Chapter 55
The Missing Page
Author's Note: As you can see by the title of this chapter, the long-awaited missing page is going to be revealed. The first half of the chapter, originally seen in Chapter 18, will be once again in this chapter to flow better with the second half.
Disclaimer: Recognizable sections of this chapter come directly from Chapter 17 of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling. I do not take claim for these, only my own additions.
"Chocoballs," Dumbledore stated.
The gargoyle sprang to life, and jumped to the left, as a portion of the wall opened up.
"When Arthur and Molly Weasley, and Sirius Black, arrive, allow them in," Dumbledore said.
The gargoyle's stone head nodded and lowered. Dumbledore walked forward, and Harry followed him up the stairs with Ginny. Dumbledore summoned, not two chairs, but one love-seat in front of his desk, and motioned for Harry and Ginny to sit down. He then walked over to a cupboard with a glass door, opened it, and took out a stone bowl with runes carved around the rim.
The Pensieve? Ginny asked, Does he want to look at our memories?
Harry shrugged and stared at the bowl as Dumbledore placed it in the center of the desk, and sat down in his own chair.
"Do you know what this object is?" the headmaster asked.
"I've seen something like it in a book," Harry said, "A... Pensieve, I believe it is called?"
"Very good, Harry," Dumbledore said, "Yes, a Pensieve. The two of you will be using it very soon."
Harry looked at Ginny, who looked at him, then looked back at the headmaster.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"You will know very soon," Dumbledore soon, "But right now we must discuss other things. First things first, I want to know about the events last night that led you to Quirrel. I'm going to assume you found out about the stone through your research on the Flamels, when you received their book?"
"You know about the book?" Harry asked.
"I do," Dumbledore said, "As to that, we will discuss it soon. But first... how did you know about the Cerberus, known as Fluffy? And how did you know that Quirrel would be going for the stone last night?"
Harry used his original experience with Fluff to explain the accidental run-in with Fluffy. Then he and Ginny told Dumbledore about their shared nightmare two nights ago.
"We believed that it was a prophetic nightmare like you mentioned earlier this year," Harry said, "So we believed he would go through the trapdoor last night."
"Of course," Dumbledore said, "Then the nightmare was a gift?"
"A horrible experience," Ginny said, "but yes, you could say that."
"Continue," Dumbledore said, "I am very eager to know how four first years passed the obstacle course my fellow Professors and I laid out."
Harry and Ginny explained the obstacles: how they knew how to get past the devil's snare, Harry and Ginny's skill against the keys, Ron's skill at chess, and his sacrifice to allow Hermione and Harry into the potions room. Hermione's ingenuity at the riddle, and Ginny teleporting to Harry before they confronted Quirrel.
"This is most fascinating," Dumbledore said. "It does prove that four children can outsmart grown wizards if they work together. Next time, I might have to work a little bit harder. Yes."
Next to Harry, Ginny looked very amused.
"I assume Quirrel was not very happy to see you?" Dumbledore asked.
"No," Harry said.
He explained what happened next, and Dumbledore raised a hand to stop him halfway through.
"Quirrel jinxed your broom at the Quidditch match?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," Harry said.
"Then we should assume he jinxed your broom, Ginny, at the start of first term," Dumbledore said.
Ginny looked at Harry.
Better that he doesn't know about Pansy, yes? She asked.
She's no longer a threat. She's been a good girl, as much as she can be, since then.
Ginny returned her attention to the headmaster. "Yes, sir, I believe so."
"Excellent," Dumbledore said, "He did fool even me... I had cleared his name. Odd. No matter; that long and troublesome investigation is over. Continue..."
Harry then explained how Quirrel told him to get the stone, which he did, but lied about it.
"H-how did I do that, sir?" Harry asked, so as to fool the headmaster to thinking he did not know.
"Ah, now," Dumbledore said, "I'm glad you asked me that. It was one of my more brilliant ideas, and between you two, myself, and these portraits who believe they are fooling us by snoring, that's saying something."
Phineas Nigellus-Black harrumphed.
"Sorry, Albus," Dilys Derwent said.
