CHAPTER 13: THE GIFT
The kitchen window in the Burrow……
Mrs. Weasley had just come through the door to make some tea. She noticed that Harry and Hermione were walking to the old oak tree. 'Young love,' she thought. 'They are the perfect match for each other. I just hope everything goes well.' As she was pouring the tea she saw them lean in for a kiss when there was a bright crimson and gold light that came from their silhouettes.
"Albus, quickly!" she yelled. It was the only thing she could get out.
In a flash Albus Dumbledore was in the kitchen wand raised. Everyone seemed to follow. "Oh my," he said.
"What the hell is happening to my Godson?" Sirius asked.
Harry had opened his eyes slightly to look at Hermione while they were kissing. He hadn't expected to see them both covered in a crimson and gold light. 'What in the world?' he thought to himself. He broke the kiss, but still held her in his arms.
Hermione felt him break their kiss, and started to open her eyes. She noticed, as Harry did, that they were surrounded by the light. "Oh my God Harry," she said, "What's going on?"
"I think that I've just received my full powers. Godric said that I'd get them as soon as I let go of everything. He said that I'd see myself in a new light."
"I think we need to tell Professor Dumbledore."
"You're absolutely right. Let's go."
They started to run back to the burrow. The light was still glowing around the both of them because Harry was still holding on to Hermione. They were almost at the door when it opened. Professor Dumbledore stepped out with Sirius right behind.
"Professor, something just-"
"Yes Harry, we saw." He said holding up his hand. "I'm sure you'll be alright. That is what Godric said, and I know that he wouldn't lie to you." Harry nodded at this. "I do think you should tell Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger your part of the story. Godric said he will tell them the rest."
By now everyone was outside still talking. It was 1:30 in the morning when Mrs. Weasley called a halt to the activities. The glow around Harry was still around him, but it had diminished considerably. After all the adults were gone she sent Harry and the rest up to their rooms. Hermione and Harry were the last to go up before Mrs. Weasley. They noticed Ginny asleep on the couch.
"Should I carry her up?" asked Harry?
"Yes I think so," replied Hermione. "Try not to wake her though."
As though threw instinct Harry raised his finger and a gold light shined at the tip of it. "That should do it." Hermione looked puzzled. "I put a slight sleeping spell on her. She shouldn't wake until tomorrow morning."
Hermione nodded her head. "Oh, okay then. Grab her and let's go."
Harry smiled at the sleeping Ginny. He smiled and put his hand out. 'Wingardium Leveosa!' he thought, and she started to float up in the air. He saw Hermione smile, watching him as he levitated her up the stairs and into her room. "Which one is hers?" he asked.
"Over there by the window." She said pointing. "I'll cover her up so she's not cold."
"She's all yours love. I need to tell you something in the morning, but for now I want to tell you that I love you." He brought her into a sweeping embrace and kissed her. "You mean so much to me. Please tell me that we can be together forever?"
"What!?" she said quietly. "Are you serious Harry? Do you want us to be together forever?" She jumped closer to him and hugged him tightly. "Yes Harry. Of course we can be together forever. I'll never leave your side."
Since the winter of Harry's 6th year, Percy and his now fiancé Penelope Clearwater, had moved into a flat of their own. Mrs. Weasley decreed that Harry, when he was staying with them, could have Percy's room for himself.
For some reason Harry wasn't tired so he changed into his cut off sweats and sat on the floor in an Indian style fashion. He closed his eyes, and began to meditate. He felt himself lifting up from the floor and floating in the middle of the room.
Images began passing in front of him. They were from his past years. The most recent of which was when the aurors, he and members of the Order of Phoenix fought off Voldemort in the park. He watched himself just barely miss killing Voldemort with his own sword. Plans started forming in his mind. It was as if he had plans for he was building. Blueprints were created and etched in his mind. The scene shifted to a very large house sitting all alone. The gates were high and there was a giant 'P' in the middle of the gates.
