Accidental Magic

Accidental Magic

Chapter Six:

Full Circle

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"Well let's see what that Puzzlebox looks like, Harry," urged Petunia. She knew Harry was nervous; he was biting his lower lip and his leg started bouncing again.

"C'mon Harry, just get it over with," Ron added. The redhead stared at Petunia impatiently. Despite his best efforts, she knew he didn't trust her.

"Fine, fine. Keep yer knickers on." Harry carefully unwrapped the brown paper in silence and soon revealed the infamous box. Petunia couldn't decipher the type of wood it was but the patina of the finish surely placed it at well over 200 years. In the back of her mind, she wondered what it would be worth at Sotheby's.

"Well, open it, Harry," Hermione pressed him. "Is there a key?"

"No, but I think I need to work out this puzzle on top. Come here and help me." Ron and Hermione crossed the room and sat on the floor with Harry, the box on the floor between them.

Petunia sat silently in her spot on the chair, her own box weighing heavily on her lap. She thought about opening her own box while Harry was occupied, but thought it better to wait and see what Harry received. She sat quietly watching the three of them move carved tiles across the cover and held back her laughter as Hermione piped in every once in a while with an admonishment that the boys were doing something wrong.

"Okay, now move that one there." Harry followed Ron's instructions and moved the last piece into place, causing the box to pop open.

"Well that's certainly anti-climactic," Hermione muttered. "Looks like there's a letter, Harry." Harry nodded and retrieved a large sealed envelope.

Petunia and the other two teens watched as Harry removed the letter and unfolded it carefully. His eyes quickly scanned the page. Harry's hands began to shake and his expression changed. He lifted his head to the room and said softly, "It's from...it's from Dum...Dumbledore," Harry spat out, tears beginning to fall as he bravely tried to hold them back. His hands went to his eyes, wiping away the tears from underneath his glasses.

"Do you want us to leave the room, Harry?" Petunias asked, causing all three heads to pop up and look at her. It was obvious they forgot she was in the room.

"No, no. That's okay. I'll read it to you all," Harry answered, getting a look of encouragement from both Ron and Hermione.

31 July, 1996

Dear Harry,

By now, you have learned of your selection as the new Guardian of Merlin. Welcome to the brotherhood. You join a long line of wizards and witches who strove to protect the knowledge of Merlin. This long list includes such notable and varied names as Rowena Ravenclaw, Benjamin Franklin, Bowman Wright, Michelangelo, Queen Elizabeth I, Ptolemy and Montezuma. I daresay, I have waited the longest amount of time to learn the identity of my replacement.

As you are familiar with the use of a Pensieve and the removal and storage of memories, I will not go into those details. Place the contents of the phial enclosed into my Pensieve and you will then be able to retrieve them, adding them to your memories and knowledge. The sensation of thousands of years of memories swirling around in your head is enough to drive you mad, Harry. You must take time to accustom yourself to your new knowledge. You must learn to compartmentalize the new memories, lest you go insane.

Your replacement will be revealed to you in a vision on the day of their birth. On this child's sixteenth birthday, you are to remove the knowledge, which would at this time include your own, and place them in a phial. It will adjust to fit into whatever size you have. As the child turns seventeen, you will deliver the Puzzlebox and bestow upon them the Guardianship.

Add the contents of the phial to your memories soon, Harry. With the added knowledge of the former Guardians, you are guaranteed to live at least until your replacement turns sixteen.

"Harry! He's telling you that you'll live! That you can beat him!" Ron's face lit up like a Christmas tree and he sprung from his seat, whooping and hollering in celebration.

"Shh!" Petunia and Hermione said together.

"Oh, sorry. Harry you do realize that, don't you?" The three of them turned toward Harry, who looked ashen and utterly gobsmacked.

"Uh, yeah." He let a small smile escape his stoic façade and went back to finish the letter.

Harry, I wish you luck in your quest to defeat Tom Riddle. You have a great responsibility ahead of you, Harry, and I am certain you will find success. Remember, your ability to love is your power. Keep your friends close Harry, and do not push love away. Allow those who love you to help you. They are your greatest resource.

Your servant,

Albus PWB Dumbledore

The letter drifted to the floor when Harry finished reading and he buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking. Petunia, Ron and Hermione watched Harry for several moments, not knowing if he was laughing or crying or what was going on in Harry's head.

Hermione went across to sit beside Harry and began rubbing his back, which was still shaking. "Are you alright, Harry? This is good news."

Harry lifted his head and the remnants of tears remained in his eyes and on his cheeks. Sniffing loudly, wiped his nose with his hand. "Yeah, I know. It's just that G..Ginny..."

"What about my sister, Harry?" Ron joined them on the sofa. "If you hurt her, I swear Voldemort will be the least of your worries."

