Chapter 9: A Ghost Among Us
September 22nd
A dark night had swept across the dense forest where Harry found himself. It was pouring rain and mud was everywhere - slick and unappealing. Harry was sitting on a large rock; his hood was drawn over his head and he was huddled under his robes for warmth, staring intently out into the darkness. He cradled his staff close to his chest and Worthwhile was gathered under his robes. He was calm and even, but also anxious. He had used a spell to protect himself from getting wet, but the immense rainfall gave way to hostile feelings concerning the new fight.
Harry, Beauregard, and Worthwhile had used the information they possessed along with anything else they could find to locate a possible resting place for one of Voldemort's horcruxes - a forest deep in the heart of Albania. The small dwelling where Voldemort had holed up for many years was possibly nearby; Beauregard was investigating while Harry waited.
While they had been searching for the horcrux, they had also been researching the abilities of Helga Hufflepuff's cup that Riddle had taken from Madame Hepzibah - as well as other possible ancient relics Voldemort might have come to possess in order to use as horcrux containers. In that time, Harry and Beauregard had come to know each other and trust each other, each growing warmer to each others' talents and abilities as well as their disdain for Lord Voldemort.
As Harry waited calmly in the midst of the growing storm, the bushes off to the left gave a stir and he watched as an enormous black panther emerged, striding ever closer to Harry. The cat walked straight up to Harry and stood along side where Harry sat. After a few moments, the giant feline began to shimmer and in moments, the weather-beaten Beauregard had taken the animal's stead in a quick transformation, his round-rimmed hat shining from the wet of the downpour.
"It doesn't look good, Harry," Beauregard said, putting his golden panther trinket in his pocket. "The house is there just like I predicted, but its defenses are insurmountable."
"Tell me," Harry said, looking into the forest calmly.
"I was able to slip by the shield that blocks out trespass from all unwanted witches and wizards, seeing as that I can transform. However, there are at least twelve Death Eaters nearby and who knows how many more paroling the local forest. I know a few of them - they are very powerful magicians."
"What else?"
"I was able to get a glimpse of the inside for a scant few moments. They occupy all three rooms in the small brick house - most of them are near the fire. I saw no sign of extra guard in any one particular room, nor was there concentration in any one area surrounding the place. It's almost like a camp. I have no idea where the cup might be located."
"If the house is as small as you say, it might be harder than expected to get in unnoticed, but it should be doable." Harry said calmly. "I will just need to have a little patience. I will go with Worthwhile. You keep watch. It would be impossible for both of us to be under the Invisibility Cloak safely, especially when you would need to be transformed when we need to pass the barrier Voldemort set up."
"How will you pass it? You're not an animagus, are you?"
"I won't need anything to get by Voldemort's little trick. However, I will need complete quiet and a little luck to get in unnoticed."
Beauregard's large chin clamped when he heard Harry's bold agenda. His sharp eyes stood in contrast to the weakness in his demeanor.
"Harry, promise me something," he said more gruffly than he ever had before.
Harry turned his head to Beauregard.
"Promise me you will forgive me in the end for all I have done. I was a fool and I do want to make things right."
"Ramses, let me tell you something. I have faced many enemies in my short lifetime. I have been hated, trampled on, made fun of, and basically been chopped to pieces, but I am here standing for one reason: I have the courage to face up to the adversity in my life and become better because of it. I take my mistakes and use them to better myself. I don't let anyone tell me anymore that I could never live up to the hype, because I set my own standards."
Harry looked once more out into the darkness. He pulled out his Invisibility Cloak and wrapped it around his shoulders.
"You are facing your demons and that is a bold choice - something I will come to admire you for. We all make decisions, but the ones you will be judged for are the ones that you personally made in light of what truly mattered most. As for me, you stand reconciled today. Do you have the talisman?"
Beauregard reached into one of his chest pockets and pulled out a small metal object, tossing it to Harry. It was silver and round, like a hefty Muggle coin and it had a blue metal bar on top, making it look like a badge of sorts.
