DISCLAIMER : I OWN NOTHING BUT THE PLOT!
Hello readers………well here is chapter 25. I wanted to thank all of those who had wished me good luck on my mid-terms and such! I did great, thank God! Ahh, but the stress that built up was murder. I felt horrible! So that is part reason to why this is late. Also, we had a tornado warning and such a few days ago, and since then my Internet has been acting weird, so I wasn't able to get on the Net. So that is another reason. But im on now, fixed the Net, and finally finished this chapter. I really do hope you like this chapter… I enjoyed writing it!
To my fellow reviewers.........
--- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR REVIEWS GUYS!!!
Now on with the story...
XXXXXXXXXX
Chapter Twenty-Five : Is the End Near?
XXX
"What are you doing here, Lucius? Shouldn't you be saving your little magic tricks for your master?" sneered Sirius. Lucius allowed his cold icy eyes to settle maliciously upon Sirius as the coldest sneer washed over his face.
"I believe the question that needs to be asked, is what are you doing here? No matter… that is what I'm here to take care of." He said. "Men, Assemble!"
Suddenly, an exceptionally large legion of men marched up behind the former king of Slytherin.
Sirius paled at the amount of reinforcements the Dark side had hidden. They didn't have half of the men that Lucius now summoned.
'What are we to do now?'
xxx
The Castle was dark, and the pulsating energy that filled its halls grew as the small trio drew closer to the large Stone-carved doors ahead. Serenity could feel as the mingling of auras seeped through the thick doors, and she could feel the heavy clashing between them. Good vs. Evil.
James stood a few steps forward and to her right, as he cautiously made his way through the deserted Castle. Li stood beside Serenity, ready to defend against any enemy from behind.
"Strange," James whispered to himself, yet loud enough for the other two to hear. "Why would they leave the Castle unprotected or unguarded? What is going on?"
Li nodded, having pondered that himself.
"Yes, but there were men here moments ago, I sensed them." Li said. James turned his head for a moment to look at Li, before turning back to inspect. "They have suddenly left the Castle though; there is nobody here. I cannot sense a single being outside of the Hall."
James ran this through his head. Yes, it as odd and very unlike Voldemort to keep himself unguarded. All James could conclude was that, whatever is going on is going on without the Dark Lord's knowing.
"Serenity!" James heard Li hiss. James snapped back into reality as he watched Serenity pass him quickly. "Where are you going?"
"I sense them," she whispered back. "They are in there," she said as she pointed to the large doors before them. She continued to run down the long corridor as the other two men called her back. Li and James just sighed as they followed after her.
xxx
"So, Headmaster, what exactly are we doing here?" Cho asked as she stood before Dumbledore. Dumbledore smiled down upon her.
"You and I, my dear, are going to attempt to destroy this locket here," he said as he removed the velvet pouch from his waistband. Cho watched him as he gently removed the golden chain from within, dropping it down onto the newly conjured pedestal between them. Cho stared at the locket as it glinted in the small light of the fire Dumbledore had conjured while Dumbledore busied himself with reaching for his wand once more.
Cho sighed. 'What a long day it has been!' she thought with weariness as she went over the events of the last few week. 'If only I wasn't so as foolish to have listened to a liar such as Marietta!'
Dumbledore smiled as he called Cho's name, reeling her back from her memories she was currently consumed in. Cho smiled, apologized, and readied herself to begin.
"So, Professor," she started. "How are we going to destroy this thing again?" Her voice held a sense of dread and uncertainty as she looked up at the Headmaster with wary eyes. Dumbledore smile grew softer, more solemn, as he looked at her in all seriousness.
"I shall reveal that to you in due time, but first we must prepare." Dumbledore told her. She nodded. "But first I must warn you, what we are about to perform is old, dangerous magic. It will be difficult and energy consuming. Pain may ensue and I truly must tell you, I do not know what the outcome of this will be, but this is our responsibility. Harry is depending on us to."
Cho froze for a moment. Harry. Swallowing back the knot that had formed within her throat, she nodded to Dumbledore and pulled out her wand, ready and willing to do whatever she could.
Dumbledore sighed, nodding to her before beginning to start.
"Forgive me for this, Milady," he said as he raised his wand in the air. Without muttering a single word, Dumbledore swiftly dropped his arm, pointing the tip of his wand mere millimeters from the locket.
xxx
Immediately, a bright light engulfed the two figures, and Ginny had to slam her palms against her ear as an earsplitting shriek was heard coming from the locket upon the pedestal before her former Headmaster. Pressing the right side of her body against the jagged wall of the cave, she cringed as she slumped against it.
