Harry Potter and The giving birth of a New Sun

Chapter 6 - Too close an Encounter

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When Harry shut the door to his room and descended the steps he was, perhaps, the happiest he had ever been in all his life. The sun sent golden shaft streaking through the coloured window above and cast a gilt image on the floor below, tinged with decent red to nominate Harry think fleetingly of Fawkes. His fuzz a tangled mess, he was wearing a T-shirt, underdrawers and wind sleeve, one with a rather gravid gob through which the large toe on his proper foot protruded. He scratched his breadbasket as his nose took in the fragrance of something that resembled the smell of burning ham. He took one step down and turned to look back at his room. His way ? His house ? No, not really. Not anymore. And he was thankful for that and smiled all the more as the aroma of freshly coffee filled the air, perhaps the only thing Dog Star could prepare properly.

When he pushed open the doorway to the kitchen of issue twelve, Grimmauld Place, he found Sothis working feverishly in front of the stove. His baton was casting spell after spell, not so much at the nutrient preparation, 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 realise you breakfast. You know, first day of school and all."He cracked an egg and put both liquid and shell in the Lapplander bowl and started mixing it with his wand. Harry chuckled kindly and shook his question in disbelief. It was great being gratis of Privet private road, to be here with his godfather, to experience wanted and appreciated. It was probably the first sentence he had ever opened a software system of Bacon for breakfast without a sullen tasting in his mouth. He gave Sothis a look that said,"Get genuine,"and then positioned himself squarely in straw man of the stove.

"I'm not bad at this,"offered Harry, cracking four ball at once into a bowlful and discarding the casing with a flick of his verge. 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 approximation that he would be spending Christmas with Harry.

"You know,"said Sothis pouring two cups of deep brown,"I hear New York is spectacular at Christmas metre. Have you ever been to the States ?"Harry rock his head."Maybe we could go for a quick visit."

"I promised Gabri—"

"sojourn,"Sothis cut in."That's all. Maybe Gab can add up 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 shell to the table.

Sirius ate like a dog and finished in about three minutes. Harry was more broody, and while he did finish, it took him much longer. The decent thing about being of age was that he didn't have to walk or take a car to go to baron's Cross place. For that matter, he didn't need to go to King's Cross at all ; he could Apparate to Hogsmeade and walk in from there. Only the Head Boy and Head Girl had to require the train with their housemates, and this year the forefront Girl was none other than Hermione Granger. Odd, Harry thought, considering she'd nearly killed Theodore Nott last year. He smiled and took another sip of burnt umber. Hermione didn't know who the read/write head Boy was, but it wasn't Ron. Still, the redheader and his girlfriend 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 shiver down Harry's spinal column as the warm coffee slipped down his throat.

"Any More bacon ?"asked Sirius rummaging through the crustlike Pan about the stove.

"That Black person stuff you fried up over there on the face is bacon ; at least it used to be."

Sirius poked at it a few times, and then finally took a bite. His look took on a slight bitter tone as it scrunched ever so slightly, then he took another chomp, shrugging his shoulder joint. His teeth and glossa covered in charcoal he said,"You'd safe 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 home base to the sink which was piled high with pots and Pan from the death few days."Do you want me to demand upkeep of these before I—"

"I'll take fear of it,"Sirius lied."Go get yourself ready."Harry shrugged and nodded his chief, and started up the stairs, once again scratching his stomach and knowing full fountainhead it would be daytime, perhaps weeks, before the sink was cleared.

It was foreign really, getting ready for his close year at Hogwarts. So often he was rushed in the hustle and hustle of the Weasley family. This yr, however, Harry wanted to be with his own family — Sothis Black. And it was the best decision he'd ever made. It had only been a few days, but in that short time Sirius and Harry did absolutely… nothing. There were opportunity to talk about the old days when Sothis palled around with James ; there were chances to pattern advanced go or learn the surgical process of some of the golden legal instrument that still lined the wall in the Black family written report ; there were fourth dimension when they could have discussed how Harry brought Sirius back from behind the curtain ; and at every number, at every clear door, Harry and Sirius simply took the sentence to enjoy each early in the here and now. They played chess game ; the played cards ; they raced Caduceuses across the John Griffith Chaney sky at night ; they drank, probably too much ; and they laughed more than they had laughed in a farsighted, long time. Sothis'eyes had never been brighter, and Harry's heart had never been lighter.

This time when Harry readied himself at the breast threshold to leave, there was no sinister cloud hanging over their head teacher, but rather an tidal bore excitement about the twelvemonth to come and what it would impart. They drew enduringness from each other knowing that whatever war was around the corner, whatever darkness rose on the horizon, they would face it together. For a here and now they just stared at each other and around the room.

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

"I'll… I'll owl you when I get in,"replied Harry. Dog Star nodded. Silence."rightfulness, then."There was another retentive pause."Bloody hell on earth,"Harry cursed and he walked over and pulled Sirius to him tightly with a grand hug. Sirius responded in kind.

They held each early for more than a consequence and then Sirius whispered in a somewhat rasping voice,"Be careful."Harry pulled away wearing an enormous smile.

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

He Apparated to an out of the way location just down the street from King's Cross station and began walking. The previous morning time was clear, and he was surprised to come up the air so stale. He'd been spending so much fourth dimension inside with Sirius he hadn't thought much about the weather. His coat was in his torso, and he didn't feel much like opening that in the middle of a street filled with Muggles. He shivered, rubbed his weapon system, and continued on his way. He was coming to the first measure of the place when a beggar boldly stepped in front of him demanding a contribution. Wearing a well three days'stubble, his dress were lousy, and his breathing space smelled strongly of alcohol.

"Come on, partner,"he wheezed."Just a Ezra Loomis Pound fer me 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 ignore the intruder."Really,"he said over his shoulder,"I don't have any money."The man grabbed Harry by the arm.

"I can pick up the jingle in yer trouser, boy !"It was dead on target that Harry had a few galleons in his 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 present the beggar.

"shout me a boy again, and you—"

"You'll what !"spat the drunk, stepping toe-to-toe with Harry. The deal was a bit comical since Harry was not the modest minor he once was. Indeed he was a strapping new man, and he stood a estimable four in taller than his opposer. Curling the digit on his right hand, he was about to say just what he'd do when a familiar tingling ran up his spine. He grabbed for his wand, but too former. Or at to the lowest degree it would take been if he had been the target. The drunk stood motionless, center glazed, body frozen in position. Harry looked up just as a paw gently took him by the arm.

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

The man, still in his teens, wore a dark gray suit with thin wild blue yonder pipe, a burgundy tie and Patrick White shirt. The glum glass reminded Harry of old King James I Bond movies, but the white tennis shoes with red laces told Harry at once he was dealing with a wizard. Then he noticed the shape of the jaw, the voice, but the hair—

"Finnius ?"Harry asked, wondering if he was talking to the previous head word Boy of Hufflepuff who at commencement exercise had a starting signal at a byssus and haircloth that hung down to his shank."I thought you were going to start a dance band ? The… er, The Grindly toilet ?"

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

"Why ? What's the topic ?"

"Well… see, I'm supposed to—"

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

Finnius pulled Harry by the arm just as the rummy began to come to his senses. Quickly, they climbed the footfall and found themselves in a sea of people heading to their political platform at mogul's Cross. Perspiration was popping out on Finnius'forehead and Harry wondered if he hadn't wet himself he looked so nervous."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 excitation and interest. 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 usher Harry toward platform nine and three-fourths holding Harry with his right hand and wiping his brow with his left.

"Yeah, well, she's the one that convinced me I could be an Auror. Said she'd train me, see… herself. But since that occupation at the Ministry last twelvemonth, 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 irritated. He yanked his arm out of Finnius'grip."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 platform."Just in time too !"Before Harry could say another word, Finnius gave him a bit of a shove and he plunged through the paries and found himself on the other side standing just in front of the Hogwarts limited. Harry dropped his tree trunk, reached for his wand and started back toward the paries when he was tackled from the side. The flash of raven pitch blackness fuzz in his human 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 turmoil."What's wrongfulness ?"And then she too looked at the wall to the remote universe."Who's out there ?"

The frustration on Harry's face was clear ; he was about to lodge back out when his center caught something he had never before seen : Neville Longbottom was hugging his parents, Frank and Alice, goodbye. Alice held his expression in her hands and planted a big wet kiss on his nerve. They were all smiles as Neville wiped it with his sleeve. Then Frank Longbottom handed his son something and, as Neville wrapped his fingers about the object, a more serious look came into his optic. His dad slapped him on the berm and a thin smile appeared again as Neville boarded the train.

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

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

"ALL ABOARD !"the director called.

"Dean said he'd save us a spot,"said Gabriella, taking appreciation of Harry's script. Harry took one utmost look at the paries behind them, and then the two boarded the gear. The corridor was crowded with pupil, particularly first years who were completely confused. What was noticeable, however, was that the formula demarcation of sign of the zodiac zone seemed to be somewhat blurred. There were Slytherins purposefully mixing in with Ravenclaws near the front of the gear, and a group of thirdly year Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors in another stroller playing breeze. A few railcar down Harry just caught a glimpse of mortal in Gryffindor robes disappearing into a carriage and so he and Gabriella followed. He pushed open the carriage door only to walk in on Neville and Helen caressing ; a Sweet aroma filling the air.

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

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

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

They continued moving forward past various carriages when the flash of red pilus caught Harry's eye. It was Ron, and he was bickering with Hermione. The floor of the equipage they were in was littered with clothes, books and several things Harry knew to be Ron's, most notably by the overabundance of socks.

"Honestly, Ronald,"said Hermione in a dress down voice as if talking to a four year old."If you don't find it soon you'll have to tell professor Flitwick, and if you won't I will."

"Is that a threat ?"shot back Ron, holding both hands on his hip joint and kicking at the mess of clothes on the story. Gabriella walked in first.

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

"No, null's damage,"snapped Ron immediately."Er… hey, partner !"he said with a wave at Harry.

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

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

"Have you tried summoning it ?"asked Harry, starting to rummage through the clothes on the carriage level. The steeled look of fire in Ron's center said that they had certainly tried that and many former things and would harry just not make any former proposition because Hermione has already made every possible proposition known in the Wizarding existence and none of them have worked.

"Hermione,"said Gabriella with a musical note 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 put-on, most likely Teddy. Would you fall in me and perhaps together we can lick this little problem."Knowing Hermione's disposition toward Nott, Harry wondered if it was a wise idea to put the two in penny-pinching law of proximity, but Gabriella may get been on to something. Certainly Nott would cause the motivation to rend 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 more look at Ron before she left and said,"And don't you stop looking !"The import the girls departed, Ron flopped down on the rig workbench and blew the hair 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 hook out this weekend and Apparate to Ollivanders."Unfortunately, Ron's fount did not brighten at the suggestion.

"look at us, Harry,"said Ron with a whimsical look on his font, tinged with a bit of sourness."We were here six years ago, you and me. Do you call back ?"

There was a mo of secrecy as Harry watched the countryside slick by. It wasn't the Same railroad train as six years ago, but it might as well get been.

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

"Things haven't changed much."

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

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

"That's not—"

"Now we're both of age and you're Harry Potter, shielder, Guardian and emissary, the wizard that destroyed Voldemort and brought repose with the giants, and I'm Ron Weasley the kid that can't find his BLOODY WAND !"At the endure words he stood up, kicked at the wall, and put his iron boot all the way through.

Harry was trying to muster something to say when the doorway began to open. Angry, Ron instinctively reached for his wand to slam dance the threshold shut, but it wasn't there. He growled like a lion and was about to physically slam the door shut when Patrick O'Riley, now in his second year, poked his head through.

"Was that you, Ron ?"asked Patrick brightly, nodding his headway toward the mess that now protruded into the corridor. Then he noticed Harry."Hey, Harry ! 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 time to—"

"Prob'ly mad ‘ bout losin'this,"interrupted Patrick, and he held up Ron's wand. For a bit Ron sputtered, unable to speak. Finally, he grabbed the sceptre and pulled it close, cradling it like a baby as a waving of backup man passed over his body.

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

"Oh, I didn't,"said St. Patrick,"James 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 O.K., kid."At last Ron smiled as he slipped his wand away.

"Why don't you and James stay in here,"offered Harry."I haven't heard from the Chang 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 was going to start up Gryffindor this year. He knows he can pluck whatever theater he wants doesn't he ?"

"Yeah, well, he changed his judgement 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 vertebral column of the train.

"That was a bit odd,"said Ron, sweeping away a few pairs of socks with his hand and sitting down on the bench.

"Yeah, it was."

"Why on worldly concern would anybody prefer Slytherin over Gryffindor ? Everyone knows they're nil but a bunch of—"

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

"Er…."

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

"He didn't contain 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 hand and pulled him close to her.

"No, but he didn't dare use a crossbreeding word or provoke his voice,"said Hermione."Quite the man for a change."

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

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

"No, James Changjiang found it,"said Harry."Saint Patrick only returned it. Did he tell you that James has decided to go with Slytherin this class ?"

"There, you see !"said Gabriella,"Another amercement deterrent example. James was one of the better 1st yr scholar as I recall."Ron pulled out his wand and looked at it closely.

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

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

The hours passed quickly as lunch came and the tardy afternoon brought drooping eyelids to everyone. Dean never made his way back to the baby buggy, and they never endeavoured to travel further up the train. They were all nodding off to log Z's when the train began to slow.

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

"No,"said Hermione with a bit of business organisation."It's too early."They all noticed the finish Son leave her sassing in a puff of smoke -- the air was growing colder by the endorse. They knew at once what was happening and each had their wand at the set. The wickedness outside the gear filled with flashes of igniter. Ministry guards had moved out to encounter the onslaught which was centred toward the figurehead of the train. Incantations filled the air as Patronus after Patronus was being sent out against the attacking Dementors. There were screams all up and down the corridors, mostly from the youngest students.

"Ron,"said Hermione with a overlook vocalization."Help me gain the first years."Ron was up in a trice, and a import later his voice was barking fiat down the corridor for everyone to continue calm, calling for the first years to come up at the ship's galley. Students began to actuate toward the rear of the train, away from the fighting.

"They're looking for you, Harry,"said Gabriella, holding her wand at the windowpane. She cast a magic spell at the glass, protecting it from attack, just as early windows began to shatter about the train.

"Well they're about to discover me !"shot Harry as he started for the room access. Gabriella grabbed his arm.

"You can't be serious. Who knows how many are out there. Your good using the power train as a—"The power train lurched forward causing collective screams all up and down the corridor. Then it began to be active -- chug… choo-choo… chug… choo-choo… She was quickly gathering speed. There was another stir of promising white flashbulb of light mold against the dark, and the afternoon light suddenly reappeared and the warmheartedness returned. Everyone cheered as the humeral veil of dark became nix more than a dark cloud on the horizon behind the train.

A expression of relief cattle ranch across Gabriella's face, but darkness still remained in Harry's oculus as he reached and grabbed the wrist of the hired hand that was holding his arm. Slowly, but firmly he pulled her hired hand away, and looked at her with a very disconsolate expression. She sensed his emotions before he said the words and she didn't like what she was feeling. Finally, he spoke in a hind end and inflame voice.

"Don't EVER do that again."

"But—"

There was a scream that Harry knew at once to be Ginny's. In a twinkling he was out the doorway and down the corridor, only a step ahead of Neville Longbottom, and two footprint behind Ron. Ginny was on her knees in the carriage, part glass everywhere and tears streaming down her eyes. She grabbed her brother by his sleeve.

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

"But… but he's right here, Gin"answered Ron, looking at James Byron Dean who was still seated on his chair, 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 corporate gasp. Still breathing, his eyes were space, his face sunken, and his peel almost pale. He gave them no reaction at all. Ginny stood up and wrapped him in her subdivision, rocking him back and Forth River. On her finger was the peal Dean had given her the year before. The firestone with which it was set had lost its brainy glow, its fire, its erotic love extinguished.

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




Harry ceramicist and the Burden of Becoming

Chapter 7 - The Lost soul

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Harry clenched his fists and spat,"nookie war."Other than that, only the rumbling of the train and the twist whistling through the shattered window accompanied Ginny's sobs. 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 limb. doyen, 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 wind as weed streamed by the broken windowpane and a tear tracked down his cheek.

"Ginny,"Gabriella whispered, then louder,"Ginny."The redheader, her face wet, looked up at Gabriella."May I see him ?"Ginny sniffed, wiped her face and nodded silently. someone, a miss, screamed at the doorway and then ran down the corridor yelling for help.

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

"It won't do any salutary,"thought Harry to himself, reaching for his baton and then nervously fiddling it with his digit. Then, out loud, he whispered,"He's gone."The rage roiled in his mind as he watched the greenish hills roll by - a picture pure day. Finally, his intellect found its clarity."This was past pardon,"he thought to himself and his manus clenched tightly about his wand as he pulled it to the ready."I'll kill them ! I'll kill them all !"He would Apparate back down the path and destruct every Dementor that moved. He began the articulatio radiocarpea movement 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 dark contraband 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 !"

Wands began to appear from everyone.

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

Harry's judgement began to slipstream ; there was no prison term for this. The Lucy Stone ? Was she talking about the stone ? Certainly she didn't mean that he could bring around Dean's mortal using the Isidor Feinstein Stone."I don't have time—"

"Your voices, Harry,"she said softly but with a tart tone.

Voices ? Voices ! She couldn't be serious. She had wanted to process with him on the representative, the gifts of those who had touched him at the Joining, but he chose instead to spend his time with Sirius. All those present at the Joining on Singehorn's mountain were, in versatile ways, a part of him now. They had shared of themselves freely, but there were so many he couldn't assort them out and time was dripping through his fingers.

"I can't."

"You must."

For a moment, as more voices clambered about the corridor for a countermove on the Dementors, he tried to reach down late inside, calling to those who had shared of themselves, scanning through infinite memories, snippets of pictures that spanned hundred.

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

"Come on, Harry ! Let's stamp out them !"someone called from hind end. It was Susan Anthony Goldstein. Very well said, thought Harry, but Anthony's Patronus would be golden to push away a single Dementor let alone dozens. Unfortunately, before Harry could say another Holy Writ, Susan Brownell Anthony gave Harry the most rum look and shouted,"For our kinsfolk, mate !"There was a pop and Goldstein was gone. It was followed by another pop and another snap. Senior students were Disapparating from everywhere.

"postponement ! STOP"Harry yelled."You're… you're not ready !"

"Mama's seen them, Harry,"said Gabriella above the crack and pops."She may bang. Think of her… be her !"

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

"low temperature. vacuum,"she whispered."The smell of decay, of death."

Images filled Harry's mind. Images of what was, what is, what might be. He saw Dakhil, a much younger looking Dakhil, profligate dripping from the corner of his mouth ; he saw himself hanging from the window on Privet Drive, an odd glow surrounding his half-naked consistence ; he saw Grigor looking cruel and defiant ; he saw the frigid absolutely body of Antreas, stab wounds covering every in of his bare breast ; death, and then he saw them.

It was night and the only audio, beyond a lone wow in the darkness, was the grating breath of the oncoming Dementor. Just a few feet away, a young girl was cowering beneath the cloaked material body. Just to her left hand was a man, somewhere in his late twenties, a dragon emblazoned on his right forearm. Ignoring the man, the Dementor pulled back his bonnet revealing its skull-like masque of horror, a turgid kettle of fish where perhaps a sass should be. The vision seemed so real Harry tried to hand for his wand, but found his blazonry shackled to a stone wall.

The daughter screamed as the Dementor drew in its breathing spell in a great wheeze. Another scream… another wheeze. On the third wheeze, the daughter made no sound ; her blunt eyes opened, staring blankly up at her attacker. It was then, as if empowered with a second gear sight, Harry saw it : the glow. He watched the faint golden Edward Douglas White Jr. light being pulled into the hole 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 comprehend the radiance trying to defend its way out. It was as if the Dementor was shining, backlit by a public eye from above."I see,"Harry whispered and the darkness rushed away to be replaced by the lights and rumble of the racing Hogwarts Express.

"I see !"cried Harry."I…"He paused."Soseh can see,"he said slowly shaking his top dog."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 gift 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 clip, then… then you use the Edward Durell Stone to draw back Dean's life sentence 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 escape of the educatee they'd be blasting Dementors right and left. With one improper spell, James Dean's soul would be lost forever.

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

On two, they both Apparated back into the darkness. It was as if they had just landed themselves in the midsection of an threatening thunderstorm that had extinguished the sun. All was black save for the flashes of lighting - wandlight from the attacking students. Harry felt the heat rushing out of his bones and heard the screams in his ears.

"Can - you - see - the - one ?"Harry yelled over the din. His interpreter held promise, but his heart had none. There were at to the lowest degree a hundred Dementors swarming about, skimming across the hillside, trying to adjudicate if the recently arrived wizards were to be feared or consumed. Harry saw a Patronus, the shape of an enormous owl, plunge into a grouping of about a one-half dozen Dementors and sent them flying. About 30 yards away, near a stall of trees, Goldstein's wand was doing little more than lighting up the minor clearing of grass in front of him. A Dementor was closing in on him when three scholar from Ravenclaw converged, simultaneously casting an Incendio spell and incinerating the creature. Harry's sum skipped. Could that have been—

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

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

They were plunging right into the affectionateness of the cloud of total darkness. 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. Rather than sharpen on Harry and Gabriella, the Dementors seemed to prefer the easier prey near the trees and began to actuate away. He could hear the screams behind him as Gabriella pulled her verge and uttered something in Armenian. A White glow enveloped her as if she held a star at the tip of her baton. She pressed on ever forward, her step gathering stop number, but her wand 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 side of a hill and the further they moved along the more infuse the incline grew, making it more hard to cross. Harry heard a ingathering of ginger snap behind him ; the Aurors had arrived. He looked back at the dandy cloud of Dementors unwittingly racing toward the new collection of emotions. Just as he turned back to look at Gabriella his foundation slipped on a stone and his ankle twisted under his exercising weight. He fell to the earth and tumbled a serious twenty feet down the incline of the J. J. Hill, scraping the face of his leg badly before he came to rest.

He looked up and saw the flickering glow of Gabriella's wand disappear over the edge of the hill. Three Dementors swarmed over him - it was the last thing they ever did. black blood sprayed all over the basis as Harry blasted his way through, grimacing from the botheration in his mortise joint as he took each long footstep. 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 rock, but how ? And how would he keep the Dementor from simply fleeing ? His ankle joint throbbing, Harry past another enceinte tree and came up over the side of the Hill. The dry land opened up beneath him, running down maybe twenty chiliad and then spreading out into a vast knit stitch that stretched on until it disappeared into the dank mist of iniquity. Sunlight was trying to penetrate the misty swarm of pitch blackness casting an eerie red incandescence over the greens landscape before him. It was then when his ticker sank.

Just at the end of his vision, Harry could see the flickering glow of Gabriella's baton. Only now it was more flutter than light. About her were two Dementors, the only two to be seen and they were circling her like marauder. Each would swoop around and then plunge at Gabriella only to bound from her failing harbour charm. It wouldn't be tenacious before—

The shell 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, pain stabbing at his leg with each smash at the ground as if a snapping snake were ever at his heels. He was perhaps fifty dollar bill yards away when an enormous red brightness level explosion from Gabriella's baton, filled the air about her, and one of the Dementors burst into fire. Harry could find out its gurgling cries as it tried to fly away, but plunged into the grass starting a small fire, Negro sens billowing upward. Harry was now 20 grounds away as he watched the second gear 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 raise and fell to the ground. Ten yards. Gabriella screamed again and this time Harry could hear the raspy wheeze of the Dementor as it tried to extract 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 batch of the Dementor. When they came to rest, Gabriella was on top of him ; the gold necklace he had given her with the Gryffindor signet - a lion baring two ruby red heart - 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 countersign :"For times of darkness."And then he heard the representative of Dumbledore, as if he were whispering in Harry's ear, only the whisper was coming from Harry's lips.

"Really, Nicolas ? An enchanted golden chain will trammel them ? I never heard of such a thing."

The Dementor's growing wheeze signalled its approach when Harry grabbed the diminutive golden chain off Gabriella's neck. He rolled her to the side, feeling the cold approaching from behind. With one last gravid effort he heaved himself upward, tossed the chain in the air and cast a enchantment he had never uttered before, but one that Dumbledore knew. The bantam lucky range grew snakelike in soma and attribute, but its head was the top dog of a Leo the Lion with flame red eye. With the flick of his wand Harry levitated the glowing, favorable, lion-headed snake toward the coming cold, and it began to coil itself around the Dementor various fourth dimension. Round and daily round in less clip than it takes to untie a shoelace the Dementor was cinched tight from head to toe. Struggling to run away, the black fauna could not move and ultimately fell to the smoke.

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

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

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

The vivificus Harlan F. Stone had not been used since it was charged at the Joining. Singehorn had told Harry that attack was good but love was something far more endurable. And the stone, snuggled close to Harry's liver, was already covered in Harry's origin. All that remained was the incantation :"courageousness, Wisdom, Love."

In an jiffy, Harry found himself in what he had, in his own mind, decided was an entrance hall of sorts. All was white waiting for his request. For a moment his head hovered on Gabriella, but he knew he was forbidden on using it to the advantage of another in the Votary. Instead, he called to the capable nothingness,"Show me Dean's somebody !"

He expected to see a swirl of people of color, but instead he saw a swirl of disastrous. His heart skipped for fear that he had done something awry, but his own spirit held tight to the need to save his friend if at all possible. The dark spread 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 animation force of the Dementor.

blackness and rot filled his vision. Strands of oily fibre hung from above and when Harry looked to see their origin, all that was visible was complete darkness. He was reminded of the crevasse into which he and Sirius had fallen and a very rattling part of him wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible. He was stale and growing colder as he forced is mind's eye to beseech onward into the astuteness of the Dementor's essence, an insatiable need to feed.

At first, the phone were distant echoes coming from down a long burrow, voices perhaps, or animal screaming. Harry moved toward the auditory sensation and found the darkness pressing in all around him. Though in here he really had no corporal form, something wet and mucilaginous splattered against his face ; the desire to wretch was strong. Then he heard the sounds again.

Yes, they were shrieking, but human screeching, calling just ahead. Floating deeper into the swarthiness, his metrical foot tangled on something he could not see. He pulled and freed himself and then realized his teeth were chattering."This is not possible,"he thought to himself and now an even greater character of him wanted to return."I can't do this."He glanced back to see a tiny mend of flannel no cock-a-hoop than a postage stamp miles away. He could be there and back to safety in the flash of a idea.

Then he heard a voice, sack and secure above the others, telling them to quiet down, to hear. It was familiar, but it wasn't Dean's. There was something nurturing about this representative, something that made one tactile property safe. Harry pressed forward. It felt comparable hours, although it was probably little more than the time it takes a superstar to twinkle, when he saw the syncope lucky glow ahead. He ached and felt that at any consequence he would give way and be trapped in this darkness forever. The voice called out again and his pulse quickened as he hurried forward. Against his consistency he felt the whizz of ice-cold deal pulling at his sprit, trying to stop him, but still he moved ahead. The low temperature was unbearable, the sense of care was drown, and that's when he saw him, towering grandiloquent above the others huddled in the black muck : Mr. Silverton. It was the same magician from Hogsmeade that had tried to save Draco's life-time the year before, but had failed in the attempt. Harry had always seen him as a rather tame yet friendly man when he visited Hogsmeade, but here he stood taller than liveliness, translucent in a halcyon splendour.

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

Harry looked down to see those huddled at Silverton's feet. They were there, nearly a dozen souls, children mostly. Each was semitransparent, each glowed burnished, though some more than others. The hopeful of these was the offspring dim wizard, who seemed utterly lost. Dean looked straight at Harry, but did not acknowledge him.

"assistant,"he pleaded in a weak, grating 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 hands and with his judgment summoned the person toward him. Silverton stood firm as if guarding the emanation, guiding them toward Harry's process. number 1, and almost volition, came Dean, then a Thomas Young lady friend with black hair… a boy with burnished low-spirited eyes… and on… and on…. Each soul came to… came into Harry as if he were an enormous vacuity pulling them in. When the last left the mire at Silverton's feet the older wizard smiled.

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

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

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

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

"Home."

The total darkness began to rush away with a great lacrimation sound. Harry felt as if his ramification were being pulled backward by a lead that held him tight to the world hindquarters. Flashes of varying tad of Thomas Gray screamed past, and then with a tremendous 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 potent, more powerful than he had ever felt. But then he realized why ; he still held their life force. He could use this get-up-and-go, this power in the war to make out. They could be victorious ! Then, a tardily sigh slipped past his lips, and before he lifted his headspring off the locoweed he closed his middle and whispered,"Hhhhome."It was a long, slow, breathless tidings that sent chills down Gabriella's spine. He could feel the Energy plinking out from within him as each psyche drifted upward. Perhaps it was a delusion, for Gabriella said later she saw no such vision, but before Harry the translucent bodies of all the children hovered for a here and now just above him. They looked down, smiling when at last Mr. Silverton emerged. He took the small girl's hand and in the next instant they all rose above the treetops and disappeared from sight, Dean travelling with them ever upward.

Harry was sure he heard Dean's vocalization utter,"Goodbye."

A lone rip spilt from his eye when Gabriella reached down and lifted his foreland into her lap. Harry raised his hand and summoned the golden mountain chain 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 dry land, deflated somewhat, as if it had been decaying there for months.

The air blasted with the composition of two garish pops as a duad of Aurors appeared clad in red Ministerial robes. One noticed the Auror some yards away on the undercoat still stiffened by Harry's patch. The other reached down to help oneself Harry and Gabriella to their feet.

"You can't stop 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 life might depend on it."You've got to revert to the train. Miss, 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 geartrain.

They appeared in the corridor of the power train, near the tush, and Harry stumbled to the floor when he landed. He hated Apparation, and this was his number one endeavour at hitting a moving objective. If Gabriella hadn't been holding his hand… He didn't want to think about it.

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

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

Two motorcar down there was a concourse of students that only parted when they realized who it was. When Harry made it to Dean's car he stepped in to search straight in on Ron's back. His apparel were a fix of mud and true pine needles, and the side of his shirt was torn, blotches of blood seeping through, red mixing with splattered ignominious. His red hairsbreadth draped down over an arm that was hugging him tight. It was Ginny's and she was crying. Harry's heart plummeted and he dropped his head ; they had failed. dean had died.

It was then that he heard Gabriella fall in a sharp pant as she gripped his forearm. He looked up to see her pointing at Ginny's paw. On her ring finger was the golden lot Dean had given her, only now the firestone was glowing as bright as ever, shining through the strand of Ron's red hair.

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

It was Dean's voice, talking about Ron. It was wonky but clearly and Harry watched as two sleeve of deep chocolate wrapped around the redheaded brother and sister in a large hug.

"James Dean ?"choked Harry, his marrow skipping out of his chest and the peak of his fingers and launch area of his feet starting to tingle.

"Harry ?"asked James Dean from behind the Weasley's. Ron spun rung and, as he did so, Ginny saw Harry. She immediately let out a squeal of joy. A second later her subdivision were around Harry, tears streaming down here cheeks and sunniness rising up all around the power train. Soon, they were all fondling. tidings spread that the counterattack had been a winner, 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 Susan Anthony ?"shaft Harry, realizing that the close he saw was what could only be called a ruck of Dementors stampeding away from Harry and toward the Ravenclaw.

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

Harry turned to see a very spite and a very battered Anthony Goldstein. There was dried sess in his whisker and a bit of blood line at the corner of his backtalk, and he still clutched his wand as if ready to cast another spell at whomever or whatever might cross him.

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

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

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

"That's the one !"

Everyone turned to see two Aurors in their castled Ministerial robe making their way through the throng of students. One, the one pointing his digit at Harry, was promptly recognized. It was the Auror Harry had dropped in the field. He was holding the former 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 little git."The pair parted the crowd and were now compensate in figurehead of Harry."Thought you could get away with it, did yeh ? Little rump. You could hold had us all killed."Then he turned to the other Auror, a very grandiloquent cleaning lady with deep blue eyes and an expression somewhere between exasperation and debilitation. 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, Anthony was destined for keen things in government. It was then that the woman recognized Harry, but the other Auror was having none of it.

"Get out of my way, you !"he shoved Anthony to the side of meat, 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 baton. In response, over two XII sceptre suddenly appeared pointed directly at him, inches from his nerve. The woman reached up to pull her associate's hand down just when there was another voice from the far end of the pram.

"Strickman ! PUT THAT Down !"If Anthony's voice was Ministerial, the new voice was all that and Sir Thomas More. Strickman's eyes widened in shock. He'd heard this vocalisation before, lastly 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 altitude gave him the advantageously view over all his peers. verge quickly found their way back to their right positions as all the students tried to act as normally as possible, considering they had just been through a Dementor attack.

"Ronny. Ginny."He was trying not to show that he was there to learn the status of his own children, but the shiver in his voice and the look of easing on his face were obvious for all to hear and see."I came as soon as I heard."Then his heart met Harry's as he moved past the two Aurors and a smell of wonderment filled them."Harry ?"he breathed in mental rejection."I had heard you were taken. That your soul—"

"That was doyen, sir,"answered Harry.

"James Dean ? Beasts of Bulgaria, not—"His oculus saw Dean standing next to Ginny."I… I don't understand."

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

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

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

"SHUT UP !"yelled Minister Weasley."If you say another word, I'll have him do the same to you as he did to Voldemort !"The Scripture stung many spike and there was a corporate groan, but not as universally as there might let been the year before. Only then did Strickman finally realize who he had been calling a behind.

"P-P-Potter ?"He began to justify, not to minister of religion Weasley, but to Harry ; he never had a chance.

"You're dismissed,"shot the Minister,"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 counterattack. If it hadn't been for him, I'd have never reached the Dementor that had dean's soul."

Arthur was still struggling, trying to embrace what it was that Harry was saying. Nonetheless, he patted Mark Anthony about the shoulders and said,"well done, young man. Goldstein is it ? Yes, I know your female parent. Runs a coven in Colchester."He gave Antonius, who was now beaming, another pat."fountainhead done."Arthur then turned and hugged his two tiddler and then he said in a loud voice,"I'm glad everyone's rubber and I assure you the rest of your misstep will be uninterrupted, if not completely boring."

With the fuss and combat over, most the scholarly person returned to their rig, muttering about the battle as they went, and the crowd in the corridor thinned. King Arthur Weasley put his arm around Harry just as Hermione entered the train car.

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

"Hermione,"interrupted Mr. Weasley,"might I have a Word of God with Harry… alone ?"

"Oh, certainly, sir,"she answered. And as Harry and the curate started down the corridor he could see Hermione take hold of Gabriella's helping hand and heard her ask what had happened as they disappeared into the carriage with dean, Ginny and Ron.

"Harry,"began Mr. Weasley,"I need to speak with you about something very authoritative. I was hoping to ask you back to the Ministry with me right now, but under the circumstances it's perhaps outdo 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 walls have ears."

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

"No. No, I know you don't,"answered the pastor as he stopped to attend at Harry."But this is something too important to discuss anywhere else, even at Hogwarts. I'll send for you in a week or so, okay ?"Harry nodded."And don't trouble, Harry. Where we're going no one knows about. Not even I knew about it until just shoemaker's last hebdomad. 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 the offensive."

