Yin Flames

Harry sat cross-legged in the Exhibition grounds' meditation garden. Soul Resonance Mist swirled around him - delicate wisps that carried pure emotions. Each strand held a representation of a memory: soaring as an eagle, McGonagall's warm hugs, painting with Perenelle, studying with Nicolas...

"Nervous?"

Harry opened his eyes to find Fleur watching him from the garden path. She wore dress robes in pale blue silk, her silver-blonde hair braided with tiny white flowers.

"A little," Harry admitted. "Not about the art itself, just... everything else."

Fleur nodded, settling onto the grass beside him. "The judges? The audience?"

"The attention afterward." Harry let the mist dissipate. "People always want something from me. After the healing accident in the first phase..."

"Ah." Fleur plucked a blade of grass, twirling it between her fingers. "That's why you're out here instead of with your guardians?"

"Nicolas and Perenelle understand. They're handling things on their end." Harry stood, brushing off his formal black robes. "I just needed some quiet to prepare."

"Well, you have about twenty minutes before they open the gates." Fleur rose gracefully. "Maman said to remind you that our family's private box is warded against reporters if you need somewhere to hide after."

Harry smiled. "Thanks. I should be fine." He glanced toward the exhibition platforms where crowds were already gathering. "I have to go. The painting phase starts soon."

"Good luck!" Fleur called after him as he headed for the entrance to Platform Two.

The waiting area was quiet as other artists prepared for their demonstrations. Harry found a peaceful corner and closed his eyes briefly, letting his perfect memory bring forth exactly what he needed: the pure wonder of seeing the Amazon Rainforest for the first time, the joy of finding a family with the Flamels, the peace of soaring through clouds...

"Ready?" Nicolas appeared beside him, speaking softly.

Harry nodded. "I know exactly what I'm going to create."

"Good." Nicolas squeezed his shoulder. "We'll be watching from the balcony. Just remember-"

"Focus on the art itself, not the audience," Harry finished with a small smile. "I remember."

The final bell rang. Harry took a deep breath and stepped out onto the platform as the announcer's voice boomed across the grounds:

"Wizards and witches, please welcome our next artist in the Permanent Works phase... Harry Potter!"

Polite applause echoed across the grounds. Harry walked to the center of Platform Two where a large Artisan Crystal floated, ready to capture and preserve his creation. The transparent crystal gleamed in the morning sun, unmarred and waiting.

Azure flames burst from Harry's fingertips, crackling as they spread across the air in sweeping arcs. The blue fire formed deep currents that shifted and flowed like ocean depths. Lightning snapped between layers, creating brief moments of brilliant white that illuminated the flames from within.

Then came the Soul Resonance Mist. Harry reached deep within himself, grasping the pure joy of flying as an eagle. Golden mist poured forth, saturating the flames. The audience gasped as waves of happiness directly hit their souls. Several people laughed in delight, while others wiped away unexpected tears.

Another emotion - the fierce protectiveness he felt healing Charlotte yesterday. Red mist flowed from his fingertips, twining through the golden streams. Members of the audience straightened their backs, some instinctively moving closer to their loved ones.

Layer by layer, Harry emptied himself into the mist. Deep blue for wonder at discovering new forms of firebending. Bright green for the peace of painting on the Astronomy Tower late at night. Purple for the satisfaction of evolving his fear mist spell to a completely new level. With each emotion poured out, his eyes grew colder.

The temperature around the platform dropped steadily. Harry's azure flames began darkening as his Po Soul responded to the growing emptiness within him. The usual brilliant blue deepened to indigo, then darker still. These new flames didn't illuminate - they consumed light.

In the audience, Nicolas gripped Perenelle's arm. "Something's happening..."

The indigo flames spread rapidly, drawing in Harry's lightning and regular flames. They grew denser, almost liquid-like, yet still unmistakably fire. They spread ever more outward, consuming light rather than producing it. The effect created an absolute darkness that made several audience members shift uncomfortably in their seats. Yet within this void, pinpricks of Soul Resonance Mist began to appear - tiny stars made of pure emotion.

Each star held a different memory, a different feeling. One sparkled with the quiet contentment of reading in the library. Another pulsed with the fierce determination Harry felt while healing Charlotte. A cluster of stars carried the warmth of Christmas mornings at Hogwarts, while others held the peaceful solitude of early morning flights.

The judges leaned forward, drawn by the subtle pull of the indigo flames. As they stared into the artificial night sky, each star's emotions resonated directly with their souls. Master Rousseau gripped the edge of his seat, eyes wide as childhood wonder flooded through him. Madame Lefebvre dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, overwhelmed by a star carrying the pure joy of creating something beautiful.

"The flames..." Nicolas whispered to Perenelle from their viewing box. "They're affecting the judges."

"Not just the flames," Perenelle responded quietly. "Look at Harry's eyes."

Harry stood motionless at the center of Platform Two, eyes now completely devoid of warmth. More and more emotions poured from him into the myriad stars, leaving him increasingly empty. The indigo flames responded by growing stronger, pulling harder at the emotions around them.

Judge Werner stumbled to his feet, reaching toward a particularly bright star. "I remember this feeling... when I first..."

The other judges showed similar reactions - some crying, others laughing, all completely absorbed in the emotional constellation before them. The audience watched in confusion, too far away to feel the flames' effects but able to see the judges' unusual behavior.

"Should we stop him?" Perenelle gripped Nicolas' arm.

"No," Nicolas said firmly. "Look at the Artisan Crystal."

