Chapter Thirty Nine

Legacies of the Last Blacks

Harry and Ron removed the body bind on Hermione and cradled her head in their lap. She was barely conscious and very weak but she was able to smile up at them. The footsteps of the Aurors bringing Tonks and Mackenzie out of the cellar were gradually fading away and soon they were quite alone aside from Mickey who was still keeping the dementor immobilized in the little room where de Lancre's body still remained in vegetable-like state.

"Thank you," Harry whispered to Hermione. "We couldn't have done it without you."

"You don't know how grateful we are," said Ron. He stroked her hair gently with loving fingers then his hand moved down to her cheek to wipe away her remaining tears. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said to you this morning."

Something uncomfortable twisted in Harry's stomach and he wished he wasn't in Ron's body to interrupt this moment he knew he shouldn't be part of. It became more evident when Ron suddenly bent down and kissed her on the lips. Their lips hardly touched hers when Harry quickly pulled away.

"Er Ron…" he began. "You think there's a way to return her magic?"

"I don't know," replied Ron without letting his gaze off her face. "I hope so. But even if she doesn't have magic for the rest of her life, I'll love her anyway."

Against Ron's will, Harry forcibly turned away from her. I want out, he told himself. I want them to be happy with each other without me in the way.

"Harry… body…" Hermione murmured and Ron looked back at her. Harry understood and suddenly remembered that the solution to his problem was already there, lying in that small room in the cellar. He didn't expect de Lancre of course and he was afraid that like he told Ron a long time ago, he would hate himself whenever he looked in the mirror. But he would probably never find an opportunity like this one again. At least de Lancre was male and was his same age.

"Harry, we need to get you into Lancry's body before the Aurors execute it."

"I know. But what about Hermione's powers?"

"Enervate… me…" she gasped.

"Oh, yes, of course," said Ron. He slapped their forehead with their hand. "How could we be so stupid?"

Hermione managed a weak giggle.

Mickey had earlier managed to summon their wands from where de Lancre had hidden them in some unknown part of the Castle. He and Ron cast an enervate spell so she could at least sit up, but she still looked very weak.

"Can we give you back your magic?" asked Ron.

"Yes, if you want to," she teased.

"Of course we do," replied Ron. "We're not some power-hungry wizards like Lancry. Although… we could use some of your potions abilities..."

Hermione glared at him. "Being good at potions is not a magical ability. It's called diligence."

"Okay, okay. I know we need to work on that ourselves. Only joking."

Harry nodded in agreement. "So how do we do it?"

"It's a little complicated. You have to utter an incantation, keep eye contact with me and think about me—just me and concentrate on giving up that part of magic you have willingly to me. It's similar to the principle of transferring Harry to another body that you'll be doing later, but you only force out the magic, not your souls."

"Okay," said Ron nervously. "Too complicated."

"I have faith in you."

She used her wand to write down the incantation in the air and gave them time enough to get acquainted with the words written in Sanskrit.

When they were ready, Ron cupped her face with his hand and stared at her intently. Harry focused all his energies on her and willed whatever power she had given up to them at their time of need back to her. But he wanted to give her more—a part of him at least that he could give up to her along with her own original powers.

He felt that same connection with her again before of complete trust and love that it took a while for him to realize that he was weakening while she looked more radiant. When it was over, he and Ron sank down to the floor with exhaustion.

"You'll feel a little weak after," she said. "Lie down for a while," she hissed gently.

But Ron did not do as she said. He looked at her with utter horror and Harry could sense his panic. "Something's wrong. What just happened?"

Hermione gave them a puzzled look and tested her returned powers by lighting up her wand and transfiguring a few items on the floor into soft cushions for them to lay their head. She also cast her Otter Patronus. "Everything seems normal," she replied. "Why?"

But Ron was still looking at her as if she was someone else. Harry was equally puzzled. There didn't appear to be anything strange about Hermione.

"Talk to me Hermione—to Ron, not to Harry," said Ron.

