Boys Don't Cry
Disclaimer: don't own HP characters except Matthew, and if anyone steals this plot-which is all mine, by the way-I will send you a virus. Got that?
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Sorry about the threatening Disclaimer. Haha. That was supposed to make you laugh; but that doesn't mean it's not true, eh?
Okay, so Harry and Matthew duke it out! I would like to thank all of the wonderful people who have managed to stick along, after all the angst and the stomping on our poor Harry. This chapter, not a very pleasant one, but it'll explain most of your questions. Like, how did Matthew get into Hogwarts, if he was a Death Eater? Did Dumbledore know? Did Matthew know all along that Voldemort (if he was supposedly the one to be sending those visions) was sending them?
And… what is going to happen to our beloved Harry and Hermione?
This chapter will be the revealing of the truths about Matthew, and the next, about everything else. Many, many thanks to the gorgeous reviewers out there! And to romulus lupin, you are fantastic! From your one review, whew! Thank you for going out of your way to describe it all to me.
And sorry about the cliffhanger. I hate cliffhangers too, but somehow… Its quite different when it's your story.
Read on!
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Crimson
Harry's heartbeats died inside of him, as a bellowing started in his ears. His lungs seemed to have stopped functioning, staring at the boy standing before them.
The Death Eater.
Matthew's smile seemed to be plastered to his face, as laughter rang out from his twisted grin, his head thrown back.
"What's the matter, Potter?" he laughed. "Didn't know, did you? Did the old, wretched, coot of a Headmaster, not tell you?" he spat. Harry's eyes widened.
Stinging thoughts and shrieking questions coursed through his mind, as he shook slightly.
"That's right," Matthew said, sneering. "He knew. That old bastard knew, all right!" Harry gritted his teeth from the shock, anger and hate stirring inside him. He held Hermione tighter to him.
"You're lying!" Harry shouted. "You're lying!"
"Oh really, Potter?" he snapped. "You know Death Eaters can't just walk into Hogwarts. Dumbledore still has the spells and enchantment wards up since the battle. He has to disable them to let a Death Eater in. And that's just what he did," he laughed. "That bloody bastard gave me the perfect opportunity to get close enough to Harry Potter to kill him!" His laughter taunted Harry, ringing in his ears.
"And why," Matthew said, coming closer to them, "you ask, would the old man let a Death Eater into Hogwarts, near the precious Harry Potter?" he said, his voice full of malice and revulsion. "Because he is too trusting!" he shouted, laughing maniacally. "That bloody old man, actually believed that I was going to really help Harry Potter defeat Voldemort without some kind of prize of the glory and power! All of you, full of trust and purity, seeing inside people the good… Oh, the good! It makes me sick!" he spat. "It makes me bloody sick! You, high and mighty, thinking we owe it all to you!" Just then, he drew out his wand so quickly that Harry's heart jumped from the action.
Matthew's black eyes glittered with wickedness, his mouth curled into a sneer. Just then, Harry froze in horror as he watched Matthew's eyes move from him… to Hermione. Matthew's face contorted into a nasty smile.
"You and your bloody girlfriend," he said, spitefully. "Harry Potter and Hermione Granger!" his voice exploded. "It's all in the papers!" he said, shaking his wand at them, as if insane. "Every single day… Harry Potter and his true love! Harry Potter and his filthy, disgusting, wretched, Mudblood whore!" Harry felt something rapidly break and snap inside of him, as he felt his rage rival Matthew's. He could feel Hermione shaking even more against him, whimpering. Harry gritted his teeth.
"Don't you dare," he said, dangerously, his green eyes dark and hateful, "speak about Hermione. Don't you dare." Matthew's face warped into an amused smile.
"Is Harry Potter defending his little Mudblood girlfriend? After all she did to you? Tsk, tsk, tsk," he said, shaking his head. "You go so low, Potter. Even after she broke your heart and left you to wallow in the dump? Oh, very low." Harry's grip tightened, icy anger coursing through his veins.
"Shut up, Matthew," he hissed. "You shut your flithy mouth." Matthew raised an eyebrow at him, still pointing his wand at their faces. He glanced down at Hermione, and his smile widened.
"Careful, Potter," he threatened lowly. "You don't want anything to happen to your little wench, now, do we? Always said she was too stubborn for her own damn good… Maybe we ought to soften her, eh? Have a little fun… Maybe we ought to show her the true meaning of pain and torture…" Matthew licked his lips, as Harry's eyes burned with such fury. "I always knew Mudbloods were good screamers, you know."
"What do you want?" Harry shouted. "What do you want from me?" Matthew let out another sickening and wicked laugh. His eyes were wide, like a madman.
"What do I want?" he asked, disbelievingly. "What do I want? You're asking me what the hell I want?" he shouted, stepping closer to them. Harry quickly moved Hermione so that she was behind him. "I want revenge, Potter!" he shouted, his voice so loud that it seemed to cut through all the ice and snow. "I want revenge for my father's death! Because of you! You killed him! You killed him!" he shrieked, his hand and wand trembling. "I want power! Glory! I want to finally show the whole bloody Wizarding World that Harry bloody Potter is not worthy to be a Hero! And most of all," he jabbed Harry in the chest with his wand, "I want you dead. I want you to suffer! I want you murdered, killed, tortured into seeing your loved ones die before your very eyes!" Just then, before Harry could react, Matthew grabbed Hermione from behind him and dragged her to him. Harry stood, frozen with fear and shock. He looked up at Matthew, as he walked back and farther away from Harry.
