EPISODE 13- The Vow
"This machine kills fascist."
[Flashback: Hogwarts Infirmary]
"We made a vow, Harrison; to protect the 7th heaven. For the most part we have, though since our inception, about ten thousand years yore, this world has become increasingly corrupt with each transmigration we experience. There were six of us; Horace, which would be me, Isis, which would be Bella, Harrison or Osiris, which would be you: Di, which would be Dumbledore, Ni which would be Nicholas…and Feira."
"Dumbledore? Nicholas? Are you…referring to Nicholas Flameel?" Harry asked grimacing at the after taste of medicine that Luna had practically shoved down his protesting mouth.
"Yes" replied Sirius, combing his hair in a vain manner while Bellatrix glared at him with a tired expression, which reminded Harry of Hermione and Ron strangely enough.
Harry never thought he could actually sit comfortably while having a civil conversation with Bellatrix Lestrange in close proximity; especially since the other person he was conversing with was a man she'd murdered in cold blood. But again, strangely enough he found himself enjoying her company. ''It's weird and wonderful how this had all come about'' thought Harry. Sure she had killed people, but apparently she'd changed, beside the fact that she'd literally become a young girl, she'd also become very rigid, stern, formal and apposite. The very opposite of the derisive, psycho-killer manic he'd known her to be before.
Harry had been stuck in the Hospital wing of Hogwarts for three days, and every day since he was admitted, for the entirety of the day, Sirius and Bellatrix would keep him company, as well as Luna when she could. He hadn't asked Luna about anyone, because he could tell that she was trying to avoid the subject. Harry had asked Sirius to fill him in on what had been happening since he'd fallen prey to mental limbo, but all he'd said was that Dumbledore was planning on briefing him soon. That was three days ago, and it was becoming obvious to everyone that Harry was becoming increasingly impatient, so Sirius decided that he'd at least clear up some thing's for him that he was sure Harry was pondering without defying Dumbledore.
"So…" Uttered Harry still confused by Sirius abrupt revelation.
"So, we are the first beings to utilize magic in this realm, is what Sirius is trying to say. You see, we where once regular people, Muggles rather. Then that all changed when Auriel…then his name was Aurius, traveled to our little village which was far away from here in a region now named Goldrics Hollow. You see, he was a traveling missionary, trying to teach men of that time of things that were beyond their simple comprehension. I was just a girl, Sirius was just a boy, Di or Dumbledore was but a young man working with his friend, the crafter, Ni or Nicholas Flameel." Bellatrix stated taking control of the bleak message Sirius was trying to send to a bemused and mystified Harry.
"And-"said Harry before Sirius cut him off putting his comb in his pocket while he was studying himself in a small summoned hand mirror to Bellatrix dismay.
"You see, Aurius was from Kemite(Africa), although even in those times it was named something different, since this was thousands of years before it was given that name. Anyway, he was looking for other's who would hear his words and embrace them. And we did. Although your father, didn't, he thought the lad funny, in all honesty, he couldn't stomach the fact that some Dark-skinned child from a foreign land was proposing that he knew something he himself did not, since he was the leader of our small village. So, he casted Aurius out and forbade anyone from associating with his kind. So naturally you being the idiot you are, defied him and sought out Aurius, who somehow knew you would. And since I myself had no other friends beside you, my siblings, Di and Ni, I followed you as did they." Sirius stated with a wide smile on his handsome young features which was engulfed in reverie.
"And then?" Harry asked breathlessly, in awe of the story that somehow seemed so familiar.
"And then we were caught and burned at the stake, so to speak. The actual details are a bit, ghastly and grisly, I see no need to delve deeper into them." Sirius stated shutting his eyes tight while grimacing at the mere thought of his first familiarity with death. "Anyway, we knew we would have to experience it, Auriel said so. But when we were reincarnated for the first time, we found we were blessed with magic. This is because of the vow we made on the Scroll of All. The vow was to protect our fellow man from absolute extinction or foreign foes that are not native to our realm".
