Chapter 5 - Answers
"It is better to know some of the questions than all the answers." - James Thurber
"Enough of introductions, now did you have some questions Harry?" Dumbledore asked, relaxing back into the sofa.
"Who am I?" Harry was startled by what she asked.
Merlin smiled, "Very good question, Harry. But I don't know if I can answer it fully for you, even I don't know many things."
Merlin stood up and started pacing in front of the couches, "Why don't we have a small history lesson, hmm? You must know the famous King Arthur?"
"Isn't he famed for ruling England after killing one of the most powerful dark lord to exist?" Harry replied.
"Right, now, I met him when he was a young child, yet I was amazed by the power he held at that age. He held tremendous power! I decided that I should take him in and train him myself, thinking what would happen if he ever accepted the dark arts. So, Arthur lived in my watch for almost nineteen years, where I taught him magic, swordsmanship, politics, and anything I ever knew. Him and I grew very close in those years. We were like friends. That is until the dark lord came around. Mordred. That same name still gives fear to some of us." Merlin said as Gawain shivered.
"How powerful was Arthur?" Harry asked Merlin.
"Both Arthur and Merlin were very powerful, they were both equal in power. I must say that Voldemort reminds me a lot of Mordred, but Voldemort at least seems a bit human that he enjoys life, even if it is to kill. Mordred was like someone who is possessed, he never talked but for orders, he never said anything, he just killed. Human after human." Merlin sat back down opposite from Harry.
"Anyways, back to your question. During the dark wars, Arthur found Guinevere." at that Guinevere blushed, "A few months later, they were married. At that point Mordred was at his peak as was starting to anger Arthur at his way of killing. Arthur left two months after marriage, alongside with Lancelot and Gawain, to some place he had predicted that Mordred would strike next. It was at that point that Arthur told Guinevere that they should continue the his line of Kings, magically of course. That night Mordreds forces of wizards and witches pushed back Arthur back to his castle. Arthur and Mordred got separated form the rest as they dueled. Nobody knows what happened in the duel, but there were some reports of large waves of magical energy coming from the point where I found Arthur early in the morning." Merlin looked at Harry.
"So, Arthur killed Mordred?" Harry asked.
Merlin nodded, "And Mordred killed Arthur."
"How?" Harry frowned.
Merlin looked at the ground, "Nobody knows."
"That still doesn't answer my question." Harry speared her eyes into Merlin's.
Merlin looked at the carpet, "Guinevere did have a child, but it was lost after the dementors attacked the castle."
"Dementors? They still existed then?" Harry asked surprised.
"They were created in our time. Mordred's sword, I believe, was the one to create such daemons. Each time the sword torched a human skin, it would turn them into the soul sucking creatures, we came to call dementors." Merlin looked up at Harry.
"The Patronus Charm?" Harry asked.
"I created it, but it needed a very powerful wizard or witch to destroy the soul sucker, weaker magical kinds would only be able to hold the dementor off." Lancelot spoke up.
"Back to your question, we did find Guinevere child later, but only on his death day. He named himself Thomas Potter." Merlin said going back to the question.
That was a bombshell for Harry. The great King Arthur was her ancestor? It couldn't be possible. Then again looking at these centuries old people talking to her, anything could be possible right now.
"Also, Hope decided to carry on the magical blood, too. Her first child was named Mark Evans. Ancestor of your mother." Gawain said staring into his deep thoughts.
Harry looked to her right to Hope, who was looking at Harry with a wide smile on her face. This was getting frightening. She was the heir of King Arthur and one of his knights?
"There is more to your identity." Dumbledore spoke up for the first time since the start of the conversation.
Harry just looked at Dumbledore, more, what am I now, heir of the gods in the heaven?
"Just after you were born, Merlin's staff started glowing," looking at Harry's frown he continued, "See, Merlin's staff was linked to Excalibur, because he was Arthur's master, he was the one that trained him. If Excalibur existed, his staff would glow, saying that the Light was near." Dumbledore looked at Merlin.
"The Light? What's that?" Harry asked Dumbledore and Merlin.
