Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
"Found it!" Hermione announced triumphantly as she placed a large tome on the table. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione were in the library, trying to study. It had been two weeks since the incident with the dementors and everyone shrugged the incident off as an attack by wild dementors. However, the four of them had a suspicion that they were anything but "wild".
"Found what?" Ron asked as he cringed at the sight of the book. It seemed that it was made to be read by giants for the whole book covered the entire width of the table.
"I was looking for anything to satisfy my curiosity and found this," she pointed at an entry that showed a picture of a white and blue wolf.
"Fenrir?" Ginny asked, confused and curious. "What about him?" Hermione rolled her eyes in frustration.
"It says, that Fenrir will be Odin's fall for he will devour the god and heaven will fall. When the time of the Ragnarok, or in our terms the end of the world, Fenrir will be released by a terrible earthquake that will devastate the land and end has begun." There were looks of intrigue, curiosity and bafflement at this revelation.
/She has the wrong book,/ Phoenix said in Ginny's mind. Sighing at her vagueness, she looked at Hermione to relay the message.
"Wrong book 'Mione," Ginny said receiving a hard glare from the witch.
"Well if SOMEONE had asked Professor Dumbledore I wouldn't be this irritated," her voice rose.
"Calm down, 'Mione," Ron said as he tugged at her sleeve. Looking at Ginny with a questioning glance, he smirked.
/Please tell me what book before everything gets out of hand,/ Ginny pleaded with Phoenix. She felt a sigh and a smile.
/It is the tome entitled Summoner's pride,/ Phoenix said. /But the only copy of it belongs to Leon./
"Professor Hart has the copy?" Ginny said out loud. The three seventh years looked at her in disbelief and confusion.
"He does?" Harry asked. Bewildered by her actions. "What copy?"
"The tome that holds the answers that we seek," Ginny said much to Hermione's surprise and irritation.
"Then why didn't you tell us before?" she asked. But Ginny was silent, slightly embarrassed. "I'm sorry Gin," Hermione sighed and slumped on the chair. She leant on Ron clearly exhausted from her search. "I've not been myself since the dementors."
"So," Ron said in a jovial voice. "Do we take the invisibility cloak out of mothballs?" Harry thought for a moment. He didn't want to lose Professor Hart's trust but judging by the expectant looks from his friends, he prayed that they wouldn't be caught.
*** *** ***
"Why not just ask him?" Harry asked in a whisper as the four of them walked towards Professor Hart's office under the protection of his invisibility cloak.
"What kind of person would do that?" Ron asked. "That book may have secrets he wouldn't want to share with others."
"I trusted him, Ron" Ginny sighed, not believing she would do this. "And I think he's not the kind of person you want to lost one's trust with."
"Alright then," Hermione sighed. She too was having a conscience attack. "We'll just be invisible until we come to his office. He may be lenient but I don't think Filch will be if he catches us."
No one spoke until they reached Professor Hart's office. Harry knocked at the door but no one answered.
"Maybe he's not there," Ron said unsurely. Harry tried the knob and it opened. Looking at his friends for their permission, he entered the room quietly. The others followed but suddenly stopped when Harry did."
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked but as she looked over his shoulder, she knew.
Professor Hart was by a circular table, pouring tea into five cups. There was cake in the middle of the table already sliced. It seemed that he was expecting company.
"Please close the door," he smiled. "There's been a draft lately and I don't want you get sick." Reluctantly, Ron did what they were told. Hermione took a chance to step out from Harry's cloak and made her presence known.
"You knew the whole time?" she asked slightly amused.
"Yes, my lady. And you can lose the cloak master Potter," Professor Hart said smiling at him. "It is useless in this room," he explained and Hermione gasped in astonishment.
"Harry! I can see you!" she exclaimed. Ginny moved out to see if it was true. Sure enough, the fabric could be seen. Harry and Ron removed the cloak to see for themselves.
"How can this be?" Ginny asked as he looked incredulously at the professor.
"Silence," he said.
"Silence?" Ron asked.
"Silence is a spell used to null magic in a certain area or even living thing," Hermione looked at him with interest. "But it is really hard to do."
"Not as hard as you think," Professor Hart said as he gestured them to sit. "But I sense that this is not the reason for you visit."
"It is not," Harry finally said recovering from his surprise. "We... well,"
"We need to borrow the tome of the Summoner's pride," Ginny said straightforwardly. To Harry she seemed determined. To her brother, she seemed mental. How could she say that like it was nothing? But the professor smiled at her.
"Straight to the point, I like that," he sat down as soon as the others did. "Unfortunately I do not have it."
