Harry Potter and the Burden of Becoming

Harry Potter and the Burden of Becoming

Chapter 73 - The Burden of Becoming

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The cloudy skies and warm weather combined together, making an already weary Harry more bleary eyed than ever. The rhythmic click-clack, clackety-clack, click-clack, clackety-clack, rolled in and out of Harry's senses. Click-clack, clackety-clack. Her body was warm, pressed firmly against his, and his head slid over against the wall of the newly remodeled Hogwarts Express. Just for a moment, he thought, and closed his eyes. Click-clack, clipety-clop.

It was warm and the tall grass made his bare back itch. The sun was bright in his eyes, and as he pulled his hand up to shield his view, she grabbed him by the wrist. She sat on his hips and pushed both his wrists against the soft earth, blinding him in the sunlight. He could feel her long hair tickle his sides as she lowered her face to kiss his lips. When she grew close, she blocked the sun and Harry opened his eyes. Gazing back into his were two twinkling black pools that bore mischief in their gleam.

She kissed him gently at first, and then pressed down more firmly letting go of his wrists and drawing her arms around his neck, pulling him close. Her warm breath blew across his left ear and nibbled around the caduceus that matched the one hanging from her own ear. The sweet, musky scent of her perfume filled his senses and he reached up and held her tight. He could feel the rhythmic pounding of her heart next to his, racing with excitement, with anticipation. With a grand sweeping motion they rolled in the grass and Harry now looked down into her eyes. She was smiling, and he tried to imagine a more beautiful sight in the universe, but found nothing to compare.

He could feel her tremble slightly beneath him, as if the very earth were undulating, rocking rhythmically back and forth. But then the rumbling grew to a roar; the earth was shaking beneath them both and Harry turned to see dozens of Centaurs pouring out of the nearby forest. The majestic creatures charged forth seemingly oblivious to the two students hidden in the tall grass. Gabriella screamed and Harry dropped to shield her as best he could, anticipating a trampling hoof to his back at any moment. The ground shook violently and the roar grew more deafening when, suddenly, it stopped. A blue-jay cackled in the distance, its voice echoing off the silence. Harry looked up; he and Gabriella were surrounded. To the side, in front, and behind, there were Centaurs in every direction.

"Harry Potter," said a voice behind and to the right. Harry turned to see a Centaur with bright red hair looking directly at him. His eyes were sad, his voice familiar; it was Ronan.

"Yes?" asked Harry as he sat up, releasing Gabriella from his protective grasp. Next to Ronan stood Magorian, the leader of the Centaurs.

"Filthy beasts," hissed Gabriella quietly in Harry's ear. He noticed Magorian narrow his eyes, but if the Centaur heard her words, he paid them no heed.

"Harry Potter," said Magorian with a very slow methodical voice. "It is time."

"Now?" sputtered Harry. "But I'm busy. I was just--"

"It is time," said Ronan urgently. "The alliance must be sealed. You must seek out Singehorn."

"Singehorn? Who's--"

"It's time!" said another voice. "Harry, it's time!"

Harry blinked his eyes, and realized the train had stopped. Everyone was pulling down their trunks and bidding farewell to their mates down the corridors. He blinked again and awkwardly began to stand up. Gabriella looked down at him and smiled.

"Were your dreaming of me?" she asked with a twinkle in her eyes that mirrored the expression that was just in Harry's mind. He smiled back and stood at her side.

"You are all I ever dream of," he said, and kissed her on the lips.

"Oh, blimey," groaned Ron, rolling his eyes. "Can you be any more corny!"

"Just because you couldn't rub two romantic sentences together if you tried," snapped Hermione, "is no reason to jump over Harry."

"I can too rub... two... sentence thingies..." Ron sputtered. "Together!" he added with satisfaction. Hermione just shook her head.

"P-lease...," she said with the faintest hint of a smile. Hermione gathered her things and tried to smooth out her bushy hair. "Well," she gave Harry and Gabriella hugs, "now that everyone can Apparate we can visit each other more often."

"I think I'll stick to flying," said Harry weakly. He really had no enjoyment at all over Apparating from one place to another, but seeing as it was the one bit of magic he could do outside Hogwarts until his seventeenth birthday, he figured he'd have a bit of fun with Uncle Vernon over the summer.

