Disclaimers and warnings stand as usual (as if they wouldn't!).
F/N (FireOpal's Notes) :- Now, this story, I think you guys should know is unBeta'ed. Always has been, and probably always will be (unless someone wants to volunteer? -). So, try not to be too nasty, however much I love comments, reviews and corrections. Rereading this, it might be a bit too fluffy, but then I am reading a very different fic at the moment, so…
By the way, I would like to mention that I am an avid reader and supporter of 'A Year Like None Other' by Aspen in the Sunlight. It used to be posted on here, until it was removed automatically by an unfounded and inaccurate abuse report. It really is one of the best fics I've ever read, and I suggest it, and the yahoo group. You can find this fic at:
http :groups . yahoo . com / group / a year like none other /
Remove the spaces and you have the address. Please, please help us, and Aspen, and show how you feel to our leaders here.
Anyway, here's the chapter, read and enjoy!
Chapter 8. The Key to his Strength.
Back at Hogwarts, Harry watched Ron as he walked off, presumably to the dorms. He instinctively knew where Hermione would be, as well as a certain strong gut feeling helping him too. Presuming it was a side effect of being soul mates, he decided not to just port key to her, as this would startle her even more, and probably make her run off. He walked slowly and contemplatively to a large tree beside the lake – their usual spot during summer. He was sifting through his feelings and thoughts trying to make sense of it all, when he drew close enough to hear sobbing. Harry could see her crouched figure turned away from him, he bushy brown hair tugged by the breeze.
'She really is beautiful now' he thought to himself. It was the first time he'd noticed it. He remembered her face from the hospital wing, feminine, perfect, and her eyes, so passionate and loving. Such as soft, gentle, kind and intelligent person; she didn't deserve him. She didn't deserve Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived A Lot; she deserved someone clever, handsome, someone who didn't have a tiny problem with a certain evil dark lord.
Walking up to her, he held back the impulse to throw his arms around her. He watched her hear his approach and look up, tears staining her face.
"Hermione." He said the single word simply, letting it hang in the air. She turned away from him again, hiding her tears. He walked further towards her, but something still held him back from getting too close.
"Hermione, I'm not really sure what's going on, but I have something to tell you." He took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh. "Something important." He could tell she was listening, and stared at his still too thin and pale hands embarrassedly. "Well, I've been meaning to tell you for ages, but I didn't know how you'd react, and what with all that happened last year," he swallowed visibly. The memories still hurt him too much. "Er, well, I, I love you, Hermione."
There was a short silence, and he saw Hermione turn slowly to face him. He saw her tears, but looking deep into her eyes he saw her love. She loved him. He walked forwards and tenderly brushed away her tears, her eyes closing in happiness. She opened her mouth to speak, but he held a finger gently on her lips, stopping her. Their hearts were thumping wildly in time with each other, Hermione opened her eyes and they locked eyes, emerald staring into hazel. Then, closing their eyes, they leant forwards slightly, and, Harry cupping Hermione's tear stained face, they kissed.
Breaking apart, Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry. She felt finally peaceful, with her only love. She was his chance for love. For someone to hold, to cry with, to love. And she wouldn't, couldn't ever bear to be apart from him. Then, after looking in his eyes for silent confirmation, she kissed him again, leaning her back against the tree as her legs felt weak. She swept her tongue gently along his lips, begging for entrance. As he opened his mouth, she gave herself into the kiss. As they kissed passionately and lovingly, Harry felt as if nothing could ever hurt him again. He felt wonderful, like someone had passed him a very strong Cheering Potion, but much better. He felt whole.
They broke apart again, and sat, cuddled up against each other, staring at the light dancing as it reflected on the rippling lake. They felt the breeze tugging them playfully, but sat still, comfortable in each other's presence. After a little while, Harry spoke.
"We'll have to go in soon, love." He whispered it into Hermione's ear, licking the edge of it with his tongue. Hermione shivered pleasurably, and drew closer to Harry.