'What the bloody Hell is that?' she thought as she tried opening her eyes. The sound was so loud and so full of pain that she felt a cold jolt deep within her soul, as if something horribly evil were tearing at her very self. Her body felt immobile as she tried her best to force out the horrible images that were forming within her head. Tears streamed silently down her cheeks as she continued to press her palms against her ears while her eyes remained tightly clenched.
She allowed her back to slump against the wall of the cave, but hissed as a rough point cut her lower back. Dropping to one knee, Ginny finally exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding as the tearing screech finally subsided. Almost as suddenly as it had begun, the shriek stopped, as if it had been sucked back into the locket. Sighing, Ginny reached a hand to press her fingers against the wound upon her lower back as she rose to her feet. She winced at the jolt of pain that shot through her at the slightest touch of her wound. She immediately pulled her fingers back, and gasped softly at the vision of blood upon her fingers.
Deciding that wasn't the most important item to dedicate her attentions to, she turned back to peer at Dumbledore and Cho from the shadows. She watched as Cho also rose to her feet, her hands still clamped against her ears. Dumbledore apologized as she rose, her eyes red and her body shaky.
"What happened?" Ginny heard her ask. "What was that horrid sound? And those images? What sort of monster commits such crimes?"
"A monster such as Lord Voldemort, my dear Lady Cho." Dumbledore said in a grave voice. "What you heard was just a taste of the evil and torturous crimes in which he has committed over the years of his reign."
Ginny had expected Cho to have reacted differently, although she wasn't sure how she had expected the Ravenclaw to have reacted, she certainly didn't expect for her to be so … pulled together. Ginny had always seen the Lady to have been more of the crying prissy girly types, the type Ginny has always steered away from. But now, Ginny was shocked as she watched Cho straighten her robes, dry her delicate face, and box her shoulders, ready to complete her task.
At that moment, Ginny felt a small bud of respect form within her for the Ravenclaw courtier. Cho was shining in a totally different light now, in Ginny's perspective, and continued to watch with interest, as the two readied to carry on with whatever it was they were up to. Ginny was sure it wasn't time to show herself yet, but decided to watch for a bit longer.
'I just pray there aren't any more wails anytime soon.'
xxx
Sweat beaded along Sirius's brow as he watched the army of Death Eaters assemble behind Lucius Malfoy. Never had he seen such a horde of Death Eaters, and he had been an Auror quite a long time, since he was 15 years of age, having to have trained to be an Auror early due to the extremity of the war. Now he stood, with no more than a couple hundred men, while he stood against the enemy of a couple thousand men. 'What are we going to do?'
He listened as Amos argued with his son, Cedric, persuading him to turn back and leave the field.
"You mean run away?" Cedric said in an incredulous tone. "Run from battle, is that what you are asking me? Absolutely not father! That's cowardice!" Amos sighed exasperatedly.
"Ced, please, this is no place for the future King of Hufflepuff! You may be killed out here! Please, go back … stay safe for me, son." Cedric still eyed his father with unbelieving eyes.
"If this is no place for a future King of Hufflepuff then what is father?" Cedric wasn't really waiting for an answer, but paused slightly anyhow for effect. "Why did you bring me out here in the first place then?"
"Because the battle wasn't as heavy! But the odds are completely against our favor now! You must go back, Cedric. Go!" Cedric did nothing but shake his head in defiance.
"I am sorry father, but I cannot just run from battle. We need all the men we have out here, and I won't abandon them!" Sirius was almost positive all of the color drained out of the Hufflepuff King's face as his son told him this, but before he could respond, Sirius broke up the argument.
"Enough!" he said as he arranged the incoming men into position. Amos and Cedric turned to him and he went up to stand between. "This isn't the time to quarrel; there is plenty of that awaiting us in battle." Sirius told them. Amos made to argue but Sirius stopped it. "Listen Amos, Cedric is right, we need all the men we can manage. Cedric is a talented wizard, with amazing aim and precision, I'm sure he can take care of himself, but I cannot go between your decision for him, so please, make your choice now; we don't have any time."
Amos nodded solemnly and turned to Cedric. He eyed him up and down, and looked regretful as he placed a fatherly hand upon his shoulder.
"Alright son, I cannot stop you. You belong out here just as we all do," he said. Cedric smiled and nodded.
"I will not let you down father," he replied. Amos smiled warmly.
