Chapter 28: Purification

Harry and Sean appeared about a mile outside of the monastery. Harry turned to Sean, who held his left boot in his hand with a bandage around where Scrimgeour had stabbed him in the left foot.

"Can you walk?" Harry asked Sean.

"Just let me lean on you" Sean said, "I don't need you to carry me."

They continued on for several minutes before they reached the gates and were greeted by the usual guard.

"Sean Alexander O'Sullivan and honorary Knight Harry Potter, Ireland and England respectfully. We are here with permission from the Priest for purification."

After a few moments the gates opened and Sean and Harry walked in. Everything that was going on stopped as they saw Sean come in being supported by his student. Both of them were wearing what they had the night before, the clothes were stained with blood and Sean's arrow case was completely empty.

The onlookers wondered what had happened and what Harry and Sean had been doing. They figured they had gone on an assignment, and that they had to have succeeded, but there was something about them that was different. The Sagart met them as they came in and spoke to Sean.

"And what happened?" the Priest asked Sean in Gaelic.

"We did it" Sean answered simply, "we all did it. Raiganzi and the Dark Lord are dead."

The Priest clasped his hands together and uttered a brief but sincere prayer of thanks.

"I have a couple of things I want to give to you" Sean said to the Priest after a moment. Sean then handed the Priest his katana and the ring he had taken from the head vampire. "That's the sword that killed Raiganzi and a ring I took from his finger after I killed him…do with them what you will."

The Priest paused momentarily after accepting them and said, "these are going straight to the trophy case. A fitting tribute to one of the finest Knights in the history of the Order."

The Priest then took the two young warriors into the building that doubled as his office and quarters. When Harry saw the trophy case, he remembered the sword he had wielded and presented it to the Priest, thanking him for the honor of using it.

They walked along the bottom floor, along the trophy case, the Priest stopped briefly to put the sword of Theseus back in it's place and then continued onward, stopping when they got to a place with some room. The Priest opened the case and carefully placed the sword and ring inside.

"We will prepare an inscription for them immediately" the Priest said in English so that Harry could understand.

Harry smiled at this, and the three of them went up the stairs to the Sagart's quarters. When they got there, Harry noticed them going towards a side door that he hadn't noticed before. He figured that it must be the purification chamber.

Upon entering, Harry noticed that the room was very—there was no other word for it—celestial in appearance. The walls were the purest white he had ever seen, and it was decorated with paintings of men dressed in white and looking very pure and almost angelic. Harry also noticed what appeared to be an operating table, set up in the middle of the room beside some kind of drain.

"I will go first" Sean said to the Sagart in Gaelic, "then I will take the boy to the chamber."

Sean had been through this process before so he knew what to do. He removed the bandage and stood on his feet despite the pain in his left one. He then undressed completely until he was completely naked in front of the Sagart. Harry watched all this, paying attention to any ritualistic movements Sean might make.

The Priest looked Sean over for wounds that would mark that he had been changed, specifically bite marks, and when he found none brought a vial full of what looked like olive oil, along with an object that looked much like a wand, forward and faced Sean.

"You have faced a great evil of the outer world in this one. You have done this not for yourself, but for your fellow man, so that good and peace may ultimately reign on this Earth."

He brought the wand out of the oil and made the sign of a cross on the bridge of Sean's forehead, "may your mind be cleansed of any impure thoughts or malice toward your foe."

The Priest then dipped the wand into the oil a second time and made the same sign of the cross over Sean's heart.

"May your heart be cleansed of any hate that may have entered in the heat of battle, and may you continue on with a pure heart."

The Priest motioned for Sean to lie on the table. The priest then brought a basin of water over to where Sean lay.

"This water," the Priest began, "is symbolic of the blood of our Savior. Shed so that we may be made pure, now let His sacrifice purify your body and soul."

The Priest then slowly and methodically emptied the basin onto Sean, first on the front part of his body, and then Sean turned over for the Sagart to pour the rest onto the other side of his body. Harry noticed the blood over Sean's wounds flow away and the open wound on his foot become sealed.

"Like magic" Harry thought to himself.

After the water had been poured over Sean, the Priest spoke once more.

