Chapter Four

"Uncle Remus?" Ember sat with one of her father's best friends just an hour before her scheduled game. Ever since the Boggart lesson she had been curious about something, hoping to find the answers, "Hermione and Ron told me they remember lights in our compartment when the Dementor had gone for Harry but not much else."

Remus nodded, slowly sipping a steaming liquid that a fellow Professor, Severus Snape, had momentarily delivered, ignoring the Gryffindor girl. The Potions Master hadn't been very happy to have more added to his already full list of potions but the silent empty stare of one emerald eyed snake chilled him. Dumbledore had no problem guilt tripping the darker man into doing this job where as Harry's stare could scare anyone into doing anything just to keep him away, far away. Just knowing Harry seemed to care enough to make sure Remus got his potion for his affliction each month warmed more of his broken heart, healing it with each time. Little by little he was regaining that fragile trust he had unknowingly broken so many years before. "Yes, as your father probably has already boasted, you are at your most powerful with Harry at your side. But we've already agreed that you need a stronger defense without the required sacrifice on your brother's behalf. There is a spell well-known for disbanding a Dementor."

Ember frowned, "Dad never said such a thing and we know a lot of spells and curses just overhearing him and Mum at times."

This every adult knew in their household, just pretending that they didn't know but knew. Lily hadn't liked the idea but even she admitted Ember would one day need to know as much defense spells as possible. "Emotional memories play a strong part. The stronger the memory the more powerful the spell. It summons a guardian to your aide, one that will fight for you, protect you. Everyone has a different guardian. It's tailored to your need to feel safe. What makes you feel protected the most is represented in that form."

"Can you teach me?" She didn't know when but she knew something was coming and she had to know this. Harry wasn't the only one that could feel such things. Their bond allowed faint echoes to spill over into her. Times like this made it all worth while.

Remus murmured, "After the holiday. I will need time to set everything up properly or your mother will have my head."

She smiled brightly, calmed now, "Will you make it to my game?"

**Slytherin Common Room**

"Harry?"

Emerald eyes barely glanced up from their newest book at the curious blonde, whom suddenly appeared at his side, "Don't."

"What?"

"Don't fly tomorrow. Switch out."

Draco blinked. That was the most direct his friend had ever been. It terrified him. "We can't do that!" Apparently the slight tremor in his captain's voice proved it scared them all.

"It's not for you, Draco."

Flint and Draco flinched. They may never understand their smallest snake but they knew how deadly even the tiniest one could be. Harry's faint predictions never ceased to amaze and terrorize them but never had he been this direct or determined, almost as if begging for the blonde to listen. "We can't! We'd need a valid excuse to not use him or our reserve."

A faint smirk crossed their Housemate's lips, forcing them to swallowing, when suddenly another came running, "Flint! Terrence is out! He's in the infirmary, can't fly today! Pomfrey said something about that creature in class attacking him!"

Draco twisted in shock to face a suddenly blank Harry. He remembered the earlier warning during class. He had wanted nothing more then to show up Potter but not even he dared to go against Harry.

Flint suddenly became calm, a slow devilish smirk crossed his face. Ever the Slytherin, this boy. Without even trying their little snake had taken care of their reserve. The attack would probably keep Terrence out for a week or so. "And what about Draco?" He was curious on how this particular Potter would do to keep a Malfoy from doing what they wanted.

Those who could see, only the ones curious enough to discover why three Qudditch players were surrounding Potter, gaped at the sudden mischief smile that shyly played upon those pink lips. The brighter look lit up the boy's face, showing how youthful and adorable he really was. They couldn't look away, drinking in this cute little snake, knowing they may never see such a genuine expression upon their more silent and passive companion.

While they gaped, Harry simply pulled out a tiny vial he had swiped from the Potions cabinet from their morning class. With the impish smile in place, he knew how it looked upon him. Knowing it would distract them all to see a side only seen on his sister, he calmly reached for the blonde's left hand, pouring the contents upon the upraised palm, gripping tightly when Draco felt the pain and tried desperately pulling away.

He wouldn't let go. A blank look crossed his face as the other snakes immediately set upon him. He couldn't let anything happen to Draco. It's not calling for him.

**Quidditch Match**

"I can't believe you burned me!" Draco's hiss in Harry's ear didn't even make the boy flinch. In the past two hours there had been a flurry of action. He had been rushed to the infirmary to get a cream and bandages for his hand. Harry had been scolded by the nurse and Headmaster, both of whom he ignored, even Snape's dark glare.

But Harry got his demand.

At the expense of Draco's burned hand and damaged tissue and skin.

Hufflepuff's game had been pushed forward as the students had already drifted out to the stadium. Their captain had been willing to go against Gryffindor instead of waiting on the winner of the Slytherin/Gryffindor match. Now they watched the badgers and lions racing around trying to outscore one another, knowing they'd each play legally.

Harry said nothing in return as his eyes suddenly darted up towards the sky. Then it was as if he vanished from sight, "Harry?"

The game announcer gave a confused shout, "Potter and Diggory have vanished into the fog after the Snitch!"