"You don't?" Hermione asked and looked at Ginny confusingly.
"But Phoenix said..." oops she said too much. She didn't want to tell them about her for fear that they would think of her strangely.
"Phoenix hasn't seen me in years," he calmly said. "For safety reasons I had hidden it. Also it has three keys to open the lock and it is also hidden."
"Where?" Ron asked as he took a bit off the cake Professor Hart had given him.
"It is not that simple to search for it," he said as he poured Ginny another cup of tea. "There is this thing called 'Rite of the Guardian' that bonds me never to tell the locations of the keys."
"Rite of the Guardian?" Harry was doubtful he had heard correctly.
"When you have collected the keys then I will tell more," he said.
"What are the keys?" Hermione asked. She was irked that he was not clear on his explanations but she knew they had to find those keys if their questions would be answered.
But his next answer made her furious.
"At your next Hogsmead weekend, go to The Three Broomsticks and ask the lady serving you about a 'Summoner's Guardian'. She'll start you off with the first clue. Now go to bed," he smiled and stood.
"Thanks," Ginny said but she doubted that it would help them.
"And one more thing," Professor Hart had a serene smile when he looked at his students. "Thanks."
"For what, Professor?" Harry asked as he wore his cloak.
"For asking me instead of finding the tome itself," his smiled turned sullen as he continued. "If you came here unannounced, you shall perish for most of my equipment are guarded."
"But I thought magic can't exist in silence," Hermione said in surprise.
"My lady, my room is booby trapped against intruders," his smile returned. "And Carbuncle told me that you would be coming this way. In any case, my traps are not magical and could cause severe harm."
The four teenagers swallowed as they heard him. Saying their goodbyes, they left his office and went directly back at the Griffindor tower.
*** *** ***
"Well?" Harry asked as the four of them found themselves a table in the three broomsticks.
"It was worth a shot," Hermione said as she looked at the waitress. "Are you sure that Phoenix can't tell us more?" she asked Ginny who just shrugged.
"She was also bound to this rite," she explained. She had told them about her meeting with the giant bird and that made Hermione more interested. They all agreed to follow Professor Hart's clue hoping to find something about it.
"Let's just order and ask her already," Ron said as she called the waitress.
"What will it be today?" she asked jovially as she took their order.
"Four butterbeers," Ron said and the woman took off. She returned a while later with their order.
"Will there be anything else?" she asked.
"We were told that there was an interesting story," Ginny said as she took a sip of her butterbeer.
"And what story would that be?" the woman asked, her smile not fading.
"About the Summoner's Guardian?" she said. The woman looked intrigued and smiled at them.
"It is an interesting story indeed," she smiled and looked at them with interest. "I haven't told it in years and you are the first to ask of it."
"What about it then?" Hermione smiled. A new fact or even a story interested her. The woman took a chair from a nearby table and sat beside them.
"It was a lovely story," she began. "It began years ago, even before the time of Merlin there wages a war between men. But somehow, men had enticed a ruthless demon to join them and even the best warrior could not stop this demon. Then came a lovely maiden from the heavens and defeated the demon.
"It was a hard battle and the maiden won but not without a cost. The maiden was struck down by one of the demon's henchmen and soon died. But not before enraging the maiden's Guardian. A knight of the highest order sworn to protect her with all his strength and abilities. But he failed.
"He blamed himself for not being there to save her and it shattered him like a delicate piece of glass. It was a sad day for everyone."
"What was so special about the Maiden?" Harry asked intrigued.
"Do you know about a summoner?" the woman asked "No? She could summon creatures to aid her in her battle. It was believed that each creature could control a certain type of element. To this day it was never proven. It was just a myth."
"Anything else?" Ginny asked. So far the information didn't help in finding the keys.
"Oh! And she had three artifacts that she treasured the most," the woman said as she stood. "They were, the Guardian's Blade, the Light of Alexandria and the Maiden's Prayer. I think there's a portrait of her in Hogwarts. Just ask around." The waitress left, leaving the young mages in thought.
"So?" Hermione asked for their next move.
"Let's just enjoy the weekend and think about it when we get back to school," Ron stretched and took Hermione's hand. "Come on, let's look around." Before she could refuse, she was already by the door. Harry looked at them confused and bewildered. They had been acting strange of late. But when he looked at Ginny, he blushed.
He was alone with her. He should give it now before it is too late.
/Regrets/ he remembered the words of Professor Hart in the Griffindor common room a few nights before. He mustered all the courage he could and stood.
"Do you want to take a stroll?" he asked. Ginny looked dumbfounded at his request but smiled at him anyway.
