I don't own Harry Potter (probably for the best).

When Harry arrived back at the common room, he made a beeline for Hermione and Ron, who were engaged in completing their homework. Harry opened the book he had taken from the library up to the paragraph about magical cores as he walked.

He slammed the book down on the table. His friends jumped. He had their attention. He pointed to the paragraph without any explanation, and Hermione quickly read through it.

When she looked up again, her brown eyes lit up in glee.

"You've found it, Harry! This is what you've been missing!" she exclaimed. Ron, who was just finishing reading the paragraph for himself, frowned.

"This is scary stuff, mate. I mean, squibs, death and insanity? Do you really want to do this?"

"It will help to even the odds between myself and Voldemort," Harry offered.

"If it works. If not…"

"I know it's dangerous, Ron. But I think I need to do this. I already have basic Occlumency skills, and I've entered that trance the book talks about. It shouldn't be too difficult."

"Both of you have decent points. But Harry, I think you should do some more research on this first. Maybe there's a test or something that tells you if you'll be able to handle it," Hermione reasoned.

"You think so?"

"I don't know, but you could always ask Madame Pomfrey. If there's a test of any kind she would know," Hermione suggested.

"If there isn't a test I'm doing it just the same," Harry warned.

"That is what I thought," Hermione sighed.

Forsaking their essays, they headed immediately to the Infirmary. Madame Pomfrey was not exactly pleased to see them.

"What have you done now, Mr. Potter? I swear, you should just move into the Hospital Wing," The medi-witch huffed. Harry prodded Hermione, hoping to escape Madame Pomfrey's 'care.'

"We're not here because any of us is ill, Madame Pomfrey. Harry actually had a question," Hermione explained.

"Well get on with it, I don't have all night."

"Is there any kind of test to determine whether a witch or wizard is strong enough to connect to their magical core?" Hermione straight-away asked. Madame Pomfrey looked guarded.

"Why? Planning another way to kill yourself, Mr. Potter?"

"Tell her it's for an essay. Quickly!" Harry signed feverishly. The last thing he wanted was a nosy medi-witch.

"It's for an essay," Hermione lied smoothly. Madame Pomfrey appeared suspicious, but bought their explanation.

"No, there isn't a test. There have been attempts at creating one, but none have been successful," she informed them. "Now, is that all?"

"Yes, thank you, Madame Pomfrey," Hermione said, and they hurriedly left the medi-witch's domain.

The next evening they sat in the Room of Requirement after a meeting of Dumbledore's Army. Harry had taken whatever spare time he had to read more on magical cores, and he now felt secure – or as secure as it was possible to feel – in attempting to connect with his own core.

Hermione and Ron sat opposite him, eyeing him anxiously.

"I'll be fine, guys. Don't worry," Harry assured. Hermione bit her lip. "I'm going into the trance now," he warned. They silently nodded, and Harry closed his eyes and evened his breathing, clearing his mind.

He felt as if he were floating in an empty space, but images, sounds, feelings, emotions all swirled around him; pushed aside, but ready to be summoned with a thought. Harry was in his own mind.

Harry relaxed farther and felt as if he were sinking. His mind faded – still there, but in the background. He felt as if he were floating in a black void – here there was nothing.

Harry allowed himself to sink further and further into the void. He wasn't scared of being disconnected with his mind; its contents swirled at the edge of his perceptions, growing fainter the farther he sunk. Yet he didn't think he would lose them, after all they were a part of him. How could it be possible to lose his mind?

Suddenly the void didn't feel so empty. A sensation, like that of a faint electric current, tingled through Harry. He shivered at the odd sensation, not frightened but startled.

Harry's eyes flew open as his trance broke, drawing in a startled breath. He felt as if he had surfaced from an underwater swim.

"Harry!" Ron and Hermione simultaneously shouted.

"What happened? Are you alright? Did you do it?" The questions poured out at him, overloading his startled brain. He held up a tired hand.

