.
Balance Factor Chapter 18
Year Three
Time
A/N: Longest chapter! Book three is my favorite!
Thanks to all who reviewed!
Did else anyone notice that Harry's prediction in the Divination exam actually came true? This is true in the book, though I don't know about the movie. "Flying away" indeed!
Read and Review!
Harry jerked awake, looking around. His body was aching for some reason, his head hurting badly. What happened…?
Sitting up and instantly feeling nauseous, Harry groaned, shutting his eyes. He felt inside himself for his core and saw that the balance was restored. How did that happen? He had used up quite a bit for Kou and then some more for his friends and Sirius How did it restore itself so quickly?
Harry opened his eyes again. Dumbledore was sitting at the foot of Harry's bed.
Hermione jerked awake. "Harry… What happened?"
Dumbledore gazed at them quietly. "Severus told me all about what happened."
Grunting, Harry sighed a little, ruffling his hair. He should have expected it, really, but then looked at Dumbledore, running his hand through his long black hair several times.
"I assume the Ministry doesn't care," he said. Dumbledore nodded.
"Then what do we do?" Hermione asked, looking worried. "They… caught Sirius, right?"
Dumbledore nodded again. Harry huffed a little. "And he'll be kissed soon, I imagine."
"What we need… is more… time," Dumbledore said, turning to Hermione. Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but then her eyes went wide.
"Ohhhhh!"
"Now listen to me," Dumbledore said. "Sirius is locked in Flitwick's office. Ms. Granger, you know what's at stake. You must not be seen!"
Harry was a little lost. Why was Dumbledore giving them instructions like this? Why now? What did he mean, more time?
"It is currently five minutes to midnight. If all goes well, you'll be able to save more than one innocent life tonight. Good luck," Dumbledore said, getting up. He walked over to the door and Hermione fumbled with a chain around her neck.
She threw it around his neck and said, "ready?"
"No." Harry deadpanned, but Hermione didn't seem to care. She turned the turner three times.
There was a rush of color and sound, passing through his ears. Suddenly, it all stopped. Hermione grabbed him and pulled him into a broom closet, shutting the door.
"What… just happened?" Harry asked, dazed.
"We've gone back…!" Hermione whispered. "To the past. Three hours back!"
Harry's mind reeled with the information. Hermione continued.
"It's how I've been getting to all my classes this year. I've been using the Time-Turner so I can redo hours and go to all my classes," Hermione explained. Harry's mind halted.
"Hang on. Wouldn't students notice you're in two classes at once?" Harry asked, frowning. "Also, wouldn't messing with time make you physically older? If you redo hours, wouldn't you be an hour older each time, as you already did one hour of your life? Wouldn't messing with time like that be highly volatile and dangerous and create paradoxes, especially if your future self killed your past self?"
"Yes!" Hermione said urgently. "Which is why we cannot be seen."
Harry paused and then sighed. "Alright. So… What do we do? We've come back three hours for what?"
"I don't know. I don't understand what Professor Dumbledore wants," Hermione said, shaking her head. Harry paused.
"He said… two innocent lives… Could it be Buckbeak?" Harry asked, looking at Hermione. Hermione's eyes widened. Harry continued. "Maybe we're supposed to fly Buckbeak to Sirius' window and… free him… together?"
"That's crazy!" Hermione said, her eyes wide.
"Well… We have to try, don't we?" Harry said, frowning. "So… we're supposed to get Buckbeak and hide out for a while? In the forest?"
Hermione pressed her ear to the door and listened. "Doesn't sound like anyone's there. Let's go."
She opened the door and they rushed out the doors to hide in the woods. They ran until they could see Hagrid's house and the pumpkin patch Hagrid had tied Buckbeak in.
"Now?" Harry asked. Hermione shook her head.
"No! If we do it now, the Committee will think Hagrid set him free. We have to wait until after they've seen him," Hermione said. Harry nodded.
"Fair point," he agreed. He sat down on a stump, thinking deeply about the past, the present… the future. He wondered where Kou was now… and how he was doing.
There was a rustle and then Hermione prodded him in the back. Harry looked up to see himself, Ron, Hermione leaving the cottage through the back door. On the other side, Committee members, Dumbledore, and Fudge were walking down the steps of the castle and crossing the grounds. Harry waited until the executioner, McNair, had seen Buckbeak before standing and slipping out of the woods. Hermione followed, nervous.
