The Lambs

8. Growing Pains

October 26th 1998 | Draco's letter.

Dear Harry,

The throne room was full to the brim. Everywhere I looked, there was a face, pale and expressionless, staring back at me. The dais was empty save for two throne-like chairs. Each were larger than the ones King James and Queen Lily sat upon, and one had the skinned coat of a black bear draped across it.

The room was silent. It was as if the gathered crowd were too afraid, or too anxious, to speak. They seemed to be waiting, for something, anything, to happen. Simultaneously, every person in the room drew it a deep breath of air as the doors to the throne room burst open. Silhouetted by the moon light, which streamed through from outside, a large black wolf hovered in the doorway. His emerald green eyes, an unusual colour, surveyed the room. They held the eyes of a select few individuals for a moment at a time, until each of those important people gave the wolf a bow or a nod of respect. And then the eyes landed on me.

I dropped to my knees, my arms thrown onto the ground before me, as if begging the wolf to come to me, to come into my embrace. He came towards me, and I knew it was a 'him'. Just as I knew him. "Harry," I whispered, and the black wolf titled back his head and howled.

An echoing howl answered him, coming from outside. I half expected someone, something else (another wolf perhaps?), but instead, a red-headed man walked through the door. He was around twenty-eight or twenty-nine, very tall and broad-shouldered, and I knew him as well.

"Bill," I breathed, surprised. My eyes widened as he walked to one of the thrones on the dais. He sat down in the chair that remained uncovered by the animal pelt. Someone scurried over to him, and I recognized her as the old Queen Lily. The red-haired woman placed a crown upon Bill's head, her crown; the one she had always worn. It was thin and silver, almost entirely feminine and it fit rather too snugly around the Weasley's head. The wolf looked towards it's mate and I looked towards the wolf.

Harry barely paid me any mind. He lopped towards the stage, and jumped up onto it, eyes looking straight ahead. He sat in his throne, still as a wolf, and Lily placed his father's crown on the wolf's head. This crown was larger, thicker as well, and made from solid gold. It had a large ruby embedded in its centre and the weight of it made the wolf dip his head for a moment. Harry howled once more, and then changed back into a man. The crown remained on his head. Silently, Harry hid his nakedness beneath a corner of the fur pelt, pulling it half out from under him and tucking it over his thighs. As a human, the simple gold band was easily spotted on his ring finger. I dared to raise my head enough to check Bill's hand. A similar ring rested upon his finger also.

Harry spoke: "I am King Harry of Hogwarts. I am the leader of The Lambs." His voice was loud and clear, and when he spoke everyone made sure that his or her eyes were riveted on him. He calmly gazed about the room, and then slowly rose to his feet. "Is there anyone here who contests my right?" And in his throne room, no one spoke out against him. In fact, each expressionless face suddenly seemed more joyful, and as one each Elemental screamed and cheered, but I remained prostrated on the floor, tears falling down my face as I waited for a forgiveness that never came."

I dreamt a dream! What can it mean?!

If I knew that, I suppose I wouldn't be asking you. But I think it's rather obvious. I know one thing for certain though, and that is that it means you have to come home, Harry! We all miss you, so very much. You aren't in trouble, and nobody hates you. In fact, the King has declared that you are to remain unharmed as long as you don't cause a conflict yourself. Please come home, I don't know what else I can say, but that, to convince you. So I'll say it again, come home, Harry.