Harry Potter and the Legacy of Merlin

Chapter 11

By the Pricking of My Thumbs

"I don't understand," said Harry when they had reached Hogwarts. "What are Magnimagus and Polynimagi?"

Everyone was too shocked to answer. They all just stared at him as if he was a fascinating as well as terrifying object. Harry nudged Lupin, then Hagrid, then Ron and finally Hermione, but none of them said anything. Harry hoped that Dumbledore may give him some answers. How wrong he was...

Dumbledore stood immobilised on learning everything from a stuttering Hermione. It was Snape who took action. He quietly led Harry to a separate chamber and said quietly, "Sit down, Potter. I'll explain."

Harry sat and looked at him expectantly.

Snape said softly, "Polynimagi are Animagi who can convert into many different animals. There haven't been any since Merlin himself. Magnimagi are a combination of Magi and Magnii, but their power is much greater than both put together. Again, there has been only one of them in the past, Potter. Merlin."

"So? Why is everyone so shocked?"

"Don't you get it, Potter? You're so powerful that you can annihilate the entire population of the earth with a casual wave of your hand! And this also means that you are a descendant of Merlin, which means you will have control over all magical people and creatures as your birth right as soon as you come to your full powers, which is today, your sixteenth birthday." Snape suddenly knelt on the floor in front of Harry in a bow and kissed his hand, "Welcome to your powers, My Lord."

Harry withdrew his hand hurriedly and said, "Please don't do that, Professor. It makes me feels queasy."

"My Lord, this is your destiny. You are our master. It is your duty to ensure happiness to our people, and to restore peace and order."

A sudden change came over Harry. It was as if he'd been transformed to a different person. He was hardly aware of himself or of what he was doing. Something that had lain dormant in his head had woken up and taken over. Without knowing the reason, Harry stood up and picked up a needle out of thin air. It was coming naturally to him, as if he'd been doing it all his life. He pricked both his thumbs with the needle. Two drops of blood oozed out and fell on Snape's hand, where they transformed into a ring with a strange design.

"Get the others, please, Professor."

Snape bowed and went out. One by one, everyone came in, and Harry gave each of them a ring made of two drops of blood, one from each of his thumbs. Everyone bowed and kissed his hand. This time, Harry didn't flinch. When they were all done, Harry said quietly, "This ring is your connection to me. As long as you are wearing it, you shall be able to contact me and claim my protection whenever you need to."

Everyone nodded.

"I don't want anyone else to be told about this," Harry continued.

"But won't they see the rings on our fingers?" Ron asked.

"No. It is invisible to all but those who have it."

"Will you give rings to more people?" Hermione asked.

"You know it already, Hermione," said Harry, his voice very soft, "You are a Seer."

"No!" she said loudly.

"You cannot deny it anymore, Hermione," Harry said gently, "Think about it logically. How do you think you knew who Professor Quinn was?"

"I...I...I just..."

"You see? Not even Prefects know the new professors. Yet you knew. No book mentions Harley Ollivander. Yet you knew. Think about all your logic, Hermione. Your Seeing ability lies under all of it, and yet you've been trying to deny it's existence all these years. Accept your gift, my friend, the way I have done. That is the only way."

Ron suddenly turned red. Harry noticed this immediately and turned to his best friend.

"You're not average either, Ron."

"What? But I don't have any special powers!"

"You do."

"You're lying!" Ron yelled. Harry winced, a look of great agony shadowing his features momentarily.

"No, Ron, I'm not. Have you never wondered why you're so tall? At sixteen, you've outgrown your entire family by at least a foot. Why? Can't you fathom a reason? I'll tell you. Why are you perpetually hungry? Why are you such a good strategist? It's your elf blood, Ron. You have elf blood. And you're an Animagus."

Ron opened and closed his mouth, looking remarkably like a fish. Harry walked to the chair and sat down. He looked down at his hands. A ring had appeared on his finger. He stared at it for a few more minutes. A distant sound caught his ears. He closed his eyes and listened. Someone was in agony, great agony. They needed his help...he had to go...

Everyone stared at Harry's fading form till he disappeared totally.