"Hermione!" he shouted, as he started to run after them. She was screaming, struggling and pounding her fists against Matthew, but it was no use. He held her tightly by the arm, as he dragged her through the snow. "Hermione!" he yelled again, as he slipped and landed on the snow. He got up and started to run, once again. "Hermione! Get your hands off of her, you bastard!" Harry shouted, but before he could reach her, Matthew's wand was drawn again. He pointed it squarely at his chest, a hateful and amused look in his eyes, before he quickly pointed it at Hermione. He stabbed it into the skin of her pale neck, as she was breathing hard, still and unmoving from fear.
"No!" Harry shouted, walking towards them. "No! Don't you dare-"
"I will!" Matthew said, looking at him dangerously, still clutching Hermione tightly. "I will! Don't think for a bloody second that I won't! Oh," he laughed insanely, "what I wouldn't give to see Harry Potter's face as his little Mudblood gets murdered!" His evil and terrible laugh rang in Harry's eyes, as Harry looked at him, his anger fueled by the feeling of helplessness.
Suddenly, Matthew thrust Hermione onto the ground, as Harry started to run to her, but then grasped her tightly and brutally by her hair before Hermione could crawl off or Harry could save her. She screamed, as Matthew held on tight.
"That's right, Mudblood. Think you were going to escape, did you? No, you're going to die here, along with your little boyfriend," he hissed. Harry stiffened, shaking with rage. Suddenly, Matthew started walking onward, dragging Hermione by her hair. She shrieked from pain as he tugged and tugged harder, and Harry ran after them.
"Hermione!" he yelled. "Hermione! Matthew, get your hands off of her, you bloody-" Just then, he slipped again. He fell to the floor with a thud, leaving him gasping as it knocked his breath out of him. "Hermione!" he cried hoarsely. "Hermione! No! No!"
He heard the evil cackles of Matthew, as Hermione's screams pierced through the night.
"Come and get her, Potter! Come and get your little whore! Potter!" Harry pounded his fists against the snow, as he struggled to get up. His body was racked with ice-cold water that had melted from the snow, as he shook violently. His fingers were numb, his breaths ragged and tight. But as he stood up, he saw his wand, laid out in the snow; it had fallen out from his pocket. He grabbed it hastily with his frozen fingers, as he ran after them.
"Saxificus Telum!" he shouted, as he pointed his wand straight at Matthew's turned back. A glowing, white beam shot out of his wand, as it rushed at towards Matthew rapidly. But before it could reach him, Matthew had drawn his wand again.
"Obsidium Ancile!" he shouted, and a transparent shield formed in front of him, withstanding and sending Harry's spell off. Harry was breathing hard, as he raised his wand yet again, as Matthew also had his wand pointed at him.
"Ooh, Dangerous spell, Potter," he sneered. "Very dangerous indeed. Who taught you that? There's no way that Hogwarts could've taught you such a lethal spell. This bloody school only teaches the weak, feeble, and mediocre spells and attacks." Harry gritted his teeth.
"Voldemort was raised in this school," Harry said lowly. "Are you calling him feeble and mediocre?" To Harry's surprise, Matthew laughed. His laughter rang through the snow roughly, pure impiety dripping from it.
"Voldemort?" he asked, still laughing. "Do you really think I give a damn about that bloody fool?" he laughed harder, as he tugged on Hermione's hair again, and Harry winced from her screams. "Say what you want, Potter! Say what you want! I don't care! Voldemort was a bastard who waited far too long, only to be greeted with his death! A fool! His power is useless! His power will be nothing compared to mine when I kill you! Then, people will see, Mudbloods and Purebloods, both worlds, that I am the true and worthy Dark Lord! I will be the Dark Lord Voldemort never was or could be!" Suddenly, Matthew shouted a spell at him, sending Harry to fly off backwards, caught off guard.
"Confringo Scelestus!" A jet of crimson sparks hit Harry square in the chest, as he landed on the snow with a hard impact. His lungs felt as if they had been crushed, as he wheezed and gasped for air, his body shaking as the affects of the spells tingled through his body. He gritted his teeth as he felt his bones break, his veins warp, and his flesh burn.
"Harry!" he heard Hermione shriek. "Harry! No! Harry!" But then he heard her screams get farther and farther away, as his vision started to blur and he could no longer make them out. He could feel the icy snow underneath him, soaking into his robes and attaching itself to his skin. He blinked furiously, trying to ignore the pain in his body, as he tried to get up on his feet.
"Hermione!" he shouted. "Hermione!" He swayed on his feet as he felt flares of pain rocket through his body and limbs. He ran blindly after them, following her screams. "Hermione!"
A few moments later, his sight started to reconstruct, as he could finally see Matthew and Hermione not too far from him. Harry ran faster, hearing her swear at Matthew and scream.
