A/N: My apologies for being remiss in updating. It seems mean of me that I had left all of you hanging with that cliffhanger in the last chapter.
I am actually still in bed, nursing the remnants of what I had thought to be the mere flu going around-unfortunately it wasn't that simple and so now I have been diagnosed to have pneumonia which has down me for the past two and a half weeks. It goes to show you that the flu shot has no effect on me. =P
My kudos to VacantSkies for adding his own brand of magic to this story. His website is: www.fanfiction.net~vacantskies
Well enough about me, on to part 2.
DISCLAIMER: characters are not mine, just the plot…
Chapter 10 part2
At the west tower of the castle of Gryffindor, there was a small group congregating in the bed chambers of the unconscious prince of Hufflepuff.
"Thank you…" Hermione placed a small kiss on the cheek of her prince on whose lap she was sitting on.
Harry smiled at her. "Not that I'm complaining, but for what, love?"
"For being here…." Hermione replied as she snuggled into the crook of Harry's shoulder.
"You know I hate it when you worry, and it just wouldn't be right to enjoy this night knowing that Cedric is in this condition," Harry stated as he gazed at the form on the bed.
"Just wouldn't be proper at all, mate," Lord Ronald Weasley seconded, who was sitting in one of the chairs conjured by Dumbledore the night before. Lounging contently on his lap was Lady Luna Lovegood.
"Oi Harry, you said Dumbledore conjured up these seats?" Harry nodded in response. Ron shifted, looking around at the many pink fluffy arm chairs. "Kind of makes you think hard about his inclinations, you know…he always chooses the weirdest colors-pink here, at Ravenclaw it was purple…Not a very manly choice, get what I'm saying?" he said with a wicked smirk. Luna smacked him playfully on his head; they all chuckled as Luna placed a small kiss on his lips as an apology, causing the young lord to blush.
"That so, mate? Well, from the looks of it, you can easily blend in with the chair!" Harry joked causing Hermione to laugh and Lady Cho to smile.
"Oh sod off, Harry!" Ron mumbled. Luna looked at him and gave him a hug since he looked so adorably uncomfortable to her.
Cho, who was seated on the bed holding the hand of her fiancé said, "I do appreciate you all for being here, though I assure you, it is not necessary. I am quite sure Cedric would have wanted you to enjoy the ceremonies."
"Nonsense Cho. Like what Harry and Ron said, it would be wrong to be dancing the night away while Cedric's here. Not to worry, we'll all make up for it during our engagement ceremony!" Hermione said with a wink, as Harry tightened his arms around her.
"It's just that…" Cho started to whimper, "It's just that Cedric was fine before we slept, we were talking about our wedding, and your engagement ceremony. He even said that he was glad that Harry wasn't a dense git like before and did right with you…"
They all laughed softly as Harry exclaimed, "Hey! Um…thank you?" with a sheepish smile.
"Then I woke up, he was thrashing about wildly! I've never seen him this way before…He spoke in this voice which scared the life out of me…I was so terrified - not for me, but for him! I thought he was possessed by something or someone. I never thought that it could be this bad for him…" Cho explained as tears rolled down her face.
"Maybe…umm…maybe I could help…" Hermione offered softly.
"Hermione no, I do not think Cedric would want you to do anything that would harm you," Harry immediately protested.
"Love, nothing is going to happen to me," Hermione reassured him, caressing his cheek.
"Remember when you healed me? It practically sapped all of your magical energy! Cedric would not want you to do that…especially since we don't know what will occur tonight. You may need your magic," Harry reasoned.
Cho nodded in agreement with him.
"Maybe it's the wrackspurts!" Ron blurted. Realizing what he just said, he blushed and shook his head in disbelief, making Luna's eyes dance with mirth. Harry and Hermione exchanged surprised looks at Ron's comment and Cho looked amazed too.
"Must be contagious…" Harry whispered, which earned him a small kiss from his princess, a chuckle from Cho and a glare from Ron as Luna stuck her tongue out at him childishly.
Hermione got back to the previous topic by stating, "Look, I've got to try. Anyway, if I collapse... Cho, you've got enough training to revive me in case I do collapse, right?"