"You will stop by before we're off on our voyage?" Gabriella asked Ron and Hermione. "After that, Harry will be staying somewhere with Sirius I suspect."

"We'll stop by," answered Hermione.

"I can't wait until we get him out of Privet Drive, once and for all," said Ron emphatically. Gabriella pinched his arm hard. "Ayy! Okay... okay... number four, Privet Drive!"

Sirius had asked if Harry would come and stay with him over the summer, not at Grimmauld Place, but at a small castle owned by the Blacks in Greece overlooking the sea. Harry told him of his promise to Dumbledore to stay with the Dursleys, but that he and Gabriella would most definitely stop by during their summer trip to the Mediterranean. By then he would be seventeen, and he'd likely just stay.

As the friends exited the train, Harry watched Ron and Hermione walking hand in hand to greet Hermione's parents. They hugged Hermione and then they hugged Ron. Harry had to laugh seeing Ron shrink away from the wet kiss Mrs. Granger planted firmly on the redhead's cheek. He saw Mr. and Mrs. Chang greet James and Cho and, much to Harry's delight, Patrick O'Riley who would be spending much of the summer with them as opposed to the orphanage where he had spent the year before coming to Hogwarts. Patrick, who seemed to have grown three inches since Harry first met him, was showing Mr. Chang the Magpies Snitch and pointed over at Harry. Mr. Chang rose up from the child and looked over into Harry's eyes. There was a tremendous warmth there, and Mr. Chang bowed slightly toward Harry who nodded his own head back and gave a little wave and a gracious smile.

Suddenly, there was a little squeal, and Harry looked over to see Ginny run and jump into her father's arms. It was interesting to see Mr. Weasley in fine clothes and flanked by two high-ranking Aurors. With the defeat of Voldemort, he had been resoundingly elected to the position of Minister, and had finally stopped telling everyone that, "It's only temporary."

Ginny hopped out of Mr. Weasley's arms and into her mother's. The embrace was followed by Ron and Hermione's. For a moment, Harry's eyes locked with Molly Weasley's, and without thinking he reached into his pocket and fingered a folded and worn sheet of parchment. With Gabriella at his side, he walked over and shook Mr. Weasley's hand. There was a blinding flash of light. Harry blinked to find Colin Creevey and his camera.

"History, Harry!" said Colin, beaming. "History! It'll be the cover photo on tomorrow's Prophet for sure." And he disappeared into the crowd. Harry turned to see that Mr. Weasley's ears had reddened a bit, more from embarrassment than irritation, and Harry was glad to see there was still a sense of humility about the newly elected Minister.

"You're looking well, Harry," said Mr. Weasley brightly. "Gabriella, it's a pleasure to see you again."

"The pleasure is mine, sir," said Gabriella warmly.

"I do hope," Mr. Weasley said, "we'll be seeing the two of you at the Burrow this summer."

"There's no hope about it Arthur," jumped in Mrs. Weasley. "They'll come for a visit as often as they like and at least once a week."

"I don't think--" began Harry, but Molly Weasley had him about the neck with her arms before he had a chance to say another word. She kissed his cheek.

"I know you're supposed to live at that dreary place in Little Whinging, and that after your birthday you'll be staying with Sirius," she said, "but you must always know where home is, Harry." She squeezed him in her arms and Harry felt a tremendous surge of warmth pass through him. "Arthur has made the arrangements," she whispered in his ear. "The Darbinyans are connected to the floo network now."

"Gabriella!" a voice called from just passed the entrance to the platform. Hearing her voice, shivers ran down Harry's spine. He hadn't seen or heard her since Christmas, and so much had happened... so very much had happened. Hesitating, Harry turned to see Soseh Darbinyan standing near the platform wall. She was dressed in neat black robes that had flashes of deep purple at the sleeves. She wore no hat and her hair which had grayed and grown since last they met was pulled back and pinned. At her side was Remus Lupin, also wearing black robes. Having already greeted a number of students, he was smiling brightly and looked healthier than Harry had ever seen him, even though the full moon was just the night before.

Hearing her mother's voice, Gabriella gave off a little squeal of her own and ran over towards Soseh. Harry, however, stood frozen, not really sure what to do. There was a sharp pain at his side.

