Harry's NEWTS
The End of the school term was approaching and that one fateful morning the entire family woke Harry, all at once. They bounced him up out of bed, tickled him and congratulated him. Slowly, he woke up, he knew where he was and who was with him, but just couldn't figure out what was going on. Something about him?
"What? What is it?"
"Today you take your Newts. When you pass them, you'll be a fully qualified Wizard, Harry." One of the family told him. Which one, he couldn't say, they all sounded alike this early.
"Not so tough, maybe I could give THEM their Newts, especially in DADA?"
"HA, Way to go, Harry, that's the way to think: be positive." Fred said.
"Yes, and with the way you're progressing you'll be learning more from us on how to Prank people in a good way!" George added.
"Now, boys, you know Harry doesn't do that." Molly added.
"We know Mum, but we do hope." They added.
"Son," Lily began, "we all just wanted to give you a good send off for your day, because today is the day you take your Newts. We're all pulling for you."
"Thanks, family," Harry said looking up at them all. "I just don't know what I would have done without all of you. You're all what I've wanted: a family, just a family." Harry looked up at them all, sort of smiling, sort of grinning.
He got up and got dressed, they all filing out to let him get dressed, when the last to leave was Ginny, she just left and then stuck her head back into his room, whistled and looked at him when he looked up at her, both looked at one another, Ginny grinning, and smiling, winked at him and left. Harry felt good about himself. His family really loved and supported him. AND, that's what he needed the most.
Downstairs, Harry was just finishing breakfast when Lily and James were ready to go. "Time to go, son," Lily said. As Harry was getting up to go with his parents he asked a question: "Mum, Dad, would it be ok if Ginny went with us? I'd like some company, if that's ok with Molly."
Lily looked at James and they looked at Molly, "Of course she can go along with us. Come on Ginny, seems you're needed today." Lily said, holding out her hand.
Ginny was beaming with a big smile of anticipation, but it was Harry's hand she took as she went to Hogwarts with the three of them.
Outside the grounds of the Wizarding school found the four of them, Two wizards looking much alike except for their age differences and two witches both dressed so much alike both with flaming red hair that from a distance they looked the same, it was like there were two of the same couples. Just a difference in ages.
At the doors of the school they stopped and Lily turned to her son. "Harry, I'm very proud of your accomplishments and the way you've turned out and the way you've handled yourself. After you finish your Newts, you'll be a fully qualified wizard and you'll be able to work with me, and that, my dear son, is what I've looked forward to for a long time. You'll still be learning much more from me, but this is just the beginning."
"Thanks, Mum, for your support. I'll not let you down. You and Dad have been good teachers for me. I've still got a lot more to learn from you both."
Ginny looked at Harry as she was standing beside Lily, both dressed in their good white robes, Ginny wearing hers that she was given by Harry. She walked up to him and hugged him and kissed him on the cheek, whispered some encouragement to him and went to stand beside Lily. Lily reached out to hold onto Ginny's hand.
Harry reached up with his right hand to touch his cheek, looking at Ginny and his Mum and Dad, not knowing what to say, but nodded his head and left to go inside, to where his future awaited him.
There, inside the great castle, stood his headmaster and the head of his House, both awaiting his arrival.
Harry was ready.
"Well, Harry," began Professor Dumbledore, "do you feel comfortable about taking your Newts today?"
"Yes, Professor, I do. A little nervous, but ready."
"That's to be expected. I remember taking my Newts and felt the same way, so, please, relax. Everything you'll experience today, you've seen or met before or know about."
"Thanks, Professor, I appreciate that."
"Good, come with us. We've got your tests prepared for you, the written part. You'll be taking them here, in this classroom." Dumbledore led Harry to a vacant classroom that had windows looking out onto the front of the Castle.
"Professor McGonagall will be here to monitor you. If you have any questions, please ask her. I'll be seeing you after you finish your exams." Dumbledore looked at Harry, his eyes had that joyful, playful look about them.
'Humm,' thought Harry, 'He has that look about him that there's something else, I wonder what it could be?' Harry sat down and began writing the answers to the questions, all were general in nature.
