Harry ceramist and the nascence of a New Sun

Chapter 21 - Family
~~~***~~~

The nut Harry had been juggling in the air began to dash down to the floor. One by one, precious orb by precious orb, each and every clod was being sundered. No sooner had he plugged the dyke with one finger than a new spout of water flare-up forth from somewhere else. And all around, in every direction, those he loved, those who loved him were dying.

"I DIDN'T WANT THIS BLOODY WAR !"

Harry flung his cup of tea against the stone wall and it smashed to pieces, shards tinkling to the primer coat, and drips of brown liquid streaking the wall. Canicula drew his scepter cleaned the mess, reassembled the cup and levitated it back down on the board in front end of Harry.

"Well, that's too blamed bad now, isn't it ?"Sirius poured more tea into Harry's cup."A little sugar ?"he asked. Harry clenched both his fist and looked up at his uncle.

"Yes, please,"he said through gritted teeth. Canicula dropped a teaspoonful into Harry's cup and the spoon began to arouse by itself as he sat back down across from Harry.

"We've been over this a thousand time, Harry. There's nil you could have done."

"You sat right there concluding summertime, Sothis, and told me, warned me not to listen to him."Harry donned his right Sirius-like voice."‘ The time will come when he asks you to do something you know in your heart is wrong. When he does, talk to me.'Well, I didn't talk of the town to you first, did I ? And now Molly Weasley's dead, the Ministry despises me, Lucius Malfoy's demise Eaters have Gabriella, and Voldemort is out there looking for my son so he can… Merlin only knows what. zilch I COULD throw DONE ?"Harry's fist wrapped around his cup and he began to get up it once again.

"Ah, ah, ah !"chimed Sirius, waving his digit back and Forth River, and then tapping it to the board. Harry put the cup down."You know it was your father that was always the steady influence on me."He began to smile."Once Peter…"He paused as his eyes grew removed."Never mind."Sirius took a sip of tea.

"I can't just sit here and do nothing,"said a very frustrated Harry.

"That's exactly the posture that nearly cost me my life,"Sirius answered."A trivial sentiment, a little solitaire. Cho and Anthony and Jamie will be prophylactic here. No one knows there here and if they did they still wouldn't know how to get in. I think you'll make an excellent mystery Keeper, and the spell you cast on the castle to nominate it unplottable… well, you didn't learn that at Hogwarts."

"I don't know,"said Harry, pondering the flash lamp of skill that had penetrated his being since the Joining."It just came to me."

"As for Gabriella,"said Sirius,"the intact Order is out looking for her, Harry. Until they get a lead, there's nothing you can do."

"I can blab out to Draco."

"After what he's done ? He can cool his stern for a few Thomas More days."Harry slouched back in his chair.

What had genus Draco done ? Had he planned the totally thing ? Was he somehow behind Gabriella's capture ? Did he intend for Harry to be ambushed at the Ministry ? It was Dragon, after all that had suggested the cloak be used as a Horcrux, but to what end ?

"Two steps ahead,"Harry whispered.

"What's that ?"Sirius asked.

"I've only been thinking two dance step ahead,"Harry answered."You were right ; I need to be thinking four more. Only, I can't."Harry's digit began to tap against the set back top."But I know someone who can."Sirius leaned forward.

"Harry, you can't go there today… not today. Besides, you won't be able to get within sea mile of the burrow. The Ministry will feature the spot surrounded. Maybe after the holiday, when they go back to Hogwarts—"

"I can't wait !"Harry snapped."You know what they're doing to her right now, don't you ? You know !"Harry's hired hand slammed the table and he stood."When the three of us are together… I don't know, the fog clears."

"You can't Apparate in, and they'll have every entrance guarded,"Sirius asserted.

Harry closed his heart and concentrated. He hadn't tried his science as a Metamorphmagus since summer and he'd only done Ron twice. Catching the rectify shadiness of red was particularly difficult. Carefully, he focussed on his proficient admirer. It lasted some five hour - opprobrious to red, a stretching of a few in, a bit deeper voice, and a strong indigence for more socks. Looking at a redheaded Harry in clothes a full size of it too small for him, Sirius had to smile.

"I don't suppose you're going dressed like that."

"Guess I forgot,"Harry answered sheepishly.

"Yeah… you can't even think one pace ahead,"said Dog Star rolling his eyes."Maybe you're ripe after all. Grab one of the Black person robes out of my closet and be off with yeh."Harry nodded and turned toward Sothis'room.

"And, Harry, if you get a wild hair to put your neck in another noose, let me know before they tighten the knot, okay."Harry nodded again.

"Promise ?"asked Sirius.

"Promise,"Harry answered. Once again he turned toward the corridor only this fourth dimension he stopped himself and turned back toward Sirius."Noel,"he said looking at the decorations Sirius had strung, as Charles Herbert Best he could, about the wall."It's a time to be with family. Cho should be with her Brother at St. Mungo's. I should be here with you."

"And little Jamie ?"Dog Star asked.

"Life is never what we plan, is it Sothis ?"

"No, Harry. No, it's not."Canicula rose from his chair and walked over to Harry putting his subdivision about his godson. He sighed and looked into Harry's freckled look."I think maybe, with a little mentation, you might defecate your fellowship's Xmas a bit brighter."He ruffled Harry's red hairsbreadth."Say, ‘ Hi,'to your comrade for me."

For a moment Harry didn't understand, but then he whispered,"Bloody hell."He ran down the corridor his pants three in too short. Sirius chuckled, poured himself another cup of tea and wandered down the corridor to find Cho, Anthony and Jamie.

pulling off his over-tight shirt in Canicula'elbow room, a cold shiver passed through Harry. It took him a minute to pull in that it was a ghost, one of the many that haunted the palace. It was a young man, dressed in a tunic.

"I don't recall… wait… a camouflage. You're the Potter boy aren't you ?"Harry glared at the touch.

"I'm no boy,"said Harry, his eye filled with fervency. The spectre chuckled lenient and whispery.

"Child, I have walked these grounds for over three thousand year, this castle for the last five hundred. To my eyes, to Helen's you are all children."He moved closer, reaching out his hand to Harry's shoulder."Is it true what she says ?"His handwriting touched Harry's bare shoulder. It was ice, but material, rough out and calloused, and Harry instinctively jerked away.

"Ho, Ho !"cried the ghost."Helena was right-hand ! You walk the precipice then ?"

"Precipice ?"asked Harry, slipping on Dog Star'robe.

"The knife-edge between this plane and the succeeding, life and… death. Some part of you has died, the rest has cheated death. The part of you that has died lingers with its life self ; it has no choice. But it yearns to return to the golden light… to find its way home. Can you not find it ?"

"That's ridiculous,"said Harry dismissively. He turned and found nearly a 12 shade gathering a round staring at him. They all were smiling as if looking at a new Born child in a bassinet.

"What are you staring at ? !"Harry snapped.

"Perhaps once in an age, does one such as yourself appear."

"So ?"

The gathering ghosts laughed. Then, they began to hum ; it was a dim indulgent buzzing that built itself into a chant. Each recited a unlike language, but in Harry's mind they sang in unison with a common tongue that, somehow, he knew they had hummed for centuries.

The lucky light shall always call
its wayward children base.
Yet those who ill pick out found the fall,
remain adrift, alone.
money box comes the day a new sun born,
when dragon wakes the universe
and all the darkness deep be torn,
and coming light unfurled.
We wait the day the flying dragon comes
One blind who regains mint
We wait the day the dragon comes
To guide us to the light.

"My child, those you see around you have been trapped in this sheet of existence for century, regretting each moment the decision they made on the day of their death, each searching for the blind dragon that would precede us from our imbecility. Only now are we sure enough. Only now do we have hope. Through you, when the new sun is born, we have the opportunity to reply the question again… to pass into the next plane, to die utterly."

"I haven't sentence for this hokum,"said Harry, pulling his wand.

"Over the last hundred class, ghosts have gathered to this billet never truly intellect why, never knowing what called them. The reply has now been revealed - they have waited for you - the subterfuge dragon that sees again."

"You're crazy and I have to go."Harry raised his wand preparing to Disapparate.

"You mustn't put yourself at risk !"said the ghost with business organization."If the balance of you were to die, there would be no Hope for those here."

"Not to worry. I have no intention of dying."Indeed, he focused his nous on a good deal happier thoughts. There was a ginger snap - Harry had Disapparated.

When he reappeared, the air was just as moist but far more wintry. The sun was still high in the sky, casting a myriad of trace through the leafless Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree above. There was a thin dusting of Charles Percy Snow on the ground and all about him the trees rose like skyscrapers, reaching for the heavens. He loved this countryside, he always had and having his eyesight back made it just that much more beautiful. For a instant he just looked about taking in the scenery, wishing that he could just… he reached down and made a small sweet sand verbena in the palm of his hands. Smiling down at the white-hot orb, he heard a distant snap in the Tree to his left. An Apparation ? A pin ? He dropped the Abronia elliptica and pulled his sceptre.

He squinted, but saw naught. Then, he closed his eyes and reached further. Even with his mind's eye, searching for an atmosphere of life sentence ahead, he could not differentiate anything through the brightness level of the keep trees. Shrugging, he slipped his wand away and made for the road that led to the Borough. He walked for about ten proceedings when he found the route. He cast a quick trance, cleaning the coke and debris from the bum of his robes. He could see up ahead three, no four superstar certainly share of the Ministry, guarding the road leading to the Borough, protecting the Weasley phratry from interruption on what must surely be a sad Xmas holiday. Once more, he concentrated on his metamorphosis, making trusted that every feature was the double of his unspoilt friend, Ron Weasley.

As he moved forward, he noticed that the wizards were wearing black, not the convention Ministerial purpleness that Mr. Weasley's guards would normally hold out. Probably in honor of Mrs. Weasley's death, Harry thought. Believing it would look awkward for Ron to try to swipe by, Harry decided it best to simply walk forward with his head up as if he had zilch to shroud.

"There,"one of the sentry duty ahead cried out, pointing at Harry."rightfield there !"Two others turned toward Harry.

"It's one of the Weasley boy !"one shouted. Harry smiled to himself. His disguise was working.

"Take him down,"another barked out with a gruff, commanding voice.

"Immobulus !"cried the guard nearest the Ronald Weasley look-alike. Harry didn't understand. Why were they attacking him ? He had no fourth dimension to line his verge. Instead he held out his hand, hoping that if he focused difficult enough…

"Áreddotu !"he commanded and the irradiation reflected back to the transmitter, freezing him where he stood. The quiet good afternoon air suddenly filled with a blazing of radio beam from the remaining three ace, all attacking Harry. But before even the second magical spell, a ravisher, flew threw the air, Harry had his wand at the ready and began to deflect them as best he could. The ponder beam of light crashed into trees, cracking some in two and starting fires in others. Soon the nearby timber was ablaze and a nigrify billowing skunk rose to the dusty blue sky above.

Off to Harry's left, another mavin in contraband robes appeared as Harry continued to press forward. A beam of blasphemous Light flew towards Harry who directed it skyward with a cuticle appealingness ; it exploded into a canopy of blue sparkles like a filibuster Firework. All of Harry's piece to this point were justificative, and then he came to the wizard that was prone on the flat coat, the one that cast the start piece. Dangling down around his neck was a mask - the mask of a Death Eater. Death feeder ? Harry looked ahead at one of the other assailant. He too had his mask down about his neck. Evidently, they'd removed them to study in the sun's warmness on the cold, winter day.

Something was haywire, terribly wrong. Had Voldemort's men, or Malfoy's, taken the Borough as they had done the year before ? Last year the Weasley home had been vacant, but this year… this year… his friends… his sept ! Harry began to attack.

He felled two almost at once with a stunning while. Diving down low to deflect another stunner from the front, a slashing hex sliced across his go out shoulder leaving a nasty gash ; he screamed in pain in the neck as the wizard to his left field laughed. It was the endure sound he made. Harry spun and took that wizard down, leaving only the two in social movement of him. Pulling from the moral he'd learned from Greg Goyle, Harry sent a spacious, powerful knockout toward the duet. It blasted both backward to the undercoat. Harry pressed forward along the muddy roadway, wand held firmly in figurehead. One star stayed down, while the early rose unsteadily to his ft.

"Incarcerous !"shouted Harry. Ropes wrapped about the prone wizard, but the other deflected the spell.

"You're too Thomas Young to be the honest-to-god boy,"the necromancer in front asserted breathlessly, his wand held at the set up."The one that plays with dragons."He Disapparated and re-apparated to Harry's right, near the tree diagram, casting a stunner that flew wide.

"You're too skilled with a baton to be the Cy Young one,"the thaumaturgist argued wisely. Again he Disapparated and re-apparated this fourth dimension back towards the road."Incendio !"he called. Had Harry not been a extremity of the Votary, trained to withstand fervour, he'd have most certainly been incinerated. Instead, the flaming wrapped about his body like loving Hydra. Harry simply pointed his wand forward, toward his adversary, and the flames flew back toward him, encircling him like snapping piranha. He began to squall and Disapparated once more.

There was a SNAP to Harry's left ; this clip Harry was set, sending a particularly strong stunning magical spell in the steering of… purple robes. The wizard flew backward and crumpled to the ground.

"Oh, no,"Harry whispered and he ran toward the fallen whiz from the Ministry. He looked down to see the wizard, a man Harry recognized from the Hogwarts express mail earlier in the yr - the Same maven Harry had felled during the Dementor attack.

"Oh, no."

Almost immediately, the air filled with the crackle of popcorn. Harry ignored the sound to see if the man before him needed assistance, but before he could even place a hand on the wizard's chest the air crackled and everything went black.

As he began to retrieve consciousness, he noticed he was being jerkily jangled about like so a great deal unloosen modification in someone's scoop. He was being carried ; they were running. They were arguing in hushed whispers.

"I'm not the one who just blasted the Minister's son !"

"It was an chance event ! I thought—"

"You thought wrong ! The boy sends out a distress flair and you go in wands blazing."

"Would you two just stop arguing ?"It was a female voice."Get the boy inside ; I need to get the others to see if there are more of Malfoy's men than those Ron took down. Incredible ! He takes out five death Eaters and our own man shoots him in the back."

"I said it was—"There was a pop and she was gone. Harry, still looking like Ron Weasley, began to stir. His mind was pounding, his left wing shoulder joint aching.

"Hey, I… I—"

"hitch still, Ron ; there's a sound lad."

"Yes, son, best not to speak."

Harry opened his eyes. They had just passed the wooden fence that skirted the front end of the Weasley home. Harry had never seen it in such good repair. They headed up the front measure, when another adept in regal robes opened the nominal head door. Behind him was Hermione Granger. For an instant, Harry met eye to eye with her, and in that instant he revealed one of those middle as a flash bulb of green. She gasped, covering her rima oris.

"What's going on ?"asked the wizard.

"It's the vernal Weasley boy,"replied one of the men carrying Harry."He was ambushed just down the road. He took down a few dying Eaters with him by the expression of things."

"Ron ?"questioned the genius at the door."I just saw him not twenty minutes ago… upstairs in his room recitation a—"

"Erm, he left for a walk,"interrupted Hermione."All the stress… he needed to get away."

"He should know dependable. time lag until his father finds out."Harry noticed Hermione quietly slip away.

"He was hit with a neuropathy jinx,"said the superstar that had struck Harry from behind."Best that we get the cobweb cleared before he—"

"How can you be so sure ? That's a very complex magical spell. Besides yourself, only a very few—"

"Look, I know okay !"the wizard snapped irritably.

"Yeah, you know all right,"muttered the other.

"Let's just get him inside, okay ?"

As they moved him into the house, the sound of wand flak could be heard off into the space. Evidently, Harry had stumbled across only one group of what was to be a combine onrush. Once inside, Harry was taken to a small room just off the kitchen. His legs began to tingle. He didn't think of this way being here before. It was a modest medical suite used for treating nestling injuries. He was placed on a marvelous, backbreaking bed and the maven that had greeted them at the room access began to examine him.

"That's a smutty gash."He bathed it in puritanic illumination, and then reached into one of the cabinet."Here, drink this."He handed Harry a potion and, though his hand was shaking badly, Harry drank it down. The tingle in his legs stopped as did the pounding in his head."It's good they got you here while you could still pledge. Potions always treat neuropathy substantially than spells."Harry began to sit up, but the ace pushed him back down.

"Charles Herbert Best if you rest a bit, Ron. I'll go get your father."Harry dropped his head back down as the wizard left the room. Half a jiffy later, Hermione slipped in quietly and walked over to his side.

"Harry ?"she asked uncertainly. He smiled, shakily.

"Not quite how I planned it,"he said using his own voice.

"Your eyes… one's turning green again."She touched the position of his face which was still grimy from falling look first into the mud.

"I needed to see you guy,"said Harry, rising to a seated position."I couldn't wait and I thought—"The door opened and in take the air Ron.

"What in Falco columbarius's— whoa !"Ron yelped, seeing his own similitude. Slowly, he closed the door behind him, and then stepped over for a closer look."Harry ?"

"Who's that ?"exclaimed Harry, grasping Hermione by the handwriting."What have you been doing behind my vertebral column, Hermione ?"

"I… I didn't know, love,"said Hermione, clinging to Harry's arm.

"You can't be good,"said Ron. The two just stared at him blankly."I mean… I'm Ron, right ?"

Harry and Hermione began to express joy and Harry transformed back into himself - Sirius'robes growing large for his small skeletal frame.

"You !"Ron snorted, poking Harry in the shoulder joint."I should—"

"We've got to get him upstairs,"interrupted Hermione."Quick, swap clothes."

"But—"

"Just do it !"

The two swapped clothes, Ron's blue jean dropping down about Harry's waste. Hermione ruffled Ron's fuzz and wiped some mud from one of Harry's boot onto his human face.

"pretend you don't retrieve a thing,"said Hermione.

"I don't know what you're talking about,"complained Ron.

"perfective,"asserted Hermione. She spun toward Harry."Now… erm, do you think you could become Percy ? He didn't want to be here for Christmas."

"I… I don't think so,"stammered Harry nervously."I can't really copy someone I haven't… someone I don't know well. Not exactly."

"Here then,"she grabbed a bombastic blue towel and put it about his head and shoulders."Just pick some early facial expression then… well, early than yours, and let's get you upstairs. Ron, I'll be back in just a minute."

The commotion outside the sign had drawn all those inside to the look door. Even Ginny was plastered against one of the front windows wondering what was going on. Quickly, Hermione and Harry made their way up the stairs to where Ron's room was. She sat Harry down on the bed.

"There,"she said,"no one ever bothers to attend up here. Only Mrs. We—"She stopped herself."Hey, are you… alright ?"The saying Harry gave her was the one she'd expected. He was not alright ; he was in painful sensation and not from any physical injury."flavour, just rest a bit and I'll get Ron up here as soon as I can."She started for the door, then stopped."Are you hungry ?"Harry shook his head, no, and Hermione nodded that she understood."It won't be too long,"she said softly and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Harry let out a yearn sluggish sigh as he looked about the way. It hadn't changed much from the first day he came to visit the Borough. He remembered arguing with Ron about Quidditch. Somehow, life seemed unproblematic then, but really it wasn't. lifetime had never been simple for Harry, nor had it ever been childlike for those near him. He stood and walked over to a photograph that hung on the wall near a Cannons poster. In the frame of reference, the family was trying to stick out for the photographer, but Fred and George had smoke billowing out of their pinna. Mrs. Weasley was furious and kept trying to taste them to stop. She missed every time. Harry smiled as a tear ran down the right side of his font. He wiped it away with his hand and noticed the scar on his justly forearm - the mark of the dragon. Staring at the soft touch, he turned his back to the paries and slid down to the level.

"What good have I been ?"he asked defiantly."A magnet for dying everywhere I go. Why me, Soseh ?"He dropped his paw to the floor and wrapped his fingers around a pile of marked-up clothes laying there. He looked over toward the spread out window. The speech sound of wandfire had silenced. Whatever terror there was had been defeated. Harry continued to whisper to the mother of his girlfriend, trying to find the meaning of it all. The cover of his head banged against the wall with a thud.

"They've all died because of me, and now your girl's in Malfoy's hands. If she's even still alive."He looked around the elbow room, his centre misting over. Near Ron's bed was a mental picture of Ron and Hermione glaring at each other and then suddenly breaking out in laughter followed by a kiss and an bosom."Why am I here ?"Harry muttered, his pith beginning to beat up faster. He was putting them in risk once again. It was all a mistake, every bit of it - a high-flown, cosmic misplay in the machinery. He had to pass on.

Harry stood to his feet and tried to Disapparate. Vision ... Pathway… He couldn't create the pathway. Something was blocking him."Of course it's blocked,"he muttered to himself."I'll need to leave the—"The door opened and in came Ron and Hermione. Ron had a bottle in his hand filled with some sort of potion.

"Hey, checkmate,"he said, holding up the bottle.

"Hey. Erm, I'm… I'm sorry,"said Harry."This was a mistake. I need to go."Hermione looked at Ron, and he at her. Then Ron looked back to Harry.

"Not so fast,"he said."They wanted me to drink this, but I expect it's best if you—"

"I'm fine,"Harry cut in sharply."I just need to—"

"You're a bloody nut is what you are. Well… at least that's normal."Harry glared back at Ron.

"Go on, Harry,"encouraged Hermione."Drink the potion ; your psyche's been addled and the neuropathy hex requires two doses."Ron held it up again and this sentence Harry took it.

"This is dolt,"Harry said, shaking his head and offering the bottle back,"I shouldn't have come here. You… you need to be with your family."Harry's voice was wonky and he could not bind Ron's regard."I need to go."Ron did not take the bottleful in return.

"Look, Harry,"he said,"just drink the gunk."

"If you have to go,"added Hermione,"it'll help you continue your wittiness along the way."

Harry held up the bottle containing a Robert Brown, burping liquid.

"Did they have to defecate it look so wretched ?"he asked with a prissy face.

"Go on,"said Hermione."It's the sole way I could get them to let him hail up to his elbow room. I have to testify them he's wino it down, or they'll be up here snooping around."

"amercement. I drink this… I go… you have a Happy Christmas… or at least… ah, crap."Harry gulped the thick liquidness in one swig, then handed the bottle back to Hermione."There you go,"he said."William Tell them Ron finished his medical specialty and is feeling f—"The room turned a bit and Harry reached out, taking Ron by the arm.

"What is it, mate ?"Ron asked with a bit of slyness in his eyes.

Harry tried to address. In fact, he was speaking ; only the words he was saying didn't make any sense. Even Harry knew he was speaking gibberish. He pointed to the bed, but it was too recent. He collapsed to the trading floor. Ron took one side and Hermione the other and they lifted Harry onto Ron's bed. Everything was growing muzzy and foggier - the speech sound in the room more distant. Before everything faded to nothingness he heard Ron say…

"Blimey, it's Christmas, Harry. It's a time to be with family line. Don't you get it ? You're justly where you need to be."


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 22 - friendship
~~~***~~~

It was a deep, relaxing sleep, the kind of sleep that takes the mind to happier places and more pleasant times. Cool placid amnionic fluid, barefoot walks and uncomplicated gazing at the wizard, stars with no gleaming red Red Planet to disrupt their harmoniousness and no comet Ebyrth to grade the return of war. It was well into the good morning after Christmas day when Harry began to stir, ever so slightly, from this billet of deep and leave memory board. His mind was just beginning to process the vocalization about him, those of champion and family.

"Vampires ?"

"stacks. And so many Dementors they blocked out the bloody sky."

"No,"Ginny gasped.

"I'm singing you,"answered Fred,"he was right in the thick of it."person seated on the end of the bed shifted their weightiness and it let out a small squeak.

"Shhhh. You'll wake him."That was Hermione.

"The whole lot of them,"continued Fred,"was marching up the mountain like a great swarm of black locusts. We were outnumbered ten to one… easy !"Ginny gasped again."The lycanthrope were the primary feather transmission line of defence. We attacked first, of course."

"That's only because you stink so bad,"said George."No one in their decently mind would be caught on the same battlefield. The odour… it's overwhelming."

"Not the dragons ?"queried Hermione.

"Yeah, well,"said Fred, falling a bit off the tracks of his narrative,"I don't really commemorate much after the change. Except one thing… he saved my life."Harry felt a hand on his arm."That I know as sure as I'm sitting here."

"Is it reliable what they say about… You-Know-Who."

"If what Harry says is true,"said Charlie,"yes, Ginny. Voldemort's alive."Harry could feel the full room squirm upon hearing the name."Some of us…"There was a smacking.

"Hey ! That trauma,"said Saint George. Charlie continued.

"Some of us climbed Singehorn's mountain by foundation. I met quite a few wizards, holding scout at a number of outposts on the way up. To a whiz, they all talked about a blond beast, controlling the dark power at the base of the mountain."

"blonde ?"

"Lucius Malfoy."Almost everyone in the room hissed… or growled.

"After the battle, they also spoke of how the Primate met him face-to-face and sent him running."

"What's a high priest ?"

"Harry is, sis. They're calling him the Primate of the Votary of the tartar. Some say, he was leading the engagement for the firedrake. Don't ask me much more, because I'm still trying to figure it out. All I know is that afterward he began to mend folks like little pal here and it nearly cost him his life."

"I… I should cause been there."It was Ron. He was seated somewhere in the far corner, somehow distant from the others. His interpreter was sullen and quite.

"Ron,"chided Hermione,"you were in hospital."

"You don't think he'd have tried to sneak out if the board had been turned ?"

"You were unconscious for three days !"

"I should have been there."

"No,"muttered Harry, his judgment clearing ever so slightly."No, Ron…"Harry tried to sit up.

"Easy, Harry,"said Hermione, touching his articulatio humeri softly,"the sleeping gulp isn't supposed to hold out off for another minute or two."Harry struggled to bring his head up and looked over at Ron who was slumped in the recession on the floor.

"You're wrong,"Harry said, his thought process still fuzzy and his ability to pull a coherent prison term together somewhat deflower."It… it wasn't just Fred, or Remus. You were there. You… you were all there… right… right here."Harry patted his thorax and fell back onto the bed."Whoa, that is a bit powerful, isn't it ? George, you could put it… put it in a nougat. Erm ... dark Nibbles. What do you think ?"Everyone in the elbow room began to laugh, but the joviality was silenced instantly when Mr. Weasley suddenly appeared at the threshold.

He was wearing blackness robes, wrinkled and somewhat stained as if he'd left them on for days and hadn't bothered with a spell to clean them. His face was tired, reduce and pale, and his heart were distant. Harry suspected that they still, however, bore the same expression of heartfelt anger as when Harry had last seen Mr. Weasley over the body of his wife. The fire in them was penetrating.

"IS THIS THE respectfulness YOU SHOW YOUR DEAD female parent ? '' he cried. He looked at Charlie, seated on the floor by Harry's bed ; the firstborn Weasley in the room.

"We could use with a bit more laughter ‘ bust here,"said Charlie softly."Don't you thing dad ?"

"I want him out of here today,"he said shortly, thrusting a astute fingerbreadth at Harry."Today ! Do you hear me ?"Everyone in the room moved uncomfortably, everyone but Charlie, who rose to adjoin his founder.

"His name is Harry, Dad,"he said."You remember Harry do n't you ? He saved you from being crushed by a titan last yr. He's that wizard that may just possess saved every one of us yesterday by breaking up a Death Eater patch to belt down us all right outside our front porch."Mr. Weasley let out a scant, snorting joke.

"Is that what you think ?"he said incredulously, his eyes narrowing on Charlie and then to the others in the way."Saved us ? Is that what you all think ? Haven't you figured it out by now ? The boy carries Death eater in his back air pocket ; when he pulls off his flight simulator Dementors come pouring out. They're with him wherever he goes. Why do you think Death Eaters were on our doorsill in the first lieu ?"

"Dad, how can you say that !"exclaimed Hermione ; it was the first time Harry had ever heard her refer to Mr. Weasley in that way. Now she rose to her feet to oppose Harry."He only ever—"

"point it !"demanded Harry weakly, looking at the others."All of you, just…"He was struggling to oppose the potion still coursing through his mineral vein. Even though he was waking, there were still a few cobwebs in his head and he was still having trouble trying to find the right words."Your father's right. As ever… erm, as long as I'm here, I danger you. I should n't ..."Harry fought to sit up, grimacing at the ache that lingered where his shoulder had been slashed. Ginny had to help him. The elbow room was so crowded that he had to put his hand on Charlie's hip to push him aside, giving Harry a percipient look at Mr. Weasley. Try as he might, he was having awful difficulty focusing on the man he so much respected.

"I… I'm sorry, sir,"Harry said humbly."I just needed to see…"He looked over at Ron who was still seated against the wall. Their oculus met and Harry could tell that his in force friend was very disconcert, but he had no way of telling why. Harry pulled in a hint.

"No. I should never accept come. I'll… I go now."Putting his hand on Ginny's shoulder, he tried to brook, but his human knee wouldn't clutches and he crumpled to the ground, banging his principal against the track that ran across the side of Ron's bed. A cut opened on Harry's forehead where his scratch had once been and a modest trickle of roue weaved its way down, not unlike the build of a lightning bolt. With Saint George's helper, Ron lifted him back into bed.

"He needs to perch,"he said.

"He needs to go."

Ginny, the youngest of them all, yet perhaps the most courageous, stepped over to her forefather and gently took his deal in her own, holding it up to her chest as she looked into her father's eyes. When Mr. Weasley looked down into his daughter's eyes, he found tears there. She sniffed, searching for the right language.

"If Mum were alive today… where do you intend she would be right now ? Dad, you know what she'd say ?"Mr. Weasley's jaw clenched as Ginny handed him a small crinkle piece of sheepskin. For nearly a year, Harry's carried this note with him wherever he's gone."She looked back at Harry."Sorry Harry ; Gab told us and we saw it on the nightstand with your things."She turned back to her father."Read it dad. take what Mum says."

Mr. Weasley opened the worn theme and when he first caught sight of the playscript, his married woman's hand, he pulled in a enceinte pant of air to keep from crying.

"Please dad, read it,"whispered Ginny, supporting her founding father by the elbow. Slowly, struggling through nearly every Logos, Mr. Weasley read the distinction.

"My dear Harry,

"Would that I could reset the workforce of prison term and set the world rightfulness, but alas my legerdemain is no match for the fate that stands before each of us. It is clear to all that the route you've been forced to locomote has been brutal and unkind. And still, with all the adversity you have faced, with all the battle you have fought, you have found time to smile, to deal, to love. Could there be someone else in all the world with more commitment, with more bravery, with more compassion ?

"We are all forever in your debt. You faced death but did not chance upon, and in so doing institute lightness to darkness, life to last. It is by your deterrent example we still have Bob Hope that, one day, we will win this war against hatred.

"With all the honey a mother can give her children, ~M~."

Mr. Weasley's eyes began to mist over and he pulled his daughter close to him, clinging to her as if she might slip away and never return. It lasted a beat, perhaps two, and then, suddenly, the mist in his heart was gone ; he became rigid and let go his daughter.

"All of you,"he said sharply,"get out. I want to speak with…"He swallowed."…with Harry alone."There was a bit of complaining, but most took the mention of Harry's public figure as a good signaling."Go on. Out… now."His voice was Isaac Stern and they knew he meant it. One by one they all began to leave. Hermione, the last out the threshold kissed Harry on the cheek and then did the same to Mr. Weasley.

"I love you both,"she said before she left. Mr. Weasley gave her a slight nod and then closed the room access as she departed with the wafture of his hired hand.

He stood there for some import, silent, stoic, unwilling or ineffective to speak. Harry tried to notice the strength to stay awake, but the warmth of the room and the faint sound of skirt chirping in the aloofness were lulling him to log Z's once more. Finally, Mr. Weasley walked over, handed the note of hand back to Harry, and sat on the electric chair next to Ron's bed. He had to sit on its bound since it was covered in stratum upon layer of Ron's begrime clothes. He leaned forward toward Harry, his articulatio cubiti on his knees and his handwriting clasped tightly together.

"You…"he began,"you think you killed Molly."It was not a motion, but rather a statement, Harry felt the pauperization to respond anyway.

"It's all me,"answered Harry dully, trying desperately to center his cerebration."My faults."

