o-O Wow, it's been a while since I sat down and wrote a chapter. The last two chapters were written two weeks ago and I took a bit of a break instead of writing.
I've been talking to people, trying to figure out a proper ending. ;-; I don't want to disappoint you all... and I'm writting it now. Sadly, I'm having a lot of trouble, hence the long break between chapters... I usually keep version a chapter off the regular version, but I think I will spoil you lot and just post chapter 18 now..
Chapter Eighteen - The Sorcerer's Stone
Harry was amazed when his eyes first glanced upon the stone sitting in a golden basin-like structure. It was a deep, fiery red and looked smooth, almost like it had been polished. It was a lot smaller than Harry expected, but it was supposed to help them, so Harry didn't care what it looked like.
When Flamel stepped up to the basin that held the stone, Harry noticed how far behind the others he had become.
Flamel's wand emitted a small pop and then the older wizard pulled a canteen out of his pocket.
"We need to get some of the water that flows around the stone." Flamel said brusquely.
"Water? What water?" Harry half shouted. He could hear the sound of water rushing but couldn't see due to the fact that the other men were standing in front of him.
"This water." Flamel pointed his wand directly in front of where the group had stopped.
Harry, Sirius, and Jack gave an audible gasp. The way the stone was set up was unlike anything the three had ever seen. The liquid had obviously been enchanted. The red fluid circled the stone, creating a whirlpool effect above and around it, but didn't come in contact with priceless gem. The stone gave the appearance of being in the eye of a hurricane.
Flamel smirked at the look on the trio's faces. "So you like my handiwork." He said not attempting to hide the note of pride in his voice.
Harry felt his face go red, ashamed that he had been caught staring at the magical skills displayed before them.
Jack muttered something unintelligible, and the older wizard turned serious once again.
"Now," he said as he filled up the canteen, "It will take a few minutes to fill this thing, it's bigger than it looks, but once it's complete, I will remove it from the pedestal and we will place it on the ground. I will cast a sleeping spell and let you two sleep through the ni–"
"So, we're in this cave tonight, then?" Jack interrupted.
The older man sighed and rolled his eyes, "I'm not letting the stone leave this room. I'm going to cast wards on this room that won't let anyone in and you and I will be keeping watch."
Jack groaned, "I suppose if that is the best way to do it."
As the small canister filled, Flamel set about warding the room. The three were not sure exactly what spells were being cast, but they understood that they wouldn't be able to leave until Flamel let them.
"There.." he muttered when he finished. He turned to look at the men behind him, "I have made it where you can leave, but not come back. So, if you must use the restroom, there is a perfectly good corner to use." Harry peeped over to where Flamel pointed.
When the canteen was filled, the older wizard placed the cap back onto it and attached it to his belt. He then reached into the basin and took hold of the stone and swiftly pulled it out.
"I thought you said it was charmed so no one could grab it," Sirius asked as the man stood before him with his sleeves dripping with the red water.
Flamel chuckled lightly, "I'd like to see you reach down in there and try to grab it. It would be safe to say you would be free of your arms when managed to break free of the water."
Sirius's eyes widened slightly, "You can really enchant water to do such things?"
The man shrugged, "Perhaps, but is it really worth finding out?" The black-haired man didn't answer as he watched the man set the stone on the ground.
The grey-haired man set the stone on the ground and magicked a pillow on top of it, "Get comfortable.. I'm going to be casting the sleeping spell and a immobilizing spell once you lay down, so get ready. You two will be asleep for the next seven hours."
"Seven hours?" Harry questioned, "Why seven hours?"
"Because, that's what a full night's sleep is considered," Flamel said. "Now, lay down you two."
Harry sighed loudly and looked down at the pillow on the ground. He felt extremely anxious about getting his memories back. When he awoke he'd be back to the old Harry James Potter he had been before he went through the veil. He would remember his friends, family.. Everything.
Harry looked at his Godfather and smiled, "See you when I wake up... When we're back to normal."
