Hey everyone,
So this chapter will start off pretty dark and gloomy, but I plan to make it have a happy ending. I also plan to FINALLY get that damned ritual out of the way – even if I don't even know what the ritual is going to be like. Yeah, you heard me, this plot point, that just keeps coming up, is one that I am still clueless about.
Let's see what happens,
Venquine1990
Chapter 13
A Warning And A Ritual
26th of December 1995
Grimmauld Place, London
Harry's POV
Waking up feels strange for some reason, yet my memory of the other night returns to me right after I have properly opened my eyes. Instantly they widen, but I sigh in relief as I see Ron putting on a blouse and he turns around as he asks: "Morning mate, feeling better?" At which I nod, pushing the blanket off myself as I say:
"I do. How did things go after I fainted? Did everything go okay?" Yet at this Ron shrugs and says: "I'm not sure. Sirius came carrying you upstairs, but – there was some strange look on his face, as if he had seen his mother come out of her portrait and haunt him or something. And your siblings didn't look much better, either."
This worries me and I make sure to quickly dress up, feeling a little put off that, for some reason, the robes I had on for my trial last summer lying on top of my trunk. "Yeah, Sirius put that up there after putting you to bed. I guess it's because he wants to do the ritual today and all that." Ron tells me as I look down on it.
This cheers me up and I happily put the robes on, making sure to flatten any wrinkles or ruffles as we walk down the staircases. Yet upon entering the basement kitchen do I get to see just how right Ron is as the Guardians seem to be affected by the same trouble that Ron noticed on Sirius and my family the other night.
"Is – is everything okay?" I ask Jack, who looks up and says: "Yeah, things are alright. It's just – after you destroyed that thing – Manny used my ice to give us a warning and – well, it was pretty dark. Though the others and I don't really get what it means. They do seem to, though." And he motions for the other side of the table.
There I see Sirius, James, Lily and Professor Dumbledore sitting and all three of them look as if they are at someone's funeral. This makes me look at Jack and the others worried, but they shrug to tell me they don't get it either. I sigh and walk over, shaking my head when I see Sirius trying to look happier than he obviously feels.
"What's going on? Jack told me that you guys got a vision from Manny and that it was dark. What was it about? And why are those bags under your eyes worse than ever before, Sirius?" I ask, suddenly noticing how sleep-deprived the man looks and he sighs as he says: "I – I didn't get any sleep last night, pup. I couldn't."
"Why not? Was the vision that bad?" I ask, sitting opposite him and looking him right in the eye, but the man says: "No, it's because of the meaning behind the vision; the warning Manny gave us; gave me." I look from him to my future siblings in great concern and Dumbledore asks: "Are you sure you want to know? Seeing the ritual, my boy?"
But I say: "I can't perform in any ritual if I worry this much for my new family, sir." And the man nods before he says: "The vision started out quite well. Your father stood in front of you with your siblings behind him with their hands on his shoulders and their union was obviously making you stronger, allowing you to float.
Yet then, for some reason, Sirius stepped forward and changed into Snuffles and right after this, a collar hit his neck and James and Lily changed into what Jack told us was an image of Pitch. He aimed a commanding finger at you and Snuffles actually attacked you, ripping you to shreds. The vision ended there."
By now I am looking between all four of them in astonishment and Sirius says: "It does make sense. My form represents the Grim, which is a being of shadows and darkness, so it only makes sense that Pitch would be able to find a way to control him, especially with Voldemort's help." Yet I still feel confused and ask:
"But what does that have to do with you not being able to sleep?" And the man sighs as he says: "I – I'm still recovering from everything Azkaban did to me and – and sometimes it just becomes too much for me to handle. This mostly happens at night, when I have too many nightmares to sleep right. At that time, Snuffles helps me sleep."
At this I look around and mutter: "And that has been happening more and more since you started staying here, hasn't it?" And the man nods as he says: "I barely sleep three nights a week if I'm not in my other form." Which makes the others look at him worried and I too put my hand close to my heart as I worry for him.
