Most of this chapter deals with Briana's POV. Harry does have some parts in here. Anyhoo, we'll just see!
Chapter 4: Letters and Offerings
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They waved good-bye to Ron as he disappeared from the fireplace. Briana turned to Harry and asked,
"Do you want to have some dinner?"
"I guess."
"All right." Briana walked from the living room and into the hallway. A worried-looking Mrs. Turningcoat approached her.
"Briana, there are two people who wish to see you." She pointed at two white-robed men. One was older than her and another was much younger, in his early twenties. Briana smiled at them.
"Welcome," she said. She turned to Mr.s Turningcoat and said, "Make Harry eat dinner. I'll be right back. Whatever you do, please don't let him near daddy's study."
Mrs. Turningcoat understood that this was important and proceeded silently past her to the living room. The three of them stood there for a moment in silence. Briana finally said,
"Why don't we come this way?" She led them up the stairs to the second floor, down the corridor, and onto a doorway across her bedroom. She opened the door and waited for them to get in. They entered a large room full of books of all sorts. Clearly this was a library.
"Gentlemen, may I get you anything at all? Tea?" The two men shook their heads and muttered no. Briana continued, "Shall I even ask or shall I be led to what you two are here for?"
The men looked at each other. The older one spoke with a deep voice, "Conversations don't start without introductions. This is Marius, one of our new members in the Order. He has been inducted only a month ago."
"How do you do, Ms. Sullivan? I have heard a lot about you. You are a Guardian of the Fire and you're the Heir of Ravenclaw. We new generations are really pleased to know that we are in the same Order as a great one like you."
Briana raised her eyebrows. "Well, I never knew I was so popular. Am I that influential?"
"Why yes! You are truly a great member!"
Briana looked at the older man. He said, "As you know, I am Jeremiah. Do you still remember me, do you not?"
"Yes, yes, of course, I remember you, Jeremiah. You helped teach us long time ago. Again, what brings you two here at my house?"
"First of all, Briana, I have some good news and some bad news," said Jeremiah. "Shall I ask which you choose to hear first?"
Briana sat down in front of them. She sighed, "I would really like it if you would just go on with this meeting. But since you asked, I chose the good news first."
"Very well, the good news is that we at the Order have heard of your spectacular use of our brand of magic several months ago." Jeremiah paused to look at Briana, who looked determinedly back. He continued, "Our great Council of Watchers have conferred with the Members and has decided to ask you to join the great Council as a Watcher yourself."
"It is a great opportunity, Ms. Sullivan. You are truly gifted in the old ways. Your influence can strengthen our society," said Marius eagerly. "Most especially these days. I learned you were very close to the Potters, the last of Voldemort's victims before his fall. I am quite sure you would want to join now as a Watcher."
"The Potters." Briana had almost forgotten. They are now alive again and the only ones who know are she and her uncle Albus. She stared at the two men for a moment. Being a Watcher at the Order of the Phoenix was the highest rank any member can get. It was truly a rare opportunity. Only the best of the best can get in.
"Well, what do you say, Briana? It's quite opportunity. Your ancestor, Rowena Ravenclaw, was one of the Four Creators who became a Watcher. I must say, it truly runs in the family. You know how becoming a Watcher is. You have the power to control the elements, all of them. Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. Great powers, truly great. What do you say?" asked Jeremiah.
Briana remained silent. "I don't know. It is truly an honor. But I-I can't-I mean I-don't know. Being a Watcher is something I have wanted since I became a member. But, Jeremiah, I-my priorities now have changed."
"Do you mean the great Harry Potter himself? Briana, you will not be taken away from those who you love. I can guarantee that. Being a Watcher enhances your abilities and can help you accomplish everything that has been taken away from you. I know what you have been through, Briana. This is the reason why you joined was it not?"
"But-but you don't understand. I…" she had gotten up now to pace around the room. She paused to look at them. "I have to think about it first. I need time. This is completely unexpected. Anyway, weren't there two news? The bad news, I want to hear it."
Marius shifted nervously next to Jeremiah, who remained composed at his seat. Briana's brows furrowed. "What's the bad news? Nobody died, did they?"
"No…but," began Marius but he stopped to look at Jeremiah. Briana looked at Marius then to Jeremiah.
"The necklaces that you had retrieved from Voldemort were-were fake. They were exact copies of the real ones. The Watchers tested to see if it still worked but, well, you know the rest."
"Wait, wait, the two necklaces were fake? How could that-" her voice trailed off. "There are probably more copies of the necklaces. He had us fooled. How are we going to get it back?"
