Harry Potter and the Ancient Alliance

Chapter 7

Cecilia Sorral

The next day Mr. and Mrs. Weasley left Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny at the Wizard's Carnival and headed off to their weekly meeting with Fred and George. Harry had spent all of last night and this morning thinking about what had happened at Madame Zurconi's. He wondered what had caused that explosion of blue/green light. He rubbed his chest where the light had struck him. Beneath his grey t-shirt laid a huge black and blue bruise mark on his chest. He also wondered what Madame Zurconi had meant by their friendship was predestined. Harry thought back to his first day on the train (the day he had met Ron and Hermione), he thought about their defeat of the mountain troll (the event that lead to their bond as friends), and finally of their Sorcerer's Stone expedition (their first of many adventures together). Nothing about any of those events seemed predestined, so how could their friendship be? Harry wanted these uncertainties resolved and knew only one person could quench his thirst for answers. As soon as he passed through the carnival's entrance, he headed straight for Madame Zurconi's tent, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny following close behind.

"What the..." said Harry in a confused tone.

"She's gone!" exclaimed Ron.

The four of them, with their mouths gaping open, stood upon the empty space where Madame Zurconi's tent had been. Harry, recovering from shock, stopped a man who had just passed them carrying a steaming bin of hot sausages.

"Excuse me, sir," Harry said. "Do you know where Madame Zurconi is?"

"She left last night," the man said.

"Left?" questioned Harry. "Where? Why?"

"Dunno," said the man shrugging his shoulders. "She looked scared though, like she'd seen a ghost or something. Madame packed up her tent and disappeared."

The man resumed walking to his destination. Harry looked at his friends.

"What do you think?" Harry asked.

"Well I suspect whatever happened during our reading yesterday frightened her," Hermione explained.

"I suppose," said Harry.

"What could have frightened her so bad that she'd pack up and go?" asked Ron.

"I don't know," said Harry. "But now we can't ask her about Sorral Sight."

Harry saw Ron and Hermione give each other nervous looks.

"You know something." Harry said. "What is it?"

Hermione spoke first. "Well, I've heard about it. It's supposed to be a very uncommon gift."

"Oh, you mean like me being a Parselmouth?" Harry asked.

"Yes," said Hermione.

"It's rumored to be some kind of advanced dark magic," Ron added looking apologetically at Ginny.

"Oh no," Ginny said, her face filling with worry.

"Don't worry," said Harry, taking Ginny's hand. "Everything will be ok. What we need are facts."

"Right," said Hermione.

"Well, in the meantime let's go have some fun, alright?" Ron said.

They all nodded and began their second carnival adventure.

They spent the rest of the day as follows:

They met again in front of the carnival gate at 5:50 p.m.

"What did you buy?" Harry asked Hermione, pointing to a book in her hand.

Hermione showed Ron and Harry a book whose title read "Encyclopedia of Magical Gifts" by Marcolus Warthy.

"Sorral Sight is mentioned in here so I bought it to find out more about it," explained Hermione. "I'll research it tonight and then we'll all have a better understanding of what Ginny's gift is."

"That's terrific," said Ron.

"Yeah," said Harry.

That night the four of them sat in the Weasley's living room (Ron and Harry playing chess, Hermione reading the encyclopedia, and Ginny finishing her book on magical flowers) anxiously waiting for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to go to bed so that they could talk freely. Harry, Ron, and Ginny were nervous to hear what Hermione had learned. They finally got their wish when Mrs. Weasley instructed them not to stay up too late as she and Mr. Weasley headed up the stairs. They waited for their bedroom door to click shut before anyone spoke.

"I thought they'd never go to bed," said Ron.

"It's about time," said Ginny.

"What does the book say, Hermione?" asked Harry. "What exactly is Sorral Sight?"

Ginny, Ron, and Harry listened intently as Hermione spoke.

"Sorral Sight is the ability to mentally travel through time and space at will. People who have it are able to witness events in the past, present, and future. If they know how to control this power, they can view anything they want of whom or what ever they want. It's unique because the person who possesses it can force a vision at any time and doesn't necessarily have to come into contact with the person or thing it desires to see, unlike other similar gifts," Hermione read from the book.

"Bloody Hell!" said Ron.

