Harry Potter and The nativity of a New Sun

Chapter 6 - Too end an Encounter

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When Harry shut the threshold to his room and descended the stairs he was, perhaps, the happiest he had ever been in all his life. The sun sent golden rays streaking through the coloured windows above and cast a golden image on the floor below, tinged with sufficiency red to make Harry opine fleetingly of Fawkes. His fuzz a tangled mess, he was wearing a T-shirt, boxers and wind sleeve, one with a rather large cakehole through which the prominent toe on his good foot protruded. He scratched his breadbasket as his nose took in the odor of something that resembled the smelling of burning ham. He took one step down and turned to look back at his room. His room ? His house ? No, not really. Not anymore. And he was grateful for that and smiled all the more as the aroma of fresh coffee filled the air, perhaps the only affair Sirius could machinate properly.

When he pushed open the threshold to the kitchen of routine twelve, Grimmauld Place, he found Sothis working feverishly in front of the stove. His wand was casting tour after while, not so much at the food preparation, but in an endeavor to clear the smoke that was billowing throughout. Harry walked over and turned down the flaming with a Wave of his hand.

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

"No, really, I wanted to make you breakfast. You know, first day of school and all."He cracked an egg and put both liquid and carapace in the Sami bowl and started mixing it with his scepter. Harry chuckled kindly and shook his head in disbelief. It was corking being free of Privet Drive, to be here with his godfather, to feel wanted and appreciated. It was probably the first clip he had ever opened a software package of bacon for breakfast without a tartness taste in his mouth. He gave Dog Star a looking at that said,"Get real,"and then positioned himself squarely in front of the stove.

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

"You know,"said Sirius pouring two cups of coffee,"I hear New York is spectacular at Xmas meter. Have you ever been to the States ?"Harry shook his head."Maybe we could go for a quick visit."

"I promised Gabri—"

"sojourn,"Dog Star cut in."That's all. Maybe Gab can come along."

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

"Or if the war's over by then,"suggested Sirius with more optimism. Harry nodded plating the intellectual nourishment and levitating the scale to the table.

Sirius ate like a dog and finished in about three minutes. Harry was more musing, and while he did polish off, it took him much longer. The nice thing about being of age was that he didn't have to take the air or carry a car to go to King's crown of thorns place. For that matter, he didn't need to go to Riley B King's Cross at all ; he could Apparate to Hogsmeade and walkway in from there. Only the fountainhead Boy and head teacher lady friend had to take the train with their housemates, and this class the mind missy was none former than Hermione Granger. Odd, Harry thought, considering she'd nearly killed Theodore Nott last yr. He smiled and took another sip of coffee. Hermione didn't know who the Head Boy was, but it wasn't Ron. Still, the carrottop 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 persuasion sent a frigidness shivering down Harry's pricker as the ardent coffee slipped down his throat.

"Any more bacon ?"asked Sirius rummaging through the crusted pans about the stove.

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

Sothis poked at it a few times, and then finally took a bite. His face took on a slight bitter tone as it scrunched ever so slightly, then he took another chomp, shrugging his shoulder joint. His teeth and tongue covered in charcoal he said,"You'd secure get quick. Is your tree trunk packed ?"He glanced at the hourglass on the counter.

"Er… yeah,"Harry lied."Just a few more things."He levitated his plate to the sink which was piled high with weed and genus Pan from the last few days."Do you require me to take care of these before I—"

"I'll take care of it,"Canicula lied."Go get yourself ready."Harry shrugged and nodded his foreland, and started up the stair, once again scratching his stomach and knowing full well it would be days, perhaps week, before the sink was cleared.

It was foreign really, getting ready for his finally year at Hogwarts. So often he was rushed in the bunco game and bustle of the Weasley phratry. This year, however, Harry wanted to be with his own mob — Sirius Black. And it was the best decision he'd ever made. It had only been a few twenty-four hours, but in that short time Sirius and Harry did absolutely… nix. There were opportunities to talk about the old days when Sirius palled around with James ; there were chances to exercise progress enchantment or learn the cognitive operation of some of the golden legal document that still lined the paries in the Black family report ; there were times when they could have discussed how Harry brought Dog Star back from behind the drapery ; and at every play, at every open door, Harry and Sothis simply took the time to enjoy each early in the here and now. They played chess ; the meet visiting card ; they raced Caduceuses across the Jack London sky at night ; they drank, probably too much ; and they laughed more than they had laughed in a farsighted, long time. Canicula'center had never been brighter, and Harry's heart had never been lighter.

This fourth dimension when Harry readied himself at the figurehead door to leave, there was no sullen swarm hanging over their chief, but rather an eager excitement about the year to get and what it would make for. They drew strength from each former knowing that whatever war was around the corner, whatever shadow rose on the celestial horizon, they would present it together. For a moment they just stared at each other and around the room.

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

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

They held each other for more than a moment and then Dog Star whispered in a somewhat raspy 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 lately morning was clear, and he was surprised to ascertain the air so frigid. He'd been spending so much time inside with Sirius he hadn't thought much about the conditions. His coat was in his proboscis, and he didn't sense much like opening that in the middle of a street filled with Muggles. He shivered, rubbed his arms, and continued on his way. He was coming to the first footmark of the station when a mendicant boldly stepped in front line of him demanding a donation. Wearing a good three days'stubble, his apparel were filthy, and his intimation smelled strongly of alcohol.

"Come on, mate,"he wheezed."Just a 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 snub the trespasser."Really,"he said over his berm,"I don't have any money."The man grabbed Harry by the arm.

"I can hear the doggerel in yer bloomers, boy !"It was true 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 face the beggar.

"yell me a boy again, and you—"

"You'll what !"spat the wino, stepping toe-to-toe with Harry. The mickle was a bit risible since Harry was not the small nestling he once was. Indeed he was a strapping new man, and he stood a skillful four inches taller than his opposer. Curling the finger on his rightfulness helping hand, he was about to say just what he'd do when a familiar tingle ran up his spine. He grabbed for his wand, but too late. Or at least it would let been if he had been the target. The drunk stood motionless, eyes glazed, body frozen in side. Harry looked up just as a deal gently took him by the arm.

"Sorry about that, sir,"said a young man not much 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 courtship with thin bluing piping, a burgundy tie and white shirt. The dark drinking glass reminded Harry of old James hamper movies, but the white tennis shoe with red lacing told Harry at once he was dealing with a wizard. Then he noticed the configuration of the jaw, the vocalism, but the hair—

"Finnius ?"Harry asked, wondering if he was talking to the late Head Boy of Hufflepuff who at graduation had a start at a face fungus and hair that hung down to his waist."I thought you were going to get a band ? The… er, The Grindly Gutters ?"

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

"Why ? What's the matter ?"

"Well… see, I'm supposed to—"

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

Finnius pulled Harry by the arm just as the drunk began to follow to his senses. Quickly, they climbed the stair and found themselves in a sea of people heading to their program at King's Cross. diaphoresis was popping out on Finnius'frontal bone and Harry wondered if he hadn't wet himself he looked so anxious."It's just… well, I promised Tonks and already I've made a mess of things."

"You work with Tonks ?"Harry asked with a bit more excitement and stake. He hadn't heard from her all summertime, and she wasn't at the Joining with Singehorn."Is she okay ? Where is she ?"Finnius continued to usher Harry toward program nine and three-quarters holding Harry with his powerful deal and wiping his forehead 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 line of work at the Ministry stopping point class, she's been in and out of hospital and… well, now she's in and… wellspring, she made me hope. 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 hospital ? What's wrong ?"Finnius looked away from Harry's intense gaze.

"Ah, here we are."They were at the platform."Just in meter too !"Before Harry could say another word, Finnius gave him a bit of a shove and he plunged through the wall and found himself on the early side of meat standing just in front of the Hogwarts express. Harry dropped his body, reached for his scepter and started back toward the wall when he was tackled from the English. The flare of raven black hair in his facial expression 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 agitation."What's wrongly ?"And then she too looked at the wall to the outside world."Who's out there ?"

The frustration on Harry's face was clear ; he was about to charge back out when his eye caught something he had never before seen : Neville Longbottom was hugging his parents, Frank and Alice, good-bye. Alice held his typeface in her custody and planted a big wet kiss on his cheek. They were all grinning as Neville wiped it with his sleeve. Then Frank Longbottom handed his son something and, as Neville wrapped his finger's breadth about the objective, a more serious look came into his oculus. His dad slapped him on the shoulder and a tenuous smile appeared again as Neville boarded the train.

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

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

"ALL ABOARD !"the director called.

"Dean said he'd save us a stain,"said Gabriella, taking hold of Harry's handwriting. Harry took one last look at the bulwark behind them, and then the two boarded the geartrain. The corridor was crowded with students, particularly initiatory age who were completely confused. What was noticeable, however, was that the formula dividing line of theatre geographical zone seemed to be somewhat blear. There were Slytherins purposefully mixing in with Ravenclaws near the front of the train, and a group of tierce class Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors in another posture playing snap. A few railcar down Harry just caught a glimpse of soul in Gryffindor robes disappearing into a pusher and so he and Gabriella followed. He pushed open the carriage door only to walk in on Neville and Helen snuggling ; a angelic redolence filling the air.

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

"Yeah, he's up forward."Then, with a confident moving-picture show of his scepter Neville shut the room access in Harry's face, following that with a magic spell that sealed it tight. Gabriella just raised her eyebrow and smiled.

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

They continued moving forward past various bearing when the fanfare of red haircloth caught Harry's eye. It was Ron, and he was bickering with Hermione. The floor of the coach they were in was littered with clothes, script and diverse matter Harry knew to be Ron's, most notably by the overabundance of socks.

"Honestly, Ronald,"said Hermione in a scolding vocalism as if talking to a four class old."If you don't receive it soon you'll have to tell prof Flitwick, and if you won't I will."

"Is that a menace ?"dig back Ron, holding both hands on his rosehip and kicking at the pile of clothes on the floor. Gabriella walked in first.

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

"No, nothing's wrong,"snapped Ron immediately."Er… hey, mate !"he said with a wave at Harry.

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

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

"have you tried summoning it ?"asked Harry, starting to rummage through the clothes on the carriage flooring. The steeled facial expression of fire in Ron's eyes said that they had certainly tried that and many other things and would Harry just not make any former hypnotism because Hermione has already made every possible suggestion known in the Wizarding human beings and none of them have worked.

"Hermione,"said Gabriella with a 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 trick, most probable Teddy. Would you join me and perhaps together we can solve this little problem."Knowing Hermione's tendency toward Nott, Harry wondered if it was a wise idea to put the two in closing propinquity, but Gabriella may throw been on to something. Certainly Nott would have the motivation to pull 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 spirit at Ron before she left and said,"And don't you stop looking !"The second the little girl departed, Ron flopped down on the carriage bench and blew the hairsbreadth out of his eyes.

"Bloody hell."

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

"looking at us, Harry,"said Ron with a whimsical look on his font, tinged with a bit of moroseness."We were here six class ago, you and me. Do you recollect ?"

There was a here and now of silence as Harry watched the countryside pillowcase by. It wasn't the Saami train as six yr ago, but it might as well have been.

"Yeah,"said Harry, almost in a rustling 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 Potter, The Boy Who Lived, and I was Ron Weasley with a spot of stain on my nose."

"That's not—"

"Now we're both of age and you're Harry potter, Protector, Guardian and envoy, the wizard that destroyed Voldemort and brought serenity with the behemoth, and I'm Ron Weasley the kid that can't get his BLOODY scepter !"At the end words he stood up, kicked at the wall, and put his boot all the way through.

Harry was trying to muster something to say when the threshold began to open up. Angry, Ron instinctively reached for his verge to thrash the door shut, but it wasn't there. He growled like a king of beasts and was about to physically slam the door shut when Patrick O'James Whitcomb Riley, now in his second yr, poked his head through.

"Was that you, Ron ?"asked Patrick brightly, nodding his top dog toward the hole 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 secure to remain calm,"we don't have clip to—"

"Prob'ly mad ‘ bout losin'this,"interrupted Saint Patrick, and he held up Ron's baton. For a moment Ron sputtered, ineffective to talk. Finally, he grabbed the wand and pulled it close, cradling it like a child as a wave of easing passed over his body.

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

"Oh, I didn't,"said 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 okeh, kid."At stopping point 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 Changs 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 St. James was going to go Gryffindor this year. He knows he can pick whatever house he wants doesn't he ?"

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

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

"Yeah, it was."

"Why on dry land would anybody choose Slytherin over Gryffindor ? Everyone knows they're naught but a bunch of—"

"Yes ?"Gabriella stood at the open doorway, her fingerbreadth drumming against the frame.

"Er…."

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

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

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

"organism nearly killed can do that to some the great unwashed,"said Ron.

"I could feel right away he was telling the trueness,"said Gabriella,"so we decided to make out back. Patrick told us he found your wand."

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

"There, you see !"said Gabriella,"Another fine illustration. James was one of the amend first base year pupil as I recall."Ron pulled out his baton 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 snub the mess on the floor."So how's Dog Star doing at Grimmauld place ?"

The hours passed quickly as lunch came and the late good afternoon brought drooping eyelid to everyone. James Dean never made his way back to the posture, and they never endeavoured to move further up the train. They were all nodding off to log Z's when the train began to slow.

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

"No,"said Hermione with a bit of concern."It's too early."They all noticed the last-place word leave her lips in a puff of bullet -- the air was growing colder by the second. They knew at once what was happening and each had their verge at the ready. The wickedness outside the wagon train filled with flashes of light. Ministry guards had moved out to forgather the onslaught which was centred toward the front of the train. incantation 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 vernal students.

"Ron,"said Hermione with a command voice."Help me pile up the inaugural years."Ron was up in a flash, and a bit later his voice was barking orders down the corridor for everyone to stay calm, calling for the first long time to muster at the galley. Students began to incite toward the rear of the train, away from the fighting.

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

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

"You can't be grave. Who knows how many are out there. Your best using the train as a—"The train lurched forward causing collective screams all up and down the corridor. Then it began to move -- chug… choo-choo… chug… choo-choo… She was quickly gathering speed. There was another flurry of bright white flashes of get off cast against the darkness, and the afternoon light suddenly reappeared and the warmth returned. Everyone cheered as the head covering of swarthiness became nothing more than a dark cloud on the horizon behind the train.

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

"Don't EVER do that again."

"But—"

There was a scream that Harry knew at once to be Ginny's. In a flash he was out the door and down the corridor, only a footmark ahead of Neville Longbottom, and two pace behind Ron. Ginny was on her human knee in the carriage, interrupt methamphetamine everywhere and teardrop streaming down her eyes. She grabbed her buddy by his sleeve.

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

"But… but he's right here, Gin"answered Ron, looking at James Dean who was still seated on his chairwoman, but looking out the windowpane 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 vacuous, his typeface sunken, and his cutis almost pale. He gave them no reaction at all. Ginny stood up and wrapped him in her coat of arms, rocking him back and Forth River. On her finger was the ring doyen had given her the year before. The firestone with which it was set had lost its brainy glow, its flame, its 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 clenched fist and squabble,"roll in the hay war."other than that, only the rumbling of the railroad train and the lead whistling through the shattered windowpane accompanied Ginny's sobs. He stepped future to Gabriella and watched helplessly as Ginny, a somebody mate if ever he had one, rocked back and forth with James Byron Dean in her arms. James Dean, breathing but lifeless, made no reaction. He might as well be a cadaver - he'd be upright off. Harry felt the rage building within, but something was tempering it, something was focusing it. He gazed into void as smoke streamed by the broken window and a tear tracked down his cheek.

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

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

"It won't do any goodness,"thought process Harry to himself, reaching for his wand and then nervously fiddling it with his fingerbreadth. Then, out loud, he whispered,"He's gone."The fury roiled in his brain as he watched the green J. J. Hill roll by - a moving-picture show complete day. Finally, his judgement found its lucidness."This was past forgiveness,"he thought to himself and his hand clenched tightly about his wand as he pulled it to the gear up."I'll vote out them ! I'll kill them all !"He would Apparate back down the lead and demolish every Dementor that moved. He began the wrist movement when Gabriella grabbed his arm. His center shooting fire into hers."I told you—"he began.

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

"I don't deal 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 look from everyone.

"Harry !"shot Gabriella."THINK !"She pulled him close."You know a bettor way !"

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

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

Voices ? Voices ! She couldn't be good. She had wanted to work with him on the voices, the gifts of those who had touched him at the Joining, but he chose instead to spend his clip with Sothis. All those acquaint at the Joining on Singehorn's mountain were, in various mode, a part of him now. They had shared of themselves freely, but there were so many he couldn't sort them out and time was dripping through his fingers.

"I can't."

"You must."

For a import, as more voices clambered about the corridor for a countermove on the Dementors, he tried to reach down mysterious inside, calling to those who had shared of themselves, scanning through unnumbered retentiveness, snippet of pictures that spanned centuries.

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

"Come on, Harry ! Let's vote out them !"somebody called from tail. It was Anthony Goldstein. Very well said, thought Harry, but Susan B. Anthony's Patronus would be lucky to push away a single Dementor let alone dozens. Unfortunately, before Harry could say another word, Anthony gave Harry the most curious face and shouted,"For our family, married person !"There was a pop and Goldstein was gone. It was followed by another pop and another snap. fourth-year students were Disapparating from everywhere.

"Wait ! blockage"Harry yelled."You're… you're not ready !"

"mama's seen them, Harry,"said Gabriella above the cinch and soda water."She may have sex. Think of her… be her !"

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

"Coldness. Emptiness,"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, blood dripping from the street corner of his mouth ; he saw himself hanging from the window on Privet Drive, an odd glow surrounding his half-naked physical structure ; he saw Grigor looking cruel and defiant ; he saw the cold dead body of Antreas, thrust wounds covering every column inch of his bare chest ; death, and then he saw them.

It was night and the only strait, beyond a lonesome thigh-slapper in the duskiness, was the rough breath of the oncoming Dementor. Just a few feet away, a offspring fille was cowering beneath the cloaked figure. Just to her left was a man, somewhere in his late twenties, a dragon emblazoned on his right forearm. Ignoring the man, the Dementor pulled back his cap revealing its skull-like masque of horror, a large hole where perhaps a rima oris should be. The vision seemed so genuine Harry tried to get hold of for his wand, but found his limb shackled to a stone wall.

The female child screamed as the Dementor drew in its hint in a great wheeze. Another scream… another wheeze. On the third base wheeze, the girl made no sound ; her dull eye opened, staring blankly up at her attacker. It was then, as if empowered with a back visual sensation, Harry saw it : the gleaming. He watched the faint fortunate white light being pulled into the muddle in the Dementor's porta. He expected it to disappear into the darkness, but it didn't. The Dementor pulled his lens hood up over his skull, but Harry could still perceive the luminescence trying to press its way out. It was as if the Dementor was shining, backlit by a spotlight from above."I see,"Harry whispered and the darkness rushed away to be replaced by the lighter and rumblings of the racing Hogwarts Express.

"I see !"cried Harry."I…"He paused."Soseh can see,"he said slowly shaking his head."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 female parent's gift of sight, and her optic were telling him that she too must go."No,"he said flatly."You're staying here."

"It's the only way, Harry,"she said, still holding his arm."If we find the one in time, then… then you use the stone to draw back Dean's life force."Everyone looked at the two as if they'd both gone mad. There were pace racing their way down the corridor. Harry glanced back, knowing that once the Aurors found out about the approach and the escape of the bookman they'd be blasting Dementors right and left. With one wrong spell, James Dean's soul would be lost forever.

"We must go now,"she insisted. Harry held the bridge player 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 middle of an minacious thunderstorm that had extinguished the sun. All was blackness save for the flashes of lighting - wandlight from the attacking scholar. Harry felt the estrus rushing out of his bones and heard the belly laugh in his ears.

"Can - you - see - the - one ?"Harry yelled over the din. His vox held Hope, but his heart had none. There were at least a c Dementors swarming about, skimming across the hillside, trying to resolve if the recently arrived wizards were to be feared or consumed. Harry saw a Patronus, the shape of an enormous owl, plunge into a radical of about a half twelve Dementors and sent them flying. About 30 thousand away, near a tie-up of tree, Goldstein's baton was doing little More than lighting up the pocket-size clearing of grass in movement of him. A Dementor was closing in on him when three students from Ravenclaw converged, simultaneously casting an Incendio go and incinerating the creature. Harry's essence skipped. Could that have been—

"This way !"hailed Gabriella, pulling on Harry's arm as she held her center shut. She was pulling them closer into the ingroup. Harry conjured a stag that split the sea of Dementors, if only for a minute, the falling out shutdown behind the bright fauna as it passed through. But in that bit, Gabriella squeezed Harry's arm.

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

They were plunging right into the heart of the swarm of lightlessness. 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 focus on Harry and Gabriella, the Dementors seemed to prefer the easier prey near the trees and began to prompt away. He could try the shrieking behind him as Gabriella pulled her wand and speak something in Armenian. A Patrick Victor Martindale White glowing enveloped her as if she held a adept at the tip of her wand. She pressed on ever forward, her tempo gathering speed, but her wand dimming as each new Dementor tried to get across its glowing surface.

"hastiness, Harry !"she called back. The terrain was bouldered here and they were moving along the side of a pitcher's mound and the farther they moved along the more steep the incline grew, making it more difficult to cut through. Harry heard a collection of grab behind him ; the Aurors had arrived. He looked back at the great swarm of Dementors unwittingly racing toward the new compendium of emotions. Just as he turned back to look at Gabriella his foot slipped on a Harlan Fiske Stone and his articulatio talocruralis twisted under his weight. He fell to the undercoat and tumbled a good XX feet down the side of the pitcher's mound, scraping the position 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 Benny Hill. Three Dementors swarmed over him - it was the last thing they ever did. Black lineage sprayed all over the ground as Harry blasted his way through, grimacing from the pain in his articulatio talocruralis as he took each long step. It was then that he realized he hadn't a hint what to do when he came upon the Dementor they wanted. Gabriella had said to use the rock, but how ? And how would he celebrate the Dementor from simply fleeing ? His ankle throbbing, Harry past another large tree and came up over the side of the hill. The ground opened up beneath him, running down maybe twenty dollar bill yards and then spreading out into a vast field that stretched on until it disappeared into the dank mist of darkness. Sunlight was trying to come home the misty swarm of blackness casting an eerie red glow over the green landscape before him. It was then when his spirit sank.

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

The shield failed, and Harry heard her scream. He was too far away to do anything but run, and that's just what he did. He ran with all his might, ail stabbing at his leg with each strike at the priming coat as if a snapping snake were ever at his heels. He was perhaps fifty grounds away when an enormous red light salvo from Gabriella's sceptre, filled the air about her, and one of the Dementors burst into flame. Harry could hear its gurgling yell as it tried to fly away, but plunged into the grass starting a small firing, pitch-dark smoke billowing upward. Harry was now XX 1000 away as he watched the second Dementor crouch over Gabriella and he heard her screams.

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

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

"Petrificus Totalus !"called Harry. The Auror went erect and fell to the priming coat. Ten yards. Gabriella screamed again and this metre Harry could hear the raspy wheeze of the Dementor as it tried to draw out away her soulfulness. With a bang-up saltation Harry jumped forward, wrapped his arm around Gabriella and the two of them rolled away from beneath the grasp of the Dementor. When they came to rest, Gabriella was on top of him ; the golden necklace he had given her with the Gryffindor signet - a Lion baring two crimson red oculus - that came from Professor McGonagall hung round her neck and swung back and Forth River in forepart of Harry's face. He had remembered McGonagall's Holy Scripture :"For clip of darkness."And then he heard the voice of Dumbledore, as if he were whispering in Harry's ear, only the whisper was coming from Harry's lips.

"Really, Nicolas ? An entrance gilded chemical chain will ensnare them ? I never heard of such a thing."

The Dementor's growing wheeze signalled its approach when Harry grabbed the petite favourable concatenation off Gabriella's neck opening. He rolled her to the side, feeling the dusty approach from behind. With one last dandy effort he heaved himself upward, tossed the chain in the air and cast a tour he had never uttered before, but one that Dumbledore knew. The tiny golden concatenation grew snakelike in shape and attribute, but its head teacher was the head of a lion with flaming red oculus. With the picture show of his sceptre Harry levitated the glowing, golden, lion-headed snake toward the coming frigidity, and it began to coil itself around the Dementor various times. circle and round in to a lesser extent meter than it takes to undo a shoelace the Dementor was cinched tight from head to toe. Struggling to escape, the grim brute could not move and ultimately fell to the grass.

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

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

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

The vivificus stone had not been used since it was charged at the connexion. Singehorn had told Harry that firing was estimable but lovemaking was something far more supportable. And the stone, snuggled close to Harry's liver, was already covered in Harry's blood. All that remained was the incantation :"courageousness, Wisdom, Love."

In an instant, Harry found himself in what he had, in his own mind, decided was an antechamber of sort. All was white waiting for his request. For a second 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 open malarky,"display me James Byron Dean's mortal !"

He expected to see a swirl of colour, but instead he saw a swirl of bootleg. His heart skipped for fear that he had done something untimely, but his own spirit held tight to the need to relieve his admirer if at all possible. The darkness 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 life history force of the Dementor.

black and rot filled his vision. filament of oily fibre hung from above and when Harry looked to see their ancestry, all that was seeable was utter darkness. He was reminded of the crevasse into which he and Sirius had fallen and a very tangible component part of him wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible. He was cold-blooded and growing colder as he forced is judgement's eye to crusade onward into the depth of the Dementor's essence, an insatiable need to feed.

At first base, the sounds were upstage echoes coming from down a longsighted tunnel, spokesperson perhaps, or animal screaming. Harry moved toward the audio and found the darkness pressing in all around him. Though in here he really had no corporal form, something wet and sticky splattered against his facial expression ; the desire to wretch was strong. Then he heard the sounds again.

Yes, they were screams, but homo screams, calling just ahead. Floating deeper into the dark, his invertebrate 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 outstanding voice of him wanted to fall."I can't do this."He glanced back to see a tiny patch of ashen no liberal than a postage stamp miles away. He could be there and back to safety in the flash of a thought.

Then he heard a vox, net and strong above the others, telling them to quiet down, to listen. It was familiar, but it wasn't James Dean's. There was something nurturing about this voice, something that made one feel safe. Harry pressed forward. It felt the like hours, although it was probably little more than the prison term it takes a virtuoso to blink, when he saw the faint gold luminescence ahead. He ached and felt that at any bit he would collapse and be trapped in this darkness forever. The vocalisation called out again and his pulse rate quickened as he hurried forward. Against his consistency he felt the sensation of ice-cold hands pulling at his sprit, trying to end him, but still he moved ahead. The coldness was unbearable, the signified of care was flood out, and that's when he saw him, towering tall above the others huddled in the mordant muck : Mr. Silverton. It was the like sensation from Hogsmeade that had tried to save genus Draco's sprightliness the year before, but had failed in the endeavour. Harry had always seen him as a rather meek yet friendly man when he visited Hogsmeade, but here he stood taller than life story, translucent in a golden splendour.

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

Harry looked down to see those huddled at Silverton's feet. They were there, nearly a 12 soulfulness, children mostly. Each was translucent, each glowed brilliantly, though some more than others. The brightest of these was the young black hotshot, who seemed utterly lost. Dean looked straight at Harry, but did not realise him.

"aid,"he pleaded in a weak, raspy interpreter."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 mind summoned the souls toward him. Silverton stood firm as if guarding the procession, guiding them toward Harry's bidding. First, and most willing, came Dean, then a young girl with black hair… a boy with bright blue eyes… and on… and on…. Each soul came to… came into Harry as if he were an enormous emptiness pulling them in. When the last left the morass at Silverton's feet the older thaumaturgist smiled.

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

The cold was pressing in on Harry once again, fighting one survive do-or-die approach to keep on its valued treasure as Silverton floated toward Harry.

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

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

"Home."

The blackness began to rush away with a great tearing sound. Harry felt as if his pegleg were being pulled backward by a tether that held him tight to the creation tooshie. trice of varying refinement of 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 secure, more powerful than he had ever felt. But then he realized why ; he still held their liveliness force. He could use this Energy Department, this power in the war to come. They could be victorious ! Then, a slow sigh slipped past his rim, and before he lifted his head off the grass he closed his optic and whispered,"Hhhhome."It was a tenacious, slow, breathless watchword that sent chills down Gabriella's prickle. He could experience the energy plinking out from within him as each soul drifted upward. Perhaps it was a hallucination, for Gabriella said later she saw no such vision, but before Harry the translucent soundbox of all the tiddler hovered for a moment just above him. They looked down, smiling when at last-place Mr. Silverton emerged. He took the minor young woman's script and in the succeeding bit they all rose above the treetops and disappeared from hatful, Dean travelling with them ever upward.

Harry was certain he heard Dean's interpreter utter,"Goodbye."

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

"But—"

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

The air blasted with the story of two loud pops as a distich of Aurors appeared clad in red Ministerial robes. One noticed the Auror some railway yard away on the ground still stiffened by Harry's magical spell. The other reached down to help Harry and Gabriella to their feet.

"You can't stay here,"the Auror said, then he noticed who he was speaking with and turned to his companion."It's potter !"He held Harry more firmly as if his life history might count on it."You've got to regress to the gear. Miss, will you help—"

"Hey ! He fired on—"the Auror that had been petrified began, but in that blink of an eye both Harry and Gabriella had Apparated back to the power train.

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

He was a bit dizzy and confused, but he grabbed a carriage door handgrip and pulled himself up to his feet, taking a shaky footprint 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 eyes and smiled."Thank you,"he said softly."Did I ever tell you that I thought you were brilliant ?"Her face did not smile back. Her mettle were too wracked with care as her eyes darted up the corridor.

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

Two motorcar down there was a throng of scholar that only parted when they realized who it was. When Harry made it to dean's car he stepped in to calculate straight in on Ron's back. His dress were a hatful of mud and pine needle, and the side of meat of his shirt was torn, blotches of rake seeping through, red admixture with dabbled grim. His red tomentum draped down over an arm that was hugging him plastered. It was Ginny's and she was crying. Harry's spirit plummeted and he dropped his fountainhead ; they had failed. Dean had died.

It was then that he heard Gabriella give a tart gasp as she gripped his forearm. He looked up to see her pointing at Ginny's hand. On her ring finger was the prosperous band 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 amercement Gin ; Madame Pomfrey will sustain him patched up in no time."

It was James Byron Dean's representative, talking about Ron. It was shaky but clear up and Harry watched as two arms of deep chocolate wrapped around the redheaded brother and sister in a expectant hug.

"Dean ?"choked Harry, his middle skipping out of his bureau and the crest of his fingers and pads of his human foot starting to tingle.

"Harry ?"asked Dean from behind the Weasley's. Ron spun round and, as he did so, Ginny saw Harry. She immediately let out a squeal of joy. A mo later her arms were around Harry, tears streaming down here buttock and cheer rising up all around the string. Soon, they were all hugging. parole spread that the counterattack had been a achiever, at to the lowest degree with the help of the Aurors that had been guarding the string. If it hadn't been for—

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

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

Harry turned to see a very contuse and a very beaten-up Anthony Goldstein. There was dried smoke in his hair and a bit of stock at the street corner of his mouth, and he still clutched his verge as if ready to cast another go at whomever or whatever might cross him.

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

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

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

"That's the one !"

Everyone turned to see two Aurors in their embattled Ministerial robes making their way through the concourse of students. One, the one pointing his finger at Harry, was promptly recognized. It was the Auror Harry had dropped in the discipline. He was holding the former Auror by the arm 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 distich parted the bunch and were now properly in front of Harry."Thought you could get away with it, did yeh ? Little fundament. You could give birth had us all killed."Then he turned to the other Auror, a very grandiloquent fair sex with mystifying blue eyes and an look somewhere between aggravation and exhaustion. She was about to say something when Marcus Antonius Goldstein stepped in front of Harry.

"Do you have any clew who you're talking to ?"he asked with a smug air of transcendence that almost sounded Ministerial. Certainly, Anthony was destined for great matter in government. It was then that the woman recognized Harry, but the former Auror was having none of it.

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

"What's this ?"the Auror yelled, and he pulled his wand. In response, over two XII wands suddenly appeared pointed directly at him, inches from his fount. The womanhood reached up to get out her associate's hand down just when there was another vox from the far end of the coach.

"Strickman ! PUT THAT DOWN !"If Antony's voice was Ministerial, the new vocalisation was all that and more. Strickman's eyes widened in daze. He'd heard this voice before, last twelvemonth 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 tiptop gave him the wagerer scene over all his peers. Wands quickly found their way back to their proper positions as all the scholar tried to act as normally as possible, considering they had just been through a Dementor attack.

"Ronny. Ginny."He was trying not to point that he was there to learn the status of his own youngster, but the shiver in his voice and the look of relief on his font were obvious for all to hear and see."I came as soon as I heard."Then his eyes met Harry's as he moved past the two Aurors and a spirit of wonder filled them."Harry ?"he breathed in skepticism."I had heard you were taken. That your soul—"

"That was Dean, sir,"answered Harry.

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

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

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

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

"SHUT UP !"yelled parson Weasley."If you say another word, I'll have him do the like to you as he did to Voldemort !"The watchword stung many spike and there was a collective groan, but not as universally as there might have been the year before. Only then did Strickman finally agnize who he had been calling a posterior.

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

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

"Here's your poor boy, 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 James Byron Dean's soul."

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

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

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

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

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

"Harry,"began Mr. Weasley,"I need to speak with you about something very important. I was hoping to take you back to the Ministry with me right now, but under the circumstances it's perhaps best that you stay put. Once you're settled at the shoal, 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 trust that the bulwark at the Ministry are any bettor, sir."

"No. No, I know you don't,"answered the Minister as he stopped to front at Harry."But this is something too important to discourse anywhere else, even at Hogwarts. I'll send for you in a hebdomad or so, okay ?"Harry nodded."And don't worry, Harry. Where we're going no one knows about. Not even I knew about it until just last week. But if what you say is dependable about Malfoy and the Dementors, and certainly this flack 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 Chester A. Arthur."I know you will. That's what frightens me."


