The Fate That Guides Us, The Destiny We Choose
Chapter Seven: A Meeting to Remember(cont.)
Once again, a new scene materialized infront of Harry, Ginny by his side. Harry was breathing heavily, and was trembling slightly, a few silent tears rolling down his cheek. His head was throbbing and spinning wildly, thoughts bombarded by everything he'd seen. Ginny put a steadying hand in his, and he felt a little better. Still, the room kept swaying uneasily, and he had trouble focusing.
They were now in a more recognisable place, a hospital actually, the bright lights shining of the white-washed walls and clean floor. It hurt Harry's eyes a little to stare at something for a long time, and kept glancing about, trying to get his bearings. The hall they were standing in was eerily quiet, every so often a magnified voice piercing the silence to call a doctor somewhere. No one was around, and the many doors that lined the walls were all closed.
"I wonder what we're supposed to do." Ginny whispered. She knew no one could've heard her if she'd screamed, but felt a certain need to be quiet.
"I don't know." Harry replied, feeling somehow calmed by the silence.
They just stood for a while, waiting for something to happen. It was quite some time though, before two nurses suddenly appeared around a corner talking quickly.
"Is it true?" one was asking, looking very upset.
The other nodded, "Yes. Poor woman. I can' believe something like this happened to 'er. She seemed so nice, I can' see why the father wouldn't wan' 'er."
The first snorted, "Hmph, there are some real wackos out there, and some real cold hearted jerks too. Anything could've happened to her. It probably wasn't her decision. Was just walking down the street two late at night, and he probably jumped her...."
Both voices faded away as they turned the corner, then suddenly was loud again, the nurses halting.
"Well, 'er daughter 'tis another story. Those strange eyes. I've never seen anything like 'em before. Green and purple! That's impossible. No 'un has purple eyes. I can see where she got the green from though, from 'er mother. But everything else must've been that good fer nothing father. Black 'air, pale skin. Th' mother don' 'ave anythin' like that."
Harry swallowed hard.
They were talking about Lillian.
"Well, we might as well go check on her. What's her name again?"
"Lilly Evans. Actually, she told me she's gettin' married to a fine young man. James Potter, it was."
Ginny gasped, her grip tightening around his hand so much it hurt.
"Harry." she whispered franticly, "Your mum.....they're talking about her aren't they? B-but she doesn't have a daughter....u- unless.....no!"
Suddenly, everything clicked.
Harry jerked Ginny forward, streaking around the corner and after the nurses, who were just entering a room on the left.
"Come on!" he urged. His head was spinning more wildly than ever, the ground swaying under his feet.
This can't be happening.....This can't be happening.......This can't be happening!
Finally, they reached the room, crashing through the door and skidding to a halt.
It was Ginny who stopped him from passing out.
There in a bed, that was placed in the very center of the room, lay Lilly, out like a light, a small bundle in the crook of her bony arm. She looked unhealthily thin , cheek bones standing out on her pale skin. Her fingers, that gripped the bundle in a death hold, were knobly and skeletal, her once bright copper hair lying in dull shambles around her face. She was sweating, breathing quick and uneaven, the air rattling in her chest.
Even after Ginny slapped him to life, cheek throbbing gently, he had a hard time digesting the scene before him.
Seeing his mother on the brink of death, the child, Lillian, who almost killed her held tightly in her embrace was too much. Everything suddenly made sense, but Harry didn't want to believe it. She could've died right then and there, not ever giving birth to him, never giving him life, but she hadn't. She had lived, lived past the scars that Voldemort had beat into her, lived past the pain to marry James Potter and become alive again, lived to see her second child, her son before Voldemort had come again, and taken their lives so ruthlessly, without rhyme or reason.......
"But there was a reason, Harry."
Dumbledore's voice ehoced throughout the room, startling him slightly, but it was the Headmaster's words that unseated him.
"What are you talking about?" Harry demanded, trying to control himself.
"There was a reason why Voldemort came for your mother."
"You're lying!"
"No I'm not Harry." Dumbledore insisted, voice calm and steady. "But you will see soon enough. We are almost finished...."
