Harry Potter and the Legend of the Twelve

By

Lewis M. Brooks, III

Chapter 28 – Gifts, Part II

Harry wasn't sure what was going on around him. He was looking up, as though he was lying on the ground. He saw two men wielding swords, dueling. They seemed slightly fuzzy, as if he was looking through the lens of a camera that was not quite focused. Few wizards used swords, as wands were far more effective. As he watched the fierce duel before him, he recognized one of them. The snakelike red eyes were unmistakable. It was Voldemort, wielding an ebony blade. As he watched the swords clang, he realized who it was who was battling Voldemort. It was James, at least it looked like James, but older. James was battling Voldemort with the Sword of Gryffindor. He saw another figure, not far away from Voldemort and James, a girl with red hair. It was Lily, but older as was James. Then swords were silenced, as Voldemort's blade found James' chest, and an instant later, a green flash erupted from where Lily's wand.

Just then, Harry woke up. It had been a dream. Harry sat up. Ginny wasn't in bed, he could hear the water turn off in the shower. He just sat there. The dream seemed so real. A moment later, the door to the bathroom opened, and Ginny walked in wearing her bathrobe.

"Harry, what is it?" asked Ginny, concerned by Harry's slightly shocked expression.

"I just had the strangest dream," Harry murmured.

"Was it a nightmare, like you used to have?" asked Ginny, coming over and sitting on the edge of the bed next to him.

"No. It was more like the dreams I used to get when Voldemort was in my head, but not quite," said Harry. "My scar didn't hurt though, so it couldn't have been Voldemort. I didn't feel anything, like I was completely numb. I think I was lying on the ground. Voldemort was dueling someone with a sword."

"Who was it?" asked Ginny.

"It was James, but he was older. He was at least sixteen or seventeen, possibly older," said Harry. "Lily was there too, she was also older. It was just so real."

Ginny swallowed hard. "What do you think it means?" asked Ginny, trying to hide the fear from her voice.

"I don't know. It couldn't have been the past or present. Maybe it is the future, or maybe it was just a dream," said Harry. He took a deep breath. "I've certainly never seen the future before."

"Well, as much as I wish it were just a dream, it wouldn't be the first time a wizard had a prophetic dream," said Ginny apprehensively. "Wizarding history is full of them. Who knows, maybe you are even descended from a Seer, and you don't know it." Ginny was quiet for a moment, as she tried to stay calm. "Voldemort is coming back…isn't he?"

"I don't know," said Harry, with a shake of his head. "Maybe he is, maybe not. Whatever the dream meant, if it meant anything, it's a long way off, so let's not worry about it right now."

Harry had left out how the scene ended. He didn't tell her he had awoken when the ebony blade wielded by Voldemort had pierced his son's chest, and that the unmistakable green light of the killing curse erupted from his daughter's wand. He watched James die, and his daughter use an Unforgivable Curse, the worst Unforgivable Curse. He could not tell Ginny how the dream ended. Not ever.

Ginny nodded and she continued to get dressed. Harry couldn't stop thinking about the dream.

James didn't know how to fight with a sword, but he wielded the sword in his dream as if he'd had years of practice. Harry had become adept at fighting with a sword during Auror training, though he had rarely had to use that skill. Killing the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets was the most he had ever used a sword, and that was mostly luck. Harry decided to file it away for later, but even as he went about getting ready for the day, it was hard for him to push it from his thoughts.

When Harry and Ginny arrived at Gryffindor Tower, Sirius and Neville were already there, chatting.

"Happy Christmas," said Harry, as they crawled through the portrait hole. The four of them all wished each other Happy Christmas. Harry and Ginny sat on the couch next to each other.

"So, think you'll get anything nice this year, Harry?" asked Sirius.

"I'm pretty sure I'll be getting one of the best Christmas presents I've ever got," said Harry with a smile.

"Go ahead and tell them before the children get down here, I know you're dying to let it out," said Ginny with a laugh.

"Sounds like someone has a secret," said Sirius raising his eyebrows.

"Out with it Harry," said Neville.

"Well, Ginny and I are going to adopt Carly, if she wants us to that is," Harry announced, grinning ear to ear.

"That's wonderful," said Sirius happily. "That sweet girl deserves a family, and I can't think of a better one for her." Sirius smiled sadly. "You Potters sure have a habit of picking up strays."

"They do, don't they?" said Neville. "That's really great. Congratulations. You're both very lucky." Neville's smile darkened slightly.

"You know Neville, I just know there is someone out there for you," said Ginny reassuringly. "You just need to keep looking. I'm still surprised things didn't work out with Hannah."

"Hannah and I couldn't have worked out," said Neville sadly. "I was teaching at Hogwarts and she was going into the Auror training program. It just wouldn't have worked."