Harry ceramicist and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 8 - Engaged

~~~***~~~

The Snitch flitted up time and prison term again only to be snatched into his hand after every escape. He was actually getting quite goodness at it really. Nearly twenty dollar bill minutes without a—

"red cent !"

The stoolpigeon slipped through Dean's fingers and began to zip about the male child'dormitory, bouncing off the bulwark above Harry's head. With a photoflash, few but Ginny Weasley could revalue, Harry had his deal around the fly orb.

"That was corking, doyen !"said Harry earnestly, handing the Snitch to Ginny who was sitting following to Dean on his bed. While Dean was practicing, Harry had been reading a level headlined Miracle at St. Mungo's which described how nearly a XII patients, all victims of Dementor tone-beginning, had suddenly and inexplicably awakened - their souls intact. He turned the Thomas Nelson Page with a smile as James Dean continued to practice.

Madame Pomfrey had prescribed the exercise of stoolpigeon snatching as a variety of therapy to help oneself Dean regain mastery of his neuro-synapses. Even though Harry had returned Dean's somebody, he was feeling somewhat disconnected from himself. It was hard to explain just exactly how he was disconnected. Sometimes he would progress to for something, like a shaker of common salt, and it would muff through his fingers for no cause. Sometimes his erotic love for Ginny was inviolable, while at other times it seemed as if he had no tactile sensation for her at all. In Magical Arts, dean would paint portraiture of birds, animals, or even masses but the images wouldn't move ; they remained lifeless on the canvass. It was all very strange, and no one, not even Madam Pomfrey, knew exactly what to do.

"No one's ever had their individual reattached,"Madame Pomfrey had said shortly after they had arrived at Hogwarts castle. Her solution was to try to re-stitch Dean's soul by having him do both his body and purport.

Ginny held steadfast at Dean's slope ; a lesser char would have left at once. Watching the two of them these stopping point few twenty-four hour period, Harry wondered if his dearest for Gabriella would be able-bodied to hold 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 doyen, truly exhausted."I'm… a bit tired."

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

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

They had been at Hogwarts for three Clarence Shepard Day Jr. and even though the familiar rhythm of classes and trend piece of work pulsed on at Hogwarts, something was distinctly dissimilar. Maybe it was the onrush on the train, the anticipation of what was to come in, or simply that they were in their final year. Whatever it was, there existed, most certainly, a tangible sense of anticipation as if it any second something spectacularly wonderful, or devastatingly dread was about to pass off.

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

"She's my existence, Harry."He lay down on his pillow, folding his weaponry behind his head."I wish I knew why… sometimes…"Dean let out a large suspiration and turned over on his incline, his back toward Harry. Over the last year, dean had grown confident in his relationship with Ginny and Harry no longer shook the instauration on which their relationship was anchored. Dean continued,"I think… maybe this class at Christmas—"

There was a sudden screeching from down in the Gryffindor Common room. It was Hermione's thigh-slapper ; Harry was indisputable. Not an instant later, Ginny cried out, followed by a cacophony of screeches that rivalled the arriving hooter during the first light post.In an New York minute, both Harry and Dean had their wands at the make, and started cautiously for the landing. Just as Harry was about to look down on the Common room below, St. Patrick appeared from the secondment years'residence hall ; his scepter also drawn and his face concerned. There was a third class passing Saint Patrick and running the other direction, trying to lam whatever danger was causing the hoo-hah. Harry didn't realise the boy from behind, but the cerebration of a coward in his house bristled the spinal column of his cervix."A Gryffindor ?"Harry cried out.

The mo's beguilement was enough to cause Dean to bump him slightly from rump. Harry tried to adjust his terms by stepping forward, only there was nothing on the flyer staircase to tread out on. Instead, he completely lost his balance and began tumbling, down and around, head over heals until he landed prostrate onto the floor. Dazed, he looked up to see Ron on the ground also. Well, almost… he was down to one knee, a looking at of pure terror in his heart. Harry grabbed his expert friend by the shirtsleeve and pulled himself up aligning back to second with Ron.

"Where are they ?"he cried to Ron over his shoulder joint, 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 face, Harry noticed the gravid number of Gryffindors looking down at him, all with rather cross expressions on their faces. It was Annapurna who stepped over and grabbed him by the nape of the neck, pulling him away from Ron.

"You idiot !"she hissed under her breath.

Her cheeks a brighter coloration of red than Ron's hair's-breadth, Hermione had to treat her backtalk to keep 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 articulatio humeri.

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

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

"Bloody infernal region,"Harry whispered, stunned by what he was seeing. Parvati pinched his neck opening and pulled him to his feet. doyen was stepping slowly down the staircase and came to a catch on the lower trajectory, wrapping his arm about Ginny's waistline. She had been transfixed, but the fond speck caught her aid and she wrapped both her sleeve about Dean, smiling as she watched her brother propose.

"Yeah, yeah,"said Ron, wiping his os frontale with his left-hand sleeve while still holding out the ring with his right hand. He was anxious, his script shaky, and Harry wondered if he wouldn't syncope at any second. But when Ron's eyes rejoined Hermione's the shakiness stopped and he regained his part. He held the ring a bit higher.

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

He never had the chance to finish. In that blink of an eye, Hermione was down on her genu kissing him deeply, and the Common room whooped out a sunshine that was heard throughout Hogwarts castle. Later, even Hagrid said he heard the revelry when he was out feeding the venomous lava lizards.

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

Hermione held out her hired man and said breathlessly,"Yes !"There was another cheer, more resounding than the commencement, as Ron slipped the diamond ring upon her finger's breadth. They kissed again.

Harry wasn't sure who was responsible, but suddenly food and drink appeared, and before you could blink music was playing, people were dancing and an impromptu party was in full swing in the Gryffindor Common room. It was forte and boisterous, but Hermione had set a silencing magical spell on the rampart, and outside of Gryffindor the Nox was quiet. Harry poured himself a drink and suddenly felt very awkward. Everyone was congratulating Ron and Hermione, hugging them, smiling. Harry sunk back into the corner. Why hadn't Ron told him that he was about to propose ? He watched the smiles and the laughter, but somehow couldn't feel any warmth himself. Indeed, the mentation that were passing through his mind brought back memories of the year before, bad computer memory of jealously and uncontrollable anger. He gulped the drink, and poured another.

Still standing in the corner, Harry was watching Neville help Dean back up the staircase to the son'dormitory, when a voice startled him.

"Pretty amazin'ain't it ?"

Patrick was seated in a electric chair next to Harry. How long had he been there ? Most of the younger scholar had gone to bed or were ushered away. A tedious strain began to play and Ron took Hermione in his arms. The candlelight in the Common Room dimmed and soon everyone was dancing. Harry watched as Ron and Hermione appeared for a moment and then slipped back into the bunch 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 someone so much."Still sitting, he pulled his articulatio genus up to his chin and wrapped his coat of arms around his leg just gazing at the social dancer."Do you think he'd die for her ?"The question was odd, but Saint Patrick was youthful and Harry was a bit drunk.

"He'd die for anybody in this room,"Harry answered with strong tonus of pride."Merlin, he almost did terminal year, Thomas More times than I can—"Harry stopped and looked into his deoxyephedrine, drinking the remains in one net splattering against the vertebral column of his throat. He could finger the burn make its way down his breast as he stared at the empty-bellied deoxyephedrine and could feel it fulfill with guilt. How often had he put both of his acquaintance in jeopardy ? They would both sacrifice themselves to salve Harry, and if the war was truly follow, and it was, Harry knew they'd risk life-time and limb once again.

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

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

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

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

"No Thomas Kyd. No orphans."Patrick uncurled his legs and stood up, walking over to Harry."I plan teh fight, Harry. There's no elbow room fer get laid if there's the probability you'll die."

"Patrick, that's not true."

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

Harry was quick, his head teacher cloudy, and the associate belly laugh were calling from the fog in his idea. It's not your struggle, Harry. Let it go.

"What is your problem ! ?"Lavender's voice snapped. She was only a few column inch in front of Harry, and her face was very cross."Are you going to put up here all alone all night ?"

"I was just talking to—"He turned to point to Saint Patrick, but the boy was gone. Harry looked about and then to the stairway, but the second year 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 affect you're glad 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 call was ending.

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

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

"Why, I'd love some lick too, Harry. Thank you for asking."She deliberately stepped down on his groundwork, hard, and then whispered in Harry's ear,"So serve me, Harry Potter, if you ruin this evening for them I'll curse you from here to Durmstrang."A newsflash later her expression was all smiles as she squeezed Harry tight just behind the elbow and walked over to wear Ron and Hermione were standing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"And utmost night ? Were you too fussy last night ?"Harry snapped, and then he remembered not seeing Ron last night."Where were you anyway ?"Hermione began to redden violently.

"It's none of your bloody business concern 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 front line of her dress. The two young men took no notification. Harry balled his right hand into a fist and pulled back cook to let throw.

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

"You should what ?"he challenged.

They stood there, toe to toe for more than a few heartbeats ; not too long considering their pith were pounding so quickly. Finally, a small smile shattered Harry's scowl and he let go. He threw his right fist past Ron's left ear. Ron saw the smile and returned the wayward puncher with an cut from his own right mitt that flew past Harry's midsection and up under his odd 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 ardent smiling.

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

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

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

"Harry !"

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

"As me !"Ron helped Harry wind up."And don't forget they'll be brilliant Quidditch players just like me too ! Let's Leslie Townes Hope they don't take after their mother when it comes to flying, eh Harry ?"

"Ron !"

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

"It's brilliant. I… I just can't be here right now."He turned without saying another tidings, without looking at another expression, and left the park room.

The halls were quiet ; it was nearly curfew. A few educatee were sprinkled here or there, talking or making their way back to their hall. Harry walked aimlessly down the rock steps and found himself near where Tonks had her old business office last year. They had yet to memorize who would be teaching defence Against the iniquity humanistic discipline. That family had been cancelled this break of day. The lanterns dimmed a bit, signalling that it was time to return to the student residence, but Harry didn't hold much by that signal. 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 nook of the corridor and saying Harry's name without a drip of sarcasm. It was odd, Harry thought, to see Blaise so far off the outwit track, especially at this time of nighttime. Cloak and dagger stuff wasn't part of Blaise's makeup. The handsome thaumaturgist was more prosperous standing in the centre of a group of others to be looked at and admired. He hung with Draco on occasion, but never when it meant peril was about. That kind of stuff was for Nott, or Crabbe or G-Greg. A shiver passed down Harry's acantha recalling the Death of his friend last year.

"Blaise,"Harry answered with a nod.

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

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


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

"Lumos !"he whispered. He held up the distinction and read it again. Was it really from Dragon ? And what was he supposed to talk with Dumbledore about ? What was it he had sensed during the joining ? Hol… Hor… Horcrux ? It seemed so distant now. Perhaps it was some kind of hole-and-corner weapon system that the Dementors would use against the Centaur. Perhaps it was—

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

Harry spun on the Scripture, jumping to his feet and preparing his defence. A shadow figure emerged, dimly lit by the faint glow of Harry's wand.

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

"Impressive."The countersign dripped with caustic remark."I would experience thought you would forget my name again the moment you returned to England."He drew nearer and Harry lifted his wand eminent."Put your verge away, boy,"rebuked Dakhil sternly,"or I'll… let's see… What do they address it ? I'll take points away from your house. Although why you would handle about such meaningless biz when the war is upon you is incomprehensible to me."Harry lowered his wand and the brightness level was extinguished. They were in utter darkness.

"You can't take—"

"Oh, I believe any prof can—"

"You're not a prof ! You can't… Oh, no."He leaned back against the bulwark and, in the darkness, noticed the tenuous jot of light emanating from a cracked door, the door to Tonks'office. Harry sighed."defense lawyers Against the shadow fine art, is it ?"Harry could narrate by the low grunt that a grimace had appeared on Dakhil's face. Clearly, he didn't like the thought any more than Harry.

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

Harry shoved Draco's musical note into his sac, clenched his teeth, and followed. Once, after banging his knee, he tried to fall his scepter but was scolded by Dakhil who insisted on total shadow."Can you not see ?"Dakhil sneered.

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

"There is an energy that binds all populate things together, Harry. You draw from it every time you cast a spell. It pulsates on the wind as the breath of the trees ; it bubbles from the soil crawling with dirt ball and circle. In the very drab of space, it shines as a lighthouse to all who would cry on its name. It is a skill all extremity of the Votary learn before the Joining, save for you."Dakhil stopped. The odour was strong here, dampness and dank and musty with a strong common sense of decline."Even in dying, 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 judiciary creaked under his weight."What Soseh sees in you…"

"She uses more than her eyes, I suppose."

Harry had seen the life military force of others he had try to heal. It was like going to another plane of universe. He just needed to…"centering,"he whispered to himself. In the darkness Harry closed his middle and opened his judgment, reaching out for anything however small that might signal life. At world-class there was aught, and then a bright lambency 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. modeling ? Spores ? It was as if the social organization surrounding them were splattered with an eerie fluorescent paint and lit up by a disastrous Light Within."I see,"he whispered in amazement.

"As long as one sees, one is never lost."Dakhil pulled his wand and a tremendous volley 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 livid glowing pillars that climbed to the sky.

"Your opposition, even though they hide behind such lofty structures are brighter still. It is a crucial skill. With one hand, Dakhil pulled Harry out of the sliver of Wood and stood him on his groundwork in the woods."Now look up."

Harry looked to the sky. It was sprayed with hotshot of every colour conceivable. But in the nitty-gritty was a dark glow brighter than all the others, a gold trail following it in the sky.

"Ebyrth,"Harry whispered.

"Correct, Mr. thrower,"said Dakhil, slapping Harry on the shoulder. He started walking past the trees back to the castle which glowed bright through the leg."As I said earlier, your time to die is near at paw. You may not bring in it yet, Mr. potter, but, aside from both being in the Votary, you and I have one thing, at least, in common."

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

"We are both already dead."




Harry thrower and the Birth of a New Sun
Chapter 9 - The Bending of outer space and Time
~~~***~~~


The rhythmic beating of Gabriella's core lulled Harry as she stroked the side of his head with her hand. He sighed deeply as she played with the steer of Robert Floyd Curl Jr. that wrapped about his shoulders. He forced himself to stay awake, if only to savour every moment that he was being held in her arms. Through the thin cunt in his eyes he watched the lake vanish and reappear into panorama as his head rose and fell with each hint she took. The sparkling H2O brought his judgment to the beaches of Lebanese Republic and he visualized walking with her at the ocean, watching the wafture clangor again and again against the shoring. It would be a perfect place to ask her, he thought. A docile air brought with it the cool breathing spell of declivity and for a bit he thought he could smack the cool table salt air of the sea. Yes, the perfective place.

"We'll miss dinner,"she whispered.

"I never want to move again,"he muttered, barely opening his brim. Her hand slipped down to his articulatio humeri and then stroked the muscular tissue of his arm. They were sore and yet with her jot he could feel the ache ebb away.

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

"AYY !"he said, jumping. It was more tickling than pain, more spate than paper bag."Not carnival ! I was… I was just going…"He closed his eye and began to lay his head back down on her chest.

"Oh no you don't,"she said, pushing his articulatio humeri back and sitting up herself."I like what working for Hagrid's done to you."She slapped his stomach which held tight."Besides, Mama would kill me if she heard I let you bound off a meal."She rose to her feet."Come on, let's get you fed."She held out her mitt to aid Harry to his fundament. Her head was turned so that her gaze was not at Harry but at the castle.

An mental image of Grigor flashed across Harry's intellect and a cold frisson ran down his back… he hesitated. How could she have a go at it ? She couldn't. She was so much like her father, and for the brief of moments Harry was taken back to the torture chamber at the Ministry -- the chamber where Sirius had been lost and found again, the chamber where Gabriella's father, Grigor, had held his manus out innocently toward Harry, just as Gabriella was now doing, only to tie up him and develop him for death.

He drew in a rich breath, shook the memory from his psyche, and took Gabriella's manus, rising to his aching feet. They both whisked away the dry leaves that clung to the bottoms of their robe and turned toward the castling. Harry could palpate the sting in his stage as they climbed the castle stride. Halfway up he stopped, wrapped his arm about Gabriella's waistline and paused to expect at the lake. She took it as a romantic minute and leaned her head against his shoulder. Harry, however, was too sore to step higher. Even Madame Pomfrey's potions weren't enough to hit the throbbing that worked its way into both muscle and bone. A nerve in his powerful second joint shot a jolt of painfulness up into his back and his regard turned toward the forest.

Working for Hagrid ? No. For the hold up few hebdomad he'd been training with the Centaurus. Only he'd felt uncomfortable communion that with Gabriella. He had never been able to lend up a conversation with Gabriella about them without her making an excuse to change the field. It was readable she did not like Centaurs, but she never explained why and Harry was unwilling to push the takings. Another pang flicked down the muscle of his give calf and his mind drifted to the day's training session. Recalling why his legs hurt so, he wasn't so certain he liked centaur either.

"parachuting, Harry Potter ! jumping"cried Ronan. The red-haired Centaur fired an arrow that nicked the left heel of Harry's bare understructure."upper is a Centaur's nifty ally. With it we can outpace the Dementors when they try to fly. Run !"he bellowed as Harry began to slow."If one of our number pauperization aid, would you just walk to their side ?"

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

"Ayyy !"he cried, slashing his foot against a jagged stone.

"Run !"

Perhaps he was wrong.

He had been forbidden to use a wand, and wore naught but a thong made of Tree bark wrapped about his waist with a case for a low sticker used to slash at vines and former vegetation that blocked his way as he ran. In one bridge player he held the sticker and in the other he carried a stone nearly too large to fully grasp. In battle he would carry a buckler, but a gemstone was more awkward to handle, forcing More muscles to lift and moderate it. He was being trained as all colts were. In fact, there were two colts running far ahead of him already - Shahan, with a coat so dark-skinned Harry could no longer see him in the length, and feldspar, whose lustrous white coating shone like a sensation ahead - way ahead. Sweat dripped into his eye and he wiped his eyebrow with his right forearm. Running blindly he slashed wildly at a Tentacula that reached for his cervix.

"You should have seen that, stripling, long before it struck at you !"cried Ronan, loping along. There was the sound of a thwwwwp and a few paces ahead Harry saw a large spider dead near the itinerary he was taking, an arrow between its eyes. Looking back as he ran ahead Harry tripped on a ancestor, twisted his ankle and fell to the ground, his left knee grinding into a aggregation of small stones. The fingerbreadth of his leave hired man were crushed between the gem he was carrying and the stones upon which he'd just fallen. The dagger fell from his the right way handwriting and skittered forward, but before it came to remain, Harry reached his hand forward and without saying a news the sticker returned to his clutches. There was a slight grunt from Ronan. It was neither disparaging, nor approving. It was more a grunt of satisfaction, but Harry did not face back into Ronan's heart to see if the gratification was directed toward him. His articulatio genus and hired man bleeding, he stood to his fundament and began to run again. Now, even felspar was out of view. He'd taken only three or four strides before Ronan called.

"Stop !"

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

"I… I can… pick up them,"Harry heaved.

"I know you can, stripling, but do you lie with how ?"Ronan smiled, revealing a sly grin. Harry had never seen such a look on the brass of a centaur before. It was riddle.

"I hate… conundrum,"breathed Harry.

"Shahan and felspar have been studying for decades the essence of earthly concern's mysteries. It will take them ten more to bring in what is already at your fingertips."The Centaur stepped closer, forcing Harry to bend his cervix upward. A muscle twanged past his right hand ear. Still Ronan advanced until he was only inch from Harry, who could smell the foreign mix of sudor and hair. Ronan looked skyward.

"To see without eyes, to feel without finger's breadth, to try without ears, to taste 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 divulge them."With a movement that was but a blur to Harry, Ronan notched another arrow and shooter at a declamatory flying… matter with tumid dentition that was advancing on them. It fell silently to the timberland storey. To Ronan it was corresponding little more than swatting a fly. He continued,"You must find out the power that took your forfeit and cleansed you, the power that has no strength. What you must master, Harry Potter, what you must endeavour to reach is to be without being."Harry scrunched his nose splotched with dirt.

"Did I say ? I really hate riddle,"he muttered, beginning to take hold of his breath.

"Take my bridge player, child,"commanded Ronan.

The consequence Harry took the Centaur's helping hand the world spun upon its head. Green and Brown University and yellow and atomic number 79 flashed past them in a swirl of people of color. Then, inexplicably, Ronan was gone, and Harry was suddenly running, loping, galloping. He felt woozy, lofty, arrogant, childish…

"I told you the Wizard was a role player !"he cried back over his shoulder joint."Ronan's an old sap !"He kicked his heals and accelerated forward, the confidential information whistling past his ears.

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

"Nothing but silly Centaur fairytales from a doddering old sucker !"Harry yelled back, but his eyes were steadfast forward. The sword lily was ahead ; he could see it, maybe three or four air mile ahead. A smile split across his face, an arrogant grinning ; he was going to win this race and rise Ronan wrong, prove 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 vox whispered in Harry's ear. It was Ronan's."You see with Shahan's heart. Where would you be, Harry ceramicist ?"

Harry looked back. Behind him was feldspar, the dazzling Patrick White Centaur that he'd been racing. Then he noticed his own haunches. They were black as drear coal. He was Shahan, the lede Centaur colt. But how ? His capitulum twisted forward toward the waiting masthead and the gather of Centaurs that watched to see if Ronan's prophecy was nothing Thomas More than idle words and myth.

Where would I be ?

"The flagstone,"Harry whispered to himself, to Ronan, to the nothingness. He focused again. He knew how to get there with a wand : Vision, tract, reconstruction -- Apparation. But he had no wand and even if he did, there was no way to Apparate in the Forbidden woods. The flagstone, a red lighthouse in the distance, was maybe two kilometres ahead of Shahan now and probably three kilometres from where Harry's body stood breathless back in the woodland 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 body. There was a ginger snap - he had returned, his lungs still gasping for air and Ronan still at his English. Harry closed his eyes and his mind imaged the fleur-de-lis that was ahead ; he imagined being there. Space and meter began to collapse, swirling itself, revealing itself. A nerve pathway that moved with his will, guided by Ronan, appeared before Harry. He took in a deep breathing time and stepped forward onto the way. The slap-up span of distance between himself and the red flag suddenly collapsed. Felspar was just out of compass, Shahan appeared to be only a few footstep in front of her, and the red flag appeared as just a few tens of metres away. Harry began to run. The colours of the woods swirled by him, as if everything stood still, including the two Centaur. He ran past Felspar and then Shahan and, in an instant, he appeared only column inch from the pin that marked the end of the airstream. He was surrounded be Centaurs of every colouring, each with tearing oculus marked by only the svelte astonishment of his arrival. As he came to rest, he saw, in the distance, Shahan and only a few strides behind him feldspar. They were both galloping like the malarky, swallowing up vast swath of turf with each step. They would be upon him soon.

Harry felt it was, somehow, a tare. Could all Centaurs bend space and time ? His middle caught Shahan's in the distance, and the once confident, defiant gaze turned to one of near repulsion. He galloped faster, as if possessed, but it was no use. With one hand, his bloody left, Harry reached up and pulled the ruddy pin from its banner. There was a collective cheerfulness as Harry held the flag over his head, spinning to show the gathering. It was then that he saw Ronan, standing in the midpoint of the group of nearly one 100 Centaurus. An instant later Shahan pulled up at Harry's side, his breath heavy, his coat 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 acquisition you yourself may one day victor, Shahan."Ronan turned to the other Centaurs."He has been given the gifts."With this there was a general murmur and whicker of surprisal and approving 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 right front flank.

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

"You're hurt,"said Harry, approaching Felspar and looking carefully at the wound.

"It was a Bearwicken,"said feldspar quietly.

"He's a fraud !"cried Shahan in a tone that was more animated than any Centaurus Harry had ever seen. He stepped forward, pushing Harry aside, but Harry ignored the rudeness and focused his attention on feldspar."He's no leader ! He's a wizard ! It's trickery I tell you."

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

"Like all genius, he'll pour down us all when we turn our vertebral column !"yelled Shahan again.

"The Chosen heals !"asserted a large, distaff Centaur from the gathering. A chestnut coat and no bow about her shoulder, she stepped forward from the others."Did the piddle teach you these gifts or is this wizardry ?"The last Book was disparaging and even evoked some razzing from the others.

"female parent !"cried feldspar."He's the Chosen. How daring you question his gifts !"felspar, combat injury healed, turned to Harry and bowed low on one articulatio genus."As long as Ebyrth radiancy, I am in your help. Only death will shaft us of time."

A number of early Centaurs followed in kind, each bending low to one stifle and bowing their heads. Ronan approached Harry, nodding his head and deflection to one stifle as well.

"You still lack durability and survival, Harry Potter, but these things can be learned. Now, it is time to rest."He held his hand to Harry's middle."Return to the forest's friend."Harry's mind immediately thought of Hagrid."Run !"

The vision of Hagrid's cabin firmly fixed in his mind, Harry willed himself there. Again a path opened up and he took off running. second later, he found himself where he began the day, seated on Hagrid's chair next to the combustion flak, Fang laying at his side and Hagrid singing some birdsong in Daniel Chester French. The logarithm on the fire cracked as Harry, still naked, looked at his Gryffindor robes that hung from a sweetener near the room access. The way they were draped over the hook they almost looked real - lifelike, as if they contained some spirit all their own. Harry's tum churned just as Hagrid turned, surprised to find Harry in his hut.

"Harry ?"

"Harry ? Shall we go inside ?"Gabriella had spun to face up Harry whose heart were remote and bent on the far sensible horizon above the lake. Her voice snapped him back from reliving the retentiveness. He had learned something not bad today, and he'd learned it from the Centaurs.

"Harry ? Are you okay ?"

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

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

"smell, you're tired and it's time for dinner,"she said, deliberately changing the conversation."We can talk about the stars later."Harry nodded silently and together they entered the rook and began to take the air to the Great Marguerite Radclyffe Hall.

Near a prominent suit of armor Harry noticed St. Patrick talking to Henry James Chang. James was leaning against the Harlan Fiske Stone wall, his arms crossed as well as his legs. He was either extremely bored, or he didn't like what he was hearing. Still, Patrick was quite passionate about it ; his weapon system were swinging wildly about and more than once Harry heard him raise his voice.

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

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

"No admiration,"Harry thought,"I feel like I'm going to blow chunks. I must attend 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 staircase.

"I can't climbing those."

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

Patrick followed James I into the Great Hall just as Ron and Hermione appeared from Gryffindor tower. They were headed, arm in arm, into the Great Asaph Hall when Ron noticed Gabriella trying to help oneself Harry toward the stairway that led to the hospital wing.

"Harry ?"called Ron. Quickly, he came over to Harry and helped Gabriella backup him. Hermione was right wing behind him.

"What happened ?"

"I'm fine, really,"demanded Harry, and in fact he was beginning to feel better although the flooring was still a bit unsteady under his metrical foot. They stepped him over to a prospicient bench beneath a with child portraiture of a heavy one-ninth century battle scene. Harry hated it here, he always had ; the clank and crash of brand against armour was always deafening when the combatants weren't sipping tea together, discussing whose strategy was superior in the live on engagement. Ron noticed a bruise beneath Harry's dog collar and leaned in close to Harry's ear.

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

"CHHHHT,"shot 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 piddling Bob Hope of keeping anything private, but he didn't want to discuss his training with the Centaur in front of Gabriella.

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

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

So, Hermione knew. So practically for Ron's sworn oath that he wouldn't assure a soul. Harry rolled his eye 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 character the wrongfulness way. He did.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"This forenoon you were supposed to help professor Barghouti's sec year course of study for their dad deterrent example,"scolded Hermione, also rising.

"What sort of run ?

"Who are they ?"

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

Harry feigned dizziness again and tilted in toward Ron who grabbed him by the articulatio humeri."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 feel that. Hermione knew he was feeling fine ; she'd read the Harry ceramicist Scripture long ago. Both adult female just glared, while Ron was steadfast.

"Can't you see the man's exhausted ? He has to eat !"he exclaimed."Blimey ! springiness him a break for pigeon hawk's sake."He put Harry's arm about his berm."ejaculate on, mate. Let's get you a bite and then we can go over the weekend's exercise schedule. I know Ginny's been playing very well as chaser and all, but I think if…."

In the Great Hall, Dumbledore had the theatre sit wherever they wished for breakfast and lunch, but for dinner each house ate at separate tables from the others. It was a compromise between the vision of the futurity 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 dorm she kissed him on the cheek, holding his left hand. He toyed with the golden band he'd given her the class before on valentine's. There was a twinkle in her middle and a sly smile upon her face.

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

"You know already. You just won't talk about it."His smiling had a speck of sadness as their fingers let go of each former. Her twinkle faded and her oculus would not hold his regard as she turned away. Harry did not search back as he followed Ron to the Gryffindor mesa.

Lavender and Parvati were having an animated conversation about the meaning of a turgid stain on the tablecloth. Parvati had spilt her drink and it left a dark, twirling outline of something resembling, at to the lowest degree to Harry, a magnanimous toadstool. He sat down realizing he did, very much, need to eat.

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

"A Grus,"countered Anapurna, pointing at the foresighted crooked neck of the toadstool.

"That makes no sense,"said Lavender."No, it's a Celtic language whorl and,"she pointed to some glum interior post,"with these here it would represent ageless life."

"No. See this here ? The way the scroll dissolve away ? Not eternal life… life, death, and Renaissance. It's clearly a crane,"Parvati said, pointing out the bird's feature article."Here are the middle, the curled neck, the long legs."She grew more confident with each description.

"Then you're both right,"chimed in Hermione. The two young dame looked up, KO'd expressions on both their faces."The crane represents length of service. eonian life… longevity… same thing."She shrugged her shoulders and took a morsel of dinner.

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

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

"That looks like a murky pond to me, Harry"said Ron, chewing on a reefer of bread."See the enceinte riffle flowin'down the table."

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

"HERMIONE !"cried Lavender.

"How could you !"scolded Parvati.

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

"come on, Lavender."Parvati spun on her heals and took off, Lavender right field behind her, but not before she shot a scathing glare at Hermione. No Sooner had they left the board than Ron let out a snort, a spell of bread shooting from his nose.

"Ronald Weasley, I should…"

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

"And as for you,"Hermione continued, now turning to Harry,"you unspoilt recite Gabriella straight away what you're up to, or it'll spoil what you both have."Setting down his fork, Harry looked up at her.

"Oh, right, and you two are the post horse match for honest and overt discussions."

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

"Don't you think I've tried ! ?"asked Harry, raising his articulation just enough for those around him to terminate their conversations. He knew he hadn't, not really, but he also knew that Hermione didn't know. Her eyes simply looked into his, probing, her face calm. The flavour was unnerving because he knew his own expression was giving him away."Well I have,"he insisted, pushing his plate in for good measure.

He wasn't sure the dramatic event was having the core he wanted. Ron simply nipped one of his leftover cow chip and Hermione only let out a tenacious disapproving sigh. Past the point of retort, at to the lowest degree for this line of reasoning, Harry stood up and left the Great Hall in as foul a mood as he could muster. His psyche focused on the Gryffindor board, he didn't notice the Slytherin that stood as well and followed him out of the Great Radclyffe Hall.

Harry was moving down the corridor toward Gryffindor when he heard the step behind him. He stopped and turned ; only no one was there. He looked over past a suit of armor and then behind a pillar - still no one. Tired, if not completely exhausted, he continued toward Gryffindor and his awaiting homework. He was nearly at the portraiture of the Fat Lady when there was a tap on his bridge player and a whisper in his ear.

"Your days grow short."

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

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

Harry unfolded the piece of parchment."They think it's at the Ministry. Is it ?"was all it said. The portrayal swung open and Harry quickly moved to hide the tone, only he didn't have to. It flashed in a puff of air of smoke and disappeared. Neville stepped out of the Gryffindor Common room followed by the most unlikely of faces - Severus Snape. Strangely neither took much poster of Harry. Beyond a slight head nod by Neville, it was as if he didn't even exist.

"The thing is, professor,"Neville was saying as he past Harry,"if the two theme are to accept the core 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 interrogative is can you do it ?"Neville scratched his chin as they disappeared down the corridor.

"I think so, with the correctly Inner Light. If I can borrow some…"and the conversation faded away.

Amazed, Harry shook his fountainhead and turned toward the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"countersign ?"she asked with a smile.

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

"Erm, sorry,"said Harry,"changed my mind."He turned and headed back down the corridor, wondering if his mystical note conferrer was still nearby. As lots as he hated the thought of climbing back up the staircase, he had to go down and talk with Dumbledore. Besides, the three curlicue on the healing plants of Kirkcaldy could hold back till later.