There were questions on the history of magic, charms, transfigurations, and of course, the ever present potions. But, the questions that Harry loved most were on Defense against the Dark Arts. These questions he knew he'd get right.
So, after about an hour, he'd answered as much as he could and turned in the papers to Professor McGonagall.
Harry had wandered around the castle for a while, awaiting for the time when he was to be in the Headmasters' office. He found himself up on the topmost parts of the Castle's parapets overlooking the entire grounds. Here he was alone. All was quiet. He just stood there and felt the gentle wind blowing through his hair and felt the sun's warmth beaming down on his face. He closed his eyes and just let his memories return to him, to just flood his mind, returning to their proper place.
He remembered.
Everything.
All that he'd gave up, lost, sacrificed, had been returned to him, in their own proper time. He'd won that battle and gained so much more: A family, a real family all his own. And Love in abundance. A Mum and a Dad.
Much had been given to him.
But one thought nagged at him in the back of his mind: Much has been given to him and much will be required of him.
But how much, and by whom? Harry understood that if he asked his Mum, that she'd tell him the answer. Straightaway.
He wasn't afraid, not anymore. Not that he ever was, but that now, he had the talents, skill, knowledge and ability to learn for and of, himself. He'd be working with his Mum, standing beside her with his Dad on the other side of her, helping her and every way she'd be asking of him. And he would. No question.
Music: MARIAH CAREY 'HERO'
Looking down upon the grounds he saw the many students, of all years and houses, just strolling the grounds on a beautiful spring day. He'd remembered doing that same thing many times. Looking up, off in the distance he saw something, large and black, coming this way.
An uneasy feeling developed within him.
He ran down the stairs and headed out to the grounds, taking the time to get there brought what Harry felt was danger, that much closer. He had to warn them to get inside.
When Harry got to the grounds, he saw that most of the students had gone inside, except for one small young witch still outside walking the grounds. Harry didn't hesitate.
He bolted for her, running as fast as he could to get to her, to catch up to her. When he looked up he saw something that reminded him of Charlie and his Tri-Wizards Tournament: Dragons! A couple of them. Where they came from, he didn't know, but they were dangerous.
He reached the young witch and covered her with his own self, putting himself between her and the dragons.
They flew towards Harry, and seemingly just hesitate in mid air above him, inhale a deep breath and blew out great long tongues of flame – White Hot Flame!
Harry pulled out his wand and produced a shield, a heat resistant shield that covered them all, a bubble shaped one. The flames licked up all over the ground, scorching the very ground all around himself and the young witch he was trying to cover. Protected as he was the shield would last as long as he kept up the spell. He couldn't break his concentration for if he did, they'd both die.
The heat still penetrated the shield to some degree and it was hot! The dragons still kept on breathing flames, tongue after tongue of pure white hot flames upon Harry and the girl. It kept on for the longest time, Harry didn't know just how much longer he'd last. Beads of sweat broke out on his face, all over his body. His arms and hands were shaking from the efforts to keep up the spell and for how much longer he'd have to continue, he didn't know.
He needed help and fast.
But, there standing beside him, was a person standing amidst the burning inferno, dressed all in white. The vision of this person, was blurred due to the rippling waves of air that obscured his vision. But Harry didn't have to see the person's face to know whom it was: He knew by instinct: it was his Mum!
Inside the burning inferno of white hot heat hot enough to melt the densest of Muggle metals stood his Mum who was enfolded by her Fathers' Grace that to Harry and anyone else looking on appeared to be a protective white glow. Everyone in the Magical World knew her on sight.
Even the dragons, apparently, for they'd stopped, but the heat was still too much to lower his shield, still, though, Harry was weakening and fast.
His Mum walked up to him, her Father's Grace still protecting her, still it was more brilliant than the noon day sun. It encased both Harry and the girl.
"Son, I'm here for you now. You can rest and relax your shield spell. I'll protect you both." Lily said gently, quietly, with the biggest smile on her face. She knelt down to her son and held both him and the girl.
