Harry Potter and the Dark Sigil
Chapter Sixteen: Calm Before the Storm
By: Harry's Mum Lily
Disclaimer: I am not making any money from this story and all recognizable characters belong to Ms Rowling and her publishers. Thank you all for continuing to give me such wonderful reviews. It makes me glad to know that so many of you enjoy the story. I hope I can continue to provide you with a great saga. I can now say with some certainty that there will be a sequel or two to this one. Please feel free to review, although it is not required. HML
The dementors affect you worse than the others because there are horrors in your past that the others don't have.
Professor Remus Lupin
Chapter
10
Harry
Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Only one known person has ever survived it, and
he's sitting right in front of me.
Professor Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody
Chapter
14
Harry
Potter and the Goblet of F ire
Voldemort paced the west tower of Azkaban Fortress
deep in thought. His feet made no sound on the carpeted floor over which he was
walking, although his deep black velvet robes swished as he paced. Once in a
while he stopped his almost frantic pacing to stare into the mirror at the
images of Harry that appeared within its silver surface, a calculating and evil
look in his eye.
"The Dagger of Sorrow and the Staff of the
Phoenix…" his eyes turned inward seeking a way he could use this information to
his advantage. "Two of three weapons of the Light…"
He knew the legend of course; everyone in the
wizarding world knew it. Parents had told their children this story for years,
especially in times of Darkness. It was said that there would come a time of
Great Darkness, which at its height would be driven away by the Highest Lord of
Light: the Phoenix. This Great Lord would be one who had survived a deadly
curse but who still bore the mark of Darkness, which would put his powers in
balance until the day of choice. He was the one destined to recover the three
lost weapons: the wand of Light, the Dagger of Sorrow or Sacrifice and the
Staff of the Phoenix, which he would then carry into the final battle. He would
drive away the Darkness for all time by finding and wielding these three
weapons.
Voldemort watched as Harry walked through the
corridors of the Hogwarts of the past, seemingly in good spirits. Voldemort's
eyes narrowed and even as he watched he could detect a difference in the
magical aura that wrapped itself around Harry like a cloak. There was less
darkness in it then before as the power of Light began to slowly grow stronger.
Voldemort also noticed that the final protections around Harry seemed to be
restoring themselves. Their scarlet light was growing brighter and it was only
a matter of time before they would be fully restored. Voldemort knew then that
his time was running out. If he was going to make his move in both times it had
to be soon. The image in the mirror shifted to reveal a split image of two
wizards both masked and cloaked.
"The time has come. Follow the orders that I have
sent you and you will both be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams."
The two wizards bowed as their images dissolved to
be replaced with another wizard whose face was hidden under the shadow of his
hood.
"You know what to do…" Voldemort's eyes became
alight with fire. "See that you do not fail, much depends on you."
The cloaked wizard's eyes gleamed as if he didn't
like taking orders from anyone but he merely nodded at Voldemort, saying
nothing.
"Now we shall see…"
~
Snape thrashed around on the bed in the midst of a fever dream, which was full of pain and death. Sweat was pouring off him and his bed was drenched with it. Madame Pomfrey had tried everything she could to reduce the fever but it raged higher with each passing hour. Snape was muttering incoherently in his unconscious state. He talked of Harry, a deadly trap Harry was in and of Slytherin. He cried out constantly for Dumbledore, begging him not to do something.
"Headmaster…I'm afraid he is getting worse. There
seems to be nothing that helps him. Every remedy and spell that I have tried
has just made his condition worse."
Dumbledore looked down at Snape, his eyes sad and
his face set.
"Maybe a potion made of Phoenix Tears mixed with
Unicorn Horn. We have got to try everything we can to save him, Poppy."
Madame Pomfrey looked at the Headmaster and nodded,
her eyes bright with unshed tears.
"I will try, Headmaster, but…"
"I know there is very little that hasn't already
been done. All I ask is that you try." Dumbledore's face was grim.
Madame Pomfrey nodded again and watched as
Dumbledore left the room, deep in thought.