"And why would we do that?" Harry asked confused. "Why would a bunch of kids sign a contract and sacrifice their lives for some war or enemy that they wouldn't even have had to face had they not made this stupid vow to begin with".
"Well, people in those times were superstitious and credulous. Everything was a god, everything was to be worshiped. Auriel or rather Auris, said if we wanted to know the all begotten truth, certain sacrifices had to be made in order to bring it into fruition. We believed him. You believed him." Bellatrix explained placing one of her gloved hands in the other, perking her lips which caused her to expose her dimples, slightly rocking back and forth on the edge of her chair with her legs crossed proper.
"Was it worth it?" Harry asked them both in incomprehension as well as what could be described as condensation.
"Harrison, you have to understand, before we made the vow Auriel showed us what we could become, who we could be, the very role we could have in shaping the future to include mankind's continuing existence and progression. How could we not oblige him?" Bellatrix asked shaking her head with mild exasperation and mirth as she met Sirius eyes of jollity before they both turned to face Harry.
"They seem so at ease with one another" thought Harry.
"You have to remember by now, surely; The Images inside the gold pensive? It was all so surreal, before that we had never witnessed magic, and then to all of sudden have moving real life images of yourself doing things that ought not to be possible. Auriel showed us just a tidbit in hindsight, probably didn't want to blow our minuscule minds" Bellatrix snorted. "Perhaps it was for the best because I remember thinking back then that Auriel must have been GOD in mask." Bellatrix continued
"But a pensive is for memories. How could he have memories of future events?" Harry questioned.
"You ask that same question every time and every time I give you the same answer; how in the bloody hell am I supposed to know. But guess what though?-"
"What?" Harry asked immediately
"-It all came to past." Bellatrix finished in a tone that could rival a whisper.
Harry sat there in a staggered state, mind running ramped with question and realizations. "So it was us who birthed magic into the world?"
"Is that a question or an answer?" Sirius replied. "We went about, with word of our beliefs and abilities to show for them and taught our fellow man, and all was well. Until, we entered transmigration and were no longer able to govern the people, it all fell apart quite quickly. Only a couple centaury's later, and our word had been forgotten but of course the knowledge of our magic was still sound, although distorted at best." Sirius then got up, and smartly began to pace.
"So? They didn't believe in your religious text. Is it really that big of a deal? I mean Dumbledore doesn't seem very religious but I'm sure if everyone else in the world were more like him then the world would be a better place." Harry stated.
Sirius shook his head and giggled; Bellatrix placed the small delicate palm of her right hand over her mouth and chortled.
"And how do you think he became this way? And who said anything about religion? No, we weren't teaching people how to worship Idols or Gods you silly boy; we where teaching peoples how to connect with one another and provide for the possibilities of Man progressing past its then current state. Which it did, but it wasn't followed through, if it had been, the world as you know it would be more akin to a divine utopia, where Wizard and Mankind coexist."Bellatrix replied amused. "Ever hear of Atlantis? We did that. Aureils early Canaanites, future Egyptians and Phoenicians, were guided by him as well as us over the course of 7 transmigrations. They didn't consider us Gods because we wouldn't have any of that non-sense, they considered us their elders, rightfully so ironically." Bellatrix finished.
"So you're saying that Dumbledore is the way he is because of your beliefs and empirical knowledge so to speak". This was a statement rather than a question. "So in laymen's terms the world would be a better place if people were more like him. But, he is the way he is because of what he learned from this Auriel bloke?" Harry paused to gather his thoughts, taken by the bombarding information that was being debriefed unto him. "Atlantis, I never taught the place actually existed. Bloody-hell. So what was it like then?" Harry queried.
"No words to describe such a marvel. For seven ages it reigned; seven ages of paradise and peace on earth. All men equal all men loved, magic, alchemy, astronomy, philosophy, and all kinds of other sciences practiced and adored." Bellatrix answered, paused and continued. "Oh and By the way, Dumbledore is dead."
