Chapter Fifty Eight – Dance Lessons

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. Me, I'm just a PR professional. I don't profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off JKR's wonderful world. However, its her sandbox and she's left the gate unlatched so we can go in and play a bit. Which, I've done.

Chapter Fifty Eight – Dance Lessons

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-==(oIo)==-

\""/

Pettigrew was off to the side, shivering in disgust at what he had done. He had tied the woman down and cut her open, right to the infant inside. He removed the infant, tied and cut the umbilical, and placed the infant inside the rune circle.

He then hit the now unconscious woman with the Killing Curse and left her there, before turning back to the ritual.

Following the chant precisely, he bound the spirit of his master, who had just released itself from the snake, and possessed the child. Quickly, he held the container of the snake venom milk potion to the lips of his newly reborn master so that he could drink it.

It didn't take long after that. The possessed infant screamed out in hideous pain before it began writhing in agony. Slowly, the skin darked, the nose receded, and the eyes changed to the 'normal' red of his master.

After no more than a minute, the now deformed infant looked at his minion and, in that high pitched raspy voice, said, "Wormtail. You have done well. Again, I am reborn. And soon I shall have a more normal body.

"However, first, we must gather information before our return to dear old England and Magical Britain. Prepare yourself for travel. I want you to go to the magical community of Albania and gather information. You are to return each night."

"Yes, Master," Pettigrew bowed and scraped.

_‗_

-==(oIo)==-

\""/

After Harry had made a run for it from Greengrass Estate, Daphne fumed for a while. She had wanted the outing to be her and Harry. She wanted him to see what underwear she wanted to buy to feel - sexy - for him. Yet, he'd run as if it was the most horrific thing she could do to him.

When Isabel returned with a very happy Astoria, they headed via floo to Diagon Alley.

"Now, Daphne," said Isabel. "I take it your bust has grown, or is about to grow, beyond the current sizing charms of your bras?"

"Yes, mother," sighed Daphne. "However - I don't just want - practical; if you know what I mean?"

She was worried her mother was going to get upset with her. However, she did not. Instead, she smiled in that knowing fashion her mother had.

"Indeed, I do," Isabel said with a smile. "I completely understand. So, we shall go for lace and something that will allow a bit more low-cut, yes?"

"I - umm - Harry is nothing but a complete gentleman," Daphne stuttered. "But, as we only have three years to go until we're married - and we've been together for three years now, too..."

"Ahhh..." said Isabel. "You want to introduce him to the girls, yes?"

Daphne blushed.

"It's alright, Daphne," soothed her mother. "You're right. You are betrothed and will be married. It's not as if you're intending to spend any time with any other boy. We shall see what they stock and make the right purchases, alright?"

Daphne nodded, relieved, and said, "Thank you."

"However," said Isabel, "We also need to have a look at the ball gowns. Something suitable for a Yule Ball."

Daphne groaned and asked, "I'm not going to have to attend the Ministry Yule Ball, am I?"

"No, dear," replied Isabel. "However, there may be a Yule Ball at Hogwarts, this year. And you may want to attend on the arm of your betrothed."

Daphne looked sharply at her mother and frowned, "You know something."

"I do," replied Isabel. "However, we're not to speak of it except to ensure you are suitably packed when you leave for Hogwarts, to be suitably ready to be attired for a Yule Ball."

"Then I'm going to need something warm," said Daphne thinking of the Scottish climate at Christmas. "Something I can also wear a winter cloak over. Something that will go well with Harry's eyes.

Suddenly looking at her mother, she exclaimed, "We need to teach Harry how to dance!"

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-==(oIo)==-

\""/

After Harry had returned to Greengrass Estate he retired to his room. He didn't come down until it was time for dinner, and then kept counsel to himself. Every time he caught the eyes of his betrothed he'd blush and look away.

Again, straight after dinner, he headed for his room. He was hiding out in there and doing his summer homework. However, Daphne wasn't going to allow him to do that. He was working on his arithmancy assignment when he heard a knock on his door.

"Come in," he called, focussed on his work.

"Are you ready to talk to me yet?" asked the voice of Daphne.

Harry winced. He knew he was going to have to face the music, so decided to get it out of the way now, rather than later. He put his fountain pen down and turned to his betrothed, where she stood just inside the door.

"I'm sorry," he said, eyes downcast.

"You ran from me," she said slightly accusingly.

"I did," he replied.

"If you didn't want to go shopping you could have said so," she said.

