Chapter 8
Harry vs. Sirius
Harry solemnly entered the chamber of the Death Arch. Waiting for him in the center was Fangoram. Harry cautiously entered the circular area in the center of the room. Both dead men stood face to face only a few feet separating them. Both combatants stood still, each attempting to stare the other down. Fangoram held his rifle at his side, and Harry held his Cerberus guns also at his sides. Without warning Harry and Fangoram drew their guns and simultaneously fired. Harry was sent flying back due to the force of the shot. Fangoram likewise was sent flying. His hat came flying off and Harry stared into the face of the man who killed Dumbledore.
"Sirius?"
Fangoram gave no indication that he had heard Harry. He merely grunted as he stood back up and aimed his rifle at Harry once more. Harry gazed at Fangoram in shock. The face was definitely that of his late godfather Sirius Black, but his eyes were different. They gave no sign of life, and held only a blank soulless gaze.
"Now I know I'm crazy. I haven't slept or eaten for days. No wonder I'm seeing shit." Harry stated aiming his guns at Fangoram.
"Make no mistake about it Harry." Called a voice from the top stairs balcony. Harry quickly looked up and saw Ron looking down on him with an evil grin across his face. "It really is Sirius Harry. Sherry's first project for the Order was to study the Death Arch. Shortly after Voldemort's fall she made a breakthrough and was able to pull Sirius's corpse from the veil. He was the first test subject for the necrolization project. As a result of all her experimenting his mind had to wiped clean. Dumbledore was the final field test, and Fangoram passed it with flying colors."
"You bastard Ron." Harry spat.
"Temper, temper Harry. You should really focus on Fangoram. I can assure you he's quite the handful." Ron commented.
"I'm going to kill you Ron, even if I have to ride to hell to do it." Harry promised.
Ron laughed coldly and left the room leaving Harry with Fangoram. In a flash both men had their guns blazing as bullets tore thru the air around them. Harry managed to hit Fangoram a few times. Any victory that may have come from that was short lived as Fangoram shook off the shots and answered back with a few if his own. Harry's enchanted clothing was all that kept the explosive rounds fired from the rifle from blowing him to pieces.
Harry ran and slid on his back feet first firing at Fangoram, who ran and ducked behind a pillar for cover. Fangoram fired several rounds from his cover blasting away at Harry's protection. Harry leapt from behind his shield and came around the side of the room gaining a clear shot past the pillar that Fangoram was behind. Fangoram quickly brought his rifle up and used it as a shield to block the shots. He retaliated and fired a shot that hit Harry directly in the chest sending him flying back. Harry spit some blood from his mouth and raised his guns once more. He couldn't stop now; he had come too far.
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Snape stood in the truck staring at the figure now seated the chair hooked to several machines. If his past sins hadn't condemned him to hell, then digging up a young girls' body to bring her back from the dead to fight a war would definitely earn him his ticket. Oh well, no sense stopping now.
"I must apologize in advance. I had time to properly prepare Potter's body for the necrolization process. Unfortunately, we are a bit pressed for time at the moment. Please forgive me." Snape finished quietly. He flipped a switch and several machines around the chair hummed to life. For a moment the body was still. Then a piercing scream rang out.
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Harry cursed as he dove behind a pillar for cover. The fight had been waging on for hours now. As it had continued on it became evident that the two were evenly matched. As such Harry was now sporting several wounds that were so severe that his enhanced healing abilities were having a hard time keeping up. Also, for the first time since he was brought back from the dead Harry was starting to feel tired.
Suddenly a stone fell to the ground and Harry sprang back into action. Fangoram ducked two shots fired by Harry and responded with one of his own. Harry sidestepped the shot and fired again only to hear his gun click as it ran empty. Thinking fast Harry flicked his gun forward and ejected the clip sending it flying into Fangoram's face. Fangoram staggered for an instant before he recovered and shot Harry in the chest. Harry was sent flying back. His guns went sprawling across the floor. Harry groaned and rolled out of the way of several more shots that were fired at him. He reached out and picked up the coffin from where he had dropped it earlier and armed the rocket launcher. He fired at Fangoram as soon as he had a shot. Fangoram fell to his back just before the rocket reached him and kicked it into the air. The explosion caused several pieces of the ceiling to come crashing down.
