Chapter 27: The Bond Is Complete
The great hall was uncommonly quiet the next morning. The students who hadn't fought would ask questions here and there about what their friends had done the night before. Each student coming up with their own unique answer, but as Harry ate his breakfast he could tell that the students now understood just how serious this battle might be. It was in their eye's now, as if they'd grown up over night. This type of look was mostly in the older students but Harry could see some of the first, second and third years look away from their groups and think and he knew what they were thinking about. The trio finished their food and headed for class. Even Hermione and Ron had that look about them which Harry thought strange since they had been through so much already, but then again this battle would be nothing like what they've faced. Everyone took their seats and opened their books. A moment or two later the door opened and all of the books closed themselves at the same time.
"You will not be needing your books today," said Dumbledore as he walked to the front of the room. "If you all could move up to the back of the class room while I move the desks."
Everyone did as instructed but instead of using his wand Dumbledore waved his hand and the desks began to move on their own. They neatly stacedk themselves on the sides of the room. Whispers began to spread across the class.
"Is he going to teach us wand-less magic?" gasped Hermione.
"Your assumption Ms. Granger is correct," smiled Dumbledore.
"How did he hear that," whispered Ron.
"I hear a great many things Mr. Weasley. Now if you'd all come forward we'll begin," said Dumbledore. The students slowly moved to the front were the Headmaster stood. "To quote our dear professor Hagrid, 'Did you ever make anything happen, anything you couldn't explain when you were angry or scared?'"
Memories of that night came flooding back to Harry; Hagrid explaining that he was a wizard, learning that his parents didn't die in a car accident, and that he would be attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry closed his eyes for a moment and remembered walking down Diagon Alley for the first time. Everything seemed so new and interesting but little did Harry know back then the burden he'd be carrying six years later.
"I believe you experienced something this past break, did you not Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore said as he eyed Harry. It wasn't until Hermione squeaked and grabbed his hand that he understood what Professor Dumbledore was talking about.
"I called for my wand," Harry said softly.
"But you called it by using the same charm a wizard would use if they had their wand. Today I will teacher you to call for you wand with out words or movement, for I feel this will help all of you greatly in the battle." Everyone began to whisper until Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Please place your wands over by me, then form a line five feat away."
"This is going to be amazing," Hermione whispered with glee as they walked back and formed a line.
"The first thing you have to understand about wand-less magic is that you need to want the object you're calling. Emotion plays a very important role in this form of magic," Dumbledore said as he paced back and forth. "It almost has to be instinctive – CRUCIO!"
With out warning Harry felt an immense pain, but within seconds it was gone. Harry found himself on his hands and knees looking at the floor trying to catch his breath. The group was in amazement and as Harry looked around, he noticed Hermione was holding her wand and Dumbledore wasn't. "What happened," he asked as Draco and Ron helped him up. No one spoke but all eyes kept darting between Hermione and Dumbledore.
"It would seem," Dumbledore said quietly. "That Ms.Granger has mastered the art of wand-less magic fairly quick. I'm sorry for any pain I might have caused you Harry."
"Ron what happened?" asked Harry trying to figure out what happened.
"I-uh-I dunno it happened so fast," Ron said still in shock. "Dumbledore used the Crucio spell on you and then Hermione had her wand all of a sudden and cried out the Expelliarmus charm."
"Ms.Granger would you describe what you felt when you saw Harry in pain?" asked Dumbledore.
"I don't know. I guess I needed to stop it some how and the only way to do that was with my wand," Hermione said with her wand still in a death like grip.
"So the only thought you had was that you needed your wand," Dumbledore said with a mischievous smile. Hermione slowly nodded. "Let's see if Harry can master the same thing –" And just as Harry could see Dumbledore forming the words he reached out his hand and his wand came snapping to it.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" cried Harry. For the second time that day the class was stunned with what they saw. The headmaster began to laugh as his wand came floating back into his hand.
"Very good Harry. Anticipation! This is the most important thing. If you begin to anticipate what the person you're fighting will do then you can counter before they strike. Harry could tell in my mannerisms that I was about to perform the Crucio spell on Ms.Granger and acted," pride that oozed from Dumbledore as he spoke.
"But professor how can we study people we don't know?" asked Draco.