Sirius smiled back and nodded his head, "Same to you, Harry.."
Harry laid down on the pillow, leaving enough room for Sirius to place his head down as well. A moment later he felt the head of his Godfather beside him.
"Ready? Immobilius!" Harry heard the man cry. He immediately felt as if he couldn't move. "This spell is so you two won't roll off the pillow. Now.. Dormirius!"
Harry felt his eyes begin to shut, and he automatically tried to fight the sleep.
"You don't think that lovely little stick could put me down for the count as well, could it?" he heard Jack say as he began losing the battle against sleep.
"No. You're staying awake with me, Mr. Sparrow."
"Bugger..." was the last thing Harry heard before his heavy eyelids closed on him, forcing him into a magical sleep.
"Harry! Why didn't you answer my call?" The brunette he saw from the mirror asked him.
"I'm sorry.. Who are you? Where am I?" He asked, realizing he had no idea who the girl was. He took a moment to look around him. It appeared as if he were in a large dark, room, the only light emanating from a small kerosene lamp. Where was he?
"It's me, Hermione. You're with the Order, Hogwarts is out for the summer. Are you okay? You're acting funny," the girl said, placing a hand onto her hips.
"Hermione? You're Hermione?" he asked. He knew that name. This girl was Hermione?
"Of course I am, who did you think I was? Now, I needed to speak to you about Ron. He thinks you're dead. Everyone does. No one returns from the veil."
"I did fall through the veil, didn't I?" Harry paused for a moment and looked dreamily at the girl in front of him. She had a look of worry on her features. She didn't look good worried. Harry wanted to see her smile.
"Harry? Is that you?" Harry peered up and saw a tall, lanky, red-haired boy walking through the doorway, towards him. The boy with Hermione in his dreams.
"Yes, Ron. I'm fine, mate. I just got back from the veil."
"You're alive! Oh, man! I thought you were gone, mate!' The boy was quiet before giving Harry a quick, friendly hug. 'What's on the other side, Harry?"
Harry smiled, "Pirates. I met a nice chap by the name of Jack Sparrow. He, Sirius, and I went on a long search."
"Search for what?" Ron asked, his brow furling in curiosity.
"I will sound crazy, but when you fall through, the veil takes away your memory. Sirius and I didn't remember anything. Where is Sirius anyway? Why aren't my parents here?"
The two teens looked pensively at one another. Harry couldn't exactly read what was on their face.
"Um, Harry.." Hermione started, "You're parents are dead. Voldemort killed them, don't you remember? That's how you got your scar and became the savior of the Wizarding World. You are seeking revenge on He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. You had to get the prophesy from him. That's why you were at the Ministry of Magic.. Down in the Department of Mysteries. Bellatrix hit Sirius with a spell and he fell through, and you went in after him."
Harry was silent as all this came back to him. The fact he was sent to live with his Maternal Aunt and her family after his parents died at Godric Hollow. Living in the cupboard, having bars put on his window to keep him from leaving for Hogwarts his second year. The Dementor attack that sent him to the Ministry earlier that year.
"You've been gone for almost two months.. I found your mirror in your trunk while I was visiting the Weasleys on your birthday. I thought that maybe a clue to contact you would be in there. I wasn't sure if the mirror would work, but I saw you. Why didn't you answer me back?" Hermione asked, reaching into her pocket and presenting it to him.
"I tried. Sirius and I both did.. It broke out into static and your image disappeared. Where is Sirius?" He asked, glancing around the room. More and more things were coming back to him. His birthday, Ron's family and home, remembering how the family moved from the Burrow to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters.
"He's asleep right now," Ron answered. "We have him in his room, why aren't you as exhausted as he is?"
"I'm not sure. What happened after I fell through the veil? With the Deatheaters?"
"Dumbledore rushed in and got rid of them all.. We were all panicking because you were gone. We alerted the Ministry, but they said that no one returns from the veil. The Deatheaters took it as a win for them because the 'Savior' was gone for good. They've been going nuts as of late. The Order quadrupled in membership, but it also has taken heavy hits," Hermione said quietly. It was obvious she was not excited about answering his question by the way her voice softened.
