-1Sorry this has taken so long for my to finish, but A-level exams, real life, work and general panic and writer's block conspired against me in getting this done. Not as long as I'd like it to be, but that's nothing to worry about.

On the bright side, I got 3 As and 2 Bs in my A-levels, so I'm off to uni in three weeks.

I don't own the lyrics to the Disney version of Can You Feel the Love Tonight?, though the modifications are mine.

Hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 8: Flight

3rd September 2003:

The students of Hogwarts had been blessed with the fact that their first school day was a Friday, followed by a relatively free weekend. The students who had recently received their family members back were further blessed. Because now they would actually have the chance to speak to their parents.

However, on wakening early, Harry's thoughts were not of speaking to his parents but of taking the opportunity to 'sort out his head'. He headed to the kitchens for a light breakfast, and tried to decide what to do.

He had two options. Physical training in the Room of Requirement and flying on the Quidditch pitch. Deciding that his training would wait until later – perhaps as a way of clearing his head after speaking to his parents – he headed outside and summoned his broom.

The newly-polished and tuned Firebolt headed out of the window in his direction, and he jumped on it as it darted towards him with practised ease. Holstering his wand, he pulled on the broom to take him up in a near vertical climb.

He screamed in happiness. Having not been able to fly for so long, Harry revelled in the exhilaration of it being just him, the broom and the air. Wind blew his hair every which-way, but he did not care. All he thought of was the wonders of flying.

And in the air, thinking only of flight, hope and life, he cleared his thoughts and centred himself.

XXXXX

In the Great Hall, Hermione frowned at Ron.

"Where's Harry?" She asked.

Ron shrugged. "Haven't seen him. I think he got up early."

"Does he have a broomstick that flies without anyone on it?" Conall asked, his voice dry.

"No, he has a Firebolt." Ginny frowned.

"Unless he summoned it. Why?" Hermione asked, picking up a forkful of scrambled eggs.

"Well, I saw a broom fly out the window. He musta gone flying."

Ginny's head darted up. "Harry's gone flying?"

"Yeah, why?" Conall asked.

"He was banned from Quidditch last year and his broom was confiscated by Umbitch. This is the first chance he's had." She scooped up a piece of jammy toast and her robes.

"Where are you going?"

"To watch. The only time Harry looks better than when he's training is when he's on a broom." She gave her friends a saucy wink and fled the Great Hall at a run.

"Should I be worried?" Ron asked Hermione, his tone extremely frank.

"Do you trust Harry?"

"Of course!"

"Then no, there's no need to be worried."

"What's the big fuss about Harry on a broom?" Selene asked. "Why's it such a big deal?"

"Harry is one of the most spectacular fliers Hogwarts has ever seen." Neville admitted quietly.

"There aren't many who can outrun a Hungarian Horntail on just their broom." Hermione pointed out. "I hate flying, and even I acknowledge his skill."

"Half the Quidditch teams try and spy on us in practise and Harry's the one they're most interested in." Ron pointed out. "Only time he lost a match was when Dementors entered the pitch – hard to stay on a broom when you have your mother's dying screams replaying in your head."

Lily Potter, playing with air waves to listen to conversations, froze at that. Surely not…

"Harry's one of the strongest people I know." Ron continued. "And probably a better flier than his dad, from all I've heard."

Lily raised a brow. Funny how it was never her Quidditch skills praised, for all she'd only played in her last year.

"And of course he's Quidditch Captain this year." Hermione commented nonchalantly. "Ginny may've gone to ask him about try-outs while his mind is on flying. She's after a Chaser's spot."

"As long as she's not after Seeker still!" Ron chuckled. "We want to keep Harry where he is!"

"I don't know, he's grown this year…"

"He's still slighter than most professionals. It'll only count against him at school, and even then he's got the skills to make up for it." Ron pointed out. "Harry could go professional. Sure, he'd need further training, but considering he caught a remembrall the first time on a broom… you can't train that instinct, Mione."

"Mione?" She raised a brow. He grinned.

"I think I want to see what you're waxing philosophical about." Selene grinned. "After all he is my… god-brother, I guess." She looked around. "Orion's not up. No surprise there."

"He play Quidditch?"

