Harry Potter and the Womb of Requirement NOW CODED

45

Remus drew away a bit and gazed into those hazel depths, {You did it, then?}. Hermione chuckled, extremely stoned, {Oh yes. You’d have to be a Eunuch not to have felt it}. {I felt it, all right}. Without quite meaning to, his mouth found hers in a breathtaking kiss, {Thank you thankyou thankyou...}, she cut off the kiss and the breathless send, holding him at arm’s length. She felt her Girlie, {Babe, something wrong?}. She held a hand up, {Nothing I can’t handle}, she purred. Ginny blew her a mental kiss, tongues included. Hermione unwound herself from Remus and rushed into Ginny’s waiting arms. The Ten entered the Castle together, to cheers and shouts. There was a lifted atmosphere around them all and they were escorted to the Protected Section by the Staff and Order, whereupon they all slept well into the next day.

As the exhausted Ten slept, an Owl arrived. A Special Edition of the Daily Prophet. A large photograph taking up the whole of the front page, an austere, fortress like building, flames crackling from the roof, the headline large below it.

AZKABAN ON FIRE: 6 Missing, presumed dead.

Albus tried to remain calm in the face of rising panic as Minerva, Arthur and Kingsley all took in the image before them. {He’s sprung them, hasn’t he?. This is no ordinary fire, and they’re going to find no remains, are they?}, Arthur tentatively sent as he gazed at the image as the roof caught again and again, like a short film. {When do we tell the children?}.

Albus regarded the man over his spectacles, {We need them to get their sleep. They have worn themselves out tonight, though I have every reason to believe he will strike soon. Draco actually gave birth slightly early, and if Voldemort knows that Draco was pregnant, then he will be expecting him to give birth round about now. We can do no more than be vigilant, be on our guard. Then, when the Ten awake, they will have a battle on their hands, although, unbeknownst to Him, we have the strongest Magical fighting force known to Wizardkind}.

As Harry was falling asleep wrapped around his bond-mate, he was vaguely aware of the panic occurring elsewhere. His mind could reach into every corner of Hogwarts, reading every emotion, but he re-centred on the flare of panic even as it died away, ‘Now what was that all about?’, he mused as his eyes closed.

There was no-one at breakfast the next day. By now, all of the Staff and Order had seen the Prophet’s special edition. Albus held up his hand at the barrage of questions, {Ladies and Gentlemen, keep your minds quiet. I have no wish to rouse the Ten. They need to rest. Last night was successful, as I’m sure you all discerned}, he chuckled, {That last send was almost sufficient to raise the dead}.

Various folk had the good grace to blush furiously. Remus experiencing a moment of deep guilt at spending the night staring at the Moon, instead of vigilantly guarding the Castle. Under the table, Severus pressed his knee to his lover’s, {Don’t worry. No-one would blame you for enjoying your first night under the full moon in human form since you were eight. I certainly don’t. I do wonder why your mind snapped shut to me for two minutes though}. He quirked a brow and smiled at his lover.

Remus looked down, then sent the previous night’s experiences. Severus grinned and sent his own from earlier the same evening then shrugged, {We’re all consenting adults here}. Remus added, laughing, {Yes, but she’s only just. What the hell’s going on with that girl?}. Severus insinuated an arm around his lover, {You know, we might have more powers, just like they did when they fell in love. I believe an Elemental can confer Magic on anyone they choose. Ever tried wandless?}.

Remus’ eyes widened, {What do you mean?}. Severus smiled, {Go on, try it. Only I did earlier, just a simple Summoning spell and it worked}. Trembling, Remus pointed his hand and with an “Accio salt”, the cellar flew into his hand. At that, many faces turned his way. Tonks. {Remus, how the hell...?}. He gazed at the others and lifted his shoulders, {No idea. But Severus thinks it’s something an Elemental can do. Elevate Magic levels, that is}.

Albus smiled and broke in on their conversation, {That is correct. She can. Draco can confer Magic through her. She merely acts as their centre. But Harry......., Harry can give Magic all by himself without need for an interlocutor, but he has a skill beyond all of them, beyond anyone living in the Wizarding world...}, his send faded.

He came back to himself to a sea of expectant faces, {What, Albus?. What can he do?}. Albus steepled his fingers and rested his chin on them. He regarded the group before him and sighed.

{Harry Potter can take Magic away}.

Several sends assailed him, {What do you mean?. Are you sure?} amongst them. He nodded. {Only he, in this whole world has this ability. I feel, that because of what Harry is and what he has become, that this is the route he will finally choose. He does not want to kill anybody. He has just become a parent after all. And who can contemplate Death while Life is all around. Remember Harry wants to bear another child between himself and his bond-mate and their Elemental has already given them the opportunity to do this. Killing just isn’t in him}. Albus sighed, long and sad.

Severus smiled and sent, {You’re forgetting something, or perhaps you do not know this. She asked me to keep it a secret until it was the best time to reveal it, but....}, to breathless, {Yes}es, then he sent the details of the Truth Serum that Hermione had built to gasps all around.

{That girl is amazing}. Kingsley. {I have never seen the like in my life}. Minerva.

{She is certainly the most capable Elemental that two bonded Magi could hope for. On her own, she’s a force to be reckoned with, but she will protect those boys with everything that is in her now she is truly bonded with them. Although..}, he paused, {I think their Bond happened the night of the Mage-Bond and tonight was about the other Six, binding their fellow Warriors about them, although I can’t help feeling that last night strengthened everything for everybody....}, his send faded.

A nervous voice in their minds, {We haven’t a fucking clue here, have we?}. Tonks. Remus took her hand, {No we haven’t, and I don’t think they have either. But last night I spent most of the night outdoors watching the moon. Me. Not a fucking Werewolf. And I believe. I really believe they can do this}, he shifted about in his seat, {This is the strongest Magic any of us have ever known, isn’t it?}, to a chorus of yeses, {Well I suggest we all let them get on with it, as they have from the start. They don’t know what they’re doing, but they somehow intuit it. That’s important somehow. And that we all be there for them}.

Arthur was holding his shaking wife, {I’m so afraid for them, Arthur. Our two youngest, our only daughter}, she wept on his shoulder. He folded his arms around his wife and felt her fears.