Chapter 8: The Legacy of Solidus Gryffindor
"DAMMIT!" Moody was in a rage; his eye spinning furiously inside his head. "I am going to kick Mundungus Fletcher out of this Order if it is the last thing I Do!"
They were back in the sitting room of the Grangers' house. Moody was at the moment pacing up and down the foyer, cursing fluently as he calmed down his anxiety and battle nerves. Hermione came rushing down the stairs.
"Mr. Moody! What happened? Why are-" she cut herself off, looking at Harry nestled on top some girl on the floor. Harry sprung to his feet, adrenaline pumping through him. There was a heavy sensation in the air, goose bumps ran all over Hermione as she felt her entire being gradually infused with magic. Moody felt it too, and immediately was on battle alertness again.
"What in the bloody hell is that? Potter draw your wand! Granger, Chang! Up the stairs! My dark detectors are not picking up anything but I -"
"Don't worry- it's Harry doing that," Hermione explained. Moody and Cho looked at her incredulously, then looked at Harry suspiciously. There was something strange about the air around him; it was like looking into the heat waves radiating off an extremely hot freeway. Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Cho? What're you doing here?"
Moody ignored them, his magical eye picking up on the glow inside of Harry's pupils. "Potter- snap out of it!" he ordered. He made an attempt to grab him, but as he drew close, he was inexplicably repulsed forcefully back unto the ground, knocking him out cold. Both girls looked down at the fallen Auror, shocked. Cho drew back a few paces.
"Harry?" she asked tentatively.
"Keep away from me, I don't know what's going on." He was bewildered. Cho took this to heart, and allowed him even more personal space. She eased away from him, obviously frightened. However, Hermione was made of stronger stuff. With a determined expression on her face, she walked up to him slowly, spoke a soft incantation and lay her palm against his face. As she touched him, the foreboding magic eased, and she pulled him close in a hug. The tingling in her body dissipated, and once again Harry was back to normal. As the increased magical ability receded, Harry began have difficulty breathing, his brow glistened with sweat.
"Harry?" Hermione asked, concerned. Harry could barely focus on her face as the pain in his scar eased and his muscles relaxed. He felt faint, and if it wasn't for Hermione hugging him close he would have fell flat on his face. All energy spent, his eyes rolled back into his head and slumped unto her. Hermione nearly capsized trying to support him.
"CHO! I need you to help me, I can't -umph Damn it- Harry- Cho! He's too heavy!" She strained under his weight. Cho rushed to her aid, and they both put a shoulder under his arms and carried him to lie on the couch. They looked down at him, he appeared to be sleeping, a serene expression on his face.
"Great, we have an auror and Harry Potter knocked out cold in my house, and I don't know what in the world is going on here!" Hermione grumbled, her hands on her hips. This was not good. She rounded on Cho. "What are you doing here?"
Cho was finding it hard to calm herself down. "Well… Well, me and Harry were going to get an ice cream when-"
"You and Harry were going to do what?" Hermione asked indignantly. Cho nodded erratically, trying to explain but finding it extremely difficult to talk.
"Get an ice cream," she continued, ignoring Hermione's tone, "then-" she paled, shaking her hands as if trying to dry them (Hermione was getting cross as Cho fumbled along) - " He-who-he-who-who- Voldemort attacked us!" she gasped, realizing she said his name out loud for the first time. At this, Hermione's eyes rounded. She took a firm grip on Cho's shoulders, shaking her.
"VOLDEMORT? HOW, WHEN, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? WHERE WAS HARRY'S GUARD? HOW DID HE GET SO CLOSE!" she demanded.
"I- er- I –"
"Talk!"
"Um- a few minutes ago! He was there! I saw him! Harry fought him! I was there! Really close! Guard- Harry has a guard?" Cho babbled, her adrenaline running high on the Richter scale. Hermione let her go, and began to pace just as Moody did, damning words and highly intelligent criticism aimed at the lack of proper security on the Order's behalf. Weren't they supposed to be looking out for him?
