The Firetah
(part thirteen)
George and Anchoret pushed open the doors of the Great Hall and walked in. Nobody, to their utter surprise, paid them any attention. Perhaps the scene in the hallway had just been a fluke. No one cared if they were walking together...
*******
"Geez, how arrogant can we get?" whispered George amusedly. "I mean to think that we'd be the center of attention for only walking down the corridor. We're not even making them look up. I mean, I did hug you and...erm, everything, but what's a hug between friends?"
He looked over at Anchoret and saw that she was pale and trembling. He followed her gaze and saw that her eyes were locked with Harry's. She refused to look away, and Harry couldn't. He gazed at Anchoret as they walked to the Gryffindor table. "If this is what having a bond means then I want no part of it," George thought grimly.
*******
Albus Dumbledore was tired. Weary in a way he had never been before, even at the height of the Dark Lord's powers. He sighed softly and looked up when George and Anchoret walked in. He was the only one who did, except Draco and Harry. The students were intent on their food and didn't seem to notice the two, which was unusual. The girl always managed to get herself noticed. Whatever the reason, I'm glad no one's looking...
He looked over at Harry and saw he had locked gazes with Anchoret. She was staring back as though she was paralyzed. George was shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other as he watched Anchoret. Dumbledore looked closer....No. Thank God that was only concern he saw in George's eyes. He sighed again as he thought about what a problem this girl had brought to Hogwarts. This of all times...he picked at his food and waited. Soon, the time would be right and he would see what could be done about this...confusion.
*******
Harry watched Anchoret as she walked towards the table and him. Where else could he look, after all? He didn't notice George sit down across from him and begin talking quietly with Ron. Hermione sat stiffly in her chair, listening and offering low comments. Harry saw nothing but the girl.
As soon as she sat down Harry sighed and blinked. The world rushed back at him and he could hear and see again. Seamus, down at the far corner, talking excitedly with Lee and Dean about some new animal Hagrid was rumored to have acquired. Fred, laughing loudly with his arm casually draped over Angelina's shoulder. He felt a pang that went straight to his heart. When...when will she realize? What can I do?
He stared at his food and also waited.
*******
When it seemed as though the students had gotten enough (how could they eat so much?) Albus stood up and bade them goodnight. As the students filed past him into the corridor he stopped four in particular and beckoned them to follow him as he made his way to his office. The four followed him, their hair glinting in the candlelight. Black, silver, gold and red.
As the five of them made their way up the stairs the Headmaster tried to formulate what he should say. How he should explain what Hermione had shown him before dinner. She had come to him with a frown and a large book, just missing George and Anchoret by a few minutes. "Professor, I've just been to the library and I found this...it was in the Restricted Section, but I had a note from Professor McGonagall. I just knew the answer could be found in the library. I didn't want to tell her...I thought it should be your doing." She had said all this very fast, as if anxious to escape. He thought about what the passage had said.
No wonder Hermione was worried.
*******
The four students sat in the soft chairs and waited for the Headmaster to speak. When he started, though, they all jumped. Everyone was anxious tonight. Dumbledore gave a slight grin and started again.
"Harry, Anchoret, Draco and George. I am sure you are all wondering about why I have summoned you tonight. It is obvious that things must be brought into focus, and I have just received some interesting information that I believe will help. You must all listen closely, and please do not interrupt until I have finished, even when you feel you must. Have I made myself clear?" At the three nods and one smirk, he took the ancient book down from the shelf and opened it to the passage he needed. His fingers caressed the worn scarlet cover.
"It seems as if I must tell both Harry and Draco the truth about you, Anchoret. Things have changed since this afternoon... and we don't have much time." George and Anchoret looked at each other and nodded.
"Harry, Draco...what you will learn tonight will be fantastic. It will stretch the limits of your imagination. But it is true...all true. Anchoret, you see, is a Firetah...a spirit of fire. Her heart, soul, mind and body are of the same substance as the fire in your common rooms. She is not human, not usual, not logical. But what ever is at Hogwarts?"
"Her parents are an ordinary witch and wizard. In fact, there is only one Firetah every thousand years...and each one of them has a quest. A task they must perform."
"Anchoret"... he looked at the girl for a moment. "You must know that I found out this evening that if you do not perform this task well and in the set amount of time, you will wink out of existence...like a candle blown out by a breeze. This, of course, is not acceptable. So I have brought in the three people who seem to care about you the most to help. Only one of them can do it...and when the time is right you will know which of them is the chosen. Only you can pick, Anchoret. Only you can know for certain."