"About what? I don't understand—"

Ron gave a relieved sigh. "Thank Merlin."

"What?" she asked.

Ron shook his head. "Not again! In English Hermione, please, it's creeping me out!"

"What do you mean…" Hermione began, as confused as ever. Then Harry realized Ron couldn't understand her half the time because she was speaking in parseltongue. He had actually given her part of his magical ability to talk to snakes.

Hermione's face lit up. "Oh, am I speaking in parseltongue?" she said in English. "Oh Harry! Why did you?"

"You gave her parselmouth abilities?"

"Didn't mean to, well not specifically that, I just wanted a bit of my powers to go to her, she seems to need more."

Ron rolled his eyes.

"Harry I'll give it back to you," she said.

"Don't," said Harry. "Consider it as a thank you gift for getting us out of a fix."

Hermione smiled. "Well, I suppose it's an odd gift but it may come in handy someday."

Maddy came running down the stairs followed by Lupin who looked worse for wear but freshly revived. "Ministry officials are coming 'ere. Ronald 'ave you gotten 'Arry into Orion's body?"

"Not yet," said Ron.

"Do it now or you may not have a chance before they execute him!" said Lupin. "We'll try to hold them off."

There was scuffle up the stairs and a lot of feet seemed to be stomping down the cellar. Harry saw Atalanta up front with a group of Aurors behind her. Maddy looked at the Auror Chief with panic in her eyes. Lupin tried to ward her off but they pushed pass him. Where they too late?

Atalanta surveyed the surroundings and looked to Harry and Ron.

"Where's de Lancre?" she asked.

Harry dejectedly pointed to the room at the end of the cellar.

"Well, what are you two waiting for?" she said. "Get Potter in his body now before the bureaucrats arrive."

Harry and Ron stared at her open-mouthed.

"I know I'll regret losing your abilities," she said. "But I suppose two heads and two bodies are better than one. So get on with it and let me deal with the legalities. It will be a hell of a job explaining this to the Ministry but it's well worth it to keep two of the best Aurors I've had in a long time." She gave them a smile and Harry and Ron knew everything will be alright.

Hermione helped them to their feet and Atalanta ordered two of the Aurors to bring de Lancre's body out. "Best to have witnesses when it happens," she the Chief. "We don't want the Ministry convicting Potter in de Lancre's body."

Hermione created several bluebell flames to form a circle around de Lancre's body. She chanted something in a foreign language while pointing her wand three times around the circle and the fire turned white. She bid Harry and Ron to step in the middle of it with her.

"The circle is sort of a buffer zone. It will buy Harry's soul a little time to enter Orion's body without turning him immediately into a ghost or crossing the after life. When you get out of Ron, Harry, don't leave the circle. Will yourself directly to Orion. Now remember what I both taught you." She coached them again of the complex incantation just to make sure they hadn't forgotten.

"Ready?" she asked.

"Wait," said Harry. "Aren't you getting out of the circle?"

She shook her head. "I have to be with you inside when you do the spell."

"Why?" asked Ron.

"Just in case. Remember before I said that the spell might go wrong. Well after Harry gets ejected from your body Ron, he will be vulnerable. He has to go immediately into Orion's body or he will die. He needs a host or he won't survive. Harry, you have to readily accept Orion's body. If you don't, you won't get in. If that happens, we need an alternative. You have to transfer to someone else…" She looked at them uneasily. "Me."

"WHAT?" both Harry and Ron exclaimed.

"You see it's harder to get inside an empty shell. Harry, when you transferred to Ron, he pulled you in. But now there's no one to pull you in. You have to wish yourself in all by yourself. If something goes wrong, Harry, if you can't enter Orion's body, I'm going to pull you to mine."

Harry could feel fresh waves of panic coupled with Ron's surge of jealousy. "But you can transfer him later to Lancry's?" asked Ron with much effort to keep their voice even.

Hermione looked even more uncomfortably at them.

"Hermione? You can transfer him, can't you?" said Ron apprehensively.