"Where's Professor Dumbledore when you need him?" Hermione demanded, quite infuriated at this point.
CRACK!
"Right behind you, miss Granger," a solemn voice said. A group of about eleven wizards had suddenly apparated, crowding her foyer. Cho jumped, alarmed to see all these people appear right behind her. Albus Dumbledore pointed his wand at Moody. "Enervate!" Moody slowly opened his eyes, quite disoriented. Finally both eyes focused in the same direction, and the many-figured blur he was seeing now took shape of the Order of the Phoenix. "Alastor, what happened?"
"About bloody time you showed up. How long was I out- thought it would be next week when someone decided to use that spell. Strange happenings Albus- Voldemort out in the open- in front of witnesses…" He took his time and finally got to his feet, rubbing the kinks out the back of his neck. "What the hell was that?" he said, eyeing Harry.
"We'll find out shortly," said Remus Lupin. " Resuscitarus!" Harry shot up, all sense of tiredness gone. In a flash he was alert, and eyed everyone. Realiseing he was stretched out on the couch, he sat up- running his hands over his face.
"What the- I must have fainted," stating the obvious. "Where is he? Did you catch him?" he asked automatically.
"Harry! What happened?" said Arthur Weasley. Harry told them the events of the morning; quietly aware of how quickly his life had taken another drastic turn. From feeling very enthusiastic and eager to begin a budding career as a Quidditch player; then all the way to opposite end of the scale: facing Voldemort in battle. Now he felt the true fear coursing through him, the adrenaline now gone, and fatigue swamped him. He began to shake, his body reacting to physical exertion and the fact that he was this close- so close to losing his life. Hermione and Cho noticed at once, and both sat on the couch at either side, each wanting to comfort him. They looked at each other, venom in their eyes, and were about to bicker when Dumbledore stepped in.
"Excuse me ladies," he drawled, eyes twinkling, "but I have to administer to Harry a calming draught." They gave him space, and Harry drank the potion greedily. He calmed visibly, and was now talking easier. He finished his story, the Order muttering darkly amongst themselves. Dumbledore listened attentively, and when he was through, he stood up to his full height, already deciding on what must be done.
"Tonks, I need you to go on a special mission," said Dumbledore. "You are to find the whereabouts of, then follow, Mundungus Fletcher. Assume whatever shape you deem appropriate. I fear that him being off guard both times when Harry has been attacked is far too coincidental. No one is to talk of this with anyone outside of this room. We will have to relocate Harry to Grimmauld place. Someone has leaked Harry's movements to Voldemort."
Harry shook his head in defiance. "No! I don't want to go back there!"
"We know it must be difficult, but you must realize that it is no longer safe here, don't you?" said Lupin. Harry already knew that; it was of course the safer route, but instinctively he refused to go anywhere that reminded him of Sirius, especially that place. Reluctantly he nodded, depression once again washing over him.
Great- yet another brilliant day in the life of the 'boy who lived'. Suck it up Potter- you have no choice. Deal with it and stop whining.
"Arthur, please take Ron and Ginny to the headquarters, Harry might like some company. Hermione, you are to get your things as well – remember what we have discussed, don't worry: I will contact your parents. Miss Chang," he sighed in apology, "I'm terribly sorry you have to be dragged into this, but I will also have to contact your mother. I am not taking any chances, you will have to join us there as well." Cho nodded, not wanting to leave Harry alone. She was really shaken up, and she took some deep breaths to calm herself.
"Alastor, I must give you my appreciation and gratitude for your bravery, and also the foresight to give him his father's amulet. It was a stroke of brilliance," Dumbledore said. Harry's eyes widened, this was his father's amulet? He took it out at once, and looked at the intricate etching and design on it. Scrutinizing it closely for the first time, he noticed a Phoenix on one side, bursting from flames. On the other side- an etching read:
Potter, James
A
Class Animagus.
