Chapter 7: Mission
"Blast it all," Harry said and for the first time in his life he abandoned all reason and surrendered to his heart.
He gently wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her close to him.
Lillian felt his lips caress her own and her world dissolved in a rainbow of bliss. She snaked her arms around his neck and revealing in the feel of her lips languidly moving on his.
A couple of minutes later they broke apart and rested their foreheads against each other.
"Hi," Harry whispered stupidly, with a smile that looked completely out of place on his usual stoic face. They still hadn't let go of each other.
Lillian responded by planting another kiss on his lips and giggled. "I can't believe this," she said breathlessly. Harry grinned and pushed her towards the wall trapping her there.
Lillian raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Harry just kissed her deeply. This time they lost what little self control they had and their hands began to roam. Neither of two noticed the steam forming between them as their skin made contact and the control over their elements got weaker. They were too absorbed with mapping each other's mouth.
"WHAT IN HEAVEN'S NAME IS GOING ON HERE?"
Harry literally leaped away from Lillian at the sound of that familiar voice. It was professor McGonagall.
"Professor," Lillian squawked in fright and patted her robes trying to look presentable. Harry had his hand on his chest. He was tired of having heart attack like situations and he looked at the furious teacher warily.
"We were just talking professor," Harry said innocently.
"Talking? You call what you two were doing talking!" thundered McGonagall. "And what's with all this steam?"
Harry and Lillian blinked. Then they realized that the professor was right. The corridor was quite steamy and a naughty thought ran through both the teens' minds.
"Now that's what I call a steamy kiss," Sarah whispered. She was no longer mad at Sirius and had placed her head on his shoulder.
"You stole the words right out of my mouth," Sirius whispered. "Now let's get out of here. The shows over. I don't want McGonagall to catch us too!"
"Aww," Sarah pouted.
"Keep you perverted fantasies to yourself woman," Sirius reprimanded. "I saw the look on your face when they started making out."
Walker smacked him across his head. "What was with all the steam though?" she asked. "That really surprised me."
"Harry is an ice elemental and Lillian is a fire elemental," Sirius explained.
Sarah looked lost.
"An elemental is a wizard or witch that controls one of nature's elements. They are rare and extremely powerful."
"And those two kids are elementals?" Sarah asked. "Talk about the odds," she said in awe.
Sirius nodded in agreement. "An elemental hasn't been around for decades or perhaps centuries and then out of the blue we have two and what's even more amazing is that they were born in the same year and what's even more incredible is that they fell for each other."
"I don't believe in fate or destiny but now I don't know," Sarah said, astonished. "So the steam was because of their elements?"
"They'll have to learn to exert perfect control over their elements if they don't want any accidents to happen in the heat of passion," he said chuckling. "This is going to be really fun to watch."
"Now who's the pervert huh," Sarah snorted.
Back near the transfiguration wing McGonagall was still yelling at the two about decency and age limits and ethics and a whole lot of things that they expected to hear in a lecture from an adult.
Harry glanced at Lillian to see if she was listening to the professor and almost laughed when he saw her fighting to keep the smile of her face as she looked down at her feet pretending to be sorry.
"Are you listening to me Potter?!" McGonagall yelled.
"Yes professor," Harry said, quickly snapping to attention. "Begging your pardon professor but school is not in session so I don't understand why you are so upset?"
The professor spluttered. "That is not the point Potter," she said coldly. "And as to why I am here in the first place is because I heard this one," she jerked her finger towards Lillian, "screaming like a maniac!"
"That was not me professor!" Lillian protested. "It was some crazy girl who was screaming her head off about nafles or something like that."
McGonagall's nostrils flared and Harry and Lillian quickly redirected their gaze to their feet.
"Back to your common room now," McGonagall said in her deadly calm voice.
They didn't need to be told twice and they quickly scarpered. They looked back and saw McGonagall trailing them. The professor was actually making sure they went back to the common room.
"Did the professor seem a little angry to you?" Harry asked Lillian feigning ignorance.
"Just a tad," Lillian replied smirking. "It fact it's quite sweet of her to ensure that we make it to our respective beds."
Harry snorted.
Their eyes met and the impulse to kiss each other was strong.
"Move it!" barked McGonagall.
They just sighed in resignation. When they reached the common room Harry turned to the professor.
"Erm professor," he said hesitantly.
"What is it Potter," she asked, annoyed.
"I'd appreciate it if you, you know, kept what happened a secret."
Lillian nodded furiously. "Please professor," she added pleadingly. She wasn't ready to tell anyone what had transpired between her and Harry and she wasn't even sure what had happened between them and what was going to happen next!
McGonagall pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. "Fine," she said finally. "But you better go back to your rooms and stay there!" she warned.
