Hey everyone,
So the whole move – might get delayed to next chapter. Why? Because of a small part that I hinted at when I wrote what this chapter was going to be about in last chapter's AN. Instead of a potential move, I want to focus on Harry and develop him as a Guardian as much as possible, whenever and wherever possible.
Let's do it,
Venquine1990
Chapter 14
To Create And To Fear
26th of December
Grimmauld Place, London
Harry's POV
Sirius decided that our first bit of lunch after the completion of the ritual should be in the room where it was performed in and said that it would further solidify the aftereffects of ritual. And yet, after he conjured a table and several chairs, did I notice something that made me look down, raising my hands up as I did.
And it's my hands that intrigue and interest me the most as a power that I have never felt before – yet strangely enough at the same time feels really familiar – is coursing through me and seems to reach its peak in strength whenever it reaches one of my hands. Yet it doesn't stop there and instead courses back through my body.
Like a bus going from one end to the other and then turning around to move back to where it came from, does this strange power seem to coarse through me, yet unlike a bus does this power not stop at any point in my body. However, it doesn't seem to seep bits of power out of other parts of my body as it travels either.
And still, it seems to reach a peak in strength, power, durance and reachability whenever it reaches either one of my hands and I feel transfixed by how this happens, causing me to look from one hand to the other and between them both and making me blind and deaf to anything and everything that could be happening around me.
James' POV
I know the ritual went a lot better than any of us anticipated because there was so much conflict still going between Harry and a few of the others in this house – my ex-friend and his own respectively most stressful – but it still seems as if it might have been better not to have our first meal in the room where we did the ritual.
Harry went to sit at one of the chairs, the one Sirius picked out for him as he said: "You are now my Heir, so it's best you prove that, whether in public or not." And suddenly he raised his hands and looked at them. Yet while we had grimaced at seeing those words again, does Harry seem more entranced with other stuff.
And he really is entranced as nothing we say as Molly goes to get the others seems to be able to get his attention. We tried talking to him, shouting his name, Lily even went over and laid her hands on his shoulders and shook them slightly. None of it worked or mattered as Harry just kept looking between his hands, from one to the other.
Yet he doesn't turn them to look at the back of them, he just keeps looking at either both of them or one first and then the other. And while I wonder what he could see that interests him so much, do the Guardians come in, only to stop dead in their tracks and cause for the others to walk straight on through them all.
"Crickey!""Wow!""Incredible!""How amazing!" Bunny, Jack, North and Tooth all say one after the other and Sandman has his mouth open and his eyes wide. And somehow, this is what is needed to break my new brother out of his trance as he looks up at them and asks: "Do you guys know what this is? This – this power?"
The group nods and North says: "It is your Guardian Power. Your ritual has made it expand like crazy!""Yeah, you're practically at Frost's level just before he joined us." Bunny says and Harry looks at Jack at this, who moves over and says: "Let me show you an example. Before the ritual, your power level was like this."
And he makes for a small snowflake to appear in his hand before he says: "And now, it's like this!" He throws it up and lets it hit the ceiling where it explodes and causes for the majority of the ceiling to be covered in ice crystals. This shocks Harry and yet it also seems to concern him and make him turn back to his hands.
"Is something wrong?" North asks and Harry mutters: "It's just – I thought of something." And because I now know them so well, do I send a vicious glare at Granger and Lupin, who both snap their mouths closed and look at me, shocked that I obviously anticipated their scathing comments before they could utter them.
"We now know that I'm a Guardian, that I am one meant for adults, that I get stronger the more adults believe in me and that I make them feel better, stronger, more confident and more self-assured, but – what can I create? I mean, Jack makes snowstorms out of thin air and North can make anything out of a bit of wood.
But what do I create? Where does my creative powers lie?" And this makes all of the Guardians share a look, their faces proving they hadn't thought of that either and Jack asks: "Well, did you ever feel your Guardian Powers within you?" But Harry shrugs and says: "To be honest, I only felt a hint of this power once before.
It was the first time I was in the Leaky Cauldron, coming back to the Magical World after living in the Muggle for ten years. I felt stronger and better just because everyone there was so happy with my return." Jack nods and says: "Then – maybe something to do with magic?" But Harry shakes his head at this and says:
"I doubt that. I'm good with Defensive Magic and I make a killer Patronus, but I am no Dumbledore." Yet to this the man in question actually comes in and says: "You really shouldn't sell yourself short, my boy." Which shocks a lot of us as we had thought the man had left to inform his staff of the results of the trial last night.
"Why, if I were to compare where you are at your age with where I was at your age – you quite surpassed me already, Harry. I didn't even manage a true Corporal Patronus until I was 34. If I were to rate your power level with my own, I'd say you are at the height I was when I was in my mid-twenties, perhaps even my late-twenties."
