Author´s Note:
-This story starts at the end of Deathly Hallows Chapter 36.
-I'm only keeping this story canon with the books and the epilogue, but not the years in between. I'll try to keep things as canon as I can, but there'll definitively be some changes.
-My intention is to add to the external magic showed in the books, the internal magic that is mentioned in the esoteric currents like Hermetism, Alchemy, Rosicrucianism, and the theosophical currents associated with Helena Blavatsky and her followers. Every thing mentioned in this story is supposed to be true in some of those currents.
-I hope you like it.
-Special thanks for my beta HyperLily.
Prologue
"... I´m putting the Elder Wand," he told Dumbledore, who was watching him with enormous affection and admiration, "back where it came from. It can stay there. If I die a natural death like Ignotus, its power will be broken, won´t it? The previous master will never have been defeated. That´ll be the end of it."
Dumbledore nodded but said, "If you are never defeated, yes, Harry, but if you ever find yourself even disarmed in a future combat even if it´s not a deadly one, the wand will change its allegiance. If your opponent doesn't know you possess the wand, when he dies it will be the end of it. But if he knows, he´ll just have to guess where it is and believe me Harry that won´t be a difficult guess. I´ll suggest that if you are not interested in using it, then at least find a far better place to put it away."
"Thanks professor, I understand." he turned away from the painted portraits, thinking now only of the four-poster bed lying waiting for him in Gryffindor Tower, and wondering whether Kreacher might bring him a sandwich there.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
May 2, 1998
The trio walked all the way to Gryffindor Tower, were Harry left Ron and Hermione in the common room and walked tiredly to his four-poster bed. He lay in bed thinking of calling Kreacher and asking him for a sandwich, but he was too tired and slowly closed his eyes.
It was a smooth sound at first, but it grew into a noisy buzzing sound, He knew he had his eyes closed but could perfectly see his room, only that this time there was a bright tunnel forming in front of him and passing through the roof as if it didn´t exist. There was a silhouette of an approaching man and Harry almost jumped out of his skin, but he recognized him.
"Professor?"
"Yes Harry, its me." answered Dumbledore
"Am I dreaming?"
"Dreams and reality are closer than you think, but no. You are not dreaming Harry. And no, I´m not alive either, well at least not the way you are. I don´t have much time Harry and there are things I need to tell you, so please listen up."
"Yes, Sir."
"We humans, magic people and Muggles, tend to see the universe as a vast ocean of galaxies and stars. The majority still believe we are unique and alone. But the reality is that not only this Galaxy but the whole Universe is heavily populated. We are just a very very small part of an ever evolving body. I don´t have time to go into detail Harry, but nearly fifty thousand years ago, a terrible war shattered our solar system, a solar system that had at that time two suns, one of them was destroyed and is now what forms the gas giants and most of the matter at the rim of the solar system called the Oort cloud. That sun provided energy for our bodies in a way that the one we have can not."
"Before that happened, we humans lived on average thirty thousand years, not because we couldn't live more, but because it was the time needed to gather enough knowledge to be able to ascend into a higher plane of existence and continue our evolutionary process. The lack of energy of what was called the red sun, started slowly decreasing the amount of time we could live, our bodies died before we were able to gain sufficient knowledge to reach ascension and the energy on our bodies decrease to a point in which it was unable to use the entire power of our brains or body functions. The difference between wizards and muggles Harry is just that, energy. The best muggles can't reach even five percent of their brain functions and the best wizards don't exceed fifteen. Look at the difference between wizards and muggles, and now imagine a human with a hundred percent."
"What happened Harry, is that what once was a single magical world was torn apart by the forces of the red sun´s explosion, When we used to have a single body, we now have four."
"I´m sorry to interrupt professor, but why has no one taught us this before. I have never heard something like this."
"Ahh, you see Harry, that is because no one knows. Well at least I didn´t. I know now because of where I am. But please let me continue Harry, I know you´ll have many questions but I wasn't given too much time."
"Yes professor, sorry."
