A/N: As you've probably noticed, I'm leaving Sirius' background as it was described in Order of the Phoenix. I still have to introduce it in my story, though, and I have been doing it in the last chapter and here as well. It is not meant to be thinly-veiled plagiarism. The only thing that's really different at all is my take on Sirius' father, who was not very well defined in Phoenix. I have read the book twice but I don't remember the details as well as I did not enjoy it as much as the others. I go back and reference it when I need to get my facts straight. That scene in the last chapter with Tonks falling over in the hallway and waking up Mrs. Black... believe it or not, I didn't remember that it happened in the book until I went back and saw it there. All I knew was that someone woke her up. Well, as I said, I decided to leave it. Tonks is just so fun, and it was a good way to introduce her clumsiness (this was established earlier in Phoenix). Last comment... strong family theme in this chapter, hence the name.
Jemma Blackwell: Thank you so, so much! I'm really glad you thought the description was good. Ominous was exactly what I was going for, and you seem to think I hit the nail on the head.
athenakitty: Will Sirius live? Well, this time I'm not telling.
PhoenixTearsp322: First, thanks for pointing out the error (it is fixed). It's just the sort of thing that spell check and multiple readings will not catch. Hee, I'm glad someone else liked the word "Muggley". I thought it was a great word. And finally, it's good to have you back!
Infinite Thinking: Thanks! I think JKR did a great job with Sirius' family history – so intriguing. I didn't want to change it.
Pepperjack: Yay! I got another review from you! No, I don't get tired of people telling me they're enjoying the story, but you don't have to review all the time. You haven't been so I'm used to that, but I go into withdrawal when the every-chapter regulars go astray. I know that there are lots of people out there who NEVER review, and I wish they would just once. It's great to know how many people are reading your work. Heh... the last chapter of Guardians sure pulled some reviewers out of the woodwork. Maybe I should make evil cliffhangers more often.
Rob: Ah, enjoy your summer vacation! I don't get them anymore. I hope my explanation above helps with the sameness issue.
capncrunchnotthecereal: Yeah, they were probably familiar because they were so much like Book 5!
Chapter 4: Family Ties
Harry awoke late the next morning, well after his usual rising hour. He washed, dressed, and went downstairs for breakfast where he found Lupin sitting at the table, drinking tea and perusing the Daily Prophet. "Good morning," Lupin said pleasantly, looking up from the paper as Harry sat down.
"Morning," Harry replied, reaching for a piece of toast. "Where are Sirius and Bellaton? They're not still asleep, are they?"
"Seeing as you slept in so late yourself, I wonder where you find the nerve to criticize," said Lupin with a smile. "But then, I suppose yesterday was a rather long day for you. Ardoc is walking around the grounds. I doubt Sirius is asleep; he's probably still shaking off the effects of last night's meeting."
"What?" said Harry.
"He's always a bit morose after spending much time in his old house, especially when his mother wakes up," Lupin explained. "I expect he won't have slept much last night."
"Isn't there anywhere else you could have the meetings?" said Harry. "Someplace… you know, less painful?"
"As unpleasant as Grimmauld Place is, it's the best location we have," said Lupin. "It's Unplottable, protected by a Secret-Keeper, and fading from memory on top of that."
"But Sirius is related to Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy!" said Harry. "They're still around. Why would they have forgotten about it?"
Lupin raised his eyebrows. "So the five of you did some looking around last night," he said. "I suppose you found the tapestry."
"You were the ones who kicked us out of the meeting," said Harry. "We had nothing else to do."
Lupin waved one hand dismissively. "No, there's nothing wrong with looking around. There's some nasty stuff hidden away in the house is all; you wouldn't want to touch anything if you didn't already know what it was for. Anyway, we're not too worried about Sirius' cousins. He is among the last surviving members of the house of Black and has long been out of favor with his relatives. Between the time Sirius' parents died and the Order began using it, no one had set foot inside Grimmauld Place."