"Soon." She said, covering his mouth with hers again. She had waited for so long, and now she couldn't bear to not do it again and again. Harry broke off the lingering kiss, and carefully pulled Hermione to her feet. He threw his arm around her shoulders, and she fitted perfectly into it. They walked back up to the castle, and Hermione laid her head on Harry's shoulder, for once not feeling like a stuck-up, know-it-all brainbox with more cleverness that she knew what to do with. She felt like Hermione Granger, Hermione Granger who was in love with Harry Potter.
Albus walked down the stairs to his office, musing. He knew that Hermione especially would have a hard time accepting the prophecy he had left them, and wondered vaguely if he had done the wrong thing. But then, the last time he hadn't let Harry know about something important, someone he loved dearly had died. He shivered slightly, feeling older than ever. He could never let anything like that happen again.
Brushing aside guilty thoughts, he thought about Harry's training. It was obvious that he would need training to get to grips with his new powers and to gain control before term started. Term was just over four weeks away. He had a time limit. Sighing deeply, a habit that was getting all too common recently, he reached the entrance hall, and looked up to see Harry and Hermione walk through the doors, their arms around each other. Smiling and blue eyes twinkling, he walked towards them. Obviously, the whole 'soul mate' thing hadn't hit them as that much of a shock.
"Ah Harry, I was just coming to look for you. It's about your new, gifts, shall we say. Well, I was wondering if you would care to meet me this evening, after dinner in my office so we can start your training and you can learn more about what you are." After seeing a brief nod, he walked away again to think about how he was going to teach Harry about his elemental powers when there wasn't one around to 'show him the ropes'.
Looking deeply into Hermione's eyes, Harry smiled.
"You know, Hermione, you're really the most beautiful person I've ever met. I wonder why I didn't realise it before."
"Because you were too busy blaming me for things I didn't do, or pouring your heart out to me, or complaining because I was a stuffy know-it-all." Harry's face fell, and he looked guilty.
"I'm sorry Hermione-"
"No Harry, it wasn't your fault. For the past 5 years I behaved like a stuffy know-it-all, and mainly because I didn't know how to react to how I felt, how I feel about you. I love you, Harry."
Harry smiled, and Hermione's heart melted. She loved his smile, the way his whole face lit up, and his eyes glowed. Grinning herself, she pulled away from his arms, and playfully, raced with him all the way to Gryffindor Tower, where they bumped into a cheery Ron, who, shaking his head, went up to their dormitory as the couple collapsed into a giggling heap on the floor.
Suddenly caught by the intimacy of the moment, Harry reached across to kiss Hermione, but, changing his mind, and still in the thralls of giddiness, he kissed her lightly on the nose. Trying to look dignified as he pulled himself up from the floor, he succeeded in making Hermione laugh again. He loved her laugh, loved her voice, her smile, everything. He pulled her to her feet, and, brushing her down, she tried to control her laughter.
Just then, Ron came down the stairs, grinning at the sight of his two best friends finally 'together'.
"Nice to see you two got together, it took you long enough." He grinned and ducked as Hermione snatched one of the cushions from an armchair and threw it at him. Harry threw his arm out grinning, and the cushion stopped, mid-air. Suddenly, Hermione turned to Harry, her face shocked.
"Did you do that?" Harry smiled easily at her, ignoring Ron's similar shocked expression.
"Yeah, I think so. I was just thinking about how much I love you, and threw my arm out, and the cushion stopped." He turned back to the cushion that was still frozen in mid-air, and flicked his hand at it, thinking slightly. It immediately fell to the ground with a flop. Hermione was blushing at Harry's words, and Ron grinned.
"And anyway, I had to stop you hitting Ron, he was the reason we got 'together'." He gave his best friend a sidelong look, and then looked away as Ron clutched his sides in laughter. "Lets just say Ron has more emotions than would fill a teaspoon. Though, by the looks of it, they're gonna leak out when he cracks up."
"So we're 'together'?" said Hermione, almost mischievously.
"Yes, Hermione Jane Granger. Unless you want to be subjected to the most supreme torture of going without my kisses" he kissed her "and my touch" he pulled her close "then, we are definitely 'together'. So, Miss Granger, do you want to go out with me?" he asked, his eyes dancing with laughter and mischief.
