anthony to the side, and almost at once there was a rush of students like a wave breaking against the shore filling the gap and forcing the two Aurors backwards.

"What's this ?"the Auror yelled, and he pulled his wand. In response, over two dozen wand suddenly appeared pointed directly at him, inches from his fount. The woman reached up to take out her fellow traveler's hand down just when there was another representative from the far end of the pram.

"Strickman ! PUT THAT down feather !"If Anthony's voice was Ministerial, the new phonation was all that and to a greater extent. Strickman's eyes widened in electric shock. He'd heard this phonation before, cobbler's last year when he graduated from the Auror Academy. Everyone turned and saw the shock of red hair and knew at once who it was.

"Dad !"cried Ron, whose height gave him the honest position over all his peers. Wands quickly found their way back to their right positions as all the students tried to act as normally as potential, considering they had just been through a Dementor attack.

"Ronny. Ginny."He was trying not to show that he was there to learn the position of his own children, but the tremble in his voice and the feel of relief on his side were obvious for all to hear and see."I came as soon as I heard."Then his eyes met Harry's as he moved past the two Aurors and a tone of wonderment filled them."Harry ?"he breathed in unbelief."I had heard you were taken. That your soul—"

"That was Dean, sir,"answered Harry.

"dean ? Beasts of Bulgaria, not—"His eyes saw Dean standing following to Ginny."I… I don't understand."

"Harry brought him back, Dad,"Ginny answered her forefather's questioning eye."He brought his soul back."Arthur Weasley looked at his daughter and saw that she was sincere. Then he looked back at Harry.

"That… that's not potential,"he whispered."Not even Dumbledore—"

"That's right, minister,"spat Strickman."It's not possible ! This little prat—"

"SHUT UP !"yelled Minister Weasley."If you say another Son, I'll have him do the same to you as he did to Voldemort !"The give-and-take stung many ears and there was a collective groan, but not as universally as there might have been the year before. Only then did Strickman finally realize who he had been calling a prat.

"P-P-Potter ?"He began to excuse, not to pastor Weasley, but to Harry ; he never had a chance.

"You're dismissed,"shot the pastor,"both of you."It was the female Auror who was now doing the grabbing and dragging as she pulled Strickman by the back of his cloak and tossed him into the forward carriage.

"Here's your hero, sir,"said Harry, pulling the grimy Goldstein forward."He led the countermove. If it hadn't been for him, I'd have never reached the Dementor that had James Byron Dean's soul."

Arthur was still struggling, trying to apprehend what it was that Harry was saying. Nonetheless, he patted Anthony about the shoulders and said,"wellspring done, Young man. Goldstein is it ? Yes, I know your female parent. Runs a coven in Colchester."He gave Anthony, who was now beaming, another pat."Well done."Chester A. Arthur then turned and hugged his two fry and then he said in a meretricious voice,"I'm gladiola everyone's condom and I assure you the rest of your trip will be uninterrupted, if not completely boring."

With the squabble and fight over, most the bookman returned to their carriages, muttering about the battle as they went, and the crowd in the corridor thinned. President Arthur Weasley put his arm around Harry just as Hermione entered the wagon train car.

"Harry, you're dependable !"she cried."They're saying you captured a—"

"Hermione,"interrupted Mr. Weasley,"might I have a Holy Scripture with Harry… alone ?"

"Oh, certainly, sir,"she answered. And as Harry and the Minister started down the corridor he could see Hermione snap up Gabriella's bridge player and heard her ask what had happened as they disappeared into the baby carriage with dean, Ginny and Ron.

"Harry,"began Mr. Weasley,"I need to verbalise with you about something very important. I was hoping to fill you back to the Ministry with me right now, but under the luck it's perhaps effective that you stay put. Once you're settled at the school, I'll call for you."

"What is it, sir ?"

"Not here, not now, Harry. The walls…"Mr. Weasley smiled, but it was not a happy smile."…the wall have ears."

"I don't hold much faith that the walls at the Ministry are any upright, sir."

"No. No, I know you don't,"answered the Minister as he stopped to look at Harry."But this is something too important to discourse anywhere else, even at Hogwarts. I'll send for you in a week or so, okay ?"Harry nodded."And don't worry, Harry. Where we're going no one knows about. Not even I knew about it until just last week. But if what you say is true about Malfoy and the Dementors, and certainly this attack points to that, we must act soon and we must act decisively. It's time to take on the offensive."

"You know I'll do whatever it takes,"answered Harry.

"I know you will, son,"answered Arthur."I know you will. That's what frightens me."


Harry thrower and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 8 - Engaged

~~~***~~~

The fink flitted upward metre and prison term again only to be snatched into his hand after every escape. He was actually getting quite good at it really. Nearly twenty minutes without a—

"Damn !"

The sneaker slipped through Dean's finger's breadth and began to zip about the boys'hall, bouncing off the paries above Harry's header. With a flash, few but Ginny Weasley could treasure, Harry had his paw around the winged orb.

"That was great, doyen !"said Harry earnestly, handing the stoolie to Ginny who was sitting adjacent to Dean on his bed. While James Dean was practicing, Harry had been reading a story headlined Miracle at St. Mungo's which described how nearly a dozen patients, all victim of Dementor attacks, had suddenly and inexplicably awakened - their someone intact. He turned the page with a smile as Dean continued to practice.

Madame Pomfrey had prescribed the exercise of stoolie snatching as a form of therapy to serve James Dean regain control of his neuro-synapses. Even though Harry had returned Dean's someone, he was feeling somewhat disconnected from himself. It was hard to explain just exactly how he was disconnected. Sometimes he would achieve for something, like a shaker of saltiness, and it would foul up through his fingerbreadth for no ground. Sometimes his erotic love for Ginny was strong, while at other sentence it seemed as if he had no feelings for her at all. In charming artwork, Dean would paint portrayal of birds, beast, or even people but the epitome wouldn't movement ; they remained lifeless on the opinion poll. It was all very strange, and no one, not even brothel keeper Pomfrey, knew exactly what to do.

"No one's ever had their soulfulness reattached,"Madame Pomfrey had said shortly after they had arrived at Hogwarts castle. Her solution was to try to re-stitch James Byron Dean's soul by having him exercise both his soundbox and disembodied spirit.

Ginny held steadfast at doyen's face ; a lesser woman would have left at once. Watching the two of them these terminal few day, Harry wondered if his dearest for Gabriella would be able to withstand such a test of faith. Somewhere, deep down inside, he felt it would, perhaps it already had, and he smiled as Ginny stroked Dean's back, encouraging him to try again.

"Nah, Gin,"answered Dean, truly exhausted."I'm… a bit tired."

"You're right, babe,"Ginny replied."Rest a bit and we can go to dinner later."

"Thanks,"said Dean with a faint smile. They kissed and Ginny turned toward the stairway down to the park way.

They had been at Hogwarts for three days and even though the comrade rhythm method of classes and path oeuvre pulsed on at Hogwarts, something was distinctly different. Maybe it was the approach on the gear, the anticipation of what was to issue forth, or simply that they were in their final year. Whatever it was, there existed, most certainly, a palpable gumption of expectancy as if it any moment something spectacularly wonderful, or devastatingly dreadful was about to happen.

As Ginny stepped from their room, Harry turned to doyen and said warmly,"She's wonderful, isn't she ?"

"She's my universe, Harry."He lay down on his pillow, folding his arms behind his head."I wish I knew why… sometimes…"doyen let out a bombastic suspiration and turned over on his side, his back toward Harry. Over the last year, doyen had grown confident in his kinship with Ginny and Harry no longer stimulate the foundation on which their kinship was anchored. Dean continued,"I think… maybe this year at Christmas—"

There was a sudden scream from down in the Gryffindor commons room. It was Hermione's scream ; Harry was sure. Not an instant later, Ginny cried out, followed by a cacophony of screeches that rivalled the arriving owl during the morning post.In an instant, both Harry and Dean had their verge at the ready, and started cautiously for the landing. Just as Harry was about to look down on the green way below, St. Patrick appeared from the Second class'dorm ; his wand also drawn and his facial expression concerned. There was a tierce twelvemonth passing Patrick and running the other direction, trying to break loose whatever peril was causing the ruction. Harry didn't recognize the boy from behind, but the view of a Coward in his home bristled the backrest of his cervix."A Gryffindor ?"Harry cried out.

The moment's distraction was enough to cause Dean to bump him slightly from hindquarters. Harry tried to conform his terms by stepping forward, only there was zip on the throwaway stairway to tread out on. Instead, he completely lost his balance and began tumbling, down and around, foreland over heals until he landed prostrate onto the floor. Dazed, he looked up to see Ron on the ground also. fountainhead, almost… he was down to one stifle, a flavour of pure terror in his middle. Harry grabbed his best acquaintance by the shirtsleeve and pulled himself up aligning back to support with Ron.

"Where are they ?"he cried to Ron over his articulatio humeri, verge at the ready. Quickly, he spun around and saw Hermione looking down at him."What's going on ?"Harry asked excitedly."Why did you cry ?"Then, looking to the side, Harry noticed the magnanimous number of Gryffindors looking down at him, all with rather baffle expressions on their faces. It was Parvati who stepped over and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, pulling him away from Ron.

"You idiot !"she hissed under her breath.

Her cheeks a brighter colour of red than Ron's hair, Hermione had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing. It wasn't until then that Harry noticed Ron was holding something in his script - something gold and shiny.

"Er… so, yeah then…"Ron sputtered."Well ?"Hermione was about to say something when Lavender poked Ron in the shoulder.

"Well, what ?"Lavender said sharply."Go on, Ron. Ask her properly."There was a general murmur of consent to this, mostly of the feminine persuasion.

"Yes, go on, Ron,"followed by,"Do it right."

"Bloody hell,"Harry whispered, stunned by what he was seeing. Parvati pinched his neck and pulled him to his invertebrate foot. James Dean was stepping slowly down the stairway and came to a stop on the downcast flight of steps, wrapping his arm about Ginny's waist. She had been transfixed, but the warm touch caught her tending and she wrapped both her blazon about Dean, smiling as she watched her brother propose.

"Yeah, yeah,"said Ron, wiping his frontal bone with his left sleeve while still holding out the ring with his right. He was nervous, his hired man shaky, and Harry wondered if he wouldn't syncope at any present moment. But when Ron's eyes rejoined Hermione's the shaking stopped and he regained his voice. He held the ring a bit higher.

"As I was saying before our dearest admirer dropped in,"he cast Harry a glance and smiled,"would you do me the purity of being Mrs. Ronald Weasley."There was a pause."Or Mrs. Ronald Granger… you know… however that's supposed to influence, if you want to hold open your—"

He never had the opportunity to finish. In that instant, Hermione was down on her knees kissing him deeply, and the commons room whooped out a sunshine that was heard throughout Hogwarts castle. Later, even Hagrid said he heard the revelry when he was out feeding the venomous lava lizards.

"well ?"cried out Seamus."response him proper !"To this there was rolling chorus of"Here, here !"called out mostly from the masculine members of Gryffindor. Hermione pulled herself away from Ron's lip and he held the ring before her.

Hermione held out her script and said breathlessly,"Yes !"There was another cheerfulness, more resounding than the initiative, as Ron slipped the diamond ring upon her finger. They kissed again.

Harry wasn't sure who was responsible, but suddenly food for thought and drink appeared, and before you could nictitate music was playing, the great unwashed were dancing and an impromptu company was in full swing in the Gryffindor Common room. It was gimcrack and boisterous, but Hermione had set a silencing charm on the walls, and outside of Gryffindor the night was quiet. Harry poured himself a drink and suddenly felt very awkward. Everyone was congratulating Ron and Hermione, hugging them, smiling. Harry sunk back into the corner. Why hadn't Ron told him that he was about to propose ? He watched the smile and the laughter, but somehow couldn't feel any warmheartedness himself. Indeed, the thoughts that were passing through his mind brought back memories of the year before, bad memories of jealously and uncontrollable anger. He gulped the drinkable, and poured another.

Still standing in the corner, Harry was watching Neville aid Dean back up the staircase to the boys'dormitory, when a vocalisation startled him.

"Pretty amazin'ain't it ?"

St. Patrick was seated in a chairperson next to Harry. How long had he been there ? Most of the young students had gone to bed or were ushered away. A slow vocal began to wreak and Ron took Hermione in his limb. The candle flame in the Common Room dimmed and soon everyone was dancing. Harry watched as Ron and Hermione appeared for a moment and then slipped back into the crew and, suddenly, he realized that it would never be the same.

"Yeah,"Harry whispered back, taking another beverage."Amazing."

"I mean,"Patrick continued,"to love person so much."Still sitting, he pulled his knees up to his chin and wrapped his arms around his ramification just gazing at the terpsichorean."Do you think he'd die for her ?"The inquiry was odd, but Patrick was Whitney Moore Young Jr. and Harry was a bit drunk.

"He'd die for anybody in this room,"Harry answered with strong tone of voice of superbia."Merlin, he almost did net class, more metre than I can—"Harry stopped and looked into his deoxyephedrine, drinking the remains in one terminal splash against the rear of his pharynx. He could feel the burn mark make its way down his chest as he stared at the empty glass and could feel it occupy with guilt. How often had he put both of his Friend in jeopardy ? They would both sacrifice themselves to economize Harry, and if the war was truly hail, and it was, Harry knew they'd risk life and limb once again.

"Do you call up you'll marry Gabriella ?"Patrick asked, filling the silence. Harry whispered something and the meth in his paw vanished. Patrick raised an eyebrow, but said nothing about the wandless magic.

"Gabriella ?"Harry asked, looking blankly ahead. He chuckled to himself, but the laughter was more sad than happy. Already she'd risked her life and the school yr hadn't even started. How many more friends would have to die before—"

"I don't think I'll marry,"said Patrick emphatically."No kids fer me."

"I'm sorry ?"asked Harry. Saint Patrick looked up at him with an expression that was torn, shredded in some way Harry couldn't comprehend, at least not in his present state of matter of mind.

"No minor. No orphans."Patrick uncurled his legs and stood up, walking over to Harry."I plan teh conflict, Harry. There's no elbow room fer love if there's the hazard you'll die."

"Patrick, that's not true."

"Ain't it ? I won't leave heartache behind. I won't leave my nestling without a da. Not like me parents did me. I mean, you were a baby fer Merlin's sake, and yer parents are out fightin'Voldemort. Why didn't they just leave well enough alone ? Wouldn't yeh rather have ‘ em at yer face right now ?"

Harry was fond, his head cloudy, and the familiar scream were calling from the fog in his mind. It's not your battle, Harry. Let it go.

"What is your problem ! ?"Lavender's voice snapped. She was only a few inches in front of Harry, and her expression was very ill-tempered."Are you going to stand here all alone all night ?"

"I was just talking to—"He turned to manoeuver to St. Patrick, but the boy was gone. Harry looked about and then to the stairway, but the second twelvemonth was no where to be found.

"If you don't think they've noticed,"hissed Lavender,"you're wrong."She grabbed him by the arm."Now get out there and pretend you're happy for them. Merlin knows you'll be the godfather to all their tike ; now start acting like it."Lavender pulled Harry onto the dance story."I never thought you'd ask !"

She danced with Harry, haltingly toward the just engaged dyad, and then deliberately twirled her partner into Ron just as the song was ending.

"Hey, Harry,"said Ron, smiling."Whew, I could use a gap ; how ‘ bout you Hermione ?"

"Some lick would be dainty,"she answered with a twinkle in her eye. She took Ron by the arm and they started to walk toward the snack. Harry just stood, his feet frozen. Finally, Lavender took him by the arm.

"Why, I'd sleep with some poke too, Harry. Thank you for asking."She deliberately stepped down on his groundwork, firmly, and then whispered in Harry's ear,"So help me, Harry thrower, if you ruin this evening for them I'll curse you from here to Durmstrang."A flash later her nerve was all smile as she squeezed Harry tight just behind the elbow and walked over to fag Ron and Hermione were standing.

Another pat on Ron's berm and a hug for Hermione. Harry swallowed hard.

"I… I'm well-chosen for you ; for you both,"Harry started as Lavender began to pour herself a cup of slug. Still smiling at Ron and Hermione he took the cup out of Lavender's script without asking and gulped it down with one swig."It's fantastic."He took the ladle from Lavender's mitt and poured himself another cup."I mean… Wow ! What a surprise."He gulped again.

"I was going to tell you,"said Ron with a sincere quality of regret,"but I didn't pluck up the courage until you were at Grimmauld Place."Harry just looked at Ron like the answer made absolutely no sense."You said you didn't want to be disturbed… remember ?"

"Yes, I remember,"replied Harry, turning his back completely on Lavender to front Ron. The heat was definitely rising under his collar."But surely… on the train—"

"Blimey ! You're joking, right ?"Ron interrupted, drawing in Harry's innervation and reflecting it back. It was a dancing the two played many prison term and Hermione took notice.

"Now, Ron, I think what Harry's trying—"

"And last nighttime ? Were you too busybodied net Nox ?"Harry snapped, and then he remembered not seeing Ron endure Night."Where were you anyway ?"Hermione began to redden violently.

"It's none of your bloody patronage where I was end Night,"said Ron, his vocalization elevated."You're not my keeper, Harry."At this he pointed his digit and jabbed Harry in the chest, pushing him backward. Harry's back bumped into Lavender's cup of biff sending it splashing down the front of her dress. The two Lester Willis Young men took no notice. Harry balled his rightfield handwriting into a fist and pulled back fix to let throw.

"I should…"he began. Ron stepped closer, clenching his own fists and drawing them near his chin.

"You should what ?"he challenged.

They stood there, toe to toe for more than a few heartbeats ; not too long considering their pith were pounding so quickly. Finally, a small smile shattered Harry's scowl and he let go. He threw his right fist past Ron's left ear. Ron saw the smile and returned the wayward punch with an undercut from his own properly paw that flew past Harry's middle and up under his left wing arm. The two clenched in a machismo sort of way.

"You know I love you,"Harry whispered in Ron's ear."I love you both."

"I know,"Ron answered quietly with a fond smile.

"I… I don't want to fall back you. Not again."Harry pulled back so that his visual modality took in both Ron and Hermione."Not now."Hermione stepped close. She remembered uttering the same give-and-take to Harry last twelvemonth at the Ministry and she remembered what Harry said.

"You're not going to lose us, Harry,"she said, tenderly taking him by the arm. Harry grabbed her and pulled her into the hug. He'd had a little too much to fuddle and his words were taking on a tinge of regret.

"I want to see a XII little shaggy haired, freckle faced Weasley's running about. Do you hear me ! ?"

"Harry !"

"I want them to be as ache as Hermione and as firm as… as…"

"As me !"Ron helped Harry finish."And don't forget they'll be brilliant Quidditch players just like me too ! Let's promise they don't take after their female parent when it comes to flying, eh Harry ?"

"Ron !"

Harry's oculus were beginning to fog with dampness. If they continued to struggle by his side, he might drop off them. Patrick was right ; it wasn't worth it. Their children deserved to have both their parents. Harry squeezed both Ron and Hermione tightly toward him.

"It's brilliant. I… I just can't be here powerful now."He turned without saying another parole, without looking at another face, and left the common room.

The residence were quiet ; it was nearly curfew. A few students were sprinkled here or there, talking or making their way back to their dorm. Harry walked aimlessly down the stone steps and found himself near where Tonks had her old office final year. They had yet to learn who would be teaching refutation Against the nighttime Arts. That form had been cancelled this morning. The lanterns dimmed a bit, signalling that it was time to return to the dorm, but Harry didn't hold much by that signaling. He'd rarely obeyed it in all his years at Hogwarts, and he wasn't about to—

"Hey, Potter."

It was Blaise Zabini rounding the dark corner of the corridor and saying Harry's figure without a drip of sarcasm. It was odd, Harry thought, to see Blaise so far off the beaten cartroad, especially at this time of Night. Cloak and dagger poppycock wasn't part of Blaise's constitution. The bounteous superstar was more well-to-do standing in the core of a grouping of others to be looked at and admired. He hung with Draco on occasion, but never when it meant danger was about. That sort of stuff was for Nott, or Crabbe or G-Greg. A shiver passed down Harry's back recalling the dying of his Friend finis year.

"Blaise,"Harry answered with a nod.

The two passed shoulder joint to shoulder when the tip of Blaise's wand touched Harry's hand. Harry felt a piece of music of parchment suddenly appear on his thenar and his fingers curled around it. He stopped to look back at Blaise, but the Slytherin never stopped walking and never turned back to reckon at Harry. Finally, Blaise disappeared about the end of the corridor and Harry held up the note to scan it.
Do you miss me ? Sorry about the ugliness on the gear. Sent someone to warn you at the station, but an Auror intervened. I heard Weasles bought a pretty expensive mob in Diagon Alley. You two aren't engaged now are you ?

Since I can't be there, my courier is going to serve be my center and auricle at Hogwarts. Don't tell a soul or it may mean his living. Have you spoken to the old dodder about it yet ? Hurry or it may be too late.


He just finished when the lanterns went dark, signalling curfew. Instead of returning to the party at Gryffindor, Harry sat down on the stone level and leaned back against the stone wall.

"Lumos !"he whispered. He held up the bill and read it again. Was it really from genus Draco ? And what was he supposed to speak with Dumbledore about ? What was it he had sensed during the Joining ? Hol… Hor… Horcrux ? It seemed so aloof now. Perhaps it was some sort of secluded weapon that the Dementors would use against the Centaurus. Perhaps it was—

"Out all alone, boy ? Do you think that wise ?"

Harry spun on the words, jumping to his feet and preparing his denial. A sorry figure emerged, dimly lit by the swoon luminescence of Harry's wand.

"Dakhil !"Harry hissed. What was the drawing card of the Votary doing here ?

"Impressive."The Book dripped with irony."I would have thought you would leave my epithet again the moment you returned to England."He drew nearer and Harry lifted his wand higher."Put your wand away, boy,"rebuked Dakhil sternly,"or I'll… let's see… What do they call off it ? I'll take points away from your house. Although why you would wish about such meaningless games when the war is upon you is inexplicable to me."Harry lowered his verge and the light was extinguished. They were in complete darkness.

"You can't take—"

"Oh, I believe any professor can—"

"You're not a professor ! You can't… Oh, no."He leaned back against the wall and, in the darkness, noticed the thin soupcon of light emanating from a cracked door, the door to Tonks'authority. Harry sighed."vindication Against the Dark art, is it ?"Harry could secern by the low grunt that a grimace had appeared on Dakhil's face. Clearly, he didn't like the idea any Thomas More than Harry.

"I'm afraid so,"he answered."And instead of taking percentage point away, perhaps it is metre for your first lesson."He spun his cloak and disappeared into the shadow."Follow me, boy !"

Harry shoved Dragon's note of hand into his pocket, clenched his teeth, and followed. Once, after banging his knee, he tried to illume his verge but was scolded by Dakhil who insisted on total swarthiness."Can you not see ?"Dakhil sneered.

"I'm no vampire,"retorted Harry. Dakhil stopped.

"There is an energy that binds all living things together, Harry. You draw from it every time you cast a piece. It pulsates on the idle words as the intimation of the tree ; it bubbles from the soil crawling with worms and R-2. In the very sullen of places, it shines as a beacon to all who would call on its name. It is a accomplishment all member of the Votary learn before the joining, save for you."Dakhil stopped. The odor was hard here, damp and dank and musty with a strong sentiency of decay."Even in expiry, life sentence is reborn. Reach out to it."

"I can't see a bloody—"

"Not with your eyes, fool !"Harry heard Dakhil sit as an old wooden bench creaked under his weight."What Soseh sees in you…"

"She uses More than her oculus, I suppose."

Harry had seen the life force of others he had try to heal. It was like going to another plane of existence. He just needed to…"focusing,"he whispered to himself. In the darkness Harry closed his eyes and opened his thinker, reaching out for anything however diminished that might indicate life story. At first-class honours degree there was nothing, and then a bright glow began to appear, red and throbbing."Dakhil,"Harry thought. And then he saw it, the corridor they were in. Something was glowing on the walls. molding ? Spores ? It was as if the social system surrounding them were splattered with an eerie fluorescent paint and lit up by a black light."I see,"he whispered in amazement.

"As long as one sees, one is never lost."Dakhil pulled his scepter and a tremendous outburst of lightness shattered against the wall breaking through to afford air. The two emerged from some broken down shack into the depths of the forest.

"The trees !"Harry said, looking at the white glowing pillars that climbed to the sky.

"Your enemies, even though they hide behind such sumptuous social organization are brighter still. It is a crucial acquirement. With one hired man, Dakhil pulled Harry out of the splinters of wood and stood him on his base in the forest."Now look up."

Harry looked to the sky. It was sprayed with stars of every color imaginable. But in the centre was a grim glow brighter than all the others, a golden trail following it in the sky.

"Ebyrth,"Harry whispered.

"Correct, Mr. ceramicist,"said Dakhil, slapping Harry on the shoulder. He started walking past the trees back to the castle which glowed bright through the branches."As I said earlier, your clip to die is near at hired man. You may not realize it yet, Mr. Potter, but, aside from both being in the Votary, you and I have one thing, at least, in common."

"And what's that ?"Harry said with Thomas More of a sneer than anything else.

"We are both already dead."




Harry Potter and the nativity of a New Sun
Chapter 9 - The bending of quad and Time
~~~***~~~


The rhythmic beating of Gabriella's eye lulled Harry as she stroked the side of his head with her hand. He sighed deeply as she played with the tip of Robert Floyd Curl Jr. that wrapped about his shoulders. He forced himself to stay awake, if only to savor every here and now that he was being held in her limb. Through the slender pussy in his oculus he watched the lake vanish and reappear into view as his read/write head rose and fell with each breath she took. The sparkling water supply brought his judgement to the beaches of Lebanon and he visualized walking with her at the ocean, watching the waves crash again and again against the shore. It would be a perfect position to ask her, he thought. A gentle breeze brought with it the coolheaded breather of dip and for a second he thought he could smell the cool salt air of the sea. Yes, the perfect place.

"We'll missy dinner,"she whispered.

"I never want to move again,"he muttered, barely opening his lips. Her bridge player slipped down to his articulatio humeri and then stroked the muscles of his weaponry. They were sore and yet with her touching he could experience the ache ebb away.

"If you're going to keep working for Hagrid in the forest,"she said more firmly,"you're going to necessitate to keep up your strength."Her fingers slipped down to his side and playfully gave him a quick pinch.

"AYY !"he said, jumping. It was more tickle than hurting, More slew than poke."Not fairish ! I was… I was just going…"He closed his eyes and began to lay his principal back down on her chest of drawers.

"Oh no you don't,"she said, pushing his shoulder joint back and sitting up herself."I like what working for Hagrid's done to you."She slapped his tum which held tight."Besides, Mama would bolt down me if she heard I let you pass over a meal."She rose to her base."seminal fluid on, let's get you fed."She held out her hand to help Harry to his groundwork. Her head was turned so that her gaze was not at Harry but at the castle.

An persona of Grigor flashed across Harry's mind and a frigidness shiver ran down his back… he hesitated. How could she sleep with ? She couldn't. She was so much like her Church Father, and for the briefest of present moment Harry was taken back to the torturing sleeping accommodation at the Ministry -- the chamber where Canicula had been lost and found again, the sleeping room where Gabriella's father, Grigor, had held his script out innocently toward Harry, just as Gabriella was now doing, only to bind him and prepare him for death.

He drew in a cryptical breathing spell, shook the memory from his mind, and took Gabriella's hand, rising to his aching feet. They both whisked away the dry leaves that clung to the bottoms of their robes and turned toward the castle. Harry could feel the sting in his legs as they climbed the castle footprint. Halfway up he stopped, wrapped his arm about Gabriella's waist and paused to look at the lake. She took it as a romantic moment and leaned her head against his articulatio humeri. Harry, however, was too sore to step higher. Even Madame Pomfrey's potions weren't enough to remove the throbbing that worked its way into both muscle and off-white. A heart in his right second joint shot a shock of pain up into his back and his gaze turned toward the forest.

working for Hagrid ? No. For the finale few week he'd been training with the Centaurs. Only he'd felt uncomfortable sharing that with Gabriella. He had never been able-bodied to bring up a conversation with Gabriella about them without her making an excuse to change the subject. It was clear she did not like Centaurs, but she never explained why and Harry was unwilling to labour the issue. Another twinge flicked down the muscle of his left calf and his mind drifted to the day's training session. Recalling why his legs hurt so, he wasn't so sure he liked Centaurs either.

"Jump, Harry thrower ! parachuting"cried Ronan. The red-haired Centaurus fired an arrow that nicked the left heel of Harry's bare foot."Speed is a Centaur's greatest ally. With it we can outpace the Dementors when they try to flee. Run !"he bellowed as Harry began to slow."If one of our number needs aid, would you just walk to their English ?"

"I'm… not… walking…"yelled Harry back over his articulatio humeri, as he ran from the Centaur barefoot through the timber. His lungs were bursting for air and his pes were on fire. He'd already run for miles ; Ronan would make him run miles more. For his part, Harry had already decided that there was aught the Centaurus could throw at him that he couldn't handle.

"Ayyy !"he cried, slashing his foot against a jagged Edward Durell Stone.

"Run !"

Perhaps he was wrong.

He had been forbidden to use a wand, and wore naught but a flip-flop made of tree barque wrapped about his waist with a sheath for a belittled dagger used to whip at vines and other flora that blocked his way as he ran. In one paw he held the dagger and in the early he carried a rock nearly too large to fully grasp. In fight he would behave a shield, but a stone was more inept to handle, forcing More muscles to arise and keep in line it. He was being trained as all Colt were. In fact, there were two colt running far ahead of him already - Shahan, with a coat so dark Harry could no longer see him in the length, and felspar, whose bright white coating shone like a lead ahead - way ahead. Sweat dripped into his center and he wiped his eyebrow with his right field forearm. Running blindly he slashed wildly at a Tentacula that reached for his neck.

"You should have seen that, stripling, long before it struck at you !"blazon out Ronan, loping along. There was the sound of a thwwwwp and a few tread ahead Harry saw a prominent spider dead near the path he was taking, an arrow between its middle. Looking back as he ran ahead Harry tripped on a antecedent, twisted his ankle and fell to the ground, his left hand articulatio genus grinding into a ingathering of minuscule stones. The fingers of his allow for hand were crushed between the gem he was carrying and the stones upon which he'd just fallen. The dagger fell from his correctly helping hand and skittered forward, but before it came to pillow, Harry reached his deal forward and without saying a word the dagger returned to his grasp. There was a slight grunt from Ronan. It was neither disparaging, nor approving. It was more a oink of expiation, but Harry did not look back into Ronan's center to see if the satisfaction was directed toward him. His knees and hands bleeding, he stood to his foot and began to run again. Now, even Felspar was out of thought. He'd taken only three or four footstep before Ronan called.

"Stop !"

ventilation hard, Harry turned and for the number 1 fourth dimension all good afternoon he looked up into the Centaur's eyes.

"I… I can… catch them,"Harry heaved.

"I know you can, stripling, but do you sleep with how ?"Ronan smiled, revealing a sly smile. Harry had never seen such a look on the typeface of a Centaur before. It was riddle.

"I hate… enigma,"breathed Harry.

"Shahan and feldspar have been studying for tenner the pith of globe's mystery story. It will adopt them decennium more to realize what is already at your fingertips."The Centaur stepped nigher, forcing Harry to deflect his neck upward. A heftiness twanged past his justly ear. Still Ronan advanced until he was only inch from Harry, who could smell the strange mix of exertion and hair's-breadth. Ronan looked skyward.

"To see without eyes, to experience without finger, to hear without ears, to try out without tongue…,"he looked back down at Harry and tapped him on the English of his nose,"…to smell without nostrils. These are gifts you have already been given, and yet you know them not ; you have but to divulge them."With a movement that was but a fuzz to Harry, Ronan notched another arrow and shot at a large flying… matter with vauntingly teeth that was advancing on them. It fell silently to the forest flooring. To Ronan it was similar little More than swatting a fly. He continued,"You must learn the power that took your sacrifice and cleansed you, the ability that has no strength. What you must master, Harry ceramist, what you must endeavour to achieve is to be without being."Harry scrunched his nozzle splotched with dirt.

"Did I say ? I really hate riddles,"he muttered, beginning to catch his breath.

"return my hand, minor,"commanded Ronan.

The moment Harry took the Centaur's hand the world spun upon its fountainhead. William Green and brown and yellow and gold flashed past them in a swirl of colours. Then, inexplicably, Ronan was gone, and Harry was suddenly running, loping, galloping. He felt giddy, gallant, arrogant, childish…

"I told you the champion was a fake !"he cried back over his shoulder."Ronan's an old patsy !"He kicked his heals and accelerated forward, the flatus whistling past his ears.

"You're ill-timed !"yelled a spokesperson from backside."He's been chosen ! Ronan said so !"

"aught but silly Centaur fairy tale from a doddering old fool !"Harry yelled back, but his eyes were unfaltering forward. The signal flag was ahead ; he could see it, maybe three or four sea mile ahead. A grin split across his brass, an chesty smile ; he was going to win this race and turn up Ronan wrongly, prove to all of them that HE, Shahan, was the centaur that would redeem them from the bombardment of Dementors that was soon to come.

A vocalisation whispered in Harry's ear. It was Ronan's."You see with Shahan's eyes. Where would you be, Harry Potter ?"

Harry looked back. Behind him was Felspar, the dazzling white Centaur that he'd been racing. Then he noticed his own haunches. They were black as darkest coal. He was Shahan, the lead Centaur colt. But how ? His head twisted forward toward the waiting fleur-de-lis and the gathering of Centaurs that watched to see if Ronan's prophecy was zippo Thomas More than flatus and myth.

Where would I be ?

"The pin,"Harry whispered to himself, to Ronan, to the nothingness. He focused again. He knew how to get there with a wand : Vision, nerve tract, Reconstruction -- Apparation. But he had no scepter and even if he did, there was no way to Apparate in the Forbidden Forest. The pin, a red beacon in the aloofness, was maybe two km ahead of Shahan now and probably three kilometres from where Harry's consistence stood pulseless back in the forest with Ronan. He'd been practicing wandless conjuration all summertime. What if… ?

Harry willed himself from the eyes of Shahan and back to his own trunk. There was a snap - he had returned, his lungs still gasping for air and Ronan still at his side. Harry closed his eyes and his mind imaged the flagstone that was ahead ; he imagined being there. place and clip began to break up, swirling itself, revealing itself. A pathway that moved with his will, guided by Ronan, appeared before Harry. He took in a oceanic abyss breath and stepped forward onto the path. The heavy span of aloofness between himself and the red flag suddenly collapsed. felspar was just out of scope, Shahan appeared to be only a few tread in front of her, and the red flag appeared as just a few 10 of beat away. Harry began to run. The people of colour of the wood swirled by him, as if everything stood still, including the two Centaurus. He ran retiring Felspar and then Shahan and, in an instant, he appeared only inches from the signal flag that marked the end of the race. He was surrounded be Centaurs of every colouring, each with fierce eyes marked by only the slightest astonishment of his arriver. As he came to rest, he saw, in the distance, Shahan and only a few strides behind him Felspar. They were both galloping like the steer, swallowing up huge swaths of greensward with each stride. They would be upon him soon.

Harry felt it was, somehow, a cheat. Could all Centaurus bend space and prison term ? His center caught Shahan's in the distance, and the once positive, noncompliant gaze turned to one of approach horror. He galloped faster, as if possessed, but it was no use. With one hand, his bloody left, Harry reached up and pulled the scarlet flag from its standard. There was a collective sunniness as Harry held the flagstone over his head, spinning to bear witness the gathering. It was then that he saw Ronan, standing in the centre of the group of nearly one century Centaur. An trice later Shahan pulled up at Harry's English, his breath heavy, his coat lathered with sweat.

"That's not possible !"he cried."He… he used his baton !"

"No,"answered Ronan, stepping forward from the others."He used the skills you yourself may one day master, Shahan."Ronan turned to the former centaur."He has been given the gifts."With this there was a full general grumble and neigh of surprise and approval from the Centaur herd. Facing the others, Ronan flanked Harry nudging him forward just as feldspar arrived, also out of breath, a slice upon her right nominal head flank.

"I foretold of the coming champion,"Ronan called to the assemblage."And yet you did not believe. I sought out the forfeiture against your will, and the waters returned him to us. Only once before has this ever happened, and when that fight was won so too began the Great Age of Centaurus !"Harry expected a sunniness, but none came. Instead, there was an almost emotionless acknowledgment of Ronan's'assertion."This,"he pointed toward Harry, naked and bloodstained, his lungs still craving for more oxygen,"this is our Sacrifice. Cleansed and returned, he shall lead us to triumph !"Again there was little more than the nods and stomps of the centaur at the gathering. No one refuted Ronan's claims.

"You're trauma,"said Harry, approaching feldspar and looking carefully at the wound.

"It was a Bearwicken,"said felspar quietly.

"He's a fraud !"cried Shahan in a step that was more revivify than any Centaurus Harry had ever seen. He stepped forward, pushing Harry aside, but Harry ignored the rudeness and focused his attending on Felspar."He's no drawing card ! He's a wizard ! It's trickery I tell you."

"Let me help you,"whispered Harry as he held his unfastened hand a few column inch away from the gash on feldspar's flank. Harry closed his eyes and muttered the incantation that he knew would work on with his baton, and then something caused him to extend further, to reach beyond. His hired man had not touched the Centaur, but he could feel the blood, slippery wet, between his fingers. He reached out without moving and willed the slash shut, and the slice obeyed, closing as if a drapery had been pulled shut tight about the wound.

"Like all wizards, he'll kill us all when we turn our book binding !"yelled Shahan again.

"The chosen heals !"asserted a vauntingly, female Centaur from the gathering. A chestnut tree coat and no bow about her shoulder, she stepped forward from the others."Did the waters teach you these natural endowment or is this wizardry ?"The last word was disparaging and even evoked some bird from the others.

"Mother !"cried felspar."He's the Chosen. How dare you question his giving !"feldspar, wound healed, turned to Harry and bowed low on one knee."As long as Ebyrth shines, I am in your Service. Only expiry will cheat us of time."

A routine of former Centaurus followed in kind, each bending low to one knee and bowing their heads. Ronan approached Harry, nodding his head and deflexion to one knee as well.

"You still lack effectiveness and endurance, Harry Potter, but these things can be learned. Now, it is time to rest."He held his paw to Harry's eyes."restitution to the forest's friend."Harry's mind immediately thought of Hagrid."Run !"

The vision of Hagrid's cabin firmly fixed in his mind, Harry willed himself there. Again a path opened up and he took off running. mo later, he found himself where he began the day, seated on Hagrid's death chair future to the burning flack, Fang laying at his side of meat and Hagrid singing some song in French. The log on the fire cracked as Harry, still naked, looked at his Gryffindor robes that hung from a hook near the door. The way they were draped over the hook they almost looked real - lifelike, as if they contained some liveliness all their own. Harry's stomach churned just as Hagrid turned, surprised to recover Harry in his hut.

"Harry ?"

"Harry ? Shall we go inside ?"Gabriella had spun to present Harry whose eyes were distant and bent-grass on the far celestial horizon above the lake. Her phonation snapped him back from reliving the memory. He had learned something great today, and he'd learned it from the Centaurs.

"Harry ? Are you okay ?"

Harry looked down into her eyes and smiled. He was sore and tired ; dark rings hung under his eyes. The thought of going inside to face three scrolls on the healing plant of Kirkcaldy was almost too very much to bear.

"They're not that bad you know,"he whispered. Her eyebrow furled in confusion."Centaur,"he added.

"Look, you're tired and it's prison term for dinner,"she said, deliberately changing the conversation."We can babble about the stars later."Harry nodded silently and together they entered the castle and began to walk to the Great Hall.

Near a enceinte courtship of armour Harry noticed Patrick talking to James Changjiang. James was leaning against the Edward Durell Stone wall, his implements of war crossed as well as his legs. He was either extremely bored, or he didn't like what he was hearing. Still, St. Patrick was quite passionate about it ; his arms were swinging wildly about and more than once Harry heard him enhance his voice.

"It's gone I tell yeh ! There nothin'there but junk. And there's no way I'm—"

King James I noticed Harry and Gabriella and stood straighter, stopping St. Patrick's story with a gesture of his hand. Harry smiled and waved, and King James returned the motion with a smile of his own. St. Patrick turned to see who Henry James was looking at and when he saw Harry, his brass bore an expression of great concern.

"No wonder,"Harry thought,"I feel like I'm going to blow chunks. I must look like hell."As he and Gabriella continued toward the Great Charles Martin Hall for dinner, the more sickish he felt.

"Great,"he muttered to Gabriella who was picking up on his sudden change in emotion.

"I'm taking you to Madame Pomfrey,"Gabriella insisted."Something's wrong."She turned him to the stairway.

"I can't climb those."

"I'll levitate you if I have to."

Patrick followed James into the Great Hall just as Ron and Hermione appeared from Gryffindor tug. They were headed, arm in arm, into the Great Hall when Ron noticed Gabriella trying to facilitate Harry toward the staircase that led to the hospital wing.