"Except for Kreacher," said Sirius, walking into the breakfast room. He sniffed the air. "Coffee - thank goodness. Tell me it's strong, Moony."
"Horribly so," said Lupin.
"Then it will do," said Sirius, taking a seat and pouring himself a cup. He did look haggard; it seemed that Lupin had been right about his not sleeping. He took a sip of the hot beverage and leaned back in his chair. "Almost toxic. Perfect."
Lupin laughed softly. "I never understood how you could drink that awful stuff."
"It's a happy little morning jolt," said Sirius with a dry chuckle of his own.
"Who's Kreacher?" Harry said impatiently. Lupin at least seemed in the mood to explain things, and Harry had a lot of questions that a good night's sleep had not answered. He was not about to let the conversation devolve into the banal.
"The family house-elf," said Sirius over the rim of his cup. "He was – and is – completely devoted to Mother. She's been dead for years now, but that hasn't slowed him down. All that time alone in the house with just her portrait for company seems to have made him quite insane. He spends most of his time skulking around, muttering about the leeches who are tainting the house, and conversing with Mother's portrait."
"We heard something in the dining room last night," said Harry. "It was muttering."
The corner of Sirius' mouth curved up. "What did it say?"
"Something about infidels and mistress's things."
"Sounds like Kreacher," said Sirius.
"He scared us half to death," said Harry.
"If he weren't tied to the house and to me, I'd be scared of him, too," Sirius admitted. "He's seen too much of the Order's activities to be released, and believe me, he's none too happy about having to do what I say. I may be a stain on the family's 'good name' but I still have Black blood, and that means he is bound to serve me." He smiled mirthlessly. "It also means that I now own that cesspool of a house and all the foul things it contains."
Harry glanced uncertainly at Lupin who was watching Sirius with a cautious eye. Sirius was obviously volatile when it came to this subject, and if Lupin was unsure of how to proceed, then Harry was going to tread very lightly.
Sirius barked a short laugh. "Black blood. You have no idea how true that really is."
"I saw the tapestry," Harry said quietly. "I know who your cousins are."
Sirius eyed Harry apprehensively. "I see. And what do you think about that?"
Harry was taken aback by the look on his godfather's face. Sirius seemed to be afraid that Harry would hold his bloodline against him. "I don't care who your parents were, or your cousins, or your great-grandparents or anybody else," said Harry. "I just care about you." It was the unvarnished truth.
There was a tiny smile on Lupin's lips. His eyes held a mixture of approval, gratitude and simple pride as they gazed at Harry. Sirius just stared at his godson for a moment before his mouth began to twitch in and out of a grin. He looked into his coffee cup as he spoke. "That's… very good of you to say," he said huskily. "It's just the opposite of what my family thought."
"So… will you tell me about them? Your family?" Harry asked tentatively.
"What do you want to know?" said Sirius.
"Everything," Harry said fervently. "Who they were, what they thought, why your name is burned off the tapestry, why you didn't turn out like the rest of them, what happened to your brother –"
"Hold on," said Sirius. "How do you know about Regulus? And since my name is missing from the tapestry, how did you know it was ever there?"
Harry explained about what Bellatrix had said at the execution and how Hermione had worked backwards from there. "I see," said Sirius. "Well, come on, then – let's go."
"Go?" said Harry.
"To Grimmauld Place," said Sirius. "There are a lot of people on that tapestry. It will help you see who I'm talking about."
"Are sure?" said Harry. "Remus said –"
"It's not quite so bad in the daytime," said Sirius. "Don't worry, I'll sleep tonight. I'll be too exhausted not to, and besides, we won't be staying for more than a few minutes. Are you tagging along, Moony?"
"No," said Lupin. "Dumbledore will be here soon. He's bringing Celeste," he explained when Harry gave him an inquisitive look.
"Oh," said Harry.
"I think Ron and Hermione may be coming by as well," Lupin added, and Harry brightened. "Go on – we'll get into it when you get back."
Harry and Sirius Flooed to Grimmauld Place. Unlike the night before, the house was quiet and empty. Of Kreacher there was no sign.
