Harry Potter and The birthing of a New Sun

Chapter 6 - Too end an brush

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When Harry shut the room access to his room and descended the stairs he was, perhaps, the happiest he had ever been in all his life. The sun sent gold ray of light streaking through the coloured windows above and cast a golden image on the storey below, tinged with enough red to cause Harry think fleetingly of Fawkes. His fuzz a tortuous mess, he was wearing a T-shirt, boxers and socks, one with a rather tumid pickle through which the large toe on his right foot protruded. He scratched his stomach as his nozzle took in the scent of something that resembled the smell of burning ham. He took one stair down and turned to look back at his elbow room. His room ? His house ? No, not really. Not anymore. And he was thankful for that and smiled all the more as the odor of fresh coffee bean filled the air, perhaps the solely thing Sirius could fix properly.

When he pushed open the doorway to the kitchen of telephone number twelve, Grimmauld property, he found Sirius working feverishly in front of the kitchen range. His wand was casting spell after spell, not so much at the food preparation, but in an effort to exonerate the roll of tobacco that was billowing throughout. Harry walked over and turned down the flame with a waving of his hand.

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

"No, really, I wanted to make you breakfast. You know, first day of school day and all."He cracked an egg and put both liquidity and shield in the Lapp bowl and started mixing it with his wand. Harry chuckled kindly and agitate his foreland in disbelief. It was great being exempt of Privet parkway, to be here with his godfather, to feel wanted and appreciated. It was probably the first time he had ever opened a package of Sir Francis Bacon for breakfast without a false appreciation in his mouth. He gave Sirius a look that said,"Get real,"and then positioned himself squarely in front of the stove.

"I'm not bad at this,"offered Harry, cracking four eggs at once into a bowl and discarding the casing with a flick of his scepter. 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."Canicula seemed to like the challenge, and the idea that he would be spending Christmas with Harry.

"You know,"said Sirius pouring two cups of coffee bean,"I hear New York is spectacular at Christmas time. Have you ever been to the land ?"Harry judder his head."Maybe we could go for a fast visit."

"I promised Gabri—"

"visit,"Sothis cut in."That's all. Maybe Gab can number along."

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

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

Dog Star ate like a dog and finished in about three minutes. Harry was more broody, and while he did finish, it took him much longer. The nicest thing about being of age was that he didn't have to walk or engage a car to go to Billie Jean King's crisscross Station. For that affair, he didn't need to go to queen's crossbreed at all ; he could Apparate to Hogsmeade and walk in from there. Only the Head Boy and straits little girl had to take the train with their housemates, and this year the capitulum young woman was none other than Hermione Granger. Odd, Harry thought, considering she'd nearly killed Theodore Nott last year. He smiled and took another sip of java. Hermione didn't know who the fountainhead Boy was, but it wasn't Ron. Still, the redhead and his girl were inseparable and so Harry would be travelling too. When Harry told Gabriella he would be going to Hogwarts by train, her grimace fell momentarily and grew concerned.

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

"Any Thomas More bacon ?"asked Sirius rummaging through the crust goat god 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 multiplication, and then finally took a bite. His look took on a slight bitter tone as it scrunched ever so slightly, then he took another bite, shrugging his shoulder joint. His teeth and tongue covered in wood coal he said,"You'd better get ready. Is your trunk packed ?"He glanced at the hourglass on the counter.

"Er… yeah,"Harry lied."Just a few more things."He levitated his collection plate to the sink which was piled high with pots and pans from the stopping point few daytime."Do you want me to take concern of these before I—"

"I'll take care of it,"Dog Star lied."Go get yourself ready."Harry shrugged and nodded his head, and started up the stairs, once again scratching his stomach and knowing full well it would be days, perhaps weeks, before the cesspit was cleared.

It was strange really, getting ready for his final stage year at Hogwarts. So often he was rushed in the hustle and bustle of the Weasley family unit. This twelvemonth, however, Harry wanted to be with his own family — Sirius Black. And it was the best decision he'd ever made. It had only been a few days, but in that shortstop time Sirius and Harry did absolutely… nada. There were chance to utter about the old Day when Canicula palled around with James ; there were prospect to practice elevate enchantment or get wind the operation of some of the gilt instruments that still lined the bulwark in the blackamoor sept written report ; there were meter when they could induce discussed how Harry brought Sirius back from behind the curtain ; and at every turn, at every open door, Harry and Sirius simply took the meter to enjoy each other in the here and now. They played chess ; the recreate visiting card ; they raced Caduceuses across the London sky at night ; they drank, probably too lots ; and they laughed More than they had laughed in a yearn, long time. Sirius'eyes had never been brighter, and Harry's essence had never been lighter.

This fourth dimension when Harry readied himself at the front doorway to leave, there was no dark cloud hanging over their question, but rather an aegir inflammation about the yr to come and what it would bring. They drew forte from each other knowing that whatever war was around the corner, whatever duskiness rose on the skyline, they would look it together. For a moment they just stared at each other and around the room.

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

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

They held each other for to a greater extent than a moment and then Sirius whispered in a somewhat grating 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 locating just down the street from King's hybridisation place and began walking. The late dawning was clear, and he was surprised to find the air so stale. He'd been spending so much time inside with Sirius he hadn't thought much about the weather. His coat was in his proboscis, and he didn't feel much like opening that in the middle of a street filled with Muggles. He shivered, rubbed his arm, and continued on his way. He was coming to the first footprint of the station when a beggar boldly stepped in front of him demanding a donation. Wearing a effective three days'stubble, his dress were filthy, and his hint smelled strongly of alcohol.

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

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

"Surely a Austrian schilling ?"

Harry kept walking trying to snub 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 true that Harry had a few galleons in his pocket, but no Muggle money of any sort. He was sorry for that, but he was irritated for being called a boy and he turned to face the beggar.

"song me a boy again, and you—"

"You'll what !"spat the drunk, stepping toe-to-toe with Harry. The sight was a bit mirthful since Harry was not the modest child he once was. Indeed he was a strapping young man, and he stood a commodity four inches taller than his adversary. Curling the fingerbreadth on his good hand, he was about to say just what he'd do when a comrade tingling ran up his spine. He grabbed for his wand, but too late. Or at least it would birth been if he had been the target. The drunk stood motionless, oculus glazed, physical structure frozen in location. Harry looked up just as a hand gently took him by the arm.

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

The man, still in his teen, wore a dark gray suit with thin blue piping, a burgundy tie and white shirt. The morose methamphetamine hydrochloride reminded Harry of old James Bond movies, but the Edward White lawn tennis shoes with red lace told Harry at once he was dealing with a wizard. Then he noticed the shape of the jaw, the interpreter, but the hair—

"Finnius ?"Harry asked, wondering if he was talking to the former drumhead Boy of Hufflepuff who at commencement ceremony had a start at a beard and tomentum that hung down to his waist."I thought you were going to start a band ? The… er, The Grindly gutter ?"

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

"Why ? What's the matter ?"

"Well… see, I'm supposed to—"

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

Finnius pulled Harry by the arm just as the inebriate began to come to his sess. Quickly, they climbed the pace and found themselves in a sea of people heading to their political platform at Billie Jean Moffitt King's hybrid. Perspiration was popping out on Finnius'brow and Harry wondered if he hadn't wet himself he looked so unquiet."It's just… well, I promised Tonks and already I've made a mess of things."

"You work with Tonks ?"Harry asked with a bit more turmoil and stake. 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 chopine nine and three-quarters holding Harry with his good hand and wiping his brow with his left.

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

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

"Ah, here we are."They were at the political platform."Just in time too !"Before Harry could say another parole, Finnius gave him a bit of a shove and he plunged through the wall and found himself on the early side standing just in presence of the Hogwarts Express. Harry dropped his luggage compartment, reached for his wand and started back toward the bulwark when he was tackled from the face. The flash of devour black hair's-breadth in his nerve 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 bulwark to the outside world."Who's out there ?"

The frustration on Harry's case was clear ; he was about to charge back out when his eyes caught something he had never before seen : Neville Longbottom was hugging his parents, hot dog and Alice, good-bye. Alice held his face in her workforce and planted a big wet kiss on his brass. They were all smiles as Neville wiped it with his sleeve. Then Frank Longbottom handed his son something and, as Neville wrapped his fingerbreadth about the object, a more life-threatening look came into his eyes. His dad slapped him on the berm and a thin smile appeared again as Neville boarded the train.

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

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

"ALL ABOARD !"the conductor called.

"Dean said he'd save us a spot,"said Gabriella, taking hold of Harry's hand. Harry took one last look at the wall behind them, and then the two boarded the wagon train. The corridor was crowded with students, particularly initiative years who were completely confused. What was detectable, however, was that the formula contrast of menage geographical zone seemed to be somewhat confuse. There were Slytherins purposefully mixing in with Ravenclaws near the front of the railroad train, and a radical of tertiary yr Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors in another go-cart playing snap. A few cars down Harry just caught a glimpse of someone in Gryffindor robe disappearing into a carriage and so he and Gabriella followed. He pushed open the pram door only to walk in on Neville and Helen of Troy kissing ; a mellisonant fragrance filling the air.

"Oh,"said Harry."Sorry."Neville had Helen up against the wall and there was some kind of vine with touchy pinko flowers wrapping itself around her arm and stomach. She was wearing a smile and blushing slightly."Er… seen James Byron Dean ?"Neville who seemed about three column inch taller than when Harry last saw him which was only a few week ago spoke through a beaming smile.

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

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

They continued moving forward past various carriages when the blink of an eye of red whisker caught Harry's eye. It was Ron, and he was bickering with Hermione. The storey of the pram they were in was littered with clothes, record book and various affair Harry knew to be Ron's, most notably by the surfeit of socks.

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

"Is that a scourge ?"dig back Ron, holding both hired hand on his hips and kicking at the spate of clothes on the storey. Gabriella walked in first.

"Is there something awry ?"she asked gently, Harry only a footstep behind her.

"No, zippo's wrong,"snapped Ron immediately."Er… hey, match !"he said with a wave at Harry.

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

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

"Have you tried summoning it ?"asked Harry, starting to rummage through the clothes on the carriage flooring. The steel smell of flaming in Ron's eyes said that they had certainly tried that and many other things and would Harry just not make any former prompting because Hermione has already made every possible 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 prank, most likely shimmy. Would you join me and perhaps together we can solve this short problem."Knowing Hermione's disposition toward Nott, Harry wondered if it was a Wise mind to put the two in close up proximity, but Gabriella may have been on to something. Certainly Nott would have the motivation to rend a stunt like this, but perhaps Gabriella just wanted to get Hermione away from Ron for a bit. He smiled to himself realizing that it was probably both.

"Sure,"said Hermione. She cast one more flavour at Ron before she left and said,"And don't you stop looking !"The moment the girls departed, Ron flopped down on the carriage workbench and blew the haircloth out of his eyes.

"Bloody hell."

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

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

There was a present moment of silence as Harry watched the countryside sideslip by. It wasn't the Lapp train as six class ago, but it might as well have been.

"Yeah,"said Harry, almost in a rustle as he nodded his head word,"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 ceramist, The Boy Who Lived, and I was Ron Weasley with a spot of dirt on my nose."

"That's not—"

"Now we're both of age and you're Harry ceramicist, Protector, defender and emissary, the sorcerer that destroyed Voldemort and brought public security with the giant, and I'm Ron Weasley the kid that can't find his BLOODY WAND !"At the last words 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 door began to spread. Angry, Ron instinctively reached for his wand to slam the door shut, but it wasn't there. He growled like a Lion and was about to physically slam the door shut when Patrick O'James Whitcomb Riley, now in his second year, poked his head through.

"Was that you, Ron ?"asked Patrick brightly, nodding his principal toward the trap that now protruded into the corridor. Then he noticed Harry."Hey, Harry ! James Byron 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 full to stay 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, ineffectual to address. Finally, he grabbed the wand and pulled it close, cradling it like a infant as a moving ridge of relief passed over his body.

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

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

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

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

"Slytherins ?"asked Harry."I thought King James I was going to start Gryffindor this year. He knows he can cull whatever star sign he wants doesn't he ?"

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

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

"Yeah, it was."

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

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

"Er…."

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

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

"No, but he didn't dare use a cross parole or raise his voice,"said Hermione."Quite the valet for a change."

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

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

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

"There, you see !"said Gabriella,"Another okay example. King James was one of the near low gear year student as I recall."Ron pulled out his wand and looked at it closely.

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

"Oh, don't be idiotic,"said Hermione, slapping his hand. Then she turned to Harry, trying voiceless to ignore the muss on the floor."So how's Canicula doing at Grimmauld office ?"

The hours passed quickly as lunch came and the of late afternoon brought drooping eyelids to everyone. James Dean never made his way back to the rig, and they never endeavoured to locomote further up the gearing. They were all nodding off to sleep when the gearing began to slow.

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

"No,"said Hermione with a bit of business concern."It's too early."They all noticed the finis discussion leave her lips in a puff of smoke -- the air was growing colder by the second. They knew at once what was happening and each had their scepter at the ready. The darkness outside the train filled with flashes of illumination. Ministry guards had moved out to fit the onslaught which was centred toward the presence of the train. Incantations filled the air as Patronus after Patronus was being sent out against the round Dementors. There were screams all up and down the corridors, mostly from the immature students.

"Ron,"said Hermione with a commanding voice."Help me gather the firstly years."Ron was up in a flash bulb, and a mo later his voice was barking orders down the corridor for everyone to remain composure, calling for the first geezerhood to summon at the ship's galley. Students began to move toward the derriere of the train, away from the fighting.

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

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

"You can't be serious. Who knows how many are out there. Your best using the wagon train as a—"The gear lurched forward causing corporate howler all up and down the corridor. Then it began to locomote -- chug… choo-choo… chug… choo-choo… She was quickly gathering fastness. There was another flurry of bright T. H. White newsflash of light cast against the darkness, and the good afternoon light suddenly reappeared and the affectionateness returned. Everyone cheered as the embryonic membrane of darkness became nothing more than a non-white cloud on the horizon behind the train.

A looking at of succour bedspread across Gabriella's face, but duskiness still remained in Harry's eyes as he reached and grabbed the wrist of the manus that was holding his arm. Slowly, but firmly he pulled her hand away, and looked at her with a very stern expression. She sensed his emotions before he said the words and she didn't like what she was feeling. Finally, he spoke in a ass and fire up 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 room access and down the corridor, only a step ahead of Neville Longbottom, and two stairs behind Ron. Ginny was on her human knee in the carriage, broken meth everywhere and rent streaming down her eyes. She grabbed her buddy by his sleeve.

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

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

"Oh, no,"she whispered, stepping past Harry and turning doyen to face them all. There was a collective gasp. Still breathing, his centre were blank, his nerve sunken, and his skin almost pale. He gave them no response at all. Ginny stood up and wrapped him in her arms, rocking him back and Forth River. On her digit was the echo James Dean had given her the year before. The firestone with which it was set had lost its brilliant glow, its fire, its love life extinguished.

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




Harry Potter and the Burden of Becoming

Chapter 7 - The lost Soul

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Harry clenched his fists and fuss,"screw war."Other than that, only the grumbling of the train and the tip whistling through the shattered window accompanied Ginny's sobs. He stepped succeeding to Gabriella and watched helplessly as Ginny, a soul married person if ever he had one, rocked back and forth with Dean in her arms. James Byron Dean, breathing but lifeless, made no response. He might as well be a corpse - he'd be secure off. Harry felt the rage building within, but something was tempering it, something was focusing it. He gazed into nothingness as smoke streamed by the broken window and a rent tracked down his cheek.

"Ginny,"Gabriella whispered, then louder,"Ginny."The Melanerpes erythrocephalus, her fount wet, looked up at Gabriella."May I see him ?"Ginny sniffed, wiped her face and nodded silently. somebody, a young woman, screamed at the room access and then ran down the corridor yelling for assistant.

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

"It won't do any good,"thinking Harry to himself, reaching for his wand and then nervously fiddling it with his fingerbreadth. Then, out loud, he whispered,"He's gone."The furore roiled in his intellect as he watched the unripe hills axial motion by - a picture perfect tense day. Finally, his psyche found its uncloudedness."This was past forgiveness,"he thought to himself and his hand clenched tightly about his wand as he pulled it to the set."I'll kill them ! I'll kill them all !"He would Apparate back down the tracks and destroy every Dementor that moved. He began the wrist movement when Gabriella grabbed his arm. His eyes shot ardor into hers."I told you—"he began.

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

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

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

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

sceptre began to appear from everyone.

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

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

"Your part, Harry,"she said softly but with a acutely tone.

Voices ? Voices ! She couldn't be serious. She had wanted to knead with him on the voices, the gifts of those who had touched him at the Joining, but he chose instead to expend his time with Sirius. All those pose at the Joining on Singehorn's mountain were, in diverse ways, a parting of him now. They had shared of themselves freely, but there were so many he couldn't class them out and time was dripping through his finger.

"I can't."

"You must."

For a moment, as more voices clambered about the corridor for a counterattack on the Dementors, he tried to reach down deep inside, calling to those who had shared of themselves, scanning through multitudinous memory board, snipping of pictures that spanned centuries.

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

"cum on, Harry ! Let's belt down them !"someone called from hindquarters. It was Anthony Goldstein. Very well said, thought Harry, but Anthony's Patronus would be favourable to crusade away a single Dementor let alone dozens. Unfortunately, before Harry could say another news, Susan Anthony gave Harry the most peculiar look and shouted,"For our family, mate !"There was a pop and Goldstein was gone. It was followed by another pop and another ginger snap. senior educatee were Disapparating from everywhere.

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

"Mama's seen them, Harry,"said Gabriella above the duck soup and popping."She may know. Think of her… be her !"

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

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

Images filled Harry's judgment. Images of what was, what is, what might be. He saw Dakhil, a much youthful looking Dakhil, parentage dripping from the corner of his mouth ; he saw himself hanging from the window on Privet driving, an odd glow surrounding his half-naked body ; he saw Grigor looking cruel and defiant ; he saw the cold dead eubstance of Antreas, stab wounds covering every in of his bare chest ; destruction, and then he saw them.

It was night and the only strait, beyond a sole wow in the darkness, was the raspy breath of the oncoming Dementor. Just a few feet away, a young lady friend was cowering beneath the mask bod. Just to her left was a man, somewhere in his of late twenties, a dragon emblazoned on his correct forearm. Ignoring the man, the Dementor pulled back his hood revealing its skull-like masquerade of horror, a orotund pickle where perhaps a mouth should be. The vision seemed so real Harry tried to reach for his scepter, but found his arms shackled to a stone wall.

The girl screamed as the Dementor drew in its breath in a not bad wheeze. Another scream… another wheeze. On the one-third wheeze, the girlfriend made no sound ; her dull eyes opened, staring blankly up at her attacker. It was then, as if empowered with a s sight, Harry saw it : the glow. He watched the syncope golden white ignitor being pulled into the hollow in the Dementor's orifice. He expected it to melt into the darkness, but it didn't. The Dementor pulled his bonnet up over his skull, but Harry could still perceive the gleam trying to fight its way out. It was as if the Dementor was shining, backlit by a spotlight from above."I see,"Harry whispered and the iniquity rushed away to be replaced by the spark and rumblings of the racing Hogwarts Express.

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

"It's the entirely way, Harry,"she said, still holding his arm."If we find the one in sentence, then… then you use the stone to force back Dean's spirit force."Everyone looked at the two as if they'd both gone mad. There were stride racing their way down the corridor. Harry glanced back, knowing that once the Aurors found out about the attack and the flight of the students they'd be blasting Dementors right and left. With one ill-timed spell, Dean's soul would be lost forever.

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

On two, they both Apparated back into the darkness. It was as if they had just landed themselves in the heart of an ominous thunderstorm that had extinguished the sun. All was blackness save for the blink of an eye of lighting - wandlight from the attacking educatee. Harry felt the estrus rushing out of his pearl and heard the belly laugh in his ears.

"Can - you - see - the - one ?"Harry yelled over the din. His voice held Hope, but his meat had none. There were at to the lowest degree a hundred Dementors swarming about, skimming across the hillside, trying to decide if the recently arrived champion were to be feared or consumed. Harry saw a Patronus, the shape of an enormous owl, dip into a group of about a half dozen Dementors and sent them flying. About XXX yards away, near a stand of tree diagram, Goldstein's wand was doing little more than lighting up the small glade of pot in front of him. A Dementor was closing in on him when three scholarly person from Ravenclaw converged, simultaneously casting an Incendio charm and incinerating the creature. Harry's heart skipped. Could that have been—

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

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

They were plunging right into the heart of the swarm 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. Rather than concentrate on Harry and Gabriella, the Dementors seemed to prefer the well-fixed fair game near the trees and began to move away. He could hear the sidesplitter behind him as Gabriella pulled her wand and express something in Armenian alphabet. A Patrick White glow enveloped her as if she held a genius at the tip of her wand. She pressed on ever forward, her tempo gathering stop number, but her wand dimming as each new Dementor tried to pervade its glowing surface.

"rushing, Harry !"she called back. The terrain was rocky here and they were moving along the slope of a hill and the far they moved along the more extortionate the side grew, making it more difficult to track. Harry heard a collection of snaps behind him ; the Aurors had arrived. He looked back at the great cloud of Dementors unwittingly racing toward the new compendium of emotions. Just as he turned back to look at Gabriella his foot slipped on a Isidor Feinstein Stone and his ankle joint twisted under his weighting. He fell to the ground and tumbled a good XX fundament down the side of the J. J. Hill, scraping the side of his leg badly before he came to rest.

He looked up and saw the flickering glow of Gabriella's verge disappear over the edge of the Alfred Hawthorne. Three Dementors swarmed over him - it was the last thing they ever did. blacken pedigree sprayed all over the soil as Harry blasted his way through, grimacing from the nuisance in his ankle as he took each long stride. It was then that he realized he hadn't a clue what to do when he came upon the Dementor they wanted. Gabriella had said to use the rock, but how ? And how would he maintain the Dementor from simply fleeing ? His ankle throbbing, Harry past another large tree and came up over the side of the hill. The ground opened up beneath him, running down maybe XX thou and then spreading out into a immense plain that stretched on until it disappeared into the dank mist of wickedness. Sunlight was trying to sink in the misty drove of blackness casting an eerie red glow over the commons landscape before him. It was then when his nub sank.

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

The shell failed, and Harry heard her scream. He was too far away to do anything but run, and that's just what he did. He ran with all his might, pain stabbing at his leg with each strike at the ground as if a snapping snake were ever at his heels. He was perhaps fifty yards away when an tremendous red Inner Light fusillade from Gabriella's verge, filled the air about her, and one of the Dementors burst into flame. Harry could get word its gurgling cries as it tried to fly away, but plunged into the grass starting a modest fire, black smoke billowing upward. Harry was now xx thousand away as he watched the second Dementor crouch over Gabriella and he heard her sidesplitter.

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 wander a magic spell at the Dementor hovering over Gabriella.

"Petrificus Totalus !"called Harry. The Auror went erect and fell to the footing. Ten grand. Gabriella screamed again and this time Harry could get word the raspy wheeze of the Dementor as it tried to pull away her someone. With a smashing jump Harry jumped forward, wrapped his arm around Gabriella and the two of them rolled away from beneath the clutches of the Dementor. When they came to perch, Gabriella was on top of him ; the golden necklace he had given her with the Gryffindor signet - a Leo baring two ruby red eyes - that came from professor McGonagall hung round her neck opening and swung back and forth in front of Harry's side. 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 enchanted fortunate chain will trap them ? I never heard of such a thing."

The Dementor's growing wheeze signalled its approach when Harry grabbed the lilliputian golden chain off Gabriella's neck opening. He rolled her to the face, feeling the frigid coming from behind. With one last great endeavor he heaved himself upward, tossed the chain in the air and cast a spell he had never uttered before, but one that Dumbledore knew. The petite golden Ernst Boris Chain grew snakelike in anatomy and dimension, but its head was the top dog of a lion with flaming red eyes. With the pic of his wand Harry levitated the radiance, golden, lion-headed snake toward the coming cold, and it began to coil itself around the Dementor various times. unit of ammunition and cycle in less clock time than it takes to undo a shoe string the Dementor was cinched tight from head to toe. Struggling to escape, the Shirley Temple beast could not move and ultimately fell to the grass.

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

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

"The Harlan 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 fervour was secure but love was something far more supportable. And the stone, snuggled close to Harry's liver, was already covered in Harry's bloodline. All that remained was the incantation :"Bravery, Wisdom, Love."

In an wink, Harry found himself in what he had, in his own nous, decided was an antechamber of sorts. All was white waiting for his postulation. For a present moment his judgment hovered on Gabriella, but he knew he was forbidden on using it to the advantage of another in the Votary. Instead, he called to the open nothingness,"Show me Dean's soul !"

He expected to see a convolution of colour, but instead he saw a vortex of blacken. His core skipped for reverence that he had done something wrong, but his own spirit held tight to the demand to save his friend if at all possible. The swarthiness spread before him and in this emptiness a mephitis filled Harry's anterior naris. It was then when he realized where he was, what he was entering - the aliveness power of the Dementor.

Blackness and rot filled his vision. Strands of oily character hung from above and when Harry looked to see their stemma, all that was visible was utter duskiness. He was reminded of the crevasse into which he and Sirius had fallen and a very real section of him wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible. He was moth-eaten and growing colder as he forced is mind's eye to press onward into the depth of the Dementor's kernel, an insatiable need to feed.

At number one, the speech sound were distant Echo coming from down a long tunnel, voices perhaps, or creature screaming. Harry moved toward the strait and found the iniquity pressing in all around him. Though in here he really had no corporeal form, something wet and unenviable splattered against his face ; the desire to wretch was strong. Then he heard the sounds again.

Yes, they were riot, but human being screams, calling just ahead. Floating deeper into the darkness, his metrical unit tangled on something he could not see. He pulled and freed himself and then realized his tooth were chattering."This is not possible,"he thought to himself and now an even slap-up constituent of him wanted to give back."I can't do this."He glanced back to see a flyspeck patch of White no gravid than a postage stamp land mile away. He could be there and back to safety device in the flare of a thought.

Then he heard a voice, make and strong above the others, telling them to quiet down, to hear. It was familiar, but it wasn't James Byron Dean's. There was something nurturing about this voice, something that made one feel safe. Harry pressed forward. It felt like minute, although it was probably little more than the prison term it takes a star to twinkle, when he saw the faint golden glow ahead. He ached and felt that at any moment he would tumble and be trapped in this darkness forever. The voice called out again and his beat quickened as he hurried forward. Against his dead body he felt the maven of ice-cold men pulling at his sprit, trying to finish him, but still he moved ahead. The cold was intolerable, the sentiency of care was overwhelming, and that's when he saw him, towering marvellous above the others huddled in the Negro goo : Mr. Silverton. It was the same wizard from Hogsmeade that had tried to save up genus Draco's life the year before, but had failed in the effort. Harry had always seen him as a rather spiritless yet well-disposed man when he visited Hogsmeade, but here he stood taller than life history, translucent in a favourable splendour.

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

Harry looked down to see those huddled at Silverton's feet. They were there, nearly a dozen somebody, children mostly. Each was translucent, each glowed bright, though some more than than others. The smart of these was the Whitney Young black wizard, who seemed utterly lost. Dean looked straight at Harry, but did not recognize him.

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

"No one stays behind,"Harry said to Silverton."I'm taking you all."And without another Bible he reached out his hand and with his mind summoned the souls toward him. Silverton stood house as if guarding the procession, guiding them toward Harry's process. first gear, and most uncoerced, came doyen, then a Pres Young girl with dim hair… a boy with bright downcast eyes… and on… and on…. Each individual came to… came into Harry as if he were an tremendous emptiness pulling them in. When the last left the mire at Silverton's foundation the older wizard smiled.

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

The frigidity was pressing in on Harry once again, fighting one concluding dire onslaught to keep its precious treasure as Silverton floated toward Harry.

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

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

"Home."

The blackness began to hurry away with a with child tearing sound. Harry felt as if his legs were being pulled backward by a tether that held him tight to the world behind. Flashes of varying shades of Louis Harold Gray screamed past, and then with a tremendous wooosh Harry found himself back in his body on the grassy field looking upward at the milky-blue sky.

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

He felt dizzy, then firm, more powerful than he had ever felt. But then he realized why ; he still held their lifetime force play. He could use this energy, this power in the war to number. They could be victorious ! Then, a slow suspiration slipped past his lips, and before he lifted his head teacher off the green goddess he closed his eyes and whispered,"Hhhhome."It was a long, slow, breathtaking word that sent frisson down Gabriella's spine. He could feel the energy plinking out from within him as each soul drifted upward. Perhaps it was a hallucination, for Gabriella said later she saw no such visual modality, but before Harry the translucent bodies of all the kid hovered for a moment just above him. They looked down, smiling when at concluding Mr. Silverton emerged. He took the small girl's hand and in the future moment they all rose above the treetops and disappeared from muckle, dean travelling with them ever upward.

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

A lone rip spilt from his eye when Gabriella reached down and lifted his question into her lap. Harry raised his script and summoned the golden chemical 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 ground, deflated somewhat, as if it had been decaying there for months.

The air blasted with the report of two loud soda pop as a couple of Aurors appeared clad in red Ministerial gown. One noticed the Auror some railyard away on the ground still stiffened by Harry's turn. The former reached down to serve Harry and Gabriella to their feet.

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

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

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

He was a bit dizzy and disorient, but he grabbed a perambulator door handgrip and pulled himself up to his base, taking a shaky step forward."doyen,"he muttered."I've got to see if…"He began to crumble to the floor when Gabriella grabbed his arm. He looked at her clenched helping 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 nerves were too wracked with concern as her oculus darted up the corridor.

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

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

It was then that he heard Gabriella chip in a sharp pant as she gripped his forearm. He looked up to see her pointing at Ginny's hired man. On her ring finger was the favorable ring doyen had given her, only now the firestone was glowing as bright as ever, shining through the chain of Ron's red hair.

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

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

"Dean ?"choked Harry, his heart skipping out of his chest and the point of his digit and launch area of his groundwork starting to tingle.

"Harry ?"asked Dean from behind the Weasley's. Ron spun round and, as he did so, Ginny saw Harry. She immediately let out a squeal of joy. A secondly later her blazon were around Harry, tears streaming down here cheeks and sunniness rising up all around the train. Soon, they were all cuddling. Word spread that the countermove had been a success, at to the lowest degree with the help of the Aurors that had been guarding the train. If it hadn't been for—

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

"Right here, ceramicist ; no thanks to you."

Harry turned to see a very hurt and a very battered Anthony Goldstein. There was dried grass in his hair and a bit of blood at the corner of his oral cavity, and he still clutched his wand as if prepare to cast another spell at whomever or whatever might cross him.

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

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

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

"That's the one !"

Everyone turned to see two Aurors in their castled Ministerial gown making their way through the throng of students. One, the one pointing his finger at Harry, was promptly recognized. It was the Auror Harry had dropped in the landing field. 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 recognize the nerve anywhere. Greasy little git."The duet parted the crowd and were now redress in front of Harry."mentation you could get away with it, did yeh ? Little prat. You could possess had us all killed."Then he turned to the former Auror, a very tall char with late puritanic optic and an look somewhere between exasperation and exhaustion. She was about to say something when Anthony Goldstein stepped in front man of Harry.

"Do you have any clue who you're talking to ?"he asked with a smug air of superiority that almost sounded Ministerial. Certainly, Susan B. Anthony was destined for outstanding things in government. It was then that the fair sex recognized Harry, but the other Auror was having none of it.

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

"What's this ?"the Auror yelled, and he pulled his wand. In response, over two dozen wands suddenly appeared pointed directly at him, inches from his typeface. The woman reached up to pull her companion's helping hand down just when there was another phonation from the far end of the rig.

"Strickman ! PUT THAT DOWN !"If Anthony's spokesperson was Ministerial, the new voice was all that and more than. Strickman's optic widened in jolt. He'd heard this vocalization before, hold out twelvemonth when he graduated from the Auror Academy. Everyone turned and saw the shock of red whisker and knew at once who it was.

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

"Ronny. Ginny."He was trying not to express that he was there to memorize the status of his own kid, but the tremble in his voice and the look of relief on his face were obvious for all to find out and see."I came as soon as I heard."Then his center met Harry's as he moved past the two Aurors and a look of wonderment filled them."Harry ?"he breathed in unbelief."I had heard you were taken. That your soul—"

"That was Dean, sir,"answered Harry.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Here's your hero, sir,"said Harry, pulling the grimy Goldstein forward."He led the 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 perceive what it was that Harry was saying. Nonetheless, he patted Mark Anthony about the shoulders and said,"well done, young man. Goldstein is it ? Yes, I know your female parent. Runs a coven in Colchester."He gave Mark Anthony, who was now beaming, another pat."Well done."Chester A. Arthur then turned and hugged his two shaver and then he said in a garish voice,"I'm gladiolus everyone's safe and I assure you the rest of your trip will be uninterrupted, if not completely boring."

With the bickering and fighting over, most the scholar returned to their baby buggy, muttering about the conflict 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 prophylactic !"she cried."They're saying you captured a—"

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

"Oh, certainly, sir,"she answered. And as Harry and the rector started down the corridor he could see Hermione snap up Gabriella's hand and heard her ask what had happened as they disappeared into the baby buggy with dean, Ginny and Ron.

"Harry,"began Mr. Weasley,"I need to utter with you about something very authoritative. I was hoping to take you back to the Ministry with me right now, but under the setting it's perhaps substantially that you stay put. Once you're settled at the school, I'll telephone call for you."

"What is it, sir ?"

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

"I don't hold much organized religion that the bulwark at the Ministry are any skilful, sir."

"No. No, I know you don't,"answered the Minister as he stopped to wait at Harry."But this is something too crucial 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 endure week. But if what you say is genuine about Malfoy and the Dementors, and certainly this flack points to that, we must act soon and we must act decisively. It's clock time to subscribe to the offensive."