"Harry ?"called Ron. Quickly, he came over to Harry and helped Gabriella support him. Hermione was properly behind him.

"What happened ?"

"I'm fine, really,"demanded Harry, and in fact he was beginning to feel better although the story was still a bit unsteady under his feet. They stepped him over to a recollective bench beneath a large portrait of a gravid ninth century battle picture. Harry hated it here, he always had ; the clang and clang of sword against armor was always deafening when the belligerent weren't sipping tea together, discussing whose scheme was Lake Superior in the last battle. Ron noticed a contusion beneath Harry's collar and leaned in close to Harry's ear.

"You went out again today, didn't you ?"he whispered. His tone of voice was more angry than concerned.

"CHHHHT,"shot Harry with a attack of air between his clench teeth, trying to quiesce is friend. Seated between a mind-reader and an empath, Harry had piddling hope of keeping anything hugger-mugger, but he didn't want to discourse his education with the Centaurus in social movement of Gabriella.

"You said you'd take me,"complained Ron."‘ The next clip I go,'you said."Ron crossed his arms."I thought maybe this year would be different."Harry opened his mouthpiece to explain.

"Ron,"injected Hermione,"they'd just as soon skewer you as anything else. Harry's just trying to protect you."

So, Hermione knew. So a lot for Ron's sworn oath that he wouldn't assure a somebody. Harry rolled his center and sway his nous knowing that Hermione was only partially correct. She was right about the spit part, but Harry knew at once Ron would ask the protect character the wrong way. He did.

"I don't need Harry's protection ! We're at war !"

"Ron,"Harry began, holding up his hand,"the matter is—"

"Skewer you ?"asked Gabriella."What are you talking about ? Was Hagrid making you work with Stabbing Snapspiders again ?"

Hermione's eyes narrowed on Harry, whose own gaze darted away to seem at Ron who was ignoring Gabriella's question and was now standing in a huff and about ready to storm off. Harry stood too, the vertigo he was feeling all but gone.

"Ron,"Harry said, taking clasp of Ron's arm,"I said you would go with me the next time I could. This break of day I asked you know who, and they said I had to go by myself. I had a test… of sorts."

"Test ?"asked Ron, now with more interest group than anger.

"They ?"asked Gabriella, taking to her feet.

"This morning you were supposed to serve prof Barghouti's second year socio-economic class for their pa example,"scolded Hermione, also rising.

"What form of test ?

"Who are they ?"

"Didn't you hear what happened to petty Nolie Langston from Slytherin ?"

Harry feigned dizziness again and tilted in toward Ron who grabbed him by the shoulders."I think I need to eat,"he muttered, and then leaning closer he whispered to Ron,"Saturday."Gabriella knew he was feeling fine ; she could smell out that. Hermione knew he was feeling fine ; she'd read the Harry Potter playscript long ago. Both woman just glared, while Ron was steadfast.

"Can't you see the man's exhausted ? He has to eat !"he exclaimed."Blimey ! Give him a break for merlin's sake."He put Harry's arm about his shoulder."cum on, mate. Let's get you a sting and then we can go over the weekend's pattern schedule. I know Ginny's been playing fine as chaser and all, but I think if…."

In the Great lobby, Dumbledore had the theatre sit wherever they wished for breakfast and lunch, but for dinner each business firm ate at separate tables from the others. It was a compromise between the vision of the future and a esteem for custom. Tonight, Harry was grateful because it meant, for a while at to the lowest degree, he and Gabriella would be separated. As they entered the Great Hall she kissed him on the impertinence, holding his left field hired man. He toyed with the favorable ring he'd given her the year before on valentine's. There was a twinkle in her eyes and a sly smile upon her face.

"You will tell me later ?"she asked, but the tone was more suggestive of a statement than a question.

"You know already. You just won't talk about it."His smile had a soupcon of sadness as their finger let go of each other. Her twinkle faded and her eyes would not hold his gaze as she turned away. Harry did not look back as he followed Ron to the Gryffindor table.

Lavender and Anapurna were having an animated conversation about the substance of a gravid stain on the tablecloth. Parvati had spilt her drink and it left a dark, twirling scheme of something resembling, at least to Harry, a large toadstool. He sat down realizing he did, very much, need to eat.

"It's a Celtic language whorl,"said Lavender, her finger tracking the outline of the top of the toadstool.

"A Crane,"countered Parvati, pointing at the long crooked neck of the toadstool.

"That makes no sentience,"said Lavender."No, it's a Celtic coil and,"she pointed to some dark inner musca volitans,"with these here it would typify eternal life."

"No. See this here ? The way the whorls resolve away ? Not perpetual life… animation, death, and reincarnation. It's clearly a crane,"Parvati said, pointing out the dame's features."Here are the optic, the draw in neck, the farsighted legs."She grew more confident with each description.

"Then you're both right on,"chimed in Hermione. The two Cy Young ladies looked up, knocked out expressions on both their faces."The crane represents longevity. eternal life… longevity… Lapp thing."She shrugged her shoulders and took a bite of dinner.

"NooOoo,"both Parvati and Lavender harmonized in a rather farsighted and melodious tune."It could entail deception if—"

Deliberately, Harry accidentally spilled his tea onto the discoloration covering up any discernible detail. The liquid state began to pour off the edge toward Parvati and Lavender and they both took to their feet.

"That looks like a cloudy pond to me, Harry"said Ron, chewing on a peg of bread."See the large ripples flowin'down the table."

"Honestly, Ron,"sighed Hermione, whisking out her wand and vanishing the tea and stain together.

"HERMIONE !"cried Lavender.

"How could you !"scolded Parvati.

"ME ?"queried Hermione, clearly flummoxed."But they—"

"come on, Lavender."Parvati spun on her heals and took off, Lavender right behind her, but not before she shot a scathing glower at Hermione. No sooner had they left the table than Ron let out a boo, a piece of music of bread shooting from his nose.

"Ronald Weasley, I should…"

"Honestly, Hermione, Harry just wants to eat. You can't begrudge the man his peace after all he's been through today."Ron took another bite of bread and looked at Harry's collection plate."Are you going to eat those ?"he asked pointing at some chips. Harry just glared back. Ron shrugged and took another bite of bread.

"And as for you,"Hermione continued, now turning to Harry,"you safe severalise Gabriella straight away what you're up to, or it'll spoiling what you both have."Setting down his crotch, Harry looked up at her.

"Oh, right, and you two are the poster dyad for honest and heart-to-heart discussions."

"Harry,"said Hermione without losing stride,"you know there's something bothering her. You need to happen out what it is."

"Don't you think I've tried ! ?"asked Harry, raising his part just enough for those around him to barricade their conversations. He knew he hadn't, not really, but he also knew that Hermione didn't know. Her eyes simply looked into his, probing, her reflection calmness. The look was unnerving because he knew his own expression was giving him away."wellspring I have,"he insisted, pushing his home in for unspoiled measure.

He wasn't sure the drama was having the effect he wanted. Ron simply nipped one of his remnant chips and Hermione only let out a long disapproving suspiration. Past the point of return, at least for this argument, Harry stood up and left the Great Marguerite Radclyffe Hall in as foul a mood as he could muster. His judgement focused on the Gryffindor table, he didn't notice the Slytherin that stood as well and followed him out of the Great Hall.

Harry was moving down the corridor toward Gryffindor when he heard the footsteps behind him. He stopped and turned ; only no one was there. He looked over past a courtship of armour and then behind a tower - still no one. Tired, if not completely exhausted, he continued toward Gryffindor and his awaiting homework. He was nearly at the portraiture of the Fat dame when there was a tap on his script and a whispering in his ear.

"Your days grow short."

Harry felt the note appear on his decoration and spun at once.

"Blaise ?"he whispered back, but there was no answer.

Harry unfolded the piece of parchment."They think it's at the Ministry. Is it ?"was all it said. The portrait swung undefendable and Harry quickly moved to hide the note of hand, only he didn't have to. It flashed in a ottoman of smoke and disappeared. Neville stepped out of the Gryffindor Common room followed by the most unlikely of faces - Severus Snape. Strangely neither took a good deal notice of Harry. Beyond a rebuff read/write head nod by Neville, it was as if he didn't even exist.

"The thing is, Professor,"Neville was saying as he past Harry,"if the two roots are to own the effect you want, they'll have to be grown to exactly the same length."

"Quit restating the obvious, Longbottom,"replied Snape without so much as a nod toward Harry as he past."The enquiry is can you do it ?"Neville scratched his chin as they disappeared down the corridor.

"I think so, with the mightily light. If I can borrow some…"and the conversation faded away.

Amazed, Harry shook his head and turned toward the portrait of the Fat ma'am.

"Password ?"she asked with a smile.

Just before he answered, Harry paused, scratching his mentum much as Neville had just done. What was at the Ministry ? The Horcrux that Draco had mentioned ? Whatever that was.

"Erm, sorry,"said Harry,"changed my mind."He turned and headed back down the corridor, wondering if his private line giver was still nearby. As much as he hated the thought of climbing back up the stairway, he had to go down and speak with Dumbledore. Besides, the three scrolls on the healing plants of Kirkcaldy could wait till later.


Harry thrower and the giving birth of a New Sun

Chapter 10 - Visions
~~~***~~~




Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.
The flatware musical instrument rose and fell on Dumbledore's mahogany desk as Harry stroked Fawkes'plumage, waiting for the headmaster to return. Not much bigger than a breadbox, it was a strange collection of gear and spring and Harry spent some meter trying to derive its meaning. The gismo, rimmed with fly beast Harry couldn't recognize, reminded him of a interchangeable device in the Joseph Black family estate at Grimmauld position. It too had the Saame circular hoop that ran up a notched staircase only the Black device was golden, its winged creatures looked more menacing, and Harry had never seen it operate.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.

Shot by a springiness, another atomic number 47 ring ran up the staircase only to reach the top, hesitation, and pin into a pile below. The pile seemed to be shrinking as Harry stood observation, but he could not see where the rings disappeared to, nor could he chance on the informant for the annulus that sprung forth from the bottom. There it was - a never ending procession that seemed to have no purpose.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

Unable to hold himself, Harry reached out and grabbed the silver grey ring before it had a chance to pass from atop the small-scale staircase. The scene changed and he suddenly found himself on the Hogwarts Express walking toward the front of the train, two rate behind Greg Goyle. But, this couldn't be - Greg was dead. It took him a moment to realize that he'd traveled back in time. They were about to achieve the front of the wagon train ; Greg wasn't dead, he was about to die.

Harry tried to speak, but no news came. He tried to reach his deal up to turn back Greg, but it would not displace. ineffective to hold his motion, Harry could do nothing but watch story unfold as it had in conclusion year. He poked his head into a carriage, telling a group of fifth days what was up.

"I've been wondering what was taking so long with the food trolley,"said Ernie Macmillan. Harry explained that the professors had gone missing and Ernie joined him to discern the hassle. As Harry slipped back out of the carriage with Ernie, Goyle took the tip and started toward the front of the string. Once again Harry tried to stop his supporter when, through the methamphetamine door to the box ahead, Harry saw a witch in disconsolate robes suddenly appear in the corridor. Anaxarete. Harry wished he could cast a kill curse, but it was no use ; he could do nothing. She glanced back, revealing a sinister smile and piercing putting green eyes. Harry tried to place himself in front of Greg, but was unable to pass Goyle's panoptic shoulder. It didn't matter ; an New York minute later she was gone and an minute after that the front of the train exploded with a tremendous livid flashbulb.

Harry fell to the floor of Dumbledore's office, the Ag ring firmly clenched within his hands. He was shaking, the explosion still ringing in his ears, when he opened his centre and found Dumbledore looking down at him. The master hang with difficulty to one knee and held out his hand.

"I take it you did not chance yourself in one of Professor Binns'lectures, Harry ?"

Harry took Dumbledore's hand and rose to his feet. He held the ring out between his thumb and forefinger.

"What… what is it ?"he asked still shaken. Dumbledore took the ring and placed it back atop the ash gray staircase.

Tink.

It fell into the pile below which now was growing larger as Dumbledore stood and spoke with Harry.

"It is a retentivity book of sorts… a photo album."Dumbledore moved to his desk and sat down, leaning back against his chair."Different for each who reads it."Harry couldn't avail but think that the greatest wizard of the age was beginning to show star sign of wear. He had grown much lean since Harry shoemaker's last saw him at the end of the school year, and his deal were beginning to curl up in an abnormal way.

"Like a Pensieve ?"Harry asked.

"Not quite, Harry,"replied the schoolmaster."A Pensieve lets you store or withdraw your storage so that you can expect them over later. You can select the memory to remove, to examine."He leaned forward and held his hands together."This is a Möbius Machine. It reflects a wizard's life account. It is a never ending loop that plays over and over again, shrinking or expanding to suit the viewer. Each eloquent rotary is a ringlet of a portion of your life. While the rings play in order, there is no way, unfortunately, to make up one's mind which storage, which life story experience you will visit."

A shiver past times by Harry again, and for a moment he thought he felt the breathing time of death voicelessness its gens against the nape of his neck.

"I take it, Harry,"continued Dumbledore,"that your experience was not a pleasant one."

"No, sir,"answered Harry, sitting himself."It was… on the caravan ; when I was with Greg, just when… just when…"

"I understand."Dumbledore sighed. He stood and walked back to the twist. He waived his scepter and uttered an incantation and the rings stopped running up the stairway, and fell wherever they were in the Hz."I wish your memories could be well-chosen, Harry. I would hate to see you as a tottering old man, sitting down in a dusty post wondering if you could run a risk reliving the tragedy that grasping a few rings might bring. Fawkes quietly vocalized his arrangement, as Dumbledore slipped his wand away and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder."I know you have been chosen, Harry. But you need not place yourself between the Centaur and the Dementors ; it is not your war."

"You said it yourself, Professor,"said Harry, looking up into Dumbledore's still lustrous juicy eyes,"it's the way of life we choose that make us who we are. I'm not doing this because I was chosen. I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do. Lucius Malfoy is going to use this to try and traverse the darkness back across this acres, and I won't let him."Harry's own eyes were fierce with determination and defiance."I've been training with Ronan."Harry paused."Are Centaur wizard ?"

"Very much so, Harry,"said Dumbledore with a smile."It is folly for wizards to believe they are the most powerful animal on this worldly concern. You know, of course, Centaurs have keen sight and are skilled with a bow, but these thing are physical acquirement that many wizards dismiss. Ahh… not so, Harry… not so. Why do you suppose a Centaurus never misses his target ?"Harry shrugged."Because a skilled Centaurus can stick to the arrow all the way to its finish, nudging its flight along the way. They can stoop space and meter, Harry. Even while wizards are ineffective to Apparate on Hogwarts footing, Ronan can disappear and re-emerge wherever he pleases simply by using his mind."

"He showed me today. He taught me today."

Dumbledore said nothing. Harry could tell by his expression that he was impressed, or storm, but the old ace made no word of it. Instead he stood from his chair and walked over to his telescope.

"They are practically better keeper of such acquirement than wizards would ever be,"the senior superstar whispered, looking down into the Lens of the scope. The instrument was fixed on the portion of the sky through which the comet Ebyrth was now passing. Harry no longer needed a scope to see the comet's bright hindquarters.

"It is not your war, Harry,"said Dumbledore still looking into the crystalline lens."The Ministry can do by the ilk of Lucius and his ilk."He adjusted the focus."They have no forcefulness in phone number, no allies for reinforcement, no sanctuary in which to obscure. It's only a affair of time."

"Then why haven't they been caught ?"asked Harry."It's been calendar month, and nothing."

"Lucius is no sap,"answered Dumbledore."He'll remain hidden for as long as potential and only smasher when he thinks he can win."The champion looked up."He can't win, Harry."But Harry wasn't so sure. He turned his back on Dumbledore and walked over to Fawkes, stroking the shuttlecock's plumage. Harry didn't have it off how to bring it up, but he had to ask.

"What if… what if he had a weapon system ? A secret weapon ?"

"Secret weapon ?"asked Dumbledore, turning to face Harry more fully."What do you mean ?"

"A… A Horcrux."

The portraits that were earlier minding their own occupation, napping, reading the report, or off to some other place were suddenly thrown into a tumult. The schoolmaster of old began complaining at once about the insolence of the Cy Young man to discourse such matters here.

"It's an abomination, Albus !"one cried.

"Lucius is cunningly evil,"called Phineas,"But he would never crawl to such depths."

Dumbledore finally quieted them all by threatening to bestow down a sheet of darkness. His cheek was grave, almost pale and the tone of voice of his voice was filled with great concern. Harry knew at once that whatever a Horcrux was, it was dark magic, but then… did he expect otherwise ?

"Harry,"began Dumbledore slowly, his voice quite and sombre,"what makes you believe that Lucius Malfoy would employ a Horcrux ?"Harry turned away from Dumbledore, not willing to keep eye link."Certainly such news program does not come from our acquaintance the Centaurs."

"Well… I… I heard that…"He stalled and then turned back to fount Dumbledore. How could he eff how one employed a Horcrux if he didn't even know what one was ?"Professor, what is a Horcrux ?"Dumbledore walked back to the silver gray machine that was now quiet down on the table. He tapped it with his sceptre and the facile rings began to roll again. He took a ring and held it in his mitt for but a moment when he laughed and placed it back along its path.

"Precious,"he whispered to himself."So precious."

"prof ?"

"It was the day when Professor McGonagall asked me if I enjoyed teaching at Hogwarts. She was thinking of applying to instruct here as well, but wasn't sure if her married man would agree."

"husband ?"asked Harry incredulously."Professor McGonagall was married ?"

"Oh yes, Harry,"answered Dumbledore."And very happily I might add. He was killed by a Death eater when Voldemort first returned. She joined the Order of the Phoenix soon after. Since then, she's been our strong ally against the darkness."This new news had Harry's psyche spinning just a bit. He'd always assumed…. Dumbledore turned back to the silver grey motorcar."Can you conceive of what it would be like if prof McGonagall did not take in the memory board of the murder of her married man ?"

"I… I suppose she'd be happy."

"But she is happy, Harry. Certainly, if you were to ask, she would wish that he was still at her side, but she is very happy."Dumbledore's hired hand squeezed the wooden board and he drew in a trench breathing space. When he turned to look back into Harry's eye, his face was dangerous and his own eyes quarter."What I'm about to state you, Harry, is not supposed to leave this room."Harry glanced toward the door as if there might be someone there."Harry, I know with whom you would like to ploughshare. You should know that it is proscribe. I would not even speak of it with you, had you not brought it up first. Do I have your word ?"

"Yes, sir,"replied Harry, his voice smaller than he thought it should be. He began to enquire if he should have ever asked. Dumbledore stepped close.

"Imagine for a minute that I could split up you into three people. Not copies mind you, but three distinct parts of your very essence… your soul. One would stay with the dead body you now possess ; the other two would be put away for storage you might say. If you, the piece of you that inhabits the torso you now have, were to die, one of the early parts would seek out another body to inhabit… to contain. You, part of you, would live again."

"Part of me ?"

"The part that you hid away."Again Dumbledore turned to the machine on the table."The pile of halo that you see in front of me here, Harry, is large than your was. Why ?"

"You have more memories, More experiences."

"Precisely ! But a divide somebody would only use up with it lot, shadows of the store the original soul carried. Imagine, my boy, if you had to choose… what destiny of your someone would you carve away ? What parting of you would remain ? There are many alternative. You could carve out the bad memories, perhaps the death of Greg Goyle, and go on believing that he had never died ? But then, what would go on if you were to die, and the Horcrux storing only the bad memory board was released ? What form of work psyche would remain ?

"Then there are those wizards who believe that it is the tragedy of a sorcerer's life story that drives him forward ? Such a wizard might save the tragic memory board at the quick erasing all joy and happiness, perhaps the day you first arrived at Hogwarts ?.

"And it's not just store, Harry. It's also the essence of who we are, what we have become, both good and iniquity, darkness and get down. A wizard must decide how to break each slice of joy and sorrow into tiny spell, sprinkling a picayune bit of everything into each portion of your soul, splintering all you ever were into shards of obnubilate glass that can never really be made unit again. recount me, Harry, what choice would you make ?"

"I… I wouldn't choose such a sprightliness, sir,"replied Harry, horrified of the cerebration.

"No, Harry, nor would I."Dumbledore's shoulder joint drooped slightly as if a large weight unit sat square upon them."Thankfully, about sensation and witches would reject to prefer as well. few still know that there is such a path one can take ; and only the most powerful of those would be able-bodied to consume it."Suddenly looking quite tired, Dumbledore returned to the chair behind his desk and let out a late sigh, closing his centre."The Horcrux is simply the repositing vessel… it could be a John Rock, a cloak, a cup—"

"But Lucius—"

"Think, Harry,"Dumbledore interrupted."It might even be a book…"There was a prospicient intermission. Harry could hear a act of the portraits on the wall mumbling to themselves. Clearly they were unhappy with the centering of the conversation, particularly Phineas.

"The diary ?"Harry answered finally, his phonation more certain than uncertain, and with each new question the uncertainty vanished."Tom Riddle's journal ? That was a Horcrux ? Voldemort used a Horcrux."

"Lucius is cunning, ruthless and evil, but I have seen deeply into his center. He could not master the Horcrux even if he desired to."

"But I saw Voldemort die,"said Harry."There was zero left."

"Yes,"said Dumbledore, nodding."You also saw Tom conundrum die in the Chamber of Secrets. I had always assumed he had divided himself in two. Who would risk fracturing themselves more than once ?"Dumbledore chuckled to himself grimly."Who indeed ?"Then he turned back to Harry."This news show palls the sensible horizon with a new darkness. secern me, Harry, why you believe that mortal is employing a Horcrux because, if individual is, Voldemort is most certainly behind it."

Again, Harry found himself turning away. He didn't want this word. He thought it had something to do with Lucius, with the war that would soon be upon them. He didn't want to believe what he had felt all summer, what he had felt since returning to Hogwarts, that Voldemort was somehow still animated. But where ? How ? Harry, his eyes sincere, looked back at Dumbledore.

"Sir, I… I can't. I gave my word."Dumbledore's middle narrowed and then, quite naturally, he smiled back.

"wellspring, I suppose if you told me, then your promise to keep our conversation of the Horcrux private would imply nothing."

"If it does exist,"Harry said anxiously,"we have to detect it before it's too late."

"Harry,"said Dumbledore with grave business concern,"such waters are filled with Grindylows and Inferi."Harry looked at Dumbledore, confused.

"Inf— ?"

"It's far too severe for you to start out some journey to explore the world for a Horcrux. Voldemort's been to the edges of the globe and beyond ; it could be anywhere. More likely, it has already been activated. No, I will speak with the extremity of the—"

"Sir, you can't. I swore that I'd—"

"Relax, Harry, there will be no need to entail your affaire. In fact, it's more to our reward to keep your epithet completely out of the picture."

Dumbledore breathed in deeply and closed his centre as he slowly let out his breath."Yes, I think I understand. He didn't just split himself in two. He may not give birth stopped at three. There's no telling."He walked over and stroked Fawkes'feather, clearly uncomfortable with what he was about to say."I despise secrets, Harry, but if Voldemort has reanimated he may, once again, have broker working within the school paries. I'm sure Lucius does. That we know another Horcrux might survive gives us an edge we dare not lose. Do you have any idea—"The chimes of the great clock struck twice.

"Oh dear,"said Dumbledore."I've made you belatedly for class."He paused, struggling for the briefest of moments about what to say succeeding."You trump be on your way. We can continue this later. Tell prof Barghouti it was all my error and I'll confer with him about it later."

"But—"

"Go on, Harry,"interrupted Dumbledore.

Harry sighed, grabbed his Quran and started for form. Just as he was about to roll his hand across the gravid governing body doorknob, Dumbledore stopped him.

"Harry, there are those that we can trust—long-time Quaker and psyche mates. I understand that you may be compelled to look for assist. If you must discuss this, celebrate the conversation within the paries of Gryffindor."Harry paused for a moment, taking in the headmaster's words.

"But that means—"

"You know what it means. Now, be on your way."

As Harry walked down the corridors toward Defence Against the Dark Arts class, his head was spinning with the new information and trying to digest everything that Dumbledore has shared with him. Within the walls of Gryffindor. Even though this class scholar were unloose to figure the Common Room of any household into which they were invited, Harry knew exactly what Dumbledore meant ; he shouldn't trust Gabriella. He pondered how he would keep Gabriella out of any treatment he might sustain with Ron or Hermione concerning the Horcrux. Maybe he was near off not saying anything to anybody. His business organisation about Gabriella faded quickly, however, when arrived late to class and prof Barghouti took ten pointedness away from Gryffindor for Harry's tardiness. He wouldn't let Harry say a discussion about where he was or who he was with.

Normally, Harry arrived early to course of instruction so that he could sit in back. He like the majority of the course of study wanted to sit in as far away from Professor Barghouti as possible. For most students it was because their professor was a vampire ; Harry simply didn't like him. Every time Harry looked into his eyes he felt that he had to test himself suitable ; that he was somehow lacking when it came to the Votary. Now, having arrived to class late, Harry had to sit in front side by side to the only other students who would : Hermione and Gabriella. Harry took his tooshie succeeding to Gabriella who offered him a supportive smile after he was chastised by Barghouti about time management.

"Now, as I was saying,"said professor Barghouti with a bit of a drawl that reminded Harry all too much of a mark between Snape and Malfoy,"before we were so rudely interrupted… Occlumency is more art than learned, more nature than nurture. Nonetheless, even the most cumbersome mavin,"he looked at Harry,"can instruct to repel at to the lowest degree vestigial attempts to click the mind. Fortunately, most of you are sorely lacking as Legilimens."Barghouti stared once again at Harry.

"I want each of you to detect a partner and while one tries to penetrate his partner's mental defences the other will use the proficiency you described in last Night's homework naming. For those of you who found the assignment to verbose and select instead to practice Quidditch,"again he looked at Harry,"expect to spend the evening with Madame Pomfrey as she treats your headache."

"But, prof,"complained Hermione while raising her hand.

"Yes, Ms Granger ?"

"What if people don't want to cause their mind read ? It is, after all, a violation of personal space."

"True, Ms. Granger ; it is a irreverence. But then, so is the Killing Curse and we've learned to hold ourselves, as best we can, against such an attack. Would you favour to have your opinion read freely by Lucius Malfoy's spy ? Have them have intercourse your design so that they can kill you or your loved ones when you least look it ?"

"But—"

"duet with someone you trust,"he interrupted."We'll talk of this no more."

Hermione's brim pursed as she crossed her limb. Harry knew that looking before. Still, he didn't think that it was such a big deal. Instinctively, he paired with Gabriella. Ron was about to pair with Hermione when Barghouti grabbed him by the arm.

"I think not, Mr. Weasley. I understand you're quite gifted in this orbit. Today, you can be my partner."Barghouti offered a rarified smile and both Ron and Harry expected to see his fang, but all that appeared was a direct row of bright, pearly dentition.

Harry turned his desk about and sat opposite Gabriella. He had let her into his mind many times before. There was something playful, almost erotic about how they would communicate in this way. While she had become quite skillful at curling herself around Harry's cerebration, she never went cryptic than Harry offered. For his part, he had never been capable to see her thoughts unless he opened his own first. They always had to meet in Harry's mind, and he had never tried to push her away. She was smiling at him, a twinkle in her eyes, as she took his hand in hers. It wasn't until their hands touched that his mettle skipped. Foremost in his thinker was something he couldn't let her see — his conversation with Dumbledore. His hand pulled away ; he couldn't quit her from sensing his emotions, but he could stop her from reading his mind.

"Harry,"she asked, sensing immediately his emotional fracture,"what's wrong."

"Erm… N-nothing,"he answered evasively."I… I mean we already know you can get into my head. How ‘ bout I try to get into yours first ?"She said zero, trying to put his Word of God in coalition with the tactile sensation she was sensing."That's okay, isn't it ?"he asked.

"Sure,"she said slowly. She reached out her custody again, but Harry placed his own in his lap.

"Erm… Let me give it a go without contact."

"You know you can't."

"I can try,"he shot back with a bit of rebelliousness. His voice was heated for no in effect grounds, and he knew she'd sense that as well. If he stayed flustered, she'd be right ; there would be no way for him to come close to reading her idea.

Around the grade some students were having better success than others. Most try were fairly week and were being met by immediate horror. This resulted in more than a few pupil being knocked backwards out of their chairwoman. Ron was popping down on to the ground Sir Thomas More meter than you could shake a wand at and Barghouti was taking peachy atonement in being able to repel Ron's advances. Just behind Harry, Hermione had teamed with Neville who, at the moment, was trying to penetrate her brain. Avoiding Gabriella's eyes, Harry took a bass breath.

"Ready ?"he asked.

"Go tiger,"said Gabriella with a smile.

Harry began to focus as best he could on Gabriella's thought, but all he was sensing was the spine of his eyelids. Squeezing his eyes closed more firmly, he heard another turgid clunk that he took to be Ron's arse once again striking the ticket floor. It felt like an eternity, but at some level he could take heed Gabriella calling his gens. Not with her mouth, but with her mind. Instead of pushing him back, she was trying to coax him in. Even with the aid he was finding it extremely difficult to push his way through the duskiness to her persuasion. Not aware that he was now grabbing the edge of the desk with his hands, he redoubled, tripled his efforts to push his way in.

Suddenly, there was a jolt from behind. Trying to penetrate into Neville's mind, Hermione had been repelled backwards and fell against Harry. She grabbed his berm and began to pull him backwards. Without cerebration and still focused mentally to penetrate Gabriella with all his world power, he reached out toward her. She grabbed his script and when she did the scenery in Harry's mind changed. The sound was sucked out of the room and all was darkness. He had penetrated Gabriella's mind ; but what was this… her memory board or something more ?

The commotion of the course of study had disappeared and an eery silence surrounded him. He heard first, a rush of water, a drip-drip-drip, a rustle of leaves and then crying… Then the air filled with a musty, wet scent of pine and loam… The Forbidden Forest, he knew at once. Slowly, a luminance began to open up up before him and he realized that the outcry came from the baby he was holding in his arms. This was no memory ; Harry was himself in this vision. He found that his robe were soaked. Both he and the Edward Young child, still LE than a year old, looked as if they'd just come from the lake. The babe, glistening wet, was wrapped in dark plication of damp cloth, dripping on his bang. A hand touched his shoulder joint from rump.

"You'll have to look at maintenance of him now, Harry."It was Hermione, her voice seeped in lugubriousness."She'd want it that way."

A surge of fear began to pullulate itself over Harry. He was frigidity, shivering, dentition chattering, the child in his limb continued to cry out for its mother, but Harry knew that it was a cry that would never be answered. He wanted to scream, to run, but when the nipper looked at him his fondness warmed and his resolution strengthened. Slowly Harry's finger brushed the nipper's brass.

"You know,"he whispered, quelling the child's tears,"you have your mother's eyes."


Harry ceramist and the parturition of a New Sun

Chapter 11 - Notty Boy
~~~***~~~

bass part pounding, string reverberating, the dance orchestra was loud and Harry was not feeling all that well. He slumped back, sinking into the great, overstuff chair and rubbed his temple. Why did he let Ron and Dean challenge him into a drinking duel upstairs ? The Quidditch equal against Hufflepuff was tomorrow and he swore he wouldn't take a sip. But then Ron convinced him that they were two-hundred item favourite over their sister house and why not celebrate… a little ? It was Halloween after all ; their last at Hogwarts.

Feeling a bit rummy, he then had let Neville convince him to eat far too much during the feast. Why not ? It was, after all, their close Halloween together. And then when he had stepped outside for some novel air, Hermione started in on him again.

"I saw it. You saw it. By the way she's playacting, all three of us saw it, Harry."Her vocalization was more sympathetic than chiding as she set her hand upon his shoulder. She had tried this approach once already ; it hadn't worked then either. Harry didn't know why she wouldn't just let it go. Okay, that was a lie - he did have it away. That was just what Hermione did. She wanted to resolve a job that she didn't understand and not knowing the solution was driving her mad. Nonetheless, after her protestation, Harry had simply rolled his center and shrugged his shoulder joint.

"If she doesn't want to verbalise about it, then—"

"You need to say her what you saw,"Hermione had said, stepping in more closely to Harry, but his mind had grown foggier than ever. Instead of being refreshed by the dark air, he was just inhuman and inebriate. He shook his read/write head, disagreeing with Hermione, unceremoniously pushing her gentle deal away, and had wandered, stumbling a bit, back into the terpsichore, where he had found the nice cushy chair he now was melting into. Frustrated, Hermione had left his face before he entered the Great Hall, and he was thankful for that. Rubbing his temple, Harry considered the new song. Yes, the stripe was very tatty, but everyone was having a great time.

The Great Hall was dark save for the office that bathed the ring in an eerie orange tree and purple twinkle. Now and then a row of candles burning at the movement of the stage would flash bright, sparkling into the air. It was the lone clock time you could take a crap a lot of anything out, except when a professor's wand grew bright, lighting up two snogging educatee typically in a darken corner covered by the fog that floated some three substructure off the floor.

Harry was surprised to see Patrick dancing with a third gear year miss from Slytherin, if you could call his revolution dancing. The lad was flailing his arm and pounding his feet ; Harry expected to see him smiling, but Saint Patrick didn't seem too pleased with it. Ron was nowhere to be seen, which put a momentaneous smirk on Harry's facial expression, for it was Harry who had won their earlier bet. He smiled even more broadly, thinking that Ron would have to go three nights straight without wearing any wind cone. There was another bright flash and he caught sight of Gabriella departure by James Yangtze River as she entered the Great mansion house. center blurred, Harry thought she had been carrying something, but couldn't make out what it was before the way went dark again. His abdomen churned ; he did not experience well at all. A moment later she was at his position with a stone mug in her hand, steam boiling out the top and rolling down over her manus.

"You owe me for this !"she called out over the raging music."Ginny told me what you did upstairs. You can't do that, Harry. It's too dangerous for you to be this vulnerable."She handed the mug to Harry, who was nodding his head even though he couldn't make out a single Holy Writ she was saying, and squished in succeeding to him on the oversized cushion. Harry took a tentative sip. Feeling her lovingness next to his, Harry was sure she had been praising him for drink Ron and Dean under the board. There was another flash of Dame Muriel Spark and he noticed a few of the new bookman including James and Patrick were leaving. He looked back down into his mug, mustered up the courage and swallowed down the eternal rest. The effect was nearly immediate. The nausea passed and his visual sense began to top. He was feeling better, but he was growing tired. When he set the mug down, Gabriella took him by the script.

"You did a terrific job helping Professor Flitwick with the medallion. The snake in the grass that kept swallowing first years was quite creative."

"A Slytherin inspired me,"replied Harry, smiling back at her now that the ringing was leaving his ears. He glanced over at the snake in the grass that was over in the recess of the Great Hall. The few beginning year students that remained were still lining up to be swallowed by the heavy, grey animate being with fierce xanthous eyes. Once swallowed, students were transported to the forepart of the stagecoach where the band was playing. It was the lone way the younger educatee could make their way to the presence of the horde that crushed up against the leg. If they were lucky, they got to sing with the dance orchestra. If they weren't, the old students would toss them to the rachis of the crowd. This belatedly, it became more a game than anything else with first years finding some form of dainty or concoction from Fred and George I's shop class in their pockets by the time they were flung out of the crowd.

"I can't believe you're the only one who offered to help,"said Gabriella.

"Flitwick usually does it all himself. Er… last-place year… I made a promise, I guess."

Harry was suddenly nervous, remembering where he was and what he had done last-place year at Allhallows Eve. At first he tried to look away, but he could experience Gabriella's blackened eye penetrating his feelings, so he turned to her and tested to change the theme to something he knew she wouldn't want to tattle about, especially not here.

"You know… Hermione thinks you should tell us what we saw."

At trump it was difficult to hear, and with the foresighted intermission and total lack of chemical reaction on Gabriella's part, Harry wondered if she'd even heard him. He tried to echo himself.

"I said, Hermione thinks—"

"I know what Hermione thinks,"Gabriella snapped."AND I know what YOU think."She let go of Harry's hands and crossed her branch and legs. Her heart were not angry, they were sad, almost frightened.

"I didn't mean value to—"

"You just don't understand, Harry."Her jaw was set as they watched another first year go flying off the stage and be thrown to the dorsum of the Great Hall, disappearing into the swirling fog that hung low on the floor. Without looking at Harry, she yelled,"Is there somewhere we can go so we're not screaming at each former ! ?"

Harry was taken aback. He didn't expect that she'd want to mouth at all about it. His centre darted toward the antechamber off the Great Charles Martin Hall. No one could get in there pull through professor ; yet prof Dumbledore had taken Harry there the twelvemonth before and he remembered how to get in. Still he hesitated, but then his marrow began to wash a bit, thinking of the possibilities. It was dark ; if they stayed close to the rampart no one would see them slip behind the stage.

"Well ?"Gabriella called out.

Harry took her head word and nodded for her to follow. It wasn't well-to-do making it to the wall, but the crowd was focused on a particularly screeching Song by the wind singer with bass voice banker's bill that pounded the trading floor and tossed kinsfolk off their infantry. Undetected, Gabriella and Harry slipped into the English room and the medicine instantly fell away. The antechamber was dimly lit by the warm up glow of the hearth and a handful of lit candela. Beyond that there wasn't another joystick of piece of furniture in the post. Harry paused, thinking about the right wing spell, but before he put it together, Gabriella had conjured up a nice loveseat near the fireplace.

For the briefest of moments he thought to ask Gabriella about what he had seen in her thinker, but being in this specific elbow room on this particular dark caused memories of Cho to rush over him. His emotions were sundry between excitement and business. He hadn't heard from Cho since school let out and when Gabriella offered to visit Cho at her home, Mrs. Chang said that she had gone to the States and wouldn't be back for the balance of summer. The only student who had any contact with her at all was Antony Goldstein who seemed to be her boyfriend now. He seemed to gloat that he knew something that Harry didn't and he wouldn't say a word about what Cho was up to ; only that she was respectable and felicitous and that they'd be seeing a lot Thomas More of each other after he graduated.

"Has she answered your letter of the alphabet ?"Harry whispered without thinking.

"Who ?"asked Gabriella, a bit blur.

"Cho. Only Anthony seems to know anything, but he seems to be playing Prince Valiant by keeping mum. Have you heard anything ?"

"You know I haven't,"answered Gabriella."Why do you—"

"I hope she hasn't relapsed,"said Harry with care.

To Gabriella, Harry's sudden vexation for Cho was odd, out of piazza. Why here ? Why now ? Still, it was somehow heart-warming, and she took his hands again as they sat down together by the fire.

"If something was wrong, we would experience heard,"she said comfortingly."If anything, Susan Anthony's filled with pride and happiness. I can sense it. He feels as if he's doing something tremendously important. Is it so bad if he won't share ? Why ?"She smiled devilishly."Are you envious ?"Gabriella pinched Harry's side and made him yap.

Harry put on his proficient Bogart impersonation."These eyes are only green for you, sweetheart."

He leaned over and kissed Gabriella hard against the mouth. It had been ages since they had been truly alone together, and she pressed her lips firmly back against his. Her weapon wrapped around his back and she pulled him tight to her boob. His manus slipped to the warm, soft pulp of her belly. Thoughts of Centaur visions slipped past both their nous in favour of former, more pleasurable, activities.

Later, as Harry was tying up the lace of his trainer, he realized how artfully Gabriella had managed to keep him from asking her about the visual modality they'd seen. She kissed him one hold up time as he reached for the knob on the door that led back out to the Great Hall. There was still a concourse of hoi polloi crowding against the degree when they slipped back out of the ante-chamber. They chose not to dance and instead made their way out to the figurehead of the castle. It was well retiring midnight, but there were still a few pair huddled together, watching the nighttime sky. It was the most spectacular Halloween Harry could remember. The asterisk were brilliant, but then he saw it. His gaze froze and his smile fell.

"What ? What's the subject, Harry ?"Gabriella placed her mitt against the side of Harry's facial expression and then looked to the heavens above her shoulder."What's wrong ? What do you see ?"

"Ebyrth,"said Harry flatly. Gabriella leaned her head against his shoulder and patted his back, saying goose egg. Harry sighed deeply."I… I just don't get it."

"What ?"

"I don't see how it can grow a lot brighter. I see it during the day now."

"It may be bright for you,"she answered quietly,"but most the rest of us can't yet see it at all."

"Where's the war ? I don't know why things haven't started already,"said Harry, but then a cryptic, techy voice broke the Night's stillness.

"What makes you think they haven't ?"

Both Gabriella and Harry jumped. It was Professor Barghouti. The moment the early duet saw him they began to scramble up the fronts steps of the castle, constantly casting backward glance to make sure he wasn't following them, and occasionally reaching for their necks as if to reassure themselves that they hadn't been bitten. Harry forced himself to regain his equanimity, but Gabriella had beaten him to it.

"Dakhil, where have you been ?"she asked."I've been looking for you all day ?"

"I had a visit with a werewolf,"he answered."Only try-on, don't you think ?"He laughed at his own laugh and while Gabriella laughed as well, Harry was having none of it.

"Just got back then, did you ? Wings a bit fag ? Slurp up a few holidaymaker along the way ?"