"As I was saying, we now have four bodies, The Physical, The Astral, The Mental and The Causal. This is very well known to us; you have studied it in many of your classes, but the realm of the causal body there is very little known, but now I can tell you. The Causal body is in a sixth dimension and is eternal, and in order to continue the process of evolution and have the ability to ascend, this body must again unify all bodies and gain the required knowledge in order to do so. What used to take thirty thousand years, is now gain in a multitude of incarnations. Even if you are not able to remember the other ones the Casual body does."
"I was allowed to tell you all this because of what you did Harry. A single act of heroism, like the one you performed, gains a spiritual advance far greater than years and years of study. You now have a far stronger connection with your Causal body than anybody else. Slowly and in time that connection will grow in strength, and you´ll be able to channel at will far greater energy than your physical body is supposed to have. You have to be very careful with this, as your body is not prepared to handle that amount of energy and you can kill yourself by burning up."
The tunnel was like a cascade of energy but on reverse, it seemed to pull Dumbledore back, his body was like dust being blown away by wind.
"Harry, go to France, find my friend Nicolas Flamel. He´ll be able to guide you. I'm e x t r e m e l y p r o u d o f y o u." and with that said, Dumbledore was pulled away and the strange tunnel closed. Harry lay in bed, but this time with his eyes fully opened.
He wasn't sure what to believe, The experience had been extremely real. In some ways even more real than what he considered to be reality, and the fact that he was feeling full of energy when a few minutes ago he had the intention of sleeping for a full week didn´t help him to disguise what he lived as a hallucination.
He stood up, his muscles were still sore, but he just felt like running or jumping. He didn´t know what happened. Maybe the tunnel got him connected to areas with much more energy that filled his batteries up, but the reality was that he just couldn't go to sleep now.
He stood still for a moment and placed both hands in his pockets, finding the elder wand in his left and his phoenix feather wand on his right. He grab them both inside his pants and a strange tingling sensation ran through his arms all the way from the top of his head to the tip of his fingers. He took the wands out, and held them at chest height. He could still feel the flow of energy. He focused his attention on this and felt the flow grow even stronger. He could see both wands glow slightly, especially the Elder Wand.
He remembered what Dumbledore said about being careful, so he pocketed both wands. The flow dimmed a little, but he could still feel it. He focused his attention again and the flow grew stronger once more. He watch both hands. They didn't have the very light glow of the wands, but if he forced his eyes, he could barely see them glow. He unfocused his attention and the sensation became nearly imperceptible.
He stood there for a few seconds thinking of what just happened. He felt energy flow through him like never before and he wasn't tired when he should have been dead asleep. Was everything he experienced a few moments ago real. Was he bound to find Nicolas Flamel and ask for help? He shook the thought out of his mind.
He stood there for a moment before deciding what to do. He searched through his pouch and retrieved the marauders map and his cloak, and pocketed both inside his robes. He then opened the door and headed to the common room.
Harry arrived there to find Hermione asleep in Ron´s arms and Ron snoring with his head resting in the sofa. He didn´t bother them and put his cloak on to avoid being seen and went through the portrait hole and headed to the kitchens. He was full of energy but still extremely hungry.
Half an hour later in which he delighted his belly with the special attention of the Hogwarts house elves, which were still serving food for the number of people in the Great Hall. He stepped outside the kitchens and put his cloak back on, beneath it he searched in the Marauders Map for Ginny and found her still in the Great Hall at the Gryffindor table, for which he headed.
Before arriving at the open doors of the Great Hall, he concealed himself near a wall to put away his cloak, and then proceeded to enter. The Hall was full of people, some of them sleeping on the benches or on the floor, as many families had stayed after the fight. Many others were chatting amongst themselves, and some were still eating what was left of dinner. He moved very quietly to avoid attracting attention, but the Hall soon fell silent and he could see people watching him. The few with whom he made eye contact gave him a warm smile and a short nod in show of appreciation which he returned. He turn to see the Gryffindor table and found Ginny with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, Percy and George. He knew he had to say something about Fred, but he just didn´t know how, as he felt responsible for what happened.
