Chapter 8: A Birthday To Remember.
Tears came rushing down Harry's cheek. He had almost come to accept of Sirius' death but this seemed to finalize it. He had hoped there would be some way of bringing him back, but now he was sure there was none.
"Harry I am sorry", came the soothing voice of Ginny.
"Its okay Ginny. Guess I have to accept he is gone. At least he got to go the way he wanted to. Guess what you are rich."
"Harry, you know I don't want his money. I did not know Sirius that well. We met here last year and became very good friends. I wish I could have spent some more time with him."
Harry looked into Ginny's eyes. Ever since Ginny's confession of feelings for him every time Harry looked into her eyes he felt an unknown jolt deep within himself. It was different from how he used to feel about Cho Chang. It was much, much more powerful.
"I am sorry dear, but everyone must head for bed," came the voice of Mrs. Weasley.
As they headed to bed, Harry wondered and pondered about his new feelings for Ginny. He stayed awake till late in the night until he heard some one creep into the room.
He could make out the silhouette of Ginny as she tiptoed into the room. She thought Harry was asleep and made no attempt of waking him. She just left a card by his bed and a red rose.
"Happy Birthday Harry", she whispered, "though you will not know it, but I still wanted to be the first to wish you."
As soon as she left the room Harry got up and followed her downstairs.
"Night owls are we?" he asked startling Ginny so much, that she almost fell of the stairs.
"You were awake?" she asked.
"Yes and thank you. This.." he held out the card , " means a lot to me."
"It's the least I can do, after all you have done for my family and.." she said in a whisper, "for me."
Harry observed Ginny. In the moonlit corridor she looked really beautiful.
"I wonder if she will mind." He thought as he stepped forward until they were an inch apart. As he lowered his head for his lips to meet her, suddenly for the second time in less than six hours his world split open.
The pain in his scar was beyond belief. He immediately knew Voldemort was near and was very happy for some reason. His vision, which had gone black for the moment returned and he found instead of Ginny, he was face to face with none other than Lord Voldemort.
"Happy Birthday Harry Potter." Hissed the dark lord. "Sorry to disturb your slumber but I wanted to make sure someone wished you a happy birthday before you die."
"Yes Harry you will die tonight. Nothing can protect you. Not Dumbledore. Not even your precious ally Enemar. You will die like you should have fifteen years ago. Can you feel the power of Lord Voldemort? You thought you were safe in that safe house of yours. I may not be able to attack you physically Potter, but as you can see I have found better ways to hunt you down."
Harry was really starting to feel scared. He could sense from the confidence in Voldemort's voice that this time escape would be difficult. Somehow Voldemort has found a way to attack him in his mind and there seems to be no way out.
Pain swept through his body as the Cruciatus curse hit him. Harry gritted his teeth to prevent from shouting out.
"Ahh being brave are we. That's what I liked about you Potter. You would had been a very worthy ally. Though your powers are no match for me but still they would had been very useful. Anyways we have already been through that discussion and I know you will die before you join me."
With that Voldemort raised his wand and Harry knew what was coming.
"Bow to death Harry Potter, but don't worry I will send all your friends to meet you soon enough."
Harry jolted to his senses. Death was something he was not scared of, but he knew if he died Voldemort would be unstoppable. One by one he would kill everyone who had once stood by him. Hermione, Ron, Remus, Dumbledore, Neville, Luna, Ginny everyone. The thought of the last person made a surge go through him. He again felt a strange twist in his chest, but what followed was unthinkable.
As Voldemort began to speak the killing curse Harry's body glowed ethereal white. Even Voldemort was so surprised that he paused in his motion. The next moment Voldemort was thrown of his feet as he landed about fifteen feet away.
"There is more about you than what meets the eyes Potter." Yelled Voldemort. "Maybe you have escaped death again today but soon, soon I will get you."
With that Harry's vision blurred and then everything blacked out.
He opened his eyes to find himself, on the floor with Ginny sitting next to him with a very worried look on her face.
"Oh Harry you passed out and then you started screaming in pain, I wanted to go get help, but was worried to leave your side."
"Don't worry Gin," he said ,"I am okay. He could not harm me. Not this time."
"He, you mean you-know-oh damn it, Voldemort?" shrieked Ginny hearing which Harry's face broke into a smile.