"Do not be worried. The Watchers are working on that right now. For now, they want to you guard the other two necklaces. Do not let anyone near it," said Jeremiah. "Well, that's it. The Watchers are working hard to retrieve the necklaces back. There's no telling what the Dark Lord might do with it. He has already gotten out of our member as his Death Eater. Maria Costello, she has been truly a great member. But you may never know with people like her. They all thirst for power and will not stop till they have what they want."
Briana had a tinge of anger come into her. Maria was her friend, even though Maria had admitted to hating her, she was still her friend.
"It's not Maria's fault. She'll turn back to us. I know it," she said suddenly. Jeremiah and Marius were taken aback by this.
"Surely-surely you do not mean that, Ms. Sullivan. She's a traitor. A betrayer to our side. She does not deserve-" Marius stopped dead as Briana gave him a severe look.
"You don't know what she's really like. She's a kind person. She's just alone and depressed. We will get her back, you'll see," she said with her voice a little bit louder than usual.
"Enough of this. Briana, I'm sorry but we have to go. We will be awaiting for your answer by the next new moon, which is a few nights from now. We should be going now, Marius. We have many work to be done," Jeremiah said as he got up. He stood in front of Briana and smiled, "Briana, it has been a great pleasure to see you again. I do hope that you don't go anywhere outside of Britain now. We need you. Well, until we meet again. Blessed be."
Marius bowed behind him and they disappeared together leaving Briana staring there in space. Many thoughts flowed in her head making her slightly dizzy. Me? A Watcher? I can't even master my own powers, not yet at least. Of course, said a voice in her head, you haven't used them for fifteen years. How do you expect to master them now? Briana sighed as she fell back on her chair. Her hand fell on a piece of parchment. She looked at it. It had the red wax seal of Hogwarts on it. She picked it up when someone entered the room. It was Harry.
"Is it all right for me to enter?" he asked, holding the door. Briana smiled and nodded. He was carrying a plate of food. "I reckoned you must be hungry so I bought you some food."
"Hmm…Always thoughtful, just like your mother," chuckled Briana. She stared at him. How can I tell him that they're alive? I don't even know the reason why they're here myself, surely I have to think about this. She watched Harry as he took a short stroll around the room, admiring everything.
"What is this place?" asked Harry, looking at her.
"This room is, or used to be, my father's study. He spent most of his time here. If he weren't everywhere else around the world, he would be here reading away anything he can get his hands on. This place probably has hundreds of books from wizards and muggles alike. He loved reading muggle stories. He used to read many to me before he died."
"What did your father do for a living?"
"He promoted better muggle and magical relationships. A lot of people thought he was a bit mad but he didn't care. He had strong ties with the Ministry but many thought that this was inappropriate. He was sort of a special ambassador for the Ministry. He loved muggle things," smiled Briana. Bringing memories back from her past did not hurt her so much no more, now that she was back home.
"What did your mother do?"
"My mother was an auror, a great one at that. She's uncle Albus's younger sister. She was the youngest of the Dumbledore clan. She was truly a lovely person. She loved to draw and taught me a few things of it."
Harry's eyes lingered to an old painting at the back of the large, rectangular room. It was a painting of a young woman who looked almost like Briana. Unlike the paintings back at Hogwarts, this one doesn't seem to move.
"Who is that, Annie?" he asked still looking up at the painting.
"That is my ancestor, Harry. Lady Rowena Ravenclaw, owner of this manor. That painting was made shortly after they founded Hogwarts. You see how she's still young. Let's see," she said as she opened the letter on her hand. It was addressed to her. She read it and smiled. "Harry, I think you should read this."
She handed him the letter. He read it and grinned.
"I have got perfect O.W.L.s! And it qualified me to be a prefect!" he exclaimed. He hugged Briana. Briana saw the candles in the room went brighter. She also noticed that the fireplace had a tinge of green in it. Her brows furrowed. "Isn't this great? I'm going to be a prefect this coming school year!"
"That's wonderful, dear. Really, really, wonderful," she said slowly, noticing now that three of the candles of the room had turned into green flames. What the hell is going on? There was a knock on the door. Mrs. Turningcoat came in with a letter on her hand.
"This has just come for Harry today. I almost forgot to give it to you. Here you go, Harry." She handed him his letter. It was also from Hogwarts. Harry read and his eyes gleamed with happiness.
"Guess what? You're looking at the new Gryffindor quidditch captain!"
Briana looked surprised. "Really? Oh, that's wonderful news, darling! I'm so proud of you. Oh, that's so wonderful, Harry."
At the moment Harry said the word 'Gryffindor,' the flames of every single candle of the room glowed bright red. Nobody noticed this, of course. Way back at the fireplace, the flames turned fully green, bright green.
Like that one? Hmm…I don't know. This chapter is really long, and will continue at the next chapter. Well, that's all now. Bye Bye! Oh, yeah, I don't own anything! Please leave a review!