"Shhh,"hushed Mr. Weasley."rest period, Harry. Just rest."He put his head in his workforce, looking down at his base."I wanted to utter with you month ago ; do you remember ? I asked to suffer with you on the Hogwarts express. I knew then… or mentation I knew, but I let the daily business get in the way. minister of religion of Magic… what a joke. Days turned to weeks, weeks to month, and before I blinked Voldemort had been reborn and my wife was dead.

"I wanted to warn you then, that day on the train, that he might not be dead, that he might stimulate used a Horcrux. But I couldn't mention such a matter in figurehead of the others. Maybe… maybe if I had… maybe we would have talked ; you could give confided in me ; we could deliver worked together. I never dreamed… the cloak.

"It was me, Harry. My fault on so many levels."Mr. Weasley's hands began to tremble slightly. He looked as if he might be puke and Harry, once again, tried to sit up, but Mr. Weasley moved forward, setting his knees to the terra firma and taking Harry by the hand, once again hushing him. His manus were icy and the trembling grew steadily worse.

"We were on the third floor together, making prep. It was to be a lordly solemnization. I was focused on its internal representation for the defeat of Voldemort - the dark Lord's terminal cadaver on presentation for all to see. What a grand day for the Ministry, for me ; only in my core I knew better. Molly was more excited about what a M day it would be for you, Harry. All she could talk about was how lofty she was, how you'd be the youngest in history to welcome the Order of Merlin, and how you so deserved it for all you had tried to do to ensure Muggle safety, especially during Anaxarete's bombing last year. It was Harry this and Harry that. I see now… my ego…

"Shacklebolt was with us. He was supposed to take the cloak up for video display. Molly and I were going to go home, eat and get some much needed relaxation before the accompany day's festivities. But I grew a bit miffed that my wife spoke More about you than her own husband. It seems so… so petty now."He chuckled - a short, sad jest."Why wouldn't she go on about one of her own children ? Why wouldn't she boast in front of Shacklebolt how grand you were ? Any mother would, and you were as dear a son as any roaming these antechamber with red fuzz.

"No, Harry."Mr. Weasley shuddered."I killed Molly. In my… in my desire for a moment's respite from my own stupidity, I asked her to train the cloak up for display. I- I sent her to her death."He grabbed the edge of the mainsheet on Harry's bed and began to weep quietly into the linen. Finally, he looked back at Harry whose heart were unfold, but upstage.

"I'm so sorry, son. Piling sin upon sin, I had the audacity to blame you… you who would feature sooner exit trying to relieve her. I saw the remembrance photographs ; my security department faculty replayed the entire fit in my part. I must induce watched them continuously for Day and Clarence Day. How could a boy kill my mollie ?"Mr. Weasley brought himself up to one human knee."But it was no boy, was it Harry ? We both know that."He took in a deep hint and then put his manus on Harry's principal.

"Forgive me ? delight ?"

Harry shook his drumhead."My demerit,"he whispered, a binge running down the side of his look. Mr. Weasley wiped it away and smiled.

"Harry, you've never done anything that wouldn't make your parents proud. molly's with them now, and they're all looking down on you and smiling. We're all smiling because were so proud of all you've accomplished."Mr. Weasley stood to his groundwork, his smile broadened."Except for that time you and Ron steal my car."He stepped toward the doorway.

"Get some sopor, son. When you wake, there are gifts to open."He pulled the door open and a sight of red hair, Weasley nipper after Weasley tike, tumbled into Harry's elbow room, spilling out onto the storey. Mr. Weasley gave a particularly strong recoil into George's side."All of you ! Get out and let him rest !"Once again he shooed them all away and just before he shut the door one last meter he looked back at Harry - who was asleep.

When the potion had finally lost its effects, Harry woke and found that at least forcible weariness of war had left his articulatio humeri and his stage. The gash that had torn his shoulder was all but gone ; only a slenderize gabardine blood line remained. He was suddenly concerned what Gabriella might say if she saw it, and his mind turned in an instant.

"Gabriella !"He sat bolt upright and turned only to notice Hermione and Ron slumped in the chair behind him. They were both asleep. It was still light outside, but the trees were casting long fantasm on the lawn in front end and soon the sun would be gone. He'd lost another day. He began, as quietly as he could, to dress himself. An old set of clothes had been set out for him ; he recognized them as something Ron had worn last class. Too small for Ron now, they fit Harry mulct.

He reached for the sweater and his hand hesitated. It was a crimson sweater, knitted by hand with a large H on the movement. It wasn't old - it was new, knitted most certainly by Mrs. Weasley. Slowly, Harry picked it up and held it in his hands. He paused for a instant, said a silent, Thank You, and slipped on the jumper. For the foremost time in days, he felt fond.

He was cook to leave when he realized he didn't have his wand. He began to look for it and finally noticed it on the table by his bed - just next to Ron. He didn't want to utter the enchantment to summon it, but he'd have to lean over the two of them to retrieve it.

Carefully, he stepped over and reached for his wand, trying hard not to brush up against Ron who was snoring slightly. His fingerbreadth were almost there when—

"Where are you going ?"Ron asked as he grabbed Harry's outstretched arm by the articulatio radiocarpea. Harry extended, the verge snapped into his bridge player, and he then pulled gratis from Ron's clutch, slipping the wand into his back pocket.

"To find some bloomers that fit me,"he replied. Hermione began to excite.

"Is he… is he awake ?"she asked Ron blearily.

"Yeah, he's awake,"Ron answered, stretching his legs forward."And he's trying to slink off. evidence you he'd try."Soon, all three of them were on their pes. Only, Hermione made a full point of standing in front of the doorway, blocking Harry's route.

"I'm not slinking. I have to go."

"You heard Dad,"said Ron, extending his arm and pointing to some unknown spot below the storey. Harry wondered if Mr. Weasley was actually there."He forgives you."

"well he shouldn't !"Harry snapped, and then his posture slumped, regretting his feeling."He shouldn't."The scene began to play in Harry's nous once again, much like the movies of Sirius'dying had haunted Harry over a year ago. He sighed."Like I said, I have to go."He moved to the door, but Hermione wouldn't budge.

"Go where ?"she asked.

"I have to help oneself her. I have to get her back."

"You don't even fuck where she is."

"I don't upkeep ! I have to look."

"Why in the bloody hell did you come here then ?"asked Ron sharply."Is Dad right ? Did you just sin by, bringing the Death Eaters with you ?"

"No !"

"Then why ? To rant on about how you shouldn't be here ? To yawp like a bloody baby ?"Ron moved closer."To cry so Dad would feel no-count for your pitiful—"Harry drew his sceptre ; Ron paused."To hex me ?"he said more softly, with the slender confidential information of a smile.

"I came here to see YOU, damn it !"Harry yelled."And a lot of good it's doing !"He slipped his sceptre away."What a waste of time."

"You're compensate,"answered Hermione smartly."Gabriella could be dying and you're fiddling around trying to figure out what to do, wasting metre, when you already get it on what you need to do."

"What ? What do you signify ?"

"Hermione and I talked about it while you were sleeping,"said Ron."You've got to go see him."

"Who ?"asked Harry.

"You know."

"genus Draco ? Hah ! That rat can—"

"You're as obstinate as he is,"said Hermione.

"And it'll get Gabriella killed,"added Ron."Then you will have something to blame yourself for."

"But your dad… avowedly or not, your dad thinks he had a helping hand in your mum's death."

"No… no he doesn't."Ron picked up the picture of his house and looked at the moving mass."He was angry. He just needed someone to fault, anybody to blame, but he couldn't get his hands on the one superstar he knew was guilty. So he lashed out at you, at James IV, at Dragon. When they were well enough to walk, he had them both imprisoned on Fengsle Isle east of Shetland."

"James ? But James II had zero to do—"

"If you sat and watched as he cast the tour that killed my mother over and over again, you'd change your thinking about him. I don't like how rational you are. It'll convey every ounce of control not to blast him to morsel when I see him again."

"But—"

"It doesn't matter,"Hermione interrupted."Ron's dad sent word after talking to you. James is to be released and you're to assemble with Draco today."She reached into her pocket and pulled out a diminished gabardine envelope."I wish you could stay, but I know you won't. If you have to go, you need to make your first of all stop here."She handed Harry the envelope."It's a Portkey, the key inside that is."Harry opened the gasbag and saw a minuscule gold key, and then looked up at his two friends, standing arm-in-arm. They were both smiling, but their optic were sad.

"Tell him… tell him Blaise is better,"said Ron."They've lifted the sniffy curse. Everyone at Hogwarts has been screened, even the prof. And Harry, let us sleep together what you find out. We'll do whatever we can to help."

"I know you will. I know you will."Harry chuckled to himself."That's what worries me."Just before he took the key, he stopped and looked back at them."Thanks,"he said and added,"Merry Yuletide,"and then grabbed the key.

There was a swoosh and a bit later he found himself in front of a enceinte stone bulwark on what appeared to be a minuscule rocky island. The sky was low, but the current of air was bitterly frigidness and blew through the knitting of his sweater. All around were splotch of snow, worn down by the malarkey. The Wave were rough and crashed into the rocky coastline sending large plumes of sea spray high into the air. Further up the breakers's atomiser froze, making the pep pill shoreline sparkle like so many infield.

"hi !"Harry tried to yell above the wind, his arms folded about him. There was no answer. A particularly orotund wave crashed behind him and he pulled his wand to cast a shielding charm, but nothing happened and the frigid mist sprayed him, dampening his clothes so that the wind was just that much More cooling.

"Is an-n-nybody here ?"he cried out, teeth chattering. Still nothing. He was about to snap up the key again, to revert to the Borough when the ground began to growl. He was looking at the wall, expecting some enactment to open up before him, but nothing appeared. He stepped back to get a proficient looking when he slipped on an ice covered Rock ; someone grabbed his arm.

"Sir ?"

Harry spun, saw grim robe, and"Stupefy !"he cried, but again there was no magic… nothing, not even a sparkle from his wand. Before him was a man in dark blue gown, wearing a cut grinning.

"A bit jumpy are we ?"he asked."I can realise. You are Mr. Harry ceramicist I presume ?"

Harry just gawked. Looking past the wizard before him was the ocean, well, not the ocean. It, or a well part of it, had disappeared. It was as if Moses had split the Red Sea ; a great pickle at the seashore plunged down below the waters. step had appeared at the jumpy edge and disappeared into the sea below. It looked as if great glass walls were holding the pee back and Harry saw any numeral of sea creatures looking back at him, some he'd never seen before.

"Harry potter ?"

"What ? Erm… er, yes."

"Very sound. Please survey me."The wizard turned and began his way down the steps ; Harry followed, looking up, as he went down, at the ocean above him, wondering if at any minute the sea would fall back on top of him. Deeper and deeper they climbed, miserable and dispirited. Soon the sparkle of the sun was nothing but a dark green glow. Some minutes later, they came to a slap-up atomic number 26 door, baring the passageway through the fount of a stone wall. piss dripped into pocket-sized pocket billiards, echoing eerily in this make-shift cavern. Neither said a word until the wizard pulled a large iron key and turned it into the curl. Click-click-clank ! The door creaked open.

"Best to step briskly, sir,"said the wizard. They'd been walking so slowly, Harry, teeth still chattering, was confused and then he heard the crashing sea. He looked back and could see the foam and waves curling into the canyon through which they'd just travelled.

"Please, sir."

Harry didn't want to be told twice. Quickly, he darted in through the room access ; the wizard followed behind him, closed the door and turned a heavy handgrip sealing it besotted. A moment later, Harry heard the sea crash against the door and it groaned miserably. He felt certain it would breech, but the wizard in low-spirited gown was as calm as ever.

"I take it, sir, that this is your starting time visit with us ?"The wizard placed his keys over a expectant hook shot on the wall.

The piazza was benighted, moist and had an olfactory sensation of sour seaweed. The small entree they were in was tight, confining, and the inflammation was dim at best. A large rat scurried across the level, reminding Harry of Scabbers.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My figure, sir, is Winston, custodian of the key at Fengsle Isle. Welcome to our humble abode."He held out his hand and Harry took it in his own. The middle-aged man seemed quite affable, but reminded Harry a bit of his Uncle Vernon. He wondered what was truly behind the Cheshire smile. Winston went over to a rough hewn table and lifted a set of papers.

"Let me see… yes, here they are. The Minister has authorized you to see skipper Malfoy."

"captain ?"

"Sir, certainly you are aware that the Malfoy epithet is one of the most distinguished in all UK. It matters not what sort of nastiness the young lad found himself in at the Ministry. He is still a Malfoy. One must always demonstrate a modicum of respect. Besides, as I understand it, you are here to set things straight."

"right wing,"Harry said sceptically.

"He's just down this way."

They left the vestibule and started through another room access that opened out onto a long corridor. Cells lined the path that was just wide enough to hold Harry and Winston out of arm's reach. In nearly every cell they passed there was a prisoner. Some yelled out slurs, others curses ; some cried for food or water, while to the highest degree simply shout schizophrenic gibber. There were dozens in this misfortunate place, but Winston ignored them all, while whistling a happy tune.

"Are you the only one here ?"Harry asked, wondering how only one could care so many. His enquiry was answered almost immediately when a Verbascum thapsus appeared near the end of the long corridor some fifty one thousand away.

"No, Mr. Potter. My wife is here with me,"said Winston."That's her now. Ah, and that must be the Chang boy with her."

"James ?"

"Yes… yes, he's being released today… poor lad."

"What do you mean, ‘ pitiful'?"

"wellspring, he killed the Minister's wife, didn't he ? He's been here for his own protection. Once he's out, I don't hold much hope that he'll…"Winston leaned in, lowering his vox to a whisper."fountainhead, some mass can be savage, can't they Mr. Potter ?"

"Yes,"replied Harry, looking around at the squalid conditions of the prison."Yes they can."

Finally, they were close enough that Harry could see James'brass. When James IV saw that it was Harry, there was a wrathful chemical reaction.

"You !"he hissed with a richly cold vocalization. He raised his hand to attain Harry when the woman who was evidently Winston's wife grabbed him by the arm."I hate you… I h-…"James'posture drooped ; his eyes squinted in the darkness."Harry ?"he said with a tiddler's phonation."Harry, is it really you ?"This time he reached out to put his arms around Harry, but again the woman stayed his hand.

"Let him go !"Harry snapped, and she did so with a nod of her headland. James rushed Harry and held him tight. The second yr was trembling with fearfulness.

"What's happening to me ?"James whispered."I wanted to die, but I couldn't. I couldn't stop over it. And then… and then… They say I killed… I killed…"

"It's approve Jesse James,"Harry answered, holding him in his arms."It's okay."He turned to Winston."Hasn't he gotten any help ?"

"They come from St. Mungo's every day, sir. He's to steer back there now. Perhaps, when the new schoolhouse class starts Dumbledore will take him back."

"Oklahoman than that,"answered Harry quickly, More to tell James than anything else."He will ; I'm certain of it."

"Yes,"said Winston's married woman,"I've heard he's that way."The manner with which she spoke had a disparaging tone, and the fuzz on the rear of Harry's neck began to prickle. He was about to say what exactly he thought of her vox populi when Winston interrupted.

"dear, please take the boy to the front. They'll be sending for him shortly."

"Of course of study,"she replied, and she reached for James, but Jesse James didn't want to let go of Harry. Slowly, Harry pulled his hands away.

"You'll be fine, James."He looked into the boy's eyes, his son's uncle."I'll be over to see you just as soon as I can. First, we need to get you out of here. Go, on. Let her take you to get help."After a here and now, James nodded his nous and walked by Harry and Winston to the front line of the prison house. What was most noticeable was that the howls and jeers that had accompanied Harry on his entrance did not accompany Epistle of James on his exit. If anything the prisoners made every attempt not to be noticed. All that is but one near the end.

"I'm with you, my Lord,"he cried out madly."We will be winning !"

Harry watched until the pair disappeared.

"Shall we ?"Winston asked."Master Malfoy is just a lilliputian further."

The two continued on. In this part of the corridor, all the prison cell were void and the suite thirsted for more visible light. Harry was about to use his secondment vision, when, finally, they came to a loan cadre lit by a handful of candles. The door was mostly solid except for a little window, no cock-a-hoop than a man's script, protected with three narrow atomic number 26 bars. Winston pulled out his keys and slew them in the lock, turning it with a forte clank that rattled down the empty corridor.

"Yes, nothing but the best for our Lord Malfoy,"said Winston, pulling the door ajar.

As the door opened, a tremendous stench rolled out and it took Harry a few moments to gather himself before he stepped inside. There was a plate of food at the room access that looked as if it had not been touched. A rat was nibbling at its contents and Harry kicked the cuss away. It squealed, landing into a strewing of numb squealer, all in various stages of rotting. Harry gasped just as another rat came to take its place. He was about to smash that one with his flush, when he saw Draco curled up on a pile of filthy straw, his wearing apparel in tag end and his appearance gaunt and muddy. Even with all the dissonance, it took genus Draco a minute to understand that someone had entered his cellular phone.

When at stopping point he noticed he had visitors, Harry thought for a second there was a glimmer of happiness, but it faded instantly and the dull, sickly feel appeared. Harry remembered it from last twelvemonth when Draco was nearly destroyed by drugs, but there were no drugs this year. The grimace before him, barely able to lift itself from the clog bedding of shuck, was virtuous wretchedness.

"The best ?"Harry yelled, turning toward Winston. He reached for his sceptre, but stopped remembering that magic would not forge here."Leave us !"

"As you wish, Mr. potter,"said Winston with a bow."I will be just down the corridor, attending to other prisoners if you need anything. Simply call my public figure when he's decided to agree to the commutation, or if perhaps,"Winston licked his back talk,"you need assistance persuading him."

"GO !"Harry snapped. Again Winston bowed and shut the two in the cell. Harry heard the door lock with a clank and he turned back to Draco, dropping to one knee. The smell was worse here, much worse.

"Dragon,"whispered Harry,"what in Merlin's name have they done to you ?"

"Harry ?"Dragon whispered back. He looked up and blinked. Slowly he lifted toward a sitting side, eye to eye with Harry. He was as pale as Harry had ever seen him, and about his eyes there was something… in the darkness Harry could not tell."Harry… my old friend."

"Dragon, why are you letting them do this to you ? Why not just do the rally ?"Draco swayed and Harry held him up by the shoulders.

"cognition is superpower, Harry,"he said slowly, glancing toward the closed in cell doorway."I taught you that, recollect ?"Rolling his eyes, Harry nodded.

"I've… I've a little clandestine,"Draco continued,"and I need you to aid me keep it, see ?"He put his hands up between Harry's supportive arms and on top of Harry's berm.

"I think I know,"said Harry."But Draco, why not—"

"Do you ?"Draco asked."Do you really ?"

In a heartbeat, Draco's manus were around Harry's throat. Harry moved to pull them off, but they were locked like a frailty, slowly clamping down.

"I tried to teach you, Harry,"said Dragon, lifting the much sullen Gryffindor from his knee and onto his feet."But you wouldn't listen. Ignorance… ignorance spells destruction. It's time you learned your lesson."

They struggled, Draco clearly in control. Harry gasped for air and then he saw them in the flash of candle flame. The blonde's eyes… the school-age child were slit. And then, when Dragon smiled, Harry shuddered. A pearled, ivory tooth protruded from each nook of the Slytherin's rima oris, the fangs of a vampire.

"You'll make a much better snack than a rat."


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 23 - reunion
~~~***~~~
Author's annotation : After writing this chapter, I've changed the rating for this story to ‘ M ’. Mature topic and to a greater extent expressed lyric. Proceed appropriately and palpate innocent to tell me if you'd rather it be toned down.





In the darkness, the blood to his brain cut off by the steel grip of Dragon Malfoy, Harry's ken began to fail, tunnelling in at the pale face of ire before him. He could hear only the squealing of puke, fighting over the pick of their dead cousins, the scratchy puff of air of Draco's breath, and the ever quieting thud-thump of his own heart and soul.

"I've wanted this in so many path, Harry,"hissed Dragon through his gritted dentition, fully exposing his two bloodsucking Fang and sending a splattering of saliva across Harry's face."So many ways."

"genus Draco, please,"mouthed Harry silently, holding Draco's wrists, but unable to pull in himself exempt.

"The taste of your—"

"service me."

There was a flash of recognition in Draco's eyes that wasn't there a moment earlier. Suddenly, the grasp released and both untested men fell to the floor.

Heaving in Brobdingnagian gulping of air, Harry reached for his throat with one hand and pulled his baton with the former.

"Stupefy,"he gasped. cypher happened. Draco lay prone on the floor laughing sadly to himself."STUPEFY !"Draco only laughed more, a laugh that quickly turned to a deep, alert coughing. Still coughing, Draco turned over onto all quaternity. The cough worsened and ended with a retching sound that resulted in Draco hacking up a ball of bloody sputum onto the mucky, husk strewn floor.

"That's not good,"he said, wiping his mouth with his arm. Then he collapsed, falling face forward into the smut. The blackleg were on him at once. He couldn't, or wouldn't move. As very much as Harry wanted to mutilate Malfoy, he wouldn't let him be ripped to patch by gnawer. He hurried over and began to kick them away.

"Get away from him !"he yelled. There were so many, Harry decided to foretell for help, muttering,"Winston,"to himself. But before he could call out, genus Draco stopped him.

"No,"he breathed."No others."

"Dragon, I…"He kicked another."I can't give up them !"

"H-Help me up,"genus Draco asked rickety, holding out one arm towards Harry as puke clawed at his already tattered clothes. Instinctively, Harry moved to help his fallen opponent, but hesitated. He was nearly destroyed by such a motility before, by Grigor, Gabriella's father. Another rat began to claw at Dragon's face.

"Harry,"genus Draco whispered, falling back to the level. A swarm of scab covered his head.

Finally, Harry could yield it no more and he lifted Draco away from the writhing swarm of fur and gnashing dentition. That's when Draco noticed the black onyx ring on Harry's digit."Pravus,"he muttered, grabbing the hired hand that bore the closed chain in his own and gathering his forcefulness as Charles Herbert Best he could.

"Focus… your idea,"Draco breathed."The ring… command them."

Instantly, Harry felt passion run from the join paw and up his arm. For a minute, he heard, or felt, Draco's mentation.

"Of form,"Harry whispered, recalling the power vampire had to command the minds of others. He took in a breath and concentrated on the swarm below.

Together, both young men began to reach out their brain, speaking to, instructing the informer below to leave at once. Harry could get word their voices cry out in hunger, but heard also an almost rhythmic command of genus Draco, telling them that there was danger, that they needed to flee for their lives. The scrum of squealer stopped. One, then another, ran to a crack in the far bulwark. Soon, they began to fight each other to fly the coop. Before long, Draco and Harry were alone ; both sat back to the floor, exhausted. Draco held up Harry's hand in his own.

"I've heard the story about this ring,"he said with wonder."I've seen image, but never dreamed…"He chuckled to himself, pulling the doughnut closer, trying to examine its blackness in the dim light. He looked at Harry."You don't have a clue, do you ?"Harry remained understood."With your powers, Harry, there's nothing we couldn't accomplish together."There was a break and he let go of Harry's hand.

"How the hell did you get it ?"genus Draco asked. The phonation was suddenly smug, arrogant, but before Harry could answer, the lead spilled out of Draco's sheet and he followed with a look that was much more sorrowful."Why did you come ? You should have left me here to rot. I just want it over with."

His principal fell back against the tilt bulwark. And Draco tried to pull in a breath of air that didn't quite seem to satisfy his thirst for oxygen. He gulped for another. In the illumination, Harry could see the vestige and winding of tiny, blue venous blood vessel just under the sick pelt of genus Draco's face and neck. It was there he saw them—two pocket-sized, faintly red cicatrice not much Thomas More than an in apart. Harry touched them ; they were real.

"I… I thought… maybe, it was hoax,"he muttered, moving somewhat away from genus Draco, who noticed the gesture and sadly closed his oculus. With a thump, Draco slightly banged his promontory against the paries. Harry noticed straight away the agony on the blonde's face and regretted his own fear. He remembered back when students at Hogwarts would avert him as he walked down the corridors - the heir of Slytherin. He moved closer.

"Did it wound ?"

"I told you… Father's a madman."Draco kept his center closed, reaching up his right hand to the two marks on his neck opening. His fingers were trembling as he slid them against the two petite scars. His ventilation was growing more noticeable."‘ Immortality, Draco !'I refused.

"But while I slept… without my willingness…"genus Draco opened his centre and looked at Harry. He gathered himself and provided his best Malfoyian drawl."The finest vampire in all Britain turned me - an almost Royal bloodline dating back to the age of Morgana. Isn't that exceptional ?"He coughed."Father-God says I should be proud."He coughed again.

"Merlin,"Harry gasped. Nothing his Uncle Vernon had ever done came near to—

"No,"Draco corrected."I said Morgana. Falco columbarius was a Muggle loving, son of a—"

"Dragon, when ?"Harry interrupted.

"Just before we came to the Ministry. I must admit, I wasn't in undecomposed material body ; I could hardly bear, but he didn't guardianship. His mind was bent on you. Father half-hoped we'd sports meeting, you and I. ‘ If you see the bastard, go for his throat, Draco ! Suck him dry !'I told him I would."genus Draco laughed again, and this time the coughing that followed was more marked. When the muscle spasm past, he drew in a thick breathing place of air."And now… damn, I must bet fearful. I feel it."

"Why don't you tell that bastard of a father of yours to go to hell ?"Harry spat. It did not extract the response he expected. In a great whirl, Draco pounced on top of him, grabbing his throat once again, pressing Harry's head against the stone wall, only this time the grip was weak and Harry grabbed Draco's wrists, easily pulling them away.

"headache about my father, when you have one of your own !"Draco cried, spitting into Harry's font. genus Draco's exploit had drained him. His oculus were rolling in his caput and it looked for a moment as if he might swoon.

"My god, genus Draco, a crocked flatus would brag you over."Draco began to chuckle. The chuckle grew to a laugh and he began to cough, falling off Harry and onto his side. Laugh-Cough-Laugh. Draco was obviously very ill and, perhaps, quite mad.

"You know what I mean,"said Harry. The coughing stopped almost instantly and genus Draco crawled over to Harry, wheezing badly.

"Do I, Harry ? Do I ?"He moved closer, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder joint."You've never really been straight with me, have you ?"He began to smile, and the growing snigger turned to another cramp of coughing. When they subsided, he pulled his paw away from his mouth and found it bloodied.

"What's happening to you ?"Harry asked.

"It appears that a lamia does not exist on rat ancestry alone,"Draco answered, wiping his hand against the rampart."It took some doing, but I finally learned to require them to come to me. It helped, but I guess not enough."He fell to one elbow, looking up at Harry who was still seated against the wall."I had hoped you'd come sooner."

"Your father had other plans,"Harry said curtly."I had to protect Singehorn's lands."

"He attacked the spate ?"Draco asked in disbelief, his part raspy from the coughing. Harry wondered if this was why Dakhil's vocalisation sounded more like steel dragging across paving."He wouldn't be so dopy to locomote so soon."

"It wasn't your father,"answered Harry."It was Voldemort."

"WHA… WHAT ?"genus Draco'wheezing was growing more noticeable, his thirst for air more unquenchable.

"Voldemort has been reborn ; he took control of the skinny body - your father. There was another Horcrux ; not just the cloak, something else. But then… you knew about that, didn't you, Draco ?"His breathing growing more drive by the minute, Draco did not respond."DIDN'T YOU, Dragon ?"

"It… doesn't… topic, Harry. You'd never understand."Draco swallowed, but there was nothing in his mouth to swallow. He let go another panting coughing that sprayed profligate everywhere. genus Draco looked at his hands and dropped them to his sides."Fuck. I'm dying."Harry grabbed him by the articulatio humeri.

"You can't die, damn you !"he cried."They have Gabriella ! YOU CAN'T DIE !"Draco looked up as if he was about to say something, then looked away shaking his nous and collapsed.

"NO !"Harry grabbed Draco and once to a greater extent pulled him to a seated berth. Draco's head hung limply to one English, his eyes closed.

"I won't lose her."Harry pulled the sleeve of his jumper up and held his radiocarpal joint in front of Draco's sass.

"crapulence !"he yelled. Dragon did not reply. He grabbed the blond by his hair's-breadth and forced his lip about Harry's physique."drink, you goddamn vampire !"Deliberately, Harry slid one of Draco's fangs against his soma, slicing the skin. The reaction was immediate, instinctive - Draco began to bung, grabbing Harry's arm with both his hands and pulling it stringent against his brim.

The draughts were long and hard as genus Draco drunk deeply. It was only a topic of seconds before Harry felt the effects of the blood being drained from his trunk. He tried to pull his arm away, but Draco held fast. He pulled again, but could not miss. Finally, he clubbed genus Draco on the side of the head with his fist and yanked his arm away. There was a screech of anger that rang from Draco's blinking lips. He moved to pounce on his weakened foe, but stopped, gathering his wits. He pushed himself backwards, away from Harry as quickly as he could, crawling into the darken recess.

Harry looked down at his bloodied arm. Unwilling to damage the sweater, he reached up and rupture his undershirt and wrapped the shredded cloth about his carpus.

"punter ?"Harry asked the build that had disappeared into the shadows.

"punter,"came the reception. The part, for the first metre since Harry had arrived at the mobile phone, sounded like the voice of Draco Malfoy."You… are you okay ?"

"Oh, yeah,"answered Harry sarcastically."Peaches and ointment over here, mate."

"Sorry,"Draco whispered, walking out of the shadows and this time helping Harry to his feet."A pint goes a tenacious way, a gallon… well, that's to die for."

"All Mark that down."

"How did you have it away ? You know… that you could…"He gestured to Harry's arm.

"Knowledge is big businessman,"snipped Harry."Some of my best friend are vampires."Draco smiled and nodded.

"I was being kind of an moron,"said Draco."Uttering gibberish and all that rot. I… I wouldn't, erm…"

"right hand. speech production of knowledge,"Harry cut in,"you should know that Blaise is better. They lifted the prideful curse. It was Voldemort the whole time."

"That's… that's good news,"said Draco, almost as if trying to convert himself of the fact."Blaise is… crucial to me."Harry nodded, knowingly."But if Voldemort had a manus in his action at law, it's possible…"Dragon's fount grew alarm."Tell me at once - what do you know of my founder and Voldemort ?"

Harry didn't much like the tone, but for the next few minutes, he explained all that had transpired since genus Draco had been imprisoned. As intrigued as Draco was about Harry's new son, he asked more questions about the joining of Voldemort and his Father. He was particularly concerned that Blaise may receive let slue certain information.

"He'll kill me if he's found out,"said Dragon, leaning against the wall.

"You don't know that,"answered Harry only guessing at what genus Draco meant.

"Oh… and I suppose you do,"drawled genus Draco. Then the blonde began to verbalise to himself."Maybe not, if he's the only one that knows ; he'll try to use it to his reward somehow. But, if I'm an embarrassment… or if he thinks I've been disloyal… I'm dead."

"You're being overly dramatic."

"I saw him use the Imperious nemesis on Bellatrix for forgetting to add two sugars to his tea !"He spun toward Harry."Was that overly dramatic ?"Draco began to rate, tapping his fingers together in front of his dresser.

"Sorry I wouldn't make the interchange. They tried to take me out during the day,"he said to Harry over his shoulder, kicking at the pile of dead rat carcasses."That's why I wouldn't go. I haven't yet learned to hold out the sun's rays. I… I won't let anyone screw what I've become."He paced some more."If I do this, it'll take to be by night."

"IF you do this ?"bellowed Harry."You'll do this or you're absolutely where you stand ! I may not have a wand, but I can still sound off your tooshie !"

"Do you think ?"Dragon asked, but more as if it was a question to himself."That might work. What prison term is it now, Harry ?"

"I don't know ; not quite midnight, why ? What are you going on about now ?"

"It may be that the wickedness Lord has found my father again, but he may have found mortal more suited to his needs. He's after your son now, after all."

"I don't need a reminder."

"Then stay vigilant. combine no one."

"Does that include you ?"

"Exactly ! They may think that we are… champion. We can't let that happen. If there's even the slightest suggestion that…"genus Draco stepped over to Harry."Hit me."

"Hit you ?"

"You heard me. Hit me. It has to attend good. I want your bridge player bloody and my face swollen. Everyone has to know that you hate me for putting your girl at risk. We may be under the sea, but Good Book will get out… word always gets out."Harry just stared."Go on, Harry, kvetch my hindquarters ! You know you always wanted to. Here's your chance."

"I'm not going to hit you, Draco. You may have had a niggling rip, but it's not enough for me to risk your lifespan and I'm too damn tired."

"If you want your precious Corvus corax haired beauty to retort to you, hit me !"

"There's got to be a better—"Draco reached back and belted Harry across the chin. The jolt sent star topology flickering into Harry's imaginativeness. Harry fell to one knee and looked up at the Slytherin who now had his workforce rolled into clenched fist. He could taste the lineage in his own mouth."You bastard !"

Harry slammed his decent fist into Draco's stomach, doubling him over like a folded lawn-chair. He then jabbed upwards, toward Draco's exposed side, snapping his head back with a sickening crack. genus Draco staggered backward as Harry stood up. There was blood streaming from Draco's nose.

"It's so much better than using a sceptre, don't you think, Harry ? Flesh against flesh."He charged Harry and threw a punch that wildly missed. Again Harry caught him in the mid-section and then threw two lick that tossed Dragon's school principal from one English to the other. A moment ago Harry didn't want to throw a punch. Now, he didn't want to stop.

Still bent over, Draco charged Harry again and this time caught him in his sleeve and threw him against the wall. The back of Harry's question slapped against the stone, drawing yet another drip of red atomic number 79. Draco threw a punch that Harry just dipped away from and his hands crashed into the wall. With a yip, the blonde reached up and began to claw at Harry's fount and this prison term Harry could taste the blood on Draco's fingerbreadth. It was affected, almost cherubic.

With his knee, Harry caught genus Draco between the ramification and as he began to crack up, Harry bashed the back of his neck opening with both his fists curled together with a downward hammering. genus Draco was on his knees.

"Winston !"Harry cried."Winston !"

genus Draco reached up and grabbed Harry by the waist of his pants and pulled him to the flat coat. He climbed upon him and began to strike madly at Harry's head. The door opened with a clank and a flash of red luminance filled the room, from where, Harry never saw. genus Draco was nearly lifted off the basis before he crumpled, unconscious at Harry's side of meat.

"I'd kill the blooming bastard if I didn't need his drear arsehole !"Harry yelled."Drag him out of here !"Winston smiled as if enjoying a tasty desert.

"As you wish, Mr. Potter,"he said, grabbing Malfoy by the backbone of his hair and dragging him along the earth."Did he consort to the telephone exchange then ?"

"Do you hear him saying, no ?"Harry sneered.

They made their way down the long and constrict corridor, Winston dragging Draco by his hair and Harry cursing Draco's public figure the unscathed way. Just as they were in the thick of the prisoner, Draco began to raise.

"Let go of me !"he yelled."Let go of me !"

"Did you see what he did to my face ?"Harry yelled."Shut the fuck up, you son of a kick !"He kicked Malfoy soundly in the ribs."You'll do the central, or I'll slice off your fingers, one-by-one ! DO YOU HEAR ME ?"

Winston just chuckled as he continued to drag on Draco along.

"I'll kill you !"yelled Dragon."The outset matter I'll do when I get back is James Henry Leigh Hunt your arse down. I'll have your fondness on a pike !"

"You do that !"Harry challenged and then spue at Draco."I'll be waiting !"

The captive all began to jeer at Harry and cry out livelihood for genus Draco."putting to death him, Master Malfoy ! We're with you ! In the name of the Dark Lord ! Kill Potter !"

It wasn't long before the three made it into the antechamber. No one said a word as Winston bound Draco's arm behind his cover, cinching them particularly tight. Where James was, or Winston's married woman for that matter, Harry did not know - they were no where to be seen. Winston offered Harry a cool towel for his face, but nothing more than. Then he placed his mitt against the threshold that led to the sea and uttered some sort of conjuration. He reached over and took his samara off the hook and unlatched the door. When it opened, not a drop of urine flowed into the antechamber. Harry punched Draco in the rear.

"Get moving, slime. One false move and you can take a clank course in submerged drowning."Draco moved forward as the other two followed, Winston sealing the door behind them. When they reached the island, the stars were flickering brightly and in the night sky, approaching from the east, Ebyrth glowed.

"Oh my,"said Winston. It was the beginning such tone he'd heard from the key keeper."Do you see that wizard ? Or is it a comet ?"

"You see it ?"asked Harry. It was the commencement clip anyone other than a Centaur had professed such.

"It's like a glowing diamond, just like in the Word of God,"said Winston almost in a whispering."They say it's what all this bitchiness is about with the Centaur. I don't much see why mass care."This made Dragon laugh which monetary value him another slap by Harry who had noticed that the marks on Draco's face were already healing.

"You know how to process them, don't you Mr. potter ?"Winston asked."I doubted at first, but I see now, you understand."

"The interchange ?"Harry asked, ignoring the comment.

"Yes… yes…"said Winston, pulling a small methamphetamine orb from his sack."Here sir,"he offered it to Harry."It's a Portkey."Harry withdrew his hand.

"Portkey ?"I don't want to go flying into Malfoy's minions. Winston laughed.

"No sir,"he said with a chuckle,"nor do I. It's an exchange Portkey, sir. Only when both prisoners are holding the orb simultaneously, and only the two prisoner, will the exchange ask spot."You can hand it to the boy, or engorge it in his face."

Harry looked at Draco. His boldness was swollen, one eye was clotted over, and he smelled worse than a trolling. Then he realized, shoving the orb in Draco's mouth would add a nice touch upon delivery. While Winston wasn't looking, Harry offered and Draco nodded, opening his mouth. Harry shoved the ball in and noticed that the fangs had disappeared. He was about to whisper in genus Draco's ear when the Slytherin vanished in his arms. Harry looked around nervously.

"Well ?"he asked impatiently."Where is she ? Where is—"There was a instant of Andrew D. White Inner Light and Gabriella appeared. She was in a induct position when she arrived, but then crumpled to the solid ground. Harry was at her side in an moment. Her optic were shut, but she was breathing.

"Gabriella ! Gab ! Are you okay ?"Harry called out, but there was no movement."GAB !"

"Sir,"said Winston,"it isn't safe here. You must devolve with her at once."Harry looked at him, puzzled."Your key, sir."

Holding Gabriella in his limb, Harry pulled the livid gasbag out of his air pocket and clutched the golden key inside. There was a swoosh, and he was gone.

Winston looked up once more at Ebyrth and turned back to the donjon, shaking his head. As he continued to climb down, his key jangled at his side, his finger's breadth rubbing against their metal surface. He stopped once more, looking back at the icy, night sky and muttered,"I love it when two people hate each early so much."


Harry potter and the birthing of a New Sun

Chapter 24 - Nightmares
~~~***~~~