"What are you going on about?" Harry asked instantly, Confusion beginning to rear its perplexing head as Harry began to lose the wind in his lungs and it became harder for him to breath.
…What…no…what?" Harry began franticly with a slighted incredulous look about his face as he looked from Bellatrix to Sirius to a twenty-one year old sympathetic Luna Lovegood.
"BLOOY HELL BELLA, WE SAID WE WOULD WAIT UNTILL HE FELT BETTER!" Sirius exclaimed in a furious fit.
"We haven't the time. I'm done coddling him, this is taking too long." Bellatrix folded her arms in careless determination.
Harry sat there, his head spinning and his heart racing. "Could it be true? No, no, not Dumbledore." Harry thought to himself, cold sweats trickling down his cheek, clutching the sheets while trying to catch his breath.
Sirius eyed Bellatrix dangerously and slowly but willfully sauntered over to Harry and placed a caring hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry old friend, but don't worry, you'll see him next lifetime as per usual."
Harry eyes began to swell up with tears…between his sobs he uttered "Who?" to which Sirius answered "The opposition".
"And who is the opposition?"
"The Shadow of All Things."
"Wh-?" Harry was cut off by a determined and disheveled Madame Pompfrey.
"Ok, enough, he needs rest. His body is still a bit, weary. He seems to be suffering from mild ammonia." Madame Pompfrey announced as she shooed Bellatrix petite little figure, quite roughly, and the dashing Sirius Black out of the hospital wing, leaving him alone with an original DA member and friend.
Luna summoned a small table over Harrys upper thighs, while Madame Pompfrey accioed a bowl of soup and a mug of mead onto it. Harry sat there in a somber silence, silently weeping; his body was shuddering constantly, his eyes were wet and watery, and his trembling idle hands threatened to tear the bed sheets apart. Luna placed a hand over his, and stared at him purposefully.
[End of Flashback]
Harry swallowed a hard lump in his throat as he stood outside the door of the Burrow, his hand clutching the doorknob and his nerves shot to hell. Anger and sorrow stirred in the slimy depths of his belly as he listened, while shocked and physically frozen, to the berating of none other than himself produced and instigated by those he held dearest to his very heart.
[The Present- The Burrow]
"You've got to be bloody daft man!"
"Ronald! Lower your voice.."
"'miones right Ron, calm down. Believe me, I understand how you feel, but this is Harry were talking about here, he couldn't harm a fly, let alone Dumbledore, I'd wager me cabin on it."
The sun set over the hills as the clouds parted and the stars sparkled into existence. The day was coming to an end in Devon England and although it was uneventful to the naked eye, a turbulent argument was being waged between members of an Order of Wizards and Witches. On the outskirts of Ottery St Catchpole, a small village in Devon, resided an odd dwelling in muggle regards, although the affluent members of the wizarding community, such as the Malfoys for instances, might too find the edifice; strange.
If anyone, besides Harry Potter, was within twenty feet of the home they would have heard Ronald Weasly quite audibly scold his peers and superiors in reference to someone he use to consider his best Friend; Harry Potter himself.
"Don't tell me what to do! Harrys dead and now Dumbledore's dead! And nothing, not wishing, hoping or praying is going to bring them back. Believe me, I tried" Declared Ron standing on his feet to address the kitchen full of wizards and witches.
"I was only saying-" Hermione was stopped midsentence by the pale hand that rested on top of hers
"I agree with Weasley" announced Malfoy in a pompous, sneering manner.
The room which was abuzz in conversation and open dispute, died at the sudden occurrence of this new found avowal.
"Pardon me?" Was all Ron could muster.