"Of course professor, thank you professor," they said together and stumbled into the common room. The portrait closed behind them and they waited with baited breaths to see if the professor was going to come inside.
Harry let out a long drawn sigh and collapsed on to the couch. Lillian settled herself on the cushions near the fire-place and let out a breath as everything that had happened in the last twenty odd minutes caught up with her.
"Who was that girl?" she asked him once she had settled down.
"Luna Lovegood," Harry replied. "The wackiest girl I've ever met."
"Lovegood," Lillian muttered frowning. "Now where have I heard that name before?"
"Flamel mentioned her when we first met him," Harry said. "Luna is her daughter and don't ask me how or why but that girl has the ability to see what's happening in other dimensions."
"What?!" Lillian said; her jaw dropping.
"You heard me."
"I… I don't know what to say," she said in shock. "I mean… are you sure?"
"Oh yeah," Harry said laughing humorlessly.
"Wow," Lillian muttered. "But still, I should be thanking her for tonight," she added with a sly smile.
A grin tugged at Harry's mouth despite his best efforts. "I guess," he admitted.
"What's going to happen now," he asked hesitantly. "I mean our situation is not exactly normal per se and I have no idea what's going on in my head right now."
"Me neither," she whispered. "But I know what I want right now. Do you?"
"I… I think so," Harry said. All this was new territory for him. It was new territory for the both of them.
They fell silent once more but never let their gaze wander from each other. It was easier to understand each other by the emotion their eyes were reflecting.
The crux of the matter was what to do with these feelings that had for each other. Should they act on it and make themselves vulnerable or should they bury it and act like nothing ever happened.
"I don't want to let this go," Lillian said abruptly. "I'd rather give it a shot regardless of this bloody war instead of giving this up."
"We hardly get to spend time together," Harry said softly. "We both have different routines and now it's highly possible for us to attack Voldemort head on and you know I'm not going to stay out of that."
"Screw routines," she said fiercely. "We can work something out and don't forget what I am. Don't forget why Flamel had me trained too. He wanted me to stay by your side."
"I'm used to doing things on my own," Harry said stubbornly.
Lillian got a little angry at that. "So why'd you kiss me then?" she demanded. "Were you just taking advantage of the situation!?"
"You know that not true," Harry retorted sharply. "I do like you and I want to be with you but…"
"But what?! You like me, I like you, let's give it a shot! It's not that complicated or can't your measly brain comprehend that?"
"Freckles, I don't know if it's a good idea that's all!" Harry burst out.
Lillian stood up and stalked over to him. She placed her hands on the sofa on either side of his head and leaned into him.
"I can see you fighting it again," she said staring into his eyes, her face just inches away from his. "I know you want it but that annoying rational part of your brain is giving all the wrong reasons to prevent a good thing from happening."
"You're not wearing a bra," Harry said dryly looking down her robes.
Lillian's eye twitched.
"I know you," she plowed on brushing aside the urge to smack him. "I know you've been alone most your life and to suddenly find yourself having to be in company of an annoying girl like me must be… well annoying but it makes you happy doesn't it? It makes me happy to have you by my side too."
"Do you have any idea how much I hate overly emotional situations," Harry said rolling his eyes. He was purposefully not looking her in the eye. He knew he would give in if he did.
"Harry!" Lillian said angrily. "Stop avoiding this!"
"Nobody wants to live the last moments of their life with regret." Sirius's words resonated in his mind and Harry had to admit, there was a chance he would not make it out of the war alive. It was a terribly sobering thought.
The unbreakable walls that he had placed around his heart began to crumble and he looked into Lillian's eyes. In them he saw determination, strength and dare he say it, love and it was directed at him. The only other person he had seen with such emotion directed at him was Sirius and suddenly everything was clear to him.
"I only have one condition," he said sighing.
"What's that?" Lillian asked cautiously.
"None of this emotional drama should ever happen again and we're good to go."
Lillian smiled broadly and pulled away from him. "We have a deal?" she said sticking out her hand and pretending to be professional.
"Deal," Harry repeated, getting to his feet and shaking her hand firmly. They were in agreement; the relationship was good to go.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"Harry, wake up!" Sirius shook Harry roughly for a few seconds but got no response. His godson had fallen asleep on the couch in the Gryffindor common room and Lillian was curled up comfortably near the fire place. Looks like someone had a late night, he thought gleefully.
"Harry, Harry…. Harry wake up!"
"Go away," Harry mumbled sleepily. To Sirius's surprise the girl on the floor stirred and blearily opened her eyes wondering what all the noise was about.
"Sirius?" she said and yawned.
"You and Harry have a late night?" he asked knowingly while he continued to shake his godson.
Lillian was instantly awake. "Me and Harry?" she said innocently. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing," Sirius said. "Just wondering how come you and he slept in the common room that's all."