"I'm fine. I haven't done it, but I think I was close…there was this feeling…it startled me out of the trance," Harry explained. "I think it was my magic!"

Hermione squealed in excitement.

"What did it feel like?" she questioned, leaning forward eagerly.

"Like a mild electric current. It made me tingle," Harry explained.

"That's brilliant!" Hermione exclaimed.

"You going to give it another go?" Ron asked.

"I don't think so. That wore me out." Harry signed regretfully. "I'll have another go tomorrow morning. It'll be the weekend then, and I'll have plenty of time. We can get Ginny in on it, too."

"Why didn't you tell me about this before you tried it?!" Ginny shouted. They had just told her of what Harry had attempted, and she wasn't taking it well. Thankfully they had had the foresight to put up privacy wards in their corner of the common room.

Harry winced.

"I'm sorry, I should have told you…"

"That's right you should have told me! What if something had happened?"

"I'm sorry, Ginny! We were all caught up in it, I wasn't thinking…"

"Obviously! It didn't even cross your mind that I might be concerned about you doing something extremely dangerous?"

"I'm sorry…"

"Sorry doesn't cut it! What if you had died?" Ginny finally ran out of steam and grabbed Harry, hugging him tightly and crying. Harry silently stroked her hair, finally understanding her anger. It had been anger born of concern.

"If something had happened to you…" Ginny drew in a shaky breath. "…I couldn't bear it, Harry. So many dangerous things seem to go on around you. You've already been permanently maimed, and now you are voluntarily putting yourself in those situations. How can I protect you if I'm not there?"

Harry gently tipped her teary face up to his, and looking deeply into her eyes, planted a tender kiss on her forehead. She sighed.

"I'm scared for you, Harry," Ginny said quietly. Harry hugged her tighter, trying to give her comfort simply through his touch.

Eventually she drew away, wiping tears from her eyes.

"I'm assuming that you're going to try again?"

"Tomorrow morning, in the Room of Requirement. I was hoping you'd come," Harry signed, regretting having to release Ginny.

"Of course I'll come, even though I think this is a very bad idea," Ginny said, pursing her lips and reminding Harry of Mrs. Weasley. Harry just smiled.

Morning saw the group of four once more in the sitting area that the Room of Requirement had set up for them.

Closing his eyes against the once more concerned – and disapproving, in Ginny's case – looks he was subjected to from his friends, Harry evened his breathing and cleared his mind, allowing himself to sink quickly into the trance.

He once more felt the sensation of sinking through a void, with his mind's contents swirling at the edge of his consciousness. Recalling what he did last time, he sank further and further, preparing himself for the surprising feeling of electricity.

As he recalled he soon encountered the sensation, but this time he didn't allow its suddenness to startle him from the trance. Instead, he felt a tugging from the feeling, and allowed himself to be pulled. He could feel the intensity of the 'electricity' increasing steadily, building and building.

Harry felt consumed by it. It was everywhere, in every part of him, buzzing in his brain and making his heart pound. But he stuck with it, somehow knowing that this current was his magic. It would pull him to his core, he was sure.

Harry wasn't sure how long he remained in the current, only being aware of the tingling increasing in intensity until it was nigh unbearable.

Suddenly, Harry felt as if he had been knocked back by a wave of pure energy, stopping his breath and stiffening his muscles. More energy was pulsing around him, sweeping him up in its power.

There was a magnificent sun in front of him, nearly white with power but with a bright green tint. Green wisps were floating around it, coming away from the sun and disappearing into the void and then returning. The waves of power – of magic –– were coming from it, sweeping in all directions.

Though he felt paralyzed Harry somehow approached the magnificent sun, staring at its magnificence. Strange – he felt no heat and no cold – there was only a pleasant feeling in him now that he could only relate to one word: glow. He could still feel the magic surging around him like a great tidal sea, but it did not deter him from his course. In fact, it seemed to aid him, gently prodding him onward.