Harry rushed forward and swung the coffin sideways at Fangoram. A resounding boom echoed thru the chamber as the blow was caught by Fangoram's rifle. Both fighters' stepped closer to each other and traded blows with their weapons. Harry blocked a strike from Fangoram's rifle and returned one if his own. Fangoram leapt away from Harry's next blow and swung his rifle around. Harry brought the coffin up and blocked the attack. His boots squealed as the force of the blow pushed him back across the floor. Harry leapt into the air and brought the coffin in a downward arc. Fangoram blocked it, the cement beneath his feet cracking and leaving a small crater in the floor.
Harry dropped the coffin and ran forward. Ducking beneath an attack from Fangoram he lashed out with his fist. Fangoram growled angrily and dropped his rifle. Another swing from Harry stuck him in the gut and was followed by an uppercut that put Fangoram on his back.
"You may look like Sirius, but when push comes to shove, you're just a pale imitation." Harry snarled.
Fangoram roared in anger and leapt from the floor. His fist landed squarely on Harry's temple, knocking off his hat and shattering his glasses. Harry staggered back, when he looked up his hair fell back and his eyes were no longer covered. Where his left eye had once been was now covered in a terrible scar left from the curse that Ron had used to kill him. Fangoram took another swing at Harry that connected. Harry's head snapped back from the blow. Harry brought his arm up blocking Fangoram's next attack. Harry struck him in the gut twice and head butted him. As Fangoram fell back dazed, Harry ran forward trying to tackle Fangoram. Unfortunately, Fangoram caught Harry in mid-air and slammed him into the ground cracking the tile floor.
Harry tried to stand, but his body was screaming for him to stop. His vision was blurred and he was exhausted. Harry once more tried to push himself off the ground, but was stopped as Fangoram kicked Harry in the chest knocking him back down. Fangoram sat on Harry's chest and grabbed Harry's head with both hands and began to squeeze. Harry cried out in pain as he felt his head being crushed. Everything began to go dark; Harry felt his life slipping away for the second time.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!!!! Screamed a female voice from the other end of the chamber.
Both Harry and Fangoram looked up to see Hermione Granger standing at the end of the chamber holding Fangoram's rifle. She was wearing knee high boots, a denim skirt, a white blouse, and a leather vest. Fangoram's eyes widened in shock just before Hermione opened fire. Round after round impacted on his body causing him to stagger back with each one. Finally, an explosive round found its mark in Fangoram's forehead completely destroying his upper body. Hermione unceremoniously dropped the rifle to the floor, and ran to Harry's side. Gently she cradled his head in her lap.
"Hermione?" Harry asked unsurely. Hermione smiled warmly and nodded.
"It's me love." She said softly. "Snape brought me back. He thought you could use a little help." Harry sat up and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I thought I'd never see you again." Harry whispered. Hermione held on to Harry when she noticed something in his shirt pocket.
"Harry what are you doing smoking?" Hermione asked in a dangerous voice.
"Oh… uh… damn how did those get there?" Harry answered nervously.
"We're going to discuss this later." Hermione responded angrily.
"Yes dear." Harry answered quietly.
"Well isn't that cute." Came the voice of Sherri Weasley as she stepped into the room. "Back together for two minutes and your already back to acting like an old married couple."
"Harry get your gear and go take care of Ron. I have a score to settle with this tramp." Hermione said icily. Harry nodded after a moment and gathered up his guns and the coffin.
"You sure you don't want me to stay here and help you deal with her?" Harry asked.
"No sweat love. Just promise me you'll come back." Hermione said staring into Harry's eyes. Harry smiled reassuringly at Hermione and placed his cowboy hat on her head.
"I'll be back for this." He whispered to her. Hermione watched as he left the room and headed for Ron's office.
"Are you ready to finish this Herms?" Sherrie asked mocking Hermione with the nickname Ron had used for her.
"Oh honey I thought you'd never ask." Hermione and Sherri charged each and drew their fists back preparing to strike.
Next: Final Chapter:
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