"Huh," Lillian said faking surprise. "I wonder when he came in. I was reading a book and was too lazy to get back to my bed and sleep."
"Is that so," Sirius said. He wanted to point out there was no book in sight and he was a witness to their late night encounter but he refrained himself.
"Yup," Lillian said. She got up and stretched her limbs letting out another yawn. "Good luck waking him up," she said. "I've got to get dressed. I promised Hermione that I would go with them for their dueling lessons with professor Lupin."
"Good luck with that."
"Thanks," she said. "Oh, and what time is it?"
"Quarter past six."
"Great," she mumbled. "See you around Sirius."
Sirius chuckled and then remembered the real reason he had come here. "Harry wake up you love stuck moron!"
"What do you want Sirius?!" Harry groaned buried his head into the corner of the couch.
"There's a meeting and I think you'll want to be there for this one."
Harry sighed and opened his eyes. He glared at his god father and sat up. "Can't I skip this one?"
"Not one bit," Sirius said. He pointed his wand at Harry and said, "Levamenovus."
Almost instantly Harry felt his drowsiness disappear and felt as fresh as he would after a nice shower.
"That was uncalled for Sirius," Harry complained. "That spell is a bastardization of freshening up!"
"Well you don't have time," Sirius said. "Now move it."
Harry grumbled under his breath but got up nonetheless. This meeting had better be a good one, he thought moodily.
When they reached Dumbledore's office Harry was shocked to see its occupants. Dumbledore's office had been magically modified and where his desk once stood, there was a long table with a number of witches and wizards seated around it.
However the shocking part was seeing Lucius, Narcissa and Draco Malfoy in the same room. Lucius and Narcissa were chained to their chairs while Draco was left unchained, but he was shifting uncomfortably when he laid his eyes on Harry.
Harry's shock passed and it gave way to amusement. "Well, well, well," he said chuckling. "Look what we have here."
Harry and Sirius sat down between Remus and Kingsley.
"Where were we?" Dumbledore asked.
"Our friend Lucius was just telling us about the warding schemes in their upcoming cities," Snape said sneering. He seemed to be very satisfied at the state Lucius was in.
"Where did you capture them?" Harry whispered to Remus.
"They got caught in one of our traps outside Hogsmeade," Remus said. "Voldemort wasn't pleased to find out that Draco was tricked. There's a price on their heads now."
Harry chuckled. He knew he shouldn't but he felt a sense of satisfaction at the Malfoy's fall from grace. His attention snapped back to Lucius who continued to drone on about the wards and a list of the people who controlled them.
"Is Voldemort using any form of dark magic?" Harry interrupted.
Lucius thought about it for a minute, "Not that I know of," he said slowly wondering how that was relevant.
Harry just nodded in satisfaction.
"Is there something you would like to tell us Mr. Potter," Croaker asked suspiciously.
Harry gave Dumbledore a look and Dumbledore nodded. Perhaps it was time for the rest to know the deeper history of dark magic.
"Hesita, why don't you take the Malfoy's and lock them in the dungeons. We'll finish their interrogation sometime later," Dumbledore said.
"Am I being kept out of the loop?" she asked narrowing her eyes.
"Of course not," Dumbledore said. "You'll be brought up to speed once you get back."
Hestia paused and then nodded. "Come along you white headed freaks," she barked. She flicked her wand and they chains restraining the elder Malfoy's transformed into handcuffs which chained all three of them. One end floated towards her and she pulled on it roughly.
Draco cried out in pain as the steel dug into his skin. "Careful mudblood," Lucius snarled.
Hestia backhanded him for that and nobody said a word. "You so much as piss me off and I'll have Severus here tear your mind to bits instead of letting you give up information!"
"Now move," she barked.
"She's got a nasty temper," Sarah commented once Hestia had dragged the Malfoy's away.
"You have no idea," Remus muttered. There was a strange look on his face and Harry couldn't quite place it. Was he reminiscing about her temper?
"Back to the matter at hand," Croaker said loudly.
"Do you want to explain or should I?" Dumbledore asked Harry.
Harry thought about it for a minute. "I think I'll do it," he said. "There's a lot more I haven't told you too."
"There's more?" Dumbledore asked astounded. How could there be more to the story than the truth behind the deathly hallows?
Harry glanced around to see who all were there and he recognized almost everyone. Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Moody, Kingsley, Sarah, Vance, McGonagall, Casey, the Weasley's, Granger, Austin, Elphias, Snape, Bones, and Croaker were present. There were two other witches he didn't recognize and one other woman who, like the General, was dressed in a military uniform.
"All that I ask is that you keep what you hear now to yourselves if you can. Are we clear?" Harry decided to tell them everything. There was no point in keeping it a secret now anyway. Whether the Flamel's were dead or alive didn't matter. They couldn't help even if they wanted to.
