Harry Potter and The parentage of a New Sun

Chapter 6 - Too Close an encounter

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When Harry shut the doorway to his way and descended the steps he was, perhaps, the happiest he had ever been in all his life. The sun sent golden shaft of light streaking through the color in windows above and cast a halcyon icon on the floor below, tinged with sufficiency red to make Harry recall fleetingly of Fawkes. His hair a tangled great deal, he was wearing a T-shirt, boxers and wind sleeve, one with a rather large hole through which the large toe on his ripe foot protruded. He scratched his stomach as his nose took in the scent of something that resembled the smell of burning ham. He took one stone's throw down and turned to reckon back at his room. His room ? His house ? No, not really. Not anymore. And he was grateful for that and smiled all the more as the aroma of invigorated coffee filled the air, perhaps the but thing Sirius could prepare properly.

When he pushed open the doors to the kitchen of Number twelve, Grimmauld Place, he found Sirius working feverishly in front of the range. His wand was casting spell after spell, not so a great deal at the food preparation, but in an effort to realise the smoking that was billowing throughout. Harry walked over and turned down the flame with a wafture of his hand.

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

"No, really, I wanted to relieve oneself you breakfast. You know, first day of school and all."He cracked an egg and put both liquid and plate in the same stadium and started mixing it with his wand. Harry chuckled kindly and excite his head in skepticism. It was great being free of Privet parkway, to be here with his godfather, to feel wanted and appreciated. It was probably the maiden time he had ever opened a package of 1st Baron Verulam for breakfast without a acidulate sense of taste in his rima oris. He gave Canicula a flavor that said,"Get real,"and then positioned himself squarely in front of the stove.

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

"You know,"said Sirius pouring two cup of burnt umber,"I hear New House of York is salient at Xmas time. Have you ever been to the States ?"Harry throw off his head."Maybe we could go for a quickly visit."

"I promised Gabri—"

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

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

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

Canicula ate like a dog and finished in about three minutes. Harry was more pensive, and while he did finish, it took him much longer. The nicest affair about being of age was that he didn't have to take the air or take a car to go to male monarch's Cross Station. For that matter, he didn't need to go to King's Cross at all ; he could Apparate to Hogsmeade and walk in from there. Only the Head Boy and question girl had to take the train with their housemates, and this class the nous fille was none other than Hermione farmer. Odd, Harry thought, considering she'd nearly killed Theodore Nott live year. He smiled and took another sip of coffee. Hermione didn't know who the psyche Boy was, but it wasn't Ron. Still, the redhead and his girl were inseparable and so Harry would be travelling too. When Harry told Gabriella he would be going to Hogwarts by gear, her expression fell momentarily and grew concerned.

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

"Any more Bacon ?"asked Sirius rummaging through the crusted pans about the stove.

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

Sirius poked at it a few sentence, and then finally took a bite. His face took on a fragile bitter tone as it scrunched ever so slightly, then he took another sharpness, shrugging his articulatio humeri. His tooth and tongue covered in charcoal he said,"You'd better get ready. Is your body packed ?"He glanced at the hourglass on the counter.

"Er… yeah,"Harry lied."Just a few more things."He levitated his plate to the sink which was piled senior high with slew and pan from the last few 24-hour interval."Do you want me to take tending of these before I—"

"I'll take tutelage of it,"Dog Star lied."Go get yourself ready."Harry shrugged and nodded his head, and started up the step, once again scratching his tummy and knowing replete well it would be years, perhaps weeks, before the sink was cleared.

It was strange really, getting set up for his last twelvemonth at Hogwarts. So often he was rushed in the bunko game and bustle of the Weasley mob. This year, however, Harry wanted to be with his own family — Sothis pitch blackness. And it was the best decision he'd ever made. It had only been a few days, but in that shortsighted time Sirius and Harry did absolutely… nothing. There were opportunity to tattle about the old days when Sirius palled around with St. James ; there were probability to practice advanced piece or learn the operation of some of the gilded tool that still lined the paries in the Black category bailiwick ; there were times when they could hold discussed how Harry brought Sirius back from behind the curtain ; and at every turn, at every open door, Harry and Sirius simply took the time to savour each former in the here and now. They played cheat ; the act cards ; they raced Caduceuses across the London sky at nighttime ; they drank, probably too much ; and they laughed more than they had laughed in a long, long time. Sothis'middle had never been brighter, and Harry's meat had never been lighter.

This metre when Harry readied himself at the strawman doorway to forget, there was no dark cloud hanging over their heads, but rather an bore excitement about the yr to fall and what it would work. They drew strength from each former knowing that whatever war was around the corner, whatever darkness rose on the purview, they would face up it together. For a moment they just stared at each other and around the room.

"Er… Right then,"began Dog Star."Off you go."He nervously patted the sides of his hips with his hands.

"I'll… I'll owl you when I get in,"replied Harry. Sirius nodded. secrecy."right wing, then."There was another prospicient pause."Bloody nether region,"Harry cursed and he walked over and pulled Sirius to him tightly with a opulent hug. Sirius responded in kind.

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

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

He Apparated to an out of the way location just down the street from King's hybridisation Station and began walking. The belatedly morning was clear-cut, and he was surprised to find the air so moth-eaten. He'd been spending so much sentence inside with Sirius he hadn't thought much about the weather. His coat was in his trunk, and he didn't feel much like opening that in the midsection of a street filled with Muggles. He shivered, rubbed his arms, and continued on his way. He was coming to the first steps of the station when a mendicant boldly stepped in movement of him demanding a contribution. Wearing a right three 24-hour interval'shuck, his clothes were lousy, and his breath smelled strongly of alcohol.

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

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

"Surely a schilling ?"

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

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

"phone call me a boy again, and you—"

"You'll what !"spat the drunk, stepping toe-to-toe with Harry. The survey was a bit risible since Harry was not the small child he once was. Indeed he was a strapping immature man, and he stood a good four inches taller than his adversary. Curling the fingers on his the right way hand, he was about to say just what he'd do when a familiar tingling ran up his spine. He grabbed for his wand, but too late. Or at least it would have been if he had been the target. The drunk stood motionless, eyes glazed, torso frozen in position. Harry looked up just as a hand gently took him by the arm.

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

The man, still in his stripling, wore a dark gray-headed suit with thin bluing piping, a burgundy tie and white shirt. The shadow glassful reminded Harry of old Henry James Bond film, but the white lawn tennis horseshoe with red lacing told Harry at once he was dealing with a wizard. Then he noticed the shape of the jaw, the articulation, but the hair—

"Finnius ?"Harry asked, wondering if he was talking to the one-time Head Boy of Hufflepuff who at graduation had a start at a face fungus and hair that hung down to his waist."I thought you were going to startle a isthmus ? The… er, The Grindly toilet ?"

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

"Why ? What's the thing ?"

"Well… see, I'm supposed to—"

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

Finnius pulled Harry by the arm just as the drunk began to descend to his sess. Quickly, they climbed the steps and found themselves in a sea of masses heading to their platforms at king's mark. 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 agitation and sake. He hadn't heard from her all summertime, and she wasn't at the Joining with Singehorn."Is she okay ? Where is she ?"Finnius continued to usher Harry toward platform nine and three-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 at the Ministry last twelvemonth, she's been in and out of hospital and… well, now she's in and… well, she made me promise. See ?"

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

"Ah, here we are."They were at the platform."Just in time too !"Before Harry could say another intelligence, Finnius gave him a bit of a shove and he plunged through the rampart and found himself on the other side standing just in front of the Hogwarts express. Harry dropped his bole, reached for his wand and started back toward the wall when he was tackled from the side. The news bulletin of raven black whisker 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 damage ?"And then she too looked at the rampart to the external world."Who's out there ?"

The frustration on Harry's nerve was clear ; he was about to charge back out when his eyes caught something he had never before seen : Neville Longbottom was hugging his parents, Frank and Alice, good-bye. Alice held his case in her paw and planted a big wet kiss on his boldness. They were all smiling as Neville wiped it with his arm. Then Frank Longbottom handed his son something and, as Neville wrapped his digit about the physical object, a more life-threatening expression came into his oculus. His dad slapped him on the shoulder and a slim down smiling appeared again as Neville boarded the train.

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

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

"ALL ABOARD !"the conductor called.

"doyen said he'd save us a spot,"said Gabriella, taking grip of Harry's hand. Harry took one last aspect at the rampart behind them, and then the two boarded the train. The corridor was crowded with scholarly person, particularly firstly geezerhood who were completely confused. What was obtrusive, however, was that the normal limit of house zones seemed to be somewhat blurred. There were Slytherins purposefully mixing in with Ravenclaws near the strawman of the railroad train, and a mathematical group of third class Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors in another carriage playing snap. A few gondola down Harry just caught a glimpse of someone in Gryffindor robes disappearing into a carriage and so he and Gabriella followed. He pushed open the carriage door only to walk in on Neville and Helen of Troy kissing ; a sweet sweetness filling the air.

"Oh,"said Harry."Sorry."Neville had Helen up against the wall and there was some form of vine with delicate pink bloom wrapping itself around her arm and stomach. She was wearing a grin and blushing slightly."Er… seen Dean ?"Neville who seemed about three column inch taller than when Harry survive saw him which was only a few workweek ago spoke through a beaming smile.

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

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

They continued moving forward past various carriages when the trice of red hair caught Harry's eye. It was Ron, and he was bickering with Hermione. The flooring of the equipage they were in was littered with clothes, record book and several matter Harry knew to be Ron's, most notably by the overabundance of socks.

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

"Is that a threat ?"shot back Ron, holding both work force on his articulatio coxae and kicking at the raft of clothes on the trading floor. Gabriella walked in first.

"Is there something unseasonable ?"she asked gently, Harry only a footfall behind her.

"No, nothing's wrong,"snapped Ron immediately."Er… hey, mate !"he said with a wave at Harry.

"He's lost his sceptre,"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 apparel on the carriage storey. The steeled feeling of fire in Ron's heart said that they had certainly tried that and many other affair and would Harry just not make any other suggestions because Hermione has already made every possible suggestion known in the Wizarding creation and none of them have worked.

"Hermione,"said Gabriella with a tone that Harry had come to know all too well, and yet was still new to Hermione."Perhaps one of my Slytherin housemates is playing a magic trick, most in all likelihood Teddy. Would you join me and perhaps together we can clear this slight problem."Knowing Hermione's disposition toward Nott, Harry wondered if it was a Stephen Samuel Wise idea to put the two in close proximity, but Gabriella may consume been on to something. Certainly Nott would sustain the motivation to root for 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 Thomas More look at Ron before she left and said,"And don't you stop looking !"The moment the girlfriend departed, Ron flopped down on the carriage bench and blew the hair out of his eyes.

"Bloody hell."

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

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

There was a here and now of silence as Harry watched the countryside slip by. It wasn't the same gearing as six years ago, but it might as well have been.

"Yeah,"said Harry, almost in a susurration as he nodded his nous,"I remember."

"matter haven't changed much."

"They've changed loads."Harry reached forward and pulled on the minuscule 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 Potter, Protector, guardian and emissary, the mavin that destroyed Voldemort and brought peace with the giants, and I'm Ron Weasley the kid that can't bump his BLOODY verge !"At the final parole 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 doorway shut, but it wasn't there. He growled like a lion and was about to physically slam the threshold shut when Patrick O'James Whitcomb Riley, now in his second year, poked his head through.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Why don't you and St. James the Apostle stay in here,"offered Harry."I haven't heard from the Changjiang all summer and was wondering how Cho was doing."At these quarrel, 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 theater he wants doesn't he ?"

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

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

"Yeah, it was."

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

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

"Er…."

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

"He didn't shoot 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 bridge player and pulled him close to her.

"No, but he didn't dare use a Cross tidings or raise his part,"said Hermione."Quite the gentleman for a change."

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

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

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

"There, you see !"said Gabriella,"Another mulct deterrent example. James II was one of the better first off year students as I recall."Ron pulled out his baton and looked at it closely.

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

"Oh, don't be cockeyed,"said Hermione, slapping his hand. Then she turned to Harry, trying heavy to push aside the mickle on the floor."So how's Canicula doing at Grimmauld billet ?"

The hour passed quickly as lunch came and the deep afternoon brought drooping eyelid to everyone. Dean never made his way back to the carriage, and they never endeavoured to move further up the train. They were all nodding off to sleep when the train began to slow.

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

"No,"said Hermione with a bit of business organisation."It's too early."They all noticed the survive word leave her lips in a puff of smoke -- the air was growing colder by the mo. They knew at once what was happening and each had their wand at the set up. The wickedness outside the railroad train filled with flashes of light. Ministry safeguard had moved out to run into the attack which was centred toward the figurehead of the power train. Incantations filled the air as Patronus after Patronus was being sent out against the attacking Dementors. There were screams all up and down the corridors, mostly from the youngest students.

"Ron,"said Hermione with a commanding voice."Help me conglomerate the commencement years."Ron was up in a flash, and a import later his voice was barking Order down the corridor for everyone to continue calm down, calling for the 1st years to muster at the galley. scholar began to move toward the rear of the train, away from the fighting.

"They're looking for you, Harry,"said Gabriella, holding her sceptre at the windowpane. She cast a piece at the glass, protecting it from onslaught, just as other windowpane began to shatter about the train.

"wellspring they're about to retrieve me !"injection Harry as he started for the door. Gabriella grabbed his arm.

"You can't be grave. Who knows how many are out there. Your best using the gear as a—"The railroad train lurched forward causing collective screams all up and down the corridor. Then it began to travel -- chug… choo-choo… chug… choo-choo… She was quickly gathering speed. There was another flurry of burnished white-hot flashes of scant cast against the dark, and the afternoon light suddenly reappeared and the warmth returned. Everyone cheered as the veil of dark became nothing More than a dark cloud on the horizon behind the train.

A look of fill-in spread across Gabriella's facial expression, but iniquity still remained in Harry's center as he reached and grabbed the radiocarpal joint of the paw that was holding his arm. Slowly, but firmly he pulled her hand away, and looked at her with a very grim verbal expression. She sensed his emotions before he said the Scripture and she didn't like what she was feeling. Finally, he spoke in a unforgiving and heated voice.

"Don't EVER do that again."

"But—"

There was a scream that Harry knew at once to be Ginny's. In a flash he was out the door and down the corridor, only a step ahead of Neville Longbottom, and two steps behind Ron. Ginny was on her human knee in the coach, broken glass everywhere and split streaming down her oculus. 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 chair, but looking out the windowpane at the rural setting running past. It was Gabriella who noticed first.

"Oh, no,"she whispered, stepping past Harry and turning Dean to confront them all. There was a collective gasp. Still breathing, his eyes were vacuous, his face sunken, and his skin almost picket. He gave them no reaction at all. Ginny stood up and wrapped him in her limb, rocking him back and forth. On her finger's breadth was the border Dean had given her the twelvemonth before. The firestone with which it was set had lost its brilliant glow, its firing, its erotic love extinguished.

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




Harry Potter and the onus of Becoming

Chapter 7 - The lost Soul

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Harry clenched his clenched fist and spat,"Fucking war."other than that, only the grumbling of the wagon train and the wind whistling through the shattered window accompanied Ginny's sobs. He stepped future to Gabriella and watched helplessly as Ginny, a somebody mate if ever he had one, rocked back and Forth River with Dean in her blazon. Dean, breathing but lifeless, made no response. He might as well be a corpse - he'd be just off. Harry felt the madness edifice within, but something was tempering it, something was focusing it. He gazed into nothingness as dope streamed by the broken window and a bust tracked down his cheek.

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

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

"It won't do any good,"sentiment 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 thinker as he watched the green Hill roll by - a picture perfect day. Finally, his psyche found its clarity."This was past tense pardon,"he thought to himself and his paw clenched tightly about his wand as he pulled it to the cook."I'll kill them ! I'll kill them all !"He would Apparate back down the rail and destruct every Dementor that moved. He began the wrist bowel movement when Gabriella grabbed his arm. His oculus shot fervour into hers."I told you—"he began.

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

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

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

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

baton began to look from everyone.

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

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

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

spokesperson ? interpreter ! She couldn't be grievous. She had wanted to work with him on the part, the gifts of those who had touched him at the connection, but he chose instead to pass his time with Sirius. All those present at the Joining on Singehorn's muckle were, in respective way, a part 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 digit.

"I can't."

"You must."

For a minute, as Thomas More spokesperson clambered about the corridor for a countermove on the Dementors, he tried to turn over down deep inside, calling to those who had shared of themselves, scanning through countless memories, snippets of pictures that spanned centuries.

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

"seminal fluid on, Harry ! Let's kill them !"mortal called from behind. It was Antony Goldstein. Very well said, thought Harry, but Susan B. Anthony's Patronus would be lucky to push away a single Dementor let alone dozens. Unfortunately, before Harry could say another Book, Anthony gave Harry the most odd look and shouted,"For our family line, mate !"There was a pop and Goldstein was gone. It was followed by another pop and another ginger nut. Senior students were Disapparating from everywhere.

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

"Mama's seen them, Harry,"said Gabriella above the snap bean and pops."She may sleep together. Think of her… be her !"

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

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

icon filled Harry's judgement. picture of what was, what is, what might be. He saw Dakhil, a much new looking Dakhil, blood dripping from the corner of his sass ; he saw himself hanging from the windowpane on Privet cause, an odd glow surrounding his half-naked consistency ; he saw Grigor looking cruel and defiant ; he saw the frigidity dead eubstance of Antreas, stab wound covering every inch of his bare thorax ; expiry, and then he saw them.

It was Nox and the only sound, beyond a alone screaming in the darkness, was the raspy breathing space of the oncoming Dementor. Just a few foot away, a young girl was cowering beneath the cloaked figure. Just to her left wing was a man, somewhere in his lately twenties, a flying dragon emblazoned on his right field forearm. Ignoring the man, the Dementor pulled back his lens hood revealing its skull-like masquerade of repugnance, a tumid yap where perhaps a mouth should be. The vision seemed so real Harry tried to strive for his baton, but found his limb shackled to a Oliver Stone wall.

The girl screamed as the Dementor drew in its breathing spell in a bang-up wheeze. Another scream… another wheeze. On the third wheeze, the girl made no audio ; her benumb eyes opened, staring blankly up at her attacker. It was then, as if empowered with a secondment vision, Harry saw it : the glow. He watched the faint golden white light being pulled into the hole in the Dementor's orifice. He expected it to melt into the swarthiness, but it didn't. The Dementor pulled his bonnet up over his skull, but Harry could still perceive the gleaming trying to fight its way out. It was as if the Dementor was shining, backlit by a spot from above."I see,"Harry whispered and the shadow rushed away to be replaced by the lighter and rumbling of the racing Hogwarts Express.

"I see !"cried Harry."I…"He paused."Soseh can see,"he said slowly shaking his head."Soseh has the gift, I don't, at least not yet. I haven't tried. There's no way I can—"Gabriella's eyes were fixed on his. He knew she bore her mother's gift of muckle, and her centre 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 time, then… then you use the endocarp to absorb back Dean's liveliness 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 attack and the flight of the students they'd be blasting Dementors right and left. With one improper spell, doyen's soul would be lost forever.

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

On two, they both Apparated back into the darkness. It was as if they had just landed themselves in the midriff of an sinister thunderstorm that had extinguished the sun. All was total darkness save for the split second of lighting - wandlight from the attacking students. Harry felt the heat energy rushing out of his bones and heard the screams in his ears.

"Can - you - see - the - one ?"Harry yelled over the din. His representative held hope, but his heart had none. There were at least a hundred Dementors swarming about, skimming across the hillside, trying to decide if the recently arrived hotshot were to be feared or consumed. Harry saw a Patronus, the material body of an enormous owl, dip into a group of about a half twelve Dementors and sent them flying. About xxx yards away, near a standpoint of trees, Goldstein's scepter was doing little more than lighting up the minuscule clearing of grass in front of him. A Dementor was closing in on him when three bookman from Ravenclaw converged, simultaneously casting an Incendio spell and incinerating the wight. Harry's gist 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 mob. Harry conjured a stag that split the sea of Dementors, if only for a mo, the severance closedown behind the shining animal as it passed through. But in that present moment, Gabriella squeezed Harry's arm.

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

They were plunging right into the heart of the swarm of blackness. Gabriella was moving more swiftly. She let go of Harry's arm and began to jog ahead. Harry followed sending another Patronus ahead of her and splitting them away. Rather than focus on Harry and Gabriella, the Dementors seemed to prefer the comfortable quarry near the tree and began to move away. He could hear the screeching behind him as Gabriella pulled her verge and uttered something in Armenian. A Patrick White glow enveloped her as if she held a star at the tip of her wand. She pressed on ever forward, her rate gathering speed, but her wand dimming as each new Dementor tried to perforate its glowing surface.

"rush, Harry !"she called back. The terrain was rockier here and they were moving along the side of a pitcher's mound and the promote they moved along the more steep the incline grew, making it more difficult to traverse. Harry heard a collection of snap fastener behind him ; the Aurors had arrived. He looked back at the smashing cloud of Dementors unwittingly racing toward the new accumulation of emotions. Just as he turned back to take care at Gabriella his foot slipped on a stone and his ankle twisted under his exercising weight. He fell to the ground and tumbled a good twenty animal foot down the side of the hill, scraping the side of his leg badly before he came to rest.

He looked up and saw the flickering gleaming of Gabriella's sceptre disappear over the sharpness of the J. J. Hill. Three Dementors swarmed over him - it was the hold up thing they ever did. blacken parentage sprayed all over the undercoat 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 clew what to do when he came upon the Dementor they wanted. Gabriella had said to use the Harlan Stone, but how ? And how would he keep the Dementor from simply fleeing ? His articulatio talocruralis throbbing, Harry past another large tree diagram and came up over the side of the hill. The ground opened up beneath him, running down maybe twenty yards and then spreading out into a immense knit stitch that stretched on until it disappeared into the dank mist of darkness. sun was trying to fall into place the misty swarm of blackness casting an eerie red glow over the green landscape before him. It was then when his affection sank.

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

The shield failed, and Harry heard her riot. 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 land as if a snapping Hydra were ever at his heels. He was perhaps fifty G away when an tremendous red light burst from Gabriella's wand, filled the air about her, and one of the Dementors burst into flaming. Harry could hear its gurgling cries as it tried to fly away, but plunged into the Gunter Grass starting a small fire, Black smoke billowing upward. Harry was now xx thou away as he watched the arcsecond Dementor crouch over Gabriella and he heard her riot.

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

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

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

"Really, Nicolas ? An enchanted aureate concatenation will trap them ? I never heard of such a thing."

The Dementor's growing wheeze signalled its approach when Harry grabbed the tiny halcyon chain off Gabriella's cervix. He rolled her to the side, feeling the dusty approaching from behind. With one finis bully crusade he heaved himself upward, tossed the chain of mountains in the air and cast a spell he had never uttered before, but one that Dumbledore knew. The tiny golden chain grew snakelike in conformation and dimension, but its head was the top dog of a lion with flaming red eyes. With the moving-picture show of his baton Harry levitated the glow, aureate, lion-headed snake toward the coming cold, and it began to coil itself around the Dementor several times. unit of ammunition and round in less clip than it takes to untie a shoelace the Dementor was cinched tight from head to toe. Struggling to escape, the Shirley Temple Black animal could not move 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 stone. Use the pit before the others come."

The vivificus stone had not been used since it was charged at the connexion. Singehorn had told Harry that ardor was good but love was something far more endurable. And the Lucy Stone, snuggled close to Harry's liver, was already covered in Harry's profligate. All that remained was the incantation :"braveness, Wisdom, Love."

In an instant, Harry found himself in what he had, in his own mind, decided was an lobby of sorts. All was white waiting for his asking. For a moment his mind hovered on Gabriella, but he knew he was forbidden on using it to the advantage of another in the Votary. Instead, he called to the spread out jazz,"Show me doyen's soul !"

He expected to see a swirl of gloss, but instead he saw a swirl of black. His heart skipped for fearfulness that he had done something wrong, but his own look held tight to the demand to make unnecessary his Quaker if at all possible. The darkness bed cover before him and in this emptiness a stench filled Harry's anterior naris. It was then when he realized where he was, what he was entering - the liveliness force of the Dementor.

Blackness and rot filled his sight. Strands of oily vulcanized fiber hung from above and when Harry looked to see their beginning, all that was visible was talk darkness. He was reminded of the crevasse into which he and Sothis had fallen and a very real function of him wanted to leave this space as quickly as possible. He was cold-blooded and growing colder as he forced is bear in mind's eye to push onward into the depth of the Dementor's essence, an insatiable need to feed.

At first, the sounds were upstage echoes coming from down a long burrow, voices perhaps, or animal screaming. Harry moved toward the audio and found the darkness pressing in all around him. Though in here he really had no corporeal bod, something wet and viscous splattered against his human face ; the desire to wretch was strong. Then he heard the sound again.

Yes, they were howler, but human sidesplitter, calling just ahead. Floating deeper into the iniquity, his foot tangled on something he could not see. He pulled and freed himself and then realized his teeth were chattering."This is not possible,"he thought to himself and now an even big contribution of him wanted to rejoin."I can't do this."He glanced back to see a tiny spell of white no prominent than a postage stamp mi away. He could be there and back to condom in the flash of a sentiment.

Then he heard a voice, clear and strong above the others, telling them to quiet down, to listen. It was intimate, but it wasn't James Dean's. There was something nurturing about this voice, something that made one feel safe. Harry pressed forward. It felt comparable hours, although it was probably little more than the time it takes a star to twinkle, when he saw the deliquium golden glow ahead. He ached and felt that at any moment 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 torso he felt the sensation of ice-cold handwriting pulling at his sprit, trying to contain him, but still he moved ahead. The frigidness was unbearable, the sense of veneration was overwhelming, and that's when he saw him, towering tall above the others huddled in the black gunk : Mr. Silverton. It was the same thaumaturge from Hogsmeade that had tried to save Draco's life the year before, but had failed in the attempt. Harry had always seen him as a rather modest yet friendly man when he visited Hogsmeade, but here he stood taller than life, translucent in a aureate splendor.

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

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

"assistance,"he pleaded in a decrepit, gravelly voice."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 nous summoned the psyche toward him. Silverton stood firm as if guarding the procession, guiding them toward Harry's summons. First, and most willing, came Dean, then a Pres Young young woman with fatal hair… a boy with brightly blue eyes… and on… and on…. Each soul came to… came into Harry as if he were an enormous vacuity pulling them in. When the utmost left the slop at Silverton's feet the old maven smiled.

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

The common cold was pressing in on Harry once again, fighting one end desperate attack to keep back its precious hoarded wealth as Silverton floated toward Harry.

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

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

"Home."

The lightlessness began to rush away with a neat tearing sound. Harry felt as if his ramification were being pulled backward by a tether that held him tight to the earthly concern hindquarters. Flashes of varying shades of gray screamed preceding, and then with a tremendous wooosh Harry found himself back in his eubstance on the grassy field looking upward at the milky-blue sky.

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

He felt dizzy, then potent, more right than he had ever felt. But then he realized why ; he still held their life power. He could use this zip, this major power in the war to fare. They could be winning ! Then, a slow suspiration slipped past his lips, and before he lifted his fountainhead off the grass he closed his heart and whispered,"Hhhhome."It was a long, slow, breathless word that sent gelidity down Gabriella's spine. He could feel the energy plinking out from within him as each soul drifted upward. Perhaps it was a hallucination, for Gabriella said later she saw no such imaginativeness, but before Harry the translucent bodies of all the children hovered for a moment just above him. They looked down, smiling when at last Mr. Silverton emerged. He took the small young lady's hand and in the succeeding bit they all rose above the crown and disappeared from mint, Dean travelling with them ever upward.

Harry was certain he heard doyen's spokesperson 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 golden chain that surrounded the Dementor."This is yours I think,"he said softly.

"But—"

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

The air blasted with the report of two aloud tonic as a duo of Aurors appeared clad in red Ministerial robes. One noticed the Auror some railway yard away on the ground still stiffened by Harry's piece. The other reached down to help Harry and Gabriella to their animal foot.

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

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

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

He was a bit dizzy and confused, but he grabbed a carriage room access handle and pulled himself up to his feet, taking a shaky step 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 clenched hand and then at her center and smiled."Thank you,"he said softly."Did I ever tell you that I thought you were brilliant ?"Her face did not smile back. Her nerves were too wracked with business concern as her eyes darted up the corridor.

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

Two motorcar down there was a throng of students that only parted when they realized who it was. When Harry made it to James Byron Dean's car he stepped in to look straight in on Ron's back. His wearing apparel were a mess of mud and true pine needle, and the side of his shirt was torn, splotch of origin seeping through, red mixing with plash melanize. His red hair draped down over an arm that was hugging him tight. It was Ginny's and she was crying. Harry's heart plummeted and he dropped his head ; they had failed. James Dean had died.

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

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

It was dean's vocalization, talking about Ron. It was shaky but net and Harry watched as two implements of war of deep chocolate wrapped around the redheaded sidekick and baby in a with child hug.

"Dean ?"choked Harry, his heart skipping out of his breast and the pourboire of his fingers and pads of his feet starting to tingle.

"Harry ?"asked doyen from behind the Weasley's. Ron spun round and, as he did so, Ginny saw Harry. She immediately let out a squeal of joy. A second gear later her arms were around Harry, tears streaming down here brass and sunniness rising up all around the gearing. Soon, they were all hugging. Word bedspread that the counterattack had been a success, at least with the assist of the Aurors that had been guarding the train. If it hadn't been for—

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

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

Harry turned to see a very contuse and a very battered Mark Antony Goldstein. There was dehydrated grass in his hair and a bit of blood at the corner of his back talk, and he still clutched his wand as if cook to cast off another spell at whomever or whatever might hybridise him.

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

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

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

"That's the one !"

Everyone turned to see two Aurors in their embattled Ministerial robes making their way through the throng of students. One, the one pointing his finger at Harry, was promptly recognized. It was the Auror Harry had dropped in the sphere. He was holding the early Auror by the sleeve and pulling her almost against her will.

"That's the one, right there - with the glasses. I'd recognize the face anywhere. Greasy little git."The span parted the bunch and were now the right way in movement of Harry."Thought you could get away with it, did yeh ? Little derriere. You could stimulate had us all killed."Then he turned to the other Auror, a very tall char with deep gamy centre and an construction somewhere between exasperation and debilitation. She was about to say something when Anthony Goldstein stepped in front of Harry.

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

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

"What's this ?"the Auror yelled, and he pulled his wand. In reception, over two dozen wands suddenly appeared pointed directly at him, inch from his grimace. The char reached up to pull her companion's helping hand down just when there was another voice from the far end of the carriage.

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

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

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

"That was James Byron Dean, sir,"answered Harry.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With the tiff and fighting over, most the students returned to their pram, muttering about the struggle as they went, and the crowd in the corridor thinned. Chester A. Arthur Weasley put his arm around Harry just as Hermione entered the gear 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 pastor started down the corridor he could see Hermione catch Gabriella's bridge player and heard her ask what had happened as they disappeared into the equipage with James Dean, Ginny and Ron.

"Harry,"began Mr. Weasley,"I need to speak with you about something very important. I was hoping to consider 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 school, I'll call for you."

"What is it, sir ?"

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

"I don't hold a lot faith 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 important to hash out 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 in conclusion week. But if what you say is confessedly about Malfoy and the Dementors, and certainly this flack points to that, we must act soon and we must act decisively. It's time to claim the offensive."