"Beater. And I've had bruises to prove it. Much to my mother's disgust, I'm not overly fond of Quidditch, though I love flying."

The twins and Halimeda – "Please, Meda only!" – agreed.

Justin Finch-Fletchley raised a brow at the number of Gryffindors rising and leaving, all intent on a direction.

"What's up?" He snagged Neville.

"Oh, we're trying to prove Harry's probably the best flier in the school." Neville grinned.

"How?"

"We're under the impression he's flying."

Justin grinned. "This I gotta see."

Lily's brows rose at seeing a number of others rise to follow the group of Gryffindors.

"James." She whispered, kissing her husband's temple softly.

"Yes?"

"Harry's flying."

James froze. "What?"

"Apparently, he's outside flying. And from what I heard, and the emotions I couldn't ignore, this is something of a spectacle."

Kathryn heard her and grinned. "He only lost one match out of… seven? Eight? And that was only due to Dementors on the pitch."

"Oh, yes, Potter is a remarkable flier." McGonagall chipped in. "I'm relying on him to keep the cup in my office this year."

"Professor?"

"Didn't he tell you?" She asked, smirking slightly. "I made him Quidditch Captain."

James' eyes widened, and Sirius grinned.

"I think we ought to see the new Quidditch captain in action." James grinned. "He's got quite a crowd already, who've seen him fly. He won't begrudge his old folks."

"I've seen him fly, James." Lily warned. "Of course, he was barely one, and I threatened to wallop you with your broomstick…"

The others chuckled as they left the dining table, intent on seeing the so popular flying of their son and godson.

When they arrived at the pitch, there were a number of students watching in the stands, grinning from ear to ear. They watched in rapt fascination, and the teachers sat in the teachers' stand in order to see the famous young man.

The black-haired figure was tiny in the sky, barely discernable as any more than a blur of black and red. But as he dropped lower, they could see the expert swoops, loops and turns, executed with the precision of a professional and equally thrilling to watch. Lily stood in horror at the dangerous moves her son was executing, while her husband and friends watched in awe.

"He's even better than I imagined." Kathryn murmured, brushing strands of hair from her eyes to clear her view. The wind was stronger up there.

"He could play professionally." James stated. "And some of those moves… I must have missed out on a lot."

Kathryn examined Harry's flying with a critical eye. "Some, but I think he's making it up as he goes along."

Suddenly, Harry took himself into a sharp incline, flying higher and higher. At the peak… he dropped. The dive was near vertical, the wind roaring in his ears and rushing over his face as he took the Wronski Feint to its deadliest level. Faster and faster, and lower and lower, he descended to the hushed breath and universal awe of a captivated audience, totally unaware of their presence. His mind was focussed solely on the goal. Barely ten metres above the ground, he slowed fractionally, wrenched his broom up, skimmed the ground and performed a graceful somersault onto the grass. He stood there for a moment, his face serene and happy, at complete peace with himself for the first time in months.

The cheers came unexpectedly, and Harry opened his eyes to see most of the DA, the new arrivals to Gryffindor and his parents and godparents sat in the stands. His father and Sirius were whistling, Kathryn grinning and his mother looked torn between pride and admonishment.

Seconds later, he saw another fiery redhead make her way across the field and blanched as he saw the expression on her face.

"HARRY JAMES POTTER!" She shrieked. "ARE YOU TRYING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED?"

"Sirius, you didn't say he was going out with the redhead." James commented.

"From what I know, he isn't!"

"Don't you have a little more respect for my skills as a flyer than that?" Harry asked, slightly sharply.

"I have a great deal of respect for your skills, but I don't think doing a Wronski Feint from a thousand feet is skilled! It's bloody suicidal!" Ginny raged. She aimed a hand to slap him, but he caught it firmly, catching it to his chest.

"Why would I be suicidal when I'm at peace for the first time in my life?" Harry asked, his voice soft.

Ginny melted. "Harry, I…"

"You worry." He smiled teasingly. "You get that from your mum. Ginny, I have everything I ever wanted. But I'm terrified."

"Why would you…"

"My parents remember me at age one. I've changed so much. It's going to be hard for them to reconcile their baby boy with a nearly grown-up son." Harry murmured. "I've not even had a proper conversation with them."

"Then why aren't you talking to them?"