"Don't laugh you are not the only one brave around here. But what happened?"
"Same story. He managed to kidnap me in my mind and tried to kill me. But something again went wrong. I felt something weird and I think I threw him off his feet."
"You fought you-know I mean Voldemort in your dream."
"Yes but this time it was very different. He was able to physically hurt me. Whenever he has come in my dreams he was never able to curse me. But this time he put the Cruciatus curse on me. Then he said something about killing all my friends and I think I subconsciously began to fight him."
"Oh Harry!" she embraced him in a tight hug. "I am so sorry. This is your birthday you should be thinking of party and presents, not this."
Harry though was not thinking. Here in Ginny's arms he felt peace and solace that he felt he had found missing from his life.
Ginny, realizing how closely she had been holding Harry, blushed and tried to get up but Harry held on to her and slowly touched her lips to his. It was passion, it was fire, it was ecstasy.
As they broke of Harry's mind was racing there was a million things he wanted to tell her. But he did not get to say any of those. Their tender moment was broken up by an all so familiar. "Hem, hem."
Her face was hidden in the darkness of the corridor. But there was no mistaking her. It was there defense against the dark arts teacher from last year Dolores Umbridge. The toad like female, who had made it her mission to make Harry's life hell in his first year, was looking straight at them.
"So Potter. We meet again, you ruined my life, had me fire from the ministry and now here you are all comfortable snogging this redhead bimbo. Well I will teach you a lesson that the Dark Lord was not able to teach, I will hurt you by taking away things that matter most to you." Cackled Umbridge.
She snapped her finger and Ginny let out a shriek and simply disappeared.
"What did you do to her?" roared Harry.
"She is gone Potter. You will never find her." Said Umbridge grinning like a maniac.
NO thought Harry this could not be happening. I can not lose Ginny, not her. Anger began to engulf him. It was different from the time Voldemort possessed him. This time he knew the anger was his own. Dolores Umbridge made his heart bleed. Now she will bleed as well.
But he could not think of anything to do he was not carrying his wand. How could he avenge Ginny? The thirst was unbearable. Then he thought of his dream. He tried to summon with all his heart the unknown power with which he had attacked Voldemort some time earlier. Someone constantly was rambling in his mind
"It is all within you."
Then it happened. Dolores was lifted of her feet. The look of shock and incomprehension was apparent on her face. Harry tried to control his powers. He wanted to hurt Umbridge, but also realized he must not kill her. She was his last hope of getting Ginny back.
"Tell me where she is and I might let you live," barked Harry savagely.
"Okay, put me down and I will give you your girlfriend."
He tried to focus and succeeded in throwing Umbridge across the hall, where she landed in a heap.
"Where. Is. She?" said Harry through gritted teeth.
But Umbridge just sat there and laughed.
Then to Harry's amazement her voice began to change and then so did her body. Soon instead of Umbridge sitting there was the man who just two days ago had sworn allegiance to him. It was Enemar.
"Lesson number one my dear Harry, when in a fight you have to let your emotions fight for you. That is your greatest weapon." Said Enemar.
Suddenly Ginny appeared by Harry's side. She looked greatly shaken.
"Ginny are you alright?" asked Harry.
"I am ok. That woman managed to transport me to the attic. Then a male voice told me to keep quiet, as he wanted to teach you something important. Then all of a sudden I am back here."
Harry turned to Enemar, who still had a smile plastered on his face.
"YOU," he yelled. "You call yourself my ally and yet you attack my friend in the middle of the night, what is this game you are playing, what do you want?"
"Dear Mr. Potter. I was here actually to wish you a happy birthday and to notify you that I will be teaching you Occulomency this year. But I happened to overhear your conversation with young Ms. Weasley about your dream earlier tonight. I just had to test a theory that came to my mind. I am sorry about taking Umbridge's appearance, but I had to pose as your enemy for you to attack me and this building has an anti Death Eater alarm."
"You wanted me to attack you. Are you crazy?" yelled Harry.
"Well yes a little bit, but that's not why I wanted you to attack me. Harry today I learnt something about our form of magic that was unknown to me before. I can't explain to you know but will do so as soon as I can."
"Oh well, at least no one was hurt though. I would appreciate if you don't do this again."
