Twenty seven- preparations
Over the past few months Harry continued his lessons with Ivy(as I said, a side story…). By now, he had managed to control the air, water and earth. With a little bit of practice, Harry could do anything with it so, Ivy decided to move on to another. They were now working on fire, the most dangerous one.
"Concentrate Harry!" Ivy commanded as Harry tried to conjure a fireball. "Don't drop it that's dange-" she never finished her sentence. They tried to extinguish the fire that Harry caused without difficulty. Ivy took the chance to let Harry practicec his water and earth elemental. Harry extinguished the fire with his water. "Now, make the wood sip the water."
"That's possible?" Harry asked.
"Of course, anything's possible when you have an elemental. I can even ask you to make me a garden here. Now make the wood sip the water." Harry concentrated on talking to the wood. When he felt the woods presence he asked it to drink the water. The wood gladly obliged.
"Good. Now back to the fire."
"Aww, can't I just use wind, water and earth?"
"No. If Voldie's got elements, he'd more likely use fire since it's the most dangerous."
"But I can extinguish it with water and earth!" Harry reasoned but Ivy just would not give up.
"But with power and practice an elemental can make waterproof fire!"
"Fine. You win!"
Harry continued his exhilarating fire training.
It was in late October that Ivy and Harry had to pause their training for a while. Harry got awfully busy with homework, quidditch practice, MMFT, DA and helping with the Haloween preparations. All quidditch teams had to help so Malfoy was there too. It made everyone's work harder. The Slytherin Quidditch team was acting smugly about workin and all that. They kept saying the work they were doing were for house-elves. Ron burst out.
"Fine! Go! We don't need you here anyway. You're just an interference for us!" Malfoy glared at him and Ron returned the gesture. They had a truce but that didn't stop Malfoy from becoming a prat. Harry just dismissed it. After all, Malfoy was in the Slytherin house, the house where Voldie's eyes looms.
"Gee Harry, thanks for your support," Ron said sarcastically after he won their glaring fight.
"Your welcome," Harry playfully said with a smile. He then went to help his team set up decoration in the roof.
"What??"
Harry was walking down the halls when Ivy spotted him.
"Harry! There you are. I was just looking for you. Come to my office," Ivy said. Ivy motioned Harry to a seat.
"I have talked with Dumbledore and he has granted me permission to bring you to Beauxbatons at the request of Madame Maxine. They invited you for their Convention on Magic. Why you? Because you are an important figure in the wizarding society and because we can't have you convulsing in front of the students on Halloween," Ivy said almost in one breath.
"Oh," Harry said as realization dawned on him; Ivy just found an excuse for him to be out on Halloween where his powers would fully manifest.
The day before Halloween Harry said his goodbyes. In truth, there was really be a convention that would happen at Beauxbatons. Dumbledore was also invited. In fact, he was the guest of honor but he couldn't come because Howarts needed him at the feast. So, Ivy suggested that Harry go. Dumbledore agreed granted that Harry would agree with the idea. Ivy said he would take care of it. She told Dumbledore that Harry agreed but she had other things in mind. She sent a letter to Madame Maxine saying that her friend, Eri Hangin was the one who could go as Harry had some problems. She didn't mention it to Dumbledore, though. Ivy had asked Dumbledore if she could go with Harry. Dumbledore approved considering that he thought Ivy came from Beauxbatons. They left via floo powder.
"Beauxbatons!" Harry said after throwing the floo powder to Dumbledore's fireplace. Ivy followed after some messages from Dumbledore. One of which was to look after Harry, physically, magically and psychologically.
Harry landed roughly, as always, at Beauxbatons. Madame Maxine was surprised, she wasn't expecting Harry.
"Harry, I thought you can't come?" Madame Maxine said after helping Harry regain a proper posture.
"Well yeah. I had to go somewhere else but Iv-Venus directed me here. I guess she wanted to talk to you," Harry said nervously. He almost mentioned Ivy's real name.
"Don't worry, Harry. I know her real identity. We were friends back. I was actually surprised when she appeared. She was thought to be dead." The bang in the fireplace disrupted their conversation. They turned to see Venus in the same state as Harry had.
"I really hate flooing," Venus remarked.
"I guess Harry can second you on that," Madame Maxine commented with a slight chuckle.
