Chapter 36
The Last Promise
Hogwarts:
Headmaster's Office
The Past
Albus Dumbledore sits back in his chair watching the three people with him intently, with a smile and more than a little sadness. For in all real truth there is a huge possibility one or more in their numbers will no longer be able to enjoy moments like this ever again. "Stop it sir," Harry's voice cuts through his depressing thoughts.
Albus shifts his eyes back to Harry, knowing he was the one he was mostly thinking about. "Now Harry when are," he pauses as he sees Harry's smile.
"Am I going to stop calling you sir," Harry finishes amused. "Probably around the same time you stop worrying about me," he answers looking straight into the older man's eyes to show he means what he has said.
"But you see child," Albus counters, "that will never happen," he answers truthfully smiling almost as brightly as his eyes are twinkling.
"Then I am afraid you are stuck with me calling you that, or hmm," Harry hums for a moment in thought. Before he can reply all his color drains from his face, his eye grow distant seeing things no one else can, and his hands tighten into fists.
Minerva reaches out to grasp his sleeve to help keep him steady and yet at the same time she is careful to avoid touching his skin. She finds she is still amazed Harry allows this to occur in her presence. She is honored by his acceptance and trust in her, yet at the same time terrified for him. "Is he 'lright," Hagrid asks as he looks across Harry to Minerva and then over at Albus.
"Yes Hagrid," Minerva says softly.
"Is he shaking," Albus asks concerned, for they all know when Harry shakes he is seeing things left better unseen. When he shakes he is having a vision of Voldemort or what he or his Death Eaters are doing.
Minerva shakes her head, "no," she whispers after a moment.
Suddenly Harry inhales deeply and blinks his eyes. When Minerva sees this she removes her hand and sits back in her chair waiting for him to finish returning to them. She wonders how he will react to this new vision and what this vision held. Harry looks over at her and smiles, "thanks," he says once again shocking her with how receptive he is, even in a state when he shouldn't be.
"Anytime Harry," she answers with a smile in return.
"Whada ya see 'arry," Hagrid asks curiously.
Harry lifts his right hand up and rubs his forehead as he tries to piece his thoughts together enough to answer. "I seen a wet field in the dark, many figures fighting in combat, flashing lightening, a battle, a large battle, the last battle," he says softly answering Hagrid's question. "It gets weirder from there, I can't see how they all connect," he explains with a shake of his head.
"What else do you see," Minerva asks softly trying not to confuse or upset him.
"A trail of bread crumbs, if that makes any sense, to be followed, to be followed around England, a circle, ending near where it started," he shakes his head at the fact that was exactly what he had seen. Inhaling deeply he continues, "small clues unseen except by one, clues left un-searched for until the time is right, a month," he says as he furrows his brow in question. "A poem of an angel, green rhythmic dancing light, a large gathering at the Burrow, everyone running up familiar stairs," he pauses here as he tries to place them. "They remind me of the Ranch," he says giving them something to go by, "a bed with a covered figure in the dark," he continues, "and a more accurate answer to your question sir," Harry says looking up at Albus with a smile.
"An answer to his question," Minerva asks wondering what all he has seen means.
"Yes," Harry says with a nod, "I will stop calling him sir as often as I do now, only after he has to re-introduce himself to me," he says and then shrugs. "Though I don't know what that means," he admits.
"You said the 'ast ba'tle," Hagrid repeats in question, but the hope can be heard in his voice.
"I did," Harry agrees with a small nod of his head and then he looks back to Albus and smiles. "I fulfill my task sir," he tells him. "I defeat him," he smiles as he repeats this not only to himself but to those there with him.
"Do you make it," Minerva asks fearful of his answer, she doesn't want to lose him. She has never told him or anyone else, she loves him as the grandson she could never have.
"I do not know," he admits with a shrug. "I could not see," he tells her looking at her and she can see the honesty in his eyes.
"Harry," Albus says catching the young man's attention. Harry looks over at him and raises his eyebrows in question, "promise me you will do all you can to survive," he asks, almost begs, "I don't want to be the one to have to tell everyone," he says and then Harry nods his head in agreement of his request.