A/N: Well that took long enough. I'm so sorry everyone! I've been really busy, and I had to work on this in bits and pieces. I couldn't just sit down and do it in one shot like I usually do. Thanks for the reviews, but come on, if you read it review it, LETS HIT FIFTY! WE CAN DO IT! Criticism is really very helpful; so don't be afraid to completely bash this story. Go for it. Thank you for being vicious beta !
Harry reached the door of the Leaky Cauldron in a hurry. The grim atmosphere of Diagon Alley was giving him an uneasy feeling. He ran up the steps and opened the door for Ella.
She didn't walk through.
Harry squinted across the street, expecting to see her splashing through the gutter towards him, but she was nowhere in sight. He let the door slip from his fingers and it swung shut quietly. He crept down the stairs, his wand out, looking around him in every direction.
Nothing.
He started to panic. She'd been right beside him on the other side of the street! The leaky cauldron was hard to miss, she couldn't have gone far. He walked briskly down the sidewalk in the opposite direction they had come from. Maybe she had gone the wrong way or seen something interesting or-
Her wand lay abandoned on the sidewalk in front of him, rolling back and forth as if it had just been dropped. She wouldn't just leave her wand there on the ground, and Harry knew it. There must have been a struggle, but how had Harry missed it? She was just across the street!
Harry briefly considered going for Dumbledore, and then decided against it. Dumbledore would enlist the help of McGonagall, and she would draw a crowd. Hermione and Ron were better off at Hogwarts, he could use Hermione's brains, and Ron's support but he didn't want to endanger them. He'd nearly gotten them killed enough times this year. Hermione...
That was it! Hermione had taught him a spell at the end of the summer, that would take a person to the location of another by way of a their wand, sort of a homing device. Harry stooped and picked up the rosewood wand on the ground. He screwed up his eyes in concentration.
"Deporto Arbitri" Nothing happened. He cautiously opened his eyes, and took a step back, startled to find himself standing at the entrance to a cave. The very same cave Sirius had lived in during their fourth year. Harry's nostrils twitched, as he smelled something on the air. Flattening himself against a rock he sniffed the air cautiously. Smoke, and.... sausages? Harry crept forwards slowly, keeping his back to the damp wall. He gripped his wand tighter as he entered the mouth of the cave. Stepping over the familiar rocks and jagged spots he followed the cave wall towards a glowing light.
Harry heard the sound of food sizzling over a campfire, but there were no voices. Harry braced himself, they were just around the corner, and he could feel it. Various curses flying through his brain he selected one, the full body bind curse. Both his and Ella's wands in his hand he leapt from behind the corner, ready to fight.
Ella dropped her mug of tea in her lap.
Harry had just leapt from behind a rock, his eyes glinting like mad, looking ready to kill. He threw her wand at her. She was so taken aback she couldn't help herself. She screamed.
The large black dog in the corner woke from it's slumber, growling fiercely. Harry threw his arm back, a spell on his lips- then he saw the dog. He dropped his wand all together, and his hand began to open and close as if he were reaching for something to hold on too. Harry narrowed his eyes as if he couldn't believe what he was witnessing. He staggered a bit, and the black dog lumbered over to him. Ella blinked, and there was a shaggy, disheveled man supporting Harry.
"Sirius?!" Harry pushed away from his godfather. "YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!!!" Sirius opened his mouth to speak and Harry walked up to him suspiciously. He suddenly remembered that he was wandless, and fell to his knees, grappling for his wand on the cold stone floor.
"Harry, let me explain." Harry stood up with his wand in his hand and walked over to Sirius looking very distrustful indeed. "How do I know you're not a death eater under the polyjuice potion? How do I know you're not a shape shifter? " Ella's thoughts shifted suddenly to the text book she had been devouring earlier. She stood up and pointed her wand directly at Sirius.
"Declaro." A jet of blue light shot out of her wand and scanned his body. Sirius started as if he had just stuck a penny in an electrical outlet. Ella nodded, satisfied. "It's him Harry." Harry thought for a moment and Sirius waited patiently for his godson to react. Suddenly Harry reached up and poked him in the eye. Ella snorted. Sirius started back and yelled. "OWWWWWWW! WHAT THE $#$ BLOODY HELL WAS ($#&% THAT FOR?"