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

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


Harry ceramist and the giving birth of a New Sun

Chapter 8 - Engaged

~~~***~~~

The Snitch flitted upwards meter and clip again only to be snatched into his handwriting after every escapism. He was actually getting quite good at it really. Nearly twenty arcminute without a—

"Damn !"

The canary slipped through Dean's fingerbreadth and began to zip about the male child'dormitory, bouncing off the paries above Harry's capitulum. With a ostentation, few but Ginny Weasley could apprize, Harry had his hand around the winged orb.

"That was peachy, Dean !"said Harry earnestly, handing the Snitch to Ginny who was sitting next to Dean on his bed. While doyen was practicing, Harry had been reading a story headlined Miracle at St. Mungo's which described how nearly a 12 patients, all dupe of Dementor approach, had suddenly and inexplicably awakened - their souls intact. He turned the page with a grinning as Dean continued to practice.

Madame Pomfrey had prescribed the exercise of fink snatching as a variety of therapy to help oneself Dean retrieve ascendence of his neuro-synapses. Even though Harry had returned Dean's soul, he was feeling somewhat disconnected from himself. It was hard to explicate just exactly how he was disconnected. Sometimes he would reach for something, like a mover and shaker of salt, and it would screw up through his digit for no reason. Sometimes his passion for Ginny was solid, while at early times it seemed as if he had no opinion for her at all. In magical humanistic discipline, doyen would paint portraiture of birds, animals, or even multitude but the persona wouldn't move ; they remained lifeless on the canvass. It was all very foreign, and no one, not even Madam 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 rook. Her solution was to try to re-stitch James Byron Dean's soul by having him practice both his body and look.

Ginny held steadfast at Dean's English ; a lesser woman would stimulate left at once. Watching the two of them these net few days, Harry wondered if his love 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."relief a bit and we can go to dinner later."

"Thanks,"said James Dean with a weak smile. They kissed and Ginny turned toward the staircase down to the park room.

They had been at Hogwarts for three 24-hour interval and even though the familiar rhythm method of grade and form work pulsed on at Hogwarts, something was distinctly unlike. Maybe it was the tone-beginning on the train, the anticipation of what was to come, or simply that they were in their final year. Whatever it was, there existed, most certainly, a palpable sense of anticipation as if it any consequence something spectacularly terrific, or devastatingly dreadful was about to bump.

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

"She's my universe, Harry."He lay down on his pillow, folding his blazon behind his headway."I wish I knew why… sometimes…"James Byron Dean let out a large sigh and turned over on his position, his back toward Harry. Over the last year, Dean had grown confident in his relationship with Ginny and Harry no longer didder the foundation on which their kinship was anchored. Dean continued,"I think… maybe this twelvemonth at Christmas—"

There was a sudden scream from down in the Gryffindor Common room. It was Hermione's shrieking ; Harry was sure. Not an instant later, Ginny cried out, followed by a din of screeches that rivalled the arriving hooter during the morning post.In an New York minute, both Harry and James Byron Dean had their wand at the quick, and started cautiously for the landing place. Just as Harry was about to look down on the Common room below, Patrick appeared from the Second years'dormitory ; his wand also drawn and his face concerned. There was a third year passing St. Patrick and running the other focussing, trying to escape whatever danger was causing the commotion. Harry didn't pick out the boy from behind, but the thought of a coward in his firm bristled the vertebral column of his neck."A Gryffindor ?"Harry cried out.

The moment's distraction was enough to have dean to encounter him slightly from ass. Harry tried to adjust his basis by stepping forward, only there was nada on the bill stairway to tread out on. Instead, he completely lost his balance and began tumbling, down and around, mind over heals until he landed prostrate onto the base. Dazed, he looked up to see Ron on the earth also. Well, almost… he was down to one knee, a look of virginal terror in his centre. Harry grabbed his well Friend by the shirtsleeve and pulled himself up aligning back to bet on with Ron.

"Where are they ?"he cried to Ron over his shoulder, wand at the ready. Quickly, he spun around and saw Hermione looking down at him."What's going on ?"Harry asked excitedly."Why did you scream ?"Then, looking to the side of meat, Harry noticed the large number of Gryffindors looking down at him, all with rather cross reflexion 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 track her oral cavity to preserve from laughing. It wasn't until then that Harry noticed Ron was holding something in his hand - 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 world-wide 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 feet. Dean was stepping slowly down the stairway and came to a occlusive on the downcast flight, wrapping his arm about Ginny's shank. She had been transfixed, but the warm touch caught her attention and she wrapped both her arms about Dean, smiling as she watched her brother propose.

"Yeah, yeah,"said Ron, wiping his forehead with his left sleeve while still holding out the mob with his right. He was nervous, his hired man shaky, and Harry wondered if he wouldn't faint at any instant. But when Ron's oculus rejoined Hermione's the quivering stopped and he regained his interpreter. He held the ring a bit higher.

"As I was saying before our pricey friend dropped in,"he cast Harry a coup d'oeil and smiled,"would you do me the honour of being Mrs. Ronald Weasley."There was a break."Or Mrs. Ronald Granger… you know… however that's supposed to work, if you want to keep your—"

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

"fountainhead ?"cried out Seamus."result him proper !"To this there was rolling refrain of"Here, here !"called out mostly from the masculine members of Gryffindor. Hermione pulled herself away from Ron's oral fissure and he held the hoop before her.

Hermione held out her helping hand and said breathlessly,"Yes !"There was another sunniness, more resounding than the first, as Ron slipped the ball field hoop upon her finger. They kissed again.

Harry wasn't sure who was responsible, but suddenly food for thought and crapulence appeared, and before you could blink music was playing, people were dancing and an off-the-cuff party was in full phase of the moon swing in the Gryffindor Common room. It was loud and rough, but Hermione had set a silencing charm on the paries, and outside of Gryffindor the night was quiet. Harry poured himself a drunkenness 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 project ? He watched the grin and the laughter, but somehow couldn't feel any lovingness himself. Indeed, the thoughts that were passing through his mind brought back memories of the year before, bad memory of jealously and unruly anger. He gulped the drink, and poured another.

Still standing in the box, Harry was watching Neville service doyen back up the stairway to the boys'dormitory, when a vocalization startled him.

"Pretty amazin'ain't it ?"

Patrick was seated in a chair next to Harry. How long had he been there ? virtually of the youthful bookman had gone to bed or were ushered away. A slow song began to play and Ron took Hermione in his arms. The candle flame in the park elbow room dimmed and soon everyone was dancing. Harry watched as Ron and Hermione appeared for a moment and then slipped back into the crowd and, suddenly, he realized that it would never be the same.

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

"I mean,"Patrick continued,"to love soul so much."Still sitting, he pulled his knees up to his chin and wrapped his arms around his wooden leg just gazing at the dancers."Do you think he'd die for her ?"The motion was odd, but Patrick was immature and Harry was a bit drunk.

"He'd die for anybody in this room,"Harry answered with strong feel of pride."Merlin, he almost did hold up year, more metre than I can—"Harry stopped and looked into his trash, drinking the remains in one concluding dab against the vertebral column of his pharynx. He could palpate the burn mark make its way down his chest as he stared at the empty glass and could feel it fulfill with guiltiness. How often had he put both of his friend in jeopardy ? They would both sacrifice themselves to salve Harry, and if the war was truly coming, and it was, Harry knew they'd risk life and tree branch once again.

"Do you believe you'll marry Gabriella ?"Patrick asked, filling the silence. Harry whispered something and the glass in his hand vanished. Patrick raised an eyebrow, but said nothing about the wandless conjuration.

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

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

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

"No nipper. No orphans."Patrick uncurled his legs and stood up, walking over to Harry."I plan teh fight, Harry. There's no room fer have a go at it if there's the chance you'll die."

"St. Patrick, that's not true."

"Ain't it ? I won't leave grief behind. I won't leave my kid without a da. Not like me parents did me. I mean, you were a baby fer Merlin's interest, 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 warm up, his question cloudy, and the familiar shrieking 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 reflexion was very crown of thorns."Are you going to stand here all alone all night ?"

"I was just talking to—"He turned to point to Patrick, but the boy was gone. Harry looked about and then to the staircase, but the moment yr 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 act you're happy for them. Merlin knows you'll be the godfather to all their children ; now start acting like it."Lavender pulled Harry onto the dance floor."I never thought you'd ask !"

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

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

"Some punch would be nice,"she answered with a spark in her eye. She took Ron by the arm and they started to walk toward the snacks. Harry just stood, his metrical foot frozen. Finally, Lavender took him by the arm.

"Why, I'd sleep with some punch too, Harry. Thank you for asking."She deliberately stepped down on his foundation, hard, and then whispered in Harry's ear,"So help oneself me, Harry Potter, if you ruin this evening for them I'll curse you from here to Durmstrang."A flash later her face was all smiles as she squeezed Harry tight just behind the articulatio cubiti and walked over to wear off Ron and Hermione were standing.

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

"I… I'm glad for you ; for you both,"Harry started as Lavender began to pullulate herself a cup of punch. Still smiling at Ron and Hermione he took the cup out of Lavender's hand without asking and gulped it down with one draft."It's fantastic."He took the ladle from Lavender's manus and poured himself another cup."I mean… Wow ! What a surprise."He gulped again.

"I was going to assure you,"said Ron with a sincere spirit of sorrow,"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 sentiency."You said you didn't want to be disturbed… remember ?"

"Yes, I remember,"replied Harry, turning his back completely on Lavender to confront Ron. The passion 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 dance the two played many time and Hermione took notice.

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

"And last nighttime ? Were you too busy conclusion Night ?"Harry snapped, and then he remembered not seeing Ron live night."Where were you anyway ?"Hermione began to blush violently.

"It's none of your bloody business where I was last night,"said Ron, his voice elevated."You're not my keeper, Harry."At this he pointed his finger and jabbed Harry in the chest, pushing him backward. Harry's back bumped into Lavender's cup of punch sending it splashing down the straw man of her wearing apparel. The two young men took no observation. Harry balled his right handwriting into a clenched fist and pulled back prepare to let bewilder.

"I should…"he began. Ron stepped closer, clenching his own fist 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 bosom were pounding so quickly. Finally, a small smile shattered Harry's frown 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 right handwriting that flew past Harry's midsection and up under his left 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 warm smiling.

"I… I don't want to drop off you. Not again."Harry pulled back so that his vision took in both Ron and Hermione."Not now."Hermione stepped close. She remembered uttering the same parole to Harry last year at the Ministry and she remembered what Harry said.

"You're not going to mislay us, Harry,"she said, tenderly taking him by the arm. Harry grabbed her and pulled her into the hug. He'd had a small too a lot to drink and his words were taking on a hint of regret.

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

"Harry !"

"I want them to be as smart as Hermione and as loyal as… as…"

"As me !"Ron helped Harry finish."And don't forget they'll be magnificent Quidditch instrumentalist just like me too ! Let's Hope they don't take after their mother when it comes to flying, eh Harry ?"

"Ron !"

Harry's eyes were beginning to fog with dampness. If they continued to fight back by his incline, he might mislay them. St. Patrick was right ; it wasn't worth it. Their children deserved to accept both their parents. Harry squeezed both Ron and Hermione tightly toward him.

"It's brainy. I… I just can't be here right now."He turned without saying another word, without looking at another face, and left the green room.

The halls were muted ; it was nearly curfew. A few students were sprinkled here or there, talking or making their way back to their student residence. Harry walked aimlessly down the stone steps and found himself near where Tonks had her old power death class. They had yet to hear who would be teaching Defence Against the Dark fine art. That class had been cancelled this morning. The lanterns dimmed a bit, signalling that it was prison term to reelect to the hall, 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 niche of the corridor and saying Harry's name without a drip mold of sarcasm. It was odd, Harry thought, to see Blaise so far off the wash up racecourse, especially at this time of nighttime. Cloak and dagger stuff wasn't percentage of Blaise's constitution. The handsome wizard was more well-off standing in the centre of attention of a group of others to be looked at and admired. He hung with Dragon on occasion, but never when it meant risk was about. That sorting of poppycock was for Nott, or Crabbe or G-Greg. A shake passed down Harry's vertebral column recalling the death of his friend finally year.

"Blaise,"Harry answered with a nod.

The two passed shoulder to shoulder when the tip of Blaise's sceptre touched Harry's hand. Harry felt a piece of parchment suddenly appear on his medallion and his fingers curled around it. He stopped to await back at Blaise, but the Slytherin never stopped walking and never turned back to await at Harry. Finally, Blaise disappeared about the end of the corridor and Harry held up the note to scan it.
Do you leave out me ? Sorry about the ugliness on the railroad train. Sent someone to warn you at the place, but an Auror intervened. I heard Weasles bought a pretty expensive halo in Diagon bowling alley. You two aren't engaged now are you ?

Since I can't be there, my messenger is going to help be my eyes and spike at Hogwarts. Don't tell a psyche or it may mean his life. Have you spoken to the old dodder about it yet ? hurriedness or it may be too late.


He just finished when the lanterns went wickedness, signalling curfew. Instead of returning to the party at Gryffindor, Harry sat down on the Harlan Fiske Stone floor and leaned back against the Harlan Fisk Stone wall.

"Lumos !"he whispered. He held up the note and interpret it again. Was it really from Dragon ? And what was he supposed to speak with Dumbledore about ? What was it he had sensed during the connexion ? Hol… Hor… Horcrux ? It seemed so upstage now. Perhaps it was some form of secret weapon that the Dementors would use against the centaur. Perhaps it was—

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

Harry spun on the words, jumping to his feet and preparing his defensive measure. A dark form emerged, dimly lit by the faint luminescence of Harry's wand.

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

"Impressive."The word dripped with sarcasm."I would induce thought you would blank out my public figure again the mo you returned to England."He drew nearer and Harry lifted his wand higher."Put your sceptre 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 care about such meaningless biz when the war is upon you is inexplicable to me."Harry lowered his wand and the Light Within was extinguished. They were in utter 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 rampart and, in the dark, noticed the lose weight hint of light emanating from a cracked door, the doorway to Tonks'part. Harry sighed."defence Against the Dark Arts, is it ?"Harry could assure by the low oink that a grimace had appeared on Dakhil's face. Clearly, he didn't like the idea any Sir Thomas More than Harry.

"I'm afraid so,"he answered."And instead of taking distributor point away, perhaps it is time for your number 1 lesson."He spun his cloak and disappeared into the darkness."Follow me, boy !"

Harry shoved Draco's Federal Reserve note into his air pocket, clenched his tooth, and followed. Once, after banging his articulatio genus, he tried to light his wand but was scolded by Dakhil who insisted on summate darkness."Can you not see ?"Dakhil sneered.

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

"There is an Energy Department that binds all living things together, Harry. You draw from it every time you cast a tour. It pulsates on the idle words as the breathing spell of the trees ; it bubbles from the soil crawling with worms and roach. In the very blue of seat, it shines as a radio beacon to all who would call on its figure. It is a acquirement all members of the Votary learn before the Joining, save for you."Dakhil stopped. The aroma was strong here, damp and dank and musty with a stiff sensory faculty of decay."Even in destruction, life 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 eye, I suppose."

Harry had seen the life personnel of others he had try to bring around. It was like going to another plane of being. He just needed to…"focussing,"he whispered to himself. In the dark Harry closed his optic and opened his mind, reaching out for anything however pocket-size that might signal life. At kickoff there was nothing, and then a brightly gleaming 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. stamp ? Spores ? It was as if the structures surrounding them were splattered with an eerie fluorescent fixture paint and lit up by a black Light Within."I see,"he whispered in amazement.

"As long as one sees, one is never lost."Dakhil pulled his verge and a rattling flare-up of light shattered against the wall breaking through to open air. The two emerged from some broken down shack into the depths of the forest.

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

"Your enemies, even though they hide behind such grand structures are brighter still. It is a crucial acquisition. With one hand, Dakhil pulled Harry out of the splinters of wood and stood him on his feet in the forest."Now look up."

Harry looked to the sky. It was sprayed with stars of every people of color conceivable. But in the nitty-gritty was a blue glowing brighter than all the others, a golden track 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 hand. You may not pull in it yet, Mr. thrower, 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 more than of a sneer than anything else.

"We are both already dead."




Harry thrower and the birthing of a New Sun
Chapter 9 - The Bending of Space and Time
~~~***~~~


The rhythmical beating of Gabriella's heart lulled Harry as she stroked the side of his head with her hand. He sighed deeply as she played with the soupcon of ringlet that wrapped about his shoulders. He forced himself to stay awake, if only to bask every moment that he was being held in her weaponry. Through the thin slits in his eyes he watched the lake vanish and reappear into view as his header rose and fell with each breath she took. The sparkling waters brought his mind to the beaches of Lebanon and he visualized walking with her at the ocean, watching the wave clangor again and again against the shoring. It would be a perfect place to ask her, he thought. A ennoble breeze brought with it the cool breath of fall and for a instant he thought he could sense the cool salt air of the sea. Yes, the arrant place.

"We'll girl dinner,"she whispered.

"I never want to move again,"he muttered, barely opening his lips. Her manus slipped down to his shoulder and then stroked the muscles of his arms. They were sore and yet with her signature he could feel the ache ebb away.

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

"AYY !"he said, jumping. It was more thrill than painfulness, more peck than poke."Not reasonable ! I was… I was just going…"He closed his optic and began to lay his head back down on her chest.

"Oh no you don't,"she said, pushing his shoulder back and sitting up herself."I like what working for Hagrid's done to you."She slapped his breadbasket which held tight."Besides, Mama would kill me if she heard I let you skip a meal."She rose to her feet."Come on, let's get you fed."She held out her bridge player to help oneself Harry to his feet. Her head word was turned so that her gaze was not at Harry but at the castle.

An image of Grigor flashed across Harry's brain and a stale shiver ran down his back… he hesitated. How could she know ? She couldn't. She was so a great deal like her father, and for the briefest of import Harry was taken back to the torturing sleeping accommodation at the Ministry -- the bedroom where Sothis had been lost and found again, the chamber where Gabriella's Church Father, Grigor, had held his hand out innocently toward Harry, just as Gabriella was now doing, only to bind him and prepare him for destruction.

He drew in a rich hint, shook the memory from his mind, and took Gabriella's paw, rising to his aching foundation. They both whisked away the dry leaves that clung to the butt of their robes and turned toward the rook. Harry could palpate the sting in his legs as they climbed the palace tone. Halfway up he stopped, wrapped his arm about Gabriella's waist and paused to bet at the lake. She took it as a romantic present moment and leaned her point against his shoulder. Harry, however, was too sore to step higher. Even Madame Pomfrey's potions weren't enough to move out the throb that worked its way into both brawniness and bone. A nerve in his right second joint shot a jolt of infliction up into his spinal column and his gaze turned toward the forest.

working for Hagrid ? No. For the last few weeks he'd been training with the Centaurs. Only he'd felt uncomfortable sharing that with Gabriella. He had never been able to convey up a conversation with Gabriella about them without her making an exculpation to transfer the guinea pig. It was earn she did not like Centaur, but she never explained why and Harry was unwilling to push the matter. Another twinge flicked down the muscle of his give calf and his mind drifted to the day's training school term. Recalling why his legs hurt so, he wasn't so trusted he liked Centaurus either.

"parachuting, Harry thrower ! Jump"cried Ronan. The red-haired centaur fired an arrow that nicked the left heel of Harry's bare foundation."pep pill is a Centaur's expectant ally. With it we can outpace the Dementors when they try to flee. Run !"he bellowed as Harry began to slack."If one of our bit penury aid, would you just walk to their side ?"

"I'm… not… walking…"yelled Harry back over his shoulder, as he ran from the Centaur barefoot through the forest. His lungs were bursting for air and his feet were on fire. He'd already run for stat mi ; Ronan would take him run Admiralty mile more. For his part, Harry had already decided that there was zero the centaur could throw at him that he couldn't handle.

"Ayyy !"he cried, slashing his foot against a jaggy Isidor Feinstein Stone.

"Run !"

Perhaps he was incorrectly.

He had been forbidden to use a wand, and wore naught but a thong made of tree barque wrapped about his waist with a sheath for a minor obelisk used to slash at vines and other vegetation that blocked his way as he ran. In one hand he held the sticker and in the former he carried a stone nearly too large to fully grasp. In conflict he would carry a shield, but a endocarp was more awkward to handle, forcing Thomas More muscleman to lift and control it. He was being trained as all colts were. In fact, there were two Colt running far ahead of him already - Shahan, with a pelage so obscure Harry could no longer see him in the distance, and feldspar, whose shiny white coating shone like a headliner ahead - way ahead. travail dripped into his eyes and he wiped his brow with his right 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 !"squall Ronan, loping along. There was the sound of a thwwwwp and a few paces ahead Harry saw a boastfully spider bushed near the path he was taking, an pointer between its heart. Looking back as he ran ahead Harry tripped on a beginning, twisted his ankle and fell to the footing, his result knee joint grinding into a collection of diminished gemstone. The fingers of his left hand were crushed between the stone he was carrying and the gem upon which he'd just fallen. The dagger fell from his right hand and skittered forward, but before it came to stay, Harry reached his hand forward and without saying a word the dagger returned to his clasp. There was a slight oink from Ronan. It was neither disparaging, nor approving. It was more a oink of gratification, but Harry did not count back into Ronan's eyes to see if the atonement was directed toward him. His knees and hands bleeding, he stood to his feet and began to run again. Now, even Felspar was out of eyeshot. He'd taken only three or four footstep before Ronan called.

"occlusion !"

Breathing hard, Harry turned and for the first clock time all afternoon he looked up into the Centaur's eyes.

"I… I can… take hold of them,"Harry heaved.

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

"I hate… riddles,"breathed Harry.

"Shahan and Felspar have been studying for decennary the essence of solid ground's mysteries. It will deal them 10 more to agnize what is already at your fingertips."The Centaur stepped closer, forcing Harry to bend his neck upward. A heftiness twanged past his right hand ear. Still Ronan advanced until he was only inch from Harry, who could smell the strange mix of swither and hair. Ronan looked skyward.

"To see without heart, to feel without fingers, to get wind without spike, to try without tongue…,"he looked back down at Harry and tapped him on the side of his nose,"…to smell without nostril. These are gifts you have already been given, and yet you know them not ; you have but to unwrap them."With a movement that was but a blur to Harry, Ronan notched another arrow and guess at a large flying… thing with prominent teeth that was advancing on them. It fell silently to the woodland trading floor. To Ronan it was like little more than swatting a fly. He continued,"You must watch the power that took your forfeit and cleansed you, the superpower that has no military strength. What you must dominate, Harry Potter, what you must endeavor to reach is to be without being."Harry scrunched his nose splotched with dirt.

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

"takings my hand, small fry,"commanded Ronan.

The moment Harry took the Centaurus's hand the world spun upon its read/write head. Green and brown and yellow-bellied and amber flashed past them in a swirl of color. Then, inexplicably, Ronan was gone, and Harry was suddenly running, loping, galloping. He felt silly, majestic, arrogant, childish…

"I told you the superstar was a fake !"he cried back over his shoulder joint."Ronan's an old fall guy !"He kicked his heals and quicken forward, the idle words whistling past his ear.

"You're wrong !"yelled a phonation from behind."He's been chosen ! Ronan said so !"

"Nothing but silly Centaurus fairytales from a doddering old muggins !"Harry yelled back, but his heart were steadfast forward. The flag was ahead ; he could see it, maybe three or four land mile ahead. A grin split across his face, an self-important smile ; he was going to win this airstream and shew Ronan wrong, show to all of them that HE, Shahan, was the Centaur that would save them from the onrush of Dementors that was soon to come.

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

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 ember. He was Shahan, the tip Centaurus colt. But how ? His point twisted forward toward the waiting flag and the gathering of Centaurs that watched to see if Ronan's vaticination was null more than jazz and myth.

Where would I be ?

"The flag,"Harry whispered to himself, to Ronan, to the idle words. He focused again. He knew how to get there with a wand : Vision, Pathway, Reconstruction -- Apparation. But he had no wand and even if he did, there was no way to Apparate in the Forbidden Forest. The fleur-de-lis, a red beacon in the distance, was maybe two kilometres ahead of Shahan now and probably three kilometres from where Harry's body stood dyspnoeal back in the forest with Ronan. He'd been practicing wandless magic all summer. What if… ?

Harry willed himself from the eyes of Shahan and back to his own torso. 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 signal flag that was ahead ; he imagined being there. blank and time began to collapse, swirling itself, revealing itself. A tract that moved with his will, guided by Ronan, appeared before Harry. He took in a recondite breath and stepped forward onto the route. The groovy yoke of space between himself and the red flag suddenly collapsed. Felspar was just out of reach, Shahan appeared to be only a few gait in front of her, and the red flag appeared as just a few tenner of cadence away. Harry began to run. The colours of the forest swirled by him, as if everything stood still, including the two Centaurs. He ran past feldspar and then Shahan and, in an twinkling, he appeared only in from the flag that marked the end of the raceway. He was surrounded be Centaurs of every colour, each with fierce eyes marked by only the slightest amazement of his arrival. As he came to repose, he saw, in the distance, Shahan and only a few strides behind him Felspar. They were both galloping like the wind, swallowing up huge swath of sod with each stride. They would be upon him soon.

Harry felt it was, somehow, a swindle. Could all Centaurs bend blank and metre ? His eyes caught Shahan's in the length, and the once positive, noncompliant gaze turned to one of near revulsion. He galloped faster, as if possessed, but it was no use. With one handwriting, his bloody left, Harry reached up and pulled the crimson fleur-de-lis from its standard. There was a corporate cheer as Harry held the flagstone over his point, spinning to show up the gathering. It was then that he saw Ronan, standing in the centre of the group of nearly one hundred Centaurs. An instant later Shahan pulled up at Harry's side, his breath heavy, his coating lathered with sweat.

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

"No,"answered Ronan, stepping forward from the others."He used the skills you yourself may one day master, Shahan."Ronan turned to the former Centaurs."He has been given the gifts."With this there was a general murmur and whicker of surprisal and approval from the Centaur herd. Facing the others, Ronan flanked Harry nudging him forward just as felspar arrived, also out of breath, a gash upon her correct front end wing.

"I foretold of the coming whiz,"Ronan called to the gathering."And yet you did not believe. I sought out the forfeit against your will, and the Waters returned him to us. Only once before has this ever happened, and when that conflict was won so too began the Great Age of Centaurus !"Harry expected a sunshine, 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 head us to victory !"Again there was little to a greater extent than the nods and stomps of the Centaurs at the gathering. No one refuted Ronan's claims.

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

"It was a Bearwicken,"said felspar quietly.

"He's a fraudulence !"cried Shahan in a tonus that was more invigorate than any Centaur Harry had ever seen. He stepped forward, pushing Harry aside, but Harry ignored the primitiveness and focused his attention on Felspar."He's no drawing card ! He's a champion ! It's trickery I tell you."

"Let me avail you,"whispered Harry as he held his open hired man a few inches away from the slash on Felspar's flank. Harry closed his centre and muttered the conjuration that he knew would work with his scepter, and then something caused him to carry further, to reach beyond. His hand had not touched the Centaur, but he could feel the origin, slippery wet, between his fingerbreadth. He reached out without moving and willed the slash shut, and the cut obeyed, closing as if a pall had been pulled shut tight about the wound.

"Like all virtuoso, he'll shoot down us all when we turn our dorsum !"yelled Shahan again.

"The elect heals !"asserted a large, female Centaur from the assembly. A chestnut coat and no bow about her articulatio humeri, she stepped forward from the others."Did the Waters teach you these gifts or is this wizardry ?"The last word was disparaging and even evoked some hiss from the others.

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

A telephone number of other Centaurs followed in kind, each bending low to one human knee and bowing their point. Ronan approached Harry, nodding his point and bending to one knee as well.

"You still lack lastingness and endurance, Harry thrower, but these things can be learned. Now, it is meter to rest."He held his manus to Harry's oculus."Return to the forest's friend."Harry's mind immediately thought of Hagrid."Run !"

The visual sense of Hagrid's cabin firmly fixed in his mind, Harry willed himself there. Again a course opened up and he took off running. moment later, he found himself where he began the day, seated on Hagrid's chair future to the burn fire, fang laying at his slope and Hagrid singing some Song dynasty in French. The logs on the flak cracked as Harry, still naked, looked at his Gryffindor robes that hung from a lure near the door. The way they were draped over the crotchet they almost looked actual - lifelike, as if they contained some spirit all their own. Harry's tum churned just as Hagrid turned, surprised to detect Harry in his hut.

"Harry ?"

"Harry ? Shall we go inside ?"Gabriella had spun to front Harry whose eyes were distant and set on the far horizon above the lake. Her voice snapped him back from reliving the store. He had learned something bang-up today, and he'd learned it from the Centaurs.

"Harry ? Are you okay ?"

Harry looked down into her eye and smiled. He was sore and tired ; dark closed chain hung under his optic. The idea of going inside to face three scrolls on the healing plants of Kirkcaldy was almost too much to bear.

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

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

Near a big suit of clothes of armour Harry noticed Patrick talking to James Chang. James II was leaning against the stone wall, his arms crossed as well as his pegleg. He was either extremely tire, or he didn't like what he was hearing. Still, St. Patrick was quite passionate about it ; his arm were swinging wildly about and Thomas More than once Harry heard him raise his voice.

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

James noticed Harry and Gabriella and stood straighter, stopping Patrick's write up with a motion of his bridge player. Harry smiled and waved, and James returned the gesture with a grin of his own. Patrick turned to see who James was looking at and when he saw Harry, his look bore an manifestation of cracking business organization.

"No marvel,"Harry thought,"I feel like I'm going to blow clod. I must search like hell."As he and Gabriella continued toward the Great Hall for dinner, the more nauseous 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 climbing those."

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

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

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

"What happened ?"

"I'm fine, really,"demanded Harry, and in fact he was beginning to feel better although the floor was still a bit unsteady under his feet. They stepped him over to a long bench beneath a turgid portrait of a with child ninth century battle scene. Harry hated it here, he always had ; the clang and wreck of brand against armour was always deafening when the combatants weren't sipping tea together, discussing whose strategy was Superior in the death battle. Ron noticed a bruise beneath Harry's catch and leaned in close to Harry's ear.

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

"CHHHHT,"crack Harry with a blast of air between his clinch teeth, trying to quiet is friend. Seated between a mind-reader and an empath, Harry had little hope of keeping anything hush-hush, but he didn't want to discuss his breeding with the centaur in movement of Gabriella.

"You said you'd exact me,"complained Ron."‘ The next time I go,'you said."Ron crossed his limb."I thought maybe this year would be different."Harry opened his mouth to explain.

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

So, Hermione knew. So a lot for Ron's sworn cuss that he wouldn't enjoin a mortal. Harry rolled his heart and shook his head knowing that Hermione was only partially correct. She was right about the skewer character, but Harry knew at once Ron would take the protect part the wrong way. He did.

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

"Ron,"Harry began, holding up his hired man,"the thing 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 search at Ron who was ignoring Gabriella's query and was now standing in a huff and about cook to storm off. Harry stood too, the dizziness he was feeling all but gone.

"Ron,"Harry said, taking wait of Ron's arm,"I said you would go with me the side by side clip I could. This morning I asked you know who, and they said I had to go by myself. I had a test… of sorts."

"exam ?"asked Ron, now with Thomas More stake than anger.

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

"This morning you were supposed to assist prof Barghouti's indorsement class class for their DADA lesson,"scolded Hermione, also rising.

"What kind of test ?

"Who are they ?"

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

Harry feigned vertigo 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 sense that. Hermione knew he was feeling fine ; she'd understand the Harry Potter book long ago. Both women just glared, while Ron was steadfast.

"Can't you see the man's exhausted ? He has to eat !"he exclaimed."Blimey ! spring him a rift for Merlin's sake."He put Harry's arm about his shoulder."Come on, match. Let's get you a bite and then we can go over the weekend's practice schedule. I know Ginny's been playing fine as pursuer and all, but I think if…."

In the Great Granville Stanley Hall, Dumbledore had the houses sit wherever they wished for breakfast and dejeuner, but for dinner each menage ate at separate tabular array from the others. It was a compromise between the vision of the hereafter and a respect for tradition. Tonight, Harry was grateful because it meant, for a while at least, he and Gabriella would be separated. As they entered the Great residence hall she kissed him on the cheek, holding his left hand. He toyed with the golden ring he'd given her the year before on Valentine's. There was a twinkle in her oculus and a sly smiling upon her face.

"You will tell me later ?"she asked, but the shade was more suggestive of a command than a doubtfulness.

"You know already. You just won't talk about it."His grin had a tinge of lugubriousness as their fingers let go of each other. Her spark faded and her eyes would not hold his regard as she turned away. Harry did not look back as he followed Ron to the Gryffindor mesa.

Lavender and Parvati were having an animated conversation about the meaning of a large grunge on the tablecloth. Annapurna had spilt her drink and it left a night, twirling outline of something resembling, at least to Harry, a expectant toadstool. He sat down realizing he did, very much, need to eat.

"It's a Celtic spiral,"said Lavender, her finger tracking the abstract of the top of the toadstool.

"A Crane,"countered Parvati, pointing at the long corrupt cervix of the toadstool.

"That makes no good sense,"said Lavender."No, it's a Celtic spiral and,"she pointed to some dark inner spots,"with these here it would represent eternal life."

"No. See this here ? The way the whorls disband away ? Not perpetual life… biography, last, and rebirth. It's clearly a Crane,"Parvati said, pointing out the bird's features."Here are the eyes, the curl neck, the farseeing legs."She grew more confident with each description.

"Then you're both right,"chimed in Hermione. The two offspring ladies looked up, stunned expressions on both their faces."The crane represents seniority. interminable life… longevity… same thing."She shrugged her shoulders and took a morsel of dinner.

"NooOoo,"both Anapurna and Lavender harmonized in a rather long and melodious strain."It could have in mind deception if—"

Deliberately, Harry accidentally spilled his tea onto the mark covering up any discernable detail. The liquid began to swarm off the edge toward Annapurna and Lavender and they both took to their feet.

"That looks like a cloudy pool to me, Harry"said Ron, chewing on a reefer of lolly."See the heavy ripple flowin'down the table."

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

"HERMIONE !"cried Lavender.

"How could you !"scolded Parvati.

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

"Come on, Lavender."Anapurna spun on her heals and took off, Lavender right behind her, but not before she shot a scathing blaze at Hermione. No sooner had they left the mesa than Ron let out a Bronx cheer, a piece of bread shooting from his nose.

"Ronald Weasley, I should…"

"Honestly, Hermione, Harry just wants to eat. You can't begrudge the man his ataraxis after all he's been through today."Ron took another sharpness of bread and looked at Harry's denture."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 proficient tell Gabriella straight away what you're up to, or it'll spoil what you both have."Setting down his branching, Harry looked up at her.

"Oh, right field, and you two are the bill sticker yoke for honest and outdoors discussions."

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

"Don't you think I've tried ! ?"asked Harry, raising his voice just enough for those around him to stop their conversations. He knew he hadn't, not really, but he also knew that Hermione didn't know. Her centre simply looked into his, probing, her verbalism calm. The look was unnerving because he knew his own construction was giving him away."wellspring I have,"he insisted, pushing his collection plate in for good measure.

He wasn't indisputable the dramatic event was having the gist he wanted. Ron simply nipped one of his remnant chips and Hermione only let out a retentive disapproving sigh. Past the point of return, at least for this logical argument, Harry stood up and left the Great mansion house in as foul a mood as he could muster. His mind focused on the Gryffindor table, he didn't notice the Slytherin that stood as well and followed him out of the Great mansion.

Harry was moving down the corridor toward Gryffindor when he heard the pace behind him. He stopped and turned ; only no one was there. He looked over past a suit of armour and then behind a pillar - still no one. Tired, if not completely exhausted, he continued toward Gryffindor and his awaiting preparation. He was nearly at the portrait of the Fat Lady when there was a tap on his hand and a rustle in his ear.

"Your days grow short."

Harry felt the greenback appear on his palm and spun at once.

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

Harry unfolded the piece of music of parchment."They think it's at the Ministry. Is it ?"was all it said. The portrait swung heart-to-heart and Harry quickly moved to hide the note, only he didn't have to. It flashed in a comfort of sess and disappeared. Neville stepped out of the Gryffindor green elbow room followed by the most unlikely of faces - Severus Snape. Strangely neither took lots observation of Harry. Beyond a thin top dog nod by Neville, it was as if he didn't even exist.

"The affair is, professor,"Neville was saying as he past Harry,"if the two origin are to have the force 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 dubiousness is can you do it ?"Neville scratched his chin as they disappeared down the corridor.

"I think so, with the right light. If I can take up some…"and the conversation faded away.

Amazed, Harry shook his forefront and turned toward the portrayal of the Fat Lady.

"parole ?"she asked with a smiling.

Just before he answered, Harry paused, scratching his chin 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 secret bill giver was still nearby. As often as he hated the thought process of climbing back up the staircase, he had to go down and utter with Dumbledore. Besides, the three curlicue on the healing industrial plant of Kirkcaldy could wait till later.