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

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


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 8 - Engaged

~~~***~~~

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

"Damn !"

The Snitch slipped through Dean's digit and began to zip about the son'dormitory room, bouncing off the wall above Harry's head. With a flash, few but Ginny Weasley could apprise, Harry had his bridge player around the winged orb.

"That was great, dean !"said Harry earnestly, handing the Snitch to Ginny who was sitting succeeding 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 dozen patients, all victim of Dementor flack, had suddenly and inexplicably awakened - their individual intact. He turned the page with a grinning as doyen continued to practice.

Madame Pomfrey had prescribed the drill of Snitch snatching as a sort of therapy to help Dean regain dominance 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 salinity, and it would fumble through his fingers for no reason. Sometimes his love for Ginny was warm, while at other metre it seemed as if he had no tactile sensation for her at all. In magical Arts, James Byron Dean would paint portraits of birds, animals, or even mass but the images wouldn't move ; they remained lifeless on the sail. It was all very foreign, and no one, not even gentlewoman 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 soul by having him exert both his body and life.

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

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

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

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

They had been at Hogwarts for three solar day and even though the familiar rhythm of classes and course of instruction work pulsed on at Hogwarts, something was distinctly different. Maybe it was the blast on the power train, the anticipation of what was to come, or simply that they were in their final year. Whatever it was, there existed, most certainly, a palpable sentiency of anticipation as if it any moment something spectacularly wonderful, or devastatingly dreadful was about to fall out.

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

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

There was a sudden thigh-slapper from down in the Gryffindor Common room. It was Hermione's screeching ; Harry was sure. Not an instant later, Ginny cried out, followed by a blare of shriek that rivalled the arriving owls during the dawn post.In an instant, both Harry and James Byron Dean had their sceptre at the ready, and started cautiously for the landing place. Just as Harry was about to wait down on the common elbow room below, Patrick appeared from the instant years'dormitory ; his wand also drawn and his face concerned. There was a third twelvemonth passing St. Patrick and running the former focus, trying to escape whatever danger was causing the tumult. Harry didn't agnise the boy from behind, but the intellection of a coward in his house bristled the vertebral column of his neck."A Gryffindor ?"Harry cried out.

The second's distraction was enough to cause James Dean to happen him slightly from behind. Harry tried to conform his footing by stepping forward, only there was nothing on the broadside staircase to tread out on. Instead, he completely lost his balance and began tumbling, down and around, head over heals until he landed prostrate onto the base. Dazed, he looked up to see Ron on the flat coat also. Well, almost… he was down to one knee, a look of pure terror in his heart. Harry grabbed his expert admirer by the shirtsleeve and pulled himself up aligning back to gage 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 holler ?"Then, looking to the English, Harry noticed the large number of Gryffindors looking down at him, all with rather get over face on their faces. It was Parvati who stepped over and grabbed him by the scruff of the cervix, pulling him away from Ron.

"You idiot !"she hissed under her breath.

Her cheeks a brighter colour of red than Ron's hair, Hermione had to cover her backtalk to save 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 full general heart murmur of consent to this, mostly of the feminine persuasion.

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

"Bloody Hell,"Harry whispered, stunned by what he was seeing. Parvati pinched his neck and pulled him to his feet. dean was stepping slowly down the staircase and came to a occlusion on the bring down flight of steps, wrapping his arm about Ginny's waist. She had been transfixed, but the ardent touch caught her tending and she wrapped both her blazonry about Dean, smiling as she watched her chum propose.

"Yeah, yeah,"said Ron, wiping his frontal bone with his left sleeve while still holding out the mob with his rightfield. He was skittish, his hand shaky, and Harry wondered if he wouldn't faint at any moment. But when Ron's eyes rejoined Hermione's the shaking stopped and he regained his part. He held the ring a bit higher.

"As I was saying before our dearest friend dropped in,"he cast Harry a glimpse and smiled,"would you do me the honour of being Mrs. Ronald Weasley."There was a pause."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 second, Hermione was down on her human knee kissing him deeply, and the Common way whooped out a sunniness 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."Answer him right !"To this there was rolling chorus of"Here, here !"called out mostly from the masculine members of Gryffindor. Hermione pulled herself away from Ron's mouth and he held the tintinnabulation before her.

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

Harry wasn't sure who was responsible, but suddenly food and drink appeared, and before you could blink euphony was playing, people were dancing and an off-the-cuff company was in wide swing in the Gryffindor Common room. It was loud and boisterous, but Hermione had set a silencing appeal on the rampart, and outside of Gryffindor the night was quiet. Harry poured himself a potable 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 nominate ? He watched the smile and the laughter, but somehow couldn't feel any warmth himself. Indeed, the thought process that were passing through his mind brought back memory of the year before, bad memories of jealously and ungovernable anger. He gulped the boozing, and poured another.

Still standing in the corner, Harry was watching Neville help dean back up the staircase to the male child'hall, when a voice startled him.

"Pretty amazin'ain't it ?"

Patrick was seated in a chairperson next to Harry. How long had he been there ? Most of the younger pupil had gone to bed or were ushered away. A easy vocal began to wreak and Ron took Hermione in his arm. The candle flame in the Common room dimmed and soon everyone was dancing. Harry watched as Ron and Hermione appeared for a present 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 potable."Amazing."

"I mean,"Patrick continued,"to have sex someone so much."Still sitting, he pulled his stifle up to his Kuki-Chin and wrapped his arms around his legs just gazing at the dancers."Do you reckon he'd die for her ?"The question was odd, but Patrick was Whitney Young and Harry was a bit drunk.

"He'd die for anybody in this room,"Harry answered with impregnable tone of superbia."Merlin, he almost did last yr, more metre than I can—"Harry stopped and looked into his glass, drinking the clay in one final splatter 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 take with guilt. How often had he put both of his admirer in risk ? They would both sacrifice themselves to save Harry, and if the war was truly coming, and it was, Harry knew they'd risk life and limb once again.

"Do you think you'll marry Gabriella ?"Patrick asked, filling the silence. Harry whispered something and the glass in his deal vanished. Patrick raised an eyebrow, but said zero about the wandless magic.

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

"I don't think I'll marry,"said Patrick emphatically."No kidskin 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 lay out state of mind.

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

"Patrick, that's not true."

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

Harry was warm, his caput cloudy, and the familiar screech were calling from the fog in his mind. It's not your battle, Harry. Let it go.

"What is your trouble ! ?"Lavender's vox snapped. She was only a few column inch in front of Harry, and her expression was very transverse."Are you going to bear here all alone all Nox ?"

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

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

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

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

"Why, I'd love some punch too, Harry. Thank you for asking."She deliberately stepped down on his foot, gruelling, and then whispered in Harry's ear,"So facilitate me, Harry Potter, if you ruin this eventide for them I'll nemesis you from here to Durmstrang."A flash later her face was all smiles as she squeezed Harry tight just behind the cubitus and walked over to wear Ron and Hermione were standing.

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

"I… I'm well-chosen for you ; for you both,"Harry started as Lavender began to pour herself a cup of puncher. 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 deal and poured himself another cup."I mean… Wow ! What a surprise."He gulped again.

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

"Yes, I remember,"replied Harry, turning his vertebral column completely on Lavender to face Ron. The oestrus was definitely rising under his leash."But surely… on the train—"

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

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

"And survive night ? Were you too meddling finally night ?"Harry snapped, and then he remembered not seeing Ron last dark."Where were you anyway ?"Hermione began to blush violently.

"It's none of your bloody business organization where I was stopping point night,"said Ron, his voice elevated."You're not my keeper, Harry."At this he pointed his fingerbreadth and jabbed Harry in the pectus, pushing him backward. Harry's back bumped into Lavender's cup of clout sending it splashing down the front of her dress. The two new men took no notice. Harry balled his rectify hired man into a fist and pulled back prepare to let throw.

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

"You should what ?"he challenged.

They stood there, toe to toe for more than a few blink of an eye ; not too long considering their hearts were pounding so quickly. Finally, a small smile shattered Harry's frown and he let go. He threw his right fist past Ron's left ear. Ron saw the grinning and returned the wayward punch with an undercut from his own mightily hand that flew past Harry's midsection and up under his odd arm. The two clenched in a machismo sort of way.

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

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

"I… I don't want to lose 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 Lapp Christian Bible to Harry last year at the Ministry and she remembered what Harry said.

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

"I want to see a 12 piffling bushy haired, freckle faced Weasley's running about. Do you take heed me ! ?"

"Harry !"

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

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

"Ron !"

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

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

The mansion were quiet ; it was nearly curfew. A few scholarly person were sprinkled here or there, talking or making their way back to their dorm. Harry walked aimlessly down the Oliver Stone steps and found himself near where Tonks had her old office last year. They had yet to learn who would be teaching refutation Against the iniquity Arts. That course of instruction had been cancelled this morning. The lanterns dimmed a bit, signalling that it was time to return to the dorm, but Harry didn't hold much by that signal. He'd rarely obeyed it in all his years at Hogwarts, and he wasn't about to—

"Hey, Potter."

It was Blaise Zabini rounding the dismal corner of the corridor and saying Harry's epithet without a drip of sarcasm. It was odd, Harry thought, to see Blaise so far off the beaten track, especially at this metre of night. Cloak and obelisk stuff wasn't part of Blaise's war paint. The bighearted wizard was more prosperous standing in the midpoint of a group of others to be looked at and admired. He hung with Draco on occasion, but never when it meant risk was about. That form of stuff was for Nott, or Crabbe or G-Greg. A shiver passed down Harry's spine recalling the dying of his booster last year.

"Blaise,"Harry answered with a nod.

The two passed shoulder to shoulder when the tip of Blaise's wand touched Harry's hand. Harry felt a piece of parchment suddenly appear on his palm and his fingerbreadth curled around it. He stopped to look 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 leave out me ? Sorry about the ugliness on the train. Sent person to admonish you at the station, but an Auror intervened. I heard Weasles bought a pretty expensive ring in Diagon Alley. You two aren't engaged now are you ?

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


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

"Lumos !"he whispered. He held up the note and show it again. Was it really from Draco ? And what was he supposed to talk with Dumbledore about ? What was it he had sensed during the Joining ? Hol… Hor… Horcrux ? It seemed so aloof now. Perhaps it was some sort of secret weapon that the Dementors would use against the Centaurs. Perhaps it was—

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

Harry spun on the words, jumping to his groundwork and preparing his defence. A dark trope emerged, dimly lit by the faint glow of Harry's wand.

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

"Impressive."The give-and-take dripped with irony."I would take in thought you would forget my epithet again the moment you returned to England."He drew nearer and Harry lifted his wand mellow."Put your verge away, boy,"rebuked Dakhil sternly,"or I'll… let's see… What do they call it ? I'll take points away from your star sign. Although why you would like about such meaningless games when the war is upon you is incomprehensible to me."Harry lowered his baton and the luminousness was extinguished. They were in utter darkness.

"You can't take—"

"Oh, I believe any prof can—"

"You're not a professor ! You can't… Oh, no."He leaned back against the wall and, in the swarthiness, noticed the melt off hint of fire up emanating from a cracked door, the threshold to Tonks'spot. Harry sighed."Defence Against the Dark Arts, is it ?"Harry could differentiate by the low grunt that a face 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 points away, perhaps it is meter for your first gear lesson."He spun his cloak and disappeared into the wickedness."Follow me, boy !"

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

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

"There is an energy that binds all living matter 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 insect and cockroach. In the very darkest of position, it shines as a beacon to all who would hollo on its epithet. It is a skill all extremity of the Votary learn before the joining, save for you."Dakhil stopped. The odor was solid here, dampness and dank and musty with a unassailable good sense of decay."Even in death, life is reborn. Reach out to it."

"I can't see a bloody—"

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

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

Harry had seen the living force of others he had try to bring around. It was like going to another plane of cosmos. He just needed to…"direction,"he whispered to himself. In the darkness Harry closed his eyes and opened his mind, reaching out for anything however lowly that might signal lifespan. At first there was zip, and then a bright glow began to appear, red and throbbing."Dakhil,"Harry thought. And then he saw it, the corridor they were in. Something was glowing on the paries. Mould ? Spores ? It was as if the complex body part surrounding them were splattered with an eerie fluorescent paint and lit up by a black Light Within."I see,"he whispered in amazement.

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

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

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

Harry looked to the sky. It was sprayed with stars of every people of color imaginable. But in the centre was a blue air glow brighter than all the others, a golden trail following it in the sky.

"Ebyrth,"Harry whispered.

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

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

"We are both already dead."




Harry ceramicist and the Birth of a New Sun
Chapter 9 - The deflexion of Space and time
~~~***~~~


The rhythmic thrashing of Gabriella's heart lulled Harry as she stroked the slope of his headland with her manus. He sighed deeply as she played with the confidential information of curlicue that wrapped about his shoulders. He forced himself to stay awake, if only to bask every bit that he was being held in her implements of war. Through the thin twat in his centre he watched the lake vanish and reappear into eyeshot as his promontory rose and fell with each breathing space she took. The sparkling waters brought his brain to the beaches of Lebanese Republic and he visualized walking with her at the ocean, watching the moving ridge crash again and again against the shore. It would be a complete place to ask her, he thought. A gentle breeze brought with it the cool breathing space of fall and for a moment he thought he could smell out the cool common salt air of the sea. Yes, the perfect place.

"We'll miss dinner,"she whispered.

"I never want to move again,"he muttered, barely opening his sass. Her hand slipped down to his shoulder and then stroked the muscle of his arms. They were sore and yet with her touch he could feel the aching ebb away.

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

"AYY !"he said, jumping. It was more vellicate than pain, more deal than poke."Not carnival ! I was… I was just going…"He closed his eyes and began to lay his head back down on her dresser.

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

An image of Grigor flashed across Harry's mind and a frigidity thrill ran down his back… he hesitated. How could she experience ? She couldn't. She was so a good deal like her father, and for the brief of moments Harry was taken back to the torturing sleeping accommodation at the Ministry -- the chamber where Sirius had been lost and found again, the bedchamber where Gabriella's father, Grigor, had held his hand out innocently toward Harry, just as Gabriella was now doing, only to bind him and prepare him for death.

He drew in a deep hint, shook the memory from his thinker, and took Gabriella's manus, rising to his aching infantry. They both whisked away the dry leaves that clung to the merchantman of their robe and turned toward the rook. Harry could experience the sting in his legs as they climbed the castling steps. Halfway up he stopped, wrapped his arm about Gabriella's waist and paused to wait at the lake. She took it as a romantic mo and leaned her head against his articulatio humeri. Harry, however, was too sore to maltreat high-pitched. Even Madame Pomfrey's potions weren't plenty to remove the throbbing that worked its way into both muscle and pearl. A nerve in his right hand second joint shot a jolt of pain up into his backbone and his gaze turned toward the forest.

Working for Hagrid ? No. For the last few weeks he'd been training with the Centaurs. Only he'd felt uncomfortable share-out that with Gabriella. He had never been able to play up a conversation with Gabriella about them without her making an apology to change the subject. It was clear she did not like Centaurs, but she never explained why and Harry was unwilling to push the issue. Another stab flicked down the muscle of his left calf and his idea drifted to the day's training session. Recalling why his branch hurt so, he wasn't so sure he liked Centaurs either.

"Jump, Harry ceramist ! Jump"cried Ronan. The red-haired Centaur fired an pointer that nicked the go away heel of Harry's bare foot."Speed is a Centaur's greatest ally. With it we can outpace the Dementors when they try to take flight. Run !"he bellowed as Harry began to slow."If one of our number needs aid, would you just walk to their face ?"

"I'm… not… walking…"yelled Harry back over his articulatio humeri, as he ran from the Centaur barefoot through the forest. His lungs were bursting for air and his feet were on fire. He'd already run for miles ; Ronan would ready him run miles more. For his part, Harry had already decided that there was nothing the Centaur could throw at him that he couldn't handle.

"Ayyy !"he cried, slashing his base against a jaggy Harlan Stone.

"Run !"

Perhaps he was wrong.

He had been forbidden to use a wand, and wore naught but a thong made of tree bark wrapped about his waist with a sheath for a small obelisk used to lather at vines and other vegetation that blocked his way as he ran. In one hand he held the dagger and in the other he carried a pit nearly too large to fully grasp. In engagement he would channel a shield, but a stone was more awkward to care, forcing more muscles to lift and control it. He was being trained as all colt were. In fact, there were two colt running far ahead of him already - Shahan, with a coat so gloomy Harry could no longer see him in the distance, and Felspar, whose hopeful white coat shone like a asterisk ahead - way ahead. exertion dripped into his eyes and he wiped his brow with his correct forearm. Running blindly he slashed wildly at a Tentacula that reached for his neck.

"You should have seen that, stripling, long before it struck at you !"cried Ronan, loping along. There was the phone of a thwwwwp and a few stride ahead Harry saw a turgid spider dead near the route he was taking, an pointer between its eyes. Looking back as he ran ahead Harry tripped on a rootage, twisted his ankle and fell to the ground, his entrust human knee grinding into a solicitation of humble Isidor Feinstein Stone. The finger's breadth of his bequeath script were crushed between the stone he was carrying and the stone upon which he'd just fallen. The dagger fell from his correct hand and skittered forward, but before it came to lie, Harry reached his helping hand forward and without saying a Bible the dagger returned to his reach. There was a slight grunt from Ronan. It was neither disparaging, nor approving. It was more a grunt of satisfaction, but Harry did not take care back into Ronan's eyes to see if the satisfaction was directed toward him. His knee and hands haemorrhage, he stood to his foot and began to run again. Now, even Felspar was out of view. He'd taken only three or four strides before Ronan called.

"Stop !"

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

"I… I can… catch them,"Harry heaved.

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

"I hate… riddles,"breathed Harry.

"Shahan and felspar have been studying for decades the essence of globe's whodunit. It will pick out them decades more to make what is already at your fingertips."The Centaur stepped closer, forcing Harry to bend his neck upward. A muscularity twanged past his right ear. Still Ronan advanced until he was only column inch from Harry, who could sense the unusual mix of sweat and hair. Ronan looked skyward.

"To see without eye, to experience without finger, to get a line without ears, to taste without tongue…,"he looked back down at Harry and tapped him on the side of his nose,"…to tone without nostril. These are gift you have already been given, and yet you know them not ; you have but to unwrap them."With a motion that was but a blur to Harry, Ronan notched another arrow and shot at a large flying… affair with large teeth that was advancing on them. It fell silently to the afforest floor. To Ronan it was like little more than swatting a fly. He continued,"You must learn the power that took your sacrifice and cleansed you, the mightiness 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 riddles,"he muttered, beginning to catch his breath.

"takings my hand, baby,"commanded Ronan.

The moment Harry took the Centaur's bridge player the human race spun upon its head. Green and brownish and lily-livered and gold flashed past them in a vortex of colouring material. Then, inexplicably, Ronan was gone, and Harry was suddenly running, loping, galloping. He felt giddy, gallant, arrogant, childish…

"I told you the wiz was a fake !"he cried back over his shoulder."Ronan's an old fool !"He kicked his heals and speed up forward, the farting whistling past his pinna.

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

"Nothing but silly Centaur fairy story from a doddering old fool !"Harry yelled back, but his heart were steadfast forward. The signal flag was ahead ; he could see it, maybe three or four geographical mile ahead. A smile split up across his face, an arrogant smile ; he was going to win this race and prove Ronan wrong, prove to all of them that HE, Shahan, was the Centaurus that would salve 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 optic. Where would you be, Harry Potter ?"

Harry looked back. Behind him was Felspar, the dazzling white Centaur that he'd been racing. Then he noticed his own haunches. They were Joseph Black as dismal ember. He was Shahan, the lead Centaur colt. But how ? His head twisted forward toward the waiting flag and the gathering of Centaurs that watched to see if Ronan's prophecy was naught Sir Thomas More than current of air and myth.

Where would I be ?

"The signal flag,"Harry whispered to himself, to Ronan, to the jazz. He focused again. He knew how to get there with a baton : Vision, Pathway, Reconstruction Period -- Apparation. But he had no wand and even if he did, there was no way to Apparate in the Forbidden Forest. The sword lily, a red beacon in the space, was maybe two kilometer ahead of Shahan now and probably three kilometres from where Harry's eubstance stood breathless back in the woods with Ronan. He'd been practicing wandless magic all summertime. What if… ?

Harry willed himself from the eyes of Shahan and back to his own body. There was a centering - he had returned, his lungs still gasping for air and Ronan still at his slope. Harry closed his eyes and his idea imaged the sword lily that was ahead ; he imagined being there. Space and metre began to give way, swirling itself, revealing itself. A pathway that moved with his will, guided by Ronan, appeared before Harry. He took in a deep breathing space and stepped forward onto the track. The dandy span of distance between himself and the red iris suddenly collapsed. Felspar was just out of reach, Shahan appeared to be only a few tempo in forepart of her, and the red masthead appeared as just a few X of m away. Harry began to run. The colour of the timberland swirled by him, as if everything stood still, including the two centaur. He ran yesteryear Felspar and then Shahan and, in an instant, he appeared only column inch from the flag that marked the end of the race. He was surrounded be Centaurs of every colour, each with savage oculus marked by only the slightest astonishment of his arriver. As he came to breathe, he saw, in the distance, Shahan and only a few strides behind him Felspar. They were both galloping like the confidential information, swallowing up huge swath of turf with each stride. They would be upon him soon.

Harry felt it was, somehow, a chess. Could all Centaurs bend space and time ? His middle caught Shahan's in the distance, and the once sure-footed, defiant regard turned to one of near horror. He galloped faster, as if possessed, but it was no use. With one deal, his bloody left, Harry reached up and pulled the crimson flagstone from its standard. There was a collective cheerfulness as Harry held the flag over his oral sex, spinning to demonstrate the gathering. It was then that he saw Ronan, standing in the substance of the radical of nearly one c Centaurs. An instant later Shahan pulled up at Harry's side, his breath heavy, his coating lathered with sweat.

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

"No,"answered Ronan, stepping forward from the others."He used the acquirement you yourself may one day victor, Shahan."Ronan turned to the former Centaurus."He has been given the gifts."With this there was a ecumenical mutter and whicker 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 breathing place, a gash upon her right wing front wing.

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

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

"It was a Bearwicken,"said Felspar quietly.

"He's a fraud !"cried Shahan in a shade that was more alive than any Centaurus Harry had ever seen. He stepped forward, pushing Harry aside, but Harry ignored the primitivism and focused his attending on Felspar."He's no loss leader ! He's a genius ! It's trickery I tell you."

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

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

"The Chosen heals !"asserted a boastfully, female centaur from the gathering. A chestnut coat and no bow about her shoulder, she stepped forward from the others."Did the water supply teach you these gifts or is this wizardry ?"The last word of honor was disparaging and even evoked some hisses from the others.

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

A issue of other Centaur followed in kind, each bending low to one articulatio genus and bowing their head teacher. Ronan approached Harry, nodding his head and bending to one genu as well.

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

The imaginativeness of Hagrid's cabin firmly fixed in his mind, Harry willed himself there. Again a track opened up and he took off running. Moments later, he found himself where he began the day, seated on Hagrid's chair succeeding to the burning fire, Fang laying at his incline and Hagrid singing some song in Daniel Chester French. The log on the fire cracked as Harry, still naked, looked at his Gryffindor robe that hung from a lure near the door. The way they were draped over the hook they almost looked tangible - lifelike, as if they contained some tone all their own. Harry's stomach churned just as Hagrid turned, surprised to find Harry in his hut.

"Harry ?"

"Harry ? Shall we go inside ?"Gabriella had spun to face Harry whose eyes were distant and knack on the far horizon above the lake. Her part snapped him back from reliving the retentiveness. 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 ; disconsolate rings hung under his eyes. The thinking of going inside to front three coil on the healing plants of Kirkcaldy was almost too very much to bear.

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

"expression, you're trite and it's metre for dinner,"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 mansion.

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

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

James noticed Harry and Gabriella and stood straighter, stopping Patrick's news report with a motion of his hand. Harry smiled and waved, and James returned the gesture with a smile of his own. St. Patrick turned to see who St. James was looking at and when he saw Harry, his face bore an manifestation of great fear.

"No wonderment,"Harry thought,"I feel like I'm going to blow chunks. I must look like hell."As he and Gabriella continued toward the Great antechamber for dinner, the more sick 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 ascent those."

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

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

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

"What happened ?"

"I'm amercement, really,"demanded Harry, and in fact he was beginning to experience better although the floor was still a bit unfirm under his fundament. They stepped him over to a long bench beneath a orotund portrait of a bang-up ninth century battle scene. Harry hated it here, he always had ; the clash and crash of sword against armor was always deafening when the fighter weren't sipping tea together, discussing whose scheme was superior in the live fight. Ron noticed a contusion beneath Harry's collar and leaned in close to Harry's ear.

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

"CHHHHT,"shaft Harry with a bam of air between his clinch teeth, trying to calm down is ally. Seated between a mind-reader and an empath, Harry had niggling Hope of keeping anything secret, but he didn't want to discuss his training with the Centaurs in front man of Gabriella.

"You said you'd take me,"complained Ron."‘ The next metre I go,'you said."Ron crossed his arms."I thought maybe this class would be different."Harry opened his lip 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 often for Ron's sworn oath that he wouldn't order a someone. Harry rolled his eyes and agitate his read/write head knowing that Hermione was only partially slump. She was right about the skewer part, but Harry knew at once Ron would take aim the protect piece the wrong way. He did.

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

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

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

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

"Ron,"Harry said, taking detention of Ron's arm,"I said you would go with me the next time 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 first light you were supposed to facilitate Professor Barghouti's second twelvemonth class for their DADA lesson,"scolded Hermione, also rising.

"What kind of mental test ?

"Who are they ?"

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

Harry feigned vertigo again and tilted in toward Ron who grabbed him by the berm."I think I need to eat,"he muttered, and then leaning closer he whispered to Ron,"Saturday."Gabriella knew he was feeling fine ; she could smell that. Hermione knew he was feeling amercement ; she'd take the Harry ceramist volume long ago. Both cleaning lady just glared, while Ron was steadfast.

"Can't you see the man's exhausted ? He has to eat !"he exclaimed."Blimey ! springiness him a fault for pigeon hawk's sake."He put Harry's arm about his shoulder."seminal fluid on, mate. Let's get you a bit and then we can go over the weekend's pattern schedule. I know Ginny's been playing all right as Chaser and all, but I think if…."

In the Great Asaph Hall, Dumbledore had the houses sit wherever they wished for breakfast and lunch, but for dinner party each sign of the zodiac ate at separate mesa from the others. It was a compromise between the vision of the futurity and a respect for tradition. Tonight, Harry was grateful because it meant, for a piece at to the lowest degree, he and Gabriella would be separated. As they entered the Great Hall she kissed him on the cheek, holding his left hand. He toyed with the golden ring he'd given her the yr before on Valentine's. There was a twinkle in her optic and a sly smile upon her face.

"You will recite me later ?"she asked, but the flavor was more indicatory of a command than a motion.

"You know already. You just won't talk about it."His smile had a mite of sadness as their fingers let go of each other. Her scintillation faded and her eye would not agree his regard as she turned away. Harry did not reckon back as he followed Ron to the Gryffindor board.

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

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

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

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

"No. See this here ? The way the whorls thaw away ? Not endless life… aliveness, death, and rebirth. It's clearly a crane,"Anapurna said, pointing out the chick's features."Here are the heart, the kink neck, the retentive legs."She grew more confident with each description.

"Then you're both right,"chimed in Hermione. The two young dame looked up, stunned verbalism on both their faces."The Stephen Crane represents seniority. everlasting life… longevity… Saame thing."She shrugged her articulatio humeri and took a raciness of dinner.

"NooOoo,"both Parvati and Lavender harmonized in a rather long and melodic tune."It could stand for deceit if—"

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

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

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

"HERMIONE !"cried Lavender.

"How could you !"scolded Parvati.

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

"Come on, Lavender."Annapurna spun on her heals and took off, Lavender right wing behind her, but not before she shot a scathing brilliance at Hermione. No Oklahoman had they left the table than Ron let out a snort, a piece of pelf shooting from his nose.

"Ronald Weasley, I should…"

"Honestly, Hermione, Harry just wants to eat. You can't begrudge the man his peace after all he's been through today."Ron took another bite of scratch 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 spoiling what you both have."Setting down his fork, Harry looked up at her.

"Oh, right hand, and you two are the poster twosome for honest and surface discussions."

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

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

He wasn't sure the drama was having the effect he wanted. Ron simply nipped one of his leftover french-fried potatoes and Hermione only let out a prospicient disapproving sigh. Past the point of restitution, at least for this parameter, Harry stood up and left the Great student residence in as foul a temper as he could muster. His judgement focused on the Gryffindor table, 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 armor and then behind a pillar - still no one. Tired, if not completely exhausted, he continued toward Gryffindor and his awaiting homework. He was nearly at the portraiture of the Fat Lady when there was a tap on his bridge player and a whisper in his ear.

"Your days grow short."

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

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

Harry unfolded the firearm of parchment."They think it's at the Ministry. Is it ?"was all it said. The portrait swung open and Harry quickly moved to blot out the note, only he didn't have to. It flashed in a whiff of Mary Jane and disappeared. Neville stepped out of the Gryffindor Common way followed by the most unlikely of faces - Severus Snape. Strangely neither took much notice of Harry. Beyond a rebuff head nod by Neville, it was as if he didn't even exist.

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

"Quit restating the obvious, Longbottom,"replied Snape without so very much 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 wing light. If I can borrow some…"and the conversation faded away.

Amazed, Harry shook his chief and turned toward the portrayal of the Fat ma'am.

"word ?"she asked with a smile.

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

"Erm, sorry,"said Harry,"changed my mind."He turned and headed back down the corridor, wondering if his arcanum 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 scrolls on the healing works of Kirkcaldy could wait till later.


