Chapter 23 - Signs

The day before Harry left to return to Hogwarts, Cassius went to visit Malfoy Manor.  He came home after lunch looking concerned.  An hour or so later, Harry hurried up the stairs to the library.  He was going to tell Remus and Cassius that he, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were going ice skating on Spring Pond. The other three had already gone outside. As he got to the top of the stairs, he heard Cassius' voice from the library, it sounded worried.

"Something's up…Narcissa was strange."

"What do you think that means?" Remus' voice floated out into the hallway.

"I don't know…I think it's significant…She was trying to tell me something about Draco and Lucius…"

"Dumbledore will be watching out for Harry.  Don't worry."

"I suppose." Cassius didn't sound convinced.

"If you had to choose…who would you choose?" Remus asked.

"What do you mean?" Cassius sounded confused.

"Would you choose Harry?" Remus said.

"Over who?" Cassius sounded baffled.

"Over Draco? Over Lucius?"

"Yes." The voice was firm.

"And you'd choose Harry over me?"

"Remus…" Cassius whispered, Harry took a silent step closer to the door.

"I want you to choose Harry over me. Cass, you need to, you have to. If anything happens, Harry needs to live. He alone can defeat Voldemort. He has to survive." Harry could hear steps crossing the room, Remus had moved closer to Cassius.

"I can't…" Cassius' voice broke.

"Swear to me." Remus' voice was laced with steel. There was no response. "Cassius, swear to me that you will protect Harry, that you'll protect him before me. No matter what happens."

"Remus, don't make me." Cassius' voice sounded thick.

"Cassius Lupin, swear to me." There was a long silence. "Harry has to live. Swear it."

"I….I swear." Cassius whispered.

"I love you." Remus' clear voice carried into the hallway.  Harry waited a moment or two longer then started walking noisily down the hall. He knocked on the door.

"Hey." He poked his head inside the library.  Remus was sitting on Cassius' lap, Cassius' blonde head was buried in Remus' shoulder. "I just wanted to tell you we're going skating."

"All right. Have fun." Remus gave Harry a loving smile which he returned gladly. He decided to just pretend he hadn't heard anything. Harry ducked back out of the room and ran down the stairs.  He knew his Dad and Papa loved him, but he was suddenly overwhelmed by the fact that Papa had asked Dad to swear to protect Harry above anyone else, including his mate, and that his Dad had sworn to do it. He hoped the choice would never have to be made. Harry walked slowly down the stairs. Suddenly he didn't feel like going ice skating. He wandered into the kitchen where Tabby was baking.

"What's wrong, my dear?" Tabby looked up from where she was kneading bread dough.

"Do you think I'll be able to kill Voldemort?" Harry asked as he sat down at the kitchen table, the words jumped out of his mouth before he thought about them.

"Yes, I do." Tabby replied calmly as she put the dough in a bowl and covered it with a cloth. She dusted off her hands on her apron and sat down across from Harry. "Don't you?"

"I don't know…every time I've faced him…I seem to get away just…through luck. Not skill." Harry shrugged, feeling uncertain and scared at the prospect of facing Voldemort again. There had been no word of his plans for months, Harry was getting tired of the waiting.

"Don't sell yourself short, Harry. You are a powerful wizard. And you kept your wits about you every time you faced him. That allowed you to escape and to triumph." Tabby reached across the table and took Harry's hand in her smaller one.

"But…now he's reborn…he's more powerful now." Harry shook his head.

"As are you." Tabby said firmly, squeezing his hand.

"But…"

"Harry, you have one thing that Voldemort doesn't. A power Voldemort can never hope to have."

"What's that?"

"Love. Don't look so skeptical, Harry. Love is powerful. Love will always defeat evil. Love saved you when Voldemort tried to kill you as a baby. Love has continued to protect you. Love is your armor, your power, your weapon."

"But…how can I use it?"

"Close your eyes." Tabby commanded gently. Harry did. He heard Tabby say a spell, but he'd never heard it before. "Now open them."

Harry opened his eyes and looked at Tabby. All over her skin and hair were small white sparking lights. Like someone had thrown glitter over her. He looked down at his hands, the same white sparkles were on them. He looked over at his reflection in the mirror that hung on the wall. His face and hair were covered, he looked like he'd been dipped in silvery glitter.

"What are they?" Harry asked in amazement.

"Love. Small bits of love. They form from hugs and kisses and tender words. I can help you to see them, but I can't help you to feel them or to believe in them." Tabby smiled at him.

"I…" Harry couldn't speak.

"This is your power, your protection. You are safeguarded by our love. Your mother gave you the first layer, when she died trying to save you. But you didn't really feel that. Since the day you arrived at Windy Corner, we've tried to give you love that you will feel. You can draw strength from it, to make you become more powerful."

"So, all those hugs…"

"Were given because we love you so much and we wanted you to know our love, and feel it deep in your soul and in your skin. So that you can use our love and our strength to help you to defeat Voldemort. Because you will defeat him."

Harry looked at Tabby, feeling tears welling in his eyes.

"You do deserve it, Harry. You deserve all our love." Tabby smiled warmly at him. "And now, I have something for you." She got up and went over into the pantry. After a moment she returned holding a long thin box. She set it down in front of Harry. He lifted the lid. Inside was a 10" maple wand. "This was my wand when I was an auror. I used it in many duels…it served me well. When I retired, I put it away… And now…I want you to have it."

"But…I have a wand." Harry felt confused.

"Not one that will work against Voldemort. Once he's dead, you can use your wand again. Until then, use this one."

Harry lifted the wand out of the box and felt a whoosh in the air around him. Tabby nodded approvingly.

"I love you, Tabby."

"And I love you, Harry." Tabby stood and hugged Harry tightly. "Now, join your friends and have fun."

"Yes, ma'am!" Harry smiled and ran outside.