"I know you won't." he told his son. "Make me proud."
Cedric turned to ready himself for battle alongside his father while Sirius belted out commands and arranged them for attack.
The odds were against them; their only hope now was to keep the Death Eaters at bay. James and Harry were still within the Castle, perhaps if Sirius could keep the Death Eaters occupied, he could help to buy them some more time.
With that, and a lengthy prep speech from Sirius, the battle began. Definitely tilted to favor the Dark side, the scales were uneven. Only a few hundred defended the Light side as thousands of black cloaks littered the hilly field before the string of mountains. Sirius only hoped that fate wouldn't turn out to be as cruel as the odds had presented.
xxx
A cloaked figure watched with interest as the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry stood chanting and such before a pedestal with the Ravenclaw courtier.
His ears were still ringing from that unearthly sound moments ago, and his eye sight blotchy as he readjusted to the gloom of the cave. The previous blinding light had left him almost sightless for a few moments, but now as his sight was slightly improving, his eyes burned with an intensity that was painful.
He could barely make out the muffled chanting and watched with curiosity as Dumbledore continued on with his spells.
The spells and incantations had been strange and peculiar, and it seemed that Dumbledore was loosing strength fast. 'Perfect.'
He could hear the ruckus outside, and knew he didn't have much time. The field battle between the Light and Dark had begun again just as they had said. There wasn't time to waist.
The shadowed figure crouched as he made his way deeper within the cave…
xxx
As the battle between the Light and Dark began, it had escalated to something Sirius had never imagined. Aggression levels were high, and the extremities of the attacks were extraordinary.
But the one thing that caught Sirius's attention right away was the disappearance Lucius and a few of his right-hand men. Sirius continued to fight, while still keeping an eye out for Lucius, yet never found him.
Finally, after about a half an hour, Ron came running up to Sirius, his face bloody and his robes torn.
"Sirius!" he called. Sirius turned around as Ron came bounding up out of breath and pale.
"Yes? Heavens, what is it?" Ron took a moment to catch his breath, before ducking an attack sent from an opponent, and then finally standing before him once more, as he helped battle at the same time.
"Sirius, have you see Ginny?" Ron asked. By the look of Sirius's puzzlement, Ron sighed and ran a shaky hand through his hair.
"Why? Ron what is going on? Where is Ginny?"
Ron stood there in a state of shock for a moment. He totally ignored the whizzing silver jet of light that flashed past his ear.
"I was hoping you could tell me that!" he said in worry. Sirius shook his head, shock and disbelief written all over his face. 'That child, never listens!'
Immediately after that, Ron snapped back and suddenly spun around, ready to find Ginny. Sirius sighed, caught between wanting to help, and needing to remain with the men. He knew he wouldn't be able to leave, for if he did, the men would not be as encouraged to continue fighting. Instead he summoned Remus to follow Ron, and to make sure all was alright. Remus immediately agreed and took off in Ron's direction.
xxx
"Professor!" Cho cried as she made to steady the Headmaster. She caught him around the middle before he had a chance to hit the rocky ground beneath them. She had no idea how much energy and magic was required to destroy such an object., but finally.. he'd done it.
In addition, he had burned his entire left arm up to his elbow, and the smell of burnt flesh wafted lazily within the cave. Dumbledore nearly passed out as he fell, and suddenly a figure came bolting around the corner. The flaming red hair was unmistakable and Cho watched as she knelt beside Dumbledore as Cho made to set him upon the floor softly.
Dumbledore turned and smiled kindly, yet exhaustedly, at the red-head.
"Finally decided to grace us with your presence, eh Lady Ginny?" Ginny seemed taken a back for a moment. 'He knew all along?' "Yes Ginny. I knew you were there the entire time."
Ginny's look of shock elicited a weak chuckle from her former Headmaster, before he winced, his body aching from all of the energy exuded. Ginny bent forward to help lift him when suddenly a noise was heard from behind. Ginny quickly spun, still crouching, on her heels as she and Cho looked up, startled. Ginny immediately gasped and reached for her wand, before the figure pointed his wand directly at her chest, ordering her not to move a muscle.
Before them stood a black cloaked figure, whose hood was pulled low over his forehead. His wand pointed steadily at the trio as he ordered them to drop their wands. He was tall and lean, but Ginny would have never guessed as to who it was until he reached up to pull the hood of his cloak down.
