My Eternal Curse

Latin note: Umbra means 'shadow'

Chapter Six

The Calm before the Storm

Ginny awoke slowly to the sound of tense, raised voices. She felt like a muggle truck had hit her. At first she was too disorientated to understand what the voices were talking about, but her head quickly cleared when she heard the sound of her own name spoken. She opened her eyes, and saw that she was in the hospital wing. Across the room stood Professor McGonagall, standing with her back to Ginny. Facing McGonagall was Professor Trelawney, who looked incensed, and Madam Pomfrey, trying to get rid of them. Ginny wondered vaguely when Professor McGonagall had returned.

"... Miss Weasley and Mr. Potter are in no condition for visitors, Professors," Madam Pomfrey said sternly to the two women. "Please leave this instant!"

"I refuse to leave before I speak with Virginia Weasley!" Professor Trelawney said, defiantly.

"I am sorry, Poppy," Professor McGonagall said. "But I will not leave my students until Professor Trelawney leaves the hospital wing."

"They are both still recovering from the accident," Madam Pomfrey said. "They need their rest, and I will not have it disrupted! Leave now, before I have you both barred till they are fully recovered!"

"Get out of my way, Minerva!" Professor Trelawney hissed.

"I will not let students in my house be manhandled by you, or anyone else, Sybil," Professor McGonagall said, with a fierceness and determination that Ginny had never seen from her before. "If you wish to speak with them when they are better, I cannot control that... but you will not bother them now, and you will not penalize them for what happened."

Professor Trelawney noticed that Ginny was awake, and immediately pushed past McGonagall and Pomfrey, heading straight for her. Ginny felt butterflies in pit in her stomach at the sight of her Divination teacher striding towards her. She tried to sit up, but the sharp pain in her side made her lie back down again. A few moments later she tried again, much more slowly, and managed to prop herself up against the headboard of the hospital bed. Her Divination teacher watched her with a dark intensity that made Ginny feel small. Why was she so upset with her?

"Explain yourself!" Professor Trelawney demanded. Ginny stared at her with an uncomprehending look on her face.

"What is she talking about?" Ginny thought.

"Explain what happened on the Quidditch field earlier today," Professor Trelawney clarified.

"I was flying through the air, just like in my dream," Ginny explained, slowly. "But this time I knew what was going to happen and I-"

"You tried to stop it," Professor Trelawney said. It was not a question. There was a strange, almost pregnant pause before she spoke again. "How dare you try to interfere with the path fate lays out for us!"

"Ex-excuse me?" Ginny asked, taken aback. That was the last thing she expected to hear from her Professor.

"You heard me," Professor Trelawney said. "You have no right to meddle with the path fate sets before him, or anyone else. You have no right to try to change things."

"But I thought that the vision I got was a warning, so that I could change things," Ginny said.

"It is not your place to make that decision, my child," Trelawney said. "If Harry were fated to survive then he would."

"Why shouldn't I?" Ginny demanded, sounding appalled at the prospect. "I had the power to save Harry's life. I wasn't going to just stand by, and watch him fall to his death! What did you want me to do? Let him die?"

"Yes!" Trelawney practically hissed at her. "You are messing with forces beyond your comprehension. It is not your place to make those decisions, no matter the circumstances. We are fit to carry the message from the other side, not to foolishly try and derail Destiny. Who knows what the consequences of your childish actions will bring? You are to never do that again, do you understand?"

"Leave her alone," Professor McGonagall said.

"I did what I thought was right." Ginny said, quietly. "I don't care about your approval, or your permission. I did it before, and I will do it again! I don't care if you are my Professor, you don't have the right to tell me what I can do with my gifts!"

"How dare..." Trelawney started. Ginny trembled. She was afraid that she had overstepped her bounds. Professor McGonagall shot her Professor with a murderous glare, causing Professor Trelawney's resolve to falter slightly at the sight. "You forget who you are talking to my child. I am giving you a month of detention, and I'm taking fifty points off of Gryffindor for this!"

"You overstepped your bounds Professor, a long time ago," said McGonagall. "I am going to see Headmaster Dumbledore about this. I will not let you punish the girl for doing the right thing... Now leave, before I remove you."