As the girl sat there looking stunned, Draco stood up and said belligerently, " What are you talking about, Professor? Can you really expect us to believe you when you tell us that she's a...a spirit? What kind of sick joke is this? Professor Dumbledore silenced him with a look that could have pierced iron.
"Show them, Anchoret."
The girl suddenly turned to Harry, who was speechless, and Draco, who was still panting with emotion, and let out all of her frustrations...all of her bottled up emotions, all of her pent-up confusion in a flare of orange so bright that those in the room were blinded for an instant. Flame raged from her eyes and her hair took fire. She looked terrifying...and beautiful, and strange.
When it was over, the room was completely silent. No doubt remained in anyone's mind. The silence was finally shattered by George's low comment. "Guess you showed them..."
At last Dumbledore had a rapt audience. He began to read from the old, tattered book the passage that would determine the course of this young girl's life.
"In the time of great sorrow there will come a light. A girl who will burn and all those save one that touch her shall be burned with her. Only one can help her. Only one can save her. She must choose wisely, or all is lost."
A shudder went through the small group as Albus continued.
"All fire-spirits have a duty... a quest they must perform in order for them to survive. The one who will be born in the time of sorrow shall have the hardest task of all. For hers is to pick the one she will love. For he is the one who must fight the Darkness with her. Strong he must be, and brave...and noble. His heart must be fire, to match hers. His mind must be steel, so as not to be consumed in the heat of battle. Hers is the task of choosing the right one. If she chooses amiss... no one survives. If she chooses wisely... you have a chance of defeating the Dark. It is all up to her. She is your only chance. She and her chosen. This Firetah's choosing will be half the battle."
As the import of these words sunk in, Anchoret seemed to dwindle...until she was nothing but a gold-red flicker with a faint human shape. The boys gave out yells and squeaks of surprise, but Dumbledore remained calm. Presently her former self took solidarity and her eyes became grey once more. Her hair had hardly settled to a low crackle when Dumbledore spoke again.
"Anchoret....I was wrong. You do not have time to wait....you must choose before tomorrow evening....I'm so sorry. It cannot be helped...you are our only hope."
The words had barely left his lips when Draco stood up once more. "I can't take this...I'm going...I'm going." He strode over to the door... half shaking, half smirking. He put his hand on the door to leave, but suddenly turned around again. He looked at Anchoret. "You coming?" he asked casually. She stood up and followed him out the door.
(part thirteen)
George and Anchoret pushed open the doors of the Great Hall and walked in. Nobody, to their utter surprise, paid them any attention. Perhaps the scene in the hallway had just been a fluke. No one cared if they were walking together...
*******
"Geez, how arrogant can we get?" whispered George amusedly. "I mean to think that we'd be the center of attention for only walking down the corridor. We're not even making them look up. I mean, I did hug you and...erm, everything, but what's a hug between friends?"
He looked over at Anchoret and saw that she was pale and trembling. He followed her gaze and saw that her eyes were locked with Harry's. She refused to look away, and Harry couldn't. He gazed at Anchoret as they walked to the Gryffindor table. "If this is what having a bond means then I want no part of it," George thought grimly.
*******
Albus Dumbledore was tired. Weary in a way he had never been before, even at the height of the Dark Lord's powers. He sighed softly and looked up when George and Anchoret walked in. He was the only one who did, except Draco and Harry. The students were intent on their food and didn't seem to notice the two, which was unusual. The girl always managed to get herself noticed. Whatever the reason, I'm glad no one's looking...
He looked over at Harry and saw he had locked gazes with Anchoret. She was staring back as though she was paralyzed. George was shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other as he watched Anchoret. Dumbledore looked closer....No. Thank God that was only concern he saw in George's eyes. He sighed again as he thought about what a problem this girl had brought to Hogwarts. This of all times...he picked at his food and waited. Soon, the time would be right and he would see what could be done about this...confusion.
*******
Harry watched Anchoret as she walked towards the table and him. Where else could he look, after all? He didn't notice George sit down across from him and begin talking quietly with Ron. Hermione sat stiffly in her chair, listening and offering low comments. Harry saw nothing but the girl.
As soon as she sat down Harry sighed and blinked. The world rushed back at him and he could hear and see again. Seamus, down at the far corner, talking excitedly with Lee and Dean about some new animal Hagrid was rumored to have acquired. Fred, laughing loudly with his arm casually draped over Angelina's shoulder. He felt a pang that went straight to his heart. When...when will she realize? What can I do?
He stared at his food and also waited.
*******
When it seemed as though the students had gotten enough (how could they eat so much?) Albus stood up and bade them goodnight. As the students filed past him into the corridor he stopped four in particular and beckoned them to follow him as he made his way to his office. The four followed him, their hair glinting in the candlelight. Black, silver, gold and red.
