We Held Hands


13


A Gift and a Curse

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Previously…

When they made it towards the stone gargoyle…

"Fire away…" Harry said.

"Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes." Hermione said.

"Great, another Fred and George fan." Ron groaned. "I'll never hear the end of this."

The stone gargoyle moved up and they stepped up the rotating stairs. When Harry knocked on the door, the usual cheerful voice of the Headmaster was absent. It was replaced with a troubled voice of 'Come in'. Harry frowned but nevertheless, he led his friends inside the circular room of the Headmaster.

"Please, have a sit. I have been waiting for you. I think it best start when all is present. This cannot wait, I'm afraid." Dumbledore said. He seemed to have been using much of his Pensieve as it was now situated at his desk as well. "I just hope…" the Headmaster murmured.

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Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down and quite frankly, stared back up to the Headmaster's rather bothersome features. They hadn't seen him much for the past few weeks.

Hermione, the observer, saw that the usual twinkle from the headmaster's eyes seemed to have lessened every single day. Harry noticed how the recent events outside must've been severe for he had only seen Dumbledore show how much old he is as last time… and that was when Sirius… Harry shook his head and surveyed the Headmaster's room. Fawkes was nowhere to be seen, probably of to do some work for Dumbledore, Harry thought. And he could just see the Pensieve's contents swirling about, obviously full of memories.

"If you could just, however, wait for Miss Black and Mister Malfoy…" Dumbledore held up his right hand, as Harry was about to comment something and continued, "Patience, Harry. You will know more in no time… Sally."

There was a soft pop and appeared before them a house-elf.

"Yes, Headmaster sir?" The house-elf bowed with much grace.

"Could you please call upon Miss Black and Mister Malfoy for me? I'm afraid I need them in my office immediately." Dumbledore said to the waiting house-elf. He took out his wand and waved it over a basket covered with blue silk at a nearby table, revealing it to be bursting of lemon drops. After that, Dumbledore took a vial from one of his pockets and poured its content down the Pensieve. He swirled his wand into the Pensieve and seemed to have muttered "of course…"

The house-elf didn't move an inch for a couple of minutes at this and Dumbledore took notice, "Oh, and have some lemon drop, Sally." The Headmaster said. He looked up and gave a gentle smile at the house-elf.

Obviously this must have been accustomed to the house-elf, Sally the house-elf took one and left after saying, "Thank you, Headmaster, right away, sir." And pop, it was gone.

"Miss Granger…" Dumbledore began again. He was immersed yet again to the Pensieve.

"Yes sir?"

"I believe you have in your possession a book with some peculiar… imagery." The Headmaster looked up, "a book about a place called Aereia?"

"Yes, sir. Would you like me to fetch the book…?" Hermione was about to stand up when the professor held his hand up again.

"Ah… no need. I have it right here." A wave from his hands, and the book came swirling out of nowhere at the desk.

"I was just reading that." Harry now said.

"You have? And do you find it… interesting, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

"Sir, is the Prophecy there has got something to do with Isis?" Harry asked.

"Patience Harry. We should wait for the others before anything is said and done. Is that going to be okay with you?" Dumbledore glanced at the empty golden perch. He sighed and gazed at his students.

Harry, Hermione and Ron could not do much except wait patiently. It was concerning enough that their Headmaster was in this kind of state, so wait, they shall.

"Well, we can't have that look on my students." He waved his wand and the basket bursting of lemon drop came front his desk. "Here, have some lemon drop."

And the three did.

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"Mister Malfoy, Sir?" Sally the house-elf called up the sky.

Draco Malfoy was once again at the Quidditch Field. Most students would think it's high-time this Slytherin would practice to be such a match to Harry Potter but if they ever knew since when he started to practice so rigorously, like most Slytherins, they'd really think he's had far enough practice.

But of course, Draco need not think about that. Because the only thing he could think of was one thing: Beat Bloody Potter.

It has been his mantra every time he'd see the Gryffindors laughing merrily, and now much to his already exaggerating annoyance, they were joined by yet, another Slytherin, Isis Black for that matter.

And of course, many knew that Isis and Draco are friends… Are they? Or were they? And well, none of them knew what has happened between Isis and Draco. Neither one of them has spoken anything of what they have talked about the night before Christmas.

