A/N: A revised chapter.

Chapter 10: Few truths

Harry was playing Quidditch with Ron, Ayesha and Dudley whereas Hermione was referring the match. Harry dived after snitch. Just when he was about to catch it, he saw Ayesha on the ground with Philosopher's stone in her hand, writhing with pain. Quirrell was striding towards her, to get the stone.

"Ayesha, move," Harry yelled, flying faster towards Ayesha, "Quirrell! Ayesha! Move."

"Harry! Harry! Calm down, Harry."

Harry opened his eyes. He saw blurred images. He blinked. He saw Ron and Hermione standing above him, looking down at him, with concern in their eyes.

"Hermione, Ron, we got to save Ayesha and Philosopher's stone. Quirrell is behind all this."

"Calm yourself, Harry, you're a little behind the times. Quirrell doesn't have the Stone," said Dudley, holding a vial in his hand.

"Then who does?"

"Harry, relax, have this. Madam Pomfrey asked me to give you when you wake up," said Dudley, holding the vial to Harry's lips.

Harry swallowed the contents of the vial and then looked around him. Next to him, on the bed, was Ayesha. She was still asleep. Between their beds was a table piled with candies of God-knows-what types. Harry looked out of the window and realised that it was afternoon.

"How long had I been here?" he asked.

"Three days," replied Hermione, sitting on the edge of Harry's bed.

"How's Ayesha?" Harry asked, looking at her.

"She hasn't yet woken-up," answered Ron, "We're told that she has lost lots of blood and energy."

"What happened to the stone?" asked Harry.

"Quirrell didn't manage to take it from you," Hermione replied, "Dumbledore told us he arrived in time to prevent that."

Harry nodded in agreement. After a moment he asked, "What happened with you guys?"

"Well," started Hermione, "when I went back, I found that Dudley was hurt. It was impossible for him to move. So, I went to the chess chamber to see how Ron is. He had gotten awake, so with his help we got Dudley to the key chamber. We had just taken brooms when we saw Dumbledore coming. We're about to tell him everything when he said he knows and that we should go back. He, then, left for the last chamber."

"Ours were not deep wounds," said Dudley, "Hermione and Ron were checked up and discharged immediately. I was discharged a day later. But we're worried about you guys. Madam Pomfrey wasn't even sure what had gone wrong with Ayesha."

"What happened between you guys and Quirrell?" asked Ron.

"Now is not the time," said Hermione, exactly as Madam Pomfrey would have said, "Harry needs rest. Let him sleep. We'll ask him everything tomorrow when Dumbledore and, hopefully, Ayesha will also join us." Hermione glanced sadly at Ayesha.

Harry didn't protest. He was feeling tired and his eyelids had already started drooping. He gave Ayesha one last look before going to sleep.

Harry woke up quite early that morning. Harry was feeling lot better than last afternoon. He got up from the bed to stretch himself. Hardly minutes had passed when he saw Madam Pomfrey bustling in. She forced Harry on his bed so that she can check him up properly. By the time she was finished, Dudley, Ron and Hermione had also come. They told him that Dumbledore would come to meet him and Ayesha after breakfast.

"What happened to Ayesha, by the way?" Harry asked when they all had finished their breakfast.

"No idea," replied Hermione, "she was all covered with blood when Dumbledore brought her here. Madam Pomfrey had no idea what had happened to her."

"But Dumbledore must know," said Harry.

"All he said," said Dudley, "was that he has some idea, but needs to talk to Ayesha, first."

"What else is happening?" asked Harry, trying to change the topic.

"The whole school is abuzz with rumours of all kind," said Ron, "You two are heroes. Even we're not spared. Everyone kept coming to us to know the details. We had stayed here everyday during the day time to avoid everyone. The Famous Five is actually famous, it seems."

"We have enough fame to last our life time, I think," said a voice.

Everyone turned to the source of sound and found Ayesha looking at them.

"Ayesha!" all four yelled in unison.

Dudley ran to her and hugged her and soon Hermione and Ron were over them.

"Let … me … breath …" mumbled Ayesha.

"Ohh sorry," all three said.

"God! Finally you woke up. Never knew you sleep so much," said Ron, grinning.

"Yeah we all are happy to see you awake," said Hermione.

"You guys scared us like hell," said Dudley smiling at Harry and Ayesha.

"Duddykins scared? Now that's news," said Harry winking at Ayesha, who returned the wink with a big grin.

"Shut up," said Dudley in mock anger. "I was seriously scared. More so when Snape said that Ayesha might take a week -"

"What? Snape checked her up?" Harry yelled in disbelief.

"No need to be so shocked," replied Hermione, "Snape knows a lot about Dark Arts, just what Dumbledore suspected since You-know-who was involved."

"That's why he asked Snape to check her up," said Ron.

"Professor Snape, Ronald."

All five turned to find Dumbledore standing in the doorway.

"I am so very relieved to see all the kids healthy," said Dumbledore striding in, with a big smile on his face and twinkle in his eyes.

He conjured a chair for himself and sat down. Ron, Hermione and Dudley followed suit.

"How are you feeling, Ayesha?" asked Dumbledore.

"Weak … very weak," whispered Ayesha. Even talking was taking lots of efforts from Ayesha.

"Here, take this," said Dumbledore, handling Ayesha a goblet he had just conjured from thin air, "drink this. You will feel better."

Hermione took the goblet and helped Ayesha drink it.

"How about you, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, turning his attention to Harry.

"Lot better, Sir," Harry replied, "What happened to Quirrell, Sir? Where is stone now?"

"Quirrell is dead, Harry," said Dumbledore, "He was killed when Voldemort left his body. Voldemort is not merciful, not even to his followers. And the stone; it has been destroyed."

"Destroyed, sir?" asked Ron, "But that would mean that Nicholas Flamel will die."

