Searching for the Truth

Part Six

Connie was lying in her bed much later, about to fall asleep when she heard a tap on the balcony doors. She threw them open to reveal Fawkes, with Dumbledore's letter. Connie removed the letter, allowing Fawkes to return home. She read the letter, and by the end had used several colorful words. She walked out onto the balcony and stood leaning against the railing. At least now Harry will forget about being angry with his friends, she thought. I'll let them sleep, and tell them in the morning. She knew she wouldn't sleep that night. She transformed into a gray falcon with a pattern of black swirls on her feathers and flew up to the roof to keep watch.

The next morning, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Connie were all seated at the kitchen table. Harry looked worried. Connie sensed his anxiety.

"You know Harry, I really don't think that Voldemort knows you're here. Of course, Dumbledore only wants you to be prepared in case the worst does happen."

"He wants Harry to be prepared in case he dies?" Ron asked blankly, "I always knew he was a nutter."

"Don't be silly, Ron," Hermione said reproachfully. "With Connie here, Harry's in no danger. She can handle You-know-who."

"But what if he brings his goons along?" Ron retorted. Before anyone could answer, a frantic voice sounded from the living room.

"Connie!" She jumped up and ran into the hall, her black hair flying, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione not for behind.

"Ray, what...." Ray grabbed Connie by the wrist and dragged her down the hall.

"No time to explain, we need your healing powers. Hurry, Sirius needs you." Connie's stomach dropped to her knees. Now, after all these years he needs me, she thought. This had better not be a paper cut. She pulled away from Remus and pushed her way into the living room. She stopped short at the sight of Sirius lying unconscious on the floor. One look at Harry's face was all the convincing she needed. The gold light flowed from her hands once more. Sirius twitched, but did not open his eyes.

"He'll be fine, eventually," she noted. "So what happened, that the two of you just blew on in?" Remus looked grim.

"We were attacked."

"By who?" Harry asked, dreading the answer.

"The Death Eaters. They just burst in and took us by surprise. Of course, Sirius couldn't even defend himself, he has no wand. He got blasted across the room and hit his head on the mantle piece."

"I'll say so. He bled all over my carpet."

"Connie, that's enough," Remus reprimanded. "There were too many of them, so I just threw the Floo powder in, grabbed Sirius, and came here."

"So basically what you're saying is that it's only a matter of time before Voldemort finds us and blows Harry's bloody head off?" Hermione looked absolutely horrified at the thought, and Ron turned a brilliant shade of green. Harry just stared. He had just begun feeling at ease for the first time since Voldemort's return. Now he felt just as sick as Ron looked.

"Look," Hermione said suddenly, "Sirius is getting up." Connie reluctantly turned, though Harry noticed she was smoothing her hair nervously.

"Connie," Sirius said groggily, "How nice to see you."

"You almost didn't. You need to get yourself a wand." She paused for a moment. "I can procure one for you. I'll be right back." She exited the door and could be heard mounting the stairs.

"I thought she couldn't touch wands," Sirius wondered.

"She can't. I don't know what she's doing," replied Remus. "She was upset about you," he added. This seemed to jerk Sirius into awareness.

"Was she?" he asked hopefully.

"Well, she was upset," Ron responded. "But only because you bled on the carpet." Sirius looked at the rug beneath him and slapped his forehead.

~

The top stair creaked under Connie's foot. Now, where did I put that wand, she thought. She glanced through the dust thick in the air, which was visible in the light spilling from the circular windows at each end of the attic. Harry's music box, she thought suddenly. At least I know where that is; though I can't imagine why I thought of it. She quickly found the box she was looking for. As she lifted it to bring it into the light, she glanced at the box underneath.

"There it is!" she thought aloud. She pulled out the music box, and grabbing the wand box, made her way back to the living room.

Pausing by the door, Connie heard a voice of someone who wasn't there when she left.

"The point, Sirius, is that Harry is in grave danger. Voldemort could arrive here within the next five minutes. We must be prepared. The attack on you and Remus, I suspect, was merely a plot to find Harry. If that is the case, I have no doubt in my mind that Voldemort knows exactly where to find us." Connie inhaled deeply and entered.

"Albus, I didn't know you were here."