The metal was warm, and Harry felt the subtle power residing in it. He looked up sharply at Moody, a solemn expression on his face.
"Thank you."
"If only I was faster before..." Moody trailed off. "I'm sorry Harry. He was a great man, and an exceptional wizard." Harry nodded, his eyes moistening at the thought of his father dying to protect his family. Now it was he who nearly died, almost in the same situation. His father wasn't so lucky. He got up, took up his gear from the foyer, and went upstairs.
"I'll pack my things," he said, and left. After Harry exited the room there was a tense silence. No one could really blame Harry for his reluctance to go to his godfather's house, it was something that needed to be done for his safety, and there was no getting around it. Hermione was watching the Order members in turn, gauging their reactions to the latest attack on Harry. It seemed that once again, they realized they let him down, allowing him to be unguarded against the Dark Lord. If it weren't for Alastor, the cause may have been all lost. Dumbledore rubbed the corners of his eyes, finally showing the signs of his age: he looked tired and weary. Tonks had a panicked look on her face and was wringing her hands. Remus sat down with a determined expression on his face. He eyed the lot of them.
"This is horrible. How many times has Harry had to fend for himself alone for these past few years? After what we promised to Lily and James at their funeral, for Voldemort to get to him three times in a year…." Remus trailed off, obviously disgusted. He said resolutely. "I will be his personal bodyguard, in addition to whatever other guards he has on duty. Alastor, I cannot thank you enough. I should have thought about the medallion earlier."
"He's a tough one: Potter. Tackled Voldemort as if he were nothing but a muggle in a street fight. Now that's improvisation, worked pretty well too. Stalled him long enough for me to apparate there." He stretched his muscles painfully. "What I really want to know is what he hit me with just there. Hurt like a bitch, that it did."
"Who, Harry hit you?" Dumbledore peered through his half moon glasses.
"Not physically, more like a magical strike or something."
"Interesting," Dumbledore mused, pulling his beard. "What else has been happening strangely recently, Hermione?" Dumbledore said it with the air that he perceived Hermione knew more than she was letting on.
"W-well, I don't know exactly what's going on with him, I can only guess, but it can be sometimes…well, frightening."
"Explain," Arthur Weasley encouraged.
"When Harry gets agitated or emotional he radiates tremendous amounts of energy. I believe it incorporates a field of magic around his person. It feels strange, my hair stands on end…and it's warm, like in a sauna."
Dumbledore looked at her, his face dawning an incredulous expression. "Amazing. This has to be a revelation of utmost importance, knowledgeable I may be, this is buried too deep in the archives for me to remember fully." He drew a box in the air of certain dimensions with his wand, and an old dusty book materialized in the space. He caught it out of the air, and with a gentle puff of breath, blew off the dust.
"Ah yes. The Rise and Fall of Godric Gryffindor, original version. This is not a book found in the libraries, for it contains information that is not to be seen by any and everyone." He winked at Hermione, and then flipped the pages at tremendous speed, using his finger to stop it directly on a particular page. "Ah- Here it is."
" 'Godric Gryffindor was a master of the defensive and Patronal charms. He was a fighter for the oppressed, and did everything in his power to help and defend the muggles of the era, much to the disapproval of his wizarding community. His sword which allowed no one but the brave to wield it and was capable of cutting through any solid when there was a need to defend the defenceless. A remarkable weapon; the sword would accommodate the wielder for size, shape and weight. The day it was passed on to his son, Solidus, was a day of mourning. Even though Gryffindor was one of the most powerful and prominent wizards of his time, his son was a squib, and could not use magic. Taunted and abused by other wizards, Solidus Gryffindor was never ashamed for who he was, he stood proud, and lead a good life. One fateful day when Solidus travelling with his father, an extremely powerful dark wizard attacked them, ensuing in a battle worthy of legend. Godric died in the battle, leaving his son, Solidus, with no visible means of defence. The Dark Wizard cursed him to Death, but miraculously, the spell failed. With a single blow Solidus took up his father's sword and struck him down, immediately avenging his father's death. Throughout the rest of his life, Solidus was attacked by many Evil wizards and was eventually severely injured; never the less he managed to vanquish many dark wizards, continuing his father's work, even though he had no magical ability.
