HPNSA - BOOK TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
AWAKENINGS



Ron slowly opened his eyes. Wherever he was, it was dark, but whether the darkness was because it was night or his eyes were too damaged to see clearly he could not tell. He tried to speak but his lips would not move. He tried to remember where he was and what he was doing there but, unfortunately, that was also difficult to do because his head still swam.

There were two blurs with him. One of them knelt beside him while the other kept moving back and forth. They seemed to be engaged in some debate. He tried to move his fingers—it was very difficult. He tried to breathe deeply but the effort constricted his lungs. The blur closer to him placed his hand on his forehead and forced him to close his eyes. Before he gave in, he saw something else nearby---a kind of creature --- and although his hearing was dulled somewhat, he could hear a melody in his head. The song was one he’d never heard before; it was soothing like a lullaby played on stringed instruments, a calming sound. He strained his eyes to see what it was but his body gave in to the song and Ron could do nothing but rest.

The sound of huge feathers flapping madly was what heralded the morning. He blinked several times to make the blurriness of his eyes disappear. When the blinking did not help, he rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hands and thanked the fates that he was able to move again. He seemed to be lying on some kind of bed. He sat, scanned, and scaled the room; it was quite small with four walls covered in light-colored wood, there was a clock hanging on one side of the wall though its fingers had stopped at a quarter passed six, and his newspaper bed was right beside an opened window that let in a light breeze. On the ceiling hanged an incandescent light bulb covered in cobwebs, and the half opened door to the room was small and had the sign Stock Room in blue and white plastic.

‘That explains the old newspapers’, he thought.

Beside him, there was an alarmingly large bird: it had purple, green, and blue feathers. It cocked its head to one side and looked back at him like it was sizing him up.

“Don’t—“ Ron whispered, reaching for his dagger.

The bird squawked a little. Ron realized it had called someone, and he anticipated seeing a familiar face by the door.

“Professor Dumbledore---” Ron whispered.

“Ron!”

“Professor Lupin---” Ron said, his face a mixture of relief and disappointment.

“You’re all right! Arthur! Arthur he’s awake!” Remus called out.

“Dad? Dad is here?” Ron whispered.

Soon Arthur was by the door, his eyes glistened as he slowly walked closer to Ron. He fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around his youngest son.

“My son! My son!” He exclaimed.

Ron could no longer stop the tears; it had been a long time since he felt loving arms around him. Arthur’s embrace made him realize how much he missed his family and he kept asking himself why he ever left. When Arthur let go, Ron saw a change in him; his face looked older and tired. The hair on his head was no longer purely red rather it was a light amber color with large streaks of white, and he had lost so much weight.

“Dad---Dad!” Ron said holding onto his father’s body.

Arthur held his face with both hands, looked at his face and then kissed his brow. “We missed you, son! We looked everywhere – for months!”

“I’m sorry, Dad! I’m---“ Ron tried hard to remember what was it that drove him away from their house. Something had knocked memories out of his mind making it difficult to recall. “Where’s mum?”

The expression on Arthur’s face sent shivers down Ron’s spine.

“Ron!”

“Charlie! Bill!” Ron gasped as the frightening thought jolted out of reach. The two of them went to him and wrapped him in their arms. Charlie kept brushing his hair while Bill patted him on the back.

“We thought you’d be gone for certain!” Charlie said; his eyes were watery though no tear fell from them for his smile seemed to stop them in their tracks.

“Everybody will be happy with this news!” Bill cheered.

“Yes,” Remus said smiling, “They’d all be excited to know you haven’t thrown in the towel. In no time at all, you’d be back in shape.”

“Ginny will be so happy to know you’re alright.” Bill said.

“Where is Ginny?” Ron asked.

“She’s in the castle with Hermione and Martha.” Charlie replied.

Ron frowned a bit. “Martha? Who’s she?”

“You don’t---remember?” Charlie asked frowning a bit.

“No.” Ron replied. “But I can’t remember so many things---” He reached out and rubbed his head trying to find the reason for his memory loss. “Something must have knocked me out hard.”

