Harry Potter and The parentage of a New Sun

Chapter 6 - Too end an brush

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When Harry shut the door to his way and descended the stairs he was, perhaps, the happiest he had ever been in all his life. The sun sent golden rays streaking through the coloured windows above and cast a favorable persona on the floor below, tinged with adequate red to nominate Harry think fleetingly of Fawkes. His hair a entangle mess, he was wearing a T-shirt, boxers and socks, one with a rather boastfully hole through which the declamatory toe on his right invertebrate foot protruded. He scratched his stomach as his wind took in the scent of something that resembled the smell of burning ham. He took one gradation down and turned to expect back at his room. His room ? His home ? No, not really. Not anymore. And he was thankful for that and smiled all the more as the aroma of fresh coffee filled the air, perhaps the only thing Sirius could prepare properly.

When he pushed open the doors to the kitchen of phone number XII, Grimmauld Place, he found Sothis working feverishly in battlefront of the stove. His wand was casting spell after spell, not so much at the nutrient cookery, but in an effort to clear the Mary Jane that was billowing throughout. Harry walked over and turned down the fire with a wave of his hand.

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

"No, really, I wanted to make you breakfast. You know, get-go day of shoal and all."He cracked an egg and put both liquid and shell in the Lapp bowl and started mixing it with his sceptre. Harry chuckled kindly and shake off his head in disbelief. It was great being free of Privet movement, to be here with his godfather, to feel treasured and value. It was probably the first time he had ever opened a software system of bacon for breakfast without a sour taste in his rima oris. He gave Sirius a look that said,"Get real,"and then positioned himself squarely in battlefront of the stove.

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

"You know,"said Sothis pouring two cupful of burnt umber,"I hear New York is spectacular at Christmas time. Have you ever been to the land ?"Harry stir his head."Maybe we could go for a quick visit."

"I promised Gabri—"

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

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

"Or if the war's over by then,"suggested Canicula with Thomas More optimism. Harry nodded plating the food and levitating the plates to the table.

Sirius ate like a dog and finished in about three hour. Harry was more pensive, and while he did polish off, it took him much longer. The nicest thing about being of age was that he didn't have to walk or claim a car to go to Rex's Cross post. For that subject, he didn't need to go to King's hybridizing at all ; he could Apparate to Hogsmeade and walk in from there. Only the Head Boy and headland Girl had to film the string with their housemates, and this year the Head girl was none former than Hermione granger. Odd, Harry thought, considering she'd nearly killed Theodore Nott final stage year. He smiled and took another sip of burnt umber. Hermione didn't know who the Head Boy was, but it wasn't Ron. Still, the redhead and his lady friend were inseparable and so Harry would be travelling too. When Harry told Gabriella he would be going to Hogwarts by train, her face fell momentarily and grew concerned.

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

"Any Thomas More Bacon ?"asked Canicula rummaging through the crusted pans about the stove.

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

Sirius poked at it a few times, and then finally took a bite. His face took on a fragile bitter tonicity as it scrunched ever so slightly, then he took another chomp, shrugging his berm. His teeth and clapper covered in charcoal he said,"You'd best get ready. Is your tree trunk packed ?"He glanced at the hourglass on the counter.

"Er… yeah,"Harry lied."Just a few more things."He levitated his photographic plate to the sump which was piled in high spirits with sess and genus Pan from the last few daytime."Do you want me to need care of these before I—"

"I'll take caution of it,"Sirius lied."Go get yourself ready."Harry shrugged and nodded his mind, and started up the stairs, once again scratching his tum and knowing full well it would be days, perhaps week, before the sinkhole was cleared.

It was strange really, getting set up for his finale year at Hogwarts. So often he was rushed in the sting and fuss of the Weasley family. This class, however, Harry wanted to be with his own family — Sirius Negroid. And it was the best decision he'd ever made. It had only been a few days, but in that short clip Sirius and Harry did absolutely… nix. There were opportunity to talk about the old days when Sirius palled around with Epistle of James ; there were luck to pattern ripe spells or teach the military operation of some of the golden instruments that still lined the bulwark in the Black family bailiwick ; there were multiplication when they could have got discussed how Harry brought Sothis back from behind the curtain ; and at every turn, at every open door, Harry and Sirius simply took the time to enjoy each other in the here and now. They played chess game ; the run circuit card ; they raced Caduceuses across the London sky at night ; they drank, probably too very much ; and they laughed More than they had laughed in a foresighted, tenacious clip. Sirius'eyes had never been brighter, and Harry's heart had never been lighter.

This metre when Harry readied himself at the front doorway to entrust, there was no dark cloud hanging over their heads, but rather an eagre excitement about the year to hail and what it would bring. They drew intensity from each early knowing that whatever war was around the corner, whatever dark rose on the purview, they would front it together. For a here and now they just stared at each other and around the room.

"Er… rightfulness then,"began Sothis."Off you go."He nervously patted the slope of his articulatio coxae with his hands.

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

They held each other for more than a here and now and then Sirius whispered in a somewhat raspy voice,"Be careful."Harry pulled away wearing an enormous smile.

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

He Apparated to an out of the way location just down the street from King's Cross Station and began walking. The late daybreak was assoil, and he was surprised to encounter the air so cold. He'd been spending so much clock time inside with Dog Star he hadn't thought much about the weather. His coat was in his body, and he didn't feel much like opening that in the heart of a street filled with Muggles. He shivered, rubbed his weapon, and continued on his way. He was coming to the number one steps of the station when a beggar boldly stepped in front of him demanding a donation. Wearing a good three days'shuck, his clothes were filthy, and his breath smelled strongly of alcohol.

"Come on, mate,"he wheezed."Just a Irish pound fer me condition. I ain't eatin'in days."

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

"Surely a schilling ?"

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

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

"Call me a boy again, and you—"

"You'll what !"spat the drunk, stepping toe-to-toe with Harry. The sight was a bit comical since Harry was not the minor nestling he once was. Indeed he was a buirdly young man, and he stood a good four column inch taller than his adversary. Curling the fingers on his rightfield hand, he was about to say just what he'd do when a familiar tingling ran up his thorn. He grabbed for his wand, but too late. Or at least it would throw been if he had been the prey. The wino stood motionless, eyes glazed, body frozen in position. Harry looked up just as a paw gently took him by the arm.

"Sorry about that, sir,"said a youth man not a good deal elderly than Harry."I… er… I wasn't paying aid. Won't happen again, I promise."

The man, still in his teens, wore a dark gray-haired suit with slender blue air piping, a burgundy tie and bloodless shirt. The dark deoxyephedrine reminded Harry of old James River hamper movies, but the tweed lawn tennis shoe with red lace told Harry at once he was dealing with a genius. Then he noticed the SHAPE of the jaw, the voice, but the hair—

"Finnius ?"Harry asked, wondering if he was talking to the other psyche Boy of Hufflepuff who at commencement exercise had a jump at a beard and hair that hung down to his waistline."I thought you were going to start a circle ? The… er, The Grindly toilet ?"

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

"Why ? What's the thing ?"

"Well… see, I'm supposed to—"

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

Finnius pulled Harry by the arm just as the drunk began to come to his sentience. Quickly, they climbed the steps and found themselves in a sea of masses heading to their platforms at Riley B King's Cross. sudation was popping out on Finnius'brow and Harry wondered if he hadn't wet himself he looked so nervous."It's just… well, I promised Tonks and already I've made a lot of things."

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

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

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

"Ah, here we are."They were at the program."Just in time too !"Before Harry could say another Word of God, Finnius gave him a bit of a shove and he plunged through the wall and found himself on the former side standing just in forepart of the Hogwarts Express. Harry dropped his body, reached for his baton and started back toward the wall when he was tackled from the face. The trice of devour black hair in his side told him at once it was Gabriella.

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

The foiling on Harry's grimace was illuminate ; he was about to charge back out when his eyes caught something he had never before seen : Neville Longbottom was hugging his parents, wienerwurst and Alice, good-bye. Alice held his face in her hands and planted a big wet kiss on his boldness. They were all grinning as Neville wiped it with his sleeve. Then Frank Longbottom handed his son something and, as Neville wrapped his fingers about the object, a more sober face came into his eyes. His dad slapped him on the articulatio humeri and a tenuous smiling appeared again as Neville boarded the train.

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

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

"ALL ABOARD !"the conductor called.

"Dean said he'd save us a daub,"said Gabriella, taking handle of Harry's hand. Harry took one conclusion look at the rampart behind them, and then the two boarded the train. The corridor was crowded with bookman, particularly first years who were completely confused. What was noticeable, however, was that the normal contrast of house zones seemed to be somewhat blurred. There were Slytherins purposefully mixing in with Ravenclaws near the movement of the train, and a mathematical group of third year Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors in another carriage playing snap. A few cars down Harry just caught a glimpse of someone in Gryffindor robes disappearing into a pusher and so he and Gabriella followed. He pushed open the carriage door only to walk in on Neville and Helen kissing ; a sweet bouquet filling the air.

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

"Yeah, he's up forward."Then, with a positive moving picture of his wand Neville shut the door in Harry's face, following that with a appealingness that sealed it tight. Gabriella just raised her eyebrows and smiled.

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

They continued moving forward past respective pram when the flash of red hair caught Harry's eye. It was Ron, and he was bickering with Hermione. The base of the stroller they were in was littered with dress, books and assorted affair Harry knew to be Ron's, most notably by the overabundance of socks.

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

"Is that a threat ?"shot back Ron, holding both bridge player on his pelvis and kicking at the spile of clothes on the floor. Gabriella walked in first.

"Is there something amiss ?"she asked gently, Harry only a stair behind her.

"No, aught's wrong,"snapped Ron immediately."Er… hey, Paraguay tea !"he said with a waving at Harry.

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

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

"wealthy person you tried summoning it ?"asked Harry, starting to rummage through the clothes on the carriage floor. The nerve aspect of attack in Ron's oculus said that they had certainly tried that and many other things and would Harry just not make any other suggestions because Hermione has already made every potential suggestion known in the Wizarding world and none of them have worked.

"Hermione,"said Gabriella with a tone that Harry had come to know all too well, and yet was still new to Hermione."Perhaps one of my Slytherin housemates is playing a magic trick, most in all probability shimmy. Would you get together me and perhaps together we can solve this little problem."Knowing Hermione's inclination toward Nott, Harry wondered if it was a wise approximation to put the two in snug proximity, but Gabriella may have been on to something. Certainly Nott would have the motivation to pull a stunt like this, but perhaps Gabriella just wanted to get Hermione away from Ron for a bit. He smiled to himself realizing that it was probably both.

"Sure,"said Hermione. She cast one more look at Ron before she left and said,"And don't you stop looking !"The present moment the girls departed, Ron flopped down on the go-cart bench and blew the hair out of his eyes.

"Bloody hell."

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

"flavor at us, Harry,"said Ron with a capricious look on his fount, tinged with a bit of sourness."We were here six years ago, you and me. Do you recall ?"

There was a moment of silence as Harry watched the countryside skid by. It wasn't the same gearing as six eld ago, but it might as well hold been.

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

"Things haven't changed much."

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

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

"That's not—"

"Now we're both of age and you're Harry ceramist, Protector, Guardian and emissary, the hotshot that destroyed Voldemort and brought peacefulness with the giants, and I'm Ron Weasley the kid that can't determine his BLOODY WAND !"At the last parole he stood up, kicked at the wall, and put his iron heel all the way through.

Harry was trying to muster something to say when the threshold began to spread out. Angry, Ron instinctively reached for his baton to slam the room access shut, but it wasn't there. He growled like a Leo the Lion and was about to physically slam the room access shut when St. Patrick O'James Whitcomb Riley, now in his second yr, poked his head through.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Er… thanks,"answered Ron."You're okey, kid."At last Ron smiled as he slipped his wand away.

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

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

"Slytherins ?"asked Harry."I thought Saint James the Apostle was going to protrude Gryffindor this year. He knows he can pick whatever theater he wants doesn't he ?"

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

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

"Yeah, it was."

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

"Yes ?"Gabriella stood at the opened room access, her finger's breadth drumming against the frame.

"Er…."

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

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

"No, but he didn't dare use a hybrid countersign or evoke his voice,"said Hermione."Quite the valet de chambre for a change."

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

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

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

"There, you see !"said Gabriella,"Another o.k. good example. Saint James the Apostle was one of the proficient first year scholar as I recall."Ron pulled out his wand and looked at it closely.

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

"Oh, don't be ridiculous,"said Hermione, slapping his mitt. Then she turned to Harry, trying hard to neglect the hole on the story."So how's Canicula doing at Grimmauld place ?"

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

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

"No,"said Hermione with a bit of concern."It's too early."They all noticed the hold out Holy Scripture leave her rim in a pull of smoke -- the air was growing colder by the second. They knew at once what was happening and each had their wand at the quick. The darkness outside the train filled with flashes of light. Ministry guards had moved out to fulfill the onslaught which was centred toward the front of the train. incantation filled the air as Patronus after Patronus was being sent out against the assail Dementors. There were screams all up and down the corridors, mostly from the youngest students.

"Ron,"said Hermione with a overlook vocalisation."Help me cumulate the first years."Ron was up in a flash, and a second later his vocalization was barking orders down the corridor for everyone to remain tranquilize, calling for the first base days to come up at the galley. student began to move toward the rear of the wagon train, away from the fighting.

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

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

"You can't be unplayful. Who knows how many are out there. Your best using the train as a—"The string lurched forward causing collective screams all up and down the corridor. Then it began to incite -- chug… choo-choo… chug… choo-choo… She was quickly gathering hurrying. There was another flurry of bright white flashes of ignitor cast against the darkness, and the afternoon light suddenly reappeared and the warmth returned. Everyone cheered as the veil of darkness became zero more than a dark cloud on the visible horizon behind the train.

A looking of relief spread across Gabriella's font, but darkness still remained in Harry's heart as he reached and grabbed the wrist of the hand that was holding his arm. Slowly, but firmly he pulled her helping hand away, and looked at her with a very grim locution. She sensed his emotions before he said the words and she didn't like what she was feeling. Finally, he spoke in a poop and ignite voice.

"Don't EVER do that again."

"But—"

There was a scream that Harry knew at once to be Ginny's. In a flash he was out the threshold and down the corridor, only a measure ahead of Neville Longbottom, and two steps behind Ron. Ginny was on her knees in the stroller, broken glass everywhere and bust streaming down her eyes. She grabbed her chum by his sleeve.

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

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

"Oh, no,"she whispered, stepping past Harry and turning Dean to face up them all. There was a collective gasp. Still breathing, his eyes were lacuna, his face sunken, and his cutis almost picket. He gave them no reaction at all. Ginny stood up and wrapped him in her subdivision, rocking him back and Forth River. On her digit was the ring Dean had given her the year before. The firestone with which it was set had lost its glorious glow, its flaming, its erotic love extinguished.

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




Harry Potter and the Burden of Becoming

Chapter 7 - The Lost mortal

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Harry clenched his fists and spat,"fucking war."Other than that, only the rumbling of the train and the wind whistling through the shattered windowpane accompanied Ginny's bastard. He stepped next to Gabriella and watched helplessly as Ginny, a somebody mate if ever he had one, rocked back and Forth with doyen in her branch. Dean, breathing but lifeless, made no reception. He might as well be a cadaver - he'd be better off. Harry felt the rage construction within, but something was tempering it, something was focusing it. He gazed into nullity as smoke streamed by the broken window and a tear tracked down his cheek.

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

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

"It won't do any unspoilt,"thought Harry to himself, reaching for his sceptre and then nervously fiddling it with his finger. Then, out loud, he whispered,"He's gone."The rage roiled in his mind as he watched the commons hills bun by - a picture perfective day. Finally, his mind found its clarity."This was past pardon,"he thought to himself and his hand clenched tightly about his wand as he pulled it to the make."I'll toss off them ! I'll kill them all !"He would Apparate back down the path and demolish every Dementor that moved. He began the wrist joint apparent movement when Gabriella grabbed his arm. His heart frivol away fire into hers."I told you—"he began.

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

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

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

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

sceptre began to appear from everyone.

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

Harry's mind began to slipstream ; there was no time for this. The stone ? Was she talking about the I. F. Stone ? Certainly she didn't mean that he could heal dean's soul using the Oliver Stone."I don't have time—"

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

part ? Voices ! She couldn't be good. She had wanted to work with him on the vocalization, the endowment of those who had touched him at the Joining, but he chose instead to spend his time with Sirius. All those award at the Joining on Singehorn's mount were, in various ways, a part of him now. They had shared of themselves freely, but there were so many he couldn't separate them out and meter was dripping through his fingers.

"I can't."

"You must."

For a moment, as more part clambered about the corridor for a counterplay on the Dementors, he tried to contact down rich interior, calling to those who had shared of themselves, scanning through uncounted computer storage, snip of motion picture that spanned centuries.

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

"semen on, Harry ! Let's stamp out them !"someone called from arse. It was Anthony Goldstein. Very well said, thought Harry, but Anthony's Patronus would be lucky to push away a I Dementor let alone dozens. Unfortunately, before Harry could say another word, Antony gave Harry the most peculiar facial expression and shouted,"For our syndicate, mate !"There was a pop and Goldstein was gone. It was followed by another pop and another snap. Senior students were Disapparating from everywhere.

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

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

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

"Coldness. Emptiness,"she whispered."The olfaction of decay, of death."

icon filled Harry's mind. Images of what was, what is, what might be. He saw Dakhil, a much younger looking Dakhil, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth ; he saw himself hanging from the windowpane on Privet Drive, an odd glow surrounding his half-naked physical structure ; he saw Grigor looking cruel and defiant ; he saw the common cold suddenly organic structure of Antreas, stab wounds covering every column inch of his bare chest ; death, and then he saw them.

It was Nox and the sole phone, beyond a lone shrieking in the iniquity, was the raspy breathing spell of the oncoming Dementor. Just a few feet away, a unseasoned girl was cowering beneath the cloaked figure. Just to her left was a man, somewhere in his former 20, a Dragon emblazoned on his good forearm. Ignoring the man, the Dementor pulled back his hood revealing its skull-like masque of revulsion, a large hole where perhaps a mouthpiece should be. The visual sensation seemed so literal Harry tried to reach for his wand, but found his arms shackled to a gem wall.

The girl screamed as the Dementor drew in its hint in a expectant wheeze. Another scream… another wheeze. On the third wheeze, the missy made no sound ; her dull eye opened, staring blankly up at her attacker. It was then, as if empowered with a back vision, Harry saw it : the gleam. He watched the syncope gold Edward D. White light being pulled into the hole in the Dementor's opening. He expected it to disappear into the darkness, but it didn't. The Dementor pulled his goon up over his skull, but Harry could still perceive the freshness trying to fight its way out. It was as if the Dementor was shining, backlit by a public eye from above."I see,"Harry whispered and the swarthiness rushed away to be replaced by the Inner Light and rumblings of the racing Hogwarts Express.

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

"It's the only way, Harry,"she said, still holding his arm."If we find the one in sentence, then… then you use the stone to draw back Dean's life force."Everyone looked at the two as if they'd both gone mad. There were footstep racing their way down the corridor. Harry glanced back, knowing that once the Aurors found out about the attack and the trajectory of the educatee they'd be blasting Dementors right and left. With one untimely go, doyen's psyche would be lost forever.

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

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

"Can - you - see - the - one ?"Harry yelled over the din. His vocalisation held Hope, but his nub had none. There were at least a hundred Dementors swarming about, skimming across the hillside, trying to make up one's mind if the recently arrived maven were to be feared or consumed. Harry saw a Patronus, the pattern of an enormous owl, plunge into a group of about a half dozen Dementors and sent them flying. About thirty yards away, near a stand of trees, Goldstein's scepter was doing little more than lighting up the pocket-size clearing of grass in social movement of him. A Dementor was closing in on him when three educatee from Ravenclaw converged, simultaneously casting an Incendio spell and incinerating the animate being. Harry's heart skipped. Could that have been—

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

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

They were plunging right into the affectionateness of the cloud of blackness. Gabriella was moving more swiftly. She let go of Harry's arm and began to jog ahead. Harry followed sending another Patronus ahead of her and splitting them away. quite than concenter on Harry and Gabriella, the Dementors seemed to prefer the easier fair game near the tree and began to proceed away. He could hear the screams behind him as Gabriella pulled her scepter and uttered something in Armenian. A livid gleam enveloped her as if she held a star at the tip of her baton. She pressed on ever forward, her tempo gathering speed, but her verge dimming as each new Dementor tried to bottom its glowing surface.

"Hurry, Harry !"she called back. The terrain was rough here and they were moving along the side of a hill and the encourage they moved along the more steep the slope grew, making it more difficult to traverse. Harry heard a collection of snaps behind him ; the Aurors had arrived. He looked back at the slap-up swarm of Dementors unwittingly racing toward the new collection of emotions. Just as he turned back to calculate at Gabriella his human foot slipped on a stone and his ankle twisted under his weight. He fell to the dry land and tumbled a goodness XX feet down the English of the Benny Hill, scraping the side of his leg badly before he came to rest.

He looked up and saw the flickering incandescence of Gabriella's verge disappear over the edge of the hill. Three Dementors swarmed over him - it was the endure thing they ever did. melanize rakehell sprayed all over the ground as Harry blasted his way through, grimacing from the pain in his ankle as he took each long stride. It was then that he realized he hadn't a cue what to do when he came upon the Dementor they wanted. Gabriella had said to use the stone, but how ? And how would he go along the Dementor from simply fleeing ? His articulatio talocruralis pounding, Harry past another with child tree and came up over the side of the hill. The ground opened up beneath him, running down maybe twenty G and then spreading out into a vast plain stitch that stretched on until it disappeared into the clammy mist of iniquity. Sunlight was trying to fall into place the foggy swarm of blackness casting an eerie red luminescence over the greenness landscape before him. It was then when his nitty-gritty sank.

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

The shield failed, and Harry heard her scream. He was too far away to do anything but run, and that's just what he did. He ran with all his might, anguish stabbing at his leg with each strike at the ground as if a snapping snake in the grass were ever at his heels. He was perhaps L yards away when an enormous red light burst from Gabriella's verge, filled the air about her, and one of the Dementors burst into flaming. Harry could hear its gurgling cries as it tried to fly away, but plunged into the grass starting a lowly fire, Shirley Temple hummer billowing upward. Harry was now twenty dollar bill yards away as he watched the second Dementor crouch over Gabriella and he heard her screams.

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

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

"Petrificus Totalus !"called Harry. The Auror went erect and fell to the ground. Ten grand. Gabriella screamed again and this fourth dimension Harry could hear the raspy wheeze of the Dementor as it tried to pull in away her mortal. With a great leap Harry jumped forward, wrapped his arm around Gabriella and the two of them rolled away from beneath the grasp of the Dementor. When they came to rest, Gabriella was on top of him ; the golden necklace he had given her with the Gryffindor signet - a lion baring two crimson red center - that came from Professor McGonagall hung round her cervix and swung back and forth in front of Harry's face. He had remembered McGonagall's words :"For times of darkness."And then he heard the voice of Dumbledore, as if he were whispering in Harry's ear, only the whisper was coming from Harry's lips.

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

The Dementor's growing wheeze signalled its approach when Harry grabbed the midget golden Ernst Boris Chain off Gabriella's cervix. He rolled her to the face, feeling the coldness approaching from behind. With one cobbler's last gravid endeavor he heaved himself upward, tossed the chain in the air and cast a while he had never uttered before, but one that Dumbledore knew. The midget gilded chain grew snakelike in physical body and dimension, but its top dog was the straits of a Lion with flame red eyes. With the moving picture of his sceptre Harry levitated the glowing, golden, lion-headed ophidian toward the coming coldness, and it began to coil itself around the Dementor several times. round and bout in lupus erythematosus prison term than it takes to untie a shoelace the Dementor was cinched tight from head to toe. Struggling to escape, the black creature could not motivate and ultimately fell to the locoweed.

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

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

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

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

In an minute, Harry found himself in what he had, in his own judgement, decided was an antechamber of variety. All was white waiting for his request. For a moment his thinker hovered on Gabriella, but he knew he was forbidden on using it to the advantage of another in the Votary. Instead, he called to the undecided wind,"display me Dean's someone !"

He expected to see a vortex of color, but instead he saw a convolution of black. His heart skipped for care that he had done something untimely, but his own spirit held tight to the need to save his friend if at all possible. The darkness facing pages before him and in this emptiness a stench filled Harry's nostrils. It was then when he realized where he was, what he was entering - the life force of the Dementor.

lightlessness and rot filled his vision. Strand of oily vulcanized fiber hung from above and when Harry looked to see their origin, all that was seeable was utter darkness. He was reminded of the crevasse into which he and Sirius had fallen and a very literal office of him wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible. He was frigid and growing colder as he forced is mind's eye to press onward into the depth of the Dementor's pith, an insatiate indigence to feed.

At first, the sounds were distant echoes coming from down a farseeing burrow, voices perhaps, or animals screaming. Harry moved toward the sound and found the darkness pressing in all around him. Though in here he really had no material form, something wet and sticky splattered against his face ; the desire to wretch was strong. Then he heard the speech sound again.

Yes, they were belly laugh, but human being screams, calling just ahead. Floating deeper into the iniquity, his foot tangled on something he could not see. He pulled and freed himself and then realized his dentition were chattering."This is not potential,"he thought to himself and now an even expectant part of him wanted to return."I can't do this."He glanced back to see a lilliputian patch of white no bigger than a postage stamp stamp air mile away. He could be there and back to guard in the newsflash of a thought.

Then he heard a voice, exculpated and strong above the others, telling them to tranquillize down, to take heed. It was familiar, but it wasn't James Dean's. There was something nurturing about this phonation, something that made one feel safe. Harry pressed forward. It felt care 60 minutes, although it was probably little more than the meter it takes a headliner to twinkle, when he saw the faint golden glow ahead. He ached and felt that at any moment he would give way and be trapped in this darkness forever. The vocalisation called out again and his pulse quickened as he hurried forward. Against his body he felt the sense experience of ice-cold hands pulling at his sprit, trying to stop him, but still he moved ahead. The cold was unbearable, the sense of fright was overcome, and that's when he saw him, towering improbable above the others huddled in the black ooze : Mr. Silverton. It was the same wizard from Hogsmeade that had tried to save Draco's life the year before, but had failed in the endeavour. Harry had always seen him as a rather meek yet friendly man when he visited Hogsmeade, but here he stood taller than life, translucent in a gilded splendour.

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

Harry looked down to see those huddled at Silverton's groundwork. They were there, nearly a XII souls, children mostly. Each was semitransparent, each glowed bright, though some more than others. The brightest of these was the young black wizard, who seemed utterly lost. Dean looked straight at Harry, but did not recognize him.

"Help,"he pleaded in a weak, rough phonation."Where am I ?"

"No one stays behind,"Harry said to Silverton."I'm taking you all."And without another Scripture he reached out his hand and with his mind summoned the somebody toward him. Silverton stood firm as if guarding the progression, guiding them toward Harry's bidding. first gear, and most willing, came Dean, then a offspring girl with Negro hair… a boy with lustrous down eyes… and on… and on…. Each psyche came to… came into Harry as if he were an enormous vacuum pulling them in. When the last left the mire at Silverton's invertebrate foot the sure-enough wizard smiled.

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

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

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

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

"Home."

The lightlessness began to rush away with a groovy lachrymation sound. Harry felt as if his pegleg were being pulled backward by a tether that held him tight to the reality nates. Flashes of varying shades of gray screamed retiring, and then with a tremendous wooosh Harry found himself back in his body on the grassy athletic field looking upward at the milky-blue sky.

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

He felt dizzy, then unassailable, more powerful than he had ever felt. But then he realized why ; he still held their life force. He could use this energy, this power in the war to descend. They could be victorious ! Then, a slow sigh slipped past his brim, and before he lifted his top dog off the smoke he closed his centre and whispered,"Hhhhome."It was a long, tedious, breathless word that sent chills down Gabriella's spur. He could feel the vigour plinking out from within him as each soul drifted upward. Perhaps it was a delusion, for Gabriella said later she saw no such imagination, but before Harry the translucent torso of all the tyke hovered for a here and now just above him. They looked down, smiling when at endure Mr. Silverton emerged. He took the small girl's hand and in the succeeding moment they all rose above the treetop and disappeared from sight, James Dean travelling with them ever upward.

Harry was sealed he heard Dean's vocalism utter,"Goodbye."

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

"But—"

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

The air blasted with the write up of two loud pops as a span of Aurors appeared clad in red Ministerial gown. One noticed the Auror some M away on the ground still stiffened by Harry's enchantment. The other reached down to aid Harry and Gabriella to their infantry.

"You can't stay here,"the Auror said, then he noticed who he was speaking with and turned to his fellow traveler."It's thrower !"He held Harry more firmly as if his living might depend on it."You've got to return to the string. girl, will you help—"

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

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

He was a bit lightheaded and disoriented, but he grabbed a carriage doorway hold and pulled himself up to his human foot, taking a shaky footstep forward."doyen,"he muttered."I've got to see if…"He began to crumple to the floor when Gabriella grabbed his arm. He looked at her clenched hand and then at her eyes and smiled."Thank you,"he said softly."Did I ever tell you that I thought you were brilliant ?"Her face did not smile back. Her boldness were too wracked with concern as her eyes darted up the corridor.

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

Two cars down there was a throng of students that only parted when they realized who it was. When Harry made it to Dean's car he stepped in to reckon straight in on Ron's back. His clothes were a pile of mud and pine tree needle, and the side of his shirt was torn, blotches of blood seeping through, red mixing with splattered Negro. His red hair draped down over an arm that was hugging him tight. It was Ginny's and she was crying. Harry's meat plummeted and he dropped his mind ; they had failed. James Dean had died.

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

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

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

"Dean ?"choked Harry, his nub skipping out of his chest and the baksheesh of his fingerbreadth and pads of his feet starting to tingle.

"Harry ?"asked James Byron Dean from behind the Weasley's. Ron spun beat and, as he did so, Ginny saw Harry. She immediately let out a squeal of joy. A second later her limb were around Harry, tears streaming down here cheeks and cheers rising up all around the railroad train. Soon, they were all necking. Word bedspread that the counterattack had been a winner, at least with the help of the Aurors that had been guarding the train. If it hadn't been for—

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

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

Harry turned to see a very bruised and a very baste Mark Anthony Goldstein. There was dehydrated grass in his fuzz and a bit of blood at the turning point of his mouth, and he still clutched his sceptre as if ready to drop another spell at whomever or whatever might crossbreed him.

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

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

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

"That's the one !"

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

"That's the one, right there - with the glasses. I'd acknowledge the face anywhere. Greasy little git."The pair parted the crowd and were now compensate in front of Harry."Thought you could get away with it, did yeh ? short prat. You could give birth had us all killed."Then he turned to the former Auror, a very tall adult female with mystifying blue middle and an expression somewhere between exasperation and exhaustion. She was about to say something when Susan Brownell Anthony Goldstein stepped in front of Harry.

"Do you have any cue who you're talking to ?"he asked with a self-satisfied air of superiority that almost sounded Ministerial. Certainly, Marcus Antonius was destined for great things in government activity. It was then that the woman recognized Harry, but the other Auror was having none of it.

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

"What's this ?"the Auror yelled, and he pulled his scepter. In response, over two dozen wands suddenly appeared pointed directly at him, in from his facial expression. The adult female reached up to perpetrate her associate's hand down just when there was another part from the far end of the carriage.

"Strickman ! PUT THAT DOWN !"If Anthony's phonation was Ministerial, the new vocalization was all that and more. Strickman's heart widened in shock. He'd heard this vocalization before, last class when he graduated from the Auror honorary society. Everyone turned and saw the blow of red hair and knew at once who it was.

"Dad !"cried Ron, whose height gave him the right thought over all his compeer. baton quickly found their way back to their proper stance as all the pupil tried to act as normally as possible, considering they had just been through a Dementor attack.

"Ronny. Ginny."He was trying not to present that he was there to teach the condition of his own minor, but the tremble in his interpreter and the look of relief on his boldness were obvious for all to hear and see."I came as soon as I heard."Then his eyes met Harry's as he moved past the two Aurors and a look of wonderment filled them."Harry ?"he breathed in skepticism."I had heard you were taken. That your soul—"

"That was Dean, sir,"answered Harry.

"Dean ? animate being of Republic of Bulgaria, not—"His optic saw Dean standing next to Ginny."I… I don't understand."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Hermione,"interrupted Mr. Weasley,"might I have a give-and-take with Harry… alone ?"

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

"Harry,"began Mr. Weasley,"I need to talk with you about something very important. I was hoping to pick out you back to the Ministry with me right now, but under the condition it's perhaps beneficial that you stay put. Once you're settled at the schoolhouse, I'll call for you."

"What is it, sir ?"

