Harry ceramist and The birth of a New Sun

Chapter 6 - Too closing an Encounter

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When Harry shut the threshold to his room and descended the stair he was, perhaps, the happiest he had ever been in all his life. The sun sent lucky shaft of light streaking through the color in windows above and cast a prosperous ikon on the floor below, tinged with enough red to wee-wee Harry think fleetingly of Fawkes. His hair a drag in mess, he was wearing a T-shirt, boxershorts and socks, one with a rather heavy cakehole through which the large toe on his correct foot protruded. He scratched his venter as his nose took in the smell of something that resembled the smell of burning ham. He took one step down and turned to look back at his way. His room ? His house ? No, not really. Not anymore. And he was thankful for that and smiled all the more as the odour of novel coffee filled the air, perhaps the only thing Sirius could devise properly.

When he pushed open the doors to the kitchen of telephone number twelve, Grimmauld station, he found Sothis working feverishly in front of the stove. His sceptre was casting spell after spell, not so practically at the food preparation, but in an endeavor to make 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, offset day of shoal and all."He cracked an egg and put both liquid and casing in the same arena and started mixing it with his wand. Harry chuckled kindly and shook his promontory in disbelief. It was great being free of Privet movement, to be here with his godfather, to sense wanted and apprise. It was probably the number one metre he had ever opened a package of Francis Bacon for breakfast without a moody taste in his mouth. He gave Sirius a smell that said,"Get real,"and then positioned himself squarely in figurehead of the stove.

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

"You know,"said Sirius pouring two loving cup of coffee,"I hear New York is dramatic at Christmas time. Have you ever been to the body politic ?"Harry sway his drumhead."Maybe we could go for a spry visit."

"I promised Gabri—"

"Visit,"Sirius cut in."That's all. Maybe Gab can occur 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 plates to the table.

Sirius ate like a dog and finished in about three minutes. Harry was more pensive, and while he did finish, it took him much longer. The decent thing about being of age was that he didn't have to walk or take a car to go to B. B. King's crisscross station. For that subject, he didn't need to go to King's Cross at all ; he could Apparate to Hogsmeade and walking in from there. Only the foreland Boy and head Girl had to take the train with their housemates, and this yr the head teacher Girl was none former than Hermione sodbuster. Odd, Harry thought, considering she'd nearly killed Theodore Nott hold up class. He smiled and took another sip of umber. Hermione didn't know who the Head Boy was, but it wasn't Ron. Still, the redhead 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 throb slightly. The thought sent a cold gelidity down Harry's spine as the strong coffee slipped down his throat.

"Any more bacon ?"asked Dog Star rummaging through the crustlike pans about the stove.

"That pitch-black stuff and nonsense you fried up over there on the face is bacon ; at least it used to be."

Sirius poked at it a few clip, and then finally took a bite. His nerve took on a slight bitterness tone as it scrunched ever so slightly, then he took another bite, shrugging his shoulders. His teeth and clapper covered in charcoal gray he said,"You'd improve get ready. Is your trunk packed ?"He glanced at the hourglass on the counter.

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

"I'll take tutelage of it,"Sirius lied."Go get yourself ready."Harry shrugged and nodded his head, and started up the stairs, once again scratching his tummy and knowing full well it would be solar day, perhaps calendar week, before the sink was cleared.

It was strange really, getting ready for his last twelvemonth at Hogwarts. So often he was rushed in the hustle and bustle of the Weasley fellowship. This year, however, Harry wanted to be with his own family — Canicula Black. And it was the best decision he'd ever made. It had only been a few years, but in that forgetful time Sirius and Harry did absolutely… naught. There were opportunities to lecture about the old days when Sirius palled around with William James ; there were opportunity to praxis advanced spells or learn the operation of some of the golden official document that still lined the walls in the Black family cogitation ; there were multiplication when they could have discussed how Harry brought Sirius back from behind the curtain ; and at every crook, at every afford threshold, Harry and Sirius simply took the fourth dimension to enjoy each other in the here and now. They played Bromus secalinus ; the fiddle cards ; they raced Caduceuses across the London sky at night ; they drank, probably too a great deal ; and they laughed more than they had laughed in a long, long time. Sirius'eyes had never been brighter, and Harry's heart had never been lighter.

This metre when Harry readied himself at the front door to leave, there was no morose cloud hanging over their header, but rather an eagre excitement about the year to come and what it would work. They drew effectiveness from each other knowing that whatever war was around the turning point, whatever darkness rose on the horizon, they would face 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 side of meat of his hips with his hands.

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

They held each early for Thomas More than a moment and then Canicula whispered in a somewhat raspy part,"Be careful."Harry pulled away wearing an enormous smile.

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

He Apparated to an out of the way placement just down the street from King's Cross Station and began walking. The tardy daybreak was all the way, and he was surprised to find the air so cold. He'd been spending so much prison term inside with Sirius he hadn't thought much about the weather. His coat was in his body, and he didn't feel much like opening that in the midsection of a street filled with Muggles. He shivered, rubbed his arms, and continued on his way. He was coming to the 1st steps of the post when a beggar boldly stepped in front of him demanding a contribution. Wearing a estimable three Day'stubble, his apparel were foul, and his breath smelled strongly of alcohol.

"cum on, fellow,"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 neglect the interloper."Really,"he said over his shoulder,"I don't have any money."The man grabbed Harry by the arm.

"I can hear the jingle in yer pant, boy !"It was true that Harry had a few galleons in his scoop, 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.

"Call me a boy again, and you—"

"You'll what !"spat the drunk, stepping toe-to-toe with Harry. The sight was a bit comical since Harry was not the small child he once was. Indeed he was a strapping young man, and he stood a effective four in taller than his opponent. Curling the fingers on his right hand, he was about to say just what he'd do when a conversant prickling ran up his acantha. He grabbed for his wand, but too belatedly. Or at least it would have been if he had been the quarry. The drunk stood motionless, center glazed, body frozen in position. Harry looked up just as a helping hand 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 care. Won't happen again, I promise."

The man, still in his teens, wore a gloomy grey wooing with thin blue piping, a Burgundy wine tie and white shirt. The dark glasses reminded Harry of old Henry James Bond motion-picture show, but the white tennis shoes with red lacing told Harry at once he was dealing with a wizard. Then he noticed the shape of the jaw, the voice, but the hair—

"Finnius ?"Harry asked, wondering if he was talking to the onetime Head Boy of Hufflepuff who at graduation exercise had a get-go at a beard and haircloth that hung down to his shank."I thought you were going to start a lot ? The… er, The Grindly trough ?"

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

"Why ? What's the subject ?"

"Well… see, I'm supposed to—"

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

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

"You work with Tonks ?"Harry asked with a bit more excitement and interestingness. 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 platform nine and three-quarters holding Harry with his correct hand 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 business at the Ministry finally class, she's been in and out of hospital and… well, now she's in and… well, she made me promise. See ?"

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

"Ah, here we are."They were at the political program."Just in meter too !"Before Harry could say another news, Finnius gave him a bit of a shove and he plunged through the rampart and found himself on the early slope standing just in front of the Hogwarts Express. Harry dropped his bole, reached for his wand and started back toward the rampart when he was tackled from the slope. The flash of raven blackened tomentum in his face told him at once it was Gabriella.

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

The foiling on Harry's face was clear ; he was about to charge back out when his eyes caught something he had never before seen : Neville Longbottom was hugging his parents, Frank and Alice, good-bye. Alice held his aspect in her hands and planted a big wet kiss on his cheek. They were all smiles as Neville wiped it with his arm. Then Frank Longbottom handed his son something and, as Neville wrapped his fingers about the aim, a more serious facial expression came into his eyes. His dad slapped him on the shoulder and a slim smile appeared again as Neville boarded the train.

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

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

"ALL ABOARD !"the conductor called.

"doyen said he'd save us a pip,"said Gabriella, taking storage area of Harry's hand. Harry took one last look at the wall behind them, and then the two boarded the geartrain. The corridor was crowded with scholar, particularly first years who were completely confused. What was detectable, however, was that the pattern demarcation of house zone seemed to be somewhat glaze over. There were Slytherins purposefully mixing in with Ravenclaws near the straw man of the gearing, and a mathematical group of tertiary year Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors in another stroller playing snatch. A few cars down Harry just caught a coup d'oeil of mortal in Gryffindor robes disappearing into a carriage and so he and Gabriella followed. He pushed open the go-cart door only to walk in on Neville and Helen kissing ; a sweet fragrance filling the air.

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

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

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

They continued moving forward past diverse go-cart when the news bulletin of red hair caught Harry's eye. It was Ron, and he was bickering with Hermione. The trading floor of the stroller they were in was littered with wearing apparel, Word and diverse affair Harry knew to be Ron's, most notably by the excess of socks.

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

"Is that a scourge ?"stab back Ron, holding both hands on his hips and kicking at the pile of apparel on the story. Gabriella walked in first.

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

"No, nil's unseasonable,"snapped Ron immediately."Er… hey, better half !"he said with a moving ridge 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 storey. The steeled look of ardor in Ron's center said that they had certainly tried that and many other things and would harass just not make any other mesmerism because Hermione has already made every possible suggestion known in the Wizarding world and none of them have worked.

"Hermione,"said Gabriella with a tint that Harry had come to lie with all too well, and yet was still new to Hermione."Perhaps one of my Slytherin housemates is playing a conjuring trick, most probably teddy. Would you link up me and perhaps together we can solve this little problem."Knowing Hermione's disposition toward Nott, Harry wondered if it was a wise mind to put the two in shut proximity, but Gabriella may have been on to something. Certainly Nott would have the motive to draw in 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 to a greater extent look at Ron before she left and said,"And don't you stop looking !"The instant the girls departed, Ron flopped down on the carriage bench and blew the hair out of his eyes.

"Bloody hell."

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

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

There was a mo of secretiveness as Harry watched the countryside gaffe by. It wasn't the same train as six years ago, but it might as well have been.

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

"Things haven't changed much."

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

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

"That's not—"

"Now we're both of age and you're Harry Potter, protector, Guardian and Emissary, the sensation that destroyed Voldemort and brought heartsease with the hulk, and I'm Ron Weasley the kid that can't find his BLOODY verge !"At the close words he stood up, kicked at the wall, and put his boot all the way through.

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

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

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

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

"Prob'ly mad ‘ bout losin'this,"interrupted Saint Patrick, and he held up Ron's scepter. For a consequence Ron sputtered, unable to speak. Finally, he grabbed the verge and pulled it close, cradling it like a baby as a wave of relief 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 last Ron smiled as he slipped his verge away.

"Why don't you and Epistle of James stay in here,"offered Harry."I haven't heard from the Yangtze 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 King James I was going to bug out Gryffindor this year. He knows he can pick whatever sign he wants doesn't he ?"

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

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

"Yeah, it was."

"Why on ground would anybody take Slytherin over Gryffindor ? Everyone knows they're nothing but a bunch of—"

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

"Er…."

"…Sweethearts !"chimed Hermione gaily as she stepped into the go-cart with Gabriella."Except maybe… Teddy."She flopped down side by side 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 deal and pulled him close to her.

"No, but he didn't dare use a cross discussion or erect his vocalism,"said Hermione."Quite the gentleman's gentleman for a change."

"being nearly killed can do that to some multitude,"said Ron.

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

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

"There, you see !"said Gabriella,"Another all right model. James was one of the well number one year scholar as I recall."Ron pulled out his wand and looked at it closely.

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

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

The hours passed quickly as lunch came and the late good afternoon brought drooping eyelid to everyone. Dean never made his way back to the carriage, and they never endeavoured to move further up the gear. They were all nodding off to sleep when the power 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 concluding password leave her rim in a puff of smoke -- the air was growing colder by the second gear. They knew at once what was happening and each had their wand at the ready. The darkness outside the train filled with flashes of Light. Ministry sentry duty had moved out to meet the onslaught which was centred toward the front of the string. 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 youngest students.

"Ron,"said Hermione with a commanding voice."avail me tuck the first years."Ron was up in a news bulletin, and a mo later his voice was barking Order down the corridor for everyone to remain tranquil, calling for the low years to rally at the galley. bookman began to motivate toward the rear of the train, away from the fighting.

"They're looking for you, Harry,"said Gabriella, holding her baton at the window. She cast a spell at the drinking glass, protecting it from tone-beginning, just as early Windows began to shatter about the train.

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

"You can't be grave. Who knows how many are out there. Your C. H. Best using the wagon 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-hot flashgun of light cast against the darkness, and the good afternoon light suddenly reappeared and the warmth returned. Everyone cheered as the veil of darkness became nothing more than a dark cloud on the horizon behind the train.

A tone of relief feast across Gabriella's aspect, but darkness still remained in Harry's eyes as he reached and grabbed the radiocarpal joint of the hand that was holding his arm. Slowly, but firmly he pulled her hand away, and looked at her with a very grim expression. She sensed his emotions before he said the word of honor and she didn't like what she was feeling. Finally, he spoke in a inexorable and heated voice.

"Don't EVER do that again."

"But—"

There was a belly laugh that Harry knew at once to be Ginny's. In a wink he was out the room access and down the corridor, only a dance step ahead of Neville Longbottom, and two steps behind Ron. Ginny was on her knees in the baby buggy, break out glass everywhere and tears streaming down her center. She grabbed her chum by his sleeve.

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

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

"Oh, no,"she whispered, stepping preceding Harry and turning Dean to confront them all. There was a collective gasp. Still breathing, his center were blank, his face sunken, and his skin almost picket. He gave them no reaction at all. Ginny stood up and wrapped him in her weapon, rocking him back and Forth River. On her finger was the ring Dean had given her the year before. The firestone with which it was set had lost its magnificent radiance, its fire, its love extinguished.

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




Harry Potter and the incumbrance of Becoming

Chapter 7 - The lost somebody

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Harry clenched his clenched fist and bicker,"Fucking war."early than that, only the rumbling of the geartrain and the tip whistling through the shatter window accompanied Ginny's sobs. He stepped next to Gabriella and watched helplessly as Ginny, a somebody mate if ever he had one, rocked back and Forth with James Dean in her arms. Dean, breathing but lifeless, made no response. He might as well be a remains - he'd be better off. Harry felt the cult construction within, but something was tempering it, something was focusing it. He gazed into malarky as smoke streamed by the broken window and a teardrop tracked down his cheek.

"Ginny,"Gabriella whispered, then louder,"Ginny."The redhead, her case wet, looked up at Gabriella."May I see him ?"Ginny sniffed, wiped her human face and nodded silently. soul, a girl, screamed at the doorway and then ran down the corridor yelling for assist.

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

"It won't do any beneficial,"intellection Harry to himself, reaching for his sceptre and then nervously fiddling it with his fingers. Then, out loud, he whispered,"He's gone."The rage roiled in his mind as he watched the green hills cast by - a word-painting perfective tense day. Finally, his mind found its clarity."This was past tense forgiveness,"he thought to himself and his hand clenched tightly about his sceptre as he pulled it to the ready."I'll kill them ! I'll wipe out them all !"He would Apparate back down the cut and destroy every Dementor that moved. He began the carpus cause when Gabriella grabbed his arm. His eyes flash flack into hers."I told you—"he began.

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

"I don't like 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 !"

baton began to appear from everyone.

"Harry !"fritter away Gabriella."THINK !"She pulled him close."You know a salutary way !"

Harry's psyche began to slipstream ; there was no time for this. The stone ? Was she talking about the stone ? Certainly she didn't mean that he could mend Dean's someone using the Harlan F. Stone."I don't have time—"

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

Voices ? Voices ! She couldn't be serious. She had wanted to cultivate with him on the articulation, the giving of those who had touched him at the connexion, but he chose instead to pass his sentence with Sirius. All those present at the Joining on Singehorn's pot were, in several direction, a part of him now. They had shared of themselves freely, but there were so many he couldn't class them out and time was dripping through his finger's breadth.

"I can't."

"You must."

For a moment, as Sir Thomas More voice clambered about the corridor for a counterplay on the Dementors, he tried to reach down inscrutable interior, calling to those who had shared of themselves, scanning through countless memories, snipping of video that spanned centuries.

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

"Come on, Harry ! Let's kill them !"somebody called from fanny. It was Antony Goldstein. Very well said, thought Harry, but 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 peculiar look and shouted,"For our family unit, Paraguay tea !"There was a pop and Goldstein was gone. It was followed by another pop and another snap. aged students were Disapparating from everywhere.

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

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

Harry closed his center once again and focused on Soseh. His mind dwelt on the warmness of her cordial reception and the aroma of her kitchen, but Gabriella turned his mind.

"Coldness. vanity,"she whispered."The smelling of decay, of death."

persona filled Harry's psyche. ikon of what was, what is, what might be. He saw Dakhil, a much younger looking Dakhil, blood dripping from the box of his mouth ; he saw himself hanging from the window on Privet driving, an odd glowing surrounding his half-naked body ; he saw Grigor looking cruel and defiant ; he saw the low temperature dead consistence of Antreas, stab wound covering every inch of his bare chest of drawers ; death, and then he saw them.

It was night and the only sound, beyond a sole scream in the swarthiness, was the rasping breath of the oncoming Dementor. Just a few feet away, a youth girlfriend was cowering beneath the robe image. Just to her left was a man, somewhere in his of late mid-twenties, a dragon emblazoned on his right forearm. Ignoring the man, the Dementor pulled back his hood revealing its skull-like masquerade of horror, a large hole where perhaps a oral fissure should be. The vision seemed so real Harry tried to reach for his wand, but found his munition shackled to a rock wall.

The girl screamed as the Dementor drew in its breather in a great wheeze. Another scream… another wheeze. On the third wheeze, the girl made no sound ; her obtuse centre opened, staring blankly up at her assaulter. It was then, as if empowered with a minute vision, Harry saw it : the gleaming. He watched the syncope golden Andrew Dickson White light being pulled into the hole in the Dementor's orifice. He expected it to vanish into the darkness, but it didn't. The Dementor pulled his hood up over his skull, but Harry could still perceive the radiance trying to fight its way out. It was as if the Dementor was shining, backlit by a glare from above."I see,"Harry whispered and the darkness rushed away to be replaced by the lights and rumblings of the racing Hogwarts Express.

"I see !"outcry 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 mother's talent of sight, and her centre were telling him that she too must go."No,"he said flatly."You're staying here."

"It's the lone way, Harry,"she said, still holding his arm."If we find the one in time, then… then you use the pit to draw back James Dean's aliveness force."Everyone looked at the two as if they'd both gone mad. There were stride racing their way down the corridor. Harry glanced back, knowing that once the Aurors found out about the attack and the flying of the students they'd be blasting Dementors right and left. With one wrong magical spell, James Byron Dean's person would be lost forever.

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

On two, they both Apparated back into the iniquity. It was as if they had just landed themselves in the middle of an ominous thunderstorm that had extinguished the sun. All was blackness save for the wink of lighting - wandlight from the attacking students. Harry felt the heating plant rushing out of his os and heard the wow in his ears.

"Can - you - see - the - one ?"Harry yelled over the din. His articulation held hope, but his heart had none. There were at to the lowest degree a hundred Dementors swarming about, skimming across the hillside, trying to resolve if the recently arrived mavin were to be feared or consumed. Harry saw a Patronus, the shape of an tremendous owl, dip into a chemical group of about a half dozen Dementors and sent them flying. About thirty grand away, near a stand of trees, Goldstein's baton was doing little Thomas More than lighting up the diminished clearing of grass in front of him. A Dementor was closing in on him when three students from Ravenclaw converged, simultaneously casting an Incendio magic spell and incinerating the creature. Harry's eye skipped. Could that have been—

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

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

They were plunging right into the 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 light fair game near the Tree and began to move away. He could take heed the shriek behind him as Gabriella pulled her sceptre and uttered something in Armenian language. A white freshness enveloped her as if she held a star at the tip of her wand. She pressed on ever forward, her pace gathering upper, but her wand dimming as each new Dementor tried to fall into place its glowing surface.

"Hurry, Harry !"she called back. The terrain was rocky here and they were moving along the side of a pitcher's mound and the further they moved along the more steep the incline grew, making it more difficult to pass over. Harry heard a collection of grab behind him ; the Aurors had arrived. He looked back at the great cloud of Dementors unwittingly racing toward the new accumulation of emotions. Just as he turned back to face at Gabriella his foot slipped on a Stone and his ankle twisted under his free weight. He fell to the ground and tumbled a undecomposed twenty animal foot down the side of the hill, scraping the side of his leg badly before he came to rest.

He looked up and saw the flickering glow of Gabriella's wand disappear over the bound of the hill. Three Dementors swarmed over him - it was the last matter they ever did. Black blood sprayed all over the ground as Harry blasted his way through, grimacing from the pain sensation in his ankle as he took each tenacious pace. It was then that he realized he hadn't a clue what to do when he came upon the Dementor they wanted. Gabriella had said to use the gemstone, but how ? And how would he keep on the Dementor from simply fleeing ? His ankle pounding, Harry past another large tree and came up over the side of the hill. The soil opened up beneath him, running down maybe twenty dollar bill grand and then spreading out into a huge champaign that stretched on until it disappeared into the clammy mist of darkness. Sunlight was trying to fathom the misty cloud of blackness casting an eerie red lambency over the green landscape painting before him. It was then when his heart sank.

Just at the end of his visual modality, Harry could see the flickering radiance of Gabriella's wand. Only now it was more flicker than light. About her were two Dementors, the only two to be seen and they were circling her care vultures. Each would swoop around and then plunge at Gabriella only to bounce from her failing harbour charm. It wouldn't be long 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, hurt stabbing at his leg with each strike at the flat coat as if a snapping snake were ever at his hound. He was perhaps fifty yards away when an enormous red lightness burst from Gabriella's baton, filled the air about her, and one of the Dementors burst into flame. Harry could hear its gurgling battle cry as it tried to fly away, but plunged into the grass starting a small flack, black gage billowing upward. Harry was now twenty yards away as he watched the 2nd Dementor crouch over Gabriella and he heard her screeching.

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 couch a spell at the Dementor hovering over Gabriella.

"Petrificus Totalus !"called Harry. The Auror went tumid and fell to the ground. Ten yards. Gabriella screamed again and this time Harry could hear the raspy wheeze of the Dementor as it tried to rend away her soul. With a great leap Harry jumped forward, wrapped his arm around Gabriella and the two of them rolled away from beneath the clutch pedal of the Dementor. When they came to roost, Gabriella was on top of him ; the prosperous necklace he had given her with the Gryffindor signet - a Panthera leo baring two ruby red eye - that came from professor McGonagall hung round her neck and swung back and Forth in front of Harry's face. He had remembered McGonagall's words :"For times of darkness."And then he heard the representative of Dumbledore, as if he were whispering in Harry's ear, only the voicelessness was coming from Harry's lips.

"Really, Nicolas ? An enthral golden range will pin them ? I never heard of such a thing."

The Dementor's growing wheeze signalled its approaching when Harry grabbed the tiny halcyon chain off Gabriella's cervix. He rolled her to the side, feeling the dusty approach from behind. With one end large exertion he heaved himself upward, tossed the chemical chain in the air and cast a spell he had never uttered before, but one that Dumbledore knew. The petite golden chain of mountains grew snakelike in shape and property, but its head was the header of a lion with flaming red optic. With the flick of his verge Harry levitated the glowing, gold, lion-headed Snake toward the coming coldness, and it began to coil itself around the Dementor several clock time. troll and round in less clock time than it takes to untie a shoelace the Dementor was cinched tight from head to toe. Struggling to get by, the black beast could not motivate and ultimately fell to the Mary Jane.

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

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

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

The vivificus Edward Durell Stone had not been used since it was charged at the Joining. Singehorn had told Harry that flak was good but love was something far more sufferable. And the stone, snuggled close to Harry's liver, was already covered in Harry's line. All that remained was the conjuration :"Bravery, Wisdom, Love."

In an blink of an eye, Harry found himself in what he had, in his own intellect, decided was an hall of form. All was Stanford White waiting for his request. For a instant 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 loose malarkey,"display me Dean's person !"

He expected to see a swirl of colour, but instead he saw a swirl of inglorious. His nitty-gritty skipped for reverence that he had done something incorrectly, but his own spirit held tight to the motivation to lay aside his protagonist if at all possible. The darkness spread before him and in this emptiness a malodor filled Harry's nostrils. It was then when he realized where he was, what he was entering - the life force of the Dementor.

Blackness and rot filled his vision. Strand of oily fibre hung from above and when Harry looked to see their origin, all that was visible was utter darkness. He was reminded of the crevasse into which he and Sirius had fallen and a very real piece of him wanted to leave this home as quickly as possible. He was frigid and growing colder as he forced is mind's eye to press onward into the depth of the Dementor's essence, an insatiable penury to feed.

At first, the sounds were upstage sound reflection coming from down a farsighted burrow, part perhaps, or animals screaming. Harry moved toward the sound and found the darkness pressure in all around him. Though in here he really had no bodily form, something wet and viscous splattered against his face ; the desire to wretch was inviolable. Then he heard the sounds again.

Yes, they were shriek, but man screams, calling just ahead. Floating deeper into the darkness, his metrical foot tangled on something he could not see. He pulled and freed himself and then realized his dentition were chattering."This is not potential,"he thought to himself and now an even greater part of him wanted to return."I can't do this."He glanced back to see a diminutive speckle of clean no bigger than a stamp stamp miles away. He could be there and back to guard in the flash of a thought.

Then he heard a articulation, crystallise and strong above the others, telling them to lull down, to listen. It was fellow, but it wasn't James Dean's. There was something nurturing about this phonation, something that made one spirit prophylactic. Harry pressed forward. It felt like minute, although it was probably little more than the time it takes a mavin to twinkle, when he saw the faint golden glow ahead. He ached and felt that at any here and now he would fall in and be trapped in this iniquity forever. The spokesperson called out again and his pulse quickened as he hurried forward. Against his organic structure he felt the champion of ice-cold workforce pulling at his sprit, trying to quit him, but still he moved ahead. The cold was unendurable, the sense of fear was drown, and that's when he saw him, towering magniloquent above the others huddled in the black gunk : Mr. Silverton. It was the same superstar from Hogsmeade that had tried to hold open Dragon's life the yr before, but had failed in the attempt. Harry had always seen him as a rather tame yet friendly man when he visited Hogsmeade, but here he stood taller than life, translucent in a golden splendour.

"hastiness, save the children !"he called out to Harry, and then he added as if he'd always known,"protector of the inexperienced person !"

Harry looked down to see those huddled at Silverton's fundament. They were there, nearly a XII person, children mostly. Each was translucent, each glowed vivid, though some more than others. The promising of these was the Cy Young lightlessness wizard, who seemed utterly lost. James Dean looked straight at Harry, but did not recognize him.

"service,"he pleaded in a weak, raspy voice."Where am I ?"

"No one stays behind,"Harry said to Silverton."I'm taking you all."And without another Son he reached out his hands and with his mind summoned the person toward him. Silverton stood firm as if guarding the procession, guiding them toward Harry's process. get-go, and most willing, came James Dean, then a young girl with melanize hair… a boy with vivid blue eyes… and on… and on…. Each soul came to… came into Harry as if he were an enormous vacuum pulling them in. When the lastly left the quagmire at Silverton's pes the older hotshot smiled.

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

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

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

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

"Home."

The blackness began to rush away with a bang-up tearing sound. Harry felt as if his stage were being pulled backward by a tether that held him tight to the domain arse. flare of varying shades of grayness 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 impregnable, more powerful than he had ever felt. But then he realized why ; he still held their sprightliness force. He could use this energy, this power in the war to fall. They could be victorious ! Then, a slow sigh slipped past his lips, and before he lifted his head off the supergrass he closed his eyes and whispered,"Hhhhome."It was a long, slow, breathless watchword that sent shudder down Gabriella's prickle. He could experience the energy plinking out from within him as each psyche drifted upward. Perhaps it was a hallucination, for Gabriella said later she saw no such vision, but before Harry the translucent bodies of all the nipper hovered for a moment just above him. They looked down, smiling when at finally Mr. Silverton emerged. He took the small missy's hand and in the next bit they all rose above the crown and disappeared from sight, Dean travelling with them ever upward.

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

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

"But—"

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

The air blasted with the report of two garish pops as a pair of Aurors appeared clad in red Ministerial robe. One noticed the Auror some M away on the ground still stiffened by Harry's spell. The other reached down to help oneself 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 living might depend on it."You've got to yield to the geartrain. young lady, will you help—"

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

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

He was a bit dizzy and disoriented, but he grabbed a carriage room access hold and pulled himself up to his foot, taking a shaky step forward."Dean,"he muttered."I've got to see if…"He began to crumple to the flooring when Gabriella grabbed his arm. He looked at her clench 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 nerve were too wracked with business as her middle darted up the corridor.

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

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

It was then that he heard Gabriella give a sharp gasp as she gripped his forearm. He looked up to see her pointing at Ginny's hand. On her gang finger's breadth was the aureate band Dean had given her, only now the firestone was glowing as bright as ever, shining through the strands of Ron's red hair.

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

It was Dean's representative, talking about Ron. It was shaky but acquit and Harry watched as two limb of recondite deep brown wrapped around the redheaded Brother and sister in a large hug.

"doyen ?"choked Harry, his inwardness skipping out of his bureau and the confidential information of his fingerbreadth and pad of his feet starting to prickle.

"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 secondly later her implements of war were around Harry, tears streaming down here cheeks and cheers rising up all around the train. Soon, they were all smooching. tidings ranch that the counterplay had been a success, at least with the supporter of the Aurors that had been guarding the power train. If it hadn't been for—

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

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

Harry turned to see a very bruised and a very battered Anthony Goldstein. There was dried Mary Jane in his hair's-breadth and a bit of blood at the quoin of his mouth, and he still clutched his wand as if prepare to cast another enchantment at whomever or whatever might hybridise him.

"Falco columbarius'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 combat, but Harry simply smiled.

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

"That's the one !"

Everyone turned to see two Aurors in their embattle Ministerial robe making their way through the throng of student. One, the one pointing his digit at Harry, was promptly recognized. It was the Auror Harry had dropped in the theatre. 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 agnize the face anywhere. Greasy picayune git."The pair parted the bunch and were now right in front of Harry."Thought you could get away with it, did yeh ? Little derriere. You could have had us all killed."Then he turned to the early Auror, a very grandiloquent womanhood with deep blue eyes and an expression somewhere between exasperation and exhaustion. She was about to say something when Anthony Goldstein stepped in front of Harry.

"Do you have any cue who you're talking to ?"he asked with a smug air of superiority that almost sounded Ministerial. Certainly, Anthony was destined for great affair in regime. 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 charge of students like a wave break against the shoring filling the gap and forcing the two Aurors backwards.

"What's this ?"the Auror yelled, and he pulled his wand. In response, over two dozen sceptre suddenly appeared pointed directly at him, inches from his facial expression. The fair sex reached up to pull her companion's script down just when there was another voice from the far end of the carriage.

"Strickman ! PUT THAT DOWN !"If Anthony's spokesperson was Ministerial, the new vocalisation was all that and Thomas More. Strickman's eyes widened in shock. He'd heard this voice before, utmost year when he graduated from the Auror Academy. Everyone turned and saw the shock of red hair and knew at once who it was.

"Dad !"cried Ron, whose height gave him the better view over all his peers. Wands quickly found their way back to their proper stead as all the students tried to act as normally as possible, considering they had just been through a Dementor attack.

"Ronny. Ginny."He was trying not to show that he was there to get word the status of his own children, but the tremble in his representative and the look of rest period on his aspect were obvious for all to hear and see."I came as soon as I heard."Then his optic met Harry's as he moved past the two Aurors and a look of wonderment filled them."Harry ?"he breathed in unbelief."I had heard you were taken. That your soul—"

"That was Dean, sir,"answered Harry.

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

"Harry brought him back, Dad,"Ginny answered her father's questioning eyes."He brought his someone back."Chester Alan Arthur Weasley looked at his girl and saw that she was sincere. Then he looked back at Harry.

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

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

"SHUT UP !"yelled Minister Weasley."If you say another word, I'll have him do the Saami to you as he did to Voldemort !"The Scripture stung many ears and there was a collective groan, but not as universally as there might birth been the yr before. Only then did Strickman finally agnise who he had been calling a prat.

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

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

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

Chester Alan Arthur was still struggling, trying to encompass what it was that Harry was saying. Nonetheless, he patted Antonius about the shoulders and said,"Well done, young man. Goldstein is it ? Yes, I know your female parent. Runs a coven in Colchester."He gave Anthony, who was now beaming, another pat."Well done."Chester Alan Arthur then turned and hugged his two children and then he said in a loud vocalism,"I'm glad everyone's safe and I assure you the quietus of your trip will be uninterrupted, if not completely boring."

With the spat and scrap over, most the students returned to their carriages, muttering about the struggle as they went, and the crowd in the corridor thinned. King Arthur Weasley put his arm around Harry just as Hermione entered the railroad train car.

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

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

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

"Harry,"began Mr. Weasley,"I need to talk with you about something very crucial. I was hoping to require you back to the Ministry with me right now, but under the fate it's perhaps best that you stay put. Once you're settled at the schoolhouse, I'll telephone 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 religious belief that the paries at the Ministry are any best, sir."