Harry ceramist and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 10 - visual sensation
~~~***~~~




Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.
The atomic number 47 instrument rose and fell on Dumbledore's sepia desk as Harry stroked Fawkes'feathers, waiting for the schoolmaster to repay. Not much handsome than a bread-bin, it was a strange ingathering of gears and springs and Harry spent some time trying to deduce its meaning. The gizmo, rimmed with winged creatures Harry couldn't recognize, reminded him of a similar device in the black family line estate at Grimmauld piazza. It too had the same circular ring that ran up a notched staircase only the Black person twist was golden, its winged wight looked more menacing, and Harry had never seen it operate.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.

dig by a springiness, another silver mob ran up the stairway only to contact the top, falter, and fall into a pile below. The deal seemed to be shrinking as Harry stood observance, but he could not see where the rings disappeared to, nor could he bring out the source for the band that sprung forth from the bottom. There it was - a never ending progression that seemed to have no purpose.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

Unable to contain himself, Harry reached out and grabbed the silver ring before it had a chance to fall from atop the small staircase. The picture changed and he suddenly found himself on the Hogwarts express mail walking toward the movement of the wagon train, two paces behind Greg Goyle. But, this couldn't be - Greg was perfectly. It took him a moment to realize that he'd traveled back in prison term. They were about to reach the forepart of the train ; Greg wasn't dead, he was about to die.

Harry tried to verbalise, but no give-and-take came. He tried to make his handwriting up to stop Greg, but it would not move. Unable to contain his move, Harry could do nothing but watch history unfold as it had last year. He poked his caput into a equipage, telling a chemical group of fifth class what was up.

"I've been wondering what was taking so long with the food tramcar,"said Ernie Macmillan. Harry explained that the professors had gone missing and Ernie joined him to tell apart the trouble. As Harry slipped back out of the posture with Ernie, Goyle took the point and started toward the front man of the gearing. Once again Harry tried to finish his acquaintance when, through the drinking glass doors to the box ahead, Harry saw a witch in black gown suddenly appear in the corridor. Anaxarete. Harry wished he could draw a killing hex, but it was no use ; he could do naught. She glanced back, revealing a sinister smile and piercing light-green eyes. Harry tried to place himself in movement of Greg, but was unable to choke Goyle's unspecific berm. It didn't thing ; an jiffy later she was gone and an blink of an eye after that the front of the train exploded with a wonderful white flash.

Harry fell to the trading floor of Dumbledore's office, the silver ring firmly clenched within his paw. He was shaking, the explosion still ringing in his ears, when he opened his eyes and found Dumbledore looking down at him. The headmaster bent-grass with difficulty to one knee and held out his hand.

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

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

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

Tink.

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

"It is a memory book of sorts… a photograph album."Dumbledore moved to his desk and sat down, leaning back against his chair."Different for each who reads it."Harry couldn't help but think that the greatest ace of the age was beginning to indicate sign of the zodiac of vesture. He had grown much thinner since Harry last saw him at the end of the school day year, and his handwriting were beginning to curl in an unnatural way.

"Like a Pensieve ?"Harry asked.

"Not quite, Harry,"replied the Headmaster."A Pensieve lets you store or remove your storage so that you can expect them over later. You can select the storage to remove, to examine."He leaned forward and held his manus together."This is a Möbius automobile. It reflects a virtuoso's animation chronicle. It is a never ending loop topology that plays over and over again, shrinking or expanding to suit the looker. Each atomic number 47 circle is a ringlet butterfly of a portion of your life. While the band play in decree, there is no way, unfortunately, to determine which memory, which life experience you will visit."

A thrill past by Harry again, and for a import he thought he felt the breath of destruction whisper its figure against the scruff of his cervix.

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

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

"I understand."Dumbledore sighed. He stood and walked back to the gimmick. He waived his wand and uttered an incantation and the ringing stopped running up the staircase, and fell wherever they were in the cycle."I wish your memories could be glad, Harry. I would hate to see you as a tottering old man, sitting down in a dust-covered office wondering if you could risk reliving the catastrophe that grasping a few rings might bring. Guy Fawkes quietly vocalized his agreement, as Dumbledore slipped his verge away and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder."I know you have been chosen, Harry. But you need not place yourself between the Centaurus and the Dementors ; it is not your war."

"You said it yourself, Professor,"said Harry, looking up into Dumbledore's still bright blue middle,"it's the path 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 properly matter to do. Lucius Malfoy is going to use this to try and sweep the darkness back across this land, and I won't let him."Harry's own oculus were rough with purpose and rebelliousness."I've been training with Ronan."Harry paused."Are Centaurs charming ?"

"Very much so, Harry,"said Dumbledore with a smile."It is folly for virtuoso to believe they are the most muscular creatures on this earthly concern. You know, of path, Centaurs have keen sight and are skilled with a bow, but these things are physical skills that many ace dismiss. Ahh… not so, Harry… not so. Why do you think a Centaur never misses his target ?"Harry shrugged."Because a skilled Centaur can keep abreast the arrow all the way to its destination, nudging its flight along the way. They can bow space and meter, Harry. Even while wizards are unable to Apparate on Hogwarts grounds, Ronan can disappear and reappear wherever he pleases simply by using his mind."

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

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

"They are much upright shop steward of such attainment than thaumaturgist would ever be,"the senesce necromancer whispered, looking down into the lens of the telescope. The instrument was fixed on the share of the sky through which the comet Ebyrth was now passing. Harry no longer needed a scope to see the comet's bright tail.

"It is not your war, Harry,"said Dumbledore still looking into the lens."The Ministry can handle the likes of Lucius and his ilk."He adjusted the focus."They have no potency in numbers, no allies for support, no asylum in which to blot out. It's only a matter of time."

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

"Lucius is no fool,"answered Dumbledore."He'll remain obliterate for as long as possible and only strike when he thinks he can win."The thaumaturge 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 razzing's feathering. Harry didn't sleep with how to institute it up, but he had to ask.

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

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

"A… A Horcrux."

The portraiture that were earlier minding their own business organisation, napping, reading the paper, or off to some other place were suddenly thrown into a tumult. The master of old began complaining at once about the impudence of the young man to talk about such matters here.

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

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

Dumbledore finally quieted them all by threatening to bring down a sheet of darkness. His grimace was tomb, almost pale and the shade of his part was filled with great care. Harry knew at once that whatever a Horcrux was, it was sinister thaumaturgy, but then… did he wait 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 maintain eye impinging."Certainly such news does not come from our friends the Centaurs."

"Well… I… I heard that…"He stalled and then turned back to face Dumbledore. How could he know how one employed a Horcrux if he didn't even know what one was ?"prof, what is a Horcrux ?"Dumbledore walked back to the silver machine that was now repose on the board. He tapped it with his scepter and the silver halo began to roll again. He took a ring and held it in his script for but a moment when he laughed and placed it back along its itinerary.

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

"professor ?"

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

"Husband ?"asked Harry incredulously."prof 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 secure ally against the darkness."This new news had Harry's straits spinning just a bit. He'd always assumed…. Dumbledore turned back to the silver machine."Can you imagine what it would be like if Professor McGonagall did not let the memory of the murder of her hubby ?"

"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 slope, but she is very happy."Dumbledore's custody squeezed the wooden table and he drew in a trench breathing space. When he turned to look back into Harry's oculus, his face was grave and his own eyes stern."What I'm about to tell you, Harry, is not supposed to impart this room."Harry glanced toward the door as if there might be someone there."Harry, I know with whom you would like to contribution. You should make out that it is forbidden. 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 spokesperson smaller than he thought it should be. He began to wonder if he should have ever asked. Dumbledore stepped close.

"Imagine for a here and now that I could break up you into three hoi polloi. Not copies mind you, but three distinct parts of your very essence… your soul. One would stay with the physical structure you now possess ; the other two would be put away for storage you might say. If you, the part of you that inhabits the trunk you now have, were to die, one of the early section would attempt out another physical structure to inhabit… to master. You, persona of you, would last again."

"parting of me ?"

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

"You have more memories, more than experiences."

"Precisely ! But a rent soul would only take with it portions, shadows of the memories the master individual carried. Imagine, my boy, if you had to choose… what portions of your soul would you carve away ? What component part of you would remain ? There are many choice. You could chip at out the bad retentivity, perhaps the demise of Greg Goyle, and go on believing that he had never died ? But then, what would find if you were to die, and the Horcrux storing only the bad storage was released ? What sort of acidulate soulfulness would continue ?

"Then there are those wizards who believe that it is the calamity of a wizard's life-time that drives him forward ? Such a wizard might keep the tragic memories at the set up erasing all joy and happiness, perhaps the day you first arrived at Hogwarts ?.

"And it's not just memories, Harry. It's also the essence of who we are, what we have become, both good and iniquity, shadow and light. A wizard must adjudicate how to separate each slice of joy and sorrow into midget art object, sprinkling a little bit of everything into each circumstances of your soul, splintering all you ever were into shards of haze over methamphetamine that can never really be made entirely again. Tell me, Harry, what option would you make ?"

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

"No, Harry, nor would I."Dumbledore's shoulder joint drooped slightly as if a large weight sat straightforward upon them."Thankfully, most champion and beldam would turn down to choose as well. few still know that there is such a itinerary one can remove ; and only the most powerful of those would be able-bodied to carry it."Suddenly looking quite tired, Dumbledore returned to the president behind his desk and let out a cryptical sigh, closing his eyes."The Horcrux is simply the store vessel… it could be a rock'n'roll, a cloak, a cup—"

"But Lucius—"

"Think, Harry,"Dumbledore interrupted."It might even be a book…"There was a tenacious break. Harry could hear a turn of the portrayal on the bulwark mumbling to themselves. Clearly they were dysphoric with the counsel of the conversation, particularly Phineas.

"The diary ?"Harry answered finally, his voice more certain than uncertain, and with each new dubiousness the precariousness vanished."Tom conundrum's journal ? That was a Horcrux ? Voldemort used a Horcrux."

"Lucius is cunning, ruthless and evilness, but I have seen deeply into his middle. He could not get over the Horcrux even if he desired to."

"But I saw Voldemort die,"said Harry."There was nothing left."

"Yes,"said Dumbledore, nodding."You also saw Tom Riddle 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 palls the horizon with a new darkness. Tell me, Harry, why you believe that person is employing a Horcrux because, if someone is, Voldemort is most certainly behind it."

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

"Sir, I… I can't. I gave my word."Dumbledore's eyes 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 individual would mean nothing."

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

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

"Inf— ?"

"It's far too dangerous for you to begin some journeying to search the humans for a Horcrux. Voldemort's been to the edge of the Earth and beyond ; it could be anywhere. More likely, it has already been activated. No, I will speak with the members of the—"

"Sir, you can't. I swore that I'd—"

"Relax, Harry, there will be no pauperization to implicate your involvement. In fact, it's more to our vantage to keep your figure completely out of the picture."

Dumbledore breathed in deeply and closed his eyes as he slowly let out his breath."Yes, I think I understand. He didn't just split himself in two. He may not stimulate stopped at three. There's no telling."He walked over and stroked Fawkes'feathers, clearly uncomfortable with what he was about to say."I despise mystery, Harry, but if Voldemort has reanimated he may, once again, have agents working within the shoal walls. I'm trusted Lucius does. That we know another Horcrux might exist gives us an edge we dare not fall back. Do you have any idea—"The gong of the great clock struck twice.

"Oh dear,"said Dumbledore."I've made you tardy for class."He paused, struggling for the brief of moments about what to say next."You best be on your way. We can continue this later. Tell professor Barghouti it was all my shift and I'll confer with him about it later."

"But—"

"Go on, Harry,"interrupted Dumbledore.

Harry sighed, grabbed his Koran and started for class. Just as he was about to wave his hand across the large brass doorhandle, Dumbledore stopped him.

"Harry, there are those that we can trust—long-time ally and soulfulness mates. I understand that you may be compelled to try aid. If you must discourse this, go on the conversation within the bulwark of Gryffindor."Harry paused for a moment, taking in the schoolmaster's Good Book.

"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 category, his nous 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 year students were devoid to move into the Common room of any house into which they were invited, Harry knew exactly what Dumbledore meant ; he shouldn't confidence Gabriella. He pondered how he would keep Gabriella out of any discussion he might possess with Ron or Hermione concerning the Horcrux. Maybe he was undecomposed off not saying anything to anybody. His concerns about Gabriella faded quickly, however, when arrived late to year and Professor Barghouti took ten points away from Gryffindor for Harry's tardiness. He wouldn't let Harry say a Word about where he was or who he was with.

Normally, Harry arrived early to grade so that he could sit in back. He like the majority of the socio-economic class wanted to sit in as far away from prof 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 rise himself desirable ; that he was somehow lacking when it came to the Votary. Now, having arrived to course of instruction late, Harry had to sit in battlefront following to the only other educatee who would : Hermione and Gabriella. Harry took his seat future 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 a great deal of a cross between Snape and Malfoy,"before we were so rudely interrupted… Occlumency is more art than learned, more nature than nurture. Nonetheless, even the most inept sorcerer,"he looked at Harry,"can learn to disgust at to the lowest degree vestigial attack to infiltrate the judgment. Fortunately, most of you are sorely lacking as Legilimens."Barghouti stared once again at Harry.

"I want each of you to detect a collaborator and while one try to penetrate his partner's mental defences the other will use the techniques you described in last dark's homework naming. For those of you who found the assigning to deadening and prefer instead to recitation Quidditch,"again he looked at Harry,"expect to spend the eventide with Madame Pomfrey as she treats your headache."

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

"Yes, Ms Granger ?"

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

"True, Ms. granger ; it is a misdemeanor. But then, so is the cleanup Curse and we've learned to defend ourselves, as best we can, against such an attack. Would you opt to have your view read freely by Lucius Malfoy's spy ? Have them bed your plan so that they can bolt down you or your have it off ones when you least expect it ?"

"But—"

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

Hermione's lips pursed as she crossed her arms. Harry knew that spirit 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 area. Today, you can be my partner."Barghouti offered a rarified smile and both Ron and Harry expected to see his fangs, but all that appeared was a straight row of bright, pearly dentition.

Harry turned his desk about and sat opposite Gabriella. He had let her into his judgment many times before. There was something playful, almost erotic about how they would communicate in this way. While she had become quite adept at curling herself around Harry's thoughts, she never went deeper than Harry offered. For his part, he had never been able to see her view 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 optic, as she took his hand in hers. It wasn't until their hands touched that his center skipped. Foremost in his psyche was something he couldn't let her see — his conversation with Dumbledore. His deal pulled away ; he couldn't stop her from sensing his emotions, but he could give up her from reading his mind.

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

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

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

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

"You know you can't."

"I can try,"he shot back with a bit of defiance. His phonation was heated for no commodity reason, 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 add up close to reading her nous.

Around the stratum some bookman were having dear success than others. Most endeavour were fairly week and were being met by straightaway standoff. This resulted in more than a few bookman being knocked backwards out of their chairs. Ron was popping down on to the ground Sir Thomas More times than you could escape from a wand at and Barghouti was taking large gratification in being able to repel Ron's approach. Just behind Harry, Hermione had teamed with Neville who, at the here and now, was trying to penetrate her mind. Avoiding Gabriella's eyes, Harry took a deep breath.

"Ready ?"he asked.

"Go Panthera tigris,"said Gabriella with a smile.

Harry began to focus as best he could on Gabriella's thoughts, but all he was sensing was the back of his palpebra. Squeezing his eyes closed more firmly, he heard another big thump that he took to be Ron's arse once again striking the slate trading floor. It felt like an eternity, but at some point he could listen Gabriella calling his name. Not with her sassing, but with her mind. Instead of pushing him back, she was trying to inveigle him in. Even with the help he was finding it extremely unmanageable to push his way through the darkness to her persuasion. Not aware that he was now grabbing the border of the desk with his hired hand, he redoubled, tripled his attempt to push his way in.

Suddenly, there was a jounce from behind. Trying to fall into place into Neville's mind, Hermione had been repelled backwards and fell against Harry. She grabbed his shoulder joint and began to pull him backwards. Without thinking and still focused mentally to fall into place Gabriella with all his world power, he reached out toward her. She grabbed his hands and when she did the scene in Harry's mind changed. The strait was sucked out of the elbow room and all was darkness. He had penetrated Gabriella's head ; but what was this… her memory or something More ?

The commotion of the course had disappeared and an eerie silence surrounded him. He heard first, a haste of piddle, a drip-drip-drip, a rustle of farewell 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 brightness began to open up before him and he realized that the crying came from the baby he was holding in his arms. This was no memory ; Harry was himself in this vision. He found that his robes were soaked. Both he and the offspring minor, still less than a yr old, looked as if they'd just come from the lake. The infant, glistening wet, was wrapped in blue folds of damp cloth, dripping on his rush. A hired man touched his shoulder from fundament.

"You'll have to pick out upkeep of him now, Harry."It was Hermione, her voice seeped in sadness."She'd want it that way."

A Benjamin Rush of fear began to pelt itself over Harry. He was frigidity, shivering, teeth chattering, the child in his arms continued to cry out for its mother, but Harry knew that it was a cry that would never be answered. He wanted to call, to run, but when the child looked at him his heart warmed and his resolve strengthened. Slowly Harry's finger brushed the child's cheek.

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


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

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

Bass pounding, train reverberating, the band was garish and Harry was not feeling all that well. He slumped back, sinking into the magnanimous, overstuffed electric chair and rubbed his temples. Why did he let Ron and Dean challenge him into a drinking duel upstairs ? The Quidditch lucifer against Hufflepuff was tomorrow and he swore he wouldn't take a sip. But then Ron convinced him that they were two-hundred peak favourites over their sister sign and why not celebrate… a niggling ? It was Allhallows Eve after all ; their last at Hogwarts.

Feeling a bit drunk, he then had let Neville win over him to eat far too much during the feast. Why not ? It was, after all, their close Hallowe'en together. And then when he had stepped outside for some sassy air, Hermione started in on him again.

"I saw it. You saw it. By the way she's acting, all three of us saw it, Harry."Her representative was more sympathetic than chiding as she set her hand upon his articulatio humeri. 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 do it. That was just what Hermione did. She wanted to clear a problem that she didn't understand and not knowing the answer was driving her mad. Nonetheless, after her protestation, Harry had simply rolled his heart and shrugged his shoulders.

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

"You need to secernate 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 night air, he was just cold and drunk. He shook his head, disagreeing with Hermione, unceremoniously pushing her assuage hand away, and had wandered, stumbling a bit, back into the dancing, where he had found the nice cushy chair he now was melting into. Frustrated, Hermione had left his incline before he entered the Great Hall, and he was thankful for that. Rubbing his synagogue, Harry considered the new Sung. Yes, the band was very tacky, but everyone was having a keen fourth dimension.

The Great residence was benighted save for the point that bathed the band in an eerie orange and empurple light. Now and then a row of candles burning at the front of the level would blink bright, sparkling into the air. It was the exclusively time you could draw much of anything out, except when a professor's scepter grew shiny, lighting up two snogging educatee typically in a darkened corner covered by the fog that floated some three feet off the trading floor.

Harry was surprised to see St. Patrick dancing with a tertiary yr girl from Slytherin, if you could call his revolution dancing. The lad was flailing his branch 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 momentary smirk on Harry's face, for it was Harry who had won their earliest bet. He smiled even more broadly, thinking that Ron would have to go three nighttime straight without wearing any sock. There was another promising flash lamp and he caught sight of Gabriella release by James II Chang as she entered the Great Hall. Eyes blurred, Harry thought she had been carrying something, but couldn't make out what it was before the room went drab again. His tum churned ; he did not feel well at all. A moment later she was at his English with a Harlan F. 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 grievous 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 countersign she was saying, and squished in next to him on the oversized cushion. Harry took a tentative sip. Feeling her warmth next to his, Harry was trusted she had been praising him for drink Ron and Dean under the table. There was another flash of sparks and he noticed a few of the younger students including James and St. Patrick were leaving. He looked back down into his mug, mustered up the courage and swallowed down the rest. The effect was nearly immediate. The nausea passed and his imaginativeness began to clear. He was feeling better, but he was growing tired. When he set the mug down, Gabriella took him by the hands.

"You did a wondrous job helping Professor Flitwick with the decorations. The snake that kept swallowing first old age was quite creative."

"A Slytherin inspired me,"replied Harry, smiling back at her now that the vibrancy was leaving his capitulum. He glanced over at the snake that was over in the street corner of the Great Hall. The few for the first time year students that remained were still lining up to be swallowed by the large, grayish wight with violent yellow eyes. Once swallowed, students were transported to the battlefront of the stage where the banding was playing. It was the only way the younger student could make their way to the front end of the horde that crushed up against the level. If they were lucky, they got to sing with the band. If they weren't, the older students would thrash about them to the cover of the crowd. This late, it became more a game than anything else with offset twelvemonth finding some sort of dainty or concoction from Fred and George's shop in their sac by the meter they were flung out of the crowd.

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

"Flitwick usually does it all himself. Er… final stage year… I made a hope, I guess."

Harry was suddenly nervous, remembering where he was and what he had done last year at Halloween. At first he tried to front away, but he could feel Gabriella's ignominious eyes penetrating his tone, so he turned to her and tried to change the theme to something he knew she wouldn't want to talk about, especially not here.

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

At C. H. Best it was difficult to learn, and with the long break and total lack of response on Gabriella's part, Harry wondered if she'd even heard him. He tried to recapitulate 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 blazonry and legs. Her centre were not furious, they were sad, almost frightened.

"I didn't mean to—"

"You just don't understand, Harry."Her jaw was set as they watched another initiatory year go flying off the stage and be thrown to the spine 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 early ! ?"

Harry was taken aback. He didn't expect that she'd neediness to talk at all about it. His eyes darted toward the vestibule off the Great Hall. No one could get in there save professors ; yet prof Dumbledore had taken Harry there the year before and he remembered how to get in. Still he hesitated, but then his heart began to backwash a bit, mentation of the possibleness. It was dark ; if they stayed close to the wall no one would see them drop off behind the point.

"well ?"Gabriella called out.

Harry took her heading and nodded for her to follow. It wasn't wanton making it to the rampart, but the crowd was focused on a particularly screeching song by the lead vocalizer with sea bass note that pounded the floor and tossed folks off their feet. Undetected, Gabriella and Harry slipped into the side room and the medicine instantly fell away. The vestibule was dimly lit by the warm glow of the hearth and a handful of lit candles. Beyond that there wasn't another stick of article of furniture in the home. Harry paused, thinking about the right spell, but before he put it together, Gabriella had conjured up a prissy vis-a-vis near the fireplace.

For the brief of second he thought to ask Gabriella about what he had seen in her brain, but being in this particular way on this particular night caused retentiveness of Cho to festinate over him. His emotions were combine between exhilaration and concern. He hadn't heard from Cho since schooling let out and when Gabriella offered to visit Cho at her plate, Mrs. Chang Jiang said that she had gone to the res publica and wouldn't be back for the quietus of summertime. The only student who had any striking with her at all was Antony Goldstein who seemed to be her swain now. He seemed to crow that he knew something that Harry didn't and he wouldn't say a give-and-take about what Cho was up to ; only that she was healthy and happy and that they'd be seeing a lot More of each former after he graduated.

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

"Who ?"asked Gabriella, a bit obnubilate.

"Cho. Only Susan Anthony seems to recognise 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 concern.

To Gabriella, Harry's sudden care for Cho was odd, out of place. 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 have heard,"she said comfortingly."If anything, Anthony's filled with superbia and felicity. 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 jealous ?"Gabriella pinched Harry's side and made him yelp.

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

He leaned over and kissed Gabriella hard against the lips. It had been old age since they had been truly alone together, and she pressed her lips firmly back against his. Her arms wrapped around his back and she pulled him tight to her breast. His hands slipped to the warm, easy flesh of her belly. view of Centaur vision slipped past both their intellect in favour of other, more enjoyable, bodily function.

Later, as Harry was tying up the lace of his trainer, he realized how artfully Gabriella had managed to continue him from asking her about the sight they'd seen. She kissed him one survive fourth dimension as he reached for the knob on the door that led back out to the Great Hall. There was still a throng of people crowding against the stagecoach when they slipped back out of the ante-chamber. They chose not to dance and instead made their way out to the strawman of the castle. It was well preceding midnight, but there were still a few couples huddled together, watching the dark sky. It was the most spectacular Allhallows Eve Harry could call up. The stars were smart as a whip, but then he saw it. His gaze froze and his smile fell.

"What ? What's the affair, Harry ?"Gabriella placed her hand against the side of meat of Harry's font and then looked to the firmament above her berm."What's wrong ? What do you see ?"

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

"What ?"

"I don't see how it can mature very much 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 thing haven't started already,"said Harry, but then a oceanic abyss, scratchy representative broke the night's stillness.

"What makes you think they haven't ?"

Both Gabriella and Harry jumped. It was professor Barghouti. The instant the other couples saw him they began to struggle up the social movement steps of the castle, constantly casting backward coup d'oeil to make trusted he wasn't following them, and occasionally reaching for their neck 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 sojourn with a werewolf,"he answered."Only appointment, 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 ? wing a bit tired ? Slurp up a few tourists along the way ?"

"Harry !"Gabriella snapped.

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

"Dakhil !"chided Gabriella. Barghouti merely chuckled again and the tooth became unbent and pearly Stanford White.

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

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

"The Centaurus of the Great woods are not the simply Centaurs in the earth, boy. And, as much as you might like to consider that England is the centre of the mankind, 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 help of vampire and hence his choice of first strike - the Carpathians. Only they're not just killing Centaur, they're wiping out anything and anyone in their course - all of them Muggles. A whole village was destroyed. The Muggle newspaper publisher are reporting that the destruction was due to a gas explosion."A burst of air popped between his back talk."I must return to Singehorn for a few solar day. I fear my old ally may act to intervene and repeat old mistakes. prof Dumbledore has been informed and prof lupin will contract care of my classes."

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

"You wish to save the world, boy ?"Barghouti snapped, spinning back upon Harry. He was clearly angry, as if Harry had started the whole thing ; as if Harry had placed the comet in the heavens himself."Why don't you try saving this schooling first ? Why don't you try saving THEM ?"His deal shot out toward the Tree that surrounded the shoal ; all was darkness. Harry squinted, which only made Barghouti all the more exasperated.

"wealthy person you learned zippo ?"he cried. There was a small squeal from one of the remaining scholar near the castle doorway who quickly ran inside, slamming the room access behind her."Can you not SEE ?"

Harry looked again into the swarthiness, squinting. Then he remembered. He took a deep breath and closed his optic. Then, he reached out with his judgement toward the forest. As Dakhil had shown him before, all living thing began to appear before him - the sens, bushes, and Tree all glowed brightly. He scanned further out and then saw it : a Centaur some ten yards into the trees, bow in hand. gesture to the right caught his imaginativeness again - another Centaur, another bow. Harry continued to scan. Every thirty to fifty thousand another Centaurus stood safety, watching over the school in the duskiness. But Harry couldn't Tell if they were trying to sustain something out, or something in.

"What are they doing ?"he whispered.

"I am fatigue of teaching the ignorant,"Barghouti muttered."The Centaurs can sense the darkness, fool. It is already upon you. You would be saucy to find its source before it swallows you whole."In a vortex he disappeared before Harry had a fortune to say another word. The sound of flapping annex, faded to nothingness. What he noticed, after the rubble settled, was that Gabriella's digit were digging into the soft soma of his forearm.

"What— ?"He looked over at her and saw pure care on her face. She was mesmerized, staring intently at the dark 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 measure behind Harry, almost as if using him as a shield against the darkness, and then pulled him toward that castle doors.

"Let's go inside,"she breathed.

"They're protecting us, Gab,"said Harry, trying to calm her brass."They won't hurt you. They would never hurt you."Her center never left the wood and, if anything, the fear that filled the disastrous pools of her eyes slipped toward anger.

"Now."

Harry sighed and nodded his head."Alright,"he acquiesced, and followed her up the stair, noting that she was ever sure enough to observe his body between her and the wickedness of the forest. When the room access finally closed behind them, he could see the weight lift from her shoulder joint and the relief spread across her nerve. She leaned back against the door, placing her hands over her face. Harry stepped stuffy, touching her shoulder softly.

"child, what is it ?"he asked."What's faulty ?"The hands upon her face began to tremble and tears began to streak down her boldness, one by one, but she would not cry, not out loud. Slowly, her eyes turned to the slope to look at Harry. He'd seen that aspect when Gabriella lost her don, Grigor. It was a look of doubtfulness, of fear, of death. Without saying a word, she shook her mind and turned to walk away. She'd gone only a few step before Harry called her to block up, but she wouldn't listen. She past the Oliver Stone column and began to head down to the donjon, to the entrance of Slytherin. Her foot did not have the first step before Harry grabbed her by the arm and spun her around.

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

When he came to, he was lying on a slate storey, but he wasn't at the top of the staircases leading down to Slytherin anymore. He was bound with forget me drug, unable to be active, in some elbow room, well lit by common mullein. The walls were Harlan Stone, and along their top was a crown-moulding made of oak. Along its face, every few fundament, was engraved a Snake River's head.

"Slytherin,"Harry hissed.

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

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

"Just gathering road-kill, toilet,"Nott retorted."A footling bird told me you'd been drinking… a bit too much. imagine my surprise when I found you passed out on the stairs to Slytherin."Nott stepped close."Were you trying to receive your true love ?"Harry said goose egg."I can find you a mirror if you'd like."

"I see you found yours,"Harry smirked, tossing his head in Crabbe's focussing. Crabbe took more than offence than Nott and kicked Harry in the position. The blow was surd and a volley of air stab from Harry's mouthpiece.

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

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

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

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

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

"That's a bit bluff for you, Teddy, isn't it ?"

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

"Oh, they die, shift. I've seen them die. Didn't you know ? I was attacked by them this summer. Turns out that a well placed Centaurus arrow… thwup… and they die."Harry chuckled deliberately."Funny affair, vampire. When they're pierced, their vampire plate sheds away and for a bit they're who they once were, the madness gone."Harry looked up at the green roof."I like to think that in that moment, goodness had a chance to rush in and fulfil their someone once more. They have a chance to be saved."

"applesauce,"shaft Nott, believing Thomas More than disbelieving.

"Yes,"said Harry still looking upward."Vampires, at least, have a second chance."He turned to face Nott."You on the other hand… I suppose you'll rot for all eternity."Crabbe's face was white, but Nott's was flushed with anger and frustration. 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 Inferno ! I knew it !"

A flash of red hair told Harry at once who had just entered the elbow room. Ron was breathing hard, his sceptre drawn, but his hand was shaking noticeably, not because he was scared or winded, but because he'd had too lots to drink. Harry could make out a flash of cat valium robes behind him ; he assumed it was Gabriella which, with Ron in his present condition, he was thankful for. Both Nott and Crabbe turned toward Ron still standing at the door, wands drawn.

"How'd you find this stead, Weasley ?"spat Nott.

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

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

"Obliviate !"chanted James II, casting a spell well beyond his years. A burst of orange tree light erupted from his verge throwing both Nott and Crabbe against the wall, knocking them unconscious mind, and wiping their minds of Recent epoch computer storage. The strength of the Obliviate spell determined how much memory was removed. Normally, a second yr wouldn't even be able to rove the spell, but Harry was sure that the event would be lasting.

Ron released Harry from his draw while James bound his two mansion brothers."They'll be the single missing the equal tomorrow,"he whispered with a grinning pursing his sassing.

Rising to his feet, Harry felt a slight light-headed, the sickness once again returning, and had to lean on Ron for support. He looked over at William James, wanting to thank him for his help, but more singular about the charm.

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

"Harry !"

It was Gabriella, followed closely be Saint 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 eyes."Can you forgive me ?"Harry looked over at the two Slytherins on the floor and back at St. James.

"Let's go,"he said, a poise sweat beading on his os frontale ; the potion Gabriella had given him earlier was obviously beginning to break off."This topographic point gives me the creeps."

They made their way up a narrow row of stone steps that opened out on the Slytherin unwashed room. Harry hadn't been here since he was a initiatory year. St. James and Patrick nonchalantly split away from the group to talk to some other second years that had just returned from the evening's political party 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 much better and it was Ron that was leaning on Harry and Gabriella.

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

"No you don't,"answered Harry coolly, recalling his conversation with Dumbledore about the Horcruxes."Two geezerhood ago I think he might have taken this chance to kill me, just to leaven himself to his don and the other Death feeder. Tonight, he was just a bag full of hot air. He's learned something since then, since his father died."Harry paused."compassion I think."

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

"James IV told you that ?"asked Gabriella."Saint Patrick told me that they were going to make 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 portraiture of the Fat peeress.

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

"sang-froid,"said Ron with a grinning, rocking a bit on his own two legs. Harry didn't think it would take in a lot 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 speak 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, Ilex paraguariensis ?"

"brittle drops,"said Harry and the painting swung loose and Ron stumbled through. Before it shut, he looked back at the two, pointing his finger in no peculiar direction and shake up it."But not too long, P-Potter. It'sss game nighttime !"

A few moments later, Gabriella and Harry were alone in the corridor outside the Gryffindor common room. Gabriella walked him over to a stone work bench and the two sat down. Even though the rampart and story were now spic-and-span, he never liked sitting here, remembering the Dementors that had nearly killed prof McGonagall the yr before. There was a sense of Death in the air and for a second Harry felt a cool rush swimming up his spine, whispering destruction's public figure. Gabriella held his paw, but would not hold his gaze. Instead, she watched their finger's breadth intertwined and mingling.

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

"But—"

"Shhhh."She put one script gently across his lips."Since I was untested, before I ever went to Al Bsahri, I have had one quite a little. Sometimes years would pass before it would return, the Same shot, over and over. Since we've returned to Hogwarts this twelvemonth, it comes to me nearly every day."She leaned her fountainhead against Harry's berm."Yesterday, I asked Mama what happened when you and Hermione plunged into the tantrum that has been playing in my thinker without you for so many years."There was a long pause, and Harry could hear laughter coming from way down the staircases below ; it died away.

"And ?"he asked, nudging Gabriella along.

"A vision from another aeroplane is like a finely cut precious stone, a rhomb with many aspect. One can see in and see unlike image from all angles. You and Hermione became part of my vision and somehow shared it from your own perspectives. We all saw the same thing, but all differently. And what we each saw can mean different things."

"Then why don't you want to—"

"No vision is perfect tense, Harry ; and, like time-turners, there are also rules about looking into the future. Most would realise changes based on the imperfect tense knowledge they see, often changes that lead to more crushing outcomes. Only the unspoiled, those like Mama, have any promise of moving the sands of time to shape the outcome of the other planes. Others go mad trying to deepen what n-never was to c-come."She began to tremble as she delivered the close give-and-take and in the silence that followed Harry felt a tear drop-off onto his forearm. He put his arm around her and held her stiff.

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

"It begins with a flash of brightness level, a fire erupting from a glistening emerald lake. We are surrounded by them. There is a riot and then quiet. And then there is me… fount down in the tall gage. I… I am dead, Harry. Buried oceanic abyss in my back is the long wooden arrow of a Centaur."


Harry potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 12 - subterfuge Fortune
~~~***~~~

The air was warm up for fall, yet the sky was a wakeless grey. Flying with the charm of his Caduceus P2 off, Harry could experience the wetness in the air. He knew it would rain down soon and that, Sir Thomas More than anything else, focused his energy on finding the Snitch. It had been hard concentrating. Last yr, Ron had lost Harry's Calluna vulgaris when he had been attacked flying into the Burrow. So this yr he was riding the in vogue good example of Caduceus, the new P2, P for ceramist. Cleansweep was paying him a small portion to use his name for their new broom, monies that Harry was using to assist the family line who had lost loved ones in the war. That didn't seem to matter much. Even his own house was ribbing him for the branding of his name and it didn't aid that nip in the centre of the visitor stand was a ten infantry by twenty foot crystalline portrait of Harry flying the new broom and waving at the crowd. Every so often words would appear : The Caduceus P2. So fast it'll blow the competition away. It was a play on the story run by the Daily Prophet about Harry's licking of Voldemort. The story 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 fall into nothingness that remained after the floor of the death sleeping room fell away, swallowing whole the pall of Phenolem and the ambo upon which it stood. Harry glanced again at the huge flat solid of crystallization, his own image smiling back at him and waiving, and shook his head to clear his thoughts.

He'd been distracted all day and to the highest degree folks thought it had to do with outset game screaming meemies. He was Gryffindor's Quidditch master this year and nearly everyone believed it a folly decisiveness. Since the attack on the string, the unanimous schooling knew that he was going to be fighting the Dementors when the war with the centaur came. How could anyone focus on training their team with a onus like that on their shoulder ? Indeed, even professor McGonagall thought that Ron Weasley might make the serious choice ; she told Harry so.

"If I can't induce your idea on the game, you're no use to the team, Mr. ceramicist,"she had said in confidence."Ron Weasley bleeds Quidditch and his mind is sharp when it comes to analyzing the early 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 mates and all Gryffindor would sooner fly into the lake than let you down. The question 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 Great Britain when it comes to keeping a Quaffle from skewering the ring. Dennis Creevey is the firm in all Hogwarts and is starting to make out up with gambling I could never dream of. old salt Sloper's put on thirty pounds since net year and he can knock a pouf off a fencepost at fifty meter. Slytherin was the only team that had a prayer to crush us, but with Malfoy gone they don't have a chance. The team doesn't need me to extend them ma'am. Anyone can guide us to the cup."McGonagall looked at Harry over the top of her glasses.

"Is that so ?"she had asked."Well then, Mr. Potter, I suppose you'll do then. I want the team roster, to let in the instrumentalist replacing Katie at Chaser, and the hebdomadal recitation schedule by tomorrow morning. And, to keep you motivated since this will be such an easy year, let's say that if we don't win every game by More than one-hundred fifty degree, you'll be back in my office on Sundays for detention."

"But—"

"troika hr, each week. Good-day, Mr. Potter."

Harry had thought the challenge simple enough, but sorting out the squad proved more difficult than he expected. They couldn't ascertain a expert Chaser and when jemmy Peakes tried out for Beater he played ferociously, unseating Hooper from the team. Finally, Harry selected Demelza Turdus migratorius as chaser, if for no former reason than she was particularly salutary at dodging Bludgers. The shamble caused a lot of growing pain in the ass and suffering flavour, but after three weeks of practice Harry was surefooted once again that the team could not be defeated.

Now, flying high school over the pitch, Harry wasn't so sure. Trying to ignore his own nerve, he glanced at the scoreboard to find Gryffindor up by XL which, as far as Harry was concerned, was pathetic. They should have been clobbering Hufflepuff from the kickoff, but Ron was letting nearly every Quaffle through. Having heard that the coach of the scavenger, Bernard Bennegin, was coming specifically to scout Ron's performance he was a nervous shipwreck. To have subject worse he was suffering from a hangover and was having trouble seeing the Quaffle, let alone stopping it. The only well news program 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 destination.

Harry scanned the skies once more, searching for the sneaker. 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 well placed Bludger by Sloper, Gryffindor would have lost. It was then Harry turned off the magic spell of his heather, hoping that he might better sense the fink's localisation. Suddenly, the yellow position of the tar erupted in sunniness ; Hufflepuff had scored. Harry forced himself not to await at the scoreboard. He had to continue alert, but before you could say snicklfritz the crew erupted again - another mark for Hufflepuff. Finally, Harry called timeout.

The team gathered over by Ron whose auricle were flaming red with embarrassment. Ginny began to deplume 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—"

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

"You could be looking for the Snitch !"snapped Ginny as she pulled out her verge."So assist 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 jeopardize me ?"yelled Ron at his sister as he pulled his own verge, however shaky his deal was.

"arrest it !"yelled Dennis above the fray. With a no-nonsense interpreter that commanded attention, Dennis Creevey, who was still the smallest on the squad, began to channelize out what needed to be done.

"Ron, they're constantly feinting right and shooting left. If you move higher in the air and hold position just a picayune longer, you'll quit them. Ginny, we could use a little more of your attention on the Hufflepuff incline of the field of view. Dem, they're starting to arrest on to Harry's first few plays."His middle dotted to Harry who nodded in agreement."I think we should move on to what he was showing us finale weekend."

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

"Dennis is flop,"countered Ginny."At the unfit we'll have given them a new look. At the dependable we'll score three or four before they catch on."

"Jack, Jimmy, you guys have been flawless. Just keep the Bludgers off our backbone and we'll account for sure."Then Dennis looked at Harry."Harry, I don't inculpation 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 G things you should be thinking about besides Quidditch, but we're gon na need 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 plain."Our own piffling Napoleon,"he thought. Madame Hooch blew the whistle for play to resume. Hufflepuff broke their scrum and began to fly into situation. Harry looked down on the pitch below. There was nothing he loved more in the macrocosm than flying.

"I'm with you,"he said with confidence."Summerby won't have a chance. I swear."Harry scene into military position just to the W and a petty below Summerby. If anything, the sky was growing darker and the air colder, but he resisted the temptation to employ the charms of his Calluna vulgaris.

Dennis had been right. Over the side by side forty minute of arc or so, Ron had blocked six straight Hufflepuff attempts while the Gryffindor Chasers had scored four sentence. Still, they would call for the Snitch. He flew over by the Slytherin point of view and heard a smattering of fizzle, and one cheer.

Harry could reckon of few Hogwarts woman besides Gabriella Darbinyan able to withstand the taunt and jeer of Slytherin for being Harry's girl. Of grade, there were no taunt or jeering, because all of Slytherin was deathly afraid of Gabriella. Perhaps because she came from a school day known for its dark trick, but more because any gossip usually meant the commenter had a one-way ticket to the hospital wing. 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 digit. The motion and the pant of the bunch told him at once that the Snitch had been seen. He spun to see Summerby plunging toward the sod at the north end of the pitch. Below him was a glint of atomic number 79, racing low and heading toward the visitant'stands. Summerby was ahead by at to the lowest degree fifty meter when Harry began to appoint.

"You bloody idiot !"Harry cursed at himself as he clenched his teeth."You flobberworm sucking idiot !"The wind roared furiously at his face. The Snitch was flying low to the turf and Harry could see that it would ingest to turn or stand up once it hit the stands on the opposite face of the pitch. Even as good a flyer as Summerby was, he would not touch the Snitch until it hit the wall. Harry leaned forward, accelerating his ling."It will turn out,"Harry whispered to himself, focusing wholly on the gold globe that was coming closer."It will rise."He chose to fly the straight blood to intercept the snitcher where he thought it would be. If the Snitch turned left or right at the bulwark, Summerby would let it before Harry could react. If the stool pigeon flew up… Harry groaned. At this speeding it was still impossible. Harry poured all his vitality into making his broom accelerate. The fundament of his robe began to tatter in the fell wind and his goggles were pressing hard against his human face. The atmospheric pressure tunnelled his vision, but he didn't care. He could still see the lucky flicker growing expectant before him."Faster ! hoot it ! Faster !"

The lurch below him was a fog ; the stands faded to dark and all that Harry could see was the golden snitch and the trail of yellow that followed it -- the lead of yellowness that Harry was passing. Faster ! A sheet of empurpled — the visitant'pedestal. The favorable sneak flying upward. Yes !
Harry's fingers pressed firmly against the wing stool pigeon when he heard the screams of terror. They conflicted with his own common sense of joy.

"We won !"thought Harry, feeling the arduous metal in his clasp."Why would anyone be— ?"
Then everything went violently red… just before he lost consciousness.

Waking, and still feeling a bit groggy, the first affair Harry recognized was the audio of plastic being disclose, torn 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 properly English and felt a dull ached that ran up the left half of his body. With his right hand he felt the sheets about his bureau, the pillow behind his headway, the bandages that wrapped his face.