"Quite all right," Dumbledore said, with a smile, though he did not take his eyesight from Harry and Ginny, "You see, Harry, only one who wanted to find the Stone — find it, but not use it — would be able to get it, otherwise they'd just see themselves making gold or drinking Elixir of Life. My brain surprises even me sometimes. Continue..."
"Well, he found out I lied," Harry said, "Vol – err – You-Know-Who -"
"Call him Voldemort, Harry," Dumbledore said, "Always use the proper name for things. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself."
"Yes, sir," Harry said, "Well... he – he was part of Quirrel. On the back of Quirrel's head."
"A leech," Dumbledore said.
"Yes, sir," Harry said, "And he talked to me... he knew I had the stone. I refused to give it to him, and Quirrel – he... he hurt Ginny. Next thing I knew, she was on the ground -"
Dumbledore looked at Ginny.
"All I could see was black," Ginny said, "Pitch black. I couldn't move or open my eyes. But I could still sense Harry, though my mind."
"I have a theory for that as well," Dumbledore said, "What Quirrel did, almost killed you, but because the other half of your soul resides in Harry – at the time, it was half – you still clung to life. I – ah, this is very hard to say – I believe the two of you will be live your lives out until the two of you die – at the same time."
"Wh-what?" Harry asked; he could feel Ginny trembling beside him.
"Bond-mates live for each other," Dumbledore said, "Not just yourselves. You cannot die unless the both of you die. Last night, while both of you almost died, neither of you were dying in unison."
Ginny was in tears beside Harry."Well, I guess that is proper. I couldn't live without Harry."
Dumbledore nodded, and gave a flat smile.
"What happened after Quirrel attacked Voldemort?" he asked. "This is what I am most eager to hear about, because it could explain... very much."
Harry's throat tightened. How could he explain his use of fiendfyre?
"Er..." he said, "I was really angry, and I-I used some kind of spell. Fire raised out of the floor, and circled Quirrel, and... when it disappeared... there was just ash on the floor. And then this mist... I guess that was Voldemort... guess I didn't kill him."
"No... I don't think you did either," Dumbledore said, "There are – ah – ways he can return, I am afraid."
"But I killed Quirrel," Harry said.
Dumbledore looked at Harry through his glasses. "Yes, Harry. I think you did."
"But it was self-defense!" Ginny said, "Harry, he would have killed you – us!"
"This is true," Dumbledore said, "Unfortunately, magic doesn't see that. It explains the predicament you are in. Murder rips souls apart... it is the worst act of nature. Because you had half of two souls, it injured them to the brink of death. But when you saved Ginny, it started the events that brought you back, and that has led you to what is happening now, with the fact that you have each other's complete soul in you. The Soul-Bond is trying to heal from the act of murder. And the only way it can do so is to latch on to the Bond-mate again, until it can completely heal."
"I'm sorry, Ginny," Harry said, "I should have figured a different way."
"You saved both of us, Harry," Ginny said, taking Harry's closest hand in hers, "You've done nothing wrong. We'll just face this new twist until our bond goes back to normal. Besides... I wasn't planning on letting you out of my sight very long, anyway."
Harry smiled, and looked at Dumbledore.
"Sir?" Harry asked, "What happened to the Stone?"
"It has been destroyed," Dumbledore said, and he looked very emotional.
"Destroyed?" asked Harry blankly. "But Nicolas Flamel... that means he and his wife will die, won't they?"
"They have enough Elixir stored to set their affairs in order and then, yes, they will die."
Dumbledore smiled at the look of amazement on Harry's face.
"To one as young as you, I'm sure it seems incredible, but to Nicolas and Perenelle, it really is like going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. You know, the Stone was really not such a wonderful thing. As much money and life as you could want! The two things most human beings would choose above all — the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them."
"So... can Harry and I meet them?" Ginny said, "I-I imagine they want to meet us, since we're Bond-mates, but... we still need to talk to them."
"You won't be able to talk to them," Dumbledore said, "But you will be able to meet them, and they will talk to you without actually meeting you."
"Er... what?" Harry asked.
"Like... a letter?" Ginny asked.