Trelawney stalked out of the hospital wing without another word. Ginny hesitated for a few moments, before looking up at the head of her house. To her surprise Professor McGonagall looked at her with a reassuringly sympathetic expression on her face.

"Try not to worry about her," Professor McGonagall said. "I will take care of this."

Professor McGonagall left the hospital wing. Ginny noticed Harry lying on the hospital bed next to hers, sound asleep. How could he have slept through all of that?

"How is Harry?" Ginny asked.

"He'll be fine," said Madam Pomfrey. "You managed to slow his fall enough, that his injuries weren't too severe. If you didn't do what you did, I doubt he would still be with us... Now get some rest. You've had a long day."

Ginny didn't object as Madam Pomfrey helped her lie back down, and closed the curtains around her hospital bed, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Tom had listened to this exchange; still trying to shake off the after-effect's Tom still suffered from the 'incident'. He was just glad that Ginny hadn't gotten them both killed in all of this. Though he had to admit, that by not stopping her from protecting Potter, he had given her even more reason to trust him... Yes, that could definitely prove to be useful. He would leave her alone, for now, and allow her to sort some of this out on her own. In the meantime, he would concentrate on the next part of his plan.

*~*~*

Albus looked up as Professor McGonagall barged into his office, and practically slammed the door behind her. He knew of only one thing that would make her act like that.

"Quarreling with Sybil again I see," Professor Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. "Sit down and tell me what happened?"

"I had just gotten back, when I ran into Hagrid," Professor McGonagall explained, as she took a seat. "He told me what had happened. So I went to the hospital wing to check on Mr. Potter's and Miss Weasley's condition. When I got there Professor Trelawney was demanding to see Miss Weasley, despite Poppy's insistence that she was in no condition to have any visitors. I stepped in and tried to help Poppy get rid of her, but she wouldn't leave. Miss Weasley woke up, and Professor Trelawney started ranting about not interfering in the fates of others, trying to forbid Virginia from using her visions to change things."

"What did Miss Weasley say?" Albus asked.

"She told Trelawney that she was going to continue to use her gifts, her way," Minerva said. "No matter what Trelawney thought."

"How did Sybil respond?" Albus asked.

"She took fifty points from Gryffindor, and gave her a month of detention, Albus!" Minerva said. "Detention for saving Harry's life, and for wanting to use her gifts to help others! I won't stand for it, Albus! She shouldn't be penalized for doing the right thing! I won't let her treat any members of my house in that fashion! You cannot let this punishment stand! You and I both know she didn't do anything wrong, if anything, she should be commended for her actions."

Before Dumbledore could reply there was a knock on the door. Sybil Trelawney walked into Dumbledore's office, with a dreamy, yet turbulent air about her.

"My Inner Eye told me to come here, and seek your infinite wisdom, Headmaster," Trelawney said, in a dreamy voice. "Miss Weasley mustn't be allowed to stay on this course... the Sight was never meant to be used like this! Seers are fit to carry the message... nothing more. You must let the punishment stand, Headmaster. She must learn to control herself. She has great potential. I will not let one of my students carry on in this fashion."

"She saw an opportunity to help someone, and she took it," McGonagall said. "She did what she thought was right. How is that wrong?"

"It is the place of a Seer to foretell of things to come," Trelawney said. "Virginia seeks to change Destiny... that which is most unchangeable. All she will do is hurt herself in this, Albus. Surely you see my position."

Minerva scoffed.

"Virginia Weasley did her best in a bad situation," Dumbledore said. "That is not wrong. I see no reason to let this punishment stand. In fact, I am awarding Gryffindor fifty points for her bravery, and quick thinking in a dangerous situation."

"But Headmaster-" Trelawney started.

"I am not finished," Dumbledore said. "I understand your strong feelings on this, Sybil. I feel I must urge you to not let your own personal feelings cloud your judgement. The child needs guidance. I would like you to continue giving her that guidance, as you would any other student, understand?"

"Yes, Headmaster," Trelawney said. "But only Destiny will dictate how this will go..." Then Professor Trelawney left without another word.

"Thank you, Headmaster," Professor McGonagall said.

"Your welcome," Dumbledore said. "I would like you to keep an eye on Miss Weasley for the next few weeks, just till all of this smoothes over."