"We probably won't see him," said Sirius when Harry asked about the house-elf. "He won't speak to me unless it's absolutely necessary."
They made their way to the room where the tapestry hung. "I don't know what most of the artifacts in the house do," said Sirius as they walked. "I never got on well with my parents and spent as little time as possible here. I ran away from home at fourteen, you know."
"You did?" said Harry in astonishment.
Sirius nodded gravely. "I lived with your father and his parents during the following summers. I had nowhere else to go; Mother burned my name off the tapestry when I left, so I was officially out of the family. Not that I'd have come back for any amount of money," he finished bitterly. "If only she'd remembered to change her will so I wouldn't have been stuck with this place!"
"But it gives the Order a place to meet," said Harry.
"If it wasn't available they'd have found something else," said Sirius. "Believe me, I'd be happier without my inheritance. Ah, here we are." They stopped in front of the giant tapestry. "See, here's where I used to be." He pointed to the burn mark near the bottom, right next to Regulus. "And that's my fool of a brother. He died around the time I was sent to prison. It's generally thought that Voldemort killed him; he was a Death Eater, but it doesn't sound like he was a very good one."
"Were your parents Death Eaters?" Harry asked in a hushed voice.
"Mother was not. That much I know," said Sirius. "She didn't think it was becoming of a lady to be an assassin – not that she was a lady in any other respect."
Harry gave his godfather an uneasy glance. The amount of venom in Sirius' words was incredible. Harry couldn't imagine what it was like to feel such loathing for one's own parents.
Sirius tapped a finger against his cheek. "Father, now… he might have been a Death Eater. To the best of my knowledge he was not when I left home, but I didn't keep in touch after that. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that he was; he and Mother both thought Voldemort knew what he was about. They hated Muggles and half-bloods, you know, always going on about the 'purity of blood'. That they thought they were so much better than everyone else was just one of the many things I couldn't stand about them." He smiled dryly. "It's funny; the wizards who take the most pride in their bloodline are also the least worth knowing. The Weasleys are an old family, too. I'll bet you didn't know that."
"No," said Harry, who was beginning to wonder exactly how many times he could be surprised in twenty-four hours.
"Well they are, but they don't go harping on the subject. It's a wizard's character that makes him important, not his heritage. See this burn next to my father? That's where my Uncle Alphard used to be; also not a typical Black, because he had character as well. He gave me the money to get my own flat when I graduated from Hogwarts. And this is where Andromeda should be – she was my favorite cousin. She still is, I suppose, but I haven't seen her in some time." He pointed to another blemish between Narcissa and Bellatrix. "She's their sister, but she married a Muggle named Ted Tonks. Not a respectable match in the family's eyes."
"Ted Tonks?" said Harry.
"Nymphadora is my first cousin once removed," said Sirius. "Oh, and I'm related to Arthur Weasley, too. Second cousin once removed, I think."
"Oh," said Harry, feeling slightly dazed.
Sirius went on to point out several other names on the family tree, listing their misdeeds as he went. There was a woman who had started beheading her house-elves, a headmaster of Hogwarts that no one had liked, a Minister of Magic who had lobbied for the extermination of all half-bloods ("He was promptly assassinated," said Sirius), and a woman who had been high in the ranks of Grindelwald's followers. "I think Dumbledore may have defeated her himself, but you'd have to ask him," said Sirius. "So as you can see, I have quite the family. As you've probably guessed we have a long history with Slytherin House. My parents were furious when I was put into Gryffindor; there was some discussion of finding another family for me to live with. Uncle Alphard was the first Black to be put into Gryffindor in almost three hundred years, and they'd been hoping the 'disease' had stopped with him."
Harry's heart went out to his godfather. He'd never dreamt that they had so much in common, namely, families who didn't want them. He reached over and pressed Sirius' hand with his own. "We can go now if you want. I think I understand now."