"Sean Alexander O'Sullivan, you have now been anointed and washed clean of the evils of the demons you have fought for God and man. Arise pure and continue to remain so." Sean stood up and performed the bow and salute he did for his Sagart, then the Priest pulled a lever and the table turned over, pouring the water down the drain.

Sean said something to the Sagart as he waved Harry over. As Harry began to undress as he had seen Sean do, Sean put on a full body robe then crossed his arms over his chest as he waited for Harry to be finished. Harry raised his arms as he had seen Sean do earlier and waited for the Priest to continue. The Priest finished examining Harry and returned with the oil and wand.

The ceremony went along in the same fashion for Harry; the only difference was after the Priest had poured the water over him he called him by his full name, Harry James Potter, before pronouncing his final blessing.

After Harry had done his own bow and salute to the Priest, he dressed in the robe Sean held out to him. The two of them then left the room and continued down the hallway until Sean opened a door with a slot in the bottom for people to slide in food and showed Harry inside. The room was empty except for two beds and a few books.

"What's this doing here?" Sean wondered aloud as he limped over to the falcon perch that was also inside.

"Probably for Regal" Harry commented from where he sat on the bed he had chosen.

"You're probably right," Sean said, "he should still be at your house."

"So," Harry asked, "how come the water cleansed you like that?"

Sean smiled as he answered, "it's like our own kind of magic, only ours comes from God. That water is blessed by holy men for the purpose of healing those who fight the evils of this world and the one below it."

Harry was awestruck by this, and he suddenly had a very real reverence for Deity run over him.

"Is this how Bill's face healed so fast?" Harry asked Sean.

"Aye," Sean answered, "some Knights went to your mentor's funeral and gave the nurse at Hogwarts an urn full of that water, which she used on Bill."

"What do we do for the three days we're in purification?" Harry asked.

Sean paused before answering, "the solitary time during purification is normally devoted to meditation and contemplation." Sean paused a moment before giving Harry his suggestion, "I would suggest that you contemplate where your life is going now that you are free to live it."

Harry silently agreed with Sean about this, he did have a lot to think about concerning his future. A few moments later two plates came in through the slot in the door.

"We got here just before lunch," Sean said, "we will be out of here on Friday afternoon, and then you need to get back to your school."

They ate their lunch and then kept to themselves for the rest of the day. Harry spent most of his time looking out the window and thinking about his life. Now more than ever he was sure he would make a great Auror, he had his knowledge of magic and now, thanks to Sean's strict and patient training, he had combat skills that were unrivaled in the magical world. He also wanted Hermione in his life, he knew he wanted to marry her, but he also knew that they should finish school first.

Sean sat cross-legged on the ground and meditated long and hard on all that had transpired in his life. He had not expected to survive the battle; now that he had he did not know what he would do. His purpose had been to serve the Order, but underlying it was always the desire to destroy the one who had killed his family. He emptied his mind and tried to search for answers, with his mind empty he listened to his heart and tried to find where it was leading him.

The first recognizable thing he saw was a beautiful girl, with long flowing red hair and perfect eyes that seemed to draw him in like one of Harry's accio charms. He knew who she was, she was the only one who did this to him, she was Ginerva Weasley. He then realized that he was in the same state of mind that he had been when he was on the point of death, and he heard Bill's voice begging him to stay for his sister.

Sean opened his eyes, he had accepted the fact that he was attracted to the young woman, but he did not know what to do at this point. He realized that he should have died that night, but that he was called back and responded. He was counting on staying in the Order of St. George, and he did not think that he would be allowed to marry or that she would want to be with him, but he also had to factor in that now that Raiganzi was dead, it would only be a matter of time before the vampires were extinct, and when that happened he would be relieved from the Order.

The second day came with Sean and Harry going about their usual routine of contemplation and eating when they had a visitor.

"Regal!" Sean said as his falcon swooped in and landed on the perch that had been set up there. Sean began speaking to his falcon in Gaelic and stroking his head and feathers while Regal nipped at his finger affectionately.

"What's this?" Harry said as he came next to Sean and pointed to Regal's leg.

Sean looked and found a piece of parchment tied around Regal's leg. He removed the note and began to read it.

"This is interesting" Sean said as he read the note.

"What does it say?" Harry asked.