"I'm terrified, remember?" Harry joked. "On the other hand, we can diffuse the tension that's clearly being built up, none of them know what we're talking about."

"Which one?"

"Did you set them?"

Ginny shot him a look that clearly said she was insulted by his lack of faith.

"Of course, silly question. I'll set the Room of Requirement ones tonight."

"I'm nervous about that. Hogwarts is practically sentient, and we're tying spells to the castle itself. If she decides to awaken and manipulate the spells herself…"

"We'll have Voldemort singing Be Prepared in the middle of an attack." Harry grinned. "Don't worry."

"So, a song…"

"Well, once you activate it, we don't have a choice." Harry pointed out.

"What song?"

"Let the ghosts decide." Harry grinned, finally releasing her wrist.

Ginny nodded and snapped her fingers to randomly select a song. What neither expected was the burst of magic that was flung from each corner of the Quidditch pitch and infused around them in a ghostly glow, sinking into their skin as strains of music began to play and they felt themselves compelled to move to music and sing as they spoke.

Kat gripped Sirius' hand. "That's from The Lion King."

"What?"

"Hush…"

Harry and Ginny looked at each other, smiling shyly, then turned away, to address their 'audience' almost beseechingly.

"Can you feel the love tonight?

The peace the evening brings

The world, for once, in perfect harmony

With all its living things." They sang in perfect unison, harmonies blending for perfect notes.

Harry shot a furtive look at Ginny, then looked up at his parents to sing.

"So many things to tell her

But how to make her see?

The truth about my past? Impossible." He shook his head.

"She'd turn away from me."

Ginny considered Harry, a confused questioning look on her face as she looked to the others, to speak to them.

"He's holding back, he's hiding,

But what, I can't decide.

Why won't he be the man I know he is?

The man I see inside?"

They turned to each other again, clasping their hands lightly as they sang, and the entire stadium seemed to light up with their words.

"Can you feel the love tonight?

The peace the evening brings.

The world, for once, in perfect harmony,

With all its living things.

Can you feel the love tonight?

You needn't look too far.

Stealing through the night's uncertainties,

Love is where they are."

Ginny walked forward, placing a hand on Harry's cheek to look into his eyes as she sang.

"And if he feels the love tonight,

In the way I do…"

Harry smiled at her, clasping her hand to his chest once more.

"It's enough for this restless wanderer…"

They sang the last line in harmony, the last note serene and perfectly understated, yet resounding around the pitch.

"Just to be with you."

The notes faded away and the pair separated quickly, blushing deeply.

"What the hell was that?" Harry demanded harshly of the sky, after sending a secret grin at Ginny.

"That's what I'd like to know, mate." Ron announced, making his way onto the pitch. "You coming onto my sister?"

Harry shot him a smirk. "And just what would you do if I was?"

"Warn you. Mum's probably had the wedding planned since you saved Ginny's life."

Harry and Ginny went scarlet as the others laughed and guffawed.

"You have a wonderful singing voice – both of you, in fact." Selene observed.

"Yeah, but what set us off singing?" Harry asked.

"Beware the phantoms of Hogwarts School." Hermione trilled with a sly smirk.

Harry went red. "But it's just a prank. And how could they prank us out here? I didn't even go to breakfast."

"House elves." Ginny mused. "Or some kind of set up round the pitch with a trigger."

The adults, meanwhile, were making their way onto the pitch after suggesting that the spectators find something else to do with their time. James and Sirius were impressed.

"That was amazing, Harry!" James enthused, clapping his son on the back.

"What, the song or the dive?" Kathryn asked, her voice sarcastic.

James replied with a gesture that caused Hermione to turn away, covering her hands with her eyes.

"He's a teacher, he didn't do that. He's a teacher, my eyes are playing tricks on me. He's a -"

"Marauder." Ron interrupted.

"And I wouldn't think that's the worst he's ever done. Or you'll ever see from him." Lily commented, amused. "Although it strikes me that Kathryn has the foulest - and most inventive - mouth of all of us, though Remus came close."

"Remus?" Hermione asked in shock.

"Aye, it's always the quiet ones." Sirius remarked philosophically, then grinned at Kat's raised brow. "Of course, Kat isn't all that quiet. She even talks in her sleep."

