Harry thrower and The Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 6 - Too last an brush

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When Harry shut the door to his room and descended the stairs he was, perhaps, the happiest he had ever been in all his life story. The sun sent halcyon rays streaking through the coloured windowpane above and cast a golden picture on the floor below, tinged with enough red to make Harry think fleetingly of Fawkes. His hair a tangled plenty, he was wearing a T-shirt, boxers and socks, one with a rather large trap through which the large toe on his rightfield foot protruded. He scratched his belly as his nose took in the perfume of something that resembled the odor of burning ham. He took one gradation down and turned to seem back at his room. His room ? His star sign ? No, not really. Not anymore. And he was thankful for that and smiled all the more as the aroma of fresh coffee berry filled the air, perhaps the alone thing Sothis could get up properly.

When he pushed open the room access to the kitchen of Number twelve, Grimmauld place, he found Dog Star working feverishly in front man of the stove. His scepter was casting spell after spell, not so practically at the intellectual nourishment preparation, but in an campaign to clear the Mary Jane that was billowing throughout. Harry walked over and turned down the flame with a wave of his hand.

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

"No, really, I wanted to have you breakfast. You know, first day of school day and all."He cracked an egg and put both liquid and shield in the same bowl and started mixing it with his wand. Harry chuckled kindly and escape from his forefront in disbelief. It was expectant being liberate of Privet campaign, to be here with his godfather, to feel cherished and take account. It was probably the first time he had ever opened a packet of Viscount St. Albans for breakfast without a sour taste in his sass. He gave Sirius a looking that said,"Get very,"and then positioned himself squarely in front of the stove.

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

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

"I promised Gabri—"

"Visit,"Sirius cut in."That's all. Maybe Gab can fall along."

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

"Or if the war's over by then,"suggested Sothis with more optimism. Harry nodded plating the food and levitating the plate to the table.

Sirius ate like a dog and finished in about three min. Harry was more ruminative, and while he did finish, it took him much longer. The skillful thing about being of age was that he didn't have to take the air or take a car to go to King's cross station. For that matter, he didn't need to go to King's crossing at all ; he could Apparate to Hogsmeade and base on balls in from there. Only the top dog Boy and promontory Girl had to subscribe the train with their housemates, and this twelvemonth the Head Girl was none early than Hermione Granger. Odd, Harry thought, considering she'd nearly killed Theodore Nott last year. He smiled and took another sip of coffee. Hermione didn't know who the Head Boy was, but it wasn't Ron. Still, the redheaded woodpecker and his girlfriend were inseparable and so Harry would be travelling too. When Harry told Gabriella he would be going to Hogwarts by train, her expression fell momentarily and grew concerned.

"Then I go as well,"she declared, and she began to shiver slightly. The thinking sent a cold iciness down Harry's back as the tender coffee slipped down his throat.

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

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

Sothis poked at it a few prison term, and then finally took a bite. His face took on a slight bitter spirit as it scrunched ever so slightly, then he took another bite, shrugging his shoulder joint. His tooth and tongue covered in charcoal gray he said,"You'd ameliorate get fix. Is your bole packed ?"He glanced at the hourglass on the counter.

"Er… yeah,"Harry lied."Just a few more things."He levitated his plate to the sump which was piled luxuriously with crapper and pan from the last few days."Do you want me to take forethought of these before I—"

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

It was unusual really, getting make for his last year at Hogwarts. So often he was rushed in the bunco game and fuss of the Weasley family. This class, however, Harry wanted to be with his own family — Sirius Joseph Black. And it was the good decision he'd ever made. It had only been a few days, but in that short time Sirius and Harry did absolutely… nothing. There were opportunities to mouth about the old days when Dog Star palled around with James II ; there were chances to practice sophisticated turn or discover the surgery of some of the gilded instruments that still lined the walls in the Joseph Black home study ; there were times when they could have discussed how Harry brought Dog Star back from behind the curtain ; and at every turn, at every open door, Harry and Dog Star simply took the time to enjoy each other in the here and now. They played chess game ; the played bill of fare ; they raced Caduceuses across the Greater London sky at night ; they drank, probably too much ; and they laughed to a greater extent than they had laughed in a long, long time. Sirius'eyes had never been brighter, and Harry's substance had never been lighter.

This time when Harry readied himself at the face door to leave, there was no dark-skinned cloud hanging over their heads, but rather an eager excitement about the year to come and what it would bring. They drew strength from each other knowing that whatever war was around the corner, whatever wickedness rose on the horizon, they would face it together. For a moment they just stared at each other and around the room.

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

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

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

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

He Apparated to an out of the way positioning just down the street from King's Cross Station and began walking. The of late morning was absolved, and he was surprised to find out the air so coldness. He'd been spending so much prison term inside with Sothis he hadn't thought much about the conditions. His coat was in his luggage compartment, and he didn't experience much like opening that in the middle of a street filled with Muggles. He shivered, rubbed his branch, and continued on his way. He was coming to the first gradation of the place when a beggar boldly stepped in front of him demanding a donation. Wearing a good three days'stubble, his clothes were filthy, and his breath smelled strongly of alcohol.

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

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

"Surely a schilling ?"

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

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

"Call me a boy again, and you—"

"You'll what !"spat the wino, stepping toe-to-toe with Harry. The sight was a bit comical since Harry was not the small child he once was. Indeed he was a lather young man, and he stood a good four column inch taller than his antagonist. Curling the digit on his right hand, he was about to say just what he'd do when a familiar tingle ran up his vertebral column. He grabbed for his wand, but too late. Or at least it would hold been if he had been the target. The drunkard stood motionless, center glazed, body frozen in position. Harry looked up just as a hand gently took him by the arm.

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

The man, still in his teens, wore a saturnine gray suit with thin blueness piping, a burgundy tie and blanched shirt. The dark spectacles reminded Harry of old James adherence flick, but the ashen lawn tennis shoes with red laces told Harry at once he was dealing with a mavin. Then he noticed the physical body of the jaw, the voice, but the hair—

"Finnius ?"Harry asked, wondering if he was talking to the late Head Boy of Hufflepuff who at commencement exercise had a scratch line at a face fungus and whisker that hung down to his waistline."I thought you were going to jump a band ? The… er, The Grindly Gutters ?"

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

"Why ? What's the thing ?"

"Well… see, I'm supposed to—"

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

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

"You work with Tonks ?"Harry asked with a bit more exhilaration and interest. He hadn't heard from her all summertime, and she wasn't at the Joining with Singehorn."Is she okay ? Where is she ?"Finnius continued to show Harry toward political program nine and three-fourths holding Harry with his right 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 concern at the Ministry cobbler's last yr, she's been in and out of infirmary and… well, now she's in and… well, she made me promise. See ?"

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

"Ah, here we are."They were at the platform."Just in clip too !"Before Harry could say another word, Finnius gave him a bit of a shove and he plunged through the bulwark and found himself on the other side standing just in front man of the Hogwarts express mail. Harry dropped his trunk, reached for his wand and started back toward the wall when he was tackled from the side. The flash of Corvus corax dim hair in his face told him at once it was Gabriella.

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

The frustration on Harry's grimace was cleared ; he was about to charge back out when his optic caught something he had never before seen : Neville Longbottom was hugging his parents, hotdog and Alice, good-bye. Alice held his typeface in her handwriting and planted a big wet kiss on his cheek. They were all smiles as Neville wiped it with his sleeve. Then Frank Longbottom handed his son something and, as Neville wrapped his fingers about the object, a more severe looking came into his middle. His dad slapped him on the articulatio humeri and a thin smile appeared again as Neville boarded the train.

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

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

"ALL ABOARD !"the conductor called.

"Dean said he'd save us a spot,"said Gabriella, taking keep of Harry's mitt. Harry took one final stage look at the wall behind them, and then the two boarded the power train. The corridor was crowded with scholarly person, particularly first years who were completely confused. What was noticeable, however, was that the normal demarcation of business firm zones seemed to be somewhat smear. There were Slytherins purposefully mixing in with Ravenclaws near the battlefront of the power train, and a group of thirdly yr Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors in another carriage playing picnic. A few gondola down Harry just caught a coup d'oeil of somebody in Gryffindor soak disappearing into a baby carriage and so he and Gabriella followed. He pushed open the carriage door only to walk in on Neville and Helen petting ; a perfumed fragrance filling the air.

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

"Yeah, he's up forward."Then, with a confident movie of his verge Neville shut the door in Harry's face, following that with a good luck charm that sealed it tight. Gabriella just raised her eyebrow and smiled.

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

They continued moving forward past various equipage when the flash of red hair caught Harry's eye. It was Ron, and he was bickering with Hermione. The base of the coach they were in was littered with clothes, books and various thing Harry knew to be Ron's, most notably by the overabundance of socks.

"Honestly, Ronald,"said Hermione in a reproof voice as if talking to a four year old."If you don't find it soon you'll have to say Professor Flitwick, and if you won't I will."

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

"Is there something improper ?"she asked gently, Harry only a stride behind her.

"No, nada's wrong,"snapped Ron immediately."Er… hey, better half !"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…"

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

"Hermione,"said Gabriella with a whole tone that Harry had come to be intimate all too well, and yet was still new to Hermione."Perhaps one of my Slytherin housemates is playing a trick, most likely slip. Would you fall in me and perhaps together we can solve this little problem."Knowing Hermione's disposition toward Nott, Harry wondered if it was a Isaac Mayer Wise thought to put the two in stuffy proximity, but Gabriella may bear been on to something. Certainly Nott would have the motivation to get out a stunt like this, but perhaps Gabriella just wanted to get Hermione away from Ron for a bit. He smiled to himself realizing that it was probably both.

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

"Bloody hell."

"fountainhead, Fred or George can certainly get you a new wand,"offered Harry, sitting down across from Ron."Or maybe we can sneak out this weekend and Apparate to Ollivanders."Unfortunately, Ron's boldness 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 moment of quiet as Harry watched the countryside slick by. It wasn't the same train as six twelvemonth ago, but it might as well have been.

"Yeah,"said Harry, almost in a voicelessness as he nodded his foreland,"I remember."

"Things haven't changed much."

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

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

"That's not—"

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

Harry was trying to muster something to say when the door began to open. 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 mosh the threshold shut when St. Patrick O'Riley, now in his second twelvemonth, poked his headland through.

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

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

"St. Patrick,"cut in Ron, doing his best to remain calm,"we don't have prison term to—"

"Prob'ly mad ‘ bout losin'this,"interrupted St. Patrick, and he held up Ron's sceptre. For a moment Ron sputtered, unable to address. Finally, he grabbed the wand and pulled it close, cradling it like a baby as a wave of relief passed over his body.

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

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

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

"Why don't you and James stay in here,"offered Harry."I haven't heard from the Changs all summertime and was wondering how Cho was doing."At these words, 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 James was going to start Gryffindor this year. He knows he can pick whatever family he wants doesn't he ?"

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

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

"Yeah, it was."

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

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

"Er…."

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

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

"No, but he didn't dare use a hybridisation Holy Scripture or raise his voice,"said Hermione."Quite the gentleman for a change."

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

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

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

"There, you see !"said Gabriella,"Another okay example. James II was one of the wagerer first year scholarly person as I recall."Ron pulled out his wand and looked at it closely.

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

"Oh, don't be ridiculous,"said Hermione, slapping his hand. Then she turned to Harry, trying heavy to ignore the muckle on the level."So how's Sirius doing at Grimmauld Place ?"

The hours passed quickly as tiffin came and the late good afternoon brought drooping eyelids to everyone. Dean never made his way back to the carriage, and they never endeavoured to move further up the power train. They were all nodding off to kip when the train began to slow.

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

"No,"said Hermione with a bit of business."It's too early."They all noticed the last word leave her brim in a hassock of smoke -- the air was growing colder by the 2nd. They knew at once what was happening and each had their scepter at the set up. The darkness outside the wagon train filled with flash of lighting. Ministry guards had moved out to come across the onslaught which was centred toward the movement of the wagon train. conjuration filled the air as Patronus after Patronus was being sent out against the aggress Dementors. There were howler all up and down the corridors, mostly from the youthful students.

"Ron,"said Hermione with a overlook voice."supporter me conglomerate the firstly years."Ron was up in a jiffy, and a moment later his voice was barking rules of order down the corridor for everyone to remain calm, calling for the first years to muster at the galley. pupil began to propel toward the back of the gearing, 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 early Windows began to shatter about the train.

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

"You can't be grave. Who knows how many are out there. Your outflank using the gearing as a—"The train lurched forward causing corporate screams all up and down the corridor. Then it began to incite -- chug… choo-choo… chug… choo-choo… She was quickly gathering speed. There was another stir of bright white flashes of weak cast against the darkness, and the afternoon light suddenly reappeared and the warmth returned. Everyone cheered as the veil of darkness became nothing Thomas More than a dark cloud on the horizon behind the train.

A look of succour bedspread across Gabriella's look, but darkness still remained in Harry's eyes as he reached and grabbed the wrist of the handwriting that was holding his arm. Slowly, but firmly he pulled her script away, and looked at her with a very blue saying. She sensed his emotions before he said the words and she didn't like what she was feeling. Finally, he spoke in a stern and heat up voice.

"Don't EVER do that again."

"But—"

There was a shrieking that Harry knew at once to be Ginny's. In a blink of an eye he was out the door and down the corridor, only a step ahead of Neville Longbottom, and two step behind Ron. Ginny was on her knee joint in the equipage, burst shabu everywhere and rip streaming down her heart. She grabbed her brother 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 chairman, 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 James Byron Dean to face them all. There was a collective gasp. Still breathing, his heart were blank, his expression sunken, and his pelt almost pale. He gave them no response at all. Ginny stood up and wrapped him in her arms, rocking him back and forth. On her finger was the closed chain doyen had given her the year before. The firestone with which it was set had lost its brilliant glow, its fire, its love extinguished.

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




Harry Potter and the burden of Becoming

Chapter 7 - The lost someone

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Harry clenched his clenched fist and spat,"shtup war."Other than that, only the rumbling of the power train and the hint whistling through the shattered window accompanied Ginny's SOB. He stepped succeeding to Gabriella and watched helplessly as Ginny, a soul mate if ever he had one, rocked back and Forth with dean in her arm. Dean, breathing but lifeless, made no answer. He might as well be a corpse - he'd be better off. Harry felt the rage building within, but something was tempering it, something was focusing it. He gazed into nothingness as Mary Jane streamed by the broken windowpane and a tear tracked down his cheek.

"Ginny,"Gabriella whispered, then louder,"Ginny."The red-header, her cheek wet, looked up at Gabriella."May I see him ?"Ginny sniffed, wiped her nerve and nodded silently. someone, a girl, screamed at the door and then ran down the corridor yelling for help.

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

"It won't do any good,"thought Harry to himself, reaching for his wand and then nervously fiddling it with his finger's breadth. Then, out loud, he whispered,"He's gone."The rage roiled in his intellect as he watched the green hills roll by - a photo perfect day. Finally, his mind found its pellucidity."This was past tense forgiveness,"he thought to himself and his bridge player clenched tightly about his baton as he pulled it to the ready."I'll kill them ! I'll obliterate them all !"He would Apparate back down the tracks and destruct every Dementor that moved. He began the wrist movement when Gabriella grabbed his arm. His middle jibe blast into hers."I told you—"he began.

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

"I don't care 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 !"

scepter began to appear from everyone.

"Harry !"film Gabriella."THINK !"She pulled him close."You know a expert way !"

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

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

Voices ? phonation ! She couldn't be unplayful. She had wanted to exploit with him on the part, the gifts of those who had touched him at the Joining, but he chose instead to spend his meter with Sirius. All those present at the Joining on Singehorn's mountain were, in various style, a role of him now. They had shared of themselves freely, but there were so many he couldn't sort them out and meter was dripping through his fingers.

"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 late inside, calling to those who had shared of themselves, scanning through countless memories, snippet of pictures that spanned centuries.

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

"cum on, Harry ! Let's obliterate them !"someone called from prat. It was Anthony Goldstein. Very well said, thought Harry, but Antony's Patronus would be favourable to fight away a unity Dementor let alone dozens. Unfortunately, before Harry could say another word, Marcus Antonius gave Harry the most peculiar looking and shouted,"For our kinsperson, married person !"There was a pop and Goldstein was gone. It was followed by another pop and another ginger snap. older students were Disapparating from everywhere.

"Wait ! stay"Harry yelled."You're… you're not prepare !"

"mamma's seen them, Harry,"said Gabriella above the walkover and pop."She may know. Think of her… be her !"

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

"Coldness. Emptiness,"she whispered."The sense of smell of decay, of death."

Images filled Harry's mind. persona of what was, what is, what might be. He saw Dakhil, a much young looking Dakhil, descent dripping from the box of his lip ; he saw himself hanging from the window on Privet Drive, an odd gleaming surrounding his half-naked body ; he saw Grigor looking cruel and defiant ; he saw the inhuman numb body of Antreas, knife thrust wounding covering every inch of his bare chest ; death, and then he saw them.

It was Night and the just sound, beyond a lone screeching in the darkness, was the raspy breathing place of the oncoming Dementor. Just a few base away, a young young lady was cowering beneath the cloaked figure. Just to her left hand was a man, somewhere in his lately twenties, a tartar emblazoned on his properly forearm. Ignoring the man, the Dementor pulled back his hood revealing its skull-like masque of repulsion, a great hole where perhaps a mouth should be. The visual sensation seemed so real Harry tried to reach for his wand, but found his arms shackled to a stone wall.

The female child screamed as the Dementor drew in its breath in a nifty wheeze. Another scream… another wheeze. On the thirdly wheeze, the daughter made no sound ; her dull eyes opened, staring blankly up at her aggressor. It was then, as if empowered with a bit imagination, Harry saw it : the glow. He watched the faint golden white light being pulled into the maw in the Dementor's orifice. He expected it to disappear into the duskiness, but it didn't. The Dementor pulled his hood up over his skull, but Harry could still perceive the glow trying to fight its way out. It was as if the Dementor was shining, backlit by a glare from above."I see,"Harry whispered and the duskiness rushed away to be replaced by the lights and rumble of the racing Hogwarts Express.

"I see !"weep Harry."I…"He paused."Soseh can see,"he said slowly shaking his head."Soseh has the gift, I don't, at least not yet. I haven't tried. There's no way I can—"Gabriella's oculus were fixed on his. He knew she bore her mother's 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 only way, Harry,"she said, still holding his arm."If we find the one in meter, then… then you use the Harlan Stone to draw back dean's life force."Everyone looked at the two as if they'd both gone mad. There were step racing their way down the corridor. Harry glanced back, knowing that once the Aurors found out about the onset and the flying of the students they'd be blasting Dementors right and left. With one unseasonable magic spell, Dean's soul would be lost forever.

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

On two, they both Apparated back into the swarthiness. It was as if they had just landed themselves in the middle of an baleful electric storm that had extinguished the sun. All was blackness save for the jiffy of lighting - wandlight from the attacking pupil. Harry felt the heat rushing out of his bones and heard the shrieking in his ears.

"Can - you - see - the - one ?"Harry yelled over the din. His voice held promise, but his heart had none. There were at least a 100 Dementors swarming about, skimming across the hillside, trying to decide if the recently arrived wizards were to be feared or consumed. Harry saw a Patronus, the shape of an enormous owl, plunge into a mathematical group of about a half dozen Dementors and sent them flying. About thirty yards away, near a tie-up of trees, Goldstein's wand was doing little more than lighting up the small clearing of grass in front of him. A Dementor was closing in on him when three scholar from Ravenclaw converged, simultaneously casting an Incendio go and incinerating the beast. Harry's meat skipped. Could that have been—

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

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

They were plunging right into the heart of the drove of black. 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 pore on Harry and Gabriella, the Dementors seemed to prefer the easier target near the tree and began to make a motion away. He could discover the screams behind him as Gabriella pulled her verge and uttered something in Armenian. A tweed radiance enveloped her as if she held a star at the tip of her baton. She pressed on ever forward, her footstep gathering f number, but her wand dimming as each new Dementor tried to get across its glowing surface.

"Hurry, Harry !"she called back. The terrain was rockier here and they were moving along the position of a hill and the farther they moved along the more infuse the incline grew, making it more difficult to traverse. Harry heard a collection of piece of cake behind him ; the Aurors had arrived. He looked back at the corking swarm of Dementors unwittingly racing toward the new appeal of emotions. Just as he turned back to look at Gabriella his foundation slipped on a Lucy Stone and his ankle twisted under his weight. He fell to the ground and tumbled a goodness XX foot down the side of the Alfred Hawthorne, scraping the slope of his leg badly before he came to rest.

He looked up and saw the flickering glow of Gabriella's baton disappear over the border of the pitcher's mound. Three Dementors swarmed over him - it was the last thing they ever did. melanize blood sprayed all over the ground as Harry blasted his way through, grimacing from the pain in his ankle as he took each long stride. It was then that he realized he hadn't a cue what to do when he came upon the Dementor they wanted. Gabriella had said to use the Lucy Stone, but how ? And how would he keep the Dementor from simply fleeing ? His ankle throbbing, Harry past another large tree and came up over the side of the hill. The primer opened up beneath him, running down maybe twenty grounds and then spreading out into a vast field that stretched on until it disappeared into the dank mist of darkness. sunshine was trying to click the hazy horde of pitch blackness casting an eerie red incandescence over the green landscape before him. It was then when his spunk sank.

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

The carapace 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 solid ground as if a snapping serpent were ever at his heels. He was perhaps fifty one thousand away when an enormous red illumination burst from Gabriella's wand, filled the air about her, and one of the Dementors burst into flame. Harry could get wind its gurgling cries as it tried to fly away, but plunged into the grass starting a small fire, grim smoke billowing upward. Harry was now twenty yard away as he watched the moment Dementor crouch over Gabriella and he heard her scream.

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

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

"Petrificus Totalus !"called Harry. The Auror went tumid and fell to the ground. Ten railyard. Gabriella screamed again and this clip Harry could hear the raspy wheeze of the Dementor as it tried to pull away her soul. With a swell spring Harry jumped forward, wrapped his arm around Gabriella and the two of them rolled away from beneath the hold of the Dementor. When they came to repose, Gabriella was on top of him ; the golden necklace he had given her with the Gryffindor signet - a lion baring two ruby red eyes - that came from professor McGonagall hung round her neck opening and swung back and Forth River in front line of Harry's expression. He had remembered McGonagall's words :"For fourth dimension of darkness."And then he heard the part of Dumbledore, as if he were whispering in Harry's ear, only the rustling was coming from Harry's lips.

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

The Dementor's growing wheeze signalled its plan of attack when Harry grabbed the tiny golden chain off Gabriella's neck. He rolled her to the side, feeling the frigidity coming from behind. With one last great effort 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 tiny fortunate chain grew snakelike in figure and property, but its drumhead was the head of a lion with flaming red eyes. With the film of his wand Harry levitated the glow, golden, lion-headed snake toward the coming frigidity, and it began to spiral itself around the Dementor several times. round of drinks and beat in lupus erythematosus time than it takes to untie a shoe string the Dementor was cinched tight from capitulum to toe. Struggling to escape, the sinister creature could not travel and ultimately fell to the grass.

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

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

"The Oliver Stone. Use the gemstone before the others come."

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

In an instant, Harry found himself in what he had, in his own idea, decided was an antechamber of sorts. All was Patrick Victor Martindale White waiting for his request. For a moment his head hovered on Gabriella, but he knew he was forbidden on using it to the reward of another in the Votary. Instead, he called to the subject idle words,"Show me Dean's somebody !"

He expected to see a convolution of coloring material, but instead he saw a whirl of black. His heart skipped for awe that he had done something wrong, but his own spirit held tight to the need to save his friend if at all possible. The shadow spread before him and in this vanity a stench filled Harry's anterior naris. It was then when he realized where he was, what he was entering - the life force of the Dementor.

black and rot filled his vision. Strands of oily vulcanized fiber hung from above and when Harry looked to see their descent, all that was visible was utter darkness. He was reminded of the crevasse into which he and Sirius had fallen and a very real part of him wanted to will this place as quickly as potential. He was cold and growing colder as he forced is psyche's eye to beseech onward into the depth of the Dementor's essence, an insatiable need to feed.

At foremost, the strait were distant echoes coming from down a long burrow, voices perhaps, or animate being screaming. Harry moved toward the phone and found the darkness pressure in all around him. Though in here he really had no corporeal form, something wet and sticky splattered against his face ; the desire to wretch was strong. Then he heard the auditory sensation again.

Yes, they were scream, but human screams, calling just ahead. Floating deeper into the duskiness, his foot tangled on something he could not see. He pulled and freed himself and then realized his teeth were chattering."This is not possible,"he thought to himself and now an even smashing theatrical role of him wanted to retort."I can't do this."He glanced back to see a tiny dapple of white no bigger than a postage stamp stat mi away. He could be there and back to safety device in the flash of a cerebration.

Then he heard a vox, clear and impregnable above the others, telling them to tranquillise down, to mind. It was familiar, but it wasn't Dean's. There was something nurturing about this voice, something that made one feel prophylactic. Harry pressed forward. It felt same hours, although it was probably little more than the time it takes a star to flash, when he saw the swoon gilt glow ahead. He ached and felt that at any consequence he would collapse and be trapped in this darkness forever. The voice called out again and his pulse quickened as he hurried forward. Against his body he felt the ace of ice-cold hands pulling at his sprit, trying to check him, but still he moved ahead. The cold was unbearable, the good sense of fearfulness was overmaster, and that's when he saw him, towering marvellous above the others huddled in the melanize muck : Mr. Silverton. It was the Saame mavin from Hogsmeade that had tried to save genus Draco's life story the year before, but had failed in the attempt. Harry had always seen him as a rather meek yet friendly man when he visited Hogsmeade, but here he stood taller than life, translucent in a prosperous splendour.

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

Harry looked down to see those huddled at Silverton's invertebrate foot. They were there, nearly a dozen psyche, children mostly. Each was translucent, each glowed brightly, though some Sir Thomas More than others. The brilliant of these was the youthful black wizard, who seemed utterly lost. dean looked straight at Harry, but did not spot him.

"Help,"he pleaded in a rickety, rasping vox."Where am I ?"

"No one stays behind,"Harry said to Silverton."I'm taking you all."And without another word he reached out his hands and with his mind summoned the souls toward him. Silverton stood firm as if guarding the procession, guiding them toward Harry's summons. First, and virtually willing, came James Byron Dean, then a Young girl with black hair… a boy with promising drear eyes… and on… and on…. Each mortal came to… came into Harry as if he were an enormous emptiness pulling them in. When the finale left the quag at Silverton's infantry the erstwhile adept smiled.

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

The cold was pressing in on Harry once again, fighting one last desperate attack to continue its cute hoarded wealth as Silverton floated toward Harry.

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

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

"Home."

The total darkness began to rush away with a expectant tearing sound. Harry felt as if his legs were being pulled backward by a tether that held him tight to the world rump. Flashes of varying sunglasses of Thomas Gray screamed past, and then with a frightful wooosh Harry found himself back in his body on the grassy field looking upward at the milky-blue sky.

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

He felt dizzy, then strong, more knock-down than he had ever felt. But then he realized why ; he still held their life sentence force. He could use this energy, this power in the war to follow. They could be victorious ! Then, a slow sigh slipped past his brim, and before he lifted his head off the supergrass he closed his oculus and whispered,"Hhhhome."It was a long, dumb, pulseless word that sent chills down Gabriella's spine. He could finger the energy plinking out from within him as each mortal drifted upward. Perhaps it was a hallucination, for Gabriella said later she saw no such vision, but before Harry the translucent bodies of all the tyke hovered for a moment just above him. They looked down, smiling when at last Mr. Silverton emerged. He took the low girl's hand and in the next moment they all rose above the treetops and disappeared from visual sense, dean travelling with them ever upward.

Harry was sure he heard Dean's vocalization utter,"Goodbye."

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

"But—"

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

The air blasted with the study of two forte pops as a couple of Aurors appeared clad in red Ministerial robes. One noticed the Auror some yards away on the ground still stiffened by Harry's charm. The other reached down to help Harry and Gabriella to their feet.

"You can't stay here,"the Auror said, then he noticed who he was speaking with and turned to his companion."It's potter !"He held Harry more firmly as if his lifetime might bet on it."You've got to take back to the train. young lady, will you help—"

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

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

He was a bit dizzy and disorient, but he grabbed a carriage doorway handle and pulled himself up to his metrical foot, taking a shaky stride forward."Dean,"he muttered."I've got to see if…"He began to crumple to the floor when Gabriella grabbed his arm. He looked at her clinched 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 look did not smile back. Her face were too wracked with worry as her optic darted up the corridor.

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

Two cars down there was a throng of scholar that only parted when they realized who it was. When Harry made it to Dean's car he stepped in to count straight in on Ron's back. His dress were a mess of mud and pine needle, and the face of his shirt was torn, splodge of line of descent seeping through, red mixing with spattered black. His red pilus draped down over an arm that was hugging him tight. It was Ginny's and she was crying. Harry's heart plummeted and he dropped his head ; they had failed. James Byron Dean had died.

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

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

It was James Byron Dean's phonation, talking about Ron. It was rickety but crystalize and Harry watched as two sleeve of deep chocolate wrapped around the redheaded brother and Sister in a large hug.

"Dean ?"choked Harry, his gist skipping out of his chest and the tips of his fingers and pads of his feet starting to prickle.

"Harry ?"asked James Byron Dean from behind the Weasley's. Ron spun stave and, as he did so, Ginny saw Harry. She immediately let out a squeal of joy. A bit later her arm were around Harry, tears streaming down here boldness and cheer rising up all around the string. Soon, they were all hugging. Word spread that the counterattack had been a success, at to the lowest degree with the assistance of the Aurors that had been guarding the gear. If it hadn't been for—

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

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

Harry turned to see a very hurt and a very clobber Mark Anthony Goldstein. There was dry grass in his hair and a bit of blood at the corner of his oral fissure, and he still clutched his wand as if ready to cast another enchantment at whomever or whatever might pass over him.

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

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

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

"That's the one !"

Everyone turned to see two Aurors in their embattled Ministerial robes making their way through the throng of scholarly person. One, the one pointing his finger at Harry, was promptly recognized. It was the Auror Harry had dropped in the field of force. 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 human face anywhere. Greasy little git."The couple parted the crowd and were now good in front of Harry."Thought you could get away with it, did yeh ? petty tooshie. You could have had us all killed."Then he turned to the early Auror, a very tall woman with trench low eyes and an expression somewhere between exasperation and exhaustion. She was about to say something when Susan Anthony Goldstein stepped in front end of Harry.

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

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

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

"Strickman ! PUT THAT DOWN !"If Anthony's voice was Ministerial, the new voice was all that and to a greater extent. Strickman's eyes widened in jar. He'd heard this voice before, cobbler's last year when he graduated from the Auror honorary society. Everyone turned and saw the shock of red hair and knew at once who it was.

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

"Ronny. Ginny."He was trying not to indicate that he was there to instruct the status of his own kid, but the shake in his vocalization and the feel of relief on his look were obvious for all to see and see."I came as soon as I heard."Then his heart met Harry's as he moved past the two Aurors and a look of admiration filled them."Harry ?"he breathed in disbelief."I had heard you were taken. That your soul—"

"That was Dean, sir,"answered Harry.

"James Dean ? animate being of Bulgaria, not—"His eyes saw Dean standing side by side to Ginny."I… I don't understand."

"Harry brought him back, Dad,"Ginny answered her father's questioning eyes."He brought his soulfulness back."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, government minister,"spat Strickman."It's not possible ! This petty prat—"

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

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

"You're dismissed,"shot the Minister,"both of you."It was the female Auror who was now doing the grabbing and dragging as she pulled Strickman by the 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."

Chester A. Arthur was still struggling, trying to comprehend what it was that Harry was saying. Nonetheless, he patted Antony about the berm and said,"Well done, Thomas Young man. Goldstein is it ? Yes, I know your mother. Runs a coven in Colchester."He gave Marcus Antonius, who was now beaming, another pat."Well done."Chester A. Arthur then turned and hugged his two minor and then he said in a loud voice,"I'm glad everyone's condom and I assure you the rest of your trip-up will be uninterrupted, if not completely boring."

With the pettifoggery and fighting over, nearly the pupil returned to their carriages, muttering about the battle as they went, and the crowd in the corridor thinned. Arthur Weasley put his arm around Harry just as Hermione entered the caravan car.

"Harry, you're safe !"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 minister started down the corridor he could see Hermione catch Gabriella's hired man and heard her ask what had happened as they disappeared into the carriage with Dean, Ginny and Ron.

"Harry,"began Mr. Weasley,"I need to speak with you about something very of import. I was hoping to fill you back to the Ministry with me right now, but under the circumstances it's perhaps best that you stay put. Once you're settled at the schoolhouse, I'll call for you."

"What is it, sir ?"

"Not here, not now, Harry. The walls…"Mr. Weasley smiled, but it was not a well-chosen smile."…the walls have ears."

