Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters and story affiliations mentioned in this fan fiction all belong to JK Rowling and legal associations. I own nothing of it nor am I profiting from it now or planning to in the future in any way. The only exception of profit is to my self for literary improvement.
Author to Reader Note: Let me start by saying this, no matter what opinion that has been developed from the ending of the previous chapter or along the way of this one, I do not plan to give Harry a "god like" existence or power. Rather I am striving to point out that the Orb has accelerated something that he was not prepared for at his age. Basically a too much power, too young and not ready kind of concept is what I'm aiming for..
I thought I would answer some emails I have been receiving as well as reviews.
Why the elemental idea? Well I had written a story once before about warriors of the past endowed by the elements and I included it into this story with some heavy alterations. Plus the books and movies gave me the encouragement to do so. Harry has a lightening shaped scar. The letter P in Potter on the covers of the books and the movies is made with a lightening bolt. Hagrid said that the house had nearly been destroyed when he looked for Harry in the debris in the first book. Those details along with the description of Ron with flaming red hair and Hermione with bushy brown hair and eyes made me wonder if there was something more to them then has been said.
Another question has been why vampires? Well we've seen a lot of creatures mention and talked about. Vampires have hardly been mention and always have been a classic creature of fear by us Muggle. So I thought what if the Magic version was different and how could I do it.
I have also been asked as to why I added a new enemy besides Voldemort. Simple actually I felt that if Riddle vanished for fifty years, give or take a few, and Dumbledore said he had delved into the deepest pits of Dark magic possible then maybe there were others involved in this evil. Others he may have overthrown in his quest for power and what if one of them came back for revenge and used Potter to do it.
One of favorite ones has been about Lucius Malfoy and that he doesn't seem to be described correctly. In all honesty, that is absolutely correct. Jason Isaacs is the reason why that is. He is one of my favorite actors even as an evil character. Honestly when I saw him play Lucius Malfoy, it has been his portrayal that brought Lucius to life for me. Even with the all the books including the fifth its Jason Isaacs that gives me an image of Lucius Malfoy.
Why the Malfoys as a vampires? Well the truth is I didn't have that idea at first. The relationship of Draco and his father is an impression I had derived, though with little basis to prove it but that again goes back to Jason Isaacs and his interview as Lucius Malfoy. There is a line in the previous chapter about Draco supposedly boasting a relation to a vampire. Originally it was only going to be Ginny, Harry, Maylen and Daken. The real reason for it is that two of my cousins who pushed for me to post this story swear that it is true. That Draco had boasted about a vampire relative. I have wanted to find that detail but have not had time to research it because I like to have some basis of plausibility. Hence the lightening references and more that I have perceived or suspected. I ask that if anyone knows this to be true, please post in reviews or in email what page and book is this so called boast about Draco. Sorry Jess but I don't quite believe you.
Why Binkins shop? The moment that idea came I thought it was ridiculous and way over board. Sorry D but that's what I thought. Lu and Nu were actually characters I had reserved for a summer adventure but I was 'convinced' to apply them otherwise. I did agree with the idea that the boys may not be able to pick out a gift for the important ladies in their lives and would need help. It did bring to light a very important detail that has a key role in this chapter.
Will I write a sixth year? I am thinking about it and I would like to. I have an outline started but it would have to be based on the first four and my fifth year version. The reason for this is because I do not want to attempt to build on OoP. I do not believe I would cast a plausible sixth year and fear that I would bring insult rather than enjoyment. I am being encouraged to do so with my current outline but its still under consideration.
And lastly my all time favorite question why Harry and Hermione? I've heard arguments on many levels on the issue of pairings. I even had an instructor actually pose it as a debate topic for a government class I took. Believe me it got ugly, books and pages flying about, not literally unfortunately. It was one of the best debates I ever partook in. The truth is I simply want it to be an H/Hr fiction. I'm not trying to defend a side or claim I know better. I simply want the messy black haired boy and busy brown haired girl to get to get together. If book six or seven says otherwise well that's fine, it's J.K. Rowling's story anyways. Secretly I suspect that Ron has a thing for blondes, considering Fleur and that is why Rela is blonde by the way. If anybody is a serious R/Hr shipper, I would suggest giving www.sugarquill.net a try as it is a fan fiction site devoted to the idea of Ron and Hermione coupling. However please don't ignore Fanfiction.net as that's where I am. Sorry if that sounds selfish but I don't want to be forgotten. LOL
I'll post some more responses in the next chapter unless you would rather ask me via email.