Ginny was still sitting beside her mother, listening to the conversation between her, her father and Bill, while George was fast asleep with his head resting in his arms on top of the table and flanked by Percy and Charlie. Harry approached them with his heart pounding, with the same intensity he ventured into the forest to face Voldemort. Ginny looked up and caught sight of him and immediately started blushing. Mrs Weasley noticed and stood up.
"Harry dear, where were you."
"I went to bed, but couldn't sleep." He approached her a little more, "Mrs Weasley, I'm sorry about Fred. I... I wish I could have done something."
She reached up and gave Harry a motherly hug. "Thank you, Dear. I'm sure you did your best," she said with a trembling voice. "It's hard to believe that he's gone, and we will never forget him." She was silent for a moment, and realized that the boy in her arms needed as much comforting as she did. "But we still have each other."
She started sniffling, but took a deep breath and said, "We all heard when you spoke to Voldemort and know that you went to die for us. So don't you dare feel you didn't do enough, young man," and she hugged him even more tightly. Harry hugged her back shedding a few tears.
"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley. I don't know what I would have done without your family."
They separated and looked each other in the eyes.
"You would have been the same wonderful young man you are now Dear, only we would not have been able to say that we are proud to call you one of our family." Her tears flowed down her cheeks, and Harry had to bite his lips hard not to cry. Mr. Weasley and Bill gave Harry a supportive smile, while Percy and Charlie were far enough that they didn't hear the conversation. Ginny stood up and hugged and kissed her mother.
"I love you Mum."
"I love you too Dear."
She kissed her again, while taking a small glance at Harry and said, "Mum, I'm a little tired. I think I'll go to my room. Is it OK with you?"
"Yes Dear of course, but I'll go with you. I don't feel good in letting you go alone."
"No Mum its OK."
Harry took the hint and said, "Don't worry Mrs. Weasley, I'll go with her and we'll be with Ron and Hermione."
"Oh! OK Dear. Thank you. Good night then!" said Mrs Weasley with hesitation in her voice
"Good night Mum." said Ginny waving to his dad and brothers, while Harry did the same.
Harry and Ginny walked away, but Mrs Weasley stood standing, not knowing if she should follow them.
"Mum," said Bill, and she turned to see him. "Harry just faced Voldemort single handedly. I don't think there is a Death Eater alive that will risk facing him one on one. Don't worry. They'll be OK." and she sat down with relief etched in her face.
Meanwhile, Harry and Ginny walked silently towards Gryffindor tower. Ginny was looking to the floor not knowing what to say, or if she should say something, while Harry had his mind running at ten thousand r.p.m., thinking of the correct words to say. On their way up, they walked through a corridor that had big open windows on the left side, and a beautiful view of the night sky facing the lake. Harry took Ginny's right hand and gently pushed her near one of them.
"Ginny,"
They were face to face now. Harry kept hold of her right hand with his left, and slowly rested his right on her waist. Ginny placed her left in his forearm. She didn't answer, as she was looking intently into Harry's piercing green eyes.
"Gin, I'll understand if you are mad with me. I know I shouldn't have left you the way I did, but... But, I had to do it. If I hadn't ..." She raised her left hand to his lips, in a sign to quiet him and said.
"No Harry. I understand. I may not have liked it, but I know now that you had to do it. I know there are more important things than the two of us ..." Harry interrupted her.
"No!" He let go of her hand and grabbed her waist tightly with both his hands and pulled her closer. "You are the most important thing to me Ginny" she blushed, "Yes we had to do what we did in order to have a future. A future for all of us. But I can't hide the fact that I always thought of you when doing it." His face softened "I love you so much Gin, so..." She didn't give him a chance to speak, because she had grabbed his face between her hands and gave him a heart sealing kiss." Harry relaxed in a cloud of joy. He pressed her to him and gently held the back of her head, while Ginny crossed both arms behind his neck.