"Sort of, yes," Dumbledore said, "And also -"
He picked up a small package on his desk, and pushed it gently across the desk."
"- a memory," he said, "A very recent memory of them giving a message to you. I have not seen it, as they only wish you to see it. But first – I have been keeping a secret from you."
"Sir?" Harry asked, as Ginny looked surprised.
"I have recently been in touch with a certain bookshop keeper," Dumbledore said. "He is a procurer of rare and expensive books that he finds and sells for higher prices. He told me about two purchases in the last year by a goblin named Ragnok."
Harry's throat tightened. "You know about Nicolas Flamel's book?"
"Yes," Dumbledore said, "The shopkeeper told me about the problems Ragnok had. He is your vault's overseer, is he not?"
"Yes," Harry said, "We asked him to find us books on our Bond when we first learned about it. And we ended up with Nicolas' book."
"I assumed this as so," Dumbledore said,"The shopkeeper told me about a certain missing chapter from the book. So... I went straight to the source."
He pulled open a drawer in his desk, and pulled out a scroll. He then placed it on the desk in front of Harry. Harry's eyes widened. Could it be...?
"Nicolas asked me to give you this," Dumbledore said, "It is the only other copy of entire chapter you are missing. When Nicolas originally gave this to me, he told me I should keep it in my possession until the two of you were old enough to understand it. Why? Well, I have read the contents, and it is very disheartening and could trouble you. It will not happen for a three years for the first half – and only to you, Harry. In four years, it will happen to you, Ginny."
"Because of the age of consent," Harry said, "Which is fourteen."
"Yes," Dumbledore said, "The second half will come into effect when you, Ginny turn fourteen, and both of you are then of, or above the age of consent. Nicolas wishes you to read this now... but as I said, it is very troubling. Something you may fear or have trouble understanding at the moment. It is up to you if you wish to read it."
Harry looked at Ginny.
"We've been waiting for about a year to read this, sir," Ginny said. "I think we should."
"I agree," Harry said.
Dumbledore looked through his glasses at them and stood up. "Very well. Meanwhile. I will prepare the Pensieve for your visit. If you have questions, I am sure either myself, or the Flamels, through their message, will answer them."
He picked up the Pensieve then brought it over to a small desk. Harry took the scroll in his hand and looked at Ginny, who nodded. Harry inhaled and exhaled and opened the scroll. He placed it between himself and Ginny so they could read it together.
The True Power Of The Soul-Bond
For the first year of the soul-bond, when I was fourteen, and Perenelle sixteen, the worst experience we went through was the nightmares (as described in Chapter 3). At that time, we thought we had faced the worst part of the Soul-Bond, and that everything else we experienced was wonderful.
And then Perenelle turned seventeen years old - what was considered, by law, the age of consent in the wizarding world at that time.
Note: Before I continue, I guess I should mention one thing. It is not known why, but the Soul-Bond seems to adapt to society laws and this changes the way the Soul-Bond acts. Perhaps it is so those who experience the Soul-Bond can live a relatively secret life if they wish to do so. So, if the age of consent is changed in society to a different age when you read this book, it is suggested you take that into thought when you peruse this chapter.
When Perenelle turned seventeen years old, she started to experience things that we could not explain. Below, Perenelle describes her own experience:
"The day of my seventeenth birthday was a joyful one for me. I could perform magic outside my teachings without fear of getting in trouble. The first piece of magic I did on that day was hovering a simple plate, and bringing it over to the table, just to prove I could without repercussion. However, when I hovered the plate, it raised high in the air, too high, and crashed into the ceiling, shattering it to pieces. I thought something was odd right then, but when I tried again, I succeeded at my task. So I did not think about it anymore. However, later that day I tried my first attempt at Apparating by myself. I was aiming for the village, which was only five miles away from my cottage. But when I had apparated, I landed not five miles away, but fifty! That was when I realized something was wrong. My magic was powerful. Too powerful.
