A/N: Howdy all. Thanks for all the reviews I appreciate all of the positive ones and the ones that are constructively critical. I must let you all know that I am blind, thus I listened to the books rather than read them with my eyes, hence some of the spelling mistakes. I have corrected them though as each one was pointed out, so thank you. I have recently been queried about two things. The first is the fastness of the relationship between Fleur and Harry. I will put it to you this way. If you meet your soul mate, the one you are meant to spend the rest of your life with, the one who you have a very strong bond with, wouldn't your feelings for them develop quite quickly? Also I have been queried on Harry's inheritances. I merely put it logically this way. Gryffindor was around about 1000 years ago, so obviously his money would have grown a lot within that time and from what we knew he was quite powerful and where there is power in wizarding society, there is usually wealth, at least from what I see in the books. The same applies with Merlin, who is even older. The amount of money has no bearing on the story, just an added triviality. Enjoy.
Chapter 6.
Harry spent the next week of classes concentrating a lot more on his studies than before. He now knew that everything he could learn from his lessons could be important to him in the future if he was to defeat Voldemort and he was determined to be as prepared as possible. Hermione was absolutely delighted with this change in Harry and helped him during class and while studying as much as possible. She was quite surprised and pleased to find out that Harry was quite intelligent when he put his mind to what he was studying; it had just been a lack of concentration on his part, as well as a fear of a jealousy developing in Ron from him receiving better marks. He no longer cared what Ron thought, since the arrogant Pratt could not take his word on the fact of him not entering the tournament. He had more important things to do with his life than put up with people like that.
Fleur also approved of Harry's new work ethic. He had explained to her one night, just before they had gone to bed, why he was applying himself more, saying that he had to protect Fleur and their children and the world they would grow up in. She was so touched by this that she kissed him so passionately that he forgot who he was and what he had been saying. F
Fleur giggled at the dazed expression on her fiancé's face and taking his hand led him to bed.
Harry's teachers were also quite impressed in the sudden change that had occurred in Harry and it became the topic of one of their weekly meetings.
"Harry really has improved tremendously in transfiguration." McGonagall reported proudly to the other teachers. "He really seems now to concentrate a lot more and is able to grasp not only the concepts, but also the complexity of the transfigurations a much more easily than he had previously."
"Indeed!" Squeaked Professor Flitwick. "Harry has also done a marvelous job in his charms work this week. His homework also has improved dramatically. I wonder if it has anything to do with his estrangement to his friend Weasley. I always seemed to notice that Harry often watched his friend to see how he did at a particular charm before then attempting any spell himself. Perhaps he was so afraid of losing his friend, that he deliberately made himself look less competent."
The other teachers murmured their assent with the head of Ravenclaw. They all also reported the same sudden improvement in Harry's performance in their class, even Snape who said
"He is actually becoming a decent student. If Weasley has really been holding Potter back, using his inadequacy complex to guilt Potter, then I think he is less of a friend than Potter may think him."
Everyone had to agree with this assessment, even Dumbledore. Finally, he looked around at the rest of the staff and said in his usual way
"I do believe now that Harry has Lady Potter at his side, that quite a few changes will be seen in the young man. He is finding his path in the world and indeed his destiny. I have pledged to him to help him in any way I can and I also ask any of you who Harry may come to for additional help t do so as well."
Most of the teachers nodded at this, assenting to Dumbledore's request. Snape, however, looked at the headmaster emotionlessly. He had developed quite a good poker face while working for the Dark Lord during the first war and often found it come in handy when he was trying to figure out what was going on in the background. The headmaster obviously knew more than he was telling the teachers, just giving them the little information they needed to know. Being a Slytherin through and through though, Snape wanted to know the full story and find where the most benefit lay for him. He determined that the next time he saw Potter, he would read his thoughts and try to get to the bottom of the matter.
Harry was quite exhausted by the end of the week. Due to his strict regimen of study, as well as his starting to exercise in the morning, by taking a run around the lake, his mind and body were almost completely exhausted. The benefits of this regimen though were becoming plain though, at least to Harry. He found he had a lot more stamina during the day, thanks to his running and also, to Fleur's delight, at night as well. His increased activity during lessons and his accomplishment of the spells talked about during lessons also resulted in a lot less homework during the week, so the little homework that he did receive was often dispatched of as soon as he received it, working with Hermione and Fleur in Hermione's section of the library, poring through books and writing in depth answers to the questions posed by his teachers, instead of the basic and simple responses he had given in the past. He was finding himself being complimented on a regular basis from his teachers and had won Gryffindor 30 points by the end of the week by being often the second in class, behind Hermione of course, to manage to perform the required spell or work of the day. Hermione also complemented Harry on his maturity in deciding that his studies were important and wondered what had caused such a change. Harry looked at Hermione for a moment and thought deeply and came to the conclusion that he could trust her.