Harry stared at Sirius in disbelieving awe. Suddenly he threw his arms around him and engulfed him in a hug (Only Sirius can swear like that).This time it was Sirius's turn to stagger; he stumbled backwards, and caught himself before falling. But still Harry held on. It took him a good twenty minutes to recover from the shock of seeing his supposedly dead god- father. When they were all seated around the campfire munching on sausages and drinking tea from tin mugs Sirius began an explanation.
"I've been at the ministry, trapped in the department of mysteries for I don't know how long. Ella here has informed me that it's late July. I'd lost track of things." Harry looked confused.
"If you've been at the ministry this whole time, why didn't anybody tell us?" A dark look passed over Sirius's already gloomy face. Ella sipped her tea quietly, listening intently to the conversation.
"Harry, the ministry isn't what it used to be. It's corrupt." Harry scoffed.
"Tell me something I don't know." Harry was looking a bit worried now. Sirius shook his head.
"No Harry. I mean corrupt. They're collaborating with the dark lord." Harry's jaw dropped.
"B-b-but... Fudge- Well he,- I never expected..." Sirius stood up looking troubled.
"The dementors, Harry. His willingness to disregard the return of the dark lord. His control over the Daily Prophet. Trying to get YOU expelled form Hogwarts. Constantly attempting to remove Dumbledore. He's a weak man, Harry, weak and impressionable."
"Well, all that's because... because..." Harry trailed off as the pieces slowly came together in his head. "Why? What do they want?" Sirius nodded grimly in Ella's direction.
"They want her." Ella dropped her now empty teacup in her lap again.
"Me?" She squeaked. Sirius nodded. Ella thought for a moment before asking for a reason. "Because I'm Dumbledore's daughter, right?" Sirius sat down across the fire from her and took a deep breath, preparing himself to say something momentous.
"Rowena Ravenclaw was in charge of much of the enchantments that guard Hogwarts today. She was a brilliant witch, always looking to discover new spells, new potions, new ways to protect and enhance things." Sirius looked into the depths of the fire, as if looking for words to express what he was trying to say.
"One day, she came across something wonderful. A discovery that could have changed the world as she knew it. She created a spell that could rid the world of dark wizards, wipe every single one of them of their power." Sirius stared even more intently into the fire, and the flames began to leap and dance, casting eerie shadows across the cave walls, logs snapping and popping in the miniature inferno.
"Like a said before, she was a genius. Gryffindor had the bravery and the glory, Hufflepuff the dedication and kindness, and Slytherin the cunning and determination. But Ravenclaw had the brains, and the common sense. She saw the flaws in the spell, but unfortunately, it was Slytherin who discovered the largest one. The spell could be turned around to unleash the power of the evil wizards, magnifying it and causing it to double."
Harry and Ella were listening with such intensity that no one noticed the fire beginning to die. Sirius continued.
"Ravenclaw knew she couldn't let anyone get their hands on this spell. But first she modified it. She made it so that it would only destroy one dark wizard. The most powerful of them all."
"Voldemort," Harry whispered. Sirius nodded and began pacing.
"The modification of the spell nearly cost her life. She was on her deathbed when she revealed the secret of the spell to Godric Gryffindor. During Voldemort's time, two children would be born. One, the one Voldemort would mark as his equal."
Harry touched his scar distractedly.
"The other would be the key. This child would be the only one who can unlock the spell hidden here, in Hogwarts. The child would bear the mark of a true Ravenclaw descendant- Blue eyes. Also, she had to be a female. But Rowena Ravenclaw had a son. He produced only sons, and his sons produced only sons. This went on until now, Albus Dumbledore is a son of Ravenclaw as was his grand father, and all his ancestors. You are the first girl. You're the heir of Ravenclaw." Ella blinked at him. Sirius was staring at her quite sincerely. It all made sense, in a rather twisted way, Ella supposed. There was only one problem she could think of.
"But I have green eyes..." Sirius smiled a haunting smile, great suffering lurking at the corners of his mouth. He raised his wand and pointed it straight at Ella's forehead, and cried,
"Liveo Transformis!" Ella's eyes burned momentarily and she covered them with her hands, gasping in pain. Harry rushed over to her and put his arm around her shoulder.