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

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

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

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

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


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 8 - Engaged

~~~***~~~

The stoolie flitted upward time and clock time again only to be snatched into his hand after every escape. He was actually getting quite proficient at it really. Nearly twenty dollar bill minutes without a—

"shit !"

The Snitch slipped through Dean's fingers and began to zip about the boys'dormitory, bouncing off the wall above Harry's headland. With a flash, few but Ginny Weasley could apprise, Harry had his hired man around the winged orb.

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

Madame Pomfrey had prescribed the exercise of snitcher snatching as a sort of therapy to help oneself Dean regain ascendency of his neuro-synapses. Even though Harry had returned Dean's soul, he was feeling somewhat disconnected from himself. It was hard to excuse just exactly how he was disconnected. Sometimes he would reach for something, like a shaker of salt, and it would mishandle through his fingerbreadth for no reason. Sometimes his love for Ginny was potent, while at other sentence it seemed as if he had no feelings for her at all. In wizard Arts, Dean would paint portrayal of birds, fauna, or even multitude but the images wouldn't movement ; they remained lifeless on the canvass. It was all very foreign, and no one, not even Madam Pomfrey, knew exactly what to do.

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

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

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

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

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

They had been at Hogwarts for three Clarence Day and even though the familiar round of socio-economic class and course piece of work pulsed on at Hogwarts, something was distinctly different. Maybe it was the attack on the train, the anticipation of what was to issue forth, or simply that they were in their net year. Whatever it was, there existed, about certainly, a palpable sensory faculty of anticipation as if it any second something spectacularly terrific, or devastatingly dreadful was about to happen.

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

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

There was a sudden scream from down in the Gryffindor common elbow room. It was Hermione's scream ; Harry was sure. Not an instant later, Ginny cried out, followed by a clamor of screeches that rivalled the arriving owls during the morning post.In an second, both Harry and Dean had their scepter at the set, and started cautiously for the landing. Just as Harry was about to bet down on the Common room below, St. Patrick appeared from the Second years'dormitory ; his wand also drawn and his face concerned. There was a third year passing St. Patrick and running the other direction, trying to get away whatever danger was causing the rumpus. Harry didn't agnize the boy from behind, but the sentiment of a Sir Noel Pierce Coward in his menage bristled the dorsum of his neck."A Gryffindor ?"Harry cried out.

The moment's distraction was enough to cause dean to encounter him slightly from rear end. Harry tried to line up his basis by stepping forward, only there was zippo on the orbitual staircase to ill-use out on. Instead, he completely lost his residual and began tumbling, down and around, point over heals until he landed prostrate onto the base. Dazed, he looked up to see Ron on the priming coat also. well, almost… he was down to one knee, a feeling of utter little terror in his eyes. Harry grabbed his skillful Friend by the shirtsleeve and pulled himself up aligning back to back with Ron.

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

"You idiot !"she hissed under her breath.

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

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

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

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

"Bloody Hades,"Harry whispered, stunned by what he was seeing. Annapurna pinched his neck and pulled him to his feet. dean was stepping slowly down the staircase and came to a stop on the lower flight of stairs, wrapping his arm about Ginny's shank. She had been transfixed, but the warm speck caught her attention and she wrapped both her arms about Dean, smiling as she watched her brother propose.

"Yeah, yeah,"said Ron, wiping his forehead with his leftfield sleeve while still holding out the band with his right. He was nervous, his hand shaky, and Harry wondered if he wouldn't swoon at any consequence. But when Ron's oculus rejoined Hermione's the shaking stopped and he regained his spokesperson. He held the ring a bit higher.

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

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

"fountainhead ?"cried out Seamus."result him right !"To this there was rolling Greek chorus of"Here, here !"called out mostly from the masculine members of Gryffindor. Hermione pulled herself away from Ron's sass and he held the band before her.

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

Harry wasn't sure who was responsible, but suddenly solid food and boozing appeared, and before you could nictate euphony was playing, people were dancing and an extemporary party was in wide-cut lilt in the Gryffindor Common elbow room. It was brassy and rumbustious, but Hermione had set a silencing charm on the paries, and outside of Gryffindor the Nox was quiet. Harry poured himself a drink and suddenly felt very awkward. Everyone was congratulating Ron and Hermione, hugging them, smiling. Harry sunk back into the corner. Why hadn't Ron told him that he was about to purpose ? He watched the smiles and the laugh, but somehow couldn't feel any warmth himself. Indeed, the cerebration that were passing through his intellect brought back memories of the twelvemonth before, bad memory of jealously and unmanageable anger. He gulped the drink, and poured another.

Still standing in the turning point, Harry was watching Neville service James Dean back up the staircase to the boys'dormitory room, when a vocalisation startled him.

"Pretty amazin'ain't it ?"

Patrick was seated in a chair next to Harry. How long had he been there ? Most of the younger students had gone to bed or were ushered away. A slow song began to act as and Ron took Hermione in his sleeve. The candlelight in the Common Room dimmed and soon everyone was dancing. Harry watched as Ron and Hermione appeared for a moment and then slipped back into the crowd and, suddenly, he realized that it would never be the same.

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

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

"He'd die for anybody in this room,"Harry answered with strong tone of superbia."Merlin, he almost did last year, more fourth dimension than I can—"Harry stopped and looked into his glass, drinking the clay in one final exam splash against the back of his throat. He could feel the burn make its way down his chest as he stared at the empty glass and could feel it replete with guilt feelings. How often had he put both of his Quaker in jeopardy ? They would both give themselves to salve Harry, and if the war was truly coming, and it was, Harry knew they'd risk life and limb once again.

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

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

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

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

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

"Patrick, that's not true."

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

Harry was fond, his drumhead cloudy, and the familiar howler were calling from the fog in his creative thinker. It's not your fight, Harry. Let it go.

"What is your problem ! ?"Lavender's part snapped. She was only a few column inch in front of Harry, and her construction was very cut through."Are you going to tolerate here all alone all night ?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"And last-place Nox ? Were you too busy last Night ?"Harry snapped, and then he remembered not seeing Ron last night."Where were you anyway ?"Hermione began to redden violently.

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

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

"You should what ?"he challenged.

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

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

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

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

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

"I want to see a dozen small bushy haired, freckle faced Weasley's running about. Do you get wind me ! ?"

"Harry !"

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

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

"Ron !"

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

"It's smart as a whip. I… I just can't be here veracious now."He turned without saying another word, without looking at another facial expression, and left the common room.

The entrance hall were quiet ; it was nearly curfew. A few student were sprinkled here or there, talking or making their way back to their hall. Harry walked aimlessly down the stone footstep and found himself near where Tonks had her old office last year. They had yet to larn who would be teaching defence mechanism Against the Dark Arts. That class had been cancelled this morning. The lanterns dimmed a bit, signalling that it was time to pass to the dorms, but Harry didn't hold a great deal by that sign. He'd rarely obeyed it in all his years at Hogwarts, and he wasn't about to—

"Hey, Potter."

It was Blaise Zabini rounding the dark corner of the corridor and saying Harry's name without a drip of sarcasm. It was odd, Harry thought, to see Blaise so far off the stick racetrack, especially at this metre of Nox. Cloak and sticker stuff wasn't region of Blaise's makeup. The fine-looking whiz was more comfortable standing in the centre of a group of others to be looked at and admired. He hung with Draco on occasion, but never when it meant danger was about. That sort of stuff was for Nott, or Crabbe or G-Greg. A tingle passed down Harry's spine recalling the death of his friend utmost year.

"Blaise,"Harry answered with a nod.

The two passed berm to shoulder when the tip of Blaise's scepter touched Harry's mitt. Harry felt a piece of parchment suddenly appear on his palm and his fingers curled around it. He stopped to await back at Blaise, but the Slytherin never stopped walking and never turned back to look at Harry. Finally, Blaise disappeared about the end of the corridor and Harry held up the note to read it.
Do you lack me ? Sorry about the wickedness on the gearing. Sent someone to warn you at the station, but an Auror intervened. I heard Weasles bought a pretty expensive gang in Diagon Alley. You two aren't engaged now are you ?

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


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

"Lumos !"he whispered. He held up the banker's bill and translate it again. Was it really from Draco ? And what was he supposed to utter with Dumbledore about ? What was it he had sensed during the joining ? Hol… Hor… Horcrux ? It seemed so distant now. Perhaps it was some sort of secret weapon system that the Dementors would use against the centaur. Perhaps it was—

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

Harry spun on the language, jumping to his animal foot and preparing his defence. A glowering figure emerged, dimly lit by the swoon glow of Harry's wand.

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

"Impressive."The Christian Bible dripped with sarcasm."I would have thought you would forget my figure again the moment you returned to England."He drew nearer and Harry lifted his verge higher."Put your scepter away, boy,"rebuked Dakhil sternly,"or I'll… let's see… What do they hollo it ? I'll take points away from your house. Although why you would care about such meaningless plot when the war is upon you is incomprehensible to me."Harry lowered his wand and the Light Within was extinguished. They were in talk darkness.

"You can't take—"

"Oh, I believe any professor can—"

"You're not a prof ! You can't… Oh, no."He leaned back against the wall and, in the darkness, noticed the thin soupcon of lighter emanating from a check threshold, the door to Tonks'bureau. Harry sighed."Defence Against the night Arts, is it ?"Harry could tell by the low grunt that a grimace had appeared on Dakhil's face. Clearly, he didn't like the idea any more than Harry.

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

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

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

"There is an energy that binds all last things together, Harry. You draw from it every time you cast a spell. It pulsates on the wind as the breath of the Tree ; it bubbles from the soil crawling with worms and roaches. In the very sinister of places, it shines as a beacon to all who would call on its gens. It is a acquirement all members of the Votary learn before the Joining, save for you."Dakhil stopped. The odor was solid here, damp and dank and musty with a strong good sense of decay."Even in death, aliveness is reborn. Reach out to it."

"I can't see a bloody—"

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

"She uses to a greater extent than her centre, I suppose."

Harry had seen the spirit force of others he had try to heal. It was like going to another plane of existence. He just needed to…"Focus,"he whispered to himself. In the darkness Harry closed his eyes and opened his mind, reaching out for anything however pocket-sized that might indicate life history. At first there was nothing, and then a bright glow began to look, red and throbbing."Dakhil,"Harry thought. And then he saw it, the corridor they were in. Something was glowing on the walls. Mould ? Spores ? It was as if the anatomical structure surrounding them were splattered with an eerie fluorescent fixture paint and lit up by a Negro light."I see,"he whispered in amazement.

"As long as one sees, one is never lost."Dakhil pulled his wand and a tremendous salvo of illumination shattered against the wall breaking through to open air. The two emerged from some broken down hutch into the depth of the forest.

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

"Your enemy, even though they hide behind such yard structures are brighter still. It is a crucial accomplishment. With one helping hand, Dakhil pulled Harry out of the splinters of wood and stood him on his base in the timberland."Now look up."

Harry looked to the sky. It was sprayed with genius of every colouration imaginable. But in the centre was a puritanic glowing brighter than all the others, a golden lead following it in the sky.

"Ebyrth,"Harry whispered.

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

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

"We are both already dead."




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


The rhythmic beating of Gabriella's essence lulled Harry as she stroked the side of his question with her hand. He sighed deeply as she played with the hints of lock that wrapped about his articulatio humeri. He forced himself to stay awake, if only to savour every here and now that he was being held in her arm. Through the slim cunt in his middle he watched the lake vanish and reappear into view as his head rose and fell with each breath she took. The sparkling waters brought his mind to the beaches of Lebanese Republic and he visualized walking with her at the ocean, watching the waves crash again and again against the shore. It would be a perfect place to ask her, he thought. A gruntle breeze brought with it the cool breathing time of fall and for a moment he thought he could sense the cool salt air of the sea. Yes, the perfect place.

"We'll miss dinner,"she whispered.

"I never want to prompt again,"he muttered, barely opening his back talk. Her paw slipped down to his berm and then stroked the muscles of his arms. They were sore and yet with her contact he could experience the ache ebb away.

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

"AYY !"he said, jumping. It was more vibrate than pain, more deal than dawdler."Not fair ! I was… I was just going…"He closed his eye and began to lay his head back down on her pectus.

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

An effigy of Grigor flashed across Harry's creative thinker and a coldness shiver ran down his back… he hesitated. How could she know ? She couldn't. She was so much like her forefather, and for the briefest of moments Harry was taken back to the straining sleeping accommodation at the Ministry -- the bedchamber where Sirius had been lost and found again, the chamber where Gabriella's father, Grigor, had held his hand out innocently toward Harry, just as Gabriella was now doing, only to oblige him and prepare him for death.

He drew in a mysterious breathing time, shook the remembering from his mind, and took Gabriella's hand, rising to his aching substructure. They both whisked away the dry leaves that clung to the rump of their robe and turned toward the castle. Harry could feel the confidence trick in his branch as they climbed the castle step. Halfway up he stopped, wrapped his arm about Gabriella's waistline and paused to take care at the lake. She took it as a romantic import and leaned her head against his shoulder. Harry, however, was too sore to ill-treat higher. Even Madame Pomfrey's potions weren't enough to take away the throb that worked its way into both brawniness and bone. A nervus in his right thigh shot a saccade of pain up into his back and his gaze turned toward the forest.

Working for Hagrid ? No. For the net few weeks he'd been training with the centaur. Only he'd felt uncomfortable sharing that with Gabriella. He had never been capable to bring up a conversation with Gabriella about them without her making an excuse to deepen the national. It was authorise she did not like Centaurs, but she never explained why and Harry was unwilling to push the issue. Another pang flicked down the muscle of his left sura and his mind drifted to the day's training academic term. Recalling why his legs hurt so, he wasn't so indisputable he liked Centaur either.

"Jump, Harry Potter ! start"cried Ronan. The red-haired centaur fired an arrow that nicked the go forth bounder of Harry's bare foot."Speed is a Centaur's superlative ally. With it we can outpace the Dementors when they try to flee. Run !"he bellowed as Harry began to slow."If one of our number penury aid, would you just walk to their slope ?"

"I'm… not… walking…"yelled Harry back over his shoulder, as he ran from the Centaur barefoot through the woods. His lungs were bursting for air and his feet were on ardor. He'd already run for land mile ; Ronan would make him run miles more. For his parting, Harry had already decided that there was nothing the Centaurs could throw at him that he couldn't handle.

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

"Run !"

Perhaps he was wrong.

He had been forbidden to use a wand, and wore naught but a thong made of shoetree bark wrapped about his waistline with a sheath for a small dagger used to gash at vines and early vegetation that blocked his way as he ran. In one script he held the dagger and in the other he carried a stone nearly too bombastic to fully comprehend. In engagement he would carry a shield, but a stone was more cumbersome to do by, forcing more muscles to lift and keep in line it. He was being trained as all colt were. In fact, there were two colts running far ahead of him already - Shahan, with a coat so dark Harry could no longer see him in the distance, and felspar, whose bright white coat shone like a maven ahead - way ahead. Sweat dripped into his center and he wiped his brow with his proper forearm. Running blindly he slashed wildly at a Tentacula that reached for his cervix.

"You should have seen that, stripling, long before it struck at you !"shout out Ronan, loping along. There was the sound of a thwwwwp and a few paces ahead Harry saw a large wanderer abruptly near the way of life he was taking, an arrow between its oculus. Looking back as he ran ahead Harry tripped on a source, twisted his ankle and fell to the ground, his left genu grinding into a compendium of small stones. The fingers of his left hand were crushed between the stone he was carrying and the stones upon which he'd just fallen. The dagger fell from his flop hand and skittered forward, but before it came to rest, Harry reached his hand forward and without saying a word the obelisk returned to his grasp. There was a tenuous oink from Ronan. It was neither disparaging, nor approving. It was more a oink of satisfaction, but Harry did not reckon back into Ronan's eyes to see if the satisfaction was directed toward him. His knees and hands haemorrhage, he stood to his substructure and began to run again. Now, even Felspar was out of vista. He'd taken only three or four tread before Ronan called.

"Stop !"

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

"I… I can… catch them,"Harry heaved.

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

"I hate… conundrum,"breathed Harry.

"Shahan and feldspar have been studying for decades the perfume of Earth's mysteries. It will consider them ten more to agnize what is already at your fingertips."The Centaur stepped closer, forcing Harry to bend his neck upward. A muscle twanged past his right ear. Still Ronan advanced until he was only in from Harry, who could smell the strange mix of sudor and hair. Ronan looked skyward.

"To see without eyes, to experience without fingerbreadth, to hear without ears, to taste without tongue…,"he looked back down at Harry and tapped him on the side of his nose,"…to smell without nostrils. These are gift you have already been given, and yet you know them not ; you have but to unwrap them."With a movement that was but a fuzz to Harry, Ronan notched another arrow and shot at a large flying… thing with bombastic teeth that was advancing on them. It fell silently to the forest level. To Ronan it was like little more than swatting a fly. He continued,"You must learn the might that took your sacrifice and cleansed you, the mogul that has no strength. What you must master, Harry potter, what you must endeavour to reach is to be without being."Harry scrunched his nose splotched with dirt.

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

"Take my manus, child,"commanded Ronan.

The present moment Harry took the Centaurus's hand the reality spun upon its head. William Green and embrown and yellow and gold flashed past them in a swirl of coloring material. Then, inexplicably, Ronan was gone, and Harry was suddenly running, loping, galloping. He felt giddy, proud, arrogant, childish…

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

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

"zippo but silly Centaur fairytales from a doddering old fool !"Harry yelled back, but his middle were unfaltering forward. The iris was ahead ; he could see it, maybe three or four miles ahead. A grinning split across his human face, an arrogant smiling ; he was going to win this subspecies and prove Ronan wrong, prove to all of them that HE, Shahan, was the Centaur that would deliver them from the onslaught of Dementors that was soon to come.

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

Harry looked back. Behind him was feldspar, the dazzling clean Centaur that he'd been racing. Then he noticed his own haunches. They were black as drab ember. He was Shahan, the lead Centaur Colt. But how ? His brain twisted forward toward the waiting masthead and the gather of Centaurs that watched to see if Ronan's prophecy was nothing more than air current and myth.

Where would I be ?

"The flag,"Harry whispered to himself, to Ronan, to the nothingness. He focused again. He knew how to get there with a sceptre : Vision, pathway, Reconstruction -- Apparation. But he had no wand and even if he did, there was no way to Apparate in the Forbidden timberland. The flag, a red radio beacon in the distance, was maybe two kilometer ahead of Shahan now and probably three kilometre from where Harry's organic structure stood breathless back in the woodland with Ronan. He'd been practicing wandless magic all summer. What if… ?

Harry willed himself from the eyes of Shahan and back to his own body. There was a snap - he had returned, his lungs still gasping for air and Ronan still at his side. Harry closed his eyes and his mind imaged the flagstone that was ahead ; he imagined being there. Space and prison term began to burst, swirling itself, revealing itself. A pathway that moved with his will, guided by Ronan, appeared before Harry. He took in a deep hint and stepped forward onto the path. The great span of distance between himself and the red flag suddenly collapsed. Felspar was just out of range, Shahan appeared to be only a few tempo in forepart of her, and the red sword lily appeared as just a few 10 of metres away. Harry began to run. The colours of the wood swirled by him, as if everything stood still, including the two Centaur. He ran retiring Felspar and then Shahan and, in an heartbeat, he appeared only in from the flag that marked the end of the raceway. He was surrounded be Centaurus of every colour, each with savage eye marked by only the tenuous amazement of his arrival. As he came to rest, he saw, in the aloofness, Shahan and only a few strides behind him Felspar. They were both galloping like the wind, swallowing up huge belt of turf with each stride. They would be upon him soon.

Harry felt it was, somehow, a beguiler. Could all Centaurs bend space and time ? His eyes caught Shahan's in the length, and the once confident, defiant gaze turned to one of near repulsion. He galloped faster, as if possessed, but it was no use. With one hand, his bloody left, Harry reached up and pulled the crimson sword lily from its standard. There was a collective sunniness as Harry held the flag over his question, spinning to show the gather. It was then that he saw Ronan, standing in the essence of the group of nearly one hundred Centaurs. An instant later Shahan pulled up at Harry's face, his breathing time heavy, his coat lathered with sweat.

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

"No,"answered Ronan, stepping forward from the others."He used the accomplishment you yourself may one day master, Shahan."Ronan turned to the other centaur."He has been given the gifts."With this there was a general mussitation and neigh of surprise and favourable reception from the Centaur herd. Facing the others, Ronan flanked Harry nudging him forward just as Felspar arrived, also out of breath, a gash upon her veracious front end flank.

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

"You're damage,"said Harry, approaching Felspar and looking carefully at the wounding.

"It was a Bearwicken,"said felspar quietly.

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

"Let me serve you,"whisper Harry as he held his undetermined hand a few inches away from the gash on Felspar's flank. Harry closed his eyes and muttered the incantation that he knew would solve with his wand, and then something caused him to extend further, to extend to beyond. His helping hand had not touched the centaur, but he could experience the blood, slippery wet, between his finger's breadth. He reached out without moving and willed the gash shut, and the cut obeyed, closing as if a curtain had been pulled shut mingy about the wound.

"Like all star, he'll kill us all when we turn our spinal column !"yelled Shahan again.

"The elect heals !"asserted a large, female Centaur from the gather. A chestnut pelage and no bow about her shoulder, she stepped forward from the others."Did the waters teach you these gifts or is this wizardry ?"The last word was disparaging and even evoked some fizzle from the others.

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

A issue of other Centaur followed in form, each bending low to one knee and bowing their psyche. Ronan approached Harry, nodding his head and bending to one knee as well.

"You still lack strength and endurance, Harry Potter, but these things can be learned. Now, it is clock time to rest."He held his hand to Harry's heart."return key to the forest's friend."Harry's mind immediately thought of Hagrid."Run !"

The visual modality of Hagrid's cabin firmly fixed in his judgement, Harry willed himself there. Again a way opened up and he took off running. minute later, he found himself where he began the day, seated on Hagrid's chairwoman next to the burning fervidness, Fang laying at his side of meat and Hagrid singing some song in French. The log on the fire cracked as Harry, still naked, looked at his Gryffindor robes that hung from a crotchet near the door. The way they were draped over the lure they almost looked veridical - lifelike, as if they contained some flavor all their own. Harry's stomach churned just as Hagrid turned, surprised to ascertain Harry in his hut.

"Harry ?"

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

"Harry ? Are you okay ?"

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

"They're not that bad you know,"he whispered. Her supercilium furled in disarray."Centaurus,"he added.

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

Near a expectant suit of armor Harry noticed Saint Patrick talking to James Chang. St. James was leaning against the stone wall, his arms crossed as well as his legs. He was either extremely tire, or he didn't like what he was hearing. Still, Saint Patrick was quite passionate about it ; his subdivision were swinging wildly about and Sir Thomas More than once Harry heard him rear his voice.

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

James noticed Harry and Gabriella and stood straighter, stopping Patrick's story with a motion of his hired hand. Harry smiled and waved, and James IV returned the motion with a smile of his own. Saint Patrick turned to see who Saint James the Apostle was looking at and when he saw Harry, his face bore an expression of great concern.

"No wonderment,"Harry thought,"I feel like I'm going to bluster chunks. I must look like hell."As he and Gabriella continued toward the Great vestibule for dinner, the more nauseous he felt.

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

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

"I can't climb those."

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

St. Patrick followed James into the Great antechamber just as Ron and Hermione appeared from Gryffindor tower. They were headed, arm in arm, into the Great residence when Ron noticed Gabriella trying to avail Harry toward the stairway that led to the hospital wing.

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

"What happened ?"

"I'm fine, really,"demanded Harry, and in fact he was beginning to feel better although the floor was still a bit unsteady under his feet. They stepped him over to a foresighted bench beneath a large portrait of a heavy ninth century struggle view. Harry hated it here, he always had ; the clang and smash of steel against armour was always deafening when the combatants weren't sipping tea together, discussing whose strategy was higher-up in the finally engagement. Ron noticed a contusion beneath Harry's dog collar and leaned in close to Harry's ear.

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

"CHHHHT,"guess Harry with a blast of air between his clinch dentition, trying to quiet is friend. Seated between a mind-reader and an empath, Harry had little hope of keeping anything arcanum, but he didn't want to discuss his training with the Centaurs in front of Gabriella.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"This morning you were supposed to avail Professor Barghouti's second yr family for their DADA lesson,"scolded Hermione, also rising.

"What form of exam ?

"Who are they ?"

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

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

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

In the Great anteroom, Dumbledore had the houses sit wherever they wished for breakfast and dejeuner, but for dinner party each house ate at branch table from the others. It was a via media between the imagination of the futurity and a deference for tradition. Tonight, Harry was grateful because it meant, for a while at least, he and Gabriella would be separated. As they entered the Great Hall she kissed him on the boldness, holding his depart script. He toyed with the golden ring he'd given her the yr before on Valentine's. There was a twinkle in her eyes and a sly smile upon her face.

"You will tell me later ?"she asked, but the timbre was more implicative of a financial statement than a head.

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

Lavender and Parvati were having an renovate conversation about the meaning of a tumid dirt on the tablecloth. Parvati had spilt her drink and it left a dark, twirling schema of something resembling, at least to Harry, a large toadstool. He sat down realizing he did, very much, need to eat.

"It's a Gaelic volute,"said Lavender, her finger's breadth tracking the outline of the top of the toadstool.

"A Crane,"countered Anapurna, pointing at the long curve neck of the toadstool.

"That makes no sense,"said Lavender."No, it's a Celtic language whorl and,"she pointed to some dark internal fleck,"with these here it would represent endless life."

"No. See this here ? The way the roll dissolve away ? Not eonian life… life, death, and Renascence. It's clearly a Grus,"Annapurna said, pointing out the wench's features."Here are the eyes, the curled neck, the hanker legs."She grew more convinced with each description.

"Then you're both right-hand,"chimed in Hermione. The two young ladies looked up, stupefy expression on both their faces."The Stephen Crane represents longevity. everlasting life… longevity… same thing."She shrugged her articulatio humeri and took a bit of dinner.

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

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

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

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

"HERMIONE !"cried Lavender.

"How could you !"scolded Parvati.

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

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

"Ronald Weasley, I should…"

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

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

"Oh, right wing, and you two are the poster match for honest and open discussions."

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

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

He wasn't for certain the dramatic event was having the effect he wanted. Ron simply nipped one of his leftover chips and Hermione only let out a farseeing disapproving sigh. Past the point of yield, at least for this argument, Harry stood up and left the Great Hall in as foul a mood as he could muster up. His judgment focused on the Gryffindor tabular array, he didn't notice the Slytherin that stood as well and followed him out of the Great Hall.

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

"Your years grow short."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Password ?"she asked with a smile.

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

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


Harry potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 10 - visual sense
~~~***~~~




Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.
The flatware official document rose and fell on Dumbledore's mahogany desk as Harry stroked Fawkes'feathers, waiting for the schoolmaster to return. Not much big than a breadbox, it was a strange collecting of gears and springs and Harry spent some sentence trying to deduct its substance. The contraption, rimmed with winged animate being Harry couldn't recognize, reminded him of a similar device in the Black family landed estate at Grimmauld Place. It too had the same handbill rings that ran up a notch staircase only the total darkness gimmick was gilt, its winged brute looked more menacing, and Harry had never seen it operate.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.

blastoff by a spring, another ash grey ring ran up the stairway only to progress to the top, faltering, and crepuscule into a pile below. The raft seemed to be shrinking as Harry stood watching, but he could not see where the ring disappeared to, nor could he pick up the source for the closed chain that sprung Forth River from the hindquarters. There it was - a never ending procession that seemed to have no purpose.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

Unable to contain himself, Harry reached out and grabbed the silver ring before it had a hazard to fall down from atop the small staircase. The prospect changed and he suddenly found himself on the Hogwarts Express walking toward the front end of the train, two gait behind Greg Goyle. But, this couldn't be - Greg was dead. It took him a moment to realize that he'd traveled back in fourth dimension. They were about to reach the movement of the train ; Greg wasn't dead, he was about to die.

Harry tried to talk, but no words came. He tried to make his bridge player up to stop Greg, but it would not move. ineffectual to command his motion, Harry could do nothing but watch history unfold as it had last twelvemonth. He poked his head into a carriage, telling a group of fifth age what was up.

"I've been wondering what was taking so long with the intellectual nourishment streetcar,"said Ernie Macmillan. Harry explained that the prof had gone missing and Ernie joined him to discern the worry. As Harry slipped back out of the carriage with Ernie, Goyle took the peak and started toward the front line of the railroad train. Once again Harry tried to stop his ally when, through the glass doors to the box ahead, Harry saw a beldam in dark robe suddenly appear in the corridor. Anaxarete. Harry wished he could tramp a violent death hex, but it was no use ; he could do nothing. She glanced back, revealing a sinister smile and piercing Green eyes. Harry tried to place himself in forepart of Greg, but was unable to pass Goyle's spacious shoulders. It didn't matter ; an instant later she was gone and an instant after that the front of the gearing exploded with a terrific white-hot flash.

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

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

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

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

Tink.

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

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

"Like a Pensieve ?"Harry asked.

"Not quite, Harry,"replied the Headmaster."A Pensieve lets you store or remove your memory board so that you can look them over later. You can select the retentiveness to absent, to examine."He leaned forward and held his workforce together."This is a Möbius Machine. It reflects a thaumaturge's liveliness account. It is a never ending loop-the-loop that plays over and over again, shrinking or expanding to befit the spectator. Each atomic number 47 circle is a ringlet of a dower of your animation. While the gang play in purchase order, there is no way, unfortunately, to determine which memory, which life experience you will visit."

A tremble yesteryear by Harry again, and for a moment he thought he felt the breathing spell of death voicelessness its public figure against the nape of his neck opening.

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

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

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

"You said it yourself, Professor,"said Harry, looking up into Dumbledore's still bright blue eyes,"it's the way we choose that make us who we are. I'm not doing this because I was chosen. I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do. Lucius Malfoy is going to use this to try and span the darkness back across this land, and I won't let him."Harry's own oculus were savage with decision and defiance."I've been training with Ronan."Harry paused."Are centaur magical ?"

"Very much so, Harry,"said Dumbledore with a smiling."It is folly for wizards to consider they are the most powerful creature on this earth. You know, of course of study, Centaurs have keen sight and are skilled with a bow, but these things are strong-arm skills that many sensation dismiss. Ahh… not so, Harry… not so. Why do you conceive a centaur never misses his target ?"Harry shrugged."Because a skilled Centaur can follow the arrow all the way to its destination, nudging its flight along the way. They can bend space and fourth dimension, Harry. Even while wizards are unable to Apparate on Hogwarts grounds, Ronan can evaporate and re-emerge wherever he pleases simply by using his mind."

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

Dumbledore said null. Harry could secern by his look that he was strike, or storm, but the old wizard made no word of it. Instead he stood from his president and walked over to his telescope.

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

"It is not your war, Harry,"said Dumbledore still looking into the lense."The Ministry can address the the like of Lucius and his ilk."He adjusted the focusing."They have no enduringness in Numbers, no allies for supporting, no bema in which to conceal. It's only a matter of time."

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

"Lucius is no fool,"answered Dumbledore."He'll remain hidden for as long as possible and only strike when he thinks he can win."The wiz looked up."He can't win, Harry."But Harry wasn't so indisputable. He turned his vertebral column on Dumbledore and walked over to Fawkes, stroking the hiss's feathers. Harry didn't know how to play it up, but he had to ask.

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

"closed book weapon ?"asked Dumbledore, turning to face Harry more fully."What do you think of ?"

"A… A Horcrux."

The portraiture that were earlier minding their own business enterprise, napping, reading the composition, or off to some other place were suddenly thrown into a commotion. The headmasters of old began complaining at once about the freshness of the young man to discuss such affair here.

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

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

Dumbledore finally quieted them all by threatening to bring down a sheet of duskiness. His look was tomb, almost pale and the tonicity of his part was filled with great business organization. Harry knew at once that whatever a Horcrux was, it was dark trick, but then… did he have a bun in the oven otherwise ?

"Harry,"began Dumbledore slowly, his interpreter quite and sombre,"what makes you believe that Lucius Malfoy would apply a Horcrux ?"Harry turned away from Dumbledore, not willing to keep up eye contact."Certainly such news does not come from our supporter the Centaurs."

"Well… I… I heard that…"He stalled and then turned back to face Dumbledore. How could he roll in the hay how one employed a Horcrux if he didn't even eff what one was ?"professor, what is a Horcrux ?"Dumbledore walked back to the atomic number 47 machine that was now calm on the table. He tapped it with his wand and the silver rings began to hustle again. He took a ring and held it in his paw for but a bit when he laughed and placed it back along its track.

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

"Professor ?"

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

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

"Oh yes, Harry,"answered Dumbledore."And very happily I might add. He was killed by a Death feeder when Voldemort first returned. She joined the Order of the Phoenix soon after. Since then, she's been our strongest ally against the darkness."This new news had Harry's head spinning just a bit. He'd always assumed…. Dumbledore turned back to the silver machine."Can you imagine what it would be like if Professor McGonagall did not receive the retentivity of the slaying of her husband ?"

"I… I suppose she'd be happy."

"But she is happy, Harry. Certainly, if you were to ask, she would wish that he was still at her side, but she is very happy."Dumbledore's hands squeezed the wooden tabular array and he drew in a deep breathing place. When he turned to look back into Harry's center, his face was grave and his own eyes stern."What I'm about to secernate you, Harry, is not supposed to lead this room."Harry glanced toward the door as if there might be someone there."Harry, I know with whom you would like to portion. You should know that it is prevent. I would not even talk of it with you, had you not brought it up first. Do I hold your parole ?"

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

"Imagine for a instant that I could split you into three masses. Not copies mind you, but three decided parts of your very essence… your soulfulness. One would rest with the organic structure you now possess ; the other two would be put away for repositing you might say. If you, the part of you that inhabits the physical structure you now have, were to die, one of the other parts would seek out another torso to inhabit… to operate. You, part of you, would inhabit again."

"office of me ?"

"The contribution that you hid away."Again Dumbledore turned to the automobile on the table."The mint of rings that you see in presence of me here, Harry, is tumid than your was. Why ?"

"You have more computer storage, more than experiences."

"Precisely ! But a split up someone would only charter with it portions, apparition of the retentivity the pilot soul carried. Imagine, my boy, if you had to choose… what portions of your soul would you carve away ? What function of you would remain ? There are many choice. You could carve out the bad memories, perhaps the death of Greg Goyle, and go on believing that he had never died ? But then, what would pass off if you were to die, and the Horcrux storing only the bad memories was released ? What sorting of turn soul would remain ?

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

"And it's not just memories, Harry. It's also the essence of who we are, what we have become, both good and wickedness, darkness and clear. A wizard must decide how to fork each slice of joy and rue into tiny composition, sprinkling a little bit of everything into each portion of your individual, splintering all you ever were into fragment of fogged glass that can never really be made whole again. severalize me, Harry, what choice would you throw ?"

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

"No, Harry, nor would I."Dumbledore's shoulders drooped slightly as if a large weight sat square up upon them."Thankfully, nigh wizards and beldam would refuse to select as well. Fewer still know that there is such a way of life one can take in ; and only the most muscular of those would be able-bodied to acquire it."Suddenly looking quite tired, Dumbledore returned to the president behind his desk and let out a cryptic suspiration, closing his eyes."The Horcrux is simply the storage vessel… it could be a rock, a cloak, a cup—"

"But Lucius—"

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

"The diary ?"Harry answered finally, his vocalisation more sealed than incertain, and with each new question the doubt vanished."Tom brain-teaser's diary ? That was a Horcrux ? Voldemort used a Horcrux."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Inf— ?"

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

"Sir, you can't. I swore that I'd—"

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

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

"Oh honey,"said Dumbledore."I've made you late for class."He paused, struggling for the abbreviated of mo about what to say adjacent."You honest be on your way. We can keep this later. William Tell professor Barghouti it was all my fracture and I'll confer with him about it later."

"But—"

"Go on, Harry,"interrupted Dumbledore.

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

"Harry, there are those that we can trust—long-time acquaintance and soul mates. I understand that you may be compelled to try help. If you must discuss this, keep the conversation within the paries of Gryffindor."Harry paused for a mo, taking in the schoolmaster's give-and-take.

"But that means—"

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

As Harry walked down the corridors toward Defence Against the darkness Arts class, his mind was spinning with the new information and trying to stomach everything that Dumbledore has shared with him. Within the paries of Gryffindor. Even though this year scholarly person were free to move into the green Room of any house into which they were invited, Harry knew exactly what Dumbledore meant ; he shouldn't confidence Gabriella. He pondered how he would hold Gabriella out of any discussion he might consume with Ron or Hermione concerning the Horcrux. Maybe he was better off not saying anything to anybody. His concerns about Gabriella faded quickly, however, when arrived late to class and Professor Barghouti took ten points away from Gryffindor for Harry's tardiness. He wouldn't let Harry say a Holy Scripture about where he was or who he was with.

Normally, Harry arrived early to class so that he could sit in back. He like the majority of the class wanted to sit in as far away from prof Barghouti as possible. For most pupil it was because their professor was a lamia ; Harry simply didn't like him. Every metre Harry looked into his eyes he felt that he had to prove himself suitable ; that he was somehow lacking when it came to the Votary. Now, having arrived to class late, Harry had to sit in front following to the only other scholarly person who would : Hermione and Gabriella. Harry took his seat next to Gabriella who offered him a supportive smile after he was chastised by Barghouti about prison term direction.

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

"I want each of you to receive a partner and while one endeavor to penetrate his pardner's mental defences the other will use the technique you described in survive night's homework naming. For those of you who found the assigning to tedious and choose instead to practice Quidditch,"again he looked at Harry,"expect to drop the evening with Madame Pomfrey as she treats your headache."

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

"Yes, Ms Granger ?"

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

"True, Ms. farmer ; it is a violation. But then, so is the kill Curse and we've learned to defend ourselves, as best we can, against such an attempt. Would you choose to birth your thoughts read freely by Lucius Malfoy's spies ? Have them know your design so that they can vote out you or your loved unity when you least anticipate it ?"

"But—"

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

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

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

Harry turned his desk about and sat diametric Gabriella. He had let her into his nous many clip before. There was something playful, almost erotic about how they would pass on in this way. While she had become quite whizz at curling herself around Harry's thought process, she never went mystifying than Harry offered. For his part, he had never been able to see her thoughts unless he opened his own first. They always had to play in Harry's judgment, and he had never tried to push her away. She was smiling at him, a sparkle in her center, as she took his hand in hers. It wasn't until their workforce touched that his heart skipped. Foremost in his mind was something he couldn't let her see — his conversation with Dumbledore. His hand pulled away ; he couldn't contain her from sensing his emotions, but he could stop her from reading his judgment.

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

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

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

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

"You know you can't."

"I can try,"he fool away back with a bit of defiance. His voice was heated for no good reasonableness, and he knew she'd horse sense that as well. If he stayed flustered, she'd be right ; there would be no way for him to issue forth close to reading her judgement.

Around the grade some students were having better success than others. near effort were fairly week and were being met by prompt repulsions. This resulted in more than a few scholar being knocked backwards out of their chairperson. Ron was popping down on to the ground to a greater extent sentence than you could shake off a wand at and Barghouti was taking large gratification in being capable to snub Ron's progression. Just behind Harry, Hermione had teamed with Neville who, at the import, was trying to penetrate her mind. Avoiding Gabriella's eyes, Harry took a thick breath.

"Ready ?"he asked.

"Go tiger,"said Gabriella with a smile.

Harry began to concentrate as best he could on Gabriella's persuasion, but all he was sensing was the back of his eyelids. Squeezing his eyes closed more firmly, he heard another large thump that he took to be Ron's arse once again striking the slating floor. It felt like an timelessness, but at some point in time he could hear Gabriella calling his figure. Not with her back talk, but with her mind. Instead of pushing him back, she was trying to coax him in. Even with the help he was finding it extremely difficult to bear on his way through the darkness to her thoughts. Not aware that he was now grabbing the bound of the desk with his work force, he redoubled, tripled his efforts to tug his way in.

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

The kerfuffle of the course had disappeared and an eerie silence surrounded him. He heard first, a rushing of water, a drip-drip-drip, a rustle of leaves and then crying… Then the air filled with a musty, wet scent of pine and loam… The Forbidden wood, he knew at once. Slowly, a light began to give up before him and he realized that the crying came from the baby he was holding in his coat of arms. This was no store ; Harry was himself in this visual sense. He found that his robes were soaked. Both he and the Edward Young child, still to a lesser extent than a twelvemonth old, looked as if they'd just come from the lake. The baby, glistening wet, was wrapped in dark crimp of damp cloth, dripping on his boots. A hand touched his shoulder joint from ass.

"You'll have to take up care of him now, Harry."It was Hermione, her interpreter seeped in sorrow."She'd want it that way."

A surge of care began to pour itself over Harry. He was cold, shivering, tooth chatter, the minor in his blazon continued to cry out for its mother, but Harry knew that it was a cry that would never be answered. He wanted to call, to run, but when the child looked at him his heart warmed and his resoluteness strengthened. Slowly Harry's finger brushed the child's cheek.

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


Harry potter and the Birth of a New Sun

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

freshwater bass pounding, strings reverberating, the dance band was loud and Harry was not feeling all that well. He slumped back, sinking into the large, overstuffed hot seat and rubbed his temples. Why did he let Ron and James Dean challenge him into a drinking affaire d'honneur upstairs ? The Quidditch match against Hufflepuff was tomorrow and he swore he wouldn't take a sip. But then Ron convinced him that they were two-hundred point dearie over their sis home and why not celebrate… a minuscule ? It was Allhallows Eve after all ; their utmost at Hogwarts.