"I arrived a short while ago, after I was contacted through the fire." Connie nodded and placed the two boxes side by side on the coffee table. Connie pointed to the long, wide black box.

"The wand in this box is made of petrified wood. It's approximately two feet long, and contains a unicorn tail hair, phoenix feather, dragon heartstrings, and a Veela hair." She opened the box, clutched the wand, then let out a gasp.

"All you all right, Connie?" they all chorused, "What happened?" Connie blinked her eyes, but couldn't erase the terror in them.

"I'm fine, it was just a vision." She felt her hands trembling.

"Connie, you're having a power surge!"

"What, Ray?" she said blankly. She looked down and saw the familiar glow. "Good thing this wand is indestructible. My grandfather made this.'

"How is it indestructible?" Hermione asked.

"It's the most powerful wand in the world," Connie answered simply. "It can't be destroyed." She twirled the wand in her fingers so she was holding the handle away from her. Handing it to Sirius she added, "Use it well."

"Thank you," he said quietly as he gripped it. "We cleaned the blood off the carpet. Sorry about that." Connie waved an impatient hand through the air.

"Don't worry about it. Carpets aren't important. What matters now is keeping Harry safe."

"Connie," Dumbledore intoned, "I need to know about the vision." Connie bit her lip and caught a sidelong glance in Harry's direction. Not in front of those three, she thought. She beckoned Dumbledore to follow her into the kitchen, and closed the door behind them.

"I brought you in here because I didn't want to upset Harry and the others."

"Was it so disturbing for you?" Connie looked stoical.

"Harry was lying at the bottom of the fountain, with blood in the water. When Voldemort comes, and Harry's outside, he will be killed."

"It's a certainty, then." Connie nodded seriously.

"He'll come at night. Which one, I don't know. But our only chance at keeping Harry alive is by detaining him indoors."

"Harry's not going to like it, but I agree with you. We'll have to tell those three that they're not allowed out. Ron and Hermione are in danger as well. We should set up a night watch. With the four of us, we should be able to have a warning when Voldemort comes. Let's go tell them."

"But..." Harry protested.

"I am sorry, Harry," Dumbledore said firmly. "But none of you can leave the house, and that is final. You know there is a good reason, but we feel that it is in your best interest that you were left in the dark for now." Connie avoided their eyes. She hated ruining their break. Her eyes fell instead on the music box. She tried to lift Harry's mood.

"Oh, Harry, I almost forgot. When I was in the attic, I found this. It was yours. I retrieved it from the rubble after your parents died. I gave it to you for your first birthday." Connie handed the music box over to Harry.

"I remember that," remarked Sirius. "You would never go to sleep without hearing it. Open it, it's not one of those nursery songs, it's decent. You might find it a little old, though." Connie shot Sirius a dirty look, though he didn't notice. Harry opened the box, and after a few seconds of silence, heard his aunt sing for the first time. He knew immediately it was her. He had been feeling uneasy, but the song filled him with the strength and courage he needed to face the inevitable. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, it was the most amazing thing he'd ever heard.

"Who was that?" Ron breathed. "She's better than Celestina Warbeck."

"So, the song's not too old," Connie replied sarcastically, shooting another look at Sirius. "Just someone who was popular years ago. She quit the business not long after this. Imagine what she sounds like now. It was one of my favorite songs, so made a music box of it for Harry. It reminded me of him, especially after..." she cleared her throat and inspected an oil painting for a few moments. "So, who's up for the third watch?" she asked brightly.

"Maybe all four of us should..." Remus began.

"No," Dumbledore stated sternly. "If we all guard during the night, no one will be available during the day in case of an emergency."

"But we can handle ourselves," Ron protested.

"No! We won't take that chance," Connie reproved. "How do you think it will reflect on me if I have to write to your parents telling them you're dead because I was asleep? It's preventable, but you need protection and supervision. I know it seems heinous to you but what we say goes."

"Connie's right, Ron," Hermione intoned. "Harry might have gotten away all those times, but he may not be lucky this time. As for us, we don't even have the slightest idea what we're up against. It's not safe without any of them."

"I always knew Hermione had a good head on her shoulders."

"That's what you think, Connie, just don't trust her with your life. In first year, Harry and I were being strangled by a Devil's Snare. Harry told her to light a fire to kill it, but she just goes, 'but there's no wood.'"