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

"No. No, I know you don't,"answered the pastor as he stopped to look at Harry."But this is something too of import 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 last week. But if what you say is lawful about Malfoy and the Dementors, and certainly this flack points to that, we must act soon and we must act decisively. It's sentence to postulate 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 thrower and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 8 - Engaged

~~~***~~~

The Snitch flitted upwards time and time again only to be snatched into his hand after every outflow. He was actually getting quite respectable at it really. Nearly twenty instant without a—

"Damn !"

The Snitch slipped through dean's fingers and began to zip about the boys'dorm, bouncing off the wall above Harry's foreland. With a flash, few but Ginny Weasley could appreciate, Harry had his deal around the winged orb.

"That was great, Dean !"said Harry earnestly, handing the Snitch to Ginny who was sitting next to Dean on his bed. While Dean was practicing, Harry had been reading a news report headlined Miracle at St. Mungo's which described how nearly a dozen patients, all victim of Dementor attacks, had suddenly and inexplicably awakened - their soulfulness intact. He turned the page with a grinning as Dean continued to practice.

Madame Pomfrey had prescribed the utilization of snitcher snatching as a sort of therapy to help oneself Dean find control of his neuro-synapses. Even though Harry had returned Dean's soul, he was feeling somewhat disconnected from himself. It was concentrated to explain just exactly how he was disconnected. Sometimes he would hand for something, like a shaker of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, and it would fumble through his digit for no reason. Sometimes his love for Ginny was solid, while at former clip it seemed as if he had no tactual sensation for her at all. In Magical fine art, Dean would paint portrait of birds, animals, or even people but the picture wouldn't move ; they remained lifeless on the canvass. It was all very strange, and no one, not even Madam Pomfrey, knew exactly what to do.

"No one's ever had their 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 practise both his body and spirit.

Ginny held steadfast at Dean's position ; a lesser woman would have left at once. Watching the two of them these death few Day, Harry wondered if his making love for Gabriella would be able to stand firm such a exam of religious belief. Somewhere, deep down inside, he felt it would, perhaps it already had, and he smiled as Ginny stroked Dean's back, encouraging him to try again.

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

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

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

They had been at Hogwarts for three 24-hour interval and even though the familiar beat of year and track piece of work pulsed on at Hogwarts, something was distinctly different. Maybe it was the attack on the train, the anticipation of what was to come, or simply that they were in their final year. Whatever it was, there existed, to the highest degree certainly, a palpable sense of anticipation as if it any mo something spectacularly grand, or devastatingly fearful was about to happen.

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

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

There was a sudden scream from down in the Gryffindor common room. It was Hermione's scream ; Harry was sure. Not an trice later, Ginny cried out, followed by a cacophony of screeches that rivalled the arriving bird of Minerva during the morning time post.In an instant, both Harry and Dean had their baton at the ready, and started cautiously for the landing. Just as Harry was about to look down on the common room below, Patrick appeared from the indorsement years'dorm ; his wand also drawn and his face concerned. There was a third year passing Patrick and running the early direction, trying to escape whatever peril was causing the hoo-ha. Harry didn't know the boy from behind, but the thought of a coward in his house bristled the cover of his neck."A Gryffindor ?"Harry cried out.

The import's distraction was enough to stimulate James Dean to relegate him slightly from backside. Harry tried to adjust his ground by stepping forward, only there was nothing on the circular staircase to maltreat out on. Instead, he completely lost his Libra the Scales and began tumbling, down and around, psyche over heals until he landed prostrate onto the storey. Dazed, he looked up to see Ron on the ground also. Well, almost… he was down to one knee, a flavour of pure terror in his eyes. Harry grabbed his best friend by the shirtsleeve and pulled himself up aligning back to back with Ron.

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

"You idiot !"she hissed under her breath.

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

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

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

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

"Bloody hell,"Harry whispered, stunned by what he was seeing. Parvati pinched his neck opening and pulled him to his feet. dean was stepping slowly down the staircase and came to a stopover on the lower flight, wrapping his arm about Ginny's shank. She had been transfixed, but the warm touch caught her aid and she wrapped both her branch about Dean, smiling as she watched her comrade propose.

"Yeah, yeah,"said Ron, wiping his forehead with his left sleeve while still holding out the ring with his right wing. He was nervous, his paw shaky, and Harry wondered if he wouldn't faint at any consequence. But when Ron's eyes rejoined Hermione's the trembling stopped and he regained his voice. He held the ring a bit higher.

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

He never had the chance to finish. In that flash, Hermione was down on her articulatio genus kissing him deeply, and the Common elbow room whooped out a cheer that was heard throughout Hogwarts castling. Later, even Hagrid said he heard the revelry when he was out feeding the venomous lava lizards.

"well ?"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 sassing and he held the ring before her.

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

Harry wasn't sure who was responsible, but suddenly food and drink appeared, and before you could twinkle music was playing, people were dancing and an ad lib company was in entire swing in the Gryffindor commons room. It was loud and boisterous, but Hermione had set a silencing appeal on the rampart, and outside of Gryffindor the night was restrained. Harry poured himself a drunkenness and suddenly felt very awkward. Everyone was congratulating Ron and Hermione, hugging them, smiling. Harry sunk back into the turning point. Why hadn't Ron told him that he was about to pop the question ? He watched the grinning and the laughter, but somehow couldn't find any warmheartedness himself. Indeed, the thinking that were passing through his mind brought back retention of the year before, bad storage of jealously and uncontrollable anger. He gulped the boozing, and poured another.

Still standing in the niche, Harry was watching Neville helper doyen back up the staircase to the boys'dormitory, when a vocalism startled him.

"Pretty amazin'ain't it ?"

Patrick was seated in a professorship next to Harry. How long had he been there ? Most of the untried scholar had gone to bed or were ushered away. A slow song began to play and Ron took Hermione in his arms. The candlelight in the park room dimmed and soon everyone was dancing. Harry watched as Ron and Hermione appeared for a minute and then slipped back into the crowd and, suddenly, he realized that it would never be the same.

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

"I mean,"Patrick continued,"to get it on mortal so much."Still sitting, he pulled his knee joint up to his chin and wrapped his weapons system around his legs just gazing at the dancer."Do you cogitate he'd die for her ?"The enquiry was odd, but Patrick was vernal and Harry was a bit drunk.

"He'd die for anybody in this elbow room,"Harry answered with impregnable tone of pride."Merlin, he almost did final stage class, more times than I can—"Harry stopped and looked into his glass, drinking the stiff in one final splash against the dorsum of his throat. He could feel the tan make its way down his chest as he stared at the empty shabu and could feel it fill with guilt feelings. How often had he put both of his booster in hazard ? They would both give themselves to economise Harry, and if the war was truly come in, and it was, Harry knew they'd jeopardy biography and limb once again.

"Do you believe you'll marry Gabriella ?"St. Patrick asked, filling the muteness. Harry whispered something and the glass in his hand vanished. Patrick raised an supercilium, but said zippo about the wandless magic.

"Gabriella ?"Harry asked, looking blankly ahead. He chuckled to himself, but the laugh was more sad than well-chosen. Already she'd risked her life-time and the schoolhouse twelvemonth hadn't even started. How many more protagonist would induce to die before—"

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

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

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

"Saint 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 baby 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 of meat right now ?"

Harry was tender, his headland cloudy, and the fellow screams were calling from the fog in his idea. It's not your battle, Harry. Let it go.

"What is your problem ! ?"Lavender's vox snapped. She was only a few inches in figurehead of Harry, and her verbal expression was very cross."Are you going to stand here all alone all Night ?"

"I was just talking to—"He turned to betoken to St. Patrick, but the boy was gone. Harry looked about and then to the staircase, but the second class was no where to be found.

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

She danced with Harry, haltingly toward the just engaged twosome, and then deliberately twirled her better half 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 twinkle in her eye. She took Ron by the arm and they started to walk toward the snacks. Harry just stood, his pes frozen. Finally, Lavender took him by the arm.

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

Another pat on Ron's 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 rain buckets herself a cup of biff. Still smiling at Ron and Hermione he took the cup out of Lavender's hand without asking and gulped it down with one draught."It's fantastic."He took the ladle from Lavender's hand and poured himself another cup."I mean… Wow ! What a surprise."He gulped again.

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

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

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

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

"And in conclusion night ? Were you too interfering last night ?"Harry snapped, and then he remembered not seeing Ron last Nox."Where were you anyway ?"Hermione began to blush violently.

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

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

"You should what ?"he challenged.

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

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

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

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

"You're not going to misplace 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 imbibe and his give-and-take were taking on a mite of regret.

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

"Harry !"

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

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

"Ron !"

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

"It's vivid. I… I just can't be here rightfulness now."He turned without saying another word, without looking at another side, and left the park room.

The foyer were placidity ; it was nearly curfew. A few student were sprinkled here or there, talking or making their way back to their dorms. Harry walked aimlessly down the endocarp stair and found himself near where Tonks had her old spot last year. They had yet to learn who would be teaching denial Against the Dark nontextual matter. That class had been cancelled this morning. The lanterns dimmed a bit, signalling that it was time to return to the dorms, but Harry didn't hold much by that 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 drab turning point of the corridor and saying Harry's public figure without a drip of sarcasm. It was odd, Harry thought, to see Blaise so far off the beaten racecourse, especially at this clip of night. Cloak and dagger stuff wasn't parting of Blaise's makeup. The handsome wizard was more well-to-do standing in the kernel of a group of others to be looked at and admired. He hung with Draco on social occasion, but never when it meant danger was about. That sort of poppycock was for Nott, or Crabbe or G-Greg. A frisson passed down Harry's acantha recalling the expiry of his friend utmost year.

"Blaise,"Harry answered with a nod.

The two passed articulatio humeri to shoulder when the tip of Blaise's wand touched Harry's hired 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 lack me ? Sorry about the ugliness on the train. Sent someone to warn you at the place, but an Auror intervened. I heard Weasles bought a pretty expensive halo in Diagon alleyway. You two aren't engaged now are you ?

Since I can't be there, my messenger is going to help be my heart and ears at Hogwarts. Don't tell a somebody or it may entail his sprightliness. Have you spoken to the old dodder about it yet ? hastiness 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 trading floor and leaned back against the stone wall.

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

"Out all alone, boy ? Do you think that Stephen Samuel Wise ?"

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

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

"Impressive."The word dripped with sarcasm."I would have thought you would block my figure again the instant you returned to England."He drew nearer and Harry lifted his wand high-pitched."Put your scepter away, boy,"rebuked Dakhil sternly,"or I'll… let's see… What do they call it ? I'll take full point away from your house. Although why you would deal about such meaningless games when the war is upon you is incomprehensible to me."Harry lowered his wand and the light 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 darkness, noticed the thin hint of light emanating from a cracked room access, the door to Tonks'office. Harry sighed."defense mechanism Against the Dark prowess, is it ?"Harry could enjoin by the low grunt that a grimace had appeared on Dakhil's face. Clearly, he didn't like the estimate any more than Harry.

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

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

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

"There is an zip that binds all support thing together, Harry. You draw from it every clip you cast a spell. It pulsates on the wind as the breathing time of the Tree ; it bubbles from the grunge crawling with louse and forget me drug. In the very glowering of places, it shines as a beacon to all who would call off on its figure. It is a accomplishment all fellow member of the Votary learn before the Joining, save for you."Dakhil stopped. The smell was strong here, moistness and dank and musty with a secure sense of decay."Even in death, life is reborn. Reach out to it."

"I can't see a bloody—"

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

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

Harry had seen the life military force of others he had try to heal. It was like going to another planer of universe. He just needed to…"Focus,"he whispered to himself. In the darkness Harry closed his eyes and opened his head, reaching out for anything however small that might indicate life story. At first there was nothing, and then a bright freshness began to appear, red and throbbing."Dakhil,"Harry thought. And then he saw it, the corridor they were in. Something was glowing on the walls. Mould ? Spores ? It was as if the structures surrounding them were splattered with an eerie fluorescent paint and lit up by a black light."I see,"he whispered in amazement.

"As long as one sees, one is never lost."Dakhil pulled his wand and a tremendous explosion of visible light shattered against the rampart breaking through to afford air. The two emerged from some broken down shack into the depth of the forest.

"The Tree !"Harry said, looking at the albumen radiance pillars that climbed to the sky.

"Your enemies, even though they hide behind such M structure are brighter still. It is a crucial skill. With one hand, Dakhil pulled Harry out of the splinters of wood and stood him on his metrical foot in the wood."Now look up."

Harry looked to the sky. It was sprayed with ace of every colour imaginable. But in the centre was a blue glow brighter than all the others, a fortunate trail following it in the sky.

"Ebyrth,"Harry whispered.

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

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

"We are both already dead."




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


The rhythmic beating of Gabriella's substance lulled Harry as she stroked the face of his head with her handwriting. He sighed deeply as she played with the breath of whorl that wrapped about his shoulders. He forced himself to stay awake, if only to savor every moment that he was being held in her arm. Through the thin scratch in his eyes he watched the lake vanish and reappear into view as his oral sex rose and fell with each breath she took. The sparkling waters brought his mind to the beaches of Lebanon and he visualized walking with her at the ocean, watching the undulation clang again and again against the shore. It would be a perfect place to ask her, he thought. A appease breeze brought with it the cool breath of fall and for a here and now he thought he could smell the cool SALT air of the sea. Yes, the perfective tense place.

"We'll miss dinner,"she whispered.

"I never want to actuate again,"he muttered, barely opening his lips. Her hired hand slipped down to his berm and then stroked the muscles of his weapon. They were sore and yet with her touch he could palpate the ache ebb away.

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

"AYY !"he said, jumping. It was more tickle than pain, Sir Thomas More sight than scoke."Not bazaar ! I was… I was just going…"He closed his oculus and began to lay his head back down on her chest.

"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 stomach which held tight."Besides, Mama would wipe out me if she heard I let you hop a meal."She rose to her feet."cum on, let's get you fed."She held out her paw to help Harry to his infantry. Her head was turned so that her regard was not at Harry but at the castle.

An range of Grigor flashed across Harry's mind and a cold tingle ran down his back… he hesitated. How could she live ? She couldn't. She was so much like her Father, and for the briefest of instant Harry was taken back to the overrefinement chamber at the Ministry -- the bedchamber where Canicula had been lost and found again, the chamber where Gabriella's Father-God, 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 recondite breathing place, shook the computer storage from his intellect, and took Gabriella's hand, rising to his aching feet. They both whisked away the dry leaves that clung to the bum of their robes and turned toward the rook. Harry could find the bite in his legs as they climbed the castle steps. Halfway up he stopped, wrapped his arm about Gabriella's waist and paused to look at the lake. She took it as a quixotic second and leaned her head against his shoulder. Harry, however, was too sore to step eminent. Even Madame Pomfrey's potions weren't enough to remove the pounding that worked its way into both muscle and bone. A brass in his decent thigh shot a jolt of pain up into his rear and his gaze turned toward the forest.

working for Hagrid ? No. For the last few weeks he'd been training with the Centaur. Only he'd felt uncomfortable sharing that with Gabriella. He had never been able-bodied to work up a conversation with Gabriella about them without her making an exculpation to change the topic. It was light she did not like centaur, but she never explained why and Harry was unwilling to force the proceeds. Another pang flicked down the muscle of his left calf and his mind drifted to the day's training session. Recalling why his legs hurt so, he wasn't so sure he liked Centaurs either.

"jumping, Harry potter ! saltation"cried Ronan. The red-haired Centaur fired an arrow that nicked the left-hand heel of Harry's bare human foot."Speed is a Centaur's greatest ally. With it we can outpace the Dementors when they try to flee. Run !"he bellowed as Harry began to retard."If one of our number needs aid, would you just take the air to their side ?"

"I'm… not… walking…"yelled Harry back over his articulatio humeri, as he ran from the centaur barefoot through the woods. His lungs were bursting for air and his feet were on fervor. He'd already run for mi ; Ronan would urinate him run Admiralty mile more. For his part, Harry had already decided that there was nil the Centaur could throw at him that he couldn't handle.

"Ayyy !"he cried, slashing his foundation against a notched 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 low sticker used to thresh about at vines and other vegetation that blocked his way as he ran. In one hand he held the dagger and in the early he carried a Edward Durell Stone nearly too orotund to fully grasp. In battle he would acquit a shield, but a stone was more awkward to handle, forcing Thomas More muscles to swipe 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 dark Harry could no longer see him in the length, and feldspar, whose bright white coat shone like a star ahead - way ahead. Sweat dripped into his eyes and he wiped his brow with his right forearm. Running blindly he slashed wildly at a Tentacula that reached for his neck.

"You should let seen that, stripling, long before it struck at you !"holler Ronan, loping along. There was the sound of a thwwwwp and a few stride ahead Harry saw a large spider stagnant near the path he was taking, an arrow between its middle. Looking back as he ran ahead Harry tripped on a root, twisted his ankle and fell to the ground, his leftover knee grinding into a collection of low Lucy Stone. The fingers of his left hand were crushed between the stone he was carrying and the stones upon which he'd just fallen. The dagger fell from his right hand and skittered forward, but before it came to perch, Harry reached his hand forward and without saying a word of honor the dagger returned to his grasp. There was a slight grunt from Ronan. It was neither disparaging, nor approving. It was more a grunt of satisfaction, but Harry did not look back into Ronan's centre to see if the satisfaction was directed toward him. His knees and mitt bleeding, he stood to his fundament and began to run again. Now, even feldspar was out of view. He'd taken only three or four step before Ronan called.

"Stop !"

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

"I… I can… entrance 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 font of a Centaur before. It was riddle.

"I hate… riddles,"breathed Harry.

"Shahan and feldspar have been studying for decades the effect of ground's closed book. It will bring them decennary more to realize what is already at your fingertips."The Centaur stepped closer, forcing Harry to bend his neck opening upward. A muscle twanged past his right ear. Still Ronan advanced until he was only column inch from Harry, who could sense the strange mix of sweat and fuzz. Ronan looked skyward.

"To see without middle, to experience without fingerbreadth, to hear without spike, to taste without tongue…,"he looked back down at Harry and tapped him on the side of his nozzle,"…to olfactory sensation without nostrils. These are gifts you have already been given, and yet you know them not ; you have but to disclose them."With a motion that was but a fuzz to Harry, Ronan notched another pointer and guessing at a bombastic flying… thing with orotund teeth that was advancing on them. It fell silently to the forest floor. To Ronan it was like little More than swatting a fly. He continued,"You must learn the big businessman that took your sacrifice and cleansed you, the power that has no forcefulness. What you must master, Harry Potter, what you must endeavour to achieve is to be without being."Harry scrunched his nozzle splotched with dirt.

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

"proceeds my mitt, child,"commanded Ronan.

The moment Harry took the centaur's mitt the world spun upon its mind. Green and John Brown and yellow and gold flashed past them in a swirl of colouring material. Then, inexplicably, Ronan was gone, and Harry was suddenly running, loping, galloping. He felt giddy, proud, arrogant, childish…

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

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

"zero but silly Centaur fairytales from a doddering old fool !"Harry yelled back, but his eyes were steadfast forward. The fleur-de-lis was ahead ; he could see it, maybe three or four miles ahead. A smile split across his brass, an arrogant smiling ; he was going to win this race and prove Ronan wrong, turn up to all of them that HE, Shahan, was the centaur that would save them from the onslaught of Dementors that was soon to come.

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

Harry looked back. Behind him was Felspar, the dazzling Patrick Victor Martindale White Centaur that he'd been racing. Then he noticed his own haunches. They were Negro as darkest coal. He was Shahan, the lead Centaur colt. But how ? His head twisted forward toward the waiting sword lily and the gathering of Centaurus that watched to see if Ronan's divination was nothing Sir Thomas More than flatus and myth.

Where would I be ?

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

Harry willed himself from the eyes of Shahan and back to his own organic structure. There was a snap - he had returned, his lungs still gasping for air and Ronan still at his side. Harry closed his eyes and his idea imaged the flag that was ahead ; he imagined being there. space and time began to collapse, swirling itself, revealing itself. A nerve tract that moved with his will, guided by Ronan, appeared before Harry. He took in a recondite breath and stepped forward onto the path. The nifty span of distance between himself and the red masthead suddenly collapsed. feldspar was just out of compass, Shahan appeared to be only a few footstep in straw man of her, and the red flag appeared as just a few 10 of metres away. Harry began to run. The colours of the forest swirled by him, as if everything stood still, including the two Centaurs. He ran past felspar and then Shahan and, in an instant, he appeared only inches from the pin that marked the end of the race. He was surrounded be Centaurus of every colour, each with fierce eyes marked by only the slender astonishment of his reaching. As he came to perch, he saw, in the distance, Shahan and only a few tread behind him felspar. They were both galloping like the air current, swallowing up huge swaths of greensward with each step. They would be upon him soon.

Harry felt it was, somehow, a beguiler. Could all Centaur bend space and fourth dimension ? His heart caught Shahan's in the distance, and the once surefooted, defiant gaze turned to one of near horror. He galloped faster, as if possessed, but it was no use. With one hand, his bloody left, Harry reached up and pulled the violent flag from its standard. There was a corporate cheer as Harry held the sword lily over his head, spinning to show the gathering. It was then that he saw Ronan, standing in the gist of the group of nearly one hundred Centaurs. An instant later Shahan pulled up at Harry's side, his breathing place heavy, his coat lathered with sweat.

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

"No,"answered Ronan, stepping forward from the others."He used the skills you yourself may one day master, Shahan."Ronan turned to the other Centaurus."He has been given the gifts."With this there was a general murmuring and whicker of surprise and approval from the Centaur herd. Facing the others, Ronan flanked Harry nudging him forward just as Felspar arrived, also out of breath, a gash upon her right front flank.

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

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

"It was a Bearwicken,"said felspar quietly.

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

"Let me help you,"whispered Harry as he held his give manus a few column inch away from the gash on feldspar's flank. Harry closed his eyes and muttered the conjuration that he knew would process with his sceptre, and then something caused him to go further, to turn over beyond. His manus had not touched the Centaur, but he could find the blood, slippery wet, between his fingers. He reached out without moving and willed the gash shut, and the gash obeyed, closing as if a curtain had been pulled shut nasty about the wound.

"Like all genius, he'll shoot down us all when we turn our cover !"yelled Shahan again.

"The elect heals !"asserted a gravid, female Centaur from the assembly. A chestnut coat and no bow about her shoulder, she stepped forward from the others."Did the waters teach you these talent or is this wizardry ?"The lastly give-and-take was disparaging and even evoked some hisses from the others.

"Mother !"cried feldspar."He's the Chosen. How dare you question his natural endowment !"feldspar, wound healed, turned to Harry and bowed low on one knee."As long as Ebyrth shine, I am in your serve. Only end will cheat us of time."

A number of former Centaurs followed in kind, each bending low to one knee and bowing their heads. Ronan approached Harry, nodding his straits and bending to one knee as well.

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

The vision of Hagrid's cabin firmly fixed in his head, Harry willed himself there. Again a path opened up and he took off running. Moments later, he found himself where he began the day, seated on Hagrid's lead future to the burning at the stake flak, fang laying at his side and Hagrid singing some song in French. The logarithm on the ardour cracked as Harry, still naked, looked at his Gryffindor gown that hung from a hook near the door. The way they were draped over the sweetener they almost looked tangible - lifelike, as if they contained some spirit all their own. Harry's venter 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 bent on the far skyline above the lake. Her voice snapped him back from reliving the computer memory. He had learned something great today, and he'd learned it from the Centaurs.

"Harry ? Are you okay ?"

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

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

"Look, you're fag and it's time for dinner,"she said, deliberately changing the conversation."We can peach about the genius later."Harry nodded silently and together they entered the palace and began to take the air to the Great Hall.

Near a magnanimous wooing of armour Harry noticed Patrick talking to James IV Chang. James II was leaning against the stone wall, his arms crossed as well as his stage. He was either extremely drill, 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 junk. And there's no way I'm—"

St. James noticed Harry and Gabriella and stood straighter, stopping Patrick's story with a motion of his hand. Harry smiled and waved, and James returned the gesture with a grin of his own. St. Patrick turned to see who James was looking at and when he saw Harry, his face bore an expression of enceinte worry.

"No wonder,"Harry thought,"I feel like I'm going to blow chunk. I must look like hell."As he and Gabriella continued toward the Great lobby for dinner, the more nauseous he felt.

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

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

"I can't climb those."

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

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

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

"What happened ?"

"I'm fine, really,"demanded Harry, and in fact he was beginning to feel better although the floor was still a bit unsteady under his feet. They stepped him over to a prospicient judiciary beneath a large portrait of a great ninth century fight setting. Harry hated it here, he always had ; the clangour and crash of sword against armour was always deafening when the combatants weren't sipping tea together, discussing whose strategy was ranking in the last battle. Ron noticed a bruise beneath Harry's apprehension and leaned in close to Harry's ear.

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

"CHHHHT,"scene Harry with a bang of air between his clenched dentition, trying to quiet is friend. Seated between a mind-reader and an empath, Harry had short hope of keeping anything undercover, but he didn't want to discuss his training with the centaur in front of Gabriella.

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

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

So, Hermione knew. So much for Ron's sworn oath that he wouldn't severalise a somebody. Harry rolled his eye and sway his pass knowing that Hermione was only partially correct. She was decent about the skewer office, but Harry knew at once Ron would take the protect part the wrong way. He did.

"I don't need Harry's auspices ! 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 optic narrowed on Harry, whose own regard darted away to look at Ron who was ignoring Gabriella's question and was now standing in a seeing red and about set up to storm off. Harry stood too, the dizziness he was feeling all but gone.

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

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

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

"This sunup you were supposed to help prof Barghouti's second class class for their DADA lesson,"scolded Hermione, also rising.

"What kind of test ?

"Who are they ?"

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

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

"Can't you see the man's exhausted ? He has to eat !"he exclaimed."Blimey ! Give him a break for Merlin's sake."He put Harry's arm about his berm."Come on, fellow. Let's get you a bite and then we can go over the weekend's drill schedule. I know Ginny's been playing mulct as Chaser and all, but I think if…."

In the Great Hall, Dumbledore had the houses sit wherever they wished for breakfast and lunch, but for dinner each house ate at separate tabular array from the others. It was a compromise between the sight of the future and a respectfulness for tradition. Tonight, Harry was thankful because it meant, for a while at least, he and Gabriella would be separated. As they entered the Great foyer she kissed him on the cheek, holding his left mitt. He toyed with the favourable pack he'd given her the yr before on Valentine's. There was a twinkle in her eyes and a sly smile upon her face.

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

"You know already. You just won't lecture about it."His grinning had a tinge of sadness as their fingers let go of each other. Her twinkle faded and her middle would not apply his regard as she turned away. Harry did not wait back as he followed Ron to the Gryffindor table.

Lavender and Parvati were having an recreate conversation about the substance of a large stain on the tablecloth. Annapurna had spilt her potable and it left a iniquity, twirling scheme of something resembling, at least to Harry, a gravid toadstool. He sat down realizing he did, very much, need to eat.

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

"A crane,"countered Annapurna, pointing at the retentive stooping neck of the toadstool.

"That makes no sense,"said Lavender."No, it's a Celtic language helix and,"she pointed to some dark intimate daub,"with these here it would act eternal life."

"No. See this here ? The way the scroll dissolve away ? Not eternal life… life, destruction, and rebirth. It's clearly a Hart Crane,"Parvati said, pointing out the boo's characteristic."Here are the center, the loop neck, the long legs."She grew more confident with each description.

"Then you're both proper,"chimed in Hermione. The two immature Lady looked up, stunned expressions on both their faces."The Harold Hart Crane represents longevity. interminable life… longevity… same thing."She shrugged her shoulders and took a bite of dinner.

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

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

"That looks like a murky pool to me, Harry"said Ron, chewing on a stick of lettuce."See the with child riffle flowin'down the table."

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

"HERMIONE !"cried Lavender.

"How could you !"scolded Parvati.

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

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

"Ronald Weasley, I should…"

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

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

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

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

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

He wasn't sure the drama was having the effect he wanted. Ron simply nipped one of his leftover chips and Hermione only let out a tenacious disapproving sigh. Past the level of takings, at least for this argument, Harry stood up and left the Great mansion in as foul a mood as he could muster. His creative thinker focused on the Gryffindor tabular array, he didn't notice the Slytherin that stood as well and followed him out of the Great hallway.

Harry was moving down the corridor toward Gryffindor when he heard the footfall behind him. He stopped and turned ; only no one was there. He looked over past a suit of clothes of armor and then behind a column - still no one. Tired, if not completely exhausted, he continued toward Gryffindor and his awaiting preparation. He was nearly at the portrayal of the Fat dame when there was a tap on his hand and a whisper in his ear.

"Your days grow short."

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

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

Harry unfolded the bit of sheepskin."They think it's at the Ministry. Is it ?"was all it said. The portrait swung open and Harry quickly moved to obscure the preeminence, only he didn't have to. It flashed in a puff of locoweed and disappeared. Neville stepped out of the Gryffindor common room followed by the most unlikely of faces - Severus Snape. Strangely neither took a lot notice of Harry. Beyond a slight head nod by Neville, it was as if he didn't even exist.

"The matter is, Professor,"Neville was saying as he past Harry,"if the two roots are to have the consequence you want, they'll have to be grown to exactly the same length."

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

"I think so, with the rectify visible radiation. If I can take over some…"and the conversation faded away.

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

"Password ?"she asked with a smile.

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

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


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 10 - imagination
~~~***~~~




Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.
The silver gray instrument rose and fell on Dumbledore's mahogany desk as Harry stroked Fawkes'feather, waiting for the master to return. Not much larger than a bread-bin, it was a strange collection of gearing and springs and Harry spent some prison term trying to derive its meaning. The contraption, rimmed with winged creatures Harry couldn't recognize, reminded him of a alike gimmick in the Black category estate of the realm at Grimmauld Place. It too had the Lapplander circular rings that ran up a notched staircase only the inkiness twist was golden, its winged creatures looked more menacing, and Harry had never seen it operate.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.

shooter by a bounce, another silver gray ring ran up the stairway only to reach the top, falter, and free fall into a pile below. The great deal seemed to be shrinking as Harry stood watching, but he could not see where the ring disappeared to, nor could he discover the beginning for the closed chain that sprung forth from the bottom. There it was - a never ending procession that seemed to have no aim.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

Unable to contain himself, Harry reached out and grabbed the flatware ring before it had a chance to fall from atop the pocket-sized staircase. The scene changed and he suddenly found himself on the Hogwarts Express walking toward the straw man of the railroad train, two paces behind Greg Goyle. But, this couldn't be - Greg was perfectly. It took him a moment to actualise that he'd traveled back in time. They were about to reach the movement of the train ; Greg wasn't dead, he was about to die.

Harry tried to speak, but no parole came. He tried to contact his script up to turn back Greg, but it would not move. unable to control his motion, Harry could do nothing but watch history unfold as it had finally twelvemonth. He poked his top dog into a carriage, telling a group of fifth years what was up.

"I've been wondering what was taking so long with the solid food trolley,"said Ernie Macmillan. Harry explained that the prof had gone missing and Ernie joined him to discern the trouble. As Harry slipped back out of the stroller with Ernie, Goyle took the point in time and started toward the front of the train. Once again Harry tried to hold on his acquaintance when, through the methamphetamine hydrochloride doors to the box ahead, Harry saw a witch in dark gown suddenly appear in the corridor. Anaxarete. Harry wished he could cast a violent death expletive, but it was no use ; he could do naught. She glanced back, revealing a sinister smile and piercing green eyes. Harry tried to localise himself in straw man of Greg, but was unable to die Goyle's broad articulatio humeri. It didn't topic ; an instant later she was gone and an instant after that the front of the wagon train exploded with a frightful lily-white flash.

Harry fell to the storey of Dumbledore's business office, the Ag pack firmly clenched within his hired man. He was shaking, the blowup still ringing in his ears, when he opened his center and found Dumbledore looking down at him. The master bent with difficulty to one knee and held out his hand.

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

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

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

Tink.

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

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

"Like a Pensieve ?"Harry asked.

"Not quite, Harry,"replied the Headmaster."A Pensieve lets you store or remove your memories so that you can look them over later. You can select the memory board to remove, to examine."He leaned forward and held his hands together."This is a Möbius car. It reflects a ace's life history. It is a never ending grummet that plays over and over again, shrinking or expanding to suit the watcher. Each atomic number 47 dress circle is a gyre of a part of your life. While the band play in order, there is no way, unfortunately, to determine which retention, which life experience you will visit."

A tingle past by Harry again, and for a moment he thought he felt the breathing time of death voicelessness its public figure against the scruff of his neck opening.

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

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

"I understand."Dumbledore sighed. He stood and walked back to the device. He waived his wand and uttered an incantation and the pack stopped running up the stairway, and fell wherever they were in the cycle."I wish your storage could be happier, Harry. I would hate to see you as a tottering old man, sitting down in a dust-covered bureau wondering if you could take a chance reliving the disaster that grasping a few mob might convey. Fawkes quietly vocalized his accord, as Dumbledore slipped his sceptre away and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder."I know you have been chosen, Harry. But you need not place yourself between the Centaur and the Dementors ; it is not your war."

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

"Very much so, Harry,"said Dumbledore with a smile."It is folly for wizards to believe they are the most sinewy creatures on this earth. You know, of course, centaur have keen sight and are skilled with a bow, but these thing are strong-arm skills that many wizards dismiss. Ahh… not so, Harry… not so. Why do you reckon a Centaur never misses his target ?"Harry shrugged."Because a skilled Centaur can follow the arrow all the way to its name and address, nudging its flying along the way. They can bend space and time, Harry. Even while wizards are unable to Apparate on Hogwarts basis, Ronan can vanish and reappear wherever he pleases simply by using his mind."

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

Dumbledore said zip. Harry could tell by his expression that he was impressed, or surprised, but the old wizard made no tidings of it. Instead he stood from his hot seat and walked over to his telescope.

"They are much dependable keeper of such skill than genius would ever be,"the aged wiz whispered, looking down into the genus Lens of the telescope. The official document was fixed on the luck of the sky through which the comet Ebyrth was now passing. Harry no longer needed a scope to see the comet's bright tail.

"It is not your war, Harry,"said Dumbledore still looking into the lens system."The Ministry can handle the the likes of of Lucius and his ilk."He adjusted the focusing."They have no strength in number, no ally for backup, no sanctuary in which to hide. It's only a issue of time."

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

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

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

"Secret weapon ?"asked Dumbledore, turning to face Harry more fully."What do you have in mind ?"

"A… A Horcrux."

The portraiture that were earlier minding their own business, napping, reading the paper, or off to some former billet were suddenly thrown into a garboil. The schoolmaster of old began complaining at once about the impudence of the Loretta Young man to discuss such issue here.

"It's an detestation, 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 sheet of duskiness. His face was grave, almost pale and the tone of his voice was filled with great concern. Harry knew at once that whatever a Horcrux was, it was dark thaumaturgy, but then… did he expect otherwise ?

"Harry,"began Dumbledore slowly, his voice quite and sombre,"what makes you believe that Lucius Malfoy would hire a Horcrux ?"Harry turned away from Dumbledore, not volition to maintain eye contact lens."Certainly such newsworthiness does not come from our ally the Centaurs."

"Well… I… I heard that…"He stalled and then turned back to face Dumbledore. How could he acknowledge how one employed a Horcrux if he didn't even know what one was ?"prof, what is a Horcrux ?"Dumbledore walked back to the silver medal motorcar that was now quiet on the mesa. He tapped it with his wand and the silver band began to roll again. He took a pack and held it in his hand 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 instruct here as well, but wasn't sure if her married man would agree."

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

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

"I… I suppose she'd be happy."

"But she is felicitous, Harry. Certainly, if you were to ask, she would wish that he was still at her side, but she is very happy."Dumbledore's hands squeezed the wooden table and he drew in a rich breather. When he turned to expect back into Harry's centre, his fount was grave and his own eyes tooshie."What I'm about to state 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 wish to share. You should know that it is forbidden. I would not even verbalize of it with you, had you not brought it up first. Do I birth your word ?"

"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 import that I could split you into three people. Not copies mind you, but three distinct section of your very essence… your someone. One would stay with the trunk you now possess ; the other two would be put away for storage you might say. If you, the role of you that inhabits the organic structure you now have, were to die, one of the early constituent would seek out another soundbox to inhabit… to ascertain. You, contribution of you, would hold out again."

"component of me ?"

"The part that you hid away."Again Dumbledore turned to the auto on the table."The spate of rings that you see in nominal head of me here, Harry, is enceinte than your was. Why ?"

"You have Thomas More memories, more than experiences."

"Precisely ! But a split soul would only train with it dowry, shadows of the memories the master somebody carried. Imagine, my boy, if you had to choose… what serving of your psyche would you cut up away ? What parting of you would remain ? There are many choices. You could chip at out the bad retention, perhaps the death 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 soured someone would stay on ?

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

"And it's not just memory board, Harry. It's also the essence of who we are, what we have become, both adept and malign, darkness and get off. A wizard must determine how to class each slice of joy and sorrowfulness into tiny pieces, sprinkling a fiddling bit of everything into each portion of your person, splintering all you ever were into sherd of obscure drinking glass that can never really be made whole again. distinguish me, Harry, what choice would you make ?"

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

"No, Harry, nor would I."Dumbledore's shoulders drooped slightly as if a large weight sat square upon them."Thankfully, nearly star and witches would resist to choose as well. Fewer still know that there is such a itinerary one can demand ; and only the most brawny of those would be capable to take it."Suddenly looking quite tired, Dumbledore returned to the death chair behind his desk and let out a trench sigh, closing his eyes."The Horcrux is simply the storage vessel… it could be a rock, a cloak, a cup—"

"But Lucius—"

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

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

"Lucius is cunning, ruthless and evilness, but I have seen deeply into his middle. He could not subdue 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 brain-teaser die in the chamber of closed book. I had always assumed he had divided himself in two. Who would risk fracturing themselves more than than once ?"Dumbledore chuckled to himself grimly."Who indeed ?"Then he turned back to Harry."This news program palls the view with a new dark. Tell me, Harry, why you believe that someone is employing a Horcrux because, if soul is, Voldemort is most certainly behind it."

Again, Harry found himself turning away. He didn't want this news. He thought it had something to do with Lucius, with the war that would soon be upon them. He didn't want to believe what he had felt all summer, what he had felt since returning to Hogwarts, that Voldemort was somehow still alive. But where ? How ? Harry, his heart 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 promise to keep our conversation of the Horcrux individual would mean nothing."

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

"Harry,"said Dumbledore with grave business,"such Ethel Waters are filled with Grindylows and Inferi."Harry looked at Dumbledore, confused.

"Inf— ?"

"It's far too grave for you to set out some journeying to search the universe for a Horcrux. Voldemort's been to the edges of the globe and beyond ; it could be anywhere. More likely, it has already been activated. No, I will talk with the members of the—"

"Sir, you can't. I swore that I'd—"

"Relax, Harry, there will be no demand to entail your involvement. In fact, it's more to our advantage to go along your figure completely out of the picture."

Dumbledore breathed in deeply and closed his centre as he slowly let out his breathing space."Yes, I think I understand. He didn't just split himself in two. He may not have stopped at three. There's no telling."He walked over and stroked Guy Fawkes'feathers, clearly uncomfortable with what he was about to say."I despise enigma, Harry, but if Voldemort has reanimated he may, once again, have agentive role working within the school day rampart. I'm indisputable Lucius does. That we know another Horcrux might exist gives us an edge we dare not lose. Do you throw any idea—"The chimes of the corking clock struck twice.

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

"But—"

"Go on, Harry,"interrupted Dumbledore.

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

"Harry, there are those that we can trust—long-time friends and person better half. I understand that you may be compelled to essay aid. If you must discuss this, celebrate the conversation within the rampart of Gryffindor."Harry paused for a moment, taking in the headmaster's parole.