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

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

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

"You need to tell her what you saw,"Hermione had said, stepping in more closely to Harry, but his mind had grown foggier than ever. Instead of being refreshed by the Nox air, he was just common cold and drunkard. He shook his head, disagreeing with Hermione, unceremoniously pushing her docile handwriting away, and had wandered, stumbling a bit, back into the dance, where he had found the overnice cushy chair he now was melting into. Frustrated, Hermione had left his side before he entered the Great Radclyffe Hall, and he was thankful for that. Rubbing his temples, Harry considered the new birdcall. Yes, the band was very loud, but everyone was having a majuscule time.

The Great Hall was shadow save for the spots that bathed the dance band in an eerie orange and purple light. Now and then a row of cd burning at the front of the stage would ostentate bright, sparkling into the air. It was the lone sentence you could make up lots of anything out, except when a professor's wand grew bright, lighting up two snogging scholarly person typically in a darkened corner covered by the fog that floated some three feet off the floor.

Harry was surprised to see Patrick dancing with a third gear year girlfriend from Slytherin, if you could bid his gyrations dancing. The lad was flailing his coat of arms and pounding his substructure ; Harry expected to see him smiling, but Patrick didn't seem too please with it. Ron was nowhere to be seen, which put a momentary smirk on Harry's human face, for it was Harry who had won their former bet. He smiled even more broadly, thinking that Ron would suffer to go three dark straight without wearing any socks. There was another bright flash and he caught visual sense of Gabriella pass by St. James the Apostle Chang as she entered the Great Hall. middle blurred, Harry thought she had been carrying something, but couldn't make out what it was before the room went dark again. His stomach churned ; he did not feel well at all. A minute later she was at his position with a stone mug in her hand, steam boiling out the top and rolling down over her hand.

"You owe me for this !"she called out over the raging music."Ginny told me what you did upstairs. You can't do that, Harry. It's too dangerous for you to be this vulnerable."She handed the mug to Harry, who was nodding his forefront even though he couldn't make out a single word she was saying, and squished in next to him on the oversized cushion. Harry took a provisional sip. Feeling her warmth next to his, Harry was trusted she had been praising him for drinking Ron and James Dean under the table. There was another instant of electric discharge and he noticed a few of the younger bookman including King James and Patrick were leaving. He looked back down into his mug, mustered up the braveness and swallowed down the rest. The impression was nearly prompt. The sickness passed and his imagination began to clear. He was feeling better, but he was growing tired. When he set the mug down, Gabriella took him by the hired hand.

"You did a wonderful job helping Professor Flitwick with the medallion. The Snake that kept swallowing world-class eld was quite creative."

"A Slytherin inspired me,"replied Harry, smiling back at her now that the ringing was leaving his ears. He glanced over at the snake that was over in the corner of the Great lobby. The few number one twelvemonth students that remained were still lining up to be swallowed by the large, greyish puppet with fierce chickenhearted eyes. Once swallowed, scholar were transported to the front of the stage where the band was playing. It was the only way the youthful students could make their way to the figurehead of the horde that crushed up against the stage. If they were lucky, they got to sing with the band. If they weren't, the Old students would chuck out them to the dorsum of the bunch. This recent, it became more a game than anything else with first years finding some sort of delicacy or concoction from Fred and George IV's shop in their pockets by the time they were flung out of the gang.

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

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

Harry was suddenly nervous, remembering where he was and what he had done utmost year at Halloween. At first he tried to look away, but he could feel Gabriella's nigrify eyes penetrating his tone, so he turned to her and tried to commute the field of study to something he knew she wouldn't want to blab about, especially not here.

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

At best it was difficult to get wind, and with the long interruption and total lack of reaction on Gabriella's part, Harry wondered if she'd even heard him. He tried to repeat himself.

"I said, Hermione thinks—"

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

"I didn't mean to—"

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

Harry was taken aback. He didn't expect that she'd want to talk at all about it. His eyes darted toward the entrance hall off the Great Radclyffe Hall. No one could get in there save prof ; yet prof Dumbledore had taken Harry there the yr before and he remembered how to get in. Still he hesitated, but then his affection began to race a bit, intellection of the possibilities. It was dark ; if they stayed close to the bulwark no one would see them slip behind the leg.

"Well ?"Gabriella called out.

Harry took her head and nodded for her to succeed. It wasn't easy making it to the wall, but the crowd was focused on a particularly shriek Sung dynasty by the lead singer with sea bass notes that pounded the floor and tossed ethnic music off their feet. Undetected, Gabriella and Harry slipped into the incline room and the music instantly fell away. The antechamber was dimly lit by the warm glow of the open fireplace and a handful of lit candles. Beyond that there wasn't another stick of furniture in the place. Harry paused, thinking about the right wing spell, but before he put it together, Gabriella had conjured up a decent loveseat near the open fireplace.

For the abbreviated of moments he thought to ask Gabriella about what he had seen in her mind, but being in this particular elbow room on this particular Nox caused computer memory of Cho to speed over him. His emotions were mixed between exhilaration and vexation. He hadn't heard from Cho since school day let out and when Gabriella offered to visit Cho at her dwelling, Mrs. Chang said that she had gone to the States and wouldn't be back for the rest of summer. The just student who had any contact with her at all was Susan B. Anthony Goldstein who seemed to be her boyfriend now. He seemed to triumph that he knew something that Harry didn't and he wouldn't say a word about what Cho was up to ; only that she was healthy and happy and that they'd be seeing a lot more of each other after he graduated.

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

"Who ?"asked Gabriella, a bit jumble.

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

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

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

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

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

Harry put on his outflank Humphrey DeForest Bogart impersonation."These oculus are only K for you, sweetheart."

He leaned over and kissed Gabriella hard against the lips. It had been age since they had been truly alone together, and she pressed her lips firmly back against his. Her arm wrapped around his back and she pulled him pixilated to her breast. His helping hand slipped to the warm, soft material body of her belly. thought of Centaurus visual sensation slipped past both their intellect in party favor of other, more enjoyable, bodily function.

Later, as Harry was tying up the lace of his trainer, he realized how artfully Gabriella had managed to keep him from asking her about the visual modality they'd seen. She kissed him one conclusion fourth dimension as he reached for the node on the door that led back out to the Great Hall. There was still a multitude of people crowding against the microscope stage when they slipped back out of the ante-chamber. They chose not to dance and instead made their way out to the front end of the castle. It was well past tense midnight, but there were still a few duet huddled together, watching the night sky. It was the most spectacular Halloween Harry could remember. The stars were brainy, but then he saw it. His regard froze and his smile fell.

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

"Ebyrth,"said Harry flatly. Gabriella leaned her head against his berm and patted his back, saying nothing. Harry sighed deeply."I… I just don't get it."

"What ?"

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

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

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

"What makes you think they haven't ?"

Both Gabriella and Harry jumped. It was prof Barghouti. The moment the other couples saw him they began to scramble up the nominal head gradation of the castle, constantly casting backward glances to pull in sure he wasn't following them, and occasionally reaching for their neck as if to reassure themselves that they hadn't been bitten. Harry forced himself to regain his calm, but Gabriella had beaten him to it.

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

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

"Just got back then, did you ? Wings a bit wear down ? Slurp up a few tourist along the way ?"

"Harry !"Gabriella snapped.

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

"Dakhil !"chided Gabriella. Barghouti merely chuckled again and the teeth became square and pearly bloodless.

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

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

"The Centaurs of the Great Forest are not the exclusively centaur in the universe, boy. And, as much as you might wish to believe that England is the sum of the worldly concern, it is but a very small part of it."He looked at Gabriella."It is as I had feared. The war has begun at home."

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

"Because, oh chosen one,"Barghouti sneered,"your supporter Lucius Malfoy has enlisted the assistance of vampire and hence his choice of first smasher - the Carpathians. Only they're not just killing Centaurs, they're wiping out anything and anyone in their path - all of them Muggles. A unanimous hamlet was destroyed. The Muggle document are reporting that the devastation was due to a gas explosion."A fusillade of air popped between his lips."I must return to Singehorn for a few solar day. I fear my old ally may move to intervene and repeat old fault. professor Dumbledore has been informed and prof Lupin will take forethought of my classes."

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

"You wish to salvage the world, boy ?"Barghouti snapped, spinning back upon Harry. He was clearly wild, as if Harry had started the unanimous thing ; as if Harry had placed the comet in the Shangri-la himself."Why don't you try saving this school day first ? Why don't you try saving THEM ?"His handwriting shot out toward the trees that surrounded the schooltime ; all was wickedness. Harry squinted, which only made Barghouti all the more exasperated.

"rich person you learned nada ?"he cried. There was a belittled squeal from one of the remaining students near the castle doors who quickly ran inside, slamming the door behind her."Can you not SEE ?"

Harry looked again into the dark, squinting. Then he remembered. He took a deep breather and closed his eyes. Then, he reached out with his mind toward the woodland. As Dakhil had shown him before, all living things began to appear before him - the weed, bushes, and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree all glowed brightly. He scanned further out and then saw it : a Centaur some ten yards into the trees, bow in mitt. Motion to the right caught his vision again - another Centaur, another bow. Harry continued to scan. Every thirty to fifty pace another Centaurus stood guard, watching over the school in the duskiness. But Harry couldn't Tell if they were trying to keep something out, or something in.

"What are they doing ?"he whispered.

"I am weary of teaching the ignorant,"Barghouti muttered."The Centaurs can smell out the wickedness, fool. It is already upon you. You would be sassy to discover its seed before it swallows you whole."In a vortex he disappeared before Harry had a chance to say another word. The phone of flapping wings, faded to nothingness. What he noticed, after the rubble settled, was that Gabriella's fingers were digging into the soft soma of his forearm.

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

"Let's go inside,"she breathed.

"They're protecting us, Gab,"said Harry, trying to calm her nerves."They won't hurt you. They would never injure you."Her eyes never left the forest and, if anything, the fear that filled the black puddle of her oculus slipped toward ira.

"Now."

Harry sighed and nodded his head."Alright,"he acquiesced, and followed her up the stairs, noting that she was ever sure to keep his body between her and the darkness of the forest. When the door finally closed behind them, he could see the weight down lift from her shoulders and the relief gap across her face. She leaned back against the room access, placing her helping hand over her nerve. Harry stepped closer, touching her shoulder softly.

"baby, what is it ?"he asked."What's wrong ?"The deal upon her face began to shake and tears began to streak down her cheeks, one by one, but she would not cry, not out loud. Slowly, her oculus turned to the English to look at Harry. He'd seen that look when Gabriella lost her Father of the Church, Grigor. It was a feeling of precariousness, of fear, of decease. Without saying a Holy Scripture, she shook her point and turned to walk away. She'd gone only a few paces before Harry called her to lay off, but she wouldn't listen. She past the stone column and began to point down to the dungeons, to the entrance of Slytherin. Her fundament did not arrive at the inaugural step before Harry grabbed her by the arm and spun her around.

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

When he came to, he was lying on a slate story, but he wasn't at the top of the staircases leading down to Slytherin anymore. He was bound with roofy, unable to move, in some room, well lit by torches. The wall were stone, and along their top was a crown-moulding made of oak. Along its side, every few feet, was engraved a snake's psyche.

"Slytherin,"Harry hissed.

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

"howdy, shimmy,"Harry said, knowing Nott hated the name. Harry was not surprised to detect Crabbe at Nott's position."Taken to kidnapping now ? A pace up from watching murder I suppose."

"Just gathering road-kill, Potty,"Nott retorted."A picayune hiss told me you'd been drinking… a bit too a lot. think my surprise when I found you passed out on the stairs to Slytherin."Nott stepped snug."Were you trying to find your true love ?"Harry said nothing."I can find you a mirror if you'd like."

"I see you found yours,"Harry smirked, tossing his head in Crabbe's counseling. Crabbe took Sir Thomas More offence than Nott and kicked Harry in the position. The blow was operose and a burst of air guesswork from Harry's oral fissure.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Oh, they die, Teddy. I've seen them die. Didn't you know ? I was attacked by them this summer. Turns out that a well placed centaur arrow… thwup… and they die."Harry chuckled deliberately."funny affair, vampires. When they're pierced, their vampire shell sheds away and for a minute they're who they once were, the madness gone."Harry looked up at the honey oil ceiling."I like to think that in that moment, good had a prospect to speed in and fill their individual once more. They have a opportunity to be saved."

"Rubbish,"shot Nott, believing More than disbelieving.

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

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

"Bloody Scheol ! I knew it !"

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

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

"A slight bird told him,"said the voice behind Ron. It wasn't Gabriella, it was Saint James Yangtze ; Harry's understanding began to raise once more. There wasn't much of a chance if Ron couldn't pull it together… and quickly. The second base yr who had freely chosen to be in Slytherin this semester stepped in front of Ron with his wand drawn.

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

"Obliviate !"chanted James, casting a go well beyond his days. A burst of orange light erupted from his baton throwing both Nott and Crabbe against the wall, knocking them unconscious, and wiping their minds of recent computer memory. The strength of the Obliviate piece determined how much memory was removed. Normally, a mo year wouldn't even be able to vagabond the piece, but Harry was sure that the effect would be lasting.

Ron released Harry from his ties while Epistle of James bound his two mansion brothers."They'll be the ones missing the couple tomorrow,"he whispered with a smile pursing his lips.

Rising to his fundament, Harry felt a little faint, the nausea once again returning, and had to lean on Ron for support. He looked over at James, wanting to give thanks him for his service, but more funny about the spell.

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

"Harry !"

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

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

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

They made their way up a narrow row of stone footfall that opened out on the Slytherin usual room. Harry hadn't been here since he was a first year. James and Patrick nonchalantly split away from the mathematical group to mouth to some other second year that had just returned from the evening's party while Gabriella walked Harry and Ron out. The three began their trek up to the Gryffindor tower. By the time they made it to the tower, Harry was feeling much well and it was Ron that was leaning on Harry and Gabriella.

"I hope Saint James the Apostle blasted Nott's remembering to the Edward Durell Stone Age,"said Ron.

"No you don't,"answered Harry coolly, recalling his conversation with Dumbledore about the Horcruxes."Two year ago I think he might give taken this prospect to pour down me, just to establish himself to his father and the former Death Eaters. Tonight, he was just a bag full phase of the moon of hot air. He's learned something since then, since his Father of the Church died."Harry paused."Compassion I think."

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

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

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

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

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

"cool,"said Ron with a smile, rocking a bit on his own two legs. Harry didn't think it would claim practically to pick apart him over."I'd like to see Nott with an pointer up his arse."Gabriella tried to rally a grinning, but couldn't.

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

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

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

A few second later, Gabriella and Harry were alone in the corridor outside the Gryffindor common room. Gabriella walked him over to a gem workbench and the two sat down. Even though the bulwark and storey were now spotless, he never liked sitting here, remembering the Dementors that had nearly killed Professor McGonagall the twelvemonth before. There was a sensation of destruction in the air and for a second Harry felt a cool rush swim up his spine, whispering decease's name. Gabriella held his hired hand, but would not hold his regard. Instead, she watched their finger's breadth intertwined and mingling.

"mama has the great deal,"she began."You know that, Harry. Me… I can only feel the emotions of others. I can't see the doorway and window that open on to the other planes."

"But—"

"Shhhh."She put one mitt gently across his lips."Since I was new, before I ever went to Al Bsahri, I have had one sight. Sometimes long time would pass before it would return, the same scene, over and over. Since we've returned to Hogwarts this class, it comes to me nearly every day."She leaned her head against Harry's shoulder."Yesterday, I asked Mama what happened when you and Hermione plunged into the scene that has been playing in my judgement without you for so many years."There was a long intermission, and Harry could take heed laughter coming from way down the staircases below ; it died away.

"And ?"he asked, nudging Gabriella along.

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

"Then why don't you want to—"

"No sight is perfective, Harry ; and, like time-turners, there are also rule about looking into the future. virtually would take a shit changes based on the imperfect tense knowledge they see, often changes that lead to more scourge resultant. Only the best, those like Mama, have any Bob Hope of moving the littoral of metre to influence the consequence of the other airplane. Others go mad trying to interchange what n-never was to c-come."She began to tremble as she delivered the live words and in the silence that followed Harry felt a tear drop onto his forearm. He put his arm around her and held her tight.

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

"It begins with a photoflash of light, a fire erupting from a glistening emerald lake. We are surrounded by them. There is a screech and then secrecy. And then there is me… face down in the tall grass. I… I am dead, Harry. Buried deep in my back is the long wooden arrow of a Centaur."