Suddenly Harry stopped. There was a milky wall in front of him, something he hadn't seen before. But it didn't seem to be fully solid. It was mostly translucent, and when Harry looked closely, there seemed to be the most infinitesimal cracks throughout its surface. Through these cracks leaked little wisps of green magic.

Foolishly, Harry reached out and touched it.

Memories swirled through his mind: A flash of green light and an agonized scream. A red cruciatus curse zooming straight for him as black-robed death eaters closed in. Wormtail cutting his own hand off to land in a simmering cauldron. Snape uttering "avada kedavra" and Dumbledore tumbling backward over the edge of the astronomy tower. A red spell coming from the tip of Bellatrix Lestrange's wand and coming straight for him. Sectumsempra shooting from Harry's own wand, and then Malfoy lying in a growing puddle of blood.

Magic is evil, a voice whispered. Nothing good can come from it. Voldemort is powerful, and he is evil. Power is evil. Magic is power. Magic is evil. Magic is evil.

Harry began to panic. What was happening?

A new memory came to the surface of his mind:

Sirius leaned in to Harry, earnestness showing in his sad eyes. "We all have both light and dark in us, Harry. What matters it what side you choose to listen to."

Madame Pomfrey used a healing spell to mend a broken leg. Harry's Patronus drove away the swarm of dementors trying to consume his own and Sirius's souls. Dumbledore transfigured a storm of glass shards into harmless dust. Hermione showed Ron how to properly levitate a feather. The Order of the Phoenix Apparated into the Department of Mysteries to save Harry and his friends. Harry sent red sparks from his wand to save Fleur Delacour.

No. Magic can be used for good, Harry argued. And in that moment, he actually believed the words like he never had before.

The milky barrier disappeared in a flash of white light, and Harry felt as if a previously unnoticed weight had lifted from his shoulders.

The power battered at him with renewed vigor. The milky barrier had been holding some of it back, Harry realized.

But Harry let the power sweep him up and carry him onward towards the sun, feeling the power increase, the pulses become more frequent. He was carried in a tide of magic. It was both terrifying and exciting at the same time.

Harry was directly in front of the sun now. It towered above him, basking him in its greenish light. Harry felt the pure undiluted power centered in this sun, causing a feeling of exhilaration. This was his power.

Harry didn't hesitate. He reached out and touched the light.

This was like nothing he had ever felt before. Joy, pride, triumph, wonder, and thrill engulfed every part of him, accompanied by pain. The magic surged around him, agitated, angry, and violent. Green ribbons of power lashed out like whips, and the surface of the sun pulsed and roiled. He felt as if he were on fire with power. It was too much. It would consume him and burn him up until there was nothing left of him but an empty husk.

No, Harry thought. That is not what will happen. This is mine. I control it. It is a part of me. THIS IS MINE!

The burning quelled and the emotions changed to simple peace. The magic settled, and the green ribbons caressed him, sending pleasant shivers up his spine. The magic had accepted him.

It began fading away, growing dimmer. Harry felt as if he had been hurled backward, away from his magic, catapulting back to the real world.

Ginny watched as her boyfriend closed his eyes and settled into his trance. She felt terrified. Why on earth would he do something like this? It was unnecessarily dangerous, stupid, and rash. She understood that he was doing this in the hopes that it would even the playing field between himself and Voldemort, but weren't there other things he could do?

The minutes went by, without even a twitch from Harry. Ginny realized she was holding her breath, and forced herself to breathe.

Harry shivered lightly, but otherwise remained unmoving.

What was he experiencing? What could he see? Had he found his core yet?

Harry winced, was still for a moment, and then sighed ever so quietly. More minutes ticked by.

Harry's eyes suddenly flew open, and Ginny gasped, hearing Hermione and Ron do the same beside her. Harry's eyes were filled with a pulsing light, glowing an unnaturally bright green. His breathing froze in his chest.

Harry suddenly lurched back and started gasping. He stilled…and then glowed.

And aura of bright green surrounded him, coming from him, pulsing around him in eddies of obvious magical power.

