Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Harry Potter and the Birth of a New Sun

Chapter 56 - Lost Hope

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When Sirius finally understood what had happened, he took Harry by the arm and together they walked from the castle to the ocean. He summoned a couple lounge chairs and a whole lot of Mythos beer and the two just sat and watched the waves crash upon the shore beneath the moonlight. The sky still glowed with the fire that had lingered since Ebyrth's destruction, though what was once spread across the heavens was now coalescing near Mars. There the sky shimmered and glistened not unlike the connubial band upon Harry's finger. It wasn't until the third or fourth bottle that Sirius spoke anything of consequence.

"Nymphs are smarter than most wizards realize, Harry. They're more beautiful than the setting sun and craftier than the slyest fox," he added just looking out over the surf and sipping his beer. "One summer your father and I got in trouble off of Cuba. A few too many drinks and a bit more bluster than we had right to. I guess, surrounded by Muggles, we had a sense of invincibility. We forgot that, even half-way around the world, Nature's eyes still held us in their gaze.

"Cuba?" asked Harry quietly; his curiosity had been raised. "You never told me this story."

"That's because I'm not proud of it. Your dad... well, I haven't had the chance to tell you how great a man he was. You have a vision, I know, of who he was and what he was like built upon small snippets of stories that people have told you. But such fleeting visions have no base, no centre and can be easily shattered; your visit into Severus' memories are proof enough of that. Your father deserves better. I haven't given you the foundation to be proud of him and I'd hate for you to think less." Sirius leaned up in his chair, set his bare feet in the sand and began to draw circles and arcs through the grains with his wand. "He was a great man, a great friend, and he... he loved you and your mother... so much....

"Before you were born, Harry, James had a mean streak. We both did. I was a Black after all, but your father could be just as arrogant and far more cruel. Back in the day I used to think we were just having fun, joking around. Severus wasn't the only young wizard we tormented. We did it because we could. We were smart and popular and powerful and no one dared touch us. But a decade in Azkaban changes a person. I see now we were just angry, angry at our lives, at the world. My parents saw my future at Vodemort's side, while James' parents, loving as they were, chose to keep their son hidden at home, thinking that smothering him with their wealth would make everything better. I believe the Marauders gravitated toward each other in the first place because we all hated our lives in very personal ways. None of us were very happy, but being together, sharing that pain made it more palatable.

"All through our sixth year, James and Lilly were dating, off and on. Some days they looked to all of Hogwarts like the perfect couple, destined to be the real thing, sort of like Ron and Hermione. And then James would do something boneheaded, like pants a group of second years during lunch, or cast a spell over someone's homework scrolls that would make the ink disappear when they said the word professor, and Lilly would stop speaking to him for a week. Her heart was pure gold and she wouldn't tolerate any joke if it came at someone else's expense.

At the end of the year, James had convinced Lilly to travel with him to South America for the summer. They were going to study the ancient Mayan ruins, study the culture's connection to the lost city of Atlantis, and spend six weeks on a magical enrichment program. It was a chance to get away from his parents, to get out from under the brewing war and be truly alone with her for the first time. He was as happy as I'd ever seen him. He could push aside his life in the UK and show her the kind of wizard he truly was.

"Then, one afternoon, we stumbled across Severus. He was just sitting there, reading a potions book and scribbling in it like a mad man. We could have just walked past, but James couldn't help himself. Well, you saw from Severus' mind what happened. Your mother saw too and she broke off their summer together. Rather than go alone, he dropped out of the program and decided the Marauders should run away and wreak havoc in Havana. Remus wouldn't dare to leave, knowing there would be a full moon and Peter decided to stay with him. I figured it was the perfect opportunity to split from the Black family, so I went.

"There we were, one bleary-eyed night, the two of us, in some dive of a bar near the beach, when James decides he likes this stunning redhead in the arms of some big burly guy at the bar. I wish I could tell you that I told him to leave her alone, but I didn't. If anything, I encouraged him. That was, after all, our nature." A shot of disgusted air popped from Sirius' lips. "Size didn't matter. James could turn the big guy into a toad if he wanted to. Merlin, if your father had another twenty years under his belt, he'd have wiped the floor with the likes of Voldemort. Fate was not so kind.

"He cast a spell and immobilized everyone in the bar except the redhead. You might have thought she'd be scared, or confused, but she wasn't. She just smiled, drop dead gorgeous, and slipped off her barstool as smooth as silk. 'I knew you were the special one,' she said, stepping over to your father. 'You enjoy mischief, don't you?' She reached over and took his hand in hers. 'So do I.' She snapped her fingers and broke your father's spell. As the whole bar turned to look at them, she kissed him hard on the lips, pulling him tight and holding his hand on her bosom. Mr. Big and Burly wasn't too happy about that and came over to let James know it. When James and I tried to cast a spell to stop him, it didn't work. It was like the magic had evaporated.