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

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


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 8 - Engaged

~~~***~~~

The snitch flitted upwardly time and time again only to be snatched into his deal after every escape valve. He was actually getting quite good at it really. Nearly twenty moment without a—

"Damn !"

The Snitch slipped through doyen's fingers and began to zip about the son'hall, bouncing off the rampart above Harry's head. With a flash, few but Ginny Weasley could appreciate, Harry had his bridge player around the winged orb.

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

Madame Pomfrey had prescribed the exercise of snitch snatching as a sort of therapy to avail James Byron Dean regain control of his neuro-synapses. Even though Harry had returned Dean's person, he was feeling somewhat disconnected from himself. It was hard to explain just exactly how he was disconnected. Sometimes he would achieve for something, like a shaker of salt, and it would fumble through his fingers for no ground. Sometimes his love for Ginny was strong, while at other times it seemed as if he had no feelings for her at all. In Magical Arts, doyen would paint portrait of dame, beast, or even multitude but the picture wouldn't motion ; 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 mortal reattached,"Madame Pomfrey had said shortly after they had arrived at Hogwarts castling. Her solution was to try to re-stitch James Byron Dean's soul by having him exercise both his body and emotional state.

Ginny held steadfast at Dean's side of meat ; a lesser char would throw left at once. Watching the two of them these endure few 24-hour interval, Harry wondered if his love for Gabriella would be capable to withstand such a test of faith. Somewhere, deep down inside, he felt it would, perhaps it already had, and he smiled as Ginny stroked dean's back, encouraging him to try again.

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

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

"Thanks,"said James Dean with a unaccented smile. They kissed and Ginny turned toward the staircase down to the park room.

They had been at Hogwarts for three days and even though the companion rhythm of classes and course work pulsed on at Hogwarts, something was distinctly unlike. Maybe it was the attack on the train, the anticipation of what was to come, or simply that they were in their final twelvemonth. Whatever it was, there existed, near certainly, a tangible gumption of anticipation as if it any mo something spectacularly howling, or devastatingly dreadful 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 blazon behind his head."I wish I knew why… sometimes…"Dean let out a large sigh and turned over on his incline, his back toward Harry. Over the last year, James Dean had grown confident in his relationship with Ginny and Harry no longer throw off the foundation on which their kinship was anchored. Dean continued,"I think… maybe this year at Christmas—"

There was a sudden scream from down in the Gryffindor Common elbow room. It was Hermione's sidesplitter ; Harry was trusted. Not an flash later, Ginny cried out, followed by a cacophony of screech that rivalled the arriving owls during the morning post.In an instant, both Harry and James Byron Dean had their wands at the set up, and started cautiously for the landing. Just as Harry was about to look down on the park room below, Patrick appeared from the endorsement year'dormitory ; his wand also drawn and his face concerned. There was a third gear yr passing Patrick and running the other focussing, trying to run away whatever peril was causing the flutter. Harry didn't recognize the boy from behind, but the intellection of a coward in his house bristled the back of his neck."A Gryffindor ?"Harry cried out.

The moment's distraction was enough to cause James Dean to bump him slightly from fanny. Harry tried to adjust his ground by stepping forward, only there was nothing on the circular stairway to pace out on. Instead, he completely lost his proportionality and began tumbling, down and around, pass over heals until he landed prostrate onto the trading floor. Dazed, he looked up to see Ron on the solid ground also. well, almost… he was down to one knee, a look of consummate 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, wand at the make. 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 large number of Gryffindors looking down at him, all with rather sweep expressions on their faces. It was Parvati who stepped over and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck opening, pulling him away from Ron.

"You idiot !"she hissed under her breath.

Her cheeks a brighter coloration of red than Ron's hair, Hermione had to pass over her mouth to continue 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 berm.

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

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

"Bloody the pits,"Harry whispered, stunned by what he was seeing. Anapurna pinched his cervix and pulled him to his feet. dean was stepping slowly down the staircase and came to a check on the lower flight, wrapping his arm about Ginny's waist. She had been transfixed, but the strong feeling caught her aid and she wrapped both her arm about Dean, smiling as she watched her crony propose.

"Yeah, yeah,"said Ron, wiping his os frontale with his lead sleeve while still holding out the ring with his rightfield. He was flighty, his hand shaky, and Harry wondered if he wouldn't faint at any mo. But when Ron's eyes rejoined Hermione's the quiver stopped and he regained his voice. He held the ring a bit higher.

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

He never had the chance to finish. In that blink of an eye, Hermione was down on her stifle kissing him deeply, and the park 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.

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

Hermione held out her handwriting and said breathlessly,"Yes !"There was another cheerfulness, more resounding than the number 1, as Ron slipped the rhomb ring upon her digit. They kissed again.

Harry wasn't sure who was responsible, but suddenly food and swallow appeared, and before you could blink euphony was playing, people were dancing and an impromptu party was in wide-cut cut in the Gryffindor Common room. It was flashy and rough, but Hermione had set a silencing charm on the bulwark, and outside of Gryffindor the Nox was quiet. Harry poured himself a drinkable and suddenly felt very awkward. Everyone was congratulating Ron and Hermione, hugging them, smiling. Harry sunk back into the nook. Why hadn't Ron told him that he was about to propose ? He watched the smiles and the laughter, but somehow couldn't find any warmth himself. Indeed, the thinking that were passing through his nous brought back memories of the year before, bad computer storage of jealously and uncorrectable anger. He gulped the drinkable, and poured another.

Still standing in the recess, Harry was watching Neville help dean back up the staircase to the boys'dormitory, when a interpreter startled him.

"Pretty amazin'ain't it ?"

Patrick was seated in a chair next to Harry. How long had he been there ? well-nigh of the jr. students had gone to bed or were ushered away. A deadening Song began to flirt and Ron took Hermione in his weapon system. The candlelight in the commons 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 deglutition."Amazing."

"I mean,"Patrick continued,"to love somebody so much."Still sitting, he pulled his genu up to his mentum and wrapped his arms around his legs just gazing at the social 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 room,"Harry answered with strong step of pride."Merlin, he almost did last yr, More multiplication than I can—"Harry stopped and looked into his glass, drinking the remains in one final splash against the vertebral column of his pharynx. He could find the burn make its way down his breast as he stared at the vacate crank and could feel it fill with guilt. How often had he put both of his friends in peril ? They would both sacrifice themselves to save Harry, and if the war was truly coming, and it was, Harry knew they'd risk life and limb once again.

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

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

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

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

"No kids. No orphans."Patrick uncurled his leg and stood up, walking over to Harry."I plan teh fight, Harry. There's no way fer roll in the hay 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 sake, and yer parents are out fightin'Voldemort. Why didn't they just leave well enough alone ? Wouldn't yeh rather have ‘ em at yer slope right now ?"

Harry was warm, his head cloudy, and the familiar screams were calling from the fog in his creative thinker. It's not your battle, Harry. Let it go.

"What is your problem ! ?"Lavender's vocalism snapped. She was only a few in in front end of Harry, and her formulation was very fussy."Are you going to stand here all alone all Night ?"

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

"If you don't think they've noticed,"hissed Lavender,"you're wrong."She grabbed him by the arm."Now get out there and pretend you're happy for them. Falco columbarius knows you'll be the godfather to all their fry ; 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 duet, and then deliberately twirled her partner into Ron just as the song was ending.

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

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

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

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

"I… I'm well-chosen for you ; for you both,"Harry started as Lavender began to teem herself a cup of punch. Still smiling at Ron and Hermione he took the cup out of Lavender's hired hand without asking and gulped it down with one swig."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 regret,"but I didn't pluck up the bravery until you were at Grimmauld Place."Harry just looked at Ron like the solvent made absolutely no sense."You said you didn't want to be disturbed… remember ?"

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

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

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

"And last night ? Were you too officious endure night ?"Harry snapped, and then he remembered not seeing Ron finish nighttime."Where were you anyway ?"Hermione began to flush violently.

"It's none of your bloody line where I was last night,"said Ron, his vocalism 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 clothes. The two young men took no notice. Harry balled his right hand into a fist and pulled back fix to let hurl.

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

"You should what ?"he challenged.

They stood there, toe to toe for more than a few wink ; not too long considering their hearts were pounding so quickly. Finally, a modest smiling shattered Harry's scowl and he let go. He threw his right fist past Ron's left ear. Ron saw the smile and returned the wayward poke with an cut from his own mighty hand that flew past Harry's midsection and up under his pass on arm. The two clenched in a machismo sorting of way.

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

"I know,"Ron answered quietly with a affectionate smiling.

"I… I don't want to miss you. Not again."Harry pulled back so that his vision took in both Ron and Hermione."Not now."Hermione stepped close. She remembered uttering the same Book to Harry last year at the Ministry and she remembered what Harry said.

"You're not going to drop off us, Harry,"she said, tenderly taking him by the arm. Harry grabbed her and pulled her into the hug. He'd had a slight too a good deal to tope and his run-in were taking on a speck of regret.

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

"Harry !"

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

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

"Ron !"

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

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

The manse were hushed ; it was nearly curfew. A few pupil were sprinkled here or there, talking or making their way back to their dormitory. Harry walked aimlessly down the gemstone steps and found himself near where Tonks had her old office last year. They had yet to learn who would be teaching Defence Against the wickedness Arts. That class had been cancelled this morning. The lanterns dimmed a bit, signalling that it was fourth dimension to return to the student residence, but Harry didn't hold much by that signal. He'd rarely obeyed it in all his geezerhood at Hogwarts, and he wasn't about to—

"Hey, Potter."

It was Blaise Zabini rounding the moody corner of the corridor and saying Harry's name without a drip of satire. It was odd, Harry thought, to see Blaise so far off the beaten track, especially at this time of Night. Cloak and dagger clobber wasn't parting of Blaise's makeup. The fine-looking superstar was more comfortable standing in the heart of a group of others to be looked at and admired. He hung with genus Draco on function, but never when it meant danger was about. That sort of clobber was for Nott, or Crabbe or G-Greg. A tremble passed down Harry's spine recalling the demise of his friend last year.

"Blaise,"Harry answered with a nod.

The two passed articulatio humeri to shoulder when the tip of Blaise's wand touched Harry's script. 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 translate it.
Do you miss me ? Sorry about the wickedness on the geartrain. Sent soul to discourage you at the place, but an Auror intervened. I heard Weasles bought a pretty expensive ring in Diagon back street. You two aren't engaged now are you ?

Since I can't be there, my messenger is going to help be my eyes and ears at Hogwarts. Don't assure a soul or it may mean his biography. 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 floor and leaned back against the Harlan Stone wall.

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

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

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

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

"Impressive."The word dripped with sarcasm."I would accept thought you would forget my name again the moment you returned to England."He drew nearer and Harry lifted his verge higher."Put your wand away, boy,"rebuked Dakhil sternly,"or I'll… let's see… What do they call it ? I'll take item away from your house. Although why you would like about such meaningless biz when the war is upon you is inexplicable to me."Harry lowered his wand and the light was extinguished. They were in verbalise darkness.

"You can't take—"

"Oh, I believe any prof can—"

"You're not a prof ! You can't… Oh, no."He leaned back against the paries and, in the dark, noticed the reduce speck of lighting emanating from a cracked door, the door to Tonks'office. Harry sighed."vindication Against the nighttime Arts, is it ?"Harry could severalize by the low grunt that a grimace had appeared on Dakhil's face. Clearly, he didn't like the musical theme any more than Harry.

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

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

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

"There is an energy that binds all living matter together, Harry. You draw from it every clock time you cast a spell. It pulsates on the wind as the breathing place of the trees ; it bubbles from the grunge crawling with worms and roofy. In the very glowering of places, it shines as a beacon to all who would holler on its name. It is a skill all members of the Votary learn before the Joining, save for you."Dakhil stopped. The odor was unattackable here, dampness and dank and musty with a strong sense of decay."Even in dying, life is reborn. reach out to it."

"I can't see a bloody—"

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

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

Harry had seen the life history force out of others he had try to heal. It was like going to another sheet of existence. He just needed to…"centering,"he whispered to himself. In the darkness Harry closed his eyes and opened his mind, reaching out for anything however small-scale that might indicate life. At first there was nil, and then a bright glow began to appear, red and throbbing."Dakhil,"Harry thought. And then he saw it, the corridor they were in. Something was glowing on the walls. Mould ? Spores ? It was as if the structure surrounding them were splattered with an eery fluorescent fixture paint and lit up by a blackness lightness."I see,"he whispered in amazement.

"As long as one sees, one is never lost."Dakhil pulled his wand and a tremendous flare-up of brightness level shattered against the bulwark breaking through to open air. The two emerged from some broken down hovel into the depths of the forest.

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

"Your foeman, even though they hide behind such grand social organization are brighter still. It is a crucial attainment. With one handwriting, Dakhil pulled Harry out of the splinters of Mrs. Henry Wood and stood him on his feet in the forest."Now look up."

Harry looked to the sky. It was sprayed with star of every colour imaginable. But in the heart and soul was a dingy lambency brighter than all the others, a fortunate lead following it in the sky.

"Ebyrth,"Harry whispered.

"Correct, Mr. Potter,"said Dakhil, slapping Harry on the berm. He started walking past the tree back to the palace which glowed bright through the branches."As I said earlier, your clock 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 matter, at least, in common."

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

"We are both already dead."




Harry Potter and the parturition of a New Sun
Chapter 9 - The deflection of Space and sentence
~~~***~~~


The rhythmic thrashing of Gabriella's center lulled Harry as she stroked the side of his principal with her hand. He sighed deeply as she played with the mite of curls that wrapped about his shoulders. He forced himself to stay awake, if only to relish every moment that he was being held in her arms. Through the thin dent in his eyes he watched the lake vanish and reappear into purview as his chief rose and fell with each breath she took. The sparkling waters brought his brain to the beaches of Lebanon and he visualized walking with her at the ocean, watching the waves crash again and again against the shore. It would be a arrant place to ask her, he thought. A gentle cinch brought with it the cool breath of spill and for a mo he thought he could smell the cool table salt air of the sea. Yes, the perfect place.

"We'll fille dinner,"she whispered.

"I never want to propel again,"he muttered, barely opening his lips. Her mitt slipped down to his shoulder and then stroked the muscles of his blazonry. They were sore and yet with her touch he could sense the aching ebb away.

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

"AYY !"he said, jumping. It was more tickle than annoyance, More quite a little than poke."Not fair ! I was… I was just going…"He closed his eyes and began to lay his fountainhead back down on her breast.

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

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

He drew in a mysterious intimation, shook the retentivity from his idea, and took Gabriella's bridge player, rising to his aching infantry. They both whisked away the dry leaves that clung to the bottoms of their robes and turned toward the castle. Harry could feel the bunko game in his stage as they climbed the rook gradation. Halfway up he stopped, wrapped his arm about Gabriella's waist and paused to look at the lake. She took it as a quixotic present moment and leaned her head against his shoulder. Harry, however, was too sore to abuse eminent. Even Madame Pomfrey's potions weren't decent to get rid of the throbbing that worked its way into both muscleman and bone. A heart in his mightily thigh shot a jounce of hurting up into his book binding and his gaze turned toward the forest.

Working for Hagrid ? No. For the last few weeks he'd been training with the Centaurus. Only he'd felt uncomfortable sharing that with Gabriella. He had never been able-bodied to bring up a conversation with Gabriella about them without her making an excuse to change the bailiwick. It was clear she did not like Centaurs, but she never explained why and Harry was unwilling to push the issue. Another pang flicked down the muscle of his left over calf and his nous drifted to the day's training academic term. Recalling why his ramification hurt so, he wasn't so sure he liked Centaurus either.

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

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

"Ayyy !"he cried, slashing his understructure against a jagged pit.

"Run !"

Perhaps he was faulty.

He had been forbidden to use a scepter, and wore naught but a thong made of tree bark wrapped about his shank with a sheath for a minor obelisk used to slash at vines and other vegetation that blocked his way as he ran. In one mitt he held the dagger and in the other he carried a I. F. Stone nearly too great to fully apprehend. In conflict he would carry a cuticle, but a stone was more awkward to manage, forcing Sir Thomas More muscles to snarf and assure it. He was being trained as all Colt were. In fact, there were two colts running far ahead of him already - Shahan, with a coating so dark Harry could no longer see him in the distance, and Felspar, whose bright gabardine coat shone like a star ahead - way ahead. Sweat dripped into his eyes and he wiped his hilltop with his right field forearm. Running blindly he slashed wildly at a Tentacula that reached for his neck.

"You should have seen that, stripling, long before it struck at you !"holler Ronan, loping along. There was the sound of a thwwwwp and a few footstep ahead Harry saw a great spider dead near the track he was taking, an arrow between its eyes. Looking back as he ran ahead Harry tripped on a root, twisted his ankle and fell to the ground, his left stifle grinding into a collection of small stone. The fingers of his forget mitt were crushed between the Harlan F. 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 rest, Harry reached his hand forward and without saying a word the obelisk returned to his grasp. There was a slight oink from Ronan. It was neither disparaging, nor approving. It was more a grunt of gratification, but Harry did not look back into Ronan's eyes to see if the gratification was directed toward him. His human knee and hands bleeding, he stood to his substructure and began to run again. Now, even Felspar was out of survey. He'd taken only three or four strides before Ronan called.

"arrest !"

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

"I… I can… overhear them,"Harry heaved.

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

"I hate… riddles,"breathed Harry.

"Shahan and feldspar have been studying for decades the essence of Earth's closed book. It will take them decades more to realize what is already at your fingertips."The Centaur stepped closer, forcing Harry to bend his neck opening upward. A brawn twanged past his mightily ear. Still Ronan advanced until he was only inches from Harry, who could smell the strange mix of fret and haircloth. Ronan looked skyward.

"To see without heart, to finger without fingers, to hear without ears, to taste without tongue…,"he looked back down at Harry and tapped him on the position of his olfactory organ,"…to scent without anterior naris. These are gifts you have already been given, and yet you know them not ; you have but to expose them."With a effort that was but a blur to Harry, Ronan notched another arrow and guesswork at a large flying… thing with large 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 top executive that took your forfeit and cleansed you, the power that has no military posture. What you must master, Harry potter, what you must endeavour to achieve is to be without being."Harry scrunched his nose splotched with dirt.

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

"Take my hand, child,"commanded Ronan.

The moment Harry took the Centaurus's hand the existence spun upon its header. Green River and brown and yellow and amber flashed past them in a vortex of colours. Then, inexplicably, Ronan was gone, and Harry was suddenly running, loping, galloping. He felt giddy, proud, chesty, childish…

"I told you the Wizard was a shammer !"he cried back over his shoulder."Ronan's an old soft touch !"He kicked his heals and speed forward, the wind whistling past his ears.

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

"Nothing but silly Centaur fairytales from a doddering old fool !"Harry yelled back, but his eyes were steadfast forward. The signal flag was ahead ; he could see it, maybe three or four miles ahead. A smile rent across his face, an arrogant grin ; he was going to win this race and try out Ronan faulty, prove to all of them that HE, Shahan, was the Centaur that would write 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 center. Where would you be, Harry thrower ?"

Harry looked back. Behind him was felspar, the dazzling Edward D. White Centaurus that he'd been racing. Then he noticed his own haunches. They were black as black coal. He was Shahan, the lead-in centaur colt. But how ? His pass twisted forward toward the waiting iris and the gather of Centaurus that watched to see if Ronan's prophecy was nothing more than than wind and myth.

Where would I be ?

"The flag,"Harry whispered to himself, to Ronan, to the nullity. He focused again. He knew how to get there with a wand : visual sensation, nerve tract, Reconstruction -- Apparation. But he had no verge and even if he did, there was no way to Apparate in the Forbidden timberland. The signal flag, a red pharos in the distance, was maybe two km ahead of Shahan now and probably three km from where Harry's eubstance stood breathless back in the forest with Ronan. He'd been practicing wandless deception all summer. What if… ?

Harry willed himself from the eyes of Shahan and back to his own body. There was a snap - he had returned, his lungs still gasping for air and Ronan still at his side. Harry closed his eyes and his mind imaged the flag that was ahead ; he imagined being there. Space and meter began to break down, swirling itself, revealing itself. A pathway that moved with his will, guided by Ronan, appeared before Harry. He took in a deeply breath and stepped forward onto the path. The great pair of space between himself and the red flagstone suddenly collapsed. felspar was just out of reach, Shahan appeared to be only a few yard in front line of her, and the red flagstone appeared as just a few X of beat away. Harry began to run. The coloring material of the forest swirled by him, as if everything stood still, including the two Centaurus. He ran past Felspar and then Shahan and, in an split second, he appeared only inches from the flag that marked the end of the backwash. He was surrounded be Centaurus of every colouration, each with fierce eyes marked by only the slim astonishment of his arrival. As he came to rest, he saw, in the distance, Shahan and only a few step behind him Felspar. They were both galloping like the wind, swallowing up Brobdingnagian swath of turf with each pace. They would be upon him soon.

Harry felt it was, somehow, a cheat. Could all centaur bend quad and metre ? His eyes caught Shahan's in the distance, and the once confident, defiant regard turned to one of nearly horror. He galloped faster, as if possessed, but it was no use. With one paw, his bloody left, Harry reached up and pulled the crimson flag from its standard. There was a collective cheer as Harry held the masthead over his oral sex, spinning to register the gathering. It was then that he saw Ronan, standing in the centre of attention of the group of nearly one hundred Centaurs. An instant later Shahan pulled up at Harry's side of meat, his breath heavy, his pelage lathered with sweat.

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

"No,"answered Ronan, stepping forward from the others."He used the skills you yourself may one day master, Shahan."Ronan turned to the early Centaurs."He has been given the gifts."With this there was a general cardiac murmur and neigh 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 slice upon her right battlefront wing.

"I foretold of the coming champion,"Ronan called to the gathering."And yet you did not believe. I sought out the sacrifice against your will, and the weewee 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 passionless acknowledgment of Ronan's'assertion."This,"he pointed toward Harry, naked and bloodstained, his lungs still craving for more atomic number 8,"this is our Sacrifice. Cleansed and returned, he shall head 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 hurt,"said Harry, approaching Felspar and looking carefully at the wounding.

"It was a Bearwicken,"said felspar quietly.

"He's a humbug !"cried Shahan in a tone that was more animated than any Centaur Harry had ever seen. He stepped forward, pushing Harry aside, but Harry ignored the rudeness and focused his care on Felspar."He's no leader ! He's a mavin ! It's wile I tell you."

"Let me avail you,"whispered Harry as he held his open script a few inches away from the gash on feldspar's flank. Harry closed his eyes and muttered the incantation that he knew would go with his baton, and then something caused him to prolong further, to reach beyond. His mitt had not touched the Centaur, but he could finger the blood, slippery wet, between his finger's breadth. He reached out without moving and willed the slice shut, and the slice obeyed, closing as if a curtain had been pulled shut blind drunk about the wound.

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

"The Chosen heals !"asserted a large, female centaur from the gathering. A chestnut coat and no bow about her shoulder, she stepped forward from the others."Did the waters teach you these endowment or is this wizardry ?"The conclusion word was disparaging and even evoked some hisses from the others.

"female parent !"cried Felspar."He's the Chosen. How daring you question his gifts !"feldspar, combat injury healed, turned to Harry and bowed low on one knee joint."As long as Ebyrth shines, I am in your serving. Only dying will chouse us of time."

A bit of other Centaur followed in kind, each bending low to one genu and bowing their heads. Ronan approached Harry, nodding his school principal and bending to one knee as well.

"You still lack intensity level and survival, Harry Potter, but these affair can be learned. Now, it is time to rest."He held his hand to Harry's eyes."takings to the forest's friend."Harry's mind immediately thought of Hagrid."Run !"

The imagination of Hagrid's cabin firmly fixed in his judgment, Harry willed himself there. Again a track opened up and he took off running. here and now later, he found himself where he began the day, seated on Hagrid's chair next to the burning fire, fang laying at his face and Hagrid singing some call in Daniel Chester French. The logarithm on the fire cracked as Harry, still naked, looked at his Gryffindor robes that hung from a sweetener near the door. The way they were draped over the bait they almost looked tangible - lifelike, as if they contained some spirit all their own. Harry's tum churned just as Hagrid turned, surprised to determine Harry in his hut.

"Harry ?"

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

"Harry ? Are you okay ?"

Harry looked down into her eyes and smiled. He was sore and tired ; drab tintinnabulation hung under his centre. The mentation of going inside to face three scrolls on the healing industrial plant of Kirkcaldy was almost too much to bear.

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

"looking at, you're weary and it's time for dinner,"she said, deliberately changing the conversation."We can talk about the hotshot later."Harry nodded silently and together they entered the castle and began to take the air to the Great Hall.

Near a magnanimous courtship of armor Harry noticed St. Patrick talking to St. James Yangtze River. Saint James the Apostle was leaning against the Oliver Stone paries, his arms crossed as well as his leg. He was either extremely blase, or he didn't like what he was hearing. Still, Patrick was quite passionate about it ; his blazonry were swinging wildly about and more than once Harry heard him provoke his voice.

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

Jesse James noticed Harry and Gabriella and stood straighter, stopping St. Patrick's storey with a question of his bridge player. Harry smiled and waved, and James returned the gesture with a smile of his own. Patrick turned to see who James was looking at and when he saw Harry, his face bore an saying of outstanding fear.

"No curiosity,"Harry thought,"I feel like I'm going to blow ball. I must look like hell."As he and Gabriella continued toward the Great Hall for dinner party, the more queasy he felt.

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

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

"I can't climb those."

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

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

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

"What happened ?"

"I'm mulct, 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 tenacious bench beneath a enceinte portraiture of a expectant ninth century conflict scene. Harry hated it here, he always had ; the clangor and collapse of blade against armor was always deafening when the scrapper weren't sipping tea together, discussing whose strategy was master in the close conflict. Ron noticed a bruise beneath Harry's cop and leaned in close to Harry's ear.

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

"CHHHHT,"shot Harry with a blast of air between his clinched teeth, trying to quiet down is friend. Seated between a mind-reader and an empath, Harry had slight hope of keeping anything secret, but he didn't want to discuss his breeding with the centaur in forepart of Gabriella.

"You said you'd take me,"complained Ron."‘ The next metre I go,'you said."Ron crossed his sleeve."I thought maybe this yr 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 a great deal for Ron's sworn oath that he wouldn't tell a psyche. Harry rolled his heart and shook his head knowing that Hermione was only partially adjust. She was right about the spit persona, but Harry knew at once Ron would pick out the protect part the ill-timed way. He did.

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

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

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

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

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

"tryout ?"asked Ron, now with Sir Thomas More interest group than anger.

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

"This morning you were supposed to avail Professor Barghouti's 2nd year class for their DADA lesson,"scolded Hermione, also rising.

"What kind of test ?

"Who are they ?"

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

Harry feigned lightheadedness 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 scan the Harry Potter Scripture long ago. Both fair sex just glared, while Ron was steadfast.

"Can't you see the man's exhausted ? He has to eat !"he exclaimed."Blimey ! springiness him a break for Falco columbarius's sake."He put Harry's arm about his shoulder joint."come on, teammate. Let's get you a snack and then we can go over the weekend's practice agenda. I know Ginny's been playing okay as Chaser and all, but I think if…."

In the Great dormitory, Dumbledore had the houses sit wherever they wished for breakfast and lunch, but for dinner each house ate at divide mesa from the others. It was a compromise between the vision of the future and a respect for tradition. Tonight, Harry was thankful because it meant, for a patch at least, he and Gabriella would be separated. As they entered the Great mansion she kissed him on the cheek, holding his leave hand. He toyed with the favourable ring he'd given her the yr before on Valentine's. There was a twinkle in her center and a sly smile upon her face.

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

"You know already. You just won't public lecture about it."His grinning had a mite of sadness as their fingerbreadth let go of each other. Her twinkle faded and her eyes would not hold his gaze as she turned away. Harry did not reckon back as he followed Ron to the Gryffindor table.

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

"It's a Gaelic helix,"said Lavender, her fingerbreadth tracking the schema of the top of the toadstool.

"A Crane,"countered Parvati, pointing at the long stooping neck of the toadstool.

"That makes no sense,"said Lavender."No, it's a Celtic coil and,"she pointed to some dark inner topographic point,"with these here it would make up eternal life."

"No. See this here ? The way the coil dissolve away ? Not ageless life… life, end, and rebirth. It's clearly a crane,"Annapurna said, pointing out the chick's lineament."Here are the eyes, the loop neck opening, the long legs."She grew more confident with each verbal description.

"Then you're both right hand,"chimed in Hermione. The two young ladies looked up, kayoed expressions on both their faces."The crane represents longevity. Eternal life… longevity… same thing."She shrugged her shoulder joint and took a bite of dinner.

"NooOoo,"both Parvati and Lavender harmonized in a rather long and melodious air."It could think of conjuration if—"

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

"That looks like a muddy pool to me, Harry"said Ron, chewing on a joint of wampum."See the enceinte ripple flowin'down the table."

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

"HERMIONE !"cried Lavender.

"How could you !"scolded Parvati.

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

"seminal fluid on, Lavender."Annapurna spun on her heals and took off, Lavender right behind her, but not before she shot a scathing glare at Hermione. No Sooner had they left the table than Ron let out a hiss, a small-arm of bread shooting from his nose.

"Ronald Weasley, I should…"

"Honestly, Hermione, Harry just wants to eat. You can't begrudge the man his pacification after all he's been through today."Ron took another bite of lolly and looked at Harry's plate."Are you going to eat those ?"he asked pointing at some potato chip. Harry just glared back. Ron shrugged and took another insect bite 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 spoil what you both have."Setting down his fork, Harry looked up at her.

"Oh, right wing, and you two are the bill sticker couple for honest and open discussions."

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

"Don't you think I've tried ! ?"asked Harry, raising his vocalisation just enough for those around him to finish 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 reflexion calm. The look was unnerving because he knew his own verbal expression was giving him away."fountainhead I have,"he insisted, pushing his plate in for dependable measure.

He wasn't certain the dramatic event was having the issue he wanted. Ron simply nipped one of his remnant chips and Hermione only let out a long disapproving sigh. Past the decimal point of return, at least for this literary argument, Harry stood up and left the Great Hall in as foul a modality as he could muster. His idea focused on the Gryffindor mesa, he didn't notice the Slytherin that stood as well and followed him out of the Great Hall.

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

"Your twenty-four hours grow short."

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

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

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

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

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

"I think so, with the decent visible light. If I can take up some…"and the conversation faded away.

Amazed, Harry shook his head and turned toward the portrait of the Fat ma'am.

"word ?"she asked with a smile.

Just before he answered, Harry paused, scratching his chin much as Neville had just done. What was at the Ministry ? The Horcrux that genus 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 giver was still nearby. As much as he hated the thought of climbing back up the staircase, he had to go down and speak with Dumbledore. Besides, the three scrolls on the healing plants of Kirkcaldy could wait till later.


Harry ceramist and the parentage of a New Sun

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




Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.
The silver medal official document rose and fell on Dumbledore's burnt sienna desk as Harry stroked Guy Fawkes'feather, waiting for the schoolmaster to hark back. Not much bragging than a breadbox, it was a strange collection of gears and outflow and Harry spent some time trying to deduce its signification. The contraption, rimmed with fly creatures Harry couldn't recognize, reminded him of a standardised device in the Black kinsperson acres at Grimmauld Place. It too had the Saami circular pack that ran up a notched staircase only the lightlessness device was golden, its winged creature looked more menacing, and Harry had never seen it maneuver.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Tink.

dead reckoning by a bound, another silver ring ran up the staircase only to reach the top, falter, and tumble into a pot below. The pile seemed to be shrinking as Harry stood watching, but he could not see where the rings disappeared to, nor could he discover the generator for the gang that sprung forth from the arse. There it was - a never ending advance that seemed to consume no role.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

Unable to contain himself, Harry reached out and grabbed the silver doughnut before it had a chance to fall from atop the small staircase. The scene changed and he suddenly found himself on the Hogwarts Express walking toward the front of the train, two paces behind Greg Goyle. But, this couldn't be - Greg was drained. It took him a moment to realise that he'd traveled back in prison term. They were about to achieve the front of the geartrain ; Greg wasn't dead, he was about to die.

Harry tried to speak, but no Book came. He tried to reach his hand up to finish Greg, but it would not move. ineffectual to control his motion, Harry could do nothing but watch history stretch as it had finale year. He poked his psyche into a carriage, telling a mathematical group of fifth part years what was up.

"I've been wondering what was taking so long with the food tramcar,"said Ernie Macmillan. Harry explained that the professors had gone missing and Ernie joined him to discern the difficulty. As Harry slipped back out of the carriage with Ernie, Goyle took the point and started toward the front of the caravan. Once again Harry tried to check his friend when, through the glass door to the box ahead, Harry saw a hag in dark gown suddenly appear in the corridor. Anaxarete. Harry wished he could mould a cleanup cuss, but it was no use ; he could do zero. She glanced back, revealing a sinister grinning and piercing K heart. Harry tried to place himself in front of Greg, but was unable to pass Goyle's broad shoulder. It didn't subject ; an blink of an eye later she was gone and an twinkling after that the presence of the gear exploded with a awful white fanfare.

Harry fell to the floor of Dumbledore's berth, the ash grey ringing firmly clenched within his hands. He was shaking, the detonation still ringing in his ears, when he opened his eyes and found Dumbledore looking down at him. The master hang with difficulty to one human knee and held out his hand.

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

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

"What… what is it ?"he asked still shaken. Dumbledore took the ring and placed it back atop the atomic number 47 stairway.

Tink.

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

"It is a retention Scripture of sorts… a exposure album."Dumbledore moved to his desk and sat down, leaning back against his chairwoman."Different for each who reads it."Harry couldn't service but think that the greatest wizard of the age was beginning to testify signs of habiliment. He had grown much thinner since Harry last saw him at the end of the schooltime year, and his hands were beginning to curl in an unnatural way.

"Like a Pensieve ?"Harry asked.

"Not quite, Harry,"replied the schoolmaster."A Pensieve lets you store or dispatch your store so that you can look them over later. You can select the retention to remove, to examine."He leaned forward and held his hands together."This is a Möbius Machine. It reflects a whiz's life history. It is a never ending loop that plays over and over again, shrinking or expanding to suit the viewer. Each argent circle is a curl of a fate of your life. While the rings play in orderliness, there is no way, unfortunately, to determine which memory, which life history experience you will visit."

A shiver past by Harry again, and for a mo he thought he felt the breath of destruction whisper its public figure against the nape of his neck opening.

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

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

"I understand."Dumbledore sighed. He stood and walked back to the twist. He waived his wand and uttered an conjuration and the rings stopped running up the stairway, and fell wherever they were in the rhythm."I wish your retentivity could be happy, Harry. I would hate to see you as a tottering old man, sitting down in a dusty office wondering if you could put on the line reliving the catastrophe that grasping a few rings might fetch. Fawkes quietly vocalized his agreement, as Dumbledore slipped his wand away and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder."I know you have been chosen, Harry. But you need not place yourself between the Centaur and the Dementors ; it is not your war."

"You said it yourself, professor,"said Harry, looking up into Dumbledore's still brightly puritanic 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 thing to do. Lucius Malfoy is going to use this to try and drag in the dark back across this commonwealth, and I won't let him."Harry's own eye were fierce with decision and defiance."I've been training with Ronan."Harry paused."Are Centaurs magical ?"

"Very much so, Harry,"said Dumbledore with a smiling."It is folly for wizards to think they are the most powerful puppet on this ground. You know, of line, Centaurs have keen sight and are skilled with a bow, but these matter are physical accomplishment that many sensation dismiss. Ahh… not so, Harry… not so. Why do you call up a Centaurus never misses his objective ?"Harry shrugged."Because a skilled Centaur can be the arrow all the way to its destination, nudging its flight along the way. They can bow space and time, Harry. Even while sensation are unable to Apparate on Hogwarts grounds, Ronan can melt and reappear wherever he pleases simply by using his mind."

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

Dumbledore said null. Harry could evidence by his expression that he was impressed, or surprised, but the old wizard made no word of it. Instead he stood from his chairperson and walked over to his telescope.

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

"It is not your war, Harry,"said Dumbledore still looking into the genus Lens."The Ministry can handle the like of Lucius and his ilk."He adjusted the stress."They have no metier in numbers, no Allies for support, no sanctuary in which to hide. It's only a issue of time."

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

"Lucius is no fool,"answered Dumbledore."He'll remain enshroud for as long as potential and only strike when he thinks he can win."The sensation looked up."He can't win, Harry."But Harry wasn't so sure. He turned his back on Dumbledore and walked over to Fawkes, stroking the hoot's feathers. Harry didn't know how to land it up, but he had to ask.

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

"mystery artillery ?"asked Dumbledore, turning to face Harry more fully."What do you signify ?"

"A… A Horcrux."

The portraits that were earlier minding their own business enterprise, napping, reading the paper, or off to some early seat were suddenly thrown into a tumult. The master of old began complaining at once about the impudence of the vernal man to discuss such subject here.

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

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

Dumbledore finally quieted them all by threatening to bring down a sheet of darkness. His face was tomb, almost picket and the tone of his interpreter was filled with expectant concern. Harry knew at once that whatever a Horcrux was, it was darkness trick, but then… did he expect otherwise ?

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

"Well… I… I heard that…"He stalled and then turned back to face Dumbledore. How could he know 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 motorcar that was now quiesce on the table. He tapped it with his verge and the silver band began to roll again. He took a ring and held it in his hand for but a instant when he laughed and placed it back along its course.

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

"Professor ?"

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

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

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

"I… I suppose she'd be happy."

"But she is happy, Harry. Certainly, if you were to ask, she would wish that he was still at her position, but she is very happy."Dumbledore's hand squeezed the wooden table and he drew in a deep breath. When he turned to look back into Harry's center, his aspect was grave and his own middle exacting."What I'm about to tell you, Harry, is not supposed to forget this room."Harry glanced toward the doorway as if there might be someone there."Harry, I know with whom you would like to share. You should cognise that it is forbidden. I would not even talk of it with you, had you not brought it up first. Do I have your word of honor ?"

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

"Imagine for a moment that I could split you into three people. Not copies mind you, but three distinguishable function of your very essence… your soul. One would ride out with the body you now possess ; the other two would be put away for memory board you might say. If you, the part of you that inhabits the body you now have, were to die, one of the other portion would assay out another physical structure to inhabit… to control. You, role of you, would live again."

"persona of me ?"

"The persona that you hid away."Again Dumbledore turned to the machine on the table."The agglomerate of rings that you see in front of me here, Harry, is large than your was. Why ?"

"You have more memories, more experiences."

"Precisely ! But a split soulfulness would only take with it parcel, phantasm of the memories the master copy individual carried. Imagine, my boy, if you had to choose… what constituent of your somebody would you carve away ? What part of you would remain ? There are many selection. You could carve out the bad memories, perhaps the death of Greg Goyle, and go on believing that he had never died ? But then, what would encounter if you were to die, and the Horcrux storing only the bad memories was released ? What sort of soured soul would remain ?

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

"And it's not just store, Harry. It's also the nub of who we are, what we have become, both honest and malefic, dark and light. A wizard must make up one's mind how to dissever each fade of joy and rue into lilliputian pieces, sprinkling a petty bit of everything into each portion of your person, splintering all you ever were into sherd of fogged glass that can never really be made whole again. Tell me, Harry, what option would you make ?"

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

"No, Harry, nor would I."Dumbledore's shoulders drooped slightly as if a large weight sat straight upon them."Thankfully, most ace and witches would refuse to choose as well. few still know that there is such a way of life one can consume ; and only the most powerful of those would be able to take it."Suddenly looking quite tired, Dumbledore returned to the chair behind his desk and let out a recondite 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 long pause. Harry could get word a act of the portraiture on the wall mumbling to themselves. Clearly they were unhappy with the direction of the conversation, particularly Phineas.

"The journal ?"Harry answered finally, his vocalization more sealed than uncertain, and with each new question the uncertainty 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 eyes. He could not master the Horcrux even if he desired to."

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

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

Again, Harry found himself turning away. He didn't want this tidings. He thought it had something to do with Lucius, with the war that would soon be upon them. He didn't want to 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 think nothing."

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

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

"Inf— ?"

"It's far too dangerous for you to begin some journey to search the world 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 address with the members of the—"

"Sir, you can't. I swore that I'd—"

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

Dumbledore breathed in deeply and closed his middle as he slowly let out his breath."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 secrets, Harry, but if Voldemort has reanimated he may, once again, have agents working within the school walls. I'm sure Lucius does. That we know another Horcrux might survive gives us an edge we dare not lose. Do you have any idea—"The bell of the smashing clock struck twice.

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

"But—"

"Go on, Harry,"interrupted Dumbledore.

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

"Harry, there are those that we can trust—long-time protagonist and soul partner. I understand that you may be compelled to attempt assistance. If you must hash out this, keep the conversation within the walls of Gryffindor."Harry paused for a moment, taking in the schoolmaster's Christian Bible.

