*...* = used when speaking parseltounge or one of the spirits
^...^ = Salazar's Thoughts
... = Harry's thoughts
/.../ = Remus thoughts
"..." = normal speech
#....# = Phoenix speech
[....]= Dumbledore's thoughts
Chapter 25: The Childe
Harry did what his spirit told him and stood, waiting. Then, Dumbledore came around the table and held his wand so he was showing it to lightning. Touching it with his horn, he felt magic flow through him and somehow knew that something was up.
*He has your hair as a core lightning!*
He has my what?
*He has a hair of your unicorn form in his wand, one of Olivander's ancestors probably found it in the forest and put it in the wand. Dumbledore is from now on your childe, which means that you will have a telepathic link with him and that you can feel when he is in danger. Just like Fawkes is a protector to you.*
But why wasn't I able to talk to Fawkes then?
*Because you were to young, to inexperienced. Now how about you ask Dumbledore to walk with you outside and explain him what I have just said. But don' tell him who you really are, that would disturb his honor a bit. Don't worry, I will help you when you need it!*
Ok, thank you lightning.
*No problem young one.*
*Young one, now that's cute, reeeeeeaaaallllllyyyy cute...giggle....*
Shut up Damien, or I'll tell Alandria what you said about her last time...
*Ok, ok, I'm gone...*
Grinning, Harry turned his attention back to Albus.
Albus? Can you hear me?
[Yes, I can hear you. What do you want here? And how is it that you are here? Black unicorns are not often sighted and if they are, they usually have a mission to do something or another.]
You are correct Albus, I do have a mission. I came here to find my childe, the one that carries my core in his wand. I have found him in you! Come with me outside, so we may talk. I will explain everything there.
[That is fine, but let me just tell Minerva so that she knows where I am going.]
Ok.
Dumbledore quickly walked to where the deputy headmistress was sitting and told her he needed to go on some serious business. Nodding a last goodbye, Dumbledore turned back to lightning and both walked out of the hall, side by side.
Coming to a stoop in front of the old willow tree by the lake, Harry laid down, followed by Dumbledore who took a seat on one of the old roots.
[You said something about my wand having your core, but then you must be a thousand years old!]
Yes, you are correct in that assumption. I was just a young one when the founders built Hogwarts and I always had their friendship and trust. If there was something wrong in the forest, I would tell them and then see if I could fix it.
[But how can you be that old? I know that unicorns can get up to five hundred years old, but never a thousand.]
That is because I had to find my childe, the one that carries my core, and protect him from his enemies.
[I do not need protection, I can very well look out for myself.]
I am sorry, I did not mean to make it sound like you were weak, but there is something you cannot protect yourself against.
[And what may that be?]
Your self!
An uncomfortable silence settled around them as a shocked and thoughtful Dumbledore and Lighting looked at each other. Suddenly lighting looked up and let out a small whine. There, behind the tree, at the edge of the forest, the unicorns stood, Moon standing in front of them. Lightning stood.
Come with me Albus!
Nodding, the old wizard came to his feet and followed lightning who had begun to walk in the direction of the other unicorns. Bowing to them he looked at Dumbledore to make sure he did the same. After also bowing, Dumbledore looked at the unicorns.
[Is there a way that I might be able to talk to them too?]
There is, but none of them would want to talk to you.
[And why if I may ask?]
Lightning then looked Dumbledore so deep into his eyes that the headmaster got the feeling his mind was being striped and analyzed by the dark unicorn before him.
You killed.
[I had to, it was not something that I had wanted. If there was another way, I would have took it.]
Lightning's look suddenly turned to happiness as he walked forwards a few paces and let out a loud scream. After a few seconds, all the other unicorns repeated the scream and then Dumbledore was surrounded by the unicorns, congratulating him for something he did not understand and touching him with their horns.
Getting slightly nervous, Albus looked for lightning, and found him standing away from the others, crossing horns with Moon and seeming deep in concentration.
Trying to get through the unicorn mass seemed practically impossible. They seemed so happy about something and he had absolutely no idea about what.
[Why are they so happy? I do not understand!]
You have shown me that you still have a pure heart. For a human to be welcomed back into the hearts of a pure unicorn, a fallen one must see the good in the heart of him or her. That is why there are so few humans that are able to touch or be near a pure unicorn after childhood. If you had not shown me what you have truly felt about that night with Grindewald, the others would have left and never would have shown them selves to you again.
A single tear fell down Albus cheek as he thanked the black unicorn.
[Thank you. By the way, what is your name?]
My name is lightning, because when I do some of my unicorn magic, a lightning storm is always over me.
[Lighting is a beautiful name.]
Thank you Albus. I have a question, would you like to see the glade of the unicorns? This would be the only time you will be able to, so decide wisely.
[I would be honored if I could see the home of the unicorns, but could I tell Minerva that I will be gone for the rest of the day?]
You will be gone for most of tomorrow too, so go tell her.
[Thank you.]
With that Albus went quickly through the unicorns, who had parted and were now grazing, and headed back inside the castle. Five minutes later he was back outside and, after getting instructions from lightning, climbed on top of Moon's back.
I am stronger that Moon when fighting, but tire quickly with someone on my back.