"Of course Headmaster," Professor McGonagall said. "If you will excuse me..."

Professor McGonagall got up and left, leaving Dumbledore to contemplate the situation.

*~*~*

Harry awoke with a start, his scar burning furiously. He rubbed his scar for a few moments, and then began searching for his glasses. A figure handed him his glasses and he put them on. The world came back into focus; he was sitting in the hospital wing. Ron and Hermione were standing next to his bed, looking slightly worried. Ginny was sitting up in the hospital bed next to his, her covers draped over her legs, reading her Divination textbook, with a distant look on her face. Slowly the pain in his scar began to recede. Ginny looked up and smiled, when she saw he was awake.

"Welcome back," Ron said. "We were worried about you."

"Is your scar still hurting you?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah," Harry said. "Don't worry about it. It's not bad."

"Maybe I should go get Madam Pomfrey," Hermione said.

"It's alright," Harry said. "What happened to me? The last thing I remember was flying over the Quidditch pitch..."

"Remember the vision I had two weeks ago?" Ginny asked.

"But I thought you said it was only a dream," Harry said.

"That's what I thought too," Ginny said. "Then I saw Ron and Hermione talking exactly like they were in the dream. I turned to call a time out. All of a sudden you clutched your scar, screaming, and fell off of your broom. I dived in to save you and..."

"And?" Harry asked, wanting her to continue.

"Well, I didn't quite save you the way I had intended to," Ginny said, sheepishly. "Instead of catching you, you kind of... hit me on the way down..."

"You landed on her," Ron said. "She used her body to break your fall."

"It was a good thing she did too," Hermione said. "If she hadn't managed to slow your descent, you would be dead. Ginny saved your life, Harry!"

"Thank you, Ginny," Harry said. "I guess this means you could be a real Seer. Trelawney must be ecstatic."

"I wish," Ginny grumbled.

"She's in trouble with Professor Trelawney for saving you Harry," Ron said.

"You're in trouble," Harry said, incredulously. "Why would you be? You saved me, when no one else could."

"That's the problem," Hermione said. "Professor Trelawney said she wasn't supposed to."

"Trelawney told me I'm not supposed to use my powers to change things," Ginny said, angrily. "She expects me to just sit around and look cryptic, while others suffer because of my inaction." Ginny started doing an imitation of Professor Trelawney. " 'The powers of fate are in no one's hands... by the way, Hermione... beware a red-haired Weasley.' Like she's supposed to know better. She's never even had a real vision in her entire life!"

Harry knew, that wasn't quite true, but he didn't want to tell Ginny that. He would have almost found the whole thing funny, if the implications weren't so serious.

"She wanted you to let me fall to my death," Harry said, utterly appalled. "That is sick!"

"When I disagreed with her, she tried to take fifty points from Gryffindor and gave me a month's worth of detention," Ginny said.

"Can she do that?" Harry asked.

"Apparently not," Hermione said. "Professor McGonagall came here this morning, and gave us the news. Professor Dumbledore has called off Ginny's punishment. In fact, he even gave Gryffindor 50 points, for saving you."

"I'm sorry I got you in trouble with her," Harry said.

"It was no trouble," Ginny said.

"How are you feeling Virginia?" Madam Pomfrey asked, coming back into earshot.

"I'm feeling much better now," Ginny said. "When can I leave?"

"You can go after I give you a thorough checkup, to make sure you'll stay in one piece when you leave here," Madam Pomfrey said. "But I don't want you to push yourself over the next few days, understand? I don't want you to have to come back, because you overdid it."

"Yes, ma'am," said Ginny.

"Now, how are you doing young man?" Madam Pomfrey asked. "Is your scar hurting you again?"

"I'm fine, Madam Pomfrey," Harry said.

"Harry's scar was hurting when he woke up," Hermione said. At Hermione's words, she checked his vitals. When she placed a hand on his forehead, Harry winced in spite of himself. His scar was still tender.

"I want to keep you here another day or two," Madam Pomfrey said. "Just to be on the safe side... Visiting hours will be over in ten minutes. I want you two out by then. I will give you your checkup later in the evening Miss Weasley. When they leave I want you both to get some rest. That's an order."

