Chapter 25 What is to Come Will Come and We Shall Meet it When it Does
Lee, Alicia and Wara Ulinton sat around a smooth wooden table in one of the many open work areas just off the order library in the maps section. Lee glanced up, Harry had left a few hours ago to try and track down a book, which supposedly contained a painfully detailed account of the last Elemental hatching and the subsequent fighting. He was relieved for Harry's absence, Harry had spent all morning pacing around, cloak swirling as he examined a chart, his eyes glowed with a slightly hypnotic look that reminded Lee of a caged animal. Harry had been "scenting the wind" trying to determine exactly where the Elementals eggs were. The only time the creatures were truly vulnerable was when they were unhatched, if they could be destroyed before they hatched, or even just a few of them, it would give everyone a better chance of surviving.
"Damn Voldemort!" Lee's head swung around at Harry's muttering, he was back, and in a towering rage.
"What'd he do now?" Alicia asked, Harry sat down and put a few burnt scrolls on the table.
"He got there first, stole the book and burn the library to the ground, killed everyone inside poor things, they never had a chance. Most of the books were saved, but this was all I could find from the scrolls containing information on the Elementals." He carefully opened one and began to try and decipher the strange language of pictures and shapes, after a few moments he'd decided that it was no language he or any of the other knew. A quick search in the language guides found not a thing, Miranda moving past stopped to look.
"What on earth is that?"
"Wish we knew." Alicia replied, she explained about the library burning.
"That was unnecessary, now Tom is starting to act like the Nazis? You know I have seen something like that before." She vanished into that library and returned in about ten minutes with a stack of books and a clay tablet. "Yes, see, some of the symbols, a lot actually are the same. Same shapes and designs, these were found in South America, in old Inca tombs and temples. You ought to check the Hogwarts library for more help, you're going to have to translate it, and I wish you luck. She left, Harry examined the scrolls, tracings, tablet, and two other scrolls for a moment.
"She's right. What do you have with the maps? At least a guess?"
"Not much, a general area, one in German, one about one hundred and fifty miles from Hogwarts, one in Antarctica, and one in the Mexico area. Not much, we've narrowed it down to an area of roughly seventy square miles in each location."
"That's great, hopefully Voldemort doesn't have a better idea than we do, he knows about the Elementals now, and maybe where they are." Harry said, they had done a super job, but it was a little disappointing.
"Is that bad?" Lee asked.
"Worse than bad, he can influence them to leave his people and him alone while they destroy every other organic thing on the planet. They'll leave him, his lands, and his armies alone and destroy everyone else. They clear the planet for him them fly off into space to search for other organic things elsewhere and he gets earth. But only if he knows enough about them and gets to the eggs a week before they hatch, if he does…well that would probably be the end of this war. And if he doesn't…we've got hope…either way I'll fight them. You've done enough today people, thanks, I'll go check the library at Hogwarts." He stood and gathered up everything and left, trying to hide his mounting fear…if Voldemort got the Elementals…
**
Albus Dumbledore watched out the window as students dressed in winter gear played tag, and had snowball fights, he smiled, his school was at peace and they were safe. Behind him Severus and Minerva came up quietly, careful not to disturb him.
"You'd hardly know that we are at war and that the worst dark lord ever is trying to take over." Minerva said softly, watching the students with a small smile.
"They play now, but not when Voldemort attacks, then we must be ready to fight." Severus growled.
"We will be ready, we ARE ready, as ready as we can be." Albus said in response.
"The Order is here, they are safe for now. Let them be, their childhood is a difficult one." Minerva told Severus firmly, smiling in pride as Gryffindor won the snow ball fight.
"As Harry remarked earlier, it will make them stronger, great danger breeds great warriors and great wizards." Albus quoted.
"The Elementals? How is Harry handling it?"
