Harry Potter and The Heirs of The Founders

Chapter Fourteen

Dreams and Healers

"she'd do anything to sparkle in his eye,
she would suffer, she would fight, and compromise
she's been wishin' on the stars that shine so bright
for answers to the questions that will haunt her tonight

she must rinse this all away
she can't hold him this way
she must rinse this all away
she can't love him this way

how she'd be soothed, how she'd be saved if he could see
she needs to be held in his arms to be free
but everything happens for reasons that she will never understand
'til she knows the heart of a woman will never be found in the arms of a man

and if she runs away she fears she won't be followed
what could be the worse than leaving something behind
and as the depth of oceans slowly become shallow
it's loneliness she finds...
if only he was mine

she'd do anything to sparkle in his eye
she would suffer, she would fight, and compromise
she's been wishin' on the stars that shine so bright
for answers to the questions that will haunt her tonight"

--Rinse, Vanessa Carlton, Be Not Nobody

Harry stood in the hospital wing with Sirius. He knew that no one could see him there, but he felt that it was important that he be there for Sirius. After all Sirius had been there for him through some pretty tough times. He was surprised when he saw Rose enter, however he assumed that his mother must have told her what was going on. Despite the initial clash of personalities, Rose and Chrystal usually got on extremely well. Harry watched as she spoke to Sirius who was there in body but not really in spirit. The he watched as she did this strange thing, she placed her hands over Chrystal just the way Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore had, but without a wand. She turned to Sirius and told him what was wrong, Harry couldn't believe that, how did she know? It was eerie. While she was holding her hands above Chrystal she looked possessed. Harry was suddenly very scared for his little sister. And most importantly, Sirius seemed to be oblivious to the entire incident.

*~*

Lavender was cautiously making her way towards Hogsmeade. She had not been there since the day of The Three Broomsticks explosion, but after the week she'd had she really needed a drink. First of all Professor Trelawney was driving her crazy, Seamus had knocked on her door three times to ask her to reconsider, she had tried to make amends with Parvati on several occasions and then there was the strange request from McGonagall. It was almost incomprehensible to her that McGonagall would ever consult the services of a Seeress however she had made the request. Lavender had glanced in the Orb and so far she had come up with nothing. She couldn't work with the pressure of an exact date over her head. Perhaps she should assign it to her seventh year Divination class.

She made her way down High Street realising just how quiet it was when there were no students there on Hogsmeade weekends. She first passed the ruins of The Three Broomsticks, which were slowly being rebuilt. Madam Rosmerta's nephew was taking over the management of it. She was glad she hadn't seen the explosion in reality, her dreams were bad enough. She felt so responsible for what had happened that the thought had plagued her for the last couple of months. When she reached Honeydukes she turned right down the path that led to The Hogs Head. She had not been to this pub too often and wasn't sure if she particularly liked it but she knew that she needed a drink.

She walked into the decrepit looking pub and headed straight to the bar.

'I'll have a shot of vodka and a shot of gin thanks,' she said. The bartender looked at her as if she were crazy but obliged by pouring the two shots and placed them on the bench.

'Anything else I can get for you little lady?' he asked.

'Unless you can rustle up some absinth probably not,' the bartender looked at her, poured a glass of green looking fluid, collected payment and left Lavender to her own devices. She took the gin and vodka and poured them into the absinth on the hopes that they might dull the hallucinations. It had been Parvati that had introduced her to this combination and Lavender had grown a liking to it around the thirtieth glass. The alcohol helped to dull the memory of the visions she kept seeing, while the absinth seemed to make her hallucinate pleasant visions. Most of the time these had to do with Harry, coming to her and telling her that it was really her that he loved. In reality she knew this would never happen. She had seen the way that Harry stared at Hermione, even when she and Harry had been together. The fact that he would realise it eventually had always been inevitable, Lavender had just hoped for more time. Sometimes it was another man, one she didn't recognise coming to her and telling her that it was she he loved. She was always the happiest when it was this man. She wished she knew who it was. She glanced at her empty glasses and ordered another few shots.

*~*

Rose glanced at the bed once more and then at Sirius. He seemed almost oblivious to everything that was happening around him. Rose could tell that Chrys would not last until the next day, especially if she had to be transported to St Mungos. She also knew that she would probably not get another chance to sneak into the hospital wing. Rose glanced around and made sure that nobody other than Sirius was in sight. She lifted her hands above Chrystal's body and felt again for the toxin. To heal her, the toxin had to be neutralized. It was a strong toxin, a magical one and it must have been in her body for a while. It would take a lot of fighting and it would be draining. But she knew the incarnation and could not stand by and let her godmother die.

'Consanesco aboleomaleficus!'

