Chapter Seven - Yehudiah

"You won't tell me where you've taken me, I reckon," said Harry to the Thestral.

The Thestral looked at him, and to Harry it almost seemed like it was grinning.

"Yeah, alright, I got it," said Harry and stroked its nose. "Stupid me. I know you can't talk."

He let go of the Thestral. "Well, anyway, thank you for taking me here," he said. "I reckon you know why. So I'll go and have a look. Maybe I'll come across whatever I'm supposed to find here."

The Thestral neighed softly.

"Well," said Harry and looked around, "I reckon I'll find you again. So why don't you go and have a look for yourself? Just don't go back to Scotland and leave me all alone here, OK?"

The Thestral touched Harry's shoulder with its nose and then trotted off.

Harry looked around. They had landed on a meadow that was surrounded by trees. It all would have looked perfectly normal if it hadn't been for the colors. Harry could not quite tell what it was that made them special - the trees were just a little too green and the sky too blue to be normal. The feeling of the grass beneath his feet wasn't quite usual, either. It was as if he only felt anything if he looked down. When he kept his head held high while walking, he might as well be floating. And then there was the haze. Harry could not see further than maybe one hundred and fifty feet, the rest just dissolved behind a veil of haze. All in all, he felt like being in a place that was not accessible to everyone. He just wondered what he was supposed to do now.

"Whatever," he thought and blindly headed for one direction. "If I'm supposed to find anything here, I probably will."

He went on and on for about an hour. The trees that had surrounded the meadow turned out to be a whole forest that did not seem to end. But eventually Harry emerged from it and found himself on another meadow. When he stood still, he could hear waves rolling. He must be close to the beach. Harry turned and wanted to go towards the sound of the sea, but then he heard a soft ringing behind him and stopped dead.

The ringing became louder and louder, like the sound of huge church bells, yet it remained distant. Harry wondered what that was supposed to mean. He could have sworn that there was no one living on this island, so who the heck was ringing the church bells? He hadn't even seen a church in the first place, for that matter.

Suddenly he had the feeling that someone was watching him, and although the sun was in front of him, he could feel warmth in his back. Slowly, he turned around.

A bright but soft light was shining right in the middle of the meadow. It surrounded a figure that seemed familiar to Harry. The light seemed to come right out of him, and through the light Harry could see two enormous wings behind his shoulders.

No doubt, Harry was about to meet the Angel Yehudiah.

xxx

For a while that seemed to be an eternity, Harry just stood there, paralyzed. He could not take his eyes off the angel, who was now approaching. He looked exactly as he had in the dream, yet the feeling was a complete different one: Harry felt incredibly small and unimportant, facing such a powerful being. And yet he was not exactly shy. He felt secure. A feeling of warmth and love surrounded him.

Slowly, he started to move towards the angel. Yehudiah faced him calmly, smiling.

"At last we meet," he said eventually. "So you have met your faithful companion."

"The Thestral?" asked Harry. "You sent it to take me here?"

"Naturally," said Yehudiah and smiled again. "You would never have found the way on your own. Only the Thestrals and the Griffins know this place."

"Griffins?" asked Harry, startled. "There are Griffins around here?"

"Of course there are," said Yehudiah in amusement. "But they never reveal themselves to men. Have you never wondered where Godric Gryffindor got his name?"

"Er... no," said Harry. "But..."

"I apologize," said Yehudiah. "You have other things on your mind than talking about the whereabouts of the Griffins. You called me, and I listened. You have lost a beloved person."

"Yes... yes, I have." Harry swallowed.

"You know why you were able to find me?" asked Yehudiah.

"Because there is a way to bring him back." Harry's voice trembled as he spoke. "His death wasn't rightful."

Yehudiah nodded. "You listened well," he said. "And you were right in calling me. I am the only one who can help you. I am the messenger."

"Messenger?" Harry did not quite understand.

"I have the power to take your godfather back from the place where he is now," said Yehudiah. "But I am not allowed to do it right away. There is something you have to do first."

"Whatever it is, I'll do it!" Harry's throat narrowed, and at the same time, he felt anger and desperation rise in him. His voice rose nearly to a scream. "I'll do anything in the world, you hear? ANYTHING! Just don't keep me waiting... I can't take no more, you see... I JUST CAN'T TAKE NO MORE!"

He struggled for breath, and tears were suddenly streaming down his face. Everything that had made him endure the last week was now boiling up inside him. He thought vaguely that he must sound like a stubborn, obstinate child that did not get his will, but that did not change a bit of what he felt. He was exhausted, weary, shaken and tortured with sorrow, and although he was now here, facing the angel - the angel! - who really had the power to bring Sirius back, he did not feel any better.

He suddenly felt Yehudiah's hand on his shoulder. The touch was warm and tender, and Harry immediately felt better. His tears subsided as images of Sirius filled his head; images of Sirius after his return. He saw Sirius surrounded by the Weasleys, Remus and the others, all beaming at him and firing questions at him. He saw Sirius turn to him, give him a smile, put a hand on his shoulder.

"You will experience these scenes, or similar ones, in a few hours' time," said Yehudiah softly. "You are an inch away from your goal. There is just one final thing you have to do. You have had a horrible time, but you are still here. I see you have a strong will, Harry, and I know you have the strength to pass the last test. Just think of your godfather. Hold on to the thought that he will return."

Harry rubbed his eyes. "Yes," he said in a very weak voice. "I'm sorry. I just..."

"You don't have to explain," said Yehudiah. "Just come with me."

He softly pulled Harry up and shortly stroked his shoulder. Harry felt another wave of new energy rush over him, and he straightened.

"I am ready," he said.

"Good. Then follow me." Yehudiah went in a swift pace, his feet barely touching the ground. Wherever he went, the grass and the trees bowed, just like Harry had seen it in his dream. After a moment of hesitation, Harry followed the angel and eventually caught up with him again.