My Mother, My Aunt Keeperoliver Chapter 10
The plan was not a complicated one, but there were many ways it could go wrong. Too many to even consider. Sirius had to take Ginny with him in to the vault area, get the goblin escort to go into the vault with him when he entered his vault, and keep him occupied for 10 minutes, while Ginny Morphed into her Animagus, get to the LeStrange vault, enter it with her power to go through walls, destroy the Horcrux, and return before being discovered. Simple, yet complex.
Sirius opened the Black family vault, and entered it. He was in there about two minutes, when he came back out to ask the goblin for his assistance. The goblin was hesitant for a second, looked back at Ginny. He saw she was occupying her time with a book, then shruged his shoulders, and entered the vault to help. Ginny immediately changed into her Horse Animagus, and flamed to the LeStrange vault, and past through the door. She searched for the Dark item, and found it in the form of a cup. It must be the Hufflepuff cup that Albus mentioned. Using her Fiend fire power, she aimed it at the cup, and saw the black mist rising from the cup, as it was being destroyed. The mist disappeared almost as soon as it left the cup. Ginny ran back out of the vault, and flamed back to the cart, changed back to her self, got back into the cart, and picked her book back up.
The entire scenario took about four minutes. About two minutes after she got back, the goblin came back out to make sure Ginny was still in the cart, and went back in to help Sirius finish what he was doing. Another four minutes had them heading back to the main area, and out of the building. They Apparated back to Potter Manor, and to announce their success.
Albus was thrilled with the ease that they accomplished this, since there was much doubt about it happening. "Ginny, can you tell me the item that you destroyed, and what happened when you destroyed it?"
"Yes sir, It was Helga Hufflepuff's Cup, and it gave off a black mist as it was being destroyed. The mist disappeared as soon as it was completely free of the Horxcrux. Whether the soul fragment was destroyed or not, I don't know? The cup was destroyed, and I transfigured another cup that was in the vault to look identical to Helga's cup, to keep the suspicion down, in case some one was to go check on it. I then put a dark curse on it for good measure."
"Excellent job, my dear, excellent. It would appear we are off to a good start, in our hunt. Tomorrow, we will send Hermione and Remus out to find another one. In the meantime, I suggest you practice your individual strengths, and see if you can discover any more hidden talents you all may have. Hermione, I am sure your vision has some hidden ability, we have not yet uncovered. Test it to find out what it may be. Harry, you are a wealth of power, yet untapped. We must figure out your full potential. Explore every avenue of your powers to find paths leading you to different strengths. There is one I wish you all to explore, and that is a connection you might share with each other. A mind link, where you can communicate, with out letting an opponent know what you are planning to do. Ginny, your Fiend Fire ability thus far has been limited to close range. Try to expand it, to cover more area, and sort of a shield of protection. There is not much that can pass through the Fiend fire. Even most spells can not pass through."
"We will Professor, and I hope that we will be as successful as Ginny and Sirius was." Hermione responded. Remus nodded his agreement.
MMMA-}
Lily was sitting in the family room, reading a book on Fiend fire, when Remus came in and sat next to her, and gave her a kiss on her cheek. She looked up at him, with a questioning glance, and he smiled. "I have a question to ask you, and you have every right to say no, slap me, spell me, or what ever. But Personally, I would like to talk to James, without your presence, if that is possible?"
"Remus, you know James and I share all our thoughts, and can not hide them from each other. I wish you could talk to him, as it would ease tension you have about you and I. If you can tell me how this could be accomplished, I would be more than happy to let you and James talk without my being there."
Remus thought about it for the longest time, and could not find a away to accomplish this. He knew he could not enter anyone Else's body that was not blood, which meant Harry was the only one, other than Lily. Since Harry was not aware of the soul essence of his father residing inside his mother, that was not an option.
Harry was the one to come up with the answer, in the form of a question. "Mom, with all the wizard portraits hanging on the wall, I was wondering if you might have one of dad around, that we could hang up. I would like to get to know him?"
"I do, Harry, but until I pass on, it will not activate, as both of the people in the picture need to pass on in order for it to work. I would like to hang though, but I did not think you would like the picture hanging and not be able to communicate with it. If you can get past the image not being able to talk to you, I will put it up on the wall?"
"I would like that mom, even if it is just to see dad. I know we have pictures that are magical, but they are small, and you know my vision is not the best, when in my normal body. I'm sure the portrait is much larger, and is always there for me to talk to. He may not be able to answer, but maybe he can hear me. Even that is more than I can hope for."
