The Visitor – or - A Prophecy Fulfilled

Somewhere, near Hogwarts, on a lonely stretch of road that headed to Hogsmead, there suddenly appeared a man, a young man. He was dressed as all normal wizards dress with no outstanding quality about him, nothing unusual to make him stand out from the ordinary young wizard. He was headed into town to locate someone. A very special someone whom he was told would be expecting him.

It'd been a millennium since he'd last been here.

Whether or not his identity would be known, he didn't know. But this was his last chance to start making amends. Trust is the first item on his itinerary.

He had no walking stick for support. He was young and fairly agile so onward he walked into the small wizarding village. It was summertime, so the school was not in session. This was good for him, that way no one would wonder why he was out of school. As he walked onward, he just looked around at all the features that surrounded him. Seeing the natural beauty of the area surprised him. It was something that, before, he never took notice of. Now, now he did. And he liked what he saw.

'So much time has been wasted in the past,' he thought, 'but not anymore, not anymore. This time, I'll make every day count for something good. I don't know how, but I will'. So, onward he continued walking.

He came into the town and saw others there, going about their business. He looked upwards, slightly, and saw the great castle. It dominated the town's skyline so that it's location would not have to be asked. The young man continued walking towards it and found the gates to the castle open. Here, he hesitated. Once he crossed these gates, he was committed. She would immediately know that he was here. In his mind, there was no doubt. He had to go in, for if he did not, he'd be breaking one of the absolute rules that were set down for him. Penalties for him were immediate, and as far as he knew, permanent. That, he didn't want to face, so he looked at the task he was here to do. It wasn't so difficult. Any first year could do it without hesitation, but for him, it was a monumental task of such proportions that he could barely conceive of completing, let alone starting with the idea that he could successfully complete it.

He was, in short, scared.

An emotion that had never crossed him in his life since meeting her that eventful day.

Never, never had he met anyone like her. But here he stopped thinking like that and remembered that she was just like the people he'd just left. They told him that she was just like they were: Kind, considerate, charitable, forgiving. So, he did what he had to do to complete his mission: Slowly, ever so slowly, he placed one foot just inside the gates onto the Grounds of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardy and continued his way up the road towards the Great Castle.

Inside, Lily was at her desk, in her office, finishing her paperwork when an impression of staggering proportions came to her!

She had a visitor. And not just any visitor.

He was here!

On the grounds of the school!

She'd been expecting him, but THAT was one thing. To actually have to meet him, again, was quite another. Her emotions were running the gamut from joy to rage to immediate protection of all she knew and loved. But, she slowly calmed down and made a statement to someone whom she knew was always there with her, watching, listening, observing her progress. None she worked with could feel his presence but her. None, that is, in the Magical World, BUT, there was that one exception and he was a Muggle. That had been so long ago, almost a millennium, but she fondly remembered him. She smiled to herself and her memories of him calmed her down. She was no longer afraid of what she was going to do now. Promises were given, were made, jobs had to be done, and she knew all would be ok in the end. She didn't have to worry. The worry, if any was already taken care of, she didn't have to do that.

Slowly, Lily, got to her feet and walked over to the windows and looked out across the spacious grounds and saw the visitor approaching. She just looked out at him and watched his progress.

'He looks so different now, just like one of my 6th or 7th year students.' Lily mused to herself. She smiled slightly and her heart was filled with much compassion for him. She knew his background, all of it, and she was very much amazed by how he'd chosen this path in his life. Not many in his circumstances would, or have, chosen this way, but he had. She knew of the many obstacles he'd already had to face just to get this far. Just the simple act of walking up this very road to this castle took enormous undertaking of admitting your errors of past mistakes and wanting to do much better. She'd help him every step of the way from now on. That, was part of her job. Of course, she'd have to have some help. She knew where she'd get that from, not that it'd be easy, but, still, she knew, in the end she'd get the help she would so desperately need for him.

Of her many titles, that indicated her accomplishments, another would be added: Advocate.