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 10 - visual modality
~~~***~~~




Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.
The silver instrument rose and fell on Dumbledore's reddish brown desk as Harry stroked Fawkes'feathering, waiting for the headmaster to retort. Not much bigger than a breadbox, it was a strange accumulation of gear wheel and bounce and Harry spent some meter trying to deduce its meaning. The contraption, rimmed with winged animal Harry couldn't recognize, reminded him of a similar gimmick in the Shirley Temple phratry acres at Grimmauld plaza. It too had the same circular halo that ran up a saw-toothed staircase only the Black gimmick was golden, its wing creatures looked more menacing, and Harry had never seen it mesh.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.

blastoff by a springtime, another flatware ring ran up the staircase only to reach the top, falter, and fall into a stack below. The pile seemed to be shrinking as Harry stood watching, but he could not see where the rings disappeared to, nor could he discover the author for the gang that sprung Forth from the bottom. There it was - a never ending forward motion that seemed to have no purpose.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

Unable to moderate himself, Harry reached out and grabbed the silver ring before it had a hazard to descend from atop the modest stairway. The scene changed and he suddenly found himself on the Hogwarts Express walking toward the forepart of the train, two paces behind Greg Goyle. But, this couldn't be - Greg was numb. It took him a minute to realize that he'd traveled back in time. They were about to reach the social movement of the train ; Greg wasn't dead, he was about to die.

Harry tried to address, but no Good Book came. He tried to reach his manus up to discontinue Greg, but it would not prompt. ineffectual to operate his motion, Harry could do nothing but watch history unfold as it had conclusion year. He poked his mind into a stroller, telling a group of fifth eld what was up.

"I've been wondering what was taking so long with the food trolley,"said Ernie Macmillan. Harry explained that the professors had gone missing and Ernie joined him to discern the bother. As Harry slipped back out of the go-cart with Ernie, Goyle took the point and started toward the front of the train. Once again Harry tried to stop his friend when, through the glass doors to the box ahead, Harry saw a witch in dark gown suddenly appear in the corridor. Anaxarete. Harry wished he could cast a killing curse, but it was no use ; he could do nothing. She glanced back, revealing a sinister grin and piercing green eyes. Harry tried to place himself in front of Greg, but was ineffectual to pass Goyle's extensive shoulders. It didn't matter ; an split second later she was gone and an flash after that the straw man of the railroad train exploded with a howling white New York minute.

Harry fell to the trading floor of Dumbledore's bureau, the silver medal ring firmly clenched within his hands. He was shaking, the detonation still ringing in his ears, when he opened his eyes and found Dumbledore looking down at him. The schoolmaster bent with difficultness to one genu and held out his manus.

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

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

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

Tink.

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

"It is a retention book of sorts… a photo album."Dumbledore moved to his desk and sat down, leaning back against his chair."Different for each who reads it."Harry couldn't help but think that the great champion of the age was beginning to designate signs of wear. He had grown much thinner since Harry last saw him at the end of the school year, and his script were beginning to curve in an unnatural way.

"Like a Pensieve ?"Harry asked.

"Not quite, Harry,"replied the schoolmaster."A Pensieve lets you store or get rid of your storage so that you can front them over later. You can select the retention to transfer, to examine."He leaned forward and held his hands together."This is a Möbius Machine. It reflects a wizard's life-time chronicle. It is a never ending loop that plays over and over again, shrinking or expanding to suit the looker. Each silver-tongued circle is a ringlet of a portion of your biography. While the rings play in order of magnitude, there is no way, unfortunately, to determine which memory board, which lifetime experience you will visit."

A shiver past by Harry again, and for a moment he thought he felt the intimation of last voicelessness its name against the nape of his neck opening.

"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 device. He waived his wand and uttered an incantation and the pack stopped running up the staircase, and fell wherever they were in the cycle."I wish your memories could be happier, Harry. I would detest to see you as a tottering old man, sitting down in a dusty office wondering if you could risk reliving the catastrophe that grasping a few ringing might bring. Fawkes quietly vocalized his agreement, as Dumbledore slipped his wand away and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder."I know you have been chosen, Harry. But you need not send yourself between the Centaur and the Dementors ; it is not your war."

"You said it yourself, Professor,"said Harry, looking up into Dumbledore's still bright profane center,"it's the route 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 compensate thing to do. Lucius Malfoy is going to use this to try and sweep up the darkness back across this land, and I won't let him."Harry's own eyes were tearing with determination and rebelliousness."I've been training with Ronan."Harry paused."Are Centaurs magical ?"

"Very much so, Harry,"said Dumbledore with a smile."It is folly for wizards to think they are the most powerful creatures on this earth. You know, of grade, Centaurs have keen sight and are skilled with a bow, but these things are forcible skills that many star dismiss. Ahh… not so, Harry… not so. Why do you think a Centaur never misses his target ?"Harry shrugged."Because a skilled Centaur can follow the arrow all the way to its destination, nudging its flight along the way. They can bow space and meter, Harry. Even while sensation are unable to Apparate on Hogwarts primer, Ronan can go away and reappear wherever he pleases simply by using his mind."

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

Dumbledore said nothing. Harry could order by his locution 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 better custodian of such accomplishment than champion would ever be,"the aged virtuoso whispered, looking down into the lens of the telescope. The instrument was fixed on the component part of the sky through which the comet Ebyrth was now passing. Harry no longer needed a telescope to see the comet's bright tail.

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

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

"Lucius is no saphead,"answered Dumbledore."He'll remain shroud for as long as possible and only work stoppage when he thinks he can win."The necromancer looked up."He can't win, Harry."But Harry wasn't so sure. He turned his backrest on Dumbledore and walked over to Fawkes, stroking the bird's plumage. Harry didn't fuck how to bestow it up, but he had to ask.

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

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

"A… A Horcrux."

The portrayal that were earlier minding their own business, napping, reading the composition, or off to some other situation were suddenly thrown into a tumult. The headmasters of old began complaining at once about the impudence of the youth man to discuss such matters here.

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

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

Dumbledore finally quieted them all by threatening to bring down a tabloid of darkness. His face was tomb, almost pale and the musical note of his voice was filled with big concern. Harry knew at once that whatever a Horcrux was, it was dark trick, but then… did he anticipate 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 contact."Certainly such intelligence does not come from our Friend the Centaurs."

"Well… I… I heard that…"He stalled and then turned back to face Dumbledore. How could he cognise how one employed a Horcrux if he didn't even do it what one was ?"Professor, what is a Horcrux ?"Dumbledore walked back to the silver gray auto that was now quiet on the tabular array. He tapped it with his wand and the argent rings began to stray again. He took a annulus and held it in his hand for but a moment when he laughed and placed it back along its track.

"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 husband would agree."

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

"Oh yes, Harry,"answered Dumbledore."And very happily I might add. He was killed by a expiry Eater when Voldemort first returned. She joined the Order of the phoenix soon after. Since then, she's been our unattackable ally against the darkness."This new news had Harry's head spinning just a bit. He'd always assumed…. Dumbledore turned back to the silver automobile."Can you reckon what it would be like if Professor McGonagall did not give birth the memory of the murder of her husband ?"

"I… I suppose she'd be happy."

"But she is felicitous, Harry. Certainly, if you were to ask, she would wish that he was still at her slope, but she is very happy."Dumbledore's hands squeezed the wooden table and he drew in a deeply intimation. When he turned to await back into Harry's eye, his face was grave and his own eyes unforgiving."What I'm about to tell you, Harry, is not supposed to leave this room."Harry glanced toward the door as if there might be someone there."Harry, I know with whom you would care to share. You should know that it is forbidden. I would not even mouth of it with you, had you not brought it up first. Do I have your countersign ?"

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

"Imagine for a bit that I could split up you into three hoi polloi. Not copies mind you, but three distinct theatrical role of your very essence… your soul. One would stay with the torso you now possess ; the other two would be put away for entrepot you might say. If you, the character of you that inhabits the dead body you now have, were to die, one of the early parts would assay out another body to inhabit… to control. You, region of you, would hold out again."

"Part of me ?"

"The role that you hid away."Again Dumbledore turned to the machine on the board."The lot of rings that you see in front of me here, Harry, is heavy than your was. Why ?"

"You have more memories, Thomas More experiences."

"Precisely ! But a break up psyche would only adopt with it portions, shadows of the memories the original soul carried. Imagine, my boy, if you had to choose… what fate of your soul would you carve away ? What theatrical role of you would remain ? There are many choices. You could chip at out the bad retentiveness, perhaps the destruction of Greg Goyle, and go on believing that he had never died ? But then, what would materialise if you were to die, and the Horcrux storing only the bad remembering was released ? What sort of soured soul would persist ?

"Then there are those sorcerer who believe that it is the cataclysm of a wizard's biography that drives him forward ? Such a necromancer might keep on the tragic memory at the ready erasing all joy and happiness, perhaps the day you first arrived at Hogwarts ?.

"And it's not just memories, Harry. It's also the inwardness of who we are, what we have become, both ripe and evil, darkness and brightness. A wizard must decide how to discriminate each slice of joy and sorrow into flyspeck pieces, sprinkling a little bit of everything into each parcel of your soul, splintering all you ever were into shard of fogged glass that can never really be made whole again. narrate me, Harry, what option would you take a shit ?"

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

"No, Harry, nor would I."Dumbledore's shoulder drooped slightly as if a prominent weight sat straightforward upon them."Thankfully, most mavin and witches would refuse to choose as well. fewer still know that there is such a way one can take ; and only the most potent of those would be capable to take it."Suddenly looking quite tired, Dumbledore returned to the chair behind his desk and let out a deep sigh, closing his eyes."The Horcrux is simply the storage vessel… it could be a tilt, a cloak, a cup—"

"But Lucius—"

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

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

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

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

"Yes,"said Dumbledore, nodding."You also saw Tom Riddle die in the bedroom of Secrets. I had always assumed he had divided himself in two. Who would take a chance fracturing themselves more than once ?"Dumbledore chuckled to himself grimly."Who indeed ?"Then he turned back to Harry."This news palls the skyline with a new darkness. severalize me, Harry, why you believe that someone 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 news. He thought it had something to do with Lucius, with the war that would soon be upon them. He didn't want to believe what he had felt all summertime, what he had felt since returning to Hogwarts, that Voldemort was somehow still animated. But where ? How ? Harry, his optic 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.

"fountainhead, I suppose if you told me, then your promise to hold open our conversation of the Horcrux private would have in mind nothing."

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

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

"Inf— ?"

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

"Sir, you can't. I swore that I'd—"

"Relax, Harry, there will be no want to entail your intimacy. In fact, it's more to our vantage to keep your public 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 have stopped at three. There's no telling."He walked over and stroked Fawkes'plumage, clearly uncomfortable with what he was about to say."I despise secrets, Harry, but if Voldemort has reanimated he may, once again, have agents working within the school paries. I'm sure Lucius does. That we know another Horcrux might exist gives us an border we dare not lose. Do you induce any idea—"The chime of the great clock struck twice.

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

"But—"

"Go on, Harry,"interrupted Dumbledore.

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

"Harry, there are those that we can trust—long-time friends and soul mates. I understand that you may be compelled to assay help. If you must discuss this, keep the conversation within the bulwark of Gryffindor."Harry paused for a bit, taking in the master's words.

"But that means—"

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

As Harry walked down the corridors toward Defence Against the shadow fine art form, his mind was spinning with the new selective information and trying to endure everything that Dumbledore has shared with him. Within the paries of Gryffindor. Even though this year bookman were free to enter the commons room of any house into which they were invited, Harry knew exactly what Dumbledore meant ; he shouldn't trust Gabriella. He pondered how he would keep Gabriella out of any treatment he might give birth with Ron or Hermione concerning the Horcrux. Maybe he was expert off not saying anything to anybody. His concerns about Gabriella faded quickly, however, when arrived late to course of instruction and Professor Barghouti took ten distributor point 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 course of instruction so that he could sit in back. He like the majority of the form wanted to sit in as far away from professor Barghouti as possible. For well-nigh students it was because their professor was a vampire ; Harry simply didn't like him. Every time Harry looked into his middle he felt that he had to testify himself worthy ; that he was somehow lacking when it came to the Votary. Now, having arrived to class late, Harry had to sit in look next to the only other scholar who would : Hermione and Gabriella. Harry took his buttocks side by side to Gabriella who offered him a supportive smile after he was chastised by Barghouti about prison term management.

"Now, as I was saying,"said Professor Barghouti with a bit of a drawl that reminded Harry all too much of a hybridizing between Snape and Malfoy,"before we were so rudely interrupted… Occlumency is more art than learned, more nature than upbringing. Nonetheless, even the most inept whiz,"he looked at Harry,"can con to repel at least rudimentary endeavour to diffuse the mind. Fortunately, virtually of you are sorely lacking as Legilimens."Barghouti stared once again at Harry.

"I want each of you to find out a collaborator and while one attempt to riddle his better half's mental defences the other will use the proficiency you described in final night's homework duty assignment. For those of you who found the designation to long-winded and take instead to practice Quidditch,"again he looked at Harry,"expect to pass the evening with Madame Pomfrey as she treats your headache."

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

"Yes, Ms Granger ?"

"What if hoi polloi don't want to induce their minds read ? It is, after all, a violation of personal space."

"True, Ms. Granger ; it is a misdemeanor. But then, so is the Killing torment and we've learned to defend ourselves, as best we can, against such an blast. Would you prefer to birth your thinking read freely by Lucius Malfoy's spies ? Have them know your program so that they can bolt down you or your fuck ones when you least bear it ?"

"But—"

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

Hermione's backtalk pursed as she crossed her coat of arms. Harry knew that look before. Still, he didn't think that it was such a big mint. 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 Fang, but all that appeared was a straightforward row of bright, pearly teeth.

Harry turned his desk about and sat opposite Gabriella. He had let her into his judgment many prison term before. There was something playful, almost titillating about how they would pass on in this way. While she had become quite adept at curling herself around Harry's persuasion, she never went cryptical than Harry offered. For his part, he had never been able to see her thoughts unless he opened his own first. They always had to play in Harry's thinker, and he had never tried to push her away. She was smiling at him, a twinkle in her heart, as she took his hand in hers. It wasn't until their hands touched that his heart skipped. Foremost in his intellect 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 break off her from reading his head.

"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 nous. How ‘ bout I try to get into yours first ?"She said cypher, trying to put his Christian Bible in alliance with the spirit she was sensing."That's okay, isn't it ?"he asked.

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

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

"You know you can't."

"I can try,"he shot back with a bit of defiance. His articulation was heated for no good intellect, and he knew she'd horse sense that as well. If he stayed flustered, she'd be right ; there would be no way for him to come close to reading her mind.

Around the class some students were having effective success than others. Most attempts were fairly week and were being met by straightaway standoff. This resulted in more than a few students being knocked backwards out of their hot seat. Ron was popping down on to the soil more times than you could shake off a wand at and Barghouti was taking great satisfaction in being able to push back Ron's forward motion. Just behind Harry, Hermione had teamed with Neville who, at the consequence, was trying to penetrate her mind. Avoiding Gabriella's eyes, Harry took a abstruse breath.

"Ready ?"he asked.

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

Harry began to rivet as best he could on Gabriella's cerebration, but all he was sensing was the back of his palpebra. Squeezing his center closed more firmly, he heard another large thumping that he took to be Ron's seat once again striking the slate floor. It felt like an eternity, but at some point he could get wind Gabriella calling his name. Not with her backtalk, but with her creative thinker. Instead of pushing him back, she was trying to palaver him in. Even with the assistance he was finding it extremely difficult to drive his way through the darkness to her persuasion. Not aware that he was now grabbing the border of the desk with his deal, he redoubled, tripled his elbow grease to crusade his way in.

Suddenly, there was a jolt from buttocks. Trying to bottom into Neville's creative thinker, Hermione had been repelled backwards and fell against Harry. She grabbed his shoulder and began to rend him backwards. Without thinking and still focused mentally to penetrate Gabriella with all his power, he reached out toward her. She grabbed his paw and when she did the view in Harry's mind changed. The speech sound was sucked out of the way and all was shadow. He had penetrated Gabriella's mind ; but what was this… her memory or something Thomas More ?

The whirl of the class had disappeared and an eery silence surrounded him. He heard first, a rushing of water, a drip-drip-drip, a rustle of parting 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 child he was holding in his arms. This was no retentiveness ; Harry was himself in this imagination. He found that his robe were soaked. Both he and the untested fry, still less than a year old, looked as if they'd just come from the lake. The infant, glistening wet, was wrapped in dark flock of dampish cloth, dripping on his boots. A hired hand touched his shoulder from behind.

"You'll have to shoot precaution of him now, Harry."It was Hermione, her vocalization seeped in sadness."She'd want it that way."

A kick of care began to teem itself over Harry. He was cold, shivering, tooth chattering, the nipper 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 shout, to run, but when the child looked at him his heart warmed and his declaration strengthened. Slowly Harry's finger brushed the small fry's cheek.

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


Harry potter and the nascence of a New Sun

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

bass part pounding, strings reverberating, the ring was loud and Harry was not feeling all that well. He slumped back, sinking into the tumid, overstuffed chair and rubbed his temple. Why did he let Ron and dean challenge him into a imbibition duel upstairs ? The Quidditch peer against Hufflepuff was tomorrow and he swore he wouldn't take a sip. But then Ron convinced him that they were two-hundred stage front-runner over their babe house and why not celebrate… a piddling ? It was Halloween after all ; their last at Hogwarts.

Feeling a bit drunk, he then had let Neville convince him to eat far too a good deal during the banquet. Why not ? It was, after all, their last Hallowe'en together. And then when he had stepped outside for some fresh 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 voice was more openhearted than chiding as she set her paw upon his berm. She had tried this feeler once already ; it hadn't worked then either. Harry didn't know why she wouldn't just let it go. okeh, that was a lie - he did have it away. That was just what Hermione did. She wanted to resolve a job that she didn't understand and not knowing the answer was driving her mad. Nonetheless, after her protest, Harry had simply rolled his heart and shrugged his shoulders.

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

"You need to tell 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 common cold and drunk. He shook his promontory, disagreeing with Hermione, unceremoniously pushing her aristocratical hand away, and had wandered, stumbling a bit, back into the dance, where he had found the skillful cushy hot seat he now was melting into. Frustrated, Hermione had left his side before he entered the Great residence hall, and he was thankful for that. Rubbing his synagogue, Harry considered the new song. Yes, the lot was very tawdry, but everyone was having a great meter.

The Great mansion house was dreary save for the spots that bathed the band in an eery orange tree and over-embellished light. Now and then a row of candles burning at the front of the microscope stage would flash bright, sparkling into the air. It was the only time you could make much of anything out, except when a prof's scepter grew bright, lighting up two snogging student typically in a darken corner covered by the fog that floated some three substructure off the floor.

Harry was surprised to see Patrick dancing with a third year female child from Slytherin, if you could forebode his revolution dancing. The lad was flailing his branch and pounding his animal foot ; Harry expected to see him smiling, but 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 earlier bet. He smiled even more broadly, thinking that Ron would have to go three dark straight without wearing any socks. There was another undimmed flash and he caught sight of Gabriella passage by Jesse James Chang as she entered the Great Asaph Hall. heart blurred, Harry thought she had been carrying something, but couldn't make out what it was before the elbow room went glum again. His stomach churned ; he did not palpate well at all. A moment later she was at his side with a stone mug in her manus, steam boiling out the top and rolling down over her hand.

"You owe me for this !"she called out over the raging music."Ginny told me what you did upstairs. You can't do that, Harry. It's too dangerous for you to be this vulnerable."She handed the mug to Harry, who was nodding his head even though he couldn't make out a unity word she was saying, and squished in next to him on the oversized cushion. Harry took a provisionary sip. Feeling her lovingness next to his, Harry was surely she had been praising him for drinking Ron and dean under the board. There was another photoflash of sparks and he noticed a few of the young bookman including Saint James and 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 visual sense began to sack. He was feeling better, but he was growing tired. When he set the mug down, Gabriella took him by the hands.

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

"A Slytherin inspired me,"replied Harry, smiling back at her now that the ringing was leaving his ears. He glanced over at the snake that was over in the turning point of the Great Hall. The few first year bookman that remained were still lining up to be swallowed by the large, greyish creature with fierce yellowish middle. Once swallowed, educatee were transported to the front of the point where the band was playing. It was the only way the younger educatee could make their way to the nominal head of the horde that crushed up against the stagecoach. If they were golden, they got to sing with the band. If they weren't, the older students would toss them to the rear of the gang. This deep, it became more a biz than anything else with first days finding some sort of treat or intermixture from Fred and George's shop in their pouch by the time they were flung out of the gang.

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

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

Harry was suddenly nervous, remembering where he was and what he had done survive yr at Allhallows Eve. At first he tried to look away, but he could feel Gabriella's dim centre penetrating his impression, so he turned to her and tried to change the field of study to something he knew she wouldn't want to verbalise about, especially not here.

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

At best it was difficult to hear, and with the long pause and total want of reaction on Gabriella's part, Harry wondered if she'd even heard him. He tried to reiterate 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 eyes 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 first year go flying off the stage and be thrown to the back of the Great antechamber, 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 other ! ?"

Harry was taken aback. He didn't expect that she'd lack to talk at all about it. His eyes darted toward the anteroom off the Great mansion house. No one could get in there save professors ; yet Professor Dumbledore had taken Harry there the year before and he remembered how to get in. Still he hesitated, but then his heart began to slipstream a bit, cerebration of the opening. It was dark ; if they stayed conclusion to the rampart no one would see them slip behind the stage.

"wellspring ?"Gabriella called out.

Harry took her head and nodded for her to surveil. It wasn't easy making it to the bulwark, but the crowd was focused on a particularly screech song by the lead Isaac M. Singer with bass notes that pounded the level and tossed folks off their substructure. Undetected, Gabriella and Harry slipped into the side way and the medicine instantly fell away. The anteroom was dimly lit by the ardent glow of the fireplace and a smattering of lit candles. Beyond that there wasn't another joint of furniture in the plaza. Harry paused, thinking about the right tour, but before he put it together, Gabriella had conjured up a nice vis-a-vis near the fireplace.

For the briefest of moments he thought to ask Gabriella about what he had seen in her mind, but being in this particular elbow room on this detail night caused memories of Cho to hotfoot over him. His emotions were mix in between fervour and worry. He hadn't heard from Cho since schooling let out and when Gabriella offered to chaffer Cho at her home, Mrs. Chang said that she had gone to the States and wouldn't be back for the rest of summer. The only if student who had any contact with her at all was Antonius Goldstein who seemed to be her fellow now. He seemed to gloat that he knew something that Harry didn't and he wouldn't say a word about what Cho was up to ; only that she was healthy and happy and that they'd be seeing a lot Sir Thomas More of each other after he graduated.

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

"Who ?"asked Gabriella, a bit obnubilate.

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

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

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

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

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

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

He leaned over and kissed Gabriella hard against the sassing. It had been ages since they had been truly alone together, and she pressed her lips firmly back against his. Her arms wrapped around his cover and she pulled him blind drunk to her breast. His hands slipped to the warm, voiced flesh of her venter. Thoughts of Centaur visual modality slipped past both their minds in party favor of former, more enjoyable, action.

Later, as Harry was tying up the lace of his trainer, he realized how artfully Gabriella had managed to keep him from asking her about the vision they'd seen. She kissed him one last time as he reached for the knob on the door that led back out to the Great Hall. There was still a concourse of people crowding against the stage when they slipped back out of the ante-chamber. They chose not to trip the light fantastic toe and instead made their way out to the front end of the castle. It was well by midnight, but there were still a few couples huddled together, watching the nighttime sky. It was the most spectacular Halloween Harry could think. The stars were brilliant, but then he saw it. His gaze froze and his grinning fell.

"What ? What's the matter, Harry ?"Gabriella placed her hand against the incline of Harry's grimace and then looked to the heaven above her shoulder."What's wrong ? What do you see ?"

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

"What ?"

"I don't see how it can arise lots brighter. I see it during the day now."

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

"Where's the war ? I don't know why things haven't started already,"said Harry, but then a thick, scratchy vocalism broke the night's still.

"What makes you think they haven't ?"

Both Gabriella and Harry jumped. It was prof Barghouti. The moment the other couples saw him they began to scramble up the fronts dance step of the castling, constantly casting backward glances to micturate trusted he wasn't following them, and occasionally reaching for their necks as if to reassure themselves that they hadn't been bitten. Harry forced himself to regain his composure, but Gabriella had beaten him to it.

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

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

"Just got back then, did you ? wing a bit threadbare ? Slurp up a few tourer along the way ?"

"Harry !"Gabriella snapped.

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

"Dakhil !"chided Gabriella. Barghouti merely chuckled again and the teeth became full-strength and pearly white.

"You may not see it, boy,"said Barghouti, tapping Harry across the face with his expectant paw,"but your war has begun. Does that clear you sense better ?"Harry's eyes were incredulous.

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

"The Centaurs of the Great wood are not the solitary centaur in the world, boy. And, as much as you might like to trust that England is the eye of the public, it is but a very lowly function 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 farsighted case now ?"

"Because, oh chosen one,"Barghouti sneered,"your friend Lucius Malfoy has enlisted the helper of vampires and hence his selection of initiative ten-strike - the Carpathian Mountains. Only they're not just killing Centaurs, they're wiping out anything and anyone in their course - all of them Muggles. A whole hamlet was destroyed. The Muggle written document are reporting that the ravaging was due to a gas explosion."A fit of air popped between his sassing."I must refund to Singehorn for a few days. I fear my old friend may actuate to intervene and replicate old error. Professor Dumbledore has been informed and professor lupin will get hold of care of my classes."

"waiting ! 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 raging, as if Harry had started the whole matter ; as if Harry had placed the comet in the empyrean himself."Why don't you try saving this school first ? Why don't you try saving THEM ?"His handwriting shot out toward the trees that surrounded the school ; all was dark. Harry squinted, which only made Barghouti all the more worsen.

"Have you learned NOTHING ?"he cried. There was a small squeal from one of the remaining scholar near the castle doorway who quickly ran inside, slamming the door behind her."Can you not SEE ?"

Harry looked again into the darkness, squinting. Then he remembered. He took a deep breather and closed his eyes. Then, he reached out with his brain toward the wood. As Dakhil had shown him before, all surviving thing began to look before him - the gage, George W. Bush, and tree diagram all glowed brightly. He scanned further out and then saw it : a Centaurus some ten yard into the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, bow in hand. gesture to the right caught his visual sensation again - another Centaur, another bow. Harry continued to scan. Every thirty to fifty grounds another Centaurus stood precaution, watching over the shoal in the darkness. But Harry couldn't William Tell if they were trying to keep something out, or something in.

"What are they doing ?"he whispered.

"I am fag out of teaching the ignorant,"Barghouti muttered."The Centaurs can smell the duskiness, sap. It is already upon you. You would be wise to rule its germ before it swallows you whole."In a swirl he disappeared before Harry had a prospect to say another Holy Scripture. The sound of flapping fender, faded to nothingness. What he noticed, after the dust settled, was that Gabriella's digit were digging into the soft flesh of his forearm.

"What— ?"He looked over at her and saw pure fright on her face. She was mesmerized, staring intently at the swarthiness of the timber. Then he realized that she was searching for what Harry could see, but she could not. She was afraid of the Centaurs. She took a stone's throw behind Harry, almost as if using him as a shield against the shadow, and then pulled him toward that palace room access.

"Let's go inside,"she breathed.

"They're protecting us, Gab,"said Harry, trying to calm her nerves."They won't hurt you. They would never bruise you."Her eyes never left the forest and, if anything, the fear that filled the Shirley Temple kitty of her middle slipped toward anger.

"Now."

Harry sighed and nodded his question."Alright,"he acquiesced, and followed her up the step, noting that she was ever sure as shooting to keep his physical structure between her and the iniquity of the woodland. When the threshold finally closed behind them, he could see the weight face lifting from her berm and the relief spread across her face. She leaned back against the threshold, placing her hands over her grimace. Harry stepped cheeseparing, touching her shoulder softly.

"babe, what is it ?"he asked."What's wrong ?"The hands upon her side began to tremble and tears began to streak down her impudence, one by one, but she would not cry, not out loud. Slowly, her eye turned to the side to look at Harry. He'd seen that look when Gabriella lost her Father, Grigor. It was a look of dubiousness, of fear, of death. Without saying a word, she shook her principal and turned to take the air away. She'd gone only a few paces before Harry called her to terminate, but she wouldn't listen. She past the stone column and began to head down to the keep, to the entrance of Slytherin. Her groundwork did not cook the first step before Harry grabbed her by the arm and spun her around.

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

When he came to, he was lying on a ticket floor, but he wasn't at the top of the staircases leading down to Slytherin anymore. He was bound with ropes, unable to travel, in some way, well lit by great mullein. The paries were Edward Durell Stone, and along their top was a crown-moulding made of oak. Along its face, every few feet, was engraved a snake's principal.

"Slytherin,"Harry hissed.

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

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

"Just gathering road-kill, commode,"Nott retorted."A little 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 closer."Were you trying to find your true love ?"Harry said nothing."I can find oneself you a mirror if you'd like."

"I see you found yours,"Harry smirked, tossing his head in Crabbe's centering. Crabbe took more criminal offense than Nott and kicked Harry in the face. The reversal was hard and a flare-up of air shooting from Harry's mouth.

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

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

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

"I wonder,"added Nott,"what the Wizarding world will do without its poor boy. How ever will we get on… once you're utter ?"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 full programme.

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

"Did you do it ?"asked Nott, ignoring Harry's motion and Crabbe's fear."Malfoy's enlisted over two 12 lamia and more are joining every day. They're crushing everything in their path, and soon, they'll be here at Hogwarts. Soon, they'll be coming for you, and they don't die, Potter."

"Oh, they die, shimmy. I've seen them die. Didn't you know ? I was attacked by them this summertime. Turns out that a well placed Centaur arrow… thwup… and they die."Harry chuckled deliberately."Funny thing, vampires. When they're pierced, their vampire scale sheds away and for a minute they're who they once were, the madness gone."Harry looked up at the common roof."I like to consider that in that bit, goodness had a chance to rush in and fill their souls once more. They have a luck to be saved."

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

"Yes,"said Harry still looking upward."lamia, at to the lowest degree, have a second base chance."He turned to face Nott."You on the other hand… I suppose you'll rot for all eternity."Crabbe's case was egg white, but Nott's was flushed with anger and defeat. It was his crook to kick Harry hard in the gut. It was all Harry could do not to regurgitate.

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

"Bloody snake pit ! I knew it !"

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

"How'd you find this shoes, Weasley ?"squabble Nott.

"A petty bird told him,"said the articulation behind Ron. It wasn't Gabriella, it was James Yangtze Kiang ; Harry's catch began to grow once more. There wasn't much of a luck if Ron couldn't drag it together… and quickly. The second gear year who had freely chosen to be in Slytherin this semester stepped in front of Ron with his scepter drawn.

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

"Obliviate !"chanted James, casting a spell well beyond his long time. A outburst of orange lightness erupted from his wand throwing both Nott and Crabbe against the bulwark, knocking them unconscious, and wiping their intellect of Recent computer memory. The strength of the Obliviate spell determined how much memory was removed. Normally, a second yr wouldn't even be able to throw up the patch, but Harry was sure enough that the effect would be lasting.

Ron released Harry from his linkup while St. James the Apostle bound his two home brothers."They'll be the single missing the peer tomorrow,"he whispered with a smiling pursing his lips.

Rising to his feet, Harry felt a little light-headed, the nausea once again returning, and had to tend on Ron for backup. He looked over at Epistle of James, wanting to give thanks him for his help, but more curious about the trance.

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

"Harry !"

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

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sooo sorry."She kissed his neck opening and impertinence, and then looked into his heart."Can you forgive me ?"Harry looked over at the two Slytherins on the floor and back at James.

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

They made their way up a specify row of Oliver Stone measure that opened out on the Slytherin common room. Harry hadn't been here since he was a for the first time year. King James and St. Patrick nonchalantly split away from the radical to talk to some other endorsement years that had just returned from the evening's party while Gabriella walked Harry and Ron out. The three began their trek up to the Gryffindor tower. By the sentence they made it to the tower, Harry was feeling a great deal in effect and it was Ron that was leaning on Harry and Gabriella.

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

"No you don't,"answered Harry coolly, recalling his conversation with Dumbledore about the Horcruxes."Two years ago I think he might consume taken this prospect to kill me, just to try himself to his father and the other expiry Eaters. Tonight, he was just a bag entire 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 I said he was goin'to turn you over to them… to the Death Eaters. He might not have delivered the setback, Harry, but he still would have been dancin'on your grave."

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

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

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

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

"Cool,"said Ron with a smile, rocking a bit on his own two peg. Harry didn't think it would hold lots to pink him over."I'd like to see Nott with an arrow up his arse."Gabriella tried to muster a smile, 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, mate ?"

"toffee drops,"said Harry and the house painting swung open and Ron stumbled through. Before it shut, he looked back at the two, pointing his finger in no item direction and shook it."But not too long, P-Potter. It'sss biz 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 terrace and the two sat down. Even though the rampart and floor were now immaculate, he never liked sitting here, remembering the Dementors that had nearly killed professor McGonagall the year before. There was a sensory faculty of expiry in the air and for a 2nd Harry felt a assuredness rush swim up his backbone, whispering decease's name. Gabriella held his hand, but would not control his regard. Instead, she watched their fingers intertwined and mingling.

"Mama has the survey,"she began."You know that, Harry. Me… I can only smell out the emotions of others. I can't see the doors and windows that open on to the other planes."

"But—"

"Shhhh."She put one helping hand gently across his lips."Since I was vernal, before I ever went to Al Bsahri, I have had one visual modality. Sometimes years would pass before it would repay, the same scene, over and over. Since we've returned to Hogwarts this yr, it comes to me nearly every day."She leaned her head against Harry's shoulder."Yesterday, I asked Mama what happened when you and Hermione plunged into the scene that has been playing in my mind without you for so many years."There was a long suspension, and Harry could hear laughter coming from way down the stairway below ; it died away.

"And ?"he asked, nudging Gabriella along.

"A vision from another plane is like a finely cut jewel, a diamond with many facet. One can look in and see different images from all angle. You and Hermione became share of my imaginativeness 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, Harry ; and, like time-turners, there are also rules about looking into the future. Most would arrive at changes based on the imperfect cognition they see, often changes that lede to more annihilating resultant. Only the effective, those like mummy, have any hope of moving the George Sand of meter to form the outcome of the early planes. Others go mad trying to change what n-never was to c-come."She began to tremble as she delivered the finally words and in the quiet that followed Harry felt a shoot down driblet onto his forearm. He put his arm around her and held her tight.

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

"It begins with a wink of light, a fervour erupting from a glistening emerald lake. We are surrounded by them. There is a shriek and then silence. And then there is me… face down in the tall weed. I… I am numb, Harry. Buried deep in my back is the long wooden pointer of a Centaur."


Harry ceramist and the nascence of a New Sun

Chapter 12 - Blind Fortune
~~~***~~~

The air was fond for twilight, yet the sky was a clayey Zane Grey. Flying with the charm of his Caduceus P2 off, Harry could feel the wetness in the air. He knew it would rain down soon and that, more than anything else, focused his muscularity on finding the Snitch. It had been hard concentrating. in conclusion class, Ron had lost Harry's broom when he had been attacked flying into the tunnel. So this year he was riding the late model of Caduceus, the new P2, P for ceramicist. Cleansweep was paying him a small fortune to use his figure for their new heather, monies that Harry was using to assist the families 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 help that smack in the midsection of the visitant stand was a ten metrical foot by twenty foot crystalline portrait of Harry flying the new broom and waving at the crowd. Every so often news would appear : The Caduceus P2. So fast it'll blow the competition away. It was a gambling on the story run by the Daily Prophet about Harry's defeat of Voldemort. The fib 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 level of the death sleeping accommodation fell away, swallowing whole the drape of Phenolem and the dais upon which it stood. Harry glanced again at the immense tabloid of crystal, his own image smiling back at him and waiving, and shook his head to clear his idea.

He'd been distracted all day and virtually tribe thought it had to do with first biz jitters. He was Gryffindor's Quidditch Captain this year and nearly everyone believed it a folly decision. Since the flak on the train, the unit school knew that he was going to be fighting the Dementors when the war with the Centaurs came. How could anyone focalize on training their team with a burden like that on their shoulder joint ? Indeed, even prof McGonagall thought that Ron Weasley might have the salutary selection ; she told Harry so.

"If I can't have your judgment on the game, you're no use to the squad, Mr. Potter,"she had said in confidence."Ron Weasley bleeds Quidditch and his mind is penetrating when it comes to analyzing the other teams'weaknesses."Harry had nodded and had turned to allow for her position when she stopped him."But no one commands commitment like you, Harry. It takes seven to win a Quidditch match and all Gryffindor would sooner fly into the lake than let you down. The interrogation is — can you proceed 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 strategian, and there's no one better in northern Britain when it comes to keeping a Quaffle from skewering the rings. Dennis Creevey is the profligate in all Hogwarts and is starting to come up with plays I could never dream of. Jack Sloper's put on 30 pound sign since hold out year and he can knock a faggot off a fencepost at fifty meter. Slytherin was the alone team that had a prayer to beat us, but with Malfoy gone they don't have a chance. The team doesn't need me to lead them ma'am. Anyone can maneuver us to the cup."McGonagall looked at Harry over the top of her glasses.

"Is that so ?"she had asked."Well then, Mr. ceramicist, I suppose you'll do then. I want the squad roll, to admit the participant replacing Katie at chaser, and the weekly practice schedule by tomorrow morning. And, to keep you motivated since this will be such an tardily year, let's say that if we don't win every game by more than one-hundred fifty tip, you'll be back in my office on Sundays for detention."

"But—"

"threesome minute, each hebdomad. 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 find a good pursuer and when jimmy Peakes tried out for Beater he played ferociously, unseating Hooper from the squad. Finally, Harry selected Demelza Robins as pursuer, if for no early cause than she was particularly serious at dodging Bludgers. The shuffling caused a lot of growing strain and detriment opinion, but after three weeks of practice Harry was confident once again that the team could not be defeated.

Now, flying gamy over the lurch, Harry wasn't so sure. Trying to ignore his own boldness, he glanced at the scoreboard to get Gryffindor up by forty which, as far as Harry was concerned, was ridiculous. They should have been clobbering Hufflepuff from the outset, but Ron was letting nearly every Quaffle through. Having heard that the passenger vehicle of the prater, Bernard Bennegin, was coming specifically to scout Ron's performance he was a nervous wreck. To score subject bad he was suffering from a hangover and was having hassle seeing the Quaffle, let alone stopping it. The only good word was that jimmy and Jack were keeping the Bludgers off the squad 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 unmarried finish.

Harry scanned the skies once more, searching for the stool pigeon. The Hufflepuff searcher, Summerby, had seen it about an hour earlier. Harry had been well out of situation, and if it hadn't been for a well placed Bludger by Sloper, Gryffindor would deliver lost. It was then Harry turned off the magic spell of his ling, hoping that he might better feel the Snitch's location. Suddenly, the xanthous side of the pitch erupted in cheers ; Hufflepuff had scored. Harry forced himself not to face at the scoreboard. He had to continue alert, but before you could say snicklfritz the crowd erupted again - another account for Hufflepuff. Finally, Harry called timeout.

The team gathered over by Ron whose ears were flaming red with embarrassment. Ginny began to tear into her pal.

"So facilitate me, Ron !"she yelled,"The side by side Quaffle that goes through one of those annulus is going to find its way up your—"

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

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

"You think you can menace me ?"yelled Ron at his sister as he pulled his own verge, however shaky his deal was.

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

"Ron, they're constantly feinting right and shooting left. If you move gamey in the air and hold position just a little longsighted, you'll end them. Ginny, we could use a little more of your attention on the Hufflepuff position of the theatre. Dem, they're starting to bewitch on to Harry's first few plays."His eyes dotted to Harry who nodded in agreement."I think we should go on to what he was showing us conclusion weekend."

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

"Dennis is correct,"countered Ginny."At the worst we'll have given them a new smell. At the best we'll score three or four before they catch on."

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

"Go on,"said Harry.

"Well, it seems like you've been day dreaming up there, Harry. I know there are a thousand thing you should be thinking about besides Quidditch, but we're gon na call for 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 discipline."Our own little Napoleon,"he thought. Madame hootch blew the whistle for gaming to summarize. Hufflepuff broke their scrummage and began to fly into position. Harry looked down on the pitching below. There was nil he loved more in the world than flying.

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

Dennis had been right. Over the next 40 minutes or so, Ron had blocked six straight Hufflepuff attempt while the Gryffindor chaser had scored four times. Still, they would ask the Snitch. He flew over by the Slytherin pedestal and get word a handful of hisses, and one cheer.

Harry could think of few Hogwarts women besides Gabriella Darbinyan able to hold the taunts and jeers of Slytherin for being Harry's girlfriend. Of course of instruction, there were no taunt or jeers, because all of Slytherin was deathly afraid of Gabriella. Perhaps because she came from a school known for its wickedness magic, but more because any comment usually meant the commenter had a one-way ticket to the hospital extension. 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 fingerbreadth. The motion and the gasp of the crowd told him at once that the snitcher had been seen. He spun to see Summerby plunging toward the turf at the north end of the slant. Below him was a glint of Au, racing low and heading toward the visitor'tie-up. Summerby was ahead by at to the lowest degree fifty meters when Harry began to charge.

"You bloody half-wit !"Harry cursed at himself as he clenched his teeth."You flobberworm sucking idiot !"The current of air roared furiously at his fount. The Snitch was flying low to the turf and Harry could see that it would cause to turn or rise once it hit the stands on the opposite side of the pitch. Even as good a circular as Summerby was, he would not reach the stool pigeon until it hit the wall. Harry leaned forward, accelerating his Calluna vulgaris."It will lift,"Harry whispered to himself, focusing wholly on the gold ball that was coming closer."It will rise."He chose to fly the straight line to stop the snitch where he thought it would be. If the Snitch turned left or right at the wall, Summerby would have it before Harry could respond. If the canary flew up… Harry groaned. At this speed it was still inconceivable. Harry poured all his energy into making his Scots heather accelerate. The poop of his robe began to tatter in the vicious idle words and his goggles were pressing hard against his face. The pressure tunnelled his vision, but he didn't attention. He could still see the gold glint growing larger before him."Faster ! Damn it ! Faster !"

The pitch below him was a fog ; the stands faded to dark and all that Harry could see was the lucky Snitch and the track of yellow that followed it -- the trail of yellow that Harry was passing. Faster ! A sheet of purple — the visitors'point of view. The golden stoolpigeon flying upward. Yes !
Harry's fingerbreadth pressed firmly against the winged Snitch when he heard the screams of terror. They conflicted with his own sentiency of joy.

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

Waking, and still feeling a bit groggy, the first thing Harry recognized was the auditory sensation of plastic being unwrapped, displume and then crumpled. The rhythmical mastication that followed told him at once that Ron was nearby. Harry smiled. He tried to open his eyes, but couldn't. He leaned to his right position and felt a dull ached that ran up the left half of his eubstance. With his flop hand he felt the canvass about his chest, the pillow behind his head, the bandages that wrapped his face.

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

"Hey, Paraguay tea,"Ron added before Harry could resolve."Erm.. don't worry ; Madame Pomfrey will have you back to new in… in no time."The voice had a bit of a tremor in it and it wasn't because a umber frog found its way down the improper organ pipe.

"That's right,"added Hermione with a stiff and unnatural feeling. And then vocalization, scores of phonation it seemed to Harry, added their arrangement.

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

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

A number of folks touched Harry's good arm. He felt of few kisses against his cheek. He heard a few cheery Good-byes and Later, mates, but he also heard a few snuff and sobs. The room access swung closed with a abstruse 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 bandages that wrapped about his nerve, just to have a peak.

"No you don't, Mr. Potter !"cried Madame Pomfrey. She grabbed his arm and gently pulled it down."The bandages are to remain on for the next three hebdomad if you wish to have any hope of seeing again."

Okay. So he had been growing more and more apprehensive since he first became conscious. And the bandage were starting to gross out him out… just a bit. Something in the binding of his mind had said the password, but he had pushed it back down. Only trouble was… the dark niche of Harry's nous were shouting now.

"See again ?"he asked."What the Hades does that think of ? I… I'm blind ?"he asked weakly. Madame Pomfrey let out a grand suspiration.

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

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

"Your eyes were shredded, Mr. ceramist,"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 functioning. If it were up to me, you'd still be there, but Professor Dumbledore insisted that you remain within the castle."

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

"Mr. ceramist,"snapped Madame Pomfrey."If you keep touching your wraps you'll assuredly disturb their charms ! I will not throw you go blind ! Do you hear me ! If you keep moving your arms I will immobilize them."Her voice was buirdly. She'd been crying ; Harry could tell. The sadness in the room was almost sweep over. Finally, he turned his head in the focus of Gabriella.

"Did we win ?"he asked.

"What ?"she replied, still dazed.

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

"Harry, how can you—"

"RON !"Harry screamed. In a flash the doorway outburst give.

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

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

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

"I thought for sure we'd lost, when you spun over and started closing in from on high gear. The Snitch was flying just to my right and I could give birth sworn there were sparks flying out the tail of your heather. It was glowing red. Heading toward the stand, it was clear you were going to pass Summerby, but you were too high ; everyone could see that. But it didn't matter. No one has ever seen mortal fly that fast at Hogwarts… ever ! Crimey, maybe in all U.K. !

"When you passed Summerby, I thought you'd prima donna to stave off the pedestal, to grab the Snitch that was still screaming low to the ground. But you didn't ; you stayed straight on. When the fink darted up toward you…"Ron sighed in go."It was a miracle, married person. Like you were calling out to it and it obeyed. Pop ! rightfulness into your mitt."There was a long pause."It's when everyone's eyes popped up with the Snitch we saw what was going to happen. That's when the screams began."Ron walked over next to Harry's bed."Summerby smashed into the livelihood down low. Broke his leg and lost a span tooth. He got out of the hospital yesterday. You… you…"Ron swallowed severe.

"You held on, married person. Yeah, we won, alright."Ron patted Harry on the chest."Charles Herbert Best shucks quester in all Britain."

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

"well, now,"Ron answered,"I know you've had your middling share, Harry, but I still think Victor can care a shot to the head with a Bludger better than you."

"That's because there's nada up there to injure,"added Gabriella.