"I will, Harry, and thank you for your concern. You do know that your father loved you very much, don't you?"
"Oh, I know mom, just like I know you and Remus love me also, as does Sirius, Aunt Alicia, Daniel, Ron, Ginny and Hermione. But to have Dad around to listen to my problems would work wonders when I don't want you and Remus to know. Nothing bad mind you, just personal stuff."
"I understand Harry, just like I am sure Remus does. I will get Remus to hang the picture when he gets back from his and Hermione's little venture."
"Thanks mom, I love you."
"I love you too Harry."
After Harry left, James asked her, 'Lily, do you suppose that I could leave you body, and enter the portrait, and carry on that that way? Maybe even to return to your body when necessary to help in certain situations? If I could do that, anyone could talk to me, and have private conversations."
'I don't know James, maybe, I can go to the portrait, and you can try to see what happens, But I don't want to lose you. What happens if you leave, and can't enter the portrait, and can't return to me. I don't know if I could stand that. Just like Remus, I need you also."
'I believe I can reach out, and see if the portrait will accept me, and allow me to remain,and converse with the living. If not, then I will stay where I am. Shall we try?'
Lily went to the attic where the portrait was hidden from every one. Lily sat in front of it, and felt James reach out to the Portrait of himself. At first nothing happened. She watched as the portrait remained listless. And then, there was a fluttering of his eyelids in the portrait. She felt James leave her body. There was an emptiness she had not felt since she returned. Then she heard James, 'It worked Lily, I am able to to speak openly know, I think, Let me shut down our link, and try to talk to you through the portrait.' She felt alone, and didn't like the feeling.
"Lily, are you all right? You look lost? You know I am here for you? Lily please answer me."
"I'm here James, it is just when you left, there was a sudden feeling loneliness, and abandonment. Could you please try to re-enter my body, to see if you can?"
James tried, but could not. He even tried the mind link, but could not. "I'm sorry Lils, but it is not possible. I guess when I entered you body, it was because I was with you, that I entered. Now that I have left, there is no way to get back. Please don't let this bother you my love. I will always be here for you. I will still love you, and when ever you need to hear it, just come see me. In away, it is probably better this way, as you and Remus can now be more of a married couple, and less of a Manage~ Et~Trois, so to speak."
"I will still miss the little talks we had late at night, while lying in the bed,even as Remus slept beside me. It felt like I was cheating on him with my own husband. It was a funny situation, if you stop and think about it. But perhaps you are right. It is time we moved on, and if you really want to know, I wish to have another child for Harry to act like a big brother. He is special, James, and I love him so much, but he is expected to do something that no adult has been able to do. How an a mere child be expected to take down a villain as powerful as Voldemort, when he returns. And he will return, of that I have no doubt."
Lily used the levitation charm, and carried the portrait down to the family room, and hung it over the fireplace.
MMMA-}
Remus and Hermione were approaching a small shack on the outskirts of Little Haggleton. It was the home of the now deceased, Gaunt family. Albus had told them that a past visit from an Auror, had detected a dark object of immense power radiating from it. Both Remus and Hermione could also feel the evil essence as they approached the run down shack. There were remains of dead snakes hanging from nails all over the house. It was a gruesome sight, that made Hermione shiver when she saw them. She steadied herself, and changed into her Eagle Animagus, and shrunk down, to enter through a broken window. She examined the area, and saw several protective spells, guarding the home from unwanted visitors. Some were meant to kill, and others to harm, or scare away these visitors. She exited the cottage, and told Remus what she found. "Remus, there are several different level of spells protecting the object, and the object it self is under the floor board, but has a killing curse on it, to keep it safe."
"Thank you Hermione. I believe I can get us past the weaker wards fairly quickly, and safely. What I need you to do, is to change back, and tell me what you see, in the form of spells, using your mind speaking abilities. Then we will approach the greater threats, once we get inside."
There were four spells, blocking entry to the cottage, that the two of them were able to tear down. Then, once inside, Hermione told him of the injuring threats, and were they were. Most they were able to avoid, as they were used as decoys. There were two, protecting the object, which Hermione dispensed with one, and Remus the other. The last charm, was the killing charm, and it was the hardest one to dispense with. Hermione thought on it for a minute, and then suggested that Remus find a length of rope, and secure it to the floor board covering the object. Since it was loose, it was simple to accomplish this without disturbing the spell. She then had him and her leave the cottage, taking the rope with them. She took the end of the rope, and started flying away from the cottage. As soon as the rope tightened, there was a large explosion, and a large green cloud arose from the leveled building. They went back to the spot of the objects hiding spot, and removed the rubble to get to it. Once this was removed, Remus went to retrieve the object, when Hermione stopped him. "Remus, I still detect a spell on the object, that could kill, if not properly handled. Let me try something."