"But that means—"

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

As Harry walked down the corridors toward Defence Against the Dark artistry class, his idea was spinning with the new information and trying to digest everything that Dumbledore has shared with him. Within the bulwark of Gryffindor. Even though this yr pupil were release to enter the Common Room of any sign of the zodiac into which they were invited, Harry knew exactly what Dumbledore meant ; he shouldn't cartel Gabriella. He pondered how he would keep Gabriella out of any treatment he might ingest with Ron or Hermione concerning the Horcrux. Maybe he was ameliorate off not saying anything to anybody. His concerns 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 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 absolute majority of the class wanted to sit in as far away from prof Barghouti as possible. For most scholar it was because their professor was a vampire ; Harry simply didn't like him. Every time Harry looked into his centre he felt that he had to prove himself worthy ; that he was somehow lacking when it came to the Votary. Now, having arrived to year late, Harry had to sit in figurehead next to the only former students who would : Hermione and Gabriella. Harry took his seat next to Gabriella who offered him a supportive grin after he was chastised by Barghouti about fourth dimension management.

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

"I want each of you to rule a partner and while one tries to penetrate his partner's mental defences the other will use the techniques you described in finis night's homework assignment. For those of you who found the grant to boring and choose instead to practice Quidditch,"again he looked at Harry,"expect to drop the eve with Madame Pomfrey as she treats your headache."

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

"Yes, Ms Granger ?"

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

"True, Ms. husbandman ; it is a violation. But then, so is the Killing hex and we've learned to defend ourselves, as best we can, against such an fire. Would you prefer to have your view read freely by Lucius Malfoy's undercover agent ? Have them know your plans so that they can shoot down you or your have sex ones when you least ask it ?"

"But—"

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

Hermione's lips pursed as she crossed her munition. Harry knew that look before. Still, he didn't think that it was such a big hatful. 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 rarified smile and both Ron and Harry expected to see his Fang, but all that appeared was a unbent row of bright, pearly teeth.

Harry turned his desk about and sat opposite word Gabriella. He had let her into his mind many times before. There was something playful, almost erotic about how they would communicate in this way. While she had become quite proficient at curling herself around Harry's opinion, she never went abstruse 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 work in Harry's mind, and he had never tried to push her away. She was smiling at him, a twinkle in her eyes, as she took his hired man in hers. It wasn't until their paw touched that his affectionateness skipped. Foremost in his mind was something he couldn't let her see — his conversation with Dumbledore. His helping hand pulled away ; he couldn't bar her from sensing his emotions, but he could kibosh her from reading his mind.

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

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

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

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

"You know you can't."

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

Around the division some scholarly person were having better succeeder than others. Most attempts were fairly week and were being met by immediate repulsions. This resulted in more than a few pupil being knocked backwards out of their chairs. Ron was popping down on to the ground Sir Thomas More times than you could shake up a wand at and Barghouti was taking great expiation in being capable to fight off Ron's overture. Just behind Harry, Hermione had teamed with Neville who, at the moment, was trying to fall into place her thinker. Avoiding Gabriella's eyes, Harry took a bass breathing spell.

"Ready ?"he asked.

"Go tiger,"said Gabriella with a smile.

Harry began to center as best he could on Gabriella's intellection, but all he was sensing was the back of his eyelid. Squeezing his eyes closed more firmly, he heard another large thud that he took to be Ron's buns once again striking the slating trading floor. It felt like an timelessness, but at some peak he could pick up Gabriella calling his figure. Not with her oral fissure, but with her mind. Instead of pushing him back, she was trying to coax him in. Even with the help he was finding it extremely unmanageable to labor his way through the darkness to her thoughts. Not aware that he was now grabbing the edge of the desk with his hands, he redoubled, tripled his efforts to push his way in.

Suddenly, there was a jolt from behind. Trying to penetrate into Neville's nous, Hermione had been repelled backwards and fell against Harry. She grabbed his shoulder joint and began to pull him backwards. Without thought and still focused mentally to penetrate Gabriella with all his power, he reached out toward her. She grabbed his mitt and when she did the scene in Harry's mind changed. The phone was sucked out of the room and all was darkness. He had penetrated Gabriella's mind ; but what was this… her memory or something to a greater extent ?

The disturbance of the class had disappeared and an eerie silence surrounded him. He heard first, a rushing of pee, a drip-drip-drip, a rustle of farewell and then crying… Then the air filled with a musty, wet scent of pine and loam… The Forbidden Forest, he knew at once. Slowly, a light began to open up before him and he realized that the crying came from the infant he was holding in his arms. This was no computer memory ; Harry was himself in this imagination. He found that his robes were soaked. Both he and the young tiddler, still LE than a yr old, looked as if they'd just come from the lake. The baby, glistening wet, was wrapped in dark folds of damp fabric, dripping on his flush. A hand touched his shoulder from behind.

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

A rush of fear began to pour itself over Harry. He was common cold, shivering, teeth chattering, the small fry in his limb continued to cry out for its mother, but Harry knew that it was a cry that would never be answered. He wanted to cry, to run, but when the fry looked at him his heart warmed and his firmness strengthened. Slowly Harry's finger's breadth brushed the nestling's buttock.

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


Harry ceramist and the Birth of a New Sun

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

Bass buffeting, string section reverberating, the band was loud and Harry was not feeling all that well. He slumped back, sinking into the expectant, overstuff hot seat and rubbed his synagogue. Why did he let Ron and Dean challenge him into a drink duel upstairs ? The Quidditch match against Hufflepuff was tomorrow and he swore he wouldn't take a sip. But then Ron convinced him that they were two-hundred full stop front-runner over their baby theatre and why not celebrate… a little ? It was Halloween after all ; their live at Hogwarts.

Feeling a bit inebriate, he then had let Neville win over him to eat far too often 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 performing, all three of us saw it, Harry."Her voice was more likeable than chiding as she set her hired hand upon his shoulder. She had tried this approach once already ; it hadn't worked then either. Harry didn't know why she wouldn't just let it go. Okay, that was a lie - he did know. 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 protest, Harry had simply rolled his optic 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 mind had grown foggier than ever. Instead of being refreshed by the dark air, he was just insensate and rummy. He shook his school principal, disagreeing with Hermione, unceremoniously pushing her gentle deal away, and had wandered, stumbling a bit, back into the dance, where he had found the skillful cushy professorship he now was melting into. Frustrated, Hermione had left his slope before he entered the Great Hall, and he was grateful for that. Rubbing his temples, Harry considered the new song. Yes, the band was very loud, but everyone was having a outstanding clip.

The Great student residence was gloomy save for the spots that bathed the band in an eerie orange tree and purple light. Now and then a row of candles burning at the front of the leg would swank bright, sparkling into the air. It was the solely meter you could ca-ca practically of anything out, except when a professor's wand grew lustrous, lighting up two snogging bookman typically in a darkened street corner covered by the fog that floated some three pes off the floor.

Harry was surprised to see Saint Patrick dancing with a tertiary year girl from Slytherin, if you could bid his revolution dancing. The lad was flailing his blazonry and pounding his groundwork ; Harry expected to see him smiling, but Patrick didn't seem too pleased with it. Ron was nowhere to be seen, which put a momentary smirk on Harry's face, for it was Harry who had won their earlier bet. He smiled even more broadly, thinking that Ron would have to go three Nox straight without wearing any socks. There was another bright heartbeat and he caught mountain of Gabriella passing by James I Chang Jiang as she entered the Great entrance hall. Eyes blurred, Harry thought she had been carrying something, but couldn't make out what it was before the room went sorry again. His stomach churned ; he did not feel well at all. A consequence later she was at his side with a stone mug in her hand, steam boiling out the top and rolling down over her hand.

"You owe me for this !"she called out over the raging music."Ginny told me what you did upstairs. You can't do that, Harry. It's too dangerous for you to be this vulnerable."She handed the mug to Harry, who was nodding his head even though he couldn't make out a individual word she was saying, and squished in adjacent to him on the outsize cushion. Harry took a provisional sip. Feeling her warmness next to his, Harry was surely she had been praising him for drunkenness Ron and James Dean under the table. There was another newsbreak of sparkle and he noticed a few of the younger students including James River and Patrick were leaving. He looked back down into his mug, mustered up the courage and swallowed down the quietus. The effect was nearly straightaway. The nausea passed and his imaginativeness began to clear. He was feeling better, but he was growing tired. When he set the mug down, Gabriella took him by the hands.

"You did a wondrous job helping professor Flitwick with the laurel wreath. The snake that kept swallowing first long time was quite creative."

"A Slytherin inspired me,"replied Harry, smiling back at her now that the ring was leaving his ear. He glanced over at the snake that was over in the recession of the Great Granville Stanley Hall. The few number one yr students that remained were still lining up to be swallowed by the expectant, greyish creature with fierce lily-livered middle. Once swallowed, students were transported to the front of the stage where the band was playing. It was the exclusively way the younger scholar could prepare their way to the front of the horde that crushed up against the stage. If they were lucky, they got to sing with the dance band. If they weren't, the older students would toss them to the book binding of the gang. This recent, it became more a game than anything else with initiatory long time finding some sort of treat or confection from Fred and George's workshop in their sac by the time they were flung out of the crowd.

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

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

Harry was suddenly nervous, remembering where he was and what he had done last year at Halloween. At first he tried to count away, but he could feel Gabriella's black eyes penetrating his feelings, so he turned to her and tried to change the subject to something he knew she wouldn't want to talk about, especially not here.

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

At best it was difficult to hear, and with the recollective pause and aggregate lack of reaction on Gabriella's part, Harry wondered if she'd even heard him. He tried to repeat himself.

"I said, Hermione thinks—"

"I know what Hermione thinks,"Gabriella snapped."AND I know what YOU think."She let go of Harry's hired hand and crossed her arms and stage. Her eye 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 stage and be thrown to the spine of the Great entrance hall, disappearing into the swirling fog that hung low on the base. Without looking at Harry, she yelled,"Is there somewhere we can go so we're not screaming at each other ! ?"

Harry was taken aback. He didn't expect that she'd want to blab out at all about it. His oculus darted toward the antechamber off the Great hall. No one could get in there relieve professor ; yet professor Dumbledore had taken Harry there the year before and he remembered how to get in. Still he hesitated, but then his heart began to raceway a bit, mentation of the possibility. It was dark ; if they stayed close to the wall no one would see them slue behind the leg.

"Well ?"Gabriella called out.

Harry took her head and nodded for her to follow. It wasn't easy making it to the wall, but the crowd was focused on a particularly screech song by the atomic number 82 singer with bass notes that pounded the trading floor and tossed folks off their feet. Undetected, Gabriella and Harry slipped into the side room and the music instantly fell away. The antechamber was dimly lit by the warm glow of the hearth and a handful of lit taper. Beyond that there wasn't another stick of furniture in the place. Harry paused, thinking about the rightfulness spell, but before he put it together, Gabriella had conjured up a Nice loveseat near the hearth.

For the abbreviated of moments he thought to ask Gabriella about what he had seen in her judgement, but being in this particular room on this special Night caused retentivity of Cho to rush over him. His emotions were integrate between excitement and headache. He hadn't heard from Cho since school let out and when Gabriella offered to visit Cho at her home, Mrs. Yangtze River said that she had gone to the nation and wouldn't be back for the remainder of summer. The only pupil who had any contact with her at all was Susan Brownell 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 levelheaded 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 know anything, but he seems to be playing Prince Valiant by keeping mum. Have you heard anything ?"

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

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

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

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

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

He leaned over and kissed Gabriella hard against the lips. It had been long time since they had been truly alone together, and she pressed her lips firmly back against his. Her arms wrapped around his back and she pulled him besotted to her breast. His hired man slipped to the warm, soft material body of her belly. Thoughts of Centaur vision slipped past both their psyche in favour of other, more gratifying, bodily process.

Later, as Harry was tying up the lace of his trainer, he realized how artfully Gabriella had managed to save him from asking her about the vision they'd seen. She kissed him one last time as he reached for the knob on the door that led back out to the Great anteroom. There was still a throng of people crowding against the phase when they slipped back out of the ante-chamber. They chose not to trip the light fantastic and instead made their way out to the front of the rook. It was well past midnight, but there were still a few twain huddled together, watching the nighttime sky. It was the most spectacular Halloween Harry could call up. The genius were brilliant, but then he saw it. His gaze froze and his grinning fell.

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

"Ebyrth,"said Harry flatly. Gabriella leaned her mind against his shoulder joint and patted his backrest, saying naught. Harry sighed deeply."I… I just don't get it."

"What ?"

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

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

"Where's the war ? I don't know why things haven't started already,"said Harry, but then a deeply, cranky voice broke the Night's motionlessness.

"What makes you think they haven't ?"

Both Gabriella and Harry jumped. It was prof Barghouti. The moment the other couples saw him they began to sputter up the nominal head whole tone of the castle, constantly casting backward glances to hold sure he wasn't following them, and occasionally reaching for their necks as if to reassure themselves that they hadn't been bitten. Harry forced himself to find his equanimity, 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 trying on, 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 ? wing a bit tired ? Slurp up a few tourists along the way ?"

"Harry !"Gabriella snapped.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Because, oh chosen one,"Barghouti sneered,"your protagonist Lucius Malfoy has enlisted the aid of vampires and hence his choice of foremost strike - the Carpathians. Only they're not just killing Centaurs, they're wiping out anything and anyone in their path - all of them Muggles. A whole Greenwich Village was destroyed. The Muggle written document are reporting that the devastation was due to a gas explosion."A burst of air popped between his sass."I must rejoin to Singehorn for a few days. I fear my old friend may move to intervene and reduplicate old mistakes. Professor Dumbledore has been informed and prof lupine will take care of my classes."

"time lag ! 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 Eden himself."Why don't you try saving this school first ? Why don't you try saving THEM ?"His paw shot out toward the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that surrounded the school ; all was darkness. Harry squinted, which only made Barghouti all the more exasperated.

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

Harry looked again into the darkness, squinting. Then he remembered. He took a mystifying breathing spell and closed his eyes. Then, he reached out with his judgement toward the woodland. As Dakhil had shown him before, all living things began to appear before him - the grass, bushes, and trees all glowed brightly. He scanned further out and then saw it : a Centaur some ten yards into the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, bow in hand. Motion to the rightfield caught his vision again - another Centaur, another bow. Harry continued to run down. Every XXX to fifty M another centaur stood guard, watching over the school in the shadow. But Harry couldn't William Tell if they were trying to celebrate something out, or something in.

"What are they doing ?"he whispered.

"I am weary of teaching the ignorant,"Barghouti muttered."The centaur can smell the duskiness, fool. It is already upon you. You would be wise to find its source before it swallows you whole."In a swirl he disappeared before Harry had a chance to say another Christian Bible. The audio of flapping wings, faded to nothingness. What he noticed, after the rubble settled, was that Gabriella's digit were digging into the gentle flesh of his forearm.

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

"Let's go inside,"she breathed.

"They're protecting us, Gab,"said Harry, trying to calm down her heart."They won't injury you. They would never pain you."Her oculus never left the forest and, if anything, the care that filled the black syndicate of her centre slipped toward choler.

"Now."

Harry sighed and nodded his head."Alright,"he acquiesced, and followed her up the stair, noting that she was ever sure to keep his torso between her and the darkness of the forest. When the door finally closed behind them, he could see the weight lift from her shoulders and the relief spread head across her boldness. She leaned back against the door, placing her bridge player over her face. Harry stepped tight, touching her shoulder softly.

"Baby, what is it ?"he asked."What's wrong ?"The hands upon her face began to tremble and tears began to mottle down her cheeks, one by one, but she would not cry, not out loud. Slowly, her eyes turned to the position to look at Harry. He'd seen that facial expression when Gabriella lost her father, Grigor. It was a expression of uncertainty, of care, of death. Without saying a word of honor, she shook her fountainhead and turned to take the air away. She'd gone only a few rate before Harry called her to stop, but she wouldn't listen. She past the I. F. Stone column and began to point down to the dungeons, to the incoming of Slytherin. Her foot did not pretend the first base measure before Harry grabbed her by the arm and spun her around.

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

When he came to, he was lying on a slating story, but he wasn't at the top of the staircases leading down to Slytherin anymore. He was bound with ropes, unable to be active, in some room, well lit by torch. The wall were Harlan Fisk Stone, and along their top was a crown-moulding made of oak. Along its facial expression, every few invertebrate foot, was engraved a snake's head.

"Slytherin,"Harry hissed.

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

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

"Just gathering road-kill, can,"Nott retorted."A little bird told me you'd been drinking… a bit too very much. Imagine my surprise when I found you passed out on the stair to Slytherin."Nott stepped skinny."Were you trying to find your truthful honey ?"Harry said nothing."I can line up you a mirror if you'd like."

"I see you found yours,"Harry smirked, tossing his capitulum in Crabbe's charge. Crabbe took more offence than Nott and kicked Harry in the side. The blow was voiceless and a burst of air shot from Harry's back talk.

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

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

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

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

"Dead ?"he muttered under his hint. Evidently, he was not in on Nott's wax program.

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

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

"Oh, they die, shimmy. I've seen them die. Didn't you know ? I was attacked by them this summer. Turns out that a well placed Centaur arrow… thwup… and they die."Harry chuckled deliberately."Funny thing, lamia. When they're pierced, their lamia casing sheds away and for a minute they're who they once were, the rabies gone."Harry looked up at the green cap."I like to guess that in that second, goodness had a opportunity to speed in and satiate their psyche once more. They have a chance to be saved."

"rubbish,"shot Nott, believing Thomas More than disbelieving.

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

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

"Bloody infernal region ! I knew it !"

A flash of red hairsbreadth 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 heartbeat of commons robes behind him ; he assumed it was Gabriella which, with Ron in his represent condition, he was thankful for. Both Nott and Crabbe turned toward Ron still standing at the door, wands drawn.

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

"A little shuttlecock told him,"said the voice behind Ron. It wasn't Gabriella, it was Saint James the Apostle Chang ; Harry's apprehension began to produce once more. There wasn't much of a chance if Ron couldn't twist it together… and quickly. The second year who had freely chosen to be in Slytherin this semester stepped in strawman of Ron with his baton drawn.

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

"Obliviate !"chanted King James I, casting a charm well beyond his years. A burst of orange tree luminance erupted from his wand throwing both Nott and Crabbe against the wall, knocking them unconscious, and wiping their minds of recent memories. The lastingness of the Obliviate spell determined how practically storage was removed. Normally, a second year wouldn't even be able-bodied to vomit up the spell, but Harry was sure as shooting that the effect would be lasting.

Ron released Harry from his affiliation while James bound his two house brothers."They'll be the one missing the couple tomorrow,"he whispered with a smile pursing his backtalk.

Rising to his feet, Harry felt a piffling swooning, the sickness once again returning, and had to slant on Ron for living. He looked over at James, wanting to thank him for his help, but more curious about the spell.

"St. James the Apostle,"he asked,"how did you—"He was struck from seat.

"Harry !"

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

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

"Let's go,"he said, a sang-froid lather beading on his brow ; the potion Gabriella had given him earlier was obviously beginning to wear off."This topographic point gives me the creeps."

They made their way up a contract row of stone footprint that opened out on the Slytherin coarse room. Harry hadn't been here since he was a for the first time year. Epistle of James and St. Patrick nonchalantly split away from the group to talk to some other minute years that had just returned from the evening's company while Gabriella walked Harry and Ron out. The three began their trek up to the Gryffindor tower. By the time they made it to the tower, Harry was feeling much improve and it was Ron that was leaning on Harry and Gabriella.

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

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

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

"Jesse James told you that ?"asked Gabriella."Patrick told me that they were going to bewilder 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 madam.

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

"aplomb,"said Ron with a smile, rocking a bit on his own two branch. Harry didn't think it would submit much to knock him over."I'd like to see Nott with an arrow up his arse."Gabriella tried to muster up a grinning, 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 pearl,"said Harry and the painting swung undefended and Ron stumbled through. Before it shut, he looked back at the two, pointing his finger's breadth in no particular direction and stimulate it."But not too long, P-Potter. It'sss secret plan nighttime !"

A few second 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 bulwark and floor were now immaculate, he never liked sitting here, remembering the Dementors that had nearly killed Professor McGonagall the twelvemonth before. There was a sensory faculty of death in the air and for a moment Harry felt a poise Rush swim up his spine, whispering end's name. Gabriella held his hand, but would not obligate his gaze. Instead, she watched their finger intertwined and mingling.

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

"But—"

"Shhhh."She put one hand gently across his brim."Since I was Whitney Moore Young Jr., before I ever went to Al Bsahri, I have had one peck. Sometimes old age would pass before it would return, the like scene, over and over. Since we've returned to Hogwarts this yr, it comes to me nearly every day."She leaned her head teacher against Harry's shoulder."Yesterday, I asked mamma what happened when you and Hermione plunged into the scene that has been playing in my brain without you for so many years."There was a foresighted pause, and Harry could hear laughter coming from way down the staircases below ; it died away.

"And ?"he asked, nudging Gabriella along.

"A vision from another sheet is like a finely cut precious stone, a baseball field with many facets. One can attend in and see different prototype from all angles. You and Hermione became part of my sight and somehow shared it from your own perspective. We all saw the same thing, but all differently. And what we each saw can mean different things."

"Then why don't you want to—"

"No vision is perfect, Harry ; and, like time-turners, there are also formula about looking into the future tense. nigh would build alteration based on the progressive knowledge they see, often changes that tip to more devastating outcomes. Only the respectable, those like Mama, have any Hope of moving the Sand of time to shape the outcome of the other sheet. Others go mad trying to commute what n-never was to c-come."She began to tremble as she delivered the last words and in the quiet that followed Harry felt a bust drop onto his forearm. He put his arm around her and held her tight.

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

"It begins with a flashbulb of Light, a firing erupting from a glistening emerald lake. We are surrounded by them. There is a riot and then silence. And then there is me… face down in the tall forage. I… I am dead, Harry. Buried deep in my spine is the foresighted wooden arrow of a Centaur."


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 12 - blind destiny
~~~***~~~

The air was warm for fall, yet the sky was a with child Lady Jane Grey. Flying with the appealingness of his Caduceus P2 off, Harry could sense the wetness in the air. He knew it would rain soon and that, more than anything else, focused his energies on finding the Snitch. It had been hard concentrating. live year, Ron had lost Harry's broom when he had been attacked flying into the tunnel. So this year he was riding the latest framework of Caduceus, the new P2, P for Potter. Cleansweep was paying him a small fortune to use his figure for their new broom, monies that Harry was using to assist the families who had lost loved unity in the war. That didn't seem to matter much. Even his own house was ribbing him for the branding of his figure and it didn't avail that smack in the middle of the visitor stand was a ten foot by twenty foot crystalline portrait of Harry flying the new broom and wave at the gang. Every so often words would appear : The Caduceus P2. So truehearted it'll blow the rival away. It was a play on the chronicle run by the Daily Prophet about Harry's frustration of Voldemort. The story said that the spell Harry cast was so powerful, not only did it destroy Voldemort, but it nearly took the Ministry down with it. Even now, the Ministry was digging out and repairing the gaping fall into void that remained after the flooring of the Death bedchamber fell away, swallowing whole the Curtain of Phenolem and the dais upon which it stood. Harry glanced again at the immense sheet of paper of crystal, his own image smiling back at him and waiving, and shook his head to exonerate his thought.

He'd been distracted all day and nigh ethnic music thought it had to do with outset secret plan jitters. He was Gryffindor's Quidditch master this yr and nearly everyone believed it a folly decision. Since the tone-beginning on the railroad train, the whole shoal knew that he was going to be fighting the Dementors when the war with the Centaurus came. How could anyone focus on training their team with a burden like that on their articulatio humeri ? Indeed, even Professor McGonagall thought that Ron Weasley might make the better pick ; she told Harry so.

"If I can't have your mind on the game, you're no use to the team, Mr. thrower,"she had said in trust."Ron Weasley bleeds Quidditch and his mind is acute when it comes to analyzing the other teams'weaknesses."Harry had nodded and had turned to exit her function when she stopped him."But no one commands loyalty like you, Harry. It takes seven to win a Quidditch match and all Gryffindor would sooner fly into the lake than let you down. The question is — can you stay fresh from letting all Gryffindor down ?"

"No, ma'am. I mean yes ma'am,"Harry sputtered."I mean…"He sighed."I won't lie, prof. Ron's the better strategian, and there's no one wagerer in northerly Great Britain when it comes to keeping a Quaffle from skewering the ring. Dennis Creevey is the flying in all Hogwarts and is starting to come up with plays I could never dream of. Jack Sloper's put on thirty hammering since last year and he can knock a fag off a fencepost at fifty meters. Slytherin was the only team that had a prayer to beat us, but with Malfoy gone they don't have a chance. The team doesn't need me to lead them ma'am. Anyone can guide us to the cup."McGonagall looked at Harry over the top of her glasses.

"Is that so ?"she had asked."Well then, Mr. thrower, I suppose you'll do then. I want the squad roster, to include the player replacing Katie at pursuer, and the every week praxis agenda by tomorrow morning. And, to hold on 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 level, you'll be back in my office on William Ashley Sunday for detention."

"But—"

"Three hr, each workweek. Good-day, Mr. Potter."

Harry had thought the challenge simple enough, but sorting out the squad proved more unmanageable than he expected. They couldn't see a practiced Chaser and when jemmy Peakes tried out for Beater he played ferociously, unseating Hooper from the team. Finally, Harry selected Demelza Turdus migratorius as pursuer, if for no other understanding than she was particularly good at dodging Bludgers. The make caused a lot of growing pains and hurt feelings, but after three weeks of practice Harry was confident once again that the team could not be defeated.

Now, flying high-pitched over the pitch, Harry wasn't so sure. Trying to neglect his own face, he glanced at the scoreboard to find Gryffindor up by forty which, as far as Harry was concerned, was pathetic. They should take been clobbering Hufflepuff from the outset, but Ron was letting nearly every Quaffle through. Having heard that the coach of the Magpies, Bernard Bennegin, was coming specifically to scout Ron's performance he was a nervous wreck. To take a crap issue worse he was suffering from a hangover and was having difficulty seeing the Quaffle, let alone stopping it. The only good word was that Jimmy and mariner were keeping the Bludgers off the team while Dennis and Demelza were scoring nearly at will. Ginny could have been too, but she was so interfering yelling at Ron for being such a git she hadn't scored a undivided goal.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Stop it !"yelled Dennis above the ruffle. With a no-nonsense vocalisation that commanded attention, Dennis Creevey, who was still the minuscule 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 sustain side just a little longer, you'll block up them. Ginny, we could use a piddling more of your attention on the Hufflepuff side of the theatre of operations. Dem, they're starting to catch on to Harry's first few plays."His eyes dotted to Harry who nodded in agreement."I think we should move on to what he was showing us last weekend."

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

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

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

"Go on,"said Harry.

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

Harry had to smile at the new general on the field of view."Our own trivial nap,"he thought. Madame Hooch blew the whistle for play to resume. Hufflepuff broke their scrum and began to fly into side. Harry looked down on the pitch below. There was nothing he loved more in the cosmos than flying.

"I'm with you,"he said with assurance."Summerby won't have a luck. I swear."Harry snap into lieu just to the West and a little below Summerby. If anything, the sky was growing darker and the air colder, but he resisted the temptation to engage the charms of his Calluna vulgaris.

Dennis had been right. Over the following 40 minutes or so, Ron had blocked six straight Hufflepuff attempts while the Gryffindor chaser had scored four times. Still, they would want the Snitch. He flew over by the Slytherin pedestal and heard a handful of razz, and one cheer.

Harry could think of few Hogwarts woman besides Gabriella Darbinyan able to withstand the taunts and jeering of Slytherin for being Harry's girl. Of row, there were no taunt or jeers, because all of Slytherin was deathly afraid of Gabriella. Perhaps because she came from a school known for its dark magic, but more because any remark usually meant the commenter had a one-way tag to the hospital wing. Harry looked down and saw her smiling up at him.

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

"You bloody idiot !"Harry cursed at himself as he clenched his teeth."You flobberworm sucking idiot !"The idle words roared furiously at his side. The snitch was flying low to the greensward and Harry could see that it would have to turn or lift once it hit the stands on the diametric side of the pitch. Even as safe a flyer as Summerby was, he would not pass on the Snitch until it hit the wall. Harry leaned forward, accelerating his broom."It will rise,"Harry whispered to himself, focusing wholly on the gold globe that was coming closer."It will rise."He chose to fly the straight assembly line to intercept the snitcher 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 Snitch flew up… Harry groaned. At this fastness it was still impossible. Harry poured all his energy into making his broom accelerate. The tails of his robes began to tatter in the poisonous farting and his goggles were pressing hard against his typeface. The pressure sensation tunnelled his vision, but he didn't forethought. He could still see the favourable spark growing heavy before him."Faster ! shit it ! Faster !"

The pitch below him was a daze ; the sales booth faded to dark and all that Harry could see was the golden Snitch and the trail of yellowness that followed it -- the track of yellow that Harry was passing. Faster ! A piece of paper of empurple — the visitors'stands. The lucky snitcher flying upward. Yes !
Harry's fingers pressed firmly against the fly canary when he heard the shrieking of terror. They conflicted with his own common sense of joy.

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

Waking, and still feeling a bit foggy, the starting time thing Harry recognized was the speech sound of plastic 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 up his eyes, but couldn't. He leaned to his rightfulness side and felt a dull ached that ran up the result one-half of his soundbox. With his right hand he felt the sheets about his chest, the pillow behind his capitulum, the bandage that wrapped his face.

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

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

"That's right,"added Hermione with a corpse and unnatural spirit. And then voices, loads of phonation it seemed to Harry, added their agreement.

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

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

A number of folks touched Harry's good arm. He felt of few candy kiss against his cheek. He heard a few cheery cheerio and Later, mates, but he also heard a few sniffs and breathlessness. The door swung closed with a recondite thunk.

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

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

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

"See again ?"he asked."What the hellhole does that think of ? I… I'm blind ?"he asked weakly. Madame Pomfrey let out a tremendous sigh.

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

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

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

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

"Mr. ceramicist,"snapped Madame Pomfrey."If you keep touching your wrap you'll assuredly disturb their charm ! I will not have you go blind ! Do you hear me ! If you keep moving your weaponry I will immobilize them."Her part was husky. She'd been crying ; Harry could tell. The sadness in the room was almost overmaster. Finally, he turned his headland in the management of Gabriella.

"Did we win ?"he asked.

"What ?"she replied, still dazed.

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

"Harry, how can you—"

"RON !"Harry screamed. In a split second the door outburst open.

"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 auction pitch to the due north. Everyone was standing, even prof Snape. Although, who he was cheering for, I don't know. But he was screaming just the same. Summerby was flying low to the ground, his robe flicking up dried grass and tossing it into the air. The blowing dust made it attend as if his broom was on fire.

"I thought for sure as shooting we'd lost, when you spun over and started closing in from on high. The Snitch was flying just to my right and I could get sworn there were Dame Muriel Spark flying out the tail of your broom. It was glowing red. Heading toward the stand, it was cleared you were going to overstep Summerby, but you were too high ; everyone could see that. But it didn't matter. No one has ever seen soul fly that fast at Hogwarts… ever ! Crimey, maybe in all Britain !

"When you passed Summerby, I thought you'd diva to avoid the standstill, to catch the Snitch 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 ecstasy."It was a miracle, spouse. Like you were calling out to it and it obeyed. Pop ! Right into your mitt."There was a long pause."It's when everyone's eyes popped up with the Snitch we saw what was going to bechance. That's when the thigh-slapper began."Ron walked over future to Harry's bed."Summerby smashed into the supports down low. Broke his leg and lost a couple teeth. He got out of the infirmary yesterday. You… you…"Ron swallowed intemperate.

"You held on, mate. Yeah, we won, alright."Ron patted Harry on the chest."Best shucks searcher in all Britain."

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

"Well, now,"Ron answered,"I know you've had your reasonable plowshare, Harry, but I still think winner can handle a shot to the head with a Bludger in force than you."

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

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

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

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

"Harry,"she said softly."We'll do everything possible, but you need to give them sentence to heal. The wrapping will stay on for at least three weeks. Your lids will be sealed foresightful still. Even when you can open your eyes, Harry, I don't defendant you'll see more than shades of illumination and shadow. Once we know what you can and can't see, healer Sventstein can begin making the proper corrections. You'll have to be patient, my dearly, very patient."

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

"I need you to toast this,"she said, helping him sit up and wind his bridge player around the cup. He winced when she held his left arm."Yes, the whole leftfield side of your body was pretty a good deal 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 hackneyed, so Harry decided not to argue about the boozing and swallowed it down in one long draught. The pain running down his side of meat ebbed away and the dread about his vision faded. Soon he was asleep.

When Harry woke, he found himself broken and disoriented. He couldn't understand why he couldn't see and he began to lam around, rising out of bed, the Lucy Stone floor cold beneath his bare human foot. He was about to reach up to his face when a hired man took him by the arm. At low he was startled, but the voice settled him at once.

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

"Sirius ?"Harry asked to the iniquity, reaching out and touching Dog Star'aspect.

"Afraid so,"Harry's godfather responded."I was in the domain ; thought I'd occlusive in."Harry began to act forward.

"Hold on ! cargo area on !"Sirius stopped Harry from running into the wax light hovering at his bedside."Let's er… let's get you back in bed."Sirius helped Harry go up into bed and pulled the bed sheet back over him."There, that's better."He patted Harry's upright leg and remained standing at his bedside.

"What time is it ?"Harry asked.

"Not quite three in the morning."

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

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

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

"Yeah,"agreed Sothis smartly."That's what I hear."Harry could find out Sirius sink back into his chair and sigh."I have to accept, Harry, that was the truehearted I've ever seen a broom fly, and I've seen a few Quidditch couple in my day. When you hit that damn portrait with your photo on it, the thing exploded. It was like a giant quartz glass firework. And that you still held onto the Snitch… well, it's been all over the document. Most figure you broke the record, but the folks from Cleansweep want you to derive out and perform a fly-off against Comet — twenty one thousand galleons to the winner's charity."Harry turned on his incline, his back toward Sothis.

"Like that's ever going to occur,"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 screen and I'm… I'm going to persist blind."

"That's not reliable, Harry,"began Sirius."Madame Pomfrey—"Harry spun and faced Sirius. Sirius didn't motive to see Harry's eyes to have it away the facial expression he was getting right now. He sighed."Ten pct is not zero percent,"he whispered.

"Yeah, right,"Harry replied and dropped back down again. Likewise, Sirius sunk back into his death chair, crossing his arms and searching for what to say. There wasn't much he could say. Harry, after all, was correct. Once a enchantress or wizard lost their eyes there was often little that could be done—eyes simply hold too much conjuration. healer could re-grow many things, but the eyes… the eyes, particularly of a mighty enchantress or whiz, were nearly inconceivable to resort. Canicula let out a low moan as the silence stretched between them. After that, the spark of candlelight was the only interference that accompanied their breathing. At last, it was Sothis who began again, not sure if Harry was even still come alive. His voice was unsteady, recalling a role of his past he had never shared with Harry.

"When I… when I was in Azkaban, there was nothing to see but darkness, nothing to smell but the foetor of death, nothing to listen but the cries of requiem, nothing to taste but the remnants of weeping that had farsighted since died away, and the only thing one felt was the cold breathing time of despair. What food they gave us was more like black gruel with a eubstance somewhere between mud and slime."Sirius chuckled grimly to himself."When the Dementors departed, leaving this calamitous sludge behind, I would smile. It was the only joy I had, sensing their departure, knowing that however awful the food was, the vacuum that screamed from my belly would soon be staved for another day. That ill-humored bowling ball of crap and my pure hatred for Peter Pettigrew were all that kept me alert.

"I never dreamed that one day…"Sirius'voice halted and he had to get down to pull together himself."That one day… the son of my dearest acquaintance would parlay my ten-percent of goose egg and economize me… not from the Dementors of Azkaban… not from the drapery of Phenolem, but… from myself. I was used up inside, Harry ; a carapace of a necromancer and lupus erythematosus a man. You've shown me, even now as darkness charge in toward us, how to live again… how to love again. I'm amazed that today, I once again walk the halls of Hogwarts—a free man, not because I'm barren of the repulsion of Azkaban, but because I'm devoid of the swarthiness and hatred that once consumed my person. Because of you, I'm destitute to taste the delightful fruits of liveliness once again."

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

"If I could smack you, I would,"shot Canicula, kicking the situation of Harry's bed with his foot, a teardrop sliding down the side of his face.

"Bring it on, old man !"called Harry, rising up in bed and brandishing two fist that were swinging wildly in the air—something akin to a boxer's post."I can take you with both eyes tied behind my backbone !"Harry was smiling as Sirius rose to his base. The Old wizard wiped his centre and then, gently, took Harry's bridge player in his own.

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

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

"Enough already ! Stop telling me what you can't do ! I don't want to find out it anymore !"This fourth dimension Sirius'vocalisation was heated."I still wake in the middle of the night grasping for my tabloid, fearing that it has all been a ambition, wondering if in the malarkey of night I'm really still trapped behind the Curtain of Phenolem. One day the nightmares will end ; I know so, because I believe they will. Until they do, I will go to sleep at Night, searching for those dream that will carry me through trough sunrise.

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

"Yeah, but—"

"And more than that,"Sirius interrupted,"until the day comes when your visual sensation takings, you'll have to find a way to see through your blindness."Harry's immediate chemical reaction was to let a explosion of air energy through his lips in scoffing judgment of dismissal of Sirius'Word of God. He began to devolve back into his pillow when he stopped himself and held fast to Sirius'hired hand. To see through blindness ? Might it still be potential ?

Not sure what to anticipate, 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 recognize the brightness of Sirius before him. It wasn't an image so much as an aura of illumination that shown bright. Harry leaned forward in his bed. Reaching out further he began to conduct in the dim glow of the organic fertiliser life that clung to the bulwark, cap and base. Without saying a word he let go of Dog Star'handwriting and rose out of bed.

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

What Harry was ‘ seeing'wasn't so much an persona as an embossment of all that was around him. It would contract time to decipher the shapes, hues and intensities. There was a glowing coming toward them. Harry pointed at the door.

"Someone's coming,"he said. Canicula spun, confused. An clamant later, Madame Pomfrey walked through the doorway.

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

"I should have known it was you by your people of color,"he said happily."Bright blueness — the people of color of a therapist's spell."He looked back at his godfather."Sirius, you're a bit orange right now. You were brighter a minute ago. What's incorrect ?"

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


Harry ceramist and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 13 - The New summation
~~~***~~~

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

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

"Jump !"

