AUTHORS NOTE: Yes I'm still alive! I'll just say I partly blame JK for my delay in writing, she's definitely killed a part of that burning passion I had for the Harry/Hermione relationship and as much as I pretend that book 6 never happened, it's still there somewhere in my mind… the other part of my delay had much to do with me just not being able to construct this chapter in a way I wanted to.. It's been written, re-written and scrapped so many times… It still looked much better in my head then it does here on "paper" but… here it is and as I promised I haven't given up on writing this fic (nor the sequel, I'd have to say I've done more thinking about my sequel then anything else in the last long while so that doesn't help ha ha) a BIG special thanx to my friend Justin who totally pushed me back into writing this fic =o)
CHAPTER 30
Harry licked the surface of his cracked lips, tasting blood from an open cut somewhere in the middle. He stood just before the very structure that had changed his life forever; it had pulled him away from the rotten lifestyle he was leading under the Dursley's roof, he had so many great friends, a loyal best friend, an incredible girlfriend, he learned the truth about his parents, and was blessed with the gift of magic. Of course, everything wasn't a positive change; Harry was forced to live the life of a fugitive. He was a marked man with the most powerful and evil wizard hot on his tail since the day he set foot through those doors. It had been worth it, he had been lucky, escaping each encounter with minor physical injuries, and sometimes he fancied the idea of being that fugitive forever; until now.
If he got out of this battle alive, he was ready to end this cat and mouse game once and for all; he was ready to take his chances and see which name destiny had embedded as victorious.
He turned from the castle scanning the grounds for any trace of his friends, his only guide being certain characteristics that stood out among the sea of Hogwarts uniforms.
"HERMIIIOOONNNEEE" He called desperately at the top of his voice, wishing with everything he had to hear her say `Over here Harry'
"Over here mate!"
It wasn't Hermione, but he found himself filled with relief anyway.
"Ron!"
He ran toward a generous sized mob, stumbling a few times on the uneven gravel path.
"What are you all," He began asking out of breath before his gaze fell on the eight legged beast still aflame but stunned and held in its immobile position by almost repetitive incantations.
"He's dangerous; we had to do something about it, he kept trampling anything in his path,"
"And set Kingsley on fire." Luna added. Even among the madness she managed to look dazed and unusually calm. "Where's Hermione?"
"She's… I don't know."
"You mean, you haven't seen her since,"
"No, I left her in the hospital wing before it all happened."
"Hospital wing?"
"Long story and we really don't have time for it."
"Seen Gin?"
"Yeah,"
"Is she,"
"She was fine when I last saw her; you know I couldn't stop her Ron, when she sets her,"
"mind to something she doesn't give up… I know." Ron finished averting his eyes from Harry's to have a good look at his nearly deteriorated shoes.
"She'll be alright Ron, she's a fighter."
"That's what I'm afraid of." He finished sadly.
"Luna, you said Kingsley was here?" Harry questioned with a slight frown.
"Yeah, he's on Death Eater cleanup I think."
"Are all the Aurors here then?"
"Yes, but they just arrived a while ago, some fled when they saw the battle, some are… well, you know."
Harry gave a grave nod of understanding, but was glad that there were experienced wizards among the students, yet angered by the cowards and by Dumbledore's continuous delay.
Listen, take Luna, find Ginny and whomever else you can find, and get the hell out of here!"
"Harry,"
"No Ron!" He grabbed Ron by the shoulders and shook him rather firmly. "Go…"
Screaming…
It came from all around them as Aragog broke free from his captive state. With one movement of two of his enormous legs he crushed half a dozen innocent people, their motionless forms set ablaze from the spiders burning body, filling the air with an unbearable stench.
"Run, follow Ron and Luna, they'll take you to safety!" Harry shouted over the shrieks of fear.
"Harry I… I just want to say,"
"No goodbye's Ron, I'm coming back, we're coming back."