"I do, Harry James Potter, and if you ever dare to submit me to that torture then you'd better be prepared with the same being returned to you." Harry changed his expression to that of mock horror, and kissed her again.
"Hey, guys, don't ever do that. I don't think Gryffindor Tower can stand another year of bloody tension between you two." He grinned at them as they looked up at him, wearing matching expressions of both horror and disbelief. Then they grinned at each other.
"Not to bring up food every two minutes, but hadn't we better get to dinner? I mean, you did miss lunch out there, and breakfast wasn't exactly filling." His stomach growled as he finished talking, and smiled sheepishly. Harry and Hermione laughed at him, joking all the way down to the great hall. Seeing Dumbledore seated at the end of the table suddenly reminded Harry of the training. Hermione saw the look on his face and the direction in which he was looking.
"It'll be alright, especially if your cushion-stopping incident back there was anything to go by." He smiled at her, and then shocked the hall (minus Ron) by kissing her. Turning to the shocked faces of the Weasleys, Remus, the teachers and a few of his remaining friends from the birthday party, he said cheekily
"What?" then sat down beside his friends and helped himself to food. Shaking her head, Hermione joined him, and Ron sat down as well, desperately trying to stop the laughter threatening to spill out of him.
Albus looked at the trio with a smile, and, catching Harry's eye, gave him a wink. To his surprise and delight, Harry gave him a beaming grin, and winked back, then applying himself hungrily to a full plate of mashed potato and steak and onion pie with green beans and peas. Taking a huge draught from a glass of pumpkin juice, Harry noticed another staring at him with wonder. Snape. He gave him a happy grin as well, then turned to Ron and Hermione, who were, as usual, arguing, this time about how he had known about Hermione's feelings for Harry. Harry swiftly drew them onto another topic, somehow he felt slightly embarrassed about having this conversation here, in front of everyone.
"So, Hermione, spill the beans, what does my 'elemental powers' cover?" Hermione looked at him, and tilted her head, speculatively.
"So you want to hear the pearls of wisdom from the insufferable know-it-all?" Harry grinned.
"Yeah, I do actually." Hermione smiled.
"Fine. From what I've read, an elemental has the power over their particular element, and receives the power on the day of their inheritance – the day they turn 16. They are really powerful, and can also, on rare occasions, perform wandless magic."
"Like the cushion incident."
"Yes. Also, most elementals have a soul mate." Hermione smiled. "This person can help the elemental gain control over their powers and can have links with their soul mate in another life. No matter what, they will always love each other."
"Ok, quit the lovey dovey stuff and cut to the rest of it." Complained Ron, shovelling mashed potatoes into his mouth. Hermione and Harry glared at him, at which he only shrugged easily.
The rest of the meal continued in a similar mood, until finally, Harry saw Dumbledore looking at him from the other end of the table. His heart thumping slightly with excitement and nervousness, he gave the headmaster a short nod, and stood up, saying goodbye to his friends, and kissing Hermione quickly on the cheek. He followed the elderly man, not into his office as he had first thought, but to the Room of Requirement. Obviously, there was something he needed in particular; maybe the Room of Requirement could provide each of the four elements for him to practise with. As they walked silently to the room, he noticed the old man seemed deep in thought, and decided wisely against asking one of the many questions he had buzzing round his mind. Letting his thoughts wander, he was startled out of this peaceful reverie by a short remark from Dumbledore.
"No questions Harry?" Harry looked up into Albus' twinkling eyes, and grinned.
"Well sir, you seemed like you were thinking, and I didn't want to disturb you. You're doing a lot for me already, and answering a load of meaningless questions seemed a bit, well, annoying to be honest." Dumbledore gave him a small smile.
"Harry, before we start this, you have to know to ask questions whenever you like. If you're stuck, I can't help you if I don't know." Harry nodded.
"Yes sir. I have been meaning to ask, how do you intend on teaching me when you said there are not elementals other than me? And how do you know for certain that I am an elemental?"