"I panicked," he said. "I couldn't handle going through what you put me through in Hogsmeade that time. You don't know what it does to me."

"Of course I do," she said. "But I'm trying to get you used to knowing me. All of me. We're to be married in three years, and we've already been together for three years. Don't you think it's time to drop some of the barriers between us?"

Harry blushed. "I'm - struggling. I - want to do things with you, but I don't want to either betray your trust or act anything other than a gentleman."

With a sigh, Daphne came over and motioned for him to spin his chair around a little. When he did she plonked herself onto his lap.

"Besides," he said with a bigger blush and a sheepish grin. "I didn't get off scot free, anyway."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Almost as soon as I arrived in the Black House Sirius bound me and spent the next two long and excruciating hours giving me the dreaded 'Talk'," he said blushing and looking away.

"The talk?" she asked. "Oh! That talk." And she laughed.

He nodded, still looking away, and said, "And Sirius is - serious - about talking about sex. He went into a lot of detail."

"I hope you were paying attention," she said with a chuckle in her voice.

In shock, Harry turned to look directly at her. "What?" he asked.

"Eloquence, Mister Potter," she chided him. "I hope you were paying attention and he also covered things we can do without going to - intercourse."

Harry blushed and turned away, again. "Well - yes, he did," he quietly replied.

"Good," she said. "Mother told me quite a few things too. We should compare notes, sometime."

After a few moments, he asked, "Are we - ready to take things further?"

It was a few moments before Daphne replied. A few moments that felt like hours to Harry. "I - think - so," she slowly replied. "But, not here, though. It'll have to wait until we're back at school.

"Mother seems to understand, but I'm sure Father wouldn't be so - open minded. And, I don't want to create problems where no problem needs to be."

"Sirius - told me some things - I can do - for you," Harry said, haltingly. "I promise I'll never take things faster than you're ready for. But, you're also going to have to help me out there by telling me when you are ready."

"I can do that," she replied.

Wanting to change the subject, he asked, "And did you manage to get shopping done today?"

"I did," she replied. "Mother took both me and Tori. We made a girl's day out of it. And I did buy that new underwear, too. Plus - a little something extra."

"Is this 'little something extra' something I'm going to like?" he asked, a little cheekily.

She smirked back and said, "If you'd come shopping with me, you'd know. Now, you're going to have to wait until I'm ready to show you."

Harry mock-sighed, which earned him her feminine laughter in return.

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-==(oIo)==-

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Though he did not know why he had to take dance lessons, Harry was all for it when he learned he would get to hold Daphne close in full view of everyone while he was taught. For that, alone, he was willing to learn.

It was also the first time he'd spent so much time in the Greengrass Estate ballroom. He had thought the room quite small for a ballroom when he'd seen it before. However, once Isabel started to give them lessons, she'd done something and Expansion Charms enlarged to room out to quite a size.

"Alright," said Isabel. "I've chosen these dimensions because, if there is a Yule Ball at Hogwarts this year, then it's in the Great Hall they will hold it."

Of course, as soon as he learned each dance move and sequence, it was learned permanently. So, Isabel was able to teach them both advanced moves. In a waltz he learned moves such as the basic box step, closed and open changes, natural spin turn, the 'broken wing', the whisk, the wischer and chase, underarm turn, and others.

Once they'd been learned, they memorised sequences - or patterns - of steps. To make it easier for Daphne, Harry learned the patterns she already knew, and they practiced those for a while. But, they also learned others.

However, when Isabel decided to teach them the Tango, Harry and Daphne both seemed to be constantly blushing. It was a very - sensual - and powerful dance. If there was to be a Yule Ball at Hogwarts, this year, they were going to knock the socks off the other students dancing that.

"She has to put her what where?" blurted Harry, when they were first learning the dance positions.

"In the embrace position, her hip is put against the pocket of your hip, Harry; just outside your groin." said Isabel, before she went into a story of what the dance means. "The Tango, as it is normally done here in England, is almost lifeless when compared to the original - the Argentine Tango.

"When done properly, the Tango is a man and woman in search of each other. It is the search for an embrace - a way to be together - when the man feels that he is a male and the woman feels that she is a female, without machismo. This is a dance that is supposed to express most of the emotions that might exist between a man and a woman: passion, excitement, love, romance, tenderness, sadness, anger and even silliness. The Tango does not have to be sombre; nor does it have to be so - cold - as it is done here.