There were some good things, I do admit. I could successfully perform charms I had trouble with before. But with the good comes the bad. When I went to go shopping in the village, a few days after my seventeenth birthday, a thief tried to mug me. I cursed him, only wishing to Stun him. The result was the thief ending up in a coma for three months, and no spell could wake him up. I was terrified. I didn't know what was happening to me. Unfortunately I didn't get the answer until two years later…"
Two years after my dear Perenelle turned of age, and the age of consent, so did I. By then, Perenelle's magic had calmed down some, but she was still a lot more powerful with spells than she had been. So the terror of those first few months after she came of age was long forgotten… until I turned of age. I experienced the same thing. I dueled an old enemy of mine, and severely injured him, almost killing him. I transfigured a rock to turn it into a small dog, and it ended up turning into a very large wolf. And things progressed from there.
But that wasn't all that happened to me, and this time Perenelle and I learned about it together.
Perenelle's father was not a big admirer of mine. Since we never told him or Perenelle's mother about our Bond, he believed I was stalking his daughter. I was not a good suitor for her, he said. I was nothing but middle-class who lived in a small village a town away, when his family were people of wealth. He wanted Perenelle to find a suitor who believed in what he believed in. High-class, high society, social parties, and procreating to continue the legacies of two important families in society.
So, suffice it to say, he never allowed me to see my love. But the Soul-Bond did not like this.
You see, when the Bonded pair are old enough to consent by society laws, the Soul-Bond advances to its final stage. In a way, it is truly worse than the heightened magical power we were given when we reached that stage. While we could control when we used our magic, this part of our Bond controlled us for a long period of time.
During our relationship, before I turned seventeen, when Perenelle and I went on outings (most were secret outings Perenelle's father knew nothing about), our intimacy was only a proper kiss between a couple in love. Perhaps we engaged in a heated snog (as the teens as of late has referred to it) or two, but that was all.
But on eve before my seventeenth birthday, I fell asleep in my own bed. When I woke up, I was in Perenelle's bed, in her house a town away! I did not know how I arrived there. We were both very confused. I apparated back to my own home. The next night, I woke up to find Perenelle in my own bed!
After the first two nights of this, it stopped for a few days. And then the following week, after an outing, I drove Perenelle home in my buggy. We kissed, as we always did when we parted, but I felt a sudden warmth in my mind. I had progressed the kiss, almost unwillingly! Perenelle was a bit frightened. We had never discussed moving our relationship that far until we found a way to get her away from her parents.
We parted that night, and I did not see her for a few days. When I did, it was once again, because she appeared in my bed. She was very frightened. She said that our intimacy was all she could think about at times. Every night she had dreams about it. At first a pleasure, was now almost a torment.
And that was when she kissed me, and it progressed... we couldn't stop and that night we made love... not sweet, but it was almost forced... we didn't know what we were doing at times.
The Bond was controlling us. For continuous nights after, we either appeared in one of the other's bed, where we were once again moved into that deepest point of intimacy.
It did not calm down for many days... until we consented with each other to make it a regular event every few nights. After that, it turned back into pleasure.
When I look back on it, I fear that, if Perenelle was able to have children (we discovered later, a birth defect prevented her from having children – a terrible time for us when we learned), we would have been parents before we were married. Sometimes during those intimate moments, we were so lost, we could not spare enough time to use contraception.
It is my belief now after many, many years of experiencing the Bond, that the heightened sense of magic, combined with the deepest levels of love, is the True Power of the Soul-Bond.
After he finished the scroll, Harry looked at Ginny, who was staring blankly toward him.
The Bond is going to force us to – to make love? Ginny asked him, When our – our bodies are fourteen and fifteen?
I... guess so.
Harry, don't get me wrong... by then I'll very much miss what we had before we came back in time... but... I didn't expect to experience it again that soon.
Harry wished he could make a joke to lighten the mood. But he couldn't... the Bond would make them –?
Harry, Ginny said, Mum can't know about this. No matter what. If she thinks what we're going through now – and she has yet to find out the newest part – is troubling enough... she isn't going to like that.
No... definitely not. I... don't exactly want anyone to know about this part yet. Not Sirius, not even our friends... even when they know we're older than we seem.
I agree. This is between you and me... and Dumbledore I suppose.
Harry looked up at Dumbledore, who was staring at his Pensieve.
