So, here are two new chapters. The next chapters finally contain some action!

resaispoe: thanks, glad that you like the way I'm writing

Starreader1: thanks very much!

In case, you've already read this chapter, I made a change. I inserted a scene I had forgotten and moved another one in a later chapter. 11-5-04

Star and Lightning

26th Chapter – Telling the Truth and Restrictions

"Harry, Hermione, come on. Let's go to bed. It's well past midnight." Ron grouched. He was sitting in the Gryfindor Common Room together with Harry and Hermione. Hermione was curled up in her favorite armchair reading and raised her head now. Harry sat in an other armchair, a heavy, old-loking book on his lap. Ron was sleepy and tired of reading about how to take care of Drake Cubs.

"You can go." Harry said without looking up. "I need to finish this chapter at least."

Ron was taken aback. Harry had never been a studiosous student. He seemed to be studying more this year, especially Defence Against The Dark Arts. Ron had noticed and wondered about this change since the beginning of the year and decided to ask: "Why do you suddenly read so much?"

"'Cause I need to prepare." Was the short, grumpy reply.

"Prepare for what?" Hermione queeried.

Harry finally looked up and seemed to be pondering. Ron squirmed under his intense gaze and jumped when Harry slammed the book shut and kneed in front of the fireplace.

"To fight Voldemort." he said quietly. Ron flinched at the name and frowned confusedly.

"You don't have to fight him." Hermione said in her teacher-like way. "That you defeated him when you were one year old, eleven, twelve… well, that doesn't mean that you have to defeat him again. I mean, I appreciate that you're studying but don't focus on Voldemort too much, Harry, especially not now."

"You don't understand. You can't understand." Harry muttered and continued staring at the flames. Ron and Hermione looked at each other helplessly. Ron was worried for even Hermione shrugged and didn't know what else to say.

Finally, he broke the silence and said: "Then explain it to us. You know, that you can trust us, Harry."

An eternity seemed to pass until Harry turned around with a look of determination on his face. "Do you remember the prophecy, Voldemort wanted?"

And he told them of the prophecy and what that meant for him…

Albus Dumbledore sat in his office reading a heavy book when someone knocked his door. He looked up from his book and felt the presence of Kingsley Shaklebolt and Elisha Potter. Smiling, he put his book away and told them to enter. Kingsley came in shoving Elisha in front of him. Albus frowned and motioned them to sit down.

Fawkes whistled softly and flew over to Elisha who greeted him fondly. But when she stretched out a hand and wanted to stroke him, he took his head back and looked into her eyes. She let her hand sink and a shadow crossed her face. Fawkes shook his head and shuffled his feathers, then he took off and returned to his perch.

Albus became worried. Why had Fawkes rejected Elisha? Kingsley, who hadn't noticed Fawkes' weird reaction, started speaking: "Professor Dumbledore, Miss Potter has an unusual request: She wishes unlimited access to the restricted section of the library."

Albus turned to her, surprised, and asked: "Unlimited access?" She nodded. "That's an unsusual request. You can certainely get single books, but unlimited access to all of them… Why?"

"I want to read them" was her simple answer.

"Isn't the library big enough? I doubt that you already read all the books that are unrestricted." He chuckled slightly.

Her eyes narrowed defiantly. "I haven't read them all, but when I came here, you told me that I can learn. That I can finally learn whatever I want to. So, why are there books I'm forbidden to read?"

"Elisha, please understand," he leaned forward on his desk, the merry twinkling leaving his blue eyes. "that knowledge can be dangerous. Certain magic can be dangerous. Those books, that you wish to see, contain dangerous knowledge. They are only given out when the student is doing a project and is supervised by a teacher. I can't give you unlimited access to the restricted section."

"But there are books about topics I'm interested in." she replied.

"Surely, you can find something about those topics …"

"No," she interrupted him. "What I find in the unrestricted books is much to vague to be of any use. But if I can't get unlimited access, can I at least get these books?"

When Albus scanned the list of books she had handed him, he paled. Then he looked up gravely. He looked into her dark eyes and tried to reach her mind but she blocked him. How, he had no idea. Now, he really was concerned. Something was terribly wrong here.

"Why do you want to know so much about the Dark Arts? Why do you want to have these books?" he asked solemnly.

"I'm interested in them" she answered impodently. "Is there a problem with that?"

"Indeed, there is." He sighed and explained slowly in a serious tone: "The Dark Arts can be very obsessing. They suck your warmth and life energy. I've seen people practicing the Dark Arts and becoming empty shells ruled only by the greed for power. The Dark can take people over." His voice dropped to a whisper."I've known Lord Voldemort before he became Lord Voldemort, when he still was Tom Riddle, a student at this school. Then he travelled the world occupying himself with the darkest of the Dark Arts and when he came back hardly anyone recongnised him. The Dark Arts have taken their toll on him You know what he is now. Remember, the Dark Arts bring out the worst in people." He regained some loudness. "What do you want to do with them anyhow? One can do no good with Dark Magic."

She was quiet for a moment, then she blurted: "But how shall we defend ourselves against the Dark Arts if we don't even know what they are? You can't teach us Defence Against the Dark Arts without teaching the basics of Dark Arts."

"The Dark Arts are dangerous, Elisha. They can change people's mind. Young people are especially susceptible to them. ThatÄs why they are not taught at Hogwarts. I don't want you to meddle with them. Is that clear?" When she avoided his gaze and didn't answer, he repeated his question: "Is that clear, Miss Potter?"

"Yes." She spat. "Can I go now, Professor?"

He nodded and dismissed her, then he looked gravely at Kingsley. Was it too late? What had they done wrong?