"Ron, I don't want to hurt her, but I can't let her get involved in this. I luh..." Harry stopped suddenly, his mouth covered with his hand. Hiding his head from the others, Harry got up and looked out into the dark midnight sky.

"If you love her, Harry, why'd you break it off?" Hermione asked, her eyes full of concern.

"To protect her. Don't you get it, you two? She's a target because of me!" Harry began pacing again.

"She knows that, Harry. If you think you can keep her away from you just because of that, you really don't know her that well." Ron got up and stopped Harry's pacing, taking hold of his arm. "Now get over it and let's get going, okay?" Harry nodded, looking at Petunia.

"But, uh, I'd like to see what Petunia got." He sat on the floor at Petunia's feet expectantly. Ron sighed heavily and dropped onto the sofa again, crossing his arms in disgust.

Petunia turned her attention to the small parcel in her lap, slowly removing the paper, revealing a smaller box with a note attached. She looked at Harry as he nodded for her to open it, anxious himself to see what it was all about.

"Go ahead," Harry told her.

Mrs Dursley,

Thank you for completing your task. As promised, by taking hold of the item in the other box, you will receive your gift of partial magic.

"What! Dumbledore's giving her magic?" Ron's face reddened while his anger began spilling out. "How can he? That's never been done. She's a Muggle for Merlin's sake!"

"Ron, that's no concern of yours," scolded Hermione. "And since when are you prejudiced?"

"Well then I suppose you think we should go around making all Muggles magic?" Ron shook his head again.

"Ron, it's between her and Dumbledore, so shut it!" Harry yelled, receiving a harsh look from Hermione, her finger on her lips. "So what's in that box?"

Petunia reached inside and found a long rectangular package with a large 'O' emblazoned on the cover. Lifting the lid, she gasped at what she saw. "It's...it's Lily's wand! I'd recognize it anywhere." She turned the box around to show Harry without removing it from the box.

"That was Mum's?" Harry reached out to stroke the polished handle, taking in every nick and scrape.

"Willow with a unicorn hair. She was so excited to get a unicorn hair," Petunia recalled. "She'd always loved them, especially after knowing they were real." Petunia remembered how Lily pretended to be a unicorn by somehow fastening the wand to her forehead and prancing about the house with it, driving their mother utterly mad. The memory made her smile. "Once, after her third year, she showed me a picture of one and it was beautiful. Have you ever seen one, Harry?"

"Uh, yeah." Harry shifted uncomfortably on the floor. "They are beautiful." Harry cleared his throat. "Go on, Aunt Petunia, take the wand. You'll get your gift."

Petunia looked down and studied the look on her nephew's face. Here he was, considered to be a man in his world, but he never looked more like a little boy than he did at this moment. He experienced nothing but pain and loneliness in her house and it was all her own fault. She could have stood up to Vernon. She could have at least talked to her sister after Vernon was suspended upside down in the air. If she had more backbone, this could have been avoided. If she had given Harry the love he deserved, the love of a mother...

Her thoughts broke off as she decided what to do. Petunia's decision had been made long ago when Lily stood between Death and her son. The magic of a mother's love had no bounds and Death could never truly stop it. There was only one thing Petunia could say.

"No, Harry. I don't want it."

"But...but your wish? You and Mum..." Harry's voice broke off as he tried to search her face for an explanation.

"I'm not taking it. I want you to have it. Don't you see, Harry? Things have come full circle." She reached out and brushed Harry's hair from his eyes before sliding onto the floor next to him. "Your mother's magic began all this when she gave up her life for yours. Use her magic to finish what she started, Harry. Use her wand to fulfil your destiny. Use the love in your heart for your friends and Dumbledore to destroy Voldemort. Use your love for Ginny to make the world safe for the two of you." She held the box out to him, urging him to take it.

"I will." Harry lunged forward and embraced his aunt, holding her close while out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ron and Hermione discreetly leave the room. Petunia hugged him back, feeling a great weight lift off her shoulders. She let go of him and closed the lid before handing him the box and standing up again.

"Now go. You have so much to do, Harry. Go finish this." She held out her hand to him and he took it, pulling himself up next to her. He turned toward Ron and Hermione, who were standing silently at the door to the hallway.

With a swish of his wand, Harry opened his trunk and placed the box with his mother's wand inside, tucking it safely under a pile of clothes before closing the lid. He muttered something and the trunk shrunk to a manageable size and picked it up, placing it under his arm. Harry lifted Hedwig's cage and began walking toward the door.

"Thanks," he whispered, his feet just crossing the threshold. She smiled in return and shooed them out the door. Hermione waved good-bye with one hand and grabbed Ron's hand with the other.

Petunia stood in the open doorway and watched Harry, Ron, and Hermione set out on their journey, a journey fraught with danger. But somewhere in the recesses of her mind, Petunia knew that the three of them finding each other was no accident. It was magic.