Yet then suddenly I feel something slide down my fingers and look down. And instantly my eyes widen as I realize what is now hanging over my robes and my hand and I think: "I've been wearing that for so long, I completely forgot about it. I just learned to change without it getting in the way over the years. But – wait a second!"
"THIS IS IT!" I shout and everyone looks at me. I move both my hands behind my neck and try my hardest to untie the necklace I am wearing as I say: "This necklace, I mean. The guardians gave it to me years ago. It helps me sleep because it's infused with memories of when I was still a baby, before they were killed."
And I motion for James and Lily as I still struggle with the band, grumbling as I just don't get why I can't get it unclasped. "Harry, what are you doing?" The Guardians then asks and I explain them the situation. "So you see? If Sirius wears this, he can sleep peacefully and won't be dependent on Snuffles to do so."
At this the Guardians look at each other and then all start to smile before Sandy moves over and uses a bit of sand to raise himself up to my level behind me. I put my hands down and just like that does the Sandman unclasp the necklace. "Let me guess, security magic?" I ask in amusement and the mute lad shrugs with humor on his face.
He then seems to put some more enchantments on the necklace and also lets it pass the Tooth Fairy before he moves over to Sirius. The man moves his hair out of his face and smiles at me gratefully as Sandy puts the necklace around his neck and he says: "It won't solve the entire problem, but it's definitely a good solution for now."
"If nothing else, it will make it easier for you to move past what happened to us, ma-dad." James then tells the man and we all smile at the way he corrects himself before Sirius asks: "So, who's ready to get this thing started?" Only for Mrs. – my future mum – to say: "Not before you all finished your dinner." And sets plates in front of us.
A few hours later
The first three things I notice upon entering the room that Sirius apparently prepared for the ritual instead of sleeping is that the whole room is bare of any furniture, that there is a gorgeous glass bowl with black onyxes set within it in the middle of the room and that there are actually six knives set in a circle around the bowl.
"Sirius?" I ask, looking at the knives and trying to not remember what happened last June and the man says: "Don't worry, pup. These knives are specifically charmed. They will heal the cuts once the right amount of blood has been given and they will vanish into nothing at the end of this whole ritual." Which makes me sigh relieved.
Yet then I focus on something else he said and I ask: "Wait, right amount of blood?" And the man smiles as he says: "Just go stand near the bowl and I'll explain how this ritual works." And while this doesn't reassure me, do I do as he says. He smiles at me and then says: "Okay Harry, what is our order?" Which just confuses me.
"Harry, this ritual is all based on one person per ritual. You are the one being adopted into our families, so it's up to you to decide who should stand where. Know that, the person you set here, at this first knife, is to represent the guardian most important to you and will play the most mayor role in your life from here on out."
At this I nod and then look around, feeling a little hesitant and doubtful as I feel only half sure of who should go where, but I don't feel like hurting anyone, especially not now. But then Sirius says: "Harry, you don't have to worry. If anything, picking one person first and another last can have some good side effects.
For example, if you pick Arthur first and Molly last, the ritual will strengthen the bond they have. Same if you pick Lily first and James last or me first and James or Lily last. Or even James first and Kingsley last or vice versa." This makes me sigh relieved and I take another look around all of them before I say:
"Okay, I think I know the line-up. Sirius, Kingsley, Arthur, Lily, Molly, James." This seems to shock Mrs. Weasley, so I say: "Sirius, you were my dad to me even when I thought you my godfather. Kingsley, you just went above and beyond when I put you on that test. Arthur, you were who I wanted as a father until I met Sirius.
Lily, I – I know you and James both did great in your need to see me safe, but I also know that you were offered a chance to stand aside and that it was that that gave Manny the chance to make me a guardian. I owe you my life and – that just means a little more to me. Sorry James." But my brother seems to understand as I go on:
"Molly, I – I guess putting you here instead of next to Sirius is because – well, it has a little to do with my upraising and a little to do with the fact that I owe my life to Lily. I never really felt like I wanted a mother as much as I wanted to have a father. Don't ask." And this seems to appease the woman and then James says:
"And thanks to me being last, I finally get to be even closer with my best friend than when I was his age." At which I think: "Which is more or less the whole reason I put you last." I then turn back to Sirius and ask: "So what do we do now?" And Sirius says: "Now, each of us take up the knife of our role and you take the bowl."