"That I promise. Anyway I must leave now. I know you won't so I will go inform Dumbledore about your dream. Also I will start with you Occulomency lessons on 7th August. Oh yes! Your secret about you two snogging will remain with me, and lastly my dear Mr. Potter," He said "HAPPY BIRTHDAY."
With that Enemar disappeared.
"Harry wasn't Enemar the man who kidnapped you? Why do you call him your ally? What does he mean by 'our' type of magic?" asked Ginny.
"Well, it seems time for explanations has come." Said Harry.
"Harry, you don't have to explain anything to me now. Please get some sleep. You are having a really rough night. We will talk tomorrow."
Harry was amazed at Ginny's understanding nature. He quickly pulled her towards him and gave him a small kiss on her lips.
"Good night Harry." She whispered.
As Harry returned to his room, his mind was filled with events of the past one hour. He thought of his meeting with Ginny, confrontation with Voldemort first and the Enemar.
He realized, that inspite of being attacked twice he still felt great. He had found a resolute to battle anything that comes his way. The battle for his friends and now battle for his love.
This was no doubt the best birthday ever.
....................................
The kitchen was filled with the aroma of a sumptuous feast prepared by Mrs. Weasley on the occasion of Harry's birthday. Morning Harry had received about two hundred owls with presents from witches and wizards across the wizarding world. Some of them were from his school friends at Hogwarts, while the remaining were from people he had never met before.
"I guess me and Colin are not the only members of your fanclub", teased Ginny.
After lunch Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were all relaxing out in the sun in the garden. Harry noticed that Hermione had snuggled in very close to Ron, who was absentmindedly running his hand through her hair. Ginny to though was sitting rather close to her. Close enough for Harry to get lost in his thought by gazing into her chocolate brown eyes.
Their moment of relaxation was broken up by the voice of Mrs. Weasley.
"Harry, Ginny. Please come inside. Professor Dumbledore wants to talk to the two of you."
"What's this about?" asked Ron, rather irritated at being disturbed from his daydreaming.
"Well lets see," said Harry though he had a fair idea that Dumbledore wanted to talk to him about events of last night.
They were led into the main Order of The Phoenix meeting hall where they found Dumbledore waiting for them. He did not look happy.
"Mr. Potter. I know its your right to celebrate your sixteenth birthday, and I wish you many happy returns of the day", said Dumbledore in a tone he had never used to him before, " but it was very wrong of you not to tell anybody that you were attacked yesterday night."
"Attacked!" shrieked Hermione.
"Why the devil did you not tell me anything?" asked Ron.
Harry began to explain to them the events of last night carefully editing his romantic activities with Ginny. He then apologized to Dumbledore saying that he totally forgot about it because of the celebrations this morning.
"Harry", Dumbledore began, "yesterday night was Voldemort's first attack on you. You should have told us something."
Just then Snape entered the room. He gave Harry a very funny look. The he turned towards Dumbledore.
"Sir, the news is true. He was injured last night. But it is just a bruised back and with his new abilities he will be fit as the devil by tonight itself."
Dumbledore's face gravened a little more, then all of a sudden the twinkle in his eyes returned.
"Well this is good news and bad news. But we must look at the positive aspect of it."
"What good news", yelled Ron, "Harry here gets attacked by you-know-who and you want us to look at positive aspect."
"Ronald Weasley, mind you tongue." Reprimanded Arthur as he entered the room.
"But sir I do believe explanations are in order." He said.
"Yes Arthur. I agree with you. Tell Remus to inform everyone to assemble here in exactly one hour. Everyone must know of this I am sure they will enjoy it too."
Inside one hour the hall was filled with Order members. None of them had much clue about the agenda of this impromptu meeting.
"Ladies and gentlemen," began Dumbledore, "I some very important things to announce. Firstly we have some good news. Last night Lord Voldemort managed to breach our defenses and attacked Harry Potter right here in Grimmauld Place."
There was an uproar. They all thought this to be a joke.
"What do you mean good news?" came the voice of Arabella Figg.
"Silence", roared Dumbledore, "Let me please finish. As you can see young Mr. Potter is as fine and healthy as he ever was. How Voldemort managed to attack Harry is still a mystery but whatever his intentions were, brave Harry managed not only to defend himself but managed to injure Voldemort substantially."