Harry and Cho started to protest but Luna said, "Let Herms try it…Nothing wrong with attempting it…" She looked to her Ronald seeking support, but the glare thrown at him by his prince, prevented Ron to comment further.
"See, the empath has spoken…" Hermione said triumphantly. "You know you can't stop me, love. We owe this to Cedric anyway…"
Harry just sighed in surrender. "Fine, but I want you to stop if you feel it draining you too much, okay?"
Hermione nodded her agreement and gave Harry a kiss in gratitude. Smiling at him adoringly she stood up and walked over to Cedric's bed.
Cho looked at Harry disbelievingly. "Surely you've got to be joking! Harry, how could you agree? You heard what Cedric predicted. Something dreadful will occur tonight. We may need the princess at full energy!"
"Cho, you know how Herms is when she sets her mind to it," Luna said.
"Stop calling me Herms, Looney!"
Ron let out a snort as Harry tried to suppress his laugh at Hermione's nickname for her odd friend.
Hermione, seated on the other side of Cedric, placed her hands over his head and closed her eyes in concentration. Cho moved back and took a seat beside the bed instead as Harry moved his position closer to Hermione. Ron and Luna just stayed put, as this was Luna's first time to witness the healing magic her princess was about to perform.
Again a white mist surrounded Hermione and Cedric. A wind ruffled the hair of the Prince of Hufflepuff and the Princess of Ravenclaw. Then the four who were witnessing the events closely heard Hermione gasp as her eyes snapped open then closed. Harry instinctively stood up to rush over to his fiancée. Cho prevented him, saying, "She's in his mind…I recognize the signs. That's how King Amos looks when he performs Legilimency on Cedric's mind sometimes. I never knew Hermione could perform Legilimency, though. Don't attempt to break the connection. We may cause Hermione mental damage if we do…"
Harry looked at Cho and back again at the couple on the bed. Running his hands through his hair he thought, "Mental damage? What did I do? Why did I allow Hermione to do this?-Because you knew that it would be a losing battle if you argued with her…Her intentions are good, she'll pull through this and maybe-hopefully- in the process, she'll pull Cedric out as well."
Harry slumped back down on his chair as he said a prayer for the safe return of his friend and his fiancée.
XXXXX
"Cedric?...Cedric?" Hermione moved forward in the darkness which had engulfed her. There was no source of light, just blackness. She felt like she was floating as she advanced more, she raised her hands before her as if trying to grasp something or trying to make contact. She remembered and grasp her wand at her side. Taking it out she uttered 'Lumos' but nothing happened. Disappointed, she sheathed her wand and continued to move with arms extended before her.
"Hermione? Is that you?" came out a soft reply.
"Cedric? Aye, it is me… what is this place?"
"Merlin, if I knew! Where are you?"
"I have no idea, try to follow my voice, brother…"
"Hermione…what are you doing here? …did you just perform Legilimency?"
"Honestly, I do not know. I was supposed to heal you to bring you out of your comatose state."
"Comatose state? How long have I been out?"
"Too long for our comfort, but it has only been one day. You scared us! What happened?"
"I was having another vision, I think…Hermione, where are you?" Cedric's voice started to take on a nervous tone.
"Just keep talking, Cedric. I shall find you…"
"Okay, but before I forget…Thank you, sis."
Hermione could hear the smile in his voice, which offered some comfort in this dark place, "Not a problem, brother."
"Amazing that Harry allowed you to perform this healing magic. He knew how much of your energy it takes out of you."
"Well both Harry and Cho were against this…Wait! Focus, Cedric! Focus…"
"Sorry…where was I…ah yes. I was having this dream, there were many hooded figures and they were all laughing, about what I do not know. I could not really comprehend what they were talking about. I could feel that they were planning something sinister...You still there, sis?"
"Yeah, just keep talking…"
"Then I finally heard it, this cold voice... it raised the hair on the back of my neck. When he spoke, all the hooded figures prostrated. I kept walking through them and then I saw him…"
"Him?"