Harry ceramicist and the nascency of a New Sun

Chapter 12 - Blind portion
~~~***~~~

The air was warm for gloam, yet the sky was a heavy grey. Flying with the charms of his Caduceus P2 off, Harry could feel the wetness in the air. He knew it would rain soon and that, More than anything else, focused his energies on finding the Snitch. It had been hard concentrating. go year, Ron had lost Harry's broom when he had been attacked flying into the burrow. So this class he was riding the latest model of Caduceus, the new P2, P for Potter. Cleansweep was paying him a humble hazard to use his name for their new broom, monies that Harry was using to assist the families who had lost loved 1 in the war. That didn't seem to matter much. Even his own house was ribbing him for the stigmatisation of his name and it didn't help that savour in the middle of the visitor stand was a ten foot by twenty metrical foot crystalline portrait of Harry flying the new broom and wave at the crew. Every so often words would appear : The Caduceus P2. So degraded it'll blow the contest away. It was a manoeuvre on the narration run by the Daily oracle about Harry's defeat of Voldemort. The storey said that the spell Harry cast was so knock-down, not only did it put down Voldemort, but it nearly took the Ministry down with it. Even now, the Ministry was digging out and repairing the gaping free fall into nothingness that remained after the floor of the death chamber fell away, swallowing whole the pall of Phenolem and the pulpit upon which it stood. Harry glanced again at the vast sheet of watch crystal, his own image smiling back at him and waiving, and shook his point to unclutter his cerebration.

He'd been distracted all day and to the highest degree folks thought it had to do with kickoff biz jitters. He was Gryffindor's Quidditch police chief this year and nearly everyone believed it a folly conclusion. Since the plan of attack on the train, the whole schooling knew that he was going to be fighting the Dementors when the war with the Centaur came. How could anyone focus on training their team with a essence like that on their shoulders ? Indeed, even Professor McGonagall thought that Ron Weasley might make the serious option ; she told Harry so.

"If I can't have your mind on the secret plan, you're no use to the team, Mr. potter,"she had said in confidence."Ron Weasley bleeds Quidditch and his idea is sharp when it comes to analyzing the early team'weaknesses."Harry had nodded and had turned to leave her office staff when she stopped him."But no one commands loyalty like you, Harry. It takes seven to win a Quidditch match and all Gryffindor would sooner fly into the lake than let you down. The inquiry is — can you keep from letting all Gryffindor down ?"

"No, ma'am. I mean yes ma'am,"Harry sputtered."I mean…"He sighed."I won't lie, prof. Ron's the substantially strategist, and there's no one bettor in northern Britain when it comes to keeping a Quaffle from skewering the rings. Dennis Creevey is the riotous in all Hogwarts and is starting to come up with play I could never dream of. diddly Sloper's put on thirty pounds since last year and he can knock a fairy off a fencepost at 50 meters. Slytherin was the only team that had a prayer to beat us, but with Malfoy gone they don't have a fortune. The team doesn't need me to pass them ma'am. Anyone can guide us to the cup."McGonagall looked at Harry over the top of her eyeglasses.

"Is that so ?"she had asked."Well then, Mr. thrower, I suppose you'll do then. I want the squad roster, to include the instrumentalist replacing Katie at chaser, and the weekly drill schedule by tomorrow sunrise. And, to keep you motivated since this will be such an easy year, let's say that if we don't win every game by more than one-hundred fifty dollar bill points, you'll be back in my office on Lord's Day for detention."

"But—"

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

Harry had thought the challenge simple enough, but sorting out the team proved more difficult than he expected. They couldn't get a good Chaser and when Jimmy Peakes tried out for Beater he played ferociously, unseating Hooper from the team. Finally, Harry selected Demelza robin as chaser, if for no early reason than she was particularly good at dodging Bludgers. The shuffle caused a lot of growing pain sensation and harm spirit, but after three calendar week of pattern Harry was surefooted once again that the team could not be defeated.

Now, flying high over the pitch, Harry wasn't so sure as shooting. Trying to ignore his own face, he glanced at the scoreboard to find Gryffindor up by 40 which, as far as Harry was concerned, was pathetic. They should induce been clobbering Hufflepuff from the first, but Ron was letting nearly every Quaffle through. Having heard that the passenger vehicle of the Magpies, Bernard Bennegin, was coming specifically to reconnoiter Ron's carrying out he was a unquiet crash. To make matters spoiled he was suffering from a hangover and was having hassle seeing the Quaffle, let alone stopping it. The only skillful news was that Jimmy and tar were keeping the Bludgers off the team while Dennis and Demelza were scoring nearly at will. Ginny could have been too, but she was so interfering yelling at Ron for being such a git she hadn't scored a exclusive destination.

Harry scanned the skies once more, searching for the Snitch. The Hufflepuff searcher, Summerby, had seen it about an hr earlier. Harry had been well out of position, and if it hadn't been for a well placed Bludger by Sloper, Gryffindor would give lost. It was then Harry turned off the charm of his broom, hoping that he might better sense the stoolie's emplacement. Suddenly, the yellowness side of the pitch erupted in cheers ; Hufflepuff had scored. Harry forced himself not to attend at the scoreboard. He had to continue spanking, but before you could say snicklfritz the crowd erupted again - another score for Hufflepuff. Finally, Harry called timeout.

The team gathered over by Ron whose ear were flaming red with embarrassment. Ginny began to rupture into her comrade.

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

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

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

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

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

"Ron, they're constantly feinting right and shooting left. If you move gamy in the air and hold spot just a little recollective, you'll stop them. Ginny, we could use a little more of your attention on the Hufflepuff side of the battlefield. Dem, they're starting to arrest on to Harry's first few plays."His eye dotted to Harry who nodded in agreement."I think we should move on to what he was showing us last weekend."

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

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

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

"Go on,"said Harry.

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

Harry had to smile at the new universal on the field."Our own picayune napoleon,"he thought. Madame Hooch blew the whistle for gambling to restart. Hufflepuff broke their scrummage and began to fly into position. Harry looked down on the lurch below. There was nada he loved more in the world than flying.

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

Dennis had been right. Over the next forty moment or so, Ron had blocked six straight Hufflepuff effort while the Gryffindor Chasers had scored four times. Still, they would require the Snitch. He flew over by the Slytherin viewpoint and heard a smattering of hisses, and one cheer.

Harry could reckon of few Hogwarts women besides Gabriella Darbinyan capable to withstand the taunts and jeers of Slytherin for being Harry's girlfriend. Of course, there were no taunts or jeers, because all of Slytherin was deathly afraid of Gabriella. Perhaps because she came from a school day known for its nighttime conjuration, but more because any input usually meant the commenter had a one-way ticket to the hospital wing. Harry looked down and saw her smiling up at him.

"Go, Harry !"she cried. Harry waved back, smiling and giving her a thumbs-up."NO ! GO !"she yelled, pointing her finger. The gesture and the gasp of the crowd told him at once that the Snitch had been seen. He spun to see Summerby plunging toward the turf at the due north end of the pitching. Below him was a glint of atomic number 79, racing low and heading toward the visitor'stands. Summerby was ahead by at least fifty meters when Harry began to commove.

"You bloody idiot !"Harry cursed at himself as he clenched his teeth."You flobberworm sucking idiot !"The malarky roared furiously at his face. The Snitch was flying low to the sod and Harry could see that it would have to twist or heighten once it hit the stands on the opposite side of the rake. Even as good a throwaway as Summerby was, he would not hand the sneak until it hit the paries. Harry leaned forward, accelerating his Scots heather."It will prove,"Harry whispered to himself, focusing wholly on the gold ball that was coming closer."It will rise."He chose to fly the directly line to tap the Snitch where he thought it would be. If the Snitch turned left or right at the wall, Summerby would experience it before Harry could react. If the Snitch flew up… Harry groaned. At this hurrying it was still impossible. Harry poured all his Department of Energy into making his broom accelerate. The tails of his gown began to tatter in the venomous wind and his goggles were pressing hard against his face. The pressure tunnelled his imaginativeness, but he didn't care. He could still see the gold glint growing larger before him."Faster ! Damn it ! Faster !"

The pitch below him was a haze ; the stands faded to dark and all that Harry could see was the golden stool pigeon and the track of yellowness that followed it -- the trail of yellow that Harry was passing. Faster ! A canvas of royal — the visitors'point of view. The favourable Snitch flying upward. Yes !
Harry's digit pressed firmly against the fly Snitch when he heard the screaming of holy terror. They conflicted with his own sense of joy.

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

Waking, and still feeling a bit groggy, the initiative thing Harry recognized was the speech sound of plastic being unwrapped, deplume and then crumpled. The rhythmic chew that followed told him at once that Ron was nearby. Harry smiled. He tried to spread out his heart, but couldn't. He leaned to his right side and felt a dull ached that ran up the left one-half of his body. With his right bridge player he felt the sheets about his chest, the pillow behind his head, the bandages that wrapped his facial expression.

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

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

"That's right,"added Hermione with a stiff and affected tone. And then voices, 12 of part it seemed to Harry, added their agreement.

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

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

A identification number of folks touched Harry's salutary arm. He felt of few candy kiss against his impertinence. He heard a few cheery arrivederci and Later, mates, but he also heard a few sniffs and cocksucker. The room access swung closed with a deep thunk.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"You've b-been out for two days, Harry,"said Gabriella, another shudder of gloominess cracked her vocalism. Harry reached up and touched the bandages wrapping his look.

"Mr. thrower,"snapped Madame Pomfrey."If you keep touching your wrap you'll assuredly disturb their charms ! I will not experience you go blind ! Do you learn me ! If you keep moving your arms I will block them."Her representative was husky. She'd been crying ; Harry could secernate. The unhappiness in the room was almost overpower. Finally, he turned his head in the focus of Gabriella.

"Did we win ?"he asked.

"What ?"she replied, still dazed.

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

"Harry, how can you—"

"RON !"Harry screamed. In a flash the door fusillade open.

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

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

"Blimey, Harry,"he began,"it was amazing. There you two were, screaming across the pitch to the north. Everyone was standing, even Professor Snape. Although, who he was cheering for, I don't know. But he was screaming just the same. Summerby was flying low to the ground, his gown flicking up dehydrated Mary Jane and tossing it into the air. The blowing detritus made it seem as if his broom was on fire.

"I thought for trusted we'd lost, when you spun over and started closing in from on high. The Snitch was flying just to my right and I could cause sworn there were sparks flying out the tail of your broom. It was glowing red. Heading toward the point of view, it was gain you were going to draw Summerby, but you were too heights ; everyone could see that. But it didn't topic. No one has ever seen someone fly that fast at Hogwarts… ever ! Crimey, maybe in all Great Britain !

"When you passed Summerby, I thought you'd dive to invalidate the stands, to catch the snitch that was still screaming low to the ground. But you didn't ; you stayed straight on. When the snitcher darted up toward you…"Ron sighed in ecstasy."It was a miracle, spouse. Like you were calling out to it and it obeyed. Pop ! Right into your mitt."There was a long pause."It's when everyone's eyes popped up with the canary we saw what was going to pass. That's when the screeching began."Ron walked over following to Harry's bed."Summerby smashed into the documentation down low. Broke his leg and lost a couplet teeth. He got out of the infirmary yesterday. You… you…"Ron swallowed toilsome.

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

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

"wellspring, now,"Ron answered,"I know you've had your evenhandedly share, Harry, but I still think Victor can do by a shot to the headland with a Bludger better than you."

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

"O.K., okay you three,"said Madame Pomfrey."Mr. Potter needs his rest."She shuffled the two friends outside the way, but not until Gabriella kissed Harry on the backtalk.

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

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

"Harry,"she said softly."We'll do everything possible, but you need to return them clock time to heal. The wrap will stay on for at least three calendar week. Your lids will be sealed longer still. Even when you can afford your eyes, Harry, I don't defendant you'll see More than tad of Christ Within and iniquity. Once we know what you can and can't see, therapist Sventstein can get down making the proper corrections. You'll have to be affected role, my dear, very patient."

He could hear her folding some papers, putting trash away he thought, and then she stepped over to the face of the room and poured something into a meth or chalice.

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

When Harry woke, he found himself confused and disoriented. He couldn't understand why he couldn't see and he began to thrash around, rising out of bed, the gem floor low temperature beneath his denude feet. He was about to attain up to his face when a hand took him by the arm. At first he was startled, but the voice settled him at once.

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

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

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

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

"What time is it ?"Harry asked.

"Not quite three in the morning."

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

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

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

"Yeah,"agreed Dog Star smartly."That's what I hear."Harry could hear Sothis sink back into his chair and suspiration."I have to admit, Harry, that was the fastest I've ever seen a broom fly, and I've seen a few Quidditch peer in my day. When you hit that damn portrait with your picture on it, the affair exploded. It was like a giant lechatelierite firework. And that you still held onto the Snitch… well, it's been all over the papers. virtually digit you broke the record, but the tribe from Cleansweep want you to come out and perform a fly-off against Comet — twenty K galleons to the victor's charity."Harry turned on his side, his back toward Sirius.

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

"What do you stand for ?"

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

"That's not lawful, Harry,"began Sirius."Madame Pomfrey—"Harry spun and faced Sirius. Sothis didn't need to see Harry's eyes to know the expression he was getting right now. He sighed."Ten percent is not zero point pct,"he whispered.

"Yeah, right,"Harry replied and dropped back down again. Likewise, Sirius sunk back into his professorship, crossing his arms and searching for what to say. There wasn't much he could say. Harry, after all, was correct. Once a witch or wizard lost their optic there was often little that could be done—eyes simply take for too often magic trick. Healers could re-grow many things, but the eyes… the eyes, particularly of a powerful beldam or wizard, were nearly inconceivable to rectify. Sirius let out a low groan as the secrecy stretched between them. After that, the glint of candlelight was the simply noise that accompanied their ventilation. At stopping point, it was Sirius who began again, not certainly if Harry was even still awake. His voice was unfirm, recalling a part of his past tense he had never shared with Harry.

"When I… when I was in Azkaban, there was nada to see but darkness, goose egg to smell but the fetor of death, zip to hear but the cries of lament, nothing to try out but the remnants of rent that had long since died away, and the lone affair one felt was the cold breath of despair. What food they gave us was more like black gruel with a consistence somewhere between mud and slime."Sirius chuckled grimly to himself."When the Dementors departed, leaving this melanize muck behind, I would smile. It was the only joy I had, sensing their release, knowing that however awful the food was, the emptiness that screamed from my belly would soon be staved for another day. That crusty pipe bowl of crap and my pure hatred for Peter Pettigrew were all that kept me animated.

"I never dreamed that one day…"Sirius'vox halted and he had to swallow to assemble himself."That one day… the son of my earnest friend would parlay my ten-percent of nothing and hold open me… not from the Dementors of Azkaban… not from the Curtain of Phenolem, but… from myself. I was used up inside, Harry ; a shell of a superstar and LE a man. You've shown me, even now as dark upsurge in toward us, how to live again… how to love again. I'm amazed that today, I once again walk the halls of Hogwarts—a free man, not because I'm free of the horrors of Azkaban, but because I'm free of the darkness and hatred that once consumed my someone. Because of you, I'm free to smack the luscious fruits of living once again."

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

"If I could reek you, I would,"shot Sothis, kicking the postal service of Harry's bed with his foot, a binge sliding down the side of his font.

"Bring it on, old man !"called Harry, rising up in bed and brandishing two clenched fist that were swinging wildly in the air—something akin to a pugilist's stead."I can take you with both eyes tied behind my dorsum !"Harry was smiling as Dog Star rose to his invertebrate foot. The sure-enough wizard wiped his eyes and then, gently, took Harry's script in his own.

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

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

"sufficiency already ! Stop telling me what you can't do ! I don't want to hear it anymore !"This time Canicula'voice was heated."I still wake in the midriff of the night grasping for my sheets, fearing that it has all been a dream, wondering if in the nothingness of nighttime I'm really still trapped behind the mantle of Phenolem. One day the nightmares will end ; I know so, because I believe they will. Until they do, I will go to sleep at night, searching for those pipe dream that will carry me through money box sunrise.

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

"Yeah, but—"

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

Not sure what to expect, Harry reached out with his mind as Dakhil had shown him — to see without seeing. Why hadn't he thought of it before ? Almost immediately he could discern the brightness of Sirius before him. It wasn't an image so much as an aura of ignitor that shown bright. Harry leaned forward in his bed. Reaching out further he began to take in the dim glow of the organic animation that clung to the bulwark, ceiling and floor. Without saying a Son he let go of Sirius'hand and rose out of bed.

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

What Harry was ‘ seeing'wasn't so much an range as an imprint of all that was around him. It would contract time to decipher the configuration, hue and saturation. There was a glow coming toward them. Harry pointed at the door.

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

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

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

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


Harry ceramist and the Birth of a New Sun

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

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

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

"jump !"

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

It had been bitterly coldness all day, but with all the running Harry was beginning to regret his decision to wear clothes. They were pushing the limits between physical and magical exertion and Harry's feet, well clad in a pair of trainers, were on fire. The light jacket and pants he was wearing were suffocating and felt like they weighed a thousand lbf..

Once again he was training with Shahan and feldspar. Over the last few sidereal day, the three had been put though their pace by Ronan, Firenze and others — running, lifting, and shooting arrow from one side of the Forbidden forest to the former. Harry was exhausted — a flavour he was beginning to love. If anything, he preferred to be out in nature.

Still blind, he was developing his limited ability to reach out and sense the aura of lifetime around him. While he could make depression about where things were at Hogwarts, occasionally very clean objects would neglect his aid. A group of Slytherin fourth class had discovered this about a calendar week after Harry had returned from infirmary and had taken to conjuring marbles in areas where they knew Harry would be walking. Harry, in turning, developed a few magical spell that helped clear his way. The tinkling of marbles usually meant that a Slytherin was nearby, waiting to catch Harry tumble. But since Harry could honour person's aura, even through walls, the culprit was usually found fastened to the wall with their underwear on their heading and nothing else. It was a page out of what Nott and Cyril Northcote Parkinson had done to Ron last year and Harry didn't idea a little playful retribution.

In the timberland, however, Harry felt as if his vision was better than having sight. Everything was live and vibrant. Trees and vegetation, the tumid creature and the pocket-sized spores, Harry could see it all as if he'd never been blind.

Shahan had cleared the stream ahead and was already pulling away. felspar came a bit inadequate and she splashed water into the air. Harry, just a footmark behind Felspar, was shorter still, landing a full metre away from the bank's edge. His metrical foot landed firmly in the piss and he struggled to restrain his remainder so as not to pass into the icy water completely. He'd only taken three pace when he noticed the imperturbableness around his pes. When he focused his care downward he could smell out clearly that his trainers were gone, the bottoms of his trouser in tatters. Where the spattering from Felspar hit the front man of his Garden State it had dissolved away as if it had been burned by acid, the aura of his bare skin underneath beaming through.

Stepping backward as he moved out of and away from the stream, Harry focused at the hunt down pee. For the first fourth dimension he noticed that its gloss was different than the former streams he'd seen through the forest. The light emanating from this water was bloodless, more crystalline, more pure. With a great spring Ronan, who had been following, jumped from money box to bank with repose. Harry expected to be chastised for stopping, yelled at for falling hindquarters, but Ronan said nothing. Harry noticed that the whitish-gray of Ronan's aura warmed a bit. He'd learned, at to the lowest degree with his Quaker, that such a change meant a grin. He wondered what it meant with a Centaur.

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

"Is something wrong ?"felspar asked.

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

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

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

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

"The pin !"she cried with excitation."The stream that feeds the gloam !"Then Felspar stepped over to Harry, noticing his bare feet and mortise joint."Harry thrower, your fetlock are bare."She stepped closer."But the frame is unharmed. If ever I held doubtfulness in the Chosen, they have forever washed away."feldspar nodded with a slight bow. Harry nodded in return and the smiled as he saw felspar own fetlock joint.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"As I am not,"retorted Ronan."For three straight days Shahan has failed to comprehend the lesson. Firenze says Shahan did not even bother to search for Ebyrth. The Centaurus is of no use to the heard if he refuses to learn our means. I care not that he is young."Then Ronan stepped unaired to felspar ; his strength becoming rigid."You would be wise not to mind to Shahan's thinking, felspar. That your pelage should shift colour at all is not a expert sign. Your female parent has raised you better."Then Ronan's demeanour changed back to one of instructor.

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

"Is that not an Apparation ?"Harry asked.

"One can not Apparate on these curtilage, Harry Potter. The earth is too filled with magic trick. The Centaurus can flex space and dumb metre so that aloofness travelled can be covered far more quickly than on hoof alone. You have accomplished this already. What's more you have learned to pull up stakes your mortal body and travelling with the other living spirits of the forest."

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

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

When Harry did reach out, he found it far easier than he first expected. The energy of the woodland seemed to riddle him with added insight, guiding his cerebration as he became focused on the fauna, leaving his own self, releasing his corporeal form behind and melding into the nitty-gritty of a stick. In a flash he was one with the woody Bowtruckle. His heart blinked. Ahead, across the stream were a Centaurus and offspring man with shattered pants and no shoes. Harry tried to maltreat forward, but the creature would not respond. It was as if he were simply eavesdropping. Suddenly, he felt quite hungry. Instead of looking ahead at the two across the flow, Harry found himself looking down. There was a rather bombastic stink worm wriggling its bulb-shaped head between two leaves. He bent down, sniffed the loathly thing at pulled it up out of the soil grinding gut and earth between his teeth.

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

"wellspring done, Harry thrower. It has been less than a year since the Cleansing, and already you have learned the Centaur liberal arts. It will take much more sentence to get over them and many years to see their true nature. It is…"Ronan paused looking toward the western sky."…unfortunate that we have so minuscule time."His hoof clawed at the ground."It does not go well for our brothers in Eastern Europe. hotshot have joined the Dementors and brought a new friend to the war."These last row were spoken with the most emotion Harry had ever heard from a Centaur—contempt.

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

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

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

"It is time for you to turn back to the castle, Harry Potter. I have been training you far too hard and far too fast, I'm afraid. So it is with Shahan and Felspar. You are all learning before your ability to grasp. If we were greater in number…"Ronan let out a retentive sigh as Harry turned to front him.

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

"That is not a question for the Centaurs, Harry ceramicist,"said Ronan defiantly."It is a interrogation for the Dementors. It is not our war ; it is theirs. It is not the centaur ruck that are destroying the village of Eastern Europe. That is the oeuvre of the Dementors and their ilk. They are the ones swayed by Ebyrth's return ; we are simply defending ourselves."

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

"Would that we had,"said Ronan coolly."Their dark has no purpose early than destruction. Near the end of that war, only a handful escaped into the swamps and bog through which we could not travel. It was there they learned to fly ; it was there they developed their thirst for souls. Now, from a spread few, their progeny have multiplied. They outnumber the Centaur two to one. For that we can give thanks the Wizarding world and the earth of man whose rapacity has consumed the earth and produced sustentation on which the Dementors provender.

"No, Harry ceramist, you fight on the side of righteousness, as the Centaurus have for centuries. But, I am afraid, moral excellence alone will not be enough to moderate us to victory. We will need your strength and more."

"It doesn't help that I'll never see again,"said Harry, rubbing his sleeve with his helping hand to bring some warmness to them.

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

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

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

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

"goblin, whose natures are always wild, are almost always flush with red. While maven and beldam carry the colours that suit their nature, colours the prepare Centaur mind can spot. It does not take long to recognize the given hue."

"Or hues,"added Harry.

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

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

"Unless there is a phenomenal transformation, a feel carries but one hue, Harry Potter. It may brighten or darken, but the hue remains the Lapp. Unless…"

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

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

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

"There are ways you might see two hues, Harry Potter. Some wizards or enchantress are known Animagi. The creature inside can represent a different hue, although even among the Animagi it is rare. Usually, the creature reflects the nature of the enchantress or wizard."There was a long pause.

"And the other ?"asked Harry.

"It can be the work of a fractured spirit, someone who is really two people, or possibly under the control of another."

"The Imperius execration ?"Harry asked.

"Perhaps. Such is the way of thaumaturgist and my knowledge falters there. I hope this is not person close. Someone in your confidence ?"

"Erm, no… not really,"Harry lied."I've got to go, Ronan. Thank you for your teachings today."Harry's thinker was clicking of the leaning of gens. He focused on bending the space between where he was and Hagrid's hut."I think I can find—"Before he finished his sentence, Harry had warped time and found himself outside Hagrid's social movement door. He'd covered the aloofness, some mile, in little more than the blink of an eye. Still, in so doing he'd exhausted what slight resources of strength he had left. His dress shredded, he was about to pick apart on Hagrid's room access when he sensed that soul was hidden in the trees behind the garden. Harry reached for his wand and held it at the ready. Barefoot, he began to mistreat silently toward the spy. It was one proficiency taught him by the centaur and for the swift of present moment Harry thought he'd prefer a notched pointer right wing about now.

Stealthily, Harry moved closer. The human body, with a hopeful emerald cat valium aura, didn't motion. Its position continued to lie against the tree. Just a few yards away Harry's nostrils took in the olfactory sensation of smoke, a distinctively aromatic pot.

"Draco !"Harry hissed calm and low. This closing curtain, Harry could see the figure, still leaning motionless against the tree diagram, bring his hired man to his rima oris. He was taking another retarding force on his cigarette. Harry could discover the exhale, long and slow.

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

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

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

In the darkness from far up the hill Harry could pick up the front doorway of the castle heart-to-heart with their device characteristic crevice. What he didn't expect to hear adjacent was Ron Weasley's interpreter.

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

Followed by his don's.

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

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

"I thought the old man would be abruptly by now,"said Dragon with a subject of fact tone as he pulled what was left of Harry's jersey toward some thicker underbrush. Harry acquiesced and the two withdrew deeper into the Mrs. Henry Wood as Ron, Dumbledore and Mr. Weasley made their way to Hagrid's hut. When Hagrid answered the whang he was livid.

"Yeh should experience been here an hour ago !"he called from interior."I don't care what Ronan tells yeh ; the wood ain't safe after dar—. Er… Professor Dumbledore, sir. Erm… rector. I… er… I wasn't expectin'company."

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

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

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

"You can read !"said Harry dismissively."It's been in every paper I can think of."genus Draco ignored the go, reached up and touched the position of Harry's face.

"Does it injure ?"

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

"Blaise has been… compromised. He and I have a witching catch phrase that we use to ensure the former is mentally disembarrass from any… tampering. For the hold up two hebdomad, Blaise has tried to contact me without using that idiomatic expression. He's someone else's now."Draco took another long drag on his cigarette."How father found out… I don't know."His words were deeply turbulent. It was an emotional shifting in Dragon that Harry had rarely seen."We were careful ; more than careful. You need to sleep together that there's a spy in the palace. I thought maybe Nott, but he doesn't have the science to cast the Imperius."

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

"And you're supposed to be our the Nazarene ? We're screwed."genus Draco flicked his cigarette into the air and it vanished."Here."He passed Harry his cloak and wrapped it around his berm."You know, aside from being scratched bloody, having essentially no wearing apparel, and looking like you were just run over by the Hogwarts Express, you're in pretty undecomposed form. Maybe if you stopped running around the woodland butt naked—"

"T-Training,"Harry interrupted.

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

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

"Cho and Goldstein are going to be married over Noel. Did you know that ? A secret wedding."

"What ? What are you talking about ?"

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

"Married ? Goldstein ?"

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

"Come on, thrower,"drawled Draco once again."Surely you can suppose why Cho and Goldstein would need to… nay… would need to get marital secretly."Again there was a longsighted pause and Harry pulled Draco's cloak tighter about his shoulder joint. He was feeling a sting of jealousy and he had no rightfield to. He had loved Cho and he would always love her, but their path were never meant to go together. His path was and would forever be entangled with Gabriella. It wasn't perfect but the attractive feature was strong and the sexual love firm and the uncertainty of any given day that kept Harry forever on bound tickled a very Slytherin part of his spirit that wriggled deep inside him. Finally, Harry breathed.

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

"France,"answered genus Draco with a sly smile."Don't William Tell anyone, Harry, but Goldstein's shielder may be their chaperone by day, but at night he's a Death eater in my founding father's service. It's a tryst of little import to my father and it pays the bills for Henry, the chaperone, but I knew you might get a special interest."

"I never thought that Goldstein and Cho would—"

"Oh, but I'm not done, Harry. Cho Yangtze spends her mean solar day in France, in a niggling villa just north of marseille, a Town called La Mure. She and the—"

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

"Witches can hide that fact until the very day of delivery, Harry. Have you ever seen a significant witch ?"For a second, Harry pondered the idea. No, he hadn't ever seen a meaning beldame. And then he remembered that he'd seen Geoffrey Hooper's mother just a few hebdomad before her babe was born and she looked no unlike than the year before.

The door to Hagrid's cabin opened and the giant stepped out for just a second looking toward the woods."Should be any moment, sir,"he said to the kinfolk inside."Any moment."Then more quietly to himself before he went back in he whispered to the woodland,"Harry, where in Singehorn's name are yeh ?"Harry began to stand, but Draco pulled him back down. For a twinkling, Harry was irritated, but caught himself.

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

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

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

"They've found it,"Draco interrupted."calendar month ago I asked you to find it first, and you didn't even try. Now they have it."He flicked a twig into Harry's face."Blaise risked his life sentence and you did goose egg. Now he's been found out."Dragon leaned over and grabbed the cloak about Harry's cervix. Harry could palpate the cloth tighten, not by Draco's hand, but another strength."You're going to get it back, high-priced, or I'll kill you myself."The fabric tightened further. Harry reached for his scepter, but found the cloak held his hired hand tight.

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

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

All of a sudden, the cloak released Harry and he began to cough, heaving in as much air as he could. Draco took to his fundament and wrapped the black cloak about his articulatio humeri, his yearn blonde fuzz starkly Patrick White in contrast. Still coughing, Harry stumbled to his feet and pulled his baton. Draco ignored the gesture and turned to leave. But then he stopped as if suddenly remembering a forgotten thought. The door to the Hagrid's hut opened and Ron stepped out. He'd heard the sound of Harry's cough.

"Harry ? !"Ron called to the darkness.

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

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

"That's not potential,"he whispered at the emptiness. The sound of step came charging up from behind and Harry could hear the commotion on the front porch of Hagrid's hut. A hand touched Harry's shoulder.

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

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

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

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

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

"Yes, yes,"said Dumbledore, dispassionately."I see they've been working you rather hard today, Harry."The statement was to a greater extent question than anything."A lot to recall about ?"Harry just nodded and walked through the doorway."Well, it's not going to get any gentle, young man."

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

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

Warming his brawniness by the fire, sipping a bit of tea, and pretending to enjoy Hagrid's rock-hard stone cakes, Harry was beginning to experience himself again. He assured Arthur Weasley that he was OK and that his dishevelled appearance was all in a day's piece of work, training with the Centaurs in the timber ; but the Minister was none too convince.

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

"Just a little piece of work with Satan's Snare is all, sir,"answered Harry, rubbing his neck opening with his left hand and sipping some more tea with the other. If they could see his centre, they would hump he wasn't listening to a Word of God they were saying. Dragon probably thought his little display would rivet Harry's mind fully on some Horcrux that the Ministry had no dubiety just found, but Harry's mind was anything but centred. After a bit more raillery about schooling, sorrow about Harry being screen, and news about the conflict raging in Eastern Europe, Arthur Weasley finally got down to the purpose of his visit.

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

"What ?"Harry exclaimed."Why ?"

"Well, to try to reclaim the bodies, Harry,"answered Mr. Weasley, surprised somewhat at Harry's response."Many Aurors lost their lives that evening and their bodies have never been found — at least, not until last week. Since the collapse we tried for month to bump the bottom with no success. We encountered one magic portal after another, and the proletarian were none too fain to accidentally stumble across the pall itself."

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

"No, Ron,"interrupted Dumbledore,"the pall and the podium were destroyed in the descent. No, just the consistence, trunk from both sides, have been returned to their loved ones."

"well, yes, Albus,"added President Arthur with some nervousness."almost of them, anyway. We have yet to notice Draco Malfoy's remains."Ron began to cough.

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

"Why for certain, Ron,"said Hagrid with glee."Come on in teh the kitchen."Ron stood and followed Hagrid, patting Harry's shoulder on the way.

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

"Yes, yes, absolutely, Harry, absolutely."Arthur patted Harry's lap."But there was one other recuperation at the very depths of the gaping fissure."All at once, Mr. Weasley's aura faded and Harry knew the next words were a lie."They pulled it up today, just before lunch. I looked for you earlier, Harry, but you'd already left for the forest."King Arthur Weasley stood from his chair and looked out the windowpane facing the castle, the people of colour returned to his aura."I was thinking we could have a dedication of sorts. You could add up to the Ministry as we put it on display. It would certainly prompt the the great unwashed in these coloured times that we can crush darkness."

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

"Oh, yes, I'm sorry, Harry,"answered Arthur."I've wanted to discuss our hunting since you and I spoke on the train. I never knew taking charge of the Ministry would consume so often of my time."His eyes wandered for a moment and then returned to meet Harry's."No matter,"he whispered."In our search, we recovered the cloak. The calamitous cloak of… You-Know-Who. The solitary end of his swarthiness and a symbol to all of his defeat."

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

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

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

"Harry,"said Dumbledore sternly, silencing Harry's rant."I think it would be wise for you to withdraw some time to deliberate what all the implications are. Time to believe what's topper for… everyone involved."Harry expected to see the heat of ire human body in Dumbledore's aura, but if anything his light dimmed with a coldness of headache.

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

"Please, Harry, you needn't margin call me—"

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

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

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

"Excellent musical theme, Mr. Weasley,"he said to the youthful red-header."Please see Harry safely back to the castle."

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

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

By the clip Harry and Ron were at the castling steps, Harry had answered near of Ron's interrogative.

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

"Ron, you saw my dress tonight. They were burnt away because I fell into the magical current that feeds the twilight. recall when you fell in concluding class ?"

"Pulled in you mean,"said Ron, rubbing his rectify radiocarpal joint."Yeah, I remember. My clothes disappeared."

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

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

"Tale or not, the water destroys fabric. I doused Voldemort in nearly ten gallons of the material. It was enough to fade out every evil bone in his body, but the cloak… Damn ! I should have known when I saw it then. The cloak survived. But why ?"

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

"I don't see how it can be,"reply Harry."If it's piece of Voldemort, it should give been destroyed."Harry sighed."Maybe Hermione will know."Ron shrugged and nodded in agreement as he reached to spread out the castling doorway. Ron heaved on the gruelling handle just as Harry's helping hand stopped him and shut them again.

"Ron ?"he asked."You have a lot of brothers and sisters. Erm… how long does it get hold of to… er… for a Wiccan to… you know… throw a infant, after… you know."For a second, Ron just stared at Harry, and then reaching ever so slightly to the thoughts on the tip of Harry's nous he understood.

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

"Yeah… yeah, that's it."

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

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

"Do the nasty ?"said Ron with a grin. Harry simply nodded. wellspring, Ron thought for a moment, touched his finger and counted backwards, and then a glow of a grin crossed his face once again.

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

"Oh, pigeon hawk,"he whispered in a sallow kind of voice."Oh, bloody, fucking, Merlin."

"What ? What is it, Harry ?"

"Ron… I think… I think I'm a father."


Harry ceramicist and the Birth of a New Sun

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

When Harry and Ron passed through the portrait of the Fat madam, Harry found the Gryffindor uncouth room, affectionate than convention. Near the fireplace sat the auras of Anapurna, Lavender, Gabriella, Hermione, Ginny and dean. Towards the back, Neville was helping Patrick and a few others, Harry had yet to recognize, set for their Herbology test. Evidently, the exam involved a electrocution plant of some sort, perhaps fireseed, Harry thought, since there was a heave cloud of smoke that hung over the group and cypher seemed to mind.

Harry, his mind fractured at the consequence, brought his attention on Saint Patrick. The smoke was clouding his ability to see the gloriole of those at the backrest table, but the filtered visible light emanating from Patrick was the Lapplander as it had been since Harry first met him after the accident - blue and green. Each colour waxed and waned, growing more light-green whenever he was excited or near Harry.

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

"Harry ! Ron !"cried doyen. His phonation brought Harry's attention back to the group about the hearth. The telephone call sounded like a plea for assistant, as if dean felt, at the present moment, like a trapped rat in a snake's batting cage. He began to abide when Ginny grabbed his arm.

"Oh, doyen,"she said breathlessly,"isn't it beautiful ?"Hermione was projecting an image of a young charwoman in a White person marriage ceremony dress. The girl stood, suspended in the middle of the five students and modelled the frock she was wearing, slowly turning in all directions so that everyone could see, everyone that is except Harry.

"Er… yeah, dandy,"muttered doyen miserably, sinking back into the lounge.

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

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

"You could have fairy's carry it."

"I kind of like it,"Hermione said as she held her mitt to her chin and tapped her cheek with one fingerbreadth."But I think the second…"dean let out an audible moan, but the girls ignored him while Hermione began to scud through modeling after example, dress after wearing apparel, as if thumbing pages of a book. It was only then when she noticed that Ron and Harry had entered the park elbow room.

"Ron !"she exclaimed."You're just in time."dean's centre grew full and he shook his head as nondescriptly as he could to ward them off. Ron caught it, but Harry did not."We were just looking over dresses when—"She stopped herself mid-sentence, noticing the aspect on Ron's side."What's incorrect ?"

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

"Nothing,"they said simultaneously.

Gabriella patted Harry's nerve.

"zippo ?"she said, sensing the swirling swarm of emotions that must accept shown like a beacon for everyone to see."Would you like to fall in us ?"she asked."We were just—"

"No thanks,"interjected Harry. While he had grown accustomed to seeing educatee from other sign in the common room, he had completely forgotten that the lady friend were going to get together this evening to hash out Hermione's wedding architectural plan for the summertime."I need to get ready for the Potions test tomorrow."Ginny stood, looking at Harry.

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

"I was."

"But you're squeaky clean and jerk,"she replied sceptically."You know, if you weren't working out in the forest today, we could feature gotten at least three hours on the pitch."

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

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

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

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

"Dumbledore ?"

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

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

"wellspring, he only had a minute of arc,"said Ron, stepping closer to his sister. She had risen to her invertebrate foot and dean took the opportunity to quickly dart away and direct toward the spiral stairway to the boy'dormitory."And he needed to see Harry, so I took him over to—"

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

Less than a moment later everyone was talking at once. Ron and Harry were being bombarded with questions about everything from the minister of religion's visit, to why Dumbledore needed to conjure Harry new robe, to what model Ron thought would be nice for the new china.

Unexpectedly, there was a gimcrack burst from the rachis of the room that caused everyone to shriek. A rather large fireball spewed forth from the table where Neville and the others were working. It was Neville who stopped it from lighting the entirely place on fire by casting a squelching charm.

"tinker's dam it, St. Patrick,"Neville said irritably, while a few of the other student laughed,"I told you not to mix fireseeds with dittany powder ! If you do that in the exam tomorrow, prof Sprout will go bad you for sure."

The ruction that had surrounded Harry, quickly gathered about the back table and the singe faces that stood there. Harry took the opportunity to postdate Dean's step up the stairway. Near the top he heard a rather dejected Patrick apologize, but what he saw was a blueish aura beaming with pride. Then Harry noticed Saint Patrick flash him a thumbs-up from within the retentive arm of his robe, a signal that no one could see.

"Sorry, Neville,"said Patrick with a shrug of his shoulders."I'm just no safe at this form of stuff. I'll be prosperous to make it to the 3rd year at this rate."

Gabriella looked back toward the fireplace to chance Harry and before she could find where he was Harry disappeared into the son'dormitory room. Inside he found Dean, belly down on his bed, reading a Holy Scripture about Quidditch. He loved the game so, it was a disgrace he wasn't any good at it. He looked up as Harry entered.

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

"well, I—"

"Because that'd be fine by me, Harry. I was about to vaunt myself up if I had to appear at one more china pattern."He looked back at the Holy Writ and turned the page."Talk about pressure… blimey."He turned another page."I mean… I love Ginny and all, but does she actually think I'm going to ask her to splice me ?"He turned another page ; clearly not having read the finis."So… net year… yeah, maybe. But that's your fault."Dean looked up, pointing a digit at Harry.

"Me ?"

"Well, I mean, I was in a battle — fighting you for her. You know. That sorting of thing, well… it gets a guy in the mood. But this clobber downstairs… wedding party clothes, and colours of defer clothes, and…"Dean sighed."Talk about deflating."Without looking back down to the book, he turned another page. Then, quite suddenly, Dean groaned and turned over on his bed, placing the open book over his chest."Merlin, I love her."There was silence and he sighed again."She's been my world. She brought me back after the accident."James Dean held his manus up, flexing the fingers in battlefront of his facial expression. His individual had been reconnected to his corporeal cast and Ginny had been there every dance step of the way."She didn't need to do that."

"She loves you,"said Harry, walking over to his bed, taking off his new school robe and putting on a light pair of jeans."Face it, dean, you're her world too."

"I just don't want to be thinking about marriage while I'm still in school,"answered James Byron Dean, sitting up on the edge of his bed and facing Harry."There's sufficiency to be getting on about without having to vex about in-laws… Red China patterns…"

"…children,"added Harry quietly.

"Merlin, no,"shot Dean."I can't even imagine. But then Ginny's ready to hand with a sheathing spell. We're careful… you know ?"Harry nodded as a air mile twisted in his venter."Can you think Neville and Helen ?"continued Dean."Neither one of them used any aegis their inaugural few times. Hermione found out and had a fit."

"Hermione ?"queried Harry.

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

"But why Hermione ?"

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

Harry wasn't sealed how to take that. He didn't have a clew until last Christmastide that Ron and Hermione were together. Yet, everyone else seemed to know. Further, he was pretty sure that last year Tonks had used her Metamorphosis skills to get hold of on the appearing of Helen so that she could sneak into Gryffindor tower with Neville. It brought up memories… bad memories. Suddenly, going to spill to Hermione about anything didn't seem like such a unspoiled idea. Harry began to drum his desk with his fingers, then crossed his arms and just looked down at the floor. He could see the aura's of the support organisms that his mates had tracked in under their horseshoe. Maybe auntie Petunia wasn't such a unhinged bat after all - at least as far as wiping one's feet at the room access was concerned.

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

Barefoot and shirtless, Harry walked over to the window. Christmas was a workweek away and, sadly, no snow had fallen. The grounds below and the surrounding forest glistened brightly in Harry's cecity. He placed his leftfield manus on his chest, just above Asha's heart, the stone that even now sat hidden within him. Focusing high above the treetop he found nothing but blackness. previous in the evening, cloud had moved in, covering all in a darkness mantle through which no principal shone. He peered at the same quadrant of sky in which he knew Ebyrth hung, growing ever closer. He closed his eyes and dropped his question heavily against the glass windowpane.

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

It wasn't enough that war was raging in Eastern Europe and would soon beautify the forest about Hogwarts, if not the palace itself. Now there was a child. Could it really be his ? That was a stupid question. Of track it could be ; the timing was near perfective and they had been… well, dolt. It was just before the Halloween feast. Harry was going to tell Cho about Gabriella… let Cho recognize that they couldn't be together, that Gabriella was the one he truly loved. But then she touched his arm… the feel in her eyes. Even now, the store sent a tingle down his vertebral column and made his interior quiver. Neither of them was in the powerful frame of mind, but they both knew what they wanted. Now they were both paying for it. At to the lowest degree Cho was. Harry began to wonder… if the minor was Harry's, did Anthony bang, or was Cho simply using him ?

Harry shook his head word, trying to pull in his befuddled opinion. Maybe he was making a big deal of nothing. Maybe Susan Brownell Anthony was the father. But the vision… Gabriella's vision that both he and Hermione shared. He'd seen a nipper. Gabriella saw her own death and yet Harry saw aliveness. He thought it was their child, his and Gabriella's. Now, Harry wasn't so sure.

The window was stale and a shiver ran across his soundbox. He turned and walked over to his storage chest, opening the lid and feeling around for a shirt.

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

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

"Yes ?"

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

"Kinda,"answered doyen, looking at black and maybe a darkness navy blueing.

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

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

"Accio cloak !"Harry called with his justly hand in the air, finger outstretched for a collar. His cloak flew into his face."Almost,"Harry muttered. He stood and put on the cloak on and then slipped his wand into his sleeve and stepped toward the door.

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

"Slow down, match,"said dean, taking to his invertebrate foot."You can't just go off—"

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

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

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

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

"You found it ?"she asked in a penny-pinching rustle.

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

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

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

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

"wellspring,"said Ron,"I tried to—"Harry held up one fingerbreadth to his brim and Ron lowered his voice."I tried to—"Harry shook his fingerbreadth at Ron. There was a bit of a rumble and Ginny burst through the door.

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

"Bloody Hell,"he whispered.

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

"You did !"cried Dean."How could you not tell me ? Did you all roll in the hay ?"Harry could see the fire building in James Dean's emotions. Nobody said a tidings."How recollective have you known ?"

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

"clear his name ?"said dean."He was… he is a Death Eater."

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

These words cooled Dean's fire, if only a whit, and his mitt found his pockets. There was a mo of silence and then he turned to Ginny reached out and took her hired hand.

"You know, Gin,"Dean said gently,"if we're going to spend the remainder of our lives together, we can't be keeping secrets from one another. Secrets… they… they sour souls and twist trust. If you'd have just told me to keep back mum, you know I would own. All you had to do is ask. You know that… don't you ?"Ginny reached her script to Dean's face and kissed him.

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

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

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

"Right,"cut in Harry,"so that's why you… all,"he waved toward the chemical group,"can estimate out how we get the cloak tomorrow night. I'll sports meeting you at the entrance to the Ministry at midnight. Have the plan cook and I'll aid you however I can."He grabbed Gabriella's handwriting."seed with me."They started for the door when Hermione grabbed the rachis of Harry's cloak, stopping him in his lead.

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

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

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

"It's one arcanum I'm afraid,"said Harry, raising his hands to quiet his friends,"that needs to be kept… at to the lowest degree for now."Again he took Gabriella's arm."cum on."Everyone turned to Ron as Gabriella and Harry left the room. Almost immediately, Gabriella began to ask questions, but Harry held a fingerbreadth to his lips.

"Not here… not now,"he whispered.

They were about to assoil out through the portrait of the Fat Lady when Lavender stopped them near the hearth.

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

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

"Ooooh,"hummed Lavender as she cast a gossipy glance toward Anapurna.

"Men,"said Parvati flatly. Gabriella simply nodded, taking Harry by the arm and walking out of the Gryffindor usual room.

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

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

"Cho Chang Jiang ?"Gabriella asked blankly.

"Yes, Cho Yangtze River !"Harry snapped."How could you not bed ? You two were inseparable at the end of live on class. She helped you through exam. Merlin, you spent more sentence with her than with me. How could you not know ?"

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

"So we're going to see Anthony,"Gabriella said knowingly. Harry said nil, wishing only that the staircases would move more quickly."Tell me Harry, are you still so envious ?"

"Jealous ?"Harry asked angrily."Jealousy has zilch to do with this. I have a right to know !"His cobbler's last words were loud and reverberated off the stone paries.

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

They turned and began to prepare their way up to Ravenclaw tugboat. A third yr Ravenclaw joined them on the moving fount upward. Harry moved close to Gabriella failing miserably at keeping his part hushed.

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

"Yes ! None of your business ! They were stupid, Harry,"Gabriella said struggling to maintain her composure in movement of the 3rd twelvemonth, although Harry could feel the ire building within her."It was a mistake, a misunderstanding that Anthony's wizard enough to set straight. Can't you see that he's trying to do the right thing by caring for what will soon be his family ?"

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

"What do you intend to do ?"she asked."Confront him ? Hex him for getting your… your schoolmarm pregnant ? If that's what she was. You hardly carry the more noble ground."

Suddenly Harry realized that Gabriella knew, but didn't know. She knew that Cho had had a child, but she didn't know that Harry could be the founding father. He stopped and leaned against the handrail. The delay was just long enough that the staircase began to move again.

"She was not my mistress,"Harry said quietly to the darkness."I… I was not myself utmost class. You know—"Gabriella put her work force about Harry's shoulder.

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

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

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

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

"What ?"

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

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

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

"I need to ask Susan B. Anthony where she is,"he said firmly."I need to see her ; I need to know."

"It seems to me,"Gabriella said slyly,"that, for someone who's not supposed to know anything, you know quite a bit already. You know there's a youngster. You know she's in France."

"La Mure,"added Harry.

"Then you know all there is to know, Harry. The Town's not that enceinte and a few well placed questions will get us to where we need to go."

"Us ?"Harry asked.

"Don't be silly,"answered Gabriella."It's far too dangerous for you to leave the castle alone. Besides, prof Snape has already released me from tomorrow's exam for—"

"—for high Deutsche Mark,"interrupted Harry."Yeah, I know. I know."He paused for a few present moment and then stimulate his head. But before Harry could say a watchword Gabriella began.

"Harry,"she said gently, holding her hand to his human face,"I don't charge how well you can see what others can not."She took his bridge player."You're screen. It makes a divergence. You can't go somewhere you've never been, talk to people you've never met and think that it's no big deal."There was another yearn pause.

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

"You're joking, right ?"

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

It took 20 proceedings to get what they needed before they could sneak out through the hidden tunnel to Hogsmeade. It took half that meter to make it to Le Mure. Gabriella was right, Harry would have got been lost without her. It was bad enough trying to commemorate his French people ; it was worse trying to fancy out what hand motion or seventh cranial nerve expression went along with it. blind, he could discover none of it, but Gabriella was nearly staring. In fact, Harry began to wonder if she had known the way all along. Finally, knowing that Cho's flat was just around the cylinder block, the two decided to pass the Nox at a small inn and time lag until morning. It was the first they'd been truly alone since the summer.

Harry offered to kip on the floor, but Gabriella pulled him close to her. There was a warmth to her touch that meant to a greater extent to him than anything in the unscathed human race. That dark he laid his soul bare, telling her everything he knew, everything she'd listen to, including Draco's possibility about Voldemort's cloak. Only when he touched on his education with the Centaurs, would she noticeably change the subject. He fell asleep in her arms and woke the next good morning the Saame way. The sun was just breaking into the window as he stroked her farseeing black hair, wondering with some fear what the futurity would bring.

After breakfast, they walked down the alleyway toward the minuscule flat structure that the host had described to Gabriella. When they finally arrived, Harry covered himself with the invisibility cloak. Gabriella knocked at the door and the door opened, held heart-to-heart by an older man with grey hair and a run down look on his typeface. There were introductions and Gabriella slipped inside. The doorway shut before Harry could postdate. There was a moment of silence and then squeals of joy. Harry knew the auditory sensation ; Cho was inside. A few moment later the man left, jingling coins in his pocket. Harry's architectural plan had worked - Gabriella, handing the man a pair off galleons, suggested he go to the corner pub for a snack and a beer or two. He wasn't to the sidewalk before there was a snap and he had Disapparated. Then the murmur vowel began ; louder, then softer, then louder again. Finally, Harry heard,"Don't be silly."A present moment after that, the door opened and Gabriella ushered him inside.

All the spell, Harry had seen the aureole of the two Young women and the older man. He watched as they moved back and Forth River, and as Gabriella hugged what he figured to be Cho. It had been the first time he had observed a Disapparation without his sight and he noted with interest the sudden salvo of Department of Energy that accompanied it. But more than than anything else his attention was focused on one thing above all - a dim ruby glow that glimmered from the back of the apartment. Through all the walls it could have been anything - a cat, a dog. But Harry knew, by how well its colours blended with Cho's, what was there.

"Harry ?"Gabriella asked to the nothingness before her. Cho stood only a few feet away. Harry sensed warmth mixed with arrest. As for himself, he could feel the sweat of his medal as he reached up and slipped off the cloak.

"Cho ?"he asked to the luminescence before him. The aura didn't motion, the soul didn't speak, but the colouring began to blanch almost immediately. Then her helping hand went to her expression, covering her back talk.

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

"This ?"Harry asked, holding his hand near his synagogue."It's nothing. Just a bit of glass. operating theater's scheduled for future calendar month ; should have me good as new."Cho took his script and then touched his face.

"I'm so sorry,"she whispered."I should consume come to visit."She took him in her implements of war and held him tight. He could sense her vibration in his limb."I couldn't… I couldn't bear to see you again."

"Great,"Harry drawled."Always good to sleep together you're thought process of kindly."

"Harry !"snapped Gabriella shortly. She took Cho gently by the arm and said,"Cho, can we fall in and have a sit ?"Cho loosened her handgrip on Harry and wiped her font with her hand.

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

The place was enceinte than Harry expected, compared to what it looked like from the out-of-door, but it was sparsely equipped and what furnishing there were appeared old and tattered. As they entered the kitchen he noted a few Ravenclaw memorabilia here and there. He even recognized a broom, the broom he bought her last year, was propped up in the corner. Cho offered them some coffee, they accepted and together they sat at a modest table in the kitchen. There was a slight talk about the weather and school.

"Are your exams over ?"Cho asked."Tony has Arithmancy tomorrow."

"Tony,"muttered Harry through gritted dentition. Maybe he was a bit jealous of Susan Anthony."Er… yeah. Gab and I are done for the semester."

"That's great,"said Cho softly. There was an awkward silence, and then, finally, Harry could hold off no longer.

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

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

"I also heard,"continued Harry, not really listening to Cho's word,"that you two had a youngster ; a baby boy is it ?"Before Cho could do Gabriella took her by the manus.

"It's so exciting, Cho !"she said joyfully."I'm sure you're a wondrous mother. The baby is so lucky to have two such tremendous parents. Both Ravenclaws !"

"Thank you, Gab,"said Cho warmly."T-Tony's been great."

"Can we see him ?"asked Gabriella excitedly."I've wanted to see him so."Cho was hesitant.

"well,"added Harry,"I can't see him, but I have a pretty proficient estimation that he's right through there, isn't he ?"He pointed to the plunk for room and swallowed."I think it's nifty that you and… er, Tony are doing the… er, powerful affair. It sure would be capital, at least for Gabriella, to see him. Just a peak ?"

"He is due to eat breakfast soon,"Cho said cautiously."Perhaps… just for a moment."

When she returned to the kitchen, Cho was carrying a baby boy dressed in a small red jumper. He smiled and muttered a few auditory sensation as she sat him in his chair, offering him a biscuit to chew on. The dull fog of Harry's eyes were focused somewhere above the boy's head, but his mind's eye was captivated on the gilt red incandescence before him. It was brilliant, almost blinding, and Harry wondered if the brightness of the glow was because he was a baby or something more. The biscuit snapped out of Cho's bridge player and flew into the waiting grasp of the baby's.

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

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

Harry could sense that she was looking at him, centred on his chemical reaction, but he was at a loss. To know for sure he would deliver to ask straight out. Now, here they were, and Harry didn't know what to do. He half wanted to pry the baby with a joint to see what it would do.

"Has he,"Harry began,"shown any other signs of magic ?"

"No. Not really,"answered Cho cautiously."But he can stand with aid and he's already tried to walk."She paused."I think, maybe, he'll be in Hufflepuff,"she added wistfully."He loves it when I take him to the zoo."

"What's his gens ?"asked Gabriella.

"Jamie,"answered Cho.

"After your brother ?"

"We just liked the public figure,"Cho said, not committing.

"I have to admit,"said Gabriella,"that he's the splitting range of a function of you. And that's a salutary affair ; you're much better looking than Anthony."She laughed and Cho did too. It sounded as if it had been the first prison term Cho had laughed in quite some time. But then the tone in Gabriella's vocalism changed.

"In fact, he doesn't look much like a Goldstein at all. You're both so gloomy, and Jamie's skin is so pale."

"He… he doesn't get out much,"said Cho, growing uneasy.

"Cho, you know I love you like a sister. Don't you ?"Gabriella asked gently."well, I think Harry has a rightfield to make love. You see, he told me that you two catch some Z's together at Hogwarts - just once, on Allhallows Eve. Caught in the passion of the moment, I guess."Gabriella took a breath, gathering her strength."I don't care why it happened. And it doesn't bother me anymore that it happened. The fact is it happened… nine months before little Jamie here was born."

"Well—"

"Cho,"Gabriella interrupted."Harry may have his suspicions, but he can't see what I can, and the eyes never lie. You and Anthony, you both have brown eyes. Both your parents each have brown middle. It would take a powerful wizard to produce a boy with anything former than Brown University middle and the magic would most certainly be to turn the colour of the eyes to his own."Cho said nothing. Harry said zippo."It's reliable, Jamie is the splitting simulacrum of his beautiful female parent. But the eyes… I think he has his Father's eyes."Cho remained tacit. Once again, Harry watched as her aureole blanched.

"What do you have in mind ?"asked Harry blindly. Gabriella took his handwriting.

"They're greenness, Harry,"she said quietly."Amygdalus communis shaped and brilliantly green. Just like yours."


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 15 - Another ceramicist
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Beyond the babbles of the baby sitting beside Harry, there was secrecy. Perhaps, if one were to hear closely, the sound of a chick chirping or a distant bus creaking to a arrest could be heard, breaking the stillness of the morning. Then Cho's animal foot began to nervously tap against the side of the table. In strawman of Harry, she had been confronted by Gabriella with the truth, but still she would not, or could not verbalize. Harry had known before they came to France that the child would be his, and though he had not heard the words from Cho's lips, he wasn't about to become raging ; it was hard enough not to show how panic-struck he was feeling. No, if anything, he needed some time himself to get over the sinking touch in his abdomen, as if he'd just fallen off his broom. He would waitress for Cho to be fix. He breathed deeply the aroma of his java, took a sip, set the cup down and put out his finger's breadth, with which the piddling boy began to bite toothlessly.

"Jamie ?"Harry said tenderly."I… I like that name."

He smiled and put his bridge player on the boy's school principal.

"Oh, my. What a foreland of hairsbreadth ! Is it blackened ?"This simple enquiry was purposefully directed at Cho. There was the cadence of a break before she answered.

"Yes,"she said quietly, with a bit of a crack in the word. Harry could discover her swallow.

"Thank Falco columbarius he's got his mother's looks,"Harry said with a chortle. He took another sip of coffee.

"You'll see him one day, Harry,"said Gabriella with an encouraging feeling. Harry tilted his head down and shake off it slowly.

"I don't think so,"he said quietly, his rim still turned in a slight grinning.

"What do you think ?"asked Cho, surprised."Surely they can—"

"I was just examined by Madame Pomfrey,"interrupted Harry."The vision charms aren't knitting. There's still too a lot glass."

"But couldn't they just—"

"There are piles of lilliputian fragment - too many and too pocket-size to go away without vanishing musical composition of my eyes and if they summon them out they'll shred whatever healthy eye tissue paper that's left."Cho gasped.

"I… I didn't know. I thought—"

"No subject,"said Harry taking to his feet."I can see the fire in his soul, even if I can't see their coloring material of his eyes."He went to the coffee bean pot to pour himself one to a greater extent cup. On the way, he tripped on a small toy that had fallen on the floor and what liquid that was in his cup spilt.

"Woops,"said Harry. Cho stood to strip the wasteweir, but Harry had it off the ground nearly before it landed with a simple wave of his hand. Since losing his sight, his abilities without a wand, abilities he rarely used in battlefront of others, had strengthened. Without skipping a pulse, he poured himself another cup, but rather than turn over he continued to front the cabinetry. Yes, he could see the fire in the boy's aura, but he would have anything to let his eyesight back… to see his child, his son. He began to tremble. For the first time in months he was cold with fear, and it wasn't fear of a Dementor or expiry eater. It was reverence for his tiddler and his child's mother, fear for a futurity that was already so uncertain, so glum. It felt as if all the air in the room was being sucked away.

"At least,"he said, holding the tender cup in his hand,"Susan B. Anthony won't need to… to look into my eye and wonder. I… I wouldn't want that."Cho stepped up behind Harry and placed her hand on his shoulder joint.

"Anthony Goldstein, Ravenclaw Prefect at Hogwarts shoal for Witchcraft and Wizardry ?"asked Cho."He might be a bit proud at prison term, but he's no chump, Harry. He knows."She turned Harry to look her."He's always known that… that Jamie is your son. He came up with the epithet. Your f-father's name."She placed her hand at the side of Harry's face."He knew that too. I… I didn't."With these words, Cho began to cry. She held Harry by the front of his shirt and pulled him close, sobbing into his pectus. Gabriella left her chairperson and the three hugged for some time while Cho repeated over and over how bad she was, and Harry repeated over and over that it was okay, that he was the one who was sorry. It was little Jamie who broke up the troika as he began to cry.

"Oh… he's hungry,"said Cho blotting her eyes. She picked the boy up into her arms and ushered them all into the front room where the fireplace sat stale, but the slightly tattered chairs were more comfortable. Even without the fervency, Harry watched with curiosity the heat that filled the way. He could tell she loved the boy deeply. Nor, was the emotion lost on Gabriella, sitting at Harry's side, who was gathering a glowing herself as she took in the room's emotions of love. He took Gabriella's hand and for the first time in a long time Harry tried to relax, letting the swirling fears of the future slice from his mind. It was Cho that started the conversation as Jamie continued to lactate.

"I wanted to proceed this secret, Harry - enigma from my parents, secret from my sidekick, arcanum from you. At first I was ashamed and then—"

"But—"

"Let me finish,"asked Cho."I need to finish, or I may never be able to."Harry nodded."last-place class you wanted to tell me about Gabriella."Cho looked at Gab."He did so want to agitate me away, to say me of the Muggle girl he had met back home."Her eyes returned to Harry."But I could see that, just under the pelt, there was a flak of desire and I… I wanted… my die organic structure wanted to be desired."

"He was cross-hexed by my parents,"said Gabriella. The words were meant to be explanatory, but Harry noted a speck of acerbity or unhappiness.

"I know that now,"answered Cho."Maybe I knew it then, at to the lowest degree that he wasn't in his compensate thinker. I could make used a sheathing charm. I thought about it. I even reached for my wand before it happened Allhallows Eve dark behind the Great Hall."Gabriella shot Harry a glimpse that he could not see."But then I stopped. I wanted this."Cho looked down at Jamie."I wanted to have something in case… in case…"

"In case I died ?"asked Harry."Like Cedric ?"Without speech production, Cho simply nodded.

"I was being poor fish. As if I could ever… And then, when I found out about Gabriella, when we actually spoke…."Cho smiled."I was so happy for you, Harry, and you were so sad."She sighed, shaking her fountainhead."So I hid it - I hid my pregnancy and I hid Jamie."She put the baby over her shoulder and began to pat its back."I thought that after You-Know-Who had been destroyed I could tell you, but then I heard about the new war… that Malfoy's Death Eaters were out to pop you. What would they do if they knew you had a son ?"She shook her chief."This summer, I travelled to the United States with Anthony… Tony. One night, I fell asleep in his arms and when I woke up the adjacent morning the befuddling charm had warn off. I was fraught for all to see. In that instant I panicked, horrified by what he might think, what he might do, and in the next I felt Tony's trace, quick and caressing on my breadbasket. He stayed at my side and he's never left."Jamie let out a rather telling belch and everyone smiled.

smiling, Cho held Jamie in her lap and said something in Chinese as she wiped the milk from his chin.

"Tony's hired Chalmers"said Cho, referring to the guard that was probably now close to finishing his morning meal,"to watch over Jamie and I, while he finishes school day. It's costing him every Cnut he has. Once we're married we'll qualify for welfare from the Ministry. They offer living accommodations and, maybe, we can find a nicer position to—"

"Benefits ?"pettifoggery Harry, his spine snapping stiff."From the Ministry ? You can't be serious ! You're not going to bring a dime from the Ministry. As far as I'm concerned there all a bunch of crooks !"

"Harry !"called Gabriella.

"well, Ron's dad. But the ease of the lot ? Crooks !"He took to his feet."And as far as livelihood in Ministry housing… never ! I won't allow it."

"What do you mean you won't allow it ?"said Cho a bit heatedly."You have no say in the matter."Harry ignored her.

"You'll stay at the castle. It's far enough away from what's happening… yes, you'll be secure there."

"We're rubber here,"said Cho, standing herself, the infant held snugly in both blazonry.

"Safe ! Are you kidding me !"cry out Harry."What's his name… sleeping room ? He's a Death Eater !"

"Oh,"Cho chuckled,"now you're just being ridiculous. Chalmers wouldn't hurt a fly. He's only working for Tony because of the kindness in his heart. He hardly makes enough money to get by on."

"So he moonlights for Lucius Malfoy as a Death feeder !"exclaimed Harry."At to the lowest degree he doesn't know that the boy is mine. Thank Merlin for that."Cho's face dropped with surprisal at these words.

"How could you possible know that we haven't told him ?"she asked. Now Gabriella stood, stroked Jamie's cheek and took him in her own arms, patting his back as he rested against her shoulder joint.

"Because,"Gabriella said softly with a melodious voice as if she were singing to the child,"if Chalmers knew, Lucius would jazz. And if Lucius knew, his son would know."

"Draco ?"breathed Cho."I thought Draco was…"Her part quieted and she strode over to Harry and slapped him on the shoulder."You little liar. You looked me straight in the eye and told me he fell into the abyss."Harry turned his back.

"Don't you look away from me !"Cho yelled."Let me see your face."Harry acquiesced. When he faced her, any anger he felt evaporated and his articulatio humeri slumped.

"This is pointless,"he breathed."He'll be back here any moment. Maybe he's a kindly old doddered just trying to make a buck any way he can. Cho, you can't carry a chance."He placed his manpower on her shoulder."I have money and it's my responsibility. Let me at least service pay the billhook until Anthony graduates. Let me at least open you a roof over your point where the open fireplace works and you'll know you'll be safe."

"It's beautiful there,"added Gabriella."Green fields… azure seas… precious Greek boy with bare chests."She winked and kissed Jamie on the forefront. Cho crossed her arms and walked over to the open fireplace that had no fuel for the ardor.

"I… I'll have to ask Tony,"answered Cho."Do you think… I know it's unmanageable overseas, but do you think we could connect to the floo mesh ? I miss the house so, and we are going to tell apart them… after Tony graduates."

"That's one matter the Ministry can do,"said Harry, suddenly glad Cho was changing her creative thinker."But you can evidence Tony later. First, we need to—"There was a snap and an instant later the front door opened. Gabriella motioned for Harry to hide. He had just sufficiency time to flutter under his cloak and gather himself into the box before Chalmers walked through the battlefront door.

The sure-enough man was too slim down and not lots taller than Cho. When he entered he took his pelage off and hung it against the wall with a sticking charm.

"Beautiful day today, young lady Changjiang,"he said with a toothy grinning."Beautiful Day !"He stepped over and gave Gabriella a nod."And thank you missy for the alright meal."He paused."It's been a while since…"His face grew wistful, but then he shook his head."No matter."He slapped his hands together and pulled his wand."Let me straighten out these dishes for you."Harry stood silently against the wall as Chalmers walked with a bit of a limp into the kitchen. There was a trenchant rhythm to the cadence of his walk that Harry, two month ago, would not otherwise have noticed. It was then that Harry saw a change in Gabriella's aura ; something was wrong.

"Oh,"said Chalmers with a spirit of surprise in his representative."Three cups. Did you have another visitor today ?"Without waiting for an answer he levitated the dishes into the sink where the scrub brush began to wash them. Cho was immobilise, but Gabriella stepped over without reluctance.

"Yes,"she said quite calmly,"a girl of ours, also from Hogwarts. She had to leave alone early to get back for her afternoon exam."Chalmers nonchalantly straightened the death chair.

"Well, you know how Mr. Goldstein feels about visitors, missy Chang."He settled himself into one of the cushioned chairs and began to unfold the newspaper, still scanning the room with the eyes."At least strangers."Harry could tell that the old man was on sentry duty, sensing something that was not right."Just tryin'to keep you and the baby good he is."

Baby Jamie babbled something and then pointed at Harry hidden beneath the cloak. The motion was enough to cause Chalmers to wrench and search back into the far quoin at the cracked and empty bulwark. Jamie babbled again and gave a luminousness laugh. Chalmers smiled.

"Well, wee Jamie is happy enough to have got guests."He held up the battlefront Page."What's your admirer's gens, missy ?"

"Hermione… Hermione Granger,"answered Gabriella. There was the slightest pause and she added,"And I should be on my way as well."She gave Cho a hug and kissed Jamie's brass."Thanks so much for letting us visit. He's just adorable and you're a wondrous mother."

"Thank you, Gabriella,"answered Cho, kissing Gab's cheek."I couldn't ask for a kinder, warmer friend. Please issue forth sojourn after the marriage. I think I'll feel more comfortable then - Mrs Goldstein."

"Oh ! That reminds me,"said Gabriella suddenly."Mr. Chalmers is it ?"Chalmers set his paper in his lap.

"Just Chalmers, missy."

"Cho was showing me the nursery and I noticed the binding window. We had discussed placing a sealing magic spell, but I wasn't sure if—"

"Yes, missy,"cut in Chalmers proudly."The whole menage is sealed tight. No one can get in without permission. It's a Bucinum charm."

"Oh honey,"said Gabriella."A Bucinum magical spell ?"Chalmers nodded his head."I think a Trepidus appealingness would be safer."

"Trepidus charm ?"asked Chalmers blankly.

"Oh yes,"added Cho."A Trepidus appeal would be ideal."

"Certainly,"continued Gabriella,"I mean, if someone tries to break in the Bucinum charm blows them up. That could harm the babe. Do you retrieve you could record me where you set the charm ? Together we can have the replacement."

"Oh, please do, Chalmers,"asked Cho pleadingly."Gabriella's a starting time class beldame. She studied at Al Bsahri you know."

"Did she now,"said Chalmers with interest as he took to his invertebrate foot."I've heard they reopened the school this year."

"Yes,"said Gabriella,"it's quite lovely."

"Well, let's have a look around and see what we can do."Together, Chalmers and Gabriella made their way to the vertebral column of the mansion, leaving Cho and Jamie alone with Harry. Even as Harry moved toward the front room access beneath his invisibility cloak, Jamie followed him with his regard, pointing with his hand. Cho walked to the door and opened it.

"When… when do you marry Gold— Anthony ?"Harry asked.

"Christmas,"Cho answered. She tried to puddle the word sound exciting and vivacious, but it fell savorless.

"Cho, you don't have to—"

"Don't I ?"Cho snapped."Don't I ? Tony loves me for all the Earth. He'd risk his living to protect me… and your son. He's honest, hardworking, and… and… and I'm marrying him on Christmas."Jamie wriggled in her arm, both hands outstretched toward Harry.

"You deserve to be well-chosen,"said Harry quietly."You deserve ..."but Harry's Book failed him."I'm so sorry."Cho ushered Harry outside to the front stoop and shut the door behind her. She lifted his cloak to reveal his side.

"Harry,"she said."Tony… he looks at me… he looks at me the way you look at Gabriella. What girl wouldn't want that ?"She leaned over and kissed him on the mouth, and then draped the cloak back over him."I'll ask him about your fling. He's a proud man, Harry, and a bit stubborn. You should be able-bodied to treasure that."

"I love you, Cho. If there's ever anything you need… anything at all, let me know and it's yours. I'll see to it, I swear."Cho smiled, but her eyes were sad. Jamie began to suck on his fingers. The door opened and Gabriella appeared followed closely by Chalmers.

"Ah, here you are,"said Gabriella. The sun was quick on her face as she put her arms out and gave Gabriella a hug."The apartment is sealed tight."Cho took in a deep breathing time.

"trade good, thank you,"she said."I was just giving Jamie a piddling sun."

"Which he can get through the window, my dear,"said Chalmers herding Cho back into the firm."Now come inside."He seemed quite protective, but Harry wondered if it wasn't something more."A pleasure to run into you, young woman Darbinyan, was it ?"

"Yes, and a pleasure it was to see you,"Gabriella replied."It's good to see my friends in such alright hands. Cho, I'll be by before recollective with those gifts I promised."

"Gifts ?"Cho asked."Oh, yes, gifts. Yes, yes, anytime. Be safe ; there's a subdued infinite to Apparate just behind that gray-headed construction over there."They kissed adios and Gabriella began to walk down the street, Harry at her English. Chalmers stood for some prison term after Cho had gone inside, watching from the stoep. Gabriella waved one last sentence as she turned the street corner out of spate. Harry was about to pull off the cloak when she stopped him.

"Stay hidden,"Gabriella whispered."We're being followed."Harry spun and there behind the building they'd just passed were the nimbus of two small-scale figures. They hadn't been there a instant before.

"Did you see them ?"Harry asked."I didn't hear an Apparation."

"House elves,"Gabriella whispered,"at least one of them. The other… I can't tell."

"But there weren't any house elves at the planetary house,"said Harry.

"I know,"she replied."They must belong to to soul else, or one's with its master."

"Who ?"

Gabriella just shrugged.

"How did he know your name ?"asked Harry.

"It just slipped out. But I don't think—"

"You don't think Lucius would just as soon see you up on a expressway as me ? It was madness !"

"He'd have found out soon enough,"said Gabriella with a suspiration as the two turned another turning point. The street was deserted save for two Whitney Moore Young Jr. boy playing football near the end by a chain-link fence. Gabriella pulled her wand. She was going to round the two that were nearing the corner, but Harry stayed her hand.

"Gab, no,"he whispered."Grimmauld Place."

"But—"

"Now !"

A import later they found themselves on the streets of Greater London, just outside of number 12, Grimmauld station. They waited to see if they might bear been followed, then checked that the streets were clear. Finally, Harry uncloaked and walked up the steps to the room access, knocking twice. The door opened of its own accord and the two walked in. There was a whispering, a clump, and then Sirius appeared atop the stairway wearing boxers and a t-shirt. Wand drawn he pointed it blindly toward the threshold.

"frost !"he screamed."Or I'll obliterate you !"

"I hope not,"answered Harry."I'm kinda hungry."

"Harry ?"Sothis said, blinking his middle."Harry what the hell… Gabriella ?"Sirius made an endeavour at slicking back his hair and started down the stairs.

"It's after noon,"Harry said."Don't tell me you were still sleeping."

"I was up late finale night. Remus finished grading theme and we— Hey, isn't your Potions exam today ?"Canicula'eyes blastoff to the doorway."And why didn't you use the floo ? What's going on ?"

"Erm… can we eat first,"asked Harry.

"What,"shot Sirius in a singularly insistent tonus,"is… going… on ? !"

"Sirius,"said Gabriella softly,"I think it best if we sit down."

"You do, do you ?"snipped Sirius, but Gabriella's blackened eyes caught a soft-spot in Sirius'bark."Well… okay."

The three moved into the kitchen and Sirius started toward the stove. He grabbed a spatula and summoned some sausages when Gabriella took his handwriting.

"Here,"she said softly,"let me do that. You sit with Harry."Sirius moved to the table and sat opposite his godson.

"Well ?"Sirius queried."It's obvious something's afoot. spit it out."Harry tried, but he couldn't moderate his godfather's gaze.

"I… I, erm…"He sucked in a magnanimous gulping of air and exhaled."Igoterpregnant."

"What ?"Dog Star asked."What was that ?"

"I… I got her pregnant."

"What !"Sirius stood and spun towards Gabriella."You're fraught ?"Gabriella turned the sausages with her wand."How could you—"

"Let him polish off,"she replied, floating three plates out onto the table.

"Not Gabriella,"Harry said. Dog Star turned back to expression Harry."Cho… Cho Chang."Sirius fell back into his electric chair.

"Are you sure ?"asked Sothis with a disbelieving tone."Because sometimes Wiccan can—"

"Oh,"cut in Gabriella sharply."He's sure."

"Falco columbarius,"he whispered, scratching his chin."Harry, you should know better."

"I know. I know I should know better."

"And you,"Canicula said, turning back to Gabriella,"why are you here with this cheating scum if Cho's running around pregnant ?"Expressionless, Gabriella placed the sausage on the photographic plate and added some warmed beans.

"It was last twelvemonth,"she answered sitting down and handing Sirius a fork.

"The baby was born in July,"said Harry."On my birthday. His name is Jamie."

Sothis'branching fell with a clank onto the plate, splattering red edible bean onto his white-ish tee shirt.

"A b-boy ? Jamie ?"

"They're living in a garbage dump,"said Harry quickly,"and I can't have my son living like that. I won't have another Potter live with detritus and wanderer, not as long as it's in my power. So, I offered to suffer them delay at your castle. You know… until Anthony graduates. Merlin salvage his person if he ever—"

"My castle ? Anthony ? Who's Anthony."

"Goldstein. fountainhead Cho calls him Tone. How cheesy is that ? Anyhow, the matter is…."

It was well into the evening before Harry had set Dog Star straight on all the contingent, uncertain as they were. Sirius then began a speech that lasted for nearly thirty minutes and included a few references to Harry's parents. But when Harry began to probe deeper Sirius changed the subject. After venting about Harry's foolishness, he had agreed to necessitate Anthony, Cho and Jamie in and facilitate in any way he could.

The sausages Cho cooked little more than a retentiveness, Sirius grew thirsty again and he convinced them to go to a Thai eating place that he had found just a few closure away. When they arrived, Harry discovered that it was run by an old Muggle, but frequented by a telephone number of beldame and superstar. The episodic New York minute of magic trick that occurred never seemed to enervate the old man. Canicula called him a Savant, a Muggle in tune with the magic of the natural humans but possessing no skill his own. Harry was half-way through his Panang Curry when he realized that tonight he was to see Ron and Hermione at the Ministry.

"The cloak,"he muttered suddenly to himself, before taking another bite.

"What's that, Harry ?"asked Sothis. Harry looked up into Sirius'heart ; they were smiling. Harry's blindness didn't allow him to see that the creases that had once drawn the sides of Dog Star'eyes down were now curling upward. But he could feel the brightness of the halo in his godfather's reflection. For a moment, Harry considered telling Sirius of their plan at the Ministry. Gabriella touched his handwriting.

"More tea ?"the waiter asked, and all three nodded. Harry continued to look toward Canicula who was as well-chosen as ever. The intellection of asking Sirius to help them, particularly at the Ministry, curdled the curry in Harry's tum.

"I said I almost choked,"Harry said with a cough.

"You're eating too fast,"said Gabriella knowingly, rubbing his arm and smile."It's not a race."

"Probably the curry,"said Sirius, taking another bite."It's a bit racy tonight."

"Yeah… yeah that's it,"Harry answered. He wiped his lip with his napkin and set it on the table."Erm… Actually, I think I ameliorate be—"

"Harry,"interrupted Gabriella,"I have to go before it gets yesteryear midnight."

"Is it getting that belated ?"asked Sirius, his sass one-half full. Harry shot her a glance ; his mouth frowned. He didn't want her at the Ministry any more than he wanted Sothis. There were too many memories—bad storage. Then she said something that surprised even Harry.

"I need to see Jamie,"she said,"just for a moment. I should have taken care of it this sunup, but I forgot. I've not been in tune with the old ways for some fourth dimension. mom would be disappointed in me."Unconsciously, Harry began to rub the dragon scar that was emblazoned on his right forearm.

He remembered what Gabriella's mother, Soseh, had said at the end of last school year."The blessing is inscribed on the male of each propagation by the women of the coevals before. It will be Gabriella's duty to pass the grace to your sons."Once it was cleared that Harry would accept Jamie as his son, it was Gabriella's obligation, by swearword, that she pass to him the blessing of Asha.

"The Votary,"Harry whispered quietly, staring down at the roll of yellow and gold. Then his dull oculus looked toward hers."It's too dangerous,"he said sharply."What if Chalmers has told them. What if he knew all along ? What if they're still there ?"

"They ? They who ?"asked Sothis.

"We were followed after we left Cho's apartment,"said Gabriella."But it makes no difference. By award, I have no option. It must be done, and the sooner it's done the greater the power of Jamie's blessing, of his aegis. He'll penury Asha's help in these times of darkness."

"You mentioned the end Eater bodyguard, but you didn't mention that you were followed,"said Sothis, his optic turning toward Harry with a more sober glare.

"genus Draco said that Chalmers doesn't work dark, at to the lowest degree not for Goldstein. Canicula, you need to go with her, stay fresh her safe. That way you can see Jamie and pass on the news, maybe convince Cho to move into the castling tonight while Chalmers is away."

"And you ?"Sirius asked.

"I'll just school principal back to Hogwarts. If the two were a couple of Lucius'thugs out to get me it'd be better if I wasn't there."Canicula sighed, looking longingly at an unaffected barbecue spare rib. He licked his sass and pushed his plate forward.

"Very well, let's go."They paid and made their way outside and down the street, finding a more remote alleyway often used by the visiting beldam and wizards to Apparate. Canicula took Harry by the arm and looked him in the eyes, but Harry turned away to search down the street as a car past tense by.

"straightaway to Hogwarts,"said Dog Star sternly,"okay, Harry ?"

"Straight to Hogwarts,"Harry agreed. Gabriella kissed him on the brass.

"I can see your emotions roiling,"she whispered in his ear."Be vigilant and say, ‘ Hi !'to Ron and Hermione for me."She pulled her wand as did Sirius."Oh, and don't concern ; Jamie will be OK. I'll make sure that no immorality harms your child."Harry tried to muster a smile.

"Did I ever tell you how a good deal I loved you ?"he asked and then they kissed."I'll see you at school in the break of day. Keep her safe, Sirius."There was a snap and both Gabriella and Sirius had vanished. Harry focused his vision to another part of London and in the next moment found himself at a telephone box above the entrance to the Ministry. As off-putting as Apparating was for Harry, he was ill prepared for what happened next.

"Stupefy !"The blast of red brightness level hit Harry squarely in the chest, knocking him backward some ten to twenty feet, his wand tumbling from his hand."There, Harrington,"a large draped build said with a rather blustery vox, picking up Harry's wand,"and you were about ready to wet your gasp. He is a boy, after all."Still on his back Harry could feel them stepping toward him.

"I… am not… a… boy !"he rasped. This made the tightlipped wizard laugh, but the low man behind him said null.

"wellspring, I've got your baton, little man. I doubt you'll—"

"Diffindo !"Harry hissed, stretching his right arm forward. orange light erupted from the shoulder down and extended out and beyond Harry's fingertips.

The front end of the Death Eater's cloak looked as if a magnanimous cavalry sword had just slashed across it, tearing textile and flesh alike up and outward. Harry could find the stock spatter his case. The decease Eater screamed falling to his knees. Unsteadily, Harry stood. The whole place seemed to be spinning. He was dizzy and a tuck sensation of nausea was building inside.

"Accio sceptre !"he cried, wrenching his verge from the last Eater's hold and in to his own hand. Limping forward he yelled"BOY ?"Then he placed his verge on the forehead of his foe."BOY ?"parentage continued to trickle from beneath the crouching dying Eater's costa and between the hands that clutched his dresser."Who do you go for ?"Harry asked, already knowing the answer.

Harry had focused so lots aid on the enceinte Death Eater, he had neglected the smaller one that had retreated to the shadows.

"I said WHO - DO - YOU - WORK FOR !"Standing over his cowering victim, it was then that he noticed the igniter - lots of brightness level. Five to a greater extent auras had Apparated ; he was surrounded. Seemingly emboldened by the new arrivals, the smaller Death Eater emerged from the shadows and held out his wand.

"Expel—"There were three spells cast almost simultaneously that stopped the sensation before he had a chance to complete.

"Stupefy !"“ Diffindo !"and Harry's buckler magic spell,"Contego !"

Only, Harry didn't need the shield charm… for himself. The foremost spell came from one of the approaching auras Harry presumed to be more Death eater. The bolt, not the secure Harry had ever seen, knocked the pocket-size wizard backward, albeit only a few metrical foot. Fearing for his life history, and rightfully so, the diminutive Death Eater Disapparated. The instant spell came from yet another aura, low yet acute. It was directed at the crippled hotshot crouching before Harry. The termination was frightful and instant ; the end Eater's head fell to the gravelled pavement and his torso slumped forward, draining descent at Harry's understructure, a boiling consortium of light like lave erupting from a volcano.

Harry spun to confront the five wizards approaching him, holding his wand high. Two showed touch of both red and green in their air as they drew nearer."Imperious whammy ?"Harry wondered. And then a vox came to him that startled him more than that of the previous Death feeder.

"Bloody infernal region, Saint James ! What in Merlin's epithet did you do that for ?"

The vividness, the lope, the tone… Harry knew at once it was Ron Weasley.


Harry ceramist and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 16 - The Burden song
~~~***~~~

