Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.
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"For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."
Exodus 20:11
Chapter 12: A Time of Rest
The full moon shone over the Hogwarts grounds and the snow in the Forbidden Forest glittered in the moonlight. The howl of a wolf was heard and a mighty wolf leapt into between the trees, running around as if he were home. As the wolf prowled around the snow, a large black bounded forward and pounced on the wolf with a joyful yip. The two started pouncing on each other playful when a stag charged them, its antlers lowered. The dog and the wolf broke apart and started to chase after the stag in a playful manner. However, the next animal to come was one that made the scene so much more different than the one that was often scene decades ago.
For what had followed was not a cowardly rat, but rather, a majestic lion. The lion pounced after the other three animals. The lion especially seemed to enjoy chasing after the stag and the wolf and dog were often inclined to watch the other two animals play around.
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Ron and Margaret were walking around the corridors of the castle, looking for a good place to make out.
"Well, since we've used up every single broom closet in the castle, where should we go next?" asked Margaret, a glint in her eye that suggested something.
"The library?" said Ron with a raised eyebrow. Margaret grinned and the two made their way to the library. They made their way to the back of the library where they could get some privacy. Unfortunately, when they got there, they found Hermione there with her head buried in a large book. There was also a whole lot other books on the desk nearby. Hermione looked up at the couple and smiled.
"Hi Ron, Margaret," she said. "You know, the library isn't the place you want to go for a make out session. Try the Astronomy Tower, that's where Harry and I go." She blushed red as she said the last part.
Ron and Margaret blushed furiously. "So where is Harry?" asked Ron. Hermione pointed out the window at the full moon. Ron nodded in understanding. Ever since the end of their third year, Harry had often wished that he could go on one of the full moon escapades the Marauders' had gone on during their school days. This was his only chance to do so with his father as well. Furthermore, it was an excellent opportunity for Harry to get to know James better.
"I guess it makes sense," said Ron. "This month is the only time Harry ever gets to spend with his parents."
"What? Why?" asked Margaret, "Can't Harry bring them back any time he likes?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, a Battle Wizard can resurrect a dead person only once and once only. This one time is the only time Lily and James can come back."
Ron glanced at Hermione who had her face buried in her book again. Sure she was in a wheelchair with no legs, but the sight of her with a book in the library was so familiar that Ron couldn't help but chuckle. Margaret elbowed Ron in the ribs as Hermione looked up at him, a scowl on her face.
"What's so funny, Ron?" she asked with a warning tone.
"Oh its just that this sight is so familiar," said Ron. "Seeing you here in the library, reading books about..." he picked up one of the books, but his eyes went wide in surprise and confusion as he realized what subject they were on. "Battle Wizards?"
Hermione nodded and said, "Ron, do you know anything about Battle Wizards?"
"Er, no."
"Well you should read more. It would've helped with your grades back in school."
Ron scowled as Margaret chuckled and said, "That's what I always tell him."
"My grades were fine," said Ron.
"Because of my help," pointed out Hermione. Ron grumbled but didn't say anything since it was true.
"So what does the great bookworm have to say about Battle Wizards?" said Ron. Hermione chose to ignore the comment.
"You've heard about Atlantis, right?" asked Hermione. When Ron and Margaret nodded, Hermione continued, "It's the great continent in the Atlantic that sank below the sea thousands of years ago. Muggles have legends about Atlantis as well. What muggles don't know is that Atlantis was the ancestral home of the magical community. Virtually all wizards and witches of the ancient world lived on Atlantis."
"I know all this," hissed Ron. Margaret glared at him as Hermione continued.
"What a lot of people don't know about are the ancient guardians of Atlantis, the Battle Wizards."
"What?" asked Ron.
"The Battle Wizards: ancient warriors of the lost continent with immense powers and abilities. Battle Wizards were supposed to be the guardians of peace on Atlantis and they were just that for thousands of years. However, things weren't always peaceful on the continent as dark wizards started to rise among the population. Soon Civil War erupted and the continent was ultimately destroyed by the battles between the Battle Wizards. The surviving wizards and witches escaped to the main land and mingled amongst the Muggle Community."
"So let me get this straight," said Ron with a skeptical look. "An entire continent was destroyed in a magical battle. There's no way something like that can ever happen."
"Ron, you know just how powerful Harry is right?" asked Hermione. Ron nodded and Hermione continued, "Now, imagine thousands of wizards with the exact same power fighting against each other. Also add into that the power to temporarily resurrect the dead, meaning that fallen soldiers would get up again and continue fighting. Tell me now, Ron Weasley, how is it not possible for a continent to be destroyed."
Ron gulped and said, "I see your point."
Hermione went back to her history lesson. "Since then, it was decided that there would only be one Battle Wizard per generation. They're trained in a secret training facility in the Himalayas for two years and become the sole Battle Wizard of his or her generation. Godric Gryffindor was the official Battle Wizard of his generation, although there was an unconfirmed rumor that Salazar Slytherin was one as well. Most likely not true. So that was the way it was for centuries, until fifty years ago when a slip up occurred." Hermione paused, waiting for Ron to finish her sentence. He seemed to be completely clueless however. Hermione sighed and said, "Tom Marvolo Riddle became the Battle Wizard of his generation."
