Author's Note:
Hello my dear readers!
You didn't think that I was going to let Harry die, would you? What would be the point, then? ;) And for JKR, who keeps on threatening to kill Harry at the end. If she does not want all the nations of the world to bomb Scotland, she has to make him LIVE! Of course something like Matrix can happen at the end, (you know, how we knew that Neo was somewhere and hadn't died).
For all of those who dread that Harry's going to die. Just think, HP is still a children's book, and it needs a moral at the end. You can't have evil won over goodness. As a rule, goodness always wins over evil. So, there, that's settled.
Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to Staci, and R-Krulle, along with all those who have added me on alerts, favorite lists and C2 Communities. You all have given me so much love and support. I'm humbled! Thank you so much! -HUGS-
Thanks are in order for: Omair, Silver Phoenix Fire, green eyes, Missy May, Draco's Wife Lover, Macy, Mahjabeen, Akanksha, Koky, R-Krulle, thephantom114, MachiavellianOrange, Staci, BumpyRider, MoA, for dropping by this chapter. -huggles-
I know all of you are more interested in the chapter, rather than my ramblings, so I'll save it for the last. ;)
Here you go!
Chapter 33 – Reunion of Friends
Violet... Indigo... Blue... Green... Yellow... Orange... Red...White...
Beautiful pulsing lights... How wonderful...
Was he swimming?
He heard a cackle of an infant.
Suddenly a face burst—with the essence of unconditional love—in front of him; his mother's face.
"Yes, yes! Mummy loves you so much!" She cooed, kissing his hands with affection.
With a swirl of green, her face dissolved, and a new one appeared in its place, which resembled him so, that it felt as though he was looking at his own reflection in a mirror.
"This is a toy broomstick, Harry. You'd love riding one of these." Harry made to grab the broomstick. "That's my boy!" James Potter flung him in the air and caught him, his hazel eyes glinting with pride.
The scene dissolved to a particularly loathsome, familiar face. "Avada Kedavra!"
Greenish light blinded his view, and with a searing pain in his scar. The pain receded somewhat as he heard his godfather's voice, "Everything'll be all right, Harry." He heard the rumble of a giant motorcycle, and had the sensation of a liftoff.
Before he could even enjoy the ride, his next eleven years rushed past his eyes in a haze of torment.
"You didn't clean the mess, Harry..." Dudley's guffaw followed him, as the fallen leaves he had collected to be trashed in the backyard of number four, Privet Drive, were strewn everywhere by his bullying cousin.
A single falling leaf magnified in front of his view, and the scene dissolved again to be fully taken up by Hagrid, who had rescued him from his Muggle relatives.
"Harry—yer a wizard!"
Hagrid's voice boomed in his ears as he entered the Platform Nine and Three-Quarters for the first time.
Ron and Hermione, followed.
"I'm the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts..."
"I've learnt all our set books off by heart, of course..."
In a blowing horn and sudden lights, all his Hogwarts friends came in view as if pushing each other to be let in first.
Neville... Dean... Seamus... Luna... All his Quidditch teammates...
There was so much noise that he wanted to tune everyone out, but couldn't.
Leave me alone! Please... leave me alone...
A greenish light swathed him again. This time, it was searing than even pain. His head seemed to split into two, he even heard a crack as he balled into a fetal position.
No, I can't take this anymore...
As if induced by his voice, everything around him went dark—even the blinding greenish light receded—as he experienced a wonderful sensation of weightlessness. Silence... sweet, pleasurable silence, filled his heart... And no sound came... Not even of his heartbeat...
Am I dead?
He opened his eyes and saw nothing except darkness.
"No, you are not dead..." a female voice answered, as a single ray of white light touched his face. "You have more than repaid my debt, child. You have liberated my powers, so that it lives in you and my heir. You are truly a savior, Harry Potter."
Before the words even sunk in, the single ray gave forth to more, so that Harry felt being aimed at by a huge searchlight. Closing his eyes, he felt the same weightlessness as if soaring towards some place.
Suddenly, the pain hit him again. He tried to open his eyes, but could only, barely. Every bone and muscle in his body was screaming with pain. Lamenting sounds hummed in his ears, as if his mind and body were mourning their own ache. He tried to make sense of everything. I couldn't have walked into my own funeral, right?