It was late, as they had gently kissed for what could have been hours, but that couldn't have mattered less, because they were back together. They were ensconced in a world of love in which hurt and suffering had no meaning. They walked embraced all the way to Gryffindor tower. They laid on a sofa near Ron and Hermione and cuddled together until they fell asleep in each others arms.
Next morning, Ron woke up to see a smiling Hermione looking intently to his right side. He turned and almost burst into a laugh, as he saw Harry's feet on one side and his head on the other, both resting on the arms of the sofa, but the funny part was that there was no sofa and Harry's body was missing. Ron knew he had covered himself with his invisibility cloak. It was hilarious, and more so if you added the dumb smile on Harry's face, even though he was deeply asleep.
"He looks so happy." said Hermione
"Yeah, it's the company. He missed us so much that he left the dorm room to sleep near us." said Ron half joking "Or maybe he's just happy to be able to sleep. But why did he come back down here? These sofas are certainly not more comfortable than our beds. Do you think he's afraid or something?"
"Oh, Ron. He's certainly not!" she said a little loudly, and turned again to see Harry as she saw something move, "Oh, sorry Harry, I didn't mean to wake you."
Two sets of arms appeared outside the cloak, as Harry stretched himself, "Don't worry," he said yawning, "I haven't slept so well since I can't remember. How long have you been awake?"
"Ron just woke up, but I have been awake for at least ten minutes."
"Why didn't you sleep in your bed, mate? It's certainly more comfortable than the sofa." asked Ron
"Hmm."
He wasn't able to finish when Ginny's voice could be heard saying "I don't think Mum would have liked that Ron." She was cuddled by Harry, looking directly to Ron and Hermione through the invisibility cloak, which she was unaware of.
Ron was watching the empty area between Harry's feet and head with a completely confused face. Hermione had a mischievous half-grin followed by a worried looked. She looked sideways at Ron and guessed how long it would take him to find out what was happening.
"Ginny?" said Ron
"No Ron, Moaning Myrtle." said Ginny
"Moaning Myrtle?" said Ron with an even more confused face.
Ginny was intrigued by Ron's reaction so she sat up and moved the Invisibility Cloak even higher so now Harry's body was almost completely visible. By sitting she could now feel the cloak pushing down on her head.
"Oh! Harry, what is this?" she said while pulling the cloak away, "Oh your cloak," she added as she pulled it off, appearing in plain sight of everyone.
"Ginny!" said Ron while glaring at Harry with an incredulous face, and that did it. Hermione burst out laughing. Harry couldn't hold it in either and as soon as Ginny found out what was happening, the three of them were laughing their lungs out. Ron wasn't glad neither to be the laughingstock nor that Ginny had slept with Harry. Even if it was on the sofa and in front of them. He was about to say something when Hermione elbowed him. She hugged and kissed him on the cheek and spoke to his ear in a low voice.
"Please let them be, honey. Look at them. I've never seen them this happy before."
He melted with the 'honey' and hugged her back and kissed her on the forehead. He then smiled and started laughing with them.
As soon as they calmed down. A big rumble filled the room and all turned to look at Ron.
"What?" said Ron, "I just didn't have enough to eat last night."
"That settles it then." said Harry, "To the Great Hall it is."
"Oh, No." said Hermione, "You two need a bath." she paused and reconsidered. "I mean, We all need a bath."
Forty minutes later …
"Hey mate give it a break, there's still plenty of food." said Harry
"I'mmm hum gggluk gry."
"Forget it Harry. He's a lost cause," said Hermione rounding up her eyes.
Ron swallowed his food and said, "Do you two actually know how many months we've been without a proper meal? I don't care if I get an indigestion, but I'm not letting anything vanish today."
They all laughed.
Harry suddenly felt a strange sensation on his right cheek. Different than the one he felt last night. He turned to his right side and saw Minerva McGonagall approaching and looking at him.
"Mr. Potter!"
"Yes, Professor."