Harry stopped his spell and almost collapsed to the ground with the girl beside him. She was unconscious from the heat. Harry was barely conscience.
"Mum, mum, . . . it's you! You came. How – how'd you know? Is the girl ok? Is she?" Harry asked, but barely.
"She's ok, son, Don't worry, she'll be ok, thanks to you." Lily held onto her son and comforted him. She wasn't worried, not now, he was awake, so she knew he'd be ok. It wasn't like the last time, with the quill. That was different. Her son, Harry, had rescued a girl from certain death. He'd sacrificed himself for others' benefit – again. Lily noticed this.
And did not complain, for she knew her Father's Promise: Never to be separated again. Lily counted on that. Still she held onto Harry, as Mum's should, until others' arrived.
From the castle windows and doors the entire spectacle was witnessed, by ghosts, students, faculty, staff and elves.
And Others yet unseen except by Lily herself.
Harry was taken by stretcher to the Infirmary as was the girl. Lily accompanied them walking beside them.
The entire school was abuzz over what'd happened, but they'd all witnessed the heroic deed that Harry did: Running out into the face of Fire Breathing Dragons to help someone who was not able to help herself.
An example of sacrifice.
None of them ever forgot what they'd seen nor forgot the name of the girl Harry rescued: Rachel, the same girl Lily talked to that same day in the Great Hall when she'd performed her charm. Rachel had no Mum and Lily, true to her word talked with her, and exchanged letters often. Now, when she was to awaken, Rachel would find Lily there, looking at her, in a motherly way.
"Mum?" It was Harry, he was awake and doing well, but a bit groggy.
"Son, I'm right here. Just rest, now. You've done a good job, you saved the life of a young witch." Lily looked right at her son, smiling, holding on to him, gently. "Son, I'm so very proud of you, unselfishly helping her. Thank you, son, thank you so much. I want to tell you 'thank you' for her Mum."
"For her mum? Why?"
"Rachel has no mum, not alive anyway, but as a Mum, I can understand her feelings at seeing her child alive. I want to thank you, in her place. I think Rachel's Mum would like that." Lily hugged Harry again and kissed him on the cheek. "Just rest now, son, you can talk later."
Lily went over to Rachel's bed and just sat there, waiting for her to awaken.
"Lily? Is that you?" she was awake now.
"Yes, Rachel, It's me. Are you ok?"
"Yes, just sore all over, the heat was so terrible. Who rescued me?"
"Harry, my son, he rescued you. He's in the other bed resting. The heat got to him too."
"I want to thank him for saving me. He's a nice person – like you are. I never expected to see you here."
"Rachel, I'm here, don't worry, I'll always be here for you. If you want, just think of me as your other Mum, that is, if you want." Lily held Rachel's hand warmly.
"Really? You'd let me?" Rachel was very delighted. Having a real Mum was more than she would think would happen, but having Lily, of all people, for her very own Mum was beyond her expectations.
"Thanks, Lily, for wanting me." Rachel was casting her eyes downward, afraid to even speak. But, as Rachel looked up at Lily, her lower lip quivered some, and she just broke down and cried and cried. Lily reached out and held on to her. Lily's glow started and lite up the entire room, penetrating the walls and windows. The light radiating around like waves of heat bending beams of light. Lily was holding Rachel and letting her cry. Lily was doing what she did best: comforting others when they needed someone the most.
And Rachel needed a Mum.
Lily continued seeing Rachel after this, inviting her to The Burrow for supper and a weekend sleepover. The Two of them would do Mum-daughter things and just talk for hours on end. They both needed this: Rachel needed a Mum and a Mum's love and attention and Lily wanted to love as a Mum.
All the news services put out the story by the end of the day. The Daily Prophet had a front page story. Harry was awarded the Order of Merlin, 1st class, due to the possibility of death and that he risked his own life to preserve another's. At the ceremony, Harry was asked to talk, how he felt. "All I ever wanted was my Mum and Dad and they'd taught me well, so I wasn't about to let them down. I just want to be my Mum's son. That's what I really want."
