Harry Potter and the Legend of Imlach

Chapter 9

The game was basically the only topic of conversation the next day. Most of the Gryffindor house did not show up until lunch and all of the talk started up again. Hermione and Moira made it the table and started eating. It took Harry and Ron another ten minutes to make it to the table. Harry sat down and another congratulations was in process. Harry then turned his attention to the food.

"So Harry, Hermione told me about yesterday."

"Keeping things as unknown as they should be, what do you think?"

They four of them had learned to talk about things as if they were talking about nothing. They figured if anyone did overhear, no one would have any idea what they were talking about or think it of little importance. Once in a while they would confuse themselves, but it generally worked out all right.

"I really don't know what to think Harry," Ron said truthfully.

"That about sums up most of my life."

"I will talk about it while we lift today."

Hermione rolled her eyes and let her fork drop to her plate.

"You aren't giving up on that now that you've won. You guys are going to kill yourselves."

"Hermione, I've watched the other teams. Hufflepuff's chasers are great this year and Ravenclaw has a defense that will be hard to score against. We still need to work."

"Fine, but don't kill yourself."

Harry tried not to laugh. Ron really was pushing himself hard. Harry was sure Ron was trying bulk up his small build. Ron was plenty strong, but the Weasley gene pool was not one to show it. Harry had ended up lucky on that end. He was by no mean large, but he had a great muscle tone. Ron's workouts were having the right effect on the wrong person and Ron was trying not to be annoyed by it. Ron picked up a sandwich and stood up.

"Come on Harry, let's go."

Harry took a few more bites a drink, picked up an apple and followed.

"Maybe if he drops one of those weights on his head or falls off his broom he we will knock some sense into his head."

"Don't be so hard on him Hermione, I think he is doing a lot of it to try and impress you."

"Me, why? I like him just the way he is, he doesn't need to act like a fool."

"Yeah, but he doesn't know that, does he."

"No"

Hermione sighed and slumped in her seat. She wanted to tell her about the dream, but it was basically all the same thing. She liked Ron, but could not find a way to tell him.

"Ron you really ought to calm down some. We are not heading toward to weight room Ron." Harry was stating the obvious.

"No we are not. I have no desire to lift weights, beside you are the only one getting bigger."

"You are getting stronger too."

"Yeah, but I still look like I can't lift a thing, so what good does it do."

Ron stuffed the rest of his sandwich in him month and chewed like he was starving. Harry took a bite out of his apple.

"Really Ron, why are you so bugged."

Ron collapsed under a tree by the Herbology building.

"I finally got up the nerve to tell her like her."

"You did that's great."

"Not really."

Harry was mortified, he was sure Hermione liked him. Ron read his expression.

"I took so long to get it out, she feel asleep. I carried her up to her bed, but she never woke up. From the looks of things this morning she doesn't remember anything. I was hoping she would remember something. She must be a sound sleeper."

Harry didn't know what to say. He sat down beside Ron and took another bite of his apple. They sat in silence for a minute while Harry chewed trying to come up with something encouraging to say.

"Hey, why don't you ask her to the Halloween dance."

"I was already planning to, when it gets closer."

"Yeah, but if you ask here now, this early, she will know that you really want to go with her. Not to mention the fact that you thought about it this far in advance. It will make an impression on her. Besides it is less than four weeks away...Give it a shot I think it will give her the right impression."

Ron sat up like a lighting bolt.

"I have it."

"What? Do share."

"Your taking Moira right."

"Naturally."

"Well, why don't we ask them together in a most spectacular way."

"This sound good, do tell."

Ron and Harry spent the next couple of hours coming up with the best possible way of surprising the girls and making sure they would not forget it. When they had it all settled they started back to the castle.

"You will be able to keep this a secret right."

"She will know that I am keeping a secret, but she will not know that it is. She will tease me with no end, but I can hold out a couple of days. Besides the teasing is fun."