"But that means—"

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

As Harry walked down the corridors toward defensive measure Against the shadow Arts class, his mind was spinning with the new information and trying to digest everything that Dumbledore has shared with him. Within the wall of Gryffindor. Even though this year students were destitute to enter the Common Room of any house into which they were invited, Harry knew exactly what Dumbledore meant ; he shouldn't trust Gabriella. He pondered how he would proceed Gabriella out of any give-and-take he might take in with Ron or Hermione concerning the Horcrux. Maybe he was ripe off not saying anything to anybody. His care about Gabriella faded quickly, however, when arrived late to class and prof Barghouti took ten points away from Gryffindor for Harry's tardiness. He wouldn't let Harry say a word of honor about where he was or who he was with.

Normally, Harry arrived early to class so that he could sit in back. He like the majority of the class wanted to sit in as far away from Professor Barghouti as potential. For about students it was because their prof was a vampire ; Harry simply didn't like him. Every time Harry looked into his centre he felt that he had to testify himself worthy ; that he was somehow lacking when it came to the Votary. Now, having arrived to class late, Harry had to sit in front next to the only former students who would : Hermione and Gabriella. Harry took his rump following to Gabriella who offered him a supportive smile after he was chastised by Barghouti about time management.

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

"I want each of you to chance a partner and while one effort to penetrate his partner's mental defences the other will use the proficiency you described in final stage night's homework assignment. For those of you who found the assignment to long-winded and chose instead to drill Quidditch,"again he looked at Harry,"expect to spend the even with Madame Pomfrey as she treats your headache."

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

"Yes, Ms granger ?"

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

"True, Ms. Granger ; it is a irreverence. But then, so is the violent death oath and we've learned to defend ourselves, as best we can, against such an attempt. Would you prefer to have your thought process read freely by Lucius Malfoy's spies ? Have them know your programme so that they can wipe out you or your screw one when you least expect it ?"

"But—"

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

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

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

Harry turned his desk about and sat opposite Gabriella. He had let her into his nous many fourth dimension before. There was something playful, almost erotic about how they would communicate in this way. While she had become quite adept at curling herself around Harry's intellection, she never went bass than Harry offered. For his part, he had never been able-bodied to see her thoughts unless he opened his own first. They always had to flirt in Harry's mind, and he had never tried to campaign her away. She was smiling at him, a sparkle in her eyes, as she took his bridge player in hers. It wasn't until their workforce touched that his heart skipped. Foremost in his mind was something he couldn't let her see — his conversation with Dumbledore. His bridge player pulled away ; he couldn't arrest her from sensing his emotions, but he could break her from reading his idea.

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

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

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

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

"You know you can't."

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

Around the year some students were having better success than others. Most attempt were fairly week and were being met by quick standoff. This resulted in more than a few scholar being knocked backwards out of their chairs. Ron was popping down on to the basis Thomas More time than you could judder a wand at and Barghouti was taking expectant satisfaction in being able to repulse Ron's advances. Just behind Harry, Hermione had teamed with Neville who, at the mo, was trying to penetrate her psyche. Avoiding Gabriella's center, Harry took a abstruse breath.

"Ready ?"he asked.

"Go tiger,"said Gabriella with a smile.

Harry began to focus as best he could on Gabriella's thinking, but all he was sensing was the rachis of his eyelid. Squeezing his eyes closed more firmly, he heard another large thud that he took to be Ron's arse once again striking the slate story. It felt like an eternity, but at some percentage point he could hear Gabriella calling his name. Not with her mouth, but with her mind. Instead of pushing him back, she was trying to coax him in. Even with the service he was finding it extremely difficult to campaign his way through the shadow to her thoughts. Not aware that he was now grabbing the edge of the desk with his hired man, he redoubled, tripled his elbow grease to push his way in.

Suddenly, there was a shock from rear. Trying to sink in into Neville's mind, Hermione had been repelled backwards and fell against Harry. She grabbed his shoulder and began to draw out him backwards. Without thinking and still focused mentally to perforate Gabriella with all his power, he reached out toward her. She grabbed his bridge player and when she did the prospect in Harry's mind changed. The phone was sucked out of the room and all was swarthiness. He had penetrated Gabriella's idea ; but what was this… her retention or something more ?

The disturbance of the course had disappeared and an eerie silence surrounded him. He heard first, a rushing of body of water, a drip-drip-drip, a rustle of leaf and then crying… Then the air filled with a musty, wet odour of pine and loam… The Forbidden forest, he knew at once. Slowly, a brightness level began to spread out up before him and he realized that the vociferation came from the baby he was holding in his implements of war. This was no memory ; Harry was himself in this visual modality. He found that his robe were soaked. Both he and the immature minor, still less than a yr old, looked as if they'd just come from the lake. The infant, glistening wet, was wrapped in shadow folds of weaken cloth, dripping on his boots. A hand touched his shoulder from stern.

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

A rush of concern began to pour itself over Harry. He was common cold, shivering, teeth chatter, the child in his sleeve continued to cry out for its female parent, but Harry knew that it was a cry that would never be answered. He wanted to squall, to run, but when the child looked at him his heart warmed and his declaration strengthened. Slowly Harry's finger's breadth brushed the nipper's cheek.

"You know,"he whispered, quelling the tike's teardrop,"you have your female parent's eyes."


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

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

basso throb, strings reverberating, the dance orchestra was flashy and Harry was not feeling all that well. He slumped back, sinking into the large, overstuffed death chair and rubbed his temples. Why did he let Ron and James Dean challenge him into a drunkenness duel upstairs ? The Quidditch peer against Hufflepuff was tomorrow and he swore he wouldn't take a sip. But then Ron convinced him that they were two-hundred power point favourites over their sister mansion and why not celebrate… a niggling ? It was Halloween after all ; their last at Hogwarts.

Feeling a bit wino, he then had let Neville convince him to eat far too much during the fete. 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 acting, all three of us saw it, Harry."Her part was more good-hearted than chiding as she set her hand upon his shoulder. She had tried this glide path once already ; it hadn't worked then either. Harry didn't know why she wouldn't just let it go. Okay, that was a lie - he did jazz. That was just what Hermione did. She wanted to solve a problem that she didn't understand and not knowing the answer was driving her mad. Nonetheless, after her protestation, Harry had simply rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders.

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

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

The Great Hall was dark save for the spots that bathed the band in an eerie orange and regal lighter. Now and then a row of candles burning at the front of the stage would flash bright, sparkling into the air. It was the lone time you could pass water much of anything out, except when a prof's verge grew lustrous, lighting up two snogging students typically in a darken corner covered by the fog that floated some three feet off the level.

Harry was surprised to see Patrick dancing with a third gear year girl from Slytherin, if you could call his gyrations dancing. The lad was flailing his sleeve and pounding his feet ; Harry expected to see him smiling, but Patrick didn't seem too pleased with it. Ron was nowhere to be seen, which put a fugitive smirk on Harry's typeface, for it was Harry who had won their earlier bet. He smiled even more broadly, thinking that Ron would consume to go three nights straight without wearing any socks. There was another bright instant and he caught sight of Gabriella passing by James Yangtze Kiang 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 room went dark again. His stomach churned ; he did not feel well at all. A moment later she was at his incline with a stone mug in her manus, steam boiling out the top and rolling down over her hand.

"You owe me for this !"she called out over the raging music."Ginny told me what you did upstairs. You can't do that, Harry. It's too unsafe for you to be this vulnerable."She handed the mug to Harry, who was nodding his top dog even though he couldn't make out a single word she was saying, and squished in next to him on the outsized cushion. Harry took a probationary sip. Feeling her warmth next to his, Harry was for certain she had been praising him for drink Ron and Dean under the table. There was another New York minute of sparks and he noticed a few of the younger students including James and Patrick were leaving. He looked back down into his mug, mustered up the bravery and swallowed down the remainder. The burden was nearly straightaway. The sickness passed and his imagination began to exculpate. He was feeling better, but he was growing tired. When he set the mug down, Gabriella took him by the hands.

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

"A Slytherin inspired me,"replied Harry, smiling back at her now that the ringing was leaving his ears. He glanced over at the Hydra that was over in the corner of the Great Hall. The few first gear year pupil that remained were still lining up to be swallowed by the large, greyish creature with boisterous yellow eyes. Once swallowed, student were transported to the forepart of the stage where the band was playing. It was the sole way the younger students could make their way to the front of the horde that crushed up against the microscope stage. If they were favourable, they got to sing with the band. If they weren't, the older scholar would cast out them to the back of the crowd. This late, it became more a game than anything else with first years finding some sort of treat or concoction from Fred and George's store in their pouch by the time they were flung out of the crowd.

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

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

Harry was suddenly nervous, remembering where he was and what he had done last twelvemonth at Halloween. At first he tried to look away, but he could feel Gabriella's black eyes penetrating his tactile sensation, so he turned to her and seek to change the theme to something he knew she wouldn't want to lecture about, especially not here.

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

At best it was difficult to hear, and with the farsighted suspension and total deficiency of reaction on Gabriella's percentage, 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 eyes were not angry, they were sad, almost frightened.

"I didn't mean to—"

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

Harry was taken aback. He didn't expect that she'd neediness to speak at all about it. His eyes darted toward the antechamber off the Great Hall. 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 affectionateness began to airstream a bit, thinking of the possible action. It was dark ; if they stayed last to the wall no one would see them sneak behind the stage.

"well ?"Gabriella called out.

Harry took her oral sex and nodded for her to follow. It wasn't easygoing making it to the wall, but the crowd was focused on a particularly shrieking Song by the lead singer with bass notes that pounded the level and tossed kinfolk off their foot. Undetected, Gabriella and Harry slipped into the side room and the euphony instantly fell away. The anteroom was dimly lit by the warmly incandescence of the hearth and a handful of lit cd. Beyond that there wasn't another stick of article of furniture in the plaza. Harry paused, thinking about the right field turn, but before he put it together, Gabriella had conjured up a nice love seat near the fireplace.

For the brief of moments he thought to ask Gabriella about what he had seen in her judgment, but being in this exceptional room on this particular Nox caused storage of Cho to look sharp over him. His emotions were sundry between excitement and care. He hadn't heard from Cho since schoolhouse let out and when Gabriella offered to natter Cho at her dwelling, Mrs. Chang said that she had gone to the state of matter and wouldn't be back for the relief of summer. The just educatee who had any contact with her at all was Anthony Goldstein who seemed to be her boyfriend now. He seemed to triumph that he knew something that Harry didn't and he wouldn't say a word about what Cho was up to ; only that she was healthy and happy and that they'd be seeing a lot more of each other after he graduated.

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

"Who ?"asked Gabriella, a bit confused.

"Cho. Only Anthony seems to do it 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 worry.

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

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

Harry put on his safe Humphrey Bogart imposture."These eye are only green for you, sweetheart."

He leaned over and kissed Gabriella hard against the rim. 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 spinal column and she pulled him tight to her knocker. His mitt slipped to the warm, flaccid soma of her abdomen. Thoughts of centaur visions slipped past both their head in favour of other, more enjoyable, action.

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

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

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

"What ?"

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

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

"Where's the war ? I don't know why affair haven't started already,"said Harry, but then a deep, raspy vox broke the night's stillness.

"What makes you think they haven't ?"

Both Gabriella and Harry jumped. It was professor Barghouti. The instant the early match saw him they began to scramble up the front line stride of the castle, constantly casting backward glances to make sure enough he wasn't following them, and occasionally reaching for their necks as if to assure themselves that they hadn't been bitten. Harry forced himself to retrieve his composure, but Gabriella had beaten him to it.

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

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

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

"Harry !"Gabriella snapped.

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

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

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

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

"The Centaur of the Great Forest are not the only Centaurs in the world, boy. And, as much as you might like to trust that England is the centre of the populace, it is but a very low persona of it."He looked at Gabriella."It is as I had feared. The war has begun at home."

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

"Because, oh chosen one,"Barghouti sneered,"your friend Lucius Malfoy has enlisted the assistance of lamia and hence his choice of first strike - the Carpathian Mountains. Only they're not just killing Centaurs, they're wiping out anything and anyone in their path - all of them Muggles. A unanimous village was destroyed. The Muggle theme are reporting that the desolation was due to a gas explosion."A burst of air popped between his backtalk."I must return to Singehorn for a few days. I fear my old friend may strike to intervene and repeat old misapprehension. Professor Dumbledore has been informed and prof lupin will exact care of my classes."

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

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

"Have you learned null ?"he cried. There was a pocket-size squeal from one of the remaining scholar near the castle door who quickly ran inside, slamming the door behind her."Can you not SEE ?"

Harry looked again into the shadow, squinting. Then he remembered. He took a oceanic abyss breath and closed his optic. Then, he reached out with his thinker toward the woodland. As Dakhil had shown him before, all living matter began to come out before him - the Gunter Wilhelm Grass, George Walker Bush, and tree diagram all glowed brightly. He scanned further out and then saw it : a Centaur some ten yards into the tree diagram, bow in hand. Motion to the right caught his visual modality again - another Centaur, another bow. Harry continued to scan. Every thirty to fifty 1000 another Centaur stood guard duty, watching over the school in the darkness. But Harry couldn't tell if they were trying to prevent something out, or something in.

"What are they doing ?"he whispered.

"I am weary of teaching the ignorant,"Barghouti muttered."The Centaurs can reek the darkness, fool. It is already upon you. You would be wise to find its seed before it swallows you whole."In a vortex he disappeared before Harry had a fortune to say another countersign. The speech sound of flapping wings, faded to nothingness. What he noticed, after the debris settled, was that Gabriella's fingers were digging into the soft soma of his forearm.

"What— ?"He looked over at her and saw pure fear on her facial expression. She was mesmerized, staring intently at the darkness of the woodland. Then he realized that she was searching for what Harry could see, but she could not. She was afraid of the Centaurs. She took a pace behind Harry, almost as if using him as a shield against the wickedness, and then pulled him toward that castle doors.

"Let's go inside,"she breathed.

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

"Now."

Harry sighed and nodded his capitulum."Alright,"he acquiesced, and followed her up the stair, noting that she was ever sure to keep his torso between her and the wickedness of the forest. When the threshold finally closed behind them, he could see the weight facelift from her shoulders and the rest bed cover across her face. She leaned back against the doorway, placing her hands over her face. Harry stepped finisher, touching her shoulder softly.

"Baby, what is it ?"he asked."What's unseasonable ?"The hand upon her cheek began to tremble and tears began to streak down her cheeks, one by one, but she would not cry, not out loud. Slowly, her middle turned to the side to look at Harry. He'd seen that spirit when Gabriella lost her father, Grigor. It was a look of uncertainty, of fear, of death. Without saying a word, she shook her psyche and turned to walk away. She'd gone only a few stride before Harry called her to hold on, but she wouldn't listen. She past the Isidor Feinstein Stone column and began to manoeuvre down to the keep, to the entry of Slytherin. Her foot did not throw the first base step before Harry grabbed her by the arm and spun her around.

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

When he came to, he was lying on a slate floor, but he wasn't at the top of the staircase leading down to Slytherin anymore. He was bound with circle, unable to impress, in some room, well lit by Aaron's rod. The paries were stone, and along their top was a crown-moulding made of oak. Along its face, every few feet, was engraved a snake's fountainhead.

"Slytherin,"Harry hissed.

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

"Hello, chemise,"Harry said, knowing Nott hated the gens. Harry was not surprised to get hold Crabbe at Nott's side."Taken to kidnap now ? A step up from watching murder I suppose."

"Just gathering road-kill, potty,"Nott retorted."A little bird told me you'd been drinking… a bit too practically. Imagine my surprise when I found you passed out on the stairs to Slytherin."Nott stepped closer."Were you trying to determine your true love ?"Harry said goose egg."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 more offence than Nott and kicked Harry in the side. The gust was hard and a burst of air shooter from Harry's sass.

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

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

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

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

"Dead ?"he muttered under his breathing time. Evidently, he was not in on Nott's broad architectural plan.

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

"Did you cognize ?"asked Nott, ignoring Harry's question and Crabbe's fear."Malfoy's enlisted over two XII vampires and more than are joining every day. They're crushing everything in their itinerary, 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 summertime. Turns out that a well placed Centaur arrow… thwup… and they die."Harry chuckled deliberately."comic affair, vampire. When they're pierced, their vampire cuticle sheds away and for a minute they're who they once were, the madness gone."Harry looked up at the green ceiling."I like to think that in that moment, good had a prospect to rush in and fill their person once more. They have a hazard to be saved."

"applesauce,"guesswork Nott, believing to a greater extent than disbelieving.

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

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

"Bloody underworld ! I knew it !"

A instant of red pilus told Harry at once who had just entered the room. Ron was breathing hard, his wand drawn, but his hand was shaking noticeably, not because he was scared or winded, but because he'd had too much to drink. Harry could make out a flash of jet robes behind him ; he assumed it was Gabriella which, with Ron in his present shape, 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 trivial razz told him,"said the articulation behind Ron. It wasn't Gabriella, it was James Changjiang ; Harry's apprehension began to spring up once more. There wasn't much of a hazard if Ron couldn't pull it together… and quickly. The second twelvemonth who had freely chosen to be in Slytherin this semester stepped in front of Ron with his wand drawn.

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

"Obliviate !"chanted Jesse James, casting a spell well beyond his long time. A burst of Orange brightness erupted from his wand throwing both Nott and Crabbe against the wall, knocking them unconscious mind, and wiping their intellect of recent memories. The forcefulness of the Obliviate charm determined how a lot computer memory was removed. Normally, a second year wouldn't even be able to shed the turn, but Harry was sure that the effect would be lasting.

Ron released Harry from his tie-up while Jesse James bound his two house brothers."They'll be the ones missing the friction match tomorrow,"he whispered with a smile pursing his lips.

Rising to his feet, Harry felt a piffling light-headed, the nausea once again returning, and had to tilt on Ron for support. He looked over at James, wanting to thank him for his help, but more curious about the patch.

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

"Harry !"

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

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

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

They made their way up a narrow row of Harlan Fiske Stone steps that opened out on the Slytherin common way. Harry hadn't been here since he was a first year. James and Patrick nonchalantly split away from the grouping to mouth to some former second class 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 a good deal practiced and it was Ron that was leaning on Harry and Gabriella.

"I hope James blasted Nott's retentiveness to the Harlan Fiske Stone Age,"said Ron.

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

"Oh, p-lease !"cried Ron."Nott ? Compasshhhionate ? King James I said he was goin'to change state you over to them… to the expiry feeder. He might not give birth delivered the blow, Harry, but he still would suffer been dancin'on your grave."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A few moments later, Gabriella and Harry were alone in the corridor outside the Gryffindor common room. Gabriella walked him over to a stone bench and the two sat down. Even though the wall and level were now spotless, he never liked sitting here, remembering the Dementors that had nearly killed Professor McGonagall the year before. There was a sense of death in the air and for a second Harry felt a nerveless rush swim up his spine, whispering death's public figure. Gabriella held his helping hand, but would not hold his regard. Instead, she watched their fingers intertwined and mingling.

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

"But—"

"Shhhh."She put one manus gently across his lips."Since I was immature, before I ever went to Al Bsahri, I have had one mountain. Sometimes years would pass before it would recall, the Saami prospect, over and over. Since we've returned to Hogwarts this year, it comes to me nearly every day."She leaned her head against Harry's shoulder."Yesterday, I asked mum what happened when you and Hermione plunged into the scene that has been playing in my idea without you for so many years."There was a long pause, and Harry could hear laughter coming from way down the staircase below ; it died away.

"And ?"he asked, nudging Gabriella along.

"A sight from another woodworking plane is like a finely cut jewel, a diamond with many facets. One can look in and see different images from all Angle. You and Hermione became part of my vision and somehow shared it from your own perspective. We all saw the Sami matter, but all differently. And what we each saw can mean different things."

"Then why don't you want to—"

"No imaginativeness is stark, Harry ; and, like time-turners, there are also formula about looking into the hereafter. Most would make change based on the imperfect knowledge they see, often changes that lead story to more devastating outcomes. Only the secure, those like Mama, have any Hope of moving the sands of time to influence the outcome of the early airplane. Others go mad trying to switch what n-never was to c-come."She began to tremble as she delivered the last Logos and in the silence that followed Harry felt a tear drop cloth onto his forearm. He put his arm around her and held her taut.

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

"It begins with a flash of ignitor, a flaming erupting from a glistening emerald lake. We are surrounded by them. There is a screech and then muteness. And then there is me… grimace down in the marvelous grass. I… I am dead, Harry. Buried deep in my back is the long wooden arrow of a Centaur."


Harry ceramicist and the parturition of a New Sun

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

The air was strong for fall, yet the sky was a lumbering Charles Grey. Flying with the charms of his Caduceus P2 off, Harry could feel the wetness in the air. He knew it would rain soon and that, more than than anything else, focused his energies on finding the Snitch. It had been hard concentrating. death twelvemonth, Ron had lost Harry's broom when he had been attacked flying into the Burrow. So this twelvemonth he was riding the later model of Caduceus, the new P2, P for Potter. Cleansweep was paying him a small fortune to use his public figure for their new heather, monies that Harry was using to serve the kinsfolk who had lost loved single in the war. That didn't seem to count much. Even his own sign of the zodiac was ribbing him for the branding of his name and it didn't help that skag in the eye of the visitant stand was a ten metrical foot by twenty foot crystalline portraiture of Harry flying the new broom and waving at the crowd. Every so often words would seem : The Caduceus P2. So fast it'll blow the competition away. It was a frolic on the tarradiddle run by the Daily vaticinator about Harry's licking of Voldemort. The chronicle said that the go Harry cast was so powerful, 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 spill into nihility that remained after the floor of the death chamber fell away, swallowing whole the Curtain of Phenolem and the pulpit upon which it stood. Harry glanced again at the Brobdingnagian sheet of crystal, his own persona smiling back at him and waiving, and shook his promontory to clear his thinking.

He'd been distracted all day and nearly sept thought it had to do with first-class honours degree biz heebie-jeebies. He was Gryffindor's Quidditch police captain this year and nearly everyone believed it a folly determination. Since the fire on the caravan, the whole schooling knew that he was going to be fighting the Dementors when the war with the centaur came. How could anyone focus on training their team with a gist like that on their shoulder joint ? Indeed, even Professor McGonagall thought that Ron Weasley might make the best choice ; she told Harry so.

"If I can't have your idea on the game, you're no use to the team, Mr. Potter,"she had said in assurance."Ron Weasley bleeds Quidditch and his mind is keen when it comes to analyzing the early teams'weaknesses."Harry had nodded and had turned to go out her office when she stopped him."But no one commands allegiance 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 hold open 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 near strategist, and there's no one bettor in northerly Britain when it comes to keeping a Quaffle from skewering the anchor ring. Dennis Creevey is the fastest in all Hogwarts and is starting to come up with gambol I could never dream of. old salt Sloper's put on thirty Pound since finally year and he can knock a fairy off a fencepost at l meter. Slytherin was the but squad that had a prayer to vanquish us, but with Malfoy gone they don't have a luck. The team doesn't need me to moderate them ma'am. Anyone can manoeuver us to the cup."McGonagall looked at Harry over the top of her glasses.

"Is that so ?"she had asked."Well then, Mr. ceramist, I suppose you'll do then. I want the squad roster, to include the player replacing Katie at Chaser, and the each week praxis schedule by tomorrow dawning. And, to preserve you motivated since this will be such an easy year, let's say that if we don't win every secret plan by more than one-hundred fifty dollar bill 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 notice a good pursuer and when jemmy Peakes tried out for Beater he played ferociously, unseating Hooper from the team. Finally, Harry selected Demelza Erithacus rubecola as Chaser, if for no former rationality than she was particularly salutary at dodging Bludgers. The shuffle caused a lot of growing pains and harm flavour, but after three workweek of pattern Harry was confident once again that the team could not be defeated.

Now, flying high over the sales talk, Harry wasn't so sure as shooting. Trying to ignore his own fount, he glanced at the scoreboard to ascertain Gryffindor up by XL which, as far as Harry was concerned, was pathetic. They should have been clobbering Hufflepuff from the outset, but Ron was letting nearly every Quaffle through. Having heard that the coach of the magpie, Bernard Bennegin, was coming specifically to scout Ron's execution he was a nervous shipwreck. To hold affair spoilt he was suffering from a hangover and was having problem seeing the Quaffle, let alone stopping it. The only good news was that jemmy and jackstones were keeping the Bludgers off the team while Dennis and Demelza were scoring nearly at will. Ginny could own been too, but she was so occupy yelling at Ron for being such a git she hadn't scored a single end.

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 position, and if it hadn't been for a well placed Bludger by Sloper, Gryffindor would bear lost. It was then Harry turned off the charms of his broom, hoping that he might better sense the stool pigeon's localization. Suddenly, the yellow side of the pitch erupted in cheerfulness ; Hufflepuff had scored. Harry forced himself not to look at the scoreboard. He had to remain alert, but before you could say snicklfritz the crew erupted again - another score for Hufflepuff. Finally, Harry called timeout.

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

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

"Hang on !"Harry interrupted."We're not here to campaign with each former ; 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 help me, if either of you two drink on a game night again, I'm going to hex you both back into Professor Trelawney's stratum !"

"You think you can jeopardize me ?"yelled Ron at his Sister as he pulled his own verge, however shaky his hand was.

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

"Ron, they're constantly feinting right and shooting left. If you move higher in the air and hold position just a small longer, you'll stop them. Ginny, we could use a little more of your attention on the Hufflepuff slope of the champaign. Dem, they're starting to see on to Harry's first few plays."His eyes dotted to Harry who nodded in agreement."I think we should proceed on to what he was showing us last weekend."

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

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

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

"Go on,"said Harry.

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

Harry had to smile at the new universal on the field."Our own picayune nap,"he thought. Madame hooch blew the whistle for fun to resume. Hufflepuff broke their scrum and began to fly into position. Harry looked down on the rake below. There was nix he loved more in the world than flying.

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

Dennis had been right. Over the side by side XL minutes or so, Ron had blocked six unbent Hufflepuff attack while the Gryffindor chaser had scored four clock time. Still, they would need the Snitch. He flew over by the Slytherin tie-up and see a handful of Bronx cheer, and one cheer.

Harry could think of few Hogwarts woman besides Gabriella Darbinyan able to stand firm the taunting and jeers of Slytherin for being Harry's girl. Of course, there were no taunting or jeers, because all of Slytherin was deathly afraid of Gabriella. Perhaps because she came from a schooltime known for its dark legerdemain, but more because any comment usually meant the commenter had a one-way slate 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 fingerbreadth. The gesture and the gasp of the crew told him at once that the stoolie had been seen. He spun to see Summerby plunging toward the greensward at the due north end of the pitch. Below him was a glint of Au, racing low and heading toward the visitors'stands. Summerby was ahead by at to the lowest degree L measure when Harry began to send.

"You bloody idiot !"Harry cursed at himself as he clenched his tooth."You flobberworm sucking idiot !"The wind roared furiously at his face. The Snitch was flying low to the turf and Harry could see that it would have to turn or rise once it hit the rack on the opposite side of the pitch. Even as adept a flyer as Summerby was, he would not reach the Snitch until it hit the paries. Harry leaned forward, accelerating his broom."It will rise,"Harry whispered to himself, focusing wholly on the gold Earth that was coming closer."It will rise."He chose to fly the unbent melodic phrase to intercept the Snitch where he thought it would be. If the Snitch turned left or right at the wall, Summerby would have it before Harry could react. If the sneaker 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 wind and his goggles were pressing hard against his face. The pressure tunnelled his imagination, but he didn't care. He could still see the favorable glint growing larger before him."Faster ! red cent it ! Faster !"

The pitch below him was a haze ; the standpoint faded to dark and all that Harry could see was the golden Snitch and the trail of yellow that followed it -- the track of yellow that Harry was passing. Faster ! A sheet of purple — the visitant'tie-up. The golden Snitch flying upward. Yes !
Harry's finger pressed firmly against the wing canary when he heard the screams of terror. They conflicted with his own sensory faculty of joy.

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

Waking, and still feeling a bit logy, the first thing Harry recognized was the strait of charge card being unwrapped, torn and then crumpled. The rhythmical mastication that followed told him at once that Ron was nearby. Harry smiled. He tried to open his eye, but couldn't. He leaned to his properly face and felt a dull ached that ran up the allow half of his body. With his ripe handwriting he felt the tabloid about his thorax, the pillow behind his head, the bandages that wrapped his face.

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

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

"That's right,"added Hermione with a cadaver and unnatural feel. And then spokesperson, dozens of vox it seemed to Harry, added their agreement.

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

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

A telephone number of family line touched Harry's good arm. He felt of few kiss against his brass. He heard a few cheery Good-byes and Later, mates, but he also heard a few snuff and sobs. The door 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 bandage that wrapped about his face, just to induce a visor.

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

OK. So he had been growing more and more worried since he first became witting. And the bandage were starting to gross out him out… just a bit. Something in the rear of his creative thinker had said the word, but he had pushed it back down. Only problem was… the dark corners of Harry's mind were shouting now.

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

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

"It was the crystal portraiture, Harry,"Gabriella said sadly."You slammed right through it, sending splinters of ice 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 execute the cognitive operation. If it were up to me, you'd still be there, but Professor Dumbledore insisted that you remain within the castle."

"You've b-been out for two 24-hour interval, Harry,"said Gabriella, another chill of sadness cracked her vox. Harry reached up and touched the bandages wrapping his human face.

"Mr. ceramist,"snapped Madame Pomfrey."If you keep touching your wraps you'll assuredly disturb their charms ! I will not own you go blind ! Do you listen me ! If you keep moving your arms I will immobilize them."Her vocalism was husky. She'd been crying ; Harry could tell. The sadness in the way was almost overtake. Finally, he turned his oral sex in the counselling of Gabriella.

"Did we win ?"he asked.

"What ?"she replied, still dazed.

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

"Harry, how can you—"

"RON !"Harry screamed. In a flash the door flare-up subject.

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

"Did we win ?"Harry asked. Without Harry saying another word, 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 northward. Everyone was standing, even prof Snape. Although, who he was cheering for, I don't know. But he was screaming just the Saame. Summerby was flying low to the ground, his robe flicking up dried skunk and tossing it into the air. The blowing dust made it look as if his broom was on fire.

"I thought for sure we'd lost, when you spun over and started closing in from on high. The snitcher was flying just to my right wing and I could own sworn there were sparkle flying out the tail of your broom. It was glowing red. Heading toward the stands, it was realise you were going to pass Summerby, but you were too high gear ; everyone could see that. But it didn't matter. No one has ever seen someone fly that fast at Hogwarts… ever ! Crimey, maybe in all Britain !

"When you passed Summerby, I thought you'd dive to avoid the standstill, to grab the stoolie that was still screaming low to the ground. But you didn't ; you stayed straight on. When the Snitch darted up toward you…"Ron sighed in go."It was a miracle, checkmate. Like you were calling out to it and it obeyed. Pop ! rightfield into your mitt."There was a farsighted pause."It's when everyone's eyes popped up with the Snitch we saw what was going to happen. That's when the screams began."Ron walked over adjacent to Harry's bed."Summerby smashed into the supporting down low. Broke his leg and lost a dyad tooth. 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."Best damn searcher in all Britain."

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

"Well, now,"Ron answered,"I know you've had your average ploughshare, Harry, but I still think superior can address a stroke to the head with a Bludger better than you."

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

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

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

When the room access closed, Madame Pomfrey walked over to Harry's bed. He was wondering if he'd ever look into the wickedness pocket billiards of Gabriella's eyes once again. He was scared.

"Harry,"she said softly."We'll do everything potential, but you need to sacrifice them time to bring around. The wrapper will stick around on for at least three weeks. Your palpebra will be sealed recollective still. Even when you can spread your heart, Harry, I don't defendant you'll see More than shades of Inner Light and nighttime. Once we know what you can and can't see, healer Sventstein can get down making the proper corrections. You'll have to be patient role, my love, very patient."

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

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

When Harry woke, he found himself bemused and disoriented. He couldn't understand why he couldn't see and he began to flail around, rising out of bed, the stone floor frigid beneath his bare metrical unit. He was about to reach up to his boldness when a hand took him by the arm. At first he was startled, but the voice settled him at once.

"Easy there, flyboy."It was Dog Star."Bad dream ?"

"Dog Star ?"Harry asked to the darkness, reaching out and touching Dog Star'face.

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

"appreciation on ! keep on !"Sirius stopped Harry from running into the taper hovering at his bedside."Let's er… let's get you back in bed."Canicula helped Harry go up into bed and pulled the sheets back over him."There, that's better."He patted Harry's good leg and remained standing at his bedside.

"What fourth dimension is it ?"Harry asked.

"Not quite three in the morning."

"ternary in the first light ?"He paused, rising up on his cubital joint and looking about the elbow room."Anyone else here ?"

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

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

"Yeah,"agreed Dog Star smartly."That's what I hear."Harry could get wind Sirius sink back into his chair and sigh."I have to admit, Harry, that was the libertine 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 painting on it, the thing exploded. It was like a giant crystallization pyrotechnic. And that you still held onto the Snitch… well, it's been all over the papers. Most human body you broke the track record, but the folk from Cleansweep want you to come out and execute a fly-off against Comet — twenty thousand galleons to the winner's charity."Harry turned on his side, his back toward Canicula.

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

"What do you mean ?"

"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 Sirius."Madame Pomfrey—"Harry spun and faced Sirius. Canicula didn't need to see Harry's heart to know the spirit he was getting right now. He sighed."Ten percent is not zippo per centum,"he whispered.

"Yeah, right,"Harry replied and dropped back down again. Likewise, Sirius sunk back into his death chair, crossing his blazonry and searching for what to say. There wasn't much he could say. Harry, after all, was decline. Once a witch or wizard lost their eyes there was often little that could be done—eyes simply hold too a great deal magic. Healers could re-grow many things, but the eyes… the eyes, particularly of a powerful beldame or wizard, were nearly unacceptable to repair. Dog Star let out a low groan as the silence stretched between them. After that, the flicker of candlelight was the only if noise that accompanied their respiration. At last, it was Canicula who began again, not sure if Harry was even still awake. His voice was unfirm, recalling a share of his past he had never shared with Harry.

"When I… when I was in Azkaban, there was nix to see but darkness, nothing to smell out but the reek of dying, nothing to pick up but the battle cry of plaint, nothing to taste but the remainder of crying that had long since died away, and the only thing one felt was the cold breather 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 ooze behind, I would smile. It was the only when joy I had, sensing their departure, knowing that however awful the food for thought was, the void that screamed from my belly would soon be staved for another day. That crusty bowl of bullshit and my pure hatred for dick Pettigrew were all that kept me alive.

"I never dreamed that one day…"Sirius'part halted and he had to swallow to conglomerate himself."That one day… the son of my beloved champion would double up my ten-percent of nothing and make unnecessary me… not from the Dementors of Azkaban… not from the Curtain of Phenolem, but… from myself. I was used up inside, Harry ; a carapace of a hotshot and lupus erythematosus a man. You've shown me, even now as darkness hurry in toward us, how to live again… how to get laid again. I'm amazed that today, I once again walk the Asaph Hall of Hogwarts—a free man, not because I'm free of the repugnance of Azkaban, but because I'm dislodge of the wickedness and hatred that once consumed my mortal. Because of you, I'm unblock to sample the scrumptious fruit of life once again."

"Erm, surely you're not referring to your preparation ?"asked Harry, turning back to font Dog Star. Because I think you could set about your own eating place for lightlessness sludge."

"If I could thwack you, I would,"shot Sothis, kicking the post of Harry's bed with his foot, a bust sliding down the side of his face.

"Bring it on, old man !"called Harry, rising up in bed and brandishing two fists that were swinging wildly in the air—something akin to a boxer's position."I can charter you with both middle tied behind my backbone !"Harry was smiling as Dog Star rose to his infantry. The previous wizard wiped his eyes and then, gently, took Harry's hands in his own.

"You just have to consider that it'll get in force, Harry. It will. I know it will."The grinning on Harry's human face drooped.

"Sirius, if I can't see, I can't battle… I can't fly… I can't…."Harry shook his promontory 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—"

"sufficiency already ! Stop telling me what you can't do ! I don't want to hear it anymore !"This time Sirius'voice was heated."I still wake in the middle of the Night grasping for my sheets, fearing that it has all been a pipe dream, wondering if in the nothingness 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 sleep at night, searching for those dreams that will carry me through till morn.

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

"Yeah, but—"

"And more than that,"Dog Star interrupted,"until the day comes when your visual sense payoff, you'll have to recover a way to see through your blindness."Harry's immediate reaction was to let a burst of air push through his brim in scoffing liberation of Sirius'Logos. He began to devolve back into his pillow when he stopped himself and held fast to Sirius'handwriting. To see through cecity ? mightiness it still be possible ?

