Disclaimer: okay we should all know it how works by now if I don't own any of the HP characters or themes this is just my take on how things should have been.
An First of all thanks to ever one for your reveiws but the score for sirus is tied so I'm holding the poll over 1 more week
Chapter Twelve
The Tale of Guinevere Gryffindor
By Empathicallychosen
Betaed by aerohead1980
"The principle office of history I take to be this: to prevent virtuous actions from being forgotten, and that evil words and deeds should fear an infamous reputation with posterity."--Publius Cornelius Tacitus
(o)(o)(o)
"I don't like it," said Peter sorely when Remus told the other Marauders about his dream the night before. "First Sirius, now you. How do we know they're not doing some kind of freaky mind control trick?"
Sirius snorted as they made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast the day Remus and Harry had been released from the Hospital Wing with a clean bill of health. The hall was practically empty because that day was the first sunny Hogsmeade weekend that year and everyone wanted to get to class quickly and get it over with.
"Come off it Wormtail, I mean do they really look like dark sorcerers to you," said Sirius dismissively.
At the moment Harry, Ron and Hermione were trying to feed some gummy worms Lily's parents had sent for Hedwig and Pig to the plush owls. Lily and Victoria were walking behind them making sure they were mindful of walls and doors because Hermione had almost tripped on one of the moving staircases once already that day. Besides, a pack of Slytherins were pushing their way out of the Great Hall and the teenagers really didn't feel like spending the day trying to find the children who had a tendency to wander when they were lost.
"Yeah right, that'll happen. Harry you listen here, no taking over the free world until you're at least eight," said James playfully.
"Okay James," Harry replied absentmindedly. "Come on Hedwig, all the other birds eat worms. We saw one of Hagrid's roosters eating one yesterday when James was apologizing to Lily."
"I don't think they're hungry," said Hermione thoughtfully. "No, Ron stop! Those are for the owls."
"Let's not fill up on worms. I'm sure the house-elves have plenty of other creepy critters waiting for you at the table," said Lily cheerfully.
Ron nodded in compliance and for the first time they actually made some real progress towards that afternoon's Hogsmeade trip. Harry had suddenly become very excited to reach the table and scanned the various entrees before they even sat down. He sighed and sat down across from Peter. He immediately asked for a large helping of Dragon eyes and lots and lots of mud. To be honest James had no clue what in the world Harry was talking about, but thankfully Lily understood dishing up two fried eggs and a bowl of porridge. Giggling at their new game Hermione turned to Remus, who was nearest, with a big smile on her face.
"Moony, will you pass me those beetles please," Hermione asked with her hair swimming in her pumpkin juice.
Bewildered, Remus raised his eyebrows at Lily.
"She wants raisins for her porridge," Lily replied fishing Hermione's hair out of the glass.
"Me to Moony! I need beetles too," Ron told the werewolf.
"I like beetles too," Harry interjected.
Raisins were in such high demand that morning that all three friends ate to bowls of porridge just to see who could pack in the most beetles. Olivia arrived just as Harry was finishing up his last few bites. He was so happy to see her that he accidentally knocked over the bowl of raisins. Somehow at least five raisins ended up in Peter's food. Normally five raisins wouldn't make much difference one way or another, but as it happened Peter was dangerously allergic to raisins. Within one minute of swallowing a raisin Peter started scratching incessantly and his hands and feet would become ridiculously swollen.
"Look what you did," snapped Peter red with rage.
Harry backed away nervously.
"Don't blame Harry," retorted Olivia draping an arm around Harry's shoulder. "You saw the raisins spill, would it have killed you to look down before you kept stuffing your face?"
Peter was in a huff as he headed up to the hospital wing. The other Marauders informed him that if he wasn't back before classes were over they would meet up with him in The Three Broomsticks before turning their attention to a very morose Harry. The poor boy was staring at the staircase where Peter had disappeared looking completely dumbfounded. He was as pale as a sheet and his emerald eyes were as wide as dinner plates.
"I can't believe you broke Peter," stated Ron astounded.
"I didn't mean to," said Harry growing increasingly more anxious.
"Peter's not broken, he will be just fine," Victoria said firmly.
James decided it would be for the best if they all went to their lessons before anything else happened, so the group walked to Defense Against the Dark Arts in almost complete silence. No matter what anyone said, Harry outright refused to talk to anyone. There was still ten minutes until class was due to start, but since everyone was already present Professor Howlright, a snout- faced woman with hawk like eyes decided to start the lesson anyway.