"He's entered his magical core," Hermione realized quietly, in wonder.

Harry's expression settled into a content smile. Awareness seemed to seep back into his him as the aura and glow in his eyes faded.

Harry shook his head, stared around at them, and then suddenly collapsed sideways.

"Harry!" Ginny screamed, jumping from her seat just in time to catch him before he hit the floor. To her relief he wasn't dead – he was still breathing. His eyes were partially open, staring up at her.

He grinned wearily, and by the joyous glint in his eyes, Ginny knew he had done it. He had successfully connected to his magical core.

"Is he alright?" Hermione questioned anxiously, coming up behind Ginny.

"Yes, he's alright I think," Ginny replied, her voice choking. She hugged Harry tightly to her chest, holding him close and crying from stress. She felt his feeble arms wrap around her in return.

"I'm sorry Ginny, but we should get him up on the couch. He looks exhausted," Hermione eventually suggested. Ginny nodded, reluctant to let go of him. But she did, and Hermione levitated Harry up onto the couch. Ginny lifted his head and positioned a pillow under it so he would be comfortable, then pulled an armchair up beside him.

He grinned lopsidedly at her.

"You sure you've not gone loopy, mate?" Ron asked doubtfully. Harry snorted softly. He made the simple sign for "yes", not lifting his hand away from the couch.

"Harry, you should sleep," Hermione said, biting her lip.

"I want tell you…" Harry began weakly, his movements sloppy. Hermione snorted.

"Harry, I barely understood that. Rest. You can tell us about it in a few hours," Hermione admonished.

"Listen to her, Harry. We can wait," Ginny agreed. Harry reluctantly nodded and let his eyes slip closed, nodding off to sleep within a few seconds. Ginny stroked his hair affectionately.

"What do you think happened?" Ron wondered.

"That green light must have been his magic. I'd say that when he touched his core the magic was able to fill him up," Hermione guessed.

"What would that have felt like?" Ron asked.

"I don't know! I've never touched my core!" Hermione replied, seeming to be annoyed that for once she didn't have an answer.

They chatted awhile longer, while Harry slept peacefully.

After two hours Hermione checked her watch.

"Ron, why don't you get us some lunch from the kitchen?" Hermione suggested.

"Sure," Ron agreed readily, having no problem with getting food. He left the room with a promise that he'd be back soon.

"We'll wake Harry up soon so that he can eat," Hermione said. "It will help give him some energy."

Ginny nodded agreement.

"Do you think he really is okay?" Ginny asked worriedly. Hermione bit her lip.

"He looked fine. There was no violent outburst of magic, which is what precedes a wizard becoming a squib, so I'd guess he still had magic. He's certainly not dead…and he didn't look insane. He also seemed to be fully aware – he didn't try to talk, which he's done before when he's exhausted."

"What if it's a gradual process? Becoming insane. What if Harry slowly goes mad?" Ginny whimpered. Hermione gave her a comforting hug.

"I'm sure that Harry's fine. His magic seemed to accept him."

"I don't know. I'm still worried." Ginny admitted.

Both of their heads swiveled to look when they heard a thumping sound. Then they saw Harry, knocking his fist against the side of the couch to let them know he'd woken up. Ginny was instantly on her feet and helped Harry sit up.

"Are you alright?" she asked. Harry grinned.

"Of course I am!" Harry signed back. His movements were a little sluggish, but they were understandable, and it wasn't out of the ordinary for Ron to complain that he could barely understand Harry in the morning after the boy had just woken up.

"Ron's gone to get us some food for lunch. Are you hungry?" Hermione asked. Harry thought about it, and then nodded vigorously.

"What's all this talk of me going mad?" Harry signed, the smile still in place. Ginny and Hermione exchanged guilty looks.

"You heard that?" Hermione asked. Harry rolled his eyes and nodded.

"Well we're worried about you! You collapsed just as you stopped glowing!" Ginny cried. Harry appeared confused.

"Wait…I was glowing?"