"Well Harry, I have searched through as many books on past elementals as I could, and found that controlling elemental powers is very similar to controlling magic, though much, much more powerful. It can be powered through emotions, and that is probably were we will have to begin, by trying to kick-start your powers somehow so you know how to use them. And as for how I know, both the prophecy I received, the type and power of the magic you have used in the past and of course that eventful incident on your birthday all seem to prove it."
"Thanks sir."
"Don't mention it Harry. Curiosity is one of the better and sometimes, worst of our habits, and satisfying, thoughit is important to well being and learning." Harry was slightly confused by the last part, but brushed it off.
"Ah, it seems we are here." Dumbledore said as the door shivered into view before them. Taking the doorknob firmly by the hand, Albus opened the door to reveal a much different room to the last one that had appeared for Harry. He gave a slight shudder as he remembered, but it turned to awe as he gazed around the magically formed room before him.
It was a very large room, just bigger than the great hall, and on first appearance, seemed much like Firenze's Divination classroom from last year. Springy grass grew underfoot, trees appeared around him, there was even a slight breeze, and sunlight fell down from a ceiling that echoed the sky on a beautiful summers day at noon, dotted with fluffy cotton wool clouds. In the far corner lay a small lake or pond, it was difficult to tell which. Piled up next to it was a mound of wood, which Harry suddenly realised would be used as fuel for the fire element of his powers. He turned, amazed to Dumbledore.
"Yes, it is rather good, isn't it? I've come here before, when weather doesn't permit a trip onto the grounds, or I've needed some solitude. Of course, I've never needed the firewood before, and I've changed the time of day so it seems more real, but the idea is the same."
"Right, first of all, we need to try to provoke your powers into showing themselves." 'What an odd way to put it,' thought Harry 'almost as if they're alive.'
"I need you to focus on a very powerful emotion, but try to pick one that is positive. Focus yourself entirely on that emotion. Feel it in you, then think about holding a ball of fire in your hand. In your own time, Harry." Harry, feeling slightly foolish, closed his eyes, took a deep breath and held out his hand, palm upwards. Casting around for a positive emotion, he suddenly remembered Hermione's face, smiling at him, kissing him, holding him. Feeling a surge of emotion in his stomach, he told himself 'fire'. He felt a sudden warmth flow into his palm, and cautiously opened his eyes to see a tennis ball sized flame appear in his hand, and then disappear. Dumbledore was clapping, his face bright with happiness.
"Well done Harry! I hadn't expected you to get it right first time! Now, try to remember how it felt to hold the fire in your hand, and focus on this," with a wave of his wand, an piece of firewood flew in front of them. Harry took a deep breath, and thought of the fire, the emotion, the power he had felt last time. He got quite a shock when he saw a flicker of flame shoot off of his palm and onto the wood. Willing it to burn brighter, both he and Dumbledore took a step back when it burst into flames, scattering a pile of burnt ash on the grass. With a sheepish and shocked look on his face, he turned to Dumbledore, who looked as shocked as he did.
"Sorry, I didn't know it would work that well."
"Well done. I think we'll leave fire for now, as you seem to have a basic grasp on it, at least until we get you a staff."
"Sir, did you say staff?" said Harry, confused. He hadn't expected new equipment as well.
"Yes, Harry, staff. It will help to focus your powers and gain better control when using them, especially in combat." 'Back to the old saving the world routine' thought Harry dryly, but thrust that thought aside. He needed to concentrate. "I have organised a trip into Diagon Alley, Mr Ollivander also stocks a small range of staffs for elementals and other talented people. Though, I've never heard of an elemental with control over the four elements, so I do not know if he will have anything of use. I was hoping to go tomorrow, as long as you don't have anything planned, and it's alright with you." Harry nodded. "And now, onto another element, water. For this, all you have to do is focus on the emotion you used before, and think of water, a ball of water in your hand."
Once again, Harry held out his hand, feeling less foolish. He focused his mind on Hermione, her smell (the sweet and beautiful perfume she uses), her touch (soft and comfortable), her voice (melodic and wonderful). Collecting these together, he thought of water, tears, the lake, rain. He felt a cool sensation run down his arm and collect in his hand. He hadn't closed his eyes this time, so he saw the ball of water appear and hover a few millimetres above his palm. Then, taking it one step further, he imagined rain, falling softly from the sky, and, to his amazement, he felt a strong surge of raw power, and felt the first drops of rain fall on his face.
