Chapter 20
Powers

After the exams everyone started to relax or play games in the sun. They had a whole week of nothing but fun until they had to go home. So for now they hadn't a care in the world about anything else.

A couple of days later Soraya and Harry decided to have a race once around the quidditch pitch on their Firebolts. It was Ron's idea and everyone thought it would be fun. There were also bets going round involving chocolate frogs. Ron put a lot of frogs on his wager as he eyed the others hoping that his last two cards would be in some of them.

So they wished each other luck and the race began. They zigged, Zagged, dived, and rose to fifty feet above the pitch. Suddenly their brooms stopped and they couldn't move with Harry in a full scale dive to the finish line and ended up flipping over. They looked down to see Malfoy with his wand out and his goons guffawing at the brilliance of it all.

Harry was holding on tight to his Firebolt for dear life as they were still well over fifty feet above the ground. But the polished handle made him start to slip as he tried to hold on. Madam Hooch ran over to Malfoy looking horror struck.

"Mr.Malfoy take that spell off at once!"

"Sorry miss no counter curse." He didn't sound sorry at all and Madam Hooch mounted a broom to try and get to Harry.

But he slipped off as soon as she swung her leg over. People screamed below Soraya as Harry was falling and only had a split second to make up her mind about what to do. Dumbledore was not here so there was nothing anyone could do so she jumped off her broom after him. People screamed even louder as she plummeted after her friend.

Then they gasped when she turned in to her animagnus form of a gryphon. She tucked her legs as close to her body as possible to cause less resistance and achieve more speed. Soraya dived at the speed of a bullet and was in front of Harry in seconds. Her extra weight and streamlined appearance cut through the air like a knife to get to him. She didn't pull up until she felt his hands close around her shoulder blades. She pulled up sharply and not a second too late or they would have both been dead. She rounded the pitch once with Harry safely on her back as she flew over to their friends.

They landed in front of Malfoy and she turned back in to a witch ready for a fight. Harry was livid and drew his wand immediately and so to did Soraya. Malfoy still had his out and now Crabbe and Goyle drew theirs. But they were stopped immediately as Madam Hooch used the summoning charm and their wands come out of their hands and flew in to hers.

Harry was about to run at Malfoy whilst Soraya was going to take care of Crabbe and Goyle. But at that exact moment Dumbledore and Snape showed up hurrying on to the pitch. So they decided to wait for a moment when they could get at them later. Soraya noticed that Snape looked equally angry to Harry. She looked at both of them trying to see who was angrier but couldn't tell.

What Snape said next was not like him at all.

"TELL ME MALFOY HOW COULD YOU HAVE BEEN SO STUPID?" Everyone stared at Snape in surprise with Malfoy and Dumbledore looking completely taken back. So Snape steadied himself and spoke in a very dangerous voice. What surprised people most of all was what he did next, it was so shocking it made everyone gasp.

"100 points off Slytherin."

Ron was stunned and his jaw dropped and totally forgot about the chocolate frogs. Everyone took them back because the race wasn't finished so all bets were off.

"What? He never takes points off Slytherin...Ok who's he and what's he done with the real Snape?" Snape didn't hear this. It was being over powered by everyone's gasps and the Slytherin's protests.

"But sir-"

"You want to make it 200? Well?" Malfoy closed his mouth and stayed silent. He retrieved his wand from madam Hooch and left with his bodyguards out of the quidditch pitch. Snape turned to Soraya and Harry as they received their wands as well with Dumbledore quietly talking to them.

Soraya and Harry left a short while after the incident. They decided to go back to the castle for the rest of the day.

"Thanks."

"For what Harry?"

"Well...saving my life of course."

"Oh....that...well..."

It took a minute for Soraya to try and respond to this. But eventually swallowed hard and the words came swiftly.

"You would have done the same for me."

"Yes I suppose I would if I was able to save you."

"Did you see the look on Malfoy's face when Snape took points from Slytherin?"

"Yes, and you got fifty house points awarded for...how shall I say this?"

"Yes what was it that Dumbledore said again?"

So Harry did an impression of Dumbledore which wasn't very good but wasn't that bad either.

"I award you fifty points for your gallant bravery and self sacrifice. This is the second time I have seen you use it. I would like to see this continued throughout your life and don't you go exacting revenge on Draco."