There seemed to be no end to Voldemort's evil and
nothing they had tried thus far had seemed to stop his rampage. He was growing
in strength daily, slowly regaining the places that had fallen to him years
before and now he, Dumbledore, had lost his one contact inside Voldemort's
ranks. Several places had been attack at one time and the few aurors who were
loyal to Dumbledore had been hard pressed to put up any kind of resistance.
Several of them had been killed in duels with Death Eaters. He had tried to
keep hope alive in everyone's' hearts but how could he continue to do so when
he was fast losing all hope himself. There was only one chance, one hope left
for them but he was trapped in the past with no guarantee that he would ever be
able to return.
"If Harry is lost…if there was no way to bring
him back…all was lost. No! I will not believe that."
Dumbledore, McGonagall and several other powerful
wizards had had combined their powers in an attempted to pull Harry forward
through time but they had been unsuccessful. They had been blocked by some kind
of shield but whether friend had cast the shield or foe they were unable to
tell. Harry would have to return under his own power and with aid from the
founders if he was to return at all.
"Please…let him return before it's too late for us
all."
Dumbledore passed through the Entrance Hall and
among the students, who were talking in low voices about the attacks and Harry.
They noticed the Headmaster's preoccupied expression and moved out of his way.
The Gryffindors had gathered in a large group at the foot of the stairs and
they watched as Dumbledore climbed the marble staircase to return to his office.
The grim and sorrowful expression he wore struck fear into their hearts and
they wondered if there was any chance for Harry to return or any chance for
them to restore peace.
~
"Fly?" Harry stared at Christlina as she handed the broom to him.
After several weeks, Lady Helga had pronounced him
to be fit and had lifted all restrictions on his activities. Harry stared at
the broom that Christlina held out to him as if it were some kind of trap.
"Lady Helga said you were fine now. What could be
the harm?" Will's face broke into a grin as he looked down at Harry from his
own broom, which was hovering a few inches above Harry.
Harry couldn't deny that he was feeling much better
in body and spirit, if still somewhat tired. He looked up at will and tried to
keep his voice level.
"I can't…"
Will noticed the look of fear that was briefly
reflected in Harry's eyes before it was masked. It suddenly occurred to him
that something must have happened to Harry whist he was flying. Will caught
Christlina's eye and made a small movement with his hand telling her that he
wanted to talk to her in private later. Harry was still staring at the broom.
"Nothing will happen, I swear on my honour,"
Christlina said, looking into Harry's eyes. "My word is my bond."
Harry eyed the broom dubiously and was on the verge
of saying no again when his heart was suddenly filled with the
overwhelming need to be in the air again. Maybe if he flew he'd be able to sort
out a few things that had been troubling him for several days. He took the
broom from Christlina and she smiled. He grinned back, glad to feel a broom in
his hand even if the broom was not his Firebolt. Harry mounted and lifted off
steadily. Soon he was circling Will lazily with a grin on his face. He did a
few circles and then began to rise higher feeling his spirits rise with the
broom. After several feet he went into a steep dive that caused people below
him to scream. He smiled again and then flew off to think for a while.
Will and Christlina watched him as he flew and dove
through the air, grins on their faces. They had never seen anything like it nor
could they remember having seen Harry smile or look so happy and relaxed
before. Will floated to the ground to stand with Christlina, who was watching
Harry fly, shading her eyes with her hand. She stopped watching Harry and
grinned at Will, who grinned back.
"What did you wish to talk about?" she asked,
noticing that Will's face had sobered.
"Harry," Will said as he watched Harry do another
dive.
"Something is…" Christlina paused, not sure of how
to continue.
"He is preoccupied and seems fearful."
"You do not think his foe will return?"
" He is still afraid of something and he has a mark
on his arm that gives him pain. I have seen him wince and put a hand over it."
Christlina looked up at where Harry was, a
thoughtful expression on her face. She was trying to remember something she had
read. Something about someone…with scars such as Harry had.
"He is my heir…" a quiet voice behind them said.
Both students started and turned to face Sir Godric
who was watching Harry fly, a faint smile on his face.
"Your heir?" said Will looking confused.
Christlina looked confused as well. They both knew
that Gryffindor had no children.
"Harry Potter is my future heir."
"Future heir?" Will was more confused then he had
been a moment before.