"I will be back as soon as possible. Keep an eye out." Harry pulled his cloak over his body completely and walked into the growth towards Voldemort's previous domicile. The storm was no nearer to letting up than before, but it provided even better cover than Harry could have hoped for in that it made all noise Harry produced null.
It didn't take very long to spot the smoke against the black, rainy sky and Harry found himself peaking behind bushes, looking at a small brick house no bigger than a Diagon Alley shop. Four Death Eaters stood watch near the corners of the house and encircling the hideout on the ground was a faint blue line, which Harry knew was the barrier.
Harry smiled in spite of himself and walked quietly in the rain towards the front door. He passed the barrier of magic with no problems and was soon against the house looking in through the window nearest the door.
"It would appear Slytherin's magic has not failed you," Worthwhile hissed, sliding up Harry's body under his robes and pulling even with his face, looking through the same window.
"Yes. The feeling that ritual gave me was enough to convince me no magic would ever be able to detect me," Harry whispered. "I was confident in that."
"Now, how do we get in?"
"I figure we have to just wait until one of Voldemort's henchmen comes in or out and slip in while the door's open. I've had practice."
"Mm, yes," Worthwhile whispered drably. "From what you've told me about your past, that was a good outing that first time around on the Hogwarts Express."
Harry frowned and glanced sideways before looking inside. Four Death Eaters were sitting on small couches surrounding a blazing fireplace. Harry couldn't see many of the faces. He could spot the squat Amycus and Alecto but the others were a mystery. The living area the main group of Death Eaters was in led into a small kitchen area to the right and another room to the left, where Harry presumed others were occupying. The house was entirely brick and bare of any decorations and, except for the couches and a pile of firewood, it was completely empty.
There was a rustling behind him and he turned. A drenched wizard was walking towards the door. This is it. The man opened the door and as he was wiping his feet, Harry pointed his staff towards the woods and cast a small, deceptive charm.
"What was that?" the Death Eater said, turning and pulling out his wand, looking warily in the direction the sound came from.
As he walked carefully towards where the charm had been sent, Harry walked discreetly through the open door and sidestepped to the window he had been looking through. Out of the rain, he could see Voldemort's henchmen more clearly. On the farthest sofa was none other than Draco Malfoy, looking sullen and small compared to the intimidating people surrounding him. He had sunken eyes and his face was extremely pale. He must not have gotten very much sleep in the past year.
As Harry was observing the four Death Eaters who were sitting in front of the fire, a wall separating two of the rooms on the right suddenly disappeared and a man came up from a stairwell leading down under the house. Harry smiled, thinking it was just too easy. The Death Eater was a large man with droopy eyes, red hair, and a worried expression on his face. He walked over to the sofas and sat down with the others.
"So, what do you think?" he said.
"About what?" replied another. This one had jet black hair that fell over one of his eyes and a scar down the middle of the left side of his face.
"About what we were talking about before I went down to check on the cup."
"Oh c'mon how should I know?"
"Look, we've all heard the rumors. I'm not gonna pretend they ain't there."
"I don't even know why you bother discussing it," Alecto spoke up angrily. "Even if the rumors about Harry Potter were true, there is nothing to worry about! The Dark Lord has protected this place beyond his abilities."
"I don't know. Some have said he died and became some kind of vindictive ghost!"
"Yeah, I've heard the stories," the scarred Death Eater said quietly. "He keeps popping up everywhere. The Dark Lord, it would appear, can't make headway of what he might be doing, if he is alive."
"Aw get off it, Scarface," said Amycus. "He probably got scared and ran away."
"Potter doesn't run away from anything," Malfoy said quietly, looking into the fire, a sneer on his face for the first time. "It's the reason he's a constant annoyance to everyone, even the Dark Lord."
"You know, Malfoy," Alecto sat up and started aggressively. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you're afraid of Potter... either that or you're with him!"
Malfoy stood up in anger.
"I am a servant of the Dark Lord, as my father is! Was it not I who brought Dumbledore to his knees?" he shouted rather unconvincingly.