"Good morning class, I see you're all eager to get to work so let's get started," she said in her usual raspy voice. "Today's lesson is on empaths."
The news of this grabbed the Marauders, Lily, Victoria and Olivia's attention at once. Why on earth would they be studying about empaths in Defense Against the Dark Arts? James just didn't understand. Was there any possibility that Peter could be right about the kids? Just for a moment he tried to imagine Harry as some dark and evil entity, but it was impossible. What was Harry going to do? Cuddle them to death?
"Empaths are closely acquainted with the Dementor, but are indeed far more sinister as they are human and can blend into our communities rather easily."
James was positively outraged! How dare this woman compare his little boy to a Dementor? It was absurd. Harry, Ron and Hermione were the sweetest children you could ever hope to meet. Instinctively, James glanced over at his son to see all three of the children sitting on their blankets next to their abandoned toys absorbing everything Professor Howlright was saying. For a moment James wondered if he ought to remove them from this situation, but was so eager to learn more about his son's abilities he pushed the thought away.
"Empaths will immerse themselves in memories of heightened emotions so that they can get to know their victims and then they will attack using an arsenal of powers to bring destruction upon nations..."
James looked around the room and was stunned to see that almost all of his classmates were showing signs of fear when everything the professor was telling them sounded like nothing more than idle speculation.
"Killing an empath can be rather difficult. When an empath reaches a certain level of maturity they will develop a very unique defense mechanism. A mature empath identifies each person they meet by scents unique only to that person; something in the scent will alert the empath to those who wish to harm him. Therefore, the best way to exterminate the common empath is to get rid of them while they are young. Thousands of years ago this was done by cutting out the child's heart, where it is believed the powers originate from."
At these words James felt quite ill. He didn't like the way Professor Howlright was talking about Harry and the others. He couldn't bare to think of what cruel methods of extermination modern-day wizards might come up with. Understandably Harry, Ron and Hermione didn't take the news they would supposedly turn into monsters that would cause a mob of wizards to kill them very well. Immediately they burst into wild inconsolable tears and had to be carried from the room.
"I-- I-- I don't want to be a monster," Ron wailed.
Victoria engulfed him in a bone-crushing hug.
"You are not a monster sweetheart. That crazy old hag doesn't know what she's talking about," said Olivia with undeniable conviction.
Hermione, Ron and Harry kept crying nonetheless.
"I don't want them to cut out my heart. I like it where it is," Hermione lamented.
"No one is going to cut anything out of anyone," said Remus authoritatively.
"But-- but --"
"Look, no one will hurt you if they don't know what you are and none of us would ever tell any one," Sirius assured them.
"What about Peter," asked Harry with the watery frown.
"I know Peter isn't exactly the nicest guy to you lot, but he is one of my best mates and would never betray us like that. Never," said James confidently.
Despite everyone's reassurances they could not stop the flood of tears streaming down the children's faces. James and the others tried everything they could think of to cheer the little ones up, including distorting the pictures in the hall so that the thin brush strokes were bent and contorted into unusual shapes, but still there was no reaction. James was just considering giving up completely and just allowing Harry, Ron and Hermione to cry for the rest of their lives when he heard a pair of footsteps coming toward them.
"My word what's going on here," said a genteel voice inquiringly.
Everyone looked up to see Professor Dumbledore looking down at them.
"We were learning about empaths in class and, well it got a little disturbing to say the least," said Lily looking rather pale.
"I see, well if you would care to follow me I think I can help you clear up these matters," said the Headmaster sounding strangely businesslike.
The group followed Professor Dumbledore down the corridor in complete silence and Dumbledore in turn said nothing to the group as he led the lot of them to his office. Once they arrived in the headmaster's office, Professor Dumbledore placed Harry, Ron and Hermione in his private study along with the Phoenix and several fascinating toys to keep them occupied. The older students were instructed to take a seat in the main part of the Headmaster's office until he returned.
James was waiting quite anxiously as Dumbledore strolled down the staircase looking quite unconcerned. He said nothing to his pupils as he waved his wand at the wall behind them. They all whipped around as a very large bookshelf appeared out of nowhere. James could see hundreds and hundreds of books lined up neatly on the bookcase. There were books of every kind on the shelves, thin feather light ones, thick ones and even a few (very few), that looked like they had never been opened.