Hermione gave worried sigh. "I hope so. There's no record of anyone doing that before, I mean making more than two soul transfers… successfully that is. Soul transferring becomes increasingly difficult the more times you do it. Those who attempted more than twice either get stuck to their current host body permanently or they get ejected and die."

Harry felt the horrible nerves of desperation creep down their spine. No! It shouldn't be this way! It was enough that he was a burden to Ron. He won't forgive himself if was going to interfere with their relationship further.

"No," Harry said firmly.

"What?" asked Hermione.

"I said no, Hermione. I won't let you do this—and this is Harry talking."

"But Harry, if you fail to transfer to Orion, you will die!"

"Then I'm dead."

"Harry—"

"No, Hermione! You are not sharing your life with me!" He glimpsed Lupin stepping up in his line of vision and seem about to speak. "Neither will anyone else!" he warned him.

"Potter, listen to reason," Atalanta urged. They had forgotten she and a handful of Aurors were still in the room.

Harry glared at her. "My life is not yours to decide on!" he said icily. "Go find yourself another Auror! If I die, I die and there's nothing you can do about it!"

The Auror Chief looked taken aback but didn't say anything.

"Look, Harry," Ron began tentatively. "I don't want you to die."

"But I don't want to live if I know I'm going to come between you and Hermione for the rest of your lives. Let me go, Ron. To Lancry's body or death. It doesn't matter. I just want her happy. With you."

It seemed like ages before Ron spoke to him again. "Thanks mate," he managed to choke through the heaviness in their throats. He turned to Hermione. "Step out of the circle, Hermione," said Ron.

"But…" she began fearfully.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted at her. Her wand flew off her hand and Ron caught it.

Harry and Ron both shook their head at her. "Don't make us force you out," begged Ron as he pointed his wand at her.

Tears streamed down her face and she flung herself at them in a fierce hug. Harry hugged her back for what he imagined could be the last time before he pushed her away. She slowly backed out of the circle of flames and into a corner. No one dared to approach them. The other Aurors stared with puzzled expressions but not one uttered a word to question.

They knelt down to be on the level of de Lancre's body who was in a seated position. Harry closed their eyes, concentrated on picturing the body before him and tried to forget about his distaste for it. He and Ron chanted the complex incantation Hermione had taught them. No wands to help them here now only the utter willingness to let go. Harry focused on them now.

I want Ron to be happy. I want him to have his own life without me. I want my own life in my own body. He thought of his old life before he died and he tried to concentrate on those memories of being alone again. Suddenly he felt detached—a feeling of lost connection from the familiarity of Ron's body. The first thing he noticed was that he could no longer feel the stinging pain of fresh wounds on their skin—Ron's skin, he corrected. But at the same time, he lost all feeling altogether. He could no longer feel the ground beneath his feet or the cold draft of the damp cellar stinging skin. His eyes could see things in front of him but they appeared different, as if he was not really inside this room at all but on a different plane altogether. Everything appeared liked misty shadows and the only thing prominent was the circle of light surrounding him.

In front, he was startled to see Ron in the same kneeling position in front of de Lancre's body. Ron looked so horribly bloodied and there were horrible slashes all over him. He realized that Ron was still feeling so much pain and he was saddened by the fact that he wasn't there anymore to share it.

No, musn't think that! I can't share that with him anymore.

He could see de Lancre's eyes staring at him with those empty pupils and he could revulsion overwhelm him. There was something beyond the circle that was beckoning to him to move away, far away from the idea of being in de Lancre's body. He was about to heed that call when he glimpsed Hermione backed into a corner of the cellar in tears. Her lips were moving rapidly in an almost prayerful entreaty and he could almost hear her whisperings: Go to him, Harry. You have to live. You have to live. Don't leave us.

That forceful beckoning was enticing but he fought to ignore it. He focused on de Lancre's body and forced himself to go to it, willing his loathing away with resignation.