Albus suppressed a small frown, Severus was horrid as usual to Harry during class, but he did care about the boy. Harry had been working nonstop all year; he needed a rest, and now this. How was he handling it? The knowledge that any day could be his last, they all knew that he would not survive the Elemental attack, would any of them? But Harry was ready to die trying, infact when Albus had questioned him Harry had said that to him it would not too bad. He was ready and willing to die trying to protect the entire human population, great kid, great heart, no childhood though, poor thing.
"I am sure he is handling it okay." Albus said, praying it was true.
**
Back at Hogwarts Harry went straight to the library and found a table well hidden in the back. He'd only been there for a few moments when Ron, Ira, and Hermione came over.
"Hello Harry, what's up? Besides the ceiling?" Ira asked, Harry explained and showed them the scrolls.
"Ancient Temple Inca, the forerunner of Inca! I've seen something with that in here before!" Hermione was all excited, leaning over the scrolls, tracings and tablets, handling them like paper-thin glass.
"Do you know any of it?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Nnnooo, well that one means air, and that on is earth. Wait just one sec!" And she was off, searching through the library.
"Trust Hermione to know every book in here, she'll probably take over from Madam Pince don't you think Harry?"
"I thought you knew her better than that Ron, Hermione's much to adventuresome, our doing I suppose, being a librarian would be too boring for her." Harry said, a little reprovingly as he bent of the scrolls again. Ron and Ira sat down, each of them took one of the slightly burned scrolls and began copying everything over onto paper, skipping every other line. On these lines they would go back and write in above the words what the translation, starting with fire and water. Grateful for their help Harry went through the papers and tablets, after much scrutiny he found the symbol for fire and water, two of the elements, they started working on find all those symbols and writing in the translation, waiting for Hermione to return.
Hermione finally got back, three large books and one tiny one with her. One of them had a bunch if translations, written down by the last person ever to be able to speak Ancient Temple Inca, a wizard/priest, probably a squib, all magic folk were until Merlin.
**
Three hours later the each had about two sentences, and these were only bits and pieces. The others had gone, Harry sat quietly, working steadily, but he vision blurred and he sighed. Just to tired, he leaned back and checked the clock; he'd been at it for nearly six hours straight. With a tired sigh he gathered his things and left, Madam Pince was locking up for the night, on his way out he failed to see Mrs. Norris and tripped, crashing into a book shelf and knocking some of the books out.
"Blasted cat!" Harry's wand snapped down, Mrs. Norris fled in terror, her fur blue.
"Could you put those away before you leave Harry? Thanks." Madam Pince said as she left, Harry sighed and moved his scrolls away a bit, levitating them to leave his hands free and bent down. Two books caught his eyes, The Worst Dark Wizards & Their Reigns of Terror, the 80th version, published 2002, and, The Greatest Wizards & Witches of the Light, the story of the worlds heroes, the 80th version published 2002. In sudden interest Harry flipped through the one on dark wizards, Voldemort was the latest, worst, and his story was already well over eight hundred pages long. Harry put it away, as he picked up the other it fell open to a page, and to his astonishment he saw a picture of himself, tattered robes whipping about him, hurling lightning at Voldemort. Amused he put it away too, wondering if he should sue the author. As he put it away he saw the title of the book next to it, Class A1 Disasters, a Guide to our Gory past. Wondering if it hand anything on the Elementals Harry took it out.
Harry spent some time reading in the common room until most of the younger students went up to bed then Harry curled up in a chair next to the fire and opened the book, ignoring the other students who always seemed to fall strangely silent when he was around before continuing their conversations, all except a few…
"Had a nice day Harry?" Harry glanced up at Colin and fixed the younger boy in a cool look.
"No not really."
"Oh…sorry, what are you reading?" Harry showed him the book, Colin's eyes widened.
"Does it have anything on he-who-"
"Voldemort Colin, Voldemort." A few heads turned and Harry, reaching out mentally was aware of every person in the common room listening in.
"Yes…is there anything about him in it?"
"A little, later on, right now I'm still in the 1800s. Besides Voldie's story isn't done yet so how could they write about it? The next addition will be coming out next year, there's sure to be stuff about him in that one if you want to read it…though I wouldn't suggest it."