The room was filled with gasps and aahs. All eyes were on Harry now.
"That was the good news. Now for the bad ones. It seems that a force unknown to us has allied to the Dark Lord. It has increased his strengths manifold and thus in spite of meeting with this mild reverses his strength is much more than before. I advice you all to be extremely careful in your assignments from now on. That will be all for tonight. If you have any questions it will have to wait I have a very important guest waiting for me."
With that Dumbledore apparated straight to the shrieking shack.
"Welcome Professor. I hope your meeting went well." Said Enemar.
"Yes Mr. Itra. Now tell me why did you ask me to meet you here today."
"To discuss a few things sir but first would you like a drink Sir? Some firewhiskey?"
"No thanks. I have to return for Harry's birthday party. Would you believe that the boy has never had one?"
"Yes our favorite student. I told him last night that I would be teaching him Occulomency as we had agreed earlier."
"Well the reason I called you earlier also concerns Harry. But first I have some other news for you. Rather I have old news to report. Voldemort has acquired a great deal of power from some where, he also seems to be in constant presence of an unearthly object which can communicate with him only. You cannot see it but you can definitely feel it. I know your potions master told you the same thing. But there is something else. This entity whatever it is, is strangely familiar to me. I know it from somewhere but I cannot put my finger on it. It is also trying constantly to stop Harry and me to pry into Voldemort's activities. I have a feeling that this entity enabled Voldemort to attack Harry last night in Harry's dream."
"But if Voldemort is as powerful as he is now, how come he and this thing you talk about were unable to harm Harry Potter but got hurt themselves?" asked Dumbledore.
"As I experienced yesterday night, Harry's powers are starting to mature. It is also being infused by the proper catalyst of emotions. If Harry realizes his true powers before the dark lord figures it out he will easily beat Voldemort even at the height of its powers. About the other entity, well I will not comment on what I don't know. I though have a theory but it is too much of a guesswork to discuss at this moment."
"There is something else you wanted to discuss." Asked Dumbledore.
"Well actually I wanted to show you something." He snapped his fingers and a large mirror appeared at the center of the room. It looked like the mirror of Erised but it was different.
"This professor is the mirror of the magi. It was a gift left for me by Chanakya. How I say it was left for me is from the scrolls of Indus. I am not permitted to explain to you its powers. But if you look in it you will see something that might be of considerable interest to you and your young apprentice as well."
Dumbledore gazed into the mirror. At first the mirror turned milky white then an image started to form. His eyes grew wide in shock. Could this be possible? This was against everything he had learnt and taught.
"Mr. Enemar. How?"
"That I don't know professor, but you do realize what I am about to do?"
"You are going to go after him? There?"
"Yes. Can you think of a better present for my young ally?"
"But this is impossible. How do you even know these things? And how can you be sure you can do this? No one has ever tried such a thing."
"I can and I will do it. Probably more than one life is at stake. But you must not tell Harry about this. Promise me."
"Ok. How long will it take? Assuming you are successful."
"It might take a week, a month or even many years. I don't know that. As you said no one has done this before."
"Mr. Itra you are taking a phenomenal amount of risk for an someone not even close to you. Many men of older age.."
"Professor Dumbledore, I am 22 years old. But I have been gifted with knowledge of more than hundred years of knowledge. Do not question my abilities. Believe in your allies."
"I do believe in my allies. But I also care for their welfare. Anyway I know I can not stop you so I must wish you good luck."
"Thank you professor. I will need all the luck I get. Tell Harry 'I' will come to teach him Occulomency from next Friday. Good day sir."
With that Enemar disappeared.
"One thing is for sure." Dumbledore thought. "Mr. Reet was not exaggerating."
End Of Chapter 8.
TBC .................................
This Chapter is dedicated to my new beta reader Black Angel who has made this story readable. I am immensely indebted to her. Also I would like to point out that chapters 1-7 has been re-edited and reposted. I hope it is error free now. Anyone still confused about any part of it please let me know.
Also I would like to thank
Froboy John Cruize Rasmir87[ BTW there is still a bit to go before Harry actually gets to Hogwarts.] RavenGryffendor Prongs Cariel Seriossirius Harrypottergurl
Thank you. Next Chapter will take some time. I am going home for Christmas Vacation and my Birthday[ yay]. I will try to put it up by 26th.