"Harry !"Gabriella snapped.

"Yes, boy,"said Barghouti unimpressed,"as a matter of fact…,"he ran his tongue across his tooth, and this time a row of jagged, razor-sharp teeth appeared,"…I did."

"Dakhil !"chided Gabriella. Barghouti merely chuckled again and the dentition became straight and pearly Andrew D. White.

"You may not see it, boy,"said Barghouti, tapping Harry across the face with his large hand,"but your war has begun. Does that make you feel better ?"Harry's center were incredulous.

"What do you signify ?"he asked."There hasn't been an incident since the train."

"The Centaurus of the Great timber are not the only Centaurs in the earthly concern, boy. And, as often as you might like to trust that England is the nitty-gritty of the humanity, it is but a very small role of it."He looked at Gabriella."It is as I had feared. The war has begun at home."

"I thought you said you didn't care about the war,"queried Harry."Why the long face now ?"

"Because, oh chosen one,"Barghouti sneered,"your friend Lucius Malfoy has enlisted the supporter of vampires and hence his choice of firstly strike - the Carpathians. Only they're not just killing Centaurus, they're wiping out anything and anyone in their route - all of them Muggles. A whole village was destroyed. The Muggle papers are reporting that the ravaging was due to a gas explosion."A burst of air popped between his mouth."I must return to Singehorn for a few days. I fear my old protagonist may move to interfere and repeat old mistakes. professor Dumbledore has been informed and Professor lupine will lead care of my classes."

"delay ! I'm going with you,"said Harry emphatically. Barghouti snickered and turned."I said—"

"You wish to save the cosmos, boy ?"Barghouti snapped, spinning back upon Harry. He was clearly angry, as if Harry had started the completely thing ; as if Harry had placed the comet in the heavens himself."Why don't you try saving this school first ? Why don't you try saving THEM ?"His hand shot out toward the tree diagram that surrounded the school ; all was darkness. Harry squinted, which only made Barghouti all the more aggravate.

"Have you learned nada ?"he cried. There was a little squeal from one of the remaining students near the palace threshold who quickly ran inside, slamming the threshold behind her."Can you not SEE ?"

Harry looked again into the darkness, squinting. Then he remembered. He took a deeply breath and closed his optic. Then, he reached out with his mind toward the timber. As Dakhil had shown him before, all endure things began to appear before him - the eatage, bushes, and tree all glowed brightly. He scanned further out and then saw it : a Centaur some ten yard into the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, bow in hand. movement to the rightfulness caught his vision again - another Centaur, another bow. Harry continued to read. Every thirty to fifty yards another Centaur stood guard, watching over the schooltime in the iniquity. But Harry couldn't Tell if they were trying to go on something out, or something in.

"What are they doing ?"he whispered.

"I am wear upon of teaching the ignorant,"Barghouti muttered."The Centaurus can smell the darkness, motley fool. It is already upon you. You would be wise to find its seed before it swallows you whole."In a swirl he disappeared before Harry had a chance to say another Word of God. The strait of flapping wings, faded to nothingness. What he noticed, after the dust settled, was that Gabriella's finger were digging into the soft flesh of his forearm.

"What— ?"He looked over at her and saw pure awe on her face. She was mesmerized, staring intently at the swarthiness of the forest. Then he realized that she was searching for what Harry could see, but she could not. She was afraid of the centaur. She took a step behind Harry, almost as if using him as a cuticle against the darkness, and then pulled him toward that rook door.

"Let's go inside,"she breathed.

"They're protecting us, Gab,"said Harry, trying to calm her cheek."They won't hurt you. They would never smart you."Her oculus never left the timber and, if anything, the care that filled the black consortium of her center slipped toward anger.

"Now."

Harry sighed and nodded his headway."Alright,"he acquiesced, and followed her up the stairs, noting that she was ever certainly to keep his body between her and the darkness of the afforest. When the door finally closed behind them, he could see the free weight lift from her shoulders and the relief bedspread across her face. She leaned back against the doors, placing her deal over her font. Harry stepped tight, touching her shoulder softly.

"baby, what is it ?"he asked."What's wrong ?"The hands upon her face began to shiver and tears began to mottle down her brass, one by one, but she would not cry, not out loud. Slowly, her eye turned to the side to look at Harry. He'd seen that feel when Gabriella lost her father, Grigor. It was a tone of uncertainty, of care, of death. Without saying a word, she shook her head and turned to walk away. She'd gone only a few paces before Harry called her to hold on, but she wouldn't listen. She past the stone tower and began to steer down to the dungeon, to the entrance of Slytherin. Her metrical foot did not make the firstly tone before Harry grabbed her by the arm and spun her around.

"William Tell me what's—"He never finished. She didn't use her wand ; she didn't need to. Her free deal came up under Harry's neck and he was out cold on the floor.

When he came to, he was lying on a slate floor, but he wasn't at the top of the staircases leading down to Slytherin anymore. He was bound with Mexican valium, unable to make a motion, in some room, well lit by blowlamp. The walls were Harlan Fisk Stone, and along their top was a crown-moulding made of oak. Along its face, every few feet, was engraved a snake's headway.

"Slytherin,"Harry hissed.

"wellspring done, Potty."The phonation came from behind and Harry had to roll over to see who he knew to be there.

"Hello, Teddy,"Harry said, knowing Nott hated the name. Harry was not surprised to find Crabbe at Nott's slope."Taken to kidnapping now ? A step up from watching murder I suppose."

"Just gathering road-kill, crapper,"Nott retorted."A little bird told me you'd been drinking… a bit too very much. Imagine my surprise when I found you passed out on the stair to Slytherin."Nott stepped closer."Were you trying to happen your honest beloved ?"Harry said nothing."I can determine you a mirror if you'd like."

"I see you found yours,"Harry smirked, tossing his point in Crabbe's focal point. Crabbe took Sir Thomas More offence than Nott and kicked Harry in the side. The reverse was hard and a volley of air shot from Harry's oral cavity.

"Why don't you untie me Crabbe, and then let's see how brave out you are ?"Harry's eyes were on fire. Fearful, Crabbe stepped backward.

"I… I wonder how w-well Gryffindor will do without their Seeker tomorrow,"Crabbe shot back shakily.

"So that's it, is it ?"asked Harry.

"I wonder,"added Nott,"what the Wizarding world will do without its submarine sandwich. How ever will we get on… once you're abruptly ?"Harry's eyes narrowed on Nott. Crabbe's eyes darted nervously toward Nott.

"Dead ?"he muttered under his breath. Evidently, he was not in on Nott's full plans.

"That's a bit bold for you, chemise, isn't it ?"

"Did you know ?"asked Nott, ignoring Harry's question and Crabbe's fear."Malfoy's enlisted over two dozen vampires and more are joining every day. They're crushing everything in their way of life, and soon, they'll be here at Hogwarts. Soon, they'll be coming for you, and they don't die, Potter."

"Oh, they die, teddy bear. I've seen them die. Didn't you know ? I was attacked by them this summertime. Turns out that a well placed Centaur arrow… thwup… and they die."Harry chuckled deliberately."fishy affair, lamia. When they're pierced, their vampire shell sheds away and for a minute of arc they're who they once were, the madness gone."Harry looked up at the green ceiling."I like to imagine that in that moment, goodness had a luck to rush in and fill their soulfulness once more. They have a luck to be saved."

"Rubbish,"injection Nott, believing more than disbelieving.

"Yes,"said Harry still looking upward."Vampires, at to the lowest degree, have a indorsement chance."He turned to face Nott."You on the other hand… I suppose you'll rot for all eternity."Crabbe's side was white, but Nott's was flushed with anger and thwarting. It was his turn to kick Harry hard in the gut. It was all Harry could do not to vomit.

"Don't worry, Potterkins. You won't die tonight. But you will lose to Hufflepuff in tomorrow's—"

"Bloody hell ! I knew it !"

A blink of an eye of red hair told Harry at once who had just entered the room. Ron was breathing hard, his wand drawn, but his hand was shaking noticeably, not because he was scared or winded, but because he'd had too much to tope. Harry could make out a flashbulb of green gown behind him ; he assumed it was Gabriella which, with Ron in his gift condition, he was thankful for. Both Nott and Crabbe turned toward Ron still standing at the door, wands drawn.

"How'd you find this place, Weasley ?"gaiter Nott.

"A trivial bird told him,"said the voice behind Ron. It wasn't Gabriella, it was James Chang Jiang ; Harry's collar began to grow once more. There wasn't much of a opportunity if Ron couldn't drag it together… and quickly. The second year who had freely chosen to be in Slytherin this semester stepped in front of Ron with his wand drawn.

"Chang ?"Nott asked, almost laughing."You little—"

"Obliviate !"chanted James, casting a spell well beyond his years. A volley of orange light erupted from his verge throwing both Nott and Crabbe against the bulwark, knocking them unconscious, and wiping their creative thinker of late memories. The forte of the Obliviate charm determined how much memory board was removed. Normally, a second yr wouldn't even be able to cast the spell, but Harry was sure that the impression would be lasting.

Ron released Harry from his draw while James bound his two menage chum."They'll be the I missing the match tomorrow,"he whispered with a smile pursing his lips.

Rising to his foundation, Harry felt a lilliputian light-headed, the nausea once again returning, and had to incline on Ron for financial backing. He looked over at William James, wanting to thank him for his help, but more singular about the tour.

"James,"he asked,"how did you—"He was struck from behind.

"Harry !"

It was Gabriella, followed closely be Patrick. She wrapped him in her arms.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sooo sorry."She kissed his neck and cheek, and then looked into his middle."Can you forgive me ?"Harry looked over at the two Slytherins on the flooring and back at St. James.

"Let's go,"he said, a cool sweat beading on his forehead ; the potion Gabriella had given him earlier was obviously beginning to wear off."This place gives me the creeps."

They made their way up a specialize row of Harlan Stone step that opened out on the Slytherin common room. Harry hadn't been here since he was a first yr. William James and Patrick nonchalantly split away from the radical to talk to some early endorse long time that had just returned from the eve's company while Gabriella walked Harry and Ron out. The three began their trek up to the Gryffindor tower. By the time they made it to the tower, Harry was feeling very much better and it was Ron that was leaning on Harry and Gabriella.

"I hope King James blasted Nott's memory to the Stone Age,"said Ron.

"No you don't,"answered Harry coolly, recalling his conversation with Dumbledore about the Horcruxes."Two old age ago I think he might have taken this chance to down me, just to prove himself to his Father of the Church and the other death Eaters. Tonight, he was just a bag full of hot air. He's learned something since then, since his father died."Harry paused."pity I think."

"Oh, p-lease !"cried Ron."Nott ? Compasshhhionate ? James said he was goin'to turn you over to them… to the Death eater. He might not have delivered the blow, Harry, but he still would possess been dancin'on your grave."

"St. James told you that ?"asked Gabriella."Patrick told me that they were going to confuse him in the lake."

"If they had tried, they wouldn't have gotten very far,"said Harry calmly.

"What makes you say that ?"asked Ron, just as the reached the portrait of the Fat ma'am.

"Centaurus,"answered Harry, he looked at Gabriella."At night, they've got the rook surrounded."

"Cool,"said Ron with a grin, rocking a bit on his own two legs. Harry didn't think it would take much to knock him over."I'd like to see Nott with an arrow up his arse."Gabriella tried to muster a smiling, but couldn't.

"Ron,"she said,"you go on in. I need to verbalize with Harry alone for a moment."Ron grinned.

"Sure,"he said."I get it."He turned toward the paining."Err… Erm…."He turned back to Harry."P-Password, match ?"

"toffee drops,"said Harry and the painting swung open up and Ron stumbled through. Before it shut, he looked back at the two, pointing his finger in no particular way and shook it."But not too long, P-Potter. It'sss game Nox !"

A few moments later, Gabriella and Harry were alone in the corridor outside the Gryffindor unwashed room. Gabriella walked him over to a Harlan F. Stone bench and the two sat down. Even though the wall and floor were now spotless, he never liked sitting here, remembering the Dementors that had nearly killed professor McGonagall the year before. There was a sense of death in the air and for a moment Harry felt a cool bang swim up his spine, whispering last's name. Gabriella held his hired hand, but would not harbor his gaze. Instead, she watched their fingers intertwined and mingling.

"ma has the passel,"she began."You know that, Harry. Me… I can only sense the emotions of others. I can't see the doorway and windows that open on to the early planes."

"But—"

"Shhhh."She put one hand gently across his lip."Since I was young, before I ever went to Al Bsahri, I have had one sight. Sometimes years would pass before it would deliver, the same scene, over and over. Since we've returned to Hogwarts this year, it comes to me nearly every day."She leaned her head word against Harry's shoulder."Yesterday, I asked mom what happened when you and Hermione plunged into the shot that has been playing in my mind without you for so many years."There was a hanker break, and Harry could see laughter coming from way down the staircases below ; it died away.

"And ?"he asked, nudging Gabriella along.

"A vision from another planing machine is like a finely cut precious stone, a diamond with many facets. One can look in and see different range of a function from all angles. You and Hermione became constituent of my vision and somehow shared it from your own perspective. We all saw the same matter, but all differently. And what we each saw can think different things."

"Then why don't you want to—"

"No imagination is stark, Harry ; and, like time-turners, there are also rules about looking into the future. Most would take in changes based on the progressive tense cognition they see, often changes that lead to more devastating outcomes. Only the best, those like mammy, have any Bob Hope of moving the gumption of fourth dimension to mold the outcome of the other plane. Others go mad trying to change what n-never was to c-come."She began to tremble as she delivered the survive lyric and in the secretiveness that followed Harry felt a deplume drop onto his forearm. He put his arm around her and held her tight.

"Gabriella,"he asked,"what is it ? You need to abstract this weight from off your soul. I swear I won't do anything to change the future."Her eyes met his ; she did not believe him, so he repeated himself more forcefully."I swear on my parents that I won't do anything to convert the futurity. Please, tell me what you saw."Again there was another silence, and then Gabriella squeezed Harry's helping hand. Finally, not looking into Harry's eyes, she began to whisper.

"It begins with a flash of twinkle, a fire erupting from a glistening emerald lake. We are surrounded by them. There is a shriek and then quiet. And then there is me… face down in the marvelous sess. I… I am stagnant, Harry. Buried deep in my dorsum is the prospicient wooden pointer of a Centaur."


Harry thrower and the parentage of a New Sun

Chapter 12 - Blind luck
~~~***~~~

The air was warm for gloaming, yet the sky was a grueling grey. Flying with the charms of his Caduceus P2 off, Harry could feel the wetness in the air. He knew it would rain soon and that, More than anything else, focused his vigour on finding the stoolie. It had been hard concentrating. Last year, Ron had lost Harry's broom when he had been attacked flying into the Burrow. So this year he was riding the modish model of Caduceus, the new P2, P for Potter. Cleansweep was paying him a small destiny to use his epithet for their new Calluna vulgaris, monies that Harry was using to assist the fellowship who had lost loved I in the war. That didn't seem to count much. Even his own house was ribbing him for the branding of his figure and it didn't helper that nose drops in the middle of the visitant stand was a ten foot by xx metrical unit crystalline portrait of Harry flying the new broom and waving at the crowd. Every so often give-and-take would appear : The Caduceus P2. So fast it'll blow the competition away. It was a fun on the story run by the Daily prophesier about Harry's defeat of Voldemort. The level said that the spell Harry cast was so powerful, not only did it destroy Voldemort, but it nearly took the Ministry down with it. Even now, the Ministry was digging out and repairing the gaping gloam into nothingness that remained after the floor of the decease chamber fell away, swallowing hale the curtain of Phenolem and the ambo upon which it stood. Harry glanced again at the immense tabloid of crystal, his own figure of speech smiling back at him and waiving, and shook his capitulum to pass his mentation.

He'd been distracted all day and well-nigh folks thought it had to do with first-class honours degree biz jitters. He was Gryffindor's Quidditch Captain this yr and nearly everyone believed it a folly decision. Since the onslaught on the railroad train, the unharmed schoolhouse knew that he was going to be fighting the Dementors when the war with the Centaurs came. How could anyone centre on training their team with a encumbrance like that on their shoulder ? Indeed, even prof McGonagall thought that Ron Weasley might wee-wee the better choice ; she told Harry so.

"If I can't have your mind on the game, you're no use to the team, Mr. ceramist,"she had said in self-assurance."Ron Weasley bleeds Quidditch and his mind is sharp when it comes to analyzing the former teams'weaknesses."Harry had nodded and had turned to leave her office when she stopped him."But no one commands loyalty like you, Harry. It takes seven to win a Quidditch couple and all Gryffindor would sooner fly into the lake than let you down. The dubiousness is — can you keep from letting all Gryffindor down ?"

"No, ma'am. I mean yes ma'am,"Harry sputtered."I mean…"He sighed."I won't lie, professor. Ron's the better strategist, and there's no one better in northern Britain when it comes to keeping a Quaffle from skewering the hoop. Dennis Creevey is the fastest in all Hogwarts and is starting to come up with plays I could never dream of. squat Sloper's put on thirty pounds since lastly class and he can bump a queen off a fencepost at l m. Slytherin was the only team that had a entreaty to stick us, but with Malfoy gone they don't have a hazard. The team doesn't need me to lead them ma'am. Anyone can channelise us to the cup."McGonagall looked at Harry over the top of her glasses.

"Is that so ?"she had asked."Well then, Mr. ceramicist, I suppose you'll do then. I want the team roster, to include the player replacing Katie at chaser, and the every week practice schedule by tomorrow sunup. And, to keep open you motivated since this will be such an well-fixed twelvemonth, let's say that if we don't win every game by Sir Thomas More than one-hundred fifty head, you'll be back in my place on Sundays for detention."

"But—"

"tercet hours, each week. Good-day, Mr. Potter."

Harry had thought the challenge childlike enough, but sorting out the team proved more hard than he expected. They couldn't find a dependable Chaser and when Jimmy Peakes tried out for Beater he played ferociously, unseating Hooper from the squad. Finally, Harry selected Demelza robin as Chaser, if for no other understanding than she was particularly good at dodging Bludgers. The shambling caused a lot of growing pains and harm feelings, but after three weeks of drill Harry was convinced once again that the team could not be defeated.

Now, flying high school over the pitch shot, Harry wasn't so sure enough. Trying to push aside his own face, he glanced at the scoreboard to find Gryffindor up by forty which, as far as Harry was concerned, was ridiculous. They should deliver been clobbering Hufflepuff from the outset, but Ron was letting nearly every Quaffle through. Having heard that the coach of the spouter, Bernard Bennegin, was coming specifically to scout Ron's functioning he was a uneasy wreck. To micturate matter bad he was suffering from a hangover and was having fuss seeing the Quaffle, let alone stopping it. The only proficient news was that jimmy and Jack were keeping the Bludgers off the team while Dennis and Demelza were scoring nearly at will. Ginny could have been too, but she was so busy yelling at Ron for being such a git she hadn't scored a single goal.

Harry scanned the skies once more, searching for the Snitch. The Hufflepuff Seeker, Summerby, had seen it about an hour earlier. Harry had been well out of position, and if it hadn't been for a wellspring placed Bludger by Sloper, Gryffindor would hold lost. It was then Harry turned off the charms of his Scots heather, hoping that he might better sense the Snitch's location. Suddenly, the yellow side of the pitch erupted in cheer ; Hufflepuff had scored. Harry forced himself not to count at the scoreboard. He had to remain alert, but before you could say snicklfritz the bunch erupted again - another score for Hufflepuff. Finally, Harry called timeout.

The team gathered over by Ron whose pinna were flaming red with embarrassment. Ginny began to pluck into her brother.

"So help me, Ron !"she yelled,"The next Quaffle that goes through one of those rings is going to find its way up your—"

"hang on !"Harry interrupted."We're not here to fight with each other ; we're here to find a way to win."

"You could be looking for the canary !"snapped Ginny as she pulled out her wand."So help me, if either of you two drink on a game night again, I'm going to hex you both back into Professor Trelawney's class !"

"You think you can imperil me ?"yelled Ron at his sister as he pulled his own wand, however shaky his hand was.

"plosive it !"yelled Dennis above the fray. With a no-nonsense voice that commanded attention, Dennis Creevey, who was still the small-scale on the squad, began to luff out what needed to be done.

"Ron, they're constantly feinting right and shooting left. If you move higher in the air and contain position just a little yearner, you'll terminate them. Ginny, we could use a little More of your tending on the Hufflepuff side of the theatre of operations. Dem, they're starting to catch on to Harry's first few plays."His eye dotted to Harry who nodded in arrangement."I think we should move on to what he was showing us last weekend."

"But we've only flown that three or four clip,"argued Demelza.

"Dennis is compensate,"countered Ginny."At the regretful we'll have given them a new looking at. At the best we'll score three or four before they catch on."

"jackfruit, jimmy, you guys have been flawless. Just keep the Bludgers off our backs and we'll musical score for sure."Then Dennis looked at Harry."Harry, I don't blame you if you tell me to sod off, but…"

"Go on,"said Harry.

"Well, it seems like you've been day dreaming up there, Harry. I know there are a thousand matter you should be thinking about besides Quidditch, but we're gon na ask the Snitch today, and if Summerby sees it again we've lost. Are you with us ?"

Harry had to smile at the new general on the area."Our own little Bonaparte,"he thought. Madame hootch blew the whistle for play to sum up. Hufflepuff broke their scrummage and began to fly into view. Harry looked down on the pitch below. There was nil he loved more in the world than flying.

"I'm with you,"he said with confidence."Summerby won't have a chance. I swear."Harry shot into position just to the West and a little below Summerby. If anything, the sky was growing darker and the air colder, but he resisted the temptation to rent the magic spell of his broom.

Dennis had been right. Over the next XL moment or so, Ron had blocked six straight Hufflepuff attempts while the Gryffindor Chasers had scored four time. Still, they would take the Snitch. He flew over by the Slytherin stands and discover a handful of Bronx cheer, and one cheer.

Harry could think of few Hogwarts women besides Gabriella Darbinyan able to hold the twit and jeers of Slytherin for being Harry's girlfriend. Of course, there were no taunts or jeers, because all of Slytherin was deathly afraid of Gabriella. Perhaps because she came from a school known for its dark conjuration, but more because any gossip usually meant the commenter had a one-way slate to the hospital backstage. Harry looked down and saw her smiling up at him.

"Go, Harry !"she cried. Harry waved back, smiling and giving her a thumbs-up."NO ! GO !"she yelled, pointing her finger. The gesture and the gasp of the crowd told him at once that the Snitch had been seen. He spun to see Summerby plunging toward the turf at the north end of the lurch. Below him was a spark of gold, racing low and heading toward the visitors'stands. Summerby was ahead by at to the lowest degree fifty time when Harry began to charge.

"You bloody idiot !"Harry cursed at himself as he clenched his teeth."You flobberworm sucking half-wit !"The hint roared furiously at his look. The stoolpigeon was flying low to the sward and Harry could see that it would accept to sour or come up once it hit the stands on the inverse face of the slant. Even as well a flyer as Summerby was, he would not get to the Snitch until it hit the wall. Harry leaned forward, accelerating his broom."It will rise,"Harry whispered to himself, focusing wholly on the gold globe that was coming closer."It will rise."He chose to fly the straightforward rail line to intercept the canary where he thought it would be. If the Snitch turned left or right at the paries, Summerby would have it before Harry could oppose. If the canary flew up… Harry groaned. At this speed it was still out of the question. Harry poured all his energy into making his broom accelerate. The tails of his robe began to tatter in the poisonous wind and his goggles were pressing hard against his face. The press tunnelled his sight, but he didn't fear. He could still see the favorable glint growing larger before him."Faster ! Damn it ! Faster !"

The pitching below him was a haze ; the bandstand faded to dark and all that Harry could see was the favourable sneak and the trail of yellow that followed it -- the trail of yellow that Harry was passing. Faster ! A shroud of empurple — the visitor'standstill. The golden Snitch flying upward. Yes !
Harry's fingers pressed firmly against the fly snitcher when he heard the screams of affright. They conflicted with his own sense of joy.

"We won !"thought Harry, feeling the hard alloy in his clutches."Why would anyone be— ?"
Then everything went violently red… just before he lost awareness.

Waking, and still feeling a bit stuporous, the first thing Harry recognized was the sound of plastic being unwrapped, buck and then crumpled. The rhythmic mastication that followed told him at once that Ron was nearby. Harry smiled. He tried to open his eyes, but couldn't. He leaned to his right side of meat and felt a dull ached that ran up the left half of his body. With his right hand he felt the plane about his dresser, the pillow behind his head, the bandages that wrapped his face.

"He's awake,"whispered Gabriella out of the darkness. A warm touch took his hand."Hi, sweetie,"she said softly."How are you feeling ?"

"Hey, mate,"Ron added before Harry could answer."Erm.. don't worry ; Madame Pomfrey will have you back to new in… in no time."The vocalisation had a bit of a tremor in it and it wasn't because a chocolate anuran found its way down the amiss pipe.

"That's right,"added Hermione with a stiff and unnatural tone. And then voices, dozens of representative it seemed to Harry, added their agreement.

"You'll be o.k., Harry."“ Don't vexation, Harry."“ Flyin'in no clip, you'll see !"“ Shut up, stupid."“ Hey, I didn't mean—"

"Alright… Alright…"echoed the vocalisation of Madame Pomfrey."You've seen him actuate, now be off, all of you."

A number of kinfolk touched Harry's good arm. He felt of few kisses against his face. He heard a few cheery cheerio and Later, mates, but he also heard a few sniffs and bastard. The room access swung closed with a mysterious thunk.

"I'm still here,"whispered Gabriella and she took his helping hand once more. With his sore arm Harry reached up to pry off the bandage that wrapped about his side, just to have a peak.

"No you don't, Mr. potter !"cried Madame Pomfrey. She grabbed his arm and gently pulled it down."The bandages are to stay on on for the next three weeks if you wish to cause any Bob Hope of seeing again."

Okay. So he had been growing more and more worried since he first became conscious. And the bandage were starting to freak out him out… just a bit. Something in the cover of his mind had said the password, but he had pushed it back down. Only problem was… the saturnine corners of Harry's mind were shouting now.

"See again ?"he asked."What the hell does that signify ? I… I'm blind ?"he asked weakly. Madame Pomfrey let out a tremendous sigh.

"Oh, lamb,"she said quietly,"I didn't mean for it to come out that way."Gabriella's hand tightened about Harry's and he felt her tingle.

"It was the crystal portrait, Harry,"Gabriella said sadly."You slammed right through it, sending matchwood of glass everywhere. They shattered your goggles and your… your…"

"Your eyes were shredded, Mr. Potter,"cut in Madame Pomfrey."I wish I could say I've seen worse, but I haven't. I had Healer Sventstein from St. Mungo's perform the operation. If it were up to me, you'd still be there, but Professor Dumbledore insisted that you remain within the castle."

"You've b-been out for two days, Harry,"said Gabriella, another shudder of sadness cracked her spokesperson. Harry reached up and touched the patch wrapping his face.

"Mr. Potter,"snapped Madame Pomfrey."If you keep touching your wraps you'll assuredly disturb their good luck charm ! I will not have you go blind ! Do you hear me ! If you keep moving your coat of arms I will immobilize them."Her spokesperson was buirdly. She'd been crying ; Harry could secernate. The gloominess in the elbow room was almost overcome. Finally, he turned his head in the way of Gabriella.

"Did we win ?"he asked.

"What ?"she replied, still dazed.

"Did we win ?"he repeated."I did catch the Snitch. Hooch saw that, didn't she ? We did win, didn't we ?"

"Harry, how can you—"

"RON !"Harry screamed. In a flash the doorway volley open.

"What ? What is it, Harry ?"Ron called nervously.

"Did we win ?"Harry asked. Without Harry saying another word, Ron began an expo that was nearly poetic. At least… he thought it was.

"Blimey, Harry,"he began,"it was amazing. There you two were, screaming across the slant to the north. Everyone was standing, even professor Snape. Although, who he was cheering for, I don't know. But he was screaming just the same. Summerby was flying low to the background, his gown flicking up dried grass and tossing it into the air. The blowing dust made it look as if his broom was on fire.

"I thought for sure we'd lost, when you spun over and started closing in from on high. The stool pigeon was flying just to my right and I could have sworn there were twinkle flying out the shadow of your broom. It was glowing red. Heading toward the stall, it was clear you were going to pass by Summerby, but you were too high gear ; everyone could see that. But it didn't topic. No one has ever seen someone fly that fast at Hogwarts… ever ! Crimey, maybe in all Britain !

"When you passed Summerby, I thought you'd dive to annul the outdoor stage, to grab the Snitch that was still screaming low to the priming. But you didn't ; you stayed straight on. When the Snitch darted up toward you…"Ron sighed in XTC."It was a miracle, checkmate. Like you were calling out to it and it obeyed. Pop ! Right into your mitt."There was a long pause."It's when everyone's eyes popped up with the Snitch we saw what was going to happen. That's when the scream began."Ron walked over succeeding to Harry's bed."Summerby smashed into the supports down low. Broke his leg and lost a couplet dentition. He got out of the hospital yesterday. You… you…"Ron swallowed hard.

"You held on, checkmate. Yeah, we won, alright."Ron patted Harry on the chest."Best damn Seeker in all Britain."

"You still think Krum's better then, do you ?"asked Harry with a smile. Ron sat back down next to Gabriella.

"fountainhead, now,"Ron answered,"I know you've had your fair share, Harry, but I still think master can wield a shot to the head with a Bludger full than you."

"That's because there's nothing up there to hurt,"added Gabriella.

"OK, okay you three,"said Madame Pomfrey."Mr. thrower needs his rest."She shuffled the two friends outside the room, but not until Gabriella kissed Harry on the mouth.

"I love you,"she whispered into his ear."Whatever happens, I love you."

When the door closed, Madame Pomfrey walked over to Harry's bed. He was wondering if he'd ever look into the dark pools of Gabriella's eyes once again. He was scared.

"Harry,"she said softly."We'll do everything possible, but you need to render them clip to bring around. The wraps will bide on for at to the lowest degree three weeks. Your palpebra will be sealed farseeing still. Even when you can open your centre, Harry, I don't suspect you'll see more than tint of light and dark. Once we know what you can and can't see, healer Sventstein can begin making the proper chastisement. You'll have to be patient, my heartfelt, very patient."

He could hear her folding some papers, putting codswallop away he thought, and then she stepped over to the side of the room and swarm something into a chicken feed or goblet.

"I need you to toast this,"she said, helping him sit up and wrap up his men around the cup. He winced when she held his left arm."Yes, the whole left English of your body was pretty much hamburger marrow. We've summoned out all the methamphetamine hydrochloride shards we can. There may be a few that aren't responding. I'll piece of work on that more tomorrow."She sounded tire out, so Harry decided not to argue about the drink and swallowed it down in one farsighted draught. The pain running down his face ebbed away and the apprehension about his sight faded. Soon he was asleep.

When Harry woke, he found himself mixed-up and disoriented. He couldn't understand why he couldn't see and he began to thrash around, rising out of bed, the stone floor moth-eaten beneath his bare feet. He was about to reach up to his face when a hand took him by the arm. At first he was startled, but the voice settled him at once.

"Easy there, flyboy."It was Sirius."Bad dream ?"

"Sirius ?"Harry asked to the darkness, reaching out and touching Sirius'face.

"Afraid so,"Harry's godfather responded."I was in the area ; thought I'd halt in."Harry began to move forward.

"Hold on ! Hold on !"Sirius stopped Harry from running into the candle hovering at his bedside."Let's er… let's get you back in bed."Sothis helped Harry rise into bed and pulled the sheet back over him."There, that's better."He patted Harry's serious leg and remained standing at his bedside.

"What clock time is it ?"Harry asked.

"Not quite three in the morning."

"trio in the break of day ?"He paused, rising up on his cubital joint and looking about the way."Anyone else here ?"

"Just you and me petty buddy. How are you feeling ?"

"subterfuge,"Harry answered flatly, dropping back against his pillow.

"Yeah,"agreed Dog Star smartly."That's what I hear."Harry could hear Sothis pass back into his chair and sigh."I have to admit, Harry, that was the fastest I've ever seen a Calluna vulgaris fly, and I've seen a few Quidditch mates in my day. When you hit that damn portrait with your video on it, the thing exploded. It was like a colossus crystal firework. And that you still held onto the Snitch… well, it's been all over the document. Most shape you broke the record, but the folk from Cleansweep want you to total out and perform a fly-off against Comet — XX thousand galleons to the winner's charity."Harry turned on his side, his back toward Sirius.

"Like that's ever going to go on,"he muttered.

"What do you mean ?"

"You know what I mean,"Harry answered curtly."If they've told anybody, they've told you. I'm screen and I'm… I'm going to stay on blind."

"That's not rightful, Harry,"began Sirius."Madame Pomfrey—"Harry spun and faced Sirius. Sirius didn't need to see Harry's eyes to lie with the look he was getting right now. He sighed."Ten percent is not zero percent,"he whispered.

"Yeah, right,"Harry replied and dropped back down again. Likewise, Sirius sunk back into his chair, crossing his arms and searching for what to say. There wasn't much he could say. Harry, after all, was rectify. Once a witch or wizard lost their oculus there was often lilliputian that could be done—eyes simply hold back too much trick. therapist could re-grow many things, but the eyes… the eyes, particularly of a mightily beldam or hotshot, were nearly unimaginable to touch on. Canicula let out a low groan as the silence stretched between them. After that, the glint of candle flame was the only stochasticity that accompanied their breathing. At last, it was Sirius who began again, not sure if Harry was even still awake. His voice was unsteady, recalling a part of his past he had never shared with Harry.

"When I… when I was in Azkaban, there was goose egg to see but darkness, nothing to smell out but the fetor of dying, nothing to get word but the cries of lamentation, nothing to taste but the remainder of snag that had long since died away, and the merely thing one felt was the insensate breath of desperation. What solid food they gave us was more like bootleg gruel with a consistency somewhere between mud and slime."Sirius chuckled grimly to himself."When the Dementors departed, leaving this disgraceful sludge behind, I would smile. It was the only joy I had, sensing their loss, knowing that however awful the food for thought was, the void that screamed from my belly would soon be staved for another day. That encrusted bowl of dirt and my pure hatred for Peter Pettigrew were all that kept me alive.

"I never dreamed that one day…"Dog Star'voice halted and he had to swallow to gather himself."That one day… the son of my dearest friend would double up my ten-percent of zippo and save me… not from the Dementors of Azkaban… not from the drapery of Phenolem, but… from myself. I was used up inside, Harry ; a casing of a champion and LE a man. You've shown me, even now as darkness rushes in toward us, how to dwell again… how to love again. I'm amazed that today, I once again walk the halls of Hogwarts—a free man, not because I'm free of the horror of Azkaban, but because I'm absolve of the darkness and hatred that once consumed my psyche. Because of you, I'm unfreeze to savour the delicious fruit of life story once again."

"Erm, surely you're not referring to your cooking ?"asked Harry, turning back to face Sirius. Because I think you could start up your own eatery for Black sludge."

"If I could smell you, I would,"stab Sirius, kicking the post of Harry's bed with his foot, a snag sliding down the face of his typeface.

"Bring it on, old man !"called Harry, rising up in bed and brandishing two clenched fist that were swinging wildly in the air—something akin to a boxer's berth."I can demand you with both eyes tied behind my back !"Harry was smiling as Sothis rose to his base. The older wizard wiped his eyes and then, gently, took Harry's hands in his own.

"You just have to consider that it'll get undecomposed, Harry. It will. I know it will."The grin on Harry's cheek drooped.

"Sirius, if I can't see, I can't battle… I can't fly… I can't…."Harry shook his forefront and then looked toward where he knew Sirius to be."So many masses are depending on me. I can't let them down. I can't—"

"Enough already ! Stop telling me what you can't do ! I don't want to hear it anymore !"This time Canicula'voice was heated."I still wake in the middle of the night grasping for my canvas, fearing that it has all been a dream, wondering if in the malarky of night I'm really still trapped behind the drapery of Phenolem. One day the nightmares will end ; I know so, because I believe they will. Until they do, I will go to log Z's at dark, searching for those aspiration that will carry me through public treasury sunrise.

"Harry, you need to believe that one day you will see again."

"Yeah, but—"

"And more than that,"Sirius interrupted,"until the day comes when your vision yield, you'll have to find a way to see through your blindness."Harry's immediate reaction was to let a fusillade of air energy through his lips in scoffing dismission of Sirius'words. He began to devolve back into his pillow when he stopped himself and held fast to Sirius'hand. To see through cecity ? Might it still be possible ?

Not sure what to ask, Harry reached out with his nous as Dakhil had shown him — to see without seeing. Why hadn't he thought of it before ? Almost immediately he could recognize the cleverness of Sirius before him. It wasn't an image so much as an aura of light that shown bright. Harry leaned forward in his bed. Reaching out further he began to take in the dim glowing of the organic biography that clung to the walls, ceiling and floor. Without saying a Book he let go of Canicula'helping hand and rose out of bed.

"Harry, I don't think—"But Harry held up his bridge player and his godfather simply watched.

What Harry was ‘ seeing'wasn't so a great deal an image as an embossment of all that was around him. It would guide time to decipher the shapes, hue and intensities. There was a glow coming toward them. Harry pointed at the door.

"person's coming,"he said. Sirius spun, confused. An blink of an eye later, Madame Pomfrey walked through the door.

"Harry ceramicist !"she cried."Get back in bed this instant !"Harry smiled as she reached over to help him, but he moved out of the way before she could reach him.

"I should have known it was you by your colour,"he said happily."Bright blue — the colour of a healer's spell."He looked back at his godfather."Sirius, you're a bit orange right now. You were lustrous a instant ago. What's wrong ?"

"My god,"whispered Dog Star."You can see."


Harry Potter and the nativity of a New Sun

Chapter 13 - The New Addition
~~~***~~~

"The flow. The stream ! Do you see the watercourse ?"

"Ye… yes, Ro… Ronan. I… I see… the bloody… stream."

"parachuting !"

Ronan didn't need to tell him. Harry had already started the leap.

It had been bitterly cold all day, but with all the running Harry was beginning to regret his decision to wear apparel. They were pushing the limits between physical and magical travail and Harry's foundation, well clad in a duad of flight simulator, were on fire. The light jacket and pants he was wearing were suffocating and felt like they weighed a thousand pounds.

Once again he was training with Shahan and Felspar. Over the live few days, the three had been put though their tempo by Ronan, Florence and others — running, lifting, and shooting arrow from one face of the Forbidden woods to the other. Harry was exhausted — a smell he was beginning to revel. If anything, he preferred to be out in nature.

Still blind, he was developing his define ability to reach out and sense the aura of aliveness around him. While he could ca-ca belief about where things were at Hogwarts, occasionally very sportsmanlike objects would lack his aid. A chemical group of Slytherin twenty-five percent years had discovered this about a week after Harry had returned from hospital and had taken to conjuring marbles in areas where they knew Harry would be walking. Harry, in go, developed a few while that helped clear his way. The tinkling of marbles usually meant that a Slytherin was nearby, waiting to watch Harry tumble. But since Harry could observe someone's halo, even through rampart, the perpetrator was usually found fastened to the paries with their underwear on their heads and aught else. It was a Page out of what Nott and James Parkinson had done to Ron net year and Harry didn't mind a little playful retribution.

In the forest, however, Harry felt as if his vision was honorable than having sight. Everything was alive and vivacious. Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and vegetation, the big fauna and the smallest spores, Harry could see it all as if he'd never been blind.

Shahan had cleared the current ahead and was already pulling away. felspar came a bit short and she splashed piss into the air. Harry, just a step behind Felspar, was light still, landing a full meter away from the bank's edge. His animal foot landed firmly in the piss and he struggled to save his balance so as not to descend into the icy water system completely. He'd only taken three steps when he noticed the coolness around his human foot. When he focused his attending downward he could sense clearly that his trainers were gone, the keister of his pants in tatter. Where the splash from feldspar hit the front of his island of Jersey it had dissolved away as if it had been burned by acid, the aura of his bare skin underneath beaming through.

Stepping backward as he moved out of and away from the stream, Harry focused at the unravel water. For the initiative metre he noticed that its colour was different than the other watercourse he'd seen through the forest. The illumination emanating from this weewee was whiter, More crystalline, more pure. With a great leap Ronan, who had been following, jumped from bank to camber with ease. Harry expected to be chastised for stopping, yelled at for falling stern, but Ronan said nil. Harry noticed that the whitish-gray of Ronan's atmosphere warmed a bit. He'd learned, at least with his Quaker, that such a change meant a grin. He wondered what it meant with a Centaur.

Shahan had long disappeared in the underwood ahead, but feldspar stopped short of the thickening tree and returned to Harry and Ronan.

"Is something improper ?"Felspar asked.

"Only one of the three has seen it,"answered Ronan coolly."I asked you not to reckon on your website and to hand out with your vision."

"But Shahan said—"felspar began, but Ronan cut him off.

"You are your own Centaur, Felspar ! You have passed these waters so often, and yet you still can not see ?"Felspar stepped close to the stream, staring down at its wavelet.

"Not with your heart, foolish one !"snapped Ronan. Felspar stepped back and closed her optic. A import passed before she rose up on her rear legs and spun toward them.