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

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

What Harry was ‘ seeing'wasn't so much an look-alike as an embossment of all that was around him. It would take time to trace the shapes, chromaticity and saturation. There was a beam 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 ceramicist !"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 hit him.

"I should give known it was you by your colour,"he said happily."Bright drab — the colour of a healer's spell."He looked back at his godfather."Sothis, you're a bit orangeness right now. You were burnished a mo ago. What's wrong ?"

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


Harry potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 13 - The New accession
~~~***~~~

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

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

"Jump !"

Ronan didn't need to narrate him. Harry had already started the spring.

It had been bitterly cold all day, but with all the running Harry was beginning to regret his decision to wear clothes. They were pushing the limitation between forcible and wizard effort and Harry's feet, well clad in a duet of trainers, were on fire. The light jacket and knickers he was wearing were suffocating and felt like they weighed a thousand Cypriot pound.

Once again he was training with Shahan and Felspar. Over the last few twenty-four hour period, the three had been put though their paces by Ronan, Firenze and others — running, lifting, and shooting arrow from one incline of the Forbidden timber to the other. Harry was exhausted — a feeling he was beginning to enjoy. If anything, he preferred to be out in nature.

Still blind, he was developing his limit power to get to out and sense the aura of life around him. While he could progress to impressions about where things were at Hogwarts, occasionally very clean objects would overleap his tending. A group of Slytherin quarter yr had discovered this about a week after Harry had returned from Hospital and had taken to conjuring marbles in areas where they knew Harry would be walking. Harry, in turn, developed a few enchantment that helped unclutter his way. The tinkling of wits usually meant that a Slytherin was nearby, waiting to watch Harry twig. But since Harry could observe soul's aura, even through rampart, the culprit was usually found fastened to the wall with their underclothing on their read/write head and zippo else. It was a page out of what Nott and Parkinson had done to Ron last yr and Harry didn't creative thinker a little playful retribution.

In the woods, however, Harry felt as if his visual modality was full than having sight. Everything was alive and vibrant. Trees and vegetation, the gravid beast 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. feldspar came a bit short and she splashed water supply into the air. Harry, just a step behind Felspar, was myopic still, landing a broad m away from the camber's edge. His infantry landed firmly in the water and he struggled to maintain his balance so as not to hang into the icy water completely. He'd only taken three stairs when he noticed the iciness around his feet. When he focused his aid downward he could sense clearly that his trainer were gone, the stern of his knickers in rag. Where the splash from Felspar hit the social movement of his jersey it had dissolved away as if it had been burned by acid, the air of his bare skin underneath beaming through.

Stepping backward as he moved out of and away from the stream, Harry focused at the running game water. For the outset time he noticed that its people of colour was different than the other flow he'd seen through the timberland. The weak emanating from this water was snowy, More crystalline, Sir Thomas More pure. With a corking bounce Ronan, who had been following, jumped from money box to bank with ease. Harry expected to be chastised for stopping, yelled at for falling rump, but Ronan said nothing. Harry noticed that the whitish-gray of Ronan's aura warmed a bit. He'd learned, at least with his booster, that such a change meant a smile. He wondered what it meant with a Centaur.

Shahan had long disappeared in the underbrush ahead, but Felspar stopped inadequate of the inspissation trees and returned to Harry and Ronan.

"Is something incorrectly ?"Felspar asked.

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

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

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

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

"The falls !"she cried with excitement."The stream that feeds the drop !"Then Felspar stepped over to Harry, noticing his bare infantry and ankles."Harry Potter, your fetlock joint are bare."She stepped tightlipped."But the flesh is unharmed. If ever I held doubt in the Chosen, they have forever washed away."Felspar nodded with a thin bow. Harry nodded in regaining and the smiled as he saw felspar own fetlock joint.

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

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

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

"No,"said Felspar immediately, backing away from the water."I would not post the honor of my spirit at such a standard. Indeed, if I had known these were the very waters…"

"feldspar,"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 golden that you stopped to return. In these sentence we must remember to think of the ruck before our own interests."felspar bowed.

"Shahan will not be pleased,"felspar said to the footing.

"As I am not,"retorted Ronan."For three straight twenty-four hours Shahan has failed to grasp the lesson. Firenze says Shahan did not even bother to look for for Ebyrth. The Centaur is of no use to the heard if he refuses to get word our ways. I care not that he is young."Then Ronan stepped nigher to felspar ; his posture becoming rigid."You would be wise not to listen to Shahan's thoughts, felspar. That your pelage should change colour at all is not a estimable sign. Your mother has raised you better."Then Ronan's behaviour changed back to one of teacher.

"focal point your thinker on where you need to be, Felspar."He said nothing more, but feldspar turned toward the portion of the timberland through which Shahan had disappeared. A present moment later in a streak of white she was gone.

"Is that not an Apparation ?"Harry asked.

"One can not Apparate on these grounds, Harry Potter. The earthly concern is too filled with trick. The Centaur can bend space and slow time so that distance travelled can be covered far more quickly than on hoof alone. You have accomplished this already. What's more you have learned to allow for your mortal body and travel with the early living spirits of the forest."

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

"Yes,"answered Ronan."But I need not show you again ; these attainment are yours to command. Do you sense the Bowtruckle staring at us from across the current ? Perhaps he can assist you see what you've thirsted for. Reach out to the fauna's mind."

When Harry did reach out, he found it far leisurely than he first expected. The energy of the forest seemed to diffuse him with added insight, guiding his idea as he became focused on the puppet, leaving his own self, releasing his corporeal class behind and melding into the nitty-gritty of a stick. In a twinkling he was one with the woody Bowtruckle. His eyes blinked. Ahead, across the stream were a Centaur and youth man with tattered pants and no horseshoe. Harry tried to step forward, but the creature would not reply. It was as if he were simply eavesdropping. Suddenly, he felt quite hungry. Instead of looking ahead at the two across the flow, Harry found himself looking down. There was a rather boastfully reek worm wriggling its bellying fountainhead between two leaves. He bent down, sniffed the foul affair at pulled it up out of the soil grinding gut and worldly concern between his teeth.

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

"Well done, Harry ceramist. It has been less than a yr since the Cleansing, and already you have learned the Centaurus Arts. It will take much more time to surmount them and many age to understand their on-key nature. It is…"Ronan paused looking toward the western sky."…unfortunate that we have so minuscule time."His hoof clawed at the ground."It does not go well for our brothers in Eastern EU. Wizards have joined the Dementors and brought a new friend to the war."These last news were spoken with the most emotion Harry had ever heard from a Centaur—contempt.

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

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

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

"It is fourth dimension for you to turn back to the castle, Harry potter. I have been training you far too heavy and far too fast, I'm afraid. So it is with Shahan and Felspar. You are all learning before your ability to perceive. If we were with child in number…"Ronan let out a long sigh as Harry turned to face him.

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

"That is not a question for the Centaurs, Harry potter,"said Ronan defiantly."It is a interrogative sentence for the Dementors. It is not our war ; it is theirs. It is not the Centaurus herds that are destroying the villages of Eastern European Union. That is the work of the Dementors and their ilk. They are the ones swayed by Ebyrth's return ; we are simply defending ourselves."

"I read that in the Battle of the one-fifth Age the Centaur herd nearly obliterated Dementors from the face of the earth."

"Would that we had,"said Ronan coolly."Their darkness has no purpose former than destruction. Near the end of that war, only a fistful escaped into the swampland and bog through which we could not travel. It was there they learned to fly ; it was there they developed their thirst for souls. Now, from a dust few, their offspring have multiplied. They outnumber the Centaurs two to one. For that we can thank the Wizarding world and the reality of man whose covetousness has consumed the dry land and produced sustentation on which the Dementors feed.

"No, Harry Potter, you fight on the face of righteousness, as the Centaur have for 100. But, I am afraid, chastity alone will not be enough to lead us to victory. We will want your potency and more."

"It doesn't assist that I'll never see again,"said Harry, rubbing his arms with his manus to take some warmth to them.

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

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

"It is a windowpane to the spirit that lies within. This sight you have goes beyond extraneous appearance and penetrates the essence of the creature before you. My people hold their emotions well, so they appear Gy or white. Have you noticed that house imp are nearly always—"

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

"Goblins, whose natures are always angry, are almost always flush with red. While ace and witches carry the coloring that suit their nature, colours the trained Centaurus mind can make out. It does not shoot long to recognize the given hue."

"Or hues,"added Harry.

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

"Well, when they have to a greater extent than one people of color. You know, say putting surface that sometimes turns blue."Ronan was staring blankly at Harry."You know, the guy's kind of blue sometimes, kind of green other times… right ?"

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

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

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

"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 ceramicist. Some wizards or witches are known Animagi. The animate being inside can represent a dissimilar hue, although even among the Animagi it is rarified. Usually, the wight reflects the nature of the witch or wizard."There was a prospicient interruption.

"And the early ?"asked Harry.

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

"The Imperius swearword ?"Harry asked.

"Perhaps. Such is the way of wizards and my noesis falter there. I hope this is not someone close. mortal in your 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 leaning of names. He focused on bending the infinite between where he was and Hagrid's hut."I think I can find—"Before he finished his judgment of conviction, Harry had warped sentence and found himself outside Hagrid's front door. He'd covered the distance, some miles, in little more than the blink of an eye. Still, in so doing he'd exhausted what little imagination of strength he had left. His clothes shredded, he was about to knock on Hagrid's door when he sensed that someone was hidden in the tree diagram behind the garden. Harry reached for his verge and held it at the ready. Barefoot, he began to tread silently toward the spy. It was one proficiency taught him by the Centaurs and for the fleet of moments Harry thought he'd prefer a notched arrow right field about now.

Stealthily, Harry moved closer. The fig, with a bright emerald greenish aura, didn't move. Its office continued to take a breather against the tree. Just a few grounds away Harry's nostrils took in the smell of grass, a distinctively aromatic smoke.

"Draco !"Harry hissed quiet and low. This finish, Harry could see the form, still leaning motionless against the tree, bring his mitt to his mouth. He was taking another drag on his cigarette. Harry could hear the exhale, long and decelerate.

"Damn, thrower,"genus Draco said, pulling himself away from the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and turning to face Harry."I thought you'd never get here."Draco took a step closer."Falco columbarius, what the hell happened to you ?"

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

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

In the darkness from far up the Benny Hill Harry could hear the front doors of the palace open with their characteristic go. What he didn't expect to hear next was Ron Weasley's vocalism.

"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 clock time and this is quite important."

Harry spun to see three figures 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 prof Dumbledore.

"I thought the old man would be absolutely by now,"said genus Draco with a affair of fact tone as he pulled what was left of Harry's jersey toward some thicker underbrush. Harry acquiesced and the two withdrew deeper into the Sir Henry Joseph Wood as Ron, Dumbledore and Mr. Weasley made their way to Hagrid's hut. When Hagrid answered the whack he was black-and-blue.

"Yeh should stimulate been here an 60 minutes ago !"he called from inside."I don't forethought what Ronan tells yeh ; the forest ain't safe after dar—. Er… prof Dumbledore, sir. Erm… parson. I… er… I wasn't expectin'company."

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

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

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

"You can understand !"said Harry dismissively."It's been in every composition I can think of."Draco ignored the pass, reached up and touched the side of Harry's font.

"Does it injure ?"

"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 magic catch phrasal idiom that we use to see to it the early is mentally liberate from any… tampering. For the last two weeks, Blaise has tried to contact me without using that phrase. He's mortal else's now."Draco took another long drag on his cigarette."How father found out… I don't know."His words were deeply troubled. It was an aroused fracture in Draco that Harry had rarely seen."We were careful ; more than careful. You need to make love that there's a spy in the castle. I thought maybe Nott, but he doesn't have the skill to upchuck the Imperius."

"You're r-risking your life sentence to state me there's a spy ?"asked Harry incredulously."There's p-probably a XII !"His tooth were beginning to natter as the frigid set in.

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

"T-Training,"Harry interrupted.

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

"I don't know where the hell you've been, 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 Noel. Did you know that ? A secret wedding."

"What ? What are you talking about ?"

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

"Married ? Goldstein ?"

"Not even her niggling brother knows they're getting married. Quite scandalous."genus Draco chuckled to himself and then sat cross-legged on the primer."But I suppose you, all knowing oracle of the subterfuge have insight to that."Harry said nil, but sat down next to genus Draco crossing his arms and legs under Draco's cloak.

"Come on, ceramist,"drawled genus Draco once again."Surely you can guess why Cho and Goldstein would want to… nay… would need to get get hitched with secretly."Again there was a long break and Harry pulled Draco's cloak tighter about his shoulders. He was feeling a pang of jealousy and he had no right to. He had loved Cho and he would always hump her, but their paths were never meant to move around together. His course was and would forever be entangled with Gabriella. It wasn't perfect but the attractiveness was strong and the love life firm and the uncertainty of any given day that kept Harry forever on edge tickled a very Slytherin part of his heart 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."

"Anatole France,"answered genus Draco with a sly grinning."Don't tell anyone, Harry, but Goldstein's guardian may be their chaperone by day, but at night he's a Death eater in my father's serve. It's a tryst of petty consequence to my beginner and it pays the placard for Joseph 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 France, in a little villa just north of Marseilles, a town called La Mure. She and the—"

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

"beldame can enshroud that fact until the very day of manner of speaking, Harry. Have you ever seen a pregnant witch ?"For a import, Harry pondered the idea. No, he hadn't ever seen a fraught witch. And then he remembered that he'd seen Geoffrey Hooper's mother just a few hebdomad before her infant was born and she looked no unlike than the year before.

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

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

"Dead in about two solar day,"cut in Draco."Not by the Ministry's hand, but by its nighttime underbelly."

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

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

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

"Save it for someone who gives a damn."He leaned over Harry who was gasping for breath now."funny remark thing… magical cloaks. They can hold so many enchantments."He pressed Harry firmly against the sod as the Gryffindor desperately tried to accumulate air."Understand, Harry, I don't want it and I sure as hellhole don't want my father to get his bridge player 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 a good deal air as he could. Draco took to his feet and wrapped the black cloak about his shoulders, his yearn blonde hair starkly Theodore Harold White in contrast. Still coughing, Harry stumbled to his feet and pulled his verge. Draco ignored the motion and turned to entrust. But then he stopped as if suddenly remembering a forgotten thought. The door to the Hagrid's hut opened and Ron stepped out. He'd heard the auditory sensation of Harry's cough.

"Harry ? !"Ron called to the darkness.

"Oh, and Harry,"genus 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 newborn baby boy. Well, not so a great deal newborn any more. You'll never guess the birthday… it's the Saami day as yours."

"Harry !"Ron called again. This time, by the tone in Ron's vocalisation, 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 potential,"he whispered at the emptiness. The sound of footstep came charging up from behind and Harry could get a line the commotion on the front porch of Hagrid's hut. A hand touched Harry's shoulder.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Get o'er by the blast, lad,"said Hagrid, offering a blanket. But before Harry had a fortune to accept, Dumbledore pulled his wand and tapped Harry's shoulder joint. The grime disappeared and a Hogwarts robe covered his body. The cut red line about his neck and the aching heftiness, however, remained.

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

Warming his muscles by the fire, sipping a bit of tea, and pretending to enjoy Hagrid's rock-hard Edward Durell Stone cakes, Harry was beginning to feel himself again. He assured Chester Alan Arthur Weasley that he was fine and that his dishevelled appearance was all in a day's work, training with the Centaurs in the wood ; but the Minister was none too convinced.

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

"Just a piddling workplace with daimon's Snare is all, sir,"answered Harry, rubbing his neck with his left wing manus and sipping some more tea with the other. If they could see his eyes, they would know he wasn't listening to a word they were saying. Draco probably thought his little show would centre Harry's mind fully on some Horcrux that the Ministry had no doubt just found, but Harry's mind was anything but centred. After a bit more banter about school, regrets about Harry being blind, and tidings about the battles raging in Eastern European Economic Community, Chester A. Arthur Weasley finally got down to the aim of his visit.

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

"What ?"Harry exclaimed."Why ?"

"fountainhead, to try to find the organic structure, Harry,"answered Mr. Weasley, surprised somewhat at Harry's response."Many Aurors lost their liveliness that evening and their torso have never been found — at to the lowest degree, not until finish week. Since the crash we tried for months to find the bottom with no success. We encountered one witching portal after another, and the workers were none too inclined to accidentally trip across the Curtain itself."

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

"No, Ron,"interrupted Dumbledore,"the mantle and the dais were destroyed in the gloaming. No, just the consistence, consistence from both sides, have been returned to their loved ones."

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

"Hagrid,"he asked, clearing his throat once again,"do you have any more Harlan Stone cakes ?"

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

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

"Yes, yes, absolutely, Harry, absolutely."King Arthur patted Harry's lap."But there was one other recovery at the very depths of the gaping fissure."All at once, Mr. Weasley's nimbus faded and Harry knew the next words were a lie."They pulled it up today, just before lunch. I looked for you earlier, Harry, but you'd already left for the forest."Chester Alan Arthur Weasley stood from his chairman and looked out the window facing the castle, the colour returned to his aura."I was thinking we could take in a dedication of sorts. You could come to the Ministry as we put it on display. It would certainly remind the multitude in these dark times that we can vanquish darkness."

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

"Oh, yes, I'm sorry, Harry,"answered Arthur."I've wanted to discourse our search since you and I spoke on the train. I never knew taking maintenance of the Ministry would eat so much of my time."His eyes wandered for a moment and then returned to conform to Harry's."No matter,"he whispered."In our lookup, we recovered the cloak. The black cloak of… You-Know-Who. The only oddment of his darkness and a symbolisation to all of his defeat."

"Voldemort ?"snapped Harry."You have Voldemort's cloak ?"Harry turned in his hot seat."Burn the bloody thing. ruin it !"

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

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

"Harry,"said Dumbledore sternly, silencing Harry's ranting."I think it would be wise for you to get hold of some fourth dimension to study what all the implications are. sentence to consider what's honorable for… everyone involved."Harry expected to see the warmth of anger build 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 temperament."Yes, that's what I need Minister… time."

"Please, Harry, you needn't call me—"

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

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

"I got it dad,"said Ron, dropping one of the 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 cake and then Hagrid, Chester Alan Arthur was about to say something when Dumbledore spoke out instead.

"Excellent estimate, Mr. Weasley,"he said to the immature carrottop."Please ascertain Harry safely back to the castle."

"Goodnight, Hagrid,"said Harry to the heavyweight still in the kitchen, baking up another batch of patty for his guest."Thanks !"

"Sure affair, Harry,"called Hagrid."Anytime."Then he turned to Mr. Weasley just as Harry began to shut out the room access."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 question.

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

"Ron, you saw my apparel tonight. They were burnt away because I fell into the magical stream that feeds the falls. remember when you fell in finish year ?"

"Pulled in you mean,"said Ron, rubbing his flop carpus."Yeah, I remember. My clothes disappeared."

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

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

"Tale or not, the water supply destroys cloth. I doused Voldemort in nearly ten Imperial gallon of the stuff. It was enough to dissolve every evil osseous tissue in his body, but the cloak… Damn ! I should have known when I saw it then. The cloak survived. But why ?"

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

"I don't see how it can be,"answered Harry."If it's voice of Voldemort, it should have been destroyed."Harry sighed."Maybe Hermione will know."Ron shrugged and nodded in agreement as he reached to open the castling doors. Ron heaved on the heavy handle just as Harry's handwriting stopped him and shut them again.

"Ron ?"he asked."You have a lot of chum and Sister. Erm… how long does it film to… er… for a witch to… you know… have a child, after… you know."For a second, Ron just stared at Harry, and then reaching ever so slightly to the thoughts on the tip of Harry's head he understood.

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

"Yeah… yeah, that's it."

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

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

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

"Pretty shit near to Hallowe'en, Harry."He poked Harry in the costa."Do you think they were wearing costumes ?"Harry didn't react in the way Ron expected. Instead, he leaned his rachis against the castle doorway and slid down to a sit on the stone landing place.

"Oh, Merlin,"he whispered in a sallow sorting of voice."Oh, bloody, shtup, Merlin."

"What ? What is it, Harry ?"

"Ron… I think… I think I'm a father."


Harry ceramicist and the birth of a New Sun

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

When Harry and Ron passed through the portrait of the Fat Lady, Harry found the Gryffindor common elbow room, warmer than normal. Near the open fireplace sat the auras of Parvati, Lavender, Gabriella, Hermione, Ginny and Dean. Towards the back, Neville was helping Patrick and a few others, Harry had yet to distinguish, prepare for their Herbology exams. Evidently, the exam involved a electrocution plant of some sort, perhaps fireseed, Harry thought, since there was a billowing cloud of smoke that hung over the group and nobody seemed to heed.

Harry, his mind fractured at the moment, brought his attention on Patrick. The smoke was clouding his ability to see the aureole of those at the back table, but the filtered light emanating from Patrick was the same as it had been since Harry first met him after the stroke - blue and commons. Each colouring waxed and waned, growing more putting surface whenever he was excited or near Harry.

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

"Harry ! Ron !"cried doyen. His vocalism brought Harry's attention back to the group about the fireplace. The claim sounded like a plea for help, as if Dean felt, at the instant, like a entrap rat in a serpent's cage. He began to place upright when Ginny grabbed his arm.

"Oh, doyen,"she said breathlessly,"isn't it beautiful ?"Hermione was projecting an look-alike of a young charwoman in a white marriage ceremony dress. The girl stood, suspended in the middle of the five students and modelled the dress she was wearing, slowly turning in all directions so that everyone could see, everyone that is except Harry.

"Er… yeah, capital,"muttered dean miserably, sinking back into the couch.

"I don't know, Gin,"said Lavender cautiously."I think the train's a little 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 sort of like it,"Hermione said as she held her mitt to her chin and tapped her brass with one finger."But I think the second…"Dean let out an hearable groan, but the girl ignored him while Hermione began to flash through modelling after model, frock after dress, as if finger Sir Frederick Handley Page of a book. It was only then when she noticed that Ron and Harry had entered the coarse room.

"Ron !"she exclaimed."You're just in time."James Byron Dean's eyes grew full and he shook his forefront as nondescriptly as he could to ward them off. Ron caught it, but Harry did not."We were just looking over garb when—"She stopped herself mid-sentence, noticing the expression on Ron's brass."What's incorrect ?"

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

"aught,"they said simultaneously.

Gabriella patted Harry's impudence.

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

"No thanks,"interjected Harry. While he had grown accustomed to seeing students from early planetary house in the common room, he had completely forgotten that the female child were going to get together this evening to discuss Hermione's wedding plans for the summertime."I need to get set up 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 wood today, we could ingest gotten at to the lowest degree three hours on the pitch."

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

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

"These aren't your robes,"interrupted Gabriella, rubbing the fabric in her digit."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 circle Harry and Ron.

"wellspring, he only had a arcminute,"said Ron, stepping closer to his sis. She had risen to her pes and James Dean took the chance to quickly dart away and manoeuver toward the whorl staircase to the male child'dormitory room."And he needed to see Harry, so I took him over to—"

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

LE than a import later everyone was talking at once. Ron and Harry were being bombarded with questions about everything from the Minister's visit, to why Dumbledore needed to conjure Harry new robes, to what model Ron thought would be nice for the new Cathay.

Unexpectedly, there was a loudly detonation from the back of the room that caused everyone to pipe up. A rather large human dynamo spewed forth from the table where Neville and the others were working. It was Neville who stopped it from lighting the whole berth on fervor by casting a squelching charm.

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

The commotion that had surrounded Harry, quickly gathered about the vertebral column table and the parched faces that stood there. Harry took the opportunity to surveil Dean's step up the stairway. Near the top he heard a rather dejected Patrick apologize, but what he saw was a bluish glory beaming with pride. Then Harry noticed Saint Patrick flash him a thumbs-up from within the farseeing sleeve of his robe, a sign that no one could see.

"Sorry, Neville,"said Saint Patrick with a shrug of his articulatio humeri."I'm just no good at this variety of clobber. I'll be lucky to make it to the third year at this rate."

Gabriella looked back toward the open fireplace to recover Harry and before she could find where he was Harry disappeared into the son'dormitory room. Inside he found Dean, belly down on his bed, reading a record book about Quidditch. He loved the secret plan 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 brag them all up ?"

"Well, I—"

"Because that'd be fine by me, Harry. I was about to bumble myself up if I had to attend at one more china pattern."He looked back at the book and turned the page."Talk about pressure… blimey."He turned another page."I mean… I love Ginny and all, but does she actually think I'm going to ask her to hook up with me ?"He turned another Thomas Nelson Page ; clearly not having read the stopping point."So… lastly year… yeah, maybe. But that's your fault."James Byron Dean looked up, pointing a fingerbreadth at Harry.

"Me ?"

"wellspring, I mean, I was in a fight — fighting you for her. You know. That sort of thing, well… it gets a guy in the mode. But this stuff downstairs… wedding dresses, and colors of tabular array clothes, and…"doyen sighed."talking about deflating."Without looking back down to the playscript, he turned another page. Then, quite suddenly, Dean groaned and turned over on his bed, placing the undecided rule book over his thorax."pigeon hawk, 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 digit in front of his typeface. His psyche had been reconnected to his corporeal bod and Ginny had been there every whole step of the way."She didn't need to do that."

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

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

"…children,"added Harry quietly.

"Merlin, no,"injection Dean."I can't even imagine. But then Ginny's ready to hand with a sheathing appealingness. We're careful… you know ?"Harry nodded as a knot twisted in his stomach."Can you believe Neville and Helen of Troy ?"continued Dean."Neither one of them used any shelter their offset few metre. Hermione found out and had a fit."

"Hermione ?"queried Harry.

"Well, I told Neville that he was being an imbecile. I told him how Lee Jordon told me that Fred told him that George hooked up with some girl in Hogsmeade stopping point twelvemonth and wound up with a case of runespoor warts. Had to go to St. Mungo's to get them removed. Can you trust it ? Yeesh."Lee covered his private parts with his hand and grimaced.

"But why Hermione ?"

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

Harry wasn't certain how to take that. He didn't have a clew until last Noel that Ron and Hermione were together. Yet, everyone else seemed to make out. Further, he was pretty sure that last year Tonks had used her metabolism skills to take on the visual aspect of Helen so that she could sneak into Gryffindor towboat with Neville. It brought up memories… bad memories. Suddenly, going to talk to Hermione about anything didn't seem like such a good idea. Harry began to swot his desk with his finger, then crossed his weapons system and just looked down at the base. He could see the aura's of the living organisms that his married person had tracked in under their shoes. Maybe aunt Petunia wasn't such a sick bat after all - at least as far as wiping one's feet at the threshold was concerned.

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

Barefoot and shirtless, Harry walked over to the window. Christmas was a hebdomad away and, sadly, no blow had fallen. The solid ground below and the surrounding wood glistened brightly in Harry's blindness. He placed his left paw on his breast, just above Asha's heart, the Harlan Stone that even now sat hidden within him. Focusing high above the treetops he found aught but blackness. tardy in the evening, swarm had moved in, covering all in a dark blanket through which no stars shone. He peered at the Saame quadrant of sky in which he knew Ebyrth hung, growing ever closer. He closed his eyes and dropped his pass heavily against the glass windowpane.

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

It wasn't enough that war was raging in Eastern EEC and would soon grace the forest about Hogwarts, if not the rook itself. Now there was a minor. Could it really be his ? That was a stupid question. Of course it could be ; the timing was near perfect and they had been… well, stupid. It was just before the Hallowe'en feast. Harry was going to secern Cho about Gabriella… let Cho hump that they couldn't be together, that Gabriella was the one he truly loved. But then she touched his arm… the aspect in her eyes. Even now, the memory sent a tingle down his backbone and made his insides quiver. Neither of them was in the right frame of thinker, but they both knew what they wanted. Now they were both paying for it. At to the lowest degree Cho was. Harry began to wonder… if the child was Harry's, did Anthony know, or was Cho simply using him ?

Harry shook his head, trying to light up his muddled thoughts. Maybe he was making a big deal of nada. Maybe Susan Brownell Anthony was the father. But the vision… Gabriella's vision that both he and Hermione shared. He'd seen a child. Gabriella saw her own death and yet Harry saw life. He thought it was their child, his and Gabriella's. Now, Harry wasn't so sure.

The window was cold and a tingle ran across his organic structure. He turned and walked over to his storage bureau, opening the lid and notion around for a shirt.

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

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

"Yes ?"

"Ah…"Harry held up two wind sleeve."Do these couple ?"

"Kinda,"answered Dean, looking at Black person and maybe a benighted navy blue.

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

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

"Accio cloak !"Harry called with his right hired hand in the air, finger outstretched for a collar. His cloak flew into his face."Almost,"Harry muttered. He stood and put on the cloak on and then slipped his wand into his sleeve and stepped toward the door.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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 threshold, began tapping it nervously with his fingers. He glared at Ron."Great design, mate."

"Well,"said Ron,"I tried to—"Harry held up one finger to his brim and Ron lowered his voice."I tried to—"Harry shook his finger at Ron. There was a bit of a rumbling and Ginny burst through the door.

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

"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 doubtfulness she didn't expect and it caught her off guard. Her eyes shot immediately to Ron and the look gave her away at once.

"You did !"cried James Dean."How could you not tell me ? Did you all eff ?"Harry could see the fire construction in Dean's emotions. nobody said a word."How long have you known ?"

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

"Clear his public figure ?"said James Byron Dean."He was… he is a Death Eater."

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

These Book cooled Dean's flack, if only a smidgin, and his hand found his pocket. There was a moment of secretiveness and then he turned to Ginny reached out and took her script.

"You know, Gin,"Dean said gently,"if we're going to spend the residuum of our lives together, we can't be keeping enigma from one another. Secrets… they… they sour souls and twist trustingness. If you'd have just told me to preserve mum, you know I would give. 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 limb."I'm sorry."

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

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

"rightfulness,"cut in Harry,"so that's why you… all,"he waved toward the group,"can figure out how we get the cloak tomorrow nighttime. I'll meet you at the entrance to the Ministry at midnight. Have the plan quick and I'll help you however I can."He grabbed Gabriella's deal."come with me."They started for the door when Hermione grabbed the backrest of Harry's cloak, stopping him in his caterpillar tread.

"What do you signify ? Where are you going ? Your Potions exam is tomorrow."Harry turned back, his face poop but his eyes blank shell.

"number one, 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 hired hand to quiet his Friend,"that needs to be kept… at least for now."Again he took Gabriella's arm."seminal fluid on."Everyone turned to Ron as Gabriella and Harry left the way. Almost immediately, Gabriella began to ask questions, but Harry held a finger's breadth to his lips.

"Not here… not now,"he whispered.

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

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

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

"Ooooh,"hummed Lavender as she cast a gossipy glance toward Anapurna.

"Men,"said Parvati flatly. Gabriella simply nodded, taking Harry by the arm and walking out of the Gryffindor commons room.

The two didn't speak until they reached the stairway. It was unruffled with only a few scholar roaming about. Most were likely studying for tomorrow's test. The others were either heading toward or returning from the library. The two found themselves alone on the staircase as it slowly began to slue into lieu. Finally, Harry gathered the courage.

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

"Cho Changjiang ?"Gabriella asked blankly.

"Yes, Cho Chang !"Harry snapped."How could you not sleep with ? You two were inseparable at the end of terminal year. She helped you through examination. Merlin, you spent more clip with her than with me. How could you not know ?"

The stone stairway came to rest against the wall. The two climbed off that one and onto another that began to slew into yet another direction.

"So we're going to see Susan Anthony,"Gabriella said knowingly. Harry said nothing, wishing only that the staircases would displace more quickly."Tell me Harry, are you still so covetous ?"

"Jealous ?"Harry asked angrily."jealousy has nothing to do with this. I have a right to jazz !"His last intelligence were loud and reverberated off the stone walls.

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

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

"None of my business concern ? None of my business ? !"

"Yes ! None of your occupation ! They were pudding head, Harry,"Gabriella said struggling to keep her composure in front of the third year, although Harry could feel the anger edifice within her."It was a misapprehension, a misapprehension that Anthony's wizard enough to set straight. Can't you see that he's trying to do the right affair by caring for what will soon be his syndicate ?"

At this, the 3rd 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 book 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 think 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 nestling, but she didn't know that Harry could be the begetter. He stopped and leaned against the banister. The delay was just long enough that the staircase began to be active again.

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

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

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

"I know that too,"she said with a smile that Harry could not see but could sense. She kissed him gently on the nerve and pulled him close. They held each other that way for some time and when the stairway came to a stopover 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 of the Church,"he repeated, stepping close to her."It wasn't Antonius that was the stupid one ; it was me - Allhallows Eve of last-place class. Cho's child… it could be mine."

Harry waited to see the chemical reaction, but none came. The news had no force on Gabriella's aura. 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 have sex anything, you know quite a bit already. You know there's a child. You know she's in France."

"La Mure,"added Harry.

"Then you know all there is to know, Harry. The town's not that enceinte and a few well placed questions will get us to where we need to go."

"Us ?"Harry asked.

"Don't be silly,"answered Gabriella."It's far too dangerous for you to will the castle alone. Besides, Professor Snape has already released me from tomorrow's exam for—"

"—for high gear brand,"interrupted Harry."Yeah, I know. I know."He paused for a few moments and then escape from his head. But before Harry could say a word Gabriella began.

"Harry,"she said gently, holding her hand to his face,"I don't forethought how well you can see what others can not."She took his hand."You're blind. It makes a dispute. You can't go somewhere you've never been, sing to mass you've never met and think that it's no big deal."There was another long pause.

"Cho's bodyguard is a Death eater,"Harry said, More to himself than to Gabriella.

"You're joking, right ?"

"He's not much of one, but Cho's bodyguard is a Death Eater."He paused, churning the suggestion in his mind. Finally he said,"You're redress. I probably wouldn't get a luck to see her… not without help."He squeezed Gabriella's hand."Besides, you need to be there. I need you to be there."

It took twenty minutes to get what they needed before they could pilfer out through the hidden tunnel to Hogsmeade. It took one-half that clock time to make it to Le Mure. Gabriella was right, Harry would have been lost without her. It was bad enough trying to remember his French ; it was worse trying to forecast out what hand motion or facial expression went along with it. blind, he could detect none of it, but Gabriella was nearly double-dyed. In fact, Harry began to wonder if she had known the way all along. Finally, knowing that Cho's flat was just around the cube, the two decided to spend the night at a pocket-size inn and wait until morning. It was the first they'd been truly alone since the summer.

Harry offered to sleep on the floor, but Gabriella pulled him close to her. There was a warmness to her touch that meant More to him than anything in the completely world. That night he laid his soul 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 education with the Centaurs, would she noticeably change the subject. He fell asleep in her arms and woke the next morning the Lapp way. The sun was just breaking into the window as he stroked her long nigrify tomentum, wondering with some fear what the futurity would bring.

After breakfast, they walked down the alleyway toward the belittled apartment social organisation that the innkeeper had described to Gabriella. When they finally arrived, Harry covered himself with the invisibility cloak. Gabriella knocked at the door and the threshold opened, held subject by an honest-to-god man with grey haircloth and a tired expression on his human face. There were introductions and Gabriella slipped inside. The door shut before Harry could follow. There was a minute of silence and then squeals of joy. Harry knew the speech sound ; Cho was inside. A few moments later the man left, jingling coins in his pocket. Harry's program had worked - Gabriella, handing the man a dyad galleons, suggested he go to the recession pub for a bite and a beer or two. He wasn't to the sidewalk before there was a snap bean and he had Disapparated. Then the murmuring began ; louder, then softer, then louder again. Finally, Harry heard,"Don't be silly."A moment after that, the door opened and Gabriella ushered him inside.

All the while, Harry had seen the glory of the two young women and the older man. He watched as they moved back and forth, and as Gabriella hugged what he figured to be Cho. It had been the first meter he had observed a Disapparation without his sight and he noted with interest the sudden outburst of energy that accompanied it. But more than than anything else his attention was focused on one thing above all - a dim reddish glowing that glimmered from the back of the apartment. Through all the walls it could have been anything - a cat, a dog. But Harry knew, by how well its colours blended with Cho's, what was there.

"Harry ?"Gabriella asked to the void before her. Cho stood only a few feet away. Harry sensed warmth coalesce with apprehension. As for himself, he could finger the sweat of his palms as he reached up and slipped off the cloak.

"Cho ?"he asked to the glow before him. The aura didn't move, the person didn't speak, but the colour began to blench almost immediately. Then her helping hand went to her typeface, 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 hand near his temples."It's nothing. Just a bit of looking glass. Surgery's scheduled for next month ; should deliver me practiced as new."Cho took his bridge player and then touched his typeface.

"I'm so dark,"she whispered."I should sustain come to visit."She took him in her arms and held him tight. He could experience her quivering in his coat of arms."I couldn't… I couldn't bear to see you again."

"Great,"Harry drawled."Always estimable to cognise you're thought of kindly."

"Harry !"snapped Gabriella shortly. She took Cho gently by the arm and said,"Cho, can we come in and possess a sit ?"Cho loosened her clench on Harry and wiped her face with her hands.

"Oh, yes,"she said, sniffing,"of course."

The place was turgid than Harry expected, compared to what it looked like from the out-of-door, 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 broom he bought her survive yr, was propped up in the nook. Cho offered them some coffee berry, they accepted and together they sat at a modest table in the kitchen. There was a little lecture about the atmospheric condition and school.

"Are your exams over ?"Cho asked."Tony has Arithmancy tomorrow."

"Tony,"muttered Harry through gritted teeth. Maybe he was a bit jealous of Anthony."Er… yeah. Gab and I are done for the semester."

"That's great,"said Cho softly. There was an awkward silence, and then, finally, Harry could look no longer.

"I heard… I heard you and, er, Tony were going to tie the knot… get married. I told Gab we should get along by and witness out when. Ask what you might need to, erm…"He looked around at the ratty piece of furniture."… spruce the shoes up."

"Soon,"answered Cho without hesitating."But we're not telling anyone until after the school year. Not even my family. They think I'm here studying art."

"I also heard,"continued Harry, not really listening to Cho's words,"that you two had a child ; a babe boy is it ?"Before Cho could answer Gabriella took her by the hand.

"It's so exciting, Cho !"she said joyfully."I'm sure you're a wonderful female parent. The baby is so lucky to suffer two such tremendous parents. Both Ravenclaws !"

"Thank you, Gab,"said Cho warmly."T-Tony's been great."

"Can we see him ?"asked Gabriella excitedly."I've wanted to see him so."Cho was hesitant.

"well,"added Harry,"I can't see him, but I have a pretty good idea that he's rightfulness through there, isn't he ?"He pointed to the book binding elbow room and swallowed."I think it's great that you and… er, Tony are doing the… er, right field thing. It for certain would be great, at least for Gabriella, to see him. Just a peak ?"

"He is due to eat breakfast soon,"Cho said cautiously."Perhaps… just for a moment."

When she returned to the kitchen, Cho was carrying a baby boy dressed in a little red pinny. He smiled and muttered a few sounds as she sat him in his chairman, offering him a biscuit to chew on. The dampen fog of Harry's eyes were focused somewhere above the boy's head, but his mind's eye was captivated on the golden red glow before him. It was vivid, almost blinding, and Harry wondered if the cleverness of the lambency was because he was a baby or something more. The biscuit snapped out of Cho's handwriting and flew into the waiting grip of the baby's.

"Look at that ! So soon ?"cooed Gabriella."He's just perfect."And then she began to babble baby talk to the child.

"Yes, he's pretty peculiar,"answered Cho.

Harry could sense that she was looking at him, centred on his reaction, but he was at a loss. To know for for certain he would have to ask straight out. Now, here they were, and Harry didn't know what to do. He half wanted to poke the baby with a control stick to see what it would do.

"Has he,"Harry began,"shown any other signs of magic ?"

"No. Not really,"answered Cho cautiously."But he can abide with help and he's already tried to walk."She paused."I think, maybe, he'll be in Hufflepuff,"she added wistfully."He loves it when I take him to the zoo."

"What's his public figure ?"asked Gabriella.

"Jamie,"answered Cho.

"After your brother ?"

"We just liked the name,"Cho said, not committing.

"I have to admit,"said Gabriella,"that he's the cleave image of you. And that's a good affair ; you're much better looking than Anthony."She laughed and Cho did too. It sounded as if it had been the first fourth dimension Cho had laughed in quite some time. But then the tone in Gabriella's voice changed.

"In fact, he doesn't tone much like a Goldstein at all. You're both so dark, and Jamie's cutis is so pale."

"He… he doesn't get out much,"said Cho, growing queasy.

"Cho, you know I love you like a baby. Don't you ?"Gabriella asked gently."Well, I think Harry has a right wing to love. You see, he told me that you two slept together at Hogwarts - just once, on Halloween. Caught in the heat of the instant, I guess."Gabriella took a breath, gathering her strength."I don't care why it happened. And it doesn't bother me anymore that it happened. The fact is it happened… nine months before trivial Jamie here was born."

"Well—"

"Cho,"Gabriella interrupted."Harry may feature his hunch, but he can't see what I can, and the middle never lie. You and Antonius, you both have brown heart. Both your parents each have brown eyes. It would take a powerful wizard to produce a boy with anything early than brown centre and the magic would most certainly be to plough the colour of the eyes to his own."Cho said nothing. Harry said nothing."It's true, Jamie is the splitting image of his beautiful mother. But the eyes… I think he has his Fatherhood's eyes."Cho remained silent. Once again, Harry watched as her aureole blanched.

"What do you signify ?"asked Harry blindly. Gabriella took his hand.

"They're green, Harry,"she said quietly."Almond shaped and brilliantly commons. Just like yours."


Harry Potter and the parentage of a New Sun

Chapter 15 - Another Potter
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Beyond the babble of the baby sitting beside Harry, there was secretiveness. Perhaps, if one were to heed closely, the sound of a bird chirping or a remote bus creaking to a halt could be heard, breaking the still of the dayspring. Then Cho's foot began to nervously tap against the side of the tabular array. In front of Harry, she had been confronted by Gabriella with the truth, but still she would not, or could not speak. Harry had known before they came to France that the tyke would be his, and though he had not heard the Son from Cho's lips, he wasn't about to become angry ; it was hard enough not to show how frighten he was feeling. No, if anything, he needed some meter himself to get over the sinking touch sensation in his abdomen, as if he'd just fallen off his Scots heather. He would wait for Cho to be make. He breathed deeply the aroma of his coffee tree, took a sip, set the cup down and put out his finger, with which the little boy began to bite toothlessly.

"Jamie ?"Harry said tenderly."I… I like that name."

He smiled and put his hand on the boy's oral sex.

"Oh, my. What a heading of hairsbreadth ! Is it shameful ?"This simple question was purposefully directed at Cho. There was the beat of a pause before she answered.

"Yes,"she said quietly, with a bit of a shot in the parole. Harry could hear her swallow.

"Thank Merlin he's got his female parent's looks,"Harry said with a chortle. He took another sip of coffee.

"You'll see him one day, Harry,"said Gabriella with an encouraging tone. Harry tilted his head teacher down and escape from it slowly.

"I don't think so,"he said quietly, his lip still turned in a slender grinning.

"What do you mean ?"asked Cho, surprised."Surely they can—"

"I was just examined by Madame Pomfrey,"interrupted Harry."The vision charms aren't knitting. There's still too much glass."

"But couldn't they just—"

"There are wads of tiny shards - too many and too modest to vanish without vanishing pieces of my eyes and if they summon them out they'll shred whatever goodly eye tissue paper that's left."Cho gasped.

"I… I didn't know. I thought—"

"No matter,"said Harry taking to his foot."I can see the blast in his soul, even if I can't see their colour of his eyes."He went to the umber pot to pour himself one Thomas More cup. On the way, he tripped on a pocket-sized toy that had fallen on the story and what liquid that was in his cup spilt.

"Woops,"said Harry. Cho stood to clean the spill, but Harry had it off the priming coat nearly before it landed with a dim-witted wave of his hired man. Since losing his sight, his abilities without a wand, abilities he rarely used in movement of others, had strengthened. Without skipping a beat, he poured himself another cup, but rather than turn he continued to face up the cabinetry. Yes, he could see the fire in the boy's atmosphere, but he would generate anything to suffer his seeing back… to see his child, his son. He began to tremble. For the first meter in calendar month he was cold with fear, and it wasn't reverence of a Dementor or Death Eater. It was fearfulness for his child and his nipper's mother, awe for a future that was already so unsealed, so glowering. It felt as if all the air in the way was being sucked away.

"At to the lowest degree,"he said, holding the strong cup in his handwriting,"Anthony won't need to… to look into my center and wonder. I… I wouldn't want that."Cho stepped up behind Harry and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Marcus Antonius Goldstein, Ravenclaw Prefect at Hogwarts shoal for Witchcraft and genius ?"asked Cho."He might be a bit lofty at times, but he's no soft touch, Harry. He knows."She turned Harry to face her."He's always known that… that Jamie is your son. He came up with the figure. Your f-father's name."She placed her hand at the side of Harry's face."He knew that too. I… I didn't."With these words, Cho began to cry. She held Harry by the front of his shirt and pulled him close, sobbing into his breast. Gabriella left her chair and the three hugged for some fourth dimension while Cho repeated over and over how disconsolate 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 hungry,"said Cho blotting her eyes. She picked the boy up into her arms and ushered them all into the movement elbow room where the fireplace sat frigidness, but the slightly tattered chairs were more comfortable. Even without the fire, Harry watched with wonder 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 side, who was gathering a glow herself as she took in the room's emotions of love. He took Gabriella's hand and for the world-class clip in a prospicient time Harry tried to relax, letting the swirling fright of the future slice from his brain. It was Cho that started the conversation as Jamie continued to wet-nurse.

"I wanted to retain this secret, Harry - secret from my parents, closed book from my brother, private from you. At for the first time I was ashamed and then—"

"But—"

"Let me stop,"asked Cho."I need to land up, or I may never be capable to."Harry nodded."go yr you wanted to distinguish me about Gabriella."Cho looked at Gab."He did so want to push me away, to tell me of the Muggle girl he had met back home."Her centre returned to Harry."But I could see that, just under the skin, there was a flame 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 touch of resentment or lugubriousness.

"I know that now,"answered Cho."Maybe I knew it then, at least that he wasn't in his right head. I could induce used a sheathing charm. I thought about it. I even reached for my wand before it happened Allhallows Eve 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 consume something in case… in case…"

"In example I died ?"asked Harry."Like Cedric ?"Without speaking, Cho simply nodded.

"I was being stupid. As if I could ever… And then, when I found out about Gabriella, when we actually spoke…."Cho smiled."I was so happy for you, Harry, and you were so sad."She sighed, shaking her head."So I hid it - I hid my pregnancy and I hid Jamie."She put the baby over her shoulder and began to pat its back."I thought that after You-Know-Who had been destroyed I could recount you, but then I heard about the new war… that Malfoy's Death eater were out to belt down you. What would they do if they knew you had a son ?"She shook her head."This summer, I travelled to the United DoS with Anthony… Tony. One night, I fell asleep in his arms and when I woke up the side by side sunup the befuddling appeal had warn off. I was meaning for all to see. In that wink I panicked, horrified by what he might believe, what he might do, and in the next I felt Tony's touch, warm and caressing on my tummy. He stayed at my side and he's never left."Jamie let out a rather telling eructation and everyone smiled.

smiling, Cho held Jamie in her lap and said something in Formosan as she wiped the milk from his mentum.

"Tony's hired Chalmers"said Cho, referring to the guard that was probably now close to finishing his morning meal,"to watch over Jamie and I, while he finishes school. It's costing him every Canute he has. Once we're married we'll qualify for benefits from the Ministry. They offer lodging and, maybe, we can find a nicer place to—"

"Benefits ?"bicker Harry, his vertebral column snapping strict."From the Ministry ? You can't be dangerous ! You're not going to take a dime from the Ministry. As far as I'm concerned there all a bunch of malefactor !"

"Harry !"called Gabriella.

"well, Ron's dad. But the respite of the lot ? Crooks !"He took to his understructure."And as far as livelihood in Ministry housing… never ! I won't allow it."

"What do you mean you won't allow it ?"said Cho a bit heatedly."You have no say in the matter."Harry ignored her.

"You'll stay at the castle. It's far enough away from what's happening… yes, you'll be condom there."

"We're prophylactic here,"said Cho, standing herself, the child held snugly in both arms.

"Safe ! Are you kidding me !"cried Harry."What's his name… Chambers ? He's a Death eater !"

"Oh,"Cho chuckled,"now you're just being ridiculous. Chalmers wouldn't hurt a fly. He's only working for Tony because of the kindness in his heart. He hardly makes decent money to get by on."

"So he moonlights for Lucius Malfoy as a Death feeder !"exclaimed Harry."At least he doesn't know that the boy is mine. Thank Falco columbarius for that."Cho's case dropped with surprise at these Christian Bible.

"How could you possible know that we haven't told him ?"she asked. Now Gabriella stood, stroked Jamie's impertinence and took him in her own munition, patting his back as he rested against her articulatio humeri.

"Because,"Gabriella said softly with a tuneful voice as if she were singing to the child,"if Chalmers knew, Lucius would do it. And if Lucius knew, his son would know."

"Draco ?"breathed Cho."I thought Draco was…"Her representative 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 unpointed,"he breathed."He'll be back here any here and now. Maybe he's a kindly old doddered just trying to hit a clam any way he can. Cho, you can't take a chance."He placed his helping hand on her shoulders."I have money and it's my responsibility. Let me at least avail pay the bills until Anthony graduates. Let me at least devote you a cap over your head where the hearth works and you'll know you'll be safe."

"It's beautiful there,"added Gabriella."jet fields… azure seas… cute Hellenic language son with bare chests."She winked and kissed Jamie on the head. Cho crossed her arms and walked over to the fireplace that had no fuel for the fire.

"I… I'll have to ask Tony,"answered Cho."Do you think… I know it's hard overseas, but do you think we could plug into to the floo network ? I miss the home so, and we are going to tell them… after Tony graduates."

"That's one thing the Ministry can do,"said Harry, suddenly well-chosen Cho was changing her psyche."But you can secernate Tony later. showtime, we need to—"There was a child's play and an instant later the look door opened. Gabriella motioned for Harry to hide. He had just enough time to dart under his cloak and gather himself into the corner before Chalmers walked through the look doorway.

The older man was too reduce and not very much taller than Cho. When he entered he took his coating off and hung it against the bulwark with a sticking appeal.

"Beautiful day today, Miss Yangtze River,"he said with a toothy smiling."Beautiful Day !"He stepped over and gave Gabriella a nod."And thank you missy for the fine meal."He paused."It's been a spell since…"His brass grew wistful, but then he shook his head."No matter."He slapped his helping hand together and pulled his wand."Let me acquit these dishes for you."Harry stood silently against the paries as Chalmers walked with a bit of a limp into the kitchen. There was a distinct rhythm to the cadence of his walking that Harry, two months 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 step of surprise in his voice."Three cup. Did you have another visitor today ?"Without waiting for an answer he levitated the dish aerial into the sink where the scrubbers began to wash them. Cho was suspend, but Gabriella stepped over without vacillation.

"Yes,"she said quite calmly,"a girlfriend of ours, also from Hogwarts. She had to leave betimes to get back for her afternoon exam."Chalmers nonchalantly straightened the chairs.

"fountainhead, you know how Mr. Goldstein feels about visitors, young lady Chang."He settled himself into one of the cushioned chairs and began to unfold the newspaper, still scanning the elbow 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 dependable he is."

Baby Jamie babbled something and then pointed at Harry hidden beneath the cloak. The motility was enough to cause Chalmers to turn and look back into the far corner at the cracked and empty rampart. Jamie babbled again and gave a light laugh. Chalmers smiled.

"Well, wee Jamie is happy enough to receive guests."He held up the front page."What's your supporter's epithet, young lady ?"

"Hermione… Hermione farmer,"answered Gabriella. There was the slightest intermission 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 sojourn. He's just endearing and you're a rattling mother."

"Thank you, Gabriella,"answered Cho, kissing Gab's impertinence."I couldn't ask for a kinder, ardent friend. Please add up visit after the wedding. I think I'll feel more comfortable then - Mrs. Goldstein."

"Oh ! That reminds me,"said Gabriella suddenly."Mr. Chalmers is it ?"Chalmers set his paper in his lap.

"Just Chalmers, missy."

"Cho was showing me the nursery and I noticed the backrest windowpane. We had discussed placing a waterproofing charm, but I wasn't surely if—"

"Yes, girl,"cut in Chalmers proudly."The whole house is sealed tight. No one can get in without permission. It's a Bucinum charm."

"Oh dear,"said Gabriella."A Bucinum charm ?"Chalmers nodded his straits."I think a Trepidus magical spell would be safer."

"Trepidus charm ?"asked Chalmers blankly.

"Oh yes,"added Cho."A Trepidus spell would be ideal."

"Certainly,"continued Gabriella,"I mean, if someone tries to get around in the Bucinum spell blows them up. That could harm the babe. Do you recall you could show me where you set the charms ? Together we can hold the replacement."

"Oh, please do, Chalmers,"asked Cho pleadingly."Gabriella's a first year witch. She studied at Al Bsahri you know."

"Did she now,"said Chalmers with pastime as he took to his substructure."I've heard they reopened the school day 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 backrest of the theatre, leaving Cho and Jamie alone with Harry. Even as Harry moved toward the look room access beneath his invisibility cloak, Jamie followed him with his gaze, pointing with his hand. Cho walked to the threshold and opened it.

"When… when do you get hitched with Gold— Marcus Antonius ?"Harry asked.

"Yuletide,"Cho answered. She tried to make water the word sound exciting and vibrant, but it fell flat.

"Cho, you don't have to—"

"Don't I ?"Cho snapped."Don't I ? Tony loves me for all the human race. He'd danger his lifetime 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 well-chosen,"said Harry quietly."You deserve ..."but Harry's Son failed him."I'm so sorry."Cho ushered Harry outside to the nominal head stoop and shut the door behind her. She lifted his cloak to reveal his face.

"Harry,"she said."Tony… he looks at me… he looks at me the way you look at Gabriella. What girl wouldn't want that ?"She leaned over and kissed him on the backtalk, and then draped the cloak back over him."I'll ask him about your offer. He's a majestic man, Harry, and a bit stubborn. You should be able to apprize that."

"I love you, Cho. If there's ever anything you need… anything at all, let me fuck and it's yours. I'll see to it, I swear."Cho smiled, but her optic were sad. Jamie began to lactate on his digit. The door opened and Gabriella appeared followed closely by Chalmers.

"Ah, here you are,"said Gabriella. The sun was warm up on her facial expression as she put her coat of arms out and gave Gabriella a hug."The flat is sealed tight."Cho took in a late breath.

"Good, thank you,"she said."I was just giving Jamie a niggling sun."

"Which he can get through the window, my dear,"said Chalmers herding Cho back into the house."Now come inside."He seemed quite protective, but Harry wondered if it wasn't something more."A pleasure to fulfill you, girl Darbinyan, was it ?"

"Yes, and a pleasure it was to conform to you,"Gabriella replied."It's expert to see my friends in such ticket manpower. Cho, I'll be by before long with those talent I promised."

"Gifts ?"Cho asked."Oh, yes, gifts. Yes, yes, anytime. Be safe ; there's a still space to Apparate just behind that gray building over there."They kissed good-bye and Gabriella began to walk down the street, Harry at her side. Chalmers stood for some time after Cho had gone inside, watching from the stoop. Gabriella waved one survive metre as she turned the niche out of sight. Harry was about to pull off the cloak when she stopped him.

"Stay hidden,"Gabriella whispered."We're being followed."Harry spun and there behind the construction they'd just passed were the auras of two small figure. They hadn't been there a minute before.

"Did you see them ?"Harry asked."I didn't hear an Apparation."

"House elves,"Gabriella whispered,"at least one of them. The other… I can't tell."

"But there weren't any house elves at the house,"said Harry.

"I know,"she replied."They must belong to someone else, or one's with its master."

"Who ?"

Gabriella just shrugged.

"How did he know your name ?"asked Harry.

"It just slipped out. But I don't think—"

"You don't think Lucius would just as soon see you up on a throughway as me ? It was foolishness !"

"He'd have found out soon enough,"said Gabriella with a sigh as the two turned another corner. The street was deserted save for two young boys playing football game near the end by a chain-link fence. Gabriella pulled her wand. She was going to set on the two that were nearing the corner, but Harry stayed her hand.

"Gab, no,"he whispered."Grimmauld Place."

"But—"

"Now !"

A moment later they found themselves on the streets of London, just outside of number dozen, Grimmauld Place. They waited to see if they might have been followed, then checked that the streets were pull in. Finally, Harry uncloaked and walked up the steps to the doorway, knocking twice. The doorway opened of its own accordance and the two walked in. There was a rustling, a thud, and then Canicula appeared atop the stairway wearing boxers and a jersey. scepter drawn he pointed it blindly toward the door.

"Freeze !"he screamed."Or I'll obliterate you !"

"I hope not,"answered Harry."I'm kinda hungry."

"Harry ?"Dog Star said, blinking his centre."Harry what the hell… Gabriella ?"Sirius made an attempt at slicking back his hair and started down the stairs.

"It's after midday,"Harry said."Don't tell me you were still sleeping."

"I was up late last night. Remus finished grading papers and we— Hey, isn't your Potions exam today ?"Sirius'eyes snapshot to the door."And why didn't you use the floo ? What's going on ?"

"Erm… can we eat first,"asked Harry.

"What,"shot Sothis in a singularly insistent tone,"is… going… on ? !"

"Sirius,"said Gabriella softly,"I think it best if we sit down."

"You do, do you ?"snipped Sirius, but Gabriella's black centre caught a soft-spot in Sirius'barque."Well… okay."

The three moved into the kitchen and Sirius started toward the cooking stove. He grabbed a spatula and summoned some sausage when Gabriella took his hand.

"Here,"she said softly,"let me do that. You sit with Harry."Sirius moved to the tabular array and sat opposite his godson.

"Well ?"Sothis queried."It's obvious something's afoot. Spit it out."Harry tried, but he couldn't bear his godfather's gaze.

"I… I, erm…"He sucked in a large draft of air and exhaled."Igoterpregnant."

"What ?"Dog Star asked."What was that ?"

"I… I got her pregnant."

"What !"Sirius stood and spin towards Gabriella."You're significant ?"Gabriella turned the sausages with her wand."How could you—"

"Let him end,"she replied, floating three plates out onto the table.

"Not Gabriella,"Harry said. Sirius turned back to look Harry."Cho… Cho Chang."Sirius fell back into his chairwoman.

"Are you sure ?"asked Sothis with a disbelieving flavor."Because sometimes witches can—"

"Oh,"cut in Gabriella sharply."He's sure."

"Merlin,"he whispered, scratching his chin."Harry, you should know better."

"I know. I know I should know better."

"And you,"Sothis said, turning back to Gabriella,"why are you here with this cheating scum if Cho's running around pregnant ?"Expressionless, Gabriella placed the blimp on the plates and added some warm edible bean.

"It was last-place year,"she answered sitting down and handing Sothis 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 shell, splattering red beans onto his white-ish T-shirt.

"A b-boy ? Jamie ?"

"They're bread and butter in a dump,"said Harry quickly,"and I can't have my son living like that. I won't have another Potter live with dust and wanderer, not as long as it's in my power. So, I offered to own them detain at your castle. You know… until Antony graduate. Merlin save his soul if he ever—"

"My palace ? Anthony ? Who's Anthony."

"Goldstein. Well Cho calls him tonicity. How cheesy is that ? Anyhow, the thing is…."

It was well into the eventide before Harry had set Canicula straight on all the details, uncertain as they were. Sirius then began a speech that lasted for nearly thirty minutes and included a few source to Harry's parents. But when Harry began to poke into deeper Sirius changed the subject. After venting about Harry's stupidity, he had agreed to take Anthony, Cho and Jamie in and facilitate in any way he could.

The sausage balloon Cho cooked little more than a memory, Sirius grew hungry again and he convinced them to go to a Thai restaurant that he had found just a few blocks away. When they arrived, Harry discovered that it was run by an old Muggle, but frequented by a number of witches and star. The occasional flashes of conjuration that occurred never seemed to unsettle the old man. Sirius called him a initiate, a Muggle in tune with the conjuring trick 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 meet Ron and Hermione at the Ministry.

"The cloak,"he muttered suddenly to himself, before taking another bite.

"What's that, Harry ?"asked Sirius. Harry looked up into Sirius'optic ; they were smiling. Harry's sightlessness didn't allow him to see that the kris that had once drawn the side of Sirius'eyes down were now curling upward. But he could sense the brightness of the atmosphere in his godfather's manifestation. For a moment, Harry considered telling Sirius of their plan at the Ministry. Gabriella touched his hand.

"Thomas More tea ?"the waiter asked, and all three nodded. Harry continued to look toward Sirius who was as happy as ever. The thinking of asking Sirius to serve them, particularly at the Ministry, curdled the curry in Harry's stomach.

"I said I almost choked,"Harry said with a coughing.

"You're eating too fast,"said Gabriella knowingly, rubbing his arm and smiling."It's not a race."

"Probably the curry,"said Sothis, taking another collation."It's a bit spicy tonight."

"Yeah… yeah that's it,"Harry answered. He wiped his mouth with his napkin and set it on the table."Erm… Actually, I think I meliorate be—"

"Harry,"interrupted Gabriella,"I have to go before it gets past midnight."

"Is it getting that belatedly ?"asked Sothis, his oral cavity half full phase of the moon. Harry shot her a glance ; his mouth frowned. He didn't want her at the Ministry any more than he wanted Sirius. There were too many memories—bad memories. Then she said something that surprised even Harry.

"I need to see Jamie,"she said,"just for a mo. I should induce taken maintenance of it this morning, but I forgot. I've not been in tune with the old ways for some time. Mama would be disappointed in me."Unconsciously, Harry began to rub the firedrake scar that was emblazoned on his right forearm.

He remembered what Gabriella's mother, Soseh, had said at the end of last schooltime year."The blessing is inscribed on the male of each contemporaries by the cleaning lady of the generation before. It will be Gabriella's duty to overhaul the thanksgiving to your sons."Once it was discharge that Harry would swallow Jamie as his son, it was Gabriella's obligation, by oath, that she pass to him the grace of Asha.

"The Votary,"Harry whispered quietly, staring down at the bowl of yellow and gold. Then his dull eyes looked toward hers."It's too grave,"he said sharply."What if Chalmers has told them. What if he knew all along ? What if they're still there ?"

"They ? They who ?"asked Sirius.

"We were followed after we left Cho's apartment,"said Gabriella."But it makes no departure. By laurels, I have no option. It must be done, and the Sooner it's done the greater the power of Jamie's blessing, of his protection. He'll need Asha's help in these times of darkness."

"You mentioned the dying Eater bodyguard, but you didn't mention that you were followed,"said Sirius, his middle turning toward Harry with a more grave brilliance.

"Draco said that Chalmers doesn't work Nox, at least not for Goldstein. Sirius, you need to go with her, prevent her safe. That way you can see Jamie and passport on the word, maybe convince Cho to move into the castle tonight while Chalmers is away."

"And you ?"Sirius asked.

"I'll just capitulum back to Hogwarts. If the two were a couple of Lucius'thugs out to get me it'd be better if I wasn't there."Sirius sighed, looking longingly at an untouched barbeque unornamented rib. He licked his lip 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 alley often used by the visiting witch and superstar to Apparate. Sirius took Harry by the arm and looked him in the eyes, but Harry turned away to calculate down the street as a car yesteryear by.

"heterosexual to Hogwarts,"said Canicula sternly,"okeh, Harry ?"

"straight to Hogwarts,"Harry agreed. Gabriella kissed him on the cheek.

"I can see your emotions roiling,"she whispered in his ear."Be vigilant and say, ‘ Hi !'to Ron and Hermione for me."She pulled her wand as did Dog Star."Oh, and don't trouble ; Jamie will be fine. I'll make sure that no malevolent harms your child."Harry tried to muster a grinning.

"Did I ever tell you how much I loved you ?"he asked and then they kissed."I'll see you at school in the morning. keep back her safe, Sirius."There was a crack and both Gabriella and Sirius had vanished. Harry focused his vision to another part of London and in the next second 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 adjacent.

"Stupefy !"The gust of red Light Within hit Harry squarely in the breast, knocking him backward some ten to twenty groundwork, his baton tumbling from his hand."There, Harrington,"a boastfully draped public figure said with a rather blustery interpreter, picking up Harry's sceptre,"and you were about prepare to wet your pants. He is a boy, after all."Still on his back Harry could sense them stepping toward him.

"I… am not… a… boy !"he rasped. This made the cheeseparing necromancer laugh, but the smaller man behind him said zero.

"fountainhead, I've got your wand, piffling man. I doubt you'll—"

"Diffindo !"Harry hissed, stretching his right arm forward. orangeness light erupted from the berm down and extended out and beyond Harry's fingertips.

The battlefront of the Death feeder's cloak looked as if a expectant saber had just slashed across it, tearing cloth and flesh alike up and outward. Harry could feel the blood sputtering his grimace. The Death feeder screamed falling to his articulatio genus. Unsteadily, Harry stood. The unanimous blank space seemed to be spinning. He was dizzy and a assemble sensation of sickness was building inside.

"Accio wand !"he cried, wrenching his sceptre from the last Eater's grasp and in to his own hand. Limping forward he yelled"BOY ?"Then he placed his wand on the forehead of his foe."BOY ?"descent continued to filter from beneath the crouching Death feeder's costa and between the handwriting that clutched his dresser."Who do you lick for ?"Harry asked, already knowing the reply.

Harry had focused so a good deal attention on the large end feeder, he had neglected the smaller one that had retreated to the shadows.

"I said WHO - DO - YOU - WORK FOR !"Standing over his cowering dupe, it was then that he noticed the Christ Within - lots of sparkle. Five more auras had Apparated ; he was surrounded. Seemingly emboldened by the new arrivals, the little Death Eater emerged from the shadows and held out his sceptre.

"Expel—"There were three magical spell cast almost simultaneously that stopped the wizard before he had a chance to finish.

"Stupefy !"“ Diffindo !"and Harry's shield charm,"Contego !"

Only, Harry didn't need the carapace charm… for himself. The inaugural piece came from one of the approaching halo Harry presumed to be to a greater extent destruction eater. The thunderbolt, not the secure Harry had ever seen, knocked the smaller adept backward, albeit only a few feet. Fearing for his life, and rightfully so, the midget Death Eater Disapparated. The second base patch came from yet another air, small yet intense. It was directed at the crippled wizard crouching before Harry. The result was tremendous and instant ; the Death feeder's head word fell to the gravelled pavement and his torso slumped forward, draining stemma at Harry's feet, a boiling pool of twinkle like lave erupting from a vent.

Harry spun to face the five maven approaching him, holding his wand high. Two showed hints of both red and dark-green in their auras as they drew nearer."Imperious Curse ?"Harry wondered. And then a voice came to him that startled him more than that of the previous destruction Eater.

"Bloody Hades, James ! What in pigeon hawk's name did you do that for ?"

The colour, the canter, the tone… Harry knew at once it was Ron Weasley.


Harry ceramist and the giving birth of a New Sun

Chapter 16 - The Burden song
~~~***~~~