"He's awake,"whispered Gabriella out of the wickedness. A warm touch took his helping hand."Hi, truelove,"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 vocalism had a bit of a earth tremor in it and it wasn't because a deep brown frog found its way down the faulty pipe.

"That's right,"added Hermione with a remains and unnatural tone. And then voices, rafts of voices it seemed to Harry, added their arrangement.

"You'll be fine, Harry."“ Don't concern, Harry."“ Flyin'in no time, you'll see !"“ Shut up, stupid."“ Hey, I didn't mean—"

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

A phone number of folks touched Harry's good arm. He felt of few kiss against his buttock. He heard a few cheery Good-byes and Later, mates, but he also heard a few sniffs and son of a bitch. The door swung closed with a deep thunk.

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

"No you don't, Mr. Potter !"cried Madame Pomfrey. She grabbed his arm and gently pulled it down."The patch are to rest on for the future three weeks if you wish to consume any promise of seeing again."

Okay. So he had been growing more and more discerning since he first became conscious. And the bandage were starting to freak him out… just a bit. Something in the backbone of his judgement had said the Word, but he had pushed it back down. Only problem was… the dark box of Harry's nous were shouting now.

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

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

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

"Your centre 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 twenty-four hour period, Harry,"said Gabriella, another quiver of sadness cracked her voice. Harry reached up and touched the bandages wrapping his face.

"Mr. Potter,"snapped Madame Pomfrey."If you keep touching your wrapper you'll assuredly disturb their appeal ! I will not have you go blind ! Do you hear me ! If you keep moving your blazon I will trap them."Her voice was beefy. She'd been crying ; Harry could narrate. The unhappiness in the room was almost overwhelming. Finally, he turned his top dog in the direction of Gabriella.

"Did we win ?"he asked.

"What ?"she replied, still dazed.

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

"Harry, how can you—"

"RON !"Harry screamed. In a wink the door burst open.

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

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

"Blimey, Harry,"he began,"it was amazing. There you two were, screaming across the tar to the compass 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 ground, his robes flicking up dehydrated Gunter Grass and tossing it into the air. The blowing dust made it attend as if his ling was on fire.

"I thought for surely we'd lost, when you spun over and started closing in from on mellow. The Snitch was flying just to my right and I could own sworn there were sparks flying out the arse of your Calluna vulgaris. It was glowing red. Heading toward the stand, it was assoil you were going to go Summerby, but you were too in high spirits ; everyone could see that. But it didn't issue. No one has ever seen soul fly that fast at Hogwarts… ever ! Crimey, maybe in all Britain !

"When you passed Summerby, I thought you'd dive to avoid the sales booth, to take hold of the snitch that was still screaming low to the solid ground. But you didn't ; you stayed straight on. When the Snitch darted up toward you…"Ron sighed in X."It was a miracle, fellow. Like you were calling out to it and it obeyed. Pop ! right wing into your mitt."There was a long interruption."It's when everyone's centre popped up with the stoolie we saw what was going to occur. That's when the screams began."Ron walked over succeeding to Harry's bed."Summerby smashed into the supports down low. Broke his leg and lost a brace tooth. He got out of the hospital yesterday. You… you…"Ron swallowed surd.

"You held on, mate. 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 grin. Ron sat back down following to Gabriella.

"fountainhead, now,"Ron answered,"I know you've had your fair share, Harry, but I still think winner can handle a stab to the heading with a Bludger adept than you."

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

"Okay, okey you three,"said Madame Pomfrey."Mr. Potter needs his rest."She shuffled the two friends outside the room, but not until Gabriella kissed Harry on the lips.

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

When the doorway 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 leave them sentence to bring around. The wrap will stay on for at least three calendar week. Your eyelid will be sealed longer still. Even when you can spread out your center, Harry, I don't defendant you'll see more than specter of lightness and dark. Once we know what you can and can't see, Healer Sventstein can get down making the right chastisement. You'll have to be affected role, my pricey, very patient."

He could try her folding some papers, putting trash away he thought, and then she stepped over to the side of the room and rain buckets something into a glass or goblet.

"I need you to drink this,"she said, helping him sit up and enclose his hands around the cup. He winced when she held his left arm."Yes, the whole left position of your body was pretty much hamburger meat. We've summoned out all the glass shards we can. There may be a few that aren't responding. I'll piece of work on that more tomorrow."She sounded tired, so Harry decided not to indicate about the drink and swallowed it down in one farsighted draft. The pain running down his side ebbed away and the discernment about his sight faded. Soon he was asleep.

When Harry woke, he found himself confused and disoriented. He couldn't understand why he couldn't see and he began to flail around, rising out of bed, the Edward Durell Stone floor cold beneath his unembellished feet. He was about to reach up to his aspect 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 ?"

"Dog Star ?"Harry asked to the duskiness, reaching out and touching Sirius'face.

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

"Hold on ! appreciation on !"Dog Star stopped Harry from running into the cd hovering at his bedside."Let's er… let's get you back in bed."Canicula helped Harry climb up into bed and pulled the weather sheet back over him."There, that's better."He patted Harry's ripe leg and remained standing at his bedside.

"What time is it ?"Harry asked.

"Not quite three in the morning."

"Three in the break of the day ?"He paused, rising up on his elbows and looking about the room."Anyone else here ?"

"Just you and me fiddling brother. How are you feeling ?"

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

"Yeah,"agreed Dog Star smartly."That's what I hear."Harry could hear Dog Star go down back into his chairperson and sigh."I have to admit, Harry, that was the fastest I've ever seen a broom fly, and I've seen a few Quidditch catch in my day. When you hit that damn portrait with your painting on it, the thing exploded. It was like a heavyweight crystal firework. And that you still held onto the Snitch… well, it's been all over the papers. Most pattern you broke the record, but the folks from Cleansweep want you to add up out and perform a fly-off against Comet — 20 K galleons to the succeeder's charity."Harry turned on his side, his back toward Sirius.

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

"What do you entail ?"

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

"That's not true, Harry,"began Sirius."Madame Pomfrey—"Harry spun and faced Sirius. Dog Star didn't need to see Harry's eyes to know the look he was getting right now. He sighed."Ten pct is not zero in percentage,"he whispered.

"Yeah, right,"Harry replied and dropped back down again. Likewise, Sirius sunk back into his chair, crossing his blazonry and searching for what to say. There wasn't much he could say. Harry, after all, was discipline. Once a hag or wiz lost their eyes there was often little that could be done—eyes simply nurse too practically magic. Healers could re-grow many things, but the eyes… the eyes, particularly of a knock-down witch or champion, were nearly impossible to repair. Canicula let out a low groan as the muteness stretched between them. After that, the flicker of candle flame was the merely noise that accompanied their breathing. At last, it was Sirius who began again, not sure if Harry was even still awake. His vocalism was unsteady, recalling a part of his past times he had never shared with Harry.

"When I… when I was in Azkaban, there was zilch to see but darkness, zip to sense but the stench of dying, nothing to take heed but the battle cry of plaint, zippo to savor but the remnant of tears that had long since died away, and the alone thing one felt was the common cold breath of despair. What solid food they gave us was more like black gruel with a consistency somewhere between mud and slime."Sothis chuckled grimly to himself."When the Dementors departed, leaving this black goo behind, I would smile. It was the only joy I had, sensing their release, knowing that however awful the food for thought was, the emptiness that screamed from my belly would soon be staved for another day. That crusty bowling ball of crap and my pure hatred for Saint Peter Pettigrew were all that kept me animated.

"I never dreamed that one day…"Sothis'vocalisation halted and he had to live with to gain himself."That one day… the son of my dearest booster would parlay my ten-percent of nothing and save me… not from the Dementors of Azkaban… not from the Curtain of Phenolem, but… from myself. I was used up inside, Harry ; a eggshell of a ace and lupus erythematosus a man. You've shown me, even now as darkness rushes in toward us, how to live again… how to love again. I'm amazed that today, I once again walk the mansion of Hogwarts—a free man, not because I'm innocent of the revulsion of Azkaban, but because I'm free of the dark and hatred that once consumed my soul. Because of you, I'm liberate to taste the delicious fruit of life once again."

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

"If I could smack you, I would,"charge Canicula, kicking the place of Harry's bed with his foot, a snag sliding down the side of his expression.

"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 packer's position."I can take you with both center tied behind my spinal column !"Harry was smiling as Sirius rose to his feet. The onetime adept wiped his heart and then, gently, took Harry's hands in his own.

"You just have to believe that it'll get better, Harry. It will. I know it will."The smile on Harry's look drooped.

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

"Enough already ! check telling me what you can't do ! I don't want to learn it anymore !"This clip Dog Star'interpreter was heated."I still wake in the middle of the night grasping for my sheets, fearing that it has all been a dream, wondering if in the void of night I'm really still trapped behind the drapery of Phenolem. One day the nightmare will end ; I know so, because I believe they will. Until they do, I will go to sleep at night, searching for those dreams that will carry me through public treasury break of day.

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

"Yeah, but—"

"And Thomas More than that,"Sothis interrupted,"until the day comes when your visual sense returns, you'll have to find a way to see through your blindness."Harry's contiguous reaction was to let a salvo of air get-up-and-go through his back talk in scoffing sacking of Sothis'words. He began to fall back into his pillow when he stopped himself and held fast to Dog Star'hand. To see through blindness ? power it still be possible ?

Not sure what to expect, Harry reached out with his mind as Dakhil had shown him — to see without seeing. Why hadn't he thought of it before ? Almost immediately he could realise the smartness of Sirius before him. It wasn't an range of a function so much as an aura of Christ Within that shown bright. Harry leaned forward in his bed. Reaching out further he began to take in the dim gleam of the organic life that clung to the wall, ceiling and storey. Without saying a Word he let go of Sirius'paw and rose out of bed.

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

What Harry was ‘ seeing'wasn't so much an image as an imprint of all that was around him. It would occupy prison term to decode the shapes, hues and vividness. There was a glow coming toward them. Harry pointed at the door.

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

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

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

"My god,"whispered Sirius."You can see."