Ronan didn't pauperism to secernate him. Harry had already started the spring.

It had been bitterly insensate all day, but with all the running Harry was beginning to regret his determination to get into dress. They were pushing the limits between physical and magical sweat and Harry's feet, well clad in a yoke of trainer, were on fire. The light cap and pants he was wearing were suffocating and felt like they weighed a thousand pounds.

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

Still blind, he was developing his limited ability to get to out and sense the glory of life around him. While he could make opinion about where things were at Hogwarts, occasionally very unclouded physical object would miss his attending. A chemical group of Slytherin fourth geezerhood had discovered this about a week after Harry had returned from Hospital and had taken to conjuring marble in areas where they knew Harry would be walking. Harry, in tour, developed a few spells that helped clear his way. The tinkling of marbles usually meant that a Slytherin was nearby, waiting to watch Harry tumble. But since Harry could observe individual's gloriole, even through bulwark, the culprit was usually found fastened to the wall with their underwear on their heads and nothing else. It was a Page out of what Nott and Parkinson had done to Ron finally year and Harry didn't mind a lilliputian playful requital.

In the forest, however, Harry felt as if his vision was better than having sight. Everything was alive and vibrant. Tree and flora, the largest creature 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 system into the air. Harry, just a stride behind felspar, was shorter still, landing a full meter away from the savings bank's edge. His feet landed firmly in the water and he struggled to stay fresh his balance so as not to fall into the icy weewee completely. He'd only taken three measure when he noticed the frigidity around his understructure. When he focused his attending downward he could feel clearly that his trainer were gone, the behind of his pants in tag. Where the splash from feldspar hit the straw man of his jersey it had dissolved away as if it had been burned by dose, the aura of his bare skin underneath beaming through.

Stepping backward as he moved out of and away from the stream, Harry focused at the track H2O. For the start time he noticed that its coloration was different than the other streams he'd seen through the forest. The get off emanating from this water was whiter, more crystalline, Thomas More pure. With a large bounce Ronan, who had been following, jumped from bank to bank with easiness. Harry expected to be chastised for stopping, yelled at for falling behind, but Ronan said nothing. Harry noticed that the whitish-gray of Ronan's aura warmed a bit. He'd learned, at least with his supporter, that such a change meant a smile. He wondered what it meant with a Centaur.

Shahan had long disappeared in the underwood ahead, but Felspar stopped unretentive of the thickener trees and returned to Harry and Ronan.

"Is something wrong ?"Felspar asked.

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

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

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

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

"The falls !"she cried with excitement."The watercourse that feeds the declension !"Then Felspar stepped over to Harry, noticing his bare metrical unit and mortise joint."Harry Potter, your fetlock joint are bare."She stepped close-fitting."But the form is unharmed. If ever I held uncertainty in the Chosen, they have forever washed away."feldspar nodded with a svelte bow. Harry nodded in comeback 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 decent, Felspar,"said Ronan."Your own fetlocks have grown brighter. Like the elect, you now wear socks."He laughed as felspar looked down to see that indeed her snowy coat was glistening More brightly from the knee and hock down.

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

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

"feldspar,"said Ronan,"catch up to Shahan if you can and tell apart him that we are done for the day. He has, once again, failed the examination. You are rosy that you stopped to recall. In these times we must remember to recall of the ruck before our own interests."Felspar bowed.

"Shahan will not be pleased,"feldspar said to the ground.

"As I am not,"retorted Ronan."For three straight days Shahan has failed to comprehend the example. 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 acquire our ways. I care not that he is young."Then Ronan stepped closemouthed to Felspar ; his position becoming rigid."You would be wise not to hear to Shahan's persuasion, Felspar. That your coat should deepen colour at all is not a dependable sign. Your mother has raised you better."Then Ronan's behaviour changed back to one of teacher.

"Focus your judgement on where you need to be, Felspar."He said zero more, but felspar turned toward the constituent of the forest through which Shahan had disappeared. A minute later in a bar of white she was gone.

"Is that not an Apparation ?"Harry asked.

"One can not Apparate on these grounds, Harry Potter. The land is too filled with magic. The Centaur can bend space and slow time so that distances travelled can be covered far more quickly than on hoof alone. You have accomplished this already. What's more you have learned to leave your person body and travel with the other living booze 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 overlook. Do you sense the Bowtruckle staring at us from across the stream ? Perhaps he can help oneself you see what you've thirsted for. Reach out to the animal's mind."

When Harry did accomplish out, he found it far easier than he first expected. The vim of the forest seemed to hue him with added insight, guiding his cerebration as he became focused on the creature, leaving his own self, releasing his corporeal form behind and melding into the essence of a stick. In a New York minute he was one with the woody Bowtruckle. His oculus blinked. Ahead, across the flow were a Centaur and young man with tattered pants and no shoe. Harry tried to pace forward, but the tool would not answer. It was as if he were simply eavesdropping. Suddenly, he felt quite hungry. Instead of looking ahead at the two across the stream, Harry found himself looking down. There was a rather expectant reek worm wriggling its bulbous chief between two leaves. He bent down, sniffed the dirty affair at pulled it up out of the grunge grinding gut and Earth between his teeth.

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

"Well done, Harry Potter. It has been less than a class since the Cleansing, and already you have learned the centaur art. It will take much more than time to control them and many years to understand their true nature. It is…"Ronan paused looking toward the western sky."…unfortunate that we have so little time."His hoof clawed at the ground."It does not go well for our brothers in Eastern European Community. Wizards have joined the Dementors and brought a new ally to the war."These last words 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 experience wickedness falling, and for the start time he was beginning to sense frigid. Ronan sensed this at once.

"It is meter for you to return to the castle, Harry potter. I have been training you far too unvoiced and far too fast, I'm afraid. So it is with Shahan and Felspar. You are all learning before your ability to comprehend. If we were greater in number…"Ronan let out a long sigh as Harry turned to present him.

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

"That is not a question for the Centaur, Harry ceramist,"said Ronan defiantly."It is a question for the Dementors. It is not our war ; it is theirs. It is not the Centaur herds that are destroying the hamlet of Eastern Common Market. That is the work of the Dementors and their ilk. They are the single swayed by Ebyrth's regaining ; we are simply defending ourselves."

"I read that in the struggle of the 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 other than destruction. Near the end of that war, only a handful escaped into the swamps and peat bog through which we could not travel. It was there they learned to fly ; it was there they developed their hungriness for psyche. Now, from a break up few, their offspring have multiplied. They outnumber the Centaurs two to one. For that we can give thanks the Wizarding creation and the world of man whose avarice has consumed the earth and produced sustenance on which the Dementors feed.

"No, Harry Potter, you fight on the face of righteousness, as the Centaurs have for centuries. But, I am afraid, virtuousness alone will not be enough to guide us to victory. We will need your strength and more."

"It doesn't help that I'll never see again,"said Harry, rubbing his limb with his hands to fetch some fondness to them.

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

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

"It is a window to the flavour that lies within. This sight you have goes beyond outside appearing and penetrates the burden of the beast before you. My people hold their emotions well, so they appear gray or bloodless. Have you noticed that theater elves are nearly always—"

"Green. Er… green. Yeah, I noticed."

"hob, whose natures are always angry, are almost always outpouring with red. While hotshot and hag carry the vividness that suit their nature, colours the trained Centaur brain can spot. It does not guide long to accredit the given hue."

"Or chromaticity,"added Harry.

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

"Well, when they have Sir Thomas More than one semblance. You know, say putting surface that sometimes turns blue."Ronan was staring blankly at Harry."You know, the guy's kind of drab sometimes, form of green other times… right ?"

"Unless there is a phenomenal translation, a life 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 think for a bit.

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

"There are ways you might see two hue, Harry ceramist. Some wizards or witches are known Animagi. The creature inside can map a different hue, although even among the Animagi it is rare. Usually, the animate being reflects the nature of the witch or wizard."There was a long intermission.

"And the former ?"asked Harry.

"It can be the piece of work of a fractured spirit, soul who is really two the great unwashed, or possibly under the controller of another."

"The Imperius Curse ?"Harry asked.

"Perhaps. Such is the way of wizards and my knowledge falters there. I hope this is not someone close. mortal in your confidence ?"

"Erm, no… not really,"Harry lied."I've got to go, Ronan. Thank you for your precept today."Harry's mind was clicking of the list of name. He focused on bending the space between where he was and Hagrid's hut."I think I can find—"Before he finished his sentence, Harry had warped time and found himself outside Hagrid's front room access. He'd covered the distance, some land mile, in little more than the winking of an eye. Still, in so doing he'd exhausted what picayune imagination of strength he had left. His clothes shredded, he was about to strike hard on Hagrid's threshold when he sensed that somebody was hidden in the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree behind the garden. Harry reached for his sceptre and held it at the ready. Barefoot, he began to ill-treat silently toward the spy. It was one technique taught him by the Centaurs and for the fleetest of moments Harry thought he'd prefer a notched arrow right about now.

Stealthily, Harry moved closer. The figure, with a undimmed emerald green nimbus, didn't move. Its side continued to rest against the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. Just a few chiliad away Harry's anterior naris took in the smell of smoke, a distinctively aromatic smoke.

"Draco !"Harry hissed tranquillity and low. This close, Harry could see the public figure, still leaning motionless against the tree, bring his bridge player to his rima oris. He was taking another drag on his cigarette. Harry could pick up the exhale, long and slacken.

"shucks, Potter,"Draco said, pulling himself away from the tree diagram and turning to face Harry."I thought you'd never get here."Draco took a step closer."Merlin, what the snake pit happened to you ?"

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

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

In the darkness from far up the hill Harry could get wind the front man door of the castle open with their device characteristic tornado. What he didn't expect to learn next was Ron Weasley's representative.

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

Followed by his father's.

"I should desire so, Ron. I don't have much more fourth dimension 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 Professor Dumbledore.

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

"Yeh should receive been here an hour ago !"he called from inside."I don't attention what Ronan tells yeh ; the forest ain't safe after dar—. Er… Professor Dumbledore, sir. Erm… pastor. 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 prison term with the centaur ?"A moment later and the doorway shut leaving Harry alone with Draco once again.

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

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

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

"Does it hurt ?"

"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 phrase that we use to ensure the other is mentally free from any… tampering. For the last two weeks, Blaise has tried to meet me without using that phrase. He's soul else's now."Draco took another recollective drag on his cigarette."How Padre found out… I don't know."His words were deeply tumultuous. It was an emotional shift in Draco that Harry had rarely seen."We were deliberate ; Sir Thomas More than measured. You need to get laid that there's a spy in the castling. I thought maybe Nott, but he doesn't have the accomplishment to shed the Imperius."

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

"And you're supposed to be our saviour ? We're screwed."Draco flicked his cigarette into the air and it vanished."Here."He passed Harry his cloak and wrapped it around his shoulder."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.

"right, like that's going to save your grim ass. I don't know what potions you've been taking, but you full stir up up and see what's going on around here."

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

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

"What ? What are you talking about ?"

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

"Married ? Goldstein ?"

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

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

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

"France,"answered Dragon with a sly smile."Don't tell anyone, Harry, but Goldstein's protector may be their chaperon by day, but at night he's a death Eater in my father's service of process. It's a tryst of small issue to my sire and it pays the bills for Henry, the chaperon, but I knew you might make a especial 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 Doroteo Arango just north of Marseille, a town called La Mure. She and the—"

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

"Witches can hide that fact until the very day of delivery, Harry. Have you ever seen a pregnant crone ?"For a mo, Harry pondered the melodic theme. No, he hadn't ever seen a meaning witch. And then he remembered that he'd seen Geoffrey Hooper's mother just a few weeks before her baby was born and she looked no unlike than the year before.

The doorway to Hagrid's cabin opened and the giant stepped out for just a moment looking toward the woodland."Should be any import, sir,"he said to the kinfolk 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 stand, but Draco pulled him back down. For a flash, Harry was irritated, but caught himself.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Harry ? !"Ron called to the darkness.

"Oh, and Harry,"Draco said, looking Harry in the eyes even if the glimpse was not returned."Cho isn't pregnant."He turned to pass on."It's a newborn child boy. wellspring, not so much 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 Dragon, the Slytherin was gone.

"That's not possible,"he whispered at the void. The sound of stride came charging up from behind and Harry could try the ruckus on the front porch of Hagrid's hut. A hand touched Harry's berm.

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

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

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

"I told you, Arthur,"Dumbledore said gently from within the hut,"zilch to worry about. hail in and let's finish our tea."

"My god, Albus !"cried Arthur as Harry and Ron returned to the cabin."Look at the boy !"Harry was still barefoot, what remained of his apparel in tatters, his side covered in mud and now a flimsy red line that wrapped about his neck shown through the dirt. As he climbed the stone's throw with Ron's assistance his tooth once again began to piffle.

"Yes, yes,"said Dumbledore, dispassionately."I see they've been working you rather hard today, Harry."The affirmation was Thomas More question than anything."A lot to think about ?"Harry just nodded and walked through the door."Well, it's not going to get any easier, young man."

"Get o'er by the firing, lad,"said Hagrid, offering a cover. But before Harry had a chance to go for, Dumbledore pulled his wand and tapped Harry's shoulder joint. The grease disappeared and a Hogwarts robe covered his body. The lose weight red ancestry about his neck and the aching muscles, however, remained.

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

Warming his muscles by the fire, sipping a bit of tea, and pretending to enjoy Hagrid's rock-hard I. F. Stone bar, Harry was beginning to feel himself again. He assured Arthur Weasley that he was alright and that his dishevelled show was all in a day's employment, training with the Centaurs in the wood ; but the Minister was none too win over.

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

"Just a little workplace with Devil's snare drum is all, sir,"answered Harry, rubbing his cervix with his left helping hand and sipping some more tea with the other. If they could see his eyes, they would bed he wasn't listening to a word they were saying. Draco probably thought his slight appearance would concentrate Harry's idea fully on some Horcrux that the Ministry had no doubt just found, but Harry's mind was anything but centred. After a bit more give-and-take about schoolhouse, regrets about Harry being screen, and news about the battles raging in Eastern EU, Chester Alan Arthur Weasley finally got down to the intent of his visit.

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

"What ?"Harry exclaimed."Why ?"

"wellspring, to try to regain the bodies, Harry,"answered Mr. Weasley, surprised somewhat at Harry's reaction."Many Aurors lost their life history that evening and their bodies have never been found — at to the lowest degree, not until last hebdomad. Since the collapse we tried for month to witness the bottom with no achiever. We encountered one charming portal after another, and the doer were none too inclined to accidentally lurch across the drapery itself."

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

"No, Ron,"interrupted Dumbledore,"the Curtain and the dais were destroyed in the drop. No, just the physical structure, bodies from both English, have been returned to their loved ones."

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

"Hagrid,"he asked, clearing his throat once again,"do you have any to a greater extent Edward Durell Stone cakes ?"

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

"I don't really see what any of this has to do with me, sir,"said Harry."I mean… well, I've put that behind me now. harbour'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 aureole faded and Harry knew the adopt speech 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."Arthur Weasley stood from his chair and looked out the windowpane facing the castle, the colour returned to his aura."I was thinking we could have a dedication of form. You could add up to the Ministry as we put it on display. It would certainly cue the people in these disconsolate fourth dimension that we can vanquish darkness."

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

"Oh, yes, I'm sorry, Harry,"answered Arthur."I've wanted to discuss our search since you and I spoke on the train. I never knew taking precaution of the Ministry would eat so very much of my time."His centre wandered for a moment and then returned to receive Harry's."No matter,"he whispered."In our search, we recovered the cloak. The black cloak of… You-Know-Who. The but remnant of his darkness and a symbolic representation to all of his defeat."

"Voldemort ?"snapped Harry."You have Voldemort's cloak ?"Harry turned in his chair."Burn the all-fired thing. ruin it !"

"I knew you might feel this way, Harry,"said King Arthur with understanding."That's why I came myself. You must recognize what an icon you've become in the Wizarding world. Just one picture of you, perhaps wand drawn, next to the cloak of the evil you destroyed would stand for so a good deal to—"

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

"Harry,"said Dumbledore sternly, silencing Harry's rant."I think it would be wise for you to take some metre to consider what all the conditional relation are. Time to consider what's salutary for… everyone involved."Harry expected to see the lovingness of anger habitus in Dumbledore's glory, but if anything his light dimmed with a coolness of headache.

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

"Please, Harry, you needn't yell me—"

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

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

"I got it dad,"said Ron, dropping one of the rock cakes on the table with a thud."destination 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 thought, Mr. Weasley,"he said to the younger redhead."Please find Harry safely back to the castle."

"Goodnight, Hagrid,"said Harry to the goliath still in the kitchen, baking up another plenty of bar for his node."Thanks !"

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

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

"I just don't get it, Harry,"said Ron shaking his head."It's just a piece of fabric. 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 last yr ?"

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

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

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

"Tale or not, the H2O destroys cloth. I doused Voldemort in nearly ten gallon of the stuff. It was enough to dissolve every evilness bone in his body, but the cloak… tinker's dam ! I should bear known when I saw it then. The cloak survived. But why ?"

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

"I don't see how it can be,"suffice Harry."If it's part of Voldemort, it should cause been destroyed."Harry sighed."Maybe Hermione will know."Ron shrugged and nodded in correspondence as he reached to afford the castle threshold. Ron heaved on the heavy handle just as Harry's hand stopped him and shut them again.

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

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

"Yeah… yeah, that's it."

"Well my mum's always going on how I took longer than most… ‘ XL two workweek, and in the centre of the war !'she'd say.

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

"Do the nasty ?"said Ron with a smile. Harry simply nodded. well, Ron thought for a minute, touched his digit and counted backwards, and then a glow of a grin crossed his look once again.

"Pretty damn near to Allhallows Eve, Harry."He poked Harry in the rib."Do you think they were wearing costumes ?"Harry didn't react in the way Ron expected. Instead, he leaned his rachis against the castle doors and slid down to a sit on the stone landing.

"Oh, Merlin,"he whispered in a indisposed sort of vox."Oh, bloody, fucking, Merlin."

"What ? What is it, Harry ?"

"Ron… I think… I think I'm a father."


Harry ceramist and the nativity of a New Sun

Chapter 14 - wedding ceremony Plans ~~~***~~~

When Harry and Ron passed through the portrait of the Fat madam, Harry found the Gryffindor common room, ardent than convention. Near the open fireplace sat the nimbus of Parvati, Lavender, Gabriella, Hermione, Ginny and James Dean. Towards the rachis, Neville was helping Saint Patrick and a few others, Harry had yet to recognize, get up for their Herbology examination. Evidently, the exam involved a burning plant of some sort, perhaps fireseed, Harry thought, since there was a billowy swarm of hummer that hung over the group and nobody seemed to mind.

Harry, his mind fractured at the present moment, brought his attention on Patrick. The smoke was clouding his power to see the auras of those at the back tabular array, but the filtered spark emanating from Patrick was the same as it had been since Harry first met him after the fortuity - amobarbital sodium and unripened. Each gloss waxed and waned, growing more William Green whenever he was excited or near Harry.

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

"Harry ! Ron !"cried dean. His voice brought Harry's aid back to the group about the open fireplace. The call sounded like a supplication for help, as if Dean felt, at the instant, like a entrap rat in a Snake River's coop. He began to stand when Ginny grabbed his arm.

"Oh, dean,"she said breathlessly,"isn't it beautiful ?"Hermione was projecting an image of a young charwoman in a white nuptials dress. The girl stood, suspended in the heart of the five students and modelled the dress she was wearing, slowly turning in all centering so that everyone could see, everyone that is except Harry.

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

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

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

"You could have got fairy's carry it."

"I sort of like it,"Hermione said as she held her hand to her chin and tapped her brass with one finger's breadth."But I think the second…"Dean let out an audible groan, but the girls ignored him while Hermione began to dash through manikin after exemplar, dress after apparel, as if thumbing pages of a book. It was only then when she noticed that Ron and Harry had entered the common room.

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

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

"nothing,"they said simultaneously.

Gabriella patted Harry's brass.

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

"No thanks,"interjected Harry. While he had grown accustomed to seeing students from early home in the green room, he had completely forgotten that the girl were going to get together this evening to discuss Hermione's wedding plans for the summer."I need to get ready for the Potions exam tomorrow."Ginny stood, looking at Harry.

"I thought you were supposed to be out training all day today,"she said, questioningly.

"I was."

"But you're squeaky clean,"she replied sceptically."You know, if you weren't working out in the forest today, we could induce gotten at least 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 helping hand in straw man of his eyes.

"You're the team captain ! It's you're province to—"

"These aren't your robes,"interrupted Gabriella, rubbing the textile in her fingers."These are new."

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

"Dumbledore ?"

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

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

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

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

lupus erythematosus than a moment 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 call down Harry new robes, to what model Ron thought would be nice for the new china.

Unexpectedly, there was a loud explosion from the back of the room that caused everyone to pipe. A rather large bolide 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 splash good luck charm.

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

The commotion that had surrounded Harry, quickly gathered about the backrest table and the baked faces that stood there. Harry took the opportunity to follow dean's footsteps up the staircase. Near the top he heard a rather dejected St. Patrick apologize, but what he saw was a bluish glory beaming with pride. Then Harry noticed St. Patrick flash him a thumbs-up from within the long sleeve of his robe, a signal that no one could see.

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

Gabriella looked back toward the fireplace to determine Harry and before she could find where he was Harry disappeared into the son'dormitory. Inside he found Dean, belly down on his bed, reading a script about Quidditch. He loved the game so, it was a shame he wasn't any good at it. He looked up as Harry entered.

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

"well, I—"

"Because that'd be fine by me, Harry. I was about to blow myself up if I had to look at one more china pattern."He looked back at the 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 marry me ?"He turned another Thomas Nelson Page ; clearly not having read the hold up."So… last year… yeah, maybe. But that's your fault."dean looked up, pointing a finger's breadth at Harry.

"Me ?"

"Well, I mean, I was in a conflict — fighting you for her. You know. That sorting of thing, well… it gets a guy in the mood. But this hooey downstairs… wedding clothes, and colours of table dress, and…"doyen sighed."Talk about deflating."Without looking back down to the volume, he turned another page. Then, quite suddenly, Dean groaned and turned over on his bed, placing the open al-Qur'an over his dresser."Falco columbarius, I love her."There was secretiveness and he sighed again."She's been my reality. She brought me back after the accident."Dean held his hand up, flexing the fingers in front end of his face. His individual had been reconnected to his corporeal human body and Ginny had been there every gradation 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 gown and putting on a light pair of blue jean."nerve it, Dean, you're her existence too."

"I just don't want to be thinking about married couple while I'm still in schooltime,"answered James Byron Dean, sitting up on the edge of his bed and facing Harry."There's enough to be getting on about without having to interest about in-laws… Red China patterns…"

"…children,"added Harry quietly.

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

"Hermione ?"queried Harry.

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

"But why Hermione ?"

"If you want to love any spell, charm, or hex to get the job done, Harry, who do you go to ? Hermione."Harry looked a bit disgruntled and crossed his arms. James Dean sensed Harry's pridefulness and added,"After all, everyone knew she and Ron were together since the fall of last yr. She knew how to be safe, and Neville for certain wasn't going to babble to Ginny."

Harry wasn't sealed how to take up that. He didn't have a clue until hold out Christmas that Ron and Hermione were together. Yet, everyone else seemed to know. Further, he was pretty sure that in conclusion class Tonks had used her metabolism skills to assume on the appearance of Helen so that she could sneak into Gryffindor towboat with Neville. It brought up memories… bad retentiveness. Suddenly, going to babble to Hermione about anything didn't seem like such a good idea. Harry began to drum his desk with his finger's breadth, then crossed his subdivision and just looked down at the floor. He could see the aura's of the aliveness organisms that his first mate had tracked in under their shoes. Maybe auntie Petunia wasn't such a weirdo bat after all - at least as far as wiping one's feet at the door 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 week away and, sadly, no C had fallen. The solid ground below and the surrounding forest glistened brightly in Harry's cecity. He placed his left hand on his chest, just above Asha's heart, the stone that even now sat hidden within him. Focusing high above the treetops he found nothing but blackness. lately in the evening, clouds had moved in, covering all in a iniquity cover through which no stars shone. He peered at the Same quadrant of sky in which he knew Ebyrth hung, growing ever closer. He closed his eyes and dropped his school principal heavily against the chalk window.

Voldemort's cloak should have been destroyed by the water from the falls, 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 castle, probably within Gryffindor or Slytherin that had given up Blaise. He was now under a expiry Eater's disdainful execration. Who was the spy ? Could they have turned Patrick too ?

It wasn't enough that war was raging in Eastern Europe and would soon deck the afforest about Hogwarts, if not the castle itself. Now there was a child. Could it really be his ? That was a stupid question. Of trend it could be ; the timing was near perfect and they had been… well, stupid. It was just before the Halloween fete. Harry was going to separate Cho about Gabriella… let Cho know that they couldn't be together, that Gabriella was the one he truly loved. But then she touched his arm… the look in her eye. Even now, the memory sent a chill down his spine and made his inside quiver. Neither of them was in the powerful frame of nous, but they both knew what they wanted. Now they were both paying for it. At least Cho was. Harry began to wonder… if the kid was Harry's, did Anthony make out, or was Cho simply using him ?

Harry shook his oral sex, trying to clear his muddled intellection. Maybe he was making a big deal of nothing. Maybe Anthony was the founder. But the vision… Gabriella's vision that both he and Hermione shared. He'd seen a child. Gabriella saw her own demise and yet Harry saw living. He thought it was their child, his and Gabriella's. Now, Harry wasn't so sure.

The window was cold and a tremble ran across his body. He turned and walked over to his repositing pectus, opening the lid and tone around for a shirt.

"Harry ?"James Byron Dean asked."I know something's bothering you. What is it ?"

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

"Yes ?"

"Ah…"Harry held up two socks."Do these pair ?"

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

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

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

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

"doyen,"he said,"please give my apology to professor Snape. I'll miss the test tomorrow I'm afraid. It's sad really. Since the Joining, I think I had a pretty good chance of acing it. Severus, after all, shared a bit of himself with me that night."Harry rubbed the scar on his justly arm.

"Slow down, Ilex paraguariensis,"said Dean, taking to his invertebrate foot."You can't just go off—"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Well,"said Ron,"I tried to—"Harry held up one finger's breadth to his sass and Ron lowered his voice."I tried to—"Harry shook his finger's breadth at Ron. There was a bit of a grumble and Ginny burst through the threshold.

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

"Bloody hell,"he whispered.

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

"You did !"cried James Byron Dean."How could you not recount me ? Did you all know ?"Harry could see the fire building in Dean's emotions. Nobody said a word."How longsighted have you known ?"

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

"open his figure ?"said Dean."He was… he is a death Eater."

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

These Son cooled Dean's fires, if only a smidgen, and his manus found his pockets. There was a moment of muteness and then he turned to Ginny reached out and took her hand.

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

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

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

"But that's three days, Harry,"Ron said,"isn't that too long to—"

"Right,"cut in Harry,"so that's why you… all,"he waved toward the group,"can enter out how we get the cloak tomorrow night. I'll sports meeting you at the entryway to the Ministry at midnight. Have the plan prepare and I'll assist you however I can."He grabbed Gabriella's hand."seed with me."They started for the door when Hermione grabbed the spinal column of Harry's cloak, stopping him in his tracks.

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

"starting time, 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 manus to quieten his friend,"that needs to be kept… at least for now."Again he took Gabriella's arm."Come on."Everyone turned to Ron as Gabriella and Harry left the room. Almost immediately, Gabriella began to ask questions, but Harry held a finger to his backtalk.

"Not here… not now,"he whispered.

They were about to authorise out through the portrait of the Fat gentlewoman when Lavender stopped them near the fireplace.

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

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

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

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

The two didn't speak until they reached the staircases. It was hush with only a few scholar roaming about. Most were likely studying for tomorrow's exam. The others were either heading toward or returning from the library. The two found themselves alone on the stairway as it slowly began to slip into place. Finally, Harry gathered the braveness.

"Did you know… ?"he began cautiously."Did you know about Cho ?"

"Cho Yangtze Kiang ?"Gabriella asked blankly.

"Yes, Cho Yangtze Kiang !"Harry snapped."How could you not know ? You two were inseparable at the end of concluding class. She helped you through exams. Merlin, you spent More metre with her than with me. How could you not be intimate ?"

The I. F. Stone stairway came to catch one's breath against the wall. The two climbed off that one and onto another that began to slip into yet another direction.

"So we're going to see Anthony,"Gabriella said knowingly. Harry said nix, wishing only that the stairway would actuate more quickly."William Tell me Harry, are you still so jealous ?"

"Jealous ?"Harry asked angrily."Jealousy has nothing to do with this. I have a right field to know !"His in conclusion Bible were loud and reverberated off the stone wall.

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

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

"None of my commercial enterprise ? None of my commercial enterprise ? !"

"Yes ! None of your occupation ! They were poor fish, Harry,"Gabriella said struggling to maintain her composure in movement of the 3rd twelvemonth, although Harry could sense the anger edifice within her."It was a mistake, a error that Mark Antony's wizard enough to set straight. Can't you see that he's trying to do the right field thing by caring for what will soon be his family ?"

At this, the one-third year Ravenclaw looked back over his shoulder joint at Harry and Gabriella. Gabriella flashed him a smell that put the boy's nose back into the script he was reading. The stone stairway came to a halt and the boy stepped off followed by Harry, but Gabriella grabbed his arm.

"What do you intend to do ?"she asked."Confront him ? Hex him for getting your… your mistress pregnant ? If that's what she was. You hardly carry the more noble ground."

Suddenly Harry realized that Gabriella knew, but didn't know. She knew that Cho had had a child, but she didn't know that Harry could be the beginner. He stopped and leaned against the balusters. The postponement was just long enough that the staircase began to actuate again.

"She was not my mistress,"Harry said quietly to the darkness."I… I was not myself last year. You know—"Gabriella put her paw about Harry's shoulders.

"I know,"she whispered sadly. Harry turned to look her.

"I've only ever loved you,"he said.

"I know that too,"she said with a smiling that Harry could not see but could feel. She kissed him gently on the impudence and pulled him close. They held each other that way for some clip and when the stairway came to a stop Gabriella moved to get off, but Harry stood still.

"I'm not jealous because of Anthony,"spoke Harry to the open air before him."It's just that… I could be the founding father,"he said softly.

"What ?"

"I could be the father,"he repeated, stepping close to her."It wasn't Anthony that was the stupid one ; it was me - Halloween of net year. Cho's child… it could be mine."

Harry waited to see the reaction, but none came. The intelligence had no effect on Gabriella's aura. Either she knew already, or had suspected all along, or the news show simply didn't effect her emotions.

"I see,"she finally whispered."That muddies things a bit, doesn't it ?"

"I need to ask Antony 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 acknowledge 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 hump, Harry. The townsfolk's not that with child and a few well placed questions will get us to where we need to go."

"Us ?"Harry asked.

"Don't be silly,"answered Gabriella."It's far too dangerous for you to leave the castle alone. Besides, Professor Snape has already released me from tomorrow's exam for—"

"—for high St. Mark,"interrupted Harry."Yeah, I know. I know."He paused for a few import and then stir his point. But before Harry could say a Book Gabriella began.

"Harry,"she said gently, holding her hand to his brass,"I don't maintenance how well you can see what others can not."She took his hand."You're blind. It makes a difference. You can't go somewhere you've never been, talk to multitude 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 demise Eater."He paused, churning the suggestion in his mind. Finally he said,"You're right. I probably wouldn't get a chance 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 XX minute of arc to get what they needed before they could pinch out through the hidden tunnel to Hogsmeade. It took half that sentence to shit it to Le Mure. Gabriella was right, Harry would cause been lost without her. It was bad enough trying to remember his French ; it was worse trying to reckon out what mitt gesture or facial grammatical construction went along with it. subterfuge, he could detect none of it, but Gabriella was nearly perfect. In fact, Harry began to wonder if she had known the way all along. Finally, knowing that Cho's apartment was just around the closure, the two decided to drop the night at a small inn and wait until dawn. It was the kickoff they'd been truly alone since the summertime.

Harry offered to log Z's on the floor, but Gabriella pulled him close to her. There was a fondness to her touch that meant more to him than anything in the entirely universe. That dark he laid his individual bare, telling her everything he knew, everything she'd listen to, including Draco's theory about Voldemort's cloak. Only when he touched on his training with the Centaurs, would she noticeably change the case. He fell asleep in her arms and woke the next good morning the like way. The sun was just breaking into the window as he stroked her long black fuzz, wondering with some fear what the future would lend.

After breakfast, they walked down the skittle alley toward the small apartment anatomical structure 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 door opened, held exposed by an aged man with grey haircloth and a jade look on his face. There were origination and Gabriella slipped inside. The room access shut before Harry could trace. There was a minute of silence and then squeals of joy. Harry knew the strait ; Cho was inside. A few moments later the man left, jingling coins in his sack. Harry's plan had worked - Gabriella, handing the man a couple galleons, suggested he go to the corner pub for a bite and a beer or two. He wasn't to the sidewalk before there was a snap and he had Disapparated. Then the murmurs began ; louder, then softer, then louder again. Finally, Harry heard,"Don't be silly."A moment after that, the room access opened and Gabriella ushered him inside.

All the while, Harry had seen the air of the two Lester Willis Young char and the quondam man. He watched as they moved back and forth, and as Gabriella hugged what he figured to be Cho. It had been the first time he had observed a Disapparation without his plenty and he noted with pursuit the sudden volley of Energy that accompanied it. But more than anything else his attention was focused on one matter above all - a dim carmine lambency that glimmered from the vertebral column of the apartment. Through all the walls it could have been anything - a cat, a dog. But Harry knew, by how well its coloration blended with Cho's, what was there.

"Harry ?"Gabriella asked to the nullity before her. Cho stood only a few feet away. Harry sensed warmth mixed with savvy. As for himself, he could feel the stew of his palms as he reached up and slipped off the cloak.

"Cho ?"he asked to the glow before him. The atmosphere didn't movement, the individual didn't speak, but the colour began to blanch almost immediately. Then her script went to her typeface, covering her sass.

"Oh, Harry,"she croaked."Tony told me about the stroke, about…"Slowly she walked over to him.

"This ?"Harry asked, holding his hand near his synagogue."It's nothing. Just a bit of field glass. Surgery's scheduled for future month ; should consume me good as new."Cho took his hand and then touched his face.

"I'm so no-count,"she whispered."I should have come to visit."She took him in her arms and held him tight. He could palpate her palpitation in his weaponry."I couldn't… I couldn't bear to see you again."

"Great,"Harry drawled."Always good to know you're sentiment of kindly."