Madam Pomfrey went back into her office, and shut the door behind her. Harry shot an accusing glare at Hermione. There was nothing Madam Pomfrey could do for him in this case, anyway. So why try? Besides, he was planning on telling Professor Dumbledore, at any rate.

"Thanks, Hermione," Harry said. "Now she'll never let me out."

"I had to tell her, you know that, Harry," Hermione said.

"Don't worry, Harry," said Ron. "She can't hold you for more than another day or two."

"Well, I've got to get going," said Hermione. "We've got a potions essay due Friday, and I haven't finished it yet. I've brought your books, so you can finish it while you're here." Hermione handed Harry his book bag.

"Can't he lay off the books for awhile?" Ron asked. "Madam Pomfrey said he's got to rest."

"Injury is no excuse for falling behind," Hermione said. "Besides, I wouldn't want Harry to get detention from Professor Snape, because he didn't finish his homework. We'll come back to see you later, bye."

"Bye guys," Ron said. They left the hospital wing together. Ginny muttered something under her breath, and went back to her book, completely oblivious to the world around her. Harry couldn't get what Ginny had said about Professor Trelawney out of his head. How was she going to react around him, now that she thinks he's supposed to be dead? Harry pulled out his homework, determined to put it all out of his mind, for awhile.

*~*~*

Ginny walked towards Transfiguration class alone. She wanted to thank Professor McGonagall for standing up for her, before class started. An odd unease seemed to fill the air itself as Ginny approached the classroom; she could sense something unnatural nearby. She entered the classroom. She could almost taste the highly controlled magic in the room. It was empty, save for a small tabby cat, curled into a ball on Professor McGonagall's desk, asleep. Ginny walked up to the desk, as quietly as possible, so as not to wake it. The feeling grew as she drew closer to the desk. She tried to pinpoint where it was coming from, and blinked in surprise when she found it. It was coming from the cat. Concentrating, she tried to sense what it was.

Then she knew. This wasn't a cat at all. But if it wasn't a cat then it had to be... a wizard! Then it came back to her. It's Professor McGonagall. This is her Animagus form. It had been so long since she had seen her like this that she had completely forgotten. But how could she sense it? It shouldn't be possible, yet she could feel it as clear as day, with a little concentration. I wonder...

"Professor McGonagall?" Ginny said softly, petting McGonagall's stomach to get her attention. The cat stirred a bit, stretched slightly, and went back asleep. She tried again. No response. Time to try a different tact. She spoke louder, as she mussed the hair on the cat's head, annoying her. "Wake up Professor! Class is going to start soon. Do you want the whole class to see you asleep on your desk?"

The cat opened its eyes, blinking away the last remnants of exhaustion, and set their piercing gaze on Ginny. Comprehension flashed in the cat's eyes. Professor McGonagall stood, stretched, then gracefully hopped off the table, transforming back to her usual self. The magic Ginny had felt vanished completely, leaving no trace behind.

"Thank you for waking me, Miss Weasley," said McGonagall. "I guess, I must have dozed off for a little bit... When is the next class?"

"In fifteen minutes," Ginny said.

"We have just enough time to set up," Professor McGonagall said. "Care to help me, Miss Weasley?"

"Sure Ma'am," Ginny said. Professor McGonagall and Ginny went to a large trunk filled with bricks. "What are these for?"

"Today we are going to work on turning bricks into birds," said McGonagall. "Put a brick on each desk. I'll set up the cages..."

Professor McGonagall pointed to three large cages at the other end of the room. Ginny and Professor McGonagall worked in silence for a few moments, until McGonagall spoke.

"So, what brings you to class so early, my dear?"

"I just wanted to thank you for sticking up for me in the hospital wing," said Ginny. "Professor Trelawney has backed off for the moment, though she's still angry about it. Thank you. I don't think I could have handled a month's worth of detention."

"Your welcome," Professor McGonagall said. "Just remember that if you have any problems with Professor Trelawney, or if you feel the need to talk to someone, my door is always open to you."

"Thank you, Professor," Ginny said, smiling slightly. "I will."

"Is there anything else?" asked McGonagall.

"I was wondering..." Ginny said slowly. "Is there any way for a wizard to sense an Animagi's presence? Like, naturally..."

