Chapter 30. Breath of Life.

The flight back to the school took all the remaining energy that Harry, Hermione, Ron and Dominic had possessed. They had been awake and active for the good part of two full days and now the third was dawning on them. Ron and Hermione flew on visibly tired but still under their own power. They had, had times to rest while waiting in the dark forest for the return of their friends. It was a long night and some sleep was obtained by those in the clearing. Harry and Dominic on the other hand were at the edge of exhaustion. Ginny had taken to flying between them to keep them from falling off their brooms and for most of the flight Harry and Dominic leaned heavily on her. She kept reminding them that Hagrid's fire was not far off and that they needed to stay away just till they reached the fire. At times this was harder than it sounded.

The school was wide awake, the great hall was filled for breakfast as the remaining warriors reached the grand entrance to the castle. They had all passed Hagrid's hut and he waved them on to the school, seeing just how tired they all appeared. Professor McGonagall met them at the door as the walked sluggishly in and fell onto the floor of the castle.

"I just want to sleep," Dominic cried as he felt the cold stone of the floor on his face, "for days, or maybe weeks."

"Me too," Ron said as he sat down on the stairs at McGonagall's feet.

"Everyone is safe now," she said to them as she handed the invisibility cloak to Harry, "Dumbledore will recover in a few days and Amelia is under observation. No visitors are permitted to see her for a few days and you have all be excused from class today. You must remain in your dormitories, though, for the day."

"I don't think any of us have a problem with that," Ron said as he yawned.

"Yes, now that we know that everyone is safe and that the danger is behind us, I think it is best if we all get some sleep," Hermione added as she looked at Harry who seemed to already be asleep on the floor.

"You must all eat something before you sleep," McGonagall said as she looked at the fallen soldiers, "come now, lets get some nourishment into you."

"No sleep," Dominic whined.

"As much as I know that you are right professor," Hermione said as she looked sleepily up at McGonagall, "I would just like to see my bed. We have a very serious relationship, my bed and I, and I haven't seen it in days."

"One relationship I am not jealous of because I too have a long term relationship with my bed," Ron said with a tired laugh.

"Well at least the lot of you still have your humour," McGonagall laughed, "but really you need something to eat. We'll fetch it to go," she said and pulled Dominic into a standing position, "just grab it and run."

"No running," Harry said as he tried to get up.

McGonagall lead them through the great hall and picked up some food for them to take back to the dormitory. She carried a full plate of biscuits and jam and a large pitcher of juice and motioned for Ginny to take another plate of scrambled eggs and bacon. Winky, seemed to appear out of thin air and right beside Dominic. Dominic pointed sluggishly at some plates and utensils and the house elf grabbed them and followed close behind him. Students from all houses stared and chattered about what had happened. Nothing remained a secret in Hogwarts and it was already public knowledge that Dumbledore and a student had been greatly injured in a battle. Harry tried his hardest to turn away from all the different takes on the story. They hurt him to know that so many people were making up stories about what had happened and he wanted so badly to get away from all the students. Something deep down inside him willed him into standing on a table and yelling out at the top of his lungs about what had happened just to shut everyone up, but his body would not obey. He dragged his feet, his head hung low and his arms were limp beside him. Once food was obtained and the fight through the crowd was over Mcgonagall rushed the students back to the Gryffindor common room and it was there that they remained until early the next morning. Professor McGonagall sat with them a few minutes and watched as they each forced some food into their bodies. It had been a long time since they had eaten, it was apparent that they were feeling the effects of dehydration. McGonagall had left and returned again with more liquids for the students and soon they had devoured all that was placed in front of them.

With their energy, somewhat renewed with nourishment, they all parted and slowly mounted to stairs to their rooms. Sleep wear was already laid out for them and their bed were turned down. The rooms were warm, the curtains drawn, they would not be disturbed for a good long time. Sleep came quickly and was greatly welcomed, a sense of peace came over each of them. They were safe again.