"He was reaching for his wand,"said James, pointing at the decollate expiry Eater at Harry's feet."He was going to kill Harry !"

"He was on his knees,"snapped Hermione."Harry had him firmly in control."

"He didn'have the… that little guy in controller,"countered Patrick."I had teh take him down."

"You're just favorable he was as frightened as a molamar in water system,"said Anthony Goldstein with a rather haughty part.

"Goldstein ?"asked Harry in surprise as the group converged on him.

"hoot, ceramicist,"said Goldstein,"you're a bally mess. And I do think of bloody. Scourgify !"The dab covering the front of Harry's face, shirt and pants vanished, though the pool on the pavement remained."There, that's better."

"Who in Hades told Goldstein ?"cried Harry.

"Actually, thrower,"replied Goldstein,"I stumbled on this merry troupe as they tried to sneak out. Seemed like a secure DA missionary work.

"Are you kidding ?"snapped Harry, gazing at the aura of the man who'd be his son's father. There was a whiteness about it, but Harry was to ignite to count 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 rip, pooling at his foot. Hermione ran over to him and hugged him.

"Who were they ?"she asked."cypher's supposed to know we're here."

"That's what I thought,"answered Harry."I was trying to get an solvent when King James here decided to diddle the butcher."Harry turned to the second class."The next time I need your assist Chang, I'll ask for it."Harry sensed at once the anger construction within the smaller wizard, but then it subsided almost as quickly as it came.

"I… I was just trying too unvoiced I guess,"answered James."It was scary."

"And why are you two,"Harry pointed to both Henry James and St. Patrick,"here in the first property ? Stumble across the troupe as well ?"He shot Ron a glimpse and wished he could impart eyes of demise.

"Patrick overheard our plans and said he'd snitch if we didn't bring ‘ em along,"answered Ron."It was supposed to be quiet ; I didn't physical body we'd run into end Eaters."

"If that's what they were,"said Harry, still holding his scepter at the ready."They acted more like hired thugs than Death Eaters."

The Night air was frigidity and quiet. He could feel the dampness of a melt off mist wrap about his facial expression, sending shivers down his thorn. For a minute he thought of Dementors, but the imperturbableness, this chilled dankness was something else, something more visceral. The rustle of death were swirling ; somehow Harry knew that. And not for the man that had just been slain, the whispers were telling Harry that to a greater extent would soon connect the dead man at his feet. But who ?

"Goldstein,"Harry said suddenly,"Mark Anthony, really you… you have to—"

"wellspring, we're here now,"said Jesse James."Dispatchio !"The dead wiz and the pool of blood beneath him vanished."Let's say we get in, get the cloak and get out before anymore… er, iniquity wizards show up. Wouldn't want Luci—"

"Where'd you learn that enchantment ?"queried Hermione."That's fifth year."James shrugged his shoulders.

"My baby I guess,"he said."She's the wise one in the family."

"Yeah… I see,"said Harry, noticing James'halo slice from leafy vegetable to red then back from red to green. For the foremost prison term, he thought James IV might not really be an friend."Ron, maybe you should take—"

"James is right,"interrupted Antonius."beneficial if we get down into the Ministry before another dozen end Eaters Apparate in."

"But—"

"Harry,"interrupted Hermione,"let's just get downstairs. We can talk then."Harry heaved a sigh and the chemical group squeezed into the phone booth. Ron said the password his father had told him and a argent orb appeared, scanning Ron in a ailing white light. Then, with a jar, the elevator began to plummet. Harry tried to look at Ron and suggest to the Melanerpes erythrocephalus that he should read Harry's judgment, but his centre were blank and Ron didn't recognize the facial expression as he once would have. Harry silently cursed his blindness.

Harry's nub began to reanimate. If the two instant years were under the Imperious scourge, they were likely in Lucius Malfoy's control. He was feeling strongly like he wanted to wretch onto the polished marble floors just as the doors opened onto the resplendent entranceway hall of the Ministry of Magic. The six stepped out, wands drawn.

After only a few pace, they all saw where the cloak was to be displayed - it was obvious. A expectant glass case had already been erected. On a pole was the body of a fashion model and succeeding to that a golden statue of Harry with his scepter drawn. They all stepped cheeseparing. There was no cloak, but there was a plaque. It read,"This land site commemorates the frustration of the Dark Wizard Voldemort by the Grand Wizard Harry ceramicist, parliamentary procedure of Merlin, offset year, who faced his foe wand-to-wand and struck him down."
"order of magnitude of pigeon hawk ?"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 Dark cloak, no recurrence of Voldemort, no ceremony. Ron, do you have any idea where—"

There was a resonance coming from down the hall and a faint glow that was growing nearer. It sounded as if someone were humming. The group began to pull back, away from the display case ; all, that is, except James River. Harry went to grab his sleeve, but the boy wouldn't relocation.

"Is this it ?"he asked, still staring at the re-enactment before him."Is this how it happened ? You struck him down ? Nobody could tell me for for certain, not even Gabriella."Harry held more tightly to James'robe and began to pull him bodily across the floor.

"James IV,"Harry said, huffing between his teeth,"there are some matter you can't believe. First, never believe a word Trelawney says unless she sounds like a goblin on fire whiskey. Second, never consider a word written in the Dailey Prophet, unless it's written by Luna Lovegood. And finally, never… ever believe anything the Ministry says - ever !"He continued dragging James I by the dorsum of his collar until they were hidden between two marble newspaper column.

"Bold words, Harry,"continued James passively."But I never believed you could get Lord Voldemort wand-to-wand. recite me, is there still a part of the darkness Lord that courses through your mineral vein ? That could be utilitarian, if—"

"Shhh."All was mute, save for the occasional snap ember from one of the fireplaces that surrounded the rarified entree Hall and the humming that was growing louder by the second. Again Harry tried to gain Ron's aid, but he was occupy whispering something in Hermione's ear as they clung together behind a suit of armour opposite the Fountain of Magical Brethren. At another column just behind Harry and James, St. Patrick and Susan Brownell Anthony crouched. The whispers of death were growing louder. So tacky, in fact, that Harry turned to see if perhaps a ghost or something to a greater extent were at his aright side. Only James II was there, kneeling quietly on the floor.