"What's he going to do?" Harry's eyes bored into Colin's, becoming strangely intense and measuring, Colin had to look away; now everyone had gone quiet to listen.
"What will come will come, and be dealt with when it does." Harry said firmly, one of the third years, who Harry remembered was named Clarice persisted the questioning.
"But do you know? I mean some one must have some idea, don't they?" Harry became aware of the tension level, and realized that the fear and anxiety had not faded among the students, merely been held within, hidden. But now it was time for it to come out, should he? He glanced at Ron and Hermione across form him, they too got the idea and nodded.
"What do you think will happen?" Harry relaxed his gaze as Clarice bit her lip under his scrutiny, he could feel her fear and uneasiness. He turned his gaze to everyone, slowly a few of the younger students crept closer to him and the fire, sitting around him like they would around a storyteller.
"He could attack…like before and on the other schools?"
"He could, and most likely he would lose, the school is powerful and the order is here." Harry pretended not to hear a soft voice whisper, "and you."
"I heard one of the seventh years saying that he broke into Hogwarts six years ago with the help of a teacher, something about the Sorcerers Stone?" Harry looked up to his friends, then with methodic slowness he closed his book and sat up a little and looked down at the students questioning eyes. The older students pulled chair over or cushions to sit on. Someone conjured up huge fluffy cushions and some beanbag chairs for every to relax among.
"There is quite a story behind that, we still have an hour until we have to go to bed, would you like to hear it?"
"Yes!"
"Please?"
"Sure!"
"We'd love to!"
Harry smiled, Ron and Hermione sat up a bit in the huge armchair they were sharing, Ira, sitting in a sort fluffy of bowl-chair beside Harry nodded.
"I'll need a little help from Ron and Hermione for this. It all began in our first year here at Hogwarts…"
An hour later Harry had gotten through only a third of their first year.
"And now it is time for bed, we'll continue tomorrow evening." Hermione said, shooing the unhappy students away.
"Do you think that was right? Should we have told them?" Harry asked, stretching like a large cat in his chair.
"It reassures them, everybody loved it, even the oldest students. I think the three of us ought to start storytelling hour each evening, for everyone in every house." Hermione said.
"That sounds like a bit much, lets drag it out so it takes a long time, and they loved it so much. Finally! A way to communicate and speak with the students, reassure them and remove their fears, this is perfect." Harry said sleepily, heading upstairs, soon the other followed.
**
Thud…a long expectant pause…thud…thud…thud…Thud! A huge foot came down, gigantic silver claws sank into the ground, they seemed weary, tired and worn. A Royal Aaron plodded along, all grandeur and majestic beauty gone from the forlorn creature. Its nose almost touched the ground, it was covered in dried blood and hideous wounds seeped blood. One eye was so covered with dried blood it was stuck and swollen shut. The fur no longer shone and sparkled, the wings were messed and dulled, one hung brokenly. Slowly it turned its nose up and a long drawn out howl ripped lose, its body shuddered as the sad song came forth. Harry felt great sadness for the once splendid beast, a single blood red tear rolled from the one eye. Like all Aaron tears it had the powers of a Phoenix tear, by why was it red? The sad song racked Harry's mind and body and soon he heard other howls on the wind. There were others out there, somewhere, but they were dead and dying, like it was, to weak to defend itself, to tired to fly. The ground was scorched and charred, nothing grew or stirred, it was a dead land, a wasteland. The enchanting terrible melody floated on the breeze, one by one the voices died away. Finally the one that remained stopped, and listened, not a sound to be heard, its siblings were gone. It was alone, alone with a world to defend forever, and not a single friend, where there should have been six one stood all alone, and this one could not hold out much longer. It fell slowly onto its side, and sighed, breathing slowly and lightly. Finally the eyes both sprang open brilliantly green and glowing, then they dulled and paled, the fire left them. Eyes that had seen too much, and needed a rest. A voice echoed in his head, it came from the Royal Aaron, and that voice was his own. "I will always be there." Harry blinked, one paw stirred, then lay still, the eyes closed. "Whenever you need me I will be there, forever at your side." Harry reached out and stroked the bloodied head, feeling its life fleeing while it made an effort to live, it had sworn it would, it had too. *Too tough and too loyal to die, no matter what the effort.