"Ayy!" called Harry, turning to find Cho Chang, her fingers pinching a fold of skin on his right side.

"What are you waiting for, Harry?" she asked pointedly. "Go greet Gabriella's mother."

"I... I killed her husband," Harry said quietly.

"You didn't kill anybody," said Mrs. Weasley sharply.

"You returned her son," added Cho. "If anyone understands, it's Soseh."

"Cho's right, Harry," said Mrs. Weasley, as she gently pushed him forward. "Go."

But Harry's feet wouldn't move. He saw Gabriella hug her mother and he watched as the tears began to flow down both women's cheeks. Offering comfort, Remus had his arm about Soseh, and Harry thought his own arms should be about Gabriella, but he couldn't move. Then Cho gave Harry a quick kiss on the neck, grabbed him about his arm and pulled his frozen body forward.

"Come on," she coaxed softly.

Wizards, witches and their children continued to welcome and hug each other as the platform burgeoned with traffic. Harry could hear people call his name, and out of the corner of his eyes he saw fingers pointing in his direction, but the scenery and the noises blurred into oblivion leaving only a swirl of colours about a tunnel that led toward Soseh Darbinyan. It was almost like preparing the vision for Apparating, only it was Cho pulling him forward.

They were about five steps from the Darbinyan women when Soseh pulled away from Gabriella, reached up to wipe a tear from her daughter's face, and noticed Cho and Harry walking toward her. Soseh's face bore no smile, but presented a warm expression of compassion, and her eyes carried a look of deep understanding that went well beyond Harry's comprehension. Harry's fears of seeing anger or resentment were washed away, but he found himself unable to hold her gaze; his own eyes were filled with too much sorrow.

"Mrs. Darbinyan!" said Cho brightly. "It's so wonderful to finally meet you at last. Harry insisted that I come say hello. This was my last year at Hogwarts."

"Mama," said Gabriella, "you remember about Cho?"

"The other woman," said Soseh, and a curl of a smile came across her lips. Soseh looked at Cho up one side and down the other, and as inscrutable expression spread across her face as if she'd found a deep hidden secret, but would not say more. "Gabriella has told me many good things. You will visit us this summer, no?"

"That sounds wonderful!" answered Cho. "Doesn't it Harry... Harry?"

"What?" Harry asked, breaking himself out of his trance. "Yeah, that sounds great!" he said, mustering a bit more of an engaging voice.

"I can't wait for you to come over," said Gabriella, giving Cho a hug. "I want you to meet my brother."

"I'd like that," said Cho. "I'd like that very much." There was a moment's pause and she added, "I'd better get going. James, Patrick, and my folks are waiting for me outside, and I'm sure those two boys are going to get into trouble if I don't show up soon. Soseh, it was great to see you. Take care." She gave Soseh a hug, and then squeezed Harry's arm. "See you later, hero." Cho's hand brushed his face, and she disappeared into a sea of people.

"A busy year, eh, Harry?" said Remus. "Still, none the worse for the wear." He patted Harry on the back. "Is it true what Sirius says, you've given up wanting to be an Auror? No one at Hogwarts has said a word."

"I don't know," answered Harry, shrugging his shoulders. "I think, maybe, my path leads to another calling." For the first time, Soseh's face truly brightened and a wide smile showed her golden tooth. She reached out, grabbed Harry's right forearm, and pulled him close.

Harry wasn't sure why, but he began to cry. It had been just four weeks since Grigor had given up his life for Antreas, and though Mr. Darbinyan's original plan was to take Harry's life, the Gryffindor's heart was saddened knowing he was gone, knowing that Soseh's husband was gone, and knowing that Gabriella's father was gone.

When Harry pulled slightly back and looked down through wet eyes into Soseh's face, she brought her thumbs to his cheeks and wiped away his tears.

"There will be many more of these I'm afraid," she said warmly. "Come, let us go home. There is much to eat, much to talk about." Harry looked up at Remus, and wondered why he was smiling.

"The Ministry has seen fit to provide a car," said Remus. "Someone there must like you." He winked. "And... it looks like I'll be your escort for awhile, Harry. I hope you don't mind."