"Draco Malfoy!" she exclaimed. Draco only smirked as he continued to point his wand down at them. Dumbledore made to move, but his body was far too weak, and he eventually stopped at the request of Cho and Ginny.
"Do you truly plan on destroying me, Draco?" Dumbledore asked calmly as his body leaned against the grimy wall of the cave. Draco scowled as he inched closer, his icy blue eyes boring into the three before him.
"If I wanted you dead, I would have done it already," he said maliciously. Dumbledore nodded as Draco turned to the two girls beside him. "You two, pull out your wands, and toss them to the side. Now!"
Ginny and Cho replied, having no other choice. They both tossed their wands to the sides of them as Draco requested. He immediately summoned the three wands, including Dumbledore's, to him and gripped them tightly in his other hand.
"You two," he said to Ginny and Cho. "Move aside."
At first, Ginny refused as well as Cho, as they moved their bodies to protect Dumbledore more. He told them again to move, and again Ginny refused.
Draco stared Ginny down for a while, and she stared back just as defiantly as ever, allowing her stubborn side to show itself. Her eyes were alight with determination and anger, as well as fear. Draco smirked.
"This one's a willful one," he commented. Ginny sneered. "Move."
"No."
Draco now dropped his smirk as he pointed his wand directly at Ginny. Ginny would have stuck with her stubborn streak had it not been for Dumbledore at that moment.
"Ginny, step aside." Ginny turned to him, her eyes wide and disbelieving.
"But Professor," she made to argue. Dumbledore only gave her a strict look.
"Do as you are told, Ginny. No arguing." Ginny nodded reluctantly and moved her body to the side, as well as Cho. Draco sneered as his wand pointed itself back to Dumbledore.
"Foolish old man, you have no idea what awaits you," he said coldly. Dumbledore said nothing as he smiled weakly up at his captor.
"You don't really want to do this, Draco. Why are you doing this?" he asked. This question seemed to irritate Draco, for he moved his face to form a look of hatred and disgust.
"You have no idea what I want." Draco replied. "You are the one who has been getting in the way of the Dark Lord's plans and wishes. I want nothing more than to see you suffer at his hands."
"Oh but you really don't mean that," he said softly. "I know you, you are not a killer."
"You have no idea what I am capable of!" he spat as his anger rose.
"Oh but I do." Dumbledore said softly, his body pale and weak as ever. "Let us talk about this, Draco, you deserve better than this. You are not a murderer."
Ginny watched as something in Draco's face changed. Pure hatred and anger no longer resided upon his fine features, but it seemed instead like he was suffering from a battle, an emotional battle, deep within himself. His face contorted from anger to confusion, hatred to fear. His eyes still pointed in Dumbledore's direction, but Ginny could tell he was no longer seeing the Professor before him. His eyes were far away, and his hand began to tremble ever so slightly.
Then he spoke.
"I… I have to do this," he said in a whisper, more to himself than to anyone else. "I have to do this, or… or he'll kill me!" His voice trembled softly and Dumbledore nodded.
"I can help you there, my dear boy," he said just as softly. "I can protect you, hide you if need be. You will be safe if you only choose the path towards the light. No happy future can be secure in darkness, trust me Draco. I know your heart is not truly in this."
Draco's eyes suddenly flashed, and refocused upon Dumbledore as he stood there, silent. He stared down at Dumbledore for a long time, his wand trembling slightly, as he took in deep ragged breaths. Ginny was almost sure Draco was going to take Dumbledore's offer when suddenly loud booming voices sounded just outside the cave.
xxx
Ron ran as fast as he could, as his cloak behind him billowed dramatically. Remus was just beside him, as they continued through the now deserted camp. Moans and groans were heard from the many Death Eaters lying injured upon the ground that had been left. Ron and Remus ignored them for the time being as they ran in search of Ginny.
Ron could feel as sweat beaded along his hairline. It was bad enough that he and his twin brothers were caught smack in the middle of this bloody mess, and his brother Bill was back in Gryffindor, torn and almost near death, but now Ginny had to run off as well. Ron's anger was so intense; he could literally feel his blood coursing through his veins.
This would kill his mother had she found out!
Remus sensed his anger and decided that it was best to calm him down.
"Ron," he started as they ran through the camp, searching for Ginny.
"What?" he asked, annoyed and angry. Remus sighed
"Ron you must calm down." Remus said. "Going off and blowing up on Ginny isn't going to be a very effective way to get to her." Ron knew he was right, but couldn't help feel angry at the foolishness his sister was exuding.