"Sure, Harry," she couldn't believe it. A stroll alone with Harry Potter! Still she shouldn't have her hopes up. It's just a walk between two friends.
/It's now or never/ he thought to himself as he clutched his prolonged gift to her. First he had to get her alone without any crowds to disturb them.
They came upon a field, which overlooked the school. It was a magnificent sight like a painting etched in time. He took out a box from his pocket and smiled at it.
"Here," he said gently as he slowly gave it to Ginny. Surprised and confused, Ginny took it.
"Harry, you shouldn't have," she smiled. /Oh yes he should!/ she frowned as Phoenix said in her mind. Ignoring her, she opened it and to her surprise, lay the most beautiful pendant she had ever seen. It was an angel with a silver body and crystal wings. "Thank you," she said.
"May I?" Harry asked. Ginny gave him the necklace for him to place on her neck. Smiling nervously, he clasped the chain perfectly and admired her with it. Ginny's smile was serene as she looked at the pendant. She looked so beautiful right then and there that he couldn't remember how beautiful she had been.
Harry found himself drawing near to her, as if an invisible force was pushing him towards her. Ginny saw him move and found him getting closer. Closer still, Harry could feel her hot breathing to his skin. Closer, Ginny could smell the fragrance of his mild cologne. Closer and closer, Harry tilted his head and Ginny closed her eyes.
His lips were near hers as they slowly inched closer. Till there was no need to bet closer.
Harry's lips gently touched Ginny's. First it was a little peck, then all their bottled feelings surfaced immediately. Harry's hand was on her waist while the other held her head softly, their kiss had increased their passion. Ginny had her arms wrapped around his neck as if pulling him closer to her.
Passion fueled their kiss and desire burned all logic into cinders. All that mattered to them was that time and everything around them went unnoticed. Their lips parted but they still held each other in their arms, not one of them letting go. Not one of them wanted to release each other.
In their hearts they wanted to stay that way.
Until time permitted it.
*** *** ***
On the roof of the highest tower in Hogwarts, a Guardian smiled in relief. His unaided Amethyst eyes spied a newly formed vow from the town of Hogsmead. His braid fluttered as the kind wind touched his body.
He sighed as two mages went back into town, hands held and hearts united.
"It's about bloody time," the Guardian said as he gave a final sigh and carefully trekked down. From all the excitement, he had forgotten that he hated heights.
End of 10
"Found it!" Hermione announced triumphantly as she placed a large tome on the table. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione were in the library, trying to study. It had been two weeks since the incident with the dementors and everyone shrugged the incident off as an attack by wild dementors. However, the four of them had a suspicion that they were anything but "wild".
"Found what?" Ron asked as he cringed at the sight of the book. It seemed that it was made to be read by giants for the whole book covered the entire width of the table.
"I was looking for anything to satisfy my curiosity and found this," she pointed at an entry that showed a picture of a white and blue wolf.
"Fenrir?" Ginny asked, confused and curious. "What about him?" Hermione rolled her eyes in frustration.
"It says, that Fenrir will be Odin's fall for he will devour the god and heaven will fall. When the time of the Ragnarok, or in our terms the end of the world, Fenrir will be released by a terrible earthquake that will devastate the land and end has begun." There were looks of intrigue, curiosity and bafflement at this revelation.
/She has the wrong book,/ Phoenix said in Ginny's mind. Sighing at her vagueness, she looked at Hermione to relay the message.
"Wrong book 'Mione," Ginny said receiving a hard glare from the witch.
"Well if SOMEONE had asked Professor Dumbledore I wouldn't be this irritated," her voice rose.
"Calm down, 'Mione," Ron said as he tugged at her sleeve. Looking at Ginny with a questioning glance, he smirked.
/Please tell me what book before everything gets out of hand,/ Ginny pleaded with Phoenix. She felt a sigh and a smile.
/It is the tome entitled Summoner's pride,/ Phoenix said. /But the only copy of it belongs to Leon./
"Professor Hart has the copy?" Ginny said out loud. The three seventh years looked at her in disbelief and confusion.
"He does?" Harry asked. Bewildered by her actions. "What copy?"
"The tome that holds the answers that we seek," Ginny said much to Hermione's surprise and irritation.
"Then why didn't you tell us before?" she asked. But Ginny was silent, slightly embarrassed. "I'm sorry Gin," Hermione sighed and slumped on the chair. She leant on Ron clearly exhausted from her search. "I've not been myself since the dementors."
"So," Ron said in a jovial voice. "Do we take the invisibility cloak out of mothballs?" Harry thought for a moment. He didn't want to lose Professor Hart's trust but judging by the expectant looks from his friends, he prayed that they wouldn't be caught.