She'd been doing that for a long, long time now and she'd been very successful. Her people had changed since the days when she'd first been here as Headmistress. Today, no one in the Magical World could be found could even recall, or remember anyone else being here as the Head of this School, she'd been here that long. The notable exception to that were her family – and of course, one other exception for whom Lily had gone to her Father and pleaded. That exception could be succinctly noted in her son's summation at the end of his 2nd year when standing in the Great Hall at Suppertime: 'It'd not be Hogwarts without you, Hagrid.'

Lily remembered that time fondly:

"Hagrid, how are you this lovely morning?" Lily walked out to his hut where he stayed. She'd noticed that he was getting around slower and slower recently. He'd been with them for a very long time. Of course, being a half giant gave him a longer life span, still he was mortal and now, recently, Hagrid was feeling every bit of his long life.

"Oh, 'ello, Lily. It's so good to see ye'. I'd been thinking o' ye. Been wanting to talk wit' ye." Hagrid invited her in and he went to sit down in his comfortable chair beside the fireplace.

Lily could see that Hagrid was hurting, painfully hurting. She saw him just sitting there and trying to catch his breath. He was a brave man. He was of the house of Gryffindor and he'd never shown any other way than courage in the face of great obstacles. But here was one obstacle that he knew, deep down, that he'd have to face alone, he knew that he'd eventually fall and succumb to it: death.

But not if Lily could intervene for him. She'd gone to her Father for a special request.

Lily had watched Hagrid's progress for many years now, watched him becoming slower in his movements and how he carried out his tasks. He never complained, not even to himself. He just took what came his way as his portion in life and felt very grateful for what he had. Lily knew this because she delved into his mind and looked into his great heart and saw nothing but love and acceptance of others at face value. There, she saw no guile, no envy, nor hatred. Lily sat there remembering all those lovely memories of such a sweet man as who was sitting here before her.

So, she went to her Father, on her knees, begging and pleading for him not as IF he was one of her family, but by the fact that she, Lily, considered him one of her family. The request she'd made for him, on his behalf was granted unto her, but, only if Hagrid wanted it. It could not be forced upon him, for doing so would violate his Free Agency. So, here she was, she was about to make Hagrid an offer for him to consider, one not to be take lightly. He'd have the rest of his natural, mortal life to consider it whether or not to accept it or reject it.

"Hagrid, I've been wanting to talk with you. I've got something for you, or rather, I'm here to make an offer to you. You need not accept it today, unless you want to. You can think about it for the rest of your natural life whether or not to accept it. Whatever you decide, just come to me and tell me. When you tell me, it will take effect immediately."

Hagrid looked at Lily with a surprise on his great face. "Ye mean ye hav' a surprise fer me? Why, it's not even' me birthday and all of that. But, coming from you, Lily, I know I'll love it and appreciate it forever." Hagrid winced in pain some and it caught his breath so much that he couldn't breath. A change came over Hagrid, for he looked at Lily and as he did so, great tears came out of his loving eyes and rolled down onto his face and bushy beard. "Lily, I got something to tell ye'. Ye've known that I've no family, of course, 'cepting for who's I know here at Hogwarts. I've been here since I've been in me first year and all. If it weren't fer Dumbledore, great man that he is, and of ye too, I don't know what would have become o' me." Hagrid stopped talking for a while, and just looked at Lily, his lower lip trembling. He was trying to say something, but here, now, for the first time, his courage slipped. He turned his head to look into the fireplace, watching the fire.

Lily got up and walked over to him placing her arm onto his shoulder and rubbed his back and shoulder gently. "Hagrid, look at me." Lily said gently. Hagrid turned his head and looked at her, timidly. "you've known me since my first year here and comforted me when I came here after I was called a 'mudblood', you said I was the best witch and that there was no spell that I couldn't do. You bolstered my courage and gave me love and friendship in abundance. I know your pain that you suffer. You know that of all the people in our world that James and I are the most different and unique. You know why that it is. You've seen what I can do and you've seen the compassion and love I've given to everyone who crosses my path. Even those who least deserve it."

Hagrid continued looking at Lily, still silent. He was a man of few words but much work and action. "Thank ye, Lily, but I don't deserve all that from ye. Ye see just me differently than most folks do."