"Yes sir. I promise not to hurt the little runt too much."

"Pleased to hear it and now you had better make your way to lunch." Harry and Soraya smiled all the way to lunch.

Then they felt very odd and started to look at each other in another light. It was as though they were seeing each other for the first time. But Soraya shook it off and stared at him.

"Oh look cupid's arrows...we shouldn't go too near these plants. They say that the perfume makes people fall in love with the first person they see." She quickly walked away without looking back.

"But there's a line to say when you're too close and we are a few feet away from it."

"Well the perfume is really coming up in the summer and the breeze is blowing towards us. So it must the plants that are affecting us."

"Yeah...must be." Harry muttered as he followed her towards the castle for lunch.

They never spoke of this to anyone and promised they never would so they just acted like friends again. Everyone was celebrating the rescue on the quidditch pitch and no one cared that the Slytherins were looking particularly murderous today. For the points taken away brought Slytherin down to third place so they glared at the Griffindors for the rest of the day as word had quickly spread of the incident. But Soraya didn't care about anything anymore and just sat on her bed that night sleeping contentedly without any worries at all.

For the last two days at the glorious place known as Hogwarts Soraya felt sad that she was going to leave it. But happy as she was going to see Sarah and Derick again. So she relaxed in her ordinary clothes one day sitting on her mother's cloak enjoying the sun.

She was alone with her eyes closed when something strange happened. She felt a bit hot but couldn't be bothered to get up and go to some shade. So she imagined a sprinkler going off and she was in its wake. But unfortunately muggle technology didn't work very well at Hogwarts so she sighed and let her imagination do the rest.

But little did she notice a small amount of cloud going over her head. Then quite unexpectedly it started a light shower over her face. Soraya quickly opened her eyes and saw the little rain cloud quickly disperse. She looked around and was relieved to see that no one else had seen this. Her heart was in her mouth and her stomach disappeared completely. 'Was this what Fudge was talking about? Mind and hand controlled powers...no need for a wand?'

She studied this thought for a moment and looked at her bag which lay only a few feet away from her. Soraya stared at it and raised her hand concentrating the bag to come to her. 'This is silly...I mean I'm a witch form a pure blood family. How can I possibly have powers with no use for a wa...?' She didn't finish the word wand.

Because just then her bag floated along the ground and rested at her feet. Soraya put her hand down and was breathing deeply. Her mind buzzed and her heart was pounding her rib cage like a drum. Her body felt a little cold but she didn't notice this and looked at her hands trying to comprehend what just happened. But her mind just drew blanks and it felt like a giant bee was buzzing in her head.

She took up her things and ran to the spot near the lake to test out her powers. She was doubled up trying to catch her breath before she even attempted anything. She put her bag and cloak on as it was very cool by the lake which made her shiver with cold. Soraya went up to the waters edge and put her hand over it.

She willed the water to come to her hand but the first attempt was a flop and nothing happened. So Soraya focussed her mind and willed the water to come to her hand again. This time the water shimmered and swirled up to her hand. Soraya imagined it becoming a ball and in seconds a perfect sphere floated above her hand. Then after a minute or two she thought of it becoming a solid and it slowly landed in her hand. It was light as a feather and yet solid as a basketball. Soraya couldn't believe her eyes but kept her mind focussed. For Soraya thought if she got too excited and let her emotions run wild then she could loose the ball altogether and she didn't know how long this would last. Slowly she took the now solid ball away from the water. Soraya closed her eyes as she attempted to bounce the ball. She opened her eyes and was relieved to see the ball held its shape. She laughed at what she did and picked it up again.

But then Soraya could feel cold, familiar eyes behind her. She swallowed hard and turned round to see Snape staring at her in a calculating and shocked sort of way. She quickly threw the ball back in to the lake and it dispersed immediately. Then she turned slowly too look back at Snape. He was paler than usual and pointed his wand right at her. Soraya felt fear coming off him like it must have been coming off her as well.

She didn't know what to do and just ran away from him as fast as she could. Snape called her name a couple of times and went running after her.

"Alright Miss.Griffis you leave me no choice. Stupefy!"

Soraya turned to see the stunning spell coming towards her at full speed. Soraya turned round and felt like she knew exactly what to do and so she raised her hand again.

