The Ultimate Power

Someone told me love would all save us.
But how can that be, look what love gave us.
A world full of killing, and blood-spilling
That world never came.

And they say that a hero can save us.
I'm not gonna stand here and wait.
I'll hold onto the wings of the eagles.
Watch as they all fly away.

Now that the world isn't ending, its love that I'm sending to you.
It isn't the love of a hero, and that's why I fear it won't do.

-Chad Kroeger ft. Josey Scott (Hero)

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Hero

Beginning of October, 1997

Come to find out, the foursome did have a good time in Hogsmeade together, though Ron would oppose if ever asked. Holli had tried so many new things that afternoon that her head had spun from the extra intake. Harry had practically poured her butterbeer down her throat himself. Hermione had forced so many different sweets upon her in Honeydukes' that Holli could barely remember the names of them all: Fizzing Wizzbees, Chocolate Frogs, sugar quills, and Ice Mice which had made her teeth chatter for ten minutes, all better than the last. Ron had tried to trick her into eating a Cockroach Cluster until Harry had caught on to what he was doing and purposefully trodden on his toes. Ron had yelped in pain while glaring at Harry and not said a word to anyone for half an hour following the incident.

The trio had also taken to sitting with her in meals and classes and Hermione was helping her understand her homework (which was a plus for Holli, because, all though she appreciated what Remus was doing, Hermione allowed Holli to study out of doors). She and Remus had also fallen into a suitable schedule. Half their time together was devoted to studying for Holli's exams and the other half was set aside for research for the Horcruxes. This, however, was becoming increasingly more difficult because Harry, Hermione and Ron had started dropping by unexpectedly after dinner at night.

Eventually, Holli had had enough. She walked into the common room one evening to find Harry seated upon one of the chairs by the fire, potions book open in his lap, and head slumped on his hand to the side.

"Hey," she greeted when he didn't look up.

Harry started and glanced up at her. "Hi," he replied. "Heading down to Remus' soon or are you studying with Hermione tonight?"

"Remus," Holli answered. "Where are those two anyhow?"

Harry shrugged. "Dunno, really. Hermione's probably in the library like always and Ron's more than likely on the Quidditch pitch practicing his flying."

"Right," Holli said while abruptly standing up. "Track them down, would you and you three come down to Remus' in an hour or so?" Holli didn't wait for a response as she headed back out of the portrait hole.

"Okay," Harry said slowly to the empty space beside him. "Not like I was bloody studying anyhow, was I?" He snapped his book closed and left to retrieve Hermione from the library and Ron from the pitch.

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Remus knew almost immediately that something was off about Holli when she arrived. She was fidgety and he had learned quickly that that was only the case when she was particularly nervous about something.

"So, ready to study?" Holli asked as she pulled out her books in an attempt to hide her uneasiness. "Lots to do."

"Holli," Remus said, "you all right?"

Holli glanced up at him quizzically. "'Course I am. Why d'you ask?" she said nonchalantly. Remus shook his head and grabbed Holli's Transfiguration book from her hand to see where the right starting place would be for the night.

Holli began to write but soon after broke her quill with an audible crack. "Bloody -"she muttered under her breath as she fished out a new one. Remus continued to dictate to her as she jotted down notes on her parchment but her hand was shaking so badly that her writing was nearly illegible. Remus leaned forward and placed his hand atop hers to still the frantic motion.

"Holli," Remus said again as she looked up at him with large, uncertain eyes, "tell me what's wrong."

Holli slumped back next to Remus and said quietly, "I asked Harry to bring Ron and Hermione here later. I'm going to tell them, Remus."

Remus was silent for a few thoughtful moments before he asked, "Everything?"

Holli glanced sideways at him inquiringly. "Unless you think it's not such a good idea. I suppose I could leave out the part about my magic skills. I do think I need to tell them everything else, though. They've taken me in and are trying to trust me. I need to do the same for them."

"Well," Remus said slowly, "I think you're right, Holli. And, if you want to tell them about what you can do without a wand, I think you should. If you're going to do it, you might as well go all the way, yeah?" Remus leaned back into the corner of the couch and wrapped his arm around Holli's shoulders, pulling her against his side. Holli laid her head on his shoulder and gazed up at him from beneath her lashes.

"You think I should? Do you think they'll still...accept me?"

"If you feel you can trust them, then yes, I do. And I do think they'll not only still accept you, but like you all the more because you did choose to tell them and put your trust in them like they have in you," Remus replied confidently.

Holli sighed and pushed her head further up Remus' shoulder as he moved to rest his chin atop her hair. They sat like that for a long while until a knock sounded on the door and Remus raised himself from the cushions to answer it. Hermione, Ron and Harry walked into the room, all three looking slightly bemused.

