Note: Please look to prologue for disclaimer and additional notes about the story.

A Dance With Fate

Canopus Carina

Chapter 20 of 20

He could feel the ceremony engulf him with magic even when the first word was spoken. It whispered in his ear sweat murmurs of power he could have if he took it. But his mind erased any sense of doubt, and lingering will to end the spell. He was determined to see it through and bring his friend back to the land of the living. He would battle in the Final Battle once more if it meant he had the chance to make things right.

The veil of time appeared before him and he felt the magic slowly leave him, leaving him weaker than even the Final Battle had. It would take all that he had, and then some, to pierce the veil and head back into times he was not meant to see. But he was willing to give it all up for the one currently lying in the hospital wing, unable to fight for himself.

He was willing to do anything.

Saturday: 17 December 1977

The chilled air wrapped its thin tendrils around the four Marauders as they waited outside the Hogsmeade Train Station. It would leave for the London Station at eleven o'clock sharp as it had each year previously, and though it was only eight minutes before the train would leave, they were still outside. The cold was not felt, only the anxiety building in their stomachs as the seconds slowly passed. They were waiting as patiently as possible, given the circumstances which was exceedingly unusual.

As the five minutes warning was given off in the station, Remus decided to take the initiative and get up. That bell also announced to his mind that they had been sitting like that for twenty-five minutes. Small ice crystals formed in their hair and eyebrows, snowflakes melted slowly and traced their faces. They had been there for too long. He grabbed each Marauder's unresponsive hands and lifted them to their feat without a word. It wasn't until he started directing them towards the station entrance that James resisted.

"He's not here yet." He continued staring out at the empty snow covered street, not seeing Remus when he shook his head. "We can't go yet."

"I'm sure he's already in London waiting for us. He didn't really say where he would meet up with us. And if he's here I'm sure he has other ways of getting to London on his own." It took a little more prodding, but he finally got the other three Marauders in the train station and into seats. The train was filled with bubbly excitement that they didn't feel. It was filled with joyous chatter that they did not join. To them, they couldn't come up with a reason to be happy. For some unexpected, unexplained reason, they felt something truly wrong and happened to him, something incredibly wrong.

It had been five days since the last lesson, and no one had seen or heard from Harry since.

The travel wasn't strenuous, but they would be happy to leave the train in London to renew the wait for Harry. Students of all ages were darting back and forth in the hallways in joyous celebration of the holidays. But they didn't partake in their joy.

It wasn't until an owl started tapping angrily at their window that they brightened. It was a letter from Harry.

This probably won't get to you guys for a long time. I'm really far away from the castle now and I figure this owl is too old for deliveries and will take many stops. As long as it gets sent and received, it'll be fine.

I won't be there at the train station today, but remember, I'll be there when you need me. Hopefully I have drilled in your head enough of me that during trouble, you'll know exactly what to do. Not that I think you'll be attacked anytime soon, but it is always better to be ready for it.

So you know: I have completed my task.

Love,

Harry

I didn't think I would ever write "Love, Harry" to anyone other than family. But then again, you have become my closest family these five months.

When they finally pulled into London Train Station, they were in better spirits. They didn't know if it was the Hogsmeade Station or London Station that he wouldn't be able to meet them at. It just said 'station'. So they quickly gazed above the many students who rushed to meet their family.

He was not to be seen. But what they did see added to their troubled felling: Mr. Potter looked shell-shocked while Mrs. Potter sobbed over a Daily Prophet newspaper. James immediately ran to comfort his mother and the newspaper dropped from her hands.

Remus stooped to pick up the paper when he froze seeing the headlines: Breaking News: Family Found Dead in Home. And there was a cheerful picture of a clearly Potter father, a beautiful mother, and Harry sitting between them. With a deep breath, he lifted it to read. Soon James, Sirius, and Peter crowded behind him to read as well.

The nation mourns the deaths of the family of Christopher Evan Potter, native Britain pictured to the right. Potter and his wife, Cynthia, were found in their home in Connecticut, America last Tuesday by Muggles.

"The Muggles who found the deceased reported that no one had entered or left the house for seven months and believed abandoned," American Ministry official, Emanuel Sanchez reports. "No one entered the house during that time. We have suspicion that the deceased were under the Findilus Charm which is why no one was able to see the Potters in the house."