"I do not!"

Lily choked back a snigger.

"What's that, Medea?" Kat challenged.

"My dear Mystique, let me remind you I shared a room with you for two years." Lily commented dryly, the amusement in her eyes all too Harry-like for his friends' comfort. It seemed Harry had more from his mother than his father in temperament. "Including that summer in between. My bedroom wasn't that big, unlike yours."

"Hey, that's not…"

"I seem to remember some interesting comments." By now, Kat was going red and Lily grinning wickedly. "I think one was 'No, we'll get caught'…"

"Which they did, frequently." James interjected, nodding towards Sirius.

"Only because you lot got the best spots first." Sirius argued.

" 'Why can't I turn Skeeter into a bug permanently?' Note the emphasis on the 'can't' and 'permanently'. Never did like her."

Harry grinned. "We do. Particularly as she can't say anything about us we don't like, or she gets turned into the Ministry." He gestured to Hermione. "Hermione's rather good at entrapment."

"As an ex-Auror, I didn't hear that." James stated with dignity. Then he grinned. "As me, I say well done, girl."

"And, my favourite, 'James, Lily doesn't need proof of your idiocy, so for God's sake, do not remove Snivellus' pants!'" Lily laughed.

The students shuddered.

"He didn't, by the way." Sirius pointed out to Harry, who had gone pale at the memory he had seen. "We wouldn't have inflicted that on the school's population."

"And they grew up over the following summer." Kathryn grinned. "I like to think that it's because that's when I woke up, but, alas, it was their idiocy."

James looked grim at the memory. "We left a potion we were brewing for a prank unattended. It boiled over and then exploded - my mother was caught in the explosion. She was fine, no ill effects, but it taught us a lesson."

"Of course, it also meant Sirius was the first thing I saw when I woke up from my coma, which probably resulted in the mental damage I must have required to marry the daft git…" Kathryn commented.

"Mum!" Selene complained.

Kathryn grinned. "Aww, now, Lenie, your father's got nearly fifteen years to make up for of embarrassment. Not to mention neither of us has had the chance to embarrass you in front of your friends."

Harry just stared. Was this what having a family was going to be like? Insane?

"Have you had breakfast yet, Harry?" Ginny asked.

"No. Kitchens?"

"Certainly." James grinned. "And glad to see you know where the kitchens are."

"Of course. I have the Map."

James raised a brow. "And how did you get that? I was under the impression we had it confiscated."

Harry nodded. "You did. However, when the twins were in their first year, young and innocent…" he snorted for effect, "they ended up in Filch's office. I can't remember what it was for now. Dungbombs, probably. Anyway, they saw a drawer marked Confiscated and Highly Dangerous…"

"I see." James nodded. "They whipped it? The Weasley twins?"

"Yep. Worked out how to use it - no doubt encouraged by your parchment selves. Gave it to me in third year when I couldn't go to Hogsmeade owing to a slight disagreement with Uncle Vernon related to Aunt Marge and the mad murderer out to get me."

"Voldemort?" James asked.

Sirius barked in laughter. "Me, idiot! 'Course, no one knew I was innocent… 'Cept the self-exiled Kat and Peter who was posing as Ron's pet rat."

"He was Percy's first…" Ron protested.

"Disagreement?" Lily asked, looking at Harry with a raised brow.

"Umm, well, I made a deal with. If I behaved, he'd sign the Hogsmeade form. Of course, I was determined only to be civil as long as she was. And she never was." He pointed out. "I'd nearly managed it. Then she had too much to drink." He rolled his eyes at this, it was obviously a family trait. "She started on you, Dad, saying you were unemployed and a drunk, that you'd been drinking when you 'died in a car crash'," those words were bitter, "as though you didn't care that your infant son was in the back seat. Then her brandy glass shattered. To this day, I don't know if it was my magic or her grip. Then she started on Mum." He looked down.

James went rigid. "What did she say about Lily?"

For the first time, Harry knew exactly what had made his father yell for Lily to leave with such horror on the night of his death. He swallowed. "She likened Mum to a dog. Saying that there was bad blood, if there was something 'wrong' with th-the 'bitch'," he spat out the word, "there'd be something wrong with pup. She might've said more, I can't remember. There was an intense pressure in my head and my magic broke free. She, uh, blew up."