“No, you’ve lost a lot of blood, Ron.” Remus said, moving closer to them. “We all thought---you wouldn’t make it. That Lycan sliced you good,”

“Lycan?” Ron echoed softly as the word pulled out memories from his head.

“Yes.” Remus frowned. “Surely you remember the attack. Ron, we were attacked by,”

“Aveddon—“ Ron finished as the memories came flooding in. “I remember now---we found Dolohov, and --- “ Ron felt for the pendant in his pocket, when it wasn’t there, he felt for the rest of the pendants on his neck.

“Looking for these?” Remus asked, holding five necklaces in his hand.

Ron stood and reached out for them but Remus retracted his hand. Somehow, he did not find this amusing. In fact, he was beginning to feel really cross that he reached out his hand and ordered Remus to hand them back.

“Ron,” Arthur said, “That’s no way to talk to---”

“Give them back!” Ron snapped, “It is of no value to you.”

“And it is valuable to you?” Remus asked.

“Of course is it!” Ron retorted. Something had erased the happiness he felt and though he knew the pendants were to blame for it, Ron could not fight the anger that was slowly devouring him. The faces that had brought so much joy appeared now as snakes preparing to strike. “Hand them over!”

“Why, Ron? Why are these pendants so important?” Remus asked again. “Rio distrusted these pendants, in fact he despised them! He blamed these pendants for this ---this change!”

“Rio---” Ron whispered the name and, realizing the knight was not with them, his heart began to race. “Where is he? Where’s Rio?”

“You don’t remember?” Charlie asked; his puzzled face a mixture of questions and contempt. “Ron--- he was taken.”

“Taken?”

“By Aveddon.” Remus reminded him. “You have to remember the encounter on the roof. Aveddon took Rio with him.”

Ron bowed his head, closed his eyes tightly, and forced his mind to retreat to that moment.

“We found you in Dolohov’s office,” Remus said. “After many months of searching, Aidan and I finally found you both and in the nick of time too, for you were about to be ambushed by a horde of Fenrir’s men. We were about to make an escape, but---“

“The peeling---” Ron finished the tale as his mind slowly recalled what had happened.

“What is that Ron? Rio mentioned that and we’ve seen the markings on your back.” Remus said. “What is that all about?”

Ron hesitated but knew he had to tell them. He had to make them understand for it will happen again.

“When I made the parley with the Keeper of the dead, she burned a pentagram upon my body as a symbol of the parley.” Ron explained.

“You realize that this pentagram is a binding magical contract. It cannot be broken, Ron.” Remus said.

Ron nodded. “Every time I kill a wizard from the list, his symbol is erased from my back.”

“Good heavens!” Arthur gasped. “You mean you will experience this --- this ---Torture more than once?”

“I’m afraid so,” Ron replied. “And I have. It happened when I killed Crabbe, Bagman, Avery, and Jugson.”

“That’s five --- that’s half the task!” Bill exclaimed.

“How were you able to find them?” Charlie asked.

Ron very nearly told him but his caught the glimmer from the crystals and was immediately on alert. “I had help.”

“Oh, let me guess,” Remus mused. He dangled the crystals in front of him. “Did these pendants show you where to find them?”

Ron glared at Remus. The way he mocked him by dangling the pendants just a little beyond his reach added to the disdain that dripped from his mouth, and Ron had to restrain himself greatly from attacking him.

“Ron,” Arthur butted in, “Son, we are all on your side---”

“Where is Aidan?” Ron snapped.

“He is sleeping.” Remus answered glaring back at Ron, “You better start explaining things to us, or ---”

“Or what?” Ron belched. “Or you’ll leave me?”

“What the hell is the matter with you?” Charlie said.

“Charlie!” Arthur said holding his eldest by the shoulder.

“No, Arthur, Charlie’s right. Something is not right with you, Ron. You were never this discourteous.” Remus said.

“Discourteous?” Ron snapped.

“Yes, discourteous!” Remus glowered. “A lot of people have sacrificed greatly to help you with this task of yours and it is not a comfort to know you are not even capable of recognizing that!”

Ron lowered his gaze when better reasoning returned to him. He knew deep inside they were right; he had been very short with those who have been battling the odds to help him. They didn’t need to do this – this wasn’t their fight – it was his, and his alone.