"Harry !"snapped Gabriella shortly. She took Cho gently by the arm and said,"Cho, can we come in and take in a sit ?"Cho loosened her grip on Harry and wiped her boldness with her hired hand.

"Oh, yes,"she said, sniffing,"of course."

The situation was gravid than Harry expected, compared to what it looked like from the outside, but it was sparsely furnished and what furnishings there were appeared old and tattered. As they entered the kitchen he noted a few Ravenclaw memorabilia here and there. He even recognized a broom, the Calluna vulgaris he bought her concluding year, was propped up in the corner. Cho offered them some java, they accepted and together they sat at a modest board in the kitchen. There was a little talking about the weather condition and schooling.

"Are your test over ?"Cho asked."Tony has Arithmancy tomorrow."

"Tony,"muttered Harry through gritted dentition. Maybe he was a bit covetous of Susan Brownell 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 wait no longer.

"I heard… I heard you and, er, Tony were going to tie the knot… get married. I told Gab we should come by and find out out when. Ask what you might take to, erm…"He looked around at the shabby furniture."… spruce the office up."

"Soon,"answered Cho without hesitating."But we're not telling anyone until after the school year. Not even my kin. They think I'm here studying art."

"I also heard,"continued Harry, not really listening to Cho's run-in,"that you two had a child ; a baby boy is it ?"Before Cho could answer Gabriella took her by the helping hand.

"It's so exciting, Cho !"she said joyfully."I'm sure you're a marvelous mother. The babe is so lucky to have two such wonderful parents. Both Ravenclaws !"

"Thank you, Gab,"said Cho warmly."T-Tony's been great."

"Can we see him ?"asked Gabriella excitedly."I've wanted to see him so."Cho was hesitant.

"wellspring,"added Harry,"I can't see him, but I have a pretty expert estimate that he's rectify through there, isn't he ?"He pointed to the backwards elbow room and swallowed."I think it's expectant that you and… er, Tony are doing the… er, right matter. It sure would be great, at to the lowest degree for Gabriella, to see him. Just a tiptop ?"

"He is due to eat breakfast soon,"Cho said cautiously."Perhaps… just for a moment."

When she returned to the kitchen, Cho was carrying a infant boy dressed in a small red sweater. He smiled and muttered a few sound as she sat him in his president, offering him a cookie to chew on. The tiresome fog of Harry's optic were focused somewhere above the boy's head, but his thinker's eye was captivated on the favorable red incandescence before him. It was glorious, almost blinding, and Harry wondered if the brightness of the glow was because he was a baby or something more. The biscuit snapped out of Cho's helping hand and flew into the waiting grasp of the sister's.

"flavour at that ! So soon ?"cooed Gabriella."He's just perfect."And then she began to babble baby talk to the kid.

"Yes, he's pretty special,"answered Cho.

Harry could feel that she was looking at him, centred on his reaction, but he was at a loss. To make out for sure he would suffer to ask straight out. Now, here they were, and Harry didn't know what to do. He half wanted to jab the infant with a stick to see what it would do.

"Has he,"Harry began,"shown any other foretoken of illusion ?"

"No. Not really,"answered Cho cautiously."But he can stand 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 name ?"asked Gabriella.

"Jamie,"answered Cho.

"After your brother ?"

"We just liked the name,"Cho said, not committing.

"I have to accept,"said Gabriella,"that he's the splitting image of you. And that's a good thing ; you're much better looking than Anthony."She laughed and Cho did too. It sounded as if it had been the commencement time Cho had laughed in quite some time. But then the tone in Gabriella's voice changed.

"In fact, he doesn't look much like a Goldstein at all. You're both so dark, and Jamie's peel is so pale."

"He… he doesn't get out much,"said Cho, growing skittish.

"Cho, you know I love you like a babe. Don't you ?"Gabriella asked gently."Well, I think Harry has a right to know. You see, he told me that you two kip together at Hogwarts - just once, on Halloween. Caught in the heat of the mo, 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 calendar month before piffling Jamie here was born."

"Well—"

"Cho,"Gabriella interrupted."Harry may have his hunch, but he can't see what I can, and the centre never lie. You and Susan Anthony, you both have brown eye. Both your parents each have brown middle. It would guide a powerful wizard to produce a boy with anything other than brownness eyes and the conjuring trick would most certainly be to sprain the colour of the eyes to his own."Cho said nothing. Harry said nothing."It's genuine, Jamie is the splitting image of his beautiful mother. But the eyes… I think he has his father's eyes."Cho remained silent. Once again, Harry watched as her halo blanched.

"What do you mean ?"asked Harry blindly. Gabriella took his hand.

"They're green, Harry,"she said quietly."Prunus amygdalus shaped and brilliantly green. Just like yours."


Harry ceramicist and the parentage of a New Sun

Chapter 15 - Another Potter
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Beyond the lallation of the baby sitting beside Harry, there was secretiveness. Perhaps, if one were to listen closely, the strait of a bird chirping or a distant bus creaking to a hitch could be heard, breaking the windlessness of the morn. Then Cho's foot began to nervously tap against the side of the tabular array. In nominal head of Harry, she had been confronted by Gabriella with the true statement, but still she would not, or could not speak. Harry had known before they came to French Republic that the child would be his, and though he had not heard the Bible from Cho's sass, he wasn't about to become angry ; it was hard enough not to demonstrate how frightened he was feeling. No, if anything, he needed some time himself to get over the sinking feeling in his stomach, as if he'd just fallen off his Calluna vulgaris. He would waitress for Cho to be set up. He breathed deeply the odour of his coffee, took a sip, set the cup down and put out his finger's breadth, 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 headland.

"Oh, my. What a header of pilus ! Is it melanise ?"This simple question was purposefully directed at Cho. There was the beat of a intermission before she answered.

"Yes,"she said quietly, with a bit of a fissure in the word. Harry could hear her swallow.

"Thank Merlin he's got his mother's looks,"Harry said with a chuckle. He took another sip of deep brown.

"You'll see him one day, Harry,"said Gabriella with an encouraging pure tone. Harry tilted his headspring down and shook it slowly.

"I don't think so,"he said quietly, his lips still turned in a slight smile.

"What do you mean ?"asked Cho, surprised."Surely they can—"

"I was just examined by Madame Pomfrey,"interrupted Harry."The vision charms aren't knitting. There's still too much glass."

"But couldn't they just—"

"There are dozens of tiny shard - too many and too small to vanish without vanishing pieces of my centre and if they summon them out they'll shred whatever tidy eye tissue that's left."Cho gasped.

"I… I didn't know. I thought—"

"No matter,"said Harry taking to his feet."I can see the blast in his soul, even if I can't see their colouration of his eyes."He went to the coffee pot to pour himself one Thomas More cup. On the way, he tripped on a small toy that had fallen on the floor and what liquid that was in his cup spilt.

"Woops,"said Harry. Cho stood to clean the spill, but Harry had it off the priming coat nearly before it landed with a simple Wave of his paw. Since losing his stack, his abilities without a wand, abilities he rarely used in front of others, had strengthened. Without skipping a heartbeat, he poured himself another cup, but rather than rick he continued to look the cabinetry. Yes, he could see the firing in the boy's nimbus, but he would present anything to have his eyesight back… to see his child, his son. He began to tremble. For the first time in months he was cold with fear, and it wasn't veneration of a Dementor or Death eater. It was awe for his youngster and his child's female parent, fright for a future that was already so incertain, so drab. It felt as if all the air in the way was being sucked away.

"At to the lowest degree,"he said, holding the warm cup in his manus,"Anthony won't need to… to take care into my eyes and wonder. I… I wouldn't want that."Cho stepped up behind Harry and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Susan Anthony Goldstein, Ravenclaw Prefect at Hogwarts School for witchcraft and wizardry ?"asked Cho."He might be a bit gallant at times, but he's no patsy, Harry. He knows."She turned Harry to face her."He's always known that… that Jamie is your son. He came up with the public figure. Your f-father's name."She placed her bridge player at the side of Harry's face."He knew that too. I… I didn't."With these Son, Cho began to cry. She held Harry by the front of his shirt and pulled him close, sobbing into his chest. Gabriella left her president and the three hugged for some time while Cho repeated over and over how no-count 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 triple 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 forepart elbow room where the fireplace sat cold, but the slightly tattered chairperson were more comfortable. Even without the flaming, Harry watched with wonder the warmth that filled the room. He could narrate she loved the boy deeply. Nor, was the emotion lost on Gabriella, sitting at Harry's side, who was gathering a burn herself as she took in the elbow room's emotions of passion. He took Gabriella's mitt and for the first metre in a foresightful time Harry tried to relax, letting the swirling fearfulness of the future fade from his mind. It was Cho that started the conversation as Jamie continued to suckle.

"I wanted to keep this mysterious, Harry - arcanum from my parents, closed book from my buddy, secret from you. At world-class I was ashamed and then—"

"But—"

"Let me finish,"asked Cho."I need to finish, or I may never be able to."Harry nodded."Last twelvemonth you wanted to say me about Gabriella."Cho looked at Gab."He did so need to tug me away, to tell me of the Muggle miss he had met back home."Her optic returned to Harry."But I could see that, just under the skin, there was a fire of desire and I… I wanted… my fall in eubstance wanted to be desired."

"He was cross-hexed by my parents,"said Gabriella. The speech were meant to be explanatory, but Harry noted a tinge of bitterness or unhappiness.

"I know that now,"answered Cho."Maybe I knew it then, at least that he wasn't in his right thinker. I could have used a sheathing charm. I thought about it. I even reached for my sceptre before it happened Halloween Nox behind the Great Hall."Gabriella barb Harry a glimpse that he could not see."But then I stopped. I wanted this."Cho looked down at Jamie."I wanted to have something in case… in case…"

"In case I died ?"asked Harry."Like Cedric ?"Without oral presentation, 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 rear."I thought that after You-Know-Who had been destroyed I could tell you, but then I heard about the new war… that Malfoy's last eater were out to kill you. What would they do if they knew you had a son ?"She shook her head."This summer, I travelled to the United States with Anthony… Tony. One night, I fell asleep in his arms and when I woke up the following morning the befuddling spell had warn off. I was meaning for all to see. In that instant I panicked, horrified by what he might imagine, what he might do, and in the next I felt Tony's touch, quick and caressing on my tum. He stayed at my side and he's never left."Jamie let out a rather telling burp and everyone smiled.

smile, Cho held Jamie in her lap and said something in Chinese as she wiped the Milk River from his chin.

"Tony's hired Chalmers"said Cho, referring to the safeguard that was probably now close to finishing his dawn meal,"to watch over Jamie and I, while he finishes school. It's costing him every knut he has. Once we're married we'll qualify for welfare from the Ministry. They offer living accommodations and, maybe, we can determine a nicer plaza to—"

"benefit ?"spat Harry, his spine snapping rigid."From the Ministry ? You can't be serious ! You're not going to take a dime bag from the Ministry. As far as I'm concerned there all a bunch of crooks !"

"Harry !"called Gabriella.

"Well, Ron's dad. But the rest of the lot ? Crooks !"He took to his invertebrate foot."And as far as living in Ministry housing… never ! I won't allow it."

"What do you mean you won't allow it ?"said Cho a bit heatedly."You have no say in the matter."Harry ignored her.

"You'll check at the castle. It's far enough away from what's happening… yes, you'll be safety there."

"We're safe here,"said Cho, standing herself, the baby held snugly in both implements of war.

"Safe ! Are you kidding me !"cry out Harry."What's his name… Chambers ? He's a Death feeder !"

"Oh,"Cho chuckled,"now you're just being cockeyed. Chalmers wouldn't hurt a fly. He's only working for Tony because of the kindness in his heart. He hardly makes sufficiency money to get by on."

"So he moonlights for Lucius Malfoy as a last Eater !"exclaimed Harry."At least he doesn't know that the boy is mine. Thank Falco columbarius for that."Cho's facial expression dropped with surprise at these speech.

"How could you possible know that we haven't told him ?"she asked. Now Gabriella stood, stroked Jamie's cheek and took him in her own arms, patting his dorsum as he rested against her shoulder.

"Because,"Gabriella said softly with a melodious representative as if she were singing to the baby,"if Chalmers knew, Lucius would know. And if Lucius knew, his son would know."

"Draco ?"breathed Cho."I thought Dragon was…"Her voice quieted and she strode over to Harry and slapped him on the shoulder."You trivial prevaricator. You looked me straight in the eye and told me he fell into the abyss."Harry turned his back.

"Don't you look away from me !"Cho yelled."Let me see your face."Harry acquiesced. When he faced her, any anger he felt evaporated and his shoulder slumped.

"This is pointless,"he breathed."He'll be back here any instant. Maybe he's a kindly old doddered just trying to make a buck any way he can. Cho, you can't take a chance."He placed his hands on her shoulders."I have money and it's my province. Let me at to the lowest degree help pay the bills until Anthony alum. Let me at least give you a ceiling over your head word where the open fireplace works and you'll know you'll be safe."

"It's beautiful there,"added Gabriella."Green fields… sky-blue seas… cute Hellenic language boys with bare chests."She winked and kissed Jamie on the head. Cho crossed her arm and walked over to the fireplace that had no fuel for the flame.

"I… I'll have to ask Tony,"answered Cho."Do you think… I know it's unmanageable oversea, but do you think we could connect to the floo meshing ? I miss the family so, and we are going to tell them… after Tony graduates."

"That's one thing the Ministry can do,"said Harry, suddenly happy Cho was changing her judgment."But you can tell Tony later. First, we need to—"There was a snap and an split second later the look doorway opened. Gabriella motioned for Harry to conceal. He had just enough time to dart under his cloak and gather himself into the corner before Chalmers walked through the front doorway.

The previous man was too dilute and not much taller than Cho. When he entered he took his coat off and hung it against the rampart with a sticking charm.

"Beautiful day today, girl Yangtze Kiang,"he said with a toothy smiling."Beautiful Day !"He stepped over and gave Gabriella a nod."And thank you missy for the alright meal."He paused."It's been a while since…"His face grew wistful, but then he shook his school principal."No matter."He slapped his hands together and pulled his baton."Let me clear these dish antenna for you."Harry stood silently against the rampart as Chalmers walked with a bit of a hitch into the kitchen. There was a discrete speech rhythm to the cadence of his walk that Harry, two calendar month ago, would not otherwise have noticed. It was then that Harry saw a alteration in Gabriella's aura ; something was wrong.

"Oh,"said Chalmers with a timbre of surprise in his vocalization."Three cups. Did you have another visitor today ?"Without waiting for an answer he levitated the dishes into the sink where the scrubber began to dampen them. Cho was frozen, but Gabriella stepped over without disinclination.

"Yes,"she said quite calmly,"a girlfriend of ours, also from Hogwarts. She had to leave early to get back for her afternoon exam."Chalmers nonchalantly straightened the chairs.

"Well, you know how Mr. Goldstein feels about visitors, Miss Chang."He settled himself into one of the cushioned chairs and began to spread out the newspaper, still scanning the room with the middle."At least strangers."Harry could distinguish that the old man was on guard, sensing something that was not right."Just tryin'to keep you and the child secure he is."

infant Jamie babbled something and then pointed at Harry hidden beneath the cloak. The motion was enough to cause Chalmers to call on and face back into the far corner at the cracked and discharge wall. Jamie babbled again and gave a lighter laughter. Chalmers smiled.

"Well, wee Jamie is felicitous enough to have guests."He held up the social movement page."What's your friend's name, young woman ?"

"Hermione… Hermione sodbuster,"answered Gabriella. There was the thin pause and she added,"And I should be on my way as well."She gave Cho a hug and kissed Jamie's cheek."Thanks so much for letting us visit. He's just adorable and you're a howling mother."

"Thank you, Gabriella,"answered Cho, kissing Gab's cheek."I couldn't ask for a kinder, quick friend. Please come visit after the wedding. I think I'll spirit more comfortable then - Mrs. Goldstein."

"Oh ! That reminds me,"said Gabriella suddenly."Mr. Chalmers is it ?"Chalmers set his newspaper publisher in his lap.

"Just Chalmers, missy."

"Cho was showing me the nursery and I noticed the vertebral column window. We had discussed placing a waterproofing charm, but I wasn't certain if—"

"Yes, young lady,"cut in Chalmers proudly."The unit house is sealed tight. No one can get in without permission. It's a Bucinum charm."

"Oh dear,"said Gabriella."A Bucinum magical spell ?"Chalmers nodded his read/write head."I think a Trepidus appealingness would be safer."

"Trepidus good luck charm ?"asked Chalmers blankly.

"Oh yes,"added Cho."A Trepidus charm would be ideal."

"Certainly,"continued Gabriella,"I mean, if someone tries to break in the Bucinum charm blows them up. That could harm the babe. Do you think you could show me where you set the appealingness ? Together we can make the replacement."

"Oh, please do, Chalmers,"asked Cho pleadingly."Gabriella's a for the first time class enchantress. She studied at Al Bsahri you know."

"Did she now,"said Chalmers with involvement as he took to his feet."I've heard they reopened the school this year."

"Yes,"said Gabriella,"it's quite lovely."

"Well, let's have a look around and see what we can do."Together, Chalmers and Gabriella made their way to the back of the business firm, leaving Cho and Jamie alone with Harry. Even as Harry moved toward the battlefront room access beneath his invisibility cloak, Jamie followed him with his gaze, pointing with his hand. Cho walked to the door and opened it.

"When… when do you wed Gold— Anthony ?"Harry asked.

"Christmas,"Cho answered. She tried to make the word sound exciting and vivacious, but it fell matted.

"Cho, you don't have to—"

"Don't I ?"Cho snapped."Don't I ? Tony loves me for all the domain. He'd risk his life to protect me… and your son. He's honest, hardworking, and… and… and I'm marrying him on Christmas."Jamie wriggled in her arms, both workforce outstretched toward Harry.

"You deserve to be happy,"said Harry quietly."You deserve ..."but Harry's words failed him."I'm so sorry."Cho ushered Harry outside to the strawman stoop and shut the threshold behind her. She lifted his cloak to reveal his facial expression.

"Harry,"she said."Tony… he looks at me… he looks at me the way you look at Gabriella. What girl wouldn't want that ?"She leaned over and kissed him on the lips, and then draped the cloak back over him."I'll ask him about your go. He's a proud man, Harry, and a bit obstinate. You should be able to appreciate that."

"I love you, Cho. If there's ever anything you need… anything at all, let me jazz and it's yours. I'll see to it, I swear."Cho smiled, but her heart were sad. Jamie began to soak up on his finger. The door opened and Gabriella appeared followed closely by Chalmers.

"Ah, here you are,"said Gabriella. The sun was affectionate on her face as she put her arms out and gave Gabriella a hug."The apartment is sealed tight."Cho took in a inscrutable breath.

"Good, thank you,"she said."I was just giving Jamie a little sun."

"Which he can get through the windowpane, my dear,"said Chalmers herding Cho back into the sign."Now come inside."He seemed quite protective, but Harry wondered if it wasn't something more."A pleasure to encounter you, misfire Darbinyan, was it ?"

"Yes, and a pleasure it was to receive you,"Gabriella replied."It's good to see my ally in such fine hands. Cho, I'll be by before long with those natural endowment I promised."

"Gifts ?"Cho asked."Oh, yes, natural endowment. Yes, yes, anytime. Be good ; there's a tranquil space to Apparate just behind that hoary building over there."They kissed arrivederci and Gabriella began to take the air down the street, Harry at her slope. Chalmers stood for some clip after Cho had gone inside, watching from the stoop. Gabriella waved one last sentence as she turned the corner 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 edifice they'd just passed were the auras of two belittled fig. 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 family elves at the house,"said Harry.

"I know,"she replied."They must belong to to someone else, or one's with its master."

"Who ?"

Gabriella just shrugged.

"How did he know your name ?"asked Harry.

"It just slipped out. But I don't think—"

"You don't think Lucius would just as soon see you up on a pike as me ? It was foolishness !"

"He'd have found out soon enough,"said Gabriella with a sigh as the two turned another recession. The street was deserted save for two young male child playing football game near the end by a chain-link fence. Gabriella pulled her wand. She was going to attack the two that were nearing the recess, but Harry stayed her script.

"Gab, no,"he whispered."Grimmauld Place."

"But—"

"Now !"

A moment later they found themselves on the streets of London, just outside of routine XII, Grimmauld shoes. They waited to see if they might consume been followed, then checked that the streets were clear. Finally, Harry uncloaked and walked up the steps to the threshold, knocking twice. The threshold opened of its own accord and the two walked in. There was a rustle, a thud, and then Dog Star appeared atop the staircase wearing Boxer and a tee shirt. Wand drawn he pointed it blindly toward the door.

"frost !"he screamed."Or I'll obliterate you !"

"I hope not,"answered Harry."I'm kinda hungry."

"Harry ?"Dog Star said, blinking his eyes."Harry what the hell… Gabriella ?"Canicula made an attempt at slicking back his hair and started down the step.

"It's after noontide,"Harry said."Don't tell me you were still sleeping."

"I was up late live night. Remus finished grading papers and we— Hey, isn't your Potions exam today ?"Canicula'eyes guessing to the door."And why didn't you use the floo ? What's going on ?"

"Erm… can we eat first,"asked Harry.

"What,"shot Canicula in a singularly insistent tone,"is… going… on ? !"

"Sirius,"said Gabriella softly,"I think it unspoilt if we sit down."

"You do, do you ?"snipped Sirius, but Gabriella's blackness oculus caught a soft-spot in Sirius'bark."Well… okay."

The three moved into the kitchen and Dog Star started toward the stove. He grabbed a spatula and summoned some sausages when Gabriella took his hand.

"Here,"she said softly,"let me do that. You sit with Harry."Sirius moved to the table and sat opposite his godson.

"Well ?"Sirius queried."It's obvious something's afoot. Spit it out."Harry tried, but he couldn't hold his godfather's regard.

"I… I, erm…"He sucked in a large draught of air and exhaled."Igoterpregnant."

"What ?"Sirius asked."What was that ?"

"I… I got her pregnant."

"What !"Sirius stood and spun towards Gabriella."You're pregnant ?"Gabriella turned the sausage balloon with her wand."How could you—"

"Let him finish,"she replied, floating three home out onto the table.

"Not Gabriella,"Harry said. Sirius turned back to font Harry."Cho… Cho Chang."Dog Star fell back into his death chair.

"Are you sure ?"asked Sirius with a disbelieving tone."Because sometimes witches can—"

"Oh,"cut in Gabriella sharply."He's sure."

"Merlin,"he whispered, scratching his chin."Harry, you should be intimate better."

"I know. I know I should sleep with better."

"And you,"Canicula said, turning back to Gabriella,"why are you here with this cheating scum if Cho's running around meaning ?"Expressionless, Gabriella placed the sausage balloon on the home and added some warmed edible bean.

"It was final yr,"she answered sitting down and handing Canicula a ramification.

"The child was born in July,"said Harry."On my birthday. His gens is Jamie."

Sirius'fork fell with a clank onto the plate, splattering red beans onto his white-ish T-shirt.

"A b-boy ? Jamie ?"

"They're living in a dump,"said Harry quickly,"and I can't have my son living like that. I won't have another ceramist live with debris and spiders, not as long as it's in my ability. So, I offered to own them stay at your rook. You know… until Anthony grad. Merlin hold open his mortal if he ever—"

"My castling ? Marcus Antonius ? Who's Anthony."

"Goldstein. Well Cho calls him Tone. How cheesy is that ? Anyhow, the thing is…."

It was well into the evening before Harry had set Sirius straight on all the inside information, uncertain as they were. Sirius then began a speech that lasted for nearly thirty mo and included a few book of facts to Harry's parents. But when Harry began to probe mystifying Dog Star changed the subject. After venting about Harry's betise, he had agreed to take Antony, Cho and Jamie in and help in any way he could.

The sausages Cho cooked little more than a computer memory, Sirius grew hungry again and he convinced them to go to a Siamese 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 sorcerer. The occasional flash bulb of magic that occurred never seemed to faze the old man. Sirius called him a Savant, a Muggle in line with the magic trick of the innate world but possessing no skill his own. Harry was half-way through his Panang Curry when he realized that tonight he was to match Ron and Hermione at the Ministry.

"The cloak,"he muttered suddenly to himself, before taking another morsel.

"What's that, Harry ?"asked Sirius. Harry looked up into Sirius'eyes ; they were smiling. Harry's cecity didn't allow him to see that the crimp that had once drawn the sides of Canicula'eye down were now curling upward. But he could sense the brightness of the aura in his godfather's reflection. For a second, Harry considered telling Sothis of their design at the Ministry. Gabriella touched his hand.

"More tea ?"the server asked, and all three nodded. Harry continued to look toward Sirius who was as happy as ever. The thought of asking Sirius to help them, particularly at the Ministry, curdled the curry in Harry's stomach.

"I said I almost choked,"Harry said with a cough.

"You're eating too fast,"said Gabriella knowingly, rubbing his arm and smile."It's not a race."

"Probably the curry,"said Sirius, taking another bite."It's a bit piquant tonight."

"Yeah… yeah that's it,"Harry answered. He wiped his backtalk with his nappy and set it on the tabular array."Erm… Actually, I think I skillful be—"

"Harry,"interrupted Gabriella,"I have to go before it gets yesteryear midnight."

"Is it getting that belated ?"asked Sirius, his mouth half full. Harry shot her a glance ; his mouth frowned. He didn't want her at the Ministry any More than he wanted Dog Star. There were too many memories—bad computer storage. Then she said something that surprised even Harry.

"I need to see Jamie,"she said,"just for a moment. I should receive taken concern of it this break of the day, but I forgot. I've not been in melodic phrase with the old ways for some time. mama would be disappointed in me."Unconsciously, Harry began to rub the tartar cicatrice that was emblazoned on his right forearm.

He remembered what Gabriella's female parent, Soseh, had said at the end of death school year."The grace is inscribed on the males of each generation by the women of the generation before. It will be Gabriella's duty to pass the blessing to your sons."Once it was acquit that Harry would accept Jamie as his son, it was Gabriella's obligation, by oath, that she pass to him the blessing of Asha.

"The Votary,"Harry whispered quietly, staring down at the bowl of yellow and amber. Then his dull heart looked toward hers."It's too dangerous,"he said sharply."What if Chalmers has told them. What if he knew all along ? What if they're still there ?"

"They ? They who ?"asked Sirius.

"We were followed after we left Cho's apartment,"said Gabriella."But it makes no difference. By laurels, I have no choice. It must be done, and the sooner it's done the greater the force of Jamie's blessing, of his protective cover. He'll indigence Asha's help in these times of darkness."

"You mentioned the Death eater bodyguard, but you didn't mention that you were followed,"said Dog Star, his center turning toward Harry with a more serious glare.

"genus Draco said that Chalmers doesn't work nighttime, at to the lowest degree not for Goldstein. Sirius, you need to go with her, keep her safe. That way you can see Jamie and pass on the news, maybe convince Cho to go into the rook tonight while Chalmers is away."

"And you ?"Sirius asked.

"I'll just head back to Hogwarts. If the two were a yoke of Lucius'thugs out to get me it'd be wagerer if I wasn't there."Sirius sighed, looking longingly at an untouched barbeque spare rib. He licked his lips and pushed his plate forward.

"Very well, let's go."They paid and made their way outside and down the street, finding a more remote alleyway often used by the visiting crone and wizards to Apparate. Sirius took Harry by the arm and looked him in the eyes, but Harry turned away to look down the street as a car past by.

"Straight to Hogwarts,"said Sirius sternly,"okay, 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 baton as did Dog Star."Oh, and don't vexation ; Jamie will be fine. I'll make sure that no evilness 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 dayspring. Keep her safe, Sirius."There was a picnic and both Gabriella and Sirius had vanished. Harry focused his vision to another part of Jack London and in the next moment found himself at a telephone box above the entrance to the Ministry. As off-putting as Apparating was for Harry, he was ill prepared for what happened following.

"Stupefy !"The blast of red lighter hit Harry squarely in the chest, knocking him backward some ten to twenty feet, his baton tumbling from his mitt."There, Harrington,"a large clothe trope said with a rather blustery articulation, picking up Harry's wand,"and you were about ready to wet your pants. He is a boy, after all."Still on his back Harry could smell out them stepping toward him.

"I… am not… a… boy !"he rasped. This made the closest wizard laugh, but the smaller man behind him said nothing.

"Well, I've got your wand, little man. I doubt you'll—"

"Diffindo !"Harry hissed, stretching his right-hand arm forward. orange tree light erupted from the berm down and extended out and beyond Harry's fingertips.

The front of the expiry Eater's cloak looked as if a great saber had just slashed across it, tearing cloth and material body alike up and outward. Harry could sense the blood spatter his aspect. The Death Eater screamed falling to his human knee. Unsteadily, Harry stood. The entirely berth seemed to be spinning. He was light-headed and a gathering sensation of sickness was building inside.

"Accio baton !"he cried, wrenching his baton from the destruction feeder'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 ?"Blood continued to filter from beneath the crouching Death feeder's ribs and between the hands that clutched his chest of drawers."Who do you mould for ?"Harry asked, already knowing the answer.

Harry had focused so much attention on the bombastic death feeder, he had neglected the lowly one that had retreated to the shadow.

"I said WHO - DO - YOU - WORK FOR !"Standing over his cowering victim, it was then that he noticed the lights - lots of lights. Five more auras had Apparated ; he was surrounded. Seemingly emboldened by the new arrivals, the belittled Death feeder emerged from the dark and held out his verge.

"Expel—"There were three spells cast almost simultaneously that stopped the wizard before he had a fortune to complete.

"Stupefy !"“ Diffindo !"and Harry's shield magic spell,"Contego !"

Only, Harry didn't need the shield charm… for himself. The first spell came from one of the approaching glory Harry presumed to be more end Eaters. The bolt, not the stiff Harry had ever seen, knocked the smaller hotshot backward, albeit only a few groundwork. Fearing for his life, and rightfully so, the diminutive Death eater Disapparated. The second base spell came from yet another aura, little yet intense. It was directed at the halting sensation crouching before Harry. The consequence was frightful and instant ; the Death Eater's head fell to the gravelled pavement and his torso slumped forward, draining blood at Harry's metrical foot, a boiling pool of light like lave erupting from a vent.

Harry spun to face the five wizards approaching him, holding his scepter high. Two showed hints of both red and green in their nimbus as they drew nearer."prideful swearing ?"Harry wondered. And then a interpreter came to him that startled him more than that of the old Death Eater.

"Bloody Scheol, James ! What in merlin's figure did you do that for ?"

The colour, the canter, the tone… Harry knew at once it was Ron Weasley.


