AN: I'm sorry that it took me so long to post this chapter. Again, this chapter is not beta-readed but you should be used to that by now. The next chapter will be online in two or three weeks, or at least that's the plan. Keep on reading and send some reviews as additional motivation!


Chapter 10: Meeting in the Hospital-Wing

"Harry, please hold on", Hermione pleaded the hundredth times. She didn't even know if Harry could hear her for he did nothing more than breathe since they had brought him to the hospital wing.

Although Snape and Madame Pomfrey had removed the poison and replenished Harry's blood, he hadn't woke up.

One night and one day Hermione hadn't slept nor had Snape, Pomfrey and Dumbledore. While Hermione watched over Harry the others tried to find a way to mend him.

For the fifth time in that hour Hermione counted the heartbeats and shook her head afterwards. Normal pulse, normal temperature, no sweat, no signs of injuries, only the permanent absence of consciousness indicated that something was wrong with Harry.

She sighed and looked around in the almost empty wing. Only Neville kept her company laying at the other end of the row of beds suffering from an attack Malfoy launched at him two days ago.

Softly she heard the non-sense Neville babbled in his mental disorder, the result of Malfoy's curse. Hermione lifted her eyes from poor Neville and looked out of a window instead, watching the sun sets.

She was about to check on Harry again as the door to the wing opened.

Three persons, clothed in white robes, entered silently and headed towards her without side glancing at Neville.

The two men and the woman stopped in front of Hermione, the men one step after the woman. The left man was tall and red-haired, just looking like Ron with thirty. The right was rather short but all the more muscular than his companion. The dull blonde hair stood in contrast to the bright green eyes that almost seemed to glow.

Both men were armed with long-swords which were sheathed in their respective scabbard. Though they didn't wore armors it appealed to Hermione that those men were ready for battle even if their faces showed no signs of aggression

The woman carried no visible weapons as long as you didn't count beauty as weapon. The long snow-white hair billowed behind her when she walked with self-confident and graceful steps. The fine face with icy blue eyes hinted that this woman was used to give commands to everyone in her surrounding.

After a few moments when both parties observed each other, the woman broke silence. "You have to be Hermione. Harry told us much of you", she said with gentle tone.

"You have to be Templars according to the things Harry told me", Hermione replied which caused the woman to raise an eyebrow and cast a quick side glance to her escort.

"Indeed, we are Templars. I'm Amelia, Executor and Council-Member and this are Cris", she pointed at the left man, "and Garret, who both hold the same rank as me."

The men bowed to Hermione who responded with a short nod, eyeing the dangling scabbards. She stiffened as Amelia made a step forwards and caressed Harry's cheek with a hand white as marble. A rush of jealousy welled up in her when she saw Amelia's gaze resting on the face of Harry.

The jealousy turned into embarrassment as Amelia faced her and said, "He's very fond of you. I do not think that there is another thing on the earth Harry cares more about." The blue eyes fixed Hermione's before the woman continued, "I assume this is based on mutual affection?"

Hermione felt how her blood gathered in her head and discarded the idea of denying that fact. "Maybe, but I think that is none of your business", she snapped with more fierceness than she had intended.

When Amelia cared about it she didn't show. Instead she turned towards Harry and replied, "Right you are, but this is our concern." She took the sheet and revealed Harry's chest. "You know about the meaning of that symbol."

Hermione saw the brand-mark and confessed, "No". "It seals our pact with him. A life-service in exchange for training." Just as the words died away smoke rose from the mark and it began to pale. After a few seconds only rose skin remained.

"Impossible!", uttered the man called Cris while the others stared with open mouths on the point where the mark had been. Hermione became aware of that Harry's chest wasn't rising anymore.

She threw herself on Harry and wanted to shout at him to come back as Harry skin turned black and scaly, the face formed snake-liked and the eyes became red. Out of sudden Harry was replaced by Voldemort.

Hermione screamed and bounced backwards, drawing her wand in expectation that Voldemort would rise and hurl curses around. Amelia took a step back and the men laid a hand at the handles.

For a time nothing happened than Voldemort vanished from one second to another and was substituted for an angelic being. The Templars remembered the scene at the initiation rite and Hermione saw her image of an angel in front of him.

After a few moments Garret said, "The aura of authority is missing. It appears that he isn't here really." Hermione didn't know to what he was referring but memorized Harry had told her that Voldemort was surrounded with an aura of fear, which she hadn't felt the moment before.

The situation relaxed a bit when Harry resumed his normal shape. Hermione dared to ask, "What did just happen?" Silence answered her, so she approached Harry's bed and probed the pulse.

"His heart stopped beating!", she shouted. Amelia was at her side at once and cast a spell. Apparently it had no effect for Harry didn't breathe again. Amelia lowered her hand and made no further attempts to save Harry.

Hermione became angry and screamed, "Do something! Don't just stand there, help him!" Amelia's eyes blazed when she shouted at Hermione, "Hold your mouth about things you don't understand, girl! I'll do everything that is necessary to bring him back to life, but not now, not here and not alone."