Hermione found a stiff wire, and bent a hook at the end of it. She then dug through the debris, and found a ring, with a large facing on it. She used the wire to remove the ring, and then closed the hook around the ring, so as not to lose it during their travel home. as soon as the wire closed around the ring, it started to get hot, causing Hermione to drop the wire. Remus examined the wire, and saw it get red hot. It would burn anything they used to try and pick it up. They poured water on it from a barrel that was against the fence. It cooled it down, until they tried picking it up again. Remus was at a loss for a moment, and then had an idea. He went to the barrel and dumped it over so that the water ran over the ring and wire. as soon as the water hit the ring, he froze the water, encasing the ring and wire in ice. He tried picking the frozen article, and was relieved that it didn't burn. Hermione changed back into her Eagle form, and flashed home with the object, while Remus Apparated back.
When Remus walked into the house, Hermione was already explaining to Albus what had happened. "Then when we tried to pick it up with the wire, the wire immediately got hot. If it hadn't been for Remus, I would still be threwre trying to figure out how to bring this stupid thing back. Oh, Remus, you're back." and Hermione launched herself at Remus, pulling him in for a hug.
"Thank you Hermione for that wonderful hug, it was just what I needed to straighten my back out." He laughed, as well as the rest of the group.
Hermione then ran upstairs to wake the rest of the kids. While she was doing that, Lily took Remus' hand, and led him into the family room, and James' portrait. Remus looked up at James, "I wish you could answer me Prongs, I have so much to ask you."
"Perhaps later, when we can be alone." answered James.
Remus almost fell when James talked to him, "James, is that really you?"
"Yes, Moony, it is. and I look forward to our talk. We have much to discuss. For now, I want you to think about what you want to ask me, and to think about what you plan to take care of your wife and son. They are yours now, and I want you to think about them as such. I will talk to Harry, as I have already talked to Lils. I have talked to Albus already, and he has a surprise for you. Till we can talk privately, take care. now if you will, I wish to talk to my son, alone or with the Girls."
"I'm afraid we need the services of Ginny for a few minutes, before she can join you James." Albus added.
"That's fine Albus, I will hold of the trios part, until she arrives."
The kids sounded like a stampede as they ran down the stairs. It was believed to be mostly Ron and Daniel, as they were always hungry. The way those two ate, they should be as big as elephants. As it was, they were much bigger than Harry and the girls, but they were still not fat, just stocky. Daniel was the biggest, and very strong, but his magic was the weakest. Not meaning he was weak, just that Ron was just a little stronger in the magical department. Ron was not even close to Hermione's level and forget about Ginny's level. Both of the girls were stronger than Minerva in the magic department. As for Harry, If he and Albus were to duel, it would be questionable as to who would win, Harry would be tested, and may lose, but only because of Albus' years of practice.
Lily asked Harry and Hermione into the family room, while Albus took Ginny, Remus, Sirius, Alicia, Ron and Daniel into the kitchen. He took the ice covered ring with him outside.
Lily led Harry and Hermione to the portrait of James and told Harry, "Harry, this is the portrait I told you about. Say hello to your father."
Harry looked to the portrait. "I wish you could talk to me dad. I want to know what your voice sounds like. I want to know what you think of me. I want to know you."
Harry jumped when James shifted in the Portrait, and looked down at him. "My son, I couldn't be prouder of you. Your mom has told me what you have accomplished with the help of your girlfriends, and Albus. You have accomplished more in your ten years of life, than any adult I know, except maybe your mother. You conquered death Harry. How many people do you know who have done that. You are preparing to go to war against the greatest villain to have ever lived. Who can else can make that statement. You are my heir, and my blood. Is that not enough to tell you I love you? Believe me when I say, that my pride will never lessen, but only grow stronger as you get older."
The tears in Harry's eyes were all that needed to be seen, to say how he felt about his father's words. They were like a burst os adrenaline running it's course through his body. Lily left them to talk, but came right back in with Ginny, and she left again. Harry, Ginny and Hermione sat in front of the portrait while James talked.