"okey, okey you three,"said Madame Pomfrey."Mr. ceramist needs his rest."She shuffled the two admirer outside the elbow room, but not until Gabriella kissed Harry on the mouth.

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

When the room access 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 give them time to cure. The wrap will stay on for at least three weeks. Your lids will be sealed longer still. Even when you can afford your eyes, Harry, I don't suspect you'll see Thomas More than shades of light and dark. Once we know what you can and can't see, Healer Sventstein can begin making the proper chastisement. You'll have to be affected role, my beloved, very patient."

He could pick up her folding some papers, putting trash away he thought, and then she stepped over to the slope of the room and poured something into a glass or goblet.

"I need you to toast this,"she said, helping him sit up and wrap his hands around the cup. He winced when she held his leave arm."Yes, the completely left side of your body was pretty very much hamburger meat. We've summoned out all the trash shards we can. There may be a few that aren't responding. I'll work on that more tomorrow."She sounded wear upon, so Harry decided not to argue about the deglutition and swallowed it down in one longsighted draught. The pain running down his side ebbed away and the apprehension about his visual sense 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 stone level cold beneath his bare substructure. He was about to extend to up to his face when a hand took him by the arm. At number one he was startled, but the part settled him at once.

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

"Sirius ?"Harry asked to the duskiness, reaching out and touching Sothis'cheek.

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

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

"What time is it ?"Harry asked.

"Not quite three in the morning."

"trinity in the cockcrow ?"He paused, rising up on his elbows and looking about the room."Anyone else here ?"

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

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

"Yeah,"agreed Sirius smartly."That's what I hear."Harry could hear Sirius drop back into his president and sigh."I have to admit, Harry, that was the loyal I've ever seen a broom fly, and I've seen a few Quidditch equal in my day. When you hit that damn portrait with your photograph on it, the matter exploded. It was like a giant vitreous silica firework. And that you still held onto the Snitch… well, it's been all over the papers. about figure you broke the record, but the folks from Cleansweep want you to come out and execute a fly-off against Comet — twenty one thousand galleons to the winner's charity."Harry turned on his slope, his back toward Sirius.

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

"What do you intend ?"

"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 stay blind."

"That's not true, Harry,"began Dog Star."Madame Pomfrey—"Harry spun and faced Sirius. Sirius didn't indigence to see Harry's center to get it on the look he was getting right now. He sighed."Ten pct is not naught percent,"he whispered.

"Yeah, right,"Harry replied and dropped back down again. Likewise, Sothis sunk back into his death chair, crossing his arms and searching for what to say. There wasn't much he could say. Harry, after all, was set. Once a crone or thaumaturge lost their optic there was often little that could be done—eyes simply hold too lots magic. Healers could re-grow many things, but the eyes… the eye, particularly of a powerful witch or star, were nearly impossible to furbish up. Dog Star let out a low groan as the silence stretched between them. After that, the spark of candlelight was the only haphazardness that accompanied their breathing. At last, it was Sothis who began again, not trusted if Harry was even still wake up. His vocalization was unsteady, recalling a theatrical role of his past he had never shared with Harry.

"When I… when I was in Azkaban, there was nothing to see but darkness, nothing to smell but the stench of death, nada to hear but the cries of lament, nothing to taste but the remnants of tears that had long since died away, and the only thing one felt was the cold-blooded breath of despair. What nutrient they gave us was more like pitch-dark gruel with a consistency somewhere between mud and slime."Sirius chuckled grimly to himself."When the Dementors departed, leaving this black sludge behind, I would smile. It was the only joy I had, sensing their departure, knowing that however awful the food for thought was, the emptiness that screamed from my belly would soon be staved for another day. That crusted bowl of crap and my pure hatred for Peter Pettigrew were all that kept me awake.

"I never dreamed that one day…"Sothis'vocalism halted and he had to withdraw to gather himself."That one day… the son of my darling friend would parlay my ten-percent of cypher and relieve me… not from the Dementors of Azkaban… not from the drapery of Phenolem, but… from myself. I was used up inside, Harry ; a case of a wizard and less a man. You've shown me, even now as darkness haste in toward us, how to last again… how to love again. I'm amazed that today, I once again walk the mansion of Hogwarts—a liberal man, not because I'm unloose of the repulsion of Azkaban, but because I'm free people of the darkness and hatred that once consumed my soul. Because of you, I'm resign to taste the delectable fruits of living once again."

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

"If I could smack you, I would,"chatoyant Dog Star, kicking the Emily Price Post of Harry's bed with his groundwork, a bout sliding down the side of his side.

"Bring it on, old man !"called Harry, rising up in bed and brandishing two clenched fist that were swinging wildly in the air—something akin to a Boxer's spatial relation."I can take you with both center tied behind my dorsum !"Harry was smiling as Dog Star rose to his pes. The older wizard 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 smiling on Harry's human face 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 ! halt telling me what you can't do ! I don't want to see it anymore !"This time Canicula'phonation was heated."I still wake in the middle of the Nox grasping for my sheets, fearing that it has all been a dream, wondering if in the void of nighttime I'm really still trapped behind the pall 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 dark, searching for those dreams that will carry me through till first light.

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

"Yeah, but—"

"And more than that,"Sirius interrupted,"until the day comes when your visual modality reappearance, you'll have to find a way to see through your blindness."Harry's immediate reaction was to let a burst of air push through his mouth in scoffing dismissal of Sirius'Son. He began to fall back into his pillow when he stopped himself and held fast to Sirius'hand. To see through blindness ? Might it still be possible ?

Not sure what to ask, 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 recognize the luminance of Sirius before him. It wasn't an figure so much as an aura of light that shown bright. Harry leaned forward in his bed. Reaching out further he began to take in the dim glow of the organic animation that clung to the walls, ceiling and flooring. Without saying a word he let go of Dog Star'hand 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 effigy as an imprint of all that was around him. It would take clip to decrypt the physique, hues and volume. There was a glow coming toward them. Harry pointed at the doorway.

"soul's coming,"he said. Sirius spun, confused. An instant later, Madame Pomfrey walked through the doorway.

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

"I should take in known it was you by your people of color,"he said happily."Bright blue — the colouring of a therapist's spell."He looked back at his godfather."Sirius, you're a bit orangeness right now. You were brighter a minute of arc ago. What's wrong ?"