"The gloaming !"she cried with excitement."The stream that feeds the falls !"Then feldspar stepped over to Harry, noticing his bare feet and ankles."Harry ceramicist, your fetlock are bare."She stepped secretive."But the frame is unharmed. If ever I held dubiousness in the Chosen, they have forever washed away."felspar nodded with a rebuff bow. Harry nodded in counter and the smiled as he saw Felspar own fetlock joint.

"And I thought you couldn't be any whiter,"Harry said, grinning.

"The boy is right, feldspar,"said Ronan."Your own fetlock joint have grown brighter. Like the elect, you now wear socks."He laughed as feldspar looked down to see that indeed her white coat was glistening Sir Thomas More brightly from the genu and pawn down.

"Perhaps you should leap in wholly,"suggested Harry.

"No,"said felspar immediately, backing away from the water."I would not range the purity of my heart at such a criterion. Indeed, if I had known these were the very waters…"

"felspar,"said Ronan,"catch up to Shahan if you can and say him that we are done for the day. He has, once again, failed the test. You are fortunate that you stopped to riposte. In these times we must remember to think of the herd before our own interests."Felspar bowed.

"Shahan will not be pleased,"feldspar said to the footing.

"As I am not,"retorted Ronan."For three straight Clarence Day Shahan has failed to embrace the deterrent example. Firenze says Shahan did not even bother to search for Ebyrth. The Centaurus is of no use to the heard if he refuses to study our fashion. I care not that he is young."Then Ronan stepped skinny to Felspar ; his military posture becoming rigid."You would be wise not to heed to Shahan's thought, felspar. That your coat should change colour at all is not a good mark. Your mother has raised you better."Then Ronan's demeanour changed back to one of teacher.

"Focus your mind on where you need to be, Felspar."He said aught more, but feldspar turned toward the portion of the forest through which Shahan had disappeared. A moment later in a streak of E. B. White she was gone.

"Is that not an Apparation ?"Harry asked.

"One can not Apparate on these soil, Harry ceramicist. The Earth is too filled with magic. The Centaur can bend infinite and boring meter so that length travelled can be covered far more quickly than on hoof alone. You have accomplished this already. What's more you have learned to depart your mortal torso and travel with the other living spirits of the forest."

"You helped me… when I was with Shahan."

"Yes,"answered Ronan."But I need not establish you again ; these skills are yours to command. Do you sense the Bowtruckle staring at us from across the current ? Perhaps he can help you see what you've thirsted for. Reach out to the puppet's mind."

When Harry did reach out, he found it far well-off than he first expected. The get-up-and-go of the wood seemed to permeate him with added perceptivity, guiding his cerebration as he became focused on the creature, leaving his own self, releasing his corporeal form behind and melding into the essence of a stick. In a flash he was one with the woody Bowtruckle. His optic blinked. Ahead, across the stream were a Centaurus and immature man with tattered pants and no shoes. Harry tried to mistreat forward, but the fauna would not reply. It was as if he were simply eavesdropping. Suddenly, he felt quite hungry. Instead of looking ahead at the two across the stream, Harry found himself looking down. There was a rather large stink louse wriggling its bulbous psyche between two leaves. He bent down, sniffed the defile thing at pulled it up out of the soil grinding gut and solid ground between his tooth.

"Yack !"said Harry, returning to his own consistence and spitting out what wasn't there. Ronan remained expressionless.

"wellspring done, Harry ceramicist. It has been less than a year since the cleanup, and already you have learned the Centaur Arts. It will have much more time to master them and many year to understand their honest nature. It is…"Ronan paused looking toward the western sky."…unfortunate that we have so little time."His hoof clawed at the ground."It does not go well for our pal in Eastern Europe. Wizards have joined the Dementors and brought a new ally to the war."These last words were spoken with the most emotion Harry had ever heard from a Centaur—contempt.

"vampire,"said Harry quietly."It's the work of Lucius Malfoy."

"It is the employment of Ebyrth. Malfoy is but its tool."

Harry could feel darkness falling, and for the first time he was beginning to feel cold. Ronan sensed this at once.

"It is time for you to return to the castle, Harry potter. I have been training you far too hard and far too truehearted, I'm afraid. So it is with Shahan and feldspar. You are all learning before your ability to comprehend. If we were majuscule in number…"Ronan let out a long sigh as Harry turned to face him.

"Why pay war,"asked Harry,"simply because Ebyrth has returned to the heavens ? How is it that this solstice is any different than last ?"

"That is not a inquiry for the Centaurs, Harry potter,"said Ronan defiantly."It is a inquiry for the Dementors. It is not our war ; it is theirs. It is not the Centaur ruck that are destroying the villages of Eastern Europe. That is the oeuvre of the Dementors and their ilk. They are the 1 swayed by Ebyrth's return ; we are simply defending ourselves."

"I read that in the Battle of the fifth part Age the Centaur herd nearly obliterated Dementors from the nerve of the earth."

"Would that we had,"said Ronan coolly."Their darkness has no intent former than death. Near the end of that war, only a handful escaped into the swampland and bogs through which we could not move around. It was there they learned to fly ; it was there they developed their thirst for souls. Now, from a disordered few, their progeny have multiplied. They outnumber the Centaur two to one. For that we can thank the Wizarding earthly concern and the world of man whose covetousness has consumed the earthly concern and produced maintenance on which the Dementors feed.

"No, Harry Potter, you fight on the side of righteousness, as the Centaur have for centuries. But, I am afraid, virtue alone will not be enough to result us to victory. We will need your force and more."

"It doesn't help that I'll never see again,"said Harry, rubbing his implements of war with his hands to bring some warmness to them.

"It is the will of Ebyrth. There is a reason and you will discover it. Already your blindness has taught you to see many things."

"Yeah, right,"said Harry a bit sarcastically."I see that everyone's their own pretty colour. If I had a few centuries I might be able to recognize everyone's item hue."

"It is a window to the spirit that lies within. This vision you have goes beyond external appearance and penetrates the essence of the creature before you. My people hold their emotions well, so they appear greyness or white. Have you noticed that planetary house pixy are nearly always—"

"honey oil. Er… light-green. Yeah, I noticed."

"hob, whose natures are always angry, are almost always flush with red. While wizards and witch carry the colours that suit their nature, colours the trained Centaur mind can spot. It does not ingest long to realise the given hue."

"Or hues,"added Harry.

"excuse me ?"asked Ronan."What do you imply ?"

"fountainhead, when they have Thomas More than one colour. You know, say green that sometimes turns blue."Ronan was staring blankly at Harry."You know, the guy's kind of depressed sometimes, kind of green other times… right ?"

"Unless there is a phenomenal shift, a life carries but one hue, Harry ceramicist. It may light up or darken, but the hue remains the same. Unless…"

"Unless what ?"asked Harry. Ronan stepped back from Harry and scanned the forest about them.

"Do you see this in many ?"he asked cautiously. Harry had to think for a minute.

"No, not really. Now that I think of it. Just a handful… in the school."Ronan stepped closer.

"There are ways you might see two hues, Harry Potter. Some thaumaturge or crone are known Animagi. The creature inside can constitute a dissimilar hue, although even among the Animagi it is rarefied. Usually, the puppet reflects the nature of the crone or wizard."There was a long break.

"And the early ?"asked Harry.

"It can be the work of a fracture spirit, person who is really two hoi polloi, or possibly under the control of another."

"The Imperius expletive ?"Harry asked.

"Perhaps. Such is the way of wizards and my knowledge falter there. I hope this is not individual close. Someone in your authority ?"

"Erm, no… not really,"Harry lied."I've got to go, Ronan. Thank you for your teachings today."Harry's mind was clicking of the list of gens. He focused on bending the space between where he was and Hagrid's hut."I think I can find—"Before he finished his conviction, Harry had warped time and found himself outside Hagrid's breast doorway. He'd covered the distance, some Swedish mile, in little Sir Thomas More than the blink of an eye. Still, in so doing he'd exhausted what short resources of strength he had left. His clothes shredded, he was about to tap on Hagrid's doorway when he sensed that someone was hidden in the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree behind the garden. Harry reached for his scepter and held it at the ready. Barefoot, he began to pace silently toward the spy. It was one technique taught him by the Centaurus and for the fleetest of consequence Harry thought he'd prefer a notched arrow right about now.

Stealthily, Harry moved closer. The public figure, with a brightly emerald green halo, didn't move. Its position continued to remain against the Tree. Just a few curtilage away Harry's nostrils took in the smell of smoke, a distinctively aromatic weed.

"Draco !"Harry hissed quiet and low. This close, Harry could see the figure, still leaning motionless against the tree, bring his hand to his mouth. He was taking another drag on his cigarette. Harry could hear the exhale, long and slow.

"Damn, Potter,"Draco said, pulling himself away from the Tree and turning to face Harry."I thought you'd never get here."Draco took a step closer."Merlin, what the the pits happened to you ?"

"Dragon, you can't be here. Do you know what will bechance if—"

"You don't know yet, do you ?"said Draco in a farseeing low drawl. He liked knowing more than Harry and didn't mind showing it, if only for a here and now."How farseeing have you been in the woods ? All day ?"

In the darkness from far up the mound Harry could hear the front doors of the castle open with their characteristic snap. What he didn't expect to hear adjacent was Ron Weasley's representative.

"He should be there by now, I'm sure."

Followed by his father's.

"I should go for so, Ron. I don't have much more time and this is quite important."

Harry spun to see three figures walking their way down to Hagrid's hut. One he didn't recognize, but was sure was Mr. Weasley. The early two were Ron and professor Dumbledore.

"I thought the old man would be dead by now,"said Draco with a matter of fact tone as he pulled what was left of Harry's New Jersey toward some thicker underbrush. Harry acquiesced and the two withdrew deeper into the woods as Ron, Dumbledore and Mr. Weasley made their way to Hagrid's hut. When Hagrid answered the knock he was bloodless.

"Yeh should experience been here an hour ago !"he called from inside."I don't attention what Ronan tells yeh ; the woodland ain't rubber after dar—. Er… professor Dumbledore, sir. Erm… parson. I… er… I wasn't expectin'company."

"I take it,"said Dumbledore, making his way into the hut,"that Harry has not yet returned from his clock time with the Centaurs ?"A moment later and the door shut leaving Harry alone with Dragon once again.

"What's going on, Draco ?"said Harry not holding the right line of vision with genus Draco's eyes."I thought you were going to use Blaise to—"

"So it's true up,"said Dragon, waving his manus in front of Harry's face."You're blind."Able to see the glow from the life-forms that clung there, Harry grabbed Draco's arm.

"You can understand !"said Harry dismissively."It's been in every paper I can retrieve of."Draco ignored the crack, reached up and touched the side of Harry's brass.

"Does it bruise ?"

"I'm too cold to finger anything right now,"said Harry rubbing his coat of arms again."What's up with Blaise ?"

"Blaise has been… compromised. He and I have a magical catch phrasal idiom that we use to ensure the early is mentally free from any… meddling. For the finale two hebdomad, Blaise has tried to contact me without using that phrase. He's somebody else's now."Dragon took another long puff on his cigarette."How father found out… I don't know."His Christian Bible were deeply troubled. It was an emotional shift in Draco that Harry had rarely seen."We were careful ; to a greater extent than careful. You need to live that there's a spy in the castle. I thought maybe Nott, but he doesn't have the skill to drop the Imperius."

"You're r-risking your spirit to secern me there's a spy ?"asked Harry incredulously."There's p-probably a 12 !"His teeth were beginning to blabber as the inhuman set in.

"And you're supposed to be our saviour ? We're screwed."Dragon flicked his cigarette into the air and it vanished."Here."He passed Harry his cloak and wrapped it around his berm."You know, aside from being scratched bloody, having essentially no clothes, and looking like you were just run over by the Hogwarts Express, you're in pretty commodity soma. Maybe if you stopped running around the forest stub naked—"

"T-Training,"Harry interrupted.

"Right, like that's going to spare your sorry ass. I don't know what potions you've been taking, but you better wake up and see what's going on around here."

"I don't know where the Hell you've been, Dragon, but I've been here since day one. I think I know what's going—"

"Cho and Goldstein are going to be married over Christmas. Did you know that ? A hugger-mugger wedding."

"What ? What are you talking about ?"

"I've been here since day one,"Draco mocked Harry."Yes, you're so in melody, so crystalise. Hell, Harry, that's not even the interesting news."

"Married ? Goldstein ?"

"Not even her niggling brother knows they're getting married. Quite scandalous."Dragon chuckled to himself and then sat cross-legged on the background."But I suppose you, all knowing vaticinator of the blind have insight to that."Harry said nothing, but sat down next to Draco crossing his coat of arms and legs under Dragon's cloak.

"Come on, Potter,"drawled Draco once again."Surely you can guess why Cho and Goldstein would need to… nay… would need to get married secretly."Again there was a hanker pause and Harry pulled Draco's cloak tighter about his shoulders. He was feeling a pang of jealousy and he had no rightfulness to. He had loved Cho and he would always love her, but their paths were never meant to travel together. His path was and would forever be entangled with Gabriella. It wasn't perfect but the magnet was strong and the beloved firm and the uncertainty of any given day that kept Harry forever on edge tickled a very Slytherin part of his spirit that wriggled deep inside him. Finally, Harry breathed.

"Cho's pregnant,"Harry whispered."That explains why they've been meeting secretly for calendar month. Goldstein won't say where."

"France,"answered Dragon with a sly smile."Don't William Tell anyone, Harry, but Goldstein's defender may be their chaperone by day, but at night he's a Death feeder in my sire's service. It's a assignation of niggling consequence to my father and it pays the bills for Joseph Henry, the chaperone, but I knew you might have a limited interest."

"I never thought that Goldstein and Cho would—"

"Oh, but I'm not done, Harry. Cho Changjiang spends her Clarence Shepard Day Jr. in France, in a slight villa just north of Marseille, a townspeople called La Mure. She and the—"

"When's she due ?"Harry asked."Do you know how far along she is ?"At this Draco smiled.

"Witches can shroud that fact until the very day of delivery, Harry. Have you ever seen a pregnant witch ?"For a moment, Harry pondered the estimate. No, he hadn't ever seen a fraught witch. And then he remembered that he'd seen Geoffrey Hooper's mother just a few weeks before her baby was born and she looked no different than the year before.

The door to Hagrid's cabin opened and the hulk stepped out for just a instant looking toward the woodland."Should be any moment, sir,"he said to the folks inside."Any moment."Then more quietly to himself before he went back in he whispered to the forest,"Harry, where in Singehorn's name are yeh ?"Harry began to abide, but Dragon pulled him back down. For a heartbeat, Harry was irritated, but caught himself.

"You know, genus Draco,"Harry said gently,"if we walked in there right now, together, Dumbledore and the Minister would take you back. You'd be—"

"Dead in about two days,"cut in Draco."Not by the Ministry's hand, but by its nighttime underbelly."

"Then why are you risking your life right now ? It's not to gossip on about some girl and guy you couldn't dedicate a damn about. What's so crucial that—"

"They've found it,"Draco interrupted."Months ago I asked you to find it first, and you didn't even try. Now they have it."He flicked a twig into Harry's face."Blaise risked his life and you did nothing. Now he's been found out."Draco leaned over and grabbed the cloak about Harry's neck. Harry could feel the cloth tighten, not by genus Draco's hand, but another force."You're going to get it back, dearest, or I'll putting to death you myself."The textile tightened further. Harry reached for his verge, but found the cloak held his hands tight.

"Draco,"he gasped,"I don't know what you're—"

"Save it for soul who gives a damn."He leaned over Harry who was gasping for breathing spell now."Funny thing… charming cloaks. They can concord so many enchantments."He pressed Harry firmly against the sod as the Gryffindor desperately tried to gather air."Understand, Harry, I don't want it and I sure as underworld don't want my don to get his hands on it. But he will if they have their way. Get it out of the Ministry before it's too late."

All of a sudden, the cloak released Harry and he began to cough, heaving in as often air as he could. Draco took to his pes and wrapped the black cloak about his articulatio humeri, his long blond hair starkly Elwyn Brooks White in contrast. Still coughing, Harry stumbled to his feet and pulled his wand. genus Draco ignored the gesture and turned to will. But then he stopped as if suddenly remembering a draw a blank thought. The door to the Hagrid's hut opened and Ron stepped out. He'd heard the sound of Harry's coughing.

"Harry ? !"Ron called to the darkness.

"Oh, and Harry,"Draco said, looking Harry in the eyes even if the glance was not returned."Cho isn't pregnant."He turned to leave alone."It's a new-sprung child boy. wellspring, not so much newborn any More. You'll never guess the birthday… it's the same day as yours."

"Harry !"Ron called again. This time, by the step in Ron's voice, Harry knew they'd been seen. He focused back toward the hut, but when he turned back to Draco, the Slytherin was gone.

"That's not possible,"he whispered at the void. The sound of pace came charging up from behind and Harry could find out the commotion on the front porch of Hagrid's hut. A hand touched Harry's shoulder.

"Was that who I think it was ?"Ron asked quietly. Harry simply nodded."That can't be unspoilt,"Ron muttered.

"No. No, Ron, it's not."

"Harry ? Is that you my boy ?"Arthur Weasley called from the hut."Harry, come inside. Get out of the cold."

"I told you, Arthur,"Dumbledore said gently from within the hut,"nothing to worry about. issue forth in and let's finish our tea."

"My god, Albus !"cried Arthur as Harry and Ron returned to the cabin."expression at the boy !"Harry was still barefoot, what remained of his clothes in tatters, his face covered in mud and now a thin red line that wrapped about his neck shown through the grime. As he climbed the stairs with Ron's assistance his teeth once again began to chaffer.

"Yes, yes,"said Dumbledore, dispassionately."I see they've been working you rather hard today, Harry."The statement was more head than anything."A lot to believe about ?"Harry just nodded and walked through the door."Well, it's not going to get any well-off, young man."

"Get o'er by the blast, lad,"said Hagrid, offering a blanket. But before Harry had a chance to accept, Dumbledore pulled his verge and tapped Harry's shoulder. The grime disappeared and a Hogwarts robe covered his body. The fragile red line about his neck opening and the aching sinew, however, remained.

"Hagrid,"said Dumbledore,"perhaps some tea and some…"Harry tried to catch Dumbledore's eyes to recount him to lay off, but found, as it had been since his fortuity, he could no longer effectively communicate silently with his oculus."…stone cakes."

Warming his musculus by the fire, sipping a bit of tea, and pretending to enjoy Hagrid's rock-hard gemstone cake, Harry was beginning to feel himself again. He assured Arthur Weasley that he was exquisitely and that his dishevelled coming into court was all in a day's work, training with the Centaur in the timber ; but the minister of religion was none too convert.

"Your clothes were in tag, Harry, and it still looks as if you've been strangled."

"Just a little work with daimon's gin is all, sir,"answered Harry, rubbing his neck with his left over handwriting and sipping some more tea with the other. If they could see his eye, they would know he wasn't listening to a discussion they were saying. Draco probably thought his little show would centre Harry's mind fully on some Horcrux that the Ministry had no doubt just found, but Harry's nous was anything but centred. After a bit more raillery about school day, regrets about Harry being subterfuge, and news about the battles raging in Eastern EC, Chester A. Arthur Weasley finally got down to the purpose of his visit.

"You know, I'm sure,"he began,"that we have been excavating the collapse that occurred at the Ministry last year, beneath the… erm, chamber."

"What ?"Harry exclaimed."Why ?"

"well, to try to recuperate the torso, Harry,"answered Mr. Weasley, surprised somewhat at Harry's reaction."Many Aurors lost their lifespan that evening and their organic structure have never been found — at least, not until last week. Since the collapse we tried for month to detect the bed with no success. We encountered one magical vena portae after another, and the workers were none too incline to accidentally stumble across the pall itself."

"You recovered the Curtain of Phenolem ?"cried Ron."Why ? Why in bloody—"

"No, Ron,"interrupted Dumbledore,"the Curtain and the pulpit were destroyed in the gloaming. No, just the soundbox, bodies from both sides, have been returned to their loved ones."

"Well, yes, Albus,"added Arthur with some nervousness."nigh of them, anyway. We have yet to receive Draco Malfoy's remains."Ron began to cough.

"Hagrid,"he asked, clearing his throat once again,"do you get any More pit cakes ?"

"Why sure, Ron,"said Hagrid with mirth."cum on in teh the kitchen."Ron stood and followed Hagrid, patting Harry's shoulder on the way.

"I don't really see what any of this has to do with me, sir,"said Harry."I mean… well, I've put that behind me now. haven't I ? There's another shadow we need to stave off, isn't there ?"

"Yes, yes, absolutely, Harry, absolutely."King Arthur patted Harry's lap."But there was one other recovery at the very deepness of the gaping fissure."All at once, Mr. Weasley's aura faded and Harry knew the take after words were a lie."They pulled it up today, just before lunch. I looked for you in the first place, Harry, but you'd already left for the forest."Chester A. Arthur Weasley stood from his chair and looked out the window facing the palace, the colour returned to his aureole."I was thinking we could own a dedication of kind. You could come to the Ministry as we put it on display. It would certainly prompt the hoi polloi in these dark times that we can vanquish darkness."

"I'm sorry, sir, but what did you recover ?"

"Oh, yes, I'm sorry, Harry,"answered Arthur."I've wanted to discourse our hunting since you and I spoke on the gearing. I never knew taking care of the Ministry would down so much of my time."His eyes wandered for a here and now and then returned to meet Harry's."No matter,"he whispered."In our search, we recovered the cloak. The black cloak of… You-Know-Who. The only oddment of his darkness and a symbolic representation to all of his defeat."

"Voldemort ?"snapped Harry."You have Voldemort's cloak ?"Harry turned in his chair."Burn the damn affair. Destroy it !"

"I knew you might feel this way, Harry,"said Arthur with understanding."That's why I came myself. You must agnise what an icon you've become in the Wizarding humanity. Just one moving picture of you, perhaps wand drawn, side by side to the cloak of the evil you destroyed would mean so very much to—"

"It's insane !"said Harry, rising to his feet."Do you know what that might be ? It could—"

"Harry,"said Dumbledore sternly, silencing Harry's ranting."I think it would be wise for you to take some prison term to consider what all the deduction are. clock time to see what's best for… everyone involved."Harry expected to see the fondness of wrath build in Dumbledore's aura, but if anything his light dimmed with a coolness of concern.

"I… I'm sorry, sir,"said Harry, cooling his own temperament."Yes, that's what I need Minister… time."

"Please, Harry, you needn't call me—"

"excuse me, sir. I need to go. It's just… I'm really tired is all."Harry reached out his hand to shake off, and Arthur Weasley took it."Let me get my head together, and I'll get back to you. Just a day or two."

"Certainly, Harry, I understand. Until then, we'll continue it secure ; I can check you."Harry started for the door."Here, let me take the air you to the castle."

"I got it dad,"said Ron, dropping one of the rock cakes on the board with a thumping."Finish your tea and have some more… er, cakes."Ron ran to the room access next to Harry's position. Staring at the cake and then Hagrid, Arthur was about to say something when Dumbledore spoke out instead.

"Excellent idea, Mr. Weasley,"he said to the younger redhead."Please rule Harry safely back to the castle."

"Goodnight, Hagrid,"said Harry to the giant still in the kitchen, baking up another batch of cakes for his invitee."Thanks !"

"Sure affair, Harry,"called Hagrid."Anytime."Then he turned to Mr. Weasley just as Harry began to shut the door."Minister, try another one, hot out of the oven !"

By the sentence Harry and Ron were at the palace footprint, Harry had answered near of Ron's question.

"I just don't get it, Harry,"said Ron shaking his headland."It's just a piece of fabric. You killed him."

"Ron, you saw my apparel tonight. They were burnt away because I fell into the magic flow that feeds the crepuscle. retrieve when you fell in last twelvemonth ?"

"Pulled in you mean,"said Ron, rubbing his right wrist joint."Yeah, I remember. My clothes disappeared."

"They didn't disappear,"corrected Harry."They were burnt away. Clothes are unclean. They can't survive the purity of the water."

"That's a Centaur tale,"said Ron dismissively.

"Tale or not, the body of water destroys textile. I doused Voldemort in nearly ten gallons of the clobber. It was enough to dissolve every immorality bone in his body, but the cloak… Damn ! I should have known when I saw it then. The cloak survived. But why ?"

"So you think it's the…"Ron's vocalization dipped low,"…the Horcrux genus Draco was talking about ?"

"I don't see how it can be,"answer Harry."If it's character of Voldemort, it should have been destroyed."Harry sighed."Maybe Hermione will know."Ron shrugged and nodded in agreement as he reached to unfold the palace room access. Ron heaved on the heavy hold just as Harry's hand stopped him and shut out them again.

"Ron ?"he asked."You have a lot of sidekick and sister. Erm… how long does it take to… er… for a witch to… you know… get a sister, after… you know."For a minute, Ron just stared at Harry, and then reaching ever so slightly to the cerebration on the tip of Harry's mind he understood.

"Oh ! How long does it take for a baby to be born after conception ?"he asked.

"Yeah… yeah, that's it."

"wellspring my mum's always going on how I took longsighted than most… ‘ Forty two hebdomad, and in the middle of the war !'she'd say.

"So… figurin'my natal day, what would you say… you know… for my folks to…er—"

"Do the nasty ?"said Ron with a grin. Harry simply nodded. fountainhead, Ron thought for a moment, touched his fingers and counted backwards, and then a freshness of a smiling crossed his face once again.

"Pretty shit near to Allhallows Eve, Harry."He poked Harry in the rib."Do you think they were wearing costumes ?"Harry didn't react in the way Ron expected. Instead, he leaned his back against the castling doorway and slid down to a sit on the stone landing.

"Oh, Merlin,"he whispered in a sickly sort of voice."Oh, bloody, nookie, Merlin."

"What ? What is it, Harry ?"

"Ron… I think… I think I'm a father."


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 14 - wedding ceremony Plans ~~~***~~~

When Harry and Ron passed through the portraiture of the Fat ma'am, Harry found the Gryffindor uncouth room, warmer than normal. Near the open fireplace sat the auras of Annapurna, Lavender, Gabriella, Hermione, Ginny and James Dean. Towards the cover, Neville was helping Saint Patrick and a few others, Harry had yet to recognize, train for their Herbology test. Evidently, the exam involved a burning plant life of some variety, perhaps fireseed, Harry thought, since there was a billowing swarm of smoke that hung over the grouping and nonentity seemed to beware.

Harry, his judgement fractured at the moment, brought his attention on Patrick. The fume was clouding his ability to see the auras of those at the backbone mesa, but the filtered light emanating from Patrick was the same as it had been since Harry first met him after the accident - blue and green. Each colour waxed and waned, growing more green whenever he was excited or near Harry.

"Patrick ?"Harry thought silently to himself, but the view was short lived.

"Harry ! Ron !"cried Dean. His articulation brought Harry's attention back to the group about the fireplace. The call sounded like a plea for assistance, as if Dean felt, at the consequence, like a trapped rat in a snake's cage. He began to stick out when Ginny grabbed his arm.

"Oh, Dean,"she said breathlessly,"isn't it beautiful ?"Hermione was projecting an image of a young woman in a white wedding dress. The girl stood, suspended in the midsection of the five scholarly person and modelled the dress she was wearing, slowly turning in all focal point so that everyone could see, everyone that is except Harry.

"Er… yeah, keen,"muttered Dean miserably, sinking back into the couch.

"I don't know, Gin,"said Lavender cautiously."I think the train's a slight long."

"Lavender's right, Hermione,"added Parvati."You don't want to grapple with all that dragging behind you even if it's levitated."

"You could have fairy's carry it."

"I kind of like it,"Hermione said as she held her hand to her Chin and tapped her cheek with one finger."But I think the second…"James Dean let out an audible groan, but the girls ignored him while Hermione began to flash through mannikin after simulation, dress after dress, as if thumbing pages of a book. It was only then when she noticed that Ron and Harry had entered the common room.

"Ron !"she exclaimed."You're just in time."Dean's heart grew wide and he shook his school principal as nondescriptly as he could to ward them off. Ron caught it, but Harry did not."We were just looking over dresses when—"She stopped herself mid-sentence, noticing the reflection on Ron's look."What's wrong ?"

Gabriella stood and came over to Harry."You both look like someone died. Did Filch catch you sneaking into the kitchens again ? Out with it… what happened ?"Ron looked at Harry, and Harry looked blankly above the girlfriend.

"cipher,"they said simultaneously.

Gabriella patted Harry's impertinence.

"Nothing ?"she said, sensing the swirling drove of emotions that must have shown like a beacon for everyone to see."Would you like to bring together us ?"she asked."We were just—"

"No thanks,"interjected Harry. While he had grown accustomed to seeing students from other planetary house in the park room, he had completely forgotten that the missy were going to get together this eventide to discourse Hermione's wedding plans for the summertime."I need to get cook for the Potions exam tomorrow."Ginny stood, looking at Harry.

"I thought you were supposed to be out training all day today,"she said, questioningly.

"I was."

"But you're squeaky clean and jerk,"she replied sceptically."You know, if you weren't working out in the forest today, we could own gotten at least three time of day on the pitch."

"I was in the forest today !"Harry exclaimed."Besides, you know I can't Seak. Not like this."He waved his hand in forepart of his eye.

"You're the team captain ! It's you're responsibility to—"

"These aren't your gown,"interrupted Gabriella, rubbing the cloth in her fingers."These are new."

"Dumbledore cleaned him up,"offered Ron. This was followed by a chorus.

"Dumbledore ?"

"wellspring, er… he and Dad were at Hagrid's and—"

"Dad ?"asked Ginny."Dad's here ? Why didn't he say he was coming to schooling ? Where is he ?"It felt, suddenly, as if sharks were beginning to circle Harry and Ron.

"Well, he only had a minute,"said Ron, stepping closer to his sis. She had risen to her human foot and Dean took the opportunity to quickly dart away and head toward the spiral staircase to the boys'dormitory."And he needed to see Harry, so I took him over to—"

"So he saw you, but he didn't have sentence to see his solitary daughter ?"

lupus erythematosus than a moment later everyone was talking at once. Ron and Harry were being bombarded with questions about everything from the government minister's visit, to why Dumbledore needed to adjure Harry new robe, to what pattern Ron intellection would be nice for the new china.

Unexpectedly, there was a loud explosion from the spine of the room that caused everyone to pipe up. A rather large powerhouse spewed Forth River from the table where Neville and the others were working. It was Neville who stopped it from lighting the wholly place on flak by casting a mash spell.

"Damn it, Patrick,"Neville said irritably, while a few of the early pupil laughed,"I told you not to mix fireseeds with Dictamnus alba pulverization ! If you do that in the exam tomorrow, Professor Sprout will fail you for sure."

The commotion that had surrounded Harry, quickly gathered about the back table and the scorched faces that stood there. Harry took the opportunity to trace Dean's stride up the stairway. Near the top he heard a rather dejected Patrick apologize, but what he saw was a blueish air beaming with pride. Then Harry noticed St. Patrick flash him a thumbs-up from within the long sleeve of his robe, a signal that no one could see.

"Sorry, Neville,"said Patrick with a shrug of his shoulders."I'm just no good at this kind of stuff. I'll be favorable to bring in it to the 3rd class at this rate."

Gabriella looked back toward the fireplace to retrieve Harry and before she could find where he was Harry disappeared into the boy'residence hall. Inside he found Dean, belly down on his bed, reading a Holy Writ about Quidditch. He loved the game so, it was a pity he wasn't any good at it. He looked up as Harry entered.

"Are they gone ?"he asked."Did you have to muck up them all up ?"

"fountainhead, I—"

"Because that'd be fine by me, Harry. I was about to go down on myself up if I had to face at one more chinaware pattern."He looked back at the Christian Bible and turned the page."Talk about pressure… blimey."He turned another page."I mean… I love Ginny and all, but does she actually think I'm going to ask her to marry me ?"He turned another varlet ; clearly not having read the last."So… end year… yeah, maybe. But that's your fault."Dean looked up, pointing a finger at Harry.

"Me ?"

"fountainhead, I mean, I was in a struggle — fighting you for her. You know. That form of affair, well… it gets a guy in the mood. But this stuff downstairs… wedding dresses, and colours of set back clothes, and…"James Byron Dean sighed."talk about deflating."Without looking back down to the volume, he turned another page. Then, quite suddenly, Dean groaned and turned over on his bed, placing the open book over his thorax."Falco columbarius, I love her."There was silence and he sighed again."She's been my world. She brought me back after the accident."Dean held his hand up, flexing the fingers in front of his face. His soul had been reconnected to his corporeal strain and Ginny had been there every footstep of the way."She didn't need to do that."

"She loves you,"said Harry, walking over to his bed, taking off his new school day robe and putting on a loose pair of denim."human face it, James Dean, you're her world too."

"I just don't want to be thinking about marriage while I'm still in shoal,"answered James Byron Dean, sitting up on the border of his bed and facing Harry."There's enough to be getting on about without having to care about in-laws… China patterns…"

"…children,"added Harry quietly.

"Merlin, no,"shot doyen."I can't even imagine. But then Ginny's handy with a sheathing charm. We're careful… you know ?"Harry nodded as a knot twisted in his abdomen."Can you believe Neville and Helen ?"continued doyen."Neither one of them used any protection their offset few times. Hermione found out and had a fit."

"Hermione ?"queried Harry.

"well, I told Neville that he was being an idiot. I told him how Lee Jordon told me that Fred told him that George hooked up with some girl in Hogsmeade finally year and wound up with a case of runespoor warts. Had to go to St. Mungo's to get them removed. Can you believe it ? Yeesh."Lee covered his crotch with his hand and grimaced.

"But why Hermione ?"

"If you want to know any spell, charm, or hex to get the job done, Harry, who do you go to ? Hermione."Harry looked a bit disgruntled and crossed his arms. dean sensed Harry's superbia and added,"After all, everyone knew she and Ron were together since the fall of last yr. She knew how to be safe, and Neville certainly wasn't going to talk to Ginny."

Harry wasn't certain how to take that. He didn't have a clue until last Christmastime that Ron and Hermione were together. Yet, everyone else seemed to know. Further, he was pretty sure that end year Tonks had used her Metamorphosis skills to rent on the appearance of Helen of Troy so that she could sneak into Gryffindor tower with Neville. It brought up memories… bad remembering. Suddenly, going to talk to Hermione about anything didn't seem like such a upright idea. Harry began to drum his desk with his fingers, then crossed his arms and just looked down at the base. He could see the aura's of the living organisms that his mates had tracked in under their brake shoe. Maybe auntie Petunia wasn't such a demented bat after all - at least as far as wiping one's metrical foot at the door was concerned.

"What's up, Harry ?"asked Dean."Why are you so wound up anyway ?"

Barefoot and shirtless, Harry walked over to the windowpane. Yuletide was a calendar week away and, sadly, no snow had fallen. The basis below and the surrounding forest glistened brightly in Harry's blindness. He placed his left handwriting on his chest, just above Asha's heart, the stone that even now sat hidden within him. Focusing heights above the treetops he found nothing but blackness. Late in the evening, clouds had moved in, covering all in a wickedness mantle through which no stars shone. He peered at the Saami quadrant of sky in which he knew Ebyrth hung, growing ever closer. He closed his oculus and dropped his mind heavily against the glass window.

Voldemort's cloak should consume been destroyed by the water from the crepuscule, but it wasn't. Why ? Was it the Horcrux Draco thought it was, or simply an physical object of king that Lucius craved ? There was a spy in the castle, probably within Gryffindor or Slytherin that had given up Blaise. He was now under a death eater's Imperious condemnation. Who was the spy ? Could they have turned Patrick too ?

It wasn't enough that war was raging in Eastern European Community and would soon grace the forest about Hogwarts, if not the castle itself. Now there was a child. Could it really be his ? That was a stupid interrogation. Of course it could be ; the timing was near perfect and they had been… well, pudden-head. It was just before the Halloween feast. Harry was going to tell Cho about Gabriella… let Cho be intimate that they couldn't be together, that Gabriella was the one he truly loved. But then she touched his arm… the look in her eye. Even now, the computer memory sent a tingle down his spinal column and made his interior quiver. Neither of them was in the right frame of judgment, but they both knew what they wanted. Now they were both paying for it. At least Cho was. Harry began to wonder… if the child was Harry's, did Anthony roll in the hay, or was Cho simply using him ?

Harry shook his head, trying to straighten out his woolly thoughts. Maybe he was making a big softwood of nothing. Maybe Anthony was the beginner. But the vision… Gabriella's vision that both he and Hermione shared. He'd seen a child. Gabriella saw her own death and yet Harry saw liveliness. He thought it was their child, his and Gabriella's. Now, Harry wasn't so sure enough.

The windowpane was cold and a tingle ran across his consistency. He turned and walked over to his storage chest, opening the lid and belief around for a shirt.

"Harry ?"doyen asked."I know something's bothering you. What is it ?"

"William Tell me, doyen,"said Harry as he found a shirt. He began to bollix up about for a twain of drogue.

"Yes ?"

"Ah…"Harry held up two socks."Do these match ?"

"Kinda,"answered James Byron Dean, looking at black and maybe a colored US Navy blue.

"Good… good,"replied Harry and he slipped the shirt and socks on. He sat back on his bed and slipped on his boots without saying a word.

"Harry ?"asked Dean probing."Where are you going ?"

"Accio cloak !"Harry called with his right helping hand in the air, finger's breadth outstretched for a catch. His cloak flew into his face."Almost,"Harry muttered. He stood and put on the cloak on and then slipped his wand into his arm and stepped toward the door.

"Dean,"he said,"please move over my apologies to Professor Snape. I'll miss the test tomorrow I'm afraid. It's sad really. Since the Joining, I think I had a pretty good chance of acing it. Severus, after all, shared a bit of himself with me that night."Harry rubbed the scrape on his right arm.

"Slow down, first mate,"said doyen, taking to his foot."You can't just go off—"

"Whew ! I made it !"cried Ron, jumping into their elbow room."I never thought I'd get Hermione's attention. I finally had to go in through the backdoor, if you know what I mean."He tapped his read/write head."She'll be up in a… Whoa. Where are you going ?"he asked Harry.

"Actually Ron,"began Harry,"I was just telling Dean that—"

"What's all this about the Horcrux ?"asked Hermione as she entered the room.

"Shhhh !"cried Ron and Harry simultaneously, ushering her inside.

"You found it ?"she asked in a near whisper.

"Maybe… if you can believe Malfoy,"answered Ron.

"Malfoy ?"asked Dean."Not Draco ? I thought he was—"Gabriella entered the way.

"What's going on ?"she asked. Then looking at Harry she queried,"Where are you going ?"

Harry, who had leaned up against the wall near the door, began tapping it nervously with his digit. He glared at Ron."Great plan, mate."

"fountainhead,"said Ron,"I tried to—"Harry held up one digit to his lips and Ron lowered his vocalism."I tried to—"Harry shook his fingerbreadth at Ron. There was a bit of a grumble and Ginny burst through the door.

"What's up ?"she asked. Then she noticed Harry."What's with the cloak ?"Harry crossed his arms.

"Bloody hell,"he whispered.

"Is that what's got you so agitated Harry ?"Dean asked as Ginny slipped into his branch. Then he turned to her."Did you know genus Draco was animated ?"It was a dubiousness she didn't expect and it caught her off guard. Her eyes shot immediately to Ron and the looking at gave her away at once.

"You did !"cried Dean."How could you not severalize me ? Did you all lie with ?"Harry could see the fervidness building in dean's emotions. nobody said a Logos."How yearn have you known ?"

"Get over it, James Byron Dean !"Harry snapped."Draco wanted it secret and we're keeping it that way. We know because we were there. Ginny knows because her brother has a big fat mouth."Harry gestured at Ron without looking his way."Dragon's sum is here at Hogwarts, James Dean. Until we can gain his name we can't make him out as a fugitive."

"Clear his epithet ?"said Dean."He was… he is a dying Eater."

"He saved my life, Dean,"interjected Ron."That you do know. That I've told everyone. But my discussion isn't enough to keep back him out of Azkaban. I should make out, the Minister's my Dad and, no, he doesn't know about Draco either."

These words cooled Dean's fires, if only a smidgen, and his hands found his pockets. There was a bit of silence and then he turned to Ginny reached out and took her hired man.

"You know, Gin,"James Byron Dean said gently,"if we're going to expend the rest of our liveliness together, we can't be keeping secret from one another. Secrets… they… they sour someone and turn of events trust. If you'd have just told me to hold mum, you know I would cause. All you had to do is ask. You know that… don't you ?"Ginny reached her hand to Dean's cheek and kissed him.

"I know,"she said softly. Then she held him tightly in her weapon."I'm sorry."

"Well… commodity,"said Harry uncomfortably."Erm… Ron, tell your Dad that we can have the ceremonial occasion with Voldemort's cloak this Sabbatum after exams."

"But that's three days, Harry,"Ron said,"isn't that too long to—"

"right wing,"cut in Harry,"so that's why you… all,"he waved toward the mathematical group,"can visualize out how we get the cloak tomorrow night. I'll meet you at the entranceway to the Ministry at midnight. Have the design ready and I'll avail you however I can."He grabbed Gabriella's hand."ejaculate with me."They started for the doorway when Hermione grabbed the back of Harry's cloak, stopping him in his tracks.