She repeated the incarnation again and again with her hands placed over Chrystal's body. She repeated the incarnation until she could no longer feel the toxin. Then everything went black.

*~*

Lavender had finished her fourth round of shots when her vision began to blur. A man began to walk towards her. She was bitterly disappointed when she saw it was Seamus.

'What are you doing here Lavender?' he said to her harshly. 'It's not safe.'

She gave him a drunken look that said 'I'll do what I want' before he continued.

'It's really not safe Lav,' he said softly. 'Are you drunk?'

She nodded. She was beginning to get teary. Seamus had come to rescue her. He was looking out for her.

'Do you want me to carry you home?' he asked. Again Lavender nodded. Right now all she could think of was snuggling up in her nice warm bed. At least she knew she would not remember her dreams tonight. Seamus picked her up, commented on the fact that she was twice as heavy when drunk and slowly carried her back to Hogwarts.

It wasn't the first time he'd tendered to her drunk. It had happened on numerous occasions over summer. It hurt Seamus to watch her destroy herself that way. She'd been such a happy girl the summer before when she and Harry were going out. Even after Christmas when she and started flirting with Seamus there were still glimpses of that girl. But something had changed after the Divination exam last year. Seamus didn't know what she had seen, but she seemed to try and shut everyone else away from her. Seamus would not have a bar of it; he cared for her and would keep persisting despite her assurances that they didn't have a future. After all it wasn't her place to try and protect him. Seamus thought back to what he'd heard earlier that afternoon that had caused him to start searching for Lavender in a furious panic.

He'd been at The Leaky Cauldron with Dean, having a nice afternoon catch up and talking about their jobs at the Ministry. Dean was talking about something when Seamus overheard somebody talking.

'Lavender Brown?'

'Yes Lavender Brown, she's studying to take over the fraud Trelawney's job at Hogwarts.'

Seamus hushed Dean.

'She a Seeress then?'

'From what I've heard she's a most accurate one.'

'Why does the Dark Lord want a Seer for? He's already got one. And he must want her for some reason because he's asked for her unharmed.'

'Apparently she's Hufflepuff's heir.'

The voices became even softer.

'The Dark Lord has tried to get at Gryffindor's Heir, Harry Potter, numerous times. But he hasn't tried Hufflepuff's. I think he might want to use her as bait. She used to date the Potter boy a little while back.'

'I still cannot understand why he went after her himself.'

'It doesn't matter anymore. Your job is to find the girl and bring her to our Master. But you are not to take her from Hogwarts, and she is not to be harmed. Is that understood?'

Seamus had looked at Dean.

'I've got to go and warn her.'

Seamus had headed straight for Hogwarts and when he had found her gone he had headed straight for the pub in Hogsmeade. He was the only person aware of how much Lavender had been drinking and was not surprised to find her in a drunken stupor. He was just thankful that she was alright. He hoped that in the morning he could explain it to her.

He put her to bed by which time she had already passed out and performed a simple hydration spell so she wouldn't feel so hung-over in the morning. Then he pulled a blanket out of the cupboard, opened his bottle of bourbon and drank shots as he lay on the floor.

*~*

She was dreaming. She was asleep in the hospital wing with Sirius and Harry there. Poppy had come in and told Sirius that the potions had not worked, that she was going to die if they didn't take her to St Mungos. She heard Sirius reluctantly agree. She wanted to call out to him. She was fighting; she knew she would be fine. She saw her goddaughter enter the room. She listened to the exchange between Rose and Sirius half heartedly, however she was surprised when she saw what Rose did next. Rose placed her hands above her body and tried to find the source of the infection. Chrystal could feel the girl's emotions. They were strong. She was determined but scared. She spoke to Sirius again and then Chrystal could see her concentrating. The girl seemed indecisive now. Willing yet unwilling. Then she held her hands over her body and cast an incarnation. Without a wand. Chrystal could feel enormous pain as if something was being sucked out of her body. Then she witnessed her goddaughter fall to the floor, Harry moving over to try and help her and to gain Sirius' attention. Finally Sirius saw the girl and carried her out to Poppy. The dream started again. And again. And again.

Chrystal awoke screaming.

'I've lost the baby. It's dead.'

She knew instantly. She looked over and saw Sirius sitting there as if he were in a trance.

'Sirius,' she said softly. 'Sirius, can you hear me?'

There was no response. She tried again.

'Chrys,' he said with surprise. 'Are you awake? Am I dreaming?'

'I'm awake now Sirius,' she said. 'And if you're dreaming it's a very unusual dream because I'd be dreaming it too.'

He placed his hand gently on her head.

'You don't have a temperature anymore,' he remarked. 'You must be getting better.'

'Tell me what happened Sirius,' she asked.