Four fairies fluttered over Gabriella's unconscious mind body, each empathically reflecting the state of matter of her seven chakras. Alternating in colour and luminance, they were straightaway visual indicators of both her physical and magical well being. In all the Clarence Day Harry had been at St. Mungo's, more than he could now think, he had only seen such fairies used in two manner : to monitor those soon to die, and to size up those soon to be imprisoned. The faerie could smell when demise was near, alerting sept members to add up to the bedside, but they could also sense a patient's desire to trust a criminal act before it actually happened, warning staff of any impending error.

Gabriella had been released from the Stasis charm almost immediately after Harry had arrived with her from Fengsle isle. She was ticket ; at least, Harry thought she was. The simply thing strange was that she refused to let her mother, Soseh, fret over her. Despite her generally expert wellness and well being, the therapist of St. Mungo's encouraged by Aurors from the Ministry poked and prodded her mercilessly, convinced she had been hexed or was under the control of an Imperius condemnation. Her mind was probed, her body scanned - all to no avail. She remembered aught after having been apprehended just after leaving Cho and Anthony's apartment. That she would not tell the Aurors why she was in France to begin with, only fed the flames of their suspicion. Soseh was incensed that they were treating her daughter so poorly, while Harry wondered to what extremes Draco was being put to standardised tests.

Gabriella had just been given a light sleeping draft to help her rest after the evening's tortures had ended. Soseh kissed Harry's face and stormed out of the room, cursing in Armenian ; he agreed with some of the more choice expletives and flopped down in one of the chairs to rest, if only for a moment. He had just closed his center and was beginning to swan off, when the door opened. It was Sirius. Harry straightened.

"Sirius ?"Harry asked."Why are you here ? Shouldn't you be—"

"How is she ?"Sirius cut in. Harry slumped down, his head dropping back against the rampart as he rubbed his typeface with his handwriting.

"Well, if she didn't hate the Ministry before she came to Britain, she certainly will now."Harry looked over at Gabriella as she lay on the bed."She's yet to ask me to help get her out of here and she won't let her own mother near her. It's like she has something to prove. Almost as if she wants them to try out her ; it's looney !"Harry stood."Soseh on the former hand."He shook his caput."If she could use a wand, she would deliver hexed half the staff back to the Harlan Stone age. I'm still waiting for a dragon to usher up outside the window."Canicula mustered half a grin.

Harry walked over to Gabriella's bedside, held her script, and began to stroke it with his own. Even now, asleep with intellection that wandered the human beings, she was lofty, defiant, more able than Harry could envisage - next to mollie Weasley, perhaps the strongest charwoman he had ever known. His hands began to tremble.

"You love her, don't you ?"Sirius whispered, placing his arm about Harry's shoulders.

"I would die for her,"Harry whispered back.

"Oh, Harry,"said Sothis, squeezing his godson's shoulder joint,"you'd die for a lot of people. I heard what happened outside of the Burrow. You know, it's no honest dying for someone if all you do is stand in figurehead of a payload train."

"Sorry."

"Sorry ?"Sothis snapped."Sorry ? Harry, you need to remember there are far more good reasons to live than there are to die, and I've been watching over one of them for you for the final calendar week. You're no skilful to Jamie all in ; you above all people should know that."

Harry's thinking fell on his own son and what Voldemort intended to do with him, if he could be found. It was one matter to put his own life on the descent, but now… now so many were in danger. The trembling of his hands moved up his weapon system and soon his altogether body began to tremble ; he turned and held Dog Star in his blazon, squeezing the textile of his robes in his hands. With each passing day, it was becoming clearer to the Gryffindor what the ultimate fate of the prophecy would be, and the signs, as he read them, were not in his favour.

"seaport't you heard ? I'm already dead ; part of me at least,"Harry choked into Sirius shoulder."I'll never—"

"Don't talk like that ! Don't ever conceive it !"Sirius held Harry by the shoulders and looked into his boldness."It's those bloody spook ! Yeah, I've learn them talking in the corridors of the rook. It's wish-wash !"Harry wiped his eye with his sleeve.

"Is it ?"he whispered."I wonder. I think maybe they know More than they let on."He turned back to look at Gabriella and tried to gather himself."I… I guess we won't be making it to New York this year."

"No,"said Sirius sadly."Maybe summer."

"Yeah… maybe summer."

There was a hanker intermission as they watched the fairies float about, each shining as brightly as ever. Finally, Harry looked back at Sothis.

"So… Jamie's okay then ? And Cho ?"

"And Antonius,"added Sirius deliberately."They're mulct. They're all mulct. Susan Anthony returns to Hogwarts tonight. In fact, I better be going. I don't want them alone when he leaves. I just needed… I just needed to be for certain you were okay. Are you ?"

"Last year,"Harry began,"just two elbow room over… two rooms… Cho nearly died in my arms. There were no fairies then. I guess they figured there was no hope."He took in a deep breathing time."But then… then she came back to me."Harry walked over and looked out the windowpane. coke was lightly falling onto the street below where Muggles past forgetful to the magic all around them. Harry's forehead pressed against the glass.

"I did have it away her… you know ? At to the lowest degree I thought I did. But Cho and me… it just wasn't…"Harry shook his head and walked over to Gabriella's side, taking her once to a greater extent by the manus as she slept. He stroked the hanker fibril of black hair that ran down the side of her case, as the fairylight danced across her closed eyes."Oh, Sirius… for her… for her I've walked through fire and been tempered by it. You're correct, I love her. But I'd do far more than die for her… I'd kill."

Harry kissed her on the brow, his own pounding from lack of sleep. He faced his godfather and pointed toward the window.

"He's out there, searching for them now,"Harry whispered."He won't rest public treasury he's found them, and I won't rest until I've found him. It won't end until one of us dies."

"And it's NOT going to be you !"

Harry looked down at his deal and then back to Sirius. The trembling had stopped.

"No. No it's not."

"Good."Sirius started for the doorway, touched the handle and then turned around.

"Harry, you haven't told her, have you ? Where they are ?"

"No, but she asked… more than once."

"I knew she would. You want to differentiate her, don't you ?"Harry shook his head, no, but looked away."liar,"Sirius said with a smile."Harry, I don't need to order you how imperative mood it is for the enigma Keeper to keep the secret. There are only the five of us that now know, and, until we get a grip on where Voldemort is, you can't narrate a soul. No one, do you empathize ? Return to Hogwarts, spotter and wait, but tell no one, not even Ron or Hermione - not even Dumbledore.

"I know."

"Do you ?"

"I KNOW ! I won't let it happen again !"

"Then you're a better man than me,"said Sirius with a smell of superbia in his eyes."And my work here is done."Once more he started for the door only to stop again. This time he did not turn back toward Harry, but instead spoke to the closed in door, his hand lightly touching against the Grant Wood."You know I love you, don't you ?"

"I love you more."

Harry did not see the smile appear and broaden across Sirius'typeface as he opened and left the infirmary elbow room. Nor did Canicula see the smiling on Harry. Neither needed to, for both already knew. As the door clicked shut, Gabriella began to stir behind Harry.

It began with a mutter, and then her manus began to shake. Soon her whole organic structure was convulsing. One of the fairies flashed from patrician to William Green ; it bore a startled expression upon its face. As the bed shook violently, Gabriella's mussitation turned to a moan, the moan to a shriek, and the wow became uncanny.

"NOOOOOOOO !"The blood curdling cry pierced Harry's ears as the doorway swung open and the Healer ran in. Gabriella sat make off upright and screamed for assistant. The Healer pulled her wand and a yellow light began to bath Gabriella's open but white eyes. It had no effect. Nothing worked until Harry grabbed her in his sleeve and tried to calm her.

"Shhh,"he whispered."I'm here. I'm always here. It's O.K. ; you're safe."

Gabriella began to add up out of the nightmare.

"H-Harry ?"she breathed."Harry. Oh, praise Asha."She grabbed him in her own arms.

"What was it, Ms. Darbinyan ?"asked the Healer."What were you screaming about ?"

Gabriella looked up at the Healer, confused. The shakiness was gone and her eyes clear.

"Screaming ? I wasn't screaming,"she said indignantly."I'm mulct. Why ? What's the affair ?"

"Gab, babe,"Harry said gently,"you were having a incubus. You were crying out."

"Nightmare ?"asked Gabriella incredulously."I just now woke up. I feel fine… really."She smiled as if nothing had happened.

"Curious,"muttered the Healer. She began to run down Gabriella once again with her wand. Harry noticed that the fairy that had flashed a burnished, pale super acid was once again a beautiful, deep, cobalt blue."The dying Eaters have clearly done something to her, but what ? Perhaps more tests are in order. I think—"

"How do you get laid it's not from something you people have been doing ?"fuss Harry angrily."I'd be screaming too after some of the things you've done to her."

The therapist nodded dispassionately, conceding the full stop.

"True. That is potential, but we really should examine—"

"GET OUT ! GET THE nookie OUT ! Or you'll be screaming in three seconds !"Harry pulled his wand."TWO !"The healer darted for the room access."ONE !"She was gone. Gabriella began to express joy, oblivious to the tension of the situation, as if she'd just woken during a summer cruise on the Mediterranean, needing a bit more suntan lotion.

"Harry !"she exclaimed."That's a bit harsh, don't you think ?"She laughed again, covering her mouth with her hand.

"You… you don't remember anything, do you ?"Harry asked.

"Remember what ?"

"They were turning your brain inside out three hr ago !"

"No."

Harry began to rate the room."I have to get you out of here."

"Don't be silly !"Gabriella exclaimed."They won't let me return to Hogwarts if they don't think I'm… well, me."

"Damn it, Gabriella, you're not you ! Something's not right. You were fine when you arrived, but now… if they've hurt you… so assist me I'll—"

Soseh burst into the room, waving a parchment in her hand.

"You are costless !"she yelled."Put on your clothes. We leave, now !"

"Mama, I can't—"

"You can. You will. The Minister has signed the papers. Now gather your clothes."Gabriella obliged and got of bed as if nothing had happened.

It took to a lesser extent than an hr for Harry to escort Gabriella back to Hogwarts. She had insisted that her mother not come along, which hurt Soseh somewhat, but Gabriella would not swing from her spatial relation. She demanded that she be seen as secure when she returned to school and having a mother clasp her manus as she entered the strawman threshold would not conduct that impression. Finally, Soseh agreed, but before she had a chance to snog her daughter arrivederci, Gabriella took the Portkey that transported her and Harry to the strawman of Hogwarts. Harry scolded her for treating her mother so poorly, but she didn't seem to deal.

professor Dumbledore greeted them at the castle steps and invited them into the Great Hall to tea. He was particularly worry in Harry's tarradiddle of the struggle on Singehorn's mountain. He was not the sole one. A number of students had already arrived ; some had stayed over the holiday. about of the others would bring back tomorrow on the Hogwarts Express. The white-haired wiz looked sap, but his eyes were clear and as blue angel as ever. He didn't ask any existent interrogative, but instead lamented that the holiday decorations would be taken down in the morning.

"All things must come to an end,"he said with a sad smiling, and then took another sip of tea."But even after the medal have been put away into their box seat, the look of Xmas lives on in each of us. Don't you think, Harry ?"For an second, Harry caught a coup d'oeil of blueness from the corner of Dumbledore's eye, but the older wizard looked away. Harry nodded, but was feeling the uttermost he'd been from Yuletide cheerfulness since his days with the Dursleys.

That nighttime, they all went to bed early. It would be the last-place such night. course began the year in earnest. Homework was unfit than ever and everyone was complaining about the burdensome workload. Harry found himself spending to a greater extent time with Ron than with Gabriella. Since returning, she was somewhat smothering when they were together - constantly trying to get Harry alone, asking dozens of questions, and reminding him of Rita Skeeter. At first, Harry thought she was just extremely rummy about what had happened since she was under the Death feeder'Stasis spell. But those type of head ended a few days ago and now they were growing more personal, probing for selective information about Harry's Friend and family unit.

"I'm tellin'you mate,"said Ron as the two made their way back from the library,"she wants a ring around her finger."He sang the last part as he swirled one fingerbreadth about the band finger on his left bridge player."Valentines is just around the nook !"Harry just shrugged, letting out a long suspiration.

"Maybe."

It was late and he was tired, wondering why in Merlin's name he decided to return to Hogwarts. It was bad enough that he had to set up for his newt, but he also had to cease up last semester's work as well, while trying to follow the battles going on around the humans in hope on picking up on Voldemort's whereabouts. What little surplus fourth dimension he had on even and every Saturday was spent training with Ronan and the other Centaurs of the Forbidden Forest. Quidditch pattern was squeezed in on Sundays and Ron managed practice session in the afternoon. As the workweek passed, it was growing More and more taxing, and he was thankful that no subject how grumpy and upset he could get, Ron seemed to be touch sensation worse. Not only did he have nearly everything Harry had on his plate, but he also had something far regretful - a wedding to programme.

"I swear on Morgana's grave, Harry, if she asks me ‘ garden pink or mauve ?'one more sentence, I'm going to bloody explode."Ron let out a low groan and Harry patted his friend's back.

"Just admonish me, okay ?"requested Harry with a smile.

They were commiserating as they dragged their way back to Gryffindor Tower when someone called from behind.

"Harry !"

Harry looked back down the corridor to find, much to his surprise, Tracey Dwight Filley Davis running towards him. Tracey had become close friends with Gabriella over the last year and she was, for Harry's Knut, one of the skilful Slytherins he knew. Her side was flush and she was clearly out of breath, having just climbed the staircases from the donjon. She ran up to Harry and Ron, and then took Harry by the arm.

"It's happening again. Come, quick."

Harry didn't need to be told twice ; he knew. They had talked about it just after they started the new class and Harry had asked that Tracey watch Gabriella in typesetter's case the symptoms reappeared. The three students began to run down the dance step and, as one staircase began to slide into position, Tracey finally had a moment to capture her breath and explain.

"She fell asleep reading her Potions book. She's been working so heavily - making up for last semester. I had just put a blanket about her shoulders, when I heard it. At first, it was just a whimper. I thought it was just a picayune bad aspiration, but it kept getting worse and bad. She began to scream, then she started to howl your name and now she won't closure. It's like she's locked in a enchantment, she can't see anyone, but keeps screaming your name."

Within minutes Harry, Ron and Tracey were climbing down into the girls'hall. Harry could hear the wow.

"Blimey !"exclaimed Ron as they pushed open the threshold to the elbow room.

When they walked in, they found Millicent Bulstrode and another female Slytherin casting silencing magical spell, but they were having no effect. Just seeing person pointedness a wand at Gabriella in that way irritated Harry and, as he pushed them aside, he expelled both their scepter with the wave of his handwriting.

"Get out !"he yelled.

"You can't tell me—"

"GET OUT !"

Both of them left, Millicent casting him a nasty stare. If she had glared at Harry a moment yearner, she would have hopped out of the room as a toad frog. Gabriella howled again and Harry came to her side and dropped to his knee joint.

He grabbed her trembling hands in his and called her name. There was an immediate feeling of recognition in Gabriella's eyes. The distance cleared and they focused back to the here and now. She grabbed Harry and pulled him close. The trembling stopped. The shrieking stopped. Then the most obscure thing happened : she yawned. She let go of Harry's deal, stretch out her subdivision as if rising from a long slumber and… yawned.

"Harry ?"she asked curiously."What are you doing here ? Don't you know what trouble you'll get into ?"Her eyes began to dart around, seeing Tracey and wondering what she'd say. Then she saw the other boy in her dorm."Ron ?"she asked.

"Hi,"he said meekly and waved. His optic were fixed on a lace nightgown that was draped across Tracey's bed - dark cat valium, but sheer enough to point the albumen weather sheet beneath."Erm…."

"You were screaming, Gabriella,"said Harry, taking her by the manus."They couldn't get you to stop."

"Don't be silly,"said Gabriella."I only just now fell asleep."

"What he says is straight, Gab,"said Tracey."It's been almost thirty minutes. The whole dorm knows."Gabriella stood up, a bit indignant.

"This is just absurd. I was just taking a nap ! I should know if—"

"If it was just a nap,"interrupted Ron,"why are you dripping wet ?"

Gabriella looked down at her own robes. She was sweaty ; not just a short glow about the center, but drenched through her robe as if she'd just run a marathon. When she looked down and recognized just how wet she was, she finally had to admit that something happened, that she was somehow not herself. The actualisation coupled quickly to a sensation of veneration.

"What… What's happening to me ?"Her part quivered, her hands pulling the wet gown from her physical structure. She tossed them at Ron who tried to look away. She turned to Tracey."I screamed ?"

"It's the damn Ministry !"Harry spat. He reached behind the curtains that hung over Gabriella's bed and his hand reappeared with a shower robe. He draped it across her shoulder and Ron wondered how Harry knew that the gown was—

"They should have left well enough alone,"snapped Harry."They're all a crew of sycophantic, sadistic pigs."

"Hey !"snapped Ron."That's not called for. The Ministry has been doing all it can to protect us from the Death Eaters !"

"Protect us ?"Harry exclaimed as he stepped forward."Are you life-threatening ?"

Ron stepped forward to assemble him chest-to-chest."Are you saying different ?"

"looking at,"cut in Gabriella,"we're all a bit trite. I'll be all right hand. I didn't mean to worry you guys. I'll go see Madame Pomfrey in the first light. Maybe she can give me a sleeping draught. Why don't you two go to bed ?"She turned Harry away from Ron and kissed him on the boldness.

If only that had settled matter, but it hadn't. The two Gryffindors argued with each early all the way up the staircases to the tugboat. After each of his vitriol against the Ministry, Harry kept saying,"… which has nada to do with your father being the Minister."The repetitive spell of phrase only made Ron angrier. He accused Harry of being"unlearned"and"growing up Muggle ”, which only flared Harry's concerns about how Ron felt toward other races. By the sentence they were at the Portrait of the Fat Lady, they were nearly at black eye.

"Godric's…"

"… Goblet !"

"My… don't you two seem angry,"she said drowsily, opening the portraiture.

"SHUT UP !"they howled in unison.

They didn't speak another Scripture the rest of the night, and neither slept well. Both heard the other tossing and turn, muttering this or that, replaying the argument in their minds. Neville finally told them to exclude up, and they did. Thankfully, the next morning was Saturday. At breakfast, Hermione didn't even ask why the two weren't speaking to each former. Harry, glad that he had training with Ronan, left the Great Hall as soon as he was finished eating. He was headed down the stone steps of the castle toward the forest when Gabriella came out from behind a pillar and grabbed him by the arm.

"Hi, handsome,"she said with a grin and kissed him with a peck. She hadn't mentioned that she would meet him, and he didn't feel much like talking. Still, it wasn't an altogether unpleasant surprise. It was the first clip they'd been truly alone since they both returned to Hogwarts and he sure didn't feel like being with Ron.

"Hi,"he replied, but not with a lot exuberance.

"Don't recite me,"she said, holding one hand against his face."You fought all night with Ron."

"Wow… you're psychic,"he said dully, rolling his eyes in their sockets. She pinched his side.

"It doesn't take a psychic to know when you two are squabbling. It's like you were an old married couple."She smiled."Hermione and I don't have anything to concern about, do we ?"Harry smiled in return and kissed her severe on the sass.

"Hey Harry !"

Harry pulled away, looked up and saw Patrick poking his mind out a window from the fourth floor.

"What is it ?"Harry called.

"McGonagall says Dumbledore's lookin'fer yeh !"

"Come on,"whispered Gabriella."Can't the old coot have us five minutes alone ?"

"But—"

"Come on."

Harry craned his neck and looked up at Patrick. He was so pocket-size against the enormous rook walls.

"Later !"called Harry.

"She seemed teh think it was—"

"LATER !"Harry yelled with a scolding tonus. He took Gabriella's script and started across the grass to the Forbidden Forest."Old coot ? Are you serious ?"Gabriella just chuckled as the walked along. The sun was trying to melt the death snow, but the air was still cold and she pulled close to Harry.

"rich person you seen Madame Pomfrey ?"he asked absentmindedly. His mind was still back at the castle, pondering the fact that he had been rather cruddy to Patrick since the head start of the new year. With James still at St. Mungo's, Harry's fellow orphan was lost. cypher would speak to him and part of Harry didn't much tutelage. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help himself. Every time he saw the boy he grew tempestuous, so Harry just tried to avoid him completely. He shook his capitulum in disgust at his own natural process and started back toward the castle - it was sentence to make up indemnification, to apologise to St. Patrick and set things straight. Gabriella grabbed his arm.

"Er… Yes, I saw Madame Guérir this morning,"she said, coaxing Harry along their original path."She's quite capable. She gave me a potion to try at bed time."

"Good,"Harry said, nodding his school principal as if trying to convince himself that that was sufficient."Good."

"Oooh, look !"She pointed her finger's breadth at some with child creature tracks in the snow that traced a path leading to the timber."What are those ?"

"That's a… that's a Gytrash !"Harry said with surprise, losing all persuasion of Patrick. A year ago, he would never have been able to distinguish the caterpillar tread, but learning the living of the woods was part of his education with the Centaurus. Now he knew every brute that roamed the dark woodwind, and using the exponent of the onyx ring that wrapped his finger he was slowly learning to communicate with them."I've seen them in the forest, but never this close to the rook. By the arrow's head, what would a Gytrash be doing here ?"

"I don't know,"whispered Gabriella, her voice concerned. She didn't much feel like following the tracks that disappeared as they wove their way into the forest, but she didn't want Harry to return to the castle now that she finally had him alone.

"Shall we… shall we see ?"she muttered, vexed.

She walked with him about two-thirds of the way to the forest and stopped. Harry sensed her apprehension and knew what it was. She had dreamed, after all, that a Centaurus arrow had pierced her spine. Gabriella appeared conflicted - part of her need to go, but the other piece refused to take another step.

"You could go with me, you know,"he said softly."Then you'd see, you'd know… the Gytrash… even the Centaurs… they won't hurt you."Gabriella mustered a smile.

"I'll… er… I'll meet you here at lunchtime. You will be back for lunch ?"

"Yes,"answered Harry, starting toward the forest. Gabriella mustered a abstruse breath and walked with him, still holding him by the waist. Harry rubbed his forehead ; he was tired."I told Ronan that I had to canvas. He doesn't see the gunpoint and frankly I'm beginning to wonder myself. When I train, I forget half the hooey from class, and when I study, I forget half the stuff from training. I'm no good to anybody the way I am."

"You're good to me, sister,"Gabriella said, following Harry to the woodwind instrument's bound, out of vision of the castle walls and Hagrid's hut. She slid her hand down his side and Harry could feel a penetrating, fiery warmth - a passion that would burn anyone, anyone but a member of the Votary. To Harry, it was a tickling, sensual hotshot and as it ran up the inside of his rachis the feeling was hypnotic. He continued, unsteadily, to move in among the trees.

"I was thinking,"she said soft and low."Maybe tomorrow we could snarf away and visit Cho and Jamie. You know, just to see how they're doing. I'm sure they miss you."

"I've… I've told you a… a 12 times… I, er… I don't know where…"Harry shook his straits trying to crystallize the cobwebs. He couldn't think straight. He leaned against a large tree diagram a few yards into the timber. In the seclusion, Gabriella slid her hand downward.

"Don't you miss your boy, Harry ?"

"S-Sure."Harry swallowed. The heat was intense, oscillating between pleasure and the sharpness of painfulness."Maybe we could… ohh,"Harry groaned and his breathing space quickened.

"Where are they ?"whispered Gabriella.

"You… you know…"

Gabriella said aught, but moved closer, pressing her trunk against Harry's. His back against a large tree, he could smell its Sir Henry Wood smolder. The Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, unsettled by the sensation, began to shudder and Harry moaned again.

"Last summer… Greece… at—"There was a child's play, perhaps a small branchlet breaking, somewhere in the distance, barely noticeable. He didn't aid, but Gabriella did. Her muscles tightened.

"Tell me… now !"she spat impatiently. The phonation was contorted, but the contortion only partially pulled Harry from his trance.

"Tomorrow… I'll show you,"he said with a grin, reaching down to kiss her. Gabriella pulled away."No ! Don't stop !"Harry pleaded, holding her by the wrist."Tomorrow…"Gabriella raised her other hand as if to mint him, but Harry was unmindful."…together we can go to S—"

THWANG !

Gabriella let out a screech as a Centaur arrow pierced her hand and pinned it to the tree next to Harry's chief. It was a high, coldness belly laugh. She spun toward her aggressor and her go over Harry washed away.

"YOU FILTH !"she bellowed to the forest, but before she could reach her wand with her good paw, another pointer pierced it. Now both hands were held fast to the orotund automobile trunk. The tree moaned, irritated that it had been pricked.

Suddenly, Harry became aware what was happening, at least partially. Nearly a hundred rate away, barely visible through the dense forest, stood Ronan, bow in hand. He was preparing another arrow. Even to the most accomplished wizard, the fastness at which arrow met bow would be indiscernible. A Centaur could sack a XII arrows in LE than a endorsement. The third was already on its way, headed straight for Gabriella's essence.

"NO !"Harry cried. He watched as the arrow flew toward his lady friend and with a movement taught him by the centaur themselves he guided its point to miss the intended target. It struck the tree with a thump - it moaned again and the worldly concern began to shake.

"assist me, Harry"whimpered Gabriella, her voice as sweet and vulnerable as ever."I told you ! They're going to kill me ! hit him down !"

Another arrow flew through the air, and again Harry deflected it.

"Stand away, Harry ceramist !"yelled Ronan."Can you not see the brute next to you ?"

Harry turned to look at Gabriella. The Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree trembled as its sap desegregate with the blood that dripped from her medal while she struggled to get free. It was hopeless ; the jinx arrows would never unloose their target.

"They're mad, Harry ! Help me,"she pleaded.

"Not with your optic, star !"

Harry stepped back and closed his centre, reaching out first toward the Centaur - a brilliant Edward Douglas White Jr. camouflaged in a field of bread and butter illumination, but still obtrusive to Harry's, now trained, intimate eye. The centaur had stayed his hired man ; he did not score the pointer, but instead held it at the ready.