The light grew brighter and then the hag appeared. Harry could make out her aura, a shimmering gold, but not her features at this distance. In front man of her was a cloak levitated some two pes off the ground. She was approaching the presentation casing when King James I began to wriggle under Harry's hand.

"Hold still,"he whispered, but the marble bulwark took in the sound, recall them about, amplifying the disturbance such that it was audible to the Wiccan at the showing eccentric. Harry noticed the hesitation. He expected her to become, but she did not. Instead, she levitated the cloak onto the trunk within the display case and closed the deoxyephedrine room access. She cast a appealingness with her wand and then turned as if to leave. In turning, she revealed her aspect to the others, but Harry was still unable to recognize who the witch was. From the syncope gasp from across the dorm it was elucidate that Hermione, for one, knew who it was. The witch stepped toward the spring and took something out of her pocket, perhaps a coin, Harry couldn't Tell. In a motility that was as graceful and as cunning as any Harry had ever seen, she flipped the physical object into the outpouring. It birl high into the air and, just as it crested in its arc, her early hand pointed her wand toward it and cast the magic spell.

"Immobulus !"Harry recognized the voice at once ; it was Molly Weasley, Ron's mother.

Half of the Light Within leaving her verge passed the coin cleanly and struck the witch and wizard by the suit of armour. The early half, however, glinted off the coin, reflecting toward and blasting the two wizards next to the tower behind Harry. With one spell she had immobilized Ron, Hermione, Anthony and St. 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 time of day. If you're lost, I'm certainly I can serve you find your way. come up out from behind the chromatography column and let's see where you belong. Shall we ?"

Again James pushed against the weight of Harry who was pressing him heavy against the marble trading floor. Finally, Harry had had enough. He couldn't risk what James might do.

"Incarcerous !"he called. Ropes sprung from his sceptre and began to wrap themselves about James II.

"Sectumsempra !"cried Epistle of James, slashing the Mexican valium with his wand and pushing Harry away. Then he pointed his sceptre at Mrs Weasley."Avada Ked— !"
"Stupefy !"she called, her spell interrupting the boy's. The red luminousness nearly struck James who deflected it at the last moment, sending the beam into the cap above, showering them all with spell of marble and splinter of walnut. This was no second year wizard.

Harry jumped to his metrical unit and stray his own stunning piece, but again James deflected it. It was then that Molly Weasley noticed who he was.

"Harry ?"she called.

"Hide, Mrs. Weasley !"he cried in restoration."Hide !"

James cast a jet of red luminousness 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 spring, just as the bolt of red passed his go out cubital joint. King James I smiled.

"Impressssive, Harry,"James River hissed in a much higher, moth-eaten spokesperson, a voice that shook Harry to the burden. It couldn't be."You've learned well from the centaur. I did as well ; although I suspect my methods of extracting the noesis I required were somewhat different than yours."There was another bolt, green, and again Harry disappeared and reappeared into another parting of the grand hall.

"Diffindo !"called Mrs Weasley. Her import struck James I on the lead shoulder, leaving a nasty separatrix. Jesse James spun on the hag.

"Avada Kedavra !"

This clip the dark-green lightness sailed toward Molly Weasley. Harry began to hover a marble bench into the beam's way of life, but quickly realized the bench was too heavy and would not trip fast enough. Instead he ran, slowing time and bending the space between them tightly together. He grabbed her by the shoulder and pushed her to the terra firma just as the flak past the pair, smashing into the wall behind and showering them with dust and stone. Harry landed on his back as Mrs. Weasley landed on top of him, knocking the air out of his chest.

"Harry,"she said sternly as only a mother could,"what are you doing here ? What's going on ?"

"It… it's Voldemort,"he gasped trying to find air that wasn't there."He's… back."He wheezed, sucking in a short breath of air."In… James."Without questioning further, Mrs Weasley's back went rigid and she rose to face up Henry James, to confront Voldemort.

"Nooo,"Harry rasped, struggling to sit up, but barely able. She ignored his beckon and faced the small boy now standing only a few feet in front of her.

"leave of absence the boy, Voldemort,"she commanded, brandishing her wand."He can't possibly be of any use to you, now we know the truth."

"Truth ?"queried James as his eyes shot toward the shadow cloak still protected behind the seal off glass. Harry rose to his knees, trying to bring air back into his lungs."The true statement is that there are only two things in this elbow room I want… and you're not one of them."His baton rose in unison with Harry's, only Harry was ineffective to gasp the spell.

"Avada Kedavra !"

Placing himself between Mrs. Weasley and Voldemort, Harry tried to develop up in front of the jet of green but the vote out execration would win the race this time ; he knew that. For her persona, Molly Weasley cast a shield charm about them both, hoping to deflect the patch, but they all knew it wouldn't oeuvre. In her last instant of lifetime her hands gripped Harry by the shoulders and she cast a glance down into his dim eyes, a glance that held love and compassionateness, a glance that was filled with concern not for herself but for the boy before her… a glance he couldn't see. She fell dead to the floor.

"NO !"yell Harry as he spun and cast another slashing spell against James who deflected it with ease."You're being controlled, James ! battle back !"James only laughed.

"YOU stood face-to-face with the Great shadow Lord Voldemort and defeated him ?"James II mocked."What a jape !"

With Mrs. Weasley dead, the trance she cast on the early four mavin began to wear off off. Slowly, they were coming to there senses, working to retrieve ascendence of their motions. St. James walked over to a groaning St. Patrick who was still prone on the trading floor. He grabbed Patrick's hair and pulled his top dog off the ground.

"This one here,"called James II, his vocalisation echoing off the paries,"thinks of you as a brother, Potter. He'd Sooner die than see you do to harm. Yet he's betrayed you at my every instruction. Shall I kill him succeeding ?"

"Expelliarmus !"Harry cried, but once again James IV deflected the spell.

"seaport't you figured it out yet, ceramist ? Even with the skills of the Centaurs, you're as slow as your dead parents. Nonetheless, you could be useful ; the Malfoy boy suggested as a great deal. I heard, perhaps, he's not as dead as everyone thinks."He released Patrick whose head cracked against the stone floor. But instead of striking at Harry, James held his wand to the glass exhibit case."Diffindo !"The attack of weak struck the glass, but held firm as if swallowing the energy of the blow, the glass began to glow. For the first time, the smile on James Chang Jiang's nerve disappeared."Diffindo !"he called again, and again the zip was absorbed and the methamphetamine hydrochloride grew brighter still.

"You've drink down your simply chance for opening the case,"Harry sneered."But then… I always heard that that was one of your greatest weaknesses… TOM… being dazed !"

Another blast of light shaft toward Harry ; it was red not green, not a killing curse. Once more than, Harry slipped out of its way. This prison term he moved quickly around and behind James reappearing with his wand drawn.

"Stupefy !"Harry cried, sending a blast of red at Henry James'back, but again the wizard deflected the magic spell as if swatting a fly and then turned back toward the display case."You're not trying to kill me, Tom. Why not ?"

"I'll kill you sssoon enough,"St. James slithered."First, the cloak. Then, I need to extract something of mine that you stole from me when you were a babe. Soon, I will be—"Suddenly two more spells came from beyond the fountain. Ron and Hermione had revived themselves enough 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 blasts of illumination at the trash case. On the third bolt the trash cracked, but only just. Harry could tell that the charm that James II had cast over the finish few minutes were draining him. He looked timeworn, almost vulnerable. At the Saami moment the fires ringing the grand anteroom roared to lifetime.

"Finally,"Harry whispered,"some help."wiz after virtuoso appeared at each hearth, brandishing their sceptre."Whatever time you thought you had has just expired, Tom."

The elbow room erupted in red brightness. Seven blasts came at the small whizz by the display face. Two struck true up while the others struck the radiance glass, shattering it completely. The vauntingly crank shards that scattered the floor, however, were still glowing as brightly as ever. There were more bang of red directed at Harry.

"It's me !"he yelled."Harry ceramist !"

"Harry !"cried Hermione from the far English of the hall."It's not the Ministry ! It's—"A flack of red dropped her to the ground.

"Hermione !"cried Ron."He cast a spell knocking the thaumaturge by Hermione backward into the wall with a loud crack. He pointed towards another wizard and ran at him."Leave her alone, you bloody—"There was a eruption of purple and he too fell to the floor.

"We're students !"Harry yelled, but it only focused the attention of another barrage of red deadbolt his way. Harry cast a shield appeal and sent them flying in every conceivable direction. The blasts weakened him."Are you loony ? ! We're—"And then he noticed it - the unmistakably promising emerald putting green aura of Draco Malfoy, stepping from the flames of one of the open fireplace. He had warned Harry and now it was too tardy.

Simultaneously, ropes began to swirl about Ron, Hermione, Patrick, and most importantly James who was still motionless on the floor. Somehow Anthony had managed an escapism and stood at Harry's side. There were nearly a dozen Death feeder moving in on them.

"fill the cloak, Draco,"drawled a marvelous wizard in moody black robes with crimson lining.

"Lucius ?"Harry sneered in the whiz's direction."Is that you ? I should accept known by the sickening yellow colour."The mavin 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 much a pig as you always were. Still, somehow… missing an arm suit you. How'd you lose it again ?"The goading worked.

"Big countersign for a blind boy, thrower,"he snapped.

"Now, now… peg and stones…. But then I guess six month with Dementors and dullards will clot anyone's colloquial capabilities."Harry could see that genus Draco was moving over the beam crank and into the vitrine to retrieve the robe. Harry turned to face him.

"Hey ! Blonde bastard ! I wouldn't go in there if I were—"

"What's this ?"Dragon cried out. He had come to Molly Weasley's dead body. The colouring material of his aura blanched."I gave specific orders ! Who cast a killing curse ?"Harry could distinguish immediately that Draco was livid.

"gathering the cloak !"yelled Lucius.

"But father—"

"NOW !"

"Don't do it !"yelled Harry.

Dragon moved forward toward the case. Suddenly, the shattered glass that was still glowing with the energy it had absorbed exploded in a brainy bloodless split second. Draco flew up into the air, nearly striking the cap, and then landed with a sickening crunch against the marble story.

"Draco !"cried Lucius. Goldstein took the distraction as his opportunity. His verge erupted with undimmed bluish visible light, but instead of being directed at one of the Death eater, it was directed toward one of the portraits hanging gamy on the rampart of the lofty Marguerite Radclyffe Hall. The portrait sparked, zapping the aged wizard that had, so far, slept through the ruckus.

"Hey,"the champion in the portraiture yelped."No penury for—"

"Get help you idiot !"yelled Goldstein. The wizard in the portrait, seeing the destruction, disappeared instantly."It won't be long now,"Goldstein muttered, staring at the empty portraiture.

There was another outburst of spells headed at the two adept and together they fended them off, but Harry was growing weaker by the moment. Lucius ignored Goldstein's phone call for aid, he ignored the battle of wands, and he ignored the crumpled passel on the base that was his son. Instead, unwilling to touch it himself, he pointed to the cloak that was still standing in the windowless show case.

"The cloak !"he yelled again. After some hesitation, another dying eater approached the fateful cloth and grabbed it just as James II, still bound by circle, began to come to his weed. With lust-filled oculus, Lucius only half glanced at Draco, still motionless on the level, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. Instead, he focused fully on the black robes held before him.

"Luciusss,"uttered James I breathlessly,"you fool."

Malfoy wrenched the cloth out of the end feeder's work force. Quickly, he slipped it on and waited as if anticipating something to happen.

"You expected, maybe, a coronation ?"Harry sneered."Perhaps a crown and yellow pitcher plant as we all bow down to kiss your can ? It's a stupid person composition of cloth !"

"kill him,"Malfoy drawled, pointing with his good arm toward Harry."kill HIM !"Harry grabbed Anthony by the arm as the bolts of green approached and in an instant they were on the other face of the resplendent Hall that now appeared more like a war zona than the collector's item of the Ministry. Looking back, they saw that the spot where they once stood was nothing now but a crater. Goldstein grabbed Harry's arm.

"How did you do—"

"You are NOT going to miss the wedding,"Harry snapped. He took in a deep breath, reaching out with his mind to cull any magic he could from the earth around him. He let out a long, tedious exhale and pointed his scepter at the floor.

"Festio !"he cried, ripping twelve of marble roofing tile upward and sending them toward his adversaries. The demise feeder tried to shatter the roofing tile with piece, but the military action only served to make thousands of tiny projectile all headed in their direction. A few roll shield charms in metre, but virtually were struck. Above the din of screams, Harry could hear James River cursing Lucius.

"Release me, you idiot ! unfreeze me now."But Malfoy, ignorant of William James'true identity, ignored the boy's pleadings. He had what he came for and was beginning to walk toward his son when breeze began to make full the room. Auror after Auror was Apparating within the grand vestibule. In an jiffy, spells were flying everywhere. Blast after bam of light, cutting down wizard after wizard, witch after witch. The way was filled with sodding mayhem and Harry, his berm slumped with fatigue, moved to enter the fray. Before Harry could contract a full step, Goldstein grabbed him by the shoulder.

"You're no good to anybody dead,"he whispered."We need you, Harry. Me… I'm not much more than canon fodder."And then he charged forward ahead of Harry, taking down two dying Eaters before he too was stunned and fell to the undercoat. It was then that Harry noticed Jesse James. He was beginning to mistake free of the bond paper that held him. Lucius, on the former hand, had abandoned everyone, including his son, and was racing to the floo. A dash of orange lightheaded struck the wall behind Harry, casting pit and disperse down his back. Lucius was about ready to escape. Harry focused on where he needed to be and before Lucius had taken another step, Harry was standing in front of him, blocking the entrance to the hearth.

"Silencio !"Harry whispered, holding his hand between the cloak's fold of mordant cloth and directly against Malfoy's chest. The wizard tried to regurgitate a piece, but was mute."Now, what with the sporty arm and all… that's what I call an improvement. You should remember to button up before you step out, Lucius. Now, get hold of off the cloak before I blast it off."Malfoy's eyes glowed with pure hatred and he raised his wand."Expelliarmus !"Harry whispered again and Malfoy's verge flew from his manus. There was an expression of surprise in Malfoy's eyes that made Harry smile.

"Now,"continued Harry,"as I was saying, submit 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 manpower around Malfoy's throat, squeezing… squeezing. He was in a frenzy of pure hatred and anger.

"Do you know who I am ?"cried James I."Look into my center !"

Lucius, even Harry, saw the flame of red light in James River'eyes.

"N-Not pos-sible,"he gasped, unable to catch one's breath."D-Dead."Then the full realization struck him."I-I never knew."

"You know now,"James River spat between gritted teeth."And now is sssoon enough."A bang of red lighter came from the far wall and struck James in the side, but before he released his clasp on Lucius, a dingy sulfurous smoke issued from his mouth and nostril. To Harry, it was a stream of green evilness leaving the red prat. James'bobby pin on Lucius released and the blonde wizard gasped for air, but instead of air he sucked in nothing but grass. Voldemort had penetrated him. Stunned, Harry saw the green environs the yellow and snuffle it out. Lucius took to his feet as a bam of red struck him in the back. Nothing happened. It bounced off him, off the cloak he was wearing, like body of water off a duck's back. Before Harry could oppose, Lucius, Voldemort and the cloak had vanished in a swirl of green flame.

There were a couple more than attack, a couple more snaps, and a duo more screams of painful sensation, but finally the way fell silent. Only the sound of sway scraping against the flooring, as the remaining Aurors stepped across the detritus, broke the secretiveness.

"Minister, over here. It's your… over here, sir. Please."For the for the first time fourth dimension, Harry realized that King Arthur Weasley had been among the Aurors that had come to protect the Ministry. He watched as the wizard walked toward the shattered display type, while the Auror that called him levitated a wooden beam that had fallen over mollie Weasley up and out of the way. It landed with a dull thud.

"Molly ?"he uttered as if trying to gently come alive somebody from a deep sleep."Molly,"he said again only louder."mollie !"He grabbed his wife in his arms, pulling her up out of the dust ; pebbles cascaded to the floor."Oh my god, no. No… no… no… no… NOOO !"he screamed. The 1000 Marguerite Radclyffe Hall rumbled, shaking mortar loose from the walls onto the base below as Mr. Weasley buried his psyche into the nook of his wife's neck. He continued to heave cracking sobs as Harry looked down at James IV, prone on the floor, arms outstretched toward the fireplace. The green was gone ; only blue remained, but the luminosity was decrepit and flickered. He was near death. The second year began to grown, slowly looking up to find 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 verge to marshal the pith of Asha, but before he could cast the spell, snap after snap began to fill the hall ; Healers were appearing. In a matter of irregular nearly a dozen Healers had Apparated into the Ministry. One, an older wizard with shaggy white pilus, was at Jesse James'side almost instantly. Scanning the boy with his sceptre he turned to Harry.

"You're the Potter boy, aren't you ?"Without waiting for an answer he said quickly,"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 disbelief.

"flavour son,"he said derisively,"you shouldn't go around—"

"Damn it !"Harry screamed."His spirit's been sundered ! It probably has been all year. Voldemort just left him to take on another innkeeper. If you don't hurry, he'll die."For only a second, the Healer tried to read the construction of Harry's fount. He was old enough to know what Harry meant. He remembered the old war and he didn't need to be told twice. Without saying another word, the therapist rose to his foundation and a flash of tremendous purple light left his wand bathing James I in its radiance from head teacher to toe.

Harry stepped back, twisting his ankle on a rock beneath his foot. He cursed. former than the multitude swarming about the mansion, it was difficult to pass water anything out. His vision was truly failing him in the rocky tidy sum. He could see Mr. Weasley and heard his SOB, and tried to pick his way through the rubble as Auror and Healer alike seemed to give-up the ghost 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 —"

"Minister !"individual cried out."pastor ! It's your son !"Harry turned his care on a glow that lay prone on the floor near an Auror's fundament.

"My god, Sir Henry Percy ? !"cried Mr. Weasley still reeling from the exit of his wife.

"No, sir,"the Auror replied."It's your untested boy, Ron. Looks like a dish is all."

"That's not possible,"whispered Arthur Weasley, unsure just what to do."He's at Hogwarts."Then he noticed Harry, stumbling blindly toward him."Harry ? My god, Harry why are you—"

"He's back,"said Harry weakly. He was tired and sore, and his in good order arm was starting to prickle with pain."Voldemort's back."

"What ?"

"A Horcrux,"Harry whispered nonsensically, stumbling closer to Mr. Malfoy and rubbing his right on forearm with his odd hand. It itched."There must have been to a greater extent than one. We… we came for the cloak."

"Jonah,"called another Healer to the old man that was working on Saint James,"I need your help. It's the Malfoy boy. What's his name, Draco ?"

"I thought he was suddenly ?"the old man called back. The younger Healer looked down at Draco and then back up.

"Well, if he wasn't before—"

"You knew ?"asked Mr. Weasley, his phonation sceptical. Gently he kissed his wife's impertinence and lowered her to the story."You knew they were coming ?"

Harry was feeling dazed. He looked toward Draco, toward President Arthur Weasley. His right arm was aching. He had reached Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and his affectionateness began to sink further.

"No one was supposed to be here,"Harry said thinly, his voice hoarse with regret."I just wanted to destroy the cloak before… before…"Mr. Weasley rose to his feet.

"She loved you like a son !"he yelled and slapped Harry hard across the font."AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY HER !"

The blow knocked Harry backwards and he slipped on the loose Lucy Stone that scattered the floor. Rising to one elbow he could smack the blood 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 happen, in what manner it would manifest itself, and even though he'd never seen such a glow, he knew what it meant, and he knew he had no alternative but to obey.

The minister of religion of magic trick who had loved Harry as his own son was demanding solvent, solvent Harry desperately wanted to give. genus Draco and James lay near death, and Harry had it in his power to easily relieve them both. Voldemort had escaped with a new dead body and another slice of his mortal, and Harry anxiously needed to tag after them - the Wizarding World was again at risk. Once more, death began to whisper in his ear and he began to thrill.

In spite of that, none of it mattered. He had sworn an expletive ; it was a encumbrance all member of the Votary carried. He was being summoned and so, clutching his wand, he focused on where he needed to be. He felt a soft skin senses on his shoulder and heard Hermione call his name. He looked up at her, wishing he could convey the lugubriousness weighing on his soul.

"Harry…"

He was gone.


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 17 - The Summoning
~~~***~~~

When Dakhil left Harry at the pit steps leading to the front doors of Hogwarts palace, Harry had pleaded that he too fight the bombardment of Dementors and Death Eaters raging against Dakhil's country of origin in the Carpathians. The vampire should have been gone for only a few days, but it had been workweek and Dakhil had not returned nor had he sent word of the status of the fight. The Daily prophesier had been worthless, only reporting the trouble that the various European Ministries were having trying to disguise the numerous atrocities as natural disasters. Thomas More bedevilment was that Antreas had left shortly after Dakhil and had not been heard from since. Everyone who had left to fight seemed to vanish into a great vortex of nothingness.

Before he disappeared, Dakhil had told Harry that his job was to protect Hogwarts, to protect the Centaurus of the Great timber from a dark within the schooltime. Harry brushed the belief of swarthiness inside the castle wall aside, believing it was a backhand 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 miss, but he had captured his Horcrux and was set to refund to force. Or was he ?

Voldemort had said he needed only two things in the grand manor hall of the Ministry - his old dark cloak and Harry. He had asked earlier if there was still part of the darkness Lord that coursed through Harry's nervure. What James, what Voldemort didn't know was that the darkness, Voldemort's stain, had been washed away by the Cleansing of the autumn in the Great Forest. Perhaps, Voldemort was too decrepit without this other voice of himself, perhaps—

It was hot, painfully hot - the showtime thing Harry noticed when he finally appeared at the summoning site - hot and saturnine. Not dark in the sense that there was no illumine, although it was that too ; a lack of clear wouldn't matter to a blind man. No, it was dark in the signified that Harry saw zero. There was no life here, no sprightliness in any centering, just heat, an intense, blistering heat that appeared, to Harry, like a ho-hum haze as he looked to the dark sky and saw Ebyrth shining as bright as ever.

He had been able to Apparate across the TV channel. From there he had tried once more, but couldn't make it across Germany. He was drained, unable to cast another enchantment, and the fertility of the earth's energy, normally plentiful in this sphere, was parched like an arid desert. There was nothing for Harry to suck on to replenish what magical vitality he could cast. Instead, he used the superpower of the Centaurs to bend space and tedious time, and he ran. He ran until his skid wore through and fell away ; he ran over rivers that supported his free weight as if they were frosty square ; he ran past flying shuttlecock that hovered in the air like floating balloons. He ran for what felt like days, stopping only to imbibe from the occasional stream or brook. At one distributor point, just outside Vienna, he had grabbed half of a sandwich from the hand of a passer-by who might as well have been a statue frozen in time. His branch ached, his lungs wanted to burst and all he could hear was the vocalism of Ronan compelling him forward, not to meet the margin call of the Centaur, but to answer the evocation of the dragon.

By the clip he had begun the final ascent, his nous was blurred with fatigue. He had paid no observation to the sight he had been climbing. elbow grease burning his blind eyes, he had ignored the screams and the fires through which he had past. He didn't see the transition from life-time to death. He only knew one thing - the summoning site. He would not fail again, even as the last bead of strength left his being.

This… this was the stain ; he was sure enough. Huge gulps of air splashed down his burning lungs unable to slake his thirst for O. His bare feet burned. Almost forgetfully, he held out his wand, hand shaking from debilitation and mind knowing that he would not be able to range a trance even if he wanted to. elbow grease dripped down his frontal bone ; the hotness was unendurable. He stood for a minute, wand outstretched, squinting with failed eye into the dark. pigeon hawk, it was hot. He moved to take a step forward, an acrid odour filling his nostril, when his left leg cramped and he fell nerve first hard into the stony ground. He didn't have the energy to perpetrate away from the scorching stone, nor could he spit out the gumption and bantam pebbles that filled his mouthpiece and burned his spit.

"Maybe,"he thought,"if I rest for just—"He passed out, dropping his scepter at his side of meat.

unconscious on the sweltering earth, swirls of sens and luminance coalesced in his mind forming a scene of darkness and desperation. Even in his dream the sense of smell of burning pulp was unbearable. Yet, in his dreaming he could see - his visual sensation, his sight was as good as ever. The fume and the smell cleared and he found himself at the drop, the tumble where Gabriella lay face down in the marvellous grass, an arrow sunk trench into her back. In the air was lugubriousness. No… to a greater extent than sorrow - there was anger. It was Ron, screaming, screaming….

"NOOOOOOO !"

The earth shook.

"Take him ! Take him now ! precipitation !"

The scene changed. He was flying… flying in the air. Bounce. On a Hippogriff. Bounce. Harry felt a jarring pain against the English of his ribs. He blinked. The cecity had returned, but he could sense that there was a light beneath him. Bounce. A person.

"hurry !"

The voice… he knew that representative. The darkness was clearing from his intellect. He was waking. He was being carried. A radical of five was climbing up the side of the great deal. One had Harry over his shoulder. Weakly, Harry began to contend to free himself.

"Easy, Harry,"the Loretta Young man holding him said gently, but with some urging in his vocalism."When we get you back to the stronghold, we'll have a look at the sunburn. Praise Asha you're a member of the Votary, or you'd be dead."

"An-Antreas ?"Harry muttered. He hadn't heard the voice of Gabriella's brother since the summer, but there was still no mistaking the undeniable intonation that was the accurate replica of Antreas'father, Grigor."What… What's going on ?"

"There will be time for solvent later !"cried another vocalisation."Run !"Harry knew at once the former man speaking. He also recognized the atmosphere ; it was Dakhil. Troubling was the sense of care, even fright in Dakhil's vocalisation. He'd never heard that before, even when they were being attacked by vampires endure summer. What was more inconvenience, however, was something that had bothered Harry since his live lesson with Ronan, something he had seen in Dakhil ever since the vampire first taught him to see without seeing. The aura of Dakhil faded from red to purple and endorse to red again. There were two image present in his atmosphere. For the low metre since he'd arrived at the mint of Singehorn, Harry felt cold.

They continued to rush up the mountain. Occasionally, Dakhil or one of the others would cast spells back in the charge from which they came. Harry could not see, nor could he sense what it was they were firing upon. Curiously, there were no magic spell cast in return. Soon, he began to observe trees, vegetation, life. After a few proceedings more, the ring came to a big Stone bulwark. One of the men cast a spell and an entryway appeared. They passed through and the opening in the stone sealed behind them. The entire troupe sighed with relief 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 provide face, the same side that fell unconscious into the scorching earth. He reached up and pulled the spyglass from Harry's boldness, glasses he continued to break in the hope, or perhaps as a symbol to others, that one day he might see again. There was an unmistakable tearing sound, and Harry could feel the plastic flange pull away from the skin on his typeface. When he reached to strike the glasses out of Antreas'mitt, he could tell that the depart half of the frame was nearly melted away. He didn't want to recall what his face must look like. It didn't harm. Harry moved to rival it but Antreas grabbed his script.

"No !"he snapped, half trying to quell the distress in his own voice. He chuckled, but not convincingly."It… it's nothing, Harry. It's just skilful 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 gimp away."Hurry,"Dakhil yelled."hastiness 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 chemical compound."supporter carry the boy into the cave. I won't misplace another one tonight !"

With Antreas'avail, they carried Harry further up the good deal. Dakhil followed, but was unwilling to wait on. Typical, Harry thought. There was a small outcrop of rocks off to the side of meat and they turned toward it as Dakhil continued upward. Antreas stopped.

"If Singehorn is unable to address the others in clock time,"he said,"we'll have to send for the Centaur you spoke of."

"You were brave today, my son,"said Dakhil warmly."It is clear your father is with you. Your female parent would be proud. Keep the boy safe and see what the Healer can do with what remains."He turned to continue upward then stopped."Singehorn, I'm afraid, was not capable to promise for our booster, not tonight."He sighed with a deep doleful breath."Still we must remain with the plan ; it's our but promise. Sir Thomas More may arrive before the moonlight's rising slope tomorrow."

Facing a Oliver Stone bulwark, one of the men carrying Harry said something in a language he thought might be Russian and again an archway appeared where before was only rock candy and stone. Just before the rock music face closed behind them Antreas called back to Dakhil who had followed them most of the way

"And the Centaurus ?"he called.

"He's in your weaponry,"replied Dakhil, just as the stone archway sealed the shut inside.

"nutcase,"said the Russian, referring to Dakhil."He'll pour down us all."There was a scepter 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 wake representative,"I'm trusted no one would drop you. The succeeding time you speak of the Votary, take care to choose the words carefully. I may cause to excise the offending tongue."The Russian said nada as Antreas pulled the wand back and the grip on Harry became more for certain. They turned a corner and the cave opened out into a bully lobby filled with injured. To Harry, it looked as if a one hundred lights had been spread across the floor. Almost immediately a murmur rippled across the enceinte cavern.

"Is that him ?"“ The Chosen !"“ My god what happened to his typeface ?"“ Dragons."“ It's just a boy."“ That's not him ; some Muggle must have been caught in the crossfire."“ He's the Chosen !"
"Marek !"cried Dakhil."Marek ! This is a antecedency !"Harry noticed an Orange colour on the far side rise up from the priming coat. Marek was fussy treating another patient and as he stood, Harry could tell that he was a big man.

"They're ALL antecedence !"he called back."Have one of the others—"

"shucks it ! NOW !"yelled Antreas. This was not the same Antreas that had waved good-bye to Harry and Gabriella as they began their summer vacation. That Antreas was still trying to perfect his wand work, and his self-assurance interacting with citizenry was shaky at advantageously. While he made a fair to middling neighbour on Privet Drive, he was an absolute pickle around other necromancer. This Antreas, however, the one standing before Harry, was more than just a foot soldier in this mountain battle. He was clearly individual of implication.

Disgruntled, but acquiescing, Marek began to cross the hallway as the three moved Harry into one of the collapsible shelter that were set up along the English of the large chamber. He was placed on a bed, house, but more comfortable than a blanket on the stone floor outside. Once he was down, the two men left Antreas alone with Harry. For some time neither rung and Harry noted his admirer's discomfort.

"What is it Antreas ?"Harry asked. As he spoke, Harry noticed that the side of his face didn't seem to prompt correctly. Still, there was no pain.

"I'm so sorry, Harry,"Antreas replied."If I had known… We were losing solid ground and… Dakhil must have thought it would be safe. Our outer perimeter was half a mile down the mountain when he must let asked Singehorn to summon you. But then, they came so fast."

"Who ?"

"The Dementors. They've been swarming the batch for sidereal day. They've grown so thick they can blob out the sun and when that happens it gives their friend, a band of about XXX necromancer vampires, free rein to attack during the day. This wasn't our war, but ultimately the firedrake had no choice. The Dementors were moving in on their rookery. Half a dozen dragons left to scorch the earth and bequeath no animation behind. Not even a fellow member of the Votary could pull round such ardor. We had no way of letting you know, no way of knowing ourselves when… that you'd…"A big explosion of air shot from Antreas'sass.

"Dakhil had Singehorn summons me ?"

"Harry, there was no way of knowing. You passed out right in the nerve centre of the incineration. It had to have been over two one hundred academic degree. One of the sentries saw you first, but it was too hot. Only the Votary could get in to retrieve you."Harry remembered Dakhil walking through the burning at the stake flames just before the Joining ; he understood these quarrel."The connexion helped you to live, training would suffer been better. Your face… you've been burned… badly burned."

"But it doesn't hurt,"Harry said. He was feeling more tired by the moment.

"That's because there's zero left to hurt. Your pulp is—"Marek pushed through the opening night of the tent.

"And what's this anteriority ?"he said wearily."Another case of hoot Dementor frost— Oh… Oh, my."He cast Antreas a coup d'oeil."One of the civilians ?"he asked, not recognizing the Whitney Moore Young Jr. man he'd met over the summertime."A Muggle caught in the flack ?"Assessing the large stature of the man before him and listening closely to his voice, it was Harry who first made the link. It was the same Marek that had taken in Ron, Hermione and the others after the lamia attack.

"Marek ?"Harry asked hoarsely, finding it more difficult by the minute to move his jaw."It's me, Harry… Harry Potter. I could… I could sure use a glass of water."

"Yes… I remember. You've put on a few pounds. Physical breeding ?"

"He's joined a centaur heard in England,"said Antreas.

"So this is the one Dakhil spoke of. That would explicate thing. Yes, that would explain a lot."Marek reached into his gown."I haven't had to deal with one of these for years,"Marek whispered,"but with dragons about, such burns are not uncommon. Praise Asha you're Votary."He leaned in close to Harry."What happened to your middle ?"

"ice,"Harry replied, wearily."caboodle of glass."

"Hmmm. wellspring, let's get started. Harry, lie back."Harry obliged."I have something far good than a glass of water."He watched Marek raise his wand over his cut boldness."This should only lease a few hours."

"hr ?"Harry said, bringing up his hand to catch Marek's wrist."I won't take you away from helping the others just because I buggered it again."

"It's not your fault, Harry,"said Antreas."There's no way you could have known."

"Yes, admirable qualities, Harry. But as Antreas has said—"

"I am NOT a priority ! I won't—"blue devil light erupted from Marek's wand and before he could say another news, Harry was asleep on the cot and Marek began his work. The finish thing he remembered was a crepitation sound and Marek's sober voice.

"That'll leave a mark."

Time faded to nothingness and, when Harry woke, he sensed someone sitting at his bedside."Gabriella ?"he asked groggily.

"You wish, partner !"

"Fred ? Fred is that you ?"

Slowly, Harry began to regain consciousness. He tried to slant up, but someone pressed gently back on his shoulder joint. His center closed, Harry sensed that there were two people in the way. Shaking the cobwebs gratuitous, he finally recognized the halo of the early person.

"Remus ?"

"Yes, Harry,"replied Remus lupine,"Fred and I are both here. We have been for about three days."

"leash twenty-four hour period !"Harry exclaimed, once again trying to rise and once again being held down by Remus."I've been here for three days ?"

"No, ditz,"Fred laughed."We've been here for three daytime. 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 gentle way ?"

While Fred was talking, Harry realized there was something on his face. He reached his hands up and felt the bandages wrapping his head.

"An worry feel, if you ask me,"said Fred."Kind of a turban gone mad. All in all I'd say it's an improvement. The great affair is, Harry, they gave you a unanimous new head ! Helen Wills volunteered his."Fred laughed again and this time Remus joined him. A cold thrill passed through Harry. It had suddenly sunk in that Fred… Fred Weasley, was in the same elbow room and if he'd been here for three days, he might not know….

"Why aren't you home ?"Harry asked."Where's George ?"

"I'm flying solo, Paraguay tea,"said Fred."George II is minding the shops."

"No one can trip in or out,"said Remus."specter is unimaginable. It's a miracle that you made it alive. I'm sorry that—"

"What about messages,"Harry interrupted."Can messages get in ?"

"Not for two days,"said Remus."The Dementors have the whole mountainside surrounded. I tried a Patronus. It passed through a few dozen, but there are just too many."

"Then you don't know,"Harry said with urgency. He sat up and this time when Remus moved to labour him back down, Harry flicked his arm away. Harry tried to face up Fred, but. Fred only laughed.

"You look like a walking ice-cream cone cell, Harry."

"Fred,"Harry began, muffled by the bandage surrounding his case. He tried to muster up the courage, but in the last instant it failed him."W-Why are you even here ?"

"Tonight, we go on the unsavoury. We're through sitting back and letting Lucius Malfoy and his army of wickedness decide when and where to strike. They're mostly vampires and Dementors with a handful of last feeder sprinkled in for trade good mensuration. stopping point we heard Lucius may possess let himself get turned."

"Turned ?"Harry asked.

"The talent scout were out early this morning, Harry,"said Remus, moving over and sitting next to Fred."We've seen him off and on in these constituent 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 imply Voldemort was here. Were they looking for him ? For Harry ? His heart began to race. There was too much to do and too minuscule time. He needed to severalize soul, but whom ? His breathing place quickened and Remus took notice.

"Harry… you need to—"

"He's alive !"Harry shouted."He's still alive !"There was a myopic pause. Remus knew almost immediately what Harry meant, but wasn't sure if his Son were the resolution of some variety of side-effect from one of the potions. Fred didn't understand.

"What do you mean, Harry ? Who's alive ?"

"Voldemort,"gasped Harry, taking in a great breath of air through the bandages covering his aspect. He walked over to the incline of the collapsible shelter and held the material in his fingerbreadth. To his mind, it had a tone down orange visual aspect, probably spores of some sort. He didn't want to say more ; he couldn't. But he had to. He could palpate his gist pound in his breast - it hurt. His ventilation grew laboured, weighed down by the load of what he was about to contribution.

"Somehow… I don't know… I don't recognise how, but he took dominance of James Chang, Cho's unseasoned sidekick. He's been inside Saint James, controlling him all year at shoal. 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 demise. They dug bass, your father dug deep for what should have been left to the depths."

"Yeah,"said Fred cautiously, not really surely what to think about Harry's ramblings."Mum and Dad were all excited. It was supposed to be a big great deal. Sorry we had to attract you away from the laurels observance to be in this hell on earth. I'm not supposed to recount, but Dad's lined you up for Order of Merl—"

"It was a Horcrux,"hissed Harry through gritted tooth. Remus understood and gasped, but Fred still didn't hold what Harry was saying."Can you think it ? Lucius wanted it for himself - maybe to extract whatever kernel Voldemort had left of himself in it."Harry madly grabbed Fred's gown."Don't you see ? I had to demolish it… to destroy the cloak."

"calmness down, Harry,"said Fred slowly, his middle glancing toward Remus with business."Everything's okay."

"No it's not !"yelled Harry, turning from Fred and leaned against the bed."We just wanted to fill 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 supercilious execration. I thought I'd be able to moderate 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 human face Fred."He… Voldemort used the Killing Curse, Fred. I tried… I swear on merlin's grave… I tried."

"What are you talking about, Harry ?"Fred's words were unruffled, aflutter and unsure.

"Last Night, before Singehorn summoned me, in the noble-minded entrance Charles Francis Hall of the Ministry, Voldemort… Voldemort killed your mother."short pant of air volley from Harry's lungs and he fell on his stifle in front of Fred."She's dead… she's… dead."Clutching at the bottom of Fred's gown, Harry began to warp capital sobs. His part was imperfect and dilute."She's dead."Fred pushed Harry away and took to his feet.

"Stop saying that !"he yelled."She's not idle ! She's not ! I just saw her before we came here. She was going to… she was going…"He slapped his hand against the bed."You're just messed up… the potions. You… you were dreaming… that's all. A- a- a- hallucination or something !"He turned to Remus.

"Remus ! Tell him ! Tell Harry it was just a dream… a bad dream, that's all."Remus was quiet, stoic. He didn't speak and he didn't move. Fred pulled his scepter and held it in Remus'face.

"TELL HIM !"

Remus held his arms out wide-eyed and, slowly, shook his drumhead.

"No."Fred whispered, shaking his school principal vigorously in reply."No, it's not… it's not… oh god."

His manpower fell limp at his sides and his baton dropped to the level, tinkling and then rolling in the silence. Fred shuddered, fell into lupin's munition and began to cry.

They stayed like that for some time, Harry on the floor, Fred in lupin's blazon, all three of them crying. Until now, Harry hadn't had the probability to mourn Molly's death. The painful sensation was deep and biting. In the bout and silence, Harry wished he could withdraw it back. His legal action had cost another life sentence and the anger in Arthur Weasley's voice echoed within his intellect.

His thoughts turned to the others who had been murdered in the battle and he wondered if St. James the Apostle had made it."I may never bang,"he whispered to himself.

As the lugubriousness began to settle, he mulled over how Fred and Remus had described the sentinel's sighting of Lucius. If the reports were reliable and Malfoy had returned to the mountain, then mollie's liquidator was within reach. Harry's pain began to turn to see red. The flap on the tent furled open and in walk Marek

"Remus, I— What in pigeon hawk's name is up with you three ?"he said with a rather gruff voice.

"We just found out. Fred's mother has been killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named,"answered Remus calmly.

"That… that's not possible,"said Marek, half believing the words to be true. Fred turned, wiping his eye.

"I've got to see if I can get dwelling house,"he said. He started toward the way out, but Marek took him by the arm.

"Fred, we're surrounded."

The red-header 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 !"chided Remus."AND your father. What do you think it would do to him to misplace you both ?"Fred said null."If you're going to put your life on the line, Fred, make it numeration ; draw it matter."Remus stepped toward him and held Fred by the shoulders, looking him in the optic.

"Tonight,"he said with confidence and surety."Tonight, you'll have your chance, Fred."

"Why tonight ?"asked Harry.

"There are about sixty of us, Harry,"said Remus,"counting me and Fred. Tonight the moonlight turns full. We'll tone-beginning with the dragons, a few dozen Centaurs, and—"

"full synodic month ?"asked Harry. He picked himself up off the base and stood."full moon moon ? 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 brute on earth that can challenge a vampire. Surrounded by Dementors as they are now, even superstar have little Bob Hope of conducting an effective flak. They're a werewolf's natural quarry ; Dementors and Vampires share a darkness that… How can I put it ? Is tasty for a werewolf."

"better than chocolate, they tell me,"added Fred, with an eerie gleam in his eye.

"Besides the dragons,"added Remus,"only one creature can burst through both vindication. Dakhil discussed it with me some time ago and we both agreed - we needed a lycanthrope army. I couldn't convince near, but I've confident enough."

"sixty doesn't make an army, Remus,"said Harry, stepping closer."sixty is a snack."

"What you say is true, Harry - werewolf blood is prized among the vampires. Still, I think our adversaries will be surprised,"said Remus with quiet confidence."Yes, we could have more in our act, but even with Arthur as minister of religion, the distrust of my kind runs deep."

"Our variety, Remus ! And they'll be more than surprised,"snapped Fred."They'll be bloody petrified !"

"Well,"said Harry sardonically,"bloody anyway."

The patch wrapping his expression were hot and great and he was only just able-bodied to stand firm the temptation to rip them off so that he could excise the itch that was growing potent by the minute. He placed both his hired man flat against the firm bed, curling the covers in his fingers as they balled up into fists. Without looking up, he took in a hint and swallowed.

"Remus… Fred… You need to understand everything. Lucius Malfoy isn't a vampire. The scouts… what they saw down on the mountainside this morning… It may hold looked like Lucius, but it wasn't. Yeah, he's been taken over OK, but not by a lamia. His look has been consumed by Voldemort. Lucius is Voldemort."He turned to front them."LX werewolves, sixty dragon, 60 of anything… it won't be enough."Hearing Harry's wrangle, Remus stepped forward and placed a hand warmly about Harry's neck opening.

"No, Harry,"he said."No, it won't be enough. But then, it never was. That's why we have you."


Harry thrower and the nascency of a New Sun

Chapter 18 - The halo of Onyx
~~~***~~~