Once again, the scene shifted, rougher than before. It was so sudden, Harry was knocked off his feet, tumbling to the ground. Though instead of the cold hard floor, a carpeted surface broke his fall.
Almost immediately he heard voices, both he recognized with a sick jolt. Ginny helped him to his feet, and led him through a door and up a flight of stairs, along a hall and into a room on the right. Inside, James and Lilly were laughing and talking happily, the air filled with so much content Harry could feel it press down on his shoulders. They were playing with him, when he was still a baby. Lilly's eyes were shimmering as she held him, James' arm around her shoulder. He looked so proud, gazing down on his son.
"If only..if only Lillian could see her brother." Lilly whispered, tears suddenly brimming in her emerald eyes, "I know she would love him."
James nodded soelemly, biting his lip.
"You know." he murmured, stroking a strand of copper hair out of Lilly's face, "It's not too late to take her back. I mean, she is your daughter, no matter what happened to bring her into being."
Anger was suddenly blazing in his eyes, and his grip was tightening on his wife's shoulder.
"James" Lily warned, prying his hand away.
He had barely time to reply, before a large sound, like a door being blown off it's hinges resonated from below.
Lily's face drained of colour, and she held young Harry even tighter.
"James...it's him! It's him....I knew he would come....He told me not to tell anyone about Lillian! But I told you...and now and now......"
James gripped her trembling shoulders, gaze locked with her. "Lily! You have to go! Take Harry! I'll hold him off....."
Lily screamed, pointing at the door.
Harry and James whirled, though the reactions couldn't have been more different.
James looked terrified, and Harry looked murderous.
Voldemort drew back his hood though, and Harry suddenly lost his gusto, scar burning with pain. He cried out, falling to his knees, Ginny catching him. She was clutching her own scar though, and couldn't get a hold of him properly. He watched helplessly as Voldemort advanced on his parents, tears of pain and grief washing down his cheeks.
"I warned you." he growled, snake-like eyes glinting with fury. "I warned you whore. But you couldn't keep your dirty mouth shut."
He drew something, something big from the confines of his robes and tossed it at Lily's feet. Harry noticed, with a great lurch from his uneasy stomach, that it was a small girl, crying loudly, with jet black hair and pale skin.
It was Lillian.
Lily gasped, and James cried out.
Voldemort smiled, "Take your child. You might aswell be with family when you die. It will be quick, I promise you. Quick and easy, just like those two Muggle fools died, who tried to stand up for their stupid daughter. The stupid daughter, with my power, and with your weak heart."
He drew his wand, pointing it at Lily. "You will die for your insolence. Die for your idiocy, the idiocy that made you think you were safe. No one is safe from me, I tell you. "
James drew his wand too. "You cannot have her. You will have to get by me before you can have her. "
Voldemort just smiled even wider. "Petty threats will get you nowhere Potter. Stand aside. I will enjoy killing her, though not as much as I enjoyed bringing her to bed."
James was shaking with fury now, but his wand hand was firm. Harry knew what was going to happen. He would try to kill Voldemort, but would die before he could. Then he would kill Lily, and then Harry. It was all as he remembered. But what about Lillian? Having her in the story would make things different.
Suddenly, before Harry could think anymore, the icy words, "Avada Kadavra! " reached his ears, followed by the bright green light that flashed across his vision. Lily screamed as James dropped to the ground, eyes wide with terror, his mouth forever frozen in the words of a curse that wouldn't have saved him. Lily screamed again, down on her knees, begging for Voldemort to take her instead of Harry.
"Do not worry." Voldemort hissed in response, advancing slowly. "You is all I want, though both your dirty children will die soon enough. Avada Kedavra! "
Another flash of green light, and Lily was lying beside her husband, eyes closed.
Lillian was crying madly, young Harry kicking and screaming beside her.
"And now you." Voldemort whispered, voice thick with malice.
He pointed his wand at both of them, hoping to take two lives with one curse.
"You have been nothing but a bother young Lillian Potter, or your rightfull name, Lillian Riddle as your mother so quickly refused to call you. You will die with your brother, as you rightfully should. Avada Kedavra!! Avada Kedavra!!" Both curses went out at once, and both curses hit at the same time.