James could not understand why the bookshelf was there and was more than slightly agitated when Dumbledore continue to ignore them and started running his fingers along the bookcase as though unaware that any of them were there. The Marauders, Lily, Victoria and Olivia waited awkwardly. After several minutes of this, desperate for answers James blurted out, "Harry will not grow up to be a dark wizard! It's just not possible!"
"Nothing is impossible James, but I agree that it is highly unlikely. Most empaths are endowed with a great deal of unrelated powers, but are pacifists who would rather be left alone. Very few of them ever turn to the dark arts," said Dumbledore still rummaging around in the bookcase.
"But Professor Howlright said--"
"Professor Howlright is misinformed, as is most of the wizarding community I'm afraid," interjected the Headmaster soberly.
"I don't understand," said Remus gently. "If empaths are pacifists by nature, than why are people so afraid of them?"
"Because of Guinevere Gryffindor," said Dumbledore.
The seventh years looked puzzled, but Dumbledore did not elaborate. He had found the book he was looking for and was carefully walking back to his desk holding it in his arms, cradling it like a baby. James understood why he did this; the book looked like it was at least a thousand years old and certainly any book that old needed to be handled delicately. Indeed, the book seemed like it would crumble at the slightest touch.
"You all know, of course, about the founders and how they had once been friends before their terrible falling out," said the ancient wizard taking his seat at the desk.
Everyone nodded mutely.
"Well there is something very few people know about the founders," Dumbledore quickly thumbed through the pages until he was very close to the end of the book. "Did you know that Godric Gryffindor and Helga Hufflepuff were married?"
The teenagers gaped at Professor Dumbledore in shock.
"You're kidding," shouted Victoria unable to restrain herself.
"No, I'm not," said Dumbledore seriously. "As a matter of fact they had five children including Guinevere. Guinevere was an empath and she was incredibly powerful. Not as powerful as Harry, Hermione or Ron, but powerful nonetheless.
Guinevere was Godric and Helga's youngest child. She was born ten years before the rift between the founders. Salazar Slytherin was like an uncle to Godric's children, but he favored Guinevere over the others, so naturally she was very close to Salazar. Close enough, in fact, that Guinevere made Salazar one of her anchors..."
"Her what?" asked Sirius in interest.
"An anchor, Mr. Black. It is very difficult to have the world's emotions heaped upon you. It is not unheard of for an empath to lose their mind. As self-preservation the empath will usually find someone they are close to and cling to them in order to maintain their sanity. Empaths, by nature, are desperate to please their anchors and are uniquely bonded to them. Which, in my opinion, is why Harry fell ill when the three of you left them to come here and why Harry received those unusual injuries on the night of the full moon," Dumbledore explained as though he were teaching a class on the subject.
"Wait," said James suddenly " Now I understand why Harry got ill after we left but Ron and Hermione got sick as well. . . ."
"Does that mean -- I mean to say. . .are we their anchors too," Sirius finished his brother's thought almost hopefully.
Dumbledore shook his head, "It is my belief that because of the strong connection between Harry, Ron and Hermione what happens to on in effect will happen to all of them to a lesser extent of course."
Remus took a deep breath and tried to digest this information it was almost too much to take.
"At any rate, when the founders parted ways Salazar became consumed by the dark arts. He became hungry for power and, thinking that he could use her abilities to his advantage, Salazar kidnapped Guinevere and raised her himself. Sadly, the more sinister and evil Slytherin became the darker Guinevere herself became, until she had killed hundreds of people and acquired an insatiable lust for blood, nearly killing off all the good witches and wizards in all of the United Kingdom," Dumbledore continued on with his story as though there were no interruption at all.
Dumbledore finished the story and stared around at them all without another word. For a long time no one spoke. Then James asked in barely more than a whisper, "Professor, what happened to Guinevere?"
Dumbledore frowned, "Unfortunately she could not be saved, and Godric was forced to kill her."
No one moved or spoke. They didn't know what to say. They just sat in the chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk frozen to their seats.
Sorry this is a short chapter but . I hope . it answers . your questions . about. empaths . if it doesn't . just ask me and I'll be happy . to help you .understand it . that next chapter . should be longer . at least a little bit .please . read and review
next chapter captive truths: they say the truth will set you free but will it really?
see ya