"As soon as you finish your breakfast, will you, Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger join me in my office? Please! Minister Shacklebolt will like a word with you three."
"Yes, professor."
She smiled at them, something she almost never did, and said, "Thank you. I'll see you three in a moment then." She turned around and left to what was now the Head Mistress Office."
Harry turned to see Ginny and saw her face, "Oh! Gin, sorry. I should have asked if you could ..."
"Don't worry." she said, "I'll be with Mum and Dad, but you better tell me everything when you return."
"I promise." and he kissed her.
"Oi! That's my sister you know." said Ron
"Jealous?" asked Ginny
"Of course not." he said and kissed Hermione
"Oi! That's my sister you know." said Harry joking
"Yeah! Very funny mate." and they all laughed.
Several minutes later, the trio failed to find professor McGonagall in her normal office and had to check the marauders map. They saw her in what was now labeled Head Mistresses Office. They reached the gargoyle stairwell and found it flanked by two Aurors standing guard. One of them murmured something to the Gargoyle, which moved to let them pass.
"The Minister is waiting for you. You may pass." said one of the Aurors
"Thanks." said the three of them, and climbed the stairs to the Head Mistress Office. They knocked on the door and could hear professor McGonagall say from the inside.
"Come in, please."
They entered the room and could see Professor McGonagall and Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt. Both stood up, and the Minister approached them. He extended his hand to Harry, Ron and Hermione in turn while saying "Harry, Ron, Hermione. Please sit, we have some things to discuss." he said while conjuring three chairs. They all seated down.
"Thanks for coming." said the Minister, "There are some things I have to ask you. First, I'd like you to keep the matter of the Horcruxes quiet and secret. We don't want new Dark wizards, or even immoral curious people, or plain low-conscious ones running around creating Horcruxes."
The trio looked to each other with an astonished look on their face, so the Minister added.
"We were close to you Harry, when you told Voldemort that there were no more Horcruxes. Thankfully you spoke in a sufficiently low voice that only Minerva and me heard."
"I'm sorry Minister, I should have paid attention." said Harry
"You don't have to give excuses Harry. What you three did, could not have been done by anyone else. We are not only proud of you, but the wizarding world is indebted to you all. I only want you three to understand, that a Horcrux is just a containment vessel and is really a threat if used by a really powerful dark wizard, like Voldemort. You must know that the process of creating one uses normal imbuing magic to permeate one soul to the object, and is the same magic use to apply spells to different objects, like protective spells or even curses, and magic like the one used on the sorting hat. This procedure is neither bad or evil or dark, but the process of fracturing one soul and using that part to contain it in the Horcrux is one of the darkest magic in existence and requires the destruction of a human being to create. So I'm asking this for the protection of the people being used to create a Horcrux."
"We understand Minister. We won't talk about it again."
"Thanks. I knew you would understand."
"Minister if I may ask?"
"Yes Harry, what is it."
"Why do you say that a Horcrux is only a threat if it's used by a really powerful dark wizard."
"Let me answer that by saying first, that it's definitely better that no one has a Horcrux. Having said that let me give you an example. Tell me the name of any Death Eater Harry."
"I don't know, eh! McNair?"
"OK McNair. Do you see any problem for an Auror to duel and defeat him?"
"No, I think he's a little clumsy by the way."
"I think that too, so you see. If McNair creates a Horcrux it make no difference unless we kill him, and then if he crossed the line again, I see no problem in taking him out again. You see the difference now. We'll never be really threaten by a McNair, but a Voldemort is something completely different, as he is able of not only to out-duel our Aurors, but also out-thinking almost everyone, so that is why he is a threat, and more so with a Horcrux, because if we are able to defeat him, he could do it again and again and again."
"I see Minister, thanks."
"No problem Harry. Now the second thing I wanted to ask, but that I can guess is, what were you doing in Gringotts? I can guess that you went to find a Horcrux. Am I right?"