"The ruler of Slytherin…"
Hermione stopped suddenly, "No…it can't be…was he not ill? I mean did he look as ill as we were meant to believe?"
"He looked ghastly, I must admit…pale…too pale, actually. His face had the features of a snake! It was terrifying…he spoke of his return to glory…something about an attack that was to occur, the spark that will start the fire of darkness…"
"Oh, Cedric…" Fear started to invade her being, but she kept moving toward the voice of her brother by heart.
"Aye, tell me about it! It seemed as if he had no inkling that I was present-no one acted like they could see me. I thought that I was a mere observer like if you were looking into a Pensieve. I just kept quiet, hoping that I would not be discovered, and then he looked straight at me…"
Hermione gasped, trying to compose herself she asked what happened next.
"He said, 'Welcome, Crown Prince of Hufflepuff, I believe we have not had the pleasure of meeting each other.' The next thing I knew, I was plunged in darkness…" Cedric felt small hands touch him and he knew that the Princess of Ravenclaw had saved him.
"Cedric!" Hermione exclaimed, once she came in contact with him, she grabbed and hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go, but they could not see each other still.
"Sis…I swear to Merlin…you have no idea how relieved I am that you are here with me," as Cedric clung to Hermione.
Hermione laughed, joy filling her senses. "Let's go home, brother. There is a certain lady waiting to whack you on your head when we get back…"
"Hermione, will we be able to get back?" Cedric asked nervously.
"Certainly! I have a lot to plan for my engagement ceremony! Plus I have a lot of snogging to do with Harry…Merlin knows I wish we would be doing something more though!"
Struck by the frankness of the princess, Cedric joked, "Too much information, sis…I think I am now scarred for life by the mental images!"
Laughing, Hermione pulled on him. Then something occurred to her - what if this wasn't Cedric? What if this was a malicious entity waiting for her to bring it out? There was only one way to find out by asking him something that only the Prince of Hufflepuff would have accurate knowledge in. Hermione paused and then asked, "Cedric, where and what did you tell Harry during my coronation ceremony?"
Cedric smiled, understanding why the princess asked him this question, he too felt some doubt at her presence in this limbo. "Good question-it was at the dance floor and he just made an utter fool of himself by acting like a prat for not getting his required dance with you. Then Cho and I salvaged you both from an embarrassing situation and I said, 'Take care of my sister, I entrust her to you, Heir of Godric.'"
"Good enough for me!" Hermione smiled, relief filling her.
Together they turned and started toward a direction that Hermione felt she came from. After a while of silently moving Cedric asked, "How are we going to get out?"
"No idea, actually…"
"Do you have your wand?"
"It does not seem to work here, brother."
"Why do we not try together?"
Hermione never thought of that. She reached for her wand and then moved toward Cedric. It took a while since they kept fumbling into each other because they were still in pitch darkness.
"Okay, we'll try Lumos on three…. One…two…three!"
"Lumos" was said simultaneously. As they held on to the wand, a small flicker from its tip appeared. Hermione looked up at Cedric, what she saw made her gasp.
"Cedric! You're hurt! How did you get those wounds?"
"What? I was never attacked Hermione. What wounds are you talking about?"
Hermione looked at him through the faint light. There were gashes on his face and arms. He was wearing his bed pants and was topless, and his torso looked like it had been whipped repeatedly. Hermione looked down at her attire and was relieved to see she was wearing her gown. Not thinking she reached out to touch his face and gently ran her fingers on his wounds. She couldn't help herself but she felt a sudden sadness at the horror Cedric had had to go through alone.
"Oh, Cedric…" Hermione whimpered.
"Hey…Hey…Shh…" Cedric wrapped his arms around her in comfort as she cried for him. "Hermione, come on…no need for tears. You saved me. That's all that matters…Now you'll be leading me out back into the light…"
"King Amos performed Legilimency on you when Cho immediately informed him what happened to you that night…"
Cedric frowned as he took in what the princess had just told him, "I never saw him nor did I feel his presence."
Hermione nodded, then thought of the task at hand. Moving the wand around, she could not decipher anything that would give them an inkling of where they should be headed. She started to feel anxious and wanted to smack herself for not planning so far ahead.