"Perhaps," she sat back again, looking slightly appeased. "The way you talk about Potter, though, makes me think I should be worried about him. Perhaps dear daddy will have something to say about it, hm?"
"When my father arrives," Draco sneered. "He will know I succeeded when I was not even supposed to. Don't think I didn't know I was never given much of a chance."
"Well, if you've been hearing talk, then you will know some think you aren't loyal to the Dark Lord. You would do well to watch your back Draco." Alecto sat back and smiled viciously. Harry's mind was spinning. Lucius Malfoy had escaped.
"Enough you two!" the red-headed wizard interrupted. "This is no place for fighting... or worrying. Severus says Potter has no talent whatsoever, so why should we believe the rumors?"
"No," Scarface said. "None of you were even Death Eaters the night the Dark Lord fell. We all knew it was the Potters that did it. They were driving him mad... all he talked about was destroying everything they held dear, but he couldn't find them, thanks to that Mudblood lover, Dumbledore. Finally, Wormtail came to him and gave up their location. He was the Potters' secret-keeper. It was a lucky break, because we all assumed Sirius Black would be the one they chose."
"I despise Wormtail. He's a loathsome little coward," Amycus said haughtily.
"Yes, but he gave the Potters to the Dark Lord, so only he has a say in what happens to the rat."
"It doesn't make sense, though. Why did the Dark Lord go after the Potters? Sure, they were a threat, but they couldn't have been much compared to Dumbledore, could they?"
"That's only half of it. There was a prophecy made that one who would be able to destroy the Dark Lord would be born. Using his own deduction, he fingered the Potter Boy. This is why people love him and this is why it makes all us Death Eaters nervous when we hear he's gone missing and he's popping up everywhere on the map."
"That was when Lucius was captured, right? I heard the prophecy was made by one of Dumbledore's lackeys. How did the Dark Lord even come across it?"
"How do you think?" Malfoy drawled, sitting back down.
"Snape has twice earned the ultimate favor of the Dark Lord," Amycus said, looking disgusted. "He is untouchable right now."
"Well if I was him and I knew Potter was after me, I'd be a tad paranoid," the red-haired Death Eater said quietly. "Especially knowing what I know now about that prophesy."
"Smithers, you're not the only one thinking that way, so you had better keep your trap shut about it before the Dark Lord hears it. A chump shopkeeper in Hogsmeade - Flume - came out publicly saying he had no fear of the Dark Lord and believed Harry Potter was alive and well. Others are following suit, like those Weasleys in Diagon. We all know what the Dark Lord does to such outspoken upstarts."
"Yes, he sent Fenrir Greyback to make a little visit to Honeyduke's didn't he?"
"Yeah; Flume and his wife were lucky they was gone, but as Greyback was trashing the place, he discovered a passageway into Hogwarts."
Malfoy sat up in surprise.
"Yeah, that's right Draco. The store's cellar leads right into the middle of the school. Your little trick to get into Hogwarts last spring seems a bit tedious now doesn't it?"
"I actually knew it," Malfoy said sullenly. "I didn't know where it was, but Potter was always able to sneak into Hogsmeade even when security was tight and he wasn't allowed to go."
"Hmmm, if Potter knows about the passage, then it may not be as valuable as the Dark Lord had hoped. He must be told."
"Aw, you think too much, Amycus," Smithers said apprehensively. "Potter may have become a force, but he couldn't find us, could he?"
"If he does, we'll have to be ready for him," Scarface said determinedly. "If the Dark Lord no longer underestimates him, we can't either. Alright, I guess it's my turn to guard the cup."
Harry saw his chance and as the Death Eater got up and walked over to the wall, he quickly and quietly followed. The Death Eater walked up to the door and stood still for a second before the wall once again disappeared and revealed the dark stairwell. Harry followed as close as possible as Scarface descended. The wall behind them disappeared and Harry fell behind so as not to be heard.
