Bad Wolf: Part Five
Voldemort stood still watching the now empty wall screen. The room was silent as he examined nothingness, and this above anything made Hermione more nervous. She could tell he was working things out in his head, taking a few quiet moments like Harry so often did, and that could not mean anything good.
'Shall we take her wand?' a voice came from behind her. As she looked around at the speaker she was struck by his blonde pale features that made him look like a grown up version of Draco Malfoy.
'No need' Voldemort said quietly 'she's a muggle'
'Oooh...' a woman with dark hair and complexion said. she had made this sound as if Hermione was a Christmas present that she had received and couldn't wait to unwrap.
'Don't touch her' Voldemort said severely turning around instantly. The woman took a step back in shock and looked down at her feet.
'And why not?' Hermione asked as brightly as she could in an attempt to take the fear from her voice.
Harry would need some time, she had not idea ho much time exactly, but if she had to talk to this monster to get that for him she would tell her life story if necessary.
'Because, muggle...' Voldemort spat the word as if it was an insult on him to speak it 'you are leverage'
'If you think having me hostage is going to stop Harry kicking your ass, then you really are mistaken' Hermione said laughing. Taunting him was all she could do to stop herself from fainting as Voldemort walked up closer to her, his red eyes becoming clearer as they loomed only centimeters from her face.
'I know that holding you hostage won't help...' Voldemort said with a cruel smile 'Harry will undoubtedly save you in some dramatic show of power and knowledge, after all that is what he does'
'Then why not kill me while you have the chance?' Hermione snapped back. Her heart was starting to calm slightly as she spoke to him.
'Because I wish him to save you' Voldemort said with a wry smile 'if he has you, a defenseless and impetuous muggle child to protect then he will act slower, more cautiously...'
'And a devil may cry Harry is too much for you too take?' Hermione laughed.
'Perhaps not' Voldemort said laughing 'but I prefer the emotionally fragile protector over the man who has nothing less to lose as my enemy'
'Harry will stop you' Hermione said determinedly.
'Why do you believe such things?' Voldemort said shaking his head 'twenty two years he has stood in my way, him and that muggle-loving fool Albus, and each time I have escaped, become stronger...'
'You talk like you think your some sort of a god!' Hermione sneered.
'So what if I am?' Voldemort said softly taking a step away from her 'I cannot die and not even hell could hold me...'
'You'll be back there soon enough' Hermione countered, but Voldemort spoke over her as if she hadn't made a sound.
'…And have you ever thought about the fact that maybe humanity needs a new God?' Voldemort said softly 'for thousands of years humanity inched forwards, a small step at a time but a step none the less...now we have arrived here, the old gods thrown away and discarded and the world stands on the brink of oblivion...weapons that would not only kill man but the planet itself is now available to any man with enough gold, and all this time the one thing, the one power, that us wizards have that could save this planet is denied to them...I will give the muggles this power, show them magic...and they will obey and love me for it...'
'You're...' Hermione faltered slightly 'you're mad'
'they called Galileo mad for saying the sun was the centre of the galaxy' Voldemort said reasonably 'so they say it when I tell them that I am that centre...history is written by the winners poor child, and I will paint myself in my true image, as a God...'
Voldemort turned from her and strolled over to a group of the men in robes, Hermione's heart pounded with every step he took. She was in trouble and so was Harry.
She turned around, trying to gather any information that could prove useful if she got out of here, but the room was barren. Only large stone slabs lined the floor and walls, this place seemed to be a dungeon of sorts. Maybe a literal one.
She noticed that all the robed people kept on throwing her nervous glances in between staring worriedly at Lord Voldemort. Maybe this group was not as tight as he believed?
And then something caught her eye, a blue light began flashing in the corner of the room, and then it spread to the whole wall, before disappearing and reappearing on the other wall.
'What's that!' one of the men shouted, now all of them had out their wands and was turning on the spot as they tried to keep the light in sight. But Hermione knew what it must be. Who it must be.
'He's sending through thousands of portkeys at once, straining the defenses till they snap' Voldemort said impressed
'But that's impossible!' the blonde haired man said spinning around to keep the blue light in vision.
'Hasn't anyone told you?' Hermione said laughing 'Harry practically invented Portkeys!'
'Looks like our hero will find us sooner than I expected...' Voldemort said just staring into one corner, the blue light reflecting menacingly of his red eyes.
'Don't you mean found you' A voice came from beside Hermione as she felt a hand tighten around hers, squeezing it softly to let her know it was friendly. She turned her head and almost burst into tears as she saw the bright green eyes of Harry smiling back at her.
'Avada Kedavra!' the whole room bellowed, and Hermione saw just the beginning of green fill her eyes before she closed them. She recognized those words, it was the killing curse Harry had just mentioned. She tightened her face in wait for death, but nothing came. Slowly she peered open her eyes and smiled as she saw Harry shaking his head, a huge grin on his face.