“I’m—I’m sorry, Professor Lupin.” Ron said as he slowly sank to his knees. He placed both hands on his head as the chunks of regret and guilt piled into a sour vomit that clogged his throat. “What have I done? Rio…”

“I know that there is little hope of it, but Rio might still be alive.” Remus assured him.

Ron shook his head. It was hard enough to understand why Rio had been taken. For Aveddon to keep him alive would be a greater riddle. Aveddon was an enemy known for his mercilessness.

“We have to accept that there are other forces at work. Aidan and I were sure you would die. Yet you lived through that ordeal.” Remus said.

Suddenly, it occurred to him that he is alive --- echoes of voices that cried through the night, debating who was to bite him made Ron’s hand fly to his neck feeling for bite marks.

“Ron---“ Remus sighed.

“Who bit me?”


---***---





Cush sat upon the giant shell and meditated. Wu Peng had returned from New York and reported that Albus had agreed to do their bidding.

[“We shall see.”] Cush said. [“Your wand.”]

Wu Peng raised his wand; it clinked and chimed softly as he did. Cush blessed it and three golden orbs descended from above and rested in the space between them. The golden room was then darkened as all other lights, save the three orbs, went out. Looking at Cush, Wu Peng could not help but be flooded with awe for it was as though the poetry of the Prophecy had come alive.

As Cush sat motionless on his throne with his feet crossed, his eyes closed, his left hand raised while his right rested on his lap he looked like a graven image ready to be worshipped. Behind his shell, the huge image of Lai with her arms opened wide seemed to be watching over him, granting him even more power. To the left and the right of the shell were children that looked as though they were reaching out to him --- all the other seeds that had perished.

Then the room was darkened again and this time the three golden orbs before him went out. Wu Peng continuously chanted to ensure the blanket of complete darkness would remain undisturbed. Suddenly he heard whispers of a cold and sharp voice. Cush countered it chanting with his voice that sounded like a deep, soft sound cushioning the blade-like irksome sound of the other. Then the whispers stopped, the moment of complete silence in dense darkness made Wu Peng tremble in fright. He continued chanting silently. Then Cush gasped.

[“Do not listen to her!”] Cush cried. “DON’T! It will destroy you!”

Wu Peng marveled for the boy had spoken in perfect English.

“Leave him alone!” Cush cried again stretching his hands; Wu Peng saw a streak of blue light spewing from them. Cush was now floating in mid-air engaged in a battle he could not see. One of the orbs between them exploded. Wu Peng chanted louder. Another light seemed to fill the room it was bright red and the golden hall felt hot. Wu Peng very nearly stopped chanting as the blaze burned through his thick garment. The floor was now filling up with a liquid substance that smelled like molten gold. Wu Peng was about to stop and levitate himself with suddenly, Cush cried as though in pain, and Wu Peng heard him fall, hitting the floor with a splash, and everything went deadly quiet.

“LUMOS!” Wu Peng cried. As the hall illuminated again, to his horror, he found the child lying in a pool of water on the floor with his face down, and around him debris of the orb scattered about as well as broken mirrors that melted and joined the rest of the golden liquid around them. The child did not move and Wu Peng feared the worst. He ran towards him and picked him up.

“Cush? Cush?”

Cush slowly opened his eyes and inhaled deeply. “Father…”


---***---

“Severus?” Dumbledore whispered. “Severus, what have you done?”

Severus remained as he was; lying still as the dead with unseeing dilated eyes staring blankly into space. His gaunt face matching the thinness of his hands that were clasped together on his chest was a picture of horrid, unexplainable fear, and Dumbledore knew that calling him back from the darkness was nearly impossible.

“I remember the time you came to me, asking for my mercy for you have betrayed James into the hands of the dark Lord. You did not know then that Voldemort was going after Lily---you have proven yourself worthy of my trust, Severus, and for the past months, I have watched as you earned it again.” Dumbledore said softly, brushing Severus’ dark hair with his hand. “Many will forever question my trust in you, and perhaps, in another life, that trust would be betrayed. But now, you deserve it fully.”

Dumbledore pointed the tip of his wand on Severus’ forehead and said in a clear voice, “Legilemense!”