"So what's this about, Holli?" Harry asked as he took a seat in one of the chairs surrounding the couch.

"Now or never," Remus murmured softly to Holli as he took up his position beside her once more. Holli sighed and laughed breathily into his shoulder before turning to look at the three inquisitive faces.

"Well, I figure you three have a right to know," Holli answered Harry's question. "You three have made me feel welcome here instead of shunning me like you very well could have done. It seems it's only right to put my trust in you."

Harry and Hermione looked simply curious. Ron, however, was looking from Holli to Remus as though she were about to say something that would prove all of his assumptions right. Holli swallowed noisily next to Remus who gave her an encouraging nod and smile.

Holli took a deep breath and continued, "So, Remus told you three a little about what happened before I came here, yes?" When all three nodded she said, "Well, I think this would be easier if I just start at the beginning." Holli went on to explain about receiving her letters and what McGonagall had told her when she had shown up at her home to the three listening with rapt attention. When she was finished there was silence throughout the room.

Remus cleared his throat to diffuse the tension and asked in a tone of false cheeriness, "Would anyone like some tea?" Holli nodded but the other three simply sat staring at Holli in open mouthed shock.

"I would make a joke about the nasties, but I don't think that would improve matters much," Holli mumbled more to herself than anyone else. It seemed to snap the trio out of their contemplation, however.

"You mean," Hermione questioned in astonishment, "you can do magic without a wand?" Holli nodded as she averted her eyes to the floor. "I've never heard of such a thing!"

"That's the thing, though, isn't it?" Remus said as he returned with tea for all five of them. "Holli's the first as far as we are able to tell. You wouldn't have read anything about it, Hermione. There is nothing."

Ron shook his head. "Prove it," he demanded with narrowed eyes.

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed as she glared at him. "That's incredibly rude! Holli doesn't have to do anything of the sort. If she says she can do it, then I believe her. And even if you would like for her to prove to you that she can, there's definitely a kinder way to request it."

Ron shrugged in Hermione's direction but did not take his eyes off of Holli. She sighed and asked, "Well, then, what would you like for me to do, exactly?"

"Holli - "Hermione said softly but Holli cut across her. "No, Hermione, it's all right. Ron doesn't trust me as it is, so one more thing I can do to prove myself can't hurt anything." Holli looked towards Ron in silent question.

Ron's eyes roved around the room as he tried to decide upon something. Suddenly, he smiled wickedly. "You say you can do anything?" Holli nodded slowly. "Well then, how 'bout you change your appearance. Harry and I are seventh years and we can barely do it. If you really can do what you say you can, this should be no problem, even without training."

Remus glanced at Holli warily. A change of appearance to an inanimate or animate object was not something she had tried yet. Doing so in front of Ron, who hadn't even allowed her on the ice to skate with him yet, let alone thin ice, was enough to get her head shoved through said ice.

Holli pulled her wand from her robe pocket and deposited it upon the table before Ron. She raised her hand before her eyes and studied it for a moment, trying to decide what to do. She finally decided that hair colour would be the best thing to attempt. It was largely noticeable and there was no way it could be mistaken for anything else. Holli placed her hand atop her head at the crown. She closed her eyes and pictured her hair changing to the colour she wanted. When she heard Hermione's gasp of surprise, she opened them once more to see all three with their mouths gaping once more.

Remus chuckled as he reached over and lifted a strand of hair that was lying over her shoulder, flicking it out in front of her face. "You did it," he said joyously.

Harry laughed. "Yellow really isn't your colour, Holli. Maybe a nice green would work better." Holli smiled over at him in relief. It was the first thing he had said since she had begun her story. "Happy now, Ron?" he asked his friend. Ron grumbled and shrugged and didn't comment on anything else.

"I just still can't believe it," Hermione said with a shake of her head. "I mean, I've seen it, so I have to believe it, but I just can't comprehend how you do it, Holli."

"It's supposed to be kept a secret, though," Remus said. "As much as possible, at least, until Holli's out of Hogwarts. Minerva feels as though it will draw unwanted attention to Holli and I have to say that I agree with her."

"We won't say anything," Harry promised. "I am glad you told us, though." Holli smiled.

Ron's head suddenly jerked up. "Still doesn't explain how you knew about the Order and the Horcruxes. You said you were going to tell us everything, so where's that explanation, eh?" he asked snidely.

"Yes, I did tell you that and I have every intention of giving you an answer, but it's going to be a lot more difficult for you three to understand, I think." Holli bent over the arm of the couch to retrieve her bag. She held it in her lap for a few moments, gently running her fingers over the stitching. She had had to reinforce it earlier that day when she had jammed more books into it than was acceptable. She pulled those books out now and laid them out upon the table before them. "These are the reason I knew everything I did. And when I say everything, I do mean everything."