Harry was unsure as to how long he remained in bed. When he woke, he found that his room was empty. None of the boy who had shared his room, not even Ron or Dominic, were left behind. Harry sat for a few moments on the edge of his bad. Books were stacked neatly on his bedside table along with a note from McGonagall. His homework for the past day had been collected and waited for his attention. It was clear to him an entire day had passed. The sun shown bright outside his window. Water dripped, quickly, off the icicles that hung from the roof. The snow was melting, animals ran freely around the grounds. Harry dressed quickly in his school uniform, which had been cleaned and pressed for him, and ran down to the common room where he found Ron and Hermione together on a sofa.

"Ah, you're awake," Ron laughed.

"We were debating coming to get you," Hermione smiled, "we do have to attend classes today."

"Yes and breakfast will be ending shortly, we should get down to the great hall," Ron added as he and Hermione stood.

"Good idea," Harry smiled, "I am feeling very hungry today."

"Me too, I could eat a dragon I think," Ron joked.

"I'd like to see you try," Hermione smirked and headed for the exit.

"Where is Dominic?" Harry asked as they reached the hall.

"He's been gone all morning," Ron said in a matter of fact tone, "he was gone when I woke up."

"I didn't see him leave, but I am assuming he has gone to check on his mum," Hermione said, "we'll probably see him in the great hall."

Harry found it a bit odd siting in his classes that day. The space that was left empty because of the absence of Amelia was the only thing that kept his attention. Belinda had returned to teaching. She refrained from the subject of the phoenix and skipped the unit all together. Her class was spent copying notes from the text book and her longingly staring out the windows. Snape was also very melancholy in his teaching. The potion was presented and the task was attempted by the students but there was no heckling or taunting from the professors stand point. He spent most of his time at the back of the class watching silently as Dominic conducted his portions. No words were exchanged by either of them and when Dominic had finished Snape moved away the materials and Dominic was released from class early.

Lunch rolled around for the students and among the chatter and the happiness in the great hall, neither Snape nor Dominic made an appearance. Ron, Hermione and Neville chatted together happily as they ate and compared notes. Harry, however felt like he was somewhere else. Someplace he didn't understand because it was dark, empty, silent. He gathered his things quickly and stood to leave.

"Will you be in the library for your study period," Hermione asked as she noticed him leaving.

"I don't know," was his reply as he dreamily drifted away from the great hall.

It seems as though Harry was in a trance. His legs carried him off into the school but he didn't know where they were taking him. It was as though he was two different beings one more in control than the other. His mind was dark and yet he could hear Amelia laughing. A happy laugh, one he had heard from her on joyful times. Her smiled was in his mind, her blue eyes and his mothers green eyes. Would his mind be plagued forever with her eyes as it was his mother? Would he be able to learn to block her memory in a safe place like that of his mothers or would it be his new distraction? Harry was worried with the prospect of losing the control he had just gained in his life. He sighed deeply as he realised where he had gone. He stood outside the doors to the hospital wing, where he knew that both Dumbledore and Amelia were being houses. He was frozen in his place. Part of him wanted to go in and see her and another part wanted him to run away, suddenly he heard a voice behind him.

"You can go in to her now," Snape said as he walked up beside him, "no one is stopping you."

Harry stared fearfully at this, a man who had forever been a beacon of hate in his life, "are you sure they don't just want Dominic and Belinda to see her?" he asked.

"She'd want to see you Mr. Potter," Snape said and opened the door.

Amelia lay in the middle of a row of bed that were against a wall of windows. The sun shown in and filled the room with brilliant golden light. She was still dressed in her white gown, the phoenix feathers still in her beautiful hair. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically with every breath. She looked to be sleeping, a very peaceful and happy sleep for a smile never left her face. There were even times when it seemed that she would wake, her eyes moved beneath the lids and fluttered.

Dominic sat silently at her side, his eyes were red and tear stained. His face was white and tired. He looked old and warn out, like an old man grieving. His breaths were staggered and at times seemed forced and irregular. He held his sisters hand in his right hand and tissues were clenched in an angry left.

"I can't believe she wont wake up," Dominic said as he turned and looked at Harry and Snape as they grew nearer.

"She looks very peaceful," Snape said trying to console him.