"What?!" shouted Ron. "You-know-who is a Battle Wizard?!"
"That's right," said Hermione. "If people had known what Riddle would become, they would've never made him into a Battle Wizard. As luck would have it, Riddle used his powers as a Battle Wizard to become the greatest dark wizard ever to exist. Its almost ironic how the supposed guardian of peace ended up becoming a megalomaniac tyrant."
Hermione took a deep breath before she continued. "It also explains why You-know-who fears Dumbledore: because Dumbledore is a Battle Wizard of a previous generation."
"And it also explains why he wanted to kill Harry," said Ron. "He was eliminating all future Battle Wizards."
Hermione nodded as she shut her book. "Well, I'm going to bed. Good night," she said as she wheeled her wheelchair out of the library.
Ron glanced at Margaret and said, "Astronomy Tower?" Margaret grinned, and the two left the library.
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Hermione woke up when she felt a slight weight on her bed. She opened her eyes and saw Harry sitting on the edge of her bed.
"Oh sorry. Did I wake you?" he asked, a tired smile on his face.
Hermione smiled and said, "Yes, but that's OK." She glanced out of the window and saw that it was dawn. "Did you just come back?"
Harry nodded and yawned. He looked very exhausted. "Yeah, I'm beat. But it was worth it. Dad, Sirius, and Remus are completely exhausted as well, but I needed to see you first."
Hermione smiled as Harry lifted her head up into a sweet kiss. The kiss started to get steamy as their hands started roaming around. Harry and Hermione's bodies were so close together as they started to lose themselves in the kiss. Unfortunately, there was an interruption.
"Hi Harry, I was wondering if..." Lily barged into the room and stopped short when she saw Harry and Hermione spring apart blushing very red. "Oh, did I interrupt something?"
"Uh, no Mum. Y-You didn't i-interupt anything," spluttered Harry blushing fiercely. Hermione couldn't help but giggle.
"Lily? What's going on?" asked James from behind Lily as he stifled a yawn.
"I think we just interrupted our son's snog session," said Lily with a grin. "Want to give Harry some lessons?" James grinned and pulled Lily into a passionate kiss.
Hermione laughed as Harry said, "Mum, Dad, I don't need a lesson," looking very embarrassed.
"Why Harry, don't you want to see how much your Mum and Dad love each other?" said Lily looking smug while James had a huge grin on his face. They both still had their arms wrapped around each other.
"If you don't mind, we'd like some privacy," said Harry looking a little annoyed. He started to usher his parents out of the room. Lily and James left with huge grins on their faces.
"Come on Lily, let's leave Harry behind and go have some time to ourselves," said James with a grin that suggested just what he meant. Lily playfully smacked James though she still had a grin on her face. Harry rolled his eyes as Lily and James waved goodbye and disappeared down the corridor.
"Can you believe them?" said Harry still looking annoyed.
"Oh I don't know," said Hermione with a smile. "I think it's very sweet to see how much your parents are in love with each other."
"Not as much as I love you," said Harry with a large grin. Hermione blushed red but she smiled as Harry sat next to her on the bed.
"You know, I love you too," said Hermione. Harry smiled but he also yawned as the exhaustion of his night out with the Marauders started to catch up with him.
"I should probably go back to my room and get some sleep," said Harry.
Hermione shook her head and said, "You can stay here for a few hours." Harry smiled and lied down next to her on the bed. Hermione pulled the covers over them and wrapped her arms around Harry. They gently pulled each other into a sweet kiss that started to get more and more passionate. Finally, they broke apart for the lack of oxygen. Hermione gently laid her head against Harry's chest as Harry pulled her closer to him.
Hermione thought back to everything that had happened since Harry had disappeared. She remembered the time when Harry had first disappeared and she had realized how much she loved him and she had cried herself to sleep. Back then, there was no way she could've imagined that she would be lying in Harry's arms two years later. Tears of joy brimmed up in her eyes.
"Harry, when you left two years ago, I was devastated. It was only after you had gone that I realized what I felt for you, and I constantly cursed myself for not acting on my feelings while you were here. I missed you every night while you were gone and I often wondered if you missed me. But I never lost hope that you would be back. That was my anchor, even when everything around me fell apart. And now, you're back, and I think I love you even more than when you were gone. I love you so much, Harry."
Harry did not answer, his steady breathing indicating that he had fallen asleep. Hermione smiled and thought, 'He looks so peaceful when he's asleep.' She snuggled closer to him and slowly fell asleep.
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A/N Well what do you know: this chapter is actually a lot more fluffier than chapter 9. I didn't intend make it come out like that. But ultimately, I'm more than satisfied with the outcome of this chapter. So please, read and review this chapter. Also, the Bible Verses at the beginning of each chapter is only a symbolic theme for each chapter. I ask that you remember that they are only symbolic.