Eighteenth chapter's up. I know it's long between updates, I've been a bit
busy, more busy than usual. Please keep reviewing : - ) And well, I have a
few other writing projects right now... But I promise to try and give this
story an end, though it might take me a while to write the last chapters...
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry and Co, professor Gallagher and Melinda Atwood/Branwen are my own creations.
RETURNING TO HOGWARTS
Melinda looked up at Proteus who was looking very serene.
"You've been filling out the blanks, I see" she said.
"The boy needs to know" Morana said with her dark solid voice.
"He has a name, you know" Melinda said and looked at Morana. "Don't call him the boy, too many people are doing that already..."
"You look tired" Amarante said.
"Well, trying to find that damn book before he does isn't exactly easy" Melinda said and conjured up chairs for herself and Harry. They both sat now, Melinda was looking at Proteus. "How much have you told him?"
"Close to everything. He has the right to know, I'm surprised you didn't tell him yourself."
"Well, there hasn't exactly been that much time to chat, Proteus."
"Have you come any closer to finding it?" Gawain asked.
She looked at him.
"No, I don't think we are. But Voldemort it seems is getting frustrated. I think the book has tried to contact him. Lycurgis told me that he had found the book by the help of a dream. He suspected that the book had been reaching out to him. Giving him nightmares at first, as if it had been trying to explore him, understanding his fears and dreams..."
"Yes..." Proteus said while looking at her closely.
"I think the book has chosen to be found now. And I believe that when it does, it will show Voldemort its location... "
"He must not find it" Deoradhán said.
"He has a great advantage" Morana said with her deep voice as she looked at Melinda.
"I can not argue with that. But we will find a way, a way of finding the book and keeping it far away from Voldemort." Melinda said firmly. "Dumbledore is very wise and a brilliant wizard, he will find a way."
"We will leave now." Morana said. "Contact us if you hear anything more of importance."
Melinda nodded and then looked at Proteus, she now looked a bit sad but yet angry at the same time. The others had faded away and their mirrors were now swirling as they had when Harry had entered the room. Proteus was still there, looking at Melinda seriously.
"Harry, why don't you go downstairs, Molly has prepared a feast down there. I'll be down in just a moment."
Harry nodded and looked at them all one last time. He would probably never see them again. They were all looking at him, as he left. He was curious about what they were going to talk about. But he went down the stairs and sat down next to Ron.
"Hey, where were you?" Ron asked silently.
"I'll tell you later" Harry said and looked at both him and Hermione who was frowning.
He started to eat slowly. All that information, he had so much to tell, so much he understood, and so much he didn't. Though that discussion needed to be just between the three of them. They went upstairs to Harry and Ron's room, since Ginny was in hers and Hermione's, writing a letter to Dean Thomas. Harry told them about his meeting with the ancient ones, and all that they had told them. After he finished, they both stared at him.
"You talked to the ancient ones?" Hermione said eagerly. "How is that even possible? I've never heard of any such kind of magic..."
"You'd never heard of that orb she gave Harry either" Ron said as he looked at her and then looked at Harry again.
"Well, the ancient ones knew more about magic than wizards do today. I mean, they had an eternity to learn it all" Hermione said. "So it's no wonder really..." She looked at Harry. "There's just something I'm very curious about. You said Melinda had been like you... That she was destined to defeat this... Lycurgis?"
Harry nodded.
"So, as always this has happened before" Ron said. "I mean, the phrase history is repeating itself isn't exactly new anymore... But hey, then why can't she take on Voldemort? She's done it before..."
They both looked at Harry.
"I don't think she can" he said bitterly. " Believe me, I wish she could. Melinda knows things I don't, she probably even know more about magic than Dumbledore. But she said this was different, they all said that. They said that there are powers at work now that are stronger than anything they ever encountered... "
Hermione nodded and looked really sad.
"So then... It's really all up to you then, Harry" she said silently.
Harry looked at them both. And was ever so thankful he had friends like them. There was a silence, they were both still looking at Harry with fear in their eyes. Harry just couldn't take it, he wished he'd never told them.
"Let's just... Leave it" Harry said and started to pack his things. Hermione and Ron looked at each other, then she left the room, saying she was going to pack her things as well. Ron started packing too, and while they did that they talked about quidditch and such, never about the dark powers lurking out there in the world. Not mentioning the name of the dark lord. They talked about things boys in their age should.