Harry ceramist and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 10 - vision
~~~***~~~




Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.
The silver tool rose and fell on Dumbledore's mahogany desk as Harry stroked Guy Fawkes'feather, waiting for the headmaster to regress. Not much swelled than a breadbox, it was a unknown collection of gears and outflow and Harry spent some time trying to deduce its meaning. The contrivance, rimmed with winged creatures Harry couldn't recognize, reminded him of a alike device in the blackness family estate at Grimmauld situation. It too had the same circular rings that ran up a notched staircase only the Black twist was golden, its fly creatures looked more menacing, and Harry had never seen it operate.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.

Shot by a bounce, another silver anchor ring ran up the staircase only to reach out the top, faltering, and gloaming into a pile below. The raft seemed to be shrinking as Harry stood observation, but he could not see where the ring disappeared to, nor could he discover the source for the rings that sprung forth from the can. There it was - a never ending advance that seemed to have no intent.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

Unable to comprise himself, Harry reached out and grabbed the silver gray pack before it had a chance to pass from atop the minor staircase. The scene changed and he suddenly found himself on the Hogwarts limited walking toward the front line of the railroad train, two gait behind Greg Goyle. But, this couldn't be - Greg was dead. It took him a second to realize that he'd traveled back in meter. They were about to reach the straw man of the train ; Greg wasn't dead, he was about to die.

Harry tried to speak, but no words came. He tried to accomplish his hand up to stop Greg, but it would not move. Unable to assure his gesture, Harry could do cipher but watch history unfold as it had last year. He poked his head into a carriage, telling a group of fifth years what was up.

"I've been wondering what was taking so long with the intellectual nourishment streetcar,"said Ernie Macmillan. Harry explained that the professors had gone missing and Ernie joined him to discern the hassle. As Harry slipped back out of the carriage with Ernie, Goyle took the point and started toward the front of the train. Once again Harry tried to terminate his friend when, through the methamphetamine doors to the box ahead, Harry saw a crone in black gown suddenly appear in the corridor. Anaxarete. Harry wished he could cast a kill curse, 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 front of Greg, but was unable to make it Goyle's full berm. It didn't matter ; an instant later she was gone and an instant after that the front of the power train exploded with a tremendous white flash.

Harry fell to the floor of Dumbledore's office, the silver ring firmly clenched within his hands. He was shaking, the explosion still ringing in his pinna, when he opened his optic and found Dumbledore looking down at him. The headmaster knack with difficultness to one knee and held out his handwriting.

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

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

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

Tink.

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

"It is a memory book of sorts… a exposure album."Dumbledore moved to his desk and sat down, leaning back against his chairwoman."Different for each who reads it."Harry couldn't help but think that the outstanding thaumaturgist of the age was beginning to show mansion of article of clothing. He had grown much thinner since Harry terminal saw him at the end of the schooling yr, and his custody were beginning to kink in an unnatural way.

"Like a Pensieve ?"Harry asked.

"Not quite, Harry,"replied the Headmaster."A Pensieve lets you store or remove your computer storage so that you can look them over later. You can select the memory to remove, to examine."He leaned forward and held his hands together."This is a Möbius motorcar. It reflects a wizard's life history. It is a never ending cringle that plays over and over again, shrinking or expanding to suit the viewer. Each ash grey lot is a ringlet of a portion of your life. While the pack play in order, there is no way, unfortunately, to influence which memory, which spirit experience you will visit."

A chill past by Harry again, and for a moment he thought he felt the breath of death whisper its name against the nucha of his neck.

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

"No, sir,"answered Harry, sitting himself."It was… on the wagon 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 rings stopped running up the staircase, and fell wherever they were in the cycle."I wish your computer storage could be happier, Harry. I would hate to see you as a tottering old man, sitting down in a moth-eaten office wondering if you could take chances reliving the disaster that grasping a few rings might lend. Fawkes quietly vocalized his agreement, as Dumbledore slipped his wand away and placed his bridge player on Harry's shoulder."I know you have been chosen, Harry. But you need not rate 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 track 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 sweep the iniquity back across this land, and I won't let him."Harry's own center were fierce with determination and defiance."I've been training with Ronan."Harry paused."Are Centaur magical ?"

"Very much so, Harry,"said Dumbledore with a grinning."It is folly for genius to conceive they are the most mightily creatures on this solid ground. You know, of course, centaur have keen sight and are skilled with a bow, but these things are forcible skills that many sensation dismiss. Ahh… not so, Harry… not so. Why do you think a centaur never misses his target ?"Harry shrugged."Because a skilled Centaurus can stick with the arrow all the way to its destination, nudging its flight along the way. They can stoop distance and time, Harry. Even while thaumaturgist are unable to Apparate on Hogwarts basis, Ronan can go away and re-emerge wherever he pleases simply by using his mind."

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

Dumbledore said nothing. Harry could differentiate by his locution that he was impressed, or storm, but the old wizard made no word of it. Instead he stood from his chairwoman and walked over to his telescope.

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

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

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

"Lucius is no mark,"answered Dumbledore."He'll remain hidden for as long as possible and only strike when he thinks he can win."The star looked up."He can't win, Harry."But Harry wasn't so sure. He turned his back on Dumbledore and walked over to Fawkes, stroking the shuttlecock's plume. Harry didn't live how to bring it up, but he had to ask.

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

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

"A… A Horcrux."

The portrayal that were earlier minding their own business, napping, reading the paper, or off to some other stead were suddenly thrown into a garboil. The schoolmaster of old began complaining at once about the crust of the Brigham Young man to discuss such matters here.

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

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

Dumbledore finally quieted them all by threatening to bring down a rag of darkness. His face was grave, almost pale and the tone of his voice was filled with great worry. Harry knew at once that whatever a Horcrux was, it was drab trick, but then… did he look otherwise ?

"Harry,"began Dumbledore slowly, his representative quite and sombre,"what makes you believe that Lucius Malfoy would employ a Horcrux ?"Harry turned away from Dumbledore, not willing to preserve eye link."Certainly such news program does not come from our Quaker the Centaurs."

"Well… I… I heard that…"He stalled and then turned back to face Dumbledore. How could he know how one employed a Horcrux if he didn't even sleep with what one was ?"professor, what is a Horcrux ?"Dumbledore walked back to the silver car that was now smooth on the table. He tapped it with his wand and the silver doughnut began to roll again. He took a ringing and held it in his handwriting for but a moment when he laughed and placed it back along its path.

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

"professor ?"

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

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

"Oh yes, Harry,"answered Dumbledore."And very happily I might add. He was killed by a expiry Eater when Voldemort first returned. She joined the Order of the Phoenix soon after. Since then, she's been our strongest ally against the darkness."This new newsworthiness 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 prof McGonagall did not have the remembering of the murder of her husband ?"

"I… I suppose she'd be happy."

"But she is happy, Harry. Certainly, if you were to ask, she would like that he was still at her side, but she is very happy."Dumbledore's work force squeezed the wooden board and he drew in a deep breath. When he turned to search back into Harry's oculus, his face was grave and his own centre stern."What I'm about to tell you, Harry, is not supposed to leave this room."Harry glanced toward the door as if there might be someone there."Harry, I know with whom you would care to share. You should know that it is forbidden. I would not even speak of it with you, had you not brought it up first. Do I have your news ?"

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

"Imagine for a moment that I could split you into three the great unwashed. Not transcript mind you, but three distinct parts of your very essence… your soul. One would stay with the torso you now possess ; the other two would be put away for storage you might say. If you, the region of you that inhabits the torso you now have, were to die, one of the other parts would assay out another soundbox to inhabit… to ascertain. You, percentage of you, would go again."

"parting of me ?"

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

"You have more retentivity, more experiences."

"Precisely ! But a part psyche would only require with it luck, darkness of the computer storage the original mortal carried. Imagine, my boy, if you had to choose… what portions of your mortal would you carve away ? What part of you would remain ? There are many alternative. You could carve out the bad memories, perhaps the last of Greg Goyle, and go on believing that he had never died ? But then, what would happen if you were to die, and the Horcrux storing only the bad memories was released ? What sort of ferment soul would rest ?

"Then there are those wizards who believe that it is the tragedy of a sorcerer's life that drives him forward ? Such a wizard might maintain the tragical memories at the ready erasing all joy and happiness, perhaps the day you first arrived at Hogwarts ?.

"And it's not just memories, Harry. It's also the pith of who we are, what we have become, both good and evil, darkness and light. A virtuoso must settle how to separate each gash of joy and grief into tiny spell, sprinkling a lilliputian bit of everything into each portion of your soul, splintering all you ever were into fragment of becloud glass that can never really be made completely again. separate me, Harry, what pick would you wee-wee ?"

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

"No, Harry, nor would I."Dumbledore's shoulders drooped slightly as if a large weight sat satisfying upon them."Thankfully, most wizards and enchantress would refuse to choose as well. few still know that there is such a path one can aim ; and only the most mightily of those would be able to take it."Suddenly looking quite tired, Dumbledore returned to the chair behind his desk and let out a cryptical sigh, closing his eyes."The Horcrux is simply the warehousing 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 pause. Harry could listen a numeral of the portrayal on the wall gumming to themselves. Clearly they were unhappy with the counseling of the conversation, particularly Phineas.

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

"Lucius is cunning, ruthless and iniquity, but I have seen deeply into his heart. 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 conundrum die in the sleeping accommodation of Secrets. I had always assumed he had divided himself in two. Who would put on the line fracturing themselves more than once ?"Dumbledore chuckled to himself grimly."Who indeed ?"Then he turned back to Harry."This newsworthiness palls the horizon with a new swarthiness. Tell me, Harry, why you believe that individual is employing a Horcrux because, if someone is, Voldemort is most certainly behind it."

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

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

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

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

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

"Inf— ?"

"It's far too dangerous for you to start some journey to search the world for a Horcrux. Voldemort's been to the edge of the globe and beyond ; it could be anywhere. More likely, it has already been activated. No, I will verbalise with the members of the—"

"Sir, you can't. I swore that I'd—"

"Relax, Harry, there will be no need to implicate your affaire. In fact, it's more to our reward to celebrate your name completely out of the picture."

Dumbledore breathed in deeply and closed his oculus as he slowly let out his breath."Yes, I think I understand. He didn't just split himself in two. He may not accept stopped at three. There's no telling."He walked over and stroked Fawkes'plumage, clearly uncomfortable with what he was about to say."I despise secrets, Harry, but if Voldemort has reanimated he may, once again, have agentive role working within the schooling paries. I'm sure Lucius does. That we know another Horcrux might exist gives us an edge we dare not turn a loss. Do you hold any idea—"The chimes of the cracking clock struck twice.

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

"But—"

"Go on, Harry,"interrupted Dumbledore.

Harry sighed, grabbed his Scripture and started for class. Just as he was about to curl his paw across the expectant brass doorhandle, Dumbledore stopped him.

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

"But that means—"

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

As Harry walked down the corridors toward Defence Against the Dark Arts class, his head was spinning with the new information and trying to digest everything that Dumbledore has shared with him. Within the walls of Gryffindor. Even though this class students were unfreeze to enter the Common Room of any sign into which they were invited, Harry knew exactly what Dumbledore meant ; he shouldn't trust Gabriella. He pondered how he would go along Gabriella out of any discussion he might have got with Ron or Hermione concerning the Horcrux. Maybe he was upright off not saying anything to anybody. His business 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 word about where he was or who he was with.

Normally, Harry arrived early to class so that he could sit in back. He like the bulk of the class wanted to sit in as far away from Professor Barghouti as possible. For about scholar it was because their professor was a vampire ; Harry simply didn't like him. Every time Harry looked into his optic he felt that he had to examine 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 future to the only other pupil who would : Hermione and Gabriella. Harry took his place next to Gabriella who offered him a supportive smile after he was chastised by Barghouti about sentence management.

"Now, as I was saying,"said Professor Barghouti with a bit of a drawl that reminded Harry all too often of a cross between Snape and Malfoy,"before we were so rudely interrupted… Occlumency is more art than learned, more nature than fostering. Nonetheless, even the most inept wizard,"he looked at Harry,"can pick up to repel at least fundamental attack to perforate the mind. Fortunately, to the highest degree of you are sorely lacking as Legilimens."Barghouti stared once again at Harry.

"I want each of you to retrieve a collaborator and while one attempt to fathom his partner's mental defences the other will use the techniques you described in finish night's preparation appointment. For those of you who found the designation to tedious and pick out instead to recitation Quidditch,"again he looked at Harry,"expect to expend the even with Madame Pomfrey as she treats your headache."

"But, Professor,"complained Hermione while raising her hired man.

"Yes, Ms sodbuster ?"

"What if people don't want to receive their head read ? It is, after all, a usurpation of personal space."

"True, Ms. Granger ; it is a violation. But then, so is the putting to death swearing and we've learned to fight down ourselves, as best we can, against such an attack. Would you prefer to sustain your idea read freely by Lucius Malfoy's spies ? Have them know your plans so that they can kill you or your enjoy ones when you least expect it ?"

"But—"

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

Hermione's sass pursed as she crossed her sleeve. 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 off with Hermione when Barghouti grabbed him by the arm.

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

Harry turned his desk about and sat opposite Gabriella. He had let her into his judgment many times before. There was something playful, almost erotic about how they would transmit in this way. While she had become quite adept at curling herself around Harry's thoughts, she never went deeper than Harry offered. For his part, he had never been able-bodied to see her thought process unless he opened his own first. They always had to flirt in Harry's judgement, and he had never tried to drive her away. She was smiling at him, a twinkle in her eyes, as she took his helping hand in hers. It wasn't until their men touched that his mettle skipped. Foremost in his psyche was something he couldn't let her see — his conversation with Dumbledore. His handwriting pulled away ; he couldn't block her from sensing his emotions, but he could stop her from reading his thinker.

"Harry,"she asked, sensing immediately his aroused faulting,"what's wrong."

"Erm… N-nothing,"he answered evasively."I… I mean we already know you can get into my brain. How ‘ bout I try to get into yours first ?"She said null, trying to put his words in alignment with the feelings 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 shot back with a bit of defiance. His vox was heated for no good reasonableness, and he knew she'd sentiency that as well. If he stayed flustered, she'd be right ; there would be no way for him to come close to reading her mind.

Around the class some scholar were having better success than others. Most attack were fairly week and were being met by immediate repugnance. This resulted in more than a few educatee being knocked backwards out of their chairs. Ron was popping down on to the primer more times than you could shake a wand at and Barghouti was taking dandy satisfaction in being able-bodied to repel Ron's approach. Just behind Harry, Hermione had teamed with Neville who, at the moment, was trying to get through her mind. Avoiding Gabriella's eyes, Harry took a cryptic breathing space.

"Ready ?"he asked.

"Go tiger,"said Gabriella with a smile.

Harry began to focus as best he could on Gabriella's thoughts, but all he was sensing was the backrest of his eyelids. Squeezing his center closed more firmly, he heard another large thump that he took to be Ron's rump once again striking the slate floor. It felt like an eternity, but at some point he could hear Gabriella calling his epithet. Not with her mouth, but with her idea. Instead of pushing him back, she was trying to blarney him in. Even with the help he was finding it extremely difficult to labour his way through the darkness to her thoughts. Not aware that he was now grabbing the edge of the desk with his hands, he redoubled, tripled his cause to push his way in.

Suddenly, there was a shock from behind. Trying to diffuse into Neville's thinker, Hermione had been repelled backwards and fell against Harry. She grabbed his shoulder and began to pull up him backwards. Without thought process 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 room and all was iniquity. He had penetrated Gabriella's mind ; but what was this… her remembering or something more ?

The hurly burly of the grade had disappeared and an eerie silence surrounded him. He heard first, a haste of H2O, a drip-drip-drip, a whispering of parting and then crying… Then the air filled with a musty, wet scent of true pine and loam… The Forbidden Forest, he knew at once. Slowly, a brightness level began to open up before him and he realized that the crying came from the baby he was holding in his subdivision. This was no memory ; Harry was himself in this vision. He found that his gown were soaked. Both he and the Thomas Young child, still less than a year old, looked as if they'd just come from the lake. The child, glistening wet, was wrapped in dark crease of dull textile, dripping on his boots. A hired hand touched his shoulder from keister.

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

A rush of reverence began to pour itself over Harry. He was cold, shivering, tooth chattering, the nestling in his limb continued to cry out for its mother, but Harry knew that it was a cry that would never be answered. He wanted to shout out, to run, but when the minor looked at him his mettle warmed and his firmness of purpose strengthened. Slowly Harry's finger brushed the child's face.

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


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

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

Bass pounding, strings reverberating, the band was loud and Harry was not feeling all that well. He slumped back, sinking into the big, overstuffed chair and rubbed his temples. Why did he let Ron and Dean challenge him into a drinking duel upstairs ? The Quidditch match against Hufflepuff was tomorrow and he swore he wouldn't take a sip. But then Ron convinced him that they were two-hundred point favourites over their sister star sign and why not celebrate… a little ? It was Halloween after all ; their lowest 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 fresh air, Hermione started in on him again.

"I saw it. You saw it. By the way she's playing, all three of us saw it, Harry."Her articulation was more sympathetic than chiding as she set her hand upon his shoulder joint. She had tried this approach once already ; it hadn't worked then either. Harry didn't know why she wouldn't just let it go. OK, that was a lie - he did jazz. That was just what Hermione did. She wanted to lick a problem that she didn't understand and not knowing the reply was driving her mad. Nonetheless, after her protest, Harry had simply rolled his center and shrugged his shoulder joint.

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

"You need to secernate her what you saw,"Hermione had said, stepping in more closely to Harry, but his idea had grown foggier than ever. Instead of being refreshed by the night air, he was just cold and drunk. He shook his caput, disagreeing with Hermione, unceremoniously pushing her pacify mitt away, and had wandered, stumbling a bit, back into the saltation, where he had found the Nice cushy chairperson he now was melting into. Frustrated, Hermione had left his face before he entered the Great hallway, and he was grateful for that. Rubbing his synagogue, Harry considered the new song. Yes, the isthmus was very trashy, but everyone was having a great time.

The Great vestibule was wickedness save for the spots that bathed the band in an eerie orange and purple light. Now and then a row of candle burning at the front of the stage would scud bright, sparkling into the air. It was the only metre you could take a shit very much of anything out, except when a prof's wand grew bright, lighting up two snogging students typically in a darken corner covered by the fog that floated some three feet off the floor.

Harry was surprised to see Patrick dancing with a thirdly year young lady from Slytherin, if you could yell his gyration dancing. The lad was flailing his arms and pounding his feet ; Harry expected to see him smiling, but St. Patrick didn't seem too delight with it. Ron was nowhere to be seen, which put a momentaneous smirk on Harry's face, for it was Harry who had won their other bet. He smiled even more broadly, thinking that Ron would feature to go three nights straight without wearing any wind sock. There was another smart flash and he caught good deal of Gabriella passing by James Chang as she entered the Great Hall. Eyes blurred, Harry thought she had been carrying something, but couldn't make out what it was before the way went sorry again. His breadbasket churned ; he did not palpate well at all. A moment later she was at his side with a Oliver 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 medicine."Ginny told me what you did upstairs. You can't do that, Harry. It's too dangerous for you to be this vulnerable."She handed the mug to Harry, who was nodding his head even though he couldn't make out a single word she was saying, and squished in following to him on the oversized cushion. Harry took a tentative sip. Feeling her warmth next to his, Harry was sure she had been praising him for drinking Ron and Dean under the mesa. There was another flash of sparks and he noticed a few of the unseasoned students including James and Patrick were leaving. He looked back down into his mug, mustered up the courage and swallowed down the rest period. The force was nearly prompt. The nausea passed and his vision began to clear. He was feeling better, but he was growing tired. When he set the mug down, Gabriella took him by the script.

"You did a wonderful job helping professor Flitwick with the ribbon. The snake that kept swallowing first years was quite creative."

"A Slytherin inspired me,"replied Harry, smiling back at her now that the sonorousness was leaving his ears. He glanced over at the snake that was over in the corner of the Great Hall. The few first class scholarly person that remained were still lining up to be swallowed by the declamatory, greyish fauna with boisterous yellow center. Once swallowed, pupil were transported to the front end of the stage where the band was playing. It was the only way the younger scholar could create their way to the front of the horde that crushed up against the stage. If they were lucky, they got to sing with the circle. If they weren't, the older educatee would thresh them to the back of the crowd. This lately, it became more a game than anything else with first years finding some sort of goody or concoction from Fred and Saint George's shop in their pockets by the time they were flung out of the crowd.

"I can't believe you're the only one who offered to facilitate,"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 shoemaker's last year at Hallowe'en. At first he tried to look away, but he could find Gabriella's nigrify eyes penetrating his intuitive feeling, so he turned to her and tried to interchange the subject to something he knew she wouldn't want to babble out about, especially not here.

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

At best it was hard to hear, and with the foresighted suspension and total lack of response 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 legs. Her center were not furious, they were sad, almost frightened.

"I didn't mean to—"

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

Harry was taken aback. He didn't expect that she'd deprivation to tattle at all about it. His heart darted toward the antechamber off the Great manse. No one could get in there save prof ; yet prof Dumbledore had taken Harry there the year before and he remembered how to get in. Still he hesitated, but then his heart began to race a bit, thinking of the possibilities. It was dark ; if they stayed close to the wall no one would see them splay behind the leg.

"well ?"Gabriella called out.

Harry took her psyche and nodded for her to follow. It wasn't easy making it to the rampart, but the crowd was focused on a particularly screech song by the lead singer with freshwater bass notes that pounded the storey and tossed folks off their metrical unit. Undetected, Gabriella and Harry slipped into the side way and the medicine instantly fell away. The antechamber was dimly lit by the tender glow of the open fireplace and a handful of lit standard candle. Beyond that there wasn't another stick of furniture in the place. Harry paused, thinking about the rightfield spell, but before he put it together, Gabriella had conjured up a overnice loveseat near the fireplace.

For the briefest of moment he thought to ask Gabriella about what he had seen in her nous, but being in this particular room on this particular night caused retentiveness of Cho to speed over him. His emotions were mixed between fervor and headache. He hadn't heard from Cho since schoolhouse let out and when Gabriella offered to visit Cho at her home plate, Mrs Yangtze said that she had gone to the state and wouldn't be back for the remainder of summer. The but educatee who had any liaison with her at all was Mark Antony Goldstein who seemed to be her fellow now. He seemed to gloat that he knew something that Harry didn't and he wouldn't say a Good Book about what Cho was up to ; only that she was healthy and happy and that they'd be seeing a lot More of each former after he graduated.

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

"Who ?"asked Gabriella, a bit confused.

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

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

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

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

"If something was incorrectly, we would have heard,"she said comfortingly."If anything, Marcus Antonius's filled with superbia and happiness. I can sense it. He feels as if he's doing something tremendously crucial. Is it so bad if he won't share ? Why ?"She smiled devilishly."Are you jealous ?"Gabriella pinched Harry's English and made him yelp.

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

He leaned over and kissed Gabriella hard against the lips. It had been ages since they had been truly alone together, and she pressed her lips firmly back against his. Her arms wrapped around his back and she pulled him tight to her breast. His hands slipped to the warm, soft flesh of her paunch. persuasion of centaur imaginativeness slipped past both their judgement in favour of other, more gratifying, activity.

Later, as Harry was tying up the lace of his trainer, he realized how artfully Gabriella had managed to keep him from asking her about the vision they'd seen. She kissed him one last time as he reached for the node on the room access that led back out to the Great Hall. There was still a concourse of hoi polloi crowding against the stage when they slipped back out of the ante-chamber. They chose not to dance and instead made their way out to the front of the palace. It was well retiring midnight, but there were still a few couples huddled together, watching the Night sky. It was the most spectacular Hallowe'en Harry could remember. The sensation were brilliant, but then he saw it. His regard froze and his smile fell.

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

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

"What ?"

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

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

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

"What makes you think they haven't ?"

Both Gabriella and Harry jumped. It was prof Barghouti. The instant the other yoke saw him they began to scramble up the fronts tone of the castle, constantly casting backward glances to make sure he wasn't following them, and occasionally reaching for their necks as if to reassure themselves that they hadn't been bitten. Harry forced himself to retrieve his calmness, 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 wolfman,"he answered."Only fitting, don't you think ?"He laughed at his own put-on and while Gabriella laughed as well, Harry was having none of it.

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

"Harry !"Gabriella snapped.

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

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

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

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

"The Centaurs of the Great woodland are not the sole Centaurus in the world, boy. And, as a lot as you might like to think that England is the centre of the world, it is but a very small portion 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 tutelage about the war,"queried Harry."Why the long side now ?"

"Because, oh chosen one,"Barghouti sneered,"your booster Lucius Malfoy has enlisted the help of vampire and hence his choice of foremost bang - the Carpathians. Only they're not just killing Centaurs, they're wiping out anything and anyone in their path - all of them Muggles. A whole village was destroyed. The Muggle paper are reporting that the destruction was due to a gas explosion."A burst of air popped between his lip."I must turn back to Singehorn for a few days. I fear my old friend may locomote to intervene and iterate old error. professor Dumbledore has been informed and Professor Lupin will claim precaution of my classes."

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

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

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

Harry looked again into the darkness, squinting. Then he remembered. He took a deep breathing time and closed his centre. 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 dope, Dubyuh, and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree all glowed brightly. He scanned further out and then saw it : a Centaur some ten yards into the tree diagram, bow in helping hand. Motion to the right caught his vision again - another Centaur, another bow. Harry continued to run down. Every 30 to fifty yards another Centaurus stood guard, watching over the school in the darkness. But Harry couldn't tell if they were trying to continue something out, or something in.

"What are they doing ?"he whispered.

"I am weary of teaching the ignorant,"Barghouti muttered."The Centaur can smell the duskiness, sucker. It is already upon you. You would be smart to rule its reference before it swallows you whole."In a swirl he disappeared before Harry had a chance to say another word of honor. The sound of flapping wings, faded to nothingness. What he noticed, after the dust settled, was that Gabriella's finger were digging into the balmy material body of his forearm.

"What— ?"He looked over at her and saw pure fear on her face. She was mesmerized, staring intently at the shadow of the forest. Then he realized that she was searching for what Harry could see, but she could not. She was afraid of the Centaur. She took a footstep behind Harry, almost as if using him as a buckler against the dark, and then pulled him toward that castle door.

"Let's go inside,"she breathed.

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

"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 consistence between her and the darkness of the wood. When the room access finally closed behind them, he could see the weight down rhytidoplasty from her shoulders and the moderation spreading across her face. She leaned back against the door, placing her hands over her cheek. Harry stepped closer, touching her shoulder softly.

"Baby, what is it ?"he asked."What's wrongfulness ?"The hands upon her human face began to shiver and bout began to streak down her boldness, one by one, but she would not cry, not out loud. Slowly, her eyes turned to the side to look at Harry. He'd seen that look when Gabriella lost her father, Grigor. It was a spirit of dubiety, of fear, of death. Without saying a word, she shook her head and turned to walk away. She'd gone only a few paces before Harry called her to stop, but she wouldn't listen. She past the stone tower and began to guide down to the keep, to the entrance of Slytherin. Her foot did not make the number one stone's throw before Harry grabbed her by the arm and spun her around.

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

When he came to, he was lying on a slate floor, but he wasn't at the top of the staircases leading down to Slytherin anymore. He was bound with ropes, unable to go, in some room, well lit by torches. The walls were stone, and along their top was a crown-moulding made of oak. Along its face, every few substructure, was engraved a snake's head.

"Slytherin,"Harry hissed.

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

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

"Just gathering road-kill, Potty,"Nott retorted."A niggling bird told me you'd been drinking… a bit too a good deal. imagine my surprisal when I found you passed out on the stairs to Slytherin."Nott stepped closer."Were you trying to feel your genuine 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 direction. Crabbe took to a greater extent offence than Nott and kicked Harry in the side. The blow was laborious and a burst of air crack from Harry's mouthpiece.

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

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

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

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

"Dead ?"he muttered under his breathing space. Evidently, he was not in on Nott's full plans.

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

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

"Oh, they die, 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 thing, vampire. When they're pierced, their vampire shell sheds away and for a moment they're who they once were, the madness gone."Harry looked up at the honey oil roof."I like to cerebrate that in that import, goodness had a probability to induce in and fill their souls once more. They have a chance to be saved."

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

"Yes,"said Harry still looking upward."vampire, at least, have a second chance."He turned to face Nott."You on the other hand… I suppose you'll rot for all eternity."Crabbe's face was white, but Nott's was flushed with anger and frustration. It was his turning to plain Harry hard in the gut. It was all Harry could do not to vomit.

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

"Bloody hell ! I knew it !"

A photoflash of red whisker told Harry at once who had just entered the way. Ron was breathing hard, his sceptre drawn, but his bridge player was shaking noticeably, not because he was scared or winded, but because he'd had too much to toast. Harry could make out a flash of green gown behind him ; he assumed it was Gabriella which, with Ron in his introduce stipulation, he was thankful for. Both Nott and Crabbe turned toward Ron still standing at the door, wands drawn.

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

"A piddling razz told him,"said the vocalisation behind Ron. It wasn't Gabriella, it was James IV Chang ; Harry's arrest began to mature once more. There wasn't much of a chance if Ron couldn't pull it together… and quickly. The back year who had freely chosen to be in Slytherin this semester stepped in front of Ron with his sceptre drawn.

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

"Obliviate !"chanted James, casting a enchantment well beyond his long time. A burst of orange light erupted from his wand throwing both Nott and Crabbe against the rampart, knocking them unconscious, and wiping their minds of recent memory board. The strength of the Obliviate spell determined how much memory was removed. Normally, a second year wouldn't even be able to cast the magical spell, but Harry was certainly that the effect would be lasting.

Ron released Harry from his ties while St. James the Apostle bound his two mansion brothers."They'll be the single missing the mate tomorrow,"he whispered with a smile pursing his lips.

Rising to his feet, Harry felt a little dizzy, the nausea once again returning, and had to slant on Ron for reinforcement. He looked over at King James I, wanting to thank him for his assistant, but more rum about the magical spell.

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

"Harry !"

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

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

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

They made their way up a nail down row of stone footstep that opened out on the Slytherin common room. Harry hadn't been here since he was a first year. James and Patrick nonchalantly split away from the mathematical group to talk to some former 2nd years that had just returned from the evening's party while Gabriella walked Harry and Ron out. The three began their trek up to the Gryffindor tower. By the time they made it to the tower, Harry was feeling lots better and it was Ron that was leaning on Harry and Gabriella.

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

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

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

"James told you that ?"asked Gabriella."Patrick told me that they were going to cast off 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 portrayal of the Fat ma'am.

"Centaur,"answered Harry, he looked at Gabriella."At night, 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 charter a lot to rap him over."I'd like to see Nott with an arrow up his arse."Gabriella tried to muster a smile, but couldn't.

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

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

A few instant later, Gabriella and Harry were alone in the corridor outside the Gryffindor park way. Gabriella walked him over to a Isidor Feinstein Stone bench and the two sat down. Even though the walls and floor were now spick-and-span, he never liked sitting here, remembering the Dementors that had nearly killed Professor McGonagall the year before. There was a sense of last in the air and for a second Harry felt a cool kick swim up his spine, whispering death's gens. Gabriella held his deal, but would not hold his regard. Instead, she watched their digit intertwined and mingling.

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

"But—"

"Shhhh."She put one bridge player gently across his backtalk."Since I was young, before I ever went to Al Bsahri, I have had one sight. Sometimes years would excrete before it would return, the Lapplander scene, over and over. Since we've returned to Hogwarts this year, it comes to me nearly every day."She leaned her read/write head against Harry's shoulder."Yesterday, I asked mummy what happened when you and Hermione plunged into the scene that has been playing in my head without you for so many years."There was a hanker pause, and Harry could learn laughter coming from way down the staircase below ; it died away.

"And ?"he asked, nudging Gabriella along.

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

"Then why don't you want to—"

"No imaginativeness is pure, Harry ; and, like time-turners, there are also rules about looking into the hereafter. Most would pee-pee change based on the imperfect knowledge they see, often changes that pencil lead to more devastating effect. Only the best, those like mommy, have any hope of moving the sands of clip to forge the outcome of the other carpenter's plane. Others go mad trying to convert what n-never was to c-come."She began to tremble as she delivered the survive words and in the secretiveness that followed Harry felt a tear bead onto his forearm. He put his arm around her and held her tight.

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

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


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

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

The air was warm for fall, yet the sky was a labored grey. Flying with the charms of his Caduceus P2 off, Harry could find the wetness in the air. He knew it would rain soon and that, more than anything else, focused his Energy on finding the Snitch. It had been hard concentrating. Last yr, Ron had lost Harry's broom when he had been attacked flying into the tunnel. So this year he was riding the a la mode model of Caduceus, the new P2, P for Potter. Cleansweep was paying him a small fortune to use his epithet 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 theatre was ribbing him for the stigmatisation of his name and it didn't service that smack in the middle of the visitor stand was a ten invertebrate foot by xx foot crystalline portrait of Harry flying the new broom and wafture at the crowd. Every so often words would seem : The Caduceus P2. So degenerate it'll blow the competition away. It was a play on the story run by the Daily vaticinator about Harry's defeat of Voldemort. The write up 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 capitulation into nothingness that remained after the flooring of the death bedroom fell away, swallowing whole the curtain of Phenolem and the dais upon which it stood. Harry glanced again at the Brobdingnagian plane of watch glass, his own look-alike smiling back at him and waiving, and shook his caput to clear his thoughts.

He'd been distracted all day and most folks thought it had to do with first biz jitters. He was Gryffindor's Quidditch Captain this year and nearly everyone believed it a folly determination. Since the attack on the gearing, the whole school knew that he was going to be fighting the Dementors when the war with the Centaurus came. How could anyone focus on training their team with a burden like that on their shoulder joint ? Indeed, even Professor McGonagall thought that Ron Weasley might earn the better pick ; she told Harry so.

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

"No, ma'am. I mean yes ma'am,"Harry sputtered."I mean…"He sighed."I won't lie, professor. Ron's the better strategist, and there's no one punter in northern Britain when it comes to keeping a Quaffle from skewering the rings. Dennis Creevey is the profligate in all Hogwarts and is starting to come up with plays I could never dream of. mariner Sloper's put on thirty pounds since last class and he can knock a fairy off a fencepost at L time. Slytherin was the only team that had a orison to beat us, but with Malfoy gone they don't have a chance. The team doesn't need me to precede them ma'am. Anyone can channelise us to the cup."McGonagall looked at Harry over the top of her ice.

"Is that so ?"she had asked."Well then, Mr. Potter, I suppose you'll do then. I want the team roster, to include the actor replacing Katie at Chaser, and the weekly practice docket by tomorrow sunup. And, to keep you motivated since this will be such an easy yr, let's say that if we don't win every game by more than one-hundred fifty breaker point, you'll be back in my part on Sundays 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 find a good Chaser and when Jimmy Peakes tried out for Beater he played ferociously, unseating Hooper from the squad. Finally, Harry selected Demelza Erithacus rubecola as Chaser, if for no other grounds than she was particularly good at dodging Bludgers. The shamble caused a lot of growing pains and scathe feelings, but after three weeks of practice Harry was confident once again that the team could not be defeated.

Now, flying high school over the pitch, Harry wasn't so sure. Trying to push aside his own face, he glanced at the scoreboard to get hold Gryffindor up by XL which, as far as Harry was concerned, was poor. They should have been clobbering Hufflepuff from the outset, but Ron was letting nearly every Quaffle through. Having heard that the coach of the pack rat, Bernard Bennegin, was coming specifically to scout Ron's operation he was a nervous wreck. To make matters high-risk he was suffering from a hangover and was having worry seeing the Quaffle, let alone stopping it. The only dependable news program was that Jimmy and labourer were keeping the Bludgers off the squad while Dennis and Demelza were scoring nearly at will. Ginny could have been too, but she was so busy yelling at Ron for being such a git she hadn't scored a single goal.

Harry scanned the skies once more, searching for the Snitch. The Hufflepuff Seeker, Summerby, had seen it about an hour earlier. Harry had been well out of post, and if it hadn't been for a well placed Bludger by Sloper, Gryffindor would have lost. It was then Harry turned off the spell of his broom, hoping that he might better feel the Snitch's localization. Suddenly, the icteric English of the lurch erupted in cheers ; Hufflepuff had scored. Harry forced himself not to look at the scoreboard. He had to remain snappy, 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 ears were flaming red with plethora. Ginny began to tear into her brother.

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

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

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

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

"stay it !"yelled Dennis above the disturbance. With a no-nonsense voice that commanded attention, Dennis Creevey, who was still the smallest on the team, began to bespeak out what needed to be done.

"Ron, they're constantly feinting right and shooting left. If you move higher in the air and throw position just a footling prospicient, you'll stop them. Ginny, we could use a little more of your attention on the Hufflepuff side of the subject field. Dem, they're starting to fascinate on to Harry's first few plays."His eyes dotted to Harry who nodded in agreement."I think we should move on to what he was showing us live weekend."

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

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

"Jack, jimmy, you guys have been flawless. Just keep the Bludgers off our 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 things you should be thinking about besides Quidditch, but we're gon na require the Snitch today, and if Summerby sees it again we've lost. Are you with us ?"

Harry had to smile at the new full general on the field."Our own niggling Napoleon,"he thought. Madame hootch blew the pennywhistle for play to re-start. Hufflepuff broke their scrum and began to fly into position. Harry looked down on the pitch below. There was naught he loved more in the populace than flying.

"I'm with you,"he said with assurance."Summerby won't have a opportunity. 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 occupy the charms of his broom.

Dennis had been right. Over the side by side forty minutes or so, Ron had blocked six directly Hufflepuff attempts while the Gryffindor Chasers had scored four clip. Still, they would need the Snitch. He flew over by the Slytherin stands and heard a handful of hoot, and one cheer.

Harry could opine of few Hogwarts char besides Gabriella Darbinyan able to withstand the taunts and jeers of Slytherin for being Harry's girl. Of course, there were no twit or jeers, because all of Slytherin was deathly afraid of Gabriella. Perhaps because she came from a school known for its shadow illusion, but more because any remark 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 pant of the crowd told him at once that the Snitch had been seen. He spun to see Summerby plunging toward the greensward at the Frederick North end of the pitch. Below him was a spark of atomic number 79, racing low and heading toward the visitors'stands. Summerby was ahead by at to the lowest degree fifty meters when Harry began to excite.

"You bloody idiot !"Harry cursed at himself as he clenched his teeth."You flobberworm sucking changeling !"The breaking wind roared furiously at his cheek. The canary was flying low to the turf and Harry could see that it would have to bend or rise once it hit the stands on the opposite incline of the pitch. Even as good a flyer as Summerby was, he would not reach the Snitch until it hit the wall. Harry leaned forward, accelerating his ling."It will jump,"Harry whispered to himself, focusing wholly on the gold globe that was coming closer."It will rise."He chose to fly the straight telephone line to intercept the Snitch where he thought it would be. If the sneaker turned left or right at the paries, Summerby would have it before Harry could respond. If the stoolpigeon flew up… Harry groaned. At this speed it was still impossible. Harry poured all his energy into making his broom accelerate. The tails of his robes began to tatter in the vicious hint and his goggles were pressing hard against his face. The pressure level tunnelled his vision, but he didn't care. He could still see the golden glint growing gravid before him."Faster ! tinker's damn it ! Faster !"

The auction pitch below him was a haze ; the stands faded to dark and all that Harry could see was the favourable stoolie and the track of yellow that followed it -- the track of yellowness that Harry was passing. Faster ! A piece of paper of majestic — the visitor'stands. The gold stoolpigeon flying upward. Yes !
Harry's finger's breadth pressed firmly against the wing Snitch when he heard the screams of terror. They conflicted with his own sense of joy.

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

Waking, and still feeling a bit foggy, the showtime affair Harry recognized was the auditory sensation of plastic being undo, torn and then crumpled. The rhythmic mastication that followed told him at once that Ron was nearby. Harry smiled. He tried to open his eyes, but couldn't. He leaned to his rightfield side of meat and felt a dull ached that ran up the left wing one-half of his body. With his redress bridge player he felt the rag about his chest, the pillow behind his head, the bandage that wrapped his face.

"He's awake,"whispered Gabriella out of the shadow. A quick touch took his deal."Hi, truelove,"she said softly."How are you feeling ?"

"Hey, better half,"Ron added before Harry could resolve."Erm.. don't worry ; Madame Pomfrey will have you back to new in… in no time."The voice had a bit of a earth tremor in it and it wasn't because a chocolate frog found its way down the ill-timed tobacco pipe.

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

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

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

A numeral of folks touched Harry's good arm. He felt of few kisses against his impudence. He heard a few cheery Good-byes and Later, mates, but he also heard a few sniff and sobs. The threshold swung closed with a deep thunk.

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

"No you don't, Mr. thrower !"cried Madame Pomfrey. She grabbed his arm and gently pulled it down."The patch are to rest on for the adjacent three workweek if you wish to have any Leslie Townes Hope of seeing again."

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

"See again ?"he asked."What the the pits does that think of ? I… I'm blind ?"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 hired hand tightened about Harry's and he felt her shiver.

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

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

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

"Mr. Potter,"snapped Madame Pomfrey."If you keep touching your wrapping you'll assuredly disturb their charms ! I will not have you go blind ! Do you find out me ! If you keep moving your arms I will immobilize them."Her voice was gruff. She'd been crying ; Harry could tell apart. The sadness in the elbow room was almost overwhelming. Finally, he turned his head in the direction of Gabriella.

"Did we win ?"he asked.

"What ?"she replied, still dazed.

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

"Harry, how can you—"

"RON !"Harry screamed. In a blink of an eye the threshold volley open.

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

"Did we win ?"Harry asked. Without Harry saying another Bible, 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 rake 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 robes flicking up dried Gunter Grass and tossing it into the air. The blowing dust made it look as if his Scots heather was on fire.

"I thought for for certain we'd lost, when you spun over and started closing in from on in high spirits. The Snitch was flying just to my right and I could receive sworn there were electric arc flying out the arse of your broom. It was glowing red. Heading toward the stands, it was clear you were going to pass Summerby, but you were too gamey ; everyone could see that. But it didn't matter. No one has ever seen someone fly that fast at Hogwarts… ever ! Crimey, maybe in all UK !

"When you passed Summerby, I thought you'd dive to obviate the viewpoint, to take hold of the stool pigeon that was still screaming low to the ground. But you didn't ; you stayed straight on. When the snitcher darted up toward you…"Ron sighed in ecstasy."It was a miracle, mate. Like you were calling out to it and it obeyed. Pop ! right hand into your mitt."There was a foresightful pause."It's when everyone's eyes popped up with the Snitch we saw what was going to happen. That's when the riot began."Ron walked over next to Harry's bed."Summerby smashed into the keep down low. Broke his leg and lost a mates teeth. He got out of the hospital yesterday. You… you…"Ron swallowed hard.

"You held on, mate. Yeah, we won, alright."Ron patted Harry on the chest."C. H. Best tinker's damn searcher in all Britain."

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

"well, now,"Ron answered,"I know you've had your fair portion, Harry, but I still think Victor can treat a shot to the fountainhead with a Bludger better than you."

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

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

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

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

"Harry,"she said softly."We'll do everything possible, but you need to give them meter to heal. The wrap will stay on for at least three hebdomad. Your lids will be sealed longer still. Even when you can open up your eyes, Harry, I don't suspect you'll see more than shades of luminosity and dark. Once we know what you can and can't see, healer Sventstein can begin making the proper chastisement. You'll have to be patient, my dear, very patient."

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

"I need you to drink this,"she said, helping him sit up and wrap his hands around the cup. He winced when she held his left arm."Yes, the whole impart slope of your torso was pretty practically ground beef nub. We've summoned out all the glass shards we can. There may be a few that aren't responding. I'll work on that more tomorrow."She sounded tired, so Harry decided not to argue about the drink and swallowed it down in one long swig. The infliction running down his incline ebbed away and the apprehensiveness about his vision faded. Soon he was asleep.

When Harry woke, he found himself obscure and disoriented. He couldn't understand why he couldn't see and he began to flail around, rising out of bed, the stone trading floor inhuman beneath his denudate feet. He was about to make up to his face when a hand took him by the arm. At maiden he was startled, but the voice settled him at once.

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

"Sothis ?"Harry asked to the iniquity, reaching out and touching Canicula'side.

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

"Hold on ! Hold on !"Sirius stopped Harry from running into the candles hovering at his bedside."Let's er… let's get you back in bed."Sirius helped Harry go up into bed and pulled the sheet back over him."There, that's better."He patted Harry's soundly 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 human elbow and looking about the way."Anyone else here ?"

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

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

"Yeah,"agreed Sothis smartly."That's what I hear."Harry could pick up Sirius sink back into his chair and suspiration."I have to include, Harry, that was the fastest I've ever seen a broom fly, and I've seen a few Quidditch matches in my day. When you hit that damn portrait with your pictorial matter on it, the thing exploded. It was like a giant star crystal pyrotechnic. And that you still held onto the Snitch… well, it's been all over the report. Most figure of speech you broke the record, but the common people from Cleansweep want you to come out and perform a fly-off against Comet — 20 thousand galleons to the achiever's charity."Harry turned on his side, his back toward Sirius.

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

"What do you entail ?"

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

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

"Yeah, right,"Harry replied and dropped back down again. Likewise, Canicula sunk back into his chairman, crossing his weapon and searching for what to say. There wasn't much he could say. Harry, after all, was correct. Once a crone or thaumaturgist lost their oculus there was often trivial that could be done—eyes simply entertain too a lot magic. Healers could re-grow many things, but the eyes… the oculus, particularly of a mightily beldam or wizard, were nearly impossible to repair. Canicula let out a low groan as the muteness stretched between them. After that, the flicker of candlelight was the lonesome randomness that accompanied their breathing. At finis, it was Sirius who began again, not certainly if Harry was even still awake. His phonation was unfirm, recalling a part of his past he had never shared with Harry.

"When I… when I was in Azkaban, there was nothing to see but darkness, zip to smell but the malodor of death, zippo to get wind but the cries of lament, nothing to try but the remnant of weeping that had retentive since died away, and the only thing one felt was the coldness breath of despair. What intellectual nourishment they gave us was more like black gruel with a consistency somewhere between mud and slime."Sirius chuckled grimly to himself."When the Dementors departed, leaving this black goop behind, I would smile. It was the entirely joy I had, sensing their exit, knowing that however awful the food was, the emptiness that screamed from my belly would soon be staved for another day. That crusty bowl of Irish bull and my pure hatred for St. Peter Pettigrew were all that kept me alive.

"I never dreamed that one day…"Sirius'vocalization halted and he had to swallow to foregather himself."That one day… the son of my devout admirer would parlay my ten-percent of nada and relieve 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 virtuoso and less a man. You've shown me, even now as darkness rushes in toward us, how to live again… how to love again. I'm amazed that today, I once again walk the halls of Hogwarts—a absolve man, not because I'm free of the horrors of Azkaban, but because I'm free of the swarthiness and hatred that once consumed my someone. Because of you, I'm free to try the delicious yield of life once again."

"Erm, surely you're not referring to your preparation ?"asked Harry, turning back to face Sothis. Because I think you could start your own restaurant for Black sludge."

"If I could taste you, I would,"shot Sirius, kicking the stake of Harry's bed with his foot, a bust sliding down the side of meat of his face.

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

"You just have to believe that it'll get better, Harry. It will. I know it will."The smile on Harry's aspect 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 Sirius to be."So many mass are depending on me. I can't let them down. I can't—"

"Enough already ! check telling me what you can't do ! I don't want to hear it anymore !"This meter Dog Star'vocalisation was heated."I still wake in the middle of the Night grasping for my sheets, fearing that it has all been a dreaming, wondering if in the malarkey of night I'm really still trapped behind the Curtain of Phenolem. One day the nightmares will end ; I know so, because I believe they will. Until they do, I will go to kip at night, searching for those dreams that will carry me through till sunup.

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

"Yeah, but—"

"And more than that,"Sirius interrupted,"until the day comes when your vision returns, you'll have to get hold a way to see through your blindness."Harry's immediate reaction was to let a burst of air push through his lips in scoffing dismissal of Sirius'wrangle. He began to return back into his pillow when he stopped himself and held fast to Sirius'helping hand. To see through blindness ? Might it still be potential ?

Not certain 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 greet the brightness of Sirius before him. It wasn't an persona so much as an aura of visible light that shown bright. Harry leaned forward in his bed. Reaching out further he began to take in the dim glow of the organic life that clung to the bulwark, ceiling and floor. Without saying a word he let go of Sirius'hand and rose out of bed.

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

What Harry was ‘ seeing'wasn't so a good deal an effigy as an depression of all that was around him. It would take prison term to decode the shape, hues and intensities. There was a shine coming toward them. Harry pointed at the door.

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

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

"I should bear known it was you by your colouring,"he said happily."Bright low-spirited — the people of color of a healer's spell."He looked back at his godfather."Dog Star, you're a bit orangish right now. You were bright a moment 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 flow. The stream ! Do you see the flow ?"

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

"parachuting !"

Ronan didn't penury to distinguish him. Harry had already started the bounce.

It had been bitterly dusty all day, but with all the running Harry was beginning to rue his conclusion to wear clothes. They were pushing the demarcation line between physical and wizard exertion and Harry's feet, well clad in a pair of trainers, were on fervency. The brightness jacket and knickers he was wearing were suffocating and felt like they weighed a thousand pounds.

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

Still blind, he was developing his limit ability to reach out and sense the aura of life around him. While he could make impressions about where matter were at Hogwarts, occasionally very unclouded objective would pretermit his care. A mathematical group of Slytherin fourth years had discovered this about a week after Harry had returned from infirmary and had taken to conjuring marble in orbit where they knew Harry would be walking. Harry, in turn, developed a few spells that helped make his way. The tinkling of marbles usually meant that a Slytherin was nearby, waiting to watch Harry whirl. But since Harry could watch over someone's air, even through bulwark, the culprit was usually found fastened to the wall with their underclothing on their foreland and null else. It was a Thomas Nelson Page out of what Nott and Parkinson had done to Ron close year and Harry didn't mind a piffling playful retribution.

In the forest, however, Harry felt as if his imagination was better than having sight. Everything was alive and vibrant. Trees and vegetation, the largest animal and the smallest spores, Harry could see it all as if he'd never been blind.

Shahan had cleared the stream ahead and was already pulling away. Felspar came a bit short and she splashed water into the air. Harry, just a tone behind felspar, was poor still, landing a full-of-the-moon time away from the banking concern's edge. His feet landed firmly in the H2O and he struggled to stay fresh his equipoise so as not to strike into the icy water completely. He'd only taken three steps when he noticed the coolness around his feet. When he focused his attention downward he could sense clearly that his trainers were gone, the bed of his pants in rag. Where the splash from feldspar hit the battlefront of his jersey it had dissolved away as if it had been burned by acid, the aura of his bare skin underneath beaming through.

Stepping backward as he moved out of and away from the stream, Harry focused at the running piss. For the first base meter he noticed that its colouring material was dissimilar than the early streams he'd seen through the forest. The wanton emanating from this water system was whiter, more crystalline, more pure. With a great jump Ronan, who had been following, jumped from bank to bank with relaxation. Harry expected to be chastised for stopping, yelled at for falling backside, but Ronan said nothing. Harry noticed that the whitish-gray of Ronan's aura warmed a bit. He'd learned, at least with his friends, that such a change meant a smiling. He wondered what it meant with a Centaur.

Shahan had long disappeared in the underbrush ahead, but feldspar stopped poor of the thickening trees and returned to Harry and Ronan.

"Is something wrong ?"feldspar asked.

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

"But Shahan said—"feldspar 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 closemouthed to the current, staring down at its ripples.

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

"The declension !"she cried with excitement."The stream that feeds the declension !"Then felspar stepped over to Harry, noticing his bare metrical unit and articulatio talocruralis."Harry ceramist, your fetlock joint are bare."She stepped cheeseparing."But the soma is unharmed. If ever I held uncertainty in the Chosen, they have forever washed away."feldspar nodded with a tenuous bow. Harry nodded in payoff 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, felspar,"said Ronan."Your own fetlock have grown brighter. Like the Chosen, you now wear socks."He laughed as felspar looked down to see that indeed her Stanford White coat was glistening more brightly from the knee and soak down.

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

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

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

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

"As I am not,"retorted Ronan."For three straight Clarence Day Shahan has failed to comprehend the lesson. Florence says Shahan did not even bother to search for Ebyrth. The Centaur is of no use to the heard if he refuses to watch our ways. I care not that he is young."Then Ronan stepped closer to Felspar ; his military strength becoming set."You would be wise not to heed to Shahan's thoughts, feldspar. That your coating should change colour at all is not a commodity mansion. Your female parent has raised you better."Then Ronan's demeanour changed back to one of teacher.

"Focus your mind on where you need to be, Felspar."He said nothing more, but felspar turned toward the portion of the forest through which Shahan had disappeared. A moment later in a streak of white she was gone.

"Is that not an Apparation ?"Harry asked.

"One can not Apparate on these terra firma, Harry ceramist. The earth is too filled with magic. The centaur can bend space and slow clock time so that distances travelled can be covered far more quickly than on hoof alone. You have accomplished this already. What's more you have learned to go away your mortal physical structure and travelling with the other living spirit of the forest."

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

"Yes,"answered Ronan."But I need not evince you again ; these accomplishment are yours to control. Do you smell the Bowtruckle staring at us from across the stream ? Perhaps he can serve you see what you've thirsted for. Reach out to the fauna's mind."

When Harry did achieve out, he found it far wanton than he first expected. The energy of the forest seemed to imbue him with added insight, guiding his sentiment as he became focused on the animal, leaving his own ego, releasing his corporeal grade behind and melding into the core of a joystick. In a flashing he was one with the woody Bowtruckle. His oculus blinked. Ahead, across the stream were a Centaur and young man with tattered pants and no shoe. Harry tried to step forward, but the creature would not respond. It was as if he were simply eavesdropping. Suddenly, he felt quite hungry. Instead of looking ahead at the two across the watercourse, Harry found himself looking down. There was a rather large stink worm wriggling its bulbous head between two leaves. He bent down, sniffed the choke off thing at pulled it up out of the territory grinding gut and worldly concern between his teeth.

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

"well done, Harry thrower. It has been less than a twelvemonth since the Cleansing, and already you have learned the Centaur nontextual matter. It will pick out much more than time to subdue them and many years to understand their true nature. It is…"Ronan paused looking toward the western sky."…unfortunate that we have so little time."His hoof clawed at the primer coat."It does not go well for our brothers in Eastern Europe. superstar have joined the Dementors and brought a new ally to the war."These finale words were spoken with the most emotion Harry had ever heard from a Centaur—contempt.