As the five of them made their way up the stairs the Headmaster tried to formulate what he should say. How he should explain what Hermione had shown him before dinner. She had come to him with a frown and a large book, just missing George and Anchoret by a few minutes. "Professor, I've just been to the library and I found this...it was in the Restricted Section, but I had a note from Professor McGonagall. I just knew the answer could be found in the library. I didn't want to tell her...I thought it should be your doing." She had said all this very fast, as if anxious to escape. He thought about what the passage had said.
No wonder Hermione was worried.
*******
The four students sat in the soft chairs and waited for the Headmaster to speak. When he started, though, they all jumped. Everyone was anxious tonight. Dumbledore gave a slight grin and started again.
"Harry, Anchoret, Draco and George. I am sure you are all wondering about why I have summoned you tonight. It is obvious that things must be brought into focus, and I have just received some interesting information that I believe will help. You must all listen closely, and please do not interrupt until I have finished, even when you feel you must. Have I made myself clear?" At the three nods and one smirk, he took the ancient book down from the shelf and opened it to the passage he needed. His fingers caressed the worn scarlet cover.
"It seems as if I must tell both Harry and Draco the truth about you, Anchoret. Things have changed since this afternoon... and we don't have much time." George and Anchoret looked at each other and nodded.
"Harry, Draco...what you will learn tonight will be fantastic. It will stretch the limits of your imagination. But it is true...all true. Anchoret, you see, is a Firetah...a spirit of fire. Her heart, soul, mind and body are of the same substance as the fire in your common rooms. She is not human, not usual, not logical. But what ever is at Hogwarts?"
"Her parents are an ordinary witch and wizard. In fact, there is only one Firetah every thousand years...and each one of them has a quest. A task they must perform."
"Anchoret"... he looked at the girl for a moment. "You must know that I found out this evening that if you do not perform this task well and in the set amount of time, you will wink out of existence...like a candle blown out by a breeze. This, of course, is not acceptable. So I have brought in the three people who seem to care about you the most to help. Only one of them can do it...and when the time is right you will know which of them is the chosen. Only you can pick, Anchoret. Only you can know for certain."
As the girl sat there looking stunned, Draco stood up and said belligerently, " What are you talking about, Professor? Can you really expect us to believe you when you tell us that she's a...a spirit? What kind of sick joke is this? Professor Dumbledore silenced him with a look that could have pierced iron.
"Show them, Anchoret."
The girl suddenly turned to Harry, who was speechless, and Draco, who was still panting with emotion, and let out all of her frustrations...all of her bottled up emotions, all of her pent-up confusion in a flare of orange so bright that those in the room were blinded for an instant. Flame raged from her eyes and her hair took fire. She looked terrifying...and beautiful, and strange.
When it was over, the room was completely silent. No doubt remained in anyone's mind. The silence was finally shattered by George's low comment. "Guess you showed them..."
At last Dumbledore had a rapt audience. He began to read from the old, tattered book the passage that would determine the course of this young girl's life.
"In the time of great sorrow there will come a light. A girl who will burn and all those save one that touch her shall be burned with her. Only one can help her. Only one can save her. She must choose wisely, or all is lost."
A shudder went through the small group as Albus continued.
"All fire-spirits have a duty... a quest they must perform in order for them to survive. The one who will be born in the time of sorrow shall have the hardest task of all. For hers is to pick the one she will love. For he is the one who must fight the Darkness with her. Strong he must be, and brave...and noble. His heart must be fire, to match hers. His mind must be steel, so as not to be consumed in the heat of battle. Hers is the task of choosing the right one. If she chooses amiss... no one survives. If she chooses wisely... you have a chance of defeating the Dark. It is all up to her. She is your only chance. She and her chosen. This Firetah's choosing will be half the battle."
As the import of these words sunk in, Anchoret seemed to dwindle...until she was nothing but a gold-red flicker with a faint human shape. The boys gave out yells and squeaks of surprise, but Dumbledore remained calm. Presently her former self took solidarity and her eyes became grey once more. Her hair had hardly settled to a low crackle when Dumbledore spoke again.
"Anchoret....I was wrong. You do not have time to wait....you must choose before tomorrow evening....I'm so sorry. It cannot be helped...you are our only hope."
The words had barely left his lips when Draco stood up once more. "I can't take this...I'm going...I'm going." He strode over to the door... half shaking, half smirking. He put his hand on the door to leave, but suddenly turned around again. He looked at Anchoret. "You coming?" he asked casually. She stood up and followed him out the door.