Harry slept uneasily the last night in the house that does not know time. He heard voices whispering his name, and then he saw the faces of the ancient ones before him. There was one he did not recognize. A man with darkbrown eyes and long dark hair. His eyes were flaming, and he almost looked like a wolf. The man was saying something in a language Harry did not understand. Harry sat up, wide awake, and as he sat up he inhaled as if he was all out of air. As he closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, he heard Ron snoring loudly. He wasn't going to get any sleep now, so he might as well get up.
He went down to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water and sat down by the table, leaning his head against his hands as he tried to collect his thoughts. Who had that man been? And what had he been trying to tell him? Perhaps it was just a dream, maybe he was overreacting. He sighed loudly. It was just a dream of course. Dumbledore had told him, that this was probably just dreams. All he'd learned that day, all that information, he was confused, that was all.
And then he started to think of his godfather, Sirius. If he'd been here, things would be a bit easier. Though everything would have been so much easier if he hadn't been the one who was chosen to take on Voldemort. But now, things were the way they were, and he just had to accept it. Feeling sorry for oneself wouldn't help anyone. He had a task, and he would make it. Determined to get some sleep and not worry anymore Harry went upstairs, lay down on his bed and listened to Ron snore.
He was very tired the next morning. They sat on the train and Harry was dozing off a little as Hermione and Ron had a heated discussion about something, since Harry was too tired to even bother to try and stop them from arguing, he hadn't taken any notice to just what they were arguing about. Instead, he sat with his head leaning towards the window, staring out at the endless green fields.
Soon they would be back at Hogwarts, a few more months there and then he would be back in his prison at number four Privet Drive. Cooped up like a prisoner. But this was probably the last summer he had to return there. Next year, he would no longer be an underage wizards. Perhaps he could find a place of his own, he would very much like to live in London, on Diagon Alley. As he had during the summer before their third year at Hogwarts. If he was still alive, that's what he would do, he thought quietly to himself.
As they stopped at the station, Harry saw Hagrid waving at him, calling "'Ello 'arry!" Harry smiled and walked towards him.
"Hermione, Ron" Hagrid said and nodded at Harry's friends. "How are ye?"
"Fine" Harry said and Ron and Hermione said the same.
"Well, I best be going" Hagrid said and smiled at them before he started to lead the first years that had returned back to the school.
Harry saw Malfoy walk towards them, he smelled trouble.
"Where's that bodyguard of yours, Harry?" Malfoy asked with a smirk on his face. "You need a woman to protect you, ey, Potter?" Malfoy said and Crabbe and Goyle started to laugh and walked pass him, laughing cruelly.
"Don't bother" Hermione said as she saw the angry expression on Harry's face. "He's just trying to save face, after getting the whole Slytherin team suspended for the rest of the year."
And so, things went on as they had before the Christmas vacation. Snape was as cruel as always, he tortured his students, Harry in particular of course. Professor McGonagall was determined to kill them with homework, Harry and Ron stated as they sat down with a mountain of books. By that time, Hermione, who'd already finished all the homework for a week to come, was doing some knitting, making clothes for the house elves at Hogwarts. She was still determined to free them all. But she wasn't at it as she had last year.
Professor Gallagher gave them more really good lessons in defence against the dark arts, most of them now mastered spells that were very useful. The students that had been in the D.A. already knew how to produce a patronus, but every single person in Harry's class could now produce a full patronus. Harry was very determined now. Defence against the dark arts was the subject he cared the most about, the spells he'd learned from those lessons had saved his life in the past. And the ones he knew now could very well keep him alive when the day came when he would be forced to face Voldemort. The other students still hadn't figured out professor Gallagher's secret, and Harry hoped no one would. He really liked the new teacher, and hoped he would be here for their last year.
He had heard nothing from Melinda, and nothing happened for many weeks to come. Harry however had a strange feeling, that this was the calm before the storm. And he still had nightmares at night, hearing voices whispering his name. It echoed in his head at night, and one night a few weeks later, he could suddenly make out one of the voices. It was Sirius, it had to be. And he felt a small sense of happiness but when he woke up, realizing it had only been a dream, he felt that shred of happiness fade away.