"Hagrid, I'm here to give you a gift. One that'll relieve your physical suffering. It's not a magical gift, but a spiritual one. It'll heal you completely, thoroughly. But, I can only give it to you IF you really want it. I can't force it upon you. Oh, Hagrid, I've seen just how much you've been suffering for a long time now and today, I've come to help you. I've asked Father, for you, for this same gift that he's given me and my family, to be given to you. Hagrid, it is the greatest of Fathers' Gifts. You'll be as we are. You are the only one outside our immediate family to be as we are. You won't be entirely as I and James are, but you'll be as the rest of the Weasley's are, you'll never be sick, you'll never grow old physically, and you'll never die. You'll be young again with all the joys of your youth that goes with it."

Hagrid sat there, stunned. Of all the gifts that he thought he'd get, this one, he didn't even think of imagining.

"Lily, you mean that it's like one of those potions that Professor Snape used to brew up that'd prevent ye from dieing or like the Phoenix tears?"

"No, it's a gift from Father, it's not of this world. It can't be forced upon you. You have to accept it with your own free will. But, Hagrid, remember: nothing is free. There is a price. That price is not anything to fear, nothing Dark, instead you'll have to work with me, doing what Father asks of you."

Lily looked into Hagrid's eyes and into his mind, his soul and saw friendliness, and compassion. She'd chosen right. She smiled at him and hugged him.

"Why me, Lily, why me?"

"Because of what's in your heart, Hagrid. Father sees what 's there, and so do I. You've nothing to fear from me nor Father, Hagrid. Just keep on doing what you've been doing, just being who you are and being kind to others. That's all you have to do in return. Hagrid, you'll be with me and my family forever. You didn't think you had a family, well you've got one now. We're all one great big happy family. And We all love you dearly. I've talked about this with my family and they've agreed, as I knew they would."

Hagrid just sat there, speechless. He reached over to Lily and his hand started to shake. He started to cry and just couldn't help himself. Lily got a handkerchief and dabbed his eyes some.

"That's ok, Hagrid, that's ok. All will be well with you, and that's a promise that will not be broken."

"Thank ye, Lily, thank ye so much. I just don't know what to say, but, but, I'll take ye gift and be one of ye family." Looking at her, he added: "Will I feel anymore pain?"

"No more physical pain. Just rest here for the rest of the day and when you get up in the morning, you'll be a new man. Come see me then and we'll eat breakfast together in the Great Hall - together. I'd like that. Oh, and if you can, come have supper with me this evening in the Great Hall, I'll have your chair sitting beside me, where it should be from now on. If you feel you can't make it, I'll bring supper down here myself for you. I want you to take good care of yourself."

"I'll be there tonight for supper, I'll make it, if ye feel that strongly. And Lily, I'll always be here for ye. I'll always do what ye ask of me. I just can't repay ye for the kindness ye've shown me."

"I've been repaid already, just by being here, and being a Mum to my son."

Lily stood there at the window and remembered that fateful day with Hagrid, with Love and affection. Time to move on now, and she left to go down to the Great Doors to receive her visitor.

Lily needed her family. This job was akin to making a very long voyage, so she needed someone to talk with that would be with her, someone in the 'here and now' and she'd chosen wisely.

Many thoughts went through her mind while watching her visitor walk up that long road to the Castle, many thoughts.

Time for me to receive my visitor. So, She left to go downstairs.

There at the Great Doors that lead out of the Castle Lily stood waiting for her visitor. No one else was about, and for this first meeting, Lily was grateful.

"Hello, Tom. I see you made it here. Did you have any trouble getting here?"

Tom Stopped, hesitantly at even speaking to her. He was afraid he'd say or do something wrong and even that he couldn't afford to do. So, he just hung his head down and mumbled out "No trouble, thank you."

A feeling of compassion for Tom came over Lily immediately. She knew wenst it came, it's source. "Tom, look up at me, please." Lily reached out to him taking his hand in hers, gently.

Tom looked up at her, slowly, hesitantly. He was starting to shake, the tremors evident in his hand that Lily now held.

Lily could feel it. Even a Muggle could see how afraid Tom was.