Lily was very proud of her son, but especially for the kind words he said about her.
Later, after all had quieted some, Harry was back at the Burrow, with his family. Here, he was 'Harry, just Harry' and not some Hero.
But, there was still a young slender Red Headed witch to whom Harry would always be her hero, and her first and last love. Always.
Lily – and the depth of her Love for her son
Authors' Note: I've wondered about 2 things: one is Lily and James protecting their baby, maybe there was a safer way to do it. Maybe, by the way they sacrificed themselves, they did so, because of the effect it would have on their son, and two, the use of the Time Turner by Hermione in her 3rd year. Maybe there could be a connection? Anyway, here's a possible answer to tie them together.
Time Turner used by Hermione in her 3rd year
****** Sitting in Professor Dumbledore's office, Harry looked at his revered Headmaster, wondering why he was here. He'd already completed his NEWTS and felt he'd passed them. Sitting here with him was his Head of House, Professor McGonagall.
Something was afoot. Harry could feel it, it was that palpable.
"Harry, you're wondering why you're here today, and with your Head of House also. There's something that you need to be told, something very important about that which you already know about but have just taken for granted. You've not been told the 'how' or 'why' of this, just that it happened. Everyone knows your incredible background, but there's more to it than that."
Dumbledore paused, briefly to let Harry start thinking about what he'd said, so far.
"I don't understand. If this is so important, why hasn't my Mum told me before now?" Harry asked.
"Your Mum wanted me to tell you. She respects me and my decisions. She looks to me for advice and it was her decision for you to be told, by me, with Professor McGonagall present."
"You see Harry, it's about your scar, how it came to be, and WHY it works."
"But, Headmaster, I already know about that."
"Not quite, Harry, not quite. You need to do more research on charms and how they relate to you. You'll understand more completely then. But, let me finish. When your Mum was in school here, as Lily, the first time, she was good in charms." Dumbledore got up and paced around the office, thinking on his feet. "Harry," Dumbledore turned and looked at him, "Harry, Lily was the most talented charms student that this school has ever produced, and we've produced some of the best in the Magical World, and your Mum, well, she was the best of the best."
"Harry, when I say that your Mum was the best at Charms, I really mean it. None were better. None. And that includes me." Dumbledore said with a bit of a smile.
"Charms came natural to her. She tried to explain how she did what she did, but none of us could ever follow her theory. Some of us could, but only part way. Her theory's, the basis of her charm work were so totally different we, the faculty, could not understand how they worked. We tried her at dueling and like charms, she was outstanding. She never tried to overcome anyone, quite the contrary, she just defended herself, perfectly. On the other hand, she did not preform curses nor hexes, it was not that she was unable or couldn't, it was her choice not to. She told us that they were against her very nature. We didn't really understand, but we accepted what she said. Still, though, we all tried to test her, and to no avail. Even with some of the unforgiveables that were used, even they hand no affect upon her; Her use of Charms could counter everything we used against her. That's why when we found out how she died why it was most perplexing to us. None of us could quite understand, that if she was so good, what happened. Eventually, I found out."
"When she graduated and just before she married James, your father, she and I and Professor McGonagall, sat down with her, here, in this very office, right where you're sitting and talked with her, about her future and how she could use her talents. Harry, your Mum worked for the Ministry in experimental charms. She was given free reign to do anything and everything she wanted to do to complete her work. She had the authority to go to any department to get any information or skills, or materials she needed to do her work." Dumbledore stopped talking so Harry could just try to comprehend just the magnitude of what he'd just revealed.
"Professor, I didn't know any of this."
"I know, Harry, oh how well I know. That's why you're so important, sort of. Harry, Lily came across some information, that there'd be a great evil approaching us, our world. How she found out about it, she never revealed, but she set to work to create a charm, a charm for protection, but Harry, it was this charm that ultimately was your protection. Lily was then and still is now, a most compassionate person. She'd never set out to hurt anyone, even her attackers, not even that source of evil. Why? Even I didn't know then, but she did. Lily knows more about the Ministry's secrets than any one single person, including the Minister himself. Even the Unspeakables, well, she held more knowledge and power and skill than any of them. And Harry, that's saying quite a lot. Even today, years later, the Unspeakables still remember her – and respect her. Some even go to her for advice."