There was a murmur of agreement.
Harry summoned his wand surprising the magical population. They had never seen anyone summon a wand with a white flash before. The muggles in their company leaned forward looking fascinated.
"This wand is not just a wand," Harry began. "It was a gift from a vile creature to a man called Antioch Peverell," he said. Harry noticed some of the wizards startle at that name.
"You might have heard the story: The tale of three brothers. This is that wand, the deathstick or the wand of destiny. That story is just a cover of the truth. The Peverell's were three very gifted brothers and they lived in a time when a terrible creature roamed the planet. While the magical folk wanted to live and prosper, this creature wanted to end the existence of humans and other creatures and create a world in his image.
"Are you saying the story is real!" gasped Elphias. "That death in the story is this creature!?"
Harry looked annoyed at the interruption. "Yes," he said shortly. "The Peverell brothers managed to defeat the creature but instead of destroying it once and for all, they allowed it to live provided it gave them something in return."
"The wand, the stone and the cloak," Remus muttered.
"The unbeatable wand, the stone that summons the dead and a cloak that renders you invisible to the world," Harry elaborated.
"Wow," Sarah whispered. "How long ago did this happen."
"I'd say way before history began to be recorded on paper."
"Then how do you know it's true?" Croaker questioned.
"I meet someone who was trained by Ignotus Peverell to stop evil."
Dumbledore jerked in surprise. Harry hadn't mentioned that before.
"Evil? What do you mean?" Snape asked.
"That was the name of the creature," Harry said smiling lightly. "You could say this monster was and is the root of all evil."
"Is!? You mean it's still around!" Casey gasped. He was finding it odd that he believed every word coming from the kid's mouth. This magic stuff was simply unreal, he thought.
"It was transformed into what we call dark arts today," Harry said dropping the bombshell. "It lost its power when the brothers defeated it and to regain its power it transformed itself into another form of magic. Whenever a wizard or a witch uses dark magic they are unknowingly giving up their magic and acting as fuel for the creature to regain its strength. It will keep growing stronger until it breaks out of the prison it bound itself in."
Horror was reflected on every face in the room.
"And if this creature escapes its prison, there is no one who can stop its rampage. All this philosophy about the balance between good and evil is nonsense," Harry said scornfully. "At the end of the day, it's going to be us or evil."
"What about the deathstick and your role in all of this," Croaker asked.
"Only someone with the potential to be more powerful than Antioch is capable of wielding this wand," Harry said. "The wand chose me and in other words I'm the only one who can stop this evil if it ever breaks free. That is my purpose…
… my destiny."
"Well shit," deadpanned Casey, killing the tense and solemn atmosphere that was building.
"What about this person you spoke of? The one you said was trained by Ignotus?" Dumbledore asked. He was more interested in that.
"Nicolas Flamel," Harry said smiling and he enjoyed the surprise that flittered through the headmasters eyes.
"Flamel's dead!" shouted half the room.
"Well, then I met his ghost," Harry said smartly.
There was no response to that.
"When and how?" Dumbledore demanded. The philosopher's stone was destroyed! He had made sure of that.
"You remember those two months when Lillian and I went missing?"
"Lillian went missing?" Mr. Austin said, startled. "What are you talking about?!"
"Lillian and I fell through a dimensional portal and ended up in another Earth with bizarre differences. Two months later we somehow made it back but while two months had passed by in the other Earth, hardly a second had passed on this one."
"Nicolas has a portal too and he intercepted you," Dumbledore murmured, quickly connecting the dots. "What were you doing the two months that you were missing then?" he asked.
"Training," Harry replied. "The Flamel's have been aware about the history behind the deathly hallows for centuries and it has been their job to find and train the one capable of defeating evil: meaning me."
"You seem rather alright for someone who has to defeat and kill a monster," Kingsley said.
"I've accepted it," Harry said shrugging.
"So that's why you're so you," Sirius said thoughtfully. "I always wondered why you acted like you have such a huge burden on your shoulders and now I know why." There was no pity, only regret in Sirius's eyes. "You should have told me Harry."
"It doesn't matter," Harry said.
"So let me get this straight," Casey said. "This dark magic that your terrorists use is actually a mutation of a dangerous monster."
Harry nodded.
"And this monster will come back to life if they keep using dark magic."
"That's correct."
"You're the only one who can defeat it if it does come back to life."
Harry nodded again.
"So what does this have anything to do with our current war? Our objective still remains unchanged."
"It has everything to do with this war," Harry said sharply. "The creature requires a vessel to come back to this dimension. Only a person who has immersed his soul deep into dark magic is capable of being a vessel for evil."
"Voldemort," Sirius said. Everything suddenly made sense.