"He is not of this time, then?" Christlina asked,
suddenly understanding why Harry didn't seem to fit in with them.
"No, he is of the future, sent here by a powerful
spell cast by his enemy, who is even now trying to ensnare him. I fear for his
safety even in this time," Sir Godric turned to them, with a look of
seriousness they had never seen before.
"Why did he not tell us?" asked Will, who meet Sir
Godric's serious look with one of his own.
"He fears for the safety of all. Everything he has
been through is worse then you are even able to understand in this time of
peace. In his time there is war afoot and he has already lost much. His enemy
is powerful and seeks his demise. Harry has seen much that I hope you never
have to see in your lifetimes, " Sir Godric's eyes held such pain and sorrow
that Will and Christlina wondered what Harry had seen. "I want you and Will to
guard him as long as he is here with your lives if need be. He must be
protected at all cost."
Will and Christlina bowed at Sir Godric.
"We will be attempting to perform the Tempus Spell
over the Yule holiday. If it is successful then he will return to his time. I
need you to stay here over the holiday to guard him until the spell is
performed."
"We would be honoured to help, " they said
solemnly, as they watched Harry souring high above them. He waved and they
smiled and waved back.
"It is good to see him smile again after so much
pain and suffering. Remember what I told you but do not let him know you are
protecting him."
Christlina and Will bowed again and watched as Sir
Godric bowed back and then returned to the castle. They looked at one another
and then up at Harry.
"It appears there is more to this then we guessed,"
she said as she watched Harry begin to decent from the sky.
"It would seem so," said Will with a thoughtful
expression as he watched Harry dive once again.
~
Harry soured through the air, his troubles for a
moment forgotten. The air rushed by his ears and he found his ability to fly
was still intact if a bit rusty. He executed several turns and rolls in the air
before he gained several feet of altitude to go into a steep dive that made his
heart pound with excitement. He grinned having forgotten how much flying made
him feel alive and that all was right with the world. He flew through the air
as fast as this broom would allow, which wasn't really all that fast but fast
enough for him. Gaining higher altitude again, he moved in lazy circles, enjoying
the feeling of freedom and the sunlight warm on his back. He could see the
others and Sir Godric below him but he did nothing, wanting to stay in the air
now that he was once again there.
For a long time Harry thought of nothing but the
wind whistling past him and the sunlight, like warm fingers on his back, but
then something forced his mind from nothingness and onto his plight. The flight
of a bird disrupted his reverie and its course was one that would intersect his
own. Then, as they passed each other in midair, the bird changed direction and
landed on Harry's broom, staring up at him before making a bow and then flying
off. Harry blinked as the bird launched itself back into the air, twittering
about the heir. An image from one of his dreams played itself in his mind and
he saw himself as a child on his father's broom, several birds hovering around
him and bowing to him.
Harry blinked his eyes and shook his head to clear
it but he found that he could no longer lose himself in daydreams. His thoughts
turned to his friends and Voldemort. He had to do something…he had to return to
his own time and soon. He had the feeling that things were not going well and
that time was rapidly running out for them all. As he flew in lazy circles, he
felt as if unfriendly eyes were watching him and he looked carefully around
without appearing to. He saw nothing and no one watching him except Christlina,
Will and Sir Godric. He tried to shake off the feeling that something was not
right but it refused to go away. Some inner voice was trying to warn him of
something but without his dreams he had no clue what the warning was about. Was
the voice speaking of a danger in 1995 or was the danger of which it spoke
closer at hand? Was there an enemy here in 1095 that was lurking nearby,
waiting for a chance to strike at him? Could Voldemort be attempting to
eliminate him here by controlling another?
Harry pondered these questions, trying to figure
out what would be gained by someone in this timeframe if they attempted to
remove him. He was no longer the naïve eleven year old wizard in training he
had been when his battle with Voldemort had started anew. The last two years
had taught him that things were not often what they seemed as well as how all
warnings, no matter how vague, should be heeded. The last several months had
shown him that Voldemort's cruelty knew no bounds and that he had never had any
remorse for the evil he did. It had also taught him that Voldemort would use
anyone and anything to get at him.