"We're finished reading," he said.
"Do you wish to ask me what I think about it?" Dumbledore asked, "Or do you wish to see if the Flamels enlighten you further?"
Harry looked at Ginny.
"I want to hear from the Flamels," Ginny said to him.
"I agree with her,"Harry said to Dumbledore.
"Very well," Dumbledore said, "Open the package then come over here."
Harry took the package from the desk, and opened it. Inside was a flask with a silver memory inside. It was very bright, revealing it was a very new memory. Harry and Ginny then walked over to the Pensieve.
"Unseal the flask, and upend it over the Pensieve," Dumbledore instructed.
Harry did as was asked. The contents of the Pensieve swirled around as the new memory joined it.
"In order to view the memory, you must enter the Pensieve," Dumbledore said, "It is perfectly safe, I give you my word. You will dip your face into the bowl one at a time. Whoever goes last, do not be afraid if the other vanishes. It is very shocking, but means it worked right. When you are finished with the memory, when it goes black, you will then raise your wand arms, and you will appear here again."
Harry decided to go first. He slowly dipped his head into the Pensieve's consents, and soon he was falling – falling – and he stood upright in what appeared to be a sitting room. A moment later, Ginny appeared beside him.
"Whew... that's a trip," Ginny said.
Harry nodded and looked around the room. Then, a couple that looked like they were in their sixties were walking in from another room.
"Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel," Harry breathed, "The Elixir must change their appearances.
He watched the couple as they sat down together on a love-seat.
"I will assume that we are now in the presence of Bond-mates, Harry and Ginny Potter," Nicolas Flamel said, "So Perenelle and I will start our message to you now. As you probably know by now, I am Nicolas Flamel, and this is my wife, Perenelle."
"Welcome to our home," Perenelle said.
"It was a very good day for the two of us in May," Nicolas said, "when Albus Dumbledore informed us that there is another Bonded pair in this world. We are both truly grateful that we were able to experience such news, before we must part this world."
Perenelle's lips quivered and Nicolas grasped her closest hand with both of his.
"We are recording this memory," Nicolas said, "after we learned the troubling news that our Stone was almost in the hands of evil. Harry, Albus told me that you saved it, and we are truly grateful to you. Alas, we have asked for Albus to destroy the stone, and I hope that by the time you see this, he has done so. We have enough elixir to give us a little while before we move on, but we will move on before the end of the year."
Harry noticed that Ginny's eyes were full of tears.
"Do not cry for us, my new friends," Nicolas said, "We've lived very long lives... more than three times that of the life of that of even most wizards and witches. We both know that we will go together, and meet again in the next life."
Perenelle blinked and nodded but was silent.
"Last year, we learned that you have come into possession of the book I wrote about Soul-Bonds. It is very fulfilling and will teach you everything you need to know. Well, almost everything, we hear. We know that some information was removed from the book. Albus now has that information, and in my letter to him, I will ask him to let the two of you read that information as soon as possible. I will assume you have read that information now. If not, wave your wand once to pass this portion of the memory..."
He paused for a moment and smiled.
"Excellent," he said, "You have obtained the information you have been looking for, I am sure. We know that the two of you are young... and this will not affect you for a few years. I see that as a gift. Perenelle and I were not ready for either of these events to happen to us, and it was a very troubling time for us. You will be. Please be careful with the magical power given to you. If you can, get help to control it. Everyone has the occasional enemy in this word, be it a nosy bully, or someone far more sinister. Heed this warning now... if you use your spells for harm, and your heightened power is uncontrolled, there will be harsh consequences. Sometimes the damage is irreparable, sometimes it is deadly. You can use this power for good, but you must be able to control it first. If you need help from Professors, or friends, or family, use that. Trust it."
Nicolas looked at Perenelle and then looked back in their direction.
"I am sure the other half of that chapter shocked you," Nicolas said, "Especially since you will be fourteen and fifteen when the Bond will be at this step. We were not ready for it. It surprised us, and the two of us were already very much in love. I know that teens at that age now are probably a bit more – ah – open with their romantic actions. By that time, you might already experience kissing and the other lesser levels of intimacy. But the deeper levels really force you into it if you are not cooperative."
