@~~~~A/N~~~~@
This is new stuff. Thanks to Larthis and my other readers for pointing out the missing bits. I'm very sorry! In the transfer from ne file to another to fanfiction… a section got lost but, it's back now! I hope this helps if you were confused!
@~~~~A/N~~~~@
"I'm so glad you've figured that out ladies," Dumbledore said from the doorway. "Since I was just about to ask you that question."
The four sisters started wiping their eyes and sniffing, trying to make themselves presentable. Rhia pulled Harry's handkerchief out of her pocket and used it to wipe her eyes. When she lowered it, there he stood, directly in front of her. "Harry!" she exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Well I'm here to talk to Professor Dumbledore. What's going on?" Harry asked, looking at Moira questioningly.
"I told you I had a meeting with my sisters. Remember?" Rhia said, trying to figure out how much he might have heard.
"Blessed hell…" Moira said softly. Her face had gone dead white and her eyes were fastened on Snuffles.
"Oh… uh… don't worry about him ma'am. He's very well behaved," Harry said, thinking she was afraid of him. He did resemble a Grim, and a large one at that.
"I… I think I have to sit down," Moira said. She sat in one of the chairs, but her gaze never moved from Snuffles. He tilted his head to the side and stared right back.
"Professor, what did you mean when you said you were about to ask us the same question?" Rose asked.
***END NEW STUFF***
Dumbledore smiled. "I was referring to the fact that Lianna sent the Heartstone to Barak years after Atlantis fell. Professor Jameson mentioned a reason…" He trailed off and looked at Cora encouragingly.
"Oh I was just saying that it was probably because our family was too emotional. What with there being five daughters, all of them witches, and the discouraging reaction of her husband to that fact." Cora said.
"You mean his rage at the fact that just one of the women in his family was more powerful than he could ever be? Or the fact that Lianna was busy with the Shards instead of him?" Rose asked rhetorically, her tone strangely bitter.
"So she sent the Heartstone to Barak, my ancestor?" Harry asked, looking at Rhia.
Snuffles woofed, gaining everyone's attention. He looked at Harry, and Harry looked back. Then both dog and boy looked at Dumbledore. The Headmasters eyes were twinkling merrily as he nodded. Moira stood up suddenly, staring even more intently at Snuffles. Then he wasn't Snuffles anymore, but Sirius. "Hello Moira," he said. She sat down again with a thud. The other sisters were staring at him with a mixture of awe and hope on their faces.
Harry looked at them curiously before he said, "Well, I'd like you all to meet my godfather, Sirius"
"Black," Moira finished. "I was fourteen years old when I saw you last Sirius. You came to our house to see Mother."
"You've grown up since then little Fate. Harry didn't tell me you were here," Sirius replied softly.
"That's because I have no idea who she is. I've never seen her before in my life. Sirius, we came to talk to the Headmaster, remember?" Harry said, confused.
"Harry this is our oldest sister, Moira," Cora said. Moira glanced at him and smiled, but returned her full attention to Sirius.
"The one Hermione heard, but didn't see the other morning," Rose said.
"Oh. Nice to meet you ma'am. Sirius…" Harry prompted.
"Voldemort knew James had the Heartstone. And if he knew that, then he knows that Harry has it now." Sirius said, finally looking away from Dumbledore.
"Of course he knows. How else can you explain all the attempts on Harry's life up to now?" Rhia asked, indignant.
"Most of us thought it was because Harry lived after Voldemort tried to kill him," Sirius snapped at her, then looked at Harry with something like pride on his face. "Several times. Hasn't managed it yet though."
"Nor will he if we have anything to say about it." Rose said as Rhia spluttered at Sirius. "Not now Rhia."
"Oh, so we're going to wait until later, while more of the Serpent's spies slip into our midst, like that snake you told me about. We're going to wait until the Serpent knows that we are all here and comes to get what he thinks is his? We're going to wait until our full force is needed before we even talk about it?" Rhia exclaimed.
"YES!" Moira shouted. Once she had their attention she continued in a softer tone. "We are going to wait until the Guardians are fully prepared for their tasks. This does not mean that we are going to be doing nothing. Now I want all three of you to go to bed now. You will have a very intense training session tomorrow, because we cannot afford to waste time. I can guarantee that you will be too tired to go for walks by the lake after Alaster is through with you." She looked at Cora for conformation. The blonde woman nodded and smiled just a little fiendishly.
