HEY EVERYONE I'M BACK!
I'm sorry I've been gone so long but its my last year in secondary (high) school and I've got those amazingly horrible exams right around the corner (SATs I think they're called over in America) but that's why I've been gone for so long. Well my exams are finished on the 24th of June and once that's over I'll be back then, with two new stories, this one and another new one called Love, Hate and War.
But I just want you all to know that I'm not gone and while I'm sitting my exams I've this little chappie here to keep you occupied until then. So until then enjoy this.
Agrolass aka gryffindorheir16
The Age of the Shadow King
"This is a special announcement by the Minister of Magic, Cuthbert Mockridge", the wireless radio crackled. There was a pause of a few seconds and the deep voice of a man whose voice crumbled among all the crackling, came on the radio and everything stopped in the area, as people listened to the announcement.
"Wizards and witches everywhere", he began, pausing to gather his words as he continued, "Today is a dark day indeed. Not since the rise of You Know Who, have we been put under such threat, by a dark force we know nothing of. The Ministry of Magic has confirmed the rumours of a new Dark Lord that was spotted a week ago, and we regret to inform that we still know nothing more of this Dark Lord, The Shadow King as he calls himself, who he is and why he is here. He is aided by his own army that call themselves the Blood Kindred, and if anybody runs across the paths of these men and women, be advised to stay well clear and call for your nearest Auror to deal with them. These Blood Kindred are very dangerous and not unlike the Death Eaters from a few years ago, so I advise extreme caution when outside the home. Children should not be left alone outside and over the next few days, Securing The House Kits will be sent to every wizarding family in Britain and Ireland so that each family can put up wards to protect their home. I am warning you once more, we are entering a dark era and everyone must be vigilant of dark arts activity and report it to the Ministry". The voice stopped and the radio crackled for a few seconds more, before turning back to normal and a Weird Sister track began blaring out on the radio.
The lights in the hospital were unusually dark on this sultry spring evening, as the dark clouds hanging low over the sky blocked out most of the spring sun and rain that had been threatening London all day, seemed finally about to give way, as the heavens opened up and a heavy shower of rain fell onto the city.
The hospital ward was quiet, the visiting hours having long been over and the only noise that could be heard in this still room was the gentle sleeping noises of an occupant of the bed in the corner. There were only three people in this ward, two were only asleep and the third was still in a deep coma. There had been no change in his stance since he was brought in here two weeks earlier, the only thing that had indeed changed was the large collection of flowers on his bedside table and standing around his bed in an assortment of vases. His glasses were lying haphazardly on the corner of the bedside table, along with his wand that was poking out of a drawer. The man looked like he was peacefully sleeping, but anyone who knew him, knew he was anything but. The wounds on his face were starting to heal and there was only a large, ugly scar across his right cheek that still showed, rivalling his more famous lightning bolt scar on the middle of his forehead.
There had been no change in Harry's condition for the last two weeks, and the Medi-Wizards and Healers were starting to believe that he was in one of those deep, permanent comas, where he would not wake out of for another few years.
No-one quite knew exactly what had put him in this deep coma, for his wounds, thought bad, were not serious enough to place him in a coma. After all they were superficial and whatever induced the coma was serious and internal. What had been so curious about Harry's condition was, that the same blast that had killed all the Blood Kindred that had been present in the cave, yet miraculously spared all of the Aurors. Harry was the only casualty on the side of the good people, while all of the Blood Kindred, save for Malfoy had been killed. What had affected Harry so badly that it put him in a coma and yet didn't touch his colleagues apart from knocking them out for a minute? Why was he more alike to the Blood Kindred in this instance than his own friends? His own friends had been pondering this question for the last two weeks, but no-one seemed to have a clue as to what exactly had happened that night. They came to visit him regularly along with a whole troop of red heads, that were the infamous Weasley family, as the Medi-Witches liked to call them. It was well known that Molly hated being ushered out of the ward after visiting hours were over. Harry was generally never lacking company, for when visiting hours were over and the last of the Weasleys were rounded up and ushered rather forcefully out of the section, the Medi- Witches would come in and discuss in low tones about all the things Harry done in his lifetime, his famous scar or how handsome he looked lying there. Harry unfortunately was not aware of the extra attention, though it may be considered good as he did have a girlfriend. But it was one Weasley, who, curiously had gotten past the Medi-Witches, for she herself was studying to become a Healer. She would often come and visit Harry in the late hours of the night to speak with him or to just tell him all the things that were troubling her. The Healers would usually smile sympathetically at her when they spotted her beside Harry's bed, but they learnt to leave her in peace. She had a fiery temper, none of her parents or siblings could rival, so it was best to stay on her good side. The Medi-Witches would smile and watch her with fondness for, to them, it was obvious that Ginny Weasley was in love with Harry Potter, but all Medi-Witches knew that the famous Harry Potter was currently dating another Auror called Kaylee Griffinstock. They would often sit in their small lounge and discuss the possible scenarios that could occur if Harry ever woke up, and Kaylee discovered that Ginny was in love with him. They really had nothing else to do with their lives, so they were content to just sit there sipping their tea, and gossip.
