Harry Potter and the Amulet of NaRuin
By JaBootiekins
Chapter 7
Letters
"Well you have to name it." Joslurhen finally said after the sun had taken a firm hold on the horizon.
"It isn't even out of the egg yet. How am I supposed to name it?" Harry burst out, his eyebrows threatening to join his hairline.
"You have to name her before she will hatch." Joslurhen replied calmly.
"How do you know that?" Harry sat back in his chair and gave unbelieving looks at the pulsating egg, and his cousin.
"That is how Phoenixes hatch. Well the ones not hatched in the wild, no one is sure about them. I assumed that the Imperial Arch Phoenix would be the same." Harry was amazed by Joslurhen's knowledge.
"How do you know that?" Harry repeated the question. It had been bugging Harry how much Joslurhen knew when everyone else, including Hermione, didn't have a clue.
"I make it my business to know. I am Slytherin. I have contacts everywhere including Muggles. I even have sources at Hogwarts. There is very little that goes on, that I do not know about ahead of time. Besides I did a research paper on Phoenixes two years ago for Advanced Magical Creatures in History of Magic class."
"I didn't know that such a class existed at Hogwarts." Harry said utterly perplexed.
"It doesn't. I go to a summer program in Wales."
"Oh. So do you have any suggestions?" Harry pointed to the egg.
"Bellona, Harva, Kane, or Mali" Joslurhen replied as she looked critically at Harry and the egg.
"Those are all girl names!" Harry was looking at Joslurhen closely.
"The only fact known about Imperial Arch Phoenix's are that all Imperial Arch Phoenix's born in the presence of humans are female."
"Okay, your really starting to scare me with all that sort of stuff, you know!" Joslurhen shrugged her shoulders in reply. Harry looked closely at the egg and tried to imagine what name she would like. A wave of heat washed over Harry leaving him with a tingling sensation. "Bellona, she wants to be called Bellona." Harry looked perplexed. "Where did I get that from and what does it mean?"
"I suspect that she let you know and it means goddess of war. An appropriate name I suppose?" Joslurhen shrugged again this time stifling a yawn as well.
Fine hairline fractures started to emerge all over the egg. The fire widened the cracks. Soon a tiny golden beak could be seen peaking out. It was followed by blue-white-eyes. Then just as quickly as they appeared they retreated into the depths of the now rapidly deteriorating shell. A lonely and confused squeak came forth.
"It's okay, my little Bella, I won't hurt you." Harry cooed to the tiny firebird.
Once again a golden beak followed by blue-white-eyes. This time however the Imperial Arch Phoenix hopped gracefully out of the shell and looked around at her surroundings. Satisfied it gave a joyful note and peered at Joslurhen. She cocked her head sideways as she gazed at Joslurhen. The same waves of fire that consumed the egg danced over the phoenix's pure white body. They chased and played with each other. Flames of red, green, yellow and black emanated near the solid gold beak and traveled in intricate patterns over her form disappearing at her golden claws. Bellona was an impressive sight to say the least!
Bellona's golden talon clicked impatiently on the table. Her stare had not left Joslurhen. It was as if she was waiting for Joslurhen to explain herself.
Joslurhen took the hint. She gracefully stood and curtsied deeply, her eyes never left the tiny bird. "I am Joslurhen Lily Rain Porter. I am a descendent of Mother Analese, Guardian of the highest order, I am the Jivel." She then gave another deep curtsy.
The bird continued to examine Joslurhen for some time. A brief nod was the only acknowledgement Bellona gave Joslurhen. Bellona then turned to Harry. Harry expected to receive the same questioning glare. But he was surprised; there was only love and loyal devotion shinning in her eyes.
"Introduce yourself Harry." Joslurhen quietly suggested. Bellona turned her head and gave Joslurhen a fierce look for intruding. Joslurhen replied by curtsying even lower than before. "I apologize lady phoenix."
"I am Harry James Black Potter. I am a descendent of Father Seth, Protector, the Mush." Harry tried to follow Joslurhen's lead but felt like he hadn't gotten it quite right. Bellona sang a southing melody that she accepted Harry. Harry thought for the first time that Bellona was the most beautiful creature that he had ever seen.
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Days turned into weeks and soon it was nearing the time for O.W.L. results along with the ordinary Hogwarts letters.
Hermione was going insane worrying about her scores. Ron had resorted to having her help him with his summer homework to get her to change the subject of her rants. He could handle her remarks about procrastination and how he should have done his schoolwork ages ago, since it was true.
It bothered everyone when Hermione the cleverest witch in her year worried about her test scores when her results would put the rest of them to shame.
Harry had not thought much about his results. For the most part he thought that he had done well. He knew that he failed his history O.W.L. but who needs N.E.W.T. level history classes? Now that Harry thought about it he was a little nervous about his potions results. It had been so much easier to brew without Snape breathing down his neck.