* Where had those words come from? *Never give up, never release the light to the mercy of the dark* What was going on? *I will always be there, forever at your side* The eyes blinked open. *I shall fight and die for you without a thought for myself* The blood was going away, the wounds began to heal. *I stand my ground, and no enemy shall pass* The legs began to move, the tail flicked. *Your defender and your friend forever* Slowly the great body stirred as the wounds vanished and the coat began to gleam, Harry felt as though he were pushing a thin layer of gauze out of the way, everything became clearer, more focused. *Look for me, and I'll be there for you* Slowly it got to its feet, the wing healed. *I am the last, and I shall not fall* The coat gleamed brilliantly, it flexed its claws and flapped its wings. *What will come will come, and I, I will meet it when it does* The great head tilted back and roared defiantly to the sky, the dawn would be here soon. *And then I shall fight for you* The dawn broke, sunbeams streaming across the ground, grass grew and plant flourished, time seemed to speed up. *Just call my name, and I shall come.* It was getting ready to fly away, he could feel it. *Always be there, always, never let you down* It was off, it soared across oceans and deserts, finally, through the clouds he could see a castle far below. The Royal Aaron wheeled and came down, it seemed to shrink and shrink, until if swooped in a window and landed on one of the people sleeping inside.
Harry woke with a small gasp, Tiger was sitting beside him, purring steadily. Hedwig was out hunting. Harry got up and went to the window and looked out, nothing moved. An observer would have seen a tiny smile of joy and relief cross his face. He was the Royal Aaron, the last of his kind. He protect them forever, no matter what the cost, what would come will come, and we will meet it when it does. I am not afraid to die.
What will happen next? Wait and see! Please Review!
Lee, Alicia and Wara Ulinton sat around a smooth wooden table in one of the many open work areas just off the order library in the maps section. Lee glanced up, Harry had left a few hours ago to try and track down a book, which supposedly contained a painfully detailed account of the last Elemental hatching and the subsequent fighting. He was relieved for Harry's absence, Harry had spent all morning pacing around, cloak swirling as he examined a chart, his eyes glowed with a slightly hypnotic look that reminded Lee of a caged animal. Harry had been "scenting the wind" trying to determine exactly where the Elementals eggs were. The only time the creatures were truly vulnerable was when they were unhatched, if they could be destroyed before they hatched, or even just a few of them, it would give everyone a better chance of surviving.
"Damn Voldemort!" Lee's head swung around at Harry's muttering, he was back, and in a towering rage.
"What'd he do now?" Alicia asked, Harry sat down and put a few burnt scrolls on the table.
"He got there first, stole the book and burn the library to the ground, killed everyone inside poor things, they never had a chance. Most of the books were saved, but this was all I could find from the scrolls containing information on the Elementals." He carefully opened one and began to try and decipher the strange language of pictures and shapes, after a few moments he'd decided that it was no language he or any of the other knew. A quick search in the language guides found not a thing, Miranda moving past stopped to look.
"What on earth is that?"
"Wish we knew." Alicia replied, she explained about the library burning.
"That was unnecessary, now Tom is starting to act like the Nazis? You know I have seen something like that before." She vanished into that library and returned in about ten minutes with a stack of books and a clay tablet. "Yes, see, some of the symbols, a lot actually are the same. Same shapes and designs, these were found in South America, in old Inca tombs and temples. You ought to check the Hogwarts library for more help, you're going to have to translate it, and I wish you luck. She left, Harry examined the scrolls, tracings, tablet, and two other scrolls for a moment.
"She's right. What do you have with the maps? At least a guess?"