"You have no idea of how to get out, right?" Cedric asked with a smirk on his face.
"No…I know how to get out…I know what we should do…" Hermione stated with a frown, but doubt betrayed her statement.
"Right…"
"Okay, fine. I have no idea what to do next…" Hermione exasperatedly admitted.
"Then we wait…" Cedric said as he sat down.
"Wait for what? For who?"
"Well, you got here. Harry and Cho would certainly call Dumbledore for help after a while."
Hermione sat down too. Cedric wrapped his arms around her in comfort. But the princess didn't stop thinking of ways on how to get out. "Harry, love…Cedric and I need a little help…" Hermione thought really hard as they kept waiting.
XXXXX
"WHAT IN HADES NAME!"
The Heir of Slytherin was dancing with Lady Ginny Weasley, and for the first time in his life he was enjoying himself; this was his reception, after all. Then there was a commotion at the entrance of the Great Hall of Gryffindor Draco reflexively held on to Ginny while pulling out his wand with his other hand. He noticed that Lady Ginny also had her wand out. Looking up toward the stage, he saw that the kings, queens, Aurors of the three kingdoms, Dumbledore and McGonagall were all in a defensive stance. He did not miss the absence of his father.
"I knew it! He had something to do with this!"
"Lady Ginny, go to your parents and get out as soon-'' Draco was not able to finish his statement.
"I most certainly will NOT go running away to hide, Master Draco!" Lady Ginny shot back. But she had a look of doubt in those blue eyes, "Did he have anything to do with this?" she asked herself.
"Fine then, but stay close to me!" Draco answered tersely. He caught a fleeting vision of the offenders. "Death Eaters? Here? Father certainly had something to do with this! How dare he use my ceremony like this! The egotistical git! It has Malfoy written all over it!"
He tried to make his way to the rear of the Great Hall, hoping to escape the melee. Draco kept a firm grip on Lady Ginny's hand, sometimes stopping to evade a jinx or counter a curse. He looked at Ginny from time to time and saw her sending hexes at the hooded figures around them.
A thought suddenly occurred to him. "Please don't let her think I was part of this plan…"
As they neared the stage, Draco wanted to be able to bring Ginny as close as possible to the place where the protection was the strongest. He looked at the rulers and Aurors of the kingdoms of the lion, the eagle and the badger. He was amazed that he could not find the princes and the princess, though. "Father wouldn't think of kidnapping the princess now, would he? She is now betrothed to the Prince of Gryffindor; I told him that-father would know that that would be declaring a war against the three kingdoms…even my King would not attempt something this insane!"
"Draco!" Ginny exclaimed as a Death Eater moved to aim at her.
Draco instinctively moved between Ginny and her attacker but before he could throw a hex he felt intense pain that ripped through his insides. He knew that he had been hit by the Cruciatus curse, having experienced it before in the hands of his father as he fell to his knees.
"Stay with me, Master Draco…Stay with me…" Ginny whispered as she knelt by the young man. "Draco couldn't be a part of this! He wouldn't be attacked by his own kind if he was in conspiracy with them! I've got to protect him…but how? We're here like sitting ducks!" A sudden flash of red hair at the corner of her eye caught her attention. "Charles! Charles! CHARLIE!" she screamed out to her brother.
Duke Charles Weasley heard his name above the din of the attack. Looking around as he cast a shield charm, he saw his sister kneeling beside Draco. At first he thought that Ginny had been attacked by the young man but he caught the concern in her eyes and knew right away that he was a victim in this.
"Ginny, stay low and put up a shield charm!" he shouted back as he tried to make his way towards her.
Then he heard her scream, "Charlie! LOOK OUT!" Turning, he saw a Death Eater with his wand aimed at him, but before he could take action he heard the voice of his sister shouting a hex and saw bogeys with bat wings come out of nowhere attacking his supposed assailant. With a smirk, he ran to his sister.
"What happened?" Charlie asked, somewhat out of breath. He reached out to his sister and pushed her head down as they both ducked a hex.
"Draco was hit by the Cruciatus…" Ginny said.