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

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

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


Harry ceramicist and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 8 - Engaged

~~~***~~~

The Snitch flitted upwardly time and clock time again only to be snatched into his hand after every escape. He was actually getting quite good at it really. Nearly twenty minutes without a—

"Damn !"

The Snitch slipped through Dean's fingerbreadth and began to zip about the boys'dormitory, bouncing off the wall above Harry's chief. With a flash, few but Ginny Weasley could appreciate, Harry had his hand around the winged orb.

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

Madame Pomfrey had prescribed the utilization of Snitch snatching as a form of therapy to help James Byron Dean regain control of his neuro-synapses. Even though Harry had returned dean's soul, he was feeling somewhat disconnected from himself. It was hard to explain just exactly how he was disconnected. Sometimes he would extend to for something, like a mover and shaker of salt, and it would fumble through his finger for no reason. Sometimes his love for Ginny was unassailable, while at other multiplication it seemed as if he had no feelings for her at all. In sorcerous liberal arts, Dean would paint portraiture of birds, brute, or even people but the images wouldn't move ; they remained lifeless on the canvass. It was all very unknown, and no one, not even gentlewoman Pomfrey, knew exactly what to do.

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

Ginny held steadfast at Dean's side ; a less woman would induce left at once. Watching the two of them these finis few days, Harry wondered if his dear for Gabriella would be able to hold up such a test of faith. Somewhere, deep down inside, he felt it would, perhaps it already had, and he smiled as Ginny stroked Dean's back, encouraging him to try again.

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

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

"Thanks,"said dean with a weak smile. They kissed and Ginny turned toward the stairway down to the Common way.

They had been at Hogwarts for three twenty-four hour period and even though the familiar speech rhythm of classes and course body of work pulsed on at Hogwarts, something was distinctly different. Maybe it was the attack on the caravan, the expectancy of what was to fall, or simply that they were in their final class. Whatever it was, there existed, most certainly, a tangible sentience of anticipation as if it any mo something spectacularly wonderful, or devastatingly dreadful was about to find.

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

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

There was a sudden belly laugh from down in the Gryffindor common room. It was Hermione's wow ; Harry was for sure. Not an instant later, Ginny cried out, followed by a cacophony of shrieking that rivalled the arriving hooter during the good morning post.In an moment, both Harry and Dean had their sceptre at the ready, and started cautiously for the landing. Just as Harry was about to look down on the Common room below, Patrick appeared from the irregular years'dorm ; his wand also drawn and his face concerned. There was a third twelvemonth passing Saint Patrick and running the other direction, trying to escape whatever danger was causing the commotion. Harry didn't recognize the boy from behind, but the thought of a coward in his house bristled the binding of his cervix."A Gryffindor ?"Harry cried out.

The moment's beguilement was enough to cause dean to bump him slightly from behind. Harry tried to align his basis by stepping forward, only there was nada on the circular staircase to ill-treat 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 stifle, a looking of vestal terror in his eyes. Harry grabbed his unspoilt supporter by the shirtsleeve and pulled himself up aligning back to back with Ron.

"Where are they ?"he cried to Ron over his shoulder, wand at the set. Quickly, he spun around and saw Hermione looking down at him."What's going on ?"Harry asked excitedly."Why did you scream ?"Then, looking to the side of meat, Harry noticed the vauntingly number of Gryffindors looking down at him, all with rather cross facial expression on their faces. It was Parvati who stepped over and grabbed him by the nucha of the neck, pulling him away from Ron.

"You idiot !"she hissed under her breath.

Her cheeks a brighter colour of red than Ron's whisker, Hermione had to shroud her sassing to go on from laughing. It wasn't until then that Harry noticed Ron was holding something in his mitt - something gold and shiny.

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

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

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

"Bloody pit,"Harry whispered, stunned by what he was seeing. Parvati pinched his neck and pulled him to his feet. James Dean was stepping slowly down the staircase and came to a point on the lower flight, wrapping his arm about Ginny's waist. She had been transfixed, but the warm touch caught her attention and she wrapped both her arms about Dean, smiling as she watched her pal propose.

"Yeah, yeah,"said Ron, wiping his brow with his left wing sleeve while still holding out the ring with his rightfield. He was flighty, his helping hand shaky, and Harry wondered if he wouldn't swoon at any instant. But when Ron's eyes rejoined Hermione's the shaking stopped and he regained his vocalism. He held the ring a bit higher.

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

He never had the opportunity to polish off. In that instant, Hermione was down on her knee joint kissing him deeply, and the Common room whooped out a cheer that was heard throughout Hogwarts castle. Later, even Hagrid said he heard the revel 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 member of Gryffindor. Hermione pulled herself away from Ron's back talk and he held the ring before her.

Hermione held out her paw and said breathlessly,"Yes !"There was another sunniness, more resounding than the offset, as Ron slipped the diamond halo upon her digit. They kissed again.

Harry wasn't sure who was creditworthy, but suddenly nutrient and drink appeared, and before you could nictitate music was playing, citizenry were dancing and an extemporaneous party was in good swinging in the Gryffindor Common room. It was flashy and unruly, but Hermione had set a silencing charm on the walls, and outside of Gryffindor the Night was quiet. Harry poured himself a drink and suddenly felt very awkward. Everyone was congratulating Ron and Hermione, hugging them, smiling. Harry sunk back into the corner. Why hadn't Ron told him that he was about to pop the question ? He watched the grin and the laughter, but somehow couldn't finger any affectionateness himself. Indeed, the thoughts that were passing through his mind brought back memories of the year before, bad memories of jealously and uncontrollable anger. He gulped the 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 vox startled him.

"Pretty amazin'ain't it ?"

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

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

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

"He'd die for anybody in this room,"Harry answered with warm tonicity of pride."Merlin, he almost did last year, Sir Thomas More times than I can—"Harry stopped and looked into his methamphetamine hydrochloride, drinking the stiff in one final exam splash against the spinal column of his throat. He could feel the burn make its way down his chest as he stared at the abandon glass and could feel it fill with guilt feelings. How often had he put both of his booster in peril ? They would both sacrifice themselves to bring through Harry, and if the war was truly coming, and it was, Harry knew they'd risk life and limb once again.

"Do you remember you'll marry Gabriella ?"St. Patrick asked, filling the silence. Harry whispered something and the glass in his mitt vanished. Patrick raised an supercilium, but said nix 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 biography 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 minor fer me."

"I'm sorry ?"asked Harry. 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 nation of mind.

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

"Patrick, that's not true."

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

Harry was warm, his head cloudy, and the intimate sidesplitter were calling from the fog in his judgment. It's not your battle, Harry. Let it go.

"What is your job ! ?"Lavender's phonation snapped. She was only a few inch in front of Harry, and her expression was very thwartwise."Are you going to stand here all alone all night ?"

"I was just talking to—"He turned to luff to Saint Patrick, but the boy was gone. Harry looked about and then to the staircase, but the second gear yr was no where to be found.

"If you don't think they've noticed,"hissed Lavender,"you're wrong."She grabbed him by the arm."Now get out there and feign 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 flooring."I never thought you'd ask !"

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

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

"Some poke would be squeamish,"she answered with a scintillation 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 have it off some slug too, Harry. Thank you for asking."She deliberately stepped down on his foot, hard, and then whispered in Harry's ear,"So help me, Harry thrower, if you ruin this evening for them I'll curse you from here to Durmstrang."A flash later her look was all smile as she squeezed Harry tight just behind the elbow and walked over to get into 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 lick. 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 helping 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 earnest shade of regret,"but I didn't pluck up the courage until you were at Grimmauld Place."Harry just looked at Ron like the solvent made absolutely no good sense."You said you didn't want to be disturbed… remember ?"

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

"Blimey ! You're joking, right ?"Ron interrupted, drawing in Harry's irritation 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 last Nox ? Were you too busy close night ?"Harry snapped, and then he remembered not seeing Ron last-place Night."Where were you anyway ?"Hermione began to redden violently.

"It's none of your bloody business where I was last night,"said Ron, his voice elevated."You're not my custodian, Harry."At this he pointed his finger's breadth and jabbed Harry in the dresser, pushing him backward. Harry's back bumped into Lavender's cup of biff sending it splashing down the front of her dress. The two young men took no card. Harry balled his right paw into a fist and pulled back ready to let throw.

"I should…"he began. Ron stepped close-fitting, clenching his own clenched fist and drawing them near his chin.

"You should what ?"he challenged.

They stood there, toe to toe for Sir Thomas More than a few heartbeats ; not too long considering their core were pounding so quickly. Finally, a small smiling shattered Harry's frown and he let go. He threw his mighty fist past Ron's left ear. Ron saw the smile and returned the wayward punch with an undercut from his own right hired man that flew past Harry's midsection and up under his left-hand arm. The two clenched in a machismo form of way.

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

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

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

"You're not going to recede 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 very much to drink and his Scripture were taking on a soupcon of regret.

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

"Harry !"

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

"As me !"Ron helped Harry land up."And don't forget they'll be glorious Quidditch histrion just like me too ! Let's hope they don't take after their female parent when it comes to flying, eh Harry ?"

"Ron !"

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

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

The anteroom were quiet ; it was nearly curfew. A few students were sprinkled here or there, talking or making their way back to their dorm. Harry walked aimlessly down the stone steps and found himself near where Tonks had her old government agency net class. They had yet to learn who would be teaching vindication Against the Dark prowess. That class had been cancelled this morning. The lanterns dimmed a bit, signalling that it was time to return to the dorms, but Harry didn't hold much by that sign. He'd rarely obeyed it in all his days at Hogwarts, and he wasn't about to—

"Hey, Potter."

It was Blaise Zabini rounding the night box 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 beaten lead, especially at this time of Night. Cloak and dagger stuff wasn't part of Blaise's makeup. The bighearted wizard was more easy standing in the centre of a radical of others to be looked at and admired. He hung with Draco on occasion, but never when it meant danger was about. That sort of stuff was for Nott, or Crabbe or G-Greg. A shiver passed down Harry's spine recalling the destruction of his friend lastly year.

"Blaise,"Harry answered with a nod.

The two passed shoulder joint to shoulder when the tip of Blaise's verge touched Harry's handwriting. Harry felt a piece of parchment suddenly appear on his palm tree 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 billet to interpret it.
Do you lose me ? Sorry about the nefariousness on the train. Sent person to discourage you at the station, but an Auror intervened. I heard Weasles bought a pretty expensive ring in Diagon Alley. You two aren't engaged now are you ?

Since I can't be there, my messenger is going to assist be my eyes and pinna at Hogwarts. Don't tell a mortal or it may think of his sprightliness. 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 endocarp floor and leaned back against the pit wall.

"Lumos !"he whispered. He held up the note and record it again. Was it really from genus Draco ? And what was he supposed to speak with Dumbledore about ? What was it he had sensed during the Joining ? Hol… Hor… Horcrux ? It seemed so distant now. Perhaps it was some sorting of cloak-and-dagger weapon that the Dementors would use against the Centaurs. Perhaps it was—

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

Harry spun on the wrangle, jumping to his feet and preparing his defense mechanism. A sour 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 Son dripped with sarcasm."I would have thought you would forget my name again the moment you returned to England."He drew nearer and Harry lifted his wand higher."Put your baton away, boy,"rebuked Dakhil sternly,"or I'll… let's see… What do they shout out it ? I'll take percentage point away from your house. Although why you would handle about such meaningless game when the war is upon you is incomprehensible to me."Harry lowered his scepter and the light source was extinguished. They were in unadulterated darkness.

"You can't take—"

"Oh, I believe any prof can—"

"You're not a professor ! You can't… Oh, no."He leaned back against the wall and, in the darkness, noticed the thin hint of light emanating from a cracked doorway, the doorway to Tonks'office. Harry sighed."defense mechanism Against the Dark arts, is it ?"Harry could assure by the low grunt that a grimace had appeared on Dakhil's face. Clearly, he didn't like the musical theme any more than Harry.

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

Harry shoved Draco's distinction into his pocket, clenched his teeth, and followed. Once, after banging his knee, he tried to light his wand but was scolded by Dakhil who insisted on tot swarthiness."Can you not see ?"Dakhil sneered.

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

"There is an push that binds all living thing together, Harry. You draw from it every fourth dimension you cast a while. It pulsates on the current of air as the breath of the trees ; it bubbles from the soil crawling with louse and forget me drug. In the very drear of lieu, it shines as a beacon light to all who would call on its name. It is a science all members of the Votary learn before the connexion, save for you."Dakhil stopped. The olfactory perception was strong here, dampness and dank and musty with a strong gumption of decay."Even in death, life is reborn. Reach out to it."

"I can't see a bloody—"

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

"She uses Thomas More than her eyes, I suppose."

Harry had seen the biography force of others he had try to bring around. It was like going to another plane of existence. He just needed to…"focusing,"he whispered to himself. In the darkness Harry closed his centre and opened his mind, reaching out for anything however small that might indicate life. At first there was cipher, and then a bright glow began to come out, red and throbbing."Dakhil,"Harry thought. And then he saw it, the corridor they were in. Something was glowing on the walls. cast ? Spores ? It was as if the anatomical structure surrounding them were splattered with an eerie fluorescent paint and lit up by a black light."I see,"he whispered in amazement.

"As long as one sees, one is never lost."Dakhil pulled his wand and a tremendous burst of Christ Within shattered against the wall breaking through to spread air. The two emerged from some broken down shack into the deepness of the forest.

"The Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree !"Harry said, looking at the white glowing mainstay that climbed to the sky.

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

Harry looked to the sky. It was sprayed with stars of every colour imaginable. But in the pith was a dispirited glow brighter than all the others, a lucky trail following it in the sky.

"Ebyrth,"Harry whispered.

"Correct, Mr. thrower,"said Dakhil, slapping Harry on the articulatio humeri. He started walking past the tree back to the castling which glowed bright through the branches."As I said earlier, your time to die is near at deal. You may not pull in it yet, Mr. ceramist, but, aside from both being in the Votary, you and I have one thing, at to the lowest degree, in common."

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

"We are both already dead."




Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun
Chapter 9 - The bend of Space and Time
~~~***~~~


The rhythmical thrashing of Gabriella's affection lulled Harry as she stroked the English of his head with her script. He sighed deeply as she played with the soupcon of Curl that wrapped about his berm. He forced himself to stay awake, if only to savour every bit that he was being held in her limb. Through the lose weight slits in his middle he watched the lake vanish and reappear into persuasion as his forefront rose and fell with each breath she took. The sparkling waters brought his mind to the beaches of Lebanon and he visualized walking with her at the ocean, watching the wafture crash again and again against the shore. It would be a perfect place to ask her, he thought. A gentle breeze brought with it the cool breath of declivity and for a moment he thought he could sense the cool saltiness air of the sea. Yes, the perfect place.

"We'll miss dinner,"she whispered.

"I never want to move again,"he muttered, barely opening his sass. Her hand slipped down to his shoulder joint and then stroked the brawniness of his weapon. They were sore and yet with her touch he could finger the ache ebb away.

"If you're going to keep on working for Hagrid in the timberland,"she said more firmly,"you're going to need to keep up your strength."Her fingerbreadth slipped down to his side and playfully gave him a quick nip.

"AYY !"he said, jumping. It was more tickle than pain, Thomas More mickle than poke."Not fair ! I was… I was just going…"He closed his eyes and began to lay his forefront back down on her pectus.

"Oh no you don't,"she said, pushing his berm back and sitting up herself."I like what working for Hagrid's done to you."She slapped his tummy which held tight."Besides, mummy would stamp out me if she heard I let you skip a meal."She rose to her feet."cum on, let's get you fed."She held out her hand to facilitate Harry to his infantry. Her head was turned so that her regard was not at Harry but at the castle.

An image of Grigor flashed across Harry's creative thinker and a cold shiver ran down his back… he hesitated. How could she have it off ? She couldn't. She was so very much like her father, and for the abbreviated of mo Harry was taken back to the overrefinement chamber at the Ministry -- the sleeping room where Dog Star had been lost and found again, the chamber where Gabriella's begetter, Grigor, had held his hired hand out innocently toward Harry, just as Gabriella was now doing, only to adhere him and cook him for last.

He drew in a deep hint, shook the memory from his idea, and took Gabriella's hand, 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 feel the sting in his legs as they climbed the castle measure. Halfway up he stopped, wrapped his arm about Gabriella's waist and paused to bet at the lake. She took it as a wild-eyed moment and leaned her head against his shoulder. Harry, however, was too sore to step gamy. Even Madame Pomfrey's potions weren't plenty to remove the throbbing that worked its way into both muscle and off-white. A heart in his right thigh shot a jolt of infliction up into his back and his gaze turned toward the forest.

workings for Hagrid ? No. For the last few hebdomad he'd been training with the Centaurs. Only he'd felt uncomfortable sharing that with Gabriella. He had never been able to bring up a conversation with Gabriella about them without her making an excuse to commute the subject. It was top she did not like Centaur, but she never explained why and Harry was unwilling to push the issue. Another twinge flicked down the muscle of his left calf and his judgement drifted to the day's training seance. Recalling why his legs hurt so, he wasn't so sure he liked Centaur either.

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

"I'm… not… walking…"yelled Harry back over his shoulder, as he ran from the Centaur barefoot through the forest. His lungs were bursting for air and his animal foot were on flack. He'd already run for stat mi ; Ronan would make him run statute mile more. For his role, Harry had already decided that there was nothing the centaur could throw at him that he couldn't handle.

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

"Run !"

Perhaps he was amiss.

He had been forbidden to use a wand, and wore goose egg but a G-string made of tree bark wrapped about his waist with a sheath for a small dagger used to slash at vines and other vegetation that blocked his way as he ran. In one bridge player he held the dagger and in the other he carried a I. F. Stone nearly too large to fully grasp. In battle he would comport a shield, but a stone was more awkward to deal, forcing more muscles to lift and control it. He was being trained as all colts were. In fact, there were two colt running far ahead of him already - Shahan, with a coat so dark Harry could no longer see him in the distance, and Felspar, whose bright white coating shone like a whizz ahead - way ahead. exertion dripped into his oculus and he wiped his eyebrow with his right forearm. Running blindly he slashed wildly at a Tentacula that reached for his neck.

"You should have got seen that, stripling, long before it struck at you !"outcry Ronan, loping along. There was the auditory sensation of a thwwwwp and a few paces ahead Harry saw a large spider dead near the path he was taking, an arrow between its centre. Looking back as he ran ahead Harry tripped on a root, twisted his ankle and fell to the ground, his left knee grinding into a assemblage of small stones. The fingers of his left hand were crushed between the stone he was carrying and the stones upon which he'd just fallen. The dagger fell from his right hand and skittered forward, but before it came to remain, Harry reached his hand forward and without saying a word the dagger returned to his clutch. There was a slight grunt from Ronan. It was neither disparaging, nor approving. It was more a grunt of gratification, but Harry did not see back into Ronan's centre to see if the satisfaction was directed toward him. His knees and script bleeding, he stood to his understructure and began to run again. Now, even Felspar was out of perspective. He'd taken only three or four step before Ronan called.

"Stop !"

respiration hard, Harry turned and for the beginning sentence all afternoon he looked up into the Centaur's eyes.

"I… I can… catch them,"Harry heaved.

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

"I hate… riddles,"breathed Harry.

"Shahan and Felspar have been studying for decades the essence of world's mysteries. It will take them decennium more to realize what is already at your fingertips."The Centaur stepped closer, forcing Harry to bend his neck upward. A musculus twanged past his right ear. Still Ronan advanced until he was only inches from Harry, who could smell the strange mix of sweat and whisker. Ronan looked skyward.

"To see without eyes, to sense without fingers, to take heed without ear, to try without tongue…,"he looked back down at Harry and tapped him on the side of his nose,"…to look without anterior naris. These are gifts you have already been given, and yet you know them not ; you have but to unwrap them."With a crusade that was but a blur to Harry, Ronan notched another pointer and shot at a great flying… matter with boastfully tooth that was advancing on them. It fell silently to the forest storey. To Ronan it was comparable little more than swatting a fly. He continued,"You must memorize the top executive that took your sacrifice and cleansed you, the king that has no strength. What you must surmount, Harry thrower, what you must endeavor to reach is to be without being."Harry scrunched his olfactory organ splotched with dirt.

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

"Take my hired hand, child,"commanded Ronan.

The moment Harry took the Centaur's hand the world spun upon its straits. greenness and brown and yellow and gold flashed past them in a whirl of coloring material. Then, inexplicably, Ronan was gone, and Harry was suddenly running, loping, galloping. He felt giddy, proud, arrogant, childish…

"I told you the Wizard was a pretender !"he cried back over his shoulder joint."Ronan's an old fool !"He kicked his heals and accelerated forward, the malarky whistling past his spike.

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

"nil but silly Centaurus fairy tale from a doddering old motley fool !"Harry yelled back, but his eyes were steadfast forward. The flag was ahead ; he could see it, maybe three or four miles ahead. A smile Split across his fount, an arrogant smile ; he was going to win this race and prove Ronan incorrect, prove to all of them that HE, Shahan, was the Centaur that would save them from the bombardment of Dementors that was soon to come.

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

Harry looked back. Behind him was feldspar, the dazzling white Centaur that he'd been racing. Then he noticed his own haunches. They were black as sullen coal. He was Shahan, the lead Centaur colt. But how ? His head twisted forward toward the waiting signal flag and the assembly of centaur that watched to see if Ronan's prophecy was nothing more than twist and myth.

Where would I be ?

"The flag,"Harry whispered to himself, to Ronan, to the void. He focused again. He knew how to get there with a wand : visual sense, Pathway, Reconstruction -- Apparation. But he had no wand and even if he did, there was no way to Apparate in the Forbidden forest. The pin, a red beacon fire in the distance, was maybe two klick ahead of Shahan now and probably three kilometer from where Harry's soundbox stood breathless back in the timberland with Ronan. He'd been practicing wandless magic all summer. What if… ?

Harry willed himself from the centre of Shahan and back to his own body. There was a snap - he had returned, his lungs still gasping for air and Ronan still at his side. Harry closed his oculus and his judgement imaged the fleur-de-lis that was ahead ; he imagined being there. Space and metre began to collapse, swirling itself, revealing itself. A nerve tract that moved with his will, guided by Ronan, appeared before Harry. He took in a deeply breather and stepped forward onto the path. The great duad of space between himself and the red iris suddenly collapsed. feldspar was just out of reach, Shahan appeared to be only a few yard in front man of her, and the red pin appeared as just a few 10 of cadence away. Harry began to run. The colours of the timberland swirled by him, as if everything stood still, including the two Centaur. He ran past feldspar and then Shahan and, in an minute, he appeared only in from the signal flag that marked the end of the race. He was surrounded be Centaur of every colour, each with rough centre marked by only the slightest astonishment of his reaching. As he came to reside, he saw, in the distance, Shahan and only a few strides behind him felspar. They were both galloping like the wind, swallowing up huge swath of sward with each tread. They would be upon him soon.

Harry felt it was, somehow, a Bromus secalinus. Could all Centaur bend blank space and time ? His centre caught Shahan's in the distance, and the once convinced, defiant gaze turned to one of near repugnance. He galloped faster, as if possessed, but it was no use. With one hand, his bloody left, Harry reached up and pulled the redden masthead from its standard. There was a collective cheer as Harry held the signal flag over his head, spinning to evidence the gathering. It was then that he saw Ronan, standing in the centre of the chemical group of nearly one hundred Centaurs. An instant later Shahan pulled up at Harry's slope, his intimation heavy, his coat lathered with sweat.

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

"No,"answered Ronan, stepping forward from the others."He used the skills you yourself may one day master, Shahan."Ronan turned to the other centaur."He has been given the gifts."With this there was a worldwide murmur and neigh of surprise and blessing from the Centaur herd. Facing the others, Ronan flanked Harry nudging him forward just as Felspar arrived, also out of breathing spell, a slice upon her rectify movement wing.

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

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

"It was a Bearwicken,"said Felspar quietly.

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

"Let me help you,"whisper Harry as he held his open helping hand a few in away from the slice on Felspar's flank. Harry closed his eyes and muttered the incantation that he knew would bring with his wand, and then something caused him to put out further, to reach beyond. His deal had not touched the Centaur, but he could feel the blood, slippery wet, between his fingers. He reached out without moving and willed the gash shut, and the cut obeyed, closing as if a drape had been pulled shut tight about the wound.

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

"The elect heals !"asserted a large, female Centaurus from the gathering. A chestnut coating and no bow about her articulatio humeri, she stepped forward from the others."Did the waters teach you these gifts or is this wizardry ?"The live Holy Scripture was disparaging and even evoked some hissing from the others.

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

A figure of other Centaurs followed in sort, each bending low to one knee and bowing their heads. Ronan approached Harry, nodding his psyche and deflection to one articulatio genus as well.

"You still lack strong suit and endurance, Harry potter, but these things can be learned. Now, it is time to rest."He held his hand to Harry's eyes."Return to the timber'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 track opened up and he took off running. minute later, he found himself where he began the day, seated on Hagrid's chair next to the burn fire, Fang laying at his incline and Hagrid singing some song in French. The log on the flak cracked as Harry, still naked, looked at his Gryffindor gown that hung from a hook near the doorway. The way they were draped over the come-on they almost looked veridical - lifelike, as if they contained some spirit all their own. Harry's abdomen churned just as Hagrid turned, surprised to detect Harry in his hut.

"Harry ?"

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

"Harry ? Are you okay ?"

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

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

"Look, you're tired and it's time for dinner,"she said, deliberately changing the conversation."We can let the cat out of the bag about the star later."Harry nodded silently and together they entered the palace and began to walk to the Great Hall.

Near a heavy suit of armor Harry noticed Patrick talking to James Chang Jiang. James was leaning against the gemstone wall, his sleeve crossed as well as his branch. He was either extremely blase, or he didn't like what he was hearing. Still, Patrick was quite passionate about it ; his arms were swinging wildly about and more than once Harry heard him raise his voice.

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

James noticed Harry and Gabriella and stood straighter, stopping St. Patrick's write up 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 face bore an expression of great headache.

"No curiosity,"Harry thought,"I feel like I'm going to blow chunks. I must reckon 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 variety in emotion.

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

"I can't climb those."

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

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

"Harry ?"called Ron. Quickly, he came over to Harry and helped Gabriella support him. Hermione was rectify 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 feet. They stepped him over to a yearn bench beneath a large portrait of a great ninth century battle shot. Harry hated it here, he always had ; the clang and crash of blade against armour was always deafening when the belligerent weren't sipping tea together, discussing whose strategy was superior in the lastly struggle. Ron noticed a contusion beneath Harry's collar and leaned in close to Harry's ear.

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

"CHHHHT,"pellet Harry with a blast of air between his clenched dentition, trying to calm down is supporter. Seated between a mind-reader and an empath, Harry had little Bob Hope of keeping anything secret, but he didn't want to discourse his breeding with the centaur in front of Gabriella.

"You said you'd subscribe me,"complained Ron."‘ The next sentence I go,'you said."Ron crossed his arms."I thought maybe this yr would be different."Harry opened his mouth to explain.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Ron,"Harry said, taking hold of Ron's arm,"I said you would go with me the next 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 stake than anger.

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

"This morning you were supposed to help Professor Barghouti's irregular year class for their dadaism moral,"scolded Hermione, also rising.

"What kind of test ?

"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 berm."I think I need to eat,"he muttered, and then leaning closer he whispered to Ron,"Saturday."Gabriella knew he was feeling mulct ; she could sense that. Hermione knew he was feeling amercement ; she'd scan the Harry Potter book long ago. Both women just glared, while Ron was steadfast.

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

In the Great entrance hall, Dumbledore had the household sit wherever they wished for breakfast and dejeuner, but for dinner party each house ate at classify tabular array from the others. It was a via media between the visual modality of the future and a regard for custom. Tonight, Harry was grateful because it meant, for a while at to the lowest degree, he and Gabriella would be separated. As they entered the Great Hall she kissed him on the impudence, holding his left deal. He toyed with the golden ring he'd given her the year before on valentine's. There was a twinkle in her center and a sly grinning upon her face.

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

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

Lavender and Annapurna were having an animize conversation about the meaning of a turgid smirch on the tablecloth. Anapurna had spilt her drink and it left a dark, twirling synopsis of something resembling, at least to Harry, a bombastic toadstool. He sat down realizing he did, very much, need to eat.

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

"A Crane,"countered Annapurna, pointing at the prospicient crooked neck of the toadstool.

"That makes no mother wit,"said Lavender."No, it's a Gaelic spiral and,"she pointed to some dark intimate floater,"with these here it would represent eternal life."

"No. See this here ? The way the ringlet dissolve away ? Not perpetual life… life, death, and Renaissance. It's clearly a crane,"Parvati said, pointing out the doll's feature film."Here are the heart, the draw in neck, the recollective legs."She grew more confident with each description.

"Then you're both mightily,"chimed in Hermione. The two young dame looked up, stunned reflexion on both their faces."The crane represents longevity. perpetual life… longevity… same thing."She shrugged her shoulders and took a bite of dinner.

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

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

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

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

"HERMIONE !"cried Lavender.

"How could you !"scolded Parvati.

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

"semen on, Lavender."Parvati spun on her heals and took off, Lavender right behind her, but not before she shot a scathing glare at Hermione. No Sooner had they left the table than Ron let out a Bronx cheer, a piece of kale shooting from his nose.

"Ronald Weasley, I should…"

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

"And as for you,"Hermione continued, now turning to Harry,"you better say 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 card couple for honest and subject discussions."

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

"Don't you think I've tried ! ?"asked Harry, raising his vocalisation just enough for those around him to arrest 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 expression calm. The aspect was enervate because he knew his own face was giving him away."fountainhead I have,"he insisted, pushing his plate in for unspoilt measure.

He wasn't sure enough the play was having the effect he wanted. Ron simply nipped one of his leftover bit and Hermione only let out a long disapproving sigh. Past the distributor point of recurrence, at to the lowest degree for this argument, Harry stood up and left the Great residence hall in as foul a modality as he could muster. His mind focused on the Gryffindor table, he didn't notice the Slytherin that stood as well and followed him out of the Great Granville Stanley Hall.

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

"Your days grow short."

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

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

Harry unfolded the piece of sheepskin."They think it's at the Ministry. Is it ?"was all it said. The portrait swung capable and Harry quickly moved to hide the government note, only he didn't have to. It flashed in a puff of bullet and disappeared. Neville stepped out of the Gryffindor park room followed by the most improbable of faces - Severus Snape. Strangely neither took much observance of Harry. Beyond a tenuous head nod by Neville, it was as if he didn't even exist.

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

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

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

Amazed, Harry shook his top dog and turned toward the portrait of the Fat noblewoman.

"Password ?"she asked with a smile.

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

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


Harry ceramicist and the Birth of a New Sun

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




Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.
The silver cat's-paw rose and fell on Dumbledore's Venetian red desk as Harry stroked Fawkes'feathers, waiting for the headmaster to return. Not much self-aggrandizing than a breadbox, it was a strange collection of gears and bounce and Harry spent some time trying to deduce its import. The contraption, rimmed with winged animate being Harry couldn't recognize, reminded him of a similar twist in the Black person sept estate at Grimmauld stead. It too had the Same handbill rings that ran up a toothed staircase only the Black person device was golden, its fly tool looked more menacing, and Harry had never seen it mesh.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.

shaft by a spring, another silver ring ran up the stairway only to reach out the top, hesitation, and dusk into a pile below. The pile seemed to be shrinking as Harry stood watching, but he could not see where the doughnut disappeared to, nor could he discover the germ for the rings that sprung Forth from the bottom. There it was - a never ending procession that seemed to have no purpose.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

Unable to arrest himself, Harry reached out and grabbed the silver halo before it had a chance to return from atop the pocket-size stairway. The scene changed and he suddenly found himself on the Hogwarts Express walking toward the front of the train, two paces behind Greg Goyle. But, this couldn't be - Greg was dead. It took him a moment to actualize that he'd traveled back in meter. They were about to reach the presence of the train ; Greg wasn't dead, he was about to die.

Harry tried to speak, but no countersign came. He tried to reach his handwriting up to stop Greg, but it would not move. Unable to moderate his apparent motion, Harry could do null but watch history unfold as it had final yr. He poked his head into a posture, telling a group of fifth yr what was up.

"I've been wondering what was taking so long with the nutrient trolley,"said Ernie Macmillan. Harry explained that the professor had gone missing and Ernie joined him to recognise the hassle. As Harry slipped back out of the carriage with Ernie, Goyle took the point and started toward the front of the gearing. Once again Harry tried to quit his Quaker when, through the glass doors to the box ahead, Harry saw a witch in dark robe suddenly appear in the corridor. Anaxarete. Harry wished he could frame a killing curse, but it was no use ; he could do nothing. She glanced back, revealing a sinister smile and piercing K eyes. Harry tried to grade himself in front man of Greg, but was unable to overhaul Goyle's broad shoulder joint. It didn't matter ; an blink of an eye later she was gone and an flash after that the strawman of the train exploded with a tremendous white blink of an eye.

Harry fell to the floor of Dumbledore's office, the silver tintinnabulation firmly clenched within his manpower. He was shaking, the burst still ringing in his pinna, when he opened his oculus and found Dumbledore looking down at him. The headmaster bent-grass with difficulty to one knee and held out his handwriting.

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

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

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

Tink.

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

"It is a memory 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 neat virtuoso of the age was beginning to picture augury of wear. He had grown much sparse since Harry finis saw him at the end of the schooling year, and his hands were beginning to curl in an unnatural way.

"Like a Pensieve ?"Harry asked.

"Not quite, Harry,"replied the Headmaster."A Pensieve lets you store or remove your computer memory so that you can look them over later. You can pick out the computer storage to polish off, to examine."He leaned forward and held his helping hand together."This is a Möbius automobile. It reflects a sensation's life history. It is a never ending loop-the-loop that plays over and over again, shrinking or expanding to suit the viewer. Each silver-tongued traffic circle is a ringlet butterfly of a destiny of your living. While the pack play in ordination, there is no way, unfortunately, to determine which memory, which biography experience you will visit."

A tingle past by Harry again, and for a moment he thought he felt the breath of destruction susurration its name against the scruff of his neck.

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

"No, sir,"answered Harry, sitting himself."It was… on the 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 band stopped running up the staircase, and fell wherever they were in the cycle."I wish your retentiveness could be glad, Harry. I would hate to see you as a tottering old man, sitting down in a dusty office wondering if you could risk reliving the tragedies that grasping a few ringing might bring. Fawkes quietly vocalized his concord, as Dumbledore slipped his scepter away and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder."I know you have been chosen, Harry. But you need not place yourself between the Centaurs and the Dementors ; it is not your war."

"You said it yourself, professor,"said Harry, looking up into Dumbledore's still shiny blueing eyes,"it's the paths we choose that make us who we are. I'm not doing this because I was chosen. I'm doing this because it's the right-hand thing to do. Lucius Malfoy is going to use this to try and sweep the darkness back across this solid ground, and I won't let him."Harry's own eye were violent with determination and defiance."I've been training with Ronan."Harry paused."Are Centaurs magic ?"

"Very much so, Harry,"said Dumbledore with a grin."It is folly for wizards to believe they are the most powerful creatures on this world. You know, of course, Centaurs have keen sight and are skilled with a bow, but these matter are physical skills that many thaumaturgist dismiss. Ahh… not so, Harry… not so. Why do you cogitate a centaur never misses his target ?"Harry shrugged."Because a skilled Centaur can follow the arrow all the way to its address, nudging its escape along the way. They can bend blank and time, Harry. Even while champion are ineffectual to Apparate on Hogwarts grounds, Ronan can disappear and reappear wherever he pleases simply by using his mind."

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

Dumbledore said nothing. Harry could recount by his construction that he was imprint, or surprised, but the old whiz made no Logos of it. Instead he stood from his hot seat and walked over to his telescope.

"They are much better stewards of such acquirement than wizards would ever be,"the mature superstar whispered, looking down into the lens of the telescope. The instrument was fixed on the portion of the sky through which the comet Ebyrth was now passing. Harry no longer needed a telescope to see the comet's bright tail end.

"It is not your war, Harry,"said Dumbledore still looking into the Lens."The Ministry can handle the likes of Lucius and his ilk."He adjusted the direction."They have no posture in act, no allies for financial backing, no sanctuary in which to hide. It's only a issue of time."

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

"Lucius is no fool,"answered Dumbledore."He'll remain hidden for as long as possible and only tap when he thinks he can win."The wizard looked up."He can't win, Harry."But Harry wasn't so for certain. He turned his back on Dumbledore and walked over to Fawkes, stroking the chick's feathers. Harry didn't know how to make for it up, but he had to ask.

"What if… what if he had a arm ? A unavowed arm ?"

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

"A… A Horcrux."

The portraiture that were earlier minding their own stage business, napping, reading the theme, or off to some other space were suddenly thrown into a tumult. The headmaster of old began complaining at once about the impertinence of the young man to talk about such subject here.

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

"Lucius is cunningly vicious,"called Phineas,"But he would never cower to such depths."

Dumbledore finally quieted them all by threatening to work down a mainsheet of darkness. His face was grave accent, almost pale and the tone of his voice was filled with smashing business. Harry knew at once that whatever a Horcrux was, it was drab conjuring trick, but then… did he expect otherwise ?

"Harry,"began Dumbledore slowly, his vocalism quite and sombre,"what makes you believe that Lucius Malfoy would employ a Horcrux ?"Harry turned away from Dumbledore, not leave to maintain eye contact."Certainly such news does not come from our friends the Centaurs."

"Well… I… I heard that…"He stalled and then turned back to face Dumbledore. How could he hump how one employed a Horcrux if he didn't even know what one was ?"professor, what is a Horcrux ?"Dumbledore walked back to the flatware machine that was now quiet on the table. He tapped it with his wand and the facile rings began to roll again. He took a band and held it in his paw for but a moment when he laughed and placed it back along its route.

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

"professor ?"

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

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

"Oh yes, Harry,"answered Dumbledore."And very happily I might add. He was killed by a Death Eater when Voldemort first returned. She joined the gild of the Phoenix soon after. Since then, she's been our strongest 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 motorcar."Can you imagine what it would be like if prof McGonagall did not experience the memory of the slaying of her husband ?"

"I… I suppose she'd be happy."

"But she is happy, Harry. Certainly, if you were to ask, she would care that he was still at her side of meat, but she is very happy."Dumbledore's hands squeezed the wooden table and he drew in a deep breath. When he turned to look back into Harry's centre, his nerve was grave and his own middle stern."What I'm about to tell you, Harry, is not supposed to leave this room."Harry glanced toward the doorway as if there might be mortal there."Harry, I know with whom you would like to part. You should know that it is forbidden. I would not even talk of it with you, had you not brought it up first. Do I have your Book ?"

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

"Imagine for a import that I could split you into three mass. Not copies mind you, but three distinct piece of your very essence… your soul. One would stay with the physical structure you now possess ; the early two would be put away for storage you might say. If you, the persona of you that inhabits the consistency you now have, were to die, one of the other percentage would seek out another dead body to inhabit… to keep in line. You, voice of you, would survive again."

"contribution of me ?"

"The part that you hid away."Again Dumbledore turned to the auto on the table."The mint of mob that you see in presence of me here, Harry, is larger than your was. Why ?"

"You have more remembering, more experiences."

"Precisely ! But a split soul would only take with it portions, shadows of the memories the pilot soul carried. Imagine, my boy, if you had to choose… what portions of your someone would you carve away ? What part of you would rest ? There are many pick. You could carve out the bad retention, perhaps the demise of Greg Goyle, and go on believing that he had never died ? But then, what would take place if you were to die, and the Horcrux storing only the bad remembering was released ? What sort of turn soul would remain ?

"Then there are those wizards who believe that it is the tragedy of a maven's life that drives him forward ? Such a hotshot might observe the tragic memories at the ready erasing all joy and felicity, perhaps the day you first arrived at Hogwarts ?.

"And it's not just memories, Harry. It's also the gist of who we are, what we have become, both good and vicious, darkness and light. A superstar must adjudicate how to separate each fade of joy and sorrow into bantam man, sprinkling a little bit of everything into each portion of your soul, splintering all you ever were into shard of fogged glass that can never really be made whole again. Tell me, Harry, what choice would you build ?"

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

"No, Harry, nor would I."Dumbledore's berm drooped slightly as if a large weight sat hearty upon them."Thankfully, near wiz and beldame would refuse to choose as well. fewer still know that there is such a path one can withdraw ; and only the most powerful of those would be able to guide it."Suddenly looking quite tired, Dumbledore returned to the electric chair behind his desk and let out a deep sigh, closing his eyes."The Horcrux is simply the storage vessel… it could be a rock and roll, a cloak, a cup—"

"But Lucius—"

"Think, Harry,"Dumbledore interrupted."It might even be a book…"There was a foresighted pause. Harry could learn a issue of the portraits on the rampart mumbling to themselves. Clearly they were unhappy with the guidance of the conversation, particularly Phineas.

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

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

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

"Yes,"said Dumbledore, nodding."You also saw Tom Riddle die in the Chamber of enigma. I had always assumed he had divided himself in two. Who would run a risk fracturing themselves more than once ?"Dumbledore chuckled to himself grimly."Who indeed ?"Then he turned back to Harry."This word palls the view with a new shadow. Tell 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 summer, what he had felt since returning to Hogwarts, that Voldemort was somehow still alert. But where ? How ? Harry, his eyes sincere, looked back at Dumbledore.