Sirius smiled back. Harry thought his eyes looked a bit misty. "You blessed child," he said. "It's kind of funny when you think about it – if I hadn't been such a black sheep I'd never have known your father… or you. It was a wretched childhood, but I think I'm better off now. Yes, let's go." They started back toward the fireplace.
"Why don't you just get rid of all this stuff?" said Harry, looking at a dusty light fixture as they passed. "I mean, if you threw all this junk away you might not mind coming here so much."
"Cleaning the house up is one of Molly's new projects, I believe," Sirius replied. "She's been busy lately as we all have, so all we've done so far is try to get Mother's portrait off the wall. It's such a nuisance."
"'Twasn't Mistress that was the nuisance, it was her good for nothing son, he was dropped on his head at six months, yes he was..."
Harry jumped. Standing in front of them was the most ancient house-elf he had ever seen. Its skin was wrinkled and sagging, white hairs were growing out of its huge ears, and it was hunchbacked. The elf glared up at them with gray eyes that were a bit cloudy. He was wearing a filthy tea towel about his waist. Harry did not need to be told that this was Kreacher.
"...never was much of a Black anyway, Mistress threw him out of the family, he's got no right to be skulking about the house getting rid of all Mistress's nice things..."
"It's not her house anymore, it's my cursed house, and I'll toss out whatever rubbish I please," Sirius said sharply.
"And he brings that Potter brat with him, the one that destroyed the Dark Lord," said Kreacher, his eyes burning. Harry watched the house-elf with a nervous eye. "How he dares defile the threshold, such gall –"
"You watch what you say about my godson," Sirius growled.
Kreacher shifted his glare back to Sirius. "Kreacher will never let the family abomination trash Mistress's things. Kreacher will guard them with his life."
"If I have to kill you to get rid of them, I won't cry," said Sirius. "Make yourself useful and do some dusting. And put on a clean towel for heaven's sake!" He turned to Harry, ignoring the elf who was beginning to mutter again. "Let's go. Ah, and this was supposed to be a fast, simple trip..."
"Wow," said Harry as soon as they were out of earshot. "That was Kreacher?"
"Nasty little wretch, isn't he?" said Sirius. "Like I said, completely devoted to Mother and more than half gone. I've given him some clean things to wear but he won't touch anything I offer."
"Can't you do anything to get rid of him?" said Harry. "He's a Dark sympathizer! You don't want him hanging around the Order!"
"That's the irony of it," said Sirius. "We're safe as long as he stays in the house. I told you he can't leave; if I let him loose he'd go running straight to Narcissa, and killing him would be murder, as much as I'd like to do it. When I first came back to the house I had assumed he'd been dead for quite a while. Unfortunately he wasn't, and seeing as I was a convict on the lam, I couldn't chuck Kreacher out when he could go telling. So here we are, stuck with each other, and neither of us likes it much at all. My hope is that he'll kick the bucket within the year. He is horribly old, after all."
They had reached the fireplace. "Go on," said Sirius, proffering the pot of Floo powder. "I'll be right behind." Harry went, feeling all too happy to leave the creepy old house and its lone occupant behind. Even fifteen minutes is too long to spend there, he thought.
Harry noticed two things at the moment he stepped out of the fireplace at Alverbrooke: first, that Professor Thornby was looming large in his mind which meant that she was there somewhere, and second, that there was a small group waiting for him. The sight of Ron and Hermione was most welcome after the gloom of Grimmauld Place. They were waiting with Lupin and Dumbledore, and all of them were smiling in his direction. "Hi!" he said happily, hurrying over to meet them.
"Morning, Harry," said Ron, beaming cheerfully back at him with Hermione.
"Hullo, there seems to be a party going on here," said Sirius, stepping out of the fireplace.
Ron and Hermione were grinning so enthusiastically that Harry knew something was up. Lupin and Dumbledore were smiling in a much quieter fashion, but Harry knew them both well enough to know that they were just as excited as his school friends. "What are you all so happy about?" he laughed.
"Well, for starters, my house has been added to the Floo network," said Hermione.
"And we've both been given permission to come and go from here whenever we like," Ron added.