"Where do I,"
"The Burrow, your mum'll know what to do." He gave Ron a shove towards Ginny's general direction.
He watched for a moment as Ron broke into a run with a trail of people relying on him and Luna to take them to safety. He wished to make sure they all got out safely but he now had a very urgent matter to attend to.
Harry carefully aimed a stunning spell at the spider's underside hoping that it would be a place of weakness, unfortunately, one wizard would not be enough to hold Aragog in place, and all other spells would likely prove useless against the strong beast.
He wondered how he could possibly defeat Voldemort if he couldn't even stand a chance against a blazing giant spider; he pushed the thought from his head, he mustn't think about that, he needed to find Hermione, bring her to the Burrow where she could be safe; just like he had promised.
Luckily for Harry the problem of Aragog seemed to solve itself; the spider screeched a horrendous cry of death and flipped on its back rattling the ground where Harry stood. Its legs curled inwards towards its body and crumpled to a heap of ash.
*
Hermione made her way through short and long corridors and down a series of familiar stairs just a pace of two behind the demon. She couldn't help but gawk at the portraits on either side of her; the witches and wizards within were panicking, some had completely disappeared from their portraits.
"My master has great interest in someone like you." He said without looking back at her.
"And why is that?" She questioned with a slight smirk finding the remark quite humorous.
"You possess a great deal of self discipline and an acute intelligence apparently."
"Apparently?"
"Yes, I have yet to make my own judgment about you."
"Fair enough." She said tugging at the tie around her neck which seemed to strangle her slightly. "Did you defeat those other demons?"
"No, we're not easily killed Mistress…I did however, banish them back to the underworld with pentacle amulets my master supplied me in case of danger. They cannot be summoned for at least another three million years."
"Three million years!"
"A very short period of time for us demons."
"AHA, A deed for a noble knight as it comes across mine path, a young maiden is in need of my protection, stand aside demon, let her free or the tip of mine sword will find its place within your darkened heart!"
The demon refused to break his stride for the knight on the fat pony.
"What are you doing here Sir Cadogan?" Hermione asked annoyed while the knight continued to keep his pace near the demon by entering the abandoned portraits.
"All these mangy cur's fled the fight, not I! I alone stand fight against these intruders that break my home and endanger the lives of young maidens…I warn you once more demon, mine sword is silver, stand aside and let me take this fair lady to safety!"
"Be your sword silver knight, you're nothing but a portrait, save your voice for I intend only to help the girl." Orias finally answered, hoping without a doubt, to silence Sir Cadogan.
"Demon, you expect someone of my intelligence to be fooled by your witless con, on guard you scurvy knave!" The knight made a stumbled dismount from his portly pony following his words of threat and pointed his sword towards Orias.
"Oh shut up will you!" Hermione said acidly while making a slight advance towards the knights current chosen portrait.
"The lady speaks such fowl words, never in my day!" Sir Cadogan fanned himself dramatically. "I leave you both, and never shall you receive good deeds from this noble knight!"
Hermione shook her head and lengthened her stride to get as far away from Sir Cadogan as quickly as possible.
She spotted the demon waiting for her before the landing where the revolving staircase would normally meet the floor.
"Don't worry, the staircases change every so often, we just have to wait a few minutes and we should be able to get to the floor just below." She said matter-of-factly before reaching the demons side.
"Unfortunately, you're mistaken Mistress, there are no stairs to move." Orias answered slowly.
"What do you," She paused right at the edge where the staircase would normally meet the landing and peered below.
No longer were there any moving staircases besides a few leading to the first few floors. The sound of an empty echo drifted through the castle and all that was seen was a tremendous fall to the first floor where rubble and dust covered the entrance hall.
"Great… this is just bloody perfect!"
"This is what you were hoping for Mistress?" Orias questioned widening his sapphire eyes in surprise.
She almost laughed at the look on the demons face; remembering the mess they were currently in managed to quickly fade the little humor she managed to find.