Tears came rushing down Harry's cheek. He had almost come to accept of Sirius' death but this seemed to finalize it. He had hoped there would be some way of bringing him back, but now he was sure there was none.
"Harry I am sorry", came the soothing voice of Ginny.
"Its okay Ginny. Guess I have to accept he is gone. At least he got to go the way he wanted to. Guess what you are rich."
"Harry, you know I don't want his money. I did not know Sirius that well. We met here last year and became very good friends. I wish I could have spent some more time with him."
Harry looked into Ginny's eyes. Ever since Ginny's confession of feelings for him every time Harry looked into her eyes he felt an unknown jolt deep within himself. It was different from how he used to feel about Cho Chang. It was much, much more powerful.
"I am sorry dear, but everyone must head for bed," came the voice of Mrs. Weasley.
As they headed to bed, Harry wondered and pondered about his new feelings for Ginny. He stayed awake till late in the night until he heard some one creep into the room.
He could make out the silhouette of Ginny as she tiptoed into the room. She thought Harry was asleep and made no attempt of waking him. She just left a card by his bed and a red rose.
"Happy Birthday Harry", she whispered, "though you will not know it, but I still wanted to be the first to wish you."
As soon as she left the room Harry got up and followed her downstairs.
"Night owls are we?" he asked startling Ginny so much, that she almost fell of the stairs.
"You were awake?" she asked.
"Yes and thank you. This.." he held out the card , " means a lot to me."
"It's the least I can do, after all you have done for my family and.." she said in a whisper, "for me."
Harry observed Ginny. In the moonlit corridor she looked really beautiful.
"I wonder if she will mind." He thought as he stepped forward until they were an inch apart. As he lowered his head for his lips to meet her, suddenly for the second time in less than six hours his world split open.
The pain in his scar was beyond belief. He immediately knew Voldemort was near and was very happy for some reason. His vision, which had gone black for the moment returned and he found instead of Ginny, he was face to face with none other than Lord Voldemort.
"Happy Birthday Harry Potter." Hissed the dark lord. "Sorry to disturb your slumber but I wanted to make sure someone wished you a happy birthday before you die."
"Yes Harry you will die tonight. Nothing can protect you. Not Dumbledore. Not even your precious ally Enemar. You will die like you should have fifteen years ago. Can you feel the power of Lord Voldemort? You thought you were safe in that safe house of yours. I may not be able to attack you physically Potter, but as you can see I have found better ways to hunt you down."
Harry was really starting to feel scared. He could sense from the confidence in Voldemort's voice that this time escape would be difficult. Somehow Voldemort has found a way to attack him in his mind and there seems to be no way out.
Pain swept through his body as the Cruciatus curse hit him. Harry gritted his teeth to prevent from shouting out.
"Ahh being brave are we. That's what I liked about you Potter. You would had been a very worthy ally. Though your powers are no match for me but still they would had been very useful. Anyways we have already been through that discussion and I know you will die before you join me."
With that Voldemort raised his wand and Harry knew what was coming.
"Bow to death Harry Potter, but don't worry I will send all your friends to meet you soon enough."
Harry jolted to his senses. Death was something he was not scared of, but he knew if he died Voldemort would be unstoppable. One by one he would kill everyone who had once stood by him. Hermione, Ron, Remus, Dumbledore, Neville, Luna, Ginny everyone. The thought of the last person made a surge go through him. He again felt a strange twist in his chest, but what followed was unthinkable.
As Voldemort began to speak the killing curse Harry's body glowed ethereal white. Even Voldemort was so surprised that he paused in his motion. The next moment Voldemort was thrown of his feet as he landed about fifteen feet away.
"There is more about you than what meets the eyes Potter." Yelled Voldemort. "Maybe you have escaped death again today but soon, soon I will get you."
With that Harry's vision blurred and then everything blacked out.
He opened his eyes to find himself, on the floor with Ginny sitting next to him with a very worried look on her face.
"Oh Harry you passed out and then you started screaming in pain, I wanted to go get help, but was worried to leave your side."
"Don't worry Gin," he said ,"I am okay. He could not harm me. Not this time."
"He, you mean you-know-oh damn it, Voldemort?" shrieked Ginny hearing which Harry's face broke into a smile.