"I didn't know that, Headmaster." Replied Harry.
"Harry, she completed her Master Charm project but left no written records or any indication of what it was or even how it worked. She worked in complete secrecy, but somehow, what she was doing got out to Tom. You and all of us know him as Lord Voldemort. He understood that Lily was a threat to his rise to power and he intended to stop her anyway he could."
Dumbledore stopped talking and just remained silent, pacing around his office and just thinking of the past events.
"Headmaster, what Mum was working on, did it have anything to do with me?"
Dumbledore stopped walking and turned to look at Harry, the saddest expression appeared on his face.
Dumbledore just nodded his head in the affirmative.
"You see, Harry, time is a funny thing, you can't see, feel or taste it, but it's there. Lily knew this and understood it. That's why, when Hermione came to Professor McGonagall here for a time turner, she got it. We both felt that there was something highly unusual about Hermione, especially after that episode in Flourish and Blotts just before her second year started. I kinda knew who she was, but had no proof, that's why Hermione got the use of the time turner, she knew just what it was, even that it existed was something that wizards and witches normally don't even know about. But Hermione did. THAT told us a lot."
"Harry, Your Mum found out that the ultimate protection that could ever be provided, to be given, had to be based on love and sacrifice, and by that I mean total, absolute, unequivocally no questions asked or hindrance AT ALL, Love and Sacrifice on the part of the person giving of themselves for the love for that person. This charm was more powerful than any that could ever be created, but at a cost, and the cost was great. Your parents knew it. And they accepted it."
Dumbledore walked over to Harry and looked directly at him: "Harry, this charm that your Mum created – she left no notes, no written instructions, nothing about it. None of us in the Ministry even knew what Lily was working on. That's how important her work was. She was an Unspeakables' Unspeakable. Even THEY didn't talk about her, not even to, or among, themselves. She told me all about this not too long ago. That's why she wanted me to tell you some of this. Much I already guessed at before she told me, but the very sensitive parts, she told me."
"Lily knew, somehow, that through the use of time, that this evil would be centered on you because you're Lily's son. You've inherited all her talents, her abilities, everything except her total and absolute knowledge on charm work. It's just a natural gift that she gave you. It's all a twist in the fabric of time itself and Lily worked on conquering it. Whether or not she'd known that she'd be able to return, as she did, no one knows, and I mean no one, Harry. Except Lily herself."
Dumbledore walked over to Harry, sat down facing him. All his many years were now apparent on his face and frame. The weight of all his responsibilities were etched on him, and he was tired. Harry could see it and almost feel it.
"The purpose of Lily's work is to overcome all this evil, to conquer it, but in her way that we, in our world know nothing of, and can't quite comprehend how. But, Harry, your Mum does. So too, does your Dad . . . , and, Harry, . . . ,
, . . . In all our world, Harry, your parents are unique – Absolutely unique. There never has been anyone like them, nor will there ever be. Harry, the amount of knowledge that your Mum knows is absolutely staggering. Even with all the knowledge that Tom learned about the Dark Arts can't even compare to what your Mum knows and has access to."
Harry just sat there, not knowing what to say, almost stunned by this revelation about his beloved parents. Except about what she knows.
"Headmaster, Mum's been taught. Each morning since she's been married to Dad, she gets up early, before anyone else and goes out to the Garden and sits there."
Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall both looked at each other with a question in their eyes.
"I got up one morning, earlier that normal and went to get her and I saw her in the Garden. Molly was up then and I started to go out to be with Mum when Molly stopped me and asked me to not go out there. She said that Mum needed to be alone. I asked her why, was something bothering her and Molly finally told me what Mum was doing."
Here, Harry just stopped and cast his eyes downward, shaking his head some. Even HE couldn't believe what he'd been told about not just WHAT his Mum was doing, but WHO she was talking to!