He was so entranced with his vision that he didn't hear the quiet knock at his door. The visions kept on coming. He saw groups of people fighting with Voldemort again. This time it was at Hogsmeade, and there were armies fighting. He could see his classmates fighting with droves of Death Eaters. He watched the field with hope. He could see groups of friends fighting at each other's sides. There were professors helping out where they could. It was then that he noticed where he was standing. It was on top of a cloud. He was watching the fight from afar while his friends and teachers were fighting a battle that they couldn't possibly win. 'I cannot let them fight alone. They'll all die. I must end this now.' The vision changed suddenly, and he saw himself sitting at the teacher's table at Hogwarts. He turned to see Hermione and Ron smiling at him. He heard the voice of his old Transfiguration teacher.
"Potter, Lillian!" she yelled.
Harry took pride that he could be a witness to his daughter's sorting. He could swear he could hear the hat in her head. 'Greetings young heir, first of Three, I will place you where you belong.' "Ravenclaw!" the hat yelled. He could see that his daughter was upset.
He was confused now. How in the world could his child be in Ravenclaw, if she was the Heir of Gryffindor? His answer was quick to follow.
"Potter, James!" he heard Professor McGonagall say.
He looked up to see a carbon copy of himself except that he had brown eyes. He also saw two very distinct people on the sides of the room looking curiously. Sirius and Remus looked on with pride as the name James Potter was called. Again he heard the voice. 'Ah, greetings young heir, the second of Three are you. You have a strong mind like your father and grandfather, and a first to prove yourself. As such, I will place you in-' "Gryffindor!" the hat yelled. Harry noted that James, Sirius and Remus looked extremely happy.
Everything got blurry for a moment then came back into focus. "Weasley, Harold!" said McGonagall's voice. Harry then saw a sea of red come flowing up through the rest of the group. "Will the rest of the Weasley clan please stop pushing? I'm sure that since you are all here that you will get a turn," McGonagall said sternly.
Harry looked over at Ron who was looking both excited and annoyed at the same time. The Wesley group was still making noise after getting reprimanded by McGonagall. He grinned, shut his eyes and opened them just as quick. He snapped his fingers loudly. Everything and everyone stopped. A girl with blond hair stepped forward and spoke.
"Sorry Uncle…Err Professor Weasley," she said.
Ron glared at the group and spoke quietly. "With your permission, Headmaster?"
"Of course Professor Weasley," Dumbledore said.
He turned his attention back to the group. "All of you should know better than this. If your grandmother should happen to hear of this you will all be getting Howlers, and believe me, speaking from experience, you don't want that to happen." He could see Fred and George's kids staring off into space so he chose that moment to surprise them all. He slammed his hands down on to the teacher's table. "Now that I have ALL of your attention," he began, "You will be serving detention with Mr. Filch and Hagrid for one week starting tomorrow because of your outlandish behavior. I will also send letters home to your parents as well – those of us who aren't here already."
"Now Mr. Weasley will you please come up here?" McGonagall spoke up.
As soon as the hat was placed on Harold Weasley's head, Harry, for the third time, heard the voice of the Sorting Hat speak. 'Ah, the third of Three from three. You shall be placed where you belong in-' "Hufflepuff!" the hat yelled.
The rest of the Weasley's were sorted into Gryffindor, and Ron seemed proud of it. Professor McGonagall called out the last name on her parchment. "Malfoy, Ginger!" The small blond that Harry saw earlier came up to sit on the stool. McGonagall placed the hat on her head and it began to speak to her. 'Hello young one. I do believe you could possibly be the last of the line. Where ever should I put you?'
Ginger sat on the stool with her eyes closed. She was going to think of a reply in her head, but said it aloud. "Can you really hear me Mr. Hat?"
The hat spoke aloud too. "Yes young one. I can hear you. Why do you ask?"
"Well a long time ago, Headmaster Dumbledore told my 'Uncle' Harry that our decisions create the kind of witches and wizards we will be. My mum was sorted into Gryffindor while my dad was sorted into Slytherin. Am I right?"
"Yes that is correct. Please continue with your thought."