"Hurry!" Hermione said softly, Harry bowing to the hippogriff. Buckbeak instantly bowed back and Harry rushed over to untie the knot. He worked on it furiously, the threads snapping loose one by one. Eventually, Harry sliced it in half in frustration with a cutting curse and pulled the rope a little.
Buckbeak rose to his feet. Harry smiled and placed his hand on the creature's large chest.
"Come. We need to leave here," Harry said. Hermione took the rope as well, guiding Buckbeak away. Buckbeak seemed hesitant at first, but moved with the two, clicking his beak a little. Harry smiled, reaching the cover of the trees just as Hagrid's back door opened. Harry stopped, his hand on Buckbeak's shoulder. Buckbeak stilled.
"Where is he? Where is the beast?" Fudge asked.
"He was here!" McNair snarled. "I saw him! Here!"
"Beaky…!" Hagrid whispered in awe. Then he burst into tears. "Gone! Gone! Bless his lil' beak! He's gone! Beaky, you clever boy!"
There was the swing of an axe. McNair had hit the fence in anger.
Harry kept Buckbeak still, calming him. But Buckbeak shifted and tried to get back to Hagrid, torn between staying there and going back. Eventually, Hagrid reentered his hut and Buckbeak stopped fighting. Harry sat down on the stump again, stroking Buckbeak's feathers.
"Oh…! Ron's just dropped Scabbers! There we go into the Whomping Willow!" Hermione was keeping watch. Harry smiled a little, recalling the events.
"So it was you."
Harry's eyes widened as Kou's voice cut through the night air. Harry stood up, looking at Kou, who was standing behind him. Hermione gave a start and moved to pull out her wand, but Kou was looking at Harry. Kou reached out and touched Harry's face with his silver fingers, smiling a little.
"It's been a while, Kazuki…" Kou said. Harry smiled.
"Yes. It has." He agreed. "I know it's sudden, but I have a favor to ask of you." He recalled that Kou had shown up soon after he had confronted Sirius. "I am actually from the future. My current self went into the Shrieking Shack. Will you go over there and protect him?"
Kou tilted his head and took a deep sigh. "Ryuuko entrusted me to you."
"He needs you more than I do now," Harry said. Buckbeak didn't seem to trust Kou, but didn't attack either. "Please? You can meet me after."
Kou hesitated, but nodded.
"Also, please do not tell anyone of our meeting here," Harry said. "I can trust you, can't I, Kou?"
Smiling, Kou nodded. "Yes. You can. I'll go now."
Harry gave him a grateful smile, which reminded Kou greatly of Ryuuko. Kou slipped away and slid under the branches of the Willow and disappeared into the tunnel.
Hermione looked surprised. "Harry… How much do you trust him?"
"I'd trust him with my life," Harry said. "He is one of the few people with that honor." Harry sat down again, petting Buckbeak. "He will keep this secret. If he asks later, I'll tell him."
Hermione bit her lip and nodded, waiting. They had over an hour to wait for them to come back out of the tunnel. "Harry…? What happened at the lake? I… think I passed out…"
"I did too," Harry admitted. "But I saw Kou… and a unicorn save us. Dementors in large numbers draw out the Darkness in by Factor. Almost to a painful extent. Darkness beckons more darkness, I think. I didn't have a chance to even draw out my wand. When I saw them, it was already too late." He paused, contemplating. "Though why a unicorn would save us is beyond me." He sighed, leaning back against the hippogriff. Buckbeak nibbled at his hair and Harry shooed him away, laughing a little.
"Kou… and a unicorn? Are you sure?" Hermione asked, looking a little confused. Harry shook his head.
"No. I was almost passed out at that point. My vision was getting dark and everything. I thought it was them, but I can't be sure…" Harry sighed closing his eyes. "Tell me when we come out, will you?"
Hermione looked at him and nodded. Buckbeak settled down, sitting on the forest floor, pawing at the ground. Harry was only starting to doze off when Hermione prodded him again.
