Chapter 7 Rescuing a Soul

The tension ran high as they waited for Dumbledore to return. Molly kept going in and out of the kitchen serving food that no one felt like eating. Tonks was down in Lucy's lab attempting to fix her wand. Kreacher had been placed in the pantry, forbidden to come out until they decided what to do with him. Ginny had gone bak upstairs to sit with Harry. Sirius was out in the backyard, pacing. Lucy was going between sitting on the couch next to Oliver and pacing around the living room. Finally, after about five hours had gone by, Dumbledore reappeared. Remus jumped up and hurried outside to get Sirius. Once all were assembled Lucy spoke.
"What have you found out, Albus"
"I will tell you," Dumbledore said. "But first there is someone at the door who will need to be let in." Sirius went to the door and opened it. On the front stoop stood Severus Snape.
"Oh no!" Sirius said. "I am not letting him into my house"
"If you wish to get Potter back, Black, you have no choice," Snape sneered.
"Come in Severus," Lucy said. As though a magical wall had been lowered Snape entered, flashing a smug smile at Sirius. Sirius glared at his school nemesis and shot a look at Lucy.
"It's my house too," she said simply.
"First time she takes advantage of this being her home and she uses it to let him in," Sirius muttered to Remus.
"Apparently the sister places more value on Potter's life than the godfather," Snape shot at Sirius.
"Watch your mouth Severus, or I'll toss you out of my house by your greasy hair"
"Oh will you two stop it!" Lucy shouted. "This is not about you it's about Harry! If you two want to act like seven year olds do it on your own time. Right now Harry's life is hanging in the balance and if you two cannot put aside your childhood feud long enough to save Harry then I will toss you both out of here!" Everyone in the room looked at Lucy in astonishment. This was the first time any of them had ever heard her speak this way. The adults in the room were all thinking the same thing, though none of them would voice it: Lucy had never reminded them more of Lily than she did at that moment. Sirius and Snape glared at each other but agreed to call a momentary truce. "Now that that is all settled," Dumbledore said. "I will tell you what I have learned." The old wizard sat down and took a deep breath.
"I have been to the ministry and spoken to Bellatrix Lestrange. Through various methods of persuasion I managed to get her to tell me of the Death Eaters plan." No one asked what these "methods" were.
"The plan was not to kill Harry as we all assumed. No, they had a much more sinister fate in mind. Ever since the demise of their master the Death Eaters have been plotting to bring him back from the death"
"It is as the Ministry suspected than," Arthur said. "I am afraid so, Arthur," Dumbledore said. "They finally found a way severalweeks ago. The darkest of dark arts must be employed to bring such a thing about. They cannot bring back their master's body so they must give him a new one. The spell is known as the Incantari Nubual. They will resurrect thier master's soul and place it in a new body, after expelling the soul that already lives in the body." Every face in the room twisted in horror and disgust.
"Of course they did not wish to use any body," Dumbledore said. "They had to use the body of someone who they felt was thier master's equal"
"Harry," Sirius said. "Who better to give thier master new life, than the one who killed him"
"Exactly," Dumbledore said. "It had to be Harry. Of course then came the challenge of getting to Harry. Though the protection charms I put on this house were powerful, the Death Eaters did manage to find a loophole. It is my own fault that I did not consider Kreacher. Once Kreacher invited them to come in, all they had to do was pick the right moment"
"The moment when they knew that Kreacher's tricks would have me doubting myself the most," Lucy said quietly.
"Yes," Dumbledore said. "But just as their master did they underestimated you, Lucy. When your brother was in danger you managed to put aside your self doubt and do what had to be done. Your love for Harry, allowed your true nature to shine through, just as it did when you faced your father." Lucy blushed. It was only slightly embarrassing to have Dumbledore praise her like this in front of everyone.
"In fact Lucy, it is thanks to you that the Death Eaters plan has failed"
"What do you mean?" Lucy said.
"Thanks to your blinding potion, you were able to capture Bellatrix and get to Harry before the Death Eaters"
"But they still managed to expel Harry's soul," Lucy said. "That is what Lucius's spell did isn't it?"
"Yes," Dumbledore said. "But because we have Harry's body that cannot complete the rebirth of their master. Truly, that would be a fate worse than death"
"Yes," Lucy said. "I know Harry would rather die than let Voldemort be reborn"
"Albus," Sirius said. "If Harry's soul has been expelled from his body, then where has it gone?"