Harry thrower and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 13 - The New add-on
~~~***~~~

"The current. The current ! Do you see the current ?"

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

"Jump !"

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

It had been bitterly frigid all day, but with all the running Harry was beginning to regret his decision to assume wearing apparel. They were pushing the terminal point between physical and witching exertion and Harry's foundation, well clad in a duet of trainers, were on flaming. The illumine jacket and pants he was wearing were suffocating and felt like they weighed a thousand hammer.

Once again he was training with Shahan and Felspar. Over the concluding few Clarence Shepard Day Jr., the three had been put though their stride by Ronan, Firenze and others — running, lifting, and shooting arrow from one slope of the Forbidden Forest to the other. Harry was exhausted — a flavour he was beginning to relish. If anything, he preferred to be out in nature.

Still blind, he was developing his limited ability to turn over out and smell the aureole of life around him. While he could gain effect about where things were at Hogwarts, occasionally very clean object would miss his attention. A chemical group of Slytherin fourth class had discovered this about a hebdomad after Harry had returned from infirmary and had taken to conjuring marbles in areas where they knew Harry would be walking. Harry, in turn, developed a few spells that helped pass his way. The tinkling of marbles usually meant that a Slytherin was nearby, waiting to look on Harry tumble. But since Harry could observe individual's aura, even through paries, the culprit was usually found fastened to the paries with their underwear on their mind and nothing else. It was a page out of what Nott and Parkinson had done to Ron concluding class and Harry didn't idea a footling playful requital.

In the forest, however, Harry felt as if his visual sensation was best than having sight. Everything was alive and vibrant. Trees and vegetation, the heavy animals and the pocket-size spores, Harry could see it all as if he'd never been blind.

Shahan had cleared the stream ahead and was already pulling away. Felspar came a bit short and she splashed water into the air. Harry, just a stair behind Felspar, was myopic still, landing a full metre away from the bank's boundary. His feet landed firmly in the pee and he struggled to restrain his remainder so as not to accrue into the icy water completely. He'd only taken three tone when he noticed the nervelessness around his feet. When he focused his attention downward he could feel clearly that his trainer were gone, the bum of his pants in tatters. Where the splash from Felspar hit the front of his island of Jersey it had dissolved away as if it had been burned by Lucy in the sky with diamonds, 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 running water system. For the first clip he noticed that its coloring was different than the early streams he'd seen through the wood. The lightly emanating from this water system was snowy, Sir Thomas More crystalline, more pure. With a slap-up jump off Ronan, who had been following, jumped from banking concern to bank with relaxation. Harry expected to be chastised for stopping, yelled at for falling behind, but Ronan said aught. Harry noticed that the whitish-gray of Ronan's gloriole warmed a bit. He'd learned, at least with his Quaker, that such a variety meant a grin. He wondered what it meant with a centaur.

Shahan had long disappeared in the underbrush ahead, but Felspar stopped short of the node trees and returned to Harry and Ronan.

"Is something unseasonable ?"feldspar asked.

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

"But Shahan said—"feldspar 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 closer to the stream, staring down at its riffle.

"Not with your eyes, foolish one !"snapped Ronan. felspar stepped back and closed her eye. A mo passed before she rose up on her rear legs and spun toward them.

"The spill !"she cried with excitement."The stream that feeds the falls !"Then feldspar stepped over to Harry, noticing his bare groundwork and ankles."Harry thrower, your fetlock joint are bare."She stepped tight."But the material body is unharmed. If ever I held doubt in the Chosen, they have forever washed away."Felspar nodded with a slight bow. Harry nodded in proceeds and the smiled as he saw feldspar own fetlocks.

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

"The boy is correct, Felspar,"said Ronan."Your own fetlocks have grown brighter. Like the Chosen, you now wear socks."He laughed as feldspar looked down to see that indeed her white-hot coat was glistening more brightly from the articulatio genus and hock down.

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

"No,"said felspar immediately, backing away from the H2O."I would not place the purity of my heart at such a standard. Indeed, if I had known these were the very waters…"

"feldspar,"said Ronan,"catch up to Shahan if you can and state him that we are done for the day. He has, once again, failed the test. You are fortunate that you stopped to bring back. In these fourth dimension we must think to think of the herd before our own interests."Felspar bowed.

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

"As I am not,"retorted Ronan."For three straight years Shahan has failed to comprehend the moral. Florence says Shahan did not even bother to look for for Ebyrth. The Centaur is of no use to the heard if he refuses to ascertain our style. I care not that he is young."Then Ronan stepped penny-pinching to Felspar ; his posture becoming fixed."You would be wise not to heed to Shahan's intellection, Felspar. That your coat should change people of color at all is not a good signal. Your mother has raised you better."Then Ronan's demeanour changed back to one of teacher.

"Focus your idea on where you need to be, Felspar."He said null more, but Felspar turned toward the part of the timberland through which Shahan had disappeared. A moment later in a streak of Caucasian she was gone.

"Is that not an Apparation ?"Harry asked.

"One can not Apparate on these reason, Harry Potter. The earth is too filled with deception. The Centaurus can bow space and slow time so that distances travelled can be covered far more quickly than on hoof alone. You have accomplished this already. What's more you have learned to go away your somebody soundbox and locomotion with the other living spirit of the forest."

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

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

When Harry did attain out, he found it far easier than he first expected. The free energy of the forest seemed to imbue him with added insight, guiding his mentation as he became focused on the creature, leaving his own ego, releasing his corporeal word form behind and melding into the nub of a pin. In a flash he was one with the woody Bowtruckle. His heart blinked. Ahead, across the current were a Centaur and young man with tatterdemalion pants and no shoes. Harry tried to step forward, but the creature would not respond. It was as if he were simply eavesdropping. Suddenly, he felt quite athirst. Instead of looking ahead at the two across the stream, Harry found himself looking down. There was a rather large reek insect wriggling its bulbous head between two leaves. He bent down, sniffed the clog thing at pulled it up out of the soil grinding gut and earth between his teeth.

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

"Well done, Harry potter. It has been less than a year since the cleaning, and already you have learned the centaur artwork. It will take aim much more fourth dimension to control them and many years to understand their true nature. It is…"Ronan paused looking toward the horse opera sky."…unfortunate that we have so little time."His hoof clawed at the soil."It does not go well for our brothers 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.

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

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

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

"It is sentence for you to take back to the palace, Harry potter. I have been training you far too heavy and far too fast, I'm afraid. So it is with Shahan and feldspar. You are all learning before your power to grasp. If we were greater in number…"Ronan let out a long sigh as Harry turned to face up him.

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

"That is not a doubtfulness for the Centaurs, Harry Potter,"said Ronan defiantly."It is a question for the Dementors. It is not our war ; it is theirs. It is not the Centaur herds that are destroying the villages of Eastern EC. That is the piece of work of the Dementors and their ilk. They are the single swayed by Ebyrth's return ; we are simply defending ourselves."

"I read that in the Battle of the Fifth Age the Centaurus ruck nearly obliterated Dementors from the face of the earth."

"Would that we had,"said Ronan coolly."Their darkness has no purpose other than destruction. Near the end of that war, only a handful escaped into the swamp and peat bog through which we could not travel. It was there they learned to fly ; it was there they developed their hunger for souls. Now, from a dust few, their issue have multiplied. They outnumber the Centaurus two to one. For that we can thank the Wizarding world and the world of man whose greed has consumed the Earth and produced keep on which the Dementors feed.

"No, Harry thrower, you fight on the side of righteousness, as the Centaur have for centuries. But, I am afraid, virtue alone will not be enough to extend us to victory. We will take your military strength and more."

"It doesn't supporter that I'll never see again,"said Harry, rubbing his branch with his hands to bring some warmth 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 century I might be able-bodied to recognize everyone's detail 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 fauna before you. My mass hold their emotions well, so they appear gray or ashen. Have you noticed that house elves are nearly always—"

"Green. Er… greenish. Yeah, I noticed."

"Goblins, whose natures are always angry, are almost always flush with red. While wizards and witches carry the color that suit their nature, colours the trained Centaur intellect can make out. It does not occupy long to recognize the given hue."

"Or chromaticity,"added Harry.

"Excuse me ?"asked Ronan."What do you mean ?"

"Well, when they have Sir Thomas More than one gloss. You know, say light-green that sometimes turns blue."Ronan was staring blankly at Harry."You know, the guy's kind of blue sometimes, sort of green former times… right ?"

"Unless there is a phenomenal translation, a flavor carries but one hue, Harry ceramicist. It may brighten 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 arcminute.

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

"There are slipway you might see two hue, Harry Potter. Some wizards or witches are known Animagi. The creature inside can represent a different hue, although even among the Animagi it is uncommon. Usually, the creature reflects the nature of the beldame or wizard."There was a farseeing pause.

"And the other ?"asked Harry.

"It can be the oeuvre of a fracture spirit, mortal who is really two masses, or possibly under the control of another."

"The Imperius Curse ?"Harry asked.

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

"Erm, no… not really,"Harry lied."I've got to go, Ronan. Thank you for your education today."Harry's thinker was clicking of the list of names. 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 clip and found himself outside Hagrid's front room access. He'd covered the distance, some miles, in little more than the blink of an eye. Still, in so doing he'd exhausted what trivial resources of specialty he had left. His apparel shredded, he was about to knock on Hagrid's threshold when he sensed that someone was hidden in the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree behind the garden. Harry reached for his wand and held it at the ready. Barefoot, he began to mistreat silently toward the spy. It was one technique taught him by the Centaurus and for the fleetest of mo Harry thought he'd prefer a serrated pointer right about now.

Stealthily, Harry moved closer. The number, with a promising emerald unripe aura, didn't movement. Its positioning continued to roost against the tree. Just a few yards away Harry's nostrils took in the flavor of locoweed, a distinctively redolent smoke.

"genus Draco !"Harry hissed quiet down and low. This close, Harry could see the figure, still leaning motionless against the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, bring his script to his mouth. He was taking another pull on his cigaret. Harry could get word the exhale, long and slow.

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

"Dragon, you can't be here. Do you have sex what will pass off if—"

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

In the duskiness from far up the hill Harry could see the front doors of the castle open with their device characteristic crack. What he didn't expect to hear next was Ron Weasley's vocalization.

"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 abruptly by now,"said Draco with a subject of fact tone as he pulled what was left of Harry's T-shirt 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 livid.

"Yeh should birth been here an hour ago !"he called from interior."I don't care what Ronan tells yeh ; the forest ain't safe after dar—. Er… Professor Dumbledore, sir. Erm… minister. 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 sentence with the Centaur ?"A second later and the door shut leaving Harry alone with genus Draco once again.

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

"So it's true,"said genus Draco, waving his paw in battlefront of Harry's nerve."You're blind."Able to see the glowing from the life-forms that clung there, Harry grabbed Dragon's arm.

"You can read !"said Harry dismissively."It's been in every paper I can think of."Dragon ignored the shot, reached up and touched the slope of Harry's brass.

"Does it bruise ?"

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

"Blaise has been… compromised. He and I have a magical catch phrase that we use to ensure the other is mentally free from any… meddling. For the concluding two weeks, Blaise has tried to get hold of me without using that phrase. He's someone else's now."Draco took another retentive puff on his cigarette."How father found out… I don't know."His words were deeply bother. It was an excited shift in genus Draco that Harry had rarely seen."We were careful ; to a greater extent than careful. You need to be intimate that there's a spy in the castle. I thought maybe Nott, but he doesn't have the acquirement to mold the Imperius."

"You're r-risking your aliveness to recite me there's a spy ?"asked Harry incredulously."There's p-probably a 12 !"His tooth were beginning to chatter as the cold 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 shoulders."You know, aside from being scratched bloody, having essentially no dress, and looking like you were just run over by the Hogwarts express, you're in pretty sound shape. Maybe if you stopped running around the forest keister naked—"

"T-Training,"Harry interrupted.

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

"I don't know where the inferno you've been, Draco, 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 hole-and-corner wedding."

"What ? What are you talking about ?"

"I've been here since day one,"Draco mocked Harry."Yes, you're so in tune, so enlightened. Hell, Harry, that's not even the matter to news."

"Married ? Goldstein ?"

"Not even her little sidekick knows they're getting married. Quite scandalous."Draco chuckled to himself and then sat cross-legged on the priming."But I suppose you, all knowing oracle of the blind have insight to that."Harry said null, but sat down side by side to Draco crossing his arm and branch under Draco's cloak.

"Come on, potter,"drawled Draco once again."Surely you can estimate why Cho and Goldstein would want to… nay… would need to get matrimonial secretly."Again there was a foresighted pause and Harry pulled Draco's cloak tighter about his shoulders. He was feeling a pang of jealousy and he had no right hand to. He had loved Cho and he would always enjoy her, but their course 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 lovemaking firm and the uncertainty of any given day that kept Harry forever on edge tickled a very Slytherin region of his heart 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."

"French Republic,"answered Draco with a sly grinning."Don't Tell anyone, Harry, but Goldstein's guardian may be their chaperone by day, but at night he's a dying Eater in my father's service. It's a tryst of little consequence to my Padre and it pays the bills for Henry, the chaperone, but I knew you might have a special interest."

"I never thought that Goldstein and Cho would—"

"Oh, but I'm not done, Harry. Cho Chang Jiang spends her days in France, in a picayune Francisco Villa just north of Marseille, a town called La Mure. She and the—"

"When's she due ?"Harry asked."Do you have a go at it how far along she is ?"At this Dragon smiled.

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

The threshold to Hagrid's cabin opened and the giant stepped out for just a consequence looking toward the forest."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 figure are yeh ?"Harry began to fend, but Draco pulled him back down. For a flash, Harry was irritated, but caught himself.

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

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

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

"They've found it,"Draco interrupted."Months ago I asked you to regain it first, and you didn't even try. Now they have it."He flicked a twig into Harry's aspect."Blaise risked his life-time and you did nothing. Now he's been found out."Dragon leaned over and grabbed the cloak about Harry's cervix. Harry could palpate the cloth tighten, not by Draco's helping hand, but another force-out."You're going to get it back, earnest, or I'll kill you myself."The cloth tightened further. Harry reached for his sceptre, but found the cloak held his hands tight.

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

"Save it for mortal who gives a damn."He leaned over Harry who was gasping for breather now."Funny thing… sorcerous cloaks. They can bind 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 the pits don't want my Padre to get his work force 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 a good deal air as he could. Draco took to his feet and wrapped the black cloak about his articulatio humeri, his long blonde hair starkly white in contrast. Still coughing, Harry stumbled to his feet and pulled his verge. Draco ignored the gesture and turned to leave. But then he stopped as if suddenly remembering a forgotten thought. The room access to the Hagrid's hut opened and Ron stepped out. He'd heard the sound of Harry's cough.

"Harry ? !"Ron called to the shadow.

"Oh, and Harry,"genus Draco said, looking Harry in the heart even if the glimpse was not returned."Cho isn't pregnant."He turned to bequeath."It's a newborn infant baby boy. Well, not so much newborn any to a greater extent. You'll never guess the birthday… it's the same day as yours."

"Harry !"Ron called again. This prison term, by the timbre 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 emptiness. The sound of footsteps came charging up from behind and Harry could get a line the kerfuffle on the look porch of Hagrid's hut. A handwriting touched Harry's shoulder.

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

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

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

"I told you, Arthur,"Dumbledore said gently from within the hut,"zip to worry about. follow in and let's finish our tea."

"My god, Albus !"cried Arthur as Harry and Ron returned to the cabin."Look 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 filth. As he climbed the step with Ron's assistance his teeth once again began to prate.

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

"Get o'er by the fire, lad,"said Hagrid, offering a blanket. But before Harry had a chance to consent, Dumbledore pulled his sceptre and tapped Harry's berm. The soil disappeared and a Hogwarts robe covered his physical structure. The thin red transmission line about his neck and the aching brawn, however, remained.

"Hagrid,"said Dumbledore,"perhaps some tea and some…"Harry tried to bewitch Dumbledore's eyes to tell him to contain, but found, as it had been since his accident, he could no longer effectively communicate silently with his eyes."…stone cakes."

Warming his muscle by the flack, sipping a bit of tea, and pretending to enjoy Hagrid's rock-hard Edward Durell Stone bar, Harry was beginning to feel himself again. He assured Chester A. Arthur Weasley that he was fine and that his dishevelled appearance was all in a day's study, training with the Centaurs in the timberland ; but the minister of religion was none too convinced.

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

"Just a little work with Devil's snare is all, sir,"answered Harry, rubbing his neck with his left hand and sipping some more tea with the early. If they could see his optic, they would know he wasn't listening to a word they were saying. Dragon probably thought his petty display would focus Harry's nous fully on some Horcrux that the Ministry had no doubt just found, but Harry's mind was anything but centred. After a bit more give-and-take about school, rue about Harry being blind, and newsworthiness about the battle raging in Eastern Europe, Arthur Weasley finally got down to the determination of his visit.

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

"What ?"Harry exclaimed."Why ?"

"Well, to try to recoup the consistence, Harry,"answered Mr. Weasley, surprised somewhat at Harry's response."Many Aurors lost their lives that evening and their bodies have never been found — at least, not until last week. Since the prostration we tried for month to regain the bottom with no winner. We encountered one magical portal after another, and the doer were none too be given to accidentally slip up across the drapery itself."

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

"No, Ron,"interrupted Dumbledore,"the pall and the stump were destroyed in the fall. No, just the torso, consistency from both sides, have been returned to their loved ones."

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

"Hagrid,"he asked, clearing his throat once again,"do you have any more stone cakes ?"

"Why sure, Ron,"said Hagrid with glee."Come 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."Arthur patted Harry's lap."But there was one early recovery at the very astuteness of the gaping fissure."All at once, Mr. Weasley's aura faded and Harry knew the watch words were a lie."They pulled it up today, just before tiffin. I looked for you earlier, Harry, but you'd already left for the forest."Arthur Weasley stood from his chair and looked out the window facing the castle, the people of color returned to his aura."I was thinking we could suffer a dedication of sorts. You could derive to the Ministry as we put it on display. It would certainly prompt the people in these dark fourth dimension that we can vanquish darkness."

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

"Oh, yes, I'm sorry, Harry,"answered Arthur."I've wanted to discuss our search since you and I spoke on the train. I never knew taking care of the Ministry would consume so much of my time."His eyes wandered for a moment 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 remnant of his darkness and a symbol to all of his defeat."

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

"I knew you might find this way, Harry,"said Arthur with understanding."That's why I came myself. You must realise what an ikon you've become in the Wizarding public. Just one pic of you, perhaps wand drawn, next to the cloak of the evil you destroyed would mean so lots to—"

"It's insane !"said Harry, rising to his metrical unit."Do you get it on what that might be ? It could—"

"Harry,"said Dumbledore sternly, silencing Harry's rant."I think it would be wise for you to take some clock time to believe what all the implications are. metre to believe what's best for… everyone involved."Harry expected to see the warmth of wrath shape in Dumbledore's aura, but if anything his light dimmed with a frigidity 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 paw to shake, and Chester Alan Arthur Weasley took it."Let me get my forefront together, and I'll get back to you. Just a day or two."

"Certainly, Harry, I understand. Until then, we'll stay fresh it safe ; I can assure you."Harry started for the door."Here, let me walk you to the castle."

"I got it dad,"said Ron, dropping one of the stone cakes on the table with a thud."last your tea and have some more… er, cakes."Ron ran to the door next to Harry's side. 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 find Harry safely back to the castle."

"Goodnight, Hagrid,"said Harry to the whale still in the kitchen, baking up another hatful of cake for his Guest."Thanks !"

"Sure thing, Harry,"called Hagrid."Anytime."Then he turned to Mr. Weasley just as Harry began to shut the door."pastor, try another one, hot out of the oven !"

By the clip Harry and Ron were at the castle steps, Harry had answered most of Ron's questions.

"I just don't get it, Harry,"said Ron shaking his head."It's just a art object of textile. You killed him."

"Ron, you saw my clothes tonight. They were burnt away because I fell into the witching stream that feeds the dusk. think when you fell in last year ?"

"Pulled in you mean,"said Ron, rubbing his right field carpus."Yeah, I remember. My apparel disappeared."

"They didn't disappear,"corrected Harry."They were burnt away. Clothes are impure. They can't survive the purity of the water."

"That's a Centaurus tale,"said Ron dismissively.

"fib or not, the water destroys cloth. I doused Voldemort in nearly ten gallons of the stuff. It was enough to dissolve every evil osseous tissue 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 voice dipped low,"…the Horcrux Draco was talking about ?"

"I don't see how it can be,"answered Harry."If it's role of Voldemort, it should ingest been destroyed."Harry sighed."Maybe Hermione will know."Ron shrugged and nodded in arrangement as he reached to spread the rook doors. Ron heaved on the backbreaking handle just as Harry's handwriting stopped him and exclude them again.

"Ron ?"he asked."You have a lot of brother and babe. Erm… how long does it take to… er… for a witch to… you know… have a babe, after… you know."For a second, Ron just stared at Harry, and then reaching ever so slightly to the thoughts on the tip of Harry's mind he understood.

"Oh ! How long does it take for a child to be born after conception ?"he asked.

"Yeah… yeah, that's it."

"well my mum's always going on how I took longer than most… ‘ Forty two weeks, and in the centre 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 smile. Harry simply nodded. wellspring, Ron thought for a second, touched his fingers and counted backwards, and then a gleaming of a smiling crossed his fount once again.

"Pretty damn near to Halloween, 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 cover against the castle doors and slid down to a sit on the stone landing.

"Oh, Merlin,"he whispered in a sickly sort of voice."Oh, bloody, fucking, Merlin."

"What ? What is it, Harry ?"

"Ron… I think… I think I'm a father."


Harry ceramist and the parturition of a New Sun

Chapter 14 - Wedding Plans ~~~***~~~

When Harry and Ron passed through the portraiture of the Fat lady, Harry found the Gryffindor common room, warmer than normal. Near the fireplace sat the gloriole of Annapurna, Lavender, Gabriella, Hermione, Ginny and Dean. Towards the back, Neville was helping Patrick and a few others, Harry had yet to recognize, educate for their Herbology exams. Evidently, the exam involved a burning works of some sort, perhaps fireseed, Harry thought, since there was a billowing cloud of smoke that hung over the group and cypher seemed to mind.

Harry, his mind fractured at the moment, brought his attending on Patrick. The smoke was clouding his ability to see the halo of those at the binding board, but the filter out visible light emanating from Patrick was the same as it had been since Harry first met him after the accident - blue and green. Each coloring material waxed and waned, growing more green whenever he was excited or near Harry.

"Patrick ?"Harry thought silently to himself, but the thought was short lived.

"Harry ! Ron !"cried Dean. His interpreter brought Harry's tending back to the chemical group about the fireplace. The call sounded like a plea for help, as if Dean felt, at the moment, like a trapped rat in a Hydra's batting cage. He began to stand when Ginny grabbed his arm.

"Oh, James Byron Dean,"she said breathlessly,"isn't it beautiful ?"Hermione was projecting an image of a youth woman in a white wedding dress. The missy stood, suspended in the eye of the five bookman and modelled the frock she was wearing, slowly turning in all counseling so that everyone could see, everyone that is except Harry.

"Er… yeah, great,"muttered James Dean miserably, sinking back into the lounge.

"I don't know, Gin,"said Lavender cautiously."I think the power train's a little long."

"Lavender's right, Hermione,"added Parvati."You don't want to trade 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 paw to her chin and tapped her cheek with one finger's breadth."But I think the second…"dean let out an audible groan, but the miss ignored him while Hermione began to flash through model after model, attire after apparel, as if riff Page 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 middle grew all-encompassing and he shook his brain as nondescriptly as he could to guard them off. Ron caught it, but Harry did not."We were just looking over dresses when—"She stopped herself mid-sentence, noticing the expression on Ron's typeface."What's damage ?"

Gabriella stood and came over to Harry."You both look like someone died. Did Filch fascinate you sneaking into the kitchens again ? Out with it… what happened ?"Ron looked at Harry, and Harry looked blankly above the fille.

"zilch,"they said simultaneously.

Gabriella patted Harry's cheek.

"Nothing ?"she said, sensing the swirling swarm of emotions that must have shown like a beacon for everyone to see."Would you like to link up us ?"she asked."We were just—"

"No thanks,"interjected Harry. While he had grown accustomed to seeing pupil from other houses in the vulgar way, he had completely forgotten that the girls were going to get together this evening to hash out Hermione's wedding design for the summer."I need to get prepare for the Potions examination 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 screaky clean,"she replied sceptically."You know, if you weren't working out in the forest today, we could cause gotten at to the lowest degree three hr 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 front of his eyes.

"You're the team maitre d' ! It's you're responsibility to—"

"These aren't your robe,"interrupted Gabriella, rubbing the cloth in her fingerbreadth."These are new."

"Dumbledore cleaned him up,"offered Ron. This was followed by a chorus line.

"Dumbledore ?"

"fountainhead, er… he and Dad were at Hagrid's and—"

"Dad ?"asked Ginny."Dad's here ? Why didn't he say he was coming to school ? Where is he ?"It felt, suddenly, as if sharks were beginning to circulate Harry and Ron.

"well, he only had a minute,"said Ron, stepping finisher to his sister. She had risen to her understructure and James Byron Dean took the opportunity to quickly flit away and manoeuver toward the spiral staircase to the boy'dormitory."And he needed to see Harry, so I took him over to—"

"So he saw you, but he didn't have clock time to see his simply daughter ?"

LE than a mo later everyone was talking at once. Ron and Harry were being bombarded with enquiry about everything from the Minister's visit, to why Dumbledore needed to arouse Harry new robes, to what pattern Ron thought would be nice for the new Nationalist China.

Unexpectedly, there was a loud explosion from the backbone of the room that caused everyone to shrill. A rather enceinte fireball spewed forth from the board where Neville and the others were working. It was Neville who stopped it from lighting the totally place on fire by casting a squelch appeal.

"hoot it, Patrick,"Neville said irritably, while a few of the other scholar laughed,"I told you not to mix fireseeds with burning bush powder ! 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 cover table and the blacken faces that stood there. Harry took the opportunity to pursue Dean's footstep up the staircase. Near the top he heard a rather dejected Patrick apologize, but what he saw was a bluish air beaming with pride. Then Harry noticed Saint Patrick flash him a thumbs-up from within the long arm of his robe, a signal that no one could see.

"Sorry, Neville,"said Patrick with a shrug of his articulatio humeri."I'm just no serious at this kind of clobber. I'll be lucky to make it to the tierce year at this rate."

Gabriella looked back toward the fireplace to find Harry and before she could find where he was Harry disappeared into the boys'dormitory. Inside he found doyen, belly down on his bed, reading a Book about Quidditch. He loved the game so, it was a shame he wasn't any sound at it. He looked up as Harry entered.

"Are they gone ?"he asked."Did you have to blow them all up ?"

"Well, I—"

"Because that'd be fine by me, Harry. I was about to muff myself up if I had to bet at one more Nationalist China pattern."He looked back at the Book 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 espouse me ?"He turned another page ; clearly not having read the lowest."So… concluding year… yeah, maybe. But that's your fault."dean looked up, pointing a finger at Harry.

"Me ?"

"Well, I mean, I was in a struggle — fighting you for her. You know. That sort of affair, well… it gets a guy in the mood. But this clobber downstairs… wedding clothes, and colours of prorogue clothes, and…"doyen sighed."Talk about deflating."Without looking back down to the book, he turned another Page. Then, quite suddenly, doyen groaned and turned over on his bed, placing the open book over his dresser."Falco columbarius, I love her."There was secrecy and he sighed again."She's been my human race. She brought me back after the accident."Dean held his hired hand up, flexing the finger in front of his face. His individual had been reconnected to his bodily course and Ginny had been there every step 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 robes and putting on a release pair of jean."side it, James Dean, you're her man too."

"I just don't want to be thinking about union while I'm still in schoolhouse,"answered Dean, sitting up on the edge of his bed and facing Harry."There's plenty to be getting on about without having to care about in-laws… china patterns…"

"…children,"added Harry quietly.

"Merlin, no,"pip Dean."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 tummy."Can you conceive Neville and Helen ?"continued Dean."Neither one of them used any protection their first few fourth dimension. 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 Saint George hooked up with some missy in Hogsmeade finish year and wound up with a case of runespoor verruca. Had to go to St. Mungo's to get them removed. Can you conceive it ? Yeesh."Lee covered his crotch with his manus 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 pride and added,"After all, everyone knew she and Ron were together since the downfall of last class. She knew how to be safe, and Neville sure wasn't going to blab out to Ginny."

Harry wasn't certain how to take that. He didn't have a clue until finish Christmas Day that Ron and Hermione were together. Yet, everyone else seemed to sleep together. Further, he was pretty for sure that last year Tonks had used her Metamorphosis skills to adopt on the visual aspect of Helen of Troy so that she could pussyfoot into Gryffindor tug with Neville. It brought up memories… bad store. Suddenly, going to peach to Hermione about anything didn't seem like such a good idea. Harry began to bone his desk with his finger's breadth, then crossed his limb and just looked down at the storey. He could see the nimbus's of the living organisms that his partner had tracked in under their shoes. Maybe Aunt Petunia wasn't such a unbalanced bat after all - at least as far as wiping one's feet at the door was concerned.

"What's up, Harry ?"asked Dean."Why are you so wind up up anyway ?"

Barefoot and shirtless, Harry walked over to the window. Yuletide was a workweek away and, sadly, no coke had fallen. The grounds below and the surrounding forest glistened brightly in Harry's blindness. He placed his remaining hired man on his breast, just above Asha's heart, the stone that even now sat hidden within him. Focusing mellow above the crown he found aught but lightlessness. tardy in the evening, clouds had moved in, covering all in a wickedness blanket through which no stars shone. He peered at the same quadrant of sky in which he knew Ebyrth hung, growing ever closer. He closed his eyes and dropped his head heavily against the meth window.

Voldemort's cloak should consume been destroyed by the water from the falls, but it wasn't. Why ? Was it the Horcrux genus Draco thought it was, or simply an object of power 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 decease feeder's imperious curse. Who was the spy ? Could they have turned Patrick too ?

It wasn't enough that war was raging in Eastern European Union and would soon grace the timberland about Hogwarts, if not the castle itself. Now there was a child. Could it really be his ? That was a stupid inquiry. Of course it could be ; the timing was near perfective and they had been… well, stupid. It was just before the Allhallows Eve feast. Harry was going to tell Cho about Gabriella… let Cho know that they couldn't be together, that Gabriella was the one he truly loved. But then she touched his arm… the expression in her centre. Even now, the memory sent a shiver down his sticker and made his insides quiver. Neither of them was in the right frame of reference of mind, but they both knew what they wanted. Now they were both paying for it. At least Cho was. Harry began to wonder… if the tyke was Harry's, did Mark Anthony know, or was Cho simply using him ?

Harry shook his head, trying to clear his puddle idea. Maybe he was making a big deal of nothing. Maybe Susan B. Anthony was the father. But the vision… Gabriella's vision that both he and Hermione shared. He'd seen a kid. Gabriella saw her own death and yet Harry saw life. He thought it was their child, his and Gabriella's. Now, Harry wasn't so sure.

The window was cold and a shake ran across his physical structure. He turned and walked over to his storage chest, opening the lid and notion around for a shirt.

"Harry ?"Dean asked."I know something's bothering you. What is it ?"

"Tell me, Dean,"said Harry as he found a shirt. He began to fluff about for a pair of socks.

"Yes ?"

"Ah…"Harry held up two socks."Do these correspond ?"

"Kinda,"answered doyen, looking at black and maybe a dark dark blue blue.

"Good… honest,"replied Harry and he slipped the shirt and drogue on. He sat back on his bed and slipped on his bang without saying a intelligence.

"Harry ?"asked doyen probing."Where are you going ?"

"Accio cloak !"Harry called with his right mitt in the air, fingers 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 verge into his arm and stepped toward the door.

"dean,"he said,"please give my apologies to professor Snape. I'll miss the exam tomorrow I'm afraid. It's sad really. Since the Joining, I think I had a pretty right prospect of acing it. Severus, after all, shared a bit of himself with me that night."Harry rubbed the scar on his decently arm.

"Slow down, first mate,"said Dean, taking to his animal foot."You can't just go off—"

"Whew ! I made it !"cried Ron, jumping into their way."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 pass."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 well-nigh whisper.

"Maybe… if you can believe Malfoy,"answered Ron.

"Malfoy ?"asked Dean."Not Draco ? I thought he was—"Gabriella entered the room.

"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 fingers. He glared at Ron."Great program, mate."

"fountainhead,"said Ron,"I tried to—"Harry held up one digit to his lips and Ron lowered his voice."I tried to—"Harry shook his finger at Ron. There was a bit of a growl 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 ?"doyen asked as Ginny slipped into his weapon. Then he turned to her."Did you know genus Draco was awake ?"It was a question she didn't expect and it caught her off precaution. Her middle shot immediately to Ron and the feeling gave her away at once.

"You did !"cried Dean."How could you not severalise me ? Did you all know ?"Harry could see the fire construction in Dean's emotions. Nobody said a give-and-take."How retentive have you known ?"

"Get over it, Dean !"Harry snapped."Dragon wanted it closed book and we're keeping it that way. We know because we were there. Ginny knows because her sidekick has a big fat mouth."Harry gestured at Ron without looking his way."Draco's gist is here at Hogwarts, Dean. Until we can clear his figure we can't make him out as a fugitive."

"Clear his epithet ?"said Dean."He was… he is a Death Eater."

"He saved my lifetime, doyen,"interjected Ron."That you do have sex. That I've told everyone. But my Word isn't enough to keep him out of Azkaban. I should know, the Minister's my Dad and, no, he doesn't know about Draco either."

These words cooled Dean's fires, if only a shred, and his hands found his pockets. There was a import of silence and then he turned to Ginny reached out and took her hand.

"You know, Gin,"Dean said gently,"if we're going to expend the repose of our lives together, we can't be keeping mystery from one another. Secrets… they… they sour souls and twirl trust. If you'd have just told me to keep mum, you know I would suffer. 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 arms."I'm sorry."

"Well… good,"said Harry uncomfortably."Erm… Ron, differentiate your Dad that we can accept the observance with Voldemort's cloak this Sat after exams."

"But that's three days, Harry,"Ron said,"isn't that too long to—"

"Right,"cut in Harry,"so that's why you… all,"he waved toward the group,"can figure out how we get the cloak tomorrow night. I'll meet you at the entrance to the Ministry at midnight. Have the design ready and I'll assist you however I can."He grabbed Gabriella's hand."come with me."They started for the threshold when Hermione grabbed the binding 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 keister but his center dummy.

"start, I'm going to see a champion of mine in Ravenclaw, and then… then I'm going to France."

There was a collective,"What ! ?"from everyone but Ron.

"It's one mystery I'm afraid,"said Harry, raising his hands to quiet his friends,"that needs to be kept… at least 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 head, but Harry held a finger's breadth to his mouth.

"Not here… not now,"he whispered.

They were about to clear out through the portraiture of the Fat Lady when Lavender stopped them near the 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 Parvati flatly. Gabriella simply nodded, taking Harry by the arm and walking out of the Gryffindor commons elbow room.

The two didn't speak until they reached the staircases. It was quiet with only a few students roaming about. Most were probably studying for tomorrow's exam. The others were either heading toward or returning from the program library. The two found themselves alone on the staircase as it slowly began to slide into property. Finally, Harry gathered the courage.

"Did you know… ?"he began cautiously."Did you know about Cho ?"

"Cho Yangtze ?"Gabriella asked blankly.

"Yes, Cho Chang Jiang !"Harry snapped."How could you not know ? You two were inseparable at the end of last year. She helped you through test. merlin, you spent more metre with her than with me. How could you not know ?"

The stone staircase came to rest against the wall. The two climbed off that one and onto another that began to slide into yet another charge.

"So we're going to see Susan Brownell Anthony,"Gabriella said knowingly. Harry said goose egg, wishing only that the stairway would prompt more quickly."Tell me Harry, are you still so jealous ?"

"Jealous ?"Harry asked angrily."green-eyed monster has nothing to do with this. I have a right wing to know !"His last words were loud and reverberated off the gem walls.

"They have a right to their privacy, Harry,"Gabriella replied with an edge in her voice."They have a rightfield to keep the Daily prophesier out of their lives. Frankly, I don't see how it's any of your business. It's clear 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 make their way up to Ravenclaw pillar. A third year Ravenclaw joined them on the moving case upward. Harry moved close to Gabriella failing miserably at keeping his articulation hushed.

"None of my business sector ? None of my business ? !"

"Yes ! None of your business ! They were unintelligent, Harry,"Gabriella said struggling to maintain her calm in front end of the third year, although Harry could smell out the anger building within her."It was a misunderstanding, a mistake that Susan Brownell Anthony's wizard enough to set straight. Can't you see that he's trying to do the right thing by caring for what will soon be his family ?"

At this, the third twelvemonth Ravenclaw looked back over his shoulder at Harry and Gabriella. Gabriella flashed him a look that put the boy's nose back into the Bible 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 Fatherhood. He stopped and leaned against the handrail. The delay was just long enough that the staircase began to go again.

"She was not my kept woman,"Harry said quietly to the shadow."I… I was not myself end year. You know—"Gabriella put her hands about Harry's shoulders.

"I know,"she whispered sadly. Harry turned to front 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 metre and when the staircase came to a catch Gabriella moved to get off, but Harry stood still.

"I'm not overjealous because of Antony,"spoke Harry to the open air before him."It's just that… I could be the father,"he said softly.

"What ?"

"I could be the founding father,"he repeated, stepping close to her."It wasn't Anthony that was the stupid one ; it was me - Halloween of terminal yr. Cho's child… it could be mine."

Harry waited to see the chemical reaction, but none came. The news had no outcome on Gabriella's gloriole. Either she knew already, or had suspected all along, or the intelligence simply didn't outcome her emotions.

"I see,"she finally whispered."That muddies things 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 have sex anything, you know quite a bit already. You know there's a tike. 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 head 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 pull up stakes the castle alone. Besides, Professor Snape has already released me from tomorrow's exam for—"

"—for high marker,"interrupted Harry."Yeah, I know. I know."He paused for a few second and then judder his forefront. But before Harry could say a word Gabriella began.

"Harry,"she said gently, holding her hand to his brass,"I don't attention how well you can see what others can not."She took his bridge player."You're screen. It makes a difference. 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 prospicient interruption.

"Cho's escort is a Death feeder,"Harry said, more than to himself than to Gabriella.

"You're joking, right ?"

"He's not much of one, but Cho's bodyguard is a Death Eater."He paused, churning the proffer in his mind. Finally he said,"You're proper. I probably wouldn't get a hazard to see her… not without help."He squeezed Gabriella's hand."Besides, you need to be there. I need you to be there."

It took twenty arcminute to get what they needed before they could creep out through the blot out tunnel to Hogsmeade. It took half that sentence to make it to Le Mure. Gabriella was right, Harry would have been lost without her. It was bad enough trying to call up his French ; it was worse trying to envision out what hand gesture or facial expression went along with it. subterfuge, he could observe none of it, but Gabriella was nearly perfect. In fact, Harry began to wonder if she had known the way all along. Finally, knowing that Cho's apartment was just around the stop, the two decided to spend the night at a humble inn and wait until dawning. It was the showtime they'd been truly alone since the summer.

Harry offered to sleep on the floor, but Gabriella pulled him close to her. There was a passion to her tactual 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 possibility about Voldemort's cloak. Only when he touched on his training with the Centaurs, would she noticeably change the case. He fell asleep in her arms and woke the adjacent dawning the Lapp way. The sun was just breaking into the window as he stroked her long black hair, wondering with some fear what the future would bring.

After breakfast, they walked down the alley toward the small flat structure that the boniface had described to Gabriella. When they finally arrived, Harry covered himself with the invisibility cloak. Gabriella knocked at the door and the door opened, held unfold by an honest-to-goodness man with grey hair and a shopworn look on his face. There were introductions and Gabriella slipped inside. The door shut before Harry could follow. There was a moment of silence and then squeals of joy. Harry knew the sound ; Cho was inside. A few present moment later the man left, jingling coins in his scoop. Harry's plan had worked - Gabriella, handing the man a couple galleons, suggested he go to the corner pub for a bite and a beer or two. He wasn't to the sidewalk before there was a gingersnap and he had Disapparated. Then the muttering began ; louder, then softer, then louder again. Finally, Harry heard,"Don't be silly."A moment after that, the door opened and Gabriella ushered him inside.

All the while, Harry had seen the air of the two Brigham Young women and the erstwhile man. He watched as they moved back and Forth River, and as Gabriella hugged what he figured to be Cho. It had been the first time he had observed a Disapparation without his muckle and he noted with interest the sudden burst of energy that accompanied it. But Sir Thomas More than anything else his attention was focused on one affair above all - a dim cherry-red glow that glimmered from the vertebral column of the apartment. Through all the paries it could have been anything - a cat, a dog. But Harry knew, by how well its colouring blended with Cho's, what was there.

"Harry ?"Gabriella asked to the malarky before her. Cho stood only a few animal foot away. Harry sensed warmth combine with catch. As for himself, he could feel the sweat of his ribbon as he reached up and slipped off the cloak.

"Cho ?"he asked to the glowing before him. The aura didn't move, the person didn't speak, but the colour began to blanch almost immediately. Then her hand went to her look, covering her lip.

"Oh, Harry,"she croaked."Tony told me about the accident, about…"Slowly she walked over to him.

"This ?"Harry asked, holding his hand near his temples."It's null. Just a bit of drinking glass. surgery's scheduled for next month ; should experience me effective as new."Cho took his mitt and then touched his font.

"I'm so deplorable,"she whispered."I should feature come to visit."She took him in her arms and held him tight. He could feel her shakiness in his arms."I couldn't… I couldn't bear to see you again."

"Great,"Harry drawled."Always safe to get it on you're cerebration of kindly."

"Harry !"snapped Gabriella shortly. She took Cho gently by the arm and said,"Cho, can we come in and take in a sit ?"Cho loosened her grip on Harry and wiped her face with her hands.

"Oh, yes,"she said, sniffing,"of course."

The place was turgid than Harry expected, compared to what it looked like from the outside, 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 broom, the broom he bought her last twelvemonth, was propped up in the corner. Cho offered them some coffee, they accepted and together they sat at a modest table in the kitchen. There was a little talk of the town about the weather condition and shoal.

"Are your exams 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 great,"said Cho softly. There was an awkward silence, and then, finally, Harry could wait no longer.

"I heard… I heard you and, er, Tony were going to tie the knot… get married. I told Gab we should come by and find out when. Ask what you might need to, erm…"He looked around at the moth-eaten furniture."… spruce the place up."

"Soon,"answered Cho without hesitating."But we're not telling anyone until after the school class. Not even my family. They think I'm here studying art."

"I also heard,"continued Harry, not really listening to Cho's words,"that you two had a small fry ; a baby boy is it ?"Before Cho could serve Gabriella took her by the hired hand.

"It's so exciting, Cho !"she said joyfully."I'm sure you're a terrific mother. The baby is so lucky to have got two such wonderful 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 idea that he's redress through there, isn't he ?"He pointed to the rearwards room and swallowed."I think it's great that you and… er, Tony are doing the… er, right thing. It sure would be great, at least for Gabriella, to see him. Just a top ?"

"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 baby boy dressed in a little red jumper. He smiled and muttered a few sounds as she sat him in his electric chair, offering him a biscuit to chew on. The irksome fog of Harry's eyes were focused somewhere above the boy's head, but his mind's eye was captivated on the gold red glow before him. It was brilliant, almost blinding, and Harry wondered if the luminosity of the gleam was because he was a baby or something to a greater extent. The biscuit snapped out of Cho's paw and flew into the waiting clutch of the baby's.

"Look at that ! So soon ?"cooed Gabriella."He's just perfect."And then she began to blab baby talk to the child.

"Yes, he's pretty special,"answered Cho.

Harry could smell out that she was looking at him, centred on his reaction, but he was at a going. To know for sure he would give 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 reefer to see what it would do.

"Has he,"Harry began,"shown any former signs of magic ?"

"No. Not really,"answered Cho cautiously."But he can stand with avail 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 take,"said Gabriella,"that he's the splitting 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 showtime clock time Cho had laughed in quite some time. But then the feeling in Gabriella's voice changed.

"In fact, he doesn't tone much like a Goldstein at all. You're both so dark, and Jamie's cutis is so pale."

"He… he doesn't get out much,"said Cho, growing nervous.

"Cho, you know I love you like a babe. Don't you ?"Gabriella asked gently."Well, I think Harry has a right to bang. You see, he told me that you two kip together at Hogwarts - just once, on Hallowe'en. Caught in the heat of the moment, I guess."Gabriella took a breathing spell, gathering her speciality."I don't guardianship why it happened. And it doesn't bother me anymore that it happened. The fact is it happened… nine month before little Jamie here was born."

"Well—"

"Cho,"Gabriella interrupted."Harry may have his distrust, but he can't see what I can, and the oculus never lie. You and Anthony, you both have brown eyes. Both your parents each have brown heart. It would take a powerful wizard to bring on a boy with anything other than brownness centre and the magic would most certainly be to turn the gloss of the oculus to his own."Cho said nothing. Harry said nothing."It's true, Jamie is the splitting image of his beautiful mother. But the eyes… I think he has his Padre's eyes."Cho remained silent. Once again, Harry watched as her gloriole blanched.

"What do you stand for ?"asked Harry blindly. Gabriella took his mitt.

"They're light-green, Harry,"she said quietly."Prunus dulcis shaped and brilliantly commons. Just like yours."


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 15 - Another ceramist
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Beyond the babbling of the baby sitting beside Harry, there was silence. Perhaps, if one were to listen closely, the auditory sensation of a bird chirping or a distant bus creaking to a check could be heard, breaking the windlessness of the sunup. Then Cho's animal foot began to nervously tap against the side of the table. In front of Harry, she had been confronted by Gabriella with the trueness, but still she would not, or could not verbalize. Harry had known before they came to France that the child would be his, and though he had not heard the word of honor from Cho's lips, he wasn't about to turn angry ; it was hard enough not to show how frightened 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 waitress for Cho to be ready. He breathed deeply the odour of his coffee tree, took a sip, set the cup down and put out his fingerbreadth, with which the picayune boy began to bite toothlessly.

"Jamie ?"Harry said tenderly."I… I like that name."

He smiled and put his hand on the boy's drumhead.

"Oh, my. What a head teacher of hair ! Is it black ?"This unsubdivided question was purposefully directed at Cho. There was the beat of a pause before she answered.

"Yes,"she said quietly, with a bit of a crack cocaine in the word. Harry could hear her swallow.

"Thank Merlin he's got his female parent's looks,"Harry said with a chuckle. He took another sip of java.

"You'll see him one day, Harry,"said Gabriella with an encouraging flavor. Harry tilted his head down and shake off it slowly.

"I don't think so,"he said quietly, his sass still turned in a fragile smiling.

"What do you have in mind ?"asked Cho, surprised."Surely they can—"

"I was just examined by Madame Pomfrey,"interrupted Harry."The visual modality charms aren't knitting. There's still too very much glass."

"But couldn't they just—"

"There are dozens of tiny sherd - too many and too small to fell without vanishing pieces of my middle and if they summon them out they'll shred whatever healthy eye tissue that's left."Cho gasped.

"I… I didn't know. I thought—"

"No thing,"said Harry taking to his animal foot."I can see the fire in his soul, even if I can't see their colour of his eyes."He went to the coffee pot to pour himself one to a greater extent cup. On the way, he tripped on a lowly toy that had fallen on the storey and what liquid that was in his cup spilt.

"Woops,"said Harry. Cho stood to clean the spillway, but Harry had it off the earth nearly before it landed with a unsubdivided waving of his hand. Since losing his mass, his ability without a baton, abilities he rarely used in front of others, had strengthened. Without skipping a round, he poured himself another cup, but rather than turn he continued to face the cabinetry. Yes, he could see the flak in the boy's aura, but he would founder anything to feature his eyesight back… to see his child, his son. He began to tremble. For the showtime time in months he was cold with concern, and it wasn't fear of a Dementor or expiry Eater. It was fright for his nestling and his child's mother, fear for a futurity that was already so unsealed, so dark. It felt as if all the air in the elbow room was being sucked away.

"At least,"he said, holding the warm cup in his helping hand,"Anthony won't need to… to look into my eyes and marvel. I… I wouldn't want that."Cho stepped up behind Harry and placed her hired man on his shoulder.

"Anthony Goldstein, Ravenclaw Prefect at Hogwarts schooltime for witchcraft and Wizardry ?"asked Cho."He might be a bit lofty at times, but he's no tomfool, Harry. He knows."She turned Harry to face her."He's always known that… that Jamie is your son. He came up with the gens. Your f-father's name."She placed her deal at the side of Harry's face."He knew that too. I… I didn't."With these words, Cho began to cry. She held Harry by the nominal head of his shirt and pulled him close, sobbing into his chest of drawers. Gabriella left her chair and the three hugged for some time while Cho repeated over and over how sorry she was, and Harry repeated over and over that it was okay, that he was the one who was sorry. It was little Jamie who broke up the 3 as he began to cry.

"Oh… he's hungry,"said Cho blotting her eyes. She picked the boy up into her arms and ushered them all into the front room where the fireplace sat dusty, but the slightly tattered chairs were more comfortable. Even without the fire, Harry watched with curiosity the warmth that filled the room. He could tell she loved the boy deeply. Nor, was the emotion lost on Gabriella, sitting at Harry's side, who was gathering a glow herself as she took in the room's emotions of love. He took Gabriella's hand and for the offset time in a long time Harry tried to relax, letting the swirling fears of the future slice from his mind. It was Cho that started the conversation as Jamie continued to suckle.

"I wanted to proceed this arcanum, Harry - enigma from my parents, secret from my brother, secret from you. At beginning I was ashamed and then—"

"But—"

"Let me finish up,"asked Cho."I need to finish, or I may never be able to."Harry nodded."concluding yr you wanted to narrate me about Gabriella."Cho looked at Gab."He did so want to bear on me away, to assure me of the Muggle girl he had met back home."Her eyes returned to Harry."But I could see that, just under the tegument, there was a fire of desire and I… I wanted… my transgress 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 tinge of jaundice or sadness.

"I know that now,"answered Cho."Maybe I knew it then, at least that he wasn't in his right on judgement. I could have used a sheathing charm. I thought about it. I even reached for my verge before it happened Hallowe'en Night behind the Great Hall."Gabriella shot Harry a glance 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 speech production, Cho simply nodded.

"I was being stupefied. As if I could ever… And then, when I found out about Gabriella, when we actually spoke…."Cho smiled."I was so happy for you, Harry, and you were so sad."She sighed, shaking her fountainhead."So I hid it - I hid my pregnancy and I hid Jamie."She put the child over her shoulder and began to pat its spine."I thought that after You-Know-Who had been destroyed I could evidence you, but then I heard about the new war… that Malfoy's Death feeder were out to kill you. What would they do if they knew you had a son ?"She shook her forefront."This summer, I travelled to the United States with Anthony… Tony. One night, I fell asleep in his weapon system and when I woke up the future dawn the befuddling charm had warn off. I was pregnant for all to see. In that trice I panicked, horrified by what he might intend, what he might do, and in the next I felt Tony's touch, strong and caressing on my stomach. He stayed at my face and he's never left."Jamie let out a rather impressive burp and everyone smiled.

grinning, Cho held Jamie in her lap and said something in Formosan as she wiped the milk from his Chin.

"Tony's hired Chalmers"said Cho, referring to the guard that was probably now close to finishing his morning meal,"to look on over Jamie and I, while he finishes schooltime. It's costing him every Canute he has. Once we're married we'll qualify for benefits from the Ministry. They offer housing and, maybe, we can happen a gracious plaza to—"

"Benefits ?"spat Harry, his spinal column snapping unbending."From the Ministry ? You can't be serious ! You're not going to take a dime from the Ministry. As far as I'm concerned there all a gang of criminal !"

"Harry !"called Gabriella.

"fountainhead, Ron's dad. But the rest of the lot ? Crooks !"He took to his feet."And as far as support in Ministry housing… never ! I won't allow it."

"What do you mean you won't allow it ?"said Cho a bit heatedly."You have no say in the matter."Harry ignored her.

"You'll check at the castle. It's far enough away from what's happening… yes, you'll be safe there."

"We're condom here,"said Cho, standing herself, the infant held snugly in both arms.

"safe ! Are you kidding me !"cried Harry."What's his name… sleeping room ? He's a Death feeder !"

"Oh,"Cho chuckled,"now you're just being ludicrous. Chalmers wouldn't hurt a fly. He's only working for Tony because of the forgivingness in his heart. He hardly makes enough money to get by on."

"So he moonlights for Lucius Malfoy as a last Eater !"exclaimed Harry."At least he doesn't know that the boy is mine. Thank Merlin for that."Cho's face dropped with surprise at these words.

"How could you potential know that we haven't told him ?"she asked. Now Gabriella stood, stroked Jamie's cheek and took him in her own coat of arms, patting his spinal column as he rested against her shoulder.

"Because,"Gabriella said softly with a melodious voice as if she were singing to the child,"if Chalmers knew, Lucius would know. And if Lucius knew, his son would know."

"Draco ?"breathed Cho."I thought Dragon was…"Her vocalization quieted and she strode over to Harry and slapped him on the shoulder joint."You little liar. You looked me straight in the eye and told me he fell into the abyss."Harry turned his book binding.

"Don't you look away from me !"Cho yelled."Let me see your face."Harry acquiesced. When he faced her, any ire he felt evaporated and his shoulder slumped.

"This is pointless,"he breathed."He'll be back here any mo. Maybe he's a kindly old doddered just trying to make a dollar any way he can. Cho, you can't ask a chance."He placed his hands on her shoulder joint."I have money and it's my duty. Let me at least service pay the bank note until Antonius graduates. Let me at least chip in you a roof over your school principal where the fireplace works and you'll know you'll be safe."

"It's beautiful there,"added Gabriella."Green fields… azure seas… precious Hellene male child with bare chests."She winked and kissed Jamie on the head. Cho crossed her arms and walked over to the open 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 connect to the floo network ? I miss the family so, and we are going to recite them… after Tony graduates."

"That's one thing the Ministry can do,"said Harry, suddenly happy Cho was changing her mind."But you can narrate Tony later. First, we need to—"There was a snap and an instant later the front doorway opened. Gabriella motioned for Harry to blot out. He had just enough fourth dimension to flutter under his cloak and gather himself into the corner before Chalmers walked through the front doorway.

The elder man was too thin and not often taller than Cho. When he entered he took his coat off and hung it against the wall with a sticking appealingness.

"Beautiful day today, Miss Changjiang,"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 while since…"His face grew wistful, but then he shook his head."No matter."He slapped his workforce together and pulled his scepter."Let me clear these dishes for you."Harry stood silently against the wall as Chalmers walked with a bit of a limp into the kitchen. There was a distinct rhythm to the metre of his walk that Harry, two months ago, would not otherwise have noticed. It was then that Harry saw a change in Gabriella's nimbus ; something was damage.

"Oh,"said Chalmers with a tone of surprisal in his representative."Three cups. Did you have another visitor today ?"Without waiting for an response he levitated the dishes into the sink where the scrubbers began to wash them. Cho was block, but Gabriella stepped over without hesitation.

"Yes,"she said quite sedately,"a girlfriend of ours, also from Hogwarts. She had to leave early to get back for her afternoon exam."Chalmers nonchalantly straightened the president.

"well, you know how Mr. Goldstein feels about visitors, misfire Chang."He settled himself into one of the cushioned electric chair and began to unfold the newspaper, still scanning the room with the eyes."At least strangers."Harry could secernate that the old man was on guard, sensing something that was not right hand."Just tryin'to stay fresh 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 cause Chalmers to turn and look back into the far corner at the cracked and empty bulwark. Jamie babbled again and gave a light laugh. Chalmers smiled.

"wellspring, wee Jamie is happy enough to have guests."He held up the nominal head Sir Frederick Handley Page."What's your friend's name, missy ?"

"Hermione… Hermione farmer,"answered Gabriella. There was the slightest pause and she added,"And I should be on my way as well."She gave Cho a hug and kissed Jamie's cheek."Thanks so much for letting us visit. He's just adorable and you're a terrific mother."

"Thank you, Gabriella,"answered Cho, kissing Gab's cheek."I couldn't ask for a kinder, heater champion. Please come visit after the hymeneals. I think I'll flavour more well-off 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 rear window. We had discussed placing a sealing charm, but I wasn't sure if—"

"Yes, missy,"cut in Chalmers proudly."The whole star sign is sealed tight. No one can get in without license. It's a Bucinum charm."

"Oh honey,"said Gabriella."A Bucinum charm ?"Chalmers nodded his read/write head."I think a Trepidus appealingness would be safer."

"Trepidus charm ?"asked Chalmers blankly.

"Oh yes,"added Cho."A Trepidus charm would be ideal."

"Certainly,"continued Gabriella,"I mean, if person tries to interrupt in the Bucinum spell blows them up. That could harm the baby. Do you retrieve you could show me where you set the charms ? Together we can build the replacement."

"Oh, please do, Chalmers,"asked Cho pleadingly."Gabriella's a first 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."

"well, let's have a look around and see what we can do."Together, Chalmers and Gabriella made their way to the backbone of the mansion, leaving Cho and Jamie alone with Harry. Even as Harry moved toward the forepart door beneath his invisibility cloak, Jamie followed him with his gaze, pointing with his hand. Cho walked to the door and opened it.

"When… when do you get married Gold— Anthony ?"Harry asked.

"Christmas,"Cho answered. She tried to make the countersign sound 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 animation to protect me… and your son. He's honest, hardworking, and… and… and I'm marrying him on Christmas."Jamie wriggled in her arm, both hands outstretched toward Harry.

"You deserve to be felicitous,"said Harry quietly."You deserve ..."but Harry's language failed him."I'm so sorry."Cho ushered Harry outside to the forepart stoop and shut the threshold behind her. She lifted his cloak to reveal his grimace.

"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 brim, and then draped the cloak back over him."I'll ask him about your offer. He's a proud man, Harry, and a bit unregenerate. You should be able to appreciate that."

"I love you, Cho. If there's ever anything you need… anything at all, let me experience and it's yours. I'll see to it, I swear."Cho smiled, but her eyes were sad. Jamie began to suck up on his digit. The doorway opened and Gabriella appeared followed closely by Chalmers.

"Ah, here you are,"said Gabriella. The sun was affectionate on her face as she put her munition out and gave Gabriella a hug."The apartment is sealed tight."Cho took in a deep breath.

"commodity, thank you,"she said."I was just giving Jamie a little sun."

"Which he can get through the window, my beloved,"said Chalmers herding Cho back into the theatre."Now come inside."He seemed quite protective, but Harry wondered if it wasn't something more."A pleasance to contact you, Miss Darbinyan, was it ?"

"Yes, and a pleasure it was to meet you,"Gabriella replied."It's safe to see my friends in such fine hands. Cho, I'll be by before recollective with those natural endowment I promised."

"gift ?"Cho asked."Oh, yes, talent. Yes, yes, anytime. Be prophylactic ; there's a quiet blank space to Apparate just behind that gray building over there."They kissed bye-bye and Gabriella began to walk down the street, Harry at her side. Chalmers stood for some prison term after Cho had gone inside, watching from the stoup. Gabriella waved one last metre as she turned the niche out of sight. Harry was about to pluck off the cloak when she stopped him.

"hitch hidden,"Gabriella whispered."We're being followed."Harry spun and there behind the building they'd just passed were the air of two minor chassis. They hadn't been there a instant before.

"Did you see them ?"Harry asked."I didn't hear an Apparation."

"firm elves,"Gabriella whispered,"at least one of them. The other… I can't tell."

"But there weren't any house elves at the planetary house,"said Harry.

"I know,"she replied."They must belong to person else, or one's with its master."

"Who ?"

Gabriella just shrugged.

"How did he have it off your name ?"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 superhighway as me ? It was stupidity !"

"He'd have found out soon enough,"said Gabriella with a sigh as the two turned another corner. The street was deserted save for two Brigham Young son playing football near the end by a chain-link fencing. Gabriella pulled her sceptre. 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 bit later they found themselves on the streets of London, just outside of number twelve, Grimmauld Place. They waited to see if they might have been followed, then checked that the streets were crystallize. Finally, Harry uncloaked and walked up the steps to the door, knocking twice. The doorway opened of its own accord and the two walked in. There was a rustle, a thud, and then Sothis appeared atop the staircase wearing Boxer and a tee shirt. Wand drawn he pointed it blindly toward the room access.

"Freeze !"he screamed."Or I'll obliterate you !"

"I hope not,"answered Harry."I'm kinda hungry."

"Harry ?"Sothis said, blinking his eyes."Harry what the hell… Gabriella ?"Sirius made an attempt at slicking back his hair and started down the stairs.

"It's after noonday,"Harry said."Don't tell me you were still sleeping."

"I was up late last night. Remus finished grading papers and we— Hey, isn't your Potions exam today ?"Canicula'middle dead reckoning to the threshold."And why didn't you use the floo ? What's going on ?"

"Erm… can we eat first,"asked Harry.

"What,"shot Sirius in a singularly insistent spirit,"is… going… on ? !"

"Sothis,"said Gabriella softly,"I think it best if we sit down."

"You do, do you ?"snipped Dog Star, but Gabriella's black heart 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 blimp when Gabriella took his hand.

"Here,"she said softly,"let me do that. You sit with Harry."Sirius moved to the mesa and sat opposite his godson.

"well ?"Sirius queried."It's obvious something's afoot. ptyalize it out."Harry tried, but he couldn't take hold his godfather's gaze.

"I… I, erm…"He sucked in a with child gulping of air and exhaled."Igoterpregnant."

"What ?"Sirius asked."What was that ?"

"I… I got her pregnant."

"What !"Sirius stood and birl towards Gabriella."You're pregnant ?"Gabriella turned the sausages with her baton."How could you—"

"Let him finish,"she replied, floating three plates out onto the tabular array.

"Not Gabriella,"Harry said. Sirius turned back to face Harry."Cho… Cho Chang."Canicula fell back into his chairman.

"Are you sure ?"asked Sothis with a disbelieving tone."Because sometimes beldame can—"

"Oh,"cut in Gabriella sharply."He's sure."

"pigeon hawk,"he whispered, scratching his chin."Harry, you should know better."

"I know. I know I should eff better."

"And you,"Sirius said, turning back to Gabriella,"why are you here with this cheating trash if Cho's running around meaning ?"Expressionless, Gabriella placed the sausages on the home base and added some warmed beans.

"It was last year,"she answered sitting down and handing Sothis a fork.

"The baby was born in July,"said Harry."On my natal day. His name is Jamie."

Sirius'fork fell with a clank onto the plate, splattering red noodle onto his white-ish jersey.

"A b-boy ? Jamie ?"

"They're bread and butter in a wasteyard,"said Harry quickly,"and I can't have my son living like that. I won't have another Potter live with dust and spider, not as long as it's in my big businessman. So, I offered to have them stay at your rook. You know… until Anthony grad. pigeon hawk economise his somebody if he ever—"

"My palace ? Anthony ? Who's Anthony."

"Goldstein. Well Cho calls him Tone. How cheesy is that ? Anyhow, the affair is…."

It was well into the even before Harry had set Sirius straight on all the details, uncertain as they were. Sirius then began a speech that lasted for nearly thirty minutes and included a few references to Harry's parents. But when Harry began to poke into abstruse Sirius changed the depicted object. After venting about Harry's folly, he had agreed to take Anthony, Cho and Jamie in and assist in any way he could.

The sausages Cho cooked little Thomas More than a remembering, Sirius grew thirsty again and he convinced them to go to a Thai eating place that he had found just a few blocks away. When they arrived, Harry discovered that it was run by an old Muggle, but frequented by a number of enchantress and wizards. The periodic instant of magic that occurred never seemed to faze the old man. Sirius called him a savant, a Muggle in tune with the thaumaturgy of the natural man but possessing no skill his own. Harry was half-way through his Panang Curry when he realized that tonight he was to fulfill Ron and Hermione at the Ministry.

"The cloak,"he muttered suddenly to himself, before taking another sharpness.

"What's that, Harry ?"asked Sirius. Harry looked up into Sirius'eyes ; they were smiling. Harry's blindness didn't allow him to see that the creases that had once drawn the sides of Sirius'eyes down were now curling upward. But he could smell out the brightness of the aura in his godfather's expression. For a moment, Harry considered telling Sirius of their plans at the Ministry. Gabriella touched his hand.

"More tea ?"the waiter asked, and all three nodded. Harry continued to look toward Dog Star who was as felicitous as ever. The persuasion of asking Sirius to help them, particularly at the Ministry, curdled the curry in Harry's venter.

"I said I almost choked,"Harry said with a cough.

"You're eating too fast,"said Gabriella knowingly, rubbing his arm and smiling."It's not a race."

"Probably the curry,"said Sothis, taking another bite."It's a bit spicy tonight."

"Yeah… yeah that's it,"Harry answered. He wiped his mouth with his napkin and set it on the tabular array."Erm… Actually, I think I considerably be—"

"Harry,"interrupted Gabriella,"I have to go before it gets past midnight."

"Is it getting that previous ?"asked Sothis, his mouth one-half entire. Harry shot her a glance ; his mouth frowned. He didn't want her at the Ministry any more than he wanted Sirius. There were too many memories—bad memory board. Then she said something that surprised even Harry.

"I need to see Jamie,"she said,"just for a bit. I should have taken care of it this morn, but I forgot. I've not been in tune with the old ways for some time. Mama would be disappointed in me."Unconsciously, Harry began to rub the dragon mark that was emblazoned on his right forearm.

He remembered what Gabriella's mother, Soseh, had said at the end of last school yr."The blessing is inscribed on the Male of each contemporaries by the women of the coevals before. It will be Gabriella's duty to pass the blessing to your sons."Once it was clear that Harry would accept Jamie as his son, it was Gabriella's duty, by oath, that she pass to him the approval of Asha.

"The Votary,"Harry whispered quietly, staring down at the trough of yellowness and atomic number 79. Then his dull eyes looked toward hers."It's too dangerous,"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 Canicula.

"We were followed after we left Cho's apartment,"said Gabriella."But it makes no dispute. By honour, I have no choice. It must be done, and the sooner it's done the greater the major power of Jamie's blessing, of his protection. He'll need Asha's help in these times of darkness."

"You mentioned the Death Eater escort, but you didn't mention that you were followed,"said Dog Star, his eyes turning toward Harry with a more serious glare.

"Dragon said that Chalmers doesn't work nights, at least not for Goldstein. Sothis, you need to go with her, keep her condom. That way you can see Jamie and mountain pass on the news, maybe convince Cho to propel into the castle tonight while Chalmers is away."

"And you ?"Sothis asked.

"I'll just drumhead 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 unaffected barbeque supernumerary rib. He licked his backtalk and pushed his home plate forward.

"Very well, let's go."They paid and made their way outside and down the street, finding a more remote control back street often used by the visiting crone and genius to Apparate. Sirius took Harry by the arm and looked him in the center, but Harry turned away to look down the street as a car past times by.

"Straight to Hogwarts,"said Sirius sternly,"okeh, Harry ?"

"Straight to Hogwarts,"Harry agreed. Gabriella kissed him on the cheek.

"I can see your emotions roiling,"she whispered in his ear."Be vigilant and say, ‘ Hi !'to Ron and Hermione for me."She pulled her wand as did Sirius."Oh, and don't worry ; Jamie will be hunky-dory. I'll make for certain that no wickedness harms your child."Harry tried to muster a grinning.

"Did I ever tell you how much I loved you ?"he asked and then they kissed."I'll see you at school day in the cockcrow. Keep her condom, Sirius."There was a breeze and both Gabriella and Sirius had vanished. Harry focused his sight to another part of London and in the next mo 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 next.

"Stupefy !"The flak of red brightness hit Harry squarely in the chest, knocking him backward some ten to twenty feet, his scepter tumbling from his hired man."There, Harrington,"a vauntingly cloaked figure said with a rather blustery voice, picking up Harry's wand,"and you were about ready to wet your pants. He is a boy, after all."Still on his back Harry could sense them stepping toward him.

"I… am not… a… boy !"he rasped. This made the closest wizard gag, 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 mightily arm forward. Orange light erupted from the articulatio humeri down and extended out and beyond Harry's fingertips.

The front line of the Death eater's cloak looked as if a large sabre had just slashed across it, tearing cloth and flesh alike up and outward. Harry could finger the blood spatter his cheek. The destruction Eater screamed falling to his knee joint. Unsteadily, Harry stood. The unhurt place seemed to be spinning. He was dizzy and a gathering sensation of nausea was building inside.

"Accio scepter !"he cried, wrenching his wand from the Death Eater's compass and in to his own hand. Limping forward he yelled"BOY ?"Then he placed his wand on the forehead of his foe."BOY ?"Blood continued to trickle from beneath the crouching end Eater's rib and between the hands that clutched his bureau."Who do you function for ?"Harry asked, already knowing the solvent.

Harry had focused so much attention on the large Death Eater, he had neglected the smaller one that had retreated to the phantom.

"I said WHO - DO - YOU - WORK FOR !"Standing over his cowering dupe, it was then that he noticed the luminosity - mickle of lights. Five Sir Thomas More auras had Apparated ; he was surrounded. Seemingly emboldened by the new comer, the lowly Death feeder emerged from the shadows and held out his scepter.

"Expel—"There were three turn cast almost simultaneously that stopped the champion before he had a hazard to eat up.

"Stupefy !"“ Diffindo !"and Harry's shield good luck charm,"Contego !"

Only, Harry didn't need the shell charm… for himself. The for the first time spell came from one of the approaching auras Harry presumed to be more than Death eater. The bolt, not the strongest Harry had ever seen, knocked the pocket-sized magician backward, albeit only a few feet. Fearing for his life, and rightfully so, the diminutive last eater Disapparated. The second charm came from yet another aura, small yet intense. It was directed at the crippled wizard crouching before Harry. The result was frightful and instantaneous ; the decease Eater's head fell to the gravelled pavement and his trunk slumped forward, draining blood at Harry's feet, a boiling pond of light like lave erupting from a vent.

Harry spun to face the five thaumaturge approaching him, holding his wand high. Two showed hints of both red and green in their atmosphere as they drew nearer."Imperious condemnation ?"Harry wondered. And then a vocalism came to him that startled him more than that of the previous dying feeder.

"Bloody hell, James ! What in Merlin's name did you do that for ?"

The colour, the canter, the tone… Harry knew at once it was Ron Weasley.


Harry potter and the parturition of a New Sun

Chapter 16 - The Burden song
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"He was reaching for his wand,"said James, pointing at the decapitate decease feeder at Harry's substructure."He was going to kill Harry !"

"He was on his knees,"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 Mark Anthony Goldstein with a rather supercilious vocalization.

"Goldstein ?"asked Harry in surprise as the chemical group converged on him.

"Damn, Potter,"said Goldstein,"you're a bloody muss. And I do mean bloody. Scourgify !"The splutter covering the forepart of Harry's face, shirt and gasp vanished, though the pool on the paving remained."There, that's better."

"Who in Hades told Goldstein ?"cried Harry.

"Actually, Potter,"replied Goldstein,"I stumbled on this merry troupe as they tried to sneak out. Seemed like a upright DA mission.

"Are you kidding ?"snapped Harry, gazing at the gloriole of the man who'd be his son's father. There was a whiteness about it, but Harry was to kindle to consider it."You… you can't be here. It's too dangerous."

"Yes, I see that,"said Goldstein with a rather sarcastic tone. Gingerly, Harry stepped out of the blood, pooling at his foundation. Hermione ran over to him and hugged him.

"Who were they ?"she asked."cypher's supposed to bonk we're here."

"That's what I thought,"answered Harry."I was trying to get an answer when James here decided to play the butcher."Harry turned to the indorsement year."The next time I need your help Yangtze River, I'll ask for it."Harry sensed at once the angriness edifice within the belittled wizard, but then it subsided almost as quickly as it came.

"I… I was just trying too intemperately I guess,"answered James."It was scary."

"And why are you two,"Harry pointed to both St. James and St. Patrick,"here in the first gear place ? misstep across the troupe as well ?"He shot Ron a glance and wished he could convey center of death.

"Saint Patrick overheard our program and said he'd tell on if we didn't bring ‘ em along,"answered Ron."It was supposed to be placid ; I didn't figure we'd run into Death Eaters."

"If that's what they were,"said Harry, still holding his wand at the ready."They acted more like hired tough than Death Eaters."

The Night air was frigidness and quietly. He could sense the dampness of a slenderize mist wrap about his facial expression, sending shivers down his spine. For a bit he thought of Dementors, but the chilliness, this chilled clamminess was something else, something more visceral. The whispers of death were swirling ; somehow Harry knew that. And not for the man that had just been slain, the whispers were telling Harry that more than would soon get together the dead man at his feet. But who ?

"Goldstein,"Harry said suddenly,"Anthony, really you… you have to—"

"Well, we're here now,"said James."Dispatchio !"The dead wizard and the pool of blood beneath him vanished."Let's say we get in, get the cloak and get out before anymore… er, dark mavin show up. Wouldn't want Luci—"

"Where'd you learn that spell ?"queried Hermione."That's fifth year."James shrugged his shoulder.

"My babe I guess,"he said."She's the fresh one in the family."

"Yeah… I see,"said Harry, noticing James'aura slice from unripe to red then back from red to green. For the first time, he thought King James I might not really be an ally."Ron, maybe you should take—"

"James is good,"interrupted Anthony."Best if we get down into the Ministry before another dozen destruction Eaters Apparate in."

"But—"

"Harry,"interrupted Hermione,"let's just get downstairs. We can mouth then."Harry heaved a sigh and the group squeezed into the earphone cubicle. Ron said the password his founding father had told him and a silver orb appeared, scanning Ron in a ailing white Inner Light. Then, with a jar, the elevator began to plummet. Harry tried to look at Ron and suggest to the Melanerpes erythrocephalus that he should read Harry's mind, but his eyes were blank and Ron didn't recognize the facial grammatical construction as he once would have got. Harry silently cursed his blindness.

Harry's gist began to quicken. If the two second age were under the Imperious Curse, they were likely in Lucius Malfoy's control condition. He was feeling strongly like he wanted to wretch onto the polished marble floors just as the threshold opened onto the resplendent entrance hall of the Ministry of Magic. The six stepped out, wands drawn.

After only a few rate, they all saw where the cloak was to be displayed - it was obvious. A large ice case had already been erected. On a perch was the torso of a mannequin and next to that a gilt statue of Harry with his verge drawn. They all stepped secretive. There was no cloak, but there was a plaque. It read,"This internet site commemorates the defeat of the Dark Wizard Voldemort by the K ace Harry thrower, Order of pigeon hawk, First social class, who faced his foe wand-to-wand and struck him down."
"rules of order of Falco columbarius ?"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 darkness cloak, no proceeds of Voldemort, no ceremony. Ron, do you have any melodic theme where—"

There was a resonance coming from down the Granville Stanley Hall and a faint glow that was growing nearer. It sounded as if someone were humming. The group began to tear back, away from the showing case ; all, that is, except James. Harry went to catch 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 tell me for sure, not even Gabriella."Harry held more tightly to Jesse James'robes and began to tear him bodily across the trading floor.

"James,"Harry said, huffing between his tooth,"there are some things you can't believe. first base, never consider a word Trelawney says unless she sounds like a goblin on fire whiskey. arcsecond, never believe a parole written in the Dailey Prophet, unless it's written by Luna Lovegood. And finally, never… ever believe anything the Ministry says - ever !"He continued dragging Epistle of James by the back of his collar until they were hidden between two marble tower.

"Bold Book, Harry,"continued James River passively."But I never believed you could bunk God Almighty Voldemort wand-to-wand. Tell me, is there still a component of the Dark Lord that courses through your vein ? That could be useful, if—"

"Shhh."All was silent, save for the occasional crack ember from one of the fireplaces that surrounded the grand entrance hall and the humming that was growing louder by the minute. Again Harry tried to gather Ron's attention, but he was busy whispering something in Hermione's ear as they clung together behind a suit of armor opposite the Fountain of Magical comrade. At another pillar just behind Harry and James IV, Patrick and Mark Antony crouched. The whisper of death were growing louder. So flash, in fact, that Harry turned to see if perhaps a ghost or something more were at his powerful side. Only King James I was there, kneeling quietly on the storey.

The promiscuous grew brighter and then the beldam appeared. Harry could make out her gloriole, a shimmering amber, but not her features at this distance. In nominal head of her was a cloak levitated some two invertebrate foot off the terra firma. She was approaching the display subject when St. James the Apostle began to wriggle under Harry's hand.

"Hold still,"he whispered, but the marble wall took in the auditory sensation, repeat them about, amplifying the dissonance such that it was audible to the enchantress at the presentation case. Harry noticed the faltering. He expected her to release, but she did not. Instead, she levitated the cloak onto the torso within the presentation font and closed the glass door. She cast a good luck charm with her wand and then turned as if to leave. In turning, she revealed her face to the others, but Harry was still unable to discern who the witch was. From the swoon gasp from across the hall it was light that Hermione, for one, knew who it was. The witch stepped toward the fountain and took something out of her scoop, perhaps a coin, Harry couldn't tell. In a motion that was as graceful and as wiliness as any Harry had ever seen, she flipped the object into the fountain. It spin out high into the air and, just as it crested in its arc, her other hand pointed her verge toward it and cast the tour.

"Immobulus !"Harry recognized the vocalization at once ; it was mollie Weasley, Ron's mother.

Half of the light leaving her verge passed the coin cleanly and struck the witch and wizard by the suit of armour. The early half, however, glinted off the coin, reflecting toward and blasting the two wizards next to the pillar behind Harry. With one spell she had immobilized Ron, Hermione, Anthony and Patrick. Again, James wriggled under Harry's grasp and again Harry held him fast.

"I know you're there,"Mrs Weasley said with a voice that held no fear."I'm afraid it's well after hours. If you're lost, I'm for sure I can help you find oneself your way. descend out from behind the tower and let's see where you belong. Shall we ?"

Again James pushed against the weight unit of Harry who was pressing him difficult against the marble floor. Finally, Harry had had enough. He couldn't risk what James might do.

"Incarcerous !"he called. Ropes sprung from his wand and began to enwrap themselves about Epistle of James.

"Sectumsempra !"cried St. James the Apostle, slashing the rophy with his verge and pushing Harry away. Then he pointed his wand at Mrs. Weasley."Avada Ked— !"
"Stupefy !"she called, her while interrupting the boy's. The red light nearly struck James who deflected it at the last moment, sending the balance beam into the roof above, showering them all with composition of marble and splinters of walnut. This was no instant yr mavin.

Harry jumped to his infantry and cast his own stunning trance, but again King James I deflected it. It was then that mollie Weasley noticed who he was.

"Harry ?"she called.

"hide, Mrs Weasley !"he cried in return."hide !"

James IV cast a jet of red Christ Within Harry's way. Harry focused on where he needed to be—out of the beam's path. Suddenly, everything slowed and he found himself running to the right, toward the fountain, just as the bolt of red passed his left elbow joint. James IV smiled.

"Impressssive, Harry,"St. James the Apostle hissed in a much higher, colder representative, a voice that shook Harry to the nucleus. It couldn't be."You've learned well from the Centaurs. I did as well ; although I suspect my method of extracting the knowledge I required were somewhat different than yours."There was another thunderbolt, green, and again Harry disappeared and reappeared into another component part of the marvellous Hall.

"Diffindo !"called Mrs Weasley. Her magic spell struck William James on the get out berm, leaving a nasty cut. James II spun on the enchantress.

"Avada Kedavra !"

This clip the unripe lighting sailed toward mollie Weasley. Harry began to hover a marble bench into the beam's track, but quickly realized the terrace was too clayey and would not locomote fast enough. Instead he ran, slowing time and bending the space between them tightly together. He grabbed her by the shoulder joint and pushed her to the ground just as the blast past the pair, smashing into the wall behind and showering them with dust and rock candy. Harry landed on his vertebral column as Mrs. Weasley landed on top of him, knocking the air out of his chest.

"Harry,"she said sternly as only a female parent 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 short breath of air."In… James."Without questioning further, Mrs. Weasley's back went rigid and she rose to face James, to face up Voldemort.

"Nooo,"Harry rasped, struggling to sit up, but barely able. She ignored his beckon and faced the small-scale boy now standing only a few groundwork in front of her.

"Leave the boy, Voldemort,"she commanded, brandishing her scepter."He can't possibly be of any use to you, now we know the truth."

"Truth ?"queried James as his eyes shot toward the dark cloak still protected behind the sealed glass. Harry rose to his knee, trying to lend air back into his lungs."The truth is that there are only two affair in this room I want… and you're not one of them."His wand rose in unison with Harry's, only Harry was ineffectual to puff the spell.

"Avada Kedavra !"

Placing himself between Mrs. Weasley and Voldemort, Harry tried to rise up in front of the jet of immature but the killing hex would win the race this time ; he knew that. For her part, Molly Weasley cast a shell charm about them both, hoping to deflect the piece, but they all knew it wouldn't work. In her shoemaker's last instant of life-time her helping hand gripped Harry by the shoulders and she cast a glance down into his screen oculus, a glance that held love and compassion, a glance that was filled with business concern not for herself but for the boy before her… a glance he couldn't see. She fell dead to the floor.

"NO !"cried Harry as he spun and draw another slashing turn against James who deflected it with ease."You're being controlled, King James ! Fight back !"James only laughed.

"YOU stood face-to-face with the Great Dark Lord Voldemort and defeated him ?"James mocked."What a antic !"

With Mrs. Weasley dead, the spell she cast on the other four wizards began to outwear off. Slowly, they were coming to there signified, working to regain control condition of their motions. St. James walked over to a groaning St. Patrick who was still prone on the level. He grabbed Patrick's hair and pulled his point off the ground.

"This one here,"called James, his voice echoing off the wall,"thinks of you as a brother, thrower. He'd sooner die than see you follow to harm. Yet he's betrayed you at my every command. Shall I kill him side by side ?"

"Expelliarmus !"Harry cried, but once again James deflected the spell.

"haven't you figured it out yet, Potter ? Even with the accomplishment of the Centaurs, you're as slow as your dead parents. Nonetheless, you could be utilitarian ; the Malfoy boy suggested as a great deal. I heard, perhaps, he's not as stagnant as everyone thinks."He released Patrick whose oral sex cracked against the rock floor. But instead of striking at Harry, James River held his baton to the Methedrine display pillow slip."Diffindo !"The blast of swooning struck the glass, but held house as if swallowing the energy of the blast, the glass began to burn. For the showtime time, the smile on James Chang's face disappeared."Diffindo !"he called again, and again the energy was absorbed and the chalk grew brighter still.

"You've defeat your only chance for opening the case,"Harry sneered."But then… I always heard that that was one of your greatest weaknesses… TOM… being stupid !"

Another fire of get down shot toward Harry ; it was red not green, not a killing curse. Once more, Harry slipped out of its way. This time he moved quickly around and behind James reappearing with his wand drawn.

"Stupefy !"Harry cried, sending a blast of red at James'back, but again the wizard deflected the spell as if swatting a fly and then turned back toward the display case."You're not trying to bolt down me, Tom. Why not ?"

"I'll kill you sssoon enough,"James slithered."First, the cloak. Then, I need to take out something of mine that you stole from me when you were a babe. Soon, I will be—"Suddenly two More piece came from beyond the fountain. Ron and Hermione had revived themselves enough to contend, but barely.

"No ! Get out of here !"Harry screamed."It's Voldemort ! Run !"

"I don't have time for this,"cried James, sending three more flak of Christ Within at the chalk case. On the third dash the ice cracked, but only just. Harry could enjoin that the spells that James had cast over the last few minutes were draining him. He looked tired, almost vulnerable. At the same moment the fervour ringing the one thousand Asaph Hall roared to living.

"Finally,"Harry whispered,"some help."ace after wizard appeared at each hearth, brandishing their sceptre."Whatever time you thought you had has just expired, Tom."

The way erupted in red light. seven-spot blasts came at the small wizard by the show case. Two struck true while the others struck the glowing drinking glass, shattering it completely. The large glass shard that scattered the floor, however, were still glowing as brightly as ever. There were More blasts of red directed at Harry.

"It's me !"he yelled."Harry ceramicist !"

"Harry !"cried Hermione from the far incline of the antechamber."It's not the Ministry ! It's—"A blast of red dropped her to the terra firma.

"Hermione !"cried Ron."He cast a tour knocking the champion by Hermione backward into the bulwark with a loud cleft. He pointed towards another wizard and ran at him."leave of absence her alone, you bloody—"There was a blast of purpleness and he too fell to the trading floor.

"We're students !"Harry yelled, but it only focused the attention of another barrage of red thunderbolt his way. Harry cast a shield spell and sent them flying in every conceivable management. The blasts weakened him."Are you unhinged ? ! We're—"And then he noticed it - the unmistakably bright emerald unripened aura of Draco Malfoy, stepping from the fire of one of the fireplaces. He had warned Harry and now it was too of late.

Simultaneously, ropes began to swirl about Ron, Hermione, Patrick, and to the highest degree importantly William James who was still motionless on the storey. Somehow Anthony had managed an escape and stood at Harry's side. There were nearly a dozen dying feeder moving in on them.

"necessitate the cloak, Draco,"drawled a tall adept in dark Joseph Black gown with crimson lining.

"Lucius ?"Harry sneered in the wizard's counselling."Is that you ? I should give known by the sickening yellowed colour."The adept said nothing, trying to ignore Harry."Now that I'm blind, you're much better looking in — strike that. No you're not. You're still as much a pig as you always were. Still, somehow… missing an arm courting you. How'd you lose it again ?"The goading worked.

"Big news for a unsighted boy, ceramicist,"he snapped.

"Now, now… peg and stones…. But then I guess six months with Dementors and dullards will curdle anyone's colloquial capabilities."Harry could see that Draco was moving over the glowing glass and into the case to call back the robe. Harry turned to face 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 body. The colour of his glory blanched."I gave specific ordering ! Who cast a killing curse ?"Harry could tell immediately that Draco was livid.

"gathering the cloak !"yelled Lucius.

"But father—"

"NOW !"

"Don't do it !"yelled Harry.

Draco moved forward toward the casing. Suddenly, the shattered glass that was still glowing with the Energy Department it had absorbed exploded in a brilliant white flash. Draco flew up into the air, nearly striking the ceiling, and then landed with a sickening crunch against the marble floor.

"Draco !"cried Lucius. Goldstein took the beguilement as his opportunity. His wand erupted with bright blue lighting, but instead of being directed at one of the dying Eaters, it was directed toward one of the portrait hanging high on the paries of the grand hall. The portrait sparked, zapping the elderly wizard that had, so far, slept through the ruckus.

"Hey,"the hotshot in the portrait yelped."No need for—"

"Get help you idiot !"yelled Goldstein. The wizard in the portraiture, seeing the destruction, disappeared instantly."It won't be long now,"Goldstein muttered, staring at the abandon portrayal.

There was another burst of spells headed at the two wizards and together they fended them off, but Harry was growing feeble by the consequence. Lucius ignored Goldstein's call option for aid, he ignored the engagement of baton, and he ignored the crinkle mass on the floor that was his son. Instead, unwilling to relate it himself, he pointed to the cloak that was still standing in the windowless display case.

"The cloak !"he yelled again. After some disinclination, another Death Eater approached the black material and grabbed it just as St. James the Apostle, still bound by ropes, began to come to his senses. With lust-filled eyes, Lucius only half glanced at Draco, still motionless on the floor, lineage dripping from the corner of his mouth. Instead, he focused fully on the black robes held before him.

"Luciusss,"uttered James breathlessly,"you fool."

Malfoy wrenched the fabric out of the demise Eater's custody. Quickly, he slipped it on and waited as if anticipating something to bump.

"You expected, maybe, a coronation ?"Harry sneered."Perhaps a crown and Sarracenia flava as we all bow down to kiss your ass ? It's a stupid person piece of cloth !"

"Kill him,"Malfoy drawled, pointing with his good arm toward Harry."KILL HIM !"Harry grabbed Anthony by the arm as the thunderbolt of green approached and in an split second they were on the other position of the resplendent residence hall that now appeared more like a war zone than the collector's item of the Ministry. Looking back, they saw that the spot where they once stood was nothing now but a crater. Goldstein grabbed Harry's arm.

"How did you do—"

"You are NOT going to lack the nuptials,"Harry snapped. He took in a deeply breath, reaching out with his brain to cull any magic he could from the world around him. He let out a long, slow exhale and pointed his baton at the flooring.

"Festio !"he cried, ripping dozens of marble tiles upward and sending them toward his antagonist. The Death Eaters tried to shatter the tiles with spells, but the natural action only served to create thousands of tiny projectile all headed in their direction. A few cast shell magic spell in time, but most were struck. Above the din of riot, Harry could get a line King James cursing Lucius.

"Release me, you idiot ! Release me now."But Malfoy, ignorant of St. James'true personal identity, ignored the boy's pleadings. He had what he came for and was beginning to walk toward his son when snaps began to fill the elbow room. Auror after Auror was Apparating within the noble-minded antechamber. In an minute, piece were flying everywhere. clap after blast of visible light, cutting down wizard after hotshot, beldam after witch. The elbow room was filled with emit mayhem and Harry, his shoulders slumped with weariness, moved to infix the fray. Before Harry could take a wide-cut step, Goldstein grabbed him by the shoulder.

"You're no full to anybody stagnant,"he whispered."We need you, Harry. Me… I'm not much More than canon fodder."And then he charged forward ahead of Harry, taking down two Death Eaters before he too was stunned and fell to the ground. It was then that Harry noticed James. He was beginning to fall away gratis of the adhesiveness that held him. Lucius, on the other paw, had abandoned everyone, including his son, and was racing to the floo. A bolt of Orange River Inner Light struck the wall behind Harry, casting Edward Durell Stone and dust down his back. Lucius was about gear up to escape. Harry focused on where he needed to be and before Lucius had taken another stair, Harry was standing in front of him, blocking the entrance to the hearth.

"Silencio !"Harry whispered, holding his mitt between the cloak's folds of black textile and directly against Malfoy's chest. The wizard tried to couch a piece, but was mute."Now, what with the sporty arm and all… that's what I call an improvement. You should retrieve to button up before you step out, Lucius. Now, take on off the cloak before I blast it off."Malfoy's eyes glowed with pure hatred and he raised his scepter."Expelliarmus !"Harry whispered again and Malfoy's wand flew from his hand. There was an expression of surprise in Malfoy's eyes 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 floor. It was then that Harry noticed that James had freed himself and now, forgoing the use of a baton, had his hands around Malfoy's throat, squeezing… squeeze. He was in a fury of pure hatred and ire.

"Do you know who I am ?"cried Saint James the Apostle."Look into my eyes !"

Lucius, even Harry, saw the flaming of red light in James'eyes.

"N-Not pos-sible,"he gasped, ineffective to pass off."D-Dead."Then the full realization struck him."I-I never knew."

"You know now,"James spat between gritted teeth."And now is sssoon enough."A eruption of red light came from the far wall and struck James in the slope, but before he released his travelling bag on Lucius, a non-white caustic smoke issued from his oral fissure and nostrils. To Harry, it was a stream of jet evil leaving the red behind. James'grip on Lucius released and the blond virtuoso gasped for air, but instead of air he sucked in aught but locoweed. Voldemort had penetrated him. Stunned, Harry saw the green surround the yellow and snuff it out. Lucius took to his fundament as a clap of red struck him in the back. zip happened. It bounced off him, off the cloak he was wearing, like water off a duck's egg's back. Before Harry could react, Lucius, Voldemort and the cloak had vanished in a whirl of green flame.

There were a couple Thomas More fire, a mates more snaps, and a couple more screams of hurting, but finally the room fell silent. Only the sound of rock scraping against the flooring, as the remaining Aurors stepped across the debris, broke the silence.

"Minister, over here. It's your… over here, sir. Please."For the first clip, Harry realized that Arthur Weasley had been among the Aurors that had come to protect the Ministry. He watched as the ace walked toward the shatter display suit, 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 dull thud.

"molly ?"he uttered as if trying to gently awaken individual from a deep quietus."molly,"he said again only louder."molly !"He grabbed his wife in his arms, pulling her up out of the rubble ; pebbles cascaded to the floor."Oh my god, no. No… no… no… no… NOOO !"he screamed. The luxurious hall rumbled, shaking mortar loose from the walls onto the level below as Mr. Weasley buried his head into the nook of his wife's neck. He continued to heave big sobs as Harry looked down at James II, prone on the level, implements of war outstretched toward the open fireplace. The jet was gone ; only blueness remained, but the light was weakly and flickered. He was near death. The irregular class began to maturate, slowly looking up to determine Harry.

"H-Harry ? H-Help… I… I can't…."And he collapsed to the storey. Harry looked around at the destruction. James was not the only one near death. Instinctively, he pulled his wand to summon the bosom of Asha, but before he could throw up the spell, snap after snap began to fill the manse ; therapist were appearing. In a issue of second base nearly a dozen healer had Apparated into the Ministry. One, an senior sorcerer with bushy gabardine hair, was at Saint James'side almost instantly. Scanning the boy with his baton he turned to Harry.

"You're the potter boy, aren't you ?"Without waiting for an answer he said quickly,"Tell me, was it a stunner ? Because I'm not detecting any—"

"He was possessed by Voldemort,"Harry cut in. The Healer cringed, looking up at Harry with unbelief.

"look son,"he said derisively,"you shouldn't go around—"

"shit it !"Harry screamed."His intent's been sundered ! It probably has been all yr. Voldemort just left him to take on another host. If you don't hastiness, he'll die."For only a indorse, the healer tried to read the saying of Harry's case. He was old enough to know what Harry meant. He remembered the old war and he didn't need to be told twice. Without saying another word, the therapist rose to his feet and a photoflash of tremendous purpleness igniter left his wand bathing James in its luminescence from drumhead to toe.

Harry stepped back, twisting his articulatio talocruralis on a rock beneath his pes. He cursed. former than the hoi polloi swarming about the hall, it was hard to make anything out. His visual modality was truly failing him in the rocky passel. He could see Mr. Weasley and heard his breathlessness, and tried to pick his way through the detritus as Auror and healer alike seemed to drop dead 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 chase after Lucius, after Voldemort… he needed to —"

"Minister !"person cried out."parson ! It's your son !"Harry turned his attention on a glow that lay prone on the floor near an Auror's understructure.

"My god, Sir Henry Percy ? !"cried Mr. Weasley still reeling from the loss of his married woman.

"No, sir,"the Auror replied."It's your immature boy, Ron. Looks like a looker is all."

"That's not possible,"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 compensate arm was starting to prickle with pain."Voldemort's back."

"What ?"

"A Horcrux,"Harry whispered nonsensically, stumbling closer to Mr. Malfoy and rubbing his rectify forearm with his left manus. 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 avail. It's the Malfoy boy. What's his public figure, genus Draco ?"

"I thought he was abruptly ?"the old man called back. The younger Healer looked down at Dragon and then back up.

"fountainhead, if he wasn't before—"

"You knew ?"asked Mr. Weasley, his voice sceptical. Gently he kissed his married woman's cheek and lowered her to the floor."You knew they were coming ?"

Harry was feeling dazed. He looked toward Draco, toward Arthur Weasley. His aright arm was aching. He had reached Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and his heart began to go under further.

"No one was supposed to be here,"Harry said thinly, his spokesperson hoarse with regret."I just wanted to destroy the cloak before… before…"Mr. Weasley rose to his pes.

"She loved you like a son !"he yelled and slapped Harry hard across the boldness."AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY HER !"

The gust knocked Harry backwards and he slipped on the loose stones that scattered the floor. Rising to one elbow he could smack the blood that was dripping from his cut lip, and then he noticed his correctly forearm - it was glowing. A reduce etch of a rune had appeared, the Viswa Vajra. Harry had always wondered when it would happen, in what personal 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 parson of conjuring trick who had loved Harry as his own son was demanding answer, response Harry desperately wanted to make. Draco and James lay near end, and Harry had it in his power to easily redeem them both. Voldemort had escaped with a new dead body and another piece of his psyche, and Harry anxiously needed to chase after them - the Wizarding World was again at risk. Once more, death began to whisper in his ear and he began to shiver.

In bitchiness of that, none of it mattered. He had sworn an oath ; it was a core all members of the Votary carried. He was being summoned and so, clutching his wand, he focused on where he needed to be. He felt a balmy touch on his shoulder and heard Hermione yell his epithet. He looked up at her, wishing he could convey the gloominess weighing on his psyche.

"Harry…"

He was gone.


Harry thrower and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 17 - The Summoning
~~~***~~~

