CHAPTER 35: RESTORATION & THE MEETING
Harry heard the calls from his friends and smiled knowing that he was back where he belonged. He dragged the trunk that Merlin had given him outside where his friends could look at it. He ran to Hermione and kissed her.
"Not that I'm complaining Harry," she started, "but what was that for?"
"I've been gone half the day, and I missed you."
"Harry you were gone for about five minutes. Isn't that right Ron?"
"Yeah mate. You walked in and there was a light that surrounded you. The light faded and you were gone. Five minutes later you came back with this trunk."
"That's strange. Anyway I went to see Merlin in the past. I had to get a stone that he threw in the Loch that was about two hours from his home. He said that it was for a staff that I would be making. It's a very interesting story, but I think that it can wait. We need to restore the Foundation Stone."
"Yes you're right of course," said Hermione.
"What are we waiting for?" added Ron. "Let's go."
The trio walked down to the main floor of the Headmaster's Office. Headmaster Dumbledore smiled at them while the others had concern on their faces.
Ron stepped over to his family while Hermione and Harry went to hers. They talked and explained to everyone what was about to happen.
"We can begin now," Harry said. The spectators formed a line around Harry, Ron and Hermione. Harry took a step forward. He closed his eyes and raised his hand. "I call for the stone that shall protect the brave."
"I call for the stone that shall protect the noble," said Ron stepping forward.
"I call for the stone that shall protect the wisdom," said Hermione as she too stepped forward.
"We are the Three from Three," they said in unison. "We call for the Foundation Stone."
There was a slight rumble that went around the Headmaster's Office. It stopped once it reached the center of the room. The floor that was painted with the arrows of a compass began to glow. The rock that was at the center of this compass lifted out of the floor until it was waist high.
"I am the phoenix of light and the brave lion," Harry said.
"I am the badger. Noble and true," said Ron.
"I am the owl of wisdom," Hermione said.
They placed their hands on the stone and it was surrounded by the colors of the Founders. Harry turned to Dumbledore. "Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, come forward please." Dumbledore walked to the center of the room. "Do you have the vial?"
"Yes Harry. Here you are." He handed Harry the vial. "What do you need my blood for Harry?"
"It is needed for the bonding professor," Hermione spoke. "Since you are the Headmaster of Hogwarts, the school's magic is directly linked to you."
"She is correct Albus," said a voice.
Harry smiled. "I was wondering when you would come to find me old friend." The spirit of Godric Gryffindor appeared in front of them. "What took you so long?"
"Hello Harry. I see that you all found your chambers."
"How did you know about them?" asked Ron. "You didn't even know what was happening to us."
"Yes Ron I didn't know, but I found a few people who did. They are a bit anxious to meet you by the way."
"Who might that be Godric?" asked Hermione.
Godric smiled at her. "They're your ancestors of course. Rowena, Helga. Where are you?"
"We're right here my love," answered Rowena.
Two more people appeared next to Godric. The two women were of course Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff. Rowena walked next to Godric and placed her hand in his. Helga smiled at the two and walked to Ron.
"Hello Lord of Friendship," she said. "I am Helga Hufflepuff your ancestor."
"Pleased to meet you Helga," Ron replied. "I'm Ron Weasley and these are my parents and the rest of my family." He motioned to them and stepped beside Lavender. "This is Lavender Brown, my girlfriend."
"I'm honored to meet you all," she said smiling.
As the others got acquainted Harry was completing his part of the spell. The others quieted down and continued to watch. Harry opened the vial and poured Dumbledore's blood onto the stone. "If the blood seeps into the stone then your bonding with the stone was sorely needed." They all watched to see if the stone would react, and they weren't disappointed. The Foundation Stone started to glow a golden color and seemed to act like a sponge as it soaked up the Headmaster's blood.
"I guess that it was needed," Dumbledore said. "I don't seem to recall that anything was said to me about this when I took over as Headmaster. I should write this down as part of the transferal process."
"Good thinking sir," Harry replied. "Hermione it's your turn."
She stepped forward and kissed Harry on his cheek. 'Thanks love," she said.
The wind seemed to swirl around her as she walked up to the stone. "Foundation Stone of Hogwarts heed my call." The aura around the stone turned bronze. "Professor Severus Snape, please step forward."
Snape walked up to Hermione and the stone. "Yes Miss Granger?" he asked.
"Professor, can you roll up your sleeve and reveal the Dark Mark to the stone?" He did as he was asked and there were a few gasps as not a lot of people knew that he was formally a Death Eater. She looked up at the group and asked, "Who among you shall stand with him?"
"What does she mean?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
"She asks if there is a person who will vouch for the goodness in his heart," answered Professor McGonagall.
"I will," said Ginny and Draco at the same time. They smiled at each other and walked forward.
Hermione smiled at the two. "Why do you stand with him Draco Malfoy?"
"He is the head of my house at Hogwarts. He is a spy for the Light. There is good in him."
"Why do you stand with him Virginia Weasley?"
"I too can see the good in him. Why else would he offer help to a student that was not in his house? Harry asked him to be nice to Neville, but instead he took it upon himself to offer the help he needed to do well in his classes. Also if Professor Dumbledore has trust in him and his abilities so should we all."
"Stand beside him and await judgment," Hermione said. "Foundation Stone you have heard testimony to the goodness of this man. I too add that he is trustworthy. I ask you to judge him with wisdom."