"I know the topic might be embarrassing," Perenelle said, "But this is my advice. When you are in that final year before you, Mrs. Potter, turn the age of consent, the both of you should prepare for this. Reading, discussing, learning... prepare for it. Before it forced us, Nicolas and I never thought about it..."
"I believe the Bond actually keeps you from the act before you turn the age of consent," Nicolas said, "in order to prepare you for it. So if you experience those lesser levels of intimacy before then, do not be afraid that it is the Bond's actions... just your own hormones. The only other thing we wanted to prepare you for is something that is not in my book: prophetic dreams and nightmares."
Perenelle's hand shook under Nicolas'.
"You may have already experienced shared nightmares or dreams," Nicolas continued, "though most will not be prophetic. If you truly sense in your soul and minds that your dreams or nightmares are showing events that will happen in the future, use those if they concern you to help you prepare for events. The nightmares are frightening, as they usually are, but use them... they can seen as a gift."
"If you are letting people know about your Soul-Bond," Perenelle said, "It is a good thing, though I'm sure you are only telling those you trust. Mrs. Potter, I know you have a loving family, and I very much hope they support you, but if some do not, do not fret. They will come around when they realize your bond is a gift."
"We close this memory with a final message,," Nicolas said, "and a gift. First, as we said, we are very happy to know we are not the only Bonded pair. Most of it is a gift... a true gift. And for two mates to have found each other so young, is so wonderful. We hope you are truly happy with your Bond, and with each other, and we wish you the best. We hope that there are other Bond-mates as well. It is a deep wish of ours. In fact..."
Nicolas and Perenelle stood up.
"If this memory, skips forward, do not fear," Nicolas said, "It is normal and our choice to do so."
As soon as they said, this, the memory indeed did rush through scenes, as Nicolas and Perenelle moved through their house. Soon Harry and Ginny were standing in a very large basement-like room.
"Very few people see this room," Nicolas said. "This is where our greatest inventions and secrets are kept. We invent things in hopes that the world can accept them and use them. When we leave this world, everyone of our inventions will be teleported to the Department of Mysteries in Britain's Ministry of Magic. Follow us to one of our most mysterious inventions."
They walked forward and soon what Harry saw took his breath away...
Harry! Ginny said, Is... is that?
Yeah, Ginny...
The pool from the Time Chamber was in the ground in front of them.
"This pool is what we hope will one day be the new setting for magical weddings," Nicolas said. "We hope that one day, all who step foot into this pool with their beloved who they will spend the rest of their life with, will be given the gift of the Soul-Bond so that they, too, may be given our gift. Telepathy, the ability to be near their love whenever they choose through teleportation, to sense their pain, emotions... that should be gifts that every couple who truly love each other should experience."
He gave a dreamy sigh.
"Alas," he said, "There are problems with this invention. Whenever we put subjects, mostly animals into the pool, they drown and vanish. We do not know why."
They don't know they've made a time-travel device! Harry told Ginny, it did create our Soul-Bond, but it sent us back in time too.
The Unspeakables won't find out about it either until after our fifth year... it showed up in the Time Chamber sometime after that. I bet it was in another Chamber before then... one we did not visit.
"Hopefully the Unspeakables will finish this invention," Nicolas said, "It is our greatest wish now. And with that, we say goodbye."
"Do not mourn us, children," Perenelle said, "We are happy."
"Death is but the next great adventure," Nicolas said.
Suddenly, everything went black and Harry and Ginny lifted their wands. They lifted from the ground, and were soon standing in the headmaster's office. Dumbledore was standing by his desk, and he was not alone.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and Sirius were standing there, all looking at Harry and Ginny, startled by their sudden appearance.
Cliffhanger! The discussion with the Weasley parents and Sirius is next... and (I hope) the end of first year.
So... I have revealed the missing page's information. While it won't be too important in this story, it will be a center-point in the planned sequel. Won't say anymore about the sequel now. We are a long way away before then.
What did you think? Love hearing your feedback! I am excited every time I get a Review Alert!