"You- Get your hand off of me!" she shrieked, as Matthew started to grasp her leg. "Get your bloody hands off of me, you damn bastard!"
"You shut your little filthy mouth, you wench!" Matthew shouted at her, as he grabbed her wand and kicked her in the gut. Harry felt his heart become heavier, his rage and fear fight and collide, as he tried to run faster in the snow. He heard Hermione's coughs and wheezes, as she clutched her side. Hermione was face down in the snow, as Harry finally reached them.
He pointed his wand at Matthew, still shaking from the intoxicating mixture of bitter cold and raw fury.
"Ferinus Iumentum!" he shouted, and a bright, ghostly beast shot from his wand, colored the red of fresh blood from a battle. He could hear the deafening roar as it struck Matthew and he staggered back, falling backwards into the snow. He was paler than before, his eyes wide and red from the spell. He was shaking violently, clutching his heart.
But as Harry began to run to Hermione, Matthew had drawn his wand.
"Quiritatio Aculeus!" he shouted shakily and full of anger, his voice rough and severing. And before Harry could block his spell, a piercing and painful screeching began to start in his ears. He gritted his teeth, as he tried to get to Hermione, but soon, the high-pitched screeching built up in his ears and deafened the rest of his senses. He fell to his knees, covering his ears and his eyes closed tightly. It rang through his mind, sharp and jagged, ripping through his thoughts and drinking his energy. He doubled over, grinding his teeth from the high, excruciating, screaming.
He tried to focus, as he tried once again to open his eyes, but an agonizing pain sliced through his head. The trill shrieks continued, his body crumbling into the snow.
But mustering all the strength he had inside of him, he opened his eyes and lowered his wand hand from his ears. He pointed it at Matthew, trembling violently.
"Intercido!" he shouted, and suddenly, the ear-piercing screeching stopped. Harry, feeling his body weak and his head heavy, got up and started to run once again.
Matthew was waiting for him, and Harry's heart began to fill with dread and horror as he saw Hermione beside him. She was on the floor, with black ropes tied and wrapped around her. Harry's eyes widened as he came closer.
The ropes slithered around her… Suddenly, he saw something rise up. Harry halted. It was a snake. The serpent's head was looking at him evilly; it's crimson eyes glittering and glaring at him. It's scarlet tongue flicked out at him, as it squeezed around Hermione tighter, and she sucked in her breath sharply. Harry could see her body shake as she sobbed silently.
Harry's eyes flashed as he looked back up at Matthew, who was smiling at him scornfully. His fists clenched, his fingers digging into the skin of his palm.
"It's game over, Potter," he said dangerously. "You've lost. I've got your little Mudblood girlfriend, and there's nothing you can do now." Harry pointed his wand at the snake wrapped around Hermione, as it climbed and slithered, wrapping itself around her neck.
"Are you planning to kill it?" he said, amused. "Don't waste your time. Only I can command it. Don't be foolish. If you try to kill it, you'll only end up missing and killing your poor sweetheart." Harry's heart fell, as he felt as if he had been dropped and trapped in a frozen lake. He did not lower his wand. "You won't listen? Fine. I won't insist. In fact, I would just love to see Harry Potter kill his own love. I was looking forward to doing it myself, really, but I think I'm going to enjoy this much, much more." A horrible smile was drawn across his face. Harry could hear Matthew's voice inside his head, teasing, taunting him.
Harry pointed it at Matthew. His green eyes were dark with rage.
"You let her go," he said, gritting his teeth. "Let her go."
"And why," Matthew's sinister smile broadened, "why on earth would I do that?" Matthew's wand was also in his hand, but he was not pointing it at Harry. He was playing with it, swinging his wrist and tapping the point like it was a dagger.
"Because it's me you want," Harry said. "It's me you want. Not her. You want me dead, remember? Let her go, and I'll come to you. Disarmed. Let her free, and I'll let you kill me." There was no false tone in his voice, as he looked at Matthew. Matthew's smile did not fade, as his eyes sparkled with disturbing pleasure.
"You're right," Matthew said, looking at Hermione. "I do want you dead, Potter."
"No! No, Harry!" Hermione screamed, trying to struggle free from the binding snake. "No! Don't do this! No!" Harry didn't look at Hermione as he kept his gaze steady on Matthew. He swallowed hard.
"Well?" Harry asked. "Will you let her go?"
"Well… It seems to me that the Mudblood disagrees…" Matthew watched, wickedly pleased, as Hermione continued to struggle and scream.
"No!" Harry shouted. He inhaled a sharp breath. "Don't listen to her. It's me you want. Not her. I'll let you kill me, if you just let her go." Hermione's eyes widened from his words, as she tried harder, tears spilling down her cheeks. The snake hissed at her, as it tightened around her, disallowing her to breath as it tightened around her neck, strangling her. Harry kept his gaze strong and his mind from sinking, but inside, his heart was splitting and breaking.
He had to save her.
He had to.
Whatever it took, he would do it. He couldn't allow this.
He couldn't let it happen all over again.