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 16 - The Burden Calls
~~~***~~~

"He was reaching for his scepter,"said James, pointing at the decapitate Death eater at Harry's feet."He was going to kill Harry !"

"He was on his genu,"snapped Hermione."Harry had him firmly in control."

"He didn'have the… that footling guy in command,"countered Saint Patrick."I had teh take him down."

"You're just lucky he was as frightened as a molamar in water supply,"said Anthony Goldstein with a rather haughty voice.

"Goldstein ?"asked Harry in surprise as the group converged on him.

"tinker's dam, Potter,"said Goldstein,"you're a blooming mountain. And I do mean bloody. Scourgify !"The splatters covering the front of Harry's face, shirt and pant vanished, though the puddle on the pavement remained."There, that's better."

"Who in Hades told Goldstein ?"cried Harry.

"Actually, Potter,"replied Goldstein,"I stumbled on this merry company as they tried to sneak out. Seemed like a good DA mission.

"Are you kidding ?"snapped Harry, gazing at the aura of the man who'd be his son's father. There was a honour about it, but Harry was to kindle to consider it."You… you can't be here. It's too dangerous."

"Yes, I see that,"said Goldstein with a rather sarcastic tone of voice. Gingerly, Harry stepped out of the descent, pooling at his feet. Hermione ran over to him and hugged him.

"Who were they ?"she asked."Nobody's supposed to know we're here."

"That's what I thought,"answered Harry."I was trying to get an answer when James here decided to toy the butcher."Harry turned to the second year."The next time I need your help Yangtze Kiang, I'll ask for it."Harry sensed at once the anger construction within the low superstar, but then it subsided almost as quickly as it came.

"I… I was just trying too hard I guess,"answered James."It was scary."

"And why are you two,"Harry pointed to both James and Saint Patrick,"here in the inaugural topographic point ? Stumble across the company as well ?"He shot Ron a glimpse and wished he could convey optic of death.

"St. Patrick overheard our plans and said he'd snitch if we didn't bring ‘ em along,"answered Ron."It was supposed to be quiet ; I didn't figure we'd run into dying Eaters."

"If that's what they were,"said Harry, still holding his wand at the ready."They acted more like hired thugs than Death Eaters."

The night air was cold and quiet. He could find the moistness of a thin mist wrap about his expression, sending shivers down his spine. For a moment he thought of Dementors, but the coolness, this chilled clamminess was something else, something more visceral. The whispers of death were swirling ; somehow Harry knew that. And not for the man that had just been slain, the whispers were telling Harry that more would soon join the absolutely man at his substructure. But who ?

"Goldstein,"Harry said suddenly,"Anthony, really you… you have to—"

"Well, we're here now,"said James."Dispatchio !"The short genius and the pool of blood beneath him vanished."Let's say we get in, get the cloak and get out before anymore… er, iniquity wizard show up. Wouldn't want Luci—"

"Where'd you learn that spell ?"queried Hermione."That's fifth year."James River shrugged his shoulders.

"My sister I guess,"he said."She's the smart one in the family."

"Yeah… I see,"said Harry, noticing James'glory fade from green to red then back from red to green. For the firstly meter, he thought St. James the Apostle might not really be an ally."Ron, maybe you should take—"

"St. James is aright,"off-and-on Anthony."Best if we get down into the Ministry before another dozen decease eater Apparate in."

"But—"

"Harry,"interrupted Hermione,"let's just get downstairs. We can tattle then."Harry heaved a sigh and the group squeezed into the phone John Wilkes Booth. Ron said the watchword his father had told him and a Ag orb appeared, scanning Ron in a under the weather white illumination. Then, with a jar, the elevator began to plummet. Harry tried to front at Ron and suggest to the redhead that he should read Harry's mind, but his centre were blank and Ron didn't recognize the facial nerve expression as he once would have. Harry silently cursed his blindness.

Harry's eye began to recreate. If the two second geezerhood were under the Imperious scourge, they were in all likelihood in Lucius Malfoy's control. He was feeling strongly like he wanted to wretch onto the polished marble level just as the doors opened onto the glorious incoming Charles Francis Hall of the Ministry of Magic. The six stepped out, verge drawn.

After only a few stride, they all saw where the cloak was to be displayed - it was obvious. A bombastic glass case had already been erected. On a perch was the body of a mannequin and succeeding to that a gilt statue of Harry with his wand drawn. They all stepped closer. There was no cloak, but there was a memorial tablet. It read,"This site commemorates the licking of the Dark Wizard Voldemort by the Grand Wizard Harry Potter, Order of pigeon hawk, First socio-economic class, who faced his foe wand-to-wand and struck him down."
"society 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, there won't be any ceremonial occasion,"said Harry shortly."No Dark cloak, no riposte of Voldemort, no ceremony. Ron, do you have any idea where—"

There was a sonority coming from down the hall and a deliquium glow that was growing nearer. It sounded as if individual were humming. The group began to pull back, away from the display case ; all, that is, except Epistle of James. Harry went to snap up his sleeve, but the boy wouldn't move.

"Is this it ?"he asked, still staring at the re-enactment before him."Is this how it happened ? You struck him down ? Nobody could enjoin me for surely, not even Gabriella."Harry held more tightly to James'robes and began to get out him bodily across the level.

"Saint James the Apostle,"Harry said, huffing between his teeth,"there are some things you can't believe. first base, never think a word Trelawney says unless she sounds like a goblin on fire whisky. Second, never consider a news written in the Dailey seer, unless it's written by Luna Lovegood. And finally, never… ever believe anything the Ministry says - ever !"He continued dragging James by the back of his collar until they were hidden between two marble columns.

"Bold words, Harry,"continued Henry James passively."But I never believed you could trounce Lord Voldemort wand-to-wand. Tell me, is there still a part of the dark Lord that courses through your vena ? That could be useful, if—"

"Shhh."All was silent, save for the casual fracture ember from one of the open fireplace that surrounded the lordly entree hall and the humming that was growing louder by the minute. Again Harry tried to garner Ron's attention, but he was in use whispering something in Hermione's ear as they clung together behind a courtship of armour opposite the Fountain of Magical Brethren. At another newspaper column just behind Harry and James, Saint Patrick and Mark Anthony crouched. The whispers of decease were growing louder. So tatty, in fact, that Harry turned to see if perhaps a ghost or something more were at his decent side of meat. Only St. James was there, kneeling quietly on the floor.

The light grew brighter and then the witch appeared. Harry could make out her aura, a shimmering amber, but not her feature article at this distance. In front of her was a cloak levitated some two fundament off the soil. She was approaching the display eccentric when James began to wriggle under Harry's hand.

"time lag still,"he whispered, but the marble walls took in the sound, ring them about, amplifying the disturbance such that it was hearable to the crone at the presentation case. Harry noticed the hesitation. He expected her to turn, but she did not. Instead, she levitated the cloak onto the trunk within the show font and closed the glass door. She cast a magical spell with her verge and then turned as if to go away. In turning, she revealed her typeface to the others, but Harry was still unable to recognize who the hag was. From the faint gasp from across the hall it was clear that Hermione, for one, knew who it was. The witch stepped toward the fount and took something out of her pocket, perhaps a coin, Harry couldn't Tell. In a motion that was as graceful and as cunning as any Harry had ever seen, she flipped the object into the fountain. It spin around high into the air and, just as it crested in its arc, her former bridge player pointed her wand toward it and cast the go.

"Immobulus !"Harry recognized the part at once ; it was Molly Weasley, Ron's mother.

half of the light leaving her scepter passed the coin cleanly and struck the witch and adept by the suit of armour. The other half, however, glinted off the coin, reflecting toward and blasting the two wizards next to the column behind Harry. With one tour she had immobilized Ron, Hermione, Anthony and Patrick. Again, James River wriggled under Harry's grasp and again Harry held him fast.

"I know you're there,"Mrs. Weasley said with a spokesperson that held no fear."I'm afraid it's well after hours. If you're lost, I'm sure I can help you find your way. get out from behind the column and let's see where you belong. Shall we ?"

Again Henry James pushed against the weightiness of Harry who was pressing him hard against the marble floor. Finally, Harry had had enough. He couldn't risk what King James I might do.

"Incarcerous !"he called. forget me drug sprung from his wand and began to wrap themselves about James.

"Sectumsempra !"cried James, slashing the rope with his wand and pushing Harry away. Then he pointed his verge at Mrs. Weasley."Avada Ked— !"
"Stupefy !"she called, her magical spell interrupting the boy's. The red light nearly struck James who deflected it at the last bit, sending the shaft of light into the ceiling above, showering them all with pieces of marble and splinters of walnut tree. This was no second year whizz.

Harry jumped to his infantry and cast his own stunning trance, but again Saint James the Apostle 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 light Harry's way. Harry focused on where he needed to be—out of the beam's path. Suddenly, everything slowed and he found himself running to the right, toward the fountain, just as the bolt of red passed his left cubitus. James smiled.

"Impressssive, Harry,"James I hissed in a much gamey, dusty spokesperson, a voice that shook Harry to the core. 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 dash, light-green, and again Harry disappeared and reappeared into another parting of the grand residence.

"Diffindo !"called Mrs Weasley. Her spell take up James on the pass on shoulder, leaving a nasty stroke. St. James the Apostle spun on the witch.

"Avada Kedavra !"

This time the greenish light sailed toward mollie Weasley. Harry began to levitate a marble work bench into the beam's track, but quickly realized the bench was too ponderous and would not go fast enough. Instead he ran, slowing time and bending the space between them tightly together. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her to the ground just as the blast past the pair, smashing into the bulwark behind and showering them with dust and rock. Harry landed on his back as Mrs. Weasley landed on top of him, knocking the air out of his dresser.

"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 breathing time of air."In… James."Without questioning further, Mrs. Weasley's back went rigid and she rose to face James, to present Voldemort.

"Nooo,"Harry rasped, struggling to sit up, but barely able. She ignored his beckon and faced the modest boy now standing only a few feet in front end of her.

"Leave the boy, Voldemort,"she commanded, brandishing her sceptre."He can't possibly be of any use to you, now we know the truth."

"Truth ?"queried James as his eyes shot toward the dark cloak still protected behind the varnish glass. Harry rose to his knees, trying to lend air back into his lungs."The truth is that there are only two things in this room I want… and you're not one of them."His wand rose in unison with Harry's, only Harry was unable to puff the spell.

"Avada Kedavra !"

Placing himself between Mrs. Weasley and Voldemort, Harry tried to rear up in battlefront of the jet of green but the killing curse would win the slipstream this time ; he knew that. For her part, Molly Weasley cast a shell magical spell about them both, hoping to deflect the spell, but they all knew it wouldn't work. In her finale heartbeat of life story her hands gripped Harry by the shoulder and she cast a glance down into his blind oculus, a glance that held love and pity, a coup d'oeil that was filled with concern not for herself but for the boy before her… a glance he couldn't see. She fell utterly to the floor.

"NO !"cried Harry as he spun and honk another slashing piece against Saint James the Apostle who deflected it with ease."You're being controlled, James ! fighting back !"Jesse James only laughed.

"YOU stood face-to-face with the Great iniquity Lord Voldemort and defeated him ?"Saint James mocked."What a joke !"

With Mrs Weasley dead, the patch she cast on the other four wizards began to fatigue off. Slowly, they were coming to there senses, working to regain control of their apparent motion. James walked over to a groaning St. Patrick who was still prone on the floor. He grabbed St. Patrick's fuzz and pulled his pass off the ground.

"This one here,"called James, his voice echoing off the walls,"thinks of you as a brother, thrower. He'd Sooner die than see you occur to harm. Yet he's betrayed you at my every command. Shall I kill him future ?"

"Expelliarmus !"Harry cried, but once again St. James the Apostle deflected the spell.

"Haven't you figured it out yet, thrower ? Even with the acquirement of the Centaurs, you're as slow as your dead parents. Nonetheless, you could be utile ; the Malfoy boy suggested as much. I heard, perhaps, he's not as dead as everyone thinks."He released St. Patrick whose head cracked against the rock floor. But instead of striking at Harry, Saint James held his sceptre to the deoxyephedrine display causa."Diffindo !"The blast of light struck the looking glass, but held business firm as if swallowing the push of the blast, the methamphetamine began to glow. For the first time, the smile on Saint James the Apostle Yangtze Kiang's fount disappeared."Diffindo !"he called again, and again the energy was absorbed and the meth grew brighter still.

"You've down your lonesome chance for opening the case,"Harry sneered."But then… I always heard that that was one of your greatest weaknesses… TOM… being dolt !"

Another blast of light shot toward Harry ; it was red not K, not a killing execration. Once more, Harry slipped out of its way. This clock time he moved quickly around and behind James reappearing with his wand drawn.

"Stupefy !"Harry cried, sending a bang of red at James II'back, but again the wizard deflected the spell as if swatting a fly and then turned back toward the display subject."You're not trying to defeat me, Tom. Why not ?"

"I'll putting to death you sssoon enough,"James slithered."number one, 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 charm 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 time for this,"cried James, sending three more blasts of Light at the glassful face. On the third bolt the glassful cracked, but only just. Harry could severalize that the spells that James River had cast over the in conclusion few bit were draining him. He looked tire out, almost vulnerable. At the like bit the fires ringing the heroic hall roared to life.

"Finally,"Harry whispered,"some help."Wizard after wizard appeared at each fireplace, brandishing their baton."Whatever time you thought you had has just expired, Tom."

The room erupted in red light. Seven blasts came at the small superstar by the showing subject. Two struck avowedly while the others struck the glowing looking glass, shattering it completely. The large glass shards that scattered the floor, however, were still glowing as brightly as ever. There were to a greater extent blasts of red directed at Harry.

"It's me !"he yelled."Harry Potter !"

"Harry !"cried Hermione from the far incline of the hall."It's not the Ministry ! It's—"A blast of red dropped her to the ground.

"Hermione !"cried Ron."He cast a spell knocking the adept by Hermione backward into the paries with a loud cranny. He pointed towards another wizard and ran at him."Leave her alone, you bloody—"There was a blast of purple and he too fell to the base.

"We're students !"Harry yelled, but it only focused the attention of another battery of red dash his way. Harry cast a shield charm and sent them flying in every conceivable commission. The bam weakened him."Are you crazy ? ! We're—"And then he noticed it - the unmistakably bright emerald green air of Dragon Malfoy, stepping from the flames of one of the hearth. He had warned Harry and now it was too late.

Simultaneously, ropes began to twiddle about Ron, Hermione, St. Patrick, and almost importantly James who was still motionless on the floor. Somehow Anthony had managed an evasion and stood at Harry's side. There were nearly a 12 demise Eaters moving in on them.

"Take the cloak, Dragon,"drawled a tall genius in night blackness robe with crimson lining.

"Lucius ?"Harry sneered in the wizard's direction."Is that you ? I should have known by the sickening yellow colour."The ace said naught, trying to dismiss Harry."Now that I'm blind, you're much better looking in — work stoppage that. No you're not. You're still as much a pig as you always were. Still, somehow… missing an arm wooing you. How'd you lose it again ?"The goad worked.

"Big lyric for a blind boy, potter,"he snapped.

"Now, now… sticks and stones…. But then I guess six months with Dementors and poor fish will clot anyone's conversational capabilities."Harry could see that Draco was moving over the glowing ice and into the case to regain the robe. Harry turned to face up him.

"Hey ! blond bastard ! I wouldn't go in there if I were—"

"What's this ?"Draco cried out. He had come to Molly Weasley's body. The colour of his air blanched."I gave specific purchase order ! Who cast a killing curse ?"Harry could evidence immediately that genus Draco was ashen.

"Gather the cloak !"yelled Lucius.

"But father—"

"NOW !"

"Don't do it !"yelled Harry.

Draco moved forward toward the case. Suddenly, the shattered glass that was still glowing with the energy it had absorbed exploded in a brilliant white flash bulb. genus Draco flew up into the air, nearly striking the cap, and then landed with a sickening compaction against the marble floor.

"Draco !"cried Lucius. Goldstein took the distraction as his chance. His wand erupted with bright blue light, but instead of being directed at one of the Death Eaters, it was directed toward one of the portrayal hanging high on the paries of the grand hall. The portrait sparked, zapping the aged wizard that had, so far, slept through the tumult.

"Hey,"the magician in the portrait yelped."No motive for—"

"Get help you idiot !"yelled Goldstein. The wizard in the portraiture, seeing the death, disappeared instantly."It won't be long now,"Goldstein muttered, staring at the empty portrait.

There was another burst of spells headed at the two maven and together they fended them off, but Harry was growing infirm by the moment. Lucius ignored Goldstein's call for aid, he ignored the fight of wands, and he ignored the crumpled cumulation on the story that was his son. Instead, unwilling to disturb it himself, he pointed to the cloak that was still standing in the windowless display case.

"The cloak !"he yelled again. After some indisposition, another destruction eater approached the black material and grabbed it just as James, still bound by ropes, began to come to his sensation. With lust-filled centre, Lucius only half glanced at Dragon, still motionless on the trading floor, blood dripping from the quoin of his mouthpiece. Instead, he focused fully on the black robes held before him.

"Luciusss,"uttered James breathlessly,"you fool."

Malfoy wrenched the cloth out of the last Eater's hands. Quickly, he slipped it on and waited as if anticipating something to chance.

"You expected, maybe, a coronation ?"Harry sneered."Perhaps a pennant and trumpets as we all bow down to kiss your buttocks ? It's a stupid piece of cloth !"

"putting to death him,"Malfoy drawled, pointing with his full arm toward Harry."KILL HIM !"Harry grabbed Marcus Antonius by the arm as the bolt of jet approached and in an New York minute they were on the other side of the resplendent Granville Stanley Hall that now appeared more like a war zona than the showpiece of the Ministry. Looking back, they saw that the situation where they once stood was nil 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 trench breath, reaching out with his judgment to cull any magic he could from the world around him. He let out a long, decelerate exhale and pointed his sceptre at the storey.

"Festio !"he cried, ripping wads of marble tiles upward and sending them toward his adversaries. The end Eaters tried to shatter the roofing tile with charm, but the action only served to produce thousands of tiny projectiles all headed in their direction. A few cast shield magical spell in time, but almost were struck. Above the din of screams, Harry could hear James cursing Lucius.

"Release me, you idiot ! Release me now."But Malfoy, ignorant of James'avowedly identicalness, ignored the boy's pleadings. He had what he came for and was beginning to walk toward his son when snaps began to fill the room. Auror after Auror was Apparating within the grand hall. In an instant, charm were flying everywhere. good time after blast of light, cutting down wizard after wizard, beldame after Wiccan. The way was filled with pure mayhem and Harry, his articulatio humeri slumped with weariness, moved to enter the fray. Before Harry could take on a wax step, Goldstein grabbed him by the shoulder.

"You're no safe 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 Death eater before he too was stunned and fell to the reason. It was then that Harry noticed James. He was beginning to slip 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 deadbolt of orange light struck the paries behind Harry, casting stone and dot down his back. Lucius was about prepare to run. Harry focused on where he needed to be and before Lucius had taken another step, Harry was standing in strawman of him, blocking the entrance to the fireplace.

"Silencio !"Harry whispered, holding his hand between the cloak's crimp of black cloth and directly against Malfoy's chest. The magician tried to stray a spell, but was mute."Now, what with the sporty arm and all… that's what I call an improvement. You should remember to button up before you step out, Lucius. Now, take off the cloak before I blast it off."Malfoy's middle glowed with pure hatred and he raised his wand."Expelliarmus !"Harry whispered again and Malfoy's wand flew from his hired man. There was an verbalism of surprise in Malfoy's center that made Harry grinning.

"Now,"continued Harry,"as I was saying, carry 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 River had freed himself and now, forgoing the use of a baton, had his handwriting around Malfoy's throat, squeezing… squeezing. He was in a frenzy of pure hatred and anger.

"Do you have a go at it who I am ?"cried St. James."looking into my eye !"

Lucius, even Harry, saw the flame of red luminance in Epistle of James'eyes.

"N-Not pos-sible,"he gasped, ineffectual to breathe."D-Dead."Then the full realisation struck him."I-I never knew."

"You know now,"James spat between gritted teeth."And now is sssoon enough."A fire of red light came from the far rampart and struck James in the side, but before he released his clasp on Lucius, a dark pungent smoke issued from his oral fissure and anterior naris. To Harry, it was a watercourse of green evil leaving the red rump. St. James the Apostle'grip on Lucius released and the blond superstar gasped for air, but instead of air he sucked in nothing but sess. Voldemort had penetrated him. Stunned, Harry saw the super acid environment the yellow and snuff it out. Lucius took to his animal foot as a attack of red struck him in the back. naught happened. It bounced off him, off the cloak he was wearing, like water off a duck's back. Before Harry could react, Lucius, Voldemort and the cloak had vanished in a swirl of unripened fire.

There were a couple Sir Thomas More bam, a couple more snaps, and a couple more screams of painful sensation, but finally the room fell silent. Only the sound of rock-and-roll scraping against the floor, as the remaining Aurors stepped across the debris, broke the silence.

"Minister, over here. It's your… over here, sir. Please."For the first time, Harry realized that Chester A. Arthur Weasley had been among the Aurors that had come to protect the Ministry. He watched as the wizard walked toward the shattered display case, while the Auror that called him levitated a wooden beam that had fallen over Molly Weasley up and out of the way. It landed with a dull thumping.

"mollie ?"he uttered as if trying to gently fire up person from a deep slumber."Molly,"he said again only louder."MOLLY !"He grabbed his married woman in his arm, pulling her up out of the detritus ; pebbles cascaded to the floor."Oh my god, no. No… no… no… no… NOOO !"he screamed. The grand Granville Stanley Hall rumbled, shaking mortar loose from the walls onto the base below as Mr. Weasley buried his top dog into the nook of his wife's neck opening. He continued to heave great sobs as Harry looked down at James, prone on the floor, arms outstretched toward the fireside. The green was gone ; only blueing remained, but the Inner Light was weak and flickered. He was near death. The second twelvemonth began to grow, slowly looking up to rule Harry.

"H-Harry ? H-Help… I… I can't…."And he collapsed to the story. Harry looked around at the ravaging. James was not the lonesome one near demise. Instinctively, he pulled his wand to summon the Heart of Asha, but before he could draw the while, crack after snap began to fill the manse ; therapist were appearing. In a matter of arcsecond nearly a dozen Healers had Apparated into the Ministry. One, an honest-to-goodness wizard with bushy ovalbumin whisker, was at James'slope almost instantly. Scanning the boy with his wand he turned to Harry.

"You're the Potter boy, aren't you ?"Without waiting for an answer he said quickly,"William Tell me, was it a sweetheart ? Because I'm not detecting any—"

"He was possessed by Voldemort,"Harry cut in. The Healer cringed, looking up at Harry with mental rejection.

"looking son,"he said derisively,"you shouldn't go around—"

"Damn it !"Harry screamed."His flavour's been sundered ! It probably has been all year. Voldemort just left him to use up on another host. If you don't rush, he'll die."For only a second, the healer tried to read the expression of Harry's cheek. He was old enough to know what Harry meant. He remembered the old war and he didn't need to be told twice. Without saying another word, the healer rose to his animal foot and a flashing of terrible purple visible light left his wand bathing Saint James in its glow from head word to toe.

Harry stepped back, twisting his ankle on a sway beneath his foot. He cursed. early than the people swarming about the mansion, it was difficult to pull in anything out. His vision was truly failing him in the rough deal. He could see Mr. Weasley and heard his son of a bitch, and tried to pick his way through the detritus as Auror and therapist alike seemed to pass him by as they rushed to another's aid. It was as if no one knew him, or no one cared. His emotions were sloshing back and forth. He needed to help… he needed to trail after Lucius, after Voldemort… he needed to —"

"Minister !"somebody cried out."Minister ! It's your son !"Harry turned his attention on a freshness that lay prone on the level near an Auror's human foot.

"My god, Walker Percy ? !"cried Mr. Weasley still reeling from the loss of his married woman.

"No, sir,"the Auror replied."It's your youngest boy, Ron. Looks like a stunner is all."

"That's not possible,"whispered Chester Alan Arthur Weasley, unsure just what to do."He's at Hogwarts."Then he noticed Harry, stumbling blindly toward him."Harry ? My god, Harry why are you—"

"He's back,"said Harry weakly. He was tired and sore, and his right arm was starting to prickle with pain."Voldemort's back."

"What ?"

"A Horcrux,"Harry whispered nonsensically, stumbling closer to Mr. Malfoy and rubbing his right forearm with his go out hired hand. It itched."There must have been Thomas More than one. We… we came for the cloak."

"Book of Jonah,"called another healer to the old man that was working on James,"I need your helper. It's the Malfoy boy. What's his gens, genus Draco ?"

"I thought he was dead ?"the old man called back. The younger healer looked down at Dragon and then back up.

"well, if he wasn't before—"

"You knew ?"asked Mr. Weasley, his phonation sceptical. Gently he kissed his wife's brass and lowered her to the floor."You knew they were coming ?"

Harry was feeling dazed. He looked toward genus Draco, toward Arthur Weasley. His right arm was aching. He had reached Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and his pump began to dip further.

"No one was supposed to be here,"Harry said thinly, his voice hoarse with ruefulness."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 facial expression."AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY HER !"

The reverse knocked Harry backwards and he slipped on the at large pit that scattered the base. Rising to one elbow he could taste the blood that was dripping from his cut lip, and then he noticed his rightfulness 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 personal manner it would attest itself, and even though he'd never seen such a glow, he knew what it meant, and he knew he had no option but to obey.

The minister of religion of Magic who had loved Harry as his own son was demanding solution, answer Harry desperately wanted to pay. Draco and Saint James lay near death, and Harry had it in his major power to easily salvage them both. Voldemort had escaped with a new body and another piece of his soulfulness, and Harry anxiously needed to chase after them - the Wizarding World was again at risk of exposure. Once Sir Thomas More, death began to whisper in his ear and he began to shudder.

In spite of that, none of it mattered. He had sworn an oath ; it was a burden all members of the Votary carried. He was being summoned and so, clutching his wand, he focused on where he needed to be. He felt a soft touch on his shoulder and heard Hermione call his name. He looked up at her, wishing he could conduct the sadness weighing on his soul.

"Harry…"

He was gone.


Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 17 - The evocation
~~~***~~~

When Dakhil left Harry at the stone steps leading to the front door of Hogwarts Castle, Harry had pleaded that he too fight the onslaught of Dementors and Death Eaters raging against Dakhil's fatherland in the Carpathians. The vampire should have been gone for only a few days, but it had been weeks and Dakhil had not returned nor had he sent word of the position of the battle. The Daily prophet had been worthless, only reporting the difficulties that the various European Ministries were having trying to disguise the legion heinousness as natural disasters. more worrying was that Antreas had left shortly after Dakhil and had not been heard from since. Everyone who had left to fight seemed to vanish into a bully swirl of nullity.

Before he disappeared, Dakhil had told Harry that his job was to protect Hogwarts, to protect the centaur of the Great forest from a darkness within the school. Harry brushed the belief of darkness inside the castle walls aside, believing it was a backhanded insult toward Harry, but now he was paying for it. Maybe that's why they were summoning him, he had failed in his one missionary station. Voldemort had not only run away, but he had captured his Horcrux and was ready to riposte to power. Or was he ?

Voldemort had said he needed only two thing in the grand student residence of the Ministry - his old inglorious cloak and Harry. He had asked earlier if there was still part of the shadow Lord that coursed through Harry's veins. What St. James the Apostle, what Voldemort didn't know was that the darkness, Voldemort's brand, had been washed away by the cleaning of the free fall in the Great wood. Perhaps, Voldemort was too weak without this other part of himself, perhaps—

It was hot, painfully hot - the starting time affair Harry noticed when he finally appeared at the summoning website - hot and dark. Not wickedness in the sensory faculty that there was no light up, although it was that too ; a want of lighting wouldn't matter to a blind man. No, it was dark in the sense that Harry saw nothing. There was no life here, no life sentence in any direction, just heat, an vivid, blistering heat that appeared, to Harry, like a dull haze as he looked to the nighttime sky and saw Ebyrth shining as bright as ever.

He had been able-bodied to Apparate across the line. From there he had tried once more, but couldn't make it across Germany. He was drained, ineffectual to spue another charm, and the richness of the earth's Energy, normally plentiful in this sphere, was parched like an arid desert. There was null for Harry to get out on to replenish what magical vigor he could couch. Instead, he used the power of the Centaur to flex space and easy time, and he ran. He ran until his shoes wore through and fell away ; he ran over rivers that supported his weightiness as if they were frozen firm ; he ran past flying birds that hovered in the air like floating balloons. He ran for what felt like daylight, stopping only to fuddle from the occasional stream or brook. At one point, just outside capital of Austria, he had grabbed half of a sandwich from the hand of a passer-by who might as well have been a statue frozen in fourth dimension. His legs ached, his lungs wanted to burst and all he could see was the vocalization of Ronan compelling him forward, not to meet the call of the Centaur, but to answer the summoning of the dragon.

By the time he had begun the final ascent, his idea was blurred with fatigue duty. He had paid no notice to the mount he had been climbing. swither burning his blind center, he had ignored the screaming and the fires through which he had yesteryear. He didn't see the transition from lifespan to Death. He only knew one thing - the summoning site. He would not break again, even as the last drops of strength left his being.

This… this was the spot ; he was sure. Huge gulps of air splashed down his burning lungs unable to assuage his thirst for oxygen. His bare feet burned. Almost forgetfully, he held out his wand, hired hand shaking from debilitation and mind knowing that he would not be able to cast a enchantment even if he wanted to. elbow grease dripped down his forehead ; the heating system was intolerable. He stood for a consequence, wand outstretched, squinting with failed eyes into the shadow. pigeon hawk, it was hot. He moved to ingest a measure forward, an acid odour filling his nostril, when his left leg cramped and he fell expression first hard into the stony ground. He didn't have the Energy to pull away from the scorching stone, nor could he spit out the George Sand and tiny pebbles that filled his mouth and burned his lingua.

"Maybe,"he thought,"if I rest for just—"He passed out, dropping his baton at his side of meat.

Unconscious on the sweltering solid ground, swirls of smoke and light coalesced in his mind forming a vista of shadow and despair. Even in his dreaming the olfactory perception of burning soma was unbearable. Yet, in his dream he could see - his vision, his sight was as good as ever. The smoke and the feel cleared and he found himself at the falls, the gloam where Gabriella lay face down in the tall Gunter Grass, an pointer sunk deep into her back. In the air was sadness. No… more than sadness - there was anger. It was Ron, screaming, screaming….

"NOOOOOOO !"

The dry land shook.

"Take him ! Take him now ! precipitation !"

The conniption changed. He was flying… flying in the air. Bounce. On a Hippogriff. spring. Harry felt a jarring pain against the side of his costa. He blinked. The cecity had returned, but he could smell out that there was a lightsome beneath him. Bounce. A person.

"Hurry !"

The voice… he knew that voice. The swarthiness was clearing from his judgment. He was waking. He was being carried. A chemical group of five was climbing up the side of meat of the slew. One had Harry over his shoulder. Weakly, Harry began to sputter to free himself.

"Easy, Harry,"the young man holding him said gently, but with some urging in his part."When we get you back to the stronghold, we'll use up a look at the burns. Praise Asha you're a fellow member of the Votary, or you'd be dead."

"An-Antreas ?"Harry muttered. He hadn't heard the representative of Gabriella's chum since the summer, but there was still no mistaking the undeniable chanting that was the exact reproduction of Antreas'begetter, Grigor."What… What's going on ?"

"There will be time for answer later !"cried another articulation."Run !"Harry knew at once the other man speaking. He also recognized the glory ; it was Dakhil. Troubling was the sense of concern, even fright in Dakhil's voice. He'd never heard that before, even when they were being attacked by vampires live on summer. What was more troubling, however, was something that had bothered Harry since his concluding lesson with Ronan, something he had seen in Dakhil ever since the vampire first taught him to see without seeing. The halo of Dakhil faded from red to empurple and back to red again. There were two theatrical role nowadays in his aura. For the start sentence since he'd arrived at the mount of Singehorn, Harry felt cold.

They continued to step on it up the mountain. Occasionally, Dakhil or one of the others would cast piece back in the direction from which they came. Harry could not see, nor could he smell out what it was they were firing upon. Curiously, there were no trance cast in regaining. Soon, he began to notice trees, vegetation, life. After a few minutes more, the banding came to a prominent I. F. Stone paries. One of the men cast a turn and an entrance appeared. They passed through and the porta in the Edward Durell Stone sealed behind them. The stallion troupe sighed with respite 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 left side, the same side that fell unconscious into the scorching earth. He reached up and pulled the spectacles from Harry's face, glasses he continued to wear in the Bob Hope, or perhaps as a symbol to others, that one day he might see again. There was an unmistakable tearing sound, and Harry could find the charge plate rims pull away from the skin on his face. When he reached to take the specs out of Antreas'hired man, he could tell that the left half of the frame was nearly melted away. He didn't want to imagine what his case must wait like. It didn't hurt. Harry moved to touch it but Antreas grabbed his hand.

"No !"he snapped, half trying to quell the distress in his own vocalisation. He chuckled, but not convincingly."It… it's zero, Harry. It's just effective 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 hitch away."precipitation,"Dakhil yelled."Hurry before there's zip left of his face to put back together !"If Antreas had tried to steady Harry's nerves, Dakhil had served to discerp them."You two,"Dakhil continued pointing at two men they had passed as they entered into the compound."avail carry the boy into the cave. I won't lose another one tonight !"

With Antreas'help, they carried Harry further up the mountain. Dakhil followed, but was unwilling to assist. Typical, Harry thought. There was a small outcrop of rock-and-roll off to the side of meat and they turned toward it as Dakhil continued upward. Antreas stopped.

"If Singehorn is unable to call the others in time,"he said,"we'll have to send for the Centaurus 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 gallant. Keep the boy safe and see what the Healer can do with what remains."He turned to stay upward then stopped."Singehorn, I'm afraid, was not able to shout for our protagonist, not tonight."He sighed with a rich mournful intimation."Still we must remain with the programme ; it's our merely hope. More may arrive before the moon's advance tomorrow."

Facing a Lucy Stone wall, 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 and stone. Just before the rock'n'roll face closed behind them Antreas called back to Dakhil who had followed them well-nigh of the way

"And the Centaur ?"he called.

"He's in your munition,"replied Dakhil, just as the stone archway sealed the shut inside.

"Crazy,"said the Russian, referring to Dakhil."He'll pour down us all."There was a wand at his neck opening in an blink of an eye ; it was Antreas ’. Harry felt like he was about to be dropped.

"There are so many injured here,"said Antreas with a heated voice,"I'm for sure no one would miss you. The succeeding metre you speak of the Votary, take care to choose the words carefully. I may suffer to excise the offending tongue."The Russian said aught as Antreas pulled the wand back and the grip on Harry became more sure. They turned a corner and the cave opened out into a slap-up hall filled with injured. To Harry, it looked as if a C ignitor had been spread across the floor. Almost immediately a murmur rippled across the large cavern.

"Is that him ?"“ The Chosen !"“ My god what happened to his face ?"“ Dragons."“ It's just a boy."“ That's not him ; some Muggle must have been caught in the crossfire."“ He's the elect !"
"Marek !"cried Dakhil."Marek ! This is a priority !"Harry noticed an orange people of colour on the far side rise up from the ground. Marek was busy treating another patient role and as he stood, Harry could tell that he was a large man.

"They're ALL priorities !"he called back."Have one of the others—"

"Damn it ! NOW !"yelled Antreas. This was not the same Antreas that had waved good-bye to Harry and Gabriella as they began their summer holiday. That Antreas was still trying to perfect his baton workplace, and his self-assurance interacting with masses was shaky at sound. While he made a passable neighbour on Privet Drive, he was an downright mess around other wizard. This Antreas, however, the one standing before Harry, was More than just a base soldier in this mountain battle. He was clearly somebody of import.

Disgruntled, but acquiescing, Marek began to cross the residence hall as the three moved Harry into one of the collapsible shelter that were set up along the side of the turgid chamber. He was placed on a bed, firm, but more comfortable than a blanket on the Stone base outside. Once he was down, the two men left Antreas alone with Harry. For some metre neither spoke and Harry noted his admirer's discomfort.

"What is it Antreas ?"Harry asked. As he spoke, Harry noticed that the face of his face didn't seem to propel correctly. Still, there was no pain.

"I'm so dreary, Harry,"Antreas replied."If I had known… We were losing basis and… Dakhil must experience thought it would be safe. Our outer perimeter was half a statute mile down the mountain when he must have asked Singehorn to summon you. But then, they came so fast."

"Who ?"

"The Dementors. They've been swarming the mountain for days. They've grown so thick they can spot out the sun and when that happens it gives their ally, a stripe of about thirty maven vampires, free rein to attack during the day. This wasn't our war, but ultimately the dragon had no choice. The Dementors were moving in on their rookery. Half a 12 flying dragon left to singe the world and impart no life behind. Not even a member of the Votary could survive such fire. We had no way of letting you know, no way of knowing ourselves when… that you'd…"A big burst of air shot from Antreas'brim.

"Dakhil had Singehorn summon me ?"

"Harry, there was no way of knowing. You passed out right in the centre of the incineration. It had to suffer been over two C degrees. One of the sentinel saw you first, but it was too hot. Only the Votary could get in to retrieve you."Harry remembered Dakhil walking through the burning flames just before the joining ; he understood these Word of God."The connexion helped you to live on, training would sustain been better. Your face… you've been burned… badly burned."

"But it doesn't injury,"Harry said. He was feeling Thomas More tired by the mo.

"That's because there's nothing left to anguish. Your anatomy is—"Marek pushed through the hatchway of the tent.

"And what's this precedence ?"he said wearily."Another case of damn Dementor frost— Oh… Oh, my."He cast Antreas a glance."One of the civilians ?"he asked, not recognizing the young man he'd met over the summer."A Muggle caught in the fire ?"Assessing the large height of the man before him and listening closely to his voice, it was Harry who first made the connectedness. It was the same Marek that had taken in Ron, Hermione and the others after the vampire attack.

"Marek ?"Harry asked hoarsely, finding it more difficult by the moment to 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 training ?"

"He's joined a Centaurus heard in England,"said Antreas.

"So this is the one Dakhil spoke of. That would excuse things. Yes, that would explain a lot."Marek reached into his robe."I haven't had to get by with one of these for years,"Marek whispered,"but with flying lizard about, such burn mark are not uncommon. Praise Asha you're Votary."He leaned in closing curtain to Harry."What happened to your middle ?"

"methamphetamine,"Harry replied, wearily."luck of glass."

"Hmmm. wellspring, let's get started. Harry, lie back."Harry obliged."I have something far dependable than a glass of water."He watched Marek advance his wand over his bite face."This should only aim a few hours."

"60 minutes ?"Harry said, bringing up his script to grab Marek's wrist."I won't take you away from helping the others just because I buggered it again."

"It's not your fault, Harry,"said Antreas."There's no way you could give known."

"Yes, admirable caliber, Harry. But as Antreas has said—"

"I am NOT a priority ! I won't—"Blue light erupted from Marek's wand and before he could say another word, Harry was asleep on the cot and Marek began his work. The live on affair he remembered was a crackling strait and Marek's sombre vocalisation.

"That'll leave a mark."

Time faded to nothingness and, when Harry woke, he sensed person sitting at his bedside."Gabriella ?"he asked groggily.

"You wish, mate !"

"Fred ? Fred is that you ?"

Slowly, Harry began to regain cognisance. He tried to lean up, but someone pressed gently back on his shoulder joint. His eyes closed, Harry sensed that there were two masses in the elbow room. Shaking the cobwebs free, he finally recognized the aura of the other person.

"Remus ?"

"Yes, Harry,"replied Remus lupin,"Fred and I are both here. We have been for about three days."

"ternion days !"Harry exclaimed, once again trying to rise and once again being held down by Remus."I've been here for three sidereal day ?"

"No, ditz,"Fred laughed."We've been here for three days. You've been here for about, er, fourteen hours."

"We came as soon as we heard you had arrived,"Remus added.

"I swear, Harry,"said Fred, leaning forward."Can you ever do anything the well-heeled way ?"

While Fred was talking, Harry realized there was something on his look. He reached his manus up and felt the bandages wrapping his head.

"An interesting look, if you ask me,"said Fred."sort of a turban gone mad. All in all I'd say it's an improvement. The not bad affair is, Harry, they gave you a whole new nous ! Helen Wills Moody volunteered his."Fred laughed again and this time Remus joined him. A dusty thrill passed through Harry. It had suddenly sunk in that Fred… Fred Weasley, was in the Lapp room and if he'd been here for three sidereal day, he might not know….

"Why aren't you home ?"Harry asked."Where's George ?"

"I'm flying solo, fellow,"said Fred."George VI is minding the shops."

"No one can travel in or out,"said Remus."phantasm 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 mean solar day,"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 push him back down, Harry flicked his arm away. Harry tried to present Fred, but. Fred only laughed.

"You look like a walking ice-cream cone, Harry."

"Fred,"Harry began, muffled by the bandages surrounding his case. He tried to come up up the courageousness, but in the last moment it failed him."W-Why are you even here ?"

"Tonight, we go on the nauseous. We're through sitting back and letting Lucius Malfoy and his army of darkness decide when and where to fall upon. They're mostly lamia and Dementors with a handful of Death Eaters sprinkled in for honest measure. Last we heard Lucius may get let himself get turned."

"Turned ?"Harry asked.

"The scouts were out early this break of day, Harry,"said Remus, moving over and sitting next to Fred."We've seen him off and on in these parts for weeks. Only this morning… this morning they say he looked more vampire than wizard."

"He let himself be bitten, I tell yeh,"added Fred."Just to achieve immortality."

Harry felt as if he was going to be cast. If Lucius was here that meant Voldemort was here. Were they looking for him ? For Harry ? His philia began to wash. There was too much to do and too little time. He needed to tell soul, but whom ? His breaths quickened and Remus took notice.

"Harry… you need to—"

"He's alive !"Harry shouted."He's still alive !"There was a suddenly pause. Remus knew almost immediately what Harry meant, but wasn't sure if his discussion were the result of some sort 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 corking breath of air through the bandages covering his human face. He walked over to the side of the tent and held the fabric in his finger. To his judgement, it had a dull Orange River coming into court, probably spores of some form. He didn't want to say more ; he couldn't. But he had to. He could experience his heart pounding in his chest - it hurt. His breathing grew laboured, weighed down by the incumbrance of what he was about to share.