'An extremely thin, but very much real, layer of void surrounds us…I'm just pushing the air around us into the void, just a fraction, but also just enough…' Harry explained brightly before he turned to Hermione and smiled 'you ok?'
'Yeah...' Hermione said as she leaned into him and hugged him as tightly as her arms would allow.
'Stop that!' the woman who had spoken before screeched making Harry turn to her and grimace.
'Bellatrix...' Harry said softly, Hermione recognized this name as the woman who had killed his godfather, the last of his family, Harry shook his head as if disbelieving of seeing her in front of him before speaking in his bright brisk tone once again 'I thought you'd be dead by now...but no worry, that'll work itself out soon enough'
'Is that a threat!' Bellatrix screamed once more but Harry just put his hand up to her, waited a moment and turned back to Hermione.
'Have they hurt you at all?' Harry asked seriously.
'No...' Hermione said 'although that ugly cow Bellatrix seemed like she wanted to'
'Don't worry about her' Harry said with a smile 'she can't hurt you know'
'So, the legendary Harry Potter returns home!' the blonde man said stepping forward.
'Lucius!' Harry said in such excitement that he almost let go of Hermione's hand 'Old Lucius! Or young Lucius if your age touchy as many people seem to be nowadays...'
'Playing you old games as usual?' Lucius sneered.
'No games from me, just a greeting' Harry said brightly 'I just saw your son a few weeks ago...when was it Hermione?'
'Mid November' she answered with a smile, this place, with Harry beside her, didn't seem so scary and barren as it did before. Hermione almost even laughed as a blank look appeared on Lucius face.
'Poor Draco' Harry said sighing 'got sent to the void'
'You lie!' Lucius shouted angrily.
'Me? Never!' Harry smiled 'but it was in the other world, so it's not quite as bad as it sounds'
Hermione smiled as she saw Lucius' face fill with anxiety, relief and grief all at the same time. It made things easier to realize these people were human. Putting a human face on the monsters that lived in the dark always helped her.
'But enough of that!' Harry said brightly 'Why hasn't old Tommy spoken yet?'
'Appreciating your voidshield' Voldemort said through gritted teeth. Hermione could tell that he hated being called Tommy, and probably Tom for that matter, and she made a mental note to call him that from now on.
'Nice, isn't it?' Harry said looking around them at what appeared to be just thin air 'I wasn't too sure if it was going to work or not'
'It's a pity that you were right' Voldemort said walking up to Harry and placing a hand out at him quickly, spreading out his long cold fingers as he tried to reach for Harry's throat. The hand stopped in mid aid as if a wall lay between them, and Voldemort had to pull his hand away as if he had been burned by the air.
'Nothing can exist in the void, including magic such as the Avada Kedavra and especially your hand' Harry explained mockingly 'you should know that better than anyone, Tommy Tom'
'So this is how where you stand?' Voldemort said after several long seconds, his voice low and full of fury 'you stand alone in my way?'
'It's the only place I know to be' Harry said forcefully 'but I'm not alone...not this time'
'Oh, you have your muggle friend beside you' Voldemort said with a sneer 'but you don't have a good record of keeping those you love out of my reach...'
'I...' Harry said and faltered, his eyes flashing for just a moment onto Hermione 'I'm leaving'
'I thought so' Voldemort said 'shall I take it we're at war?'
'That's a certainty' Harry said with a grin as he turned to Hermione and smiled 'ready?'
'Yeah' Hermione replied.
She felt the beginning of the pull of appirition pull over her but it suddenly stopped, making her blink in the dim light of the dungeon.
'One last thing' Harry said 'Bellatrix, I'm going to kill you'
And this time the squeeze of appirition pulled over her and the next time she opened her eyes she was back in Grimmauld, the warm air feeling like nothing else on her skin.
'Oh, thank god!' Ron bellowed as he ran at them and pulled Hermione into a hug 'I was so worried'
He slowly let her go from his grip and Hermione felt another pair of smaller arms embrace her.
'Thank you, Harry' the other Hermione said as she hugged her. It was the weirdest feeling in the world, being hugged by yourself, but when they broke Hermione felt lighter as she saw her counterpart smiling up at her, her eyes red and bloodshot from nervous tears.
'Did he tell you anything?' Harry said, his voice serious and straightforward as he spoke fast, walking back and forth in that way of his.
'Nothing much...' Hermione said, she didn't want to say that Voldemort saw her being with Harry as a distraction, and maybe a vital one.
'Good' Harry said as he whipped out his wand and ran it running around in circles 'protections are up again…we need to move fast'
'Why?' Ron said confused.
'Because we're at war once again' Harry said with a sad little frown.