"Could he be trying to use someone here and why did
he feel that there was something going on that he was only barely aware
of? Why are the dreams that were once so vivid now so many unrelated fragments?
Is someone trying to block my gift?" Harry thought as he waved at the
others and flew to the ground.
Will and Christlina smiled up at him and he
couldn't help but grin back, even with such weighty thoughts on his mind. They
had grown to be such good friends in the few months he had known them and he
knew they would become the best of friends of he was forced to remain here. He
was glad of this but he missed his other friends too and knew that he would
have to return to them soon.
"Thanks for letting me borrow this," he said to
Christlina as he handed it back to her.
"T'was nothing."
"Wasn't that Sir Godric I saw with you?"
"Aye…he wishes to see you in his office now," Will
said, giving Harry an odd look.
"What's going on…did he say what it was about?"
Harry's face paled and he was suddenly nervous.
"About sending you home…" Will began, but Christlina
interrupted him.
"Back to your own time."
Harry looked shocked and paled farther.
"I'm not sure what you mean," he said thinking how
stupid the sentence sounded to his own ears
"Sir Godric told us everything, Harry."
"Have no fear, we will not tell a soul, you have
our word," Christlina said earnestly.
Harry nodded and looked deeply into both their
eyes, trying to determine if he could trust them. Finally, deciding that he
could, he smiled at them.
"I'll tell you about it later. Right now I'd best
talk to Sir Godric," he said.
Harry bowed to the two of them and then returned to
the castle, seeking Sir Godric. Christlina and Will watched him cross the
drawbridge and enter the castle before they returned to the castle themselves.
Neither one of them was aware of a shadow that hovered nearby, watching and
waiting for the right time to act.
~
Dumbledore awoke with an odd feeling in his heart that something was terribly wrong. He had been having a very odd dream, which he couldn't remember. All he knew was that it was that Harry had been there and that there was a feeling of wrongness within him. Dumbledore looked around the darkened room but everything seemed to be in place and normal. Yet, there was tension in the air and a sense of the world hanging in balance. Something was about to happen, a choice was going to be made.
Dumbledore tried in vain to return to slumber but the feeling of tension and of wrongness would not abate. He rose from his bed and put on his dressing gown. Walking to his desk he glanced at Gryffindor's journal and picked it up hoping that Harry had had another warning. He had written nothing in several weeks but there was nothing. Dumbledore feared that someone of the Dark was blocking Harry's gift, on which he was depending, and probably on Voldemort's orders but he could see no purpose in that.
"Not unless…No… Not even Voldmort would dare…" Dumbledore's face paled as he turned to a page several weeks later, which was written in a slanting female hand. "Please don't let this be…"
A high, cold and evil laughter invaded his mind and he heard a cold voice hissing in his ear:
"It will happen, fool. Did I not tell you so in times past? The downfall of the Light will begin now and it will come through the one who was thought to have been my downfall. Watch as all you knew perishes in flame!"
Dumbledore felt cold hands force him to rise and
soon he found himself looking into mirror in which Harry's image was reflected.
He carried a sword that Dumbledore recognized in his hand, the sword of Godric
Gryffindor. There was a second image overlaying the first and Dumbledore could
see the blade was covered in blood. Harry's eyes were briefly full of an insane
and twisted joy before he faded from Dumbledore's sight.
"The time has come for the Phoenix in balance to
choose. Watch as he turns forever from you and your Light. He will, in a few
hours time, hand the world over to me and mine forever and in so doing will
take his own life. A fitting end for the Gryffindor line…betrayed by their last
living heir."
"You are mad! Don't you realize what you are
doing?" Dumbledore said through gritted teeth.
Voldemort laughed, his laughter echoing off the
walls of Dumbledore's office, making it sound as if there were several
Voldemort's there instead of just one.
"I am merely eliminating a line that has been the
bane of Slytherin's since the dawn of time. I am fulfilling Slytherin's wish…to
cleanse this school of the unworthy."
Voldemort laughed again and was so intent on
tormenting Dumbledore that he failed to notice one of the portraits occupants
leave their painting and go off in search of one of the other Professors.
Dumbledore stared at the image of Harry and waited,
fear in his heart.