Harry Potter and the Wars of Heaven by Princess Silverstar
Disclaimer: I own nothing of HP & SM
Chapter 11: Silver Lily
Everything faded and the hospital was suddenly empty and the sky was brighter as it was before everything went wrong. Harry looked at his surroundings in confusion silently noting to himself the difference between the infirmary that he was in seconds ago and the one he is in now. Where did everybody go?
Hermione pulled off the gold chain from them and hid it back in her clothes, unfazed by the changes and dragged Harry out of the medical room.
"What happened?" Harry asked, as he easily matched her strides.
Hermione swirled around meeting him and pulled him in to an abandoned hallway and pulled out the gold chain again to show Harry the peculiar pendant and explained to him in a quiet voice, "This, Harry, is a Time Turner," she said holding up the pendant which was actually a tiny ball-like device with rings around it, "It allows us to go back in time up to a certain number of hours. Professor McGonagall requested this for me so that I could catch up with my classes all year round," she finished.
"We went back in time," Harry said in astonishment.
"Yes," she said.
"Bloody hell!" he swore.
"Come on, Harry, and we can't be seen," she urged as she pulled him with her.
Within minutes, they sneaked out to Hagrid's and found Buckbeak tied to a pole on Hagrid's pumpkin patch. Hagrid was in his hut, the half giant was grieving for the hippogriff already. Loud sniffs muffled moans were heard from inside the hut.
"Buckbeak's still alive," Harry said with astonishment, "Come on," Harry urged.
"Wait!" Hermione stopped him, "They have to first see Buckbeak or they'll think Hagrid's let him go. Hagrid will be in trouble," she explained.
She turned, anxiously waiting for the executioner to arrive, and saw a few people coming from the school, escorted by the Headmaster, "Come on," she pulled him into the forest amongst the thick shade.
They watched silently as Dumbledore led Fudge and the executioner to Hagrid's hut. Minister Fudge stopped to look at the hippogriff. Buckbeak sat upright proudly, unaware of its predicament.
"Pity," Fudge muttered under his breath.
"Would you like to have a cup of tea, gentlemen?" Dumbledore said casually, "Hagrid makes the best tea,"
"Yes, please," Fudge said earnestly, grateful for the refreshment.
Dumbledore knocked at Hagrid's door and waited for Hagrid to open the door.
"Hello, my friend," Dumbledore said, "Would you mind making us some of your delicious tea?" he asked.
Hagrid allowed them in and sullenly put the kettle to boil as Dumbledore hosted the guest and launched into small winded talks yet again. Minister Fudge looked as if he wanted to say something about his attitude but Dumbledore distracted him so much that he ignored the half giant.
When they are sure that they will not be discovered, they took the opportunity to get to Buckbeak. Harry bowed to Buckbeak and waited for Buckbeak to bow, giving him his approval. Harry went straight to loosen the rope that was tied to the pole. He grabbed the rope and pulled...but the hippogriff wouldn't budge.
"Come on, Buckbeak," Harry said through gritted teeth as he tried to pull the beast again.
Hermione noticed that Buckbeak was getting agitated and might make a big scene and get them in trouble. She looked around and saw the dead ferrets Hagrid had shot for Buckbeak. She quickly grabbed a few, hanging some on around her shoulder and grabbed a few more in both hands and hurried back to Harry and Buckbeak.
"Come on, Buckbeak," she whispered to the hippogriff, dangling the ferret as bait.
At this, Buckbeak moved towards Hermione eagerly. They brought Buckbeak deep into the forest occasionally feeding a ferret to Buckbeak.
"Where do we go, Hermione?" Harry asked with a great big sigh.
"We wait," Hermione said with a nod, "Until Sirius is caught," They agreed to wait and break Sirius out from the highest tower later.
Silence took over as Harry thought about what had happened earlier when he ran to save Sirius. He thought of the pain and grief that was on Kimberly's face and wondered what had happened in her past that had affected her so. Then, the white stag reappeared in his mind.
"Hermione," he said to her in excitement, "Come on,"
"Harry?" Hermione called to him as she hastened her pace to catch up with him.
Sounds of shrieks reached their ears, Hermione lifted her head to see the sky has turned dark and she realised with horror that this was where Sirius was caught by the Dementors.
From across the lake, they both peeked out from behind a rock. Well, Hermione peeked, but when she saw that Harry stood upright in plain sight, she dragged him down into the cover.