'And this time Voldemort doesn't care for this world' the other Hermione said gulping slightly.
'Does that make any difference?' Ron said sarcastically, but both Hermione and Ron looked worried 'what is it?'
'Last time Voldemort wanted to rule the world, muggles included, so he couldn't kill too many of his future servants' the other Hermione said 'now though I assume he's planning on leaving this world anyway'
'And he'll try to draw me out quickly' Harry said looking over his shoulder back at the archway 'he doesn't want me to have time to work out what to do, how to attack, if I can stop him…He's been planning this for hundreds of years, and he wants me to act rashly, blunder in without a real plan'
'He's going to kill them...' Hermione said putting a hand up to her mouth.
'Who?' Ron asked confused.
'Everyone' Harry said sullenly.
Suddenly he seemed to snap, and ran straight up to the archway, a fierce look shining behind his eyes.
'I need something' Harry growled to himself 'anything'
At that moment the door slammed open and Hermione gasped at who was standing in the doorway. He may look skinnier, and more war torn than she had known, but there was no mistaking him.
'Remus!' Hermione shouted.
'Hey...Hermione?' Remus said looking bewildered as his eyes shot from her to her counterpart and back again. Slowly though his eyes locked onto Harry and a smile filled his face completely 'Harry!'
Remus ran up to Harry and embraced him, tears forming in his eyes as he seemed to hold on for dear life.
'It's so good to see you, Remus' Harry said as he disentangled himself from the man, a smile on his face that Harry seemed determined to fight away 'but we don't have time for this just now'
'I know' Remus said quickly 'I was coming to tell Hermione and Ron...Voldemort is back! He was in charge of the Bad Wolf Incorporated this whole time!'
'We know' Ron said shaking his head but Harry spoke over him.
'What has he done?' Harry asked straight faced.
'Their killing everyone' Remus seemed shocked to hear himself say these words and had to clear his throat 'everyone...hundreds around the world, laying flat whole towns...it was too quick, too huge, and the Ministry just couldn't react in time...They'll fall quickly'
'How many?' Hermione asked.
'Thousands already...' Remus said shaking his head 'hundred of thousands...and more constantly coming in...Harry, I think we've lost'
Harry stood still, his face still and emotionless as he refused to react to Remus' words. The air seemed heavier around them as they all stood staring at Harry for an answer. For some hope. And finally, after more than ten seconds had passed, Harry spoke in a croak of a voice.
'Remus, Ron' Harry said quickly 'get the Order together...pick an area and defend it, kill if you have to, but defend it...and then move onto the next place'
'But their attacking in hundreds of towns across the globe all at once!' Remus practically shouted.
'And our numbers cant stretch that far, we can only stop one at a time...' Harry practically shouted this in anger as he stormed around the room before his eyes dropped and he ran a hand through his hair and spoke to no one in particular 'I'm sorry...i'm so sorry...'
'Harry...' Hermione said softly but Harry just shook his head.
'Remus, Ron...' Harry said forcefully, and to these words they acted like soldiers, nodded and turned to leave.
'What about me?' the other Hermione asked looking up at hum.
'I'm gonna need your help' Harry said with a little smile before he turned to look at Hermione, his eyes misty and upset before he held out a hand 'Hermione...take my hand'
Hermione took Harry's outstretched hand and followed him up to the archway. Harry kept his eyes determinedly on their path and didn't look at her the whole time. He stopped in front of her and looked at the archway, a small smile appearing on his lips as he let go of her hand and turned to face her.
'Hermione...' Harry said softly 'I need you to step through...return back to your world'
'For how long?' Hermione spurted out angrily.
'Forever' Harry said with a little nod 'after you walk through I'll be closing the archway, permanently'
'What?' Hermione spurted out like an idiot, quickly adding the question 'why?'
'I can't allow Voldemort to leave this world...' Harry said slowly 'if he's allowed to leave he will kill thousands of worlds, countless billions of people will die or be enslaved...I might not be able to save this world any longer, but I can save all the other souls that aren't already lost...you have to step through'
'Well that's not going to happen' Hermione said shaking her head forcefully.
'You can't stay here, its not your world' Harry said, tears threatening to envelope his eyes 'you'll never see James, your friends, even your mother again! It's your world'
'My place is beside you...' Hermione said shaking her head determinedly.
Harry held a hand up and touched her cheek, sending shrills of excitement and sorrow through her body.
'You can be such a stubborn fool sometimes' Harry laughed as he ran his fingers softly over her skin.
'I learnt it from you...' Hermione said smiling 'and I won't desert you...'
'You don't get it...' Harry said, a solitary tear falling down his cheek 'we made the worlds unbalanced...'
'What do you mean?' Hermione asked, her heart had jumped six inches and threatened to come out of her mouth at his words.