"Kind of a light guard," said Harry somewhat surprised that with the upcoming battle he wouldn't have more watchers. "I guess the Ministry doesn't know then." He looked over to thank Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, but they had already left. In fact, the platform was thinning out, though there were still a few gawkers whispering and staring at Harry.

"The Ministry doesn't know what, Harry?" asked Remus.

"Come," interrupted Soseh, "such things are trivial. It is time we left."

Harry and Gabriella said goodbye to a few more of their friends and were soon on their way to Privet Drive in the back of a large black limousine. Remus helped keep the conversation light by talking about Sirius and how he was enjoying freedom.

"You should have seen him strutting down Diagon Alley," said Remus brightly. "The Dailey Prophet may have declared him a hero, but not one wizard would come within ten feet of him. He deliberately walked wherever there were large groups of people just to see how long it would take before they scattered."

Harry was surprised to see Remus so animated the morning after a full moon. Still, he was glad that the werewolf was so energetic. Harry was, for the most part, happy to keep quiet for fear of saying the wrong thing. But when Remus burst out laughing after hearing one of Gabriella's stories, Harry couldn't help himself.

"I don't get it, Remus," Harry said. "It was a full moon last night. How is it possible that you can--"

"Soseh," said Remus with a grand smile. The part time professor put his arm around Gabriella's mother and gave her a warm hug, a hug that elicited a slight blush in Soseh's cheeks. "She's a genius! When I saw what she'd done for Fred, I... well, it's beyond magic, Harry. I've asked her to--"

"And I've told you no, Remus," said Soseh flatly. "It is not meant for everyone, for in the wrong hands it could be turned to nefarious ends."

"I don't understand," said Harry. Gabriella took his hand.

"The same potion that keeps a werewolf from turning on the full moon," she said, "has the opposite effect on non-werewolves. Ordinary people could be drugged and turned into entire legions of werewolves."

"Pravus used the potion to wage war in the Carpathian Mountains," added Soseh, "and there are still people being bitten there to this day." When Soseh looked at Harry, her gaze was deep and penetrating, and he couldn't hold her stare. He squirmed in his seat and instead chose to look out the window.

"If you want to know something, Harry," Soseh said softly, "best to ask and be done with it."

Finally, he turned and looked at her.

"You're feeling better, then?" he asked cautiously. "You seem... better. Gabriella says you're better, but--"

"It was Grigor, Harry," she said gently, with nothing but kindness in her eyes.

"Something like an Imperius Curse," added Gabriella. It was the first she'd spoken of it, and there was sorrow in her words. This time it was she who looked blankly out the window.

"Yes," said Soseh, with a bit of a quake in her voice that mirrored the emotions of her daughter. "Grigor and I reached an impasse I am afraid. It is unfortunate that he chose to control me so. There are not too many wizards that could, but I've always had a soft spot for dark-haired men." She grinned, ruffling Harry's hair with her hand, and then her expression grew more serious. "That's why I had to be quick, Harry, and I'm sorry that it put you in such a dreadful position. I can see many things, but I never dreamed..."

Soseh let out a large sigh and shook her head. Remus handed her a handkerchief and she daubed her wet eyes. There was a long moment of silence as the car turned into Privet Drive and pulled in front of number four.

"It was the will of Asha," Soseh whispered through her emotions. She turned in her black leather seat to look more fully at Harry and spoke very deliberately as she fought back the tears.

"We came to Little Whinging because Anaxarete came to Little Whinging," she said, defiance building in her voice. "We took that house," she pointed out the window at number five, "not because there was a wizard across the street, but because it was the only one we could find that would hold Grigor's instruments. The morning we moved in and you nearly fell out the window, I knew the secret you kept. I could see what needed to be done. Grigor would use the first Muggle he found to protect Gabriella; he would use you. But you were a wizard, and such a spell would be fatal, so you needed to be shielded from his control." Harry reached down and touched his right arm.

"Then why not just tell Grigor what I was?" asked Harry.

"Before we came to Britain, I had a vision of Grigor and a bound wizard before the Curtain of Phenolem. Was it simply Grigor's thoughts, or a window into what was to come? I still do not know. All I could do was to try and protect you from being taken as a sacrifice to the Ministry," answered Soseh. "I failed." Her shoulders slumped, and again Remus' handkerchief made its way to her eyes.