"You have no idea the damage this will do to my family is she is in any way hurt, Remus!" he said. "Sirius and I specifically told her to say within the safety of the shield!"
"Yes, yes I know that," came Remus's reply.
Ron and Remus continued to check the camp, when suddenly something caught Ron's attention. He turned to his left, and squinted as three cloaked figures stood outside of a darkened mouth of a cave imbedded within the side of a jagged mountain. Ron couldn't make out their faces, but suddenly felt a dark sense of foreboding wash over him as he watched them enter the cave.
"Remus!" he called. Remus turned around and froze. The sight of one of them had caused Remus to stop in his tracks. "What do you suppose they are doing?"
"I don't know, but something tells me that its important." Ron agreed and suddenly took off, running towards the mouth of the cave. Remus ran up behind him, gripping his wand tightly within his palm.
xxx
Draco's slacken hand suddenly tensed, as he pointed his wand directly at the Professor once more. Dumbledore sighed, and leaned back against the wall of the cave, as one might in a comfy chair, content at the arrival of a long awaited guest. Draco's moment of vulnerability seemed to wash away as his face hardened once more, although Ginny could tell he was just as nervous and frightened of these newcomers as she herself was. Sweat formed along his forehead as he stood with his back to the entrance of the cavern.
Finally the voices seemed mere feet away, and suddenly three cloaked figures shown in the entrance, the light of the conjured fire flicking devilish shadows upon them.
"Draco?" came the deep voice of one of the cloaked Death Eaters. "I'm impressed. You seemed to manage to have Dumbledore cornered and defenseless? Bravo," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Draco's body tensed more than possible now, and anger and hatred once again filled his icy blue eyes, yet this time they were not directed towards Dumbledore.
"Lucius?" came Dumbledore's soft voice. No surprise laced his voice, nor did disgust. The man he had addressed then pulled his hood down, revealing the same icy blue eyes and platinum blonde hair as Draco. Lucius sneered.
"Pleased to see me, are you Dumbledore?"
"No, I cannot say that I am." Lucius chuckled evilly as he took a step forward. As he did this, so did the one beside him. The third stayed a step behind, but advanced as well. He was a large man, quite tall and his robes seemed slightly smaller than he could fit.
Dumbledore only smiled as they approached. They stood a bit to the right of Draco and watched him with amusement as he stood there, his arm outstretched, and his wand pointing towards Dumbledore.
"Go ahead, Draco, finish him." Lucius told him. Draco paused for a moment, and Ginny could see the difficulty in his decision. Lucius also saw this hesitancy and scoffed. "Go on Draco. I said, finish him!"
Draco still paused. The other two Death Eaters beside Lucius looked between the two, wondering what was going to happen. Ginny looked over at Cho who was hidden slightly from her view, behind the pedestal, and could plainly see the fear and worry etched onto her delicate features.
Ginny couldn't say that she too wasn't frightened and worried. She had now gotten herself into deep trouble, and wasn't exactly sure as to how to get herself out of it. The worst part was that Dumbledore was left so weak, and she had never seen him so vulnerable.
She watched as Draco gripped his wand tightly within his hands as he pointed its tip directly at the Professor's chest. She truly felt as if her heart had stalled, waiting to beat, until the outcome.
Then Lucius sneered in disgust.
"I should have known you wouldn't be able to handle it," he said coldly. "You're too weak. A failure. The Dark Lord should have rid us of your incompetence while he had the chance."
Ginny was shocked. She'd never heard a man speak such way towards his son. Draco, she could tell, was truly hurt by this, as his hand trembled.
"Pathetic." Lucius said. "Do it, or I'll do it myself…. Do it!"
Suddenly, the next events all happened so fast. Draco made to curse Dumbledore as he drew a breath to speak. Lucius had a smug smirk painted across his lips as he observed h is son's actions. Then, in an instant, as Draco was about to direct the attack towards the Headmaster, Draco spun on his heels, shooting a blue curse directly towards his father.
The look upon Lucius's face was of total surprise as he flew back at the intensity of the attack. As he flew back, he barreled into the two behind him. It seemed, what ever curse he sent towards the Head Death Eater was quite the stunning charm as it knocked the man out.
Draco then quickly turned to Ginny.
"Quickly, get him and get out of here, both of you!" Ginny froze. 'What? He's letting… us go?' She didn't have a chance to ponder on this longer as a curse suddenly went whizzing past Draco's left elbow. He then turned to them. "This isn't your battle, you shouldn't be here. Now, Leave!"