Dumbledore found himself standing in the middle of a field of wild flowers and unnamable trees.

“Albus,”

Dumbledore reeled and saw a woman standing not far from where he was. Beside her was a child not more than seven years old, wearing a bright red cylindrical hat, and multicolored robe with intricate embroidery. To their left could be seen a dark blue, dome-like edifice.

“Where’s Severus?” Dumbledore asked.

“He will be with you shortly, Albus Dumbledore, and the secret of the Prophecy that you sought for so long will be yours as well.” The woman said.

“The Prophecy…” Dumbledore gasped. He realized then that Harry had divulged the missing piece of the Prophecy to Severus Snape. Severus had to hex himself into a coma so as not to disclose it to anyone else. Harry used the last stone to tell someone so urgently for he knew there was very little time to waste.

“Yes, old one--” The little boy said, “The Prophecy.”

Dumbledore looked at the little boy who now stood closer to him. The twinkling of his emerald green eyes gave his identity away.

“Archer.” Dumbledore said smiling.

The boy smiled back at him. “You remember.”

“You have Lily’s eyes--- like Harry, the Bearer. It is very hard to miss it.” Dumbledore explained. He looked at the woman again; she remained unfazed by this meeting. “Who are you?”

“I am Lai,” Answered the woman, “And you are in my house.”

“Lai—-” Dumbledore whispered. He has heard that name before though he has repressed the memories so far back his mind, it had become difficult to extract it to a pensieve. Emmanuel was about to tell him about the Prophecy and what it entails. He screams the name Lai and Nin--- the battle is between Lai and Nin. Something swooped outside the tower, Emmanuel begs him to end his life, but he stood there, gapping at him. Emmanuel ran to him, grabbed his hand that gripped the hilt of a sword that belonged to Godric Gryffindor, and buried it into his chest. “I saw him fall, and was forever blamed for his death.”

“He was foolish, and so was his Defender.” Lai said as though she saw the thoughts inside Dumbledore’s head. “The Prophecy could have been answered right then and there. They refused to be part of it.”

“You are a Keeper.” Dumbledore gasped.

Lai nodded curtly. “The Bearer had entrusted the secret to this man who had hated him even before he was conceived.”

“Severus loved his mother. He loved no one else.” Dumbledore advocated.

“That love had proven disastrous, old one, in fact right now, it will be tested again.” Lai countered.

“If it had not been for that love, Harry would not have been chosen by the Dark Lord.” Dumbledore contested.

“Yes, and he would have to deal with only one curse. The Iranna is already a heavy burden to bear yet he had to carry the scar as well.” Lai said.

Dumbledore looked at her and frowned. He knew that without the scar and the Prophecy that hanged in the balance, he would not have been able to parley for his life the second time ---He would have fallen with the Forbidden Tower---lost forever.

“Without the Prophecy, I would not have returned,” Dumbledore said, “That would make the Defender’s task harder. I am needed to fulfill both Prophecies.”

“You would have been returned otherwise, and the first Prophecy will be fulfilled whether the Defender does his task or not.” Archer said. “The one you seek to finish will culminate in another world---in another life.”

Surprised, Dumbledore looked at Archer sternly. “How do you know this?”

Archer reached out and took hold of his hand. “Come, let us make this journey inside his mind so you would see what my Bearer told him.”

Lai stood there, her face as blank as ever. Dumbledore knew there was nothing he could do but follow.

“We will return in a while ---” Archer said to Lai. Then he pulled at Dumbledore’s aging hand and they walked away from Lai.

They walked until the flowers faded into gray and then black until at last they were standing in darkness. Then they saw two figures facing each other: Severus Snape and Harry Potter were standing in the middle of nothing. Dumbledore realized that Severus had to use Legilemcy as well. Whatever it was that Harry wanted to say could not be said in the open, Dumbledore concluded. Then Severus started to speak.

“Harry…” Severus said, “You should have waited for Ron--”

“I heard them.” Harry answered. “The Burrow was attacked, he’s missing. He won’t come.”

“What if he does? You have left nothing for him, he needed this chance to give him strength in the coming days, you’ve left him with nothing but despair!” Severus argued.