"Ah a good point Mr. Malfoy, we might not understand every person in the battle but we know they're Death Eaters and that they have certain patterns that they follow. That will be a lesson Julia will teach next time the DA meets." As if on cue Julia came bursting out of the office and ran down the small flight of stairs towards Dumbledore and the group.
"I got it!" she shouted. "But I need to know what the weather will be like tonight."
"Mostly cloudy," piped up Hermione.
"What are you a weather man as well?" joked Ron.
"Some of us like to know the weather so we can pick out a correct outfit," she shot back.
"What are you guys working on?" asked a confused Julia.
"Wand-less magic," said Harry.
"Can you do it?" asked Ron. Julia smiled at him and walked over and placed her wand in his hand.
"Hold on to is as tight as you can," she winked as she walked away. She then turned towards the groups. "Everyone ready?" The group shook their heads with excitement. She stretched out her arm and a second later the wand was in her hand.
"Weasel she told you to hold it," smirked Draco.
"I did," Ron exclaimed.
"You want to try Draco," Julia asked as she walked towards the group again.
"Sure," he smiled with confidence as she placed the wand in his hand.
"Ready?"
"Ready," Draco said as he gripped the wand with two hands but a moment later it flew out of his grip and into Julia's out stretched hand.
"You could be the strongest man in the world but I'd still get that wand," laughed Julia.
"And why is that Julia?" asked the Headmaster.
"Because my need for the wand is greater then your need to hold it," explained Julia.
"Now I want everyone to place their wands five feet in front of them and work on having it come to you. I don't want to hear any sound while you do this. I'll be back to check on you momentarily," said Dumbledore as he and Julia walked towards her office. The students all did what they were told, no one was going to mess around when it came to the Headmasters instructions. Surprisingly Neville was the next person to get his wand to come to him.
"How'd you do it?" whispered Ron who was standing next to him.
"I don't know. I just thought about attacking the person that hurt my parents," Neville trailed off. For a moment no one knew what to say until Hermione stepped forward.
"Don't worry Neville, you'll get her," A strange understanding past between Neville and Hermione. At first Harry didn't understand why but then realized that Hermione must still feel embarrassed that Bellatrix got the best of her. He made a mental note to watch Hermione very carefully during the battle.
The rest of the day was very strange for Harry. It seemed that anyone involved with the DA knew something Harry didn't. They would keep glaring at him and Hermione. Sometimes Ron would mention some of the looks he would receive walking down the hall but none of them could figure out why. As Harry got ready for bed that night he wondered why Julia had not told him anything about the spell and when they would perform it, but just as Harry started to close his eyes, Dobby appeared at the foot of his bed.
"Harry Potter sir," squeaked the house elf. Harry sat up with his wand in hand but put the object down once he saw it was only Dobby.
"Dobby? What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Dobby was told to come get Harry Potter and have him come down to the lake," smiled the house elf.
"Why?" asked Harry.
"Dobby only knows that he is to give Harry Potter these clothes and ask him to come down to the lake to meet Dumbledore," the house elf started to head for the door when Harry noticed the white T-shirt and red shorts that were on his chair.
"Dobby, am I allowed to wear anything else besides the T-shirt and short?" Harry asked as he eyed the items.
"Only wear what's on the chair Harry Potter," Dobby said as he left the room. Harry quickly changed into the outfit and walked out of his room.
"Well they have the Gryffindor logo on them," he heard Ron say as he walked into their common room.
"Harry what's going on?" asked Hermione, whose shorts were rolled up a little and revealed more of her legs.
"I don't know," Harry said as he checked out his girlfriend. "But I'll guess we'll find out once we head down to the lake. The trio briskly walked through the halls of the castle hoping no one would see them. Once they were outside they noticed a large bonfire and the DA standing in a horseshoe.
"Well this is going to be embarrassing," Ron laughed nervously. They continued to walk down to the lake and into the middle of the large group. Julia was also wearing the white T-shirt and shorts while Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape gathered around a table next to the fire. Dumbledore slowly turned and addressed them.
"I'm sorry for the lack of clothing but this ritual is normally done in the nude," smiled the Headmaster.
"This is fine," Ron laughed.