Immediately, Ginny ran over to Dumbledore, after catching the three wands that Draco tossed to her. She and Cho helped Dumbledore to his feet as best they could when suddenly a miniature battle went off between the two other Death Eater's and Draco. The three of them attacked and dodged the different curses as Ginny, Dumbledore and Cho crouched against the cavern wall.
Just then the tall, tight robed man turned his attention to Ginny and the other two and sneered horribly. He raised his wand as Ginny raised her eyebrows.
Suddenly, Ginny saw nothing but orange light shoot towards her and feared the end. Suddenly, as she expected to be hit square in the chest, she instead felt… nothing. Opening her eyes, she gasped as suddenly she was staring directly into the scarlet robes of Gryffindor. Bright red hair topped the head of her defender, and Ginny immediately exhaled a grateful sigh. Ron.
Ron stood before her; a shield of protection conjured to redirect the curse that was sent her way. She moved to say her thank you's when he sent her an angry look over his shoulder. Suddenly she backed down, a feeling of guilt filling her gut as she realized just how reckless she had behaved.
Remus, too, was now within the cavern as he battled the very Death Eater that had sent the attack towards them. Ron began to usher the three out of the cavern, aiding Dumbledore in standing up as he made for the exit. They were lucky as made their way out, yet Remus was still inside. Ron wanted to re-enter, but Ginny held him back.
"No!" she cried. "It is too dangerous!" Ron only sent her a cold look.
"He went in there for you, Ginny, the least I can do is return the favor!" and with that he went back in.
Sounds were heard, including screams, whizzing curses, and the banging of bodies against the walls. Ginny was worrying more than ever now, as she tended to Dumbledore, but finally after about ten minutes Ron came limping out with a staggering Remus behind him. Remus seemed injured, yet nothing too serious, much to Ginny's relief, yet Ron himself was quite banged up.
Ron limped, and his arm was bleeding freely as he and Remus ran out of the cavern. Ron dropped to his knee as he struggled to catch his breath just as they exited, and Ginny ran up to him.
"Ron! You're hurt!" she cried. Ron tired to act as if it were nothing, yet the pain within him evident upon his features. His face was drained and pale, and the bleeding arm was serious, not to mention the other wounds he sported. Ginny immediately ripped the sleeve of his robe off as she inspected the wound. Immediately she gasped at the sheer size of the gash, yet also at the depth of it as well. Ron cringed at the sudden harsh movements as she pulled the sleeve off of him. Ripping a long strip of material from her skirt, she tightly wrapped it around his wound to help ease the bleeding.
She looked pleadingly into his eyes as she silently apologized. Ron stared a long time at her in silence, his face unmoving and emotionless. Finally he smiled softly, nodding in acceptance. Ginny smiled, tears forming in her eyes for one reason or another, and embraced him tightly. Finally, she released him as Remus called out to them.
Remus was now supporting a weak Dumbledore against him with the aid of Cho as they began to set off in the opposite direction. Ginny helped Ron up and the two followed.
As they retreated, Ginny stole a quick glance behind her and could still see as multi-colored lights shone from within the cave. She wondered just how exactly the young former Prince of Slytherin was doing.
xxx
Harry struggled against Voldemort's grip as his spindly fingers contracted around his neck. It was getting hard to breath now, but Harry was positive this was not the way Voldemort was planning on ridding himself of the Gryffindorian Prince.
Voldemort's ways were much more … colorful. His primary method was to torture the enemy until the very last ounce of life is wrenched painfully from the body. Lucky ones were hit by the Avada Kedevra curse. Those who found themselves face to face with a playful Voldemort, or perhaps with an exceptionally angry Voldemort, suffered the most inhumane and most disgusting forms of torture known to wizard and man.
Truthfully, Harry didn't want to have to face any of that, but what was really bothering him, was not his predicament, but rather his wife's. He knew it would kill Hermione to have to witness such a thing. He couldn't allow her to witness such a horrid thing, nor would he allow Voldemort to torture her in such a way either.
It was then Harry realized one thing… his wand. Averting his eyes, Harry watched as it lay motionless upon the emerald colored stone in the center of the hall. Voldemort was now speaking to him in low snake-like whispers, but Harry failed to hear them, for the lack of air to his brain and the coursing pain in his bones and muscles were fogging up his thoughts. The only things Harry truly saw was the dark smooth wood of his wand, and the painful vision of his wife, tortured and bloody.
