Awakening the Dragon
Chapter 13
Harry rubbed at his arms trying to get the circulation flowing in the cold mountain air that had replaced the warm autumn winds that had blanketed the Shi valley. His breath fogged as he trudged through the snow carrying firewood for the cabin that he and Hermione now shared. He fought the smile that threatened to bloom on his face as he remembered the few changes that the pair had had to make when living together without any kind of supervision. He still blushed at the memory of walking into the wash area that had been set up and finding Hermione in the Tub. He had been so tired from training with Grandfather Wu he'd barely reacted till Hermione started shouting at him to get out and even then he found himself simply standing there looking at her till it finally clicked in his fatigued brain she wasn't wearing any clothes.
Most of the friends they had made in the village had a good laugh at both their expense. It had taken Hermione a week to start talking to him again after that little mistake. Now a month later he found himself truly enjoying the feel of living with Hermione and the feeling it engendered in his soul that were more than he should have for just his friend. He shook his head ridding himself of his day dreams as he headed back to their cabin when he shivered, a feeling he had long hoped he wouldn't experience again anytime soon made his skin crawl. The timber fell from numb fingers as he clutched his head as the screams of his mother washed through his mind.
"No no no no no…" He struggled to focus, reinforcing his mental shields against the assault on his mind. He could see dark shapes flitting through the forest's edge and he cursed his foolishness at leaving his wand behind. He had grown complacent and careless believing himself safe here in the village. Slowly the Dementors started to float from the tree line between the homes of his friends and slowly drifted silently towards him. Suddenly in the background the shouts and cries started to rouse the villagers as homes started to burn and the sounds of magical curses being cast filled the air.
The Dementors drifted closer to Harry, their decaying hands reaching for him when suddenly the air was rent with a keening cry and a sword blade, it's edge burning blue in the cold air sliced through the hooded cloak setting it ablaze.
"Harry!" Yoshi shook the young wizard till the glazed expression on his face faded and Harry's focus returned and he took in the scenes of the village. All around him he watched as black robed Wizards fought with the Shi warriors and lost having no idea how to handle being attacked by Ki charged weapons and magical powers they had never encountered before. He could see Hermione and Noriko perched on the roof of one of the homes, bows drawn, blue tinged arrows streaking through the air striking and burning the flesh of the Dementors, who shrieked and turned against whoever was nearest. While the Shi had the ability to defend themselves against the soul eaters, very few of the Death Eaters were able to cast successful Patronus and fell prey to the same monsters they had sought to unleash on the village.
Harry found his hand wrapping around the hilt of a Katana and he nodded in thanks as he finally joined the fray. His sword edge gleamed as it arced through the air leaving death eaters and Dementors lying bleeding in the snow or fleeing for their lives.
Finally he stood gasping for breath his sword clutched in his hands his knuckles white as his breath heaved in and out of his lungs, fogging in the crisp wintery air as cheers went up in the camp. They had won.
"Well, well little Potter seems to have learned some more trick while he's been away."
He felt himself stiffen as the voice of the woman he desperately wanted to kill issued from behind him. Slowly he turned and he stared at Bellatrix Lestrange in pure unbridled fury.
"The dark lord will reward me greatly for destroying you, you foul little half blood." She raised her wand, a cruel smirk on her lips as she watched Harry raise his sword and with a casual flick of her wand she used the disarming jinx causing the sword to flip through the air, hilt aimed towards her out stretched hand.
Harry snarled almost in anger as he felt the sword shoot from his grip and in a moment of desperation and anger he gestured at the sword casting a banishing charm upon it. He watched as it rocketed across the distance between himself and Lestrange. She stared as the sword spun the hilt no longer pointed at her hand instead the wickedly sharp looking blade arced towards her faster than she could react.
She blinked and she stared down in horror at the hilt of the sword blade that was buried through her chest. She tried to speak but her throat didn't seem to work as no words issued from her mouth. Instead she sank to her knees in the snow blood staining the fresh whiteness crimson, as she lay there, her vision dimming she saw Potter standing above her. His gaze dark and foreboding and he reached down, his hand wrapping around the hilt of the sword and with a grunt he yanked it free. If Bellatrix had the strength she would have screamed, instead she died alone on the snow dusting the village grounds.
Harry stood there unblinking before the sword fell from his fingers the knowledge he had killed her slowly sinking into his mind and he balked, his hand covered his mouth as he struggled not to throw up. The cries of the injured and dying filled the village air as he staggered backwards, his eyes wide in horror.
"Harry?" Hermione walked slowly towards him, like someone trying not to spook a wild animal, her hand raised reaching for him. "Harry's it's ok."
Harry stared at her horrified watching the tears well in her eyes and he shuddered pain wracking him as he felt the loss of his godfather even more strongly, there was no satisfaction or pride in having killed Sirius's murderer. He lurched forward as he grabbed a hold of Hermione, clinging to her like a drowning victim clutching a life preserver as he tried to survive the storm raging in his soul.
Hermione felt his tears against her exposed skin and she felt her own trickling down her cheeks as he wailed like an injured animal as years of pent up pain and rage spilled out of him. She had no words, no knowledge from books to help her with this so she simply held him running her fingers through his hair whisper soothing words to him, letting him know she would never leave him.
Slowly he pulled away from her, his eyes bloodshot, his cheeks muddy with tear streaks and he stared down at her, emerald green meeting chocolate brown. He wasn't sure how long her stood there, moments, hours, he didn't care anymore, he knew what he wanted. He cupped her face in his hands and before she could say anything he kissed her.
TBC…
AN: Sorry it's been so long, but combined writers block and real life have conspired against me recently preventing me from getting things done. I suppose I should thank JKR for her book and her interview…it made me determined to get my stories complete.
Waves his Delusional Battle Flag
Yours truly
The Delusional and stupid KaiLunMau