The stone footmark were gravid, larger it seemed to Harry, than they were before. Yet, the Lapplander thinly white cloud dusted the blue sky, and the heated air brought Harry's mind back to his summer travels with Gabriella in Lebanese Republic. His mind's eye flashed to a visual sensation of her smooth, dark brown skin and twinkling pitch-dark eyes, and he wondered how she was fairing with Cho and his son, Jamie. His substance skipped at the mentation and he drew in a breathing time to becalm his nerves. He stepped upward through the large stone pillars, upward toward the clay of the majuscule Asian castle. Up ahead, seated on a crystal workbench intricately carved in an elaborate pattern was a large blacken man in viridity and Robert Brown robes - Singehorn.

On the eve of the counterplay, the dragon had asked that the young wizard meet him in this airplane of consciousness that they might talk with one another. Here, in this other cosmos, Harry could not only utter to the tartar, he could see. He had no bandaged head, no wand, only a whitened robe and bare feet that withstood the scorching heat beneath them. In the cave where Harry's corporeal body sat in meditation, the others were preparing for war. Soon, the moon would rise, the werewolves, including Remus and Fred, would turn and the battle would begin. It had taken Harry quite some time to close down out all the misdirection that were happening about him, but finally he made it.

As he drew closer to the Dragon, the descendent of Asha whose line Harry had sworn to protect, he noticed that the man looked more aged than before and that his ventilation was arduous, laboured. With exploit, Harry heaved himself upward onto another stone pace, and then another. On the step before reaching the landing where Singehorn sat in one of the two crystal work bench, Harry saw a large ring made of black onyx. He stopped for a moment to face at it. The flying lizard coughed a bottomless throaty coughing.

"Go on,"he said with a deep scratchy voice."woof it up."

Harry reached down and took the halo into his correct hand. It was labored than Harry expected. Holding it in the fingers of both script he examined it from all sides.

"I… I know this ring,"Harry said, trying to remember how or from where."I've seen it before."Singehorn shifted his wonderful weight and grimaced somewhat.

"The closed chain,"he said,"is known to many, but few alive today have seen it with their own eyes. For those few that saw it worn by its survive master, it was most belike the last thing they saw. He was known for using the ring to kill."Suddenly, Harry remembered.

"Pravus,"he whispered, remembering the portrayal of the glowering wizard's hand Greg Goyle had shown him last year. Singehorn growled, long and low. Clearly, he did not enjoy the sound of the name.

"Very dependable,"answered the dragon."Very sound. Come… sit."

Harry climbed the utmost large step and tried to sprinkle the front of his white robes which had grown brown from the desert sand. Singehorn laughed and, as Harry looked up, the man's oral fissure erupted in flames, enveloping Harry in a great White person flash. In the next instant, Harry's robes were white again and he was whole. Harry examined his hands, expecting to see scorch cross, but nothing was there.

"Sit,"said Singehorn again. Unlike his survive visit with the man before him, the immature sorcerer sat obediently across from his master.

"My child… not for L years has that ring been held by human handwriting, not since I tore off the arm of the wizard that betrayed us all. When Pravus was destroyed and Grindelwald defeated, I thought for sure the darkness had been, at last, beaten back for good. I was young then and naïve, but not so naïve as to commit in men again."

"But Dakhil,"said Harry."You trust him."

"Do I, Harry ? Do I ?"There was another low grumbling as Singehorn leaned forward. Harry noticed a thin, sluttish scar that ran along the man's case, a scar that wasn't there before the connection. Over the finale few months, the dragon had seen fight.

"Do you see the tintinnabulation on Dakhil's finger's breadth ?"he continued."No, Harry… Soseh trusts Dakhil and I would trust Soseh with my liveliness, but his fate lies on a different path."

"You need to know, sir,"said Harry with some urgency in his representative."I've seen… I've seen two spirits inside him. He may be under the dominance of another."Singehorn smiled and began to laugh. It was loud and thunderous, not the response Harry had expected.

"He's a vampire, my child,"the dragon said finally."He fights the spirit inside him every waking moment. Few have learned to control the thirst for fresh stemma, the desire for death. None have fought more heroically than Dakhil Barghouti to stave off his own personal demon. But his path will soon lead elsewhere and I will necessitate individual to subscribe to up his staff as archpriest of the Votary. He would prefer I choose now, before his portion befalls him."

Harry's oculus widened in incredulity. Rolling the band in his fingers he looked up at Singehorn then back down at the annulus. Finally, he set it in his palm and held it out to the dragon.

"I can't, sir,"he said, shaking his top dog."Whatever powers this closed chain holds, I'm not ready."

"What ? No questions about what the hoop does ? What strength it might bring you ?"

"No, sir,"Harry replied, reaching yet further toward Singehorn. The dragon did not remove the doughnut from Harry's palm, but instead leaned back on the bench.

"Not even if the ring might assist you defeat the one who killed molly Weasley and so many Thomas More ?"Harry shook his head."What if it would help you win the war against these Dementors, saving the lives of countless Centaur ; these puppet you seem to care so a good deal about ?"Singehorn leaned in again."Are you so sure that you wouldn't compliments to finally destroy the creature that killed your parents ?"

For a bit, Harry's outstretched arm receded. Once more he held the doughnut between quarter round and forefinger, wondering what long suit it might play him. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Finally, he shook his head once more.

"No, sir,"he said softly still rolling the ring in his fingers."When I was net here, you reminded me our calling : Bravery… Wisdom… Love."Harry shuddered, swallowing severely."You also told me that I needed to work on my wisdom."Harry took in a deep breath as his heart grew hazy."But I've been cherished short in that regard all year, eh ? I brought Voldemort into the Ministry. I brought him face-to-face with Mrs. Weasley. I should have known…. I should give birth been knowing. Now, he's at your threshold, threatening to destruct all we stand for."holding back his tears, Harry held the ring out once again."Whatever mightiness the ring bears, there are others more suitable than me."

With lightening pep pill, frighteningly fast for such a large inning, Singehorn grabbed Harry's hired hand in his own, his monolithic paw wrapping around Harry's full fist and arm, squeezing the ringing into the flesh of Harry's medallion and scorching the back of Harry's hired hand. His red middle glared with steeled decision into Harry's and his nipper drew blood from Harry's flesh.

"Tell me, my son, when the iniquity spreads across this mountain and threatens my baby and my children's nipper what will you do ? There are only so many rocks to wax and the clouds will not protect us."Harry said cipher."When your friends charge down the mountainside to join my kin in the attack against the sludge that surrounds us, will you hide… a dim rat in a darkness cave ?"The flying dragon's chela dug deeper, but Harry refused to cry out.

"I'd… sooner… die."

"Harry, the monster seeks you out, but he does not desire you beat, not yet. He thinks he needs you alive, but he doesn't know that what he seeks is no longer there, washed away by the falls at Hogwarts. Without the push he once shared with you, he is but half a man, half a whiz. In his ignorance, in his weakened United States Department of State, he can be defeated."

"Then I don't need the band,"Harry said calmly, withstanding the nuisance.

"If only it was so simple,"sighed Singehorn, still holding Harry's handwriting 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 heart began to race. Another's ?
"Your inherited."

"Jamie,"Harry whispered.

"You would sooner die than see my children harmed. What would you do to protect your kid ?"asked Singehorn.

"My… son."

Harry's digit, almost instinctively, tightened around the ring burning the bod of his palm and in that instant his visual sensation filled with a terrific twinkling of T. H. White. Singehorn's voice became non-white and ill.

"I will not say your decision is Stephen Samuel Wise, but it is our only course. Forgive me, my child, for the might will consume you. Soseh has foreseen your greed turn to grief. On the day the Dragon mark the sky, you will begin to know your honest lastingness. How you emerge from your failing will determine the fate of us all."

Suddenly, Harry's deal was gone, all before him dark. When he breathed in, the damp must odour of the bandages that wrapped his face filled his nostril.

"We've got to go, sir,"said a star somewhere to Harry's left.

"If I have to tell you one Thomas More metre to be quiet, I'll rip your throat out,"snapped Dakhil in a low, siss vocalization."We will go when Singehorn says we can go. Do NOT disturb the boy."

Still seated on the flooring, his legs folded beneath him, Harry reached out his 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 purple. The red appeared to be winning and Harry wasn't sure that was a good thing for the man in blue whose colour was fading so libertine Harry thought he might wet himself. He wasn't the only one nearby that was frightened. In the large cavern just beyond the rock candy paries where Harry sat, lots of men mulled about nervously waiting for the final examination ordination to attack. Harry was about to move, to indicate to the others that he had returned, when the orangeness colour of Marek moved into the way 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 get laid. What is your belief ?"

"As a healer or a Warrior ?"the man that had worked on Harry's face replied. He was upset, chafe perhaps of the conflict that would soon be bringing the dying to his doorstep."If we were home, I'd leave the patch on for at to the lowest degree another week."

"The boy can't scrap 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."Good. The time is near. The to the full Moon will soon come up over the side of the mountain. We must take advantage of every minute it brings us the werewolves'military strength. break of the day will come far too quickly I'm afraid."

Harry held his hand to his face."And these ? You can dispatch these ?"

"Really, Harry,"answered Marek,"if only you could part with two more days… two more."

"The engagement will be over by forenoon,"said Harry,"and I can't competitiveness with this rag weighing me down. It's sweaty enough as it is, and I can barely breathe."

"Then don't scrap,"Marek said to Harry. Then he turned to Dakhil."What potential advantage does a boy bring this battle beyond more bloodshed ?"Steadying his feet on the dusty rock, Harry stood.

"I am no boy !"he said defiantly. Marek ignored him.

"Dakhil,"the Healer continued,"there is no reason to put his life… What ? What is it ?"

There was silence. Harry too noticed the change in Dakhil's aura that was likely now being mimicked by the vampire's face. The red had darkened into a rich scarlet - the emotion was a secure one, whatever it was.

"Dakhil, what are you looking at ?"Marek continued.

As Harry stood, his hands, which had been covered by the sleeve of his robes while he sat, became exposed. There, on the substance fingerbreadth of Harry's right hand was a band. angry at being called a boy, Harry had not noticed the add system of weights on his finger's breadth.

"Well… that can't be good,"said Dakhil with a rather cool voice."I had asked for a choice, but I never…"

"I'll take the red cent bandages off myself if I have to,"cried Harry, reaching for his wand. It was then, when finger met wood, that he realized there was a ring on his finger. He let go his wand and held the ring with his left handwriting. He moved to take it off, but the ring would not travel. He pulled again, and again the ring held its grip about the pearl of his right center finger.

"I had always hoped he might see fit to give it to me,"said Dakhil with more dashing hopes than anger."I suppose Soseh has told him."

"Told him what ?"asked Harry, still trying to work the ring from his finger.

"Damn the day I met you, boy,"said Dakhil, again in a tranquility, issue of fact shade."She's seen my death, which is not such a great fear for a vampire when such case 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 cast down the mountainside, get bit and live to a very right old age as an immortal, or I'm going to die before the summertime solstice. condemnation you,"Dakhil said dryly,"I always wanted to make it to the millennium."

"You're both talking gibberish,"said Marek."Would you quit that,"he said to Harry."You're starting to bleed."Harry turned his senses downward and watched as the glowing drips of blood fell to the floor from his finger. Marek pulled his wand and healed the finger."Now leave the tinker's dam ring alone. Here, let me bump off it."

He cast a piece and nothing happened, naught but the testy laughter from Dakhil. He tried a different spell and still the annulus stayed clamped about Harry's finger.

"We don't have clock time for this,"said Harry finally."Look, just take the patch off. order a carapace magical spell 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 stone bench.

"What do you mean ?"Harry asked.

"Well, Harry, while I was working on your case, I thought I might see if I couldn't do something about your eyes."

"But I've seen zip,"said Harry."Certainly through this gauze, I could discern—"

"I've sealed your lids shut so the center beneath could heal as the spell worked and weaved."He stepped closer to Harry."Son, two more than days… two more daylight and I'm sure that the knitting will be complete."

"And I'll see again ?"asked Harry with a glint of hope in his phonation.

"You might."

"Well… look… it's blue anyway,"Harry said."Take off the bandage and leave my middle sealed. I'll be improve off not trying to discern object in the swarthiness. I've gotten used to not seeing and trying to squint in the cloudy night may just make things worse."

"There's the problem,"said Dakhil."The objects you wish to spot are Dementors. They suck the life from all about them. To your vision they would be wickedness and on the scorched mountainside where very short life remains, it would be near impossible to notice them."

At this it was Harry's turn to laugh.

"Dakhil, I don't need my sight 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 take away your bandages, but keep your middle sealed. If you make it through the night Harry, your face should be re-wrapped immediately. A shield charm might be acceptable for walking around school or sitting about the household. 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 ace werewolves were growing anxious. Outside, the moon was nearing the peak of the easterly horizon and some were having difficulty controlling their metamorphosis even inside the cavern, away from the moonshine. Typically, such difficulties were had by newly converted werewolves, those who had recently become. Harry wondered how Fred was fairing.

When Dakhil removed the gauze patch, Harry immediately reached up to his face to touch, but the shield charm stopped his fingerbreadth.

"It feels like an shell,"Harry whispered.

"And it won't protect your human face much more than one,"added Marek."Remember that, when you're out there playing the hero."Harry was about to protest but, preceded by a hiss, unexpected words left Dakhil's backtalk first.

"An Acolyte of the Votary does not act at anything !"Dakhil's stature was suddenly somewhat declamatory, and his gloriole somewhat redder."You would be wise to call up your position, 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 concern in his words, far more fear than Harry thought the state of affairs warranted. Part of him understood, something he remembered from the connection, but there wasn't meter to well for its reference ; it was clock time for action. Harry stood and began to walk toward the large sleeping accommodation.

"One moment, boy,"said Dakhil with a matter of fact tonus. Harry stopped, turned and, before he had an instant to react, Dakhil had cast a spell on him. Nothing happened.

"What… what was that ?"Harry demanded, still reaching for his verge.

"He's changed the colour of your gown, Harry,"said Marek."They're no longer white ; they're crimson."

"Primate ceramist,"said Dakhil in an exceptionally petulant voice followed by a short blasting cough."Your rubric, when I die."He sighed."Asha protect us."Harry looked down, but could smell no discernible deviation."Don't worry, boy ; those who have travelled the path through proper training will know at once the significance of your robe. We'd best hurry. There won't be time for practically of a speech."

Harry and Dakhil left the tent and entered the cavern ; it had emptied out onto the mountainside, staging for the battle to come. Soon, the gate would open and the soldiers would spill down upon their foeman. Harry and Dakhil walked down the cave and as it narrowed toward its exit a young man came up and touched Harry by the sleeve.

"Asha be with you,"he said tilting his brain in a flimsy bow.

"And with you,"replied Harry without premeditation. Why did I say that ?
The cavern out door opened and, for a moment, Harry was blinded by the many auras gathered outside. He could see that some of the werewolves had already turned, and a group of wizards was having difficulty restraining them. No one seemed distracted by the howling, a howling that mixed with words in Harry's nous - putting to death, bite, roue ! He turned to see if someone was talking to him, but no one was there. Another werewolf howled.

"longanimity, my friends,"called Harry to the snapping animal and the Friedrich August Wolf quieted at his words. That was not my spokesperson, thought Harry. Or was it ?

Everyone was listening to Antreas who stood upon a turgid outcropping of rock above the growing din. His Son were amplified, but Harry wasn't sure the increased intensity was requisite. He was calling out in a strong and dominate voice and Harry wondered why this role wasn't Dakhil's.

"….is all we need. Together we will be triumphant ! Together we will banish the dark into the abyss !"The land began to rumble with hand clapping. Harry noticed four giants pounding their feet with favorable reception.

"giant star ?"he asked Dakhil."I didn't notice any heavyweight when I arrived."

"They climbed over from the sheer drop-off on the support side of the mountain. That way is not guarded save by Dementors, and they have no effect on such simple creatures. So it is with the werewolves."

"It'll m-make for a b-bloody expiry Eater busting surprise."

"Fred ?"

The redhead was clearly agitated, seemingly in the midst of the variety.

"Fred, please… don't—"

"The hierarch has ARRIVED !"cried Antreas with a leaping vox. He was referring to Dakhil, but Harry could experience hundreds of eyes turn toward him simultaneously. keep open for the howling and the casual go being cast a short elbow room down the hill, all became unsounded.

"Let's give them what they want, boy,"said Dakhil."Up you go."He levitated Harry some twenty invertebrate foot in the air. Harry's ticker began to race as he rose, wondering what he might say.

It was like rising over the coal of a dying fervency, each glowing aura a tiny ember burning against the darkness. There were hundreds gathered here. Some fell to their genu as Harry rose ; most stood silently. Giants, Centaurs, wizards and werewolves, a ragtag assemblage of misfits all collected to fight together against the malevolence Lucius Malfoy had co-opted for his own evilness intention.

Lucius probably hoped he would retrieve the cloak and arrive at this place of battle to observe a corking victory, the first of many. niggling did he experience that his previous master copy would fill up residence in his body - if only long enough to occupy over Harry's. But that would never, could never take place. How the insect had turned on the blonde-haired patriarch. Soon, it would turn on the dark worming within him. Harry raised his implements of war to the heavens above, a titan comet was clearly seeable in the Nox's sky.

"Ebyrth marks its return and now we find ourselves at its mercy. While some have come to answer the new sun's call, others are here to protect our flying lizard comrade against the wickedness that wishes to destroy all in its course. Tonight we fight as one. Tonight we fight with the strong point of giants, the magic of wizards, the fierceness of werewolves, the soundness of centaur, and the hearts of dragons !"

No Sooner had the row left his mouth, than the thunderous SWOOP-SWOOP filled the air and four enormous dragons flew over the crowd, blotting out the stars and then coming to rest at the top of the great stone wall. Singehorn wasn't among them, but Harry, though having never met them, knew their names. The three males were Rakesh, Talisan, and Igneus, and the juicy female was Tanwen. As if being called, Harry looked toward Talisan, the largest of the four, with green-black graduated table and fierce red eyes.

"prelate !"the creature cried out."We follow you in battle. What are your purchase order !"

All around Harry, wizards were clasping their work force to their pinna, some falling to their articulatio genus, because of the creature's great hollo. And yet, Harry could understand everything he said. How is this possible ? This was no speculation.

"Your orders, Primate ?"cried the dragon again, and again those around Harry winced in painfulness.

"tan them !"yelled Harry."burning them till your abdomen turn low temperature. You, Tanwen, fly high school above the rampart. Let no enemy past the gate. Do not depart your post. We must save the rookery at all toll !"Harry pulled his red robes tight about his shoulders.

"open air the logic gate !"called Antreas and the regular army erupted in cheers and howls. A few werewolf snapped at their allies, but nearly caught the fragrance of their hated foes, enticing their common sense with a bloodlust for Dementor, and quickly they began to file ahead, down the mountainside. Dakhil brought Harry down to earth as the crowded hillside flowed out through the gate. Harry began to run, following the rushing lunar time period, but someone grabbed his articulatio humeri and pulled him around ; it was Antreas.

"Your time is at hand, Harry,"he said with a stout representative."I'll lead the first waving ; I dare not mouth it to the others, but don't think for a mo we'll win. The scouts have told me the situation… it's dire. When we begin to fall back, and we will go down back… that's when we'll need you."Harry was about to argue, but Antreas was already swept away in the current of bodies rushing through the gate. Undaunted, Harry began to keep an eye on, only this prison term Dakhil stopped him.

"Tell me, boy,"he murmured quietly beneath the roaring rush of star pushing by."Why are you here ?"

"To oppose Voldemort,"Harry spat, turning to leave behind. Dakhil held his arm fast and Harry glared back with savage optic.

"Really ?"queried Dakhil, still placid, still calm, still holding Harry's arm with a vice-like traveling bag."Are you… sure ?"Harry tried to pull away, but couldn't. He pulled his sceptre."You don't need a wand to dismiss me, boy. You're the Primate now, or will be soon. If you think you no longer need my table service, then dismiss me ! You need only speak the password ; state me to be gone !"

He was goading Harry, trying to make him angry, trying to evoke a response. Harry slipped his verge away.

"You are the Primate,"he said softly."Not me."

"whiz will never follow a vampire, boy,"answered Dakhil."But for some grounds, Asha only knows why, they will take after you. The wisdom of Grigor Darbinyan now flows in his son's vein. Would you ignore Antreas ? Shall we charge with the rest ? What are your orders ?"

"I'm here to serve my cuss, to protect the pipeline of Asha… as are you. We stay to protect the rookery."Harry noted a glimmer in Dakhil's aura… a smile ? The endure of the first wave had passed through the gate, leaving two giants, one dragon, a six centaur and some thirty wizards to wait for boost orders, orders that Harry would hold to give. Knowing that the number at his side of meat were too few to fend off the coming attack, his thought turned to the darkness, hiding at the tooshie of the mountain, searching for some way that they might defeat him.

"He won't reveal himself,"said Harry, slowly,"until he believes they've won, that he can step up and take me as his prize. Antreas is right, to capture Lucius and the darkness that consumes him, the starting time wave must fail."

"The enemy's numbers racket are too heavy,"said Dakhil, releasing his travelling bag."Even with those still remaining, we have no hope of winning in verbatim battle."

"Then the secondment wave must be a surprise. We must throw until the hold out possible moment."

"Even then, boy, the figure are against us."

"Maybe,"answered Harry,"But we need only fall down one foe. What will our foe do when their worldwide dysprosium ? When Lucius and his master gloam ?"

"It is insufferable to catch vaporisation with your bare hands. Who among us, might I ask, will lend down the Dark Lord ?"

"I will,"Harry answered. He left Dakhil and entered into the centre of those remaining."gather ‘ round !"he called."Listen to what I say ! Tonight… tonight we plan for triumph !"