"We mustn't be seen!" she hissed at him.
"Why?" he said, still not realising what effect or rather consequence it'll bring.
"Harry, what will you do if you saw yourself?" she asked.
"I think I'd go mad," Harry said after thinking for a second.
"Exactly," Hermione said, "There are wizards who tempered with time ended up tragically because they saw themselves," Harry nodded, accepting the explanation; although not quite understand it to the fullest, yet. "What are you looking for?" she asked, when she noticed that he wasn't concern for his past self but rather was looking around for something.
"I saw my dad, he saved us from the Dementors," Harry said, "I really did. It was his patronus that saved us," he insisted when shock and sympathy was apparent on her face.
"Right there," he pointed to the side of the lake ten meters ahead of them.
"Harry," she started cautiously as she watched the dreadful scene unfold in front of her. Even though, it seemed that the phoenix patronus was doing a good job in fighting off the dark creatures, the stumbling form of her two friend's showed that they are weakening.
Harry kept muttering fervently that his dad will be there. She watched as the past Harry and Kimberly stumbled to Sirius and crumbled. The patronus sat near them standing in defence but it was gradually losing its brilliance. She knew that if help will not come any time. They'll be lost.
"Harry, you're dying," she said sadly.
Harry suddenly shot out of his spot and ran to the spot he was pointing to earlier and cried out, "Expecto Patronum!" The white stag shot out of his wand and charged fearlessly towards his fallen past, his thoughts focused on the girl his past self had in his arms, the first time they have met on the train and thoughts of how much she had intrigued him.
His patronus returned to him as the Dementors flee, "Prongs."
He realised then, his father lives in his heart. A frantic cry from across the lake caught his attention, a horrified mother worried for her child who looked lifeless in the arms of an equally pale boy. He watched as Professor Dumbledore, her father, Ronan, and another man hurriedly took them back for treatment.
Harry took the opportunity run into a shaded place. Hermione took him to a place where they are more hidden but nearer to the castle. Then, the sun sets and the sky rapidly turned dark.
"Come on, it's time," Hermione said as she approached Buckbeak.
Harry once again bowed to Buckbeak and waited for it to return the bow. Buckbeak was now so familiar with Harry that it did not hesitate at all to return the bow and lowered itself onto its knees to allow Harry and Hermione to sit on it. Harry urged Buckbeak to kick off the ground.
Hermione crushed herself tightly against Harry as she was not a fan of flying; the only scar in her perfect result was her flying lesson in her first year. They broke Sirius out of his cell and flew to the ground.
Harry and Sirius reluctantly said goodbye and the teens watched as Sirius and Buckbeak flew away into the night. Hermione had to spur Harry a little to get them back to the hospital wing on time. They reached the hospital wing just as they heard Ron cried out, "Where did they go?"
They burst into the room, panting for breath, but smiling with satisfaction that all is well now.
"How are you there when you were just here?" Ron said.
"That's ridiculous, Red," Samuel said smugly to him.
"Really, Ron," Harry said as a grin broke through his face, "how can I be in two places at the same time," he said, causing the others to outright laugh. Ron wanted to rebuke at that, but set to glower at the younger boy.
"Let's go, I'm starved," Kimberly turned around and walked towards them and the others followed, casting a smile at Harry.
Words spread like wild fire the next day and everyone learned of the escape of Sirius Black. As usual rumours and speculations began to spread but all the excitement mellowed down as work began to pile up again and exams are coming soon.
"Hey," Harry greeted the older twin, "Sleeping okay?" he asked, remembering how exhausted he had felt this morning even though he had been healed from the Dementor's effect. She answered with a smile at his inquiry but did not say anything. "Do you mind if I asked you something?" he asked after hesitating for a moment.
"You already did," she said with a cheeky smile.
"Make that two then," he shot back with a smirk and then nervously asked, "When you came after me, how are you? I mean, you were having trouble as well,"
Kimberly shrugged, "I try not to think of anything else but to save the innocent and desperately holding on to happy thoughts. But more than anything how are you?" she returned the question.
"I am, 'cause of you," he admitted with embarrassment.
Kimberly gave him a puzzled glance, "How so?"
Harry's heart dropped at her clueless demeanour, not that he was expecting anything, but this was not what he had expected.
"Actually, do you mind if I ask you some very personal question?" he asked. She indicated for him to go on, but his question robbed her calm façade, "Your past, what's it like?"