"We're coming out… Snape's in the lead," Hermione said. Harry looked over at them and noted Lupin's change, Pettigrew's escape and his own cry of swearing that he'd find the rat and make him suffer. Snape turned his wand on Lupin, but the werewolf hit him on the chest, knocking him to the ground. The werewolf bent down to bite Snape, but Kou, a white streak in the night, slammed into the creature and started to fight it. Sirius joined the fight and the werewolf retreated into the other side of the woods.
Harry watched as Sirius limped towards where he had taken Ron and Hermione and stood up. "I should go see if Kou's alright." He shot a small smile to Hermione, walking to the lake to try to spot Kou when he came. He saw the dementors swarming, Sirius whimpering on the ground… himself pushing Light into the other three. Kou should be here soon. So where was he?
He saw the dementors swarm across the grounds. The Darkness in his factor pulled at him. And Harry froze, a thought rising to the surface. Had he… been mistaken? Did he not see Kou?
Harry withdrew his wand, looking down at it. The unicorn… was from himself… And the white streak he saw right before he passed out…
The Darkness pulsed, suffocating him. Harry gasped and gripped his chest. But instead of trying to rebalance himself, he let the Darkness wash over him. His hair changed from black to white, his clothes lengthened to almost brushing the floor. Harry panted hard, looking at the dementors with his red eyes. Unlike before though, he couldn't feel Darkness gathering in his palms for him to use. He raised his wand.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
The familiar silvery white unicorn erupted from his wand tip, galloping across the water and charging at the dementors. The dementors scattered, but didn't get very far.
Harry swung his spear at them. There was a loud, unearthly scream as the dementors dissolved into mist. He turned to his past self and then the unicorn, touching it with his hand. "Thank you…"
The unicorn dipped its head and Harry let out a breath of relief. He felt his body shift again, Light pouring back into his Factor as the grounds warmed once more.
Hermione's hand grabbed his shoulder and she swung him around. "What did you do?! You said you were going to see how Kou was doing!"
Harry pulled Hermione back into their hiding place. "I just saved all of our lives… Let me explain. I didn't see Kou. I saw… myself. I saw myself in my shin form…" He looked just as awed when he said it, not quite believing it himself. "I have a shin form. The first time I released it was in the Chamber of Secrets. And this time… it was because of the dementors pull on the Darkness inside me. I can't summon it like I do my rei form, but apparently… I do have one and I can use it if I have a catalyst. I just… don't always have control… And though my appearance changed… I didn't feel the Darkness run through me like I feel Light run through me in my rei form. It must still be incomplete or… something…" Harry paused, unsure. Hermione bit her lip.
"I see…" Hermione said, her hands covering her mouth. "It's… not dangerous… is it…?"
"It is…" Harry said. "I went berserk the first time I released it. Draco had to snap me out of it. I don't even fully understand what happened that time… So can we keep this a secret between us?" He peeked over to the grounds, spotting Ministry members collecting Black, himself, Hermione, and Ron. Snape appeared to be awake already, rubbing his head.
"Harry… You don't want me to tell Ron or Draco?"
Harry shook his head and looked at Hermione again. "There is no point in getting their hopes up. I can't control my power at all in that form. It's dangerous. I will refrain from using my shin form until I practice with someone." He sat back, looking at the shadow of someone in Flitwick's office then spotted McNair leaving the castle. "Let's go."
Harry pulled Buckbeak up moving him to the castle. He looked up and smiled, mounting Buckbeak and helping Hermione on. "Buckbeak. Up, please."
The hippogriff flapped his large wings. Harry smiled a little as they rose, gripping Buckbeak's feathers and ignoring Hermione's little moans of "Oh, I don't like this. I really don't like this!"
Harry smiled a little, urging Hermione to take the rope as he knocked on the window. Sirius looked up. Harry saw his jaw drop in surprise and then him run to the window. The window was locked. Hermione waved him back and unlocked the window.
Sirius stared at the two and Harry reached out, holding his hand out. "Come on. We've got to go. McNair will be here soon. And you have to leave before people see us."
Sliding out of the window and onto Buckbeak's back, Sirius smiled while holding Harry's hand. Harry shut the window and urged the hippogriff up. Buckbeak flew up, flapping hard with the additional weight of another person. Harry landed on the castle's Astronomy tower. He slid off and helped Hermione off.
