Harry Potter and the Emerald Raindrop
AkashaWintersDisclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the Harry Potter world. JK Rowling owns the Harry Potterverse anyone who doesn't know that should be exiled to Mars, I make exceptions only for poor penniless people in remote corners of third world countries, who cannot read and don't have the money to buy the overly priced one – thousand paged books. I make no money from my poor attempt at fanfiction. A necklace of raindrops was written by Joan Aiken, I do not own any of the rights etc.
A/N: I now have three pieces of fanart to go with this story, one charcoal sketch of Pasco (Sir Michael's horse), one acrylic painting of Harry riding Taz on Hogwarts grounds and another acrylic painting of Megan in her patch work dress. If anyone would like to give their opinion of them please leave a review with some way of contact. Thanx for all your support!
VERY IMPORTANT A/N: I have to apologise for my lateness in the next chapter, I have two reasons for this, firstly I have an ongoing illness which means I have to spend a lot of time at Doctors and Hospitals and don't get as much time as I'd like to do stuff like this. Secondly, I have a pony! You heard it! My 14hh Bay Welsh Cob mare called Jessica, love you lots!
Chapter 16
Silent Night
The sun was slowing descending behind the rolling purple hills as Harry helped harness a great black Frisian horse into a wagon bedecked with garlands of black and white roses, the originally colourful wood was now painted a mournful black in tribute to the silk – wrapped bodies laid out carefully inside. There was a full turnout tonight, with the exception of Grandma Thyme who Harry had helped into a seat by a window facing out towards the camp. They all wore their best attire; silk shirt and satin waistcoats for the men and velvet medieval style dresses for the women. Funerals Harry was told, held very strong traditions, a proper send of was important as before a spirit was to be reincarnated. Harry wore a forest green waistcoat and black silk shirt he had conjured up for the occasion, it was respectful to purchase or make the clothes by hand, but lack of warning and time meant Harry had to compromise. They gypsies were not the only ones to get a makeover; the horses too were thoroughly groomed, their manes and tails plated and necks decorated with garlands of flowers.
It was also tradition for a black horse to pull the funeral wagon, soon to be set alight with pure white magical flames, and another to head the precession ridden by a close family member of the deceased. Four gypsies a dyed the day of the attack; Megan's aunt and uncle, an old man who had never married, but was related to many off the clan, and a gypsy from another group who had joined them not long ago. Old Grandma Thyme would therefore be the expectation to lead the precession, however in her present state had asked Megan, who was the next in line, to take the responsibility as she could not. Harry was to ride with Megan on his black horse and was now leading him to the front of the group as others mounted their horses or fell into line by the funeral wagon.
Harry reached Megan and helped her up onto Taz who waited patiently as Harry mounted behind her and Megan was passed a large flame –lit torch. Many of the students had come out of the castle to watch as torches were lit with white flames and the precession began to make its way to make its way past the great lake and towards the rolling hills as the sky began to darken. Dumbledore was present, as were the rest of the teachers, presumably on Dumbledore's orders, they followed along at the back with those on foot. Others were present too, many of the order and some locals from Hogsmeade. Harry was surprised, from what he had been led to believe the general wizarding public despised gypsies, or maybe those who were here had already met this particular group and, like he, had made up their minds a long time ago.
As they arrived on the top of one of the rolling, heather covered hills behind Hogwarts the precession came to a halt. The wagon was driven into a large circle of stones that lay on the ground, placed there earlier in the day. Those on foot formed a circle around the wagon just outside the stone, with those on horse back around the outside standing as though on guard. Gavin broke off from the group and stepped forward raising his hands up; the others followed his gesture.
"Those sacred to our hearts, you have left us and must now move on to a new life. We wish you well on your journey and give what we can to aid you. We hold your memories close to us, we will not forget you." As Gavin said this a great feeling of loss washed over Harry. He had not been with these people for much more than two weeks, yet they were like family to him, their grief pained him. In front of him Megan was shaking, silent tears running down here pale checks. Harry hugged her close, vowing to himself that he would make Voldermort pay for what he had done to so many people and that he would never let the small girl in his arms come to any harm.
