Hidden Blessings

By SavingAngel8

Chapter 2: First Blessing

Time seemed to stand still. Harry looked at Dumbledore with a look of complete shock and bewilderment. Dumbledore stood there, looking at Harry with a sign of hope in his features. A hope that Harry would take this maturely and not lash out as he had before in Dumbledore's office that some three weeks ago, although Dumbledore could hardly blame Harry for his reaction.

Surprisingly, the first thing Harry said were four simple words, "Who, where, and how."

Dumbledore visibly relaxed and sat back down.

"You have to understand one thing before we get into the details. There was no other way to handle this situation than how I did. You and the entire wizarding world could know nothing of her. It would have put us all in jeopardy. You thought last year was bad when you couldn't talk to or see me, but imagine if you had known of her, not even her whereabouts just the fact that she existed, and Voldemort had tapped into your mind and found out. People could and would have died, Harry, for Voldemort would have stopped at nothing to get to her."

"So why tell me now?" Harry said, trying to remain calm and accept Dumbledore's point but there was an uneven edge to his voice.

"Because we need her to come back. We need her to come to Hogwarts and we need her help," Dumbledore explained.

"Why?" Harry said with an icy tone.

Dumbledore sighed again, "Because she is a Seer."

If it was possible, Harry looked more shocked. "What?" Harry said in a barely audible whisper.

"She is an extremely powerful Seer, more powerful than your mother was, or any other Seer I can recall for that matter. No one suspected you had the gift; for one because only precious few knew Lily had the gift and two because you were a boy. The gift would have run in the blood of a girl. And so it did."

"What's her name?" Harry asked instantly, realizing he hadn't already.

Dumbledore smiled a warm smile. "Her name is Awena. It means seer in Welsh. It was your mother's favorite name as a child."

Some warmth flashed in Harry's eyes before he turned serious again.

"I want to see her."

Dumbledore chuckled. "All in good time my boy, all in good time. But first, you need to hear the whole story, so I can back up my reasoning for not telling you sooner."

Harry settled back in his chair, preparing to be there a while. Even if Dumbledore summed the entire story to 3 sentences, Harry had a lot of questions. Dumbledore conjured up some tea and biscuits as well as a bowl of lemon drops before settling into his chair himself. He crossed his leg and laced his hands before continuing.

"When your parents found out that they were having twins, they were ecstatic. They would have told everyone in the wizarding world if it weren't for me. The prophecy had come into play shortly before your parents found out there were two of you. I kept them in check by reminding them that if the time came that if it was in fact either you or your sister Voldemort chose, the other sibling would be an ultimate threat to the chosen one.

"They told few about having twins. Minerva and I were among the privileged along with Remus, Sirius, and Poppy. Poppy was their medi-witch from the start and your nanny. When it came time for you to be born, we kept it very quiet and only the people your parents had chosen were present. When I told them that they would have to tell the rest of the world about one of you, Lily immediately singled out Awena. She knew from just looking at Awena that her daughter possessed the Sight and knew that Awena would be more appealing to the Dark Lord.

"So you were introduced to the world, Harry, as the only son of one of the most prominent wizarding families in all of England. Poppy would watch Awena when you and your parents had to make an appearance at some place or another. But your parents always made sure that the two of you spent as much time as possible together and that they were always there, I guess to try and make up for the lost time during the days."

"Then why don't I remember her?" Harry asked, cutting into the story. He thought that his memory might have betrayed him in not recalling these particular memories. "Surely I would have some recollection. Unless...did you..."

"Yes Harry, I had to put a memory charm on you, although a small one as you were so very young." Dumbledore said sadly.

Harry knew Dumbledore was regretting the decision he had had to make, so Harry calmly said, "Go on professor."

Dumbledore straightened himself before continuing, "Yes, yes, where was I. Oh, right. Well that fateful night came when Voldemort finally chose. I had put a charm around your parent's house to alert me if any danger broke into the house. I remember I was sitting in my office, ironically thinking about the next visit I needed to make to the Potters, and then the siren went off. There was no mistaking it, so I bolted out of my chair and ran. The no-Apparating inside school walls has been in place for centuries, contrary to popular belief. I had to run all the way to Hogsmeade, which was very hard for a man my age." Dumbledore showed the barest of smiles but knew that what was to be said next could have no humor in it.