"Not much, a general area, one in German, one about one hundred and fifty miles from Hogwarts, one in Antarctica, and one in the Mexico area. Not much, we've narrowed it down to an area of roughly seventy square miles in each location."
"That's great, hopefully Voldemort doesn't have a better idea than we do, he knows about the Elementals now, and maybe where they are." Harry said, they had done a super job, but it was a little disappointing.
"Is that bad?" Lee asked.
"Worse than bad, he can influence them to leave his people and him alone while they destroy every other organic thing on the planet. They'll leave him, his lands, and his armies alone and destroy everyone else. They clear the planet for him them fly off into space to search for other organic things elsewhere and he gets earth. But only if he knows enough about them and gets to the eggs a week before they hatch, if he does…well that would probably be the end of this war. And if he doesn't…we've got hope…either way I'll fight them. You've done enough today people, thanks, I'll go check the library at Hogwarts." He stood and gathered up everything and left, trying to hide his mounting fear…if Voldemort got the Elementals…
**
Albus Dumbledore watched out the window as students dressed in winter gear played tag, and had snowball fights, he smiled, his school was at peace and they were safe. Behind him Severus and Minerva came up quietly, careful not to disturb him.
"You'd hardly know that we are at war and that the worst dark lord ever is trying to take over." Minerva said softly, watching the students with a small smile.
"They play now, but not when Voldemort attacks, then we must be ready to fight." Severus growled.
"We will be ready, we ARE ready, as ready as we can be." Albus said in response.
"The Order is here, they are safe for now. Let them be, their childhood is a difficult one." Minerva told Severus firmly, smiling in pride as Gryffindor won the snow ball fight.
"As Harry remarked earlier, it will make them stronger, great danger breeds great warriors and great wizards." Albus quoted.
"The Elementals? How is Harry handling it?"
Albus suppressed a small frown, Severus was horrid as usual to Harry during class, but he did care about the boy. Harry had been working nonstop all year; he needed a rest, and now this. How was he handling it? The knowledge that any day could be his last, they all knew that he would not survive the Elemental attack, would any of them? But Harry was ready to die trying, infact when Albus had questioned him Harry had said that to him it would not too bad. He was ready and willing to die trying to protect the entire human population, great kid, great heart, no childhood though, poor thing.
"I am sure he is handling it okay." Albus said, praying it was true.
**
Back at Hogwarts Harry went straight to the library and found a table well hidden in the back. He'd only been there for a few moments when Ron, Ira, and Hermione came over.
"Hello Harry, what's up? Besides the ceiling?" Ira asked, Harry explained and showed them the scrolls.
"Ancient Temple Inca, the forerunner of Inca! I've seen something with that in here before!" Hermione was all excited, leaning over the scrolls, tracings and tablets, handling them like paper-thin glass.
"Do you know any of it?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Nnnooo, well that one means air, and that on is earth. Wait just one sec!" And she was off, searching through the library.
"Trust Hermione to know every book in here, she'll probably take over from Madam Pince don't you think Harry?"
"I thought you knew her better than that Ron, Hermione's much to adventuresome, our doing I suppose, being a librarian would be too boring for her." Harry said, a little reprovingly as he bent of the scrolls again. Ron and Ira sat down, each of them took one of the slightly burned scrolls and began copying everything over onto paper, skipping every other line. On these lines they would go back and write in above the words what the translation, starting with fire and water. Grateful for their help Harry went through the papers and tablets, after much scrutiny he found the symbol for fire and water, two of the elements, they started working on find all those symbols and writing in the translation, waiting for Hermione to return.
Hermione finally got back, three large books and one tiny one with her. One of them had a bunch if translations, written down by the last person ever to be able to speak Ancient Temple Inca, a wizard/priest, probably a squib, all magic folk were until Merlin.
**
Three hours later the each had about two sentences, and these were only bits and pieces. The others had gone, Harry sat quietly, working steadily, but he vision blurred and he sighed. Just to tired, he leaned back and checked the clock; he'd been at it for nearly six hours straight. With a tired sigh he gathered his things and left, Madam Pince was locking up for the night, on his way out he failed to see Mrs. Norris and tripped, crashing into a book shelf and knocking some of the books out.