I nod and after we all do so, the room actually somehow shrinking to fit us in perfectly without making us stand too closely together. Then Sirius says: "Okay Harry, the rest is now up to you. Step up to each of us, tell us how you want us to play our role and what you think our role should pertain and then ask us if we accept this.
We will then accept what you want us to do, cut our hand, donate our blood and when you have reached James with this – well, then we reach the part that make this a ritual not often used or talked about. You need to drink our blood. And pup, I know it sounds gross, but if you tilt the bowl back for even a second, the ritual fails."
This makes me gulp as I had actually felt disgusted when Sirius told me what to do, but then I take a deep breath and say: "Well, at least the blood is shared between trusted parties and knowingly." Which makes the four adults smile at me as they know I am, again, referring to what happened back in June, even if they might not know the details.
I then take a deep breath and ask: "So I go around, tell you what I consider the role of a guardian means in my eyes, ask if you accept, you do so, spill your blood and then I drink it?" At which Sirius nods and says: "Yes, and if you manage it within the next (he checks his watch – hour, the ritual will be all the stronger.
Don't ask, for some reason this ritual is at its strongest before noon." I nod and mutter: "Give me a few minutes then. I need to properly think of how to word each role." Everyone nods and while the sight of them holding a knife is slightly concerning, do I not focus on this and just start to think of what Sirius told me.
"What do I expect out of a father, a godfather, an uncle, a sister, a mother and a brother? Well, definitely everything Vernon was not when it comes to Mr. Weasley, but – he's practically already the living embodiment of that. But what about the rest of them?" And this question really makes me think, looking around once more.
"I don't really need much more than what they are and have already offered me in the past, I – I guess I just want them to take me a little more seriously, to not make a bigger deal out of my mistakes than their own and for them to use their finest character qualities to help me forward. Though I guess there are a few differences."
And with that knowledge, do I look around once more, yet Sirius seems to get why and he smirks as he asks: "I see you decided, did you pup?" I nod, making the rest of them smile in pride and he says: "Alright then, you need to start with me and then go down the line. Also, make sure you mention me when you reach James."
At this I nod and I make sure to stand right in front of the man, the distance of only a single step between us and while I try not to cringe at the way that the man now has the sharp edge of his own knife against his wand hand, do I take a deep breath. And somehow I feel a strange form of magic get stronger as I say:
"Do you, Sirius Orion Black, promise that all you have done so far, you will continue doing. That you will continue to let nothing immoral or unethical stop you from doing right by our family, that you will continue to right any wrongs you might have made and that you will continue doing your best for me and my future?
Do you promise that you will continue proving that you understand where I am coming from and continue giving the advice and comfort you have been trying to give me up to now? Do you promise that you will use your experiences to make my life better and that, like you have proven so far, I will be most vital in your life?"
At this final part Sirius smiles the widest as he must realize I am asking this because of what he told me the other day and he actually cuts his hand as he says: "I, Sirius Orion Black, do promise to keep to these requests and make them part of my role as the new father of Harry James Potter-Black-Weasley-Shacklebolt-Evans."
And while I think: "Dang, that is one long new last name." Yet I really don't care for this fact as the knowledge that I am now officially part – or will be after this – of all these families makes me only all the happier as I turn to Kingsley, the man quite new to my life, yet having made a really, really great impact since we met.
And because I know that the Order will really count on him and that he is also an Auror, do I feel ready to ask the upcoming. "Kingsley Shacklebolt, will you continue proving your greatness as you did last night? Will you continue serving my rights in this country and help keep me safe if anyone so desires this of you?
Will you promise that your duties to the law, to your boss and to the Order will always be on equal levels as your loyalty to our new family and that you will try your best to keep me on the straight and narrow? Do you promise to try and be there for me if I feel that any place I am at is under threat or in any form of danger?