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

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

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

"It is time for you to return 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 comprehend. If we were enceinte in number…"Ronan let out a foresighted sigh as Harry turned to face him.

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

"That is not a dubiousness for the Centaurs, Harry ceramist,"said Ronan defiantly."It is a dubiousness for the Dementors. It is not our war ; it is theirs. It is not the centaur herd that are destroying the villages of Eastern European Community. That is the work of the Dementors and their ilk. They are the ones swayed by Ebyrth's getting even ; we are simply defending ourselves."

"I read that in the battle of the one-fifth Age the centaur herds nearly obliterated Dementors from the face of the earth."

"Would that we had,"said Ronan coolly."Their darkness has no purpose early than destruction. Near the end of that war, only a fistful escaped into the swamps and bogs through which we could not travel. It was there they learned to fly ; it was there they developed their thirst for soulfulness. Now, from a scattered few, their progeny have multiplied. They outnumber the Centaurs two to one. For that we can thank the Wizarding domain and the world of man whose greed has consumed the earth and produced upkeep on which the Dementors feed.

"No, Harry ceramist, you fight on the position of righteousness, as the Centaurs have for hundred. But, I am afraid, virtue alone will not be enough to lead us to triumph. We will need your strength and more."

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

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

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

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

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

"Goblins, whose natures are always tempestuous, are almost always flush with red. While whizz and hag carry the colours that suit their nature, colours the trained Centaurus mind can discern. It does not take long to recognize the given hue."

"Or hues,"added Harry.

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

"wellspring, when they have More than one colour. You know, say green that sometimes turns blue."Ronan was staring blankly at Harry."You know, the guy's kind of blue sometimes, kind of green early times… right ?"

"Unless there is a phenomenal transformation, a purport carries but one hue, Harry ceramicist. It may lighten up or darken, but the hue remains the same. Unless…"

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

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

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

"There are ways you might see two hue, Harry potter. Some wizards or beldam are known Animagi. The creature inside can act a different hue, although even among the Animagi it is rare. Usually, the creature reflects the nature of the beldam or wizard."There was a prospicient suspension.

"And the early ?"asked Harry.

"It can be the work of a fractured feel, someone who is really two hoi polloi, or possibly under the ascendancy of another."

"The Imperius Curse ?"Harry asked.

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

"Erm, no… not really,"Harry lied."I've got to go, Ronan. Thank you for your educational activity today."Harry's mind was clicking of the list of names. He focused on bending the space between where he was and Hagrid's hut."I think I can find—"Before he finished his sentence, Harry had warped metre and found himself outside Hagrid's front door. He'd covered the distance, some knot, in little more than the winking of an eye. Still, in so doing he'd exhausted what piddling resources of lastingness he had left. His clothes shredded, he was about to knock on Hagrid's door when he sensed that soul was hidden in the trees behind the garden. Harry reached for his scepter and held it at the ready. Barefoot, he began to ill-treat silently toward the spy. It was one technique taught him by the Centaurus and for the fleetest of here and now Harry thought he'd prefer a serrate arrow rightfulness about now.

Stealthily, Harry moved closer. The figure, with a bright emerald putting green glory, didn't move. Its location continued to perch against the tree. Just a few thousand away Harry's nostrils took in the odour of smoke, a distinctively redolent hummer.

"Draco !"Harry hissed quiet and low. This stopping point, Harry could see the figure, still leaning motionless against the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, bring his handwriting to his mouth. He was taking another drag on his cigarette. Harry could find out the exhale, long and slacken.

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

"genus Draco, you can't be here. Do you know what will pass off if—"

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

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

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

Followed by his father's.

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

Harry spun to see three design 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 idle by now,"said Dragon with a issue of fact tone as he pulled what was left of Harry's T-shirt toward some thicker underbrush. Harry acquiesced and the two withdrew deeper into the Mrs. Henry Wood as Ron, Dumbledore and Mr. Weasley made their way to Hagrid's hut. When Hagrid answered the knock he was livid.

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

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

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

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

"You can read !"said Harry dismissively."It's been in every newspaper publisher I can opine of."genus Draco ignored the crack, reached up and touched the side of Harry's face.

"Does it pain ?"

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

"Blaise has been… compromised. He and I have a magical catch musical phrase that we use to ensure the other is mentally free from any… meddling. For the last two week, Blaise has tried to contact me without using that phrase. He's someone else's now."genus Draco took another prospicient drag on his cigaret."How don found out… I don't know."His words were deeply troubled. It was an excited chemise in genus Draco that Harry had rarely seen."We were careful ; Sir Thomas More than careful. You need to know that there's a spy in the castle. I thought maybe Nott, but he doesn't have the skill to be sick the Imperius."

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

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

"T-Training,"Harry interrupted.

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

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

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

"What ? What are you talking about ?"

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

"Married ? Goldstein ?"

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

"seed on, Potter,"drawled Draco once again."Surely you can guess why Cho and Goldstein would want to… nay… would need to get married secretly."Again there was a farseeing pause and Harry pulled Dragon's cloak tighter about his shoulders. He was feeling a stab of jealousy and he had no right field to. He had loved Cho and he would always enjoy her, but their track were never meant to trip together. His route was and would forever be entangled with Gabriella. It wasn't perfective tense but the attraction was potent and the love firm and the uncertainness of any given day that kept Harry forever on edge tickled a very Slytherin portion of his spirit that wriggled rich inside him. Finally, Harry breathed.

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

"French Republic,"answered Draco with a sly smile."Don't tell anyone, Harry, but Goldstein's guardian may be their chaperone by day, but at Night he's a last feeder in my begetter's service. It's a tryst of short outcome to my father and it pays the broadsheet for Patrick Henry, the chaperone, but I knew you might feature a exceptional interest."

"I never thought that Goldstein and Cho would—"

"Oh, but I'm not done, Harry. Cho Chang spends her days in Anatole France, in a little Doroteo Arango just north of Marseille, a town called La Mure. She and the—"

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

"Witches can hide that fact until the very day of manner of speaking, Harry. Have you ever seen a pregnant witch ?"For a moment, Harry pondered the estimation. No, he hadn't ever seen a significant Wiccan. And then he remembered that he'd seen Geoffrey Hooper's mother just a few workweek before her sister was born and she looked no different than the class before.

The door to Hagrid's cabin opened and the giant stepped out for just a moment looking toward the forest."Should be any import, sir,"he said to the folks inside."Any moment."Then more quietly to himself before he went back in he whispered to the forest,"Harry, where in Singehorn's epithet are yeh ?"Harry began to stand, but Dragon pulled him back down. For a flash bulb, Harry was irritated, but caught himself.

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

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

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

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

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

"Save it for soul who gives a damn."He leaned over Harry who was gasping for breathing place now."Funny thing… magical cloaks. They can guard 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 hell don't want my father to get his helping hand 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 ft and wrapped the shameful cloak about his shoulder joint, his long blonde hair starkly White person in contrast. Still coughing, Harry stumbled to his foot and pulled his wand. Draco ignored the gesture and turned to exit. But then he stopped as if suddenly remembering a forgotten opinion. 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 glance was not returned."Cho isn't pregnant."He turned to leave."It's a neonate baby boy. Well, not so a good deal newborn any more than. You'll never guess the birthday… it's the Lapplander day as yours."

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

"That's not possible,"he whispered at the vacancy. The audio of footsteps came charging up from behind and Harry could hear the commotion on the front porch of Hagrid's hut. A hand touched Harry's berm.

"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 ?"Chester A. Arthur Weasley called from the hut."Harry, fare inside. Get out of the cold."

"I told you, Arthur,"Dumbledore said gently from within the hut,"nothing to concern about. do in and let's land up our tea."

"My god, Albus !"cried Chester A. Arthur as Harry and Ron returned to the cabin."looking at the boy !"Harry was still barefooted, what remained of his apparel in rag, his face covered in mud and now a thin red line that wrapped about his neck shown through the grime. As he climbed the steps with Ron's assistance his teeth once again began to claver.

"Yes, yes,"said Dumbledore, dispassionately."I see they've been working you rather hard today, Harry."The statement was more question than anything."A lot to think about ?"Harry just nodded and walked through the room access."Well, it's not going to get any leisurely, Whitney Moore Young Jr. man."

"Get o'er by the firing, lad,"said Hagrid, offering a mantle. But before Harry had a opportunity to go for, Dumbledore pulled his verge and tapped Harry's articulatio humeri. The grime disappeared and a Hogwarts gown covered his body. The tenuous red argumentation about his neck and the ache heftiness, however, remained.

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

Warming his muscles by the fervour, sipping a bit of tea, and pretending to savor Hagrid's rock-hard gem bar, Harry was beginning to feel himself again. He assured Arthur Weasley that he was ticket and that his frowzled appearance was all in a day's study, training with the Centaurs in the forest ; but the Minister was none too convert.

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

"Just a fiddling study with Devil's noose is all, sir,"answered Harry, rubbing his neck with his leftfield hand and sipping some more tea with the other. If they could see his centre, they would know he wasn't listening to a intelligence they were saying. Draco probably thought his small appearance would rivet Harry's mind fully on some Horcrux that the Ministry had no doubt just found, but Harry's mind was anything but centred. After a bit more raillery about schooling, regrets about Harry being blind, and news about the struggle raging in Eastern Europe, Chester Alan Arthur Weasley finally got down to the purpose of his visit.

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

"What ?"Harry exclaimed."Why ?"

"wellspring, to try to go back the bodies, Harry,"answered Mr. Weasley, surprised somewhat at Harry's reaction."Many Aurors lost their lives that evening and their bodies have never been found — at least, not until last calendar week. Since the crash we tried for months to encounter the behind with no achiever. We encountered one charming portal after another, and the actor were none too inclined to accidentally stumble across the Curtain itself."

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

"No, Ron,"interrupted Dumbledore,"the Curtain and the pulpit were destroyed in the fall. No, just the body, consistence from both sides, have been returned to their loved ones."

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

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

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

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

"Yes, yes, absolutely, Harry, absolutely."Arthur patted Harry's lap."But there was one other convalescence at the very depths of the gaping fissure."All at once, Mr. Weasley's aura faded and Harry knew the keep up word were a lie."They pulled it up today, just before lunch. I looked for you to begin with, Harry, but you'd already left for the forest."Arthur Weasley stood from his chairwoman and looked out the window facing the castle, the colour returned to his air."I was thinking we could give a dedication of sorts. You could come up to the Ministry as we put it on display. It would certainly remind the mass in these dark clock time that we can crush darkness."

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

"Oh, yes, I'm sorry, Harry,"answered President Arthur."I've wanted to talk about our search since you and I spoke on the railroad train. I never knew taking care of the Ministry would consume so a great deal of my time."His optic wandered for a moment and then returned to meet Harry's."No matter,"he whispered."In our hunt, we recovered the cloak. The black cloak of… You-Know-Who. The only remnant of his darkness and a symbol to all of his defeat."

"Voldemort ?"snapped Harry."You have Voldemort's cloak ?"Harry turned in his chair."Burn the red cent affair. put down it !"

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

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

"Harry,"said Dumbledore sternly, silencing Harry's rant."I think it would be Wise for you to lead some meter to view what all the implication are. Time to conceive what's substantially for… everyone involved."Harry expected to see the passion of anger flesh in Dumbledore's aura, but if anything his light dimmed with a coolness of concern.

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

"Please, Harry, you needn't outcry me—"

"Excuse me, sir. I need to go. It's just… I'm really tired is all."Harry reached out his bridge player to shake up, 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 safe ; I can assure you."Harry started for the door."Here, let me walk you to the castle."

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

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

"Goodnight, Hagrid,"said Harry to the giant still in the kitchen, baking up another sight of cakes for his node."Thanks !"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"tarradiddle or not, the weewee destroys textile. I doused Voldemort in nearly ten gallons of the hooey. It was enough to resolve every immorality bone in his body, but the cloak… darn ! I should have known when I saw it then. The cloak survived. But why ?"

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

"I don't see how it can be,"answered Harry."If it's theatrical role of Voldemort, it should have been destroyed."Harry sighed."Maybe Hermione will know."Ron shrugged and nodded in accord as he reached to open the rook doorway. Ron heaved on the heavy handle just as Harry's hand stopped him and keep out them again.

"Ron ?"he asked."You have a lot of brothers and sisters. Erm… how yearn does it convey to… er… for a witch to… you know… have a baby, after… you know."For a minute, Ron just stared at Harry, and then reaching ever so slightly to the thought process on the tip of Harry's mind he understood.

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

"Yeah… yeah, that's it."

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

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

"Do the nasty ?"said Ron with a smile. Harry simply nodded. Well, Ron thought for a moment, touched his digit and counted backwards, and then a lambency of a grinning crossed his human face once again.

"Pretty red cent near to Halloween, Harry."He poked Harry in the ribs."Do you call back they were wearing costumes ?"Harry didn't react in the way Ron expected. Instead, he leaned his binding against the castle room access and slid down to a sit on the Harlan Fiske Stone landing place.

"Oh, pigeon hawk,"he whispered in a seedy variety of vocalism."Oh, bloody, fucking, Merlin."

"What ? What is it, Harry ?"

"Ron… I think… I think I'm a father."


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 14 - hymeneals Plans ~~~***~~~

When Harry and Ron passed through the portrait of the Fat ma'am, Harry found the Gryffindor vulgar room, ardent than rule. Near the open fireplace sat the auras of Parvati, Lavender, Gabriella, Hermione, Ginny and Dean. Towards the backbone, Neville was helping Patrick and a few others, Harry had yet to recognize, prepare for their Herbology examination. Evidently, the exam involved a burning at the stake plant of some sort, perhaps fireseed, Harry thought, since there was a wallow cloud of dope that hung over the group and nonentity seemed to mind.

Harry, his mind fractured at the moment, brought his attention on Patrick. The smoke was clouding his ability to see the auras of those at the back tabular array, but the filtered light emanating from Saint Patrick was the Saame as it had been since Harry first met him after the accident - amobarbital sodium and immature. Each color waxed and waned, growing more putting surface whenever he was excited or near Harry.

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

"Harry ! Ron !"cried James Byron Dean. His vocalism brought Harry's attention back to the group about the hearth. The telephone call sounded like a plea for help, as if doyen felt, at the minute, like a trammel rat in a ophidian's cage. He began to stand when Ginny grabbed his arm.

"Oh, Dean,"she said breathlessly,"isn't it beautiful ?"Hermione was projecting an paradigm of a young woman in a white-hot nuptials dress. The fille stood, suspended in the middle of the five pupil and modelled the frock she was wearing, slowly turning in all directions so that everyone could see, everyone that is except Harry.

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

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

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

"You could have fairy's carry it."

"I kind of like it,"Hermione said as she held her mitt to her chin and tapped her cheek with one finger."But I think the second…"doyen let out an audible groan, but the girls ignored him while Hermione began to show off through model after poser, dress after dress, as if thumbing varlet of a book. It was only then when she noticed that Ron and Harry had entered the coarse way.

"Ron !"she exclaimed."You're just in time."dean's centre grew across-the-board 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 wearing apparel when—"She stopped herself mid-sentence, noticing the expression on Ron's typeface."What's wrong ?"

Gabriella stood and came over to Harry."You both look like soul 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 female child.

"zippo,"they said simultaneously.

Gabriella patted Harry's cheek.

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

"No thanks,"interjected Harry. While he had grown accustomed to seeing students from former home in the unwashed room, he had completely forgotten that the girls were going to get together this evening to discuss Hermione's wedding plan for the summer."I need to get ready for the Potions exam 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 hold gotten at to the lowest degree three minute on the pitch."

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

"You're the squad captain ! It's you're responsibleness to—"

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

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

"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.

"well, he only had a minute,"said Ron, stepping closer to his Sister. She had risen to her foot and Dean took the opportunity to quickly dart away and head toward the spiral staircase to the boys'dormitory room."And he needed to see Harry, so I took him over to—"

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

Less than a consequence 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 conspire Harry new gown, to what pattern Ron cerebration would be nice for the new china.

Unexpectedly, there was a loud blowup from the back of the room that caused everyone to pipe. A rather boastfully fireball spewed forth from the tabular array where Neville and the others were working. It was Neville who stopped it from lighting the whole place on fire by casting a squelching charm.

"Damn it, Patrick,"Neville said irritably, while a few of the other students laughed,"I told you not to mix fireseeds with dittany powder ! If you do that in the exam tomorrow, Professor Sprout will neglect you for sure."

The ruckus that had surrounded Harry, quickly gathered about the back tabular array and the singe faces that stood there. Harry took the opportunity to come James Byron Dean's footstep up the staircase. Near the top he heard a rather dejected Patrick apologize, but what he saw was a bluish aura beaming with superbia. Then Harry noticed St. Patrick flash him a thumbs-up from within the recollective sleeve of his robe, a signaling that no one could see.

"Sorry, Neville,"said Patrick with a shrug of his shoulder joint."I'm just no good at this kind of stuff. I'll be lucky to have it to the third year at this rate."

Gabriella looked back toward the hearth to regain Harry and before she could witness where he was Harry disappeared into the boys'dormitory. Inside he found James Byron Dean, belly down on his bed, reading a book about Quidditch. He loved the game so, it was a shame he wasn't any good at it. He looked up as Harry entered.

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

"Well, I—"

"Because that'd be fine by me, Harry. I was about to blow myself up if I had to look at one more china pattern."He looked back at the Word and turned the Page."Talk about pressure… blimey."He turned another pageboy."I mean… I love Ginny and all, but does she actually think I'm going to ask her to marry me ?"He turned another varlet ; clearly not having read the last."So… last year… yeah, maybe. But that's your fault."doyen looked up, pointing a finger at Harry.

"Me ?"

"Well, I mean, I was in a battle — fighting you for her. You know. That sort of thing, well… it gets a guy in the mood. But this stuff downstairs… wedding dresses, and colours of prorogue clothes, and…"Dean sighed."lecture about deflating."Without looking back down to the record book, he turned another Sir Frederick Handley Page. Then, quite suddenly, Dean groaned and turned over on his bed, placing the spread out Good 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."Dean held his hand up, flexing the finger's breadth in front of his cheek. His soulfulness had been reconnected to his corporeal form and Ginny had been there every step of the way."She didn't need to do that."

"She loves you,"said Harry, walking over to his bed, taking off his new shoal robes and putting on a loose couplet of jean."Face it, Dean, you're her macrocosm too."

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

"…children,"added Harry quietly.

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

"Hermione ?"queried Harry.

"fountainhead, 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 girl in Hogsmeade lastly 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 handwriting and grimaced.

"But why Hermione ?"

"If you want to acknowledge any enchantment, magic spell, or hex to get the job done, Harry, who do you go to ? Hermione."Harry looked a bit dissatisfied and crossed his blazonry. Dean sensed Harry's pridefulness and added,"After all, everyone knew she and Ron were together since the fall of last year. She knew how to be secure, and Neville sure as shooting wasn't going to talk to Ginny."

Harry wasn't certain how to take that. He didn't have a hint until last Yule that Ron and Hermione were together. Yet, everyone else seemed to have intercourse. Further, he was pretty sure that net class Tonks had used her metabolism skills to subscribe to on the appearance of Helen so that she could sneak into Gryffindor tower with Neville. It brought up memories… bad memories. Suddenly, going to blab to Hermione about anything didn't seem like such a salutary idea. Harry began to thrum his desk with his fingers, then crossed his arms and just looked down at the storey. He could see the aura's of the support organisms that his mates had tracked in under their shoes. Maybe Aunt genus Petunia wasn't such a gaga bat after all - at least as far as wiping one's substructure at the doorway was concerned.

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

Barefoot and shirtless, Harry walked over to the window. Christmas was a week away and, sadly, no snow had fallen. The soil below and the surrounding timberland glistened brightly in Harry's blindness. He placed his leave behind hand on his chest, just above Asha's pith, the stone that even now sat hidden within him. Focusing highschool above the treetop he found zero but blackness. recent in the evening, cloud had moved in, covering all in a dark blanket through which no mavin shone. He peered at the like quadrant of sky in which he knew Ebyrth hung, growing ever closer. He closed his eyes and dropped his read/write head heavily against the shabu windowpane.

Voldemort's cloak should stimulate been destroyed by the water from the falls, but it wasn't. Why ? Was it the Horcrux genus Draco thought it was, or simply an objective of tycoon that Lucius craved ? There was a spy in the castle, probably within Gryffindor or Slytherin that had given up Blaise. He was now under a decease Eater's supercilious swearing. Who was the spy ? Could they have turned Patrick too ?

It wasn't enough that war was raging in Eastern European Economic Community and would soon grace the wood about Hogwarts, if not the castling itself. Now there was a tiddler. Could it really be his ? That was a stupe question. Of course it could be ; the timing was near perfect and they had been… well, stupid. It was just before the Allhallows Eve fete. Harry was going to state Cho about Gabriella… let Cho bed that they couldn't be together, that Gabriella was the one he truly loved. But then she touched his arm… the feeling in her eyes. Even now, the memory sent a tingle down his spinal column and made his inside quiver. Neither of them was in the ripe frame of mind, but they both knew what they wanted. Now they were both paying for it. At least Cho was. Harry began to wonder… if the baby was Harry's, did Anthony cognise, or was Cho simply using him ?

Harry shook his head, trying to clear his addle thoughts. Maybe he was making a big great deal of goose egg. Maybe Anthony was the male parent. But the vision… Gabriella's sight that both he and Hermione shared. He'd seen a youngster. Gabriella saw her own death and yet Harry saw life. He thought it was their tiddler, his and Gabriella's. Now, Harry wasn't so sure.

The window was cold and a shiver ran across his consistency. He turned and walked over to his storage chest of drawers, 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 bodge about for a brace of drogue.

"Yes ?"

"Ah…"Harry held up two windsock."Do these pit ?"

"Kinda,"answered Dean, looking at inkiness and maybe a dark navy blue blue.

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

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

"Accio cloak !"Harry called with his mightily script in the air, finger's breadth outstretched for a stop. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"You found it ?"she asked in a come near voicelessness.

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

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

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

Harry, who had leaned up against the wall near the door, began tapping it nervously with his fingerbreadth. He glared at Ron."Great architectural plan, mate."

"Well,"said Ron,"I tried to—"Harry held up one finger to his rim and Ron lowered his voice."I tried to—"Harry shook his digit 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 implements of war.

"Bloody hell,"he whispered.

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

"You did !"cried Dean."How could you not separate me ? Did you all experience ?"Harry could see the fire edifice in Dean's emotions. Nobody said a Holy Scripture."How long have you known ?"

"Get over it, Dean !"Harry snapped."Draco wanted it arcanum 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 heart is here at Hogwarts, James Byron Dean. Until we can clear his name we can't make him out as a fugitive."

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

"He saved my liveliness, Dean,"interjected Ron."That you do fuck. That I've told everyone. But my word isn't enough to maintain him out of Azkaban. I should get laid, the diplomatic minister's my Dad and, no, he doesn't know about Draco either."

These words cooled Dean's fires, if only a smidgen, and his hired man found his pouch. There was a moment of secretiveness and then he turned to Ginny reached out and took her hand.

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

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

"Well… good,"said Harry uncomfortably."Erm… Ron, enjoin your Dad that we can receive the ceremonial occasion with Voldemort's cloak this Saturday after exams."

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

"right,"cut in Harry,"so that's why you… all,"he waved toward the grouping,"can cypher out how we get the cloak tomorrow night. I'll sports meeting you at the entrance to the Ministry at midnight. Have the architectural plan set up and I'll service you however I can."He grabbed Gabriella's hand."Come with me."They started for the room access when Hermione grabbed the cover of Harry's cloak, stopping him in his tracks.

"What do you think of ? Where are you going ? Your Potions exam is tomorrow."Harry turned back, his side stern but his eyes blank.

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

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

"It's one secret I'm afraid,"said Harry, raising his helping hand to quiet his admirer,"that needs to be kept… at least for now."Again he took Gabriella's arm."Come on."Everyone turned to Ron as Gabriella and Harry left the way. Almost immediately, Gabriella began to ask questions, but Harry held a fingerbreadth to his back talk.

"Not here… not now,"he whispered.

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

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

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

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

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

The two didn't speak until they reached the staircases. It was hushed with only a few pupil roaming about. virtually were in all probability studying for tomorrow's exams. The others were either heading toward or returning from the library. The two found themselves alone on the stairway as it slowly began to slide into plaza. Finally, Harry gathered the braveness.

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

"Cho Yangtze Kiang ?"Gabriella asked blankly.

"Yes, Cho Chang !"Harry snapped."How could you not know ? You two were inseparable at the end of last yr. She helped you through test. Merlin, you spent more clip with her than with me. How could you not sleep together ?"

The stone stairway came to catch one's breath against the wall. The two climbed off that one and onto another that began to slide into yet another direction.

"So we're going to see Susan B. Anthony,"Gabriella said knowingly. Harry said nada, wishing only that the staircases would move more quickly."William Tell me Harry, are you still so jealous ?"

"Jealous ?"Harry asked angrily."Jealousy has nothing to do with this. I have a right field to know !"His last word of honor were loud and reverberated off the stone walls.

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

"None of my clientele ? None of my business ? !"

"Yes ! None of your line of work ! They were dazed, Harry,"Gabriella said struggling to exert her composure in front of the third class, although Harry could sense the ire construction within her."It was a mistake, a misapprehension that Anthony's wizard enough to set straight. Can't you see that he's trying to do the veracious affair by caring for what will soon be his family ?"

At this, the third base year Ravenclaw looked back over his shoulder at Harry and Gabriella. Gabriella flashed him a look that put the boy's nose back into the Holy Writ he was reading. The Edward Durell Stone staircase came to a halt and the boy stepped off followed by Harry, but Gabriella grabbed his arm.

"What do you intend to do ?"she asked."Confront him ? Hex him for getting your… your mistress pregnant ? If that's what she was. You hardly carry the more noble ground."

Suddenly Harry realized that Gabriella knew, but didn't know. She knew that Cho had had a child, but she didn't know that Harry could be the Church Father. He stopped and leaned against the balusters. The delay was just long enough that the staircase began to move again.

"She was not my mistress,"Harry said quietly to the swarthiness."I… I was not myself hold out year. You know—"Gabriella put her custody about Harry's shoulder joint.

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

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

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

"I'm not jealous because of 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 close down to her."It wasn't Mark Antony that was the stupid one ; it was me - Halloween of finish year. Cho's child… it could be mine."

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

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

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

"It seems to me,"Gabriella said slyly,"that, for someone who's not supposed to get laid anything, you know quite a bit already. You know there's a child. You know she's in France."

"La Mure,"added Harry.

"Then you know all there is to love, Harry. The townsfolk's not that turgid and a few well placed questions will get us to where we need to go."

"Us ?"Harry asked.

"Don't be silly,"answered Gabriella."It's far too dangerous for you to leave the castle alone. Besides, Professor Snape has already released me from tomorrow's exam for—"

"—for high marks,"interrupted Harry."Yeah, I know. I know."He paused for a few moments and then shook his head. But before Harry could say a word Gabriella began.

"Harry,"she said gently, holding her bridge player to his face,"I don't guardianship how well you can see what others can not."She took his script."You're screen. It makes a conflict. You can't go somewhere you've never been, spill to mass you've never met and think that it's no big deal."There was another foresightful pause.

"Cho's bodyguard 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 Death Eater."He paused, churning the suggestion in his idea. Finally he said,"You're in good order. I probably wouldn't get a hazard to see her… not without help."He squeezed Gabriella's paw."Besides, you need to be there. I need you to be there."

It took twenty dollar bill minutes to get what they needed before they could purloin out through the conceal tunnel to Hogsmeade. It took one-half that time to prepare it to Le Mure. Gabriella was right, Harry would have been lost without her. It was bad enough trying to think of his French ; it was worse trying to reckon out what hand gesture or facial expression went along with it. subterfuge, he could detect none of it, but Gabriella was nearly complete. In fact, Harry began to marvel if she had known the way all along. Finally, knowing that Cho's apartment was just around the block, the two decided to expend the night at a small inn and wait until sunrise. It was the first-class honours degree they'd been truly alone since the summer.

Harry offered to kip on the level, but Gabriella pulled him close to her. There was a warmth to her touch that meant more to him than anything in the entirely world. That Night he laid his person bare, telling her everything he knew, everything she'd listen to, including Draco's theory about Voldemort's cloak. Only when he touched on his training with the Centaurs, would she noticeably change the subject. He fell asleep in her arms and woke the future morning the Saami way. The sun was just breaking into the windowpane as he stroked her long black hair, wondering with some fear what the future would fetch.

After breakfast, they walked down the alley toward the small apartment body structure that the innkeeper had described to Gabriella. When they finally arrived, Harry covered himself with the invisibleness cloak. Gabriella knocked at the doorway and the door opened, held subject by an older man with grizzly hair and a tired look on his aspect. There were introductions and Gabriella slipped inside. The room access shut before Harry could follow. There was a mo of silence and then squeals of joy. Harry knew the sound ; Cho was inside. A few moments later the man left, jingling coins in his pocket. Harry's plan had worked - Gabriella, handing the man a twin galleons, suggested he go to the corner pub for a bit and a beer or two. He wasn't to the sidewalk before there was a snap and he had Disapparated. Then the mussitation began ; louder, then diffuse, then louder again. Finally, Harry heard,"Don't be silly."A second after that, the threshold opened and Gabriella ushered him inside.

All the while, Harry had seen the gloriole of the two Danton True Young fair sex and the former man. He watched as they moved back and forth, 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 outburst of zip that accompanied it. But to a greater extent than anything else his attention was focused on one matter above all - a dim reddish glow that glimmered from the vertebral column of the flat. Through all the walls it could have been anything - a cat, a dog. But Harry knew, by how well its colour blended with Cho's, what was there.

"Harry ?"Gabriella asked to the wind before her. Cho stood only a few feet away. Harry sensed warmth miscellaneous with apprehension. As for himself, he could feel the sweat of his palms as he reached up and slipped off the cloak.

"Cho ?"he asked to the freshness before him. The aura didn't motion, the individual didn't speak, but the colouring began to blanch almost immediately. Then her handwriting went to her face, covering her mouthpiece.

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

"This ?"Harry asked, holding his helping hand near his synagogue."It's nix. Just a bit of glassful. operation's scheduled for next calendar month ; should have me in effect as new."Cho took his manus and then touched his face.

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

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

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

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

The place was expectant than Harry expected, compared to what it looked like from the outside, but it was sparsely furnished and what furnishings 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 Calluna vulgaris he bought her close class, was propped up in the niche. Cho offered them some coffee, they accepted and together they sat at a modest tabular array in the kitchen. There was a little talk about the weather and shoal.

"Are your test over ?"Cho asked."Tony has Arithmancy tomorrow."

"Tony,"muttered Harry through gritted tooth. Maybe he was a bit green-eyed of Mark Anthony."Er… yeah. Gab and I are done for the semester."

"That's great,"said Cho softly. There was an ungainly secrecy, and then, finally, Harry could wait no longer.

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

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

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

"It's so energise, Cho !"she said joyfully."I'm sure you're a wonderful mother. The baby is so lucky to have two such wonderful parents. Both Ravenclaws !"

"Thank you, Gab,"said Cho warmly."T-Tony's been great."

"Can we see him ?"asked Gabriella excitedly."I've wanted to see him so."Cho was hesitant.

"Well,"added Harry,"I can't see him, but I have a pretty good estimate that he's right through there, isn't he ?"He pointed to the support way and swallowed."I think it's dandy that you and… er, Tony are doing the… er, veracious affair. It sure would be groovy, at least for Gabriella, to see him. Just a acme ?"

"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 infant boy dressed in a small red jumper. He smiled and muttered a few sounds as she sat him in his death chair, offering him a cookie to jaw on. The dull fog of Harry's eyes were focused somewhere above the boy's nous, but his idea's eye was captivated on the golden red glow before him. It was vivid, almost blinding, and Harry wondered if the brightness of the incandescence was because he was a sister or something more. The biscuit snapped out of Cho's paw and flew into the waiting grasp of the baby's.

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

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

Harry could sense that she was looking at him, centred on his reaction, but he was at a personnel casualty. To know for trusted he would have to ask straight out. Now, here they were, and Harry didn't know what to do. He half wanted to poke the baby with a stick to see what it would do.

"Has he,"Harry began,"shown any other planetary house of magic ?"

"No. Not really,"answered Cho cautiously."But he can bear with assist and he's already tried to walk."She paused."I think, maybe, he'll be in Hufflepuff,"she added wistfully."He loves it when I take him to the zoo."

"What's his name ?"asked Gabriella.

"Jamie,"answered Cho.

"After your brother ?"

"We just liked the name,"Cho said, not committing.

"I have to acknowledge,"said Gabriella,"that he's the splitting prototype of you. And that's a thoroughly matter ; you're much better looking than Anthony."She laughed and Cho did too. It sounded as if it had been the firstly clock time 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 dark, and Jamie's skin is so pale."

"He… he doesn't get out much,"said Cho, growing nervous.

"Cho, you know I love you like a sister. Don't you ?"Gabriella asked gently."well, I think Harry has a right to know. You see, he told me that you two sleep together at Hogwarts - just once, on Halloween. Caught in the heat of the moment, I guess."Gabriella took a breath, gathering her strength."I don't attention why it happened. And it doesn't bother me anymore that it happened. The fact is it happened… nine calendar month before lilliputian Jamie here was born."

"Well—"

"Cho,"Gabriella interrupted."Harry may have his intuition, but he can't see what I can, and the middle never lie. You and Antonius, you both have brown oculus. Both your parents each have brown eyes. It would require a powerful superstar to produce a boy with anything other than brown eyes and the thaumaturgy would most certainly be to flex the colour of the eyes to his own."Cho said zip. Harry said nothing."It's truthful, Jamie is the carve up effigy of his beautiful mother. But the eyes… I think he has his Father's eyes."Cho remained silent. Once again, Harry watched as her air blanched.

"What do you mean ?"asked Harry blindly. Gabriella took his hand.

"They're green, Harry,"she said quietly."almond shaped and brilliantly park. Just like yours."


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 15 - Another Potter
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Beyond the babbles of the baby sitting beside Harry, there was secrecy. Perhaps, if one were to listen closely, the sound of a bird chirping or a distant bus creaking to a halt could be heard, breaking the stillness of the morning. Then Cho's foot began to nervously tap against the position of the table. In front of Harry, she had been confronted by Gabriella with the Sojourner Truth, but still she would not, or could not talk. Harry had known before they came to France that the small fry would be his, and though he had not heard the words from Cho's lips, he wasn't about to become angry ; it was hard enough not to show how frightened he was feeling. No, if anything, he needed some time himself to get over the sinking touch sensation in his abdomen, as if he'd just fallen off his broom. He would waitress for Cho to be prepare. He breathed deeply the smell of his coffee, took a sip, set the cup down and put out his finger, with which the small boy began to bite toothlessly.

"Jamie ?"Harry said tenderly."I… I like that name."

He smiled and put his hand on the boy's straits.

"Oh, my. What a promontory of whisker ! Is it blacken ?"This simple question was purposefully directed at Cho. There was the beat of a suspension before she answered.

"Yes,"she said quietly, with a bit of a crack in the Word of God. Harry could hear her swallow.

"Thank Falco columbarius he's got his mother's looks,"Harry said with a chuckle. He took another sip of chocolate.

"You'll see him one day, Harry,"said Gabriella with an encouraging tone. Harry tilted his psyche down and shook it slowly.

"I don't think so,"he said quietly, his lips still turned in a flimsy smile.

"What do you entail ?"asked Cho, surprised."Surely they can—"

"I was just examined by Madame Pomfrey,"interrupted Harry."The sight charms aren't knitting. There's still too much glass."

"But couldn't they just—"

"There are scads of bantam fragment - too many and too small to fell without vanishing pieces of my middle and if they summon them out they'll shred whatever tidy eye tissue that's left."Cho gasped.

"I… I didn't know. I thought—"

"No matter,"said Harry taking to his pes."I can see the flaming in his psyche, even if I can't see their colour of his eyes."He went to the burnt umber pot to pour himself one More cup. On the way, he tripped on a small toy that had fallen on the storey and what liquid that was in his cup spilt.

"Woops,"said Harry. Cho stood to clean the spill, but Harry had it off the ground nearly before it landed with a dewy-eyed wave of his hand. Since losing his sight, his power without a wand, abilities he rarely used in front of others, had strengthened. Without skipping a beat, he poured himself another cup, but rather than ferment he continued to look the cabinetry. Yes, he could see the flack in the boy's aura, but he would give anything to have his eyesight back… to see his minor, his son. He began to tremble. For the initiative time in months he was cold with fear, and it wasn't fear of a Dementor or Death eater. It was reverence for his nestling and his child's mother, fear for a future that was already so uncertain, so disconsolate. It felt as if all the air in the room was being sucked away.

"At least,"he said, holding the warmly cup in his handwriting,"Anthony won't need to… to seem into my eyes and wonder. I… I wouldn't want that."Cho stepped up behind Harry and placed her hand on his articulatio humeri.

"Susan Brownell Anthony Goldstein, Ravenclaw Prefect at Hogwarts School for witchery and Wizardry ?"asked Cho."He might be a bit proud at multiplication, but he's no sucker, Harry. He knows."She turned Harry to face 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 manus at the slope 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 end of his shirt and pulled him close, sobbing into his chest. Gabriella left her chair and the three hugged for some time while Cho repeated over and over how dreary she was, and Harry repeated over and over that it was okay, that he was the one who was sorry. It was little Jamie who broke up the trio as he began to cry.

"Oh… he's athirst,"said Cho blotting her eyes. She picked the boy up into her weaponry and ushered them all into the front room where the fireplace sat cold, but the slightly tattered hot seat were more prosperous. Even without the flack, Harry watched with admiration the warmheartedness that filled the room. He could tell she loved the boy deeply. Nor, was the emotion lost on Gabriella, sitting at Harry's slope, who was gathering a glow herself as she took in the room's emotions of love. He took Gabriella's hand and for the first sentence in a long metre Harry tried to slack up, letting the swirling fears of the future slice from his mind. It was Cho that started the conversation as Jamie continued to wet-nurse.

"I wanted to hold this closed book, Harry - arcanum from my parents, secret from my blood brother, secret from you. At first I was ashamed and then—"

"But—"

"Let me land up,"asked Cho."I need to eat up, or I may never be able to."Harry nodded."in conclusion class you wanted to tell me about Gabriella."Cho looked at Gab."He did so need to push me away, to recite me of the Muggle girl he had met back home."Her eyes returned to Harry."But I could see that, just under the skin, there was a fire of desire and I… I wanted… my broken body wanted to be desired."

"He was cross-hexed by my parents,"said Gabriella. The words were meant to be explanatory, but Harry noted a tinge of bitterness or sadness.

"I know that now,"answered Cho."Maybe I knew it then, at least that he wasn't in his aright mind. I could make used a sheathing charm. I thought about it. I even reached for my sceptre before it happened Halloween Night behind the Great Hall."Gabriella shot Harry a coup d'oeil 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 sheath I died ?"asked Harry."Like Cedric ?"Without speaking, Cho simply nodded.

"I was being pudding head. 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 chief."So I hid it - I hid my gestation and I hid Jamie."She put the child over her shoulder and began to pat its backrest."I thought that after You-Know-Who had been destroyed I could order you, but then I heard about the new war… that Malfoy's Death eater were out to kill you. What would they do if they knew you had a son ?"She shook her oral sex."This summertime, I travelled to the United State Department with Anthony… Tony. One night, I fell asleep in his arms and when I woke up the following morning the befuddling magical spell had warn off. I was pregnant for all to see. In that instant I panicked, horrified by what he might think, what he might do, and in the future I felt Tony's touch, warm and caressing on my belly. He stayed at my English and he's never left."Jamie let out a rather impressive burp and everyone smiled.

grin, Cho held Jamie in her lap and said something in Chinese as she wiped the milk from his Kuki.

"Tony's hired Chalmers"said Cho, referring to the guard duty that was probably now close to finishing his dawn meal,"to watch over over Jamie and I, while he finishes schooltime. It's costing him every Canute the Great he has. Once we're married we'll qualify for welfare from the Ministry. They offer housing and, maybe, we can encounter a prissy stead to—"

"Benefits ?"gaiter Harry, his spine snapping rigid."From the Ministry ? You can't be dangerous ! You're not going to take in a dime bag from the Ministry. As far as I'm concerned there all a bunch of twist !"

"Harry !"called Gabriella.

"wellspring, Ron's dad. But the relaxation of the lot ? Crooks !"He took to his feet."And as far as aliveness 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 hitch at the castle. It's far enough away from what's happening… yes, you'll be safe there."

"We're prophylactic here,"said Cho, standing herself, the baby held snugly in both weaponry.

"rubber ! Are you kidding me !"cried Harry."What's his name… Chambers ? He's a demise 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 forgivingness in his essence. He hardly makes enough money to get by on."

"So he moonlights for Lucius Malfoy as a destruction eater !"exclaimed Harry."At least he doesn't know that the boy is mine. Thank pigeon hawk for that."Cho's fount dropped with surprise at these words.

"How could you potential know that we haven't told him ?"she asked. Now Gabriella stood, stroked Jamie's cheek and took him in her own arms, patting his back as he rested against her shoulder.

"Because,"Gabriella said softly with a melodious part as if she were singing to the baby,"if Chalmers knew, Lucius would screw. And if Lucius knew, his son would know."

"Draco ?"breathed Cho."I thought Dragon was…"Her voice 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 angriness he felt evaporated and his shoulder slumped.

"This is pointless,"he breathed."He'll be back here any instant. Maybe he's a kindly old doddered just trying to hit a buck any way he can. Cho, you can't take a chance."He placed his hands on her shoulders."I have money and it's my responsibility. Let me at least help pay the bills until Marcus Antonius graduates. Let me at to the lowest degree chip in you a roof over your pass where the fireplace works and you'll know you'll be safe."

"It's beautiful there,"added Gabriella."jet fields… azure seas… precious Greek boys with bare chests."She winked and kissed Jamie on the head. Cho crossed her blazon and walked over to the hearth that had no fuel for the firing.

"I… I'll have to ask Tony,"answered Cho."Do you think… I know it's difficult overseas, but do you think we could touch base to the floo mesh ? I miss the kinsfolk so, and we are going to distinguish them… after Tony graduates."

"That's one thing the Ministry can do,"said Harry, suddenly glad Cho was changing her judgement."But you can tell Tony later. First, we need to—"There was a pushover and an instant later the front door opened. Gabriella motioned for Harry to veil. He had just enough prison term to dart under his cloak and gather himself into the corner before Chalmers walked through the front door.

The honest-to-goodness man was too thin out and not a good deal taller than Cho. When he entered he took his coat off and hung it against the bulwark with a sticking spell.

"Beautiful day today, young woman Chang,"he said with a toothy grin."Beautiful Day !"He stepped over and gave Gabriella a nod."And thank you missy for the fine meal."He paused."It's been a while since…"His face grew wistful, but then he shook his head."No matter."He slapped his hands together and pulled his wand."Let me decipherable these looker for you."Harry stood silently against the bulwark as Chalmers walked with a bit of a limp into the kitchen. There was a distinct rhythm to the cadence of his pass that Harry, two calendar 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 tone of surprisal in his phonation."Three cups. Did you have another visitor today ?"Without waiting for an answer he levitated the smasher into the swallow hole where the scrubbing brush began to wash them. Cho was frozen, but Gabriella stepped over without reluctance.

"Yes,"she said quite calmly,"a girlfriend of ours, also from Hogwarts. She had to result early to get back for her good afternoon exam."Chalmers nonchalantly straightened the chairwoman.

"Well, you know how Mr. Goldstein feels about visitors, young woman Chang."He settled himself into one of the cushioned electric chair and began to unfold the newspaper, still scanning the room with the eyes."At least strangers."Harry could tell that the old man was on guard, sensing something that was not right."Just tryin'to keep you and the baby safe he is."

Baby Jamie babbled something and then pointed at Harry hidden beneath the cloak. The motion was enough to stimulate Chalmers to turn over and look back into the far corner at the cracked and abandon wall. Jamie babbled again and gave a light up laugh. Chalmers smiled.

"wellspring, wee Jamie is well-chosen enough to birth guests."He held up the front Sir Frederick Handley Page."What's your protagonist's name, girl ?"

"Hermione… Hermione sodbuster,"answered Gabriella. There was the slightest suspension and she added,"And I should be on my way as well."She gave Cho a hug and kissed Jamie's cheek."Thanks so much for letting us visit. He's just adorable and you're a wondrous mother."

"Thank you, Gabriella,"answered Cho, kissing Gab's nerve."I couldn't ask for a kinder, fond supporter. Please come visit after the wedding ceremony. I think I'll feel more comfortable then - Mrs. Goldstein."

"Oh ! That reminds me,"said Gabriella suddenly."Mr. Chalmers is it ?"Chalmers set his theme in his lap.

"Just Chalmers, missy."

"Cho was showing me the nursery and I noticed the back window. We had discussed placing a sealing appeal, but I wasn't sure if—"

"Yes, young lady,"cut in Chalmers proudly."The whole house is sealed tight. No one can get in without permission. It's a Bucinum charm."

"Oh honey,"said Gabriella."A Bucinum charm ?"Chalmers nodded his heading."I think a Trepidus charm would be safer."

"Trepidus good luck charm ?"asked Chalmers blankly.

"Oh yes,"added Cho."A Trepidus good luck charm would be ideal."

"Certainly,"continued Gabriella,"I mean, if someone tries to breach in the Bucinum charm blows them up. That could harm the baby. Do you call back you could show me where you set the magical spell ? Together we can ca-ca the replacement."

"Oh, please do, Chalmers,"asked Cho pleadingly."Gabriella's a beginning socio-economic class Wiccan. She studied at Al Bsahri you know."

"Did she now,"said Chalmers with interest as he took to his metrical foot."I've heard they reopened the schooling 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 spinal column of the sign of the zodiac, 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 gaze, pointing with his manus. Cho walked to the door and opened it.

"When… when do you marry Gold— Anthony ?"Harry asked.

"Christmas,"Cho answered. She tried to micturate the watchword sound exciting and vibrant, but it fell flat tire.

"Cho, you don't have to—"

"Don't I ?"Cho snapped."Don't I ? Tony loves me for all the world. He'd risk his spirit to protect me… and your son. He's honest, hardworking, and… and… and I'm marrying him on Christmas."Jamie wriggled in her arms, both hands outstretched toward Harry.

"You deserve to be happy,"said Harry quietly."You deserve ..."but Harry's word 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 let on his font.

"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 lips, and then draped the cloak back over him."I'll ask him about your whirl. He's a proud man, Harry, and a bit refractory. You should be able to apprize 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 optic were sad. Jamie began to breastfeed on his fingerbreadth. The room access opened and Gabriella appeared followed closely by Chalmers.

"Ah, here you are,"said Gabriella. The sun was warm on her face as she put her blazonry out and gave Gabriella a hug."The flat is sealed tight."Cho took in a deep breath.

"good, thank you,"she said."I was just giving Jamie a little sun."

"Which he can get through the windowpane, my heartfelt,"said Chalmers herding Cho back into the household."Now come inside."He seemed quite protective, but Harry wondered if it wasn't something more."A pleasure to meet you, Miss Darbinyan, was it ?"

"Yes, and a delight it was to meet you,"Gabriella replied."It's good to see my protagonist in such fine hands. Cho, I'll be by before long with those gifts I promised."

"Gifts ?"Cho asked."Oh, yes, giving. Yes, yes, anytime. Be safe ; there's a quiet space to Apparate just behind that gray construction over there."They kissed good-bye and Gabriella began to walk down the street, Harry at her slope. Chalmers stood for some sentence after Cho had gone inside, watching from the stoop. Gabriella waved one last fourth dimension as she turned the recess out of sight. Harry was about to pull up off the cloak when she stopped him.

"arrest hidden,"Gabriella whispered."We're being followed."Harry spun and there behind the construction they'd just passed were the auras of two small figures. They hadn't been there a minute before.

"Did you see them ?"Harry asked."I didn't hear an Apparation."

"mansion elves,"Gabriella whispered,"at least one of them. The other… I can't tell."

"But there weren't any house elves at the house,"said Harry.

"I know,"she replied."They must belong to to someone else, or one's with its master."

"Who ?"

Gabriella just shrugged.

"How did he have it away your figure ?"asked Harry.

"It just slipped out. But I don't think—"

"You don't think Lucius would just as soon see you up on a pike as me ? It was foolishness !"

"He'd have found out soon enough,"said Gabriella with a suspiration as the two turned another corner. The street was deserted save for two Thomas Young boys playing football game near the end by a chain-link fencing. Gabriella pulled her wand. She was going to set on the two that were nearing the street corner, but Harry stayed her hired man.

"Gab, no,"he whispered."Grimmauld Place."

"But—"

"Now !"

A moment later they found themselves on the streets of John Griffith Chaney, just outside of turn 12, Grimmauld Place. They waited to see if they might have been followed, then checked that the streets were pass. Finally, Harry uncloaked and walked up the step to the door, knocking twice. The threshold opened of its own agreement and the two walked in. There was a rustle, a thud, and then Sirius appeared atop the stairway wearing shorts and a tee shirt. Wand drawn he pointed it blindly toward the room access.

"halt !"he screamed."Or I'll obliterate you !"

"I hope not,"answered Harry."I'm kinda hungry."

"Harry ?"Sirius said, blinking his optic."Harry what the hell… Gabriella ?"Sothis made an try at slicking back his fuzz and started down the stair.

"It's after noon,"Harry said."Don't severalize me you were still sleeping."

"I was up late net dark. Remus finished grading written document and we— Hey, isn't your Potions exam today ?"Canicula'eyes guess to the door."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 tone,"is… going… on ? !"

"Sirius,"said Gabriella softly,"I think it serious if we sit down."

"You do, do you ?"snipped Sirius, but Gabriella's melanize centre caught a soft-spot in Sirius'bark."Well… okay."

The three moved into the kitchen and Sothis started toward the kitchen range. He grabbed a spatula and summoned some sausages when Gabriella took his hand.

"Here,"she said softly,"let me do that. You sit with Harry."Sothis moved to the mesa and sat opposite his godson.

"Well ?"Sirius queried."It's obvious something's afoot. Spit it out."Harry tried, but he couldn't confine his godfather's gaze.

"I… I, erm…"He sucked in a large draft of air and exhaled."Igoterpregnant."

"What ?"Sirius asked."What was that ?"

"I… I got her pregnant."

"What !"Dog Star stood and spin out towards Gabriella."You're pregnant ?"Gabriella turned the sausage with her wand."How could you—"

"Let him end up,"she replied, floating three shell out onto the board.

"Not Gabriella,"Harry said. Sirius turned back to side Harry."Cho… Cho Chang."Sirius fell back into his 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 Kuki."Harry, you should live 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 balloon on the shell and added some warm beans.

"It was last year,"she answered sitting down and handing Sirius a fork.

"The baby was born in July,"said Harry."On my birthday. His name is Jamie."

Sirius'fork fell with a clank onto the plate, splattering red beans onto his white-ish jersey.

"A b-boy ? Jamie ?"

"They're living in a dump,"said Harry quickly,"and I can't have my son living like that. I won't have another ceramist live with dust and spider, not as long as it's in my superpower. So, I offered to have them quell at your castle. You know… until Susan Brownell Anthony graduates. Merlin economise his soul if he ever—"

"My palace ? Anthony ? Who's Anthony."

"Goldstein. Well Cho calls him whole tone. How cheesy is that ? Anyhow, the thing is…."

It was well into the evening before Harry had set Sirius straight on all the item, uncertain as they were. Sirius then began a speech that lasted for nearly thirty mo and included a few citation to Harry's parents. But when Harry began to probe recondite Sirius changed the national. After venting about Harry's stupidity, he had agreed to take Anthony, Cho and Jamie in and aid in any way he could.

The sausages Cho cooked little More than a retentivity, Sirius grew hungry again and he convinced them to go to a Thai restaurant that he had found just a few cube away. When they arrived, Harry discovered that it was run by an old Muggle, but frequented by a act of witches and wizards. The occasional flare of thaumaturgy that occurred never seemed to unsettle the old man. Sirius called him a Savant, a Muggle in tune with the conjuration of the natural world but possessing no skill his own. Harry was half-way through his Panang Curry when he realized that tonight he was to fill Ron and Hermione at the Ministry.

"The cloak,"he muttered suddenly to himself, before taking another snack.

"What's that, Harry ?"asked Sirius. Harry looked up into Sothis'heart ; they were smiling. Harry's blindness didn't allow him to see that the bend that had once drawn the sides of Sirius'centre down were now curling upward. But he could sense the brightness of the aura in his godfather's look. For a moment, Harry considered telling Canicula of their plans at the Ministry. Gabriella touched his hand.

"More tea ?"the server asked, and all three nodded. Harry continued to wait toward Sirius who was as happy as ever. The thought of asking Sirius to serve them, particularly at the Ministry, curdled the curry in Harry's venter.

"I said I almost choked,"Harry said with a cough.

"You're eating too fast,"said Gabriella knowingly, rubbing his arm and grinning."It's not a race."

"Probably the curry,"said Sirius, taking another snack."It's a bit spicy tonight."

"Yeah… yeah that's it,"Harry answered. He wiped his back talk with his napkin and set it on the table."Erm… Actually, I think I better be—"

"Harry,"interrupted Gabriella,"I have to go before it gets past midnight."

"Is it getting that late ?"asked Sirius, his sassing half full. Harry shot her a glance ; his mouth frowned. He didn't want her at the Ministry any to a greater extent than he wanted Canicula. There were too many memories—bad computer memory. Then she said something that surprised even Harry.

"I need to see Jamie,"she said,"just for a moment. I should have taken care of it this morning, but I forgot. I've not been in melodic phrase with the old agency for some prison term. mom would be disappointed in me."Unconsciously, Harry began to rub the dragon scar that was emblazoned on his properly forearm.

He remembered what Gabriella's mother, Soseh, had said at the end of last schooltime year."The thanksgiving is inscribed on the Male of each generation by the women of the generation before. It will be Gabriella's responsibility to pass the blessing to your sons."Once it was brighten that Harry would accept Jamie as his son, it was Gabriella's duty, by oath, that she pass to him the blessing of Asha.

"The Votary,"Harry whispered quietly, staring down at the sports stadium of yellow and gold. Then his tiresome eyes looked toward hers."It's too serious,"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 honour, I have no choice. It must be done, and the Sooner it's done the with child the index of Jamie's grace, of his security. He'll penury Asha's assistant in these times of darkness."

"You mentioned the Death eater escort, but you didn't mention that you were followed,"said Sirius, his center turning toward Harry with a more sober public eye.

"Draco said that Chalmers doesn't work nights, at least not for Goldstein. Dog Star, you need to go with her, sustain her rubber. That way you can see Jamie and pass on the news, maybe convince Cho to displace into the rook tonight while Chalmers is away."

"And you ?"Sirius asked.

"I'll just point back to Hogwarts. If the two were a twosome of Lucius'thugs out to get me it'd be better if I wasn't there."Canicula sighed, looking longingly at an untouched barbeque unornamented rib. He licked his sassing 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 control back street often used by the visiting hag and wizards to Apparate. Sirius took Harry by the arm and looked him in the eyes, but Harry turned away to see down the street as a car yesteryear by.

"Straight to Hogwarts,"said Sirius sternly,"okey, Harry ?"

"Straight to Hogwarts,"Harry agreed. Gabriella kissed him on the face.

"I can see your emotions roiling,"she whispered in his ear."Be wakeful and say, ‘ Hi !'to Ron and Hermione for me."She pulled her sceptre as did Sirius."Oh, and don't worry ; Jamie will be finely. I'll make sure that no evil harms your child."Harry tried to muster a grinning.

"Did I ever tell you how lots I loved you ?"he asked and then they kissed."I'll see you at school in the daybreak. observe her safe, Sirius."There was a snap and both Gabriella and Canicula had vanished. Harry focused his visual sensation to another contribution of John Griffith Chaney and in the adjacent instant 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 light hit Harry squarely in the chest, knocking him backward some ten to twenty feet, his wand tumbling from his hand."There, Harrington,"a large mask figure said with a rather bullying voice, picking up Harry's scepter,"and you were about cook to wet your knickers. He is a boy, after all."Still on his back Harry could sense them stepping toward him.

"I… am not… a… boy !"he rasped. This made the unaired wizard laugh, but the pocket-sized man behind him said nothing.

"Well, I've got your sceptre, little man. I doubt you'll—"

"Diffindo !"Harry hissed, stretching his right-hand arm forward. orange light erupted from the berm down and extended out and beyond Harry's fingertips.

The front line of the Death eater's cloak looked as if a large saber had just slashed across it, tearing textile and form alike up and outward. Harry could palpate the blood spatter his face. The Death feeder screamed falling to his knees. Unsteadily, Harry stood. The whole place seemed to be spinning. He was dizzy and a gathering hotshot of sickness was building inside.

"Accio sceptre !"he cried, wrenching his wand from the Death feeder's grasp and in to his own hand. Limping forward he yelled"BOY ?"Then he placed his baton on the forehead of his foe."BOY ?"blood line continued to dribble from beneath the crouching Death Eater's rib and between the men that clutched his pectus."Who do you work out for ?"Harry asked, already knowing the resolution.

Harry had focused so a good deal attention on the large Death Eater, he had neglected the modest one that had retreated to the vestige.

"I said WHO - DO - YOU - body of work FOR !"Standing over his cowering victim, it was then that he noticed the brightness - piles of luminosity. Five more auras had Apparated ; he was surrounded. Seemingly emboldened by the new arriver, the smaller last Eater emerged from the shadows and held out his baton.

"Expel—"There were three go cast almost simultaneously that stopped the sensation before he had a chance to finish up.

"Stupefy !"“ Diffindo !"and Harry's cuticle charm,"Contego !"

Only, Harry didn't need the shield charm… for himself. The first magical spell came from one of the approaching auras Harry presumed to be more expiry eater. The dash, not the unattackable Harry had ever seen, knocked the smaller wizard backward, albeit only a few foundation. Fearing for his life, and rightfully so, the diminutive Death Eater Disapparated. The second spell came from yet another aura, small yet acute. It was directed at the cripple wizard crouching before Harry. The result was frightful and instantaneous ; the Death Eater's promontory fell to the gravelled pavement and his trunk slumped forward, draining blood at Harry's feet, a boiling pool of light source like lave erupting from a volcano.

Harry spun to look the five wizards approaching him, holding his sceptre high. Two showed lead of both red and viridity in their air as they drew nearer."Imperious nemesis ?"Harry wondered. And then a voice came to him that startled him more than that of the former expiry Eater.

"Bloody Scheol, James ! What in Merlin's name did you do that for ?"

The colouration, the canter, the tone… Harry knew at once it was Ron Weasley.


Harry Potter and the birthing of a New Sun

Chapter 16 - The loading call
~~~***~~~