"See for yourself" Sean said as he handed Harry the note.

The first thing Harry noticed was the Hogwarts seal and letterhead, it was identical to the note he received when he was still living in the cupboard under the stairs at 4 Privett Drive. He read the note:

Mr. O'Sullivan:

After recent events to which you were a partied, your presence is demanded at the opening ceremony for the upcoming Hogwarts term. The Priest at your monastery is here now and will also be present at the event. Please arrive promptly an hour before the ceremony so that we may seat you before the students arrive. We sent your falcon from Hogwarts, so if needed he can be used to communicate between you and the school. We look forward to seeing you, note that the ceremony is best dress.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress.

Harry finished reading the letter and got a smile on his face as he turned to Sean. "Looks like you'll be coming with me then?" he said to Sean.

"Indeed" he answered, "my presence is demanded."

There was one more thing that Harry wondered about. He remembered that he felt there was something Sean was trying to teach him when they took the horses up the cliff. After two days in the purification chamber, he was confident that he knew the answer, but he wanted confirmation.

"Master?" Harry said to Sean.

"Hm?" he responded.

"I think I know what you wanted me to learn from that day we first arrived."

"I was thinking that you hadn't learned anything from that day" Sean began, "what is it that you learned from that experience?"

Harry paused as he tried to word his thoughts. "I think that you were trying to show me that…when we are faced with a challenge that seems impossible, and we don't know what to do. That if we will put our trust in someone who knows the way and follow them, that we will be led to where we need to go, and we'll end up okay."

A smile crossed Sean's face as he answered, "I couldn't have said it any better myself." Sean's face returned to his usual stone set expression as he continued, "but it is vitally important to choose a 'someone' who is a good man. There are many who can show you the way…but only some of them will take you down the right path."

Sean ended this thought and then looked at Harry in an attempt to gage his reaction.

Harry looked at Sean, "I am glad that I had the fortune to fall in with Dumbledore and then you for mentors. You're both real heroes."

Sean answered in a tone that showed honesty, "I've said it before and I'll say it again…I'm no hero."

Harry decided not to pursue the subject, but he couldn't help emptying his mind while he was facing Sean. The dream that Sean had about Ginny came into Harry's mind, and he wasn't sure how to react. After a while though, Harry began meditating on another point and wanted Sean's input.

"Master" Harry said to Sean. "There was one other thing I wanted to ask you about."

Sean turned his attention to Harry, "go on."

"Well," Harry began, "some time ago I went to a place where there was a prophesy about me. It said that my destiny was to either be killed by Voldemort or to become a murderer. Now that I am still alive, and he is dead, I was wondering…am I a murderer."

Sean paused for a moment before giving his answer. "Do you remember what I told you that night under the stars about destiny?" Harry nodded. "Now is when you apply it. You chose to fight against a man who wanted you dead. No man, including you, is a murderer who fights and destroys evil in order to protect and preserve innocence and good. You are not a murderer."

"But what about the prophecy?" Harry asked Sean.

"I will say this once and for all," Sean began in answer, "no man's fate is predetermined…nothing is written."

The rest of the day passed in silence and contemplation with Sean wondering what he would do if all the vampires were destroyed, and with them the need for vampire hunters, and Harry wondering about what Sean had said and how he could talk to him about Ginny and what he saw.

When the two of them awoke in the morning, Harry was surprised to find that he awoke with more anxiety and apprehension then he had at any other time in his life.

Sean was still asleep, "that's a first," Harry thought to himself as he saw Sean sleeping peacefully.

"Maybe he's dreaming of Ginny" Harry thought to himself with a smile.

After a while, their breakfasts were slid into the room. Harry decided that now was a good time to wake up Sean.

Harry shook Sean the way Sean had done to him so many times in the past several weeks. Sean awoke slowly and with a very confused manner, he hadn't been awakened like this since he was six years old.

"What is it?" Sean asked with so much confusion in his voice that Harry found it difficult to stifle a laugh.

"Breakfast is here," he said simply, "and there is also something I think you want to talk to me about before you go to Hogwarts."

Sean didn't believe in psychics, and he knew that he sure wasn't one, but he could tell that Harry knew about Ginny.