"Yes," Harry said grimly. "His resurrection allowed the creature to take a hold of him and the power he was using when he brought down the London bridge was just a fraction of evil's power."
"And that is why you asked if the dark lord was still using dark magic," Snape said as he finally understood the reason why a dark lord had stopped using dark magic. A cold feeling settled at the bottom of his stomach as he imagined what condition his magical core could be in.
"This is a great story and all but how does this help us?" Casey asked irritably.
"Well one reason I can give you is that all those predictions and prophecies about the end of the world that you'll find in countless religious texts were about this story that I just told you. I have it on good authority."
"Flamel?" Sirius asked.
"Yup and this story is not relevant at all but I figured you'd want to know exactly what we're fighting to prevent. This war dates back millennia and it's not a matter about a dark lord hell-bent on ruling the world. It's a matter of the survival of the entire planet."
"Then why didn't you tell us this before!" Tonks asked.
"Like the general said, it wasn't relevant. But then Croaker asked me a question and I decided to answer truthfully. I hope he understands how relevant I am to this resistance now," he added sarcastically.
"Have you had any contact with the Flamel's?" Croaker asked sourly.
"Not since we left," Harry said. "And there's nothing we can do to contact them or make them help us. Ignotus made them swear an oath not to interfere in our affairs."
"Oath's can be broken," Sarah said quietly, speaking up after having been on the listening side. All this information, it was like she was having a bad dream.
"Not magical ones," Sirius said.
"Harry, can you tell me one thing?" Lillian's father asked.
"Yes?"
"Why was Mary with you when you went to this whole other world place and then to this Flamel persons house?"
Harry looked at Mr. Granger. "It was Hermione's fault," he said smirking. "She showered us with time sand in the wrong place and the wrong time."
"My Hermione?" Mr. Granger asked aghast. "She did something like this?!"
"It wasn't her fault," Dumbledore said quickly.
"Let's not get side tracked here people," Casey barked. "What is our plan of action now? We've successfully bombarded London but Voldemort would have surely placed some of those blasted wards again."
"I have a plan but I think it's time for us to eat. The elves hate it when we miss our meals," he said lightly. "We shall reconvene after breakfast." Everyone recognized Dumbledore's dismissal.
There were multiple sounds of wood scratching the cement floor and everyone began to exit the office. He signaled Harry to stay back while everyone else left.
Dumbledore tapped his wand trice on the table and immediately his office morphed back to its original appearance. "Sit down Harry."
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"My plan is not to take on Voldemort's army but to send teams to assassinate those high up in the food chain," Dumbledore said gravely.
"Assassinate!" Harry said impressed. "How are we supposed to pull that off? Wasn't Mr. Slimeball just telling how complicated their wards are?"
"And we have people smart enough to break through those wards," Dumbledore replied. "If we get rid of those on the top, Voldemort will lose the influence he exerts right now. His people are cowards and the moment they realize that hiding behind Voldemort is not safe anymore they will run."
"Where will they run too?" Harry scoffed. "They have nowhere to go except to switch sides and join us…. Oh, you sneaky old man!" Harry exclaimed. "But that still doesn't help us with dealing with that gargantuan army of his. I heard Warlow telling Kingsley that mountain trolls, magically strengthened acromantula and certain mythical beasts have been added to the ranks of his army."
"Oh I think the muggle army will be more than capable of dealing with that threat," Dumbledore said. "The more pressing issue is the brains behind that army."
"I guess you're right," Harry said. "So who have you decided to send for this mission?"
"How's your occlumency coming along?" Dumbledore redirected.
Harry smiled. "I have a feeling I'll have my break through soon enough," he said. After last night, he felt lighter, freer.
"Good, Dumbledore said, "Because I want you to be on one of the assassination teams."
"What?!"
Dumbledore pulled out a file from his drawer. "These are the list of wizards who are very important to Voldemort. These wizards are very skilled in their respective fields and I'd feel a lot better if they weren't working for Voldemort."
"What kind of skills?" Harry asked. He was still trying to wrap his head around Dumbledore request. The man who had disapproved of him killing death eaters was now asking him to kill, no murder wizards under Voldemort's employment.
"Potion masters, Runic masters, Spell weavers, creationists, the list is endless," Dumbledore sighed. "Also he has several muggle scientists holed up somewhere working on various projects for him."
Harry took the file from Dumbledore and flicked through the profiles. There were some with a capture or kill option but many with the words assassinate printed across their picture.
"None of the names on this list are in London," Harry said frowning.
"London is too dangerous to infiltrate. We're going to focus outside London for now. Now, you can choose your own team for the mission or I can assign a three man team to you. You're going to need a ward breaker, a healer and a man to finish the job," Dumbledore said.
"I'll choose my own team," Harry said without hesitation. There was no way he was going to be saddled with condescending adults.