Ron gave Harry a sideway look and decided he did not want to press that one any further. They parted ways to put their plan into action. He went to find his Godfather. He needed his help and he was sure he also new how the attack had been averted. He never did get any of that information from Professor Snape.

Harry found Sirius in the teachers' common lounge. He tapped on the door to get their attention. There were a handful of teacher in there.

Sirius was the first on to jump up.

"Harry, what a pleasure to see you, come in."

"Actually I was hoping I could speak with you, want to go on a walk?"

"Most certainly, not many fine days like this left."

When they were out on the grounds and Harry was sure they were out of anyone's earshot he turned the conversation to the real reason he wanted to talk to him.

"Sirius, I wanted to ask you about the attack on the villages near the mountains where the giants are hiding. How did we manage to stop them?"

"You don't know."

"No, I haven't had a chance to talk to anyone about it until now. I went to talk to Dumbledore, but he had to leave. Professor Snape was there, but you can imagine how well that conversation went."

"Um... I can imagine. We were able to contact the giants. Hagrid left quite the impression on them and they finally came around. They agreed to help us, and the second they started coming down out of the mountain Voldemort knew he could not attack the village and win with the giants not on his side, so he left. There was not even a battle. My biggest question is why that village?"

Harry was not sure he wanted to answer that question. He had a pretty good idea why. That was Dumbledore's village. That was Imlach homeland. Was it possible he new what was in that mountain.

"A penny for your thoughts."

"Oh sorry, I was just thinking."

"I know what where you thinking about."

"That is Dumbledore's home."

"Is it, I didn't know that. I could not think he would attack it just for that."

"Maybe he was looking for something."

"Like what Harry?"

"A certain mountain."

"Harry there is no way he knows about what you have been doing there."

"Maybe he is trying to find something for himself, that mountain has a lot of stuff I am sure he would find useful within its walls.

"That may be so."

"He was mad, beyond mad, that they failed."

"Yes, Dumbledore told me. I think we need to be a little more discreet about things next time. Maybe let then think they are doing all right. Kind of like you did in that Quidditch game. I have never seen you fly like that Harry."

"Yeah, that was fun. Did my dad fly like me?"

"Your dad was good Harry, but you passed him up years ago. The school has already gotten request for scouts to attend your next game."

"Did Dumbledore tell them not to come?"

Sirius laughed.

"He didn't think you would want them here, but Mr. Weasley is trying to show people that life is going on as normal and he thinks the scouts will help calm people and show them that we are looking to the future as well."

"I don't think I agree with that logic."

"You might not, but the paper made sure everyone knows so turning them down would look bad."

Harry was not excited about this at all, but he knew everyone else would be. Harry decided to change the subject.

"Can I ask for your help with something?"

"Anything, go right ahead."

"Well, Ron and I have come up with this great plan to ask Hermione and Moira to the Halloween dance."

"I hope you are the one going with Moira."

"Sirius."

"Alright, lets hear it I will be happy to help."

Harry told him the whole plan and what they needed his help with.

"That is a great plan Harry, I am sure the girls will be thrilled."

"Well, I have to give the Ron the credit. He came up with most of it."

"I will be sure to do my part. Anything to make Monday more interesting is good. I am not sure the kids will be all that thrilled with my lesson anyway, at least you will provide the evening entertainment."

Harry stopped dead.

"What do you mean, you are the only Defense Against the Black Arts teacher that has lasted more than a year since I've been here, and you are great."

Sirius laughed and they neared the castle.

"I will not be as great as you and Ron will be. Come on dinner is already started."

She knew it! They were up to something! Sabine's penetrating stare focused a little harder as she watched the four Gryffindor's huddled together in conversation. However, no one would ever suspect that she was watching them nearly as hard as she was. She was sitting next to Mariah and Julia and was laughing harder than she had in a long time about some superficial joke that one or the other had just told. To any other on looker she was a normal teenage witch totally engrossed in her own universe, but inside she was like a hawk, ever watchful.

"You are not supposed to keep secrets from your wife."