When Dakhil left Harry at the stone steps leading to the presence doors of Hogwarts Castle, Harry had pleaded that he too fight the onslaught of Dementors and Death eater raging against Dakhil's homeland in the Carpathian Mountains. The vampire should have been gone for only a few Day, but it had been weeks 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 trouble that the several European Ministries were having trying to mask the numerous atrocities as natural disasters. more worrying was that Antreas had left shortly after Dakhil and had not been heard from since. Everyone who had left to fight seemed to vaporize into a gravid vortex of nothingness.

Before he disappeared, Dakhil had told Harry that his job was to protect Hogwarts, to protect the Centaurs of the Great Forest from a swarthiness within the school day. Harry brushed the notion of darkness inside the castle rampart aside, believing it was a backhanded affront toward Harry, but now he was paying for it. Maybe that's why they were summoning him, he had failed in his one delegation. Voldemort had not only escaped, but he had captured his Horcrux and was ready to pass to major power. Or was he ?

Voldemort had said he needed only two thing in the grand hall of the Ministry - his old black cloak and Harry. He had asked earlier if there was still theatrical role of the Dark Creator that coursed through Harry's veins. What James, what Voldemort didn't know was that the darkness, Voldemort's spot, had been washed away by the cleansing of the dusk in the Great forest. Perhaps, Voldemort was too weak without this other part of himself, perhaps—

It was hot, painfully hot - the first matter Harry noticed when he finally appeared at the summoning website - hot and dark. Not glum in the sentience that there was no faint, although it was that too ; a want of lightsome wouldn't topic to a unsighted man. No, it was dark in the common sense that Harry saw aught. There was no lifetime here, no life in any focus, just high temperature, an intense, blistering heating system that appeared, to Harry, like a dull haze as he looked to the dark sky and saw Ebyrth shining as bright as ever.

He had been able to Apparate across the groove. From there he had tried once more, but couldn't make it across Germany. He was drained, ineffective to swan another patch, and the prolificacy of the earth's energy, normally bountiful in this area, was parched like an arid desert. There was nothing for Harry to draw on to refill what wizardly energy he could cast. Instead, he used the powers of the centaur to bend space and slow down clip, and he ran. He ran until his shoe wore through and fell away ; he ran over rivers that supported his system of weights as if they were frozen solid ; he ran past flying fowl that hovered in the air like floating balloons. He ran for what felt like Day, stopping only to drink from the occasional stream or creek. At one stage, just international Vienna, he had grabbed one-half of a sandwich from the hired man of a passer-by who might as well have been a statue frozen in meter. His stage ached, his lungs wanted to burst and all he could take heed was the voice of Ronan compelling him forward, not to meet the outcry of the Centaur, but to serve the summoning of the dragon.

By the time he had begun the terminal ascending, his mind was blurred with tiredness. He had paid no observation to the mountain he had been climbing. Sweat burning his screen centre, he had ignored the screams and the attack through which he had past. He didn't see the transition from life to destruction. He only knew one matter - the summoning web site. He would not miscarry again, even as the lowest drops of durability left his being.

This… this was the spot ; he was sure. Huge gulping of air splashed down his burning lungs unable to quench his hunger for atomic number 8. His bare ft burned. Almost forgetfully, he held out his verge, script shaking from exhaustion and intellect knowing that he would not be capable to couch a spell even if he wanted to. Sweat dripped down his forehead ; the heat was unbearable. He stood for a moment, wand outstretched, squinting with flunk eyes into the wickedness. Merlin, it was hot. He moved to take a measure forward, an sulphurous olfactory perception filling his nostrils, when his left leg cramped and he fell cheek first hard into the stony land. He didn't have the energy to pull away from the scorching stone, nor could he spit out the sand and petite pebbles that filled his oral fissure and burned his spit.

"Maybe,"he thought,"if I rest for just—"He passed out, dropping his wand at his side.

Unconscious on the sweltering world, whirl of sens and Light Within coalesced in his mind forming a scene of darkness and despair. Even in his dreaming the smell of burning physical body was unbearable. Yet, in his dream he could see - his vision, his sight was as good as ever. The smoke and the odor cleared and he found himself at the falls, the declination where Gabriella lay face down in the tall gage, an arrow sunk deep into her binding. In the air was sadness. No… more than sorrowfulness - there was anger. It was Ron, screaming, screaming….

"NOOOOOOO !"

The earthly concern shook.

"payoff him ! Take him now ! Hurry !"

The aspect changed. He was flying… flying in the air. Bounce. On a Hippogriff. Bounce. Harry felt a jarring painfulness against the side of his ribs. He blinked. The blindness had returned, but he could smell out that there was a light beneath him. Bounce. A mortal.

"Hurry !"

The voice… he knew that vocalization. The darkness was clearing from his mind. He was waking. He was being carried. A mathematical group of five was climbing up the side of the lot. One had Harry over his shoulder. Weakly, Harry began to struggle to disembarrass 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 lease a flavour at the burning. Praise Asha you're a phallus of the Votary, or you'd be dead."

"An-Antreas ?"Harry muttered. He hadn't heard the part of Gabriella's brother since the summertime, but there was still no mistaking the undeniable intonation that was the accurate replica of Antreas'father, Grigor."What… What's going on ?"

"There will be fourth dimension for answers later !"cried another phonation."Run !"Harry knew at once the former man speaking. He also recognized the aura ; it was Dakhil. Troubling was the sense of concern, even fright in Dakhil's voice. He'd never heard that before, even when they were being attacked by vampire finally summer. What was more troubling, however, was something that had bothered Harry since his last example with Ronan, something he had seen in Dakhil ever since the vampire first taught him to see without seeing. The gloriole of Dakhil faded from red to purpurate and punt to red again. There were two personas present in his aura. For the first time since he'd arrived at the lot of Singehorn, Harry felt cold.

They continued to hotfoot up the peck. Occasionally, Dakhil or one of the others would hurtle piece 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 trance cast in retort. Soon, he began to discover trees, vegetation, life. After a few minutes more, the ring came to a large pit wall. One of the men cast a spell and an entrance appeared. They passed through and the opening in the stone sealed behind them. The entire troupe sighed with relief once they entered the compound.

"What… what's going on ?"Harry asked weakly."Where are we ? Who were you firing at ? What— ?"

"Slow down. Slow down,"cut in Antreas."Let me see your face."Antreas lifted Harry's chin up and examined the left side, the same face that fell unconscious into the scorching Earth. He reached up and pulled the glasses from Harry's face, glasses he continued to have on in the Bob Hope, or perhaps as a symbol to others, that one day he might see again. There was an unmistakable tearing sound, and Harry could feel the plastic rims pull away from the pelt on his typeface. When he reached to have the glasses out of Antreas'hand, he could tell that the left half of the frame was nearly melted away. He didn't want to think what his human face must look like. It didn't hurt. Harry moved to rival it but Antreas grabbed his hand.

"No !"he snapped, half trying to quell the distress in his own voice. He chuckled, but not convincingly."It… it's zippo, Harry. It's just best if you don't—"

"See that he has his own Healer's tent at once !"ordered Dakhil to one of the other men that were in the radical. The man began to slowly limp away."rushing,"Dakhil yelled."Hurry before there's nix left hand of his aspect to put back together !"If Antreas had tried to calm 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 chemical compound."assist deport the boy into the cave. I won't suffer another one tonight !"

With Antreas'assist, they carried Harry further up the mountain. Dakhil followed, but was unwilling to assist. Typical, Harry thought. There was a minor outcrop of rocks off to the face and they turned toward it as Dakhil continued upward. Antreas stopped.

"If Singehorn is unable to call the others in clock time,"he said,"we'll have to get off for the centaur you spoke of."

"You were brave today, my son,"said Dakhil warmly."It is solve your father is with you. Your mother would be majestic. Keep the boy safe 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 prognosticate for our friends, not tonight."He sighed with a mystifying mournful breathing place."Still we must stay with the plan ; it's our only Hope. more than may arrive before the moon's rise tomorrow."

Facing a stone wall, one of the men carrying Harry said something in a words he thought might be Russian and again an archway appeared where before was only rock and stone. Just before the careen 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 munition,"replied Dakhil, just as the stone archway sealed the shut inside.

"Crazy,"said the Russian, referring to Dakhil."He'll kill us all."There was a sceptre at his neck in an instant ; it was Antreas ’. Harry felt like he was about to be dropped.

"There are so many injured here,"said Antreas with a inflame phonation,"I'm surely no one would miss you. The next time you speak of the Votary, take precaution to choose the news carefully. I may have to excise the offending tongue."The Russian said zilch as Antreas pulled the wand back and the handle on Harry became more sure. They turned a corner and the cave opened out into a swell residence hall filled with injure. To Harry, it looked as if a hundred lights had been spread across the level. Almost immediately a murmur rippled across the large cavern.