“I cannot leave without knowing my son will be safe!” Harry cried.

Dumbledore looked down at Archer and back again at the unfolding scene.

“He is going to be well cared for…” Severus assured him.

“…Time of the slayer will end…” Harry interrupted.

Dumbledore felt a shiver run down his spine; he has heard this line before, from another that bore the Iranna. He stood still as a stone for he knew he was now about to hear it completely.

“…When Pillars of worlds unite…”

“I don’t understand…”

“…The child that was stolen returned…”

“Harry…”

“…The heart that was broken will fight…”

“…The enemy will fall by the heart of the dead, while neither will fall by his sword, the curse of the Keeper will turn in its stead, the world of Aum thus restored...”

“Harry…”


The vision then shifted to a story that Dumbledore has never seen; the beginning of their world and the purpose of the Iranna. He then realized who Lai was and who was Nin. He cringed more than once as he saw the Keeper of the dead, remembering Wu Peng’s words, and what she was capable of.

Then it changed into a familiar room – the Southern Tower – Harry sat beside his son. Something had been etched on his back, Dumbledore could not read it, but realized Archer had been thrown into the fray.

“How?” Dumbledore whispered to himself.

Then he saw Ron’s parley.

“You have done many things for him, I see, your love is great - I have seen very few that match it.”

Dumbledore saw the flicker of malice in her eyes. Now doubtful of her, Dumbledore realized he had seen that flicker before only he refused to believe it existed.

“I will ask for a price for his life, Defender, for the curse was given out of mercy. To turn it would be to torment the Nymphrodite to a life filled with torture and danger.” Ji said.

“Not if those who love them will protect them from it. If Harry makes it to his next birthday, the Iranna will return to Nin. He will be free of it.” Ron answered. “I’ll do anything you ask.”

“I will tell you the way to turn the curse but you must agree to the price I will ask first.” Ji pressed.

Dumbledore’s eyes widened with fear as the truth dawned on him then. Ji had cornered Ron into agreeing to the price without telling him what it was for had he known, Ron would not have agreed to it. Ji had deceivingly assured Ron that she was an ally, when in fact she had been in league with the enemy from the start.

“That is why Wu Peng warned me.” Dumbledore gasped, looking down on the little boy beside him. Archer nodded. Then Harry spoke again.

“My son matters more to me. If Nin realizes he is the answer to the Prophecy, she will not bother with me, or with Ron but will bend all her power to end my son’s life. You have to keep her eye away from him, no matter what the cost!” Harry cried.

“Doesn’t she know the Prophecy?” Severus asked.

“She thinks…that I…that the Nymphrodites were the chosen ones. That is why she has made sure that none survive. Even when Ji placed the curse to help the Nymphrodites rid themselves of the Iranna still she found a way to use it for her own evil pleasure!” Harry answered.

Dumbledore remembered what Wu Peng told him about Ji. ‘She is treacherous,’ came Wu Peng’s warning. Now Dumbledore questions the curse she placed on all Nymphrodites --- was it really to help them rid themselves of the Iranna? Or was it to rid the world of Nymphrodites?

“Is this the reason you used the stone with me? So that I…”

“She must never know the truth, or she would stop at nothing until my son is dead.” Harry begged.

“I will keep the secret with me.”

“You have to tell Dumbledore for he can save him,” Harry urged. “He can protect him and the secret of the Prophecy!”

“I will Harry you have my word. And when Ron comes I will make him understand why you had to make such a remorseful decision at his expense.”

“I’m afraid…Ron will never know why, not unless he succeeds in his quest. Then I shall tell him myself though I don’t know if he will let me.”

“It will not be hard, I can relay this to him, or Dumbledore will do it. He will find out, he must if he is to continue with this quest willfully.” Severus said.

“He will continue, whether he learns of this or not!”

“You don’t know what this choice will do to him. Ron is a very aggressive young man as you saw in his parley with the Keeper of the Dead. He will never understand unless he knows.”

“You underestimate his love! He loves me, and our love will endure this!” Harry said angrily.

“I don’t understand why would you keep this from him. Had he made it here as was scheduled, you would have told him anyway. Why then are you adamant to keep it from him now?” Severus said.