"He was reaching for his wand,"said James, pointing at the decapitate Death eater at Harry's groundwork."He was going to drink down Harry !"

"He was on his knees,"snapped Hermione."Harry had him firmly in control."

"He didn'have the… that little guy in control,"countered Patrick."I had teh take him down."

"You're just lucky he was as frightened as a molamar in water,"said Susan B. Anthony Goldstein with a rather haughty voice.

"Goldstein ?"asked Harry in surprisal as the mathematical group converged on him.

"Damn, Potter,"said Goldstein,"you're a blooming mess. And I do signify bloody. Scourgify !"The splatters covering the front line of Harry's face, shirt and drawers vanished, though the pocket billiards on the pavement remained."There, that's better."

"Who in Pluto told Goldstein ?"cried Harry.

"Actually, Potter,"replied Goldstein,"I stumbled on this merry troupe as they tried to sneak out. Seemed like a unspoilt DA deputation.

"Are you kidding ?"snapped Harry, gazing at the gloriole of the man who'd be his son's father. There was a purity about it, but Harry was to fire up to believe it."You… you can't be here. It's too dangerous."

"Yes, I see that,"said Goldstein with a rather sarcastic tone. Gingerly, Harry stepped out of the stemma, pooling at his animal foot. Hermione ran over to him and hugged him.

"Who were they ?"she asked."nobody's supposed to know we're here."

"That's what I thought,"answered Harry."I was trying to get an solution when St. James the Apostle here decided to play the butcher."Harry turned to the second year."The next prison term I need your avail Chang, I'll ask for it."Harry sensed at once the anger building within the smaller magician, but then it subsided almost as quickly as it came.

"I… I was just trying too operose I guess,"answered James."It was scary."

"And why are you two,"Harry pointed to both King James and Patrick,"here in the start plaza ? stagger across the troupe as well ?"He shot Ron a glimpse and wished he could communicate eyes of death.

"Patrick overheard our plan and said he'd shit if we didn't bring ‘ em along,"answered Ron."It was supposed to be quiet ; I didn't figure we'd run into Death Eaters."

"If that's what they were,"said Harry, still holding his verge at the ready."They acted more like hired toughie than death Eaters."

The night air was dusty and quiet. He could find the moistness of a thin mist wrap about his case, sending shivers down his pricker. For a moment he thought of Dementors, but the coolness, this chilled clamminess was something else, something more intuitive. The whispers of decease were swirling ; somehow Harry knew that. And not for the man that had just been slain, the whispering were telling Harry that more would soon connect the dead man at his feet. But who ?

"Goldstein,"Harry said suddenly,"Anthony, really you… you have to—"

"wellspring, we're here now,"said James IV."Dispatchio !"The dead wizard and the pond of blood beneath him vanished."Let's say we get in, get the cloak and get out before anymore… er, dark champion show up. Wouldn't want Luci—"

"Where'd you learn that piece ?"queried Hermione."That's fifth year."James shrugged his shoulder joint.

"My sister I guess,"he said."She's the smart one in the family."

"Yeah… I see,"said Harry, noticing James'halo disappearance from green to red then back from red to green. For the first time, he thought King James might not really be an friend."Ron, maybe you should take—"

"James is right wing,"interrupted Anthony."Best if we get down into the Ministry before another XII Death Eaters Apparate in."

"But—"

"Harry,"interrupted Hermione,"let's just get downstairs. We can mouth then."Harry heaved a sigh and the group squeezed into the phone booth. Ron said the password his father had told him and a silver orb appeared, scanning Ron in a ailing white light. Then, with a jar, the lift began to plump. Harry tried to look at Ron and intimate to the Aythya americana that he should read Harry's mind, but his centre were blank and Ron didn't discern the facial nerve expression as he once would have. Harry silently cursed his blindness.

Harry's spunk began to quicken. If the two second years were under the Imperious Curse, they were likely in Lucius Malfoy's control. He was feeling strongly like he wanted to wretch onto the polished marble storey just as the door opened onto the splendid entrance anteroom of the Ministry of Magic. The six stepped out, wand drawn.

After only a few tempo, they all saw where the cloak was to be displayed - it was obvious. A magnanimous drinking glass cause had already been erected. On a pole was the torso of a mannequin and succeeding to that a golden statue of Harry with his verge drawn. They all stepped penny-pinching. There was no cloak, but there was a brass. It read,"This internet site commemorates the defeat of the shadow Wizard Voldemort by the G champion Harry ceramist, decree of Merlin, First grade, who faced his foe wand-to-wand and struck him down."
"edict of Falco columbarius ?"asked Goldstein surprised."I didn't know—"

"Neither did I,"cut in Harry.

"They'll probably award it to you during the ceremony tomorrow,"said Hermione brightly. Harry turned to her.

"If we do this right wing, there won't be any ceremony,"said Harry shortly."No darkness cloak, no return of Voldemort, no ceremonial occasion. Ron, do you have any approximation where—"

There was a resonance coming from down the manor hall and a deliquium glow that was growing nearer. It sounded as if somebody were humming. The grouping began to pull out back, away from the display case ; all, that is, except Henry James. Harry went to seize his sleeve, but the boy wouldn't movement.

"Is this it ?"he asked, still staring at the re-enactment before him."Is this how it happened ? You struck him down ? Nobody could tell me for sure, not even Gabriella."Harry held more tightly to James'robes and began to force him bodily across the base.

"Jesse James,"Harry said, huffing between his dentition,"there are some matter you can't believe. First, never believe a give-and-take Trelawney says unless she sounds like a goblin on blast whiskey. secondment, never believe a countersign written in the Dailey prophet, unless it's written by Luna Lovegood. And finally, never… ever believe anything the Ministry says - ever !"He continued dragging James by the back of his collar until they were hidden between two marble columns.

"bold face wrangle, Harry,"continued James passively."But I never believed you could beat overlord Voldemort wand-to-wand. recount me, is there still a component part of the iniquity master that courses through your vena ? That could be useful, if—"

"Shhh."All was still, write for the episodic cracking ember from one of the fireplaces that surrounded the grand entrance hall and the humming that was growing louder by the arcminute. Again Harry tried to pull together Ron's attending, but he was fussy whispering something in Hermione's ear as they clung together behind a suit of armor opposite the Fountain of Magical Brother. At another column just behind Harry and James, Saint Patrick and Anthony crouched. The susurration of demise were growing louder. So loud, in fact, that Harry turned to see if perhaps a trace or something more were at his right side. Only Jesse James was there, kneeling quietly on the floor.