James' eyes popped. "What? You - she - exploded!"

Harry's eyes flew towards him. "What? No! I mean, inflated. With air. She, uh, went floating over Surrey." He blushed.

Most of the others grinned, Lily looked torn between pride at her son's defending her name and shame at his magic's decision, while James looked apologetic.

"Sorry, I was slightly worried you'd inherited my talent." He explained.

"What talent?" Harry asked.

A ball of ice formed in James' hand and he flung it into the air, only to fling out a hand and for it to shatter into splinters. A twist of his wrist stopped it in mid-air. Kat smirked and shot out a flame for each splinter to melt and fall to the ground as a mere droplet.

"Along with our elements, we gained further wandless abilities. Mine, as you can see, is causing something to explode or 'blow up', as well as slowing time."

"Before we died, you were progressing further as well." Lily recalled. "We went to Albus about it. You seemed to be moving at ultraspeed."

"I just started on my illusion abilities then." Kat recalled. "And I had the feeling you were about to achieve astral projection, Sirius, which would've been handy, actually. You could've sent one self after Peter, then disappeared, while your other self was at work. Or even while you were in prison."

"Except for that pesky problem of maintaining the time line." Sirius pointed.

Kat nodded sadly. "Except for that."

"You have other abilities then?" Hermione asked. "Unrelated ones?"

"To our elements, yes. The abilities themselves are related. Lily's are all mind abilities - empathy, telepathy, psychometry, the ability to actually see into and restructure minds as she did with the others. James' are molecular-based - speeding the vibrations around molecules to the point they combust or slowing them to the poin the literally 'stops time'. The rest suggests the ability to speed his own molecules to make himself appear to move faster than time or light. He also has the power to heal - we think that's based on manipulating a body's own molecules to bind a wound and even using the body's natural magic to heal them. My own are based around appearance - wandless transfiguration, shape-shifting and illusions. Sirius' are movement-based - telekinesis, transportation, levitation and possible astral projection."

"Transportation?" Hermione asked.

"Similar to Apparition, soundless, unobstructed by any wards expect those related to magic itself, and with the ability to take many at a time." Sirius replied. "It's funny, I could have got out of Azkaban at any point, but the first things I forgot were my abilities because they provided me with comfort. The magic of Azkaban also discourages independent thought along with the Dementors. I only barely remembered Padfoot."

"That's horrible." Ginny gasped.

"Aye, but it works well on stopping criminals escaping." Harry stated grimly. "Problem is that the wizarding world's never heard of 'innocent until proven guilty'."

Hermione suddenly sniggered.

"What?"

"I was just thinking about Trelawney's prediction."

"Which one?"

"After you pleased everyone but Umbridge with that newspaper article." Hermione grinned. "Ron told me."

Harry frowned, then groaned as he remembered.

"What's this?"

"Professor Trelawney has a habit of predicting Harry's death. Hasn't happened yet." Ron pointed out helpfully. "Last year, when the Ministry was still refusing to believe Harry and Dumbledore that Voldemort had returned, Harry gave an interview to the Quibbler, since the Prophet hasn't reported anything but the Ministry's desired stories since the first war. Trelawney, naturally pleased with Harry standing up to the Ministry, said that Harry would live to a ripe old age, become Minister for Magic and have twelve children."

"I'm not going to put any woman through that much pain." Harry informed him.

"Two at a time. Adoption." Hermione suggested. She smirked at Ginny. "Some girls of you acquaintance probably have a genetic predisposition for twins."

"Hermione!" Ginny yelled shrilly. Hermione froze, almost catatonic, and fell to the floor.

"Mione!" Ron cried, falling to her side.

Ginny had clasped a hand over her mouth.

"Ginny, what happened?" Kathryn demanded.

"M-my Voice…"

"Voice?"

"She has a power of Voice. I thought you had it under control?" Harry asked as the others attended Hermione's fallen form. James spread his hands out over her, blue magic spilling from his hovering hands as Lily scanned her with her wand.

"S-so did I." Ginny blushed. "It's never happened like this before. And I only said her name…"

"Something's empowered it."

Harry groaned. "Why do these things always happen to us?"