Then he felt it, the awkward presence of being inside something unfamiliar. It wasn't safe and easy like Ron's body. There was nobody here to welcome him, just an empty shell that was once inhabited by an evil being he despised. It was a malevolent thought, but he accepted it with as much effort as his will could command. Suddenly there were new aches and pains all over him that he didn't feel a second ago. He could sense the cold hard floor of the cellar against his knees, the blood pumping into them screaming for relief.

He blinked and suddenly realized he was staring at the ceiling. He felt a bit disoriented and he slowly moved his line of vision on what was in front of him. He was surprised yet again at Ron being suddenly opposite him. He hoped Hermione knew some healing treatment that could prevent him from scarring. If not, he would probably end up looking worse than Moody.

"Ron?" he whispered and for a moment he was startled by this strange voice that came out of him.

Ron stopped chanting and looked up. "Harry? Are you there?"

"Yes," he replied.

Ron didn't look convinced. "Prove it."

Ron handed him his wand doubtfully, as if he was afraid he might attack him. Harry quickly waved his own wand and let out his familiar stag Patronus. Ron breathed a relieved sigh. "Welcome back," he said.

"Thank you," he mouthed.

Harry looked up just as Atalanta shot a spell at him to check his magical signature. Sparks came out and she nodded. "It's Potter alright, just him," she assured the other Aurors before leading them back up the stairs. The other Aurors began murmuring noisily and glancing back at him with questioning looks. Maddy and the Auror Chief were a having a difficult time explaining things to them but Harry decided not to help out. He hung back a bit until everyone had left. He glimpsed Ron helping Hermione up who hadn't moved from her limp sitting position against the wall. His heart constricted a bit and he tore himself away to join his other colleagues upstairs.

"You alright?"

Harry turned just as he reached the top step and found Lupin waiting for him. "It's Harry, Remus. Don't worry. I know it will take some time to get used to it."

"I know," said Lupin. "But I wasn't talking about your new body. I'm talking about this." He pointed at his chest.

Harry sighed and glanced back at the entrance to the cellar then shook his head.

"The fireplace is still crowded with people and it will take some time for us to get our chance to floo out of here, walk with me a bit," said Lupin in his usual gentle tone. They strolled casually along the empty hallway leading to the drawing room where the fireplace was located, though Lupin's pace indicated he was in no hurry to get there.

"I know this must be difficult for you." Harry was almost startled to hear him speak but he let him continue. "It may seem horribly unfair that you're the one who had received so little love in your life, but you still have to deal with the rejection."

Harry looked up, startled. "What do you mean?"

Lupin gave him a sad smile but went on like he didn't hear him. "One might think that you ought to be selfish about this. That you'd grab at the chance if you have it. But your ability to give is admirable Harry. And that I think merits true friendship. Ron is lucky to have you for a friend."

"You know about…" Harry hesitated and lowered his voice. "Hermione, I mean… how I feel?"

"Yes, I know how you feel. It's quite easy to see it in you, when I was in the same position several years back."

Harry gave him a puzzled look.

Lupin heaved a sigh. "I loved someone once. When I was younger there was this girl. She was a wonderful person. She saw things in people that others could never see. She made me feel that way, but I knew she wasn't meant for me."

A memory of what he said struck Harry and he suddenly realized. "Was it my mother?"

Lupin nodded. "I never told anyone. Not even James. We were friends you see, even before she and James got together. We were prefects starting fifth year and we would spend time together patrolling the halls and going about prefect duties. I was the only one among the Marauders that she liked. She hated James then but I suppose you know that. But that started to change by sixth year. Their relationship was something like how Ron's and Hermione's began: with bickering and rows. How they ended up falling in love still amazes me. But they did and when they married two years after Hogwarts, it broke me. But she loved him and I never saw her happier. I knew she belongs with your father. I couldn't offer her anything anyway, what with my condition."

Harry felt an overwhelming sense of admiration for this man. He never really thought much of it, but Lupin had suffered so much being what he is. Losing Hermione to Ron appeared so trivial now compared to what his former professor must have endured through the years, not just losing the woman he loved, but also the rejection he encountered in society everyday. Here was probably the loneliest person he had ever met yet he was the most compassionate in everyway.