"That my dear Sirius, took a great deal more searching to figure out, but somehow I managed. Harry's soul has been sent to a place somewhere between the living world and the land of the dead. He is trapped there. Trapped in limbo where he is forced to live in his own personal nightmare"
"How do we get him back," Ginny demanded. "A spell, a potion, how?"
"There is but one way," Dumbledore said. "It shall be extremely dangerous to the one who attempts it."
"What is it!" Lucy, Sirius, and Ginny all demanded at the same time. Dumbledore raised his eyes and looked at them.
"We must send someone here, to limbo to bring Harry back." An astonished gasp went through the room.
"How can we do this, Albus?" Remus asked. "I know the way," Dumbledore said. "Who shall be sent?" Molly asked.
"Send me," Sirius said. "It is my responsibility. Harry is my godson"
"No send me," Lucy said. "He's my brother"
"I'm his best friend," Ron spoke up. "I've known Harry longer than anyone here. If anyone ought to go it should be me"
"Absolutely not!" Molly said. "Ron is far too young. I forbid it"
"Mum!" Ron protested.
"I will hear no more," Molly said.
"Dad," Ron implored his father.
"I'm afraid it is for none of us here to decide who goes," Dumbledore said. "It is for a much higher power to decide." He reached into his robes and removed a large box of brown wood.
"In this box there is a white disk for everyone here. Everyone willing to take on this task shall select a disk and I shall say the proper incantation. A black X shall appear on the disk of those who the power that be select. I shall ask you Minerva and you Arthur not to take a disk, for I will need you and Severus to perform the spell that will send the selected person to limbo to retrieve Harry's soul. Everyone else who is willing step forward and take a disk." Sirius came first followed by Lucy. Next came Ron and Ginny, though thier mother protested loudly. Hermione was next followed by Remus then Tonks. Then Bill, Charlie, Fred, George and finally Oliver. Lucy looked at Oliver in surprise.
"Harry is my friend as well Lucy," Oliver said to her. "I want him back as much as you"
"Thank you," Lucy said, touched beyond all measure.
"If you all would stand in a circle," Dumbledore said. They moved into a circle each holding thier disk. Dumbledore stood in the center his wand raised. He gazed around the circle a slight tear coming to his eye. Harry was indeed blessed to have so many people willing to risk so much for him.
"Now if you will all hold your disks at your side." They did. Dumbledore raised his wand and chanted.
"Revelemento!" The room became cold and a shrill whistle was heard. The lights went out and then came back on.
"You may look at your disks."
"The powers have chosen me," Sirius said happily showing the black X on his disk.
"And me," Lucy said holding out her disk which also had a black X.
"No," Sirius said taking her disk and examining it. "There's been some mistake"
"There is no mistake," Dumbledore said his eyes twinkling slightly. "It seems that the powers that be have decided that the two of you should work together." Lucy and Sirius looked at each other doubtfully.
"The three of us," Ginny said quietly. All in the room turned to look at the young girl. She held out the disk in her hand which also showed a black X.
"No!" Molly shouted. "If I would not allow Ron to go I certainly will not let Ginny. She is far too young"
"Mother, I'm going!" Ginny shouted defiantly. "I've as much reason as anyone here. I love Harry!"
"You are much to young to know what you feel. Certainly too young to risk your life for it"
"I am sick of everyone telling me I am too young. I know how I feel. I've known how I felt about Harry since I was eleven years old. This is not some childish crush. We're in love"
"Ginny your only just fourteen how can you possibly know how you feel?" Arthur asked her.
"Because the way we look at each other is the same way you and Mum look at each other. And Ron and Hermione, and Bill and Tonks, and Lucy and Oliver. I love Harry with all my heart and soul and I would face anything, even the fires of hell itself for him." Molly stared at her daughter in shock.
"She has the right Molly," Arthur said putting his arm around his wife. Molly sighed and pressed her hand to her mouth.
"Very well," she said.
"Well then," Dumbledore said. "I shall need to gather the neccessary supplies. Severus, Arthur, Minerva if you would please join me. We shall begin at ten minutes to midnight. Until then I suggest the three chosen prepare themselves. This journey shall not be an easy one."