The wooden stairs led to a spacious underground room that was no more than a square hole in the ground, the walls were earthen and it was musty and dank. A few candles surrounded the room, but there was little need. The small golden cup with the two equally-cast handles stood shining in all its brilliance in the middle of the room on a large stone circular stand. It was filled with a deep red liquid that Harry was afraid to think looked exactly like blood.
Harry noticed Scarface was careful to stick next to the wall as he made his way to a chair in the corner. Harry raised his staff and cast a strong sleeping spell. The Death Eater slumped into his chair just as he sat into it. Harry pulled off his Invisibility Cloak and put it in his pocket.
Steadying his staff in front of him with his left hand while holding it in his right, Harry proceeded forward.
"Acclaro," he whispered.
A dome barrier surrounding the cup shone brilliantly like light on a soap bubble, before disappearing again. Harry waved his staff and materialized a table that Worthwhile could lie on and watch. Once he had done that, Harry walked back towards the edge of the barrier.
"Alright," Harry said, clearing his throat. "This is where our work pays off. This is a barrier that detects all things, not just magical forces, so I'm almost positive my guard against detection won't work, but..." He pulled out the metal charm Beauregard had given him and slowly inched it towards the barrier. Harry's forehead was beginning to sweat as the talisman approached closer and closer. I cannot be touching this thing when it starts to work!
As it came within just a tiny space of the barrier, the charm was sucked out of Harry's hand and attached itself to the barrier. Harry smiled and backed away as the blue bar fastened to the talisman began to grow and rotate rapidly like the blades of a Muggle helicopter. Faster it spun until it became a blur, then a red wave of light spread over the dome, making the ground vibrate as it repeated the wave a few more times. As quickly as it had begun, it stopped and the talisman disappeared in a puff of smoke.
He put his left hand up and tentatively pushed it through the magical barricade. As his full hand broke through with no resistance, he walked into it and to the other side. He breathed again after holding it much of the previous couple of minutes and focused on the cup. There was going to be powerful protection on it... the barrier was just the first step. What could Voldemort have prepared?
Picking the cup up was Harry's first instinct and the last resort. He knew his skin should not touch the goblet.
"What do you think?" Harry asked, rubbing his scratchy chin.
"Why don't you try putting the orb near it and see how it responds?" Worthwhile suggested.
Harry took his staff and carefully moved it towards the cup. The orb gradually grew pink and then red as it moved closer and closer. When it was an inch from the cup, the staff began to vibrate and Harry stopped, moving his staff back.
"Well, it's definitely cursed. I could feel the evil coming from it. I'm tempted to just blast the thing."
"Why don't you?"
"Instinct I suppose. Dumbledore never destroyed any of the items that held horcruxes, so I'm thinking I shouldn't either. Hepzibah had said the cup had magical abilities and I'd rather see if I can use them to my own benefit. Besides, this cup was Helga Hufflepuff's! How could I possibly destroy such a thing? Hermione would slay me alive."
"Maybe you should try hooking it with the other end of your staff."
Harry turned his staff around and moved the end towards one of the handles. As it slowly moved through the opening, Harry suddenly felt a sharp jab in his back and he quickly withdrew.
"Nope. This will require a little bit more finesse."
"Perhaps it was meant to be drunk."
"That would have to be the stupidest thing I could ever do."
"Which may be why it would work."
"Dumbledore did say that Voldemort would rather have the one trying to get to his horcrux end up alive, but how can I take this kind of chance?"
"Well you seem to only have two choices. You can either drink it and see what happens, or you can destroy it and see if the orb lives up to its hype."
Harry made up his mind. He pulled out his Invisibility Cloak and laid it over Worthwhile and the table; then, he cast Mad-Eye's Disillusionment Charm over himself. As the cold feeling spread down his body, he walked back through Voldemort's useless barrier, boldly picked up the chalice, and drank. It was indeed blood, and as Harry gagged the last bit of it down, he became cold. Putting the cup down, he grasped his staff and struggled to stay standing.
