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Chapter 10 – A Mother's Gift
"Oh, dear," the nurse said when she saw Hermione enter. "Which one of you is it now?" Then she saw Ron and Harry carry Avalon in. "By Merlin's hat," she said putting a hand to her cheek. "Get her over here." She motioned to a bed. Gingerly Harry and Ron lifted her up. "I told her uncles and godfather this would happen!"
Hermione looked confused. "What would happen?"
Madam Pomfrey opened her mouth, and then closed it again. "Ending up here, just like you three regularly do." She turned and walked away coming back with some purple syrup. "She's fine now, you three can leave."
"We'd prefer to stay," said Ron. "Please." He'd said in a rather protective voice, Harry noticed. One he used when he was defending his younger sister, Ginny.
She looked at him and sighed. "I suppose you know where the chairs are." They took that as a yes. Madam Pomfrey forced Avalon to have some of the purple syrup then left.
"What do you think happened?" asked Hermione.
"She could have been going to fast and the speed knocked her out," suggested Ron.
"No. We weren't going that much slower than her. It would have happened to us too," said Harry.
"What ever the reason," said Hermione, looking thoughtful. "I don't like it. I think Madam Pomfrey knows, but won't tell us."
The doors opened and Professor Dumbledore and Snape came in. Madam Pomfrey greeted them. They spoke in low tones and occasionally glanced their way. Ron was going to ask a question, but Hermione stopped him. While Dumbledore asked the nurse a question Snape took it as an opportunity to frown at them. Harry didn't like the look. The three adults walked over to them together.
"What have you done this time, Potter," demanded Snape. "Have a spell go wrong and Miss Rastaban is the one to pay for it?"
"Now, Severus. They didn't do anything wrong," said Dumbledore. "They were flying on their new broomsticks. There isn't any wrong in that." His eyes twinkled behind his half moon glasses. "Tell me, what happened."
They all started at once. Ron was going on how he was winning until Avalon passed him. Hermione was going into detail about how the Firebolt works, and Harry was saying what he saw.
"Obviously they can't keep their story straight," said Snape, and they stopped talking. "You, Potter, tell me what happen. And only Potter speaks." He shot a warning look to Ron and Hermione.
"We were having a race. We were almost at the finish line. Avalon was in the lead. All of the sudden she sat up straight and stopped. I though she was giving us a chance to catch up or something. Then she leaned to the side and fell over. I dove after to catch her but she was falling to fast. So I flew more closely to the ground. I caught her, but the impact knocked both of us off the broom to ground. Then we took her here."
"Did she say anything we she fell?" asked Snape suspiciously.
"No," replied Harry. He looked at Dumbledore, who only nodded.
"I think," Dumbledore said after a moment. "That you three need to know a little more about Avalon." Snape looked at Dumbledore. He seemed offended about this suggestion. The headmaster ignored him. "Follow me, if you will, and let Miss Rastaban get some rest."
Snape watched them leave, but stayed behind and said something to Madam Pomfrey.
Dumbledore lead them to his office. It seemed the same from the last time Harry saw it. Fawkes was on his perch and cooed at them. "Have a seat, please," said Dumbledore and motioned to the chairs before his desk. He sat down in his own chair. "To begin, I hope you know that Avalon lives with her Uncle Remmy." They nodded their heads. "And you know that her parents are dead." Again they nodded. Dumbledore seemed satisfied at that. "You see, Avalon's uncle gets bouts of sickness very often. There is a potion that can cure him, but requires a family member to participate in it. Avalon is the only willing one to do it. It takes much of her energy. Professor Snape is helping her in it."
"Is that where she disappears to?" asked Ron, a little disgusted that she was with Snape.
"Yes. They are constantly trying to perfect the potion." He paused looking at them. "But, there is more. Avalon has recently come to me with some news. Apparently she has inherited her mother's gift."
"Her mother's gift?" asked Harry.
"Yes, her mother's gift. Unfortunately I cannot say much about this because I not only promise Avalon not to tell anyone, but I also promise her Uncle Remmy. He is, was, after Julie, her mother's, twin brother and guardian of Avalon now."
"What can you tell us then?" asked Hermione.
"That if this ever happens again, do as you did before and take her to Madam Pomfrey," the headmaster said. "If there is a professor, prefect, a head boy or girl around ask them for assistance. They know spell for transporting a person."
"Do you think this will happen again?" asked Ron.
Dumbledore took a moment to think about it. He looked at the three, and studied them before answering. "No, I'm sure Avalon will watch out for herself, but strange things happen as you know. I wouldn't be surprised if it did happen again." Fawkes chirped at them and fluttered his wings a little as if agreeing with Professor Dumbledore. "You are excused," he said at last.
Three began to leave his office when he gave his last piece of advice. "Just remember this," he began. They stopped and turned around. "If Avalon says something that will has, will, or is happening and you don't believe her. Believe her. It is the gift of her mother. It runs strong through the women from her mother's side. So believe her."
The Gryffindors nodded their heads. As they left Dumbledore's office the thought over what he had just told them.
Albus Dumbledore turned and looked at Fawkes. "She just might be the most powerful one with the gift. Just as her counterpart might be also in theirs."