'You told me that you got hit by the Cruciatus while you were flying,' he began. 'You plummeted to the ground. Snape came and helped me get you back here.' I got hit by the Cruciatus. No wonder the baby's dead. 'Poppy had to induce labour, but the child was dead by the time it came out. There was no option of placing it in a magical womb. We thought you were going to be fine, but you began spiking a very high temperature. Dumbledore said you had some kind of infection in your blood.' The infection couldn't have been from the fall. It's way too early for that. 'We're trying to work out what caused it.'

It didn't make sense to her. There was no way she could have got an infection like she had apparently had in that amount of time. It had to be something else. But where could she have got it from?

*~*

Rose awoke in a bed in the hospital wing. She looked over and saw Ron sitting beside her.

'What happened?' she asked him. 'And what are you doing here?'

'You went to visit Chrystal and apparently passed out for no reason whatsoever,' he said. 'Harry owled me and told me I should come and visit you. Aren't you pleased to see me?' He looked a little put out.

'How did he know?' she asked. 'And yes I'm always pleased to see you.'

'He said he was in the room when it happened,' Ron said. 'I think he wants to talk to you about it.'

Rose realised what she must have done, although she couldn't remember doing it. The fact that Harry could remember it was not good. Not good at all.

'Is Chrystal going to be alright?' she asked Ron desperately.

'According to Sirius, she will be just fine,' he said. 'Now Madam Pomfrey has just wanted to run some tests and wants you to get some rest, so why don't you try to sleep. I'll be here when you wake up.' He gave her a smile and she closed her eyes and tried to sleep peacefully.

*~*

Lavender was lying in bed and she spotted Seamus on the floor. She got up out of bed and sat beside him. He was drunk, very drunk; she could smell the bourbon on his breath. She was drunk too. She wondered what had possessed him to get so drunk. She knew the answer, it was about her. She felt guilty. She took his hand in hers. He turned towards her at her touch.

'Why do you torment me Lavender?' he asked.

'I cannot explain Seamus,' she replied. 'I am sorry for hurting you. I do have feelings for you. I don't want to destroy you.'

'You have feelings for me,' he said bitterly. 'But do you love me?'

She was about to say no, when she actually considered it. She loved Harry, yes that was true and she loved her dark handsome stranger. In fact he looked a little like Seamus. Perhaps he was Seamus. All she knew was that she was confused.

'I think I do love you Seamus,' she said the comment taking her by surprise as much as it took him by surprise. 'It's because I do love you that I've been pushing you away.'

'Will you let me make that decision?' he asked.

She glanced at him. She could grant him that at least. She deserved to give him a chance.

She lent over and kissed him. It felt different to when she had kissed him before. There was more excitement, more wanting and more yearning. She wanted him more than she had ever wanted anyone before. She gradually led him to her bed where everything became more intense. She made a decision to give herself to him entirely. And when she had, she passed out.

Lavender awoke with alarm to find Seamus in her bed his hand lying upon the badger tattoo just above her left hip.

'What are you doing here?' she screamed at the sleeping naked Seamus. He awoke suddenly and looked just as surprised as she was to find himself in her bed.

'I carried you home last night,' he said. 'I think you'd had a few too many.'

'OH and you think that gives you the right to share my bed.'

'I honestly don't remember getting into your bed Lavender. I promise. I lay down on the floor with a bottle of bourbon and began to try and drink myself to sleep.'

'Why didn't you just leave then?'

'Because I needed to talk to you when you were sober,' he replied bluntly. 'And we may as well talk now. You made your message clear, but this is important.'

'What could possibly be so important that you would stay in my room when I expressly requested you not to?'

'I went out with Dean yesterday,' he said seriously. 'I overheard someone talking about a plot to kidnap you. I'm fairly sure that the people talking were Death Eaters. I came to warn you and to try....' he bit his lip until Lavender gave him a look that said continue. 'To try and protect you. You realise how much danger you're in don't you? You're the Heir of Hufflepuff and a talented Seer. You could be of great use to You-Know-Who and if you didn't agree to help they would torture you. They may even break you. I didn't want to see that.'

'They want to kidnap me?' she asked calmly. Seamus looked surprised that she didn't react more frightened.

'Yes,' he said. 'The person was instructed not to harm you or to take you from Hogwarts.'

'That's easy then' she said. 'I'll just stay here.'

'Do you promise me?' he asked.

'Yes,' she said. 'You just have to supply me with liquor and everything will be fine.'

He laughed and quickly agreed.

'Do you think anything happened last night?' he asked cautiously.

'Would it be so bad if it had?'

'No,' he replied and leaned over and kissed her. To her surprise she did not pull away, just allowed herself to be kissed and kissed again. An hour and a half later she emerged from her rooms, running because she was late for her first class.