He continued to eye his wand as he felt his body being pressed harder against the wall. Voldemort was almost growling at this point, and pain suddenly wracked his body as Voldemort muttered a curse under his breath.
"Crucio!"
Oh how Harry hated that curse! He clenched his teeth tightly together to keep him from crying out and squeezed his eyes tight. His head banged into the stone behind him, increasing the pain. His head was splitting in pain, and his body felt as if every bone he owned had been broken repeatedly. He gasped and bared his teeth, and shot his eyes towards Voldemort's. Shining green bet blazing red as they both stared the other down.
Voldemort certainly didn't appreciate this, yet smirked evilly at his boldness. Harry on the other hand, may have kept his eyes glued to those of his enemy's, yet not once did he see what he was looking at. Instead, his whole mind was bent upon one object; his wand.
That was the key to getting out of this predicament. He needed his wand. Harry made sure he kept his mind focused solely upon the slender wood as made to bid it over to him. Both his hands clutched at the wrist of Voldemort as he continued to squeeze, but then Harry dropped a hand to his side, outstretching his fingers slightly as he willed his wand to come to him.
The harder he focused, the louder a familiar voice began to play within the depths of his mind. Serenity's voice.
"Now concentrate," the voice seemed to say. "Clear your head, Harry."
Harry closed his eyes in attempts clear all thoughts from his mind, and when he opened them, his eyes widened as he suddenly found himself no longer within the large stony hall of Slytherin Castle, but within an elaborate training hall.
This training hall was no ordinary hall, for it was completely without walls. Large, intricately carved, pearly-white stone columns surrounded a large rectangled marble flooring. Above, the same pearly-white stone formed a vine-like dome. Vines of deep blood red and burgundy roses wrapped themselves up the columns and weaved in and out of the dome up above. Roses hung down from the dome to create a whimsical atmosphere, as the fragrance of the flowers filled the warm air.
To add to the scenery, the outdoor training hall sat upon a daring precipice in the side of a magnificent mountain. Stone steps carved into the mountain side lead both northward as well as southward, no doubt leading to the city or some sort of civilization belonging to the hall.
A cascading waterfall fell adjacent to the cliff in which the hall was set upon, dropping gracefully down into a crystalline pool below. The air was crisp and cool, and the sun shown down upon them lazily. Harry found himself standing within feet of the center of the hall; his wand lying mere feet from him upon the center. A centered emblem was carved into the marble beneath his feat, and seemed vaguely familiar to him.
As he stood there before his wand, he suddenly heard a voice speak to him. Raising his eyes, his gaze then fell upon an elegant figure before him. Serenity.
Serenity stood in a flowing royal purple robe hugging her curves; her hair was pulled into a half-ponytail, intricately weaved and curled to form a mimicking style of vine-like work of the dome above. The rest of her hair fell down her back in gentle, wavy ringlets. She had light make-up on, and her amethyst eyes shone in the sunlight.
"Concentrate only on the task at hand, Harry," she said in her soft voice. She was smiling softly as she stared at Harry, her eyes gently locking with his. Harry nodded and inhaled deeply.
As he dropped his gaze down to the wooden wand before him, and cleared all thought from his head, as he tired to concentrate his power into on e center point. At first the result was nothing. The wand refused to move an inch.
"Relax, that is the key, you now this." Serenity said. "Now concentrate on the wand. Focus all thought on trying to will the wand to you. Like the spell 'Accio', you want to take control of your magic to summon an object to your palm."
Once again, Harry did as he was told, and tried to grasp his magic as best he could, yet still nothing. Five more attempts and still, the wand lay motionless upon the floor. Harry turned puzzled to Serenity.
"I did as you asked. I concentrated, I relaxed," he said. "What more must I do? What am I doing wrong? I cleared my thoughts!"
"But you didn't," came her reply. "Not completely." Harry's puzzlement reflected upon his face, and Serenity softened her gaze. "There is a blocking. Your magic is being restrained, Harry. You must let go."
Harry sighed. Restrained? Let go? What was Serenity talking about? Then Serenity's voice filled his ears once more.
"Close your eyes Harry." Harry did as he was told, and exhaled a breath of frustration as he tried to calm himself. "Don't think. Just let your thoughts take control." Serenity said. Harry obeyed and relaxed his body as he allowed his mind to take over. "Now, what do you see?"
"I see," he started. "I see stone. A stone snake, and red eyes." He could sense Serenity nodding and took that as a sign to continue. "Also, I see … pain. No I feel pain. Fear. Uncertainty. I see a figure. Tattered dress skirts." Harry went on like this, continuing to describe all that his mind was doing.
