Here We Go Around Again
Chapter 10
Isabel backed nervously into the room, holding the Invisibility cloak and the Marauder's Map in her hand; the doorknob had just tried to bite her. Leaving a stream of curses behind, the door quickly closed itself after her.
-Try asking it nicely next time, dear, that door has a slight problem with strangers...
The girl quickly swirled around to meet the Headmaster's twinkling blue eyes.
-Professor Dumbledore!,-she said, a little startled.,-Hi!
The Professor laughed.
-Hi, Isabel.,-he greeted back.
Relaxing, Isabel glanced around; it was a rather large round room, bare except for a few paintings and two big couches that had been pushed against the stone wall. Her parents were sitting together on one of the couches, Hermione lovingly nursing her husband's hand, and they both looked up as she entered.
-Hi, sweetheart...,-her mother said cheerfuly.,-Your father here was just bitten by the evil doorknob.
Isabel grinned as Harry scowled at his wife.
-You don't need to sound so happy about it.,-he muttered, and Hermione stood with him.
The three turned to face the old wizard, who looked gravely at each of them, finally settling his piercing blue eyes on Isabel, who shifted her feet nervously.
-Isabel,-he began.,-why are you here?
Isabel gulped.
-Uh... training?,-she tried, weakly, feeling a little intimidated by the powerful wizard in front of her.
-Why?
The youngest Potter wet her dry lips and cleared her throat before answering.
-Because if I don't learn to keep my magic in check, I could seriously hurt someone, myself included, and that's something I just can't afford...,-she whispered softly, then smiled a little when she felt her parents' reassuring hands on her shoulders.
Dumbledore smiled gently at her, nodding.
-That's right,-he said, and then his smile was gone.,-but it's not only that...,-the girl gave him a surprised look.,-I'm sure you're at least partly aware of your uniqueness, Isabel, although it's not that surprising, with your parents being who they are. I know,-he added, seeing as they were all about to protest,-that you don't like being told that, but you can't deny the truth. Harry, Hermione, you're two of the most powerful witches and wizards ever born to the magical world, and it's no wonder that your child is so special. You, Isabel, have a higher affinity for magic than other wizards; you don't need wands to perform magic and with practice, you can do many things. However, your unstability won't allow you to exploit it to your advantage, and therefore you will need training. I am here to provide you of that training, not only because there's the danger of you hurting others, but also because our future depends on it. Isabel, do you know who Lord Voldemort is?
Isabel had gone very pale. Of course she knew who Voldermort was; after all, killing her father had been his objective since he was born, and Harry had spent most of his life trying to bring him down.
She herself had never met him (thank Merlin for that) but she knew all there was to know about his rise and fall; all the rises and falls. Her parents had faced him year after year during their time as students, along with Ron and the Order of the Phoenix, and a few times after graduation as well; Isabel thought they had seen the last of him on the New Year's Eve's battle two years prior to her birth, but according to where Dumbledore was seemingly going, Lord Voldemort was still a looming shadow over them.
She nodded faintly, an irky feeling settling itself on her heart.
-I know you think he was defeated back seventeen years ago; everyone does, but...,-Isabel steeled herself, a growing fear threatening to overcome her.,-the truth is, and this is something only your parents, Ron Weasley and the other members of the order know, that Voldemort came back just after you were born... and that he came for you...
Isabel's knees wobbled, and there was an almost silent *thud* as she sank to the floor, her mother following quickly to put her arms around her quivering form.
-For two decades,-the Headmaster continued softly,-the Dark Lord's main target was your father... there is a prophecy that appointed Harry as Voldemort's possible downfall, which is why he came after him when he was a baby and why he kept coming, but apparently this Prophecy was misread-courtesy of Sybil Trelawney,-he added, a little annoyedly,-and Harry is only part of it, much as your mother is. You, Isabel, are the only one with power enough to defeat him, but as it is, this power is a two-sided weapon... you can either use it to win, or he can use it to get what he needs to win. There is...,-he continued slowly.,-a gate. The Gate. It is the thinnest point in the boundary between Life and Death. Lord Voldemort, who wishes the release of Death upon Life, is looking for the Summoner. A Summoner is someone with the power to Summon beings from Death; such a person could easily stand in the Gate and summon every creature of Death to come to the open Gate, creating an army strong enough to end with all human and wizard kind. You are this person. Voldemort knows this, and thus tried to take you from your parents right after your birth, but didn't succeed, then. Your parents managed to dispose him of his body, much like what Harry did when he was just a baby, but he has returned now, and he is coming to get you. As of now, you aren't strong, nor stable enough to favor us, and without proper training you won't stand a chance when he finds his way to you, and he will. Very soon.
The girl felt tears prickle at her eyes; not only was she suddenly the only saviour/destructor of the world, but she felt like she had been betrayed by her parents, whom she loved and trusted over her own life. Why hadn't they ever told her anything?
Pulling away from Hermione's arms, Isabel slowly turned to face her and Harry, both of whom looked about to burst into tears.
-Why didn't you ever tell me this?,-she accused in an anguished voice.