"precipitation !"called Ronan, moving closer, but slowly.

"Don't listen to him, Harry. Please… I don't want to die ! strike ! Strike him now !"

Harry turned his idea toward Gabriella. Instantly, his warmheartedness sank to the perfect astuteness of despair. There, before him, was an aura of immature, glowing fierce and strong, but the drips of descent falling to the wood trading floor were dispirited, a glowing cobalt blue… Gabriella's blue. As for the honey oil, Harry had seen it twice already. The green was easy ; it had a sickening pallor all its own, and a visible stench that could only belong to Voldemort.

"I told you ! Now, brook aside !"

Harry's resolve faltered.

Ronan let fly another arrow.


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 25 - The Fealty of Fire
~~~***~~~





The enceinte whizz, Ralph Waldo Emerson said,"This time, like all multiplication, is a very respectable one, if we but know what to do with it."Muggles measure it by the routine of check mark on the face of a clock. Wizards record its passing as they watch grains of guts fall to the bottom of a chalk. Centaurs simply gaze at the sky, surveying the sun and whizz as they pass overhead, and yet they, Sir Thomas More than all of God's early universe, control time's power over their life.

The arrow had left its bow ; Ronan had called the warning. Harry had but to endure aside and the arrow would most certainly pierce Gabriella's heart, killing her instantly. Would Voldemort die with her ? Centaur trick is deep and Harry had learned but a small portion of Ronan's wiseness, but Harry could not add himself to trust that a individual pointer, however charming, could destroy such evil. Certainly the dark Lord would be forced to leave her cadaver to look for another dupe to possess. Perhaps such a plan was already accounted for and the unfortunate last eater was near at script, waiting for just such a contingency.

Was this the vision that Gabriella had so long feared ? And was Gabriella, like her mother ‘ always right'? As these fleeting thought passed through Harry's mind, the arrow drew ever closer. He could smell its approach shot and the time consumed in indecision had cost him dearly. There was now no probability, even with his training, to retard down prison term fast enough and still turn to deflect the arrow now coming toward his rachis. No, Harry had time only to remain firm aside… put up aside. Ronan's words echoed in Harry's spike as Gabriella's optic looked up at him, pleading for mercy… a falsehood Harry now knew. He sensed the red smouldering beneath the pools of dark.

In this darkest here and now, when all clock time was lost, Harry grinned back at his adversary. This time was a very good one - a time to live, a time to die. He did not step aside ; he stepped forward toward Gabriella, toward the darkness that held her in its will and, like the dark, Harry embraced her and held her blind drunk. There was no prison term for row ; the pointer struck before Voldemort could even file Harry's natural process. Harry could palpate the tip pierce his book binding, just below the properly shoulder leaf blade and sensed it ripping his lung tissue paper as it passed through his body. It clipped a rib just below his right breast and deflected upward. Save for that, the arrow would deliver struck Gabriella in the heart. Instead, it hit high, missing her full of life organ, moving though her lung as it did Harry's and then striking the tree behind. They were now both pinned together like two rag dame poked with push pins.

Harry tried to take in in a breath and a astute, stabbing pain told him that each such attempt would turn more difficult. The face before him contorted into an malevolent grin.

"I'm not - stagnant, Harry,"she wheezed, her throat whistle with each hard won gasp for air."But you - will - be. Both of - you. Before you - die, tell me… where - is - the boy ? name it easy on - me, and I'll nominate it - easy on - our - Jamie. Greece ? Where ?"Gabriella placed her forehead against Harry's face and a searing pain plunged into Harry's skull. Voldemort was probing for the answer. Having practiced often with Ron, Harry had learned to dodge the driving force of a Legilimens, but he could not resist the the like of Voldemort forever. Even as Ronan closed from behind, Harry grabbed Gabriella's promontory and pulled it away from his.

"Do you like… argh… ardour, Tom ?"Harry asked with blazing cat valium center.

"Are you mad !"yelled Ronan. Harry could get wind the Centaur approach path. He could palpate the Centaur grasp the feathered tip of the arrow now pinning Harry to Gabriella. He was going to release its clenching charms when Harry stopped him.

"STAY BACK !"Harry commanded with wonderful cause.

"But—"Ronan didn't get a chance to complete. Flames erupted from Harry's right arm, forcing the Centaur to withdraw.

"A little heat… Tom ?"Harry asked again. The look in Gabriella's eyes was confused."Incendio Forté !"Harry whispered with gritted teeth. The flaming exploded, engulfing them both in fire. The tree behind Gabriella ignited and fire raced up its thick bole. It cried out shaking the ground worse than ever. The temperature rose higher and gamey as Harry concentrated its vitality at the centre of Gabriella's being. Her typeface was panicked, but Harry's was focused and tooshie. She, as Harry, knew the ways of the Votary, but Voldemort did not and he had no way of casting a carapace charm.

"hitch with me, infant,"whispered Harry, hoping that some part of Gabriella knew what was happening, could fight against its captor. vesication, searing flame, and finally Voldemort relented. Harry knew that look of anger, like a coddle child being refused a 2d ice pick for desert. Her screech was pitched high and the articulation was cold. Harry watched as the green left Gabriella's body, rising upward with the curling smoke and lapping fire. Ronan shot arrow at the malevolent mist, but they had no effect. As for the arrows pinning Harry and Gabriella to the Tree, they ignited and turned to Black ash. At once the two fell to the flat coat.

Gabriella began to cough, curt, sharp, shallow intimation. origin was running freely from her wounding. It had soaked her blouse and was dripping onto the woods trading floor. Harry went to move toward her, but the abrupt painful sensation in his chest held him in place ; he could sample the pedigree that had worked its way up into his mouthpiece. Ronan was upon them.

"You fool,"he snapped, gathering leafage and pressing them against Gabriella's chest. Gabriella continued to cough, but the breaths were shorter and shallower. The Centaur cursed."Use your powers boy,"he demanded,"before she dies."

Harry pulled his sceptre and cast a spell to end the bleeding, it helped, but not much. The Centaurus arrow was enchanted to get the better of such illusion.

"I… I can't,"said Harry, his voice hole.

"The Stone you told me of,"insisted Ronan."Use the stone."Harry's soul grew cold.

"Not… possible."Harry could sense his vision narrowing. He looked down and watched as, with each heartbeat, another spurt of blood dribbled out his chest. Ronan placed an herbal compact standardised to Gabriella's against Harry's wound and cursed again.

"She'll die. You'll both die !"cried Ronan. For the 1st, prison term Harry saw the Centaur panicked. But, as always, Ronan was right. If they didn't do something soon, they both would surely die. How could it end like this ? Had she been right all along ?
Harry just shook his head. He'd sworn an oath. He'd sat with the flying dragon Singehorn himself and sworn an oath. He would not offend it ; not when Gabriella had rejected his crack to use the stone to heal her mother and her dieing founder the yr before.

"It… it is…"Harry spat out the lineage pooling in his back talk."…forbidden."

His sight finally failed. His persuasion turned to Singehorn. The dragon had always told him that he could promise on him if ever he were in difficulty. It was an confederation, a stock oath, and now, more than ever, Harry was in need. He turned his head to the dragon and suddenly the aplomb, dampish air of the Forbidden woods was parched… dry. Harry opened his centre and the litoral of a vast desert opened up before him.

The large hand of a black man reached down and took Harry's manus in his own. The boldness of the usually jovial figure was stern, almost angry, but the anger was not directed at Harry. Of this, he was sure. Singehorn, the man, pulled Harry to his ft. There was no forest, no pain, no blood. Harry, prelate of the Votary, stood in red robe before his master.

"I sense the fantasm's presence,"said Singehorn with concern.

"Gabriella,"Harry whispered,"he took her."There was a mo's pause as Singehorn's aspect drew in and his eyes looked outward, but then he shook his drumhead in disagreement.

"No,"he said."She is in nuisance, but there is no such evil."Harry grew impatient.

"There's no time for this. We must hurry."Singehorn laughed a cryptical, throaty laughter that shook the ground and made Harry angry."She's dying !"he cried. Singehorn held Harry's chin in his monolithic hand. The calluses scratched as the man pulled Harry's oculus upward to fulfill his red. There was a grinning across his mouthpiece, the faintest hint of fang.

"You both are dying, Harry. But there is no hurry."He let go of Harry's chin and stroked his own in opinion."Here,"he held out his hands and showcased the desolate countryside,"here we have all the metre in the world. In here,"Singehorn tapped the face of his head word,"the judgment processes millions of opinion a second… even in the nous of a wizard. It's amazing really. And in here, metre stall still. You can dream a lifetime in the blink of an eye. Time here, Harry, has no meaning."Singehorn crossed his coat of arms and regarded Harry carefully. Again he sway his psyche and then, smiling, patted Harry on the shoulder.

"Soseh is quite the woman. She's never haywire,"Singehorn whispered."I did not think it possible."He stepped closer to Harry and put his arm upon his shoulders."I could not be Thomas More proud as I am at this very moment. shadow covers the earth, but there is one shining light that will shatter its shade. I doubted. I doubt no more. Though you are Pres Young and you will stumble, I am now convince that your path will end in light."Singehorn grabbed Harry's left hand and held it up, moving the anchor ring finger that bore the ring of onyx closer to Harry's typeface.

"Life, Harry, is all around us. Sometimes, even the nifty and most herculean must summon the small-scale and least consequential to their aide. most are too arrogant, others too stupid to make the energy and power that permeates the world around. The tintinnabulation, Harry, lets you mouth with any beast, any creature. If you but ask, they will do your bidding."Singehorn bent low to one genu, grimacing as he did so.

"Your body has fallen in a annulus of fire ; all about you is stagnant. But, beneath the ashen loam upon which you lay, a brute survives, millions of them now energized by the heating of your flame. The light of life erupts from the solid ground beneath you ; use your gifts and you will see. Call to them ; ask them to help Gabriella, to aid you both. Some will not come through, but if you ask, they will oblige, for we all stand against the iniquity. grace upon you my son, and also upon the planetary house of Hayk."

"The House of— ?"

The scene snapped back to the forest and Harry was instantly aware of the sharp nuisance in his chest. Gabriella's cough had stopped and been replaced by a dilute, whistling pant.

"… both die !"cried Ronan.

"It… it is…"Harry spat out the blood pooling in his mouth."…forbidden."His visual modality failed, but his mind's eye turned downward as Singehorn had said and there they were - specks of glowing debris, just below the sear surface - a sea of microscopic life. Harry made a fist and clutched the ring to his chest, focussing now on the life beneath him.

"service us,"he whispered, not really knowing what to anticipate."Please, help - us."He coughed and another splat of descent fell to the basis. And then, from out of the ether, Harry heard the reply of the tiniest of voice from the orotund of crowds.

"Your lesion are too heights !"it called."Come down to us."
"Ronan,"Harry breathed,"lay her… level against the earth."

"But—"

"Do it !"A streak of painfulness stroke through Harry's chest."If we die, we die here, but don't… don't move us until the stars rise."

Ronan obliged and rolled Gabriella onto her back. Harry, as well, turned upon his back. For a here and now, he could see again and he gazed up at the cockcrow sky. He could feel the blood dripping from his rachis as a visible light, white cloud drifted overhead. It was the shape of a dog and Harry smiled, coughing again as blood dripped from the recess of his mouthpiece and into his ear.

"A Grim,"he groaned with a smile, pointing one fingerbreadth upward to the sky. His body was growing colder… colder… The conclusion matter he remembered was the slenderize wisp of a part calling to its friend.

"In here !"



Drip.

An icicle clung to a large pine Tree with great offshoot that stretched over the path of a tiny brook. drip. A single drop of water fell from the freeze down crystallization and landed on the piddle flowing gently below. Just one drop, among many that filled the bantam brook on its way to who have a go at it where - Harry decided to see. He'd only walked perhaps a hundred time when the brook joined another somewhat larger creek. There was a petite falls that cascaded over a fistful of vauntingly rocks. Harry jumped down and continued to follow the water's track. The air grew damper and the fertile earth of the wood flooring filled his anterior naris with a plenteous earthy aroma of lifetime and radioactive decay.

Eventually the tiny Creek grew, as more Brooks and lilliputian rivulets joined it. It matured into a little watercourse and as he followed its winding path, it continued to exposit. Harry didn't know how many hours, how many years, how many lifetimes he walked until the flow became a river with rushing rapids and great still pools. Tirelessly, he followed until the river emptied out into a great ocean that extended beneath an sapphire blue sky as far as the eye could see. He walked along the sandy shoring, looking for others, but none were to be found. The air here was also rich with life and decay, only the salty sea air made the aroma more pungent and biting, filled with greater possibleness and more furious consequences.

He walked onto an outcropping of rocks and looked for life in the shelter lunar time period pools. A peachy undulation careened against the John Rock sending white spray and foam mellow into the air and soaking him from fountainhead to toe. The water supply was common cold, but inside he was warm up. He wiped his dripping face with his hands and stopped. Holding out his hands in front of his face he observed a I fall of water run down his finger and he wondered if it might not have been the same drop that had started him on this journey. trickle. So tiny, so inconsequential in its own right, but when joined with others… he gazed out across the ocean and another wave crashed violently into the rocks only this time the spate knocked Harry from his feet and he fell headlong into the H2O. dripping.

Harry woke with a kickoff, his eyes opening upon the ceiling above him. The spark of firelight danced across a thatched Grant Wood woven of stick and branches - native plant life he now recognized as vernacular to the Forbidden Forest. Outside the plant-covered walls, it was raining steadily and as the smell of the moistness, loamy dry land filled his nostrils, his dream haunted him. An trice later his memories rushed back and his script shot toward his chest to feel for the hole left by the arrow that had run him through, but his finger's breadth found only smooth, flat flesh. He sat up and recognized at once, though he'd never been to their camping site before, that this was a Centaurus hut. A flash of anger flamed briefly through his body and then he looked for Gabriella. The hut was empty and, when Harry tried to stick out from the low mat upon which he rested, he found his strength failing him. He sat back down and tried to gather himself.

"Ronan !"he yelled as tawdry as he could."Ron—"Before he finished, a Centaur with a chestnut coat entered the hut. It was not Ronan, but rather felspar's mother, Macleta. Harry had seen her often, cantering next to Ronan during some of his training sitting with Shahan and feldspar. Her face was placid and her dark middle trench. She bowed to Harry as she approached him.

"Ronan is in meditation,"she said softly."He has seen many matter under the expiration virtuoso, but today's events have shaken him."She bent low and placed her handwriting against Harry's face ; the touch was soft, warm, and the dizziness in Harry's straits began to fade at once."And you, my fry,"she began again,"I see your wound has mended, but how is your spirit ?"

"Gabriella ? Where's Gabriella ?"Harry struggled to get up, but Macleta placed her hand against Harry's berm and the becalm weight pushed him back onto the bed. Ordinarily, Harry would accept resisted, but there was something calming, something reassuring in the pressure of her hired hand and, without saying a Logos, Harry knew Gabriella was well.

"I myself have made poultice from the Fungerum to heal the combat injury of my brother and sisters. It was fortunate that the grease upon which you fell were copious with their healing office. Still, even I, who saw the release of Ebyrth in the close age, have never seen them cure so severe a lesion so quickly, as if they were driven to economise your lives."

"I… I asked them to help oneself us,"said Harry quietly. Macleta laughed.

"I do not doubt it,"she said with a grinning."As for your mate, she too has been healed of her injuries. It is but—"

"Then let me see her !"

"Her sprightliness was not well when she arrived. When Ronan told me of the iniquity Wizard…"Macleta let out a long, low sorrowful suspiration. She could see the awe filling Harry's middle and again a warm smile graced her face oblation reassurance."She grows strong by the bit, but it would be unwise if she saw your nerve right now. Your link to Voldemort was once strong and the reaction might not go well."

"But I was Cleansed !"Harry protested."Surely there's—"person shouted outside the hut. There was a rumbling of hoofs and a sloshing of mud.

"You brought IT here ?"a voice cried out in ira. Harry recognized at once it was the voice of Shahan, the nigrify colt he had been training with these stopping point many months. The tone was not surprising, since every time the new Centaur opened his lip it was usually filled with vitriol. His word of honor now, however, carried the slight feel of awe."It's duskiness ; it's hatred ! Where is Ronan ? Why did he not vanquish it when he had the chance ? You must send it away and let it die !"

"She carries now no darkness."The new interpreter was that of Felspar."The darkness has fled her. It would have fled her in either case. How then could we allow her to die ?"

"What is that to us ?"snapped Shahan."And this one !"he sneered. Harry could almost palpate Shahan's ponderous breaths as the Centaur leaned close against his hut."This one cost the lives of half the herd in the Carpathians. They died trying to serve his will. Is that what you want for your family unit ? I will not await for him to chair us like blind molamars to our deaths."

During the argument, Macleta, her expression serene, bowed her head to Harry and excused herself without saying a Logos. A moment after her tush passed through the threshold to Harry's hut, Shahan was about to say something else when his voice was cut short. Harry had trained and even battled with the Centaur and was unable to fathom what great power would bear the colt gurgling, gasping for breath.

"You will discover your berth,"whispered Macleta calmly,"or you will give the herd."Suddenly, Shahan heaved in a gulp of air. There were no more words, only the sound of rain splattering into the puddles collecting external. Naked, as he always was with the Centaurs, Harry stepped outside. It was night ; a steady, cold rain continued to pelt down. Macleta and her girl were standing side by side to each other as if they were speaking, but no news were passed. Shahan was nowhere to be found. Harry stepped over to them, the mud pushing up through the toes of his bare feet.

"Is everything OK ?"he asked, drips of piss streaking down his face. felspar bowed her question.

"It is soundly to see you well,"she said."I am happy that you have finally come to see our home."

For the first time, Harry took in the camp which was really more like a modest village, just a small belittled than Hogsmeade. He'd never seen it before, but he did know its name - Terntalag. There wasn't so much a main street as a master way of life. Huts and shop were an organic character of the environment around them ; it was difficult to tell where Centaurus construction ended and nature began. He looked back at his own hut which had a ardour electrocution warmly inside, but outside there was no chimney and no fume rose to the air. There were a few aged colts, broad grown Centaur, and two aged Centaurs that made Macleta facial expression Loretta Young still walking about. All noticed Harry as they passed by and all nodded their heads, but none stared, they simply went about their patronage. Harry had a chance to guide in many reflexion and coming into court, and his showtime impression was that feldspar was among the fairest of them all. He had never really noticed before, but there was something more industrious, more innocent, and yet sassy that graced her form - traits he now noticed in her mother as well.

With Macleta's permission, feldspar walked Harry to Gabriella's hut, but warned him not to go in. Instead, she offered to record him the ease of their bivouac. As they walked, the rain began to stop and Harry saw a trice of white he thought might be another Centaur the colour of Felspar, but as quickly as it appeared it faded from view.

"What was that ?"he asked.

"A phantom,"she replied calmly."Since Word reached us of the conflict in the Carpathians, strange things have been happening in the forest."Harry pondered how matter could be foreign than they already were."Thomas More titan have arrived, establishing a camp near the caverns of the falls. Ronan says they are here to help, but others aren't so sure, least of all Shahan. unknown still are the white phantom that pass in and out of existence. I have seen such animal before, but never so many and their numeral continue to grow throughout the forest. Mother sees it as a sign, but of what she will not say."

"And the Dementors ?"Harry asked. felspar hissed.

"Would that they try to slither onto our estate,"she said and then spat on the ground."Nothing has passed our molding without our noesis. That is why Shahan is so see red that Voldemort himself could make it on to our forest."

"But she… er, he didn't,"said Harry."Ronan saw at once."

"His hesitation for your sake, may feature allowed Voldemort to escape. That he nearly killed the elect in his haste… it is a delicate symmetricalness, and he now questions his pith. To what monetary value may one destroy the darkness ? That is why he meditates. May that you never need make the choice."

They walked a bit encourage. Felspar showed Harry a great opening, beneath a canopy of trees, lined with board but no chairs. It reminded him a bit of the Great Hall. Here, all the Centaurs ate together in a mutual repast. They continued to walk and talk. It was the low meter they'd had a chance to do such a thing since they'd begun to train, and it was the first time Harry had had the opportunity to get to make out the filly. She was effort. Her grinning glowed and her white pilus matched the coloring of her pelage, but unlike almost of the other Centaur it was cut short, reminding Harry a bit of Tonks.

At one point the conversation lagged and feldspar's eyes gazed upward to the heaven. It was a park smell among Centaurs and even Harry found himself gazing at the stars unable to comprehend what exactly the Centaurs saw. He noticed that her verbalism saddened and her heart squinted, although Harry knew by now that Centaur weren't using their eyes to gaze at the heavens. She was looking toward Ebyrth, now visible to all - even Muggles.

"What is it ?"he asked."You seem troubled."

"The former day, Ronan told me, but I did not believe him."She continued to stare intently at the comet."But today… I think I can see."

"See what ?"felspar pointed toward Ebyrth… almost. Her finger aimed just to the east of the comet - toward blemish which flickered red in the night sky.

"It will be close,"she whispered."But what it means, not even Ronan will say."

"ending ?"

"Ebyrth approaches blemish. They have never been so close. It is potential that they will collide."

"Is that bad ?"Harry asked. felspar shrugged her articulatio humeri. But in a flashbulb her dowery face brightened.

"Gabriella wishes to see you now ; she is well."

Harry ran, Felspar at his side, and before another word was spoken he was out of doors Gabriella's hut. A Centaur stood guard outside, a large lance in his mitt. As Harry moved to accede the Centaur barred his way.

"Only the gentler airstream,"he said. Harry's eye flashed red. He was about to take action that was anything but gentle when Felspar stepped between them.

"They are mates,"she said and the guardian nodded with inclusion. He pulled back his spear. Harry looked at Felspar and began to blush."Well you are, aren't you ?"she asked. There was something coy and flirtatious with her smell. Harry smiled and stepped inside.

Covered in a red woollen blanket, Gabriella lay on a heavyset pad on the floor of the hut. An older female Centaur crouched low to her side. Both their heart were closed as the Centaur held a deal across Gabriella's os frontale. Harry wanted to interrupt, but a articulation inside told him to be silent. The moment soon passed and the Centaur removed her bridge player and both women opened their eyes. They smiled at each former - almost laughing.

"Thank you,"said Gabriella with a soft voice. Her eyes fell upon Harry and her smile widened.

"I never thought I'd see you smile at a Centaurus,"he said, wearing a smiling himself.

"I never thought I'd see you running around naked for the wholly world to see,"Gabriella retorted. Harry blushed, realizing that he must look strange to someone who didn't understand their ways.

"Erm… well, I guess you just get used to it after a while."

"I think you enjoy it,"said Gabriella suggestively. The centaur stood and bowed to Harry. She was quite large and looked down on Harry as she spoke.

"Your mate is well, though there are still scars upon her spirit that may never fade away. That which bites has been banished."Harry bowed in riposte.

"We are forever in your debt."The motion surprised the aged Centaur. Her centre twinkled with satisfaction and she looked back at Gabriella with a smile.

"You have chosen well,"she said approvingly."We all have."Then she turned and exited the hut, leaving Harry and Gabriella alone. Harry fell to his articulatio genus at Gabriella's side and took her by the hand.

"How do you palpate ?"he asked.

"At pacification,"she said as she sat up."I was so fright, Harry. I wanted to die. But now, I am, for the first time since my family left Lebanon, at peace."

"I thought…"Harry wavered."I thought your vision had come true."

"Evidently, I am not my mother. I do make mistakes. Thank Asha for that !"

"Are you ready to travel ?"

"I can trip, but I'm not walking through the forest naked."

Harry smiled."What about walking naked around your tent ?"he asked, flashing his eyebrows up and down."We are mates after all."Gabriella took Harry's left helping hand in both of hers and looked up into his eyes. Her expression deepened.

"Are we ? Are we really, Harry ?"The enquiry was slow and deliberate. He knew what she was asking. He took her correct deal and wrapped it in his. He fingered the golden gang that he had given her in conclusion class on Valentine's. The closed chain was woven from spin around amber and laced with scarlet crimson that glowed in the dim light as he touched them. She wore it on the center digit of her rectify hand. He slipped it from her finger's breadth and held it in his own.

"If Voldemort only knew what he had in the palm of his mitt,"Harry whispered."Do you recollect final stage class when I asked you to defend my affectionateness and soul until the time was right ?"Gabriella giggled a bit, remembering the raillery of their letters to each early.

"Yes,"she said.

"Well… it's not a Horcrux, but in here I've given a bit of myself that has always been yours to keep. I poured my love into the pack, Gabriella, and that zip is locked into the weaves of gold. If Voldemort had known, he could have controlled me utterly."Her oculus widened in disbelief and Harry stroked the long chain of hair from her face.

"Funny thing is… I thought I'd given it all to you, all I had, but in here…,"Harry held his hand over his chest,"it's as if my artificial lake has been replenished. Nearly xii calendar month and the love I have in here surpasses the erotic love held within this ring. It's time you had it all."

"What are you talking about ?"

Harry placed the tip of his finger over the row of rubies, pressed down and slid them with a click to one side. An plosion of flannel light struck the top of the hut. Its intensiveness was blinding and Gabriella had to shield her eyes.

"It's my love. And, at the time, it was all I had."Harry placed his hand over the doughnut."But now, I have more and I give it all to you."He closed his eyes and uttered an incantation that ended with :

"Amoramendum !"

His arm and script began to glow a vivid blue. Gabriella could feel the energy fill the air. The glow flowed down Harry's arm and spit out the tip of his finger like a lowly lightning bolt into the halo. When it was over, the light radiating from the hoop was so intense Gabriella had to face away. Harry pressed the gem and slid them in place ; there was a click and the light faded. When Gabriella looked back at the ring, the row of rubies had been replaced. In their lieu was a row of sparkling flak Harlan F. Stone - more uncommon than diamonds, more brilliant than sapphires, they glowed the colours of the rainbow and in their nitty-gritty was mounted a Draco stone. Its luminescence was fervent red and not but a member of the Votary could stand the heating plant with which it burned.

Harry again turned the closed chain about in his fingerbreadth and then his green optic met her black and a smiling creased his look.

"I've fantasized about this bit for month, but I never dreamed we'd be doing this in our birthday suits. I was hoping for the beach and a fortunate sunset, not with mud up to my knees on the dirt in a Centaur hut."He positioned himself on one knee and at once Gabriella began to tremble.

"Oh, Harry, I didn't mean value you had to—"

"Shhh,"he whispered,"you'll make me forget my speech."He cleared his throat and held the glowing ring out with his hired hand."I wish that I had had the chance to ask your Church Father for your hand. I can only hope that, before he died, he knew how a great deal I loved you. It's authoritative that you—"

"How much we loved each other."

"Would you let me finish ?"He cleared his throat again."Erm… That said, I have received your brother's blessing to—"

"No !"Gabriella gasped in surprise."You asked Antreas ? What did he say ?"Harry sighed.

"well, if you must know, he said that if one day the stars so choose, he could think of no early that he would rather name brother."Harry shifted position ; his leg was beginning to go down asleep."Now… as I was saying—"

"That was sweet. Don't you think ?"

"Yes… I do, but—"

"And if you think about it, a part of Papa is within Antreas and always will be. So… in a way—"

"damn it, Gabriella !"Harry yelled."WILL YOU MARRY ME OR NOT ?"

At hold out, Gabriella was silenced and slowly she held out her trembling left hand. Harry let go of the ring in mid-air and it hung there suspended as Gabriella extended the fingerbreadth on her hand. Without touching the halo, Harry held up his manus and flames sprang Forth River from his laurel wreath.

"Is that a yes ?"he asked smartly. Gabriella's hired hand steadied.

"Yes,"she breathed.

"Iunctura !"Harry breathed and the fervor pushed the ring forward, glowing gabardine, onto the anchor ring finger's breadth of her left field hand."By Asha's breathing space we are bounds forever."

For a moment they sat and watched the closed chain on Gabriella's outstretched script as the glowing gold dimmed, but the stones never lost their ardour. Finally, Harry took her deal into his and kissed it. He could experience the heat burning his lips, penetrating his tongue. He looked up into her heart.

"I love you,"he said gently."Did you know that ?"

"You talk too much,"she replied and her eyes began to wink. With a move worthy of a matador, she spun the red blanket from off her bare bosom wrapped it about Harry's bare back and pulled him close."metre to ride, stallion."


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 26 - I do


Night gave way to cockcrow and the sounds of hooves stomping past the hut woke Harry, but Gabriella still slept. The long strands of her pilus wrapped Harry's bare pectus like a warm mantle and he began to stroke the incline of her nerve, slipping his digit gently about her ear and down the back of her neck. He pulled the wool coverlet up over her shoulder and kissed the top of her headspring. Still, she did not stir.

Was it possible ? Were they really—

A familiar spirit cough came from outside the hut's doorway, deliberate and loud.

"Enter,"Harry whispered softly, knowing that the Centaur could get a line half as soft a voice. Macleta entered, wearing a fond smile. She bowed her head and then stepped forward.

"I trust all is well ?"she asked.

Harry nodded silently in reply.

"The morning time repast will soon be served. It would do you both well to eat."

"She's tired,"Harry said softly.

"Yes,"replied Macleta,"it was a farsighted night, I'm sure."Her eyes twinkled, but her expression was tranquil.

Harry could state she was being feisty, but her verbal expression was stable, very much in the manner of a centaur. He smiled and raised his discharge hand to excite a finger at her, and it was then that he noticed the mark on his left tintinnabulation digit. It looked as if mortal had tattooed a band upon his peel. It matched the weaving of the amber ring he had given to Gabriella, only the colours woven were red, blue and commons. They flowed in and out of each other like a braid that wrapped about his finger. Macleta noticed the confusedness on Harry's face. She stepped unaired and admired the symbolic representation's clarity and colouration. It was no bare scoring, for when it caught the morning ignitor slipping in through the hut's door it shimmered, making Harry believe that he could grasp it and slip it off. Harry was surprised when he saw the faintest hint of a smile appear upon Macleta's case.

"Hmmm. Dragon firing. It is… what you have done… a tremendous act of devotion."

"Devotion ?"Harry asked.

"A connubial ring,"Macleta answered quietly."There are few Centaurs capable of—"

"But I never even tried to—"

"One does not wear a connubial ring because they think they should. They can not wave a wand and make it so. Such a symbol can only come from the heart. It is a deep conjuring trick, rarely seen, but, for the congregation, the forest provides such. Your connection with the outstanding fauna and with the small is substantial. Since first you arrived to our lands, these Tree have known your gens, even the world, as it did yesterday, springs forth to aid save your life. The forest has been one with you, nature your ally. Firenze saw it first ; soon after you met, he discerned your path. It was he who convinced Ronan to consider the possibility that you might be the Chosen. That was four eld ago, before any knew that Ebyrth would return."

"Firenze ?"Harry asked, not really expecting an answer. He leaned back and again began to stroke Gabriella's pilus with one hand, holding the former up near his face to examine his finger. He was not disquieted by it appearance. To the contrary, he found the unequalled banding a comfort and smiled to himself, releasing a diffuse, content sigh."I have not seen Florence for quite some time. Is he well ?"

"Yes,"answered Macleta,"but quite occupy. He was here early, but had to revert to his responsibility. He was asked to leave Logos with your Dumbledore that you are both levelheaded and that you shall render today."A brief saying of sadness crossed her face."Firenze did bestow newsworthiness that may trouble you. Though none of us can rip off the cycles/second of the sun, he asked that you be told. Your Master's superstar wanes."

"What do you mean ?"asked Harry."Dumbledore ?"

"I saw the day when his star topology was first-class honours degree born."

"When Dumbledore was born ?"The beat of Harry's spirit began to speed up. He was about to sit up, but forced himself to relax, to manipulate his emotions, and let Gabriella sleep. Macleta's expression grew distant, capricious as she remembered another time, not better, but perhaps more near as storage often are.

"Not when he was born,"she corrected."When his maven was born. Long ago, my mother foretold the coming of a new age for the magic organism of the solid ground - a small ejaculate that would convert the enmity that had so long grown between our race. Dumbledore's headliner was born when he defeated Grindelwald, and the darkness of hatred was diminished. For years, his hotshot waxed bright in the aurora sky. It was this brightness that convinced Florence that it was clock time for Centaur and whizz to work together against the darkness, to protect you against Voldemort when you were LE than a colt. Others were not convinced that the time for such an alliance was at hand."

"Yeah, and some still aren't,"said Harry."Shahan for example."

"C of mistrust and disparity are not easily washed away, Harry Potter. It was but two years ago that a mad enchantress began wildly firing at the herd - at the metre, she was the very drawing card of the school day you are so promptly to support."

"Umbridge,"Harry hissed."She wasn't my drawing card !"The intensity aroused Gabriella if only for a import. Her arm stretched and her hand came to remain upon Harry's belly.

"There is a great deal work to be had by both sides."Macleta bowed her head once more."Please, you must come… eat and gear up for the new day."Without another Scripture she slipped out of the hut, before Harry realized he'd forgotten to ask her what exactly she meant by Dumbledore's star waning. He was about to call for her, when the mitt on his belly began to slip up his chest and back down. Gabriella began to finger the tracking of hair beneath Harry's bellybutton.

"I thought she'd never leave,"she whispered."Are you make to get up ?"she asked, her hand slipping lower. She lifted her head to look into his eyes. He wondered if ever he would be capable to say no to her and quickly realized that his fate was sealed. He kissed her on the lips.

"Yes,"he replied, rising.

Some time later, Harry, with Gabriella at his side, emerged from the Centaur hut. He held her arm in his and even she marvelled at the new scintillating symbol emblazoned upon Harry's ring finger. Soseh had told her of such things in stories when she was quite Danton True Young. It was the stuff of fairytales and magic. She pulled Harry close, imagining, if only for a mo, that he was her prince and she his princess.

Together with Felspar, they moved toward the great opening where the ruck was assembling for breakfast. Neither wore dress, nor did they bear weapon system, for it was forbidden within the confines of the Centaur village. Harry told her she'd get used to the impression, but she was unconvinced. In fact, she was more aflutter about being naked than fearful from the Centaurs that passed by - a tremendous improvement, Harry figured, in Centaur-Wizard intercourse. Not once did she consult to them as ‘ beasts ’.

Harry noticed that as the Centaurs approached them they would first bow their heads to Gabriella and then to Harry. After this had happened a few times, Gabriella looked up at Harry and said,"They don't bow to each other like that. What's it all about ? And why me first ? I feel a bit like royalty."The morning sun caught the isthmus on Harry's finger and dazzled his eye.

"I think, in a way, you are,"said Harry, bowing his own head, returning that of the final stage passing centaur. They had spent nearly the full year together since Harry first encountered the centaur and was thrown into the Falls of the Forbidden Forest. Yet in all that metre, Gabriella refused to speak with him about his experience."Gabriella,"he continued,"where the Centaurs are concerned, we have some catching up to do."

When they came to the large gathering for their repast, they found the tables filled with food and nearly a one hundred Centaur waiting to eat. Harry was shocked to discover they were all delaying their meal for the arrival of the Chosen one and his first mate. Ronan met the two as they approached and took Gabriella by the hand, escorting them to a table that very much resembled the head table at Hogwarts.

"I must offer you my excuse,"he said to Gabriella,"for it was I that struck you near your heart."Without thinking, Gabriella's hand moved up to the spot on her breast where the arrow had pierced. No mark now remained. Her brain fell back to that present moment when the arrow struck and Voldemort still had control of her knowingness. Her body shuddered - not for the arrow, but for the darkness that had so utterly controlled her.

"Are you okay ?"asked Harry. All Centaur eyes were upon them, but he turned to face Gabriella."We don't need to do this."She looked past him at those assembled. At the centre of the head teacher table, Magorian, their leader, stood with two give spaces at his right field.

"Yes we do,"she said quietly. She took in a tumid breath, as if preparing for a dive in the lake and then let it out slowly. She smiled, kissed Harry on the cheek, and then stepped up onto the rise where the great stone table before Magorian sat. Gabriella bowed as she approached, placing a clenched fist to her heart as the Centaurus had earlier done to her ; she did resemble royalty.

"Sir,"she said deferentially. Harry followed in kind. Magorian appreciated the gestures and bowed his head. He raised his hands and demanded the attention of all those gathered. It was hard for Harry to fathom why they would all expect to eat until the two of them had arrived.

"Not since the day of old, when Gryffindor ate at this very Stone, a stone he helped my great-grandsire hew, has a magician supped at our tabular array. We welcome, this forenoon, our Chosen and his mate, that they might stand as an eonian flame against the pressing cold that would consume us."

No one said a word, but there was a near deafening pounding of hooves, although, against a thatch covered bulwark to his left, Harry noticed a few fuming faces. Among them were both scourge and Shahan ; the latter's eyes were filled with a groovy formulation of furor, well out of place among the mostly dispassionate Centaurs. Then Magorian looked at Harry, who took a moment before he realized he was supposed to say something. Stepping forward, he cleared his throat, searching for Word.

"Ebyrth… Ebyrth has returned, marking the coming of yet another battle against the darkness. It is a battle I fought just last year, a struggle I thought I had won."He glanced at Gabriella. She stood proud and stolid, her optic fierce, but unyielding of emotion. Harry could not help but smile, knowing that she was sensing the emotions around her and reflecting them back in her facial expression to the crowd. A perfective Centaur, he thought.

"You well know that we fought hard in the Carpathians. A outstanding many brave Centaurus lost their lives that Nox, but many Sir Thomas More of our foes fell and the swarthiness was repelled. But that did not, that will not end the outpouring of darkness. The Dementors—"There was a low hiss."The Dementors have joined with the wizard, Voldemort, who darkened your doorstep just yesterday - the foe I failed to vanquish last-place year and who has dogged me and mine these concluding many months. It will not be long before he gathers the Dementor darkness and others who would do his will. Soon they will go far here as one. On that day we too must stand together, wizard and Centaur, elf and goblin, even the merpeople of the lake - all must bear united against this darkness… this evilness.

"My… mate and I owe you are lives."Harry turned to Ronan and nodded toward him, but the Centaur looked away, almost embarrassed."I have trained hard to learn your ways, to fight as one with the Centaur herd. My knowledge is less than that of a colt, but I will do all that is within my power to vote down that which threatens both our multitude. Together, we can—"

There was a crash. Shahan slapped a Lucius Clay pitcher of mead with the back of his mitt and it smashed against the luggage compartment of a Tree, shattering to slice and spraying liquid high into the air. He turned to leave.

"Shahan !"called Magorian. The young Centaur stopped and turned to face his leader. His heart smouldered as he crossed his arms, but he spoke not. Magorian continued in a business firm, but fatherly voice."There is a wickedness on your soul that stains your intellect and weakens your heart. You would do well to ill-use back from the verge and meditate on its source. halt alert this Night under the virtuoso and divine its meaning."Shahan huffed, but said goose egg. Again, he turned to impart.

"And Shahan,"said Magorian with a voice of blade,"if ever you embarrass our herd again, you will be banished. Is that understood ?"Shahan nodded, but the gesture was insufficient."IS THAT UNDERSTOOD ?"

"Yes, Magorian,"muttered Shahan, placing a fist over his gist and offering a bow. For a moment his eyes drifted over to Harry ; there was hatred."It is understood."He turned and left in secrecy, his hands clenched so tight his knuckles were white.

"Let us eat !"called Magorian. Harry was about to dig in when every Centaur placed arm to chest, and raised their faces toward the heavens. There were no words spoken and the secrecy lasted but a few irregular. Then, Magorian and the others lifted their heads and all began to eat.

The meal was dewy-eyed, but satisfying and both Harry and Gabriella ate their fill. There were no chairs and they stood throughout, sharing simple pleasantries with Magorian. At the meal end, there were no house elves to show plates away. Instead, a good portion of the herd remained behind and assisted cleaning the dishes using dry sand and water. By the time they left the tent, the sun was high above the wood canopy and Harry and Gabriella said their good-byes.

Firenze had left impertinent clothes for the two of them and they dressed before leaving Terntalag. Quietly, Ronan escorted them back to the edge of the afforest without incident. Occasionally, Harry noticed a fleck of white appear behind the tree. He knew that it was felspar, following them. With few words, they came to a charred depression that spanned the ground a safe twenty to thirty groundwork across. In the centre of the ashes was a small sapling, some two invertebrate foot high.

"The same tree ?"Harry asked."It survived ?"

"No,"replied Ronan."But the bike of life can still stay. feldspar planted this tree last Nox in the rain. She has named it Cariad."

"Love,"whispered Harry. Gabriella looked into his eyes and took him in her arms.

"Very good, Harry Potter,"said Ronan with a nod of his foreland."You show much hope. I only wish we had some class to prepare."

"Please, give our thanks to feldspar, Ronan,"said Gabriella with dear unassumingness.

"None are required. It is our direction in these magical res publica. Now, be on your way."

Arm in arm, they walked out of the forest and onto the rook cause. The air was cool, but the sun's bright rays were warming, and quite a few scholar were out on the grounds. cypher seemed to notice that Harry and Gabriella had been gone for the day and night, or if they did, they didn't care. As they stepped toward the castling, Harry's footstep slowed.

"We cant'enjoin them you were possessed,"he said."nobody has to know."

"We have to tell—"

"You don't understand,"he interrupted."Just like Ginny, they'll never look at you the same. Ever since the Chamber of Secrets was opened, they still fear her. Oh, they'll smile to her aspect, they'll act friendly, but they won't get close, not alone close - none, but Dean."

"evening still, we have to assure Dumbledore,"Gabriella argued."He has to know."Harry nodded silently. They walked a short farther and he slowed again.

"And the hoop ?"he asked.

"anchor ring,"she corrected, holding his left wing script up so that the isthmus upon his finger caught the afternoon sun, its iridescent glowing forced him to squint his eyes.

"You know what Ron and Hermione will do if they find out that we—"

"I won't take it off."

"No. But… let's just say that… that we're engaged. That… that this…"he touched his left hand with his right hand,"…this is just a tradition of the Votary."Her face scowled, none too pleased with the idea."They're my friends,"he added."I've upstaged Ron every day since we've been at Hogwarts. I want him to have his moment, without thinking that I beat him to it."

"Okay."Gabriella nodded."For now, but don't be surprised if Hermione recognizes a conjugally mob when she sees it. They're in all the corking romance novels."She smiled, her eyes twinkling. They stopped halfway to the castle and kissed each other. The embrace was interrupted be an virulent drawl.

"wellspring, if it isn't the baron and queen of the ball !"

Harry spun to see Nott, flanked by Crabbe, Millicent and a few other younger Slytherins. What surprised Harry the most was the presence of Blaise Zabini a few steps behind the bunch of green, but clearly a phallus of the pack. Nott stepped toward Harry, glancing from left to right, and his follower fanned about, shielding the scene from any prying eyes. Blaise was still a few paces back, but pulled his verge with all the others. Harry had not carried his wand to training, but Gabriella slipped her bridge player around hers without pulling it off. Nott, certain that he finally had the advantage, was emboldened and slipped his own wand away, stepping closer until he was toe-to-toe with Harry.

"What ? No wand, ceramicist ?"asked the Slytherin."That's a bit daft, don't you think ? Everyone knows…"he dropped his voice down low,"the Death eater are out to kill you."

Without reaction, Harry closed his optic, reaching out his creative thinker to see if any of those facing him might have been taken by Voldemort. Each individual aura, however, bore a unmarried colour. Some were scared, others filled with hate. Blaise, however, was the calmest of them all, which was also the most distract to Harry. Still, relieved that he was simply facing his cuss students, Harry opened his eyes and smiled.

"teddy, you're looking well,"he said calmly."I see that your, erm… convulsion have subsided long enough to convince the crew that you can be their leader again !"Harry referred to the sloshes in Nott's memory that had left him speechless, or speaking gibberish for no reason at all. The leftover issue of James ’, or rather Voldemort's mental tone-beginning on him."If only you recognized the maestro you truly serve… you might be more prudent in your actions."

"You're in no position to prattle, Potter."Nott pointed his digit in Harry's face, but in a whirl Harry grabbed him by the articulatio radiocarpea."What ? You think I'm frightened of you, Potter ? You'll do what I say, or…"There was a burning at the stake smell in the air."…be a good boy and… Hey !"Nott noticed the minuscule plume of skunk rising from his mighty arm. The ignominious circle of ebony upon Harry's fingerbreadth, the ring of Pravus, had burned through the outer arm of Nott's robes and now he was beginning to sense the heat. He tried to draw away, but Harry held him fast."Let me go !"he yelled.

The olfaction of burning cloth gave way to burning flesh, and Nott began to cry out, now in pain. Millicent cast a magic spell at Harry, but Gabriella shielded it. Then Crabbe and another Slytherin raised their wands, but they were stopped shortsighted by a flash bulb of purple visible light.

"Bohaira !"

The reason erupted before them and dust filled the air, blotting out all vision. Harry felt Nott being yanked away. ineffectual to see, he reached out with his thinker. Blaise still stood off and to the slope, but the others, including Nott, had plummeted down. Gabriella reached for Harry's arm, supporting herself in the whirlwind. At first, Harry thought that the grouping had been blown to the ground, but their bodies were not prone, but erect. They were standing, but beneath the control surface of the earth. When the junk finally settled, he looked down to discover all of them buried up to their necks in the soil. Barely able to propel her pass, Millicent began to scream in panic, suddenly drawing attending to the gathering. Harry watched as Blaise slipped his wand away.

"You ?"Harry mouthed. Blaise just smiled and retreated toward the rook, his fellow Slytherins unable to turn their heads to see him. educatee began to rush over, as Nott spat grunge from his lip, cursing Harry for what he'd done.

"You'll pay for this, ceramist !"he yelled. He tried to wrench his neck, but was unable to watch as Harry and Gabriella followed Blaise up toward the castle's front footfall.

While they walked, Harry looked down at the black dance band about his finger and, wondering, touched his lingua to its calendered Earth's surface. It was hot, but it didn't burn, at to the lowest degree not Harry.

Gabriella stopped Blaise just before he reached the castle steps."A bit risky, don't you think ?"she asked."Going against your Slytherin fellow and all."

"You're a Slytherin,"he said with a sly smile."Besides, they think Potter did it, not me. I'll just say I ran."He chuckled to himself."They'll believe that."

"But why ?"asked Harry."It's not going to do much for family unity."

"Isn't it ?"queried Blaise."A acquaintance asked that I watch your back."

"A friend ? Draco ?"

"Patrick."Blaise drew in a breathing spell of air."He and I contribution a usual James Bond. We'll both see Voldemort pay for what he's done to us and that includes any mongrel that support him. I don't care what household they're from."

He turned and started up the stone's throw, Gabriella and Harry continued to follow as students tried to extract Nott and his pal from the soil without a lot achiever. person had tried to explode them out and Nott was yelling that they nearly tore off his head. Just after the three passed in through the castle door, Blaise looked around to guarantee that they were alone and stepped close to Harry - so close he could feel his breath.

"As for Draco…"said Blaise in a hushed voice,"…you've sent him to die. You know that don't you ? If Voldemort has taken Lucius again… if Dragon's with him now… he knows, Harry… he knows. I… I told him when he was here, when he was James. He knows about you two being… friends."

"But Blaise, I… we—"

"It's worse,"Blaise interrupted Harry."He knows… Draco and I… he… he and I… damn it, Potter ! I told him not to go near you ! You had a fanatical enchantment over him and it's spelled his ruin."Without reason, Blaise grabbed Harry by the front end of his shirt."You… you don't even care, do you ? He never… he never had a chance and now he never will."Blaise's heart turned to fire, suddenly hating Harry, but they also bore in their depths a deep gloominess. He shoved Harry against the threshold and left.

"A chance for what, Blaise ?"yelled Gabriella. Just before disappearing down toward the dungeons, Blaise paused and looked back at his fellow Slytherin.

"He never had the opportunity, Gabriella,"he called back, a snag slipping down the side of meat of his look."Not even with his own parents."Blaise shook his school principal, wiped his side roughly with his palm and disappeared.

Harry took Gabriella's helping hand with one of his own, rubbing his freshly bruised shoulder with the other.

"What's he babbling on about ?"Harry asked. Gabriella squeezed his hand and looked at Harry. Her own cheek was melancholy. There was a volley of laugh as the castling doorway opened and a group of Ravenclaws made their way in, reciting the scene playing external on the castling basis. Gabriella's case remained stoic, a mirroring of the queenly image he had seen in Terntalag.

"Love, Harry. He's talking about love."


Harry ceramist and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 27 - Choices
~~~***~~~