Abruptly, he went rigid and everything went dark. A light came from above and Harry shielded his eyes from the brightness. After a few seconds, he realized he was no longer in the clammy cellar. He was in some kind of immense room - he could not see any walls or ceiling, just infinite space and darkness outside of the pool of light surrounding him about eight feet in diameter. Then a voice broke the emptiness.
"So..." it sliced through the chilly emptiness like a razor. It was Voldemort. "You thought you could take what was mine, did you?"
Harry turned around in circles. He did not know where the voice was coming from. He held his staff out in front, ready for any quick movement. The beads of sweat on his forehead were growing, however, as Voldemort continued on.
"You are now in a place where time and space do not exist. We are on the plain of the mind and we shall do battle here. Should you defeat me, you will have Helga Hufflepuff's cup as well as what is inside. You may not know this, my friend, but my very soul resides within it, so it is a prize indeed! However, let us dispense with the idea that you have any chance. You are already dead."
Voldemort's words in Harry's head were spinning. I don't think he knows who it is. He doesn't know who he faces, which means he can't see me yet either.
"Now, I will show you my face... the last thing you will ever see." Harry saw him enter into the light ahead of him. He raised his staff, ready to face him. Voldemort broke through saying, "Bow now to me, the Dark Lord Vol -"
Voldemort was now looking straight ahead, directly at Harry, but he stopped. He knows who his opponent is now. Voldemort did not begin to smile or gloat or even attack, however. He could not even finish what he was saying. The Dark Lord Voldemort looked utterly confused, looking around everywhere as if he could not see Harry at all. Harry figured it must be his Disillusionment Charm, but he looked down at his hand and saw that the charm had no effect in the place they occupied. He was perfectly visible.
Of course
Harry immediately understood that it was Slytherin's magic yet again at work. Voldemort could not see Harry because he was using some kind of magic to try to discover him - the plain of the mind was not a physical one. Harry was "one with the darkness" and Voldemort had no knowledge of it.
Harry smiled and with every ounce of strength within him, swung his staff and cast his most powerful Sectumsempra. The power of the orb mingled with the force put into it by Harry's concentration launched a surprised Voldemort clear across the ring of light they were caged in. He fell with a thud and he screamed in pain. He was bleeding profusely across his chest and his hand groped around looking to find what attacked him.
"What sorcery is this? Who are you?" he screamed. For the first time in Harry's life, he was able to see Voldemort in complete terror. He answered him shakingly, but with confidence.
"I am the bane of your existence. I will annihilate you this day and the world will come to peace. Stand and fight you miserable dog!"
Still bleeding, but calming a bit as he slowly closed the wounds with his wand, he looked around everywhere and still looked scared.
"Potter? Harry Potter?"
Harry's anger began to rise to the surface after the initial shock of what was taking place. He had the murderer in his sights. He thrust his staff once again and Voldemort's head forcefully slammed mightily against the cold, stone ground where he lay. There were a sickening crack as Voldemort's head split and he screamed in pain once more.
This is it. He was going to kill Voldemort's new body and return him to the ashen spirit that gave the world peace for thirteen years. He walked silently towards the bleeding Voldemort who was breathing heavily.
"Know your enemy, Tom Riddle. I am Harry Potter, the bringer of your demise!"
With that, he took the sharp end of his staff and drove it into the stomach of Voldemort. The withered-looking snake gasped and breathed his last quickly, his wand dropping to the floor. Harry pulled his staff out and fell to the ground, tears streaming down his face as he looked at the dead wizard. He put his head in his hands. Could it be?
A mist distracted him from his moment and he looked up and noticed Voldemort's body was turning to smoke that enveloped the area and washed into the darkness, and in a split second, the darkness and smoke disappeared and Harry was rushed back into the cellar where he had seemingly left only a few minutes before.
He looked down at his hand and noticed the Disillusionment Charm was still working, so he took it off and looked towards Worthwhile. He walked over and pulled off the Cloak covering him.