'All time and life has its rightful place, its rightful ups and downs...' Harry explained slowly 'every single universe is completely different, exactly right and perfect for where they are in life...I told you that every version, every time, every world of you is completely different, utterly individual...and I was right...all different and unique, belonging to their perfect world... a balance that cant be changed'
'What are you talking about' Hermione said hearing the anger in her own words.
'You don't belong here' Harry said firmly 'Voldemort is back in his right place, and so am I...you're not...you have made the world unbalanced...'
'So what?' Hermione said snapping her head back and forth in anger.
'I cant close the archway when its unbalanced' Harry said 'I can sever the link between our two worlds, but Voldemort could escape into the void, use a machine like mine and go anywhere'
'I...I...' Hermione faltered, her heart was beating with anger as tears filled her eyes and misted her vision.
'I can't beat him if you stay...' Harry said, his voice sounding fiercer now, more final 'if you don't walk through the archway the unbalance in the two worlds gives him leverage, he lived in the void and he will only become more powerful and more powerful...then he will kill this world, 6 billion people will die, and he will move on to the next, bringing death along for the ride…If you don't go through that Archway I will lose, I will die!'
'There...' Hermione stuttered, her eyes were stinging with tears as she fell into Harrys chest, his hands running powerfully over her body as she cried into him 'there has to be another way!'
'There's not' Harry whispered to her as he rocked her back and forth.
'But what will I do?' Hermione said looking up at him 'how can I live without you?'
'You'll find a way' Harry said with a smile 'do your a-levels, go to university, marry an eccentric man with a tendency for getting into trouble and live happily ever after...'
'I can't leave you' Hermione sobbed again pushing her face into his chest.
'You have to' Harry spoke softly once more 'you have to go back, do the one thing I've never been able to do...live a normal, happy, life'
Harry slowly pushed Hermione away. He leant in to kiss her on her forehead, and even as she pushed up her lips for one final real kiss he backed away and smiled at her.
'I love you' Hermione said, the tears were threatening to overtake her now and she couldn't bare to look at the man in front of her anymore. The man she loved. She knew his words couldn't change anything, that she knew their love was real, so she turned and stepped through the archway.
Her feet touched the other side and she looked around. She was back. And the tears over took her. They seemed to be coming from everywhere and not only her eyes as she threw up both her hands to try and catch some. But it was useless, so she stopped. Her Harry was on the other side of that veil, just one step away, and she would never see him again.
She fell to her knees, unable to breathe as tears filled her lungs and throat.
She was alone.
And as the veil behind her stopped moving she knew the link had been broken. That her Harry was gone.
*
Harry watched as the last of Hermione disappeared through the archway. She was just a few centimeters away. He could follow her through and change their fate. But he knew he couldn't. Too much depended on it.
He ran a hand up to his face and pushed his fingers into the corners of his eyes, brushing away the tears that had begun to form.
He heard footsteps walking up behind him, and felt the presence of Hermione standing beside him once more.
Slowly he raised his wand and disconnected the archway. Her world was safe. And that's all that mattered to him. Hermione was safe.
'I remember when I let you walk through that archway...to save the world' Hermione said as she placed her small soft hand on his. It felt so much like hers that he felt like crying again 'now it's her turn to do it for you...'
Harry lifted his other hand up to his face, running his middle finger softly around the outline of his scar. It had been along time since he had been here, along time since he had felt this scar. Along time since he held this Hermione's, his real Hermione's, Hand before battle. Five years. And it felt like an eternity.
'I lied' Harry said as he pulled his hand roughly away from hers.
'What?' Hermione asked confused.
'The balance was a lie' Harry said shaking his head 'or not a lie exactly, but it doesn't make any real difference on fighting Voldemort'
'But then why?' Hermione said, he could hear her voice breaking up with fear as she spoke.
'So she could be safe...' Harry said simply 'so she would live through this...because millions, maybe billions, of people are going to lose their lives today and she cant be one of them'
Harry looked at the veil and smiled. She was safe. She would live. Maybe she'd get over him, maybe she wouldn't, but what mattered is tomorrow she will see the sun rise once again, and every morning after that.
'Because I can't beat him' Harry said truthfully 'Voldemort will win...he will kill me...and this world is already lost...'
*
Hey hoped you enjoyed that, it was actually a pleasure to write! Anyway, PLEASE review!!! I'm on 272 and really want to get over 300 by the end of this story, which is coming soon! Also, I have an extra special present for all the reviews (if you leave an email) so it's definitely in your interest as much as mine!!! And don't worry you people who don't review, it's fun and nice, but not all important, and you'll get it eventually as well...
Anyway...is there anyway back for the duo? Is this one adventure too much for Harry? What could Hermione possibly study at University?
Till next time...
Jms Granger…
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