Chapter 33: The Gift
"Dad?? Mum??" James said as they stepped into their mansion at Godric's Hollow. His parents had a solemn look on them throughout the whole journey home. Even his cheery sister was not at her usual self.
"James, sit down."
"What's going on??"
"There's a few thing we need to tell you now. It's very important."
"First, we want you to know that you're the last descendent of Godric Gryffindor."
James nodded silently. He already guessed that somehow. I've been practicing his powers in the last year, but I can't tell you that.
"This chain was passed down from my father. Now I'm passing it down to you. I'm supposed to give it to you only after you turn sixteen. But from the situation now, I'm afraid we can't wait for two years." Harry told James as he took out a chain from his neck, putting on a bewildered James' hand.
"What happened, dad??" James studied the
pendant.
"I'm sure you've heard of Voldemort." James nodded, confused at how Voldemort is going to affect him directly.
"Everyone in the Potter family had been one of those to contribute to rid the descendents of Salazar Slytherin. You'll have to do that too in the future. Be it Voldemort or someone else. We're afraid that something might happen to you along the way. Voldemort might try to kill you first before he hurt me. He is much more smarter than the dark wizards in the past. Anyway this key, designed by Godric himself, was meant for a purpose. Besides that, it would protect the wearer from any harm. No curses can hit you as long as you're wearing this, not even the Unforgivable Curses. Remember never ever remove it. And only the wearer can take it off. No one else can remove it for you." Harry said, looking at James intensely, looking for any form of rejection. "Being the Minster of Magic, we might be his first few targets. We had already left one million galleons worth of money in a safe in Gringotts under your name in case anything ever happen to us."
"But dad-"
"Listen first. Remember what dad say." Fion told James. He just nodded and continued to see what his parents were going to tell him.
"We've to try every way to protect you from harm. Voldemort would be after you in the near future. It had been said that Godric and Salazar were enemies, so would their descendents." James continued to look at the pendant which did not look as almighty as the way his father had described it to be.
"What's the key for??"
"I've no idea as well. I had worn it since your grandpa gave it to me when I was sixteen. I had never removed it. Not at all. Well we already had a legal will. The money in your vault is only meant for emergency. If not used, it would be passed to your children. As for this key, I had yet to unlock the mystery behind it." James looked at the key on the platinum chain. It had the word Gryffindor engraved on it vertically. The key felt very ancient. As James clasped the chain on his neck, he could feel a newfound strength rushed over his body. He felt stronger and more confident than before.
"Keep the family heirloom safe and well. Only a true Gryffindor descendent would be able to use it. If anything ever happen to us, both of you must be strong and take care of each other. Don't mourn or get all upset because these things just happen. No one have any control over it." Harry instructed Fion and James. Fion nodded. James looked at his sister and nodded. He was pushed to the real world faster than he wanted to be.
"Do you know that we're the heir of Rowena Ravenclaw??"
"Erm.. I don't." Sirius replied. Of course I do. I've been practicing her powers for at least a year.
"Now you do. There's something I want to tell you. Listen clearly. I had left a large sum of money for you at vault seven hundred and eleven. It would be enough to last for both you and Stefanie for a lifetime if anything ever happen to your mother and I. It's for emergency use only."
"Yes, dad. But-"
"No buts. Lister first. Another thing, this silver chain would be yours."
"What is it for??" Sirius looked at the platinum chain with a rather heavy metal rod as a pendant. It had the name Ravenclaw engraved vertically on the miniature rod. The ordinary looking chain did looked and felt ancient. He clasped it around his neck and instantly a gush of strength flow through him.
"Wear it. It would protect you from harm, including the Unforgivable Curses. It was passed down from your grandpa when I turned sixteen. Evil had been lurking around. I don't think I can wait for another two years before giving it to you. And I want you to wear this all the time. Never ever remove it in your whole life till your child turns sixteen. Do you remember that??"
"Yes, dad."
"Being aurors, both your mother and I would be one of the first in Voldemort's list. You and Stefanie have to take care of each other in case we're gone. Protect yourselves first in case anything ever happen." Jason said in a very serious tone, making sure Sirius had understood every word.
"Aunt Joan??"
"Stefanie, come here and sit beside me."
"Ok. What happen??"
"I've a necklace for you." Joanna unclasped the silver chain holding a heart-shaped pendant from her neck and placed in Stefanie's hand.