On his deathbed Solidus handed his son the sword and told him:
"Through the years, I have faced many trials. Never I forgot that my father died protecting me, nor would I forget the pride and honor he left me to uphold. His spirit shields me, and now I hand this over to you. Many asked how a mere squib could defeat any dark wizard, but I have never answered them. It was my father who protects me, and I hope my spirit will protect you."
Dumbledore continued, " 'His son took the sword and integrated it on the family coat of arms. He never used it, for his path was that of peace, the way of a healer. But he never forgot what his grandfather did, and revealed to those who would hear him, that his father and grandfather protected and served the oppressed, and that would be his reason for helping the injured instead of carrying on the role of a Dark Wizard hunter. Some thought he took the wrong path, but many realized that his course of saving people instead of killing was a noble way to carry on the Legacy."
Dumbledore looked at his attentive audience. "This is the legend of "Solidus' Charm". Researchers believed that Solidus was protected during times of need, and that his father's spirit lived on inside of him, acting as a source of strength and guidance. I believe that after a few millennia, there is one amongst us who has once again inherited this ability."
As he surveyed his comrades, Arthur Weasley realised he was not alone. They were all astounded. Hermione's jaw dropped a few centimetres, her eyes darting up to the bedrooms. Cho flopped back down on the couch, her head in her hands. The Order did not know that Harry was just out of sight, listening to the amazing story Dumbledore told them. He leaned back against the wall, his eyes staring at the ceiling. He bumped his head against the wall two times, trying to soak it all in.
Not another myth, or prophecy, or goddamned legend! Isn't it enough I have this scar? Why can't I be just like everyone else!
"Harry, no need to hide. Come down the stairs," Dumbledore called him. Harry froze and his eyes flashed open.
How did he know- No matter, it's Dumbledore he must know everything about everything, so I guess he'll know I was here.
He blew out a deep breadth and came down the stairs. Everyone's eyes were on him. He stared back stonily at them, "What are you looking at? What am I- Some kind of freak?" he spat, scoffing at them.
"We don't think of you like that!" said Hermione.
"Yeah? Well your faces say different."
Everyone looked away from him, not wanting to meet his gaze, everyone except Dumbledore and Hermione. Dumbledore came up to him and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We know you are nothing of the sort. You know it inside your heart, we are here because we care deeply for you. You have not changed in any of our eyes."
Harry looked at him. "You can say that, you don't know what it feels to be stared at everywhere you go. I know this stare far better than you lot realize." His brilliant green eyes looked at everyone in turn, daring anyone to contradict him. " I need someone to help me with my trunk," he announced, and went back up the stairs. Hermione followed him up the stairs, almost close to tears.
"HARRY!" Hermione cried as she followed him into the guest room. "Don't be like this, it's only going to make things worse. Don't shut us out."
"Hermione, I really do not want to hear about it right now," he said irritably over his shoulder. He rummaged through his things; throwing everything he needed into his gym bag. Hermione came into the room to see him angrily throwing everything in the general direction of his open gym bag.
"I'm not allowed to use magic. Charm this trunk so I can move it," he said. After a second of indecision on Hermione's behalf, he frowned. "Please," he added stonily, not at all meaning it as a request.
"I know you don't want to talk, but you need to talk to someone right now."
"I'm TIRED of someone else always knowing more about me than I do! Always telling me what to do!" He glared at her. Hermione cringed, she knew it was a general remark but it hit her directly. Everyone always called her an insufferable know-it-all. She approached him, holding back tears.