"Sirius what did you do!?" Ella pulled her hands away from her face slowly. Sirius smiled triumphantly and motioned at Ella's eyes. Harry turned his head slowly and met Ella's eyes.
They had been transformed to a sparkling blue, not unlike Dumbeldore's. Sirius reached into his pocket and pulled out a mirror handing it to Ella. She saw the transformation for the first time herself. She gasped and the mirror slipped from her fingers onto the floor. It didn't break.
"Dumbledore changed your eye color the minute you were born. He made it to match your mother's so no one would ask questions. It was for your protection." Harry slipped his arm from Ella's shoulder.
"But how do you know all this?" Sirius smiled grimly again.
"All that time in the department of mysteries, Harry. You'd think I'd pick a few things up." The look in Sirius's eyes clearly showed that he didn't want to go further into the subject.
Harry suddenly leapt up and threw his arms around Sirius again. Ella was strongly reminded of a small child hugging a parent returned home from a long trip.
"I thought I'd lost you." Harry whispered. Sirius hugged Harry tight, ruffling his hair. Ella decided to give them a moment's peace, and went outside the cave quietly tip toeing so they wouldn't notice her leave. It was dark out, and the stars were shining. She glanced down at her watch and found that it was only nine thirty. They should be getting back up to the castle, the others might worry soon. Ella stood for a moment and stared up at the sky, absorbing the information she had just received.
'I'm a key. A KEY. I'm the only way we can get to this spell and use it against Voldemort. It's the only way he can be destroyed.' Thoughts of the danger that faced her began to push against the barrier she had built up in her mind. She pushed them away and thought about Harry instead. What an awesome friend he'd turned out to be. Ella smiled as she thought of Ron and Hermione. Harry missed them, She could tell. They hadn't been around much these past few days. They were going back to the burrow to visit the Weasleys the next morning. Harry would want to say good-bye, yet she hated to break up the reunion inside the cave.
Harry settled the matter. He came out of the cave a few minutes later, looking calm and composed. He held Ella's broomstick out to her, and then pulled it back. A flicker of a smile crossed his face.
"Want to fly back?" Harry whispered. Ella grinned and replied,
"Of course!" Harry and she pulled the brown paper from the broomstick and stood for a moment admiring the shiny mahogany handle. Harry let it roll out of the package and onto the ground.
"Stand next to it, and hold out your hand." Ella did, feeling slightly foolish. "Now say UP. With conviction!" Ella straightened her back and half shouted.
"UP!" The broomstick leapt into her hand. She closed her fingers around it, feeling the smooth wooden handle in her palm.
"Oh, wait a second," Harry fumbled for his wand, and pulled it out. He waved it in the direction of the castle. "Accio Firebolt!" Harry showed her how to grip her broom properly, while they were waiting. A minute or two later Harry's Firebolt shot into view, nearly knocking him over. He mounted his broom and stood next to Ella, demonstrating the proper way to place ones feet on the stirrup like apparatus.
"On the count of three, kick off and fly up a meter or so. We'll go from there." Ella nodded and gripped her broom handle tightly.
"One-"She bent her knees.
"Two-"She leaned forward the slightest bit.
"Three!" She kicked off. There was a great rush of air around her and her toes dangled about two meters above the ground. She slipped her feet onto the footholds, and waited for Harry's instructions. He guided his broomstick easily in front of her, nodding his head in approval.
"Yes, your posture is good, check your grip, there you've got it. Now close your eyes, and wait. What does your body tell you to do?" Ella closed her eyes, and listened for a moment. She leaned forward a little and her broom glided forwards a few inches. Opening her eyes she squealed in glee, and leaned forwards even more. This time she took off going a bit faster than before, and leaned to the side a little. Her Nimbus responded instantly by swerving to the side, Harry was watching with an amused expression about five meters above her. She lifted her broom handle a little bit and began the climb towards him. She turned to face him, but he already gone off towards the castle.
"How about a game of follow the leader!?" Ella shouted her response and chased after him. She could tell he was holding back for her sake, and she wanted to show him he didn't have to wait. She leaned forward over her handle and took off like a rocket. It was an amazing rush, like nothing she had ever felt before. Like a roller coaster, only she was in control. Ella doubled back and performed a series of figure eights.