Sirius decided to change the subject. "So, when can we welcome the new member of the family?" he asked.

"Let's not rush things, we still don't know if she'll want us to adopt her," said Ginny. "I must admit I've grown very fond of her." Ginny smiled. "I think I already started worrying about her like she was our own."

Harry leaned over and gave Ginny a kiss. "I have too," said Harry. "I think Carly likes us too. I'm no Seer, but I think she's going to be very happy."

"I hope so," said Ginny with a smile.

Before anyone could say anything else, the girls came down the stairs just two minutes before the boys. Lily had been allowed to stay in the dorm with Carly. She had been very excited about it since it would be nearly two years before she got to live in the dorm properly. They all wished each other Happy Christmas and sat in front of the fire to open presents.

After they opened some presents, Ginny noticed Carly's necklace. "Carly, you have a new charm on your necklace," she continued.

Carly reached up and touched the phoenix charm hanging from the chain around her neck and smiled. "Al gave it to me last night. It's the best present I've ever received," said Carly. She leaned over and kissed Albus on the cheek, and he took her hand.

Carly got something very special for Albus as well. Someone had been snapping pictures at the Halloween dance. Carly gave Albus a framed picture of the two of them on the dance floor. The picture moved, as they danced, and then showed Albus lean in and kiss her. He had never seen a picture of their kiss. For the first time, he realized just why everyone was so shocked. He was a little shocked himself. Carly also gave him a box of his favorite sweets, lemon drops. His father always said that it had to be something about the name, Albus, since Albus Dumbledore's favorite candies were lemon drops too.

"That's not all the presents," said Ginny. "I think there is one more."

Lily was closest to the tree, and she looked and saw a Muggle envelope with a bright red bow on it. She pulled it out and read the name. "It's for Carly," said Lily, and she handed it to Carly.

Carly looked at it quizzically. She pulled off the bow, and playfully draped the ribbon over Albus' head to a round of laughter. She opened the envelope and pulled out the sheets of paper inside. As she read the paper, her eyes went wide. She looked up at Harry and Ginny a look of wonder and shock on her face. "Is this…real?" she managed to say shakily.

"If you want it to be," said Ginny warmly. "I really hope you do."

"It's all signed, we just have to owl it to the Ministry," said Harry with a smile. "It's up to you, Carly."

Carly looked back at the paper in her hands. James, Lily, and Albus stared between Carly and their parents, not understanding what was going on.

All of a sudden, Carly dropped the paper, leapt to her feet, ran to the coach, and threw one arm around Harry's neck, and the other around Ginny's and hugged them both. Harry and Ginny held her as she cried tears of joy, saying, "Thank you," over and over again.

James picked up the paper Carly had dropped and read it aloud. "'Certificate of Adoption by Harry James Potter and Ginevra Molly Potter of Carly Jones'," said James.

"You're adopting Carly!" said Lily excitedly. "I've always wanted a sister!"

Albus couldn't quite believe it, but just smiled ear to ear. Carly would not have to go back to the orphanage. They wouldn't have to be apart. This was the best Christmas presents he could have ever received.

After a moment, Carly pulled back from them. "Are you really sure you want me?" asked Carly, tears still in her eyes. She almost looked afraid of the answer.

"Yes," said Ginny, with a smile. She reached out and brushed the tears from Carly's face. "I know we can never replace your family, and we don't want to try. We want you to be part of our family. You aren't alone anymore. Just say the word, and it's done."

"Can we send it right now?" asked Carly hopefully, a smile lighting her face.

Harry smiled. "Afraid we'll change our minds, are you?" asked Harry. "Never happen. Why don't you all get dressed and take it up to the Owlery, and send it to Kingsley at the Ministry. Then we can get some breakfast in the Great Hall, and then I think the snow awaits us."

James, Carly, and Lily headed up to the dorms to change. Albus didn't move from the floor, the smile still on his face. He looked up at his parents. "Thank you. I don't know what I would have done if she would have had to go back to that place alone," said Albus. He got up and hugged both his parents, and went up to his dorm to change.

In the Owlery the envelope making Carly Jones a member of the Potter family was sent. James and Lily headed for the Great Hall for breakfast, but Albus held Carly back, and pulled her into a hug.

"Are you happy?" asked Albus, whispering in her ear.

"More than I have been in longer than I can remember," Carly whispered back. "I guess you're right, Al."

"I'm right about what?" asked Albus quizzically.

Carly pulled back, and placed her hand on the phoenix charm hanging from the chain around her neck. "You were right, it is lucky," she told him. "I feel like the luckiest girl in the world."

Albus kissed her softly. "We better get to breakfast before James eats everything," said Albus. The two shared a laugh, and headed for the Great Hall.