"I gather that means you accept."
"You had a doubt? When do I leave?"
"When you're occlumency has progressed and Ms. Walker is satisfied with your skill in hand to hand combat."
"If that is all do you mind if I leave?" Harry asked respectfully. He had a lot to think about.
"Of course," Dumbledore said. "I'll send you a patronus if we need you and do think on who you want on your team."
"Yes sir," Harry said and he left.
"I am definitely going to hell for this," Dumbledore sighed.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
After the meeting with Dumbledore Harry had gone to his private chamber to think and meditate. If Dumbledore had told him about this mission two days back he was gleefully accepted but after what happened with Lillian he was slightly unsure. This was exactly the kind of situation he feared would happen when he decided to take things forward with Lillian.
A strange longing swelled in his chest and for the first time in his life he wished he was just another normal kid, with a normal family. He really liked Lillian, that he could no longer deny, but he could not afford to go soft, not now and not when it was his responsibility to defeat Voldemort.
"Get a hold of yourself Harry!" he scolded.
It was late in the afternoon when he made a decision and went to look for Lillian. He found her in the Gryffindor common room with Hermione and Ron.
"Hey!" she greeted jumping to her feet. "Where have you been? I've been looking for you all morning!"
"I was with Dumbledore," Harry said smiling. "Could I have a word in private?"
Ron and Hermione looked at the two suspiciously and Hermione narrowed her eyes when she noticed Lillian blushing slightly.
"Sure," she said indifferently and followed Harry out of the common room.
Harry looked to his left, then to his right and then kissed her.
Lillian giggled. "You have no idea how out of character this is for you."
"Tell me about it," Harry said fervently. "I feel an idiot right about now."
Lillian pulled him in for another heated kiss. "Now we're both idiots," she said laughing. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Not here," Harry said and led her to an empty classroom that was not yet converted into a makeshift bedroom. They didn't notice a disillusioned and shell shocked Ron and Hermione who witnessed their lip lock.
"Oh. My. God," breathed Ron.
"You just stole the words from my tongue," Hermione squeaked. Looks the disillusion charm that Remus had taught them had finally come to use. "Should we follow them?"
Ron just gave her a look.
"It was a rhetorical question," Hermione said hastily. They followed the two to an empty classroom but before they could sneak in the door was slammed shut and locked.
"Locked," Hermione cursed.
"Well than unlock it!" Ron hissed.
"And they won't notice two disillusioned bodies enter through a door which has just been closed will they," Hermione said sarcastically.
"What we supposed to do then! We can't leave her alone in there, we have to save her!" he said panicking.
Hermione rolled her eyes and smacked him.
"Bloody hell Hermione," he swore loudly.
"Keep your voice down and what do you mean save her moron. They're obviously in a relationship now," she said. "They're no need to save her as you so eloquently put it."
Ron scowled, rubbing his head. "I don't believe for a second Mary could fall for a guy like that," he said stubbornly. "He's obviously got her under some spell."
Hermione smacked him again and then punched his arm.
"Will you stop that!"
"Come on," she said dragging him away. "We shouldn't have followed them in the first place."
"But."
"No buts! Now move it Ronald Weasley. I only pray to god that one day he blesses you with eyes with the ability to see instead of just seeing."
"Huh?"
"Come on!"
Back inside the classroom Lillian was sitting on the teacher's desk, swinging her legs while she stared at the opposite wall solemnly.
Harry had just told her about his mission and she couldn't help but feel a little crushed. So this is what happens in an end of the world scenario, she thought glumly. You don't have the right to put your feelings before anything else.
"So I guess you'll be leaving then?" she asked listlessly.
"Actually, I was going to ask you to come with me."
Lillian turned to him, startled.
"And I'm a little surprised that you didn't insist on coming with me," Harry said.
"I wanted to ask!" she protested immediately, her voice bubbling at the edges of happiness. She knew going on a mission to kill people was nothing to be happy about and it was actually quite gruesome but Harry had asked her, he had actually asked her!
She clenched the edges of the table to prevent her body from launching into Harry. "So what made you think of me first," she asked, trying to be calm and composed.
"Well, Dumbledore for a mission like this we need someone who can heal, someone who is experienced with slipping past wards and someone who can kill without flinching. Perenelle and Nicolas taught the both of us rudimentary healing skills. You're teleportation ability can get past any ward in existence and I was taught how to kill without remorse."
The last line dampened her excitement. She remembered with vivid clarity that day when Harry came back drenched in blood with his eyes as vacant as a dead person.
"I didn't come to this decision lightly," Harry said, bringing her attention back to him. "I thought about it for hours, made combinations of teams comprising every able fighter that we have and ultimately I realized you and I together; we're lethal."