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

"Well, I suppose if you told me, then your promise to maintain our conversation of the Horcrux private would mean nothing."

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

"Harry,"said Dumbledore with grave accent 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 search the humanity for a Horcrux. Voldemort's been to the edges of the ball and beyond ; it could be anywhere. More probable, it has already been activated. No, I will speak with the extremity of the—"

"Sir, you can't. I swore that I'd—"

"Relax, Harry, there will be no pauperization to implicate your engagement. In fact, it's more to our advantage to hold your epithet completely out of the picture."

Dumbledore breathed in deeply and closed his eyes as he slowly let out his breathing place."Yes, I think I understand. He didn't just split himself in two. He may not throw 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 secret, Harry, but if Voldemort has reanimated he may, once again, have agent working within the school walls. I'm trusted Lucius does. That we know another Horcrux might exist gives us an edge we dare not suffer. Do you have any idea—"The chimes of the swell clock struck twice.

"Oh lamb,"said Dumbledore."I've made you recent for class."He paused, struggling for the briefest of import about what to say next."You easily be on your way. We can continue this later. William 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 division. Just as he was about to wave his hired man across the large brass doorknob, Dumbledore stopped him.

"Harry, there are those that we can trust—long-time friends and soul spouse. I understand that you may be compelled to seek assistance. If you must discuss this, preserve the conversation within the walls of Gryffindor."Harry paused for a bit, taking in the headmaster's wrangle.

"But that means—"

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

As Harry walked down the corridors toward Defence Against the Dark Arts class, his creative thinker was spinning with the new entropy and trying to put up everything that Dumbledore has shared with him. Within the walls of Gryffindor. Even though this year scholarly person were free to enter the Common way 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 discussion he might sustain with Ron or Hermione concerning the Horcrux. Maybe he was better off not saying anything to anybody. His concerns about Gabriella faded quickly, however, when arrived late to class and Professor Barghouti took ten 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 class so that he could sit in back. He like the majority of the socio-economic class wanted to sit in as far away from professor Barghouti as possible. For about student it was because their professor was a lamia ; Harry simply didn't like him. Every prison term Harry looked into his eyes he felt that he had to prove himself worthy ; that he was somehow lacking when it came to the Votary. Now, having arrived to class late, Harry had to sit in front next to the only other students who would : Hermione and Gabriella. Harry took his seat next to Gabriella who offered him a supportive grin after he was chastised by Barghouti about time direction.

"Now, as I was saying,"said Professor Barghouti with a bit of a drawl that reminded Harry all too much of a cross between Snape and Malfoy,"before we were so rudely interrupted… Occlumency is more art than learned, more nature than nurture. Nonetheless, even the most inept wizard,"he looked at Harry,"can take to repel at to the lowest degree rudimentary attempts to penetrate the thinker. Fortunately, nearly of you are sorely lacking as Legilimens."Barghouti stared once again at Harry.

"I want each of you to receive a partner and while one tries to get across his married person's mental defences the other will use the techniques you described in last nighttime's preparation assignment. For those of you who found the assignment to tedious and prefer instead to recitation Quidditch,"again he looked at Harry,"expect to spend the evening with Madame Pomfrey as she treats your headache."

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

"Yes, Ms Granger ?"

"What if masses don't want to suffer their thinker read ? It is, after all, a infraction of personal space."

"True, Ms. Granger ; it is a violation. But then, so is the Killing Curse and we've learned to defend ourselves, as best we can, against such an attack. Would you opt to have your thinking read freely by Lucius Malfoy's undercover agent ? Have them eff your architectural plan so that they can kill you or your bonk single when you least gestate it ?"

"But—"

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

Hermione's lips pursed as she crossed her arm. Harry knew that look before. Still, he didn't think that it was such a big deal. Instinctively, he paired with Gabriella. Ron was about to match 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 rare grinning and both Ron and Harry expected to see his Fang, but all that appeared was a true row of bright, pearly teeth.

Harry turned his desk about and sat opposite word Gabriella. He had let her into his mind many times before. There was something playful, almost erotic about how they would pass in this way. While she had become quite adept at curling herself around Harry's thoughts, she never went deeper than Harry offered. For his part, he had never been able to see her thought unless he opened his own first. They always had to dally in Harry's mind, and he had never tried to push her away. She was smiling at him, a twinkle in her centre, as she took his deal in hers. It wasn't until their manpower touched that his philia skipped. Foremost in his mind was something he couldn't let her see — his conversation with Dumbledore. His hand pulled away ; he couldn't stop her from sensing his emotions, but he could break off her from reading his mind.

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

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

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

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

"You know you can't."

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

Around the socio-economic class some students were having better succeeder than others. almost endeavor were fairly calendar week and were being met by immediate standoff. This resulted in more than a few students being knocked backwards out of their chairs. Ron was popping down on to the ground more times than you could didder a wand at and Barghouti was taking smashing satisfaction in being able to repel Ron's advancement. Just behind Harry, Hermione had teamed with Neville who, at the moment, was trying to fathom her mind. Avoiding Gabriella's centre, Harry took a late breathing time.

"Ready ?"he asked.

"Go tiger,"said Gabriella with a grinning.

Harry began to focus as best he could on Gabriella's thoughts, but all he was sensing was the back of his palpebra. Squeezing his oculus closed more firmly, he heard another large thump that he took to be Ron's arse once again striking the slating floor. It felt like an eternity, but at some stop he could hear Gabriella calling his epithet. Not with her mouth, but with her mind. Instead of pushing him back, she was trying to coax him in. Even with the help he was finding it extremely difficult to advertize his way through the darkness to her thinking. Not cognizant that he was now grabbing the edge of the desk with his hands, he redoubled, tripled his try to push his way in.

Suddenly, there was a shock from behind. Trying to penetrate into Neville's judgment, Hermione had been repelled backwards and fell against Harry. She grabbed his shoulder and began to rip him backwards. Without intellection and still focused mentally to bottom Gabriella with all his power, he reached out toward her. She grabbed his script and when she did the scene in Harry's mind changed. The sound was sucked out of the way and all was iniquity. He had penetrated Gabriella's mind ; but what was this… her memory or something Sir Thomas More ?

The disruption of the course of instruction had disappeared and an eerie secretiveness surrounded him. He heard first, a rushing of water, a drip-drip-drip, a rustle of leaves and then crying… Then the air filled with a musty, wet odor 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 vociferation came from the babe he was holding in his arms. This was no memory ; Harry was himself in this vision. He found that his gown were soaked. Both he and the young child, still less than a year old, looked as if they'd just come from the lake. The baby, glistening wet, was wrapped in dark folds of damp cloth, dripping on his charge. A hand touched his shoulder from tail.

"You'll have to lead attention of him now, Harry."It was Hermione, her representative seeped in unhappiness."She'd want it that way."

A rush of fear began to decant itself over Harry. He was cold, shivering, tooth chatter, the child in his arms continued to cry out for its mother, but Harry knew that it was a cry that would never be answered. He wanted to scream, to run, but when the child looked at him his spirit warmed and his resolve strengthened. Slowly Harry's fingerbreadth brushed the child's impudence.

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


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

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

bass part throb, twine reverberating, the band was loud and Harry was not feeling all that well. He slumped back, sinking into the declamatory, overstuffed chair and rubbed his temples. Why did he let Ron and James Byron Dean challenge him into a drinking duel upstairs ? The Quidditch match against Hufflepuff was tomorrow and he swore he wouldn't take a sip. But then Ron convinced him that they were two-hundred point favorite over their sis home and why not celebrate… a footling ? It was Allhallows Eve after all ; their last at Hogwarts.

Feeling a bit inebriate, he then had let Neville convince him to eat far too much during the feast. Why not ? It was, after all, their survive Halloween 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 representative was more sympathetic than chiding as she set her handwriting upon his articulatio humeri. She had tried this approach once already ; it hadn't worked then either. Harry didn't know why she wouldn't just let it go. okey, that was a lie - he did know. That was just what Hermione did. She wanted to work a problem that she didn't understand and not knowing the answer was driving her mad. Nonetheless, after her protestation, Harry had simply rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulder.

"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 Nox air, he was just cold and inebriate. He shook his headway, disagreeing with Hermione, unceremoniously pushing her gentle hand away, and had wandered, stumbling a bit, back into the dance, where he had found the nice cushy electric chair he now was melting into. Frustrated, Hermione had left his incline before he entered the Great Hall, and he was thankful for that. Rubbing his temples, Harry considered the new song. Yes, the band was very loud, but everyone was having a majuscule time.

The Great Charles Martin Hall was dour save for the slur that bathed the lot in an eerie orange and regal light. Now and then a row of standard candle burning at the front of the point would shoot bright, sparkling into the air. It was the only fourth dimension you could take a leak much of anything out, except when a prof's baton grew bright, lighting up two snogging pupil typically in a darken corner covered by the fog that floated some three infantry off the floor.

Harry was surprised to see Patrick dancing with a third year girl from Slytherin, if you could send for his rotation dancing. The lad was flailing his arms and pounding his groundwork ; Harry expected to see him smiling, but St. Patrick didn't seem too proud of with it. Ron was nowhere to be seen, which put a momentaneous smirk on Harry's fount, for it was Harry who had won their earlier bet. He smiled even more broadly, thinking that Ron would get to go three Nox straight without wearing any socks. There was another brilliant flash and he caught quite a little of Gabriella passing by James Chang as she entered the Great manor hall. heart blurred, Harry thought she had been carrying something, but couldn't make out what it was before the elbow room went blue again. His stomach churned ; he did not experience well at all. A mo later she was at his slope with a stone mug in her hired hand, 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 single word she was saying, and squished in future to him on the oversized shock. Harry took a tentative sip. Feeling her warmth next to his, Harry was indisputable she had been praising him for drinking Ron and Dean under the table. There was another twinkling of sparks and he noticed a few of the younger students including Saint James and Patrick were leaving. He looked back down into his mug, mustered up the courageousness and swallowed down the eternal rest. The effect was nearly immediate. The sickness passed and his vision began to sort out. He was feeling better, but he was growing tired. When he set the mug down, Gabriella took him by the bridge player.

"You did a rattling job helping Professor Flitwick with the laurel wreath. The snake that kept swallowing first geezerhood was quite creative."

"A Slytherin inspired me,"replied Harry, smiling back at her now that the ringing was leaving his capitulum. He glanced over at the snake that was over in the corner of the Great Hall. The few first twelvemonth pupil that remained were still lining up to be swallowed by the large, greyish wight with furious lily-livered middle. Once swallowed, students were transported to the front of the stage where the lot was playing. It was the only when way the unseasoned bookman could make their way to the front of the legion that crushed up against the microscope stage. If they were golden, they got to sing with the stria. If they weren't, the onetime students would toss them to the rachis of the bunch. This deep, it became more a biz than anything else with first years finding some form of treat or mixture from Fred and George's store in their pockets by the time they were flung out of the bunch.

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

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

Harry was suddenly nervous, remembering where he was and what he had done last twelvemonth at Allhallows Eve. At first he tried to see away, but he could feel Gabriella's black optic penetrating his feelings, so he turned to her and tried to alter the case to something he knew she wouldn't want to talk about, especially not here.

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

At intimately it was difficult to hear, and with the long interruption and summate lack of reaction on Gabriella's percentage, 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 manpower and crossed her arms and legs. Her middle were not angry, they were sad, almost frightened.

"I didn't mean value to—"

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

Harry was taken aback. He didn't expect that she'd want to babble out at all about it. His eyes darted toward the vestibule off the Great vestibule. No one could get in there save professors ; yet prof Dumbledore had taken Harry there the year before and he remembered how to get in. Still he hesitated, but then his heart began to raceway a bit, thinking of the possibilities. It was dark ; if they stayed finis to the wall no one would see them luxate behind the stage.

"Well ?"Gabriella called out.

Harry took her head and nodded for her to follow. It wasn't light making it to the wall, but the crowd was focused on a particularly screeching Song dynasty by the lead Isaac Bashevis Singer with bass notes that pounded the level and tossed folks off their feet. Undetected, Gabriella and Harry slipped into the English room and the euphony instantly fell away. The lobby was dimly lit by the quick radiance of the fireplace and a fistful of lit candles. Beyond that there wasn't another stick of furniture in the place. Harry paused, thinking about the right spell, but before he put it together, Gabriella had conjured up a Nice loveseat near the fireplace.

For the brief of moment he thought to ask Gabriella about what he had seen in her mind, but being in this particular elbow room on this exceptional nighttime caused computer storage of Cho to hasten over him. His emotions were desegregate between excitement and concern. He hadn't heard from Cho since school let out and when Gabriella offered to visit Cho at her home, Mrs. Chang said that she had gone to the States and wouldn't be back for the residual of summertime. The only educatee who had any contact with her at all was Anthony Goldstein who seemed to be her beau now. He seemed to gloat that he knew something that Harry didn't and he wouldn't say a Good Book about what Cho was up to ; only that she was salubrious and glad and that they'd be seeing a lot more of each other after he graduated.

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

"Who ?"asked Gabriella, a bit confused.

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

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

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

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

"If something was awry, we would throw heard,"she said comfortingly."If anything, Anthony's filled with pride and happiness. I can smell out it. He feels as if he's doing something tremendously significant. Is it so bad if he won't share ? Why ?"She smiled devilishly."Are you overjealous ?"Gabriella pinched Harry's English and made him yip.

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

He leaned over and kissed Gabriella hard against the backtalk. It had been long time since they had been truly alone together, and she pressed her lips firmly back against his. Her coat of arms wrapped around his backrest and she pulled him tight to her boob. His manus slipped to the warm, soft build of her belly. sentiment of centaur visual modality slipped past both their minds in party favor of other, more enjoyable, bodily process.

Later, as Harry was tying up the lace of his trainer, he realized how artfully Gabriella had managed to stay fresh him from asking her about the vision they'd seen. She kissed him one last clip as he reached for the knob on the doorway that led back out to the Great Radclyffe Hall. There was still a multitude of multitude crowding against the stage when they slipped back out of the ante-chamber. They chose not to dance and instead made their way out to the front of the castle. It was well past midnight, but there were still a few couples huddled together, watching the Nox sky. It was the most spectacular Hallowe'en Harry could commend. The stars were splendid, but then he saw it. His gaze froze and his smile fell.

"What ? What's the issue, Harry ?"Gabriella placed her hand against the side of meat of Harry's face and then looked to the Eden above her shoulder."What's wrong ? What do you see ?"

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

"What ?"

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

"It may be bright for you,"she answered quietly,"but most the repose 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 deep, nettlesome part broke the night's stillness.

"What makes you think they haven't ?"

Both Gabriella and Harry jumped. It was Professor Barghouti. The moment the other mates saw him they began to clamber up the nominal head stride of the castling, constantly casting backward glimpse to make sure he wasn't following them, and occasionally reaching for their neck opening 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 werewolf,"he answered."Only adjustment, don't you think ?"He laughed at his own caper and while Gabriella laughed as well, Harry was having none of it.

"Just got back then, did you ? fly a bit bore ? Slurp up a few tourists along the way ?"

"Harry !"Gabriella snapped.

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

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

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

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

"The Centaur of the Great timberland are not the only Centaurus in the cosmos, boy. And, as lots as you might care to conceive that England is the centre of the world, it is but a very minor section 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 fear about the war,"queried Harry."Why the yearn face now ?"

"Because, oh chosen one,"Barghouti sneered,"your acquaintance Lucius Malfoy has enlisted the help of vampires and hence his choice of first strike - the Carpathians. Only they're not just killing Centaurus, they're wiping out anything and anyone in their route - all of them Muggles. A whole village was destroyed. The Muggle papers are reporting that the devastation was due to a gas explosion."A fit of air popped between his lips."I must recall to Singehorn for a few solar day. I fear my old acquaintance may locomote to intervene and recur old mistakes. Professor Dumbledore has been informed and professor Lupin will conduct care of my classes."

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

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

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

Harry looked again into the darkness, squinting. Then he remembered. He took a deep breathing time and closed his eye. Then, he reached out with his mind toward the forest. As Dakhil had shown him before, all live things began to look before him - the grass, bushes, and trees all glowed brightly. He scanned further out and then saw it : a Centaur some ten 1000 into the Tree, bow in hand. movement to the right caught his vision again - another centaur, another bow. Harry continued to scan. Every 30 to fifty yards another Centaur stood guard, watching over the schoolhouse in the shadow. But Harry couldn't tell if they were trying to hold something out, or something in.

"What are they doing ?"he whispered.

"I am weary of teaching the ignorant,"Barghouti muttered."The Centaurs can sense the swarthiness, muggins. It is already upon you. You would be impertinent to incur its source before it swallows you whole."In a vortex he disappeared before Harry had a luck to say another tidings. The sound of flapping annex, faded to nothingness. What he noticed, after the dust settled, was that Gabriella's fingers were digging into the soft flesh of his forearm.

"What— ?"He looked over at her and saw pure care on her look. She was mesmerized, staring intently at the iniquity of the forest. 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 step behind Harry, almost as if using him as a shield against the wickedness, and then pulled him toward that castle door.

"Let's go inside,"she breathed.

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

"Now."

Harry sighed and nodded his capitulum."Alright,"he acquiesced, and followed her up the stairs, noting that she was ever for sure to sustain his dead body between her and the dark of the afforest. When the door finally closed behind them, he could see the weight unit lift from her shoulder joint and the alleviation spread across her face. She leaned back against the threshold, placing her work force over her face. Harry stepped close-fitting, touching her shoulder joint softly.

"Baby, what is it ?"he asked."What's faulty ?"The hired man upon her expression began to tremble and tears began to streak down her boldness, one by one, but she would not cry, not out flashy. Slowly, her oculus turned to the side to look at Harry. He'd seen that look when Gabriella lost her father, Grigor. It was a looking at of uncertainty, of fear, of end. Without saying a tidings, she shook her oral sex and turned to take the air away. She'd gone only a few paces before Harry called her to discontinue, but she wouldn't listen. She past the stone column and began to guide down to the dungeons, to the entranceway of Slytherin. Her foot did not construct the initiatory 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 disengage hand came up under Harry's neck and he was out cold on the flooring.

When he came to, he was lying on a slate floor, but he wasn't at the top of the stairway leading down to Slytherin anymore. He was bound with ropes, unable to move, in some room, well lit by torches. The paries were Edward Durell Stone, and along their top was a crown-moulding made of oak. Along its typeface, every few foundation, was engraved a Hydra's school principal.

"Slytherin,"Harry hissed.

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

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

"Just gathering road-kill, throne,"Nott retorted."A little doll told me you'd been drinking… a bit too much. suppose my surprise when I found you passed out on the stairs to Slytherin."Nott stepped closer."Were you trying to notice your genuine love ?"Harry said nix."I can discover you a mirror if you'd like."

"I see you found yours,"Harry smirked, tossing his school principal in Crabbe's focussing. Crabbe took Sir Thomas More offensive than Nott and kicked Harry in the side. The blow was surd and a burst of air shot from Harry's sass.

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

"I… I wonder how w-well Gryffindor will do without their searcher 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 hero. How ever will we get on… once you're utterly ?"Harry's heart narrowed on Nott. Crabbe's eye darted nervously toward Nott.

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

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

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

"Oh, they die, shift. I've seen them die. Didn't you know ? I was attacked by them this summer. Turns out that a well placed Centaur arrow… thwup… and they die."Harry chuckled deliberately."shady thing, vampires. When they're pierced, their vampire shell sheds away and for a minute they're who they once were, the hydrophobia gone."Harry looked up at the unripened ceiling."I like to cogitate that in that present moment, goodness had a chance to hotfoot in and fill their souls once more. They have a luck to be saved."

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

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

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

"Bloody hell ! I knew it !"

A flash bulb of red tomentum told Harry at once who had just entered the way. Ron was breathing hard, his wand drawn, but his hand was shaking noticeably, not because he was scared or winded, but because he'd had too much to wassail. Harry could make out a flash of green robes behind him ; he assumed it was Gabriella which, with Ron in his nowadays condition, he was thankful for. Both Nott and Crabbe turned toward Ron still standing at the door, wands drawn.

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

"A little bird told him,"said the part behind Ron. It wasn't Gabriella, it was James IV Yangtze River ; Harry's apprehension began to arise once more. There wasn't much of a chance if Ron couldn't pull it together… and quickly. The second class who had freely chosen to be in Slytherin this semester stepped in front of Ron with his verge drawn.

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

"Obliviate !"chanted James, casting a magic spell well beyond his years. A burst of orange brightness erupted from his baton throwing both Nott and Crabbe against the wall, knocking them unconscious, and wiping their minds of recent retention. The strength of the Obliviate spell determined how much memory was removed. Normally, a instant year wouldn't even be able to draw the spell, but Harry was certainly that the core would be lasting.

Ron released Harry from his ties while King James bound his two menage brothers."They'll be the unity missing the match tomorrow,"he whispered with a grin pursing his backtalk.

Rising to his invertebrate foot, Harry felt a little light-headed, the sickness once again returning, and had to be given on Ron for documentation. He looked over at James, wanting to thank him for his help, but more curious about the turn.

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

"Harry !"

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

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

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

They made their way up a minute row of stone steps that opened out on the Slytherin common elbow room. Harry hadn't been here since he was a first class. James River and Patrick nonchalantly split away from the radical to utter to some other s years that had just returned from the evening's political party while Gabriella walked Harry and Ron out. The three began their trek up to the Gryffindor tower. By the clip they made it to the tower, Harry was feeling much dependable and it was Ron that was leaning on Harry and Gabriella.

"I hope St. James the Apostle 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 twelvemonth ago I think he might possess taken this chance to kill me, just to prove himself to his father and the other Death feeder. Tonight, he was just a bag full of hot air. He's learned something since then, since his founding father died."Harry paused."Compassion I think."

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

"James I told you that ?"asked Gabriella."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 Night, they've got the castle surrounded."

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

"Ron,"she said,"you go on in. I need to verbalise 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 ?"

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

A few present moment later, Gabriella and Harry were alone in the corridor outside the Gryffindor common room. Gabriella walked him over to a stone work bench and the two sat down. Even though the paries and storey were now spic, he never liked sitting here, remembering the Dementors that had nearly killed Professor McGonagall the year before. There was a mother wit of death in the air and for a second Harry felt a cool bang swim up his spine, whispering death's figure. Gabriella held his hand, but would not hold his gaze. Instead, she watched their fingers intertwined and mingling.

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

"But—"

"Shhhh."She put one manus gently across his lips."Since I was untested, before I ever went to Al Bsahri, I have had one sight. Sometimes days would slip by before it would return, the Lapplander scene, over and over. Since we've returned to Hogwarts this yr, it comes to me nearly every day."She leaned her headspring 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 pause, and Harry could hear laughter coming from way down the staircases below ; it died away.

"And ?"he asked, nudging Gabriella along.

"A imaginativeness from another planer is like a finely cut jewel, a diamond with many facets. One can look in and see different images from all slant. You and Hermione became part of my vision and somehow shared it from your own perspectives. We all saw the Same thing, but all differently. And what we each saw can mean different things."

"Then why don't you want to—"

"No visual modality is perfective tense, Harry ; and, like time-turners, there are also ruler about looking into the futurity. Most would ca-ca changes based on the continuous tense cognition they see, often changes that lead to more ravage outcomes. Only the Charles Herbert Best, those like Mama, have any hope of moving the sands of time to shape the consequence of the other planes. Others go mad trying to interchange what n-never was to c-come."She began to tremble as she delivered the lowest words and in the muteness that followed Harry felt a tear drop onto his forearm. He put his arm around her and held her tight.

"Gabriella,"he asked,"what is it ? You need to lift this weight from off your soul. I swear I won't do anything to change the future."Her eyes 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 tense. Please, tell me what you saw."Again there was another silence, and then Gabriella squeezed Harry's hand. Finally, not looking into Harry's center, she began to whisper.

"It begins with a flash of luminance, a fire erupting from a glistening emerald lake. We are surrounded by them. There is a thigh-slapper and then silence. And then there is me… face down in the tall sens. I… I am drained, Harry. Buried trench in my back is the long wooden arrow of a Centaur."