Harry looked back and forth between the two of them. Clearly that was not the whole story; they were both smiling too excitedly. Hermione was practically bouncing up and down on her toes. "And?" Harry prompted eagerly.
"I know what's going on," Sirius said smugly. "And if I may say so, you've all got rotten poker faces."
"Who needs a poker face on a day like this?" Lupin laughed.
Dumbledore stretched out one hand toward Harry. Clutched in his gnarled fist was a stack of papers. Harry's mouth fell open. "Is that…"
"Your emancipation," the headmaster said kindly. "Take it."
Harry gingerly took the sheaf while his friends grinned like maniacs. "It's mostly legalese," said Lupin. "It's the last page you'll be interested in."
Harry turned over the last sheet of paper. I, Vernon Albert Dursley, do hereby relinquish all legal and financial obligations pursuant to the guardianship of Harry James Potter… It went on in that way for several lines, and at the end was his uncle's bold signature. There was a similar paragraph below. I, Remus Esmond Lupin, do hereby assume all legal and financial obligations pursuant to the guardianship of Harry James Potter… Harry read the rest of Lupin's section more carefully than he had his uncle's. It ended with the phrase which I shall fulfill until the advent of my death, followed by Lupin's neat, even signature. At the very bottom were the signatures of several magistrates and a large, black-and-gold seal.
"My uncle signed them," Harry said softly, feeling a smile grow on his face. He could have more easily stopped the earth from turning than stop that smile.
"It is done," Dumbledore affirmed.
Hermione clasped her hands together and beamed at Harry, looking for all the world like a ray of pure sunshine. "Oh, congratulations, Harry," she said, her voice thick with emotion. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
Harry heard Sirius give a loud sniff behind them. "Any second now I'm going to start blubbering like a baby…"
As soon as Hermione let go of Harry Ron took her place, unabashedly giving his friend a fierce bear hug. "Congratulations, mate," he said heartily.
Harry started laughing; he couldn't help himself. He found himself being hugged by his godfather, shaking Dumbledore's hand, and being embraced by Lupin, who gave him one of those sincere, gentle smiles that Harry was coming to love.
Happy congratulations and hugs went round the group several times before Harry, Ron and Hermione began to settle down. Harry was touched by his friends' joy; a casual observer might have thought that something wonderful had happened to them as well as Harry.
"I have more good news," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling behind his spectacles. "Last night Fawkes did the most extraordinary thing: he obligingly dropped a feather upon my desk."
"Did he!" said Sirius.
"Galivan Ollivander has most graciously agreed to begin work on Harry's new wand straight away," said Dumbledore. "He understands as I do that with things as they are, Harry Potter is the last wizard on earth who should be without a weapon."
This was good news. Harry felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his chest. It was the core of his wand that had been so important, the phoenix feather from Dumbledore's faithful bird that had made his wand brother to Voldemort's. Harry had been dreading going back to Ollivander's for a new wand, one that would have been inferior to the first – at least for him. His wand had chosen him; now he knew that there would be a perfect match waiting.
"Thank you," Harry said earnestly, and even he could hear the relief in his voice. "Will it be the same as my old wand? You know, wood, length, all that?"
"I do not know," said Dumbledore. "Galivan is truly gifted at what he does, but it is not customary for him to make a wand on special order for a particular wizard. As far as I know he has only ever done it for one other person."
"Who?" said Ron, speaking for everyone else in the room.
"Me," Dumbledore said simply. "And before you ask, Miss Granger, I will not be relating the tale of why at this time. There are more important matters to attend to at present."
"Professor Thornby," Hermione said, and everyone suddenly grew much more solemn.
"Indeed," said Dumbledore. "Can you verify her location, Harry?"
"She's already here," Harry replied, and the headmaster nodded in satisfaction. "Can I see her?" Harry asked. Ron and Hermione threw pleading looks in the headmaster's direction that clearly said "Me, too!"