[I understand Lightning.]
With that, the herd of unicorns, Moon, Albus and Lightning made their way through the forest to the glade of the unicorns.
Chapter 25: The Childe
Harry did what his spirit told him and stood, waiting. Then, Dumbledore came around the table and held his wand so he was showing it to lightning. Touching it with his horn, he felt magic flow through him and somehow knew that something was up.
*He has your hair as a core lightning!*
He has my what?
*He has a hair of your unicorn form in his wand, one of Olivander's ancestors probably found it in the forest and put it in the wand. Dumbledore is from now on your childe, which means that you will have a telepathic link with him and that you can feel when he is in danger. Just like Fawkes is a protector to you.*
But why wasn't I able to talk to Fawkes then?
*Because you were to young, to inexperienced. Now how about you ask Dumbledore to walk with you outside and explain him what I have just said. But don' tell him who you really are, that would disturb his honor a bit. Don't worry, I will help you when you need it!*
Ok, thank you lightning.
*No problem young one.*
*Young one, now that's cute, reeeeeeaaaallllllyyyy cute...giggle....*
Shut up Damien, or I'll tell Alandria what you said about her last time...
*Ok, ok, I'm gone...*
Grinning, Harry turned his attention back to Albus.
Albus? Can you hear me?
[Yes, I can hear you. What do you want here? And how is it that you are here? Black unicorns are not often sighted and if they are, they usually have a mission to do something or another.]
You are correct Albus, I do have a mission. I came here to find my childe, the one that carries my core in his wand. I have found him in you! Come with me outside, so we may talk. I will explain everything there.
[That is fine, but let me just tell Minerva so that she knows where I am going.]
Ok.
Dumbledore quickly walked to where the deputy headmistress was sitting and told her he needed to go on some serious business. Nodding a last goodbye, Dumbledore turned back to lightning and both walked out of the hall, side by side.
Coming to a stoop in front of the old willow tree by the lake, Harry laid down, followed by Dumbledore who took a seat on one of the old roots.
[You said something about my wand having your core, but then you must be a thousand years old!]
Yes, you are correct in that assumption. I was just a young one when the founders built Hogwarts and I always had their friendship and trust. If there was something wrong in the forest, I would tell them and then see if I could fix it.
[But how can you be that old? I know that unicorns can get up to five hundred years old, but never a thousand.]
That is because I had to find my childe, the one that carries my core, and protect him from his enemies.
[I do not need protection, I can very well look out for myself.]
I am sorry, I did not mean to make it sound like you were weak, but there is something you cannot protect yourself against.
[And what may that be?]
Your self!
An uncomfortable silence settled around them as a shocked and thoughtful Dumbledore and Lighting looked at each other. Suddenly lighting looked up and let out a small whine. There, behind the tree, at the edge of the forest, the unicorns stood, Moon standing in front of them. Lightning stood.
Come with me Albus!
Nodding, the old wizard came to his feet and followed lightning who had begun to walk in the direction of the other unicorns. Bowing to them he looked at Dumbledore to make sure he did the same. After also bowing, Dumbledore looked at the unicorns.
[Is there a way that I might be able to talk to them too?]
There is, but none of them would want to talk to you.
[And why if I may ask?]
Lightning then looked Dumbledore so deep into his eyes that the headmaster got the feeling his mind was being striped and analyzed by the dark unicorn before him.
You killed.
[I had to, it was not something that I had wanted. If there was another way, I would have took it.]
Lightning's look suddenly turned to happiness as he walked forwards a few paces and let out a loud scream. After a few seconds, all the other unicorns repeated the scream and then Dumbledore was surrounded by the unicorns, congratulating him for something he did not understand and touching him with their horns.
Getting slightly nervous, Albus looked for lightning, and found him standing away from the others, crossing horns with Moon and seeming deep in concentration.
Trying to get through the unicorn mass seemed practically impossible. They seemed so happy about something and he had absolutely no idea about what.
[Why are they so happy? I do not understand!]
You have shown me that you still have a pure heart. For a human to be welcomed back into the hearts of a pure unicorn, a fallen one must see the good in the heart of him or her. That is why there are so few humans that are able to touch or be near a pure unicorn after childhood. If you had not shown me what you have truly felt about that night with Grindewald, the others would have left and never would have shown them selves to you again.
A single tear fell down Albus cheek as he thanked the black unicorn.
[Thank you. By the way, what is your name?]
My name is lightning, because when I do some of my unicorn magic, a lightning storm is always over me.
[Lighting is a beautiful name.]
Thank you Albus. I have a question, would you like to see the glade of the unicorns? This would be the only time you will be able to, so decide wisely.
[I would be honored if I could see the home of the unicorns, but could I tell Minerva that I will be gone for the rest of the day?]
You will be gone for most of tomorrow too, so go tell her.
[Thank you.]
With that Albus went quickly through the unicorns, who had parted and were now grazing, and headed back inside the castle. Five minutes later he was back outside and, after getting instructions from lightning, climbed on top of Moon's back.
I am stronger that Moon when fighting, but tire quickly with someone on my back.
[I understand Lightning.]
With that, the herd of unicorns, Moon, Albus and Lightning made their way through the forest to the glade of the unicorns.