Gavin stepped back down as two others stepped up. One man, one woman. The man spoke first as those around him still held their hands high. " David Cerneus Oldmoore, for your knowledge and wisdom; we will not forget you".
The man stepped back and the woman forward. "James Peridwen Castler, for generosity and dedication; we will not forget you." The woman stepped back and a path was cleared in front of Harry and Megan. Harry pushed Taz to walk forward as they entered the inner ring. He glanced at his teachers who watched from behind the gypsies, they seemed thoughtful, sad or respectful. He was caught by a pair of onyx eyes that stared back at him, his expression unreadable; no sneer present. Harry was brought back to the present as Megan shifted. He gave her a comforting squeeze for encouragement; she cleared her voice slightly and said the last line.
"Jasmine Artemis Dolton and Peter Herne Dolton, for your love and devotion…" Megan broke off, tears running down her face once more. Unable to continue, Harry gave her a squeeze and finished the sentence for her.
"…We will remember you." Megan held the torch out, and with the help of Harry, lit the pile of wood inside the wagon.
They retreated to the outside of the circle as the wagon was quickly engulfed in white flames that rose high in the sky, the on lookers quiet in remembrance. This was the most beautiful celebration Harry had ever been to, for it was indeed a celebration, for the lives that had past and the new lives about to begin. Harry could see the tendrils of white magic seeping out from the burning wagon weaving their way between the crowds. Harry glanced at the teachers as the white magic made its way towards them; the magic weaved around them, but did not touch them, then moved away as if rejected. As the magic reached the gypsies it wrapped around them like a soft, safe blanket and was absorbed into their bodies. A tendril of magic wrapped around himself and Megan and a warm feeling spread across his skin, and then slowly the magic seeped into them. Suddenly Harry felt as though he had been struck by lightning, not in a painful way, more as though electricity was pulsing through him, fizzy inside of him and Harry saw flashes of images. A tall man with a long grey cloak and a long grey beard in a Holly tree…A baby wrapped up in cloth in a white crib…and a garden of dead flowers and plants and a tall palm tree. Suddenly Harry came back to the present as the magic began to retreat and the magically flames began to die away. Harry looked up at the starry sky above and sighed, some one was trying to tell him something, but what?
Harry woke the next morning to a bucket of cold water.
"What's wrong? Where's the Death Eaters? Point me the right direction!" Harry yelled, falling out of bed and detangling his wand from his bed sheets.
Jay stood laughing at him, a tin bucket in one hand. "It's Sunday, you said you'd take Megan to that wizarding Alley with you today. Remember? She's waiting outside you know."
"What's the time?" Harry groaned rubbing his eyes and grabbing the nearest set of clothes.
"Nearly nine, you lazy bag of bones!" Jay laughed grabbing a horse halter from the side and walking out of the wagon and grin plastered over his face.
Harry shrugged on a shirt and pair of trousers and grabbed a slice of toast on his way out. True to Jacob's word, Megan stood excitedly by just outside the wagon a thick woollen shawl over her patchwork dress and a pair of tatty leather shoes on her normally bare feet. Harry also noticed that she had taken a good bath her long golden hair tied neatly back and her fingernails free of mud. She grinned up at him.
"Heya, ready to go?" He asked; the blonde girl nodded back enthusiastically. They walked up to the castle together and made their way to Dumbledore's office, where they would be taking the flu to Diagon Alley to shop for Harry's school things, something he had not yet got round to doing. The gargoyle sprung back as if expecting them and they ascended the golden staircase to the Headmaster's office. Harry knocked on the wooden door.
"Come in!" Harry was surprised to find Dumbledore not alone; Snape and McGonagall were also present, as were Sprout and Flitwick. Snape looked some what put out by something; the Harry remembered his promise to return to Occlumency lessons with him and mentally groaned.
"Ahh! Hello Harry, Megan!" Dumbledore beamed. Megan hid behind Harry's legs. "It's good to see you. Head of house meeting at the moment, you understand. I'll let you through quickly, take as long as you like!"
"Dumbledore stood by the fire holding out a pot of flu powder. "Thank you." Harry said taking the pot and holding it out to Megan. "Take a pinch, now step into the fire…" Megan gave him a sceptical look, but proceeded with a nod from Harry. "Now throw it down and say clearly 'Diagon Alley!' Got that?" Megan nodded and followed his directions before disappearing in a swirl of emerald flames. Harry stepped into the fire, nodding a farewell to his professor, and quickly followed.