"Don't laugh you are not the only one brave around here. But what happened?"
"Same story. He managed to kidnap me in my mind and tried to kill me. But something again went wrong. I felt something weird and I think I threw him off his feet."
"You fought you-know I mean Voldemort in your dream."
"Yes but this time it was very different. He was able to physically hurt me. Whenever he has come in my dreams he was never able to curse me. But this time he put the Cruciatus curse on me. Then he said something about killing all my friends and I think I subconsciously began to fight him."
"Oh Harry!" she embraced him in a tight hug. "I am so sorry. This is your birthday you should be thinking of party and presents, not this."
Harry though was not thinking. Here in Ginny's arms he felt peace and solace that he felt he had found missing from his life.
Ginny, realizing how closely she had been holding Harry, blushed and tried to get up but Harry held on to her and slowly touched her lips to his. It was passion, it was fire, it was ecstasy.
As they broke of Harry's mind was racing there was a million things he wanted to tell her. But he did not get to say any of those. Their tender moment was broken up by an all so familiar. "Hem, hem."
Her face was hidden in the darkness of the corridor. But there was no mistaking her. It was there defense against the dark arts teacher from last year Dolores Umbridge. The toad like female, who had made it her mission to make Harry's life hell in his first year, was looking straight at them.
"So Potter. We meet again, you ruined my life, had me fire from the ministry and now here you are all comfortable snogging this redhead bimbo. Well I will teach you a lesson that the Dark Lord was not able to teach, I will hurt you by taking away things that matter most to you." Cackled Umbridge.
She snapped her finger and Ginny let out a shriek and simply disappeared.
"What did you do to her?" roared Harry.
"She is gone Potter. You will never find her." Said Umbridge grinning like a maniac.
NO thought Harry this could not be happening. I can not lose Ginny, not her. Anger began to engulf him. It was different from the time Voldemort possessed him. This time he knew the anger was his own. Dolores Umbridge made his heart bleed. Now she will bleed as well.
But he could not think of anything to do he was not carrying his wand. How could he avenge Ginny? The thirst was unbearable. Then he thought of his dream. He tried to summon with all his heart the unknown power with which he had attacked Voldemort some time earlier. Someone constantly was rambling in his mind
"It is all within you."
Then it happened. Dolores was lifted of her feet. The look of shock and incomprehension was apparent on her face. Harry tried to control his powers. He wanted to hurt Umbridge, but also realized he must not kill her. She was his last hope of getting Ginny back.
"Tell me where she is and I might let you live," barked Harry savagely.
"Okay, put me down and I will give you your girlfriend."
He tried to focus and succeeded in throwing Umbridge across the hall, where she landed in a heap.
"Where. Is. She?" said Harry through gritted teeth.
But Umbridge just sat there and laughed.
Then to Harry's amazement her voice began to change and then so did her body. Soon instead of Umbridge sitting there was the man who just two days ago had sworn allegiance to him. It was Enemar.
"Lesson number one my dear Harry, when in a fight you have to let your emotions fight for you. That is your greatest weapon." Said Enemar.
Suddenly Ginny appeared by Harry's side. She looked greatly shaken.
"Ginny are you alright?" asked Harry.
"I am ok. That woman managed to transport me to the attic. Then a male voice told me to keep quiet, as he wanted to teach you something important. Then all of a sudden I am back here."
Harry turned to Enemar, who still had a smile plastered on his face.
"YOU," he yelled. "You call yourself my ally and yet you attack my friend in the middle of the night, what is this game you are playing, what do you want?"
"Dear Mr. Potter. I was here actually to wish you a happy birthday and to notify you that I will be teaching you Occulomency this year. But I happened to overhear your conversation with young Ms. Weasley about your dream earlier tonight. I just had to test a theory that came to my mind. I am sorry about taking Umbridge's appearance, but I had to pose as your enemy for you to attack me and this building has an anti Death Eater alarm."
"You wanted me to attack you. Are you crazy?" yelled Harry.
"Well yes a little bit, but that's not why I wanted you to attack me. Harry today I learnt something about our form of magic that was unknown to me before. I can't explain to you know but will do so as soon as I can."
"Oh well, at least no one was hurt though. I would appreciate if you don't do this again."