End of chapter 18
Well, please tell me what you think. This story will soon come to an end...
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry and Co, professor Gallagher and Melinda Atwood/Branwen are my own creations.
RETURNING TO HOGWARTS
Melinda looked up at Proteus who was looking very serene.
"You've been filling out the blanks, I see" she said.
"The boy needs to know" Morana said with her dark solid voice.
"He has a name, you know" Melinda said and looked at Morana. "Don't call him the boy, too many people are doing that already..."
"You look tired" Amarante said.
"Well, trying to find that damn book before he does isn't exactly easy" Melinda said and conjured up chairs for herself and Harry. They both sat now, Melinda was looking at Proteus. "How much have you told him?"
"Close to everything. He has the right to know, I'm surprised you didn't tell him yourself."
"Well, there hasn't exactly been that much time to chat, Proteus."
"Have you come any closer to finding it?" Gawain asked.
She looked at him.
"No, I don't think we are. But Voldemort it seems is getting frustrated. I think the book has tried to contact him. Lycurgis told me that he had found the book by the help of a dream. He suspected that the book had been reaching out to him. Giving him nightmares at first, as if it had been trying to explore him, understanding his fears and dreams..."
"Yes..." Proteus said while looking at her closely.
"I think the book has chosen to be found now. And I believe that when it does, it will show Voldemort its location... "
"He must not find it" Deoradhán said.
"He has a great advantage" Morana said with her deep voice as she looked at Melinda.
"I can not argue with that. But we will find a way, a way of finding the book and keeping it far away from Voldemort." Melinda said firmly. "Dumbledore is very wise and a brilliant wizard, he will find a way."
"We will leave now." Morana said. "Contact us if you hear anything more of importance."
Melinda nodded and then looked at Proteus, she now looked a bit sad but yet angry at the same time. The others had faded away and their mirrors were now swirling as they had when Harry had entered the room. Proteus was still there, looking at Melinda seriously.
"Harry, why don't you go downstairs, Molly has prepared a feast down there. I'll be down in just a moment."
Harry nodded and looked at them all one last time. He would probably never see them again. They were all looking at him, as he left. He was curious about what they were going to talk about. But he went down the stairs and sat down next to Ron.
"Hey, where were you?" Ron asked silently.
"I'll tell you later" Harry said and looked at both him and Hermione who was frowning.
He started to eat slowly. All that information, he had so much to tell, so much he understood, and so much he didn't. Though that discussion needed to be just between the three of them. They went upstairs to Harry and Ron's room, since Ginny was in hers and Hermione's, writing a letter to Dean Thomas. Harry told them about his meeting with the ancient ones, and all that they had told them. After he finished, they both stared at him.
"You talked to the ancient ones?" Hermione said eagerly. "How is that even possible? I've never heard of any such kind of magic..."
"You'd never heard of that orb she gave Harry either" Ron said as he looked at her and then looked at Harry again.
"Well, the ancient ones knew more about magic than wizards do today. I mean, they had an eternity to learn it all" Hermione said. "So it's no wonder really..." She looked at Harry. "There's just something I'm very curious about. You said Melinda had been like you... That she was destined to defeat this... Lycurgis?"
Harry nodded.
"So, as always this has happened before" Ron said. "I mean, the phrase history is repeating itself isn't exactly new anymore... But hey, then why can't she take on Voldemort? She's done it before..."
They both looked at Harry.
"I don't think she can" he said bitterly. " Believe me, I wish she could. Melinda knows things I don't, she probably even know more about magic than Dumbledore. But she said this was different, they all said that. They said that there are powers at work now that are stronger than anything they ever encountered... "
Hermione nodded and looked really sad.
"So then... It's really all up to you then, Harry" she said silently.
Harry looked at them both. And was ever so thankful he had friends like them. There was a silence, they were both still looking at Harry with fear in their eyes. Harry just couldn't take it, he wished he'd never told them.
"Let's just... Leave it" Harry said and started to pack his things. Hermione and Ron looked at each other, then she left the room, saying she was going to pack her things as well. Ron started packing too, and while they did that they talked about quidditch and such, never about the dark powers lurking out there in the world. Not mentioning the name of the dark lord. They talked about things boys in their age should.