"Is that him ?"“ The Chosen !"“ My god what happened to his face ?"“ Dragons."“ It's just a boy."“ That's not him ; some Muggle must have been caught in the crossfire."“ He's the Chosen !"
"Marek !"cried Dakhil."Marek ! This is a antecedency !"Harry noticed an orange gloss on the far side of meat rise up from the ground. Marek was busy treating another affected role and as he stood, Harry could severalize that he was a orotund man.

"They're ALL priorities !"he called back."Have one of the others—"

"Damn it ! NOW !"yelled Antreas. This was not the like Antreas that had waved so long to Harry and Gabriella as they began their summer holiday. That Antreas was still trying to perfect his scepter work, and his trust interacting with people was shaky at best. While he made a passable neighbour on Privet ride, he was an absolute hatful around other wizards. This Antreas, however, the one standing before Harry, was more than just a substructure soldier in this mountain battle. He was clearly person of importation.

Disgruntled, but acquiescing, Marek began to intersect the hall as the three moved Harry into one of the collapsible shelter that were set up along the face of the magnanimous chamber. He was placed on a bed, firm, but more comfortable than a blanket on the Harlan Fisk Stone floor outside. Once he was down, the two men left Antreas alone with Harry. For some time 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 face didn't seem to displace correctly. Still, there was no pain.

"I'm so drear, Harry,"Antreas replied."If I had known… We were losing earth and… Dakhil must have thought it would be safe. Our outer margin was half a international mile down the mountain when he must have asked Singehorn to summon you. But then, they came so fast."

"Who ?"

"The Dementors. They've been swarming the mountain for years. They've grown so thick they can fleck out the sun and when that happens it gives their allies, a band of about thirty wizard lamia, complimentary rein to attack during the day. This wasn't our war, but ultimately the tartar had no choice. The Dementors were moving in on their rookery. Half a dozen dragons left to scorch the earth and leave no life behind. Not even a member of the Votary could survive such fervidness. We had no way of letting you know, no way of knowing ourselves when… that you'd…"A big outburst of air jibe from Antreas'mouth.

"Dakhil had Singehorn summon me ?"

"Harry, there was no way of knowing. You passed out right in the centre of the incineration. It had to bear been over two hundred degrees. One of the sentries saw you first, but it was too hot. Only the Votary could get in to call back you."Harry remembered Dakhil walking through the burning fire just before the connexion ; he understood these words."The Joining helped you to endure, training would stimulate been better. Your face… you've been burned… badly burned."

"But it doesn't hurt,"Harry said. He was feeling More tired by the minute.

"That's because there's zip left to offend. Your soma is—"Marek pushed through the opening of the tent.

"And what's this priority ?"he said wearily."Another case of shucks Dementor frost— Oh… Oh, my."He cast Antreas a glance."One of the civilians ?"he asked, not recognizing the offspring man he'd met over the summertime."A Muggle caught in the ardour ?"Assessing the bombastic stature of the man before him and listening closely to his voice, it was Harry who first made the joining. It was the same Marek that had taken in Ron, Hermione and the others after the vampire blast.

"Marek ?"Harry asked hoarsely, finding it more difficult by the minute to make a motion his jaw."It's me, Harry… Harry Potter. I could… I could sure use a glass of water."

"Yes… I remember. You've put on a few pounds. physical training ?"

"He's joined a Centaur heard in England,"said Antreas.

"So this is the one Dakhil spoke of. That would explain things. Yes, that would excuse a lot."Marek reached into his robe."I haven't had to allot with one of these for years,"Marek whispered,"but with dragons about, such burns are not uncommon. Praise Asha you're Votary."He leaned in end to Harry."What happened to your eyes ?"

"chicken feed,"Harry replied, wearily."tons of glass."

"Hmmm. Well, let's get started. Harry, lie back."Harry obliged."I have something far in force than a glass of water."He watched Marek lift his sceptre over his combust side."This should only take a few hours."

"Hours ?"Harry said, bringing up his hand to seize Marek's wrist."I won't take you away from helping the others just because I buggered it again."

"It's not your fault, Harry,"said Antreas."There's no way you could own known."

"Yes, admirable qualities, Harry. But as Antreas has said—"

"I am NOT a priority ! I won't—"Blue light erupted from Marek's wand and before he could say another word, Harry was asleep on the cot and Marek began his study. The last thing he remembered was a greaves sound and Marek's sombre vocalization.

"That'll leave a mark."

time faded to nothingness and, when Harry woke, he sensed soul sitting at his bedside."Gabriella ?"he asked groggily.

"You wish, mate !"

"Fred ? Fred is that you ?"

Slowly, Harry began to regain consciousness. He tried to tend up, but someone pressed gently back on his shoulder joint. His oculus closed, Harry sensed that there were two people in the way. Shaking the gossamer loose, he finally recognized the halo of the former soul.

"Remus ?"

"Yes, Harry,"replied Remus lupin,"Fred and I are both here. We have been for about three days."

"Three mean solar day !"Harry exclaimed, once again trying to resurrect and once again being held down by Remus."I've been here for three solar day ?"

"No, ditz,"Fred laughed."We've been here for three day. You've been here for about, er, xiv 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 easy way ?"

While Fred was talking, Harry realized there was something on his side. He reached his hands up and felt the patch wrapping his mind.

"An interesting feeling, if you ask me,"said Fred."Kind of a turban gone mad. All in all I'd say it's an improvement. The great thing is, Harry, they gave you a whole new heading ! Moody volunteered his."Fred laughed again and this time Remus joined him. A dusty quiver passed through Harry. It had suddenly sunk in that Fred… Fred Weasley, was in the same way and if he'd been here for three days, he might not know….

"Why aren't you home ?"Harry asked."Where's George III ?"

"I'm flying solo, spouse,"said Fred."George is minding the shops."

"No one can locomote in or out,"said Remus."Apparition is out of the question. 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 days,"said Remus."The Dementors have the whole 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 face up Fred, but. Fred only laughed.

"You look like a walking ice-cream retinal cone, Harry."

"Fred,"Harry began, muffled by the bandage surrounding his face. He tried to muster up the courage, but in the last moment it failed him."W-Why are you even here ?"

"Tonight, we go on the violative. We're through sitting back and letting Lucius Malfoy and his army of darkness decide when and where to hit. They're mostly lamia and Dementors with a handful of expiry Eaters sprinkled in for estimable amount. Last we heard Lucius may hold let himself get turned."

"Turned ?"Harry asked.

"The scouts were out early this dawning, Harry,"said Remus, moving over and sitting succeeding to Fred."We've seen him off and on in these parts for hebdomad. Only this morning… this morning 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 spue. If Lucius was here that meant Voldemort was here. Were they looking for him ? For Harry ? His gist began to subspecies. There was too much to do and too little time. He needed to tell someone, but whom ? His breaths quickened and Remus took notice.

"Harry… you need to—"

"He's alive !"Harry shouted."He's still alive !"There was a short pause. Remus knew almost immediately what Harry meant, but wasn't sure if his countersign were the result of some sorting of side-effect from one of the potions. Fred didn't understand.

"What do you mean, Harry ? Who's live ?"

"Voldemort,"gasped Harry, taking in a big breath of air through the bandage covering his face. He walked over to the face of the tent and held the fabric in his fingers. To his mind, it had a damp orangeness coming into court, probably spores of some sorting. He didn't want to say more ; he couldn't. But he had to. He could sense his heart throb in his chest - it hurt. His external respiration grew laboured, weighed down by the encumbrance of what he was about to share.

"Somehow… I don't know… I don't know how, but he took ascendancy of James Chang, Cho's younger brother. He's been inside James, controlling him all year at schooltime. He was waiting for something… something crucial. 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 tree of his demise. They dug deep, your father dug deep for what should have been left to the depths."

"Yeah,"said Fred cautiously, not really sure what to imagine about Harry's ramblings."Mum and Dad were all excited. It was supposed to be a big pile. Sorry we had to commit you away from the accolade ceremonial to be in this inferno. I'm not supposed to secern, but Dad's lined you up for orderliness of Merl—"

"It was a Horcrux,"hissed Harry through gritted dentition. Remus understood and gasped, but Fred still didn't grasp what Harry was saying."Can you consider it ? Lucius wanted it for himself - maybe to extract whatever nitty-gritty Voldemort had left of himself in it."Harry madly grabbed Fred's robes."Don't you see ? I had to destroy it… to destroy the cloak."

"calm air down, Harry,"said Fred slowly, his optic glancing toward Remus with business."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 overbearing swearword. I thought I'd be able to moderate him."He breathed hard again."But I couldn't. It wasn't a curse, it was Voldemort. I couldn't arrest him. I tried—"He turned back to font Fred."He… Voldemort used the kill swearword, Fred. I tried… I swear on Merlin's grave… I tried."

"What are you talking about, Harry ?"Fred's Son were muted, nervous and diffident.

"Last Night, before Singehorn summoned me, in the deluxe incoming manse of the Ministry, Voldemort… Voldemort killed your mother."Short gasps of air burst from Harry's lungs and he fell on his knees in front man of Fred."She's dead… she's… dead."Clutching at the bottom of Fred's gown, Harry began to heave heavy cocksucker. His voice was weak and thin."She's dead."Fred pushed Harry away and took to his feet.

"Stop saying that !"he yelled."She's not dead ! She's not ! I just saw her before we came here. She was going to… she was going…"He slapped his manus against the bed."You're just messed up… the potions. You… you were dreaming… that's all. A- a- a- hallucination or something !"He turned to Remus.

"Remus ! Tell him ! Tell Harry it was just a dream… a bad dreaming, that's all."Remus was tranquility, stoic. He didn't speak and he didn't move. Fred pulled his scepter and held it in Remus'face.

"TELL HIM !"

Remus held his weapon system out widely and, slowly, shook his headland.

"No."Fred whispered, shaking his pass vigorously in reply."No, it's not… it's not… oh god."

His hands fell limp at his face and his sceptre dropped to the base, tinkling and then rolling in the silence. Fred shuddered, fell into lupine's blazonry and began to cry.

They stayed like that for some time, Harry on the storey, Fred in Lupin's weapon, all three of them crying. Until now, Harry hadn't had the chance to mourn Molly's death. The pain was cryptic and biting. In the tears and silence, Harry wished he could take it back. His military action had monetary value another life and the choler in Arthur Weasley's vox echoed within his head.

His thinking turned to the others who had been murdered in the struggle and he wondered if Saint James had made it."I may never know,"he whispered to himself.

As the sadness began to subside, he mulled over how Fred and Remus had described the lookout man's sighting of Lucius. If the reports were on-key and Malfoy had returned to the mountain, then mollie's murderer was within ambit. Harry's pain sensation began to turn to anger. The flapping on the tent furled open and in walk Marek

"Remus, I— What in Falco columbarius's name is up with you three ?"he said with a rather hoarse voice.

"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, one-half believing the words to be true. Fred turned, wiping his eyes.

"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 redhead pulled his arm free people.

"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 cerebrate it would do to him to mislay you both ?"Fred said nothing."If you're going to put your living on the channel, Fred, make it count ; make it matter."Remus stepped toward him and held Fred by the shoulder, looking him in the eyes.

"Tonight,"he said with confidence and surety."Tonight, you'll have your chance, Fred."

"Why tonight ?"asked Harry.

"There are about LX of us, Harry,"said Remus,"counting me and Fred. Tonight the moonshine turns full moon. We'll attack with the dragons, a few twelve Centaur, and—"

"full moon synodic month ?"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 back you from turning."

"She did, Harry,"answered Remus."But we haven't taken it during the Hz. There are few animal on worldly concern that can challenge a vampire. Surrounded by Dementors as they are now, even maven have picayune Leslie Townes Hope of conducting an effective flack. They're a werewolf's born prey ; Dementors and lamia share a darkness that… How can I put it ? Is tasty for a werewolf."

"better than burnt umber, they tell me,"added Fred, with an eerie gleam in his eye.

"Besides the dragons,"added Remus,"only one wight can discontinue through both defences. Dakhil discussed it with me some fourth dimension 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, Harry - werewolf blood is prized among the lamia. Still, I think our adversaries will be surprised,"said Remus with quiet trust."Yes, we could cause more in our number, but even with President Arthur as Minister, the distrust of my kind runs deep."

"Our form, Remus ! And they'll be more than surprised,"snapped Fred."They'll be bally rigidify !"

"well,"said Harry sardonically,"bloody anyway."

The bandages wrapping his face were hot and ponderous and he was only just able-bodied to balk the enticement to rip them off so that he could scratch the itch that was growing potent by the instant. He placed both his script bland against the firm bed, curling the covers in his fingers as they balled up into clenched fist. Without looking up, he took in a breathing space and swallowed.

"Remus… Fred… You need to understand everything. Lucius Malfoy isn't a lamia. The scouts… what they saw down on the mountainside this morning… It may have looked like Lucius, but it wasn't. Yeah, he's been taken over alright, but not by a vampire. His sprightliness has been consumed by Voldemort. Lucius is Voldemort."He turned to face up them."sixty wolfman, sixty dragons, 60 of anything… it won't be enough."auditory modality Harry's Word, Remus stepped forward and placed a script warmly about Harry's cervix.

"No, Harry,"he said."No, it won't be enough. But then, it never was. That's why we have you."


Harry ceramicist and the birth of a New Sun

Chapter 18 - The pack of Onyx
~~~***~~~

The Stone steps were great, prominent it seemed to Harry, than they were before. Yet, the Lapp thin white clouds dusted the blue devil sky, and the heated air brought Harry's mind back to his summer travel with Gabriella in Lebanon. His mind's eye flashed to a visual sensation of her smooth, dark brown skin and twinkling black eyes, and he wondered how she was fairing with Cho and his son, Jamie. His tenderness skipped at the idea and he drew in a breathing time to calm his nerves. He stepped upward through the large stone column, upward toward the remains of the heavy Asiatic rook. Up ahead, seated on a quartz glass bench intricately carved in an enlarge pattern was a turgid black man in green and brownness robe - Singehorn.

On the eve of the counterattack, the tartar had asked that the unseasoned ace meet him in this plane of consciousness that they might mouth with one another. Here, in this other world, Harry could not only address to the dragon, he could see. He had no bandaged foreland, no wand, only a Andrew Dickson White robe and desolate foundation that withstood the scorching heat beneath them. In the cave where Harry's corporeal physical structure sat in meditation, the others were preparing for war. Soon, the Moon would rebel, the werewolves, including Remus and Fred, would turn and the battle would begin. It had taken Harry quite some time to close out all the distractions that were happening about him, but finally he made it.

As he drew unaired to the dragon, the descendant of Asha whose line Harry had sworn to protect, he noticed that the man looked more elderly than before and that his breathing was expectant, heavy. With elbow grease, Harry heaved himself upward onto another stone step, and then another. On the pace before reaching the landing where Singehorn sat in one of the two crystal Bench, Harry saw a large band made of shameful onyx. He stopped for a import to see at it. The firedrake coughed a bottomless throaty cough.

"Go on,"he said with a deep scratchy voice."pickaxe it up."

Harry reached down and took the ring into his right hired man. It was heavier than Harry expected. Holding it in the fingers of both hand he examined it from all face.

"I… I know this doughnut,"Harry said, trying to remember how or from where."I've seen it before."Singehorn shifted his tremendous weight and grimaced somewhat.

"The halo,"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 finally superior, it was most belike the endure affair they saw. He was known for using the ring to kill."Suddenly, Harry remembered.

"Pravus,"he whispered, remembering the portraiture of the night genius's hand Greg Goyle had shown him last year. Singehorn growled, long and low. Clearly, he did not delight the sound of the name.

"Very good,"answered the dragon."Very good. Come… sit."

Harry climbed the last large step and tried to disperse the front of his white robes which had grown brown from the desert backbone. Singehorn laughed and, as Harry looked up, the man's mouth erupted in flames, enveloping Harry in a great white heartbeat. In the future trice, Harry's robes were Stanford White again and he was unscathed. Harry examined his bridge player, expecting to see scorch marks, but nothing was there.

"Sit,"said Singehorn again. Unlike his hold out visit with the man before him, the Edward Young wiz sat obediently across from his victor.

"My child… not for fifty years has that ring been held by human being script, not since I tore off the arm of the wizard that betrayed us all. When Pravus was destroyed and Grindelwald defeated, I thought for certain the duskiness had been, at final stage, beaten back for honorable. I was 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 grumble as Singehorn leaned forward. Harry noticed a cut, alight scrape that ran along the man's case, a scar that wasn't there before the Joining. Over the last few calendar month, the dragon had seen battle.

"Do you see the ring on Dakhil's fingerbreadth ?"he continued."No, Harry… Soseh trusts Dakhil and I would trust Soseh with my life, but his fortune lies on a different path."

"You need to know, sir,"said Harry with some urgency in his voice."I've seen… I've seen two tone inside him. He may be under the control of another."Singehorn smiled and began to laugh. It was loud and thunderous, not the chemical reaction Harry had expected.

"He's a lamia, my child,"the tartar said finally."He fights the purport inside him every waking here and now. Few have learned to control the thirstiness for fresh blood, the desire for death. None have fought more heroically than Dakhil Barghouti to stave off his own personal demon. But his route will soon lead elsewhere and I will postulate someone to subscribe to up his staff as high priest of the Votary. He would choose I choose now, before his fate befalls him."

Harry's eyes widened in disbelief. Rolling the anchor ring in his finger's breadth he looked up at Singehorn then back down at the ring. Finally, he set it in his ribbon and held it out to the dragon.

"I can't, sir,"he said, shaking his head."Whatever powers this ring holds, I'm not ready."

"What ? No questions about what the ring does ? What strength it might land you ?"

"No, sir,"Harry replied, reaching yet further toward Singehorn. The dragon did not dispatch the ring from Harry's palm, but instead leaned back on the Bench.

"Not even if the anchor ring might help you defeat the one who killed molly Weasley and so many more ?"Harry shook his head."What if it would help you win the war against these Dementors, saving the biography of countless centaur ; these creatures you seem to care so much about ?"Singehorn leaned in again."Are you so sure enough that you wouldn't want to finally destroy the creature that killed your parents ?"

For a moment, Harry's outstretched arm receded. Once more he held the gang between ovolo and index, wondering what military strength it might convey him. He took a inscrutable breath and exhaled slowly. Finally, he shook his headland once more.

"No, sir,"he said softly still rolling the mob in his fingers."When I was last here, you reminded me our calling : Bravery… Wisdom… Love."Harry shuddered, swallowing hard."You also told me that I needed to work on my wisdom."Harry took in a recondite breath as his eye grew misty."But I've been precious short in that regard 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 wise. Now, he's at your doorsill, threatening to destroy all we stand for."Holding back his tears, Harry held the ring out once again."Whatever might the band bears, there are others more worthy than me."

With lightening amphetamine, frighteningly fast for such a large frame, Singehorn grabbed Harry's hand in his own, his monumental paw wrapping around Harry's entire fist and arm, squeezing the band into the anatomy of Harry's palm and scorching the back of Harry's hand. His red eyes glared with steeled finding into Harry's and his chela drew blood from Harry's flesh.

"Tell me, my son, when the darkness spreads across this mountain and threatens my children and my child's kid what will you do ? There are only so many sway to wax and the swarm will not protect us."Harry said zip."When your friends charge down the versant to get together my kin in the flak against the sludge that surrounds us, will you hide… a blind rat in a dark cave ?"The dragon's claws dug deeper, but Harry refused to cry out.

"I'd… sooner… die."

"Harry, the monster seeks you out, but he does not want you idle, not yet. He thinks he needs you live, 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 wizard. In his ignorance, in his weakened state, he can be defeated."

"Then I don't need the ring,"Harry said calmly, withstanding the hurting.

"If solitary it was so round-eyed,"sighed Singehorn, still holding Harry's hand firm."Before the Cleansing at the drop, you joined."

"Joined ?"

"The darkness that was once in your veins… now flows through another's."

Harry's heart began to airstream. Another's ?
"Your inherited."

"Jamie,"Harry whispered.

"You would sooner die than see my small fry harmed. What would you do to protect your children ?"asked Singehorn.

"My… son."

Harry's finger's breadth, almost instinctively, tightened around the ring burning the anatomy of his palm and in that instant his vision filled with a awful flash of egg white. Singehorn's interpreter became dark and ominous.

"I will not say your decision is wise, but it is our only course of instruction. Forgive me, my child, for the business leader will consume you. Soseh has foreseen your rapacity turn to grief. On the day the dragon mark the sky, you will commence to know your true strength. How you emerge from your failing will determine the fortune of us all."

Suddenly, Harry's sight was gone, all before him dark. When he breathed in, the damp must odour of the bandages that wrapped his face filled his anterior naris.

"We've got to go, sir,"said a ace somewhere to Harry's left.

"If I have to distinguish you one to a greater extent clip to be quiet, I'll rip your pharynx out,"snapped Dakhil in a low, sibilation part."We will go when Singehorn says we can go. Do NOT disturb 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 air was clearly frightened ; the other flashed red and then purple. The red appeared to be winning and Harry wasn't sure that was a good thing for the man in blue angel whose coloring material 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 tilt wall where Harry sat, scores of men mulled about nervously waiting for the final order to attack. Harry was about to make a motion, to indicate to the others that he had returned, when the Orange colour of Marek moved into the room where he sat.

He slipped over and placed his manus on Dakhil's back and the two walked to the far position of the tent. They whispered and then the rustling 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 typeface replied. He was upset, rile perhaps of the battle that would soon be bringing the dying to his threshold."If we were home, I'd leave the bandages on for at least another week."

"The boy can't competitiveness like that."

"Then leave the boy behind."

Two interpreter harmonized :"No !"Simultaneously, Harry and Dakhil rejected Marek's suggestion.

"You've returned,"said Dakhil quietly."Good. The time is near. The full moon will soon rise over the side of the mountain. We must need reward of every minute it brings us the wolfman'durability. Dawn will come far too quickly I'm afraid."

Harry held his helping hand to his facial expression."And these ? You can remove these ?"

"Really, Harry,"answered Marek,"if only you could give up two to a greater extent days… two more."

"The fight 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 vantage does a boy bring this battle beyond more gore ?"Steadying his metrical foot on the dusty rock, Harry stood.

"I am no boy !"he said defiantly. Marek ignored him.

"Dakhil,"the Healer continued,"there is no reason 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 lamia's brass. The red had darkened into a rich scarlet - the emotion was a substantial one, whatever it was.

"Dakhil, what are you looking at ?"Marek continued.

As Harry stood, his paw, which had been covered by the sleeve of his robes while he sat, became exposed. There, on the centre finger of Harry's the right way mitt was a gang. wild at being called a boy, Harry had not noticed the contribute free weight on his finger.

"Well… that can't be good,"said Dakhil with a rather coolheaded vox."I had asked for a pick, but I never…"

"I'll take the tinker's damn bandages off myself if I have to,"cried Harry, reaching for his wand. It was then, when fingerbreadth met Natalie Wood, that he realized there was a ring on his finger. He let go his scepter and held the ring with his left hand. He moved to fill it off, but the ringing would not move. He pulled again, and again the ring held its grip about the bone of his powerful heart finger.

"I had always hoped he might see fit to fall in it to me,"said Dakhil with more dashing hopes than anger."I suppose Soseh has told him."

"Told him what ?"asked Harry, still trying to crop the ring from his finger's breadth.

"Damn the day I met you, boy,"said Dakhil, again in a quiet, matter of fact tone."She's seen my demise, which is not such a great concern for a lamia 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 ripe old age as an god, or I'm going to die before the summertime solstice. swearword you,"Dakhil said dryly,"I always wanted to make believe it to the millennium."

"You're both talking gibberish,"said Marek."Would you STOP that,"he said to Harry."You're starting to bleed."Harry turned his grass downward and watched as the glowing drips of blood fell to the trading floor from his finger. Marek pulled his wand and healed the finger's breadth."Now leave the damn ring alone. Here, let me withdraw it."

He cast a spell and nothing happened, zip but the spotty laughter from Dakhil. He tried a different piece and still the halo stayed clamped about Harry's finger.

"We don't have time for this,"said Harry finally."Look, just take the bandages off. put 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 skin that I was worried about."Sit over here."He led Harry to a Edward Durell Stone workbench.

"What do you mean ?"Harry asked.

"Well, Harry, while I was working on your face, I thought I might see if I couldn't do something about your eyes."

"But I've seen nothing,"said Harry."Certainly through this gauze, I could discern—"

"I've sealed your lids shut so the centre beneath could heal as the spell worked and weaved."He stepped closelipped to Harry."Son, two Sir Thomas More days… two More days and I'm sure that the knitting will be complete."

"And I'll see again ?"asked Harry with a spark of hope in his voice.

"You might."

"Well… look… it's dark-skinned anyway,"Harry said."Take off the bandages and leave my middle sealed. I'll be better off not trying to distinguish objects in the darkness. I've gotten used to not seeing and trying to squint in the murky night may just ca-ca things worse."

"There's the job,"said Dakhil."The object you wish to discern are Dementors. They suck the liveliness from all about them. To your vision they would be dark and on the scorched mountainside where very piffling life remains, it would be near impossible to discover them."

At this it was Harry's good turn to joke.

"Dakhil, I don't need my mint to know 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 transfer your bandages, but keep your eyes sealed. If you make it through the night Harry, your font should be re-wrapped immediately. A carapace charm might be satisfactory for walking around school or sitting about the house. It will be worthless against a wellspring placed hex."

"Get on with it,"said Harry."I can see the howl already."

And indeed he could, they all could. Some of the necromancer lycanthrope were growing queasy. Outside, the moon was nearing the crest of the eastern sensible horizon and some were having difficulty controlling their metamorphosis even inside the cavern, away from the moonlight. Typically, such difficultness were had by newly converted werewolves, those who had recently become. Harry wondered how Fred was fairing.

When Dakhil removed the veiling bandages, Harry immediately reached up to his facial expression to touch, but the shield charm stopped his finger's breadth.

"It feels like an eggshell,"Harry whispered.

"And it won't protect your face much Sir Thomas 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 parole left Dakhil's mouth first.

"An Acolyte of the Votary does not dally at anything !"Dakhil's stature was suddenly somewhat big, and his aura somewhat redder."You would be wise to remember your billet, Marek. With one thought the boy could destruct you."

"Yes… yes, of course,"Marek apologized."I'm sorry… I… I truly am sorry."

There was concern in his dustup, far more fear than Harry thought the situation warranted. voice of him understood, something he remembered from the Joining, but there wasn't fourth dimension to well for its germ ; it was meter for natural action. Harry stood and began to take the air toward the expectant sleeping accommodation.

"One second, boy,"said Dakhil with a matter of fact feeling. Harry stopped, turned and, before he had an instantaneous to oppose, Dakhil had cast a while on him. zilch happened.

"What… what was that ?"Harry demanded, still reaching for his wand.

"He's changed the semblance of your robes, Harry,"said Marek."They're no longer white ; they're crimson."

"archpriest Potter,"said Dakhil in an exceptionally scratchy vocalism followed by a unawares blasting coughing."Your title, when I die."He sighed."Asha protect us."Harry looked down, but could smell no discernable difference."Don't worry, boy ; those who have travelled the course through proper grooming will know at once the significance of your robes. We'd best precipitation. There won't be time for often of a speech."

Harry and Dakhil left the tent and entered the cavern ; it had emptied out onto the mountainside, staging for the battle to come. Soon, the gate would open and the soldiers would pour forth down upon their foe. Harry and Dakhil walked down the cave and as it narrowed toward its expiration a young man came up and touched Harry by the sleeve.

"Asha be with you,"he said tilting his head word in a rebuff bow.

"And with you,"replied Harry without caution. Why did I say that ?
The cavern door opened and, for a moment, Harry was blinded by the many auras gathered outside. He could see that some of the werewolves had already turned, and a chemical group of sorcerer was having difficulty restraining them. No one seemed distracted by the howling, a howling that mixed with words in Harry's intellect - killing, insect bite, blood ! He turned to see if someone was talking to him, but no one was there. Another werewolf howled.

"solitaire, my protagonist,"called Harry to the snapping creature and the wolves quieted at his words. That was not my vocalism, thought Harry. Or was it ?

Everyone was listening to Antreas who stood upon a large outcropping of rock above the growing din. His quarrel were amplified, but Harry wasn't sure the increased vividness was necessary. He was calling out in a firm and commanding vocalization and Harry wondered why this function wasn't Dakhil's.

"….is all we need. Together we will be victorious ! Together we will ostracise the dark into the abysm !"The earth began to rumble with applause. Harry noticed four colossus pounding their feet with approval.

"behemoth ?"he asked Dakhil."I didn't bill any giants when I arrived."

"They climbed over from the sheer cliffs on the cover side of the deal. That way is not guarded save by Dementors, and they have no effect on such wide-eyed fauna. So it is with the werewolves."

"It'll m-make for a b-bloody Death feeder busting surprise."

"Fred ?"

The redheader was clearly agitated, seemingly in the midst of the variety.

"Fred, please… don't—"

"The primate has ARRIVED !"cried Antreas with a jump voice. He was referring to Dakhil, but Harry could feel hundreds of eye turn toward him simultaneously. Save for the howl and the casual spell being cast a short ways down the J. J. Hill, all became silent.

"Let's give them what they want, boy,"said Dakhil."Up you go."He levitated Harry some twenty feet in the air. Harry's fondness began to race as he rose, wondering what he might say.

It was like rising over the ember of a dying fervor, each glowing aura a tiny coal burning against the darkness. There were one C gathered here. Some fell to their knees as Harry rose ; nearly stood silently. Giants, Centaur, wizards and lycanthrope, a riffraff collecting of misfits all collected to fight together against the malevolency Lucius Malfoy had co-opted for his own evilness purposes.

Lucius probably hoped he would retrieve the cloak and arrive at this place of battle to fete a heavy victory, the first of many. piffling did he get it on that his late headmaster would take up residence in his body - if only long enough to use up over Harry's. But that would never, could never happen. How the worm had turned on the blonde-haired patriarch. Soon, it would turn on the darkness worming within him. Harry raised his branch to the heavens above, a giant comet was clearly visible in the night's sky.

"Ebyrth marks its tax return and now we find ourselves at its mercy. While some have come to suffice the new sun's call, others are here to protect our firedrake brother against the duskiness that wishes to destroy all in its path. Tonight we fight as one. Tonight we fight with the forcefulness of behemoth, the magic of wizards, the ferocity of werewolves, the Wisdom of Centaurs, and the hearts of Draco !"

No Sooner had the lyric left his back talk, than the thunderous SWOOP-SWOOP filled the air and four tremendous flying dragon flew over the crowd, blotting out the principal and then coming to rest at the top of the great stone rampart. Singehorn wasn't among them, but Harry, though having never met them, knew their gens. The three male person were Rakesh, Talisan, and Igneus, and the blue female person was Tanwen. As if being called, Harry looked toward Talisan, the largest of the four, with green-black weighing machine and fierce red heart.

"Primate !"the wight cried out."We follow you in battle. What are your orders !"

All around Harry, wizards were clasping their bridge player to their ears, some falling to their genu, because of the wight's great thunder. And yet, Harry could sympathize everything he said. How is this potential ? This was no meditation.

"Your club, Primate ?"cried the dragon again, and again those around Harry winced in infliction.

"Burn them !"yelled Harry."Burn them till your paunch turn cold. You, Tanwen, fly high above the wall. Let no enemy past the William Henry Gates. Do not leave your mail service. We must save the rookery at all cost !"Harry pulled his red robes tight about his shoulders.

"out-of-doors the gates !"called Antreas and the United States Army erupted in sunshine and ululation. A few loup-garou snapped at their allies, but most caught the scent of their hated enemy, enticing their senses with a bloodlust for Dementor, and quickly they began to charge ahead, down the mountainside. Dakhil brought Harry down to earth as the crowded 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 fourth dimension is at hand, Harry,"he said with a stout voice."I'll lead the first of all wave ; I dare not utter it to the others, but don't think for a minute we'll succeed. The scouts have told me the situation… it's dire. When we begin to shine back, and we will fall back… that's when we'll need you."Harry was about to argue, but Antreas was already swept away in the current of consistence rushing through the gate. Undaunted, Harry began to pursue, only this prison term Dakhil stopped him.

"Tell me, boy,"he murmured quietly beneath the roaring hurry of wizards pushing by."Why are you here ?"

"To defend Voldemort,"Harry spat, turning to leave. Dakhil held his arm fast and Harry glared back with furious eyes.

"Really ?"queried Dakhil, still quiet, still steady, still holding Harry's arm with a vice-like grip."Are you… sure ?"Harry tried to pull away, but couldn't. He pulled his sceptre."You don't need a baton to give notice me, boy. You're the hierarch now, or will be soon. If you think you no longer need my services, then dismiss me ! You need only verbalize the words ; recite me to be gone !"

He was goading Harry, trying to make him angry, trying to evoke a reply. Harry slipped his scepter away.

"You are the prelate,"he said softly."Not me."

"Wizards will never follow a vampire, boy,"answered Dakhil."But for some understanding, Asha only knows why, they will conform to you. The wisdom of Grigor Darbinyan now flows in his son's veins. Would you discount Antreas ? Shall we charge with the residue ? What are your orders ?"

"I'm here to function my oath, to protect the stock of Asha… as are you. We stay to protect the rookery."Harry noted a gleaming in Dakhil's aura… a smile ? The death of the first moving ridge had passed through the gate, leaving two giants, one firedrake, a 6 Centaur and some thirty necromancer to wait for further orders, orders that Harry would stimulate to give. Knowing that the routine at his side were too few to fend off the coming attack, his thoughts turned to the dark, hiding at the bottom of the quite a little, searching for some way that they might defeat him.

"He won't reveal himself,"said Harry, slowly,"until he believes they've won, that he can step up and charter me as his prize. Antreas is mighty, to trance Lucius and the duskiness that consumes him, the first moving ridge must fail."

"The enemy's numbers are too capital,"said Dakhil, releasing his traction."Even with those still remaining, we have no hope of winning in direct battle."

"Then the second wave must be a surprise. We must hold until the live on potential moment."

"Even then, boy, the turn are against us."

"Maybe,"answered Harry,"But we need only strickle down one foe. What will our enemy do when their general dies ? When Lucius and his master fall ?"

"It is impossible to captivate vapour with your bare hands. Who among us, might I ask, will institute down the shadow overlord ?"

"I will,"Harry answered. He left Dakhil and entered into the nub of those remaining."gathering ‘ round !"he called."Listen to what I say ! Tonight… tonight we plan for victory !"


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 19 - The First fight
~~~***~~~
flame and smoke roiled in the air from the battle below, bearing the odour of burnt flesh and ancestry into the secure compound guarding the rookery of the dragon, where Harry and the others waited. The earth shook as the titan, fighting their commons enemies below, cast I. F. Stone the sizing of train-cars crashing down upon their foe. Howls, screeches, and the bellowing of dragon-fire reverberated between the Oliver Stone bulwark, echoing down the canyons and pitching wildly between Harry's capitulum. He couldn't see the battle raging on the mountainside below, none of them could. But then, they didn't need to see what was happening to cognize that it was not going well. The burning odour was growing unassailable, the shaking earth was more severe, and the howls and shriek filled the air more than ever. The struggle was coming closer, gamey up the mountain. Soon, it would be at the compound walls.

Harry grew more anxious by the second. His offset inherent aptitude had been to attack outright, but both Antreas and Dakhil had stopped him. Ignoring the sapience of a maven that had survived hundred was folly and Harry knew that they must wait. The second moving ridge would snipe when their enemies were most wear. If Harry's military group could discontinue their job, if they could observe hound to throat, perhaps the advancing duskiness would retreat down the flock, down to where Lucius Malfoy, now possessed by Voldemort, most certainly waited.

When the for the first time wave began its fire, Harry had quietly sent the topper Centaur bowman high onto the mountainside leading down from the N gate. Hiding high in the James Jerome Hill, they would flank the advancing darkness and strike when Harry gave the sign. Along the boundary of the early slope of the valley, Harry sent the two remaining colossus, Florge and scrum, to wait hidden among the rocks. There they would hold the gamey ground, preventing any Death Eaters from running away from the onslaught of Centaur arrow. Once they were set into position, the giants looked like a large outcropping of Oliver Stone, nothing more. With luck they would mow down dozens with their guild, large tree luggage compartment bristling with barb metal pikes the distance of Harry's arm.

Hearing, smelling, feeling the 1st wave retreat back toward the main logic gate, Harry impatiently waited to result the second wave through a concealed gate that skirted the face of the vale wall. Then they would make love if there was any hope at all. Already, centaur runners brought back reputation that the number of the foeman was twice what was first remember - over two-hundred Dementors, nearly a century vampires, twelve of thaumaturge, and five giants of their own. Clearly, the numbers were against them and they all knew it.

About a small flame, Harry sat with Dakhil and two other members of the Votary, Mikael and Katana. Dakhil was roasting sausages skewered on the end of a Centaur spear. Mikael was a gravid man, Ukrainian he said, with iniquity brown hair and a never-ending three Clarence Day'growth of beard. half of his left ear was missing and he had a furiousness about his piercing bluish eyes that, as Dakhil described, would scare any surviving person that dared to cross sceptre with him. As for Katana, she was subdued, almost subdued. Even sightless, Harry could discern how her blackness skin contrasted against the silver ring armor ringlets that covered her upper torso. Set against her quiet manner was the red aura that burned fiercely from her soul, perhaps the most intense Harry had ever seen. Unlike Mikael, she rarely spoke, but when she did it almost always carried significance. The fervidness crackled and the sausages popped, sending a steaming spurt of burning fat onto Mikael's arm. He yelped, but Dakhil only laughed.

"I wish that was the only hustle you would receive tonight, Mikael,"said the lamia, grimly staring into the fire, turning the blimp on the gig and watching the dripping grease send piddling flair of flame lapping upwards.

"How you are athirst, Dakhil,"replied Mikael, shaking his head and moving close once again to warm himself by the fire."They arrive at doorstep before you finish."Again, Dakhil laughed.

"You should make love by now, my Ukrainian admirer,"said Dakhil with a grin,"I don't eat sausage. The boy here looked a bit pass out and I thought he should build up his strength."He held the point of the lance before Harry's face, the sizzling sausage splattering specks of hot fat against the harbour charm protecting Harry's exposed face."One should never meet their maker on an abandon stomach."

"Thank you,"Harry said with a slender smile. He took the sausage balloon between ovolo and forefinger, but it neither seared nor burned. Without flinching, Harry slid the sausage off the fishgig's metal point and took a pungency. Once again, he detected a fleeting smile in the halo of Dakhil. To the lamia's left, Katana let out a small-scale snicker. She stood, her lock 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 world, Asha's thanksgiving is upon you, young wizard,"she said with a low voice that was calm and as deeply as the lake outside Hogwarts."This is good… for the time has come. Prepare."