*** *** ***
"Why not just ask him?" Harry asked in a whisper as the four of them walked towards Professor Hart's office under the protection of his invisibility cloak.
"What kind of person would do that?" Ron asked. "That book may have secrets he wouldn't want to share with others."
"I trusted him, Ron" Ginny sighed, not believing she would do this. "And I think he's not the kind of person you want to lost one's trust with."
"Alright then," Hermione sighed. She too was having a conscience attack. "We'll just be invisible until we come to his office. He may be lenient but I don't think Filch will be if he catches us."
No one spoke until they reached Professor Hart's office. Harry knocked at the door but no one answered.
"Maybe he's not there," Ron said unsurely. Harry tried the knob and it opened. Looking at his friends for their permission, he entered the room quietly. The others followed but suddenly stopped when Harry did."
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked but as she looked over his shoulder, she knew.
Professor Hart was by a circular table, pouring tea into five cups. There was cake in the middle of the table already sliced. It seemed that he was expecting company.
"Please close the door," he smiled. "There's been a draft lately and I don't want you get sick." Reluctantly, Ron did what they were told. Hermione took a chance to step out from Harry's cloak and made her presence known.
"You knew the whole time?" she asked slightly amused.
"Yes, my lady. And you can lose the cloak master Potter," Professor Hart said smiling at him. "It is useless in this room," he explained and Hermione gasped in astonishment.
"Harry! I can see you!" she exclaimed. Ginny moved out to see if it was true. Sure enough, the fabric could be seen. Harry and Ron removed the cloak to see for themselves.
"How can this be?" Ginny asked as he looked incredulously at the professor.
"Silence," he said.
"Silence?" Ron asked.
"Silence is a spell used to null magic in a certain area or even living thing," Hermione looked at him with interest. "But it is really hard to do."
"Not as hard as you think," Professor Hart said as he gestured them to sit. "But I sense that this is not the reason for you visit."
"It is not," Harry finally said recovering from his surprise. "We... well,"
"We need to borrow the tome of the Summoner's pride," Ginny said straightforwardly. To Harry she seemed determined. To her brother, she seemed mental. How could she say that like it was nothing? But the professor smiled at her.
"Straight to the point, I like that," he sat down as soon as the others did. "Unfortunately I do not have it."
"You don't?" Hermione asked and looked at Ginny confusingly.
"But Phoenix said..." oops she said too much. She didn't want to tell them about her for fear that they would think of her strangely.
"Phoenix hasn't seen me in years," he calmly said. "For safety reasons I had hidden it. Also it has three keys to open the lock and it is also hidden."
"Where?" Ron asked as he took a bit off the cake Professor Hart had given him.
"It is not that simple to search for it," he said as he poured Ginny another cup of tea. "There is this thing called 'Rite of the Guardian' that bonds me never to tell the locations of the keys."
"Rite of the Guardian?" Harry was doubtful he had heard correctly.
"When you have collected the keys then I will tell more," he said.
"What are the keys?" Hermione asked. She was irked that he was not clear on his explanations but she knew they had to find those keys if their questions would be answered.
But his next answer made her furious.
"At your next Hogsmead weekend, go to The Three Broomsticks and ask the lady serving you about a 'Summoner's Guardian'. She'll start you off with the first clue. Now go to bed," he smiled and stood.
"Thanks," Ginny said but she doubted that it would help them.
"And one more thing," Professor Hart had a serene smile when he looked at his students. "Thanks."
"For what, Professor?" Harry asked as he wore his cloak.
"For asking me instead of finding the tome itself," his smiled turned sullen as he continued. "If you came here unannounced, you shall perish for most of my equipment are guarded."
"But I thought magic can't exist in silence," Hermione said in surprise.
"My lady, my room is booby trapped against intruders," his smile returned. "And Carbuncle told me that you would be coming this way. In any case, my traps are not magical and could cause severe harm."
The four teenagers swallowed as they heard him. Saying their goodbyes, they left his office and went directly back at the Griffindor tower.
*** *** ***
"Well?" Harry asked as the four of them found themselves a table in the three broomsticks.
"It was worth a shot," Hermione said as she looked at the waitress. "Are you sure that Phoenix can't tell us more?" she asked Ginny who just shrugged.
"She was also bound to this rite," she explained. She had told them about her meeting with the giant bird and that made Hermione more interested. They all agreed to follow Professor Hart's clue hoping to find something about it.
"Let's just order and ask her already," Ron said as she called the waitress.
"What will it be today?" she asked jovially as she took their order.
"Four butterbeers," Ron said and the woman took off. She returned a while later with their order.