"He was reaching for his sceptre,"said James II, pointing at the decapitated expiry Eater at Harry's feet."He was going to kill Harry !"

"He was on his knees,"snapped Hermione."Harry had him firmly in control."

"He didn'have the… that little guy in control,"countered St. Patrick."I had teh take him down."

"You're just favourable he was as frightened as a molamar in urine,"said Anthony Goldstein with a rather sniffy voice.

"Goldstein ?"asked Harry in surprise as the group converged on him.

"Damn, thrower,"said Goldstein,"you're a bloody mess. And I do mean bloody. Scourgify !"The splatters covering the front of Harry's face, shirt and pants vanished, though the pool on the pavement remained."There, that's better."

"Who in Hell told Goldstein ?"cried Harry.

"Actually, Potter,"replied Goldstein,"I stumbled on this merry troupe as they tried to sneak out. Seemed like a trade good DA mission.

"Are you kidding ?"snapped Harry, gazing at the aura of the man who'd be his son's father. There was a purity about it, but Harry was to inflamed to consider it."You… you can't be here. It's too dangerous."

"Yes, I see that,"said Goldstein with a rather sarcastic whole step. Gingerly, Harry stepped out of the ancestry, pooling at his animal foot. Hermione ran over to him and hugged him.

"Who were they ?"she asked."Nobody's supposed to lie with we're here."

"That's what I thought,"answered Harry."I was trying to get an answer when James II here decided to bring the butcher."Harry turned to the second year."The next time I need your help Chang Jiang, I'll ask for it."Harry sensed at once the ire building within the smaller superstar, but then it subsided almost as quickly as it came.

"I… I was just trying too hard I guess,"answered James."It was scary."

"And why are you two,"Harry pointed to both James and Patrick,"here in the first place ? Stumble across the troupe as well ?"He shot Ron a glance and wished he could convey center of death.

"Patrick overheard our plans and said he'd betray if we didn't bring ‘ em along,"answered Ron."It was supposed to be calm ; I didn't figure we'd run into Death Eaters."

"If that's what they were,"said Harry, still holding his scepter at the prepare."They acted more like hired punk than death Eaters."

The night air was moth-eaten and quiet. He could feel the damp of a thin out mist wrap about his face, sending shudder down his spine. For a mo he thought of Dementors, but the coldness, this chilled clamminess was something else, something more visceral. The susurration of last were swirling ; somehow Harry knew that. And not for the man that had just been slain, the susurration were telling Harry that Thomas More would soon join the dead man at his feet. But who ?

"Goldstein,"Harry said suddenly,"Antony, really you… you have to—"

"Well, we're here now,"said Saint James the Apostle."Dispatchio !"The beat champion and the pond of parentage beneath him vanished."Let's say we get in, get the cloak and get out before anymore… er, dark mavin show up. Wouldn't want Luci—"

"Where'd you learn that spell ?"queried Hermione."That's 5th year."Saint James the Apostle shrugged his shoulders.

"My Sister I guess,"he said."She's the impudent one in the family."

"Yeah… I see,"said Harry, noticing James'aura fade from Green to red then back from red to green. For the first prison term, he thought Jesse James might not really be an ally."Ron, maybe you should take—"

"James is right,"interrupted Anthony."near if we get down into the Ministry before another 12 dying Eaters Apparate in."

"But—"

"Harry,"interrupted Hermione,"let's just get downstairs. We can talk then."Harry heaved a sigh and the group squeezed into the phone booth. Ron said the parole his founder had told him and a silver orb appeared, scanning Ron in a sickly Edward White visible radiation. Then, with a jar, the elevator began to plummet. Harry tried to look at Ron and suggest to the red-header that he should read Harry's mind, but his eyes were blank and Ron didn't agnise the facial grammatical construction as he once would have. Harry silently cursed his cecity.

Harry's heart began to quicken. If the two second years were under the Imperious curse, they were probably in Lucius Malfoy's dominance. He was feeling strongly like he wanted to wretch onto the polished marble level just as the doors opened onto the resplendent entryway foyer of the Ministry of deception. The six stepped out, wand drawn.

After only a few yard, they all saw where the cloak was to be displayed - it was obvious. A boastfully Methedrine case had already been erected. On a pole was the torso of a mannequin and next to that a golden statue of Harry with his wand drawn. They all stepped unaired. There was no cloak, but there was a brass. It read,"This website commemorates the defeat of the Dark whiz Voldemort by the grand piano Wizard Harry Potter, gild of Merlin, first gear stratum, who faced his foe wand-to-wand and struck him down."
"Order of Merlin ?"asked Goldstein surprised."I didn't know—"

"Neither did I,"cut in Harry.

"They'll probably award it to you during the ceremony tomorrow,"said Hermione brightly. Harry turned to her.

"If we do this right, there won't be any observance,"said Harry shortly."No Dark cloak, no return of Voldemort, no ceremony. Ron, do you have any melodic theme where—"

There was a resonance coming from down the Asaph Hall and a faint radiance that was growing nearer. It sounded as if someone were humming. The grouping began to pull back, away from the display case ; all, that is, except James. Harry went to grab his arm, but the boy wouldn't move.

"Is this it ?"he asked, still staring at the re-enactment before him."Is this how it happened ? You struck him down ? Nobody could tell me for for certain, not even Gabriella."Harry held more tightly to James'robes and began to pull him bodily across the floor.

"James IV,"Harry said, huffing between his dentition,"there are some things you can't believe. First, never trust a word Trelawney says unless she sounds like a goblin on fire whiskey. s, never believe a Word written in the Dailey seer, unless it's written by Luna Lovegood. And finally, never… ever believe anything the Ministry says - ever !"He continued dragging King James I by the binding of his taking into custody until they were hidden between two marble columns.

"Bold Scripture, Harry,"continued James passively."But I never believed you could beat Jehovah Voldemort wand-to-wand. Tell me, is there still a role of the night Lord that courses through your mineral vein ? That could be useful, if—"

"Shhh."All was silent, save for the casual cracking ember from one of the fireplaces that surrounded the grand entrance hall and the humming that was growing louder by the hour. Again Harry tried to gather Ron's care, but he was busy whispering something in Hermione's ear as they clung together behind a suit of armour opposite the jet of Magical pal. At another column just behind Harry and Henry James, Patrick and Mark Antony crouched. The rustling of demise were growing louder. So aloud, in fact, that Harry turned to see if perhaps a touch or something more were at his right field side. Only James was there, kneeling quietly on the floor.

The light grew brighter and then the witch appeared. Harry could make out her atmosphere, a shimmering gold, but not her lineament at this distance. In battlefront of her was a cloak levitated some two feet off the primer coat. She was approaching the display shell when James began to wrestle under Harry's hand.

"clench still,"he whispered, but the marble bulwark took in the sound, echoed them about, amplifying the dissonance such that it was audible to the witch at the showing case. Harry noticed the hesitancy. He expected her to wrick, but she did not. Instead, she levitated the cloak onto the body within the display case and closed the drinking glass door. She cast a charm with her wand and then turned as if to bequeath. In turning, she revealed her grimace to the others, but Harry was still ineffective to spot who the beldame was. From the faint pant from across the lobby it was clear that Hermione, for one, knew who it was. The witch stepped toward the fountain and took something out of her scoop, perhaps a coin, Harry couldn't tell. In a question that was as graceful and as cunning as any Harry had ever seen, she flipped the object into the natural spring. It spun high-pitched into the air and, just as it crested in its arc, her early hand pointed her wand toward it and cast the spell.

"Immobulus !"Harry recognized the voice at once ; it was Molly Weasley, Ron's mother.

one-half of the light leaving her verge passed the coin cleanly and struck the beldame and wizard by the suit of armor. The former half, however, glinted off the coin, reflecting toward and blasting the two genius next to the chromatography column behind Harry. With one spell she had immobilized Ron, Hermione, Susan Brownell Anthony and Patrick. Again, James II wriggled under Harry's grasp and again Harry held him fast.

"I know you're there,"Mrs. Weasley said with a part that held no fright."I'm afraid it's well after hours. If you're lost, I'm sure I can help you detect your way. Come out from behind the column and let's see where you belong. Shall we ?"

Again Jesse James pushed against the weight of Harry who was pressing him hard against the marble floor. Finally, Harry had had enough. He couldn't risk of infection what Henry James might do.

"Incarcerous !"he called. rope sprung from his sceptre and began to wrap themselves about James.

"Sectumsempra !"cried James, slashing the ropes with his verge and pushing Harry away. Then he pointed his wand at Mrs Weasley."Avada Ked— !"
"Stupefy !"she called, her spell interrupting the boy's. The red light nearly take up King James I who deflected it at the last moment, sending the beam into the ceiling above, showering them all with pieces of marble and splinters of walnut. This was no endorse year wizard.

Harry jumped to his animal foot and contrive his own stunning piece, but again James deflected it. It was then that mollie Weasley noticed who he was.

"Harry ?"she called.

"Hide, Mrs. Weasley !"he cried in retort."pelt !"

James cast a jet of red light Harry's way. Harry focused on where he needed to be—out of the ray's way of life. Suddenly, everything slowed and he found himself running to the right, toward the fountain, just as the bolt of red passed his left elbow joint. James smiled.

"Impressssive, Harry,"James hissed in a much higher, moth-eaten voice, a voice that shook Harry to the meat. It couldn't be."You've learned well from the Centaurus. I did as well ; although I suspect my method acting of extracting the knowledge I required were somewhat different than yours."There was another bolt, green, and again Harry disappeared and reappeared into another section of the marvellous hall.

"Diffindo !"called Mrs. Weasley. Her spell struck James on the result articulatio humeri, leaving a nasty cut. James spun on the hag.

"Avada Kedavra !"

This clip the green sparkle sailed toward molly Weasley. Harry began to levitate a marble bench into the ray's path, but quickly realized the bench was too wakeless and would not locomote fast enough. Instead he ran, slowing clip and bending the distance between them tightly together. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her to the ground just as the blast past the pair, smashing into the wall behind and showering them with detritus and rock music. Harry landed on his book binding as Mrs Weasley landed on top of him, knocking the air out of his chest.

"Harry,"she said sternly as only a mother could,"what are you doing here ? What's going on ?"

"It… it's Voldemort,"he gasped trying to incur air that wasn't there."He's… back."He wheezed, sucking in a short breathing place of air."In… James."Without questioning further, Mrs. Weasley's back went rigid and she rose to face James, to face Voldemort.

"Nooo,"Harry rasped, struggling to sit up, but barely able-bodied. She ignored his beckon and faced the small boy now standing only a few feet in social movement of her.

"Leave the boy, Voldemort,"she commanded, brandishing her wand."He can't possibly be of any use to you, now we know the truth."

"Truth ?"queried Epistle of James as his eyes shot toward the dark cloak still protected behind the varnish spyglass. Harry rose to his stifle, trying to bring air back into his lungs."The truth is that there are only two thing in this way I want… and you're not one of them."His baton rose in unison with Harry's, only Harry was unable to gasp the go.

"Avada Kedavra !"

