Chapter 10
The truth part 2
The next memory shocked him and he gazed at her aghast. She smiled and giggled a little at him. "Oh, yes. I was there."
They had emerged at the edge of the lake where Sirius had been when Harry had cast the Patronus. It appeared to be a little while before Harry had first got there. Ravenna was kneeling beside Sirius, their arms around each other, hugging each other tightly.
"Papa." She wailed, even as an older woman standing beside Harry, her eyes filled with tears.
"Ravenna, sweetheart." Sirius smiled at her, in pain from his tumbled to the lake's edge. "Is he safe?"
"Yes, Harry's safe. He'll come for you, I know he will. I've missed you." Ravenna said tearfully.
"I've missed you too, my baby girl. If Harry doesn't succeed, even though you're sure he will, will you step in?" Sirius asked stroking Ravenna's tear stained face.
"Of course. Always. I love you." Ravenna said with a small smile. Her father kissed her forehead and held her close.
"I love you too, Ravenna Alexina. Always and for eternity." Sirius vowed. They both turned as it grew cold and the dementors approached. Ravenna shook her head.
"No. No. You won't have him, you floating, should destroying bastards!" Ravenna screamed, towards the dementors. Sirius stroked her hair and hugged her tighter.
"He'll come. I know it. I love you. You be a good girl and you hide yourself from these bastards. Okay, Ravenna? Promise me, you will hide until the last second if Harry doesn't come." Sirius urged as the dementors drew closer.
Ravenna cried and wailed, kissing her father's cheek and holding him close. "I promise."
"Go. Go. Fly my Raven." Her father smiled as he pushed Ravenna from him and she ran for cover as Harry emerged out of the trees as he rushed to Sirius' side. Ravenna watched as the dementors tried to kill her father and Harry with their lethal kiss- she waited and was about to pull out her wand to cast a Patronus when the Stag of her Uncle James and of Harry rushed across the lake and sent the dementors reeling away. Harry hadn't cast it from the shore but she looked out over the rocks and saw Harry on the other side of the lake, casting it. She was confused and then saw Hermione hidden behind other-Harry. Then she twigged about the time turner Hermione wore.
"Good old Albus." Ravenna both then in the memory and the one beside present Harry smiled and whispered before the memory went black and then fast-forwarded to the Triwizard Tournament and the emergence from the maze.
Harry saw Ravenna and a black dog rush to his side and Ravenna pulled him up off Cedric's lifeless body and into a tight hug. Present day Harry who was watching this back, turned to Ravenna beside him and flashed her a confused look.
"We met again the night before the dragon task when the dragons arrived, Charlie and I brought them over with the handlers. Hagrid was angry to see Charlie had got me into dragons. He didn't think it was appropriate for a woman to work with Dragons." Ravenna explained. "But this was important, I don't know if you remember what you said to me?" Harry shook his head and listened to what he said.
"Raven. I saw Mum and Dad, they were there. They protected me." Wailing Harry said to Raven as she held him tight and walked him to one side away from the fake Mad-Eye.
"I know. They would have done, Harry. The love you. Just as Padfoot and I do. Those who love us never truly leave us." Ravenna said cradling the weeping Harry in her arms. "We will always protect you. Always and forever." She kissed his forehead and he hugged her tighter.
That memory disappeared and it was replaced by the one in Grimmauld Place during Harry's fifth year when he first arrived with Mad-Eye and Tonks. When they got to the bit with Snape concerning Ravenna's mother she fast forwarded again. This time Harry didn't ask. He couldn't get over how many times they had seen each other over the course of his lifetime to date and he hoped the forthcoming war would not cost him the longest friend he had ever known and the last member of his family that still lived. The next they saw together was the Christmas at Grimmauld Place after Mr Weasley was attacked. Charlie had arrived for that too.
Harry was sat at the table next to Ron, not really in the festive mood until he looked up and saw Ravenna entering with Charlie, cauldrons labeled with presents. She saw her father first and hugged him. He picked her up a little and squeezed her and then when he put her down she hugged Lupin whilst Sirius shook Charlie's hand.
"Welcome to the family, Charlie." Sirius said and Molly laughed.
"Welcome to the family, Ravenna."
Thank you, Molly. Presents!" She chorused and began tossing parcels around the table, still getting the twins mixed up like Molly did, but they soon corrected themselves. Ravenna walked down to Harry, Sirius and Lupin, presents in arms. "Merry Christmas, uncle Remus." She smiled handing him a small box, he smiled back and inside was a years supply of homemade Wolfsbane potion- apparently a running joke bedside Ravenna was the only one who could brew it properly and had been able to since she was eleven. Sirius was given a black journal which Ravenna had inscribed with "perfect parent, loving law keeper and faithful friend." This had earned her an extra cuddle and a kiss on the forehead. Harry was next and she lay it on the table in front of him and slipped into the empty seat between him and her father.
"Merry Christmas, Harry James." Ravenna smiled her arm around his shoulders giving him a gentle squeeze. Harry smiled at her and opened his present- a book on broom management and some Romanian Chocolate.
"Thank you, Raven. Congratulations on your engagement." Harry smiled, hugging her back. Ravenna showed off her ring to Harry who admired it with a impressed eye.
"Thank you, Harry. It's a stone called a 'dragon's blood ruby', I didn't want a diamond, you see. It's surrounded by emeralds." It was truly amazing, the red and the green captured the essence of the Weasley family and Ravenna's dark green eyes perfectly. "You'll be there?"
"Sure I will, no matter what happens we're family, right?" Harry said, glancing at Sirius, Ravenna and Lupin.
"Right." The three agreed with happy smiles and Ravenna hugged Harry closer.
Preset day Ravenna who stood beside Harry took him by the sleeve and pulled him out of the memories.
"That's enough for today. I'll show you the rest tomorrow. I promise." Ravenna vowed and Ron turned to look at them.
"You two were quiet. What you do?" He asked. Hermione was now playing Claire de Lune by Debussy on the piano.
"Showing Harry some things. I hope you don't hate me for keeping this a secret from you Harry." Ravenna said, sadly when Ron looked away.
"No, I see why you kept it from me. You were trying to save me- protect me from my past. I don't hate you. We're family remember." Harry said with a pleased grin but a saddened look in his eyes.
"Right." She smiled back with a small laugh. And let Harry pull her into a hug.
"No more secrets." Harry warned.
"None. Ever." Ravenna agreed and made a mental note that she had promised to tell Harry the rest of the truths tomorrow.