Do you promise that, no matter what, who or where, you will not let anyone walk over me if they don't have this right, whether it be by law or by moral rights?" And Kingsley sharply cuts himself as he says: "I, Kingsley Shacklebolt, do promise to keep to these requests and make them part of my role as the new godfather of Harry James Potter-Black-Weasley-Shacklebolt-Evans."
I then turn to the one man of which I am unsure if this is a good idea, but the man says: "I can feel the ritual keeping my health in check. Make your request, Harry." And this makes me sigh relieved as the man is supposed to take it easy and remain in his wheelchair for the rest of the holiday. I then focus on my request and ask:
"Arthur William Weasley, do you promise to keep being the understanding ear that you have always been? That you will be the calm in the storm that is my life, that you will try to help me keep a straight head and that you will calm me down if anything, be it my own emotions or the situation, makes me unable to do so?
Do you promise to stand up for me if others try to make a decision you know isn't in my best regards, even if they think so and that you will make sure I am only punished if I truly deserve it, not just because others want to make me be in the wrong? Do you promise to be for me what you are for William, Charlus, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny?"
And while I know I should have added Percy, do I not feel like doing so until the man himself has admitted he was wrong, which I am not sure even last night will do and Arthur says: "I Arthur William Weasley, do promise to keep to these requests and make them part of my role as the new uncle of Harry James Potter-Black-Weasley-Shacklebolt-Evans."
I then turn to the one woman who has meant the world to me since I heard of her actual sacrifice and while I try to suppress tears, like I do every time I get to look at her, do I voice my request: "Lily Rose Evans, do you promise to be kind, loving, understanding, slightly mothering and to be to me what I always thought Hermione would be?
Do you promise to help me if I have trouble with homework, to make sure I have a good schedule in my life, whether it be school or just outside of school? Do you promise to help me make sure that if I have fun it won't be at the cost of others and that you will enjoy whatever it is we can do together as long as it is in both of our interests?
Do you promise to come help me if the guys in the dorm can't wake me up from a nightmare, that you will help me get to the Hospital Wing if I can't get there myself and that you will stand up for me if a teacher does something that is either against the rules or just going against the morals you and I both deeply believe in?"
And while pride and glee are now shining in the girl's eyes through the tears that she is obviously trying to keep back, does she say: "I, Lily Rose Evans, do promise to keep to these requests and make them part of my role as the new sister of Harry James Potter-Black-Weasley-Shacklebolt-Evans." And she cuts her hand as she does.
I make sure to gather her blood – seven drops just like with the others – in the bowl and while a small puddle has now started to gather, do I not feel like I am back in the Graveyard, do my nightmares not overwhelm me, yet I also make sure to keep my head steady and to keep my gaze away from the bowl when I can as I turn to Molly.
And while I have been agreeing and disagreeing with the woman quite a bit lately, do I still know exactly what I want out of her and while part of me wishes I could have spoken with her last night, do I just love what I got to do instead. Yet I also make sure to push a bit of my inner Guardian ability in my voice as I ask:
"Molly Anne Weasley née Prewett, do you promise to be the mother Lily Potter was upon her death and the mother you have been to your children up to this point? Do you promise to give me advice wherever you feel you can, to continue with your wondrous gifts as well as the letters you send me and your kids at Hogwarts?
Do you promise that nothing and no one will ever be more valiant to you than Lily, James, myself and the kids that will, through you, become my brothers and sister? Do you promise that you will comfort me when I am scared or lonely, that you will help me through my fears, horrors and traumas and that you will love me regardless of my flaws?"
And then with my powers at full force, do I ask: "Do you promise that you will never let any emotion overwhelm the love you have in your heart for me and mine as well as your own?" And Molly seems to get what is going on as tears of silent gratitude are running down her cheeks, while her eyes are filled with love as she says:
"I, Molly Anne Weasley née Prewett, do promise to keep to these requests and make them parts of my role as the new mother of Harry James Potter-Black-Weasley-Shacklebolt-Evans." And the fact that she says both the name Black and Potter with great pride makes me smile at her as she cuts her hand and gives me her blood.