"You know about Nicholas," said Dumbledore, happily, "They have enough Elixir of Life to set things in order and yes, eventually they will die."

Seeing the amazement etched on every kid's face, Dumbledore added, "To you it seems incredible, but to Nicholas and Perenelle, his wife, it really is like going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."

The kids tried to understand what Dumbledore had just said. However, their musings were broken when Harry shot another question.

"Sir, why couldn't Quirrell touch me?"

"Your mother died to save you," replied Dumbledore, "If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign... to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It is in your very skin. Quirrell, full of hatred, greed, and ambition, sharing his soul with Voldemort, could not touch you for this reason. It was agony to touch a person marked by something so good."

Harry's eyes were moist on hearing this. Dudley gave him a sympathetic smile.

"But what happened to me, Sir?" asked Ayesha.

"Before I answer you, you need to answer me, Ayesha," said Dumbledore, "What happened down there?"

Ayesha took a deep breath. "I tried binding Quirrell with ropes, but the moment they touched him I felt a pull towards him, as if I m being connected to him. First time I was able to get away from him. I didn't understand anything, so I tried again. But next time, I just couldn't get away from him. It felt as if he is making me weak. I felt hollow, empty from inside. Blood started coming from my mouth. Then, after some time, I passed out."

Dumbledore pondered over what Ayesha had said for a moment. Then he said, "I think a connection was made between you and Voldemort. He was drawing magical energy from you."

"But Sir, how's that possible?" asked Hermione, "Why would he do that?"

"Quirrell was sharing his soul with Voldemort. When Quirrell tried to touch Harry, his skin burnt and he was drained of magical energy. This also affected Voldemort, who is already weak. So, when Ayesha tried magic on Quirrell, it bound Ayesha and Voldemort together; a connection was set. Voldemort realised the source of energy he so badly needed to not only attack Harry, but also to leave Quirrell, in case."

"Why the connection was set only between Ayesha and Voldemort? Why not between Voldemort and Harry?" asked Ron.

Hermione shot Ron a very angry look. There was silence for a moment before Dumbledore turned towards Ayesha and said, "They know Ayesha. They heard the conversation we had." A pause. "The connection was set between Ayesha and Voldemort only because they are blood relatives and close ones. Voldemort is a very powerful wizard. He has expanded the limits of dark magic. However, he never gave any importance to love and relations. He remains ignorant of their powers, but he is magically advanced enough to identify the connection the moment it was set between himself and Ayesha."

"So, he knows now," whispered Ayesha.

"I don't think so," replied Dumbledore, "Not now. But he will try to decipher this connection as soon as possible as will as his inability to touch Harry. Eventually he will know both the secrets."

"But why did she bleed?" asked Hermione.

"That, I think," said Dumbledore, "was only because Ayesha is weaker of the two and doesn't know how to stop the flow of energy. Not everyone can transfer magical energy. Voldemort, due to his advanced knowledge and Ayesha, due to her vast magical energy can do this. The magical flow is smooth only when the two have mastered the process and do it mutually. Otherwise the weaker person suffers; it is dangerous and can even lead to death. That's why it is so rare."

All kids were immersed in their own thoughts while Dumbledore observed them. Harry and Ayesha were to lead a life thrust on them, while others had chosen a life which would involve great difficulties. How much he wished that he could prevent that, protect them, that they could lead a normal childhood. How much he wished …

"Sir, Quirrell told me that Professor Snape was trying to protect me. Why?" asked Harry, breaking Dumbledore's train of thoughts.

"It's because he felt himself in debt of your father," replied Dumbledore. Seeing a shocked expression on Harry's and Dudley's face, he added smiling, "Your father once saved Severus's life, something he could never forget. He felt the need to clear all the accounts so that he can peacefully hate him. Severus' and James' hatred for each other was not unlike yours and Malfoy's."

The conversation was broken when Madam Pomfrey entered the infirmary and announced that the patients needed rest. All of them left, leaving Harry and Ayesha with Madam Pomfrey. She gave them some potion and soon Harry and Ayesha were fast asleep.

It was end-of-year feast and thanks to Dumbledore, Ayesha and Harry were allowed to go. However, the famous five got late for the feast as Madam Pomfrey kept fussing about Ayesha and Harry. So when they entered the hall it was already full. As soon as they entered the hall, there was a sudden hush and suddenly everyone started talking loudly. All eyes followed them. Thankfully, Dumbledore came soon and the babble died away.

The Great Hall was decorated with silver and green drapes, since Slytherin had once again won the house cup. They were leading with four hundred and seventy-two points, followed by Ravenclaw with four hundred and twenty-six points, Hufflepuff with three hundred and fifty-two points and Gryffindor at last with three hundred and twelve points.

However, when Dumbledore dished out last-minute points, it was Ravenclaw who won the house cup, thanks to sixty points Dumbledore awarded to the Dudley, Ayesha, Ron, Hermione and Harry, each. The whole hall erupted in cheers, because even Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors were celebrating the downfall of Slytherin.

The rest of the days were spent celebrating, first the downfall of Sytherin and then, their passing the exams. Hermione, as expected, had topped the year. Soon it was time to pack the luggage and go home. All of them had fun-filled journey back to London.

"Hello everyone," Petunia waved at the kids.

Vernon and Petunia had spotted the kids first. Soon they were joined by Ron's and Hermione's parents; Ayesha was to go to orphanage alone.

"So kids, how was the term?" asked Vernon.

"Well -" replied Harry, searching for appropriate words.

"It was -" continued Dudley.

"Awesome," said Ayesha.

"And peaceful," added Hermione.

"Like a volcano," whispered Ron, winking at his friends.

They all stifled their laughs, waved each other and went to their homes, all happy and hopeful about a peaceful year next year.