Kimberly took a deep breath. She knew he meant the past that had surfaced in the presence of the Dementors. She bit her lower lip as she considered telling him the truth. A few seconds later, she gave a sigh and told him their tale, "My siblings and I are sort of refugees," she started softly, "I don't even know where to start with. It's complicated," she added, "But I suppose I could start with-,"
A scream suddenly broke through the mundane environment sharply. Everyone who was in the Great Hall froze, startled by the sound of trouble. Immediately, the professors rushed out of the hall to investigate, leaving the prefects in charge of the students' safety. The scream had made her feel unsettled. At that, she ran out of the hall sprinting past the professors towards where her gut feeling led her. Harry followed her and was able to catch up to her without any trouble.
Andrew was already there when they came and was fighting against it. The 'It', Harry had no idea what to call it. 'It' looked like a human with tendrils attached on it's back, moving about like snakes. Its body has two shades blue and its face was bore no expressions, no, there wasn't even a face.
Its tendrils shot at Andrew relentlessly and Harry's jaw dropped as he watched Andrew threw himself into series of somersault and nearly impossible movements to avoid and attack the creature... with a sword?
"Watch out!" Kimberly shouted as she noticed something coming at her brother's back. She threw out something that was in bright silver light. The light sliced the tendril that Andrew wouldn't be able to avoid and would have been pierced through if it wasn't for her.
The creature, despite being expressionless, froze for a second, as if realising her presence, before more tendrils sprout from its back and began attacking her. She quickly pushed Harry out of harms way with a force he didn't know she possesses and expertly evaded the tendrils. Soon, she had waltzed her way into the fight with a set of blazing silver rings in her hands that had suddenly appeared.
Harry was completely stunned by what was unfolded in front of him, the abomination and the graceful defenders against it. By this time, the professors had arrived and were more stunned by the new encounter than Harry was. Someone gasped in horror and he saw that it was Serenity.
Kimberly cried out to Harry, "Harry, get Sere away from here!"
Serenity had rounded up from the corner, coming into the scene. She had felt a bad vibe from a few halls away and had sensed her brother's annoyance through their mental connection and had come to investigate. Although, she had heard the fight going on, she had not expected to see a monster. The creature had sensed her presence, let out a shriek and charged at her.
"Oh...no, you don't," a voice said menacingly.
A vine shot out from the opposite end of the hall from Harry and the professors, caught the creature on it's neck, causing it to jerk backwards. Unfortunately, that didn't kill it. The voice was Samuel, the youngest of the Kensington siblings, and had appeared out of nowhere.
Without wasting time, Harry turned around to do as he was told, dragging the protesting girl with him. Then, they heard a sound like piercing through flesh and a painful gasp.
"LIGHT!" Andrew and Samuel cried out.
Harry turned around, his heart beats faster at the tone of their furious and vengeful voice, and his blood ran cold with what he saw. Kimberly glared painfully at the monster as she empowered a silver ring (for it was now that Harry and the others would be able to see in plain sight) with her right hand. But it was proving difficult as there was one snake like tendril protruding from her abdomen and moving about, happy that it has 'made a kill'. The creature had somehow managed to pierce its tendril through her from the back.
What happened right after was a blur, Kimberly, although in pain, had threw her ring at the creature to make a swift kill. But what surprised everyone was Harry. He had suddenly charged against it with a sword that had suddenly appeared in his hand and sliced the creature's head clean off its shoulders just as her ring made contact with the creature abdomen. It disintegrated into dust, including the tendril that had pierced through her body.
Kimberly fell to the floor, submitting immediately into darkness and her blood quickly drenching the floor around her. Anyone seeing this would have grown faint at the rate of the pool of blood formed on the ground as some of the professors are now. Her siblings and Harry had rushed over to her immediately with Andrew crying out urgently for Serenity.
Serenity pushed her way through the professors and in knelt in her sister's pool of blood, her hands clasped together as if praying, white light burst from her hands and she placed her glowing hand to hover over the enormous wound on her sister's abdomen. The wound closed completely under her palms. When Andrew was sure that Kimberly was no longer in a critical condition, he stopped Serenity, "That's enough, let her recover by herself from here."
Serenity stopped with a relieved sigh, retracted her hands, the light emitting from her hand faded, a sob threatening to wrecked through her throat. Andrew comforted the younger twin with a rub on her head (with a hand that was barely tainted with red, of course) and lifted the unconscious girl, turning to Madam Pomprey.