"Wow. It looks beautiful." Stefanie admired it and then wore the necklace to take a look at it in the mirror. Suddenly there was a rush of energy and warmth through her. She was about to undo the necklace and return it.
"Wear it and never remove it. Do you
understand??"
"But why??"
"This pendant has an extraordinary power in which I've yet to find out. I meant to give to you only when you turn sixteen, but circumstances make things happen faster than we wanted."
"What's going on??"
"Voldemort, the Dark Lord, have you heard of his evil-doings??"
"Yes."
"Your father, mother and I, being aurors, would be in his list as well. This necklace can protect you from all sorts of curses including the Unforgivable Curses. The only thing is that no one else but the wearer can remove it."
"What about your safety?? You've to be protected as well."
"We're old enough to take care of ourselves. It's you and Sirius that we're worried about."
"But Aunt-"
"No buts, we left a large sum of money in Gringotts for you and Sirius in case anything ever happen to us. It's enough to last the two of you for the whole lifetime. You must not use it unless in absolutely emergency. Do you understand me?? The situation had gotten worst. Protect yourself. You and Sirius are our only hope."
"Yes Aunt." Stefanie's eyes were getting teary as she listened to her favorite Aunt talk.
"Remus, wear this." Adam instructed his son.
"What is it for??" Remus asked his father,
confused at the seriousness of the whole situation. He studied the pendant for
a while. It was a plain small rectangular metal, which looked a little like a
dog tag with the word Hufflepuff engraved on it horizontally at the back.
"It's a protector. Helga Hufflepuff and created this to protect her descendents from all curses and hexes." Remus saw the look on his father and wore the platinum chain on his neck immediately. Instantly, there was a newfound strength rushed through his body.
"How come I'm not in Hufflepuff since I'm her descendent??"
"I don't know any more than you do. I was in Gryffindor back then too. I supposed Godric wanted to keep all the three descendents safe and sound in his house. Remember; never ever take your pendant off no matter what happens. Never ever."
"What else am I supposed to know??"
"We left you a sum of money in Gringotts under your name in case anything happen to us. The money would be enough to last you a lifetime. Never ever use the money there unless in emergency."
"Dad, what could happen to you and mum??"
"We'll be in Voldemort's list because Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and especially Gryffindor are the enemies of Slytherin. You're our only descendent, our only hope. Protect yourself. Do you understand the seriousness of this, Remus Jack Lupin??"
"Yes, dad." Remus looked at his father, and then turned to his mother. Both of them had the unusual serious expression on them that he had never seen before.
"I can't believe you guys have gotten as well." James exclaimed as the three guys gathered together at the Potters' Manor the second day after they got home. Peter, of course, was away to serve Voldemort.
"I think everything come into the picture. Our lives are pre-destinated." Remus added, fiddling the pendant of his chain.
"We're going to be heroes in the magical community." Sirius exclaimed, jumping on James' king-sized bed. His rod pendant swung up and down as he jumped.
"Sirius!!" James and Remus said at a rather annoyed tone. Sirius was never serious, no matter how important or urgent something was. He only stopped after the rod swung up and hit his nose.
"What??"
"Get serious."
"Sirius is here."
"Where's Bell and Stef anyway??"
"At home, doing girls' stuffs."
"Two more weeks before Lily get back." The five of them had gotten an owl post from her the night before, saying that she had to fly to Taiwan with her parents for some business trip.
"Let practice our superpowers!! We might as well as make the best out of this free time!!" James said, feeling rather bored and getting pissed at Sirius for spoiling the spring on his mattress. He just finished polishing his spectacles again. It was just too bored besides eating and Quidditch.
"We're going to have our practice soon!! Why do you want to practice earlier than we're supposed to??" Sirius pouted dramatically. No one else would buy that pout and puppy dog eye of Sirius, definitely not James or Remus.
"If we don't, Dumbledore might take away this privilege from us for the next break." Remus said reasonably.
"That's what I think as well." James said. "You being the third wizard of our year can't even think of something as simple as that."
"That's why I'm behind you two!!" Sirius said. "Don't worry, I'll catch up and be the top someday."
"Yeah, someday." James muttered and 'accio' his comb on the table, thinking of taming his messy his hair a little to see if that was possible. Remus caught the momentum and started concentrating down the timeline. Sirius, realizing his two friends are going to be practicing, followed suit and controlled a packet of sugar quills over from the table so that he can eat as he practice.