"I was being sarcastic Orias."
"I'm not sure I understand Mistress."
Hermione shook her head, "Oh never mind."
"So absolutely no way you can even glide us down there?"
"Not unless you're capable of withstanding the impact equivalent to a rock's strength Mistress."
"Can you glide alone?"
"It's quite possible."
"Then you should go ahead, you've already done enough for me and I can't thank you enough."
"I have my orders."
"Look, forget orders, you have the right to be a free creature, make your own choices,"
"Danger approaches."
"What exactly do you," But at that moment she heard it; an earth shattering pounding coming from somewhere above that seemed to move closer and closer. With each thundering thump followed what seemed like a tsunami of bricks, dust, cement and marble that edged dangerously close.
Instinctively she pushed the demon as far away from the nearest blow to the ceiling as possible.
*
Harry watched in frozen horror as Grawp punctured the school's roof with his fists like a pencil through paper. The Giant seemed to have had enough pent up anger from chasing Norbert back and forth across the castle roof and had settled on aggressively swatting the dragon in an effort of crushing him once and for all. The dragon moved swiftly from corner to corner scuttling from danger with little effort and blowing fire with every chance that was available; in turn stray blasts of flame began several small fires accompanying the massive damage.
He couldn't think straight anymore, he felt just about ready to give up, scream to the heavens to take him already and free the people from their suffering; where was he even to begin bringing order and conducting his search?
As though in answer to his internal anxieties, the Giant made one last mighty effort to crush its victim into the school's roof; Norbert was running out of room to successfully escape each strike of the Giants fist and used his powerful wings of flight to take off into the night sky.
Though the dragon was now effectively out of the Giants reach, Grawp continued to swat the air; jumping and grunting in frustration as Norbert hovered just above his thick burnt sausage fingers.
Norbert let out a piercing screech; Harry once again heard the rattle of chains.
"No Grawp, DON'T!"
"Hagger home, protect Hagger home." Grawp grunted in response to Harry's frantic orders.
And before Harry could mutter another word, the Giant yanked at the chains linked to Norbert's tawny feet and started spinning the dragon.
At first the spins were slow and with each trip around the Giants head Norbert had let out another screech of intense distaste.
"Alright Grawp, you let him have it, now bring him over here and tie him down will you?" Harry haggled as he cautiously approached the Giant.
"Grawp have fun, Grawp protect Hagger home."
As the dragon began to spin faster and faster the metal cuffs around Norbert's feet loosened and before anyone knew what had happened, Grawp was left with a pair of empty cuffs spinning around his head.
Norbert's body crashed to the roof, slid across what was left of the surface, burst through towers, and nestled in the clutch of the Whomping Willow.
He turned his head; he couldn't watch the already limp dragon's agony.
"Harry!"
His head jerked back so frantically that his neck cracked in response to his abrupt movement; his eyes scanned back and forth from the direction he had heard the call. And then he saw her, dangling from a ledge where the Giant made several punctures to the structure of the castle.
"Hold on Hermione!"
"Hurry!"
His mind felt heavy as though thinking was too much for him to handle, his thoughts were clouded and the only things that seemed to float to the surface was a plan he wasn't quite satisfied with; it didn't matter, he had little time, he had to act with what he had.
"Accio Firebolt!"
"Harry…I can't… hold on much… longer."
He couldn't answer he needed to focus.
She let out a yelp as one of her hands lost grip with the ledge; Harry's heart jumped to his throat, then he caught sight of his broom racing towards him at top speed.
Hastily mounting his broom, his ears rung; he barely even heard Hermione's scream as she began to plummet to the ground.
Harry pushed himself flat against the Firebolt and pushed it faster then he had ever dared to fly it. Slicing through the air he finally came into contact with a body, at that moment he had forgotten the strength of speed and she tore right through his short lived grip.
He cursed and flattened himself to the broom once again and plummeted down after her; she was falling much faster then the speed at which he was able to travel.