Dumbledore was just as confused as Severus was. It was uncanny for Harry to keep secrets from Ron for he had never done so since they met. The answer came shortly after Severus finished his sentence.

“Because you will not be spared by Nin!” Harry cried. “Now that you have been exposed to the Prophecy she will pursue you, as she has pursued me! That is why we--- I cannot speak in the open. She has tormented me ever since I passed through the world of Aum.”

Dumbledore could feel his body numbing. The words that Harry cried had cut through his skull and now he realizes the reason why Wu Peng would not reveal them to him. The words of the old Sorcerer returned to him.

“You have to tell me the Prophecy, Wu Peng. I have to understand the purpose of this child.”

“I cannot unless you denounce the Keeper of the Dead!” Wu Peng cried. “She is not to be trusted Dumbledore!”

“She allowed me to parley for my life. I am here solely because she permitted Me.”

“Then it was useless to have called upon you. You bring with you the eyes and ears of Ji, treacherous fiend!” Wu Peng fumed.

The Keeper of the Dead, which he trusted with abandon, had been in league with Nin from the very start.

“She is not allowed entrance to the castle! You must not go out until Dumbledore returns! You must never let her know! Never let her find out, or we shall all die! Let Dumbledore read your mind and erase the memory of this day!” Harry cried.

Dumbledore fell to his knees, breathing harder than he has ever done in his lifetime.

“Now you understand the Prophecy, what will you do with the parley you’ve made with the Keeper of the Dead?” Archer asked.

Dumbledore knew the answer however he could not utter a word for everything that had been revealed to him made his mind reel. He had been a witness to too many follies of his own yet this had been the greatest error he might have done. The trust he had for the Keeper of the Dead, had forced Ron into a parley he should never have made. The schemes he plotted to save Harry might bring them all to their doom.

The darkness began to dissolve into the wild flowers that bloomed in Lai’s abode. Archer walked in front of him and sat, crossing his legs.

“I am the answer to the Prophecy, old one. With me all things will end and begin again.” Archer said softly.

“Must I endure the voice of Nin?” Dumbledore asked.

“She will turn her eyes away from your castle, old one. Now that you know who I am, you know what I must do. You know what you must do.” Archer replied.

He remembered then what Wu Peng told him in New York – reminding him of the last deal he made with Ji. Ron must never find Draco Malfoy.

“He is about to return to you. The one you sold, and a womb that carries my father’s hope for salvation.” Archer added.

Dumbledore nodded. “I will protect them both and keep the Defender away from him.”

Archer stood and walked slowly away. Dumbledore saw a figure standing near the dome-like edifice he saw earlier. The figure of a man draped in dark clothing walked closer to him as Archer walked farther away.

“Severus---“



---***---

“Who bit me?” Ron asked again.

Remus looked at him and smiled. “Lucky for you, no one needed to. You see the bird?”

Everyone turned to the magnificent bird sitting quietly, watching them. Ron realized that the bird must have been a phoenix; its healing tears closed the open wound on his belly. He looked around, found several vials on the floor, and figured why he was able to stand.

“Professor Dumbledore sent the bird?” Ron asked.

“No.” Arthur replied. “That is not his.”

“Who sent it?”

“Someone we all know.” Remus answered.

“Who?” Ron was feeling the heat of annoyance returning.

Remus sighed and shook his head. “We know this all very frustrating, but—“

“Riddles! I am tired of riddles!” Ron cried.

“It is not that simple, son.” Arthur said.

“It’s a simple question of who sent the bloody bird! How difficult can that be?” Ron retorted.

“Must you always be this nasty?” Charlie yelled. “After everything that has happened! Shit, Ron! When will you realize that we are not your enemies! We are not! We are your family! To treat us like rubbish after all that has happened! After mum ---“

“Charlie! Not another word!” Arthur warned. “We agreed that this would be discussed when he has fully recovered! Now, this is enough! Ron, son, you need to rest.”

“Did something happen to mum?” Ron now stood because he could no longer contain the pressure that knotted his intestines. “Dad?”

“We can talk about it when you’re stronger.” Arthur pleaded. “Please, Ron.”