"What's the problem? Did anything happen?" he hissed.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked puzzled. He had been gone at least ten minutes.
"You just drank that whole thing! How do you feel?"
"What are you talking about? I was just... ooooooh," Harry put his hand to his head and everything made sense. Voldemort had said they were fighting on the plain of the mind where time had no place. Worthwhile must have seen him drink and in the span of him finishing and walking over to the snake, Harry had his confrontation with his foe.
"So, his body was not destroyed. He was just defeated in the test he set up." Harry proceeded to tell Worthwhile all that had happened and the snake looked at Harry with new admiration after every word. After Harry had finished telling what happened, they both were distracted by a glow coming from behind them. The cup began shining as brightly as the sun and they both turned their eyes from it. The light died after a few seconds and they witnessed the cup slowly lose its luster. However, a small twinkle of light rose slowly from the cup's basin and hovered above it. It looked like a sharp diamond shard and they both knew what it was the moment they laid eyes on it.
"The horcrux!" Worthwhile hissed excitedly
Harry raised his staff and in a strong voice chanted, "Reducto!"
The shard was instantly shattered and its light was dispelled into the darkness of the room. As soon as the words had left Harry's lips, the scar on his forehead exploded in a cold pain that had him screaming and writhing on the floor. His staff left his hand as they both went to his head. Then, no sooner than it had begun, it ceased and Harry began breathing heavily as the pain subsided.
Worthwhile had crawled down the table and onto Harry's chest looking at him.
"Master! Are you alright! Harry, say something!"
"I'm... I'm o-okay," he gasped. He sat up and Worthwhile climbed onto his shoulders. Using his tail, he picked up the Rune Staff and placed it in Harry's lap. "I just forgot about our connection. Slytherin said this would happen."
"You mean, Voldemort's pain in losing part of his remaining soul was transferred to you?"
"That must be it. I have to begin my Occlumency training again. That simply can't happen every time. I think Voldemort must have lost consciousness when I destroyed it, because the pain just ended abruptly as if he couldn't feel the pain any longer either - lucky for me or I might have lost consciousness, it hurt so bad."
"I can't believe no one has heard all of the noise going on down here," Worthwhile said, looking up the stairwell.
"That's right..." Harry brought his face to his chin, as if contemplating. He quickly got up, vanished the table, put on his Invisibility Cloak, raised his staff, and performed the counter to his sleeping jinx. Scarface instantly awoke and looked around confused.
"Oh no! I fell asleep!" he said to himself scared. "If the Dark Lord had found me, I would have been a dead man for sure. I'd better go upstairs and see how things are."
He stepped quickly up the stairs and Harry followed. As they entered the living room, they discovered it was empty.
"What's going on? Where is everyone?" Scarface began checking the rooms, but Harry had no need to stay. He quickly left the house through the open door and was traversing the jungle whence he came within seconds. The rain was now a torrential pour, but soon they would be out of it. Harry had been successful, but he knew Voldemort would be wise to Harry's power and would respond in kind. Finding the last horcruxes as quickly as possible was absolutely essential, but he was confident knowing he had Beauregard to help him.
As he approached the place they had set up watch, Harry noticed the faint glow of many lights. Getting closer, he realized they were wand lights and they were all gathered where Beauregard had been waiting. He starting walking faster, becoming increasingly worried something was wrong. He broke into a run when he realized Death Eaters had found where Beauregard was. Arriving, he became horrified to see nearly twenty wizards surrounding Beauregard, who was laying face-down in the mud. His coat was ripped in many places and his hat had been tossed aside, crumpled.
Standing over him was Fenrir Greyback who was beginning to laugh maniacally in the rain. He bent down and picked Beauregard up with both hands. Despite the fact that Greyback was so strong, he struggled to do so. Lifting Beauregard's limp body over his head, he smiled a toothy, evil smile and the Death Eaters cheered. Beauregard's torso was bleeding profusely and his eyes were barely open.
"THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO TRAITORS!!!" Greyback roared, throwing Beauregard into a tree trunk and continuing to laugh. Beauregard tried desperately to get up, but he could only make it to his knee before Greyback was in front of him. The wolf-man grabbed Beauregard's hair and lifted his head toward his face forcefully. He snarled in a wicked determination, huffing and growling with sinister malice.
"So Ramses... what will it be? Give up?" he said with a smile he could hardly contain. Beauregard only gasped in an attempt to breathe.
Harry was shaking violently and his hands clenched until they were white. He slowly pulled his invisibility cloak off and stepped into the ring of Death Eaters. As the followers of Voldemort each came to realize someone besides them was in their midst, they stopped laughing and turned their attention to the intruder. Harry pulled off his hood - his eyes burning like green fire.
"W-who are you?" one of the wizards said. He had his wand raised, but his hand was shaking in fear. Harry turned his head and all the Death Eater saw was the flash of fire before he was sent reeling by Harry's curse. He fell unconscious on the muddy ground, smoke issuing from his body.
The other Death Eaters had barely a moment to register what was happening before Harry sent wave after wave through their gathering. Wizards and witches were either knocked out or were sent running. Something burning came over Harry as the magic in his hands was sent powerfully towards his enemies. Man after man fell as Harry cursed mercilessly. There was little his enemies could do and Greyback howled a retreat. Hatred reared its head as Harry struck with all abandon of mercy.
It was over in moments. More than a dozen unconscious Death Eaters were lying everywhere in the mud around them and the rest were gone as Harry rushed up to Beauregard, who was still struggling to breathe.
"Ramses... Ramses!" Harry said, struggling to pull Beauregard up into his arms. The wounds Greyback had inflicted were deep and the blood still poured. Harry took his staff and chanted a spell he had learned in Dumbledore's tome to stop it, but Beauregard was beginning to choke and had to fight for every breath.
"H-Harry... did you get... did you get it?" he whispered, rain falling on his face.
"I did! I did Ramses. Hold on! Just hold on... please! I can take care of this. Just don't give up!" Harry used every ounce of strength in him to hoist Beauregard into his arms. He concentrated and apparated to their hideout; it was a rundown Muggle warehouse in the heart of England that they had discovered and set up as their base. It was made of steel, looking more like a construction site than a warehouse and smelling of gasoline.
He moved quickly to a nearby table and laid Beauregard on it.
"Accio blanket. Accio shirt."
Harry moved quickly to cover Beauregard once the materials had zoomed from another room and into his hands. He tore one of his shirts and placed it on Beauregard's wounds.
"Harry, we have to take him to St. Mungo's!" Worthwhile hissed worriedly.
"You know we can't do that!" Harry shouted, placing a hand to Beauregard's forehead.
"Forget what he said Harry! We cannot save him. You see his wounds!"
"He will die if he goes there. We promised him!"
"Harry..." Beauregard whispered. Harry and Worthwhile turned their attention to him instantly. "Harry, it is... too late..."
"No, Ramses. No, it will be ok. Don't say that."
"I have done what little I could. You are the one who must face Voldemort...the three of us... knew that. I am...just...j-just..." he suddenly coughed violently. Blood gushed from his mouth, splattering his chin and chest.
"Ramses! Be still!" Harry pressed against his chest, which was beginning to bleed again.
"H-Harry... Worthwhile... I am just glad I was able... to help. Harry, you must lead where I could not. I will not be able to redeem myself for what I have done... as you... as you would have wished... but I am glad you considered me... a friend... even... even if I couldn't do more..."
"Don't be ridiculous Ramses. Where would we be had it not been for you? You have redeemed yourself a hundred times over. Stop speaking... please...."
"I have done what I could... I go now to rest... to rest... with... my fam... fa-"
Beauregard stopped breathing and his eyes closed.
"No.......no, no, no..." Harry whispered wide-eyed, shaking his head. "NOOOOOOOO!" Harry shouted into the night sky, his scream drowned by the cold emptiness around them.
END Chapter 9
R.I.P Ramses
-->