Title: Light's Burden
Author: Corking Mad
Summary: As Harry enters his Seventh Year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, things begin to change. Emotions fly high for all involved, and a certain prophecy doesn't want to be fulfilled. Sirius and Remus are back, but not for what you think. Romance ensures for both Ron and Hermione as well as Harry and Ginny.
Rating: PG-13
Category: A wee bit of everything. Romance, angst … not your typical Harry and Ginny defeat the Dark Lord and fall madly in love, mind you.
Disclaimer: People, people, I am but a mere mortal merely attempting to continue JKR'S wonderful story as I see fit. Obviously, everything concerning Harry Potter belongs to JKR.
Review: Hey, you're the reader. Like what you see, and want more? You know what to do. Don't like what you see? Well, no one's perfect … but I most certainly don't want to hear you complain about my story. If you feel something is missing … that's another story, and I beseech you to tell me what I can do to improve my writing.
Author's Note:
As I look back at my last chapter, I saw a lot of grammar mistakes. I'll try to fix those – I can't believe how many times I wrote "signed" instead of "sighed". Oh well. Thanks to all those who reviewed! (And this should really be put under Disclaimer, but oh well – A special thanks to Lois Lowery from whom I have stolen the names Giver and Receiver.)
Light's Burden
Chapter Two: Great (Hall) Changes
Standing in front of the imposing Great Hall doors, Harry felt as though what awaited him on the other side could not be good news. He had so many questions, so many burning questions, that were making his stomach feel fluttery. And no, not the "Hey, look at me, I'm riding a Firebolt!" fluttery feeling. The nervous, anxious, Voldemort-imposed fluttery feeling. And he was most wanting to find out why he wasn't a hero.
Not knowing what to do, he knocked three times, and lo and behold, someone answered the door, whom Harry presumed to be the LightGuard. The LightGuard was very formidable looking, even though he was wearing robes of pure white. In fact, as Harry scanned his eyes over the Great Hall, he noticed that everyone was wearing robes of white. No more were the long House tables, with House banners. Instead, smaller square tables were everywhere, all surrounded by these people wearing robes of white. At each table various things were happening – some had potions, others had large amounts of parchment, and at some tables, people were furiously writing what appeared to be battle techniques. The LightGuard cleared his throat, bringing Harry back to reality.
"Harry Potter?" asked the LightGuard. The guard's booming voice intimidated Harry, and he merely nodded. "Follow me."
Harry reluctantly followed, knowing that he would soon be faced with the information he always yearned to know. Suddenly, he wished he didn't have to know, that he could continue not knowing what made him special. Then again, Dumbledore's letter left many loose ends, and Harry wasn't sure exactly what made him special. Harry kept thinking and following the LightGuard until he reached the familiar statue which hid the entrance to Dumbledore's quarters.
The guard placed his hand upon the statue instead of saying a password. It then glowed red, and slowly opened to reveal Dumbledore's familiar office. Dumbledore rose from his chair, and the LightGuard said, "Mr. Potter has arrived. I shall return back to the Great Hall." Dumbledore nodded curtly, and motioned for Harry to sit.
Dumbledore waved his hand, and a glass of pumpkin juice appeared, as well as a bowl of soup. He sat down in front of Harry, and took off his half-moon glasses, setting them down on the table, and folding his hands in his lap as he sighed.
"Harry, please, this will be much easier if you just let me talk, and then you can ask questions. I can no longer deny you answers, so whatever you need to know will be told to you. Is this alright with you?" Dumbledore asked, looking weary.
Again, Harry merely nodded. Dumbledore motioned for him to help himself to the soup and juice, and Harry complied.
"Harry, I am going to begin by telling you something about your parents, particularly your father. Your father was a great wizard. However, he did not have the power to cause the fall of the Dark Lord. Your mother did, though."
Upon hearing this, Harry nearly fell off of his chair, almost choked on his soup, and nearly knocked over his glass of pumpkin juice. Dumbledore began again, without acknowledging Harry's shock.