Lillian blushed. "Well now you're just flattering me."
"But can you handle watching me kill someone in cold blood?" he asked. His voice was hesitant; he didn't want her to reject him because of his ability to take life. He waited with bated breath for her answer.
He didn't have to wait long at all. "You don't have to ask me that," she said sharply. "Have you forgotten? I didn't care then and I don't care now. We all have to do things that are vile but necessary sometimes. I haven't forgotten what our world has turned into because of one man's greed and if killing the monsters that help him is necessary than I'll see it done standing right by your side."
She said it so fiercely that even Harry was intimidated by her, although he recovered from that momentary lapse swiftly and smiled at her charmingly.
"Well Ms. Austin," he said formally. "I guess we are, once more, in agreement."
He stuck out his hand and waited for her response.
The fire elemental jumped down from the table and walked up to Harry, her face betrayed not a single emotion.
She stuck out her hand and they shook. "We are in agreement," she too, said formally.
"I hope this doesn't become a standard thing for us," Harry said chuckling.
Hmm, I don't know," Lillian said pretending to think hard. "I kinda like it."
"So who's going to tell your dad that we're going on mission together? And I can imagine how displeased Dumbledore is going to be with this."
Lillian paled at the mention of her father. "Uh, can we not mention what sort of mission this is to him," she said nervously.
"I don't see how that's going to work out," Harry said drily. "We're not the only ones going on this mission. There are going to be many other teams with different targets. He's bound to find out sooner or later."
"Bollocks," she cursed, her eyes scrunched up in worry. "Dad might have handled me going to Germany to stop a meltdown surprisingly well but when he found out I killed a vampire which almost ended me, he was not pleased at all."
"Well it's not his fault you froze like some sissy woman," Harry said reasonably.
Lillian gave him a nasty look. "Come on," she said loftily. "Let's go talk to Dumbledore and get this done with."
"I was just kidding Freckles," Harry teased.
"Ha ha, you're such a barrel of laughter," she said sarcastically. "Wanker," she added under her breath.
Harry just rolled his eyes at the insult.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
As it turned out Dumbledore was not pleased at all with Harry's decision and argued against it vehemently but Harry stood firm.
"The Flamel's didn't train us for nothing Dumbledore," he said. "If they thought Lillian would be irrelevant in this war they would have simply obliviated her and sent her back to Hogwarts!"
"Harry she hasn't taken a life yet and I intend to keep it that way," Dumbledore said staunchly.
"She is a fire elemental Dumbledore. She can waltz her way past any ward Voldemort can throw at us and I can't believe we did not use her to infiltrate London. As you said earlier this is war and in war sacrifices must be made. If you're so comfortable with sending me on an assassination mission what's wrong with someone with the same capabilities as me!"
Harry paused.
"Well not the same capabilities as me but close enough!"
"Harry she doesn't need to have her soul tainted!"
"And who said she'll be doing the killing! That's my job. Her job is to get us into places that no one else can," Harry retorted.
"I am right here you know," an annoyed Lillian said. She had been watching them throw argument upon argument at each other and she had, had enough.
"Ms Austin," Dumbledore began.
"My soul is my own and I decide what happens to it professor," she said. "I did not volunteer to take part in this mission. Harry chose me. You know how he doesn't care whether I participate in this war or not but this time around us together on such a mission provides a great tactical advantage." Dumbledore didn't know about the recent developments between them and she intended to keep it that way. She also didn't know what she was saying but didn't care as long as it sounded smart.
"Nicolas told me there would be a time when only I could provide the necessary strength Harry needs to fight and I believe this is one of those times." That was a disguised lie too; Nicolas had meant if evil somehow broke free of its bonds, her power would be efficacious to their survival.
Dumbledore sighed wearily and sank back into his chair. "Why do the young have to be so stubborn," he grumbled.
Harry and Lillian just stared, waiting for his response.
"You know we have wizards and witches who are just as capable as you are without the added bonus of being an elemental."
"Fortunately we have that added bonus," Harry shot back. "It's going to be just the two of us Dumbledore. You don't have to dump a baby sitter on us."
"I'm not worried about the power the two of you can pack together," he said. "It's the inexperience I'm worried about."
"I'm experienced enough," Harry said.
"No you're not," Dumbledore rebutted harshly.
"We have to start somewhere," Lillian said logically. "It's unfortunate our start had to be in such circumstances but you said it yourself, this is war."
"Stop using that dialogue on me," Dumbledore snapped. It was unlike him to let his annoyance show so visibly but these elementals were stretching it to its limits.
"Well?" Harry demanded. "Do we get that file or not?"
"Fine," Dumbledore acquiesced. "You can tell your godfather you're going on an assassination mission with an inexperienced girl who has never had to take or watch a life being taken and you, Lillian, can tell your father that you're leaving him to watch people being murdered!" This was Dumbledore's last ditch attempt to convince them otherwise. If it didn't work nothing would work.