"Well, taking that into account I choose to be in Gryffindor, and I'll tell you both why." She stood up and called her father to her. Draco Malfoy stood up and knelt beside his daughter. "Father, I choose to be in Gryffindor because of you. You were sorted into Slytherin because of your family heritage. Over the years we have all heard the story about what you did when 'Uncle' Harry and the rest were fighting Voldemort. What you did took courage and strength, the courage and strength of a true Gryffindor." She put her hands on his cheeks and smiled at him. "It was the Gryffindor inside of you that mom fell in love with. That's what she always told me when I questioned her about those days. In my opinion, if my father could find the spirit of Gryffindor inside of him, and mother was sorted into Gryffindor then I must choose, no I will walk the path of a Gryffindor and not be sorted into it."
It was then that Harry found himself rising up out his chair. "I tend to agree with my 'niece' Draco. It has been a long time since I said thank you." He extended his hand.
"You're welcome…Potter." He tried to hold he laugh in, but he couldn't do it. "Sorry Harry, I couldn't resist."
Harry was about to say something when the Sorting Hat suddenly rose up from Ginger's head. "Heirs of Three from three come forth," it said. James, Lillian and Harold walked up from their tables. "James Potter, Lillian Potter, and Harold Weasley let all know that you are the three. Learn your lessons well and protect those who cannot protect themselves. It is your destiny. I resort the two and add the one." Suddenly four beams of light came from the hat – Slytherin Green to Ginger, Ravenclaw Purple to Lillian, Hufflepuff Blue to Harold and Gryffindor Gold to James. It was an amazing sight. "Gryffindor!" the hat shouted, and all the beams of light turned to Gryffindor Gold. "Unity and constant vigilance are the key my children. I bid you well."
The hat floated down on to Harry's head. 'I've just come to say hello, Harry Potter, Heir of Gryffindor. Welcome home.' Harry smiled at this, and it was the last thing he saw. He felt a presence around him so he started to float down to the floor. He never opened his eyes all the way down. He felt her presence. It was the woman he loved. "'Mione, is everything alright?" he asked.
"I should ask the same of you," she said sounding worried. "Why didn't you tell me that you could levitate? I had a shock when I came in here."
"Sorry love." He bent down to kiss her. "I was meditating, and having a very nice dream for once. I just hope it comes true. Not that I mind 'Mione, but what are you here for?"
"Oh that. I was wondering what it was that you had to tell me and Ron. You know me I worry about you. Is everything alright?"
"I want to tell the both of you tomorrow. Please let me do this."
"Okay, but you're sure everything is alright?"
"That is a yes and no answer, and that is all you're getting from me for now. Anyway I do believe that it's around 2:30 in the morning and we need our sleep."
She smiled and said, "I think you're right." She walked over and pulled down Harry's covers. "Perhaps you would like to join me in bed Mr. Potter?"
Harry's eyes opened wide at this. "Hermione I think that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley wouldn't be in a happy mood if they found you in here in the morning. I also think that Fred and George would have a field day with that type of information. Also there is the matter of your parents who are down the hall."
"I see your point, but I just want to be sure that you are safe tonight. I think they'll understand. How about we make a bed on the floor and it'll be just like camping?"
"I guess so. Why do I get the feeling that I'm going to regret this in the morning?"
"You're gonna regret this? Then maybe I should just leave and not come back."
"You're taking this the wrong way. I didn't mean that I regret you silly just the fact that I really can't say no to you. I think that is going to get me in trouble."
"Well I think that they should expect a little bit more from us." Taking the pillows and blankets off the bed she looked to the middle of the floor. "Can you create a mattress for us to sleep on?"
"I do believe so." He looked down to the small throw rug on the floor and concentrated. The rug changed shape and formed into a king size mattress. "Is that big enough for you?"
"Yes thanks," she said throwing the blankets and pillows on top of the mattress. "Okay then. We're all set." She climbed on the mattress and got under the covers. "Are you getting in?"
"I was just waiting for you to get settled." He too got in the bed. He kissed her lightly. "I love you 'Mione'. Good night."
"Good night Harry. I love you too."
They cuddled up to each other and closed their eyes. There were no dreams that night for Harry because he had his sweetest dream in his arms. They never broke the embrace. When one moved so did the other.