"The girl pretended, in an exaggerated way, that she was leaving the guy for James. 'Leave him alone,' she cried. 'I love him and he loves me! We're running away to Scotland!' I swear I saw fire flame from the guy's eyes. Well, he began to pummel your dad so I jumped on his back to stop him. I put my arm around his neck and bit his ear. He grabbed my arm and snapped it as he flipped me off his back. We were beginning to suffer quite a few broken bones until your dad surrendered and transformed to a stag. I followed suit and we got the hell out of there.

"It wasn't until the sun rose that next morning that our wands worked again. Sitting out on the beach just like we are now, drinking a couple of cervezas, he and I were healing our wounds when we saw the woman again. This time she was alone, as striking and as beautiful as ever. I thought, at first, it was coincidence, but I know better now. She noticed us and came running over, all apologetic about what had happened. 'I was just trying to have some fun,' she said. 'Surely you understand, James. A little mischief, now and then never hurt anyone. Did it?'

"He'd never told her his name and yet, somehow, she knew. She bent down and kissed him on the cheek and said, 'You didn't want me anyway, not really. Your heart... it belongs to another. Anyone can see the pain in your eyes, the kind of pain only losing your love can bring.' She came over and lifted my chin with her finger. 'You on the other hand...' she began, but never finished. She kissed my forehead and the pain that was throbbing throughout my body disappeared. She winked and then walked into the surf and disappeared

"I know now she was a nymph. Her name was Bistonis," said Sirius with a sigh. Harry could sense something rousing in his godfather's heart. "Sometimes, on a whim, she'll step from the beach and visit the castle.

"It wasn't until after our little vacation, after James had the shit kicked out of him, that he began to understand. The Headmaster noticed and made him Head Boy. Since I was homeless, James asked me to move in with his family and for the first time I felt welcomed and loved. In the fall of our seventh year, he went out of his way to keep his wand in his pants, as it were, and Lilly took notice. By Christmas they were in love all over again. I'd like to say it was perfect after that, but it wasn't. Old habits die hard, and your father was an arrogant prig. But he refused to join Voldemort despite the Dark Lord's attempts to collect one of the greatest wizards of the time. And when he first held you in his arms, Harry, his purpose in life became crystal clear. Lilly and James committed themselves to fight for a world where you and everyone else could grow up free of darkness. They were never more in love than in those days after you were born. I tell you this, because you need to understand that you didn't destroy them, Harry, you brought them joy and happiness and an enduring love that they would not otherwise have had.

"Bistonis set James upon the right path and your birth sealed his love for your mother. How Bistonis knew..." Sirius shrugged. "There are more magics to be had among the nymphs than any one wizard can dream to understand in a lifetime. Like your father, Harry, your heart is pure. Your love for Gabriella is strong. Maia did not choose her timing randomly, nor the selection of your precious possession. She has something in mind and it has nothing to do with taking her away to see the different colours of blue in the oceans of the world."

Harry emptied the bottle in his hand and opened another. "I don't remember my parents," he said quietly. "I- I miss them so much. I wish my mom were here to cry with me. I wish dad were here to get pissed and light up the ocean." He took a drink.

"They are, Harry," said Sirius softly in return. "They're here... in you. You just--"

"Yeah? In me?"

Dropping the bottle of beer in the sand, Harry rose unsteadily to his feet, extended his arms toward the sea and screamed. Fire erupted from both his hands and shot forward hundreds of feet into the water, sending up an enormous cloud of steam.

"Whoa!' yelled Sirius. "I didn't mean--" Harry stopped.

"That... that felt good," said Harry, smiling for the first time as he reached down and picked up his bottle of beer. The liquid inside began to bubble from the heat of his hands as he wiped the sand from around the lip and took a sip. "I... I don't know what I'd do without you, Sirius. Thank you."

Sirius just shook his head as the two sat back down. They began to talk about battles and Quidditch and dragons and, after a few more stories, eventually Harry fell asleep. When he woke, the morning sky was a powder blue, but the sun had not yet poked its head over the horizon. A small fire burned in midair between Harry's chair and Sirius', but Sirius wasn't in his. Grimacing from his headache and stiff muscles, Harry sat up and tried to focus his vision. In the distance, along the shore, he thought he saw Sirius speaking with someone. He rubbed his eyes. Was she a redhead? He stood up to see better, but when he looked again they were both gone.

Harry shook his head and reached to sit back down. When he turned he found Sirius in his chair, sleeping. Clearly, Harry had had way too much to drink.

"Sirius?"

"What... what is it, Harry?" Sirius asked, opening his eyes.