Hermione backed away although Amelia's mood turned gentle again immediately after her outburst. Tears escaped her eyes and therefore she didn't see the rebuking looks Amelia earned from Cris and Garret.

The meaning of the last sentence came slowly to her actual sharp mind. As she figured out the implicated sense, she asked timidly, "You can bring him back?"

Surprised she flinched as Amelia embraced her, before she relaxed in the comforting warmness. "Don't worry, Hermione. He's not lost yet even if our pact is cancelled."

"But how?", Hermione stammered. "The influence of the Weave is strong even in the realm of God", Amelia assured with confident voice. Hermione was grabbed by her curiosity.

"What's the Weave?", she asked. "The Weave is the steady stream of magic that combines all things and living beings. The one force that allows spell-casting to you and me. Through the Weave we can gain access to paradise and can receive Harry's soul. In a ritual some humans spend their life-force to revive the body and bind the soul to it", Amelia answered.

"When will you do it?", an eager Hermione asked. Amelia shifted her body so both could face Harry without releasing Hermione of her embrace and whispered softly, "Soon".

Then she commanded Cris and Garret to pick up Harry. Just as the both Templars touched the shoulders, the door to the wing was pushed open by a raging Dumbledore. At the headmaster's heels McGonagall and Snape rushed into the room, all with drew wands.

Hermione realised in an instant how the situation must appear to the newcomers. She had screamed at the top of her lungs barely a minute ago and now she was held, but not actually threatened, by a person that should not to be there and two men, armed with swords, grabbing the person that would be guarded by the teachers to their last breath.

The wizards didn't looked as if they would ask questions, at least not before they had cursed the supposed intruders into oblivion. The ones were in the middle of an incarnation, the others had their swords unsheathed the half way, as Hermione tried to stop the upcoming battle. "Hold on! Wait!", she yelled and to her surprise the wands were lowered and the words of magic swallowed.

Cris and Garret released the hilts of their swords when Dumbledore & Co slowed down their advanced and approached in a normal pace, still showing suspicious expressions and holding the wands ready.

Amelia let go of Hermione before saying, "Ah, Professor Dumbledore! I asked myself when you would show up finally. I hope you feel well". "I start to feel the age, but I cannot complain. Since you know who I am, I fear you have an advantage in information and anyway, what's going on here?", the headmaster inquired.

The Templars exchanged uneasy looks so Hermione decided to do it straight. "Harry is death. That's why I screamed."

"No!", whispered McGonagall. "How?", asked a baffled Dumbledore. Snape didn't bother with questions as for him it was clear who to blame and pointed his wand at the Templars. "So, you're the assassins that tried it yesterday and now you have finished him", Snape sneered, his face a mask of fury.

The Templars remained cool despite of the accusation and did not even flinch as Snape aimed with his wand at them. "Harm us and you will never see him again among the living", Amelia threatened with cold voice.

"Who are you that you could bring back the dead?", Snape demanded to know. The Templar erected herself to full high before she said, "I'm Amelia Starfall, Executor of the Templars and Harry's tutor. Do you question the power of God and his servants?"

"No", Snape lowered his wand, "Not, when you are the one you claim to be", Snape declared. "Harry told me of you and his training. Tell me, what did Harry at the first morning wrong?", Snape asked with a blank face.

Amelia smiled and closed her eyes for a second. "He came to late at breakfast and Bor shouted at him in joke, but Harry took it serious. Oh, I will never forget this crestfallen and ashamed face", she revealed her thoughts and Snape sheathed his wand.

"For you are his tutor I owe my life to you". McGonagall raised an eyebrow and Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as Snape bowed deep and long in front of the astonished Executor.

"I don't think I deserve this honour for I didn't do much. Harry is born into the Weave and magic comes to him as easily as breathing to everyone of us. But I forget my manners. These are Cris Brennan and Garret Canterbury, both Executor as myself", Amelia introduced her companions.

"Our protective friend is Severus Snape, master of the potions -", here Dumbledore was interrupted by Amelia, "and your spy in the ranks of Lord Voldemort. The name Severus Snape is well known to us."

"Harry informed you quite well, I see", Dumbledore stated, the twinkle in the eyes gone. "No, no, Harry isn't our source. We can use … alternative methods to gain pieces of information", Amelia defended Harry.

"I understand. This is Minerva McGonagall, expert for transfiguration and my deputy. Now that we know each other, did I heard you say you can reanimate Harry?", Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, when you allow us to take his body with us", confirmed the woman. Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "May I ask why you invited Harry in the first place?" "Of course you can ask but the answer would be quite long and I become bored of standing around", the Executor answered Dumbledore's questions.

Dumbledore turned his body and did an inviting gesture towards the door, "My office would be more comfortable. I'm eager to hear this story with a mug of tea in front of me."

So Amelia and Dumbledore left the wing side by side with their companions in tow, leaving Hermione and Harry with Neville alone. Hermione took Harry's left hand and sighed. A few minutes she did nothing more than to look in his face.