Harry thrower and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 12 - screen chance
~~~***~~~

The air was strong for fall, yet the sky was a heavy gray. Flying with the appealingness of his Caduceus P2 off, Harry could feel the wetness in the air. He knew it would rain soon and that, more than anything else, focused his energies on finding the Snitch. It had been hard concentrating. Last year, Ron had lost Harry's Calluna vulgaris when he had been attacked flying into the Burrow. So this twelvemonth he was riding the later model of Caduceus, the new P2, P for ceramist. Cleansweep was paying him a pocket-size fortune to use his name for their new broom, monies that Harry was using to assist the families who had lost loved single 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 heart of the visitant stand was a ten foot by XX foot crystalline portraiture of Harry flying the new Calluna vulgaris and waving at the crowd. Every so often words would appear : The Caduceus P2. So flying it'll blow the competition away. It was a gambol on the narration run by the Daily Prophet about Harry's defeat of Voldemort. The story said that the tour Harry cast was so mightily, not only did it destroy Voldemort, but it nearly took the Ministry down with it. Even now, the Ministry was digging out and repairing the gaping fall into nothingness that remained after the floor of the end chamber fell away, swallowing whole the curtain of Phenolem and the dais upon which it stood. Harry glanced again at the huge sheet of watch glass, his own icon smiling back at him and waiving, and shook his fountainhead to clear his persuasion.

He'd been distracted all day and most folks thought it had to do with kickoff game screaming meemies. He was Gryffindor's Quidditch sea captain this year and nearly everyone believed it a folly decision. Since the attempt on the wagon train, the completely schoolhouse knew that he was going to be fighting the Dementors when the war with the Centaurs came. How could anyone focus on training their squad with a core like that on their shoulder joint ? Indeed, even prof McGonagall thought that Ron Weasley might make the sound selection ; she told Harry so.

"If I can't have your mind on the biz, you're no use to the team, Mr. potter,"she had said in confidence."Ron Weasley bleeds Quidditch and his mind is sharp when it comes to analyzing the other squad'weaknesses."Harry had nodded and had turned to leave her office when she stopped him."But no one commands dedication 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 question is — can you prevent 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 meliorate strategist, and there's no one better in northern Britain when it comes to keeping a Quaffle from skewering the rings. Dennis Creevey is the quickest in all Hogwarts and is starting to come up with plays I could never dream of. Jack Sloper's put on thirty Pound since final year and he can criticise a faggot off a fencepost at 50 meters. Slytherin was the only team that had a prayer to beat us, but with Malfoy gone they don't have a probability. The team doesn't need me to moderate them ma'am. Anyone can guide us to the cup."McGonagall looked at Harry over the top of her glasses.

"Is that so ?"she had asked."Well then, Mr. thrower, I suppose you'll do then. I want the team roster, to admit the instrumentalist replacing Katie at pursuer, and the every week practice schedule by tomorrow break of day. And, to keep you motivated since this will be such an easy year, let's say that if we don't win every secret plan by more than than one-hundred fifty points, you'll be back in my office on Dominicus for detention."

"But—"

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

Harry had thought the challenge childlike enough, but sorting out the team proved more difficult than he expected. They couldn't detect a skilful pursuer and when jimmy Peakes tried out for Beater he played ferociously, unseating Hooper from the team. Finally, Harry selected Demelza Robins as Chaser, if for no other reasonableness than she was particularly good at dodging Bludgers. The shuffle caused a lot of growing pain in the ass and trauma feelings, but after three week of exercise Harry was confident once again that the team could not be defeated.

Now, flying high over the auction pitch, Harry wasn't so trusted. Trying to ignore his own face, he glanced at the scoreboard to encounter Gryffindor up by forty which, as far as Harry was concerned, was pathetic. They should have been clobbering Hufflepuff from the starting time, but Ron was letting nearly every Quaffle through. Having heard that the private instructor of the Magpies, Bernard Bennegin, was coming specifically to reconnoiter Ron's execution he was a unquiet wreck. To do subject spoilt he was suffering from a hangover and was having problem seeing the Quaffle, let alone stopping it. The only safe news program was that Jimmy and Jack were keeping the Bludgers off the team while Dennis and Demelza were scoring nearly at will. Ginny could ingest been too, but she was so busy yelling at Ron for being such a git she hadn't scored a unmarried goal.

Harry scanned the skies once more, searching for the sneak. The Hufflepuff seeker, Summerby, had seen it about an hour earlier. Harry had been well out of stance, and if it hadn't been for a fountainhead placed Bludger by Sloper, Gryffindor would have lost. It was then Harry turned off the charms of his heather, hoping that he might better sense the fink's location. Suddenly, the yellow face of the pitch erupted in sunshine ; Hufflepuff had scored. Harry forced himself not to appear at the scoreboard. He had to rest alert, but before you could say snicklfritz the crew erupted again - another score for Hufflepuff. Finally, Harry called timeout.

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

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

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

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

"You think you can jeopardise me ?"yelled Ron at his sister as he pulled his own sceptre, however shaky his mitt was.

"plosive consonant it !"yelled Dennis above the fray. With a no-nonsense voice that commanded tending, Dennis Creevey, who was still the low on the team, began to aim out what needed to be done.

"Ron, they're constantly feinting right and shooting left. If you move higher in the air and have position just a little tenacious, you'll stop over them. Ginny, we could use a little more of your attention on the Hufflepuff side of the field of study. Dem, they're starting to catch on to Harry's first few plays."His optic dotted to Harry who nodded in understanding."I think we should actuate on to what he was showing us last weekend."

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

"Dennis is in good order,"countered Ginny."At the pip we'll have given them a new look. At the best we'll score three or four before they catch on."

"old salt, jimmy, you guys have been flawless. Just keep the Bludgers off our backs 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.

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

Harry had to smile at the new ecumenical on the field."Our own little Bonaparte,"he thought. Madame hootch blew the whistle for play to resume. Hufflepuff broke their scrummage and began to fly into position. Harry looked down on the pitch below. There was zippo he loved more in the world than flying.

"I'm with you,"he said with confidence."Summerby won't have a prospect. I swear."Harry shot into position just to the west and a little below Summerby. If anything, the sky was growing darker and the air colder, but he resisted the temptation to enlist the charm of his ling.

Dennis had been right. Over the adjacent XL transactions or so, Ron had blocked six straightforward Hufflepuff attempts while the Gryffindor chaser had scored four fourth dimension. Still, they would necessitate the snitch. He flew over by the Slytherin sales booth and pick up a handful of hisses, and one sunniness.

Harry could imagine of few Hogwarts adult female besides Gabriella Darbinyan able to withstand the taunting and jeers of Slytherin for being Harry's lady friend. Of course, there were no taunts or jeers, because all of Slytherin was deathly afraid of Gabriella. Perhaps because she came from a schooltime known for its dark magic, but more because any commentary usually meant the commenter had a one-way slate to the infirmary wing. Harry looked down and saw her smiling up at him.

"Go, Harry !"she cried. Harry waved back, smiling and giving her a thumbs-up."NO ! GO !"she yelled, pointing her finger. The gesture and the gasp of the crowd told him at once that the Snitch had been seen. He spun to see Summerby plunging toward the turf at the north end of the delivery. Below him was a glint of gold, racing low and heading toward the visitant'base. Summerby was ahead by at least fifty dollar bill metre when Harry began to commove.

"You bloody changeling !"Harry cursed at himself as he clenched his teeth."You flobberworm sucking moron !"The wind roared furiously at his face. The Snitch was flying low to the sod and Harry could see that it would have got to plough or wax once it hit the sales booth on the opposite English of the rake. Even as good a flier as Summerby was, he would not reach the Snitch until it hit the paries. Harry leaned forward, accelerating his Scots heather."It will rise,"Harry whispered to himself, focusing wholly on the amber globe that was coming closer."It will rise."He chose to fly the straight demarcation to wiretap the stool pigeon where he thought it would be. If the Snitch turned left or right at the wall, Summerby would have it before Harry could react. If the sneaker flew up… Harry groaned. At this upper it was still impossible. Harry poured all his energy into making his broom accelerate. The tails of his robe began to tatter in the vicious twist and his goggles were pressing hard against his face. The pressure tunnelled his vision, but he didn't aid. He could still see the lucky glint growing large before him."Faster ! shit it ! Faster !"

The pitch below him was a fog ; the bandstand faded to dark and all that Harry could see was the golden stoolpigeon and the lead of yellow that followed it -- the lead of yellowness that Harry was passing. Faster ! A tabloid of imperial — the visitor'stands. The golden Snitch flying upward. Yes !
Harry's fingers pressed firmly against the winged Snitch when he heard the screams of panic. They conflicted with his own sense of joy.

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

Waking, and still feeling a bit dazed, the first thing Harry recognized was the sound of credit card being disclose, snap and then crumpled. The rhythmic mastication that followed told him at once that Ron was nearby. Harry smiled. He tried to open his center, but couldn't. He leaned to his right side and felt a dull ached that ran up the left half of his physical structure. With his right paw he felt the flat solid about his chest, the pillow behind his head, the bandages that wrapped his face.

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

"Hey, married person,"Ron added before Harry could serve."Erm.. don't trouble ; Madame Pomfrey will have you back to new in… in no time."The vocalization had a bit of a tremor in it and it wasn't because a umber frog found its way down the wrong tube.

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

"You'll be very well, Harry."“ Don't worry, Harry."“ Flyin'in no metre, you'll see !"“ Shut up, stupid."“ Hey, I didn't mean—"

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

A routine of tribe touched Harry's good arm. He felt of few candy kiss against his nerve. He heard a few cheery Good-byes and Later, mates, but he also heard a few sniffs and sobs. The door swung closed with a bass thunk.

"I'm still here,"whispered Gabriella and she took his hand once more. With his sore arm Harry reached up to pry off the bandage that wrapped about his boldness, just to have got 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 adjacent three weeks if you wish to hold any hope of seeing again."

Okay. So he had been growing more and more apprehensive since he first became witting. And the bandages were starting to freak him out… just a bit. Something in the back of his mind had said the word, but he had pushed it back down. Only job was… the dark corners of Harry's mind were shouting now.

"See again ?"he asked."What the Inferno does that imply ? I… I'm subterfuge ?"he asked weakly. Madame Pomfrey let out a awful sigh.

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

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

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

"You've b-been out for two Clarence Shepard Day Jr., Harry,"said Gabriella, another shudder of sorrow cracked her spokesperson. Harry reached up and touched the bandage wrapping his grimace.

"Mr. potter,"snapped Madame Pomfrey."If you keep touching your wrapping you'll assuredly disturb their charms ! I will not take in you go blind ! Do you hear me ! If you keep moving your limb I will immobilize them."Her vocalization was husky. She'd been crying ; Harry could separate. The sadness in the elbow room was almost overwhelming. Finally, he turned his promontory in the direction of Gabriella.

"Did we win ?"he asked.

"What ?"she replied, still dazed.

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

"Harry, how can you—"

"RON !"Harry screamed. In a news bulletin the door burst open air.

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

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

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

"I thought for sure we'd lost, when you spun over and started closing in from on eminent. The snitcher was flying just to my right field and I could suffer sworn there were sparks flying out the behind of your Calluna vulgaris. It was glowing red. Heading toward the bandstand, it was exculpated you were going to pass Summerby, but you were too richly ; everyone could see that. But it didn't matter. No one has ever seen someone fly that fast at Hogwarts… ever ! Crimey, maybe in all Britain !

"When you passed Summerby, I thought you'd diva to avoid the rack, to catch the sneak that was still screaming low to the ground. But you didn't ; you stayed straight on. When the snitcher darted up toward you…"Ron sighed in ecstasy."It was a miracle, mate. Like you were calling out to it and it obeyed. Pop ! Right into your mitt."There was a retentive pause."It's when everyone's eyes popped up with the Snitch we saw what was going to chance. That's when the screams began."Ron walked over succeeding to Harry's bed."Summerby smashed into the supports down low. Broke his leg and lost a couple dentition. He got out of the infirmary yesterday. You… you…"Ron swallowed heavily.

"You held on, match. Yeah, we won, alright."Ron patted Harry on the bureau."Best damn quester in all Britain."

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Harry,"she said softly."We'll do everything possible, but you need to give them metre to bring around. The wrap will appease on for at least three weeks. Your lids will be sealed long still. Even when you can afford your middle, Harry, I don't suspect you'll see more than subtlety of Light and dark. Once we know what you can and can't see, Healer Sventstein can get making the proper corrections. You'll have to be affected role, my affectionately, very patient."

He could take heed her folding some written document, putting trash away he thought, and then she stepped over to the side of meat of the room and poured something into a Methedrine or goblet.

"I need you to fuddle this,"she said, helping him sit up and wrap his hands around the cup. He winced when she held his left arm."Yes, the whole give slope of your body was pretty a lot hamburger meat. We've summoned out all the glassful shards we can. There may be a few that aren't responding. I'll work on that more tomorrow."She sounded wear down, so Harry decided not to indicate about the drinking and swallowed it down in one long draught. The hurting running down his English ebbed away and the apprehension about his visual sensation faded. Soon he was asleep.

When Harry woke, he found himself fuddle and disorient. He couldn't understand why he couldn't see and he began to lam around, rising out of bed, the Harlan Fiske Stone flooring insensate beneath his denudate feet. He was about to arrive at up to his face when a helping hand took him by the arm. At first he was startled, but the voice settled him at once.

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

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

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

"postponement on ! Hold on !"Dog Star stopped Harry from running into the candles hovering at his bedside."Let's er… let's get you back in bed."Sirius helped Harry climb into bed and pulled the sheets back over him."There, that's better."He patted Harry's in effect leg and remained standing at his bedside.

"What clip is it ?"Harry asked.

"Not quite three in the morning."

"Three in the morning ?"He paused, rising up on his elbows and looking about the way."Anyone else here ?"

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

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

"Yeah,"agreed Sirius smartly."That's what I hear."Harry could hear Sothis dip back into his chair and sigh."I have to admit, Harry, that was the riotous I've ever seen a broom fly, and I've seen a few Quidditch mate in my day. When you hit that damn portrait with your motion picture on it, the matter exploded. It was like a giant quartz glass firework. And that you still held onto the Snitch… well, it's been all over the composition. most build you broke the record, but the folks from Cleansweep want you to come out and perform a fly-off against Comet — twenty thousand galleons to the succeeder's charity."Harry turned on his side, his back toward Sirius.

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

"What do you signify ?"

"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 on blind."

"That's not dependable, Harry,"began Sirius."Madame Pomfrey—"Harry spun and faced Sirius. Sothis didn't need to see Harry's eyes to know the look he was getting right now. He sighed."Ten percentage is not 0 per centum,"he whispered.

"Yeah, right,"Harry replied and dropped back down again. Likewise, Sirius sunk back into his chairwoman, crossing his arms and searching for what to say. There wasn't much he could say. Harry, after all, was set. Once a witch or wizard lost their eyes there was often minuscule that could be done—eyes simply harbor too a great deal magic. healer could re-grow many things, but the eyes… the oculus, particularly of a powerful witch or wizard, were nearly unsufferable to repair. Sirius let out a low groan as the silence stretched between them. After that, the flicker of candlelight was the only stochasticity that accompanied their ventilation. At utmost, it was Dog Star who began again, not sure if Harry was even still waken. His representative was unsteady, recalling a part 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 malodour of dying, nil to see but the cries of plaint, nothing to taste but the remnants of snag that had farseeing since died away, and the only thing one felt was the inhuman breath of despair. What food they gave us was more like black gruel with a consistency somewhere between mud and slime."Dog Star chuckled grimly to himself."When the Dementors departed, leaving this black gunk behind, I would smile. It was the solely joy I had, sensing their going away, knowing that however awful the intellectual nourishment was, the vacancy that screamed from my belly would soon be staved for another day. That crusted trough of horseshit and my pure hatred for Peter Pettigrew were all that kept me alive.

"I never dreamed that one day…"Dog Star'voice halted and he had to live with to forgather himself."That one day… the son of my dearest friend would parlay my ten-percent of nothing and carry through me… not from the Dementors of Azkaban… not from the Curtain of Phenolem, but… from myself. I was used up inside, Harry ; a eggshell of a wizard and LE a man. You've shown me, even now as duskiness spate in toward us, how to live again… how to screw again. I'm amazed that today, I once again walk the halls of Hogwarts—a free man, not because I'm rid of the repugnance of Azkaban, but because I'm free of the swarthiness and hatred that once consumed my individual. Because of you, I'm discharge to try the delectable fruit of life history once again."

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

"If I could smack you, I would,"stab Sirius, kicking the station of Harry's bed with his groundwork, a binge sliding down the English of his face.

"Bring it on, old man !"called Harry, rising up in bed and brandishing two fists that were swinging wildly in the air—something akin to a boxer's position."I can take you with both eyes tied behind my back !"Harry was smiling as Sirius rose to his human foot. The older wizard wiped his heart and then, gently, took Harry's workforce in his own.

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

"Sothis, 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 Sirius to be."So many multitude are depending on me. I can't let them down. I can't—"

"Enough already ! occlusive telling me what you can't do ! I don't want to hear it anymore !"This time Sirius'voice was heated."I still wake in the middle of the nighttime grasping for my sheets, fearing that it has all been a dreaming, wondering if in the nothingness of dark I'm really still trapped behind the Curtain of Phenolem. One day the nightmare will end ; I know so, because I believe they will. Until they do, I will go to sleep at Night, searching for those dreams that will carry me through 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 vision coming back, you'll have to happen a way to see through your blindness."Harry's contiguous response was to let a burst of air push through his sassing in scoffing judgment of dismissal of Canicula'words. He began to go down back into his pillow when he stopped himself and held fast to Sirius'handwriting. To see through sightlessness ? might it still be possible ?

Not for sure what to expect, Harry reached out with his thinker as Dakhil had shown him — to see without seeing. Why hadn't he thought of it before ? Almost immediately he could recognise the luminance of Sirius before him. It wasn't an simulacrum so much as an nimbus of spark that shown bright. Harry leaned forward in his bed. Reaching out further he began to have in the dim gleaming of the constitutive life that clung to the walls, roof and floor. Without saying a word he let go of Sirius'hired man and rose out of bed.

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

What Harry was ‘ seeing'wasn't so much an ikon as an impression of all that was around him. It would read time to decode the embodiment, hues and intensities. There was a glow coming toward them. Harry pointed at the door.

"Someone's coming,"he said. Sirius spun, confused. An crying later, Madame Pomfrey walked through the door.

"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 contact him.

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

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


Harry ceramist and the Birth of a New Sun

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

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

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

"Jump !"

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

It had been bitterly cold all day, but with all the running Harry was beginning to rue his determination to wear clothes. They were pushing the demarcation between physical and magical exertion and Harry's understructure, well clad in a span of flight simulator, were on fervency. The light crownwork and knickers 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 days, the three had been put though their paces by Ronan, Firenze and others — running, lifting, and shooting arrows from one side of the Forbidden timberland to the other. Harry was exhausted — a feeling he was beginning to enjoy. If anything, he preferred to be out in nature.

Still blind, he was developing his limited ability to contact out and sense the aura of life around him. While he could make notion about where matter were at Hogwarts, occasionally very fair object would escape his attention. A group of Slytherin fourth years had discovered this about a week after Harry had returned from hospital and had taken to conjuring marbles in surface area where they knew Harry would be walking. Harry, in bend, developed a few spells that helped discharge his way. The tinkling of marbles usually meant that a Slytherin was nearby, waiting to watch out Harry tumble. But since Harry could observe someone's halo, even through bulwark, the perpetrator was usually found fastened to the wall with their underwear on their drumhead and goose egg else. It was a page out of what Nott and Parkinson had done to Ron last year and Harry didn't head a little playful retribution.

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

Shahan had cleared the current ahead and was already pulling away. Felspar came a bit shortly and she splashed water into the air. Harry, just a tone behind feldspar, was shorter still, landing a to the full meter away from the bank's edge. His feet landed firmly in the water and he struggled to keep open his equilibrium so as not to fall into the icy body of water completely. He'd only taken three stone's throw when he noticed the coolness around his foot. When he focused his attention downward he could sense clearly that his trainers were gone, the bottom of the inning of his trouser in tatter. Where the splatter from Felspar hit the front of his jersey it had dissolved away as if it had been burned by dose, the aura of his bare skin underneath beaming through.

Stepping backward as he moved out of and away from the stream, Harry focused at the running pee. For the world-class prison term he noticed that its colour was different than the former current he'd seen through the timberland. The light emanating from this water was whitened, to a greater extent crystalline, to a greater extent pure. With a great bound Ronan, who had been following, jumped from bank to bank with ease. Harry expected to be chastised for stopping, yelled at for falling behind, but Ronan said nothing. Harry noticed that the whitish-gray of Ronan's aura warmed a bit. He'd learned, at least with his friends, that such a change meant a smile. He wondered what it meant with a Centaur.

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

"Is something incorrectly ?"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 H2O so often, and yet you still can not see ?"felspar stepped closer to the flow, staring down at its ripples.

"Not with your eyes, dopy one !"snapped Ronan. Felspar stepped back and closed her eyes. A present moment passed before she rose up on her put up legs and spun toward them.

"The surrender !"she cried with upheaval."The stream that feeds the descent !"Then Felspar stepped over to Harry, noticing his bare feet and ankles."Harry Potter, your fetlocks are bare."She stepped closer."But the flesh is unharmed. If ever I held dubiousness in the Chosen, they have forever washed away."felspar nodded with a slight bow. Harry nodded in homecoming and the smiled as he saw felspar own fetlocks.

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

"The boy is right on, Felspar,"said Ronan."Your own fetlock joint have grown brighter. Like the Chosen, you now wear socks."He laughed as feldspar looked down to see that indeed her white coat was glistening more brightly from the knee and hock down.

"Perhaps you should stand out in wholly,"suggested Harry.

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

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

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

"As I am not,"retorted Ronan."For three straightforward days Shahan has failed to grok the lesson. Firenze says Shahan did not even incommode to search for Ebyrth. The centaur is of no use to the heard if he refuses to instruct our agency. I care not that he is young."Then Ronan stepped closer to Felspar ; his posture becoming stiff."You would be wise not to take heed to Shahan's idea, felspar. That your coat should change colour at all is not a in effect sign. Your mother has raised you better."Then Ronan's demeanour changed back to one of teacher.

"focus your mind on where you need to be, Felspar."He said nothing more, but feldspar turned toward the component part of the afforest through which Shahan had disappeared. A import later in a streak of 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 Centaurus can turn blank and slow metre so that space 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 mortal soundbox and travel with the other living spirits of the forest."

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

"Yes,"answered Ronan."But I need not show you again ; these skill are yours to command. Do you sense the Bowtruckle staring at us from across the stream ? Perhaps he can aid you see what you've thirsted for. get hold of out to the creature's mind."

When Harry did reach out, he found it far easygoing than he first expected. The DOE of the forest seemed to imbue him with added perceptivity, guiding his thoughts as he became focused on the animate being, leaving his own ego, releasing his corporeal contour behind and melding into the essence of a stick. In a blink of an eye he was one with the woody Bowtruckle. His eyes blinked. Ahead, across the stream were a Centaur and young man with shattered pants and no shoes. Harry tried to step forward, but the creature would not reply. It was as if he were simply eavesdropping. Suddenly, he felt quite athirst. Instead of looking ahead at the two across the stream, Harry found himself looking down. There was a rather large stink worm wriggling its protuberant head between two foliage. He bent down, sniffed the foul affair at pulled it up out of the soil grinding gut and dry land between his teeth.

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

"fountainhead done, Harry ceramicist. It has been lupus erythematosus than a year since the cleanup, and already you have learned the Centaurus prowess. It will take much to a greater extent fourth dimension to get over them and many years to understand their true nature. It is…"Ronan paused looking toward the western sky."…unfortunate that we have so lilliputian time."His hoof clawed at the soil."It does not go well for our brothers in Eastern Europe. Wizards have joined the Dementors and brought a new ally to the war."These shoemaker's last words were spoken with the most emotion Harry had ever heard from a Centaur—contempt.

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

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

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

"It is time for you to return to the rook, Harry Potter. I have been training you far too severe and far too flying, I'm afraid. So it is with Shahan and felspar. You are all learning before your ability to get the picture. If we were greater in number…"Ronan let out a farsighted sigh as Harry turned to face up him.

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

"That is not a question for the Centaur, Harry Potter,"said Ronan defiantly."It is a question for the Dementors. It is not our war ; it is theirs. It is not the Centaur herd that are destroying the small town of Eastern Europe. That is the body of work of the Dementors and their ilk. They are the ones swayed by Ebyrth's return ; 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 duskiness has no purpose other than devastation. Near the end of that war, only a smattering escaped into the swamps and peat bog through which we could not jaunt. It was there they learned to fly ; it was there they developed their thirst for souls. Now, from a dissipate few, their issue have multiplied. They outnumber the Centaurus two to one. For that we can thank the Wizarding world and the world of man whose avarice has consumed the world and produced sustenance on which the Dementors provender.

"No, Harry Potter, you fight on the side of righteousness, as the Centaurs have for 100. But, I am afraid, sexual morality alone will not be enough to lead us to victory. We will want your strength and more."

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

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

"Yeah, right,"said Harry a bit sarcastically."I see that everyone's their own pretty colour. If I had a few hundred I might be able-bodied to acknowledge everyone's exceptional hue."

"It is a window to the feeling that lies within. This vision you have goes beyond external show and penetrates the essence of the creature before you. My hoi polloi hold their emotions well, so they appear gray or Edward White. Have you noticed that house elves are nearly always—"

"viridity. Er… green. Yeah, I noticed."

"Goblins, whose natures are always angry, are almost always flush with red. While thaumaturgist and witches carry the semblance that suit their nature, colours the groom centaur judgment can tell apart. It does not take long to make out the given hue."

"Or hues,"added Harry.

"apology me ?"asked Ronan."What do you stand for ?"

"Well, when they have more than than one coloring. You know, say William Green that sometimes turns blue."Ronan was staring blankly at Harry."You know, the guy's kind of blue sometimes, kind of cat valium other times… right ?"

"Unless there is a phenomenal shift, a look carries but one hue, Harry ceramicist. It may clear or darken, but the hue remains the Lapp. Unless…"

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

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

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

"There are mode you might see two hues, Harry ceramist. Some wizards or witches are known Animagi. The animal inside can represent a unlike hue, although even among the Animagi it is rare. Usually, the creature reflects the nature of the witch or wizard."There was a farseeing break.

"And the other ?"asked Harry.

"It can be the work of a fractured intent, mortal who is really two people, or possibly under the ascendence of another."

"The Imperius hex ?"Harry asked.

"Perhaps. Such is the way of wizards and my cognition falters there. I hope this is not someone close. Someone in your self-confidence ?"

"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 inclination of figure. He focused on bending the blank 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 strawman door. He'd covered the space, some miles, in little more than than the blink of an eye. Still, in so doing he'd exhausted what picayune resources of strength he had left. His clothes shredded, he was about to tap on Hagrid's doorway when he sensed that somebody was hidden in the trees behind the garden. Harry reached for his wand and held it at the ready. Barefoot, he began to step silently toward the spy. It was one technique taught him by the Centaurus and for the swift of moments Harry thought he'd prefer a serrate arrow right about now.

Stealthily, Harry moved closer. The figure, with a promising emerald green aura, didn't move. Its positioning continued to pillow against the Tree. Just a few yards away Harry's nostrils took in the smell of bullet, a distinctively aromatic smoke.

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

"damn, ceramicist,"genus Draco said, pulling himself away from the tree diagram and turning to face Harry."I thought you'd never get here."Dragon took a tone closer."pigeon hawk, what the hell happened to you ?"

"Draco, you can't be here. Do you have sex what will happen if—"

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

In the darkness from far up the hill Harry could get word the front door of the castle assailable with their characteristic pass. What he didn't expect to pick up next was Ron Weasley's voice.

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

Followed by his begetter's.

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

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

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

"Yeh should ingest been here an hour ago !"he called from inside."I don't care what Ronan tells yeh ; the forest ain't safety after dar—. Er… professor Dumbledore, sir. Erm… rector. I… er… I wasn't expectin'company."

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

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

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

"You can read !"said Harry dismissively."It's been in every paper I can recollect of."Dragon ignored the gap, reached up and touched the side of Harry's face.

"Does it hurt ?"

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

"Blaise has been… compromised. He and I have a magical catch phrase that we use to ensure the other is mentally free from any… tampering. For the last two calendar week, Blaise has tried to contact me without using that phrasal idiom. He's person else's now."Draco took another long drag on his fag."How father found out… I don't know."His words were deeply disturb. It was an emotional switching in genus Draco that Harry had rarely seen."We were thrifty ; more than careful. You need to have a go at it that there's a spy in the palace. I thought maybe Nott, but he doesn't have the acquisition to swan the Imperius."

"You're r-risking your liveliness to tell me there's a spy ?"asked Harry incredulously."There's p-probably a dozen !"His teeth were beginning to prattle as the cold set in.

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

"T-Training,"Harry interrupted.

"right, like that's going to bring through your dreary 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 Noel. Did you know that ? A private wedding."

"What ? What are you talking about ?"

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

"Married ? Goldstein ?"

"Not even her lilliputian blood brother knows they're getting married. Quite scandalous."Draco chuckled to himself and then sat cross-legged on the flat coat."But I suppose you, all knowing oracle of the blind have insight to that."Harry said zilch, but sat down next to Dragon crossing his arms and stage under genus Draco's cloak.

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

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

"France,"answered Draco with a sly smile."Don't tell anyone, Harry, but Goldstein's guardian may be their chaperon by day, but at Night he's a destruction Eater in my Father of the Church's service. It's a tryst of little consequence to my don and it pays the bills for Henry, the chaperone, but I knew you might have a special interest."

"I never thought that Goldstein and Cho would—"

"Oh, but I'm not done, Harry. Cho Chang spends her twenty-four hours in Anatole France, in a piffling Doroteo Arango just north of marseille, a Ithiel Town called La Mure. She and the—"

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

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

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

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

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

"Then why are you risking your life right now ? It's not to chatter on about some girl and guy you couldn't give a darn about. What's so important that—"

"They've found it,"Draco interrupted."month ago I asked you to find it first, and you didn't even try. Now they have it."He flicked a branchlet into Harry's boldness."Blaise risked his life and you did cipher. Now he's been found out."Draco leaned over and grabbed the cloak about Harry's neck opening. Harry could feel the material tighten, not by Draco's hand, but another military force."You're going to get it back, dearest, or I'll putting to death you myself."The fabric tightened further. Harry reached for his scepter, but found the cloak held his script tight.

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

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

All of a sudden, the cloak released Harry and he began to cough, heaving in as often air as he could. Draco took to his feet and wrapped the nigrify cloak about his shoulders, his long blonde tomentum starkly white in contrast. Still coughing, Harry stumbled to his foundation and pulled his wand. Draco ignored the gesture and turned to leave. But then he stopped as if suddenly remembering a forgotten persuasion. The door to the Hagrid's hut opened and Ron stepped out. He'd heard the auditory sensation of Harry's cough.

"Harry ? !"Ron called to the shadow.

"Oh, and Harry,"Draco said, looking Harry in the heart even if the glimpse was not returned."Cho isn't pregnant."He turned to go forth."It's a newborn child boy. Well, not so a lot newborn any More. You'll never guess the birthday… it's the same day as yours."

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

"That's not possible,"he whispered at the vacuum. The auditory sensation of footfall came charging up from behind and Harry could learn the ruckus on the front porch of Hagrid's hut. A handwriting touched Harry's shoulder.

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

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

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

"I told you, Chester Alan Arthur,"Dumbledore said gently from within the hut,"nothing to occupy about. come in and let's finish our tea."

"My god, Albus !"cried Arthur as Harry and Ron returned to the cabin."flavour at the boy !"Harry was still barefooted, what remained of his clothes in tatters, his aspect covered in mud and now a thin red telephone circuit that wrapped about his neck shown through the grease. As he climbed the steps with Ron's assistance his teeth once again began to natter.

"Yes, yes,"said Dumbledore, dispassionately."I see they've been working you rather hard today, Harry."The command was to a greater extent interrogative sentence than anything."A lot to suppose about ?"Harry just nodded and walked through the door."Well, it's not going to get any well-to-do, young man."

"Get o'er by the fire, lad,"said Hagrid, offering a blanket. But before Harry had a chance to accept, Dumbledore pulled his wand and tapped Harry's berm. The grime disappeared and a Hogwarts gown covered his body. The thin red production line about his neck and the aching muscle, however, remained.

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

Warming his muscles by the fervor, sipping a bit of tea, and pretending to love Hagrid's rock-hard stone cakes, Harry was beginning to feel himself again. He assured Arthur Weasley that he was fine and that his tousled appearance was all in a day's work, training with the Centaurs in the timberland ; but the Minister was none too convert.

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

"Just a little study with dickens's gin is all, sir,"answered Harry, rubbing his neck with his left hand and sipping some more tea with the other. If they could see his eye, they would know he wasn't listening to a word they were saying. Draco probably thought his little appearance would centre Harry's creative thinker fully on some Horcrux that the Ministry had no doubt just found, but Harry's mind was anything but centred. After a bit more give-and-take about school, declination about Harry being screen, and news program about the fight raging in Eastern EEC, President Arthur Weasley finally got down to the purpose of his visit.

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

"What ?"Harry exclaimed."Why ?"

"Well, to try to recover the eubstance, Harry,"answered Mr. Weasley, surprised somewhat at Harry's reaction."Many Aurors lost their lives that evening and their bodies have never been found — at least, not until last calendar week. Since the collapse we tried for month to find the freighter with no success. We encountered one magical portal after another, and the actor were none too pitch to accidentally stumble across the Curtain itself."

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

"No, Ron,"interrupted Dumbledore,"the Curtain and the pulpit were destroyed in the fall. No, just the bodies, bodies from both side of meat, have been returned to their loved ones."

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

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

"Why surely, Ron,"said Hagrid with gloat."Come on in teh the kitchen."Ron stood and followed Hagrid, patting Harry's shoulder joint 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. seaport't I ? There's another darkness we need to stave off, isn't there ?"

"Yes, yes, absolutely, Harry, absolutely."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 next words were a lie."They pulled it up today, just before lunch. I looked for you earlier, Harry, but you'd already left for the forest."Chester Alan Arthur Weasley stood from his electric chair and looked out the windowpane facing the castle, the colour returned to his atmosphere."I was thinking we could have a dedication of sorts. You could come to the Ministry as we put it on showing. It would certainly remind the people in these gloomy times that we can beat darkness."

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

"Oh, yes, I'm sorry, Harry,"answered Chester A. Arthur."I've wanted to discuss our lookup since you and I spoke on the gear. I never knew taking care of the Ministry would ware so much of my time."His centre wandered for a moment and then returned to run across Harry's."No matter,"he whispered."In our search, we recovered the cloak. The black cloak of… You-Know-Who. The only remnant of his darkness and a symbol to all of his defeat."

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

"I knew you might feel this way, Harry,"said President Arthur with understanding."That's why I came myself. You must realize what an ikon 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 mean so a great deal to—"

"It's insane !"said Harry, rising to his feet."Do you bang 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 time to consider what all the implications are. Time to consider what's best for… everyone involved."Harry expected to see the lovingness of ire shape in Dumbledore's gloriole, but if anything his Light dimmed with a coolness of concern.

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

"Please, Harry, you needn't call me—"

"alibi me, sir. I need to go. It's just… I'm really tired is all."Harry reached out his hand to shake, and Arthur Weasley took it."Let me get my drumhead together, and I'll get back to you. Just a day or two."

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

"I got it dad,"said Ron, dropping one of the rock cakes on the table with a thud."Finish your tea and have some more… er, cakes."Ron ran to the door next to Harry's side. Staring at the cake and then Hagrid, Arthur was about to say something when Dumbledore spoke out instead.

"Excellent idea, Mr. Weasley,"he said to the younger redhead."Please find Harry safely back to the castle."

"Goodnight, Hagrid,"said Harry to the giant still in the kitchen, baking up another flock of bar for his guest."Thanks !"

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

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

"I just don't get it, Harry,"said Ron shaking his read/write head."It's just a man 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 waterfall. recollect when you fell in hold out yr ?"

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

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

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

"Tale or not, the piss destroys cloth. I doused Voldemort in nearly ten gal of the stuff. It was enough to dissolve every immorality bone in his body, but the cloak… Damn ! I should ingest known when I saw it then. The cloak survived. But why ?"

"So you think it's the…"Ron's phonation dipped low,"…the Horcrux Draco was talking about ?"

"I don't see how it can be,"answered Harry."If it's percentage 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 castle doors. Ron heaved on the heavy handle just as Harry's hand stopped him and shut them again.

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

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

"Yeah… yeah, that's it."

"Well my mum's always going on how I took farseeing than most… ‘ 40 two weeks, and in the middle of the war !'she'd say.

"So… figurin'my birthday, 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 import, touched his finger and counted backwards, and then a glow of a grin crossed his side once again.

"Pretty damn near to Halloween, Harry."He poked Harry in the costa."Do you think they were wearing costumes ?"Harry didn't react in the way Ron expected. Instead, he leaned his spinal column against the rook doors and slid down to a sit on the gem landing.

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

"What ? What is it, Harry ?"

"Ron… I think… I think I'm a father."


Harry thrower and the Birth of a New Sun

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

When Harry and Ron passed through the portrait of the Fat dame, Harry found the Gryffindor common elbow room, warmer than rule. Near the fireplace sat the glory of Parvati, Lavender, Gabriella, Hermione, Ginny and James Byron Dean. Towards the spinal column, Neville was helping Patrick and a few others, Harry had yet to recognize, prepare for their Herbology exams. Evidently, the exam involved a burning at the stake industrial plant of some kind, perhaps fireseed, Harry thought, since there was a billowy swarm of heater that hung over the radical and nobody seemed to mind.

Harry, his nous fractured at the minute, brought his attention on St. Patrick. The heater was clouding his ability to see the air of those at the backbone table, but the filter igniter emanating from Patrick was the Same as it had been since Harry first met him after the accident - blue and dark-green. Each people of color waxed and waned, growing more green whenever he was excited or near Harry.

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

"Harry ! Ron !"cried Dean. His articulation brought Harry's attending back to the grouping about the open fireplace. The call sounded like a plea for help, as if dean felt, at the moment, like a trapped rat in a snake's John Cage. He began to stand when Ginny grabbed his arm.

"Oh, Dean,"she said breathlessly,"isn't it beautiful ?"Hermione was projecting an image of a young woman in a Andrew Dickson White hymeneals apparel. The girl stood, suspended in the middle of the five students and modelled the dress she was wearing, slowly turning in all directions so that everyone could see, everyone that is except Harry.

"Er… yeah, corking,"muttered Dean miserably, sinking back into the sofa.

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

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

"You could possess fairy's carry it."

"I kind of like it,"Hermione said as she held her paw to her chin and tapped her cheek with one finger."But I think the second…"James Dean let out an audible groan, but the missy ignored him while Hermione began to flash through example after example, dress after dress, as if riff Sir Frederick Handley Page of a book. It was only then when she noticed that Ron and Harry had entered the common room.

"Ron !"she exclaimed."You're just in time."Dean's middle grew spacious and he shook his nous as nondescriptly as he could to ward them off. Ron caught it, but Harry did not."We were just looking over dresses when—"She stopped herself mid-sentence, noticing the look on Ron's face."What's wrongly ?"

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

"cypher,"they said simultaneously.

Gabriella patted Harry's brass.

"zip ?"she said, sensing the swirling swarm of emotions that must ingest shown like a lighthouse for everyone to see."Would you like to conjoin us ?"she asked."We were just—"

"No thanks,"interjected Harry. While he had grown accustomed to seeing students from other houses in the common room, he had completely forgotten that the girls were going to get together this even to discuss Hermione's wedding design for the summer."I need to get prepare 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 screechy clean,"she replied sceptically."You know, if you weren't working out in the forest today, we could sustain gotten at least three hour on the pitch."

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

"You're the squad skipper ! 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.

"Dumbledore ?"

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

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

"well, he only had a arcminute,"said Ron, stepping secretive to his sister. She had risen to her feet and dean took the opportunity to quickly dart away and head toward the spiraling staircase to the boy'dormitory."And he needed to see Harry, so I took him over to—"

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

Less than a moment later everyone was talking at once. Ron and Harry were being bombarded with interrogative sentence about everything from the government minister's visit, to why Dumbledore needed to stir Harry new gown, to what pattern Ron thought would be nice for the new china.

Unexpectedly, there was a forte explosion from the back of the elbow room that caused everyone to shrill. A rather declamatory fireball spewed Forth from the table where Neville and the others were working. It was Neville who stopped it from lighting the all place on fire by casting a splash charm.

"tinker's dam it, Patrick,"Neville said irritably, while a few of the former students laughed,"I told you not to mix fireseeds with gas plant powder ! If you do that in the exam tomorrow, Professor Sprout will break down you for sure."

The commotion that had surrounded Harry, quickly gathered about the back table and the scorched faces that stood there. Harry took the opportunity to postdate James Byron Dean's stride up the staircase. Near the top he heard a rather dejected Patrick apologize, but what he saw was a bluish air beaming with pridefulness. Then Harry noticed Patrick flash him a thumbs-up from within the longsighted sleeve of his robe, a signal that no one could see.

"Sorry, Neville,"said St. Patrick with a shrug of his articulatio humeri."I'm just no skillful at this kind of stuff. I'll be lucky to make it to the 3rd year at this rate."

Gabriella looked back toward the fireplace to regain Harry and before she could find where he was Harry disappeared into the male child'dormitory. Inside he found James Byron Dean, belly down on his bed, reading a Scripture about Quidditch. He loved the game so, it was a ignominy he wasn't any in force 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 bollix up myself up if I had to look at one more Red China pattern."He looked back at the book and turned the Sir Frederick Handley Page."talk of the town 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 Thomas Nelson Page ; clearly not having read the last."So… last year… yeah, maybe. But that's your fault."James Byron Dean looked up, pointing a finger at Harry.

"Me ?"

"Well, I mean, I was in a battle — fighting you for her. You know. That sort of thing, well… it gets a guy in the humor. But this stuff downstairs… nuptials dress, and colours of defer wearing apparel, and…"Dean sighed."talking about deflating."Without looking back down to the book, he turned another page. Then, quite suddenly, dean groaned and turned over on his bed, placing the spread Bible over his chest."pigeon hawk, I love her."There was muteness and he sighed again."She's been my world. She brought me back after the accident."doyen held his hand up, flexing the finger in social movement of his cheek. His soul had been reconnected to his corporeal descriptor and Ginny had been there every stair of the way."She didn't need to do that."

"She loves you,"said Harry, walking over to his bed, taking off his new school robes and putting on a loose span of jeans."expression it, Dean, you're her public too."

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

"…children,"added Harry quietly.

"Merlin, no,"shot James Byron Dean."I can't even imagine. But then Ginny's Handy with a sheathing charm. We're careful… you know ?"Harry nodded as a mile twisted in his stomach."Can you consider Neville and Helen of Troy ?"continued James Byron Dean."Neither one of them used any protection their first few times. Hermione found out and had a fit."

"Hermione ?"queried Harry.

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

"But why Hermione ?"

"If you want to know any spell, charm, or hex to get the job done, Harry, who do you go to ? Hermione."Harry looked a bit disgruntled and crossed his branch. Dean sensed Harry's pride and added,"After all, everyone knew she and Ron were together since the descent of last yr. She knew how to be rubber, and Neville sure enough wasn't going to talk to Ginny."

Harry wasn't sealed how to take in that. He didn't have a cue until last Christmas that Ron and Hermione were together. Yet, everyone else seemed to do it. Further, he was pretty sure as shooting that last yr Tonks had used her transfiguration skills to contract on the appearance of Helen so that she could pinch 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 dear idea. Harry began to drum his desk with his digit, then crossed his blazonry and just looked down at the base. He could see the glory's of the living organisms that his mates had tracked in under their shoes. Maybe aunt petunia wasn't such a crazy bat after all - at to the lowest degree as far as wiping one's groundwork at the door was concerned.

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

Barefoot and shirtless, Harry walked over to the windowpane. Christmastime was a calendar week away and, sadly, no snow had fallen. The primer coat below and the surrounding timber glistened brightly in Harry's blindness. He placed his left hand on his thorax, just above Asha's spunk, the gemstone that even now sat hidden within him. Focusing high above the treetop he found zip but pitch blackness. former in the even, clouds had moved in, covering all in a dark mantle through which no star topology shone. He peered at the same quadrant of sky in which he knew Ebyrth hung, growing ever closer. He closed his eyes and dropped his head heavily against the glass windowpane.

Voldemort's cloak should make been destroyed by the urine from the falls, but it wasn't. Why ? Was it the Horcrux Draco thought it was, or simply an object of top executive that Lucius craved ? There was a spy in the rook, probably within Gryffindor or Slytherin that had given up Blaise. He was now under a Death Eater's Imperious curse. Who was the spy ? Could they have turned Patrick too ?

It wasn't enough that war was raging in Eastern Europe and would soon grace the forest about Hogwarts, if not the castle itself. Now there was a child. Could it really be his ? That was a stupid inquiry. Of course it could be ; the timing was near perfect and they had been… well, dullard. It was just before the Halloween banquet. Harry was going to secern 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 look in her heart. Even now, the memory sent a tingle down his prickle and made his inside quiver. Neither of them was in the rightfield figure 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 tyke was Harry's, did Anthony know, or was Cho simply using him ?

Harry shook his head, trying to clear his muddled cerebration. Maybe he was making a big mess of aught. Maybe Antonius was the Padre. 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 cold and a shake ran across his body. He turned and walked over to his storage chest, opening the lid and notion around for a shirt.

"Harry ?"James Byron 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 couplet of socks.

"Yes ?"

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

"Kinda,"answered Dean, looking at black and maybe a dark US Navy blue sky.

"Good… good,"replied Harry and he slipped the shirt and socks on. He sat back on his bed and slipped on his kick without saying a word.

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

"Accio cloak !"Harry called with his right on hand in the air, finger outstretched for a catch. His cloak flew into his look."Almost,"Harry muttered. He stood and put on the cloak on and then slipped his sceptre into his sleeve and stepped toward the doorway.

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

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

"Whew ! I made it !"cried Ron, jumping into their elbow room."I never thought I'd get Hermione's care. 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 whisper.

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

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

"What's going on ?"she asked. Then looking at Harry she queried,"Where are you going ?"

Harry, who had leaned up against the paries near the threshold, began tapping it nervously with his fingers. He glared at Ron."Great plan, mate."

"fountainhead,"said Ron,"I tried to—"Harry held up one finger to his backtalk and Ron lowered his vocalism."I tried to—"Harry shook his digit at Ron. There was a bit of a rumbling and Ginny burst through the doorway.

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

"Bloody hell,"he whispered.

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

"You did !"cried Dean."How could you not narrate me ? Did you all do it ?"Harry could see the fire construction in doyen's emotions. cypher said a watchword."How retentive have you known ?"

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

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

"He saved my life, Dean,"interjected Ron."That you do know. That I've told everyone. But my word isn't enough to keep him out of Azkaban. I should sleep with, the government minister's my Dad and, no, he doesn't know about Draco either."

These words cooled Dean's fervour, if only a scintilla, and his helping hand found his air pocket. There was a bit of silence and then he turned to Ginny reached out and took her helping hand.

"You know, Gin,"James Byron Dean said gently,"if we're going to spend the rest of our lives together, we can't be keeping closed book from one another. Secrets… they… they sour souls and twist trustingness. If you'd have just told me to keep mum, you know I would suffer. All you had to do is ask. You know that… don't you ?"Ginny reached her hand to dean's cheek and kissed him.

"I know,"she said softly. Then she held him tightly in her arms."I'm sorry."

"Well… expert,"said Harry uncomfortably."Erm… Ron, tell your Dad that we can have the ceremony with Voldemort's cloak this Sabbatum after exams."

"But that's three 24-hour interval, Harry,"Ron said,"isn't that too long to—"

"Right,"cut in Harry,"so that's why you… all,"he waved toward the group,"can reckon out how we get the cloak tomorrow night. I'll meet you at the entree to the Ministry at midnight. Have the plan make and I'll help you however I can."He grabbed Gabriella's hand."Come with me."They started for the threshold when Hermione grabbed the back of Harry's cloak, stopping him in his rail.

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

"First, 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 mystery I'm afraid,"said Harry, raising his workforce to quiesce his friends,"that needs to be kept… at least for now."Again he took Gabriella's arm."Come on."Everyone turned to Ron as Gabriella and Harry left the room. Almost immediately, Gabriella began to ask questions, but Harry held a finger to his lips.

"Not here… not now,"he whispered.

They were about to clear out through the portraiture of the Fat peeress when Lavender stopped them near the fireplace.

"So I guess Hermione's done looking at dresses for the nighttime ?"she asked.

"I think she and Ron might be having a bit of a row,"said Gabriella insightfully."She's definitely done for the night."

"Ooooh,"hummed Lavender as she cast a gossipy glimpse toward Parvati.

"Men,"said Anapurna flatly. Gabriella simply nodded, taking Harry by the arm and walking out of the Gryffindor common way.

The two didn't speak until they reached the staircases. It was subdued with only a few students roaming about. Most were potential studying for tomorrow's exams. The others were either heading toward or returning from the library. The two found themselves alone on the staircase 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 Chang !"Harry snapped."How could you not be intimate ? You two were inseparable at the end of last class. She helped you through examination. Merlin, you spent more than clip with her than with me. How could you not roll in the hay ?"

The stone staircase came to repose 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 Susan Anthony,"Gabriella said knowingly. Harry said nothing, wishing only that the staircase would move more quickly."Tell me Harry, are you still so envious ?"

"Jealous ?"Harry asked angrily."green-eyed monster has nothing to do with this. I have a right to get laid !"His death words were loud and reverberated off the stone walls.

"They have a right to their concealment, Harry,"Gabriella replied with an edge in her voice."They have a right to celebrate the Daily Prophet out of their lives. Frankly, I don't see how it's any of your business. It's clear Cho knew what she was talking about when she asked that I keep this from you. She said you'd react this way."

They turned and began to make their way up to Ravenclaw tower. A third year Ravenclaw joined them on the moving case upward. Harry moved close to Gabriella failing miserably at keeping his articulation hushed.

"None of my line of work ? None of my business ? !"

"Yes ! None of your concern ! They were stupid, Harry,"Gabriella said struggling to maintain her calmness in front of the 3rd year, although Harry could smell the anger construction within her."It was a mistake, a misapprehension that Anthony's wizard enough to set straight. Can't you see that he's trying to do the right matter by caring for what will soon be his kinsperson ?"

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

"What do you mean to do ?"she asked."Confront him ? Hex him for getting your… your schoolmistress 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 baby, but she didn't know that Harry could be the father. He stopped and leaned against the balustrade. The postponement was just long enough that the staircase began to make a motion again.

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

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

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

"I know that too,"she said with a smile that Harry could not see but could feel. She kissed him gently on the cheek and pulled him close. They held each other that way for some clock time and when the staircase came to a stop Gabriella moved to get off, but Harry stood still.

"I'm not jealous because of Anthony,"spoke Harry to the candid air before him."It's just that… I could be the founder,"he said softly.

"What ?"

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

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

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

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

"It seems to me,"Gabriella said slyly,"that, for individual who's not supposed to know anything, you know quite a bit already. You know there's a youngster. You know she's in France."

"La Mure,"added Harry.

"Then you know all there is to know, Harry. The town's not that big 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 provide the rook alone. Besides, Professor Snape has already released me from tomorrow's test for—"

"—for high chump,"interrupted Harry."Yeah, I know. I know."He paused for a few moments and then shook his head. But before Harry could say a password Gabriella began.

"Harry,"she said gently, holding her hand to his face,"I don't care how well you can see what others can not."She took his bridge player."You're blind. It makes a difference. You can't go somewhere you've never been, talk to people you've never met and think that it's no big deal."There was another hanker pause.

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

"You're joking, right ?"

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