Ginny abruptly stopped crying as she felt an unknown force. Hermione still had her face buried in Ron's chest, as he continued to awkwardly pat both of them. Ginny moved away from him, while he looked questioningly at her.
Dumbledore, who had been hunched over his silver instruments sharply turned around and looked at Harry, along her. Lupin was still clutching Harry's hand, and had his eyes closed, pinching the bridge of his nose quite painfully.
"Harry!" Dumbledore was near him in a flick. "He's alive!"
Everyone suddenly crowded around, and hunched over him to make sure.
Dumbledore announced to the room in triumph, "Harry Potter lives!"
Harry could only hear a lot of choking and strangled cries before he finally passed out, knowing fully well that he was alive. He was back with his friends, and that's what mattered to him most of all.
-x-
Harry could barely see, but he already knew where he was. Now, even his bleary eyes were familiar with his special ward at the Hospital Wing. He easily made out that it was early morning; the golden sun was trying its best to infiltrate the curtains of his ward.
He groped for his spectacles at the bedside table. Finding it, he put them on, and was quite amused at what he saw next.
Ron was fast asleep with his usual snores on the bed beside his, while Hermione was lolling on what seemed to be a wide chintz chair, which suspiciously appeared to be conjured by Dumbledore.
He was just about to sit up, when the sounds of footfalls made him stop.
"Oh, not again!" Madam Pomfrey came tutting towards his friends, not noticing him awake.
"Everyday I try and they still sneak after midnight! As if I don't have enough with Ginny Weasley hovering about all day!"
Hermione woke up with the Matron's voice, and stopped in mid-yawn, goggling at Harry. Ron had already been prodded on the leg by Madam Pomfrey, who had awakened, issuing a huge yawn.
"Any chaaange, 'ermione?"
Letting out an excited squeal, Hermione finally got over her shock and jumped at Harry, giving him her longest hug, along with bursting in tears. What Harry could see over her extremely bushy hair—which seemed bushier in the morning—Ron jumped off the bed and hobbled towards him in an instant.
"Harry, you're awake!" he managed in a choked voice, as if not believing his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm awake, what's the big deal?" Harry tried to sit up, which finally caused Hermione to let go of him. He sat up and found that he didn't feel much pain except for a dull throb in head.
Madam Pomfrey who had been keeping a respectable distance till now came sniffing towards him. "Back from another one of your adventures, Potter? If you keep this up, next time they might have to bring you in boxes..." She shuddered, and sniffed some more, while checking his pulse and vital signs.
"I'll send your breakfast." She turned to reprimand Ron and Hermione, but seeing their exultant expressions; she sniffed one last time and made her way silently out.
"Er... was I out for long?" Harry asked innocently.
"How about more than a month, mate?" said Ron.
"Thirty-four days to be exact," Hermione supplied.
"You're joking, right?"
"I would've laughed, don't you reckon, Harry?" Ron said warily.
Looking at them, he registered how tired they looked. Hermione had dark circles around her eyes and Ron's skin looked sallow. Their disposition made him remember another person he had been worried over. "Caradoc's OK, right?"
"Yes, Harry," Hermione smiled at him knowingly. Always worried about others rather than himself, she thought ruefully. "His wand was configured to work as a Portkey if anything ever happened to him. He selected to drop wherever Dumbledore was in, so he ended up here."
"He was transferred to St. Mungo's for some time. He's at Grimmauld Place right now. There's a Get Well card that he specially sent for you." Ron indicated towards the side-table.
Harry followed his gaze and saw the biggest bunch of flowers, candies, and cards squeezed over a make-shift table.
"Almost the whole school missed you, except for the Slytherin lot." Ron grimaced. "Malfoy tried to send you a Venomous Tentacula. 'Course Madam Pomfrey had a fit. She even docked points from Slytherin." He grinned at the memory.
Harry wanted to ask about Ginny, and Hermione as if reading his mind, said, "Ginny's all right. She was the one who used Dumbledore's Crisis-Portkey... She'd be here any minute."
