Dark Lady of Azkaban
"I'm sorry I couldn't keep her at bay much longer, but she demaned to see you before her claim to you ran out." McGonagall wrung her hands nervously.
Harry couldn't help but feel like there was something she wasn't telling him.
"Now I want you to be on guard. She is not human, no matter how she appears. she is older than Hogwarts itself. she is very powerful, and known to ally herself with dark forces."
Harry was getting the gist of the woman. Hermione had told Harry that the Dark Lady of Azkaban commanded Dementors, and held the fealty of most Vampires and hundreds of Werewolves around the world.
"Minerva," Lupin said as he approached. "May I speak with Harry before his meeting." when he saw McGonagall's expression he added. "In private."
McGonagall reluctantly left the two alone. Remus turned quickly to Harry. "I don't have much time, but I need to tell you..."
"I know, I know," Harry cut him off. "Don't trust her."
Lupin shook his head quickly. "I figured thats what they told you. I want to tell you, to be open minded when you meet her. Harry, most of the world calls her 'The Dark Lady of Azkaban', but she has another name... a long one; 'Mother of the Motherless, Lover of the Unloved, and Guardian of the Abandoned'." Remus paused to look at her. "Or, 'The All-Mother' for short."
"I don't get it," Harry said. "If she's so evil, how can she be motherly."
"Its not so simple as good an evil," Remus explained. "The All-Mother cares for those the rest of the world refuses to. what is normally considered ugly, profane, evil, and unnatural, she calls hers. she loves those the rest of the world refuses to." he sighed. "that includes werewolves. I'm not telling you to trust her, but on the same token, I'm telling you not to instantly distrust her."
Harry nodded. he rejoined Hermione and Ron in the drawing room. they were in the castle of Azkaban. they were waited on by vampires, or so Harry was told they were vampires. a door opened to and in walked a cloaked figure. the cloak, and the dress under it, were such a deep, dark black that harry couldn't tell where the dress folded, or if there were any decorations, or even where the cloak ended, and the dress began. the figure put down the hood and Harry noticed that the woman was strikingly beautiful. he felt warmth flowing from her, part of him felt drawn to her, as if he'd known her all his life. he noticed her hair was the same as her cloak and dress, so deep a black that harry couldn't tell where her hair ended and her cloak began.
suddenly, Harry became aware of a sound. he looked to his friends to see Hermione's teeth chatter, as if she were cold. Ron was rubbing his arms. "Mr. Potter," she spoke calmly, but with regal clarity. "Please come with me onto the balcony."
Harry followed cautiously. the Dark Lady sat on a stone bench and she motioned to offer him a seat on one nearby, Harry remained standing. despite the comfort he felt from her, he was not trusting her too much.
she smiled. "Harry James Potter, born on July 27th 1984, at 4:15 in the morning, Greewnitch Meantime, after 12 hours of labor." she said this with a warm voice, as if she were recalling a plesant afternoon. quickly though her voice changed to sad. "Orphaned at 6:45, again Greewnich meantime, on October 31 1985 by the death of your mother." she looked at him.
"How did you know all of that?" Harry asked, his voice quaking.
"It is a matter of public record" she repsonded, "But I make a point to know that of all my children."
"I'm not your child," Harry contested.
"You are an Orphan," she said, still calm, and still regal. "You are ostrasized from most of your peers, and you were Orphaned a second time by the loss of your Godfather... I don't know the specifics on that since he never officially took custody of you."
"What about Tom Riddle," Harry suddenly challenged. "Isn't he one of your children?"
she nodded. "Sadly he succumbed to the anger that lives in all of my children. The anger of being alone, the anger at the world. I wish I had had a chance to meet with him, Tell him of my love for him. Perhaps he might have turned out differently. In my foolish haste at the time, I thought one orphan wizard was not imporantant enough to tear me away from my vampire negotiations. by the time I realized my mistake, I knew it was also too late. no amount of love can turn Tom Riddle back to a human, or back to the path of right... his heart... his soul... it has been defiled beyond all repair."
Harry was shocked. she sounded like she blamed herself for Voldemort.
"I am so happy to see you, Harry. you are an embodiment of all I wish for my children."
"What do you mean?" he demanded.
"You are capable of something so strong, and so powerful... sadly, not many orphans harness that... Tom Riddle can't."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Love," he sighed. "Like thats some kind of weapon."
"Not a weapon," she corrected him. "A powerful force that binds people, even across great distances. a bond forged of love is truly unbreakable." she brushed her hand on his cheek and said, "Sit, Albus wanted me to have a discussion with you."
at the mention of Dumbldore, harry practically fell into the seat.
"Harry, Your two friends stood facing what they probably assume to be the second most powerful dark being on the planet, after Voldemort. and they stood at yourside."
"Of course," harry said, thinking she was insulting Ron and Hermione.
"And do you know why Harry?" she asked. Harry was silent. "Their love for you," she answered herself. "There are others who love you like that Harry. and when you have need of them they will come to your aid."
"But I have to defeat him myself." Harry protested.
"No," she corrected. "Albus told me the prophesy. You alone will have the power to defeat him, the power he knows not. Only you will have the love it takes to bring together those it takes to stop him."
Harry thought on this.
"For instance," she continued. "Do you not have the love of the half-giant Rubeus Hagrid, and his brother Grawp? a powerful duo indeed. as well as the love of two half-Veela and their Gaggle." Harry immediately remembered Fluer and her sister Gabrielle. "And the love and adoration of a dedicated house-elf? They will all come to your aid Harry, as will Viktor Krum, and the Order of the Phoenix, and Oliver Wood, and the Weaslys. and all of those who's lives you've touched. But it goes further than that. all the lives that they have touched. Viktor Krum will bring his team, the Half-Veelas will bring their Gaggle, the House-Elf will bring other House-Elves, Grawp will move other Giants to fight with him, the Order will bring their families, the Weaslies with jobs will bring their co-workers, and their friends."
she brushed Harry's cheek again. "And you have my love," she added. "And you will have me in your fight. and fighting beside me will me most of the Vampires from around the world, hundreds of Were-wolves, and many other beings more fantastic, and fearsome than you know. That, my son, is the true power of Love, in darkest times, it may not light your way, but it will make sure you have someone nearby with a torch."