But this time instead of making something come towards her a golden disk appeared before her like a shield. The stunning spell hit the shield and instantly disappeared. Snape stood there stunned and Soraya ran again with her heart in her mouth.

But stopped as this time she was called by Dumbledore and so she turned round to see what he wanted. But in her heart she already knew and dread poured in to her very soul. Snape ran up to them and still had his wand out. Dumbledore shot him a very surprised look as Snape pointed his wand at Soraya again.

"Stay there girl or I shall use the leg locker curse." Soraya nodded and stayed perfectly still. Uncle or not she wasn't about to call Snape's bluff.

Her heart plummeted as she could hear him telling Dumbledore about what she did by the lake. Soraya's hate for Snape intensified and her hands shook with rage. Then they stopped shaking instantly as Dumbledore looked at her with searching eyes. They disturbed her a lot and she looked away from him quickly. She hated those eyes when they scanner her and wished with all her heart she had never made that stupid ball.

"Well Cornelius said she would be able to do that. He just didn't expect it to happen so quickly and neither did I to tell you the truth. Luckily he stopped by earlier today and is in my office at this moment to discuss some matters of the school. I think he would very much like to know about this. I was on my way to see him until I saw what you did with Serverus's spell. So I think we had better go now before-"

Then he stopped talking at once, it was as if to stop himself saying something he would regret in the future. Soraya looked up and now it was her turn to study Dumbledore with searching eyes. He looked straight in to hers and they twinkled softly she still could not see what it was he could possibly be hiding.

So they headed for his office and Soraya's heart sank even lower. Dumbledore could see the panic in her eyes and put his hand on her shoulder. Strangely enough this time she didn't feel angry about his pity. Because for once in her life she actually felt like she needed it. Snape had his hand in his pocket and kept glancing at her. Soraya had the sneaking suspicion that he had a firm grip on his wand but said nothing.

Soraya felt time passing ever so slowly and wanted to run. But not from Snape, Fudge or Dumbledore. But from this situation and her new found powers. She felt terrified of hurting anyone from her new found ability and they scared her. When they entered she wanted to just curl up in a ball and die. But Dumbledore still had his hand on her shoulder and it gave her some courage when he squeezed it a little.

Fudge looked curiously at the three entering the room. She sat down in a chair next to Fudge and he gave her a very strange look.

"Dumbledore. What is this child doing here? Should we be talking about our business in front of-"

"No Cornelius and I think there is something you should see."

"Yes Albus? Oh and by the way I didn't register the young lady. It might loose her the only element of surprise she has being an animagnus en all. You know, just in case of the odd chance of you-know-who showing up again."

Then everyone stayed silent as Dumbledore conjured up a bowl and filled it with water. He then levitated it in front of Soraya and it landed in front of her feet. Soraya took one look at it and made for the door. But Snape pointed his wand at her and blocked the door. She made a low growling noise at Snape but reluctantly went back to her seat.

"Now Soraya...please show the minister what Serverus told me." She shook her head and closed her eyes. She was breathing hard and had never felt such fear before.

She could feel them all looking at her but didn't care. There was no way she would use her powers again if it was going to cause this much trouble.

"Come now Albus show me what? We are wasting time and I have to be back at the ministry preparing defences for you-know-who."

"Please Soraya." Dumbledore sounded like he was almost begging her to do it.

She opened her eyes and hated to see him so powerless to do anything. So she took a deep breath to steady herself and looked at the bowl where it lay at her feet happily glinting in the sun. Fudge was growing agitated and broke the silence.

"Albus time is very precious right now so I really should..." Before Cornelius finished his sentence the water started to shimmer in the bowl.

But instead of a ball this time Soraya made a small, watery, hand sized gryphon. It was moving as if it were alive and flew around the room. The gryphon then hovered over Dumbledore's desk and splashed back in to the bowl. Fudges face went completely white and he too was lost for words. He looked at the bowl, Soraya, and then to the bowl again. She avoided his eyes and looked at Dumbledore and then to Snape. All but Dumbledore looked taken back. He just smiled at her with his twinkling eyes.

But Soraya's eyes had a strong fear in them and she looked back to her feet. The tension was so solid in the room that you could cut it with a knife.

Then yet again it was Fudge who broke the silence.

"V...Very funny Albus."

"I assure you this is no joke Cornelius."