"Well, it's easy to forget your powers when you're scared. It happened to me once, in the Forbidden Forest."

"What were you doing in the Forest?" Sirius asked interestedly.

"Harry knows the story. I'm going to make a few pots of ... I guess tea. I don't like coffee, and you're all British. It's all you, Harry." Connie needed to leave the room. You need to get a hold of yourself, she thought. You're falling for him again. He's only going to hurt you. But then another, nastier voice awakened in the back of her head. You know perfectly well you're not falling for Sirius. You've never stopped loving him. You're just afraid he's moved on. She haphazardly put together a tray with sandwiches and cups, and placed the teapot in the middle. She carried it slowly back to the living room.

"Let me get that." Sirius had immediately jumped up when Connie entered the room. As he was relieving her of the tray, his hand brushed against hers. Connie saw his face turn red.

"This thing is bloody heavy."

"That's funny Sirius, I didn't have a problem with it," Connie replied scathingly. Sirius placed the tray down on the coffee table and looked sheepishly at her.

Much later, Connie sat on her roof, keeping watch. She had picked up smoking in her twenties, but now rarely did it unless she was worried. She was still in her power surge.

"That's a dirty habit, you know."

"I'm not the Mary Sue you knew twenty years ago, Ray. So shoot me."

"Why are you being so cynical?"

"Can't a person have an off day once in a while?"

"Yes, but you've been downright rude. Especially to Sirius. Something's bothering you, Connie."

"I suppose you know what, too. It probably wouldn't take a genius to figure out I'm still in love with him."

"One couldn't tell with you." He eyed Connie for a moment. "You aren't that afraid of Voldemort, are you, to suddenly lay all these rules?"

"I never saw any reason to be afraid of a seventy year old man. I'm afraid of what he'll do to Harry. Dumbledore told you about the vision, I gather?"

"He told both of us a few minutes ago. That's why I came up here. How accurate are you?" He looked anxious.

"Accurate enough to be spooky, but not enough to hold up in a court of law." Remus inhaled deeply.

"That's what I was afraid of," he replied, rubbing the back of his head distractedly.

"Fortunately, everything is circumstantial. Only under the conditions of the vision will Harry be killed. That's why he's got to stay inside."

"When is he coming?" Connie didn't answer and instead took another drag on her cigarette and surveyed the horizon. She could see a strange movement in the distance that she didn't think was the wind. Her eyes widened. She tossed her cigarette and grabbed Remus by the sleeve.

"Do you see that?"

"What is that mass?" Remus peered beyond the wall. Something large indeed was making it's way towards Celestial Gardens.

"Death Eaters. Voldemort's here. Let's go."

Meanwhile, Ron and Hermione had snuck into Harry's room. They wanted to discuss the new rules that had been imposed on them after enjoying so much freedom. Harry closed the door and started complaining immediately.

"It's because of that vision," he whispered, "Whatever was in it scared her."

"I wonder why she brought Dumbledore into the kitchen," Ron said.

"She didn't want us to know, that's why," replied Harry.

"It must've been bad then," speculated Hermione. "You know she would tell us if it wasn't."

"Well, we know one thing's for certain. Voldemort must know where I am. He's probably on his way right now." Harry couldn't go any further at this point; as they all froze at Connie's frantic cry of "Hermione!" followed by the sounds of feet running down the stairs. Moments later, They heard another pair of footsteps coming down the hall.

"Ron!" Sirius had opened Ron's door to find him missing. He crossed over to Harry's room, to find all three of them standing there in the dark. "You two shouldn't be in here," he said quickly, pointing at Ron and Hermione. "But no time for that now, get downstairs, quickly." The three of them obeyed silently. When they reached the entrance, it was to find Connie having a heated argument with Lupin and Dumbledore.

"Have you gone mad, Connie?" Remus yelled. "You're going to get yourself killed."

"I'm as sane as I ever was. If I'm more concerned about Harry than I am about myself, it's nobody's business but my own. And you know perfectly well he won't be expecting my powers. He thinks I died the year after I left Hogwarts."

"Connie, you going out there alone is suicide. You can not possibly handle all the Death Eaters as well as Voldemort. The moment he sees you surging, he will know who you are. Lord Voldemort does not forget."