"You, I- I saw you on the beach."

"Did you? How surprising," said Sirius, reaching down and picking up a handful of sand, then letting it fall through his fingers. "How did I look, hungry?" Sirius stood up, vanished the fire, chairs and numerous empty bottles and, after ruffling Harry's hair, went inside the castle to start breakfast.

Harry waited until the sun broke above the horizon, rubbed the connubial band on his finger and whispered, "I love you," to the waters and headed back to the castle. Ron and Hermione would be arriving soon and he didn't want to look as devastated as he felt.

It was awhile before Harry joined Sirius in the kitchen, prepared to face a new day and travel without Gabriella to Singehorn's ceremony. He poured himself some coffee, sat down and started sipping, holding the cup in both hands and steadying himself by resting both elbows on the table. He did not look well.

"If Soseh were here, she'd have you fixed up in no time," said Sirius. "Here, try this." He levitated a small green bottle over to the table next to Harry. "Should help a little." Harry took a swig. For a moment, he was certain that his head had just become a large popcorn cooker - pops and snaps and the sizzling sound of butter were igniting in his brain. When it stopped, the fog had cleared and the ache had subsided.

"If Soseh were here," said Harry dismally, "she'd kill me for losing her daughter."

"It's not like you lost her. I've sent her word about Gabriella's... well abduction isn't the right word... disappearance. We'll see her tonight before the ceremony. You do know that she can't kill you. Only her daughter can." Sirius began chewing on some bacon and held up a piece for Harry. "Want some?" Harry just shook his head. "Toast then." Some bread flew out of a cabinet and started on fire. "I know Ron was hoping to hop on Buckbeak, but in light of the circumstances, I think it best if we skip flying the Hippogriffs and instead just Apparate up. We can take the extra time to explain things." Harry agreed chewing his charred piece of toast.

Before they left, Harry wandered into the great room that faced north, overlooking the pastures and barns about the castle. The entire face of the castle was one giant window. Harry recalled the many weeks it had taken to reconstruct it before the glass would stop breaking. It was in this room that Anthony had died. Sirius was reading a Greek paper by the large fireplace - the castle's floo network.

"They should be here in about five minutes," said Sirius, not looking up from his paper. The fire crackled and popped as he crinkled his Greek Gazette and turned the page.

"It's quiet around here," Harry whispered, touching the stone walls of the castle with his left hand. His fingers began to tremble slightly and he quickly held them in the other hand. "The ghosts are gone, but I... I still feel Anthony."

"I hope you always will," said Sirius, closing his paper. "That's a good thing. If you didn't feel that, Harry, you'd never truly understand what happened here. Anthony's death was tragic, but because of it part of who you were changed that day and you're now a better man for it." He tossed the paper in the fireplace. "Here they come."

There was a sudden down rush of air and out of the fire stepped Hermione followed only a moment later by Ron who brushed the ashes off his dark robes. It had been barely a couple months, but to Harry he looked much older than when last they met. They shook first and Ron pulled him into a grand hug. Harry noticed the Magpies' team ring on his right hand and held it up with a smile.

"Hey, hey!"

"No special powers, mate," said Ron with a grin, "but it's good for a free ale down on Diagon Alley." Harry turned to Hermione who had just finished hugging Sirius. She clearly was not using a concealment charm and her belly looked so huge Harry thought she could give birth at any minute.

"Just a few more weeks?" Harry asked and Hermione nodded with a smile, placing her right hand on her belly.

"Two weeks and five days," she said. "Not that anyone's counting. Too far along to join you up on the mountain, I'm afraid. I figured I'd just stay here and watch the ocean. It's so beautiful." She glanced about. "Where's Gabriella?"

There it was. He knew it would come and he knew it would come from Hermione. How many more times today would he be asked the same three words? Thankfully, before he had to screw up the courage to get through it, Sirius explained what had happened. Ron was shocked; Hermione began to cry wrapping her arms about Harry. It was all he could do not to burst out blubbering all over again.

"It's okay," he managed to say. "She's fine, so I'm fine. That's what matters. We'll... we'll be together one day."

"Well, I don't want you to stay alone," Hermione said with concern. "Especially not in this huge old castle. After the ceremony, you come back to our place in London. No moping. You and Ron can get out and tear up the town before he's chained to the nursery."

"Yeah," said Harry with a nod and a short shrug, ignoring the fact that the castle wasn't old; he'd just spent two months rebuilding the whole thing from rubble with some of the most advanced wizardry of the time. "Sure." It didn't really matter. He was still a bit numb and his brain was incapable of really thinking more than a few hours ahead, let alone days. "We'll see." Hermione was about to say something when Sirius cut in.