"This ritual was first done on King Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere, and Sir Lancelot hundreds of years ago. Merlin knew that if he created this bond between the four of them that Arthur's reign of peace would last for many years. Unfortunately the only way to break this spell was if one of the members betrayed Arthur. As some of you may know, Guinevere and Lancelot both betrayed Arthur with their affair. Merlin performed the ritual in front of Arthur's brave knights to show them how dedicated Arthur was in his mission," Dumbledore paused for a moment. "That is why I asked all of you hear tonight, to witness the commitment these four people have for the task before us."
Dumbledore walked over to the four standing in the middle and began to arrange them so Hermione, Julia and Ron were in a triangle and Harry stood in the middle. Harry had to his back to the fire and Dumbledore and was looking right at Hermione. Julia was to his right and Ron to his left. Dumbledore walked around and whispered things in everyone's ear.
"Harry," he said in a hushed voice. These three each have a line they must say. Once Hermione has said her line then you must say this. 'And I am the element that binds them all together.' Then you will drink from the cup that I present to you and once you finish it, all of you will say this, 'May these elements of love guide and protect us until we walk with the souls that came before.' Do you understand Harry?" asked a solemn Dumbledore.
"Yes Professor," Harry whispered.
"Then let the ritual begin," shouted Dumbledore. "I asked four of you to step forward and speak for the character of those before us." Harry was too scared to move his head, this spell was a lot more serious then he thought. He soon saw Ginny standing behind Hermione but Julia and Ron were standing right on the edge of Harry's vision so he could not see who stood behind them.
"Who speaks for Julia Potter's character?" whispers began to circle through the crowd.
"Did he just say Potter?"
"I wonder if she's related to Harry?"
"I didn't think Harry had any family," were several of the things Harry heard before Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"Remus Lupin, speaks for Julia Potter's character," Lupin said in a clear voice. Harry smiled and was glad that Lupin was some how involved in the ritual. He had become a father figure to him in some many ways this year. He hoped that once the battle was over he could spend some quality time with Lupin and Julia.
"Who speaks for Ronald Weasley's character?" asked the old wizard. The group became deathly quiet. Harry wished he could see but still did not want to move his head, but when he heard the next person's voice it took every ounce of discipline not to look.
"Draco Malfoy speaks for Ronald Weasley's character," said Draco. Harry could only imagine what Ron's face must have looked like when he heard Draco.
"Who speaks for Hermione Granger's character?"
"Ginevra Weasley speaks for Hermione Granger's character."
"And finally who speaks for Harry Potter's character?" as Dumbledore was saying the question Harry started to race through all his classmates until he heard the person's voice and new it was the right choice.
"Neville Longbottom speaks for Harry Potters character."
"Then step forwards and perform your duties," instructed Dumbledore. Neville appeared in front of Harry with a knife in his hand.
"Have you palms face up," said a nervous Neville.
"You're doing great Neville thank you," whispered Harry. Those little words of encouragement seemed to work and Neville calmed down.
"This will only hurt for a moment," Neville said right before cutting both the insides of Harry palms. Harry winced a little but kept his palms up. Then Neville stepped out of the circle along with the others. Dumbledore walked over to Julia with a cup and asked her to let some of her blood drip in.
"I am the element bond by blood," said Julia. Dumbledore walked over to Ron next and had him do the same as Julia.
"I am the element bond by choice," Ron said with surprising clarity. Dumbledore then moved over to Hermione.
"I am the element bond by destiny," Hermione said as she let her blood drip into the cup. The Headmaster then turned towards Harry and had him drip some of his blood into the cup. Electricity filled the air and Harry could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up.
"And I am the element that binds them all together," said Harry who was presented with the cup. Harry took a deep breath and began to drink it. It tasted mostly like a sweet fruit drink to his surprise. Once Harry was done he handed the cup back to Dumbledore who exited the triangle. Julia, Ron and Hermione all clasped hands to create a circle around Harry.
"May these elements of love guide and protect us until we walk with the souls that came before," they said in once voice. For a moment nothing happened until Harry notice Hermione's eyes were glowing. The white glow began to take over her whole body and soon the glow began to transfer over to him. Harry had never felt such strength and energy before. Soon all he could see was the blinding white light that surrounded his group. He looked up and notice the beam of light had shot up to the heavens. The clouds parted and for a moment Harry saw three figures looking down on him. It was his parents and Sirius.
"Don't worry Harry," said his mother.
"We'll protect you," his father added.
"When the time is right," smiled Sirius. A great sense of peace washed over Harry just before he passed out.