My email is itmonster@hotmail.com please make the subject HPatTW
!!PLEASE READ BEFORE CONTINUING!!
!!PLEASE READ BEFORE CONTINUING!!
This is only the FIRST 12 complete pages. I've been receiving some emails of people wanting something to snack on so here you go. I should have the rest very soon. As you may have read from portkey, my hard drive was chewed up and spit out as garbage thanks to the viral surge we've had last month. I had to rebuild my computer and invest in viral protection. The parts and funding took some time as you may have noticed. Thankfully I back up my files every month but I still had to re-write most of this chapter again.
Revised 9/25/03
Harry Potter and the Turmoil Within
Chapter 26
Aftermath
The dust began to settle but the cold winter day remained in darkness. Thick storm clouds choked out the sunlight, bringing lightening that viciously sliced across the blackened skies, joined by roars of ominous thunder in its wake. Between the raging strikes, patches of colors illuminated small areas above the buildings. Distant shouts indicated the exchanged of spells within the Magic population. Sounds of screams and breaking materials filled the gaps between deafening discharges in the skies.
The Dementors remained motionless, each staring in the same direction from behind their guise of cloaks. Their attentions were strangely drawn to whatever bore the cold, furious eyes dwelling in the battered building. Ron remained barely consciences while held in the air by a Dementor preparing its Kiss. Another loomed over Hermione as a small group had been approaching Rela and the young girl. The dark wizards who had been approaching with the Dementors were either too surprised to react or were drawn back into the alleys to counter resistance.
Hermione's mind was finding it hard to concentrate but one thought became clear as she look into the dark interior.
- Red eyes… red as blood, - thought Hermione, - What did they let out of him? -
Erickson was able to get back to his feet, though holding his side with difficulty.
"Stop floating around," shouted Erickson suddenly, "And kill them!"
The Dementors resumed their quest for their intended prey. Two broke ranks from their group towards Rela and the spell bound child. Though her body was weakened to the point of being numb, Hermione was able to feel a tight grip on her arm and the smell of something rotting reach her nose. She didn't have to waste strength in looking for she knew what was there and its purpose. Ron made a small sound trying to still resist but so many Dementors were making the possibility unrealistic.
Hermione felt the Dementor pull her body upwards and the only strength she had left was for panic to set in. She barely noticed an effervescent sound and something hissing behind her. In an instant, her arm was released and she slumped painfully back to the icy ground. Looking up slightly, Hermione could see that Ron too had been release and the movements of his chest told her the Kiss had not yet been done. The draining power of Dementors quickly began to fade and Hermione felt her mind begin to clear, even Ron was responding. Whatever had canceled the Dementors' power drew the horrid creatures' attentions away from them.
"What are you doing?" shouted Erickson again, drawing his wand, "Finish them!"
Erickson realized where his attention should have been while receiving the answer in the form of something with horns, silvery white in color and extremely large in size as it stepped from the dark interior of the damaged building. Its hooves made the sound of heavy thuds, like bricks being dropped, against the icy stone ground. Along with her mind, Hermione's vision focused to see a substantially large stag stepped into view.
- A stag, - thought Hermione surprised, - A Patronus… but it's enormous? -
The Dementors seem to agree as none of them moved an inch in the slightest.
"There's only one," roared Erickson, "It can't stop all of you!"
Encouraged by Erickson's words, the Dementors once again resumed their intentions. Those near Rela were only a few feet away and the child could be heard screaming, though her mouth would not release the sound and her eyes went as big as they could. Hermione smelled the rotting scent near her again and the Dementor by Ron bent, reaching for him.
The hissing came again and the event to follow was one of great mystery and astonishment. Following the hissing, the luminous stag reared and charged forth. Its horns drew level with the ground as it closed the gap between it-self and Rela in amazing speed. The stag side stepped the child, leaping over Rela, all without ever slowing and connected with the closest approaching Dementor. The horrid creature let off a piercing sound filling the air with a continuous surge of a screeching whine. The Dementor fell back, sliding off the stag's sharp horns and slumped to the ground, leaving a sludge-like substance on the horns of the Patronus. The stag reared again and struck out with its front hooves, knocking another Dementor away and using the thrust of that motion to deliver another assault with the rear hooves. Both Dementors landed a distance away and none so far made a motion to rise. In a manner of a moment, the stag had fended off six Dementors and the rest remained at bay, possibly too surprised by these actions to do anything.