Harry overtook her on her right, and she yelled in protest. He shot off ahead of her laughing, and she followed, willing her broomstick to go faster. Harry suddenly flew straight up into the air, and Ella followed, yanking the nose of her broom up. She was immediately grateful for the footholds; as gravity wasn't keen on letting her go. Soon though she had gotten the hang of it, and was keeping up with Harry quite well.
Harry was trying his best to stump her without hurting her. He performed a series of shallow dives, loop the loops, and sharp turns, and was about to attempt a sloth grip roll when he nearly collided with an owl.
"ARGH! WATCH IT!" The bird hooted indignantly and alighted on his broomstick. Harry reached forwards and untied the little package on its leg. He unwrapped it and Ella flew to his side just in time to hear him gasp.
"What is it?" He handed her the letter, holding a little vial in his hand. Ella uncrumpled the parchment and read:
Harry,
This might help your professor. Administer it directly; make sure she gets some hot chocolate with it. Don't tell anyone, and make sure she doesn't remember you giving her the antidote. Take care of your girl.
-Snuffles
Ella blushed slightly at the implications of "your girl" and then it hit her. Antidote... professor... Professor Fairburn! Ella turned to Harry waving the parchment in her hand.
"Do you realize? Do you!" Harry had already tucked the vial into his pocket. Ella shoved the letter in her robes, and looked at Harry. He nodded and bent over his Firebolt. Ella did the same and they took off like simultaneous firecrackers. Flying at a breakneck speed towards the castle they came gliding to a stop at the door. Harry rolled off his broom and pushed open the castle doors. He ran through gripping his broomstick in his hand and sped off in the direction of the hospital wing. Ella followed him breathlessly.
They ran past the Great Hall, which was emitting a strange light, and some sort of singing noise. There was no time to stop though. They were running as if their lives depended on it. It wasn't their lives they were worried about. It was Professor Fairburn's. A stitch was developing in Ella's side when Harry came to a stop in front of a still life of food. He reached out and tickled the pear.
"Harry, this isn't the-"The painting swung back, revealing a bustling room full of the strangest creatures Ella had possibly ever seen. They all stopped bustling for a moment, and the sound of dishes clattering and food simmering was hushed. Harry stood panting in the portrait hole.
"Hot chocolate..." (Gasp.) "Hospital wing"... "(Pant.) "NOW!" About a hundred pairs of large yellow eyes blinked back at him. Several long pointy ears wiggled slightly in confusion. "Oh.... Ruddy house elves..." Harry slammed the portrait shut and took off again. They arrived at the hospital wing a minute later, and stopped outside the door. Harry held a finger to his lips and motioned for Ella to tip toe after him. They snuck in quietly. The light in Madame Pomfrey's office was off, signaling that she wasn't there. They raced to the end of the long row of beds and threw back the curtains to reveal Marissa Fairburn's latent form.
She was pallid and looking a bit worse for the wear. He skin was a putrid shade of green. And her hair was damp, slicked to her forehead. Her arm was thrown over her head again, and her other arm lay across her chest, her fist clenched in pain. Oliver was sleeping in a chair next to her bed, his head drooped onto his chest, snoring slightly.
A steaming mug of hot chocolate rested on the bedside table.
Harry seized it and pulled the little vial from his robes. Ella reached her arm behind Professor Fairburn's back and lifted her up. Her mouth fell open slightly, and Harry tipped the vial in, emptying it's contents between her lips. Her eyes flew open and spluttered slightly. Harry gently put the cup of hot chocolate in her hands.
"Drink it." To weak to protest she obligingly lifted the cup to her mouth. Her hands were shaking violently, and Ella reached out to assist her. Professor Fairburn shook her head and Ella retracted her hand. The sickly woman downed the mug of chocolate in a few large swigs and collapsed against her pillow. Ella grabbed the mug before it hit the ground and set it on the bedside table. Harry was sitting on the edge of the bed looking down at his professor. She was sound asleep, but this time she was sleeping rather contentedly the color returning to her cheeks. They left the hospital wing quietly, basking in their triumphs of the day.
"Do you hear that?" Harry stopped and turned to Ella.
"Hear what? Not massive snakes in the pipes again, Hermione told me about that!" "No, shhh! Listen." Sure enough there was a garbled noise floating down the hallway. It was a happy and it sounded as if several people were singing the same song to several different tunes. They began to jog towards the noise and as they got closer the words became clearer.