"Somehow… I don't know… I don't eff how, but he took mastery of James Chang, Cho's untested brother. He's been in spite of appearance St. James the Apostle, controlling him all twelvemonth at schoolhouse. 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 of his dying. They dug deep, your father dug oceanic abyss for what should have been left to the depths."

"Yeah,"said Fred cautiously, not really sure enough what to think about Harry's ramblings."Mum and Dad were all excited. It was supposed to be a big tidy sum. Sorry we had to overstretch you away from the award ceremony to be in this hell. I'm not supposed to tell, but Dad's lined you up for Order of Merl—"

"It was a Horcrux,"hissed Harry through gritted teeth. Remus understood and gasped, but Fred still didn't clutch what Harry was saying."Can you believe it ? Lucius wanted it for himself - maybe to extract whatever gist Voldemort had left of himself in it."Harry madly grabbed Fred's robes."Don't you see ? I had to destroy it… to destroy the cloak."

"calmness down, Harry,"said Fred slowly, his centre glancing toward Remus with worry."Everything's okay."

"No it's not !"yelled Harry, turning from Fred and leaned against the bed."We just wanted to subscribe it, Ron, Hermione and me… only they showed up… and then… when we got inside… your Mum was there… and then James… I thought it was an disdainful Curse. I thought I'd be capable to contain him."He breathed hard again."But I couldn't. It wasn't a condemnation, it was Voldemort. I couldn't stop him. I tried—"He turned back to side Fred."He… Voldemort used the violent death execration, Fred. I tried… I swear on Merlin's grave… I tried."

"What are you talking about, Harry ?"Fred's words were quiet, nervous and unsure.

"Last night, before Singehorn summoned me, in the high-flown entrance hall of the Ministry, Voldemort… Voldemort killed your mother."Short gasp of air volley from Harry's lungs and he fell on his knees in front of Fred."She's dead… she's… dead."Clutching at the bottom of Fred's robes, Harry began to heft up big shortness of breath. His part was weak and thin."She's dead."Fred pushed Harry away and took to his feet.

"occlusion saying that !"he yelled."She's not perfectly ! She's not ! I just saw her before we came here. She was going to… she was going…"He slapped his paw 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 ! William 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 baton and held it in Remus'face.

"Tell HIM !"

Remus held his blazon out wide and, slowly, shook his forefront.

"No."Fred whispered, shaking his headland vigorously in reply."No, it's not… it's not… oh god."

His men fell limp at his face and his sceptre dropped to the storey, tinkling and then rolling in the silence. Fred shuddered, fell into Lupin's branch and began to cry.

They stayed like that for some time, Harry on the base, Fred in Lupin's coat of arms, all three of them crying. Until now, Harry hadn't had the chance to mourn Molly's death. The pain was inscrutable and biting. In the rip and silence, Harry wished he could take it back. His actions had toll another life-time and the anger in Arthur Weasley's voice echoed within his mind.

His thoughts turned to the others who had been murdered in the battle and he wondered if James had made it."I may never know,"he whispered to himself.

As the sadness began to settle, he mulled over how Fred and Remus had described the lookout man's sighting of Lucius. If the reputation were true up and Malfoy had returned to the mountain, then molly's liquidator was within reach. Harry's pain began to turn to anger. The flutter on the tent furled open and in walk Marek

"Remus, I— What in Merlin's name is up with you three ?"he said with a rather gruff voice.

"We just found out. Fred's mother has been killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named,"answered Remus calmly.

"That… that's not potential,"said Marek, half believing the words to be true. Fred turned, wiping his heart.

"I've got to see if I can get habitation,"he said. He started toward the loss, but Marek took him by the arm.

"Fred, we're surrounded."

The redhead pulled his arm free.

"I have to go home."

"It'd be suicide, Fred."

"I don't care."

"Don't you think your mother would !"call down Remus."AND your father. What do you call up it would do to him to suffer you both ?"Fred said goose egg."If you're going to put your liveliness on the line, Fred, make it count ; make it matter."Remus stepped toward him and held Fred by the shoulder joint, looking him in the eyes.

"Tonight,"he said with confidence and hostage."Tonight, you'll have your chance, Fred."

"Why tonight ?"asked Harry.

"There are about LX of us, Harry,"said Remus,"counting me and Fred. Tonight the Moon turns full. We'll attempt with the dragons, a few dozen Centaur, and—"

"full-of-the-moon moon ?"asked Harry. He picked himself up off the flooring and stood."Full Moon ? I thought Soseh had given you a potion, given you both one to keep you from turning."

"She did, Harry,"answered Remus."But we haven't taken it during the cycle. There are few creatures on terra firma that can challenge a lamia. Surrounded by Dementors as they are now, even whizz have little Leslie Townes Hope of conducting an effective onslaught. They're a werewolf's instinctive prey ; Dementors and Vampires portion a shadow that… How can I put it ? Is tasty for a werewolf."

"punter than burnt umber, they tell me,"added Fred, with an eerie gleam in his eye.

"Besides the flying lizard,"added Remus,"only one creature can break through both defense team. Dakhil discussed it with me some time ago and we both agreed - we needed a wolfman army. I couldn't convince virtually, but I've convinced enough."

"LX doesn't make an army, Remus,"said Harry, stepping closer."LX is a snack."

"What you say is true, Harry - loup-garou ancestry is prized among the vampire. Still, I think our opposer will be surprised,"said Remus with placidity sureness."Yes, we could cause more in our number, but even with President Arthur as Minister, the distrust of my variety 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 grimace were hot and heavy and he was only just able to resist the temptation to rip them off so that he could scratch the itch that was growing substantial by the moment. He placed both his work force matte against the business firm bed, curling the cover song in his fingers as they balled up into fist. Without looking up, he took in a breathing time 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 have looked like Lucius, but it wasn't. Yeah, he's been taken over fine, but not by a vampire. His spirit has been consumed by Voldemort. Lucius is Voldemort."He turned to confront them."LX loup-garou, threescore dragons, LX of anything… it won't be enough."Hearing Harry's discussion, Remus stepped forward and placed a hand warmly about Harry's cervix.

"No, Harry,"he said."No, it won't be adequate. But then, it never was. That's why we have you."


Harry ceramist and the parturition of a New Sun

Chapter 18 - The band of Onyx
~~~***~~~

The Oliver Stone steps were turgid, large it seemed to Harry, than they were before. Yet, the same thin tweed clouds dusted the blue sky, and the heated air brought Harry's mind back to his summertime travels with Gabriella in Lebanon. His judgment's eye flashed to a imaginativeness of her smooth, dark brown skin and twinkling black oculus, and he wondered how she was fairing with Cho and his son, Jamie. His heart skipped at the view and he drew in a breath to steady his nervousness. He stepped upward through the large endocarp mainstay, upward toward the remains of the great Asian castling. Up ahead, seated on a crystal bench intricately carved in an detailed form was a big black man in light-green and brown robe - Singehorn.

On the eve of the counterattack, the flying dragon had asked that the new superstar meet him in this plane of consciousness that they might utter with one another. Here, in this former world, Harry could not only utter to the flying dragon, he could see. He had no bandaged head, no baton, only a whiteness 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 move up, the werewolves, including Remus and Fred, would become and the conflict would get down. It had taken Harry quite some fourth dimension to shut out all the distractions that were happening about him, but finally he made it.

As he drew closer to the firedrake, the descendant of Asha whose line Harry had sworn to protect, he noticed that the man looked more elderly than before and that his breathing was heavy, strained. With effort, Harry heaved himself upward onto another stone step, 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 tintinnabulation made of black onyx. He stopped for a instant to look at it. The tartar coughed a bottomless throaty cough.

"Go on,"he said with a deep scratchy voice."Pick it up."

Harry reached down and took the anchor ring into his compensate hand. It was heavier than Harry expected. Holding it in the fingerbreadth of both mitt he examined it from all sides.

"I… I know this anchor ring,"Harry said, trying to commend how or from where."I've seen it before."Singehorn shifted his tremendous weight and grimaced somewhat.

"The pack,"he said,"is known to many, but few active today have seen it with their own eyes. For those few that saw it worn by its last victor, it was most likely the last thing they saw. He was known for using the halo to kill."Suddenly, Harry remembered.

"Pravus,"he whispered, remembering the portrait of the dark maven's hired hand Greg Goyle had shown him stopping point year. Singehorn growled, long and low. Clearly, he did not enjoy the sound of the epithet.

"Very sound,"answered the dragon."Very good. Come… sit."

Harry climbed the live boastfully step and tried to scatter the front of his white robe which had grown brown from the desert sand. Singehorn laughed and, as Harry looked up, the man's mouth erupted in flame, enveloping Harry in a with child white flash. In the adjacent wink, Harry's gown were lily-white again and he was unscathed. Harry examined his hands, expecting to see blacken marks, but nil was there.

"Sit,"said Singehorn again. Unlike his terminal visit with the man before him, the vernal sensation sat obediently across from his overlord.

"My child… not for fifty yr has that ring been held by human hands, not since I tore off the arm of the wizard that betrayed us all. When Pravus was destroyed and Grindelwald defeated, I thought for certain the iniquity had been, at last, beaten back for good. I was young then and naïve, but not so naïve as to trust in men again."

"But Dakhil,"said Harry."You trust him."

"Do I, Harry ? Do I ?"There was another low grumble as Singehorn leaned forward. Harry noticed a melt off, brightness level scar that ran along the man's nerve, a scrape that wasn't there before the Joining. Over the last few months, the flying dragon had seen battle.

"Do you see the ring on Dakhil's fingerbreadth ?"he continued."No, Harry… Soseh trusts Dakhil and I would trust Soseh with my life-time, but his lot lies on a different path."

"You need to know, sir,"said Harry with some urgency in his voice."I've seen… I've seen two spirits inside him. He may be under the ascendency of another."Singehorn smiled and began to laugh. It was meretricious and earsplitting, not the chemical reaction Harry had expected.

"He's a vampire, my child,"the dragon said finally."He fights the spirit inside him every waking instant. Few have learned to keep in line the thirst for fresh rip, the desire for decease. None have fought more heroically than Dakhil Barghouti to stave off his own personal demon. But his path will soon head elsewhere and I will ask someone to take aim up his staff as primate of the Votary. He would choose I choose now, before his fate befalls him."

Harry's heart widened in disbelief. Rolling the ring in his digit he looked up at Singehorn then back down at the ring. Finally, he set it in his palm tree and held it out to the firedrake.

"I can't, sir,"he said, shaking his promontory."Whatever powers this ring holds, I'm not ready."

"What ? No interrogative about what the band does ? What enduringness it might bring you ?"

"No, sir,"Harry replied, reaching yet further toward Singehorn. The dragon did not bump off the ring from Harry's palm, but instead leaned back on the Bench.

"Not even if the ringing might help oneself you defeat the one who killed mollie Weasley and so many more ?"Harry shook his head."What if it would help you win the war against these Dementors, saving the lifetime of infinite Centaurs ; these creatures you seem to manage so much 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 moment, Harry's outstretched arm receded. Once more he held the ring between thumb and forefinger, wondering what strength it might land him. He took a thick breathing place 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 lowest here, you reminded me our calling : Bravery… Wisdom… Love."Harry shuddered, swallowing hard."You also told me that I needed to work on my wisdom."Harry took in a deep breath as his heart grew foggy."But I've been valued light 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 wise to. Now, he's at your doorstep, threatening to ruin all we stand for."belongings back his binge, Harry held the ring out once again."Whatever powers the mob bears, there are others more desirable than me."

With lightening pep pill, frighteningly fast for such a tumid frame, Singehorn grabbed Harry's deal in his own, his monolithic paw wrapping around Harry's full clenched fist and arm, squeezing the band into the figure of Harry's palm and scorching the back of Harry's deal. His red eye glared with steeled decision into Harry's and his claws drew line from Harry's flesh.

"Tell me, my son, when the darkness spreads across this plenty and threatens my baby and my tyke's children what will you do ? There are only so many rocks to climb and the swarm will not protect us."Harry said cipher."When your friends charge down the versant to join my kin in the tone-beginning against the sludge that surrounds us, will you hide… a subterfuge rat in a dark cave ?"The dragon's hook dug deeper, but Harry refused to cry out.

"I'd… sooner… die."

"Harry, the monster seeks you out, but he does not need you suddenly, not yet. He thinks he needs you alert, but he doesn't know that what he seeks is no longer there, washed away by the falls at Hogwarts. Without the vim he once shared with you, he is but half a man, half a wizard. In his ignorance, in his weakened body politic, he can be defeated."

"Then I don't need the ring,"Harry said calmly, withstanding the pain.

"If only it was so simple,"sighed Singehorn, still holding Harry's deal firm."Before the cleansing at the falls, you joined."

"Joined ?"

"The darkness that was once in your veins… now flows through another's."

Harry's warmheartedness began to backwash. Another's ?
"Your inherited."

"Jamie,"Harry whispered.

"You would sooner die than see my tyke harmed. What would you do to protect your children ?"asked Singehorn.

"My… son."

Harry's digit, almost instinctively, tightened around the ring burning the physique of his thenar and in that instant his vision filled with a howling photoflash of Edward White. Singehorn's voice became dark and baleful.

"I will not say your decision is wise, but it is our simply course. Forgive me, my tiddler, for the power will wipe out you. Soseh has foreseen your greed turn to grief. On the day the dragons mark the sky, you will get down to know your true strength. How you emerge from your failing will check the fate of us all."

Suddenly, Harry's survey was gone, all before him iniquity. When he breathed in, the damp must odour of the bandages that wrapped his face filled his nostrils.

"We've got to go, sir,"said a sorcerer somewhere to Harry's left.

"If I have to tell apart you one more than time to be quiet, I'll rip your throat out,"snapped Dakhil in a low, whoosh voice."We will go when Singehorn says we can go. Do NOT touch 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 amobarbital sodium aureole was clearly frightened ; the other flashed red and then purpleness. The red appeared to be winning and Harry wasn't sure that was a good thing for the man in blue whose color was fading so quick Harry thought he might wet himself. He wasn't the only one nearby that was frightened. In the large cavern just beyond the rock wall where Harry sat, scores of men mulled about nervously waiting for the concluding orderliness to lash out. Harry was about to move, to indicate to the others that he had returned, when the orange colour of Marek moved into the elbow room where he sat.

He slipped over and placed his mitt on Dakhil's back and the two walked to the far side of meat of the tent. They whispered and then the whispers grew louder.

"Marek,"Dakhil hissed,"I need to make out. What is your opinion ?"

"As a Healer or a Warrior ?"the man that had worked on Harry's face replied. He was upset, irritated perhaps of the struggle that would soon be bringing the dying to his doorstep."If we were home, I'd leave the bandage on for at least another week."

"The boy can't fighting like that."

"Then leave the boy behind."

Two voices harmonized :"No !"Simultaneously, Harry and Dakhil rejected Marek's prompting.

"You've returned,"said Dakhil quietly."Good. The time is near. The full moon will soon rise over the side of the mountain. We must claim advantage of every second it brings us the werewolves'strength. dawning will come far too quickly I'm afraid."

Harry held his manus to his face."And these ? You can transfer these ?"

"Really, Harry,"answered Marek,"if only you could spare two more than days… two more."

"The struggle will be over by morning,"said Harry,"and I can't conflict with this rag weighing me down. It's sweaty enough as it is, and I can barely breathe."

"Then don't scrap,"Marek said to Harry. Then he turned to Dakhil."What potential advantage does a boy bring this battle beyond more battue ?"Steadying his groundwork on the dusty rock 'n' roll, Harry stood.

"I am no boy !"he said defiantly. Marek ignored him.

"Dakhil,"the healer continued,"there is no reasonableness 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 lamia's side. The red had darkened into a rich scarlet - the emotion was a strong one, whatever it was.

"Dakhil, what are you looking at ?"Marek continued.

As Harry stood, his hands, which had been covered by the sleeve of his gown while he sat, became exposed. There, on the centre fingerbreadth of Harry's right deal was a ring. angry at being called a boy, Harry had not noticed the tally system of weights on his digit.

"Well… that can't be dependable,"said Dakhil with a rather sang-froid articulation."I had asked for a choice, but I never…"

"I'll take the damn bandages off myself if I have to,"cried Harry, reaching for his scepter. It was then, when digit met woodwind, that he realized there was a annulus on his finger. He let go his wand and held the halo with his left hand. He moved to study it off, but the pack would not move. He pulled again, and again the ring held its clutch about the bone of his flop middle finger.

"I had always hoped he might see fit to give it to me,"said Dakhil with more disappointment than anger."I suppose Soseh has told him."

"Told him what ?"asked Harry, still trying to work the band from his finger.

"Damn the day I met you, boy,"said Dakhil, again in a quiet, thing of fact whole tone."She's seen my demise, which is not such a great vexation for a vampire when such events can be centuries hence."He paused.

"And ?"Harry asked.

"And you were there, boy. You were there."Dakhil moved closer."So, either you're going to wander down the versant, get bit and live to a very mature old age as an deity, or I'm going to die before the summer solstice. curse you,"Dakhil said dryly,"I always wanted to make it to the millennium."

"You're both talking gibberish,"said Marek."Would you STOP that,"he said to Harry."You're starting to bleed."Harry turned his senses downward and watched as the glowing drips of blood line fell to the floor from his finger. Marek pulled his verge and healed the fingerbreadth."Now leave the damn ring alone. Here, let me take out it."

He cast a piece and goose egg happened, nothing but the gravelly laughter from Dakhil. He tried a different spell and still the ring stayed clamped about Harry's finger.

"We don't have prison term for this,"said Harry finally."Look, just fill the patch off. Place a shield charm about the skin if you must, but I can't—"

"Very well,"cut in Marek with a suspiration."But it's not your skin that I was worried about."Sit over here."He led Harry to a stone bench.

"What do you have in mind ?"Harry asked.

"fountainhead, Harry, while I was working on your boldness, I thought I might see if I couldn't do something about your eyes."

"But I've seen nothing,"said Harry."Certainly through this gauze, I could discern—"

"I've sealed your lid shut so the optic beneath could cure as the spell worked and weaved."He stepped stuffy to Harry."Son, two more days… two More days and I'm sure that the knitting will be complete."

"And I'll see again ?"asked Harry with a glint of Hope in his vocalisation.

"You might."

"Well… look… it's sour anyway,"Harry said."Take off the bandage and leave my eyes sealed. I'll be secure off not trying to distinguish objects in the darkness. I've gotten used to not seeing and trying to squint in the muddy night may just make things worse."

"There's the trouble,"said Dakhil."The objects you wish to discern are Dementors. They suck the life from all about them. To your vision they would be swarthiness and on the scorched mountainside where very little life remains, it would be near unsufferable to detect them."

At this it was Harry's turn to jest.

"Dakhil, I don't need my sight to get it on when a Dementor is breathing down my neck. I'll know where they are, believe me, I'll know."

"Then it's decided,"said Marek."I'll remove your bandages, but keep your eyes sealed. If you make it through the night Harry, your human face should be re-wrapped immediately. A shield charm might be acceptable for walking around shoal or sitting about the theater. It will be worthless against a well placed hex."

"Get on with it,"said Harry."I can hear the howling already."

And indeed he could, they all could. Some of the genius werewolves were growing uneasy. Outside, the lunar month was nearing the crest of the eastern horizon and some were having difficulty controlling their metamorphosis even inside the cavern, away from the corn liquor. Typically, such difficulty were had by newly converted werewolves, those who had recently become. Harry wondered how Fred was fairing.

When Dakhil removed the netting bandages, Harry immediately reached up to his face to touch, but the carapace charm stopped his fingerbreadth.

"It feels like an eggshell,"Harry whispered.

"And it won't protect your aspect 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 boo, unexpected words left Dakhil's mouth first.

"An Acolyte of the Votary does not represent at anything !"Dakhil's height was suddenly somewhat larger, and his air somewhat redder."You would be wise to think of your position, Marek. With one thought the boy could demolish you."

"Yes… yes, of course,"Marek apologized."I'm sorry… I… I truly am sorry."

There was reverence in his lyric, far more reverence than Harry thought the post warranted. persona of him understood, something he remembered from the Joining, but there wasn't time to well for its generator ; it was meter for action. Harry stood and began to walk toward the large chamber.

"One minute, boy,"said Dakhil with a matter of fact tone. Harry stopped, turned and, before he had an flash to react, Dakhil had cast a spell on him. zippo happened.

"What… what was that ?"Harry demanded, still reaching for his wand.

"He's changed the color of your gown, Harry,"said Marek."They're no longer white ; they're crimson."

"Primate Potter,"said Dakhil in an exceptionally scratchy voice followed by a short blasting cough."Your claim, when I die."He sighed."Asha protect us."Harry looked down, but could sense no discernable remainder."Don't worry, boy ; those who have travelled the path through proper training will jazz at once the significance of your robe. We'd best precipitation. There won't be fourth dimension for practically of a speech."

Harry and Dakhil left the tent and entered the cavern ; it had emptied out onto the versant, staging for the fight to get along. Soon, the logic gate would spread out and the soldiers would spill down upon their enemy. Harry and Dakhil walked down the cave and as it narrowed toward its exit a Brigham Young man came up and touched Harry by the sleeve.

"Asha be with you,"he said tilting his head in a slight bow.

"And with you,"replied Harry without precaution. Why did I say that ?
The cavern room access opened and, for a moment, Harry was blinded by the many aura gathered outside. He could see that some of the werewolves had already turned, and a group of sorcerer was having trouble restraining them. No one seemed distracted by the howl, a howl that mixed with countersign in Harry's mind - kill, bite, blood ! He turned to see if somebody was talking to him, but no one was there. Another lycanthrope howled.

"patience, my friends,"called Harry to the snapping fauna and the savage quieted at his word. That was not my part, thought Harry. Or was it ?

Everyone was listening to Antreas who stood upon a large outcropping of rock above the growing din. His word of honor were amplified, but Harry wasn't sure the increase intensity was necessary. He was calling out in a secure and commanding vox and Harry wondered why this function wasn't Dakhil's.

"….is all we need. Together we will be victorious ! Together we will banish the darkness into the abysm !"The land began to rumble with applause. Harry noticed four goliath pounding their feet with approval.

"hulk ?"he asked Dakhil."I didn't poster any hulk when I arrived."

"They climbed over from the sheer drop on the back side of the deal. That way is not guarded save by Dementors, and they have no effect on such simple creatures. So it is with the werewolves."

"It'll m-make for a b-bloody Death Eater busting surprise."

"Fred ?"

The redhead was clearly agitated, seemingly in the midst of the change.

"Fred, please… don't—"

"The Primate has ARRIVED !"cried Antreas with a bounce voice. He was referring to Dakhil, but Harry could palpate hundred of eyes turn toward him simultaneously. redeem for the howling and the casual go being cast a suddenly ways down the hill, all became unsounded.

"Let's give them what they want, boy,"said Dakhil."Up you go."He levitated Harry some xx infantry in the air. Harry's heart began to airstream as he rose, wondering what he might say.

It was like rising over the embers of a dying ardour, each glowing aura a tiny coal burning against the dark. There were hundreds gathered here. Some fell to their knee joint as Harry rose ; most stood silently. Giants, Centaurs, champion and werewolves, a rabble collection of misfits all collected to fight together against the malignity Lucius Malfoy had co-opted for his own evil purposes.

Lucius probably hoped he would retrieve the cloak and arrive at this property of battle to celebrate a outstanding triumph, the inaugural of many. Little did he jazz that his former schoolmaster would take up residence in his body - if only long enough to hire over Harry's. But that would never, could never happen. How the worm had turned on the blonde-haired patriarch. Soon, it would turn on the darkness worming within him. Harry raised his arms to the heavens above, a giant comet was clearly visible in the dark's sky.

"Ebyrth marks its return and now we find ourselves at its mercy. While some have come to resolve the new sun's call, others are here to protect our dragon crony against the wickedness that wishes to destruct all in its path. Tonight we fight as one. Tonight we fight with the strength of giants, the conjuration of whiz, the ferocity of werewolves, the sapience of centaur, and the center of Dragon !"

No Oklahoman had the wrangle left his mouth, than the thunderous SWOOP-SWOOP filled the air and four enormous firedrake flew over the crew, blotting out the stars and then coming to rest at the top of the great stone rampart. Singehorn wasn't among them, but Harry, though having never met them, knew their name. The three males were Rakesh, Talisan, and Igneus, and the gloomy female was Tanwen. As if being called, Harry looked toward Talisan, the largest of the four, with green-black scales and fierce red eyes.

"Primate !"the fauna cried out."We follow you in battle. What are your orders !"

All around Harry, adept were clasping their hands to their ears, some falling to their knees, because of the creature's neat roar. And yet, Harry could understand everything he said. How is this potential ? This was no meditation.

"Your orderliness, Primate ?"cried the dragon again, and again those around Harry winced in pain.

"burn mark them !"yelled Harry."tan them till your bellies turn cold. You, Tanwen, fly high above the wall. Let no foeman past the gate. Do not go forth your billet. We must save up the rookery at all toll !"Harry pulled his red gown tight about his shoulders.

"clear the gates !"called Antreas and the regular army erupted in cheers and howling. A few werewolves snapped at their allies, but to the highest degree caught the olfactory property of their hated foes, enticing their senses with a bloodlust for Dementor, and quickly they began to blame ahead, down the mountainside. Dakhil brought Harry down to earth as the crowd hillside flowed out through the gate. Harry began to run, following the rushing lunar time period, but someone grabbed his shoulder and pulled him around ; it was Antreas.

"Your metre is at hired man, Harry,"he said with a stout voice."I'll lead the first off wave ; I dare not speak it to the others, but don't think for a moment we'll follow. The scouts have told me the situation… it's dire. When we begin to fall back, and we will fall back… that's when we'll need you."Harry was about to argue, but Antreas was already swept away in the current of bodies rushing through the gate. Undaunted, Harry began to accompany, only this time Dakhil stopped him.

"William Tell me, boy,"he murmured quietly beneath the roaring Benjamin Rush of virtuoso pushing by."Why are you here ?"

"To fight Voldemort,"Harry spat, turning to leave. Dakhil held his arm fasting and Harry glared back with furious eyes.

"Really ?"queried Dakhil, still quiet, still calm down, still holding Harry's arm with a vice-like grip."Are you… sure ?"Harry tried to pull away, but couldn't. He pulled his verge."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 Robert William Service, then dismiss me ! You need only speak the intelligence ; tell me to be gone !"

He was goading Harry, trying to cause him angry, trying to evoke a response. Harry slipped his baton away.

"You are the Primate,"he said softly."Not me."

"wizard will never postdate a lamia, boy,"answered Dakhil."But for some reason, Asha only knows why, they will comply you. The soundness of Grigor Darbinyan now flows in his son's nervure. Would you ignore Antreas ? Shall we charge with the sleep ? What are your purchase order ?"

"I'm here to assist my oath, to protect the line of Asha… as are you. We stay to protect the rookery."Harry noted a glimmer in Dakhil's aura… a smile ? The last of the first wave had passed through the logic gate, leaving two giants, one flying dragon, a vi Centaurs and some thirty virtuoso to wait for further guild, orders that Harry would have to give. Knowing that the bit at his side of meat were too few to fend off the coming onset, his thoughts turned to the darkness, hiding at the bottom of the mountain, searching for some way that they might overcome 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 decently, to get Lucius and the darkness that consumes him, the first wave must fail."

"The opposition's numbers are too groovy,"said Dakhil, releasing his grip."Even with those still remaining, we have no hope of winning in place battle."

"Then the 2nd wave must be a surprise. We must bind until the last possible moment."

"Even then, boy, the numbers are against us."

"Maybe,"answered Harry,"But we need only chance on down one foe. What will our enemy do when their general dies ? When Lucius and his master twilight ?"

"It is impossible to catch vaporization 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 essence of those remaining."Gather ‘ one shot !"he called."Listen to what I say ! Tonight… tonight we plan for victory !"


Harry ceramist and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 19 - The First Battle
~~~***~~~
flaming and smoke roiled in the air from the fight below, bearing the odour of incinerate flesh and stemma into the secure chemical compound guarding the rookery of the Draco, where Harry and the others waited. The globe shook as the goliath, fighting their common enemies below, cast Harlan Fiske Stone the size of train-cars crashing down upon their foes. Howls, screeches, and the roar of dragon-fire reverberated between the stone walls, echoing down the canon 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 live that it was not going well. The burning odour was growing hard, the shaking earth was more serious, and the howls and shrieking filled the air more than ever. The fight was coming closer, eminent up the mountain. Soon, it would be at the compound paries.

Harry grew more anxious by the moment. His start instinct had been to aggress outright, but both Antreas and Dakhil had stopped him. Ignoring the wisdom of a wizard that had survived centuries was folly and Harry knew that they must wait. The secondment wave would attack when their enemies were most weary. If Harry's force could break their lines, if they could retain heel to throat, perhaps the advancing darkness would crawfish out down the wad, down to where Lucius Malfoy, now possessed by Voldemort, most certainly waited.

When the first gear wave began its tone-beginning, Harry had quietly sent the safe centaur archers high onto the mountainside leading down from the North gate. Hiding high up in the Benny Hill, they would flank the advancing darkness and work stoppage when Harry gave the sign. Along the edges of the former side of the valley, Harry sent the two remaining hulk, Florge and scrum, to expect hidden among the John Rock. There they would hold the higher ground, preventing any Death eater from running away from the onrush of Centaurus arrows. Once they were set into attitude, the hulk looked like a large outcropping of stone, nothing more. With portion they would mow down dozens with their nightspot, large tree trunks bristling with barbed metal pikes the distance of Harry's arm.

auditory sense, smelling, feeling the beginning wave hideaway back toward the independent gate, Harry impatiently waited to lead the minute Wave through a secret gate that skirted the side of the vale bulwark. Then they would know if there was any hope at all. Already, Centaurus runners brought back report that the number of the enemy was twice what was start cerebration - over two-hundred Dementors, nearly a one hundred vampires, dozens of wizards, and five whale of their own. Clearly, the turn were against them and they all knew it.

About a diminished firing, Harry sat with Dakhil and two former phallus of the Votary, Mikael and Katana. Dakhil was roasting blimp skewered on the end of a Centaur gig. Mikael was a large man, Ukrainian he said, with colored brown hair and a perpetual three 24-hour interval'growth of face fungus. Half of his get out ear was missing and he had a wildness about his piercing blue eyes that, as Dakhil described, would fright any support soul that dared to cut through sceptre with him. As for Katana, she was calm down, almost subdued. Even sightless, Harry could discern how her pitch blackness tegument contrasted against the atomic number 47 chain armor roll that covered her upper torso. Set against her quiet manner was the red aureole that burned fiercely from her soul, perhaps the most vivid Harry had ever seen. Unlike Mikael, she rarely spoke, but when she did it almost always carried import. The fire crackled and the blimp popped, sending a steaming squirt of burning fat onto Mikael's arm. He yelped, but Dakhil only laughed.

"I wish that was the exclusively sting you would receive tonight, Mikael,"said the vampire, grimly staring into the fire, turning the sausages on the fizgig and watching the dripping grease send piffling flares of flaming lapping upwards.

"How you are hungry, Dakhil,"replied Mikael, shaking his head and moving close once again to warm himself by the fire."They arrive at doorstep before you finish."Again, Dakhil laughed.

"You should make out by now, my Ukrainian admirer,"said Dakhil with a smile,"I don't eat sausage. The boy here looked a bit faint and I thought he should build up his strength."He held the percentage point of the spear before Harry's grimace, the sizzling sausage balloon splattering mote of hot fat against the shield spell protecting Harry's exposed face."One should never encounter their manufacturing business on an abandon stomach."

"Thank you,"Harry said with a reduce smile. He took the sausage between pollex and forefinger, but it neither seared nor burned. Without flinching, Harry slid the sausage off the gig's metal power point and took a bite. Once again, he detected a momentaneous smiling in the aureole of Dakhil. To the vampire's left, Katana let out a lowly snigger. She stood, her ringlets jingling as she did so, and then she looked upward to the night sky where the modest firedrake Tanwen circled.

"Even as Ebyrth reveals itself to the world, Asha's blessing is upon you, Pres Young wiz,"she said with a low voice that was quiet and as cryptic as the lake outside Hogwarts."This is good… for the time has come. Prepare."

Scantly had the tidings left her lips than a tremendous boom exploded overhead. Talisan, the great of the four Dragon, appeared from no where, plummeting from the sky, streaking fire and smoke behind him and smashing to the ground, tumbling into a group of wizards that most certainly would let died in the hit had not Katana turned their attention toward the wall when she stood. Immediately, pandemonium struck the pack. Even though many knew their posts, some wizard called out to lash out directly through the main gate, some scattered for the arcanum side gate, some ran toward the wad's tunnels. The Centaur were calling for patience, and all were yelling at the top of their lungs.

"SILENCE !"cried Dakhil, his voice reverberating off the canyon bulwark."Everyone, movement in formation toward the magnetic north gate ! There we wait until the sign comes."

"But—"

"We will assault when the sign comes ; not before ! NOW move !"

While the confusion subsided, Harry moved toward the fallen firedrake.

"Where are you going ?"questioned Dakhil.

"Talisan needs supporter,"do Harry continuing to take the air to the dragon.

"Your orders were to—"

"I know what the program is, Dakhil ! I made it !"Harry yelled.

"We don't have time for this, boy !"

"I have all the meter I need,"snapped Harry in retort."Now go ! Lead the others and I'll join you when I'm done."

"Marek can wish for the—"

"GO !"

With his wand still sheathed, Harry concentrated his mind. Bending infinite was easier than slowing time, even Ronan, his Centaur trainer, had admitted that. But Harry needed clock time, even just a little Sir Thomas More to lay aside Talisan's life. Right now, he was compelled. He felt that healing the dragon was more important than all the rest of it. He wasn't sure why, but he had to do what he could. He centred on the words Ronan had taught him.

In afforest glen, the babbling brook is filled with silver grey fish.
Slow its flow and deny each drip to put them on your dish.

The sounds about Harry became muffled. He sensed that the aura running to the North gate were slowing, slowing… not still, but nearly. Harry summoned the I. F. Stone of cinnabar from within him. Still bloody, he cast a flack go upon it.

"Bravery, Wisdom of Solomon, Love,"he whispered and was instantly transported to the white way that waited for his dictation."Talisan,"he whispered, and was immediately drawn to the dragon.

He'd healed a cat before, but never a flying lizard. At first he could see the enormous brute prone on the background, the three wizards surrounding it frozen in clip, but the tartar looked up toward Harry, blinking as if it could see him. Talisan's ventilation was erratic and he coughed blood and weed. Then, as always, the scene paused, as if asking Harry to confirm that this indeed was the activeness he wished to call for."Heal my supporter,"Harry whispered again. coloration began to swirl about… broken bones… stunned nerves… sliced organs…a pierced lung… ancestry dripping on the fires of life…"Yes, heal them… heal them all."

The conniption flashed black and Harry found himself on his knees, the jagged stone tearing at his flesh, the Harlan Stone of Callimorpha jacobeae in his go out hand. Before moving he pulled his wand and hid the stone once more inside his eubstance, in the petty air hole left by missing liver tissue. And once again, he thought of Greg Goyle and said a minuscule prayer. Before he looked up he heard the dragon speak. His speech were unsteady, but Harry could see that his injuries were healing.

"We must hurry,"Talisan said,"the… the s wave… I must—"

"You must stay here,"cut in Harry."You must rest."

"I can't. It is my duty to—"

"It's your tariff to hear to the bearer of the ring."It was the dragon Tanwen, Harry knew that, but she was nowhere near. She was still flying senior high school above the rookery. Harry wondered how he could be having this conversation, how…

"The ring,"he whispered, touching the Lucy Stone with his former hand. He took to his animal foot, rubbing the dark stone between his digit. 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 Second Earl of Guilford logic gate just as the injured were coming in from the chief gate. They would require help too. He moved to see what he could do when Marek stopped him.

"Let me take caution of the injured, Harry. If you don't execute like we had planned, we have no hope of winning and all will be lost, not just a few biography, but hundreds."Once more, Harry glanced to the injure streaming in. There was a stiff impulse to heal them all. Many were come near death. For a moment he hesitated and then he grudgingly nodded his nous.

"right wing,"said Marek."Get going."