"Nah, I hate portkeys more. They bring bad memories. But I also hate flooing. That is why I can't wait to learn to apparate."
"So Ivy why were you sidetracked here?" Olympe asked.
"This is just a cover-up. We flooed from Albus' office. Dumbledore asked me to tell you personally how sorry he is for not being able to attend you convention. I also would like to apologize personally for stealing Mr. Potter's time and replacing him with my friend Eri. I'm sure that he'll be a great help. He's a very experienced wind elemental. He helped me in my fights years back. Thank you for everything you've done Olympe," Ivy said.
"Dearie, why do you sound like you're going to die soon?" Olympe asked half-serious, half-joking.
"Because I believe I will. I also believe tha I'm going to uphold the DADA tradition," ivy replied earning a raised eyebrow from the headmaster. Harry perfectly knew what she meant but that doesn't mean that he had to be happy for it.
"The DADA tradition? Well, no DADA professor ever lasts for more than a year. Harry's first had Voldemort in the back of his head, his second was an ignorant bloke, his third was an excellent werewolf, his fourth was a deatheater using polyjuice, his fifth was a ministry toad and I'm his sixth."
"Oh," was Olympe's only reply.
"Well, we have to go and get settled in my house. I need to do some confidential training on him. Thanks for covering up for me again."
"Anytime," Olympe replied and waved goodbye. Ivy gave more floo powder to Harry. She went in first.
"Ivy's greenhouse!" with a pop, Ivy disappeared. Harry soon followed her.
"Good bye and nice meeting you again Madame Maxine. Hope that I'd meet you again someday. Ivy's greenhouse!" and Harry disappeared too.
"Oh dear, it seems that Ivy's passed down her pessimism," Madame Maxine said with a sigh.
Ivy's greenhouse
To say that Harry was amazed was an understatement.
Ivy's greenhouse was literally a green house. It was a small cottage like bungalo that was painted green of different hues on the outside. It was the interior that amazed Harry more. It looked small on the oustide but the inside was magcally enlarged. It looked like a palace.
"Why the big size? Well, this was used as a secret refuge camp in my time. But only people of my kind could see this place."
"People of your kind?" Harry asked.
"Yes our kind. Our clan is very special for we are light elementals. We have the ability to manipulate fires using any color except black. Only dark fire elementals have that ability. Why are you here? Basically because you can manipulate fire."
"So, anyone who can manipulate fire can go here?"
"No. Our clan have the special ability of being able to turn fires into different colors. Normal elementals can only produce red fire."
"Just great! More reason to become unusual," Harry commented sarcastically.
"You have to get used to it. You'll be more unusual when your powers come."
"I know but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So what happened to the rest of your clan?" Harry asked. Ivy turned grave for a second but it became replaced with an expresionless mask.
"They died out."
"I'm sorry," Harry said gravely.
"You have nothing to be sorry about. I even want to thank you for being the son I never had. Even though you're not as mischevious as I would like that son to be," Ivy playfully said to break the tension.
"Hey! I could be that. I'm just," Harry stopped for a while to think, "too busy."
"And I'm not?" Ivy replied with a raised eyebrow.
"YOU are also busy. But that besides the point since I don't see you pranking anyone."
"You have a point,"Ivy conceeded. They arrived at Harry's bedroom. Harry's jaw dropped. It was beyond magnificent. It was beyond words. Harry had a huge four-poster bed dressed in Gryffindor colors. He had his own personal garden all around his room. It was really suited of the name Greenhouse.
"From that falling jaw and that very funny surprised face, is it safe to say that you like it?"
"No, I don't like it… I LOVE it. This is awesome…" Harry said imitating a child in a candy store.
"What if I tell you that this is like the Room of Requirement?" Ivy asked.
"Honto deska? Talaga? Grabe! Sugoi! Grabe talaga wala akong masabi!" Harry said. (Really(Japanese)? Really(Tagalog)? Amazing(English) Great or amazing(Japanese) amazing really, I'm speechless(Tagalog).
"Sorry? What did you say? Oh my gosh, I think we have another problem here. You're speaking in different languages. For one, the only Asian language I know is Tagalog so I understood some bits of what you said. This is tricky. Your languages is a power and so we have to control it."