"Certainly," said Dumbledore. "I could not hope to keep you separated, what with you both living in the same house. Of course, she doesn't know where she is. You should prepare yourselves," he cautioned them. "Her… detachment… will probably sadden you. She does not seem to know either Remus or myself."
Harry looked at Ron and Hermione, and they looked right back at him with looks of quiet determination on their faces. Harry knew they were thinking the same thing he was – that it was high time they got going on their research so they could right the situation. Harry looked back at the adults and nodded. "We're ready."
They climbed the stairs to the second floor and followed Dumbledore down the hall to an open doorway from which light was spilling. The adults stopped at the door and motioned for the students to step inside. Harry moved forward with his friends, suddenly feeling hesitant. As prepared as he thought he was, he still wasn't looking forward to seeing Professor Thornby in the same state as Neville's parents.
She was sitting in a high-backed armchair. With her hair hanging loose and her hands upon the chair's armrests, she looked – for a moment – very much like she had while sitting in the chained chair before the Wizengamot. She was gazing straight ahead with utterly expressionless eyes. Dumbledore had not left her completely alone; Bellaton was standing at one of the windows, staring out at the summer's day. The light streaming in washed out his features, but as soon as he heard the group enter he turned to look at them. His jaw had the same rock-hard set that Harry had seen so often on him of late. His eyes were hardly softer.
The visitors stood quietly, watching. Harry glanced at each of his companions in turn. Ron and Hermione watched their old professor with pity and regret. Dumbledore and Sirius were somber and Lupin, to Harry's surprise, seemed resigned.
Suddenly Professor Thornby blinked and her eyes narrowed slightly. She turned her head and stared straight at the newcomers – more specifically, at Harry. He heard a collective gasp behind him and turned to look at the adults. Their mouths were all slightly agape.
"That is the first sign of recognition she has given anyone since she was cursed," said Dumbledore.
Professor Thornby raised one hand to her left temple, continuing to stare quizzically at Harry. The gesture told Harry that she was sensing him in her own head and she didn't understand what was going on.
"Confusion," said Sirius with wonder in his voice.
"Indeed," said Dumbledore, sounding no less awestruck. "The first sign of any thought whatsoever… she is puzzling over the connection."
"But you said her mind was trapped," said Ron.
"I see that Harry has been filling you in," said Dumbledore. "Yes, Healer Bigelow believes that she is trapped and that she has almost no chance of recovery, but this is very encouraging. This is a sign of improvement, an indication that everything that was lost may yet be found and restored. I wonder if she will begin to interact with Harry in any other way."
Was that an invitation to try something right then? Harry wasn't sure. He looked over at Lupin who hadn't said anything yet. The werewolf was watching Professor Thornby with an almost fearful expression as if he hardly dared to hope that what Dumbledore said was true. When Lupin felt Harry looking at him he met Harry's gaze.
"Do you want me to… I don't know, try something?" said Harry.
Lupin shook his head dazedly. "Sure… if you want to," he murmured.
Harry thought about it for a moment and decided that the first thing to do was to simply get closer. He slowly began walking toward the armchair. Beyond he could see Bellaton watching Professor Thornby with eagle eyes.
Her reaction was not what Harry had hoped for. As he drew nearer she pressed herself farther back into the chair and her face took on a look of apprehension. Harry reached the chair and stood in front of it, looking down at his guardian. She stared right back, hardly blinking. Harry dropped into a squat so he wouldn't tower over her, reached forward, and took one of her hands in his own.
He could hear her breathing speed up. The longer he held onto her hand the faster her pulse went until it was racing to beat horses. The look in her eyes had gone from uncertainty to outright fear.
"She's afraid of me," said Harry, releasing Professor Thornby's hand. Disappointed, he turned away to rejoin the group.
The adults, however, were anything but disappointed. "Fear," said Sirius.
"She understands that it is Harry she feels in her head, but she does not understand why and it frightens her," said Dumbledore. "Very encouraging."
"But she's afraid of me!" Harry reiterated passionately.