"Harry, please calm down. You have no idea how terrified I was when Cho told me that Voldemort attacked you. It has been only a few days you came to spend the summer by me, and I thought we were getting to finally really know each other, only to have it taken away. Do you know how that feels to me? HARRY YOU WERE NEARLY KILLED! AND ALL YOU COULD THINK OF IS HOW YOU FEEL! WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT YOU!" she lamented.
Harry took in all this, and the powerful emotions he felt from Hermione. She was crying openly, and Harry really felt bad now. It hurt him, looking at her as she stood there crying in the doorway, wiping tears from her face. He couldn't bear to make her cry again. He walked up to her, tipped her chin up at him and looked into her face.
"Hermione, I'm okay, I'm okay. You don't have to cry. I'll be here no matter what. I'm not going to get myself killed.. or anything. You hear me? It's a promise." She flung herself at him at these words, her feelings for him plainly exposed. She gripped the front of his Quidditch robes with both hands, resting her forehead on his collar.
"I told you not to leave me this morning and I meant it-" She let go of him and went into the bathroom. Harry heard her turn on the faucet; and deduced that she must be washing her face. Harry couldn't believe that Hermione thought of him as more than a friend, just after he and Cho made up this morning. Everything was piling up on him now, he felt so stupid he didn't pick up all the signs. He sighed loudly, grabbed his gear in one hand, and hefted his trunk with the other. He dragged it out in the corridor until he reached the landing. He looked down at the crowd, feeling ridiculous- like a belle of the ball, since everyone was looking up at him.
Expecting another outburst perhaps? Maybe I should accommodate them, just to be difficult…
"Well? I can't use any magic yet so I guess one of you can help me with my things?" He asked politely. He had enough drama for one day, even though he would have liked to let loose on them, and really show them how 'agreeable' he could be. Remus offered to magic the trunk down.
"Accio!" he said, and the trunk neatly flew across to him and landed at his feet. Harry came down the steps, his bag slung over his shoulder and his broomstick case in his hand.
"Thanks a lot. That would have been a real challenge to get it down all those stairs…" He attempted to smile at Remus, and the tension seamed to evaporate. There was a collective sigh of relief as everyone let their pent up breath escape. Realizing that they really were expecting him to blow up again, he laughed. "You don't need to worry, she calmed me down. I'm fine now, you can relax..." Cho came up to him and hugged him tightly. Her encounter with Voldemort happened so fast that she hardly had time to realize that she was facing death incarnate before Harry charged him. She held on to him, her face buried into his neck.
"Thank you for saving my life, Harry," she whispered, then kissed him tenderly on his cheek. He looked at her quizzically, but said nothing. What do you say to that? He merely nodded, and put down his gear. Dumbledore came up to talk to him.
"I will have to contact Mrs. Chang and the Grangers before Cho and Hermione can go to the headquarters. I will personally escort them. The rest of you are to take Harry there: Arthur, collect Ron and his sister and meet us there. Keep your guard up, and have a safe journey," said Dumbledore. He gave Harry a look, one that said: Protect yourself, Behave yourself, and good luck- all in one. "Harry, I'm proud of you. James and Lilly would have been proud of you, don't let circumstances ever let you forget that."
"What about this 'Solidus charm' I'm supposed to have? It seems dangerous, and I can't turn it on or off - and I have no clue when its active or not. My friends could be hurt...couldn't they?"
"I daresay Miss Granger knows how to keep you under control. She can be a more powerful ally than you may ever realize," said Dumbledore. He smiled in his paternal way, and went up the stairs. " I must now talk to Hermione, she needs to talk with her parents before she leaves. Safe journey and Godspeed to you all."
"C'mon Harry, get a move on." Moody grumbled. Harry looked up the stairs one last time, mentally picturing Hermione as she grabbed unto his robes, letting all her emotions out in that moment. Wishing he had handled that better, he then left with the others, his feelings and thoughts all in disorder.