Hermione had watched the Patronus perform a feat it should not be able to do. Her mind recalled reading that Patronuses were not truly solid in form but yet this one could make direct contact. The amazement had left her forgetful of the Dementor looming above and was forced to realize this as her arm was seized again. She turned as the hooded creature made to pull her closer. Freezing fear surged through Hermione's every muscle, locking them in resistance and she barely heard the following effervescent sound and the hissing from behind once again.
Hermione wondered quickly on how to break free but found she did not have to ponder long. Something bright blinded Hermione's eyes with quick movement as it broke the Dementor's grip and pushed her back to the ground. From what she could see in the snow, it cast a silvery white light around a shadow of a four legged beast. Her legs were pinned down by the beast and Hermione turned her torso as best as possible to see. Her eyes focused on the bright silvery white creature to see a huge hound standing over her. The ears were laid back, teeth bared and its posture situated in readiness for attack. Large nails extended from its paws, an oozing sludge like substance already coated the right paw. The Dementor glided back, slightly wavering.
"Bloody hell," shouted Ron's voice expectedly!
Hermione twisted back and looked to see Ron sitting up, suddenly awake while staring at yet another silvery white beast poised in front of him. Its appearance was that of a wolf like animal, very familiar in shape. The Dementor previously attempting its Kiss now glided haphazardly away. It swayed from side to side as an oozing sludge like fluid dripped heavily onto the ground from under its cloak. The silver beast held a freshly torn but rotted limb in its mouth. She realized it to be the arm of the Dementor, backing away seemingly bleeding in some decayed way, now in the wolf's jaws.
Three Patronuses, each an animal, each somehow formed with such intensity that they could make direct contact with the Dementors. A fact that all the books referencing Patronuses had not stated as a feature in their creation. To add to that was also to remember that no book had ever said it possible for more than one Patronus to be brought forth and yet here were three. A graceful stag, a vigilant hound and a vicious wolf all from the same source, that which bore the hateful and furious eyes in shadows of the barely standing building.
Hermione's eyes widen while staring at the wolf, realizing its appearance aside from the silvery white coloring was the same as Lupin when he transformed that night nearly two years ago. That Patronus was actually a werewolf apparition and she turned again, ignoring the groan her back gave to look at the hound again. It too had similar features, very much the same as another they knew. Though the original portrayer of the stag's appearance she had never met, it wasn't hard to guess who that matched. Before them stood three Patronus versions of the Marauders, each powerful enough to not only touch the Dementors but even cause serious injury and maybe they could do more.
"How is this possible," question Erickson, clearly confused and surprised?
More hissing came and all turned to look as a person stepped out from the crumbling building. His skin was pale, more so than the snow. His hair, once shiny jet black and hopelessly messy, now was dull and laid flat with no defiance. Blood, fresh and flowing, trailed from a scar along the side of his face. His glasses, broken yet again, hung lopsided across the bridge of his nose. Harry Potter stepped into full view from the shadowed depths of the previous building as it finally collapsed, sending out more debris.
Though Hermione was relieved to see Harry uninjured and worried by his unnatural actions, it did little to prepare her for what came next.
"So Macnair failed, "sneered Erickson sadistically, "I'll remedy that."
Erickson aimed his wand and prepared a spell. Harry didn't do anything besides stand in place and watch the wizard.
"Stupefy," shouted Erickson and the stun spell left his wand!
Harry didn't make any attempt to block, rather he just stood there. The stun spell hit him directly in the chest and aside from making Harry take a step back for balance, no other result of the spell was produced. Erickson stood locked in stance with a mixture of confusion and disbelief. Harry simply readjusted his posture from the spell and smirked at Erickson while slowly raising his own wand. Following a quick hiss, Erickson's wand shot away and into Harry's free hand, gripping it tightly. The wizard watched helplessly as the wood of the wand grayed and fell apart like ash.
Harry opened his hand, letting the ash remnants scatter into the breeze. As the final remnants fluttered away, Harry reached up; gripping his glasses and withdrew them from his face, holding them in a fist in front of him-self.
"Well aren't you gifted," snapped Erickson, trying to hide a quake in his voice.
Harry just stared at him, a smirk still present while lightly hissing something in response. The surrounding Patronuses began to move. The stag kept its horns drawn and stepped towards the Dementors nearest to it. The werewolf dropped the torn limb and stalked forward as well. The hound released Hermione's legs and it too creped forward. The Dementors glided away, retreating at the same pace.
Harry looked to his hand holding the damaged glasses and slowly began to tighten is fist. They could hear the remaining glass to break and see as the metal frames bent completely out of shape. Like Erickson's wand, Harry opened his hand, letting the tiny shards and metal mass of the glasses slid out, falling to the ground.