Charlie looked at the young man from Slytherin with sympathy as his body twitched with the aftermath of the curse. He knew that this man admired his sister and the feeling was mutual. He had his doubts about the young Malfoy, being from Slytherin and all that, but no matter if he had been caught in the crossfire, attacked directly, or even taken the curse for Ginny, he knew that he would not wish the unforgivable curse on even his worst enemy.
"Finite Incantatem," Charles uttered as he waved his wand over Draco. Immediately the twitching stopped and he laid still.
"Ginny, we cannot do much for him right now, and considering the fight is still continuing, you both are not safe here. You have to keep your shield up and counter any hexes that come your way. So far we have not seen the killing curse yet, but you never know." Charlie quickly surveyed the scene behind him, then turning back to his sister he said, "I shall send George or Fred over here for reinforcements." Without another word, he stood up and joined the conflict.
Ginny glanced briefly at the now unconscious Draco. Sighing, she knew that it would take a while before anyone came to help them. If she levitated him somewhere safer, it would just lower her chances of defending the both of them. Hovering over Draco's body, she did the only thing she could do - she kept casting the shield charm and waited.
Back at the west tower in the castle of Gryffindor, four people were waiting anxiously for the couple on the bed to regain consciousness.
"It has been far too long…" Harry growled.
"We cannot do anything, Harry, we just have to have faith in both their abilities," Cho reasoned, but even as she said that she was wringing her hands, looking nervously at the pair on the bed. Princess Hermione had not moved from her sitting position and Cedric still did not stir, but the four observers could see that their breathing were becoming more shallow.
"This can't be good…I've got to do something!" the Prince of Gryffindor exclaimed, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"Mate, that princess of yours is a strong woman. If there is anyone who can pull through this, it would be her, and she will bring back Cedric," Lord Weasley assured him.
He had never seen Harry this distraught before and it bothered him. The lady seated on his lap had a look of concern as she gazed at her princess and the Prince of Hufflepuff. Ron covered her hands in a comforting gesture; Luna looked at him and gave him a small smile but turned her gaze back to the couple.
Harry turned to Ron and had to grin at his reassurance, but he had a nagging feeling that all was not right. He rubbed his hand over the scar on his forehead and for some reason, it tingled. The scar had never bothered him much before, even though sometimes it would hurt excruciatingly. Now after being dormant for many years, it started to sting. Harry attributed it to thinking too much of what was happening to his Hermione and thought nothing more of it.
Suddenly Luna let out a loud groan and covered her ears with her hands, "It is beginning!" She turned to Ron with frantic eyes, "Dear Merlin! Something terrible is happening at the Great Hall!"
She immediately stood up and pulled her wand from her hair, causing her ash blond locks to tumble down as she ran to the door. Lord Ron stood up, wearing a stunned expression. Giving one fleeting look at his prince, he too took out his wand and followed closely behind Lady Lovegood. Nothing registered in his mind about asking what was happening or what to expect, but he knew that it could not be good.
"Do not let anyone in!" Harry ordered Cho as he took off for the door, following in the wake of his friends.
Cho, looking confused, suddenly ran to cut him off. "Where are you going?" she demanded.
"The prediction of Cedric must be coming true. Luna must have felt something horrible to have reacted that way," Harry explained impatiently. He gently pushed the lady aside to get to the door, but he could not open it. He turned towards Cho and asked quietly in a firm voice, "Lady Chang, please open the door. I need to assist my parents in defending my kingdom."
"No, you are needed here!" Cho exclaimed, as she stomped her foot, "I cannot adequately defend this quarters without any help. I am a healer, not a warrior."
"I will reinforce your locking spell from the outside. You have to let me go!" Harry's voice was starting to rise.
Shaking her head, Cho replied, "Prince Harry, if anyone was to come charging in through that door, it would mean the end for both our loves. The princess is in a trance and may not come out of it if she was to be attacked in her state, the same goes for Cedric. I need you to defend this bedchamber!" Cho noticed her voice going an octave higher as she started to grow frantic by the daunting task of being left alone to protect the heirs of two kingdoms. "Harry, please, not for me, but for Hermione."