Harry and Ginny exchanged worried looks.

"The good news is, Sorrel Sight is only considered a Dark Arts' gift if the person who possesses it uses that power for evil," Hermione explained looking up from the book's pages.

"What's the bad news?" asked Ginny nervously.

"Well, I wouldn't really call it bad news. It's just that Sorral Sight is a very rare gift." Hermione said quickly scanning her friend's faces.

"Yeah so?" said Ron.

"So rare it can only be inherited," Hermione finished.

"That's impossible," said Ron. "No one in our family has ever had such a gift."

Hermione's face darkened.

"According to the encyclopedia, Sorral Sight was termed after a woman named Cecilia Sorral. She was reported to be the first person to have the gift," Hermione continued. "Her grandfather was a Master Alchemists who spent a lot of time trying to create a potion that would allow him to mentally travel through time and space at will. One night he fell asleep and knocked over a random bunch of ingredients into his potion causing an explosion. He barely made it out of his laboratory alive, but he was blinded in the accident and no magic known could cure him. He spent fifty unsuccessful years trying to complete the potion before he died of old age. In that time, he and his wife had two boys. One of the boys grew up to have seven children, six boys and one girl," Hermione paused.

"Cecilia Sorral?" Ron asked.

"Yes," answered Hermione. "She was the first female to be born for several generations," Hermione paused and looked at Ginny. "As she got older, she showed signs that she possessed the very gift her grandfather had been trying to create. There has been speculation that Cecilia's grandfather had unknowingly and accidentally created the potion he worked his whole life to achieve and the explosion caused the gift to be genetically imprinted on him; however, it is a mystery why only his female descendents have inherited The Sight, that each female is the eighth child in her family, and the only girl born for several generations. Also, decedents of that family are the only ones in the world who possess it. It appears that you have to be related to them in order to have it."

"Well, there you go," said Ron. "That's proof right there that Ginny couldn't possibly have Sorral Sight. I told you Madame Zurconi was a fraud."

"Ron, I do sometimes have visions though," admitted Ginny.

Ron and Hermione looked at her with shocked expressions.

"You what?" asked Ron surprised. "You do?"

"Yes," said Ginny.

"Why is this the first time I'm hearing about this?" asked Ron. "Why didn't you tell someone sooner?"

"I don't know. At first it was while I slept, so I thought they were just dreams," explained Ginny. "It seemed silly to talk about."

"Ginny, at some point you must have realized that it was more than just dreams," Ron said.

"I did," admitted Ginny. "Eventually, I found myself having them while I was fully awake, right in the middle of doing homework or folding my clothes or something. Initially I was scared, but the more it happened the less scared I became."

"I'm really getting sick of everyone keeping secrets," Ron sulked.

"Oh, would you get past that already?" said Hermione.

Ron shot Hermione a nasty look.

"When was the last time it happened?" Hermione asked Ginny.

Ginny blushed.

"While Harry and I kissed at the lake," Ginny admitted as she caught a glimpse of Ron's frowned brow.

"O-K," said Hermione. "Well, when did you first start getting visions?"

"I've been getting them since my third year at Hogwarts," Ginny answered.

Hermione gasped.

"What is it Hermione?" asked Harry.

"Cecilia was thirteen when she first showed a sign of Sorral Sight, the same age Ginny was when she first noticed it. In fact, every girl born with the gift gains the power when they are thirteen as well," Hermione explained.

"But, she can't possibly have it," Ron reasoned again. "The fact still remains that we aren't related to Cecilia Sorral and you said that the gift has to be inherited and it only runs in her family. Therefore, Ginny must have a different gift."

"Ron, Cecilia lived many many years ago, she could possibly be related to your family SOME how. It makes sense, look at the similarities between her and your sister!" Hermione retorted.

Ron folded his arms across his chest and bit his lip. Ginny sat still, deep in thought.

"Hermione, is there any way for us to trace Cecilia's family tree? Then we would know once and for all whose related to who," Harry said.

"Well," said Hermione. "I could go to Flourish and Blotts Bookstore tomorrow and look for more information on Cecilia's family."

"Brilliant," said Harry. "Hopefully by tomorrow we will know a bit more."

Ginny yawned. "I'm exhausted! I need some sleep."