"Yes Minister." answered Harry
"OK, To put it simple, the goblins want your heads on a silver platter," he smiled, "well lets just say that they are not happy with you, because you tarnished their reputation as an unbreakable bank, and they are now demanding your arrest and compensation for the damages incurred. They are not stupid to demand this publicly, because they will certainly alienate the entire wizarding world if they do, but they sent a direct request to me."
"They didn't waste time." said Harry
"They certainly didn't, but with what I know now, I will take care of it."
"What will you tell them, Minister?" asked an anxious Hermione.
"We'll reach an agreement with them. The ministry will cover all repair expenses and explain to them that the break-in was necessary to defeat Voldemort, in exchange they'll drop the demand or, we'll make this whole thing public, and that will certainly kill their reputation with wizards and they'll receive nothing for repair expenses. Don't worry we'll handle it."
"Thank you, Minister." said Harry. Ron and Hermione nodded with relief on their faces.
The Minister relaxed in his chair, "OK then, What do you have planned for your future?" he asked to the three of them while looking sideways to Minerva.
"I think, I'll return here to finish my studies." said Hermione without any doubt
"That's good to hear Ms. Granger." said Minerva "What about you two, I imagine you are returning here as well?"
"Eh!" said Harry and Ron at the same time, and the Minister took the hint to steal them both from Minerva, "Harry, Ron. I know you two wanted to be Aurors. Just to let you know, we are letting anyone who fought in the Battle of Hogwarts to apply for Auror training. We could use a hand, and I believe you two won't have a problem nailing the examinations."
"I..., I really don't know Minister. I really want to become an Auror, but my family has suffered a great loss lately. I..., I'll like some time to think about it, if it's OK with you." said Ron
"Of course Mr. Weasley. I understand perfectly well, and I'm truly sorry for your loss. Please feel free to approach me at any time if you wish to join in the future."
"Yes, Minister. Thanks a lot."
"I'm sorry for Fred too Mr. Weasley. It's a loss we'll all mourn. If there is anything in which I can help, please let me know."
"Thanks professor. I will."
"What about you Mr. Potter.?" asked the Minister.
"I'll like some time too, Minister. It's not that I don't want to join, I certainly do, but these last months have been very hard to go by, and I think I need some rest. If not physical at least psychological. I want to relax a little and not have to watch my back for a change."
"I understand Harry." He said, but couldn't mask his disappointment. "Please remember, that the doors for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement will be open for the three of you always, and that any intention of joining the Aurors will have a full endorsement from my part. You have done for our society, what many Aurors have fail to do in their entire careers."
"Thank you, Sir." answered the trio in unison.
"What about school, Mr. Potter?" asked Minerva
"I don't know professor. I really want to be an Auror, and I wouldn't like to wait another year."
"We are going to give personal assistance to any seventh year student who wants to finish school, but that are unable to attend. Please don't brush aside the possibility of finishing your seventh year. It will open your doors in the future, and I'll certainly won't like the two of you failing to accomplish that."
"Yes, professor. If it's OK with you, we can come back during the summer to see in what ways we could do both." said Harry taking a side look to Ron.
"Yes, that will be nice." said Ron
"OK then. Owl me when you are ready, and please don't wait until September first."
"No professor. We'll get in touch much sooner than that." said Harry
"Perfect. That'll be all then. You can return to your families."
They said goodbye to professor McGonagall and Minister Shacklebolt and left the office, and went to prepare themselves to leave for the Burrow.
"Kingsley, you should give them a break. They deserve it. You said it yourself, they have done more than many Aurors."
"I know Minerva, but those three, specially Harry, commands great respect, and will give our society a greater sense of security if they are on board. Also, they are going to be the mark for many dark wizards, again especially Harry, everybody knows he now possesses the elder wand, and it will be easier to protect him, if he is with Aurors."
"Just don't use him for your personal agendas, Kingsley." She said with a serious face.
"You know I won't, but I can't deny that having him in the Ministry will make things easier for all of us. Let's give it a thought, and let's talk later and see how we can make them move forwards in their careers and finish school at the same time."
"Yes, let's do that, let's do that..."