"Blasted cat!" Harry's wand snapped down, Mrs. Norris fled in terror, her fur blue.
"Could you put those away before you leave Harry? Thanks." Madam Pince said as she left, Harry sighed and moved his scrolls away a bit, levitating them to leave his hands free and bent down. Two books caught his eyes, The Worst Dark Wizards & Their Reigns of Terror, the 80th version, published 2002, and, The Greatest Wizards & Witches of the Light, the story of the worlds heroes, the 80th version published 2002. In sudden interest Harry flipped through the one on dark wizards, Voldemort was the latest, worst, and his story was already well over eight hundred pages long. Harry put it away, as he picked up the other it fell open to a page, and to his astonishment he saw a picture of himself, tattered robes whipping about him, hurling lightning at Voldemort. Amused he put it away too, wondering if he should sue the author. As he put it away he saw the title of the book next to it, Class A1 Disasters, a Guide to our Gory past. Wondering if it hand anything on the Elementals Harry took it out.
Harry spent some time reading in the common room until most of the younger students went up to bed then Harry curled up in a chair next to the fire and opened the book, ignoring the other students who always seemed to fall strangely silent when he was around before continuing their conversations, all except a few…
"Had a nice day Harry?" Harry glanced up at Colin and fixed the younger boy in a cool look.
"No not really."
"Oh…sorry, what are you reading?" Harry showed him the book, Colin's eyes widened.
"Does it have anything on he-who-"
"Voldemort Colin, Voldemort." A few heads turned and Harry, reaching out mentally was aware of every person in the common room listening in.
"Yes…is there anything about him in it?"
"A little, later on, right now I'm still in the 1800s. Besides Voldie's story isn't done yet so how could they write about it? The next addition will be coming out next year, there's sure to be stuff about him in that one if you want to read it…though I wouldn't suggest it."
"What's he going to do?" Harry's eyes bored into Colin's, becoming strangely intense and measuring, Colin had to look away; now everyone had gone quiet to listen.
"What will come will come, and be dealt with when it does." Harry said firmly, one of the third years, who Harry remembered was named Clarice persisted the questioning.
"But do you know? I mean some one must have some idea, don't they?" Harry became aware of the tension level, and realized that the fear and anxiety had not faded among the students, merely been held within, hidden. But now it was time for it to come out, should he? He glanced at Ron and Hermione across form him, they too got the idea and nodded.
"What do you think will happen?" Harry relaxed his gaze as Clarice bit her lip under his scrutiny, he could feel her fear and uneasiness. He turned his gaze to everyone, slowly a few of the younger students crept closer to him and the fire, sitting around him like they would around a storyteller.
"He could attack…like before and on the other schools?"
"He could, and most likely he would lose, the school is powerful and the order is here." Harry pretended not to hear a soft voice whisper, "and you."
"I heard one of the seventh years saying that he broke into Hogwarts six years ago with the help of a teacher, something about the Sorcerers Stone?" Harry looked up to his friends, then with methodic slowness he closed his book and sat up a little and looked down at the students questioning eyes. The older students pulled chair over or cushions to sit on. Someone conjured up huge fluffy cushions and some beanbag chairs for every to relax among.
"There is quite a story behind that, we still have an hour until we have to go to bed, would you like to hear it?"
"Yes!"
"Please?"
"Sure!"
"We'd love to!"
Harry smiled, Ron and Hermione sat up a bit in the huge armchair they were sharing, Ira, sitting in a sort fluffy of bowl-chair beside Harry nodded.
"I'll need a little help from Ron and Hermione for this. It all began in our first year here at Hogwarts…"
An hour later Harry had gotten through only a third of their first year.
"And now it is time for bed, we'll continue tomorrow evening." Hermione said, shooing the unhappy students away.