Hurt flashed through Lillian's eyes and Dumbledore felt a little guilty for saying that, only a little. Harry on the other hand just rolled his eyes. Albus waited, hoping that the girl would change her mind.
Well?" Harry asked again when Lillian didn't back down.
Dumbledore finally gave up. "Complete the first stage of occlumency and I'll give you your mission."
Harry looked like he wanted to argue but he withdrew. "Anything else?" he asked mockingly, infuriating the headmaster.
"No Harry," Dumbledore replied politely, perhaps too politely. "You may leave and Lillian, I hope you understand the level of danger on this mission. Please prepare yourself accordingly. If and when Harry makes his breakthrough in the mind arts, you will be on your own with no aid at all."
"Yes professor," she said shying away from his penetrating eyes. "I know the risk." She remembered the test Flamel had put them through when they first arrived and her confidence and self belief grew. She was ready for this.
"Well that went well," Lillian said once they were about two wings away from Dumbledore's office.
"It could have been worse," Harry agreed. "But I have to ask…." He stopped seeing the look on Lillian's face. "Alright I won't." But Harry knew; he knew the emotions and the change that murder can bring about in a person's psyche. Especially the changes that occur in the psyche of an elemental. He had gone through them and he was still fearful of the changes that it was bringing in him.
"Don't forget I was there when we saw all those slaughtered muggles," she said quietly. "Killing a vampire may not count as taking a human life but…"
"It's not the same," Harry said immediately. "But don't worry about that. For now let's worry about handling your father and Sirius's reaction when they find out."
Lillian groaned. "That's going to be one painful conversation."
"I think yelling would be more appropriate," Harry said grinning wryly.
Lillian frowned when she noticed Harry was not heading to the common room. "Where are we going?" she asked.
"You're going back to the common room or wherever you feel like going," he said. "I'm going to master a certain art."
"Hmmm, good luck with that," she said. "I think I'll go and have a few rounds with Sarah."
"Kick her arse for me will you?" Harry cheekily requested.
Lillian snorted, "Fat chance of that happening without magic. See you at dinner?"
"We'll see," he muttered.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Harry was sitting cross-legged in the middle of his room behind the statue of the mermaid and it had been close to eight hours since he had shut his eyes and fallen into a trance. Of course he didn't know that. Maybe he was aware of the first couple of hours but the deeper he sunk into his meditative state. The more lost he was to his surroundings.
It took him eight hours but Harry had finally breached the barrier that had frustrated him for almost a year now.
The aim: reaching a perfect state of thoughtlessness. It was unlike anything Harry had every felt and it wasn't what he expected at all. He felt like his brain was on fire. He could not think, he could not move, he could not snap out of it. One moment he was meditating and the next every memory his cerebrum had accumulated over 14 years and ten months of his life were being revisited at lightening speeds. Memories from the moment he left his mother's womb to the moment he sat down and closed his eyes eight hours ago; he could see everything and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
It was mental agony. There was a certain speed the brain operated at and that speed had multiplied exponentially.
He had to endure that torture for another two hours before his eyes snapped opened and he emptied the contents of his stomach on the floor.
"Merlin," Harry gasped. He quickly stretched his arm and took support of the chair nearby to prevent himself from fainting. His head was spinning violently and he needed to hold on to something. Images were still flashing before his eyes distorting his vision but there was nothing he could do to stop it.
It took a while but steadily his control returned and the veil that had fallen over his eyes was lifted.
"No wonder it is an obscure branch of magic," Harry gasped hoarsely as he picked himself up. He still felt a little dizzy and he gently lowered himself on to the bed and lay down with a sigh. The proverbial sledgehammer that was banging his head was showing no signs of letting up.
If you didn't have the mental strength to keep up with the trauma of having to view so many memories in such a short period. You could go insane. Harry understood that now and he couldn't believe Dumbledore didn't warn him about this!
But he could feel it now. He just had to concentrate a bit and he could view any memory of he wanted with vivid clarity. It felt unreal. Initially he had expected to fall into some sort of inner world similar to world he had been pulled into his magical core but it wasn't anything like it. It was, for a lack of better words, different.
The shields, he realized, were of two kinds. One was a regular sheet of magic you maintained around your mind using your imagination, creativity and intent. The other was not really a shield at all. It was the art of allowing a legilimens to view your memories but at the same time skillfully hide the ones that were important without betraying the fact that you were hiding them. That was the real skill an occlumens had to master!
The best way to describe the magic behind occlumency was like watching and sorting his memories through a third eye. It was a disconcerting feeling that would take some time to get used to. But for now, he had finally succeeded and he felt even more powerful than before.