"So, that's what it was... You know—?"
"We know," Ron sighed. "She told us everything that happened..."
As if just to make sure that he was actually there, Harry touched his ears; fortunately, they were back to their normal size again. He looked up and Hermione, who was looking furtively at Ron, while he shook his head.
"I don't have green streaks, do I?" Harry asked, looking at them curiously.
"No, Harry, but you have something, all right." Hermione took out a small mirror out of her robe and handed it to him.
As he looked back at his own face, his own surprised eyes traveled the length of his now extended scar.
"According to Dumbledore, your scar has matured, Harry," Hermione provided.
The scar that had been confined to his forehead before, now had traced the similar lightning-bolt path right along the corner of his right eye, ending at the tip of his right ear. "Er... Is this because of the Killing Curse?"
"That and more, Harry," said a very choked voice of Ginny. She came towards him, as his heart lurched in his chest.
"We'll see you in a bit, Harry." Hermione positively dragged Ron outside to leave them alone. He distinctly heard her say, "They faced so much together, they need to sort thing out!"
Ginny stopped at the foot of his bed, while Ron and Hermione left the room. She simply looked at him, as her eyes welled with tears.
Harry didn't want her to cry. "I'm fine... you shouldn't cry..." A funny feeling settled in his stomach as he extended his hand to grab hers. Like a weightless doll, Harry pulled Ginny nearer until she was standing over him.
His grip tightened as he looked in her eyes. He knew that instant, why he had done the things he did. He loved this girl. This thought hit him with the force of a Bludger's blow, as his heart suddenly beat silly for her.
As if reading something in his eyes, Ginny came close and hugged him, while sitting beside him on the bed. Harry's arms went around her automatically as he held her close, savoring the pleasant feelings that this simple act roused in his body. A sense of contentment filled his heart as he breathed in her hair, while she fit perfectly in the crook of his neck.
He stroked her hair, as her sobs subsided so that she raised her head and looked at him. "You're such a prat!"
Harry was slightly taken aback by her pronouncement. "That was uncalled for..."
"Oh yeah? You should be hanged in Filch's lovable chains for what you did. Risking your life like that!" Ginny poked at his chest.
"Ginny, c'mon I couldn't've let Voldemort get the scroll, and..." I did it for you...
"That's beside the point, Harry! We thought... you died..." she whispered the last words so inaudibly that Harry had to lip-read.
"I thought so too..." Noticing her furious look, he changed tracks, "I mean... that was what my mind thought up in short notice... Until Ursula told me that I had repaid her debt... Maybe that's why I'm still alive."
"We were so worried..." Ginny sighed.
"That's why Ron and Hermione guarded me every night, while you did the day-shift?" Harry asked, amused, while a grin played across his face. His right hand extended to play with a stray lock of her hair that had fallen beside her right cheek.
Ginny blushed. "Well..."
"You got the scroll, didn't you Ginny?" Harry asked huskily, as the distant between their faces diminished with every uttered word.
"We both did, Harry." Ginny lowered her eyelids.
This is the right time… Harry leaned forwards as his heart boomed in his chest. Ginny didn't resist, as she too leaned in as his mouth closed on hers. An energy flew between them, making their kiss even more tantalizing. Harry experienced such bliss that he didn't know existed.
As they finally parted for breath, a wave passed between them, which Harry deemed to their shared scroll energy.
Ginny interlaced her fingers with his, and asked, "D'you think he died in the temple?"
"No." Harry shook his head firmly. "I still feel him."
Their bliss was interrupted by the sound of the Matron's steps. After which, Ginny had excused herself in a hurry, blushing furiously. It had been her coloring, or the dazed expression plastered on his face, that told Madam Pomfrey all.
She cleared her throat quite loudly, and bustled out of the room after setting his breakfast tray. He didn't even get around asking her, when he would be set free from observation.
After finishing his breakfast in a happy stupor, he finally got around Caradoc's card.
Dear Harry,
You have shown greater strength than I have ever imagined. People rightly revere you, Harry, because you not only possess a brave soul but a very big heart.