“Dad!” Ron cried. “Tell me now! Tell me! Charlie!”

“She is dead, Ron!” Charlie answered. “Mum is dead!”

---***---

Cush tried desperately to gain his father’s trust. His first encounter with Nin nearly shook his resolve but the love inside him was too great that not even the thought of defeat could stop him from trying again.

[“I need to speak to my father.”] Cush announced.

[“How will you do it?”] Wu Peng asked. [“We will need to give him something you can use as a medium.”]

[“He and I are connected by blood. There is no better medium than that.”] Cush replied.

[“The dark one uses mirrors to converse with the living.”] Wu Peng analyzed.

Cush nodded. [“My father does not know that. Very few do.”]

[“If he is close to a mirror, Nin might see you, my lord.”] Wu Peng cautioned.

[“I was able to speak to him earlier. I animated myself before him, touched him.”] Cush said, smiling as he recalled the event. [“Then he called my Bearer’s name and the crystal opened. I had to leave.”]

[“Can she use the crystals to see you?”] Wu Peng asked.

Cush shook his head. [“The crystals are made of onyx, she cannot use that as her medium. However, I think she has hexed it so that it summons her every time the Defender and the Bearer are together.”]

[“But, my lord,”] Wu Peng said, [“There were not together that time. You and he were alone --- or were you?”]

Cush smiled at the sorcerer. [“Love does not need a physical body to be felt, something that Nin has overlooked I believe. The love my father has for my bearer is too great and too real that all he needs is to close his eyes and remember ---they were together.”]

[“Perhaps, it was you who provided him that connection to the bearer.”] Wu Peng suggested.

[“Perhaps.”] Cush replied, smiling again. [“Npindë is nearly spent. My hour is nearing. I cannot risk another encounter with her. However, the old one will come for me soon for I will be needed by my father and I shall be faced with the choice of leaving this Temple. For now, I will return to my mother’s world. I bid you not to enter this hall until after a fortnight.”]

[“Very well.”] Wu Peng smiled and bowed as he took his leave.

---***---


Ron fell to his knees as the news of his mother’s death started sinking in. He found it difficult to feel anything for some time. So many emotions were rushing out of him all at once that none were able to make it out.

“Ron! Charlie you—Ron?” Arthur said, kneeling in front of Ron holding him by the shoulders.

Ron could see his face but no thought would form. His ears were filled with the same ringing sound of Charlie’s voice; ‘Mum’s dead’, ‘Mum’s dead’, it kept repeating. Ron tried to mimic the sound but couldn’t. ‘Mum’s dead’ --- Molly Weasley was gone.

“Ron? Son, we are not blaming you for that --- Ron!” Arthur said.

“Mum’s dead---“ Ron whispered, finally able to echo the thoughts in his head. “Dad—“

“Son, she died because of the attack.” Arthur said.

“Attack?” Ron repeated.

“Yes, do you remember that? Do you remember the attack on the house, when you left with Archer and Rio?” Arthur explained.

Ron knew that that day occurred but could not recall that it was real. It seemed so long ago when he still understood things. “Mum never recovered from that?”

“I’m afraid not. Although she was happy before she died.” Arthur consoled.

“Happy?”

“Yes, son.”

“Why was she happy?”

Arthur hesitated then sighed sharply. “Someone --- someone made her happy.”

“Who?”

“Ron, get some rest.” Remus advised. “There will be enough time for explanations when you are fit to endure them.”

Arthur knelt again and took out a vial from his pocket. “Hermione wanted to give you this.”

Ron took the vial from him and looked at the familiar bluish green liquid inside. Sleeping draught, he thought, Hermione’s special brew.

“I want you to promise me that you will never blame yourself for your mother’s death. Promise me, Ron.” Arthur urged.

Ron looked at his father’s face and he could barely recognize it. He was still trying to find the right emotion to feel: Anger, hatred, remorse, guilt, spite, sorrow, loneliness, despair. All were hungrily poking out their ugly heads to sneer at him and pin him with this news. Molly is dead. His mother is dead.

“Promise me, Ron!” Arthur begged.