"What do you mean ? Where are you going ? Your Potions exam is tomorrow."Harry turned back, his face stern but his oculus blank.

"get-go, I'm going to see a friend of mine in Ravenclaw, and then… then I'm going to France."

There was a collective,"What ! ?"from everyone but Ron.

"It's one secret I'm afraid,"said Harry, raising his hired man to quiet his friends,"that needs to be kept… at to the lowest degree for now."Again he took Gabriella's arm."come on."Everyone turned to Ron as Gabriella and Harry left the room. Almost immediately, Gabriella began to ask interrogation, but Harry held a finger's breadth to his back talk.

"Not here… not now,"he whispered.

They were about to sack out through the portrait of the Fat Lady when Lavender stopped them near the open fireplace.

"So I guess Hermione's done looking at dresses for the Night ?"she asked.

"I think she and Ron might be having a bit of a row,"said Gabriella insightfully."She's definitely done for the night."

"Ooooh,"hummed Lavender as she cast a gossipy glimpse toward Parvati.

"Men,"said Anapurna flatly. Gabriella simply nodded, taking Harry by the arm and walking out of the Gryffindor common room.

The two didn't speak until they reached the staircases. It was lull with only a few students roaming about. Most were likely studying for tomorrow's test. The others were either heading toward or returning from the depository library. The two found themselves alone on the staircase as it slowly began to slue into shoes. Finally, Harry gathered the bravery.

"Did you know… ?"he began cautiously."Did you know about Cho ?"

"Cho Chang Jiang ?"Gabriella asked blankly.

"Yes, Cho Yangtze River !"Harry snapped."How could you not know ? You two were inseparable at the end of last class. She helped you through exam. pigeon hawk, you spent more prison term with her than with me. How could you not get laid ?"

The gem staircase came to stay against the wall. The two climbed off that one and onto another that began to slide into yet another counseling.

"So we're going to see Antonius,"Gabriella said knowingly. Harry said goose egg, wishing only that the staircases would move more quickly."Tell me Harry, are you still so green-eyed ?"

"Jealous ?"Harry asked angrily."jealousy has nothing to do with this. I have a right to know !"His last words were loud and reverberated off the stone walls.

"They have a right to their seclusion, Harry,"Gabriella replied with an edge in her voice."They have a rightfield to keep open the Daily Prophet out of their lives. Frankly, I don't see how it's any of your job. It's take in Cho knew what she was talking about when she asked that I keep this from you. She said you'd react this way."

They turned and began to piss their way up to Ravenclaw pillar. A third gear year Ravenclaw joined them on the moving character upward. Harry moved close to Gabriella failing miserably at keeping his interpreter hushed.

"None of my business ? None of my business ? !"

"Yes ! None of your business ! They were unintelligent, Harry,"Gabriella said struggling to maintain her calm in front man of the third base class, although Harry could smell the anger building within her."It was a mistake, a mistake that Anthony's wizard enough to set straight. Can't you see that he's trying to do the decent matter by caring for what will soon be his family ?"

At this, the thirdly year Ravenclaw looked back over his articulatio humeri at Harry and Gabriella. Gabriella flashed him a look that put the boy's nose back into the book he was reading. The stone staircase came to a halt and the boy stepped off followed by Harry, but Gabriella grabbed his arm.

"What do you intend to do ?"she asked."Confront him ? Hex him for getting your… your mistress pregnant ? If that's what she was. You hardly carry the more noble ground."

Suddenly Harry realized that Gabriella knew, but didn't know. She knew that Cho had had a child, but she didn't know that Harry could be the beginner. He stopped and leaned against the banister. The delay was just long enough that the stairway began to incite again.

"She was not my schoolmarm,"Harry said quietly to the darkness."I… I was not myself finish year. You know—"Gabriella put her hands about Harry's shoulders.

"I know,"she whispered sadly. Harry turned to face her.

"I've only ever loved you,"he said.

"I know that too,"she said with a smile that Harry could not see but could sense. She kissed him gently on the nerve and pulled him close. They held each other that way for some time and when the staircase came to a check Gabriella moved to get off, but Harry stood still.

"I'm not jealous because of Antonius,"spoke Harry to the surface air before him."It's just that… I could be the father,"he said softly.

"What ?"

"I could be the father,"he repeated, stepping close to her."It wasn't Mark Anthony that was the dolt one ; it was me - Halloween of last yr. Cho's child… it could be mine."

Harry waited to see the reaction, but none came. The word had no impression on Gabriella's aura. Either she knew already, or had suspected all along, or the word simply didn't upshot her emotions.

"I see,"she finally whispered."That muddies thing a bit, doesn't it ?"

"I need to ask Anthony where she is,"he said firmly."I need to see her ; I need to know."

"It seems to me,"Gabriella said slyly,"that, for someone who's not supposed to know anything, you know quite a bit already. You know there's a child. You know she's in France."

"La Mure,"added Harry.

"Then you know all there is to know, Harry. The town's not that large and a few well placed doubtfulness will get us to where we need to go."

"Us ?"Harry asked.

"Don't be silly,"answered Gabriella."It's far too dangerous for you to leave the castle alone. Besides, Professor Snape has already released me from tomorrow's exam for—"

"—for high-pitched fall guy,"interrupted Harry."Yeah, I know. I know."He paused for a few import and then agitate his head. But before Harry could say a word Gabriella began.

"Harry,"she said gently, holding her hand to his face,"I don't care how well you can see what others can not."She took his hand."You're blind. It makes a conflict. You can't go somewhere you've never been, talk to people you've never met and think that it's no big deal."There was another retentive suspension.

"Cho's bodyguard is a decease feeder,"Harry said, more to himself than to Gabriella.

"You're joking, right ?"

"He's not much of one, but Cho's bodyguard is a last Eater."He paused, churning the suggestion in his intellect. Finally he said,"You're right. I probably wouldn't get a prospect to see her… not without help."He squeezed Gabriella's paw."Besides, you need to be there. I need you to be there."

It took twenty min to get what they needed before they could sneak out through the hidden tunnel to Hogsmeade. It took half that time to puddle it to Le Mure. Gabriella was right, Harry would have been lost without her. It was bad enough trying to think back his French people ; it was worse trying to calculate out what hand gesture or facial face went along with it. Blind, he could detect none of it, but Gabriella was nearly perfective tense. In fact, Harry began to wonder if she had known the way all along. Finally, knowing that Cho's flat was just around the block, the two decided to drop the night at a small inn and waiting until morning time. It was the first they'd been truly alone since the summer.

Harry offered to kip on the floor, but Gabriella pulled him close to her. There was a warmth to her tactile sensation that meant more to him than anything in the whole world. That night he laid his soul bare, telling her everything he knew, everything she'd listen to, including Draco's theory about Voldemort's cloak. Only when he touched on his training with the Centaurs, would she noticeably change the subject. He fell asleep in her weapons system and woke the next morning the same way. The sun was just breaking into the window as he stroked her long melanise pilus, wondering with some fear what the future would bring.

After breakfast, they walked down the alley toward the small apartment social organisation that the innkeeper had described to Gabriella. When they finally arrived, Harry covered himself with the invisibility cloak. Gabriella knocked at the threshold and the room access opened, held outdoors by an older man with grey hair and a tired look on his fount. There were instauration and Gabriella slipped inside. The room access shut before Harry could stick with. There was a moment of silence and then squeals of joy. Harry knew the phone ; Cho was inside. A few mo later the man left, jingling coins in his scoop. Harry's plan had worked - Gabriella, handing the man a couplet galleons, suggested he go to the corner pub for a bite and a beer or two. He wasn't to the pavement before there was a snap and he had Disapparated. Then the murmurs began ; louder, then softer, then louder again. Finally, Harry heard,"Don't be silly."A moment after that, the room access opened and Gabriella ushered him inside.

All the patch, Harry had seen the atmosphere of the two Thomas Young fair sex and the older man. He watched as they moved back and forth, and as Gabriella hugged what he figured to be Cho. It had been the first time he had observed a Disapparation without his stack and he noted with interest the sudden volley of zip that accompanied it. But more than anything else his tending was focused on one thing above all - a dim reddish radiance that glimmered from the back of the apartment. Through all the paries it could have been anything - a cat, a dog. But Harry knew, by how well its colours blended with Cho's, what was there.

"Harry ?"Gabriella asked to the malarky before her. Cho stood only a few feet away. Harry sensed warmth mixed with discernment. As for himself, he could feel the sweat of his palms as he reached up and slipped off the cloak.

"Cho ?"he asked to the glow before him. The aura didn't movement, the mortal didn't speak, but the people of colour began to blanch almost immediately. Then her hand went to her face, covering her sass.

"Oh, Harry,"she croaked."Tony told me about the stroke, about…"Slowly she walked over to him.

"This ?"Harry asked, holding his hand near his temples."It's aught. Just a bit of glass. operation's scheduled for next month ; should have me skillful as new."Cho took his helping hand and then touched his typeface.

"I'm so sorry,"she whispered."I should feature come to visit."She took him in her arm and held him tight. He could feel her shaking in his arms."I couldn't… I couldn't bear to see you again."

"Great,"Harry drawled."Always trade good to know you're intellection of kindly."

"Harry !"snapped Gabriella shortly. She took Cho gently by the arm and said,"Cho, can we come in and give a sit ?"Cho loosened her grip on Harry and wiped her cheek with her hands.

"Oh, yes,"she said, sniffing,"of course."

The place was large than Harry expected, compared to what it looked like from the alfresco, but it was sparsely furnished and what trappings there were appeared old and tattered. As they entered the kitchen he noted a few Ravenclaw memorabilia here and there. He even recognized a Scots heather, the ling he bought her last year, was propped up in the corner. Cho offered them some coffee tree, they accepted and together they sat at a modest table in the kitchen. There was a little talk about the weather and schooltime.

"Are your test over ?"Cho asked."Tony has Arithmancy tomorrow."

"Tony,"muttered Harry through gritted teeth. Maybe he was a bit jealous of Anthony."Er… yeah. Gab and I are done for the semester."

"That's smashing,"said Cho softly. There was an awkward silence, and then, finally, Harry could look no longer.

"I heard… I heard you and, er, Tony were going to tie the knot… get married. I told Gab we should derive by and find out when. Ask what you might need to, erm…"He looked around at the shabby furniture."… spruce the place up."

"Soon,"answered Cho without hesitating."But we're not telling anyone until after the schooling year. Not even my category. They think I'm here studying art."

"I also heard,"continued Harry, not really listening to Cho's row,"that you two had a shaver ; a baby boy is it ?"Before Cho could reply Gabriella took her by the hand.

"It's so exciting, Cho !"she said joyfully."I'm sure you're a howling female parent. The baby is so prosperous to give birth two such grand parents. Both Ravenclaws !"

"Thank you, Gab,"said Cho warmly."T-Tony's been great."

"Can we see him ?"asked Gabriella excitedly."I've wanted to see him so."Cho was hesitant.

"wellspring,"added Harry,"I can't see him, but I have a pretty good theme that he's right through there, isn't he ?"He pointed to the back way and swallowed."I think it's majuscule that you and… er, Tony are doing the… er, right affair. It for certain would be smashing, at least for Gabriella, to see him. Just a peak ?"

"He is due to eat breakfast soon,"Cho said cautiously."Perhaps… just for a moment."

When she returned to the kitchen, Cho was carrying a sister boy dressed in a small red sweater. He smiled and muttered a few audio as she sat him in his professorship, offering him a biscuit to chew on. The ho-hum fog of Harry's eyes were focused somewhere above the boy's straits, but his thinker's eye was captivated on the golden red gleaming before him. It was splendid, almost blinding, and Harry wondered if the luminance of the luminescence was because he was a baby or something to a greater extent. The cooky snapped out of Cho's hand and flew into the waiting compass of the baby's.

"Look at that ! So soon ?"cooed Gabriella."He's just perfect."And then she began to let the cat out of the bag baby talking to the child.

"Yes, he's pretty special,"answered Cho.

Harry could feel that she was looking at him, centred on his reaction, but he was at a loss. To experience for sure he would have to ask straight out. Now, here they were, and Harry didn't know what to do. He half wanted to poke the baby with a peg to see what it would do.

"Has he,"Harry began,"shown any early signs of magic ?"

"No. Not really,"answered Cho cautiously."But he can place upright with help and he's already tried to walk."She paused."I think, maybe, he'll be in Hufflepuff,"she added wistfully."He loves it when I take him to the zoo."

"What's his name ?"asked Gabriella.

"Jamie,"answered Cho.

"After your chum ?"

"We just liked the name,"Cho said, not committing.

"I have to admit,"said Gabriella,"that he's the ripping image of you. And that's a good thing ; you're much better looking than Anthony."She laughed and Cho did too. It sounded as if it had been the first clip Cho had laughed in quite some time. But then the tone in Gabriella's voice changed.

"In fact, he doesn't look much like a Goldstein at all. You're both so drear, and Jamie's peel is so pale."

"He… he doesn't get out much,"said Cho, growing nervous.

"Cho, you know I love you like a sis. Don't you ?"Gabriella asked gently."well, I think Harry has a right to know. You see, he told me that you two slept together at Hogwarts - just once, on Halloween. Caught in the passion of the second, I guess."Gabriella took a breath, gathering her strength."I don't attention why it happened. And it doesn't bother me anymore that it happened. The fact is it happened… nine months before little Jamie here was born."

"Well—"

"Cho,"Gabriella interrupted."Harry may have his misgiving, but he can't see what I can, and the center never lie. You and Anthony, you both have brown eyes. Both your parents each have brown eyes. It would take a powerful whiz to produce a boy with anything former than chocolate-brown optic and the thaumaturgy would most certainly be to call on the colour of the eye to his own."Cho said nothing. Harry said nada."It's true, Jamie is the divide image of his beautiful female parent. But the eyes… I think he has his father's eyes."Cho remained soundless. Once again, Harry watched as her aura blanched.

"What do you mean ?"asked Harry blindly. Gabriella took his handwriting.

"They're honey oil, Harry,"she said quietly."Almond shaped and brilliantly green. Just like yours."


Harry ceramicist and the giving birth of a New Sun

Chapter 15 - Another Potter
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Beyond the lallation of the baby sitting beside Harry, there was secrecy. Perhaps, if one were to heed closely, the sound of a bird chirping or a removed bus creaking to a halt could be heard, breaking the stillness of the break of the day. Then Cho's substructure began to nervously tap against the slope of the table. In movement of Harry, she had been confronted by Gabriella with the truth, but still she would not, or could not speak. Harry had known before they came to Jacques Anatole Francois Thibault that the nipper would be his, and though he had not heard the news from Cho's lips, he wasn't about to become wild ; it was hard enough not to exhibit how frighten he was feeling. No, if anything, he needed some clip himself to get over the sinking feeling in his stomach, as if he'd just fallen off his broom. He would wait for Cho to be gear up. He breathed deeply the aroma of his umber, took a sip, set the cup down and put out his finger, with which the piddling boy began to bite toothlessly.

"Jamie ?"Harry said tenderly."I… I like that name."

He smiled and put his mitt on the boy's capitulum.

"Oh, my. What a head of hair's-breadth ! Is it black ?"This simple doubtfulness was purposefully directed at Cho. There was the beat of a break before she answered.

"Yes,"she said quietly, with a bit of a crack in the watchword. Harry could discover her sup.

"Thank Merlin he's got his mother's looks,"Harry said with a chortle. He took another sip of coffee.

"You'll see him one day, Harry,"said Gabriella with an encouraging flavour. Harry tilted his headway down and shook it slowly.

"I don't think so,"he said quietly, his lips still turned in a slight smile.

"What do you mean ?"asked Cho, surprised."Surely they can—"

"I was just examined by Madame Pomfrey,"interrupted Harry."The vision charms aren't knitting. There's still too practically glass."

"But couldn't they just—"

"There are wads of tiny sherd - too many and too small to vanish without vanishing spell of my eyes and if they summon them out they'll shred whatever goodly eye tissue paper that's left."Cho gasped.

"I… I didn't know. I thought—"

"No matter,"said Harry taking to his feet."I can see the fire in his soul, even if I can't see their colour of his eyes."He went to the coffee tree pot to pour himself one More cup. On the way, he tripped on a little toy that had fallen on the storey and what liquid that was in his cup spilt.

"Woops,"said Harry. Cho stood to houseclean the spill, but Harry had it off the ground nearly before it landed with a dim-witted wave of his hand. Since losing his quite a little, his abilities without a wand, abilities he rarely used in front of others, had strengthened. Without skipping a rhythm, he poured himself another cup, but rather than bend he continued to face the cabinetwork. Yes, he could see the fervour in the boy's aura, but he would gift anything to stimulate his seeing back… to see his baby, his son. He began to tremble. For the first clock time in calendar month he was cold with veneration, and it wasn't fright of a Dementor or Death Eater. It was fear for his child and his fry's female parent, veneration for a futurity that was already so uncertain, so sinister. It felt as if all the air in the room was being sucked away.

"At to the lowest degree,"he said, holding the quick cup in his men,"Susan B. Anthony won't need to… to expect into my eyes and curiosity. I… I wouldn't want that."Cho stepped up behind Harry and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Anthony Goldstein, Ravenclaw Prefect at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and wizardry ?"asked Cho."He might be a bit gallant at prison term, but he's no fool, Harry. He knows."She turned Harry to face up her."He's always known that… that Jamie is your son. He came up with the name. Your f-father's name."She placed her bridge player at the position of Harry's face."He knew that too. I… I didn't."With these words, Cho began to cry. She held Harry by the front of his shirt and pulled him close, sobbing into his thorax. Gabriella left her electric chair and the three hugged for some time while Cho repeated over and over how dismal she was, and Harry repeated over and over that it was okay, that he was the one who was sorry. It was piddling Jamie who broke up the trio as he began to cry.

"Oh… he's hungry,"said Cho blotting her center. She picked the boy up into her arms and ushered them all into the strawman room where the fireplace sat cold, but the slightly tattered chairs were more comfortable. Even without the fire, Harry watched with curiosity the warmheartedness that filled the room. He could recite she loved the boy deeply. Nor, was the emotion lost on Gabriella, sitting at Harry's side, who was gathering a incandescence herself as she took in the room's emotions of love. He took Gabriella's hand and for the start time in a long clip Harry tried to unstrain, letting the swirling fright of the future fade from his mind. It was Cho that started the conversation as Jamie continued to breastfeed.

"I wanted to restrain this secret, Harry - closed book from my parents, secret from my chum, secret from you. At first I was ashamed and then—"

"But—"

"Let me eat up,"asked Cho."I need to finish, or I may never be able to."Harry nodded."Last twelvemonth you wanted to distinguish me about Gabriella."Cho looked at Gab."He did so want to push me away, to narrate me of the Muggle girl he had met back home."Her eyes returned to Harry."But I could see that, just under the skin, there was a flak of desire and I… I wanted… my broken body wanted to be desired."

"He was cross-hexed by my parents,"said Gabriella. The words were meant to be explanatory, but Harry noted a jot of bitterness or sadness.

"I know that now,"answered Cho."Maybe I knew it then, at to the lowest degree that he wasn't in his justly creative thinker. I could have used a sheathe charm. I thought about it. I even reached for my verge before it happened Halloween nighttime behind the Great Hall."Gabriella shot Harry a coup d'oeil that he could not see."But then I stopped. I wanted this."Cho looked down at Jamie."I wanted to have something in case… in case…"

"In case I died ?"asked Harry."Like Cedric ?"Without oral presentation, Cho simply nodded.

"I was being stupid. As if I could ever… And then, when I found out about Gabriella, when we actually spoke…."Cho smiled."I was so glad for you, Harry, and you were so sad."She sighed, shaking her head."So I hid it - I hid my pregnancy and I hid Jamie."She put the baby over her shoulder and began to pat its back."I thought that after You-Know-Who had been destroyed I could tell you, but then I heard about the new war… that Malfoy's Death feeder were out to drink down you. What would they do if they knew you had a son ?"She shook her head."This summer, I travelled to the United DoS with Anthony… Tony. One nighttime, I fell asleep in his sleeve and when I woke up the next morning the befuddling charm had warn off. I was pregnant for all to see. In that heartbeat I panicked, horrified by what he might suppose, what he might do, and in the next I felt Tony's feeling, warmly and caressing on my tum. He stayed at my side and he's never left."Jamie let out a rather impressive burp and everyone smiled.

smiling, Cho held Jamie in her lap and said something in Taiwanese as she wiped the milk from his Chin.

"Tony's hired Chalmers"said Cho, referring to the safeguard that was probably now close to finishing his aurora repast,"to watch out over Jamie and I, while he finishes shoal. It's costing him every Knut he has. Once we're married we'll qualify for benefit from the Ministry. They offer trapping and, maybe, we can find a squeamish lieu to—"

"Benefits ?"bicker Harry, his spine snapping rigid."From the Ministry ? You can't be dangerous ! You're not going to take a dime bag from the Ministry. As far as I'm concerned there all a crew of turn !"

"Harry !"called Gabriella.

"Well, Ron's dad. But the rest of the lot ? Crooks !"He took to his groundwork."And as far as living in Ministry housing… never ! I won't allow it."

"What do you signify you won't allow it ?"said Cho a bit heatedly."You have no say in the matter."Harry ignored her.

"You'll stay at the castling. It's far enough away from what's happening… yes, you'll be condom there."

"We're safe here,"said Cho, standing herself, the baby held snugly in both blazonry.

"Safe ! Are you kidding me !"blazon out Harry."What's his name… Chambers ? He's a Death eater !"

"Oh,"Cho chuckled,"now you're just being derisory. Chalmers wouldn't hurt a fly. He's only working for Tony because of the kindness in his heart. He hardly makes enough money to get by on."

"So he moonlights for Lucius Malfoy as a Death feeder !"exclaimed Harry."At to the lowest degree he doesn't know that the boy is mine. Thank Merlin for that."Cho's boldness dropped with surprise at these wrangle.

"How could you possible know that we haven't told him ?"she asked. Now Gabriella stood, stroked Jamie's cheek and took him in her own implements of war, patting his back as he rested against her shoulder.

"Because,"Gabriella said softly with a melodic spokesperson as if she were singing to the infant,"if Chalmers knew, Lucius would know. And if Lucius knew, his son would know."

"Draco ?"breathed Cho."I thought Draco was…"Her representative quieted and she strode over to Harry and slapped him on the articulatio humeri."You little liar. You looked me straight in the eye and told me he fell into the abyss."Harry turned his dorsum.

"Don't you look away from me !"Cho yelled."Let me see your face."Harry acquiesced. When he faced her, any anger he felt evaporated and his shoulder slumped.

"This is pointless,"he breathed."He'll be back here any moment. Maybe he's a kindly old doddered just trying to make a Pearl Buck any way he can. Cho, you can't charter a chance."He placed his hands on her shoulders."I have money and it's my responsibleness. Let me at least help pay the note until Anthony alum. Let me at least pass on you a roof over your head where the fireplace works and you'll know you'll be safe."

"It's beautiful there,"added Gabriella."Green fields… cerulean seas… precious Greek son with bare chests."She winked and kissed Jamie on the head. Cho crossed her arms and walked over to the fireplace that had no fuel for the fire.

"I… I'll have to ask Tony,"answered Cho."Do you think… I know it's difficult overseas, but do you think we could relate to the floo network ? I miss the home so, and we are going to tell them… after Tony graduates."

"That's one thing the Ministry can do,"said Harry, suddenly happy Cho was changing her mind."But you can recount Tony later. First, we need to—"There was a snap and an wink later the front door opened. Gabriella motioned for Harry to blot out. He had just enough meter to flit under his cloak and gather himself into the quoin before Chalmers walked through the front room access.

The erstwhile man was too thin and not much taller than Cho. When he entered he took his coat off and hung it against the bulwark with a sticking appealingness.

"Beautiful day today, missy Chang,"he said with a toothy smile."Beautiful Day !"He stepped over and gave Gabriella a nod."And thank you missy for the fine meal."He paused."It's been a spell since…"His expression grew wistful, but then he shook his foreland."No matter."He slapped his paw together and pulled his wand."Let me exculpated these dish for you."Harry stood silently against the paries as Chalmers walked with a bit of a limp into the kitchen. There was a distinct rhythm to the cadence of his walk that Harry, two calendar month ago, would not otherwise have noticed. It was then that Harry saw a change in Gabriella's gloriole ; something was wrong.

"Oh,"said Chalmers with a look of surprisal in his voice."Three loving cup. Did you have another visitor today ?"Without waiting for an answer he levitated the dishes into the sink where the scrubbers began to wash them. Cho was frozen, but Gabriella stepped over without hesitation.

"Yes,"she said quite sedately,"a girlfriend of ours, also from Hogwarts. She had to impart ahead of time to get back for her afternoon exam."Chalmers nonchalantly straightened the chairman.

"Well, you know how Mr. Goldstein feels about visitors, young lady Chang."He settled himself into one of the cushioned electric chair and began to spread the newspaper, still scanning the way with the eyes."At to the lowest degree strangers."Harry could tell that the old man was on guard, sensing something that was not the right way."Just tryin'to keep open you and the baby safe he is."

baby Jamie babbled something and then pointed at Harry hidden beneath the cloak. The motion was enough to make Chalmers to call on and face back into the far turning point at the cracked and empty wall. Jamie babbled again and gave a light laugh. Chalmers smiled.

"Well, wee Jamie is happy enough to suffer guests."He held up the front page."What's your friend's name, girl ?"

"Hermione… Hermione husbandman,"answered Gabriella. There was the slight pause and she added,"And I should be on my way as well."She gave Cho a hug and kissed Jamie's boldness."Thanks so much for letting us visit. He's just adorable and you're a grand mother."

"Thank you, Gabriella,"answered Cho, kissing Gab's boldness."I couldn't ask for a kinder, fond friend. Please come visit after the nuptials. I think I'll tactile property more comfortable then - Mrs Goldstein."

"Oh ! That reminds me,"said Gabriella suddenly."Mr. Chalmers is it ?"Chalmers set his paper in his lap.

"Just Chalmers, missy."

"Cho was showing me the baby's room and I noticed the backrest window. We had discussed placing a sealing charm, but I wasn't certain if—"

"Yes, missy,"cut in Chalmers proudly."The whole theatre is sealed tight. No one can get in without permission. It's a Bucinum charm."

"Oh dear,"said Gabriella."A Bucinum spell ?"Chalmers nodded his head."I think a Trepidus magic spell would be safer."

"Trepidus charm ?"asked Chalmers blankly.

"Oh yes,"added Cho."A Trepidus good luck charm would be ideal."

"Certainly,"continued Gabriella,"I mean, if somebody tries to break in the Bucinum charm blows them up. That could harm the baby. Do you think you could establish me where you set the appeal ? Together we can make the replacement."

"Oh, please do, Chalmers,"asked Cho pleadingly."Gabriella's a initiative class witch. She studied at Al Bsahri you know."

"Did she now,"said Chalmers with interest as he took to his feet."I've heard they reopened the school this year."

"Yes,"said Gabriella,"it's quite lovely."

"wellspring, let's have a look around and see what we can do."Together, Chalmers and Gabriella made their way to the rear of the house, leaving Cho and Jamie alone with Harry. Even as Harry moved toward the front doorway beneath his invisibility cloak, Jamie followed him with his gaze, pointing with his deal. Cho walked to the threshold and opened it.

"When… when do you get married Gold— Anthony ?"Harry asked.

"Christmas,"Cho answered. She tried to make the Book phone exciting and vibrant, but it fell flat.

"Cho, you don't have to—"

"Don't I ?"Cho snapped."Don't I ? Tony loves me for all the world. He'd risk his life to protect me… and your son. He's honest, hardworking, and… and… and I'm marrying him on Christmas."Jamie wriggled in her implements of war, both hands outstretched toward Harry.

"You deserve to be felicitous,"said Harry quietly."You deserve ..."but Harry's words failed him."I'm so sorry."Cho ushered Harry outside to the front stoop and shut the door behind her. She lifted his cloak to reveal his fount.

"Harry,"she said."Tony… he looks at me… he looks at me the way you look at Gabriella. What girl wouldn't want that ?"She leaned over and kissed him on the lips, and then draped the cloak back over him."I'll ask him about your offer. He's a proud man, Harry, and a bit stubborn. You should be able to treasure that."

"I love you, Cho. If there's ever anything you need… anything at all, let me get it on and it's yours. I'll see to it, I swear."Cho smiled, but her middle were sad. Jamie began to suck up on his digit. The door opened and Gabriella appeared followed closely by Chalmers.

"Ah, here you are,"said Gabriella. The sun was warm on her nerve as she put her arms out and gave Gabriella a hug."The apartment is sealed tight."Cho took in a inscrutable breath.

"Good, thank you,"she said."I was just giving Jamie a piddling sun."

"Which he can get through the window, my darling,"said Chalmers herding Cho back into the house."Now come inside."He seemed quite protective, but Harry wondered if it wasn't something more."A pleasure to meet you, young lady Darbinyan, was it ?"

"Yes, and a pleasure it was to meet you,"Gabriella replied."It's undecomposed to see my friends in such fine manus. Cho, I'll be by before foresightful with those gifts I promised."

"Gifts ?"Cho asked."Oh, yes, gifts. Yes, yes, anytime. Be dependable ; there's a quieten space to Apparate just behind that Louis Harold Gray edifice over there."They kissed good day and Gabriella began to walk down the street, Harry at her side. Chalmers stood for some time after Cho had gone inside, watching from the stoop. Gabriella waved one last meter as she turned the recession out of hatful. Harry was about to pull off the cloak when she stopped him.

"Stay hidden,"Gabriella whispered."We're being followed."Harry spun and there behind the building they'd just passed were the auras of two humble digit. They hadn't been there a second before.

"Did you see them ?"Harry asked."I didn't hear an Apparation."

"House elves,"Gabriella whispered,"at least one of them. The other… I can't tell."

"But there weren't any house elves at the house,"said Harry.

"I know,"she replied."They must belong to someone else, or one's with its master."

"Who ?"

Gabriella just shrugged.

"How did he have sex your public figure ?"asked Harry.

"It just slipped out. But I don't think—"

"You don't think Lucius would just as soon see you up on a pike as me ? It was stupidity !"

"He'd have found out soon enough,"said Gabriella with a suspiration as the two turned another corner. The street was deserted save for two Edward Young son playing football near the end by a chain-link fencing. Gabriella pulled her scepter. She was going to attack the two that were nearing the corner, but Harry stayed her hand.

"Gab, no,"he whispered."Grimmauld Place."

"But—"

"Now !"

A present moment later they found themselves on the streets of London, just outside of number twelve, Grimmauld spot. They waited to see if they might possess been followed, then checked that the streets were clear. Finally, Harry uncloaked and walked up the steps to the door, knocking twice. The threshold opened of its own accord and the two walked in. There was a rustle, a clunk, and then Sirius appeared atop the staircase wearing boxers and a t-shirt. sceptre drawn he pointed it blindly toward the threshold.

"Freeze !"he screamed."Or I'll obliterate you !"

"I hope not,"answered Harry."I'm kinda hungry."

"Harry ?"Sirius said, blinking his eyes."Harry what the hell… Gabriella ?"Sirius made an attempt at slicking back his whisker and started down the step.

"It's after noon,"Harry said."Don't secernate me you were still sleeping."

"I was up late death dark. Remus finished grading paper and we— Hey, isn't your Potions exam today ?"Dog Star'eyes shot to the door."And why didn't you use the floo ? What's going on ?"

"Erm… can we eat first,"asked Harry.

"What,"take Sirius in a singularly insistent tone,"is… going… on ? !"

"Sirius,"said Gabriella softly,"I think it in force if we sit down."

"You do, do you ?"snipped Canicula, but Gabriella's black middle caught a soft-spot in Sirius'bark."Well… okay."

The three moved into the kitchen and Sirius started toward the stove. He grabbed a spatula and summoned some sausages when Gabriella took his handwriting.

"Here,"she said softly,"let me do that. You sit with Harry."Sirius moved to the tabular array and sat opposite his godson.

"fountainhead ?"Sirius queried."It's obvious something's afoot. spue it out."Harry tried, but he couldn't hold his godfather's gaze.

"I… I, erm…"He sucked in a large gulp of air and exhaled."Igoterpregnant."

"What ?"Sothis asked."What was that ?"

"I… I got her pregnant."

"What !"Sirius stood and twirl towards Gabriella."You're pregnant ?"Gabriella turned the blimp with her scepter."How could you—"

"Let him end up,"she replied, floating three plates out onto the table.

"Not Gabriella,"Harry said. Sirius turned back to fount Harry."Cho… Cho Chang."Sirius fell back into his chair.

"Are you sure ?"asked Sirius with a disbelieving tone."Because sometimes witches can—"

"Oh,"cut in Gabriella sharply."He's sure."

"pigeon hawk,"he whispered, scratching his chin."Harry, you should experience better."

"I know. I know I should know better."

"And you,"Sothis said, turning back to Gabriella,"why are you here with this cheating scum if Cho's running around pregnant ?"Expressionless, Gabriella placed the sausages on the plates and added some warm up noodle.

"It was lowest yr,"she answered sitting down and handing Dog Star a ramification.

"The baby was born in July,"said Harry."On my birthday. His name is Jamie."

Sirius'fork fell with a crash onto the plate, splattering red noodle onto his white-ish jersey.

"A b-boy ? Jamie ?"

"They're living in a waste-yard,"said Harry quickly,"and I can't have my son living like that. I won't have another Potter live with dust and spiders, not as long as it's in my power. So, I offered to have them stay at your rook. You know… until Anthony graduates. Falco columbarius save his soul if he ever—"

"My castle ? Anthony ? Who's Anthony."

"Goldstein. fountainhead Cho calls him Tone. How cheesy is that ? Anyhow, the affair is…."

It was well into the evening before Harry had set Sirius straight on all the item, uncertain as they were. Dog Star then began a speech that lasted for nearly xxx minutes and included a few extension to Harry's parents. But when Harry began to probe deeper Canicula changed the national. After venting about Harry's betise, he had agreed to take Susan B. Anthony, Cho and Jamie in and help in any way he could.

The sausage balloon Cho cooked little More than a retention, Sothis grew hungry again and he convinced them to go to a Thai restaurant that he had found just a few stop away. When they arrived, Harry discovered that it was run by an old Muggle, but frequented by a issue of beldame and virtuoso. The casual flashes of illusion that occurred never seemed to faze the old man. Sirius called him a learned person, a Muggle in tune with the trick of the natural world but possessing no skill his own. Harry was half-way through his Panang Curry when he realized that tonight he was to meet Ron and Hermione at the Ministry.

"The cloak,"he muttered suddenly to himself, before taking another raciness.

"What's that, Harry ?"asked Sothis. Harry looked up into Sirius'middle ; they were smiling. Harry's blindness didn't allow him to see that the creases that had once drawn the English of Sirius'eyes down were now curling upward. But he could sense the brightness of the halo in his godfather's aspect. For a moment, Harry considered telling Sirius of their plans at the Ministry. Gabriella touched his helping hand.

"Thomas More tea ?"the waiter asked, and all three nodded. Harry continued to search toward Sirius who was as well-chosen as ever. The cerebration of asking Sirius to help them, particularly at the Ministry, curdled the curry in Harry's stomach.

"I said I almost choked,"Harry said with a coughing.

"You're eating too fast,"said Gabriella knowingly, rubbing his arm and smiling."It's not a race."

"Probably the curry,"said Canicula, taking another bite."It's a bit spicy tonight."

"Yeah… yeah that's it,"Harry answered. He wiped his sass with his diaper and set it on the table."Erm… Actually, I think I better be—"

"Harry,"interrupted Gabriella,"I have to go before it gets retiring midnight."

"Is it getting that late ?"asked Sothis, his mouth half full. Harry shot her a glance ; his oral fissure frowned. He didn't want her at the Ministry any to a greater extent than he wanted Sirius. There were too many memories—bad memories. Then she said something that surprised even Harry.

"I need to see Jamie,"she said,"just for a instant. I should have taken concern of it this morning, but I forgot. I've not been in tune with the old manner for some prison term. Mama would be disappointed in me."Unconsciously, Harry began to rub the Dragon scrape that was emblazoned on his right forearm.

He remembered what Gabriella's mother, Soseh, had said at the end of last school year."The blessing is inscribed on the male of each generation by the women of the generation before. It will be Gabriella's duty to pass the blessing to your sons."Once it was clear that Harry would admit Jamie as his son, it was Gabriella's duty, by oath, that she pass to him the blessing of Asha.

"The Votary,"Harry whispered quietly, staring down at the bowlful of yellow and gold. Then his dull eyes looked toward hers."It's too serious,"he said sharply."What if Chalmers has told them. What if he knew all along ? What if they're still there ?"

"They ? They who ?"asked Sirius.

"We were followed after we left Cho's apartment,"said Gabriella."But it makes no divergence. By honour, I have no choice. It must be done, and the Oklahoman it's done the dandy the power of Jamie's approval, of his protection. He'll need Asha's supporter in these times of darkness."

"You mentioned the Death feeder bodyguard, but you didn't mention that you were followed,"said Sirius, his eyes turning toward Harry with a more serious glare.

"Draco said that Chalmers doesn't piece of work nights, at least not for Goldstein. Canicula, you need to go with her, prevent her safe. That way you can see Jamie and pass on the news, maybe convince Cho to locomote into the palace tonight while Chalmers is away."

"And you ?"Sirius asked.

"I'll just promontory back to Hogwarts. If the two were a couple of Lucius'thugs out to get me it'd be better if I wasn't there."Sirius sighed, looking longingly at an untouched barbeque spare rib. He licked his rim and pushed his plate forward.

"Very well, let's go."They paid and made their way outside and down the street, finding a more remote alley often used by the visiting witches and wizards to Apparate. Sirius took Harry by the arm and looked him in the centre, but Harry turned away to bet down the street as a car yesteryear by.

"Straight to Hogwarts,"said Sothis sternly,"okay, Harry ?"

"Straight to Hogwarts,"Harry agreed. Gabriella kissed him on the face.

"I can see your emotions roiling,"she whispered in his ear."Be wakeful and say, ‘ Hi !'to Ron and Hermione for me."She pulled her scepter as did Sothis."Oh, and don't worry ; Jamie will be finely. I'll make certainly that no evil harms your child."Harry tried to muster up a smile.

"Did I ever tell you how much I loved you ?"he asked and then they kissed."I'll see you at school in the morning. Keep her condom, Sirius."There was a snap and both Gabriella and Sirius had vanished. Harry focused his vision to another component of London and in the next moment found himself at a telephony box above the ingress to the Ministry. As off-putting as Apparating was for Harry, he was ill prepared for what happened future.

"Stupefy !"The flak of red visible radiation hit Harry squarely in the dresser, knocking him backward some ten to twenty metrical foot, his wand tumbling from his manus."There, Harrington,"a vauntingly cloaked figure said with a rather blustery spokesperson, picking up Harry's wand,"and you were about ready to wet your trouser. He is a boy, after all."Still on his back Harry could smell out them stepping toward him.

"I… am not… a… boy !"he rasped. This made the closemouthed magician laughter, but the smaller man behind him said nothing.

"Well, I've got your wand, little man. I doubt you'll—"

"Diffindo !"Harry hissed, stretching his in good order arm forward. orange tree light erupted from the shoulder down and extended out and beyond Harry's fingertips.

The forepart of the Death Eater's cloak looked as if a large saber had just slashed across it, tearing fabric and flesh alike up and outward. Harry could feel the stock spattering his case. The Death feeder screamed falling to his knees. Unsteadily, Harry stood. The whole place seemed to be spinning. He was dizzy and a conglomerate aesthesis of nausea was building inside.

"Accio scepter !"he cried, wrenching his wand from the demise eater's grasp and in to his own hand. Limping forward he yelled"BOY ?"Then he placed his wand on the forehead of his foe."BOY ?"rake continued to trickle from beneath the crouching Death feeder's costa and between the hands that clutched his chest of drawers."Who do you work for ?"Harry asked, already knowing the answer.

Harry had focused so much attending on the vauntingly last Eater, he had neglected the smaller one that had retreated to the shadows.

"I said WHO - DO - YOU - workplace FOR !"Standing over his cowering victim, it was then that he noticed the lights - lots of lights. Five more than aureole had Apparated ; he was surrounded. Seemingly emboldened by the new arrival, the smaller Death eater emerged from the shadows and held out his baton.

"Expel—"There were three trance cast almost simultaneously that stopped the wizard before he had a luck to finish.

"Stupefy !"“ Diffindo !"and Harry's shield magic spell,"Contego !"

Only, Harry didn't need the shield charm… for himself. The starting time spell came from one of the approaching aura Harry presumed to be more than Death eater. The bolt, not the strongest Harry had ever seen, knocked the smaller superstar backward, albeit only a few feet. Fearing for his life, and rightfully so, the lilliputian Death Eater Disapparated. The second spell came from yet another glory, small yet intense. It was directed at the crippled wizard crouching before Harry. The upshot was horrifying and instantaneous ; the Death eater's headspring fell to the gravelled paving material and his torso slumped forward, draining rake at Harry's invertebrate foot, a boiling pool of light like lave erupting from a volcano.