You have proved that fate can be changed. You see, I was told that the heir would die, and the scroll would fuse with a bearer—who exactly, the Mages didn't know. Therefore, the fear of Voldemort winning, and the worlds getting doomed were so prominent in their prediction. I think, what the Ulterian Mages couldn't predict was the compassion in you. You not only saved my life, but Ginny's as well, and faced up to Voldemort, yet again—not once fearing for your own life. I can easily see now why people call you his downfall.
You will always have my deepest gratitude, Harry. I thought I saw the last of the world I was abducted from. Now, I'm alive and healthy to explore this world that I missed so much, only because of you.
You rightly deserve the vita powers, Harry. You've earned it!
Hoping, that you'll come back to health, and get well soon.
Sincerely,
- Caradoc Dearborn
Harry put down the card thoughtfully.
So, I have new powers, now? He mused, flexing his hands, trying to sense any change in his body. As soon as he closed his eyes for more concentration, he felt an energy shoot to his flexed hand. The hair on the nape of his neck stood on end as he felt a jolt go through his entire body. He felt a new force, just beside his heart; it was as if he had an energy ball of his own.
"So, you've found the Novus Vita in you?" Dumbledore's voice brought him back to the outer world, who was looking quite thoughtfully at him. "Do you feel the change of the new vita?"
Harry smiled at Dumbledore as he seated himself on the wide chintz chair. There was something about Dumbledore that always calmed him down. "Yeah, I do..." As if realizing suddenly, he said, "I—I'm sorry, Professor... I promised that I wouldn't do anything rash but—"
"—you did?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled behind his half-moon spectacles.
"Er..."
"You gave all of us a fright, yes. My guilt of sheltering you from the prophecy intensified, too. However, I have always been a strong believer of wondrous things; even more strongly, I believed in your ability to stomach Voldemort's deviousness."
"I still don't understand how I got saved, Professor."
"You live, Harry, because you sacrificed your life for the greater good. It was Ursula who made the scroll, so the highly intelligent power of the scroll understood your intentions. As I understand from what Ginny had explained to me—both of you touched the scroll at the same time, and in normal circumstances that wouldn't have made much difference, the scroll would have fused with its rightful heir anyway. However, your selfless act made the scroll transfer its power to both of you, so that both of you shared it equally.
"Did you not think of the reason, why it took you more than a month to wake up? It was not because of the physical pain that you endured, alone; it was because of the transference of a part of the vita in you, as well. As I told you before, this scroll was hereditary—made to be transferred to the heir, who was bound with blood. You don't have any direct relation with Ursula, so the powers took a while to get used to every fiber of your body."
"My scar matured because of this vita in me?" Harry asked.
"Your scar matured because this time—as the first one—you were directly attacked, and then saved by an ancient magic. Part of your vita made the curse deflect, not letting the thread of your soul break from your body. It is fascinating how you evaded another Killing Curse, Harry.
"However, I'm afraid that it wouldn't be listed anywhere except for some confidential files of the Department of Mysteries. Your journey to Caeli can't be publicized at this sensitive time; it would cause more panic than the wizarding community's already in—"
"What about the people in Diagon Alley, then?" Harry still remembered the faces that pressed through many shops' windows.
"Their memories were modified, naturally. Except the Order, only few Ministry officials remember what really happened. With Caradoc's return however, the Department of Mysteries is reopening their old project of journeying to different worlds."
"Would Caradoc still want to Drift to other worlds, after spending so much time in Taita?" Harry asked, concerned.
"Oh, rest assured. He's not planning to go anywhere. He will lead the project, teaching a selected batch of Unspeakables to be Drifters."
Harry contemplated on the idea of being a Drifter. Discovering other worlds and their inhabitants seemed quite an interesting career indeed.
His mind drifted towards Ursula again. "Ursula... Well—a form of her anyway—told me that I've repaid her debt. Was it of the creatures of the Watchgate?" Harry told Dumbledore everything that had happened after he was hit by the Killing Curse.
"That and her own, Harry," Dumbledore started thoughtfully, "We still don't know that Ursula actually died or not. Molly told me a curious thing. Ursula hasn't been seen in her family portrait since you returned from Caeli. And it isn't even Halloween that her absence is justified. What I gather from all this is that you freed her soul from wherever she was trapped. Ginny told me that she saw her ghost in the temple, which I think in fact, was her soul. She has passed to the next stage of death, I believe..."