"Ron, come on get up!" Hermione groaned groggily, rolling onto her side and beginning to poke Ron in the back, thereby effectively cutting off his loud snoring and waking him up.
"'Sup 'Mione?" Ron groaned croakily, turning on his other side so he could see Hermione, in all her morning glory, with her extra bushy hair, thin sheet wrapped around her chest and puffy eyes from having just woken up.
"Its nine in the morning and we said we would go and visit Harry today", Hermione replied yawning once more for the effect, and wrapping her sheet more tightly around her, thereby waking Ron up even more. He eyed the sheet with a look of contempt and flicked back to Hermione's eyes, grinning mischeveiously.
"But the hospital opening hours aren't until eleven, and we have so much time, to just lie here!"
"Yes, but by the time you finally get out of bed and have something to eat, it will definitely be past eleven", Hermione replied rolling her eyes and sitting up in her bed. For the last week Ron had been staying in her apartment, his only excuse being that they had a lot to catch up on. Ever since that incident in Diagon Alley when they both watched, horrified, as the Shadow King revealed himself to everyone, Ron had taken it upon him to make sure Hermione was safe. With Harry in a coma, and members of the Blood Kindred on the loose, Ron would hear nothing of Hermione protesting that she could defend herself, and took it upon himself to stay at her apartment and only let her out of his sight, when he knew she was safe and when he had to train. Ron professed to having nearly lost one of his best friends to the Blood Kindred, and he was in no mood to lose Hermione too.
Secretly Hermione thought it was just to stay at her place and she would tease him mercilessly on this point, to which he would only grin mischievously and add that spending every night with her was an added bonus he was not likely to give up easily. So a week later, Hermione had gotten herself quite used to the idea of having Ron stay with her, and she had even left him his own untidy corner where he could throw all his Quidditch gear and generally be cluttered in her immaculate apartment.
"Come on Hermione, won't you lie in with me?" Ron asked pouting at her, to which Hermione only chuckled and rolled her eyes, so Ron changed his tactics and quickly jumped up, grabbed Hermione by the waist and pulling her back into bed, where she fell on top of him laughing heartily.
"I'm not quite done with you yet", he growled in her ear, nibbling the sensitive spot beneath her left ear, making goose bumps run down Hermione's spine and catching her attention.
"But we had all last night, we were at it all night!" Hermione cried quite amazed with her boyfriend. "You really are insatiable!"
"When I have such a woman like you, who wouldn't be?" Ron cocked an eyebrow and kissed her, before she could protest.
Normally Hermione would protest at being caught off guard, but when Ron deepened the kiss, Hermione ceased to care and she closed her arms around his neck, falling on top of him.
Just when the kissing got quite heated and Ron's wandering hands were on their march again, the doorbell rang quite shrilly through the apartment, earning a frustrated growl from a very heated Ron. Hermione disentangled herself from Ron's hands and walked over to her chair to retrieve her bathrobe, putting it on and turning to Ron, who had an ugly look on his face. He was not pleased!
"Can't you just ignore it, pretend you're still asleep or something", Ron said rather disgruntled.
"I can't", Hermione replied woefully. "It could be Ginny. She said she would come with us to the hospital".
"Well can't you tell her to bugger off or something?" Ron asked frowning.
"Ron!" Hermione cried shocked. "She's your sister! Anyway, when we get back from the hospital, I don't have to work today, so how about in the evening I could run us a nice bath, with candles and lots of lotion and you could have me to yourself all evening" Hermione smiled wickedly at him, crossing the room to kiss him chastely, though leaving him enough to look down her bathrobe, before she tied it tight.
"Can we try that body paint, Fred and George gave me?" Ron asked, his face lighting up.
"Sure Ron", Hermione laughed, kissing him lightly once more before leaving the room.
Ron lay back down on the bed, the sheet half draped over his tall and muscular frame. He smiled up at the ceiling and listened as Hermione opened the door and greeted someone she obviously knew well. A second later, Ron heard the familiar voice of his baby sister, chatting animatedly with Hermione and Ron scowled. He would have to have a talk with Ginny later about coming so early and interrupting things that were rather important. Satisfying Hermione was certainly top of his list. He heard laughter emanating from the kitchen area and shook his head. Women were so strange when they flocked together. Always giggling and gossiping when they got together, though Hermione would never admit to anything of the kind!