Harry felt like he was being torn in two. He knew that his duty was to his kingdom first, to defend its citizens' lives before his own. But he looked back at the pair on the bed and started to feel confused.
"Hermione, now would be a great time to come out of it, love... What should I do? Merlin, guide me! What should I do?" Harry looked down as he contemplated his next move. "Hermione and Cedric know of our duties…they would understand my decision…"
"Cho, you are a great witch. Strong and intelligent-Cedric would not have been attracted to you if you weren't. Place a little faith in your abilities. I have to go down to defend my people and my kingdom. Cedric and Hermione would understand as I know that if they were in my position they would go and join the battle." He placed a hand on Lady Chang's shoulder. "If I do not go down there I will not be able to face myself and neither will Hermione. The three of us gave a vow to place our people before ourselves. It is a duty of being an heir. As much as it tears me up inside to leave Hermione's side, I know that she and Cedric would not have it any other way…"
Cho, her eyes teary, knew that what Prince Harry said was true. Cedric would have done the same and so would the princess. "Damn you, Cedric, my love…Great time to be out for the count." She lifted her wand and released the locking spell. "Go then, but please be careful."
Harry gave her a small smile and nodded. Looking longingly one more time at his princess he said, "I shall be back as soon as I can. Just keep the door locked. Open it for no one, not even King Amos, just me." Cho nodded. "I will give you a password…Do not open this door for anyone, as I too will cast a locking spell from the outside."
After the Prince told her their agreed password, Cho went to the door to close it. As the Prince Harry made his exit, he stopped and said, "Take care of her for me…" Cho smiled in response as she cast the locking spell once again and the door glowed white, then it illuminated again indicating that Harry had also cast one. She turned back and continued her bedside vigil for her fiancé and friend but she sent a prayer for those at the Great Hall and hoped that she would not have to defend this bedchamber from the unknown assailants.
XXXXX
"Where are the youngins?" Sirius yelled to Remus as they formed a strong defense against the Death Eaters of King Voldemort.
Remus scanned the room and noticed many people on the ground, some cloaked in black and others in their best dress robes. The other Aurors of all three kingdoms were busy defending those present at the reception. He sniffed the air and said, "I cannot find their presence here!"
"Padfoot, do you see Wormtail anywhere?" James asked, referring to their former friend as he continued to throw hexes and counter curses.
"No, Prongs, I don't believe he is here!" Remus answered as he edged toward the queens. He saw that Queen Sara had a very deep gash on her arm; she had probably been hit by a severing curse and so now she was aiming her crossbow with her left arm. Queen Lily looked tired as she kept up a protecting spell as many Death Eaters kept trying to advance towards them.
"Prongs! John! The queens!" Remus shouted as he continued to move. At the edge of his vision he caught sight of Auror Tonks as she too edged towards the pair.
John looked up from his area; he knew that Sara and Lily had gone down the stage, charging toward their people to defend them. What he saw made him nauseous: Sara's gown was bloody and she was using her weak hand at aiming her bow towards their offenders. He too jumped down and almost landed on the honoree of this reception, fury filled him as he gazed upon the unconscious man. "He and his father had something to do with this!"
Then he acknowledged the presence of the petite young lady who was protecting him at the same time trying to volley hexes thrown at her. "What are you doing defending him?!" John exclaimed.
Taken aback by the sudden appearance of the King of Ravenclaw, Ginny wanted to instinctively curtsy but she resisted the urge. She was starting to tire as her brothers nor her parents, had appeared to aid her. She looked up at the king and explained, "Your Majesty, Master Draco was under the Cruciatus curse. Duke Charles, my brother, was supposed to send someone to help me, but so far no one has arrived." Ginny could feel the tears welling up in frustration, she saw the contempt and silent accusation in the eyes of King John, but it softened when she mentioned that Draco was cursed.
King John looked at where his wife was and then shifted his gaze to the pair he was beside. His decision was made, "Lady Weasley, can you levitate Master Malfoy to a safer location while I provide you with the protection both of you need?"