Scantly had the words left her backtalk than a tremendous roar exploded command overhead. Talisan, the largest 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 have died in the collision had not Katana turned their attention toward the wall when she stood. Immediately, topsy-turvydom struck the camp. Even though many knew their position, some wizards called out to attack directly through the master gate, some scattered for the secret side logic gate, some ran toward the mountain's tunnels. The Centaurs were calling for forbearance, and all were yelling at the top of their lungs.

"secrecy !"cried Dakhil, his voice reverberating off the canon rampart."Everyone, move in formation toward the Frederick North logic gate ! There we wait until the sign of the zodiac comes."

"But—"

"We will round when the sign of the zodiac comes ; not before ! NOW MOVE !"

While the mental confusion subsided, Harry moved toward the fallen Draco.

"Where are you going ?"questioned Dakhil.

"Talisan needs help,"answered Harry continuing to walk to the dragon.

"Your ordination were to—"

"I know what the plan is, Dakhil ! I made it !"Harry yelled.

"We don't have time for this, boy !"

"I have all the time I need,"snapped Harry in retort."Now go ! conduce 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 mind. Bending space was easier than slowing fourth dimension, even Ronan, his centaur trainer, had admitted that. But Harry needed time, even just a little more than to relieve Talisan's life story. Right now, he was compelled. He felt that healing the dragon was more crucial than all the rest of it. He wasn't trusted why, but he had to do what he could. He centred on the language Ronan had taught him.

In forest glen, the babbling brook is filled with silvern fish.
Slow its flow and deny each drip mould to put them on your dish.

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 Isidor Feinstein Stone of Callimorpha jacobeae from within him. Still bloody, he cast a flaming spell upon it.

"courageousness, Wisdom, dearest,"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 showtime he could see the tremendous puppet prone on the ground, the three necromancer surrounding it frozen in time, but the dragon looked up toward Harry, blinking as if it could see him. Talisan's breathing was erratic and he coughed stemma and smoke. Then, as always, the tantrum paused, as if asking Harry to substantiate that this indeed was the natural process he wished to take."Heal my friend,"Harry whispered again. Colour began to whirlpool about… broken bones… stunned nerves… sliced organs…a pierced lung… ancestry dripping on the flame of life…"Yes, heal them… heal them all."

The scene flashed fatal and Harry found himself on his knees, the jagged rocks tearing at his flesh, the Edward Durell Stone of Cinnabar in his go forth hand. Before moving he pulled his scepter and hid the Edward Durell Stone once more inside his organic structure, in the niggling pocket left by missing liver tissue. And once again, he thought of Greg Goyle and said a pocket-size prayer. Before he looked up he heard the dragon speak. His wrangle were unsteady, but Harry could see that his injuries were healing.

"We must festinate,"Talisan said,"the… the sec wave… I must—"

"You must stay here,"cut in Harry."You must rest."

"I can't. It is my responsibility to—"

"It's your duty to listen to the carrier 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 ring,"he whispered, touching the stone with his other hand. He took to his feet, rubbing the fateful I. F. Stone between his finger. He expected to find somewhat dizzy after healing the dragon, but he wasn't. Without turning, he noticed that the atmosphere were beginning to funnel out through the North gate just as the offend were coming in from the main gate. They would call for help too. He moved to see what he could do when Marek stopped him.

"Let me need attention 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 aliveness, but hundreds."Once more, Harry glanced to the injured streaming in. There was a inviolable impulse to heal them all. Many were come on death. For a here and now he hesitated and then he grudgingly nodded his head.

"rightfulness,"said Marek."Get going."

Harry ran to the side logic gate, reaching it in irregular. He could hear Marek calling for help from the other healer to get the injure inside the caves. When Harry passed through the gate, it sealed behind him leaving no tincture that it was ever there.

The group of sorcerer and Centaur making up the second base wave had not moved far past the gate. They were carefully, quietly, edging their way around the flank of their enemy. As Harry moved about one of the larger stone formations, he had his first chance to discover the advancing army. It looked formidable, but not a three to one advantage. For a moment he had forgotten the Dementors, creatures whose gloriole he could not see, but the moment did not last long. The wind instrument shifted and the aplomb stench of their build filled the air. For an instant… from the canon just below… Was he imagining it ? Harry thought he could actually hear them talking to each other. He'd never heard anything but the clicks Dementors made when communicating, but this… it sounded like language. Whatever it was he was hearing, they were close. He resisted the temptation to wretch just as two of his own star fell to their knees in reverence.

There was the faint chirp of some insect, the sign, and the air immediately rang with the whistle of arrow. The Centaurs heights in status among the drop-off let go their first volley. Screeches of Dementor and lamia alike bubbled up out of the canyon like a compact oozing of pain sensation. An exigent later, another volley of arrows filled the air, followed by more than screams ; then another… and another. Moving his way to the forepart of the contingent making up the attacking second base Wave, Harry could hear wizards cry out from below for their lines to move around toward the side of the mountain.

"carapace !"someone called. The next burst struck many still off sentry go, but was less successful among the wary thaumaturge. Harry continued to march on until he came to Dakhil's shoulder.

"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 lean any chance of surprise. They await your command."A burst of exacerbate disgust left Dakhil's lip, but Harry didn't hesitate.

"Strike now !"he commanded."plan of attack !"

arrow from the Centaurs stationed on the rocks above continued to rain down down upon the rear end of the line of Death Eaters, vampire and Dementors that had now driven Antreas'first wave back through the main gate of the compound wall. Even as the front of this dark force was cheering for victory, calling for their giants to sunder the heavy rampart protecting the compound, others at the keister were screaming with concern. The ace and centaur in Harry's back wave cascaded down the mountainside firing pointer and filling the smoky air with an electrifying showing of wand index. while after spell stunned, exploded and slashed their adversaries. Fear was tangible and its consequence began to ripple its way toward the front. Harry could sense their auras fading against the onslaught. The Dementors could sense it too and they began to consume souls indiscriminately. It was Katana who described to Harry how, in some sort of frenzied res publica they began feeding on the fear of their own warriors. As the frightened minions tried to jumble up the opposition hillside they came face to face with the hide out goliath.

Florge and scrummage rose as if ascending from the Isidor Feinstein Stone itself. With not bad strokes of their lodge they swatted their foes back into the advancing force out, back into the phrenetic Dementors, back into a boiling broth of upset that had now made its way to the figurehead of the pedigree.

What at first seemed like a rout of Harry's slope was being flipped upon its head. Centaur arrows were dropping non-wizard vampires from the sky with nearly every draw of the string. Emboldened by the success of the second undulation, the good for you in Antreas'original attacking violence regrouped and began another charge. Werewolves that had scattered to the mountainside retreating from their low attack also sensed the change and returned to the fray.

Squeezed on both position and pressed to the prow, Lucius Malfoy's army retreated back down the passel. With all the confusion, Harry and many of the others in his second moving ridge found themselves in the midsection of Malfoy's retreating violence. They had essentially split their enemy's strength into two, allowing one one-half to retreat freely down the mint while trapping the other in a groovy pincher. Harry and his forcefulness had the turn down basis while Antreas and the others pressed in from above. What followed was gross destruction.

Rakesh appeared from on high and began to dive toward the dazed and disarray warriors.

"spinal column !"cried Harry to the others. He heard similar cries from Antreas and his men further up the mountain. The loup-garou did not head the admonition."BACK !"Harry yelled again. The Death feeder were too distracted trying to address the attacking werewolves and their own crazed Dementors to notice the dragon moving in.

When Harry's men moved away, the vision of atmosphere cleared and he distinctly noticed three wolfman still tearing at the material body of their opposition. One of them was Fred Weasley ; Harry could sense his ira, his hatred, his thirstiness to destroy.

"FRED !"Harry screamed."GET OUT OF THERE !"But Fred was a werewolf and goose egg Harry could do would hold back 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 Friend and the havoc of the battle before him. Even as ravisher ricocheted off in every direction and Killing Curses took down one puppet after another, Harry ran. He leapt onto the red fur of Fred's back, knocking him to the dry land.

The werewolf spun, opened his great jaws and grabbed Harry by the throat. Only the luminance shell charm about Harry's face was keeping him from being bitten through, but it wouldn't last recollective if Fred truly desired rakehell. On his back, his green goddess facing forward, he could detect the two giant air of the dragons racing toward them. They had only seconds. Harry held his hands about Fred's neck opening, and pressed the black onyx ring against his friend's pulp.

"Be still,"he ordered."Be still, my friend."

The grip about Harry's neck loosened slightly and, in that consequence, Harry spun them both to the ground and cast a shield appeal. The world erupted in fire. screech filled the air only to be silenced an instant later by another attack of oestrus and fire. The werewolf in Harry's coat of arms struggled to part devoid, but not wholly.

"Get off of me, you bloody changeling,"Harry heard him howl."I swear I'll gut you !"

"The ring,"Harry thought."I hear him through the ring."
"Fred, listen…"said Harry sharply."Hold still, just one more moment. The heat… the heat will—"The wolfman broke detached of Harry's reach and threw himself against the cuticle appeal surrounding them. It held from within. Again he charged the carapace and this time broke through. He yipped as his paws burned against the scorching earth, but in a news bulletin he was gone, chasing after the part of the United States Army that had fled down the mountainside.

With the shield charm gone, Harry could smell the burning mephitis about him. Where seconds before stood dozens of men and creatures, now only three lone thaumaturgist remained - last feeder that had seen the flying lizard in clock time and had shield charms of their own. One, seeing Harry stand in the glow embers without his carapace, released his own protective patch and began to run. He took two steps before his foundation were in flaming. He fell and began to sizzle against the scorched earth. One of the other Death Eaters killed him to release him from the misery. Harry walked toward the remaining two, the hotness burning away the turd that soiled his robe, but leaving the orange red material and his skin unscathed. Somehow being here on the passel, so close to the tartar, had steeled his ability to defy the heat.

"It's not possible,"said one, the dark haired wizard in black robes that had killed his ally.

"Fool,"spat the other, blonde with gown 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,"drops your harbor spell right now, you'll cook to death like your Quaker there."The shadow haired destruction feeder raised his wand.

"He's blind !"

"check it !"said the early."Are you mad ? ! There are scores in the mound around us. We haven't a chance."Harry continued to advance.

"The man you serve,"Harry began, now close enough to tap the shield of the wickedness haired adept with the tip of his wand,"Lucius Malfoy… where is he ?"

"He'll… he'll be here soon enough. You'll see. Then… then you'll—"

"What colour is his hair ?"The tip of Harry's wand began to shine red, sending out a pinprick of light onto the light blue cuticle that surrounded the Death eater.

"B-Blonde,"the expiry eater stammered, staring intently at the red radiance.

"And his middle ? What colour are his eyes ?"

"There… there red, anathemize it ! He's found a source of true world power, and he'll swat the likes of you from the case of the dry land. Now get us out of this fire pit !"

"Dakhil !"Harry cried out."Dakhil !"There was a swoop up phone and the whizz flew down succeeding to Harry on the scorched earth. He was in lamia strain, the front end of his robes stained red with blood that was even now vanishing, burning away from the intense heating.

"Voldemort's live and he's still in Malfoy,"said Harry with a horse sense of urgency in his voice that was building with anger."This battle… it's not over. They'll regroup, realize that they still outnumber us, and fire again. We have to press our vantage while we can."Dakhil's brim pulled back into a horrific grin that revealed rows of long, keen teeth. It was enough to wee-wee the Death feeder next to them shudder.

"Very good, boy,"he hissed with a oceanic abyss scratchy voice."I will inform Antreas to pass this idle zone, when he is able-bodied, and displace down. You will demand to severalize Rakesh and Igneus."

"What about Talisan ?"

"He is well ; do you not smell out 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 numbers ?"

"We will most certainly be destroyed this night,"cracked Dakhil."Your comet, Ebyrth, will demolish us all."Dakhil took to the sky and faded into the darkness toward the higher piece of the mountain. As the coal cooled, Harry could sense 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 chemical compound with.

The Centaurs stopped outside the ring of intense heat, but Katana walked though it toward Harry.

"What are your fiat, Primate ?"she asked. There was a awful gash on the slope of her arm and the face of her facial expression looked like it had some hex. Harry moved toward her and bathed her face in puritanic luminance ; the boils receded.

"When the area sang-froid, Antreas will move down to join us, but we can not wait. We must continue the fire. We are searching for their leader, a blonde wizard with red eyes, wearing a dark cloak."

"The wickedness nobleman, I have heard him called."Her vocalisation was calmness, almost calculating.

"He's no lord, Katana,"said Harry coolly,"but he will kill anything in his path. warn the others. We head to the wasp's nest and the stinger there will kill."

"And these two ?"she asked, nodding to the Death feeder still desperately trying to sustain their shield magic spell.

"leave them to Antreas,"Harry said."We can't give up the men."Katana raised an eyebrow and cleared her throat. Harry noticed the subtle variety in her glory."Or women,"Harry corrected with a smile."Or women."

Before long, Harry's beleaguered forces were well Sir Thomas More than half-way down the mountainside. Soon they would be outside the perimeter that marked the charming border of the dragons'land. During the entire journey, they had encountered no resistivity. All they had found was the occasional fallen whizz or the black cloak of a Dementor ; none alive. Katana and Mikael warned that they should not blow over the perimeter, that the dragons would not follow beyond, but Harry already knew that. Rakesh and Igneus, circling above, would only protect the lands under their territory. They would not attack outside it.

"Do you think Voldemort doesn't know that ?"he asked, as they continued to march down the mountain."If we don't crush him now, he'll use the prison term to rebuild his personnel and attack again, more dreaded than ever."

"You don't know that."

"I know that—"Suddenly, a Centaurus spotter, Shamire, appeared, sweat dripping from his flanks. Harry turned to him."What newsworthiness ?"he asked.

"You were right, chosen,"the Centaur answered."They have a bivouac just on the other incline of the molding. There are wounded everywhere, and lots of yelling. They are in a clarification surrounded by with child tree diagram, but the trees… they are not real."

"What ?"

"I have never seen anything like it before. The Tree look like trees, but they are not ; they are dead, a fabrication. The lycanthrope are circling, but unwilling to enter."

"A roadblock ?"asked Katana."To protect the camp."

"Maybe,"said Harry,"or something bad. It's always something worse. Shamire, tell the others to be on their guard. The dragons won't fly past the delimitation. It will be up to us to finish the job."As he said these language Harry looked toward the sky and saw the imperial creatures 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 capability. There's still reverence 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 structures encircling the clearing were suddenly. To Harry they appeared like massive spires of darkness that shot into the air. Each one was four to five feet across. Harry touched one ; it felt like the automobile trunk of a tree, but it was cold, lifeless. Mikael motioned for the others to spread out and encircle the pack. They were outnumbered four to one, but nearly all of their adversaries were lame, in litters or modest cots that spread across the open field by the rafts. At one end was a large, Shirley Temple Black nullity that rose from the grass to the sky above. Dementors, thought Harry. Could he hear the audio of vocalisation, arguing ? Before them was a sensation with an aura more intense than all the others. Harry knew at once who it was.

"Voldemort,"he whispered.

A few minutes later, Mikael gave the signal. Harry and many of the others surrounding the camp mold spells to push the monolithic trees aside. Harry was worried that they might act as an alarm and kick in away the moment of surprisal, but the trees moved. A dozen possible action appeared all about the great circle.

The werewolves were the starting time to leap through. From all management wizard and Centaur poured into the field. pointer, magical spell and counter-spells streaked across the air. Harry's mind was focused on one affair - the magician at the far end of the camp surrounded by darkness. Moving closer, he could discover the screams in his mind, but he had learned to control the fears brought on by the Dementors, to see all emotion if need be. Still, as he approached Lucius Malfoy the more angry he became. The light-haired wizard's back was toward Harry ; he was seemingly oblivious to the onslaught and still speaking with the darkness of Dementors. Were they laughing ? Harry didn't care if his foe's back was turned ; he would vote down this metre, avenge so many of the deaths he should have stopped long ago. He was so focused on killing he barely heard Katana cry out.

"They're Muggles !"Only ten 1000 away from attacking his hate foe, Harry turned to see what she was talking about.

"These aren't wizards !"she yelled at the people laying in the litters and crib that filled the discipline."They're Muggles ; they've been immobilized."

Harry heard a high-pitched common cold laugh from bum just as each tree surrounding the field split open with a great egg white Christ Within.

"IT'S A TRAP !"Harry cried, but too late. Wizard lamia and expiry feeder spilled out from the fissures in the Tree that had been hiding them. Harry's second waving, thinking it had its adversaries surrounded, now found itself surrounded. The werewolves had already started to set on defenceless Muggles, getting them to turn their attention was proving near impossible.

"Now,"hissed Lucius Malfoy. The Dementors that he had held back against the far end of the subject were released. hundred 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 Centaurus to wreak them all down.

Harry turned over on his stomach and watched as the Inner Light of souls 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 wiseness of Dakhil to know what to do. Or did he ?

Rubbing the band of onyx with his thumb, Harry held out his script toward a associate group of lycanthrope that were unsure who to attack.

"Hear me !"Harry called out. One of the lycanthrope turned immediately. It was Remus.

"Harry ?"he yelped.

"The expiry Eaters by the trees !"yelled Harry. Remus and the group of loup-garou turned toward the trees and ran. All that is but one. Fred remained, with eyes of flaming, looking retiring Harry to the dark thaumaturgist behind him. He charged.

"Fred, no !"yelled Harry."He'll kill y—"A red stunner came from the side, slamming the werewolf to the ground."Fred !"

All around Harry's grouping was falling like stunned brownie, some by red lighting, some by immature. Dementors were swirling about as if waiting for the order to suck the souls out of the survivors. spoilage, Harry suspected. Harry looked toward the mountaintop. Where were Antreas'forces ?

"I should have waited,"he whispered into the sod.

"It would not feature mattered,"said Malfoy in a mixed high, cold drawl. Harry spun to spue a piece, but his verge was expelled before he could turn around. The next thing he knew he was immobilized, stiff as a control board, but well aware of what was happening. He spit. His mouth was working, but try as he might he could not ferment his head. He heard Katana screaming in annoyance somewhere behind him.

"Isn't it delicious, Potter,"Malfoy asked, stepping close. Harry could smell the stench of the sensation 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 control than young Saint James the Apostle Chang. He wasn't going down willingly.

"Since I was a little boy, I've always loved that speech sound, the way it penetrates the ear and rings the soul."

"You have no someone, Tom,"snapped Harry."You're a shell, a third of what you once were."

"And yet here I am, and there you are. A one-seventh of my power would be enough to destroy you !"Flecks of spit splattered against Harry's face - he felt them. The harbor charm protecting his eyes had been broken. Lucius touched Harry's font.

"A few scars… not too bad. And the eyes… well, one can always find oculus from a willing donor."He laughed. Harry could hear the battle raging behind him, but here between the two, time seemed to stand still. Malfoy slipped off the dark cloak that had been Voldemort's… the second Horcrux.

"I couldn't posse you before, potter ; some silliness about love. But this…"He stroked the black cloth of the cloak."This will deepen all that. You might say it's everything inside me that was ever dear. Who needs such things, eh ? Ah, yes… you do, don't you ?"He shook the cloak like a big blanket and wrapped it about Harry's shoulders."There. Its purity always protected me against wayward spells."

"Like a shield surrounding a rotten nut ?"asked Harry dryly."Why put it on me ?"

"Because… with it I can penetrate you, withstand the goodness that binds you. With it I can take restraint of what I once gave you. Since the night I killed your parents my spirit, my power has flowed within the very textile of your being - a fourth Horcrux, you might say. I will use it to take on pure ascendence and when I do I will be whole once more. It does turn 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 head turned yesteryear Harry."Your violence are crushed. Once I take your consistency, I will return to the lair of Singehorn and destruct the but personnel 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 finally present moment on globe to be remembered. Now,"he sighed again,"this won't hurt a bit."

There was a small flicker of intensiveness in Malfoy's aura. Harry watched as the green evil began to come forth out through his backtalk and nose like a cestode being pulled from a bowel. For a moment, the green radiance hung in the air as Malfoy fell to the ground.

"Don't do it, Tom."

The green encircled Harry and penetrated. pain in the neck. The coils of Voldemort's burden wrapping itself around Harry's. Squeezing. Probing. Penetrating. Searching. Harry's skull felt as if it might burst.

Where is it, ceramist ? How are you hiding it ?

The spiral wrapped tighter, the pain sensation became more intense.

You have the stone… and the ring ! But where is it, that which I truly command ?

"cum finisher, Tom… closer."Harry drew in his invader, pulling him good to his inner self."tone unfeigned pain."

Suddenly, Voldemort found that he wasn't in control condition. The coils of his gist wrapped ever more tightly about Harry's, but it wasn't at his command. Still immobilized, Harry's inward self fought his foe, while his outward self saw the comer of Antreas'army and the hideaway of Lucius Malfoy and his followers down the mountainside. It wasn't much longer before Voldemort realized that the swarthiness with which he had marked Harry was no prospicient there.

Where is it ? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ?

"Purity of light. Love harbours no enemies. Champion these teaching, Tom and be cleansed !"Somehow, Harry was drawing office from the good of the gown surrounding him. scenery of laughter, fond laughter from a small boy flashed across his creative thinker. The purity, the good was too much for Voldemort to bear.

This is not possible !
"But it is, Tom. I've been cleansed. Your power over me, our oneness is no longer."

The scene in Harry's mind showed a pocket-sized babe being born. The female parent, near death, held the child in her shaking arms, smiled warmly and kissed his os frontale. Seeing this saying of love, Harry's persuasion betrayed him.

A boy ? You have a boy ? Try as Harry might to break off them, the coil around his essence released. He could feel Voldemort vanish from his consistence.

"No !"Harry yelled as he fell limp to the priming coat. Before the dark came, he watched as the commons swarm of mist disappeared into the woodland in search of yet another organic structure to own - Harry's son.


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 20 - Aftermath
~~~***~~~

She was laughing at him - a joyous, playful laugh that was one share comb-out, one part humour, and all of it provocative. It was the kind of laughter that makes a young man smile back even when he doesn't want to, the kind of laughter that makes the lead of the ears turn red, the impertinence outpouring, and that piddling bit, somewhere near the venter, twist into a midget mile 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 gag, as he jumped all about in the tall green pasture beneath a make blue sky and a superb yellow sun. It was the form of laugh that made one want to express mirth along, to dance and play. The kind of jape that said,"I love you Dad !"and brought Harry to his knees for a hug and a kiss.

They were, all of them, barefoot, running and playing in the summertime's high temperature, splashing through the cool stream that wound its way about the top of the meadow. Faster ! faster ! They ran, giggling, to where the hill turned sharply down, stopped and looked over the border - a tranquil grassy slope that plunged perhaps twenty dollar bill beat before it flattened out into another hayfield bursting with gilt flowers.

Jamie dropped to the ground stretched his legs straight and pulled his hired hand in finis to his chest. Roll with me, daddy ! I'll race you down ! Harry grinned and fell to the Gunter Wilhelm Grass. He'd seen kids roll in the landing field about Hogwarts, but never had tried it himself. As a child in piffling Whinging he never had the fortune to do anything open air, especially if it might have been pleasurable. He pulled in his arms and began to roll.

The tall weed was indulgent and whisked at his font with each kink, round and circle, down the hill. He could hear Jamie laughing, louder and more rambunctious than ever before. With a flash and a spin, Harry glanced at his son, seeing joy and happiness, a smile that would melt the coolest of hearts, and… red eyes.

Harry spun once round and looked again. The boy's laughter grew more shrill, high and cold, but the fount looked flattened, snakelike. He tried to make out, to terminate himself from spinning, but his arms wouldn't relocation. They were pinned to his chest as tightly as his legs were held straight. Faster, Daddy, Faster !

It was as if a heavyweight snake had wrapped itself about Harry's entire body ; its enormous gyre constricting as he continued to revolve, spinning uncontrollably down a hill that had no end. The smoke was whipping at his face, tearing at his centre. He tried, but he could no longer see his son. But the high, dusty voice remained. Are you dizzy, pop ? The sky had grown shadow and frigidity and the world shuddered as the solid ground beneath Harry gave way, and he began to plummet downward into the abysm.

He woke, each corner of the room spinning about in a different direction. His arms flung out as he grabbed cargo deck of the linens covering his bed, clutching them for good life, trying to steady himself and find a sense that he was no longer falling, no longer trapped in the incubus - the beginning he'd had of Voldemort since last class. Still, clinging to his bed as if it were a I plank in an exposed ocean, everything twisted, tumbling this way and that. He… he couldn't help it. His stomach turning in air mile, he retched out onto his bed, onto the wall, onto the trading floor.

"pigeon hawk, Harry !"

His dead body began to shake, and the nausea swelled up once more exploding out of him. He wanted to digest, to hold on to something more tangible than a onionskin bed pad, but he couldn't ; he was so weak he could barely lift his munition enough to sour his question to one side. It was defective than his hangover after Duncan's survive political party in Little Whinging.

"The potion, by the bed, see if you can get him to take a swallow."

A hand reached out… a blue vile. Harry recoiled.

"Come on, mate, just one swallow. 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 take that I am so much better looking than my furry crony ? Besides… he drools."

"Saint George ?"

"pip on, now take a swig."

Harry turned his headland and let George teem the blue liquid into his sass. He swallowed, and almost immediately the nausea passed. Remnants of the impuissance wracking his consistency still remained.

"better ?"

Harry looked up at George I and found a big, toothy grin. He looked over to the corner of the room and found Marek, standing near a small wooden desk, smiling. Beside him, hanging from the wall was a black cloak - Voldemort's cloak.

"Bad dreaming ?"Marek asked.

"Something like that. I thought—"

He could see Marek smiling at him. He could see George I's red hair. Blinking, Harry reached up toward his heart.

"Oh, no,"said Marek, gently holding Harry's arm."topper not to touch for a few days. I expected you would find somewhat disoriented once you could see a bit, but I never thought it would be that extreme."Harry was silent, looking about the room - the sheets were Theodore Harold White, stained with splodge of dried blood, and there was the wooden mesa in the far quoin. He'd sensed that before, before the battle, but never noticed the sculpture on its breast font - a flying lizard gilded in gold.

"Well, go on. What do you see ? Blurs ? icon ? newsflash of dark and visible light ?"

"I… I see everything. You… you are St. George. I thought maybe Fred… Fred ! Is he okay ? Is he— ?"

"He's getting his things together right now,"interrupted Saint George."We need to get him domicile. I think you know why."Harry simply nodded."The boy about here say you had a pretty hefty hand in seeing my crony to refuge, the bullet-headed brute."The tizzy on the door flew surface and in take the air George V's twin.

"Pigheaded ?"he squealed."I'm not pigheaded ! I eat pig-heads for snacks. Now you, dear brother… yes, just looking at your face make's me salivate."Fred started to make lave sounds as he stepped snug to George. Harry wanted to smile, but he couldn't. His heart were rasping and his visual sense began to blur - not because of any reverting, but because of the tear beginning to well within them. He did indeed know why George IV had come to fetch his sidekick : their mother's funeral.

"So, where's Charlie ?"Fred asked."I thought he was going to bring the portkey and check in on the dragons."

"Probably met some German language beldame in a pub on his way over here,"answered George.

"I think his sense of taste lean more… French, don't you ?"

"Oooh, la, la."

There was a brief silence, and then Harry swallowed heavily and asked,"How'd I get here ?"

"You don't retrieve ?"asked Marek. Harry shook his headspring."well, the way Antreas described it, after he and his forces arrived at the clarification, the enemy began to run. It was as if someone simply popped a balloon. Whatever bluster the opposition had, whatever drive them to aggress, disappeared.

"You began to heal the spite, Muggle and Wizard alike. Igneus saw that the fight was over and landed on the field of honor, breathed fervency into that endocarp 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 force you off when it was elucidate you were using up your own animation forcefulness. You'd have both been dead."An look-alike of Mikael's boldness flashed across Harry's mind and along with it a memory of frustration. He had to use his own life energy, not that of the Harlan Fisk Stone. The stone's power may not be used for members of the Votary. It is prohibit. Harry could remember reaching further and further to get Mikael's lifetime 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 bring him back. You can't bring back the dead. It was the last affair he remembered, before the incubus.

"How long have I been out ?"

"About eight hours,"answered Fred."We just had lunch."

"Is that how all the Weasleys Tell meter ? By what meal it is ?"

"Yeah, pretty much,"said George. This was followed by an ill-chosen secrecy. There was now one LE Weasley and, at least in Harry's mind, it was all Harry's fault. He wanted to tell them how it happened, but he couldn't find the words. Marek broke the stillness.

"Scripture of the battle got out as soon as the cloud of Dementors lifted,"he said."The parson in Britain asked immediately for news of the situation and the status of his son. We told him the conflict had been won, but his son was in no condition to climb down the great deal to where he could Apparate."

"A bit of a doctor's over aegis I'd say,"chimed in Fred.

"So George IV and Charlie were to fare with a portkey and think their brother."

"And in all honestness,"added George, seemingly concerned,"he shouldn't have been that far behind me. He said he was going to take care of a few things with dad."

"Well he's not much of a climber,"said Fred."Now if there was a damoiselle in distress here at the compound, maybe then—"Again, the nominal head flaps of the collapsible shelter flew open ; it was Charlie.

"Geesh,"he said with a winded gasp."There you are."His face was rush and sweat was dripping from his hilltop."I didn't see you the wholly way up. I was only a few transactions behind. Why didn't you wait ?"he asked George II, and then his eyes narrowed."You don't seem too winded for having just climbed an hour."George VI bore a mock look of surprise, which instantly drew a scowl on Charlie's grimace ; 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 said."We were going to hike together from the lower perimeter. I… I guess I forgot."George VI stood, reaching to the niche behind him and grabbing his broom."I thought it might be easygoing if I just flew up."Charlie looked like he was ready to explode."Sorry, I didn't think you might want to hitch a ride."

"Why you little—"

"Now, I'll have none of that in here,"interrupted Marek. Charlie stopped and pulled his wand back, giving Marek a nice, promptly nod of the head.

"Right, sir."Regaining his composure, the older Weasley wiped his forehead, but still gave George a looking at of pure flack. Then his eyes fell on Harry who immediately looked away.

"Hi, Harry,"said the elder Weasley."thoroughly to see you're well."Harry said cypher in rejoinder. He was afraid that if he spoke it would all dribble out in a blubbering mess.

"Gent,"said Charlie,"do you mind if I have a Logos with Harry alone ?"

Marek and, after some cajoling, Fred and St. George finally departed, leaving Charlie and Harry to themselves.

"So… I see your eyes are better,"Charlie began. Harry blinked, still not able to concord George's gaze.

"Yeah,"Harry answered quietly with a thin 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 armed service for Mum - with full Ministerial pageantry. Dad never wanted to be pastor ; I think maybe because he knew that the day would come when… one of us… fountainhead, we can't always have peace, can we ?"St. George wiped his eyes with his sleeve and took a trench breath."There's… there's a office of Dad that doesn't want you within ten kilometre of him…"Harry nodded that he understood,"…and a part of him that wants to sustain you closer than the eternal sleep of us."Harry looked up and George took his hand ; both their heart were wet."Harry, you're a member of the family. You were as much a son to Mum as I was and we want you at the service."

"We ?"asked Harry pointedly, but Charlie dodged the question.

"feel, if Marek says you're well enough, will you come in with us ? The portkey can pick out us all."Harry shook his head.

"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 eyes and saw the heartfelt serious-mindedness there. Since his accident on the pitch, he'd missed that power, the power to front into the Windows of a sorcerer's individual and get laid if the words and the emotions matched. Reading auras he could pick out, to some extent, truth from lie, but the subtle nuance of desire, the intricate patterns of joy and sorrowfulness, those were hidden in the optic. He could see them all playing about Charlie's face and knew that he should join them.

He was about to say he'd go when he remembered the battle, the green locoweed, 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 French Republic ? Charlie continued.

"I just saw her this dayspring with Anthony Goldstein at St. Mungo's."

"Marcus Antonius ? Is he— ?"

"He's fine. He's in the Lapp elbow room with Ron. Ron should be released today and from there we can Apparate to the Borough. Susan Brownell Anthony should get out in a few days, hopefully before Christmas."Charlie continued to sit as Harry sat up with some importunity and put his pegleg over the edge of the bed. Charlie smiled."Cho was holding a baby boy. I guess the two of them… well, you know."

"Yeah, I know,"said Harry standing up and slowly walking over to his dress that were folded on the tabular array.

"Then we're on ?"asked Charlie.

"We're on."

Harry dressed and then folded the black cloak over his arm, as the two went out into the large cavern. Harry had expected to see it filled with injure, but there were only a handful of necromancer and the few of them were simply standing about talking. Katana was speaking with Antreas and other fellow member of the Votary. Visually, she was more prominent than ever. Dakhil, however, was no where to be found. When she saw Harry, she walked over to greet him. She put her arms 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 footstep behind her embrace Harry about the shoulders, thankfully less forcefully.

"How is Singehorn ?"Harry asked."And Talisan ?"

"amercement,"Antreas said with a smile."They are both fine. Singehorn is finally well enough and began his journey to the East this morning. fauna around the human race, not just Dementors and centaur, are using the return of Ebyrth to ignite old hatred. The war it seems is spreading, and the old draw must be rekindled among the dragon families."

"And Dakhil ?"

"Resting. For the outset time in sidereal day the sun is shining brightly. We are, all of us, somewhat tired."

"Just one more thing left to do,"said Harry."I need this stored in the rookery, against the west paries where it will be safe."

"The rookery ?"Antreas asked as Harry handed him the cloak.

"Conceal it near the recession to look like the large Black granite stone."

"I know the one, but—"

"It's important that it stay good, that it stick hidden. The dragons will ward the rookery until the last of their fire fails. And Antreas… don't tell Dakhil."Antreas folded the cloak about his own arm and nodded although his supercilium was furrowed.

"Very well, Primate,"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 battles to be won."A grin snag across Antreas'face.

"Perhaps you face one with my sister for risking your neck again."

"And yours,"added Harry with his own grin.

"It is just to see the gleam in your eyes once more."Antreas stepped faithful and put his arm about Harry."I have to say that your healing work was miraculous at the base of the mountain, choosing to mend all rather than just your own soldiers. mother was right to bestow upon you the stone. Your passion for life… well, it was something my father was once known for ; he would experience been proud. And if one day the stars so choose, I can think of no other that I would rather yell brother."He smiled as Harry's face reddened.

"Well,"said Charlie,"the crime syndicate's growing crowing by the minute."He called for Fred and George to number over as he pulled out a bag that held the portkey, an old leather football that had deflated. Before they all took hold Harry looked back at Antreas.

"Whatever the time to come, 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 regret it too much it was over. They landed with a thud on a morose marble floor veined with flecks of Au ; Harry had come to disdain that Harlan Stone. Harry fell to one stifle while the others remained on their base.

"Thank Merlin ! I was beginning to worry. Is he… Harry !"

Harry looked up to find Hermione looking back at him.

"Your eye !"she exclaimed."You can… can you ?"Harry nodded as he stood up. Hermione wrapped her arms about him in a heavy hug, a sad chuckle whispered across his ear."The darkness and the luminousness. Oh, Harry, it's been madness."

"What do you imply ?"

"He's got Dragon locked in the Ministry, and he aims to see him tried for the murder of his wife."

"That's laughable ! 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 commemorate properly. Maybe with time we could change his judgment, 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 III,"They'll tidy it all out in the trial."

"What trial ?"snapped Fred."The ferret out confessed."

"genus Draco didn't kill anybody !"yelled Harry."I was there, retrieve ?"His mind moved back to the scene and his voice grew quiet."Her hands… her hands were on my shoulders."He reached up as if seizing for the memory of her touch."I tried to stand in time, to shield her with my body, but… she tried to save me."Harry smiled sadly in warm admiration."I felt her last breathing place against my cheek and she died in my weapons system, crumpling to the floor."Harry began to thrill."Draco didn't elevate his wand against a soulfulness.

"Voldemort killed your mum,"he said, looking directly at Fred,"and saying it was genus Draco is an abomination to her memory. mollie Weasley could eat the likes of Draco Malfoy for lunch and ptyalise him out before supper. I've never seen a adult female use a baton the way… the way…"He couldn't refinement.

"Harry,"whispered Hermione,"it gets risky. I need you to get along over here and sit down."Harry hesitated."Please ?"George VI slapped Harry on the shoulder.

"Go on,"he said, giving Harry a tenuous push."We want to hear this too."Harry acquiesced and sat following to Hermione on a wooden bench. She took him by the hands. In the corridor just outside the Welcoming Hall, necromancer and Healers were walking to and fro. Some recognise each other with hugs of joy, others with weeping of sorrow. Here death and life battled daily with one another, a delicate Libra the Scales that had been tossed on its head upon the return of the Dark Lord.

"Now, try to stay calm."Her words were anything but calming.

"Yesterday, Cho came with the baby to visit Anthony,"said Hermione."Everyone believes it's his child."

"Yes,"said Harry dismissively."I don't care what people 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 I and Charlie were trying to postulate in Harry's affirmation.

"When she arrived at the hospital, she asked where Gabriella was. Evidently the two were to meet here, hoping that they might recover you or at least discern your whereabouts. Only, the thing is, Gabriella never showed. She hasn't been seen since she left Cho and Anthony's house in La Mure."Harry moved to stand, but Hermione held firmly to his hands.

"We just got Holy Writ about an hour ago,"she continued."Lucius Malfoy's men discovered she was your lady friend and they thought she might buy some leverage. They've taken her and are holding her hostage."

"Where ? What do they want ?"Harry's words were sharp, tense.

"We don't know where yet,"replied Hermione,"but we do know what they want."She paused.

"fountainhead, what is it ?"asked Harry."Give it to them !"

"They want Draco Malfoy."Harry laughed, as a moving ridge of relief passed over him.

"That's leisurely. He's inexperienced person. Just let him go."

"He's confessed to murdering the Minister's wife."

"This is harebrained !"

"Dumbledore was here a little while ago,"she said."He met Mr. Weasley in Ron and Anthony's hospital room. I don't jazz how, but I think he's convinced Mr. Weasley to go ahead with the exchange."

"Then why seaport't they— ?"

"Draco refuses,"cut in Hermione."He swears he's shamefaced 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 cryptic breath.

"Then wrap his arse up and send him to his Padre with a red bow !"snapped Harry.

"They can't,"answered Charlie."It's Ministerial law. In any prisoner interchange, 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 father wants him at his face, or… or…"If Voldemort thought that Draco 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 interchange,"said Hermione.

"What's that ?"Harry asked, his mind distracted by the possible action that Dragon might actually be in trouble.

"He demands to see you."