"She likes to be led; he likes to lead. The music arouses and torments, the dance is the coupling of two people, defenceless against the world and powerless to change things. This is the best definition of the Tango as a dance, I think. And, it requires you to just feel the music; let it fill you; and dance accordingly, as one."

Once he was able to just relax into the music, Harry found Isabel hadn't led them astray. Once you allowed the music to guide you - its rise and fall; its emotion - the two of you danced as one with the music. You forgot all that was happening outside of the two of you.

They finally stopped after four hours. To both teens the last two felt as if a mere ten minutes had passed.

"Wow!" said Harry. "That was..."

"... quite intense," said Daphne staring back in to Harry's eyes.

"Yes," he replied.

"That was truly magical, children," said Isabel. "You moved as if you were of one mind, one soul."

"It - felt that way," said Harry. "It's own kind of magic."

"One mind, one soul, one heart, one goal," said Daphne softly.

"Yes - well - we shall practice more, tomorrow," said Isabel, shaking herself out of her own thoughts. "I'm truly interested in seeing how you fare with other, similar dances. Perhaps you can do that with the Viennesse Waltz, too."

All three left the ballroom lost to their own thoughts.

_‗_

-==(oIo)==-

\""/

Pettigrew turned away in disgust as he saw the large green snake begin to swallow, whole, the body of Bertha Jorkins. A forty-something witch from the British Ministry who had been holidaying in Albania; and whom Pettigrew met at an inn in the local magical community while awaiting a delivery of unicorn blood.

After he discovered she worked for the British Ministry of Magic he cast upon her another quick Imperious Curse, and took her back to his master. He hoped she'd be able to provide more recent information on the goings on in magical Britain.

And that she did. Riddle learned she'd been Memory Charmed by Barty Crouch Senior as she'd discovered his son, Barty Crouch Junior, was being held there under the Imperious Curse. He also learned that Hogwarts would be hosting the Tri-Wizard Tournament, this year. And the date of the final task occurred on the late afternoon early evening just three days after the summer solstice. It was also the evening of a full moon.

The night was chosen so the spectators would have sufficient light so they could see over the hedges of the maze in the third task. But, it also tied in perfectly for the date of a ritual Riddle could perform to see himself resurrected.

Wormtail, you have done very well," said Riddle. "Miss Jorkins provided us with some very important pieces of information. Information, which will aid me in my resurrection.

"Once Nagini has finished devouring her meal, we must make haste back to Britain. And there's not much time to do so."

"But, master; the aurors are searching for me," said Pettigrew. "If I use too much or too powerful magic, they will be on us in minutes."

"Never fear, my ratty friend," smirked Riddle. "While they search for you, for all intents and purposes, they believe me dead. Therefore, they will not be searching for any displays of magic from me.

"So, we shall be using portkeys to shift the three of us back - home. It will take me time to rebuild my magical strength each time I create one, however. So, I admit, it will take time. But, you will not be required to carry the both us on your back all the way back."

"Thank you, master," said Pettigrew. "I feared I would not be able to carry you all that way, and I would fail you."

Riddle laughed. It was not a pleasant sound.

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-==(oIo)==-

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On one of his visits to the Black House, Harry sought his godfather out for a chat. He found him in the office going over finances.

"Sirius, got a few minutes?" he asked.

"Of course, pup," said his godfather, looking up. "Come on in and take a load off."

Harry crossed the space between the door and the chairs at the occasional table and took a seat.

"I - wanted to ask for your opinion on something," said Harry.

"A godfather's, Lord's or Marauder's question?" asked Sirius.

"Godfather's, I think," replied Harry. "It's about the - uniqueness - of the betrothal contract; and other contracts, in general."

"Go on," nodded Sirius.

"It's my understanding that betrothal contracts are not normally signed in blood; why is that?" asked Harry.

Sirius frowned and appeared quite thoughtful for a while before he replied, "I don't really know. I suppose it's because they're only betrothal contracts."

"Only betrothal contracts?" asked Harry. "Betrothal contracts, at this level, also include things like the future of an Ancient House, and who will become its next Lord. That also often means near-complete control of the finances of the House. There is no 'only' when it comes to betrothal contracts."

Sirius looked a little shocked, but clearly knew Harry to be right. "I - hadn't thought of it as that important. However, you're right; it is."

Nodding, Harry said, "Blood is often used in contracts nowhere near as important as a betrothal contract at this level. But, there seems to be no recent history of blood signed betrothals."