"You mean people sensitive to Animagi?" Professor McGonagall asked. "No, there are some special charms and potions that can do that, but they are quite complex, and hard to use. To my knowledge, no one can sense when a person is in Animagus form. The magics used are far too refined, controlled, and part of the user for that to be possible. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious," Ginny shrugged. They both fell silent as the class began to fill with students. The class ended up being a complete disaster when several of the students transfigured their bricks wrong, giving the bricks wings, instead of making birds. This caused complete and utter chaos when they took flight, and started attacking the students, until Professor McGonagall managed to put a stop to it. They ended up sending a quarter of the students to the hospital wing before the class was over. All through it Ginny couldn't take her mind off of what Professor McGonagall had told her, and what she had sensed. She was sure what she had sensed was real... So what did that mean for her? Could Professor McGonagall be wrong? Or maybe she was losing it? Only time would tell...

*~*~*

Luckily, the last two days had passed without incident for Harry. Other than a few more well-wishers, and people pressing for details they couldn't get from Ginny, than usual, things had been pretty quiet for Harry. He had heard about the people mobbing Ginny some, for details and stuff, but as far as he knew, it hadn't been that bad. His scar had been hurting on and off since the incident, as if warning him that the danger was far from past. He hadn't told Madam Pomfrey about it, but he was planning to tell Professor Dumbledore of his suspicions when he got out. Madam Pomfrey had finally given him permission to leave the hospital wing, and Harry wanted to leave before she changed her mind. He winced slightly, when he put on his heavy backpack, and walked out of the hospital wing. Professor Dumbledore was waiting just outside for him.

"Hello, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm doing much better, Professor," Harry replied.

"Come with me," Dumbledore said. "I need to speak with you for a few minutes."

Harry followed Professor Dumbledore in silence. He didn't realize that they were heading to Dumbledore's office until they arrived in front of the stone gargoyle. Why did he want to speak with him?

"Acid Pops," Dumbledore said. The stone gargoyle moved out of the way and they walked in. Fawkes was sitting on his usual perch, looking a little off color. Harry took a seat, and watched as Dumbledore weeded through his office, looking for something.

"How is your scar feeling, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

"It's been hurting more often since the accident," Harry said.

"I understand that the accident, as you call it, was precipitated by your scar hurting," Dumbledore said.

"Yes, sir," Harry said.

"Did you happen to hear, or see anything when that happened?" Dumbledore asked. "Or get any strange feelings, when it occurred?"

Harry stopped to think about it for a minute. Was there anything other than the pain? There was something else... an image of Voldemort laughing. A shiver ran down Harry's spine at the thought.

"I saw an image of Voldemort," Harry said slowly, straining his mind for details that wouldn't come. "He was laughing about something, but I don't what it could be."

"It is as I suspected," Dumbledore said, almost to himself.

"What is, sir?" Harry asked.

"Oh, nothing that concerns you at the moment, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said. He pulled a small wooden box out of a secret compartment behind his desk. Dumbledore placed it on his desk and sat down.

"Do you think that the continued pain in my scar is a warning of some sort?" Harry asked. "Or maybe a sign that Voldemort's power is growing?"

"It could be," Dumbledore said. "I've brought you here, to show you this..."

Dumbledore handed Harry the box. On the outside it seemed like an ordinary box, but there was something about it, something that drew Harry to open it. Harry looked back at the Headmaster, and saw a twinkle in his eyes.

"This was your mother's," Dumbledore said. "She gave it to me the last time I saw her... She told me, that if anything should happen to her, that I was to give this to you after your sixteenth birthday, and not a moment before."

"What's in it?" Harry asked.

"I don't know," Dumbledore said. "She refused to tell me. She has put powerful wards on this box. Only you or I could handle it, and only you can open it."

Harry opened the box. Inside was an envelope made of heavy parchment, sealed in wax with an unfamiliar crest imprinted on it, a signet ring with a matching crest, and a beautiful necklace. Harry examined the crest on the letter more closely. It was a lion fighting with a giant snake, with an inscription written beneath it in a dialect that Harry didn't recognize. Harry turned the letter over, and saw the words 'To Harry Potter' written in a handwriting that Harry guessed was his mother's. He broke the seal, and opened it, pulling out a letter. He hesitated for a few moments. Harry looked up at the Headmaster, who smiled at him, encouraging him to continue. He felt a little more reassured, and read the letter.