"Come on, come on, faster, faster…"
He inched closer and closer towards her, so close that her flapping robes tickled his face; she stretched her fingers out towards his outstretched arm but she was still out of reach.
"Fuck, come on!"
Then his fingers touched hers, then he was able to lock his hand with hers, then his arm curled around her torso and pulled her as close to him as possible.
She was breathing heavily and clung to his arm desperately; he tried to pull up but only managed to begin to slow the broom's plunge.
Harry tried again, with all his strength, but again the action only slowed their decent.
"Terracoxium!"
They hit the ground, Harry felt him broom snap somewhere beneath him; their landing had been a soft one.
"Pillows?" Hermione asked blowing a white feather from her face.
"Why what would you have done?" He asked still out of breath yet with some frustration.
She only turned her head in his direction and gave him a look that seemed to say `I'm grateful for what you did, so I won't criticize"
Harry got to his feet with much effort; the fall though cushioned had still been quite painful, thankfully nothing seemed broken. He helped Hermione to her feet. She nestled her face into what was left of his shirt, a tear trailed down her cheek; he couldn't tell if it was of joy or sadness, perhaps both.
"We have to find Ron… and Luna… and Ginny… and,"
"Shh, they should be at The Burrow." He answered holding her closer.
"Orias…"
"What?"
"I have to find Orias, he saved me, he,"
"Wait, what?... who's Orias?"
"He's a… a demon actually."
Harry frowned heavily, he definitely didn't know much about demons but they didn't sound like they could be creatures that were trustworthy.
"His wings were punctured when he was fighting a group of other demons."
"Sound's like he's quite capable of helping himself."
"It doesn't matter Harry, he helped me."
"How do you know he wasn't helping himself, or his master for that matter?"
She didn't answer, but continued to look displeased.
"Come on Hermione, it isn't safe here, we have to get out, before Voldemort shows up."
"That's right; he's not here is he?" She asked more to herself then to Harry. "Strange don't you think?"
"He's mad, nothing he does anymore is logical."
"He's definitely mad, but what would be the point of doing all this and not being a part of it, especially knowing you'd be here, and Dumbledore's not…"
"Harry, Hermione!"
It was Lupin; he half ran half limped his way to them both and embraced them both so tightly Harry couldn't take a breath until Lupin had let go of him.
"I'm sorry, Molly wouldn't let me go, everyone kept holding me back, I had to escape to get over here and help…"
"It's okay, we're alright." Hermione answered gently.
"Dumbledore he's- Muggles- their cities, they don't have magic he,"
All these young people needed him; he, Harry needed him… and then he understood his anger, he wasn't angry that Dumbledore was helping people, their homes, their communities, he was angry because he had begun to rely too heavily on the protection of his previous Headmaster; that perhaps this time it had been Harry's turn to protect Dumbledore's students… how he had failed.
"Harry…"
He felt her hand gently press against his shoulder blade.
"Is there anyone left to help Remus?" Harry questioned feeling slightly awkward for calling Lupin by his first name; yet somehow it seemed to fit, for Harry was now older, not by age but by experience.
"No Harry, let's get to the Burrow, you both need rest and medical attention, there's many who are helping out around here."
"Professor, we want to be a part of this, there's still students that may need our help." Hermione persisted.
Lupin shook his head in disagreement.
They felt like children then, being told that they cannot have that certain toy in the department store. He lead them both away from the castle and to an old tire that without a doubt served as a portkey.
Harry glanced back at the grounds one more time where he could see witches and wizards approach the mass of immobile body's scattering the field of death; few seemed to have any movement and if they did they were definitely badly injured.
"Lupin, help find my friend Orias, he's a demon, has punctured wings, he helped me… he saved my life." Hermione inquired quietly to Remus, perhaps hoping Harry wasn't listening.
Remus gave a curt nod in reply and motioned for the couple to take the portkey.
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