"...old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,"
Ella shot Harry a look, as they got closer to the door of the Great Hall. The strange light was still emanating from between the cracks and the music was muffled, seeping underneath the door.
"For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,"
Ella threw open the doors. Her father, Ron, Hermione, an extremely short professor, and an extremely huge hairy boulder were seated around a campfire in the middle of the great hall floor. The house tables were pushed back against the wall to make room, and several cushy purple sleeping bags were rolled up on the ground. They were all singing heartily, Dumbledore conducting them with his wand. Ron seemed to be singing to the tune of Yankee Doodle, Hermione to a Bach concerto, the little professor to the three grenadiers, and the giant boulder of hair was hollering the words to no particular tune at all. Dumbledore stood up to conduct the last few lines of the song, wiping his eyes with a handkerchief.
"So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest
And learn until our brains all rot."
The word rot was drawn out by all and the song was ended with a fit of hearty laughter and giggles from Hermione and the little professor. Ella and Harry stepped into the Great Hall and applauded loudly. Harry whistled at full volume and Ella shouted "Bravo, bravo!" The odd little group turned and shouted their welcomes.
"Ah, Harry and Ella, come and join us. I expect you had a nice evening?" Dumbledore stared at them knowingly over his half moon spectacles. Ella felt herself turn a little red around the edges. Ron nudged Hermione knowingly.
"We're having a camp-in Harry! Marshmallow roasting, and sleeping under the stars!" Hermione motioned to the ceiling, which was twinkling and quite beautiful. "I brought your pajamas down Ella, and Ron's got yours Harry. Take a seat, we were about to get out the marshmallows." Hermione motioned her wand at the ground next to her. A bag of marshmallows appeared.
"Materialization! Brilliant Ms. Granger, that's a seventh year spell! Five points to griffin- oh deary me!" The little professor had jumped to his feet excitedly. Hermione was looking rather pleased with herself. "I'd forgotten! It's not yet the school year." The little man turned to face Ella and the firelight lit up his face. He was quite a comical figure. About four feet tall at the most, with a wrinkled face and a little white beard. His robes were dotted with little symbols that Ella assumed had something to do with the subject he taught.
"Most pleased to meet you! I came to Hogwarts shortly after you left for the Americas! Professor Flitwick, teacher of charms, head of Ravenclaw house. I understand you'll be gracing our seventh year dormitory?" Ella nodded and held out her hand. He took it an pumped it up and down enthusiastically. "Now back to the festivities, pass me a marshmallow will you Hagrid?"
To her surprise the giant boulder of hair moved. It unfolded itself and Ella realized that it was a man. An extremely large and intimidating one.
"Right, marshmallow, how many'll that be professor?" The giant reached out with one trash can lid sized hand and grabbed the bag of marshmallows. The bag disappeared momentarily, and reappeared as he dropped into Professor Flitwick's lap. "Allrigh' there Ella? Rubeus Hagrid. Keep of the keys and grounds. Care of Magical Creatures Professor." Ella decided to smile and wave at this introduction. She was afraid of what would happen to her hand if she held it out to him. Harry sensed her apprehension and leaned over to her as they seated themselves around the fire.
"He's only half giant, and he's really great. You'll love him in about five minutes." Ella smiled at Hagrid who gave her a red-cheeked toothy smile back. Harry squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"In honor of my daughters return," Dumbledore had stood up again. "I propose that we sing the school song one more time!" He was answered with various groans, but they seemed to float right over his head. "How about a round! Ron, Hermione, Professor Flitwick, Hagrid, Harry, and then you Ella. I'll count off. One two ready go!"
"Hogwarts Hogwarts hoggy warty Hogwarts, teach us something please..." Ron began in his slightly off key, alto, and Hermione joined in with her airy soprano. Soon they were all signing delightedly. That's when it her. Ella didn't care that she was about to risk her life for the sake of a world that she barely knew. She realized with a smile, that she'd do anything to save it.
Killer-purple-froggy: FYE, fifteen dollars for hours and hours of obsessive entertainment. BEST MOVIE EVER.
Magical Muggle: I updated I updated I updated! You are the entertaining one.
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Eyes of Emerald: CHECK OUT ALL HER STORIES CAUSE THEY ROCK.
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