"Do you think that was right? Should we have told them?" Harry asked, stretching like a large cat in his chair.
"It reassures them, everybody loved it, even the oldest students. I think the three of us ought to start storytelling hour each evening, for everyone in every house." Hermione said.
"That sounds like a bit much, lets drag it out so it takes a long time, and they loved it so much. Finally! A way to communicate and speak with the students, reassure them and remove their fears, this is perfect." Harry said sleepily, heading upstairs, soon the other followed.
**
Thud…a long expectant pause…thud…thud…thud…Thud! A huge foot came down, gigantic silver claws sank into the ground, they seemed weary, tired and worn. A Royal Aaron plodded along, all grandeur and majestic beauty gone from the forlorn creature. Its nose almost touched the ground, it was covered in dried blood and hideous wounds seeped blood. One eye was so covered with dried blood it was stuck and swollen shut. The fur no longer shone and sparkled, the wings were messed and dulled, one hung brokenly. Slowly it turned its nose up and a long drawn out howl ripped lose, its body shuddered as the sad song came forth. Harry felt great sadness for the once splendid beast, a single blood red tear rolled from the one eye. Like all Aaron tears it had the powers of a Phoenix tear, by why was it red? The sad song racked Harry's mind and body and soon he heard other howls on the wind. There were others out there, somewhere, but they were dead and dying, like it was, to weak to defend itself, to tired to fly. The ground was scorched and charred, nothing grew or stirred, it was a dead land, a wasteland. The enchanting terrible melody floated on the breeze, one by one the voices died away. Finally the one that remained stopped, and listened, not a sound to be heard, its siblings were gone. It was alone, alone with a world to defend forever, and not a single friend, where there should have been six one stood all alone, and this one could not hold out much longer. It fell slowly onto its side, and sighed, breathing slowly and lightly. Finally the eyes both sprang open brilliantly green and glowing, then they dulled and paled, the fire left them. Eyes that had seen too much, and needed a rest. A voice echoed in his head, it came from the Royal Aaron, and that voice was his own. "I will always be there." Harry blinked, one paw stirred, then lay still, the eyes closed. "Whenever you need me I will be there, forever at your side." Harry reached out and stroked the bloodied head, feeling its life fleeing while it made an effort to live, it had sworn it would, it had too. *Too tough and too loyal to die, no matter what the effort.* Where had those words come from? *Never give up, never release the light to the mercy of the dark* What was going on? *I will always be there, forever at your side* The eyes blinked open. *I shall fight and die for you without a thought for myself* The blood was going away, the wounds began to heal. *I stand my ground, and no enemy shall pass* The legs began to move, the tail flicked. *Your defender and your friend forever* Slowly the great body stirred as the wounds vanished and the coat began to gleam, Harry felt as though he were pushing a thin layer of gauze out of the way, everything became clearer, more focused. *Look for me, and I'll be there for you* Slowly it got to its feet, the wing healed. *I am the last, and I shall not fall* The coat gleamed brilliantly, it flexed its claws and flapped its wings. *What will come will come, and I, I will meet it when it does* The great head tilted back and roared defiantly to the sky, the dawn would be here soon. *And then I shall fight for you* The dawn broke, sunbeams streaming across the ground, grass grew and plant flourished, time seemed to speed up. *Just call my name, and I shall come.* It was getting ready to fly away, he could feel it. *Always be there, always, never let you down* It was off, it soared across oceans and deserts, finally, through the clouds he could see a castle far below. The Royal Aaron wheeled and came down, it seemed to shrink and shrink, until if swooped in a window and landed on one of the people sleeping inside.
Harry woke with a small gasp, Tiger was sitting beside him, purring steadily. Hedwig was out hunting. Harry got up and went to the window and looked out, nothing moved. An observer would have seen a tiny smile of joy and relief cross his face. He was the Royal Aaron, the last of his kind. He protect them forever, no matter what the cost, what would come will come, and we will meet it when it does. I am not afraid to die.
What will happen next? Wait and see! Please Review!