"Is death different for us—I mean, us wizards?"
"Somewhat, Harry. We live longer than Muggles for one—"
"We do?" Harry interrupted, amazed.
"Yes," Dumbledore smiled at him. "I, myself, am pushing hundred and fifty this year."
Harry's eyes widened in shock, as he took in this particular information; he knew Dumbledore was old, but that old?
Harry, then, went on and told Dumbledore about the short while he got to see his mother.
"Fascinating indeed." Dumbledore looked at him delicately. "If the events hadn't unfolded the way it did, you wouldn't have been with us, Harry. You see, everything has a price. To acquire such exquisite magic, you needed a pure heart as well—"
"Then, how Voldemort could've used it?"
"Voldemort, for one, is a very clever wizard. Not forthcoming, but very clever. He could have acquired the scroll by force. Obviously, the scroll wouldn't have fused with him, but even in physical form of a scroll, Vita Scroll could have been used to execute a lot of horrible things.
"However, your strength and courage failed Voldemort, yet again. The embedded powers of the scroll fought back the Killing Curse, rejuvenating your soul. Your selfless act saved a lot of lives, Harry." He beamed at him.
"Professor..." he hesitated, thinking it would be questions, too many. Looking at Dumbledore's good-humored expression however, he ploughed on, "Do you know about these powers?"
"They have come from four basic elements. I daresay, you have two of these elements—which ones exactly, you'll find out with practice. To yield this power, Harry, you don't need your wand, because of which I need you to promise me, not to use it unless you really need to. I have enough confidence in you to say that you won't be misusing it."
"I promise, Professor, I wouldn't do anything stupid."
The smile twitching Dumbledore's beard told him, that he was humoring him.
Another prospect opened to Harry as he imagined chasing his cousin over a cloud of air, while Dudley—screaming mad—blundered through Wisteria Walk. He smiled at the thought. Oh well, thinking wasn't a crime; of course, he wouldn't do such a stupid thing... That reminded him.
"What happened to Michael and Colin, Professor?" he asked quizzically.
"That's a sad tale indeed. Like many wizards before him, Michael Corner, too, faced the Imperius Curse, and was muddled away from the right path. The only adult witch that died in Platform Nine and Three-Quarters incident was Michael's eldest sister. Her death was used as a catalyst by Voldemort in order to pacify his actions."
"I knew he was being controlled! Was Colin, too?"
"In a way. You have to believe that Michael had been totally under Voldemort's power, when he used an advanced Befuddlement Draughton Colin. He also bewitched him, not to let anybody in on the secret. When you caught him red-handed in your room, he went to an eternal sleep."—Harry's stared on, shocked—"He had been revived with the help of Professor Vidal and your friends. As the spell wore off and his mind cleared, Michael was very sorry indeed, along with Mr. Creevey, who couldn't believe he had tried to harm you, of all people."
Harry felt a twinge of sympathy for them, even if they had made his life quite awful this year. Michael wasn't bad, and Colin was sometimes annoying but never vindictive. "Does anybody know what they did, Professor?"
"No, Harry, except their Head of Houses no one knows."—Harry breathed a sigh of relief for them—"Ravenclaw faced quite a setback this year with two of its students going haywire."
"Two?" Seeing the meaningful expression on his face, Harry understood. "Hermione told you about Cho's potion work?"
Dumbledore nodded and continued, his expressions softening, "Do you know, Harry, you're lucky to have such friends who are ready to sacrifice even their lives for you. Ron for one had been rather disgruntled that he didn't get to do it this year." Dumbledore's beard twitched. "However, he got some thrill in taking on our Potions Master." His eyes glinted even more, while Harry grinned. "I'm sure Ron would want to tell you the details himself. Furthermore, as Minerva has pointed out to me, I must alert you of the upcoming final exams. Seems like you have a lot of catching up to do."
Harry's head seemed to positively buzz with the answers he had been looking for, as they sidled in their right places along each puzzle-piece that he had collected. But, final exams! He didn't have any place for final exams!