Harry thrower and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 19 - The commencement conflict
~~~***~~~
fire and smoke roiled in the air from the battle below, bearing the odour of fire flesh and blood into the secure compound guarding the rookery of the flying lizard, where Harry and the others waited. The earth shook as the giant, fighting their common enemies below, cast stones the size of it of train-cars crashing down upon their opposition. ululation, screeches, and the holloa of dragon-fire reverberated between the endocarp walls, echoing down the canyon and pitching wildly between Harry's ears. He couldn't see the battle raging on the versant below, none of them could. But then, they didn't need to see what was happening to have it away that it was not going well. The burning odor was growing potent, the shaking dry land was more terrible, and the howls and screeches filled the air more than ever. The battle was coming closer, higher up the mountain. Soon, it would be at the compound walls.

Harry grew more anxious by the moment. His first off instinct had been to lash out outright, but both Antreas and Dakhil had stopped him. Ignoring the wisdom of a wiz that had survived hundred was folly and Harry knew that they must hold off. The second wave would attack when their enemies were most weary. If Harry's violence could fall apart their lines, if they could hold back blackguard to throat, perhaps the advancing darkness would back out down the mount, down to where Lucius Malfoy, now possessed by Voldemort, nigh certainly waited.

When the first gear wave began its flak, Harry had quietly sent the dependable Centaur Sagittarius the Archer high onto the versant leading down from the due north gate. Hiding senior high school in the James Jerome Hill, 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 giants, Florge and scrummage, to hold back hidden among the rocks. There they would accommodate the mellow ground, preventing any Death Eaters from running away from the onslaught of Centaur pointer. Once they were set into berth, the monster looked like a declamatory outcropping of rock, nada more. With luck they would mow down piles with their clubs, large tree trunks bristling with barbed alloy pikes the length of Harry's arm.

Hearing, smelling, feeling the first undulation hideaway back toward the briny gate, Harry impatiently waited to conduce the second waving through a secret gate that skirted the side of the vale bulwark. Then they would sleep together if there was any hope at all. Already, centaur moon curser brought back reports that the number of the enemy was twice what was first recall - over two-hundred Dementors, nearly a hundred lamia, stacks of maven, and five giants of their own. Clearly, the figure were against them and they all knew it.

About a humble fire, Harry sat with Dakhil and two other member of the Votary, Mikael and Katana. Dakhil was roasting sausages skewered on the end of a Centaur shaft. Mikael was a magnanimous man, Ukrainian he said, with iniquity Robert Brown hair and a perpetual three days'ontogeny of beard. one-half of his left ear was missing and he had a fury about his piercing blue eyes that, as Dakhil described, would frighten any living mortal that dared to track wands with him. As for Katana, she was quietly, almost subdued. Even sightless, Harry could discern how her blackened tegument contrasted against the silver mail service ringlet butterfly that covered her speed body. Set against her quiet personal manner was the red aura that burned fiercely from her soul, perhaps the most acute Harry had ever seen. Unlike Mikael, she rarely spoke, but when she did it almost always carried importation. The fire 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 entirely confidence game you would receive tonight, Mikael,"said the vampire, grimly staring into the fire, turning the sausages on the spear and watching the dripping soil charge small flair of flame imbrication upwards.

"How you are hungry, Dakhil,"replied Mikael, shaking his head and moving close once again to warm himself by the fire."They arrive at threshold before you finish."Again, Dakhil laughed.

"You should know by now, my Ukrainian admirer,"said Dakhil with a smile,"I don't eat sausages. The boy here looked a bit fainthearted and I thought he should build up up his strength."He held the point of the spear before Harry's grimace, the sizzling blimp splattering specks of hot fat against the carapace charm protecting Harry's exposed face."One should never play their maker on an hollow stomach."

"Thank you,"Harry said with a slenderize grin. He took the sausage between ovolo and index, but it neither seared nor burned. Without flinching, Harry slid the sausage off the spear's metal percentage point and took a bit. Once again, he detected a fugitive smile in the nimbus of Dakhil. To the vampire's left, Katana let out a minor snigger. She stood, her ringlets jingling as she did so, and then she looked upward to the night sky where the smaller dragon Tanwen circled.

"Even as Ebyrth reveals itself to the world, Asha's blessing is upon you, young wizard,"she said with a low voice that was calmness and as deeply as the lake international Hogwarts."This is good… for the time has come. Prepare."

Scantly had the words left her lips than a tremendous roar exploded overhead. Talisan, the prominent of the four dragons, appeared from no where, plummeting from the sky, streaking fire and green goddess behind him and smashing to the ground, tumbling into a group of wizards that most certainly would deliver died in the collision had not Katana turned their aid toward the wall when she stood. Immediately, chaos struck the refugee camp. Even though many knew their office, some wizards called out to assail directly through the briny logic gate, some scattered for the privy side gate, some ran toward the wad's tunnel. The Centaurus were calling for patience, and all were yelling at the top of their lungs.

"SILENCE !"cried Dakhil, his phonation reverberating off the canon bulwark."Everyone, move in constitution toward the North gate ! There we wait until the sign comes."

"But—"

"We will attack when the sign comes ; not before ! NOW MOVE !"

While the mental confusion subsided, Harry moved toward the fallen dragon.

"Where are you going ?"questioned Dakhil.

"Talisan needs assist,"suffice Harry continuing to take the air to the dragon.

"Your ordination 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 time I need,"snapped Harry in retort."Now go ! contribute the others and I'll join you when I'm done."

"Marek can give care for the—"

"GO !"

With his wand still sheathed, Harry concentrated his judgment. Bending space was easier than slowing time, even Ronan, his Centaur trainer, had admitted that. But Harry needed metre, even just a little Thomas More to relieve Talisan's liveliness. Right now, he was compelled. He felt that healing the dragon was more important than all the rest of it. He wasn't indisputable why, but he had to do what he could. He centred on the Bible Ronan had taught him.

In afforest glen, the babbling brook is filled with silver fish.
Slow its period and deny each trickle to put them on your dish.

The sounds about Harry became repress. He sensed that the auras running to the North gate were slowing, slowing… not still, but nearly. Harry summoned the Stone of cinnabar from within him. Still bloody, he cast a blast patch upon it.

"Bravery, soundness, Love,"he whispered and was instantly transported to the tweed way that waited for his program line."Talisan,"he whispered, and was immediately drawn to the dragon.

He'd healed a cat before, but never a Dragon. At starting time he could see the tremendous beast prone on the ground, the three wizards surrounding it freeze down in time, but the dragon looked up toward Harry, blinking as if it could see him. Talisan's external respiration was erratic and he coughed blood and gage. Then, as always, the shot paused, as if asking Harry to confirm that this indeed was the military action he wished to take aim."Heal my friend,"Harry whispered again. Colour began to twirl about… wear bones… stunned nerves… sliced organs…a pierced lung… origin dripping on the fires of life…"Yes, heal them… heal them all."

The fit flashed bleak and Harry found himself on his knees, the jagged rocks tearing at his flesh, the stone of Cinnabar in his left deal. Before moving he pulled his baton and hid the Lucy 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 prayer. Before he looked up he heard the tartar speak. His words were unsteady, but Harry could see that his injury were healing.

"We must hurry,"Talisan said,"the… the second wave… I must—"

"You must stay here,"cut in Harry."You must rest."

"I can't. It is my responsibility to—"

"It's your duty to take heed to the pallbearer of the ring."It was the dragon Tanwen, Harry knew that, but she was nowhere near. She was still flying gamey above the rookery. Harry wondered how he could be having this conversation, how…

"The ring,"he whispered, touching the rock with his other hand. He took to his feet, rubbing the black Harlan F. Stone between his fingers. He expected to feel somewhat dizzy after healing the dragon, but he wasn't. Without turning, he noticed that the auras were beginning to funnel out through the Frederick North gate just as the spite were coming in from the chief gate. They would need aid too. He moved to see what he could do when Marek stopped him.

"Let me take care of the spite, Harry. If you don't execute like we had planned, we have no hope of winning and all will be lost, not just a few lives, but hundreds."Once more, Harry glanced to the injured streaming in. There was a strong urge to heal them all. Many were nigh death. For a minute he hesitated and then he grudgingly nodded his capitulum.

"right,"said Marek."Get going."

Harry ran to the side gate, reaching it in seconds. He could hear Marek calling for help from the former Healers to get the spite inside the caves. When Harry passed through the gate, it sealed behind him leaving no tracing that it was ever there.

The group of sorcerer and Centaurs making up the endorse wave had not moved far past the gate. They were carefully, quietly, edging their way around the wing of their enemy. As Harry moved about one of the larger John Rock formations, he had his first hazard to find the advancing US Army. It looked formidable, but not a three to one advantage. For a moment he had forgotten the Dementors, creatures whose aureole he could not see, but the second did not last long. The wind shifted and the cool stench of their flesh filled the air. For an instant… from the canyon just below… Was he imagining it ? Harry thought he could actually hear them talking to each former. He'd never heard anything but the click Dementors made when communication, but this… it sounded like words. Whatever it was he was hearing, they were close. He resisted the enticement to wretch just as two of his own sensation fell to their human knee in fear.

There was the faint chirp of some insect, the sign of the zodiac, and the air immediately rang with the whistling of pointer. The Centaurs high in position among the cliffs let go their first volley. Screeches of Dementor and lamia alike bubbled up out of the canon like a thickheaded slime of pain. An wink later, another volley of arrows filled the air, followed by more screams ; then another… and another. Moving his way to the front of the contingent making up the attacking mo wave, Harry could hear wizards cry out from below for their lines to plough toward the slope of the batch.

"cuticle !"mortal called. The next volley struck many still off guard, but was less successful among the mistrustful wizards. Harry continued to further until he came to Dakhil's shoulder.

"Miss me ?"Harry whispered. Dakhil seemed distracted.

"They're unsettled,"he said quietly."If we're going to do this, boy, we must do it now to lean any opportunity of surprise. They await your command."A flare-up of exacerbate disgust left Dakhil's sass, but Harry didn't hesitate.

"hit now !"he commanded."flak !"

Arrows from the Centaurs stationed on the rocks above continued to rain down upon the rear end of the rail line of demise Eaters, vampires and Dementors that had now driven Antreas'first wave back through the main gate of the compound wall. Even as the figurehead of this saturnine force was cheering for victory, calling for their monster to sunder the expectant wall protecting the compound, others at the rear were screaming with fear. The wizards and Centaurs in Harry's back wave cascaded down the versant inflammation arrow and filling the smoky air with an electrifying video display of sceptre power. Spell after spell stunned, exploded and slashed their opposer. reverence was palpable and its effect began to ripple its way toward the nominal head. Harry could sense their aureole fading against the onslaught. The Dementors could experience it too and they began to eat up somebody indiscriminately. It was Katana who described to Harry how, in some sorting of frenzied state they began feeding on the veneration of their own warriors. As the frightened minions tried to jumble up the diametric hillside they came face to face with the secret giants.

Florge and Scrum rose as if ascending from the Harlan Stone itself. With great apoplexy of their gild they swatted their foe back into the advancing force play, back into the frenzied Dementors, back into a boiling broth of upset that had now made its way to the front of the lines.

What at number 1 seemed like a rout of Harry's side of meat was being flipped upon its read/write head. centaur arrows were dropping non-wizard vampires from the sky with nearly every hooking of the string. Emboldened by the success of the second waving, the sizable in Antreas'pilot attacking force regrouped and began another charge. Werewolves that had scattered to the mountainside retreating from their first attack also sensed the change and returned to the fray.

Squeezed on both side and pressed to the prow, Lucius Malfoy's regular army retreated back down the pot. With all the confusedness, Harry and many of the others in his indorse wave found themselves in the middle of Malfoy's retreating military unit. They had essentially split their enemy's force into two, allowing one one-half to retreat freely down the mountain while trapping the other in a great pincher. Harry and his forces had the get down ground while Antreas and the others pressed in from above. What followed was utter destruction.

Rakesh appeared from on highschool and began to plunk toward the dazed and disordered warriors.

"Back !"cried Harry to the others. He heard similar cries from Antreas and his men further up the mountain. The loup-garou did not manoeuver the warning."BACK !"Harry yelled again. The Death feeder were too distracted trying to deal the attacking werewolves and their own crazed Dementors to notice the dragon moving in.

When Harry's men moved away, the vision of halo cleared and he distinctly noticed three lycanthrope still tearing at the flesh of their enemies. One of them was Fred Weasley ; Harry could sense his anger, his hatred, his thirst to destroy.

"FRED !"Harry screamed."GET OUT OF THERE !"But Fred was a werewolf and nothing Harry could do would lay off that. Then Igneus appeared on the wing of Rakesh ; both were diving down on their surrounded enemies. Soon it would all be over. Harry began to run, not away but toward his friend and the mayhem of the battle before him. Even as stunners ricocheted off in every direction and Killing bane took down one creature after another, Harry ran. He leapt onto the red fur of Fred's back, knocking him to the terra firma.

The loup-garou spun, opened his great jaws and grabbed Harry by the throat. Only the visible light shield appealingness about Harry's face was keeping him from being bitten through, but it wouldn't last tenacious if Fred truly desired blood. On his back, his senses facing forward, he could detect the two giant auras of the dragons racing toward them. They had only seconds. Harry held his hands 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 consequence, Harry spun them both to the ground and cast a shield charm. The human race erupted in fire. thigh-slapper filled the air only to be silenced an minute later by another blast of heating and flame. The werewolf in Harry's arms struggled to cave in free, but not wholly.

"Get off of me, you bloody idiot,"Harry heard him howl."I swear I'll gut you !"

"The ring,"Harry thought."I hear him through the ring."
"Fred, listen…"said Harry sharply."delay still, just one more moment. The heat… the heat will—"The lycanthrope broke gratis of Harry's grasp and threw himself against the shield charm surrounding them. It held from within. Again he charged the shield and this sentence broke through. He yipped as his paws burned against the scorching earth, but in a flash he was gone, chasing after the part of the USA that had fled down the mountainside.

With the shield spell gone, Harry could smell the burn fetor about him. Where seconds before stood dozens of men and creatures, now only three lone wizards remained - last Eaters that had seen the tartar in fourth dimension and had shield charms of their own. One, seeing Harry pedestal in the glowing ember without his shell, released his own protective spell and began to run. He took two steps before his metrical foot were in flames. He fell and began to sizzle against the scorched earth. One of the early Death feeder killed him to release him from the misery. Harry walked toward the remaining two, the heating burning away the scandal that soiled his robes, but leaving the scarlet cloth and his skin unscathed. Somehow being here on the mountain, so close to the tartar, had steeled his power to hold up the heating system.

"It's not potential,"said one, the nighttime haired wizard in black robes that had killed his ally.

"tomfool,"spat the early, blonde with robe of nighttime blue."He's one of them - half-man, half-dragon."

"He's a boy,"said the other.

"If this boy,"said Harry, moving closer,"cliff your cuticle magic spell right now, you'll cook to death like your acquaintance there."The dark haired Death feeder raised his wand.

"He's blind !"

"Stop it !"said the other."Are you mad ? ! There are scotch in the Alfred Hawthorne around us. We haven't a chance."Harry continued to advance.

"The man you serve,"Harry began, now close decent to tap the cuticle of the shadow haired wiz with the tip of his wand,"Lucius Malfoy… where is he ?"

"He'll… he'll be here soon enough. You'll see. Then… then you'll—"

"What coloring material is his tomentum ?"The tip of Harry's baton began to glow red, sending out a pinprick of light up onto the light dark cuticle that surrounded the Death Eater.

"B-Blonde,"the dying eater stammered, staring intently at the red luminescence.

"And his middle ? What colouring are his eyes ?"

"There… there red, imprecate it ! He's found a rootage of true exponent, and he'll swat the likes of you from the expression of the worldly concern. Now get us out of this fire pit !"

"Dakhil !"Harry cried out."Dakhil !"There was a pounce audio and the wizard flew down next to Harry on the scorched earth. He was in vampire soma, the front end of his robes stained red with blood that was even now vanishing, burning away from the vivid heat.

"Voldemort's alive and he's still in Malfoy,"said Harry with a sense of urgency in his vox that was building with choler."This battle… it's not over. They'll regroup, realize that they still outnumber us, and attack again. We have to press our reward while we can."Dakhil's brim pulled back into a horrific smile that revealed rows of long, sharp teeth. It was enough to gain the last feeder following to them shudder.

"Very goodness, boy,"he hissed with a deep scratchy voice."I will inform Antreas to fleet this deadened 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 minute, his heart 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 demolish us all."Dakhil took to the sky and faded into the duskiness toward the higher piece of the mountain. As the ember cooled, Harry could sense the others from the second wave moving toward him. They had been triumphant, but the numbers… they were half of what they'd left the compound with.

The centaur stopped outside the ring of intense heat, but Katana walked though it toward Harry.

"What are your orders, Primate ?"she asked. There was a foul gash on the side of her arm and the side of her face looked like it had some hex. Harry moved toward her and bathed her typeface in blue light ; the boiling point receded.

"When the orbit cools, Antreas will actuate down to join us, but we can not wait. We must remain the attack. We are searching for their leader, a blonde sensation with red heart, wearing a dark cloak."

"The Dark God Almighty, I have heard him called."Her representative was calm, almost calculating.

"He's no lord, Katana,"said Harry coolly,"but he will kill anything in his path. Warn the others. We head to the white Anglo-Saxon Protestant's nest and the cut there will kill."

"And these two ?"she asked, nodding to the Death feeder still desperately trying to maintain their carapace charms.

"leave of absence them to Antreas,"Harry said."We can't part with the men."Katana raised an eyebrow and cleared her throat. Harry noticed the subtle change in her nimbus."Or women,"Harry corrected with a grin."Or women."

Before long, Harry's beleaguered power were well more than half-way down the mountainside. Soon they would be outside the border that marked the magic perimeter of the dragons'kingdom. During the entire journey, they had encountered no underground. All they had found was the episodic fallen thaumaturge or the black cloak of a Dementor ; none alive. Katana and Mikael warned that they should not pass the perimeter, that the dragon would not follow beyond, but Harry already knew that. Rakesh and Igneus, circling above, would only protect the state under their dominion. They would not lash out outside it.

"Do you think Voldemort doesn't know that ?"he asked, as they continued to process down the mountain."If we don't infatuation him now, he'll use the time to rebuild his force and attack again, more wicked than ever."

"You don't know that."

"I know that—"Suddenly, a Centaur talent scout, Shamire, appeared, sweat dripping from his flank. Harry turned to him."What newsworthiness ?"he asked.

"You were right, elect,"the Centaur answered."They have a camp just on the early side of the boundary line. There are wounded everywhere, and mess of yelling. They are in a clearing surrounded by large trees, but the trees… they are not real."

"What ?"

"I have never seen anything like it before. The trees look like tree, but they are not ; they are dead, a fabrication. The lycanthrope are circling, but unwilling to enter."

"A barrier ?"asked Katana."To protect the camp."

"Maybe,"said Harry,"or something bad. It's always something worse. Shamire, tell the others to be on their safety. The tartar won't fly past the border. It will be up to us to eat up the job."As he said these Bible Harry looked toward the sky and saw the majestic creatures circle back, returning to the compound."And Shamire, when you're done, run back and inform Antreas that we can't delay for him. We have to attack before they've regained their specialty. There's still fear in the air, we have to press the advantage."Shamire nodded and vanished.

Harry and the others arrived outside the clearing. The Centaurus had been right ; the enceinte tree structures encircling the clarification were perfectly. To Harry they appeared like monumental spires of darkness that shot into the air. Each one was four to five fundament across. Harry touched one ; it felt like the trunk of a tree, but it was inhuman, lifeless. Mikael motioned for the others to spread out and encircle the pack. They were outnumbered four to one, but nearly all of their adversary were square, in litters or low cots that spread across the open flying field by the dozens. At one end was a boastfully, black nothingness that rose from the grass to the sky above. Dementors, thought Harry. Could he hear the sound of voices, arguing ? Before them was a wizard with an aura more intense than all the others. Harry knew at once who it was.

"Voldemort,"he whispered.

A few minutes later, Mikael gave the signal. Harry and many of the others surrounding the camp form spells to push the massive trees aside. Harry was worried that they might act as an alarm system and give away the moment of surprise, but the trees moved. A 12 openings appeared all about the enceinte rophy.

The wolfman were the first to spring through. From all directions wizard and centaur poured into the field. pointer, while and counter-spells streaked across the air. Harry's mind was focused on one thing - the wizard at the far end of the camp surrounded by dark. Moving closer, he could see the shriek in his mind, but he had learned to control the fright brought on by the Dementors, to control all emotion if need be. Still, as he approached Lucius Malfoy the more angry he became. The blond sorcerer's back was toward Harry ; he was seemingly oblivious to the outpouring and still speaking with the darkness of Dementors. Were they laughing ? Harry didn't care if his foe's back was turned ; he would kill this time, avenge so many of the last he should stimulate stopped long ago. He was so focused on killing he barely heard Katana cry out.

"They're Muggles !"Only ten yards away from attacking his hated foe, Harry turned to see what she was talking about.

"These aren't wizards !"she yelled at the people laying in the litters and cots that filled the field."They're Muggles ; they've been immobilized."

Harry heard a high frigidness joke from behind just as each Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree surrounding the field split exposed with a great white light.

"IT'S A ambush !"Harry cried, but too lately. champion vampires and Death eater spilled out from the fissures in the tree diagram that had been hiding them. Harry's second waving, thinking it had its opponent surrounded, now found itself surrounded. The werewolves had already started to assault defenceless Muggles, getting them to rick 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. Hundreds poured out and over Harry, knocking him over but leaving him alone as they attacked the others. He could sustain sworn he heard one of them say,"You're favorable, wizard."He knew that there were far too few Centaurs to bring in them all down.

Harry turned over on his stomach and watched as the lights of souls smashed into one another. They were still outnumbered, only now Harry's men were at the disadvantage and he hadn't the advice of Antreas or the Wisdom of Solomon of Dakhil to know what to do. Or did he ?

Rubbing the lot of onyx with his thumb, Harry held out his bridge player toward a intimate group of werewolves that were unsure who to aggress.

"Hear me !"Harry called out. One of the werewolves turned immediately. It was Remus.

"Harry ?"he yelped.

"The last Eaters 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 iniquity wizard behind him. He charged.

"Fred, no !"yelled Harry."He'll vote out y—"A red looker came from the side, slamming the werewolf to the background."Fred !"

All around Harry's group was falling like stunned pixies, some by red Light Within, some by green. Dementors were swirling about as if waiting for the edict to blow the souls out of the survivors. Spoils, Harry suspected. Harry looked toward the mountaintop. Where were Antreas'forces ?

"I should possess waited,"he whispered into the sod.

"It would not consume mattered,"said Malfoy in a merge heights, cold drawl. Harry spun to tramp a patch, but his baton was expelled before he could turn around. The next thing he knew he was immobilized, stiff as a board, but well cognizant of what was happening. He spit. His back talk was working, but try as he might he could not call on his headland. He heard Katana screaming in bother somewhere behind him.

"Isn't it pleasant-tasting, Potter,"Malfoy asked, stepping close. Harry could smell the foetor of the wizard approaching. He could not see the red center burning in their sockets, but he could smell out the atmosphere fighting within. Evidently, Malfoy was a bit more difficult to control than young St. James the Apostle Chang. He wasn't going down willingly.

"Since I was a niggling boy, I've always loved that sound, the way it penetrates the ear and rings the soul."

"You have no someone, Tom,"snapped Harry."You're a shell, a third of what you once were."

"And yet here I am, and there you are. A seventh of my power would be enough to destroy you !"Flecks of spit splattered against Harry's fount - he felt them. The screen appealingness protecting his eyes had been broken. Lucius touched Harry's fount.

"A few scars… not too bad. And the eyes… well, one can always retrieve eye from a will donor."He laughed. Harry could hear the conflict raging behind him, but here between the two, time seemed to suffer still. Malfoy slipped off the wickedness cloak that had been Voldemort's… the second Horcrux.

"I couldn't possess you before, potter ; some silliness about beloved. But this…"He stroked the black fabric of the cloak."This will change all that. You might say it's everything inside me that was ever good. Who needs such things, eh ? Ah, yes… you do, don't you ?"He shake off the cloak like a big cover and wrapped it about Harry's shoulders."There. Its honor 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 fathom you, withstand the goodness that binds you. With it I can claim dominance of what I once gave you. Since the night I killed your parents my spirit, my power has flowed within the very fabric of your being - a fourth Horcrux, you might say. I will use it to hold utter control and when I do I will be unharmed once more. It does become so tiresome always having to fight the host. But you, potter, you are already me."

"You're mistaken, Tom."

"I think not."Lucius sighed. His head turned past Harry."Your military unit are crushed. Once I take your eubstance, I will return to the lair of Singehorn and destroy the only force that can stomach in my way. With the Draco destroyed, Europe will be mine."

"No… don't. I- I-"

"Don't beg, potter. It's not how you'll want your last moments on earth to be remembered. Now,"he sighed again,"this won't hurt a bit."

There was a pocket-sized glint of intensity in Malfoy's glory. Harry watched as the green evil began to issue out through his oral fissure and nose like a tapeworm being pulled from a intestine. For a moment, the viridity glowing hung in the air as Malfoy fell to the ground.

"Don't do it, Tom."

The green encircled Harry and penetrated. Pain. The coils of Voldemort's essence wrapping itself around Harry's. Squeezing. Probing. Penetrating. Searching. Harry's skull felt as if it might explode.

Where is it, ceramist ? How are you hiding it ?

The scroll wrapped stiff, the hurting became more acute.

You have the stone… and the anchor ring ! But where is it, that which I truly require ?

"Come closer, Tom… closer."Harry drew in his invader, pulling him cheeseparing to his inner ego."look true pain."

Suddenly, Voldemort found that he wasn't in control. The scroll of his essence wrapped ever more tightly about Harry's, but it wasn't at his command. Still immobilized, Harry's inward self fought his enemy, while his outward self saw the arrival of Antreas'army and the retirement of Lucius Malfoy and his follower down the mountainside. It wasn't much longer before Voldemort realized that the darkness with which he had marked Harry was no retentive there.

Where is it ? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ?

"pureness of light. passion harbours no enemies. Champion these precepts, Tom and be cleansed !"Somehow, Harry was drawing power from the goodness of the gown surrounding him. Scenes of laughter, warm laugh from a small boy flashed across his mind. The purity, the goodness was too much for Voldemort to comport.

This is not possible !
"But it is, Tom. I've been cleansed. Your big businessman over me, our oneness is no longer."

The picture in Harry's judgment showed a humble baby being born. The mother, near demise, held the child in her quiver arms, smiled warmly and kissed his forehead. Seeing this expression of love, Harry's idea betrayed him.

A boy ? You have a boy ? Try as Harry might to stop them, the coils around his essence released. He could palpate Voldemort vanish from his dead body.

"No !"Harry yelled as he fell limp to the ground. Before the darkness came, he watched as the green cloud of mist disappeared into the woods in search of yet another organic structure to possess - Harry's son.


Harry ceramist and the giving birth of a New Sun

Chapter 20 - Aftermath
~~~***~~~

She was laughing at him - a joyous, playful laugh that was one percentage tease, one part sense of humour, and all of it provocative. It was the variety of jape that makes a young man smile back even when he doesn't want to, the form of laugh that makes the backsheesh of the pinna turn red, the nerve efflorescence, and that little spot, somewhere near the stomach, kink into a petite gnarl wondering if maybe… maybe tonight…. It was the sort of laughter that made Harry remember why he had loved her, why he had—

He was laughing at him - a giggly, unbridled jest, as he jumped all about in the tall green eatage beneath a clear blue sky and a brilliant yellowed sun. It was the sort of jest that made one want to express joy along, to trip the light fantastic toe and play. The sort of laugh 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 estrus, splashing through the chill stream that wound its way about the top of the meadow. Faster ! Faster ! They ran, giggling, to where the hill turned sharply down, stopped and looked over the edge - a smooth grassy incline that plunged perhaps twenty meter before it flattened out into another meadow bursting with golden flower.

Jamie dropped to the ground stretched his legs straight and pulled his hands in close to his chest. Roll with me, daddy ! I'll race you down ! Harry grinned and fell to the dope. He'd seen fry roll in the field of view about Hogwarts, but never had tried it himself. As a child in Little Whinging he never had the chance to do anything outdoors, especially if it might cause been gratifying. He pulled in his weapons system and began to revolve.

The marvellous grass was cushy and whisked at his nerve with each twisting, round and one shot, down the hill. He could see Jamie laughing, louder and more knockabout than ever before. With a flare and a spin, Harry glanced at his son, seeing joy and felicity, a smile that would melt down the coolest of hearts, and… red eyes.

Harry spun once round and looked again. The boy's laughter grew more shrill, high gear and cold, but the facial expression looked flattened, snakelike. He tried to reach out, to stop himself from spinning, but his blazonry wouldn't move. They were pinned to his chest as tightly as his branch were held straight. Faster, pop, Faster !

It was as if a colossus serpent had wrapped itself about Harry's entire physical structure ; its tremendous volute constricting as he continued to roll, spinning uncontrollably down a mound that had no end. The Mary Jane was whipping at his grimace, tearing at his centre. He tried, but he could no longer see his son. But the senior high school, cold articulation remained. Are you dizzy, daddy ? The sky had grown shadow and cold and the cosmos shuddered as the earth beneath Harry gave way, and he began to plummet downward into the abysm.

He woke, each corner of the room spinning about in a different direction. His arms flung out as he grabbed hold of the linen covering his bed, clutching them for dear life-time, trying to becalm himself and retrieve a sense that he was no longer falling, no longer trapped in the nightmare - the first he'd had of Voldemort since end twelvemonth. Still, clinging to his bed as if it were a single plank in an give sea, everything twisted, tumbling this way and that. He… he couldn't help it. His belly turning in international nautical mile, he retched out onto his bed, onto the bulwark, onto the floor.

"merlin, Harry !"

His physical structure began to shake, and the sickness swelled up once more exploding out of him. He wanted to stand, to hold on to something more palpable than a flimsy bed pad, but he couldn't ; he was so weak he could barely lift his arm enough to turn his question to one side. It was worse than his hangover after Duncan's concluding party in Little Whinging.

"The potion, by the bed, see if you can get him to conduct a swallow."

A hired man reached out… a blue vile. Harry recoiled.

"Come on, mate, just one swallow. Marek knows what he's talking about."

"F-Fred ?"Harry asked weakly. The redheaded adept, standing in strawman of him, pulled his wand and cleaned the bed and the base with a flick of his wrist joint.

"Damn, Harry, when will you ascertain that I am so much better looking than my furry buddy ? Besides… he drools."

"George ?"

"place on, now take a swig."

Harry turned his head and let George pour the patrician liquid state into his sassing. He swallowed, and almost immediately the nausea passed. remainder of the impuissance wracking his eubstance still remained.

"punter ?"

Harry looked up at George and found a big, toothy grinning. He looked over to the corner of the room and found Marek, standing near a pocket-sized wooden desk, smiling. Beside him, hanging from the wall was a Black person cloak - Voldemort's cloak.

"Bad dream ?"Marek asked.

"Something like that. I thought—"

He could see Marek smiling at him. He could see George's red hairsbreadth. wink, Harry reached up toward his oculus.

"Oh, no,"said Marek, gently holding Harry's arm."Best not to touch for a few Clarence Day. I expected you would feel somewhat disoriented once you could see a bit, but I never thought it would be that extreme."Harry was silent, looking about the room - the weather sheet were white, stained with splotches of dry blood, and there was the wooden table in the far corner. He'd sensed that before, before the engagement, but never noticed the sculpture on its front face - a dragon gilded in atomic number 79.

"Well, go on. What do you see ? fuzz ? image ? newsbreak of dark and spark ?"

"I… I see everything. You… you are St. George. I thought maybe Fred… Fred ! Is he okay ? Is he— ?"

"He's getting his things together right now,"interrupted George."We need to get him home. I think you know why."Harry simply nodded."The boy about here say you had a pretty hefty bridge player in seeing my comrade to safety, the pigheaded brute."The flap on the door flew outdoors and in take the air George's Twin.

"Pigheaded ?"he squealed."I'm not pigheaded ! I eat pig-heads for snack. Now you, earnest brother… yes, just looking at your side make's me salivate."Fred started to make lapping phone as he stepped closer to George. Harry wanted to smile, but he couldn't. His eye were testy and his vision began to blur - not because of any relapsing, but because of the rip beginning to well within them. He did indeed know why George had come to fetch his blood brother : their mother's funeral.

"So, where's Charlie ?"Fred asked."I thought he was going to work the portkey and check in on the dragons."

"Probably met some German beldame in a pub on his way over here,"answered George.

"I think his taste perception lean more… French people, don't you ?"

"Oooh, la, la."

There was a abbreviated secrecy, and then Harry swallowed hard and asked,"How'd I get here ?"

"You don't commemorate ?"asked Marek. Harry shook his head."Well, the way Antreas described it, after he and his forcefulness arrived at the clearing, the opposition began to run. It was as if someone simply popped a balloon. Whatever bluster the enemy had, whatever drive them to snipe, disappeared.

"You began to cure the injure, Muggle and whiz alike. Igneus saw that the battle was over and landed on the theatre, rest fervor into that stone of yours and you began to mend like a maniac. There were 30 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 clear you were using up your own aliveness effect. You'd have both been dead."An image of Mikael's face flashed across Harry's nous and along with it a retentivity of frustration. He had to use his own life energy, not that of the Harlan Stone. The stone's big businessman may not be used for members of the Votary. It is forbid. Harry could think reaching far and further to find Mikael's lifespan power, but it had passed into the next sheet. He'd paused between those two planes, wondering if perhaps he could displace beyond and still bring him back. You can't bring back the dead. It was the last matter he remembered, before the nightmare.

"How long have I been out ?"

"About eight hours,"answered Fred."We just had lunch."

"Is that how all the Weasleys tell time ? By what repast it is ?"

"Yeah, pretty often,"said George. This was followed by an awkward silence. There was now one lupus erythematosus Weasley and, at least in Harry's mind, it was all Harry's faulting. He wanted to tell them how it happened, but he couldn't find the words. Marek broke the hush.

"Word of the struggle got out as soon as the cloud of Dementors lifted,"he said."The minister in Great Britain asked immediately for news of the situation and the position of his son. We told him the battle had been won, but his son was in no experimental condition to rise down the slew to where he could Apparate."

"A bit of a doctor's over protection I'd say,"chimed in Fred.

"So George and Charlie were to fall with a portkey and retrieve their brother."

"And in all honestness,"added George II, seemingly concerned,"he shouldn't have been that far behind me. He said he was going to take concern of a few thing with dad."

"Well he's not much of a crampon,"said Fred."Now if there was a damosel in distress here at the chemical compound, maybe then—"Again, the movement pother of the tent flew open ; it was Charlie.

"Geesh,"he said with a wander gasp."There you are."His cheek was flush and fret was dripping from his brow."I didn't see you the whole way up. I was only a few minutes behind. Why didn't you wait ?"he asked Saint George, and then his center narrowed."You don't seem too winded for having just climbed an hour."George bore a mock look of surprise, which instantly drew a scowl on Charlie's face ; he knew a rat when he saw his brother."There's no WAY you Apparated here ; it can't be done."

"OH ! That's right field,"George I said."We were going to hike up together from the lower perimeter. I… I guess I forgot."George stood, reaching to the recess behind him and grabbing his Calluna vulgaris."I thought it might be easier if I just flew up."Charlie looked like he was ready to blow up."Sorry, I didn't think you might want to hitch a ride."

"Why you little—"

"Now, I'll have none of that in here,"interrupted Marek. Charlie stopped and pulled his wand back, giving Marek a gracious, spry nod of the head teacher.

"right field, sir."Regaining his calmness, the older Weasley wiped his brow, but still gave Saint George a flavour of thoroughgoing fire. Then his eyes fell on Harry who immediately looked away.

"Hi, Harry,"said the elderberry bush Weasley."practiced to see you're well."Harry said nothing in return. He was afraid that if he spoke it would all dribble out in a blubbering mess.

"gent,"said Charlie,"do you mind if I have a word with Harry alone ?"

Marek and, after some cajoling, Fred and George finally departed, leaving Charlie and Harry to themselves.

"So… I see your oculus are better,"Charlie began. Harry blinked, still not able-bodied to hold back George's gaze.

"Yeah,"Harry answered quietly with a thin 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 religious service for Mum - with full Ministerial pageantry. Dad never wanted to be Minister ; I think maybe because he knew that the day would number when… one of us… fountainhead, we can't always have peace, can we ?"St. George wiped his eyes with his sleeve and took a deep breath."There's… there's a part of Dad that doesn't want you within ten kilometer of him…"Harry nodded that he understood,"…and a part of him that wants to nurse you tight than the rest of us."Harry looked up and George took his script ; both their eyes were wet."Harry, you're a penis of the kinfolk. You were as a good deal a son to Mum as I was and we want you at the service."

"We ?"asked Harry pointedly, but Charlie dodged the question.

"smell, if Marek says you're well enough, will you make out with us ? The portkey can ask us all."Harry shook his chief.

"I… I don't think that—"

"Damn it, Harry ! Don't be as obstinate as… just say yes. We'll bod out the residuum later."

Harry looked up into Charlie's heart and saw the heartfelt serious-mindedness there. Since his chance event on the tar, he'd missed that ability, the ability to look into the window of a necromancer's someone and know if the news and the emotions matched. Reading auras he could discern, to some extent, truth from lie, but the pernicious nuance of desire, the intricate formula of joy and sorrow, those were hidden in the eyes. He could see them all playing about Charlie's cheek and knew that he should unite them.

He was about to say he'd go when he remembered the battle, the green green goddess, 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 sunrise with Marcus Antonius Goldstein at St. Mungo's."

"Anthony ? Is he— ?"

"He's amercement. 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 days, hopefully before Christmas."Charlie continued to sit as Harry sat up with some urgency and put his legs over the border of the bed. Charlie smiled."Cho was holding a infant 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 board.

"Then we're on ?"asked Charlie.

"We're on."

Harry dressed and then folded the ignominious cloak over his arm, as the two went out into the large cavern. Harry had expected to see it filled with injured, but there were only a handful of sensation and the few of them were simply standing about talking. Katana was speaking with Antreas and early penis of the Votary. Visually, she was more impress than ever. Dakhil, however, was no where to be found. When she saw Harry, she walked over to recognize him. She put her limb around him and pulled him close with a hug that nearly broke Harry's back.

"wellspring done,"she said simply."I now understand."Just as she let go, Antreas who was only a few rate behind her embraced Harry about the shoulder joint, thankfully less forcefully.

"How is Singehorn ?"Harry asked."And Talisan ?"

"Fine,"Antreas said with a smile."They are both fine. Singehorn is finally well enough and began his journey to the East this morning. brute around the world, not just Dementors and Centaurs, are using the payoff of Ebyrth to ignite old hate. The war it seems is spreading, and the old link must be rekindled among the dragon families."

"And Dakhil ?"

"Resting. For the first metre in years the sun is shining brightly. We are, all of us, somewhat tired."

"Just one more thing left to do,"said Harry."I need this stored in the rookery, against the west wall where it will be safe."

"The rookery ?"Antreas asked as Harry handed him the cloak.

"Conceal it near the corner to look like the large black granite stone."

"I know the one, but—"

"It's important that it continue safe, that it stay hidden. The Dragon will guard the rookery until the lowest of their fire fails. And Antreas… don't tell Dakhil."Antreas folded the cloak about his own arm and nodded although his brow was furrowed.

"Very well, archpriest,"he said with a nod. He glanced at Charlie and then back to Harry."You're leaving us then ?"he asked and Harry nodded.

"Yes, Antreas, as you say there are other battles to be won."A grin tear across Antreas'typeface.

"Perhaps you face one with my sis for risking your neck again."

"And yours,"added Harry with his own grinning.

"It is good to see the gleam in your eyes once more."Antreas stepped closer and put his arm about Harry."I have to say that your healing work was heaven-sent at the theme of the mountain, choosing to mend all rather than just your own soldiers. mother was right to bestow upon you the Isidor Feinstein Stone. Your passion for life… well, it was something my founder was once known for ; he would have been proud. And if one day the principal so choose, I can think of no other that I would rather forebode brother."He smiled as Harry's human face reddened.

"Well,"said Charlie,"the syndicate's growing bigger by the minute."He called for Fred and George I to come over as he pulled out a bag that held the portkey, an old leather football that had deflated. Before they all took cargo area Harry looked back at Antreas.

"Whatever the future, Antreas, we will always be brothers."

With a tug and a trice they were whizzing their way to St. Mungo's. The way things were spinning, Harry almost wished he hadn't had his eyesight back, but before he could regret it too much it was over. They landed with a thud on a night marble flooring veined with flecks of gold ; Harry had come to despise that stone. Harry fell to one knee while the others remained on their fundament.

"Thank Falco columbarius ! I was beginning to worry. Is he… Harry !"

Harry looked up to notice Hermione looking back at him.

"Your eyes !"she exclaimed."You can… can you ?"Harry nodded as he stood up. Hermione wrapped her arms about him in a neat hug, a sad chuckle whispered across his ear."The wickedness and the visible radiation. 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 slaying of his wife."

"That's ridiculous ! You were there. Didn't you tell him ? Didn't Ron—"

"Yes ! But he won't believe us. He thinks we were too stunned to retrieve properly. Maybe with time we could change his mind, but Draco's confessed."

"Confessed ? Confessed to what ?"

"To killing Mrs. Weasley,"Hermione said miserably. The three Weasley brothers came over to console Hermione.

"It's alright, Hermione,"said George,"They'll roll out it all out in the trial."

"What run ?"snapped Fred."The black-footed ferret confessed."

"Draco didn't killing anybody !"yelled Harry."I was there, recollect ?"His mind moved back to the scene and his interpreter grew quiet."Her hands… her hands were on my shoulders."He reached up as if seizing for the memory of her touch."I tried to place upright in time, to screen her with my soundbox, but… she tried to save me."Harry smiled sadly in warm esteem."I felt her last breath against my impertinence and she died in my weapon system, crumpling to the floor."Harry began to thrill."Draco didn't raise his wand against a psyche.

"Voldemort killed your mum,"he said, looking directly at Fred,"and saying it was Dragon is an detestation to her retentiveness. mollie Weasley could eat the ilk of Draco Malfoy for lunch and skewer him out before supper. I've never seen a woman use a wand the way… the way…"He couldn't finish.

"Harry,"whispered Hermione,"it gets worse. I need you to come over here and sit down."Harry hesitated."Please ?"Saint George slapped Harry on the articulatio humeri.

"Go on,"he said, giving Harry a slight push."We want to take heed 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 hallway, ace and healer were walking to and fro. Some greeted each other with hugs of joy, others with bout of sadness. Here expiry and living battled daily with one another, a finespun balance that had been tossed on its head upon the restoration of the darkness Lord.

"Now, try to stay calm."Her words were anything but calming.

"Yesterday, Cho came with the infant to visit Anthony,"said Hermione."Everyone believes it's his child."

"Yes,"said Harry dismissively."I don't guardianship what mass think, but I do need to see her right on away. She's still here ?"Hermione nodded, gripping Harry's hands a bit more tightly. Fred, George II 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 meet here, hoping that they might get hold you or at least distinguish your whereabouts. Only, the matter is, Gabriella never showed. She hasn't been seen since she left Cho and Anthony's house in La Mure."Harry moved to suffer, but Hermione held firmly to his handwriting.

"We just got Holy Scripture about an 60 minutes ago,"she continued."Lucius Malfoy's men discovered she was your girlfriend and they thought she might buy some leverage. They've taken her and are holding her hostage."

"Where ? What do they need ?"Harry's words were sharp, tense.

"We don't know where yet,"replied Hermione,"but we do know what they want."She paused.

"Well, what is it ?"asked Harry."Give it to them !"

"They want Draco Malfoy."Harry laughed, as a Wave of sculptural relief passed over him.

"That's easy. He's innocent. Just let him go."

"He's confessed to murdering the Minister's wife."

"This is harebrained !"

"Dumbledore was here a little while ago,"she said."He met Mr. Weasley in Ron and Anthony's infirmary elbow room. I don't fuck how, but I think he's win over Mr. Weasley to go ahead with the exchange."

"Then why oasis't they— ?"

"Draco refuses,"cut in Hermione."He swears he's guilty and must be punished. They tried to use Veritaserum, but he's built up some sort of drug tolerance. It won't work."She took a deeply breath.

"Then wrap his arsehole up and send him to his founding father with a red bow !"snapped Harry.

"They can't,"answered Charlie."It's Ministerial law. In any captive 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 begetter wants him at his side, or… or…"If Voldemort thought that Draco had set him up, convincing him he needed a 3rd 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 difficulty.

"He demands to see you."