Sean and Harry began to eat their oatmeal. There was an uneasy silence between the two of them.

"So," Harry began to Sean thinking that this was all rather awkward, "how exactly do you feel about Ginny?"

Sean responded without pause, "you mean Bill's sister Ginerva? She's a good young girl, but I know that nothing will happen between us." Sean paused after saying this and sighed out, "I just think she was the first normal person I had ever met. Someone who wasn't a demon or an Order member or someone that I needed to be official with."

Harry nodded in understanding, realizing that it was good for Sean to have met Ginny; it was good for him to have had experience in dealing with normal people.

For the next little while, Harry talked to Sean about the normal proceedings of the Opening Feast, he figured that they would be similar to the upcoming opening ceremony.

"What do you think you will do now?" Harry asked Sean.

"I plan on returning here and then going after what's left of the vampires."

"Well" Harry said, "you may want to read this first, it came in with breakfast." Harry handed Sean a note from the Priest.

"What does it say?" Sean asked to Harry.

"It's in a foreign language," Harry said "I figure that it's Gaelic."

Sean took the note, noticing that it had been written nearly a week before and read it.

My son:

I have been in correspondence with the supreme leaders of the Order and what we have been talking about will be of great interest to you seeing as how it affects you directly. If you are reading this, then you have succeeded and survived, and God be praised for it. The Headmistress of Hogwarts has invited us to the Opening Ceremony should the best happen. I would like you to talk with me for a while to discuss your future.

I understand that you will most likely want to continue with the Order, and that is good because there are still vampires out there and you are the best vampire hunter we have. However, the death of the head vampire would cause an effect to the other vampires that would undoubtedly lead to their extinction, in which case there would no longer be a need for vampire hunters.

The supreme leaders believe that the remaining vampire hunters are more than capable of destroying the remaining vampires. Therefore, effective immediately, you are hereby relieved of your status as a Knight of the Order of St. George.

However, the leaders of the Order wish you to still be affiliated with the Order. Specifically, since you are proficient in so many different methods of combat, they would like for you to train the Knights and new recruits. However, we are all in agreement that after the vampires have been destroyed, who you will be relieved from the Order as a Knight. The supreme leaders would still like for you to come and train as often as you can after this point. I will be praying that this letter finds you and that all goes well, I hope to see you at the ceremony. Sagart Michael O'Connell.

Sean paused after reading this, and just by looking at him, Harry could tell that what he had read struck a chord.

"Master?" Harry asked after a little while, "What is it?"

Sean thought for a moment about how to word what the letter entailed before answering.

"It's from the Priest," Sean said, "he says that I'm relieved from the Order."

Harry could understand how much this affected Sean, he had said that the Order gave him purpose, and now he would soon be without that.

"They are relieving you entirely?" Harry asked with mild disbelief.

"No," Sean said, "they want me to come back when I can to train Knights and new recruits in how to fight. But, that's only in my spare time."

Harry paused at this for a moment, he was wondering what to say next. He could see that the subject of his leaving the Order was upsetting to Sean, so he chose to change the subject.

"So," Harry began, "looks like now you actually do have a chance with Ginny."

Harry looked at his friend and mentor and saw the uncertainty sprawled across his face, obviously at the prospect of having a new kind of life than what he was used to. He wanted to help him, but he didn't know how.

"Well," Harry said after a while, "look at it as a new beginning…the possibilities are endless."

Sean responded by saying "This will be completely new for me, it would be like you moving to a human city and taking some kind of desk job."

Harry answered him after a brief pause, "I see what you mean."

After a moment, an idea came to Harry. "I have a cousin who does boxing. In the Muggle world, being a fighter can be a very lucrative profession…and you'd be unbeatable."

Sean smirked slightly at this, "you really think so?" he asked Harry.

"Yeah," Harry answered, "you can kill a werewolf with your bare hands, so out boxing another Muggle shouldn't be a problem for you."

The rest of the time was spent by both of them in contemplation. Sean began to think about his future, but also remembered what had happened with him and Ginny some time ago. Now he knew that him getting married was a real possibility…and he didn't want anyone to know, but he thought that he was falling in love with Ginerva Weasley. A few moments later, the door opened and a Knight informed them that their purification was complete.