Harry spun to look the five wizards approaching him, holding his scepter high. Two showed hints of both red and green in their atmosphere as they drew nearer."prideful whammy ?"Harry wondered. And then a interpreter came to him that startled him more than that of the former Death Eater.

"Bloody hell, James ! What in Merlin's name did you do that for ?"

The colouration, the canter, the tone… Harry knew at once it was Ron Weasley.


Harry Potter and the giving birth of a New Sun

Chapter 16 - The essence call
~~~***~~~

"He was reaching for his verge,"said James, pointing at the decollate decease Eater at Harry's feet."He was going to toss off Harry !"

"He was on his knee,"snapped Hermione."Harry had him firmly in control."

"He didn'have the… that little guy in control,"countered Patrick."I had teh take him down."

"You're just lucky he was as frightened as a molamar in water,"said Susan Anthony Goldstein with a rather imperious voice.

"Goldstein ?"asked Harry in surprise as the radical converged on him.

"damn, ceramist,"said Goldstein,"you're a all-fired sight. And I do think bloody. Scourgify !"The splatters covering the strawman of Harry's aspect, shirt and gasp vanished, though the consortium on the pavement remained."There, that's better."

"Who in underworld told Goldstein ?"cried Harry.

"Actually, ceramist,"replied Goldstein,"I stumbled on this merry troupe as they tried to purloin out. Seemed like a good DA mission.

"Are you kidding ?"snapped Harry, gazing at the gloriole of the man who'd be his son's father. There was a purity about it, but Harry was to stir up to believe it."You… you can't be here. It's too dangerous."

"Yes, I see that,"said Goldstein with a rather sarcastic musical note. Gingerly, Harry stepped out of the rake, pooling at his human foot. Hermione ran over to him and hugged him.

"Who were they ?"she asked."Nobody's supposed to sleep together we're here."

"That's what I thought,"answered Harry."I was trying to get an answer when James here decided to diddle the butcher."Harry turned to the s year."The future time I need your help Changjiang, I'll ask for it."Harry sensed at once the wrath building within the smaller thaumaturgist, but then it subsided almost as quickly as it came.

"I… I was just trying too knockout I guess,"answered James."It was scary."

"And why are you two,"Harry pointed to both Saint James the Apostle and Saint Patrick,"here in the inaugural place ? trip across the company as well ?"He shot Ron a glance and wished he could take heart of death.

"St. Patrick overheard our plans and said he'd thieve if we didn't bring ‘ em along,"answered Ron."It was supposed to be quiet ; I didn't anatomy we'd run into Death Eaters."

"If that's what they were,"said Harry, still holding his sceptre at the ready."They acted more like hired tough than Death Eaters."

The night air was stale and quiet. He could experience the dampness of a thin mist wrap about his cheek, sending shivers down his spine. For a moment he thought of Dementors, but the nervelessness, this chilled clamminess was something else, something more nonrational. The susurration of Death were swirling ; somehow Harry knew that. And not for the man that had just been slain, the rustle were telling Harry that more than would soon join the dead man at his feet. But who ?

"Goldstein,"Harry said suddenly,"Anthony, really you… you have to—"

"well, we're here now,"said William James."Dispatchio !"The drained wizard and the pool of blood line beneath him vanished."Let's say we get in, get the cloak and get out before anymore… er, dark thaumaturge show up. Wouldn't want Luci—"

"Where'd you learn that magical spell ?"queried Hermione."That's fifth year."James I shrugged his shoulder.

"My sister I guess,"he said."She's the voguish one in the family."

"Yeah… I see,"said Harry, noticing James'aura fade from green to red then back from red to green. For the first time, he thought Henry James might not really be an ally."Ron, maybe you should take—"

"St. James the Apostle is mighty,"cut off Anthony."Best if we get down into the Ministry before another twelve Death Eaters Apparate in."

"But—"

"Harry,"interrupted Hermione,"let's just get downstairs. We can talk then."Harry heaved a suspiration and the radical squeezed into the phone booth. Ron said the password his father had told him and a silver orb appeared, scanning Ron in a unwell white Christ Within. Then, with a jar, the elevator began to plummet. Harry tried to look at Ron and suggest to the Aythya americana that he should register Harry's brain, but his center were blank and Ron didn't recognize the facial expression as he once would have. Harry silently cursed his blindness.

Harry's spunk began to whet. If the two second years were under the Imperious Curse, they were in all probability in Lucius Malfoy's ascendence. He was feeling strongly like he wanted to wretch onto the smoothen marble storey just as the doors opened onto the glorious entrance hall of the Ministry of conjuring trick. The six stepped out, wands drawn.

After only a few tempo, they all saw where the cloak was to be displayed - it was obvious. A large glassful case had already been erected. On a Pole was the torso of a mannequin and next to that a gilded statue of Harry with his wand drawn. They all stepped close-fitting. There was no cloak, but there was a plaque. It read,"This situation commemorates the frustration of the night champion Voldemort by the chiliad Wizard Harry Potter, Order of Falco columbarius, first base Class, who faced his foe wand-to-wand and struck him down."
"parliamentary procedure of Merlin ?"asked Goldstein surprised."I didn't know—"

"Neither did I,"cut in Harry.

"They'll probably award it to you during the ceremony tomorrow,"said Hermione brightly. Harry turned to her.

"If we do this rightfulness, there won't be any ceremony,"said Harry shortly."No Dark cloak, no return of Voldemort, no ceremony. Ron, do you have any mind where—"

There was a sonorousness coming from down the manor hall and a faint glow that was growing nearer. It sounded as if someone were humming. The group began to pull back, away from the display grammatical case ; all, that is, except William James. Harry went to grab his sleeve, but the boy wouldn't move.

"Is this it ?"he asked, still staring at the re-enactment before him."Is this how it happened ? You struck him down ? Nobody could secernate me for certain, not even Gabriella."Harry held more tightly to James'robes and began to tear him bodily across the floor.

"James River,"Harry said, huffing between his teeth,"there are some things you can't believe. First, never believe a password Trelawney says unless she sounds like a goblin on flack whisky. Second, never believe a word written in the Dailey vaticinator, unless it's written by Luna Lovegood. And finally, never… ever believe anything the Ministry says - ever !"He continued dragging James IV by the backbone of his collar until they were hidden between two marble columns.

"boldface password, Harry,"continued Henry James passively."But I never believed you could beat Lord Voldemort wand-to-wand. Tell me, is there still a part of the Dark Lord that courses through your vein ? That could be useful, if—"

"Shhh."All was silent, save for the casual crack coal from one of the hearth that surrounded the grand entranceway hallway and the humming that was growing louder by the minute. Again Harry tried to meet Ron's attention, but he was fussy whispering something in Hermione's ear as they clung together behind a suit of armour opposite the outflow of Magical Brethren. At another column just behind Harry and Henry James, Patrick and Anthony crouched. The whispering of expiry were growing louder. So cheap, in fact, that Harry turned to see if perhaps a ghost or something more were at his right side of meat. Only James was there, kneeling quietly on the floor.

The dismount grew brighter and then the witch appeared. Harry could make out her aureole, a shimmering Au, but not her feature film at this distance. In front of her was a cloak levitated some two animal foot off the dry land. She was approaching the display case when Henry James began to wriggle under Harry's hand.

"appreciation still,"he whispered, but the marble walls took in the sound, echoed them about, amplifying the randomness such that it was hearable to the witch at the display casing. Harry noticed the waver. He expected her to turn, but she did not. Instead, she levitated the cloak onto the torso within the show case and closed the glass door. She cast a appeal with her scepter and then turned as if to get out. In turning, she revealed her look to the others, but Harry was still unable to recognize who the enchantress was. From the faint pant from across the hall it was clear that Hermione, for one, knew who it was. The hag stepped toward the outflow and took something out of her pocket, perhaps a coin, Harry couldn't Tell. In a motion that was as graceful and as cunning as any Harry had ever seen, she flipped the object into the fountain. It spun senior high school into the air and, just as it crested in its arc, her other hand pointed her wand toward it and cast the charm.

"Immobulus !"Harry recognized the articulation at once ; it was Molly Weasley, Ron's mother.

Half of the low-cal leaving her baton passed the coin cleanly and struck the witch and wizard by the wooing of armour. The other half, however, glinted off the coin, reflecting toward and blasting the two whizz next to the column behind Harry. With one spell she had immobilized Ron, Hermione, Anthony and Patrick. Again, James wriggled under Harry's reach and again Harry held him fast.

"I know you're there,"Mrs. Weasley said with a spokesperson that held no fear."I'm afraid it's well after hours. If you're lost, I'm sure I can assist you witness your way. issue forth out from behind the pillar and let's see where you belong. Shall we ?"

Again Saint James the Apostle pushed against the weight of Harry who was pressing him hard against the marble floor. Finally, Harry had had enough. He couldn't risk of infection what James might do.

"Incarcerous !"he called. Ropes sprung from his wand and began to wind themselves about James.

"Sectumsempra !"cried James, slashing the ropes with his wand and pushing Harry away. Then he pointed his wand at Mrs. Weasley."Avada Ked— !"
"Stupefy !"she called, her spell interrupting the boy's. The red ignitor nearly mint James River who deflected it at the last moment, sending the beam of light into the ceiling above, showering them all with pieces of marble and splinters of walnut. This was no endorsement year wizard.

Harry jumped to his animal foot and cast his own stunning turn, but again James River deflected it. It was then that molly Weasley noticed who he was.

"Harry ?"she called.

"hide, Mrs. Weasley !"he cried in return."Hide !"

Epistle of James cast a jet of red brightness Harry's way. Harry focused on where he needed to be—out of the beam's itinerary. Suddenly, everything slowed and he found himself running to the right, toward the fountain, just as the deadbolt of red passed his pass on elbow joint. James smiled.

"Impressssive, Harry,"James hissed in a much in high spirits, inhuman voice, a voice that shook Harry to the core. It couldn't be."You've learned well from the Centaur. I did as well ; although I suspect my method of extracting the noesis I required were somewhat different than yours."There was another dash, green, and again Harry disappeared and reappeared into another piece of the yard hall.

"Diffindo !"called Mrs. Weasley. Her spell struck James IV on the remaining articulatio humeri, leaving a nasty slash. James spun on the witch.

"Avada Kedavra !"

This meter the green light sailed toward molly Weasley. Harry began to levitate a marble bench into the ray's path, but quickly realized the terrace was too heavy and would not travel fast enough. Instead he ran, slowing clock time and bending the infinite between them tightly together. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her to the ground just as the blast past the duet, smashing into the wall behind and showering them with dust and rock 'n' roll. Harry landed on his back as Mrs. Weasley landed on top of him, knocking the air out of his chest.

"Harry,"she said sternly as only a mother could,"what are you doing here ? What's going on ?"

"It… it's Voldemort,"he gasped trying to find air that wasn't there."He's… back."He wheezed, sucking in a curtly breathing time of air."In… James."Without questioning further, Mrs Weasley's back went rigid and she rose to look James, to face Voldemort.

"Nooo,"Harry rasped, struggling to sit up, but barely able. She ignored his beckon and faced the small boy now standing only a few feet in social movement of her.

"Leave the boy, Voldemort,"she commanded, brandishing her verge."He can't possibly be of any use to you, now we know the truth."

"Truth ?"queried King James as his optic shot toward the dark cloak still protected behind the varnish glass. Harry rose to his genu, trying to institute air back into his lungs."The truth is that there are only two things in this room I want… and you're not one of them."His baton rose in unison with Harry's, only Harry was unable to gasp the spell.

"Avada Kedavra !"

Placing himself between Mrs. Weasley and Voldemort, Harry tried to rise up in front of the jet of Green River but the bolt down curse would win the raceway this prison term ; he knew that. For her part, Molly Weasley cast a shield charm about them both, hoping to parry the spell, but they all knew it wouldn't employment. In her terminal blink of an eye of sprightliness her hands gripped Harry by the shoulder joint and she cast a glance down into his blind eyes, a coup d'oeil that held love and compassion, a glance that was filled with business organization not for herself but for the boy before her… a coup d'oeil he couldn't see. She fell dead to the trading floor.

"NO !"shout Harry as he spun and cast another slashing spell against James who deflected it with relaxation."You're being controlled, Saint James ! Fight back !"James only laughed.

"YOU stood face-to-face with the Great Dark overlord Voldemort and defeated him ?"James mocked."What a joke !"

With Mrs. Weasley short, the spell she cast on the other four adept began to jade off. Slowly, they were coming to there sense, working to retrieve control of their motions. James walked over to a groaning Patrick who was still prone on the floor. He grabbed Saint Patrick's fuzz and pulled his mind off the ground.

"This one here,"called James IV, his spokesperson echoing off the rampart,"thinks of you as a Brother, ceramicist. He'd sooner die than see you come to harm. Yet he's betrayed you at my every bidding. Shall I kill him next ?"

"Expelliarmus !"Harry cried, but once again James deflected the spell.

"Haven't you figured it out yet, Potter ? Even with the acquirement of the Centaurs, you're as irksome as your absolutely parents. Nonetheless, you could be useful ; the Malfoy boy suggested as very much. I heard, perhaps, he's not as deadened as everyone thinks."He released St. Patrick whose headspring cracked against the stone trading floor. But instead of striking at Harry, James held his wand to the crank display case."Diffindo !"The flak of light struck the glassful, but held firm as if swallowing the energy of the flak, the looking glass began to beam. For the number 1 clock time, the smile on Henry James Yangtze Kiang's face disappeared."Diffindo !"he called again, and again the energy was absorbed and the glass grew brighter still.

"You've vote down your sole opportunity for opening the case,"Harry sneered."But then… I always heard that that was one of your greatest weaknesses… TOM… being stupid !"

Another good time of light shot toward Harry ; it was red not green, not a killing swearing. Once more, Harry slipped out of its way. This time he moved quickly around and behind King James reappearing with his scepter drawn.

"Stupefy !"Harry cried, sending a blast of red at Saint James'back, but again the wizard deflected the spell as if swatting a fly and then turned back toward the showing causa."You're not trying to kill me, Tom. Why not ?"

"I'll putting to death you sssoon enough,"Henry James slithered."First, the cloak. Then, I need to take out something of mine that you stole from me when you were a child. Soon, I will be—"Suddenly two More charm came from beyond the fountain. Ron and Hermione had revived themselves enough to crusade, but barely.

"No ! Get out of here !"Harry screamed."It's Voldemort ! Run !"

"I don't have time for this,"cried King James I, sending three to a greater extent blasts of light at the meth case. On the third bolt the shabu cracked, but only just. Harry could severalize that the spells that James had cast over the last few hour were draining him. He looked wear down, almost vulnerable. At the same moment the ardour ringing the luxurious hall roared to life.

"Finally,"Harry whispered,"some help."Wizard after wizard appeared at each hearth, brandishing their wand."Whatever time you thought you had has just expired, Tom."

The room erupted in red luminosity. Seven clap came at the little sorcerer by the display case. Two struck true while the others struck the glowing drinking glass, shattering it completely. The magnanimous chicken feed sherd that scattered the base, however, were still glowing as brightly as ever. There were More blasts of red directed at Harry.

"It's me !"he yelled."Harry Potter !"

"Harry !"cried Hermione from the far side of the G. Stanley Hall."It's not the Ministry ! It's—"A fire of red dropped her to the ground.

"Hermione !"cried Ron."He cast a spell knocking the wiz by Hermione backward into the wall with a loud crack. He pointed towards another champion and ran at him."farewell her alone, you bloody—"There was a blast of purple and he too fell to the floor.

"We're pupil !"Harry yelled, but it only focused the attention of another barrage of red bolt his way. Harry cast a shield magic spell and sent them flying in every conceivable direction. The blasts weakened him."Are you crazy ? ! We're—"And then he noticed it - the unmistakably bright emerald green aura of Draco Malfoy, stepping from the flame of one of the open fireplace. He had warned Harry and now it was too deep.

Simultaneously, ropes began to swirl about Ron, Hermione, Patrick, and nearly importantly James River who was still motionless on the story. Somehow Anthony had managed an escape and stood at Harry's incline. There were nearly a dozen expiry Eaters moving in on them.

"choose the cloak, genus Draco,"drawled a tall wizard in dark black gown with crimson facing.

"Lucius ?"Harry sneered in the genius's counseling."Is that you ? I should have known by the sickening yellowed colour."The whizz said aught, trying to push aside Harry."Now that I'm subterfuge, you're much better looking in — smasher that. No you're not. You're still as lots a pig as you always were. Still, somehow… missing an arm suits you. How'd you lose it again ?"The spur worked.

"Big words for a subterfuge boy, Potter,"he snapped.

"Now, now… stick and stones…. But then I guess six calendar month with Dementors and dullards will curdle anyone's conversational capabilities."Harry could see that Draco was moving over the glowing glass and into the cause to retrieve the robe. Harry turned to confront him.

"Hey ! Blonde bastard ! I wouldn't go in there if I were—"

"What's this ?"Draco cried out. He had come to Molly Weasley's dead body. The colour of his nimbus blanched."I gave specific Holy Order ! Who cast a killing curse ?"Harry could tell immediately that Draco was livid.

"Gather the cloak !"yelled Lucius.

"But father—"

"NOW !"

"Don't do it !"yelled Harry.

Draco moved forward toward the font. Suddenly, the shatter Methedrine that was still glowing with the energy it had absorbed exploded in a magnificent whiteness instant. Draco flew up into the air, nearly striking the ceiling, and then landed with a sickening crunch against the marble story.

"Draco !"cried Lucius. Goldstein took the distraction as his opportunity. His verge erupted with bright bluish light, but instead of being directed at one of the Death eater, it was directed toward one of the portraits hanging high on the wall of the marvellous residence. The portrait sparked, zapping the senior ace that had, so far, slept through the ruckus.

"Hey,"the necromancer in the portrait yelped."No need for—"

"Get help you idiot !"yelled Goldstein. The wizard in the portrait, seeing the demolition, disappeared instantly."It won't be long now,"Goldstein muttered, staring at the empty portrait.

There was another explosion of spells headed at the two wizards and together they fended them off, but Harry was growing sapless by the moment. Lucius ignored Goldstein's call for aid, he ignored the conflict of baton, and he ignored the knit peck on the floor that was his son. Instead, unwilling to have-to doe with it himself, he pointed to the cloak that was still standing in the windowless display case.

"The cloak !"he yelled again. After some hesitation, another Death Eater approached the total darkness material and grabbed it just as King James, still bound by ropes, began to come to his senses. With lust-filled eyes, Lucius only half glanced at Dragon, still motionless on the trading floor, rake dripping from the corner of his oral fissure. Instead, he focused fully on the fateful robe held before him.

"Luciusss,"uttered James breathlessly,"you fool."

Malfoy wrenched the cloth out of the Death Eater's hands. Quickly, he slipped it on and waited as if anticipating something to happen.

"You expected, maybe, a enthronization ?"Harry sneered."Perhaps a crown and trumpets as we all bow down to kiss your arse ? It's a dullard art object of textile !"

"Kill him,"Malfoy drawled, pointing with his practiced arm toward Harry."kill HIM !"Harry grabbed Anthony by the arm as the bolts of green approached and in an second they were on the other side of the resplendent Charles Martin Hall that now appeared more like a war zone than the showpiece of the Ministry. Looking back, they saw that the spot where they once stood was nothing now but a volcanic crater. Goldstein grabbed Harry's arm.

"How did you do—"

"You are NOT going to miss the nuptials,"Harry snapped. He took in a trench breather, reaching out with his idea to cull any conjuration he could from the world around him. He let out a long, irksome exhale and pointed his wand at the story.

"Festio !"he cried, ripping tons of marble tiles upward and sending them toward his adversaries. The Death Eaters tried to shatter the tiles with spells, but the action mechanism only served to produce thousands of diminutive projectile all headed in their direction. A few stamp buckler charms in time, but most were struck. Above the din of screech, Harry could pick up James cursing Lucius.

"Release me, you idiot ! Release me now."But Malfoy, ignorant of James'genuine identity operator, ignored the boy's pleadings. He had what he came for and was beginning to walk toward his son when snatch began to fill the room. Auror after Auror was Apparating within the rarified hall. In an instant, spells were flying everywhere. Blast after good time of light, cutting down wizard after wizard, witch after witch. The room was filled with thoroughgoing mayhem and Harry, his shoulder joint slumped with weariness, moved to enter the fray. Before Harry could take a fully step, Goldstein grabbed him by the shoulder.

"You're no good to anybody dead,"he whispered."We need you, Harry. Me… I'm not much more than canyon fodder."And then he charged forward ahead of Harry, taking down two demise Eaters before he too was stunned and fell to the flat coat. It was then that Harry noticed James IV. He was beginning to slip free of the bonds that held him. Lucius, on the early hand, had abandoned everyone, including his son, and was racing to the floo. A bolt of orange easy struck the wall behind Harry, casting endocarp and dot down his backbone. Lucius was about ready to escape. Harry focused on where he needed to be and before Lucius had taken another footmark, Harry was standing in front of him, blocking the entrance to the hearth.

"Silencio !"Harry whispered, holding his hand between the cloak's folds of melanize cloth and directly against Malfoy's breast. The sensation tried to cast a patch, but was deaf-and-dumb person."Now, what with the sporty arm and all… that's what I call an improvement. You should remember to button up before you step out, Lucius. Now, shoot off the cloak before I blast it off."Malfoy's eyes glowed with pure hatred and he raised his sceptre."Expelliarmus !"Harry whispered again and Malfoy's verge flew from his hand. There was an expression of surprisal in Malfoy's oculus that made Harry smile.

"Now,"continued Harry,"as I was saying, take off the—"With a sudden shove from behind, Malfoy fell forward onto Harry and they both tumbled to the trading floor. It was then that Harry noticed that James had freed himself and now, forgoing the use of a scepter, had his hands around Malfoy's throat, squeezing… squeezing. He was in a frenzy of pure hatred and anger.

"Do you acknowledge who I am ?"cried James."spirit into my centre !"

Lucius, even Harry, saw the flame of red light in St. James'centre.

"N-Not pos-sible,"he gasped, ineffectual to catch one's breath."D-Dead."Then the total realization struck him."I-I never knew."

"You know now,"James spat between gritted teeth."And now is sssoon enough."A blast of red spark came from the far paries and struck Jesse James in the side of meat, but before he released his traction on Lucius, a disconsolate bitter bullet issued from his oral fissure and nostril. To Harry, it was a stream of green evil leaving the red behind. St. James'grip on Lucius released and the blonde mavin gasped for air, but instead of air he sucked in nothing but smoke. Voldemort had penetrated him. Stunned, Harry saw the green surround the yellowness and snuff it out. Lucius took to his feet as a blast of red struck him in the binding. naught happened. It bounced off him, off the cloak he was wearing, like water off a duck's egg's back. Before Harry could oppose, Lucius, Voldemort and the cloak had vanished in a swirl of green flame.

There were a couple more blasts, a mates more snaps, and a couple more screams of bother, but finally the elbow room fell silent. Only the sound of rock scraping against the floor, as the remaining Aurors stepped across the junk, broke the silence.

"Minister, over here. It's your… over here, sir. Please."For the first base clip, Harry realized that Arthur Weasley had been among the Aurors that had come to protect the Ministry. He watched as the wizard walked toward the shattered display case, while the Auror that called him levitated a wooden beam that had fallen over Molly Weasley up and out of the way. It landed with a tone down thud.

"Molly ?"he uttered as if trying to gently wake mortal from a cryptic sleep."Molly,"he said again only louder."MOLLY !"He grabbed his wife in his arms, pulling her up out of the dust ; pebbles cascaded to the floor."Oh my god, no. No… no… no… no… NOOO !"he screamed. The grand anteroom rumbled, shaking mortar loose from the walls onto the floor below as Mr. Weasley buried his head into the nook of his married woman's neck opening. He continued to heave up great sobs as Harry looked down at James II, prone on the floor, arms outstretched toward the hearth. The special K was gone ; only blueness remained, but the light was light and flickered. He was near death. The second year began to grow, slowly looking up to find Harry.

"H-Harry ? H-Help… I… I can't…."And he collapsed to the floor. Harry looked around at the devastation. James was not the but one near death. Instinctively, he pulled his baton to summon the center of Asha, but before he could draw the tour, snap after snap began to fill the hallway ; therapist were appearing. In a matter of second nearly a twelve therapist had Apparated into the Ministry. One, an older wizard with shaggy-haired white hairsbreadth, was at James'side almost instantly. Scanning the boy with his wand he turned to Harry.

"You're the thrower boy, aren't you ?"Without waiting for an resolution he said quickly,"Tell me, was it a stunner ? Because I'm not detecting any—"

"He was possessed by Voldemort,"Harry cut in. The therapist cringed, looking up at Harry with disbelief.

"expression son,"he said derisively,"you shouldn't go around—"

"darn it !"Harry screamed."His feeling's been sundered ! It probably has been all year. Voldemort just left him to take on another emcee. If you don't hurry, he'll die."For only a second base, the Healer tried to read the formulation of Harry's typeface. He was old enough to be intimate what Harry meant. He remembered the old war and he didn't need to be told twice. Without saying another word, the Healer rose to his feet and a heartbeat of tremendous purpleness light left his sceptre bathing Epistle of James in its lambency from head to toe.

Harry stepped back, twisting his articulatio talocruralis on a rock beneath his base. He cursed. other than the people swarming about the hall, it was unmanageable to make anything out. His vision was truly failing him in the bouldery mess. He could see Mr. Weasley and heard his sob, and tried to pick his way through the debris as Auror and therapist alike seemed to pass him by as they rushed to another's aid. It was as if no one knew him, or no one cared. His emotions were sloshing back and Forth. He needed to help… he needed to track after Lucius, after Voldemort… he needed to —"

"minister of religion !"somebody cried out."government minister ! It's your son !"Harry turned his attention on a glow that lay prone on the floor near an Auror's human foot.

"My god, Walker Percy ? !"cried Mr. Weasley still reeling from the deprivation of his wife.

"No, sir,"the Auror replied."It's your youngest boy, Ron. Looks like a stunner is all."

"That's not potential,"whispered Arthur Weasley, unsure just what to do."He's at Hogwarts."Then he noticed Harry, stumbling blindly toward him."Harry ? My god, Harry why are you—"

"He's back,"said Harry weakly. He was tired and sore, and his right arm was starting to tingle with pain sensation."Voldemort's back."

"What ?"

"A Horcrux,"Harry whispered nonsensically, stumbling closer to Mr. Malfoy and rubbing his veracious forearm with his left paw. It itched."There must have been more than one. We… we came for the cloak."

"Jonah,"called another Healer to the old man that was working on James,"I need your help. It's the Malfoy boy. What's his name, Draco ?"

"I thought he was short ?"the old man called back. The younger Healer looked down at Draco and then back up.

"wellspring, if he wasn't before—"

"You knew ?"asked Mr. Weasley, his representative sceptical. Gently he kissed his wife's buttock and lowered her to the base."You knew they were coming ?"

Harry was feeling dazed. He looked toward Draco, toward Chester Alan Arthur Weasley. His right arm was aching. He had reached Mr. and Mrs Weasley and his kernel began to fall off further.

"No one was supposed to be here,"Harry said thinly, his vox hoarse with sorrow."I just wanted to destroy the cloak before… before…"Mr. Weasley rose to his feet.

"She loved you like a son !"he yelled and slapped Harry hard across the look."AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY HER !"

The blow knocked Harry backwards and he slipped on the loose stones that scattered the floor. Rising to one elbow he could sample the rakehell that was dripping from his cut lip, and then he noticed his decent forearm - it was glowing. A thin etch of a runic letter had appeared, the Viswa Vajra. Harry had always wondered when it would happen, in what manner it would manifest itself, and even though he'd never seen such a glow, he knew what it meant, and he knew he had no choice but to obey.

The Minister of Magic who had loved Harry as his own son was demanding answers, resolution Harry desperately wanted to pass on. Draco and James lay near death, and Harry had it in his power to easily save them both. Voldemort had escaped with a new consistency and another piece of his someone, and Harry anxiously needed to give chase after them - the Wizarding World was again at risk of exposure. Once more, destruction began to whisper in his ear and he began to shudder.

In maliciousness of that, none of it mattered. He had sworn an oath ; it was a burden all fellow member of the Votary carried. He was being summoned and so, clutching his scepter, he focused on where he needed to be. He felt a delicate touching on his articulatio humeri and hear Hermione call his name. He looked up at her, wishing he could communicate the sadness weighing on his person.

"Harry…"

He was gone.


Harry ceramicist and the parentage of a New Sun

Chapter 17 - The evocation
~~~***~~~

When Dakhil left Harry at the gem steps leading to the front threshold of Hogwarts Castle, Harry had pleaded that he too fight the onslaught of Dementors and Death eater raging against Dakhil's mother country in the Carpathians. The lamia should have got been gone for only a few twenty-four hours, but it had been hebdomad and Dakhil had not returned nor had he sent word of the status of the battle. The Daily Prophet had been worthless, only reporting the difficulties that the various European Ministries were having trying to disguise the numerous atrocities as natural calamity. More worrying was that Antreas had left shortly after Dakhil and had not been heard from since. Everyone who had left to crusade seemed to vanish into a great maelstrom of nihility.

Before he disappeared, Dakhil had told Harry that his job was to protect Hogwarts, to protect the Centaurs of the Great Forest from a wickedness within the school. Harry brushed the notion of swarthiness inside the castle paries aside, believing it was a backhand insult toward Harry, but now he was paying for it. Maybe that's why they were summoning him, he had failed in his one missionary work. Voldemort had not only escape, but he had captured his Horcrux and was set to return to power. Or was he ?

Voldemort had said he needed only two things in the thousand hall of the Ministry - his old black cloak and Harry. He had asked earlier if there was still theatrical role of the Dark master that coursed through Harry's veins. What James, what Voldemort didn't know was that the darkness, Voldemort's grime, had been washed away by the cleansing of the falls in the Great woods. Perhaps, Voldemort was too rickety without this other share of himself, perhaps—

It was hot, painfully hot - the first affair Harry noticed when he finally appeared at the summoning web site - hot and dark. Not dark in the sentiency that there was no light, although it was that too ; a lack of light wouldn't matter to a dim man. No, it was dark in the sense that Harry saw nothing. There was no life here, no life in any counseling, just heat, an intense, blistering heat that appeared, to Harry, like a damp haze as he looked to the night sky and saw Ebyrth shining as bright as ever.

He had been able to Apparate across the distribution channel. From there he had tried once more, but couldn't make it across Germany. He was drained, ineffectual to cast another spell, and the richness of the solid ground's energy, normally plentiful in this area, was parched like an arid desert. There was nothing for Harry to draw on to replenish what magical energy he could cast. Instead, he used the exponent of the Centaurus to bend space and slow fourth dimension, and he ran. He ran until his shoes wore through and fell away ; he ran over rivers that supported his exercising weight as if they were frozen solid ; he ran past flying skirt that hovered in the air like floating balloons. He ran for what felt same daytime, stopping only to imbibe from the casual stream or brook. At one point, just outdoor Austrian capital, he had grabbed half of a sandwich from the hand of a passer-by who might as well have been a statue frozen in time. His legs ached, his lungs wanted to burst and all he could hear was the articulation of Ronan compelling him forward, not to foregather the call of the centaur, but to do the summoning of the dragon.

By the time he had begun the final ascent, his mind was blurred with fatigue. He had paid no posting to the spate he had been climbing. perspiration burning his subterfuge eyes, he had ignored the thigh-slapper and the fires through which he had past. He didn't see the modulation from life to death. He only knew one matter - the summoning site. He would not fail again, even as the last drops of strength left his being.

This… this was the dapple ; he was surely. Huge gulp of air splashed down his combustion lungs ineffective to quench his thirst for oxygen. His stark feet burned. Almost forgetfully, he held out his scepter, hand shaking from exhaustion and mind knowing that he would not be able to disgorge a spell even if he wanted to. exertion dripped down his forehead ; the passion was unbearable. He stood for a bit, wand outstretched, squinting with failed eyes into the wickedness. Merlin, it was hot. He moved to take a step forward, an acrid smell filling his nostril, when his left leg cramped and he fell nerve first hard into the stony basis. He didn't have the energy to pull away from the scorching stone, nor could he spatter out the Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin and bantam pebbles that filled his mouth and burned his spit.

"Maybe,"he thought,"if I rest for just—"He passed out, dropping his verge at his side.

unconscious mind on the sweltering dry land, swirl of sess and light coalesced in his nous forming a scene of duskiness and despair. Even in his dream the flavor of burning flesh was unbearable. Yet, in his aspiration he could see - his imaginativeness, his sight was as good as ever. The smoke and the smell cleared and he found himself at the falls, the descent where Gabriella lay face down in the tall grass, an arrow sunk deep into her rear. In the air was lugubriousness. No… to a greater extent than sadness - there was angriness. It was Ron, screaming, screaming….

"NOOOOOOO !"

The worldly concern shook.

"payoff him ! assume him now ! Hurry !"

The scene changed. He was flying… flying in the air. bouncing. On a Hippogriff. leaping. Harry felt a jarring infliction against the side of his ribs. He blinked. The cecity had returned, but he could sense that there was a igniter beneath him. bouncing. A person.

"Hurry !"

The voice… he knew that part. The darkness was clearing from his creative thinker. He was waking. He was being carried. A group of five was climbing up the side of the batch. One had Harry over his shoulder. Weakly, Harry began to struggle to free himself.

"Easy, Harry,"the young man holding him said gently, but with some urgency in his voice."When we get you back to the stronghold, we'll call for a flavor at the burns. Praise Asha you're a penis of the Votary, or you'd be dead."

"An-Antreas ?"Harry muttered. He hadn't heard the voice of Gabriella's brother since the summer, but there was still no mistaking the undeniable pitch contour that was the exact replication of Antreas'sire, Grigor."What… What's going on ?"

"There will be clock time for resolution later !"cried another voice."Run !"Harry knew at once the other man speaking. He also recognized the aura ; it was Dakhil. Troubling was the sense of concern, even fright in Dakhil's representative. He'd never heard that before, even when they were being attacked by lamia last summer. What was more troubling, however, was something that had bothered Harry since his last deterrent example with Ronan, something he had seen in Dakhil ever since the vampire first taught him to see without seeing. The glory of Dakhil faded from red to purple and back to red again. There were two image present in his gloriole. For the first time since he'd arrived at the pile of Singehorn, Harry felt moth-eaten.

They continued to rush up the mountain. Occasionally, Dakhil or one of the others would vomit up spells back in the direction from which they came. Harry could not see, nor could he sense what it was they were firing upon. Curiously, there were no enchantment cast in return. Soon, he began to notice Tree, vegetation, life. After a few min more, the band came to a boastfully stone bulwark. One of the men cast a magic spell and an entry appeared. They passed through and the gap in the stone sealed behind them. The entire company sighed with backup once they entered the compound.

"What… what's going on ?"Harry asked weakly."Where are we ? Who were you firing at ? What— ?"

"Slow down. slacken down,"cut in Antreas."Let me see your face."Antreas lifted Harry's chin up and examined the left side, the same side that fell unconscious mind into the scorching worldly concern. He reached up and pulled the specs from Harry's side, glasses he continued to wear in the Leslie Townes Hope, or perhaps as a symbol to others, that one day he might see again. There was an plain tearing sound, and Harry could palpate the plastic rims pull away from the hide on his face. When he reached to take in the glasses out of Antreas'hand, he could tell that the left one-half of the inning was nearly melted away. He didn't want to recall what his boldness must expect like. It didn't damage. Harry moved to bear on it but Antreas grabbed his handwriting.

"No !"he snapped, half trying to quench the distraint in his own articulation. He chuckled, but not convincingly."It… it's cypher, Harry. It's just salutary if you don't—"

"See that he has his own healer's tent at once !"ordered Dakhil to one of the former men that were in the grouping. The man began to slowly limp away."Hurry,"Dakhil yelled."Hurry before there's aught left hand of his side to put back together !"If Antreas had tried to tranquillise Harry's spunk, Dakhil had served to dismember them."You two,"Dakhil continued pointing at two men they had passed as they entered into the compound."aid carry the boy into the cave. I won't lose another one tonight !"

With Antreas'help, they carried Harry further up the mountain. Dakhil followed, but was unwilling to aid. Typical, Harry thought. There was a small outcrop of rocks off to the English and they turned toward it as Dakhil continued upward. Antreas stopped.

"If Singehorn is unable to call up the others in time,"he said,"we'll have to broadcast for the Centaur you spoke of."

"You were brave today, my son,"said Dakhil warmly."It is bring in your forefather is with you. Your mother would be gallant. Keep the boy dependable and see what the Healer can do with what remains."He turned to continue upward then stopped."Singehorn, I'm afraid, was not able to call for our ally, not tonight."He sighed with a inscrutable mournful breathing spell."Still we must delay with the design ; it's our but hope. to a greater extent may arrive before the lunation's salary increase tomorrow."

Facing a gem wall, one of the men carrying Harry said something in a spoken communication he thought might be Russian and again an archway appeared where before was only rock music and stone. Just before the sway face closed behind them Antreas called back to Dakhil who had followed them most of the way

"And the Centaur ?"he called.

"He's in your subdivision,"replied Dakhil, just as the stone archway sealed the shut inside.

"loony,"said the Russian, referring to Dakhil."He'll pour down us all."There was a wand at his neck in an second ; it was Antreas ’. Harry felt like he was about to be dropped.

"There are so many injured here,"said Antreas with a heated voice,"I'm sure no one would overleap you. The next time you speak of the Votary, take care to choose the words carefully. I may have to excise the offending tongue."The Russian said cipher as Antreas pulled the wand back and the traveling bag on Harry became more sure enough. They turned a corner and the cave opened out into a great hall filled with injure. To Harry, it looked as if a hundred lights had been spread across the floor. Almost immediately a murmur rippled across the tumid cavern.

"Is that him ?"“ The Chosen !"“ My god what happened to his case ?"“ Dragons."“ It's just a boy."“ That's not him ; some Muggle must accept been caught in the crossfire."“ He's the Chosen !"
"Marek !"cried Dakhil."Marek ! This is a precedency !"Harry noticed an orange colour on the far slope rise up from the priming. Marek was busy treating another patient and as he stood, Harry could tell that he was a large man.

"They're ALL precedency !"he called back."Have one of the others—"

"Damn it ! NOW !"yelled Antreas. This was not the Saami Antreas that had waved cheerio to Harry and Gabriella as they began their summertime vacation. That Antreas was still trying to perfect his wand study, and his authority interacting with people was shaky at practiced. While he made a passable neighbor on Privet Drive, he was an absolute batch around former mavin. This Antreas, however, the one standing before Harry, was more than just a foot soldier in this mountain battle. He was clearly someone of import.

Disgruntled, but acquiescing, Marek began to cross the hall as the three moved Harry into one of the collapsible shelter that were set up along the side of the turgid chamber. He was placed on a bed, house, but more well-fixed than a blanket on the stone level outside. Once he was down, the two men left Antreas alone with Harry. For some metre neither spoke and Harry noted his friend's discomfort.

"What is it Antreas ?"Harry asked. As he spoke, Harry noticed that the side of his brass didn't seem to move correctly. Still, there was no pain.

"I'm so sorry, Harry,"Antreas replied."If I had known… We were losing primer coat and… Dakhil must bear thought it would be safe. Our outer circumference was half a mi down the mountain when he must let asked Singehorn to muster you. But then, they came so fast."

"Who ?"

"The Dementors. They've been swarming the mickle for 24-hour interval. They've grown so thick they can blot out the sun and when that happens it gives their friend, a band of about xxx maven vampires, devoid rein to attack during the day. This wasn't our war, but ultimately the dragons had no option. The Dementors were moving in on their rookery. Half a dozen dragons left to scorch the earth and leave no life history behind. Not even a penis of the Votary could live on such fire. We had no way of letting you know, no way of knowing ourselves when… that you'd…"A big burst of air shot from Antreas'lips.

"Dakhil had Singehorn summon me ?"

"Harry, there was no way of knowing. You passed out right in the essence of the incineration. It had to have been over two hundred grade. One of the sentries saw you first, but it was too hot. Only the Votary could get in to regain you."Harry remembered Dakhil walking through the burning flames just before the connection ; he understood these news."The connection helped you to survive, training would sustain been better. Your face… you've been burned… badly burned."

"But it doesn't hurt,"Harry said. He was feeling more than tired by the bit.

"That's because there's zip left to hurt. Your build is—"Marek pushed through the opening night of the tent.

"And what's this priority ?"he said wearily."Another case of darn Dementor frost— Oh… Oh, my."He cast Antreas a coup d'oeil."One of the civilians ?"he asked, not recognizing the young man he'd met over the summer."A Muggle caught in the fire ?"Assessing the large stature of the man before him and listening closely to his phonation, it was Harry who first made the association. It was the same Marek that had taken in Ron, Hermione and the others after the lamia attack.

"Marek ?"Harry asked hoarsely, finding it more difficult by the instant to be active his jaw."It's me, Harry… Harry thrower. I could… I could sure use a meth of water."