Fog? Everyone knew it was suppose to be a clear day. It had been all morning. Now there was a sudden banking of a drifting gray smoke. Fog would have cancelled the game as would harsh rains as it made it difficult to see, let alone ref the game. Then the mist parted.

"Potter!" Several students screamed her name as her limp body plummeted from the skies. In her wake zoomed six Dementors, racing to catch her, skeletal hands grasping for her fluttering cloak. Just inches between them both was a racing and determined Cedric Diggory, he ignored the cold creatures at his back as he tried to catch his fellow player. Several Professors were doing the same, casting spells to cushion their landing and sending out their guardians, one was desperately trying to slow Ember's rapid fall. But despite it all one Dementor was determined not to lose to any one of them. Diggory had no choice but to break off towards the Patronuses to save himself, worry and fear on his face as he glanced back.

Cheers broke out when someone broke through the fog, reaching out to grab a limp wrist, hauling her body into his lap and viciously yanking her broom upwards out of a deadly dive. Harry had found her broom and rushed to aide his sister. He pulled parallel to the ground before rolling them to the left to avoid a grasping hand. Out the corner of his eyes he saw the racing Patronuses but knew they'd be too late.

The Dementor had already had a lead on them as they dealt with his companions. And it found a more tastier treat then the unconscious female.

Harry gasped as he was jerked from his sister. He froze as it turned him in its grasp and raised him high. There was a reason he seemed weaker and people thought him a Squib. His magic never truly worked in tandem of what he wanted. Oh, he was powerful and strong, much like his sister, but it was tainted, drenched from the Killing Curse and his supposed death. He was mostly disconnected from it unless he forced it into submission, mostly for class.

All he could see now was the fear of his guardians as they cowered, even their leader seemed too weak to fight. They were all connected, even as they struggled to save what was left of their once powerful king. Images swamped his collapsing mind as eyes drifted shut. Screams were faint in his ears. All he could feel was emptiness, all he could see was the flames, time is coming.

Ember was out cold. She wouldn't be waking anytime soon. What energy she could use she had exhausted trying to save herself and Diggory from six Dementors but even she had been overwhelmed. Now she laid dead to the world as Harry pushed what fleeting magic he could towards her. He resigned himself to aiding his sister as she had done him all their life. His guardians were rising faster as they fed off his dying energy, as was she.

"Harry!"

Eyes could only stare as a lone wizard raced forward. A bright light, slowly dimming, was being pulled from Harry's mouth. He laid limp in the creature's grasp, eyes closed. The shadows around him seemed to grow darker and darker with each dimming moment, converging upon the Dementor. Ember's body twitched, glowing brightly. It was as if whatever made Harry was draining from him to her as he faded she grew stronger.

"No!" She gasped, coming to life, jerking up to full attention to find her brother's soul disappearing. Their bond crumbling to dust as his guardians screamed in fury. Suddenly, her mind saw nothing but the roaring of red flames surging forward. The being was gaining ground now that Harry was unable to keep it back. But she was not about to give up without a fight. "He's mine!" She didn't care if the being wanted free, all she wanted was Harry. He was hers, had been since the day he died. He would always be hers. "Get away!" Angered and fearful, she threw all she had into her brother's guardians. She heard their shouts of fury, diving upon the Dementor, driving it back from Harry. His dying soul abruptly stopped its descent into the creature as it shrieked in pain. Swords cased in sudden flames drove deep as it jerked.

As Harry collapsed to the hard ground, two huge canines came from no where and latched onto the Dementor. It struggled but they held tight as suddenly a Knight, one the students and Professors only seen in the halls and portraits, rose from the shadows. His mouth moved but only Ember heard, he belongs to us, you foul being. Return to the flames of which your mother bore you. She saw the being in her mind roar in anger at being denied as he swung his glowing sword, swiping the head from the creature's shoulder.

But she couldn't really care that Harry's guardians had gained true form, only to melt back to shadows, then nothing. She couldn't care the Dementor was destroyed. She couldn't care that the being crouched into its cave, waiting for another chance, knowing its time was coming. She couldn't care everyone was staring or rushing to their side.

All she cared about was Harry.

She crawled to his side, reaching for frozen fingers. She sobbed, laying her head upon his cold chest, barely feeling a stuttering heart beat. Her vision blurred with tears but she saw them kneeling at his side, returning what they had taken. But it wouldn't be enough. He gave almost all of himself to return her and to give them form.

How many times would she suffer? How many times did she have to prove he was hers? When would they know he was the only thing in this world that mattered? What will it take to show them he's all I need? That he's all I will ever follow?

Her sobs choked her as she felt the familiar presence of her family, "teach me." Never again would she feel weak. Never again would she make Harry sacrifice himself just to save her. Never again would she feel as if she lost a part of herself.

She collapsed again, clutching him to her warm body, tears glistening upon her reddened cheeks. The school could only watch on, sad and afraid. All eyes stared upon the weakened bodies of the Potter twins as they laid together, sister protectively embracing brother.