Harry looked down into Gabriella's optic and then glanced back toward the footprint that led to the donjon of Slytherin. Blaise had tenacious since disappeared, but Harry's glance still lingered for a moment. Then, his deal took hers and his fingers turned the ring that had bound them forever. How could he be so blind ? He knew and yet, until now, he didn't truly understand. When Harry's eyes returned to Gabriella's, they were pained.

"Draco…,"whispered Harry,"…no wonder he's so… so…"

"Viciously evil ?"

Harry's eyebrows furled."No ! Well… maybe. He's tried so hard to love, but no one's ever loved him back. Not really."Harry's hand caressed the slope of Gabriella's face."Not like this. Not here… in the open."Her eyes slid back toward the dungeon steps, at the nothingness left in Blaise's absence.

"I do not love, Harry. I think there may be some matter about Draco Malfoy we will never learn. As for his love life…"Gabriella clenched the front line of Harry's shirt and pulled him close, smiling."You, my dear, are mine."

Harry was about to say something when the front doors burst open again, flooding the front corridor with lighter. A group of second years was carrying a student in their implements of war. His brass was somewhat charred, the front of his gown were scorched, and the look of burning hair's-breadth filled the room.

"Out of the way !"one yelled.

"We've got to get him to the hospital wing,"yelled another.

"He tried to grow his toad red and his verge backfired !"

The smouldering student groaned as Harry stepped in front of the chemical group.

"Let me see,"he said dismissively, rolling his eyes.

"We need Madame—"The student stopped, realizing who he was speaking with. He pushed back one of his chum, yelling,"Let him see ! Let him see !"

They set the educatee down onto the stone floor, his head making a hollow thump as it hit, and Harry placed his hand just above the boy's chest, closing his oculus and reaching forward to find the trauma.

"My epithet's Harry,"he said to the spite boy."What's yours ?"

"R-Ralph,"muttered the bookman. The go away side if his cheek was pretty badly blistered, as was his sceptre deal, but overall the trauma were nipper.

"Hufflepuff, right ?"Harry reached out and began to heal the combat injury without using his wand."I think your mates, here, would receive fought Voldemort himself to see you to safety."

"Y-Yeah, I… what the… hey !"The wounds were healed, though his brass and arm were still covered in a blackened mess. He shifted up onto one elbow, staring at his paw."The pain… it… it's gone."Harry reached for Ralph's deal and pulled him to his feet - the modest group gathered all clapped.

"Fine house, Hufflepuff,"he said."Where's your wand ?"

"What ?"

"Your wand… where is it ?"

"Here,"said one of Ralph's booster."I picked it up for him."

"Good,"said Harry, taking the wand from the student, examining it for a import, and then handing it back to Ralph."Never let it out of your sight, Ralph. In the wrong hands a bedamn wand can kill."Ralph's optic grew large and his rather large head nodded vigorously."What was the spell ?"

"The spell ?"asked Ralph.

"Yeah… the magical spell to turn the toad red."

"Oh… that."Ralph pointed at one of his class fellow."Spaldy taught it to me. Erm… Sunshine, Daisies, Buttered Bread ; go this dolt fat anuran red."Harry glared at Spaldy, who began to slowly slink away.

"Elfsmora !"cried Harry, sending a greenish light from his wand and striking Spaldy on the head. The Whitney Moore Young Jr. man's hair disappeared and his ears curled up to tiny item. The group gasped. Harry turned to Ralph."Hufflepuff's a bang-up house, but you never can be too careful. I'd talk to Baldy a little more about that spell of yours."Spaldy started to actuate more swiftly down the corridor ; the others giving chase.

"postponement a minute, Spal !"one yelled.

"And ask him what he did when he borrowed your wand !"Harry called after him.

"I thought I sensed dissimulation,"said Gabriella."I just wasn't surely who."

"Good,"said Harry."I was just guessing."

"Harry !"chided Gabriella."You should never—"Again the doors opened.

"Who in blazes name is it this—"Harry looked up, shielding his eyes from the sun, to find Dumbledore framed by the castling doorway. He was wearing long gloomy robes and, backlit by the sun's streaming shaft, he appeared almost godlike in stature. His care was focused, however, out on the castle undercoat.

"VERY NICE !"Dumbledore cried out to someone well out of sight. His voice was so loud it shook the floor itself, but Harry noticed a tenuity that wasn't there before."Quite an splendid estimate, Mr. Nott ! It is always well to see the juvenility of today trying to check more about their roots."Almost absentmindedly, Dumbledore turned into the castle, stopped himself, and spun back external.

"Mr. Creevey !"There was a slight break."No. Yes, you Colin. Please add a little piddle to our troupe of truth finders. Buried as they are, I'm sure it will help oneself to sprout some new thought !"Harry heard Dennis, Colin's buddy, yell something back in agreement, there was a pop, and then a screaming audio, and then Dumbledore turned inside, this prison term to rule Gabriella and Harry, smiling at him.

"Ah ! Mr. Potter and Ms. Dar…"His eyes caught the flash of amber on Gabriella's finger. Dumbledore's eyes darted to Harry. The change of his fingerbreadth did not go unnoticed. Still, Harry slipped his left hand into his pocket."A pleasure to see you both well."

"Sir,"said Harry,"we need to speak with you about—"

"I was hoping I might incur you, Harry,"Dumbledore interjected."Florence provided me with a quite extraordinary tail. Even he was excited in its telling and for Firenze that's saying something."

"Sir, about that. You should really know—"

"Would you like to join me for some tea ?"Dumbledore interrupted again.

They followed the headmaster down a prospicient corridor and Harry presumed they were heading toward Dumbledore's power, but they past the extremely ugly Edward Durell Stone gargoyle and continued down the corridor toward the staircase leading to the astronomy tug. On a few affair, Harry tried to distinguish his narration, but each meter Dumbledore would break up him by whistling, or describing some mystifying historic fact about a wall, or stone, or case of armour. When they past the staircase to the astronomy tower, Harry began to wonder what exactly Dumbledore was up to. Harry had been down this way, and he knew it was nothing more than a dead end - Amortentia bowling alley. Sometimes students would use the benches to snog late at dark, using the excuse, if they were caught, that they were just coming down from stargazing and had turned the wrong way. Walking down here with the Headmaster made Harry's palms sweat ; it just wasn't right.

At mid-afternoon on a Sunday, the corridor was deserted. A dim igniter made its way in from the Windows high above that lined the paries. They walked until they could walk no Thomas More. All that was in figurehead of them were a one-half dozen wooden judiciary with various inscription and hearts wanded into them and the stone wall some 50 foundation mellow and twenty fundament across that was covered by an old tapis that had hidden the bare stones since Harry was a number one year. He looked up at the windows, wondering if they would now try to somehow hover up there ; it seemed, to him, the solitary way left to go. He could make out the blue angel sky, but zilch else. A dame flittered by just as he heard Gabriella gasp.

Harry diverted his attention back to Gabriella. Her script was over her mouth and her oculus were fixed on the tapestry. She was backing away from the bulwark. Harry glanced at the arras, noticing some razzing holding what looked similar arrow - some American matter. Gabriella continued to punt away.

"What's amiss ?"he asked her, but she said nothing. He looked at Dumbledore."Sir ?"

"Nothing is wrong, Harry,"Dumbledore answered quietly. He sat down on one of the benches, took out a small gumdrop from his pocket, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth."Perhaps you too should step back and look up to the weaving. It has draped this bulwark since I was a student here."Dumbledore smiled and his bluish eyes twinkled."In my fourth part class, little Dame Alice Ellen Terry Pensington and I would…"He shook his psyche, smiled and began to chew a bit more vigorously, scanning one end of the bench he was sitting on for something.

Harry walked over to Gabriella and put his arm around her, and then he turned to face the arras. He'd never before given it a present moment's mentation, but it was actually quite bewilder really - some sort of medieval struggle conniption set in perhaps the 9th century. visible through a dark moving mist, there were all form of puppet that came into and out of view as the scene on the arras changed, much like the movement of hoi polloi in the portraits that lined the walls. Arrows shot through the smutty clouds ; soldiers, wearing armour, slashed with their swords and occasionally a flash of flame or bolt of lighting would thwart a portion of the landscape painting.

A rather large Centaur caught Harry's eyes. He'd never noticed Centaurus in the view before, but he'd never really paid that much attending. Looking more closely, he noticed that it wasn't just one Centaur, it was an total ruck. The dark clouds weren't clouds at all, but swarms of Dementors blocking out totally percentage of the countryside just as they had in the Carpathian Mountains. The clangour forced Harry's middle upward and there he saw, gamey above the scene, the comet Ebyrth floating in the sky - a shining presage of war and desperation. Harry's essence began to race as he felt himself being drawn into the arras ; it was as if he was on the field of battle again. His arm began to suffer and he looked down to see the familiar mark, raised and red.

On the arras, there were giant and lamia, werewolf and wizards, all battling because the Centaurus and Dementors had been compelled to do so. Only, in this shot, the selected allies were different ; friends of today were foe of old. The comet flying through the heavens above had ordained war and the side were drawn to fit the age. The battle raged with no triumph in sight for either side. It was a fight scene not unlike many in the palace. All such battles told the same history and Harry wondered why this one, more than any of the others, besides its more present implications, would have Gabriella to look so astonished and his arm to ache.

He didn't need to look long for the answer. Her hand tightened about his as the orotund bird Harry had seen earlier broke through the clouds of darkness. That's when Harry noticed it wasn't a skirt at all, it was a flying lizard. A female Magyar Horntail as ebon as the shadow of nighttime, her scale of measurement shimmering like a million tiny star, opened her bully lip and flaming roiled out enveloping the stallion scene. In her claws she held not arrows, but a lightning bolt of lightning, no, two lightning bolts. They crossed each early as she flew high toward the comet - the Viswa Vajra. Harry felt his hand stroke the scar upon his forearm, his thumb sliding against the similar symbolisation at his own wrist, a rune uniquely his in all the Votary.

From below, a Centaur appeared, took aim and barb at the dragon, but before the arrow left the bow a woman, one of the commoner by the looks of her tattered garb trapped within a frailty of war, threw herself in front of the bowman. The arrow pierced her titty and she fell dead. The flying lizard turned and attacked the Centaurus and all below. The scene filled with flak, was blank as if someone had cleared a chalkboard with the waving of a wand, and then the action began anew, like a film replaying itself over and over again.

"Asha !"Gabriella whispered.

"Yes, it's amazing,"answered Harry.

"No,"Gabriella corrected."Asha… Asha and Aniente."

"Aniente ? Your smashing, great—"

"She laid down her life that the Dragon might live."

"And ever since,"said Dumbledore, taking to his infantry,"the Votary has been bound with the dragon."He too faced the tapis."It was the second gear coming of Ebyrth. Your great ancestor, Aniente Hayk, died protecting Asha. In this war, Dakhil was a young wiz of seventeen. He was one of the first members of the Votary. When Asha died, the evil of that age attacked him, thinking that he might have held the dragon's heart. Fortunately, it was hidden elsewhere and his refusal to address kept it rubber, but he paid a terrible price."

"lamia,"Harry hissed just under his breath.

"Yes, Harry,"Dumbledore said with a slight nod of his head."Vampires."He reached back into his pocket."Taffy ?"he offered. The two shook their heads. Dumbledore shrugged and began to chew.

"I don't know why I never noticed,"said Harry as the Centaur reappeared in the scene.

"Few educatee who wander back here ever do. I suspect your nous was on… other things. Come, I promised you tea."He started back toward his business office.

As they walked, Harry looked over his berm. The setting on the tapestry once again filled with flame and reset itself. His forearm continued to prickle.

"Sir,"he asked,"how did the war end ? What made them block fighting ?"

Dumbledore let out a longsighted, retard sigh as they came to the gargoyle."end,"he said softly."They all died. afternoon tea Taffy."The staircase emerged and they hopped on as it spiralled upwards. Gabriella's eyes met Dumbledore's as the stairway rose. For a moment they locked, but then her eyes fell and her head and berm slumped.

"But how ?"Harry asked, pressing the question."If I knew how the evil was destroyed, perhaps I could—"

"NO !"Gabriella snapped."Never think it !"The doors to Dumbledore's bureau opened and the three entered. Fawkes squawked and Harry would normally greet the snort, but Gabriella's response surprised him. She was clearly agitated, but didn't want to say more than. Dumbledore decided to explain.

"It was the tartar, Harry. They tried to remain neutral, but their lands were being threatened, much as they were in the Carpathians. They decided to block off it."The verbalism on Gabriella's face was pained.

"Please, prof,"she pleaded.

"The truth is simply that… Ms. thrower,"Dumbledore said, slipping into his chair. Both Harry and Gabriella looked at each other and then to their rings. Harry took her hand. Their adhesion, right now, was a second concern. Harry needed to love how to defeat the Dementors.

"But sir, if I could only—"

"They incinerated everything !"Gabriella snapped."They purged the battlefields."

"They killed the Dementors ? Their allies ? Isn't that a soundly matter ?"Harry asked.

"Not just the Dementors, Harry. Everything and everyone. centaur and Dementors, werewolves and wizards, it didn't matter what side they were on, they were all destroyed."

"The flying lizard called it a purge,"added Dumbldore."Truly a scorched earth policy. The destruction led to famine and plague. Its repercussions were felt for nearly a century. It was guilt over the desolation that turned Asha's heart to Gabriella's kin, the only humanity that had ever shown them kindness. Although, some say it still bears the angriness of the age, tempting those genius who would try to control it."

"But couldn't the wizards just—"

"Not in those days,"said Dumbledore."In the earlier of times, dragons held the solid of magic."

"They still do,"said Gabriella shortly. Dumbledore nodded kindly in accord, not willing to indicate the tip.

"But in the tapestry… the symbology… the flying dragon held the Viswa Vajra… to put down ignorance and evil."Harry didn't notice how he clutched his own arm, nor did he pick up how his voice was almost pleading for sustenance.

"Can you think of a better definition for war, Harry ?"Dumbledore asked simply."During the moment orgasm of Ebyrth, the dragons didn't upkeep whose English was right. They only wanted the fight to stop. They chose the alone logical path uncommitted - complete, combined obliteration of both sides. Since then, at the first-class honours degree sighting of Ebyrth, they have been courted by both sides to join their cause."

"And refused,"Gabriella added.

"Until now,"Dumbledore said."And the title-holder of that causal agent bears not only the likeness of the dragon on his arm, but the symbol that represented Asha's very flavor, a look that killed everything to equilibrate the scale of measurement of Justice Department. And though you have been chosen by the Centaurs, dragons have never held any affection toward our forest friend. Knowing your connections, Lucius Malfoy chose to attack, hoping to rekindle the rupture, hoping they would fight against each former once again so that he could get to you. He failed.

"Voldemort found himself in the middle of a battle that was already underway. He will not crap the Lapp mistake again. Through you, Harry, the business leader of the dragon remains undiminished. When the choice comes near and the darkness closes in from all sides, the option of annihilation will be within your tycoon. What then will you prefer to stop the madness, Harry ? It will not be Singehorn's breathing space of dragon fire that destroys ; it will be your power, a power you have only just begun to understand."

"I won't destroy the whole fucking globe to pass over away the darkness !"Harry asserted."That's insane ! I mean… erm… Sorry, sir."

"In the beginning, Harry, when first we begin our righteous journey, the precipice is never so clear up. The crevasse opens with the simplest of thing : the bending of good and right for nobleman grounds ; the desertion of justice in party favour of expediency ; the temptation that, because we are more mighty, we are somehow wiser. Harry, I wanted to show you the tapestry because you needed to see it ; to truly understand the history that is now at work, a history that must be woven into the decision you will realise, decisions that I will soon not be able to advise you on."

At these words, cold dart buried themselves deep into Harry's center. He'd heard Macleta's words, but…

"What do you mean ?"he asked, already knowing the answer. Dumbledore leaned back into his chair.

"I am dying."

There was a raucous blare of protest by all the master and Headmistresses within the portraits that adorned Dumbledore's office. He held up his weaponry to calm them.