"Aww," Matthew said, scornfully. "Look Potter… Look how she thrashes about… Just look at her… Look at how she cries and screams her little throat out for you… Oh, look… best you'd tell her to stop, Potter… that snake's going to wring her neck the more she struggles…" Harry closed his eyes for a moment, as he tried to keep his eyes from looking her way.
He was going to trick him. Matthew was going to trick him, he knew it.
He opened his eyes, but kept them on Matthew, who was smiling sickeningly down at Hermione.
"Stop it, Hermione," he said, his voice hard and severing. His throat was hot and rough, painful to speak and swallow. It felt as if it was crushed and blocked. "Stop it," he said harshly. "I'm trying to save you." But she kept fighting and resisting. He could hear her muffled yells and gasps. Matthew's evil cackles chimed in his mind, ringing and ringing…
Harry could feel his lungs weaken, as he felt tears sting in his eyes. Though he kept his gaze away from her, he could still see it… He could still see her…
She was suffering. She was suffering.
She was suffering because she loved him.
Without thinking, Harry's eyes finally flickered over to her. He was glaring at her, but it was a pleading glare. He could feel his eyes become glassy; his throat feeling as if there were sticks and sharp needles jabbed into him.
"Stop it!" he shouted at her. "Stop it, Hermione! Don't do this! Stop resisting! Stop fighting!" She was sobbing, her tear-streaked face and russet hair filled with scattered and trapped snowflakes. She was crying hard, as her resistance began to weaken. The snake hissed at her, but she didn't seem to notice, as her body crumpled on her knees, down to the freezing snow. Harry looked back up at Matthew, who was maliciously grinning with pride.
"Well done, Potter," he said. "Very well done."
"Let her go," Harry said through gritted teeth. "You said you would let her go."
"Did I?" he gasped. "Did I really say I would let her go?" he mocked. Harry, fed up with the child's play, shouted a spell at him. A blue beam shot out of his wand, as Matthew easily blocked it.
Harry was breathless from rage. "You let her go! Let her go!" he shouted, hoarsely. He came forward; his wand still pointed right at him. "Let her go, you bastard!" Harry shouted another spell, as Matthew enabled another shield. Harry continued to near him, yelling more and more spells, while each and every time, Matthew created a barrier.
But as Harry was only a foot away from him, he could see the irritation and annoyance gleam in his black eyes.
"You're starting to bloody infuriate me, Potter," he hissed, as Harry shot another spell and Matthew blocked it.
"I don't care!" he yelled. "I don't care! You let her go right this instant! Ferinus Iumentum!" the same scarlet beast rocketed out of his wand, as Matthew also shouted out a spell.
"Vipera Vermeninis!" he bellowed, as a bright and eerie green serpent injected out of his wand, crashing and colliding with Harry's beast. The two animals fought, roaring and screeching, entwining and biting. Just then, Harry watched as his beast howled as the serpent sank its fangs into him. The serpent wrapped itself around it, hissing and screeching, stabbing it with its fangs, before the beast dissolved into thin air. Harry watched in horror as the serpent rushed at him.
He heard screaming, a familiar screaming, as he felt it pass through him, knocking his breath out, and feel its icy but burning strength and skin as it wrapped around him. Harry shouted as he felt the serpent's jagged fangs sink into his neck, feeling the acid and venom seep into him and course through his veins. It burned with frosty prickling teeth, running through his body and shredding his flesh. He crumpled to the ground as the serpent slowly untangled from him and disappeared.
His heart was hammering in his ears, screams and thunderous bellowing in his ears. His pulse seemed to go rapidly too fast, his skin being clawed off and ripped apart. There were white-hot daggers stuck, sunken into his neck, poison and venomous fluid spreading through him. He was cold. Unmoving and so freezing cold.
He heard screaming. Hermione. She was screaming.
"Harry! No! Harry! Harry!" He could feel the bitter snow beneath him, his robes soaked and damp from sweat and the melted snow. His eyes were open, but his world was dimming. There was howling… whispers… taunts… laughter…
Wicked laughter cutting into the frosted and still midnight sky.
He swallowed hard, his mouth tasting bitter and bile. He blinked furiously, laying his hands hard against the ground, pressing, trying to get back on his feet.
He had to keep going.
He had to save her.
He had to get through this and get to her.
He gasped for air, still feeling the shooting pains and stinging soaring up through him. He could feel the ice crush against his hands, his fingers and palms painfully numb and frozen.
His lungs were burning. The air was toxic.
He had to breathe.
"Hermione," he cried out, roughly and his voice broken. Speaking alone sliced through him like a sword slitting his throat and lungs. He could hear her crying out for him, calling his name, and Matthew's evil laughter.
His vision started to clear, as he blinked and blinked furiously. Finally, he saw two figures. One tall, the other short. The roaring in his ears started to fade, but the pain did not calm. He tried to ignore it as he stood. His wand was in his hand, as he pointed it and his vision started to construct with detail.
Then he saw. Matthew was laughing at him. Hermione was crying and screaming. She was fighting again, resisting, and the snake was going to suffocate her. The voices in his heart rang out loudly, and that's what kept him going. It tuned out all the pain, as he faced Matthew. Harry could feel cold sweat, and blood start to form in his mouth.
"Let her go," he said, his voice raspy and shaky. "Let her go. She's had enough."