"Harry," said Remus quietly, "I'm going to take your things to your house. Soseh wanted to discuss a few items with you in private across the street. I'll wait with your aunt and uncle until you come on over."

"Do you think that's such a good idea?" asked Harry. Remus smiled a toothy grin.

"Yes," he said. "Yes I do."

As Harry, Gabriella and Soseh walked toward the Darbinyan door, Antreas opened it and stepped out. Gabriella dropped her trunk and ran into his arms. Soseh was right; there was no loss for tears this evening. Eventually, they all made their way into the living room. The air was filled with the wonderful aroma of a simmering stew, and fresh baked bread. Harry's stomach turned; it had been far too long since his last real meal, but first he needed to say something.

"Soseh, I'm so sorry," he said softly, as Gabriella closed the front door.

"Sorry for what, Harry?" she asked.

"For Grigor... for not realizing his plans sooner, for not seeing that he had you under his control."

Soseh sighed and shook her head. She walked over to Harry, took his hand and sat with him on the couch.

"Harry, the road we travel is paved with many stones. If we step upon one that is crooked we might twist an ankle, if another is too high we might trip. The same stones have been laid for centuries, and yet each traveler walks those stones with a different fortune. The only things that distinguish one traveler from another are the choices we make at each fork in the road, and the steps we make along the way. Yet, if one knows well the heart of the traveler, the destination is almost certain.

"When I saw you hanging from your window across the street with owls fluttering about your room, I knew you were a wizard. And when I saw you dawdling on the sidewalk outside your garden, I knew you had eyes for Gabriella. Try as I might to turn Grigor back onto the proper path, he refused, and when I discovered Gabriella also had feelings for you I knew you were at risk."

As Soseh motioned for Antreas and Gabriella to sit, Harry noticed a faint mark on Antreas' right arm. It looked like--

"Harry," Soseh began again, this time her voice clear and strong, the matriarch of her family, "first, I want to thank you for bringing me my son. It appears that Grigor has left our child skills he never had before, skills the Ministry and Albus Dumbledore have offered to help develop and understand." She folded her hands in her lap and looked closely at Harry. "It would have torn me apart if Grigor had succeeded and taken your life. One evil can never turn another into good. I would have both my husband and son, but not completely, not wholly. Their souls would have been forfeit. That Grigor gave his life for his son, and that Gabriella was there to seal the bond, to keep it in the family, is as it should be."

Soseh's eyes demanded Harry's attention, but it was being drawn toward Antreas' forearm. She noticed Harry's wandering eyes and smiled.

"Second," she continued, "it is time you understood the mark on your arm. It was not Grigor's spell or my protection charm that put it there." She chuckled to herself. "It was perhaps the most foolish, and the most wonderful thing I have ever done. There was little time to know for sure, but when I saw how you were embarrassed to be seen by Gabriella, and how you primped yourself to become presentable, I sensed the goodness in your heart. It was not enough to truly welcome you to the family, but I didn't know how long I would have. Time was a luxury I could ill afford." She turned to her son. "Antreas, show him."

Antreas leaned toward Harry and held out his right forearm.

"My father bore a similar mark," he said with a deep yet kind voice, "but each man's is weaved to suit the bearer. I was never allowed to carry the burden until..." Antreas swallowed looking up from his forearm to Harry's eyes, "...until you saved me."

On his forearm was a thin pale outline of some sort. Harry leaned in closer to make it out. At first he couldn't pull it together and then, suddenly, the coloration and detail came to view. It was clearly the outline of a dragon -- a Hungarian...

"... Horntail?" Harry whispered.

"Yes, Harry, a dragon; her name is Asha," said Gabriella. "Centuries ago, a family of Hungarian Horntails flew across the Black Sea and established their home near the village of my ancestors in the South Caucasus at the base of Mount Aragats. She lived just outside the village and, defying conventional wisdom, had come to understand my ancestors as they too came to understand her and her family. It is said that during a rise of darkness she was attacked by evil, and one of my ancestors lost her life in defending the dragon and her family. After the darkness was beaten back, Asha and her kin took it upon themselves to protect all in our line as long as we were dedicated to use her power for the betterment of all God's creatures." Gabriella knelt beside Harry and reached into the pocket where she knew he held the stone of cinnabar; she pulled it out and held it in the palm of her hand.