"Hermione, I will tell you why this weekend after I have gone through a ritual that Dumbledore wishes me to. I am not hiding this from you, I just need the time to prepare myself, is that ok?"
Hermione studied her friend for four years and saw the utter seriousness in his face and knew that something quite significant had changed his attitude and it was not just finding Fleur and developing their bond. She nodded in agreement, understanding that whatever it was, Harry did seem need to prepare himself to tell her this secret. He smiled at Hermione when she agreed and reaching over, gave her hand a squeeze, saying
"Thanks Hermione. You are truly a great friend to me."
Hermione smiled at Harry's words and kissed his cheek, saying in return
"And you, Harry, are the best friend a girl like me could ever have."
When Saturday morning came around, Harry and Fleur decided to have breakfast with the Gryffindors and especially with Hermione, as they did not know quite what the results of this ritual would be and indeed whether Harry would survive intact through it. Hermione was delighted to see them both and enthusiastically wished them both a good morning, which they returned with just as much enthusiasm, giving Hermione hugs. Hermione had noticed that Harry had become a lot more demonstrative since he had met Fleur and wondered at such a change just one person who loved Harry unconditionally in his life made. The happiness that Hermione had first picked up on when the couple announced their togetherness was a constant now with Harry and his eyes sparkled with the joy that he seemed to feel inside. Hermione often noticed the adoring looks the couple gave each other, often when they thought the other wasn't looking and thought it was sweet and romantic. She only wished that one day she would find something close to their depth of love and happiness.
Breakfast was a festive affair and lasted almost a good hour before the three students decided they had had enough. Harry had been instructed to have quite a large breakfast as the effects of this ritual sometimes sent the person it was performed upon into unconsciousness while the magic realigned with his body once it had matured. Harry had briefly explained earlier in the week, the ritual he was to undergo and Hermione had read up on the ritual as much as she could, even slipping into the restricted section to see if she could glean more information from the dark books. The information she found did not comfort her, but knowing it was Professor Dumbledore who wanted this ritual performed, Hermione understood that it must be important for Harry to have this done. She had told Harry a couple of days ago during one of their study sessions that she was coming to the hospital wing to support him, no matter what he thought or said about the matter.
"That's what best friends do for each other Harry." Hermione said with the tone that said she would tolerate no argument. "besides," She continued, smiling,"You would do the same for me if I had to do anything dangerous and don't you even try to deny it."
Harry had raised his hands in supplication and defeat, saying that she could come if she wished, but it might not be pleasant from what he had been told.
All three of them left the great hall and within a few minutes were at the entrance to the hospital wing. They were not at all surprised to find Professor Dumbledore waiting there along with Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape; even though when they had left the hall, all three Professors' were still at the head table. Dumbledore led them through to a private room that had been magically expanded so that a hospital bed sat in the middle of the large room, within a pentagram that had been drawn out on the floor with runic symbols glittering at each point of the star. The Professor's, save for Dumbledore as well as Hermione were directed through a doorway at the far end of the room and sat in the comfortable chairs that were there; seated behind a magical protective barrier that would hopefully, prevent anything that may come flying towards them to not harm them in any way. Once Dumbledore was sure that the observers were safe behind the barrier that he had constructed with Professor Flitwick's help and making sure that Harry was comfortable, walked over to Harry with a goblet of a bright blue liquid.
"Harry, before we begin, I need you to take this flushing draught. This is to make sure that there no impurities or potions in your system which may somehow, interfere with the ritual."
Harry nodded his understanding and taking the goblet, drained it quickly. Nothing of great consequence happened and Harry lay back down again and relaxed his body. Dumbledore then raised his wand, which then transfigured into his mage's staff. He began to chant in a foreign tongue which neither Harry, nor any of the others within the room had heard. The first part of the ritual was to set the spirit and consciousness in stasis to prevent more trauma than necessary and once this first part was complete, Harry appeared to be within a deep sleep and would be in this state until Dumbledore had completed the ritual and brought him back around.