"No," Matthew sneered. "I don't think I will. She deserves to die. And I think you should see her, watch her until you want to gouge your eyes out, watch her until you're begging on your knees for me to stop and kill you too." He pointed his wand at Hermione, his tone evil and malicious. "Say goodbye, Potter. Your little Mudblood's going to burn in hell like the rest of them."
"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted, his voice full of rage and hate. But, Matthew, knowing Harry's immediate actions, pointed his wand to his direction.
"Arma Ancile!" Matthew shouted, and a translucent, ghostly dome surrounded him and Hermione. Harry's attempt to disarm him bounced off and vanished, his spell seeming feeble and weak as it crashed and dissolved from the shield.
"It's no use, Potter," Matthew derided. "Try all you want. Your little Mudblood wench is going to die, and you can't save her. But first," his eyes gleamed as his mouth turned up into a terrible smile. "She's going to suffer. She's going to suffer, and she's going to scream her pretty little head off. You're going to see it before your eyes Potter, all of it. You're going to fight, try to interfere, but you won't. She's going to die, but she's going to experience the pain. She's going to know how it feels, and you're going to know how it feels to watch someone you love die before your very eyes. Here's to revenge, Potter," he pointed his wand at Hermione. "And don't forget," he smiled, "you're next."
"No!" he yelled, as he tried to run to her. But the shield still shimmered as it covered them, as he ran into it and he was pushed back into the snow. "No! No! Hermione!" he drew out his wand.
"Dimico!" he shouted, as a vibrant violet ray shot out of his wand and to the shield. He watched as the shield sucked in the ray and it glowed even brighter. "Dimico!" Harry shouted again, and the same happened. The shield glowed and shimmered brighter.
The snake uncoiled around Hermione, as she fell to the ground, limp and gasping. Her face was void of color, her eyes wide with terror and shock. The snake disappeared as it was sucked back into Matthew's wand. Matthew looked down on her, as Harry tried to run into the shield again.
He found himself lying back against the snow, his head pounding and his fingers buzzing with shocks of electricity.
He watched, in horror and pain, as Matthew pointed his wand right at the limp and paralyzed Hermione.
"Crucio," he heard Matthew say, silkily. Hermione shrieked, her shrilly screams piercing through Harry's nerves and thoughts, through his strength and hope. Her body was shaking violently as she thrashed about, her eyes wide with excruciating pain.
"That's right, Mudblood!" Matthew shouted. "Scream! Scream! No one can hear you now! Your little Hero can't save you now!"
Harry got back on his feet, his heartbeats hammering and bellowing. He grabbed his wand from where it had fallen and faced the shield.
"Ardesco!" Harry shouted, as a beam of fire jetted out. "Ardesco!" The flames did not weaken or cut through the shield, as it merely ate the spells and energy and glowed even brighter than before.
Hermione had stopped shaking, her face white and pallid, her curls sticking to her face from sweat. She was breathing hard, her body heaving with every painful breath. She was wilted and unmoving. Her brown eyes were dark and glassy. Matthew was looking at Harry, smiling more widely than before.
"Don't waste your precious time, Potter," he sneered. "You can't get through the shield. Every spell you send its way, it eats the energy and only uses it to become stronger. Don't be stubborn. Don't you want to see your little dirty blooded whore before she dies?" Harry ignored him, as he shot another spell.
"Ignis Morsus!" The spell did nothing but make the barrier glow brighter and become more solid. Matthew laughed, as he turned back to Hermione.
"Crucio!" Hermione's body lashed out and quaked. Her screams were louder than before, her skin becoming paler and paler. Harry watched, tears stinging his eyes and his throat burning and stinging, vast stones lodged in between so that he could not swallow down.
He felt useless and helpless.
Like before. He had almost let her die, before.
He had sworn never to let it happen, ever again.
But he… he didn't know what to do. He did not know what to do. Everything, every spell, every single thing he knew… It was useless. Completely useless.
He could not help her.
He could not save her.
"No!" he shouted, grabbing a fistful of snow as he fell to his knees. "No! No! Hermione! No! Stop!" His vision became blurry, his throat still not letting him take steady breaths. "No! No! Let her go!" He could see her, her pained but expressionless face, her body being racked with the most raw and agonizing pain imaginable…
Harry's head was bowed, on his knees and the snow and cold wind blowing. He could hear her screaming… Her screaming… He could feel the sharp hint of tears, the pain of losing her… Another person he loved, another person he swore to protect.
He grasped the snow as he lowered his head, gasping. Her shrill and loud screams penetrated through him, stabbing his heart and strangling his throat. His mind and lungs were crumbling slowly.
His memories flashed through his mind, of her laughing, of her smile, of her deep, brown eyes… Of her inside his arms, dancing, dressed in her deep ruby dress robes and looking so beautiful…
Harry got up on his legs, shaking. He wiped his eyes hastily, flashing with anger. His chest felt tightly bound, chaining him down, but he stood and clenched his wand.
"Dimico!" he bellowed, as a strong and thick bright purple ray sparked out. "Dimico!" The shield swirled with colors and shimmered, as the spells' energies were sucked out and divided in the shield. Now it shone silver, like moonlight in the dark sky.