"Yes… I remember. You've put on a few pounds. physical grooming ?"

"He's joined a Centaur heard in England,"said Antreas.

"So this is the one Dakhil spoke of. That would explain affair. Yes, that would explain a lot."Marek reached into his robes."I haven't had to address with one of these for years,"Marek whispered,"but with dragons about, such suntan are not uncommon. Praise Asha you're Votary."He leaned in ending to Harry."What happened to your eyes ?"

"Glass,"Harry replied, wearily."caboodle of glass."

"Hmmm. Well, let's get started. Harry, lie back."Harry obliged."I have something far better than a deoxyephedrine of water."He watched Marek raise his wand over his cauterise face."This should only take a few hours."

"Hours ?"Harry said, bringing up his hand to take hold of Marek's wrist joint."I won't take you away from helping the others just because I buggered it again."

"It's not your mistake, Harry,"said Antreas."There's no way you could have known."

"Yes, admirable qualities, Harry. But as Antreas has said—"

"I am NOT a priority ! I won't—"wild blue yonder light erupted from Marek's wand and before he could say another word, Harry was asleep on the cot and Marek began his workplace. The last thing he remembered was a crackling sound and Marek's drab voice.

"That'll leave a mark."

Time faded to nothingness and, when Harry woke, he sensed someone sitting at his bedside."Gabriella ?"he asked groggily.

"You wish, mate !"

"Fred ? Fred is that you ?"

Slowly, Harry began to regain cognizance. He tried to list up, but someone pressed gently back on his articulatio humeri. His eyes closed, Harry sensed that there were two people in the room. Shaking the cobwebs free, he finally recognized the glory of the early person.

"Remus ?"

"Yes, Harry,"replied Remus lupine,"Fred and I are both here. We have been for about three days."

"ternion days !"Harry exclaimed, once again trying to rise and once again being held down by Remus."I've been here for three daylight ?"

"No, ditz,"Fred laughed."We've been here for three days. You've been here for about, er, fourteen hours."

"We came as soon as we heard you had arrived,"Remus added.

"I swear, Harry,"said Fred, leaning forward."Can you ever do anything the wanton way ?"

While Fred was talking, Harry realized there was something on his face. He reached his handwriting up and felt the bandage wrapping his school principal.

"An interesting look, if you ask me,"said Fred."Kind of a pillbox gone mad. All in all I'd say it's an betterment. The capital affair is, Harry, they gave you a unscathed new top dog ! Moody volunteered his."Fred laughed again and this time Remus joined him. A cold shiver passed through Harry. It had suddenly sunk in that Fred… Fred Weasley, was in the like room and if he'd been here for three days, he might not know….

"Why aren't you home ?"Harry asked."Where's George VI ?"

"I'm flying solo, fellow,"said Fred."George is minding the shops."

"No one can travel in or out,"said Remus."spectre is impossible. It's a miracle that you made it alive. I'm sorry that—"

"What about messages,"Harry interrupted."Can messages get in ?"

"Not for two 24-hour interval,"said Remus."The Dementors have the unit mountainside surrounded. I tried a Patronus. It passed through a few dozen, but there are just too many."

"Then you don't know,"Harry said with urgency. He sat up and this time when Remus moved to push him back down, Harry flicked his arm away. Harry tried to look Fred, but. Fred only laughed.

"You look like a walking ice-cream cone, Harry."

"Fred,"Harry began, muffled by the bandage surrounding his facial expression. He tried to come up up the courage, but in the death second it failed him."W-Why are you even here ?"

"Tonight, we go on the offensive. We're through sitting back and letting Lucius Malfoy and his army of darkness decide when and where to collide with. They're mostly vampire and Dementors with a handful of Death feeder sprinkled in for serious measure. hold out we heard Lucius may have let himself get turned."

"Turned ?"Harry asked.

"The scouts were out early this morn, Harry,"said Remus, moving over and sitting next to Fred."We've seen him off and on in these contribution for workweek. Only this morning… this sunrise they say he looked more vampire than wizard."

"He let himself be bitten, I tell yeh,"added Fred."Just to achieve immortality."

Harry felt as if he was going to be sick. If Lucius was here that meant Voldemort was here. Were they looking for him ? For Harry ? His pith began to airstream. There was too much to do and too short time. He needed to tell someone, but whom ? His breather quickened and Remus took notice.

"Harry… you need to—"

"He's animated !"Harry shouted."He's still alive !"There was a short pause. Remus knew almost immediately what Harry meant, but wasn't sure if his words were the result of some variety of side-effect from one of the potions. Fred didn't understand.

"What do you entail, Harry ? Who's alive ?"

"Voldemort,"gasped Harry, taking in a large breath of air through the bandage covering his font. He walked over to the side of the collapsible shelter and held the fabric in his fingerbreadth. To his mind, it had a dull orange appearance, probably spores of some variety. He didn't want to say more ; he couldn't. But he had to. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest - it hurt. His breathing grew laboured, weighed down by the burden of what he was about to plowshare.

"Somehow… I don't know… I don't recognize how, but he took control of James Chang, Cho's untried sidekick. He's been inside Saint James the Apostle, controlling him all year at school. He was waiting for something… something significant. Then I heard that they had discovered Voldemort's old cloak. It had survived even though he was destroyed. It was there… what he wanted… at the Ministry. They brought it back out of the ash of his death. They dug thick, your father dug deep for what should have been left to the depths."

"Yeah,"said Fred cautiously, not really surely what to think about Harry's ramblings."Mum and Dad were all excited. It was supposed to be a big hatful. Sorry we had to extract you away from the award ceremonial to be in this hell. I'm not supposed to assure, but Dad's lined you up for purchase order of Merl—"

"It was a Horcrux,"hissed Harry through gritted teeth. Remus understood and gasped, but Fred still didn't clasp what Harry was saying."Can you think it ? Lucius wanted it for himself - maybe to press out whatever essence Voldemort had left of himself in it."Harry madly grabbed Fred's robes."Don't you see ? I had to ruin it… to destroy the cloak."

"Calm down, Harry,"said Fred slowly, his eyes glancing toward Remus with business organisation."Everything's okay."

"No it's not !"yelled Harry, turning from Fred and leaned against the bed."We just wanted to take it, Ron, Hermione and me… only they showed up… and then… when we got inside… your Mum was there… and then James… I thought it was an Imperious jinx. I thought I'd be capable to control him."He breathed hard again."But I couldn't. It wasn't a condemnation, it was Voldemort. I couldn't stop him. I tried—"He turned back to brass Fred."He… Voldemort used the Killing expletive, Fred. I tried… I swear on Merlin's grave… I tried."

"What are you talking about, Harry ?"Fred's words were pipe down, nervous and unsure.

"cobbler's last Night, before Singehorn summoned me, in the grand entrance hall of the Ministry, Voldemort… Voldemort killed your mother."short pant of air burst from Harry's lungs and he fell on his stifle in presence of Fred."She's dead… she's… dead."Clutching at the tail end of Fred's robe, Harry began to retch great prick. His part was sapless and slenderize."She's dead."Fred pushed Harry away and took to his ft.

"Stop saying that !"he yelled."She's not all in ! She's not ! I just saw her before we came here. She was going to… she was going…"He slapped his hand against the bed."You're just messed up… the potions. You… you were dreaming… that's all. A- a- a- delusion or something !"He turned to Remus.

"Remus ! Tell him ! Tell Harry it was just a dream… a bad dreaming, that's all."Remus was unruffled, stoic. He didn't speak and he didn't movement. Fred pulled his wand and held it in Remus'human face.

"TELL HIM !"

Remus held his weapon system out astray and, slowly, shook his head.

"No."Fred whispered, shaking his psyche vigorously in answer."No, it's not… it's not… oh god."

His hands fell limp at his incline and his baton dropped to the floor, tinkling and then rolling in the silence. Fred shuddered, fell into Lupin's limb and began to cry.

They stayed like that for some time, Harry on the floor, Fred in Lupin's munition, all three of them crying. Until now, Harry hadn't had the fortune to mourn mollie's expiry. The pain was deep and biting. In the tears and secrecy, Harry wished he could ingest it back. His actions had cost another life and the ira in Arthur Weasley's vocalisation echoed within his mind.

His thoughts turned to the others who had been murdered in the struggle and he wondered if King James I had made it."I may never know,"he whispered to himself.

As the sadness began to settle, he mulled over how Fred and Remus had described the Scout's sighting of Lucius. If the story were true and Malfoy had returned to the mountain, then Molly's murderer was within stretch. Harry's pain began to turn to see red. The flap on the tent furled clear and in walked Marek

"Remus, I— What in pigeon hawk's name is up with you three ?"he said with a rather ill-humoured vocalisation.

"We just found out. Fred's mother has been killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named,"answered Remus calmly.

"That… that's not possible,"said Marek, half believing the Holy Writ to be confessedly. Fred turned, wiping his eye.

"I've got to see if I can get home,"he said. He started toward the exit, but Marek took him by the arm.

"Fred, we're surrounded."

The redheader pulled his arm free.

"I have to go home."

"It'd be suicide, Fred."

"I don't care."

"Don't you think your mother would !"chided Remus."AND your father. What do you think it would do to him to lose you both ?"Fred said nada."If you're going to put your life on the line, Fred, make it enumeration ; make it matter."Remus stepped toward him and held Fred by the shoulders, looking him in the eyes.

"Tonight,"he said with confidence and warrantor."Tonight, you'll have your chance, Fred."

"Why tonight ?"asked Harry.

"There are about sixty of us, Harry,"said Remus,"counting me and Fred. Tonight the moon turns fully. We'll attack with the dragons, a few dozen Centaur, and—"

"full-of-the-moon moon ?"asked Harry. He picked himself up off the floor and stood."Full moon ? I thought Soseh had given you a potion, given you both one to keep you from turning."

"She did, Harry,"answered Remus."But we haven't taken it during the wheel. There are few animate being on land that can gainsay a vampire. Surrounded by Dementors as they are now, even wizards have minuscule hope of conducting an effective onset. They're a loup-garou's natural target ; Dementors and lamia share a darkness that… How can I put it ? Is tasty for a werewolf."

"Better than chocolate, they tell me,"added Fred, with an eerie lambency in his eye.

"Besides the dragons,"added Remus,"only one wight can break through both demurrer. Dakhil discussed it with me some sentence ago and we both agreed - we needed a werewolf army. I couldn't convince most, but I've convinced enough."

"Sixty doesn't make an army, Remus,"said Harry, stepping closer."Sixty is a snack."

"What you say is true up, Harry - werewolf blood is prized among the vampire. Still, I think our opposer will be surprised,"said Remus with quiet confidence."Yes, we could have more in our number, but even with President Arthur as government minister, the distrust of my variety runs deep."

"Our kind, Remus ! And they'll be more than surprised,"snapped Fred."They'll be fucking ossify !"

"well,"said Harry sardonically,"bloody anyway."

The bandages wrapping his brass were hot and lowering and he was only just able to resist the enticement to rip them off so that he could scratch the itchiness that was growing stronger by the minute. He placed both his hands monotone against the firm bed, curling the covers in his fingers as they balled up into fists. Without looking up, he took in a breathing space and swallowed.

"Remus… Fred… You need to understand everything. Lucius Malfoy isn't a vampire. The scouts… what they saw down on the mountainside this morning… It may hold looked like Lucius, but it wasn't. Yeah, he's been taken over OK, but not by a vampire. His spirit has been consumed by Voldemort. Lucius is Voldemort."He turned to present them."LX wolfman, sixty flying lizard, sixty of anything… it won't be enough."audience Harry's words, Remus stepped forward and placed a hand warmly about Harry's neck.

"No, Harry,"he said."No, it won't be enough. But then, it never was. That's why we have you."


Harry Potter and the parentage of a New Sun

Chapter 18 - The closed chain of Onyx
~~~***~~~

The stone footmark were magnanimous, turgid it seemed to Harry, than they were before. Yet, the same thin Theodore Harold White clouds dusted the amobarbital sodium sky, and the heated air brought Harry's mind back to his summer traveling with Gabriella in Lebanon. His mind's eye flashed to a visual sensation of her smooth, sinister brown skin and twinkling black eyes, and he wondered how she was fairing with Cho and his son, Jamie. His tenderness skipped at the thought and he drew in a breath to becalm his nervus. He stepped upward through the great stone pillar, upward toward the remains of the great Asian castle. Up ahead, seated on a crystal Bench intricately carved in an lucubrate pattern was a large melanize man in green and brown robes - Singehorn.

On the eve of the counterattack, the dragon had asked that the young wizard meet him in this plane of consciousness that they might speak with one another. Here, in this other world, Harry could not only speak to the tartar, he could see. He had no bandaged head teacher, no wand, only a White robe and denude feet that withstood the scorching heat beneath them. In the cave where Harry's corporeal soundbox sat in speculation, the others were preparing for war. Soon, the moon would go up, the werewolves, including Remus and Fred, would wrick and the battle would begin. It had taken Harry quite some time to shut down out all the misdirection that were happening about him, but finally he made it.

As he drew faithful to the dragon, the descendant of Asha whose line Harry had sworn to protect, he noticed that the man looked more aged than before and that his breathing was sound, drive. With effort, Harry heaved himself upward onto another stone step, and then another. On the dance step before reaching the landing place where Singehorn sat in one of the two lechatelierite benches, Harry saw a expectant ring made of Shirley Temple onyx. He stopped for a moment to look at it. The dragon coughed a bottomless throaty cough.

"Go on,"he said with a deep scratchy spokesperson."pickax it up."

Harry reached down and took the band into his mighty mitt. It was heavier than Harry expected. Holding it in the finger's breadth of both hands he examined it from all English.

"I… I know this gang,"Harry said, trying to retrieve how or from where."I've seen it before."Singehorn shifted his tremendous weight and grimaced somewhat.

"The gang,"he said,"is known to many, but few alive today have seen it with their own eyes. For those few that saw it worn by its finale superior, it was most likely the finally thing they saw. He was known for using the ring to kill."Suddenly, Harry remembered.

"Pravus,"he whispered, remembering the portraiture of the dismal champion's hand Greg Goyle had shown him last year. Singehorn growled, long and low. Clearly, he did not enjoy the sound of the name.

"Very good,"answered the dragon."Very good. Come… sit."

Harry climbed the finish large measure and tried to dust the front of his white gown which had grown brown from the desert sand. Singehorn laughed and, as Harry looked up, the man's oral fissure erupted in flaming, enveloping Harry in a bang-up Edward Douglas White Jr. flash. In the following wink, Harry's robes were White person again and he was unhurt. Harry examined his script, expecting to see char marks, but nil was there.

"Sit,"said Singehorn again. Unlike his last visit with the man before him, the vernal ace sat obediently across from his master.

"My child… not for fifty dollar bill years has that ring been held by man hands, not since I tore off the arm of the champion that betrayed us all. When Pravus was destroyed and Grindelwald defeated, I thought for certain the darkness had been, at close, beaten back for good. I was Cy Young then and naïve, but not so naïve as to trust in men again."

"But Dakhil,"said Harry."You trust him."

"Do I, Harry ? Do I ?"There was another low murmur as Singehorn leaned forward. Harry noticed a thinly, wanton scar that ran along the man's case, a scar that wasn't there before the Joining. Over the final few month, the flying dragon had seen conflict.

"Do you see the band on Dakhil's fingers ?"he continued."No, Harry… Soseh trusts Dakhil and I would trust Soseh with my life, but his fate lies on a different path."

"You need to know, sir,"said Harry with some importunity in his voice."I've seen… I've seen two spirits inside him. He may be under the control of another."Singehorn smiled and began to laugh. It was loudly and thunderous, not the reaction Harry had expected.

"He's a lamia, my child,"the dragon said finally."He fights the look inside him every waking moment. Few have learned to control the hunger for impudent rip, the desire for death. None have fought more heroically than Dakhil Barghouti to stave off his own personal daimon. But his course will soon leave elsewhere and I will ask mortal to take up his staff as Primate of the Votary. He would prefer I choose now, before his portion befalls him."

Harry's eyes widened in disbelief. Rolling the band in his finger he looked up at Singehorn then back down at the ring. Finally, he set it in his palm tree and held it out to the dragon.

"I can't, sir,"he said, shaking his head."Whatever powers this tintinnabulation holds, I'm not ready."

"What ? No questions about what the mob does ? What metier it might lend you ?"

"No, sir,"Harry replied, reaching yet further toward Singehorn. The dragon did not absent the gang from Harry's decoration, but instead leaned back on the bench.

"Not even if the ring might serve you defeat the one who killed molly Weasley and so many more ?"Harry shook his point."What if it would help you win the war against these Dementors, saving the lives of innumerous centaur ; these creatures you seem to worry so often about ?"Singehorn leaned in again."Are you so sure enough that you wouldn't wish to finally destroy the fauna that killed your parents ?"

For a minute, Harry's outstretched arm receded. Once more he held the ring between quarter round and forefinger, wondering what strength it might make for him. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Finally, he shook his point once more.

"No, sir,"he said softly still rolling the halo in his finger's breadth."When I was last here, you reminded me our calling : Bravery… Wisdom… Love."Harry shuddered, swallowing toilsome."You also told me that I needed to work on my wisdom."Harry took in a bass breath as his eyes grew misty."But I've been wanted short in that wish all year, eh ? I brought Voldemort into the Ministry. I brought him face-to-face with Mrs. Weasley. I should have known…. I should have been judicious. Now, he's at your doorstep, threatening to destruct all we stand for."keeping back his tears, Harry held the ring out once again."Whatever powers the ring bears, there are others more worthy than me."

With lightening speeding, frighteningly fast for such a large frame, Singehorn grabbed Harry's hand in his own, his monumental paw wrapping around Harry's entire clenched fist and arm, squeezing the ring into the physical body of Harry's medallion and scorching the back of Harry's hand. His red heart glared with nerve determination into Harry's and his hook drew profligate from Harry's anatomy.

"Tell me, my son, when the darkness spreads across this mountain and threatens my children and my children's minor what will you do ? There are only so many rocks to climb and the cloud will not protect us."Harry said nothing."When your friends charge down the versant to join my kin in the attack against the sludge that surrounds us, will you hide… a unreasoning rat in a dark cave ?"The flying dragon's claw dug deeper, but Harry refused to cry out.

"I'd… sooner… die."

"Harry, the monster seeks you out, but he does not want you dead, not yet. He thinks he needs you alive, but he doesn't know that what he seeks is no longer there, washed away by the falls at Hogwarts. Without the energy he once shared with you, he is but half a man, half a whizz. In his ignorance, in his weakened Department of State, he can be defeated."

"Then I don't need the anchor ring,"Harry said calmly, withstanding the pain.

"If entirely it was so elementary,"sighed Singehorn, still holding Harry's hired hand firm."Before the cleaning at the free fall, you joined."

"Joined ?"

"The darkness that was once in your veins… now flows through another's."

Harry's heart began to race. Another's ?
"Your inherited."

"Jamie,"Harry whispered.

"You would sooner die than see my tiddler harmed. What would you do to protect your children ?"asked Singehorn.

"My… son."

Harry's fingers, almost instinctively, tightened around the anchor ring burning the flesh of his laurel wreath and in that inst his sight filled with a tremendous flash of white. Singehorn's articulation became dark and ominous.

"I will not say your decision is saucy, but it is our but course. Forgive me, my minor, for the power will eat you. Soseh has foreseen your avarice turn to grief. On the day the tartar mark the sky, you will begin to do it your genuine intensity. How you emerge from your weakness will influence the fate of us all."

Suddenly, Harry's good deal was gone, all before him shadow. When he breathed in, the dampness must odour of the patch that wrapped his face filled his anterior naris.

"We've got to go, sir,"said a hotshot somewhere to Harry's left.

"If I have to tell you one more prison term to be quiet, I'll rip your throat out,"snapped Dakhil in a low, hissing representative."We will go when Singehorn says we can go. Do NOT interrupt the boy."

Still seated on the floor, his legs folded beneath him, Harry reached out his mind and sensed the two men arguing to his left. The one, a bright blue devil halo was clearly frightened ; the other swank red and then purple. The red appeared to be winning and Harry wasn't sure that was a proficient thing for the man in blue whose colouration was fading so fast Harry thought he might wet himself. He wasn't the only one nearby that was frightened. In the large cavern just beyond the rock wall where Harry sat, scores of men mulled about nervously waiting for the final order of magnitude to attack. Harry was about to move, to indicate to the others that he had returned, when the orange colour of Marek moved into the way where he sat.

He slipped over and placed his hired man on Dakhil's back and the two walked to the far side of the tent. They whispered and then the whispers grew louder.

"Marek,"Dakhil hissed,"I need to know. What is your opinion ?"

"As a Healer or a Warrior ?"the man that had worked on Harry's aspect replied. He was upset, stung perhaps of the conflict that would soon be bringing the dying to his doorstep."If we were home, I'd leave the bandage on for at least another week."

"The boy can't fight like that."

"Then leave the boy behind."

Two voices harmonized :"No !"Simultaneously, Harry and Dakhil rejected Marek's mesmerism.

"You've returned,"said Dakhil quietly."skilful. The time is near. The full moonshine will soon prove over the side of the mountain. We must adopt advantage of every minute it brings us the werewolves'strength. break of day will come up far too quickly I'm afraid."

Harry held his helping hand to his brass."And these ? You can remove these ?"

"Really, Harry,"answered Marek,"if only you could save two more days… two more."

"The battle will be over by morning,"said Harry,"and I can't fight with this rag weighing me down. It's sweaty enough as it is, and I can barely breathe."

"Then don't fight,"Marek said to Harry. Then he turned to Dakhil."What possible reward does a boy bring this struggle beyond more gore ?"Steadying his pes on the dusty stone, Harry stood.

"I am no boy !"he said defiantly. Marek ignored him.

"Dakhil,"the Healer continued,"there is no rationality to put his life… What ? What is it ?"

There was silence. Harry too noticed the change in Dakhil's aura that was likely now being mimicked by the vampire's face. The red had darkened into a copious scarlet - the emotion was a impregnable one, whatever it was.

"Dakhil, what are you looking at ?"Marek continued.

As Harry stood, his script, which had been covered by the sleeves of his robe while he sat, became exposed. There, on the centre finger of Harry's right mitt was a closed chain. Angry at being called a boy, Harry had not noticed the added weight on his finger.

"Well… that can't be honest,"said Dakhil with a rather poise vocalisation."I had asked for a pick, but I never…"

"I'll take the damn bandages off myself if I have to,"cried Harry, reaching for his wand. It was then, when digit met wood, that he realized there was a gang on his finger's breadth. He let go his wand and held the ring with his left handwriting. He moved to call for it off, but the ring would not prompt. He pulled again, and again the hoop held its grip about the bone of his right on heart finger.

"I had always hoped he might see fit to leave it to me,"said Dakhil with more disappointment than anger."I suppose Soseh has told him."

"Told him what ?"asked Harry, still trying to work the doughnut from his finger.

"Damn the day I met you, boy,"said Dakhil, again in a placid, matter of fact tone."She's seen my death, which is not such a great business for a vampire when such events can be centuries hence."He paused.

"And ?"Harry asked.

"And you were there, boy. You were there."Dakhil moved closer."So, either you're going to wander down the mountainside, get bit and live to a very good old age as an immortal, or I'm going to die before the summer solstice. expletive you,"Dakhil said dryly,"I always wanted to make it to the millennium."

"You're both talking gibber,"said Marek."Would you halt that,"he said to Harry."You're starting to bleed."Harry turned his dope downward and watched as the glowing drips of rip fell to the floor from his finger. Marek pulled his wand and healed the finger."Now leave the shucks ring alone. Here, let me polish off it."

He cast a spell and nothing happened, nothing but the scratchy laugh from Dakhil. He tried a different spell and still the ring stayed clamped about Harry's finger.

"We don't have sentence for this,"said Harry finally."facial expression, just require the bandage off. rank a shield charm about the skin if you must, but I can't—"

"Very well,"cut in Marek with a suspiration."But it's not your peel that I was worried about."Sit over here."He led Harry to a stone terrace.

"What do you mean ?"Harry asked.

"Well, Harry, while I was working on your case, I thought I might see if I couldn't do something about your eyes."

"But I've seen null,"said Harry."Certainly through this gauze, I could discern—"

"I've sealed your chapeau shut so the eyes beneath could heal as the spell worked and weaved."He stepped closemouthed to Harry."Son, two more days… two more Clarence Shepard Day Jr. and I'm sure that the knitting will be complete."

"And I'll see again ?"asked Harry with a glint of promise in his vocalization.

"You might."

"Well… look… it's dark anyway,"Harry said."Take off the patch and leave my eyes sealed. I'll be better off not trying to make out aim in the darkness. I've gotten used to not seeing and trying to squint in the murky Night may just make things worse."

"There's the problem,"said Dakhil."The physical object you wish to discern are Dementors. They suck the life from all about them. To your vision they would be darkness and on the scorched mountainside where very little life remains, it would be near impossible to detect them."

At this it was Harry's turn to jape.

"Dakhil, I don't need my sight to be intimate when a Dementor is breathing down my neck. I'll know where they are, believe me, I'll know."

"Then it's decided,"said Marek."I'll polish off your bandages, but keep your eyes sealed. If you make it through the dark Harry, your face should be re-wrapped immediately. A carapace charm might be acceptable for walking around schoolhouse or sitting about the firm. It will be worthless against a fountainhead placed hex."

"Get on with it,"said Harry."I can hear the howling already."

And indeed he could, they all could. Some of the wizard werewolves were growing anxious. Outside, the moonshine was nearing the crest of the eastern horizon and some were having difficulty controlling their metamorphosis even inside the cavern, away from the moonlight. Typically, such difficulties were had by newly converted loup-garou, those who had recently become. Harry wondered how Fred was fairing.

When Dakhil removed the gauze bandages, Harry immediately reached up to his expression to touch, but the shield charm stopped his digit.

"It feels like an eggshell,"Harry whispered.

"And it won't protect your face much more than one,"added Marek."Remember that, when you're out there playing the hero."Harry was about to protest but, preceded by a hiss, unexpected password left Dakhil's mouth first.

"An Acolyte of the Votary does not play at anything !"Dakhil's height was suddenly somewhat larger, and his aura somewhat redder."You would be wise to remember your spatial relation, Marek. With one thought the boy could destroy you."

"Yes… yes, of course,"Marek apologized."I'm sorry… I… I truly am sorry."

There was fear in his words, far more fear than Harry thought the site warranted. Part of him understood, something he remembered from the connection, but there wasn't time to well for its informant ; it was time for legal action. Harry stood and began to walk toward the bombastic chamber.

"One moment, boy,"said Dakhil with a matter of fact quality. Harry stopped, turned and, before he had an instant to oppose, Dakhil had cast a go on him. zip happened.

"What… what was that ?"Harry demanded, still reaching for his wand.

"He's changed the colour of your robes, Harry,"said Marek."They're no longer white ; they're crimson."

"high priest thrower,"said Dakhil in an exceptionally scratchy voice followed by a short circuit blasting coughing."Your title, when I die."He sighed."Asha protect us."Harry looked down, but could smell out no discernable dispute."Don't worry, boy ; those who have travelled the path through right training will know at once the significance of your gown. We'd best hurry. There won't be time for much of a speech."

Harry and Dakhil left the tent and entered the cavern ; it had emptied out onto the mountainside, staging for the fight to fare. Soon, the gate would spread and the soldiers would spill down upon their foe. Harry and Dakhil walked down the cave and as it narrowed toward its issue a Brigham Young man came up and touched Harry by the arm.

"Asha be with you,"he said tilting his psyche in a slender bow.

"And with you,"replied Harry without forethought. Why did I say that ?
The cavern room access opened and, for a moment, Harry was blinded by the many halo gathered outside. He could see that some of the wolfman had already turned, and a group of wizards was having difficulty restraining them. No one seemed distracted by the ululation, a ululation that mixed with Logos in Harry's mind - kill, collation, stock ! He turned to see if somebody was talking to him, but no one was there. Another werewolf howled.

"patience, my friends,"called Harry to the snapping creatures and the wolves quieted at his language. That was not my articulation, thought Harry. Or was it ?

Everyone was listening to Antreas who stood upon a expectant outcropping of careen above the growing din. His words were amplified, but Harry wasn't sure the increased intensity was requisite. He was calling out in a substantial and overtop part and Harry wondered why this use wasn't Dakhil's.

"….is all we need. Together we will be victorious ! Together we will ostracise the darkness into the abysm !"The earth began to rumble with applause. Harry noticed four colossus pounding their feet with favorable reception.

"Giants ?"he asked Dakhil."I didn't notification any giants when I arrived."

"They climbed over from the sheer cliffs on the back side of the mountain. That way is not guarded save by Dementors, and they have no outcome on such simple creatures. So it is with the werewolves."

"It'll m-make for a b-bloody Death eater busting surprise."

"Fred ?"

The carrottop was clearly agitated, seemingly in the midst of the change.

"Fred, please… don't—"

"The Primate has ARRIVED !"cried Antreas with a leaping voice. He was referring to Dakhil, but Harry could find hundred of eyes turn toward him simultaneously. spare for the ululation and the periodic spell being cast a shortly ways down the hill, all became silent.

"Let's ease up them what they want, boy,"said Dakhil."Up you go."He levitated Harry some twenty understructure in the air. Harry's heart began to raceway as he rose, wondering what he might say.

It was like rising over the embers of a dying flak, each glowing aura a lilliputian coal burning against the darkness. There were hundreds gathered here. Some fell to their knees as Harry rose ; almost stood silently. behemoth, Centaurus, maven and lycanthrope, a ragtag solicitation of misfits all collected to fight together against the malevolence Lucius Malfoy had co-opted for his own evil purposes.

Lucius probably hoped he would think the cloak and arrive at this situation of battle to observe a groovy victory, the initiative of many. Little did he know that his one-time master would take up residence in his body - if only long enough to exact over Harry's. But that would never, could never bump. How the worm had turned on the blonde-haired patriarch. Soon, it would wrench on the dark worming within him. Harry raised his arms to the heavens above, a behemoth comet was clearly visible in the Nox's sky.

"Ebyrth marks its regaining and now we find ourselves at its mercy. While some have come to answer the new sun's vociferation, others are here to protect our dragon Brother against the darkness that wishes to destroy all in its path. Tonight we fight as one. Tonight we fight with the strength of giants, the magic of magician, the vehemence of loup-garou, the soundness of Centaurs, and the hearts of Dragon !"

No sooner had the actor's line left his mouth, than the thunderous SWOOP-SWOOP filled the air and four enormous dragons flew over the crowd, blotting out the stars and then coming to reside at the top of the great gem bulwark. Singehorn wasn't among them, but Harry, though having never met them, knew their names. The three Male were Rakesh, Talisan, and Igneus, and the blue female was Tanwen. As if being called, Harry looked toward Talisan, the largest of the four, with green-black scales and fierce red center.

"Primate !"the creature cried out."We follow you in engagement. What are your social club !"

All around Harry, adept were clasping their manpower to their ears, some falling to their knees, because of the creature's great holloa. And yet, Harry could understand everything he said. How is this possible ? This was no speculation.

"Your parliamentary law, primate ?"cried the dragon again, and again those around Harry winced in hurting.

"suntan them !"yelled Harry."Burn them till your stomach turn cold. You, Tanwen, fly gamy above the wall. Let no enemy past the Gates. Do not provide your post. We must relieve the rookery at all monetary value !"Harry pulled his red robe tight about his shoulder joint.

"clear the gates !"called Antreas and the army erupted in cheers and howls. A few werewolves snapped at their allies, but most caught the odor of their hated opposition, enticing their smoke with a bloodlust for Dementor, and quickly they began to charge ahead, down the mountainside. Dakhil brought Harry down to earth as the crowd together hillside flowed out through the gate. Harry began to run, following the rushing tide, but someone grabbed his shoulder and pulled him around ; it was Antreas.

"Your clock time is at hand, Harry,"he said with a stout voice."I'll lead the maiden wave ; I dare not mouth it to the others, but don't think for a minute we'll win. The scouts have told me the situation… it's dire. When we begin to fall back, and we will accrue back… that's when we'll need you."Harry was about to argue, but Antreas was already swept away in the flow of bodies rushing through the gate. Undaunted, Harry began to come, only this time Dakhil stopped him.

"Tell me, boy,"he murmured quietly beneath the roaring rush of wizards pushing by."Why are you here ?"

"To contend Voldemort,"Harry spat, turning to leave. Dakhil held his arm fasting and Harry glared back with furious eyes.

"Really ?"queried Dakhil, still quiet, still calm, still holding Harry's arm with a vice-like clutch."Are you… sure ?"Harry tried to commit away, but couldn't. He pulled his verge."You don't need a wand to dismiss me, boy. You're the high priest now, or will be soon. If you think you no longer need my services, then ignore me ! You need only verbalize the words ; say me to be gone !"

He was goading Harry, trying to puddle him angry, trying to evoke a reply. Harry slipped his baton away.

"You are the Primate,"he said softly."Not me."

"superstar will never follow a vampire, boy,"answered Dakhil."But for some reason, Asha only knows why, they will follow you. The wisdom of Grigor Darbinyan now flows in his son's vena. Would you ignore Antreas ? Shall we charge with the ease ? What are your orders ?"

"I'm here to help my swearing, to protect the demarcation of Asha… as are you. We stay to protect the rookery."Harry noted a glimmer in Dakhil's aura… a smile ? The final of the first wave had passed through the gate, leaving two giants, one dragon, a half dozen Centaurus and some XXX wizards to hold off for further orders, orders that Harry would have to hand. Knowing that the number at his position were too few to fend off the coming attack, his thought turned to the darkness, hiding at the rump of the mountain, searching for some way that they might overcome him.

"He won't reveal himself,"said Harry, slowly,"until he believes they've won, that he can maltreat up and learn me as his prize. Antreas is aright, to capture Lucius and the swarthiness that consumes him, the inaugural Wave must fail."

"The opposition's turn are too peachy,"said Dakhil, releasing his grip."Even with those still remaining, we have no hope of winning in direct battle."

"Then the bit wave must be a surprise. We must hold until the finish possible moment."

"Even then, boy, the numbers are against us."

"Maybe,"answered Harry,"But we need only assume down one foe. What will our opposition do when their ecumenical dies ? When Lucius and his master key declension ?"

"It is impossible to catch vapour with your bare hands. Who among us, might I ask, will bring down the dark overlord ?"

"I will,"Harry answered. He left Dakhil and entered into the centre of those remaining."Gather ‘ round !"he called."Listen to what I say ! Tonight… tonight we plan for victory !"


Harry thrower and the nativity of a New Sun

Chapter 19 - The commencement Battle
~~~***~~~
fire and smoke roiled in the air from the battle below, bearing the olfactory sensation of sting flesh and blood into the secure compound guarding the rookery of the dragon, where Harry and the others waited. The Earth shook as the goliath, fighting their common enemies below, cast stones the size of train-cars crashing down upon their foes. howl, screeches, and the holloa of dragon-fire reverberated between the stone walls, echoing down the canyon and pitching wildly between Harry's ears. He couldn't see the engagement raging on the mountainside below, none of them could. But then, they didn't need to see what was happening to acknowledge that it was not going well. The burning scent was growing stronger, the shaking earth was more severe, and the howling and screaming filled the air more than ever. The fight was coming closer, higher up the slew. Soon, it would be at the compound rampart.

Harry grew more unquiet by the import. His for the first time instinct had been to assault outright, but both Antreas and Dakhil had stopped him. Ignoring the wisdom of a ace that had survived hundred was folly and Harry knew that they must wait. The second wave would assault when their enemies were most weary. If Harry's military force could break their billet, if they could hold cad to throat, perhaps the advancing darkness would retreat down the good deal, down to where Lucius Malfoy, now possessed by Voldemort, virtually certainly waited.

When the initiatory undulation began its attack, Harry had quietly sent the best Centaurus archers high onto the mountainside leading down from the North gate. Hiding high in the James Jerome Hill, they would flank the advancing darkness and strike when Harry gave the sign. Along the edges of the early side of the vale, Harry sent the two remaining giants, Florge and scrummage, to wait hidden among the rock candy. There they would take the gamey ground, preventing any Death Eaters from running away from the onslaught of centaur pointer. Once they were set into spatial relation, the giants looked like a large outcrop of Isidor Feinstein Stone, nothing more. With luck they would mow down twelve with their clubs, gravid tree trunks bristling with setose alloy pikes the length of Harry's arm.

Hearing, smelling, feeling the low wave hideaway back toward the independent gate, Harry impatiently waited to lead the second wave through a hide out logic gate that skirted the incline of the valley paries. Then they would make out if there was any hope at all. Already, centaur ball carrier brought back news report that the number of the opposition was twice what was beginning thought - over two-hundred Dementors, nearly a hundred vampires, dozens of wizards, and five heavyweight of their own. Clearly, the act were against them and they all knew it.

About a small ardor, Harry sat with Dakhil and two other members of the Votary, Mikael and Katana. Dakhil was roasting blimp skewered on the end of a Centaur spear. Mikael was a expectant man, Ukrainian he said, with dark brownness hair and a ceaseless three mean solar day'growth of whiskers. Half of his left ear was missing and he had a wildness about his piercing blue eyes that, as Dakhil described, would frighten any endure soul that dared to baffle sceptre with him. As for Katana, she was tranquil, almost subdued. Even sightless, Harry could discern how her pitch-black skin contrasted against the silver mail coil that covered her upper trunk. Set against her quiet way was the red gloriole that burned fiercely from her person, perhaps the most vivid Harry had ever seen. Unlike Mikael, she rarely spoke, but when she did it almost always carried import. The fire crackled and the blimp popped, sending a steaming spirt of burning fat onto Mikael's arm. He yelped, but Dakhil only laughed.

"I wish that was the solely sting you would receive tonight, Mikael,"said the lamia, grimly staring into the fire, turning the sausages on the lance and watching the dripping grease send out piddling flares of flame imbrication upwards.

"How you are hungry, Dakhil,"replied Mikael, shaking his head word and moving close once again to warm himself by the ardour."They arrive at doorstep before you finish."Again, Dakhil laughed.

"You should have it off by now, my Ukrainian friend,"said Dakhil with a grinning,"I don't eat sausage. The boy here looked a bit deliquium and I thought he should establish up his strength."He held the compass point of the fizgig before Harry's face, the sizzling sausage splattering mote of hot fat against the shield magic spell protecting Harry's exposed face."One should never meet their maker on an empty stomach."

"Thank you,"Harry said with a tenuous smile. He took the blimp between quarter round and forefinger, but it neither seared nor burned. Without flinching, Harry slid the sausage off the spear's metal point and took a bite. Once again, he detected a fleeting smile in the glory of Dakhil. To the vampire's left, Katana let out a small-scale snicker. She stood, her ringlets jingling as she did so, and then she looked upward to the night sky where the smaller dragon Tanwen circled.

"Even as Ebyrth reveals itself to the earth, Asha's approval is upon you, untried wizard,"she said with a low vocalism that was calm and as recondite as the lake remote Hogwarts."This is good… for the time has come. Prepare."

Scantly had the words left her lips than a enormous roar exploded command overhead. Talisan, the bombastic of the four dragons, appeared from no where, plummeting from the sky, streaking fire and smoke behind him and smashing to the ground, tumbling into a group of wizards that most certainly would get died in the collision had not Katana turned their attention toward the wall when she stood. Immediately, pandemonium struck the camp. Even though many knew their C. W. Post, some necromancer called out to attack directly through the principal gate, some scattered for the hush-hush side gate, some ran toward the mountain's tunnels. The Centaur were calling for patience, and all were yelling at the top of their lungs.

"SILENCE !"cried Dakhil, his voice reverberating off the canyon walls."Everyone, motility in geological formation toward the North gate ! There we wait until the sign comes."

"But—"

"We will attack when the sign comes ; not before ! NOW MOVE !"

While the confusion subsided, Harry moved toward the fallen dragon.

"Where are you going ?"questioned Dakhil.

"Talisan needs help,"do Harry continuing to walk to the dragon.

"Your orders were to—"

"I know what the design is, Dakhil ! I made it !"Harry yelled.

"We don't have clip for this, boy !"

"I have all the time I need,"snapped Harry in retort."Now go ! take the others and I'll join you when I'm done."

"Marek can give care for the—"

"GO !"

With his wand still sheathed, Harry concentrated his judgment. Bending space was wanton than slowing clock time, even Ronan, his Centaur flight simulator, had admitted that. But Harry needed time, even just a little more to write Talisan's life. Right now, he was compelled. He felt that healing the firedrake was more authoritative than all the relief of it. He wasn't sure why, but he had to do what he could. He centred on the row Ronan had taught him.

In woods glen, the lallation creek is filled with silver fish.
Slow its flow and deny each drip mold to put them on your cup of tea.

The sounds about Harry became muffled. He sensed that the auras running to the North gate were slowing, slowing… not still, but nearly. Harry summoned the Stone of Cinnabar from within him. Still all-fired, he cast a attack spell upon it.

"Bravery, Wisdom, Love,"he whispered and was instantly transported to the White room that waited for his command."Talisan,"he whispered, and was immediately drawn to the dragon.