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


Harry potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 13 - The New improver
~~~***~~~

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

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

"parachuting !"

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

It had been bitterly cold all day, but with all the running Harry was beginning to regret his conclusion to wear clothes. They were pushing the limits between physical and magical exertion and Harry's feet, well clad in a duad of trainers, were on flak. The brightness jacket crown and pant he was wearing were suffocating and felt like they weighed a thousand pounds.

Once again he was training with Shahan and Felspar. Over the last few mean solar day, the three had been put though their rate by Ronan, Firenze and others — running, lifting, and shooting arrow from one side of the Forbidden Forest to the other. Harry was exhausted — a feeling he was beginning to savour. If anything, he preferred to be out in nature.

Still blind, he was developing his limited power to reach out and feel the halo of life around him. While he could realize feeling about where things were at Hogwarts, occasionally very light objects would miss his aid. A grouping of Slytherin fourth year had discovered this about a hebdomad after Harry had returned from Hospital and had taken to conjuring marbles in areas where they knew Harry would be walking. Harry, in bout, developed a few spells that helped bring in his way. The tinkling of marbles usually meant that a Slytherin was nearby, waiting to watch Harry get it. But since Harry could mention someone's atmosphere, even through bulwark, the culprit was usually found fastened to the paries with their underwear on their headspring and nothing else. It was a page out of what Nott and Cyril Northcote Parkinson had done to Ron last class and Harry didn't mind a little playful retribution.

In the forest, however, Harry felt as if his vision was undecomposed than having sight. Everything was alive and vivacious. tree and vegetation, the largest animals and the smallest spores, Harry could see it all as if he'd never been blind.

Shahan had cleared the current ahead and was already pulling away. feldspar came a bit unforesightful and she splashed H2O into the air. Harry, just a step behind felspar, was light still, landing a total meter away from the bank building's edge. His groundwork landed firmly in the water and he struggled to sustain his balance wheel so as not to fall into the icy water completely. He'd only taken three steps when he noticed the coolness around his animal foot. When he focused his care downward he could sense clearly that his trainer were gone, the behind of his trouser in tatters. Where the splattering from felspar hit the forepart of his jersey it had dissolved away as if it had been burned by acid, the aura of his bare skin underneath beaming through.

Stepping backward as he moved out of and away from the stream, Harry focused at the lead body of water. For the for the first time prison term he noticed that its colour was different than the other watercourse he'd seen through the forest. The light emanating from this water was whiter, more crystalline, more pure. With a bang-up jump Ronan, who had been following, jumped from bank building to bank with relief. Harry expected to be chastised for stopping, yelled at for falling buns, but Ronan said nothing. Harry noticed that the whitish-gray of Ronan's aura warmed a bit. He'd learned, at least with his booster, that such a change meant a smile. He wondered what it meant with a Centaur.

Shahan had long disappeared in the underbrush ahead, but feldspar stopped myopic of the knob tree and returned to Harry and Ronan.

"Is something wrong ?"felspar asked.

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

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

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

"Not with your middle, foolish one !"snapped Ronan. feldspar stepped back and closed her center. A moment passed before she rose up on her rear stage and spun toward them.

"The nightfall !"she cried with fervour."The stream that feeds the crepuscule !"Then feldspar stepped over to Harry, noticing his bare substructure and articulatio talocruralis."Harry ceramist, your fetlocks are bare."She stepped penny-pinching."But the figure is unharmed. If ever I held doubt in the elect, they have forever washed away."Felspar nodded with a slight bow. Harry nodded in return and the smiled as he saw feldspar own fetlocks.

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

"The boy is rightfulness, felspar,"said Ronan."Your own fetlocks have grown brighter. Like the Chosen, you now wear socks."He laughed as felspar looked down to see that indeed her egg white coat was glistening more brightly from the genu and soak down.

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

"No,"said Felspar immediately, backing away from the piss."I would not place the purity of my bosom at such a touchstone. Indeed, if I had known these were the very waters…"

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

"Shahan will not be pleased,"Felspar said to the ground.

"As I am not,"retorted Ronan."For three uncoiled Clarence Day Shahan has failed to comprehend the object lesson. Firenze says Shahan did not even bother to research for Ebyrth. The Centaur is of no use to the heard if he refuses to learn our ways. I care not that he is young."Then Ronan stepped faithful to felspar ; his posture becoming rigid."You would be wise not to hear to Shahan's thoughts, feldspar. That your coating should switch colour at all is not a ripe star sign. Your mother has raised you better."Then Ronan's behaviour changed back to one of instructor.

"Focus your thinker on where you need to be, Felspar."He said nothing more, but Felspar turned toward the portion of the afforest through which Shahan had disappeared. A moment later in a bar of Patrick White she was gone.

"Is that not an Apparation ?"Harry asked.

"One can not Apparate on these grounds, Harry ceramist. The Earth is too filled with magic. The Centaur can bend quad and slow metre 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 leave your person consistence and travel with the former living smell 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 control. Do you sense the Bowtruckle staring at us from across the stream ? Perhaps he can help you see what you've thirsted for. give out to the creature's mind."

When Harry did reach out, he found it far easier than he first expected. The energy of the forest seemed to imbue him with added insight, guiding his cerebration as he became focused on the wight, leaving his own self, releasing his corporeal phase behind and melding into the essence of a stick. In a flash he was one with the woody Bowtruckle. His eyes blinked. Ahead, across the watercourse were a Centaur and young man with tattered trouser and no place. Harry tried to step forward, but the creature would not respond. It was as if he were simply eavesdropping. Suddenly, he felt quite hungry. Instead of looking ahead at the two across the flow, Harry found himself looking down. There was a rather turgid stink dirt ball wriggling its bulb-shaped head between two leaves. He bent down, sniffed the foul affair at pulled it up out of the soil grinding gut and earth between his teeth.

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

"Well done, Harry ceramist. It has been lupus erythematosus than a year since the cleaning, and already you have learned the centaur Arts. It will study much more time to master them and many years to see their true up nature. It is…"Ronan paused looking toward the western sky."…unfortunate that we have so small time."His hoof clawed at the dry land."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 employment of Ebyrth. Malfoy is but its tool."

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

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

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

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

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

"Would that we had,"said Ronan coolly."Their darkness has no purpose former than end. Near the end of that war, only a handful escaped into the swampland and bogs through which we could not jaunt. It was there they learned to fly ; it was there they developed their hunger for souls. Now, from a scattered few, their issue have multiplied. They outnumber the Centaurs two to one. For that we can thank the Wizarding world and the world of man whose avarice has consumed the earth and produced sustenance on which the Dementors feed.

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

"It doesn't aid that I'll never see again,"said Harry, rubbing his arms with his hands to make for some affectionateness to them.

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

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

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

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

"Goblins, whose natures are always angry, are almost always rush with red. While mavin and witches carry the colours that suit their nature, colours the trained Centaur judgment can recognise. It does not take on long to spot the given hue."

"Or hues,"added Harry.

"alibi me ?"asked Ronan."What do you intend ?"

"well, when they have more than one colour. You know, say green that sometimes turns blue."Ronan was staring blankly at Harry."You know, the guy's kind of blue sometimes, variety of super C other times… right ?"

"Unless there is a phenomenal translation, a spirit carries but one hue, Harry Potter. It may brighten or darken, but the hue remains the Lapplander. Unless…"

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

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

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

"There are way of life you might see two hue, Harry Potter. Some wizards or beldam are known Animagi. The creature inside can represent a dissimilar hue, although even among the Animagi it is rare. Usually, the brute reflects the nature of the witch or wizard."There was a farseeing pause.

"And the other ?"asked Harry.

"It can be the work of a fracture intent, someone who is really two mass, or possibly under the ascendance of another."

"The Imperius cuss ?"Harry asked.

"Perhaps. Such is the way of adept and my knowledge falter there. I hope this is not person close. Someone in your assurance ?"

"Erm, no… not really,"Harry lied."I've got to go, Ronan. Thank you for your teachings today."Harry's mind was clicking of the list of figure. He focused on bending the space between where he was and Hagrid's hut."I think I can find—"Before he finished his sentence, Harry had warped time and found himself outside Hagrid's forepart door. He'd covered the distance, some naut mi, in little Thomas More than the winking of an eye. Still, in so doing he'd exhausted what little resourcefulness of strength he had left. His apparel shredded, he was about to criticise on Hagrid's door when he sensed that someone was hidden in the Tree behind the garden. Harry reached for his wand and held it at the fix. Barefoot, he began to tread silently toward the spy. It was one technique taught him by the Centaurs and for the fleetest of second Harry thought he'd prefer a notched pointer right about now.

Stealthily, Harry moved closer. The figure, with a shining emerald greens nimbus, didn't motility. Its position continued to rest against the tree. Just a few yards away Harry's nostril took in the smell of smoke, a distinctively aromatic bullet.

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

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

"Draco, you can't be here. Do you screw what will occur if—"

"You don't know yet, do you ?"said Draco in a recollective low drawl. He liked knowing more than Harry and didn't creative thinker showing it, if only for a moment."How hanker have you been in the forest ? All day ?"

In the darkness from far up the hill Harry could listen the forepart door of the castle surface with their characteristic crack. What he didn't expect to hear next was Ron Weasley's vocalisation.

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

Followed by his father's.

"I should hope so, Ron. I don't have much more than clock time and this is quite important."

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

"I thought the old man would be all in by now,"said Draco with a matter of fact tint as he pulled what was left of Harry's jersey toward some thicker underwood. Harry acquiesced and the two withdrew deeper into the woodwind instrument as Ron, Dumbledore and Mr. Weasley made their way to Hagrid's hut. When Hagrid answered the bang he was black-and-blue.

"Yeh should give birth been here an hr ago !"he called from inside."I don't forethought what Ronan tells yeh ; the woodland ain't prophylactic 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 time with the Centaurs ?"A moment later and the doorway shut leaving Harry alone with Draco once again.

"What's going on, genus Draco ?"said Harry not holding the proper line of good deal with genus Draco's heart."I thought you were going to use Blaise to—"

"So it's rightful,"said Draco, waving his handwriting in social movement of Harry's grimace."You're blind."Able to see the glow from the life-forms that clung there, Harry grabbed Draco's arm.

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

"Does it hurt ?"

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

"Blaise has been… compromised. He and I have a magic catch musical phrase that we use to ensure the other is mentally release from any… tampering. For the finis two calendar week, Blaise has tried to contact me without using that phrase. He's someone else's now."Draco took another long retarding force on his coffin nail."How sire found out… I don't know."His discussion were deeply bother. It was an emotional shift in Draco that Harry had rarely seen."We were careful ; more than heedful. You need to screw that there's a spy in the castle. I thought maybe Nott, but he doesn't have the science to hurl the Imperius."

"You're r-risking your life history to tell apart me there's a spy ?"asked Harry incredulously."There's p-probably a 12 !"His dentition were beginning to chatter as the frigidity set in.

"And you're supposed to be our saviour ? We're screwed."Draco flicked his cigaret into the air and it vanished."Here."He passed Harry his cloak and wrapped it around his shoulder joint."You know, aside from being scratched bloody, having essentially no clothes, and looking like you were just run over by the Hogwarts express mail, you're in pretty unspoiled shape. Maybe if you stopped running around the forest butt 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 better wake up and see what's going on around here."

"I don't know where the hell 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 Yule. Did you know that ? A secret wedding."

"What ? What are you talking about ?"

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

"Married ? Goldstein ?"

"Not even her little comrade knows they're getting married. Quite scandalous."Draco chuckled to himself and then sat cross-legged on the solid ground."But I suppose you, all knowing prophesier of the subterfuge have insight to that."Harry said nix, but sat down next to genus Draco crossing his coat of arms and legs under Dragon's cloak.

"ejaculate on, thrower,"drawled genus Draco once again."Surely you can gauge why Cho and Goldstein would require to… nay… would need to get marry secretly."Again there was a long suspension and Harry pulled Draco's dissemble tighter about his shoulder. He was feeling a pang of jealousy and he had no right hand to. He had loved Cho and he would always have sex her, but their paths were never meant to jaunt together. His route was and would forever be entangled with Gabriella. It wasn't perfect but the attraction was strong and the love firm and the uncertainty of any given day that kept Harry forever on sharpness tickled a very Slytherin role of his look that wriggled deep inside him. Finally, Harry breathed.

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

"France,"answered Dragon with a sly smile."Don't tell anyone, Harry, but Goldstein's protector may be their chaperone by day, but at Nox he's a destruction Eater in my father's Robert William Service. It's a tryst of slight effect to my father and it pays the bills for Henry, the chaperone, but I knew you might receive a special interest."

"I never thought that Goldstein and Cho would—"

"Oh, but I'm not done, Harry. Cho Chang spends her daytime in French Republic, in a niggling Doroteo Arango just north of marseille, a town called La Mure. She and the—"

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

"Witches can obliterate that fact until the very day of deliverance, Harry. Have you ever seen a significant witch ?"For a import, Harry pondered the thought. No, he hadn't ever seen a significant witch. And then he remembered that he'd seen Geoffrey Hooper's mother just a few weeks before her baby was born and she looked no dissimilar than the yr before.

The door to Hagrid's cabin opened and the giant stepped out for just a moment looking toward the forest."Should be any instant, sir,"he said to the phratry inside."Any moment."Then more quietly to himself before he went back in he whispered to the timber,"Harry, where in Singehorn's public figure are yeh ?"Harry began to endure, but genus Draco pulled him back down. For a photoflash, Harry was irritated, but caught himself.

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

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

"Then why are you risking your life right now ? It's not to dish the dirt on about some missy and guy you couldn't give a tinker's dam about. What's so important that—"

"They've found it,"Dragon interrupted."Months ago I asked you to detect it first, and you didn't even try. Now they have it."He flicked a branchlet into Harry's face."Blaise risked his life and you did zilch. Now he's been found out."genus Draco leaned over and grabbed the cloak about Harry's neck opening. Harry could feel the material tighten, not by genus Draco's paw, but another violence."You're going to get it back, dearest, or I'll kill you myself."The cloth tightened further. Harry reached for his baton, but found the cloak held his hands tight.

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

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

All of a sudden, the cloak released Harry and he began to cough, heaving in as much air as he could. Draco took to his understructure and wrapped the black cloak about his berm, his farseeing blonde hair starkly Edward D. White in line. Still coughing, Harry stumbled to his feet and pulled his wand. Draco ignored the gesture and turned to leave. But then he stopped as if suddenly remembering a leave mentation. The door to the Hagrid's hut opened and Ron stepped out. He'd heard the sound of Harry's cough.

"Harry ? !"Ron called to the wickedness.

"Oh, and Harry,"Draco said, looking Harry in the center even if the glance was not returned."Cho isn't pregnant."He turned to leave."It's a neonate baby boy. Well, not so practically newborn any More. You'll never guess the birthday… it's the Same day as yours."

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

"That's not possible,"he whispered at the void. The sound of footsteps came charging up from behind and Harry could try the commotion on the front line porch of Hagrid's hut. A manus touched Harry's articulatio humeri.

"Was that who I think it was ?"Ron asked quietly. Harry simply nodded."That can't be beneficial,"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,"nothing to worry about. arrive in and let's finish our tea."

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

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

"Get o'er by the fire, lad,"said Hagrid, offering a mantle. But before Harry had a chance to take, Dumbledore pulled his wand and tapped Harry's shoulder joint. The grime disappeared and a Hogwarts robe covered his consistency. The thin red production line about his neck and the aching muscular tissue, however, remained.

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

Warming his muscleman by the fire, sipping a bit of tea, and pretending to savor Hagrid's rock-hard stone cakes, Harry was beginning to feel himself again. He assured Chester A. Arthur Weasley that he was fine and that his dishevelled appearing was all in a day's employment, training with the centaur in the forest ; but the Minister was none too convinced.

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

"Just a slight oeuvre with Devil's Snare is all, sir,"answered Harry, rubbing his neck with his unexpended hand and sipping some more tea with the other. If they could see his eyes, they would make love he wasn't listening to a word they were saying. Dragon probably thought his little show would centre Harry's mind fully on some Horcrux that the Ministry had no doubt just found, but Harry's nous was anything but centred. After a bit more banter about schooltime, declination about Harry being subterfuge, and word about the struggle raging in Eastern Europe, Arthur Weasley finally got down to the aim of his visit.

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

"What ?"Harry exclaimed."Why ?"

"wellspring, to try to recover the bodies, Harry,"answered Mr. Weasley, surprised somewhat at Harry's reaction."Many Aurors lost their aliveness that evening and their bodies have never been found — at least, not until finis week. Since the collapse we tried for months to find the bottom with no success. We encountered one magic portal after another, and the doer were none too incline to accidentally hit across the Curtain itself."

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

"No, Ron,"interrupted Dumbledore,"the drape and the dais were destroyed in the downfall. No, just the consistence, dead body from both face, have been returned to their loved ones."

"Well, yes, Albus,"added King Arthur with some restiveness."Most 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 feature any to a greater extent pit patty ?"

"Why for sure, Ron,"said Hagrid with gloating."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. harbor't I ? There's another darkness we need to stave off, isn't there ?"

"Yes, yes, absolutely, Harry, absolutely."King Arthur patted Harry's lap."But there was one other recovery at the very depths of the gaping fissure."All at once, Mr. Weasley's aura faded and Harry knew the stick with Word of God were a lie."They pulled it up today, just before luncheon. 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 rook, the colour returned to his aura."I was thinking we could have a dedication of kind. You could come to the Ministry as we put it on showing. It would certainly remind the the great unwashed in these shadow multiplication that we can shell darkness."

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

"Oh, yes, I'm sorry, Harry,"answered Arthur."I've wanted to discuss our lookup since you and I spoke on the railroad train. I never knew taking charge of the Ministry would wipe out so a lot of my time."His eyes wandered for a moment and then returned to meet Harry's."No subject,"he whispered."In our search, we recovered the cloak. The black cloak of… You-Know-Who. The just remainder of his duskiness and a symbol to all of his defeat."

"Voldemort ?"snapped Harry."You have Voldemort's cloak ?"Harry turned in his electric chair."Burn the hoot matter. demolish it !"

"I knew you might feel this way, Harry,"said Chester Alan Arthur with understanding."That's why I came myself. You must earn what an picture you've become in the Wizarding world. Just one picture of you, perhaps wand drawn, next to the cloak of the evil you destroyed would imply so much to—"

"It's insane !"said Harry, rising to his groundwork."Do you know 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 clip to consider what all the implications are. Time to consider what's best for… everyone involved."Harry expected to see the warmth of ire build in Dumbledore's halo, but if anything his light dimmed with a coldness 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 bridge player to shake, and President Arthur Weasley took it."Let me get my headspring together, and I'll get back to you. Just a day or two."

"Certainly, Harry, I understand. Until then, we'll keep open it dependable ; I can secure you."Harry started for the door."Here, let me take the air you to the castle."

"I got it dad,"said Ron, dropping one of the I. F. Stone cakes on the table with a thud."culture 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, King 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 giant still in the kitchen, baking up another batch of cakes for his guests."Thanks !"

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

By the fourth dimension Harry and Ron were at the castle whole tone, Harry had answered near of Ron's doubtfulness.

"I just don't get it, Harry,"said Ron shaking his caput."It's just a piece of cloth. You killed him."

"Ron, you saw my clothes tonight. They were burnt away because I fell into the magical stream that feeds the falls. call back when you fell in endure yr ?"

"Pulled in you mean,"said Ron, rubbing his right-hand wrist."Yeah, I remember. My clothes disappeared."

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

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

"taradiddle or not, the urine destroys textile. I doused Voldemort in nearly ten gallons of the poppycock. It was enough to unfreeze every wickedness bone in his eubstance, but the cloak… tinker's damn ! I should get 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 part of Voldemort, it should have been destroyed."Harry sighed."Maybe Hermione will know."Ron shrugged and nodded in agreement as he reached to open the palace doors. Ron heaved on the heavy handle just as Harry's hand stopped him and keep out them again.

"Ron ?"he asked."You have a lot of crony and sister. Erm… how foresighted does it take to… er… for a beldame to… you know… have a baby, after… you know."For a endorsement, Ron just stared at Harry, and then reaching ever so slightly to the cerebration on the tip of Harry's mind he understood.

"Oh ! How long does it postulate for a baby to be born after creation ?"he asked.

"Yeah… yeah, that's it."

"Well my mum's always going on how I took long than most… ‘ Forty two weeks, and in the middle of the war !'she'd say.

"So… figurin'my natal day, what would you say… you know… for my folks to…er—"

"Do the nasty ?"said Ron with a smile. Harry simply nodded. Well, Ron thought for a moment, touched his finger's breadth and counted backwards, and then a glow of a grin crossed his font once again.

"Pretty damn near to Halloween, Harry."He poked Harry in the ribs."Do you think they were wearing costumes ?"Harry didn't react in the way Ron expected. Instead, he leaned his spine against the castle door and slid down to a sit on the stone landing.

"Oh, Merlin,"he whispered in a seedy sorting of voice."Oh, bloody, fucking, Merlin."

"What ? What is it, Harry ?"

"Ron… I think… I think I'm a father."


Harry Potter and the birth of a New Sun

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

When Harry and Ron passed through the portraiture of the Fat ma'am, Harry found the Gryffindor rough-cut room, affectionate than convention. Near the fireplace sat the auras of Parvati, Lavender, Gabriella, Hermione, Ginny and Dean. Towards the rear, Neville was helping Patrick and a few others, Harry had yet to discern, organise for their Herbology exams. Evidently, the examination involved a burning plant of some sort, perhaps fireseed, Harry thought, since there was a inflate cloud of smoke that hung over the group and nonentity seemed to mind.

Harry, his psyche fractured at the minute, brought his aid on St. Patrick. The smoke was clouding his ability to see the gloriole of those at the backrest tabular array, but the filtered sparkle emanating from Patrick was the same as it had been since Harry first met him after the chance event - blue and Green River. Each semblance waxed and waned, growing more jet whenever he was excited or near Harry.

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

"Harry ! Ron !"cried James Dean. His vocalization brought Harry's care back to the group about the fireplace. The call sounded like a plea for help, as if doyen felt, at the here and now, like a trapped rat in a snake in the grass's cage. He began to fend when Ginny grabbed his arm.

"Oh, James Dean,"she said breathlessly,"isn't it beautiful ?"Hermione was projecting an icon of a Whitney Young woman in a clean wedding dress. The fille stood, suspended in the middle of the five students and modelled the dress she was wearing, slowly turning in all way so that everyone could see, everyone that is except Harry.

"Er… yeah, gravid,"muttered Dean miserably, sinking back into the couch.

"I don't know, Gin,"said Lavender cautiously."I think the string's a footling long."

"Lavender's right, Hermione,"added Parvati."You don't want to deal with all that dragging behind you even if it's levitated."

"You could have fairy's carry it."

"I form of like it,"Hermione said as she held her hand to her chin and tapped her cheek with one finger."But I think the second…"Dean let out an audible groan, but the young lady ignored him while Hermione began to flash through fashion model after mannequin, wearing apparel after garb, as if flick pages of a book. It was only then when she noticed that Ron and Harry had entered the vulgar room.

"Ron !"she exclaimed."You're just in time."James Dean's heart grew wide-eyed and he shook his headway as nondescriptly as he could to ward them off. Ron caught it, but Harry did not."We were just looking over clothes when—"She stopped herself mid-sentence, noticing the expression on Ron's look."What's wrong ?"

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

"nada,"they said simultaneously.

Gabriella patted Harry's boldness.

"aught ?"she said, sensing the swirling horde of emotions that must consume shown like a beacon for everyone to see."Would you like to join us ?"she asked."We were just—"

"No thanks,"interjected Harry. While he had grown accustomed to seeing students from other theatre in the unwashed room, he had completely forgotten that the girls were going to get together this evening to talk about Hermione's wedding plans for the summer."I need to get quick for the Potions test tomorrow."Ginny stood, looking at Harry.

"I thought you were supposed to be out training all day today,"she said, questioningly.

"I was."

"But you're squeaky clean,"she replied sceptically."You know, if you weren't working out in the wood today, we could take in gotten at least three minute on the pitch."

"I was in the woods today !"Harry exclaimed."Besides, you know I can't Seak. Not like this."He waved his hand in front man of his optic.

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

"These aren't your robe,"interrupted Gabriella, rubbing the cloth in her fingers."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 schoolhouse ? Where is he ?"It felt, suddenly, as if sharks were beginning to circulate Harry and Ron.

"Well, he only had a min,"said Ron, stepping closer to his sister. She had risen to her feet and Dean took the opportunity to quickly dart away and manoeuver toward the spiral stairway to the boys'student residence."And he needed to see Harry, so I took him over to—"

"So he saw you, but he didn't have time to see his only girl ?"

lupus erythematosus than a minute later everyone was talking at once. Ron and Harry were being bombarded with head about everything from the Minister's visit, to why Dumbledore needed to bring up Harry new robe, to what pattern Ron thought would be nice for the new chinaware.

Unexpectedly, there was a loud explosion from the rachis of the room that caused everyone to shriek. A rather large fireball spewed forth from the table where Neville and the others were working. It was Neville who stopped it from lighting the whole billet on fire by casting a squish good luck charm.

"Damn it, St. Patrick,"Neville said irritably, while a few of the early students laughed,"I told you not to mix fireseeds with dittany pulverisation ! 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 spinal column table and the singe faces that stood there. Harry took the opportunity to take after doyen's footsteps up the staircase. Near the top he heard a rather dejected Patrick apologize, but what he saw was a bluish aura beaming with superbia. Then Harry noticed St. Patrick flash him a thumbs-up from within the retentive sleeve of his gown, a signal that no one could see.

"Sorry, Neville,"said Saint Patrick with a shrug of his shoulders."I'm just no good at this kind of stuff. I'll be prosperous to build it to the third year at this rate."

Gabriella looked back toward the hearth to find Harry and before she could receive where he was Harry disappeared into the son'dormitory. Inside he found Dean, belly down on his bed, reading a Quran about Quidditch. He loved the game so, it was a shame he wasn't any unspoilt 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 blow myself up if I had to look at one more china pattern."He looked back at the book and turned the page."talking about pressure… blimey."He turned another page."I mean… I love Ginny and all, but does she actually think I'm going to ask her to marry me ?"He turned another page ; clearly not having read the concluding."So… finis year… yeah, maybe. But that's your fault."Dean looked up, pointing a finger's breadth 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 stuff downstairs… wedding ceremony dresses, and colours of put off clothes, and…"James Byron Dean sighed."lecture about deflating."Without looking back down to the book of account, he turned another Page. Then, quite suddenly, Dean groaned and turned over on his bed, placing the give record book over his dresser."Merlin, I love her."There was silence and he sighed again."She's been my Earth. She brought me back after the accident."Dean held his manus up, flexing the fingers in front line of his face. His individual had been reconnected to his corporeal form and Ginny had been there every pace of the way."She didn't need to do that."

"She loves you,"said Harry, walking over to his bed, taking off his new schooling gown and putting on a loose pair of jeans."Face it, James Byron Dean, you're her world too."

"I just don't want to be thinking about marriage while I'm still in school,"answered Dean, sitting up on the boundary of his bed and facing Harry."There's enough to be getting on about without having to occupy about in-laws… china patterns…"

"…children,"added Harry quietly.

"Merlin, no,"fool Dean."I can't even imagine. But then Ginny's handy with a sheathing magic spell. We're careful… you know ?"Harry nodded as a knot twisted in his venter."Can you believe Neville and Helen ?"continued Dean."Neither one of them used any protection their first gear few times. Hermione found out and had a fit."

"Hermione ?"queried Harry.

"Well, I told Neville that he was being an idiot. I told him how Lee Jordon told me that Fred told him that George hooked up with some girlfriend in Hogsmeade last year and wound up with a case of runespoor warts. Had to go to St. Mungo's to get them removed. Can you believe it ? Yeesh."Lee covered his genital organ with his helping hand and grimaced.

"But why Hermione ?"

"If you want to know any magic spell, charm, or hex to get the job done, Harry, who do you go to ? Hermione."Harry looked a bit disgruntled and crossed his weapon. dean sensed Harry's pride and added,"After all, everyone knew she and Ron were together since the fall of shoemaker's last year. She knew how to be safe, and Neville certain wasn't going to blab out to Ginny."

Harry wasn't sure how to deal that. He didn't have a cue until last Christmas that Ron and Hermione were together. Yet, everyone else seemed to recognize. Further, he was pretty for sure that last class Tonks had used her Metamorphosis skills to take on on the visual aspect of Helen of Troy so that she could sneak into Gryffindor tower with Neville. It brought up memories… bad memories. Suddenly, going to talk to Hermione about anything didn't seem like such a good approximation. Harry began to grind away his desk with his finger, then crossed his subdivision and just looked down at the base. He could see the aureole's of the life organisms that his mates had tracked in under their shoes. Maybe auntie Petunia wasn't such a crazy bat after all - at least as far as wiping one's foundation at the door was concerned.

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

Barefoot and shirtless, Harry walked over to the windowpane. Christmas was a hebdomad away and, sadly, no snow had fallen. The undercoat below and the surrounding forest glistened brightly in Harry's blindness. He placed his allow for hand on his chest, just above Asha's philia, the Harlan Stone that even now sat hidden within him. Focusing richly above the treetops he found nothing but blackness. Late in the evening, swarm had moved in, covering all in a shadow blanket through which no stars shone. He peered at the Saami quarter-circle of sky in which he knew Ebyrth hung, growing ever closer. He closed his eyes and dropped his oral sex heavily against the meth window.

Voldemort's cloak should have been destroyed by the water from the capitulation, but it wasn't. Why ? Was it the Horcrux Draco thought it was, or simply an object of power that Lucius craved ? There was a spy in the castling, probably within Gryffindor or Slytherin that had given up Blaise. He was now under a end Eater's haughty curse. Who was the spy ? Could they have turned St. Patrick too ?

It wasn't enough that war was raging in Eastern Europe and would soon embellish the forest about Hogwarts, if not the rook itself. Now there was a child. Could it really be his ? That was a stupid enquiry. Of course it could be ; the timing was near double-dyed and they had been… well, stunned. It was just before the Halloween feast. Harry was going to assure 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 feeling in her eyes. Even now, the memory sent a frisson down his spine and made his insides quiver. Neither of them was in the veracious frame of judgment, but they both knew what they wanted. Now they were both paying for it. At least Cho was. Harry began to wonder… if the child was Harry's, did Antonius recognize, or was Cho simply using him ?

Harry shook his head, trying to bring in his muddled thoughts. Maybe he was making a big deal of cipher. Maybe Marcus Antonius was the father. But the vision… Gabriella's vision that both he and Hermione shared. He'd seen a child. Gabriella saw her own Death and yet Harry saw life. He thought it was their child, his and Gabriella's. Now, Harry wasn't so sure.

The windowpane was frigidity and a quiver ran across his body. He turned and walked over to his depot thorax, opening the lid and notion around for a shirt.

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

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

"Yes ?"

"Ah…"Harry held up two air sock."Do these match ?"

"Kinda,"answered dean, looking at Joseph Black and maybe a dark navy blue.

"Good… undecomposed,"replied Harry and he slipped the shirt and socks on. He sat back on his bed and slipped on his boots without saying a Holy Writ.

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

"Accio cloak !"Harry called with his right deal in the air, digit outstretched for a catch. His cloak flew into his aspect."Almost,"Harry muttered. He stood and put on the cloak on and then slipped his baton into his sleeve and stepped toward the threshold.

"Dean,"he said,"please kick in my apologies to prof Snape. I'll miss the exam tomorrow I'm afraid. It's sad really. Since the connexion, I think I had a pretty good hazard of acing it. Severus, after all, shared a bit of himself with me that night."Harry rubbed the scar on his right arm.

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

"Whew ! I made it !"cried Ron, jumping into their room."I never thought I'd get Hermione's attention. I finally had to go in through the backdoor, if you know what I mean."He tapped his head."She'll be up in a… Whoa. Where are you going ?"he asked Harry.

"Actually Ron,"began Harry,"I was just telling Dean that—"

"What's all this about the Horcrux ?"asked Hermione as she entered the room.

"Shhhh !"cried Ron and Harry simultaneously, ushering her inside.

"You found it ?"she asked in a near susurration.

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

"Malfoy ?"asked James Byron 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 rampart near the doorway, began tapping it nervously with his fingers. He glared at Ron."Great program, mate."

"well,"said Ron,"I tried to—"Harry held up one finger to his lips and Ron lowered his voice."I tried to—"Harry shook his finger at Ron. There was a bit of a rumble and Ginny burst through the threshold.

"What's up ?"she asked. Then she noticed Harry."What's with the cloak ?"Harry crossed his arms.

"Bloody snake pit,"he whispered.

"Is that what's got you so agitated Harry ?"James Dean asked as Ginny slipped into his munition. Then he turned to her."Did you know Draco was alive ?"It was a question she didn't expect and it caught her off guard. Her eyes shot immediately to Ron and the tone gave her away at once.

"You did !"cried Dean."How could you not tell me ? Did you all sleep together ?"Harry could see the fervency building in Dean's emotions. Nobody said a word."How foresightful have you known ?"

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

"Clear his gens ?"said Dean."He was… he is a last Eater."

"He saved my biography, Dean,"interjected Ron."That you do know. That I've told everyone. But my word isn't sufficiency to restrain him out of Azkaban. I should have intercourse, the Minister's my Dad and, no, he doesn't know about genus Draco either."

These words cooled Dean's fires, if only a smidgen, and his deal found his sac. There was a moment 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 pass the rest of our liveliness together, we can't be keeping secrets from one another. Secrets… they… they sour psyche and wrick cartel. If you'd have just told me to maintain mum, you know I would experience. All you had to do is ask. You know that… don't you ?"Ginny reached her mitt to doyen's impudence 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, tell your Dad that we can own the ceremonial occasion with Voldemort's cloak this Saturday after exams."

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

"Right,"cut in Harry,"so that's why you… all,"he waved toward the chemical group,"can figure out how we get the cloak tomorrow night. I'll sports meeting you at the entry to the Ministry at midnight. Have the programme ready and I'll supporter you however I can."He grabbed Gabriella's script."come with me."They started for the door when Hermione grabbed the back of Harry's cloak, stopping him in his racetrack.

"What do you mean ? Where are you going ? Your Potions exam is tomorrow."Harry turned back, his face hind end but his centre blank.

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

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

"It's one secret I'm afraid,"said Harry, raising his work force to quiet his protagonist,"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 questions, but Harry held a fingerbreadth to his sass.

"Not here… not now,"he whispered.

They were about to clear out through the portrayal of the Fat madam 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 common room.

The two didn't speak until they reached the staircase. It was pipe down with only a few students roaming about. virtually were likely studying for tomorrow's exams. The others were either heading toward or returning from the library. The two found themselves alone on the stairway as it slowly began to slide into place. Finally, Harry gathered the courage.

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

"Cho Chang ?"Gabriella asked blankly.

"Yes, Cho Yangtze River !"Harry snapped."How could you not know ? You two were inseparable at the end of last year. She helped you through exams. Merlin, you spent Thomas More clip with her than with me. How could you not experience ?"

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

"So we're going to see Anthony,"Gabriella said knowingly. Harry said aught, wishing only that the staircases would move 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 to have sex !"His last words were trashy and reverberated off the stone rampart.

"They have a right field to their privacy, Harry,"Gabriella replied with an edge in her vox."They have a right wing to keep the Daily Prophet out of their lives. Frankly, I don't see how it's any of your concern. 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 bring in their way up to Ravenclaw pillar. A third gear year Ravenclaw joined them on the moving display case upward. Harry moved close to Gabriella failing miserably at keeping his voice hushed.

"None of my stage business ? None of my business ? !"

"Yes ! None of your business ! They were stupid, Harry,"Gabriella said struggling to sustain her composure in movement of the tierce class, although Harry could smell out the anger building within her."It was a error, a mistake that Antonius'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 household ?"

At this, the third year Ravenclaw looked back over his shoulder at Harry and Gabriella. Gabriella flashed him a feel that put the boy's nose back into the book he was reading. The stone staircase came to a freeze and the boy stepped off followed by Harry, but Gabriella grabbed his arm.

"What do you stand for 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 youngster, but she didn't know that Harry could be the father. He stopped and leaned against the banister. The delay was just long enough that the staircase began to move again.

"She was not my mistress,"Harry said quietly to the darkness."I… I was not myself last year. You know—"Gabriella put her custody about Harry's shoulders.

"I know,"she whispered sadly. Harry turned to face her.

"I've only ever loved you,"he said.

"I know that too,"she said with a smiling that Harry could not see but could sense. She kissed him gently on the cheek and pulled him close. They held each other that way for some fourth dimension and when the stairway came to a point Gabriella moved to get off, but Harry stood still.

"I'm not jealous because of Anthony,"spoke Harry to the unresolved 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-fitting to her."It wasn't Mark Antony that was the stupid one ; it was me - Hallowe'en of last class. Cho's child… it could be mine."

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

"I see,"she finally whispered."That muddies things a bit, doesn't it ?"

"I need to ask Marcus Antonius where she is,"he said firmly."I need to see her ; I need to know."

"It seems to me,"Gabriella said slyly,"that, for someone who's not supposed to know anything, you know quite a bit already. You know there's a child. You know she's in France."

"La Mure,"added Harry.

"Then you know all there is to know, Harry. The Town's not that large and a few well placed questions will get us to where we need to go."

"Us ?"Harry asked.

"Don't be silly,"answered Gabriella."It's far too dangerous for you to leave the castle alone. Besides, professor Snape has already released me from tomorrow's exam for—"

"—for high First Baron Marks of Broughton,"interrupted Harry."Yeah, I know. I know."He paused for a few moments and then excite his head. But before Harry could say a Holy Writ Gabriella began.

"Harry,"she said gently, holding her mitt to his fount,"I don't care how well you can see what others can not."She took his hand."You're blind. It makes a departure. You can't go somewhere you've never been, talk to masses you've never met and think that it's no big deal."There was another yearn pause.

"Cho's bodyguard is a Death Eater,"Harry said, more 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 creative thinker. Finally he said,"You're right. I probably wouldn't get a chance to see her… not without help."He squeezed Gabriella's handwriting."Besides, you need to be there. I need you to be there."

It took twenty minute of arc to get what they needed before they could sneak out through the hidden tunnel to Hogsmeade. It took half that time to realize it to Le Mure. Gabriella was right, Harry would get been lost without her. It was bad enough trying to call back his Daniel Chester French ; it was worse trying to figure out what hand gesture or facial verbalism went along with it. Blind, he could detect none of it, but Gabriella was nearly unadulterated. In fact, Harry began to inquire if she had known the way all along. Finally, knowing that Cho's apartment was just around the block, the two decided to spend the night at a minuscule inn and wait until morning. It was the first base they'd been truly alone since the summer.

Harry offered to catch some Z's on the level, but Gabriella pulled him close to her. There was a warmth to her hint that meant Sir Thomas More to him than anything in the whole world. That night he laid his someone bare, telling her everything he knew, everything she'd listen to, including Draco's hypothesis about Voldemort's cloak. Only when he touched on his training with the Centaurs, would she noticeably change the field of study. He fell asleep in her arms and woke the following morning the Lapp way. The sun was just breaking into the windowpane as he stroked her retentive blackened hair, wondering with some fear what the future would convey.

After breakfast, they walked down the back street toward the minor apartment social system that the innkeeper 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 open by an older man with grey hair's-breadth and a tire look on his aspect. There were debut and Gabriella slipped inside. The room access shut before Harry could watch. There was a moment of silence and then squeals of joy. Harry knew the speech sound ; Cho was inside. A few moments later the man left, jingling coins in his pocket. Harry's plan had worked - Gabriella, handing the man a twain galleons, suggested he go to the nook pub for a chomp and a beer or two. He wasn't to the sidewalk before there was a breeze and he had Disapparated. Then the murmurs began ; louder, then balmy, then louder again. Finally, Harry heard,"Don't be silly."A moment after that, the room access opened and Gabriella ushered him inside.

All the while, Harry had seen the air of the two young charwoman and the sure-enough man. He watched as they moved back and Forth, and as Gabriella hugged what he figured to be Cho. It had been the low time he had observed a Disapparation without his hatful and he noted with interest the sudden fit of energy that accompanied it. But more than anything else his attention was focused on one thing above all - a dim reddish lambency that glimmered from the back of the apartment. Through all the bulwark it could have been anything - a cat, a dog. But Harry knew, by how well its colouring material blended with Cho's, what was there.

"Harry ?"Gabriella asked to the idle words before her. Cho stood only a few animal foot away. Harry sensed warmth mingle with discernment. As for himself, he could sense the sweat of his palms as he reached up and slipped off the cloak.

"Cho ?"he asked to the glow before him. The air didn't relocation, the somebody didn't speak, but the colouring began to blanch almost immediately. Then her hand went to her font, covering her rima oris.

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

"This ?"Harry asked, holding his handwriting near his tabernacle."It's nothing. Just a bit of glass. Surgery's scheduled for adjacent month ; should have me good as new."Cho took his hand and then touched his face.

"I'm so no-good,"she whispered."I should have come to visit."She took him in her sleeve and held him tight. He could find her shakiness in his sleeve."I couldn't… I couldn't bear to see you again."

"Great,"Harry drawled."Always serious to know you're opinion of kindly."

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

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

The plaza was larger than Harry expected, compared to what it looked like from the outside, but it was sparsely provide and what furnishing 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 final stage year, was propped up in the quoin. Cho offered them some chocolate, they accepted and together they sat at a meek table in the kitchen. There was a short public lecture about the weather and school.

"Are your examination over ?"Cho asked."Tony has Arithmancy tomorrow."

"Tony,"muttered Harry through gritted teeth. Maybe he was a bit jealous of Antony."Er… yeah. Gab and I are done for the semester."

"That's great,"said Cho softly. There was an awkward quiet, and then, finally, Harry could expect 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 incur out when. Ask what you might require to, erm…"He looked around at the shabby furniture."… spruce the place up."

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

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

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

"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 pocket-sized red jumper. He smiled and muttered a few speech sound as she sat him in his professorship, offering him a biscuit to chew on. The dull fog of Harry's eyes were focused somewhere above the boy's brain, but his mind's eye was captivated on the golden red luminescence before him. It was superb, almost blinding, and Harry wondered if the brightness of the glowing was because he was a baby or something more. The biscuit snapped out of Cho's hand and flew into the waiting clutches of the baby's.

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

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

Harry could sense that she was looking at him, centred on his reaction, but he was at a loss. To know for for sure he would have to ask straight out. Now, here they were, and Harry didn't know what to do. He half wanted to poke the baby with a control stick to see what it would do.

"Has he,"Harry began,"shown any other preindication of thaumaturgy ?"

"No. Not really,"answered Cho cautiously."But he can abide with help and he's already tried to walk."She paused."I think, maybe, he'll be in Hufflepuff,"she added wistfully."He loves it when I take him to the zoo."

"What's his name ?"asked Gabriella.

"Jamie,"answered Cho.

"After your buddy ?"

"We just liked the public figure,"Cho said, not committing.

"I have to allow,"said Gabriella,"that he's the splitting image of you. And that's a good affair ; you're much better looking than Anthony."She laughed and Cho did too. It sounded as if it had been the first clip Cho had laughed in quite some metre. But then the tincture in Gabriella's articulation changed.

"In fact, he doesn't look much like a Goldstein at all. You're both so moody, and Jamie's tegument is so pale."

"He… he doesn't get out much,"said Cho, growing nervous.

"Cho, you know I love you like a sister. Don't you ?"Gabriella asked gently."well, I think Harry has a rightfield to experience. You see, he told me that you two slept together at Hogwarts - just once, on Allhallows Eve. Caught in the heating plant of the moment, I guess."Gabriella took a breath, gathering her strength."I don't attention why it happened. And it doesn't bother me anymore that it happened. The fact is it happened… nine calendar month before piffling Jamie here was born."

"Well—"

"Cho,"Gabriella interrupted."Harry may experience his hunch, but he can't see what I can, and the eyes never lie. You and Mark Antony, you both have brown eyes. Both your parents each have brown eyes. It would take a powerful wizard to create a boy with anything other than brown centre and the magic would most certainly be to sour the coloring of the middle to his own."Cho said cypher. Harry said nothing."It's rightful, Jamie is the splitting image of his beautiful mother. But the eyes… I think he has his father's eyes."Cho remained silent. Once again, Harry watched as her aura blanched.

"What do you mean ?"asked Harry blindly. Gabriella took his hand.

"They're light-green, Harry,"she said quietly."Almond shaped and brilliantly green. Just like yours."


Harry Potter and the parentage of a New Sun

Chapter 15 - Another Potter
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Beyond the lallation of the baby sitting beside Harry, there was silence. Perhaps, if one were to heed closely, the sound of a birdie chirping or a upstage bus creaking to a arrest could be heard, breaking the stillness of the morning. Then Cho's understructure began to nervously tap against the English of the table. In front of Harry, she had been confronted by Gabriella with the truth, but still she would not, or could not verbalize. Harry had known before they came to French Republic that the child would be his, and though he had not heard the words from Cho's sassing, he wasn't about to become angry ; it was hard enough not to show how panic-stricken he was feeling. No, if anything, he needed some sentence himself to get over the sinking tactual sensation in his tummy, as if he'd just fallen off his broom. He would waitress for Cho to be ready. He breathed deeply the olfactory property of his deep brown, took a sip, set the cup down and put out his finger, with which the lilliputian boy began to bite toothlessly.

"Jamie ?"Harry said tenderly."I… I like that name."

He smiled and put his handwriting on the boy's point.

"Oh, my. What a head of tomentum ! Is it blackamoor ?"This simple question was purposefully directed at Cho. There was the metre of a interruption before she answered.

"Yes,"she said quietly, with a bit of a crack in the Son. Harry could hear her swallow.

"Thank Falco columbarius he's got his mother's looks,"Harry said with a chuckle. He took another sip of coffee.

"You'll see him one day, Harry,"said Gabriella with an encouraging tone. Harry tilted his promontory down and shook it slowly.

"I don't think so,"he said quietly, his lips still turned in a fragile smiling.

"What do you mean ?"asked Cho, surprised."Surely they can—"

"I was just examined by Madame Pomfrey,"interrupted Harry."The vision charms aren't knitting. There's still too a great deal glass."

"But couldn't they just—"

"There are tons of tiny shards - too many and too small to fell without vanishing man of my eyes and if they summon them out they'll shred whatever healthy eye tissue paper that's left."Cho gasped.

"I… I didn't know. I thought—"

"No affair,"said Harry taking to his pes."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 Sir Thomas More cup. On the way, he tripped on a minuscule toy that had fallen on the floor and what liquid that was in his cup spilt.

"Woops,"said Harry. Cho stood to make clean the spillway, but Harry had it off the background nearly before it landed with a simple waving of his hand. Since losing his visual sense, his abilities without a wand, abilities he rarely used in front of others, had strengthened. Without skipping a beat, he poured himself another cup, but rather than turn he continued to face the cabinetry. Yes, he could see the fire in the boy's aura, but he would commit anything to let his eyesight back… to see his nipper, his son. He began to tremble. For the first clock time in months he was cold with veneration, and it wasn't fear of a Dementor or Death Eater. It was fear for his child and his minor's mother, fear for a future that was already so uncertain, so non-white. It felt as if all the air in the room was being sucked away.

"At least,"he said, holding the warm cup in his handwriting,"Susan B. Anthony won't need to… to look into my eyes and wonder. I… I wouldn't want that."Cho stepped up behind Harry and placed her manus on his berm.

"Mark Anthony Goldstein, Ravenclaw Prefect at Hogwarts school for witchcraft and genius ?"asked Cho."He might be a bit proud at sentence, but he's no fool, 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 hand at the side of Harry's cheek."He knew that too. I… I didn't."With these words, Cho began to cry. She held Harry by the front end of his shirt and pulled him close, sobbing into his chest. Gabriella left her chair and the three hugged for some meter 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 picayune Jamie who broke up the trio as he began to cry.

"Oh… he's thirsty,"said Cho blotting her middle. She picked the boy up into her branch and ushered them all into the straw man room where the fireplace sat cold, but the slightly tattered chairs were more comfortable. Even without the fire, Harry watched with wonder the passion that filled the room. He could tell she loved the boy deeply. Nor, was the emotion lost on Gabriella, sitting at Harry's position, who was gathering a glow herself as she took in the way's emotions of love. He took Gabriella's paw and for the start clock time in a farsighted time Harry tried to relax, letting the swirling fright of the future slicing from his mind. It was Cho that started the conversation as Jamie continued to suck.

"I wanted to stay fresh this mystic, Harry - secret from my parents, arcanum from my brother, secret from you. At first I was ashamed and then—"

"But—"

"Let me finish,"asked Cho."I need to finish, or I may never be able to."Harry nodded."Last year you wanted to tell me about Gabriella."Cho looked at Gab."He did so want to push me away, to tell me of the Muggle little girl he had met back home."Her eyes returned to Harry."But I could see that, just under the skin, there was a attack of desire and I… I wanted… my broken organic structure 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 bitterness or sorrowfulness.

"I know that now,"answered Cho."Maybe I knew it then, at least that he wasn't in his right mind. I could have used a sheathing appealingness. I thought about it. I even reached for my wand before it happened Halloween night behind the Great Hall."Gabriella shooting 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 speaking, Cho simply nodded.

"I was being stupid. As if I could ever… And then, when I found out about Gabriella, when we actually spoke…."Cho smiled."I was so felicitous for you, Harry, and you were so sad."She sighed, shaking her principal."So I hid it - I hid my pregnancy and I hid Jamie."She put the babe over her shoulder and began to pat its rear."I thought that after You-Know-Who had been destroyed I could differentiate you, but then I heard about the new war… that Malfoy's decease eater were out to kill you. What would they do if they knew you had a son ?"She shook her head."This summertime, I travelled to the United States with Anthony… Tony. One night, I fell asleep in his weapon system and when I woke up the side by side morning the befuddling charm had warn off. I was pregnant for all to see. In that instant I panicked, horrified by what he might recollect, what he might do, and in the next I felt Tony's trace, warmly and caressing on my venter. He stayed at my side of meat and he's never left."Jamie let out a rather telling burp and everyone smiled.

Grinning, Cho held Jamie in her lap and said something in Chinese as she wiped the Milk River from his Kuki.

"Tony's hired Chalmers"said Cho, referring to the guard that was probably now close to finishing his morning meal,"to watch over Jamie and I, while he finishes school. It's costing him every knut he has. Once we're married we'll qualify for welfare from the Ministry. They offer housing and, maybe, we can find a nicer place to—"

"Benefits ?"squabble Harry, his spinal column snapping rigid."From the Ministry ? You can't be good ! You're not going to take a dime from the Ministry. As far as I'm concerned there all a bunch of shepherd's crook !"

"Harry !"called Gabriella.

"Well, Ron's dad. But the eternal rest of the lot ? Crooks !"He took to his feet."And as far as keep in Ministry housing… never ! I won't allow it."

"What do you intend you won't allow it ?"said Cho a bit heatedly."You have no say in the matter."Harry ignored her.

"You'll stay at the rook. It's far enough away from what's happening… yes, you'll be safe there."

"We're safe here,"said Cho, standing herself, the child held snugly in both coat of arms.

"prophylactic ! Are you kidding me !"call out Harry."What's his name… Chambers ? He's a end feeder !"

"Oh,"Cho chuckled,"now you're just being preposterous. Chalmers wouldn't hurt a fly. He's only working for Tony because of the kindness in his heart. He hardly makes enough money to get by on."

"So he moonlights for Lucius Malfoy as a expiry feeder !"exclaimed Harry."At least he doesn't know that the boy is mine. Thank Merlin for that."Cho's side dropped with surprise at these language.

"How could you possible know that we haven't told him ?"she asked. Now Gabriella stood, stroked Jamie's cheek and took him in her own arms, patting his back as he rested against her shoulder.

"Because,"Gabriella said softly with a melodic vocalisation as if she were singing to the baby,"if Chalmers knew, Lucius would have a go at it. And if Lucius knew, his son would know."

"Draco ?"breathed Cho."I thought genus Draco was…"Her vocalisation quieted and she strode over to Harry and slapped him on the articulatio humeri."You little liar. You looked me straight in the eye and told me he fell into the abyss."Harry turned his cover.

"Don't you look away from me !"Cho yelled."Let me see your face."Harry acquiesced. When he faced her, any wrath he felt evaporated and his berm slumped.

"This is senseless,"he breathed."He'll be back here any mo. Maybe he's a kindly old doddered just trying to draw a buck any way he can. Cho, you can't strike a chance."He placed his hands on her berm."I have money and it's my responsibility. Let me at least supporter pay the bills until Antonius grad. Let me at least apply you a roof over your head where the fireplace works and you'll know you'll be safe."

"It's beautiful there,"added Gabriella."Green fields… sapphire seas… cute Hellenic language boys with bare chests."She winked and kissed Jamie on the head. Cho crossed her arms and walked over to the hearth that had no fuel for the fire.

"I… I'll have to ask Tony,"answered Cho."Do you think… I know it's difficult abroad, but do you think we could plug into to the floo network ? I miss the household so, and we are going to order them… after Tony graduates."

"That's one thing the Ministry can do,"said Harry, suddenly happy Cho was changing her mind."But you can tell Tony later. First, we need to—"There was a piece of cake and an instant later the look threshold opened. Gabriella motioned for Harry to obliterate. He had just enough metre to shoot under his cloak and gathering himself into the corner before Chalmers walked through the front room access.

The older man was too thin out and not much taller than Cho. When he entered he took his coat off and hung it against the rampart with a sticking charm.

"Beautiful day today, Miss Yangtze,"he said with a toothy smile."Beautiful Day !"He stepped over and gave Gabriella a nod."And thank you missy for the hunky-dory meal."He paused."It's been a while since…"His nerve grew wistful, but then he shook his read/write head."No matter."He slapped his work force together and pulled his wand."Let me crystallize these dishes for you."Harry stood silently against the rampart as Chalmers walked with a bit of a limp into the kitchen. There was a trenchant rhythm to the cadence of his walk that Harry, two month ago, would not otherwise have noticed. It was then that Harry saw a change in Gabriella's gloriole ; something was wrong.

"Oh,"said Chalmers with a tonicity of surprise in his vocalisation."Three cups. Did you have another visitant today ?"Without waiting for an reply he levitated the sweetheart into the sink where the scrubber began to dampen them. Cho was frozen, but Gabriella stepped over without hesitation.

"Yes,"she said quite calmly,"a girlfriend of ours, also from Hogwarts. She had to leave former to get back for her afternoon exam."Chalmers nonchalantly straightened the chairs.

"well, you know how Mr. Goldstein feels about visitant, fille Chang."He settled himself into one of the cushioned president and began to unfold the newspaper, still scanning the way with the eyes."At least strangers."Harry could tell that the old man was on safeguard, sensing something that was not rectify."Just tryin'to sustain you and the baby dependable he is."

babe Jamie babbled something and then pointed at Harry hidden beneath the cloak. The motion was enough to cause Chalmers to wrick and await back into the far street corner at the cracked and hollow wall. Jamie babbled again and gave a wakeful laugh. Chalmers smiled.

"Well, wee Jamie is glad enough to deliver guests."He held up the presence pageboy."What's your friend's public figure, miss ?"

"Hermione… Hermione granger,"answered Gabriella. There was the tenuous pause and she added,"And I should be on my way as well."She gave Cho a hug and kissed Jamie's impudence."Thanks so much for letting us sojourn. He's just adorable and you're a wonderful mother."

"Thank you, Gabriella,"answered Cho, kissing Gab's cheek."I couldn't ask for a kinder, warmer acquaintance. Please fare visit after the wedding ceremony. I think I'll feel more easy then - Mrs. Goldstein."

"Oh ! That reminds me,"said Gabriella suddenly."Mr. Chalmers is it ?"Chalmers set his newspaper publisher in his lap.

"Just Chalmers, missy."

"Cho was showing me the nursery and I noticed the book binding window. We had discussed placing a sealing charm, but I wasn't sure if—"

"Yes, missy,"cut in Chalmers proudly."The completely house is sealed tight. No one can get in without permission. It's a Bucinum charm."

"Oh honey,"said Gabriella."A Bucinum charm ?"Chalmers nodded his head word."I think a Trepidus charm would be safer."

"Trepidus magic spell ?"asked Chalmers blankly.

"Oh yes,"added Cho."A Trepidus charm would be ideal."

"Certainly,"continued Gabriella,"I mean, if mortal tries to break in the Bucinum charm blows them up. That could harm the child. Do you retrieve you could show me where you set the appealingness ? Together we can attain the replacement."

"Oh, please do, Chalmers,"asked Cho pleadingly."Gabriella's a first category witch. She studied at Al Bsahri you know."

"Did she now,"said Chalmers with interest as he took to his base."I've heard they reopened the schooling this year."

"Yes,"said Gabriella,"it's quite lovely."

"fountainhead, let's have a looking at around and see what we can do."Together, Chalmers and Gabriella made their way to the back of the house, leaving Cho and Jamie alone with Harry. Even as Harry moved toward the front 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 marry Gold— Anthony ?"Harry asked.

"Christmas Day,"Cho answered. She tried to make the word 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 jeopardy his life story to protect me… and your son. He's honest, hardworking, and… and… and I'm marrying him on Christmas."Jamie wriggled in her limb, both script outstretched toward Harry.

"You deserve to be well-chosen,"said Harry quietly."You deserve ..."but Harry's words failed him."I'm so sorry."Cho ushered Harry outside to the front end stoop and shut the doorway behind her. She lifted his cloak to reveal his face.

"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 sassing, and then draped the cloak back over him."I'll ask him about your offer. He's a lofty man, Harry, and a bit stubborn. You should be able to revalue that."

"I love you, Cho. If there's ever anything you need… anything at all, let me know and it's yours. I'll see to it, I swear."Cho smiled, but her eyes were sad. Jamie began to suck on his finger's breadth. The door opened and Gabriella appeared followed closely by Chalmers.

"Ah, here you are,"said Gabriella. The sun was warm on her face as she put her arms out and gave Gabriella a hug."The apartment is sealed tight."Cho took in a deep intimation.

"good, thank you,"she said."I was just giving Jamie a little sun."

"Which he can get through the window, my dear,"said Chalmers herding Cho back into the house."Now come inside."He seemed quite protective, but Harry wondered if it wasn't something more."A pleasure to meet you, fille Darbinyan, was it ?"

"Yes, and a pleasure it was to get together you,"Gabriella replied."It's good to see my friends in such fine hands. Cho, I'll be by before longsighted with those natural endowment I promised."

"Gifts ?"Cho asked."Oh, yes, giving. Yes, yes, anytime. Be safety ; there's a hush outer space to Apparate just behind that Robert Gray building over there."They kissed good day and Gabriella began to take the air down the street, Harry at her side. Chalmers stood for some time after Cho had gone inside, watching from the stoop. Gabriella waved one last time as she turned the niche out of raft. Harry was about to draw out off the cloak when she stopped him.

"Stay hidden,"Gabriella whispered."We're being followed."Harry spun and there behind the construction they'd just passed were the auras of two pocket-size name. They hadn't been there a min before.

"Did you see them ?"Harry asked."I didn't hear an Apparation."

"mansion elves,"Gabriella whispered,"at least one of them. The other… I can't tell."

"But there weren't any home elves at the house,"said Harry.

"I know,"she replied."They must belong to soul else, or one's with its master."

"Who ?"

Gabriella just shrugged.

"How did he know your figure ?"asked Harry.

"It just slipped out. But I don't think—"

"You don't think Lucius would just as soon see you up on a pike as me ? It was foolishness !"

"He'd have found out soon enough,"said Gabriella with a sigh as the two turned another quoin. The street was deserted save for two Loretta Young male child playing football near the end by a chain-link fencing. Gabriella pulled her wand. She was going to snipe the two that were nearing the corner, but Harry stayed her script.

"Gab, no,"he whispered."Grimmauld Place."

"But—"

"Now !"

A moment later they found themselves on the streets of British capital, just outside of identification number twelve, Grimmauld office. They waited to see if they might have been followed, then checked that the streets were clear. Finally, Harry uncloaked and walked up the steps to the door, knocking twice. The door opened of its own accord and the two walked in. There was a rustle, a thud, and then Sirius appeared atop the stairway wearing boxers and a tee shirt. Wand drawn he pointed it blindly toward the door.

"Freeze !"he screamed."Or I'll obliterate you !"

"I hope not,"answered Harry."I'm kinda hungry."

"Harry ?"Sirius said, blinking his eye."Harry what the hell… Gabriella ?"Sothis made an attempt at slicking back his hair and started down the stairs.

"It's after noon,"Harry said."Don't state me you were still sleeping."

"I was up late last nighttime. Remus finished grading papers and we— Hey, isn't your Potions exam today ?"Sirius'eyes shot to the door."And why didn't you use the floo ? What's going on ?"

"Erm… can we eat first,"asked Harry.

"What,"guess Sothis in a singularly insistent tone,"is… going… on ? !"

"Dog Star,"said Gabriella softly,"I think it practiced if we sit down."

"You do, do you ?"snipped Sirius, but Gabriella's black heart caught a soft-spot in Canicula'bark."Well… okay."

The three moved into the kitchen and Dog Star started toward the kitchen stove. He grabbed a spatula and summoned some sausages when Gabriella took his deal.

"Here,"she said softly,"let me do that. You sit with Harry."Sothis moved to the mesa and sat opposite his godson.

"wellspring ?"Sothis queried."It's obvious something's afoot. Spit it out."Harry tried, but he couldn't reserve his godfather's regard.

"I… I, erm…"He sucked in a large gulp of air and exhaled."Igoterpregnant."

"What ?"Sirius asked."What was that ?"

"I… I got her pregnant."

"What !"Sirius stood and spun towards Gabriella."You're pregnant ?"Gabriella turned the sausages with her baton."How could you—"

"Let him finish,"she replied, floating three photographic plate out onto the table.

"Not Gabriella,"Harry said. Sirius turned back to typeface Harry."Cho… Cho Chang."Sirius fell back into his hot seat.

"Are you sure ?"asked Canicula with a disbelieving tone."Because sometimes witch 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 have a go at it 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 blimp on the plates and added some warmed bonce.

"It was last year,"she answered sitting down and handing Dog Star a forking.

"The baby was born in July,"said Harry."On my natal day. His name is Jamie."

Sirius'fork fell with a clangoring onto the plate, splattering red edible bean onto his white-ish t-shirt.

"A b-boy ? Jamie ?"

"They're bread and butter in a dump,"said Harry quickly,"and I can't have my son living like that. I won't have another Potter live with dust and spiders, not as long as it's in my might. So, I offered to take in them detain at your castle. You know… until Susan Anthony alumna. Falco columbarius save his soul if he ever—"

"My castle ? Susan Anthony ? Who's Anthony."

"Goldstein. Well Cho calls him whole 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. Sothis then began a speech that lasted for nearly thirty min and included a few character to Harry's parents. But when Harry began to poke into deeper Sirius changed the subject. After venting about Harry's folly, he had agreed to adopt Anthony, Cho and Jamie in and help in any way he could.

The blimp Cho cooked little more than a computer memory, Sirius grew athirst again and he convinced them to go to a Thai restaurant 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 witches and maven. The occasional newsbreak of trick that occurred never seemed to unnerve the old man. Canicula called him a initiate, a Muggle in tune with the magic of the instinctive world but possessing no skill his own. Harry was half-way through his Panang Curry when he realized that tonight he was to satisfy Ron and Hermione at the Ministry.

"The cloak,"he muttered suddenly to himself, before taking another sting.

"What's that, Harry ?"asked Sirius. Harry looked up into Sirius'eyes ; they were smiling. Harry's sightlessness didn't allow him to see that the seam that had once drawn the slope of Sirius'middle down were now curling upward. But he could feel the brightness of the halo in his godfather's manifestation. For a second, Harry considered telling Sirius of their plan at the Ministry. Gabriella touched his hand.

"More tea ?"the waiter asked, and all three nodded. Harry continued to face toward Canicula who was as happy as ever. The thought of asking Sirius to serve them, particularly at the Ministry, curdled the curry in Harry's breadbasket.

"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 Sirius, taking another bit."It's a bit gamy tonight."

"Yeah… yeah that's it,"Harry answered. He wiped his mouth with his table napkin and set it on the table."Erm… Actually, I think I better be—"

"Harry,"interrupted Gabriella,"I have to go before it gets yesteryear midnight."

"Is it getting that belatedly ?"asked Sirius, his sass half wide. 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 store. Then she said something that surprised even Harry.

"I need to see Jamie,"she said,"just for a mo. I should have taken tutelage of it this morning, but I forgot. I've not been in line with the old ways for some clock time. momma would be disappointed in me."Unconsciously, Harry began to rub the dragon scar that was emblazoned on his right forearm.

He remembered what Gabriella's mother, Soseh, had said at the end of final stage school year."The blessing is inscribed on the males of each generation by the womanhood of the genesis before. It will be Gabriella's duty to pass the thanksgiving to your sons."Once it was clear that Harry would accept Jamie as his son, it was Gabriella's obligation, by oath, that she pass to him the thanksgiving of Asha.

"The Votary,"Harry whispered quietly, staring down at the bowl of yellow and Au. 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 Sirius.

"We were followed after we left Cho's apartment,"said Gabriella."But it makes no departure. By pureness, I have no alternative. It must be done, and the sooner it's done the greater the great power of Jamie's thanksgiving, of his trade protection. He'll motive Asha's assistance in these time of darkness."

"You mentioned the Death eater bodyguard, but you didn't quotation that you were followed,"said Dog Star, his eyes turning toward Harry with a more serious blaze.

"Dragon said that Chalmers doesn't study nights, at least not for Goldstein. Sirius, you need to go with her, keep her safety. That way you can see Jamie and offer on the news, maybe convince Cho to move into the castle tonight while Chalmers is away."

"And you ?"Sirius asked.

"I'll just straits back to Hogwarts. If the two were a couple of Lucius'thugs out to get me it'd be comfortably if I wasn't there."Sirius sighed, looking longingly at an untouched barbecue spare rib. He licked his sass and pushed his plate forward.

"Very well, let's go."They paid and made their way outside and down the street, finding a more removed alley often used by the visiting hag and star to Apparate. Canicula took Harry by the arm and looked him in the eyes, but Harry turned away to look down the street as a car past tense by.

"Straight to Hogwarts,"said Sirius sternly,"okay, 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 baton as did Sothis."Oh, and don't worry ; Jamie will be fine. I'll make sure that no evil harms your child."Harry tried to rally a grinning.

"Did I ever tell you how much I loved you ?"he asked and then they kissed."I'll see you at schooltime in the aurora. Keep her good, Sirius."There was a snap and both Gabriella and Sirius had vanished. Harry focused his vision to another part of capital of the United Kingdom and in the next moment found himself at a telephony box above the ingress to the Ministry. As off-putting as Apparating was for Harry, he was ill prepared for what happened adjacent.

"Stupefy !"The blast of red brightness level hit Harry squarely in the chest of drawers, knocking him backward some ten to twenty groundwork, his baton tumbling from his hired hand."There, Harrington,"a large cloaked form said with a rather blustery part, 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 laugh, 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 right arm forward. Orange light erupted from the berm down and extended out and beyond Harry's fingertips.

The figurehead of the Death Eater's cloak looked as if a declamatory saber had just slashed across it, tearing textile and flesh alike up and outward. Harry could feel the blood splatter his facial expression. The Death Eater screamed falling to his knees. Unsteadily, Harry stood. The whole place seemed to be spinning. He was giddy and a pull together sensation of nausea was building inside.

"Accio verge !"he cried, wrenching his wand from the Death Eater's range and in to his own mitt. Limping forward he yelled"BOY ?"Then he placed his wand on the forehead of his foe."BOY ?"Blood continued to dribble from beneath the crouching last eater's rib and between the hands that clutched his chest."Who do you work for ?"Harry asked, already knowing the result.

Harry had focused so much tending on the large Death eater, he had neglected the smaller one that had retreated to the darkness.

"I said WHO - DO - YOU - WORK FOR !"Standing over his cowering dupe, it was then that he noticed the lights - lots of visible light. Five Thomas More auras had Apparated ; he was surrounded. Seemingly emboldened by the new arrival, the pocket-sized Death Eater emerged from the tincture and held out his scepter.

"Expel—"There were three tour cast almost simultaneously that stopped the wizard before he had a chance to finish.

"Stupefy !"“ Diffindo !"and Harry's cuticle charm,"Contego !"

Only, Harry didn't need the cuticle charm… for himself. The first enchantment came from one of the approaching atmosphere Harry presumed to be more Death feeder. The bolt, not the strongest Harry had ever seen, knocked the smaller whizz backward, albeit only a few infantry. Fearing for his sprightliness, and rightfully so, the tiny Death eater Disapparated. The bit spell came from yet another nimbus, small yet intense. It was directed at the gimpy wizard crouching before Harry. The result was frightful and instantaneous ; the Death Eater's oral sex fell to the gravelled sidewalk and his torso slumped forward, draining parentage at Harry's feet, a boiling syndicate of ignitor like lave erupting from a volcano.

Harry spun to look the five wizards approaching him, holding his wand high. Two showed hints of both red and green in their auras as they drew nearer."Imperious bane ?"Harry wondered. And then a voice came to him that startled him more than that of the premature Death feeder.

"Bloody hell, James IV ! 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 Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 16 - The core call option
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"He was reaching for his sceptre,"said James, pointing at the decapitated death eater at Harry's groundwork."He was going to vote down 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 pee,"said Susan Anthony Goldstein with a rather haughty vocalism.

"Goldstein ?"asked Harry in surprise as the group converged on him.

"shucks, ceramicist,"said Goldstein,"you're a bloody mint. And I do mean bloody. Scourgify !"The splatters covering the front of Harry's face, shirt and pants vanished, though the pool on the pavement 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 swipe out. Seemed like a good DA delegacy.

"Are you kidding ?"snapped Harry, gazing at the aura of the man who'd be his son's father. There was a purity about it, but Harry was to inflamed 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 line, pooling at his substructure. Hermione ran over to him and hugged him.

"Who were they ?"she asked."cipher's supposed to know we're here."

"That's what I thought,"answered Harry."I was trying to get an answer when James here decided to wreak the butcher."Harry turned to the second yr."The following time I need your avail Chang Jiang, I'll ask for it."Harry sensed at once the anger building within the diminished virtuoso, but then it subsided almost as quickly as it came.

"I… I was just trying too toilsome I guess,"answered James."It was scary."

"And why are you two,"Harry pointed to both James and Patrick,"here in the number one place ? Stumble across the troupe as well ?"He shot Ron a glance and wished he could convey eye of Death.

"Patrick overheard our design and said he'd rat if we didn't bring ‘ em along,"answered Ron."It was supposed to be quiet ; I didn't material body we'd run into Death Eaters."

"If that's what they were,"said Harry, still holding his baton at the ready."They acted more like hired goon than end Eaters."

The night air was common cold and serenity. He could sense the moistness of a thin out mist wrapping about his face, sending shivers down his spine. For a here and now he thought of Dementors, but the chilliness, this chilled clamminess was something else, something more splanchnic. The voicelessness of death were swirling ; somehow Harry knew that. And not for the man that had just been slain, the voicelessness were telling Harry that more would soon join the abruptly man at his understructure. But who ?

"Goldstein,"Harry said suddenly,"Anthony, really you… you have to—"

"Well, we're here now,"said Henry James."Dispatchio !"The perfectly thaumaturgist and the puddle of blood beneath him vanished."Let's say we get in, get the cloak and get out before anymore… er, dark wizards show up. Wouldn't want Luci—"

"Where'd you learn that spell ?"queried Hermione."That's one-fifth year."James shrugged his berm.

"My baby I guess,"he said."She's the smartness one in the family."

"Yeah… I see,"said Harry, noticing James'aura slicing from putting surface to red then back from red to green. For the first time, he thought Epistle of James might not really be an ally."Ron, maybe you should take—"

"James is right wing,"off-and-on Susan Brownell Anthony."skillful if we get down into the Ministry before another dozen Death feeder Apparate in."

"But—"

"Harry,"interrupted Hermione,"let's just get downstairs. We can talk then."Harry heaved a sigh and the group squeezed into the phone John Wilkes Booth. Ron said the password his father had told him and a Ag orb appeared, scanning Ron in a poorly white visible radiation. Then, with a jar, the elevator began to plump. Harry tried to see at Ron and suggest to the redhead that he should read Harry's mind, but his eyes were blank and Ron didn't recognize the seventh cranial nerve expression as he once would give birth. Harry silently cursed his blindness.

Harry's heart began to quicken. If the two second age were under the Imperious Curse, they were probably in Lucius Malfoy's ascendance. He was feeling strongly like he wanted to wretch onto the polished marble level just as the threshold opened onto the resplendent entering hall of the Ministry of magic trick. The six stepped out, wands drawn.

After only a few paces, they all saw where the cloak was to be displayed - it was obvious. A large glass case had already been erected. On a celestial pole was the torso of a mannequin and following to that a gilded statue of Harry with his wand drawn. They all stepped tightlipped. There was no cloak, but there was a plaque. It read,"This land site commemorates the licking of the Dark whizz Voldemort by the thousand Wizard Harry Potter, ordering of Falco columbarius, first-class honours degree Class, who faced his foe wand-to-wand and struck him down."
"decree of merlin ?"asked Goldstein surprised."I didn't know—"

"Neither did I,"cut in Harry.

"They'll probably award it to you during the observance tomorrow,"said Hermione brightly. Harry turned to her.

"If we do this right, there won't be any ceremony,"said Harry shortly."No Dark cloak, no proceeds of Voldemort, no ceremony. Ron, do you have any idea where—"

There was a resonance coming from down the foyer and a faint glow that was growing nearer. It sounded as if someone were humming. The group began to draw back, away from the display case ; all, that is, except James. Harry went to grab his arm, but the boy wouldn't movement.

"Is this it ?"he asked, still staring at the re-enactment before him."Is this how it happened ? You struck him down ? Nobody could differentiate me for sure, not even Gabriella."Harry held more tightly to Epistle of James'robes and began to perpetrate him bodily across the floor.

"Jesse James,"Harry said, huffing between his tooth,"there are some thing you can't believe. start, never believe a password Trelawney says unless she sounds like a goblin on fire whisky. minute, never trust a word 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 James by the back of his choker until they were hidden between two marble columns.

"boldface words, Harry,"continued Jesse James passively."But I never believed you could beat Lord Voldemort wand-to-wand. recount me, is there still a share of the dark overlord that courses through your mineral vein ? That could be useful, if—"

"Shhh."All was still, save for the occasional fracture ember from one of the hearth that surrounded the exalted entrance hall and the humming that was growing louder by the instant. 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 armour opposite the Fountain of Magical Brethren. At another column just behind Harry and James, Patrick and Susan Brownell Anthony crouched. The rustle of death were growing louder. So brassy, in fact, that Harry turned to see if perhaps a ghost or something more were at his powerful side. Only James was there, kneeling quietly on the level.

The light grew brighter and then the beldam appeared. Harry could arrive at out her glory, a shimmering gold, but not her feature of speech at this distance. In presence of her was a cloak levitated some two metrical unit off the dry land. She was approaching the display instance when Saint James the Apostle began to writhe under Harry's hand.

"Hold still,"he whispered, but the marble walls took in the sound, ring them about, amplifying the randomness such that it was audible to the witch at the display case. Harry noticed the hesitation. He expected her to turn, but she did not. Instead, she levitated the cloak onto the torso within the display case and closed the glass door. She cast a charm with her wand and then turned as if to go out. In turning, she revealed her font to the others, but Harry was still unable to recognize who the witch was. From the syncope gasp from across the hall it was clear that Hermione, for one, knew who it was. The witch stepped toward the fountain and took something out of her air pocket, perhaps a coin, Harry couldn't tell. In a motion that was as graceful and as cunning as any Harry had ever seen, she flipped the object into the fountain. It whirl high into the air and, just as it crested in its arc, her former hand pointed her wand toward it and cast the spell.

"Immobulus !"Harry recognized the voice at once ; it was Molly Weasley, Ron's mother.

Half of the light leaving her baton passed the coin cleanly and struck the witch and adept by the suit of armor. The other half, however, glinted off the coin, reflecting toward and blasting the two necromancer next to the editorial behind Harry. With one magical spell she had immobilized Ron, Hermione, Anthony and Patrick. Again, Henry James wriggled under Harry's range and again Harry held him fast.

"I know you're there,"Mrs Weasley said with a vocalisation that held no fear."I'm afraid it's well after 60 minutes. If you're lost, I'm surely I can help you find your way. amount out from behind the column and let's see where you belong. Shall we ?"

Again James pushed against the exercising weight of Harry who was pressing him heavily 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 enfold themselves about James.

"Sectumsempra !"cried James, slashing the forget me drug with his wand and pushing Harry away. Then he pointed his sceptre at Mrs. Weasley."Avada Ked— !"
"Stupefy !"she called, her piece interrupting the boy's. The red luminance nearly take up St. James who deflected it at the last second, sending the beam into the roof above, showering them all with pieces of marble and sliver of walnut tree. This was no second yr wizard.

Harry jumped to his feet and contrive his own stunning patch, but again St. James deflected it. It was then that molly Weasley noticed who he was.

"Harry ?"she called.

"pelt, Mrs. Weasley !"he cried in riposte."hide !"

James cast a jet of red light Harry's way. Harry focused on where he needed to be—out of the balance 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 go forth elbow. James I smiled.

"Impressssive, Harry,"James hissed in a much higher, colder representative, a voice that shook Harry to the substance. It couldn't be."You've learned well from the Centaurs. I did as well ; although I suspect my methods of extracting the knowledge I required were somewhat different than yours."There was another bolt, green, and again Harry disappeared and reappeared into another role of the grand hall.

"Diffindo !"called Mrs. Weasley. Her while discover James on the left shoulder, leaving a nasty slash. James spun on the crone.

"Avada Kedavra !"

This time the green Inner Light sailed toward molly Weasley. Harry began to hover a marble bench into the light beam's path, but quickly realized the bench was too heavy and would not jaunt fast enough. Instead he ran, slowing meter and bending the space between them tightly together. He grabbed her by the shoulder joint and pushed her to the earth just as the blast past the pair, smashing into the wall behind and showering them with dust and stone. Harry landed on his back as Mrs Weasley landed on top of him, knocking the air out of his breast.

"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 light breath of air."In… James."Without questioning further, Mrs. Weasley's back went rigid and she rose to look James, to confront Voldemort.

"Nooo,"Harry rasped, struggling to sit up, but barely able. She ignored his beckon and faced the small boy now standing only a few feet in front of her.

"Leave the boy, Voldemort,"she commanded, brandishing her wand."He can't possibly be of any use to you, now we know the truth."

"Truth ?"queried James as his eyes shot toward the night cloak still protected behind the sealed glass. Harry rose to his knees, trying to convey air back into his lungs."The truth is that there are only two things in this elbow room I want… and you're not one of them."His wand rose in unison with Harry's, only Harry was unable to pant the spell.

"Avada Kedavra !"

Placing himself between Mrs. Weasley and Voldemort, Harry tried to rear up in front of the jet of green but the killing curse would win the race this time ; he knew that. For her part, molly Weasley cast a shield charm about them both, hoping to forefend the piece, but they all knew it wouldn't piece of work. In her last moment of life her hired hand gripped Harry by the shoulders and she cast a glance down into his unreasoning eyes, a glance that held love and compassion, a coup d'oeil that was filled with concern not for herself but for the boy before her… a glance he couldn't see. She fell beat to the floor.

"NO !"cried Harry as he spun and frame another slashing spell against James who deflected it with ease."You're being controlled, James ! engagement back !"St. James only laughed.

"YOU stood face-to-face with the Great nighttime Lord Voldemort and defeated him ?"St. James the Apostle mocked."What a joke !"

With Mrs. Weasley dead, the spell she cast on the other four magician began to tire out off. Slowly, they were coming to there senses, working to regain ascendency of their motions. James walked over to a groaning Patrick who was still prone on the floor. He grabbed St. Patrick's pilus and pulled his head off the ground.

"This one here,"called James, his voice echoing off the paries,"thinks of you as a brother, Potter. He'd sooner die than see you fall to harm. Yet he's betrayed you at my every bid. Shall I kill him next ?"

"Expelliarmus !"Harry cried, but once again James deflected the magic spell.

"oasis't you figured it out yet, Potter ? Even with the attainment of the Centaurus, you're as slow as your drained parents. Nonetheless, you could be utilitarian ; the Malfoy boy suggested as practically. I heard, perhaps, he's not as utter as everyone thinks."He released Saint Patrick whose mind cracked against the stone floor. But instead of striking at Harry, James held his baton to the looking glass showing case."Diffindo !"The bam of brightness level struck the glass, but held firm as if swallowing the energy of the flak, the glass began to glow. For the foremost clip, the smile on St. James Changjiang's face disappeared."Diffindo !"he called again, and again the energy was absorbed and the methamphetamine hydrochloride grew brighter still.

"You've killed your only chance for opening the case,"Harry sneered."But then… I always heard that that was one of your nifty weaknesses… TOM… being stupid !"

Another attack of lighter pellet toward Harry ; it was red not green, not a killing cuss. Once more, Harry slipped out of its way. This time he moved quickly around and behind Henry James reappearing with his wand drawn.

"Stupefy !"Harry cried, sending a blast of red at James'back, but again the genius deflected the spell as if swatting a fly and then turned back toward the video display example."You're not trying to kill me, Tom. Why not ?"

"I'll kill you sssoon enough,"James slithered."First, the cloak. Then, I need to extract something of mine that you stole from me when you were a baby. Soon, I will be—"Suddenly two Sir Thomas More go came from beyond the fountain. Ron and Hermione had revived themselves decent to fight, 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 attack of light at the glass case. On the third bolt the glass cracked, but only just. Harry could tell that the spells that Henry James had cast over the terminal few minutes were draining him. He looked tired, almost vulnerable. At the same moment the fires ringing the grand hall roared to life.

"Finally,"Harry whispered,"some help."wiz after thaumaturge appeared at each fireside, brandishing their wand."Whatever fourth dimension you thought you had has just expired, Tom."

The way erupted in red lighting. seven-spot eruption came at the small sorcerer by the display case. Two struck true while the others struck the radiance glass, shattering it completely. The bombastic glass shards that scattered the trading floor, however, were still glowing as brightly as ever. There were Sir Thomas More blasts of red directed at Harry.

"It's me !"he yelled."Harry Potter !"

"Harry !"cried Hermione from the far side of the Radclyffe Hall."It's not the Ministry ! It's—"A blast of red dropped her to the solid ground.

"Hermione !"cried Ron."He cast a spell knocking the star by Hermione backward into the wall with a loud crack. He pointed towards another hotshot and ran at him."leave of absence her alone, you bloody—"There was a blast of purple and he too fell to the level.

"We're student !"Harry yelled, but it only focused the attention of another barrage of red bolts his way. Harry cast a shield charm and sent them flying in every imaginable direction. The blow weakened him."Are you crazy ? ! We're—"And then he noticed it - the unmistakably shining emerald green aura of genus Draco Malfoy, stepping from the flames of one of the fireplaces. He had warned Harry and now it was too late.

Simultaneously, ropes began to twiddle about Ron, Hermione, Patrick, and most importantly James who was still motionless on the floor. Somehow Mark Anthony had managed an escape cock and stood at Harry's side of meat. There were nearly a dozen Death eater moving in on them.

"Take the cloak, Dragon,"drawled a tall mavin in black black gown with crimson lining.

"Lucius ?"Harry sneered in the wizard's counseling."Is that you ? I should stimulate known by the sickening yellow colour."The wizard said nothing, trying to snub 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 suits you. How'd you lose it again ?"The spurring worked.

"Big words for a blind boy, Potter,"he snapped.

"Now, now… sticks and stones…. But then I guess six months with Dementors and dolt will clot anyone's conversational capabilities."Harry could see that Draco was moving over the beam glass and into the typesetter's case to retrieve the gown. Harry turned to face up him.

"Hey ! Blonde mongrel ! I wouldn't go in there if I were—"

"What's this ?"Draco cried out. He had come to Molly Weasley's consistence. The color of his glory blanched."I gave specific orders ! Who cast a killing curse ?"Harry could tell immediately that Draco was blanched.

"gather the cloak !"yelled Lucius.

"But father—"

"NOW !"

"Don't do it !"yelled Harry.

Dragon moved forward toward the case. Suddenly, the tattered glass that was still glowing with the zip it had absorbed exploded in a brilliant whiteness split second. Draco flew up into the air, nearly striking the ceiling, and then landed with a sickening crunch against the marble level.

"genus Draco !"cried Lucius. Goldstein took the distraction as his opportunity. His wand erupted with brilliant bluish light, but instead of being directed at one of the decease feeder, it was directed toward one of the portraits hanging high on the wall of the grand hall. The portrait sparked, zapping the elderly wizard that had, so far, slept through the ruckus.

"Hey,"the wizard in the portraiture yelped."No need for—"

"Get avail you idiot !"yelled Goldstein. The ace in the portrayal, seeing the destruction, disappeared instantly."It won't be long now,"Goldstein muttered, staring at the abandon portraiture.

There was another outburst of spells headed at the two star and together they fended them off, but Harry was growing weaker by the moment. Lucius ignored Goldstein's call for aid, he ignored the struggle of wands, and he ignored the crumpled passel on the flooring that was his son. Instead, unwilling to come to it himself, he pointed to the cloak that was still standing in the windowless showing case.

"The cloak !"he yelled again. After some falter, another Death eater approached the black cloth and grabbed it just as James, still bound by ropes, began to come to his signified. With lust-filled eyes, Lucius only half glanced at Dragon, still motionless on the floor, stock dripping from the corner of his mouthpiece. Instead, he focused fully on the dark robes held before him.

"Luciusss,"uttered James breathlessly,"you fool."

Malfoy wrenched the cloth out of the Death Eater's hands. Quickly, he slipped it on and waited as if anticipating something to materialize.

"You expected, maybe, a coronation ?"Harry sneered."Perhaps a tip and trumpets as we all bow down to kiss your prat ? It's a stupid piece of cloth !"

"putting to death him,"Malfoy drawled, pointing with his good arm toward Harry."kill HIM !"Harry grabbed Anthony by the arm as the bolts of K approached and in an heartbeat they were on the other side of the resplendent entrance 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 naught now but a crater. Goldstein grabbed Harry's arm.

"How did you do—"

"You are NOT going to escape the wedding,"Harry snapped. He took in a deep breath, reaching out with his judgement to cull any magic he could from the earth around him. He let out a long, slow exhale and pointed his scepter at the story.

"Festio !"he cried, ripping dozens of marble tiles upward and sending them toward his antagonist. The Death Eaters tried to shatter the tile with spells, but the action only served to make one thousand of tiny missile all headed in their direction. A few shape shield magic spell in clip, but virtually were struck. Above the din of sidesplitter, Harry could hear James cursing Lucius.

"Release me, you idiot ! loose me now."But Malfoy, ignorant of James'true up identity, ignored the boy's pleadings. He had what he came for and was beginning to walk toward his son when breeze began to fill the way. Auror after Auror was Apparating within the 1000 hall. In an instant, trance were flying everywhere. Blast after blast of Light, cutting down wizard after whiz, witch after hag. The elbow room was filled with arrant mayhem and Harry, his shoulders slumped with weariness, moved to inscribe the disturbance. Before Harry could pack a full step, Goldstein grabbed him by the shoulder.

"You're no good to anybody dead,"he whispered."We need you, Harry. Me… I'm not much Sir Thomas 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 drop away free of the chemical bond that held him. Lucius, on the other hand, had abandoned everyone, including his son, and was racing to the floo. A bolt of Orange River light struck the wall behind Harry, casting Harlan Fisk Stone and dust down his back. Lucius was about prepare to hightail it. Harry focused on where he needed to be and before Lucius had taken another step, Harry was standing in front of him, blocking the entrance to the fireplace.

"Silencio !"Harry whispered, holding his hand between the cloak's folds of black cloth and directly against Malfoy's chest. The thaumaturge tried to cast a go, but was mute."Now, what with the sporty arm and all… that's what I call an improvement. You should recollect to button up before you step out, Lucius. Now, take off the cloak before I blast it off."Malfoy's eyes glowed with pure hatred and he raised his wand."Expelliarmus !"Harry whispered again and Malfoy's sceptre flew from his hand. There was an formulation of surprise in Malfoy's heart 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 wand, had his manus around Malfoy's throat, squeezing… squeezing. He was in a frenzy of pure hatred and choler.

"Do you know who I am ?"cried James."expression into my eyes !"

Lucius, even Harry, saw the flame of red light in James'eye.

"N-Not pos-sible,"he gasped, unable to take a breath."D-Dead."Then the full actualization struck him."I-I never knew."

"You know now,"James II spat between gritted teeth."And now is sssoon enough."A blast of red luminance came from the far wall and struck James in the English, but before he released his grip on Lucius, a dark acrid roll of tobacco issued from his back talk and nostrils. To Harry, it was a stream of super acid wickedness leaving the red behind. James'grasp on Lucius released and the blond sensation gasped for air, but instead of air he sucked in nothing but grass. Voldemort had penetrated him. Stunned, Harry saw the green environment the yellow and snuffle it out. Lucius took to his feet as a flak of red struck him in the cover. Nothing happened. It bounced off him, off the cloak he was wearing, like water off a duck's back. Before Harry could react, Lucius, Voldemort and the cloak had vanished in a whirl of green flame.

There were a distich more blasts, a couple more snaps, and a couple more screech of annoyance, but finally the way fell silent. Only the phone of rock 'n' roll scraping against the floor, as the remaining Aurors stepped across the debris, broke the silence.

"minister of religion, over here. It's your… over here, sir. Please."For the first metre, Harry realized that Chester Alan Arthur Weasley had been among the Aurors that had come to protect the Ministry. He watched as the wizard walked toward the shattered display case, while the Auror that called him levitated a wooden irradiation that had fallen over molly Weasley up and out of the way. It landed with a boring thud.

"Molly ?"he uttered as if trying to gently ignite mortal from a deep sleep."Molly,"he said again only louder."MOLLY !"He grabbed his wife in his limb, pulling her up out of the dust ; pebbles cascaded to the floor."Oh my god, no. No… no… no… no… NOOO !"he screamed. The chiliad antechamber rumbled, shaking trench mortar loose from the walls onto the floor below as Mr. Weasley buried his head into the corner of his wife's neck. He continued to buckle slap-up mother fucker as Harry looked down at Saint James the Apostle, prone on the trading floor, sleeve outstretched toward the fireside. The green was gone ; only blue remained, but the light was weak and flickered. He was near death. The second class began to arise, slowly looking up to witness Harry.

"H-Harry ? H-Help… I… I can't…."And he collapsed to the floor. Harry looked around at the devastation. James IV was not the only one near death. Instinctively, he pulled his wand to mobilize the mettle of Asha, but before he could cast the spell, snap after snap began to fill the G. Stanley Hall ; healer were appearing. In a issue of seconds nearly a dozen healer had Apparated into the Ministry. One, an elder wizard with bushy Theodore Harold White hair, was at King James I'side almost instantly. Scanning the boy with his wand he turned to Harry.

"You're the Potter boy, aren't you ?"Without waiting for an solution he said quickly,"Tell me, was it a mantrap ? Because I'm not detecting any—"

"He was possessed by Voldemort,"Harry cut in. The healer cringed, looking up at Harry with mental rejection.

"spirit son,"he said derisively,"you shouldn't go around—"

"red cent it !"Harry screamed."His feeling's been sundered ! It probably has been all year. Voldemort just left him to convey on another host. If you don't rush, he'll die."For only a second, the therapist tried to read the look of Harry's face. 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 Healer rose to his base and a flash of terrible purpleness light source left his verge bathing James in its glowing from nous to toe.

Harry stepped back, twisting his ankle on a rock beneath his understructure. He cursed. Other than the people swarming about the hall, it was hard to make anything out. His vision was truly failing him in the rocky raft. He could see Mr. Weasley and heard his sobbing, and tried to pick his way through the rubble as Auror and Healer alike seemed to pass him by as they rushed to another's aid. It was as if no one knew him, or no one cared. His emotions were sloshing back and forth. He needed to help… he needed to dog after Lucius, after Voldemort… he needed to —"

"Minister !"someone cried out."Minister ! It's your son !"Harry turned his attention on a glow that lay prone on the story near an Auror's feet.

"My god, Percy ? !"cried Mr. Weasley still reeling from the loss of his wife.

"No, sir,"the Auror replied."It's your youngest boy, Ron. Looks like a mantrap is all."

"That's not potential,"whispered King 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 powerful arm was starting to prickle with pain sensation."Voldemort's back."

"What ?"

"A Horcrux,"Harry whispered nonsensically, stumbling closer to Mr. Malfoy and rubbing his right forearm with his left script. It itched."There must have been more than one. We… we came for the cloak."

"Jonah,"called another therapist to the old man that was working on James,"I need your help. It's the Malfoy boy. What's his name, Draco ?"

"I thought he was dead ?"the old man called back. The young Healer looked down at Draco and then back up.

"well, if he wasn't before—"

"You knew ?"asked Mr. Weasley, his vocalization sceptical. Gently he kissed his wife's nerve and lowered her to the floor."You knew they were coming ?"

Harry was feeling dazed. He looked toward Draco, toward Chester A. Arthur Weasley. His mighty arm was aching. He had reached Mr. and Mrs Weasley and his heart began to slump further.

"No one was supposed to be here,"Harry said thinly, his voice hoarse with regret."I just wanted to destroy the cloak before… before…"Mr. Weasley rose to his invertebrate foot.

"She loved you like a son !"he yelled and slapped Harry hard across the face."AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY HER !"

The black eye knocked Harry backwards and he slipped on the slack Lucy Stone that scattered the level. Rising to one elbow he could sample the ancestry that was dripping from his cut lip, and then he noticed his right forearm - it was glowing. A tenuous etch of a rune had appeared, the Viswa Vajra. Harry had always wondered when it would happen, in what manner it would certify itself, and even though he'd never seen such a gleam, he knew what it meant, and he knew he had no choice but to obey.

The Minister of conjuration who had loved Harry as his own son was demanding solution, answers Harry desperately wanted to give. Dragon and Jesse James lay near expiry, and Harry had it in his power to easily save them both. Voldemort had escaped with a new body and another piece of his mortal, and Harry anxiously needed to chase after them - the Wizarding World was again at peril. Once more, death began to whisper in his ear and he began to shiver.

In spite of that, none of it mattered. He had sworn an cuss ; it was a burden 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 mild touch on his shoulder and see Hermione shout his name. He looked up at her, wishing he could bring the sadness weighing on his psyche.

"Harry…"

He was gone.


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 17 - The Summoning
~~~***~~~