He saw, inside the transparent shield, Hermione's lifeless body. He did not know if his mind was telling him what to expect, playing it before his eyes, but the pain was too real. He felt his heart being torn from inside out, eaten with a jagged and toothed jaw, slashed and incised. He felt as if something, a beast of great burden, wickedness and evil, was devouring him from inside out, clawing at his organs and biting into his veins. His blood ran cold, his eyes wide and his body shaking tremendously.
Fear… Fear was a monster. But Harry did not know if that was the culprit for the pain. He was seeing her, right before his eyes, being killed and tortured until she was weak and dead. He was hearing her screams, feeling the tears and the hurt graze him.
He saw her dead and lifeless face.
It would haunt him forever, even if he was to die this very day.
Her screaming had disappeared as he looked up. Everything seemed to be silent and voiceless, as he watched what happened next. He could not even hear his own anguished screaming and yelling.
He watched Matthew, his evil lips mouthing a curse, the simple words for instant murder. Immediate death, with pain that was not ever describable in man's or Wizard's words. God himself could not have created such a thing.
It was the devil. It was dark, evil, purest evil and wickedness on the earth.
They say it was the devil's laughter, his only words.
It polluted and strangled the heart and mind, stabbing and eating the body whole. It played your darkest fears before your eyes. Pain could not describe the feeling.
"Avada Kedavra," he saw Matthew's lips say. He saw the flash of green light. He saw Hermione's face, etched with the deepest pain and terror, her eyes wide. Her mouth was open, screaming her last scream.
Harry had started on his feet again, his wand drawn, but he was too late.
He watched, as her shrieks and screams halted into a dead silence. Her body was limp on the snow-covered ground. There was no color, life drained from her whole body.
Her eyes were open, and large, but they were not the melting warm brown that he had gotten so used to, remembered and loved.
They were the blackest black. Bottomless and endless. The color surpassed midnight.
Her lips were parted, her whole face frozen in the expression of seeing Death before her.
He was too late.
She was dead.
He watched as Matthew smiled wickedly down at her, and then turned to Harry with a look of horrible pleasure and pride on his face. Harry's rage burned and flared up inside him, as he pointed his wand at him. The shield had dissolved, returning back to Matthew's wand. His green eyes flashed with a darkness and hatred that he finally felt break through him.
This was it.
He was finally ready to kill.
"Acerbitas Incendium!" he shouted. Dark sparks and jets flew out of Harry's wand all at once, and Matthew didn't have the time to counter.
The spell hit him, as he screamed shrilly, arching his back and sinking to his knees. Harry watched, with an evil smile playing across his lips, as midnight colored fire began to blaze from inside Matthew. He could feel his heart rejoice from hearing Matthew's screams and looks of pain from his face.
Suddenly, he heard laughter. Harry turned around immediately in the direction of the noise, surprise in his eyes as he saw Matthew standing before him, laughing. His wand was drawn, still laughing easily.
"You fool, Potter!" he shouted. "Do you really think you can kill me?"
"Acerbitas Incendium!" Harry shouted again, but Matthew disappeared and the spell hit a statue, sending a splintering and loud crack through the yard.
"Oh, Potter?" he heard Matthew say, in a taunting singsong voice. Harry turned, but before he realized what was happening, Matthew had disarmed him. Harry watched in horror and vehemence as his wand flew behind Matthew.
Harry clenched his fists, his face drawn with anger and hatred.
Matthew was grinning with malice written all over his pale face. His wand was pointed right at Harry, positioned to shoot at his heart.
"Let me tell you a story, Potter," Matthew smirked. "I'm sure you have questions, and it'd be such a shame if I let you die without answers."
"I don't need to hear anymore words from your filthy mouth and forked tongue," Harry hissed. Matthew raised an eyebrow, looking at him darkly.
`So you don't want to know why the bastard let me in Hogwarts? You don't want to know how I got away with being in the Order and a Death Eater? Surely you know a Death Eater cannot pass without the wretched coot knowing so." Harry stayed silent, his curiosity trying to dominate over his rage. Matthew's smile widened. "I thought so."
"My father was a Death Eater," Matthew said, as he circled Harry. Harry kept his eyes on him, following him as he moved. "He was part of the Order, but he was a Death Eater. He was a spy, spying on Lord Voldemort and spying for Dumbledore. That went on, until he was killed." Matthew's eyes glittered and dimmed at Harry, his smile fading. "The Order no longer had a spy on Voldemort and the Death Eaters, and they knew that they would be useless and weak if they did not have an eye on their activities, or their plans on killing Harry Potter." Matthew halted, glaring at Harry. "So they chose me. They chose me, the son of a Death Eater spy, to become a Death Eater as well. To keep track of all the Dark Lord's plans and killings. I was to go to their meetings and raids, and then report back and snitch their plans."
Harry stared at him, realization dawning inside.