"When she died, this is what remained -- her heart -- the Heart of Asha."

"The blessing," continued Soseh, "is inscribed on the males of each generation by the women of the generation before. It will be Gabriella's duty to pass the blessing to your sons."

"But... I mean," Harry sputtered, "We never really--"

"That is to say the sons of Harry Potter," said Soseh with a knowing smile, "whoever their mother may be." Both Harry and Gabriella were blushing bright red. "The bond is sealed when one shows a dragon kindness. Little did I know that the kindness had already been shown even before I set the mark."

Harry looked confused.

"Hagrid's dragon," said Gabriella. "At risk to yourself, you protected it from harm and saw it to safety." Harry cast Gabriella a questioning look. "Ron told me," she answered his eyes, shrugging her shoulders.

"But this," said Harry, holding out his arm, "this isn't a dragon, it's--"

"Are you so sure, Harry?" interrupted Soseh warmly. "Look closely."

Harry looked down at his arm, and watched as the symbols of the four houses seemed to transform in front of his eyes. The snake of Slytherin appeared more dragon-like, the wings of Ravenclaw grew bat-like and joined the dragon's back, the sword of Gryffindor flared from the dragon's mouth in a great burst of flame, while the vines of Hufflepuff became the outline of the dragon's legs ending in claws with sharp pointed talons. Clasped in the talons, the dragon held two crossed lightning bolts -- the Viswa Vajra. It was not the same mark on Antreas' arm; it was distinctly Harry's.

"It is a strong symbol, Harry, a symbol to be proud of, but not one to share, for it marks you as the keeper of a great power... more than just the heart of the dragon."

"Isn't this power enough?" asked Harry, taking the red orb from Gabriella's hand and holding it in his own.

"Asha did not only leave us her heart, Harry," said Soseh slowly and carefully. "So too has she left us her progeny, generations of dragons, hundreds around the world, that are sworn to uphold the oath of protection -- an oath that demands the same from us. Such is the blessing, Harry. Such is the burden."

Soseh took to her feet and smoothed down the wrinkles in her robes. She then reached out and took Harry by the hands and lifted him up in front of her. Her eyes were bright, and penetrating.

"Let me walk you across the street and once you have settled your affairs you and your family can join us for dinner." Antreas and Gabriella both stood and Gabriella kissed him on the cheek.

"I know it's a bit much, Harry, but there'll be loads of time to figure it all out. And there's something that can help you find your way." Harry found his thoughts spinning as Gabriella reached around her neck and pulled off the chain holding the Gryffindor signet that Professor McGonagall had given Harry. She placed it back around his neck and held her hand over the lion baring two ruby red eyes, pressing it gently against his heart. "For times of darkness," she whispered, and this time kissed him on the lips and smiled warmly. She joined her brother in the kitchen as Harry and Soseh left the house and started across the street.

The day's light had vanished, and already the stars were poking through the clear patches of sky above. Though the air was warm, Harry felt a bit chilled and Soseh took him by the arm, wrapping it in her own.

"Not so much time, is there Harry?" said Soseh looking skyward as the stars began to sprinkle the heavens. "Ebyrth returns and you have been chosen by the Centaurs."

Stunned, Harry stopped and just looked at her in amazement. He had meant to tell his friends of the coming battle, but hadn't been able to bring himself to. As far as he knew, only Dumbledore was aware that he had been chosen by the Centaurs.

"How did you--"

"It is an easy thing to wield power, to bend armies to one's bidding against a rising storm. It is another thing altogether to use such power wisely to serve the betterment of Earth." They climbed the Dursley's front steps. "You have more power at your fingertips than you can possibly imagine, Harry. It has ruined many a wizard before you. When the dark cloud returns, use it wisely. Follow this." She pressed her hand against his heart, and then kissed him on the cheek. As she started across the street toward her home, she turned over her shoulder and called out jovially, "Bring your family when you're ready. I've made plenty!"

Harry watched as she disappeared into number five, and his stomach growled. The last thing he was going to do was bring Vernon and Petunia over across the street for dinner. Poor Remus was probably going mad already.