"So.. The war is going on in their favor?" Harry questioned.
"Yes, because no one returns from the veil," she answered quietly.
Harry sighed quietly. He felt guilty for leaving his friends in their time of need. He only thought of himself when he went after Sirius. The older Wizard was the last person he could get close too. Sure, he had Remus, but Sirius felt easier to get alone with and he didn't want to lose him.
A thought then struck Harry.
"How did I get back from the veil, Hermione?" Harry asked, suddenly cautious.
"What do you mean, don't you remember?" She said, giving him a strange look.
"You keep telling me no one returns from this veil.. Well, how did I get back?"
The girl shrugged her shoulders, "It must have been a miracle, however..Harry.. We can't have you around here anymore. You're lucky only Ron and I have seen you."
"What do you mean 'can't have me here anymore'?" he asked suspiciously, reaching into his pocket, gripping his wand, suddenly feeling unwelcome around his friends.
"Well, Harry.. You're a liability now. If you're alive, it'll give the people hope that you've returned, and the Dark Lord gave an order to the Deatheaters to kill you on sight if you just happen to return," Ron said with a sad shrug.
"You're working for Voldemort?! W-where is Sirius?!"
"First to go.. Got him in his sleep," Hermione murmured.
"You're not Deatheaters.. Not possible.."
"Oh, but we are," Ron said with a grin, pulling out his wand.
"P-prove it!" Harry stammered, pulling out his own wand as well.
Hermione shrugged her shoulders and lifted up her sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark on her left forearm. The colored drained from Harry's face as he turned his attention to Ron, who had done the same.
"How could you? I never thought you'd give up hope that you could beat Voldemort! ..And Hermione, how did you join the Deatheaters? I thought only pure and half bloods could join.. You're neither.. And Ron! You're considered a bloodtraitor! How?!"
"Harry, you deserve no answer. You left the entire world to rot when you jumped through the veil. You cared more about Sirius then the rest of us. Remus told you there was no chance to retrieve him. He told you Sirius was gone and you went anyway. Always the Hero, aren't you?" the girl spat, she had retrieved her wand as she spoke.
"But-I.. Hermione, please.. You don't want to do this. Remember all the good times at Hogwarts? Ron and your promise to always be by my side until I vanquished Voldemort?"
"Expelliarmus!" Ron cried suddenly without warning, the wand flying from Harry's hand to the floor, several feet behind him.
Harry's eyes widened and he turned immediately to fetch his wand, but was stopped by an immobilizing spell.
"No, no, no, Harry! We can't let you have the wand. True, we did promise to stay by your side, but you left us. We had to survive. Now, it'll be a pleasure to kill you. Ready, Ron? 1..2..3.."
Avada Kedavra!
"No!" Harry yelled as his eyes snapped open.
He sat up and looked around, trying to figure out exactly where he was. The last thing he remembered before falling asleep was being the chamber with the mythical Sorcerer's stone.
However, the room he was in now looked nothing like he remembered. The room was extremely bright with white walls. Where was the cave? Where was Jack and Sirius? Weren't Hermione and Ron about to kill him? Where was h--
"Don't think so loudly.." a voice said with a growl. He immediately noticed the voice's warbled state, sounding as if a person was gargling water as it spoke.
He turned and saw a small, dark patch in the corner of the room beside him. He had no idea what this patch was, but he watched it move slightly, coming slightly closer to him.
"W-who are you?" he asked quietly.
"I'm no one. That is the wrong question to ask," the dark splotch said, raising up from the ground and forming into a small bubble, no larger than his head.
"Then what should I ask?" Harry asked, slightly taken aback by the speaking, dark, floating bubble.
"Hmm, perhaps you should ask what I am."
"What are you?" Harry asked.
"Now, that's a very good question. I suppose you could say I'm what has been stopping you from remembering," the blob said.