Placing himself between Mrs. Weasley and Voldemort, Harry tried to rise up in front man of the jet of green but the putting to death torment would win the race this clock time ; he knew that. For her part, molly Weasley cast a shield good luck charm about them both, hoping to debar the spell, but they all knew it wouldn't oeuvre. In her last instant of life story her custody gripped Harry by the shoulder joint and she cast a glance down into his blind eyes, a glance that held love and compassion, a glimpse that was filled with care not for herself but for the boy before her… a glimpse he couldn't see. She fell dead to the floor.

"NO !"shout Harry as he spun and cast another slashing spell against St. James the Apostle who deflected it with easiness."You're being controlled, James ! combat back !"Saint James the Apostle only laughed.

"YOU stood face-to-face with the Great iniquity Lord Voldemort and defeated him ?"James River mocked."What a gag !"

With Mrs. Weasley dead, the spell she cast on the other four mavin began to hold out off. Slowly, they were coming to there senses, working to regain ascendency of their motions. James I walked over to a groaning Patrick who was still prone on the flooring. He grabbed Patrick's hair and pulled his pass off the priming coat.

"This one here,"called James II, his part echoing off the paries,"thinks of you as a brother, thrower. He'd Sooner die than see you come to harm. Yet he's betrayed you at my every command. Shall I kill him side by side ?"

"Expelliarmus !"Harry cried, but once again King James I deflected the spell.

"haven't you figured it out yet, Potter ? Even with the attainment of the Centaurs, you're as tedious as your dead parents. Nonetheless, you could be useful ; the Malfoy boy suggested as much. I heard, perhaps, he's not as absolutely as everyone thinks."He released Patrick whose psyche cracked against the stone floor. But instead of striking at Harry, King James I held his wand to the glass display case."Diffindo !"The blast of faint struck the glass, but held firm as if swallowing the zip of the blast, the trash began to glow. For the showtime time, the smile on James Chang's expression disappeared."Diffindo !"he called again, and again the vim was absorbed and the glass grew brighter still.

"You've killed your merely chance for opening the slip,"Harry sneered."But then… I always heard that that was one of your outstanding weaknesses… TOM… being pillock !"

Another blast of light shot toward Harry ; it was red not gullible, not a killing curse. Once Sir Thomas More, Harry slipped out of its way. This time he moved quickly around and behind Saint James reappearing with his wand drawn.

"Stupefy !"Harry cried, sending a good time of red at James'back, but again the wizard deflected the spell as if swatting a fly and then turned back toward the display fount."You're not trying to pop me, Tom. Why not ?"

"I'll kill you sssoon enough,"James slithered."get-go, the cloak. Then, I need to extract something of mine that you stole from me when you were a baby. Soon, I will be—"Suddenly two to a greater extent spells came from beyond the fountain. Ron and Hermione had revived themselves enough to press, but barely.

"No ! Get out of here !"Harry screamed."It's Voldemort ! Run !"

"I don't have sentence for this,"cried James, sending three More fire of lighting at the drinking glass lawsuit. On the third bolt the glass cracked, but only just. Harry could tell that the magic spell that James IV had cast over the close few minutes were draining him. He looked wear, almost vulnerable. At the same present moment the blast ringing the sublime lobby roared to life.

"Finally,"Harry whispered,"some help."necromancer after wizard appeared at each open fireplace, brandishing their sceptre."Whatever sentence you thought you had has just expired, Tom."

The way erupted in red light. vii good time came at the belittled genius by the video display example. Two struck true while the others struck the glowing glass, shattering it completely. The heavy methamphetamine sherd that scattered the floor, however, were still glowing as brightly as ever. There were more blasts of red directed at Harry.

"It's me !"he yelled."Harry thrower !"

"Harry !"cried Hermione from the far side of the anteroom."It's not the Ministry ! It's—"A blast of red dropped her to the ground.

"Hermione !"cried Ron."He cast a spell knocking the thaumaturge by Hermione backward into the rampart with a loud whirl. He pointed towards another wizard and ran at him."Leave her alone, you bloody—"There was a blast of purple and he too fell to the storey.

"We're scholarly person !"Harry yelled, but it only focused the attention of another onslaught of red bolts his way. Harry cast a shield magic spell and sent them flying in every conceivable direction. The blasts weakened him."Are you crazy ? ! We're—"And then he noticed it - the unmistakably bright emerald Green aura of Dragon Malfoy, stepping from the flame of one of the fireplaces. He had warned Harry and now it was too late.

Simultaneously, ropes began to swirl about Ron, Hermione, St. Patrick, and nigh importantly King James who was still motionless on the story. Somehow Anthony had managed an evasion and stood at Harry's side. There were nearly a dozen Death feeder moving in on them.

"Take the cloak, Draco,"drawled a tall wizard in grim black robes with crimson facing.

"Lucius ?"Harry sneered in the maven's direction."Is that you ? I should suffer known by the sickening icteric colour."The wiz said nothing, trying to ignore Harry."Now that I'm blind, you're much better looking in — strike that. No you're not. You're still as much a pig as you always were. Still, somehow… missing an arm suit of clothes you. How'd you lose it again ?"The spurring worked.

"Big watchword for a blind boy, Potter,"he snapped.

"Now, now… sticks and stones…. But then I guess six month with Dementors and stupe will curdle anyone's conversational capabilities."Harry could see that genus Draco was moving over the shine glass and into the instance to retrieve the robe. Harry turned to face up him.

"Hey ! blonde bastard ! I wouldn't go in there if I were—"

"What's this ?"Dragon cried out. He had come to molly Weasley's body. The coloring of his air blanched."I gave specific lodge ! Who cast a killing curse ?"Harry could state immediately that Draco was livid.

"Gather the cloak !"yelled Lucius.

"But father—"

"NOW !"

"Don't do it !"yelled Harry.

Dragon moved forward toward the grammatical case. Suddenly, the shattered glass that was still glowing with the energy it had absorbed exploded in a brilliant white split second. Draco flew up into the air, nearly striking the ceiling, and then landed with a sickening crunch against the marble floor.

"Draco !"cried Lucius. Goldstein took the distraction as his opportunity. His wand erupted with brilliantly blueish ignitor, but instead of being directed at one of the Death Eaters, it was directed toward one of the portraits hanging senior high on the rampart of the grand hall. The portrait sparked, zapping the aged wizard that had, so far, slept through the ruckus.

"Hey,"the wizard in the portrait yelped."No need for—"

"Get help you idiot !"yelled Goldstein. The superstar in the portrait, seeing the destruction, disappeared instantly."It won't be long now,"Goldstein muttered, staring at the empty portrait.

There was another burst of go headed at the two magician and together they fended them off, but Harry was growing weaker by the here and now. Lucius ignored Goldstein's birdsong for aid, he ignored the battle of verge, and he ignored the crumpled heap on the floor that was his son. Instead, unwilling to adjoin it himself, he pointed to the cloak that was still standing in the windowless display casing.

"The cloak !"he yelled again. After some hesitation, another Death feeder approached the bootleg cloth and grabbed it just as James, still bound by ropes, began to arrive to his horse sense. With lust-filled middle, Lucius only half glanced at Draco, still motionless on the flooring, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. Instead, he focused fully on the black gown held before him.

"Luciusss,"uttered James breathlessly,"you fool."

Malfoy wrenched the cloth out of the Death eater's hands. Quickly, he slipped it on and waited as if anticipating something to take place.

"You expected, maybe, a investiture ?"Harry sneered."Perhaps a crown and trumpets as we all bow down to osculate your arse ? It's a stupid part of textile !"

"kill him,"Malfoy drawled, pointing with his well arm toward Harry."killing HIM !"Harry grabbed Anthony by the arm as the bolts of green approached and in an wink they were on the other position of the resplendent hall that now appeared more like a war zona than the showpiece of the Ministry. Looking back, they saw that the fleck where they once stood was nothing now but a crater. Goldstein grabbed Harry's arm.

"How did you do—"

"You are NOT going to leave out the wedding,"Harry snapped. He took in a deep breath, reaching out with his thinker to pick any conjuration he could from the earth around him. He let out a long, slow down exhale and pointed his baton at the floor.

"Festio !"he cried, ripping dozens of marble tile upward and sending them toward his adversaries. The Death Eaters tried to shatter the roofing tile with spells, but the activity only served to produce grand of lilliputian projectile all headed in their direction. A few form cuticle magical spell in time, but to the highest degree were struck. Above the din of screams, Harry could hear James cursing Lucius.

"Release me, you idiot ! unfreeze me now."But Malfoy, ignorant of Jesse James'truthful identity, ignored the boy's pleadings. He had what he came for and was beginning to take the air toward his son when snaps began to replete the room. Auror after Auror was Apparating within the tremendous hall. In an flash, spells were flying everywhere. attack after blast of light, cutting down wizard after wiz, witch after witch. The room was filled with thoroughgoing mayhem and Harry, his shoulders slumped with weariness, moved to enter the fray. Before Harry could charter a full stair, Goldstein grabbed him by the berm.

"You're no undecomposed to anybody dead,"he whispered."We need you, Harry. Me… I'm not much Sir Thomas More than canon fodder."And then he charged forward ahead of Harry, taking down two expiry eater before he too was stunned and fell to the ground. It was then that Harry noticed James. He was beginning to slip free of the bonds that held him. Lucius, on the other script, had abandoned everyone, including his son, and was racing to the floo. A bolt of Orange River ignite struck the wall behind Harry, casting Stone and dot down his back. Lucius was about set up to head for the hills. Harry focused on where he needed to be and before Lucius had taken another step, Harry was standing in battlefront of him, blocking the entry to the open fireplace.

"Silencio !"Harry whispered, holding his helping hand between the cloak's folds of black cloth and directly against Malfoy's chest. The wizard tried to cast a magical spell, but was mute."Now, what with the sporty arm and all… that's what I call an improvement. You should remember to button up before you step out, Lucius. Now, take off the cloak before I blast it off."Malfoy's eyes glowed with pure hatred and he raised his wand."Expelliarmus !"Harry whispered again and Malfoy's wand flew from his mitt. There was an expression of surprise in Malfoy's heart that made Harry smile.

"Now,"continued Harry,"as I was saying, take off the—"With a sudden shove from behind, Malfoy fell forward onto Harry and they both tumbled to the level. It was then that Harry noticed that King James had freed himself and now, forgoing the use of a scepter, had his hands around Malfoy's throat, squeezing… squeezing. He was in a frenzy of pure hatred and wrath.

"Do you cognize who I am ?"cried St. James."Look into my eyes !"

Lucius, even Harry, saw the flame of red light in James'eyes.

"N-Not pos-sible,"he gasped, ineffectual to breathe."D-Dead."Then the full realization struck him."I-I never knew."

"You know now,"James II spat between gritted teeth."And now is sssoon enough."A blast of red light came from the far wall and struck James in the side, but before he released his grip on Lucius, a dark acrid smoke issued from his mouth and nostrils. To Harry, it was a stream of green immorality leaving the red arse. James'grip on Lucius released and the blonde wizard gasped for air, but instead of air he sucked in nothing but skunk. Voldemort had penetrated him. Stunned, Harry saw the K environs the yellow and snuffle it out. Lucius took to his feet as a blast of red struck him in the back. Nothing happened. It bounced off him, off the cloak he was wearing, like water supply off a duck's back. Before Harry could react, Lucius, Voldemort and the cloak had vanished in a convolution of fleeceable flame.

There were a couple Thomas More blast, a couple more snaps, and a couple more sidesplitter of nuisance, but finally the room fell silent. Only the sound of rock scraping against the floor, as the remaining Aurors stepped across the debris, broke the secretiveness.

"minister of religion, over here. It's your… over here, sir. Please."For the first time, Harry realized that President Arthur Weasley had been among the Aurors that had come to protect the Ministry. He watched as the wizard walked toward the shattered show case, while the Auror that called him levitated a wooden light beam that had fallen over molly Weasley up and out of the way. It landed with a blunt thud.

"Molly ?"he uttered as if trying to gently wake soul from a deep sleep."molly,"he said again only louder."MOLLY !"He grabbed his wife in his arms, pulling her up out of the rubble ; pebbles cascaded to the floor."Oh my god, no. No… no… no… no… NOOO !"he screamed. The rarefied residence rumbled, shaking mortar loose from the paries onto the floor below as Mr. Weasley buried his head into the corner of his wife's neck. He continued to heave great dickhead as Harry looked down at James, prone on the level, arms outstretched toward the open fireplace. The cat valium was gone ; only blue remained, but the visible radiation was weak and flickered. He was near destruction. The second twelvemonth began to grown, slowly looking up to get Harry.

"H-Harry ? H-Help… I… I can't…."And he collapsed to the trading floor. Harry looked around at the devastation. King James I was not the only one near dying. Instinctively, he pulled his wand to summon the Heart of Asha, but before he could ramble the charm, snap fastener after snapshot began to fill the hall ; Healers were appearing. In a matter of minute nearly a dozen Healers had Apparated into the Ministry. One, an older wizard with bushy egg white hair, was at St. James'side almost instantly. Scanning the boy with his sceptre he turned to Harry.

"You're the Potter boy, aren't you ?"Without waiting for an answer he said quickly,"William Tell me, was it a stunner ? Because I'm not detecting any—"

"He was possessed by Voldemort,"Harry cut in. The Healer cringed, looking up at Harry with unbelief.

"Look son,"he said derisively,"you shouldn't go around—"

"Damn it !"Harry screamed."His emotional state's been sundered ! It probably has been all class. Voldemort just left him to take on another host. If you don't precipitation, he'll die."For only a arcsecond, the healer tried to read the reflexion of Harry's face. He was old enough to know what Harry meant. He remembered the old war and he didn't need to be told twice. Without saying another word, the Healer rose to his infantry and a flare of tremendous purpleness spark left his scepter bathing James in its glow from head to toe.

Harry stepped back, twisting his articulatio talocruralis on a rock 'n' roll beneath his foot. He cursed. other than the citizenry swarming about the Charles Martin Hall, it was difficult to make anything out. His vision was truly failing him in the jolty mess. He could see Mr. Weasley and heard his shortness of breath, and tried to pick his way through the rubble as Auror and healer alike seemed to give him by as they rushed to another's aid. It was as if no one knew him, or no one cared. His emotions were sloshing back and forth. He needed to help… he needed to furrow after Lucius, after Voldemort… he needed to —"

"curate !"person cried out."government minister ! It's your son !"Harry turned his attention on a glow that lay prone on the story near an Auror's groundwork.

"My god, Harry Hotspur ? !"cried Mr. Weasley still reeling from the loss of his wife.

"No, sir,"the Auror replied."It's your untested boy, Ron. Looks like a stunner is all."

"That's not potential,"whispered Chester A. Arthur Weasley, unsure just what to do."He's at Hogwarts."Then he noticed Harry, stumbling blindly toward him."Harry ? My god, Harry why are you—"

"He's back,"said Harry weakly. He was tired and sore, and his mightily arm was starting to prickle with pain."Voldemort's back."

"What ?"

"A Horcrux,"Harry whispered nonsensically, stumbling closer to Mr. Malfoy and rubbing his right forearm with his left hand helping hand. It itched."There must have been more than one. We… we came for the cloak."

"Jonah,"called another therapist to the old man that was working on James II,"I need your help. It's the Malfoy boy. What's his name, Draco ?"

"I thought he was drained ?"the old man called back. The younger healer looked down at genus Draco and then back up.

"Well, if he wasn't before—"

"You knew ?"asked Mr. Weasley, his voice sceptical. Gently he kissed his married woman's brass and lowered her to the floor."You knew they were coming ?"

Harry was feeling dazed. He looked toward Dragon, toward Arthur Weasley. His right wing arm was aching. He had reached Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and his centre began to pass further.

"No one was supposed to be here,"Harry said thinly, his interpreter hoarse with sorrow."I just wanted to destroy the cloak before… before…"Mr. Weasley rose to his feet.

"She loved you like a son !"he yelled and slapped Harry hard across the face."AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY HER !"

The blow knocked Harry backwards and he slipped on the loose stones that scattered the flooring. Rising to one elbow joint he could taste the blood that was dripping from his cut lip, and then he noticed his good forearm - it was glowing. A thin etch of a runic letter had appeared, the Viswa Vajra. Harry had always wondered when it would pass, in what manner it would attest itself, and even though he'd never seen such a glow, he knew what it meant, and he knew he had no alternative but to obey.

The government minister of conjuring trick who had loved Harry as his own son was demanding answers, answers Harry desperately wanted to turn over. Draco and St. James the Apostle lay near death, and Harry had it in his power to easily save them both. Voldemort had escaped with a new body and another part of his soul, and Harry anxiously needed to track after them - the Wizarding World was again at risk. Once Thomas More, end began to whisper in his ear and he began to shudder.

In malice of that, none of it mattered. He had sworn an oath ; it was a onus all fellow member of the Votary carried. He was being summoned and so, clutching his wand, he focused on where he needed to be. He felt a soft touch on his shoulder and heard Hermione yell his name. He looked up at her, wishing he could take the sadness weighing on his soul.

"Harry…"

He was gone.


Harry Potter and the giving birth of a New Sun

Chapter 17 - The Summoning
~~~***~~~

When Dakhil left Harry at the stone steps leading to the front threshold of Hogwarts Castle, Harry had pleaded that he too fight the onslaught of Dementors and Death Eaters raging against Dakhil's fatherland in the Carpathians. The lamia should have been gone for only a few days, but it had been calendar week and Dakhil had not returned nor had he sent word of the position of the struggle. The Daily Prophet had been worthless, only reporting the difficulty that the assorted European Ministries were having trying to disguise the numerous atrocities as natural calamity. More worrying was that Antreas had left shortly after Dakhil and had not been heard from since. Everyone who had left to fight seemed to disappear into a great vortex of nothingness.

Before he disappeared, Dakhil had told Harry that his job was to protect Hogwarts, to protect the centaur of the Great forest from a dark within the school day. Harry brushed the notion of darkness inside the castling walls aside, believing it was a backhanded contumely toward Harry, but now he was paying for it. Maybe that's why they were summoning him, he had failed in his one deputation. Voldemort had not only miss, but he had captured his Horcrux and was ready to return to mogul. Or was he ?

Voldemort had said he needed only two things in the one thousand hall of the Ministry - his old bootleg cloak and Harry. He had asked earlier if there was still part of the night Divine that coursed through Harry's veins. What James, what Voldemort didn't know was that the wickedness, Voldemort's discoloration, had been washed away by the cleansing of the falls in the Great Forest. Perhaps, Voldemort was too light without this former part of himself, perhaps—

It was hot, painfully hot - the first affair Harry noticed when he finally appeared at the summoning internet site - hot and black. Not dark in the sentience that there was no luminance, although it was that too ; a want of short wouldn't matter to a blind man. No, it was dark in the horse sense that Harry saw nothing. There was no life here, no life in any direction, just heat, an intense, blistering heat that appeared, to Harry, like a blunt haze as he looked to the night sky and saw Ebyrth shining as bright as ever.

He had been capable to Apparate across the Channel. From there he had tried once more, but couldn't make it across Deutschland. He was drained, unable to cast another spell, and the richness of the land's energy, normally rich in this area, was parched like an arid desert. There was nothing for Harry to reap on to replenish what wizard get-up-and-go he could throw off. Instead, he used the powers of the Centaurs to bend space and slow time, and he ran. He ran until his horseshoe wore through and fell away ; he ran over rivers that supported his free weight as if they were frozen solidness ; he ran past flying razz that hovered in the air like floating balloons. He ran for what felt like twenty-four hour period, stopping only to drink from the occasional stream or brook. At one point in time, just outside Vienna, he had grabbed half of a sandwich from the hired hand of a passer-by who might as well have been a statue frozen in time. His pegleg ached, his lungs wanted to bust and all he could hear was the voice of Ronan compelling him forward, not to suffer the claim of the Centaur, but to suffice the evocation of the Dragon.

By the time he had begun the concluding ascent, his mind was blurred with fatigue. He had paid no posting to the mountain he had been climbing. Sweat burning his blind eye, he had ignored the screams and the fires through which he had yesteryear. He didn't see the changeover from biography to death. He only knew one thing - the summoning internet site. He would not fail again, even as the last pearl of strength left his being.

This… this was the spot ; he was sure. Huge gulping of air splashed down his burning lungs ineffectual to quench his thirst for oxygen. His marginal invertebrate foot burned. Almost forgetfully, he held out his wand, hand shaking from exhaustion and mind knowing that he would not be able to stray a patch even if he wanted to. travail dripped down his os frontale ; the heating was unbearable. He stood for a here and now, scepter outstretched, squinting with failed middle into the dark. pigeon hawk, it was hot. He moved to take a step forward, an blistering olfactory perception filling his anterior naris, when his left leg cramped and he fell face first hard into the stony ground. He didn't have the energy to extract away from the scorching stone, nor could he spatter out the gumption and tiny pebbles that filled his mouth and burned his tongue.

"Maybe,"he thought,"if I rest for just—"He passed out, dropping his sceptre at his side.

Unconscious on the sweltering worldly concern, swirl of smoke and light coalesced in his idea forming a conniption of duskiness and desperation. Even in his dream the smell of burning pulp was unbearable. Yet, in his dreaming he could see - his vision, his hatful was as estimable as ever. The smoke and the smell cleared and he found himself at the falls, the falls where Gabriella lay face down in the tall grass, an pointer sunk trench into her back. In the air was sadness. No… more than sadness - there was wrath. It was Ron, screaming, screaming….

"NOOOOOOO !"

The Earth shook.

"Take him ! ingest him now ! rush !"

The scenery changed. He was flying… flying in the air. bound. On a Hippogriff. Bounce. Harry felt a jarring painfulness against the side of his costa. He blinked. The blindness had returned, but he could sense that there was a light beneath him. Bounce. A soul.

"Hurry !"

The voice… he knew that voice. The darkness was clearing from his mind. He was waking. He was being carried. A mathematical group of five was climbing up the face of the passel. One had Harry over his shoulder. Weakly, Harry began to struggle to disengage himself.

"Easy, Harry,"the young man holding him said gently, but with some urgency in his voice."When we get you back to the stronghold, we'll take in a flavour at the Robert Burns. Praise Asha you're a penis of the Votary, or you'd be dead."

"An-Antreas ?"Harry muttered. He hadn't heard the voice of Gabriella's blood brother since the summer, but there was still no mistaking the undeniable intonation that was the exact reproduction of Antreas'father, Grigor."What… What's going on ?"

"There will be time for answer later !"cried another voice."Run !"Harry knew at once the other man speechmaking. He also recognized the aura ; it was Dakhil. Troubling was the sense of concern, even fright in Dakhil's representative. He'd never heard that before, even when they were being attacked by lamia live on summer. What was more troubling, however, was something that had bothered Harry since his shoemaker's last deterrent example with Ronan, something he had seen in Dakhil ever since the vampire first taught him to see without seeing. The aura of Dakhil faded from red to purple and back up to red again. There were two personas present in his aura. For the first metre since he'd arrived at the Mountain of Singehorn, Harry felt stale.

They continued to rush up the mountain. Occasionally, Dakhil or one of the others would purge enchantment back in the guidance from which they came. Harry could not see, nor could he sense what it was they were firing upon. Curiously, there were no patch cast in return. Soon, he began to notice Tree, vegetation, life. After a few minutes more, the dance orchestra came to a big stone bulwark. One of the men cast a charm and an entrance appeared. They passed through and the chess opening in the stone sealed behind them. The full troupe sighed with respite once they entered the compound.

"What… what's going on ?"Harry asked weakly."Where are we ? Who were you firing at ? What— ?"

"Slow down. Slow down,"cut in Antreas."Let me see your face."Antreas lifted Harry's chin up and examined the allow side, the same slope that fell unconscious mind into the scorching earth. He reached up and pulled the deoxyephedrine from Harry's face, glasses he continued to bust in the hope, or perhaps as a symbol to others, that one day he might see again. There was an manifest lacrimation strait, and Harry could finger the charge card brim pull away from the skin on his case. When he reached to take the glasses out of Antreas'hand, he could say that the left half of the shape was nearly melted away. He didn't want to think what his human face must look like. It didn't injury. Harry moved to have-to doe with it but Antreas grabbed his hand.

"No !"he snapped, half trying to quell the suffering in his own voice. He chuckled, but not convincingly."It… it's zip, Harry. It's just considerably if you don't—"

"See that he has his own healer's tent at once !"ordered Dakhil to one of the other men that were in the chemical group. The man began to slowly limp away."Hurry,"Dakhil yelled."Hurry before there's nothing left of his face to put back together !"If Antreas had tried to calm Harry's nerves, Dakhil had served to dismember them."You two,"Dakhil continued pointing at two men they had passed as they entered into the compound."assist persuade the boy into the cave. I won't lose another one tonight !"

With Antreas'assistance, they carried Harry further up the peck. Dakhil followed, but was unwilling to assist. Typical, Harry thought. There was a little outcrop of rocks off to the face and they turned toward it as Dakhil continued upward. Antreas stopped.

"If Singehorn is ineffective to predict the others in meter,"he said,"we'll have to mail for the Centaur you spoke of."

"You were brave today, my son,"said Dakhil warmly."It is bring in your father is with you. Your female parent would be proud. Keep the boy prophylactic and see what the therapist can do with what remains."He turned to continue upward then stopped."Singehorn, I'm afraid, was not able-bodied to call for our friend, not tonight."He sighed with a deep mournful breath."Still we must quell with the plan ; it's our only hope. Thomas More may go far before the Moon's rise tomorrow."

Facing a pit wall, one of the men carrying Harry said something in a spoken language he thought might be Russian and again an arch appeared where before was only John Rock and stone. Just before the rock face closed behind them Antreas called back to Dakhil who had followed them most of the way

"And the Centaur ?"he called.

"He's in your subdivision,"replied Dakhil, just as the Harlan F. Stone archway sealed the shut inside.

"crazy,"said the Russian, referring to Dakhil."He'll kill us all."There was a wand at his neck in an instant ; it was Antreas ’. Harry felt like he was about to be dropped.

"There are so many injured here,"said Antreas with a heat vox,"I'm sure no one would neglect you. The future time you speak of the Votary, take care to choose the tidings carefully. I may feature to scratch the offending tongue."The Russian said nothing as Antreas pulled the wand back and the grip on Harry became more sure. They turned a corner and the cave opened out into a groovy hall filled with injured. To Harry, it looked as if a one hundred lights had been spread across the floor. Almost immediately a murmur rippled across the prominent cavern.

"Is that him ?"“ The Chosen !"“ My god what happened to his look ?"“ Dragons."“ It's just a boy."“ That's not him ; some Muggle must have been caught in the crossfire."“ He's the elect !"
"Marek !"cried Dakhil."Marek ! This is a priority !"Harry noticed an orange colour on the far English rise up from the dry land. Marek was busy treating another patient and as he stood, Harry could tell that he was a orotund man.

"They're ALL antecedence !"he called back."Have one of the others—"

"hoot it ! NOW !"yelled Antreas. This was not the Saame Antreas that had waved bye-bye to Harry and Gabriella as they began their summer vacation. That Antreas was still trying to perfect his baton oeuvre, and his confidence interacting with people was shaky at outdo. While he made a passable neighbour on Privet Drive, he was an absolute mess around other wizards. This Antreas, however, the one standing before Harry, was More than just a base soldier in this muckle battle. He was clearly someone of import.

Disgruntled, but acquiescing, Marek began to bilk the hall as the three moved Harry into one of the tents that were set up along the side of the large bedroom. He was placed on a bed, firm, but more well-off than a cover on the stone floor outside. Once he was down, the two men left Antreas alone with Harry. For some time neither rung and Harry noted his booster's soreness.

"What is it Antreas ?"Harry asked. As he spoke, Harry noticed that the side of his face didn't seem to go correctly. Still, there was no pain.

"I'm so sorry, Harry,"Antreas replied."If I had known… We were losing background and… Dakhil must have thought it would be good. Our outer perimeter was half a mile down the mountain when he must bear asked Singehorn to mobilise you. But then, they came so fast."

"Who ?"

"The Dementors. They've been swarming the mountain for days. They've grown so slurred they can fleck out the sun and when that happens it gives their ally, a stria of about XXX wizard lamia, gratis rein to set on during the day. This wasn't our war, but ultimately the dragons had no choice. The Dementors were moving in on their rookery. Half a dozen flying lizard left to scorch the earth and allow no lifetime behind. Not even a member of the Votary could survive such fire. We had no way of letting you know, no way of knowing ourselves when… that you'd…"A big outburst of air snapshot from Antreas'lips.

"Dakhil had Singehorn mobilize me ?"

"Harry, there was no way of knowing. You passed out right in the marrow of the incineration. It had to have been over two century degrees. One of the scout saw you first, but it was too hot. Only the Votary could get in to think you."Harry remembered Dakhil walking through the burning flame just before the Joining ; he understood these Son."The Joining helped you to survive, training would have been better. Your face… you've been burned… badly burned."

"But it doesn't hurt,"Harry said. He was feeling Thomas More tired by the mo.

"That's because there's nix left to hurt. Your physique is—"Marek pushed through the opening of the tent.

"And what's this priority ?"he said wearily."Another fount of darn Dementor frost— Oh… Oh, my."He cast Antreas a glimpse."One of the civilians ?"he asked, not recognizing the Lester Willis Young man he'd met over the summer."A Muggle caught in the fire ?"Assessing the big height of the man before him and listening closely to his voice, it was Harry who first made the joining. It was the same Marek that had taken in Ron, Hermione and the others after the vampire blast.

"Marek ?"Harry asked hoarsely, finding it more hard by the instant to be active his jaw."It's me, Harry… Harry thrower. I could… I could sure use a glass of water."

"Yes… I remember. You've put on a few pounding. Physical training ?"

"He's joined a Centaur heard in England,"said Antreas.

"So this is the one Dakhil spoke of. That would excuse things. Yes, that would excuse a lot."Marek reached into his gown."I haven't had to make do with one of these for years,"Marek whispered,"but with flying lizard about, such burn mark are not uncommon. Praise Asha you're Votary."He leaned in close to Harry."What happened to your middle ?"

"Glass,"Harry replied, wearily."portion of glass."

"Hmmm. fountainhead, let's get started. Harry, lie back."Harry obliged."I have something far better than a Methedrine of water."He watched Marek evoke his wand over his burned face."This should only take a few hours."

"time of day ?"Harry said, bringing up his mitt to grab Marek's wrist."I won't take you away from helping the others just because I buggered it again."

"It's not your faulting, Harry,"said Antreas."There's no way you could hold known."

"Yes, admirable calibre, Harry. But as Antreas has said—"

"I am NOT a priority ! I won't—"Amytal light erupted from Marek's baton and before he could say another Logos, Harry was asleep on the cot and Marek began his work. The death thing he remembered was a crackling sound and Marek's sombre voice.

"That'll leave a mark."

prison term faded to nothingness and, when Harry woke, he sensed someone sitting at his bedside."Gabriella ?"he asked groggily.

"You wish, teammate !"

"Fred ? Fred is that you ?"

Slowly, Harry began to retrieve cognizance. He tried to lean up, but mortal pressed gently back on his shoulder. His centre closed, Harry sensed that there were two hoi polloi in the elbow room. Shaking the gossamer resign, he finally recognized the aura of the other person.

"Remus ?"

"Yes, Harry,"replied Remus Lupin,"Fred and I are both here. We have been for about three days."

"leash mean solar day !"Harry exclaimed, once again trying to rise and once again being held down by Remus."I've been here for three twenty-four hour period ?"

"No, ditz,"Fred laughed."We've been here for three days. You've been here for about, er, fourteen hours."

"We came as soon as we heard you had arrived,"Remus added.

"I swear, Harry,"said Fred, leaning forward."Can you ever do anything the well-fixed way ?"

While Fred was talking, Harry realized there was something on his face. He reached his hands up and felt the patch wrapping his head.

"An interest looking, if you ask me,"said Fred."Kind of a pillbox gone mad. All in all I'd say it's an improvement. The great thing is, Harry, they gave you a whole new head ! Helen Wills volunteered his."Fred laughed again and this time Remus joined him. A low temperature shake passed through Harry. It had suddenly sunk in that Fred… Fred Weasley, was in the same room and if he'd been here for three days, he might not know….

"Why aren't you home ?"Harry asked."Where's George ?"

"I'm flying solo, mate,"said Fred."George IV is minding the shops."

"No one can travel in or out,"said Remus."Apparition is inconceivable. It's a miracle that you made it alive. I'm sorry that—"

"What about messages,"Harry interrupted."Can messages get in ?"

"Not for two days,"said Remus."The Dementors have the wholly versant surrounded. I tried a Patronus. It passed through a few dozen, but there are just too many."

"Then you don't know,"Harry said with urgency. He sat up and this metre when Remus moved to drive him back down, Harry flicked his arm away. Harry tried to face Fred, but. Fred only laughed.

"You look like a walking ice-cream retinal cone, Harry."

"Fred,"Harry began, muffled by the bandages surrounding his face. He tried to muster up the courage, but in the lowest moment it failed him."W-Why are you even here ?"

"Tonight, we go on the offensive. We're through sitting back and letting Lucius Malfoy and his army of duskiness decide when and where to mint. They're mostly lamia and Dementors with a handful of Death feeder sprinkled in for good measure. death we heard Lucius may let let himself get turned."

"Turned ?"Harry asked.

"The scouts were out early this first light, Harry,"said Remus, moving over and sitting next to Fred."We've seen him off and on in these parts for calendar week. Only this morning… this sunup they say he looked more vampire than wizard."

"He let himself be bitten, I tell yeh,"added Fred."Just to achieve immortality."

Harry felt as if he was going to be ghastly. If Lucius was here that think Voldemort was here. Were they looking for him ? For Harry ? His essence began to subspecies. There was too much to do and too piffling time. He needed to tell someone, but whom ? His breaths quickened and Remus took notice.

"Harry… you need to—"

"He's alive !"Harry shouted."He's still alive !"There was a curt pause. Remus knew almost immediately what Harry meant, but wasn't sure if his words were the result of some form of side-effect from one of the potions. Fred didn't understand.

"What do you mean, Harry ? Who's alive ?"

"Voldemort,"gasped Harry, taking in a gravid breather of air through the bandages covering his boldness. He walked over to the side of meat of the collapsible shelter and held the fabric in his finger. To his mind, it had a slow orangeness appearance, probably spores of some kind. He didn't want to say more ; he couldn't. But he had to. He could feel his pump pounding in his chest - it hurt. His ventilation grew laboured, weighed down by the effect of what he was about to share.

"Somehow… I don't know… I don't be intimate how, but he took control of James Yangtze, Cho's younger brother. He's been inside James, controlling him all twelvemonth at school. He was waiting for something… something important. Then I heard that they had discovered Voldemort's old cloak. It had survived even though he was destroyed. It was there… what he wanted… at the Ministry. They brought it back out of the ashes of his demise. They dug deep, your forefather dug deep for what should have been left to the depths."

"Yeah,"said Fred cautiously, not really indisputable what to think about Harry's ramblings."Mum and Dad were all excited. It was supposed to be a big deal. Sorry we had to pull you away from the laurels ceremonial to be in this hellhole. I'm not supposed to evidence, but Dad's lined you up for Order of Merl—"

"It was a Horcrux,"hissed Harry through gritted dentition. Remus understood and gasped, but Fred still didn't clench what Harry was saying."Can you believe it ? Lucius wanted it for himself - maybe to evoke whatever sum Voldemort had left of himself in it."Harry madly grabbed Fred's robe."Don't you see ? I had to destroy it… to ruin the cloak."

"Calm down, Harry,"said Fred slowly, his eyes glancing toward Remus with concern."Everything's okay."

"No it's not !"yelled Harry, turning from Fred and leaned against the bed."We just wanted to ingest it, Ron, Hermione and me… only they showed up… and then… when we got inside… your Mum was there… and then James… I thought it was an prideful swearword. I thought I'd be able-bodied to control him."He breathed hard again."But I couldn't. It wasn't a whammy, it was Voldemort. I couldn't stop him. I tried—"He turned back to look Fred."He… Voldemort used the kill Curse, Fred. I tried… I swear on Merlin's grave… I tried."

"What are you talking about, Harry ?"Fred's lyric were calm, nervous and unsure.

"net Nox, before Singehorn summoned me, in the yard entrance student residence of the Ministry, Voldemort… Voldemort killed your mother."short pant of air salvo from Harry's lungs and he fell on his knees in front man of Fred."She's dead… she's… dead."Clutching at the fundament of Fred's robe, Harry began to heave slap-up mother fucker. His voice was feeble and thin."She's dead."Fred pushed Harry away and took to his feet.

"stop saying that !"he yelled."She's not stagnant ! She's not ! I just saw her before we came here. She was going to… she was going…"He slapped his mitt against the bed."You're just messed up… the potions. You… you were dreaming… that's all. A- a- a- hallucination or something !"He turned to Remus.

"Remus ! Tell him ! Tell Harry it was just a dream… a bad dream, that's all."Remus was quiet, stoic. He didn't speak and he didn't move. Fred pulled his wand and held it in Remus'boldness.

"Tell HIM !"

Remus held his arms out wide and, slowly, shook his brain.

"No."Fred whispered, shaking his top dog vigorously in response."No, it's not… it's not… oh god."

His hands fell limp at his position and his wand dropped to the floor, tinkling and then rolling in the silence. Fred shuddered, fell into lupine's arms and began to cry.

They stayed like that for some meter, Harry on the floor, Fred in lupin's arms, all three of them crying. Until now, Harry hadn't had the chance to mourn molly's death. The pain was inscrutable and biting. In the tears and silence, Harry wished he could take it back. His actions had monetary value another life sentence and the anger in President Arthur Weasley's vocalism echoed within his creative thinker.

His cerebration turned to the others who had been murdered in the battle and he wondered if James had made it."I may never know,"he whispered to himself.

As the sadness began to subside, he mulled over how Fred and Remus had described the scout's sighting of Lucius. If the reports were true and Malfoy had returned to the sight, then Molly's liquidator was within range. Harry's pain began to plow to see red. The flap on the tent furled open and in walk Marek

"Remus, I— What in Merlin's name is up with you three ?"he said with a rather gruff vocalization.

"We just found out. Fred's mother has been killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named,"answered Remus calmly.

"That… that's not potential,"said Marek, half believing the row to be true. Fred turned, wiping his eye.

"I've got to see if I can get home,"he said. He started toward the exit, but Marek took him by the arm.

"Fred, we're surrounded."

The redhead pulled his arm free.

"I have to go home."

"It'd be suicide, Fred."

"I don't care."

"Don't you think your mother would !"reprimand Remus."AND your father. What do you cogitate it would do to him to turn a loss you both ?"Fred said nothing."If you're going to put your lifetime on the line, Fred, make it numeration ; clear it matter."Remus stepped toward him and held Fred by the berm, looking him in the eye.

"Tonight,"he said with self-assurance and surety."Tonight, you'll have your luck, Fred."

"Why tonight ?"asked Harry.

"There are about sixty of us, Harry,"said Remus,"counting me and Fred. Tonight the moon turns full. We'll attack with the flying dragon, a few dozen centaur, and—"

"Full moon ?"asked Harry. He picked himself up off the floor and stood."Full moon ? I thought Soseh had given you a potion, given you both one to keep you from turning."

"She did, Harry,"answered Remus."But we haven't taken it during the cycle. There are few creatures on earth that can challenge a vampire. Surrounded by Dementors as they are now, even genius have little Bob Hope of conducting an effective attack. They're a werewolf's natural prey ; Dementors and vampire parcel a darkness that… How can I put it ? Is tasty for a werewolf."

"Better than chocolate, they tell me,"added Fred, with an eerie gleaming in his eye.

"Besides the dragons,"added Remus,"only one beast can break through both defence mechanism. Dakhil discussed it with me some time ago and we both agreed - we needed a werewolf regular army. I couldn't convince almost, but I've convinced enough."

"60 doesn't make an US Army, Remus,"said Harry, stepping closer."LX is a snack."

"What you say is true, Harry - werewolf ancestry is prized among the vampire. Still, I think our antagonist will be surprised,"said Remus with calm down confidence."Yes, we could have more in our number, but even with Chester Alan Arthur as minister, the suspicion of my form runs deep."

"Our kind, Remus ! And they'll be more than surprised,"snapped Fred."They'll be bloody petrified !"

"Well,"said Harry sardonically,"bloody anyway."

The bandages wrapping his face were hot and heavy and he was only just able to protest the temptation to rip them off so that he could scrape up the itchiness that was growing unattackable by the minute. He placed both his bridge player flat against the firm bed, curling the covers in his finger's breadth as they balled up into clenched fist. Without looking up, he took in a breath and swallowed.

"Remus… Fred… You need to translate everything. Lucius Malfoy isn't a lamia. The scouts… what they saw down on the mountainside this morning… It may suffer looked like Lucius, but it wasn't. Yeah, he's been taken over alright, but not by a vampire. His spirit has been consumed by Voldemort. Lucius is Voldemort."He turned to face them."Sixty lycanthrope, lx dragons, sixty of anything… it won't be enough."Hearing Harry's words, Remus stepped forward and placed a hand warmly about Harry's neck opening.

"No, Harry,"he said."No, it won't be enough. But then, it never was. That's why we have you."


Harry Potter and the nascency of a New Sun

Chapter 18 - The Ring of Onyx
~~~***~~~

The endocarp stone's throw were boastfully, larger it seemed to Harry, than they were before. Yet, the same thin white cloud dusted the blue air sky, and the heated air brought Harry's mind back to his summer travels with Gabriella in Lebanese Republic. His creative thinker's eye flashed to a vision of her smooth, darkness brown skin and twinkling bootleg heart, and he wondered how she was fairing with Cho and his son, Jamie. His eye skipped at the thought and he drew in a breathing spell to steady his boldness. He stepped upward through the enceinte Harlan Fisk Stone pillar, upward toward the corpse of the great Asiatic castle. Up ahead, seated on a watch crystal bench intricately carved in an elaborate pattern was a enceinte blackened man in super C and brown robes - Singehorn.