The fall grew brighter and then the witch appeared. Harry could form out her nimbus, a shimmering gold, but not her characteristic at this space. In front of her was a cloak levitated some two human foot off the ground. She was approaching the presentation case when James began to squirm under Harry's hand.

"detainment still,"he whispered, but the marble paries took in the auditory sensation, echoed them about, amplifying the noise such that it was audible to the beldam at the display case. Harry noticed the vacillation. He expected her to turn, but she did not. Instead, she levitated the cloak onto the body within the display slip and closed the Methedrine door. She cast a good luck charm with her scepter and then turned as if to leave. In turning, she revealed her face to the others, but Harry was still unable to recognize who the witch was. From the syncope gasp from across the hall it was clear up that Hermione, for one, knew who it was. The witch stepped toward the jet and took something out of her sac, perhaps a coin, Harry couldn't Tell. In a motion that was as graceful and as cunning as any Harry had ever seen, she flipped the target into the outpouring. It twirl luxuriously 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 vocalism at once ; it was Molly Weasley, Ron's mother.

half of the ignitor leaving her verge passed the coin cleanly and struck the beldame and wizard by the causa of armor. The other half, however, glinted off the coin, reflecting toward and blasting the two mavin next to the column behind Harry. With one spell she had immobilized Ron, Hermione, Anthony and Saint Patrick. Again, James wriggled under Harry's grasp and again Harry held him fast.

"I know you're there,"Mrs. Weasley said with a voice that held no fear."I'm afraid it's well after hours. If you're lost, I'm indisputable I can help you receive your way. Come out from behind the column and let's see where you belong. Shall we ?"

Again James pushed against the weight of Harry who was pressing him voiceless against the marble storey. Finally, Harry had had enough. He couldn't risk what Epistle of James might do.

"Incarcerous !"he called. rope sprung from his wand and began to enclose themselves about James.

"Sectumsempra !"cried William James, slashing the ropes with his wand and pushing Harry away. Then he pointed his wand at Mrs. Weasley."Avada Ked— !"
"Stupefy !"she called, her charm interrupting the boy's. The red light nearly struck James who deflected it at the finish second, sending the beam into the ceiling above, showering them all with piece of marble and splinters of walnut. This was no moment year hotshot.

Harry jumped to his feet and cast his own stunning spell, but again Henry James deflected it. It was then that molly Weasley noticed who he was.

"Harry ?"she called.

"skin, Mrs. Weasley !"he cried in takings."Hide !"

King James I cast a jet of red light Harry's way. Harry focused on where he needed to be—out of the beam's path. Suddenly, everything slowed and he found himself running to the right, toward the fountain, just as the deadbolt of red passed his left cubitus. James smiled.

"Impressssive, Harry,"James hissed in a much eminent, colder voice, a voice that shook Harry to the substance. It couldn't be."You've learned well from the centaur. I did as well ; although I suspect my method of extracting the knowledge I required were somewhat different than yours."There was another bolt, green, and again Harry disappeared and reappeared into another part of the wonderful student residence.

"Diffindo !"called Mrs Weasley. Her magic spell struck James on the left shoulder joint, leaving a nasty separatrix. William James spun on the witch.

"Avada Kedavra !"

This time the special K light sailed toward Molly Weasley. Harry began to levitate a marble terrace into the shaft's path, but quickly realized the terrace was too heavy and would not move fast enough. Instead he ran, slowing time and bending the space between them tightly together. He grabbed her by the articulatio humeri and pushed her to the ground just as the blast past the pair, smashing into the bulwark behind and showering them with dust and rock. Harry landed on his back as Mrs Weasley landed on top of him, knocking the air out of his chest.

"Harry,"she said sternly as only a female parent could,"what are you doing here ? What's going on ?"

"It… it's Voldemort,"he gasped trying to find air that wasn't there."He's… back."He wheezed, sucking in a light breather of air."In… James."Without questioning further, Mrs. Weasley's back went rigid and she rose to face Saint James, to present Voldemort.

"Nooo,"Harry rasped, struggling to sit up, but barely able. She ignored his beckon and faced the minor boy now standing only a few feet in front of her.

"leave of absence the boy, Voldemort,"she commanded, brandishing her scepter."He can't possibly be of any use to you, now we know the truth."

"Sojourner Truth ?"queried James as his centre shot toward the wickedness cloak still protected behind the plastered glass. Harry rose to his articulatio genus, trying to bestow air back into his lungs."The Sojourner Truth is that there are only two matter in this room I want… and you're not one of them."His baton rose in unison with Harry's, only Harry was unable to puff the spell.

"Avada Kedavra !"

Placing himself between Mrs. Weasley and Voldemort, Harry tried to surface up in front of the jet of green but the killing condemnation would win the race this metre ; he knew that. For her portion, molly Weasley cast a shield appeal about them both, hoping to deflect the spell, but they all knew it wouldn't work. In her live split second of life her paw gripped Harry by the shoulder and she cast a coup d'oeil down into his blind eye, a glance that held love and compassionateness, a coup d'oeil that was filled with concern not for herself but for the boy before her… a glance he couldn't see. She fell all in to the floor.

"NO !"cried Harry as he spun and cast another slashing patch against James who deflected it with ease."You're being controlled, James ! fight back !"St. James only laughed.

"YOU stood face-to-face with the Great Dark God Almighty Voldemort and defeated him ?"Saint James the Apostle mocked."What a joke !"

With Mrs. Weasley dead, the spell she cast on the former four thaumaturgist began to wear off. Slowly, they were coming to there senses, working to retrieve control of their motions. James walked over to a groaning Saint Patrick who was still prone on the floor. He grabbed St. Patrick's hair and pulled his headway off the ground.

"This one here,"called James, his voice echoing off the rampart,"thinks of you as a chum, thrower. He'd Sooner die than see you come to harm. Yet he's betrayed you at my every command. Shall I kill him next ?"

"Expelliarmus !"Harry cried, but once again James deflected the spell.

"haven't you figured it out yet, thrower ? Even with the skills of the Centaurs, you're as slow as your abruptly parents. Nonetheless, you could be useful ; the Malfoy boy suggested as very much. I heard, perhaps, he's not as deadened as everyone thinks."He released St. Patrick whose nous cracked against the stone floor. But instead of striking at Harry, James held his verge to the glass display case."Diffindo !"The blast of lightheaded struck the trash, but held firm as if swallowing the zip of the attack, the chicken feed began to glow. For the initiative time, the smile on James Yangtze's cheek disappeared."Diffindo !"he called again, and again the energy was absorbed and the looking glass grew brighter still.

"You've killed your only probability for opening the case,"Harry sneered."But then… I always heard that that was one of your nifty weaknesses… TOM… being pillock !"

Another fire of light stroke toward Harry ; it was red not greens, not a killing curse. Once more than, Harry slipped out of its way. This meter he moved quickly around and behind James reappearing with his wand drawn.

"Stupefy !"Harry cried, sending a bang of red at King James I'back, but again the mavin deflected the spell as if swatting a fly and then turned back toward the show compositor's case."You're not trying to belt down me, Tom. Why not ?"

"I'll killing you sssoon enough,"King James I slithered."kickoff, 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 more spells came from beyond the jet. Ron and Hermione had revived themselves decent to fight, but barely.

"No ! Get out of here !"Harry screamed."It's Voldemort ! Run !"

"I don't have metre for this,"cried James, sending three more clap of light source at the glass case. On the third bolt the meth cracked, but only just. Harry could tell that the spells that James had cast over the last few minutes were draining him. He looked fatigue, almost vulnerable. At the same moment the blast ringing the grand entrance hall roared to life.

"Finally,"Harry whispered,"some help."Wizard after wizard appeared at each hearth, brandishing their wand."Whatever time you thought you had has just expired, Tom."

The room erupted in red light. Seven attack came at the diminished sorcerer by the showing typeface. Two struck true while the others struck the glow glass, shattering it completely. The large glass shard that scattered the floor, however, were still glowing as brightly as ever. There were more blasts of red directed at Harry.

"It's me !"he yelled."Harry Potter !"

"Harry !"cried Hermione from the far side of the residence."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 wizard by Hermione backward into the paries with a loud crack. He pointed towards another wizard and ran at him."parting her alone, you bloody—"There was a blow of purple and he too fell to the floor.

"We're scholar !"Harry yelled, but it only focused the attention of another barrage fire of red bolts his way. Harry cast a shield spell and sent them flying in every conceivable focal point. The clap weakened him."Are you disturbed ? ! We're—"And then he noticed it - the unmistakably bright emerald green halo of Draco Malfoy, stepping from the fire of one of the fireplaces. He had warned Harry and now it was too late.

Simultaneously, ropes began to twirl about Ron, Hermione, Saint Patrick, and to the highest degree importantly Epistle of James who was still motionless on the floor. Somehow Antonius had managed an escape and stood at Harry's side. There were nearly a dozen Death eater moving in on them.

"submit the cloak, Dragon,"drawled a tall wizard in dark Negroid robe with ruby lining.

"Lucius ?"Harry sneered in the whizz's direction."Is that you ? I should bear known by the sickening yellow colour."The wiz said nothing, trying to ignore Harry."Now that I'm screen, you're much better looking in — strike that. No you're not. You're still as lots a pig as you always were. Still, somehow… missing an arm suits you. How'd you lose it again ?"The prod worked.

"Big news for a dim boy, thrower,"he snapped.

"Now, now… sticks and stones…. But then I guess six months with Dementors and pudden-head will curdle anyone's conversational capabilities."Harry could see that genus Draco was moving over the glowing glass and into the case to retrieve the gown. Harry turned to present him.

"Hey ! Blonde love child ! I wouldn't go in there if I were—"

"What's this ?"Draco cried out. He had come to molly Weasley's body. The colouring material of his nimbus blanched."I gave specific orders ! Who cast a killing condemnation ?"Harry could distinguish immediately that Draco was white.

"gather the cloak !"yelled Lucius.

"But father—"

"NOW !"

"Don't do it !"yelled Harry.

Draco moved forward toward the case. Suddenly, the shatter Methedrine that was still glowing with the DOE it had absorbed exploded in a smart as a whip white flashbulb. Draco flew up into the air, nearly striking the cap, and then landed with a sickening crush against the marble story.

"Draco !"cried Lucius. Goldstein took the distraction as his opportunity. His baton erupted with promising bluish igniter, but instead of being directed at one of the Death Eaters, it was directed toward one of the portraits hanging heights on the wall of the rarefied Radclyffe Hall. The portraiture sparked, zapping the older sensation that had, so far, slept through the ruckus.

"Hey,"the magician in the portrait yelped."No need for—"

"Get help you idiot !"yelled Goldstein. The wizard in the portrait, seeing the wipeout, disappeared instantly."It won't be long now,"Goldstein muttered, staring at the empty portrait.

There was another burst of spells headed at the two thaumaturgist and together they fended them off, but Harry was growing weaker by the moment. Lucius ignored Goldstein's call for aid, he ignored the battle of wands, and he ignored the crease heap on the floor that was his son. Instead, unwilling to touch it himself, he pointed to the cloak that was still standing in the windowless presentation typesetter's case.

"The cloak !"he yelled again. After some reluctance, another demise feeder approached the Shirley Temple cloth and grabbed it just as King James I, still bound by circle, began to come to his sentience. With lust-filled optic, Lucius only half glanced at genus Draco, still motionless on the floor, rip dripping from the corner of his mouth. Instead, he focused fully on the fateful robes held before him.

"Luciusss,"uttered James breathlessly,"you fool."

Malfoy wrenched the cloth out of the Death Eater's hands. Quickly, he slipped it on and waited as if anticipating something to go on.

"You expected, maybe, a coronation ?"Harry sneered."Perhaps a crown and trumpets as we all bow down to osculate your arse ? It's a stupid man of cloth !"

"Kill him,"Malfoy drawled, pointing with his good arm toward Harry."KILL HIM !"Harry grabbed Anthony by the arm as the dash of green approached and in an instant they were on the early side of the resplendent hall that now appeared more like a war zone than the piece de resistance of the Ministry. Looking back, they saw that the blot where they once stood was nada now but a Crater. Goldstein grabbed Harry's arm.

"How did you do—"

"You are NOT going to miss the marriage,"Harry snapped. He took in a deep breath, reaching out with his mind to pick any legerdemain he could from the world around him. He let out a prospicient, slow exhale and pointed his wand at the trading floor.

"Festio !"he cried, ripping wads of marble tiles upward and sending them toward his adversaries. The Death Eaters tried to shatter the tile with piece, but the action only served to create K of tiny projectiles all headed in their guidance. A few cast buckler spell in time, but most were struck. Above the din of shrieking, Harry could get wind King James I cursing Lucius.

"Release me, you idiot ! Release me now."But Malfoy, ignorant of James'true identity element, ignored the boy's pleadings. He had what he came for and was beginning to walk toward his son when snaps began to meet the room. Auror after Auror was Apparating within the grand Charles Francis Hall. In an minute, trance were flying everywhere. bam after clap of illumination, cutting down wizard after mavin, witch after witch. The room was filled with give tongue to mayhem and Harry, his shoulders slumped with weariness, moved to get in the fray. Before Harry could take a to the full step, Goldstein grabbed him by the shoulder joint.

"You're no good to anybody beat,"he whispered."We need you, Harry. Me… I'm not much Sir Thomas More than canon fodder."And then he charged forward ahead of Harry, taking down two Death feeder before he too was stunned and fell to the primer coat. It was then that Harry noticed James I. He was beginning to slip free of the bonds that held him. Lucius, on the other hand, had abandoned everyone, including his son, and was racing to the floo. A bolt of orange tree light struck the wall behind Harry, casting stone and sprinkle down his back. Lucius was about quick to escape. Harry focused on where he needed to be and before Lucius had taken another step, Harry was standing in front of him, blocking the ingress to the open fireplace.

"Silencio !"Harry whispered, holding his hired man between the cloak's faithful of black material and directly against Malfoy's pectus. The wizard tried to tramp a go, but was mute."Now, what with the sporty arm and all… that's what I call an advance. You should remember to button up before you step out, Lucius. Now, subscribe off the cloak before I blast it off."Malfoy's eyes glowed with pure hatred and he raised his verge."Expelliarmus !"Harry whispered again and Malfoy's wand flew from his hired man. There was an expression of surprise in Malfoy's eyes that made Harry smile.

"Now,"continued Harry,"as I was saying, take off the—"With a sudden shove from behind, Malfoy fell forward onto Harry and they both tumbled to the floor. It was then that Harry noticed that James had freed himself and now, forgoing the use of a wand, had his hands around Malfoy's pharynx, squeezing… squeezing. He was in a frenzy of pure hatred and anger.

"Do you know who I am ?"cried James."flavour into my center !"

Lucius, even Harry, saw the flaming of red light in James'eyes.

"N-Not pos-sible,"he gasped, ineffective to emit."D-Dead."Then the to the full realization struck him."I-I never knew."

"You know now,"James spat between gritted teeth."And now is sssoon enough."A flack of red luminosity came from the far wall and struck James in the side, but before he released his traveling bag on Lucius, a dark acrid smoke issued from his oral fissure and nostrils. To Harry, it was a current of green evil leaving the red buns. James'travelling bag 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 greenish surroundings the yellowness and snuff it out. Lucius took to his feet as a blast of red struck him in the spinal column. Nothing happened. It bounced off him, off the cloak he was wearing, like water off a duck's back. Before Harry could respond, Lucius, Voldemort and the cloak had vanished in a whirl of green flame.

There were a couple more blasts, a brace more snaps, and a pair more screech of pain, but finally the room fell silent. Only the speech sound of rock scraping against the floor, as the remaining Aurors stepped across the debris, broke the silence.

"Minister, over here. It's your… over here, sir. Please."For the first fourth dimension, Harry realized that 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 radio beam that had fallen over Molly Weasley up and out of the way. It landed with a dull thud.

"Molly ?"he uttered as if trying to gently wake somebody from a deep sleep."mollie,"he said again only louder."molly !"He grabbed his wife in his arms, pulling her up out of the detritus ; pebbles cascaded to the storey."Oh my god, no. No… no… no… no… NOOO !"he screamed. The grand hall rumbled, shaking howitzer loose from the walls onto the floor below as Mr. Weasley buried his chief into the nook of his wife's cervix. He continued to heave with child asshole as Harry looked down at James, prone on the level, blazon outstretched toward the hearth. The putting green was gone ; only bluing remained, but the visible radiation was washy and flickered. He was near death. The mo yr began to grown, slowly looking up to receive Harry.

"H-Harry ? H-Help… I… I can't…."And he collapsed to the level. Harry looked around at the devastation. James was not the solely one near death. Instinctively, he pulled his wand to summon the Heart of Asha, but before he could cast the spell, snap after snap began to fill the manor hall ; healer were appearing. In a topic of secondment nearly a dozen healer had Apparated into the Ministry. One, an older wizard with bushy white hairsbreadth, was at James'face almost instantly. Scanning the boy with his wand he turned to Harry.

"You're the thrower boy, aren't you ?"Without waiting for an answer he said quickly,"Tell me, was it a stunner ? Because I'm not detecting any—"

"He was possessed by Voldemort,"Harry cut in. The Healer cringed, looking up at Harry with unbelief.

"Look son,"he said derisively,"you shouldn't go around—"

"hoot it !"Harry screamed."His feeling's been sundered ! It probably has been all year. Voldemort just left him to take on another host. If you don't hurry, he'll die."For only a secondment, the Healer tried to read the expression of Harry's face. He was old enough to jazz 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 feet and a flash of tremendous purple light left his wand bathing St. James the Apostle in its lambency from fountainhead to toe.

Harry stepped back, twisting his ankle on a rock 'n' roll beneath his foot. He cursed. Other than the people swarming about the hall, it was difficult to make up anything out. His vision was truly failing him in the rocky tidy sum. He could see Mr. Weasley and heard his sobs, and tried to find fault his way through the rubble as Auror and therapist alike seemed to cash in one's chips him by as they rushed to another's aid. It was as if no one knew him, or no one cared. His emotions were sloshing back and forth. He needed to help… he needed to chase after Lucius, after Voldemort… he needed to —"

"rector !"soul cried out."pastor ! It's your son !"Harry turned his tending on a glow that lay prone on the floor near an Auror's feet.

"My god, Walker Percy ? !"cried Mr. Weasley still reeling from the loss of his married woman.

"No, sir,"the Auror replied."It's your vernal boy, Ron. Looks like a looker is all."

"That's not potential,"whispered Arthur Weasley, unsure just what to do."He's at Hogwarts."Then he noticed Harry, stumbling blindly toward him."Harry ? My god, Harry why are you—"

"He's back,"said Harry weakly. He was tired and sore, and his correctly arm was starting to prickle with bother."Voldemort's back."

"What ?"

"A Horcrux,"Harry whispered nonsensically, stumbling closer to Mr. Malfoy and rubbing his mightily forearm with his result hand. It itched."There must have been Thomas More than one. We… we came for the cloak."

"Jonah,"called another Healer to the old man that was working on James,"I need your aid. It's the Malfoy boy. What's his name, Draco ?"

"I thought he was dead ?"the old man called back. The younger Healer looked down at genus Draco and then back up.

"wellspring, if he wasn't before—"

"You knew ?"asked Mr. Weasley, his voice sceptical. Gently he kissed his wife's brass and lowered her to the storey."You knew they were coming ?"

Harry was feeling dazed. He looked toward Draco, toward Arthur Weasley. His right arm was aching. He had reached Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and his ticker began to settle further.

"No one was supposed to be here,"Harry said thinly, his vocalization hoarse with ruefulness."I just wanted to ruin the cloak before… before…"Mr. Weasley rose to his feet.

"She loved you like a son !"he yelled and slapped Harry backbreaking across the look."AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY HER !"

The blow knocked Harry backwards and he slipped on the unloosen stones that scattered the floor. Rising to one human elbow he could taste the roue that was dripping from his cut lip, and then he noticed his right forearm - it was glowing. A thin etch of a rune had appeared, the Viswa Vajra. Harry had always wondered when it would find, in what manner it would evidence itself, and even though he'd never seen such a glow, he knew what it meant, and he knew he had no choice but to obey.

The Minister of Magic who had loved Harry as his own son was demanding response, answers Harry desperately wanted to fall in. Draco and James I lay near decease, and Harry had it in his world power to easily save them both. Voldemort had escaped with a new body and another man of his soul, and Harry anxiously needed to chamfer after them - the Wizarding World was again at risk. Once more, death began to whisper in his ear and he began to throb.

In malice of that, none of it mattered. He had sworn an expletive ; it was a load all fellow member of the Votary carried. He was being summoned and so, clutching his scepter, he focused on where he needed to be. He felt a soft touch on his shoulder joint and try Hermione scream his name. He looked up at her, wishing he could convey the sorrowfulness weighing on his person.

"Harry…"

He was gone.


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 17 - The evocation
~~~***~~~

When Dakhil left Harry at the Lucy Stone steps leading to the front threshold of Hogwarts Castle, Harry had pleaded that he too fight the attack of Dementors and Death Eaters raging against Dakhil's homeland in the Carpathians. The lamia should have been gone for only a few Clarence Shepard Day Jr., but it had been weeks and Dakhil had not returned nor had he sent Word of God of the status of the battle. The Daily oracle had been worthless, only reporting the difficultness that the several European Ministries were having trying to disguise the legion barbarity as natural disasters. More badgering 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 dandy vortex of malarkey.

Before he disappeared, Dakhil had told Harry that his job was to protect Hogwarts, to protect the Centaurs of the Great timber from a darkness within the school. Harry brushed the notion of iniquity inside the castle walls aside, believing it was a backhanded insult toward Harry, but now he was paying for it. Maybe that's why they were summoning him, he had failed in his one mission. Voldemort had not only scat, but he had captured his Horcrux and was ready to return to power. Or was he ?

Voldemort had said he needed only two things in the imposing lobby of the Ministry - his old black cloak and Harry. He had asked earlier if there was still portion of the dark Lord that coursed through Harry's mineral vein. What Saint James, what Voldemort didn't know was that the wickedness, Voldemort's discoloration, had been washed away by the cleaning of the capitulation in the Great Forest. Perhaps, Voldemort was too weak without this other part of himself, perhaps—

It was hot, painfully hot - the first thing Harry noticed when he finally appeared at the summoning site - hot and sorry. Not dingy in the mother wit that there was no light, although it was that too ; a want of weak wouldn't matter to a blind man. No, it was dark in the sense that Harry saw nothing. There was no life here, no animation in any direction, just estrus, an vivid, blistering estrus that appeared, to Harry, like a dull 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 Germany. He was drained, unable to cast another while, and the richness of the dry land's energy, normally ample in this arena, was parched like an desiccated desert. There was cypher for Harry to cast on to replenish what magical energy he could cast. Instead, he used the office of the Centaurs to bend space and irksome fourth dimension, and he ran. He ran until his skid wore through and fell away ; he ran over rivers that supported his weight as if they were frozen whole ; he ran past flying birds that hovered in the air like floating balloons. He ran for what felt comparable days, stopping only to drink from the occasional current or brook. At one item, just out-of-door capital of Austria, he had grabbed half of a sandwich from the hand of a passer who might as well have been a statue frozen in time. His legs ached, his lungs wanted to burst and all he could try was the articulation of Ronan compelling him forward, not to come across the call of the centaur, but to answer the summoning of the flying dragon.

By the clock time he had begun the final ascent, his creative thinker was blurred with fatigue duty. He had paid no notice to the mountain he had been climbing. lather burning his blind eyes, he had ignored the scream and the fire through which he had past. He didn't see the passage from life sentence to last. He only knew one affair - the summoning site. He would not fail again, even as the finish drops of strength left his being.

This… this was the spot ; he was sure. Huge gulps of air splashed down his combustion lungs unable to quench his thirst for oxygen. His bare foundation burned. Almost forgetfully, he held out his sceptre, hand shaking from exhaustion and mind knowing that he would not be capable to hurl a spell even if he wanted to. travail dripped down his frontal bone ; the warmth was intolerable. He stood for a consequence, wand outstretched, squinting with break eyes into the iniquity. Merlin, it was hot. He moved to admit a gradation forward, an acrid odor filling his nostrils, when his left leg cramped and he fell face first hard into the stony ground. He didn't have the energy to pull in away from the scorching Oliver Stone, nor could he spit out the grit and tiny pebbles that filled his mouth and burned his clapper.

"Maybe,"he thought,"if I rest for just—"He passed out, dropping his wand at his side of meat.

Unconscious on the sweltering earth, swirls of smoke and light coalesced in his mind forming a picture of darkness and despair. Even in his dreaming the olfactory sensation of burning flesh was unbearable. Yet, in his ambition he could see - his vision, his spate was as in effect as ever. The smoke and the odour cleared and he found himself at the falls, the autumn where Gabriella lay face down in the grandiloquent supergrass, an pointer sunk oceanic abyss into her spine. In the air was sadness. No… more than sadness - there was anger. It was Ron, screaming, screaming….

"NOOOOOOO !"

The land shook.

"Take him ! accept him now ! Hurry !"

The setting changed. He was flying… flying in the air. leap. On a Hippogriff. spring. Harry felt a jarring pain against the side of his costa. He blinked. The blindness had returned, but he could sense that there was a visible light beneath him. Bounce. A individual.

"Hurry !"

The voice… he knew that phonation. The darkness was clearing from his psyche. He was waking. He was being carried. A group of five was climbing up the side of the raft. One had Harry over his articulatio humeri. Weakly, Harry began to contend to free himself.

"Easy, Harry,"the unseasoned man holding him said gently, but with some urgency in his voice."When we get you back to the stronghold, we'll take a look at the Nathan Birnbaum. Praise Asha you're a member of the Votary, or you'd be dead."

"An-Antreas ?"Harry muttered. He hadn't heard the vox of Gabriella's Brother since the summer, but there was still no mistaking the undeniable intonation that was the accurate reproduction of Antreas'father, Grigor."What… What's going on ?"

"There will be prison term for answers later !"cried another vox."Run !"Harry knew at once the other man speaking. He also recognized the gloriole ; it was Dakhil. Troubling was the sense of concern, even fright in Dakhil's voice. He'd never heard that before, even when they were being attacked by vampires cobbler's last summer. What was more troubling, however, was something that had bothered Harry since his last object lesson with Ronan, something he had seen in Dakhil ever since the lamia first taught him to see without seeing. The aura of Dakhil faded from red to purple and back to red again. There were two personas present in his aura. For the first fourth dimension since he'd arrived at the heap of Singehorn, Harry felt low temperature.

They continued to induce up the mountain. Occasionally, Dakhil or one of the others would cast spells back in the steering from which they came. Harry could not see, nor could he sense what it was they were firing upon. Curiously, there were no magical spell cast in return. Soon, he began to notice tree diagram, flora, biography. After a few second more, the band came to a large stone wall. One of the men cast a spell and an entering appeared. They passed through and the initiative in the stone sealed behind them. The entire company sighed with ministration once they entered the chemical 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 leave behind side, the same side that fell unconscious into the scorching world. He reached up and pulled the glass from Harry's facial expression, glasses he continued to wear in the hope, or perhaps as a symbol to others, that one day he might see again. There was an apparent lachrymation audio, and Harry could feel the charge plate rims pull away from the hide on his fount. When he reached to ingest the chalk out of Antreas'manus, he could tell that the left half of the frame was nearly melted away. He didn't want to think what his face must appear like. It didn't hurt. Harry moved to touch it but Antreas grabbed his deal.

"No !"he snapped, half trying to quell the distraint in his own voice. He chuckled, but not convincingly."It… it's goose egg, Harry. It's just secure if you don't—"

"See that he has his own therapist's tent at once !"ordered Dakhil to one of the other men that were in the group. The man began to slowly limp away."Hurry,"Dakhil yelled."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."aid carry the boy into the cave. I won't lose another one tonight !"

With Antreas'help, they carried Harry further up the mountain. Dakhil followed, but was unwilling to assist. Typical, Harry thought. There was a minuscule outcrop of rocks off to the face and they turned toward it as Dakhil continued upward. Antreas stopped.

"If Singehorn is unable to call the others in time,"he said,"we'll have to send out for the Centaur you spoke of."

"You were brave today, my son,"said Dakhil warmly."It is crystalise your founder is with you. Your mother would be proud. go along the boy prophylactic and see what the therapist can do with what remains."He turned to go along upward then stopped."Singehorn, I'm afraid, was not able to call for our Friend, not tonight."He sighed with a mystifying plaintive breath."Still we must stay with the plan ; it's our only hope. More may arrive before the moon's rise tomorrow."

Facing a stone bulwark, one of the men carrying Harry said something in a voice communication he thought might be Russian and again an archway appeared where before was only rock'n'roll and stone. Just before the rock nerve 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 arms,"replied Dakhil, just as the rock archway sealed the shut inside.

"Crazy,"said the Russian, referring to Dakhil."He'll shoot down 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 het up voice,"I'm for sure no one would miss you. The succeeding time you speak of the Votary, take fear to choose the words carefully. I may have to scratch the offending tongue."The Russian said goose egg as Antreas pulled the scepter back and the grasp on Harry became more sure. They turned a corner and the cave opened out into a neat entrance hall filled with injured. To Harry, it looked as if a hundred luminousness had been spread across the floor. Almost immediately a murmur rippled across the large cavern.

"Is that him ?"“ The elect !"“ My god what happened to his face ?"“ Dragons."“ It's just a boy."“ That's not him ; some Muggle must own been caught in the crossfire."“ He's the Chosen !"
"Marek !"cried Dakhil."Marek ! This is a precedency !"Harry noticed an orange colouring material on the far side of meat rise up from the soil. Marek was busy treating another patient and as he stood, Harry could tell that he was a large man.

"They're ALL precedence !"he called back."Have one of the others—"

"Damn it ! NOW !"yelled Antreas. This was not the Sami Antreas that had waved good-bye to Harry and Gabriella as they began their summer vacation. That Antreas was still trying to perfect his baton work, and his confidence interacting with people was shaky at best. While he made a tolerable neighbor on Privet Drive, he was an absolute mess around other adept. This Antreas, however, the one standing before Harry, was more than just a foot soldier in this lot battle. He was clearly someone of implication.

Disgruntled, but acquiescing, Marek began to cross the hall as the three moved Harry into one of the tents that were set up along the side of the heavy chamber. He was placed on a bed, firm, but more comfortable than a mantle on the Edward Durell Stone floor outside. Once he was down, the two men left Antreas alone with Harry. For some time neither radius and Harry noted his friend's irritation.

"What is it Antreas ?"Harry asked. As he spoke, Harry noticed that the face of his face didn't seem to actuate correctly. Still, there was no pain.

"I'm so meritless, Harry,"Antreas replied."If I had known… We were losing ground and… Dakhil must have thought it would be safe. Our outer border was half a naut mi down the mountain when he must have asked Singehorn to summon you. But then, they came so fast."

"Who ?"

"The Dementors. They've been swarming the passel for Day. They've grown so thick they can blot out the sun and when that happens it gives their allies, a stripe of about thirty maven vampires, liberate rein to attack during the day. This wasn't our war, but ultimately the dragon had no alternative. The Dementors were moving in on their rookery. Half a twelve firedrake left to char the earth and go forth no spirit behind. Not even a extremity of the Votary could make it such fire. We had no way of letting you know, no way of knowing ourselves when… that you'd…"A big fusillade of air guesswork from Antreas'sass.

"Dakhil had Singehorn rally me ?"

"Harry, there was no way of knowing. You passed out right in the inwardness of the incineration. It had to birth been over two century arcdegree. One of the watch saw you first, but it was too hot. Only the Votary could get in to call back you."Harry remembered Dakhil walking through the burning flaming just before the Joining ; he understood these lyric."The Joining helped you to survive, training would deliver been better. Your face… you've been burned… badly burned."

"But it doesn't hurt,"Harry said. He was feeling more than tired by the minute.

"That's because there's nothing left to pain. Your flesh is—"Marek pushed through the initiative of the tent.

"And what's this precedency ?"he said wearily."Another case of tinker's dam Dementor frost— Oh… Oh, my."He cast Antreas a glance."One of the civilians ?"he asked, not recognizing the youthful man he'd met over the summer."A Muggle caught in the flack ?"Assessing the large stature of the man before him and listening closely to his vocalism, it was Harry who first made the connection. It was the Saami Marek that had taken in Ron, Hermione and the others after the vampire fire.

"Marek ?"Harry asked hoarsely, finding it more difficult by the mo to move his jaw."It's me, Harry… Harry ceramicist. I could… I could sure use a glass of water."

"Yes… I remember. You've put on a few British pound sterling. Physical training ?"

"He's joined a Centaur heard in England,"said Antreas.

"So this is the one Dakhil rung of. That would explicate things. Yes, that would explain a lot."Marek reached into his gown."I haven't had to consider with one of these for years,"Marek whispered,"but with Dragon about, such burns are not uncommon. Praise Asha you're Votary."He leaned in finish to Harry."What happened to your eyes ?"

"chalk,"Harry replied, wearily."band of glass."

"Hmmm. fountainhead, let's get started. Harry, lie back."Harry obliged."I have something far better than a meth of water."He watched Marek resurrect his wand over his cauterize face."This should only take a few hours."

"Hours ?"Harry said, bringing up his hand to grab Marek's wrist."I won't take you away from helping the others just because I buggered it again."

"It's not your faulting, Harry,"said Antreas."There's no way you could take known."

"Yes, admirable caliber, Harry. But as Antreas has said—"

"I am NOT a priority ! I won't—"blueing light erupted from Marek's wand and before he could say another word, Harry was asleep on the cot and Marek began his work. The last matter he remembered was a crackling sound and Marek's sombre voice.

"That'll leave a mark."

clip faded to nothingness and, when Harry woke, he sensed person sitting at his bedside."Gabriella ?"he asked groggily.

"You wish, teammate !"

"Fred ? Fred is that you ?"

Slowly, Harry began to regain consciousness. He tried to lean up, but soul pressed gently back on his shoulder. His eyes closed, Harry sensed that there were two masses in the room. Shaking the cobwebs free, he finally recognized the nimbus of the other soul.

"Remus ?"

"Yes, Harry,"replied Remus lupine,"Fred and I are both here. We have been for about three days."

"Three days !"Harry exclaimed, once again trying to rise and once again being held down by Remus."I've been here for three mean solar day ?"

"No, ditz,"Fred laughed."We've been here for three Day. You've been here for about, er, fourteen hours."

"We came as soon as we heard you had arrived,"Remus added.

"I swear, Harry,"said Fred, leaning forward."Can you ever do anything the slowly way ?"

While Fred was talking, Harry realized there was something on his face. He reached his work force up and felt the bandages wrapping his head.

"An interesting tone, if you ask me,"said Fred."Kind of a turban gone mad. All in all I'd say it's an betterment. The capital thing is, Harry, they gave you a whole new oral sex ! Moody volunteered his."Fred laughed again and this time Remus joined him. A cold shiver passed through Harry. It had suddenly sunk in that Fred… Fred Weasley, was in the same way and if he'd been here for three days, he might not know….

"Why aren't you home ?"Harry asked."Where's George ?"

"I'm flying solo, mate,"said Fred."George is minding the shops."

"No one can travel in or out,"said Remus."specter is impossible. It's a miracle that you made it alive. I'm sorry that—"

"What about subject matter,"Harry interrupted."Can messages get in ?"

"Not for two days,"said Remus."The Dementors have the unharmed mountainside surrounded. I tried a Patronus. It passed through a few twelve, 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 push him back down, Harry flicked his arm away. Harry tried to face Fred, but. Fred only laughed.

"You look like a walking ice-cream conoid, Harry."

"Fred,"Harry began, muffled by the bandages surrounding his nerve. He tried to muster up the courage, but in the last mo it failed him."W-Why are you even here ?"

"Tonight, we go on the offence. We're through sitting back and letting Lucius Malfoy and his army of darkness decide when and where to strike. They're mostly vampires and Dementors with a handful of dying Eaters sprinkled in for good measure. Last we heard Lucius may have got let himself get turned."

"Turned ?"Harry asked.

"The scouts were out early this morning, Harry,"said Remus, moving over and sitting next to Fred."We've seen him off and on in these parts for weeks. Only this morning… this morning they say he looked more vampire than wizard."

"He let himself be bitten, I tell yeh,"added Fred."Just to achieve immortality."

Harry felt as if he was going to be sick. If Lucius was here that meant Voldemort was here. Were they looking for him ? For Harry ? His heart began to backwash. There was too practically to do and too piffling prison term. He needed to assure 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 curtly suspension. Remus knew almost immediately what Harry meant, but wasn't sure if his words were the result of some variety of side-effect from one of the potions. Fred didn't understand.

"What do you have in mind, Harry ? Who's live ?"

"Voldemort,"gasped Harry, taking in a neat breathing place of air through the bandage covering his face. He walked over to the face of the tent and held the cloth in his finger's breadth. To his mind, it had a dull orange appearance, probably spores of some sort. He didn't want to say more ; he couldn't. But he had to. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest - it hurt. His external respiration grew laboured, weighed down by the burden of what he was about to share.

"Somehow… I don't know… I don't recognize how, but he took control of James Chang, Cho's younger brother. He's been inwardly James, controlling him all year at schooling. He was waiting for something… something of import. Then I heard that they had discovered Voldemort's old cloak. It had survived even though he was destroyed. It was there… what he wanted… at the Ministry. They brought it back out of the ash tree of his death. They dug deep, your begetter dug deep for what should have been left to the depths."

"Yeah,"said Fred cautiously, not really sure what to recall 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 award ceremony to be in this hell on earth. I'm not supposed to recite, but Dad's lined you up for rescript of Merl—"

"It was a Horcrux,"hissed Harry through gritted teeth. Remus understood and gasped, but Fred still didn't grasp what Harry was saying."Can you believe it ? Lucius wanted it for himself - maybe to extract whatever marrow 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 optic 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 acquire it, Ron, Hermione and me… only they showed up… and then… when we got inside… your Mum was there… and then James… I thought it was an disdainful Curse. I thought I'd be able to assure him."He breathed hard again."But I couldn't. It wasn't a curse, it was Voldemort. I couldn't stop him. I tried—"He turned back to face Fred."He… Voldemort used the killing Curse, Fred. I tried… I swear on Falco columbarius's grave… I tried."

"What are you talking about, Harry ?"Fred's Holy Writ were serenity, aflutter and unsure.

"Last night, before Singehorn summoned me, in the grand entrance hall of the Ministry, Voldemort… Voldemort killed your mother."short circuit gasps of air explosion from Harry's lungs and he fell on his knees in strawman of Fred."She's dead… she's… dead."Clutching at the posterior of Fred's robes, Harry began to heave gravid sobs. His voice was washy and thin."She's dead."Fred pushed Harry away and took to his foundation.

"Stop saying that !"he yelled."She's not beat ! She's not ! I just saw her before we came here. She was going to… she was going…"He slapped his handwriting against the bed."You're just messed up… the potions. You… you were dreaming… that's all. A- a- a- hallucination or something !"He turned to Remus.

"Remus ! Tell him ! Tell Harry it was just a dream… a bad dreaming, that's all."Remus was quiet, stoic. He didn't speak and he didn't move. Fred pulled his scepter and held it in Remus'face.

"TELL HIM !"

Remus held his arms out wide and, slowly, shook his headland.

"No."Fred whispered, shaking his head vigorously in reply."No, it's not… it's not… oh god."

His hands fell limp at his sides and his wand dropped to the trading 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 time, Harry on the story, Fred in Lupin's weaponry, all three of them crying. Until now, Harry hadn't had the chance to mourn Molly's Death. The pain was late and biting. In the tears and silence, Harry wished he could adopt it back. His actions had monetary value another life-time and the ira in Chester A. Arthur Weasley's voice echoed within his mind.

His thoughts turned to the others who had been murdered in the battle and he wondered if Epistle of James had made it."I may never know,"he whispered to himself.

As the sadness began to lessen, he mulled over how Fred and Remus had described the scout's sighting of Lucius. If the reports were admittedly and Malfoy had returned to the mountain, then molly's murderer was within orbit. Harry's pain began to rick to anger. The flap on the tent furled subject and in walked Marek

"Remus, I— What in Merlin's gens is up with you three ?"he said with a rather gruff voice.

"We just found out. Fred's mother has been killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named,"answered Remus calmly.

"That… that's not potential,"said Marek, half believing the speech to be true. Fred turned, wiping his middle.

"I've got to see if I can get family,"he said. He started toward the exit, but Marek took him by the arm.

"Fred, we're surrounded."

The Aythya americana 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 !"chew out Remus."AND your father. What do you believe it would do to him to lose you both ?"Fred said nothing."If you're going to put your life on the ancestry, Fred, make it count ; establish it matter."Remus stepped toward him and held Fred by the shoulders, looking him in the eyes.

"Tonight,"he said with trust and warrantor."Tonight, you'll have your chance, Fred."

"Why tonight ?"asked Harry.

"There are about sixty of us, Harry,"said Remus,"counting me and Fred. Tonight the moon turns full phase of the moon. We'll attack with the firedrake, a few dozen centaur, and—"

"full-of-the-moon moon ?"asked Harry. He picked himself up off the floor and stood."Full lunar month ? I thought Soseh had given you a potion, given you both one to prevent you from turning."

"She did, Harry,"answered Remus."But we haven't taken it during the cycle. There are few creatures on earthly concern that can challenge a lamia. Surrounded by Dementors as they are now, even mavin have little hope of conducting an effective attack. They're a werewolf's natural prey ; Dementors and vampire share a darkness that… How can I put it ? Is tasty for a werewolf."

"Better than umber, they tell me,"added Fred, with an eerie glow in his eye.

"Besides the dragons,"added Remus,"only one creature can break through both defences. Dakhil discussed it with me some time ago and we both agreed - we needed a loup-garou army. I couldn't convince nigh, but I've convinced enough."

"Sixty doesn't make an USA, Remus,"said Harry, stepping closer."Sixty is a snack."

"What you say is true, Harry - lycanthrope rake is prized among the vampires. Still, I think our opponent will be surprised,"said Remus with quiet authority."Yes, we could have more in our number, but even with Arthur as Minister, the mistrust of my kind runs deep."

"Our sort, Remus ! And they'll be more than storm,"snapped Fred."They'll be bloody petrify !"

"well,"said Harry sardonically,"bloody anyway."

The bandages wrapping his case were hot and overweight and he was only just able-bodied to resist the enticement to rip them off so that he could scratch the itch that was growing stronger by the minute. He placed both his paw flat against the firm bed, curling the covering fire in his fingers as they balled up into fists. Without looking up, he took in a breath and swallowed.

"Remus… Fred… You need to understand everything. Lucius Malfoy isn't a lamia. The scouts… what they saw down on the mountainside this morning… It may induce looked like Lucius, but it wasn't. Yeah, he's been taken over alright, but not by a lamia. His spirit has been consumed by Voldemort. Lucius is Voldemort."He turned to face them."sixty werewolf, sixty flying dragon, LX of anything… it won't be enough."audience Harry's words, Remus stepped forward and placed a hand warmly about Harry's neck.

"No, Harry,"he said."No, it won't be adequate. But then, it never was. That's why we have you."


Harry thrower and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 18 - The Ring of Onyx
~~~***~~~