"That reminds me of something, Harry," said Sirius with a slight twinkle in his eyes. "Now that we have witnesses I can hand over the keys to you."

"Now?" asked Harry in disbelief.

"You built it," answered Sirius. "And I'll now be spending most of my days at Hogwarts. Besides, it'll be a chance for you to stay close to her, even while you sleep."

Harry thought about it for a moment and nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah, I'd like that." A thin smile appeared on his face.

Sirius performed the ceremony and the magical enchantments fell into Harry's stead. He was now the owner of some of the finest magical property in all Greece. He was also responsible for its keeping and those of the grounds and the animals that lived there. Suddenly, he felt as if he'd just passed some sort of milestone in his life, letting slip the last vestiges of his youth. Perhaps he now bore the same look Ron had when he stepped through the fireplace.

"There's just one more thing we need to do," added Sirius. "Before we leave lets--"

There was another rush of the fireplace, the fire flamed green and out stepped Cho. She was holding Jamie's hand.

"Da!" he yelled and ran toward Harry who crouched low and scooped him up. He was so not expecting this and so thrilled to have his son held tightly in his arms. Cho came over and kissed him on the cheek.

"I'm glad we caught you before you left. He's been babbling your name constantly since last night and I was worried we'd miss you."

Harry reached out and grabbed her in his right arm and squeezed. He was beginning to lose control of his emotions and she noticed.

"Harry?" Cho asked. "What is it? What's the matter?"

Harry could feel the tears dripping down his face and couldn't bring himself to speak. Hermione took Jamie out of his arms.

"Whooo, you've gotten big!" she said brightly. "Come join Mama and me for some tea, okay?" Jamie smiled, but Cho looked more concerned than ever as Hermione led her toward the kitchen.

Ron went over to comfort his friend who had leaned up against one of the stone walls. He placed his hand on his back. "It'll be alright, Harry. You said it yourself. As long as Gabriella's okay--"

The fire roared once more and this time Sirius let loose a few choice words as George stepped out of the fire, brushing the ashes from a set of the finest dress mourning wear made in England. His hair was combed. No. More than that, it was styled. He looked almost dashing, standing there with a small box in his hands. He first saw Ron and Harry by the wall.

"Hey, little brother! Harry!" he said with a smile. "So we're not too late. Awesome. Cho tried to make it through to Sirius' castle, and when that didn't work we figured the switch had been made, which meant that I had to get a housewarming gift, or, in this case I guess, a castlewarming gift." He looked around for Cho. "What? Have the women already started making plans for the place?"

It didn't take long for the general account of what had happened to be made and, while there were many thoughts about what should be done, all agreed that the priority at hand was to get to the ceremony as quickly as possible. Along the way, Ron and George would try to intercept as many questions for Harry as possible, but the general explanation for Gabriella's absence was to be that Hermione and Cho couldn't attend the ceremony for obvious reasons and that Gabriella was with them by the sea.

"Come on, it's time we got going," called Sirius. Hermione kissed Ron good-bye, but Cho just gave George an awkward hug.

"You didn't just do that because of me?" asked Harry. "Because, if you two are in love you need to know that I couldn't be happier." Cho began to blush, and even George seemed somewhat sheepish as to what to do. "Go on," insisted Harry. "Kiss her! You never know if it'll be your last chance." Instead of going toward Cho, George stepped over to Harry and gave him a hug.

"You're a fine friend, Harry."

"Not me you fool! Her!"

It was early afternoon when Sirius, George, Ron and Harry Apparated, brooms in hand, to the small village north of Chata Zverovka where Dakhil's little hut was, the same hut where Draco now stayed. Harry had neglected to owl Draco, but since the ceremony was this evening, he assumed Draco would know he'd be stopping by. He hadn't really expected Ron and George, but didn't think Draco would mind. They wouldn't stay long. After getting things in order, they'd fly up to the top of the mountain.

When they appeared outside of the town, they found it very quiet. The late summer weather was still warm, but the sense of autumn's approach hung in the air, giving it a crispness that accompanied the light breeze. A few of the villagers were walking about, selling goods. Some knew of the upcoming ceremony and, by the look of their dress, would be attending. Harry was about to knock on Draco's door when it opened and out popped Fred. Barefoot, he was wearing blue denim jeans but nothing more. His face was bright with an enormous, devilish grin.

"Wotcher, Harry! Sirius!" he said with a quick wave as he ran past them. He caught eye of Ron and George, stopped and tossed them each a small wrapped candy, and continued running. "Lookin' good George!" he yelled as he quickly crossed the street. An instant later, Draco shot through the door wand in hand. He was also shirtless though he wore one sock and his pants were black and more formal looking than Fred's. His face was smiling from ear to ear though he appeared to be in hot pursuit.