Erickson gave a puzzled look before Harry hissed again and all at once the advancing Patronuses accelerated. The stag galloped forward as the two canines took off, darting them-selves at their own targets. The Dementors turned and surprisingly fled, chased away by the Patronuses. Within moments, they all had vanished from sight and the same screeching whines joined the chorus of sounds from the village, the odd luminescence creations apparently pouncing at their prey.
"What are you all standing around for?" shouted Erickson angrily to the wizards, standing around in awe of the events, "Kill this Muggle loving scum!"
The wizards seemed to have forgotten their purpose and quickly raised wands. The tips colored to the spells coming and Erickson smiled confidently at Harry.
"You're luck is finally out now boy," sneered Erickson.
Ron tried to get up but though his mind was alert, his body hadn't recovered from the exposure to the Dementors. Hermione hadn't attempted to stand yet. Something nagged in her mind to not move but to instead wait and her instincts were proven to be right.
In reality events occurred in a matter of seconds but Hermione's mind watched it all unfold much more slowly. Harry didn't seem to be bothered by the threat of so many impending spells. Rather he pulled his wand back and held it upright in front of him-self. A quick hiss and the tip glowed with a bright blue color. Harry's blank expression turned to a deceptive and humored look. Erickson's eyes went wide as he glanced around suddenly. Spells left the wands of the surrounding wizards as Erickson suddenly shouted for them to stop but too late.
In an instant, everything went bright with a mixture of colors from the different spells cast. Hermione's eyes closed in reaction but her hearing remained. She was quickly engulfed in a cacophony of gong sounding like strikes. When it was over, the only sound that remained was the voice of an injured person.
"What the… hell… are you," exclaimed someone in pain, stuttering their question, "You can't… be human… what kind of… bastard creature… are you?"
Hermione opened her eyes and looked ahead to see many of the wizards from Ron's side all sprawled out along the ground. Those missing either fled or would account for the holes in the buildings near them. Erickson was on one knee, his right arm holding the left shoulder as blood seeped between his fingers.
"The Shield charm… can only repel… minor spells, "breathed out Erickson, forcing him-self to stand again, pain obvious in his voice, "Maybe… one strong spell… but you repelled… all of them… how?"
Harry hissed something again and his expression twisted darkly. Hermione watched Harry present his wand again with a swish and flick motion, debris near Erickson rattle and pieces of broken wood levitated in to the air. Hermione was able to count at least five but there were more. Each with a sharp end, pointed at Erickson.
"Master," quietly asked Erickson to no one, "What is this thing?"
Harry flicked his wand sharply and the wooden pieces shot forward, smashing through an awaiting wall of stone behind and taking Erickson with them.
The Dementors driven away and the current wizards around, out cold or otherwise, Harry walked forward towards Rela and the binded girl. Harry had his wand at ready and Ron forced him-self to stand.
"Harry wait," spoke Ron with heavy effort, getting his balance and slowly moving forward, pleading, "Don't hurt them."
Ron was moving slowly at first but was resolving that quickly as his strength seem to return the more his body was pushed.
Unfortunately it was not quick enough for Harry now stood before the child Rela had protected. Without hesitation or warning, Harry pointed his wand at the girl's head and hissed something yet again. Hermione gasped and Ron stopped as Harry unleashed his magic on yet another person.
A tiny, quick flash later, the little girl crouched to the ground, hands covering her face and terror filled whimpers escaping her throat.
It took a moment for Hermione and Ron to register what Harry had done. He had only released the girl from the binding spell as the child lifted her head, looking at her hands, realizing her body was able to move again.
Ron staggered on with determination as the actions Harry had done seem to bring inspiration. At Rela's side, Ron fell to his knees and hesitantly rolled the girl over. He sighed with relief when a groan followed the motion as the Whasperor's chest slowly rose and fell.
Hermione was trying to push her-self up, but her body wasn't complying. In the corner of her eye, she watched Harry turned swiftly and walked towards her, his robes flailing around with him. Without any difficulty, Harry gripped Hermione's other arm and lifted her back onto her feet. She had been alert enough while on the ground but now on her feet, everything went hazy and numb. She felt her-self pressed against someone and tried to get her eyes to focus. Her vision blurred and thought began difficult, but she was able to make out a black haired boy with eyes red as blood. She was held so close to this person that his breath brushed hot against her face.
It was then that everything went dark and quiet…
Next Chapter
Aftermath Part 2