Matthew started to circle around him again, his face twisted into a scowl. "But as they pushed me into those meetings, and trusted me to confide in them our activities and plans… They began to ignore me. All they wanted was the information, which I had. They did not see that I slowly became drawn into the Dark Lord's power and that I began to enjoy the killings… I murdered," Matthew hissed, "Mudbloods and Muggles. And I loved it, with every fiber of my being. I loved tearing their bodies apart internally and hearing them scream their poor little hearts out. I slowly became a true Death Eater, but pitiful old man and the others were too blind to notice."
Matthew halted again, peering at him with his eyes narrowed from hate and revulsion.
"And then you came. Bloody Harry Potter. The Hero. The one to save us all from Lord Voldemort," he said scornfully. "But then, I started to see how I could possibly gain from being on both sides," he grinned evilly. "I knew Voldemort was never a good enough Dark Lord. He was weak and he was too patient. He was blind at opportunities laid out right in front of him. I knew we deserved someone better, someone who could make both the Wizarding World and Non-Wizarding World fear him and cower. Someone," his eyes gleamed with wickedness, "like me. So I decided to overthrow him. He was not worthy to be our Dark Lord. I knew just how to do it without anyone suspecting a thing. I made a plan," he started to circle him once again. "A plan to help you kill him and a plan to kill you afterwards."
"But, fool that I was, " Matthew spat, "Voldemort began to have suspicions. He commanded one of my fellow Death Eaters to spy on me, and found out everything. I was to be killed, so I hid in the house. I told Dumbledore and he told me that my attendance would be too risky at the battle. So I got stuck," Matthew smiled, "with your little Mudblood girlfriend, Hermione Granger. I had to tend after the poor girl, since you left her behind." Harry winced inwardly, but kept his gaze unwavering and firm. "Little did I know that Voldemort knew I was in hiding, and where. But one day, whilst I had come with Dumbledore and his missions, the Death Eaters snatched me and led me back to the Dark Lord. He said that he was to kill me right at that moment, and would not hesitate, but he would spare me if I proved to him that my loyalty was, in fact, true. He knew that your little dirty-blooded girlfriend was also in the house, and he was to try and lure her out and use her to his advantage," Matthew halted. "Apparently, Molly trusted me well enough to let me know where the key was. I had heard Dumbledore's precise instructions to open the portal, and did it while she was busy making supper and chatting with the other members. I opened the portal and directed it straight to her, and he was free to talk and send her visions. But unfortunately and fortunately, his power was getting weaker as he was training and as his eye was on you, and instead of killing her or luring her out, his powers leaked, and somehow, he sent her a premonition of what was to happen." Matthew smiled. "He knew he was to be defeated long before, because he had no advantage. He knew that without an advantage, such as your little Mudblood whore, you would defeat him too easily, even if he had refused to believe it and buried it deep somewhere and covered it with determination and anticipation. He knew he was to be defeated. The contact he had with her failed, and he was forced but to go on to battle, with his reckless pride and stupidity," he spat viciously. "But he also knew that I would be here, to avenge his death and kill you." Matthew came closer with his wand, as Harry tried to back away.
"I don't give a bloody damn about Voldemort," he hissed. "I wanted him dead, and I'm not going to avenge his death just because his bloody foolishness and idiocy got in the way of victory. I'm going to kill you because you killed my father. I'm going to kill you," Matthew said lowly, "because I've been waiting my whole life to do so. And I'm tired of waiting," he said. His black eyes gleamed with dark hunger and impatience. "Crucio!"
Harry screamed as he was struck, immense and stinging pain racked his whole body. He felt as if his bones were being splintered, broken and crushed deep inside him, with bare hands. Shooting flashes and flares rocketed through his mind, making him shout in agony. He felt as if his skin was being shredded off, as if he was being skinned alive. His heart was hammering so fast and hard that he felt it was going to explode. Acid poured down his lungs, eating and eating him from inside out. He could feel a bitter liquid travel up his throat, as he fell down to his knees and spit out a red fluid. His body was shaking brutally, his lungs poisoned and crumbling rapidly. Icy fire crawled up inside his veins and stinging needles pierced through him.
His vision was dark, though his eyes were open and wide from the pain. He heard laughing beside his screams, Matthew's words chiming inside his head.
"Scream!" he shouted. "Scream! I want to hear you scream your until your little head explodes! No one can hear you now! No one's going to save you! You're going to die, just like your bloody parents and your little girlfriend! Scream, Potter! Make this worthwhile!"
Harry was pleading for Dumbledore or Remus to come and rescue him. He prayed for help. But then, a memory flashed before his eyes.
That white, ghostly, transparent dome that he and Hermione had seen cover the whole area before Matthew had stepped out… He recognized it. It was a sound shield. That's why no one was coming. That's why no one had come running out to help them.
No one could hear them.
No one could sense the play of dark magic and spells. The shield kept everything inside. They were in an isolated courtyard. They were far from the glass doors from where he had entered.
They were alone.
Harry gasped for air, his body shivering violently as he crumbled down on the snow. His lungs were burning, his heart pierced and torn apart. His bones were broken and ground inside him. His flesh was eaten and ripped with wicked and evil jaws. There was a shrill screaming as he realized that Matthew had stopped the curse. He looked up, his vision blurry, but he still saw the evil and pleased smile on Matthew's face as he looked down on him.
