Chapter 5

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Caroline sat in the girls' dormitory, her feet hanging over the side of the bed as she listened to the rest of the girls chat about their summers.

"So," said Hannah to Caroline "What did you do this summer? I heard you and Harry had a little rendezvous in the plaza the other day. So are you two dating or something?" finished Hannah in one breath.

"No" said Caroline slyly, she wasn't about to bring Harry into this conversation.

"Yeah, sure" said Hannah in disbelief as she went to say hello to Ginny.

Hermione walked over and sat next to Caroline on the bed.

"So," said Hermione "when are you going to present Harry with his present?"

"This evening" said Caroline simply.

"I told Ron about you. your powers and everything. He is a bit shocked, I don't think he believes that you can bring back their spirits"

"I can" said Caroline "But only if I am not interrupted in my chanting and only if you guys help me complete the circle. I am supposed to do this with a sister of the tribe, but, I can do it with you guys if you listen to me exactly. It will take a lot more of my strength than usual" finished Caroline.

"But you can do it?" said Hermione

"Of course" said Caroline snobbishly

****** ****** ****** ****** ******** ******** ******* ****** ********* *****

Dark crept across the castle as all of the students retired to their dormitories after much reunion and cheer.

Harry was one of the first to go to bed, he was still tired from yesterdays dalliance in the ice cream parlour. Ron, Hermione, and Caroline, however did not retire to their dormitories and stayed in the common room after all of the rest of the Gryffindors had gone to sleep.

"I'm using the astronomy tower. No one uses it anymore, but we need to make sure we aren't caught walking that way otherwise we'll be in serious trouble" said Caroline to Hermione and Ron.

"I can't believe that you are actually doing this" said Ron in complete disbelief.

"It's wonderful for Harry" said Hermione

"He'll get to see his parents for the first time in his life" said Caroline happily.

"But you won't get to see his parents will you?" said Hermione

"No" replied Caroline

"Why? You're going to be there aren't you?" said Ron in absolute confusion

"Geez Ron, you can be so ignorant sometimes" said Hermione "She's going to be in a trance, she won't be able to see them" said Hermione as though everyone should know this.

"Oh" said Ron

The clock in the Gryffindor common room struck twelve when Caroline said to Hermione and Ron:

"I think we should go"

"I'll go get Harry and his cloak" said Ron.

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Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Caroline walked down the hall silently. Caroline had removed her shoes because they clicked happily on the marble floors.

"Why am I up so late you guys?" said Harry through sleepy eyes.

"We have a surprise for you. A birthday present" said Caroline.

"Give it to me in the morning. I am tired" said Harry slowly as though his brain didn't know how to form words this late at night.

"NO!" said Caroline loudly.

"Shhhh." said Hermione as she looked around worriedly.

The quatrain finally reached the astronomy tower. Caroline pushed open the heavy, wooden door and ushered the rest of the group in to the room.

"Okay Harry, Hermione, and Ron" said Caroline "Please wait right here whilst I arrange everything"

Caroline snapped her fingers and the dark room was suddenly lit by a thousand, tiny, blood red candles floating in mid-air. A chalk mark with the sign of the occult was drawn on the floor.

"Alrighty then" said Caroline

"Please arrange yourselves in a circle leaving one space for me" said Caroline as she withdrew a large, tattered, brown book with a blinking eye on the cover.

"Hello my pet" said Caroline to the eye as she stroked the cover

"Caroline" said Harry hesitantly as he looked at all of the magical items that had appeared "what am I doing here?"

"I'm giving you some time with your parents. You will be able to speak to them for a few minutes depending on how long I can hold my trance"

"Really?" said Harry in disbelief.

Ron and Hermione were sitting on the chalk circle staring at all of the lights.

"This looks like dark magic" said Ron in a hushed voice

"It's not!" said Caroline with a snap of her head and an evil look at Ron.

Harry sat down in the circle as Caroline sat next to Hermione.

"Now, I need you guys to go ahead and hold hands when I start the chant. I will keep chanting. If my eyes roll back in my head and I look like I'm having a seizure, don't bother me. I will come out of it on my own, that's part of the trance" said Caroline.

"Also" she said "Do not break hands. Do not let go of each other. If you do, anything that appears will disappear and I will come out of the trance" said Caroline.

"Now, please hold hands" said Caroline as she took Harry's hand and Hermione's hand and began to chant.

"Rasha saaa, coom ba sa." sang Caroline softly.

A cold chill came across the room and Ron looked absolutely frightened.

"Herashaa Maa taa raa shaa taa" screamed Caroline as she began to rock back and forth wildly, her hair flying and her eyes turning white.

The chill became a wind and suddenly all of the lights in the room went out.

"Rass as shee tioos!" continued Caroline in a shrill screaming voice, much like that of a chicken who is being strangled.

A strange whirl of light appeared in the middle of the chalk circle right above the tattered book. The lights looked much like those of fairies. The lights began to circle and hover on top of the book until finally two figures appeared in the light. A beautiful woman and a messy haired man appeared in a halo of white light.

"Oh my gosh!" muttered Hermione as she stared at the figures.

"Harry" said the womanish figure

"Mummy?" said Harry quietly, his face absolutely astonished

"Yes darling" said Lilly as she smiled at her son

"You're absolutely handsome" said Lilly tears coming to her eyes

"Just like me" said James jokingly

"Oh please" said Lilly

"We only have a little bit of time" said James to Harry.

"We want you to know that we can see you and Sirius all of the time so be good" said James with a knowing glance in Caroline's direction.

Caroline was still rocking back in forth and it looked like she was convulsing.

"And that we love you" said Lillian sadly

"Also baby," said Lillian tears flowing freely now "No matter what, never break trust with Dumbledore or Mr. Weasley, they are the difference between life and death for you and make sure you keep these two as friends" said Lilly signalling towards Hermione and Ron who were both staring shocked at Mr. and Mrs. Potter.

"And don't get rid of that pretty one over there" said James with a twinkle in his eye.

"Shh.." said Lillian to James "We have very little time left and you bother him with girls.." she said in a disapproving tone.

"Well.. she's really pretty. I think he should keep her. What else am I supposed to say?" said James.

Harry stared at his parents and listened to their bickering with a happy smile on his face when he noticed something.

"You are fading out" said Harry in panic

"Don't go. please don't go!" he pleaded with them.

"We can't stop it. She's too weak Harry" said James signalling to Caroline.

They began to dissolve into lighter and lighter shades until Harry broke his grip from Hermione and Ron's hands in panic and reached out to them. The moment he pulled his hand away all disappeared and the room was immersed in bright light from the candles.

Caroline opened her eyes slowly and sat quietly next to Harry.

The four of them sat in silence for a while, all were deep in thought.

Hermione finally broke the silence by saying:

"Are you alright Harry?"

Harry looked at Hermione, his eyes sad and twinkly.

"Yes" he said with a genuine smile. "Thank you so much Caroline" said Harry

"What happened?" said Caroline as she looked at the amazement on everyone's faces.

"We talked and they told me some things" said Harry looking at Ron and Hermione in a tone that said:

don't you dare tell her what my father said about her.

"That's nice" said Caroline as she stood up, she wobbled slightly almost as though she was drunk.

"I hope you.." Caroline trailed off as she fell to the floor in a heap.