"No," said Sirius. "You're right. And, I wonder why I've not heard this sort of thing before."

Sirius seemed further thoughtful for a little while before he gave himself a bit of a shake and turned to Harry. "And what brought this on, all of a sudden?" he asked.

Harry sighed and said, "I think there's something happening between Daphne and I, that seems a little - unusual."

"Oh?" asked his godfather.

"Firstly, when we started to become close, it did not take us long to fall in love," replied Harry. "When both of us realised that is what we were feeling, I also realised it had only been less than a handful of months since we first met. That, in itself, is highly unusual.

"But, lately however, there are odd moments of time where we both feel as if we are - two halves of a single soul. I think that's about the closest I could describe it. It's quite strange."

Sirius looked back in surprise. He then thought for a few moments and asked, "Can you give me an example?"

"Sure," replied Harry. "Isabel has been teaching us dancing. She's - implied we'll need it for something at school, this year. When Daphne and I were dancing together while we were being taught the Tango, there came a period when we both felt as if we had become one person. Someone with four legs, four arms, two heads, two bodies. But also two consciousnesses inhabiting both bodies."

Giving himself a bit of further thought, he continued, "When it happens, it's as if the two halves of what makes us, us - the two halves of ourselves - have been reunited."

"I take it you've not discussed this with anyone else?" asked Sirius.

Harry just shook his head. "We think it may very well be just our imaginations. Something to do with how close we're getting. We don't - I don't - want this to become something that worries Daphne's family. I want to know if this is something that's happened before; and I think it might have to do with the blood magic associated with blood quills and contracts."

Sirius nodded thoughtfully back. "I'll see if I can find any other further examples. The library, here, and at Potter Manor, should give us some inkling. However, it sounds like a something akin to a soul bond is forming between you. And they're very rare."

"Never heard of one," said Harry. "But, I have heard of a soul mate. Is it something like that?"

"In its purest sense, it's that and much more," said Sirius. "Of course, this is all speculation, on my part. As I said, they're extremely rare and I don't think I've looked into what they are since we were at Hogwarts, ourselves."

"Why'd you look into them back then?" asked Harry.

"Because your father was smitten with your mother almost from our first year," he replied with a shrug. "However, your mother didn't return his feelings. And a soul bond would have meant they both felt the same way almost right from the start."

"Well, Daphne and I didn't have that," frowned Harry. "It took us months to get - no, wait. Actually, we were starting to get close after the first couple of days."

Sirius nodded. "As I said, pup; I'll look into it."

"Thanks, Sirius," replied a grateful godson.

"Now I've got something I wanted to ask you," said a grinning godfather.

"Oh?" asked Harry, quite curious.

"How would you like to go to the World Cup for Quidditch, this year?" the old dog asked with a twinkle in his eye.

With genuine surprise, Harry replied, "That would be - brilliant!"

With a nod, Sirius said, "I thought you'd be excited to go. That's why I've secured a private box for us at the match. It'll seat quite a few, so you can invite all your friends along. I'm also inviting the Greengrasses, Grangers, Remus and my young cousin, Nymphadora Tonks."

"Yeah, that would be - pardon?" asked Harry as he heard a name he didn't recognise, except to see it on the Black family tapestry. "Who's - Hang - Isn't she the daughter of your cousin, Andromeda, who was kicked out of the family?"

Sirius snorted, "You know very well she is. I have not forgotten of that incredible memory of yours."

Harry blushed. "Sorry. I get too used to hiding it, sometimes. But, why are you inviting her, if I may be so bold as to ask, which I am."

Sirius grinned and whispered, "She has a 'thing' for Remus. I've not let the old wolf know, but I'm continually trying to set up situations where they bump into each other. Or, in Tonks's case, where she trips over him."

"You're playing matchmaker?" asked Harry, surprised.

Sirius grinned and nodded.

"Daaaawwwggg!" exclaimed Harry.

Sirius just barked with laughter.

_‗_

-==(oIo)==-

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Harry, Daphne and Astoria were with Neville in his new greenhouse. They were in shirt and blouse sleeves working to re-pot seedlings from their trays into small, individual pots. And while they worked, they talked. Or, Neville talked, and they listened.

Harry and he were repotting two different varieties of aconite - used in the Draught of the Living Death. While Astoria was working with daisies and ginger. They would be transferred to the other greenhouse later. Daphne was being careful and working with new bubotuber seedlings and ensuring she was staying safe wearing dragonhide gloves.