Dear Harry,

If you are reading this, then I can no longer help you, but perhaps this can. The crest on the seal of this letter has been the Potter family seal for generations. Your father is enclosing his signet ring. The ring has been passed down from generation to generation for as long as there has been a Potter clan. There are innumerable legends and stories, not only about the ring, but the entire Potter clan going back centuries. I regret that I cannot tell you more about it here. I regret I can't tell you these things myself... Keep the ring safe. It may prove to be more useful than you can imagine right now.

I have enclosed the Necklace of Umbra. James gave it to me when you were born. Legend has it that the necklace can unlock the hearts and minds of others, but only in the hands of the person the necklace has chosen to be worthy. Of course, that may only be a legend. I've had it for over a year now and all it's done is look beautiful, so far. I want you to wear it, and never let it out of your sight. Don't tell anyone about the necklace unless you have to.

I wish I could tell you more... I wish I could warn you... Remember two things, my son. James and I love you and will always be there for you, in sprit, if not in fact. Always remember that nothing is ever as it seems.

Love always,

Lily Potter

Harry's eyes blurred with tears, as he read the letter again. Why did his mother want him to wait so long before giving him this? He had so many questions, but he knew that the only two people who could answer them were long dead. They were gone and there was no bringing them back... Harry picked up the ring, and examined it closer. It was made of gold; the design itself was etched out of a red emerald set seamlessly on the ring. He put it back in the box and then pulled out the necklace to have a closer look at it. It had a single, large, flawless, blue gemstone seamlessly suspended from an equally flawless platinum chain. The stone itself almost glowed with a light of its own. Harry had the sudden, irresistible urge to put it on. He held it before him for another few moments, then put it on, and hid it under his robes.

"That necklace has been in your family for as long as I can remember," Dumbledore said. "This explains why neither of these items were ever found... I've had them for all of these years, and I never even knew it."

"Why wouldn't she tell anyone what was in the box?" Harry asked.

"I'm not sure," Dumbledore said. "I'm sure she had her reasons... Lunch will be starting soon. Are you well enough to finish your classes for today?"

"Yes sir," Harry said.

"Good," Dumbledore said. "You may go..."

Harry picked up the box and the letter then left, heading back to the Gryffindor tower, speculating about what his mother's warning meant.

*~*~*

Harry sat down across from Ron and Hermione at the Gryffindor table and started in on his lunch. He wondered if he should tell them about the box from his mother. His mother had warned him not to tell anyone about the necklace... Perhaps it would be better if he didn't mention it for now. Harry looked up and saw Ginny with Mark again. They seemed to be talking about something... The world around him seemed to fall away as he watched Ginny. A strange shadow seemed to cling to Ginny, as if it was radiating from her. Harry couldn't take his eyes off of her as he heard a strange humming sound, almost like-

"...Hogwarts to Harry," Hermione said. "Are you in there, Harry?"

"What?" Harry asked, startled by the sound of her voice.

"I was asking you if you were planning to go to Hogsmeade this weekend," Hermione said.

"Yeah," Harry said. "I've been meaning to ask you about that. I've spoken with Professor Lupin. He's set up a meeting with Snuffles, and we're welcome to come for a visit."

"That sounds great," Hermione replied. "I'd love to come. What about you Ron?"

"Yeah," Ron said. Ginny came over and sat down next to Harry.

"Hey Gin," Ron said. "So, what were you and Mark talking about?"

"He asked me to go to Hogsmeade with him this weekend," Ginny said.

"What did you say?" Hermione asked.

"I told him I'd think about it," Ginny said. Ron got what Ginny called 'the overprotective brother look' on his face. "Relax Ron, we're only friends... nothing more, nothing less."

"Yeah, but does he know that?" Ron said.

"Of course he does," Ginny said, blushing slightly. "You worry too much."

Ron didn't look convinced, but fell silent. The rest of lunch went without incident and Harry filed what the strange shadow he thought he saw over Ginny earlier in the back of his mind, all but forgotten.

___________

TBC