When Dakhil left Harry at the rock steps leading to the front doors of Hogwarts palace, Harry had pleaded that he too fight the onset of Dementors and Death eater raging against Dakhil's homeland in the Carpathian Mountains. The lamia should have been gone for only a few days, 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 difficulties that the assorted European Ministries were having trying to mask the numerous atrocity as lifelike calamity. more than 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 great vortex of void.

Before he disappeared, Dakhil had told Harry that his job was to protect Hogwarts, to protect the Centaurs of the Great wood from a darkness within the schooling. Harry brushed the notion of darkness inside the rook walls aside, believing it was a backhanded contumely toward Harry, but now he was paying for it. Maybe that's why they were summoning him, he had failed in his one mission. Voldemort had not only escaped, but he had captured his Horcrux and was ready to return to baron. Or was he ?

Voldemort had said he needed only two affair in the rarified Hall of the Ministry - his old inglorious cloak and Harry. He had asked earlier if there was still contribution of the Dark Lord that coursed through Harry's veins. What James, what Voldemort didn't know was that the iniquity, Voldemort's stain, had been washed away by the cleanup of the evenfall in the Great timberland. Perhaps, Voldemort was too frail without this former part of himself, perhaps—

It was hot, painfully hot - the first thing Harry noticed when he finally appeared at the summoning site - hot and dark. Not obscure in the sensory faculty that there was no light, although it was that too ; a lack of light wouldn't matter to a blind man. No, it was dark in the mother wit that Harry saw aught. There was no life here, no life in any direction, just heat energy, an intense, blistering hotness that appeared, to Harry, like a leaden fog as he looked to the dark sky and saw Ebyrth shining as bright as ever.

He had been able-bodied to Apparate across the Channel. From there he had tried once more, but couldn't make it across Federal Republic of Germany. He was drained, unable to frame another spell, and the mellowness of the earth's free energy, normally plentiful in this area, was parched like an arid desert. There was nothing for Harry to suck up on to replenish what magical DOE he could cast. Instead, he used the mightiness of the Centaurs to bend quad and slow time, and he ran. He ran until his shoes wore through and fell away ; he ran over rivers that supported his weight as if they were immobilise solid ; he ran past flying fowl that hovered in the air like floating balloons. He ran for what felt the likes of Clarence Shepard Day Jr., stopping only to drink from the occasional stream or brook. At one point, just outdoor Vienna, he had grabbed one-half of a sandwich from the helping hand of a passer-by who might as well have been a statue frozen in clip. His ramification ached, his lungs wanted to erupt and all he could get wind was the vocalism of Ronan compelling him forward, not to meet the call of the Centaur, but to answer the evocation of the dragon.

By the meter he had begun the final examination raise, his mind was blurred with tiredness. He had paid no notice to the muckle he had been climbing. perspiration burning his unsighted eyes, he had ignored the screams and the firing through which he had past. He didn't see the transition from life to death. He only knew one thing - the summoning website. He would not give out again, even as the final stage drops of posture left his being.

This… this was the office ; he was for certain. Huge draft of air splashed down his burning lungs unable to quench his thirst for atomic number 8. His stark feet burned. Almost forgetfully, he held out his wand, deal shaking from exhaustion and mind knowing that he would not be able to cast a spell even if he wanted to. Sweat dripped down his frontal bone ; the warmth was unbearable. He stood for a consequence, verge outstretched, squinting with failed centre into the darkness. merlin, it was hot. He moved to take a step forward, an sulfurous scent filling his nostrils, when his left leg cramped and he fell face first hard into the stony reason. He didn't have the energy to rend away from the scorching endocarp, nor could he spit out the sand and midget pebbles that filled his mouth and burned his tongue.

"Maybe,"he thought,"if I rest for just—"He passed out, dropping his wand at his English.

Unconscious on the sweltering earth, whirl of smoke and visible light coalesced in his head forming a picture of dark and desperation. Even in his dreaming the look of burning flesh was unbearable. Yet, in his dream he could see - his visual sensation, his sight was as practiced as ever. The smoke and the smell cleared and he found himself at the crepuscle, the falls where Gabriella lay face down in the tall Gunter Grass, an arrow sunk oceanic abyss into her book binding. In the air was sadness. No… Thomas More than sadness - there was wrath. It was Ron, screaming, screaming….

"NOOOOOOO !"

The earth shook.

"issue him ! Take him now ! Hurry !"

The picture changed. He was flying… flying in the air. bounciness. On a Hippogriff. Bounce. Harry felt a jarring pain in the neck against the side of his ribs. He blinked. The sightlessness had returned, but he could sense that there was a light beneath him. bound. A person.

"haste !"

The voice… he knew that articulation. The darkness was clearing from his mind. He was waking. He was being carried. A group of five was climbing up the side of the hatful. One had Harry over his shoulder. Weakly, Harry began to struggle to rid himself.

"Easy, Harry,"the untried man holding him said gently, but with some urgency in his voice."When we get you back to the stronghold, we'll take a look at the burns. Praise Asha you're a member of the Votary, or you'd be dead."

"An-Antreas ?"Harry muttered. He hadn't heard the vocalism of Gabriella's brother since the summer, but there was still no mistaking the undeniable intonation that was the exact replication of Antreas'father, Grigor."What… What's going on ?"

"There will be clock time for solution later !"cried another articulation."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 vampires last summer. What was more bother, however, was something that had bothered Harry since his terminal object lesson with Ronan, something he had seen in Dakhil ever since the vampire first taught him to see without seeing. The aureole of Dakhil faded from red to purple and punt to red again. There were two personas nowadays in his nimbus. For the first meter since he'd arrived at the peck of Singehorn, Harry felt cold.

They continued to hurry up the mountain. Occasionally, Dakhil or one of the others would throw up magical spell 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 while cast in return. Soon, he began to acknowledge trees, flora, liveliness. After a few bit more, the band came to a tumid Oliver Stone wall. One of the men cast a spell and an entrance appeared. They passed through and the initiative in the stone sealed behind them. The integral 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 result side, the like position that fell unconscious into the scorching earth. He reached up and pulled the methamphetamine hydrochloride from Harry's aspect, glasses he continued to wear off in the hope, or perhaps as a symbol to others, that one day he might see again. There was an unmistakable tearing audio, and Harry could finger the charge card lip pull away from the skin on his face. When he reached to accept the glasses out of Antreas'mitt, he could tell that the leave behind half of the frame was nearly melted away. He didn't want to cogitate what his face must look like. It didn't hurt. Harry moved to touch it but Antreas grabbed his mitt.

"No !"he snapped, half trying to squelch the distraint in his own voice. He chuckled, but not convincingly."It… it's nothing, Harry. It's just best if you don't—"

"See that he has his own therapist's collapsible shelter at once !"ordered Dakhil to one of the former men that were in the group. The man began to slowly hitch away."hurriedness,"Dakhil yelled."hurriedness before there's naught left of his boldness to put back together !"If Antreas had tried to tranquillise Harry's nerves, Dakhil had served to dismember them."You two,"Dakhil continued pointing at two men they had passed as they entered into the compound."Help channel the boy into the cave. I won't lose another one tonight !"

With Antreas'assistance, they carried Harry further up the peck. Dakhil followed, but was unwilling to assist. Typical, Harry thought. There was a minor rock outcrop of rock candy off to the face and they turned toward it as Dakhil continued upward. Antreas stopped.

"If Singehorn is ineffectual to name the others in time,"he said,"we'll have to place for the Centaurus you spoke of."

"You were brave today, my son,"said Dakhil warmly."It is clear your father is with you. Your female parent would be gallant. Keep the boy safe and see what the therapist can do with what remains."He turned to continue upward then stopped."Singehorn, I'm afraid, was not able to call for our Friend, not tonight."He sighed with a trench mournful breathing spell."Still we must last out with the plan ; it's our only Hope. More may arrive before the Moon's rise tomorrow."

Facing a stone wall, one of the men carrying Harry said something in a language he thought might be Russian and again an archway appeared where before was only rock and stone. Just before the rock human 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 implements of war,"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 verge 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 spokesperson,"I'm for certain no one would miss you. The following time you speak of the Votary, take care to choose the words carefully. I may have to scratch the offending tongue."The Russian said nothing as Antreas pulled the verge back and the grip on Harry became more for certain. They turned a recess and the cave opened out into a enceinte hall filled with injured. To Harry, it looked as if a hundred brightness level had been spread across the flooring. 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 priority !"Harry noticed an orange colouration on the far side rise up from the footing. Marek was busy treating another affected role and as he stood, Harry could enjoin that he was a magnanimous man.

"They're ALL precedency !"he called back."Have one of the others—"

"Damn it ! NOW !"yelled Antreas. This was not the same Antreas that had waved good-bye to Harry and Gabriella as they began their summer vacation. That Antreas was still trying to hone his wand oeuvre, and his assurance interacting with people was shaky at advantageously. While he made a passable neighbour on Privet Drive, he was an absolute mess around other genius. This Antreas, however, the one standing before Harry, was more than just a foot soldier in this mountain struggle. He was clearly someone of consequence.

Disgruntled, but acquiescing, Marek began to get across the vestibule as the three moved Harry into one of the tents that were set up along the face of the large sleeping accommodation. He was placed on a bed, firm, but more well-situated than a blanket on the stone trading floor outside. Once he was down, the two men left Antreas alone with Harry. For some time neither rung 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 move correctly. Still, there was no pain.

"I'm so deplorable, Harry,"Antreas replied."If I had known… We were losing ground and… Dakhil must receive thought it would be safe. Our outer border was half a knot down the mountain when he must induce asked Singehorn to mobilise you. But then, they came so fast."

"Who ?"

"The Dementors. They've been swarming the great deal for days. They've grown so thick-skulled they can fleck out the sun and when that happens it gives their ally, a ring of about thirty magician vampires, free rein to lash out during the day. This wasn't our war, but ultimately the dragons had no option. The Dementors were moving in on their rookery. Half a XII dragon left to scorch the earth and forget no life behind. Not even a extremity of the Votary could survive such attack. We had no way of letting you know, no way of knowing ourselves when… that you'd…"A big burst of air shot from Antreas'lips.

"Dakhil had Singehorn mobilize me ?"

"Harry, there was no way of knowing. You passed out right in the center of the incineration. It had to have been over two hundred arcdegree. One of the lookout man saw you first, but it was too hot. Only the Votary could get in to call up you."Harry remembered Dakhil walking through the combustion flaming just before the Joining ; he understood these Holy Writ."The Joining helped you to go, training would have been better. Your face… you've been burned… badly burned."

"But it doesn't hurt,"Harry said. He was feeling more tired by the moment.

"That's because there's nix left to hurt. Your figure is—"Marek pushed through the opening of the tent.

"And what's this priority ?"he said wearily."Another case of damn Dementor frost— Oh… Oh, my."He cast Antreas a glance."One of the civilians ?"he asked, not recognizing the youth man he'd met over the summer."A Muggle caught in the flack ?"Assessing the boastfully stature of the man before him and listening closely to his voice, it was Harry who first made the connection. It was the same Marek that had taken in Ron, Hermione and the others after the vampire approach.

"Marek ?"Harry asked hoarsely, finding it more difficult by the minute to move his jaw."It's me, Harry… Harry Potter. I could… I could sure use a looking 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 excuse things. Yes, that would explain a lot."Marek reached into his robes."I haven't had to dole out with one of these for days,"Marek whispered,"but with dragon about, such burns are not rare. Praise Asha you're Votary."He leaned in ending to Harry."What happened to your eye ?"

"Glass,"Harry replied, wearily."Lots of glass."

"Hmmm. Well, let's get started. Harry, lie back."Harry obliged."I have something far intimately than a glass of water."He watched Marek raise his wand over his burned human face."This should only take a few hours."

"minute ?"Harry said, bringing up his hand to snap up Marek's wrist."I won't take you away from helping the others just because I buggered it again."

"It's not your shift, Harry,"said Antreas."There's no way you could possess known."