Harry laughed. He was glad he had less than 48 hours to keep this a secret, he was sure he could hold out much longer than that.

"You know full well this is not a bad secret, this is a good secret and I made Ron a promise and I am going to keep it."

He gave her a peck on the nose and headed down to breakfast. Moira laughed, she knew the secret was no big deal, but she was sure having fun giving him a hard time about it. She hoped it was as good and he let on. She made her way down the stairs. She was not hungry so he head for the dungeon. She was working on a new project now and had to admit she had her grandmother's love of potions. She had chosen to focus on potions for her studies. Harry understood why, but she still thought it somewhat amusing that he disliked Snape so much. She was just as confused as to why Snape would not let his anger go too.

She was digging though some book when she felt Snape enter the room.

"Not too surprised to see me here."

"You were not at breakfast with your normal crowd, so I could think of no where else to find you."

He went over to his desk and pulled out the book she had given him and brought it over to her.

"I have read and reread this book and I am still not sure I can believe it."

Moira took the book and placed it in her bag.

"Professor, I wonder sometimes myself sometimes, but what we think will not change what simply is."

Professor Snape took a stool and sat it down at the desk where she was working.

"So how goes the battle on creating this new potion of yours."

"Is going, slowly. I am learning a lot about all of these new ingredients discovered since I went to sleep. I think I spend more time reading than actually making potions"

"There are more than a few of them."

Snape was actually relaxed and was carrying on a real conversation like a normal person. They were talking about all of the different things that had changed the art of potion making over the years and got lost in the conversation.

"So tell me about your grandmother. She seemed quite the women."

"She was my grandmother and my best friend."

"Really?"

"Yeah, you see I did not develop the ability to speak telepathically until I was around 16 I guess. She was only person besides my parents that could stand to hear my voice."

"That does pose some problems."

"It has been a real pleasure for me to be able to live in the real world. To have a real life. But my grandmother tried to make up for it. She made me believe my life was normal and helped me deal with all the things that I could not do. And she was fun."

Snape laughed.

"That was apparent from the book. I think she got you both into more trouble than you could've gotten yourself into."

Moira had to put her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. Snape looked at her and realized she was a real person. He had gotten over the fact she was talking to him telepathically.

"What would happen if I heard your voice?"

"I don't know really. I could tell you what I've been told. Um...a very intense emotion comes over you. You loose all ability to do anything and simply pass out."

"So give it a try. It won't hurt me will it?"

"No, I don't think it would be all that different then when Harry and I spoke to you that one day."

"Well, I dealt with that; lets see what your voice does."

Moira took a deep breath and looked at Snape.

"You really want to do this."

"Yeah."

"Well sit down somewhere so that if you do pass out you will not fall or get hurt."

Snape got up and went over to his desk and sat down.

"I think this will do."

Moira stood in front of the desk and looked at Professor Snape.

"Go ahead I am not backing down."

She was thinking about what to say. Then she looked up at him. Then she quietly whispered as she looked at him.

"I don't know what to say."

She watched at the words seemed to hit him like brick wall. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and he passed out. Part of her had hoped he would be able to handle it, but she knew this would be the result. She made sure he was comfortable picked up her bag and left the room making sure the door was closed.

She walked up the stairs and called out to Harry.

"Where are you my husband?"

"Chasing a snitch."

"I was working on my project, and I am finished for today."

"The practice is almost over I should be back in a half hour or so."

"Okay I will be in the room."

"I love you."

"I love you more."

Moira smiled as she made her way up the stairs. She told him good luck and trudged up the last landing. She turned the corner to find Malfoy and his goons coming right at her.

"Well, look who has ventured into our part of the world all by her lonesome."