"I know this greenhouse isn't the size of the big commercial places, but I can also plant what I want here," said Neville, as they worked. "All this stuff in this greenhouse is for potion ingredients. I'm hoping I can earn a decent dollar to pay for my own studies; especially, if I want to undertake an apprenticeship in Herbology.

"Back in the old greenhouse, I've now converted that to purely fruits and vegetables for consumption within the manor; plus, some non-magical species. Gran loves the fresh fruits and vegetables as she thinks they taste a lot better. I also use my own blend of fertiliser in there. It produces better flora and tastier produce."

"You don't use the same fertilisers in both greenhouses?" asked Daphne.

Shaking his head, Neville replied, "No. I'm trying to develop a specific blend for each plant. However, I'm first looking to produce a generic one for most flora-based potions ingredients. This, we're working with now, is one part hippogriff dung, one part dragon dung, one part chicken manure and five parts bovine manure. I've also added an alkali to reduce the smell.

"I'm hoping it'll produce faster, and more fuller, growing flora. If it works it'll increase the harvest of the various plants. However, I'm not going to know that until next summer, at the earliest.

"I also don't use magical beast based fertiliser in the other greenhouse except for a small portion of dragon dung. Mainly it's a nine to one ratio of cow manure and chicken manure. The vegetables, especially, love it," he grinned.

"Bought your house elf yet?" asked Harry, while trying to tamp down a particularly difficult seedling in its new pot.

"Yeah," replied Neville. "His name's Topper, and he's currently working with Rizzy on something. And thanks for letting your house elf teach him, by the way. He's been a godsend."

"No worries, mate," replied Harry with a grin. "What are friends for? Besides, I know Rizzy is probably loving it."

"Yeah, they were both over here yesterday going through the other greenhouse," said Neville. "Rizzy made some excellent suggestions about temperature control and optimal settings. I've already adapted the temperatures to reflect that. He was talking about how if it's too hot, the fruit ends up dry and woody. But, too cold and the fruit won't grow to full size. He gave me the optimal settings."

"I'm glad he's a help," said Harry.

_‗_

-==(oIo)==-

\""/

"Harry!" Cygnus's voice called out from downstairs. "You have a guest!"

Harry sighed and set his History of Magic assignment aside and hurried downstairs. He was greeted in the parlour by an Unspeakable in his robes.

"Croaker?" he asked the hidden form.

Croaker reached up and flipped down his hood, giving Harry a wide grin.

"Mister Potter," he said with a slight bow.

Surprised, Harry said, "It's good to see you, Sir. But, what brings you here?"

"Office; I think," said Cygnus, interrupting.

Croaker gave a slight bow and gesture. Cygnus spun about and led them both from the parlour and through to his office.

Once inside, Croaker threw up some wards before turning to them both. And Cygnus gestured them to his 'discussion table', as Harry called it.

Once all three were sitting, Croaker turned to Harry and said, "I thought it was high time I provided you with an update as to what's going on in our horcrux hunt.

"Oh, and thank you for getting out of Riddle - down in the Chamber - how many we're supposedly searching for. It's been a great help."

Harry nodded in reply.

Croaker settled himself into his seat and said, "That he even created one of those - monstrosities - is unsettling enough. That he might have created seven of them is - disconcerting.

"However, we have confirmed that the diary you handed over to me was, indeed, one of those foul things. We have since found a second one; the Head of House ring for the Ancient House of Gaunt. It was discovered beneath the floorboards of where the Gaunts were last known to live; in a little shack in the woods just outside of the township of Little Hangleton. There were quite a few lethal traps and wards set about the place. And it took us quite a while to get through them. But, we eventually did, of course.

"We found a third one made of one of the lost treasures of the Founders - Hufflepuff's cup. It was in the vault of Bellatrix Lestrange in Gringotts. The goblins were not amused to discover one of the foul things was being stored in one of their vaults. They immediately carried out a search of the vaults of everyone else we knew to be a Death Eater; but, alas, there were no more.

"We also recently searched the Chamber of Secrets; but, found nothing of interest there. And, while at Hogwarts, we also had a look at the trophy room. Again, nothing there. However, up on the seventh floor we believe one is located. It appears to be behind a blank wall. But there are very old enchantments in place that even we cannot get through."

"Wait," said Harry, interrupting. "Seventh floor? It's not a wall opposite the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy, is it?"