Ron nodded though he barely understood what Arthur had said. Shortly after his father left the room, the vial fell from his hands. Bluish white vapor emanating from it began to rise to his nostrils. The bird moved aside as the mist reached out for it. Ron slowly felt his head swim from the effects of the draught. Its potency did not lessen even though he did not drink it. Hermione was a gifted witch everyone knew that.

Before he gave in to sleep, Ron thought he saw Molly come inside the room and place her hand on his cheek. She mouthed the words, ‘I love you, son’, and then darkness returned to him.

---***---

Cush had finally asked him to return to the Golden Hall and Wu Peng could not hide his excitement. For many weeks, Cush had locked himself inside and had not bothered to call for him nor for any of the servants until today when a young servant came to his chamber and told him that he was summoned inside the golden hall.

Wu Peng proceeded to the heart of the temple in great haste. The Quirins bowed before him as he approached and opened the doors to the golden hall. There he found the child walking about, his face a picture of anxious worry. Wu Peng bowed before him.

[“My lord, Cush. I have come.”]

[“Servant of the Temple,”] Cush said, [“It has been very long since I saw you. You have aged.”]

Wu Peng slowly rose and smiled at the child. [“I have been worried about you, my lord.”]

[“I see.”] Cush smiled back. Levitating himself a few inches above the ground, he floated closer to Wu Peng. [“You still care for me as a father does to his child. That warms my heart to know for you will always be loyal.”]

[“Aye, my lord. I am forever a servant.”] Wu Peng replied, bowing halfway.

[“I understand that you have in your menagerie, a pair of Phoenix. Do you still have them?”] Cush inquired.

[“Yes, my lord.”] Wu Peng replied, surprised that Cush knew about his collection of Magical Beasts and Creatures in the heart of the Temple. [“Do you have need for them?”]

[“Not I. My grandmother needs the blood of the Midnight bird.”] Cush said.

[“Grandmother?”]

[“I have visited them upon the request of the old one.”] Cush explained.

[“Dumbledore?”] Wu Peng asked. He felt anxious knowing Dumbledore was able to call upon Cush and had asked the golden child to leave the temple without his knowledge.

[“Yes, he who has denounced the Keeper of the Dead.”] Cush assured him as though reading the thoughts in his head.

[“How---?”] Wu Peng asked.

[“We have spoken in my mother’s house.”] Cush replied. [“My bearer had left the secret of the Prophecy in his servant’s care. I could not blame him for he did it out of desperation. It was a fortunate turn that the servant was one that was powerful enough to hex himself in a deep coma and numb his mind from Nin, otherwise, the whole Prophecy would fail.”]

[“Who is this servant?”] Wu Peng asked.

[“His name is Severus Snape. He and Dumbledore had conspired together under false guidance from Ji to bring the Bearer and his Defender to this point in history.”] Cush explained. [“My mother was able to intervene when the servant was between life and death. She took him into her house where he met the Bearer and later the old one.”]

Wu Peng realized that Dumbledore had seen Antiquity and was even able to speak with the Bearer. He didn’t want to feel it, but a pang of jealousy was taking over him.

[“Do not be troubled by his presence in my mother’s house.”] Cush said as though in answer to Wu Peng’s thoughts. [“He was there to see his last days unfold.”]

[“His last days?”] Wu Peng echoed.

[“It will be revealed in due time. Right now, I need the midnight bird. Go and fetch him for me.”] Cush ordered.

Wu Peng bowed and then left the golden hall. He walked briskly towards the heart of the mountain where he kept a collection of magical animals—- Unicorns, Hippogriffs, Minotaurs, and Basilisks that had been blinded. At the rear and out of cages roamed several magical birds, two perched on a lofty pedestal flew gracefully down when Wu Peng called. One was the color of sunrise, while the other the color of midnight.

[“The lord of the Temple calls on you, Nan’Dir.”] Wu Peng said. The magical bird flew to his outstretched arm and bowed.

With a smile, and a bow to its pair, Wu Peng walked back to the golden hall with the beautiful bird on his arm. When they got to the great doors, after paying their respects to the gigantic guardians, the doors swung open, the bird flew in and song of the Phoenix began to play.

[“Welcome Nan’Dir!”] Cush greeted. [“I have a task for you.”]