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Chapter 5 – Birth of the Heiress Part 2

Wiltshire, England

August, 1981

Molly Weasley

Something unusual was happening that day. For one thing, the weather was very confusing. Dark clouds suddenly hovered above the village when the weather reporter a few hours ago was happily announcing a bright sunny day in the morning. In fact, the sun rose at exactly 5:45 A.M. After an hour, heavy dark clouds appeared as if there will be a hurricane coming. Sudden a gushed of wind was heard from the window. A mist of fog covered the whole cottage, a twirl of smoke clasping every tree and grass and meadow that it was impossible to see the cottage from the main road. It was still August but the fog was already very thick. William Herring dressed in khaki pants and travelling clothes was looking at the sky in confusion. He was contemplating whether to proceed or not, whether it was too dangerous to drive along the road or wait till the gush of wind subside.

"What a very fickle weather," he said as he turned to Arthur with a look of concern. "Are you sure Arthur you can handle this alone? Your wife is about to give birth anytime and I am reluctant to leave you in a state like this. I have left the truck at the garage and you can use it anytime in case of emergency. The hospital is around thirty miles from here. Lorelei and I really need to stay for a few days at Privet Drive to attend an annual conference in the city. I was surprised of the sudden change in schedule. My apology. When everything was all set and every single invitation was distributed, one day before the due date, there was a sudden change of day and venue. Very strange indeed."

Arthur just smiled and patted William on the shoulder. "I hope William I am not abusing your hospitality. We plan to stay here for a couple of days maybe until my wife Molly is fit enough to travel"

"No,no,no Arthur. Don't ever say that. This cottage once belonged to Howard Weasley and it is in the kindness of his heart that it was given to the Herrings as a gift. Nothing is enough to show my family's deepest gratitude to your great grandfather. Much of our family's inheritance was due to the kindness of the Weasleys."

Lorelei Herring, William's wife came out of the door bringing a large suitcase. She looked so tired and haggard as she brought out suitcases one after another. There were so many trunks to carry as if she will spend a grand vacation for a year and put all her valuables in the house inside her suitcases. In fact, the car cannot almost accommodate the plenty of suitcases. William just shook his head as he scorned his pregnant wife, "The bed honey. You forgot to pack our bed inside your suitcase." Lorelei looked hard at her husband as if telling him to shut up. When they were set, the car gave a loud roar and they disappeared from view. It was that instant when three men in silk robes suddenly appeared near the door.

"Peace brother," they said in unison. "Peace," said Arthur as he put his palm together and bowed his head. They walked inside the cottage and entered the room where I laid since this morning.

"How do you feel Molly?" Elder Ramaya asked. Behind him were Elder Yiruma, the Healer and the council's messenger Brother Houma.

"Nervous, excited, confused, afraid, and all the adjectives you can think of when you face the unknown."

"Are you still confused after all this time? The wizarding world is not far in comparison to our world Molly. Only in your world, you can use magic freely with your wand. Do you know that majority of our young generation studies at Hogwarts? They learn to use wands and ride in brooms." He smiled to put me at ease. "Ready?"

I nodded then closed my eyes. Elder Ramaya touched my forehead with his right palm and slowly raised it a few inches. After a few seconds, beams of light appeared from his palm as it slowly passed from my eye down to my mouth, neck, body up to my legs and toes. I felt so drowsy and sleepy, my eyelids becoming heavier and heavier. I felt a surge of pain from my stomach as the pain of birth slowly slit through my whole being. Then everything became numb. I cannot move my body but my mind was sharp and alert. I was wondering why my body is numb but the pain in my belly persists. I remember the words of Elder Yiruma, "The pain of childbirth is the highest level of pain which we never want to exempt you from. The most glorious of all pains. For together with the pain comes the happiness beyond the realms of humanity. Take the pain. Bear it. Let it seep through the deepest of your bones, muscles and system. And after all these, you will never be the same again. You have completed the essence of motherhood to preserve the sanctity of life. A noble sacrifice… And this is what it means to love. The love of motherhood Molly will protect your child from the threat of evil. Your pain will become a shield to save her and those of others." Then suddenly, a sharp excruciating pain came out like a knife stabbing me a thousand times. This was it. The other shore a few months ago was so far away across the boiling water that I couldn't imagine it, much less see it. The pain was unbearable. I tried my best to concentrate so that my brain will divert and focus on other things. Anything. I would do anything to reject this pain in my body. As witches, we always do magic whenever we give birth. But the elder's instruction was very clear. No magic. I felt my body twist and flip when it couldn't possibly move. Inside me, something had yanked the opposite direction. Ripping. Breaking. Agony. The darkness had taken over and then washed away to a wave of torture. Tears fell down from my eyes and I felt the hand of Arthur tightened its grip on me. How long had time passed. Seconds or minutes? Then at last the pain was gone. Numb. I couldn't feel. I couldn't see. But I could hear. At last, I heard my baby cry followed by silence and a web of darkness.