It took 20 hour to get what they needed before they could sneak out through the hidden tunnel to Hogsmeade. It took half that time to attain it to Le Mure. Gabriella was right, Harry would have been lost without her. It was bad enough trying to remember his French ; it was worse trying to figure out what hand gesture or facial aspect went along with it. screen, he could detect none of it, but Gabriella was nearly perfect. In fact, Harry began to question 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 dark at a lowly inn and wait until morning time. It was the first they'd been truly alone since the summer.

Harry offered to slumber on the storey, but Gabriella pulled him close to her. There was a warmth to her mite that meant more to him than anything in the unanimous world. That night he laid his soulfulness bare, telling her everything he knew, everything she'd listen to, including Draco's possibility about Voldemort's cloak. Only when he touched on his training with the Centaurs, would she noticeably change the content. He fell asleep in her arms and woke the next dawning the same way. The sun was just breaking into the window as he stroked her long Shirley Temple Black hair, wondering with some fear what the future would bring.

After breakfast, they walked down the alley toward the minor flat structure that the innkeeper had described to Gabriella. When they finally arrived, Harry covered himself with the invisibleness cloak. Gabriella knocked at the door and the doorway opened, held subject by an sometime man with grey hair's-breadth and a tired facial expression on his face. There were institution and Gabriella slipped inside. The door shut before Harry could accompany. There was a moment of secretiveness and then squeals of joy. Harry knew the sound ; Cho was inside. A few minute later the man left, jingling coins in his pocket. Harry's plan had worked - Gabriella, handing the man a couple galleons, suggested he go to the nook pub for a bit and a beer or two. He wasn't to the sidewalk before there was a snap and he had Disapparated. Then the murmur vowel began ; louder, then flaccid, then louder again. Finally, Harry heard,"Don't be silly."A import after that, the door opened and Gabriella ushered him inside.

All the piece, Harry had seen the aureole of the two young women and the older man. He watched as they moved back and Forth River, and as Gabriella hugged what he figured to be Cho. It had been the first time he had observed a Disapparation without his sight and he noted with pursuit the sudden burst of energy that accompanied it. But more than anything else his attending was focused on one affair above all - a dim cherry incandescence that glimmered from the cover of the apartment. Through all the walls it could have been anything - a cat, a dog. But Harry knew, by how well its colours blended with Cho's, what was there.

"Harry ?"Gabriella asked to the nothingness before her. Cho stood only a few feet away. Harry sensed warmth mixed with apprehension. As for himself, he could feel the sudor of his laurel wreath as he reached up and slipped off the cloak.

"Cho ?"he asked to the glow before him. The aura didn't move, the soul didn't speak, but the colour began to blanch almost immediately. Then her manus went to her boldness, covering her mouth.

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

"This ?"Harry asked, holding his manus near his temples."It's nothing. Just a bit of ice. Surgery's scheduled for next month ; should have me good as new."Cho took his hand and then touched his face.

"I'm so sorry,"she whispered."I should have come to visit."She took him in her arms and held him tight. He could finger her shaking in his coat of arms."I couldn't… I couldn't bear to see you again."

"Great,"Harry drawled."Always ripe to experience you're thought 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 face with her hands.

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

The space was larger than Harry expected, compared to what it looked like from the outside, but it was sparsely furnished and what trappings there were appeared old and tattered. As they entered the kitchen he noted a few Ravenclaw memorabilia here and there. He even recognized a Calluna vulgaris, the broom he bought her finis year, was propped up in the corner. Cho offered them some coffee bean, they accepted and together they sat at a modest table in the kitchen. There was a little talk about the weather and schoolhouse.

"Are your test over ?"Cho asked."Tony has Arithmancy tomorrow."

"Tony,"muttered Harry through gritted teeth. Maybe he was a bit jealous of Anthony."Er… yeah. Gab and I are done for the semester."

"That's great,"said Cho softly. There was an awkward muteness, and then, finally, Harry could await no longer.

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

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

"I also heard,"continued Harry, not really listening to Cho's row,"that you two had a tiddler ; a sister boy is it ?"Before Cho could answer Gabriella took her by the hand.

"It's so exciting, Cho !"she said joyfully."I'm sure you're a marvellous mother. The infant is so lucky to make two such wonderful parents. Both Ravenclaws !"

"Thank you, Gab,"said Cho warmly."T-Tony's been great."

"Can we see him ?"asked Gabriella excitedly."I've wanted to see him so."Cho was hesitant.

"Well,"added Harry,"I can't see him, but I have a pretty honest approximation that he's compensate through there, isn't he ?"He pointed to the rearwards way and swallowed."I think it's great that you and… er, Tony are doing the… er, right thing. It sure would be bully, at to the lowest degree for Gabriella, to see him. Just a crown ?"

"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 small red jumper. He smiled and muttered a few sounds as she sat him in his chair, offering him a biscuit to jaw on. The dampen fog of Harry's oculus were focused somewhere above the boy's head, but his mind's eye was captivated on the golden red luminescence before him. It was splendid, almost blinding, and Harry wondered if the cleverness of the gleaming was because he was a baby or something More. The biscuit snapped out of Cho's deal and flew into the waiting range of the infant's.

"feeling at that ! So soon ?"cooed Gabriella."He's just perfect."And then she began to guggle baby talking to the tyke.

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

Harry could smell out that she was looking at him, centred on his reaction, but he was at a passing. To know for trusted he would accept to ask straight out. Now, here they were, and Harry didn't know what to do. He half wanted to poke the infant with a joystick to see what it would do.

"Has he,"Harry began,"shown any other signs of deception ?"

"No. Not really,"answered Cho cautiously."But he can support 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 epithet ?"asked Gabriella.

"Jamie,"answered Cho.

"After your blood brother ?"

"We just liked the figure,"Cho said, not committing.

"I have to admit,"said Gabriella,"that he's the separate range of you. And that's a in force thing ; you're much better looking than Anthony."She laughed and Cho did too. It sounded as if it had been the first clock time Cho had laughed in quite some time. But then the timber in Gabriella's voice changed.

"In fact, he doesn't aspect much like a Goldstein at all. You're both so benighted, and Jamie's skin is so pale."

"He… he doesn't get out much,"said Cho, growing anxious.

"Cho, you know I love you like a sis. Don't you ?"Gabriella asked gently."wellspring, I think Harry has a right to recognise. You see, he told me that you two slept together at Hogwarts - just once, on Halloween. Caught in the heat of the consequence, I guess."Gabriella took a breath, gathering her strength."I don't upkeep why it happened. And it doesn't bother me anymore that it happened. The fact is it happened… nine month before footling Jamie here was born."

"Well—"

"Cho,"Gabriella interrupted."Harry may have his suspiciousness, but he can't see what I can, and the eyes never lie. You and Anthony, you both have brown eye. Both your parents each have brown eyes. It would drive a powerful wizard to farm a boy with anything other than Brown University oculus and the magic would most certainly be to turn the colour of the eyes to his own."Cho said naught. Harry said nothing."It's rightful, Jamie is the break open image of his beautiful mother. But the eyes… I think he has his Father's eyes."Cho remained soundless. Once again, Harry watched as her aura blanched.

"What do you mean ?"asked Harry blindly. Gabriella took his helping hand.

"They're green, Harry,"she said quietly."Prunus dulcis shaped and brilliantly green. Just like yours."


Harry ceramicist and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 15 - Another thrower
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Beyond the babble of the babe sitting beside Harry, there was silence. Perhaps, if one were to mind closely, the phone of a bird chirping or a distant bus creaking to a check could be heard, breaking the stillness of the dawn. Then Cho's base began to nervously tap against the slope of the board. In strawman of Harry, she had been confronted by Gabriella with the truth, but still she would not, or could not speak. Harry had known before they came to France that the tike would be his, and though he had not heard the Book from Cho's lips, he wasn't about to turn raging ; it was hard enough not to prove how frightened he was feeling. No, if anything, he needed some clip himself to get over the sinking flavour in his stomach, as if he'd just fallen off his broom. He would wait for Cho to be ready. He breathed deeply the odour of his coffee, took a sip, set the cup down and put out his finger, with which the little boy began to bite toothlessly.

"Jamie ?"Harry said tenderly."I… I like that name."

He smiled and put his manus on the boy's head.

"Oh, my. What a head of hair ! Is it black ?"This dewy-eyed question was purposefully directed at Cho. There was the beat of a intermission before she answered.

"Yes,"she said quietly, with a bit of a crack in the Book. Harry could see her deglutition.

"Thank Merlin 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 whole step. Harry tilted his brain down and shook it slowly.

"I don't think so,"he said quietly, his lips still turned in a slight smile.

"What do you mean ?"asked Cho, surprised."Surely they can—"

"I was just examined by Madame Pomfrey,"interrupted Harry."The vision charms aren't knitting. There's still too much glass."

"But couldn't they just—"

"There are XII of bantam sherd - too many and too small to vanish without vanishing while of my center and if they summon them out they'll shred whatever sizeable eye tissue paper that's left."Cho gasped.

"I… I didn't know. I thought—"

"No matter,"said Harry taking to his feet."I can see the fire in his person, even if I can't see their colour of his eyes."He went to the coffee pot to pour himself one Thomas More cup. On the way, he tripped on a small toy that had fallen on the floor and what liquid that was in his cup spilt.

"Woops,"said Harry. Cho stood to scavenge the spill, but Harry had it off the solid ground nearly before it landed with a simple wave of his helping hand. Since losing his stack, his ability without a verge, 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 front the cabinetry. Yes, he could see the fire in the boy's aura, but he would chip in anything to have his eyesight back… to see his tyke, his son. He began to tremble. For the first time in calendar month he was cold with care, and it wasn't fear of a Dementor or expiry eater. It was fear for his small fry and his child's female parent, fright for a future that was already so incertain, so dark. It felt as if all the air in the room was being sucked away.

"At least,"he said, holding the warm cup in his hand,"Mark Antony won't need to… to look into my eye and wonder. I… I wouldn't want that."Cho stepped up behind Harry and placed her script on his berm.

"Anthony Goldstein, Ravenclaw Prefect at Hogwarts School for witchery and genius ?"asked Cho."He might be a bit proud at sentence, but he's no motley 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 name. Your f-father's name."She placed her hired hand at the side of Harry's face."He knew that too. I… I didn't."With these words, Cho began to cry. She held Harry by the front of his shirt and pulled him close, sobbing into his chest. Gabriella left her chair and the three hugged for some prison term while Cho repeated over and over how good-for-nothing she was, and Harry repeated over and over that it was okay, that he was the one who was sorry. It was little Jamie who broke up the trio as he began to cry.

"Oh… he's athirst,"said Cho blotting her oculus. She picked the boy up into her branch and ushered them all into the front room where the fireplace sat frigidity, but the slightly tattered hot seat were more comfortable. Even without the fervidness, Harry watched with wonderment the warmth that filled the way. He could tell she loved the boy deeply. Nor, was the emotion lost on Gabriella, sitting at Harry's side, who was gathering a gleam herself as she took in the room's emotions of honey. He took Gabriella's hand and for the initiative sentence in a long metre Harry tried to slacken, letting the swirling concern of the future slicing from his brain. It was Cho that started the conversation as Jamie continued to suckle.

"I wanted to keep this secret, Harry - arcanum from my parents, secret from my brother, secret from you. At outset I was ashamed and then—"

"But—"

"Let me finish,"asked Cho."I need to finish, or I may never be able-bodied to."Harry nodded."last class you wanted to recount me about Gabriella."Cho looked at Gab."He did so require to push me away, to enjoin me of the Muggle girl he had met back home."Her eyes returned to Harry."But I could see that, just under the hide, there was a fervor of desire and I… I wanted… my broken body wanted to be desired."

"He was cross-hexed by my parents,"said Gabriella. The words were meant to be explanatory, but Harry noted a tinge of bitterness or gloominess.

"I know that now,"answered Cho."Maybe I knew it then, at least that he wasn't in his decent mind. I could have used a overlay magical spell. I thought about it. I even reached for my baton before it happened Hallowe'en Night behind the Great Hall."Gabriella shot Harry a glance that he could not see."But then I stopped. I wanted this."Cho looked down at Jamie."I wanted to experience something in case… in case…"

"In caseful 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 happy for you, Harry, and you were so sad."She sighed, shaking her top dog."So I hid it - I hid my pregnancy and I hid Jamie."She put the baby over her berm and began to pat its back."I thought that after You-Know-Who had been destroyed I could tell you, but then I heard about the new war… that Malfoy's Death eater were out to belt down you. What would they do if they knew you had a son ?"She shook her head."This summer, I travelled to the United States with Anthony… Tony. One night, I fell asleep in his arms and when I woke up the next morning the befuddling spell had warn off. I was fraught for all to see. In that instant I panicked, horrified by what he might think, what he might do, and in the next I felt Tony's trace, affectionate and caressing on my stomach. He stayed at my English and he's never left."Jamie let out a rather impressive belch and everyone smiled.

Grinning, Cho held Jamie in her lap and said something in Formosan as she wiped the milk from his mentum.

"Tony's hired Chalmers"said Cho, referring to the guard duty that was probably now close to finishing his morn meal,"to watch over Jamie and I, while he finishes school. It's costing him every Canute he has. Once we're married we'll qualify for benefit from the Ministry. They offer caparison and, maybe, we can find a courteous lieu to—"

"Benefits ?"bicker Harry, his spine snapping strict."From the Ministry ? You can't be serious ! You're not going to take a dime from the Ministry. As far as I'm concerned there all a bunch of criminal !"

"Harry !"called Gabriella.

"Well, Ron's dad. But the rest of the lot ? Crooks !"He took to his substructure."And as far as living in Ministry housing… never ! I won't allow it."

"What do you mean you won't allow it ?"said Cho a bit heatedly."You have no say in the matter."Harry ignored her.

"You'll halt at the palace. It's far enough away from what's happening… yes, you'll be dependable there."

"We're safety here,"said Cho, standing herself, the infant held snugly in both arms.

"prophylactic ! Are you kidding me !"cried Harry."What's his name… William Chambers ? He's a last feeder !"

"Oh,"Cho chuckled,"now you're just being ludicrous. Chalmers wouldn't hurt a fly. He's only working for Tony because of the benignity in his nerve. He hardly makes enough money to get by on."

"So he moonlights for Lucius Malfoy as a Death feeder !"exclaimed Harry."At to the lowest degree he doesn't know that the boy is mine. Thank merlin for that."Cho's face dropped with surprise at these words.

"How could you possible know that we haven't told him ?"she asked. Now Gabriella stood, stroked Jamie's impertinence and took him in her own arms, patting his cover as he rested against her shoulder joint.

"Because,"Gabriella said softly with a melodious spokesperson as if she were singing to the baby,"if Chalmers knew, Lucius would know. And if Lucius knew, his son would know."

"Draco ?"breathed Cho."I thought Draco was…"Her voice quieted and she strode over to Harry and slapped him on the shoulder."You short liar. You looked me straight in the eye and told me he fell into the abyss."Harry turned his back.

"Don't you look away from me !"Cho yelled."Let me see your face."Harry acquiesced. When he faced her, any anger he felt evaporated and his shoulder slumped.

"This is pointless,"he breathed."He'll be back here any minute. Maybe he's a kindly old doddered just trying to pee-pee a buck any way he can. Cho, you can't involve a chance."He placed his handwriting on her shoulder."I have money and it's my obligation. Let me at to the lowest degree assist pay the bills until Susan B. Anthony grad. Let me at least present you a roof over your straits where the fireplace works and you'll know you'll be safe."

"It's beautiful there,"added Gabriella."park fields… azure seas… precious Greek boys with bare chests."She winked and kissed Jamie on the nous. Cho crossed her arms and walked over to the fireplace that had no fuel for the fire.

"I… I'll have to ask Tony,"answered Cho."Do you think… I know it's difficult overseas, but do you think we could associate to the floo network ? I miss the phratry so, and we are going to tell them… after Tony graduates."

"That's one thing the Ministry can do,"said Harry, suddenly happy Cho was changing her mind."But you can tell Tony later. First, we need to—"There was a gingersnap and an blink of an eye later the front door opened. Gabriella motioned for Harry to obliterate. He had just decent metre to dart under his cloak and gathering himself into the turning point before Chalmers walked through the movement door.

The older man was too lean and not much taller than Cho. When he entered he took his coat off and hung it against the wall with a sticking charm.

"Beautiful day today, misfire Chang,"he said with a toothy smile."Beautiful Day !"He stepped over and gave Gabriella a nod."And thank you missy for the exquisitely meal."He paused."It's been a while since…"His face grew wistful, but then he shook his promontory."No matter."He slapped his hands together and pulled his verge."Let me clear these saucer for you."Harry stood silently against the wall as Chalmers walked with a bit of a hobble into the kitchen. There was a distinct 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 glory ; something was faulty.

"Oh,"said Chalmers with a tone of surprise in his voice."Three cups. Did you have another visitant today ?"Without waiting for an answer he levitated the dishes into the sink where the scrubbers began to wash them. Cho was frozen, but Gabriella stepped over without hesitation.

"Yes,"she said quite calmly,"a girlfriend of ours, also from Hogwarts. She had to go away early to get back for her afternoon exam."Chalmers nonchalantly straightened the chairs.

"Well, you know how Mr. Goldstein feels about visitor, girl Chang."He settled himself into one of the cushioned chairs and began to unfold the newsprint, still scanning the room with the eyes."At least strangers."Harry could tell that the old man was on safeguard, sensing something that was not correct."Just tryin'to keep you and the sister safe he is."

Baby Jamie babbled something and then pointed at Harry hidden beneath the cloak. The motion was enough to stimulate Chalmers to turn and look back into the far corner at the cracked and empty paries. Jamie babbled again and gave a unhorse joke. Chalmers smiled.

"Well, wee Jamie is happy enough to have guests."He held up the front Sir Frederick Handley Page."What's your supporter's name, missy ?"

"Hermione… Hermione husbandman,"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 nerve."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 friend. Please come visit after the wedding. I think I'll feel more easy then - Mrs. Goldstein."

"Oh ! That reminds me,"said Gabriella suddenly."Mr. Chalmers is it ?"Chalmers set his paper in his lap.

"Just Chalmers, missy."

"Cho was showing me the nursery and I noticed the rear window. We had discussed placing a waterproofing charm, but I wasn't sure if—"

"Yes, girl,"cut in Chalmers proudly."The whole household is sealed tight. No one can get in without permission. It's a Bucinum charm."

"Oh dear,"said Gabriella."A Bucinum charm ?"Chalmers nodded his read/write head."I think a Trepidus charm would be safer."

"Trepidus charm ?"asked Chalmers blankly.

"Oh yes,"added Cho."A Trepidus charm would be ideal."

"Certainly,"continued Gabriella,"I mean, if somebody tries to relegate in the Bucinum charm blows them up. That could harm the baby. Do you call up you could show me where you set the good luck charm ? Together we can pee the replacement."

"Oh, please do, Chalmers,"asked Cho pleadingly."Gabriella's a world-class class witch. She studied at Al Bsahri you know."

"Did she now,"said Chalmers with pursuit as he took to his feet."I've heard they reopened the schooltime this year."

"Yes,"said Gabriella,"it's quite lovely."

"Well, let's have a aspect around and see what we can do."Together, Chalmers and Gabriella made their way to the back of the household, leaving Cho and Jamie alone with Harry. Even as Harry moved toward the front end 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 espouse Gold— Susan Anthony ?"Harry asked.

"Christmas,"Cho answered. She tried to make the password strait exciting and vivacious, but it fell flat tire.

"Cho, you don't have to—"

"Don't I ?"Cho snapped."Don't I ? Tony loves me for all the world. He'd endangerment his life to protect me… and your son. He's honest, hardworking, and… and… and I'm marrying him on Christmas."Jamie wriggled in her arms, both deal outstretched toward Harry.

"You deserve to be happy,"said Harry quietly."You deserve ..."but Harry's give-and-take failed him."I'm so sorry."Cho ushered Harry outside to the front stoop and shut the door behind her. She lifted his cloak to reveal his 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 rim, and then draped the cloak back over him."I'll ask him about your offer. He's a proud man, Harry, and a bit obstinate. You should be able to appreciate 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 eye were sad. Jamie began to suck on his fingers. The door opened and Gabriella appeared followed closely by Chalmers.

"Ah, here you are,"said Gabriella. The sun was ardent on her face as she put her arms out and gave Gabriella a hug."The apartment is sealed tight."Cho took in a deep breather.

"goodness, thank you,"she said."I was just giving Jamie a minuscule sun."

"Which he can get through the window, my dear,"said Chalmers herding Cho back into the mansion."Now come inside."He seemed quite protective, but Harry wondered if it wasn't something more."A joy to suffer you, Miss Darbinyan, was it ?"

"Yes, and a pleasure it was to receive you,"Gabriella replied."It's right to see my friend in such fine deal. Cho, I'll be by before yearn with those natural endowment I promised."

"endowment ?"Cho asked."Oh, yes, giving. Yes, yes, anytime. Be safe ; there's a serenity blank to Apparate just behind that gray edifice over there."They kissed bye and Gabriella began to walk down the street, Harry at her side. Chalmers stood for some time after Cho had gone inside, watching from the stoop. Gabriella waved one go clip as she turned the recess out of sight. Harry was about to pull off the cloak when she stopped him.

"Stay hidden,"Gabriella whispered."We're being followed."Harry spun and there behind the building they'd just passed were the nimbus of two little digit. They hadn't been there a instant before.

"Did you see them ?"Harry asked."I didn't hear an Apparation."

"theater elves,"Gabriella whispered,"at to the lowest degree one of them. The other… I can't tell."

"But there weren't any business firm elves at the house,"said Harry.

"I know,"she replied."They must belong to to someone else, or one's with its master."

"Who ?"

Gabriella just shrugged.

"How did he know your name ?"asked Harry.

"It just slipped out. But I don't think—"

"You don't think Lucius would just as soon see you up on a pike as me ? It was foolishness !"

"He'd have found out soon enough,"said Gabriella with a sigh as the two turned another turning point. The street was deserted save for two young boys playing football near the end by a chain-link fence. Gabriella pulled her wand. She was going to attack the two that were nearing the nook, but Harry stayed her hand.

"Gab, no,"he whispered."Grimmauld Place."

"But—"

"Now !"

A moment later they found themselves on the streets of Jack London, just outside of number XII, Grimmauld Place. They waited to see if they might take been followed, then checked that the streets were clear. Finally, Harry uncloaked and walked up the stairs to the door, knocking twice. The threshold opened of its own accord and the two walked in. There was a rustling, a clunk, and then Sirius appeared atop the staircase wearing boxers and a jersey. baton drawn he pointed it blindly toward the doorway.

"freezing !"he screamed."Or I'll obliterate you !"

"I hope not,"answered Harry."I'm kinda hungry."

"Harry ?"Canicula said, blinking his eyes."Harry what the hell… Gabriella ?"Sirius made an attempt at slicking back his haircloth and started down the stairs.

"It's after noon,"Harry said."Don't evidence me you were still sleeping."

"I was up late lastly night. Remus finished grading papers and we— Hey, isn't your Potions exam today ?"Sirius'eyes shaft to the door."And why didn't you use the floo ? What's going on ?"

"Erm… can we eat first,"asked Harry.

"What,"photograph Sirius in a singularly insistent tonus,"is… going… on ? !"

"Sirius,"said Gabriella softly,"I think it best if we sit down."

"You do, do you ?"snipped Sirius, but Gabriella's disgraceful middle caught a soft-spot in Sirius'barque."Well… okay."

The three moved into the kitchen and Sirius started toward the stove. He grabbed a spatula and summoned some sausages when Gabriella took his hand.

"Here,"she said softly,"let me do that. You sit with Harry."Sirius moved to the table and sat opposite his godson.

"well ?"Dog Star queried."It's obvious something's afoot. Spit it out."Harry tried, but he couldn't go for his godfather's gaze.

"I… I, erm…"He sucked in a with child gulp of air and exhaled."Igoterpregnant."

"What ?"Sirius asked."What was that ?"

"I… I got her pregnant."

"What !"Sirius stood and gyrate towards Gabriella."You're pregnant ?"Gabriella turned the sausages with her wand."How could you—"

"Let him finish,"she replied, floating three plates out onto the table.

"Not Gabriella,"Harry said. Sirius turned back to brass Harry."Cho… Cho Chang."Sirius fell back into his death chair.

"Are you sure ?"asked Sirius with a disbelieving step."Because sometimes witches can—"

"Oh,"cut in Gabriella sharply."He's sure."

"Merlin,"he whispered, scratching his chin."Harry, you should know better."

"I know. I know I should know better."

"And you,"Sirius said, turning back to Gabriella,"why are you here with this cheating scum if Cho's running around pregnant ?"Expressionless, Gabriella placed the sausage balloon on the plates and added some warmed noggin.

"It was hold up class,"she answered sitting down and handing Sirius a fork.

"The baby was born in July,"said Harry."On my birthday. His name is Jamie."

Sirius'crotch fell with a clank onto the plate, splattering red beans onto his white-ish t-shirt.

"A b-boy ? Jamie ?"

"They're living in a trash dump,"said Harry quickly,"and I can't have my son living like that. I won't have another thrower live with rubble and spider, not as long as it's in my business leader. So, I offered to have them stick at your castle. You know… until Susan B. Anthony grad. pigeon hawk deliver his soul if he ever—"

"My palace ? Anthony ? Who's Anthony."

"Goldstein. Well Cho calls him whole step. How cheesy is that ? Anyhow, the thing is…."

It was well into the evening before Harry had set Canicula straight on all the detail, uncertain as they were. Sothis then began a speech that lasted for nearly thirty moment and included a few references to Harry's parents. But when Harry began to probe mystifying Sirius changed the subject. After venting about Harry's stupidity, he had agreed to lease Anthony, Cho and Jamie in and serve in any way he could.

The blimp Cho cooked little more than a memory, Canicula grew thirsty again and he convinced them to go to a Central Thai eating house that he had found just a few mental block away. When they arrived, Harry discovered that it was run by an old Muggle, but frequented by a turn of witches and wiz. The episodic flashes of legerdemain that occurred never seemed to faze the old man. Sirius called him a Savant, a Muggle in tune with the deception of the natural world but possessing no skill his own. Harry was half-way through his Panang Curry when he realized that tonight he was to encounter Ron and Hermione at the Ministry.

"The cloak,"he muttered suddenly to himself, before taking another bite.

"What's that, Harry ?"asked Sirius. Harry looked up into Dog Star'eyes ; they were smiling. Harry's blindness didn't allow him to see that the furrow that had once drawn the sides of Sirius'eyes down were now curling upward. But he could feel the brightness of the aura in his godfather's expression. For a moment, Harry considered telling Sirius of their design at the Ministry. Gabriella touched his hired hand.

"Sir Thomas More tea ?"the waiter asked, and all three nodded. Harry continued to look toward Sirius who was as happy as ever. The idea of asking Sirius to help them, particularly at the Ministry, curdled the curry in Harry's stomach.

"I said I almost choked,"Harry said with a coughing.

"You're eating too fast,"said Gabriella knowingly, rubbing his arm and smiling."It's not a race."

"Probably the curry,"said Sirius, taking another bite."It's a bit spicy tonight."

"Yeah… yeah that's it,"Harry answered. He wiped his mouth with his napkin and set it on the tabular array."Erm… Actually, I think I easily be—"

"Harry,"interrupted Gabriella,"I have to go before it gets past tense midnight."

"Is it getting that late ?"asked Canicula, his oral cavity half full moon. Harry shot her a glimpse ; his oral cavity frowned. He didn't want her at the Ministry any more than he wanted Sirius. There were too many memories—bad memory. Then she said something that surprised even Harry.

"I need to see Jamie,"she said,"just for a moment. I should have taken care of it this morning, but I forgot. I've not been in tune with the old ways for some time. Mama would be disappointed in me."Unconsciously, Harry began to rub the firedrake cicatrix that was emblazoned on his right forearm.

He remembered what Gabriella's female parent, Soseh, had said at the end of last school year."The blessing is inscribed on the Male of each generation by the women of the multiplication before. It will be Gabriella's obligation to pass the grace to your sons."Once it was clear that Harry would accept Jamie as his son, it was Gabriella's obligation, by curse, that she pass to him the boon of Asha.

"The Votary,"Harry whispered quietly, staring down at the bowl of yellow and gold. Then his leaden heart looked toward hers."It's too dangerous,"he said sharply."What if Chalmers has told them. What if he knew all along ? What if they're still there ?"

"They ? They who ?"asked Canicula.

"We were followed after we left Cho's apartment,"said Gabriella."But it makes no remainder. By honour, I have no selection. It must be done, and the sooner it's done the neat the office of Jamie's blessing, of his protection. He'll demand Asha's aid in these times of darkness."

"You mentioned the expiry Eater bodyguard, but you didn't mention that you were followed,"said Sirius, his eyes turning toward Harry with a more unplayful glare.

"Draco said that Chalmers doesn't study dark, at least not for Goldstein. Dog Star, you need to go with her, hold back her secure. That way you can see Jamie and pass on the news, maybe convince Cho to move into the palace tonight while Chalmers is away."

"And you ?"Sirius asked.

"I'll just head back to Hogwarts. If the two were a couple of Lucius'thugs out to get me it'd be serious if I wasn't there."Sothis sighed, looking longingly at an untouched barbecue trim rib. He licked his lips and pushed his plate forward.

"Very well, let's go."They paid and made their way outside and down the street, finding a more remote alleyway often used by the visiting beldam and genius to Apparate. Sirius took Harry by the arm and looked him in the eyes, but Harry turned away to wait down the street as a car past by.

"heterosexual person to Hogwarts,"said Sothis sternly,"O.K., Harry ?"

"heterosexual person to Hogwarts,"Harry agreed. Gabriella kissed him on the cheek.

"I can see your emotions roiling,"she whispered in his ear."Be vigilant and say, ‘ Hi !'to Ron and Hermione for me."She pulled her wand as did Dog Star."Oh, and don't worry ; Jamie will be OK. I'll make indisputable that no evil harms your child."Harry tried to muster a smile.

"Did I ever tell you how a lot I loved you ?"he asked and then they kissed."I'll see you at school in the morning. continue her safe, Sirius."There was a snap and both Gabriella and Canicula had vanished. Harry focused his vision to another part of London and in the next here and now found himself at a telephone box above the entrance to the Ministry. As off-putting as Apparating was for Harry, he was ill prepared for what happened succeeding.

"Stupefy !"The blast of red Light Within hit Harry squarely in the thorax, knocking him backward some ten to twenty foot, his wand tumbling from his script."There, Harrington,"a large draped trope said with a rather blustery vocalism, picking up Harry's scepter,"and you were about cook to wet your pants. He is a boy, after all."Still on his rear Harry could sense them stepping toward him.

"I… am not… a… boy !"he rasped. This made the confining wizard jest, but the smaller man behind him said nothing.

"well, I've got your sceptre, little man. I doubt you'll—"

"Diffindo !"Harry hissed, stretching his right arm forward. Orange light erupted from the articulatio humeri down and extended out and beyond Harry's fingertips.

The movement of the Death Eater's cloak looked as if a large saber had just slashed across it, tearing cloth and flesh alike up and outward. Harry could find the stock splatter his look. The Death feeder screamed falling to his knees. Unsteadily, Harry stood. The entirely place seemed to be spinning. He was dizzy and a gathering wiz of nausea was building inside.

"Accio wand !"he cried, wrenching his wand from the Death Eater's clutches and in to his own hand. Limping forward he yelled"BOY ?"Then he placed his baton on the forehead of his foe."BOY ?"Blood continued to filter from beneath the crouching Death Eater's ribs and between the helping hand that clutched his dresser."Who do you puzzle out for ?"Harry asked, already knowing the result.

Harry had focused so much care on the boastfully Death feeder, he had neglected the smaller one that had retreated to the dark.

"I said WHO - DO - YOU - work FOR !"Standing over his cowering victim, it was then that he noticed the visible light - lots of lights. Five More air had Apparated ; he was surrounded. Seemingly emboldened by the new arrival, the smaller Death Eater emerged from the shadows and held out his wand.

"Expel—"There were three turn cast almost simultaneously that stopped the wizard before he had a opportunity to fetch up.

"Stupefy !"“ Diffindo !"and Harry's shield charm,"Contego !"

Only, Harry didn't need the cuticle charm… for himself. The first enchantment came from one of the approaching auras Harry presumed to be more Death feeder. The bolt, not the strongest Harry had ever seen, knocked the pocket-size adept backward, albeit only a few foot. Fearing for his lifetime, and rightfully so, the lilliputian demise Eater Disapparated. The s spell came from yet another gloriole, small yet intense. It was directed at the crippled hotshot crouching before Harry. The result was frightful and instantaneous ; the last Eater's head fell to the gravelled pavement and his torso slumped forward, draining rakehell at Harry's understructure, a boiling pool of light like lave erupting from a vent.

Harry spun to face the five wizards approaching him, holding his verge high. Two showed hints of both red and green in their nimbus as they drew nearer."Imperious Curse ?"Harry wondered. And then a representative came to him that startled him more than that of the previous Death Eater.

"Bloody hell, James ! What in Merlin's name did you do that for ?"

The colour, the lope, the tone… Harry knew at once it was Ron Weasley.


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 16 - The gist Calls
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"He was reaching for his wand,"said James IV, pointing at the decollate Death eater at Harry's invertebrate foot."He was going to kill Harry !"

"He was on his knee,"snapped Hermione."Harry had him firmly in control."

"He didn'have the… that piffling guy in control,"countered Saint Patrick."I had teh take him down."

"You're just lucky he was as frightened as a molamar in body of water,"said Anthony Goldstein with a rather haughty voice.

"Goldstein ?"asked Harry in surprisal as the group converged on him.

"Damn, Potter,"said Goldstein,"you're a crashing quite a little. And I do imply bloody. Scourgify !"The splatters covering the front of Harry's face, shirt and pants vanished, though the consortium on the pavement remained."There, that's better."

"Who in Pluto told Goldstein ?"cried Harry.

"Actually, Potter,"replied Goldstein,"I stumbled on this merry troupe as they tried to sneak out. Seemed like a in force DA mission.

"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 wake to consider it."You… you can't be here. It's too dangerous."

"Yes, I see that,"said Goldstein with a rather sarcastic flavor. Gingerly, Harry stepped out of the roue, pooling at his understructure. Hermione ran over to him and hugged him.

"Who were they ?"she asked."nobody's supposed to know we're here."

"That's what I thought,"answered Harry."I was trying to get an answer when Jesse James here decided to play the butcher."Harry turned to the second year."The next time I need your help Yangtze River, I'll ask for it."Harry sensed at once the anger building within the smaller wizard, but then it subsided almost as quickly as it came.

"I… I was just trying too hard I guess,"answered James."It was scary."

"And why are you two,"Harry pointed to both James and Patrick,"here in the first shoes ? Stumble across the company as well ?"He shot Ron a glance and wished he could convey eyes of death.

"Saint Patrick overheard our plans and said he'd snitch if we didn't bring ‘ em along,"answered Ron."It was supposed to be quiet ; I didn't figure we'd run into Death Eaters."

"If that's what they were,"said Harry, still holding his verge at the ready."They acted more like hired hood than Death Eaters."

The Nox air was moth-eaten and quiet down. He could find the dampness of a thin out mist wrapper about his face, sending shivers down his spine. For a mo he thought of Dementors, but the nervelessness, this chilled clamminess was something else, something more visceral. The voicelessness of death were swirling ; somehow Harry knew that. And not for the man that had just been slain, the whispering were telling Harry that more would soon join the dead man at his base. But who ?

"Goldstein,"Harry said suddenly,"Anthony, really you… you have to—"

"Well, we're here now,"said James."Dispatchio !"The dead hotshot and the consortium of blood beneath him vanished."Let's say we get in, get the cloak and get out before anymore… er, dark champion show up. Wouldn't want Luci—"

"Where'd you learn that while ?"queried Hermione."That's fifth year."James shrugged his shoulders.

"My sis I guess,"he said."She's the impudent one in the family."

"Yeah… I see,"said Harry, noticing Henry James'aura fade from green to red then back from red to green. For the first fourth dimension, he thought James might not really be an ally."Ron, maybe you should take—"

"King James is rectify,"interrupted Marcus Antonius."ripe if we get down into the Ministry before another dozen dying Eaters 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 watchword his don had told him and a silver orb appeared, scanning Ron in a sallow tweed spark. Then, with a jar, the elevator began to plummet. Harry tried to await at Ron and hint to the redhead that he should register Harry's mind, but his eyes were white and Ron didn't recognize the facial expression as he once would possess. Harry silently cursed his sightlessness.

Harry's heart began to accelerate. If the two second years were under the Imperious nemesis, they were in all likelihood in Lucius Malfoy's command. He was feeling strongly like he wanted to wretch onto the polished marble story just as the doors opened onto the splendiferous entrance mansion of the Ministry of conjuration. The six stepped out, sceptre drawn.

After only a few footstep, they all saw where the cloak was to be displayed - it was obvious. A boastfully glass lawsuit had already been erected. On a pole was the body of a mannequin and next to that a golden statue of Harry with his wand drawn. They all stepped closer. There was no cloak, but there was a brass. It read,"This site commemorates the defeat of the Dark adept Voldemort by the 1000 Wizard Harry Potter, edict of Merlin, First Class, who faced his foe wand-to-wand and struck him down."
"social club of merlin ?"asked Goldstein surprised."I didn't know—"

"Neither did I,"cut in Harry.

"They'll probably award it to you during the ceremony tomorrow,"said Hermione brightly. Harry turned to her.

"If we do this right, there won't be any ceremony,"said Harry shortly."No Dark cloak, no homecoming of Voldemort, no observance. Ron, do you have any idea where—"

There was a resonance coming from down the Marguerite Radclyffe Hall and a syncope glow that was growing nearer. It sounded as if person were humming. The group began to overstretch back, away from the show example ; all, that is, except William James. Harry went to grab his sleeve, but the boy wouldn't move.

"Is this it ?"he asked, still staring at the re-enactment before him."Is this how it happened ? You struck him down ? Nobody could recount me for sure, not even Gabriella."Harry held more tightly to Saint James'robes and began to rive him bodily across the floor.

"James,"Harry said, huffing between his teeth,"there are some matter you can't believe. kickoff, never trust a Son Trelawney says unless she sounds like a goblin on firing whiskey. Second, never believe 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 Henry James by the back of his arrest until they were hidden between two marble pillar.

"bold Christian Bible, Harry,"continued James passively."But I never believed you could quiver Lord Voldemort wand-to-wand. Tell me, is there still a part of the Dark Lord that courses through your veins ? That could be useful, if—"

"Shhh."All was silent, save for the occasional cracking ember from one of the fireplaces that surrounded the howling entrance hall and the hum that was growing louder by the mo. Again Harry tried to gather Ron's attention, but he was busy whispering something in Hermione's ear as they clung together behind a suit of armor opposite the Fountain of Magical Brethren. At another column just behind Harry and James, St. Patrick and Anthony crouched. The whispering of death were growing louder. So cheap, in fact, that Harry turned to see if perhaps a ghost or something Sir Thomas More were at his correctly side. Only James was there, kneeling quietly on the floor.

The light grew brighter and then the hag appeared. Harry could make believe out her aura, a shimmering gold, but not her feature of speech at this space. In front of her was a cloak levitated some two substructure off the primer coat. She was approaching the show casing when James began to writhe under Harry's hand.

"appreciation still,"he whispered, but the marble walls took in the sound, echoed them about, amplifying the dissonance such that it was hearable to the witch at the display example. Harry noticed the vacillation. He expected her to turn, but she did not. Instead, she levitated the cloak onto the body within the display typesetter's case and closed the glass doorway. She cast a appeal with her wand and then turned as if to leave. In turning, she revealed her face to the others, but Harry was still ineffectual to discern who the beldam was. From the faint gasp from across the dormitory it was net that Hermione, for one, knew who it was. The beldame stepped toward the fount and took something out of her pouch, perhaps a coin, Harry couldn't Tell. In a move that was as graceful and as craftiness as any Harry had ever seen, she flipped the objective into the fountain. It spun high into the air and, just as it crested in its arc, her former hand pointed her wand toward it and cast the piece.

"Immobulus !"Harry recognized the voice at once ; it was Molly Weasley, Ron's mother.

Half of the get off leaving her scepter passed the coin cleanly and struck the hag and wizard by the wooing of armour. The other half, however, glinted off the coin, reflecting toward and blasting the two sorcerer next to the column behind Harry. With one while she had immobilized Ron, Hermione, Mark Antony and Patrick. Again, James wriggled under Harry's clasp and again Harry held him fast.

"I know you're there,"Mrs. Weasley said with a interpreter that held no fear."I'm afraid it's well after time of day. If you're lost, I'm for certain I can assist you find your way. Come 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 hard against the marble flooring. Finally, Harry had had enough. He couldn't risk what James might do.

"Incarcerous !"he called. Ropes sprung from his wand and began to wrap themselves about James IV.

"Sectumsempra !"cried St. James the Apostle, slashing the R-2 with his wand and pushing Harry away. Then he pointed his wand at Mrs Weasley."Avada Ked— !"
"Stupefy !"she called, her spell interrupting the boy's. The red light nearly hit James who deflected it at the last import, sending the shaft into the cap above, showering them all with art object of marble and splinters of walnut. This was no second year wizard.

Harry jumped to his feet and cast his own stunning spell, but again William James deflected it. It was then that mollie Weasley noticed who he was.

"Harry ?"she called.

"skin, Mrs. Weasley !"he cried in recurrence."pelt !"

James cast a jet of red brightness level Harry's way. Harry focused on where he needed to be—out of the beam's path. Suddenly, everything slowed and he found himself running to the right, toward the fountain, just as the bolt of red passed his go away elbow. James smiled.

"Impressssive, Harry,"Henry James hissed in a much eminent, colder vocalization, a voice that shook Harry to the core. It couldn't be."You've learned well from the Centaurs. I did as well ; although I suspect my methods of extracting the noesis I required were somewhat dissimilar than yours."There was another dash, green, and again Harry disappeared and reappeared into another part of the idealistic hall.

"Diffindo !"called Mrs. Weasley. Her spell happen upon James on the depart shoulder, leaving a cruddy slice. James spun on the witch.

"Avada Kedavra !"

This metre the green igniter sailed toward mollie Weasley. Harry began to levitate a marble Bench into the beam's path, but quickly realized the bench was too heavy and would not trip fast enough. Instead he ran, slowing time and bending the space between them tightly together. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her to the earth just as the flack past the yoke, smashing into the wall behind and showering them with dust and rock. Harry landed on his book binding as Mrs Weasley landed on top of him, knocking the air out of his chest.

"Harry,"she said sternly as only a mother could,"what are you doing here ? What's going on ?"

"It… it's Voldemort,"he gasped trying to find air that wasn't there."He's… back."He wheezed, sucking in a short-circuit breath of air."In… James."Without questioning further, Mrs. Weasley's back went rigid and she rose to face James, to face Voldemort.

"Nooo,"Harry rasped, struggling to sit up, but barely able. She ignored his beckon and faced the diminished boy now standing only a few feet in front of her.

"leave-taking the boy, Voldemort,"she commanded, brandishing her scepter."He can't possibly be of any use to you, now we know the truth."

"Truth ?"queried Saint James as his eyes shot toward the night cloak still protected behind the sealed glassful. Harry rose to his knees, trying to play air back into his lungs."The the true is that there are only two affair in this room I want… and you're not one of them."His wand rose in unison with Harry's, only Harry was unable to gasp the trance.

"Avada Kedavra !"

Placing himself between Mrs. Weasley and Voldemort, Harry tried to jump up in front of the jet of green but the killing execration would win the race this metre ; he knew that. For her part, Molly Weasley cast a shield charm about them both, hoping to deflect the enchantment, but they all knew it wouldn't work. In her endure trice of life history her hands gripped Harry by the shoulders and she cast a glance down into his screen optic, a glance that held love and compassion, a glance that was filled with concern not for herself but for the boy before her… a glance he couldn't see. She fell abruptly to the floor.

"NO !"cried Harry as he spun and redact another slashing charm against James I who deflected it with relief."You're being controlled, King James ! Fight back !"Henry James only laughed.

"YOU stood face-to-face with the Great Dark Jehovah Voldemort and defeated him ?"James River mocked."What a put-on !"

With Mrs. Weasley dead, the spell she cast on the former four wizards began to wear off. Slowly, they were coming to there pot, working to regain command of their motions. James walked over to a groaning St. Patrick who was still prone on the floor. He grabbed Patrick's hair and pulled his read/write head off the ground.

"This one here,"called James, his voice echoing off the walls,"thinks of you as a brother, ceramist. He'd sooner die than see you do to harm. Yet he's betrayed you at my every command. Shall I kill him succeeding ?"

"Expelliarmus !"Harry cried, but once again James IV deflected the spell.

"harbor't you figured it out yet, thrower ? Even with the skill of the Centaurs, you're as slow as your dead parents. Nonetheless, you could be useful ; the Malfoy boy suggested as much. I heard, perhaps, he's not as perfectly as everyone thinks."He released Saint Patrick whose head cracked against the stone level. But instead of striking at Harry, Jesse James held his scepter to the trash showing case."Diffindo !"The bam of lighter struck the glass, but held business firm as if swallowing the energy of the blast, the meth began to glow. For the first time, the smile on James IV Chang's face disappeared."Diffindo !"he called again, and again the energy was absorbed and the drinking glass grew brighter still.

"You've killed your only chance for opening the pillow slip,"Harry sneered."But then… I always heard that that was one of your with child weaknesses… TOM… being stupid !"

Another blast of calorie-free snapshot toward Harry ; it was red not green, not a killing curse. Once to a greater extent, Harry slipped out of its way. This metre he moved quickly around and behind St. James the Apostle reappearing with his baton drawn.

"Stupefy !"Harry cried, sending a blast of red at James River'back, but again the wizard deflected the spell as if swatting a fly and then turned back toward the display case."You're not trying to toss off me, Tom. Why not ?"

"I'll kill you sssoon enough,"King James slithered."First, the cloak. Then, I need to distil something of mine that you stole from me when you were a baby. Soon, I will be—"Suddenly two more spells 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 clip for this,"cried St. James, sending three more eruption of brightness level at the glass sheath. On the one-third bolt of lightning the glass cracked, but only just. Harry could tell that the charm that James had cast over the last few arcminute were draining him. He looked jade, almost vulnerable. At the same moment the attack ringing the K antechamber roared to life.

"Finally,"Harry whispered,"some help."ace after wizard appeared at each hearth, brandishing their sceptre."Whatever time you thought you had has just expired, Tom."

The elbow room erupted in red Light. heptad bam came at the low wizard by the display case. Two struck true while the others struck the glowing glass, shattering it completely. The tumid glass fragment that scattered the base, however, were still glowing as brightly as ever. There were more blasts of red directed at Harry.

"It's me !"he yelled."Harry thrower !"

"Harry !"cried Hermione from the far slope of the hall."It's not the Ministry ! It's—"A blast of red dropped her to the undercoat.

"Hermione !"cried Ron."He cast a while knocking the wizard by Hermione backward into the paries with a forte fissure. He pointed towards another wizard and ran at him."leave of absence her alone, you bloody—"There was a bang of purple and he too fell to the floor.

"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 conceivable charge. The blasts weakened him."Are you crazy ? ! We're—"And then he noticed it - the unmistakably bright emerald common aura of Draco Malfoy, stepping from the flames of one of the fireplaces. He had warned Harry and now it was too recently.

Simultaneously, ropes began to twiddle about Ron, Hermione, Patrick, and well-nigh importantly St. James the Apostle who was still motionless on the floor. Somehow Mark Antony had managed an escape cock and stood at Harry's side. There were nearly a dozen Death eater moving in on them.

"have the cloak, Draco,"drawled a grandiloquent wizard in dark mordant robes with deep red facing.

"Lucius ?"Harry sneered in the wizard's management."Is that you ? I should bear known by the sickening yellow colour."The wizard said zip, trying to ignore Harry."Now that I'm blind, you're much better looking in — strike that. No you're not. You're still as much a pig as you always were. Still, somehow… missing an arm suits you. How'd you lose it again ?"The urging worked.

"Big words for a blind boy, Potter,"he snapped.

"Now, now… sticks and stones…. But then I guess six months with Dementors and dullards will curdle anyone's conversational capabilities."Harry could see that Draco was moving over the radiance glass and into the typeface to find the robe. Harry turned to face him.

"Hey ! Blonde whoreson ! I wouldn't go in there if I were—"

"What's this ?"Draco cried out. He had come to molly Weasley's body. The colour of his atmosphere blanched."I gave specific orders ! Who cast a killing curse ?"Harry could tell immediately that genus Draco was livid.

"Gather the cloak !"yelled Lucius.

"But father—"

"NOW !"

"Don't do it !"yelled Harry.

Dragon moved forward toward the vitrine. Suddenly, the shattered glass that was still glowing with the energy it had absorbed exploded in a brilliant whitened flash. Dragon flew up into the air, nearly striking the ceiling, and then landed with a sickening crunch against the marble floor.

"Draco !"cried Lucius. Goldstein took the distraction as his opportunity. His wand erupted with bright bluish illumination, but instead of being directed at one of the Death Eaters, it was directed toward one of the portraits hanging high on the wall of the idealistic dormitory. The portrait sparked, zapping the senior wizard that had, so far, slept through the tumult.

"Hey,"the thaumaturgist in the portrayal yelped."No penury for—"

"Get assist you idiot !"yelled Goldstein. The whizz in the portraiture, seeing the demolition, disappeared instantly."It won't be long now,"Goldstein muttered, staring at the empty portrait.

There was another burst of trance headed at the two wizards and together they fended them off, but Harry was growing weaker by the moment. Lucius ignored Goldstein's call for aid, he ignored the battle of baton, and he ignored the crumpled mint on the story that was his son. Instead, unwilling to touch it himself, he pointed to the cloak that was still standing in the windowless exhibit type.

"The cloak !"he yelled again. After some wavering, another last eater approached the lightlessness material and grabbed it just as James, still bound by ropes, began to come to his skunk. With lust-filled eyes, Lucius only one-half glanced at Draco, still motionless on the floor, blood dripping from the recession of his mouth. Instead, he focused fully on the black gown 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 go on.

"You expected, maybe, a coronation ?"Harry sneered."Perhaps a crown and huntsman's horns as we all bow down to kiss your bum ? It's a stupid piece of fabric !"

"putting to death him,"Malfoy drawled, pointing with his skillful arm toward Harry."kill HIM !"Harry grabbed Susan Anthony by the arm as the bolts of green approached and in an trice they were on the early slope of the resplendent Hall that now appeared more like a war zona than the showpiece of the Ministry. Looking back, they saw that the post where they once stood was zip now but a crater. Goldstein grabbed Harry's arm.

"How did you do—"

"You are NOT going to miss the wedding ceremony,"Harry snapped. He took in a deep breath, reaching out with his mind to cull any conjuration he could from the creation around him. He let out a long, dense exhale and pointed his wand at the floor.

"Festio !"he cried, ripping dozens of marble tiles upward and sending them toward his antagonist. The Death feeder tried to shatter the tiles with charm, but the natural action only served to create thousands of tiny projectiles all headed in their guidance. A few dramatis personae carapace charms in sentence, but most were struck. Above the din of screams, Harry could take heed James IV cursing Lucius.

"loss me, you idiot ! Release me now."But Malfoy, ignorant of James'straight identity, ignored the boy's pleadings. He had what he came for and was beginning to walk toward his son when cinch began to satisfy the room. Auror after Auror was Apparating within the 1000 hall. In an instant, piece were flying everywhere. Blast after blast of light, cutting down wizard after hotshot, witch after hag. The elbow room was filled with utter havoc and Harry, his shoulder joint slumped with weariness, moved to enter the ruffle. Before Harry could take a full step, Goldstein grabbed him by the shoulder.

"You're no just to anybody abruptly,"he whispered."We need you, Harry. Me… I'm not much Thomas More than canon fodder."And then he charged forward ahead of Harry, taking down two death eater before he too was stunned and fell to the land. It was then that Harry noticed James. He was beginning to mistake release of the bonds that held him. Lucius, on the former hand, had abandoned everyone, including his son, and was racing to the floo. A bolt of orange light struck the wall behind Harry, casting stone and dust down his back. Lucius was about ready to escape. 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 manus between the cloak's plication of Negroid textile and directly against Malfoy's chest. The hotshot tried to cast a patch, but was mute."Now, what with the sporty arm and all… that's what I call an betterment. You should remember to button up before you step out, Lucius. Now, withdraw 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 wand flew from his hand. There was an expression of surprise in Malfoy's oculus that made Harry smile.

"Now,"continued Harry,"as I was saying, take off the—"With a sudden shove from behind, Malfoy fell forward onto Harry and they both tumbled to the storey. It was then that Harry noticed that James had freed himself and now, forgoing the use of a sceptre, had his handwriting around Malfoy's pharynx, squeezing… squeezing. He was in a delirium of pure hatred and anger.

"Do you know who I am ?"cried James."Look into my center !"

Lucius, even Harry, saw the flame of red light in James'eyes.

"N-Not pos-sible,"he gasped, ineffectual to respire."D-Dead."Then the full realization struck him."I-I never knew."

"You know now,"Jesse James spat between gritted teeth."And now is sssoon enough."A blow of red Christ Within came from the far wall and struck William James in the side of meat, but before he released his grip on Lucius, a dark acrid smoke issued from his backtalk and nostrils. To Harry, it was a stream of green evil leaving the red behind. James'grip on Lucius released and the blond wizard gasped for air, but instead of air he sucked in nothing but hummer. Voldemort had penetrated him. Stunned, Harry saw the green surround the yellow and snuff it out. Lucius took to his pes as a fire of red struck him in the backbone. nil 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 swirl of green fire.

There were a dyad Sir Thomas More eruption, a couple more pushover, and a distich more belly laugh of pain sensation, but finally the elbow room fell silent. Only the speech sound of rock scraping against the level, as the remaining Aurors stepped across the detritus, broke the secrecy.

"Minister, over here. It's your… over here, sir. Please."For the number 1 clip, Harry realized that Arthur Weasley had been among the Aurors that had come to protect the Ministry. He watched as the maven walked toward the shattered display case, while the Auror that called him levitated a wooden shaft that had fallen over mollie Weasley up and out of the way. It landed with a dull thud.

"molly ?"he uttered as if trying to gently wake up someone from a recondite slumber."molly,"he said again only louder."MOLLY !"He grabbed his wife in his arms, pulling her up out of the dust ; pebbles cascaded to the floor."Oh my god, no. No… no… no… no… NOOO !"he screamed. The deluxe hall rumbled, shaking mortar loose from the walls onto the floor below as Mr. Weasley buried his head teacher into the corner of his wife's neck. He continued to gag big bastard as Harry looked down at St. James the Apostle, prone on the trading floor, limb outstretched toward the hearth. The green was gone ; only blue angel remained, but the ignitor was debile and flickered. He was near demise. The second yr began to grown, slowly looking up to find Harry.

"H-Harry ? H-Help… I… I can't…."And he collapsed to the trading floor. Harry looked around at the desolation. James was not the only one near demise. Instinctively, he pulled his wand to summon the Heart of Asha, but before he could drift the spell, snap after snap began to replete the Charles Francis Hall ; healer were appearing. In a matter of mo nearly a dozen Healers had Apparated into the Ministry. One, an older magician with bushy white haircloth, was at William James'side almost instantly. Scanning the boy with his wand he turned to Harry.

"You're the ceramist boy, aren't you ?"Without waiting for an resolution he said quickly,"William Tell me, was it a dish ? Because I'm not detecting any—"

"He was possessed by Voldemort,"Harry cut in. The Healer cringed, looking up at Harry with disbelief.

"face son,"he said derisively,"you shouldn't go around—"

"damn it !"Harry screamed."His flavor's been sundered ! It probably has been all yr. Voldemort just left him to engage on another legion. If you don't hurry, he'll die."For only a secondly, the therapist tried to study the construction 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 metrical unit and a jiffy of rattling purple light left his wand bathing James in its luminescence from psyche to toe.

Harry stepped back, twisting his ankle on a rock beneath his metrical foot. He cursed. other than the the great unwashed swarming about the entrance hall, it was difficult to make anything out. His vision was truly failing him in the rocky hatful. He could see Mr. Weasley and heard his sobs, and tried to blame his way through the junk 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 chase after after Lucius, after Voldemort… he needed to —"

"diplomatic minister !"someone cried out."Minister ! It's your son !"Harry turned his tending on a glow that lay prone on the floor near an Auror's foot.

"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 dish is all."

"That's not possible,"whispered Arthur Weasley, unsure just what to do."He's at Hogwarts."Then he noticed Harry, stumbling blindly toward him."Harry ? My god, Harry why are you—"

"He's back,"said Harry weakly. He was tired and sore, and his right-hand arm was starting to prickle with pain."Voldemort's back."

"What ?"

"A Horcrux,"Harry whispered nonsensically, stumbling closer to Mr. Malfoy and rubbing his right forearm with his left hand. It itched."There must have been more than one. We… we came for the cloak."

"jonah,"called another Healer to the old man that was working on William James,"I need your avail. It's the Malfoy boy. What's his public figure, Draco ?"

"I thought he was dead ?"the old man called back. The untested healer looked down at Dragon and then back up.

"wellspring, if he wasn't before—"

"You knew ?"asked Mr. Weasley, his vocalization sceptical. Gently he kissed his married woman's cheek and lowered her to the floor."You knew they were coming ?"

Harry was feeling dazed. He looked toward Draco, toward Chester A. Arthur Weasley. His right wing arm was aching. He had reached Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and his heart began to dip further.

"No one was supposed to be here,"Harry said thinly, his voice hoarse with sorrowfulness."I just wanted to demolish the cloak before… before…"Mr. Weasley rose to his invertebrate foot.

"She loved you like a son !"he yelled and slapped Harry punishing across the face."AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY HER !"

The reverse knocked Harry backwards and he slipped on the loose Harlan Fiske Stone that scattered the floor. Rising to one elbow he could taste the lineage that was dripping from his cut lip, and then he noticed his right forearm - it was glowing. A thin etch of a rune had appeared, the Viswa Vajra. Harry had always wondered when it would pass, in what manner it would manifest itself, and even though he'd never seen such a incandescence, he knew what it meant, and he knew he had no alternative but to obey.

The Minister of Magic who had loved Harry as his own son was demanding answers, result Harry desperately wanted to impart. genus Draco and St. James the Apostle lay near death, and Harry had it in his power to easily save them both. Voldemort had escaped with a new body and another patch of his soul, and Harry anxiously needed to chase after them - the Wizarding universe was again at risk. 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 oath ; 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 soft cutaneous senses on his shoulder and heard Hermione call his figure. He looked up at her, wishing he could transmit the sadness weighing on his soul.

"Harry…"

He was gone.


Harry ceramist and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 17 - The Summoning
~~~***~~~

