Title:Essence

Author name:Icy Manipulator
Author Category: Romance
Keywords:Power Harry Multi-Ship

Rating:PG-13

Summary:The very essence of the 'Power the Dark Lord knows not' as seen and felt by some of our favorite witches of Hogwarts. A musical (of sorts) in five acts.

DISCLAIMER:

The following work of Fan Fiction is based upon the Harry Potter Universe which is the work of J.K. Rowling. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

The Author owns nothing of the Known or Cannon Characters in this work. Except, perhaps, the idea for this story.

Author notes: This was an idea that suddenly popped into being; screaming and clawing at my mind to be written, that I couldn't think of anything else. Only after writing the first and third act and a partial second was I able to pull away to put up the remaining chapters of Heart's Nobility and actually finish Way of the Force.

This fic, in a way, is a gift to myself and to you my dear readers.

The song featured here is one of my favorites. Taken from the musical, Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, "This is the Moment"

I'm here for your love and I'll make my stand.
We were born to be princes of the universe.
No man could understand, my power is in my own hand

-Prince's of the Universe by Freddie Mercury

(Theme from HighLander)

ACT I - Merlin: Incarnate.

A shadow moved hastily over the snow covered ground, momentarily marring the white blanket that caressed the earth in a cold embrace.

Icicles, that had formed from the frost, which hang precariously under the Firs' leaves suddenly shuddered and fell, along with it a large amount of snow that had accumulated during the night.

The shake of the neighboring trees and an accompanying boom bore witness to the speed at which the red and gold blur passed them.

The figure abruptly pitched upward, and like a missile he sped up, defying gravity as glittering motes of gold trailed his wake. As his ballistic course reached its apex, he seemed to float a moment as momentum was equal to gravity's pull, but then as constant as ever, it pulled him down.

Down and down the figure fell, no visible hint of him trying to stop the deadly plunge.

A scream of pure glee could be heard from the figure even at his distance from the ground…

Those that were not aware who the figure was gasped in fright… but others knew otherwise.

It didn't help them in knowing though… for they still held their breaths…

This is the moment, this is the day
When I send all my doubts and demons on their way
every endeavor I have made ever
is comin' into play, is here and now today

Harry veered upwards again. Green stains on the knees of his quidditch uniform showed proof of just how close he was to the ground. He'd never even noticed the building crowd that was wondering what has got into him.

Why was he happy? What has he gained to be so ecstatic? How, after all his strife; all the death's and grief that visits him, can he shout with such delight?

Simple…

Harry James Potter, The Boy-Who-Lived, has achieved enlightenment.

It all began with rigorous Occlumancy training as he entered his sixth year. Toughened by the abduction and eventual death of Ron… Remus and Hagrid on the failed attempt of rescue…

But slowly, as he slipped out of his grief and torment… ever so slowly he changed…hardened, as more and more parts of his mind clicked into place and his eyes were opened.

Every so often, his minds' eye would often catch the barest glimpse of what he knew to be his goal…

And, just this morning, he found it as he recollected his thoughts and misery; he hurts because he loves...

Never would Voldemort comprehend…

It wasn't his mind at all… It was his heart – thus now bore open… and drove him to this expression of his joy…

A whole new world was opened for him to see, the 'Power the Dark Lord knows not' he now wield in his hands…

His Magic…

His Love…

Boundless.

This is the moment, this is the time
when the momentum and the moment are in rhyme
Give me this moment, this precious chance
I'll gather up my past and make some sense at last

Harry sped up again and held tightly down on his beloved Firebolt. He grinned so wide that his faced threatened to tear in two. In a flash of light and fire he was suddenly on the center of the pitch. In a blur of movement, he was rocketing upward, once more leaving a trail of glittering red and yellow motes…

This is the moment when all I've done
When all the dreamin', schemin' and screaming become one
This is the day, see it sparkle and shine
When all I've lived for becomes mine

And, he remembered…

All the time he wasted… in his anger and his sorrows…

His parents… Cedric… Sirius… Ron… Remus… Hagrid…

All his misadventures… his so called acts of bravery… and, or, stupidity…

The Philosopher's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, The Triwizard Tournament, The Ministry of Magic, Azkaban…

All his efforts to better be prepared for the inevitable end…

His wishes, His hopes, His destiny…

Are, all now in his hands… prophesy be damned.

All the people he loves… and now know- Believes- that loved him… His Friends… Family…

Hogwarts… his home... his heart…

As, he again reached the zenith of his parabolic trajectory, so did the power that he was unconsciously been tapping into…

For all these years, I've faced the world alone
and now that the time has come to prove to them I've made it on my own

Magic, was silent as it regarded him.

Weighed his heart against the feather of a phoenix…

This is the moment, my final test
Destiny beckoned, I never reckoned second best
I won't look down, I will not fall
This is the moment, the sweetest moment of them all

The Phoenix… That was himself.

So, that was the moment… His Moment…

As a great light to rival the sun erupted around and through him… unexpectedly expected.

A song filled the air.

Lonely, the notes played as it begun, and those with magical blood within vision of that light suddenly felt tears in their eyes, though they didn't know why. Somewhere in the eleventh refrain, the beat changed and seemed to make the music happier, bolder. Disharmony on the fourteenth and an abrupt change on the fifteenth to a melancholy chorus…

Those that were near under the light were bawling… and most felt that their hearts were being torn in two… and it went on for two more beats, as slowly it earned a martial strain…

Until…

A crescendo of chorus, suddenly lifted up their hearts… the solitary notes where no more. Instead, a harmony echoed defiantly through all that could hear and see, as blinding white turned to brilliant gold…

A life's story turned into harmony…

Light and song touched them in different ways and they felt renewed in hope.

Peace flooded their hearts.

This is the moment, damn all the odds
This day or never, I'll sit forever with the gods
When I look back, I will always recall
Moment for moment, this was the moment,

Only once before in the History of Magic did something like this happen.

Slowly the light brought him down, though the song still filled the air. The fire that still burns slowly then coalesced into the shape of the firebird… nay, a woman whose fiery wings enshroud her as she effortlessly cradled Harry in her loving arms…

The ethereal goddess suddenly spoke through sound and mind of all those present with magical blood… human and beast alike…

And he was judged.

In a voice oh so familiar to Harry… though it was Magic itself that spoke… in that voice he only hears in nightmares or when dementors where near, pleading for his life in exchange for hers...

A voice now filled with approval and pride… his mother's.

The sweetest moment,

"This is my Son; in him, I am well pleased."

The greatest moment of them all.

… And all manner of creatures, as long as magic flows through their veins, felt the urge to kneel in homage before their prince.