He opened the door and saw the back of a wizard's head sitting at a chair in the living room; Vernon and Petunia were seated next to each other in the couch on the far side. Their faces were alabaster white, and for the first time in Harry's memory they looked grateful to see Harry breach the door.

"Ah, Harry!" said Vernon with a twisted attempt at a smile. "Such a pleasure as always."

As Harry stepped into the living room, he noticed Remus drinking a glass of water in the kitchen. He was smiling broadly.

"Remus?" asked Harry. The wizard in the living room turned; it was Sirius. He too was wearing a broad smile and he stood to greet Harry.

"My, my, you've grown!" he exclaimed. "Not even a month and I'd swear you're nearly as tall as your father was!" Harry ran to him at once and held him in his arms. Sirius squeezed tight, and then ruffled Harry's hair. "Remus has invited me to dinner at the Darbinyans. Is that okay with you?"

"It's brilliant!" said Harry, instantly. Vernon and Petunia were trying to make themselves disappear into the very fabric of the couch.

"Did Remus tell you?" asked Sirius. Harry shook his head. "He's moved in next door; at least for a while, maybe longer." Sirius winked at Remus. "Soseh's been giving him potions to help him from turning into a werewolf." Sirius looked at Vernon as if the Muggle cared. "They're almost working!"

"I thought--" Harry began, but he was cut short by the screech of an owl flying in through the open front window. It quickly dropped one of the many scrolls it was carrying and flew back out the window into the starry night. Harry unrolled the scroll and read it aloud.

Notice to recipient,

At 0130, the 26^th of December 1997, a Muggle of your acquaintance witnessed your magical spell. You failed to note the name of the Muggle in question, and send it to the Ministry within three days of receipt of the original notice. You are to report to the Ministry on the 2^nd of July for a hearing on your potential fine and imprisonment.

Cedil Perkins

Director, Muggle Relations Office

"Imprisonment!" cried Harry, crumpling the parchment in his hands.

"Wonderful!" said Sirius. "I can tell you about all the special things you can do while you're at Azkaban." He began to walk Harry to the front door. "Coming, Remus?" he called back. Remus simply rolled his eyes, and joined the pair across the street.

The meal in the Darbinyan home was fantastic, and Harry couldn't help but notice how the two members of his "family" were as healthy as he had ever seen them. He was also surprised to find out that it was true, Remus was staying at the Darbinyans, ostensibly under Dumbledore's orders to watch the young wizard across the street, yet Harry couldn't help but notice that there was a bit of spark between Remus and Soseh. Whatever Antreas thought, he didn't show it. He was very much like his father in that way.

During the meal they made plans for the summer. While not joining the youth enrichment program directly, Remus and Soseh would be close at hand should the need arise, and they would be joining Harry and Gabriella at Sirius' before they all headed to Armenia.

"Greece," said Gabriella dreamily, "I'll love Greece. Tell us about your house, Sirius."

"Well," Sirius began shyly, "it's not so much a house really. The Blacks... well, I own an estate outside the Pantheon. Some call it a castle." Sirius became quite uncomfortable talking about his wealth, and he turned the conversation by telling a joke about his initial introduction with the Dursleys, and everyone began to laugh.

It was a joy that had long been missing from the Darbinyan home, a happiness that filled the empty corners and spilled out through the windows onto the garden and into the street. Harry could see Soseh breathe in the warmth and the energy. Ideas of dragons and Ebyrth, thoughts of Centaurs and Dementors, visions of Voldemort and the gnawing questions that still pulled at Harry's soul slipped effortlessly into nothingness. They would wait for another time. Soseh was pouring everyone espresso when Gabriella took Harry by the hand.

"Mama? Perhaps Harry could walk with me through the neighborhood this evening?" she asked. "I'd like to see if Duncan's home." She put a half spoonful of sugar in Harry's empty demitasse and then handed it to her mother.

"I think it's a marvelous idea, darling." Soseh filled the cup with espresso and handed it to Harry. "Here you go my child. I'd say it will put hair on your chest, but I see that there are two already growing!" Again the whole house erupted in laughter, as Harry's ears reddened.

"Are you up for a walk, Harry?" asked Gabriella.

"Don't be silly," he said with a smile.

Within ten minutes, he and a very beautiful young woman were walking down the street toward Duncan's house, talking about anything but the Wizarding world.