"Let me be the judge of my powers, Albus. I'm the only one who really knows what I'm capable of. If it looks like I'm in trouble, come help me, it's as simple as that." She took a few strides towards the door before turning back. Seizing Sirius by the shirt, she pulled him to her and kissed him full on the mouth before bolting out the door.

Outside it was eerily quiet. Seeing no one, but presuming the opposite, Connie stalked through the yard on her toes, looking in all directions.

"All right, Voldy, I know you're here so come and get me," she yelled. "Nice juicy Potter here for ya, come kill if you'd like." At that moment, the Death Eaters appeared, surrounding her. Connie wasted no time in sending various curses in all directions. She made several hits, but the Death Eaters seemed extraordinarily resilient to even the power surge blasts. Undaunted, she resorted to using stronger curses with more power. Back in the house, the others had their noses pressed against Connie's front window.

"She certainly seems to be holding her own." But Remus spoke too soon, as moments later Connie let out a short cry. Sirius bolted for the door.

"Sirius, let me go," said Dumbledore, holding Sirius back. "You stay here with Harry." Sirius would have none of it, though Harry did look like he didn't want Sirius to go out there.

"No. I love her damn it." He bolted out the door and across the lawn, pulling out the wand as he ran. Sirius blasted a Death Eater Connie was having a particular problem with. He (or she) had grabbed her around the neck from behind. The Death Eater crumpled to the ground and lay, stunned. Sirius and Connie had a harried, yelled conversation, though they stood only feet from each other, and were unintentionally backing together.

"You all right Connie?"

"You didn't think I could handle myself did you?"

"I heard you scream, what happened?"

"Bastard nailed me from behind. I got him back, though. Are Remus and Dumbledore still with Harry?"

"They were when I left."

"Oh shit!" More Death Eaters had appeared around them.

~

"Look, Albus, more of them." Dumbledore hurried to the window. "Should we go help them?"

"Yes, Remus," he turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Now, listen to me, this is of the utmost importance. Under no circumstances are any of you to go outside, or even open the door. Remus, are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." He gripped his wand tightly and exited with Dumbledore. Harry, Ron and Hermione gathered around the window and watched anxiously.

"Are they nuts, Harry and the others are alone in there," Connie exclaimed indignantly. Secretly, she was a little relieved for the assistance, though it made her more anxious for Harry's vulnerability.

"We thought you needed help," Remus yelled.

"Well, it's a good thing someone's guarding the kids," Connie yelled back sarcastically. She sent a few more curses before continuing. "Do you three think you can handle these guys?"

"No problem, why?" Sirius yelled back.

"I'm going after the big one," and with this, Connie Disapparated out of the crowd of Death Eaters and streaked across the lawn. Turning back once, she saw Sirius about to be attacked from behind. She hit the Death Eater and continued running. She stopped not far from the fountain.

"Hiding behind your goons, are you, you coward?" she bellowed into the night. "Come out, Voldy, come out and face me like a man. Unless you're afraid of me." A high, cold chuckle came from behind her. Lord Voldemort walked slowly in a circle. Connie backed up on her toes in the same path.

"My, my, who do we have here?"

"You know exactly who I am. Connie Potter."

"Well, Ms. Potter, you are quite beautiful, if I may say so." Connie narrowed her eyes.

"Funny, I wasn't about to say the same thing about you, if I may say so," she replied mockingly. "I told you once before someone would get the better of you," she added, "and I was right wasn't I? You were defeated by a mere baby. I said you weren't worth following, don't you remember Voldy? You said you were power, but you let a child who couldn't even talk get the better of you. That's real power, isn't it?" Voldemort's voice rose with each of the next words he spoke.

"You want to be careful, Ms. Potter. You don't want to make me angry." Connie bared her teeth at him.

"Oh, I have no intentions of making you angry," she said silkily. "But I do have every intention of making you dead. Just like you tried to do with me. But enough with the small talk, let's fight." Thus saying, she cursed Voldemort. He rebounded quite quickly, however and sent his own curse at Connie. They sent spell after spell at each other, each dodging the other's. The battle was getting nowhere, when Voldemort finally caught Connie with the Cruciatus Curse.