Harry watched in awe, as they failed to work, instead the green light dancing along their foreheads, creating the lightning scars they both held, then rebounded, hitting Voldemort with an earsplitting explosion.
"Nooooooo!!!!......." Voldemort's high screeching voice pierced through the sound, getting higher and higher by the second. Harry held Ginny's body tightly, as the room rocked and shook.
Then everything went black, and both were pitched from the Pensieve, landing in a sprawled tangle in Dumbledore's office.
*
When Harry opened his eyes, he was lying on a bed. His vision swam, and head spun mercilessly.
"Oh...." he groaned softly, darkness creeping up on him. Harry shook himself awake, but his eyelids still drooped, and his body felt like lump of lead.
He lay still for a moment, getting his bearings. He couldn't be in his bed, because there were no scarlet curtains. Instead, a white sheet was draped all around him, which meant he was probably in the Hospital Wing. Why though, he wasn't sure.
Suddenly, the sheet rustled, and Madam Pomfrey appeared by his bed-side, looking down on him with concern.
"Poor thing." she muttered, dissapearing from view as she bent over to retrieve something. Appearing again, she now held a large block of what could only be chocolate. She broke off a piece and shoved it in Harry's mouth.
"How are you feeling dear?"
"Fine." Harry croaked, trying to sit up, but was pushed back down forcefully.
"You shall do no such thing." Madam Pomfrey tutted, breaking off another piece, waiting for him to swallow the first. "I don't know what Dumbledore was thinking, sending you into the Pensieve for such a long time. It can have deadly effects, I'm sure he knew that...." She continued to mutter under her breath, then shoved another block of chocolate into his mouth.
"How long till I can get out of here?" Harry asked in a more steady voice, already the chocolate was begining to have effect.
"Well." Madam Pomfrey murmured, pausing for a second, "Tonight is Christmas Eve, so if you be a good boy and go to sleep for a bit, you'll be moved back to your own bed for Christmas morning. Is that alright?"
Harry nodded, sinking into the sheets. Sleep was the one thing he wanted, and needed. Closing his eyes, he let the darkness envelop him, falling into deep slumber.
*
Harry awoke screaming, clutching his scar, sweat pouring down his pale face. The dream had been the most horrible yet, and was still vivid in his mind when Ron came dashing over, his face almost as white as Harry's. They sat together for a while, and Harry did not let go of the scar. He was shaking so badly, and felt very sick, he just wanted to sit, nothing else.
"Harry?"
"What?"
"Take your hand away from the scar."
"Why?" What was Ron getting at?
"Just do it Harry." Ron looked very frightened, and was staring, wide-eyed at the very spot where Harry's hand was.
"Ok." Harry drew it away, and Ron made a sort of choking noise and backed away, getting off the end of the bed slowly.
"What was your dream about?" He whispered, gaze locked with Harry's.
"Ron, are you ok?"
"Just tell me! Quit asking questions!"
Harry flinched as Ron yelled at him, but began slowly to tell his dream anyway. His friend looked close to insanity, wringing his hands, and Harry wasn't sure what he would do if he didn't tell him.
"Well, it was Voldemort again, but he was talking to me as if he knew I was there. He was saying something about, when my scar bleeds, one with the mark will be his. He kept chanting, like a poem or something like that. There were these ghosts too, a lot of them. They were flying around me and moaning stuff like: "You could've saved us!" "Because of you the Dark Lord will rise again!" "Curse you stupid boy, your ignorance will kill us all!" They had wands, and kept hitting me with the Crutacious Curse. The pain was so much, but I somehow was able to hear what Voldemort was saying."
Ron looked even more frightened now, but managed to squeek: "Tell me the poem."
Harry paused for a moment, trying to piece everything together, then continued, "Ok, it was strange, but I'll tell you anyway. He said: Avada Kedavra, Arvadek Adava, Two as one, one anthem be, Blood from the mark in secrecy. Take one spirit, then take seven, three loyal servants makes eleven. Eleven hours shall be left, before in darkness they shall lie within, one producer shall be the sign, of lives now lost for evil's sin......"
"Harry." Ron whispered, "Your scar, your mark is bleeding."