"Come back here you bloody coward, or I'll--" Draco stopped mid-sentence when he saw the wizards at his door. He tried to stifle the smile on his face, though he was having difficulty. "Professor Black," he said with a slight nod, slipping his wand into his back pocket. His eyes shot across the street where Fred had disappeared behind a building. He combed his hand through hair and when he did so Harry noticed the two red marks on his white neck, but he brought his hand down and the blonde hair covered them again. He looked pointedly at Harry. "I wasn't really expecting company."

"I'm sorry, Draco," said Sirius before Harry could reply. "It's my fault. Harry wanted to head straight to the mountain, but I asked if we could stop by here one last time in Dakhil's honour.

"Of course," said Draco with a dignity and comportment that his attire did not portray. "I understand. I can deal with Fred later. Please come in."

Sirius stepped in first followed by Ron and George, but Harry stopped at the door to speak with Draco. He certainly had no intention of interrupting anything, least of all with the Headmaster of Hogwarts and Fred's two brothers. Although, Fred didn't seem to mind.

"I'm so sorry, Draco. I, erm, I didn't know... em, "Where's Blaise?"

"Blaise can go fuck himself."

"Oh," said Harry, figuring this wasn't the optimal time to ask for details. Suddenly Fred appeared and cast a spell from across the street.

"Áreddotu!" Harry called without using his wand, sending the spell backward toward the caster. For a second, Fred disappeared in a halo of blue light. When he reappeared, his pants were gone.

"HA!" yelled Draco, pointing at Fred. "Serves you right! But don't think for a second this is over Weasles. Good one, Harry. The bastard needed a taste of his own medicine," he said with a grin. "Quick, inside."

Harry expected to find the small hut empty. Instead he found it filled with people, only one of whom was fully dressed - Sirius. The others were in various stages of disrobement, including both Ron and George who were chewing the tiny candy that Fred had tossed them. Thankfully, Arthur Weasley had already headed up the mountain, but left behind were a number of other wizards and witches including quite a few Professors, Aurors, and many students that Harry knew from Hogwarts. He had to smile seeing his friends nearly naked. The hut had expanded to take them all in, but it was still one room with a dirt floor and only a cot, a fireplace and a small kitchenette. Most were trying to decipher what pieces of clothing they were missing to reconstruct what they were supposed to be wearing.

"I told you not to eat it!" Harry heard George chiding Ron.

"Then why did you, if you knew what it was?"

"Cho insisted I wear formal dress, but the tie was killing me. Voila! No more tie!"

"What happened?" Harry asked Draco.

"You weren't the only one that decided to stop here first," said Draco. "Thanks to Fred, the place became some sort of impromptu pre-ceremony reception. It's been packed for over an hour, people just standing around looking at each other. Fred couldn't take it anymore." George, wearing one shoe and a pair of pants with only one leg, stepped over to join them.

"It seems my little brother thought it would be funny to hand out some enchanted hors d'oeuvres - bare-bottomed baguettes, nudist nougats, chicken strippers and the like. From what I hear, it took awhile for them to take effect and only about a second to figure out that the guy responsible was the werewolf howling in the corner."

"Well," said Draco, slapping Harry's shoulder, "I'm going to go get dressed. If Fred tries to sneak in, nail him to the wall. I'll be back before you can say, 'blood pie.'" Draco held his hands to his pale chest and fell through the floor.

"Interesting trick," said George as Luna stepped over. She had managed to reassemble her own wardrobe.

"Where's Gabriella?" she asked as she hugged Harry. Instinctively Harry rubbed his ring finger. The band there still shimmered in the light and as his thoughts turned toward her, he sensed joy. He wasn't sure how to feel about that. George, thankfully, interceded.

"I'm afraid she couldn't--" and the two moved away.

"Harry?" He looked through the sea of people and saw Soseh. She was so short he hadn't noticed her before. Fully clothed, she stepped quickly over to him and took him by the hand. "Follow me." She grabbed the handle to the front door and the two stepped out only when they stepped through they weren't out in the street, but somewhere else. It was dark and forested and there was a light dusting of snow on the ground.

"What? Where are we?"

"Someplace where we can talk undisturbed." She noted the confusion on Harry's face. "It's something similar to your fireplaces, disgusting things. And you don't have to be a witch to use them," said Soseh. "Now, tell me what happened to my daughter."

Harry explained as best he could and in retelling the tale his eyes began to glisten all over again. The thought that she would be lost for fifteen years was pulling his heart down and he needed to stay positive for the ceremony. He tried to remember Sirius' words though they seemed distant now. Soseh was more pained for Harry's sake than for her daughter's. Indeed her eyes lit up when Harry mentioned that she had been asked to be a daughter of the sea.