*~*

Harry lay in bed trying to sleep somewhat disturbed by what he had witnessed earlier in the day. He had decided that it would be best if he left the room without letting anyone know that he was there. He stayed long enough to watch Madam Pomfrey assure Sirius that Rose would be fine before he owled Ron and went to relay what had happened to Hermione. She had been just confused as he had and after stating it was impossible, she turned to her Mediwizard and Healer books that had been lying dormant since she had decided to give up on the idea. It had made him smile. There was something about Hermione's determination to find the answer that made him love her. Now, given that she still had not come to bed, he almost felt like strangling her. Well, not really but the idea brought a smile to his face.

He shut his eyes determined to get some sleep before what he knew would be a heavy training session of Quidditch the next day. He slowly drifted into dreams.

'Rowena?'

Harry was in a room. He was invisible. There was a woman and a man in the room. The woman was dressed in blue and he thought she might be pregnant. Her hair was like Chrys'. Strawberry-blonde ringlets fell gently on her face and her clear blue eyes sparkled. She looked extremely happy. The man was dressed in a silver robe and hair as white as Malfoy's. Harry instinctively knew that this was Ravenclaw and that the man in the room was Slytherin.

'Yes Salazar?' she asked.

'Are you comfortable?' he asked. 'Is there anything I can get you?'

'Honestly Salazar, I am fine,' she replied. 'You can stop fussing. If I need anything I won't hesitate to call for you, or for a servant.'

'I just worry Rowen,' he said softly. 'I haven't been around pregnant women that much. I don't know what I should be expecting. He moved toward her, hesitant because of her bulging abdomen. 'May I touch it?'

'Of course Salazar,' she said. 'It's as much mine as it is yours.' He gently placed his hand on her stomach trying to sense the child that was within.

'How much longer, my love?' he asked gently.

'A month at most,' she replied. 'Then we will have a new little life that is completely ours.' He kissed her gently and left the room. He headed out to Forbidden Forest to go hunting.

'I'm sorry Godric,' he called out to a man that looked remarkably like Harry. 'I was taking care of Rowena.' The man called Godric looked terribly jealous, and it seemed to please Salazar.

A servant came running towards Salazar.

'My Lord,' he called. 'My Lord, Madam sent for you. She said that it's time.'

'It's time?' he asked. 'She said it would be a month.'

'Babies are unpredictable,' Godric smirked. 'You never know when they will come.'

'This child will learn that they have done wrong,' Salazar said. 'No child of mine will be unpredictable.'

He turned and headed towards the castle hoping that the fool of a midwife was in with his wife. Godric followed him. He was met by the midwife outside her chambers who assured him that everything was happening smoothly. He paced up and down the corridor with Godric watching him with amusement.

'Have you thought of any names Salazar?' he asked. 'Perhaps that will keep your mind off Rowen.'

'It will be a son,' he said. 'And he shall be one of the most powerful wizards that ever lived. Look at his parents.'

'Whilst he has a remarkable genealogy Salazar you should know that that does not always speak to the wizard's power,' Godric replied.

'What's taking so long?' Salazar asked, snapping.

A few hours later the midwife emerged.

'You have a son and a daughter,' she said exhausted.

'Twins?' Salazar asked with amazement. 'May I see them?'

The midwife led Salazar into his wife's chamber and Godric watched on with envy as Rowena and Salazar celebrated the birth of their children.

'The girl is your responsibility,' Salazar said to Rowena. 'I will care for our son. His name will be Kearney Brain Slytherin and he will live up to its meaning.'

'You have high hopes for your son then Salazar,' Godric said in an amused voice. 'You want your son to be a strong warrior? Tell me Rowena what you will name your daughter?'

She glanced at the babe wrapped in a blanket.

'Her name will be Àille Caitlin,' she said to Godric. 'Because she is pure and beautiful.'

Salazar scoffed at this and handed the boy to Rowena.

'Ensure my son is well cared for Rowen,' he said as he let the room.

Harry woke up in a cold sweat. He was slightly disturbed that he had been dreaming about Slytherin. He leant over and saw that Hermione was still sleeping. He got up and walked into their study and lit a lantern. He sat at Hermione's desk and pulled out one of her many books on the founders. Normally he wouldn't have given a dream like this a second thought, except for the fact that he just had a feeling there was more to it than just fantasy. And possibly because if he could be given any indication on the parings of the heirs he wanted to know what it was. There was something disturbing about the twins he saw. The girl especially, with her name being Àille. Harry knew enough by now to know that it meant beauty in Gaelic but it was just strange that Slytherin's child would have the same name as his mother's best friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~