"Later, I talked to Mum and she told me everything, that Father has been teaching her every morning and would be doing so for as long as she remained here. However long that'd be. She said she was being taught lessons, given visions that lasted for a long, long time. She said she could not only 'see' but 'hear' in these visions. She's given instructions on what to do, and whom to help and why. This is why I want to stay with her and learn as much as I can from her. No one knows what she knows. And, she loves me." Harry looked up at Dumbledore briefly and sort of smiled and just hung his head down.
"Headmaster, I've head Mum speak of her responsibilities a couple of times, but I didn't realize just how heavy they were. Once, she came home from talking with you, and she was real quiet, but she was sitting on Dad's Lap and just broke down and cried for the longest time and told us why. It was about what she had to do for our people here, that there was an evil approaching, not Voldemort, something more terrifying even than him, that not even the muggles would be able to overcome with all their technology. Mum said that this evil would be coming for us first, that the muggles would be helpless without us."
The two professors just looked up at one another, perplexed
.
"Did she say anything else?"
"Yes, that it'd take a long time, a very long time to teach us faith, hope, charity, and love. That talents in the magical arts would not be enough, that these items everyone had to have, and she meant everyone. Oh, she also mentioned one other item."
"What was that?"
"Sacrifice. Mum said that, in the end, we'd all have to sacrifice, and she meant everyone."
They all fell silent.
"Mum also mentioned that there were some Muggles, one in particular, came to visit us when Mum brought me home here after I was born, she said that there were certain Muggles who had more power and authority than she had. She was very protective and knew what she was talking about."
Dumbledore and McGonagall looked at one another, nodding their heads, seemingly to confirm their thoughts on what Harry said.
"Now, Harry, do you understand a little more about That scar, about your Mum? When she and your Dad sacrificed themselves that night, your Dad was the first to die, that started the charm, it set it into motion, but when your Mum died protecting you, the charm was sealed - permanently. You were protected by the life that your parents gave up to protect you. Voldemort would not, could not overcome that charm, not in any way."
"It could not be broken. Harry, that charm that your Mum used was not based upon magic, none that we can find. Whatever it was that Lily used to create her charm, that's the best word we have to describe it, has no magical quality about it. It does use your Parents' sense of sacrifice of their lives, but that's all we know. It's all completely beyond anything we've known about."
"Harry, your Mum is so advanced in Charms that she could stand up here and explain just what it is she does, and exactly HOW it is she performs her Charms, even THEN none of us would be totally able to understand her techniques. Even we, here, would not be able to do what it is she does."
"The one charm, Harry, that your Mum needed to protect you so that you'd have a chance to grow up to be here when you would be needed, she developed and gave. No one could have done better. Do you understand now?"
"Yes, Headmaster, I do. I've heard her tell me how much she loves me, but just couldn't quite fathom how much or why. Now I do. Now I do." Harry just shook his head as he turned and stared off into space, thinking, just thinking of his many conversations he'd had with his Mum. 'Mum,' Harry thought to himself, 'until now, I've never realized just how much you've sacrificed and worked – for me, for others. Now, now I believe you, more fully, when you tell me you love me.'
"I've heard her tell you, Harry, believe me. We both know, Professor McGonagall and I."
"Thank you, Headmaster, and Professor McGonagall. Thank you."
"You're welcome, Harry. This is why you've been looked after so closely all these years. But Harry, there's one more item for you to think about and that's for you to talk with your Mum. There's something about you and your parents, like a Grand Design, looking over your lives, all of us. Talk with her sometime, and she'll explain it. She's the only one who can."
"I will Headmaster."
"Now, go see your parents. It's time for you to go home, your work here today is finished. Time for you to be with your family."
"That's the nicest thing you could have told me, Professor."
"I know, Harry, I know." Dumbledore had that trademark twinkle in his eyes once again.
Harry departed, by floo, for the Burrow. He was happy, yet full of questions. And had a whole lot more respect for his Mum.