Croaker frowned and appeared lost in thought for a moment. He said, "Yes. I believe it is. What led you to that conclusion?"

Harry smiled and said, "That's what the elves call the Come and Go Room. It's a place that can be anything you want it to be.

"How to get in there is actually quite simple. One of the Hogwarts's house elves told me in our first year. What you have to do is walk back and forth three times along the corridor directly opposite the tapestry. While doing that, you need to think of what you want the room to be. On the third pass, a door will appear. When you then go inside what room you wanted will be there for you."

Croaker stared intently at Harry for a moment, before he asked, "You've used this - room?"

"Oh, yes," replied Harry. "My friends and I configure it into a private common room complete with couches, study carousels, potions laboratory; even a target range complete with training dummies we can use to practice spell casting. We've been using it since first year. It's dead useful.

"On Valentines Day in our first year, as a surprise for Daphne, I configured it to be a balcony overlooking the Eiffel Tower. One of my house elves, Petey, acted as maître de for a romantic dinner for two for the two of us. I did something similar for second year, a beach scene; and for this year it was Daphne who chose the theme."

"Walk up and down the corridor three times - thinking of what you want the room to be - and the door will appear on the third pass," said Croaker.

"Exactly," said Harry. "Your difficulty will be thinking of what room you want for whatever it is that the horcrux is in. I suppose - of course - you can simply ask for the room that has Tom Riddle's horcrux; but, that might just be too easy."

"Thank you, Mister Potter," said Croaker. "I believe that will make things a great deal easier to get it without anyone at Hogwarts knowing we're there. I truly did not want to cause damage to the castle to get in there to get it."

"You're welcome," smiled Harry.

"Now, there's one more thing I want to check before I leave," said Croaker. "Do you mind if I scan where your scar was located?"

A little surprised, Harry said, "As long as it doesn't hurt me - no."

"It won't," said Croaker, popping his wand out of his hidden holster, standing up and taking the couple of steps across to Harry.

Harry leaned back in his chair as Croaker passed his wand over his scar muttering a long incantation under his breath. After a few seconds, he lowered his wand.

Returning to his seat he let out an almost inaudible sigh. "I suspected as much."

"What did you find?" asked Cygnus, a little worried.

"Harry's scar was the receptacle of a soul fragment," replied Croaker. "However, it definitely isn't now."

"No," said Cygnus. "When Harry's magical bindings collapsed on the night of the Sorting in 1991 it forced out the fragment right there in the Great Hall. I've shown you that memory."

"Yes," replied Croaker. "However, what you didn't know was that the shape of Harry's scar is quite telling. It's more than a scar; it's a rune."

"Pardon?" exclaimed Cygnus in surprise.

"It's the rune for the sun - sowulo," explained Croaker. "In divination it represents success, positive energy, increase, power, activity, fertility, and health. Its magical properties are energy, strength, success, healing and fertility.

"The sun is held sacred by almost every religion in the world. Its light and warmth symbolize life and growth and all that is good. Sowulo, like wunjo, represents success and glory. But, more specifically, the life-force and health.

"It is also very similar in shape to eihwaz - yew. In divination it represents change, initiation, confrontation of fears, turning point, death and transformation. Its magical properties bring about profound change or to ease a life transition. In modern times it represents both death and immortality; and defensive protection.

"A question I had for quite some time - well before I even met you, Mister Potter - is, how it was that the Killing Curse - a curse that does not normally leave a mark upon the body - managed to leave one on you, even if it was reflected back at Vol - Riddle. The answer is, it didn't.

"On the opposite side, above your left eye - just as the scar sat above the right eye - I can see traces of another rune. It's algiz - elk. It represents the protective urge to shelter oneself or others. It's magical properties are used in defence, warding off evil, as a shield or guardian. It can be used to channel energies.

"All three are Nordic runes and form part of Heimdall's Ætt. And, I happen to know your mother was very knowledgeable of the ancient Nordic runes. So, I'm not surprised to see them upon you.

"You did not have a scar from the Killing Curse, Mister Potter; you had a scar from what I believe is a rune - one of many - that was somehow made upon your body by your mother. For whatever reason, that one particular rune damaged your skin, leaving you the scar when the rune set was activated. And, because it was a fresh wound at the time - and that the soul fragment from Riddle found you as the nearest living being in range - it attached itself to you through the then freshly opened wound."

_‗_

-==(oIo)==-

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