"You can't make me believe she's gone!" Dominic yelled, tears streaming down his face, "neither of you! She's right here!" he cried clasping her hand with both of his.

"You're right, she's right here," Harry said as he could feel the tears burning his eyes, "she'll always be right here and you'll always keep her in your mind," he said as he walked around and took her left hand.

"In my mind, ha," Dominic said sarcastically, "my mind is nothing anymore, a dark void of nothing, memories that are so real they sting. The sound of her voice so deep down that it tears at my heart every time I dare to think of them. I close my eyes and I see her. I hear her always, I see her eyes always and that's all I see. Nothing sinks in, things you once knew are black and the things that are her are vivid and the only thing I can see."

Harry remained silent for a long time as he listen to Dominic's words and to his sobbing. Amelia's hand was cold in his, her breathing was steady and still a smile was on her face. And with every word that Dominic spoke the more Harry realised that he too was feeling the same way. Tears began to roll down his cheeks as he could hear Amelia calling him. He could see her smile in his mind, her eyes.

"Its almost like she is taunting me," Dominic finally said, "she smiles more as I talk about her. Her voice becomes louder in my head with every passing moment."

"Maybe that's what she needs," Snape said as he placed a hand on Dominic's shoulder, "maybe your memory of her is the key to her life." he added and walked out of the room.

"He mocks me," Dominic growled as he wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

"Maybe he's not," Harry said finally speaking, "what if he is right?"

"How could he be right?" Dominic ask angrily.

"How is it possible that a spell that was once un breakable was broken by fire and ice?" Harry asked as he rubbed his eyes, "how is it possible for minds to be so connected to each other that they can open the minds of others? How can it be that Amelia's voice become's clearer and stronger in my head as you speak of her? How is it possible for my mother to tell me that I am connected so strongly with another human being that I am not blood with?"

Dominic sat silently as Harry clenched onto Amelia's hand and a pink appeared in her cheeks.

"Do you believe she is with us?" Dominic asked quietly.

"Do you?"

"I don't believe she's gone," Dominic said turning back to look at his sister again.

"Neither do I," Harry whispered and became very quiet again.

Sun reflected off the jewelled phoenix feathers in Amelia's hair. Beams of red and gold danced off them as Harry and Dominic sat by her side. The tears had disappeared from both of their eyes as they sat together silently watching the beauty of this woman.

"Do you remember the first time you broke into Amelia's mind," Dominic half laughed as he looked and smiled at Harry.

"Yeah," he smiled, "I thought she was going to kill me and kiss me all at the same time."

"Or the look on her face when you first did your animagus," Dominic smiled.

"Yeah, I have only ever seen that pride in my mothers eyes," Harry smiled.

Silence took over again. The happy memories had begun to fill their minds. They no longer needed to speak to each other, the words and actions were visible in both of their minds. The connection between them was back. In the darkness of their minds the colours were returning. The great joys and the ugly evils all rushed back in around them. Both Dominic and Harry shut their eyes as they watched and passed things between each other until the image of Amelia dressed in this white gown, the feathers in her hair, the sparkle in her eyes and the great bird perched on her shoulder. They watched in awe as this image of Amelia came closer and closer to them in their minds. Her eyes became brighter, her smiled bigger and happier, her stride nearly a run. Until she stopped right before them, close enough to touch them, "I knew you could do it," she said happily.

"What?" Dominic asked as he stared at his sister.

"I knew you would never loose me," She said, "I am so proud of both of you."

"But it is only here in our minds that we have you," Harry said sadly.

"It has always been in your minds that I have been," she said filled with excitement, "it was the spell that blurred the images, but Voldimort will never be as mentally strong as we are because he is corrupted by greed and hate. He cast a spell that underestimated the powers of friendship and love." she smiled and squeezed their hands.

Their eyes flew open as they felt her. Her grip was tight on both of them. The sun was bright, her eyes opened slowly again to the light.

"Amelia," Dominic couldn't help himself from speaking.

"I knew you could do it," she smiled and sat up in bed, the phoenix feathers falling to the floor, "both of you!" she said as tears rolled down her face as she pulled her brother and Harry into an embrace.