"Molly, she's so beautiful." I heard Arthur muttered. I felt a wave of light move over my body starting from my head down to my toes. It's over! I did it. I survived. I gasped for breath and filled my lungs with air. Then I opened my eyes. I saw Elder Yiruma passing his hands over the blanket from my stomach down to my legs and toes. I felt energy radiate into my skin and I felt so strong and alive and alert. My wound was suddenly gone. I dropped my body up to a sitting position and stretch out my hand. "My baby! Oh my beautiful baby!" and again tears flowed down my cheeks. Tears…tears of joy. I cradled my baby close to my heart as I watched the little angel in my arms.

The Elders were all smiling. Elder Ramaya his hands twisted in a clasp in front of him. Elder Yiruma's eyes were dancing with the light. Brother Houma's mouth was carved with an "oh" in bewilderment. There was a moment of silence as all eyes were fixed on my baby. At last, Elder Ramaya spoke.

"Howard's heiress!" Then he looked up and threw his gaze on me. "She will be a very strong woman Molly."

I smiled. "Yes, she should be. I will give my life for her." And then Elder Ramaya started to look at the others and communicate with their eyes.

"We must leave. We still have long way to travel."

Arthur stood up and hugged the Elders. "So long my friends! I hope we meet soon. Should I hear from you when it is time?"

"Yes. We will let you know," and with that they started to move before saying in unison "Peace."

The Island of Hope was very still. There was something in the air that mystifies the leaves and the trees and the waves. Somewhere in the cave, a mysterious thing was happening. The crystals inside gave a small spark of glow awakening, radiating, emitting a glittering light among the rocks underneath. Then a loud gushed of wind was heard outside the forest. Birds flew to their nests, the animals on the ground ran around stirred by the disturbance in nature, those hiding among leaves crawled outside not knowing what's happening then it stopped. The rustling of leaves halted. Then again, it became very still.

Another island invisible to the human eye, not far from the Island of Hope, covered by a protection of dark magic was alive with activity, its occupants restless, and worried. A man whom they called Lord Voldemort from the West was waiting near a chair beside another man, his best friend, his ally. The Dark Lord from the West barely had a body, ruined by a curse he never understood, consulting his friend.

"I am happy to take refuge again in your island, my friend. I am very weak and I need to regain my strength before I go back to my world and search for the Philosopher's Stone which will return the life I lost." His words were almost like a whisper.

"You're always welcome, Tom. Your allegiance to the fellowship is unquestionable. You know you can count on us whenever you're in need. Are you sure that is the best plan you have right now?"

"Not unless your tribe can think of another way to give me a body."

"Our power is not enough to create a human body. But we can offer you Nagini at your disposal. The snakes can talk to you. He would be very useful."

"Then I think we have no other way but to wait for the right time. My mind is still powerful and alert. Thanks a lot for the potion your servants prepare every day. But I need a body in order to move. And I have to search and face Harry Potter to solve the mystery of my being. Dumbledore protected him very well."

"You can stay in the island as long as you want. Until you are ready. Nagini is a faithful servant and you can take him to your world."

And then a man in cloak rushed towards the man beside the Dark Lord, his voice troubled.

"There's a disturbance Master in the Island of Hope."

"Yes, I thought so. I could feel the energy awhile ago. Any news?"

"The Prophecy. It had begun."

The man they called Master straightened in his chair. His eyes became worried as he turned and gazed outside.

"It's time to move," he said with certainty. Then, he dropped to his seat again, closed his eyes, and communicated with somebody through his mind. Everything became still.