"Madam Pomprey, I'll need some Blood Replenishing Potions for her," he requested to the elder witch.
Madam Pomprey came out of her shock and ushered Andrew, rushing to the hospital wing so that they could began treating the previously wounded girl.
"Samuel, clear the scene," Andrew ordered as he walked away.
Samuel groaned because he was yet again left with the dirty job. With a defeated sigh, however, he did as he was told. He knelt down on one knee and reached out to touch the cooling precious blood of his sister, wasted, thanks to a mindless creature. His hand curled into a fist as an expression of pain and self loathing crossed his young features. He held his hand above the pool of blood in concentrated on it.
As everyone looked on, a plant sprouted out from floor. Its roots grew as it was soaked in the blood and began to absorb the precious red liquid dry. It grew as the blood nourished it, a silver flower in the appearance of a lily blossomed from its tip.
When it had done its job, its roots wrapped itself around Samuel. The boy smiled as the plant latched itself on him from his calf to his shoulder. His free hand reached up and picked the flower, "Thank you, Blossom," he said as the plant withered and faded. He turned to look at the dumbfounded crowd and then turn to his sister.
"Are you okay?" he asked her. She gave a tearful nod. "She'll be okay," he said reassuringly.
He turned back to the professors and waved his hand at them as if to dismiss them but he was actually erasing their memory of this event and planted some fake memories to throw them off the scent. They turned around and walked back to the Great Hall under his command.
"Come on," Samuel said to the older teens.
When they have reached the hospital wing where Andrew had brought Kimberly to recover with the help of potions the matron gave her. Andrew sat on the chair next to the bed she was assigned to, waiting for the others to arrive.
Harry was somewhat out of his body. He had not realised that he had followed them for minutes and certainly was not aware that he was still holding a sword. He was in fact trying to sort things out in his mind.
"How is she now?" Samuel asked his older brother.
"Recovering," Andrew answered him and turned around to them. The oldest male looked over his youngest sister and was reassured that she was not harmed and turned to Harry who wasn't quite here. "Harry Potter," he called and broke the teenager from his trance.
Harry suddenly felt exhausted, exhaled and sank onto one of the beds. He dropped the sword, causing a solid clang on the stone floor. Harry stared at the sword. Recognising it, he exclaimed in shock, "Where did that come from?"
"What happened?" Madame Pomprey demanded, running as fast as her old legs can carry her.
"Sorry," they apologised.
Her eyes zeroed on the weapon and looked at each of them suspiciously. Andrew sighed and took charge of the situation. He bent down to pick up the sword and handed it back to Harry.
He turned to Madame Pomprey and asked, "Madame Pomprey, could you leave us for a moment, please?" he asked pleadingly with her, "Sorry," he called after her as she left with an 'hmph'.
"The Sword of Gryffindor," Harry stated as he examined the pure silver blades and its golden and ruby hilt, "How di-,"
Harry was about to ask how did it appear when Samuel shrugged, "You summoned it," he said.
"I don't remember doing it,"
"But you did," Serenity told him and looked at him apologetically, "I'm very sorry, Harry," Serenity said to him, "We brought you into this,"
"Well, now that the excitement had gone down, you should put it away," Andrew said casually.
Harry looked at him as if he had grown three heads. He couldn't possibly walk up to Professor Dumbledore to return the sword that had mysteriously appeared out of nowhere.
Seeing his confused look, he explained, "Artefacts as old as this, and goblin made, I believe, has magic coursing through it, some call it spirits. This sword, you have summon it once, didn't you?"
"Last year, in the Chamber of Secrets," Harry nodded.
Andrew casually took in the information, "This sword had bonded with you then. That is why you were able to summon it. You have to learn how to put it away," he said and looked at him expectantly.
Samuel sighed, "I'll show you once," the younger boy flicked his hands open and a vine whip appeared in his hand. He vainly admire his whip before he willed it to disappear, "Just like that, no incantations needed, just your will,"
Harry looked at the sword in his hand oddly, like it is the oddest thing on Earth, and it was. But as he concentrated to find the bond that the Kensington siblings claimed he had with the sword, he felt a warmth from somewhere deep inside him and realised the sword and him had a bond for some time without him realising it. It was something he had experience only with his wand and Hedwig.
Andrew was right when he said some had called it spirit. It was like it was living. He felt its pride, power and authority. He felt its magnificent and the glory of its previous owner.