A follow up interview with the Ministry reports that the Potters, including their seventeen year old son, were hidden in this fashion. But the question was where the Potter's son, Harold Christopher Potter, was during this time and escaped death. And why the charm is now broken when it was still reportedly in effect for five months.

In a journal Cynthia Potter had kept during her time in isolation she writes that young Harold was sent to the Ministry of Magic with a note to be then sent to someone from her husband's family. However, Harold never made it to the American Ministry.

He was found a day after his parent in Virginia, near a suspected meeting place of Followers of Lord Avarite, killed by a single Killing Curse. The estimated time of death was the same time as the Findilus Charm on the Potter's home. Cynthia's journal does not mention whether they made their son the secret keeper which is why they sent him away, but it is being investigated that it is so. But where was the boy during this time?

Early this morning, the family of Samuel and Rebecca Potter were told of Samuel's cousin's death as well as the other family of the deceased. They state that Harold had apparated to their home on the evening of 24th of July. After fire calling his parents to tell them where he was, he was in their care for a week. Headmaster Dumbledore then employed him as Dueling Instructor due to his experience fighting by his parent's side.

This is where contradictory information is found. American officials report that the Followers of Lord Avarite claim they had young Harold during this time.

What is known is that Harold was last seen at Hogwarts on Monday, 12 December 1977 teaching a lesson to a group of students attending the Dueling Club. After the club, he was seen speaking with a few students and then walking back to his office. The next time seen was in Virginia with Lord Avarite's message:

Here is the brat you love so much. Let it be known that I, Lord Avarite, have broken him to giving us the ones he protects. Everyone breaks. To those who oppose us, you are next.

For more information about Avarite and his cause in America, please turn to page 4.

The Daily Prophet expresses their deepest condolences to the family. We have lost a caring family and a strong pair of fighters for the side of Light. A memorial will take place in Salem, Massachusetts where young Harold attended school and the American Ministry of Magic where Christopher and Cynthia Potter worked alongside in their battle against the Dark Lord Avarite. Dates and times will be posted as soon as the Daily Prophet has them along with how to attend.

It just couldn't be true; they just got a letter from him. But as James' parents were still sobbing, they must have been shown proof that their young charge was killed less than a week ago. Remus quickly grabbed the letter Sirius had gripped in his hand to read over again.

This probably won't get to you guys for a long time. I'm really far away from the castle now…

This could have been written after he got to America and realized he wouldn't be able to get back to London in time. Was he captured by the American dark wizards already and was allowed to send one last note, or had he sent it right before?

Hopefully I have drilled in your head enough of me that during trouble, you'll know exactly what to do…

It sounded like he knew that he wouldn't be back to see them for a long time, if at ever. He felt sick to his stomach as he finished the note again.

… you have become my closest family these five months.

It was hard watching them clean out Harry's office. He didn't know why he even came to watch, maybe just for a sense of closure. James and his parents went to the momorials in Harry and his own parent's honors. Remus wished he could go as well, but it was a very selective audience and his mother wouldn't allow him to go cross seas anyways. This was his own memorial for the boy who had done so much for them. Even when he spent so short a time with them, he had touched so many lives. Intrahouse relationships were much stronger, even some interhouse relationships blossomed. But most of all, they were ready for their upcoming participation in the war.

They knew their abilities and limitations. They knew their expectations and surprises. They knew their strengths and weaknesses. Maybe that was brought by Harry, but he opened their eyes.

As the house elves started taking Harry's stuff out, he entered the office for one last time. He wished Harry was happy wherever he was, he at least was able to die knowing he had finished his task as morbid as it sounded. At long last, almost everything was taken out of the room except some furniture and a book left open that Remus had started playing with. It was a journal, but as it wasn't in Harry's scrawl he didn't care much. Who cared about some guy named Remedius Partromi and some Manas Potion, anyway?

(To Be Continued in Epilogue)

End of Chapter 20 – 1,677 of words

Posted: 4 July 2007

Wait for the epilogue! Friday will sadly the last installment. Thank you everyone who has lasted with me so long. Until Friday:

Happy Fourth of July!