"That I promise. Anyway I must leave now. I know you won't so I will go inform Dumbledore about your dream. Also I will start with you Occulomency lessons on 7th August. Oh yes! Your secret about you two snogging will remain with me, and lastly my dear Mr. Potter," He said "HAPPY BIRTHDAY."
With that Enemar disappeared.
"Harry wasn't Enemar the man who kidnapped you? Why do you call him your ally? What does he mean by 'our' type of magic?" asked Ginny.
"Well, it seems time for explanations has come." Said Harry.
"Harry, you don't have to explain anything to me now. Please get some sleep. You are having a really rough night. We will talk tomorrow."
Harry was amazed at Ginny's understanding nature. He quickly pulled her towards him and gave him a small kiss on her lips.
"Good night Harry." She whispered.
As Harry returned to his room, his mind was filled with events of the past one hour. He thought of his meeting with Ginny, confrontation with Voldemort first and the Enemar.
He realized, that inspite of being attacked twice he still felt great. He had found a resolute to battle anything that comes his way. The battle for his friends and now battle for his love.
This was no doubt the best birthday ever.
....................................
The kitchen was filled with the aroma of a sumptuous feast prepared by Mrs. Weasley on the occasion of Harry's birthday. Morning Harry had received about two hundred owls with presents from witches and wizards across the wizarding world. Some of them were from his school friends at Hogwarts, while the remaining were from people he had never met before.
"I guess me and Colin are not the only members of your fanclub", teased Ginny.
After lunch Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were all relaxing out in the sun in the garden. Harry noticed that Hermione had snuggled in very close to Ron, who was absentmindedly running his hand through her hair. Ginny to though was sitting rather close to her. Close enough for Harry to get lost in his thought by gazing into her chocolate brown eyes.
Their moment of relaxation was broken up by the voice of Mrs. Weasley.
"Harry, Ginny. Please come inside. Professor Dumbledore wants to talk to the two of you."
"What's this about?" asked Ron, rather irritated at being disturbed from his daydreaming.
"Well lets see," said Harry though he had a fair idea that Dumbledore wanted to talk to him about events of last night.
They were led into the main Order of The Phoenix meeting hall where they found Dumbledore waiting for them. He did not look happy.
"Mr. Potter. I know its your right to celebrate your sixteenth birthday, and I wish you many happy returns of the day", said Dumbledore in a tone he had never used to him before, " but it was very wrong of you not to tell anybody that you were attacked yesterday night."
"Attacked!" shrieked Hermione.
"Why the devil did you not tell me anything?" asked Ron.
Harry began to explain to them the events of last night carefully editing his romantic activities with Ginny. He then apologized to Dumbledore saying that he totally forgot about it because of the celebrations this morning.
"Harry", Dumbledore began, "yesterday night was Voldemort's first attack on you. You should have told us something."
Just then Snape entered the room. He gave Harry a very funny look. The he turned towards Dumbledore.
"Sir, the news is true. He was injured last night. But it is just a bruised back and with his new abilities he will be fit as the devil by tonight itself."
Dumbledore's face gravened a little more, then all of a sudden the twinkle in his eyes returned.
"Well this is good news and bad news. But we must look at the positive aspect of it."
"What good news", yelled Ron, "Harry here gets attacked by you-know-who and you want us to look at positive aspect."
"Ronald Weasley, mind you tongue." Reprimanded Arthur as he entered the room.
"But sir I do believe explanations are in order." He said.
"Yes Arthur. I agree with you. Tell Remus to inform everyone to assemble here in exactly one hour. Everyone must know of this I am sure they will enjoy it too."
Inside one hour the hall was filled with Order members. None of them had much clue about the agenda of this impromptu meeting.
"Ladies and gentlemen," began Dumbledore, "I some very important things to announce. Firstly we have some good news. Last night Lord Voldemort managed to breach our defenses and attacked Harry Potter right here in Grimmauld Place."
There was an uproar. They all thought this to be a joke.
"What do you mean good news?" came the voice of Arabella Figg.
"Silence", roared Dumbledore, "Let me please finish. As you can see young Mr. Potter is as fine and healthy as he ever was. How Voldemort managed to attack Harry is still a mystery but whatever his intentions were, brave Harry managed not only to defend himself but managed to injure Voldemort substantially."
The room was filled with gasps and aahs. All eyes were on Harry now.