'Mind you… I liked spending time with you…' Draco grimaced at the memory. I sounded pathetic. He thought to himself. He jerked up high in the sky and once again took another sharp dive to the ground. Air was passing fast and harshly at his agile body as he approaches the ground before him.

'…My very disposition always condemn me because I have let my defenses down…' Draco felt irritated. He hated not knowing what to do. He despised it. Loathed it.

Seconds and inches before he crashes to the ground he pulls back his broomstick and rises up again into the sky doing two to three sharp turns…

"Mister Malfoy… Sir…" Sally the house-elf called yet again.

Draco stopped in mid-air. "What now!" His irritated voice sent frightened chills at the tiny house-elf. Sally was used to being bossed around but never did she see such anger bottled up. The rage was way too much. Draco sensed this as he was used to his family's former house-elf, Dobby. He had seen Dobby cower, sob and whimper far too many times to count. Draco took a deep breath and regained his usual cold composure before coming back down and facing the little elf.

"What is it?" Draco asked rather brusquely.

However, this was no ordinary house-elf that would usually cower for it was a house-elf that was long accustomed to Headmaster Dumbledore to be afraid of anyone else. This house-elf had sworn to only follow the Headmaster's orders. And one of them was to summon this student to the Headmaster's office.

"Headmaster Dumbledore Sir is wanting to see you in his office right away, Mister Malfoy. Sally is coming to tell you this." Sally said.

"Tell him I'll go there later." Draco shook his hand as if to dismiss the house-elf but the creature wouldn't have it.

"Headmaster Dumbledore Sir says you is needed immediately. You and Miss Isis Black is needed right away, Mister Malfoy."

Draco rendered such a stare as if he were contemplating on something before saying: "All right, of course, I'll be on my way then."

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"But I thought Professor Dumbledore said after lunch." Isis said. She was just touring with her mummy and daddy, along with Blaise, around the school when the house-elf who introduced itself—as 'Sally the house-elf, miss at your service'—appeared.

"I'm so sorry, miss. But Headmaster said you is much needed immediately." The house-elf seemed to emphasize the word immediately at this, all the while twirling in her hands what to Isis looks like a lemon drop.

Mr. And Mrs. Black couldn't help but frown at this matter. "Isis, you really have to go if the Headmaster needs to talk to you, we'll be right about here." Xandra Black, Isis' mother, assured her daughter. "And besides, this young man here seems fit to give us a pleasurable tour around. Right, Mister Zabini?"

"Erm… yes… and you can just call me Blaise, ma'am." Blaise said as charming as any other boy.

"Well then, off you go." Isis' father, Eric Black, smiled at his only daughter with so pure an understanding. "Oh, and here you go."

There it is… A green box, again. Thought Isis.

"Merry Christmas, my child." Said Isis' father.

Isis couldn't help but smile. After the meeting with Dumbledore, she's going to make sure that this Christmas visit of her parents at Hogwarts will be worth remembering. "Thanks Daddy… Mummy." Isis hugged them both and then turned to Blaise. "Are you sure you're going to be alright…?"

Blaise shrugged at this but nevertheless, "Yeah, sure." He glanced at the waiting house-elf. "You should be off." He shook his head.

"Ah, yeah… well then… At the Great Hall then?" Isis asked her parents.

"Run along." Her mother told her. And off Isis went, to the Headmaster's office, while all the while clutching a Christmas present unlike any daughter had ever received.

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"Sir, do you mind if I…" Harry started. He was so impatient of having heard of nothing from Voldemort.

"I do mind, but then again, you could still ask me so, go on." Dumbledore said as he prodded his wand at the contents of his Pensieve.

"How is everyone? Remus, Tonks, Bill, Charlie… everyone?" Harry asked. He had wanted to hear more of Remus now more than ever. He hadn't replied to Remus' latest post to him because he had a certain difficulty in asking 'how things are going'.

Dumbledore cast him a rather wary look. He sighed and sat back down at his armchair looking more ancient than ever. "Harry you must understand, Remus is the only one capable of being there without being detected."

"But have you any reason to neglect the fact that Wormtail knows Remus is a werewolf? You're risking his life… Just like what you did to him… Caging him like that… He was supposed to be free but no…" Harry bit his lip. He just couldn't contain himself… The last marauder, out there…

Remus… Harry cast down his glare from Dumbledore to his knees.