"The Light is referred to the person who holds Excalibur, or otherwise known to us as the Sword of the Light. Now seeing that my staff started glowing, means that the Light was back." Merlin looked at Dumbledore.
"But that means..." Harry looked at Dumbledore with wide eyes.
"Yes, Harry, that's why you are here. You are the Heir to the Light." Dumbledore looked at Harry with pride in his eyes.
"How? Are you sure it is me?" Harry looked from Merlin to Dumbledore.
"Yes we are, I saw you in my vision." Gawain spoke again.
"Vision? You are a seer?" Harry turned her attention to Gawain.
"Yes I am. I saw you just after you were born, and just after Pettigrew put that curse on you." Gawain looked at Merlin.
"Ah, yes, the curse. Very powerful one that. I myself was amazed that Peter could hold such power. But I was disappointed. That particular curse needs a lot of pure, raw, power. So, what Peter did was simple. He killed another wizard, or witch I am not sure, and drained their power into himself. Now he had what he needed." Merlin said.
"But then why did it wear off?" Harry asked.
"Peter may still have had the full power of another wizard, but he still did not have all the power to make the curse last your whole life. Only Voldemort could have done that. But, I could see the logic in what Tom decided, if he did perform that curse, he would not be as strong as he is today. The curse would have drained a lot of his raw power." Dumbledore answered.
"But why did he have to put me under such a powerful curse? Am I that strong?" Harry pestered.
"My dear girl, you are so strong, that even I cannot dream about your power. At least I had the scurrility that I could dream about Tom's power." Dumbledore said gaining some of the twinkle in his eye back.
Harry had one more question, "So I can go to him right now, do the killing curse, and get the world rid of that thing?"
"Ah, this is where is gets worse. Tom Riddle is much more of a smart man that anybody can take him for. After you ripped him of his body, he stared to think over what mistakes he has done in his life. He figured that if he could get some of your blood in him, before the curse runs off, he could have some of your power." Merlin answered this time.
"So, he is as powerful as me right now?" Harry asked yet again.
"No, he is more powerful than you. Lately we got more reports of large dementor activity in northern Whales. It seems that Voldemort has gotten himself hold of the Dark Blade. Also, I can see that some of your power yet needs to be unlocked. You are not as powerful as you should be." Dumbledore answered.
"How do you know so much things?" Harry knew it was rude, but Dumbledore seemed to know as much as Merlin.
Dumbledore merely smiled.
"Wait, but if I did transform, shouldn't by body explode form the sudden addition of magic?" Harry asked Merlin.
"Yes, it should, but it seems that your body transformed back first into it's original shape. When you were born, your body was made to handle such tremendous amounts of energy, and much more if I am not wrong." Merlin answered.
"So what about the swords? Do they make you more stronger, give you a shield, what do they do?" Harry asked the room in general.
"The Dark Blade, it seems enhances the holders speed, and strength. Aside form that it only creates dementors, which you already know." Hope spoke up form beside Harry.
"Excalibur is very much different. She only holds knowledge, pure knowledge. Whoever wields the blade, will know everything they will need to know about the world. It is said that Excalibur can show the person the future, the past and the present. Other than that, I think you will find out for your self." Lancelot said with serious eyes.
"Myself?" Harry asked wide eyed.
"Harry, we must get you to Excalibur as fast as we can, time is running out." Merlin said.
"Now? What's the problem now? Why can't we go later, like say next week? Anyways don't you give it to me?" Harry spoke very fast, obviously nervous.
"The problem is that we are running out of time. Voldemort is picking up new followers like picking berries form a bush. Also, Merlin doesn't give it to you, you have to find it yourself. That is one way that Excalibur can test if you are ready for the challenge or not." Gawain looked at Harry with steel eyes.
Seeing that Harry had no way out of this, "Oh, very well, how am I supposed to find it?"
"In your heart." Guinevere said.
In my heart...
Harry stood up and closed her eyes. Images seemed to flash by in her mind until it stopped at one...
In my heart...
It was the first picture of her parents when she had looked into the Mirror of Erised...
Harry opened her eyes, and whispered to the room, "Excalibur is at Godric's Hollow."