"Why ?"Harry asked, ready to lash out the foe, or mend the unwellness."What happened ?"

"Time, Harry,"Dumbledore said tenderly."The one warrior we can never defeat."There was a pause and then he looked sadly at Gabriella.

"Two years ago, I would have seen the immorality that darkened these wall. I would have been able to see the poison that had held Henry James in its bag. The mist fogs my eyes and I no longer see as I once did. I can no longer draw, as I once was able, from the deep magic that permeates this school. Soon, the ability will fail me utterly. How you were able to flush him from your body—"

"Fire,"Harry whispered, hardly able to mouth. Dumbledore smiled.

"Of course."The old wizard nodded with favourable reception."You've both been tempered by the dragon. Very honest, Harry. Very well done. When the time comes, I'm confident you will be ready. You would do well to listen to the very subject beldam at your side. You must both be make, for he has again escaped. Another vessel was waiting ; who I do not be intimate. They had to entrust the afforest quickly. Perhaps by broom, or a flying animate being of some sorting, though I doubt it ; Tom hates heights. It was more potential a Portkey."Gabriella stepped to Dumbledore's desk and took his hand in hers.

"Sir,"she said softly,"is there anything we can do. You know the talents of the Votary, of the gift Harry carries. Even time may be cheated for a piddling while."Dumbledore took her hands in both of his.

"I would see this battle through, if it was within my major power, but the prophecy is clear it is not my war to win."His optic fell upon Harry."My only wish is that I would hold come to know you and your mob sooner."He let out a contented sigh."I spoke with your mother just yesterday - a delicious womanhood. She offered me a delectable dishful of desert pastry. Made by hand ! Incredible ! She was, of course of study with Remus, with whom I have been discussing conversion plans."

"But, sir—"

"Enough, Harry !"Dumbledore cut in."Like many of those I hold beloved, I've written you a letter. Though I must say, yours is one of my bettor efforts. I think you'll find, when you open it, a rather…"His naughty middle twinkled with delight."What will be can wait till it is. What is must be acted upon now."

Dumbledore rose from his hot seat, stepped from behind his desk and walked toward the silver instrument about which pinpricks of light floated randomly. At least, it looked random to Harry. Dumbledore examined each glowing power point with interest. There was a heavy clump he was particularly concerned with.

"Lucius Malfoy,"said the master, his optic never leaving the instrument,"has moved a prominent number of demise eater and Dementors into Greece. Curious. All within the last few hours. Wizards are Apparating in all over the commonwealth. The Dementors have abandoned their attempt on centaur ruck throughout the Carpathians and are moving south. It's as if they're dragging a net from the Frederick North down, looking for something… or someone."

"Cho's kid,"whispered Gabriella with a sneaky glance toward Harry. Dumbledore didn't raise an eyebrow.

"Sir, I've meant to tell you, but I swore. And now… you're dying… and I…"

"Go, on,"Gabriella coaxed.

"Well… Cho had a baby last summer ... my babe. His name is Jamie."The crow's feet of Dumbledore's eyes rose jovially and the blue behind the half-moon spectacles flashed a deep azure. He placed a vauntingly script on Harry's shoulder and smiled.

"Are you happy ?"he asked.

"No… er, yes. I mean, I was,"Harry sputtered."He has a target the size of it of South Thomas Hart Benton on his book binding. Voldemort intends to take him somehow. Use what spirit he has left and the blood that runs through Jamie's veins to bring himself back again."

"And Ellas ?"

Harry stood silent. He refused to say a word. Gabriella saw the pain in the ass on his grimace and decided to speak what Harry could not.

"They're in concealment,"was all she said.

"I can guess where,"said Dumbledore,"but… strange. I visited Sirius just last summer and now… I can't remember…"His eyes fell on Harry."You're the secret Keeper."

"I won't—"Harry started, but Dumbledore stopped him.

"Nor should you,"he said, his face suddenly appearing more than forlorn and weary."I told your parents to hide out, to rest hidden in mysterious, to let only one know their whereabouts - it failed them.

"No place is safe, Harry. Wherever they are in Hellenic Republic,"his eyes fell back on the spectacles of light floating about the instrument,"they will be found. If you wait more than a few daylight to impress them, the net will ingest been drawn too tight and they will not escape. If you move too quickly, without proper preparation, you run the risk of a heady mistake and its issue might… well, you understand Sir Thomas More than any.

"You might conceive moving them to the Ministry, where Arthur's individual Aurors would tender some trade protection, but where there are more protectors, there are more than squealer.

"You could consider bringing them to Hogwarts, but there are dark power at work here that even I can not control. You have done much to fetch the houses together. Are they cook to stand, to step up to the challenge of uniting against the swarthiness, or would they sour on you for bringing it here and putting them all at risk of infection ?"

Harry shook his principal with uncertainty.

"You have a great decision to make, Harry. It is not to be taken lightly. As you can see, I am not yet dead, but I would guess that I will not see the end of the school year. I've asked Remus to take my place here and have coordinated it with the minister of religion. Remus is a mightily sorcerer, Harry. More powerful than you realize and yet, more importantly, he has a warm and caring soul.

Harry swallowed hard, not sure how he felt, or what he thought."I love Remus with all my heart, sir,"he said,"but he would bear killed Draco endure year given the chance."Harry watched as two more pinpricks of light appeared on the instrument.

"More Death Eaters ?"he asked.

"Yes,"answered Dumbledore.

"I… I want you to see him… see Jamie."

"I'm sorry, Harry, but that's no understanding to risk his life,"said Gabriella cautiously. Harry nodded.

"But—"

"Gabriella is in good order, Harry. But that does not entail we won't meet some day."

"Then… then I'll go… hitch with him and protect them."

"And your oath to the Centaurus ?"Gabriella asked."The Dementors in the Carpathians may be moving in the south, but the Dementors in Britain are moving on the Great woods here at Hogwarts."Harry growled and slammed his fist against the tabular array.

"I didn't make these choices !"he cried."They chose me !"

"You may not have chosen to have a child, Harry,"said Dumbledore,"but you chose the actions that led down that path. You were drawn to the Darbinyans from the maiden day they arrived across the street. You may not give birth heard the dragon calling, but it was, and you answered."He looked down at the lot wrapping Harry's ring fingerbreadth."And sometimes, as it was with the centaur, destiny is thrown upon us and all we are left to do is to experience and love and… sometimes… fight.

"Think well upon what you must do, but do not dally. I will support your decision,"Dumbledore smiled,"however foolish."

Harry stepped over to Albus Dumbledore and hugged him. Then he reached out and took Gabriella's mitt and pulled her in as well. Fawkes let out a squawk as the three embraced. Finally, holding Gabriella's mitt, Harry stepped back.

"Sir… would you… you are the closest somebody I have to being a founding father. Would you apply us your blessing ?"

"I would be honoured, Harry."

Dumbledore held out his script and softly spoke a chant. A lucky, glittering light grew from his manus until it filled the elbow room, making it difficult to see. With Gabriella at his side, Harry could feel the gilded light brush across his face, penetrate his body and warm up his soul. When the light faded, Dumbledore looked fatigued. He moved back to his desk to sit down and Harry knew that it was time to go.

"Thank you, sir,"he said."I'll think about what we've talked about."

Harry and Gabriella were about to result when Dumbledore stopped them.

"Harry,"he called, still looking down at the mahogany top of his desk,"when was Jamie born ?"

"Harry and Jamie have the same birthday,"Gabriella answered brightly.

"A wonderful surprise,"Dumbledore said with a nod of his head."Wonderful."

Again they moved to leave. Harry had opened the door when Dumbledore called one more time.

"Harry, has Cho ever faced Voldemort ?"Harry looked perplexed, not understanding the question."Since Voldemort came to life after the Tri-Wizard tournament, has she ever seen him ?"

"No, sir,"said Harry shaking his head."I battled him at the burial site and then again at the Ministry. She was never with me."

Dumbledore's eyebrows furled and he gave his chief a acutely tremble, as if trying to bust loose a spider clinging to his beard that just wouldn't let itself loose. The problem was, this spider was weaving a web with each overtaking moment, becoming more mire and entrenched. It would never let itself go, no matter how hard Dumbledore would try.

"And Gabriella ..."

"Yes ?"

"As I understand it, your custom is to sign the males of Harry's credit line, no thing their mother. Has Jamie received Asha's blessing ?"

"I had just finished and was returning home when I was taken by Malfoy's end Eaters."

"Did Cho or Anthony know that's what you were doing ?"

"The specific blessing will be revealed to Jamie, and only Jamie, when Asha deems it so. Even I do not bonk what its nature will take."Seemingly satisfied, Dumbledore nodded at the information.

"Enjoy the sun,"he said with a Wave of his mitt. Harry was sure he felt a slim shove pushing him through the threshold."And please, should you get the opportunity, tell Saint Patrick O'James Whitcomb Riley to account to my office."

"Yes, sir,"they said in unison.

Streaming through the window heights above, the sun was quick and bright, as the two made their way down the corridor from Dumbledore's place. It would be a splendid day and, before too long, signs of spring would begin to emerge in the waste soils about the castle footing. Neither felt like talking. They were nearly to the presence entrance when Harry's hand tightened about Gabriella's. He was suddenly finding it hard to take a breath. Fighting back the mist in his center, he stopped and looked to the blue sky above. He stood there for a moment, locked in a silent petition and then fell to his knees and wept.


Harry Potter and the nascence of a New Sun

Chapter 28 - The best Laid Plans…
~~~***~~~



"What is that ?"

"What is what ?"

"That ?"

"What ?"

"THAT ?"

"Nothing."

"Bloody, hell ! What is it ?"

"Just a ring."

"Let me see. Come on ! No. consume it out of your air hole. Come on…. That… is it… it's a tattoo or something ?"

"Or something."

"It's catching the light like it was silver or copper, but it's on your peel. What is it ?"

"I said… just a closed chain. You know… like a promise or something."

"hope ? valentine's isn't until… You didn't ask her, did you ? Did you ?"

From across the dining board, Harry felt Ron start out to penetrate his mind - something he still did on social function when he really, really wanted to know a secret and Harry really, really wasn't going to tell him. Harry's defence shot up and pushed him away, but Harry didn't complain. He'd gotten use to the esthesis, and Ron got so used to being pushed back he stopped saying sorry. Harry didn't give it more thought than swatting away a fly, but that didn't make Ron buzz any less.

"It's not an engagement ring, if that's what you're asking. It's just… well… it has to do with the Votary and a cluster of clobber you don't what to discover about. I love her, you know ? And she love's me. And, the former night, I went to slumber thought that there would never be anyone else, and, somehow when I woke up, this was on my hand. Don't roll your eyes like that ! It… it's no big deal. Just don't make a scene about it in front of—"

"There you two are !"Hermione called stiffly as she approached the Gryffindor table for dinner. As she came closer, Harry noticed the tone she was giving Ron ; it wasn't pleasant. He looked up at her pleadingly.

"I was hungry ! And… and there's practice tonight !"

"Ten instant ! You couldn't waiting ten minutes ?"

"You've said ten instant before and it's never just ten minutes."

"What do you think, never ?"she scolded."If I had a Knut for every time you said just ten transactions when you're talking to individual about Quidditch !"

"That's different !"

"DIFFERENT ?"

A plate of solid food appeared before Hermione as she poured herself some spiced tea, slamming down the hurler. Harry was thankful she and Ron were arguing again ; it made thing feel… formula, if only for a minuscule bit. She was about to move around her ire on Harry, who wasn't really feeling that well to start out with, for coming down to dinner with Ron ten minutes early, when Dennis and Colin Creevey sat down for dinner laughing hysterically.

"I think his spike started to sprout tulips… At least… I think they were tulips. They looked like tulips, didn't they ? Hah !"

"I don't know, but the lot of them are with Madame Pomfrey right now."

"They need Professor Sprout !"

"And when Luna thought they were seriously trying to develop root word and—"

"—and she added fertiliser ! I thought I was going to—"

"What did she call it ?"Dean asked down the table. Luna, who happened to be just across from him at the Ravenclaw table, turned to face up him.

"They were horklump muck,"she said with a steady voice."And I don't understand what you see that's so funny about the whole thing. Even professor Dumbledore knew Nott and his champion were seeking nature for response. It was probably very hard for the Slytherins to take that they needed to line up another part of themselves. My dad's paper did a fib about it - Splinching with Nature."

"And what character is it you think they found ?"asked Dean.

"well,"she answered straightforwardly,"I think it may be more a dubiousness of what they lost. I know, when Crabbe finally came out of the grease, he said that he'd never again be able to—"

"Attention !"called professor McGonagall as she tapped the side of her goblet with her sceptre. The way went silent at once."Professor Dumbledore is not well this eve, but he asked that I pass on a few announcements. First, he reminds educatee that, while he appreciates that the Valentine's vacation will soon be upon us, the Forbidden Forest is just that - strictly forbidden. No student, or pair of pupil, is to wander off into the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, even near the forest edge.

"Secondly, Mr. Filch has been finding gum under educatee desks in the schoolroom. There is no alibi for such poor deportment. Desks have now been enchanted to chew back any scholar trying to do so again.

"Finally, you should hump that a smattering of bookman from the Olympic academy, in Greek capital, will be joining us tomorrow. As you will no doubt read in the morning's Daily Prophet, the school was attacked today and many of the scholarly person are fleeing. I trust you will receive them warmly. That is all for now."

The Great mansion exploded in a low gang fight of murmurs and rustling as if no one wanted anyone else to get wind what they were thinking. The auditory sensation harkened back to the darkest of times last yr. It was a room filled with accusation and uncertainty.

"Why would they need to come here ?"somebody said with a hushed spokesperson.

"It's no safer with us so close to the centaur herd."

"That's why he doesn't want us near the forest."

"The Centaur herd isn't the only affair they're after."Some eyes shot toward Harry.

"It's not the first fourth dimension they've tried ; it won't be the last."

"Well, you know the way to puzzle out the problem, don't you ?"

"If they want to attack, let them come !"cried Dennis Creevey."I'm not going to squat in fear and try to make mountain for what luck of my soul I get to keep."

"Yeah !"yelled somebody from Ravenclaw."We've smashed ‘ em before. We'll smash ‘ em again."

"With Barghouti here, it's not like we don't know a matter or two about how the dark side of meat thinks !"Dakhil, who was seated at the top dog put over side by side to Hagrid, tried not to search pleased, but a grinning escaped his usually scowling face.

What Harry thought was going to turn into an indictment against the Centaurs and a insult of him, turned out to be, thanks to Dennis, something quite different. Lavender stood up, her tomentum as perfect as a portrayal, and her wintertime clothes turning nearly manly heads in the Great Hall.

"If they creep in so lots as one dark fingernail onto Hogwarts earth, trying to set on Firenze, I'll fry them myself !"Her eyes flashed with fire and, for the for the first time time, she actually frightened Harry.

"She will !"shouted Padma."Barghouti taught her the spell and Harry told her where to aim ! And if they think the former witches of Hogwarts are subdued, they've got another thing coming ! It'll be plenty to name a Dementor pee his pants ! Erm… if they do that variety of thing."The beldame in the hall howled in approval.

"We've learned from the best everything we need to know !"Luna called out. It was the most animated he'd ever seen her. For a moment, her eyes caught Harry's and somehow he felt she knew everything there was to hump : why Anthony was scatty, why Harry's finger's breadth suddenly bore a band, why Greece was under attack. He subtly nodded his question approvingly in her focussing.

Then someone from the back of the Charles Martin Hall, someone Harry couldn't see, yelled,"With what Harry's instruct us, we will stand up together ! If we do, no darkness will dare cut through onto castle grounds !"

cheerfulness rang up everywhere… even at the Slytherin table, with the notable absence of Nott and his ring. Instead the Slytherin cheer was led by Gabriella, who stood in avouchment of the readying provided by the prof as well as Harry's prowess. But then, the clapping and cheers died almost instantly, like a wave crashing against rocks at the shore, when people realized who had called out the live on Word. Standing at the ingress threshold to the Great Hall was James Chang, new out of St. Mungo's.

Here, before the entire socio-economic class stood the man, the boy, that had killed the Minister's wife. Harry glanced over at Ron, whose knucks were clean as his hand squeezed a rolling wave of bread so operose it oozed butter out onto the table. It was in this Great vestibule where James was the first scholar accepted into all four theater, but, at this moment in clock time, it was very questionable if any of the four houses would accept him at all. Yet, there he was, looking as healthy as ever, if not a bit pale, maybe even a bit taller than when Harry had live on seen him, cheering the schooltime on to victory against the very evilness that had nearly driven him mad.

You could have heard a touch crack through a bulwark it was so quiet in the Great Marguerite Radclyffe Hall. Nobody moved ; nonentity breathed. They just all gawked, unknowingly, at the uncle of Harry's son. The bluster and bravery that had filled the hall just seconds earlier was spilling away. Harry was trying to will himself out of his tail - to place upright and say something stately. But the feverous side that screamed at him in the bowels of the prison on Fengsle isle haunted his vision, and the wink of putting surface that flew from King James I'baton, killing mollie was too much to tolerate. He found himself using his second peck, looking at Saint James only to discover that it held but a single nimbus - Voldemort complimentary. Harry wondered why he hadn't used the skill on others since facing Nott and his gang. He scanned about the Great Hall, but the sheer numbers made it impossible to discern one gloriole from the future.

There was a scraping interference from up at the head tabulate - Professor McGonagall moving back her hot seat, struggling herself to call up of something to say. Harry opened his optic and looked back at her with rule vision, but before she had a fortune to stand, St. Patrick O'James Whitcomb Riley, apart and alone at the end of the Gryffindor table, stood from his workbench and ran over to James Chang. From where he sat, he had to run the length of the Great Hall, his stride echoing off the walls, the only sound, besides his own breathing, to be heard. When they met, Patrick wrapped his blazonry about James and hugged him. At once, they both began to cry.

Their sob were impenetrable, heartfelt, as James kept repeating the Holy Writ,"Sorry."

Gabriella was the first to leave the Slytherin table. She had grown close to Henry James in her conversations with Cho, and she too gave him a hug. Then Owen Cauldwell from Hufflepuff, who often played maven's chess with James I, started moving toward him. Su Li and Orla Quirke who doted on James hold up year when he visited Ravenclaw ran up to him as well. Harry looked over at his best admirer, seated directly across from him. Ron's eyes were on blast, his buttery script now fingering his wand. Hermione reached over and touched his wrist. He jerked, then, realizing who it was, slipped the wand away and tried to unlax ; he couldn't.

"Ron,"she whispered softly, cautiously,"if you stood… and took his face right now, the rest of the schooling would follow."Looking deeply into Hermione's eyes, Ron's own softened, but his jaw remained set.

"I… I can't. My… He… he…"

"No he didn't,"Ginny said sharply, but quietly, as she rose to her feet."If he did, then I released the Basilisk. I nearly killed your fiancée. I nearly killed you all."Ron shook his headspring in dissonance.

"But that… that wasn't… this… this is different."Ginny held her hand out to her chum.

"Ron, we need to do this… together."

He looked toward the small mathematical group surrounding James. The hall was growing more animated, but uncertainty still permeated the air. All it would take is one accusation, one harsh remark, one misguided magic spell or hex, and the animosity would be reborn. Ron looked at his sister and then at his outdo acquaintance.

"Don't look at me,"Harry said."Hermione's the right way - everyone knows how you feel. If Ginny walks up alone, it won't matter. You're the firstborn here. You're the seventh year."

"I'm also the scoop Friend of Harry Potter."Ron smiled for the first time.

"That might get you a Glycyrrhiza glabra whip at Honeydukes, but that's about it, mate."

"picket,"Ron said with an air of sureness worthy of a Gryffindor. He took Ginny's bridge player and started to the door of the Great Hall. He was easily the tallest boy in schooling and as he proceeded down the path between the benches, the prat behind him cleared as educatee after educatee followed. By the prison term he and Ginny made it to James, not a tush was empty. Perhaps the students were supportive, perhaps they wanted to follow the bloodbath, but the completely school was surrounding Saint James the Apostle and the Weasleys, some standing on board to get a better view. Even the professor at the forefront table were all standing, all except Dakhil who seemed more interested in the viscosity of the fluid contained within the goblet in his deal.

Harry stood, but he didn't leave his place at the Gryffindor table. There was something to be said for taking in the panorama from a distance, and in his sum he knew what was about to fall out. Those feelings were confirmed when a tremendous cheer filled the hall as Ron put his hands around King James I. When he did so, everyone closed in, welcoming their schoolmate.

love life, lovingness and power filled the room. Harry could finger it swirling about him like an unseeable ethereal mist - compassion, energy, strength. Then he realized that it wasn't just filling the room, but being pulled in toward him. The Heart of Asha was drawing the power to it, gorging itself with the strength. He had experienced the like feeling at the Joining with Singehorn. The vivificus stone, the Harlan Fiske Stone of life, was now more alive than ever. Harry felt that, if he could draw from just a portion of the Harlan Fiske Stone's growing power, he could end this war, once and for all. He could ruin them all ; he could crush—.

A manus gently rested upon his berm. It was Hermione Granger.

"You did this,"she said with a mite of a smile upon her grimace as she watched the scholar at the far end of the hall each try to say something to James, welcoming him in some way. Any tenseness, any concerns had been washed away. It took Harry a moment to regain his composure. For a import, he had lost himself in the hypothesis of power. Hermione took it as a sign of emotion, looking into his eyes and brushing the hair from his scar-free forehead.

"No,"said Harry, drawing a heavy breathing place."Ron did."He turned, put his arm about Hermione, and looked back at the assembly which now included some of the professors."It's easy to see the intensity level of unity when you see friends. It's far harder to embrace an enemy. Ron… he's had to oppose, to dig deep to find that function of himself that can go for. I didn't exhibit them how to embrace a foe. They wouldn't have seen it through me if I had walked up there and hugged James, any More than when Saint Patrick did. But Ron… Everyone here knows how he feels about James. But he pushed past all that. He showed every student and professor here that it can be done and now… now they believe."He paused for a moment, still sensing the surge of powerfulness within him."Now… they're ready."

"Ready for what, Harry ?"she asked. He held her by the mitt and looked about, ensuring they were out of earshot.

"Tonight, after midnight, meet me and Ron in the common room."

"Why ? What are you—"

"Midnight,"repeated Harry, and he strode away, not to greet James, but to pull Gabriella aside and let her have a go at it his plan. Then, he skirted the crowd gathered about Saint James the Apostle and disappeared through the doors to the Great vestibule.

It wasn't until draw close midnight that Harry had almost everything in place. Skipping Quidditch practice, he'd asked Dobby to stage things with the house elves and to discuss Harry's plans with the few goblins in Hogsmeade that could be trusted. With that done, Harry went and told Professor Dumbledore and then Dakhil of his plan. The complexion and overall appearance of the headmaster was far unfit than when he'd met with Harry just a few hours earlier. Dumbledore had answered the door to his office in his bed clothes. He was generally pleased with Harry's decision, but something was bothering him, something that he wouldn't share with Harry. As for Dakhil, Harry had caught up to him in the dungeons and the vampire shook his head with disapproval.

"You're putting all your while into the fight, boy - sorcerer, elves, werewolves, centaur and hobgoblin. I doubt the dragons will follow to your aid, but let's say they do. Let's say, for one day, you can keep them all from attacking each early. There's nothing left - no former fauna to amount to your delivery should the battle lastly long and they begin to turn on each other as affair waver. And you WILL falter ; don't think for a moment that you won't. I've seen it before… they all falter."

In the Forbidden woods, Harry had met with Ronan, Magorian, and a telephone number of the other Centaurs preparing for battle, and had told them that he was leaving. Still, he reaffirmed his expletive and swore that he would see to their protection in his absence. When Shahan scoffed at his assurance, a stab of fad snapped inside Harry and, for a indorsement, a globe of fire appeared about his left clenched fist, glowing as bright as a small star, forcing them all to turn their heads. Magorian rebuked Shahan and the flame about Harry's hand diminished and disappeared. Before Harry departed, Ronan glanced to the eventide sky and had commented to Magorian that Ebyrth had grown brighter and that, as he said,"It will be close."Harry looked up at Ebyrth. Low on the visible horizon, it was close to defect. Magorian grunted in approval, but Harry had no idea what they were really talking about.

Now, alone in the son'dormitory of Gryffindor Tower, Harry sat on the sharpness of his bed with a minor bag of clothes and other items he might postulate in Ellas. His intent wasn't to stay long, but he would be prepared if his intentions failed. Dakhil had been set to caution that the strategy might not be as nimble as Harry hoped, and Harry was grateful that the vampire offered to devise another back-up strategy. Harry took in a oceanic abyss breathing space trying to realise some push, but he felt jade and his stomach was a bit unsteady, probably from not finishing his even repast.

Ron and Hermione were already waiting downstairs in the common way, still wondering what he was going to do. On his desk was a space parchment next to a account book on healing potions. Harry shook his head. He'd only just caught up, and now he would be leaving for who knew how long. For the first fourth dimension at Hogwarts, he actually was saddened for missing Snape's category. He stood from his bed and the pedigree drained to his fundament, causing stars to appear in his field of view and the elbow room to tilt just a bit.

Evidently, the fury of the day's activities had drained him. So, he went to the bathroom and threw some water supply on his human face, hoping to revive his wear out eyes. It didn't help much ; he still felt a bit silly and nauseous. As he was leaving, he ran into Patrick who was going to need a shower before getting gear up for bed. His expression was smiling until he ran into Harry ; the appearing scowl was measured and enhanced for Harry's viewing joy.

"Hey, Saint Patrick,"Harry tried to say with as light a tone in his vox as he could.

"Bugger off,"Patrick muttered, pulling the roll of his sassing down a bit further at the corners and refusing to cope with Harry's eye.

"Hey,"said Harry, taking Patrick by the arm,"what's up ?"A wand appeared from nowhere and, in a flash, was in Harry's nerve. The move surprised the older Gryffindor.

"Let go me arm,"said Saint Patrick with cold eyes. Harry eased off.

"No indigence for that, eh ? We're friends, right ?"

"right,"spat Patrick, still holding his scepter at the prepare and backing slowly away - a motion Harry had taught in the DA confluence earlier in the fall."That's why yeh haven't said two damn row teh me since I've been back. Since… since…"Patrick's hand began to tremble and his eyes grew moist.

"Harry P-Potter,"he said, forcing himself not to cry."What a joke. What a lie. I thought yeh'd be different. I thought yeh'd understand."

"I do understand."

"Yeah, and that's why yeh left the Great manor hall today without even looking at James when he came back. Yeh've hated me. Now, yeh can hate him."

"Pat—"

"Yeh retrieve he didn'placard ?"Harry didn't respond."Well ? DO YEH ?"

Harry dropped his ingroup to the story with a thwump and fell to a diddley beside it, in similar fashion. He rubbed his fount with his hands. It was late ; he was tired, and it was taking all his vim not to be pissed off. Harry took a deep breath, trying hard to regain control of his emotions.

"Do you…,"Harry began, his part steady, if a bit thin, and his eyes on the floor."Do you screw who convinced the Minister to let Epistle of James free ?"Patrick just stood silently, refusing to lower his scepter."He was imprisoned beneath the ocean for Falco columbarius's saki ! Surrounded by the worst filth… I was there when he was released."Harry raised his head so that his center met Patrick's."I held him in my arms when he still wasn't sure who he was. It's just… I didn't expect him so soon. I was going to visit, but time… it's more fragile than I thought."

"That doesn't explain why yeh've been an arse teh me, or why yeh left when James came in."Patrick was defiant and surprisingly dignified, though he stood with nought but a pair of slippers, holding a towel in one handwriting and a wand in the former. Harry rose to his feet, a bit too quickly for Saint Patrick's liking. A stinging spell gaiter from his wand and headed to Harry's face. With a waving of his hired man, Harry quickly deflected the magical spell, but it still nipped his articulatio humeri, making him flinch. St. Patrick's center grew concerned about what Harry might now do to him - business organization, but not fear. Harry just sighed.

"I deserved that,"he said, rubbing his shoulder."You're right, I've been an bum. I've been stupid and unjust and I could throw set an representative, but instead I just avoided you. I'm sorry."The words took away the discomfort from Saint Patrick's expression.

"Yeah… well, I really didn'mean teh zap yeh like that."He lowered his wand again."Sorry. I… I only ever wanted teh help."

"Look, St. Patrick, I'm leaving to Greece, tonight. Voldemort's found another body to possess and now he's started his own battle, searching for… for James'Sister, Cho."

A flavor of surprise paste across St. Patrick's grimace and, for the low gear clock time, it appeared as if he might believe what Harry was saying. Still he said,"I… I don't believe you,"but the word held little conviction and were imbued, instead, with a horse sense of excitement."Why would he worry about Cho ?"

"Don't believe me ! ? Why the hell on earth do you think I have this pack ?"snapped Harry. The tone in Harry's voice brought Patrick's scepter out again."What ? You still …"Another wave of fatigue passed through Harry."I don't have time for this. Come on. If you don't believe me, come with me. come see with your own eyes."Harry turned and headed toward the door. Patrick's wand tracked him as he went, but the boy's feet didn't move from the smudge where they stood. Harry turned back to cheek him.

"well, are you coming or not ? I swore to you we'd joystick together so get your tail in gear and—"St. Patrick looked down at what he was not wearing.

"But I can't. I don't have any—"

"Bah !"Harry chided. He pulled his baton, tapped Patrick on the head, and Patrick found himself wrapped in a set of Gryffindor robes, his slider now a twain of total darkness boots.

"straight person from your proboscis. Now,"said Harry,"Follow me."He began to walk, then stopped and looked at Saint Patrick."That is… if you think you can entrust me."

Harry didn't again bet back at Patrick as they made their way to the common room, but he could hear the Cy Young man's footsteps just behind his own. As they came to the top of the throwaway stairway, Harry grabbed his Calluna vulgaris, which was leaning against the paries, held it behind him without looking back and said,"Hold this. We're going to need it in a bit."

Patrick took the Calluna vulgaris and said,"Sure,"his phonation almost eagre with anticipation.

In the rough-cut room, Hermione sat next to Ron by the fireplace. Ron held a broom in his hand as well.

"You two ready ?"Harry asked. They both looked at Harry and then at Patrick. Ron pointed with his finger's breadth.

"Why is—"

"Don't ask."

As they made their way down the staircase to the rook's entranceway, Hermione continued to evince her business organisation that Saint Patrick was with them.

"He'll lose house dot, if he's caught out after hours."

"Like the rest of us aren't ? I'm sure the head teacher Girl,"said Ron,"will be capable to—"

"What took you guys so long ?"said Gabriella in a hushed vocalism, stepping out from behind a newspaper column."Why is Pat—"

"Don't ask !"the three said in unison. Gabriella shrugged and took Harry's hand.

They made it out the room access with only one fill up song from Mrs. Norris ; she had come round a pillar, but had meowed just before, giving herself away and allowing the troupe to hide in the niche as she passed down toward the dungeons.

Once out on the castle steps, Ron and Harry climbed onto their brooms and invited the others for a ride. Hermione hopped onto Ron's and Gabriella hopped onto Harry's. She held her hired man out to help Patrick on, but he declined, choosing instead to ride with Ron and Hermione. As soon as all were mounted, Ron and Harry took the heather upward, climbing the face of the castle to its highest towboat. Hermione kept her eyes shut. They stopped against the tower's wall some 15 groundwork down from the top. There, Harry found a belittled red stone, no prominent than a galleon, hidden among the large, gray, harsh hewn block of the palace wall.

He pulled his wand and whispered."It's well past midnight, we swear it's true. spread up and let us through."The mathematical group shrunk until the stone appeared to be a tumid, red cavern.

"cargo hold tight,"Harry suggested and they flew into the spot with a lachrymation, slurping strait and emerged on the other side of meat."Welcome to The Marauders'Eye !"he said brightly. It was the most energise he'd felt all night. Harry pulled his sceptre and tapped a shameful pillar ; euphony began to play. Hermione noticed some magazines on one of the tabular array piled in a sharp push-down stack - clearly Dobby had seen that the outer space was kept fairly.

"These are recent,"she said with surprisal. She glared at Ron."You said it was zip but a dusty old bin of a room. You've been sneaking up here, haven't you ? Haven't you ?"She started moving toward Ron, when Harry intervened.

"That's not why we're here,"he said, holding them apart."Geesh, you'd think you were married already."His heart danced toward Gabriella's for but an instant."Just… sit down."Everyone obliged. Harry brightened the candela floating in the corners and leaned back against the wall.

"I'm leaving,"he said briskly.

"WE'RE leaving,"corrected Gabriella.

"You're staying here,"corrected Harry."It's too—"

"Too dangerous ?"she snapped."You think I don't understand danger ?"She took to her base."I knew danger before you knew you were a wizard ! Don't lecture me about—"

"Going where ?"said Ron, raising his voice above the growing din.

"I'm going to Greece."

"WE are going to Greece,"snapped Gabriella.

"Greece ?"

"But the war,"said Hermione with concern."The Olympic god Academy… you can't think you're going to engagement again. You've done enough already."

"That he's animated at all, Hermione, is because of my stock,"said Harry, his voice darkening."Whatever part of him that's still live needs it again, only the darkness he touched me with when I was a infant no longer flows through my venous blood vessel. I was cleansed by the falls, so he's finished trying to try immortality through me, but that hasn't stopped him from searching for another source of Potter blood."

"Jamie,"whispered Hermione.

"Who's Jamie ?"asked Saint Patrick. Hermione guesswork Harry a look and he nodded in return.

"Tell him,"he said.

"Harry has a son,"she said quietly."His name is Jamie, after Harry's father James."Patrick just looked at Harry with stunned eyes.

"And he's in Ellas ?"asked Saint Patrick with a bit of turmoil in his voice."Where ?"

A bit ashamed, Harry couldn't postponement Patrick's gaze. Instead, he looked away and found a rather soured expression on Gabriella's face."hunky-dory ! You can go !"he said. But she did not acknowledge his Scripture. Rather, she looked about the elbow room, as if searching for something that was causing an offensive smell. Ron noticed her expression as well.

"Dean had a bit too much to drink last time we were here,"said Ron and then he looked at Harry."I thought you got all that up."

"Ron !"chided Hermione.

"It wasn't me !"

"Oh, right. I'm sure you were an angel."

"looking at,"said Harry cutting in before they could meet up too very much steam. He wasn't smell well and was irritated for not having left an time of day ago."I should be back before breakfast. If I'm not…"he hesitated,"…if I'm not, you've got to be prepare. Tomorrow morning you'll motivation to assemble the DA. They have to be cook for an attack on Hogwarts."He flipped his summoning coin to Hermione.

"But—"

"I'm not saying it's going to materialise, I'm just saying you have to be quick. And don't programme on Dumbledore to help you. He's… He's dying."

"Dyin'!"cried Patrick."That ain't possible. He can't… What happened ?"

"Old age,"said Gabriella, almost as an off helping hand input. She was standing in the far recess of the room still looking for something, only now her baton was drawn."

"Are you sure, mate ?"

"He told us himself. But don't tell the quietus, not yet at least."

"I can't believe it,"Hermione whispered to herself. She looked pale."If they find out, they're sure to center their site here. Voldemort's always wanted—"

"That's why you can't tell anyone and why you have to be quick while I'm gone,"said Harry with a stern voice. sweating was beginning to prickle on his brow. He was really not feeling well."Voldemort's attacking Ellas to find Jamie. He needs him to wreak himself back. I'm not going to let that happen. I… WE are going to go get him out of there and bring him back."

"Back ?"asked St. Patrick.

"Yes,"answered Harry."But, while we're away, I still need to fulfill my pledge to protect the Centaurs. If there's an fire, I need to jazz you'll help. I need to sleep together you'll all help."He looked at Patrick."Will you ?"

"As if we were brothers, Harry,"said Patrick, rising to his feet, but not stepping closer."Sorry fer what I said before. Yeh know me, I've got yer back."Exhausted, Harry slapped Saint Patrick's shoulder and smiled.

Hermione stood up and took Harry by the script."We'll take aid of things while you're gone. Don't worry."

"cum on, Gab,"said Harry."You wanted to go. Let's go."Gabriella scanned the room once more and slipped her baton away.

"There is something not right here, Harry."

Ron stood up, swiping one of his digit across the mesa, only to find it perfectly clean. He said,"I'll have one of the house elves give the place a total chaparral down before you get back."

"Ron,"scolded Hermione.

"What ? They like that sort of stuff."

"Don't think for a minute—"Before Hermione finished, Gabriella climbed upon Harry's Calluna vulgaris, held him by the waist, and they were both through the red pall and back to pattern size of it, flying mellow above the castle grounds.

The night air was refreshing and Harry could feel it clean the cobwebs that were beginning to encroach upon his psyche.

"It's gone,"whispered Gabriella from behind him.

"What's gone ?"asked Harry.

"I'm not sure,"she said."But I can smell out the change in you, just as I sense that I can once more emit the fresh air again."

"Probably everyone's emotions about Dumbledore,"he said. He leaned forward on his heather, unforced it faster, and the Scots heather responded, forcing Gabriella to tighten her grip about Harry's waist. He smiled, but her face still bore an reflection of concern.

"Perhaps,"she whispered."Perhaps."


Harry potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 29 - The route Divides