"Well done, Harry, though I would suggest not covering us with water." Looking across at his headmaster, he saw the rain was falling harder everywhere but on him. He quickly said to himself 'stop' and the rain ceased, and Dumbledore cast a quick drying charm over them.
"Thank you. I believe you have the idea, so if you would like to continue?" Harry nodded, wondering how he was going to summon air. But, he focused his thoughts on Hermione again. As he felt the power grip him again, he thought to himself 'air' and felt the power flow through his arm, and instead of focusing in his hand like before, he felt a gentle wind start up around him, ruffling his hair and clothes. He concentrated harder, and felt his feet leave the ground slightly. Looking down, he realised the wind he had created was lifting him up. With a sudden jolt he felt afraid, he couldn't be flying like this, it didn't work. As he thought this, the wind died and he fell to earth with a bump. Standing up and ruefully rubbing his rump, he saw Dumbledore's nod to continue. Time for some earth moving.
He slipped easily into the power-finding state, then switched to thinking of earth. He felt a vague rumble beneath his feet, but when he looked around, he saw that not only was the earth corresponding to his power, but several of the trees and plants had been thrown into haywire. Trees were shooting up, losing their leaves in a matter of seconds, causing a rain of changing leaves. The grass was sprouting beneath his feet, and flowers were popping into bud and flower. Without thinking, he focused on moving the ground, and, pushing the power forwards, watched in amazement as the ground moved silkily, shifting position, creating small hillocks and valleys.
He stopped the flow of power, and stared in shock at his hands. Never had he felt so much power racing through them, not even when he had cast the full Protronus in his third year. Then, just as he was contemplating his new gifts and Dumbledore was leading him out of the Room of Requirement, he swayed, catching hold of the wall and bending over. The sudden wave of exhaustion hid him hard, and he had a hard time holding himself up. Sinking slowly down the wall, he felt Dumbledore's strong and thin hands grasp his arms, and he leant into the support.
"It's alright Harry, you've just used a massive amount of power; something you are not used to doing. Your body isn't used to having raw natural energy pumping through it. It's a wonder you held on for as long as you did. Don't worry, when you use the powers more often, you'll get used to it. I think for now, however, I had better get you to bed." He half-carried Harry down to the entrance hall, and met with Remus, who looked extremely concerned at seeing Harry in this state. However, he took Dumbledore's orders without question, something Harry was very glad to hear. Harry felt Remus' strong arms around his shoulders, then lift him up, cradling him almost like a baby.
"At least you have more weight than the last time I carried you." Remus said as he walked up to Gryffindor Tower. Harry let his heavy eyes drift shut, and almost immediately fell asleep.
Remus carried the fast-asleep teen all the way to the common room, opening the portrait of the Fat Lady with the latest password, Hippogriff. Hastily stopping Ron and Hermione with a quick whispered,
"He's asleep." He carried him all the way to bed, lay him down, took of his glasses, and before he closed the bed hangings, kissed him quickly on the forehead.
Then, moving slowly back downstairs, he told a still worried Ron and Hermione not to disturb Harry, and that he was just tired from using his new powers, something he had gathered from Dumbledore. He told them to go to bed, and, thankfully, they did, Ron being especially careful and quiet. He didn't need to though, Harry was in such a deep sleep, not even a fully grown and angry Grawp could have woken him.
Review Responses.
shinjo ken – Thanks! Hope you like this chapter, and it's to your liking.
athenakitty – Lol, I think a lot of people are peeved at the Dursleys, but the influence of a Marauder with Weasley twins links, Dumbledore and an ex-Death Eater must have some affect. Come on, you can't imagine them letting them get away with it, can you?
Hey, only two? More reviews people! Please?! Pretty please, or I'll set Remus and Sev and Albus and Fred and George loose on the world! Mwuahahaha…! Ahem.
Thanks for reading!
FireOpal.