"But, not without a wand...she can't have..."

He looked around and saw Snape with his arms folded and then to Dumbledore who looked very serious indeed.

"Did either of you?" They both shook their heads and Fudge turned even whiter.

"You said it yourself Cornelius. The child shall not require a wand or say incantations and Soraya is the prodigal child."

"But this will change our world forever!"

"I know Cornelius. But it was bound to happen sooner or later."

"No...this can't happen now! I can't allow it to come out!"

Soraya got up and looked livid with anger, she balled up her hands and they shook with fury. She rounded on Fudge who looked slightly fearful and when she spoke there wasn't a hint of calm at all. No matter how much she tried to keep her voice steady it shook with anger. She raised her voice and almost yelled at Fudge. Now all the teachers looked startled at her reaction.

"You're so pathetic! Change is bad in your perfect little world? Well excuse me for nearly bleeding to death to protect this school because I'm different!!!"

"You have no idea what you are saying girl, this kind of change so quick. The others will not accept you and we have to let them know gradually. Give me a year or two and I will see to it personally. By then all the witches and wizards will accept you."

"Can I have your word on that? A solemn oath?"

Fudge opened his mouth looking sadly in to her eyes and then hung his head in hopelessness at her request.

"Thought not. It's not so much the half bloods and muggle borns is it? It's all about the pureblood families like the Malfoy's isn't it?"

Fudge raised his head and looked straight in to her eyes.

"Yes it is I'm afraid. So what will you do?"

Soraya lowered her voice and sighed.

"I don't know, hope it all ends and ask for a miracle. Wished I died that day instead of lived. Only six months, but I could have at least died happily."

Snape spoke this time and sounded a little angry. "So you think it would have been better if you were dead? Then what was the point of me saving your life?"

This time Soraya looked right at Snape and did yell.

"THE HUNGS WOULD STILL BE ALIVE!"

"You would have never had a little sister!"

"SHE WOULD STILL BE TALKING!"

Snape had no more ammo to use and Soraya knew it. Now it was her turn to sneer at him and she did with malice.

"A man who knows so much knows so little." Snape glared at her and Soraya just looked bored.

She turned back round and saw Dumbledore looking at her sadly. Fudge just stared at her totally and utterly gob smacked. So she sat back down and put her head in her hands. Her head ached and she wished this had never happened. Silence reigned for a few minutes until Fudge spoke again.

"Do-do you always feel this way, wishing it was all over? That you did die in the past?"

When Soraya spoke she sounded tired and had a deep sadness to her voice. This made Dumbledore look sadly at her.

"Not all the time, only since I met the founders."

"You weren't happy this year at all?"

"I am very happy and have been all year. But the thought still lingered in the back of my mind. It was particularly bad when Voldermort threatened to use my powers. He stated that he would use me and not kill me as I was too valuable."

Fudge looked more shocked now and his hands started to tremble with fear. He gripped the chair and his knuckles turned white. But Soraya look up and just merely looked bored.

"Oh. Sorry minister. Did I forget to tell you that?"

"He-he did? Well then that changes everything. I will make sure everyone knows about your existence. I shall give my most trusted auroras your address and I must inform the daily prophet-"

"They have to be your most trusted aurora's minister, for my families trusted certain people...and well...you know the rest."

"Indeed, but in order for this to work I must go now Albus!"

"Of course Cornelius."

Fudge got up quickly and strode towards the door and then disappeared.

"Incompetent little twerp we have for a minister I must say." She muttered under her breath and no one seemed to notice it at all.

"Soraya...are you hiding something?"

She wondered whether to tell him or not as Snape was still in the room. But one look in to Dumbledore's eyes made her crumble.

"It's not only when I use my mind and hands to perform magic..."

Words just seemed to fail her so Dumbledore got up and walked in front of her. He took Soraya by the hand and looked kindly in to her eyes. Soraya felt a little easier and spoke again.

"I can feel everything about this place ever since I stepped in to the ring. Every stone, tree, and anyone who is linked to Hogwarts. Oh, I know you're a death eater spy by the way sir."

Snape raised an eye brow at Dumbledore and he acknowledged Snape's concern.

"I know secrets and I will not say unless they are very important, you have my word of honour on that headmaster!" Snape lowered his eye brow and Dumbledore looked at Soraya. He smiled and went back to his desk and sat on his chair.