Chapter Seven: A Meeting to Remember(cont.)
Once again, a new scene materialized infront of Harry, Ginny by his side. Harry was breathing heavily, and was trembling slightly, a few silent tears rolling down his cheek. His head was throbbing and spinning wildly, thoughts bombarded by everything he'd seen. Ginny put a steadying hand in his, and he felt a little better. Still, the room kept swaying uneasily, and he had trouble focusing.
They were now in a more recognisable place, a hospital actually, the bright lights shining of the white-washed walls and clean floor. It hurt Harry's eyes a little to stare at something for a long time, and kept glancing about, trying to get his bearings. The hall they were standing in was eerily quiet, every so often a magnified voice piercing the silence to call a doctor somewhere. No one was around, and the many doors that lined the walls were all closed.
"I wonder what we're supposed to do." Ginny whispered. She knew no one could've heard her if she'd screamed, but felt a certain need to be quiet.
"I don't know." Harry replied, feeling somehow calmed by the silence.
They just stood for a while, waiting for something to happen. It was quite some time though, before two nurses suddenly appeared around a corner talking quickly.
"Is it true?" one was asking, looking very upset.
The other nodded, "Yes. Poor woman. I can' believe something like this happened to 'er. She seemed so nice, I can' see why the father wouldn't wan' 'er."
The first snorted, "Hmph, there are some real wackos out there, and some real cold hearted jerks too. Anything could've happened to her. It probably wasn't her decision. Was just walking down the street two late at night, and he probably jumped her...."
Both voices faded away as they turned the corner, then suddenly was loud again, the nurses halting.
"Well, 'er daughter 'tis another story. Those strange eyes. I've never seen anything like 'em before. Green and purple! That's impossible. No 'un has purple eyes. I can see where she got the green from though, from 'er mother. But everything else must've been that good fer nothing father. Black 'air, pale skin. Th' mother don' 'ave anythin' like that."
Harry swallowed hard.
They were talking about Lillian.
"Well, we might as well go check on her. What's her name again?"
"Lilly Evans. Actually, she told me she's gettin' married to a fine young man. James Potter, it was."
Ginny gasped, her grip tightening around his hand so much it hurt.
"Harry." she whispered franticly, "Your mum.....they're talking about her aren't they? B-but she doesn't have a daughter....u- unless.....no!"
Suddenly, everything clicked.
Harry jerked Ginny forward, streaking around the corner and after the nurses, who were just entering a room on the left.
"Come on!" he urged. His head was spinning more wildly than ever, the ground swaying under his feet.
This can't be happening.....This can't be happening.......This can't be happening!
Finally, they reached the room, crashing through the door and skidding to a halt.
It was Ginny who stopped him from passing out.
There in a bed, that was placed in the very center of the room, lay Lilly, out like a light, a small bundle in the crook of her bony arm. She looked unhealthily thin , cheek bones standing out on her pale skin. Her fingers, that gripped the bundle in a death hold, were knobly and skeletal, her once bright copper hair lying in dull shambles around her face. She was sweating, breathing quick and uneaven, the air rattling in her chest.
Even after Ginny slapped him to life, cheek throbbing gently, he had a hard time digesting the scene before him.
Seeing his mother on the brink of death, the child, Lillian, who almost killed her held tightly in her embrace was too much. Everything suddenly made sense, but Harry didn't want to believe it. She could've died right then and there, not ever giving birth to him, never giving him life, but she hadn't. She had lived, lived past the scars that Voldemort had beat into her, lived past the pain to marry James Potter and become alive again, lived to see her second child, her son before Voldemort had come again, and taken their lives so ruthlessly, without rhyme or reason.......
"But there was a reason, Harry."
Dumbledore's voice ehoced throughout the room, startling him slightly, but it was the Headmaster's words that unseated him.
"What are you talking about?" Harry demanded, trying to control himself.
"There was a reason why Voldemort came for your mother."
"You're lying!"
"No I'm not Harry." Dumbledore insisted, voice calm and steady. "But you will see soon enough. We are almost finished...."