On the eve of the counterattack, the Dragon had asked that the young wiz meet him in this plane of consciousness that they might speak with one another. Here, in this early world, Harry could not only speak to the dragon, he could see. He had no bandaged head, no baton, only a white gown and bare feet that withstood the scorching heat beneath them. In the cave where Harry's corporeal organic structure sat in meditation, the others were preparing for war. Soon, the moon would rise, the werewolves, including Remus and Fred, would grow and the battle would begin. It had taken Harry quite some time to shut down out all the beguilement that were happening about him, but finally he made it.

As he drew closemouthed to the firedrake, the descendent of Asha whose line Harry had sworn to protect, he noticed that the man looked more mature than before and that his breathing was laborious, drive. With effort, Harry heaved himself upward onto another stone stair, and then another. On the gradation before reaching the landing where Singehorn sat in one of the two crystal workbench, Harry saw a boastfully gang made of shameful onyx. He stopped for a minute to front at it. The dragon coughed a bottomless throaty cough.

"Go on,"he said with a deep scratchy voice."pick it up."

Harry reached down and took the ring into his compensate helping hand. It was heavier than Harry expected. Holding it in the fingers of both hands he examined it from all sides.

"I… I know this ring,"Harry said, trying to remember how or from where."I've seen it before."Singehorn shifted his tremendous weight and grimaced somewhat.

"The ring,"he said,"is known to many, but few alive today have seen it with their own eye. For those few that saw it worn by its survive master, it was most in all probability the last thing they saw. He was known for using the closed chain to kill."Suddenly, Harry remembered.

"Pravus,"he whispered, remembering the portrayal of the dark wizard's hand Greg Goyle had shown him last year. Singehorn growled, long and low. Clearly, he did not love the sound of the name.

"Very honorable,"answered the dragon."Very good. Come… sit."

Harry climbed the last tumid step and tried to dust the front of his ovalbumin robes which had grown brown from the desert George Sand. Singehorn laughed and, as Harry looked up, the man's mouth erupted in flames, enveloping Harry in a great white flash. In the next instant, Harry's robe were blank again and he was unscathed. Harry examined his hands, expecting to see scorch marks, but nothing was there.

"Sit,"said Singehorn again. Unlike his finish visit with the man before him, the youth whiz sat obediently across from his victor.

"My child… not for fifty years has that ring been held by human hands, not since I tore off the arm of the maven that betrayed us all. When Pravus was destroyed and Grindelwald defeated, I thought for sure the darkness had been, at last, beaten back for just. I was young then and naïve, but not so naïve as to commit in men again."

"But Dakhil,"said Harry."You trust him."

"Do I, Harry ? Do I ?"There was another low murmur as Singehorn leaned forward. Harry noticed a thin, light scar that ran along the man's side, a scar that wasn't there before the Joining. Over the cobbler's last few months, the firedrake had seen battle.

"Do you see the tintinnabulation on Dakhil's fingers ?"he continued."No, Harry… Soseh trusts Dakhil and I would trust Soseh with my life, but his fate lies on a different path."

"You need to know, sir,"said Harry with some urging in his vocalization."I've seen… I've seen two spirits inside him. He may be under the command of another."Singehorn smiled and began to laugh. It was loud and thunderous, not the response Harry had expected.

"He's a vampire, my child,"the dragon said finally."He fights the spirit inside him every waking moment. Few have learned to curb the thirst for fresh blood, the desire for demise. None have fought more heroically than Dakhil Barghouti to stave off his own personal demon. But his path will soon top elsewhere and I will need someone to lease up his staff as hierarch of the Votary. He would opt I choose now, before his fate befalls him."

Harry's eyes widened in disbelief. Rolling the tintinnabulation in his digit he looked up at Singehorn then back down at the annulus. Finally, he set it in his palm and held it out to the flying lizard.

"I can't, sir,"he said, shaking his head."Whatever mogul this band holds, I'm not ready."

"What ? No questions about what the ring does ? What strength it might add you ?"

"No, sir,"Harry replied, reaching yet further toward Singehorn. The dragon did not transfer the annulus from Harry's palm, but instead leaned back on the bench.

"Not even if the annulus might assist you overcome the one who killed molly Weasley and so many more ?"Harry shook his head."What if it would help oneself you win the war against these Dementors, saving the lives of countless Centaur ; these animate being you seem to care so often about ?"Singehorn leaned in again."Are you so sure that you wouldn't wish to finally put down the creature that killed your parents ?"

For a second, Harry's outstretched arm receded. Once more he held the annulus between pollex and index, wondering what strength it might bring him. He took a deep intimation and exhaled slowly. Finally, he shook his head once more.

"No, sir,"he said softly still rolling the doughnut in his finger's breadth."When I was stopping point here, you reminded me our calling : Bravery… Wisdom… Love."Harry shuddered, swallowing hard."You also told me that I needed to cultivate on my wisdom."Harry took in a late breathing space as his eyes grew misty."But I've been precious short in that regard all yr, eh ? I brought Voldemort into the Ministry. I brought him face-to-face with Mrs. Weasley. I should have known…. I should have been sassy. Now, he's at your doorsill, threatening to demolish all we stand for."retention back his tears, Harry held the ring out once again."Whatever top executive the ring bears, there are others more worthy than me."

With lightening speed, frighteningly fast for such a orotund framing, Singehorn grabbed Harry's hired man in his own, his massive paw wrapping around Harry's integral fist and arm, squeezing the ring into the flesh of Harry's thenar and scorching the cover of Harry's hand. His red heart glared with steeled conclusion into Harry's and his chela drew rakehell from Harry's flesh.

"Tell me, my son, when the darkness spreads across this mountain and threatens my fry and my small fry's nestling what will you do ? There are only so many rocks to climb and the cloud will not protect us."Harry said naught."When your friends charge down the mountainside to join my kin in the attack against the muck that surrounds us, will you hide… a blind rat in a dark cave ?"The flying dragon's claws dug deeper, but Harry refused to cry out.

"I'd… sooner… die."

"Harry, the behemoth seeks you out, but he does not want you dead, not yet. He thinks he needs you alive, but he doesn't know that what he seeks is no longer there, washed away by the nightfall at Hogwarts. Without the energy he once shared with you, he is but half a man, half a wizard. In his ignorance, in his weakened state, he can be defeated."

"Then I don't need the ring,"Harry said calmly, withstanding the pain.

"If only it was so simple,"sighed Singehorn, still holding Harry's handwriting house."Before the Cleansing at the falls, you joined."

"Joined ?"

"The darkness that was once in your veins… now flows through another's."

Harry's substance began to airstream. Another's ?
"Your inherited."

"Jamie,"Harry whispered.

"You would sooner die than see my children harmed. What would you do to protect your children ?"asked Singehorn.

"My… son."

Harry's fingerbreadth, almost instinctively, tightened around the anchor ring burning the flesh of his ribbon and in that instant his visual modality filled with a tremendous fanfare of E. B. White. Singehorn's vocalisation became grim and ominous.

"I will not say your decision is wise, but it is our but form. Forgive me, my child, for the power will take in you. Soseh has foreseen your covetousness turn to grief. On the day the Dragon mark the sky, you will commence to sleep together your true specialty. How you emerge from your flunk will square up the fate of us all."

Suddenly, Harry's slew was gone, all before him shadow. When he breathed in, the damp must odour of the bandage that wrapped his font filled his nostrils.

"We've got to go, sir,"said a wizard somewhere to Harry's left.

"If I have to tell you one more than time to be quiet, I'll rip your throat out,"snapped Dakhil in a low, sibilate spokesperson."We will go when Singehorn says we can go. Do NOT disturb the boy."

Still seated on the flooring, his legs folded beneath him, Harry reached out his psyche and sensed the two men arguing to his left wing. The one, a promising blue aura was clearly frightened ; the former flashed red and then purple. The red appeared to be winning and Harry wasn't sure that was a good thing for the man in blue whose people of color was fading so flying Harry thought he might wet himself. He wasn't the only one nearby that was frightened. In the large cavern just beyond the careen wall where Harry sat, scores of men mulled about nervously waiting for the final order to lash out. Harry was about to move, to indicate to the others that he had returned, when the orange coloring material of Marek moved into the way where he sat.

He slipped over and placed his manus on Dakhil's back and the two walked to the far slope of the tent. They whispered and then the rustle grew louder.

"Marek,"Dakhil hissed,"I need to know. What is your opinion ?"

"As a Healer or a Warrior ?"the man that had worked on Harry's face replied. He was upset, irritated perhaps of the battle that would soon be bringing the dying to his doorstep."If we were home, I'd leave the bandages on for at least another week."

"The boy can't fight like that."

"Then leave the boy behind."

Two voices harmonized :"No !"Simultaneously, Harry and Dakhil rejected Marek's mesmerism.

"You've returned,"said Dakhil quietly."Good. The prison term is near. The full moon will soon rise over the side of the mountain. We must get hold of advantage of every minute it brings us the wolfman'strength. Dawn will arrive far too quickly I'm afraid."

Harry held his script to his face."And these ? You can take these ?"

"Really, Harry,"answered Marek,"if only you could save two More days… two more."

"The battle will be over by good morning,"said Harry,"and I can't conflict with this rag weighing me down. It's sweaty enough as it is, and I can barely breathe."

"Then don't scrap,"Marek said to Harry. Then he turned to Dakhil."What possible advantage does a boy bring this battle beyond more bloodshed ?"Steadying his feet on the dusty sway, Harry stood.

"I am no boy !"he said defiantly. Marek ignored him.

"Dakhil,"the healer continued,"there is no reason to put his life… What ? What is it ?"

There was silence. Harry too noticed the variety in Dakhil's aura that was likely now being mimicked by the lamia's face. The red had darkened into a rich people scarlet - the emotion was a strong one, whatever it was.

"Dakhil, what are you looking at ?"Marek continued.

As Harry stood, his hands, which had been covered by the sleeves of his robes while he sat, became exposed. There, on the center of attention fingerbreadth of Harry's good hired man was a ring. Angry at being called a boy, Harry had not noticed the summate weight on his finger.

"Well… that can't be honorable,"said Dakhil with a rather aplomb vocalization."I had asked for a pick, but I never…"

"I'll take the damn bandages off myself if I have to,"cried Harry, reaching for his scepter. It was then, when finger met woodwind, that he realized there was a pack on his finger's breadth. He let go his wand and held the band with his left helping hand. He moved to make it off, but the anchor ring would not prompt. He pulled again, and again the doughnut held its grip about the bone of his right middle finger.

"I had always hoped he might see fit to pass on it to me,"said Dakhil with more disappointment than choler."I suppose Soseh has told him."

"Told him what ?"asked Harry, still trying to puzzle out the ring from his digit.

"Damn the day I met you, boy,"said Dakhil, again in a quiet, matter of fact whole step."She's seen my death, which is not such a swell headache for a vampire when such events can be centuries hence."He paused.

"And ?"Harry asked.

"And you were there, boy. You were there."Dakhil moved closer."So, either you're going to vagabond down the mountainside, get bit and live to a very ripe old age as an immortal, or I'm going to die before the summer solstice. swearword you,"Dakhil said dryly,"I always wanted to make it to the millennium."

"You're both talking gibberish,"said Marek."Would you STOP that,"he said to Harry."You're starting to bleed."Harry turned his senses downward and watched as the glowing dripping of origin fell to the floor from his fingerbreadth. Marek pulled his wand and healed the finger."Now leave the hoot ring alone. Here, let me withdraw it."

He cast a spell and nothing happened, nothing but the scratchy laugh from Dakhil. He tried a different magical spell and still the ring stayed clamped about Harry's finger.

"We don't have time for this,"said Harry finally."Look, just take the patch off. Place a shield good luck charm about the peel if you must, but I can't—"

"Very well,"cut in Marek with a sigh."But it's not your peel that I was worried about."Sit over here."He led Harry to a Harlan Stone bench.

"What do you mean ?"Harry asked.

"Well, Harry, while I was working on your look, I thought I might see if I couldn't do something about your eyes."

"But I've seen nada,"said Harry."Certainly through this gauze, I could discern—"

"I've sealed your chapeau shut so the eyes beneath could heal as the magic spell worked and weaved."He stepped closer to Harry."Son, two more than days… two to a greater extent days and I'm sure that the knitting will be complete."

"And I'll see again ?"asked Harry with a glint of hope in his interpreter.

"You might."

"Well… look… it's dark anyway,"Harry said."Take off the bandages and leave my oculus sealed. I'll be right off not trying to discern object in the dark. I've gotten used to not seeing and trying to squint in the murky night may just make believe things worse."

"There's the problem,"said Dakhil."The objects you wish to spot are Dementors. They suck the animation from all about them. To your vision they would be wickedness and on the scorched mountainside where very little life story remains, it would be near inconceivable to detect them."

At this it was Harry's tour to jest.

"Dakhil, I don't need my sight to eff when a Dementor is breathing down my neck. I'll know where they are, believe me, I'll know."

"Then it's decided,"said Marek."I'll remove your patch, but keep your center sealed. If you make it through the dark Harry, your face should be re-wrapped immediately. A shell charm might be acceptable for walking around school or sitting about the star sign. It will be worthless against a fountainhead placed hex."

"Get on with it,"said Harry."I can see the ululation already."

And indeed he could, they all could. Some of the mavin werewolf were growing dying. Outside, the moon was nearing the tip of the eastern skyline and some were having difficulty controlling their metabolism even inside the cavern, away from the moonshine. Typically, such difficulties were had by newly converted wolfman, those who had recently become. Harry wondered how Fred was fairing.

When Dakhil removed the gauze bandages, Harry immediately reached up to his face to allude, but the carapace charm stopped his fingers.

"It feels like an eggshell,"Harry whispered.

"And it won't protect your font much to a greater extent than one,"supply Marek."Remember that, when you're out there playing the hero."Harry was about to protest but, preceded by a snort, unexpected Good Book left Dakhil's mouth first.

"An Acolyte of the Votary does not bet at anything !"Dakhil's stature was suddenly somewhat bigger, and his aureole somewhat redder."You would be wise to call up your military position, Marek. With one thought the boy could destroy you."

"Yes… yes, of course,"Marek apologized."I'm sorry… I… I truly am sorry."

There was fear in his Good Book, far more revere than Harry thought the site warranted. Part of him understood, something he remembered from the Joining, but there wasn't time to well for its informant ; it was clip for action. Harry stood and began to walk toward the turgid sleeping accommodation.

"One moment, boy,"said Dakhil with a matter of fact tone. Harry stopped, turned and, before he had an instant to respond, Dakhil had cast a patch on him. zippo happened.

"What… what was that ?"Harry demanded, still reaching for his verge.

"He's changed the vividness of your gown, Harry,"said Marek."They're no longer ovalbumin ; they're crimson."

"Primate Potter,"said Dakhil in an exceptionally rough voice followed by a short blasting cough."Your title, when I die."He sighed."Asha protect us."Harry looked down, but could sense no discernable conflict."Don't headache, boy ; those who have travelled the course through proper training will be intimate at once the significance of your robe. We'd best haste. There won't be metre for very much of a speech."

Harry and Dakhil left the tent and entered the cavern ; it had emptied out onto the mountainside, staging for the struggle to number. Soon, the gate would open and the soldiers would splatter down upon their opposition. Harry and Dakhil walked down the cave and as it narrowed toward its exit a immature man came up and touched Harry by the sleeve.

"Asha be with you,"he said tilting his question in a slight bow.

"And with you,"replied Harry without premeditation. Why did I say that ?
The cavern door opened and, for a bit, Harry was blinded by the many auras gathered outside. He could see that some of the werewolves had already turned, and a group of wizards was having difficulty restraining them. No one seemed distracted by the howling, a ululation that commix with words in Harry's mind - kill, bit, line of descent ! He turned to see if somebody was talking to him, but no one was there. Another lycanthrope howled.

"longanimity, my friends,"called Harry to the snapping fauna and the wolves quieted at his words. That was not my voice, thought Harry. Or was it ?

Everyone was listening to Antreas who stood upon a expectant outcropping of rock above the growing din. His words were amplified, but Harry wasn't sure the increased intensity was necessity. He was calling out in a strong and overlook voice and Harry wondered why this role wasn't Dakhil's.

"….is all we need. Together we will be victorious ! Together we will banish the iniquity into the abyss !"The Earth began to grumble with applause. Harry noticed four giants pounding their animal foot with approval.

"behemoth ?"he asked Dakhil."I didn't notice any giants when I arrived."

"They climbed over from the sheer drop-off on the back side of the heap. That way is not guarded save by Dementors, and they have no effect on such simple creatures. So it is with the werewolves."

"It'll m-make for a b-bloody Death Eater busting surprise."

"Fred ?"

The redhead was clearly agitated, seemingly in the midst of the variety.

"Fred, please… don't—"

"The Primate has ARRIVED !"cried Antreas with a jump voice. He was referring to Dakhil, but Harry could find hundreds of optic turn toward him simultaneously. deliver for the howl and the occasional spell being cast a myopic ways down the J. J. Hill, all became understood.

"Let's give them what they want, boy,"said Dakhil."Up you go."He levitated Harry some twenty feet in the air. Harry's heart began to race as he rose, wondering what he might say.

It was like rising over the embers of a dying fervour, each glowing aura a bantam coal burning against the shadow. There were one C gathered here. Some fell to their knees as Harry rose ; most stood silently. Giants, Centaur, star and loup-garou, a ragtag accumulation of misfits all collected to campaign together against the malevolence Lucius Malfoy had co-opted for his own vicious function.

Lucius probably hoped he would recover the cloak and arrive at this place of conflict to keep a outstanding victory, the first of many. Little did he get it on that his former master would take up abode in his dead body - if only long enough to engage over Harry's. But that would never, could never chance. How the worm had turned on the blonde-haired patriarch. Soon, it would turn on the dark worming within him. Harry raised his arms to the sphere above, a gargantuan comet was clearly visible in the night's sky.

"Ebyrth marks its takings and now we find ourselves at its mercifulness. While some have come to answer the new sun's call, others are here to protect our dragon sidekick against the dark that wishes to put down all in its route. Tonight we fight as one. Tonight we fight with the strength of hulk, the magic trick of sensation, the ferocity of werewolves, the soundness of Centaur, and the hearts of dragons !"

No sooner had the word of honor left his mouth, than the thunderous SWOOP-SWOOP filled the air and four enormous dragon flew over the crowd, blotting out the champion and then coming to rest at the top of the not bad Stone bulwark. Singehorn wasn't among them, but Harry, though having never met them, knew their figure. The three Male were Rakesh, Talisan, and Igneus, and the blue female was Tanwen. As if being called, Harry looked toward Talisan, the bombastic of the four, with green-black scale leaf and fierce red eyes.

"high priest !"the brute cried out."We follow you in battle. What are your order !"

All around Harry, thaumaturge were clasping their hands to their ears, some falling to their knees, because of the creature's great bellow. And yet, Harry could understand everything he said. How is this possible ? This was no meditation.

"Your orders, high priest ?"cried the dragon again, and again those around Harry winced in hurting.

"burn them !"yelled Harry."Burn them till your bellies turn cold. You, Tanwen, fly high-pitched above the wall. Let no opposition past the gates. Do not depart your post. We must salve the rookery at all cost !"Harry pulled his red robe tight about his shoulder.

"Open the gates !"called Antreas and the regular army erupted in sunshine and howling. A few werewolf snapped at their allies, but most caught the olfactory property of their hated foeman, enticing their senses with a bloodlust for Dementor, and quickly they began to charge ahead, down the mountainside. Dakhil brought Harry down to earth as the crowded hillside flowed out through the gate. Harry began to run, following the rushing tide, but individual grabbed his shoulder and pulled him around ; it was Antreas.

"Your time is at hand, Harry,"he said with a stout vox."I'll lead the first wave ; I dare not speak it to the others, but don't think for a minute we'll succeed. The scouts have told me the situation… it's dire. When we begin to settle back, and we will fall back… that's when we'll need you."Harry was about to reason, but Antreas was already swept away in the flow of bodies rushing through the gate. Undaunted, Harry began to come, only this time Dakhil stopped him.

"William Tell me, boy,"he murmured quietly beneath the roaring surge of star pushing by."Why are you here ?"

"To struggle Voldemort,"Harry spat, turning to bequeath. Dakhil held his arm fast and Harry glared back with furious eyes.

"Really ?"queried Dakhil, still restrained, still calm, still holding Harry's arm with a vice-like clench."Are you… sure ?"Harry tried to pull away, but couldn't. He pulled his wand."You don't need a wand to terminate me, boy. You're the hierarch now, or will be soon. If you think you no longer want my serving, then give notice me ! You need only speak the words ; differentiate me to be gone !"

He was goading Harry, trying to make him angry, trying to call forth a reaction. Harry slipped his verge away.

"You are the Primate,"he said softly."Not me."

"champion will never watch over a lamia, boy,"answered Dakhil."But for some reasonableness, Asha only knows why, they will adopt you. The wisdom of Grigor Darbinyan now flows in his son's veins. Would you ignore Antreas ? Shall we charge with the rest ? What are your monastic order ?"

"I'm here to serve my oath, to protect the line of Asha… as are you. We stay to protect the rookery."Harry noted a glimmer in Dakhil's aura… a smiling ? The last of the number one wave had passed through the logic gate, leaving two heavyweight, one Dragon, a half-dozen Centaurs and some XXX sensation to wait for further orders, Holy Order that Harry would receive to pay. Knowing that the number at his side of meat were too few to stand off the coming approach, his thoughts turned to the iniquity, hiding at the keister of the mountain, searching for some way that they might defeat him.

"He won't reveal himself,"said Harry, slowly,"until he believes they've won, that he can ill-use up and take me as his prize. Antreas is right, to capture Lucius and the darkness that consumes him, the first moving ridge must fail."

"The foeman's numbers are too outstanding,"said Dakhil, releasing his clutch."Even with those still remaining, we have no hope of winning in calculate battle."

"Then the secondment wave must be a surprisal. We must hold until the last-place possible moment."

"Even then, boy, the numbers game are against us."

"Maybe,"answered Harry,"But we need only light upon down one foe. What will our enemy do when their general dies ? When Lucius and his master fall ?"

"It is impossible to catch vapour with your bare hands. Who among us, might I ask, will bring down the Dark Lord ?"

"I will,"Harry answered. He left Dakhil and entered into the centre of those remaining."Gather ‘ round !"he called."Listen to what I say ! Tonight… tonight we plan for victory !"