"I know how long fifteen years sounds," said Soseh, "to someone who has just turned eighteen. The nymphs do not mark time as do we. For them the sands in the hourglass fall upon each of life's milestones. If you remain true to who you are, Harry, true to my daughter, you will be surprised at how quickly time can pass."

"I would never turn my back on her!"

"I understand," she said, patting his hand. "And soon you will too. Come, let us return."

"Soseh?"

"Yes, dear?"

"Your clothes. You didn't lose any? Didn't the food affect you?"

"There are advantages to being a Seer, Harry." She smiled slyly and walked with Harry back through the door and into Draco's hut.

By the time they had returned, most everyone had changed. All except for Fred, that is, who had somehow been stuck high onto the wall with nothing on. He looked like some strange, living art piece one might find in a London exhibit. His voice had been silenced, but his face was flush with embarrassment. Draco, Harry, George and Ron were the last to leave.

"Can I keep him there like that?" Draco asked George. "With a sprinkling of moonbeam, I'm sure he'd be kind of cute in a furry, overgrown cherub sort of way."

"You'd have to feed him on occasion," said George dryly. "And I'll need him back for a few weeks at Christmas time. The stores are a madhouse on the holidays."

"Sweet!" said Draco. "Do you have any problem with that, Fred?"

Fred looked like he was cursing in about six different languages. His freckles had exploded across his face into a torrent of red fire.

"I don't hear any complaining. I guess that means you're okay with it. Thanks, George. He'll make for a great conversation piece. In fact, I have some friends coming over tonight." The wizards stepped outside and Draco locked the door. They all broke out laughing.

"When does the spell wear off?" asked Ron. "I mean, it does wear off, right?"

"In about an hour, little brother," said George. "He'll still make the ceremony."

They got on their brooms and flew toward the top of Singehorn's mountain. They passed over a large forest where Harry noticed the ring of trees where Mikael had been killed. Further up, the trees vanished and the countryside was rocky and lifeless. In the middle of this nothingness was a small lake ringed in the only meaningful vegetation around. It was the lake where Gabriella and Hermione had been taken during Harry's hike to the Joining. At the time, cursing at the water's frozen surface, he thought that they had been taken away from him forever. Even Soseh thought she was at risk for losing her daughter.

Now, he understood that there had been a purpose, a reason. Harry had to face the dragon alone; he had to offer himself wholly to the Votary not because he was in love with Gabriella, but for his own reasons. But was it like that now? Was Sirius right? Had the nymphs taken her for a reason he was yet to learn? He circled over the water. It glistened like a small jewel in the sunlight. He closed his eyes, wondering if he might see the water's nymph, but was blinded by its energy. He pulled in a deep breath and shook his head to focus on the task at hand and started back toward the mountain peak.

As they made their way toward the cavern entrances, they flew over the ceremony site, the same great stone pad where Harry had been inducted into the Votary and where his Joining had taken place. He was stunned to see the number of wizards, witches and other magical creatures that had assembled. More were still arriving. Across the great grassy field, an endless number of huts had been set up that reminded him of the make-shift village outside the Quidditch World Cup Finals.

The others pealed off and headed to the crowd below while Harry continued toward the dragons' home. Before he arrived he could already sense their presence. He felt a mixture of joy and anger churning in a strange swirl of emotions. He finally set down at the front gate only to find Marek and Antreas waiting for him.

"Primate," said Antreas. "Mama says that now is not the time to ask about my sister, but I would ask--"

"Tonight, when this is over," promised Harry. Antreas nodded and held out his hand for Harry to enter one of the great caverns, the cavern where once had been Singehorn's lair and where Tanwen now slept.

"She is unhappy, Harry," said Marek. "She has been seething since their return from Britain and it's been getting worse. I'm starting to worry it may be some sort of post traumatic stress disorder. We've tried to find out what's bothering her, but she says she will only speak with you. She would have called you earlier, but sensed your grief. Antreas has not yet told her the cause."

"Not till I understand it myself," added Antreas. "We'll leave you alone. For some reason, she's asked for Mama and Draco. We'll escort them here; it should not take long." Both he and Marek shrugged when Harry questioned them with his eyes. Then they stepped back through the entrance doors and left.

The cavern was enormous, lit by some magical stone that glowed bright white, casting the light of day all about the cavern floor. It smelt of damp and water but not of mould or mildew. He could have used the ring, but chose the more intimate link and closed his eyes and reached out to her with his mind. His forearm burned.

His eyes opened and he found himself on a densely forested mountainside. He turned around and found that it opened out with a tremendous view that continued on for miles. Green mountain top after mountain top stretched out toward the endless horizon. The sound of water flowing caught his attention and he made his way through the trees until he came to a great waterfall. It was patterned after the falls where Singehorn had died and at the base, where the water churned ferociously into a small lake, stood a very tall woman with long black hair and dark skin, somewhat lighter than Singehorn's had been. She was wearing green robes and she was bent over the waters, twirling her finger along its surface almost as if she were having a conversation. Harry stepped closer and she rose to look at him with two great yellow eyes.