"You're the memory charm?"
"No. I am not a spell."
"Then what are you? If you're not a person or a spell, what can you be?"
"Haven't you ever wondered why you can hear voices beyond the veil, Harry?" it gurgled somewhat menacingly.
Harry shook his head, "I assumed it was from the time period people got dropped in."
The bubble was silent for a moment, "You're not supposed to remember when you fall through, let alone get your memory back, Harry. What this stone is doing is wrong. The veil is a killing device, and I am a memory killer. You fought me. You're still fighting me, that is the only reason you remember what you do. This damned stone.. Before you fell awoke on that island, this room was black, with only a speck of light. Too much light."
Harry was silent as he stared at the floating orb. It amazed him that this was actually happening.
"The light always gets bigger, and it did exponentially for you. I couldn't get that last speck before you woke up."
"What are you?" Harry asked before the bubble could say anything else. "You didn't answer my question."
"A parasite. Designed by the Ministry to smother memories. I had trouble getting into your head, now I am going to die. I've tried to maintain a form, but the stone is killing me."
"But, you're not a magical spell, how is it killing you?"
"That stone is more powerful than any of you know. More powerful than Flamel knows.. The only two who knows of it's true power and how to use it are not yet born. They understood the power behind the stone that even the creator was too blind to see. Eternal life? Hah! If only he knew."
"What about Adele? What's he going to do with it?"
"I'm not at liberty to be helping you, Mr. Potter. You're killing me, I can barely keep this form as it is."
"Tell me!" Harry spat out suddenly, "What does Adele want with the stone if he doesn't understand it's true power?!" Obviously, Adele knew something good would come from use of the stone, what did he know?
"You know already.. Adele wants to die. However, even with your memories back, you can't kill him, Mr. Potter."
"Well, how do I kill him?"
"Why does he want Jack Sparrow?"
"I don't know! Don't answer my question with other questions!" Harry yelled, now angry with the bubble.
"Think about it.."
Harry groaned loudly, "I don't know!"
The bubble floated silently for a moment. Harry stared, unsure if he was going to say anything else.
"Why does Jack continue after William Turner?"
"He loves him, of course."
"Almost.. Someone that loved Adele cursed him.. Someone that Adele loves must kill him. You cannot do it, Mr. Potter," the bubble gurgled, sounding as if it were being strangled.
Before Harry could question the bubbled again, it popped. He sat there with his mouth open staring at where the bubble had once been.
Someone that Adele loves must kill him? Did he mean to say that Adele loves Jack and he wants Jack to kill him?
Before Harry could continue his thought, he awoke.
He looked groggily around the cave and saw Jack sitting across from him, sleeping against the wall. He guess that Flamel had decided to let the pirate sleep.
"Ah, Harry! You're awake! Tell me, Where you born?" Flamel said with a smile.
"Godric Hollow," he replied automatically.
"Excellent! You have your memories back! Now, who was the girl in the mirror?"
"Hermio–" Harry stopped, remembering the dream, well nightmare, he had had about his two friends.
"What's the matter?"
"I think I had a nightmare about them.. They were trying to kill me.. They joined the dark side because I wasn't there to protect them from Voldemort.. Then a bubble started to talk to me."
Flamel stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter. The loud rumbling laughter pulled Jack from his sleep.
"Harry! You're conscious! ..Do remember everything?" Jack questioned, stretching his arms into the air.
"I think so.." Harry replied quietly.
"What was the name of your best friend's mother's favorite hat company?" Jack spat at him quickly.
Harry stared blankly for a moment.
"Ha, if you had answered, I'd have wondered about you, love. Now, what color are your mother's eyes?"
Harry was silent for a minute, "My mother's dead. Both of my parents are.. Before I went after Sirius in the veil, I was fighting the man that killed them in the English Ministry. Apparently, there is a prophesy that speaks about us, and he needs to know it... However, she and I have the same eyes."
The three were quiet, however the silence was quickly broken by Sirius, who was now conscious, laying on the pillow.