"Sugoi. Isa pang bagay na magpapaabnormal sa akin." Harry said sarcastically.(great(jap). One more thing to make me abnormal (Tagalog))
"Why don't you shut up for a while until I, or you, figure it out. You're making my headache." With that Ivy left the room. Harry was left alone to marvel the wonders of his room. He decided that the room was too warm with the colors and all the plants surrounding it. He decided to give his room a waterfall. Then he noted that blue didn't match well with his very stunning shade of red. So he toned it down a bit to a hue that was a cross between blue and red; something like violet but with more red. He also asked the ceiling to turn into something like the ceiling at the Hogwart's Great Hall. The ceiling gladly obeyed and showed Harry the beautiful sunset that was happening outside.
The room was very large and Harry was uncomfortable with it so he asked for an obstacle course that would fit well with the room. Being a room that conjures anything, the room provided Harry with Harry's dream obstacle course. Harry immediately ran through the obstacle course. It took him an hour to finish the extensive course that ran several stories high. He had to dodge through all the traps since he ignited them all through his stupidity. He also had to climb through nets, poles, walls and fences and crawl through tires, bamboo and mud. On top of that, several opponents and creatures would appear here and there. To say that Harry was dirty and wounded by the end of the course was an understatement. It was a good thing that the Greenhouse was designed to heal wounds, bruises and other illness automatically. But it had only worked once Harry was out of the course. He didn't know that Ivy was already there.
"Great performance but you were too slow. I'd expect you to finish that in half an hour next time."
"You figured it out then?" said Harry in Italian. Ivy conjured a book on Italian and translated what Harry said.
"Yes. You have to concentrate on pushing the other languages in the back of your head. The best way to do that is to concentrate on one language."
"But why am I speaking different language when I'm not concentrating on it?" Harry said in Chinese and Ivy conjured a translator. It was hard since she had to look for the symbols and stuff.
"That's the point. Since your power on the languages has manifested, you are confused with the languages. You aren't controlling it. To speak in English, just concentrate on it. Try thinking about English words on your head. After several practice you'd manage to switch languages depending on who you are with. Concentrate on what I'm saying. Here say this: I want to speak English!"
"Watashi want speak English!" Harry said in japlish
"Good, you're improving. Try it again." Ivy praised.
"I want to speak English! Yes, I did it!" Harry whooped with joy.
"Now, just hold on to that. Now, don't be bothered if ever you speak different again. It takes practice, now, onto our preparations for later. It will be quite painful so I prepared several potions. I'm sorry but you'll also need a lot of cushions around since I think you're bound to convulse and fidget around. We don't want any lasting harm on your bones. In short, you'll act like an untrained animagus." Ivy asked the room to remove the obstacle course. She then asked the room to put cushions on the floor and on the walls. Ivy also asked the room to remove all objects and store them in the room beside Harry's bedroom.
"Hmm… what else? Well, after that you'd have a major headache. Basically, that's about it. But I think it's worth it," Ivy added as an optimist afterthought.
"Worth it? You mean you think it's worth it to endure all this just to be more famous and unnatural? You mean I have to celebrate because I'm going to receive a power that would make me unusual in the wizarding world? If that happens, where would I belong?" Harry said in sadness.
"I'm sorry, Harry but this is your destiny. Maybe it's a bit unfair but people would die to have this powers and to have the same amount of fame as you do. Public figures are possibly jealous of you because you have this fame that they want to have. On top of that, you attained it when you were a year old doing nothing," Ivy regretted the last sentence she had said for it made Harry angrier.
"Precisely! I don't want to be famous because I did nothing to be famous!. I don't want it! All I want to be is to live as normal as a wizard could be and be with my parents, Padfoot, Moony and you. I want to be a normal child who attends Hogwarts normally and goes home for the summer normally. I want to be normal!"
"I'm sorry but you can't. Blame it on your lineage, on your ancestor. In case you don't know, Godric is one of your ancestors. It all started with them, the founders. Heck, Harry you could just get the power and run off to an island of the coast of who knows where! Can't you see, it's you who have a problem. Any blockhead would just manifest the power and run off with it. You, however, would manifest it and stay because there are people to protect. You can stop being the-boy-who-lived and the-boy-whom-we-depend-on but it will always be a part of you. It will still bother you . You have the weirdest and stupidest hero complex in the earth. I mean you'd give up your life to anyone save maybe Voldemort. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if you die just to save him."