"However, Light Prophecy states that one person cannot bring down Dark. It must be a joint effort, a joint effort between a Giver and a Receiver. Your father was a Receiver, your mother a Giver. Being the son and heir to your father, you too are a Receiver. That's how your mother saved you – she Gave, you Received, you lived and she didn't. You are no longer known as the Boy Who Lived among those fighting for Light. You are now the Receiver. Yes, Harry, you are still a hero. Just not the hero you, and the rest of the wizard world imagined you to be. You are still a hero, but you no longer act alone. And it will not be the direct result of your powers that causes the fall of Voldemort. You are merely a shuttle, a channel, for the power possessed by another. Together you will allow Light to conquer Dark, and together you will rise above Voldemort. Your parents failed, Harry. We still don't know why. And we certainly don't hold them responsible. After all, they gave their all. That's what I ask of you tonight, Harry. Are you willing to give your all?"
Harry sat silently, staring at his lap. He looked Dumbledore straight in the eyes and said, "Yes."
Dumbledore nodded, and began to speak again. "This year, there will be many, many changes. Students will no longer dine in the Great Hall, but rather in their House Common Rooms. Herbology, Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, and Quidditch will be suspended. Herbology will be offered only to those learning how magical plants can aid Light. Only select students will continue to study Potions, and Care of Magical Creatures will be suspended all together, save for a very few students. Not only will students have regular Charms, Charm students in the Sixth and Seventh Years will have their regular Charms class as well as a gender separated Charms class. Defense Against the Dark Arts will meet twice as long as it previously did, and will be taught be Aurors. Instead of Quidditch, students will be taught defensive broom techniques. And most importantly, you, Harry, will learn to Receive. Although, I must say, your skills at it are already most perceptive. I suspect that you will have no trouble Receiving from your Giver. Besides the changes in classes, Hogsmeade weekends are indefinitely suspended, and there will be no after dinner activities. Although, course loads for all students will be extremely demanding – in a physical way, not a parchment-shuffling way. Have you any questions?"
Harry nodded, "Yes. Who is the Giver?"
Dumbledore smiled. "I was hoping you would ask that." He stood up, went over to the fireplace several feet from the table where Harry sat, and threw an iridescent powder into the flames. Remus' head appeared amidst the flames. Dumbledore said, "Remus, please bring me the Giver, but I ask that you remain outside my office." After Remus nodded his compliance, Dumbledore said, "Thank you."
Shortly after, the door to Dumbledore's quarter opened, and in stepped Ginny Weasly.
Well, there you have it – Chapter Two is now complete!
Review, ¡por favor!
Author: Corking Mad
Summary: As Harry enters his Seventh Year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, things begin to change. Emotions fly high for all involved, and a certain prophecy doesn't want to be fulfilled. Sirius and Remus are back, but not for what you think. Romance ensures for both Ron and Hermione as well as Harry and Ginny.
Rating: PG-13
Category: A wee bit of everything. Romance, angst … not your typical Harry and Ginny defeat the Dark Lord and fall madly in love, mind you.
Disclaimer: People, people, I am but a mere mortal merely attempting to continue JKR'S wonderful story as I see fit. Obviously, everything concerning Harry Potter belongs to JKR.
Review: Hey, you're the reader. Like what you see, and want more? You know what to do. Don't like what you see? Well, no one's perfect … but I most certainly don't want to hear you complain about my story. If you feel something is missing … that's another story, and I beseech you to tell me what I can do to improve my writing.
Author's Note:
As I look back at my last chapter, I saw a lot of grammar mistakes. I'll try to fix those – I can't believe how many times I wrote "signed" instead of "sighed". Oh well. Thanks to all those who reviewed! (And this should really be put under Disclaimer, but oh well – A special thanks to Lois Lowery from whom I have stolen the names Giver and Receiver.)
Light's Burden
Chapter Two: Great (Hall) Changes
Standing in front of the imposing Great Hall doors, Harry felt as though what awaited him on the other side could not be good news. He had so many questions, so many burning questions, that were making his stomach feel fluttery. And no, not the "Hey, look at me, I'm riding a Firebolt!" fluttery feeling. The nervous, anxious, Voldemort-imposed fluttery feeling. And he was most wanting to find out why he wasn't a hero.
Not knowing what to do, he knocked three times, and lo and behold, someone answered the door, whom Harry presumed to be the LightGuard. The LightGuard was very formidable looking, even though he was wearing robes of pure white. In fact, as Harry scanned his eyes over the Great Hall, he noticed that everyone was wearing robes of white. No more were the long House tables, with House banners. Instead, smaller square tables were everywhere, all surrounded by these people wearing robes of white. At each table various things were happening – some had potions, others had large amounts of parchment, and at some tables, people were furiously writing what appeared to be battle techniques. The LightGuard cleared his throat, bringing Harry back to reality.