"Harry!" the man said, turning his attention to the young wizard, "I remember! Remus, James! Peter joining Voldemort and having your parents killed and framing me! Sending me to Azkaban!" Sirius said excitedly.
Harry nodded his head, "It's amazing! The power of the stone! The bubble said that Mr. Flamel didn't understand the power of the stone and there were only two people that did, but they're not born yet."
"What bubble are you talking about, love?" Jack said, giving the boy an odd look.
"The bubble.. The parasite in my head that was smothering my memories. He said that there were only two people who could use the stone to it's full potential, and that there is only one person who can kill Adele and it's neither Sirius nor I."
Sirius, Jack, and Nicholas gave a long, hard look at Harry.
"Did you dream about a talking bubble parasite, Mr. Black?" Flamel asked, turning his attention to the grey-eyed man.
Sirius chuckled, "No, in fact, I don't remember dreaming at all. I just woke up and remembered."
Harry sighed, "But the bubble told me how to kill Adele.."
Jack looked at Sirius, "Was he this loony before he fell through this veil, love?"
"No, but it must have been a dream. Just because I didn't dream, doesn't mean he didn't as well.
"Well, let's not be hasty. This dream parasite told Harry how to kill Adele. Let's see if it's feasible. Harry, what did this floating orb say to you?" Flamel questioned gently, interested in what the boy had to say.
Harry nodded and tried to remember what the dream had told him, "The thing told me that there were only two people who hadn't been born yet that knew of the stone's true power, power the creator was too blind too see. When I asked why Adele wanted it, he told me Adele wanted to die. When I asked how to break Adele's curse with the stone, he wouldn't tell me.. I believe he was angry because I was letting the stone kill him... however, he told me that since someone that loved him put the curse on him, only someone he loved could break it."
"It told you all this?" Flamel asked quietly.
"Yes, not in so many words, but yes."
Flamel sighed, "Well, it seems feasible. We better head back up, I don't suppose the crew expected us to stay in here this long, but I do believe they'll get over it."
Harry watched the man make the pillow disappear and put the stone back into it's holder. He cast a few spells, which caused the water to begin flowing again, and walked up to the cave opening. He removed the wards he put on the door and led the group out, replacing the wards once they were on the outside.
Harry thought Flamel's tactics were amusing. If someone went into the room with the stone, they would be unable to leave with it, being trapped in the room until Flamel returned to resupply his water, and who knew how long that would be considering he had a magicked canteen.
The group headed up towards the forest, the sound of running water long since gone. The natural light broke over them, and Harry noted it felt like a warm hug. He noticed that the warmth was very refreshing compared to the chilliness of the cave.
He sighed as he hurried past the trio of older men. He, wanting to reach the lips of the cave first, noticed how full he felt with all his memories back. How happy he was to be back to normal, to remember everything Harry James Potter had remembered before.
However, his thoughts were abruptly cut short when he felt a blow hit him in his chest as he emerged from the cave. He groggily looked to see 'Black Death' standing in front of him with his wand drawn. Harry wondered briefly what spell had hit him, but he didn't hear the man yell a spell. He was just happy that he wasn't dead.
"Damn, you're not Jack," a horrifyingly familiar voice said with a smirk.
"Adele!" Jack shouted as he walked out into the sun, "What are you doing here?!"
The man chuckled, "Time to settle things, and Jack, I need your help."
To Be Continued..
Haha, I had to come up with a sleeping spell for this.. Dormir is the Spanish verb for 'sleep' and I added the '-ius' because it sounded Latin, which most spells seem to be in Harry World.
oO I tried to base Harry's dream on actual dreams. How things can suddenly change from nice and happy to a horrible nightmare.. And what's worse than finding out your friends are now your enemies and they killed everyone you love dearly?
Wow! This is the longest chapter yet! ...It took forever to write because I would only ever decide to write in the middle of the night. Yuck, I need to stop doing that.
3 Reviews be loved.