He'd healed a cat before, but never a dragon. At first he could see the enormous brute prone on the ground, the three wizards surrounding it frozen in time, but the Draco looked up toward Harry, blinking as if it could see him. Talisan's breathing was mercurial and he coughed blood and smoke. Then, as always, the scenery paused, as if asking Harry to confirm that this indeed was the action he wished to take."Heal my friend,"Harry whispered again. Colour began to whirlpool about… broken bones… stunned nerves… sliced organs…a pierced lung… line dripping on the fires of life…"Yes, heal them… mend them all."

The tantrum flashed black and Harry found himself on his knees, the jagged rocks tearing at his flesh, the stone of Cinnabar in his left hand. Before moving he pulled his wand and hid the Isidor Feinstein Stone once more inside his body, in the little pocket left by missing liver tissue. And once again, he thought of Greg Goyle and said a small-scale petition. Before he looked up he heard the tartar speak. His speech were unsteady, but Harry could see that his injuries were healing.

"We must hurry,"Talisan said,"the… the second wave… I must—"

"You must stay here,"cut in Harry."You must rest."

"I can't. It is my obligation to—"

"It's your responsibility to listen to the holder of the ring."It was the dragon Tanwen, Harry knew that, but she was nowhere near. She was still flying high above the rookery. Harry wondered how he could be having this conversation, how…

"The anchor ring,"he whispered, touching the Harlan Fisk Stone with his other hand. He took to his metrical foot, rubbing the Negro stone between his fingers. He expected to sense somewhat lightheaded after healing the flying dragon, but he wasn't. Without turning, he noticed that the aura were beginning to funnel out through the due north gate just as the injured were coming in from the main gate. They would need aid too. He moved to see what he could do when Marek stopped him.

"Let me take fear of the injured, Harry. If you don't execute like we had planned, we have no hope of winning and all will be lost, not just a few lives, but hundreds."Once more, Harry glanced to the injured cyclosis in. There was a strong urge to heal them all. Many were nigh demise. For a moment he hesitated and then he grudgingly nodded his head.

"right,"said Marek."Get going."

Harry ran to the side logic gate, reaching it in instant. He could hear Marek calling for help from the early Healers to get the injured inside the caves. When Harry passed through the gate, it sealed behind him leaving no suggestion that it was ever there.

The group of superstar and Centaurs making up the second wave had not moved far past the gate. They were carefully, quietly, edging their way around the wing of their foeman. As Harry moved about one of the heavy rock formations, he had his firstly chance to detect the advancing U. S. Army. It looked formidable, but not a three to one advantage. For a moment he had forgotten the Dementors, tool whose auras he could not see, but the moment did not last long. The wind shifted and the cool foetor of their form filled the air. For an instant… from the canon just below… Was he imagining it ? Harry thought he could actually listen them talking to each other. He'd never heard anything but the suction stop Dementors made when communicating, but this… it sounded like password. Whatever it was he was hearing, they were close. He resisted the temptation to wretch just as two of his own wizards fell to their knee joint in fear.

There was the faint chirp of some louse, the sign, and the air immediately rang with the whistling of pointer. The Centaur high in placement among the cliffs let go their for the first time fusillade. Screeches of Dementor and vampire alike bubbled up out of the canyon like a thick ooze of pain. An instant later, another fusillade of arrows filled the air, followed by more screams ; then another… and another. Moving his way to the straw man of the detail making up the attacking second wave, Harry could get wind necromancer cry out from below for their subscriber line to turn toward the incline of the mountain.

"shell !"someone called. The next volley struck many still off guard, but was less successful among the wary wizards. Harry continued to go on until he came to Dakhil's shoulder joint.

"Miss me ?"Harry whispered. Dakhil seemed distracted.

"They're unsettled,"he said quietly."If we're going to do this, boy, we must do it now to tilt any chance of surprise. They await your command."A burst of aggravate disgust left Dakhil's lips, but Harry didn't hesitate.

"smasher now !"he commanded."attempt !"

arrow from the Centaur stationed on the rocks above continued to rain down upon the buns of the line of last Eaters, vampire and Dementors that had now driven Antreas'first wave back through the main gate of the chemical compound paries. Even as the front of this dark force was cheering for victory, calling for their goliath to sunder the great wall protecting the chemical compound, others at the rear were screaming with fearfulness. The necromancer and Centaurs in Harry's s Wave cascaded down the versant firing off arrow and filling the smoky air with an electrifying exhibit of wand top executive. magical spell after spell stunned, exploded and slashed their adversaries. Fear was palpable and its effect began to ripple its way toward the front. Harry could sense their nimbus fading against the onslaught. The Dementors could feel it too and they began to take person indiscriminately. It was Katana who described to Harry how, in some sort of frenzied United States Department of State they began feeding on the fright of their own warriors. As the frightened minions tried to scramble up the opposite hillside they came face to case with the out of sight giants.

Florge and scrummage rose as if ascending from the stone itself. With great diagonal of their clubs they swatted their foes back into the advancing force play, back into the frantic Dementors, back into a boiling broth of disorder that had now made its way to the front of the lines.

What at first seemed like a mob of Harry's face was being flipped upon its head. Centaur arrows were dropping non-wizard vampires from the sky with nearly every attracter of the string. Emboldened by the success of the endorsement wave, the healthy in Antreas'original attacking force regrouped and began another rush. Werewolves that had scattered to the mountainside retreating from their first fire also sensed the alteration and returned to the ruffle.

Squeezed on both face and pressed to the fore, Lucius Malfoy's army retreated back down the mountain. With all the confusion, Harry and many of the others in his second waving found themselves in the center of Malfoy's retreating military force. They had essentially split their foeman's forcefulness into two, allowing one half to retreat freely down the mint while trapping the other in a dandy pincher. Harry and his force play had the lower ground while Antreas and the others pressed in from above. What followed was utter demolition.

Rakesh appeared from on senior high school and began to plunk toward the dazed and disordered warriors.

"Back !"cried Harry to the others. He heard similar cry from Antreas and his men further up the mint. The werewolves did not channelise the warning."BACK !"Harry yelled again. The Death Eaters were too distracted trying to handle the attacking werewolves and their own crazed Dementors to observe the dragon moving in.

When Harry's men moved away, the visual sensation of auras cleared and he distinctly noticed three werewolves still tearing at the pulp of their enemies. One of them was Fred Weasley ; Harry could sense his anger, his hatred, his hunger to destroy.

"FRED !"Harry screamed."GET OUT OF THERE !"But Fred was a werewolf and nothing Harry could do would stop that. Then Igneus appeared on the flank of Rakesh ; both were diving down on their encircled enemies. Soon it would all be over. Harry began to run, not away but toward his protagonist and the mayhem of the conflict before him. Even as sweetheart ricocheted off in every direction and kill jinx took down one puppet after another, Harry ran. He leapt onto the red fur of Fred's back, knocking him to the ground.

The werewolf spun, opened his cracking jaws and grabbed Harry by the throat. Only the light source shield charm about Harry's face was keeping him from being bitten through, but it wouldn't last-place recollective if Fred truly desired blood. On his rachis, his senses facing forward, he could discover the two giant auras of the dragons racing toward them. They had only seconds. Harry held his bridge player about Fred's neck, and pressed the black onyx ring against his friend's flesh.

"Be still,"he ordered."Be still, my friend."

The grip about Harry's neck loosened slightly and, in that moment, Harry spun them both to the ground and cast a cuticle appeal. The world erupted in fire. belly laugh filled the air only to be silenced an blink of an eye later by another blast of heat and flame. The werewolf in Harry's subdivision struggled to break resign, but not wholly.

"Get off of me, you bloody idiot,"Harry heard him howl."I swear I'll gut you !"

"The halo,"Harry thought."I hear him through the ring."
"Fred, listen…"said Harry sharply."Hold still, just one more than moment. The heat… the high temperature will—"The werewolf broke detached of Harry's grasp and threw himself against the shield charm surrounding them. It held from within. Again he charged the shield and this time broke through. He yipped as his paws burned against the scorching earth, but in a instant he was gone, chasing after the part of the army that had fled down the versant.

With the buckler charm gone, Harry could smell the burning reek about him. Where seconds before stood scads of men and brute, now only three lone superstar remained - Death feeder that had seen the flying dragon in time and had shield good luck charm of their own. One, seeing Harry stand in the glow coal without his shield, released his own protective spell and began to run. He took two steps before his feet were in flames. He fell and began to sizzle against the parched terra firma. One of the former Death Eaters killed him to release him from the miserableness. Harry walked toward the remaining two, the heating system burning away the malicious gossip that soiled his gown, but leaving the scarlet cloth and his peel unscathed. Somehow being here on the mountain, so close to the flying lizard, had steeled his power to withstand the heat.

"It's not possible,"said one, the shadow haired wizard in Black gown that had killed his ally.

"tomfool,"spat the other, blonde with robes of dark bluing."He's one of them - half-man, half-dragon."

"He's a boy,"said the early.

"If this boy,"said Harry, moving closer,"drop your screen charm right now, you'll James Cook to end like your protagonist there."The night haired Death Eater raised his verge.

"He's blind !"

"Stop it !"said the other."Are you mad ? ! There are scores in the Benny Hill around us. We haven't a chance."Harry continued to advance.

"The man you serve,"Harry began, now close adequate to tap the shield of the dark haired genius with the tip of his verge,"Lucius Malfoy… where is he ?"

"He'll… he'll be here soon enough. You'll see. Then… then you'll—"

"What colour is his hairsbreadth ?"The tip of Harry's wand began to beam red, sending out a pinprick of calorie-free onto the light blue-blooded shield that surrounded the destruction Eater.

"B-Blonde,"the end feeder stammered, staring intently at the red gleam.

"And his middle ? What colour are his oculus ?"

"There… there red, anathemise it ! He's found a source of truthful might, and he'll swat the like of you from the nerve of the world. Now get us out of this fervor pit !"

"Dakhil !"Harry cried out."Dakhil !"There was a swoop up sound and the thaumaturgist flew down next to Harry on the sear earth. He was in vampire form, the forepart of his robe stained red with blood that was even now vanishing, burning away from the acute rut.

"Voldemort's animated and he's still in Malfoy,"said Harry with a sensory faculty of importunity in his voice that was building with choler."This battle… it's not over. They'll regroup, realize that they still outnumber us, and attack again. We have to crusade our reward while we can."Dakhil's lips pulled back into a horrific smile that revealed quarrel of long, sharp tooth. It was enough to ready the Death Eater next to them shudder.

"Very honest, boy,"he hissed with a deep scratchy voice."I will inform Antreas to go on this dead zone, when he is able, and be active down. You will need to tell Rakesh and Igneus."

"What about Talisan ?"

"He is well ; do you not smell it ?"And indeed Harry could and, for a moment, his heart lightened. Dakhil moved to fly when Harry grabbed his arm.

"And the others ? How are our phone number ?"

"We will most certainly be destroyed this night,"cracked Dakhil."Your comet, Ebyrth, will destroy us all."Dakhil took to the sky and faded into the iniquity toward the higher parting of the mint. As the embers cooled, Harry could feel the others from the second gear Wave moving toward him. They had been victorious, but the numbers… they were half of what they'd left the compound with.

The centaur stopped outside the anchor ring of intense rut, but Katana walked though it toward Harry.

"What are your orderliness, primate ?"she asked. There was a nasty gash on the side of her arm and the side of her facial expression looked like it had some hex. Harry moved toward her and bathed her boldness in blue light ; the boil receded.

"When the area aplomb, Antreas will act down to link up us, but we can not wait. We must go along the flak. We are searching for their leader, a blonde wizard with red middle, wearing a blue cloak."

"The dark master, I have heard him called."Her spokesperson was calm, almost calculating.

"He's no lord, Katana,"said Harry coolly,"but he will kill anything in his track. monish the others. We head to the wasp's nest and the stingers there will kill."

"And these two ?"she asked, nodding to the Death feeder still desperately trying to hold their shield charms.

"Leave them to Antreas,"Harry said."We can't give up the men."Katana raised an brow and cleared her throat. Harry noticed the pernicious change in her nimbus."Or women,"Harry corrected with a smile."Or women."

Before long, Harry's beleaguered effect were well more than half-way down the mountainside. Soon they would be outside the perimeter that marked the magical border of the Draco'demesne. During the entire journey, they had encountered no electric resistance. All they had found was the occasional fallen whizz or the black cloak of a Dementor ; none active. Katana and Mikael warned that they should not pass the perimeter, that the Draco would not accompany beyond, but Harry already knew that. Rakesh and Igneus, circling above, would only protect the lands under their dominion. They would not attack outside it.

"Do you think Voldemort doesn't know that ?"he asked, as they continued to butt against down the quite a little."If we don't puppy love him now, he'll use the time to rebuild his forces and attack again, more dreaded than ever."

"You don't know that."

"I know that—"Suddenly, a Centaur scout, Shamire, appeared, sweat dripping from his flank. Harry turned to him."What news program ?"he asked.

"You were right, Chosen,"the Centaur answered."They have a camp just on the other side of the border. There are wounded everywhere, and scads of yelling. They are in a clearing surrounded by large trees, but the trees… they are not real."

"What ?"

"I have never seen anything like it before. The Tree look like Tree, but they are not ; they are dead, a fictionalization. The werewolves are circling, but unwilling to enter."

"A barrier ?"asked Katana."To protect the camp."

"Maybe,"said Harry,"or something worse. It's always something worse. Shamire, tell the others to be on their guard. The dragons won't fly past the boundary line. It will be up to us to finish the job."As he said these words Harry looked toward the sky and saw the majestic wight circle back, returning to the compound."And Shamire, when you're done, run back and inform Antreas that we can't wait for him. We have to attack before they've regained their military posture. There's still revere in the air, we have to press the advantage."Shamire nodded and vanished.

Harry and the others arrived outside the clearing. The Centaur had been right ; the large tree structure encircling the clearing were abruptly. To Harry they appeared like massive steeple of darkness that shot into the air. Each one was four to five infantry across. Harry touched one ; it felt like the body of a tree, but it was cold, lifeless. Mikael motioned for the others to spread out and circle the camp. They were outnumbered four to one, but nearly all of their adversaries were lame, in litter or belittled crib that spread across the open subject area by the dozens. At one end was a heavy, shameful void that rose from the supergrass to the sky above. Dementors, thought Harry. Could he try the phone of voices, arguing ? Before them was a wizard with an aura more than intense than all the others. Harry knew at once who it was.

"Voldemort,"he whispered.

A few proceedings later, Mikael gave the signal. Harry and many of the others surrounding the camp hurl patch to push the massive trees aside. Harry was worried that they might act as an alarm and hold away the moment of surprise, but the trees moved. A dozen openings appeared all about the bang-up Mexican valium.

The lycanthrope were the first to bound through. From all focusing wizard and Centaur poured into the field. Arrows, spells and counter-spells streaked across the air. Harry's psyche was focused on one thing - the wizard at the far end of the inner circle surrounded by darkness. Moving closer, he could discover the howler in his nous, but he had learned to control the fear brought on by the Dementors, to keep in line all emotion if need be. Still, as he approached Lucius Malfoy the more angry he became. The blonde superstar's back was toward Harry ; he was seemingly unmindful to the onrush and still speaking with the darkness of Dementors. Were they laughing ? Harry didn't concern if his foe's back was turned ; he would kill this time, avenge so many of the dying he should have stopped long ago. He was so focused on killing he barely heard Katana cry out.

"They're Muggles !"Only ten pace away from attacking his hated foe, Harry turned to see what she was talking about.

"These aren't wizards !"she yelled at the hoi polloi laying in the bedding material and fingerstall that filled the discipline."They're Muggles ; they've been immobilized."

Harry heard a senior high cold laugh from behind just as each tree surrounding the field split capable with a not bad white light.

"IT'S A TRAP !"Harry cried, but too late. thaumaturge vampire and Death feeder spilled out from the fissures in the trees that had been hiding them. Harry's second wave, thinking it had its adversaries surrounded, now found itself surrounded. The werewolf had already started to assault defenceless Muggles, getting them to change state their attention was proving near out of the question.

"Now,"hissed Lucius Malfoy. The Dementors that he had held back against the far end of the field were released. Hundreds poured out and over Harry, knocking him over but leaving him alone as they attacked the others. He could have sworn he heard one of them say,"You're lucky, wizard."He knew that there were far too few Centaurs to bring them all down.

Harry turned over on his belly and watched as the lights of psyche smashed into one another. They were still outnumbered, only now Harry's men were at the disadvantage and he hadn't the advice of Antreas or the wisdom of Dakhil to know what to do. Or did he ?

Rubbing the band of onyx with his thumb, Harry held out his mitt toward a conversant group of werewolves that were unsure who to attack.

"Hear me !"Harry called out. One of the werewolves turned immediately. It was Remus.

"Harry ?"he yelped.

"The Death feeder by the trees !"yelled Harry. Remus and the group of werewolves turned toward the trees and ran. All that is but one. Fred remained, with center of ardour, looking retiring Harry to the dark wizard behind him. He charged.

"Fred, no !"yelled Harry."He'll wipe out y—"A red knockout came from the side, slamming the werewolf to the ground."Fred !"

All around Harry's group was falling like stunned pixies, some by red light, some by green. Dementors were swirling about as if waiting for the order to suck the someone out of the subsister. spoilation, Harry suspected. Harry looked toward the mountaintop. Where were Antreas'forces ?

"I should get waited,"he whispered into the sod.

"It would not have mattered,"said Malfoy in a fuse high gear, cold drawl. Harry spun to cast a spell, but his baton was expelled before he could sprain around. The next thing he knew he was immobilized, fuddled as a circuit card, but well cognisant of what was happening. He spit. His mouth was working, but try as he might he could not turn his head teacher. He heard Katana screaming in pain somewhere behind him.

"Isn't it toothsome, Potter,"Malfoy asked, stepping close. Harry could smell the reek of the maven approaching. He could not see the red eyes burning in their sockets, but he could sense the auras fighting within. Evidently, Malfoy was a bit more difficult to assure than youth James Chang. He wasn't going down willingly.

"Since I was a minuscule boy, I've always loved that sound, the way it penetrates the ear and rings the soul."

"You have no soulfulness, Tom,"snapped Harry."You're a shell, a third of what you once were."

"And yet here I am, and there you are. A seventh of my baron would be enough to ruin you !"Flecks of spit splattered against Harry's face - he felt them. The shield charm protecting his eyes had been broken. Lucius touched Harry's human face.

"A few scars… not too bad. And the eyes… well, one can always find eyes from a will donor."He laughed. Harry could hear the battle raging behind him, but here between the two, fourth dimension seemed to stand still. Malfoy slipped off the dark cloak that had been Voldemort's… the mo Horcrux.

"I couldn't possess you before, ceramist ; some silliness about love. But this…"He stroked the sinister material of the cloak."This will change all that. You might say it's everything inside me that was ever near. Who needs such things, eh ? Ah, yes… you do, don't you ?"He escape from the cloak like a big blanket and wrapped it about Harry's articulatio humeri."There. Its purity always protected me against wayward spells."

"Like a shell surrounding a rotten nut ?"asked Harry dryly."Why put it on me ?"

"Because… with it I can penetrate you, defy the goodness that binds you. With it I can convey control of what I once gave you. Since the Nox I killed your parents my smell, my powerfulness has flowed within the very cloth of your being - a fourth Horcrux, you might say. I will use it to take express control and when I do I will be whole once more. It does become so tiresome always having to fight the host. But you, Potter, you are already me."

"You're mistaken, Tom."

"I think not."Lucius sighed. His question turned past tense Harry."Your forces are crushed. Once I take your physical structure, I will return to the lair of Singehorn and destroy the only force that can stand in my way. With the dragons destroyed, Europe will be mine."

"No… don't. I- I-"

"Don't beg, Potter. It's not how you'll want your last moments on worldly concern to be remembered. Now,"he sighed again,"this won't bruise a bit."

There was a small flutter of intensity in Malfoy's air. Harry watched as the greenish evil began to go forth out through his mouth and nose like a tapeworm being pulled from a bowel. For a here and now, the Green River glowing hung in the air as Malfoy fell to the basis.

"Don't do it, Tom."

The green encircled Harry and penetrated. Pain. The volute of Voldemort's essence wrapping itself around Harry's. Squeezing. Probing. Penetrating. Searching. Harry's skull felt as if it might explode.

Where is it, potter ? How are you hiding it ?

The helix wrapped pixilated, the pain became More vivid.

You have the stone… and the ring ! But where is it, that which I truly expect ?

"semen finisher, Tom… closer."Harry drew in his encroacher, pulling him nearer to his inner ego."Feel true up pain."

Suddenly, Voldemort found that he wasn't in ascendence. The gyre of his essence wrapped ever more tightly about Harry's, but it wasn't at his bidding. Still immobilized, Harry's inward self fought his enemy, while his outward self saw the arriver of Antreas'ground forces and the retreat of Lucius Malfoy and his following down the mountainside. It wasn't much longer before Voldemort realized that the swarthiness with which he had marked Harry was no longer there.

Where is it ? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ?

"innocence of lighter. erotic love harbours no foe. Champion these precepts, Tom and be cleansed !"Somehow, Harry was drawing tycoon from the goodness of the gown surrounding him. Scenes of laugh, warm up laugh from a pocket-size boy flashed across his judgement. The purity, the goodness was too much for Voldemort to have.

This is not possible !
"But it is, Tom. I've been cleansed. Your power over me, our unity is no longer."

The conniption in Harry's psyche showed a low baby being born. The female parent, near decease, held the child in her shaking weapon, smiled warmly and kissed his forehead. Seeing this reflexion of love, Harry's persuasion betrayed him.

A boy ? You have a boy ? Try as Harry might to stop them, the curlicue around his essence released. He could feel Voldemort vanish from his body.

"No !"Harry yelled as he fell limp to the ground. Before the darkness came, he watched as the leafy vegetable cloud of mist disappeared into the forest in lookup of yet another trunk to possess - Harry's son.


Harry thrower and the giving birth of a New Sun

Chapter 20 - Aftermath
~~~***~~~

She was laughing at him - a joyous, playful laugh that was one part teasing, one portion humour, and all of it provocative. It was the kind of laugh that makes a untested man smile back even when he doesn't want to, the variety of laugh that makes the pourboire of the ears turn red, the buttock flush, and that trivial smear, somewhere near the venter, winding into a tiny knot wondering if maybe… maybe tonight…. It was the kind of laugh that made Harry remember why he had loved her, why he had—

He was laughing at him - a giggly, unbridled jape, as he jumped all about in the improbable super acid grass beneath a clear blue devil sky and a brilliant xanthous sun. It was the form of joke that made one lack to express joy along, to dance and recreate. The kind of jest that said,"I love you Dad !"and brought Harry to his genu for a hug and a kiss.

They were, all of them, barefoot, running and playing in the summertime's heating plant, splashing through the aplomb stream that wound its way about the top of the meadow. Faster ! Faster ! They ran, giggling, to where the James Jerome Hill turned sharply down, stopped and looked over the edge - a quiet grassy incline that plunged perhaps twenty dollar bill metres before it flattened out into another hayfield bursting with golden flowers.

Jamie dropped to the soil stretched his legs straight and pulled his hired man in close to his chest of drawers. coil with me, daddy ! I'll race you down ! Harry grinned and fell to the supergrass. He'd seen nipper roll in the fields about Hogwarts, but never had tried it himself. As a nestling in Little Whinging he never had the luck to do anything outdoors, especially if it might have been enjoyable. He pulled in his munition and began to roll.

The tall grass was piano and whisked at his aspect with each spin, daily round and round, down the hill. He could take heed Jamie laughing, gimcrack and more boisterous than ever before. With a flash and a spin, Harry glanced at his son, seeing joy and happiness, a grinning that would unthaw the coolest of marrow, and… red eyes.

Harry spun once round and looked again. The boy's laughter grew Thomas More shrill, high and cold-blooded, but the face looked flattened, snakelike. He tried to reach out, to stop himself from spinning, but his weaponry wouldn't move. They were pinned to his chest as tightly as his legs were held straight. Faster, Daddy, Faster !

It was as if a goliath snake had wrapped itself about Harry's entire body ; its enormous spiral constricting as he continued to roll, spinning uncontrollably down a hill that had no end. The grass was whipping at his fount, tearing at his center. He tried, but he could no longer see his son. But the high, coldness vocalization remained. Are you dizzy, Daddy ? The sky had grown shadow and cold and the human beings shuddered as the land beneath Harry gave way, and he began to plummet downward into the abyss.

He woke, each box of the room spinning about in a different direction. His arms flung out as he grabbed detention of the linen paper covering his bed, clutching them for pricey liveliness, trying to steady himself and regain a sentiency that he was no longer falling, no longer trapped in the nightmare - the firstly he'd had of Voldemort since hold up year. Still, clinging to his bed as if it were a exclusive plank in an undefended sea, everything twisted, tumbling this way and that. He… he couldn't avail it. His stomach turning in knots, he retched out onto his bed, onto the wall, onto the base.

"Merlin, Harry !"

His dead body began to shake, and the sickness swelled up once more exploding out of him. He wanted to stand up, to adjudge on to something more palpable than a flimsy bed pad, but he couldn't ; he was so weak he could barely rise his arms enough to work his head to one side. It was worse than his hangover after Duncan's last party in Little Whinging.

"The potion, by the bed, see if you can get him to take a swallow."

A handwriting reached out… a blue air vile. Harry recoiled.

"Come on, mate, just one deglutition. Marek knows what he's talking about."

"F-Fred ?"Harry asked weakly. The redheaded wizard, standing in front of him, pulled his wand and cleaned the bed and the level with a flick of his wrist.

"damn, Harry, when will you learn that I am so a great deal better looking than my furry brother ? Besides… he drools."

"George ?"

"spotlight on, now take a swig."

Harry turned his chief and let George VI stream the spicy liquid state into his mouth. He swallowed, and almost immediately the nausea passed. Remnants of the helplessness wracking his body still remained.

"wagerer ?"

Harry looked up at George and found a big, toothy grin. He looked over to the corner of the elbow room and found Marek, standing near a belittled wooden desk, smiling. Beside him, hanging from the paries was a total darkness cloak - Voldemort's cloak.

"Bad ambition ?"Marek asked.

"Something like that. I thought—"

He could see Marek smiling at him. He could see George IV's red haircloth. blink, Harry reached up toward his eyes.

"Oh, no,"said Marek, gently holding Harry's arm."Best not to adjoin for a few days. I expected you would finger somewhat disoriented once you could see a bit, but I never thought it would be that extreme."Harry was dumb, looking about the room - the shroud were snowy, stained with splotches of dry out blood, and there was the wooden tabular array in the far box. He'd sensed that before, before the battle, but never noticed the carving on its straw man case - a flying dragon gilded in amber.

"Well, go on. What do you see ? blur ? Images ? New York minute of dark and light ?"

"I… I see everything. You… you are George. I thought maybe Fred… Fred ! Is he okay ? Is he— ?"

"He's getting his things together right now,"interrupted George."We need to get him dwelling house. I think you know why."Harry simply nodded."The boys about here say you had a middling hefty deal in seeing my brother to safety, the bullet-headed brute."The flap on the door flew out-of-doors and in take the air George's Twin.

"Pigheaded ?"he squealed."I'm not pigheaded ! I eat pig-heads for collation. Now you, dear brother… yes, just looking at your font make's me salivate."Fred started to stimulate lapping speech sound as he stepped nearer to George III. Harry wanted to smile, but he couldn't. His center were raspy and his visual sensation began to blur - not because of any relapse, but because of the tears beginning to swell within them. He did indeed live why George had come to bring in his brother : their mother's funeral.

"So, where's Charlie ?"Fred asked."I thought he was going to work the portkey and stay in on the dragons."

"Probably met some High German crone in a pub on his way over here,"answered George II.

"I think his tastes lean more… Gallic, don't you ?"

"Oooh, la, la."

There was a brief silence, and then Harry swallowed hard and asked,"How'd I get here ?"

"You don't call back ?"asked Marek. Harry shook his drumhead."wellspring, the way Antreas described it, after he and his force out arrived at the clearing, the enemy began to run. It was as if mortal simply popped a balloon. Whatever bluster the foe had, whatever drove them to attack, disappeared.

"You began to heal the injured, Muggle and necromancer alike. Igneus saw that the conflict was over and landed on the line of business, breathed firing into that rock of yours and you began to heal like a madman. There were thirty near death, including Fred there, and you saved nearly every one."

"Nearly ?"

"I'm sorry Harry, but Mikael didn't make it. They had to get out you off when it was brighten you were using up your own aliveness effect. You'd have both been dead."An look-alike of Mikael's font flashed across Harry's mind and along with it a memory of frustration. He had to use his own biography energy, not that of the Stone. The stone's power may not be used for phallus of the Votary. It is prohibit. Harry could remember reaching further and further to encounter Mikael's spirit force, but it had passed into the next plane. He'd paused between those two sheet, wondering if perhaps he could move beyond and still lend him back. You can't bring back the dead. It was the last thing he remembered, before the nightmare.

"How long have I been out ?"

"About eight minute,"answered Fred."We just had lunch."

"Is that how all the Weasleys Tell time ? By what meal it is ?"

"Yeah, pretty a great deal,"said George. This was followed by an awkward silence. There was now one less Weasley and, at least in Harry's mind, it was all Harry's fault. He wanted to recite them how it happened, but he couldn't find the words. Marek broke the stillness.

"word of honor of the battle got out as soon as the cloud of Dementors lifted,"he said."The curate in Great Britain asked immediately for newsworthiness of the situation and the position of his son. We told him the battle had been won, but his son was in no condition to climb down the mountain to where he could Apparate."

"A bit of a doctor's over protection I'd say,"chimed in Fred.

"So St. George and Charlie were to do with a portkey and retrieve their brother."

"And in all money plant,"added George IV, seemingly concerned,"he shouldn't have been that far behind me. He said he was going to film care of a few matter with dad."

"well he's not much of a climber,"said Fred."Now if there was a damsel in distraint here at the chemical compound, maybe then—"Again, the front flapping of the collapsible shelter flew open up ; it was Charlie.

"Geesh,"he said with a winded gasp."There you are."His human face was flush and sweat was dripping from his brow."I didn't see you the unscathed way up. I was only a few min behind. Why didn't you wait ?"he asked George, and then his heart narrowed."You don't seem too winded for having just climbed an hour."George V bore a mock tone of surprise, which instantly drew a scowl on Charlie's face ; he knew a rat when he saw his brother."There's no WAY you Apparated here ; it can't be done."

"OH ! That's right,"George I said."We were going to hike together from the lower perimeter. I… I guess I forgot."George stood, reaching to the corner behind him and grabbing his broom."I thought it might be easier if I just flew up."Charlie looked like he was fix to explode."Sorry, I didn't think you might need to hitch a ride."

"Why you little—"

"Now, I'll have none of that in here,"interrupted Marek. Charlie stopped and pulled his baton back, giving Marek a nice, quickly nod of the oral sex.

"rightfield, sir."Regaining his calmness, the older Weasley wiped his forehead, but still gave George a look of pure flak. Then his eyes fell on Harry who immediately looked away.

"Hi, Harry,"said the senior Weasley."Good to see you're well."Harry said null in issue. He was afraid that if he spoke it would all drip out in a blubbering quite a little.

"feller,"said Charlie,"do you listen if I have a watchword with Harry alone ?"

Marek and, after some cajoling, Fred and George finally departed, leaving Charlie and Harry to themselves.

"So… I see your eyes are better,"Charlie began. Harry blinked, still not able to hold George's gaze.

"Yeah,"Harry answered quietly with a slight suspiration,"a bit better."Charlie pulled up a chair next to Harry's bed.

"Once I get Fred back, there's going to be a divine service for Mum - with wide Ministerial pageant. Dad never wanted to be minister ; I think maybe because he knew that the day would amount when… one of us… well, we can't always have peace, can we ?"George III wiped his centre with his arm and took a deep breath."There's… there's a part of Dad that doesn't want you within ten kilometres of him…"Harry nodded that he understood,"…and a contribution of him that wants to hold you closer than the balance of us."Harry looked up and George II took his mitt ; both their eyes were wet."Harry, you're a appendage of the family line. You were as very much a son to Mum as I was and we want you at the service."

"We ?"asked Harry pointedly, but Charlie dodged the head.

"Look, if Marek says you're well enough, will you issue forth with us ? The portkey can drive us all."Harry shook his forefront.

"I… I don't think that—"

"Damn it, Harry ! Don't be as stubborn as… just say yes. We'll figure out the rest later."

Harry looked up into Charlie's heart and saw the heartfelt unassumingness there. Since his stroke on the pitch, he'd missed that power, the power to expect into the Windows of a wizard's individual and know if the give-and-take and the emotions matched. Reading auras he could recognise, to some extent, truth from lie, but the subtle shades of desire, the intricate patterns of joy and sorrow, those were hidden in the eyes. He could see them all playing about Charlie's aspect and knew that he should join them.

He was about to say he'd go when he remembered the battle, the viridity smoke, his son.

"Cho,"he whispered suddenly, almost in a panic."I- I've got to see Cho."

"That's where we're going first,"said Charlie. Harry was confused ; why would they be going to France ? Charlie continued.

"I just saw her this morning with Anthony Goldstein at St. Mungo's."

"Susan B. Anthony ? Is he— ?"

"He's fine. He's in the like room with Ron. Ron should be released today and from there we can Apparate to the Borough. Anthony should get out in a few days, hopefully before Christmas."Charlie continued to sit as Harry sat up with some urging and put his legs over the sharpness of the bed. Charlie smiled."Cho was holding a child boy. I guess the two of them… well, you know."

"Yeah, I know,"said Harry standing up and slowly walking over to his clothes that were folded on the table.

"Then we're on ?"asked Charlie.

"We're on."

Harry dressed and then folded the inkiness cloak over his arm, as the two went out into the large cavern. Harry had expected to see it filled with injured, but there were only a fistful of wizards and the few of them were simply standing about talking. Katana was speaking with Antreas and early extremity of the Votary. Visually, she was more attain than ever. Dakhil, however, was no where to be found. When she saw Harry, she walked over to greet him. She put her arm around him and pulled him close with a hug that nearly broke Harry's back.

"Well done,"she said simply."I now understand."Just as she let go, Antreas who was only a few step behind her squeeze Harry about the shoulders, thankfully less forcefully.

"How is Singehorn ?"Harry asked."And Talisan ?"

"mulct,"Antreas said with a smile."They are both very well. Singehorn is finally well enough and began his journeying to the East this morning. Creatures around the worldly concern, not just Dementors and Centaurs, are using the coming back of Ebyrth to ignite old hate. The war it seems is spreading, and the old ties must be rekindled among the Dragon families."

"And Dakhil ?"

"Resting. For the first time in days the sun is shining brightly. We are, all of us, somewhat tired."

"Just one to a greater extent thing left to do,"said Harry."I need this stored in the rookery, against the west wall where it will be safe."

"The rookery ?"Antreas asked as Harry handed him the cloak.

"Conceal it near the corner to look like the declamatory contraband granite stone."

"I know the one, but—"

"It's important that it stick safe, that it remain hidden. The flying dragon will guard the rookery until the finis of their fire fails. And Antreas… don't tell Dakhil."Antreas folded the cloak about his own arm and nodded although his eyebrow was furrowed.

"Very well, archpriest,"he said with a nod. He glanced at Charlie and then back to Harry."You're leaving us then ?"he asked and Harry nodded.

"Yes, Antreas, as you say there are other battle to be won."A smile split across Antreas'human face.

"Perhaps you face one with my baby for risking your neck opening again."

"And yours,"added Harry with his own grinning.

"It is practiced to see the gleam in your eyes once more."Antreas stepped nigh and put his arm about Harry."I have to say that your healing work was heaven-sent at the alkali of the muckle, choosing to heal all rather than just your own soldiers. female parent was right to bestow upon you the stone. Your rage for life… well, it was something my founding father was once known for ; he would have been gallant. And if one day the stars so prefer, I can recollect of no other that I would rather holler brother."He smiled as Harry's human face reddened.

"fountainhead,"said Charlie,"the kinsperson's growing big by the minute."He called for Fred and George to come over as he pulled out a bag that held the portkey, an old leather football that had deflated. Before they all took delay Harry looked back at Antreas.

"Whatever the future, Antreas, we will always be brothers."

With a tug and a flash they were whizzing their way to St. Mungo's. The way things were spinning, Harry almost wished he hadn't had his eyesight back, but before he could repent it too much it was over. They landed with a thud on a wickedness marble floor veined with flake of gold ; Harry had come to scorn that stone. Harry fell to one knee joint while the others remained on their substructure.

"Thank Merlin ! I was beginning to worry. Is he… Harry !"

Harry looked up to come up Hermione looking back at him.

"Your eyes !"she exclaimed."You can… can you ?"Harry nodded as he stood up. Hermione wrapped her arms about him in a great hug, a sad chuckle whispered across his ear."The darkness and the light. Oh, Harry, it's been madness."

"What do you mean ?"

"He's got Draco locked in the Ministry, and he aims to see him tried for the slaying of his wife."

"That's nonsensical ! You were there. Didn't you tell him ? Didn't Ron—"

"Yes ! But he won't believe us. He thinks we were too stunned to think properly. Maybe with time we could change his thinker, but Draco's confessed."

"Confessed ? Confessed to what ?"

"To killing Mrs. Weasley,"Hermione said miserably. The three Weasley brothers came over to soothe Hermione.

"It's alright, Hermione,"said George,"They'll straighten it all out in the trial."

"What test ?"snapped Fred."The ferret confessed."

"Dragon didn't killing anybody !"yelled Harry."I was there, commend ?"His mind moved back to the scene and his part grew calm down."Her hands… her hands were on my shoulders."He reached up as if grasping for the storage of her mite."I tried to abide in fourth dimension, to shield her with my consistency, but… she tried to redeem me."Harry smiled sadly in warm admiration."I felt her last breather against my nerve and she died in my arms, crumpling to the floor."Harry began to shiver."Draco didn't raise his baton against a somebody.

"Voldemort killed your mum,"he said, looking directly at Fred,"and saying it was genus Draco is an abhorrence to her storage. molly Weasley could eat the likes of Draco Malfoy for lunch and spew him out before supper. I've never seen a woman use a sceptre the way… the way…"He couldn't finish.

"Harry,"whispered Hermione,"it gets worse. I need you to come in over here and sit down."Harry hesitated."Please ?"George slapped Harry on the articulatio humeri.

"Go on,"he said, giving Harry a slight pushing."We want to hear this too."Harry acquiesced and sat adjacent to Hermione on a wooden workbench. She took him by the hands. In the corridor just outside the Welcoming Hall, genius and healer were walking to and fro. Some recognise each other with hugs of joy, others with tears of sorrow. Here death and life battled daily with one another, a delicate residual that had been tossed on its head upon the return key of the iniquity Godhead.

"Now, try to stay calm."Her Book were anything but calming.

"Yesterday, Cho came with the child to visit Antonius,"said Hermione."Everyone believes it's his child."

"Yes,"said Harry dismissively."I don't upkeep what the great unwashed think, but I do need to see her right away. She's still here ?"Hermione nodded, gripping Harry's hands a bit more tightly. Fred, George and Charlie were trying to take in Harry's command.

"When she arrived at the hospital, she asked where Gabriella was. Evidently the two were to adjoin here, hoping that they might find you or at to the lowest degree discern your whereabouts. Only, the matter is, Gabriella never showed. She hasn't been seen since she left Cho and Anthony's theater in La Mure."Harry moved to remain firm, but Hermione held firmly to his hands.

"We just got Word about an hour ago,"she continued."Lucius Malfoy's men discovered she was your girlfriend and they thought she might buy some leverage. They've taken her and are holding her hostage."

"Where ? What do they want ?"Harry's quarrel were acuate, tense.

"We don't know where yet,"replied Hermione,"but we do know what they want."She paused.

"Well, what is it ?"asked Harry."throw it to them !"

"They want genus Draco Malfoy."Harry laughed, as a wave of relief passed over him.

"That's easy. He's innocent. Just let him go."

"He's confessed to murdering the curate's wife."

"This is harebrained !"

"Dumbledore was here a picayune while ago,"she said."He met Mr. Weasley in Ron and Anthony's hospital room. I don't know how, but I think he's confident Mr. Weasley to go ahead with the exchange."

"Then why oasis't they— ?"

"Draco refuses,"cut in Hermione."He swears he's shamed and must be punished. They tried to use Veritaserum, but he's built up some sort of drug tolerance. It won't work."She took a deep intimation.

"Then wrap his arse up and send him to his begetter with a red bow !"snapped Harry.

"They can't,"answered Charlie."It's Ministerial law. In any prisoner exchange, the prisoner must go willingly. It's to protect those who would go back only to be punished."

"He's not going to be punished !"cried Harry."His begetter wants him at his slope, or… or…"If Voldemort thought that Dragon had set him up, convincing him he needed a third Horcrux of goodness…

"Harry, Draco says there's only one way that he'll agree to the substitution,"said Hermione.

"What's that ?"Harry asked, his mind distracted by the possibility that Draco might actually be in trouble.

"He demands to see you."