Ginny nodded vigorously. She could not speak as a lump formed in her throat. Thankful for the help that she so desperately needed, she had already scanned the area and knew where to bring Draco. There was an niche much like the one at Ravenclaw where she and Draco could take cover in towards her left. She pointed the alcove to the king who looked and gave her a small nod. "Very well then, Lady Weasley, on three. One. Two. Three."
They stood up simultaneously as King John muttered, "Protego" and Ginny waved her wand over the body of Draco and said, "Wingardium Leviosa" which caused Draco to lift up slightly. She ran as she kept Draco floating beside her while King John stood before her acting as a shield, countering each spell that flew their way. They reached the niche and Ginny placed Draco in first then followed; King John stayed in front of the entrance, dodging spells at the same time. The king looked in at the couple then turned his attention at the many attackers. "You will be safe here?" he asked over his shoulder.
"Yes, your Majesty!"
"I must leave you to assist the others. Keep this niche secure; I will try to locate one of your brothers…I take it that it will be easy to find one, all I have to do is follow the flaming hair!" With that comment the king was gone and Ginny again trained her wand toward the opening as she placed the head of Draco on her lap, and again she waited.
XXXXX
"Sirius…Is that you?" a feminine voice asked.
He knew that voice from somewhere, but he could not place his finger on who it reminded him of. "That is quite unfair milady," he responded, looking hard into the veiled face of his opponent as he sent a curse her way. "You know who I am, yet I don't have the honor of knowing you…"
The Death Eater took her mask off; Sirius gasped as the features of his attacker were revealed. She had a cold smirk on her face, with an eyebrow raised in an expression meant to ridicule him.
"Bella!"
"The one and only, my dear cousin! Tell me, is that wonderful tapestry of the Black family still gracing the venerable House of Black?" Marchioness Bellatrix asked.
"How dare you show yourself in this kingdom! We did right to banish you from the family tree! You and Narcissa are a disgrace to the family!" Sirius retorted, fury rising up as they circled each other, wands ready. Bella aimed and a red jet of light came out of her wand, which Sirius dodged with ease.
"Come on, Bella, you can do better than that!" Sirius goaded.
Bella laughed in her girlish way, "You, dear cousin, are the disgrace! Still being a lackey to the King of Gryffindor?"
"Look who's talking! You set your allegiance to a king who is knocking at Hades door!"
Bella's eyes narrowed as the dark, playful smirk gave way to a sneer. "My king is very much alive! He was the one who orchestrated this event! It is my honor to have led my fellow Death Eaters on this mission-a mission that will show the glory of my king! You all will bow before him!"
"Bow before him? I'd rather be dead!" Sirius replied, his wand's tip glowing.
"Very well then, cousin, that can easily be arranged…Avada Keda-" Bellatrix was not able to finish her curse as her wand went flying out of her hand.
"Expelliarmus!"
Both Sirius and Bellatrix looked in the direction of Harry, who was being flanked by Lord Ron and Lady Luna. Bellatrix let out a cackle. "Tut tut, dear cousin. Sending a boy to do a man's job? And what is this? He brought his playmates! My, you are losing your touch!"
"Mighty strong words coming from an unarmed witch like you…" Sirius retorted.
"Oh, but cousin, you have your backup and I have mine…"
Sirius was then hit from behind as his assailant said, "Sectumsempra!" Rodolphus, the husband of Bellatrix, stepped around the Auror wearing a smirk as he fell forward, blood spurting out from his back, his eyes wide with shock.
"NO!" Harry screamed as he rushed forward.
"Aw…isn't that sweet? The little prince of Gryffindor crying over his godfather? Boo hoo hoo for you. Well done, love!" Bellatrix exclaimed as she saluted her husband.
"Accio wand!" Rodolphus uttered as is wife's wand flew into his hand, he immediately handed it over to her.
Bellatrix then lifted it up and shouted, "MORSMORDRE!" Immediately the fighting in the Great Hall of Gryffindor ceased as Death Eaters hastened to Disapparate, leaving the horrific dark mark in the night sky of the enchanted ceiling.
Screams of terror were heard as all eyes of those in the Great Hall turned upward.