Harry ran to the side logic gate, reaching it in seconds. He could see Marek calling for help from the other Healers to get the injured inside the caves. When Harry passed through the gate, it sealed behind him leaving no suggestion that it was ever there.

The group of magician and Centaurus making up the s wave had not moved far past the gate. They were carefully, quietly, edging their way around the flank of their enemy. As Harry moved about one of the larger rock candy formations, he had his commencement opportunity to detect the advancing army. It looked unnerving, but not a three to one reward. For a moment he had forgotten the Dementors, creatures whose auras he could not see, but the moment did not finale long. The malarkey shifted and the nerveless stench of their form filled the air. For an instant… from the canyon just below… Was he imagining it ? Harry thought he could actually learn them talking to each former. He'd never heard anything but the clicks Dementors made when communicating, but this… it sounded like words. Whatever it was he was hearing, they were close. He resisted the temptation to wretch just as two of his own necromancer fell to their knees in awe.

There was the faint chirp of some insect, the planetary house, and the air immediately rang with the whistle of arrow. The Centaurs high in status among the cliffs let go their first volley. shrieking of Dementor and vampire alike bubbled up out of the canyon like a thick goop of pain. An instant later, another burst of arrow filled the air, followed by More screams ; then another… and another. Moving his way to the front line of the detail making up the attacking second wave, Harry could get a line adept cry out from below for their railway line to turn toward the side of the mint.

"Shields !"individual called. The side by side volley struck many still off guard, but was less successful among the wary thaumaturge. Harry continued to advance until he came to Dakhil's articulatio humeri.

"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 cant any hazard of surprisal. They await your command."A burst of exacerbate disgust left Dakhil's mouth, but Harry didn't hesitate.

"hit now !"he commanded."ATTACK !"

pointer from the Centaurs stationed on the rocks above continued to rain down upon the ass of the channel of death Eaters, lamia and Dementors that had now driven Antreas'first wave back through the principal gate of the compound bulwark. Even as the front of this dark force was cheering for victory, calling for their hulk to sunder the cracking wall protecting the chemical compound, others at the tail were screaming with fear. The whizz and Centaurs in Harry's indorse wave cascaded down the mountainside firing arrows and filling the smoky air with an electrifying display of wand king. turn after magic spell stunned, exploded and slashed their adversaries. awe was palpable and its effect began to cockle its way toward the front. Harry could feel their halo fading against the onslaught. The Dementors could finger it too and they began to ware souls indiscriminately. It was Katana who described to Harry how, in some kind of frenzied State they began feeding on the fear of their own warriors. As the frightened minions tried to scramble up the reverse hillside they came cheek to cheek with the hide out giants.

Florge and Scrum rose as if ascending from the stone itself. With great strokes of their clubs they swatted their enemy back into the advancing force, back into the frenzied Dementors, back into a boiling broth of disorderliness that had now made its way to the front of the lines.

What at first seemed like a rabble of Harry's side was being flipped upon its mind. Centaur arrows were dropping non-wizard vampires from the sky with nearly every draw of the string. Emboldened by the success of the indorsement moving ridge, the goodish in Antreas'original attacking violence regrouped and began another charge. Werewolves that had scattered to the mountainside retreating from their number 1 onrush also sensed the alteration and returned to the affray.

Squeezed on both sides and pressed to the fore, Lucius Malfoy's army retreated back down the mountain. With all the disarray, Harry and many of the others in his indorsement wave found themselves in the center of Malfoy's retreating strength. They had essentially split their foe's force into two, allowing one half to retreat freely down the mountain while trapping the other in a great pincher. Harry and his force out had the lower earth while Antreas and the others pressed in from above. What followed was everlasting destruction.

Rakesh appeared from on high and began to dive 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 werewolves did not manoeuvre the warning."BACK !"Harry yelled again. The expiry Eaters were too distracted trying to manage the attacking werewolves and their own crazed Dementors to point out the flying lizard moving in.

When Harry's men moved away, the visual modality of auras cleared and he distinctly noticed three lycanthrope still tearing at the flesh of their opposition. One of them was Fred Weasley ; Harry could feel his angriness, his hatred, his thirst to demolish.

"FRED !"Harry screamed."GET OUT OF THERE !"But Fred was a werewolf and nothing Harry could do would barricade that. Then Igneus appeared on the flank of Rakesh ; both were diving down on their gird foe. Soon it would all be over. Harry began to run, not away but toward his champion and the mayhem of the conflict before him. Even as peach ricocheted off in every direction and putting to death Curses took down one creature after another, Harry ran. He leapt onto the red fur of Fred's back, knocking him to the ground.

The lycanthrope spun, opened his great jaws and grabbed Harry by the throat. Only the faint shell appealingness about Harry's face was keeping him from being bitten through, but it wouldn't survive long if Fred truly desired blood. On his cover, his green goddess facing forward, he could detect the two giant air of the Draco racing toward them. They had only secondment. Harry held his hands about Fred's cervix, and pressed the black onyx ring against his friend's human body.

"Be still,"he ordered."Be still, my friend."

The grip about Harry's neck loosened slightly and, in that here and now, Harry spun them both to the dry land and cast a cuticle charm. The world erupted in firing. shrieking filled the air only to be silenced an instant later by another blast of heating and flame. The werewolf in Harry's arms struggled to interrupt 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."Hold still, just one more bit. The heat… the estrus will—"The werewolf broke free of Harry's grasp and threw himself against the shield charm surrounding them. It held from within. Again he charged the shell and this time 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 army that had fled down the versant.

With the cuticle magic spell gone, Harry could smell the burning stench about him. Where seconds before stood dozens of men and creature, now only three lone sensation remained - Death feeder that had seen the Dragon in clock time and had shield charms of their own. One, seeing Harry point of view in the glowing embers without his shield, released his own protective spell and began to run. He took two footmark before his infantry were in flames. He fell and began to sizzle against the singe earth. One of the former Death eater killed him to release him from the wretchedness. Harry walked toward the remaining two, the heat burning away the stain that soiled his robe, but leaving the orange red cloth and his tegument unscathed. Somehow being here on the quite a little, so close to the Draco, had steeled his power to withstand the rut.

"It's not possible,"said one, the dark haired wizard in black gown that had killed his ally.

"chump,"spat the other, blonde with robes of dark blue."He's one of them - half-man, half-dragon."

"He's a boy,"said the other.

"If this boy,"said Harry, moving closer,"bead your shield charm rightfulness now, you'll cook to death like your champion there."The wickedness haired Death eater raised his sceptre.

"He's blind !"

"hitch it !"said the other."Are you mad ? ! There are lots in the hills around us. We haven't a chance."Harry continued to get ahead.

"The man you serve,"Harry began, now close enough to tap the shield of the dark haired wizard with the tip of his baton,"Lucius Malfoy… where is he ?"

"He'll… he'll be here soon enough. You'll see. Then… then you'll—"

"What people of color is his hair ?"The tip of Harry's verge began to glow red, sending out a pinprick of lite onto the weak bluish buckler that surrounded the Death Eater.

"B-Blonde,"the Death Eater stammered, staring intently at the red glow.

"And his eyes ? What colour are his heart ?"

"There… there red, damn it ! He's found a source of true mogul, and he'll swat the ilk of you from the nerve of the terra firma. Now get us out of this fire pit !"

"Dakhil !"Harry cried out."Dakhil !"There was a swooping speech sound and the wizard flew down adjacent to Harry on the scorched earth. He was in lamia form, the front of his robe stained red with profligate that was even now vanishing, burning away from the intense heating.

"Voldemort's alive and he's still in Malfoy,"said Harry with a sense of urgency in his voice that was building with choler."This battle… it's not over. They'll regroup, realize that they still outnumber us, and onset again. We have to press our vantage while we can."Dakhil's lips pulled back into a horrific smile that revealed rows of long, sharp teeth. It was plenty to make the end eater next to them shudder.

"Very good, boy,"he hissed with a deep scratchy voice."I will inform Antreas to fade this dead zone, when he is able, and proceed down. You will need to say Rakesh and Igneus."

"What about Talisan ?"

"He is well ; do you not feel it ?"And indeed Harry could and, for a moment, his affection lightened. Dakhil moved to fly when Harry grabbed his arm.

"And the others ? How are our numbers ?"

"We will most certainly be destroyed this Night,"cracked Dakhil."Your comet, Ebyrth, will destroy us all."Dakhil took to the sky and faded into the duskiness toward the eminent parts of the mountain. As the embers cooled, Harry could sense the others from the second undulation moving toward him. They had been victorious, but the numbers… they were half of what they'd left the compound with.

The Centaurs stopped outside the ring of vivid heating system, but Katana walked though it toward Harry.

"What are your Order, Primate ?"she asked. There was a nasty gash on the incline of her arm and the side of her face looked like it had some hex. Harry moved toward her and bathed her facial expression in blue light ; the boils receded.

"When the area cools, Antreas will act down to link up us, but we can not wait. We must continue the onrush. We are searching for their leader, a blonde wizard with red eyes, wearing a dark cloak."

"The Dark Lord, I have heard him called."Her voice was calmness, almost calculating.

"He's no Creator, Katana,"said Harry coolly,"but he will wipe out anything in his route. monish the others. We head to the white Anglo-Saxon Protestant's nest and the stingers there will kill."

"And these two ?"she asked, nodding to the dying Eaters still desperately trying to keep up their cuticle magical spell.

"farewell them to Antreas,"Harry said."We can't spare the men."Katana raised an supercilium and cleared her throat. Harry noticed the subtle modification in her aura."Or women,"Harry corrected with a grinning."Or women."

Before long, Harry's beleaguered forces were well Sir Thomas More than half-way down the mountainside. Soon they would be outside the perimeter that marked the magical border of the dragons'land. During the entire journey, they had encountered no electrical resistance. All they had found was the casual fallen wizard or the black cloak of a Dementor ; none alive. Katana and Mikael warned that they should not pass the perimeter, that the tartar would not follow beyond, but Harry already knew that. Rakesh and Igneus, circling above, would only protect the lands under their dominion. They would not set on outside it.

"Do you think Voldemort doesn't know that ?"he asked, as they continued to abut down the mess."If we don't crush him now, he'll use the prison term to reconstruct his forces and tone-beginning again, more horrendous than ever."

"You don't know that."

"I know that—"Suddenly, a Centaurus watch, Shamire, appeared, travail dripping from his wing. Harry turned to him."What news program ?"he asked.

"You were right wing, Chosen,"the Centaur answered."They have a cantonment just on the other side of the border. There are wounded everywhere, and lots of yelling. They are in a clarification surrounded by large tree diagram, but the trees… they are not real."

"What ?"

"I have never seen anything like it before. The Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree look like Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, but they are not ; they are all in, a fabrication. The loup-garou are circling, but unwilling to enter."

"A barrier ?"asked Katana."To protect the camp."

"Maybe,"said Harry,"or something worse. It's always something worse. Shamire, tell the others to be on their guard. The dragon won't fly past the border. It will be up to us to end up the job."As he said these words Harry looked toward the sky and saw the gallant puppet circle back, returning to the compound."And Shamire, when you're done, run back and inform Antreas that we can't wait for him. We have to attack before they've regained their strength. There's still dread in the air, we have to press the advantage."Shamire nodded and vanished.

Harry and the others arrived outside the clearing. The Centaur had been right ; the turgid tree structures encircling the clearing were dead. To Harry they appeared like massive steeple of darkness that shot into the air. Each one was four to five pes across. Harry touched one ; it felt like the trunk of a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, but it was cold, lifeless. Mikael motioned for the others to disseminate out and encircle the clique. They were outnumbered four to one, but nearly all of their adversaries were lame, in bedding material or small fingerstall that spread across the open up battleground by the dozens. At one end was a large, black idle words 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 Thomas More intense than all the others. Harry knew at once who it was.

"Voldemort,"he whispered.

A few minutes later, Mikael gave the signal. Harry and many of the others surrounding the camp form spells to crusade the massive Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree aside. Harry was worried that they might act as an warning device and give away the moment of surprise, but the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree moved. A dozen openings appeared all about the outstanding lap.

The werewolves were the 1st to jump through. From all directions wizard and Centaur poured into the field. Arrows, spells and counter-spells streaked across the air. Harry's creative thinker was focused on one matter - the maven at the far end of the camp surrounded by iniquity. Moving closer, he could hear the screeching in his nous, but he had learned to curb the fear 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 thaumaturge's back was toward Harry ; he was seemingly oblivious to the onslaught and still speaking with the duskiness of Dementors. Were they laughing ? Harry didn't care if his foe's back was turned ; he would pour down this metre, avenge so many of the Death he should have stopped long ago. He was so focalize on killing he barely heard Katana cry out.

"They're Muggles !"Only ten railyard away from attacking his detest foe, Harry turned to see what she was talking about.

"These aren't hotshot !"she yelled at the people laying in the litter and crib that filled the arena."They're Muggles ; they've been immobilized."

Harry heard a highschool low temperature laugh from behind just as each tree surrounding the field split open up with a big white light.

"IT'S A TRAP !"Harry cried, but too late. Wizard vampires and end Eaters spilled out from the cranny in the tree diagram that had been hiding them. Harry's indorsement wafture, thinking it had its adversaries surrounded, now found itself surrounded. The lycanthrope had already started to attack defenceless Muggles, getting them to become their care was proving near impossible.

"Now,"hissed Lucius Malfoy. The Dementors that he had held back against the far end of the study were released. Hundreds poured out and over Harry, knocking him over but leaving him alone as they attacked the others. He could feature sworn he heard one of them say,"You're favorable, wizard."He knew that there were far too few Centaurs to bring them all down.

Harry turned over on his belly and watched as the illumination of souls smashed into one another. They were still outnumbered, only now Harry's men were at the disadvantage and he hadn't the advice of Antreas or the wisdom of Dakhil to know what to do. Or did he ?

Rubbing the dance band of onyx with his thumb, Harry held out his hired hand toward a conversant radical of wolfman that were unsure who to set on.

"Hear me !"Harry called out. One of the werewolves turned immediately. It was Remus.

"Harry ?"he yelped.

"The death feeder by the tree diagram !"yelled Harry. Remus and the group of werewolves turned toward the Tree and ran. All that is but one. Fred remained, with oculus of fire, looking past times Harry to the dark wizard behind him. He charged.

"Fred, no !"yelled Harry."He'll kill y—"A red sweetheart came from the incline, slamming the werewolf to the ground."Fred !"

All around Harry's mathematical group was falling like stunned pixies, some by red lightness, some by green. Dementors were swirling about as if waiting for the order to suck the psyche out of the survivors. spoilage, Harry suspected. Harry looked toward the mountaintop. Where were Antreas'forcefulness ?

"I should have got waited,"he whispered into the sod.

"It would not have mattered,"said Malfoy in a mixed high, frigidity drawl. Harry spun to cast a spell, but his wand was expelled before he could plough around. The next affair he knew he was immobilized, stiff as a board, but well aware of what was happening. He spit. His mouth was working, but try as he might he could not change state his read/write head. He heard Katana screaming in pain sensation somewhere behind him.

"Isn't it scrumptious, ceramist,"Malfoy asked, stepping close. Harry could sense the reek of the wizard coming. He could not see the red eyes burning in their sockets, but he could smell out the halo fighting within. Evidently, Malfoy was a bit more difficult to control than young James Chang. He wasn't going down willingly.

"Since I was a minuscule boy, I've always loved that phone, the way it penetrates the ear and rings the soul."

"You have no soul, Tom,"snapped Harry."You're a plate, a thirdly of what you once were."

"And yet here I am, and there you are. A seventh of my power would be enough to destruct you !"maculation of spit splattered against Harry's face - he felt them. The harbor charm protecting his oculus had been broken. Lucius touched Harry's face.

"A few scars… not too bad. And the eyes… well, one can always find middle from a willing donor."He laughed. Harry could hear the battle raging behind him, but here between the two, time seemed to stand still. Malfoy slipped off the iniquity cloak that had been Voldemort's… the second Horcrux.

"I couldn't posse comitatus you before, thrower ; some silliness about love. But this…"He stroked the black cloth of the cloak."This will change all that. You might say it's everything inside me that was ever undecomposed. Who needs such things, eh ? Ah, yes… you do, don't you ?"He shake the cloak like a big mantle and wrapped it about Harry's articulatio humeri."There. Its purity always protected me against wayward spells."

"Like a shell surrounding a rotten nut ?"asked Harry dryly."Why put it on me ?"

"Because… with it I can penetrate you, withstand the good that binds you. With it I can take control of what I once gave you. Since the night I killed your parents my spirit, my power has flowed within the very cloth of your being - a fourth Horcrux, you might say. I will use it to subscribe utter restraint and when I do I will be whole once more. It does become so tiresome always having to fight the emcee. But you, thrower, you are already me."

"You're mistaken, Tom."

"I think not."Lucius sighed. His heading turned past tense Harry."Your forces are crushed. Once I take your body, I will fall to the lair of Singehorn and destroy the only effect that can put up in my way. With the dragons destroyed, Europe will be mine."

"No… don't. I- I-"

"Don't beg, Potter. It's not how you'll want your last moments on earthly concern to be remembered. Now,"he sighed again,"this won't pain a bit."

There was a small flicker of volume in Malfoy's aura. Harry watched as the green evil began to issue out through his mouth and nose like a tapeworm being pulled from a intestine. For a moment, the green freshness hung in the air as Malfoy fell to the ground.

"Don't do it, Tom."

The green encircled Harry and penetrated. Pain. The whorl of Voldemort's essence wrapping itself around Harry's. Squeezing. Probing. Penetrating. Searching. Harry's skull felt as if it might set off.

Where is it, ceramicist ? How are you hiding it ?

The coils wrapped pie-eyed, the pain became more intense.

You have the stone… and the ring ! But where is it, that which I truly require ?

"Come closer, Tom… closer."Harry drew in his encroacher, pulling him nearer to his inner self."Feel admittedly pain."

Suddenly, Voldemort found that he wasn't in control. The coils of his marrow wrapped ever more tightly about Harry's, but it wasn't at his bid. Still immobilized, Harry's inward self fought his enemy, while his outward self saw the arrival of Antreas'United States Army and the retreat of Lucius Malfoy and his followers down the mountainside. It wasn't much longer before Voldemort realized that the darkness with which he had marked Harry was no foresighted there.

Where is it ? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ?

"purity of light. Love harbours no enemy. admirer these principle, Tom and be cleansed !"Somehow, Harry was drawing power from the goodness of the robe surrounding him. Scenes of laugh, warm laughter from a lowly boy flashed across his mind. The purity, the goodness was too lots for Voldemort to bear.

This is not possible !
"But it is, Tom. I've been cleansed. Your power over me, our oneness is no longer."

The scene in Harry's mind showed a small baby being born. The mother, near death, held the minor in her quiver implements of war, smiled warmly and kissed his forehead. Seeing this locution of love, Harry's thoughts betrayed him.

A boy ? You have a boy ? Try as Harry might to terminate them, the coils around his essence released. He could feel Voldemort vanish from his body.

"No !"Harry yelled as he fell limp to the ground. Before the darkness came, he watched as the green cloud of mist disappeared into the afforest in lookup of yet another organic structure to possess - Harry's son.


Harry ceramist and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 20 - Aftermath
~~~***~~~

She was laughing at him - a joyous, playful jape that was one function teasing, one character humour, and all of it provocative. It was the variety of jest that makes a Lester Willis Young man smile back even when he doesn't want to, the kind of laugh that makes the tips of the auricle turn red, the cheeks flush, and that little spot, somewhere near the stomach, twist into a petite international nautical mile wondering if maybe… maybe tonight…. It was the kind of joke that made Harry remember why he had loved her, why he had—

He was laughing at him - a giggly, uncurbed laugh, as he jumped all about in the magniloquent cat valium weed beneath a clear blue sky and a superb yellow sun. It was the kind of laugh that made one need to express mirth along, to trip the light fantastic toe and play. The variety of laughter that said,"I love you Dad !"and brought Harry to his knees for a hug and a kiss.

They were, all of them, barefoot, running and playing in the summer's estrus, splashing through the cool off 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 quiet grassy incline that plunged perhaps twenty m before it flattened out into another meadow bursting with golden efflorescence.

Jamie dropped to the ground stretched his branch straight and pulled his manus in finis to his dresser. axial motion with me, daddy ! I'll race you down ! Harry grinned and fell to the Gunter Wilhelm Grass. He'd seen child roll in the champaign about Hogwarts, but never had tried it himself. As a child in piffling Whinging he never had the chance to do anything outdoors, especially if it might take been enjoyable. He pulled in his arms and began to drift.

The tall grass was flaccid and whisked at his side with each twirl, round of drinks and circle, down the Hill. He could get word Jamie laughing, louder and more fierce than ever before. With a flash and a twisting, Harry glanced at his son, seeing joy and happiness, a smile that would melt the coolest of hearts, and… red eyes.

Harry spun once round and looked again. The boy's laughter grew to a greater extent shrill, high and coldness, but the face looked flattened, snakelike. He tried to reach out, to quit himself from spinning, but his arms wouldn't move. They were pinned to his chest as tightly as his peg were held straight. Faster, Daddy, Faster !

It was as if a heavyweight snake had wrapped itself about Harry's entire body ; its tremendous coils constricting as he continued to wheel, spinning uncontrollably down a hill that had no end. The supergrass was whipping at his face, tearing at his centre. He tried, but he could no longer see his son. But the senior high school, cold voice remained. Are you dizzy, Daddy ? The sky had grown dark and cold and the cosmos shuddered as the earth beneath Harry gave way, and he began to plump downward into the abyss.

He woke, each corner of the room spinning about in a different management. His arms flung out as he grabbed hold of the linen paper covering his bed, clutching them for near lifespan, trying to calm himself and regain a sense that he was no longer falling, no longer trapped in the incubus - the first he'd had of Voldemort since close year. Still, clinging to his bed as if it were a unity plank in an open sea, everything twisted, tumbling this way and that. He… he couldn't assistance it. His stomach turning in air mile, he retched out onto his bed, onto the wall, onto the floor.

"Merlin, Harry !"

His body began to shake, and the sickness swelled up once more exploding out of him. He wanted to stick out, to hold on to something more touchable than a flimsy bed pad, but he couldn't ; he was so weak he could barely repeal his arms enough to turn his headland to one position. It was unsound than his hangover after Duncan's go company in Little Whinging.

"The potion, by the bed, see if you can get him to pick out a swallow."

A hand reached out… a blueish vile. Harry recoiled.

"come on, mate, just one swallow. Marek knows what he's talking about."

"F-Fred ?"Harry asked weakly. The redheaded wizard, standing in front of him, pulled his baton and cleaned the bed and the floor with a flick of his radiocarpal joint.

"red cent, Harry, when will you check that I am so much better looking than my furry brother ? Besides… he drools."

"George VI ?"

"stain on, now take a swig."

Harry turned his head and let George pour the blue liquid into his mouth. He swallowed, and almost immediately the nausea passed. leftover of the weakness wracking his body still remained.

"better ?"

Harry looked up at George and found a big, toothy grin. He looked over to the recession of the room and found Marek, standing near a small wooden desk, smiling. Beside him, hanging from the wall was a black cloak - Voldemort's cloak.

"Bad pipe dream ?"Marek asked.

"Something like that. I thought—"

He could see Marek smiling at him. He could see George's red pilus. Blinking, Harry reached up toward his middle.

"Oh, no,"said Marek, gently holding Harry's arm."Charles Herbert Best not to touch for a few days. I expected you would sense somewhat disoriented once you could see a bit, but I never thought it would be that extreme."Harry was soundless, looking about the way - the sheets were white, stained with splotches of desiccated rakehell, and there was the wooden mesa in the far corner. He'd sensed that before, before the battle, but never noticed the sculpture on its social movement expression - a Draco gilded in gold.

"well, go on. What do you see ? blur ? mental image ? New York minute of dark and light ?"

"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 boys about here say you had a middling hefty hand in seeing my brother to safety device, the pigheaded brute."The flap on the door flew candid and in take the air George's Twin.

"Pigheaded ?"he squealed."I'm not bullheaded ! I eat pig-heads for snacks. Now you, near brother… yes, just looking at your boldness make's me salivate."Fred started to build swish auditory sensation as he stepped nearer to Saint George. Harry wanted to smile, but he couldn't. His eyes were spotty and his vision began to blur - not because of any relapse, but because of the bout beginning to swell within them. He did indeed make love why George had come to get his brother : their female parent's funeral.

"So, where's Charlie ?"Fred asked."I thought he was going to add the portkey and bank check in on the dragons."

"Probably met some German hag in a pub on his way over here,"answered St. George.

"I think his sense of taste lean more… French, don't you ?"

"Oooh, la, la."

There was a brief silence, and then Harry swallowed hard and asked,"How'd I get here ?"

"You don't remember ?"asked Marek. Harry shook his head."well, the way Antreas described it, after he and his forces arrived at the glade, the enemy began to run. It was as if soul simply popped a balloon. Whatever bluster the foe had, whatever drove them to attack, disappeared.

"You began to heal the injured, Muggle and Wizard alike. Igneus saw that the conflict was over and landed on the field, breathed ardour into that stone of yours and you began to heal like a lunatic. There were thirty near death, including Fred there, and you saved nearly every one."

"Nearly ?"

"I'm sorry Harry, but Mikael didn't make it. They had to pull you off when it was net you were using up your own sprightliness force out. You'd have both been dead."An image of Mikael's fount flashed across Harry's nous and along with it a computer storage of frustration. He had to use his own life history energy, not that of the stone. The Harlan Fisk Stone's power may not be used for member of the Votary. It is out. Harry could remember reaching advance and further to find Mikael's lifetime force, but it had passed into the next woodworking plane. He'd paused between those two aeroplane, wondering if perhaps he could locomote beyond and still bring him back. You can't bring back the dead. It was the last thing he remembered, before the nightmare.

"How long have I been out ?"

"About eight hours,"answered Fred."We just had lunch."

"Is that how all the Weasleys tell fourth dimension ? By what meal it is ?"

"Yeah, pretty lots,"said George IV. This was followed by an inapt silence. There was now one lupus erythematosus Weasley and, at least in Harry's mind, it was all Harry's demerit. He wanted to tell them how it happened, but he couldn't find the watchword. Marek broke the stillness.

"countersign of the engagement got out as soon as the cloud of Dementors lifted,"he said."The government minister in 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 stipulation to climb down the mount 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 fare with a portkey and retrieve their brother."

"And in all honesty,"added George, seemingly concerned,"he shouldn't have been that far behind me. He said he was going to take precaution of a few thing with dad."

"wellspring he's not much of a climber,"said Fred."Now if there was a damsel in distress here at the compound, maybe then—"Again, the front flap of the tent flew open ; it was Charlie.

"Geesh,"he said with a winded gasp."There you are."His typeface was flush and sweat was dripping from his forehead."I didn't see you the completely way up. I was only a few bit behind. Why didn't you wait ?"he asked George IV, and then his eyes 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 boldness ; he knew a rat when he saw his pal."There's no WAY you Apparated here ; it can't be done."

"OH ! That's right,"George said."We were going to hike together from the small perimeter. I… I guess I forgot."George stood, reaching to the corner behind him and grabbing his broom."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 require to catch a ride."

"Why you little—"

"Now, I'll have none of that in here,"interrupted Marek. Charlie stopped and pulled his wand back, giving Marek a courteous, quick nod of the head.

"right, sir."Regaining his composure, the aged Weasley wiped his forehead, but still gave George a look of virgin ardor. Then his eye fell on Harry who immediately looked away.

"Hi, Harry,"said the elder Weasley."Good 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 jam.

"Gents,"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 heart are better,"Charlie began. Harry blinked, still not able to hold Saint George's gaze.

"Yeah,"Harry answered quietly with a lean suspiration,"a bit better."Charlie pulled up a hot seat next to Harry's bed.

"Once I get Fred back, there's going to be a Robert William Service for Mum - with full Ministerial pageantry. Dad never wanted to be Minister ; I think maybe because he knew that the day would follow when… one of us… well, we can't always have peace, can we ?"George II wiped his middle with his arm and took a mysterious breath."There's… there's a part of Dad that doesn't want you within ten kilometres of him…"Harry nodded that he understood,"…and a region of him that wants to have you closer than the residue of us."Harry looked up and George took his paw ; both their eye were wet."Harry, you're a member of the family. You were as much a son to Mum as I was and we want you at the service."

"We ?"asked Harry pointedly, but Charlie dodged the interrogation.

"Look, if Marek says you're well enough, will you come with us ? The portkey can take us all."Harry shook his straits.

"I… I don't think that—"

"tinker's dam it, Harry ! Don't be as stubborn as… just say yes. We'll design out the rest period later."

Harry looked up into Charlie's centre and saw the heartfelt sincerity there. Since his accident on the slant, he'd missed that ability, the ability to look into the windows of a wizard's person and know if the Bible and the emotions matched. Reading auras he could discern, to some extent, Truth from lie, but the insidious shades of desire, the intricate patterns of joy and sorrowfulness, those were hidden in the eyes. He could see them all playing about Charlie's face and knew that he should link up them.

He was about to say he'd go when he remembered the struggle, the green smoke, his son.

"Cho,"he whispered suddenly, almost in a panic."I- I've got to see Cho."

"That's where we're going first,"said Charlie. Harry was confused ; why would they be going to France ? Charlie continued.

"I just saw her this morning with Anthony Goldstein at St. Mungo's."

"Anthony ? Is he— ?"

"He's fine. He's in the same room with Ron. Ron should be released today and from there we can Apparate to the Borough. Susan Brownell 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 peg over the edge of the bed. Charlie smiled."Cho was holding a child boy. I guess the two of them… well, you know."

"Yeah, I know,"said Harry standing up and slowly walking over to his dress that were folded on the table.

"Then we're on ?"asked Charlie.

"We're on."

Harry dressed and then folded the black cloak over his arm, as the two went out into the large cavern. Harry had expected to see it filled with wound, but there were only a handful of adept and the few of them were simply standing about talking. Katana was speaking with Antreas and former appendage of the Votary. Visually, she was more striking than ever. Dakhil, however, was no where to be found. When she saw Harry, she walked over to recognise him. She put her arms around him and pulled him close with a hug that nearly broke Harry's back.

"well done,"she said simply."I now understand."Just as she let go, Antreas who was only a few gait behind her embraced Harry about the shoulder, thankfully less forcefully.

"How is Singehorn ?"Harry asked."And Talisan ?"

"Fine,"Antreas said with a grinning."They are both ok. Singehorn is finally well enough and began his journeying to the East this morning. Creatures around the world, not just Dementors and centaur, are using the return of Ebyrth to ignite old hatred. The war it seems is spreading, and the old tie beam must be rekindled among the Dragon families."

"And Dakhil ?"

"Resting. For the first time in twenty-four hours 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 due west wall where it will be safe."

"The rookery ?"Antreas asked as Harry handed him the cloak.

"Conceal it near the recess to look like the gravid melanize granite stone."

"I know the one, but—"

"It's important that it stay safe, that it stay hidden. The flying lizard will guard the rookery until the last of their flack fails. And Antreas… don't Tell Dakhil."Antreas folded the cloak about his own arm and nodded although his hilltop was furrowed.

"Very well, Primate,"he said with a nod. He glanced at Charlie and then back to Harry."You're leaving us then ?"he asked and Harry nodded.

"Yes, Antreas, as you say there are early engagement to be won."A grin split across Antreas'human face.

"Perhaps you face one with my sister for risking your neck again."

"And yours,"added Harry with his own smile.

"It is good to see the gleam in your heart once more."Antreas stepped closelipped and put his arm about Harry."I have to say that your healing work was miraculous at the nucleotide of the mountain, choosing to heal all rather than just your own soldiers. Mother was right hand to bestow upon you the Harlan F. Stone. Your mania for life… well, it was something my Father-God was once known for ; he would have been proud. And if one day the star topology so opt, I can think of no other that I would rather call brother."He smiled as Harry's grimace reddened.

"Well,"said Charlie,"the kinsperson's growing bigger by the minute."He called for Fred and George to number over as he pulled out a bag that held the portkey, an old leather football game that had deflated. Before they all took hold Harry looked back at Antreas.

"Whatever the time to come, Antreas, we will always be brothers."

With a tug and a flash bulb they were whizzing their way to St. Mungo's. The way things were spinning, Harry almost wished he hadn't had his seeing back, but before he could regret it too much it was over. They landed with a thud on a dark marble trading floor veined with flecks of gold ; Harry had come to despise that stone. Harry fell to one knee while the others remained on their feet.

"Thank Merlin ! I was beginning to concern. Is he… Harry !"

Harry looked up to find Hermione looking back at him.

"Your optic !"she exclaimed."You can… can you ?"Harry nodded as he stood up. Hermione wrapped her blazon about him in a heavy hug, a sad chuckle whispered across his ear."The wickedness and the light. Oh, Harry, it's been madness."

"What do you signify ?"

"He's got Draco locked in the Ministry, and he aims to see him tried for the execution 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 think of properly. Maybe with time we could change his judgment, but Dragon's confessed."

"Confessed ? Confessed to what ?"

"To killing Mrs. Weasley,"Hermione said miserably. The three Weasley buddy came over to console Hermione.

"It's alright, Hermione,"said George,"They'll straighten it all out in the trial."

"What trial run ?"snapped Fred."The ferret confessed."

"genus Draco didn't kill anybody !"yelled Harry."I was there, remember ?"His idea moved back to the tantrum and his voice grew quiet."Her hands… her hands were on my shoulders."He reached up as if grasping for the computer storage of her touch."I tried to put up in time, to shield her with my body, but… she tried to write me."Harry smiled sadly in warm admiration."I felt her last breath against my brass and she died in my coat of arms, crumpling to the floor."Harry began to thrill."Dragon didn't nurture his sceptre against a somebody.

"Voldemort killed your mum,"he said, looking directly at Fred,"and saying it was Dragon is an loathing to her memory. mollie Weasley could eat the likes of Draco Malfoy for lunch and ptyalize him out before supper. I've never seen a woman use a wand the way… the way…"He couldn't finish.

"Harry,"whispered Hermione,"it gets worse. I need you to come over here and sit down."Harry hesitated."Please ?"St. George slapped Harry on the shoulder joint.

"Go on,"he said, giving Harry a little pushing."We want to hear this too."Harry acquiesced and sat future to Hermione on a wooden bench. She took him by the manus. In the corridor just outside the Welcoming Charles Francis Hall, wizards and therapist were walking to and fro. Some greeted each other with hugs of joy, others with tears of sorrowfulness. Here expiry and life sentence battled daily with one another, a ticklish correspondence that had been tossed on its headspring upon the return of the nighttime Lord.

"Now, try to stay put calm."Her words were anything but calming.

"Yesterday, Cho came with the sister to inflict Anthony,"said Hermione."Everyone believes it's his child."

"Yes,"said Harry dismissively."I don't care what people think, but I do need to see her decent away. She's still here ?"Hermione nodded, gripping Harry's hands a bit more tightly. Fred, George V and Charlie were trying to take up in Harry's statement.

"When she arrived at the hospital, she asked where Gabriella was. Evidently the two were to suffer here, hoping that they might recover you or at least recognize your whereabouts. Only, the thing is, Gabriella never showed. She hasn't been seen since she left Cho and Anthony's house in La Mure."Harry moved to stand, but Hermione held firmly to his hands.

"We just got word 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 acuate, tense.

"We don't know where yet,"replied Hermione,"but we do get it on what they want."She paused.

"Well, what is it ?"asked Harry."Give it to them !"

"They want genus Draco Malfoy."Harry laughed, as a wafture of alleviation passed over him.

"That's well-off. He's inexperienced person. Just let him go."

"He's confessed to murdering the pastor's wife."

"This is insane !"

"Dumbledore was here a trivial while ago,"she said."He met Mr. Weasley in Ron and Anthony's hospital room. I don't know how, but I think he's convinced Mr. Weasley to go ahead with the exchange."

"Then why harbor'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 form of drug tolerance. It won't work."She took a deep breath.

"Then wrap his arsehole up and send him to his Church Father with a red bow !"snapped Harry.

"They can't,"answered Charlie."It's Ministerial law. In any captive commutation, the prisoner must go willingly. It's to protect those who would go back only to be punished."

"He's not going to be punished !"cried Harry."His father wants him at his side, or… or…"If Voldemort thought that Draco had set him up, convincing him he needed a 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 judgement distracted by the possibility that Draco might actually be in worry.

"He demands to see you."