"That was the good news. Now for the bad ones. It seems that a force unknown to us has allied to the Dark Lord. It has increased his strengths manifold and thus in spite of meeting with this mild reverses his strength is much more than before. I advice you all to be extremely careful in your assignments from now on. That will be all for tonight. If you have any questions it will have to wait I have a very important guest waiting for me."
With that Dumbledore apparated straight to the shrieking shack.
"Welcome Professor. I hope your meeting went well." Said Enemar.
"Yes Mr. Itra. Now tell me why did you ask me to meet you here today."
"To discuss a few things sir but first would you like a drink Sir? Some firewhiskey?"
"No thanks. I have to return for Harry's birthday party. Would you believe that the boy has never had one?"
"Yes our favorite student. I told him last night that I would be teaching him Occulomency as we had agreed earlier."
"Well the reason I called you earlier also concerns Harry. But first I have some other news for you. Rather I have old news to report. Voldemort has acquired a great deal of power from some where, he also seems to be in constant presence of an unearthly object which can communicate with him only. You cannot see it but you can definitely feel it. I know your potions master told you the same thing. But there is something else. This entity whatever it is, is strangely familiar to me. I know it from somewhere but I cannot put my finger on it. It is also trying constantly to stop Harry and me to pry into Voldemort's activities. I have a feeling that this entity enabled Voldemort to attack Harry last night in Harry's dream."
"But if Voldemort is as powerful as he is now, how come he and this thing you talk about were unable to harm Harry Potter but got hurt themselves?" asked Dumbledore.
"As I experienced yesterday night, Harry's powers are starting to mature. It is also being infused by the proper catalyst of emotions. If Harry realizes his true powers before the dark lord figures it out he will easily beat Voldemort even at the height of its powers. About the other entity, well I will not comment on what I don't know. I though have a theory but it is too much of a guesswork to discuss at this moment."
"There is something else you wanted to discuss." Asked Dumbledore.
"Well actually I wanted to show you something." He snapped his fingers and a large mirror appeared at the center of the room. It looked like the mirror of Erised but it was different.
"This professor is the mirror of the magi. It was a gift left for me by Chanakya. How I say it was left for me is from the scrolls of Indus. I am not permitted to explain to you its powers. But if you look in it you will see something that might be of considerable interest to you and your young apprentice as well."
Dumbledore gazed into the mirror. At first the mirror turned milky white then an image started to form. His eyes grew wide in shock. Could this be possible? This was against everything he had learnt and taught.
"Mr. Enemar. How?"
"That I don't know professor, but you do realize what I am about to do?"
"You are going to go after him? There?"
"Yes. Can you think of a better present for my young ally?"
"But this is impossible. How do you even know these things? And how can you be sure you can do this? No one has ever tried such a thing."
"I can and I will do it. Probably more than one life is at stake. But you must not tell Harry about this. Promise me."
"Ok. How long will it take? Assuming you are successful."
"It might take a week, a month or even many years. I don't know that. As you said no one has done this before."
"Mr. Itra you are taking a phenomenal amount of risk for an someone not even close to you. Many men of older age.."
"Professor Dumbledore, I am 22 years old. But I have been gifted with knowledge of more than hundred years of knowledge. Do not question my abilities. Believe in your allies."
"I do believe in my allies. But I also care for their welfare. Anyway I know I can not stop you so I must wish you good luck."
"Thank you professor. I will need all the luck I get. Tell Harry 'I' will come to teach him Occulomency from next Friday. Good day sir."
With that Enemar disappeared.
"One thing is for sure." Dumbledore thought. "Mr. Reet was not exaggerating."
End Of Chapter 8.
TBC .................................
This Chapter is dedicated to my new beta reader Black Angel who has made this story readable. I am immensely indebted to her. Also I would like to point out that chapters 1-7 has been re-edited and reposted. I hope it is error free now. Anyone still confused about any part of it please let me know.
Also I would like to thank
Froboy John Cruize Rasmir87[ BTW there is still a bit to go before Harry actually gets to Hogwarts.] RavenGryffendor Prongs Cariel Seriossirius Harrypottergurl
Thank you. Next Chapter will take some time. I am going home for Christmas Vacation and my Birthday[ yay]. I will try to put it up by 26th.