"Ok, now use those emotions and images. What do you think your mind is saying? What is it telling you?" Harry remained quiet for a moment. He didn't quite understand what she was asking.
"It tells me," he paused. "I need to help. I need to help her," he said. Serenity smiled.
"And what are you going to do about it?" she questioned. "You are caught, backed to the wall. How can you help?"
"With the use of my wand," he replied. Serenity quirked an amused eyebrow at this.
"And how are you to do that? It is far out of your reach." Serenity said.
"By summoning it," he said, as if it were the most obvious thing. She let out a ribbon of gently giggles.
"You can hardly make it quiver! How are you going to summon it?"
Harry didn't say anything at that moment. He just squeezed his eyes shut tighter, spreading his legs apart a bit to strengthen his stance as he flexed his fingers. Reaching out once more, he attempted to summon the wand to him.
At first, it didn't budge. Serenity watched with eyes alight as he did this. Again he tired, as he focused his magic to gather at the palm of his hand.
"Concentrate Harry." Serenity said softly. "Remember your goal. You need to help. She needs your help." Serenity's voice was soft and almost as a whisper. It seemed to flow and pass through him, and he could feel a difference within himself. His magic seemed to feel more… flexible, more abstract.
"Remember, form your magic to extend out to the wand. Then pull it back," continued Serenity. "Keep your goal in mind. You need to help her. You need to save her."
Harry did as he was told, and after a few moments, he could feel as his power swirled about himself, and he focused hard to gather it and form it into what he knew was needed to summon the wand. A few more tries, and he began to feel as his magic would extend out, moving according to his will, and suddenly Harry understood. It all clicked, and he knew exactly what it was he was to do to summon his wand.
Continuing to chant the images and emotions he saw and felt within his head, he moved his magic to carry out what he willed it to do.
'Pain, Fear, Uncertainty, A figure, Tattered dress skirts. Pain, Fear, Uncertainty, A figure, Tattered dress skirt. Pain, Fear, A figure, Pain, Tattered skirts, Pain, Fear, A figure, Tattered skirts.'
This went on as he took control, until finally his chanting began to speed itself up, and within the depths of his mind, the chanting was reaching a deafening crescendo. He could feel as his magic circled around the base of his wand, and he could sense as it was lifted off of the marble flooring. Suddenly flashes of chocolate eyes and golden hair flashed through his mind. Creamy skin and rosy cheeks, books and the smell of ink and the ocean.
'Pain, Fear, A figure, Tattered skirts…..HERMIONE!'
Suddenly his eyes flew open as the sleek handle of his wand made contact with his palm. Before he was even aware of his actions, Harry felt as he pressed the tip of his wand into a figure's side. No words left his lips as raw emotions coursed through his veins, and a sudden blast emitted from the tip of his wand.
It wasn't until then that Harry had truly taken notice to the change in surroundings. No longer was he in the fragrant haven of Serenity's training hall, but was in truth back within the gray stone hall of Slytherin Castle. For a moment he could make out Hermione's stunned face, before the hall filled with a blinding white light once again. The last image he remembered before the blast was a pair of wide blood-red eyes as his attack exploded from the tip of his wand.
A blinding light filled the hall. The walls shook under the intense amount of energy and power that radiated off of the attack, and suddenly….
BANG!!
A large explosion destroyed the stone hall in which had been the Prince's battlefield as the white light spread itself over the vast expanse of the Castle Grounds. Like Voldemort's aura, as the white light expanded, it reached its limit before hurling back towards the tip of Harry's wand.
Hermione quickly averted her eyes just as the light expanded, and everything at that moment went black until she found herself thrown back at enormous speed. The walls of the hall were destroyed completely, and Hermione felt as her body made a sickening connection with the edge of the stone floor and a small portion of a column that remained partially protruding out of the stone base.
Her back smacked into the base painfully, but her memory wouldn't recall this detail, nor the pain later on, as at that moment and a few minutes after were totally obscure to the princess. At that moment, all she would remember was that all went black.
XXX
Hey there! Ya know, I noticed a few chapters back, that I hadn't had a part for Snape in this at all!! I may have mentioned him, earlier on, as a Professor, but honestly totally forgot about him. Heh, I guess my favorite bad guys were the Malfoys and Voldemort. Well, I apologize to those who were expecting to see him with a more substantial role.
Until next time…
SM131