"Tom, you've no reason to fear me. I'm not here to hurt you or embarrass you in any way. I'm here to help you every step of the way. It'll take a long time, which we've got. We also have some work for you to do. It'll all be within your capabilities. There'll be no pressure on you, just remember the basic rules that Father gave you and all will be well."

Tom looked up at Lily and for the first time since he arrived here, he felt a small bit of hope within his heart. He began to smile, just a little.

Lily still had hold of his hand and said to him: "Come inside with me to my office. I'll call Dobby, the house elf and see that he places you in a room of your very own and gets you something to eat and drink. You'll need to rest some."

Looking at her, very unsure of himself, "Are you sure it's ok for me to even be with you – here?"

"Yes, Tom. It's different now than it was previously, things have changed some but I'll always be here to help. We still teach our young students the basic principles of their inheritant Magical abilities. So, come, walk with me. Lets get to know one another better."

Lily lead Tom through the Castle upstairs to her office, past the Gargoyles up the winding staircase and into her office.

"Have a seat, Tom, please, make yourself comfortable."

Lily went to her desk and sat down. "To begin with, I'm the only one here who knows who you are and that you've returned. My family are the only ones who'll know you and remember you. I've got to talk with them. I've been talking with them for some time now, preparing them for who I referred to as a 'visitor' although I've never told them nor anyone else who that visitor is, being you, of course. They are sensitive people, and I have to walk gently with them, especially my son, Harry and his wife, Ginny."

Lily got up from her desk and walked around it and leaned against the front of her desk, being a little nearer to Tom. "Harry is one I can work with. He listens to me, he understands and loves me dearly. They all do, but not like Harry. I guess its that Mother-Son relationship that helps."

Lily stopped talking for a while and just looked away and gathered her thoughts, gently, about the next topic of her conversation with her visitor.

Hesitantly, Lily began again. "Ginny is the one I'm truly worried about. She has courage, magnificence courage in the face of any adversity. But, she, like us all has her breaking point, although it's way far and above that which the rest of us face. For these past thousand years, she's never mentioned her first year or her troubles, and that's what worries me. We – our family – can handle her, but it's going to take time. I just don't want her to break down completely. She has to be comfortable first. That'll be my job to initiate it, to get that part started."

"If she's that fragile, maybe I should just not do this. Maybe you can think of another way, keep my identity just between you and I? I don't want to hurt anyone ever again. It's not worth it." Tom hung his head down and whispered to himself: "I'm not worth it anymore."

Lily went over to Tom, and bending down, took his hands in hers, both of them. "Tom, look up at me." He hesitated. "Look at me, Tom. Please, please." Tom gradually looked up at Lily.

"Tom, You have that spark of humanity still in you. Father wants you back and I do to. You have much abilities, great abilities that you can share with the rest of us, with my students who are just aching to be taught by someone who truly knows his abilities. AND, who knows his limits."

Tom looked at Lily, surprised at what she said, and intimidated: Teaching? Him? Not even Dumbledore wanted him here and now he's hearing this young lady possibly making an offer to him – somehow?

"I see I've reached you!" Lily said to Tom. She was happy she'd got to a part of him that responded positively. Lily held tightly onto that part. She'll consider it and work with it for this coming school term. Somehow. Maybe. Wheels were turning in her mind on how to use this great resource that sat in her office.

"Dobby," Lily asked, out loud, seemingly to herself as she was standing at her desk.

A small 'pop' was heard in front of her and there stood a small elf – rather elderly, bent with extreme old age for an elf, but still rather spry.

"Lily Potter, how may I help you?" asked Dobby.

"Dobby, this wizard is Tom, and I'd like for you to take him to one of our guest rooms. Get him something to eat and generally wait on him until I get back. I'll be several hours at the Burrow."

"Yes, Lily Potter, I will carry out your request." With that said, Dobby took Tom out of Lily's office and lead him to the Guest Rooms.

Lily just stood there in her office, thinking. She knew what she must do, but was hesitant because of the reactions of the people. Only a bare handful knew who he was, but that was enough to offset her plans if his identity ever got out prematurely.

"I really need my family now, more than I've ever needed them. I just hope they'll help me." Lily thought to herself. She did not want to voice her concern; even to herself for fear that she'd be overheard.