"Yes, admirable character, Harry. But as Antreas has said—"

"I am NOT a antecedency ! I won't—"Blue light erupted from Marek's sceptre and before he could say another parole, Harry was asleep on the cot and Marek began his study. The net affair he remembered was a crepitation auditory sensation and Marek's sombre vocalization.

"That'll leave a mark."

sentence faded to nothingness and, when Harry woke, he sensed someone sitting at his bedside."Gabriella ?"he asked groggily.

"You wish, mate !"

"Fred ? Fred is that you ?"

Slowly, Harry began to recover knowingness. He tried to lean up, but someone pressed gently back on his shoulder. His eyes closed, Harry sensed that there were two the great unwashed in the room. Shaking the cobwebs detached, he finally recognized the nimbus of the early someone.

"Remus ?"

"Yes, Harry,"replied Remus Lupin,"Fred and I are both here. We have been for about three days."

"Three Clarence Shepard Day Jr. !"Harry exclaimed, once again trying to spring up and once again being held down by Remus."I've been here for three 24-hour interval ?"

"No, ditz,"Fred laughed."We've been here for three Day. You've been here for about, er, fourteen hours."

"We came as soon as we heard you had arrived,"Remus added.

"I swear, Harry,"said Fred, leaning forward."Can you ever do anything the leisurely way ?"

While Fred was talking, Harry realized there was something on his aspect. He reached his hands up and felt the patch wrapping his chief.

"An interesting feeling, if you ask me,"said Fred."Kind of a turban gone mad. All in all I'd say it's an betterment. The capital affair is, Harry, they gave you a whole new head ! Dwight Lyman Moody volunteered his."Fred laughed again and this time Remus joined him. A insensate shiver 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 day, he might not know….

"Why aren't you home ?"Harry asked."Where's George VI ?"

"I'm flying solo, match,"said Fred."George I is minding the shops."

"No one can trip in or out,"said Remus."Apparition is unimaginable. It's a miracle that you made it alert. I'm sorry that—"

"What about messages,"Harry interrupted."Can messages get in ?"

"Not for two days,"said Remus."The Dementors have the solid 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 urging. He sat up and this time when Remus moved to push him back down, Harry flicked his arm away. Harry tried to present Fred, but. Fred only laughed.

"You look like a walking ice-cream cone, Harry."

"Fred,"Harry began, muffled by the patch surrounding his case. He tried to muster up the bravery, but in the final stage here and now it failed him."W-Why are you even here ?"

"Tonight, we go on the offensive. We're through sitting back and letting Lucius Malfoy and his army of darkness decide when and where to strike. They're mostly vampire and Dementors with a smattering of death Eaters sprinkled in for good measure. Last we heard Lucius may have let himself get turned."

"Turned ?"Harry asked.

"The scouts were out early this morning, Harry,"said Remus, moving over and sitting next to Fred."We've seen him off and on in these parts for weeks. Only this morning… this sunrise they say he looked more vampire than wizard."

"He let himself be bitten, I tell yeh,"added Fred."Just to achieve immortality."

Harry felt as if he was going to be demented. If Lucius was here that meant Voldemort was here. Were they looking for him ? For Harry ? His heart began to slipstream. 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 myopic pause. Remus knew almost immediately what Harry meant, but wasn't sure if his words were the answer of some kind of side-effect from one of the potions. Fred didn't understand.

"What do you signify, Harry ? Who's alive ?"

"Voldemort,"gasped Harry, taking in a outstanding breathing spell of air through the bandages covering his face. He walked over to the side of meat of the tent and held the cloth in his finger. To his intellect, it had a benumb orange appearing, probably spores of some variety. He didn't want to say more ; he couldn't. But he had to. He could feel his nitty-gritty pound in his chest - it hurt. His external respiration grew laboured, weighed down by the burden of what he was about to part.

"Somehow… I don't know… I don't know how, but he took control condition of James Chang, Cho's vernal brother. He's been inside King James, controlling him all year at school day. He was waiting for something… something of import. 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 ashes of his demise. They dug abstruse, your Church Father dug trench for what should have been left to the depths."

"Yeah,"said Fred cautiously, not really certainly what to intend about Harry's ramblings."Mum and Dad were all excited. It was supposed to be a big deal. Sorry we had to deplume you away from the honour ceremony to be in this hellhole. I'm not supposed to tell, but Dad's lined you up for Order of Merl—"

"It was a Horcrux,"hissed Harry through gritted teeth. Remus understood and gasped, but Fred still didn't grasp what Harry was saying."Can you believe it ? Lucius wanted it for himself - maybe to express whatever essence Voldemort had left of himself in it."Harry madly grabbed Fred's gown."Don't you see ? I had to destroy it… to put down the cloak."

"calmness down, Harry,"said Fred slowly, his oculus glancing toward Remus with care."Everything's okay."

"No it's not !"yelled Harry, turning from Fred and leaned against the bed."We just wanted to take it, Ron, Hermione and me… only they showed up… and then… when we got inside… your Mum was there… and then James… I thought it was an Imperious Curse. I thought I'd be capable to control him."He breathed hard again."But I couldn't. It wasn't a bane, it was Voldemort. I couldn't stop him. I tried—"He turned back to face Fred."He… Voldemort used the Killing bane, Fred. I tried… I swear on Merlin's grave… I tried."

"What are you talking about, Harry ?"Fred's words were muted, uneasy and uncertain.

"Last night, before Singehorn summoned me, in the distinguished entrance hall of the Ministry, Voldemort… Voldemort killed your mother."short gasps of air salvo from Harry's lungs and he fell on his stifle in social movement of Fred."She's dead… she's… dead."Clutching at the bottom of Fred's robes, Harry began to surge great asshole. His vocalisation was weak and thin."She's dead."Fred pushed Harry away and took to his foundation.

"block saying that !"he yelled."She's not utter ! She's not ! I just saw her before we came here. She was going to… she was going…"He slapped his hired man 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 ambition, that's all."Remus was tranquillity, unemotional person. He didn't speak and he didn't motion. Fred pulled his wand and held it in Remus'boldness.

"William Tell HIM !"

Remus held his arms out wide and, slowly, shook his head.

"No."Fred whispered, shaking his head vigorously in reply."No, it's not… it's not… oh god."

His hands fell limp at his slope and his baton dropped to the floor, tinkling and then rolling in the silence. Fred shuddered, fell into lupin's arms and began to cry.

They stayed like that for some metre, Harry on the flooring, Fred in Lupin's weapon system, all three of them crying. Until now, Harry hadn't had the chance to mourn Molly's Death. The pain in the neck was trench and biting. In the binge and silence, Harry wished he could claim it back. His actions had cost another liveliness and the choler in Chester Alan Arthur Weasley's voice echoed within his nous.

His idea turned to the others who had been murdered in the fight and he wondered if James had made it."I may never sleep with,"he whispered to himself.

As the sadness began to subside, he mulled over how Fred and Remus had described the scout's sighting of Lucius. If the study were true and Malfoy had returned to the wad, then molly's murderer was within range. Harry's bother began to turn to anger. The flap on the tent furled loose and in take the air Marek

"Remus, I— What in merlin's figure is up with you three ?"he said with a rather gruff vocalism.

"We just found out. Fred's female parent has been killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named,"answered Remus calmly.

"That… that's not potential,"said Marek, half believing the wrangle to be true. Fred turned, wiping his eyes.

"I've got to see if I can get dwelling,"he said. He started toward the issue, but Marek took him by the arm.

"Fred, we're surrounded."

The Melanerpes erythrocephalus pulled his arm free.

"I have to go home."

"It'd be suicide, Fred."

"I don't care."

"Don't you think your female parent would !"dress down Remus."AND your begetter. What do you think it would do to him to lose you both ?"Fred said zippo."If you're going to put your sprightliness on the line, Fred, make it enumeration ; ready it matter."Remus stepped toward him and held Fred by the shoulders, looking him in the centre.

"Tonight,"he said with confidence and surety."Tonight, you'll have your chance, Fred."

"Why tonight ?"asked Harry.

"There are about sixty of us, Harry,"said Remus,"counting me and Fred. Tonight the moon turns full moon. We'll attack with the Dragon, a few dozen Centaurs, and—"

"Full moon ?"asked Harry. He picked himself up off the floor and stood."Full moon ? I thought Soseh had given you a potion, given you both one to keep open you from turning."

"She did, Harry,"answered Remus."But we haven't taken it during the cycle. There are few creatures on earth that can challenge a vampire. Surrounded by Dementors as they are now, even adept have fiddling hope of conducting an effective approach. They're a werewolf's natural prey ; Dementors and Vampires ploughshare a duskiness that… How can I put it ? Is tasty for a werewolf."

"Better than chocolate, they tell me,"added Fred, with an eery gleam in his eye.

"Besides the flying lizard,"added Remus,"only one beast can break through both defences. Dakhil discussed it with me some time ago and we both agreed - we needed a werewolf ground forces. I couldn't convince well-nigh, but I've convinced enough."

"Sixty doesn't make an army, Remus,"said Harry, stepping closer."sixty is a snack."

"What you say is genuine, Harry - werewolf bloodline is prized among the vampires. Still, I think our opponent will be surprised,"said Remus with quiet trust."Yes, we could receive more in our number, but even with President Arthur as rector, the distrustfulness of my form runs deep."

"Our kind, Remus ! And they'll be Sir Thomas More than surprised,"snapped Fred."They'll be bloody petrified !"

"well,"said Harry sardonically,"bloody anyway."

The bandage wrapping his expression were hot and heavy and he was only just able to stand firm the enticement to rip them off so that he could excise the itch that was growing stronger by the minute. He placed both his bridge player prostrate against the firm bed, curling the covers in his finger's breadth as they balled up into fists. Without looking up, he took in a breath 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 ingest looked like Lucius, but it wasn't. Yeah, he's been taken over alright, but not by a vampire. His life has been consumed by Voldemort. Lucius is Voldemort."He turned to confront them."sixty werewolves, sixty dragons, sixty of anything… it won't be enough."Hearing Harry's words, Remus stepped forward and placed a hand 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 nascence of a New Sun

Chapter 18 - The anchor ring of Onyx
~~~***~~~

The stone gradation were prominent, larger it seemed to Harry, than they were before. Yet, the Saami thin white cloud dusted the blue sky, and the heated air brought Harry's mind back to his summer travelling with Gabriella in Lebanon. His head's eye flashed to a imagination of her smooth, blue brown skin and twinkling black eyes, and he wondered how she was fairing with Cho and his son, Jamie. His heart skipped at the persuasion and he drew in a breath to steady his face. He stepped upward through the large stone pillars, upward toward the remains of the great Asian palace. Up ahead, seated on a watch crystal Bench intricately carved in an elaborate pattern was a large disgraceful man in super C and chocolate-brown gown - Singehorn.

On the eve of the counterattack, the dragon had asked that the young wizard meet him in this plane of awareness that they might speak with one another. Here, in this former world, Harry could not only talk to the dragon, he could see. He had no bandaged foreland, no wand, only a ovalbumin robe and au naturel metrical unit that withstood the scorching passion beneath them. In the cave where Harry's somatic trunk sat in meditation, the others were preparing for war. Soon, the Sun Myung Moon would heighten, the loup-garou, including Remus and Fred, would turn and the battle would start out. It had taken Harry quite some time to close out all the distraction that were happening about him, but finally he made it.

As he drew close-fitting to the dragon, the descendent of Asha whose strain Harry had sworn to protect, he noticed that the man looked more senior than before and that his breathing was sullen, drudge. With movement, Harry heaved himself upward onto another stone step, and then another. On the tone before reaching the landing where Singehorn sat in one of the two crystal benches, Harry saw a large closed chain made of blackness onyx. He stopped for a present moment to look at it. The tartar coughed a bottomless throaty cough.

"Go on,"he said with a deep scratchy voice."Pick it up."

Harry reached down and took the band into his right hand. It was dense than Harry expected. Holding it in the fingers of both paw he examined it from all position.

"I… I know this ring,"Harry said, trying to remember how or from where."I've seen it before."Singehorn shifted his tremendous weight and grimaced somewhat.

"The ring,"he said,"is known to many, but few live today have seen it with their own heart. For those few that saw it worn by its conclusion master, it was most likely the last thing they saw. He was known for using the ring to kill."Suddenly, Harry remembered.

"Pravus,"he whispered, remembering the portrait of the dismal wizard's handwriting Greg Goyle had shown him utmost class. Singehorn growled, long and low. Clearly, he did not enjoy the speech sound of the name.

"Very good,"answered the dragon."Very good. Come… sit."

Harry climbed the last large step and tried to dust the battlefront of his white robes which had grown brown from the desert sand. Singehorn laughed and, as Harry looked up, the man's mouth erupted in flames, enveloping Harry in a great ashen flash. In the adjacent instant, Harry's robes were Patrick White again and he was unscathed. Harry examined his manus, expecting to see scorch soft touch, but zero was there.

"Sit,"said Singehorn again. Unlike his last visit with the man before him, the unseasoned wiz sat obediently across from his master.

"My child… not for fifty years has that ring been held by man manus, not since I tore off the arm of the star that betrayed us all. When Pravus was destroyed and Grindelwald defeated, I thought for certain the darkness had been, at last, beaten back for good. 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 rumbling as Singehorn leaned forward. Harry noticed a dilute, tripping scratch that ran along the man's face, a scratch that wasn't there before the Joining. Over the lastly few months, the dragon had seen conflict.

"Do you see the annulus on Dakhil's digit ?"he continued."No, Harry… Soseh trusts Dakhil and I would confide Soseh with my life, but his fate lies on a different path."

"You need to acknowledge, sir,"said Harry with some urging in his voice."I've seen… I've seen two spirits inside him. He may be under the controller of another."Singehorn smiled and began to laugh. It was gimcrack and thundery, not the reaction Harry had expected.

"He's a vampire, my child,"the dragon said finally."He fights the disembodied spirit inside him every waking instant. Few have learned to control the thirst for clean rakehell, the desire for death. None have fought more heroically than Dakhil Barghouti to stave off his own personal demon. But his path will soon lead elsewhere and I will need somebody to take up his staff as hierarch of the Votary. He would prefer I choose now, before his fate befalls him."

Harry's eyes widened in unbelief. Rolling the ring in his finger he looked up at Singehorn then back down at the ring. Finally, he set it in his palm and held it out to the flying dragon.

"I can't, sir,"he said, shaking his head."Whatever superpower this ring holds, I'm not ready."

"What ? No motion about what the gang does ? What persuasiveness it might convey you ?"

"No, sir,"Harry replied, reaching yet further toward Singehorn. The dragon did not remove the doughnut from Harry's palm, but instead leaned back on the bench.

"Not even if the ring might help you defeat the one who killed molly Weasley and so many more ?"Harry shook his head."What if it would facilitate you win the war against these Dementors, saving the life history of countless Centaurs ; these creature you seem to worry so much about ?"Singehorn leaned in again."Are you so sure that you wouldn't wish to finally destroy the creature that killed your parents ?"

For a moment, Harry's outstretched arm receded. Once more he held the anchor ring between thumb and forefinger, wondering what lastingness it might bring him. He took a trench breath and exhaled slowly. Finally, he shook his header once more.

"No, sir,"he said softly still rolling the ring in his fingers."When I was shoemaker's last here, you reminded me our calling : Bravery… Wisdom… Love."Harry shuddered, swallowing knockout."You also told me that I needed to turn on my wisdom."Harry took in a abstruse breath as his eye grew misty."But I've been treasured short-change in that regard all twelvemonth, eh ? I brought Voldemort into the Ministry. I brought him face-to-face with Mrs. Weasley. I should have known…. I should have been wiser. Now, he's at your threshold, threatening to destroy all we stand for."Holding back his binge, Harry held the ring out once again."Whatever powers the ring bears, there are others more worthy than me."

With lightening speed, frighteningly fast for such a large frame, Singehorn grabbed Harry's hand in his own, his massive paw wrapping around Harry's entire fist and arm, squeezing the ring into the physical body of Harry's decoration and scorching the binding of Harry's bridge player. His red eyes glared with steeled determination into Harry's and his claws drew stock from Harry's anatomy.

"Tell me, my son, when the iniquity spreads across this wad and threatens my fry and my children's children what will you do ? There are only so many Rock to climb and the clouds will not protect us."Harry said nothing."When your supporter charge down the mountainside to join my kin in the approach against the guck that surrounds us, will you hide… a blind rat in a dark cave ?"The dragon's pincer dug deeper, but Harry refused to cry out.

"I'd… sooner… die."

"Harry, the lusus naturae seeks you out, but he does not desire you dead, not yet. He thinks he needs you alive, but he doesn't know that what he seeks is no longer there, washed away by the falls at Hogwarts. Without the energy he once shared with you, he is but half a man, half a superstar. In his ignorance, in his soften state, he can be defeated."

"Then I don't need the closed chain,"Harry said calmly, withstanding the pain.

"If only it was so childlike,"sighed Singehorn, still holding Harry's hand business firm."Before the cleanup at the falls, you joined."

"Joined ?"

"The darkness that was once in your veins… now flows through another's."

Harry's heart began to race. Another's ?
"Your inherited."

"Jamie,"Harry whispered.

"You would sooner die than see my children harmed. What would you do to protect your children ?"asked Singehorn.

"My… son."

Harry's digit, almost instinctively, tightened around the ring burning the flesh of his palm and in that instant his visual sense filled with a tremendous flash of white. Singehorn's voice became dark and inauspicious.

"I will not say your decisiveness is wise, but it is our only course. Forgive me, my child, for the king will eat you. Soseh has foreseen your greed turn to grief. On the day the dragons mark the sky, you will begin to know your true enduringness. How you emerge from your failing will determine the lot of us all."

Suddenly, Harry's sight was gone, all before him dark. When he breathed in, the damp must odour of the patch that wrapped his face filled his nostrils.

"We've got to go, sir,"said a maven somewhere to Harry's left.

"If I have to tell you one to a greater extent time to be quiet, I'll rip your throat out,"snapped Dakhil in a low, sizz phonation."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 promising blue aura was clearly frightened ; the other flashed red and then purple. The red appeared to be winning and Harry wasn't sure that was a honest thing for the man in bluish whose colour was fading so fast Harry thought he might wet himself. He wasn't the only when one nearby that was frightened. In the enceinte cavern just beyond the rock music wall where Harry sat, musical score of men mulled about nervously waiting for the final rules of order to assault. Harry was about to motivate, to suggest to the others that he had returned, when the orange people of colour of Marek moved into the room where he sat.

He slipped over and placed his helping hand on Dakhil's back and the two walked to the far side of the tent. They whispered and then the whispers grew louder.

"Marek,"Dakhil hissed,"I need to sleep with. What is your view ?"

"As a healer or a Warrior ?"the man that had worked on Harry's grimace replied. He was upset, irritated perhaps of the engagement that would soon be bringing the dying to his doorstep."If we were home, I'd leave the bandages on for at least another week."

"The boy can't conflict like that."

"Then leave the boy behind."

Two voices harmonized :"No !"Simultaneously, Harry and Dakhil rejected Marek's suggestion.

"You've returned,"said Dakhil quietly."Good. The time is near. The full lunation will soon rise over the side of the mountain. We must occupy advantage of every instant it brings us the werewolves'strength. Dawn will come far too quickly I'm afraid."

Harry held his helping hand to his font."And these ? You can remove these ?"

"Really, Harry,"answered Marek,"if only you could part with two to a greater extent days… two more."

"The fight will be over by morning,"said Harry,"and I can't scrap with this rag weighing me down. It's sweaty enough as it is, and I can barely breathe."

"Then don't fight,"Marek said to Harry. Then he turned to Dakhil."What possible reward does a boy bring this battle beyond more gore ?"Steadying his animal foot on the cold rock, Harry stood.

"I am no boy !"he said defiantly. Marek ignored him.

"Dakhil,"the therapist continued,"there is no reason to put his life… What ? What is it ?"

There was secretiveness. Harry too noticed the variety in Dakhil's aura that was likely now being mimicked by the lamia's typeface. The red had darkened into a rich scarlet - the emotion was a impregnable one, whatever it was.

"Dakhil, what are you looking at ?"Marek continued.

As Harry stood, his work force, which had been covered by the sleeves of his robe while he sat, became exposed. There, on the centre fingerbreadth of Harry's rightfulness paw was a ring. Angry at being called a boy, Harry had not noticed the added free weight on his finger's breadth.

"Well… that can't be good,"said Dakhil with a rather cool vocalisation."I had asked for a choice, but I never…"

"I'll take the hoot bandages off myself if I have to,"cried Harry, reaching for his verge. It was then, when finger met wood, that he realized there was a ring on his fingerbreadth. He let go his wand and held the halo with his left handwriting. He moved to take aim it off, but the annulus would not move. He pulled again, and again the ring held its grip about the off-white of his redress middle finger.

"I had always hoped he might see fit to kick in it to me,"said Dakhil with more disappointment than ira."I suppose Soseh has told him."

"Told him what ?"asked Harry, still trying to work the ring from his finger's breadth.

"Damn the day I met you, boy,"said Dakhil, again in a repose, issue of fact tone."She's seen my death, which is not such a gravid concern for a vampire when such events can be centuries hence."He paused.

"And ?"Harry asked.

"And you were there, boy. You were there."Dakhil moved closer."So, either you're going to wind down the versant, get bit and live to a very ripe old age as an immortal, or I'm going to die before the summer solstice. Curse you,"Dakhil said dryly,"I always wanted to cook 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 mother wit downward and watched as the glowing drip mold of blood fell to the story from his fingerbreadth. Marek pulled his sceptre and healed the finger."Now leave the darn ring alone. Here, let me remove it."

He cast a spell and null happened, nothing but the cranky laughter from Dakhil. He tried a different trance and still the ring stayed clamped about Harry's digit.

"We don't have clip for this,"said Harry finally."Look, just take the bandage off. Place a carapace charm about the pelt if you must, but I can't—"

"Very well,"cut in Marek with a sigh."But it's not your tegument that I was worried about."Sit over here."He led Harry to a stone bench.

"What do you entail ?"Harry asked.

"fountainhead, 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 zilch,"said Harry."Certainly through this gauze, I could discern—"

"I've sealed your lids shut so the eyes beneath could bring around as the spell worked and weaved."He stepped penny-pinching to Harry."Son, two more days… two Sir Thomas More days and I'm sure that the knitwork will be complete."

"And I'll see again ?"asked Harry with a flicker of promise in his voice.

"You might."

"Well… look… it's disconsolate anyway,"Harry said."Take off the bandage and leave my eyes sealed. I'll be in effect off not trying to discern objects in the darkness. I've gotten used to not seeing and trying to squinch in the cloudy dark may just relieve oneself affair worse."

"There's the problem,"said Dakhil."The aim you wish to make out are Dementors. They suck the life from all about them. To your vision they would be darkness and on the scorched versant where very little life remains, it would be near inconceivable to observe them."

At this it was Harry's turn to joke.

"Dakhil, I don't need my sight to know when a Dementor is breathing down my neck opening. I'll know where they are, believe me, I'll know."

"Then it's decided,"said Marek."I'll transfer your patch, but observe your eyes sealed. If you make it through the night Harry, your face should be re-wrapped immediately. A screen appeal might be acceptable for walking around schooltime or sitting about the house. It will be worthless against a well placed hex."

"Get on with it,"said Harry."I can hear the ululation already."

And indeed he could, they all could. Some of the adept werewolves were growing anxious. Outside, the moon was nearing the peak of the easterly horizon and some were having difficultness controlling their metamorphosis even inside the cavern, away from the moonshine. Typically, such difficulties were had by newly converted werewolves, those who had recently become. Harry wondered how Fred was fairing.

When Dakhil removed the gauze bandages, Harry immediately reached up to his face to relate, but the shield charm stopped his fingers.

"It feels like an eggshell,"Harry whispered.

"And it won't protect your face much more than one,"added Marek."Remember that, when you're out there playing the hero."Harry was about to dissent but, preceded by a hiss, unexpected Word left Dakhil's mouth first.

"An Acolyte of the Votary does not play at anything !"Dakhil's height was suddenly somewhat declamatory, and his aureole somewhat redder."You would be wise to call back your emplacement, Marek. With one thought the boy could demolish you."

"Yes… yes, of course,"Marek apologized."I'm sorry… I… I truly am sorry."

There was fear in his words, far more awe than Harry thought the billet warranted. Part of him understood, something he remembered from the joining, but there wasn't time to well for its source ; it was clip for action. Harry stood and began to walk toward the expectant chamber.

"One moment, boy,"said Dakhil with a matter of fact flavour. Harry stopped, turned and, before he had an instant to react, Dakhil had cast a spell on him. zero happened.

"What… what was that ?"Harry demanded, still reaching for his wand.

"He's changed the colour of your robes, Harry,"said Marek."They're no longer Edward White ; they're crimson."

"Primate Potter,"said Dakhil in an exceptionally peevish interpreter followed by a forgetful blasting coughing."Your title, when I die."He sighed."Asha protect us."Harry looked down, but could smell no discernable difference of opinion."Don't worry, boy ; those who have travelled the path through proper breeding will do it at once the meaning of your robe. We'd best hurry. There won't be clip for a lot of a speech."

Harry and Dakhil left the collapsible shelter and entered the cavern ; it had emptied out onto the mountainside, staging for the struggle to do. Soon, the gate would open and the soldiers would spill down upon their foes. Harry and Dakhil walked down the cave and as it narrowed toward its going a Danton True Young man came up and touched Harry by the sleeve.

"Asha be with you,"he said tilting his foreland in a slight bow.

"And with you,"replied Harry without forethought. Why did I say that ?
The cavern door opened and, for a import, Harry was blinded by the many auras gathered outside. He could see that some of the wolfman had already turned, and a grouping of wizards was having difficulty restraining them. No one seemed distracted by the howling, a howl that mix with quarrel in Harry's mind - kill, raciness, stock ! He turned to see if someone was talking to him, but no one was there. Another lycanthrope howled.

"longanimity, my friends,"called Harry to the snapping creatures and the Friedrich August Wolf quieted at his words. That was not my part, thought Harry. Or was it ?

Everyone was listening to Antreas who stood upon a large outcrop of careen above the growing din. His words were amplified, but Harry wasn't sure the increased intensity was necessary. He was calling out in a strong and require phonation and Harry wondered why this use wasn't Dakhil's.

"….is all we need. Together we will be triumphant ! Together we will relegate the duskiness into the abysm !"The earth began to rumble with hand clapping. Harry noticed four hulk pounding their feet with approving.

"Giants ?"he asked Dakhil."I didn't notice any giants when I arrived."

"They climbed over from the sheer cliff on the vertebral column side of the flock. That way is not guarded save by Dementors, and they have no upshot on such wide-eyed fauna. So it is with the werewolves."

"It'll m-make for a b-bloody Death Eater busting surprise."

"Fred ?"

The redhead was clearly agitated, seemingly in the thick of the alteration.

"Fred, please… don't—"

"The prelate has ARRIVED !"cried Antreas with a leaping interpreter. He was referring to Dakhil, but Harry could finger one C of eyes turn toward him simultaneously. bring through for the howling and the occasional go being cast a short elbow room down the J. J. Hill, all became silent.

"Let's render them what they want, boy,"said Dakhil."Up you go."He levitated Harry some twenty dollar bill base in the air. Harry's heart began to backwash as he rose, wondering what he might say.

It was like rising over the embers of a dying fervidness, each glowing aura a flyspeck coal burning against the darkness. There were hundreds gathered here. Some fell to their articulatio genus as Harry rose ; most stood silently. Giants, Centaurus, adept and werewolves, a ragtag and bobtail ingathering of misfits all collected to crusade together against the malevolence Lucius Malfoy had co-opted for his own immorality purposes.

Lucius probably hoped he would retrieve the cloak and arrive at this stead of battle to celebrate a great triumph, the start of many. trivial did he know that his former master would look at up residence in his physical structure - if only long enough to contract over Harry's. But that would never, could never bechance. How the worm had turned on the blonde-haired patriarch. Soon, it would turn on the darkness worming within him. Harry raised his arms to the heavens above, a giant comet was clearly visible in the night's sky.

"Ebyrth marks its regaining and now we find ourselves at its mercifulness. While some have come to answer the new sun's yell, others are here to protect our dragon brothers against the darkness that wishes to destroy all in its path. Tonight we fight as one. Tonight we fight with the metier of giants, the magic of magician, the ferocity of werewolves, the Wisdom of Solomon of Centaur, and the kernel of tartar !"

No sooner had the words left his mouth, than the thundery SWOOP-SWOOP filled the air and four enormous flying lizard flew over the crew, blotting out the virtuoso and then coming to rest at the top of the dandy stone paries. Singehorn wasn't among them, but Harry, though having never met them, knew their name calling. The three male person were Rakesh, Talisan, and Igneus, and the blue female was Tanwen. As if being called, Harry looked toward Talisan, the bombastic of the four, with green-black scales and fierce red optic.

"high priest !"the beast cried out."We follow you in fight. What are your orders !"

All around Harry, champion were clasping their hands to their ears, some falling to their knees, because of the creature's great roar. And yet, Harry could realise everything he said. How is this possible ? This was no speculation.

"Your ordination, Primate ?"cried the dragon again, and again those around Harry winced in pain in the ass.

"burn them !"yelled Harry."burn mark them till your paunch turn moth-eaten. You, Tanwen, fly high school above the wall. Let no enemy past the gates. Do not leave your post. We must save the rookery at all costs !"Harry pulled his red robe tight about his articulatio humeri.

"clear the logic gate !"called Antreas and the army erupted in cheer and howl. A few werewolves snapped at their allies, but most caught the scent of their hated foes, enticing their Mary Jane with a bloodlust for Dementor, and quickly they began to rouse ahead, down the versant. Dakhil brought Harry down to earth as the crowded hillside flowed out through the logic gate. Harry began to run, following the rushing lunar time period, but someone grabbed his articulatio humeri and pulled him around ; it was Antreas.

"Your time is at hired hand, Harry,"he said with a stout voice."I'll lead the first undulation ; I dare not speak it to the others, but don't think for a arcminute we'll come after. The pathfinder have told me the situation… it's dire. When we begin to fall back, and we will fall back… that's when we'll need you."Harry was about to reason, but Antreas was already swept away in the flow of bodies rushing through the gate. Undaunted, Harry began to watch, only this metre Dakhil stopped him.

"Tell me, boy,"he murmured quietly beneath the roaring Benjamin Rush of whiz pushing by."Why are you here ?"

"To fight Voldemort,"Harry tiff, turning to go forth. Dakhil held his arm fast and Harry glared back with raging eyes.

"Really ?"queried Dakhil, still quiet, still quiet, still holding Harry's arm with a vice-like grip."Are you… sure ?"Harry tried to pull away, but couldn't. He pulled his wand."You don't need a wand to dismiss me, boy. You're the Primate now, or will be soon. If you think you no longer need my service of process, then give the axe me ! You need only speak the dustup ; recite me to be gone !"

He was goading Harry, trying to form him angry, trying to conjure up a answer. Harry slipped his sceptre away.

"You are the primate,"he said softly."Not me."

"Wizards will never trace a vampire, boy,"answered Dakhil."But for some reason, Asha only knows why, they will travel along you. The wisdom of Grigor Darbinyan now flows in his son's veins. Would you disregard Antreas ? Shall we charge with the residue ? What are your orders ?"

"I'm here to attend to my swearing, to protect the line of Asha… as are you. We stay to protect the rookery."Harry noted a gleaming in Dakhil's aura… a grinning ? The last of the first wave had passed through the gate, leaving two hulk, one flying lizard, a 6 Centaurs and some 30 virtuoso to hold back for further orders, orders that Harry would have to give. Knowing that the number at his side were too few to stand off the coming blast, his thoughts turned to the darkness, hiding at the bottom of the mountain, 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 study me as his prize. Antreas is powerful, to entrance Lucius and the darkness that consumes him, the first gear wave must fail."

"The enemy's numbers are too great,"said Dakhil, releasing his grip."Even with those still remaining, we have no hope of winning in conduct battle."

"Then the endorsement wave must be a surprise. We must hold until the last potential moment."

"Even then, boy, the numbers are against us."

"Maybe,"answered Harry,"But we need only strike down one foe. What will our enemy do when their cosmopolitan Dy ? When Lucius and his overlord fall ?"

"It is impossible to catch vapour with your bare hands. Who among us, might I ask, will bring down the shadow Lord ?"

"I will,"Harry answered. He left Dakhil and entered into the centre of those remaining."Gather ‘ round !"he called."Listen to what I say ! Tonight… tonight we plan for victory !"


Harry ceramicist and the giving birth of a New Sun

Chapter 19 - The commencement Battle
~~~***~~~
fire and smoke roiled in the air from the conflict below, bearing the odour of burnt frame and blood into the secure compound guarding the rookery of the Draco, where Harry and the others waited. The world shook as the giants, fighting their vernacular opposition below, cast stones the size of it of train-cars crashing down upon their foeman. ululation, screeches, and the bellowing of dragon-fire reverberated between the Edward Durell Stone walls, echoing down the canyon and pitching wildly between Harry's ears. He couldn't see the battle raging on the versant below, none of them could. But then, they didn't need to see what was happening to know that it was not going well. The burning aroma was growing stronger, the shaking dry land was more severe, and the howling and screeches filled the air more than ever. The battle was coming closer, higher up the lot. Soon, it would be at the compound walls.

Harry grew more anxious by the moment. His showtime instinct had been to attack outright, but both Antreas and Dakhil had stopped him. Ignoring the Wisdom of a wizard that had survived centuries was folly and Harry knew that they must waitress. The second Wave would attack when their foeman were most weary. If Harry's force could divulge their pedigree, if they could keep bounder to throat, perhaps the advancing darkness would retreat down the mountain, down to where Lucius Malfoy, now possessed by Voldemort, most certainly waited.

When the first wafture began its attack, Harry had quietly sent the best Centaur archers high onto the versant leading down from the North gate. Hiding high in the mound, they would flank the advancing darkness and tap when Harry gave the signal. Along the edges of the other side of the vale, Harry sent the two remaining giants, Florge and scrummage, to hold back hidden among the stone. There they would have got the higher priming, preventing any destruction Eaters from running away from the onslaught of Centaurus arrows. Once they were set into position, the giant star looked like a large rock outcrop of stone, naught more. With circumstances they would mow down dozens with their order, large Tree tree trunk bristling with spiny metal pikes the length of Harry's arm.

Hearing, smelling, feeling the foremost undulation retreat back toward the independent gate, Harry impatiently waited to lead the minute Wave through a conceal gate that skirted the position of the valley wall. Then they would know if there was any hope at all. Already, Centaur contrabandist brought back report card that the act of the foeman was twice what was first thought process - over two-hundred Dementors, nearly a hundred vampires, twelve of wizard, and five giants of their own. Clearly, the numbers were against them and they all knew it.

About a small flaming, Harry sat with Dakhil and two other fellow member of the Votary, Mikael and Katana. Dakhil was roasting sausage balloon skewered on the end of a Centaur spear. Mikael was a large man, Ukrainian he said, with dour brown hair and a incessant three days'ontogenesis of beard. Half of his left ear was missing and he had a wildness about his piercing drear oculus that, as Dakhil described, would frighten any living somebody that dared to cross scepter with him. As for Katana, she was quiet, almost subdued. Even sightless, Harry could distinguish how her black skin contrasted against the silver mail ringlets that covered her upper torso. Set against her lull 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 importee. The flak crackled and the sausages popped, sending a steaming spirt of burning fat onto Mikael's arm. He yelped, but Dakhil only laughed.

"I wish that was the solely sting you would receive tonight, Mikael,"said the lamia, grimly staring into the firing, turning the sausages on the spear and watching the dripping grease post little flare of flame overlapping upwards.

"How you are hungry, Dakhil,"replied Mikael, shaking his headland and moving close once again to warm himself by the fire."They arrive at doorstep before you finish."Again, Dakhil laughed.

"You should fuck by now, my Ukrainian Friend,"said Dakhil with a smile,"I don't eat sausage. The boy here looked a bit faint and I thought he should build up his strength."He held the point of the spear before Harry's expression, the sizzling blimp splattering particle of hot fat against the buckler charm protecting Harry's exposed face."One should never adjoin their maker on an evacuate stomach."

"Thank you,"Harry said with a tenuous smile. He took the sausage between pollex and forefinger, but it neither seared nor burned. Without flinching, Harry slid the sausage off the gig's metallic element period and took a bite. Once again, he detected a momentaneous smile in the aura of Dakhil. To the vampire's left, Katana let out a small snigger. She stood, her ringlets jingling as she did so, and then she looked upward to the night sky where the smaller dragon Tanwen circled.

"Even as Ebyrth reveals itself to the public, Asha's blessing is upon you, Edward Young thaumaturge,"she said with a low phonation that was steady and as bass as the lake outside Hogwarts."This is good… for the time has come. Prepare."

Scantly had the give-and-take left her lips than a tremendous roar exploded overhead. Talisan, the largest of the four dragons, appeared from no where, plummeting from the sky, streaking fire and fume behind him and smashing to the primer, tumbling into a chemical group of wizards that nigh certainly would experience died in the collision had not Katana turned their attention toward the paries when she stood. Immediately, pandemonium struck the cantonment. Even though many knew their stake, some adept called out to lash out directly through the main gate, some scattered for the hole-and-corner side gate, some ran toward the mountain's tunnel. The Centaurs were calling for forbearance, and all were yelling at the top of their lungs.

"quiet !"cried Dakhil, his vox reverberating off the canyon walls."Everyone, move in constitution toward the N gate ! There we wait until the augury comes."

"But—"

"We will attack when the house comes ; not before ! NOW MOVE !"

While the mental confusion subsided, Harry moved toward the fallen dragon.

"Where are you going ?"questioned Dakhil.

"Talisan needs helper,"answered Harry continuing to walk to the dragon.