Once again, the scene shifted, rougher than before. It was so sudden, Harry was knocked off his feet, tumbling to the ground. Though instead of the cold hard floor, a carpeted surface broke his fall.
Almost immediately he heard voices, both he recognized with a sick jolt. Ginny helped him to his feet, and led him through a door and up a flight of stairs, along a hall and into a room on the right. Inside, James and Lilly were laughing and talking happily, the air filled with so much content Harry could feel it press down on his shoulders. They were playing with him, when he was still a baby. Lilly's eyes were shimmering as she held him, James' arm around her shoulder. He looked so proud, gazing down on his son.
"If only..if only Lillian could see her brother." Lilly whispered, tears suddenly brimming in her emerald eyes, "I know she would love him."
James nodded soelemly, biting his lip.
"You know." he murmured, stroking a strand of copper hair out of Lilly's face, "It's not too late to take her back. I mean, she is your daughter, no matter what happened to bring her into being."
Anger was suddenly blazing in his eyes, and his grip was tightening on his wife's shoulder.
"James" Lily warned, prying his hand away.
He had barely time to reply, before a large sound, like a door being blown off it's hinges resonated from below.
Lily's face drained of colour, and she held young Harry even tighter.
"James...it's him! It's him....I knew he would come....He told me not to tell anyone about Lillian! But I told you...and now and now......"
James gripped her trembling shoulders, gaze locked with her. "Lily! You have to go! Take Harry! I'll hold him off....."
Lily screamed, pointing at the door.
Harry and James whirled, though the reactions couldn't have been more different.
James looked terrified, and Harry looked murderous.
Voldemort drew back his hood though, and Harry suddenly lost his gusto, scar burning with pain. He cried out, falling to his knees, Ginny catching him. She was clutching her own scar though, and couldn't get a hold of him properly. He watched helplessly as Voldemort advanced on his parents, tears of pain and grief washing down his cheeks.
"I warned you." he growled, snake-like eyes glinting with fury. "I warned you whore. But you couldn't keep your dirty mouth shut."
He drew something, something big from the confines of his robes and tossed it at Lily's feet. Harry noticed, with a great lurch from his uneasy stomach, that it was a small girl, crying loudly, with jet black hair and pale skin.
It was Lillian.
Lily gasped, and James cried out.
Voldemort smiled, "Take your child. You might aswell be with family when you die. It will be quick, I promise you. Quick and easy, just like those two Muggle fools died, who tried to stand up for their stupid daughter. The stupid daughter, with my power, and with your weak heart."
He drew his wand, pointing it at Lily. "You will die for your insolence. Die for your idiocy, the idiocy that made you think you were safe. No one is safe from me, I tell you. "
James drew his wand too. "You cannot have her. You will have to get by me before you can have her. "
Voldemort just smiled even wider. "Petty threats will get you nowhere Potter. Stand aside. I will enjoy killing her, though not as much as I enjoyed bringing her to bed."
James was shaking with fury now, but his wand hand was firm. Harry knew what was going to happen. He would try to kill Voldemort, but would die before he could. Then he would kill Lily, and then Harry. It was all as he remembered. But what about Lillian? Having her in the story would make things different.
Suddenly, before Harry could think anymore, the icy words, "Avada Kadavra! " reached his ears, followed by the bright green light that flashed across his vision. Lily screamed as James dropped to the ground, eyes wide with terror, his mouth forever frozen in the words of a curse that wouldn't have saved him. Lily screamed again, down on her knees, begging for Voldemort to take her instead of Harry.
"Do not worry." Voldemort hissed in response, advancing slowly. "You is all I want, though both your dirty children will die soon enough. Avada Kedavra! "
Another flash of green light, and Lily was lying beside her husband, eyes closed.
Lillian was crying madly, young Harry kicking and screaming beside her.
"And now you." Voldemort whispered, voice thick with malice.
He pointed his wand at both of them, hoping to take two lives with one curse.
"You have been nothing but a bother young Lillian Potter, or your rightfull name, Lillian Riddle as your mother so quickly refused to call you. You will die with your brother, as you rightfully should. Avada Kedavra!! Avada Kedavra!!" Both curses went out at once, and both curses hit at the same time.