Lily went to the fireplace, threw in some floo powder and said "the Burrow" and after the blue magical flames died down, asked for Molly.

"Molly, are you there?" Lily asked.

A few seconds later, a voice was heard:

"Yes, Lily, I'm here," Molly responded.

"I've a big favor to ask of you: Would you call the rest of the family and tell them I'd like to have an emergency family meeting now, at the Burrow?"

"Yes, of course, Lily. Shall I tell them anything else?" Molly asked.

"Just say, it's very important; Oh, and be sure Ginny is there. I'll see that Harry is there also. I can't stress the importance that these two be there, as well as you, Mum."

Molly was taken aback for a few seconds. Never had she been called "Mum" by Lily in this fashion – while she was at the school.

"I'll be sure to contact all of them then," Molly said.

"Thanks Mum." Lily said, "Oh, and Mum – I love you- very much."

Molly stood back after the floo connection was closed and just thought about what Lily had to say. In the back of her mind a familiar connection was being made, faintly, but it was there. She just couldn't make it out, not yet, but it was a signal, a warning, that something important was coming up, something a long time in planning, yet, she just couldn't place it.

She reopened the floo connection and contacted Arthur and told him about Lily's request. He then contacted Percy, here in the Ministry, and Bill at Gringotts. Then he contacted the Twins in their stores, in Diagon Alley and Hogsmead.

They got back home, all of them when one of the Twins mentioned why the meeting and the other twin jokingly mentioned it must not be Voldemort because he's not here anymore.

Then it clicked in Molly's mind!

"Oh, No, not now!" Molly said more to herself than out loud, yet, all heads turned to her.

Something was up.

"What's wrong, Mum?" asked Bill, the eldest son.

Molly just sat there, shaking her head, a worried look crossed her features. "A long time ago, Lily told me, right here in this kitchen, she was standing here in this very spot, . . . ," Molly was starting to remember almost clearly. And Trembling!

"What?" All eyes were turned upon the family Matriarch. Worried.

"She told me, almost like a prophecy, but, but she said then, that sometime, in the far future, I'd have to make a decision, it'd be about doing something that I'd be capable of doing, something I've done many times, something that has been planned for me, yet not for me to fear. The entire wizarding world would hinge on this very decision that I'd make." Tears were dropping from her eyes. She tried to dab them away as she turned her head away from the family so they wouldn't see how afraid she was.

"Do you know what it is?" Arthur asked.

"No, dear, I don't. But, knowing Lily, I guess we'll soon find out."

Molly looked at her husband with worry, concern painted all over her face. She just sat down, not knowing what else to do.

Lily closed the floo connection and sat back to rest, and to think. Was she proceeding in the proper directions? She knew that he needed help, love, and others' to show him concern, and her family could assist in that. Whether or not they would is different.

Lily called for Dobby once more, and he came to her office. "Dobby, I'll be going to the Burrow now, to meet with my family; I'll be calling you over the Floo network shortly to bring our Visitor with you to the Burrow. Please, stay here, and wait for me to contact you." Lily was facing Dobby and starting to pace, but as she finished talking, she went back to Dobby and stooped down to be at eye level with him, her most faithful and beloved elf. "Dobby, this is perhaps the most important task I've ever assigned you. I'm depending on you very much to stay here, wait for me to contact you and if I ask, then bring our Visitor to the Burrow." Lily reached out and hugged Dobby with a long lingering hug, patted him on his back. "Thank you, Dobby, for your many years, centuries, of faithful service. Our Father has noted it and appreciates it."

A tear was falling gently from Dobby's Great Eyes, a smile beginning to form on his lips, but they were trembling. For the first time, Lily saw Dobby begin to cry, but it was from the happiness he had received from his service to her.

"Dobby has served you for many years and he appreciates that. You have given Dobby much, so much, and Dobby would gladly serve you forever. You are the best House Dobby has ever served. You have treated Dobby like an equal, and for a wizard to do that for Dobby, I can only say "thank you!"

Lily nodded her head in return, understanding very much how he felt. She'd been there, before.