"Crucio!" Matthew shouted again, and more excruciating pain engulfed and tore Harry to shreds. He twisted and shook in the snow, shouting though his throat had been warped and disintegrated. The pain went on, as Matthew kept the curse, until Harry had realized he was no longer screaming.
He had stopped the curse, grinning down on him like a madman.
"Your life, Potter," he sneered, "ends now." He pointed his wand at Harry's forehead.
"Avada Kedavra!"
The words echoed in Harry's ears, his vision empty and vacant except for the bottomless black he imagined he would fall into.
But he did not see the flash of green light. He did not feel the worst pain he would feel until Death overcame. He did not see his worst fears and memories play before his eyes.
He heard a pounding, a throbbing. He felt as if he was underwater.
It was his heart. His heartbeats. He was still alive.
All his realization happened within mere seconds, though it seemed to take forever. He heard a trill and high screaming, as he saw something drop beside him. He squinted, his vision still blurred as it slowly reconstructed.
It was a wand.
Trying to ignore the pain and burning stings, he looked up and tried to get up on his feet. He managed to get on his knees, squinting up at the scene before him. What he saw sent shocks and surprise to sing inside of him.
The screaming. It was Matthew. Matthew was screaming.
Harry watched with wide eyes as Matthew shook and cried out before him. His body was flopping and thrusting onto the snow and air, his eyes wide with horror and raw pain.
Harry's head seemed to still be swimming in a sea of swirling and stirring water, as he watched Matthew scream and quake. He did not understand what and how this could have happened… Who else could've saved him?
Matthew's yells and shouts echoed through the freezing night, as he fell over into the snow. His body was immobile and motionless, his lips parted but silence was only to be met. His face was as pale as the snow, color absent in his features.
Harry looked down on his lifeless body, disbelieving.
What had just happened?
Just then, there was a figure standing just a few yards away from him. He looked up, and his heart started to over function, his conscience still indistinct, but it was yelling at him. He could not believe it. He could not believe it.
It was a girl. With curly deep brown hair, scarlet and torn silk robes.
She had the face of whom he had dreamt about all those long nights and loved far too much.
She had the face of the girl whom he thought he had lost.
There was a bellowing in his ears, as he squinted, trying to see if it was really her.
"Hermione?" he whispered. There was no answer, as she merely looked at him, frozen. She had a wand in her hand, her hand white and pale. Her hair was still dusted with snow and her face was still had the moisture and traces of her tears and agony.
But her eyes… Her eyes were black.
"Hermione?" he whispered again. He pressed his palms against the freezing snow, as he tried to get up on his feet. "Hermione? Is that you?" He couldn't still quite believe it.
No… Hermione was dead. She was hit with the Avada Kedavra curse. She couldn't possibly still be… alive.
Just then, the wand dropped from her hand and onto the pure, white snow. Harry felt his heart stop as she suddenly dropped to the ground.
"Hermione!" he shouted, as he ran over to her. He picked up her head and laid it on his lap, touching her forehead and face. "Hermione!" he said, his voice shaking from fear. "Hermione, please… Please, Hermione… Hermione!" he shouted again, cradling her face in his hands. Her eyes were closed, and her face was lifeless and so pale that it seemed there was no warmth running through her body at all. His breaths were rapid and hard, as he held her wrist and searched for a pulse.
She was cold.
So freezing cold that he felt that same stone being lodged into his throat, once again. He felt the sharp hint of tears return, as he held her head and face on his lap. His body was weak, and his limbs were heavy and pained, but he didn't care.
She was alive. She had to be.
She had saved him.
"No! Hermione!" he shouted, hearing it reverberate from the night. "Hermione! Come back! Come back to me! You're alive! You're still alive! I saw you!" he said, his voice breaking as his throat became rough and hoarse. "Hermione! Please! Please, please… Come back to me! I can't…" he gasped in air, as he leaned his head in, feeling his heart slowly crumble. "I can't lose you," he whispered, gasping. "I can't lose you… Please, not you too… No, Hermione! I love you… I love you so much, Hermione…"
Harry felt the frosty wind blow, as it combed through his untamed midnight hair and sliced through his lungs. He held her, pleading her to come back to him, just as she had before.
He had hope. He could not lose it now.
He raised his head slowly, as he felt an oncoming wind howl. He watched, his vision blurry, as the ghostly sound shield that Matthew had put up slowly dissolved into the night. He looked up at the sky, praying, begging. The moon was a thin silver smile, the stars non-existent tonight. He swallowed hard in his burning throat, as he looked down to her.
"Hermione…" he whispered, again. "Please, come back to me. I won't let you go, ever again. I won't let anything happen to you anymore."
Just then, something caught his eye. He looked closer.
It was her silver necklace. The pendant, the color of fresh, innocent blood sacrificed in a battle for glory and victory, seemed to be… swirling. Harry furrowed his eyebrows.
There was something in it. There was a substance… It appeared to be churning and stirring, wisps of something unknown to him swimming, deep inside…
Harry's eyes widened, as a memory flickered before his eyes.
Her amulet, her necklace… The pendant had been midnight. He remembered, the details vivid and precise.
Her pendant had been the color of dark corners and shadows that loomed…
And now it was crimson.