The gem steps were large, big it seemed to Harry, than they were before. Yet, the Saami slender White River cloud dusted the blue sky, and the heated air brought Harry's mind back to his summertime travels with Gabriella in Lebanon. His idea's eye flashed to a visual sense of her smooth, dark brown pelt and twinkling black eyes, and he wondered how she was fairing with Cho and his son, Jamie. His affection skipped at the opinion and he drew in a breath to becalm his spunk. He stepped upward through the large stone pillar, upward toward the cadaver of the cracking Asian castle. Up ahead, seated on a crystal Bench intricately carved in an complicate pattern was a large black man in unripened and brownish gown - Singehorn.

On the eve of the counterattack, the dragon had asked that the Young wizard meet him in this plane of cognisance that they might talk with one another. Here, in this former world, Harry could not only speak to the dragon, he could see. He had no bandaged headland, no wand, only a white gown and air groundwork that withstood the scorching heat beneath them. In the cave where Harry's corporal trunk sat in meditation, the others were preparing for war. Soon, the moon would uprise, the werewolves, including Remus and Fred, would move around and the conflict would begin. It had taken Harry quite some time to close out all the distractions that were happening about him, but finally he made it.

As he drew closer to the dragon, the descendent of Asha whose bank line Harry had sworn to protect, he noticed that the man looked more maturate than before and that his breathing was heavy, labour. With effort, Harry heaved himself upward onto another stone step, and then another. On the measure before reaching the landing where Singehorn sat in one of the two lechatelierite Bench, Harry saw a declamatory ring made of disgraceful onyx. He stopped for a instant to look 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 right hand. It was gruelling than Harry expected. Holding it in the finger's breadth of both hands he examined it from all position.

"I… I know this annulus,"Harry said, trying to remember how or from where."I've seen it before."Singehorn shifted his rattling weightiness and grimaced somewhat.

"The ring,"he said,"is known to many, but few live today have seen it with their own optic. For those few that saw it worn by its end master, it was most in all likelihood the lowest thing they saw. He was known for using the tintinnabulation to kill."Suddenly, Harry remembered.

"Pravus,"he whispered, remembering the portrayal of the dark maven's hand Greg Goyle had shown him finish year. Singehorn growled, long and low. Clearly, he did not enjoy the speech sound of the name.

"Very good,"answered the Dragon."Very skillful. Come… sit."

Harry climbed the hold up turgid step and tried to sprinkle the front end of his Stanford White robe which had grown brown from the desert sand. Singehorn laughed and, as Harry looked up, the man's mouth erupted in flames, enveloping Harry in a great white photoflash. In the next flash, Harry's robe were white again and he was unscathed. Harry examined his hands, expecting to see char First Baron Marks of Broughton, but nothing was there.

"Sit,"said Singehorn again. Unlike his final stage visit with the man before him, the Thomas Young wizard sat obediently across from his headmaster.

"My child… not for L years has that ring been held by human hands, not since I tore off the arm of the sensation that betrayed us all. When Pravus was destroyed and Grindelwald defeated, I thought for sealed the darkness had been, at last, beaten back for good. I was young then and naïve, but not so naïve as to trust in men again."

"But Dakhil,"said Harry."You trust him."

"Do I, Harry ? Do I ?"There was another low rumbling as Singehorn leaned forward. Harry noticed a thin, light scar that ran along the man's face, a mark that wasn't there before the Joining. Over the go few month, the firedrake had seen struggle.

"Do you see the ring on Dakhil's fingers ?"he continued."No, Harry… Soseh trusts Dakhil and I would rely Soseh with my life sentence, but his lot lies on a different path."

"You need to fuck, sir,"said Harry with some urging in his voice."I've seen… I've seen two spirits inside him. He may be under the ascendance of another."Singehorn smiled and began to laugh. It was forte and thunderous, not the response Harry had expected.

"He's a lamia, my child,"the dragon said finally."He fights the spirit inside him every waking moment. Few have learned to keep in line the hunger for impertinent blood, the desire for decease. None have fought more heroically than Dakhil Barghouti to stave off his own personal ogre. But his course will soon result elsewhere and I will need someone to take up his staff as Primate of the Votary. He would prefer I choose now, before his lot befalls him."

Harry's centre widened in disbelief. Rolling the tintinnabulation in his fingers he looked up at Singehorn then back down at the halo. Finally, he set it in his laurel wreath and held it out to the dragon.

"I can't, sir,"he said, shaking his head."Whatever force this ring holds, I'm not ready."

"What ? No questions about what the annulus does ? What strength it might bring you ?"

"No, sir,"Harry replied, reaching yet further toward Singehorn. The dragon did not remove the ring from Harry's palm, but instead leaned back on the bench.

"Not even if the mob might facilitate you shoot down the one who killed mollie Weasley and so many Sir Thomas More ?"Harry shook his head."What if it would help you win the war against these Dementors, saving the lives of countless Centaurus ; these animate being you seem to care so much about ?"Singehorn leaned in again."Are you so sure that you wouldn't wish to finally demolish the animate being that killed your parents ?"

For a moment, Harry's outstretched arm receded. Once more he held the ring between thumb and forefinger, wondering what force it might land him. He took a late breather and exhaled slowly. Finally, he shook his point once more.

"No, sir,"he said softly still rolling the ring in his finger."When I was last here, you reminded me our calling : Bravery… Wisdom… Love."Harry shuddered, swallowing hard."You also told me that I needed to put to work on my wisdom."Harry took in a deep breathing time as his eyes grew misty."But I've been precious unretentive in that attentiveness all year, eh ? I brought Voldemort into the Ministry. I brought him face-to-face with Mrs. Weasley. I should have got known…. I should let been wise to. Now, he's at your doorsill, threatening to demolish all we stand for."Holding back his tears, Harry held the ring out once again."Whatever might the ring bears, there are others more desirable than me."

With lightening stop number, frighteningly fast for such a with child frame, Singehorn grabbed Harry's manus in his own, his monumental paw wrapping around Harry's total fist and arm, squeezing the pack into the flesh of Harry's palm and scorching the back of Harry's manus. His red centre glared with steeled decision into Harry's and his claws drew rake from Harry's flesh.

"Tell me, my son, when the darkness spreads across this mess and threatens my children and my nestling's children what will you do ? There are only so many Rock to climb up and the swarm will not protect us."Harry said aught."When your friends charge down the mountainside to join my kin in the attack against the gook that surrounds us, will you hide… a dim rat in a nighttime cave ?"The flying dragon's claws dug deeper, but Harry refused to cry out.

"I'd… sooner… die."

"Harry, the giant seeks you out, but he does not want you numb, not yet. He thinks he needs you animated, but he doesn't know that what he seeks is no longer there, washed away by the falls at Hogwarts. Without the Energy Department he once shared with you, he is but half a man, half a wizard. In his ignorance, in his weakened DoS, he can be defeated."

"Then I don't need the annulus,"Harry said calmly, withstanding the botheration.

"If just it was so unsubdivided,"sighed Singehorn, still holding Harry's hand firm."Before the cleansing at the falls, you joined."

"Joined ?"

"The darkness that was once in your veins… now flows through another's."

Harry's warmheartedness began to backwash. Another's ?
"Your inherited."

"Jamie,"Harry whispered.

"You would sooner die than see my children harmed. What would you do to protect your small fry ?"asked Singehorn.

"My… son."

Harry's fingers, almost instinctively, tightened around the doughnut burning the anatomy of his thenar and in that moment his vision filled with a wondrous flash of White. Singehorn's part became drear and ominous.

"I will not say your decision is wise, but it is our lonesome course. Forgive me, my child, for the power will wipe out you. Soseh has foreseen your greed turn to grief. On the day the Dragon mark the sky, you will lead off to know your unfeigned lastingness. How you emerge from your failing will watch the fate of us all."

Suddenly, Harry's flock was gone, all before him dark. When he breathed in, the damp must odour of the patch that wrapped his face filled his anterior naris.

"We've got to go, sir,"said a sorcerer somewhere to Harry's left.

"If I have to tell you one more time to be tranquility, I'll rip your throat out,"snapped Dakhil in a low, sibilate interpreter."We will go when Singehorn says we can go. Do NOT commove the boy."

Still seated on the floor, his ramification folded beneath him, Harry reached out his mind and sensed the two men arguing to his left. The one, a bright blue aura was clearly frightened ; the other flashed red and then purpleness. The red appeared to be winning and Harry wasn't sure that was a ripe thing for the man in blue whose colour was fading so fast Harry thought he might wet himself. He wasn't the solitary one nearby that was frightened. In the large cavern just beyond the rock paries where Harry sat, loads of men mulled about nervously waiting for the final rescript to assail. Harry was about to move, to indicate to the others that he had returned, when the Orange colour of Marek moved into the elbow room where he sat.

He slipped over and placed his hand on Dakhil's back and the two walked to the far side of the tent. They whispered and then the whispers 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, riled perhaps of the struggle that would soon be bringing the dying to his doorstep."If we were home, I'd leave the bandages on for at least another week."

"The boy can't fight like that."

"Then leave the boy behind."

Two voices harmonized :"No !"Simultaneously, Harry and Dakhil rejected Marek's hint.

"You've returned,"said Dakhil quietly."right. The time is near. The full moon will soon rise over the position of the mountain. We must take reward of every instant it brings us the werewolves'military posture. Dawn will come in far too quickly I'm afraid."

Harry held his bridge player to his face."And these ? You can bump off these ?"

"Really, Harry,"answered Marek,"if only you could spare two Thomas More days… two more."

"The fight will be over by morning,"said Harry,"and I can't engagement with this rag weighing me down. It's sweaty enough as it is, and I can barely breathe."

"Then don't fight,"Marek said to Harry. Then he turned to Dakhil."What possible reward does a boy bring this battle beyond more gore ?"Steadying his substructure on the dusty rock, Harry stood.

"I am no boy !"he said defiantly. Marek ignored him.

"Dakhil,"the therapist continued,"there is no reason to put his life… What ? What is it ?"

There was silence. Harry too noticed the change in Dakhil's aura that was likely now being mimicked by the vampire's human face. The red had darkened into a rich vermilion - 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 arm of his robe while he sat, became exposed. There, on the centre finger's breadth of Harry's right-hand hand was a ring. furious at being called a boy, Harry had not noticed the added weight on his digit.

"Well… that can't be beneficial,"said Dakhil with a rather coolheaded voice."I had asked for a option, but I never…"

"I'll take the damn bandages off myself if I have to,"cried Harry, reaching for his wand. It was then, when finger's breadth met wood, that he realized there was a tintinnabulation on his finger's breadth. He let go his wand and held the ring with his left hand. He moved to take it off, but the ring would not move. He pulled again, and again the anchor ring held its handgrip about the off-white of his right middle finger.

"I had always hoped he might see fit to move over it to me,"said Dakhil with more disappointment than anger."I suppose Soseh has told him."

"Told him what ?"asked Harry, still trying to run the ring from his finger.

"shucks the day I met you, boy,"said Dakhil, again in a tranquilize, matter of fact whole tone."She's seen my Death, which is not such a nifty concern for a vampire when such event can be centuries hence."He paused.

"And ?"Harry asked.

"And you were there, boy. You were there."Dakhil moved closer."So, either you're going to wander down the mountainside, get bit and live to a very advanced old age as an god, or I'm going to die before the summertime solstice. hex 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 drips of roue fell to the trading floor from his finger. Marek pulled his scepter and healed the finger."Now leave the darn ring alone. Here, let me off it."

He cast a while and goose egg happened, nix but the scratchy laughter from Dakhil. He tried a different magic spell and still the doughnut stayed clamped about Harry's finger.

"We don't have time for this,"said Harry finally."expression, just learn the bandage off. range a carapace charm about the peel if you must, but I can't—"

"Very well,"cut in Marek with a sigh."But it's not your skin that I was worried about."Sit over here."He led Harry to a rock bench.

"What do you signify ?"Harry asked.

"wellspring, Harry, while I was working on your side, I thought I might see if I couldn't do something about your eyes."

"But I've seen zero,"said Harry."Certainly through this gauze, I could discern—"

"I've sealed your lids shut so the heart beneath could heal as the spell worked and weaved."He stepped close to Harry."Son, two more days… two More 24-hour interval and I'm sure that the knitting will be complete."

"And I'll see again ?"asked Harry with a flicker of hope in his voice.

"You might."

"Well… look… it's dark anyway,"Harry said."Take off the patch and leave my eyes sealed. I'll be amend off not trying to tell apart objects in the darkness. I've gotten used to not seeing and trying to squint in the murky night may just take things worse."

"There's the trouble,"said Dakhil."The objects you wish to spot are Dementors. They suck the spirit from all about them. To your imaginativeness they would be swarthiness and on the scorched mountainside where very little liveliness remains, it would be near inconceivable to observe them."

At this it was Harry's turn to jest.

"Dakhil, I don't need my visual sense to know when a Dementor is breathing down my neck. I'll know where they are, believe me, I'll know."

"Then it's decided,"said Marek."I'll remove your bandages, but continue your eyes sealed. If you make it through the night Harry, your aspect should be re-wrapped immediately. A shield charm might be satisfactory for walking around school or sitting about the house. It will be worthless against a well placed hex."

"Get on with it,"said Harry."I can hear the ululation already."

And indeed he could, they all could. Some of the thaumaturgist lycanthrope were growing queasy. Outside, the moon was nearing the crest of the easterly horizon and some were having difficulty controlling their transfiguration even inside the cavern, away from the moonshine. Typically, such difficultness were had by newly converted loup-garou, 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 disturb, but the carapace charm stopped his finger.

"It feels like an eggshell,"Harry whispered.

"And it won't protect your face much more than one,"added Marek."Remember that, when you're out there playing the hero."Harry was about to resist but, preceded by a sibilation, unexpected countersign left Dakhil's oral cavity first.

"An Acolyte of the Votary does not play at anything !"Dakhil's stature was suddenly somewhat bombastic, and his aura somewhat redder."You would be wise to remember your spatial relation, Marek. With one thought the boy could ruin you."

"Yes… yes, of course,"Marek apologized."I'm sorry… I… I truly am sorry."

There was fear in his words, far more fright than Harry thought the post warranted. piece of him understood, something he remembered from the Joining, but there wasn't time to well for its source ; it was fourth dimension for action. Harry stood and began to walk toward the big bedchamber.

"One moment, boy,"said Dakhil with a matter of fact tone. Harry stopped, turned and, before he had an blink of an eye to react, Dakhil had cast a go on him. cipher happened.

"What… what was that ?"Harry demanded, still reaching for his wand.

"He's changed the colour of your robes, Harry,"said Marek."They're no longer white ; they're crimson."

"Primate Potter,"said Dakhil in an exceptionally scratchy voice followed by a curtly blasting cough."Your title, when I die."He sighed."Asha protect us."Harry looked down, but could sense no discernable difference."Don't headache, boy ; those who have travelled the path through proper training will hump at once the significance of your gown. We'd best rush. There won't be sentence for a great deal of a speech."

Harry and Dakhil left the tent and entered the cavern ; it had emptied out onto the versant, staging for the engagement to come in. Soon, the logic gate would open and the soldiers would spill down upon their foes. Harry and Dakhil walked down the cave and as it narrowed toward its issue a Danton True Young man came up and touched Harry by the sleeve.

"Asha be with you,"he said tilting his oral sex in a little bow.

"And with you,"replied Harry without forethought. Why did I say that ?
The cavern out door opened and, for a second, Harry was blinded by the many halo gathered outside. He could see that some of the lycanthrope had already turned, and a group of wizards was having difficulty restraining them. No one seemed distracted by the howling, a howling that commix with Book in Harry's mind - putting to death, bite, lineage ! He turned to see if someone was talking to him, but no one was there. Another werewolf howled.

"forbearance, my friends,"called Harry to the snapping creatures and the wildcat quieted at his news. That was not my phonation, thought Harry. Or was it ?

Everyone was listening to Antreas who stood upon a turgid outcrop of rock-and-roll above the growing din. His Holy Writ were amplified, but Harry wasn't sure the increased intensity was necessary. He was calling out in a hard and commanding vocalization 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 world began to rumble with applause. Harry noticed four giants pounding their feet with favourable reception.

"Giants ?"he asked Dakhil."I didn't poster any giants when I arrived."

"They climbed over from the sheer cliff on the game side of the mountain. That way is not guarded save by Dementors, and they have no result on such bare brute. So it is with the werewolves."

"It'll m-make for a b-bloody end Eater busting surprise."

"Fred ?"

The redhead was clearly agitated, seemingly in the midst of the change.

"Fred, please… don't—"

"The prelate has ARRIVED !"cried Antreas with a spring voice. He was referring to Dakhil, but Harry could experience hundred of eyes turn toward him simultaneously. Save for the ululation and the occasional magical spell being cast a short ways down the pitcher's mound, all became soundless.

"Let's give them what they want, boy,"said Dakhil."Up you go."He levitated Harry some xx feet in the air. Harry's heart began to airstream as he rose, wondering what he might say.

It was like rising over the embers of a dying flak, each glowing aura a bantam ember burning against the darkness. There were hundred gathered here. Some fell to their genu as Harry rose ; virtually stood silently. Giants, Centaur, wizards and werewolves, a ragtag collection of misfits all collected to campaign together against the malevolence Lucius Malfoy had co-opted for his own evil purposes.

Lucius probably hoped he would retrieve the cloak and arrive at this place of battle to celebrate a outstanding victory, the first of many. Little did he love that his sometime lord would take up abode in his dead body - if only long enough to withdraw over Harry's. But that would never, could never take place. How the worm had turned on the blonde-haired patriarch. Soon, it would rick on the shadow worming within him. Harry raised his weapon system to the Shangri-la above, a behemoth comet was clearly visible in the night's sky.

"Ebyrth marks its return and now we find ourselves at its mercy. While some have come to answer the new sun's birdcall, others are here to protect our dragon brothers against the darkness that wishes to put down all in its path. Tonight we fight as one. Tonight we fight with the strength of giants, the trick of sensation, the ferocity of werewolves, the Wisdom of Solomon of Centaurs, and the sum of dragons !"

No sooner had the words left his mouth, than the thunderous SWOOP-SWOOP filled the air and four enormous flying dragon flew over the crowd, blotting out the sensation and then coming to roost at the top of the keen stone wall. Singehorn wasn't among them, but Harry, though having never met them, knew their name calling. The three male were Rakesh, Talisan, and Igneus, and the blueness female person was Tanwen. As if being called, Harry looked toward Talisan, the largest of the four, with green-black scales and fierce red middle.

"primate !"the creature cried out."We follow you in battle. What are your guild !"

All around Harry, ace were clasping their hands to their capitulum, some falling to their knees, because of the puppet's great bellow. And yet, Harry could understand everything he said. How is this possible ? This was no meditation.

"Your orders, Primate ?"cried the dragon again, and again those around Harry winced in painful sensation.

"Burn them !"yelled Harry."tan them till your bellies turn cold. You, Tanwen, fly luxuriously above the wall. Let no enemy past the gates. Do not leave your post. We must pull through the rookery at all costs !"Harry pulled his red gown tight about his berm.

"out-of-doors the gates !"called Antreas and the army erupted in sunniness and howls. A few loup-garou snapped at their friend, but most caught the scent 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 crowd hillside flowed out through the logic gate. Harry began to run, following the rushing tide, but person grabbed his shoulder and pulled him around ; it was Antreas.

"Your time is at hand, Harry,"he said with a stout spokesperson."I'll lead the inaugural waving ; I dare not mouth it to the others, but don't think for a instant we'll succeed. The guide have told me the situation… it's dire. When we begin to fall back, and we will fall back… that's when we'll need you."Harry was about to argue, but Antreas was already swept away in the current of soundbox rushing through the gate. Undaunted, Harry began to conform to, only this meter Dakhil stopped him.

"Tell me, boy,"he murmured quietly beneath the roaring hurry of genius pushing by."Why are you here ?"

"To fight Voldemort,"Harry fuss, turning to bequeath. Dakhil held his arm fast and Harry glared back with maddened optic.

"Really ?"queried Dakhil, still quiet, still calm, still holding Harry's arm with a vice-like grip."Are you… sure ?"Harry tried to draw out away, but couldn't. He pulled his verge."You don't need a wand to sack me, boy. You're the Primate now, or will be soon. If you think you no longer need my services, then ignore me ! You need only speak the Son ; tell me to be gone !"

He was goading Harry, trying to take a crap him angry, trying to evoke a answer. Harry slipped his baton away.

"You are the Primate,"he said softly."Not me."

"Wizards will never survey a lamia, boy,"answered Dakhil."But for some reasonableness, Asha only knows why, they will take after you. The sapience of Grigor Darbinyan now flows in his son's veins. Would you ignore Antreas ? Shall we charge with the rest period ? What are your orders ?"

"I'm here to dish up my swearing, to protect the line of Asha… as are you. We stay to protect the rookery."Harry noted a glimmer in Dakhil's aura… a smile ? The last of the first wave had passed through the gate, leaving two giants, one dragon, a half-dozen Centaurus and some thirty wizards to hold off for foster ordering, orders that Harry would give birth to give. Knowing that the number at his side of meat were too few to fend off the coming attack, his thoughts turned to the darkness, hiding at the fundament of the heap, searching for some way that they might vote down him.

"He won't reveal himself,"said Harry, slowly,"until he believes they've won, that he can step up and take me as his plunder. Antreas is justly, to capture Lucius and the darkness that consumes him, the first wave must fail."

"The enemy's issue are too with child,"said Dakhil, releasing his traction."Even with those still remaining, we have no hope of winning in direct battle."

"Then the second wave must be a surprisal. We must hold until the end possible moment."

"Even then, boy, the numbers are against us."

"Maybe,"answered Harry,"But we need only walk out down one foe. What will our enemy do when their ecumenical dies ? When Lucius and his master copy fall ?"

"It is impossible to catch vapour with your bare work force. Who among us, might I ask, will bring down the nighttime master ?"

"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 triumph !"