When Dakhil left Harry at the Harlan Fisk Stone steps leading to the front threshold of Hogwarts rook, Harry had pleaded that he too fight the onslaught of Dementors and last feeder raging against Dakhil's fatherland in the Carpathian Mountains. The vampire should deliver been gone for only a few Clarence Shepard Day Jr., but it had been weeks and Dakhil had not returned nor had he sent word of the condition of the conflict. The Daily prophesier had been worthless, only reporting the difficulties that the diverse European Ministries were having trying to mask the numerous atrocities as natural tragedy. to a greater extent worrying was that Antreas had left shortly after Dakhil and had not been heard from since. Everyone who had left to campaign seemed to vanish into a great vortex of nothingness.

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 schoolhouse. Harry brushed the notion of duskiness inside the rook walls aside, believing it was a backhanded vilification toward Harry, but now he was paying for it. Maybe that's why they were summoning him, he had failed in his one foreign mission. Voldemort had not only hightail it, but he had captured his Horcrux and was cook to deliver to power. Or was he ?

Voldemort had said he needed only two things in the exalted Radclyffe Hall of the Ministry - his old black cloak and Harry. He had asked earlier if there was still voice 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 cleansing of the falls in the Great Forest. Perhaps, Voldemort was too weak without this former part of himself, perhaps—

It was hot, painfully hot - the first affair Harry noticed when he finally appeared at the summoning site - hot and dark. Not dark in the common sense that there was no Light, although it was that too ; a want of light wouldn't thing to a unreasoning man. No, it was dark in the sensory faculty that Harry saw zip. There was no life here, no liveliness in any steering, just heat, an intense, blistering heating system that appeared, to Harry, like a dull daze as he looked to the night sky and saw Ebyrth shining as bright as ever.

He had been able to Apparate across the canal. From there he had tried once more, but couldn't make it across Deutschland. He was drained, unable to cast another spell, and the impressiveness of the earth's energy, normally rich in this area, was parched like an arid desert. There was nothing for Harry to draw on to fill again what magical Energy Department he could throw away. Instead, he used the index of the Centaur to bend space and slow time, and he ran. He ran until his skid wore through and fell away ; he ran over rivers that supported his weighting as if they were frozen solid ; he ran past flying dame that hovered in the air like floating balloons. He ran for what felt like mean solar day, stopping only to drink in from the casual current or brook. At one point, just alfresco Vienna, he had grabbed half of a sandwich from the helping hand of a passer who might as well have been a statue frozen in metre. His peg ached, his lungs wanted to collapse and all he could hear was the voice of Ronan compelling him forward, not to suffer the call of the Centaur, but to answer the summoning of the dragon.

By the time he had begun the final examination ascent, his psyche was blurred with fatigue. He had paid no posting to the mountain he had been climbing. Sweat burning his dim eyes, he had ignored the wow and the fires through which he had past. He didn't see the transition from life to decease. He only knew one thing - the summoning site. He would not fail again, even as the final drops of specialty left his being.

This… this was the spot ; he was trusted. Huge gulping of air splashed down his burning lungs unable to snuff out his hungriness for oxygen. His unembellished feet burned. Almost forgetfully, he held out his wand, hand shaking from exhaustion and mind knowing that he would not be able to regorge a charm even if he wanted to. exertion dripped down his forehead ; the oestrus was intolerable. He stood for a moment, wand outstretched, squinting with failed heart into the darkness. Merlin, it was hot. He moved to take a stair forward, an bitter odour filling his nostril, when his left leg cramped and he fell face first hard into the stony ground. He didn't have the energy to rip away from the scorching gem, nor could he skewer out the moxie and lilliputian pebbles that filled his back talk and burned his tongue.

"Maybe,"he thought,"if I rest for just—"He passed out, dropping his scepter at his side.

unconscious mind on the sweltering earth, swirls of smoke and Light Within coalesced in his mind forming a scene of darkness and desperation. Even in his ambition the smell of burning material body was unendurable. Yet, in his dream he could see - his sight, his mountain was as good as ever. The smoke and the smell cleared and he found himself at the gloam, the waterfall where Gabriella lay face down in the tall locoweed, an arrow sunk deep into her back. In the air was sadness. No… more than lugubriousness - there was ire. It was Ron, screaming, screaming….

"NOOOOOOO !"

The dry land shook.

"Take him ! aim him now ! rushing !"

The scene changed. He was flying… flying in the air. leap. On a Hippogriff. spring. Harry felt a jarring pain against the side of his ribs. He blinked. The blindness had returned, but he could sense that there was a light beneath him. spring. A person.

"rush !"

The voice… he knew that spokesperson. The duskiness was clearing from his mind. He was waking. He was being carried. A radical of five was climbing up the side of the wad. One had Harry over his shoulder. Weakly, Harry began to struggle to exempt himself.

"Easy, Harry,"the young man holding him said gently, but with some importunity in his vocalisation."When we get you back to the stronghold, we'll take a smell at the suntan. Praise Asha you're a member of the Votary, or you'd be dead."

"An-Antreas ?"Harry muttered. He hadn't heard the articulation of Gabriella's sidekick since the summertime, but there was still no mistaking the undeniable intonation that was the accurate replica of Antreas'Father of the Church, Grigor."What… What's going on ?"

"There will be metre for answers later !"cried another voice."Run !"Harry knew at once the other man speaking. He also recognized the aura ; it was Dakhil. Troubling was the sentience of concern, even fright in Dakhil's voice. He'd never heard that before, even when they were being attacked by vampires finis summer. What was more troubling, however, was something that had bothered Harry since his last example with Ronan, something he had seen in Dakhil ever since the vampire first taught him to see without seeing. The aura of Dakhil faded from red to purple and back up to red again. There were two part present in his aura. For the start prison term since he'd arrived at the Mountain of Singehorn, Harry felt cold.

They continued to festinate up the mountain. Occasionally, Dakhil or one of the others would cast charm 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 spells cast in return. Soon, he began to notice Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, flora, liveliness. After a few minutes more, the band came to a with child pit wall. One of the men cast a spell and an entrance appeared. They passed through and the opening in the Lucy Stone sealed behind them. The total company sighed with easing 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 down,"cut in Antreas."Let me see your face."Antreas lifted Harry's chin up and examined the left slope, the like side that fell unconscious into the scorching worldly concern. He reached up and pulled the shabu from Harry's cheek, glasses he continued to wear in the hope, or perhaps as a symbol to others, that one day he might see again. There was an unmistakable tearing sound, and Harry could feel the plastic rims pull away from the skin on his look. When he reached to postulate the glasses out of Antreas'deal, he could tell that the forget one-half of the frame was nearly melted away. He didn't want to think what his face must look like. It didn't distress. Harry moved to touch it but Antreas grabbed his hired hand.

"No !"he snapped, half trying to quell the distress in his own voice. He chuckled, but not convincingly."It… it's zippo, Harry. It's just best if you don't—"

"See that he has his own therapist's tent at once !"ordered Dakhil to one of the other men that were in the group. The man began to slowly limp away."Hurry,"Dakhil yelled."hurriedness before there's nothing left of his face to put back together !"If Antreas had tried to calm 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 carry the boy into the cave. I won't lose another one tonight !"

With Antreas'help, they carried Harry further up the passel. Dakhil followed, but was unwilling to assist. Typical, Harry thought. There was a small outcrop of rock 'n' roll off to the side and they turned toward it as Dakhil continued upward. Antreas stopped.

"If Singehorn is unable to call the others in sentence,"he said,"we'll have to send out for the Centaur you spoke of."

"You were brave today, my son,"said Dakhil warmly."It is sack your father is with you. Your mother would be proud. stay fresh the boy good and see what the Healer can do with what remains."He turned to continue upward then stopped."Singehorn, I'm afraid, was not able to ring for our friends, not tonight."He sighed with a trench mournful breathing time."Still we must stick around with the plan ; it's our only when hope. more than may arrive before the moon's rise tomorrow."

Facing a Harlan Fiske Stone bulwark, one of the men carrying Harry said something in a speech he thought might be Russian and again an archway appeared where before was only rock candy and stone. Just before the rock face closed behind them Antreas called back to Dakhil who had followed them most of the way

"And the Centaurus ?"he called.

"He's in your arms,"replied Dakhil, just as the stone archway sealed the shut inside.

"weirdo,"said the Russian, referring to Dakhil."He'll kill us all."There was a wand at his cervix 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 heated phonation,"I'm certain no one would neglect you. The side by side sentence you speak of the Votary, take guardianship to choose the words carefully. I may have to strike the offending tongue."The Russian said nothing as Antreas pulled the scepter back and the grip on Harry became more trusted. They turned a corner and the cave opened out into a great hall filled with injured. To Harry, it looked as if a hundred lighter had been spread across the storey. Almost immediately a murmur rippled across the vauntingly cavern.

"Is that him ?"“ The Chosen !"“ My god what happened to his expression ?"“ Dragons."“ It's just a boy."“ That's not him ; some Muggle must ingest been caught in the crossfire."“ He's the Chosen !"
"Marek !"cried Dakhil."Marek ! This is a antecedence !"Harry noticed an orange people of color on the far slope rise up from the ground. Marek was busy treating another patient and as he stood, Harry could tell that he was a magnanimous man.

"They're ALL priorities !"he called back."Have one of the others—"

"tinker's damn it ! NOW !"yelled Antreas. This was not the same Antreas that had waved bye-bye to Harry and Gabriella as they began their summer vacation. That Antreas was still trying to hone his baton employment, and his sureness interacting with people was shaky at best. While he made a passable neighbour on Privet drive, he was an absolute mess around other sensation. This Antreas, however, the one standing before Harry, was more than just a foot soldier in this mountain conflict. He was clearly somebody of import.

Disgruntled, but acquiescing, Marek began to bilk the hall as the three moved Harry into one of the tents that were set up along the incline of the large bedroom. He was placed on a bed, firm, but more well-to-do than a mantle on the Harlan Stone floor outside. Once he was down, the two men left Antreas alone with Harry. For some meter neither radius and Harry noted his admirer's discomfort.

"What is it Antreas ?"Harry asked. As he spoke, Harry noticed that the slope of his typeface didn't seem to strike correctly. Still, there was no annoyance.

"I'm so sorry, Harry,"Antreas replied."If I had known… We were losing ground and… Dakhil must possess thought it would be safe. Our outer margin was half a geographical mile down the mountain when he must accept asked Singehorn to summon you. But then, they came so fast."

"Who ?"

"The Dementors. They've been swarming the mountain for twenty-four hours. They've grown so thickset they can blot out the sun and when that happens it gives their allies, a band of about XXX wizard vampires, free rein to round during the day. This wasn't our war, but ultimately the dragons had no choice. The Dementors were moving in on their rookery. Half a dozen dragons left to sear the globe and go away no life behind. Not even a fellow member of the Votary could go such fire. We had no way of letting you know, no way of knowing ourselves when… that you'd…"A big burst of air shot from Antreas'brim.

"Dakhil had Singehorn summon me ?"

"Harry, there was no way of knowing. You passed out right in the centre of the incineration. It had to throw been over two C degrees. One of the sentries saw you first, but it was too hot. Only the Votary could get in to retrieve you."Harry remembered Dakhil walking through the electrocution flames just before the Joining ; he understood these words."The connection helped you to survive, training would let been better. Your face… you've been burned… badly burned."

"But it doesn't injury,"Harry said. He was feeling more tired by the minute.

"That's because there's nix left to hurt. Your anatomy is—"Marek pushed through the possibility of the tent.

"And what's this priority ?"he said wearily."Another suit of tinker's damn Dementor frost— Oh… Oh, my."He cast Antreas a glance."One of the civilians ?"he asked, not recognizing the Thomas Young man he'd met over the summer."A Muggle caught in the blast ?"Assessing the with child 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 attack.

"Marek ?"Harry asked hoarsely, finding it more difficult by the moment to propel his jaw."It's me, Harry… Harry potter. I could… I could sure use a shabu of water."

"Yes… I remember. You've put on a few pound sterling. strong-arm grooming ?"

"He's joined a Centaur heard in England,"said Antreas.

"So this is the one Dakhil spoke of. That would explicate things. Yes, that would explain a lot."Marek reached into his robes."I haven't had to allot with one of these for years,"Marek whispered,"but with dragons about, such George Burns are not uncommon. Praise Asha you're Votary."He leaned in closing to Harry."What happened to your oculus ?"

"Glass,"Harry replied, wearily."mickle of glass."

"Hmmm. Well, let's get started. Harry, lie back."Harry obliged."I have something far right than a glass of water."He watched Marek raise his wand over his burned face."This should only drive a few hours."

"Hours ?"Harry said, bringing up his hand to grab Marek's wrist."I won't take you away from helping the others just because I buggered it again."

"It's not your break, Harry,"said Antreas."There's no way you could have known."

"Yes, admirable caliber, Harry. But as Antreas has said—"

"I am NOT a priority ! I won't—"blueness light erupted from Marek's sceptre and before he could say another intelligence, Harry was asleep on the cot and Marek began his work. The last thing he remembered was a crackling strait and Marek's sombre vox.

"That'll leave a mark."

Time faded to nothingness and, when Harry woke, he sensed someone sitting at his bedside."Gabriella ?"he asked groggily.

"You wish, mate !"

"Fred ? Fred is that you ?"

Slowly, Harry began to regain consciousness. He tried to tip up, but somebody pressed gently back on his shoulder joint. His eyes closed, Harry sensed that there were two people in the room. Shaking the gossamer free, he finally recognized the aura of the other someone.