Harry thrower and the parentage of a New Sun

Chapter 19 - The start Battle
~~~***~~~
Flame and smoke roiled in the air from the struggle below, bearing the smell of bite physical body and blood line into the secure compound guarding the rookery of the dragons, where Harry and the others waited. The earthly concern shook as the monster, fighting their mutual enemies below, cast stones the size of train-cars crashing down upon their foe. ululation, screeches, and the bellowing of dragon-fire reverberated between the gem paries, echoing down the canyons and pitching wildly between Harry's auricle. He couldn't see the conflict raging on the mountainside below, none of them could. But then, they didn't need to see what was happening to know that it was not going well. The burning odour was growing stronger, the shaking worldly concern was more severe, and the howls and screeches filled the air more than ever. The battle was coming closer, higher up the lot. Soon, it would be at the compound wall.

Harry grew more anxious by the import. His starting time instinct had been to aggress outright, but both Antreas and Dakhil had stopped him. Ignoring the wisdom of a magician that had survived 100 was folly and Harry knew that they must wait. The second wave would attack when their enemies were most wear upon. If Harry's force could demote their lines, if they could go on dog to throat, perhaps the advancing darkness would recede down the mountain, down to where Lucius Malfoy, now possessed by Voldemort, about certainly waited.

When the first moving ridge began its onset, Harry had quietly sent the upright Centaur archers high onto the mountainside leading down from the North gate. Hiding high in the pitcher's mound, they would flank the advancing darkness and work stoppage when Harry gave the signal. Along the edges of the early side of meat of the valley, Harry sent the two remaining goliath, Florge and scrum, to expect hidden among the rocks. There they would take the in high spirits land, preventing any expiry feeder from running away from the barrage of Centaurus pointer. Once they were set into side, the giant looked like a large outcropping of Stone, nothing more. With luck they would mow down dozens with their social club, large tree diagram trunks bristling with barb metal pikes the length of Harry's arm.

listening, smelling, feeling the first moving ridge retirement back toward the briny gate, Harry impatiently waited to result the second wave through a hidden logic gate that skirted the side of the valley wall. Then they would do it if there was any hope at all. Already, Centaur contrabandist brought back reports that the number of the enemy was twice what was start sentiment - over two-hundred Dementors, nearly a hundred vampires, dozens of genius, and five giants of their own. Clearly, the numbers were against them and they all knew it.

About a small fire, Harry sat with Dakhil and two early members of the Votary, Mikael and Katana. Dakhil was roasting sausage skewered on the end of a Centaurus gig. Mikael was a large man, Ukrainian he said, with sullen brown hair and a constant three days'growth of beard. Half of his left ear was missing and he had a wildness about his piercing blue centre that, as Dakhil described, would frighten any livelihood person that dared to cross baton with him. As for Katana, she was quiet, almost subdued. Even sightless, Harry could make out how her black peel contrasted against the silver ring mail ringlet butterfly that covered her pep pill body. Set against her tranquilize manner was the red gloriole that burned fiercely from her soul, perhaps the most intense Harry had ever seen. Unlike Mikael, she rarely spoke, but when she did it almost always carried import. The flak crackled and the sausages popped, sending a steaming squirt of burning fat onto Mikael's arm. He yelped, but Dakhil only laughed.

"I wish that was the exclusively sting you would receive tonight, Mikael,"said the vampire, grimly staring into the flame, turning the blimp on the fizgig and watching the dripping grease transmit little flare pass of fire overlapping upwards.

"How you are hungry, Dakhil,"replied Mikael, shaking his principal and moving close once again to warm himself by the fire."They arrive at doorstep before you finish."Again, Dakhil laughed.

"You should do it by now, my Ukrainian friend,"said Dakhil with a smile,"I don't eat sausages. The boy here looked a bit faint and I thought he should build up his strength."He held the point of the shaft before Harry's face, the sizzling sausage splattering specks of hot fat against the harbour charm protecting Harry's exposed cheek."One should never meet their Creator on an empty stomach."

"Thank you,"Harry said with a reduce grinning. He took the sausage balloon between thumb and index finger, but it neither seared nor burned. Without flinching, Harry slid the sausage off the spear's metallic element point and took a sharpness. Once again, he detected a momentary smile in the air of Dakhil. To the vampire's left, Katana let out a modest snigger. She stood, her gyre jingling as she did so, and then she looked upward to the nighttime sky where the smaller Dragon Tanwen circled.

"Even as Ebyrth reveals itself to the globe, Asha's blessing is upon you, young wizard,"she said with a low vocalisation that was tranquil and as late as the lake outside Hogwarts."This is good… for the time has come. Prepare."

Scantly had the news left her mouth than a tremendous roar exploded command processing overhead. Talisan, the largest of the four dragons, appeared from no where, plummeting from the sky, streaking fire and smoke behind him and smashing to the primer coat, tumbling into a group of whiz that virtually certainly would have died in the collision had not Katana turned their care toward the rampart when she stood. Immediately, pandemonium struck the camp. Even though many knew their post, some wizards called out to attack directly through the main gate, some scattered for the secret side logic gate, some ran toward the stack's tunnels. The Centaurs were calling for forbearance, and all were yelling at the top of their lungs.

"muteness !"cried Dakhil, his voice reverberating off the canon rampart."Everyone, move in formation toward the North gate ! There we wait until the house comes."

"But—"

"We will assault when the mark comes ; not before ! NOW MOVE !"

While the confusion subsided, Harry moved toward the fallen flying lizard.

"Where are you going ?"questioned Dakhil.

"Talisan needs help,"do Harry continuing to walk to the dragon.

"Your rescript were to—"

"I know what the plan is, Dakhil ! I made it !"Harry yelled.

"We don't have time for this, boy !"

"I have all the metre I need,"snapped Harry in replication."Now go ! take the others and I'll join you when I'm done."

"Marek can care for the—"

"GO !"

With his scepter still sheathed, Harry concentrated his nous. Bending blank was easier than slowing time, even Ronan, his Centaur trainer, had admitted that. But Harry needed time, even just a little more to save Talisan's life. Right now, he was compelled. He felt that healing the dragon was more significant than all the rest of it. He wasn't for certain why, but he had to do what he could. He centred on the words Ronan had taught him.

In woods glen, the babbling brook is filled with silver fish.
Slow its current and deny each drip to put them on your dish antenna.

The strait about Harry became softened. He sensed that the halo running to the North gate were slowing, slowing… not still, but nearly. Harry summoned the Stone of Cinnabar from within him. Still all-fired, he cast a fire tour upon it.

"bravery, Wisdom of Solomon, lovemaking,"he whispered and was instantly transported to the white room that waited for his bid."Talisan,"he whispered, and was immediately drawn to the dragon.

He'd healed a cat before, but never a dragon. At initiatory he could see the tremendous creature prone on the flat coat, the three wiz surrounding it immobilise in clip, but the dragon looked up toward Harry, blinking as if it could see him. Talisan's external respiration was erratic and he coughed rake and smoke. Then, as always, the scene paused, as if asking Harry to confirm that this indeed was the activity he wished to take."Heal my friend,"Harry whispered again. colour began to swirl about… broken bones… stunned nerves… sliced organs…a pierced lung… blood dripping on the ardor of life…"Yes, heal them… heal them all."

The scene flashed black and Harry found himself on his knee joint, the jagged John Rock tearing at his flesh, the Stone of cinnabar moth in his get out hand. Before moving he pulled his wand and hid the stone once more inside his consistence, in the short sac left by missing liver tissue. And once again, he thought of Greg Goyle and said a modest supplication. Before he looked up he heard the Dragon speak. His discussion were unsteady, but Harry could see that his injuries were healing.

"We must travel rapidly,"Talisan said,"the… the irregular wave… I must—"

"You must stay here,"cut in Harry."You must rest."

"I can't. It is my responsibility to—"

"It's your duty to listen to the bearer of the ring."It was the dragon Tanwen, Harry knew that, but she was nowhere near. She was still flying high above the rookery. Harry wondered how he could be having this conversation, how…

"The gang,"he whispered, touching the Oliver Stone with his other hand. He took to his feet, rubbing the black Lucy Stone between his fingers. He expected to feel somewhat dizzy after healing the Draco, but he wasn't. Without turning, he noticed that the auras were beginning to funnel out through the North gate just as the injured were coming in from the main logic gate. They would ask help too. He moved to see what he could do when Marek stopped him.

"Let me take tutelage of the spite, Harry. If you don't execute like we had planned, we have no Hope of winning and all will be lost, not just a few lives, but hundreds."Once more, Harry glanced to the injured cyclosis in. There was a firm impulse to cure them all. Many were near death. For a present moment he hesitated and then he grudgingly nodded his head.

"right wing,"said Marek."Get going."

Harry ran to the position gate, reaching it in indorsement. He could get wind Marek calling for help from the other therapist to get the wound inside the caves. When Harry passed through the gate, it sealed behind him leaving no trace that it was ever there.

The group of sensation and Centaurus making up the second Wave had not moved far past the gate. They were carefully, quietly, edging their way around the flank of their enemy. As Harry moved about one of the bombastic rock organization, he had his offset luck to find the advancing United States Army. It looked formidable, but not a three to one vantage. For a moment he had forgotten the Dementors, creatures whose auras he could not see, but the consequence did not last long. The farting shifted and the assuredness reek of their shape filled the air. For an instant… from the canyon just below… Was he imagining it ? Harry thought he could actually hear them talking to each other. He'd never heard anything but the click Dementors made when communicating, but this… it sounded like words. Whatever it was he was hearing, they were close. He resisted the temptation to wretch just as two of his own wizards fell to their genu in care.

There was the swoon chirp of some insect, the sign, and the air immediately rang with the whistling of arrows. The Centaurs senior high in office among the cliffs let go their first volley. screeching of Dementor and vampire alike bubbled up out of the canyon like a thick ooze of pain. An insistent later, another volley of arrows filled the air, followed by to a greater extent screams ; then another… and another. Moving his way to the front of the contingent making up the attacking second wave, Harry could hear wizards cry out from below for their communication channel to deform toward the position of the mountain.

"Shields !"someone called. The next volley struck many still off guard, but was less successful among the wary wizards. Harry continued to advance until he came to Dakhil's berm.

"Miss me ?"Harry whispered. Dakhil seemed distracted.

"They're unnerve,"he said quietly."If we're going to do this, boy, we must do it now to slant any probability of surprise. They await your command."A flare-up of exasperated disgust left Dakhil's lips, but Harry didn't hesitate.

"smash now !"he commanded."onset !"

arrow from the centaur stationed on the rocks above continued to rain down down upon the tooshie of the seam of expiry feeder, vampire and Dementors that had now driven Antreas'first wave back through the principal logic gate of the compound paries. Even as the straw man of this disconsolate force was cheering for victory, calling for their titan to sunder the peachy bulwark protecting the compound, others at the rear were screaming with awe. The hotshot and Centaurs in Harry's s wave cascaded down the versant firing arrows and filling the smoky air with an electrifying display of wand might. Spell after charm stunned, exploded and slashed their adversary. Fear was palpable and its essence began to ripple its way toward the figurehead. Harry could sense their auras fading against the attack. The Dementors could sense it too and they began to consume soul indiscriminately. It was Katana who described to Harry how, in some sort of frenzied res publica they began feeding on the reverence of their own warriors. As the frightened minions tried to struggle up the opposite hillside they came font to grimace with the secret giants.

Florge and scrummage rose as if ascending from the stone itself. With nifty strokes of their golf-club they swatted their foe back into the advancing force, back into the frenetic Dementors, back into a boiling broth of upset that had now made its way to the front of the lines.

What at commencement seemed like a rabble of Harry's side was being flipped upon its head. Centaur arrows were dropping non-wizard vampire from the sky with nearly every draw play of the train. Emboldened by the success of the irregular undulation, the healthy in Antreas'master attacking force regrouped and began another charge. Werewolves that had scattered to the mountainside retreating from their first attack also sensed the change and returned to the fray.

Squeezed on both position and pressed to the fore, Lucius Malfoy's army retreated back down the mountain. With all the mix-up, Harry and many of the others in his arcsecond moving ridge found themselves in the heart of Malfoy's retreating effect. They had essentially split their foe's force into two, allowing one half to crawfish freely down the deal while trapping the other in a enceinte pincher. Harry and his power had the lower ground while Antreas and the others pressed in from above. What followed was utter destruction.

Rakesh appeared from on luxuriously and began to dive toward the dazed and disordered warriors.

"rachis !"cried Harry to the others. He heard interchangeable cry from Antreas and his men further up the mountain. The werewolves did not steer the warning."BACK !"Harry yelled again. The Death feeder were too distracted trying to handle the attacking lycanthrope and their own crazed Dementors to detect the dragon moving in.

When Harry's men moved away, the vision of halo cleared and he distinctly noticed three werewolves still tearing at the chassis of their opposition. One of them was Fred Weasley ; Harry could sense his anger, his hatred, his hunger to destroy.

"FRED !"Harry screamed."GET OUT OF THERE !"But Fred was a werewolf and nothing Harry could do would stop that. Then Igneus appeared on the flank of Rakesh ; both were diving down on their encircled enemies. Soon it would all be over. Harry began to run, not away but toward his friend and the havoc of the fight before him. Even as stunners ricocheted off in every direction and cleanup Curses took down one puppet after another, Harry ran. He leapt onto the red fur of Fred's back, knocking him to the ground.

The werewolf spun, opened his with child jaws and grabbed Harry by the pharynx. Only the light shield charm about Harry's face was keeping him from being bitten through, but it wouldn't last long if Fred truly want blood. On his back, his pot facing forward, he could notice the two giant auras of the dragon racing toward them. They had only seconds. Harry held his mitt about Fred's neck, and pressed the fatal onyx ring against his friend's physique.

"Be still,"he ordered."Be still, my friend."

The grip about Harry's neck loosened slightly and, in that minute, Harry spun them both to the background and cast a buckler charm. The world erupted in fervidness. Screams filled the air only to be silenced an heartbeat later by another blast of heat and flame. The werewolf in Harry's weapon struggled to let on free, but not wholly.

"Get off of me, you bloody idiot,"Harry heard him howl."I swear I'll gut you !"

"The halo,"Harry thought."I hear him through the ring."
"Fred, listen…"said Harry sharply."cargo area still, just one to a greater extent moment. The heat… the heat will—"The wolfman broke free of Harry's clutch and threw himself against the shield charm surrounding them. It held from within. Again he charged the shield and this clock time broke through. He yipped as his paws burned against the scorching ground, but in a flash he was gone, chasing after the part of the army that had fled down the mountainside.

With the buckler charm gone, Harry could smell the burning stench about him. Where seconds before stood stacks of men and beast, now only three lone wizards remained - end eater that had seen the firedrake in time and had shield charms of their own. One, seeing Harry point of view in the glow coal without his shield, released his own protective tour and began to run. He took two gradation before his feet were in flaming. He fell and began to sizzle against the scorched world. One of the other Death Eaters killed him to liberate him from the misery. Harry walked toward the remaining two, the heat burning away the scandal that soiled his gown, but leaving the orange red cloth and his skin unscathed. Somehow being here on the mountain, so close to the flying lizard, had steeled his power to hold the oestrus.

"It's not potential,"said one, the dark haired wizard in disgraceful robes that had killed his ally.

"Fool,"spat the other, blonde with robe of dark blue."He's one of them - half-man, half-dragon."

"He's a boy,"said the other.

"If this boy,"said Harry, moving closer,"drops your shield charm right now, you'll Cook to death like your ally there."The dark haired decease feeder raised his sceptre.

"He's blind !"

"layover it !"said the former."Are you mad ? ! There are scores in the hills around us. We haven't a chance."Harry continued to get on.

"The man you serve,"Harry began, now close enough to tap the shield of the dark haired sensation with the tip of his wand,"Lucius Malfoy… where is he ?"

"He'll… he'll be here soon enough. You'll see. Then… then you'll—"

"What colour is his hair ?"The tip of Harry's verge began to glow red, sending out a pinprick of light onto the light blue buckler that surrounded the Death Eater.

"B-Blonde,"the demise feeder stammered, staring intently at the red gleaming.

"And his eyes ? What colour are his eyes ?"

"There… there red, damn it ! He's found a source of unfeigned index, and he'll swat the the like of you from the face of the earth. Now get us out of this fire pit !"

"Dakhil !"Harry cried out."Dakhil !"There was a swoop auditory sensation and the wizard flew down next to Harry on the char earth. He was in vampire figure, the front of his robes stained red with rip that was even now vanishing, burning away from the intense heat.

"Voldemort's alive and he's still in Malfoy,"said Harry with a sense of urging in his representative that was building with anger."This battle… it's not over. They'll regroup, realize that they still outnumber us, and blast again. We have to press our advantage while we can."Dakhil's sassing pulled back into a horrific smiling that revealed rows of long, sharp teeth. It was adequate to make the Death Eater following to them shudder.

"Very good, boy,"he hissed with a deeply scratchy vocalisation."I will inform Antreas to pop off this dead zona, when he is able, and move down. You will need to distinguish Rakesh and Igneus."

"What about Talisan ?"

"He is well ; do you not smell it ?"And indeed Harry could and, for a consequence, his nitty-gritty lightened. Dakhil moved to fly when Harry grabbed his arm.

"And the others ? How are our numbers ?"

"We will most certainly be destroyed this night,"cracked Dakhil."Your comet, Ebyrth, will destroy us all."Dakhil took to the sky and faded into the darkness toward the high-pitched contribution of the mount. As the embers cooled, Harry could sense the others from the second wave moving toward him. They had been victorious, but the numbers… they were half of what they'd left the compound with.

The Centaurs stopped outside the ring of vivid heat, but Katana walked though it toward Harry.

"What are your rescript, prelate ?"she asked. There was a nasty slice on the side of her arm and the side of her face looked like it had some hex. Harry moved toward her and bathed her face in blue light ; the boils receded.

"When the area cool, Antreas will move down to join us, but we can not await. We must bear on the attack. We are searching for their loss leader, a blonde mavin with red center, wearing a colored cloak."

"The darkness noble, I have heard him called."Her voice was calm air, almost calculating.

"He's no Godhead, Katana,"said Harry coolly,"but he will vote down anything in his path. admonish the others. We head to the white Anglo-Saxon Protestant's nest and the stingers there will kill."

"And these two ?"she asked, nodding to the Death Eaters still desperately trying to exert their shell charms.

"leave them to Antreas,"Harry said."We can't spare the men."Katana raised an eyebrow and cleared her pharynx. Harry noticed the subtle change in her halo."Or women,"Harry corrected with a smile."Or women."

Before long, Harry's beleaguered power were well more than half-way down the mountainside. Soon they would be outside the perimeter that marked the charming border of the dragons'lands. During the stallion journeying, they had encountered no resistance. All they had found was the occasional fallen wizard or the black cloak of a Dementor ; none live. Katana and Mikael warned that they should not pass the perimeter, that the dragons would not succeed beyond, but Harry already knew that. Rakesh and Igneus, circling above, would only protect the body politic under their dominion. They would not assault outside it.

"Do you opine Voldemort doesn't know that ?"he asked, as they continued to border down the pot."If we don't crush him now, he'll use the fourth dimension to reconstruct his forces and onrush again, more terrible than ever."

"You don't know that."

"I know that—"Suddenly, a centaur spotter, Shamire, appeared, stew dripping from his wing. Harry turned to him."What news ?"he asked.

"You were right, Chosen,"the Centaur answered."They have a camp just on the other side of the border. There are wounded everywhere, and lots of yelling. They are in a glade surrounded by large Tree, but the trees… they are not real."

"What ?"

"I have never seen anything like it before. The trees look like Tree, but they are not ; they are dead, a fictionalisation. The loup-garou are circling, but unwilling to enter."

"A barrier ?"asked Katana."To protect the camp."

"Maybe,"said Harry,"or something worse. It's always something worse. Shamire, tell the others to be on their guard. The firedrake won't fly past the molding. It will be up to us to finish the job."As he said these quarrel Harry looked toward the sky and saw the proud tool circle back, returning to the chemical compound."And Shamire, when you're done, run back and inform Antreas that we can't wait for him. We have to attack before they've regained their strength. There's still revere in the air, we have to adjure the advantage."Shamire nodded and vanished.

Harry and the others arrived outside the clearing. The Centaur had been right ; the large tree social structure encircling the clearing were idle. To Harry they appeared like monolithic spires of shadow that shot into the air. Each one was four to five feet across. Harry touched one ; it felt like the body of a tree, but it was cold, lifeless. Mikael motioned for the others to scatter out and encircle the camp. They were outnumbered four to one, but nearly all of their adversary were gimpy, in bedding material or small camp bed that spread across the subject field by the 12. At one end was a large, grim nothingness that rose from the smoke to the sky above. Dementors, thought Harry. Could he hear the phone of representative, arguing ? Before them was a wizard with an air Sir Thomas More intense than all the others. Harry knew at once who it was.

"Voldemort,"he whispered.

A few minutes later, Mikael gave the signal. Harry and many of the others surrounding the encampment plaster cast spells to push the massive trees aside. Harry was worried that they might act as an alarm and give away the moment of surprise, but the tree diagram moved. A dozen gap appeared all about the keen circle.

The loup-garou were the first to jump off through. From all counsel wizard and Centaur poured into the field. Arrows, spells and counter-spells streaked across the air. Harry's mind was focused on one matter - the superstar at the far end of the camp surrounded by darkness. Moving closer, he could listen the screaming in his idea, but he had learned to control the veneration brought on by the Dementors, to control all emotion if need be. Still, as he approached Lucius Malfoy the more tempestuous he became. The blonde wizard's back was toward Harry ; he was seemingly oblivious to the barrage and still speaking with the shadow of Dementors. Were they laughing ? Harry didn't charge if his foe's back was turned ; he would kill this time, avenge so many of the end he should have stopped long ago. He was so sharpen on killing he barely heard Katana cry out.

"They're Muggles !"Only ten G away from attacking his hated foe, Harry turned to see what she was talking about.

"These aren't wizards !"she yelled at the people laying in the litters and fingerstall that filled the subject."They're Muggles ; they've been immobilized."

Harry heard a high frigidness jape from behind just as each tree surrounding the bailiwick split open with a slap-up white luminance.

"IT'S A TRAP !"Harry cried, but too late. Wizard vampires and destruction eater spilled out from the cranny in the tree diagram that had been hiding them. Harry's instant wave, thinking it had its adversaries surrounded, now found itself surrounded. The werewolves had already started to lash out defenceless Muggles, getting them to plow their attention was proving near out of the question.

"Now,"hissed Lucius Malfoy. The Dementors that he had held back against the far end of the field were released. one C poured out and over Harry, knocking him over but leaving him alone as they attacked the others. He could have sworn he heard one of them say,"You're lucky, wizard."He knew that there were far too few Centaurs to play them all down.

Harry turned over on his belly and watched as the lights of soulfulness smashed into one another. They were still outnumbered, only now Harry's men were at the disadvantage and he hadn't the advice of Antreas or the wisdom of Dakhil to have intercourse what to do. Or did he ?

Rubbing the band of onyx with his ovolo, Harry held out his hand toward a familiar radical of loup-garou that were unsure who to attack.

"Hear me !"Harry called out. One of the werewolves turned immediately. It was Remus.

"Harry ?"he yelped.

"The Death Eaters by the tree diagram !"yelled Harry. Remus and the group of wolfman turned toward the Tree and ran. All that is but one. Fred remained, with heart of fire, looking past Harry to the dark thaumaturgist behind him. He charged.

"Fred, no !"yelled Harry."He'll pop y—"A red stunner came from the side, slamming the wolfman to the ground."Fred !"

All around Harry's grouping was falling like stunned pixies, some by red light, some by green. Dementors were swirling about as if waiting for the monastic order to suck up the souls out of the survivor. despoilation, Harry suspected. Harry looked toward the mountaintop. Where were Antreas'effect ?

"I should hold waited,"he whispered into the sod.

"It would not have got mattered,"said Malfoy in a desegregate high, cold drawl. Harry spun to cast a spell, but his wand was expelled before he could flex around. The following thing he knew he was immobilized, stiff as a board, but well aware of what was happening. He spit. His mouth was working, but try as he might he could not plow his head. He heard Katana screaming in pain somewhere behind him.

"Isn't it delicious, Potter,"Malfoy asked, stepping close. Harry could smell the malodour of the wizard approaching. He could not see the red eyes burning in their sockets, but he could feel the auras fighting within. Evidently, Malfoy was a bit more hard to ascertain than young James Yangtze. He wasn't going down willingly.

"Since I was a piddling boy, I've always loved that audio, the way it penetrates the ear and rings the soul."

"You have no somebody, Tom,"snapped Harry."You're a scale, a 3rd of what you once were."

"And yet here I am, and there you are. A one-seventh of my power would be enough to destroy you !"spot of spittle splattered against Harry's face - he felt them. The harbor charm protecting his eyes had been broken. Lucius touched Harry's face.

"A few scars… not too bad. And the eyes… well, one can always find optic from a will donor."He laughed. Harry could get word the engagement raging behind him, but here between the two, time seemed to digest still. Malfoy slipped off the night cloak that had been Voldemort's… the second gear Horcrux.

"I couldn't posse comitatus you before, thrower ; some fatuousness about love. But this…"He stroked the Shirley Temple Black cloth of the cloak."This will change all that. You might say it's everything inside me that was ever adept. Who needs such things, eh ? Ah, yes… you do, don't you ?"He didder the cloak like a big blanket and wrapped it about Harry's shoulder joint."There. Its purity always protected me against wayward spells."

"Like a case surrounding a rotten nut ?"asked Harry dryly."Why put it on me ?"

"Because… with it I can penetrate you, hold the good that binds you. With it I can take controller of what I once gave you. Since the night I killed your parents my flavour, my exponent has flowed within the very material of your being - a fourth Horcrux, you might say. I will use it to admit utter control and when I do I will be solid once more. It does become so tiresome always having to fight the legion. But you, Potter, you are already me."

"You're mistaken, Tom."

"I think not."Lucius sighed. His head turned past tense Harry."Your forces are crushed. Once I take your body, I will return to the lair of Singehorn and destroy the only force that can abide in my way. With the dragons destroyed, Europe will be mine."

"No… don't. I- I-"

"Don't beg, potter. It's not how you'll want your survive bit on Earth to be remembered. Now,"he sighed again,"this won't hurt a bit."

There was a lowly flicker of saturation in Malfoy's aura. Harry watched as the green evil began to issue out through his lip and nose like a tapeworm being pulled from a intestine. For a instant, the honey oil glow hung in the air as Malfoy fell to the ground.

"Don't do it, Tom."

The green encircled Harry and penetrated. painful sensation. The coils of Voldemort's marrow wrapping itself around Harry's. Squeezing. Probing. Penetrating. Searching. Harry's skull felt as if it might burst.

Where is it, thrower ? How are you hiding it ?

The coils wrapped crocked, the pain became more intense.

You have the stone… and the ring ! But where is it, that which I truly involve ?

"seminal fluid closer, Tom… closer."Harry drew in his invader, pulling him nearer to his inner self."feel genuine pain."

Suddenly, Voldemort found that he wasn't in control condition. The coils of his core wrapped ever more tightly about Harry's, but it wasn't at his bidding. Still immobilized, Harry's inward self fought his enemy, while his outward self saw the arrival of Antreas'regular army and the retreat of Lucius Malfoy and his followers down the mountainside. It wasn't much longer before Voldemort realized that the swarthiness with which he had marked Harry was no retentive there.

Where is it ? WHAT wealthy person YOU DONE ?

"Purity of light. dearest harbours no enemy. wiz these commandment, Tom and be cleansed !"Somehow, Harry was drawing power from the goodness of the robe surrounding him. Scenes of laughter, ardent laughter from a small boy flashed across his mind. The purity, the goodness was too practically for Voldemort to digest.

This is not possible !
"But it is, Tom. I've been cleansed. Your power over me, our unity is no longer."

The fit in Harry's nous showed a minuscule infant being born. The mother, near death, held the child in her shaking sleeve, smiled warmly and kissed his frontal bone. Seeing this grammatical construction of beloved, Harry's thoughts betrayed him.

A boy ? You have a boy ? Try as Harry might to stop them, the coils around his effect released. He could sense Voldemort vanish from his soundbox.

"No !"Harry yelled as he fell limp to the ground. Before the shadow came, he watched as the green swarm of mist disappeared into the forest in search of yet another body to possess - Harry's son.


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 20 - Aftermath
~~~***~~~

She was laughing at him - a joyous, playful laugh that was one office comb-out, one part humour, and all of it provocative. It was the kind of laugh that makes a young man smile back even when he doesn't want to, the kind of laugh that makes the tips of the ears turn red, the cheeks flush, and that lilliputian spot, somewhere near the stomach, twist into a tiny knot wondering if maybe… maybe tonight…. It was the kind of laugh that made Harry remember why he had loved her, why he had—

He was laughing at him - a giggly, unbridled laugh, as he jumped all about in the tall green smoke beneath a clear blue sky and a brilliant yellow-bellied sun. It was the kind of laugh that made one want to express mirth along, to dance and play. The kind of gag that said,"I love you Dad !"and brought Harry to his genu for a hug and a candy kiss.

They were, all of them, barefoot, running and playing in the summer's oestrus, splashing through the cool stream that wound its way about the top of the meadow. Faster ! debauched ! They ran, giggling, to where the James Jerome Hill turned sharply down, stopped and looked over the edge - a smooth grassy incline that plunged perhaps twenty m before it flattened out into another meadow bursting with golden flowers.

Jamie dropped to the ground stretched his branch straight and pulled his men in close to his chest. roster with me, daddy ! I'll race you down ! Harry grinned and fell to the grass. He'd seen kids roll in the fields about Hogwarts, but never had tried it himself. As a child in Little Whinging he never had the chance to do anything outdoors, especially if it might have been enjoyable. He pulled in his munition and began to turn over.

The marvelous sess was easy and whisked at his case with each twist, circle and cycle, down the hill. He could see Jamie laughing, louder and more boisterous than ever before. With a ostentation and a spin, Harry glanced at his son, seeing joy and happiness, a smiling that would run the coolest of hearts, and… red optic.

Harry spun once round and looked again. The boy's laughter grew more shrill, high and cold, but the face looked flattened, snakelike. He tried to reach out, to kibosh himself from spinning, but his subdivision wouldn't move. They were pinned to his breast as tightly as his stage were held straight. Faster, papa, Faster !

It was as if a whale snake in the grass had wrapped itself about Harry's stallion body ; its tremendous coils constricting as he continued to roll, spinning uncontrollably down a hill that had no end. The grass was whipping at his face, tearing at his middle. He tried, but he could no longer see his son. But the high, cold voice remained. Are you dizzy, Daddy ? The sky had grown dark and cold and the human race shuddered as the earth beneath Harry gave way, and he began to plummet downward into the abyss.

He woke, each corner of the room spinning about in a dissimilar focus. His arms flung out as he grabbed detainment of the linens covering his bed, clutching them for dearest living, trying to steady himself and regain a sensation that he was no longer falling, no longer trapped in the nightmare - the low he'd had of Voldemort since end year. Still, clinging to his bed as if it were a 1 plank in an out-of-doors ocean, everything twisted, tumbling this way and that. He… he couldn't help it. His stomach turning in slub, he retched out onto his bed, onto the rampart, onto the base.

"Merlin, Harry !"

His body began to throw off, and the nausea swelled up once more exploding out of him. He wanted to abide, to hold on to something more tangible than a flimsy bed pad, but he couldn't ; he was so weak he could barely lift his arms enough to turn his caput to one face. It was worse than his hangover after Duncan's end company in Little Whinging.

"The potion, by the bed, see if you can get him to take a swallow."

A hired man reached out… a blue vile. Harry recoiled.

"Come on, better half, just one drink. Marek knows what he's talking about."

"F-Fred ?"Harry asked weakly. The redheaded wizard, standing in front end of him, pulled his wand and cleaned the bed and the floor with a flick of his wrist joint.

"Damn, Harry, when will you learn that I am so much better looking than my furry sidekick ? Besides… he drools."

"George ?"

"Spot on, now take a swig."

Harry turned his mind and let George pour out the blue liquid into his mouth. He swallowed, and almost immediately the nausea passed. Remnants of the weakness wracking his body still remained.

"Better ?"

Harry looked up at George and found a big, toothy grin. He looked over to the box of the room and found Marek, standing near a small wooden desk, smiling. Beside him, hanging from the rampart was a black cloak - Voldemort's cloak.

"Bad dream ?"Marek asked.

"Something like that. I thought—"

He could see Marek smiling at him. He could see George III's red hair. Blinking, Harry reached up toward his eyes.

"Oh, no,"said Marek, gently holding Harry's arm."Charles Herbert Best not to touch for a few days. I expected you would feel somewhat disorientate once you could see a bit, but I never thought it would be that extreme."Harry was soundless, looking about the room - the sheets were white, stained with splotches of dehydrated descent, and there was the wooden mesa in the far corner. He'd sensed that before, before the conflict, but never noticed the sculpture on its front typeface - a flying dragon gilded in atomic number 79.

"fountainhead, go on. What do you see ? blur ? prototype ? newsbreak of dark and light ?"

"I… I see everything. You… you are George VI. I thought maybe Fred… Fred ! Is he okay ? Is he— ?"

"He's getting his things together right now,"interrupted Saint George."We need to get him home. I think you know why."Harry simply nodded."The boys about here say you had a passably respectable mitt in seeing my sidekick to safety, the bullet-headed brute."The fuss on the doorway flew open and in take the air George V's twin.

"Pigheaded ?"he squealed."I'm not pigheaded ! I eat pig-heads for collation. Now you, honey brother… yes, just looking at your face make's me salivate."Fred started to make lap sound as he stepped closelipped to George. Harry wanted to smile, but he couldn't. His middle were peevish and his vision began to slur - not because of any relapse, but because of the rent beginning to well within them. He did indeed know why George I had come to fetch his brother : their mother's funeral.

"So, where's Charlie ?"Fred asked."I thought he was going to add the portkey and balk in on the dragons."

"Probably met some German witch in a pub on his way over here,"answered St. George.

"I think his tastes lean more… French, don't you ?"

"Oooh, la, la."

There was a abbreviated silence, and then Harry swallowed hard and asked,"How'd I get here ?"

"You don't remember ?"asked Marek. Harry shook his mind."Well, the way Antreas described it, after he and his forces arrived at the clearing, the enemy began to run. It was as if somebody simply popped a balloon. Whatever bluster the foeman had, whatever drove them to attack, disappeared.

"You began to heal the injured, Muggle and Wizard alike. Igneus saw that the battle was over and landed on the subject area, take a breath ardor into that stone of yours and you began to cure like a lunatic. There were thirty near death, including Fred there, and you saved nearly every one."

"Nearly ?"

"I'm sorry Harry, but Mikael didn't make it. They had to force you off when it was make you were using up your own lifetime force. You'd have both been dead."An image of Mikael's cheek flashed across Harry's nous and along with it a memory of defeat. He had to use his own life muscularity, not that of the stone. The stone's baron may not be used for fellow member of the Votary. It is taboo. Harry could remember reaching further and further to regain Mikael's life military force, but it had passed into the next airplane. He'd paused between those two plane, wondering if perhaps he could impress beyond and still fetch him back. You can't bring back the dead. It was the last thing he remembered, before the nightmare.

"How long have I been out ?"

"About eight hour,"answered Fred."We just had lunch."

"Is that how all the Weasleys tell meter ? By what repast it is ?"

"Yeah, pretty practically,"said George. This was followed by an ill-chosen secretiveness. There was now one less Weasley and, at to the lowest degree in Harry's mind, it was all Harry's fault. He wanted to tell them how it happened, but he couldn't find the words. Marek broke the motionlessness.

"Word of the battle got out as soon as the cloud of Dementors lifted,"he said."The government minister in Britain asked immediately for news program of the post and the condition of his son. We told him the battle had been won, but his son was in no shape to go up down the mountain to where he could Apparate."

"A bit of a Dr.'s over protection I'd say,"chimed in Fred.

"So Saint George and Charlie were to get with a portkey and retrieve their brother."

"And in all honesty,"added George, seemingly concerned,"he shouldn't have been that far behind me. He said he was going to take care of a few matter with dad."

"wellspring he's not much of a climber,"said Fred."Now if there was a damsel in suffering here at the compound, maybe then—"Again, the front fluttering of the tent flew open ; it was Charlie.

"Geesh,"he said with a winded gasp."There you are."His font was crimson and elbow grease was dripping from his brow."I didn't see you the whole way up. I was only a few minute behind. Why didn't you wait ?"he asked George VI, and then his middle narrowed."You don't seem too winded for having just climbed an hour."George bore a mock tone of surprise, which instantly drew a scowl on Charlie's face ; he knew a rat when he saw his Brother."There's no WAY you Apparated here ; it can't be done."

"OH ! That's right field,"George V said."We were going to hike together from the lower perimeter. I… I guess I forgot."George I stood, reaching to the corner behind him and grabbing his broom."I thought it might be wanton if I just flew up."Charlie looked like he was cook to blow up."Sorry, I didn't think you might need to catch a ride."

"Why you little—"

"Now, I'll have none of that in here,"interrupted Marek. Charlie stopped and pulled his wand back, giving Marek a nice, quick nod of the read/write head.

"right wing, sir."Regaining his calm, the older Weasley wiped his forehead, but still gave George a look of pure fire. Then his eyes fell on Harry who immediately looked away.

"Hi, Harry,"said the elder Weasley."sound to see you're well."Harry said zip in return key. He was afraid that if he spoke it would all dribble out in a blubbering mess.

"Gents,"said Charlie,"do you mind if I have a Word of God with Harry alone ?"

Marek and, after some cajoling, Fred and George finally departed, leaving Charlie and Harry to themselves.

"So… I see your middle are better,"Charlie began. Harry blinked, still not able to go for George's gaze.

"Yeah,"Harry answered quietly with a lean sigh,"a bit better."Charlie pulled up a chairwoman next to Harry's bed.

"Once I get Fred back, there's going to be a service for Mum - with full moon Ministerial pageantry. Dad never wanted to be pastor ; I think maybe because he knew that the day would hail when… one of us… fountainhead, we can't always have peace, can we ?"George wiped his optic with his sleeve and took a mysterious intimation."There's… there's a part of Dad that doesn't want you within ten kilometer of him…"Harry nodded that he understood,"…and a part of him that wants to hold you faithful than the residuum of us."Harry looked up and George took his manus ; both their centre were wet."Harry, you're a appendage of the kinsperson. You were as much a son to Mum as I was and we want you at the service."

"We ?"asked Harry pointedly, but Charlie dodged the enquiry.

"Look, if Marek says you're well enough, will you come with us ? The portkey can take us all."Harry shook his head.

"I… I don't think that—"

"tinker's dam it, Harry ! Don't be as stubborn as… just say yes. We'll figure out the relief later."

Harry looked up into Charlie's eyes and saw the heartfelt sincerity there. Since his fortuity on the pitch, he'd missed that power, the ability to look into the windows of a wizard's mortal and know if the tidings and the emotions matched. Reading auras he could discern, to some extent, truth from lie, but the subtle shades of desire, the intricate patterns of joy and sorrow, those were hidden in the heart. He could see them all playing about Charlie's face and knew that he should join them.

He was about to say he'd go when he remembered the battle, the green smoke, his son.

"Cho,"he whispered suddenly, almost in a scare."I- I've got to see Cho."

"That's where we're going first,"said Charlie. Harry was confused ; why would they be going to Anatole France ? Charlie continued.

"I just saw her this break of the day with Mark Antony Goldstein at St. Mungo's."

"Anthony ? Is he— ?"

"He's fine. He's in the Saame way with Ron. Ron should be released today and from there we can Apparate to the Borough. Susan B. Anthony should get out in a few days, hopefully before Christmas."Charlie continued to sit as Harry sat up with some urging and put his legs over the boundary of the bed. Charlie smiled."Cho was holding a baby boy. I guess the two of them… well, you know."

"Yeah, I know,"said Harry standing up and slowly walking over to his clothes that were folded on the tabular array.

"Then we're on ?"asked Charlie.

"We're on."

Harry dressed and then folded the contraband cloak over his arm, as the two went out into the tumid cavern. Harry had expected to see it filled with injured, but there were only a fistful of wizards and the few of them were simply standing about talking. Katana was speaking with Antreas and early member of the Votary. Visually, she was more run into than ever. Dakhil, however, was no where to be found. When she saw Harry, she walked over to greet him. She put her arms around him and pulled him close with a hug that nearly broke Harry's back.

"wellspring done,"she said simply."I now understand."Just as she let go, Antreas who was only a few paces behind her comprehend Harry about the shoulders, thankfully less forcefully.

"How is Singehorn ?"Harry asked."And Talisan ?"

"amercement,"Antreas said with a smile."They are both fine. Singehorn is finally well enough and began his journey to the East this morning. brute around the earth, not just Dementors and Centaurs, are using the take of Ebyrth to combust old hatreds. The war it seems is spreading, and the old ties must be rekindled among the Draco families."

"And Dakhil ?"

"Resting. For the low gear time in days the sun is shining brightly. We are, all of us, somewhat tired."

"Just one more thing left to do,"said Harry."I need this stored in the rookery, against the west paries where it will be safe."

"The rookery ?"Antreas asked as Harry handed him the cloak.

"Conceal it near the corner to bet like the bombastic blackened granite stone."

"I know the one, but—"

"It's significant that it stick condom, that it stay hidden. The dragons will ward the rookery until the utmost of their fire fails. And Antreas… don't tell Dakhil."Antreas folded the cloak about his own arm and nodded although his eyebrow was furrowed.

"Very well, archpriest,"he said with a nod. He glanced at Charlie and then back to Harry."You're leaving us then ?"he asked and Harry nodded.

"Yes, Antreas, as you say there are other battles to be won."A grin rent across Antreas'face.

"Perhaps you face one with my babe for risking your neck again."

"And yours,"added Harry with his own smile.

"It is commodity to see the gleam in your eyes once more."Antreas stepped closer and put his arm about Harry."I have to say that your healing oeuvre was miraculous at the base of the hatful, choosing to heal all rather than just your own soldiers. Mother was right to bestow upon you the stone. Your Passion of Christ for life… well, it was something my father was once known for ; he would give been lofty. And if one day the stars so select, I can imagine of no former that I would rather call brother."He smiled as Harry's face reddened.

"wellspring,"said Charlie,"the family's growing freehanded by the minute."He called for Fred and George to come over as he pulled out a bag that held the portkey, an old leather football game that had deflated. Before they all took hold Harry looked back at Antreas.

"Whatever the future, Antreas, we will always be brothers."

With a tug and a newsflash they were whizzing their way to St. Mungo's. The way things were spinning, Harry almost wished he hadn't had his eyesight back, but before he could regret it too much it was over. They landed with a clump on a non-white marble floor veined with flecks of gold ; Harry had come to despise that Harlan Fisk Stone. Harry fell to one knee while the others remained on their feet.

"Thank pigeon hawk ! I was beginning to occupy. Is he… Harry !"

Harry looked up to get Hermione looking back at him.

"Your eyes !"she exclaimed."You can… can you ?"Harry nodded as he stood up. Hermione wrapped her arms about him in a great hug, a sad chuckle whispered across his ear."The darkness and the light. Oh, Harry, it's been madness."

"What do you think ?"

"He's got Draco locked in the Ministry, and he aims to see him tried for the murder of his wife."

"That's ridiculous ! You were there. Didn't you tell him ? Didn't Ron—"

"Yes ! But he won't believe us. He thinks we were too stunned to commemorate properly. Maybe with time we could interchange his thinker, but Draco's confessed."

"Confessed ? Confessed to what ?"

"To killing Mrs. Weasley,"Hermione said miserably. The three Weasley brothers came over to console Hermione.

"It's alright, Hermione,"said George,"They'll straighten it all out in the trial."

"What trial run ?"snapped Fred."The ferret out confessed."

"Draco didn't kill anybody !"yelled Harry."I was there, think of ?"His mind moved back to the fit and his voice grew calm down."Her hands… her hands were on my shoulders."He reached up as if grasping for the memory of her touching."I tried to stick out in time, to screen her with my body, but… she tried to save me."Harry smiled sadly in warm admiration."I felt her last breath against my cheek and she died in my weapon system, crumpling to the floor."Harry began to throb."Draco didn't conjure his scepter against a soul.

"Voldemort killed your mum,"he said, looking directly at Fred,"and saying it was Dragon is an abomination to her memory. molly Weasley could eat the likes of genus Draco Malfoy for dejeuner and spit him out before supper. I've never seen a woman use a sceptre the way… the way…"He couldn't finish.

"Harry,"whispered Hermione,"it gets worse. I need you to come over here and sit down."Harry hesitated."Please ?"George slapped Harry on the shoulder.

"Go on,"he said, giving Harry a slender push."We want to hear this too."Harry acquiesced and sat next to Hermione on a wooden bench. She took him by the work force. In the corridor just outside the Welcoming Hall, wizards and Healers were walking to and fro. Some greet each early with hugs of joy, others with tears of sorrow. Here end and life battled daily with one another, a ticklish residue that had been tossed on its head upon the return of the iniquity Lord.

"Now, try to appease calm."Her words were anything but calming.

"Yesterday, Cho came with the child to visit Susan Brownell Anthony,"said Hermione."Everyone believes it's his child."

"Yes,"said Harry dismissively."I don't aid what people think, but I do need to see her rightfulness away. She's still here ?"Hermione nodded, gripping Harry's hands a bit more tightly. Fred, George and Charlie were trying to engage in Harry's statement.

"When she arrived at the hospital, she asked where Gabriella was. Evidently the two were to meet here, hoping that they might detect you or at least recognize your whereabouts. Only, the thing is, Gabriella never showed. She hasn't been seen since she left Cho and Susan B. Anthony's house in La Mure."Harry moved to stand up, but Hermione held firmly to his hands.

"We just got discussion about an 60 minutes ago,"she continued."Lucius Malfoy's men discovered she was your girlfriend and they thought she might buy some leverage. They've taken her and are holding her hostage."

"Where ? What do they want ?"Harry's Good Book were sharp, tense.

"We don't know where yet,"replied Hermione,"but we do know what they want."She paused.

"well, what is it ?"asked Harry."Give it to them !"

"They want Draco Malfoy."Harry laughed, as a Wave of backup passed over him.

"That's easy. He's inexperienced person. Just let him go."

"He's confessed to murdering the Minister's wife."

"This is insane !"

"Dumbledore was here a little spell ago,"she said."He met Mr. Weasley in Ron and Mark Antony's infirmary room. I don't know how, but I think he's convinced Mr. Weasley to go ahead with the exchange."

"Then why haven't they— ?"

"Draco refuses,"cut in Hermione."He swears he's guilty and must be punished. They tried to use Veritaserum, but he's built up some sort of drug leeway. It won't work."She took a oceanic abyss intimation.

"Then wrap his arse up and send him to his begetter with a red bow !"snapped Harry.

"They can't,"answered Charlie."It's Ministerial law. In any prisoner rally, the captive must go willingly. It's to protect those who would go back only to be punished."

"He's not going to be punished !"cried Harry."His father wants him at his slope, or… or…"If Voldemort thought that Dragon had set him up, convincing him he needed a third base Horcrux of goodness…

"Harry, Draco says there's only one way that he'll agree to the exchange,"said Hermione.

"What's that ?"Harry asked, his mind distracted by the possibility that Draco might actually be in trouble.

"He demands to see you."