"Harry, please come back, I hadn't a chance to give you your birthday-present", Hermione spoke to the lifeless body, assuming that there was no one to hear, but was wrong.

"You bought him a present, although he had deserted us without a word. I'm surprised by your stubbornness." Hermione turned around slowly, knowing who she would see. Ron sat on a bed behind her, his legs dangling down in a bored way, but his eyes were fixed on Hermione with a predatory glint.

"Why don't you see that he is only playing with us. We're his toys, don't you realize. He tolerated us only to have someone around him who could admire him", Ron spat.

"What are you talking about", Hermione whispered, "You were friends all the time in Hogwarts!" At this Ron jumped to his feet. "Yes, he was a great friend. He got everything, the attention, the fame, the glory and Potter here and Potter there", Ron growled, "but this summer he showed his true face to everyone."

He approached Hermione slowly. "He proved me right. He is selfish and false and insidious", Ron stroked her cheek and looked deep into her eyes and Hermione saw a burning desire beneath the hate. A single tear escaped her eye and run down her cheek.

"Why did you chose him and not me. What makes him so special. Is it the fame or his wealth?", Ron breathed into her ear, soft and sad. Hermione started to push him away as she replied as soothing as possible, "Ron, you know it is not that way."

For a moment Ron looked crestfallen, but then rage flared up inside him. "Of course I know it is not that way", his voice dripping with sarcasm, "Of course you love him because of his bravery, his modesty, his intellect and last but not least because of his green eyes."

The red-hair grabbed her wrist and twisted it around, what enforced a small cry from her lips. His angry eyes pierced hers. "Don't play foolish games with me. You know as good as I that there is only fame, wealth and luck. Why do you refuse to see that I'm better than him?", Ron hissed.

As answer Hermione slapped him with her free hand with the most strength she was able to muster. He released her and made two steps back. "You will see it. You will notice that you belong to me. I'll make you see", Ron swore and with a last hateful gaze he turned around and left with long strides.

Hermione collapsed on Harry's bed as soon as Ron left through the door. Tear dropped on the sheet until all were spend. "Harry, please come back soon", she repeated until Morpheus took her up in his arms.

"Please, come in. Just one moment and I will conjure the necessary furniture", Dumbledore invited his guests. Then he drew his wand and moved it in dramatic pattern. Soon four armchairs appeared out of thin air and placed themselves slowly rotating on the floor where they stopped.

Now there were three chairs at both sites of the desk and the wizards and Templars took seats. "Can I offer any drinks?", Dumbledore asked in the round. McGonagall ordered a tea, Snape a Firewhisky, Cris and Garret a beer and Amelia a wine and Dumbledore conjured himself a coke. When everyone had drunken a sip the headmaster produced a bag of lemon drops out his pockets, "Lemon drops, anyone?". As all present declined the aged wizard shrugged his shoulders and popped one of the drops into his mouth.

Silence unfolded until Amelia cleared her throat. "You want to know why we invited Harry and why he accepted?", she asked and as nobody moved she continued, "Our Diviner told us a long time ago that significant changes would take place soon. A new messiah was born and the armies of good and evil are gathering. Certain signs hinted that Harry was the messiah and we offered him training".

She stopped to drink from her wine so Garret carried on, "Normally it takes a year to get a former wizard used to divine magic. Harry needed one week. After a month some adepts can hold a weapon the right way. Harry fought like he was born with weapons in his hands. What I want to explain is that Harry was the best and this not by training, but by disposition."

"After two months he best our supreme fighter in a duel and earned himself the title of Executor. No adept has ever achieved the rank of Executor with one fight and Harry had only two months of training whereas a regular adept has one year", Cris added.

"And he bears Sangreal", supplemented Amelia. "What would that be?", Snape asked. "The blood of Jesus Christ", answered Dumbledore which caused the Templars to raise an eyebrow. "I fail to see the importance of this information." Snape sneered.

"Severus, did you ever read the bible?", a pensive headmaster inquired. "No, but I dare say I don't regret it", replied Snape. "Oh, I highly recommend this book especially after you read the Book of Truth", Dumbledore said casting a expecting glance towards the Templars.

These sucked in the air in a sharp breath at the last words. "What is this Book of Truth?", McGonagall asked, ignoring the startled faces of the Templars. "You could name it the anti-bible, a book that tells another genesis, you could say from a more objective point of view", Dumbledore answered obviously enjoying the situation.

The flat-footed Templars recovered slowly and Amelia managed to whisper, "How comes a wizard in the possession of such a piece?" "The roots of my family reaches deep into the history of this world", Dumbledore said without saying anything.

"I think our conversation comes to a sudden end", Amelia uttered and stand up. "Take Harry's body and bring him back soon and don't believe he is your tool" The words 'he's my tool' hung in the air, but instead Dumbledore said, "and your are not so well concealed than you think."

The threat in his voice was unmistakable and the Templars hurried to get out of the office.


I know, questions over questions and to be honest, I can't answer half of them by myself. But don't worry, be happy. I'm positive that everything will be clear in the end, whatever that might be. Thanks a lot for reading this! See ya, Daly