"Well, Primate," she said with a deep voice for such a beautiful frame. "What do you think?"

"It's... it's spectacular," said Harry earnestly.

"It is a vision of what might come to pass, if we can hold on to it. But soon it may be lost again to the desert."

"Why, what do you mean?"

"Dragons about the world have joined your Votary's call for peace, but not all. Many have chosen to side with the Chinese Fireballs which are, I'm sure, all the more bitter since the death of Ti-Lung. I'm afraid the time has come to put an end to our battle once and for all."

"What are you talking about?" asked Harry nervously, he could sense her emotions filling him. He was feeling anger and the thirst for retribution and had to fight to discern her feelings from his own.

"Singehorn's ceremony is not the only one we must mark this eve. We lost three brethren at the hands of Ti-Lung's army. Only by the slimmest of fortunes are you, Katana and Antreas able to join us this evening.

"I sense your thoughts, Tanwen, but would question their wisdom."

"Can you not see? Our path is set before us." She sat down upon a large crystal bench not unlike the bench Harry had seen Singehorn sit upon. She brought her hands together and the look of her eyes bore pure hate. "We can no longer wait for them to attack, Harry. We can no longer spend our days living in fear for the day they do. The time of reckoning must be of our own choosing. We must be first to rise up and attack, first to destroy our enemy, first to--"

"What?" Harry yelled. "You can't be serious? After all that we've accomplished, you want to throw it away?"

"They spilt our blood!"

"And we spilt theirs! You know that better than any of us! I have no doubt you still taste it upon your lips!"

"The taste of justice is sweet," she countered undaunted. "You're a fool if you do not see the solution at our fingertips. Outside, upon the great stone altar, hundreds of your kind join to pay tribute to Singehorn. They are, many of them, guided by your hand. If you so choose, it is within your power to lead them into one final battle against the evil that faces us. In one week's time, the Chinese Fireballs and all dragons who dare to join them could be eliminated from the earth, those remaining would cower in terror and we would never again have to sleep in fear."

"I would never wish such a thing," said Harry vehemently. "And even if I did, the wizards below would never follow such a madman!"

"Do you know so little about the powers you possess?" she asked, leaning forward upon her bench. "You would only need to change the wills of a few, control the hearts and minds of others, bending their wishes to your own. The rest would follow like lemmings. So it was with Pravus, so can it be with--"

"Dearest Tanwen, you're... you're not thinking straight. Singehorn would never--"

"Singehorn is dead!" she cried, rising to her feet, the green grass beneath her turning brown. "I am the leader of the Hungarian Horntails, greatest clan in all Europe. You will do as I say!" Her eyes were on fire, but he could also see fear there. His arm began to burn. He looked down and the dragon etched upon his skin was writhing, raised and red, but that was not all. It was joined by the Viswa Vajra and now, more than ever, he needed its strength.

"Tanwen, please, don't make me do this." He nervously rubbed the Ring of Onyx with his fingers. "It won't end well for either of us."

"It is clear to me now," she said calmly. "Singehorn was a fool to entrust you with the power of the ring and Soseh was senseless to bestow you with our mother's heart. It is beyond the old woman's power to take it from you, but her daughter, your Watcher, can.

The greenery of the forest vanished and with it the hope for a new age. The forested mountains were replaced with a vast desert plane. In front of him Tanwen stood tall and defiant. He looked down and shuddered. Beneath her right foot was--"

The scene disappeared. Harry had returned to the cavern. In front of him was the true dragon Tanwen, her yellow eyes glowing with sinister satisfaction. Beneath the giant talon of her right foot was Soseh, pinned to the ground. To Harry's right, fear pressing him back against the cavern wall, was Draco. Marek and Antreas were nowhere to be seen. Harry began to call out when Tanwen stopped him.

"Call anyone, and I will crush her," she threatened.

"Calm down," he said gently, holding out his hands. "There's no need to hurt anyone."

"W-What's going on?" asked Draco. "I thought you said they were your friends."

"They are, Draco," said Harry, casting him an eye to run for the door. Draco began to move, but Tanwen let loose a blast of fire that passed through Harry and turned the door red. Draco stopped his advance and retreated to his original position. Harry brushed off the flammable saliva from his robes. "But right now she's a little upset."

"Yeah... I see that."

"Soseh, tell me where your daughter is," Tanwen howled. Her roar echoed within the cavern. Harry knew that both he and Soseh could understand the dragon. What surprised him was that Draco seemed to follow her words as well.