"Remus ?"

"Yes, Harry,"replied Remus Lupin,"Fred and I are both here. We have been for about three days."

"Three days !"Harry exclaimed, once again trying to prove and once again being held down by Remus."I've been here for three day ?"

"No, ditz,"Fred laughed."We've been here for three 24-hour interval. 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 promiscuous way ?"

While Fred was talking, Harry realized there was something on his face. He reached his hands up and felt the patch wrapping his capitulum.

"An concern tone, if you ask me,"said Fred."kind of a pillbox gone mad. All in all I'd say it's an improvement. The great thing is, Harry, they gave you a unharmed new head ! Moody volunteered his."Fred laughed again and this clip Remus joined him. A cold shiver passed through Harry. It had suddenly sunk in that Fred… Fred Weasley, was in the Saame elbow room and if he'd been here for three 24-hour interval, he might not know….

"Why aren't you home ?"Harry asked."Where's George ?"

"I'm flying solo, mate,"said Fred."George is minding the shops."

"No one can travel in or out,"said Remus."specter is impossible. It's a miracle that you made it alive. I'm sorry that—"

"What about messages,"Harry interrupted."Can messages get in ?"

"Not for two days,"said Remus."The Dementors have the whole versant surrounded. I tried a Patronus. It passed through a few XII, but there are just too many."

"Then you don't know,"Harry said with urgency. He sat up and this clock time when Remus moved to press him back down, Harry flicked his arm away. Harry tried to face up Fred, but. Fred only laughed.

"You look like a walking ice-cream cone, Harry."

"Fred,"Harry began, muffled by the patch surrounding his nerve. He tried to come up up the courage, but in the last moment it failed him."W-Why are you even here ?"

"Tonight, we go on the unsavoury. We're through sitting back and letting Lucius Malfoy and his army of shadow decide when and where to impress. They're mostly lamia and Dementors with a handful of expiry Eaters sprinkled in for respectable bar. hold up we heard Lucius may have let himself get turned."

"Turned ?"Harry asked.

"The scouts were out early this dawn, Harry,"said Remus, moving over and sitting succeeding to Fred."We've seen him off and on in these parts for hebdomad. Only this morning… this dayspring they say he looked more vampire than wizard."

"He let himself be bitten, I tell yeh,"added Fred."Just to achieve immortality."

Harry felt as if he was going to be sick. If Lucius was here that meant Voldemort was here. Were they looking for him ? For Harry ? His heart began to wash. There was too much to do and too minuscule time. He needed to recount 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 brusque interruption. Remus knew almost immediately what Harry meant, but wasn't sure if his words were the solution of some form of side-effect from one of the potions. Fred didn't understand.

"What do you mean, Harry ? Who's alive ?"

"Voldemort,"gasped Harry, taking in a great intimation of air through the bandages covering his font. He walked over to the side of the tent and held the fabric in his fingers. To his mind, it had a leaden orange appearance, probably spores of some sort. He didn't want to say more ; he couldn't. But he had to. He could feel his essence pounding in his chest - it hurt. His breathing grew laboured, weighed down by the essence of what he was about to part.

"Somehow… I don't know… I don't know how, but he took control of Henry James Yangtze, Cho's younger brother. He's been inside Jesse James, controlling him all year at shoal. He was waiting for something… something important. 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 deep, your father dug oceanic abyss for what should cause been left to the depths."

"Yeah,"said Fred cautiously, not really for sure what to think about Harry's ramblings."Mum and Dad were all excited. It was supposed to be a big plenty. Sorry we had to pull out you away from the award ceremonial to be in this hellhole. I'm not supposed to tell, but Dad's lined you up for guild 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 extract whatever essence Voldemort had left of himself in it."Harry madly grabbed Fred's robes."Don't you see ? I had to destroy it… to destroy the cloak."

"Calm down, Harry,"said Fred slowly, his heart glancing toward Remus with concern."Everything's okay."

"No it's not !"yelled Harry, turning from Fred and leaned against the bed."We just wanted to lead 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 disdainful jinx. I thought I'd be able-bodied to master him."He breathed hard again."But I couldn't. It wasn't a oath, it was Voldemort. I couldn't stop him. I tried—"He turned back to face Fred."He… Voldemort used the Killing hex, Fred. I tried… I swear on Merlin's grave… I tried."

"What are you talking about, Harry ?"Fred's dustup were tranquillity, nervous and unsure.

"shoemaker's last night, before Singehorn summoned me, in the howling entry Granville Stanley Hall of the Ministry, Voldemort… Voldemort killed your mother."Short gasps of air fit from Harry's lungs and he fell on his knees in front of Fred."She's dead… she's… dead."Clutching at the bottom of Fred's gown, Harry began to heave great sobs. His representative was weak and thin."She's dead."Fred pushed Harry away and took to his feet.

"full point saying that !"he yelled."She's not drained ! She's not ! I just saw her before we came here. She was going to… she was going…"He slapped his handwriting 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 dream, that's all."Remus was muted, unemotional person. He didn't speak and he didn't motion. Fred pulled his scepter and held it in Remus'face.

"William Tell HIM !"

Remus held his arms out across-the-board and, slowly, shook his head.

"No."Fred whispered, shaking his headway vigorously in answer."No, it's not… it's not… oh god."

His hands fell limp at his side and his verge dropped to the level, tinkling and then rolling in the quiet. Fred shuddered, fell into lupin's arms and began to cry.

They stayed like that for some fourth dimension, Harry on the story, Fred in Lupin's branch, all three of them crying. Until now, Harry hadn't had the probability to mourn mollie's demise. The pain sensation was deep and biting. In the rip and silence, Harry wished he could film it back. His actions had cost another life sentence and the anger in King Arthur Weasley's voice echoed within his mind.

His thoughts turned to the others who had been murdered in the battle and he wondered if James had made it."I may never experience,"he whispered to himself.

As the lugubriousness began to subside, he mulled over how Fred and Remus had described the scout's sighting of Lucius. If the reports were true and Malfoy had returned to the mount, then Molly's murderer was within ambit. Harry's pain began to turn to anger. The flap on the collapsible shelter furled open and in take the air Marek

"Remus, I— What in Merlin's name is up with you three ?"he said with a rather gruff voice.

"We just found out. Fred's mother has been killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named,"answered Remus calmly.

"That… that's not possible,"said Marek, one-half believing the words to be reliable. Fred turned, wiping his centre.

"I've got to see if I can get home,"he said. He started toward the exit, but Marek took him by the arm.

"Fred, we're surrounded."

The redhead pulled his arm free.

"I have to go home."

"It'd be suicide, Fred."

"I don't care."

"Don't you think your mother would !"dress down Remus."AND your Father of the Church. What do you think it would do to him to lose you both ?"Fred said nothing."If you're going to put your biography on the line, Fred, make it counting ; realize it matter."Remus stepped toward him and held Fred by the shoulders, looking him in the oculus.

"Tonight,"he said with trust and surety."Tonight, you'll have your fortune, Fred."

"Why tonight ?"asked Harry.

"There are about sixty of us, Harry,"said Remus,"counting me and Fred. Tonight the moonshine turns to the full. We'll attack with the dragons, a few twelve Centaurs, and—"

"full moon moonlight ?"asked Harry. He picked himself up off the level and stood."Full lunar month ? I thought Soseh had given you a potion, given you both one to keep you from turning."

"She did, Harry,"answered Remus."But we haven't taken it during the cycle per second. There are few creatures on earth that can challenge a vampire. Surrounded by Dementors as they are now, even champion have little hope of conducting an effective attack. They're a lycanthrope's natural prey ; Dementors and vampire share a darkness that… How can I put it ? Is tasty for a werewolf."

"wagerer than cocoa, they tell me,"added Fred, with an eerie gleam in his eye.

"Besides the dragons,"added Remus,"only one beast can discontinue through both refutation. Dakhil discussed it with me some clock time ago and we both agreed - we needed a lycanthrope army. I couldn't convince most, but I've confident enough."

"Sixty doesn't make an USA, Remus,"said Harry, stepping closer."Sixty is a snack."

"What you say is true, Harry - werewolf line is prized among the vampires. Still, I think our adversary will be surprised,"said Remus with quiet confidence."Yes, we could possess more in our number, but even with Chester Alan Arthur as Minister, the distrust of my variety runs deep."

"Our kind, Remus ! And they'll be more than than surprised,"snapped Fred."They'll be bloody petrified !"

"Well,"said Harry sardonically,"bloody anyway."

The bandage wrapping his facial expression were hot and heavy and he was only just able to resist the temptation to rip them off so that he could inscribe the itch that was growing strong by the minute. He placed both his hands flat against the firm bed, curling the covers in his fingers as they balled up into fists. Without looking up, he took in a breathing time and swallowed.

"Remus… Fred… You need to translate everything. Lucius Malfoy isn't a vampire. The scouts… what they saw down on the mountainside this morning… It may accept looked like Lucius, but it wasn't. Yeah, he's been taken over OK, but not by a lamia. His feeling has been consumed by Voldemort. Lucius is Voldemort."He turned to present them."Sixty werewolves, sixty tartar, LX of anything… it won't be enough."Hearing Harry's actor's line, Remus stepped forward and placed a manus warmly about Harry's neck.

"No, Harry,"he said."No, it won't be enough. But then, it never was. That's why we have you."


Harry Potter and the nascence of a New Sun

Chapter 18 - The annulus of Onyx
~~~***~~~

The stone whole tone were vauntingly, with child it seemed to Harry, than they were before. Yet, the Lapplander thin white-hot cloud dusted the blue sky, and the heated air brought Harry's mind back to his summer travels with Gabriella in Lebanon. His brain's eye flashed to a vision of her smooth, dark browned cutis and twinkling dark eye, and he wondered how she was fairing with Cho and his son, Jamie. His heart skipped at the thought and he drew in a breathing time to steady his nerves. He stepped upward through the large stone pillars, upward toward the stiff of the great Asian palace. Up ahead, seated on a quartz glass bench intricately carved in an elaborate form was a large black man in green and brown gown - Singehorn.

On the eve of the countermove, the firedrake had asked that the young wizard meet him in this carpenter's plane of consciousness that they might speak with one another. Here, in this early creation, Harry could not only speak to the flying dragon, he could see. He had no bandaged mind, no wand, only a White gown and barren fundament that withstood the scorching heat energy beneath them. In the cave where Harry's material body sat in meditation, the others were preparing for war. Soon, the synodic month would rise, the werewolves, including Remus and Fred, would twist and the battle would get down. It had taken Harry quite some clip to close out all the misdirection that were happening about him, but finally he made it.

As he drew closer to the dragon, the descendant of Asha whose dividing line Harry had sworn to protect, he noticed that the man looked more aged than before and that his respiration was heavy, fag. With crusade, Harry heaved himself upward onto another lapidate step, and then another. On the stride before reaching the landing where Singehorn sat in one of the two watch glass judiciary, Harry saw a large band made of black onyx. He stopped for a moment to appear at it. The dragon coughed a bottomless throaty cough.

"Go on,"he said with a deep scratchy vocalisation."Pick it up."

Harry reached down and took the hoop into his flop hand. It was lumbering than Harry expected. Holding it in the fingers of both men he examined it from all sides.

"I… I know this ring,"Harry said, trying to retrieve how or from where."I've seen it before."Singehorn shifted his tremendous exercising weight and grimaced somewhat.

"The ring,"he said,"is known to many, but few awake today have seen it with their own center. For those few that saw it worn by its last master, it was most likely the shoemaker's last thing they saw. He was known for using the ring to kill."Suddenly, Harry remembered.

"Pravus,"he whispered, remembering the portrait of the dark wizard's hand Greg Goyle had shown him endure year. Singehorn growled, long and low. Clearly, he did not enjoy the sound of the epithet.

"Very good,"answered the dragon."Very expert. Come… sit."

Harry climbed the last declamatory step and tried to dust the front of his white robe 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 white flashgun. In the next instant, Harry's robes were T. H. White again and he was unscathed. Harry examined his work force, expecting to see scorch mark, but nix was there.

"Sit,"said Singehorn again. Unlike his net visit with the man before him, the Young genius sat obediently across from his master.

"My child… not for fifty dollar bill days has that ring been held by human hands, not since I tore off the arm of the ace that betrayed us all. When Pravus was destroyed and Grindelwald defeated, I thought for certain the shadow 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 grumble as Singehorn leaned forward. Harry noticed a slender, light scar that ran along the man's side, a cicatrice that wasn't there before the connexion. Over the last few calendar month, the dragon had seen battle.

"Do you see the ring on Dakhil's fingers ?"he continued."No, Harry… Soseh trusts Dakhil and I would trust Soseh with my life, but his fate lies on a dissimilar path."

"You need to do it, sir,"said Harry with some urgency in his spokesperson."I've seen… I've seen two spirits inside him. He may be under the control of another."Singehorn smiled and began to laugh. It was trashy and thunderous, not the chemical reaction Harry had expected.

"He's a lamia, my child,"the dragon said finally."He fights the look inside him every waking import. Few have learned to moderate the hungriness for fresh roue, the desire for demise. None have fought more heroically than Dakhil Barghouti to stave in off his own personal demon. But his course will soon result elsewhere and I will need someone to take up his staff as Primate of the Votary. He would prefer I choose now, before his destiny befalls him."

Harry's eyes widened in unbelief. Rolling the ring in his finger's breadth he looked up at Singehorn then back down at the mob. Finally, he set it in his palm and held it out to the Draco.

"I can't, sir,"he said, shaking his head."Whatever powers this ringing holds, I'm not ready."

"What ? No questions about what the ring does ? What speciality it might lend you ?"

"No, sir,"Harry replied, reaching yet further toward Singehorn. The Draco did not remove the doughnut from Harry's ribbon, but instead leaned back on the bench.

"Not even if the ring might help you defeat the one who killed mollie Weasley and so many more ?"Harry shook his head."What if it would help oneself you win the war against these Dementors, saving the life sentence of countless Centaurs ; these creatures you seem to care so lots about ?"Singehorn leaned in again."Are you so sure that you wouldn't wish to finally demolish the puppet that killed your parents ?"

For a instant, Harry's outstretched arm receded. Once more he held the ring between pollex and forefinger, wondering what metier it might contribute him. He took a deep breathing place and exhaled slowly. Finally, he shook his head once more.

"No, sir,"he said softly still rolling the mob in his fingers."When I was hold out here, you reminded me our calling : Bravery… Wisdom… Love."Harry shuddered, swallowing hard."You also told me that I needed to work on my wisdom."Harry took in a deep breathing place as his middle grew misty."But I've been precious forgetful in that compliments all year, eh ? I brought Voldemort into the Ministry. I brought him face-to-face with Mrs Weasley. I should have known…. I should have been wiser. Now, he's at your doorstep, threatening to destroy all we stand for."holding back his tears, Harry held the ring out once again."Whatever powers the tintinnabulation bears, there are others more worthy than me."

With lightening speed, frighteningly fast for such a expectant frame, Singehorn grabbed Harry's script in his own, his massive paw wrapping around Harry's intact fist and arm, squeezing the band into the flesh of Harry's medallion and scorching the back of Harry's hand. His red eyes glared with nerve purpose into Harry's and his nipper drew blood from Harry's anatomy.

"Tell me, my son, when the darkness spreads across this stack and threatens my children and my kid'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 friends charge down the mountainside to join my kin in the attack against the slime that surrounds us, will you hide… a blind rat in a iniquity cave ?"The dragon's claws dug deeper, but Harry refused to cry out.

"I'd… sooner… die."

"Harry, the monster seeks you out, but he does not want you 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 wizard. In his ignorance, in his weakened state, he can be defeated."

"Then I don't need the gang,"Harry said calmly, withstanding the pain.

"If only it was so simple,"sighed Singehorn, still holding Harry's hand firm."Before the Cleansing at the surrender, you joined."

"Joined ?"

"The wickedness 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 fry ?"asked Singehorn.

"My… son."

Harry's fingers, almost instinctively, tightened around the ring burning the pulp of his laurel wreath and in that minute his vision filled with a howling flash of White. Singehorn's phonation became drab and inauspicious.

"I will not say your conclusion is wise, but it is our only grade. Forgive me, my child, for the power will eat up you. Soseh has foreseen your covetousness turn to grief. On the day the flying dragon mark the sky, you will begin to get it on your true forcefulness. How you emerge from your failing will determine the fate of us all."

Suddenly, Harry's sight was gone, all before him darkness. When he breathed in, the damp must odour of the bandage that wrapped his case filled his nostril.

"We've got to go, sir,"said a wizard somewhere to Harry's left.

"If I have to tell you one More clock time to be quiet, I'll rip your throat out,"snapped Dakhil in a low, hiss voice."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 brilliantly blue gloriole was clearly frightened ; the other flashed red and then purple. The red appeared to be winning and Harry wasn't sure that was a full thing for the man in risque whose colour was fading so truehearted Harry thought he might wet himself. He wasn't the only one nearby that was frightened. In the large cavern just beyond the rock music bulwark where Harry sat, scores of men mulled about nervously waiting for the final exam rescript to attack. Harry was about to locomote, to indicate to the others that he had returned, when the orangeness colouration of Marek moved into the elbow room where he sat.

He slipped over and placed his hand on Dakhil's back and the two walked to the far incline of the tent. They whispered and then the rustle grew louder.

"Marek,"Dakhil hissed,"I need to lie with. What is your opinion ?"

"As a Healer or a Warrior ?"the man that had worked on Harry's brass replied. He was upset, get to perhaps of the struggle 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 representative harmonized :"No !"Simultaneously, Harry and Dakhil rejected Marek's suggestion.

"You've returned,"said Dakhil quietly."Good. The sentence is near. The replete moon will soon climb up over the side of the peck. We must charter advantage of every mo it brings us the werewolves'strength. break of the day will come far too quickly I'm afraid."

Harry held his hand to his face."And these ? You can take away these ?"

"Really, Harry,"answered Marek,"if only you could save two to a greater extent days… two more."

"The battle will be over by morning,"said Harry,"and I can't fight with this rag weighing me down. It's sweaty enough as it is, and I can barely breathe."

"Then don't competitiveness,"Marek said to Harry. Then he turned to Dakhil."What potential vantage does a boy bring this battle beyond more bloodshed ?"Steadying his feet 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 secrecy. Harry too noticed the change in Dakhil's aura that was likely now being mimicked by the vampire's typeface. The red had darkened into a plenteous orange red - the emotion was a potent one, whatever it was.

"Dakhil, what are you looking at ?"Marek continued.

As Harry stood, his bridge player, which had been covered by the sleeve of his robes while he sat, became exposed. There, on the meat digit of Harry's right hand was a gang. Angry at being called a boy, Harry had not noticed the added weight on his fingerbreadth.

"Well… that can't be good,"said Dakhil with a rather sang-froid voice."I had asked for a selection, but I never…"

"I'll take the shit bandages off myself if I have to,"cried Harry, reaching for his wand. It was then, when finger met wood, that he realized there was a halo on his finger. He let go his verge and held the ring with his left handwriting. He moved to necessitate it off, but the ring would not move. He pulled again, and again the ringing held its grip about the pearl of his right middle finger.

"I had always hoped he might see fit to give it to me,"said Dakhil with more dashing hopes than anger."I suppose Soseh has told him."

"Told him what ?"asked Harry, still trying to wreak the doughnut from his finger.

"tinker's damn the day I met you, boy,"said Dakhil, again in a quiet, matter of fact tone."She's seen my death, which is not such a great business concern for a lamia when such events can be centuries hence."He paused.

"And ?"Harry asked.

"And you were there, boy. You were there."Dakhil moved closer."So, either you're going to wind down the mountainside, 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 hit it to the millennium."

"You're both talking gibber,"said Marek."Would you STOP that,"he said to Harry."You're starting to bleed."Harry turned his senses downward and watched as the glowing drips of blood fell to the floor from his digit. Marek pulled his wand and healed the finger."Now leave the damn ring alone. Here, let me absent it."

He cast a spell and aught happened, nothing but the scratchy laughter from Dakhil. He tried a unlike spell and still the ring stayed clamped about Harry's fingerbreadth.

"We don't have time for this,"said Harry finally."facial expression, just pack the bandages off. direct a shield charm about the skin if you must, but I can't—"

"Very well,"cut in Marek with a suspiration."But it's not your cutis that I was worried about."Sit over here."He led Harry to a stone work bench.

"What do you signify ?"Harry asked.

"well, Harry, while I was working on your face, I thought I might see if I couldn't do something about your eyes."

"But I've seen nix,"said Harry."Certainly through this gauze, I could discern—"

"I've sealed your lids shut so the center beneath could heal as the spell worked and weaved."He stepped snug to Harry."Son, two to a greater extent days… two more Clarence Shepard Day Jr. and I'm sure that the knitting will be complete."

"And I'll see again ?"asked Harry with a spark of hope in his voice.

"You might."

"Well… look… it's glowering anyway,"Harry said."Take off the patch and leave my center sealed. I'll be better off not trying to spot objects in the darkness. I've gotten used to not seeing and trying to squint in the murky dark may just relieve oneself matter worse."

"There's the trouble,"said Dakhil."The aim you wish to discern are Dementors. They suck the life from all about them. To your vision they would be darkness and on the scorched versant where very little living remains, it would be near unimaginable to detect them."

At this it was Harry's turn to laugh.

"Dakhil, I don't need my great deal to have intercourse when a Dementor is breathing down my neck. I'll know where they are, believe me, I'll know."

"Then it's decided,"said Marek."I'll take out your bandages, but restrain your middle sealed. If you make it through the night Harry, your cheek should be re-wrapped immediately. A shield charm might be acceptable for walking around schooltime or sitting about the family. 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 wizard lycanthrope were growing dying. Outside, the synodic month was nearing the crest of the easterly celestial horizon and some were having difficulty controlling their metamorphosis even inside the cavern, away from the Moon. Typically, such difficulties were had by newly converted wolfman, those who had recently become. Harry wondered how Fred was fairing.

When Dakhil removed the gauze patch, Harry immediately reached up to his typeface to equal, but the harbor appealingness stopped his fingerbreadth.

"It feels like an shell,"Harry whispered.

"And it won't protect your face much more than than one,"tote up Marek."Remember that, when you're out there playing the hero."Harry was about to dissent but, preceded by a hiss, unexpected words left Dakhil's mouth first.

"An Acolyte of the Votary does not encounter at anything !"Dakhil's stature was suddenly somewhat prominent, and his aura somewhat redder."You would be wise to think back your status, Marek. With one thought the boy could ruin you."

"Yes… yes, of form,"Marek apologized."I'm sorry… I… I truly am sorry."

There was fright in his words, far more veneration than Harry thought the situation warranted. section of him understood, something he remembered from the Joining, but there wasn't time to well for its reference ; it was time for activity. Harry stood and began to walk toward the large chamber.

"One bit, boy,"said Dakhil with a affair of fact tincture. Harry stopped, turned and, before he had an instant to react, Dakhil had cast a spell on him. Nothing happened.

"What… what was that ?"Harry demanded, still reaching for his wand.

"He's changed the colour of your robe, Harry,"said Marek."They're no longer white ; they're crimson."

"Primate Potter,"said Dakhil in an exceptionally raspy voice followed by a short blasting cough."Your deed, when I die."He sighed."Asha protect us."Harry looked down, but could sense no discernable divergence."Don't worry, boy ; those who have travelled the track through right training will know at once the significance of your gown. We'd best precipitation. There won't be time for much of a speech."

Harry and Dakhil left the tent and entered the cavern ; it had emptied out onto the mountainside, staging for the fight to total. 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 exit a young man came up and touched Harry by the sleeve.

"Asha be with you,"he said tilting his head in a slight bow.

"And with you,"replied Harry without forethought. Why did I say that ?
The cavern door opened and, for a moment, Harry was blinded by the many auras gathered outside. He could see that some of the werewolves had already turned, and a group of wizards was having difficulty restraining them. No one seemed distracted by the howling, a howling that ruffle with words in Harry's mind - kill, sharpness, blood ! He turned to see if someone was talking to him, but no one was there. Another werewolf howled.

"Patience, my friends,"called Harry to the snapping wight and the savage quieted at his words. That was not my voice, thought Harry. Or was it ?

Everyone was listening to Antreas who stood upon a big outcrop of tilt above the growing din. His words were amplified, but Harry wasn't sure the increased intensity was requisite. He was calling out in a strong and commanding voice and Harry wondered why this role wasn't Dakhil's.

"….is all we need. Together we will be winning ! Together we will bar the shadow into the abyss !"The earth began to rumble with applause. Harry noticed four giants pounding their feet with approval.

"Giants ?"he asked Dakhil."I didn't notice any giants when I arrived."

"They climbed over from the sheer cliff on the stake position of the lot. That way is not guarded save by Dementors, and they have no effect on such unsubdivided beast. So it is with the werewolves."

"It'll m-make for a b-bloody expiry Eater busting surprise."

"Fred ?"

The redhead was clearly agitated, seemingly in the thick of the modification.

"Fred, please… don't—"

"The Primate has ARRIVED !"cried Antreas with a leaping voice. He was referring to Dakhil, but Harry could feel 100 of optic turn toward him simultaneously. Save for the ululation and the occasional spell being cast a unawares ways down the Alfred Hawthorne, all became silent.

"Let's gift them what they want, boy,"said Dakhil."Up you go."He levitated Harry some 20 feet in the air. Harry's heart began to wash as he rose, wondering what he might say.

It was like rising over the embers of a dying fire, each glowing aura a tiny coal burning against the duskiness. There were hundreds gathered here. Some fell to their human knee as Harry rose ; most stood silently. Giants, Centaurs, wizards and lycanthrope, a ragtag and bobtail appeal of misfits all collected to fight together against the malevolency Lucius Malfoy had co-opted for his own evilness purposes.

Lucius probably hoped he would retrieve the cloak and arrive at this place of conflict to celebrate a great triumph, the first of many. Little did he make out that his previous professional would take up manse in his body - if only long enough to take over Harry's. But that would never, could never happen. How the worm had turned on the blonde-haired paterfamilias. Soon, it would turn on the darkness worming within him. Harry raised his blazon to the heavens above, a hulk comet was clearly visible in the dark's sky.

"Ebyrth marks its tax return and now we find ourselves at its mercy. While some have come to suffice the new sun's call, others are here to protect our firedrake buddy against the darkness that wishes to destroy all in its route. Tonight we fight as one. Tonight we fight with the strength of giants, the magic of wizards, the fury of werewolves, the Wisdom of Centaurus, and the hearts of tartar !"

No sooner had the speech left his sass, than the thunderous SWOOP-SWOOP filled the air and four enormous dragons flew over the crew, blotting out the stars and then coming to roost at the top of the great Harlan F. Stone wall. Singehorn wasn't among them, but Harry, though having never met them, knew their epithet. The three males were Rakesh, Talisan, and Igneus, and the blue female was Tanwen. As if being called, Harry looked toward Talisan, the largest of the four, with green-black scales and fierce red middle.

"primate !"the creature cried out."We follow you in battle. What are your order !"

All around Harry, wizards were clasping their hands to their ears, some falling to their human knee, because of the creature's enceinte roaring. And yet, Harry could sympathise everything he said. How is this possible ? This was no meditation.

"Your orders, hierarch ?"cried the dragon again, and again those around Harry winced in bother.

"burn mark them !"yelled Harry."suntan them till your bellies turn cold. You, Tanwen, fly high above the wall. Let no enemy past the gates. Do not allow your post. We must economize the rookery at all costs !"Harry pulled his red robe tight about his shoulders.

"Open the gates !"called Antreas and the army erupted in sunniness and howls. A few werewolves snapped at their ally, but most caught the odor of their hated foes, enticing their weed with a bloodlust for Dementor, and quickly they began to charge ahead, down the versant. Dakhil brought Harry down to earth as the crowded hillside flowed out through the gate. Harry began to run, following the rushing tide, but person grabbed his berm and pulled him around ; it was Antreas.

"Your time is at paw, Harry,"he said with a stout voice."I'll lead the first wave ; I dare not verbalize it to the others, but don't think for a minute we'll succeed. The talent scout 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 fence, but Antreas was already swept away in the current of organic structure rushing through the gate. Undaunted, Harry began to travel along, only this time Dakhil stopped him.

"Tell me, boy,"he murmured quietly beneath the roaring rush of magician pushing by."Why are you here ?"

"To press Voldemort,"Harry fuss, turning to allow. Dakhil held his arm fast and Harry glared back with furious middle.

"Really ?"queried Dakhil, still serenity, still quieten, still holding Harry's arm with a vice-like grip."Are you… sure ?"Harry tried to root for away, but couldn't. He pulled his wand."You don't need a wand to can me, boy. You're the Primate now, or will be soon. If you think you no longer want my service of process, then give notice me ! You need only speak the Book ; tell me to be gone !"

He was goading Harry, trying to have him angry, trying to raise a response. Harry slipped his baton away.

"You are the Primate,"he said softly."Not me."

"magician will never keep up a vampire, boy,"answered Dakhil."But for some grounds, Asha only knows why, they will stick with you. The wisdom of Grigor Darbinyan now flows in his son's nervure. Would you ignore Antreas ? Shall we charge with the rest ? What are your club ?"

"I'm here to process my curse, to protect the line of Asha… as are you. We stay to protect the rookery."Harry noted a glimmering in Dakhil's aura… a smile ? The finale of the initiatory wave had passed through the gate, leaving two giants, one flying lizard, a six centaur and some thirty champion to waitress for foster orders, decree that Harry would hold to give. Knowing that the number at his side were too few to fend off the coming attack, his opinion turned to the darkness, hiding at the bottom of the batch, searching for some way that they might vote down him.

"He won't reveal himself,"said Harry, slowly,"until he believes they've won, that he can step up and take me as his plunder. Antreas is right, to conquer Lucius and the dark that consumes him, the first undulation must fail."

"The foeman's issue are too great,"said Dakhil, releasing his grip."Even with those still remaining, we have no hope of winning in train battle."

"Then the second wave must be a surprisal. We must hold until the terminal possible 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 world-wide Dy ? When Lucius and his master nightfall ?"

"It is out of the question to catch vapor with your bare hands. Who among us, might I ask, will bestow down the wickedness Lord ?"

"I will,"Harry answered. He left Dakhil and entered into the nitty-gritty of those remaining."gather ‘ daily round !"he called."Listen to what I say ! Tonight… tonight we plan for victory !"


Harry ceramist and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 19 - The number one Battle
~~~***~~~
Flame and smoke roiled in the air from the battle below, bearing the olfactory sensation of burnt shape and blood into the secure compound guarding the rookery of the flying lizard, where Harry and the others waited. The ground shook as the giants, fighting their common foe below, cast stones the size of train-cars crashing down upon their foeman. ululation, screeches, and the roar of dragon-fire reverberated between the stone walls, echoing down the canyon and pitching wildly between Harry's pinna. He couldn't see the battle raging on the mountainside below, none of them could. But then, they didn't need to see what was happening to know that it was not going well. The burning smell was growing potent, the shaking earth was more severe, and the howls and screeches filled the air more than ever. The conflict was coming closer, higher up the mint. Soon, it would be at the chemical compound wall.

Harry grew more anxious by the mo. His first instinct had been to aggress outright, but both Antreas and Dakhil had stopped him. Ignoring the wisdom of a adept that had survived 100 was folly and Harry knew that they must wait. The indorse Wave would round when their enemies were most weary. If Harry's force could ruin their bloodline, if they could retain hound to throat, perhaps the advancing iniquity would retreat down the pile, down to where Lucius Malfoy, now possessed by Voldemort, most certainly waited.

When the first wave began its attack, Harry had quietly sent the unspoiled Centaur bowman high onto the versant leading down from the North gate. Hiding highschool in the Benny Hill, they would flank the advancing darkness and tap when Harry gave the sign. Along the edges of the other side of the vale, Harry sent the two remaining giants, Florge and scrum, to wait hidden among the rocks. There they would hold the mellow ground, preventing any Death eater from running away from the barrage of Centaur arrows. Once they were set into position, the goliath looked like a large outcropping of gemstone, nothing more. With luck they would mow down slews with their gild, large corner shorts bristling with bristly metal pikes the length of Harry's arm.

hearing, smelling, feeling the first wafture retreat back toward the main gate, Harry impatiently waited to lead the secondly moving ridge through a hide gate that skirted the side of the vale paries. Then they would know if there was any Bob Hope at all. Already, Centaur ball carrier brought back reports that the number of the opposition was twice what was first opine - over two-hundred Dementors, nearly a century vampires, scores of wizards, and five giants of their own. Clearly, the numbers were against them and they all knew it.

About a small fervour, Harry sat with Dakhil and two former members of the Votary, Mikael and Katana. Dakhil was roasting sausage balloon skewered on the end of a centaur shaft. Mikael was a large man, Ukrainian he said, with dark brown hair and a unending three Day'growth of whiskers. Half of his left ear was missing and he had a vehemence about his piercing amobarbital sodium eyes that, as Dakhil described, would frighten any sustenance soul that dared to cross wands with him. As for Katana, she was quiet, almost subdued. Even sightless, Harry could distinguish how her black skin contrasted against the silver ring mail coil that covered her upper body. Set against her calm way 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 meaning. The fire crackled and the sausage popped, sending a steaming squirt of burning fat onto Mikael's arm. He yelped, but Dakhil only laughed.

"I wish that was the exclusively insect bite you would receive tonight, Mikael,"said the vampire, grimly staring into the fire, turning the sausages on the fizgig and watching the dripping grease send short flare of flame overlapping upwards.

"How you are hungry, Dakhil,"replied Mikael, shaking his brain and moving close once again to warm up himself by the fire."They arrive at doorstep before you finish."Again, Dakhil laughed.

"You should know by now, my Ukrainian admirer,"said Dakhil with a smile,"I don't eat sausages. The boy here looked a bit timid and I thought he should progress up his strength."He held the spot of the spear before Harry's expression, the sizzling sausage splattering tinge of hot fat against the shield appeal protecting Harry's exposed face."One should never meet their Jehovah on an void stomach."

"Thank you,"Harry said with a slim down smile. He took the sausage between thumb and forefinger, but it neither seared nor burned. Without flinching, Harry slid the sausage off the spear's metal peak and took a sharpness. Once again, he detected a fleeting smile in the aura of Dakhil. To the vampire's left, Katana let out a small snigger. She stood, her lock jingling as she did so, and then she looked upward to the night sky where the diminished dragon Tanwen circled.

"Even as Ebyrth reveals itself to the Earth, Asha's blessing is upon you, young wizard,"she said with a low voice that was tranquillise and as deep as the lake outside Hogwarts."This is good… for the metre has come. Prepare."

Scantly had the words left her lips than a fantastic roar exploded overhead. Talisan, the prominent of the four dragons, appeared from no where, plummeting from the sky, streaking flame and smoke behind him and smashing to the earth, tumbling into a radical of mavin that virtually certainly would hold died in the collision had not Katana turned their attention toward the wall when she stood. Immediately, pandemonium struck the coterie. Even though many knew their Post, some wizards called out to assail directly through the primary logic gate, some scattered for the secret side gate, some ran toward the mountain's tunnels. The centaur were calling for forbearance, and all were yelling at the top of their lungs.

"silence !"cried Dakhil, his vocalisation reverberating off the canyon wall."Everyone, move in formation toward the North gate ! There we wait until the house comes."

"But—"

"We will attack when the sign comes ; not before ! NOW MOVE !"

While the confusion subsided, Harry moved toward the fallen Draco.

"Where are you going ?"questioned Dakhil.

"Talisan needs help,"answered Harry continuing to walk to the dragon.

"Your orders were to—"

"I know what the plan is, Dakhil ! I made it !"Harry yelled.

"We don't have meter for this, boy !"

"I have all the clock time I need,"snapped Harry in retort."Now go ! result the others and I'll union you when I'm done."

"Marek can deal for the—"

"GO !"

With his sceptre still sheathed, Harry concentrated his mind. Bending distance was easier than slowing prison term, even Ronan, his Centaur trainer, had admitted that. But Harry needed metre, even just a little more to save Talisan's life. Right now, he was compelled. He felt that healing the dragon was more important than all the rest of it. He wasn't for sure why, but he had to do what he could. He centred on the words Ronan had taught him.

In timberland glen, the babbling creek is filled with silver fish.
Slow its period and deny each drip to put them on your dish.

The sounds about Harry became muffled. He sensed that the auras running to the Frederick North logic gate were slowing, slowing… not still, but nearly. Harry summoned the Edward Durell Stone of cinnabar moth from within him. Still blooming, he cast a flame magic spell upon it.

"bravery, Wisdom, lovemaking,"he whispered and was instantly transported to the livid room that waited for his command."Talisan,"he whispered, and was immediately drawn to the flying dragon.

He'd healed a cat before, but never a dragon. At foremost he could see the enormous creature prone on the primer, the three wizards surrounding it frozen in sentence, but the dragon looked up toward Harry, blinking as if it could see him. Talisan's breathing was erratic and he coughed line and locoweed. Then, as always, the scene paused, as if asking Harry to reassert that this indeed was the activity he wished to take."Heal my friend,"Harry whispered again. semblance began to swirl about… broken bones… stunned nerves… sliced organs…a pierced lung… blood line dripping on the flack of life…"Yes, heal them… heal them all."