Looking at his worried expression, he added, "I'm amazed that Miss Granger hasn't terrorized you with exam preparations yet? She'll get you prepared in no time."
Dumbledore departed with a gentle pat on his head, leaving behind a very apprehensive Harry.
-x-X-x-
W00t! Not a cliffy? How's that possible? (I see you wondering)... I'm going soft... Oh NO! -cackles-
Now, some more plot details and canon clues:
- You must have seen the Adult art cover of HBP? Which is an Advanced Potions books, meaning two things. Either Harry will take NEWTs Potions as I predicted, or brew some advanced potion himself. The US art cover has Harry and Dumbledore looking at a basin, it can contain a potion. We'll, find out soon enough!
Cho was not working with Michael Corner. I know many of you want her to be punished, but as it's her last year, Dumbledore didn't do much except for repeating her escapades to Professor Flitwick (Ravenclaw's Head of House), who in turn gave her a month's detention. I take much joy and pleasure in informing you that the month turned out to be the one before her N.E.W.Ts, so she did get what she deserved.
- Michael was working alone at first, but then when he saw that Harry kept on slipping his schemes, and he looked for reinforcements, which he unwittingly found in Colin. He used an advanced befuddlement draught, using Scurvy-grass, lovage and sneezwort, (a clue from OoTP).
- Michael had been under Voldemort's complete control. If you go back to his musings, you'll find that he was afraid to go back home in Christmas because of the new responsibilities that he had gotten himself into. He's not a real baddie even.
- Voldemort at first wanted Harry killed (in case of the Platform Nine and Three-Quarters' portal) incident. However, he knew that Harry was developing a close bond with his mother (when Harry's vision mingled with Voldemort's). So, he planned to get him to Caeli and actually do the work for him, in case of the Aqua Scroll. He didn't know that Ursula had a heir, because there are so many Weasleys, so that came as a surprise for him. Still, didn't do any good anyway, except for smoldering like hell! -laughs-
- Lily and Harry's special connection: Well, mothers always have a special connection with their children anyway. In case of Lily, she left more than a mark on her son, when she sacrificed herself for him. I know JKR's going to explain this more, but I only tweaked this a little with their same eyes, and made them connect even more.
- Faster than a Firebolt! Oh yeah, I know last chapter's pace was very fast, and I changed POVs as well. But, I do like to experiment a lot. Being a girl, it's easier to write in Ginny's or Hermione's POV but I like to shift the paradigm, like I did with Neville.
- So when is this fic ending? Looks like Green Eyes have got me there. Would I want to write this on and on, as Staci mentioned too? I would surely like to, but then again, as I promised myself, I WILL finish this one before HBP, so I WILL! Come hail or storm or rain.
- Why another chapter? Well, that's easy, there's a huge time gap between end of March and June. Even if I had done my best, I had to do a huge leap over time, which I did in a way with these last two chapters. But, hey, I hope you're happy that there's another chapter to read.
- When will the Epilogue be posted: After the HBP frenzy, I'm afraid. So, you'll get the last update at the end of July or maybe first week of August by maximum. If you don't have an ff account, you can give me your email address, and I'll email you when I post the epilogue.
- And yeah, I'm too soppy to make anyone die! No one is dying, you hear (JKR)? -glares- Agh! I think I'm gonna cry again when I finish reading HBP. -sniffles-
Now, coming to some answers:
Green Eyes, Of course I, myself, don't want to stop writing this fic, but everything has an end, so alas, I will. However, I will not stop writing, and you're welcome to read my upcoming works, which are outlined in my Bio. About the Voldemort of CH 31, well, he came directly from GoF—which I'm currently re-reading—I guess the whole chattiness came from there. Thanks for all your compliments! I'm excited over HBP as you. (3 more days left!)