Ron's head snapped up, recognising the rise of Harry's temper. "Harry…"

"No! It's not fair!" The younger boy snapped. "Everything happens to us! Voldemort, the prophecy, the Philosopher's Stone, the Chamber of Secrets, Riddle's diary possessing Ginny, the Dementors, Pettigrew and Sirius and Remus on the full moon, the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Skeeter, Voldemort rising again, more Dementors, me being tried by the entire bloody Wizengamot for defending myself, Umbitch and her goddamned blood quill, Nagini biting Mr Weasley, Kreacher betraying Sirius, Umbitch trying the Cruciatus, the Forbidden Forest - numerous times - the Department of Mysteries, Sirius dying… then everyone coming back from the dead or insanity and now Ginny's lost control of a power she had control of because something's made it stronger!" He ranted. "It's just - not - FAIR!"

Thunder rolled suddenly as a bolt of blue-green lightning struck the broom shed.

Harry froze, before passing out.

"From the ashes of the Flying House…" Kathryn murmured, remembering her vision and the 'prophecy' she had recited while in Voldemort 'care'.

"We'll get them to the Hospital Wing." James ordered, picking up his son and slinging him over his shoulder. "Kat, Sirius, we'll see you in Dumbledore's office. Miss Weasley - Ginny - please stay silent until we can work out exactly what's empowered your voice."

Ginny nodded and followed them in.

XXXXX

Dumbledore's office:

"They're settled in the Hospital Wing?" Dumbledore asked as Lily and James entered.

Lily nodded. "Yes. Harry appears to be magically exhausted. And Ginny somehow caused Hermione to collapse by causing a disruption with her balance - in the ear."

Dumbledore nodded. "Their powers have awoken."

"Powers?" Kathryn asked. "What powers?"

"They are the Elemental Warriors." Dumbledore replied. "You know it, Kathryn. Her new power has strengthened Miss Weasley's power to dangerous levels. She's one of the Elemental Warriors."

"But that's impossible." Kathryn stated, confused.

"No, it is not. But it is rare that the Elemental Warriors do spring from the Elemental Guardians. The Guardians themselves are rare – there have only been nine such groupings in wizarding history. Of the Warriors, only four times have they appeared previously. Once only, from the Guardians." Dumbledore explained.

"But I don't understand. How can she receive her power? She's only just turned fifteen!" James frowned, standing up and beginning to pace.

"It is in her power's nature. Also, as two of them are related, what affects her brother will affect her more closely." Dumbledore explained.

"So instead of it being Ginny's sixteenth the powers are awakened on…" Sirius began.

"It's Selene's." Kathryn finished. "Because Ginny's were effectively called when Ron turned sixteen?"

"That's about right." Dumbledore responded. "What confuses me is the six elements. I believed there were only four."

"Fire, water, earth and air." Lily nodded.

"Electricity – lightning." Kathryn stated. "That, in certain respects, could be an element. It forms in nature thriving from one or two of the others. Not to mention it would explain how Harry struck the broom-shed until it turned to ashes. Thank Zeus the school brooms hadn't been placed out yet."

Lily shot her a 'look' as Sirius continued with the list.

"And spirit, of course. What held our powers in balance is held by a person in their group." Sirius nodded. That's what strengthened her Voice. It's related to her ability of spirit.

"What does this mean?" James wanted to know.

"It means that when Voldemort marked Harry, his element was part of what protected him. The shape of the mark… maybe even the destruction of your home." Dumbledore mused. "It might also explain Harry's struggle to master some of the more simple spells when harder ones come more easily. His powers have not been in balance because they were called to protect him at a very early age instead of at sixteen when his body was prepared to accept them. It might also account for part of his stunted growth and his sudden growth spurt."

"What?"

"Harry's powers appeared early, but he had no control and his body wasn't prepared." Kathryn translated. "Thus problems with his growth and magic. Most likely his magical reserves are much larger than they would have been because he's had to repress his power over lightning for so long."

"Okay, so how does that help us?"

Kathryn grinned. "Mouldyvort's goin' down!"

XXXXX

A/N:

That's it! Please give me feedback - I'm always anxious to know what you think. I hope it doesn't seem rushed at all, some parts feel that way.

Lol, Tanydwr