Chapter 31
The Chain of Life
Sirius glared daggers at Severus and Hermione. He didn't say anything, he simply lunged for Severus and tackled him to the ground.
Wands were not needed. This was not a duel, this was personal, raw.
Sirius looked to have the upper hand at first. Severus quickly gathered his wits and his fist connected solidly with Sirius' jaw. The crack was sickening.
Sirius was not about to give up. His own fist connected solidly with Severus right eye and caused Hermione to pull him off Sirius.
"Hermione–get–off!" Sirius panted.
"No! Sirius, leave it alone, stop!" Hermione cried, struggling to pull Sirius off Severus. They were putting up a terrific fight. It was quite a job trying to pull them apart and duck flying blows at the same time. This went on for a few minutes until an arm connected with Hermione's cheek accidentally. One of them had inadvertently hurt the woman they both loved.
Hermione yelped in pain. The blow had been terrific. It had been a blow meant for a rival. She was rooted in her place for a few seconds, trying to stave off the pain.
The blow had finally caused Sirius and Severus to stop. Amidst their bleeding faces was concern for Hermione.
"Are you okay?" Sirius slurred, his jaw looking horribly out of place.
"What were you thinking?" Hermione clutched her face.
"It wazznt me," Sirius slurred again.
"Nor me," Severus put in.
"What does it matter?" Hermione asked. "You both hit me. When you decided to fight each other." Then her eyes landed on the ground. In their anger, Severus and Sirius had rolled over Hermione's painting and broke the canvas clean in half.
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"You are both going to have to stay overnight so that I can patch you up properly," Madam Pomfrey told Sirius and Severus. She turned to Hermione and lifted the ice pack off her face. "Yours looks better. You will have a headache, but you'll be fine." She paused, and looked at the three of them. "What happened between you, anyway?" Hermione sighed. "Love." Then she left the hospital wing for the dormitory. —
Hermione rubbed the purple bruise on her face, then pulled out Taskbearers: Their Tragedy and Triumph. She read:
Taskbearers have been around since the beginning of time. They are selected for their bravery and courage, though no one knows who selects them. They are given a specific amount of time to complete a task and must complete it in the time given. No taskbearer has ever failed in his task.
She flipped ahead a few pages.
Taskbearers are given a Time Turner. The Time Turners used for taskbearers are unique. They are made to fit the time span given to the taskbearer. The amount of time that lapses in the Time Turner is the amount of time that passes in the taskbearer's own time.
So that is how a taskbearer's Time Turner is different from a regular Time Turner!
Hermione thought. When I go back to my own time, a year will have passed. Harry and Ron will have completed their seventh year. Without me.
Tasks vary. Over time a variety of tasks have been given. Some tasks involve saving a life, while others involve continuing a bloodline. Others include what is called the Chain of Life. The Chain of Life is the belief that by saving one life another's life is saved in the process.
Interesting, Hermione thought. So, technically, if I were to save Ginny's life and she were to save Harry's life, it's like I was saving Harry's life myself.
The tragedy of the taskbearers is most ominous. Each taskbearer, by fate or by coincidence, falls in love over the course of the time given to them. They must, after they have completed the task, go back to their own time, thus leaving their loves behind. This is why taskbearers are tragic.
Eager to read about other taskbearers, Hermione turned to chapter ten.
Lady Odessa Rodenberry was the daughter of an influential nobleman in 18th century England. She was sent back to 16th century times and given five years to complete her task. Lady Odessa recalls, "It was a fish out of water experience for me. There I was, the daughter of a rich nobleman, and I was sent into another time as a scullery maid. For five years I was made to work as a maid." Lady Odessa lived among the servants and found true love with a man named Hans. Over the course of five years she saw the injustice and cruelty given to the servants. They were whipped, beaten, and worked to the bone. When Odessa returned to her own time she protested endlessly for better treatment for the servants and won.
This was her triumph.
Her tragedy was leaving Hans. Lady Odessa has grown to accept over time that she had to leave to complete her task, though it has not made it any easier to bear.
"I ache for him every day," Lady Odessa says. "Yet I know it was my destiny to complete the task. I often wondered if he missed me. We had no way of ever communicating again."
Hermione shuddered. Was that how it would have to be? Would she ache for Sirius for the rest of her life? She read another story.
Archibald Lengies was an 18th century physician and the son of a wealthy family. He was sent into 1567 and given six months to complete his task. Archibald's task is an example of the Chain of Life theory. He witnessed the birth of his ancestor, Martin Lengies. Martin's birth was difficult, and Archibald's expertise helped save the baby. In saving Martin, Archibald saved his own life. If Martin had died Archibald and his family may never have been born.
Hermione turned the page to see a familiar face staring at her:
Albus Dumbledore was sent back into time to the Salem Witch Trials. He was given three months to complete his task. There he met Eustace, a woman who was sentenced to death for being a witch (She was not a witch and did not know of the Flame Freezing Charm used by real witches.). Albus saved her life and fell in love with her. When he returned to his own time he founded St. Eustace's Shelter for Battered Witches, in honor of his love. This was his triumph. "I miss Eustace every day," Albus says, "but I hope that my task will have helped other people in need." Albus is currently headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he hopes to meet another taskbearer to be able to guide.
Well! So that was Dumbledore's task. It was fascinating how one task could help so many other people, like Mrs. Snape.
Reading the stories Hermione was strengthened. These people had crossed oceans of time to complete amazing feats. They had shown true bravery. Hermione felt inadequate next to the people who had come generations before.
Yet she had been selected. Out of millions of people.
And she was not going to let the magical world down.