"Give her time," Bellaton rumbled. Harry jerked his head in the Singer's direction; it was the first time he had spoken since the night before. Bellaton's eyes were burning as he looked at Harry. "Eventually she should get used to the sensation and learn to trust you. Remember that it gets stronger the closer you get."
Harry looked back at Professor Thornby who was still looking at him. Her face was calmer now, but it was still unsettling to have her stare at him so relentlessly. Harry made no answer to Bellaton's suggestion. He understood why some emotion from Professor Thornby was a good thing, but why did it have to be fear? He couldn't help her if she panicked every time he came near her, and though the adults didn't seem concerned, Harry was unwilling to terrorize her for two months.
Dumbledore pulled his pocketwatch from his robes, glanced at the face, and sighed. "Oh, dear. I fear I must be going again. All this running hither and thither is wearing me out."
"When will you come again?" said Lupin.
"Soon, I hope," said the headmaster. "Minerva and I have much to do today; it may be a few days before I return."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged significant glances and made as if to leave. Now more than ever they wanted to get caught up on the project and make some plans, and listening to the adults say farewell was a waste of good time. Dumbledore, however, forestalled them.
"A moment if you please, Harry," he said, and the students froze in their tracks. "I would like to speak to you."
Ron and Hermione raised questioning eyebrows but Dumbledore merely folded his hands and kept his gaze on Harry. Harry met his friends' eyes, shrugged, and followed the headmaster to the far corner of the room. Everyone else left save for Bellaton who went back to staring out the window.
"This is nothing you cannot tell Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger, but I wanted to ask you this privately should you wish to refuse," said Dumbledore quietly. "Let me encourage you to continue spending time with Celeste. You are the only person she recognizes, even if she doesn't know your name or what you are about."
"Only because she can feel me in her head," Harry said halfheartedly.
"Exactly!" said Dumbledore. "And that is a good thing, Harry. She may fear you now, but I believe Ardoc is right. Given a little time and patience that should change."
"I'm not going to scare her all summer," Harry said firmly, voicing what he had been thinking.
Dumbledore sighed and dropped his eyes, startling Harry. He hadn't really noticed before, but now that it had happened he realized that the headmaster always looked you in the eye when he spoke to you.
"I realize that I may be putting a great burden on your shoulders by telling you this," said Dumbledore, "but I feel that I should do it all the same. Judging by what I have seen, if anyone is going to reach Celeste it will be you. The two of you are bound together; I hope that she may be able to use that link to find her way back."
Dumbledore looked back up at Harry as he finished. The slight furrow of his wrinkled brow showed Harry something he had never seen before: Dumbledore was pleading with him. If anyone is going to reach Celeste it will be you... He needed Harry.
Harry felt pride well up inside him. This was what he had been desiring for a whole year – something to do. He dismissed the fact that he, Ron, and Hermione were planning to do it anyway. Dumbledore was giving him a task, and that made all the difference.
"Okay," he heard himself saying. "I'll do my best."
Dumbledore smiled. Harry felt a little guilty when he saw the gratitude in the old man's eyes. "Thank you," said Dumbledore. "Believe me when I say that this means the world to the Order and to me. And to Ardoc," he added, glancing over Harry's shoulder at the figure by the window.
"What's wrong with him?" said Harry. "I know it must be Professor Thornby, but..."
"He cannot help her. It is eating him up inside," said Dumbledore. "They have relied on each other for a long time and are as close as brother and sister now. Imagine how you would feel if one of your friends was struck down and you could do nothing to aid them."
Harry thought back to second year when Hermione had been petrified, remembering how helpless he had felt, and nodded.
"One last thing," said Dumbledore. "It is possible that you will be unable to find a way to help Celeste. Your effort is all I ask for. I have great faith in you, Harry."
Harry couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. "Thank you, sir."
Dumbledore smiled and gave him another piercing look. "Good day, Harry." And with a swish of his robes he was gone, leaving Harry alone with Bellaton, Professor Thornby, and a heart that threatened to burst from his chest with pride.