The crystal had begun to pulse with a deep purple light as it absorbed Harry's creation. The indigo flames and emotional stars were being permanently preserved, layer by layer...

Soon, the Artisan Crystal's purple light intensified for the final time as the last layers of Harry's creation settled into place. The indigo flames began to recede, releasing their hold on the judges. One by one, they blinked and straightened in their seats, looking somewhat dazed.

Harry swayed slightly as the emptiness inside him peaked. The cold look in his eyes remained, but exhaustion showed in the slight tremor of his hands.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer's voice shook slightly. "The permanent piece has been successfully captured. A brief recess will follow while our judges... recover."

Murmurs spread through the audience as people noticed tears still streaming down Master Rousseau's face. Judge Werner kept touching his chest where his heart would be, mouth moving soundlessly.

Nicolas appeared beside Harry in an instant. "Come. You need to rest before the sculpture phase."

Harry nodded, allowing himself to be led from the platform. While they walked, warmth slowly returned to his eyes.

"That was different," Harry said quietly. "I've never pushed the mist so far before."

"We noticed." Nicolas guided him toward a private room. "The indigo flames were unexpected."

"They just appeared when I emptied my emotions completely into the mist." Harry sank into a chair. "Like my Po Soul was compensating for the void by pulling in Yang energy."

"They'll recover." Nicolas watched Harry carefully. "Though I suspect your piece will leave quite an impression. What made you choose those particular emotions?"

"I wanted to show them what it feels like," Harry said softly. "To experience everything purely, without adult filters getting in the way."

A knock at the door interrupted them. Madame Lefebvre stood in the doorway, still looking slightly shaken.

"Mr. Potter..." She paused, collecting herself. "The judges request a brief explanation of your technique."

Harry nodded and followed Madame Lefebvre to a small chamber where the other judges waited. Master Rousseau had regained some composure, though his hands still shook slightly as he held a cup of tea. Judge Werner paced near the window, while two others sat quietly in their chairs.

He settled into the offered seat, and considered how to explain what had happened. The indigo flames - no, Yin Flames, he decided - had arose when he completely emptied his emotions into the Soul Resonance Mist. His Hun Soul, stripped of feeling, had tilted toward Yin, dragging his normally balanced flames with it. The resulting pull on Yang energy had affected both his lightning and the judges themselves...

"Mr. Potter." Master Rousseau set down his cup. "Would you explain what we experienced?"

"The dark flames created a push and pull effect," Harry said carefully. "They drew in energy while the emotional mist pushed outward. The combination enhanced the impact of the stored feelings."

"Enhanced?" Judge Werner stopped pacing. "I felt things I haven't experienced since childhood. Pure wonder, untainted joy..." He shook his head. "How did you capture such raw emotion?"

Harry met the judge's gaze. "I wanted to share my perspective."

"The stars..." Madame Lefebvre leaned forward. "Each one held a different feeling?"

"Yes. Memories of specific moments, preserved exactly as I experienced them."

The judges exchanged glances. Master Rousseau cleared his throat. "And the flames themselves? We've never seen that particular variety before."

"They appeared when I pushed myself further than usual," Harry said. "I'm still working on my magic."

"Thank you, Mr. Potter." Madame Lefebvre stood. "You should rest before the sculpture phase begins."

Harry left the chamber, and he heard Judge Werner mutter, "To think, a child teaching us how to feel again..."

He soon found his family and friends gathered in the exhibition hall. Charlotte rushed forward first, hugging him tightly. "That was incredible! Are you okay? You looked so... empty near the end."

"I'm fine now." Harry smiled, feeling warmth return as he saw everyone's concerned faces. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with pride, while McGonagall dabbed at suspiciously wet eyes. Flitwick was smiling from ear to ear.

"My boy," Dumbledore stepped forward. "You continue to surprise us all."

A crowd had gathered around Harry's displayed piece. People stood transfixed, faces showing everything from wonder to joy to peaceful contentment. Some older wizards wept openly as they experienced long-forgotten feelings of childhood innocence.

"Mr. Potter?" A staff member approached, blinking rapidly as he tore his gaze from the artwork. "We need a name for the piece. For the official records."

Harry watched an elderly witch reach toward one of the emotional stars with trembling fingers, her face filled with remembered delight. The indigo flames pulled gently at the surrounding emotions while the Soul Resonance Mist touched each viewer's heart deeply...

"Starlight Memories," Harry said softly.

Bill stood mesmerized by a particularly bright star, a wide smile spreading across his face. "This one... it feels like the first time I cast a successful charm."

"Look at this cluster!" Tonks pointed, fingers trembling slightly. "They're all connected somehow..."

"Those are from Hogwarts," Harry explained. "Different moments that blend together."

Akiko's fox tails swayed gently as she gazed at the indigo flames. "It feels... hungry." She glanced at Harry. "Like it wants to pull something from inside me."

"It's beautiful though," Fleur breathed, reaching toward a star that sparkled with artistic inspiration. "Each emotion feels so pure."

Penny and Chiara stood together, hands clasped as tears rolled down their cheeks. The star before them carried the warmth of friendship, unconditional and true.

"Harry?" Charlotte touched his arm. "That one there..." She pointed to a bright star near the center. "Is that from yesterday? When you finished healing me?"

Harry nodded. "The joy of helping someone important to me."

Nicolas cleared his throat. "Perhaps we should let Harry rest before the Living Sculpture presentation? He emptied quite a lot of himself into this piece."

"Just a moment," Perenelle smiled, watching everyone experience the artwork together. "This feels important too."