Chapter Eight: The Falcon
It was just getting dark when Beth saw a large lake reflect the setting sun. As she followed the dying light, she eventually landed in a small clearing just inside the Forbidden Forest. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," Beth whispered to the map. She lit her wand to allow her some light as she observed the objects of the map. Luckily, none seemed aware of her presence, as they were all heading off to the Great Hall for dinner, it appeared.
Beth then looked for her own black dot. To her astonishment, there appeared to be another person standing right above her. She looked up into the trees, and noticed the falcon that had been following her most of the day. Beth stared at the map. "That can't be right," she muttered. Again, her gaze wandered up into the tree, but no falcon was perched above her this time.
"I must be imagining things," she thought aloud, not believing the name that appeared on the dot.
"I thought the same thing too at one time when I used that map," a voice said from behind her. Beth whirled around to stare at the figure standing before her.
"It's you."
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"Master, I regret to tell you that the girl was no where to be found. But I believe that she will come to us. When she discovers her mother's disappearance, there is no doubt that she will know it was us," Sirius bowed before Voldemort, while Hermione and Trelawney struggled against their Death Eater captors behind them.
"The girl is who I need the most. Are you sure you are willing to risk this?" Voldemort responded in a cold threat.
"Yes. I am positive the girl will come to us."
"In that case, it will be on your head if she does not come. Meanwhile, why don't you show our guests to their rooms?" Voldemort's voice took on an almost gentle tone as he referred to Hermione and Trelawney, who had fallen silent at the realization that they were to become bait for Beth.
"Come right this way, `mother,'" Sirius addressed her with sarcasm. Hermione didn't know how to react. The son that she had dreamed of being returned to her had finally come home. But his upbringing had left him almost as cruel and heartless as Voldemort himself.
"You don't have to do this Sirius. Please, come back to us. We love you. I love you," Hermione pleaded with her son.
"Love? What is love? I serve my Master. He is the only person I need."
"If you knew the power of love…" Hermione whispered.
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Into the light stepped a muscular, dark-haired figure. Behind a pair of broken and bandaged glasses flashed bright green eyes. Years of flying in the wind, with no regard for physical appearance left his hair wind-blown and unmanageable, but then again, it had always been like that. He smiled broadly as Beth tried to contain the joy welling up inside her at the sight of the person she had grown up knowing, without ever really meeting him.
"Daddy!" she cried, and flung herself into Harry's arms. "It's you. It's really you!" Beth could feel the teardrops on her head as she in turn soaked Harry's well-worn shirt.
"Yes, it's me. I'm so glad I can finally reveal myself to you," Harry's eyes sparkled as he looked deeply into his daughter's face.
"You're the falcon. The one that lived just behind the house. You're an animagus? Why didn't you ever tell us?" Beth looked at her father in confusion.
"I couldn't," Harry replied simply. "I wanted to, so bad. You see, during my last fight with Voldemort, I became so weak. I knew that one more curse would do me in. I had almost given up hope, but then the Death Eaters left. I guess they figured I was dead, since I had stopped struggling a long time before that. As I weakly watched Ron and all the others attend to the needs of everyone else, I realized that I had let down not only you and your mother and brother, but the entire world. I couldn't face anyone for a while. So I turned into a falcon. I had learned to become an animagus about six months before that, but I hadn't told anyone, not even Hermione, yet. I figured after a short time, I could return, and I wouldn't feel so disappointed with myself."
"We never cared about that. All mum and I ever wanted was for you to be there, to be a part of our lives. I just wanted a daddy. I didn't, and still don't, care whether you're the savior of the world, or the world's biggest fiasco. I wanted my dad," Beth interrupted his self-tirade with a ray of brightness.
"I know that. But when Sirius was kidnapped, I realized that if I returned, you would be in much greater danger. Even if I remained in the house and no one was ever told, it would get out eventually. Hermione would insist on telling everyone before I would have a chance to tell her not too. Within a matter of weeks, the entire world would know that I was alive. So I remained as the quiet observer of your everyday life. Which was very good, after hearing Trelawney's newest prediction," Harry finished.
"Yes! That's why I went looking for you. I knew you were alive. I figured that you might have hid out in the Forest for all these years," Beth explained her reasoning.
"Well, that probably would have made a good hiding place. But I wanted to be near you."
"This is good though. With two of us, it will be easier to understand the prophecy. Here." Beth pulled a piece of paper out of her jeans, which she had written the prophecy on. Harry held it and read aloud.
The Boy-Who-Lived lives on
Aided by those of the Blood
He may yet rid the world of the Dark Lord's power
The Boy-Who-Lived lives on
"It's very short. And actually quite straightforward. Obviously, the Boy-Who-Lived is me. That was what many called me after I survived Voldemort's initial attack on my family. `Those of the Blood?' That's more difficult," Harry started to take the prophecy apart bit by bit.
"I thought that part could mean pure-bloods. But most of them are part of the Death Eaters, aren't they?" Beth supplied a suggestion.
"Yes, but there are still many good pure-bloods. The Weasley's, for example. But it could be difficult to gather enough people without Voldemort noticing."
"The rest is pretty easy. It's just saying that you still have a chance to kill Voldemort," Beth finished the prophecy and yawned loudly.
"I think it's time to go to bed. We've been up since dawn," Harry stated. "Come on, I know the perfect place we can spend the night." Harry began walking quickly toward the edge of the Forest.
"Where are we going?" Beth asked.
"To Hagrid's hut. It should be empty, and perfect for a good night's rest."
When Beth first laid eyes on the wood house, she thought there was no way the dilapidated old hut would be any better shelter than a tree in the Forest. But as she walked up the large stone steps into the house, she realized how warm and comfortable it really was.
"Why aren't the Death Eaters interested in the hut? It's so nice and cozy. And who's been keeping it so nice?" Beth wondered aloud. Then she nearly screamed as she saw the answer.
"Beth, say hello to Buckbeak. Don't worry, he won't hurt you. Just don't offend him. Like all hippogriff, he's quite proud," Harry explained, stroking the gray feathers of Buckbeak's head.
"You mean Buckbeak is real?" Beth asked incredulously.
"Yep. He must have been using the hut as a nice warm place during the winter, haven't you boy? Buckbeak was Sirius's favorite toy as a child, wasn't he?" Harry asked.
"Yes. Mum held on to that ratty old hippogriff like it was from her own childhood. She said whenever she held Buckbeak it was like holding a piece of Sirius. And a little bit of you as well," Beth added.
"It's amazing what a few memories can do to bring the people we love closer to us. But I think now, it's time for bed." Harry shooed Buckbeak off the bed and turned down the covers to allow Beth to slip into the warmth and comfort left by Buckbeak's body.
"Good night Daddy."
"Good night Beth."
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