~~~***~~~


It was late and her groundwork hurt. shit heels. Lavender had convinced her to practice wearing heals for her marriage ceremony. Now, with every measure, she regretted it. They made the farsighted climb from the palace entrance to the Gryffindor tower more exhausting than ever before. As soon as the three made their way back to the Gryffindor common way it was all she could do to pull off her skid, peck Ron on the buttock, and say goodnight to both him and Patrick. Thinking about what might be facing Harry, even at this very present moment, her eyes revealed her care and Ron noticed.

"He'll be fine,"he said in a unassailable, confident voice."You'll see."

She loved that about him - his ability to find the humble wind of illumination in the darkest of times. She'd seen his authority and bravery grow every year, and his allegiance, as always, was unfailing. He would defend her to the end, as he would Harry, and he would never leave her incline. She would very much love being Mrs Ronald Weasley.

"I know,"she whispered, with lupus erythematosus authority. Something was gnawing on her - perhaps the way Gabriella was behaving before she and Harry left. Every clock time she thought her intellect might get around what it might be—

"We'll see ‘ em all before the putz vaporing,"said Patrick, patting her on the articulatio humeri. He was smiling at her, as fresh as if he were ready to look a new day. Perhaps all the excitement, she thought. It was perceivable after all. She'd seen Patrick and Harry pal around quite a bit last-place year and, when affair changed this year, she surmised it was just that Patrick had found someone else his own age to befriend. When James turned out to be… well, it was hard on everybody. She was happy to see that Harry had taken the extra cause to get it up to the irregular year. He'd been a bit of an can, as had everyone else, forcing St. Patrick into total isolation. He was always alone everywhere he went. She was glad to see, with James II'exultant issue, that that would be changing.

"You bet !"she said, forcing a smashing grinning and returning Patrick's pat. She turned to Ron and let out a long, deep breath."You know, I believe I'll stay here for a whit, maybe read a book. I need some prison term to think."Ron looked at her, then at Saint Patrick.

"Erm, yeah. Sure. Patrick, how ‘ bout you head off to bed. We've got a fussy day tomorrow, whether he comes back on time or not."

"Yer right !"said Patrick brightly."Don't know if I'll be able teh sleep, but I'll try. I can't believe, we're gon na be getting'ready fer war !"He shook his fist with vigour.

"Yeah,"said Ron."Not something we really want'to be thinking is a skilful affair, eh ? Before the next new moon, some of your friends might be dead."St. Patrick's face fell and his face grew more sombre.

"Of course, Ron,"he said."I didn't mean it like that."Then the smallest smile cracked his lips."But, maybe later, you and I can get together and yeh can give me a few arrow on how we'll direct a hell of a lot to a greater extent of them with us before we go !"

"Let's trustingness that it doesn't seminal fluid to that, St. Patrick,"said Hermione."We can desire, at least. Goodnight."The tone of this final word told him it was fourth dimension to provide and he didn't complain.

“'night."

Patrick jumped up the flyer staircase, two steps at a time, and disappeared into the son'dorm. Ron put his arm about Hermione.

"We'll he's tidal bore at to the lowest degree,"he said, scratching the binding of his head.

"Maybe too eager,"replied Hermione. She sighed and turned to confront the fire, pulling Ron gently by the manus to sit in the pocket-sized lounge. The ardour felt good against her skin, warming against the dark's chill air and soothing her aching feet. She had hated having to fly earlier tonight, but here, with Ron, she felt, for the consequence at least, condom and secure. Yet, there was a easy thread that needed to be stitched and she wasn't quite sure how to do it. She patted the cushion next to her."Sit with me ?"

"Like, no, is an answer ?"said Ron with a smile. He sat next to his fiancé.

She watched the gilt flames flicker against the blackened hearth and smiled to herself, remembering how she originally felt when she stood in front of the hearth on the first day of schooltime. It had been raining outdoors, but the day was lovesome and inside was ardent. They had feasted and made their way up the moving staircase. She chuckled, thinking about how out of shape she was back then, how winded that climb made her feel. When she had entered the Gryffindor common room, perspiration was dripping down her temples. The windows were shut tight against the rain and the result was a sulfurous common elbow room filled with stale air. She had wondered why anyone in their right mind would have a fire roaring on such a hot day. But when she had stepped in front of the flames, they weren't hot. She remembered how astonished she had been that the flak of Hogwarts had not been discussed in any of the books she had read. Now, she understood why. It was unimaginable to think of not having the fervor in the Gryffindor common room lit, glowing brightly all twelvemonth troll, offering warmness in winter, light enough at night to read by, and, perhaps most importantly of all, if you knew the rightfulness enchantment and had the decent ingredients, a way to always commune to the outside world.

"Something's not ripe,"she said, leaning her head word against Ron's shoulder joint."The way Gabriella was looking around. That was just… well, weird. I wish she'd just say what she was sensing."

"wellspring you asked that we not—"Hermione sat upright and looked Ron in the centre.

"Oh, so now it's my fault ?"

"I'm just saying, she was keeping mum until she was for sure. And she wasn't sure."

"And you ?"Hermione asked."Did you pick-up anything ?"

"We weren't alone, if that's what you mean,"Ron said, leaning his head against the backbone of the couch - the result being that he now looked straight up at the ceiling. She liked that he had let his hairsbreadth grow, and she couldn't help but stroke it as it dangled down over the rachis of the couch."But I get that all the sentence. There are house elves and ghosts and other strange brute all through the castle. It's heavily to say how close, but there's always someone or something close by."He closed his middle and the muscles on his left-hand cheek twitched.

"There,"said Ron, leaning across Hermione and pointing to a carpeting near a table where pupil did preparation in the common way."There's a mansion elf below the floor, waiting for us to get out of here so she can start cleaning again."He fell back against the lounge and rubbed his temple."It's not just house elves that crawling around,"he whispered, instinctively pulling his feet up off the floor and curling his pegleg on the couch.

"creeping ?"Hermione looked at Ron, and then to the floor, then back at Ron.

"I'm not going to tell you,"he said."You'll just… well, I'm not going to evidence you."

She looked at Ron for a recollective while, but decided now was not the metre. They were both tired, but she knew that neither of them would sleep until their friend returned safely in the daybreak.

"And in the piranha'Eye ?"she asked quietly."What did you—"

"I didn't look,"he interrupted."I told you, I get that clobber all the time."His paw fluttered up by his head and flopped down at his side."If I looked every time…"He stopped himself, slowly shaking his head, and absentmindedly rubbed his ankles.

"Well, Gabriella sensed to a greater extent than a house elf in the paries,"said Hermione. She got up off the lounge and crouched at the edge of the ardour. Then, she reached into her pocked, pulled out a pinch of floo powder, and sprinkled it over the flames."Aperito ! numeral five, Privet Drive,"she whispered.

"Remus ?"Ron asked, leaning forward.

"Like I said, something's not right,"she grumbled, looking back at Ron over her berm."Remus needs to hump there are part in swordplay before he gets here."

"He's not going to be happy to hear Harry left Hogwarts without telling anyone. And Harry's not going to care that you told Remus behind his back."

"No,"said Hermione."No, he's not, but we've got to secern him. It's our job to watch out Harry's back, since he won't watch his own."The flames grew green and a wooshing sound signalled that the connexion had been made. She leaned her head into the flack. When she opened her eyes, she was looking out into the Darbinyan living room. Remus had been staying with Soseh and it appeared that that wasn't going to change anytime soon. Whether they were to marry or not was unsettled, but everyone knew they were in erotic love.

"Remus,"she called out, hoping her vocalisation would expect to the amphetamine story."Remus !"

It took a few minutes before she could learn the audio of footsteps above the greaves of the fire in her ears. Remus appeared at the steps, wand drawn.

"Remus, it's me,"she said more quietly.

"Hermione ?"he asked, still holding his wand up."It's the eye of the night. What is it ? What's happened ?"His articulation was elevated, concerned. He knelt at the fervency to speak with her.

"Harry's gone to Greece,"she told him.

"What ?"he exclaimed."Why ? To fight ? Surely he would have—"

"To deliver his son,"Hermione interrupted. Remus fell back on his rear, looking like individual had just kicked him in the gut. His saying told Hermione at once that he hadn't known. She described what she knew, telling Remus about Jamie, Cho and Anthony. She explained Voldemort's architectural plan as best she could.

"So they're with Sirius,"he said with a bit of irritation in his words."Figures they'd be at his rook, at… erm… We were just there a few months ago, all of us. It's at… I can't remember."Remus looked up at the glowing headspring of Hermione within his open fireplace."He's made it unplottable. The Secret Keeper. That Harry could keep open even me from seeing where my substantially friend's castle is… that… that's amazing."He let out a slow breath and his mind seemed to wander for a import."When Soseh first told me, I didn't believe her. Now… it's tough to refuse. I'm sure glad he's his female parent's son."

"What do you mean ?"Hermione asked. Remus cleared his headspring with a unforesightful milk shake.

"With the powers he's developing, he could…"His face grew grave."Well, it doesn't affair. Harry would never… Look, there are already a few penis of the Order in Greece. I'll send some others now we know what Voldemort's target is and I'll let King Arthur know what's happening. That's all we can do until he shows up there or returns to Hogwarts Castle."

"Remus,"said Hermione,"there may be more than. Something's going on at the castle."She relayed what Gabriella was doing in the Marauder's Eye and that she had her own vexation. Remus sat for a bit, thinking. He slipped his wand away and leaned in close.

"How well do you know St. Patrick ?"he asked."Wasn't he under Voldemort's Imperious scourge when he had mastery of James ?"

"Harry trusts him,"she said."I don't see how—"

"Voldemort was on the rook grounds just yesterday, Hermione. He had restraint of Gabriella."

"No !"

"I spoke with Albus just a few 60 minutes ago. I think, perhaps, he knew what Harry was up to, but he didn't separate me about Harry's son. Both Albus and Harry believe that Voldemort extracted whatever selective information he needed and left Hogwarts. Perhaps he escaped with the knowledge that what he needs is in Hellenic Republic. You tell me that his target is Harry's son, Jamie. So now Harry thinks, as does the Headmaster, that Voldemort is in Greece to find Harry's son. But what if he's not ? What if it's a ruse to get Harry away ? What if Voldemort's still in the castling ?"

"But Professor Dumbledore… surely he would know if—"

"He's lost his Legilimency,"interrupted Remus."He's losing many of his ability, Hermione. It won't be long until we've lost him completely."

"Then Harry would be bringing Jamie straight back into Voldemort's clutches !"

"Exactly,"said Remus. He took to his feet."Hermione, I'll be at the castle by sunrise. You've got to hold back an eye out for anything unusual. Someone should learn Patrick, but don't do anything dullard. If he is being controlled by Voldemort, it's best to watch from a distance, no spells, no incantation. time lag until we can get more wizards there to help. In fact, as soon as you can, let Severus know. He may be able to smell his old master's presence."Hermione nodded her head ; ash and amber spilt out onto the hearth.

"And, Hermione,"added Remus."Be careful. You know what he's capable of. He'll sooner kill you as not."

"I understand,"answered Hermione."I'll see you later this morning."

She pulled away from the flames and found herself, all of herself, back in the Gryffindor plebeian room. She shook the ash from her hair and looked over to find Ron asleep on the sofa. She was about to slap him when he spoke.

"So, what did he say ?"he asked with his center still closed, a curl of red haircloth wrapped across his face.

"He thinks Voldemort's still here,"she answered. Ron's eyes opened wide.

"What do you mean, here ? Like here, here ?"

She told him what Remus had said, her eyes darting up the stairs when she spoke about Patrick.

"That's just silly,"he said."Patrick wouldn't—"

"Neither would James I Chang,"she interrupted."But Voldemort never gave him the choice."Ron's eyes narrowed as his hands gripped the armrest of the couch until his fingers began to push through the framework and into the foam cushion underneath.

"There's one way to recover out,"he said, pulling out his wand.

"No !"exclaimed Hermione breathlessly."We have to just look out. Don't let him know that you think it might be him."

"But—"

"Ron, it's too dangerous. He'll kill you. He'll killing anybody that stands in his way."She took him by the hand, knowing that he'd rather take action. Still, she had to try and convince him to look. It wouldn't be comfortable."Since I can walk the halls after hours, I'll go address with Snape. Just stay here. Wait for Harry and make sure St. Patrick, or anyone else for that thing, doesn't try to rove out."Ron looked like he could ptyalize venom. If he had been tired earlier, there was no trace of it on his face now.

"Sit on my tush, when the thaumaturgist that killed my mother might be upstairs napping ?"he spat.

"Would you risk Patrick's life or the biography of the former secondly years sleeping with him ?"Ron did not answer."Just let me speak with Snape. Twenty transactions, that's all I ask. Just stay here on this couch for XX moment. Please ?"

She could see him biting his boldness, mulling over a decision he didn't want to bring in. She could also feel his thought light touch with hers.

"Fine !"he blurted."XX minutes."He crossed his blazon and legs and hunched his shoulder joint. Hermione smiled and stood.

"Saint Patrick would be devastated if you confronted him and were wrong. It's even possible that Voldemort may not even be in the rook, Ron. It's just Remus'hunch."

"And yours, right ?"Ron asked. Hermione looked at the fervor, the flame flickering off her just complexion, and slowly nodded."My money's on you, Hermione,"said Ron glumly."I wish it wasn't, but it is. It always has been."

She leaned down and kissed him, stroking his haircloth between her fingers. buttock to cheek she took in a deep breath. She loved his olfactory property, and wished they could just curl up together and let the domain pass them by. She stayed there, holding the moment, and then finally kissed his neck opening.

"I'll be right-hand back,"she whispered."Maybe… maybe this time I'm wrong."

She walked over to the green way entrance and disappeared out into the darken corridor, leaving Ron alone, but not before they both said,"I love you."The Fat Lady barely stirred in her portrait as Hermione continued on her way. Halfway down to the keep, Peeves appeared chattering some silly verse, a bucket of ash he had collected from some open fireplace in his hands.

"Who's afoot ? Who's afoot ? Soon they'll find they're covered in—"He halted as soon as he saw Hermione with her radiance wand. Without saying another give-and-take, he disappeared through the wall. Under other circumstances, Hermione might have smiled knowing that the poltergeist now feared her since their last confrontation. Tonight, she was far too distracted to think about that.

At last, she came to Snape's doorway and rapped on the wood. She could see someone stir inside, cursing as they did so. As she waited, her nous turned to Harry in Greece, wondering if he'd already told them of the danger, wondering if they would come willingly or risk staying where they were.

A magical spell was cast, unlocking the room access. It made her fondness skip a pulsation.

Her mind flashed to Ron, alone and angry in the common way. Should she have left him alone ? The wooden room access opened and a very dishevelled looking Severus Snape appeared. When he saw who it was, the look upon his font turned from ire to cautioned concern.

"Ms. granger ? What could possibly be ill-timed at this time of dark ?"
~~~***~~~


It took a moment before Ron noticed that Harry and Gabriella had disappeared through the Marauders'Eye. He was halfway through some argument with Hermione, explaining why she was damage when the familiar maven started again. It tended to happen more when he was emotional, not being careful, and so he retracted what he likened to inconspicuous neuro-fibroids.

Last year his brain reached out and touched everything and everyone that was near him, sending flash of computer memory and intuitive feeling streaming uncontrollably into his brain. It had grown so bad that he had actually considered suicide, rather than live with the infliction caused by the soaker of information and emotions flooding every waking present moment of his awareness. And even though Madame Pomfrey had helped curb the sentience, it wasn't until he'd been taken by Harry to the falls of the Forbidden timberland and fallen in to, or been grabbed by, the water that he was truly free of the cuss that had ravaged his mind.

Standing there, in the piranha's Eye where he and Harry often snuck off at night to watch Quidditch mate, he turned his back on Hermione and tossed his hired man heights into the air."Great !"he cried."They're gone !"He faced Hermione once again."I had a dozen question and now he's gone. For example, what are they going to do when—"

"Not to care, mate,"said Patrick brightly."He'll be back before the morning sausages."For whatever understanding, Patrick's comment irritated Ron. He was about to secernate him that they weren't match, and he'd best keep his tongue in his back talk before—

"Patrick's right, Ron,"said Hermione with a steadier voice than she had but a import before."It's just that we get some rest so that we're ready for when they return."The words did not do Ron any happier, but his focus on Patrick was distracted long enough for him to square up down.

"Sure,"he conceded."Let's get out of here."He grabbed his broom and the former two hopped on. They were moving out through the red eye, when he heard whispers in his ear that came from nowhere.

"Soon. I'll have him in my—"

"Help me…"

When they emerged on the former slope, he asked,"Did you hear that ? A part, or spokesperson, or something ?"

"Only that slurping sound,"answered Hermione."Why, what's untimely ?"

Ron stuck his fingerbreadth in his ear and scratched."Just tired, I guess."

He was indeed tired. As if school wasn't draining enough, Quidditch practice lasted an extra hour. With Harry gone, he needed to be sure that Dennis could address Seeker, if it came to that on game day. He tried to catch a few wink after dinner, but Hermione wanted to talk over floral arrangements for the wedding. He couldn't understand why she thought he cared, but he was forced to take part in every determination. There were only two alternative that she offered him that he really cared about. Both came after the"I do's."offset, that there would be a live band at the response that could seriously rock the Wizarding reality, and indorse, that there would be passel of Irish ale on mitt. Fred and George were handling both, so Ron had zero more to fear himself with. If only Hermione could see it that way.

By the time the three made it into the park room, he wanted to just drop on the base and sleep, but he knew that he wouldn't. He'd waiting for Harry to return, and if he didn't, Ron would prepare for war. He'd gotten a small-scale boost of energy when St. Patrick left for the night, but it began to fade as Hermione continued to rat out poor Harry to Remus through the floo. Merlin, the woman could chitchat. He leaned back against the lounge and closed his oculus, thinking about how Hermione's possibility were almost always right. Something was wrong, but whatever it was Ron certainly couldn't 0 it out - not the way his brain was muddled right now. Instead, he let his thought process turn to Quidditch. He was analyzing one of Ginny's moves above the pitch, when he heard Hermione pull out from the flaming.

"So, what did he say ?"he asked with his eyes still closed.

"He thinks Voldemort's still here,"she answered. Ron couldn't believe his capitulum. It wasn't fright that opened his eyes widely, but hope. The night Almighty's name held no power over him now. As far as Ron was concerned, Voldemort was the sorcerer that had killed his female parent, nothing more, nothing less, and, given the opportunity, Ron would destruct him. He could feel the fervor begin to burn in his stomach, anger development, hatred rising.

When she told him it might be Patrick, Ron's first base urge was to climb the step and blast him in his bed. He'd build out the rest period later. But Hermione's forethought forced him to steady his emotions and think farther ahead. He loved that about her, the calming effect she had that balanced his instinct to be purely reactive. He was always much more effective in all face of his life, if he would simply deal the time to think two, or even three, steps ahead. He was, after all, the Hogwarts thaumaturge chess Champion two years running.

"20 proceedings,"said Ron, finally agreeing to his fiancé."If you're not back by then, I'll figure out myself what to do."They hugged and he took in the hint of heyday that always followed her wherever she went. He loved that scent, the brush of her hair against his brass, the confidence she held in whatever decision she made… even if she was a bit misguided on occasion.

"I love you too,"he said, an queasy feeling turning in his viscera, as if, somehow, he knew it would be the last clock time he'd say those words.

When she left the common room to go get Snape, Ron began to pace.

"Lumos !"he called, lighting his wand. He'd take a few steps."Nox."

He stopped on the carpet that he had earlier pointed out to Hermione and looked down. He hadn't done this for a farsighted time, at least not on role. He reached out his head. The family elf was gone. Probably overheard us and ran, thought Ron. He reached further just to see if the elf was still around.

"Help me. Let me—"

There was a stabbing pain in Ron's head and he immediately drew back to within himself. The voice… it was the Saame he'd heard earlier in the Marauders'Eye, only this meter it sounded familiar.

"Patrick ?"Ron whispered to himself.

"Hey mate ! I couldn't nap either !"

Ron spun to line up Patrick, dressed in his school robes, at the top of the staircase. Ron fingered the sceptre that was still in his finger's breadth."Something incorrectly ?"he asked with doubtful eyes.

"Nah,"answered Patrick with a hushed articulation as he eased his way down the stairway."I'm just too excited. If everythin'goes well, he could be back at any moment."He flopped down in one of the overstuffed death chair. Ron noted that he was still wearing his the boot from earlier."Where do yeh intend he'll bring them when they get here ?"

Ron shrugged. They'd forgotten to discuss that role. Wherever was good he figured. But where would that be ?"Dumbledore's authority, I guess,"he replied, not really certain.

"Yeh retrieve ? With old Dumbledore almost ready to kick back it ?"

"Don't say it like that !"snapped Ron, irritated by the discourtesy in Patrick's voice.

"Sorry,"replied Patrick with a humbler quality that was clearly a bit forced."You ever been ?"he asked."In the old ma— erm, headmaster's office ? Should we go there to see if he's ready ?"

"Yes,"said Ron stiffly,"I've been there, and, no, we don't need to go see if he's ready. He'll be ready if he needs to be. Besides, if mortal needs to get in to see him, it'd best be Hermione. She's Head Girl."

Patrick's eyes grew distant for a moment. He was nervously grinding his teeth with a distinct clicking sound, thinking about something. As Ron watched him fidget, the fire glinted off Patrick's eyes, casting them with a red inkling hue. It was as if someone had poured ice water down Ron's back and lit his belly on fire. He was sure as he could ever be that Voldemort was sitting before him. He'd never make it to twenty minutes. But then, it wasn't his flaw, was it ? St. Patrick had come to him.

"Where's Hermione ?"Patrick asked finally.

"Upstairs, in bed,"Ron lied.

"funny, I didn't see her."

"Not unusual for a second year to lose a few things."

Patrick stood. Ron's grip tightened about his wand.

"Nope, I guess not. I just figured Hermione to be the final stage to wander off to sleep on a night like tonight."Patrick moved closer to Ron."Chess ?"he asked, pointing to the hotshot's cheat board that was set out on the table.

Ron didn't answer. He really, really wanted to know… to know if this was Voldemort before him, and the adept way to find out out was to accomplish in. He opened his judgement and reached for St. Patrick's. There was, at foremost, a tenuous resistance, almost as if Patrick knew he was being probed. That was rare in almost masses and it did not go unnoticed by Ron.

The initial images flashing into Ron's brain came from Patrick's memories, not all of them practiced : The accident that killed his parents, the night his best Friend James IV Chang cast the Imperius condemnation on him. Still, there were flashes of twinkle and goodness. There was the night he first met Harry, and at this store he heard it again.

"helper me !"

It was distant and yet near. Ron pressed abstruse, but beyond the impassioned plea, something else was bothering him. Normally, he should be sensing emotions ; he should be able to tell immediately if Patrick was excited, scared, or double-faced. None of that was here. All this he noticed in less time than it takes Professor McGonagall to transform into a cat. As he moved on he came to what appeared to be a rampart, something baring his way. He'd run up against this with Harry and, on social function, found ways around them. He was now more certain than ever that Voldemort was in here somewhere.

He probed a few places and then found a weakness. He pushed against it. There was resistance. He pushed harder. The barrier gave way, but as if Ron had stumbled across a weak touch on a block lake of ice, he found himself, slipping, falling, uncontrollably inward, sucked into a vortex from which he could not escape. He tried to pull away, to retract his insight, but Saint Patrick's mind held fast. It was then that he first felt the emotion - odium, pure hatred and revulsion.

There was laughter, slow and quiet at get-go, but it built into a high, lofty voice.

"Finally ! You are mine !"

"Let ‘ im go !"

"muteness !"

Ron could palpate the pain, the painfulness Voldemort was using to punish Patrick for trying to exert his own will. Then Voldemort's thoughts turned to Ron and immediately the red-header tried to shield his mind. Initially, it worked, and all Voldemort could do was continue to bandage their nous and address his own.

"I… I feel as if we've met before - another life perhaps."The articulation was genial, friendly, but Ron knew beneficial than to drop off his concentration."I was mightily to wait. I've wanted you for some meter, but I knew better than to range a spell, or, big, battle your genial exponent on your home turf. No, I had to look, bide my time, and here you are. Welcome to my vessel, humble, yet sufficient to bring Potter to his ruin."Ron tried once more to pluck away, but was held fast. He could sense Voldemort's thoughts swirling, snakelike about his own, searching for their own way to penetrate Ron's defense mechanism.

"Formidable,"Voldemort whispered."youth Draco said as much, said that it would be impossible. But I need you my untried supporter. I've waited too tenacious to encounter you away from her, away from your ally, willing to dig into my thoughts.

"The feint on Greece has successfully convinced Harry to fetch his son here. Within the 60 minutes he will miraculously battle his way through Lucius'army and dodging with the boy. But we must be ready for him when he arrives and sealed hoi polloi need to be… dealt with.

"start we will belt down Dumbledore, after you get your filthy mudblood girlfriend to help us. Then, when he returns, Harry will be slain by his own best friend for cheating with your fiancé. You will bring his son, my blood, to me. Soon I'll have destroyed them all."There was a pain, sharp and calm at Ron's tabernacle."We'll destroy them all, you and I.

"Wormtail has been little more than useless this retiring year. But you… pure of blood as you are… you show promise, more promise than Malfoy's boy. If you make this easy, I may come up a place for you, a space of high ability. Once I've regained my former self, you, Ron Weasley, will stand up at my powerful slope !"

"Go… to… HELL !"Ron screamed back. The effusion of emotion distracted Ron's mind only momentarily from his stabilize defence, but it was all that the dark Lord needed. The infliction was excruciating as it flooded Ron's thoughts to the exclusion of all else.

"We'll go together !"Voldemort excitedly cried in a dusty, unclutter vocalization."Imperio !"
~~~***~~~

A/N : Thanks for the reviews !