"Believe me, Harry. I have been very hesitant of my decisions but it was Remus' consent that made him continue this… mission. However," Dumbledore continued, "As of what I have decided of Sirius, I am sure you don't want Dementors swarming after him, would you?"

"Yes… I'm sorry. It's just…" Harry paused, "I was so stupid. To think that he gave me that mirror so I can check on him anytime but… I hid it away. I…" Damn it. Harry didn't dare continue further.

"Harry it's not your fault… You hear me." It wasn't Dumbledore who spoke this time. It was Ron.

Harry looked up. "Ron what—?"

"What I mean is you should bloody well use that pent up anger to someone else, like… You-Know-Who, maybe?" Ron noticed Dumbledore's stare… "Erm... Voldemort, I mean."

Hermione smiled at that and then put her hand on Harry's shoulder. "You know we'll make it through, Harry."

"Yeah. Plus, you've been pretty lucky after all those years. I'm sure He's the unluckiest bloke of all." Ron grinned.

At this, Dumbledore saw a great foundation of a powerful Trio. Such loyalty, such friendship, so much love… Dumbledore couldn't ask for more. He just wished it didn't come to a point that there wasn't any time left... at all.

A few silence and then came a knock on the door…

"Yes, come in." Dumbledore said.

The three Gryffindors composed themselves and they saw Draco Malfoy enter the room.

"Professor Dumbledore, I don't see what the problem is but I think—what are they doing here sir?" Draco's stare turned from ice-cold glare to hot rage anger from Ron to Harry.

"Ah, Mister Malfoy. Please have a seat." Dumbledore conjured another chintz chair, his specialty. "Have some patience as we wait for Miss Black. I believe you've been wanting to talk to her so far? Oh, and help yourself with some lemon drop."

"Professor, I have been thinking… Why would we want to move the Quidditch Finals till next year? Why don't we just have the Finals at Eve and then we could have a sort of err—a program, anything really, after that, you know?" Draco started.

Harry stared at Malfoy. Obviously he's up to something. Harry thought.

"You know, Mister Malfoy, now that you mention it, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick had been thinking the same. I just hope the Head Boy and Girl haven't got much to do, or it'd just be Quidditch Finals at New Year's—" Dumbledore was interrupted by another knock on the door. "Ah. This I believe to be Miss Black, finally. Do Come in."

And Isis came inside.

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"But Professor, Madame Montgomery said…" Isis still went on complaining.

"Madame Montgomery had been rather afraid of you, Miss Black." Dumbledore said. "And that is the main reason why we have been trying our best to keep you inside the school compound where you can be seen and guarded."

"But Professor, Madame Montgomery said that she won't ever come back again. Even Joshua made sure of that!" Isis said. She had arrived at the Headmaster's office astonished to see that even Draco Malfoy was there. What could have possibly go wrong now? I thought this issue was over…Her present from her parents was even laid down at Dumbledore's desk, forgotten.

"Let me get this straight, Voldemort is after Isis, rather the other Isis I mean, and we three should be with her at all cost, that's not going to be a problem so what is he doing here, Sir?" Harry asked. "I mean… he's a Malfoy, sir! He could just give away any information to anyone of them and all will be lost."

"Thank you, Potter." Draco said acidly.

"The reason why Mister Malfoy is here is to nullify the Prophecy. And to nullify it, Mister Malfoy must choose… now." Dumbledore looked intently at Draco.

"What do you mean, Sir?" Draco said, he was afraid of this question.

"I knew from the start that you never did want to follow your father's footsteps, Mister Malfoy." The Headmaster said.

"Rubbish." Ron muttered. But courtesy of Hermione's impeccable feet, he was instantly silenced. Still, Draco Malfoy stared unbelievably at the Headmaster.

"What do you think is the reason why I still accept you as my student here at Hogwarts, Mister Malfoy?" Dumbledore said.

"My father is a School Governor and I am sure—" Draco started.

"He was stripped of his title the day he was arrested, Mister Malfoy, haven't you attended any of his hearing?" Dumbledore stared at Draco at that point as if surveying him As if of some insurance, he took intense hold of his wand and prodded the Pensieve. From it floated a misty figure of a lady, and if it weren't for the absence of overbearing jewels and shawls, the students before the Headmaster might've mistaken the lady for Professor Trelawney. "So I am here to provide you the same security as Harry's for you and your mother, the only thing I ask of you is see the Light. See the Light and let it shine on you, don't ever outshine it. This will nullify the Prophecy."