"I am sure that Albus has told you of the meaning of this Golden Ones title. What I don't think he told you, that you should know is, you are all three bonded to each other. A soul bond, and you will be joined by more, through the years to come. Not all will be soul bonds, but friendship bond. In all, there will be twelve of you. Ginny, your brother Ron, and Harry your cousin Daniel, will be of these bonds. Never try to push them away. Seven more will be added to you group, and how many will be soul is yet to be determined, but I am sure of two, who will be tasked for this bond. Harry, through out the ages, the Potters, the Weasley's and the Longbottoms have fought together as brethren. Neville Longbottom is one of the people to bond with you. Another is Susan Bones. Amelia is her Aunt and guardian, and is a very important key in your life. Susan will also be a part of this bonding. You should also know that there will be those who, though not bonded, will play key roles in your future. Be aware of the signs of of true allegiance. You will become a strong team when all are assembled."
"Mr. Potter, how will we know if our allies are a bond, or just that, allies." Hermione asked.
"Hermione, please call me James. You will not know who are bonded and who are not, until you can feel them in your heart. Some may even be adults, so don't push anyone away. Now, is there anything else you wish to ask me? No, ok then if you would do me a favor, ask Remus to come in and join me so that we can talk. We have a lot to talk about. Oh, Harry, a word with you please, alone. The girls left to get Remus, and James talked to Harry.
"Son, I know you love me, and mom, but how do you feel about Remus and your mom marrying. Did it hurt you when they married?"
"Dad, I was thrilled when Mom and Remus married. She always looked so lonely. She perked up, when her and Remus started to date, and Then when he proposed, She seemed to gain new life. The wedding was beautiful, but small. There were less than thirty people attending, but that was all they wanted. Close friends and Family. I will always love them, if that is your worry."
"That's only a part of it son. I was hoping you could start calling Remus dad. He is not a replacement of me, but he has always wanted children, but because of his condition, he was afraid to even try to get close enough to a woman. When your mother and him got together, after the Halloween incident, and they got closer, it brought new life into his body. Another thing I would like to tell you is, that your mom would like to have another child. Would that bother you any, to have a brother or a sister this late in life?"
"Are you kidding me. that would be super. I have always wanted a brother or sister. So, does that mean she is pregnant, or just working on it?"
James started laughing so hard, Remus had to come in to see what was happening. What he saw, was James doubled over in his frame, and Harry rolling around on the floor. Both of them laughing. "Can I be let in on the joke, and James, I thought both you and Lily had to pass on for this to happen?"
The two continued to laugh, but Harry was able to stand, and leave the room, still holding his sides and laughing.
"Can you tell me what that was all about Prongs?"
"Maybe after it happens. Right now, I need to get serious, no pun intended. Moony, I want you to know, I am behind you and Lily being married. I know you had feelings for her when we were in school, but because of my trying so hard to get her attention, and your monthly affliction, you stood off to the side, and let Lily and I get together. For that, I am eternally sorry. It could have been you and Lily walking down that aisle in 79. Now that it has happened, I want you to take care of her, and Harry as if it had been you who was his father, and her husband from the start. You deserve to be happy, what with all you went through. She is a loving, caring person, and she deserves to be happy also."
"Thank you James. I know she is special, and you're right, I did have feelings for her in school, actually, it was more than that. Lily was the only one that knew of my condition, that would have anything to do with me. Even after she knew, she kissed me, or I kissed her, or however it happened, she allowed it to happen. It was the first kiss for me, and it was special. I knew it was not safe for her to be around me, yet she would not let me push her away. I am so ashamed, James, but, I loved her from that moment on. It was so hard for me to watch you and Lily get married. It was like someone reaching in and ripping out my heart. But in the same vane, I was so happy for you both, and I saw that Lily was truly happy."
"Thanks for your honesty, Moony. You know, if I was still around, and you told me that, I would rip you apart, and feed it to your werewolf friend. Now, did Albus talk to you?"
"Yes he did, and I want to thank you for that. Of course it won't be fore two years, but It is more that I could have hoped for. Thank you James for your help."
"Anything for a Marauder, my friend. Oh, and to answer your earlier question, In order for this Portrait to work, I had to leave Lily's body. But I had to do this, so that I could talk to you, Sirius, Lily, Harry, and anyone else that wished to talk to me. Lily is a bit upset, and might need some comfroting this evening, so leave a spot open for her, if you know what I mean."
"Not really, but I am sure, I can figure it out."