"Your orders 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 ! Lead the others and I'll join you when I'm done."

"Marek can give care for the—"

"GO !"

With his scepter still sheathed, Harry concentrated his mind. Bending blank space was easier than slowing time, even Ronan, his Centaur flight simulator, had admitted that. But Harry needed fourth dimension, even just a little Sir Thomas More to save Talisan's life. Right now, he was compelled. He felt that healing the dragon was more crucial than all the rest of it. He wasn't sure as shooting why, but he had to do what he could. He centred on the row Ronan had taught him.

In woods glen, the babbling brook is filled with silver Pisces.
Slow its flow and traverse each drip to put them on your dish.

The sounds about Harry became muffled. He sensed that the aureole running to the Second Earl of Guilford gate were slowing, slowing… not still, but nearly. Harry summoned the Harlan Stone of Cinnabar from within him. Still fucking, he cast a blast spell upon it.

"Bravery, Wisdom, dear,"he whispered and was instantly transported to the blanched elbow 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 flying dragon. At first he could see the tremendous brute prone on the ground, the three whizz surrounding it immobilise in clock time, but the dragon looked up toward Harry, blinking as if it could see him. Talisan's breathing was erratic and he coughed parentage and smoke. Then, as always, the scene paused, as if asking Harry to substantiate that this indeed was the natural action he wished to take."Heal my ally,"Harry whispered again. coloration began to swirl about… give bones… stunned nerves… sliced organs…a pierced lung… lineage dripping on the ardor of life…"Yes, heal them… mend them all."

The fit flashed bootleg and Harry found himself on his stifle, the jagged rock and roll tearing at his frame, the Harlan F. Stone of cinnabar moth in his left hand. Before moving he pulled his scepter and hid the stone once more inside his consistence, in the little sack left by missing liver tissue. And once again, he thought of Greg Goyle and said a small prayer. Before he looked up he heard the dragon speak. His words were unsteady, but Harry could see that his injuries were healing.

"We must hurry,"Talisan said,"the… the back wave… I must—"

"You must stay on here,"cut in Harry."You must rest."

"I can't. It is my duty to—"

"It's your duty to listen to the pallbearer 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 mitt. He took to his groundwork, rubbing the black stone between his digit. He expected to finger somewhat lightheaded after healing the Dragon, but he wasn't. Without turning, he noticed that the auras were beginning to funnel out through the compass north logic gate just as the offend were coming in from the principal gate. They would need help too. He moved to see what he could do when Marek stopped him.

"Let me take 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 spirit, but hundreds."Once more, Harry glanced to the injure streaming in. There was a strong urge to heal them all. Many were near decease. For a moment he hesitated and then he grudgingly nodded his head.

"Right,"said Marek."Get going."

Harry ran to the side gate, reaching it in seconds. He could get word Marek calling for help from the other Healers to get the spite inside the caves. When Harry passed through the logic gate, it sealed behind him leaving no tracing that it was ever there.

The chemical group of wizards and centaur making up the second wave had not moved far past the logic gate. They were carefully, quietly, edging their way around the wing of their foe. As Harry moved about one of the expectant rock formation, he had his first probability to detect the advancing army. It looked formidable, but not a three to one reward. For a moment he had forgotten the Dementors, creatures whose halo he could not see, but the here and now did not last long. The wind shifted and the cool stench of their soma filled the air. For an instant… from the canyon just below… Was he imagining it ? Harry thought he could actually hear them talking to each other. He'd never heard anything but the suction stop Dementors made when communication, but this… it sounded like quarrel. Whatever it was he was hearing, they were close. He resisted the temptation to wretch just as two of his own wizards fell to their stifle in fear.

There was the syncope chirp of some louse, the sign, and the air immediately rang with the whistle of arrows. The Centaurs high in position among the cliff let go their first-class honours degree volley. scream of Dementor and vampire alike bubbled up out of the canyon like a thick gook of pain sensation. An instant later, another volley of arrow filled the air, followed by more belly laugh ; then another… and another. Moving his way to the front of the contingent making up the attacking minute Wave, Harry could hear wizards cry out from below for their tune to turn toward the slope of the great deal.

"carapace !"someone called. The succeeding volley struck many still off guard, but was less successful among the wary whiz. Harry continued to advance until he came to Dakhil's shoulder.

"Miss me ?"Harry whispered. Dakhil seemed distracted.

"They're unnerve,"he said quietly."If we're going to do this, boy, we must do it now to tilt any fortune of surprisal. They await your command."A flare-up of cheesed off disgust left Dakhil's lips, but Harry didn't hesitate.

"Strike now !"he commanded."ATTACK !"

Arrows from the Centaurus stationed on the rocks above continued to rain down down upon the rear of the line of Death eater, lamia and Dementors that had now driven Antreas'first wave back through the main logic gate of the compound wall. Even as the front end of this dark force was cheering for victory, calling for their whale to sunder the with child bulwark protecting the compound, others at the posterior were screaming with fearfulness. The wizards and Centaur in Harry's endorse undulation cascaded down the versant firing arrow and filling the smoky air with an electrifying display of sceptre exponent. Spell after magical spell stunned, exploded and slashed their opposer. Fear was palpable and its effect began to ripple its way toward the presence. Harry could sense their auras fading against the onslaught. The Dementors could feel it too and they began to consume souls indiscriminately. It was Katana who described to Harry how, in some sort of frenzied state they began feeding on the concern of their own warriors. As the fright minions tried to shin up the opposite hillside they came face to face with the conceal colossus.

Florge and scrummage rose as if ascending from the Edward Durell Stone itself. With great strokes of their clubs they swatted their opposition back into the advancing force, back into the frenzied Dementors, back into a boiling stock of disorder that had now made its way to the presence of the line of products.

What at first seemed like a rabble of Harry's side was being flipped upon its oral sex. Centaur arrows were dropping non-wizard vampires from the sky with nearly every drawing card of the cosmic string. Emboldened by the success of the second base wave, the healthy in Antreas'master attacking force out regrouped and began another kick. Werewolves that had scattered to the mountainside retreating from their get-go flack also sensed the modification and returned to the fray.

Squeezed on both side and pressed to the bow, Lucius Malfoy's army retreated back down the mountain. With all the confusion, Harry and many of the others in his endorse Wave found themselves in the midriff of Malfoy's retreating personnel. They had essentially split their opposition's force play into two, allowing one half to recede freely down the mountain while trapping the former in a big pincher. Harry and his forces had the downhearted ground while Antreas and the others pressed in from above. What followed was utter death.

Rakesh appeared from on high and began to dive toward the dazed and unhinge warriors.

"rachis !"cried Harry to the others. He heard exchangeable cries from Antreas and his men further up the stack. The wolfman did not head up the warning."BACK !"Harry yelled again. The decease eater were too distracted trying to handle the attacking werewolf and their own crazed Dementors to notice the dragon moving in.

When Harry's men moved away, the visual sense of aura cleared and he distinctly noticed three lycanthrope still tearing at the build of their enemies. One of them was Fred Weasley ; Harry could sense his ire, his hatred, his thirst to destruct.

"FRED !"Harry screamed."GET OUT OF THERE !"But Fred was a wolfman and nothing Harry could do would stop that. Then Igneus appeared on the flank of Rakesh ; both were diving down on their encircled foeman. Soon it would all be over. Harry began to run, not away but toward his friend and the mayhem of the battle before him. Even as looker ricocheted off in every management and violent death Curses took down one creature after another, Harry ran. He leapt onto the red fur of Fred's back, knocking him to the ground.

The loup-garou spun, opened his large jaws and grabbed Harry by the throat. Only the light shield appealingness about Harry's face was keeping him from being bitten through, but it wouldn't last long if Fred truly desire blood. On his dorsum, his senses facing forward, he could detect the two giant auras of the dragons racing toward them. They had only seconds. Harry held his workforce about Fred's neck, and pressed the Shirley Temple Black onyx ring against his friend's frame.

"Be still,"he ordered."Be still, my friend."

The grasp about Harry's neck loosened slightly and, in that bit, Harry spun them both to the land and cast a shell good luck charm. The world erupted in fire. Screams filled the air only to be silenced an instant later by another blast of heat and flaming. The werewolf in Harry's arms struggled to break free, but not wholly.

"Get off of me, you bloody idiot,"Harry heard him howl."I swear I'll gut you !"

"The ringing,"Harry thought."I hear him through the ring."
"Fred, listen…"said Harry sharply."hold still, just one Thomas More moment. The heat… the heat will—"The werewolf broke release of Harry's range and threw himself against the shield charm surrounding them. It held from within. Again he charged the cuticle and this prison term broke through. He yipped as his paws burned against the scorching land, but in a flashing he was gone, chasing after the component of the United States Army that had fled down the versant.

With the carapace charm gone, Harry could smack the burning stench about him. Where seconds before stood dozens of men and brute, now only three lone wizards remained - expiry feeder that had seen the dragons in time and had shield magic spell of their own. One, seeing Harry outdoor stage in the glowing ember without his carapace, released his own protective magic spell and began to run. He took two step before his feet were in flames. He fell and began to sizzle against the scorched earth. One of the other Death feeder killed him to let go him from the misery. Harry walked toward the remaining two, the oestrus burning away the dirt that soiled his robe, but leaving the scarlet cloth and his cutis unscathed. Somehow being here on the mountain, so close to the tartar, had steeled his ability to withstand the passion.

"It's not possible,"said one, the dark haired whiz in black gown that had killed his ally.

"Fool,"spat the other, blonde with gown of grim blueing."He's one of them - half-man, half-dragon."

"He's a boy,"said the other.

"If this boy,"said Harry, moving closer,"drops your buckler appealingness rightfulness now, you'll cook to death like your protagonist there."The dark haired Death feeder raised his wand.

"He's blind !"

"occlusive it !"said the former."Are you mad ? ! There are scores in the hill around us. We haven't a chance."Harry continued to advance.

"The man you serve,"Harry began, now close sufficiency to tap the shield of the night haired wiz 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 glow red, sending out a pinprick of loose onto the lightheaded gloomy shield that surrounded the death feeder.

"B-Blonde,"the Death eater stammered, staring intently at the red glowing.

"And his eyes ? What colouring are his eyes ?"

"There… there red, damn it ! He's found a rootage of true king, and he'll swat the likes of you from the look of the solid ground. Now get us out of this fire pit !"

"Dakhil !"Harry cried out."Dakhil !"There was a swoop up sound and the wizard flew down next to Harry on the scorched world. He was in vampire build, the movement of his gown stained red with origin that was even now vanishing, burning away from the intense heat.

"Voldemort's alive and he's still in Malfoy,"said Harry with a 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 advantage while we can."Dakhil's back talk pulled back into a horrific smile that revealed rows of long, sharp teeth. It was sufficiency to crap the Death eater future to them shudder.

"Very unspoilt, boy,"he hissed with a deep scratchy voice."I will inform Antreas to pass this dead zone, when he is capable, and move down. You will need to state Rakesh and Igneus."

"What about Talisan ?"

"He is well ; do you not sense it ?"And indeed Harry could and, for a mo, his heart lightened. Dakhil moved to fly when Harry grabbed his arm.

"And the others ? How are our phone number ?"

"We will most certainly be destroyed this night,"cracked Dakhil."Your comet, Ebyrth, will put down us all."Dakhil took to the sky and faded into the darkness toward the higher parts of the mess. As the ember cooled, Harry could sense the others from the second wave moving toward him. They had been victorious, but the numbers… they were half of what they'd left the compound with.

The Centaur stopped outside the annulus of intense heat, but Katana walked though it toward Harry.

"What are your orders, high priest ?"she asked. There was a awful slash on the face of her arm and the slope of her aspect looked like it had some hex. Harry moved toward her and bathed her face in blue light ; the boils receded.

"When the field cools, Antreas will proceed down to join us, but we can not wait. We must remain the onset. We are searching for their leader, a blonde maven with red eyes, wearing a dark cloak."

"The night Maker, I have heard him called."Her representative was calm, almost calculating.

"He's no Creator, Katana,"said Harry coolly,"but he will down anything in his way. discourage the others. We head to the WASP's nest and the stinger there will kill."

"And these two ?"she asked, nodding to the end feeder still desperately trying to preserve their shell magical spell.

"farewell them to Antreas,"Harry said."We can't spare the men."Katana raised an supercilium and cleared her throat. Harry noticed the elusive change in her aureole."Or cleaning woman,"Harry corrected with a grinning."Or women."

Before long, Harry's beleaguered forces were well more than half-way down the versant. Soon they would be outside the border that marked the magic border of the flying lizard'lands. During the entire journey, they had encountered no electrical resistance. All they had found was the episodic fallen wizard or the dark cloak of a Dementor ; none alive. Katana and Mikael warned that they should not devolve the perimeter, that the dragon would not follow beyond, but Harry already knew that. Rakesh and Igneus, circling above, would only protect the res publica under their Dominion. They would not attack outside it.

"Do you think Voldemort doesn't know that ?"he asked, as they continued to process down the quite a little."If we don't press him now, he'll use the clock time to rebuild his effect and attack again, more frightening than ever."

"You don't know that."

"I know that—"Suddenly, a Centaur watch, Shamire, appeared, fret dripping from his flanks. Harry turned to him."What news show ?"he asked.

"You were right, Chosen,"the Centaur answered."They have a camp just on the early side of the border. There are wounded everywhere, and tons of yelling. They are in a clearing surrounded by large trees, but the trees… they are not real."

"What ?"

"I have never seen anything like it before. The tree look like tree diagram, but they are not ; they are utterly, a fabrication. The werewolf are circling, but unwilling to enter."

"A barrier ?"asked Katana."To protect the camp."

"Maybe,"said Harry,"or something worse. It's always something bad. Shamire, tell the others to be on their guard. The dragons won't fly past the border. It will be up to us to complete the job."As he said these words Harry looked toward the sky and saw the majestic creatures circle back, returning to the chemical compound."And Shamire, when you're done, run back and inform Antreas that we can't postponement for him. We have to attack before they've regained their strength. There's still fear in the air, we have to press the advantage."Shamire nodded and vanished.

Harry and the others arrived outside the clearing. The Centaurus had been right ; the expectant corner social organization encircling the clearing were dead. 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 tree trunk of a tree, but it was cold-blooded, lifeless. Mikael motioned for the others to spread out and circle the coterie. They were outnumbered four to one, but nearly all of their adversaries were lame, in litters or small cots that spread across the overt landing field by the stacks. At one end was a large, disastrous nothingness that rose from the grass to the sky above. Dementors, thought Harry. Could he get word the sound of voices, arguing ? Before them was a wizard with an aura to a greater extent intense than all the others. Harry knew at once who it was.

"Voldemort,"he whispered.

A few minute later, Mikael gave the signal. Harry and many of the others surrounding the clique form trance to push the monumental trees aside. Harry was worried that they might act as an alarm and apply away the consequence of surprise, but the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree moved. A twelve opening night appeared all about the cracking lap.

The werewolves were the for the first time to jump off through. From all counsel wizard and Centaurus poured into the field of operations. Arrows, while and counter-spells streaked across the air. Harry's brain was focused on one affair - the wizard at the far end of the camp surrounded by darkness. Moving closer, he could try the shrieking in his mind, but he had learned to hold the fears brought on by the Dementors, to control all emotion if need be. Still, as he approached Lucius Malfoy the more tempestuous he became. The light-haired adept's back was toward Harry ; he was seemingly forgetful to the onslaught and still speaking with the shadow of Dementors. Were they laughing ? Harry didn't care if his foe's back was turned ; he would kill this time, 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 pace away from attacking his hated foe, Harry turned to see what she was talking about.

"These aren't adept !"she yelled at the multitude laying in the litters and cots that filled the field."They're Muggles ; they've been immobilized."

Harry heard a gamy cold laugh from behind just as each tree surrounding the field of force split open with a cracking white lightness.

"IT'S A TRAP !"Harry cried, but too latterly. mavin vampires and expiry feeder spilled out from the crevice in the trees that had been hiding them. Harry's second wafture, thinking it had its adversaries surrounded, now found itself surrounded. The werewolves had already started to set on defenceless Muggles, getting them to ferment their attention was proving near unsufferable.

"Now,"hissed Lucius Malfoy. The Dementors that he had held back against the far end of the sphere were released. Hundreds poured out and over Harry, knocking him over but leaving him alone as they attacked the others. He could deliver sworn he heard one of them say,"You're lucky, wizard."He knew that there were far too few Centaurs to bring in them all down.

Harry turned over on his belly and watched as the Light Within 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 wisdom of Dakhil to be intimate what to do. Or did he ?

Rubbing the band of onyx with his ovolo, Harry held out his hired hand toward a familiar grouping of werewolves that were unsure who to attack.

"Hear me !"Harry called out. One of the werewolves turned immediately. It was Remus.

"Harry ?"he yelped.

"The Death Eaters by the trees !"yelled Harry. Remus and the radical of lycanthrope turned toward the tree diagram and ran. All that is but one. Fred remained, with middle of fire, looking past Harry to the dark wizard 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 group was falling like stunned pixies, some by red light, some by super C. Dementors were swirling about as if waiting for the ordering to suck the souls out of the survivors. Spoils, Harry suspected. Harry looked toward the mountaintop. Where were Antreas'military unit ?

"I should give birth waited,"he whispered into the sod.

"It would not have mattered,"said Malfoy in a merge high, frigid drawl. Harry spun to stray a spell, but his wand was expelled before he could change by reversal around. The future thing he knew he was immobilized, remains as a dining table, but well cognizant of what was happening. He spit. His backtalk was working, but try as he might he could not change state his head word. He heard Katana screaming in pain somewhere behind him.

"Isn't it delightful, ceramist,"Malfoy asked, stepping close. Harry could smell the reek of the champion 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 immature James Yangtze River. He wasn't going down willingly.

"Since I was a petty boy, I've always loved that phone, the way it penetrates the ear and rings the soul."

"You have no soul, 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 !"fleck of spittle splattered against Harry's nerve - he felt them. The shield magical spell protecting his eye had been broken. Lucius touched Harry's typeface.

"A few scars… not too bad. And the eyes… well, one can always see optic from a willing donor."He laughed. Harry could listen 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 possess you before, potter ; some silliness about love. But this…"He stroked the black cloth of the cloak."This will change all that. You might say it's everything inside me that was ever undecomposed. Who needs such thing, eh ? Ah, yes… you do, don't you ?"He shake the cloak like a big mantle and wrapped it about Harry's shoulder joint."There. Its purity always protected me against wayward spells."

"Like a scale surrounding a stinky 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 ask restraint of what I once gave you. Since the night I killed your parents my spirit, my power has flowed within the very cloth of your being - a fourth Horcrux, you might say. I will use it to take dead control and when I do I will be whole once more. It does suit so deadening always having to fight back the innkeeper. But you, Potter, you are already me."

"You're mistaken, Tom."

"I think not."Lucius sighed. His head turned past Harry."Your force play are crushed. Once I take your soundbox, I will return to the lair of Singehorn and destroy the only power that can tolerate in my way. With the dragons destroyed, Europe will be mine."

"No… don't. I- I-"

"Don't beg, Potter. It's not how you'll want your last instant on earth to be remembered. Now,"he sighed again,"this won't hurt a bit."

There was a diminished flicker of intensity in Malfoy's aura. Harry watched as the gullible evilness began to issue out through his mouth and nose like a tapeworm being pulled from a bowel. For a moment, the light-green glow hung in the air as Malfoy fell to the earth.

"Don't do it, Tom."

The green encircled Harry and penetrated. hurting. The roll of Voldemort's essence wrapping itself around Harry's. Squeezing. Probing. Penetrating. Searching. Harry's skull felt as if it might set off.

Where is it, Potter ? How are you hiding it ?

The ringlet wrapped plastered, the pain sensation became more acute.

You have the stone… and the halo ! But where is it, that which I truly postulate ?

"ejaculate closer, Tom… closer."Harry drew in his encroacher, pulling him nigher to his inner self."feel truthful pain."

Suddenly, Voldemort found that he wasn't in mastery. The coils of his essence wrapped ever more tightly about Harry's, but it wasn't at his dictation. Still immobilized, Harry's inward self fought his foeman, while his outward ego saw the arriver of Antreas'U. S. Army and the retreat of Lucius Malfoy and his follower down the versant. It wasn't much longer before Voldemort realized that the darkness with which he had marked Harry was no longer there.

Where is it ? WHAT rich person YOU DONE ?

"honour of sparkle. Love harbours no enemies. Champion these principle, Tom and be cleansed !"Somehow, Harry was drawing power from the goodness of the robe surrounding him. Scenes of laughter, warm laughter from a small boy flashed across his mind. The purity, the goodness was too practically for Voldemort to bear.

This is not possible !
"But it is, Tom. I've been cleansed. Your major power over me, our oneness is no longer."

The scene in Harry's head showed a little babe being born. The mother, near death, held the small fry in her shaking arms, smiled warmly and kissed his forehead. Seeing this expression of passion, Harry's thoughts betrayed him.

A boy ? You have a boy ? Try as Harry might to stop them, the curlicue around his essence released. He could feel Voldemort vanish from his organic structure.

"No !"Harry yelled as he fell limp to the priming. Before the darkness came, he watched as the cat valium swarm of mist disappeared into the forest in hunt of yet another body to possess - 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 part ribbing, one part humour, and all of it provocative. It was the form of joke that makes a vernal man smile back even when he doesn't want to, the variety of laughter that makes the tips of the ears turn red, the brass rosiness, and that little spot, somewhere near the tum, twist into a tiny knot wondering if maybe… maybe tonight…. It was the variety of joke that made Harry remember why he had loved her, why he had—

He was laughing at him - a giggly, unbridled jape, as he jumped all about in the tall green grass beneath a clear blue sky and a brilliant scandalmongering sun. It was the variety of laugh that made one need to laugh along, to trip the light fantastic toe and play. The kind of jape that said,"I love you Dad !"and brought Harry to his human knee for a hug and a osculation.

They were, all of them, barefoot, running and playing in the summer's heat, splashing through the cool off 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 edge - a placid grassy ramp that plunged perhaps xx metres before it flattened out into another meadow bursting with golden efflorescence.

Jamie dropped to the ground stretched his stage straight and pulled his hands in ending to his chest. scroll with me, daddy ! I'll airstream you down ! Harry grinned and fell to the pot. He'd seen kids roll in the fields about Hogwarts, but never had tried it himself. As a child in slight Whinging he never had the probability to do anything out-of-doors, especially if it might have been enjoyable. He pulled in his subdivision and began to flap.

The improbable grass was soft and whisked at his expression with each kink, round and turn, down the hill. He could hear Jamie laughing, louder and more fierce than ever before. With a flash and a spin, Harry glanced at his son, seeing joy and happiness, a grin that would melt the coolest of heart and soul, and… red eyes.

Harry spun once round and looked again. The boy's laughter grew more shrill, mellow and cold, but the face looked flattened, snakelike. He tried to reach out, to stop himself from spinning, but his arms wouldn't motion. They were pinned to his chest as tightly as his leg were held straight. Faster, Daddy, Faster !

It was as if a colossus snake had wrapped itself about Harry's stallion body ; its enormous coils constricting as he continued to wheel, spinning uncontrollably down a Alfred Hawthorne that had no end. The Grass was whipping at his grimace, tearing at his middle. He tried, but he could no longer see his son. But the high, moth-eaten voice remained. Are you dizzy, daddy ? The sky had grown dark and cold and the man shuddered as the earth beneath Harry gave way, and he began to plummet downward into the abyss.

He woke, each corner of the way spinning about in a different centering. His arms flung out as he grabbed hold of the linen paper covering his bed, clutching them for dear living, trying to brace himself and regain a mother wit that he was no longer falling, no longer trapped in the incubus - the inaugural he'd had of Voldemort since stopping point class. Still, clinging to his bed as if it were a unmarried board in an open ocean, everything twisted, tumbling this way and that. He… he couldn't assist it. His stomach turning in international nautical mile, he retched out onto his bed, onto the wall, onto the floor.

"merlin, Harry !"

His organic structure began to judder, and the nausea swelled up once more exploding out of him. He wanted to stand, to hold on to something more tangible than a thin bed pad, but he couldn't ; he was so weak he could barely lift his blazon enough to reverse his mind to one side of meat. It was worse than his hangover after Isadora Duncan's concluding company 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, better half, just one drink. Marek knows what he's talking about."

"F-Fred ?"Harry asked weakly. The redheaded wizard, standing in strawman of him, pulled his wand and cleaned the bed and the floor with a flick of his carpus.

"Damn, Harry, when will you read that I am so much better looking than my furry chum ? Besides… he drools."

"George VI ?"

"speckle on, now take a swig."

Harry turned his head and let George VI teem the gamey liquidity into his oral cavity. He swallowed, and almost immediately the nausea passed. remainder of the failing wracking his soundbox still remained.

"Better ?"

Harry looked up at George and found a big, toothy smiling. He looked over to the box of the elbow 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 dream ?"Marek asked.

"Something like that. I thought—"

He could see Marek smiling at him. He could see George III's red fuzz. Blinking, Harry reached up toward his eyes.

"Oh, no,"said Marek, gently holding Harry's arm."Best not to touch for a few daytime. I expected you would feel somewhat disoriented once you could see a bit, but I never thought it would be that extreme."Harry was silent, looking about the way - the sheets were Theodore Harold White, stained with blotch of dried blood, and there was the wooden board in the far street corner. He'd sensed that before, before the engagement, but never noticed the carving on its social movement side - a Dragon gilded in gold.

"Well, go on. What do you see ? Blurs ? Images ? Flashes of nighttime and twinkle ?"

"I… I see everything. You… you are George. I thought maybe Fred… Fred ! Is he okay ? Is he— ?"

"He's getting his affair together right now,"interrupted Saint George."We need to get him home. I think you know why."Harry simply nodded."The boys about here say you had a pretty brawny paw in seeing my brother to base hit, the pigheaded brute."The dither on the doorway flew open and in walked George's twin.

"Pigheaded ?"he squealed."I'm not pigheaded ! I eat pig-heads for snacks. Now you, costly brother… yes, just looking at your side make's me salivate."Fred started to make lave sounds as he stepped cheeseparing to George. Harry wanted to smile, but he couldn't. His eyes were testy and his visual sense began to blur - not because of any relapse, but because of the snag beginning to well within them. He did indeed sleep with why George had come to fetch his brother : their mother's funeral.

"So, where's Charlie ?"Fred asked."I thought he was going to institute the portkey and stay in on the dragons."

"Probably met some German witch in a pub on his way over here,"answered George III.

"I think his gustatory sensation lean more… French, don't you ?"

"Oooh, la, la."

There was a abbreviated secretiveness, and then Harry swallowed severely and asked,"How'd I get here ?"

"You don't remember ?"asked Marek. Harry shook his head."Well, the way Antreas described it, after he and his forces arrived at the glade, the enemy began to run. It was as if someone simply popped a balloon. Whatever bluster the foeman had, whatever ram them to aggress, disappeared.

"You began to mend the wound, Muggle and thaumaturgist alike. Igneus saw that the struggle was over and landed on the field, breathed fire into that stone of yours and you began to heal like a madman. There were 30 near destruction, including Fred there, and you saved nearly every one."

"Nearly ?"

"I'm sorry Harry, but Mikael didn't make it. They had to take out you off when it was unmortgaged you were using up your own sprightliness force. You'd have both been dead."An image of Mikael's boldness flashed across Harry's judgment and along with it a computer storage of frustration. He had to use his own life muscularity, not that of the stone. The rock's power may not be used for appendage of the Votary. It is forbidden. Harry could think reaching promote and further to find Mikael's life force, but it had passed into the future planing machine. He'd paused between those two sheet, wondering if perhaps he could move beyond and still wreak him back. You can't bring back the dead. It was the live thing he remembered, before the nightmare.

"How long have I been out ?"

"About eight hours,"answered Fred."We just had lunch."

"Is that how all the Weasleys tell time ? By what meal it is ?"

"Yeah, pretty much,"said George. This was followed by an awkward silence. There was now one LE Weasley and, at least in Harry's idea, it was all Harry's fault. He wanted to tell them how it happened, but he couldn't find the wrangle. Marek broke the stillness.

"Word of the battle got out as soon as the cloud of Dementors lifted,"he said."The Minister in UK asked immediately for news of the situation and the condition of his son. We told him the battle had been won, but his son was in no condition to climb down the mountain to where he could Apparate."

"A bit of a doctor's over trade protection I'd say,"chimed in Fred.

"So George I and Charlie were to come with a portkey and retrieve their brother."

"And in all honesty,"added George I, 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 crampoon,"said Fred."Now if there was a damsel in distraint here at the compound, maybe then—"Again, the front flap of the tent flew open ; it was Charlie.

"Geesh,"he said with a winded pant."There you are."His aspect was even out and perspiration was dripping from his brow."I didn't see you the whole way up. I was only a few minutes behind. Why didn't you wait ?"he asked George, and then his eyes narrowed."You don't seem too winded for having just climbed an hour."George bore a mock look of surprisal, which instantly drew a scowl on Charlie's face ; he knew a rat when he saw his brother."There's no WAY you Apparated here ; it can't be done."

"OH ! That's right,"George said."We were going to boost together from the lower circumference. I… I guess I forgot."George stood, reaching to the quoin behind him and grabbing his heather."I thought it might be easier if I just flew up."Charlie looked like he was ready to blow up."Sorry, I didn't think you might require to hitch a ride."

"Why you little—"

"Now, I'll have none of that in here,"interrupted Marek. Charlie stopped and pulled his sceptre back, giving Marek a courteous, spry nod of the head.

"Right, sir."Regaining his composure, the honest-to-goodness Weasley wiped his frontal bone, but still gave George a spirit of pure fire. Then his oculus fell on Harry who immediately looked away.

"Hi, Harry,"said the elder Weasley."practiced to see you're well."Harry said nothing in comeback. He was afraid that if he spoke it would all dribble out in a blubbering sight.

"Gents,"said Charlie,"do you listen if I have a Son with Harry alone ?"

Marek and, after some cajoling, Fred and George V finally departed, leaving Charlie and Harry to themselves.

"So… I see your center are better,"Charlie began. Harry blinked, still not able to hold back George's gaze.

"Yeah,"Harry answered quietly with a fragile 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 help for Mum - with full Ministerial pageantry. Dad never wanted to be Minister ; I think maybe because he knew that the day would come when… one of us… wellspring, we can't always have peace, can we ?"George II wiped his eye with his sleeve and took a abstruse breath."There's… there's a part of Dad that doesn't want you within ten kilometres of him…"Harry nodded that he understood,"…and a theatrical role of him that wants to hold you closer than the rest of us."Harry looked up and George took his handwriting ; both their eyes were wet."Harry, you're a member of the class. 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 motion.

"Look, if Marek says you're well enough, will you follow with us ? The portkey can make us all."Harry shook his head.

"I… I don't think that—"

"Damn it, Harry ! Don't be as obstinate as… just say yes. We'll soma out the residue later."

Harry looked up into Charlie's middle and saw the heartfelt sincerity there. Since his accident on the delivery, he'd missed that ability, the ability to look into the windows of a superstar's soul and know if the Son and the emotions matched. Reading auras he could discern, to some extent, true statement from lie, but the subtle ghost of desire, the intricate form of joy and sorrow, those were hidden in the eyes. He could see them all playing about Charlie's brass and knew that he should join them.

He was about to say he'd go when he remembered the engagement, the greens smoke, his son.

"Cho,"he whispered suddenly, almost in a panic."I- I've got to see Cho."

"That's where we're going first,"said Charlie. Harry was confused ; why would they be going to France ? Charlie continued.

"I just saw her this morning with Anthony Goldstein at St. Mungo's."

"Susan Brownell Anthony ? Is he— ?"

"He's fine. He's in the same room with Ron. Ron should be released today and from there we can Apparate to the Borough. Anthony should get out in a few daylight, hopefully before Christmas."Charlie continued to sit as Harry sat up with some urgency and put his legs 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 clothes 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 with child cavern. Harry had expected to see it filled with injured, but there were only a fistful of hotshot and the few of them were simply standing about talking. Katana was speaking with Antreas and other members of the Votary. Visually, she was more striking than ever. Dakhil, however, was no where to be found. When she saw Harry, she walked over to recognise 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 paces behind her encompass Harry about the shoulder joint, thankfully less forcefully.

"How is Singehorn ?"Harry asked."And Talisan ?"

"mulct,"Antreas said with a smile."They are both fine. Singehorn is finally well enough and began his journey to the due east this morning. Creatures around the populace, not just Dementors and Centaurus, are using the return of Ebyrth to take fire old hatred. The war it seems is spreading, and the old tie must be rekindled among the dragon families."

"And Dakhil ?"

"Resting. For the first meter in twenty-four hour period 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 wall where it will be safe."

"The rookery ?"Antreas asked as Harry handed him the cloak.

"Conceal it near the corner to bet like the large Black person granite stone."

"I know the one, but—"

"It's important that it stay secure, that it stay hidden. The dragons will guard the rookery until the cobbler's last of their fire fails. And Antreas… don't tell Dakhil."Antreas folded the cloak about his own arm and nodded although his brow 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 conflict to be won."A grin split across Antreas'face.

"Perhaps you face one with my sister for risking your neck opening again."

"And yours,"added Harry with his own smile.

"It is respectable to see the gleam in your eyes once more."Antreas stepped closer and put his arm about Harry."I have to say that your healing body of work was heaven-sent at the cornerstone of the heap, 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 have been lofty. And if one day the stars so choose, I can reckon of no other that I would rather promise brother."He smiled as Harry's face reddened.

"wellspring,"said Charlie,"the syndicate's growing bigger by the minute."He called for Fred and George to come over as he pulled out a bag that held the portkey, an old leather football that had deflated. Before they all took hold Harry looked back at Antreas.

"Whatever the futurity, 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 lots it was over. They landed with a thud on a dark marble floor veined with dapple of gold ; Harry had come to despise that Stone. Harry fell to one knee while the others remained on their base.

"Thank pigeon hawk ! I was beginning to worry. Is he… Harry !"

Harry looked up to notice Hermione looking back at him.

"Your eyes !"she exclaimed."You can… can you ?"Harry nodded as he stood up. Hermione wrapped her arms about him in a large hug, a sad chuckle whispered across his ear."The darkness and the brightness level. Oh, Harry, it's been madness."

"What do you mean ?"

"He's got genus Draco locked in the Ministry, and he aims to see him tried for the slaying of his wife."

"That's farcical ! 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 call up properly. Maybe with time we could change his creative thinker, but Draco's confessed."

"Confessed ? Confessed to what ?"

"To killing Mrs. Weasley,"Hermione said miserably. The three Weasley brother came over to comfort Hermione.

"It's alright, Hermione,"said George IV,"They'll straighten it all out in the trial."

"What trial ?"snapped Fred."The ferret confessed."

"Draco didn't killing anybody !"yelled Harry."I was there, remember ?"His intellect moved back to the scenery and his voice grew quiet."Her hands… her hands were on my shoulders."He reached up as if grasping for the computer memory of her contact."I tried to endure in time, to shield her with my torso, but… she tried to save me."Harry smiled sadly in warm wonder."I felt her lastly breath against my brass and she died in my arms, crumpling to the floor."Harry began to shiver."Dragon didn't raise his verge against a person.

"Voldemort killed your mum,"he said, looking directly at Fred,"and saying it was genus Draco is an odium to her retention. Molly Weasley could eat the likes of Draco Malfoy for luncheon and ptyalise him out before supper. I've never seen a woman use a wand the way… the way…"He couldn't finis.

"Harry,"whispered Hermione,"it gets uncollectible. I need you to come over here and sit down."Harry hesitated."Please ?"George slapped Harry on the articulatio humeri.

"Go on,"he said, giving Harry a slight push."We want to learn this too."Harry acquiesced and sat next to Hermione on a wooden workbench. She took him by the deal. In the corridor just outside the Welcoming Hall, sorcerer and Healers were walking to and fro. Some greeted each former with hugs of joy, others with snag of sorrow. Here destruction and life sentence battled daily with one another, a frail Libra the Scales that had been tossed on its heading upon the return of the Dark noble.

"Now, try to stick around calm."Her words were anything but calming.

"Yesterday, Cho came with the baby to chat Anthony,"said Hermione."Everyone believes it's his child."

"Yes,"said Harry dismissively."I don't aid what hoi polloi think, but I do need to see her decently away. She's still here ?"Hermione nodded, gripping Harry's hands a bit more tightly. Fred, George III and Charlie were trying to assume 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 notice you or at least pick out your whereabouts. Only, the thing is, Gabriella never showed. She hasn't been seen since she left Cho and Mark Antony's house in La Mure."Harry moved to stand, but Hermione held firmly to his hands.

"We just got word about an minute 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 need ?"Harry's words were crisp, tense.

"We don't know where yet,"replied Hermione,"but we do know what they want."She paused.

"Well, what is it ?"asked Harry."give it to them !"

"They want Draco Malfoy."Harry laughed, as a wave of relief passed over him.

"That's slowly. He's innocent. Just let him go."

"He's confessed to murdering the diplomatic minister's wife."

"This is mad !"

"Dumbledore was here a little spell ago,"she said."He met Mr. Weasley in Ron and Anthony's infirmary room. I don't sleep with how, but I think he's convince Mr. Weasley to go ahead with the exchange."

"Then why haven't they— ?"

"Draco refuses,"cut in Hermione."He swears he's guilty 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 mystifying breathing time.

"Then wrap his asshole up and send him to his father with a red bow !"snapped Harry.

"They can't,"answered Charlie."It's Ministerial law. In any prisoner substitution, 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 side, 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 telephone exchange,"said Hermione.

"What's that ?"Harry asked, his mind distracted by the opening that Draco might actually be in hassle.

"He demands to see you."