As Harry looked at it with awe, the memories of the recent battles he had with the sword in hand slipped into his mind. Kimberly, Ginny, his determination to help, to protect, to save and to foil Evil's plan, "Thank you," he silently said to the sword. Odd, I know, but it was as if it could understand him, it faded from sight, although Harry could still feel its presence with him.
"Well, Kim would be pleased to know you're a fast learner," Samuel said sarcastically, "What?" he said when his older siblings glared at him. The truth is his sister would be royally pissed to know someone else had been pulled into their cat and mice game. "But before we start anything," he changed the subject, "What are we gonna do with this?" he asked and held up the silver lily he had harvested from his Blood Blossom which he nicknamed Blossom.
Harry stared as well at the most peculiar flower he had ever seen. Then again, maybe not the most peculiar, but it must be one of a unique breed, for it looked like a lily and it was silver in colour and it seemed to be shining by itself. Or maybe it was the sunlight. Andrew took the flower from the boy and placed it in his unconscious sister's hand and waited to see it there was any reaction.
But seconds passed and nothing happened. Andrew extracted the flower in deep thought and his gaze shifted to Harry. 'Could it be?' he thought to himself. He hesitantly held out the flower to Harry, wondering what might happen.
Harry watched as Andrew took the flower from Samuel and placed it in his sister's hand and curiously expected something to happen to it. What was it suppose to do? He had expected it to help revive her or something, but it had not. But after a few seconds nothing happened. He saw Andrew cast a thoughtful glance at him and held out the flower to him rather reluctantly. He took the flower, very confused, and was surprised that the flower gave a warm vibe, different, no, not different, but stronger than the sword, he decided.
The moment it touch his skin, it glowed slightly and faded from his hand. He stared at his hand in surprise where the flower once was and looked up at Andrew for explanation. Andrew stared blankly at him as if he had not understood what had happened. He had offered no explanation but gave an upset frown. Harry cast the same look to the other two siblings, but Serenity gave him a sad smile in return while Samuel gave a half scowl, although not at him, and cursed in Japanese.
"Can someone please tell me what happened?" Harry asked, getting impatient with all this negative expressions they were giving.
The siblings looked from one from another in silent communication when a moment later, Serenity sighed in defeat. She looked up and met Harry's eyes and began to explain to him, or try to explain it to him. "Well," she began hesitatingly.
"That was similar to the bond you have with your sword," Harry looked at her to continue, "Even in the wizarding world it is not something rare," she started to explain, "When you saved or spared a person's life, that person owes you his or her life literally. If you call on for that right, they are magically bounded to repay their life debt to you, to do otherwise leads to condemnation," she said, "Kim won't be happy to hear about your bond with her," Serenity finished with a depressed sigh.
There was a tired groan from the bed beside Andrew indicating the girl's waking. Serenity and Andrew sighed in relief and Samuel smiled lopsidedly, relief displayed on his boyish face. When she opened her eye, Harry smiled as they gathered around her.
When she saw them, gathered around her, she sighed exasperatedly, "This rarely happens and I'm tired of it already," she muttered and pushed herself up, "Aren't the three of you ought to be in class now?" she said to her brother and sister, and Harry.
Serenity gave her a smile and went to class. Andrew grumbled in a low voice something about an ungrateful brat of a sister who caused worries and something else in a lower voice as he turned around sluggishly.
Kimberly laughed out as she knew full well what his chosen words were and before he could take a step, she mischievously jumped onto his back. Andrew although was being caught off guard at the sudden weight his sister put on him manage to expertly shifted her to carry her on his back and let out a snort.
"Arigato, oniichan," she said.
Andrew shook his head at her and lowered her on the bed she had just laid in, "Anytime, squirt," he said, ruffling her hair. With a grin, she got off the bed and slipped into her shoes.
Hearing the commotion, Madame Pomprey came out of her office and saw that she was awake. "Thank Merlins you are awake, child. You gave everyone a fright!"
"Oh and one more thing," Samuel said as he just remembered something, "Madame Pomprey, the other professors won't remember a thing about what happen. So, we must ask of you not to speak of this to anyone,"
The matron frowned disapprovingly but shrugged in agreement. She gave a quick diagnosis spell and said, "Well, you look like you are well enough. Here are your permission letters," she produced the letters for all of them, except for Samuel, since he is not a student of Hogwarts.
"Thank you, ma'am," they said as they exited the infirmary.