I then turn to the last person in the group and while James does motion for Sirius with his eyes, do I just focus on him and ask: "Do you, James Christian Potter, promise that you will work hard to make the same bond forge between yourself and me as the one that you have always been known to have with Sirius Orion Black?
Do you promise to cheer me up when I am down, to help me have fun when I am stressed, to make sure that I won't overwork or outstress myself? Do you promise to keep an eye out for my friendships and bonds and that you will make sure that, if I unknowingly make one that could hurt me, you will do your best to see it ended?
Do you promise to be my guide while at Hogwarts, to protect me from those my age that would see harm come my way, whether it be physical, mental or emotional harm? Do you promise to help me build a legacy the way you did with your friends and that you will help me bring pride to the name that we both share?
Do you promise to go on where you once left off as Head of the Potter line and to help me bring back the glory it had in the days of our ancestors? Do you promise you will train me, whether it be in strength, Quidditch, magic or just for fun? Do you promise to be the brother you were to Sirius Orion Black and Remus John Lupin?"
And while I would have rather left the man out, do I know I can't, yet for some reason do I feel it is for the best that I worded it this was as James says: "I, James Christian Potter, do promise to keep to these requests and make them part of my role as the new brother of Harry James Potter-Black-Weasley-Shacklebolt-Evans."
And as he too cuts his hand and drops the seven drops of blood, do I take a deep breath as I know it's just now or never. Yet as I put the bowl to my lips can I not help but whisper: "By blood returned, by blood undone." And a strange, balm-like pain actually courses through my scar, as if cleansing it, as I drink the blood.
And while I want to gag at the fact that the blood actually passes my lips one drop at a time, do I just keep my lips to the bowl, allowing every single one of the 42 drops to slip past, roll down my tongue and drip into my throat. And with each do I actually taste more than just the blood, yet what I taste utterly amazes me.
Sirius' pride, Kingsley's honor, Arthur's gentleness, Lily's heart, Molly's love and James' glee. I can actually somehow taste all of this with each drop and feel blessed that, somehow, one drop of each of them is followed by a drop of another one of them and then another from the next and so on and so forth, for all seven of them.
And while I can't quite discern how each of these emotions taste – the fact that I can taste them at all amazing me – do I relish in it nonetheless as I also feel something else. With each drop that goes down my throat, I actually feel the power Jack spoke about and that I dismissed the other day growing and developing little by little.
Then the whole bowl is empty and while I don't know why or how I know it, do I chorus alongside the others: "By blood, we are now one. By blood we are now kin. By blood, our roles have been set. By blood, our vows have been made. So we have spoken, so shall it be known to have been done. By magic, we decree this."
And whether by magic of the vow, the magic of our own cores or even the magic of my abilities, does the entire room expand back to its original size and does it seem to clean up brilliantly, the cobwebs and dust fading away and the colors toning down and becoming more neutral, yet also more pleasant to look at.
I look around, but feel like I shouldn't really care as I just turn to the one man who made this all possible. And Sirius has the widest grin I have ever seen on his face as he says: "I couldn't have done it better myself, pup." Yet then Molly makes both our day as she says: "Now to find a home for our whole family to live in."
Well said, Molly.
Okay, so I actually had another paragraph I wanted to add to this, but I felt that would make the whole ending too cliché and drawn out. Also, is it noticeable that I recently watched a Nostalgia Critic marathon? I feel like his way of talking kind of got mixed into my style of writing for this chapter, but I don't really care.
Next chapter: The Guardians notice a major change in Harry and feel amazed at how much the ritual has helped him develop as one of their own. Molly also notices the effects of her vow having on her and while she wants to, does she just accept it when James decides to be the one to make her words become reality.
Where will they live,
Venquine1990
PS. There will be no large, grand-scaled, over-the-top, Malfoy Manor like home for them.