Missy May, HE WILL COME BACK! –chants along Missy- OH YES, he did! I hope you're happy now:D
Akanksha, It's so good to see you back here! How you've been? I hope you're enjoying your training in Pune. I haven't been to that city as well. I guess Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkatta were my thing. ;) I hope your Caradoc fears got quashed in this chapter. Everyone is all right and ALIVE! -smiles- You're right about Ron and Hermione, and you can see that Ron was quite vociferous with the fact that he didn't get to kick some butt except in case of the Shrieking Shack and Platform incident. Then again, they couldn't have gone to Caeli either, still they're as loyal as anybody I know! About Vanquishing Voldemort, that's the year-seven thing that can't happen in a year-six fic, so I've steered off that point. But, I agree, Ron and Hermione will be there with Harry when he finally finished Voldemort.
Mahjabeen, -laughs- Oh yes, I can't DARE! Or the wrath of Mahjabeen will fall on me. (Hehee!) I hope your questions were answered this update, and you're happy with the end as well, as it was not a cliffie. Enjoy!
Imran1, I hope your confusions were answered? Only if you asked what confused you, I would've answered your queries.
Silver Phoenix Fire, Thanks for all the compliments! Much appreciate it. You're right, that the bonding of wizards should've taken longer, but as I said above, I was under a lot of pressure to make everything go fast and still end CH 32 with Ginny and Harry safely back at Hogwarts. I hope all your answers got answered by my long rant and the current update.Yorkvillebird, As always, thanks for liking the story!
Thephantom114, YEY for you. I hope you're happy that there's yet another chapter left? I read your last review, and asked, how did he know there are two chapters coming? You must've counted the Epilogue as well. Lucky you! You knew it even before the other readers. -winks- Enjoy reading!
Macy, Thanks, girl! Oh I know you were going to kill me if Harry would've died. I took that threat seriously. -nods- Heh! Now enjoy the rest of the fic!
Omair, Even if I wanted to kill you after your last update, you went and got ill. -fumes- What would I have said except, "Get Well, you prat!" Anyways, you can be happy now, there was no cliffy this update either. I will keep at it of course, who knows better than you? -winks-
Heather, The last time, I didn't answer you properly I think. You asked, why Harry's parents went to the temple in the first place. The whole thing ends with Vita Scroll. They came to see the temple, to see another world, also to see and confirm that the legend was true. Of course, Voldemort was after the scrolls as well, and so the whole thing climaxed with Chapter 32.
R-Krulle, Thanks for your compliments, and no killing Harry, yes! -nods-
Staci, All that stuff comes right from the weird place that keeps on buzzing somewhere inside my mind. -winks- Thanks for showering so much love for the fic. The fic itself gives you a very sugary hug. –huggles!- I'm glad that your imagination got worked up with the imagination, just as I intended! I actually want my readers see what I've cooked up. -winks- I think, once I finish this fic, I'm gonna scream myself hoarse! Thanks for sticking around!
Miss Granger, Thanks for liking the updates! About Voldemort's snake, it was no Nagini that he had full control over her. However the snake didn't obey Voldemort because Harry said, 'Please,' and also knew Parseltongue. You would be surprised if you know a foreign language and speak nicely to them, they'll go over each other to please you. I used that rule with the snake. Hope, you like the upcoming end.
Draco's Wife Lover, The update is here to quench your thirst. And on a side note, I loved Finding Nemo! I think you were watching the 'Crush' part? ('Mr. Turtle was my father! I'm Crush.') I'm a freak when it comes to animated movies, because I mostly love 'em all! Enjoy the update!
Koki, You'll be there in no time, and would be ready to kill me too. -winks- Still, I think you'll be happy after this chapter. Cheers for your catching up!
MachiavellianOrange,Oh yeah! I'm picturing Draco with spiky hair as Arnold, right now. ;) I think we've met in LJ at TGB, right? Thanks for your appreciation. I'm delighted that you like the plot and characterization, and I hope the end doesn't disappoint you, as it's not of your favorite ship.
BumpyRider, Thanks! I hope you like the end!
MoA, Hey, I want my readers happy and with grins, not pouts. -winks- Let me help you in getting off that pout with this chapter, eh? And yes, what a deadline it has been! But, it's all been very much worth it!
What d'you reckon! This is not the end and there's another chapter left, which I promise –swear to God and hope to die- to be the last one! And it will be posted tomorrow! So get ready for reading my hysterical AN. Till then, keep on pressing that GO button!