"Will there be anything else?" she asked.
"We were told that there was an interesting story," Ginny said as she took a sip of her butterbeer.
"And what story would that be?" the woman asked, her smile not fading.
"About the Summoner's Guardian?" she said. The woman looked intrigued and smiled at them.
"It is an interesting story indeed," she smiled and looked at them with interest. "I haven't told it in years and you are the first to ask of it."
"What about it then?" Hermione smiled. A new fact or even a story interested her. The woman took a chair from a nearby table and sat beside them.
"It was a lovely story," she began. "It began years ago, even before the time of Merlin there wages a war between men. But somehow, men had enticed a ruthless demon to join them and even the best warrior could not stop this demon. Then came a lovely maiden from the heavens and defeated the demon.
"It was a hard battle and the maiden won but not without a cost. The maiden was struck down by one of the demon's henchmen and soon died. But not before enraging the maiden's Guardian. A knight of the highest order sworn to protect her with all his strength and abilities. But he failed.
"He blamed himself for not being there to save her and it shattered him like a delicate piece of glass. It was a sad day for everyone."
"What was so special about the Maiden?" Harry asked intrigued.
"Do you know about a summoner?" the woman asked "No? She could summon creatures to aid her in her battle. It was believed that each creature could control a certain type of element. To this day it was never proven. It was just a myth."
"Anything else?" Ginny asked. So far the information didn't help in finding the keys.
"Oh! And she had three artifacts that she treasured the most," the woman said as she stood. "They were, the Guardian's Blade, the Light of Alexandria and the Maiden's Prayer. I think there's a portrait of her in Hogwarts. Just ask around." The waitress left, leaving the young mages in thought.
"So?" Hermione asked for their next move.
"Let's just enjoy the weekend and think about it when we get back to school," Ron stretched and took Hermione's hand. "Come on, let's look around." Before she could refuse, she was already by the door. Harry looked at them confused and bewildered. They had been acting strange of late. But when he looked at Ginny, he blushed.
He was alone with her. He should give it now before it is too late.
/Regrets/ he remembered the words of Professor Hart in the Griffindor common room a few nights before. He mustered all the courage he could and stood.
"Do you want to take a stroll?" he asked. Ginny looked dumbfounded at his request but smiled at him anyway.
"Sure, Harry," she couldn't believe it. A stroll alone with Harry Potter! Still she shouldn't have her hopes up. It's just a walk between two friends.
/It's now or never/ he thought to himself as he clutched his prolonged gift to her. First he had to get her alone without any crowds to disturb them.
They came upon a field, which overlooked the school. It was a magnificent sight like a painting etched in time. He took out a box from his pocket and smiled at it.
"Here," he said gently as he slowly gave it to Ginny. Surprised and confused, Ginny took it.
"Harry, you shouldn't have," she smiled. /Oh yes he should!/ she frowned as Phoenix said in her mind. Ignoring her, she opened it and to her surprise, lay the most beautiful pendant she had ever seen. It was an angel with a silver body and crystal wings. "Thank you," she said.
"May I?" Harry asked. Ginny gave him the necklace for him to place on her neck. Smiling nervously, he clasped the chain perfectly and admired her with it. Ginny's smile was serene as she looked at the pendant. She looked so beautiful right then and there that he couldn't remember how beautiful she had been.
Harry found himself drawing near to her, as if an invisible force was pushing him towards her. Ginny saw him move and found him getting closer. Closer still, Harry could feel her hot breathing to his skin. Closer, Ginny could smell the fragrance of his mild cologne. Closer and closer, Harry tilted his head and Ginny closed her eyes.
His lips were near hers as they slowly inched closer. Till there was no need to bet closer.
Harry's lips gently touched Ginny's. First it was a little peck, then all their bottled feelings surfaced immediately. Harry's hand was on her waist while the other held her head softly, their kiss had increased their passion. Ginny had her arms wrapped around his neck as if pulling him closer to her.
Passion fueled their kiss and desire burned all logic into cinders. All that mattered to them was that time and everything around them went unnoticed. Their lips parted but they still held each other in their arms, not one of them letting go. Not one of them wanted to release each other.
In their hearts they wanted to stay that way.
Until time permitted it.
*** *** ***
On the roof of the highest tower in Hogwarts, a Guardian smiled in relief. His unaided Amethyst eyes spied a newly formed vow from the town of Hogsmead. His braid fluttered as the kind wind touched his body.
He sighed as two mages went back into town, hands held and hearts united.
"It's about bloody time," the Guardian said as he gave a final sigh and carefully trekked down. From all the excitement, he had forgotten that he hated heights.
End of 10