.
Chapter 37
The Next Task
It was the weekend after the failed kidnap attempt and Harry, David, Hermione, and Ron were walking to the spare classroom for another session of rebalancing. Both Ginny and Neville had some extra work to do but the group hoped at least Luna would meet them in the spare room. The brass key had been put on one side and a variant of the Colloportus spell bound to each of them was used instead. This allowed anyone in the group to come and go very conveniently while keeping the door sealed against everyone else in the school.
They now knew that Voldemort's powers were back to the level they had been and were being held in check by their sessions. Whatever the future held, whatever was needed to finally overthrow him, at least he would not simply overwhelm all those opposed to him. He could be fought.
"David, you mentioned once about asking Professor Bingley to join us. She visits Sephany three or four days a week so has put her classes on hold for now but perhaps she can find time for one or two sessions with us a week?" asked Harry. "She has a very inquiring mind and I'm sure she'd be interested."
"Interest is not quite enough Harry. Every participant has to be 'ready'. I kept watch on the rest of you for quite a time before you reached that stage. While I was in Professor Bingley's class I could see she was almost there but of course, I have not seen her since." replied David.
"It occurs to me that she has never actually seen you - or rather, never actually noticed you, has she?" asked Hermione with a smile. "She shelved her GMK classes before you removed your unnoticeable spell."
"That is right, Hermione." David thought for a few moments then continued,
"I have never pressured any of you to maintain secrecy about our activities because it becomes natural to you all to do so. You will have noticed I am sure that each of you has a slightly different magical sense compared to most other witches and wizards. It is a subtle difference but I know you can feel it and your natural instinct after that first session was never to talk about what we do to anyone outside our seven. If any of you see Professor Bingley..."
"Why, I know exactly what you are going to say!" said Harry excitedly, "Yes, I sometimes see her at the mausoleum and we sit together with Seph. Professor Bingley tells the most wonderful stories. And yes, I have sensed that same difference in her that I see in us seven. Does that mean then she is ready?" asked Harry.
"Indeed it does. I suggest then you invite her along and I will make sure that I am there for her first session. However, Ron, I think you should train her. I can teach you nothing more." said David.
"You're leaving us aren't you David?" asked Hermione, rather sadly.
"I'll always be present in the mentasphere, Hermione; all living things are there, substantial, tangible, real." replied David, "You need only think of me."
"Ah yes! That's right! I hadn't thought of that!" Hermione brightened up considerably. They had all grown to like David.
"And I still have other work to complete here." added David.
They had reached the classroom door and walked through to find Luna already there and pleased to see them. After some quick greetings, Hermione asked David,
"You said you had to help someone 'go on', David."
"Yes but I've not been able to find out anything about this ghost yet" said David.
"How much do you know?" asked Hermione.
"Almost nothing." replied David.
"How are you going to know which ghost it is then?" asked Ron with a frown.
"These tasks always unfold at the right time, Ron." replied David, unruffled. "I will come across it in a book or somehow it will be revealed to me. Ghosts are those who are held back by an attachment to this world, or perhaps just afraid to leave the world at all. All I know is that the ghost I am to help is waiting."
"Nearly-headless Nick! Always seems to be some regret there that he didn't go on." said Ron.
"Well there is!" he added as the others looked at him.
"David, what was your first task - the one you said you had already completed?" asked Harry.
"A young child was lost." replied David.
"Lindsey Croft!" exclaimed Hermione. "You gave her a map didn't you?"
"You came to this world just to give directions?" asked Ron incredulously. "There are billions of people who need help. How do you choose?"
"She was frightened. All suffering is an abomination to us." replied David, "but there are only a few we can help. Changing anything in time, even for good, often makes things worse in the future."
"We'll help you find the ghost won't we?" said Hermione looking round. Harry and Ron stared, then broke into grins. "Course we will."
"Thank you." smiled David, "Let's start this session first though."
It was a typical session. The mental realm was a wonderful experience. In addition, they were dwelling on good, beautiful thoughts that were by now so deep and vivid that the power of the seven was clearly visible to themselves. They grew larger, more dominant. In the mental realm there are no physical forms. Prominence is not discerned by size or distance but by strength of mind and character. Creatures such as giants, so huge to physical sense, were very small in the higher realm.
They all could see definite progress in redressing the balance and after the session David remarked that Voldemort was beginning to feel something too. He would be noticing an inexplicable weakening of his powers.