"I see, you may go now. I just want you to know; everyone who are your allies or friends will always be there for you. Just so long as you are loyal to the school and everything in it."

"The school is a part of me sir, so why would I have any will to go against it at all."

Snape stepped aside when Soraya walked towards the door. He had a bit of an odd look on his face which Soraya didn't acknowledge. She stepped out with a lighter heart and felt a great mass had been lifted from her shoulders. No one could provide a feeling such as this except Albus Dumbledore. 'The best headmaster in the world.' She thought happily.

Then the day to leave finally came. Soraya looked sadly back at the castle as it disappeared from view. She felt like a part of her was ripped away as she travelled further and further away. Then she felt like her old self again as the school disappeared from view.

But like Amily she was happy that she was going to a proper home for the second time in two years. So for the rest of the train journey on the Hogwarts express she played card games and just had fun with her new friends. Then Hermione showed them a surprise that had made the front page in none other than the daily prophet. There was a picture of Fudge looking very serious with an article underneath.

A change in magic for ever?

Minister of magic confesses the presence of a child somewhere in the world that carries extraordinary powers. "The child can use magic using the power of her mind and hand movements. The child will not require a wand in the near future. If any wizards should meet the child please welcome the child with open arms as one of us and not an outcast. Do not give the child special treatment as the child is like you or I and just has special abilities with magic. This is also a warning going out to you-know-who and his followers or dark wizards of any kind. You mess with the child you mess with the ministry so do not cross her!!" Brave words from the minister of magic Cornelius Fudge. So may the child stay on the side of good and not turn over to the side of evil. As we are all hoping for that out come in the future.

Soraya burst out laughing at the last line and the whole carriage erupted with it. Everyone thought it was ridikulus that Soraya would ever think about being evil.

A little while later Hermione left to go to the toilet and Ron tells everyone else in the compartment about their trip to Diagon alley by floo powder. Unfortunately Hermione got back before the story was finished and overhears what Ron said.

"Honestly I thought it would be hard to trick Hermione but it was really easy."

Hermione ran in and pulled out her wand. Ron dodged the curse just in the nick of time with only a burn mark left on the chair. Everyone remains silent until she storms out the room to tend to her prefect duties. When it was all clear the silence is instantly replaced by laughter. Except for Ron who is still stunned by what Hermione tried to do.

"What the hell was that?"

Seamus turns to Ron and inspects the burn mark. He sees bobbles start to appear on the fabric.

"Hmmm...looks like a boil curse. A particularly nasty one at that...would have taken a few weeks to shift that one with or without a potion." Ron stayed silent and stared at the fabric before taking the curse off it.

Soraya enjoyed the rest of the journey and felt almost sad when she had to say goodbye to her new friends. She watched them leave with their parents. The Weasleys were very warm towards Soraya and Mrs. Weasley hugged her like a mother would. This startled Soraya more than anyone but said nothing. Fred and George had to hold back a ball of laughter but Soraya couldn't when they put on their headless hats. Their mother looked quite annoyed so they took then off again very quickly.

When Soraya left the platform and entered the muggle world again she saw why Harry hated his family. He trailed behind Vernon when they used a trolley to take his trunk to the car.

"Oh hell! HARRY!" He turned round and so did his uncle who looked very angry at being stopped. But Harry turned round and smiled at her.

"Yeah?"

"Here's my phone number. If you want to come over again in the holidays. I've already given them to Ron and Hermione as well."

"Oh thanks...I will see you then."

"Get a move on boy!"

"Coming uncle Vernon." Harry waved and sighed as he left with his uncle to the car.

Soraya thought how strangely Harry's uncle looked very much like Miss. Baldwick. She hurried back to where Derick and Sarah were waiting. She handed out her phone number to some of her other muggle living friends as well friends as well. (Or those who had the knowledge of how to use a telephone at all.)

"So how was it Soraya?"

"Magic Sarah...absolutely magic!"

They stayed silent for the reminder of the journey back to their magical animal sanctuary. Soraya and Amily were happy and relaxed as they went home. But Soraya was already thinking about what would happen at Hogwarts for her final year.

--- Finally finished...hmm. The next part seems to be longer than that...oh well at least I've only written about two or three fanfics. Phew!