"When I got to the house, I immediately saw James sprawled in the doorway. I began to panic and ran to your bedroom, where the door had been blasted into mere splinters of wood. My heart raced as I saw Lily lying dead in front of yours and Awena's shared cradle with only you inside, lying still. And then, miracle of all miracles, you moved. Your little head looked over and your green eyes met mine. I can't express in words at how grateful and at the same time how sad I was as well. I thought for sure Awena had been taken by Voldemort to use her gift for his own purposes.

"And then, from your bedroom closet, I heard a muffled cry. I went over and opened the door to reveal Awena! She was perfect, no harm done to her in any way. Your mother had stowed her in the closet before Voldemort broke into the bedroom. I thank Lily every day for keeping her wits about her during such a difficult time and I thank Awena for being asleep. It was, as I said, a miracle."

Harry's eyes had glazed over at the mention of his parent's death but now he refocused and leaned forward, at which Dumbledore paused. "Excuse me, professor, but I have another question. Wasn't the prophecy wrong then? I mean it should have been that three were born instead of just two. Why didn't you think that Awena might be the one that Voldemort wanted?" Harry had been anxious to ask that question since he'd been told about his sister because the prophecy had been one of the first things that he thought of.

Dumbledore smiled a little. "But you see, only two were born on July 31." When Harry opened his mouth to protest, Dumbledore held up his hand. "Your mother, god rest her, went through a hard labor, resulting in you coming first on July 31. But then it took some time for Awena. She was born at exactly 12:00 AM on August 1st."

Harry made a small 'o' shape with his mouth and settled once more back into his chair. That would explain things. Dumbledore took this as his cue to continue.

"Quickly, I worked out a plan. I bundled up Awena with the blankets from her crib. I shrunk all of her toys and personal necessities and put them carefully into one of my many robe pockets. I went over to your crib and silently put the memory charm on you. With one last look, I Apparated back to the gates of Hogsmeade. I silently stole through the gates and up to my office. I alerted Hagrid to immediately go to your house and retrieve you before someone else could. I asked Poppy to watch and care for Awena, whom was wailing by then. I then told Minerva to meet me at Private Drive. I think you know the rest from there."

Harry deftly nodded and waited for Dumbledore to continue.

"When I got back from dropping you off, I collected Poppy and Awena and went straight to my office after summoning Minerva and Lupin. Sirius was trying to find Peter by this time but there was no reaching him. We briefly discussed what to do. We unanimously decided to get Awena out of the country. We also decided that because of her gift, she needed to go to a wizarding family that would be able to put her in a school that could train her to the best of her abilities.

"Minerva came up with the idea of putting her in a very prominent wizarding school and community in America, specifically in Berlin, Maryland. The school is called Sowbury Towers. It has one of the world's best Seer's there who would provide Awena with all the guidance she would need in order to develop and effectively use her gift.

"With, that settled, I called a friend in the American Adoptive Agency to see if any families in Maryland were adopting at the time. We were lucky, oh how we were lucky. We were truly touched by Merlin that night. As it turned out, a couple by the name of Johnson, one of the wealthiest wizarding families in that area, could bear no child and were desperate for one. Sex did not matter, nor did past history.

"My friend gave them a call and they were all too happy at the prospect of a daughter. I had to take a portkey over to Michigan where a friend of mine lived, as I couldn't Apparate over seas with so young a child. I Apparated from there to the Johnson's house and just from a glance, I knew Awena would have everything she needed there, except maybe you."

There was silence, Harry absorbing this information and Dumbledore waiting to see how he would react. Then,

"Did you erase her memories, too?" Harry asked, looking out the window into the darkness beyond, hating the fact that she had been banished from his knowledge with so simple a spell.

"No, I didn't," Dumbledore said reluctantly, knowing he was inspiring false hope in the boy. And indeed, Harry's head snapped back towards him with an intensity in his eyes.

"It's too dangerous to perform memory charms on a Seer. Their gift can be permanently altered, usually for the worse. When she was smaller, she did recall memories of you and her playing together but I'm sorry to say that she always thought them memories of playing at another little boy's house and dismissed them. When she got older, her parents got her a private tutor and she taught Awena how to control her gift. She doesn't even remember those childhood memories anymore."

"Won't her adoptive parents not give her up easily?" Harry asked bitterly, knowing he would fight for Awena if he had to.

"Yes, they will. When I gave Awena to them, I made it clear that I would one day come back for her and that they would have to give her up, no matter the time. They agreed to this, just happy that they would finally have a child. Secretly, I think they knew that, being the people who raised her, they would never really lose her."