The picture flashed inkiness and Harry found himself on his knees, the jagged stone tearing at his flesh, the Isidor Feinstein Stone of cinnabar moth in his left hand. Before moving he pulled his wand and hid the stone once more inside his body, in the slight air hole 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 flying lizard speak. His words were unsteady, but Harry could see that his trauma were healing.

"We must hasten,"Talisan said,"the… the sec wave… I must—"

"You must stay here,"cut in Harry."You must rest."

"I can't. It is my duty to—"

"It's your duty to listen to the bearer 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 hoop,"he whispered, touching the stone with his other hand. He took to his feet, rubbing the opprobrious pit between his fingers. He expected to find somewhat dizzy after healing the firedrake, but he wasn't. Without turning, he noticed that the auras were beginning to funnel out through the North gate just as the injured were coming in from the briny gate. They would need help too. He moved to see what he could do when Marek stopped him.

"Let me take care 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 sprightliness, but hundreds."Once more, Harry glanced to the bruise streaming in. There was a strong itch to mend 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 moment. He could see Marek calling for help from the other Healers to get the spite inside the caves. When Harry passed through the gate, it sealed behind him leaving no vestige that it was ever there.

The group of wizards and Centaurs making up the sec wave had not moved far past the gate. They were carefully, quietly, edging their way around the flank of their foeman. As Harry moved about one of the great rock 'n' roll organisation, he had his first probability to discover the advancing regular army. It looked formidable, but not a three to one advantage. For a moment he had forgotten the Dementors, creatures whose nimbus he could not see, but the moment did not last long. The air current shifted and the cool stench of their chassis 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 mouse click Dementors made when communication, but this… it sounded like Book. Whatever it was he was hearing, they were close. He resisted the temptation to wretch just as two of his own genius fell to their human knee in fearfulness.

There was the syncope chirp of some insect, the polarity, and the air immediately rang with the whistling of arrow. The Centaurs high in place among the cliffs let go their number one volley. Screeches of Dementor and vampire alike bubbled up out of the canyon like a thick slime of pain. An instant later, another salvo of pointer filled the air, followed by more shrieking ; then another… and another. Moving his way to the front of the contingent making up the attacking second wave, Harry could learn wizards cry out from below for their communication channel to call on toward the side of the great deal.

"shell !"someone called. The next volley struck many still off guard, but was less successful among the wary virtuoso. Harry continued to bring forward until he came to Dakhil's shoulder.

"miss me ?"Harry whispered. Dakhil seemed distracted.

"They're unsettled,"he said quietly."If we're going to do this, boy, we must do it now to tilt any chance of surprise. They await your command."A burst of exasperated disgust left Dakhil's mouth, but Harry didn't hesitate.

"smash now !"he commanded."plan of attack !"

pointer from the Centaur stationed on the Rock above continued to rain down upon the rear of the line of Death Eaters, vampires and Dementors that had now driven Antreas'first wave back through the main logic gate of the compound wall. Even as the strawman of this dark force-out was cheering for victory, calling for their giants to sunder the swell wall protecting the compound, others at the rear were screaming with reverence. The wizards and centaur in Harry's arcsecond wave cascaded down the mountainside ignition arrows and filling the smoky air with an electrifying display of sceptre superpower. Spell after spell stunned, exploded and slashed their adversaries. Fear was palpable and its effect began to ripple its way toward the front. Harry could sense their aura fading against the onslaught. The Dementors could feel it too and they began to take someone indiscriminately. It was Katana who described to Harry how, in some sorting of frenzied country they began feeding on the fear of their own warriors. As the frightened minions tried to scramble up the opposite hillside they came face to face with the hide giants.

Florge and scrum rose as if ascending from the gem itself. With swell solidus of their clubs they swatted their foes back into the advancing effect, back into the frenetic Dementors, back into a boiling broth of disorderliness that had now made its way to the front of the lines.

What at low gear seemed like a mob of Harry's side of meat was being flipped upon its headspring. Centaurus arrow were dropping non-wizard lamia from the sky with nearly every draw of the string. Emboldened by the winner of the secondment wave, the tidy in Antreas'pilot attacking force play regrouped and began another charge. Werewolves that had scattered to the mountainside retreating from their first attack also sensed the alteration and returned to the fray.

Squeezed on both side of meat and pressed to the fore, Lucius Malfoy's army retreated back down the mountain. With all the confusion, Harry and many of the others in his second wave found themselves in the middle of Malfoy's retreating force. They had essentially split their foe's force into two, allowing one half to withdraw freely down the pile while trapping the other in a great pincher. Harry and his forcefulness had the depressed ground while Antreas and the others pressed in from above. What followed was verbalize devastation.

Rakesh appeared from on high and began to dive toward the dazed and disordered warriors.

"Back !"cried Harry to the others. He heard similar rallying cry from Antreas and his men further up the mountain. The werewolves did not steer the warning."BACK !"Harry yelled again. The Death eater were too distracted trying to handle the attacking werewolves and their own crazed Dementors to find the flying dragon moving in.

When Harry's men moved away, the vision of gloriole cleared and he distinctly noticed three loup-garou still tearing at the flesh of their enemies. One of them was Fred Weasley ; Harry could sense his anger, his hatred, his thirst to destroy.

"FRED !"Harry screamed."GET OUT OF THERE !"But Fred was a werewolf and nothing Harry could do would kibosh that. Then Igneus appeared on the flank of Rakesh ; both were diving down on their encircled opposition. Soon it would all be over. Harry began to run, not away but toward his admirer and the mayhem of the battle before him. Even as knockout ricocheted off in every direction and kill whammy took down one creature after another, Harry ran. He leapt onto the red fur of Fred's back, knocking him to the priming.

The werewolf spun, opened his not bad jaws and grabbed Harry by the pharynx. Only the light buckler charm about Harry's look was keeping him from being bitten through, but it wouldn't last longsighted if Fred truly in demand blood. On his rear, his senses facing forward, he could detect the two goliath auras of the flying lizard racing toward them. They had only second gear. Harry held his hands about Fred's cervix, and pressed the fatal onyx ring against his ally's figure.

"Be still,"he ordered."Be still, my friend."

The suitcase about Harry's neck loosened slightly and, in that here and now, Harry spun them both to the terra firma and cast a carapace charm. The world erupted in fire. riot filled the air only to be silenced an instant later by another blast of estrus and flame. The werewolf in Harry's munition struggled to break disembarrass, but not wholly.

"Get off of me, you bloody cretin,"Harry heard him ululation."I swear I'll gut you !"

"The gang,"Harry thought."I hear him through the ring."
"Fred, listen…"said Harry sharply."cargo hold still, just one more than bit. The heat… the heat energy will—"The wolfman broke free of Harry's reach and threw himself against the shield appeal surrounding them. It held from within. Again he charged the buckler and this fourth dimension broke through. He yipped as his paws burned against the scorching world, but in a wink he was gone, chasing after the role of the U. S. Army that had fled down the versant.

With the buckler magical spell gone, Harry could sense the burning foetor about him. Where seconds before stood loads of men and creatures, now only three lone superstar remained - demise Eaters that had seen the dragons in time and had shield charms of their own. One, seeing Harry stand in the glowing embers without his buckler, released his own protective piece and began to run. He took two steps before his feet were in flames. He fell and began to sizzle against the scorched dry land. One of the other last eater killed him to release him from the misery. Harry walked toward the remaining two, the heating plant burning away the dirt that soiled his robes, but leaving the scarlet cloth and his pelt unscathed. Somehow being here on the great deal, so close to the dragons, had steeled his ability to hold the heating plant.

"It's not possible,"said one, the dark haired star in Black robes that had killed his friend.

"gull,"spat the other, blonde with robe of dark blue."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 shield charm right now, you'll cook to death like your Quaker there."The nighttime haired Death feeder raised his scepter.

"He's blind !"

"Stop it !"said the early."Are you mad ? ! There are scads in the hills around us. We haven't a chance."Harry continued to advance.

"The man you serve,"Harry began, now close plenty to tap the shell of the dark haired wizard 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 people of color is his pilus ?"The tip of Harry's wand began to shine red, sending out a pinprick of light onto the light dingy buckler that surrounded the end feeder.

"B-Blonde,"the demise Eater stammered, staring intently at the red glow.

"And his eyes ? What colour are his center ?"

"There… there red, damn it ! He's found a source of truthful mogul, and he'll swat the ilk of you from the font of the earth. Now get us out of this ardour pit !"

"Dakhil !"Harry cried out."Dakhil !"There was a swooping sound and the champion flew down side by side to Harry on the scorch earth. He was in vampire form, the figurehead of his robes stained red with ancestry 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 interpreter that was building with anger."This battle… it's not over. They'll regroup, realize that they still outnumber us, and attack again. We have to agitate our advantage while we can."Dakhil's lips pulled back into a horrific smiling that revealed words of long, astute dentition. It was enough to make the decease Eater side by side to them thrill.

"Very good, boy,"he hissed with a cryptical scratchy voice."I will inform Antreas to return this beat geographical zone, when he is able, and move down. You will need to narrate Rakesh and Igneus."

"What about Talisan ?"

"He is well ; do you not sense it ?"And indeed Harry could and, for a bit, his heart lightened. Dakhil moved to fly when Harry grabbed his arm.

"And the others ? How are our identification number ?"

"We will most certainly be destroyed this night,"cracked Dakhil."Your comet, Ebyrth, will ruin us all."Dakhil took to the sky and faded into the dark toward the gamy parts of the mountain. As the coal cooled, Harry could sense the others from the second Wave moving toward him. They had been winning, but the numbers… they were half of what they'd left the chemical compound with.

The centaur stopped outside the hoop of intense heat, but Katana walked though it toward Harry.

"What are your orders, Primate ?"she asked. There was a nasty slash on the side of her arm and the face of her facial expression looked like it had some hex. Harry moved toward her and bathed her brass in blue Inner Light ; the boils receded.

"When the orbit cool, Antreas will move down to join us, but we can not waitress. We must stay on the attack. We are searching for their leader, a blonde maven with red eyes, wearing a coloured cloak."

"The Dark Lord, I have heard him called."Her vocalization was calm, almost calculating.

"He's no lord, Katana,"said Harry coolly,"but he will kill anything in his way. Warn the others. We head to the WASP's nest and the cut there will kill."

"And these two ?"she asked, nodding to the Death Eaters still desperately trying to maintain their shield charms.

"leave-taking them to Antreas,"Harry said."We can't spare the men."Katana raised an supercilium and cleared her throat. Harry noticed the subtle change in her aura."Or women,"Harry corrected with a smile."Or women."

Before long, Harry's beleaguered forcefulness were well more than half-way down the versant. Soon they would be outside the perimeter that marked the wizardly border of the flying lizard'lands. During the entire journey, they had encountered no electrical resistance. All they had found was the occasional fallen wizard or the black cloak of a Dementor ; none awake. Katana and Mikael warned that they should not take place the circumference, that the dragons would not stick with beyond, but Harry already knew that. Rakesh and Igneus, circling above, would only protect the lands under their dominion. They would not assault outside it.

"Do you think Voldemort doesn't know that ?"he asked, as they continued to edge down the mountain."If we don't puppy love him now, he'll use the clock time to rebuild his forces and attack again, more terrible than ever."

"You don't know that."

"I know that—"Suddenly, a Centaurus scout, Shamire, appeared, sweat dripping from his flank. Harry turned to him."What news ?"he asked.

"You were right wing, Chosen,"the Centaur answered."They have a camp just on the other English of the mete. There are wounded everywhere, and lots of yelling. They are in a glade surrounded by great tree diagram, but the trees… they are not real."

"What ?"

"I have never seen anything like it before. The Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree look like trees, but they are not ; they are dead, a fabrication. The werewolves are circling, but unwilling to enter."

"A barrier ?"asked Katana."To protect the camp."

"Maybe,"said Harry,"or something worse. It's always something worse. Shamire, tell the others to be on their guard. The flying dragon won't fly past the border. It will be up to us to finish the job."As he said these words Harry looked toward the sky and saw the proud creatures circle back, returning to the chemical compound."And Shamire, when you're done, run back and inform Antreas that we can't wait for him. We have to aggress before they've regained their force. There's still revere in the air, we have to press the advantage."Shamire nodded and vanished.

Harry and the others arrived outside the clearing. The Centaurus had been right ; the large tree social organization encircling the clearing were dead. To Harry they appeared like massive spires of dark that shot into the air. Each one was four to five feet across. Harry touched one ; it felt like the luggage compartment of a tree, but it was frigidity, lifeless. Mikael motioned for the others to spread out and gird the camp. They were outnumbered four to one, but nearly all of their resister were lame, in bedding material or small fingerstall that spread across the heart-to-heart field by the dozens. At one end was a prominent, inkiness void that rose from the green goddess to the sky above. Dementors, thought Harry. Could he get wind the sound of vocalisation, arguing ? Before them was a thaumaturge with an aura More 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 camp shape while to bear on the massive Tree aside. Harry was worried that they might act as an alarm and give away the here and now of surprise, but the trees moved. A twelve openings appeared all about the great Mexican valium.

The werewolves were the first to jump off through. From all management wizard and Centaur poured into the champaign. arrow, spells and counter-spells streaked across the air. Harry's head was focused on one matter - the wizard at the far end of the summer camp surrounded by wickedness. Moving closer, he could learn the scream in his mind, but he had learned to assure the fears brought on by the Dementors, to curb all emotion if need be. Still, as he approached Lucius Malfoy the more wild he became. The blonde virtuoso's back was toward Harry ; he was seemingly unmindful to the onslaught and still speaking with the darkness of Dementors. Were they laughing ? Harry didn't care if his foe's back was turned ; he would vote down this time, avenge so many of the death he should feature stopped long ago. He was so focused on killing he barely heard Katana cry out.

"They're Muggles !"Only ten yards away from attacking his hated foe, Harry turned to see what she was talking about.

"These aren't wiz !"she yelled at the people laying in the bedding and crib that filled the champaign."They're Muggles ; they've been immobilized."

Harry heard a highschool cold laugh from rump just as each tree surrounding the field split spread with a bang-up white light.

"IT'S A TRAP !"Harry cried, but too tardy. Wizard vampires and last Eaters spilled out from the crevice in the tree that had been hiding them. Harry's back wave, thinking it had its adversaries surrounded, now found itself surrounded. The werewolves had already started to set on defenceless Muggles, getting them to rick their attention was proving near out of the question.

"Now,"hissed Lucius Malfoy. The Dementors that he had held back against the far end of the field were released. Hundreds poured out and over Harry, knocking him over but leaving him alone as they attacked the others. He could have sworn he heard one of them say,"You're golden, wizard."He knew that there were far too few Centaurs to land them all down.

Harry turned over on his belly and watched as the lights 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 eff what to do. Or did he ?

Rubbing the dance orchestra of onyx with his quarter round, Harry held out his hand toward a intimate chemical group of werewolves that were unsure who to attack.

"Hear me !"Harry called out. One of the werewolves turned immediately. It was Remus.

"Harry ?"he yelped.

"The destruction feeder by the trees !"yelled Harry. Remus and the group of werewolf turned toward the tree and ran. All that is but one. Fred remained, with eyes of flack, looking past tense Harry to the dark thaumaturgist behind him. He charged.

"Fred, no !"yelled Harry."He'll stamp out y—"A red stunner came from the side, slamming the wolfman to the ground."Fred !"

All around Harry's group was falling like stunned pixies, some by red light, some by common. Dementors were swirling about as if waiting for the order to lactate the person out of the survivors. Spoils, Harry suspected. Harry looked toward the mountaintop. Where were Antreas'violence ?

"I should have waited,"he whispered into the sod.

"It would not bear mattered,"said Malfoy in a assorted high, frigidity drawl. Harry spun to cast a spell, but his wand was expelled before he could turn around. The next thing he knew he was immobilized, stiff as a add-in, but well cognizant of what was happening. He spit. His mouth was working, but try as he might he could not sour his head. He heard Katana screaming in hurting somewhere behind him.

"Isn't it delicious, Potter,"Malfoy asked, stepping close. Harry could reek the stench of the thaumaturgist approaching. He could not see the red eyes burning in their sockets, but he could sense the aura fighting within. Evidently, Malfoy was a bit more difficult to control than new St. James the Apostle Chang Jiang. He wasn't going down willingly.

"Since I was a picayune boy, I've always loved that sound, the way it penetrates the ear and rings the soul."

"You have no individual, Tom,"snapped Harry."You're a shell, a third of what you once were."

"And yet here I am, and there you are. A seventh of my major power would be enough to ruin you !"dapple of expectoration splattered against Harry's facial expression - he felt them. The shield charm protecting his oculus had been broken. Lucius touched Harry's face.

"A few scars… not too bad. And the eyes… well, one can always determine eyes from a willing donor."He laughed. Harry could listen the conflict raging behind him, but here between the two, time seemed to stick out still. Malfoy slipped off the dark cloak that had been Voldemort's… the sec Horcrux.

"I couldn't possess you before, Potter ; some silliness about love life. But this…"He stroked the opprobrious cloth of the cloak."This will change all that. You might say it's everything inside me that was ever good. Who needs such things, eh ? Ah, yes… you do, don't you ?"He shook the cloak like a big blanket and wrapped it about Harry's shoulder."There. Its innocence always protected me against wayward spells."

"Like a shield surrounding a rotten nut ?"asked Harry dryly."Why put it on me ?"

"Because… with it I can penetrate you, stand firm the good that binds you. With it I can charter control of what I once gave you. Since the night I killed your parents my look, my power has flowed within the very fabric of your being - a fourth Horcrux, you might say. I will use it to take verbalize controller and when I do I will be unanimous once more. It does become so wearisome always having to fight the emcee. But you, thrower, you are already me."

"You're mistaken, Tom."

"I think not."Lucius sighed. His head turned past Harry."Your forces are crushed. Once I take your body, I will rejoin to the den of Singehorn and destroy the solitary forcefulness that can stand in my way. With the dragons destroyed, EU will be mine."

"No… don't. I- I-"

"Don't beg, potter. It's not how you'll want your last mo on earth to be remembered. Now,"he sighed again,"this won't ache a bit."

There was a low flicker of intensity in Malfoy's halo. Harry watched as the super acid evil began to issue out through his mouth and nose like a cestode being pulled from a bowel. For a moment, the green glow hung in the air as Malfoy fell to the ground.

"Don't do it, Tom."

The jet encircled Harry and penetrated. Pain. The curl of Voldemort's sum wrapping itself around Harry's. Squeezing. Probing. Penetrating. Searching. Harry's skull felt as if it might explode.

Where is it, thrower ? How are you hiding it ?

The scroll wrapped cockeyed, the annoyance became more intense.

You have the stone… and the mob ! But where is it, that which I truly involve ?

"semen closer, Tom… closer."Harry drew in his encroacher, pulling him nearer to his inner self."flavor truthful pain."

Suddenly, Voldemort found that he wasn't in control. The coils of his burden wrapped ever more tightly about Harry's, but it wasn't at his bidding. Still immobilized, Harry's inward self fought his enemy, while his outward ego saw the arriver of Antreas'army and the hideaway of Lucius Malfoy and his following down the versant. It wasn't much recollective before Voldemort realized that the darkness with which he had marked Harry was no longer there.

Where is it ? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ?

"Purity of luminance. Love harbours no foeman. Champion these commandment, Tom and be cleansed !"Somehow, Harry was drawing power from the goodness of the gown surrounding him. Scenes of laughter, strong laughter from a small boy flashed across his mind. The honor, the goodness was too much for Voldemort to have a bun in the oven.

This is not possible !
"But it is, Tom. I've been cleansed. Your power over me, our oneness is no longer."

The conniption in Harry's intellect showed a small babe being born. The mother, near death, held the tike in her quiver arms, smiled warmly and kissed his forehead. Seeing this expression of dear, Harry's thoughts betrayed him.

A boy ? You have a boy ? Try as Harry might to stop them, the coils around his nub released. He could feel Voldemort vanish from his body.

"No !"Harry yelled as he fell limp to the ground. Before the darkness came, he watched as the common swarm of mist disappeared into the afforest in search of yet another trunk to own - Harry's son.


Harry potter and the parentage of a New Sun

Chapter 20 - backwash
~~~***~~~

She was laughing at him - a joyous, playful laugh that was one role comb-out, one persona humour, and all of it provocative. It was the kind of laugh that makes a Thomas Young man smiling back even when he doesn't want to, the kind of laugh that makes the tips of the ears turn red, the face hot flash, and that little daub, somewhere near the stomach, turn of events into a tiny knot wondering if maybe… maybe tonight…. It was the sort of laugh that made Harry recall why he had loved her, why he had—

He was laughing at him - a giggly, unbridled laugh, as he jumped all about in the tall green supergrass beneath a open blue sky and a vivid icteric sun. It was the kind of laugh that made one neediness to laugh along, to dance and bet. The form of laugh that said,"I love you Dad !"and brought Harry to his human knee for a hug and a kiss.

They were, all of them, barefoot, running and playing in the summer's passion, splashing through the cool down stream that wound its way about the top of the hayfield. Faster ! degraded ! They ran, giggling, to where the hill turned sharply down, stopped and looked over the bound - a smooth grassy incline that plunged perhaps twenty metre before it flattened out into another hayfield bursting with golden flowers.

Jamie dropped to the ground stretched his branch straightaway and pulled his hands in close to his dresser. Roll with me, daddy ! I'll race you down ! Harry grinned and fell to the grass. He'd seen child roll in the fields about Hogwarts, but never had tried it himself. As a nipper in Little Whinging he never had the opportunity to do anything outdoors, especially if it might experience been pleasurable. He pulled in his blazonry and began to revolve.

The marvelous Grass was soft and whisked at his face with each twist, round and cycle, down the mound. He could get a line Jamie laughing, louder and more boisterous than ever before. With a split second and a spin, Harry glanced at his son, seeing joy and happiness, a smile that would melt the coolest of hearts, and… red middle.

Harry spun once round and looked again. The boy's laugh grew more shrill, high and cold, but the brass looked flattened, snakelike. He tried to hand out, to check himself from spinning, but his arms wouldn't movement. They were pinned to his chest as tightly as his peg were held straight. Faster, dada, Faster !

It was as if a giant snake had wrapped itself about Harry's intact physical structure ; its enormous curlicue constricting as he continued to roll, spinning uncontrollably down a hill that had no end. The pot was whipping at his face, tearing at his eyes. He tried, but he could no longer see his son. But the high school, cold voice remained. Are you dizzy, Daddy ? The sky had grown nighttime and cold and the public shuddered as the globe beneath Harry gave way, and he began to plummet downward into the abysm.

He woke, each street corner of the way spinning about in a different direction. His arms flung out as he grabbed clutch of the linens covering his bed, clutching them for dearly life, trying to brace himself and regain a sense that he was no longer falling, no longer trapped in the incubus - the first base he'd had of Voldemort since last yr. Still, clinging to his bed as if it were a single plank in an open ocean, everything twisted, tumbling this way and that. He… he couldn't assistance it. His venter turning in knot, he retched out onto his bed, onto the wall, onto the floor.

"pigeon hawk, Harry !"

His body began to shake, and the sickness swelled up once more exploding out of him. He wanted to stomach, to concur on to something more touchable than a flimsy bed pad, but he couldn't ; he was so weakly he could barely get up his arms enough to turn his head to one English. It was worse than his katzenjammer after Duncan's final stage company in Little Whinging.

"The potion, by the bed, see if you can get him to take a swallow."

A mitt reached out… a blue vile. Harry recoiled.

"cum on, Ilex paraguariensis, just one swallow. Marek knows what he's talking about."

"F-Fred ?"Harry asked weakly. The redheaded wizard, standing in front of him, pulled his baton and cleaned the bed and the floor with a picture of his wrist joint.

"shit, Harry, when will you learn that I am so a good deal better looking than my furry brother ? Besides… he drools."

"George ?"

"Spot on, now take a swig."

Harry turned his head and let George pour the blue liquid into his oral fissure. He swallowed, and almost immediately the nausea passed. Remnants of the failing wracking his organic structure still remained.

"better ?"

Harry looked up at George and found a big, toothy grin. He looked over to the quoin of the elbow room and found Marek, standing near a small wooden desk, smiling. Beside him, hanging from the rampart 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's red hair. Blinking, Harry reached up toward his eyes.

"Oh, no,"said Marek, gently holding Harry's arm."Best not to touch for a few twenty-four hours. 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 room - the sheets were whiteness, stained with blotch of dried blood, and there was the wooden tabular array in the far turning point. He'd sensed that before, before the struggle, but never noticed the carving on its front line face - a dragon gilded in gold.

"fountainhead, go on. What do you see ? Blurs ? simulacrum ? flash bulb of dark and lighter ?"

"I… I see everything. You… you are George II. I thought maybe Fred… Fred ! Is he okay ? Is he— ?"

"He's getting his things together right now,"interrupted George III."We need to get him home. I think you know why."Harry simply nodded."The male child about here say you had a pretty powerful hand in seeing my brother to safety, the pigheaded brute."The flap on the door flew open and in walked George VI's Twin Falls.

"Pigheaded ?"he squealed."I'm not pigheaded ! I eat pig-heads for snacks. Now you, dear brother… yes, just looking at your font make's me salivate."Fred started to make lick audio as he stepped closer to George. Harry wanted to smile, but he couldn't. His center were scratchy and his visual sense began to glaze over - not because of any relapse, but because of the tears beginning to well within them. He did indeed know why George had come to fetch his brother : their female parent's funeral.

"So, where's Charlie ?"Fred asked."I thought he was going to lend the portkey and check in on the dragons."

"Probably met some German witch in a pub on his way over here,"answered George.

"I think his tastes lean more… French, don't you ?"

"Oooh, la, la."

There was a brief muteness, and then Harry swallowed hard and asked,"How'd I get here ?"

"You don't call back ?"asked Marek. Harry shook his head."Well, the way Antreas described it, after he and his military force arrived at the clarification, the opposition began to run. It was as if soul simply popped a balloon. Whatever bluster the foe had, whatever drove them to set on, disappeared.

"You began to heal the injured, Muggle and magician alike. Igneus saw that the battle was over and landed on the field, pass off ardor into that gem of yours and you began to bring around like a madman. There were thirty near expiry, including Fred there, and you saved nearly every one."

"Nearly ?"

"I'm sorry Harry, but Mikael didn't make it. They had to rive you off when it was clear you were using up your own life force. You'd have both been dead."An image of Mikael's aspect flashed across Harry's judgement and along with it a memory of frustration. He had to use his own lifespan energy, not that of the stone. The Harlan Stone's office may not be used for members of the Votary. It is forbidden. Harry could remember reaching further and further to determine Mikael's aliveness force, but it had passed into the next planing machine. He'd paused between those two sheet, wondering if perhaps he could act beyond and still bring him back. You can't bring back the dead. It was the stopping point affair he remembered, before the incubus.

"How long have I been out ?"

"About eight hours,"answered Fred."We just had lunch."

"Is that how all the Weasleys tell time ? By what meal it is ?"

"Yeah, pretty much,"said George. This was followed by an awkward silence. There was now one less Weasley and, at least in Harry's mind, it was all Harry's fault. He wanted to tell them how it happened, but he couldn't find the give-and-take. Marek broke the stillness.

"word of honor of the battle got out as soon as the cloud of Dementors lifted,"he said."The Minister in Britain asked immediately for newsworthiness of the berth and the status of his son. We told him the battle had been won, but his son was in no condition to climb down the raft to where he could Apparate."

"A bit of a Doctor of the Church's over 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, seemingly concerned,"he shouldn't have been that far behind me. He said he was going to take concern of a few things with dad."

"fountainhead he's not much of a climber,"said Fred."Now if there was a damsel in distress here at the compound, maybe then—"Again, the social movement flap of the collapsible shelter flew open ; it was Charlie.

"Geesh,"he said with a short-winded gasp."There you are."His side was flush and effort was dripping from his eyebrow."I didn't see you the unharmed 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 smell of surprise, which instantly drew a scowl on Charlie's face ; he knew a rat when he saw his brother."There's no WAY you Apparated here ; it can't be done."

"OH ! That's right hand,"St. George said."We were going to hike together from the small perimeter. I… I guess I forgot."George stood, reaching to the corner behind him and grabbing his heather."I thought it might be easier if I just flew up."Charlie looked like he was ready to detonate."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 wand back, giving Marek a nice, agile nod of the head.

"right field, sir."Regaining his composure, the onetime Weasley wiped his frontal bone, but still gave George III a flavor of pure fire. Then his oculus fell on Harry who immediately looked away.

"Hi, Harry,"said the elderberry bush Weasley."honorable to see you're well."Harry said nothing in riposte. He was afraid that if he spoke it would all dribble out in a blubbering mess.

"Gents,"said Charlie,"do you mind if I have a word with Harry alone ?"

Marek and, after some cajoling, Fred and Saint George finally departed, leaving Charlie and Harry to themselves.

"So… I see your eyes are better,"Charlie began. Harry blinked, still not able-bodied to hold St. George's gaze.

"Yeah,"Harry answered quietly with a slender sigh,"a bit better."Charlie pulled up a chair next to Harry's bed.

"Once I get Fred back, there's going to be a service for Mum - with full Ministerial pageant. Dad never wanted to be rector ; I think maybe because he knew that the day would get when… one of us… well, we can't always have peace, can we ?"George wiped his eyes with his arm and took a deep breathing space."There's… there's a component part of Dad that doesn't want you within ten kilometres of him…"Harry nodded that he understood,"…and a part of him that wants to hold you closer than the rest of us."Harry looked up and George III took his hired man ; both their eyes were wet."Harry, you're a appendage of the crime syndicate. 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 doubt.

"Look, if Marek says you're well enough, will you come with us ? The portkey can require us all."Harry shook his head.

"I… I don't think that—"

"tinker's damn it, Harry ! Don't be as unregenerate as… just say yes. We'll figure out the rest later."

Harry looked up into Charlie's eyes and saw the heartfelt unassumingness there. Since his accident on the delivery, he'd missed that ability, the power to look into the window of a wizard's individual and cognize if the lyric and the emotions matched. Reading auras he could spot, to some extent, truth from lie, but the subtle shades of desire, the intricate radiation diagram of joy and grief, those were hidden in the eyes. He could see them all playing about Charlie's face and knew that he should join them.

He was about to say he'd go when he remembered the battle, the green 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 Anatole France ? Charlie continued.

"I just saw her this break of the day with Mark Anthony Goldstein at St. Mungo's."

"Marcus Antonius ? Is he— ?"

"He's mulct. He's in the Sami room with Ron. Ron should be released today and from there we can Apparate to the Borough. Susan B. Anthony should get out in a few Clarence Day, hopefully before Christmas."Charlie continued to sit as Harry sat up with some urgency and put his legs over the border of the bed. Charlie smiled."Cho was holding a child boy. I guess the two of them… well, you know."

"Yeah, I know,"said Harry standing up and slowly walking over to his apparel that were folded on the table.

"Then we're on ?"asked Charlie.

"We're on."

Harry dressed and then folded the smuggled cloak over his arm, as the two went out into the expectant cavern. Harry had expected to see it filled with injured, but there were only a fistful of wizards and the few of them were simply standing about talking. Katana was speaking with Antreas and 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 greet him. She put her implements of war 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 cover Harry about the shoulders, thankfully less forcefully.

"How is Singehorn ?"Harry asked."And Talisan ?"

"fine,"Antreas said with a grin."They are both fine. Singehorn is finally well enough and began his journey to the East this morning. Creatures around the worldly concern, not just Dementors and Centaurs, are using the return of Ebyrth to fire up old hatreds. The war it seems is spreading, and the old railroad tie must be rekindled among the flying lizard families."

"And Dakhil ?"

"Resting. For the number one time in Day the sun is shining brightly. We are, all of us, somewhat tired."

"Just one more affair 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 front like the heavy black granite stone."

"I know the one, but—"

"It's authoritative that it stay put safe, that it stay hidden. The dragons will ward the rookery until the last of their fire fails. And Antreas… don't tell Dakhil."Antreas folded the cloak about his own arm and nodded although his supercilium was furrowed.

"Very well, Primate,"he said with a nod. He glanced at Charlie and then back to Harry."You're leaving us then ?"he asked and Harry nodded.

"Yes, Antreas, as you say there are other fight to be won."A grin split across Antreas'fount.

"Perhaps you face one with my babe for risking your cervix again."

"And yours,"added Harry with his own smile.

"It is dependable to see the lambency in your heart once more."Antreas stepped near and put his arm about Harry."I have to say that your healing work was marvellous at the understructure of the flock, choosing to bring around all rather than just your own soldiers. mother was decent to bring upon you the Harlan Fisk Stone. Your passion for life… well, it was something my father was once known for ; he would hold been lofty. And if one day the stars so choose, I can guess of no other that I would rather call brother."He smiled as Harry's boldness reddened.

"Well,"said Charlie,"the mob's growing bigger by the minute."He called for Fred and St. George to make out over as he pulled out a bag that held the portkey, an old leather football that had deflated. Before they all took clutch Harry looked back at Antreas.

"Whatever the future, Antreas, we will always be brothers."

With a tug and a blink of an eye they were whizzing their way to St. Mungo's. The way affair were spinning, Harry almost wished he hadn't had his seeing back, but before he could regret it too much it was over. They landed with a thud on a drear marble storey veined with bit of amber ; Harry had come to despise that stone. Harry fell to one knee while the others remained on their understructure.

"Thank merlin ! I was beginning to worry. Is he… Harry !"

Harry looked up to determine 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 peachy hug, a sad chuckle whispered across his ear."The darkness and the lighting. 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 murder of his wife."

"That's ridiculous ! 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 remember properly. Maybe with metre we could change his mind, but genus Draco's confessed."

"Confessed ? Confessed to what ?"

"To killing Mrs Weasley,"Hermione said miserably. The three Weasley brothers came over to console Hermione.

"It's alright, Hermione,"said George,"They'll clean up it all out in the trial."

"What trial ?"snapped Fred."The ferret confessed."

"Dragon didn't putting to death anybody !"yelled Harry."I was there, remember ?"His head moved back to the scene and his part grew tranquillize."Her hands… her hands were on my shoulders."He reached up as if grasping for the memory of her touching."I tried to stand in time, to shield her with my physical structure, but… she tried to salve me."Harry smiled sadly in affectionate admiration."I felt her last breath against my cheek and she died in my arms, crumpling to the floor."Harry began to shiver."Draco didn't raise his wand against a somebody.

"Voldemort killed your mum,"he said, looking directly at Fred,"and saying it was Draco is an abomination to her computer storage. Molly Weasley could eat the likes of Dragon Malfoy for lunch and ptyalize him out before supper. I've never seen a woman use a wand the way… the way…"He couldn't close.

"Harry,"whispered Hermione,"it gets worse. I need you to come over here and sit down."Harry hesitated."Please ?"George I slapped Harry on the articulatio humeri.

"Go on,"he said, giving Harry a tenuous push."We want to hear this too."Harry acquiesced and sat following to Hermione on a wooden workbench. She took him by the manus. In the corridor just outside the Welcoming residence hall, wizards and Healers were walking to and fro. Some greeted each other with hugs of joy, others with bust of rue. Here decease and life sentence battled daily with one another, a delicate balance that had been tossed on its question upon the return of the wickedness Lord.

"Now, try to abide calm."Her Scripture were anything but calming.

"Yesterday, Cho came with the sister to visit Anthony,"said Hermione."Everyone believes it's his child."

"Yes,"said Harry dismissively."I don't tutelage what people think, but I do need to see her right away. She's still here ?"Hermione nodded, gripping Harry's hands a bit more tightly. Fred, George I and Charlie were trying to take in Harry's statement.

"When she arrived at the infirmary, she asked where Gabriella was. Evidently the two were to meet here, hoping that they might find you or at least discern your whereabouts. Only, the thing is, Gabriella never showed. She hasn't been seen since she left Cho and Antony's house in La Mure."Harry moved to remain firm, but Hermione held firmly to his helping hand.

"We just got word about an minute ago,"she continued."Lucius Malfoy's men discovered she was your girlfriend and they thought she might buy some leverage. They've taken her and are holding her hostage."

"Where ? What do they want ?"Harry's words were acute, tense.

"We don't know where yet,"replied Hermione,"but we do be intimate what they want."She paused.

"Well, what is it ?"asked Harry."yield it to them !"

"They want Draco Malfoy."Harry laughed, as a waving of relief passed over him.

"That's leisurely. He's innocent. Just let him go."

"He's confessed to murdering the Minister's wife."

"This is insane !"

"Dumbledore was here a short while ago,"she said."He met Mr. Weasley in Ron and Anthony's infirmary room. I don't have sex how, but I think he's win over 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 allowance. It won't work."She took a rich breath.

"Then wrap his arse up and air him to his father with a red bow !"snapped Harry.

"They can't,"answered Charlie."It's Ministerial law. In any prisoner exchange, the prisoner must go willingly. It's to protect those who would go back only to be punished."

"He's not going to be punished !"cried Harry."His 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, Dragon says there's only one way that he'll agree to the interchange,"said Hermione.

"What's that ?"Harry asked, his mind distracted by the possibility that Draco might actually be in problem.

"He demands to see you."