Harry clutched his head in pain as Luna buckled down beside him, rubbing her temples with her hands. Ron was immediately beside her as he held her close to him, trying to offer solace. Luna waved him off, saying, "Ronald, your prince needs you more than I…"
Ron turned his attention to Harry and saw that he was pale and beads of sweat were forming on his face. Harry was still rubbing his scar as he grimaced. "Ron, what is that?" Harry looked up.
"That, mate, is the Dark mark of the King of Slytherin," Ron whispered.
"Well, whatever that is, it's causing my scar to burn."
Ron didn't know what to think of what Prince Harry said. He peered at Harry and asked, "Will you be all right?"
Still rubbing his scar, he nodded, now looking at his godfather who was lying in a pool of blood. Harry's eyes grew wide. "Please don't be dead…Please don't be dead…"
He was about to call for help when he looked around and saw for the first time the carnage that was left. Harry anxiously searched for his parents and as he did so he saw Hermione's mother standing with his own mother, a crossbow in her hand; her gown, which once was gold, was now soaked in blood. Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he saw his father and King John rushing towards their wives, but his respite was cut short as he witnessed Queen Sara collapse. His mother caught her and then watched as King John carried her off. Harry could feel his throat tightening with emotions when he heard a moan coming from Lady Lovegood.
"Ron, take her away from here. Luna cannot handle the high levels of emotions running here at the Great Hall…" Harry ordered.
"No, your highness, I am needed here," Luna replied weakly.
"Lady Lovegood, please go. It is not healthy for you to be here…" Harry said with a thick voice as he looked upon the still figure of his godfather. He did not want to touch him for fear that it would confirm his suspicions.
"No, Prince Harry. My princess would not want me to leave you like this," Luna answered.
"Might as well give it up, mate, you should know how stubborn Ravenclaw women are…" Then Ron stood up and called the attention of a healer, leading him toward Sirius.
The three watched as the healer waved his wand over the still figure of the Duke.
"Is he alive?" Harry whispered.
The healer did not respond as he placed his hand on the head of Sirius and both Disapparated.
Harry let out a shaky breath. He stood up and faltered, Ron caught him as Luna also clutched the prince's arm. Harry, upon gaining his stance, kept rubbing his forehead. He felt pain and his mind was sluggish.
Suddenly he heard it…a soft whisper…"Harry, love…Cedric and I need a little help…"
Harry snapped to attention which startled Ron and Luna.
"What is it, mate?"
"Hermione…she needs me!" Harry ran towards the entrance of the Great Hall. Ron and Luna looked at each other and tried to catch up to him.
"What do you mean Harry? Is she awake?" Ron asked.
"I don't know. But I heard her…I heard her in my mind…"
Ron stopped suddenly as he grabbed the prince's arms.
"What do you mean 'you heard her in your mind'? Mate, hearing voices in your head isn't healthy at all. Maybe everything that's been happening to you lately has made you snap…" Ron said, searching his best friend's face for any sign of a nervous breakdown.
"I know it's strange, Ron, but I know what I heard…Hermione's asking for help for her and Cedric!" Harry paused, a glazed look in his yes. He glanced at Ron and said, "There it is again! She's asking for help…"
Ron took in everything. He too was worried about the princess but he was also worried about his family. He had not once seen a red haired being in the Great Hall and now he didn't know where they were. But duty always came first - he'd sworn his loyalty to his prince and best mate, and now his prince needed him to stay grounded for all of them.
Nodding, he made eye contact with Luna, "Love, please inform the kings and the overseer of the situation at the west tower, even though I doubt that they will be able to respond quickly enough, considering all that has occurred…but please try."
Luna gave him a brilliant smile. She'd heard him call her 'love' and it warmed her up inside. She nodded and, bracing her shoulders, she rushed back into the Great Hall to do her task.
"Let's go then, mate," Ron said as they sprinted toward the west tower.
A/N
What scene will the Prince of Gryffindor meet when he gets back to the West Tower?
What will happen to the Princess of Ravenclaw and Prince of Hufflepuff?
What will be the body count after this attack?
Well, we just have to wait for the next update…Hopefully I'll be healthier