He was confident that he would get acceptable scores in everything else. Though, Transfiguration might be another one that he barely passed. Harry hoped that he would be able to get into all the classes that he needed for the Auror Training program. Professor McGonagall had mentioned NEWT level Charms, Potions, Transfiguration, and Defense Against the Dark Arts, were classes that would be needed to enter the program. She had also made it very clear that he had needed an 'Exceeds Expectations' to get into her NEWT classes, if that wasn't bad enough for Harry, he also had to have an 'Outstanding' to get into NEWT level Potions.
Harry was brought back to reality by Hermione screeching. "Harry your bird is trying to eat my cat!"
Harry tried to stifle a giggle. Bellona did not like Crookshanks at all. She constantly would chase the cat and lure him into traps. Harry wasn't sure what the ginger brandy legged cat had done to offend Bella but he sure did enjoy watching the fat cat high tail it out of the room every time Bella would enter.
"Leave her alone. Bella won't hurt him, she is just playing." Ginny it turned out was the only one that Bellona would allow to stroke her. Even Harry had a hard time convincing himself that the flames would not burn him. Unfortunately for Ron he didn't know that the flames could burn when she wanted them to.
"Good morning dears." Mrs. Weasley said cheerfully. "Professor Dumbledore just dropped off these." She set a pile of letters on the table.
"Ohh! O.W.L. results!" Hermione grabbed hers' out of the stack and sat down at the kitchen table. For a while she just stared at it, finally she handed it to Ron. "You open it. I am too nervous."
Ron didn't hesitate since it would cause him to abandon his own results unopened. He tore the seal and read the results to himself. All the color drained out of his face.
"What, what is it?" Hermione tried to grab her letter back unsettled by Ron's reaction, but he held them out of her reach.
"Hermione, you got 14, 14 bloody O.W.L.'s! I don't even think that it is possible to get 14." Ron handed the letter to Harry. Indeed Hermione had gotten 14 O.W.L.'s. What Ron didn't notice is that two of them where for extra work and one was for her work with the D.A. Hermione snatched the letter from Harry before he could hand it over.
"I can't believe it. No way." Ron stared at his letter.
"What did you get?" Harry asked trying desperately to avoid opening his own results.
"10 how the bloody hell did I get ten." Ginny took his results and laughed.
"Ron it isn't that you got ten ordinary wizarding levels that should astound you. It should be that you got an 'Outstanding' in potions." Ron's eyes bulged.
"No way!" Ron almost whispered in awe as he took back his results and sat down to look at them.
"Your turn Harry." Joslurhen looked at Harry expectantly. Trapped with all eyes on him, besides those of his two best mates, he didn't have any other choice but to open the letter that contained his future.
Harry stood stock still as he read and re-read it. How, was the question that kept coming to mind.
"So, how bad is it?" Hermione asked Harry after getting over how well she had done.
"I…I got 15." Harry looked up at Hermione. "How did I get 15?"
Joslurhen beat Hermione to the letter she read it twice and then handed it off.
"Well Harry you did really great on everything except History. You got 12 for your classes another one for starting the D.A. Then you got another O.W.L. for acing the Defense Against the Dark Arts practical exam and yet another for acing the written in the same subject. It also says at the bottom that you are the first person to ever get a perfect score on both written and practical in Defense. You'll be getting a plaque for it. You are also the only person in 384 Years to get 15 O.W.L.'s."
Harry was breathing hard. How did he manage to get more than Hermione? He didn't think he had done so well in anything other than Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"How did you do Joss?" Ginny shifted the room's attention with ease.
"Oh! I got 11." Joslurhen stated nonchalantly.
"You only got 11! I'm so sorry." Hermione pretended not to be pleased that she had out done the Slytherin witch.
"I really could care less about them. I don't need some silly little piece of parchment to tell me my worth. Besides there are no classes to teach me the ways of my chosen profession."
"And what would that be Joe-lure-end?" Ron rarely spoke directly to Joslurhen. When he did it was only to be polite and even then it was dripping with sarcasm.
"It's Joss-lure-en," Joslurhen replied sweetly. She would always be extra kind to Ron even when he was being such a gitt that Hermione would hit him. "And I want to be a spy."
"You already are." Ron meant it to be an insult.
"Thank you, but I do have quite a long ways to go before I can be properly considered a spy." Joslurhen ignored the tone Ron had used.
"Why not become an Unspeakable?" Ginny asked. Ginny liked Joslurhen and would often intercede and try to keep the peace.
"I don't do well with authority figures. Even the best of them have their own motives. I want to choose whom to trust and do as I please, not be forced to unwittingly supply information to my enemies."
The room fell silent. Mrs. Weasley broke it when she called attention to the other letters still lying on the table. Hogwarts letters with supply lists. Mrs. Weasley promptly tried to collect all the supply lists saying she would go that day and fetch everything.
"Mrs. Weasley would you mind picking me up a few extra items?" Harry asked hesitantly.
"Sure Hun, just make a list and I'll take the money out of your vault."
Harry reached into his pants pocket and handed over a list he had made for himself of the things that he wanted for the upcoming school year. "Thank you."
"Oh, look here we need dress robes again this year." Hermione said. She had held on to her supply list preferring to read it before handing it over to Mrs. Weasley.