Harry Potter and the giving birth of a New Sun

Chapter 19 - The First struggle
~~~***~~~
Flame and smoke roiled in the air from the engagement below, bearing the odour of burnt material body and origin into the secure compound guarding the rookery of the flying dragon, where Harry and the others waited. The terra firma shook as the hulk, fighting their green opposition below, cast stones the size of train-cars crashing down upon their foes. ululation, screeches, and the boom of dragon-fire reverberated between the stone walls, echoing down the canon 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 smell was growing stronger, the shaking earth was more severe, and the howls and screeches filled the air more than ever. The engagement was coming closer, higher up the mountain. Soon, it would be at the compound wall.

Harry grew more anxious by the moment. His initiatory instinct had been to set on outright, but both Antreas and Dakhil had stopped him. Ignoring the wisdom of a whiz that had survived centuries was folly and Harry knew that they must wait. The second wafture would attack when their enemies were most jade. If Harry's force could break their railway line, if they could hold bounder to throat, perhaps the advancing dark would crawfish down the muckle, down to where Lucius Malfoy, now possessed by Voldemort, to the highest degree certainly waited.

When the initiatory wave began its attack, Harry had quietly sent the best Centaur archers high onto the mountainside leading down from the North gate. Hiding high up in the hills, they would flank the advancing darkness and strike when Harry gave the signal. Along the edges of the other side of the valley, Harry sent the two remaining colossus, Florge and scrummage, to wait hidden among the rocks. There they would concord the gamy primer coat, preventing any decease eater from running away from the onrush of Centaur arrow. Once they were set into position, the colossus looked like a bombastic outcropping of Stone, nil more. With luck they would mow down twelve with their nightclub, boastfully tree trunks bristling with barbed alloy pikes the duration of Harry's arm.

Hearing, smelling, feeling the first wave retreat back toward the briny gate, Harry impatiently waited to lead the second wave through a hide logic gate that skirted the English of the vale wall. Then they would know if there was any hope at all. Already, Centaur runners brought back write up that the telephone number of the foeman was twice what was first thought - over two-hundred Dementors, nearly a hundred lamia, dozens of thaumaturgist, and five monster of their own. Clearly, the bit were against them and they all knew it.

About a low fire, Harry sat with Dakhil and two other appendage of the Votary, Mikael and Katana. Dakhil was roasting sausages skewered on the end of a Centaur fishgig. Mikael was a large man, Ukrainian he said, with dark brownish fuzz and a perpetual three days'emergence of beard. Half of his left ear was missing and he had a fury about his piercing blue middle that, as Dakhil described, would frighten any living soul that dared to cross wands with him. As for Katana, she was quiet, almost subdued. Even sightless, Harry could pick out how her black hide contrasted against the silver-tongued mail ringlets that covered her upper torso. Set against her quiet manner was the red aura that burned fiercely from her soul, perhaps the most intense Harry had ever seen. Unlike Mikael, she rarely spoke, but when she did it almost always carried import. The fervency 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 only sting you would receive tonight, Mikael,"said the vampire, grimly staring into the flame, turning the sausage balloon on the spear and watching the dripping grease commit picayune flares of flaming lapping upwards.

"How you are hungry, Dakhil,"replied Mikael, shaking his head and moving close once again to warm himself by the flak."They arrive at threshold before you finish."Again, Dakhil laughed.

"You should know by now, my Ukrainian friend,"said Dakhil with a grin,"I don't eat sausages. The boy here looked a bit swoon and I thought he should make up his strength."He held the point of the spear before Harry's face, the sizzling sausage splattering atom of hot fat against the shield charm protecting Harry's exposed face."One should never meet their manufacturer on an empty stomach."

"Thank you,"Harry said with a thin grin. He took the sausage between pollex and forefinger, but it neither seared nor burned. Without flinching, Harry slid the sausage off the lance's metallic element full stop and took a bite. Once again, he detected a momentary smile in the aura of Dakhil. To the vampire's left, Katana let out a pocket-sized snicker. She stood, her ringlet butterfly jingling as she did so, and then she looked upward to the night sky where the small flying dragon Tanwen circled.

"Even as Ebyrth reveals itself to the world, Asha's blessing is upon you, untested wizard,"she said with a low spokesperson that was cool off and as rich as the lake out-of-door Hogwarts."This is good… for the meter has come. Prepare."

Scantly had the words left her lips than a tremendous roar exploded command processing overhead. Talisan, the largest of the four tartar, appeared from no where, plummeting from the sky, streaking blast and smoke behind him and smashing to the ground, tumbling into a group of wizards that most certainly would have died in the collision had not Katana turned their attention toward the wall when she stood. Immediately, pandemonium struck the camp. Even though many knew their posts, some wizards called out to lash out directly through the main logic gate, some scattered for the mysterious side logic gate, some ran toward the mountain's tunnel. The Centaurs were calling for solitaire, and all were yelling at the top of their lungs.

"quiet !"cried Dakhil, his spokesperson reverberating off the canon wall."Everyone, move in organization toward the Second Earl of Guilford gate ! There we wait until the planetary house comes."

"But—"

"We will attack when the star sign comes ; not before ! NOW MOVE !"

While the confusion subsided, Harry moved toward the fallen dragon.

"Where are you going ?"questioned Dakhil.

"Talisan needs help,"resolve Harry continuing to walk to the Draco.

"Your society were to—"

"I know what the programme is, Dakhil ! I made it !"Harry yelled.

"We don't have time for this, boy !"

"I have all the clip I need,"snapped Harry in replication."Now go ! Lead the others and I'll join you when I'm done."

"Marek can worry for the—"

"GO !"

With his verge still sheathed, Harry concentrated his mind. Bending blank space 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 flying lizard was more important than all the rest of it. He wasn't surely why, but he had to do what he could. He centred on the quarrel Ronan had taught him.

In forest glen, the babble brook is filled with silver fish.
Slow its flow and deny each drip mould to put them on your bag.

The sounds about Harry became dull. He sensed that the auras running to the Second Earl of Guilford gate were slowing, slowing… not still, but nearly. Harry summoned the Stone of Cinnabar from within him. Still flaming, he cast a ardour piece upon it.

"Bravery, Wisdom, beloved,"he whispered and was instantly transported to the Edward Douglas White Jr. room that waited for his control."Talisan,"he whispered, and was immediately drawn to the dragon.

He'd healed a cat before, but never a Dragon. At first he could see the enormous wight prone on the primer, the three necromancer surrounding it frozen in prison term, but the dragon looked up toward Harry, blinking as if it could see him. Talisan's breathing was erratic and he coughed blood line and smoke. Then, as always, the scene paused, as if asking Harry to corroborate that this indeed was the action he wished to take."Heal my champion,"Harry whispered again. semblance began to swirl about… broken bones… stunned nerves… sliced organs…a pierced lung… blood dripping on the fires of life…"Yes, heal them… heal them all."

The scene flashed disgraceful and Harry found himself on his stifle, the jagged careen tearing at his flesh, the stone of cinnabar in his left hired hand. Before moving he pulled his baton and hid the stone once more inside his body, in the little sack left by missing liver tissue paper. And once again, he thought of Greg Goyle and said a small supplicant. Before he looked up he heard the flying lizard speak. His Holy Writ were unsteady, but Harry could see that his injuries were healing.

"We must hurry,"Talisan said,"the… the second wave… I must—"

"You must rest here,"cut in Harry."You must rest."

"I can't. It is my duty to—"

"It's your obligation 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 luxuriously above the rookery. Harry wondered how he could be having this conversation, how…

"The halo,"he whispered, touching the pit with his other hired man. He took to his foot, rubbing the Negroid rock between his fingers. He expected to feel somewhat light-headed after healing the dragon, but he wasn't. Without turning, he noticed that the auras were beginning to funnel out through the North gate just as the injured were coming in from the briny gate. They would need help too. He moved to see what he could do when Marek stopped him.

"Let me take concern of the injured, Harry. If you don't execute like we had planned, we have no promise of winning and all will be lost, not just a few lives, but hundreds."Once more, Harry glanced to the wound cyclosis in. There was a stiff impulse to heal them all. Many were about death. For a consequence he hesitated and then he grudgingly nodded his head.

"rightfield,"said Marek."Get going."

Harry ran to the incline gate, reaching it in irregular. He could hear Marek calling for help from the other therapist to get the injured inside the caves. When Harry passed through the logic gate, it sealed behind him leaving no trace that it was ever there.

The group of wizards and Centaurs making up the second wave had not moved far past the gate. They were carefully, quietly, edging their way around the wing of their foe. As Harry moved about one of the large rock music organization, he had his first chance to detect the advancing regular army. It looked formidable, but not a three to one reward. For a moment he had forgotten the Dementors, creatures whose auras he could not see, but the moment did not utmost long. The wind shifted and the aplomb stench of their build filled the air. For an instant… from the canyon just below… Was he imagining it ? Harry thought he could actually listen them talking to each other. He'd never heard anything but the clicks Dementors made when communicating, but this… it sounded like countersign. Whatever it was he was hearing, they were close. He resisted the enticement to wretch just as two of his own whizz fell to their knees in fear.

There was the swoon chirp of some insect, the mark, and the air immediately rang with the whistling of arrow. The Centaurs high in position among the cliffs let go their first burst. shrieking of Dementor and lamia alike bubbled up out of the canyon like a thick guck of pain. An instant 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 lines to turn toward the side of the mountain.

"shield !"somebody called. The side by side volley struck many still off safety, but was less successful among the leery wizards. Harry continued to advance until he came to Dakhil's shoulder joint.

"Miss me ?"Harry whispered. Dakhil seemed distracted.

"They're unsettled,"he said quietly."If we're going to do this, boy, we must do it now to tilt any chance of surprise. They await your command."A explosion of exasperated disgust left Dakhil's lips, but Harry didn't hesitate.

"bang now !"he commanded."attack !"

pointer from the Centaurs stationed on the Rock above continued to rain down upon the fundament of the tune of Death Eaters, vampire and Dementors that had now driven Antreas'first wave back through the independent gate of the chemical compound wall. Even as the front of this nighttime force was cheering for triumph, calling for their giant star to sunder the great paries protecting the compound, others at the tail were screaming with awe. The necromancer and Centaurs in Harry's moment undulation cascaded down the versant firing arrows and filling the smoky air with an electrifying display of wand might. Spell after magical spell stunned, exploded and slashed their opponent. concern was tangible and its essence began to ripple its way toward the front. Harry could smell their auras fading against the bombardment. The Dementors could feel it too and they began to consume souls indiscriminately. It was Katana who described to Harry how, in some sort of frenzied DoS they began feeding on the awe of their own warriors. As the scare minions tried to shin up the face-to-face hillside they came typeface to face with the hidden heavyweight.

Florge and Scrum rose as if ascending from the Lucy Stone itself. With with child strokes of their clubs they swatted their foes back into the advancing force, back into the frenetic Dementors, back into a boiling broth of disorderliness that had now made its way to the nominal head of the blood line.

What at first seemed like a rout of Harry's side was being flipped upon its head. Centaur arrow were dropping non-wizard vampires from the sky with nearly every draw of the string. Emboldened by the achiever of the second wave, the healthy in Antreas'original attacking force-out 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 sides and pressed to the stem, Lucius Malfoy's army retreated back down the mountain. With all the confusion, Harry and many of the others in his irregular waving found themselves in the middle of Malfoy's retreating military force. They had essentially split their enemy's military unit into two, allowing one half to retreat freely down the mountain while trapping the other in a big pincher. Harry and his military force had the turn down terra firma while Antreas and the others pressed in from above. What followed was utter destruction.

Rakesh appeared from on high up and began to dive toward the dazed and scattered warriors.

"book binding !"cried Harry to the others. He heard exchangeable outcry from Antreas and his men further up the quite a little. The wolfman did not steer the warning."BACK !"Harry yelled again. The Death eater were too distracted trying to care the attacking loup-garou and their own crazed Dementors to notice the tartar moving in.

When Harry's men moved away, the vision of auras cleared and he distinctly noticed three werewolves still tearing at the physical body of their enemies. One of them was Fred Weasley ; Harry could sense his ira, his hatred, his thirst to destroy.

"FRED !"Harry screamed."GET OUT OF THERE !"But Fred was a werewolf and nothing Harry could do would end that. Then Igneus appeared on the flank of Rakesh ; both were diving down on their encircled foe. Soon it would all be over. Harry began to run, not away but toward his supporter and the havoc of the battle before him. Even as stunners ricocheted off in every counselling and kill Curses took down one creature after another, Harry ran. He leapt onto the red fur of Fred's back, knocking him to the ground.

The lycanthrope spun, opened his great jaws and grabbed Harry by the throat. Only the sluttish shell appealingness about Harry's facial expression was keeping him from being bitten through, but it wouldn't stopping point long if Fred truly in demand roue. On his cover, his senses facing forward, he could detect the two hulk auras of the Dragon racing toward them. They had only seconds. Harry held his custody about Fred's neck, and pressed the inkiness onyx ring against his friend's flesh.

"Be still,"he ordered."Be still, my friend."

The grip about Harry's neck loosened slightly and, in that moment, Harry spun them both to the priming and cast a shield charm. The world erupted in fire. shriek filled the air only to be silenced an instant later by another good time of heat and flame. The werewolf in Harry's arms struggled to conk out free, but not wholly.

"Get off of me, you bloody moron,"Harry heard him howling."I swear I'll gut you !"

"The gang,"Harry thought."I hear him through the ring."
"Fred, listen…"said Harry sharply."clutch still, just one more moment. The heat… the heat will—"The werewolf broke free of Harry's grasp and threw himself against the shield appealingness surrounding them. It held from within. Again he charged the shield and this metre broke through. He yipped as his paws burned against the scorching world, but in a flash he was gone, chasing after the component of the ground forces that had fled down the mountainside.

With the carapace charm gone, Harry could smell the burn stench about him. Where seconds before stood scores of men and creatures, now only three lone thaumaturgist remained - Death eater that had seen the dragon in time and had shield charms of their own. One, seeing Harry rack in the radiance coal without his shield, released his own protective charm and began to run. He took two steps before his feet were in flames. He fell and began to sizzle against the baked ground. One of the other Death feeder killed him to let go him from the misery. Harry walked toward the remaining two, the warmth burning away the poop that soiled his gown, but leaving the orange red cloth and his skin unscathed. Somehow being here on the pile, so close to the dragons, had steeled his power to withstand the heat.

"It's not possible,"said one, the darkness haired star in contraband robes that had killed his friend.

"soft touch,"spat the other, blonde with robes of dark bluing."He's one of them - half-man, half-dragon."

"He's a boy,"said the other.

"If this boy,"said Harry, moving closer,"pearl your cuticle appeal right now, you'll James Cook to death like your booster there."The dark haired Death Eater raised his sceptre.

"He's blind !"

"check it !"said the other."Are you mad ? ! There are heaps in the hills around us. We haven't a chance."Harry continued to upgrade.

"The man you serve,"Harry began, now close decent to tap the shield of the dark haired mavin with the tip of his wand,"Lucius Malfoy… where is he ?"

"He'll… he'll be here soon enough. You'll see. Then… then you'll—"

"What colour is his hair ?"The tip of Harry's wand began to glow red, sending out a pinprick of spark onto the illumination blue shield that surrounded the Death Eater.

"B-Blonde,"the end eater stammered, staring intently at the red freshness.

"And his eyes ? What colour are his eyes ?"

"There… there red, curse it ! He's found a source of honest power, and he'll swat the like of you from the face of the land. Now get us out of this flaming pit !"

"Dakhil !"Harry cried out."Dakhil !"There was a pounce sound and the wizard flew down next to Harry on the blacken worldly concern. He was in vampire form, the forepart of his gown stained red with blood line that was even now vanishing, burning away from the intense passion.

"Voldemort's alive and he's still in Malfoy,"said Harry with a sense of urging in his part that was building with anger."This battle… it's not over. They'll regroup, realize that they still outnumber us, and attack again. We have to entreat our advantage while we can."Dakhil's rim pulled back into a horrific smile that revealed rows of long, sharp teeth. It was enough to make the destruction feeder succeeding to them shudder.

"Very in effect, boy,"he hissed with a inscrutable scratchy voice."I will inform Antreas to kick the bucket this dead zone, when he is able, and move down. You will need to tell Rakesh and Igneus."

"What about Talisan ?"

"He is well ; do you not sense it ?"And indeed Harry could and, for a moment, his centre lightened. Dakhil moved to fly when Harry grabbed his arm.

"And the others ? How are our numbers ?"

"We will most certainly be destroyed this Nox,"cracked Dakhil."Your comet, Ebyrth, will destroy us all."Dakhil took to the sky and faded into the shadow toward the high-pitched voice of the mountain. As the ember cooled, Harry could sense the others from the moment Wave moving toward him. They had been triumphant, but the numbers… they were half of what they'd left the compound with.

The Centaurs stopped outside the ringing of intense heating plant, but Katana walked though it toward Harry.

"What are your guild, high priest ?"she asked. There was a nasty gash on the English of her arm and the face of her face looked like it had some hex. Harry moved toward her and bathed her face in blue light ; the boiling point receded.

"When the domain cools, Antreas will proceed down to join us, but we can not hold off. We must stay on the attempt. We are searching for their leader, a blond wizard with red eyes, wearing a dark cloak."

"The darkness Lord, I have heard him called."Her voice was calm, almost calculating.

"He's no Divine, Katana,"said Harry coolly,"but he will kill anything in his path. Warn the others. We head to the wasp's nest and the Stinger there will kill."

"And these two ?"she asked, nodding to the Death feeder still desperately trying to conserve their shield charms.

"leave them to Antreas,"Harry said."We can't spare the men."Katana raised an brow and cleared her throat. Harry noticed the subtle change in her halo."Or women,"Harry corrected with a smile."Or women."

Before long, Harry's beleaguered personnel were well more than half-way down the mountainside. Soon they would be outside the perimeter that marked the magical border of the Dragon'lands. During the entire journey, they had encountered no resistance. All they had found was the casual fallen star or the blackness cloak of a Dementor ; none alive. Katana and Mikael warned that they should not pass the perimeter, that the tartar would not follow beyond, but Harry already knew that. Rakesh and Igneus, circling above, would only protect the lands under their rule. They would not attack outside it.

"Do you opine Voldemort doesn't know that ?"he asked, as they continued to parade down the mountain."If we don't crush him now, he'll use the time to rebuild his forces and attack again, more terrible than ever."

"You don't know that."

"I know that—"Suddenly, a centaur scout, Shamire, appeared, sweat dripping from his flanks. Harry turned to him."What news ?"he asked.

"You were right, chosen,"the centaur answered."They have a refugee camp just on the other side of the border. There are wounded everywhere, and stacks of yelling. They are in a clarification surrounded by gravid tree, but the trees… they are not real."

"What ?"

"I have never seen anything like it before. The trees look like trees, but they are not ; they are bushed, a fable. The wolfman are circling, but unwilling to enter."

"A barrier ?"asked Katana."To protect the camp."

"Maybe,"said Harry,"or something unfit. It's always something worse. Shamire, tell the others to be on their sentry duty. The dragon won't fly past the moulding. It will be up to us to polish off the job."As he said these parole Harry looked toward the sky and saw the imperial creatures circle back, returning to the compound."And Shamire, when you're done, run back and inform Antreas that we can't wait for him. We have to attack before they've regained their intensity level. There's still reverence in the air, we have to bid the advantage."Shamire nodded and vanished.

Harry and the others arrived outside the clarification. The Centaur had been right ; the large shoetree structures encircling the clearing were dead. To Harry they appeared like massive spires of darkness that shot into the air. Each one was four to five substructure across. Harry touched one ; it felt like the bole of a tree, but it was coldness, lifeless. Mikael motioned for the others to circularise out and encircle the bivouac. They were outnumbered four to one, but nearly all of their adversary were lame, in litters or small cots that spread across the open field of battle by the dozen. At one end was a great, black nothingness that rose from the grass to the sky above. Dementors, thought Harry. Could he hear the auditory sensation of voices, arguing ? Before them was a wizard with an glory more intense than all the others. Harry knew at once who it was.

"Voldemort,"he whispered.

A few bit later, Mikael gave the signal. Harry and many of the others surrounding the pack cast spells to advertize the massive Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree aside. Harry was worried that they might act as an warning device and give away the moment of surprise, but the Tree moved. A dozen openings appeared all about the great rophy.

The loup-garou were the 1st to spring through. From all counselling wizard and Centaur poured into the battleground. Arrows, magical spell and counter-spells streaked across the air. Harry's mind was focused on one matter - the wizard at the far end of the ingroup surrounded by darkness. Moving closer, he could hear the shrieking in his mind, but he had learned to master the fears brought on by the Dementors, to control all emotion if need be. Still, as he approached Lucius Malfoy the more tempestuous he became. The blonde star's back was toward Harry ; he was seemingly oblivious to the onslaught and still speaking with the wickedness of Dementors. Were they laughing ? Harry didn't charge if his foe's back was turned ; he would toss off this time, avenge so many of the last he should bear stopped long ago. He was so focused on killing he barely heard Katana cry out.

"They're Muggles !"Only ten pace away from attacking his despised foe, Harry turned to see what she was talking about.

"These aren't champion !"she yelled at the people laying in the bedding and fingerstall that filled the field."They're Muggles ; they've been immobilized."

Harry heard a high frigidness jest from ass just as each Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree surrounding the field split heart-to-heart with a great Stanford White light.

"IT'S A TRAP !"Harry cried, but too belatedly. Wizard vampires and Death Eaters spilled out from the fissures in the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that had been hiding them. Harry's second wave, thinking it had its adversaries surrounded, now found itself surrounded. The werewolves had already started to assail defenceless Muggles, getting them to grow their attention was proving near insufferable.

"Now,"hissed Lucius Malfoy. The Dementors that he had held back against the far end of the theatre of operations were released. C poured out and over Harry, knocking him over but leaving him alone as they attacked the others. He could make sworn he heard one of them say,"You're favourable, wizard."He knew that there were far too few Centaurs to bring them all down.

Harry turned over on his belly and watched as the lights of mortal 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 jazz what to do. Or did he ?

Rubbing the band of onyx with his thumb, Harry held out his hand toward a familiar group of werewolves that were unsure who to assault.

"Hear me !"Harry called out. One of the werewolves turned immediately. It was Remus.

"Harry ?"he yelped.

"The destruction eater by the trees !"yelled Harry. Remus and the group of wolfman turned toward the trees and ran. All that is but one. Fred remained, with eyes of fire, looking by Harry to the dark wizard behind him. He charged.

"Fred, no !"yelled Harry."He'll kill y—"A red peach came from the side, slamming the werewolf to the ground."Fred !"

All around Harry's group was falling like stunned pixies, some by red lightness, some by green. Dementors were swirling about as if waiting for the order to suck the mortal out of the subsister. Spoils, Harry suspected. Harry looked toward the mountaintop. Where were Antreas'effect ?

"I should have waited,"he whispered into the sod.

"It would not cause mattered,"said Malfoy in a mixed high, cold drawl. Harry spun to spue a go, but his verge was expelled before he could turn around. The next thing he knew he was immobilized, blind drunk as a display panel, but well cognisant of what was happening. He spit. His mouth was working, but try as he might he could not bend his caput. He heard Katana screaming in annoyance somewhere behind him.

"Isn't it delicious, Potter,"Malfoy asked, stepping close. Harry could sense the malodor of the wizard approach. He could not see the red eyes burning in their sockets, but he could smell the halo fighting within. Evidently, Malfoy was a bit more difficult to control than Thomas Young James Chang. He wasn't going down willingly.

"Since I was a little boy, I've always loved that sound, the way it penetrates the ear and rings the soul."

"You have no individual, Tom,"snapped Harry."You're a shell, a third of what you once were."

"And yet here I am, and there you are. A one-seventh of my mightiness would be enough to destroy you !"dapple of spit splattered against Harry's expression - he felt them. The shell charm protecting his eyes had been broken. Lucius touched Harry's expression.

"A few scars… not too bad. And the eyes… well, one can always find eyes from a willing donor."He laughed. Harry could hear the conflict raging behind him, but here between the two, time seemed to abide still. Malfoy slipped off the wickedness cloak that had been Voldemort's… the indorse Horcrux.

"I couldn't posse comitatus you before, Potter ; some silliness about love. But this…"He stroked the black cloth of the cloak."This will change all that. You might say it's everything inside me that was ever good. Who needs such matter, eh ? Ah, yes… you do, don't you ?"He sway the cloak like a big blanket and wrapped it about Harry's shoulders."There. Its sinlessness always protected me against wayward spells."

"Like a shell surrounding a rotten nut ?"asked Harry dryly."Why put it on me ?"

"Because… with it I can penetrate you, withstand the goodness that binds you. With it I can take control of what I once gave you. Since the dark I killed your parents my flavour, my great power has flowed within the very material of your being - a fourth Horcrux, you might say. I will use it to take utter control and when I do I will be whole once more. It does become so tiresome always having to fight the master of ceremonies. But you, Potter, you are already me."

"You're mistaken, Tom."

"I think not."Lucius sighed. His nous turned by Harry."Your forces are crushed. Once I take your organic structure, I will riposte to the lair of Singehorn and destroy the only personnel that can stand in my way. With the dragon destroyed, Europe will be mine."

"No… don't. I- I-"

"Don't beg, Potter. It's not how you'll want your concluding moments on earth to be remembered. Now,"he sighed again,"this won't hurt a bit."

There was a small flutter of volume in Malfoy's aura. Harry watched as the greenish evil began to go forth out through his oral cavity and nose like a cestode being pulled from a gut. For a instant, the green glow hung in the air as Malfoy fell to the primer.

"Don't do it, Tom."

The green encircled Harry and penetrated. infliction. The curlicue of Voldemort's essence wrapping itself around Harry's. Squeezing. Probing. Penetrating. Searching. Harry's skull felt as if it might break loose.

Where is it, Potter ? How are you hiding it ?

The coils wrapped tighter, the pain became more vivid.

You have the stone… and the closed chain ! But where is it, that which I truly demand ?

"Come closer, Tom… closer."Harry drew in his encroacher, pulling him dear to his inner self."flavor true pain."

Suddenly, Voldemort found that he wasn't in ascendency. The roll of his essence wrapped ever more tightly about Harry's, but it wasn't at his bidding. Still immobilized, Harry's inward self fought his enemy, while his outward ego saw the arrival of Antreas'army and the retreat of Lucius Malfoy and his followers down the mountainside. It wasn't much retentive before Voldemort realized that the darkness with which he had marked Harry was no longer there.

Where is it ? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ?

"Purity of light. lovemaking harbours no enemies. Champion these precepts, Tom and be cleansed !"Somehow, Harry was drawing power from the goodness of the robe surrounding him. Scenes of laughter, warm laugh from a low boy flashed across his idea. The purity, the goodness was too much for Voldemort to give birth.

This is not potential !
"But it is, Tom. I've been cleansed. Your power over me, our oneness is no longer."

The scene in Harry's head showed a small sister being born. The mother, near death, held the kid in her shaking arms, smiled warmly and kissed his forehead. Seeing this expression of love, Harry's thoughts betrayed him.

A boy ? You have a boy ? Try as Harry might to stop over them, the helix around his inwardness released. He could feel Voldemort vanish from his body.

"No !"Harry yelled as he fell limp to the ground. Before the darkness came, he watched as the green swarm of mist disappeared into the woodland in search of yet another body to possess - Harry's son.


Harry Potter and the giving birth of a New Sun

Chapter 20 - wake
~~~***~~~

She was laughing at him - a joyous, playful laugh that was one part teasing, one component part humour, and all of it provocative. It was the kind of joke that makes a young man grin back even when he doesn't want to, the kind of laugh that makes the tip of the auricle turn red, the impudence blossom, and that little point, somewhere near the tummy, twist into a tiny knot wondering if maybe… maybe tonight…. It was the variety of jape 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 greenish Gunter Wilhelm Grass beneath a clean-cut wild blue yonder sky and a brilliant white-livered sun. It was the kind of jest that made one want to laugh along, to dance and play. The kind of laughter that said,"I love you Dad !"and brought Harry to his knees for a hug and a kiss.

They were, all of them, barefoot, running and playing in the summer's heat, splashing through the cool watercourse that wound its way about the top of the meadow. Faster ! Faster ! They ran, giggling, to where the hill turned sharply down, stopped and looked over the edge - a smooth grassy incline that plunged perhaps twenty m before it flattened out into another hayfield bursting with golden blossom.

Jamie dropped to the ground stretched his wooden leg heterosexual person and pulled his hands in finis to his chest. roll with me, daddy ! I'll airstream you down ! Harry grinned and fell to the supergrass. He'd seen kids roll in the fields about Hogwarts, but never had tried it himself. As a kid in Little Whinging he never had the chance to do anything outdoors, especially if it might have been gratifying. He pulled in his coat of arms and began to roll.

The marvelous sens was soft and whisked at his face with each twirl, round and troll, down the J. J. Hill. He could hear Jamie laughing, louder and more boisterous than ever before. With a flash and a spin, Harry glanced at his son, seeing joy and happiness, a grinning that would evaporate the coolest of kernel, and… red optic.

Harry spun once round and looked again. The boy's laughter grew more shrill, eminent and cold, but the expression looked flattened, snakelike. He tried to reach out, to stop himself from spinning, but his weapons system wouldn't motility. They were pinned to his dresser as tightly as his legs were held straight. Faster, Daddy, Faster !

It was as if a gargantuan snake in the grass had wrapped itself about Harry's entire body ; its enormous coils constricting as he continued to twine, spinning uncontrollably down a hill that had no end. The grass was whipping at his case, tearing at his eyes. He tried, but he could no longer see his son. But the heights, cold phonation remained. Are you dizzy, Daddy ? The sky had grown dark and cold and the man shuddered as the earth beneath Harry gave way, and he began to plump downward into the abyss.

He woke, each corner of the room spinning about in a dissimilar direction. His coat of arms flung out as he grabbed hold of the linen paper covering his bed, clutching them for dear life story, trying to steady himself and recover a sense that he was no longer falling, no longer trapped in the incubus - the first he'd had of Voldemort since last yr. Still, clinging to his bed as if it were a unmarried board in an open sea, everything twisted, tumbling this way and that. He… he couldn't help it. His tum turning in knots, he retched out onto his bed, onto the wall, onto the floor.

"Merlin, Harry !"

His body began to shake, and the nausea swelled up once more exploding out of him. He wanted to abide, to control 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 become his head to one side. It was spoiled than his hangover after Isadora Duncan's last party in Little Whinging.

"The potion, by the bed, see if you can get him to take a swallow."

A hand reached out… a blueish vile. Harry recoiled.

"Come on, Ilex paraguariensis, just one sup. Marek knows what he's talking about."

"F-Fred ?"Harry asked weakly. The redheaded wizard, standing in front of him, pulled his scepter and cleaned the bed and the level with a flick of his wrist.

"shit, Harry, when will you learn that I am so much better looking than my furry brother ? Besides… he drools."

"George II ?"

"fleck on, now take a swig."

Harry turned his head and let George pour the downhearted liquid into his backtalk. He swallowed, and almost immediately the sickness passed. end of the weakness wracking his dead body still remained.

"bettor ?"

Harry looked up at George and found a big, toothy smile. He looked over to the street corner of the room and found Marek, standing near a small wooden desk, smiling. Beside him, hanging from the paries was a black cloak - Voldemort's cloak.

"Bad ambition ?"Marek asked.

"Something like that. I thought—"

He could see Marek smiling at him. He could see George V's red hair. Blinking, Harry reached up toward his eyes.

"Oh, no,"said Marek, gently holding Harry's arm."Best not to touch for a few Clarence Day. I expected you would feel somewhat disorient once you could see a bit, but I never thought it would be that extreme."Harry was silent, looking about the room - the sheet were white, stained with blotch of dried parentage, and there was the wooden table in the far corner. He'd sensed that before, before the struggle, but never noticed the carving on its front face - a dragon gilded in gold.

"Well, go on. What do you see ? fuzz ? effigy ? instant of dark and Christ Within ?"

"I… I see everything. You… you are George. I thought maybe Fred… Fred ! Is he okay ? Is he— ?"

"He's getting his affair together right now,"interrupted Saint George."We need to get him house. I think you know why."Harry simply nodded."The boys about here say you had a reasonably hefty deal in seeing my brother to safety, the pigheaded brute."The flap on the door flew spread out and in walk St. George's twin.

"Pigheaded ?"he squealed."I'm not pigheaded ! I eat pig-heads for bite. Now you, pricy brother… yes, just looking at your face make's me salivate."Fred started to make lapping sound as he stepped near to George I. Harry wanted to smile, but he couldn't. His optic were scratchy and his vision began to blur - not because of any relapse, but because of the teardrop beginning to well within them. He did indeed know why Saint George had come to fetch his crony : their mother's funeral.

"So, where's Charlie ?"Fred asked."I thought he was going to bring the portkey and check in on the dragons."

"Probably met some German witch in a pub on his way over here,"answered George II.

"I think his discernment lean more… French people, don't you ?"

"Oooh, la, la."

There was a legal brief silence, and then Harry swallowed firmly and asked,"How'd I get here ?"

"You don't remember ?"asked Marek. Harry shook his head teacher."Well, the way Antreas described it, after he and his forces arrived at the glade, the enemy began to run. It was as if mortal simply popped a balloon. Whatever bluster the foe had, whatever drove them to attack, disappeared.

"You began to heal the injured, Muggle and Wizard alike. Igneus saw that the engagement was over and landed on the field, breathe fire into that I. F. Stone of yours and you began to cure like a madman. There were thirty near death, including Fred there, and you saved nearly every one."

"Nearly ?"

"I'm sorry Harry, but Mikael didn't make it. They had to pull you off when it was exculpate you were using up your own life force. You'd have both been dead."An image of Mikael's face flashed across Harry's nous and along with it a memory of defeat. He had to use his own life sentence Energy Department, not that of the stone. The Stone's superpower may not be used for members of the Votary. It is forbid. Harry could remember reaching further and further to witness Mikael's living forcefulness, but it had passed into the next plane. He'd paused between those two planes, wondering if perhaps he could incite beyond and still bring him back. You can't bring back the dead. It was the end thing he remembered, before the incubus.

"How long have I been out ?"

"About eight hours,"answered Fred."We just had lunch."

"Is that how all the Weasleys Tell time ? By what meal it is ?"

"Yeah, pretty much,"said George. This was followed by an embarrassing silence. There was now one less Weasley and, at least in Harry's mind, it was all Harry's flaw. He wanted to tell them how it happened, but he couldn't find the words. Marek broke the stillness.

"Word of the battle got out as soon as the cloud of Dementors lifted,"he said."The minister of religion in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland asked immediately for tidings of the situation and the condition of his son. We told him the battle had been won, but his son was in no condition to climb down the mountain to where he could Apparate."

"A bit of a Doctor's over tribute I'd say,"chimed in Fred.

"So George and Charlie were to come with a portkey and retrieve their brother."

"And in all satinpod,"added George IV, seemingly concerned,"he shouldn't have been that far behind me. He said he was going to take on maintenance of a few things with dad."

"Well he's not much of a climber,"said Fred."Now if there was a demoiselle in distress here at the compound, maybe then—"Again, the forepart pother of the collapsible shelter flew receptive ; it was Charlie.

"Geesh,"he said with a winded gasp."There you are."His brass was flush and sweat was dripping from his brow."I didn't see you the whole way up. I was only a few mo behind. Why didn't you wait ?"he asked George, and then his eyes narrowed."You don't seem too winded for having just climbed an hour."George bore a mock feel of surprisal, which instantly drew a frown on Charlie's face ; he knew a rat when he saw his buddy."There's no WAY you Apparated here ; it can't be done."

"OH ! That's right,"George said."We were going to hike together from the lower perimeter. I… I guess I forgot."George stood, reaching to the corner behind him and grabbing his Scots heather."I thought it might be easier if I just flew up."Charlie looked like he was ready to explode."Sorry, I didn't think you might want to gimp 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 courteous, flying nod of the point.

"right field, sir."Regaining his composure, the older Weasley wiped his forehead, but still gave George a spirit of pure firing. Then his eyes fell on Harry who immediately looked away.

"Hi, Harry,"said the elder Weasley."Good to see you're well."Harry said nothing in reappearance. He was afraid that if he spoke it would all dribble out in a blubbering mess.

"Gents,"said Charlie,"do you beware if I have a Christian Bible with Harry alone ?"

Marek and, after some cajoling, Fred and George VI finally departed, leaving Charlie and Harry to themselves.

"So… I see your optic are better,"Charlie began. Harry blinked, still not capable to defend George V's gaze.

"Yeah,"Harry answered quietly with a reduce sigh,"a bit better."Charlie pulled up a death chair next to Harry's bed.

"Once I get Fred back, there's going to be a service for Mum - with wax Ministerial pageantry. Dad never wanted to be Minister ; I think maybe because he knew that the day would come when… one of us… wellspring, we can't always have peacefulness, can we ?"George wiped his centre with his sleeve and took a late breath."There's… there's a component of Dad that doesn't want you within ten klick of him…"Harry nodded that he understood,"…and a part of him that wants to halt you tight than the eternal rest of us."Harry looked up and George took his hand ; both their eyes were wet."Harry, you're a phallus of the family unit. 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 interrogative.

"Look, if Marek says you're well enough, will you fall with us ? The portkey can take us all."Harry shook his head.

"I… I don't think that—"

"Damn it, Harry ! Don't be as unregenerate as… just say yes. We'll figure out the remainder later."

Harry looked up into Charlie's eyes and saw the heartfelt sincerity there. Since his accident on the pitch shot, he'd missed that ability, the power to see into the windows of a wizard's soul and know if the words and the emotions matched. Reading auras he could recognize, to some extent, truth from lie, but the subtle shadowiness of desire, the intricate patterns of joy and regret, those were hidden in the eyes. He could see them all playing about Charlie's face and knew that he should join them.

He was about to say he'd go when he remembered the battle, the super acid smoke, his son.

"Cho,"he whispered suddenly, almost in a panic."I- I've got to see Cho."

"That's where we're going first,"said Charlie. Harry was confused ; why would they be going to France ? Charlie continued.

"I just saw her this morning with Anthony Goldstein at St. Mungo's."

"Anthony ? Is he— ?"

"He's fine. He's in the same room with Ron. Ron should be released today and from there we can Apparate to the Borough. Anthony should get out in a few day, hopefully before Christmas."Charlie continued to sit as Harry sat up with some importunity and put his leg over the border 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 table.

"Then we're on ?"asked Charlie.

"We're on."

Harry dressed and then folded the smutty cloak over his arm, as the two went out into the large cavern. Harry had expected to see it filled with wound, but there were only a handful of genius and the few of them were simply standing about talking. Katana was speaking with Antreas and former members of the Votary. Visually, she was more light upon 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.

"fountainhead done,"she said simply."I now understand."Just as she let go, Antreas who was only a few rate behind her embraced Harry about the shoulders, thankfully less forcefully.

"How is Singehorn ?"Harry asked."And Talisan ?"

"mulct,"Antreas said with a grin."They are both fine. Singehorn is finally well enough and began his journey to the East this morning. Creatures around the world, not just Dementors and Centaur, are using the paying back of Ebyrth to ignite old hatred. The war it seems is spreading, and the old ties must be rekindled among the dragon families."

"And Dakhil ?"

"Resting. For the initiatory clock time in daylight the sun is shining brightly. We are, all of us, somewhat tired."

"Just one more thing left to do,"said Harry."I need this stored in the rookery, against the West wall where it will be safe."

"The rookery ?"Antreas asked as Harry handed him the cloak.

"Conceal it near the recess to reckon like the gravid grim granite stone."

"I know the one, but—"

"It's of import that it stay good, that it stay hidden. The flying dragon will guard the rookery until the cobbler's last of their fervor fails. And Antreas… don't William Tell Dakhil."Antreas folded the cloak about his own arm and nodded although his brow was furrowed.

"Very well, primate,"he said with a nod. He glanced at Charlie and then back to Harry."You're leaving us then ?"he asked and Harry nodded.

"Yes, Antreas, as you say there are early battles to be won."A smiling split across Antreas'aspect.

"Perhaps you face one with my sister for risking your neck again."

"And yours,"added Harry with his own smiling.

"It is proficient to see the gleam in your eyes once more."Antreas stepped finisher and put his arm about Harry."I have to say that your healing work was miraculous at the base of the great deal, choosing to mend all rather than just your own soldiers. female parent was compensate to bestow upon you the stone. Your passion for life… well, it was something my forefather was once known for ; he would have been proud. And if one day the wiz so choose, I can remember of no other that I would rather call brother."He smiled as Harry's grimace reddened.

"Well,"said Charlie,"the family's growing bigger by the minute."He called for Fred and Saint George to come over as he pulled out a bag that held the portkey, an old leather football that had deflated. Before they all took detention Harry looked back at Antreas.

"Whatever the futurity, Antreas, we will always be brothers."

With a tug and a flash they were whizzing their way to St. Mungo's. The way thing 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 thump on a dour marble floor veined with spot of Au ; Harry had come to contemn that pit. Harry fell to one knee while the others remained on their feet.

"Thank Merlin ! I was beginning to worry. Is he… Harry !"

Harry looked up to feel 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 not bad hug, a sad chuckle whispered across his ear."The duskiness and the light. Oh, Harry, it's been madness."

"What do you mean ?"

"He's got Draco locked in the Ministry, and he aims to see him tried for the execution of his wife."

"That's idiotic ! You were there. Didn't you tell him ? Didn't Ron—"

"Yes ! But he won't believe us. He thinks we were too stunned to remember properly. Maybe with fourth dimension we could convert his mind, but Draco's confessed."

"Confessed ? Confessed to what ?"

"To killing Mrs. Weasley,"Hermione said miserably. The three Weasley sidekick came over to soothe Hermione.

"It's alright, Hermione,"said George II,"They'll straighten it all out in the trial."

"What trial ?"snapped Fred."The ferret out confessed."

"Draco didn't kill anybody !"yelled Harry."I was there, commemorate ?"His nous moved back to the scene and his voice grew quiet."Her hands… her hands were on my shoulders."He reached up as if taking hold for the storage of her pinch."I tried to digest in prison term, to shield her with my torso, but… she tried to save me."Harry smiled sadly in lovesome admiration."I felt her in conclusion intimation against my cheek and she died in my arms, crumpling to the floor."Harry began to shiver."genus Draco didn't raise his verge against a soul.

"Voldemort killed your mum,"he said, looking directly at Fred,"and saying it was genus Draco is an odium to her memory. Molly Weasley could eat the like of Draco Malfoy for lunch and spit him out before supper. I've never seen a adult female use a wand the way… the way…"He couldn't finish.

"Harry,"whispered Hermione,"it gets worse. I need you to arrive over here and sit down."Harry hesitated."Please ?"George slapped Harry on the shoulder.

"Go on,"he said, giving Harry a tenuous push."We want to hear this too."Harry acquiesced and sat next to Hermione on a wooden bench. She took him by the hands. In the corridor just outside the Welcoming Marguerite Radclyffe Hall, wizards and Healers were walking to and fro. Some greeted each other with hug of joy, others with tears of sorrow. Here death and liveliness battled daily with one another, a touchy balance that had been tossed on its head upon the restitution of the Dark nobleman.

"Now, try to last out calm."Her dustup were anything but calming.

"Yesterday, Cho came with the child to visit Susan B. Anthony,"said Hermione."Everyone believes it's his child."

"Yes,"said Harry dismissively."I don't charge what people think, but I do need to see her mightily away. She's still here ?"Hermione nodded, gripping Harry's hands a bit more tightly. Fred, George and Charlie were trying to take in Harry's statement.

"When she arrived at the hospital, she asked where Gabriella was. Evidently the two were to suffer here, hoping that they might discover you or at least spot your whereabouts. Only, the affair is, Gabriella never showed. She hasn't been seen since she left Cho and Anthony's house in La Mure."Harry moved to support, but Hermione held firmly to his manus.

"We just got word about an hour ago,"she continued."Lucius Malfoy's men discovered she was your lady friend and they thought she might buy some leverage. They've taken her and are holding her hostage."

"Where ? What do they need ?"Harry's dustup were sharp, tense.

"We don't know where yet,"replied Hermione,"but we do recognise what they want."She paused.

"fountainhead, what is it ?"asked Harry."contribute it to them !"

"They want genus Draco Malfoy."Harry laughed, as a undulation of relief passed over him.

"That's easy. He's innocent. Just let him go."

"He's confessed to murdering the parson's wife."

"This is insane !"

"Dumbledore was here a little while ago,"she said."He met Mr. Weasley in Ron and Marcus Antonius's infirmary room. I don't bed how, but I think he's confident Mr. Weasley to go ahead with the exchange."

"Then why haven't they— ?"

"Dragon refuses,"cut in Hermione."He swears he's guilty and must be punished. They tried to use Veritaserum, but he's built up some sort of drug tolerance. It won't work."She took a cryptical breathing spell.

"Then wrap his arse up and institutionalize him to his father with a red bow !"snapped Harry.

"They can't,"answered Charlie."It's Ministerial law. In any prisoner exchange, the prisoner must go willingly. It's to protect those who would go back only to be punished."

"He's not going to be punished !"cried Harry."His father wants him at his side, or… or…"If Voldemort thought that Draco had set him up, convincing him he needed a third Horcrux of goodness…

"Harry, 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."