Lifting his staff again, Dumbledore began the ritual of magical maturation. As he chanted, the lights around the room quietly extinguished until the only light left was the light emanating from the crystal on the top of the headmaster's staff and the glittering pentagram and runes. Part way through the ritual Harry's body began to emit a soft white glow, which to Dumbledore's eye, showed that the ritual indeed was having and effect. Not pausing he continued his chanting for the next 2 hours while the glow from Harry slowly became stronger and stronger. By the end of the 2 hours with the ritual nearly complete, Harry's form was radiating with so much magical energy that it was hard to look at his form as the brilliance was almost blinding. Reaching the pinnacle of the ritual, Dumbledore spoke the last incantation and then struck his staff down on the tip of the pentagram closest to him. The whole pentagram shone with a fierce white glow and the light merged with the brilliance radiating from Harry's prone form. There was suddenly a great concussion throughout the room, sending most of the observers to the floor and causing Dumbledore to stagger, but he managed to stay on his feet by clutching at the wall sconce just above him.
After recovering his equilibrium, Dumbledore looked over to where Harry was and his eyes widened in amazement at the sight he saw. The white light that been surrounding Harry as well s the light from the pentagram, which Dumbledore knew to be raw magic had turned into a large whirlpool with Harry as its centre. Dumbledore could see Harry's body twitching as the magical energy poured into him and fused with his magical core. He knew that if he had not put the boy's mind in stasis for this time, that he would be screaming out in great pain. This was something he knew of as he had found out about the effects of the ritual being performed without the stasis being employed in one of the great tomes of information he owned which described the ritual. Often the effect was similar to the effects of overexposure to the cruciatus curse, or worse. It either left the person completely catatonic and unable to respond to the world outside of their minds, or they became something akin to evil incarnate. It seemed that the human mind and conscious with the admission of such power not only into the magical core, but also into the mind, corrupted the patient so thoroughly, that they were lost to the light and good forever. Most of them, for their own safety as well as that of the wizarding world had been authorized by the ministry to be kissed by the
Dementors immediately, as soon as it became clear that their rehabilitation was beyond hope. A little intense study about the problem soon provided the addition of the stasis fields placed on the mind and spirit, thus preventing those dire consequences.
Once the whirlwind vortex of magic had all been drawn into Harry's body, Dumbledore walked over and with a wave of his wand he wiped the floor clean of the pentagram and runes. He then ended the stasis, but then cast a sleeping spell over Harry that would make him sleep until the following morning, allowing his body and magical core to integrate more thoroughly before he came back to consciousness. Madame Pomfrey who had been waiting outside of the room now came in on Dumbledore's signal and moved Harry's bed with her wand back through the doors and out into the main ward of the hospital and into a private corner which funnily enough, was usually where he ended up when he had been injured for one school related reason or another. Fleur and Hermione rushed through the door and promptly sat on either side of Harry and held his hand.
The three Professor's who had been witnessing the ritual watched silently for a moment and then moved off with Dumbledore when he signaled to them t follow him. With some parting words of comfort to both Fleur and Hermione, saying the ritual had gone as good as could possibly be expected, He left the hospital wing and led the teachers up to his office.
Once they arrived and sat down, Dumbledore waved his wand and a tea service appeared along with plates of biscuits and cakes. When everyone had their cups of tea and what ever delicacy they desired, McGonagall spoke up.
"Albus, not in any of my studies of the ritual did it mention a magical vortex enveloping the person the ritual is performed on and that magic being drawn into his body. Yes there was the glowing that we first saw, but nothing like that whirlwind and blast. What does it all mean?"
Dumbledore sat still for along moment, his fingers steepled his eyes looking internally, his mind working furiously at the problem, going over relevant texts that he had researched in order to perform the ritual, as well as documentation he had reviewed as chief warlock of the wizengammot. Finally, he looked up and said softly, but clearly
"I believe it is as my old friend Oliveander said to Harry when they first met. We must expect great things from Mr. Potter. It seems he is quite powerful and if he can harness his raw magical power, then Tom Riddle will have one hell of a fight on his hands and that is before we find out what other gifts Harry possesses."
They al sat silently, drinking their tea as the afternoon passed by, occasionally murmuring in conversation, but most of their thoughts on the boy laying in the hospital wing, who was currently being guarded by the two most protective women of his life, his fiancé and best friend, all three of them not knowing what any of what had happened was different and what it promised for Harry's future and one dark lord.