"Harry Potter?" asked the LightGuard. The guard's booming voice intimidated Harry, and he merely nodded. "Follow me."
Harry reluctantly followed, knowing that he would soon be faced with the information he always yearned to know. Suddenly, he wished he didn't have to know, that he could continue not knowing what made him special. Then again, Dumbledore's letter left many loose ends, and Harry wasn't sure exactly what made him special. Harry kept thinking and following the LightGuard until he reached the familiar statue which hid the entrance to Dumbledore's quarters.
The guard placed his hand upon the statue instead of saying a password. It then glowed red, and slowly opened to reveal Dumbledore's familiar office. Dumbledore rose from his chair, and the LightGuard said, "Mr. Potter has arrived. I shall return back to the Great Hall." Dumbledore nodded curtly, and motioned for Harry to sit.
Dumbledore waved his hand, and a glass of pumpkin juice appeared, as well as a bowl of soup. He sat down in front of Harry, and took off his half-moon glasses, setting them down on the table, and folding his hands in his lap as he sighed.
"Harry, please, this will be much easier if you just let me talk, and then you can ask questions. I can no longer deny you answers, so whatever you need to know will be told to you. Is this alright with you?" Dumbledore asked, looking weary.
Again, Harry merely nodded. Dumbledore motioned for him to help himself to the soup and juice, and Harry complied.
"Harry, I am going to begin by telling you something about your parents, particularly your father. Your father was a great wizard. However, he did not have the power to cause the fall of the Dark Lord. Your mother did, though."
Upon hearing this, Harry nearly fell off of his chair, almost choked on his soup, and nearly knocked over his glass of pumpkin juice. Dumbledore began again, without acknowledging Harry's shock.
"However, Light Prophecy states that one person cannot bring down Dark. It must be a joint effort, a joint effort between a Giver and a Receiver. Your father was a Receiver, your mother a Giver. Being the son and heir to your father, you too are a Receiver. That's how your mother saved you – she Gave, you Received, you lived and she didn't. You are no longer known as the Boy Who Lived among those fighting for Light. You are now the Receiver. Yes, Harry, you are still a hero. Just not the hero you, and the rest of the wizard world imagined you to be. You are still a hero, but you no longer act alone. And it will not be the direct result of your powers that causes the fall of Voldemort. You are merely a shuttle, a channel, for the power possessed by another. Together you will allow Light to conquer Dark, and together you will rise above Voldemort. Your parents failed, Harry. We still don't know why. And we certainly don't hold them responsible. After all, they gave their all. That's what I ask of you tonight, Harry. Are you willing to give your all?"
Harry sat silently, staring at his lap. He looked Dumbledore straight in the eyes and said, "Yes."
Dumbledore nodded, and began to speak again. "This year, there will be many, many changes. Students will no longer dine in the Great Hall, but rather in their House Common Rooms. Herbology, Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, and Quidditch will be suspended. Herbology will be offered only to those learning how magical plants can aid Light. Only select students will continue to study Potions, and Care of Magical Creatures will be suspended all together, save for a very few students. Not only will students have regular Charms, Charm students in the Sixth and Seventh Years will have their regular Charms class as well as a gender separated Charms class. Defense Against the Dark Arts will meet twice as long as it previously did, and will be taught be Aurors. Instead of Quidditch, students will be taught defensive broom techniques. And most importantly, you, Harry, will learn to Receive. Although, I must say, your skills at it are already most perceptive. I suspect that you will have no trouble Receiving from your Giver. Besides the changes in classes, Hogsmeade weekends are indefinitely suspended, and there will be no after dinner activities. Although, course loads for all students will be extremely demanding – in a physical way, not a parchment-shuffling way. Have you any questions?"
Harry nodded, "Yes. Who is the Giver?"
Dumbledore smiled. "I was hoping you would ask that." He stood up, went over to the fireplace several feet from the table where Harry sat, and threw an iridescent powder into the flames. Remus' head appeared amidst the flames. Dumbledore said, "Remus, please bring me the Giver, but I ask that you remain outside my office." After Remus nodded his compliance, Dumbledore said, "Thank you."
Shortly after, the door to Dumbledore's quarter opened, and in stepped Ginny Weasly.
Well, there you have it – Chapter Two is now complete!
Review, ¡por favor!