Everyone looks shocked at this, but then Granger shrieks: "That is insane! There is no –!" But Albus glares at her and says: "Mss. Granger, I would vouch my magic on what I just said. Do not think I would lie about things like this, especially not to someone like your old friend." And the girl reels back as if hit.
"Now Harry my boy, why don't you tell us what this new power of yours feels like? Perhaps it can help us determine what you are able to create as a Guardian." Albus says and while part of me feels like I should call him Dumbledore again seeing my age, do I ignore it as Harry shrugs and returns to looking at his hands as he says:
"I can't really put it to words, sir. It feels – versatile. Yet – at my hands – that's where it feels as if it's at its most powerful, as if you connect two power sources of equal power with a cable that allows the power to flow between both, making it so that both sides keep each other at equal strength, but also stronger than the cable between."
This really intrigues me and also makes me feel nostalgic as that sounds like how Lily would always try to explain Muggle stuff to Sirius and myself. At this I turn to the girl, who was once the love of my life, but who I love as a sister nonetheless and I think: "This power boost came thanks to the ritual." And this sparks a thought.
"Harry, would you be opposed to a little test. I'll take full blame if the Ministry comes knocking after this, but – I don't think they will." This worries the others and I say: "I mean, if they detect Harry using magic. But because we're dealing with his Guardian power, I don't they will." And the others nod in relief at me.
"What are you planning?" Harry asks and I ask: "Molly, could I have a glass of water, please?" And while I know that the woman would rather that I call her mum now, do I feel that I just don't know her well-enough for that and she seems to realize the same. And while I confuse her, does she smile at me before she complies.
I put the small goblet she gets me in front of Harry and say: "Just reach out your hand, hold it however it feels right – and try to turn that water into a cure for boils." And Lily seems to get what I'm getting at as she gasps and whispers: "That might just be it." Yet her voice doesn't seem to reach Harry as he has gone back to being in trance.
His eyes are focused on the goblet in front of it and he moves his right hand to float slightly above the right of the goblet's surface and while his eyes are completely unfocused, can I almost sense his actual aura come out of him and envelop the room before it shrinks down to focus on the goblet and the watery contents within.
And as this happens, does the tranquil, transparent fluid actually turn a gorgeous blue color before Harry's eyes refocus and do they widen. "Did I just – do that?" He asks and I share a smile with Lily as she says: "Yes, sweetie, you did. You proved that your power allows you to use the greatest talent of those that support you."
This shocks the boy and she says: "My best talent is Potions, sweetie. And you just proved that you have it embedded into your very aura. As that is what came out of you as you were focusing on the goblet. It then focused on the object you were focusing on and did what you wanted it to do. Your very aura is your creation force."
"And my hands are the center point." Harry mutters and he looks at his hands again before he looks up and asks: "So, what are your talents?" And I answer: "My best skill lies in Transfigurations." And Kingsley says: "And I have managed to create a Shield that even Albus here hasn't been able to break through or get past."
This amazes most of us and Sirius sighs as he says: "To be honest, I am not that proud of my own power. It's definitely a bonus, but – I rarely used it even during the war. In fact, I only used it four times and they were constantly away from the rest of my crazy family." At this even I look intrigued and he sighs as he says:
"It's not something that is actually known outside of the House of Black – and even then people like my darling mother and dearest Bella would deny it to their – till they lose their magic, but – Blacks weren't always known for being Dark. In fact, we've only had that reputation for 200 of the 700 years our House has existed."
This really intrigues me and Sirius seems to actually feel proud of this as he says: "Heh, I guess that's why, if members of our family aren't Dark, they still aren't quite Light either. After all, the first Black was a Grey Wizard who used – at the time – Dark Magic to beat a Landlord that was unrightfully taking land that wasn't his."
And because I have never heard my best friend now father say anything complimentary about his family, do I wonder if this is something he has learned since being stuck here as the man snickers and says: "And get this? The Killing Curse? Created by a member of the Black line – during the time that the plague was at its worst."
This shocks everyone and Harry asks: "Wait, the Killing Curse – was created to take out people who were suffering from the plague?" Sirius nods and says: "It was. There is even a contract in both Gringotts and the Department of Mysteries that gives Blacks – well, Light or Neutral Blacks – permission to use it."
"Without going to Azkaban for it?" Granger screeches and while Lupin winces at this, does Sirius nods and says: "However, this contract has been worked on and it is now only legal if used on an animated object or if the Black in question is being threatened with a similar kind of curse. Otherwise – one way trip Azkaban."