"This is where we part, Sirius Black," Harry said calmly, looking up at him. Sirius smiled a little taking the rope and looking a little sad.
"Yes… How can I…" He started. But Hermione waved a hand at him.
"Go!" She said urgently. Harry smiled, waving.
Sirius hesitated. "Thank you. You are truly your father's son, Harry."
Harry watched them fly away and then turned to Hermione. "We need to hurry as well. Should we meet Professor Dumbledore outside the Hospital Wing?" Hermione gasped, looking at her watch.
"Yes! We need to be there in five minutes!" Hermione said urgently. Harry nodded, taking her hand and running down the steps at an urgent pace. He paused once to let Peeves pass and then dashed up, just as Dumbledore locked the door. Dumbledore turned to them.
"We did it," Hermione panted. "Sirius has gone on Buckbeak…"
Dumbledore beamed. "Well done. I think… yes… you've gone too… Hurry in." Dumbledore unlocked the door and relocked it behind them. Harry smiled, sitting on his bed.
Harry relaxed on the bed, glad that their adventure had ended in success. So many things could have gone wrong. The door opened once more and a large white dog entered, padding over to Harry's bedside, placing its paws on the bed. Harry reached over and pet it, letting his Light resonate with the Light in Kou's body. Madam Pomfrey didn't look happy, but allowed it as Harry promised to stay the night.
The Hospital Wing's doors swung open. Harry paused as Severus Snape eyed him suspiciously, raising an eyebrow at the Professor. Then he smiled pleasantly.
"That look is quite unbecoming of you, Professor Snape," he said mildly. Snape snorted, sweeping out of the Hospital Wing. Kou nudged Harry's hand and Harry looked down at him. "Kou. Will you tend to Professor Lupin for me?"
Kou nodded a little and padded out of the Hospital Wing. Harry closed his eyes, wanting to get a few hours of sleep.
"Wha…? Hermione? Harry? What happened? Where's Sirius? What's going on?" Ron asked, apparently having woken. Harry rolled over and let Hermione fill him in.
-0-
Harry paused as Draco spoke to him.
"You better see Professor Lupin before he leaves. Apparently, he's a werewolf. Snape let it slip this morning," Draco said. Harry looked at him and then stood up.
"Alright."
Harry walked over to Lupin's office. The office was stripped bare and Lupin was inside, packing up the last of his items. He looked up when Harry knocked.
"Harry… It's good to see you," Lupin said, looking a little relieved. Harry tilted his head and walked in, watching Lupin stack his books. "I was just about to leave."
"You were a good Professor. I'm afraid I'll miss you," Harry said quietly. Lupin smiled, looking tired.
"It was dangerous yesterday. Too dangerous. I could have bit any one of you," Lupin said. Harry shook his head.
"Even if you had, I doubt you would have turned me," Harry admitted. "And Kou is immune too, I would think that he would have kept you away from us." He watched Lupin place the books in his suitcase.
"That man… Kou… He was with me when I woke up. He's quite a kind fellow," Lupin was looking at Harry. Harry nodded a little. Lupin turned back to his case and continued. "He told me… About you."
"Kou is a loudmouth. He could never keep his mouth shut," Harry muttered. Lupin smiled.
"I won't tell anyone," Lupin said. "Promise."
"Is there a reason you didn't come after me in your werewolf form?" Harry asked suddenly. Lupin looked startled.
"I do not remember," Lupin admitted. Harry smiled.
"You avoided running into the forest where I was. You ran to the opposite side," Harry said. "I think Moony is more aware than you think. Animals in general seem to know my presence, even if they do not know what I am exactly. Can you feel it too?"
Lupin hesitated, but then shook his head. "No. I cannot." Harry let surprise cover his face.
"Ah. I see," Harry said, looking up at him, his sapphire eyes glinting. "So you knew nothing before… I thought for sure you could feel it…" Lupin gave a small start as their eyes met.
"Remus. Your carriage awaits," Dumbledore said quietly. Harry blinked, his eyes turning back to their emerald green.
"Thank you, Headmaster," Lupin said, closing his trunk. He looked to Harry and then offered the map and the invisibility cloak back to Harry. Harry took them, nodding a little. "It was a pleasure teaching you, Harry. I hope we can get to know each other better in the future."