Harry slept uneasily the last night in the house that does not know time. He heard voices whispering his name, and then he saw the faces of the ancient ones before him. There was one he did not recognize. A man with darkbrown eyes and long dark hair. His eyes were flaming, and he almost looked like a wolf. The man was saying something in a language Harry did not understand. Harry sat up, wide awake, and as he sat up he inhaled as if he was all out of air. As he closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, he heard Ron snoring loudly. He wasn't going to get any sleep now, so he might as well get up.
He went down to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water and sat down by the table, leaning his head against his hands as he tried to collect his thoughts. Who had that man been? And what had he been trying to tell him? Perhaps it was just a dream, maybe he was overreacting. He sighed loudly. It was just a dream of course. Dumbledore had told him, that this was probably just dreams. All he'd learned that day, all that information, he was confused, that was all.
And then he started to think of his godfather, Sirius. If he'd been here, things would be a bit easier. Though everything would have been so much easier if he hadn't been the one who was chosen to take on Voldemort. But now, things were the way they were, and he just had to accept it. Feeling sorry for oneself wouldn't help anyone. He had a task, and he would make it. Determined to get some sleep and not worry anymore Harry went upstairs, lay down on his bed and listened to Ron snore.
He was very tired the next morning. They sat on the train and Harry was dozing off a little as Hermione and Ron had a heated discussion about something, since Harry was too tired to even bother to try and stop them from arguing, he hadn't taken any notice to just what they were arguing about. Instead, he sat with his head leaning towards the window, staring out at the endless green fields.
Soon they would be back at Hogwarts, a few more months there and then he would be back in his prison at number four Privet Drive. Cooped up like a prisoner. But this was probably the last summer he had to return there. Next year, he would no longer be an underage wizards. Perhaps he could find a place of his own, he would very much like to live in London, on Diagon Alley. As he had during the summer before their third year at Hogwarts. If he was still alive, that's what he would do, he thought quietly to himself.
As they stopped at the station, Harry saw Hagrid waving at him, calling "'Ello 'arry!" Harry smiled and walked towards him.
"Hermione, Ron" Hagrid said and nodded at Harry's friends. "How are ye?"
"Fine" Harry said and Ron and Hermione said the same.
"Well, I best be going" Hagrid said and smiled at them before he started to lead the first years that had returned back to the school.
Harry saw Malfoy walk towards them, he smelled trouble.
"Where's that bodyguard of yours, Harry?" Malfoy asked with a smirk on his face. "You need a woman to protect you, ey, Potter?" Malfoy said and Crabbe and Goyle started to laugh and walked pass him, laughing cruelly.
"Don't bother" Hermione said as she saw the angry expression on Harry's face. "He's just trying to save face, after getting the whole Slytherin team suspended for the rest of the year."
And so, things went on as they had before the Christmas vacation. Snape was as cruel as always, he tortured his students, Harry in particular of course. Professor McGonagall was determined to kill them with homework, Harry and Ron stated as they sat down with a mountain of books. By that time, Hermione, who'd already finished all the homework for a week to come, was doing some knitting, making clothes for the house elves at Hogwarts. She was still determined to free them all. But she wasn't at it as she had last year.
Professor Gallagher gave them more really good lessons in defence against the dark arts, most of them now mastered spells that were very useful. The students that had been in the D.A. already knew how to produce a patronus, but every single person in Harry's class could now produce a full patronus. Harry was very determined now. Defence against the dark arts was the subject he cared the most about, the spells he'd learned from those lessons had saved his life in the past. And the ones he knew now could very well keep him alive when the day came when he would be forced to face Voldemort. The other students still hadn't figured out professor Gallagher's secret, and Harry hoped no one would. He really liked the new teacher, and hoped he would be here for their last year.
He had heard nothing from Melinda, and nothing happened for many weeks to come. Harry however had a strange feeling, that this was the calm before the storm. And he still had nightmares at night, hearing voices whispering his name. It echoed in his head at night, and one night a few weeks later, he could suddenly make out one of the voices. It was Sirius, it had to be. And he felt a small sense of happiness but when he woke up, realizing it had only been a dream, he felt that shred of happiness fade away.
End of chapter 18
Well, please tell me what you think. This story will soon come to an end...