Chapter 27

Awakenings

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville were sitting in Dumbledore's office has Dumbledore sat in his chair stroking his beard thoughtfully.

"Sir?" asked Harry, "If I may ask, is the letter good news or bad news?"

Dumbledore looked up at him through is crescent moon spectacles.

"Harry this letter confuses me greatly," began Dumbledore, "not for the content, that is simple, but for the writer, who is dead."

"A dead person sent Harry a letter?" asked Ron.

"I am not sure who actually sent the letter to Harry, but the writer happens to be somebody you know, Harry," said Dumbledore.

Harry stared at him questioningly.

Dumbledore held the letter, encased in its envelope, in front of Harry for him to take.

"It's from your parents, Harry," said Dumbledore softly.

Hermione gasped and Harry took the letter with a shaky hand.

Hermione touched his shoulder.

"Would you like us to leave Harry? Give you some time alone?" she asked.

"No," said Harry, "I want you guys here."

Hermione nodded and sat back.

With fingers twitching he ripped the wax seal and removed the letter from the envelop. He unfolded the aging paper and looked towards the top and read aloud: "October 11th, 1981."

"The same month your parents were killed," said Dumbledore, nodding his head slightly.

"Dear Harry:

To our brave boy. Someday when you are old enough we will give you this letter. It will explain to you about our lives and the life you and your sister will lead together. You see we are members of a secret society called the Order of the Phoenix. It is an organization dedicated to the destruction of an evil wizard named Lord Voldemort. Unfortunately, this puts you and your sister in grave danger and I am sorry to say that you two will never be truly safe, at least not until Voldemort is finished once and for all. Now let me explain your sister Harry. Raya is a very special girl. From the day you two were born we knew that you weren't ordinary children, even for wizards. You, Harry, were a beacon of light. You always were so happy, smiling and grinning. We knew that someday you were going to make a difference in the world because that's who you were. Even as a baby we could tell. You were the type of person that would dedicate their lives to making this world a better place. A safer place. Now Raya, Raya was special in a more obvious way. She never cried. Not once. She was strong. She broke James' finger when she was 2 months old. And she was smart. We would put her in her crib and she would always find a way to unlock the lock and climb down. We went to a Seer to ask her what was in store for our strong babies. She told us that our children would be responsible for the changing of this earth. You, Harry, she said was meant to defend this world. Raya, she said, was meant to protect the others. And that together you could link the worlds together to banish the great evil that threatened to destroy them all. We will be here for you. As you grow up we will help you in your quest to rid all the worlds of evil. Together as a family we will make this world a better place. Because family is first, Harry. No matter what. At the end of everyday it is your family that loves you, wholly and completely. You and Raya must treasure each other. As long as you live you must hold each other up. Protect each other because once, though a long while away it will be, we are gone, she will be all you have left. We love you Harry. Remember that forever and always.

Your loving parents."

"Oh Harry," breathed Hermione.

"It seems, Harry, that your destiny has been, quite literally, spelled out for you," said Dumbledore, "do you wish to take it?"

"Sir?" asked Harry, questioningly, looking up from the letter.

"Do you wish to fulfill your destiny and protect this world from evil? Do you wish to unite the worlds to bring Voldemort down?" said Dumbledore his voice strong.

Harry stared for a moment at the ground.

"I hate to say it Harry, but it is the truth," said Dumbeldore, "the fate of this world and the others are in your and your sister's hands."

Harry ran a hand absent-mindedly through his hair, eyes still locked on the floor.

"I don't know if I can –," started Harry.

"I never said it would be easy," said Dumbledore.

"Harry," said Ron, "we are going to be there behind you. You won't have to face this alone."

"For some things, Mr. Weasley," said Dumbledore, softly, "he will."

Harry looked up at Dumbledore.

"Is that a risk you are willing to take, Harry?" asked Dumbledore, "are you willing to dedicate your life to helping others? Perhaps even sacrifice it?"

Hermione gasped. Harry paused and looked down at the ground again before looking up at Dumbledore's eyes and said, "I am."

He took deep, gasping breathes. He was freezing. The snow was all around him. He sat up quickly. He looked down at himself and realized that he wasn't wearing anything. He stood up shivering. He was in the middle of nowhere. He was in the middle of nowhere, and he was naked.

"I was brought back from the dead to freeze to death," thought Draco as he starting walking towards the trees.

Then, softly, he thought her heard a neigh. Then again, louder this time, coming from the opposite direction. He turned. He knew that neigh. After only a few moments Bunny came galloping through the trees on the other side of the field.

"Thank god," Draco said aloud.

The horse slowed to a walk in front of him and tossed her head in happiness to see him.

"Hey there girl did you miss me?" he asked as he petted the side of her neck.

The horse tossed its head to one side, as if indicating something behind her.

He looked and on her back was a large, brown wool cloak.

"Look at you taking care of me," said Draco and he pulled the cloak quickly around him. Once he pulled the cloak off he noticed something sticking out of her saddle. His wand.

"But?" began Draco, "how did you?"

He was at a loss. He took his wand and performed a warming spell upon himself and he basked as the heat rushed over him.

"Alright," said Draco, and he mounted Bunny and gave her a little tug and she ran back into the trees.

"Where are we?" asked Draco.

As if some higher power had heard him a sign appeared ahead. As they neared it Draco read: Wattle Brook.

"A 3 day ride to Hogwarts," sighed Draco aloud, "you traveled a long way."

He patted the horse's neck affectionately.

"Let's go, Bunny," said Draco and they galloped away towards Hogwarts. Towards Raya.

"Harry?" asked Neville tentatively as they made their way to their next class.

"Yes?" answered Harry, descending the stairs towards the dungeons.

"What going to happen?" asked Neville, looking towards Harry, eyes questioning.

Ron and Hermione looked at Harry as well.

"What do you mean?" asked Harry.

"Well," started Neville, "aren't things going to change now? Now that you and Raya are the world's only hope."

"No," said Harry finally, "things aren't going to change."

His three friends stopped walking and looked at him.

"We are going to do what we have always done," said Harry, "work together until I need to do something alone, but always support one another."

"But Harry," Ron began, "what about the different worlds? What about Raya?"

"So new things are added," said Harry, "we still are going to handle this as we have always done year after year. We are going to use each other and our magic to try and bring Voldemort down."

Hermione nodded and smiled, "Just like old times."

"Just like old times," repeated Harry.

The friends opened the door to the potions dungeons and took their seats near the back of the class.

Snape appeared before them, his dark cape billowing behind him.

"Today we will be learning all about the medicinal potion uses for fairy wings," he began in a monotone drawl.

Harry looked over at his friends. Ron was slumped over the desk with his head in his arms, Hermione was hurriedly taking notes at every word that came out of Snape's mouth, and Neville was just staring at the board squinting, a look of utter confusion plastered on his face And Harry smiled to himself.

"Exactly like old times."