"You will get over it Harry. You never forget your first love but one day you will find someone who can love you back that's meant for you."

He looked up and Harry followed his gaze. He hadn't realized they had reached the drawing room which was now crowded with Aurors and a few Ministry officials who seemed to be having a fierce argument with Chief Atalanta. But Lupin wasn't paying attention to them. He was looking at Tonks who was wearing Lupin's outer robe, resting in a lavish chair, waiting her turn to use the floo. Her hair was black as night and her eyes were just as dark framed over an aristocratic arch of eyebrows complementing her heart-shaped face. Harry thought she looked oddly familiar and he realized that this must be what she really looked liked. Horribly, she somewhat resembled Bellatrix Lestrange and Harry knew why she never appeared in her true form.

She met Lupin's gaze and held it there for a moment. A silent exchange seemed to pass between them and it was gone before Harry could observe more. But it was enough for Harry to see the love between them.

"Harry?" a voice called out tentatively. He turned around and saw Maddy and Ginny behind him. "That is you in there, is it?" asked Ginny.

"Yes, it's me. But you can ask me questions if you don't believe it?"

"Okay…" she said. "Where did I put my elbow at breakfast when you came to visit my house the day after your twelfth birthday?"

"The butter dish," Harry promptly answered. "You fancied me then and you weren't thinking straight."

Maddy giggled.

"Good enough for me," said Ginny, brightening. "But this is just weird; you with a new body and all. It will take some time to get used to."

"I know," said Harry, with a sinking feeling that he too, like Tonks now looked liked someone he hated. Unfortunately, unlike Tonks, he couldn't easily change his face. Defiantly, he messed up his perfectly neat hair as much as possible then turned to Maddy. "Turn my eyes green, will you? And add the…" He pointed to his forehead.

"My pleasure, 'Arry," she said and tapped her wand to his face to change his eye color and add his old scar.

Ginny beamed at him. "Much, much better."

One of the senior Aurors came up to them. "Tonks, the other fireplace in the next room is clear. You can floo out now."

Lupin nodded a thanks. "Ginny, could you help?" he asked. Ginny immediately walked over to them and called up a few names. Harry was surprised when three elves appeared and obeyed Ginny's orders to elevate Tonks' chair out.

"These are Hogwarts elves," explained Ginny when she saw Harry's puzzled look. "Dumbledore sent them with Dobby to help out in the assault. Dumbledore told them to obey me for the day." She grinned delightfully.

Oh, Harry!" Lupin called to him before leaving the room. "Do me a favor, will you? Grow your hair longer."

"Why?" asked Harry, puzzled.

Lupin grinned. "It's just a whim. You're not really an exact copy, but when I look at you closely now, you look a little bit like Sirius when he was young."

Harry turned to one of the many mirrors adorning the drawing room and stared at himself. He still looked liked that despicably evil wizard, but if he peered closely enough, especially when he smiled, there were certain features of Sirius that he could detect and that pleased him enormously.

From the mirror he saw Ron enter alone and approach him and Maddy who was still standing next to him, looking apprehensively at the newcomer.

"Everything alright?" Harry asked tentatively.

"Hermione's being transported ahead to St. Mungo's," he replied evenly.

"Good," Harry said. "You should go to the hospital too. We're done here anyway."

"Yes," said Ron. "Except for one thing that I've been meaning to do."

Harry was about to ask "what?" when Harry saw a clenched fist barreling in his face. He heard Maddy scream before he blacked out.

When Harry opened his eyes, it took a while for him to focus on Maddy's face.

"I deserved that." he said to Maddy.

"Zat, you did," she nodded sadly.

A/N: Thank you again for all those who reviewed and took the time to read this story. Only a few last chapters to go before I end. I'm not sure if I want to do a sequel, since it doesn't follow canon anymore. But I might consider making outtakes later. I just love Maddy so much, I don't want her character to go to waste. But I'll decide that later after I finish this.