"I would not do that! He killed my parents!" Harry protested.
"True, but if you kill him then you're no different from him. His blood would be on your hands and I know that it will haunt you. For that, I know that your hero complex would take over and save him by doing something rather stupid." Ivy argued.
"You really think I'd do that do you?" Harry asked.
"Of course. Since you've been bending all the rules in the world since your birth, bending another wouldn't hurt would it? The point is, no matter what happens, you can't run from your destiny. What's your destiny? Your destiny is to bring light and save people even your enemies. You've done that already, didn't you? You saved Draco from committing suicide."
"How did you know that?"
"Harry, in case you have forgotten, I'm an air elemental. The air told me. We've been through this already."
"Oh sorry."
"Now, would you please stop fighting yourself? Another thing, don't push away your friends. I know you want them to be safe but no matter what happens they'll still be targeted because they had already been your friend. Besides, Voldie can use anyone as bait and it would be no different if he uses a friend of yours."
"That is not true!"
"Oh really?"
"Yes, it's not true."
"Would you bet the life of a Hogwart's student on your answer?" Ivy challenged.
"…No."
"See, I told you."
"Fine! You win!" Harry conceded.
"Harry, don't you ever dare blame yourself on the death of anyone. Not even me. That is unless you point your wand at me and kill me with a sane mind." Ivy tried to amuse but Harry was too engrossed at his down feeling to feel happy about anything.
"Come on, Harry. You need to cheer up. It's better to face problems with a smile because it helps on making the problem lighter. Come on, just a little smile…" Ivy tried. "Fine then, don't. But don't blame me if you end up having pink hair when you go back at hogwarts." Harry forced a smile and immediately dropped it. "There happy?"
"It will keep me satisfied for a while. Why don't you bother yourself with something. I'm going to the kitchen to cook something."
"Why don't you just ask the room for food?"
"Because I like cooking. Want to join me?"
"Uh sure." Ivy showed Harry the kitchen. Harry was surprised that there were no house-elves.
"You don't have house-elves? Hermione's gonna love you." Harry commented.
"Sorry to delude you but I have house-elves. They just don't work at the kitchen. How about like this, I cook what I want and you cook another dish. The refrigerator has everything," Ivy said and went to work. Harry went to work too. He wroked on a biscuit named lengua de gato. First he preheated Ivy's oven to 375 degree farenheit. He got a bowl and creamed ½ cup of butter and added 2/3 cups of sugar graudually. He added ¼ cup of egg whites and mixed the three ingredients. After which, he added 1and 1/3 cup of cake flour. And then he mixed it well. Finally, he added ½ teaspoon of vanilla. He piped it out from the smallest plain tip onto a cookie sheet/baking pan lined with butter or wax paper . He pressed out thin strips of batter about 2 inches long. Baked it until he saw the edges turned golden brown. When it was baked already, he loosened it from the pan and served it. "Finished Harry? There's a bowl out there in the closet. Can you please out your dish in the table? Thanks. I'll finish up in a minute or so," Ivy said. When she finally finished she went and brought her dish on the table and they ate their food while they were talking about stuff about Harry's life.
A/n: yes, it was a true recipe… I don't know if it's native to our country and I think it doesn't but why don't you guys try it? It's really cool. Hehe… it's a biscuit most popular during Christmas because people use it as gifts… try it… hehe… oh and the baking time is less than 10 minutes unless you make them really, really big.
Twenty Eight- Sharing
Harry and Ivy went to their special room, the one that was padded with cushions everywhere. Harry was getting bored waiting so he talked to Ivy.
"Venus, do you know Occlumency?" Harry asked.
"Of course, what do you take me for, an idiot?" Ivy said as if she was offended.
"NO, not at all," Harry said as his face turned pale. He didn't mean to insult his bestfriend. Ever since the first day of classes Harry thought of Ivy as a friend. But as time passed by Harry started to consier Ivy as one of his bestfriends. After all, their lessons were not all work. Then Ivy started laughing… very, very hard.
"You should have seen your face!" Ivy howled. She was surprised when Harry fainted.
"Harry, wake up. Harry, are you alright?" Ivy said in a panicky voice. She wasn't expecting it to be this early. It was not yet midnight, after all.
"Yup," Harry said with one-eye open.