"Yeah, keeping secrets takes a lot out of a person," Ron spat.

Everyone shot Ron an "enough already" look.

"OK, OK, I'm sorry. That was the last time I promise," Ron said cracking a slight smile.

With that, the four friends headed up stairs. Ron and Harry changed into their pajamas and climbed into their beds.

"Harry?" called Ron.

"Yes?" Harry said.

"Promise me you will treat Ginny right," Ron said.

"I promise," Harry said, lying down in his bed.

"Hey, Harry?" Ron called again.

"Yes?" Harry answered more sleepily this time.

"You'll probably think this is stupid, but I think the four of us need to make a pact never to keep secrets from one another again," said Ron.

"No, that's a brilliant idea," said Harry.

"Really?" asked Ron happily.

"Yes," said Harry smirking. "Then you can tell Hermione you like her."

There was a short pause.

"I--don't--know--WHAT--you're--talking--about," said Ron with a broad smile on his face.

Harry grinned mischievously.

"Good night, Ron," said Harry.

"Good night, Harry" said Ron.

The next day Ron, Ginny, and Harry left Hermione at Flourish and Blotts and went to the Carnival for their final day of wonders and mysteries. Ron went back to the "Quidditch" and "Broomsticks Through the Ages" tents and Harry and Ginny went on the Ferris Wheel a few times and explored the "Fantastic Sea Creatures From Around the World" tent. This was the first time they had been alone in two days.

"Harry?" asked Ginny.

"Yes," answered Harry.

"Does my power scare you?" she asked.

Harry turned to look at her. "No, why do you ask?" he questioned.

"I told Michael a little bit about it and I think it scared him right into Cho Chang's arms."

"Oh," said Harry. "I thought you broke up with him because of the Quidditch match."

"I did, but things had become strained with us ever since I told him about my visions. The match was just the final straw," Ginny explained.

"Michael Corner is a git and didn't deserve you," Harry said.

"Thanks, I feel the same way about Cho," Ginny said.

Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny's waist and pulled her closer to him. Ginny pulled Harry into a sensual kiss.

"Well, Well, Well. If it isn't Potter and the youngest weasel," said a deep callous voice.

Harry's stomach churned as he and Ginny broke apart to find a young man with white blond hair and pale complexion standing to their right. It was Draco Malfoy, Harry's enemy, with Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, his "bodyguards," behind him.

"Go away, Malfoy. I have nothing to say to you," said Harry, annoyed at his comment.

Draco ignored him and continued. "What's the matter Potter?" Draco said. "Can't find a girl your own age to date. Had to go younger?" Crabbe and Goyle snickered.

"Go away," said Ginny through gritted teeth.

"Oh, I'm scared now?" said Malfoy mockingly.

"I'm warning you, get away from us, or else!" Harry yelled.

Harry and Ginny's faces where red with anger.

"What are you going to do Potter? Get your girlfriend to beat me up?" said Malfoy maliciously.

Crabbe and Goyle laughed hysterically.

"How's your father?" asked Ginny wickedly.

Crabbe and Goyle stopped laughing. Draco's pointy face darkened and his grey eyes narrowed. He shot Ginny a murderous look before addressing Harry.

"Be careful, Potter," said Draco with a smirk as he turned to leave. "Accidents can be so unfortunate."

Harry and Ginny watched with great relief as Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle walked away.

"Harry?" asked Ginny. "Did he just threaten you?"

"Yeah," said Harry. "But I wouldn't worry about him though."

"Why?" said Ginny. "He's a pretty sneaky git."

"True," said Harry. "But I've got something he'll never have."

"What?" asked Ginny.

"You," said Harry.

Around 2 o'clock, Harry and Ginny met up with Ron and the three of them went to look for Hermione; however, they didn't get very far because as they headed for the carnival exit they saw Hermione walking swiftly through the entrance.

"Hermione!" said Ron. "We were just coming to get you."

Hermione was clutching a book in her right hand. Her face looked pale as if she was sick.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"I found some information on Cecilia at Flourish and Blotts," she answered, the book shaking in her quivering hand. "You were right, Ron, she's not related to your family in anyway."

Ron's triumphant look was short lived.

Hermione continued, "Cecilia's last name, Sorral, is her married name. Her maiden name is Slytherin."