The trio gazed at Holli curiously, but each leaned forward and picked up a book.

"Bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed as he looked at his selection. Harry and Hermione were having similar reactions. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," Hermione whispered glancing up at Holli.

Harry didn't say anything for a moment as he studied the cover of his book. "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," he finally said as he looked imploringly at Holli, begging her to explain why he held a book with his name, his picture.

Holli sighed as she leaned forward and picked up the Prisoner of Azkaban which had always been her favorite. She let her fingers rove the cover for a moment as she thought how to explain. She finally settled on telling them what McGonagall had told her.

When she finished and no one said anything she whispered, "I used to read these every waking moment it seemed like. I was always obsessed with fairy tales when I was younger and these were the best kind. As I grew older, I realized that life would never give me the fairy tale I had once dreamed about but I still read these books you're holding. They were my only escape from the life I was forced to live. I used to waste hours imagining myself here, with you. I knew deep in my heart that something like that would never happen, could never happen, but I still dreamed. It was the only thing that kept me sane most of the time."

"Life is never what we expect or want it to be," Remus told them softly, "and I think we all need some sort of escape. Mine was my friends, and even now, still is; reliving my memories. Harry's is flying and Quidditch. Hermione's is books and research. Ron's is chess and the concentration it brings." As Remus said each of their names, they seemed to come back to themselves.

"Nobody really knows it's real according to McGonagall," Holli told them as she scuffed the toe of her trainer over the pattern in the carpet. "Like me, they all imagine and dream, but they don't know this really exists."

"And here I thought that all Divination was a load of rubbish," Hermione laughed. "I suppose I've been proved wrong, haven't I? Though I do still hold reservations about Trelawney." Remus chuckled.

"Reservations?" Harry snorted. "Trelawney's an old fraud and you know it, Hermione."

"Yes," she giggled, "I suppose I do."

Holli breathed a sigh of relief. Everything was all right and they still accepted her even after everything she had told them. Holli glanced at Ron whose eyes had softened, but he turned his gaze to the floor when he caught her eye and began to examine the carpet intensely.

They all chatted for a while longer about everything Holli had told them. Finally, Remus shooed them from his quarters, stating that Holli had serious studying to do. When they were gone, Holli flopped herself back down across the couch with an exaggerated sigh.

"I can't believe that went as well as it did," she said. Remus chuckled as he made his way to the couch as well. He lifted up her feet from the bottom end and placed them back upon his lap once he had seated himself.

"I did try to tell you that you shouldn't have worried so much, you know?"

Holli waved her hand in his direction flippantly. "Yes, well, I would have worried no matter what. It's not exactly something a person hears every day, is it? Not only is your new friend extremely odd, what with the never before seen wandless magic and yadda yadda, but she's also been reading about your daily lives since she was eleven years old. How is a person supposed to take that in, eh?"

"Well, you're right then, aren't you?" Remus said with a hint of sarcasm. "That went extremely well. Not like those three haven't been dealing with the unusual for seven years now."

Holli hummed in response, completely ignoring Remus' tone. "All right," he proclaimed. "You want to be flippant then let's just flip ourselves right back to the books, eh?"

Holli groaned as Remus pushed her feet to the floor. "I'm sorry! I'll be serious, I swear!" Remus ignored her as he grabbed her bag and rifled through it for a book. "Not the books, Remus! I'll do anything, please." Remus grinned spitefully as he unearthed the book he had selected. Holli's eyes widened dramatically. "Oh God, not potions! I'll be good, Remus, I promise."

Remus reached around her head and pressed his hand down upon her mouth to stifle her mock complaints. He shook his head when he still felt her lips moving and heard muffled noises coming from behind his hand as he pushed the book under her nose.

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A/N: Another chapter! Whoo hoo! I know it's a short one but I felt like this was all progressing too fast and wanted to put another chapter in before the next as it will be a crucial one and I didn't want it to seem under developed. So, instead of including this conversation in the next chappie like I had originally intended, we have it now as a sort of filler/relevant chapter. Anyways, hope you like it and I should have the next one up soon!

Also, on a completely unrelated note, I'm thinking about starting another story that will be second priority to this one, of course. The only thing I can't decide on, though, is the ship. So, I'm leaving that up to you guys! I have a poll going on my profile on FFN which can be found here: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2002223/Heart_of_Spellz. There are several choices which all feature Sirius, Remus, or both. So, if you would like to see a new fic from me in the future, scurry on over there and get your vote in! Thanks everyone! Happy Holidays!