"But isn't she—?" Isis started. She recognized that lady from her father. Her father had always illustrated this very same lady to her every night. Every night the same thing always happens, there were always nightmares and the only thing that kept Isis away from them is assurance from her father… She is the one who will tell you your destiny. My little Princess.

"Yes, Cassandra Trelawney, the Celebrated Seer." Dumbledore continued, "I am afraid she had unfurled another part of Aereia. It was the Prophecy for so long had been forgotten."

"I thought… I mean…" Isis tried to pick up everything now, from the scattered memories to what she had heard. She will guard you, and you will never ever have any bad dreams again. Okay? Her father's voice came again.

"That perhaps your father had really been telling you fairy tales, Isis?" Dumbledore regarded Isis a rather grave look. "No. This time, it is real. You are going to play a big part of the Second War and I am planning to hide you from it. Merlin knows what Voldemort can do once he knew you survived…"

"Survived?" Harry asked at this.

"But Professor, what you mean is that she… I mean…" Hermione stammered. "But it's impossible, Sir. Salazar Slytherin even said it himself that she's disappeared along with... I read it there!"

"I am afraid she's here, Miss Granger." Dumbledore turned to Isis. "Isis, the more I see it, the more I realize that you are the lady in the Story of Aereia. This is both a Gift and a Curse to us, both Wizarding and Muggle World alike. It is only up to you so that we all could survive this Second War."

"But…" Isis was at lost. "You're completely wrong, Sir. I can't have been her. I read that book and like Hermione, I believe the lady there has disappeared. First of all, I am my parent's daughter. And if ever I am really that same lady, then…"

"You are not a Black. Your name is simply Isis." Dumbledore said, his eyes expressing much sadness than before. "I should have realized that when you survived I should have…"

"You should have what, professor? Told me everything. Told me that I will never ever get her away from me? This… Eris?" Isis began. "I knew it. I lived my life wondering, always wondering and this is what I have. I didn't even know who I really am. Well I'm sorry professor, the only thing that I can assure you is that if you wish for me to keep away from this Dark Lord, I will. But please… Let me be Isis Black. Help me get rid of Eris, anything. I don't… want to harm anymore."

A few silence then suddenly a clock from another room of Dumbledore's office signaled lunch. Dumbledore began again. "Harry, Hermione, Ron. You will be with her if anything happens out of the ordinary, is that understood? I cannot tell you how crucial that matter is but you must do as I say. At least one of you must be with her." Dumbledore began to pile back memory after memory to its respective vials.

"Of course, sir." Hermione said.

"Professor does this mean that we are letting go of Professor Trelawney's…" Harry said hopefully.

"No, Harry. I am afraid that you are still the one who will beat Tom." The Headmaster continued, "And Draco? I know this is hard to think for you but consider this, Tom has lost control, he doesn't even know what he's doing. I hope this will help you clear a few things…" Dumbledore pushed the empty Pensieve forward on his desk and placed in it four different vials. "It is up to you if you want to join us. Either way… Isis, you must promise me, never be afraid."

"I will never again be afraid, Sir." If being brave will help me get rid of Eris.

"Now before you students go, you must remember that not one word of this conversation may ever reach outside these walls." Hermione, Harry, Ron and Isis nodded in agreement. Dumbledore looked pointedly at Draco.

"I shall do what I want and of what I know that is right." Draco said.

"I know you will…" Dumbledore picked up the green box that lay forgotten at his desk. "And Isis…?"

"Sir?"

"Take care of this, as much as you take care of you necklace… Is that understood?" This final remark seemed to have taken a full-blown effect on Isis.

"Yes, Sir." Isis said.

And there it was, the Headmaster closed his office doors to the five students. The five of them astonished, bewildered and ignorant of what happened, what is happening and of what will happen.

All that they know of that is certain is this: Whatever Isis have, it is either going to be a Gift or a Curse.

This made Isis tremble involuntarily before she had reminded herself.

Be Brave.

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Author's Note:

Don't you worry; I know all these conversations will be cleared up, as you readers will soon know more about Aereia much, much more.