"And you – you – you did this?" Granger gasps, but Sirius shakes his head and says: "No, I used Dark Magic on Death Eaters in ways that took them out – and I mean, out of the fight, Granger, before your mind decides to go there and you decide to accuse me without knowing all the facts." He snaps at the end, obviously done with her.
The girl glares at him, as if she would have been in the right to accuse him like that and I think: "That girl really needs some lessons in Wizarding Culture and Society Rules." At which I send a quick look at Lily, who grimaces but nods. And while I don't like it either, do I know that a Muggleborn like her is just the best option right now.
Yet Harry seems oblivious to this as he looks at his hands again, his left this time, and he mutters: "Permission to use … animated objects … huh …." He then actually walks out of the room, his eyes still on his left hand and we all share a look before following him as he goes down several floors and stops at the second to last landing.
This confuses me as this is the one where everyone seems most hesitant to make any sound, yet Harry stops in front of a huge set of curtains and looks from it to his hand before he grabs the curtains with his right and pushes his left through. I notice the curtains trying to push open, but Harry stops this by tightening his grip.
Yet again, I notice his aura flexing out and reaching through the entire house before it returns back to Harry's hand and to everyone's shock, a green light shines from behind the curtains for a second. And when Harry drops both his grip and the other hand, do the curtains remain closed – as if the enchantment got killed.
Yet Harry's eyes don't refocus the way they did last time and the look that starts to shine in them worries him. I notice Albus and Sirius share a worried look and then Sirius says: "Kingsley, get him out of there." And even though we're all in the same hallway, does Kingsley seem to get what the man means nonetheless.
He rushes over and when Molly wants to do the same, does Sirius stop her and whisper: "Just leave this to Kingsley, he'll take Harry here when he's done, I'm sure." And while Molly seems to have a desire to disagree, does she just keep standing and we all turn to where Kingsley has now crouched in front of Harry.
He takes Harry's face in his hands and locks the boy's unseeing eyes that are looking horribly haunted with his own as he says: "Look at me, Harry. Look at me. Harry, look at me, look – at – me." And he keeps repeating this over and over in different ways, not changing his tone or breaking eye contact with my brother.
And slowly but surely does it seem as if Harry is refocusing and coming back to us, making me realize what Sirius meant. "Harry used a memory to cast the Killing Curse – but it's a memory that still haunts him and he got lost into it as he did this." And this makes it really hard for me to keep with what Sirius told Molly.
Kingsley's POV
I really wish that Harry had taken a bit more of a liking to my talent as I really believe that it wouldn't have led to this, yet at the same time I am grateful that Harry managed to do what he did as Walburga really is the biggest annoyance of London and have often made me want to leave the place sooner than I would normally do.
However, I don't focus on that as I just worry for my godson as he seems so horribly lost in a dark, haunting memory of his own. Yet I still sigh in relief when my little method of just calling out to him through one sentence – a method that often works for me – works and brings the poor lad back to the here and now.
His eyes refocus and he gasps as he looks around wildly, obviously trying to find a horrible threat that he just recounted and is no longer there, yet I don't tell him this as letting him realize this himself will have better effects, or so I hope. And this hope is realized as Harry's eyes tear up and I give a soft pull on his shoulders.
The boy answers my silent offer and clings to me, crying tears and tears and whispering one word that, while it is uttered so softly, says so much about what he just went through. "Cedric. Cedric. Cedric." And just like I did with him, does Harry keep repeating this name, desperation, pain and guilt clear as rain in his voice.
"He blames himself. Why? What happened that night that makes my little godson blame him for that monster's horrid actions?" I wonder to myself and in the background I hear Sirius mutter: "Don't. Your spirit was there that night. Seeing you might make Harry fall back into that memory. Let him come to us."
And by tilting my head a little, I see that he's talking to Lily, who looks horribly worried, but accepts the advice her new father gives her. Yet I suddenly notice something that might make it hard for Sirius' words to come true and yet I don't care and just let it happen. And when it happens, do I say: "This is one harsh break."
The others all look at me and I use my arm muscle to move Harry around, pulling his now limp body into my arms as I say: "Meeting the guardians, the confrontations, getting James and Lily back, the test, the trials, the ritual. It really all became just too much for the little guy." And we all look in concern at a sleeping Harry.
Rest up, Harry.
So yeah, Harry has the ability to copy the best talent of anyone who cares/respects/supports him and create something with it. However, the whole Killing Curse thing? Yeah, that's going to be an important plot point later. NO, Harry will not have the ability to undo Killing Curse effects, it will be something different.
Something unique,
Venquine1990
PS. WHO HAS SEEN AVENGERS INFINITY WAR? I want to write a piece about Thanos and what I want to see happen to him, but I don't want to reveal spoilers. PLEASE LET ME KNOW!