Harry nodded, understanding. As much as he never wanted to lose Awena again once he got her back, he would understand if she would want to see her adoptive parents again. Then he asked the question he'd been dying to ask again since the beginning.

"Can I see her now?" he asked hopefully.

Dumbledore chuckled softly. He was amazed that Harry was taking this so well when this was as serious if not more important than the conversation they had had three weeks ago in Dumbledore's office.

"Of course Harry, but don't you want to know what she's like, as I plan to send you home after you see her. It's late."

It was then that Harry looked at the clock and it was indeed almost 11:30. He looked back at Dumbledore worriedly.

"Won't she already be asleep?"

Dumbledore chuckled. "No my boy, and even if she was it wouldn't matter. You see you can't actually meet her for awhile."

"Why can't I?" Harry said, very edgily. "It's been 16 years, why can't I see her when I want."

Dumbledore just smiled slightly. "Because I need to sort out a few things first. I have to write the Johnson's and get Awena packing in order to come to school. She will be staying at Hogwarts the two weeks before school and you may come and see her then. I am not going to tell her the whole story until you're there with us. I know this is hard for you but I know you understand." Dumbledore finished.

"I understand professor," Harry said absently. Not wanting to waste more time he said, "So what is she like?"

Dumbledore smiled, "Well the reason she's not asleep right now is probably because she's reading another book. She's as smart as our Ms. Granger and hardly ever goes a spare moment without reading whatever book she's currently fixated on. I think the two of them will give each other a run for the others' money," Dumbledore chuckled lightly at this and a smile was roused from Harry.

"Lets see. The Johnsons put her into many things, just grateful to have her. She did gymnastics for seven years along with ballet and was quite talented, winning several championships. But then she discovered her true calling in horseback riding. She has her own horse, Arion, a beautiful creature, pure black. Really magnificent."

"Um, professor. How could she have done so many things before she was eleven?" Harry asked.

"Well, you see Harry, Sowbury doesn't begin their instruction until a child is thirteen, though she is up to Hogwarts' 6th year standards. Awena started gymnastics and dancing at five and quit when she was twelve. She spent a year riding before she was accepted to school. The school itself allowed horses to board there as they compete with other wizarding schools. It's a States thing," Dumbledore explained.

"Oh, well are you going to allow Awena to bring Arion to school with her?" Harry inquired.

Dumbledore looked thoughtful for a minute and then said, "Well, I hadn't really thought about it that much but I suppose I shall have to, won't I?"

"What do you mean, professor?"

"You see, Harry, if a witch or wizard gets a pet or a familiar that is meant to last for a lifetime, that person acquires a special bond with the animal. Because of Awena's special powers, she is able to communicate telepathically with Arion, a rare quality that is unexplainable. Have you never wandered how you seemed to know how Hedwig was feeling at a particular moment?"

Harry, still in slight shock from hearing of his sister's telepathy powers, now remembered countless times when he had known, without looking at Hedwig, how she was feeling or if there was something wrong. He had always assumed that he was good at reading animal behavioral characteristics.

"Oh, alright then. Can I at least see her picture?" Harry asked, ready to be disappointed again.

Dumbledore looked startled for a moment and began patting his robes. "Oh, yes of course. Silly me, I almost forgot. I'll do you one better. Now where did I put it? Ah yes, here it is." He pulled a small, square object from an inside pocket. When he gave it to Harry, Harry almost dropped it out of shock but held onto it because of shear joy.

It was a mirror but not just any mirror. This was something like a two-way mirror, only Harry knew it only showed him an image and didn't allow the image to see with the viewer. Harry knew this because through the mirror he saw the most wonderful sight he had seen since seeing his parents in the Mirror or Erised during his first year at Hogwarts.

There in the mirror, reading a book on an extremely large window seat was Awena. Harry stopped breathing. She was beautiful. She had inherited all of their mother's soft facial features except Awena had black hair that matched his own. Although it was a different color, the soft, voluptuous curls that hung at the end were undoubtedly Lily's. He couldn't believe how much like their mother she had become. He guessed that as soon as they were together, they would look like Lily and James reincarnated.

"Uncanny but beautiful resemblance, isn't it?"

At the sound of Dumbledore's voice, Harry began to breathe again, not realizing he had stopped, and for the first time in over three weeks, he smiled. It was a true, genuine smile that lit up his now glassy eyes.

"She's not a new opportunity, professor. She's a blessing."