Harry was suddenly jerked out of a daze when he heard his aunt's blood-curdling scream. He immediately dashed for the doors. Now isn't the time to follow orders, he thought. He was fifty yards away before Ron and Hermione tried to call him back. He paid absolutely no attention, of course. He found Connie trembling face down in the grass, Voldemort standing over her. A hatred boiled up in Harry that he had never felt before. He raised his wand.

~

Sirius had cornered a Death Eater. He advanced on him menacingly. The Death Eater knelt on the ground, quivering.

"So Peter, we meet again. D'you remember the promise I made to you the last time we met?" Peter shook all the more harder for it.

"Please, S-S-Sir-ri-ri-ri-us," Peter stuttered pleadingly. "Y-y-you w-w-wouldn't, w-w-w-would y-y-you?" Sirius smiled nastily at Peter and raised the wand.

"This is for Lily," he yelled, cursing Peter at each pause, "This is for James...This is for Harry," he glared into Peter's imploring eyes before snarling, "And this is for me." Green light shot from Sirius's wand. Peter let out a high pitched screech and was still. "Good riddance, you good for nothing coward." Sirius spat on the back of Peter's balding head.

~

"Avada Kedavra!" Harry shouted. A jet of green light shot from the end of his wand. It struck Voldemort in the back with a rushing sound, causing him to seize up. Then very slowly (or so it seemed to Harry) Voldemort crumpled, never to rise again with a look of terror upon his serpentine visage. Connie groaned and lifted her head just enough to see her liberator.

"Harry," she whispered. Suddenly, a figure appeared to Harry's left. Connie's eyes bulged. It was another Death Eater. She called Harry's name to warn him, but before either of them could do anything, Harry had been thrown through the air. When he landed, his head struck the base of the fountain with a sickening crack. Connie forgot her pain in the anger that now welled up inside her. She grunted as she hurled a Stunner at the Death Eater. Then she stumbled over to where Harry lay, blood seeping from under his hair. She held her hands out over the motionless Harry. As she was trying to heal him, Remus, Dumbledore and Sirius came running over.

"Dear God, what..." Remus's eyes trailed over to the unconscious Death Eater.

"It's not working," Connie cried frantically.

"Try again," suggested Sirius. Connie used all the power she could muster, but to no avail. Dumbledore leaned over.

"He's breathing, but his pulse is very weak," he diagnosed gravely. "I don't think we can hold out much hope." Connie let out a loud, mournful cry.

"Harry! NOOOOOOOO!" then she started sobbing.

"No, don't look," Sirius's voice came suddenly, full of sorrow. Ron and Hermione saw anyway. Hermione buried her head in Ron's shoulder, who looked completely lost. Unable to say anything, they all stood there, except for Connie, who continued to kneel and weep.

All of a sudden, Connie stopped crying and lifted her head, though it was the most bizarre thing any of them had ever seen. Connie's eyes shone with an eerie, bright white light, which also poured from her mouth.

"What is she singing?" Sirius asked. For indeed Connie was singing, though rather weakly.

"It's the song she wrote for Lily and James," Remus responded amazedly. "What's going on, Dumbledore?"

"I don't know. Watch." Still singing, Connie rose to her feet and grabbed Remus and Sirius's hands, who happened to be on either side of her. Following this lead, the others joined the circle. When the last connection had been made, Connie's whole body glowed gold, which quickly spread around the circle. After making it's way around, the light shot up in a column. The tube of light started swirling, causing a tornado effect, and drawing Harry up into the middle of it. Singing ever stronger, Connie seemed oblivious as to what was happening. As the swirling light reached a violent speed, a flash went off, ending the wind and allowing Harry to drift back to earth as the song ended. The light vanished as the circle was broken.

On the walk, Harry twitched, then groaned. Everyone crowded concernedly around him. He opened his eyes.

"What happened?" he asked muddledly.

"You nearly died," Hermione replied, tears still streaming down her face. "It was that Death Eater."

"But who is it?" Dumbledore walked over to the still stunned Death Eater. Kicking him onto his back, Dumbledore peeled off the mask and hood. Underneath was Lucius Malfoy. "I should have known," he said disgustedly.

"Dad always wanted to get something on him," Ron said.

"Then what happened?" Harry asked.

"Connie saved you. It was the oddest thing. You wouldn't have believed it if you'd seen it," Hermione assured him.

"Where is Aunt Connie?" She had vanished.