"But Sirius," Harry started.
"Is staying with me Harry." Dumbledore said. "Now go to your dormitory. The curfew is near at hand, you will have just enough time to get through the door I think." He looked at the odd clock on the wall and smiled. "Yes, just enough if you leave right now. The three of you; Rose, Rhia, and Harry." When they didn't move he raised an eyebrow. His eyes were twinkling, but they knew there could be no more argument.
"Yes Headmaster," they murmured in unison. Sirius gave Harry's shoulder a squeeze as he passed. He shared a measuring look with Rhia, and caught some green sparks from Rose.
Once outside the office, the three of them walked quickly down the hallways toward the Gryffindor Tower. As soon as they were in the Common Room, Rose turned to Harry. "I have one question and then I'll go to bed." Harry waited. "How does your godfather know my sister?"
"I have no idea. I've only known him for about two years myself. So I don't have an answer for you Rose. I'm as curious as you are." Harry said.
Rose nodded and turned toward the tapestry that covered her own door. "Don't stay up too much longer. Remember what Moira said about our session tomorrow. Goodnight." And with that she was gone.
Harry looked at Rhia. "Shall we sit down?" Rhia asked him, pointing to the couch. Harry nodded.
"May I ask why you were crying when we came into the back room?" Harry asked.
"We're sisters. We squabble, then cry and make up all the time. We're a very emotional family." Rhia said. She wasn't lying. Everything she told him was perfectly true. It just didn't answer his question. But he let it slide and she was glad. They slipped into another of their comfortable silences even as Harry slipped his hand around hers.
***
It was the deepest part of the night when the horse and rider appeared next to his hiding place. "The Lady Lia sends you this message." The rider said, slightly out of breath. A roll of parchment and a small bundle are dropped into his waiting palm. "I'm to tell you only that now you will know what to do." And with that, the rider disappeared into the darkness with the thunder of hooves. There was an answering rumble from the blackness beside him and two slitted eyes appeared at the level of his waist.
"No Atalia. He was only the messenger," he told the black Agoradan softly. "Let's see what Lia has sent us." He looked at his palm and with an electric sizzle, light crackled from fingertip to fingertip. He used this to read the scroll. When he finished he unwrapped the small package, careful to save the soft hide that was the wrapping. Such a thing would be valuable. Inside was a small rock, very ordinary in appearance. Except that it seemed to be glowing softly. He stared at it for a long time. Atalia trilled in question. He glanced over at her. "She's finally given it to me," he whispered in awe. "That Seer daughter of hers advised her to do it, but it amounts to the same thing. She's finally given me her Heart." A bolt went from his thumb to the parchment and began to burn it. He dropped it on the ground and walked away, clutching the rock in his hand. The Agoradan following behind.
The parchment burned but the greeting, "Dearest Barak" remained visible, until all was lost in smoke and ashes.
Harry woke up disoriented, blinking. He sat up, shaking his head to clear it, only to find that he wasn't in a strange forest, or even in his bed, but was lying on the couch in the quite dark Gryffindor Common Room. The fire had faded to embers in the grate. Someone had draped a blanket over him while he slept. Rhia was nowhere to be found. Ka'lina was curled on the arm of the couch, right next to where his head had been. He heard a noise somewhere near his feet and glanced down to find Shadow seated there, looking at him, her eyes reflecting the faint light from the fire back at him. As he stared at her, his memory of the dream faded. "Well I guess Rhia didn't want to wake me. I didn't mean to fall asleep you know," he whispered to the cat. She just blinked at him. "I'm explaining myself to a cat," Harry told himself. "And now I'm talking to myself. I really need to get to sleep. In my bed." Shaking his head, he scooped up Ka'lina and looked at Shadow again. "Are you coming?" In answer, she jumped off the couch and started for the stairs.
There was only moonlight from the windows to light his way through the dorm room, but he knew it so well that that didn't matter. He placed a faintly whirring, limp Ka'lina on his pillow just as Shadow leaped onto his bed. The velvet drapes of the other four beds were closed against the moonlight. Dean was snoring faintly and Neville was mumbling something in his sleep. In a very short time, Harry was nestled under the covers with his kit beside his head and Shadow at his feet. A few moments after that, he was asleep.