Moira had a lot of thoughts run through her head; some of them would have been quite funny. They were blocking the hall and obviously had no intention of moving. She also had no intention of letting them intimidate her. She stood there and sent a breeze coming up from the dungeon. It made her hair blow and she stared Malfoy down and took one step forward increasing the wind behind her. Malfoy was trying to stand his ground, but her stare and the unexplained wind her making it all the more difficult for him. She took another step forward and Malfoy stepped aside. She walked past him and the wind died down. She did not look back she did not need to. She knew they were staring at her and she did not care. Not fully understanding what just happened, Draco shoved his hands in his pockets and stormed off down the hall in the opposite direction that Moira was going. His gang quickly followed him.

She made her way up to her room in a very good mood. She did not have to wait long for Harry to get back.

"Let's do something fun this afternoon."

Harry was quick to agree as pick picked her up and spun her around.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Do you think we could take a ride on the carpet?"

"Umm...that would be tricky, but I think we could make it happen."

"Now I would like to see you pull that off."

Harry leaned forward looked into her eyes. She played the entire Snape conversation and then the Malfoy incident for him. Harry laughed.

"I don't which is funnier, the fact that you and Snape can actually have a real conversation, which by the way I did not think he was capable of, or that you didn't even have to say word to top Malfoy."

Moira laughed.

"I really think Snape thought he could handle it. I wish it were something I had more control over."

Harry picked her up.

"Don't stress about it."

"I'm not."

Harry picked up the carpet and took her hand.

"Lets go."

They made their way across the field and out to the forest. They hid behind Hagrid's old house and talked for a while. When the sun started to go down they headed for the forest. Harry had spent enough time in it that he new his way around. They didn't go in very far when he unrolled the rug and they flew above the trees. They talked and floated around well into the night. Harry saw Firenze. He was the centaur, half horse half human that had run Voldemort off his forth year. He was looking up at them.

"Hi Firenze."

Harry said as he came down and floated mid air beside him.

"You are causing quite the stir in the forest tonight."

"Are we, well isn't that interesting."

"And who is you guest."

"Uh yes, this is my lovely companion Moira."

"Nice to meet such a beautiful creature."

Moira smiled and nodded.

"So how goes things in the forest. I haven't seen you in almost a year."

Firenze looked up at the stars.

"The stars are hard to read. No one was expecting you and your guest tonight."

"I like to keep people guessing."

"Be careful Harry the stars are telling a story."

"Do they say I am going to die? I think that would be the third time."

Firenze laughed.

"Harry, the stars hold a different story for everyone who looks at them."

"So tell me what you think the stars say."

"There is trouble ahead, big trouble."

"I will agree with you on that one."

Firenze seemed a little surprised that Harry agreed so easily.

"What are you thinking Harry?"

"I am thinking that it is about time to put Voldemort behind us for good, but doing so is going to cause this big trouble you are speaking about."

"Really, is that so."

"Firenze will you stand on my side in that battle?"

"Harry, I think you are the one speaking riddles tonight."

Moira was amazed at the boldness Harry was speaking with. Moira looked at Firenze and caught his gaze. She decided to see what his reaction was.

"He speaks not in riddles, he simply speaks what is."

Firenze faltered back and looks at the stars.

"That was not in the stars."

"I might be a little old to be in the stars."

"Who are you?"

"This Firenze is my wife. Moira Imlach Potter."

Firenze shook his head.

"You said Imlach didn't you."

"That I did."

Firenze took a breath and looked up at the two of them as they floated on the carpet.

"Yes Harry, I will stand by your side. Tell me when and what I need to do and I will stand and even die for you."

Harry looked a shocked.

"I would much prefer to fight and live for what we stand for."

"That sounds good to me. Until later."

Harry floated above the trees and drifted slowly toward the castle. He lay down on the carpet and pulled Moira close.

"I wasn't expecting that kind of response. It caught me off guard. I don't even know what to think."

"I think you did just fine."

"I don't want people to die."

"People don't want to die, they want to live, with freedom. For that they are willing to die if needs be."

"I know."

Since it was dark they carefully road the carpet up to their window and into their room.

"Thank you, I needed a night out like that." Moira said with a smile.

"Your welcome, I enjoyed it too."