Diagon Alley was surprisingly quiet compared to all the other times Harry had visited, there were few people around and the main street felt empty and bare. It was not so surprising really, Harry thought; most of the summer rush in Diagon Alley was largely due to the Hogwarts students shopping for their school supplies and since the term had already commenced Harry was the only student around.
Despite the cold, windy weather and the lack of shoppers, Megan seemed to be having the time of her life. She excitedly dragged Harry from shop to shop pointing at things in windows and squealing as she pulled Harry up to the pet shop. In the window sat two tabby kittens, one batted the other playfully with its pore. Harry looked down at the smiling face of the five year old, it never failed to surprise him how Megan could find something to cheer her up, even in the worse circumstances.
"When's your birthday Megan?" Harry asked, the blonde girl.
"October fourth." Came the rehearsed reply from a proud Megan, "I'll be six!"
Harry face broke into a grin. "Close enough!" He pulled a slightly confused Megan into the pet shop and lent over to whisper to the attendant. He pointed out the rainbow coloured fish in a nearby tank while the attendant worked busily behind them.
"That'll be five galleons, three sickles please!" He said, passing Harry a wicker basket. Harry handed over the change then handed the basket to Megan.
"Happy Birthday Megan!" A chorus of meows answered from the basket.
That evening Harry arrived back at the Griffindor tower to be bombarded by questions from Harry and Ron.
"Hey mate, where've you been? They wouldn't let us into the hospital wing!"
"We wanted to know what happened. Did you speak to the Headmaster, can he help?"
"Forget Dumbledore he's an interfering old coot! Fred and George have always said so!"
"What's that got to do with the price of eggs? And you shouldn't say things like that about the headmaster!"
Harry watched the playful banter smiling, his friends never failed to amuse. In fact they seemed to have completely forgotten his presence while continuing to argue.
"Oh! Sorry Harry!" Hermione said at last, calling a halt to their argument. The uncertainly she said, "we saw you at the funeral you know, we were watching from the lake. We're very sorry, I know they were close to you."
"Not really, I didn't really know any of the people who died very well, it was just… very sad." Harry concluded. "I'm sorry I didn't come to see you earlier, I was sent up to see Dumbledore as soon as I woke up yesterday, then I had to get ready for the funeral and this morning I slept in by accident and I'd promised to take Megan to Diagon Alley with me to do my school shopping."
"That's ok, we understand mate." Ron said, flopping into an armchair by the fire.
"So, what did the headmaster say?" Hermione asked, perching on an arm of Ron's chair.
"Not much really, he mainly wanted to know about my summer and stuff" Harry replied shrugging and taking a seat himself.
"But what about your, you know, magic thing yesterday?" Ron whispered.
"He seemed impressed that I could do natural magic" Harry replied a flush appearing on his face as he remembered Dumbledore's comment and more importantly, Snape's look. The flush grew a bit more.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of Harry it's a gift you know." Hermione said confidently mistaking the reason behind his flushed face.
"Er, right. So anyway, " Harry continued quickly, "He just thinks that I accidentally let out too much magic and over did it, that's what caused me to pass out. He says I need to control my power and emotions. He's making me take lessons from Snape again." Harry replied scowling.
"That shouldn't be so bad should it? You two were getting on a lot better last year" Hermione said positively.
"Yer, but now he's gone and upset him with that picture thing! One thing's for sure, that old git sure know how to hold a grudge. Have you seen the way he's been looking at Harry recently its like he wants to tie him up and beat him to a small pulp!" Ron argued loudly.
"Ron!"
Harry let the voices of his two best friends wash over him as he thought about the way Snape had been looking at him. No, not tie him up and beat him more like…tie him up and strip him…
That night Harry dreamt of long white fingers and soft pale lips and dark silky hair. He woke early the next morning to find his body covered in sweat and an uncomfortable tightness in his groin. "Oh God!" Harry thought frantically. "No! This is not happening!"
Chapter 17…. Lucius Malfoy…you'll have to wait and see!
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