Her mother did, indeed, burst into tears, and her father squatted down to take her in his arms. He looked at his only daughter, his green eyes darkened with pain.
-To protect you...,-he said hoarsely.,-because we thought we had stopped him, because we wanted you to grow up without having to fear Death would come for you the next day, and because we love you too much to watch you suffer...
Isabel regarded them with mixed feelings; she was mad and disappointed at them for not telling her, for one part, and grateful and bursting with love for her parents, who loved her so unconditionally, for the other.
At the end, love won.
She crawled over to their hunched forms and threw her arms around them both, hugging them to herself. They returned the favor, and the three embraced tightly for a few minutes before Isabel leaned back to look at them, with a grin, tears streaming down her face.
-I love you both so much...,-she said, her voice filled with emotion.,-thank you for wanting to keep me from harm...,-she kissed each of them on the cheek and then stood on her feet, turning to face the Headmaster with a resolute look on her face.,-alright, let's try this training thing.
***
Five minutes later they were ready to begin; at Hermione's suggestion Dumbledore had removed the roof, because Isabel would later be trying on weather control. It was a little cold, but bearable.
The first step was, as Dumbledore said, to relax.
Isabel breathed slowly in and out, eyes closed, trying to clear her mind from thoughts and let her magic flow. She felt it move from her very core, spreading through her body in warm waves that had her tingling all over. Finally, she opened her eyes and glanced at her teachers for guidance, now completely calm.
-Try some simple spells with your wand, first...,-instructed Harry softly and she nodded.
Taking her wand from its holder, she pointed it at her mother with a smile.
-Wingardium Leviosa...
With a squeak Hermione rose a few feet off the floor, then yelped when she looked at the school grounds.
-Isabel, put me down!
The girl complied with a laugh that Harry shared. Then she tried other spells, which increased in complexity as she did; the Summoning Spell, the Patronus, Body-Transfiguration, (she took a lot of pleasure in transforming her dad into a frog and back) and Shielding Charms were no problem for her. Then she tried without her wand, and that's when she began having trouble.
The first spells she did perfectly, but when she tried transfigurating the Headmaster's hat into a rabbit she wasn't able to do it; she tried again and again but couldn't and, becoming anxious, she began to lose her focus.
-Don't despair!,-hissed Dumbledore.
-Concentrate, dear, I know you can do it...,-encouraged Hermione gently, Harry joining in the prompting.
Isabel took a deep breath, and closed her eyes.
-I can do this...
She called inside herself, reaching for her magic; the wind began howling, and the three adults watched with wide eyes as, high up above them, the tiny shiny dots started to move; shifting around, it became a spectacular show to watch as some of them flashed across the sky, leaving long streaks of silver as they did. The howling outside crested with her, and their hair and robes began to move swiftly as a wind that was alive rushed into the roof-less room. The wind seemed more liquid than ethereal and carried with it the scent of lilac and pear blossoms, rushing spring water and fresh cut grass. As they watched, awestruck, the wind swirled around them and focused on Isabel, lifting her a little way off the floor.
Finally it abated somewhat and left the girl who, standing upright but swaying violently from side to side like a marionette without a puppet master, suddenly snapped her eyes open. They were swimming with quicksilver light.
And then she blinked, eyes turned back to their usual green color, and then rolled to the back of her head as she fainted.
Harry caught her as she fell, and held her closely to his chest; turning to his wife, he saw the same turmoil reflected in her eyes. He looked towards Dumbledore.
-I'm taking her to her room…,-he muttered.,-training is over for tonight…
As he quickly walked out from the room with his daughter in his arms, Hermione right behind him, neither of them could help but feeling terrified of what had just taken place.
A/N: Many thanks to kat6528 and PhoenixGirl1234567 for their tremendous help with this chapter, which was a major pain the @$$. Sorry for taking so long-or at least so much longer than I usually take-to update; hope you liked the chapter.
I have to admit, I borrowed the Gate/Summoner idea from a great nameless-Ranma story, which unfortunately will never be finished (it also gave me the whole plot idea, which I'm thankful for), and some parts of the wind thing from 'Ranma Gets A Clue'. Curse my limited ability to describe in English…
If you like this read my side-story, The Love of A Mother! Barely anyone has read it. ***smiles***
QuickSilver2033, thanks for reading! I'm sorry for the lack of Quidditch, Isabel/Anya bickering and Romance, but don't worry 'cause they're coming in the next two chapters.
Lily, thanks for the compliment, I really appreciate it. I hope you like this chapter as well!
silverwand13, I checked your stories, and I like them a lot. =)
Max77, I'm glad you like the story, and thanks for the compliment… I was very unsure about posting it before, but now I'm really glad I did.
Lucky, ***laughs*** Well I'm flattered!!! It really means a lot that you think I write well, especially since it's in English-a foreign language to me-because it's my Major at college.
Lizzypadfoot, well, I try to follow canon, but it's really a little difficult, since I haven't read Book 5 yet, (damn…). Thankfully, kat6528 and PhoenixGirl1234567 were a lot of help there. =)
Tonks, ***sniggers*** I hope your mom let you read this chapter! My mom is a 'little' moody as well, but I adore her all the same.