"That's not a very nice joke. Haven't you heard of the story entitled "The Wolf?" Ivy reprimanded.
"What kind of adult are you? Why is it that you want me to do as you say and not as you do? Didn't you know that the best way to teach a child is by example?" Harry playfully said.
"You're a child? That's the surprise of the century," Ivy said.
"Yes, I'm a child. Sorry, but I've had no professional training," Harry said imitating the words of a man he saw on TV when he was little. It made Ivy laugh. "So, am I safe in saying that you know leglimency and occlumency?" Harry added.
"Yup, why?" Ivy asked. Harry told his story about how he needed Occlumency and how he hated Snape's methods.
"Oh, so you want me to teach you?"
"Yup."
"Sure, I'll talk to Dumbledore. But I want to test your abilities now, Leglimens!" Ivy attacked without notice.
Harry saw Sirius duck Bellatrix's jet of red light: he was laughing at her.
'Come on, you can do better than that!' he yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous room.
The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest.
The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock.
Harry released Neville, though he was unaware of doing so. He was jumping down the steps again, pulling out his wand, as Dumbledore, too, turned towards the dais.
It seemed to take Sirius an age to tall: his body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backwards through the ragged veil hanging from the arch.
"Stop! No!" Harry screamed. He should've known that Ivy was bound to be more powerful than Snape. His screams were unheard by his mentor.
Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise on his godfathers wasted, once-handsome face as he fell through the ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil, which fluttered for a moment as though in a high wind, then fell back into place.
Harry heard Bellatrix Lestrange's triumphant scream, but knew it meant nothing — Sirius had only just fallen through the archway, he would reappear from the other side any second . . .
But Sirius did not reappear.
'SIRIUS!' Harry yelled. 'SIRIUS!'
"I said Stop!" Harry screamed then the vision changed.
A six-year old girl was playing with her doll when her mother heard a blast.
"Ivy! Come here quickly!" The girl's mother screamed. Ivy followed her mother's orders. But as she was doing that a jet of green light came into view and hit her mother.
"Mummy, wake up! Mummy, Mummy! Wake up. Aren't we going to the carnival tomorrow? You promised me! Mommy!" Ivy looked at the black-cloaked men who were laughing at her screams.
"Mummy," A man imitated. Ivy glared at him when all of a sudden a bright light was seen—
"Wow, I didn't know you were that good. Harry you just demonstrated that the best defense is offense. I mean, the best way to counter Leglimency is through Leglimency too. Somehow, you managed to push me away from your mind and enter my mind. That's really amazing. No one has ever done that," Ivy said despite the tears trickling down her face.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry. I didn't mean to do that," Harry said sincerely.
"That's my fault, I should've warned you I was going in your mind. I just wanted to see if you could counter a surprise attack. We need to work on that more. But, for now, we need to rest. After all, midnight is drawing near," Ivy replied. She was avoiding any more conversation about what they saw but Harry was very inquisitive.
"Did it really happen?" Harry asked. Ivy sighed, there was no way to dodge the question anymore.
"Yes, but unlike you I don't dwell on it anymore. I'm sure that my mother wanted me to continue my life."
"What happened next?" Harry asked.
"Harry, it's impolite to pry on people's lives but I'll tell you anyway. A power surge flowed through me and stunned all the DeathEaters. Though, they weren't called that since I was from Grindewald's time. A certain Pili Tulip welcomed me in her home. She was a lonely woman. Sadly, she died just after I graudated."
"Sorry and thanks."
"It's only fair since I know a lot about you and you don't know anything about me except that my real name is Ivy Vinea. Speaking of my name, how's that essay for McGonagall faring?" Ivy asked to change the subject.
"It's fine. Actually, I only have to finish one last sentence. It's due the very first Monday after Halloween. It was supposed to be passed last Monday but McGonagall extended it as a Halloween gift," Harry explained.
"Do you want to know the story of 'The Wolf'?" Ivy asked.
"Uh, sure. I think I've read it somewhere but I can't quite remember. After all that was when I was four or five years old."
Ivy told the story.
"Told you that you were leading by words and not by action."
"Oh really?" was Ivy's only answer. Why? Well, that's because Harry fainted the next second and Wolf or not, Ivy doesn't like to take chances.
A/N: This is not a Ivy/Harry story ok? They are not in a serious nor a wacky relationship. pls review