"It's a bloody good thing that Fred and George bought me new ones." Ron huffed.
"They got me new ones too. Said that they couldn't have their prettiest sister go to a ball in second rate robes." Ginny smiled brightly. She would never get over how perfect the robes were and how sweet her brothers were when they gave them to her.
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"You need to do something about that before anyone else notices." Ginny pointed at Harry's hands.
They were sparing in the training room. Harry looked at his hands and was still surprised to see the symbol of the Protectors tattooed on his palms. It was a long black feather surrounded by eternal flames, both of which continually swayed and moved like a magical picture. They had appeared shortly after Harry put on the amulet of NaRuin. Seth had visited with Harry while Harry was sleeping.
It was quiet the experience to be ripped out of you dreams and visit the realm where father Seth resides. It was a fairly short meeting. Seth instructed Harry how to care for the amulet and explained that Harry must seek out his soul mate. Harry almost laughed at the strange man. Only the deathly serious look in Seth's eye made Harry bite his tongue. Harry had asked why and how, but Seth only got a mischievous look in his eyes that rivaled that of Fred and George Weasley. The return trip to Harry's dreams was almost as disturbing as leaving them. Harry had felt like he had gotten a whole nights rest and then some but the clock told Harry it had only been 20 minutes since he had gone to bed. With nothing else to do Harry went down to the training room where he met Ginny.
"I don't know how to cover them, glamour won't work." Harry admitted.
"Did you try to do a reflecting spell?"
"Huh?"
Ginny giggled at the confused look on Harry's face. She gently took Harry's hands and cast a simple spell that worked much like a mirror. The effect was that it reflected the skin around the tattoos, effectively hiding them. If anyone looked too closely they would be able to tell that there was something wrong with Harry's palms. But not many people looked at them anyway.
"Thank you." Harry opened and closed his hands a couple times to test the spell. "So why are you still up?" Harry tried to change the subject since they where now both sitting on the couch near the fire.
"I had a bad dream, you?" Ginny sat back to massage a muscle in her shoulder.
"Same." Harry and Ginny sat staring into the fireplace till a golden shrill filled the room. Bellona flew into the room and perched on Ginny's shoulder.
"She really likes you." Harry stated at seeing his phoenix rub her head on the side of Ginny's face.
"Yeah, well she knows a good catch when she sees one, don't you Bellona?"
To Harry's surprise Bellona let out an agreeing note and looked at Harry pointedly.
"Don't go giving her ideas. She already locked Ron and Hermione in a closet."
"I think its pretty bad when a phoenix has to intervene in your love life." Ginny smiled broadly and sent shivers up Harry's spine.
"Yeah. How long do you think it will take them to get together?"
"Oh Fred and George have a pool on that. Half the school is in on it. The twins stand to win a fair bit of money from it. I bet that it would be November 25th at 4:56 pm."
"Really why then and why so specific?" Harry's eyebrows were furrowed.
"I told you half the school bet on it and I just have a feeling."
"What else do they have bets on?" Harry wondered out loud.
"Oh, lots of stuff. Like how long it's going to take Snape to get painted pink, they're planning on doing that it's a life goal of theirs', and when you and I will get married and Quidditch of course." Ginny ticked them off on her fingers. Harry almost fainted from shock.
"Did you just say that the twins have an open pool on when you and I will be wed?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Yes, it started out as a joke my second year. Currently mum is down for July 28th the year after you graduate. Dad has the same day the following year; he doesn't want me to still be in school when I am married. He knows better than to question the day though. Mum has an uncanny ability to pick out when people will get married." Ginny was talking like this was an everyday occurrence.
"Really? Does she also have the ability to tell who is going to marry whom?" Harry asked a little cautiously.
"Well she is already planning Ron's and Hermione's wedding if that tells you anything."
The corner of Harry's mouth twitched. Harry suddenly had a very sobering thought, what if Mrs. Weasley was right? What if Ginny was…his soul mate? Harry liked Ginny, but that was different she was still Ron's little sister. Ginny isn't little anymore a voice in the back of Harry's mind reminded him, the voice sounded a lot like Sirius. Harry was really confused now and felt trapped.
"Um. I've gotta…" Harry looked around for a way out.
"Got to what?" Ginny looked up at Harry innocently.
"Nothing." Harry couldn't think of a way to escape without hurting Ginny's feelings. Harry was very concerned about her feelings as of late.
Bellona flew over to Harry and sang softly melting away Harry's anxiety. Harry and Ginny sat in silence just listening to Bellona. After a short while they both dropped off to sleep. Their hands touched ever so slightly as they moved in their sleep. Bellona had a glint in her eye that told of her satisfaction at how things where turning out.
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"Where am I?" Ginny turned and surveyed the wasteland before her.
"Your in the realm that father Seth and mother Analese where banished to." Harry said as he walked up beside her.
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A/N: I really wanted to get up to the first day but I felt like it was getting a little too long.
Poll: Is Ginny Harry's soul mate? I can always change the summary.
Contest:
Why is Ron still mad at Joslurhen?