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 30 - Absolute superpower
~~~***~~~

When Gabriella arrived upon the beach of the Island of Kefallinia, her first sensation was warmness. She and Harry had left the wintry weather of Hogsmeade just as it had begun to snow and Apparated across the television channel, but the Paris air was still chilled. Staying warm on Harry's Calluna vulgaris, they flew for awhile and then Apparated again to Greece ; this metre the ardent Mediterranean air wrapped her in its blazonry welcoming her home. Finally, she could take off her scarf. With a wave of her wand, it vanished and her boots fell at her side, freeing her feet to walk the beach bare.

Gabriella was born in the mountains of Armenia and while she loved the rugged and earthy terrain of her birthplace, the solid ground where her grandmother still lived, she was more at home with the sea. The gritty feel of sand between her toes, the tangy taste of saltiness in the ocean's breathing space, the ebb and flow of the ocean's waves, and the warmth and cacoethes of the man she loved had converged on one spot and, for a second, her head wandered to the summer before, when multiplication were happier, when watching was easier. She smiled.

"What's that for ?"Harry asked with beautiful jet centre and a glowing smile of his own. She could smell that he was feeling the Lapp joy and memories of the summer before.

"This ?"she asked in recurrence, pointing at her face. Gabriella reached over and took Harry's hand. She pulled him close and held him taut."I wish…"she began in a quiet voicelessness."I wish we didn't have to be here, but we are, and I'm so beaming we're here together."She gently kissed his ear and he flinched from the tickling."Hmmm… I think I've found another spot. That's three now that belong to only me."She kissed his ear again and Harry pulled back a bit to reckon her in the eyes.

"trine ?"he asked incredulously."Thirty-three's more like and that's only counting the open of my skin. If I had to—"

Gabriella suddenly shuddered in his limb. An arctic bang slam across her mind, all the way and cold - a vision of red and then of black. It was a sensation she knew all too well. It was Voldemort and he was punishing someone… someone dear. Her breathing quickened, as did the pace of her ticker, while the image of torment, rebelliousness and pain continued.

"Gab ?"Harry called."GAB ?"he yelled. But she would not respond ; her psyche had been torn away. somebody was calling to her, yelling for assist in one final attempt to—

The vision ended and she collapsed in Harry's arms. sudor beaded upon her brain, but her finger cymbals felt inhuman, more fatigued than if she'd just climbed Olympus. Harry continued to speak, but her judgement was not yet processing it. Instead, she was trying to postulate in what she had seen, what it meant. lay aside for her nightmare, she had never had so vivid a vision in her animation. What did it intend ?"Red,"she whispered, trying to pull the computer storage back into her thinker and assemble it with the disjoint pieces.

Her mother had taught her how to reassemble the fracture collections that often came with visual modality, even though Gabriella never showed any signs of being so gifted.

"Maybe… maybe because I was his host… maybe we were linked,"she muttered to herself. But while that sounded right, it didn't feel right. The connection she felt wasn't of Voldemort ; it didn't originate with him. She had heard another voice, funfair and fellow. mortal calling. Red ?"Blood ?"she whispered contemplating the possible action, but then rejected it."No."

"Gabriella, can you hear me ?"Harry asked again, giving her a bit of a handclasp. It was enough to rupture her from her trance, if that's what it was, and, for the initiative clock time, she heard his words.

"Harry ?"she asked looking back into his heart.

"What is it ? What's wrong ?"

"I… I had a vision,"she replied quietly."I think,"she added with uncertainty.

"But I thought—"

"So did I."Her body stiffened ; she was anxious once more. She waved her wand and her boots were back on her ft."We have to hurry !"

"Why ?"

"Voldemort. I think… I think he's attacking mortal, someone right now, somebody I care deeply about. I saw red."

"Blood ?"

"Or his eyes. His…"She shuddered."…eyes."There was a break."soul was calling for assistant, or—"

"They may already be at the rook !"cried Harry. A cold chill cascaded down her spine - so much for warmly and attendant moments.

She looked up at the easterly sky as he ran across the sand to get his broom. Sirius'castle was still over a hundred miles away, but it was too dangerous to Apparate in. Voldemort's army could be anywhere in their search to detect the castle. From here on out, the two of them needed to affect in slowly and that meant they had to fly. If the rook was already under onrush, they'd never make it in metre. She pondered, for only a second, calling to the dragon, beseeching him for aid, but as her heart scanned the distant purview she did not see weather that would augur a great battle. Surely such a sign would hang in the betimes morning brightness, but none was to be seen. She pulled in a mystifying breath to settle her nerves. Perhaps her apprehensiveness was causing unwarranted fearfulness. Knowing what Mama would say, she kicked the worldly concern, cursing herself for her own ignorance ; clearly she had the signs wrong.

Her optic fell back on Harry as he ran toward her, heather in deal. He paused for a moment and closed his optic. She knew what he was doing, looking at her, wondering if by opportunity she was still possessed or held under the control of Voldemort. She understood ; she almost wondered herself what had just happened and, when he opened his eyes and came toward her with a expression of sculptural relief, the same expression crossed her own fount. She was, at least, free people of that insaneness.

She dropped her head, staring at the George Sand. Why was she here ? It was, what she was doing, gooselike. If the conflict was at deal, Harry would take to sneak in quickly and by stealth. Her presence would make it that much easier for the two of them to be found. Her weighting would slow his progress on the Scots heather, threatening Harry's commission. She shook her nous to foregather her mettle, but when she reached up to deem Harry's shoulder as she mounted his Calluna vulgaris, her fingers were trembling.

Her center was tearing. Duty, honor, a lineage of a hundred generations… they were calling on her to use her own eyes, to watch as time blossom forth. She shook her principal to clear the voices of her ancestors calling to her. She knew the man before her. He would never… No. It was her duty to be trusted that Harry—

"You okay ?"he said with concern, gently holding her by the arm.

"I… I should rest,"she said in a hollow representative."You could be there in far less clock time without my weight."She moved to get off the Scots heather."I'll Apparate back to—"Harry grabbed her.

"I won't lose you again. have soused,"he said sharply. If he was smiles before, he was deadly dangerous now. There was no hilarity in his interpreter and, as they rose together above the sea, the sun beginning to peak above the skyline, there was no joy. It was a beautifully terrible present moment - a blood red sun rising in the east and, with it, the likelihood of death.

"The coming sun will play to our party favour,"she said with a tremor in her phonation."I don't much upkeep to see the ilk of Dragon, or his ilk."

"No. I don't either,"he said, staring straight. There was a pause and Gabriella could sense the conversant struggle rising up within Harry once again. His feeling, she knew, were quite conflicted when it came to Draco. It stewed for so longsighted she began to regret mentioning their right fortune in timing. Finally, his thoughts cleared, focusing instead on what he must do."Do you call up anything else ?"he asked as they streaked across the sky, high above the disconnection of Corinth.

"I didn't see much of anything. It wasn't that sort of vision. It was more like notion, jangled airstrip of emotions, each trying to say something. I need to try to piece them together, but I don't know if I can. momma has the endowment, not me."

"And Voldemort… you're for certain it was Voldemort ?"

care began to wrap itself about her core. Even though the two were alone as they flew heights above the waters below, she looked behind to see if, perhaps, they were being followed."Y-Yes, I'm sure, and I'm… I'm also sure that he was angry."She spit toward the distant ground below for feeling so afraid, and then held tight to Harry's waist and squeezed, drawing strength from his confidence.

She remembered back to the end of summer, when Harry first crossed into Singehorn's lands. She was so torn, feeling his fear and forcing herself to pretend that she didn't maintenance. Yet, that too was her duty. He had grown so much these hold up few calendar month. He was more afraid of Snape's exam than he was of the pestilent dangers that lurked about every street corner. His mind was fixed on the well being of others, and he would risk his own life to see to their base hit. More than anything else, she loved that quality of selflessness within him, but she also worried about the recklessness of his actions. He rarely took clock time to measure the consequences, or to meter the possibilities. With the mogul he now had at his fingertips, such choices would have far gravid effect ; they would accomplish beyond Harry and feeling others if he wasn't careful. mummy was right ; it had grown more complicated. Perhaps it was because she had lost her warmness to Harry long ago, but Gabriella never expected the entanglements between honey and duty to get so building complex so quickly.

Wishing she could portion her thoughts with Harry, Gabriella closed her eyes, leaned her head against his back and drew in a long breath of the early daybreak air. After a present moment she added,"Whomever he was trying to ascertain was fighting back, refusing to obey."abode upon the mental battle that she sensed being put up against Voldemort, she noted to herself that she wasn't nearly as successful at repelling the shadow Lord's will when he had attacked her.

"There aren't many that could call for him on like that,"said Harry, scratching the rachis of his head, not realizing the fear she held inside."I don't think Cho could, maybe Sirius."

"Or, if they've found the castle, another member of the order. Mad Eye maybe ?"She knew before the words left her lips that that was wrong. She had sensed that it was a friend, someone she cared about. Maybe it was Cho.

Not knowing her thought process, Harry nodded, trying to will his ling faster, but it was already rushing through the air at wide velocity. In a matter of seconds, they crossed over the Corinth Canal and out over the Saronic Gulf. The water below glimmered, a bejewel breastplate with each island a salient jade or granite stone rimmed in emerald green. She was about to say they should slow up down when Harry pulled back on his broom and began to come. They would achieve the castle soon and from here they needed to move in with even greater vigilance. Maybe he had tempered his recklessness after all.

They were LE then twenty land mile away from the palace when she saw the smoke to the north. A low, dingy fog that spanned the horizon, she wondered if it didn't reach from coast to sea-coast. But this was no fog.

"fervour ?"she asked.

"Dementors,"Harry replied coldly."It's what it looked like over the Carpathians - a thick, black cloud of hatred. If there's enough to spot out the sun, then you can bet that there will be no reprieve from vampires."

Gabriella couldn't believe her eyes. It was a line that stretched tenner of Admiralty mile from incline to side ; a dark band hovered above the treetop. She was sealed it was smoke, but she was more certain that Harry was telling the truth. She began to sense the darkness, the coldness, the sorrowfulness as they flew closer. It was a tempest of desperation ; she swallowed.

"Voldemort must have got summoned them from all across Europe,"she said breathlessly."There… there are so many. But they're in the middle of their own war, battling the Centaurs. Why would they arrive to his aid ?"

"He's promised them his help,"answered Harry."If they—"He halted and she felt him shiver within her munition.

"What is it, Harry ?"

"C-Centaurs. In Greece, there are two great herds. I… I don't know how I know, but… one… one just disappeared. It… it's not possible… is it ?"Harry leaned forward on his broom, trying to peer into the darkness for some clue as to what had just happened."The other heard is being attacked ! The screams… the slight ace. They're being pushed toward the sea. We have to do something !"

The Scots heather suddenly veered from its easter direction and started north, right into the centre of the swarm of darkness. The sensation was palpable ; Gabriella didn't indigence to ask. Harry was angry and growing more angry by the irregular. The air around them was so bill she could almost smell it.

"Harry, it's self-destruction. We can't face them alone."

Without Harry saying a word, the broom shot upward, higher than she thought potential. The change in perspective revealed just how deep the black cloud of Dementors was. The melodic phrase was wide-eyed, spreading like a swarm of giant locusts, but it was not that deep, perhaps a naut mi across.

"They're sweep across the country,"said Harry,"looking for Jamie. Centaurs are just a bonus."He pointed down and to his right toward a belittled patch of super acid Earth that stood out against the surrounding pureness."They've yet to turn over the castling, but it won't be long."

Gabriella looked down to bump the line of iniquity only a few Roman mile away from reaching its goal. They might be able-bodied to make it to the palace on time, but they'd never be able to gather Cho and the rest before it was too previous.

"We don't have enough time,"she said.

"We can, if we Apparate."

"From here ?"

"Yes, from here !"snapped Harry.

Gabriella looked into his eyes. There was something Thomas More, something he wasn't saying, but his anger was masking the early feeling.

"You first,"he said."Focus on the courtyard. I'll follow."

"What is it that you're not—"

"There's no metre ! GO !"

She was torn ; something was haywire. Without saying another word, knowingly denying her duty, Gabriella nodded her drumhead."Be careful, my love."She placed her hand across his face and pulled her wand."Asha protect you."

"And also you,"he replied, kissing her on the lips.

When Gabriella Apparated onto the courtyard, she found it quiet - too quiet. She opened a bombastic wooden door that led to the main corridor. It creaked loudly. She quieted the hinge with her wand, but still cursed herself for not silencing them sooner. Stepping slowly forward, she found the corridor empty. She stood at the out-of-doors doorway, waiting for Harry, but knowing that he wouldn't be following her. She was unsure what to do. There was no way to Apparate back ; she'd probably appear in the middle of the air. She was about to step back outside, when she heard laughter from within - a nipper's. The sound pulled her in and down the corridor.

Still holding her wand aloft and following the giggles, Gabriella noticed that the ghosts that usually appeared in every corridor were absent. None were to be found hovering, or passing through paries. She continued to follow the laugh until she came to a door. She knew that it led to one of the bigger entertaining Sir William Chambers. Then, suddenly, Gabriella heard Cho's spokesperson cry out in panic.

"Jamie ! NO !"

Gabriella explosion through the door, fix to strike. Framed in front of a great bulwark of glass that faced toward Athens, was Cho, Anthony and little Jamie. Anthony sat, reading a book, apparently unconcerned about the danger they were facing. Jamie was crouched on a small belt of crimson carpeting, only it wasn't touching the soil. He was a skilful six feet in the air and climbing higher. Cho was chasing after him.

"Jamie ! Get down here this instant !"Jamie simply laughed again and climbed eminent.

Cho's eyes met Gabriella's and they filled with a new form of business concern.

"Gabriella ?"

"Cho, Anthony !"cried Gabriella."It's an attack ! They're outside the primer coat. Get Jamie and get out of here ! spine to England. backbone to Hogwarts. Before it's—"

"Gab ?"asked Cho. Gabriella stood freeze out as she looked retiring Cho and out through the open window. To the Union was the barn where they cared for the Hippogriffs. Beyond it was a cast fog of nigrify, surging toward them at incredible hurrying. It was like a giant tidal moving ridge, rising to crash over the top of them. Gabriella took one tone toward the windowpane, watching the rolling darkness, readying her sceptre to cast a spell when her entire persuasion filled with a instant of fiery light. The gravid methamphetamine hydrochloride window imploded. First she felt the heat, then she felt her feet being lifted off the earth. Then, all went dark.



When Harry arrived upon the beach of the Island of Kefallinia, his first sensation was that of cold. It was as if hundreds of voices were crying out in awe, but it quickly faded and the sentiency passed.

"I hate Apparation,"he muttered to himself. Apparating over short space was bad enough. Passing over one C of naut mi pushed him to his point of accumulation. His hands were clammy, his stomach churned, but he was grateful, after traveling over such a aloofness, that he wasn't splinched into a rock wall.

He watched as Gabriella vanished her flush and wandered barefoot toward the water. She stopped and turned back at him with a smile, one he'd come to recognize.

"What's that for ?"he asked, walking over to her. Before he knew it, she was tickling his ear and he had to defend her away from him. He loved it, but insisted,"Would you stop—"He never finished. Suddenly, she shuddered in his blazonry in some sort of seizure.

"GAB !"he cried. She continued to didder, and even after the quivering stopped, she wouldn't respond."Gab, please !"He was beginning to panic when, finally, she noticed he was calling out to her. And, after she had explained what happened, he began to wonder if that's what people thought of him when his forehead exploded in painfulness. Instinctively, he moved his hand up to rub the mark that was no longer there.

"We need to travel rapidly ! Come on !"he called. He ran and got his broom and then a frigid opinion jibe into his sum. What if she was still under his control ? He paused and used his inner eye to see that her halo was singular. When he opened his eyes, he could see that she'd noticed. He wasn't sure what to say.

"You okay ?"he asked.

When she looked at him, her eyes showed her warring emotions. She suggested that it would be best if he go alone. He couldn't believe his pinna. He'd offended her. There was no way of telling how close to peril they were. For all he knew they were surrounded right now. He'd lost her in France ; he wasn't going to miss her in Greece, not here, not ever.

He insisted she descend and, once she'd mounted his broom, he flew as fast as he could toward Sothis'castle. As they passed over the Corinth epithelial duct, he began to hear part cry out to him again. It was then that he realized that the minds screaming inside his head were the spokesperson of Centaur - stallions, foals, vocalisation of every gender, of every age rose up into a enormous crescendo and then sharply disappeared into silence. Though he was uncertain what it was he had just sensed, he was nonetheless confident that it had been total genocide, and the ones creditworthy were now being led by Voldemort towards their confessedly end, Harry's shaver. His insides felt wintry, and a good sense of anger, a need for payback began to build within him, rekindling an unnatural warmth to fill the void.

As they approached the castling, Harry slowed his broom, proceeding cautiously. His greater desire was to attack, to exterminate his enemy - immediately. The alone thing stopping him was the girl on his broom ; he wouldn't put Gabriella in any More danger than requirement. His fickle emotions were challenged more when he saw a black ring of fog, rolling in from the north. He knew at once what it was - Dementors being driven forward by Voldemort. Immediately, he turned his broom in their direction, away from the castling and toward the coming shadow.

"Harry, you're loony !"cried Gabriella. In the beat of a butterfly wing, he'd forgotten she was there. It disturbed him, but not enough to shake his use. He wasn't sure what to do… what to do…

pull hard on the broom handle, Harry guided their mount higher, straight up into the sky. He needed to see what the Dementors were doing, how far this band of darkness stretched. Down and to the rightfield, he noted that Sirius'castling was as yet unharmed, but it wouldn't be long before it was discovered. He'd never reach the castle in fourth dimension if they flew ; not to do what he needed to do. Even Gabriella knew they were too far away, but for different reasons.

"We don't have adequate time,"she said, and she was right ; there wasn't adequate prison term. Not unless… unless they split up. Gabriella would consume to try to deliver Jamie and the others, while Harry would take the chance to demolish the swarming Dementors that had harmed his kin. It was an odd sensation, but sincere - yes, the Centaur were now very a lot his kin.

"We could Apparate."For an flash, his head dwelt on the large tapestry back at Hogwarts, showing the annihilation of the Dementors, the annihilation of everything. He looked down. Other than the castle, there were no other village in the orbit. Maybe, if he could control it—

"From here ?"

"Yes, from here,"he snapped. Why wouldn't she just go ? They were running out of fourth dimension."You first,"he added."I'll follow."

If she didn't Disapparate soon, the Dementors would be too close to the rook and he might—

"What is it that you're not—"

"There's no time ! GO !"

At last, there was a pushover and Harry took in a long, slow intimation. Finally, he thought. He pulled at his catch ; it felt loaded, restrictive. He was developing a very Centaur-like scorn for the Dementors moving toward the castle, threatening his family and Friend. They had killed. So would he. He would down them, kill them all ; he knew it was within his power. He would Apparate down in their midst and— A prickling, burning sensation brushed against his ear, singed the nape of his neck. He spun to see who was there.

"Singehorn ?"Harry exclaimed. The scene had changed. He was no longer flying high in the air, but was instead on a dry, desiccate plane. The dragon, in his massive human pattern, stood before him. His red center glared, not with ire or approval, but with an unexpressive oddity.

"Do you have a bit ?"the dragon asked as a matter of courtesy with his trench, rasping interpreter.

"NOW ! But—"Harry stopped himself. In here, in this meeting topographic point of the head, time stood still. They could discourse for what would seem like hours, only to have Harry return back on his Calluna vulgaris the instant he left. He nodded to the elderberry bush firedrake and bowed."Forgive me."

"We,"began the dragon,"are not far away. There are a few of us that have been watching, waiting. These Dementors are wiser. They have avoided our aviaries on the peninsula and have steered clear of our hatchlings."

"But they've killed an entire herd of Centaurs !"protested Harry.

"That is none of our concern."

"What ? You can't be life-threatening !"

"I am old, Harry, and have seen many evil in my day. I would not venture to choose which evil I dislike most. It does not hurt me to see wizards vote down wizards, Dementors kill Centaurus, or… well, I could go on for some meter. They all have, for their part, done very small for our kind."

"I'm a champion,"said Harry, stepping closer, almost in rebelliousness. He was still angry over the Death of his own, his Centaur kin. For a moment, his inner consciousness questioned why the allegiance was so strong, but the annealing sensation was fleeting and the anger bubbled forth once more."We have to take military action ! We have to destroy the Dementors and those leading them !"

"I wonder of such soundness,"said Singehorn crossing his subdivision and saying nothing Thomas More. Not listening, Harry contemplated that with dragon flame he could charge the Heart of Asha far in force than if he cast his own Incendio spell.

"The stone… are you near enough ?"Harry asked impatiently."You could recharge it and then I could—"Singehorn chuckled.

"wealthy person you not learned, my small fry ? It does not require it. Since the Joining your blast tour alone have been capable to demolish these dour creatures. And it was there that Asha's heart was charged with something far more enduring, far more knock-down than fervidness, Harry. Do you not call back what it was ? Would you then use such power to feast your thirst for revenge, to assuage your hate ?"

"They're murdering vermin ! The don't deserve to—"

"Then again,"interrupted Singehorn. His conduct seemed to switch, a slender echo of Harry's emotions, and he leaned forward toward the young wizard, his red eyes glaring."ardor does not destroy, Harry. It is, itself, alive. It is purifying. It cleanses all that it touches."Singehorn grinned and his smile revealed recollective run-in of sharp-worded white teeth. There was a glimmer in his eye that was most score, and Harry's anger began to ebb to another thought - that the evil outdoor Sothis palace needed to be cleansed. It wouldn't be slaying. It was simply a prison term for a refreshing start, a new beginning.

"Yes,"whispered Harry to himself."Yes, I understand. The war… it must be stopped. The darkness on both sides… I must—"

Harry watched as the perfectly cleansed terrain behind Singehorn, the lifeless desert, faded and then vanished, and he found himself, still hovering on his ling, highschool in the air. Without hesitation he Apparated into the midst of the Dementors, just northward of the castle, as a wave of darkness rolled past the barn where Buckbeak and the other Hippogriffs were usually stabled. For a sec, he thought he heard voices… they were arguing.

It was then that he noticed a swirling Patronus, racing past the b to fit the shadow ; then another. A wizard, or wiz, was battling the onslaught from behind. Harry's mind was cloudy, indecipherable on what exactly he should do. Another long, minute Patronus passed him, a mighty one, knocking him to the ground. The tumble only served to stoke his rage.

"This war,"he muttered to himself."It must hold back !"He held his munition out across-the-board, spanning the line of Dementors flying above him, swirling around him. It was cold, and the strait of wow were beginning to knead their way into his psyche. It was then that he noticed a great, green Draco as it roared above his head - Casinius ! Harry concentrated, trying to touch his mind to the dragon's.

"Icendiamos !"he cried.

Emanating directly from the stone, hidden within his dresser, fire erupted from between his outstretched arms. At the like moment, the dragon spit fire and it was like adding a tanker of propane to an already raging Inferno. There was an explosion of heat and business leader. Harry could hear the screams… the burning, sizzling sounds… the silence. Another flying lizard, this time a pale amobarbital sodium, roared as it passed on Harry's correct - Crestian. He could hear her oral presentation to him and he responded. There was a another roar and the two Dragon split up, strafing the line of Dementors, on either face of Harry, with flame.

Harry held his arms outward again, stretching to each purview and repeated the turn."Icendiamos !"This clock time, great area of fire, twisting into twister of fiery gasolene, roared from both his outstretched palms and swirled along the line of Dementors on either side of him. There were more riot, but this time distant, this time man.

"We can block them,"he thought to himself with excitement."We shall stop them ! cease them all !"…or were the dragons speaking… ?"We shall clean the acres and it shall be reborn anew."Again the sight of the tapestry at Hogwarts flashed in Harry's mind, the arid desert scene behind Singehorn, it was a visual modality of dying and destruction, revealing to Harry his own signified of Centaurian rage and dragon gleefulness and… and something more, something darker. He paused, frightened that the emotions swirling in his mind, prodding him to maintain more tycoon, weren't truly his own. In that moment's intermission, there was a cry, faint and distant… a child's cry from behind. Harry turned.

"Jamie ?"he muttered, trying to exculpate his sentiment, trying to find his own centre ; then he saw it."The rook !"he breathed.

From where Harry stood, all the way to the front of the rook walls, a respectable football field away, nothing stood gamey than a few inches off the ground, much of it polished a glossy black. No Dementor remained alive. The barn… the barn holding Buckbeak and the early Hippogriffs was gone. There was nothing but blackened ash. Whatever virtuoso or whizz that had been casting Patronus spells had either vanished or been destroyed.

"What… What have I done ?"The two dragons circled above. He could feel their pleasure.

"well done, prelate !"one of them congratulated him."There are Thomas More wight just to the north. Shall we attack ?"

"GO !"he commanded."Leave me !"They obliged, flying to the eastward, the fading sound of their annexe beating against the air the only racket to be heard. There was no other sound of biography, save for the crying coming from the castle.

"JAMIE !"Harry yelled out, running toward the disordered rook walls which had fallen inward on themselves. No sooner had the flying lizard left than the dark cloud began to reclaim above the castle undercoat, filtering out the sun. There was a handful of catch and pops from behind him, and Harry looked back to see a mathematical group of adept, some fifty yard away, wearing the dress of death eater, bonnet covering their faces, standing like carved statues. Harry raised his wand to collide with when, from their centre, emerged a thin, pale wizard, wearing no hoodlum and dressed in brilliantly red robe.

"Dragon ?"Harry sputtered in incredulity. The blonde smiled and, even at this length, Harry could see two long, pristine fangs. The former Slytherin was still thin, but he looked far break off than when Harry had last-place seen him in prison.

"I heard about the fire and I knew it was you,"Draco called, but his vox was unnatural. Had the vampirism affected him as it had Dakhil ?"I had to amount see for myself."

Harry kept his wand high, but Draco made no such comparable motion. Then Harry remembered Gabriella's vision… red… was this—

"What are you playing at ?"Harry called out, the swarm of dark, Dementors, swirling high about his head, still blotting the sun. He was beginning to sense frigid and the deliquium sounds of screams tickled the spinal column of his mind, but there was more… a solicitation of representative, grumbling, and calls of command. Harry shook his oral sex, unsure what it was he was hearing. His eyes nip around, looking for Lucius ; or was Draco the vessel for Voldemort ?"Where's your Father-God ?"he yelled."Where's Voldemort ?"

The hooded death Eaters unmoving, statuesque and freeze out in position, Draco continued to step forward as if he wasn't listening. Soon he was some xxx feet in front of Harry, a bulk of Dementors at his dorsum. The phonation in Harry's heading grew louder.

"William Tell them to continue back, Draco, or I'll fry you all. I swear !"

Draco simply smiled."Always the drama female monarch,"he drawled. Again the tone of his give-and-take was surreal, as if it emanated from—

"This is ridiculus !"someone clicked and scratched."Take his soul."It took a moment before Harry realized he was hearing the vox of one of the Dementors. He'd never heard them speak before. Then, he remembered. For a split moment, Harry glanced to the ebon ring on his fingerbreadth. Of course, not only could he listen them, he could speak to these beast !

"check back, you filth !"he yelled, focusing his Word of God to bend to their terminology. The Dementors halted, if only briefly, taken aback that they had all heard Harry's Bible in their own tongue. Oblivious, Draco continued to swagger ahead.

His smile was Cheshire like and the hauteur was overwhelming. Every fibre in Harry's body said not to trust him, but he was hesitating. Why ? He should ruin him and the Dementors behind him now. Yet, the thought process of what he had done to the barn and Buckbeak was burned into his computer storage ; he took no natural action. Soon Draco was ten feet away. The shrieking began to grovel into Harry's psyche, growing louder as Draco moved closer and the Dementors closed in from behind the blonde. Harry's hand began to tremble.

"I can't consider this is going to exploit,"a Dementor clicked.

"What ?"Harry thought."Work ?"He hesitated no longer.

"Expecto Patronum !"he cried. An enormous hart erupted from his wand. It wouldn't harm Draco, but at to the lowest degree it would repel the swirling swarthiness. The Dementors screeched and scattered. Harry could hear them cursing. With the cloud parted, the sun's full irradiation fell on Draco's face. There was a puff of skunk and zilch but a small cumulus of ash remained in the situation where he stood.

"Draco !"Harry screamed out, rushing forward and falling to his knees. He'd killed him !"No !"Suddenly, a bam of cold struck Harry's back. He never heard the spell, but he knew at once what it was - Petrificus Totalus. He could feel his body turn unbending as he crumpled to the ground.

He heard the crush, crunch, crunch of footsteps moving toward him over the sear and kiln-dried earth. Someone took his shoulder and spun him over. It was Dragon Malfoy, only he was dressed in different robes - these were gullible. Above his brain was something that looked like a floating umbrella, shading him wherever he moved. His case was drawn and tired, more gaunt than the Draco he'd seen before, the one dressed in red. He looked ill ; nonetheless there was a thinly line across his sassing and, when he spoke, Harry could see his Fang. They were barely noticeable, not the drawn-out spikes curing about the scurvy lip of the red dressed Draco.

"I knew you wouldn't shoot down me,"he whispered, kneeling down at Harry's side. His voice was as Harry always remembered it - snide and haughty."You're wondering about this ?"he asked, rubbing the ash of his former self's remains in his finger's breadth."A bit of kick upstairs Transfiguration Day is all. You really should be more careful. I might not be at Hogwarts, but that doesn't mean value I haven't been training."Harry's middle were on firing, choler beginning to make full his veins once again. He'd been duped."You're angry. I understand. I would be too, but we're spouse, right ? We're going to see this thing through to the end… no issue the cost. He must be stopped."

There was another compendium of pops and snaps in the distance. Immediately, Dragon bent low to Harry's ear."Harry,"he whispered,"trust me… now, more than ever. This can't look real number, it has to be real."genus Draco rose to his feet, veneration flickering across his centre."I'm… I'm… Forgive me for this."Dragon waved his wand and, with a sharp tearing audio, the battlefront of Harry's gown were torn away, revealing his bare pectus.

"Draco ?"called a low, drawling spokesperson from across the burned-over field. There were to a greater extent pop.

Draco looked down at Harry and mouthed the lyric,"Be ready."There was the briefest of wavering and then…

"Diffindo !"he cried. Harry's chest exploded with searing pain. He would make cried out, but he couldn't. Four razor-like cuts appeared across his chest. He was sliced as if a lion had run his large claws from Harry's left shoulder to the downcast ribs of his right face."Diffindo !"Another slashing drive criss-crossed the clawing pattern on Harry's chest, mimicking the one before and leaving an enormous, broad X created from bleeding landing strip of flesh.

Blood began to flow freely as Draco knelt low and drank from the open combat injury. The Dementors began to affect in, but Dragon cast his own Patronus, a large silvery snake that coiled and struck."Stay away from him !"he yelled."He's mine !"

"DRACO !"Lucius Malfoy suddenly appeared in Harry's panorama."Are you mad ? What in the name of Morgana are you— Potter ?"Lucius'optic flashed with a spark of mirthfulness. Then his drumhead snapped up, looking toward the demolished stones of the castling."Is this it ? Is the boy here ?"Then back at genus Draco. The younger blonde was drawing another drink of Harry's blood. Lucius seemed to bust to his senses. His representative was stern, admonishing."Do you know what you're doing ? This isn't what—"he stopped himself and then sighed. genus Draco had ignored him throughout, lapping at Harry's unfold wounds. Harry was wincing with botheration as he saw a facial expression of disgust fill Lucius'look.

"What have you become,"his founder drawled in contempt. Draco stopped, and, for the first base time, he looked up, his face covered in origin.

"Only what you have made me, father ; only what you have made me."

"You know that the dark Lord—"

"The son of a bitch's mine !"yelled Draco, rising to his feet."I finally have him under my dominance and you want me to hand him over to that… that loser !"Lucius slapped Dragon operose across the look, spraying blood into the air.

"Never speak like—"

"You're a soft touch !"yelled Dragon. He pointed at Harry."Potter has the Harlan Fiske Stone ! Don't you see ? He knows where it is ! With it, you could lead the Death Eaters !"genus Draco stepped toward his father, wiping his brass with his hand and shaking the excess blood onto the scorched earth beneath."Look around you ! He did this because he has the vivificus stone. Who gives a damn about a child ? Get thrower to hand it over to you, and YOU would be the new Dark lord ! Father, whatever power he held over you twenty years ago, with the gem, you can pay that wisp of a life back for what he's done to our crime syndicate !"

Lucius hesitated… and then his centre darted all about. Was he looking to see if anyone was listening ? Harry couldn't move to see if there were others nearby. He'd heard other Apparations. Where was Voldemort ? Whose body had he taken command of ? Lucius'eyes settled on something or someone behind Harry. Nonchalantly, he slipped out his wand, pointed it initially at Harry, but then quickly raised it up to the object he had been looking at.

"Avada Kedavra !"he hissed. Green light sprang from his wand and Harry heard a clump as something fell to the terra firma. With a smirk, Lucius slipped his verge away."I always liked Goyle, but we couldn't have him blubbering about things he doesn't have the inclusion to sympathize. Besides, he was never the same after his son died."

The elder Malfoy stepped close to Harry and knelt. Between thumb and index, he grabbed a funnies of open flesh on Harry's chest of drawers and pulled. Harry tried to defy the agony in his eyes, but they gave him away as a tear of pain slipped out and slapped against the glassy earth.

"Now… ceramicist,"he drawled,"what's say you tell me where the Oliver Stone is and I heal these foul scrape ? Otherwise, I think genus Draco here might just have to drink in you dry."He tugged on the soma again and Harry screamed in muteness."What do you say, lad ?"Lucius placed his hand on Harry's forehead and the Gryffindor felt his brawn exit from the neck and above. He could speak."Is it really worth it ?"Harry felt Lucius get a tighter traction on the promiscuous flesh."Do we possess a plenty ?"