"Remember, Remus Lupin," Harry said, watching him leave. "You are only as alone as you make yourself to be."
Lupin paused again and then nodded to Harry. Harry closed his eyes, giving a small sigh as Lupin left. Dumbledore stepped up next to him.
"Why the long face, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, concerned.
"If Voldemort comes back, it will be partially my fault. Though I saved Sirius' life, Pettigrew escaped," Harry said quietly. "I gained an ally to gain an enemy. Such is the balance in this world."
Dumbledore smiled gently, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry looked up at him. "Harry, your powers are a blessing in dark times like this."
"Do not speak to me of dark times, Professor Dumbledore," Harry said, his emerald eyes meeting Dumbledore's blue ones. "I am both darkness and light. There is nothing in this world that will change that. The power I hold is not for your sake, nor is it any foolish destiny that brings me to you. It's not fate, nor is it my destiny to kill Voldemort. Truthfully, I feel a little bad for the soul known as Harry Potter. To be saddled with such responsibility at such a young age would have stripped him of everything he could have had. I am thankful it is me."
"Harry," Dumbledore said quietly. "I am sorry…"
"Sorry means nothing to me, Dumbledore," Harry said. "Until you tell me the truth, nothing can truly mean you're sorry. If you are afraid I cannot handle it, fine. I can wait. But know that the longer you wait to tell me, the more people will die for it. The sooner I kill him, the sooner all of your problems are solved." Harry paused, watching Kou bound up to him as a dog and transform in mid leap, pulling him into a hug. "Kou…"
"Kazuki! I missed you!" Kou said affectionately. Harry smiled, patting Kou on the head. Kou looked at him with his gold eyes, standing up straight so he wasn't half on the ground. "So, are you going to tell me what happened?"
"Not directly," Harry said, shaking his head. "You've met Ryuuko then?"
"Yes… I did… about three years ago," Kou said, looking serious. "He was worried about you. But his successor is who I've been protecting for now. Until I sensed your presence in Britain."
"How long ago was that?" Harry asked. Kou smiled.
"About a year ago," Kou said. "Quite explosive too. I think I was the only one to notice though, since I was in France at the time."
Harry nodded, recalling his explosion of power in his second year. "Kou… Though this may go against Ryuuko's wishes… I want you to go protect Ryuuko's successor. You must agree that he needs your protection more than I do."
"Aki's got Shirogane," Kou said, sitting down on the steps and looking up at the sky. "I went back and checked up on Aki before I came to find the source of the explosion. Shirogane was with him. What would he need me for? Besides, Shirogane asked me to find you. He sensed your presence in the Human World. Though I didn't find you for Shirogane, but Ryuuko made me promise."
Ignoring the painful twist of Shirogane's name, Harry nodded slowly. He squashed the feeling of jealousy that came over him. Shirogane made it clear who he wanted to find, it seemed.
"Even more so then," Harry said. "Shirogane is his counterpart. But I do know how stubborn Shirogane can be. He won't accept him as his counterpart. He'll want Ryuuko back." Harry gave a sad smile. "Even though he knows full well that Ryuuko will never return. Ryuuko was my Father… His counterpart. The very being of his other. Shirogane lost that and will want it back. So I want you to protect… Aki?"
"Akira," Kou said, nodding in agreement. "Should I tell Shirogane that I know where you are?"
Harry considered this. On one hand, it might be helpful to have someone there to help him. On another, if Akira was truly Shirogane's counterpart and Ryuuko's successor, the chance of him wanting to separate from him would be slim. He also considered the fact that Shirogane searched for his counterpart instead of his son.
"No. It would do him no good to know such a thing. Tell him that your trip revealed nothing as usual," Harry said softly. "Let's not worry him more than he is already. Do not alert him of my presence here. Not until everything settles down and the balance is restored."
Kou nodded, getting to his feet. He looked down at Harry and smiled.
"You have Ryuuko's personality, Kazuki," Kou said. "Ryuuko was like that as well. You are the closest thing to being my King right now."
"It's because I'm his son." Harry seemed pleased, taking Kou's words as a compliment.
Kou vanished into the morning sky, using his power to propel himself up. Harry watched him leave and then turned. Dumbledore spoke once more.
"You do not wish to let your Father know of your existence here?" Dumbledore asked. He had remained silent through the entire conversation. Harry glanced at him.