Harry watched in awe, as they failed to work, instead the green light dancing along their foreheads, creating the lightning scars they both held, then rebounded, hitting Voldemort with an earsplitting explosion.
"Nooooooo!!!!......." Voldemort's high screeching voice pierced through the sound, getting higher and higher by the second. Harry held Ginny's body tightly, as the room rocked and shook.
Then everything went black, and both were pitched from the Pensieve, landing in a sprawled tangle in Dumbledore's office.
*
When Harry opened his eyes, he was lying on a bed. His vision swam, and head spun mercilessly.
"Oh...." he groaned softly, darkness creeping up on him. Harry shook himself awake, but his eyelids still drooped, and his body felt like lump of lead.
He lay still for a moment, getting his bearings. He couldn't be in his bed, because there were no scarlet curtains. Instead, a white sheet was draped all around him, which meant he was probably in the Hospital Wing. Why though, he wasn't sure.
Suddenly, the sheet rustled, and Madam Pomfrey appeared by his bed-side, looking down on him with concern.
"Poor thing." she muttered, dissapearing from view as she bent over to retrieve something. Appearing again, she now held a large block of what could only be chocolate. She broke off a piece and shoved it in Harry's mouth.
"How are you feeling dear?"
"Fine." Harry croaked, trying to sit up, but was pushed back down forcefully.
"You shall do no such thing." Madam Pomfrey tutted, breaking off another piece, waiting for him to swallow the first. "I don't know what Dumbledore was thinking, sending you into the Pensieve for such a long time. It can have deadly effects, I'm sure he knew that...." She continued to mutter under her breath, then shoved another block of chocolate into his mouth.
"How long till I can get out of here?" Harry asked in a more steady voice, already the chocolate was begining to have effect.
"Well." Madam Pomfrey murmured, pausing for a second, "Tonight is Christmas Eve, so if you be a good boy and go to sleep for a bit, you'll be moved back to your own bed for Christmas morning. Is that alright?"
Harry nodded, sinking into the sheets. Sleep was the one thing he wanted, and needed. Closing his eyes, he let the darkness envelop him, falling into deep slumber.
*
Harry awoke screaming, clutching his scar, sweat pouring down his pale face. The dream had been the most horrible yet, and was still vivid in his mind when Ron came dashing over, his face almost as white as Harry's. They sat together for a while, and Harry did not let go of the scar. He was shaking so badly, and felt very sick, he just wanted to sit, nothing else.
"Harry?"
"What?"
"Take your hand away from the scar."
"Why?" What was Ron getting at?
"Just do it Harry." Ron looked very frightened, and was staring, wide-eyed at the very spot where Harry's hand was.
"Ok." Harry drew it away, and Ron made a sort of choking noise and backed away, getting off the end of the bed slowly.
"What was your dream about?" He whispered, gaze locked with Harry's.
"Ron, are you ok?"
"Just tell me! Quit asking questions!"
Harry flinched as Ron yelled at him, but began slowly to tell his dream anyway. His friend looked close to insanity, wringing his hands, and Harry wasn't sure what he would do if he didn't tell him.
"Well, it was Voldemort again, but he was talking to me as if he knew I was there. He was saying something about, when my scar bleeds, one with the mark will be his. He kept chanting, like a poem or something like that. There were these ghosts too, a lot of them. They were flying around me and moaning stuff like: "You could've saved us!" "Because of you the Dark Lord will rise again!" "Curse you stupid boy, your ignorance will kill us all!" They had wands, and kept hitting me with the Crutacious Curse. The pain was so much, but I somehow was able to hear what Voldemort was saying."
Ron looked even more frightened now, but managed to squeek: "Tell me the poem."
Harry paused for a moment, trying to piece everything together, then continued, "Ok, it was strange, but I'll tell you anyway. He said: Avada Kedavra, Arvadek Adava, Two as one, one anthem be, Blood from the mark in secrecy. Take one spirit, then take seven, three loyal servants makes eleven. Eleven hours shall be left, before in darkness they shall lie within, one producer shall be the sign, of lives now lost for evil's sin......"
"Harry." Ron whispered, "Your scar, your mark is bleeding."