"I think it is idiotic to entertain the Idea that Potter is alive, if so the Dark Lord would have his entire efforts focused on finding him; I'm talking random house searches, groups of suspected affiliates rounded up etc etc like 1940 Nazi Germany. England is under his thumb and now that Dumbledore is dead who is there to refute him? No one, because if there were he would have killed them by now. Besides, I don't need to be one of Potters best friends to stress to you he had a hero complex, do you all really think he would have stood back idly while his friends and peers began to drop like defunct snitches? No I highly doubt it." Malfoy explained in his usual pompous air as he massaged the back of Hermiones hand to Rons obvious dismay.
"That's a sound and very reasonable argument , and your frustrations are felt and understood . But I as the soul secret keeper of the very grave of one Albus Dumbledore, my predecessors as the headmaster of Hogwarts and the Leader of The Order Of The Phoenix, I hereby declare that the information regarding Harry's mortality still in question. Therefore any member with information on Harry's known whereabouts or suspects that they may know something that could be helpful in general to this situation should speak at once." Proffesor Mcgonagal stated, seated at the end of the table. Her regal persona could very nearly match Dubledores mystique one.
No one spoke; eyes shifted as well limbs as people began to entertain the idea that Harry Potter might actually be alive. Madame Pompfrey and Luna stood as a disgruntled Ron sat down with his back to Hermione and Draco. Everyone stared at the curiously until Professor McGonagall broke the silence with a peculiar question.
"Have you finally decided to tell us what this meeting is all about Madame Pompfrey, time is of the essence."
Madame Pompfrey who stood against the kitchen sink while dabbing at the wet corners of her eyes walked towards the center of the kitchen, aided by her trustee assistant; Luna Lovegood.
"I was told to request this meeting soon after Dumbledore's home-going service, By Albus himself." Madame Pompfrey statement could be defined as mournful and teary.
"He said-" She cleared her throat as she began to fetch her wand. She summoned a notepad, opened it and began to read. "These children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds are immune to your consultations. They're quite aware of what they're going through. So reserve your judgments and lend a hand and if you are incapable of lending a hand, then with godspeed get out of the way and allow change to take shape."
The room was silent. Until it wasn't.
"That was very…Dumbledore, I suppose, but my dear Poppy, what does it mean? And what does this have to do with Harry potters questioning mortality?" Professor Mcgongal questioned now dabbing at her own eyes as a very grisly and a very gnarly looking Fred shifted in the seat beside her, all the mirth the heavens had blessed him and his brother with absent from his rough features.
"I think what Dumbledore was trying to convey to us is, well, that the order is a job for those in possession of youth. That if things are to change it's more so up to us rather than the generations before us because, unlike you, were not fighting to survive, were fighting for the chance to live, which we have not done, yet." Luna paused surveyed the little kitchen full of onlookers and continued. " And furthermore, I find it a bit strange that Dumbledore would just die and not leave any preparations behind in case of such an event."
"Well, Professor Snape did inform me it was you Madame pompfrey who requested this meeting, surely there must be more information you wish to convey since you decided it best to have the entire order here. Does this have anything to do with those ludicrous rumors of Harry being seen in Goldrics Hollow in the past couple of days which seems to have us all quite anxious in one way or another?" Stated Professors Mcgongall sarcastically eyeing Ron and Draco in the process.
"Yes, it has allot to do with Harry." Madame Pompfrey Explained
"Well, out with it then." Ordered Remus looking more canine then aught be humanly possible.
"He's…"
"Dead.." Murmered Bill, which earned him a scolding look from Professor Mcgongall, but a laugh from Fleur. The scars from his fight with harry still apparent most of his torso and here and there across his face.
Am I?
The sky was lavender-indigo-ish like a page straight out of Aladin, the kitchen was dimly lit by candles. The many people in the kitchen all shared the same dressing attire; black wizarding robs. Harry could tell as soon as he opened the door that they had all used port keys to get here after what must have been Dumbledores Funeral. At the sound of the Familiar voice they all turned around and all eyes landed on Harry.