"You do not understand how important the concept of counterparts is, Professor Dumbledore," Harry sighed. "There is only one of each for entities. The loss of one is devastating to the other. We require two to be at our most powerful states." He paused. "I am the exception, as I contain both elements. I do not have a counterpart. I am a Prince, not a King."
"He is your Father, Harry… You are allowed that bit of happiness," Dumbledore said. Harry looked at him, surprised, but then he shook his head.
"Professor Dumbledore, when you love someone as deep as I love my Fathers, then you will wish them happiness. Even if you are not in the picture. Shirogane loved me as his son, no doubt, but he was against the creation of my existence," Harry said softly. "Ryuuko kept me in the Light Palace for two reasons. Because of Shirogane's influence, and because Darkness is far more volatile than Light. For these two reasons, I wish to keep my presence a secret, at least until Akira obtains the title as Direct King. The balance is tipped as it is because of Ryuuko's death."
"Do you hate your Father, Harry?" Dumbedore asked. Harry looked into the sky, feeling the cool breeze on his face.
"Despite his disapproval of my creation, he was never cruel to me. He never treated me badly, or hit me, or even raised his voice at me," Harry said, closing his eyes. "He taught me how to survive, how to fight, how to be cruel and compassionate. And he taught me what it meant to love someone..." Harry opened his eyes, his emerald eyes clear. "I have never hated him."
-0-
Harry looked out the window of the Hogwarts express. They were heading home. Another year… gone… So much had happened in the last twenty four hours.
Draco had hunted him down and insisted on being told the story. Harry let Hermione explain most of it while adding comments about when she was knocked out and on the lake. Draco's jaw had dropped with the information, his eyes wide and he whipped around to face Harry when Harry told him about his shin form.
"So that's why! But… you didn't go berserk this time. Why?" Draco asked.
Harry paused. "I think only my appearance changed. It's not like when I change into my rei form. I have an affinity for light in my rei form, while in my shin appearance, I don't have an affinity for either."
"You said you'll avoid using it unless necessary, right?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded.
"It's dangerous if I can't control it," Harry said, leaning back, looking out the window. "Uh… what is that?"
Something was bobbing in and out of sight. It seemed to be a tiny owl, holding a letter in its beak. Hermione instantly opened the window and let the owl in. The owl tumbled around before dropping the letter in Harry's lap. Harry stared at it.
"Oh?" He opened the letter, Hermione shutting the window again. The hyperactive owl didn't stop though, flying in circles above their heads. Crookshank's eyes followed them, but Ron snatched the owl out of the air. Harry read the letter quietly and then folded it back up.
"Ron, Sirius wants you to keep that owl," Harry started, "Hermione, you were right. The Firebolt was from Sirius. And apparently I can go to Hogsmead now that Sirius gave me permission." He grinned at the three's faces and added. "Oh, and he's traveling far away."
Draco smirked a little. "The Quidditch World Cup is this year, Potter. Feel like going?"
"Hopefully not with your family," Harry said. "They might murder me on the spot."
"Or wet themselves," Ron said, recalling what Harry said about Lucius last year. Harry snorted and Draco scowled. "Dad can get tickets at work. I'll let you know about it."
"Thanks Ron. We might see you there, Draco," Harry said. "If not, keep in touch with me via mirror. Speaking of which, do you mind sending me a second mirror pair? I wanted to give it to Kou."
Draco grinned. "Of course, Potter."
-0-
Harry was still clutching the letter when he exited the train. His hair had grown out completely, long and soft, much like Ryuuko's black hair. His emerald eyes were determined. He hadn't done much balancing through the year, so this summer definitely had to make up for it. Strangely enough, the balance hadn't tipped overall that much through the year, though it had fluctuated in himself due to dementors. If what Kou said was true, then it was very likely Shirogane had been maintaining it to a degree.
"Come on boy," Vernon called. "I haven't got all day!"
Harry wheeled his trunk over to his family and waved goodbye to his friends.
"What's that?!" Vernon asked nastily, pointing to the letter.
"Oh? Just a letter from my convict godfather," Harry said. "He likes to keep in touch."
Harry relished in the horror stricken face of Vernon Dursley as he exited Kings Cross.