"You think me such a fool to betray my own daughter?" said Soseh her eyes steeled up at the dragon's breast. "I would sooner die." The dragon pressed down, slightly, and Soseh cried out.

"Stop it!" said Harry, "You're hurting her."

"Tell me where she is!"

"She's gone," yelled Harry. "She's been taken."

"Liar!"

"She has been taken by Maia," said Soseh with a smile. "She has become a daughter of the sea, Tanwen. No mortal creature on earth or in the heavens can touch her now."

"She must perform the transference!" yelled Tanwen. "You will bring her to me!"

"You have seen many suns, Tanwen. You know that is impossible. There is no power that can summon the Daughters and it will be years before Gabriella returns. While her heart still beats upon the earth, there can be no transference without Gabriella's hand even if you were able to kill him yourself, which is beyond you. No Tanwen, Asha's heart remains with Harry."

Tanwen was frustrated and upset. Clearly her plan was not going as she had expected.

"Deceiver, you spoke to me of your vision. This one here." The clawed tip of the dragon's wing pointed at Draco. "He is to be the next Primate." Her head bent low and she looked directly into Draco's eyes. "I can see his thirst for power, his taste for blood. Let me speak to him."

"That is against our ways," said Soseh. Tanwen squeezed again.

"Soseh," yelled Harry, "just do it! It's not worth your life." She nodded in pain. Still pinned, she raised her hand.

"Come here, Draco," she called weakly. Draco looked at Harry for reassurance.

"It's okay," he said. "She just needs to hold your hand." As Draco stepped cautiously beneath the dragon's breast, Harry twirled his wand in his fingers, despising the act he was now considering. It would be complicated. One wrong move and Soseh would die.

That's when he saw it, when Draco exposed his arm to Soseh. They both looked at him, telling him with their eyes to keep quiet. It was faint. The mark had not yet been set for Draco had not yet shown a dragon the necessary kindness, but the proximity with Tanwen made it glow white. There, upon his right forearm, was the outline of a dragon. Soseh had set it upon him when first she met him in Dakhil's cabin many months ago. But why?

"It is done," she said, feigning exhaustion.

"Come before me, Draco," Tanwen commanded. Draco obliged and stepped back to the spot where he previously stood. He bowed in deference.

"Good... good," said Tanwen with satisfaction. "Your time, at last, has come. You shall take your rightful place at my side as Primate of the Votary. Together we shall create a world of lasting peace. There are but two defilers in our way - the Fireballs of China. Help me defeat them and you may rule the Wizarding world as you choose."

"Seems reasonable," drawled Draco. "But you said two adversaries."

"Yes, the other is here before you. I have heard from certain wizards that there is no love lost between you. Cut the ring from his hand and it is yours to control the Wizarding world."

"I see," said Draco slyly, sliding toward Harry with his wand drawn. Harry followed in kind, not sure what to expect. "This little black ring would give me all that?" Draco asked.

"Yes."

"Total control of any witch or wizard?"

"Yes."

"The ability to manipulate all manner of creatures to my will?

"Yes!"

"Total power and world domination at my fingertips?"

"YES!"

Tanwen stepped forward in anticipation, releasing Soseh from her grasp. Harry's mother-in-law quickly rose and ran toward the cavern's great entrance out onto the mountain. Tanwen ignored her.

"I don't suppose you'll just hand it to me?" Draco asked Harry.

"I can't," he said with a shrug, now sensing Draco's intentions. A wave of nausea passed over him. Knowing what they were about to do, he was beginning to feel ill. It was against his oath to harm Tanwen and yet he had to. "The ring... it's stuck to my hand."

"Then, I guess, you'll have to give me your hand."

"Just kill him!" Tanwen roared impatiently. The cave echoed and fell silent. Then there was a rumbling that came from outside like rolling thunder. It was followed by a disturbance that they all felt. A sudden flash of perspiration appeared on Draco's forehead. Something had just elevated the temperature in the cavern by a good twenty degrees.

"Did you feel that?" Draco asked, suddenly concerned. "Who turned up the heat?"

The break in their conversation was enough for Harry to sense the others. A dozen voices form the Votary crying out and Talisan writhing in pain.

"We're being attacked!" he yelled. "Dragons!"

No sooner had he called the alarm than a fireball began to roll down from the entrance to the cavern. Using his wand, Harry stopped it before it could reach them.

"Soseh!" yelled Draco. He transformed into full vampire form and disappeared after her into the swirling smoke.

"Damn you, Tanwen!" Harry yelled bitterly. "I should have been outside! I could have stopped this!"

"The Fireballs," she muttered numbly. "They knew."

"You have your wish! A secret attack. Only... the dragon caught off guard is you!"