The bronze light extended out and encompassed Draco, Snape and Ginny. It stayed there for about a minute and then went back to the stone. A red light came out of the stone and surrounded half of Snape's arm. A white light came and surrounded the other half. As they all looked there was a black lizard and a white dragon on either side of the Dark Mark. The lizard shot fire at the mark as the dragon shot ice. The Dark Mark seemed to lift out of Snape's arm. It moved to the center of the stone and hovered there. Three beams of light shot out of the stone - one gold, one bronze and the other yellow. They surrounded the Dark Mark and destroyed it. The lizard and dragon disappeared as did the three colors of light.
"You have been judged, Professor Snape, to be of good character. Voldemort's Dark Mark has been lifted and your spells no longer hinder those of this castle. Welcome back to the Light. Your destiny has been revealed." She looked at Draco and Ginny. "The two of you have done well. Your destinies still await you."
She motioned for them to step away as Ron stepped up to the stone. "I am the Lord of Friendship. I call for those who are the loves of my heart. My friendship is between the three. My love – for she is the spark of my heart, my kin – for they are my heart, and my friends for they are the loyal and true." He reached down to get the pouch that was hanging from his belt. He turned to Harry and Hermione. "These are for you as a symbol of our friendship." He took out two rings and handed one to each. "If ever you are in need of me your rings shall show me the way." He repeated this for his family and had a few extra. Those he gave to Draco, Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape. There was one for Hagrid, but he was off visiting his family. There were two that he was holding for his brothers Bill and Charlie. Finally there was only one other. He turned to Lavender and smiled at her. "You are the spark of my heart and my friend. This last ring I cannot give to you. Instead you have to accept it."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
He reached into the pouch and pulled out the last ring. It sat in a box facing her. He saw her eyes open wide and smiled. He pulled the ring from the box and stepped closer to her. "This ring I ask you to accept is for love and friendship. Without our friendship we could have no love. Without our love I am incomplete. Will you accept this ring as a promise until that time when we can say what is in our hearts without the darkness that surrounds us?"
She started to cry as she looked between him and the ring. "Yes I will," she said. "I love you Ronald Weasley."
He smiled at her and put the ring on her finger. "I love you too Lavender." They kissed as the stone changed color once again. The bronze glow was now yellow. "We need to complete the spell Lav."
As she walked away Harry and Hermione took her place at Ron's side. They placed their hands on the stone and closed their eyes. The stone changed colors to represent the three founders and lowered itself back into the floor.
"We are the Three from Three," they said in unison. "Let the power of the stone be renewed once again."
There was a brilliant flash of light and the stone turned back to its original color. The arrows of the compass flashed as the magical energies flowed through the school.
"Did it work son?" asked Mr. Weasley.
The trio looked around and nodded. "Yeah dad the wards are back up to full strength."
"Harry it's time to go," Godric said.
"Yes I know Godric," he replied. He shook his best friend's hand. "Ron, keep an eye out for her. Keep her safe for me."
"I will mate," Ron replied. "We'll find what we can about the spell. I promise."
"Thanks." He turned to Hermione. "It's time 'Mione."
She started to cry. "I'll miss you my love. We just found each other and now we have to say goodbye."
"It's not goodbye Hermione," he said matter of factly. "It's only farewell."
"Godric my love," Rowena whispered. "I think it unfair that you have to take him completely away from her. Look at how much they love each other."
"I suppose you're right Rowena," he said smiling at her. "You know I could never resist your eyes." He cleared his throat. "Harry, Hermione and Ron you can visit each other at the end of every week. That way you can go through some of the journals together and train some with your powers. How does that sound?"
Harry smiled, "That sounds great Grandfather. Thanks." He said his goodbyes to the rest and kissed Hermione once more. "I'll see you on Friday love."
She smiled back, "Until Friday then. I love you."
They held each other close and kissed once more. The now familiar gold and crimson light surrounded them once more until they broke apart. Harry walked to Godric, Rowena and Helga and they were surrounded by Godric's golden shield. Harry could see Hermione crying and wanted so bad to comfort her.
"I know what you're thinking Grandson," Godric said to him. "I too could not resist my true love."
"I must be strong for them if we are to survive Godric," he said. "I will not fail them."
Hermione was still in tears over Harry's departure. She wanted to stay with him throughout his training, but Godric said no to that. He didn't want Harry to be distracted. Taking a deep breath she steadied herself and wiped the tears away.
"Ron I think we should get back to the Potter Manor Library," she said.
"You're right of course Hermione," he replied. "Let's do it."
They said their goodbyes to the rest and left through the fireplace. They arrived at the manor and started their work.
"It's going to be a long night," Ron said.
A/N: To all those who have been awaiting this chapter you have my apologies. It has been a rough couple of weeks with exams and such. I have two very hard exams coming up this week and study time is at a maximum. To those who have been faithful reviewers I thank you all. I try to meet certain expectations when writing, and sometimes the words don't flow right. As this is my first ever fan fic I would like to say that it has been a pleasure. I would like to acknowledge the fact that I do have a beta who reads my story first and who I bounce ideas off of, when he has the chance to. So then Ty thanks for all your help. There is a last bit of news that you all must know by now April 11 is the release date for HP: Chamber of Secrets dvd/vhs, and of course June 21 for HP: Order of Phoenix book. They have also started to create the layout for Azkaban and it should prove to be a wild ride. Again thank you all for reading and thanks again Ty.