Ron decided it was best to face the inevitable and get it over with, so he quickly jumped out of bed, marching over to the chair, where they had distractedly thrown their clothes over last night, while caught up in another passionate bout of love-making. He smiled to himself at the memory. God that woman was quite insatiable herself! Ron quickly pulled on his pants and the scruffy t-shirt from the night before, making his way to the kitchen. Already before he entered the kitchen he could hear both girls screeching wildly, with Ginny exclaiming, "Hermione, I never knew!" Deciding it was probably he stopped whatever conversation they were having before it turned embarrassing for him, Ron marched loudly into the kitchen, causing both girls to stop talking immediately and look up at him.
"Morning Ron", Ginny said sipping a cup of tea in her hand, Hermione had obviously made for her. "Been up long?" she asked innocently, though Ron knew there was a hidden meaning behind the simple statement.
Ron glared at her and grumbled, "If someone hadn't woken me up" in reply. He looked at her darkly once more and then poured himself a cup of coffee from the pot standing on the counter.
"Well anyway", Hermione said changing the subject for she knew Ginny had just put Ron in a grumpy mood. "How do the Healers think Harry's doing?" she asked Ginny and the change in expressions on her face was quite distinct. Gone was the happy mischievous smile on her face, only to be replaced with a sad and haunted look on her face.
"There's been no change and they're starting to wonder if they won't have to take drastic actions to wake Harry up", Ginny replied soberly.
"Which means?" Hermione asked.
"Which means that they'll use a lot of risky and experimental charms to try and wake him up unnaturally, which can be really bad for his body. If he is awoken forcefully before his body has had time to recover it could be very dangerous for his health. He could get worse".
"Are the Healers going to try that option?" Hermione replied.
"Well they need to find some sort of close relative or something to consult them on this", Ginny replied.
"Well mum can do that" Ron replied.
"Its not as easy as that Ron. Mum has no official claim on Harry at all, it might even go to Harry's aunt and uncle, heaven forbid!" Ginny sighed.
"Yeah like we'll ever let that happen, won't we Hermione", Ron laughed at the absurdity of going to Vernon and Petunia Dursely asking them about Harry's health. Ron had met them once or two during his many years of knowing Harry, and he knew for a fact they neither cared, nor would they consider Harry's life of any great importance. In fact they would feel insulted someone was trying to make him better.
"Look Ginny, I'll go talk to the Healers today when we go and visit Harry, and if they won't let help us out I'll go back to the Ministry and pull a few strings", Hermione said in her business-like voice which she always used when she was dealing with important people.
"Can you even do that?" Ginny asked frowning.
"Well not technically", Hermione said deflating a little, "but I've made a few friends there, some people I've gotten close to that owe me a few favours".
"Who?" Ron asked turning to Hermione, his jealous tendency surfacing immediately.
"It's nothing Ron", Hermione said kindly, turning to him and smiling, before turning back to Ginny, "The Ministry doesn't like to admit it, but they hold a lot of power over St. Mungo's, for political reasons that I won't get into now. Just leave it to me Ginny".
"Thank you Hermione, I was just so worried about him", Ginny replied appreciatively smiling at Hermione, who smiled back and laid a hand on Ginny's shoulder. A wave of understanding and recognition passed between them that went unnoticed by Ron.
"Well I had better make breakfast for us then", Hermione said heading towards her muggle refrigerator and pulling out a few eggs in a carton and the carton of milk. "You are staying for breakfast of course Ginny", Hermione added smiling over at her friend. "Would you like some pancakes as well, I usually make them for Ron, because he still doesn't seem to have caught on to how you use a frying pan. The first time he tried, there was a blue fire about two feet high in my frying pan. He singed my best curtains too", Hermione laughed.
"Well why on earth would you ever put that burning fuel in a pan over a fire. Muggles are nutters!" Ron complained.
"That burning fuel is called cooking oil and its used so things don't stick to other things. Its perfectly safe if you know how to handle fire", Hermione replied her back turned to him, mixing a pancake batter the muggle way.
"Well I'm going to go have a shower, so you two can start chattering away to yourselves", Ron said walking up Hermione and kissing her gently on the lips, before turning to his sister and adding, "And next time Gin, please come a little later. Some people like to sleep in". He gave her a pointed look and walked out the kitchen into the hall.
"Well now that Ron is finally gone, you can tell me how you're really getting along!" Hermione said setting down the jug with the batter and turning to her friend.
"Well fine like I said, I'm just worried and no-one else really seems to care!" Ginny replied sighing.
"Oh that's not true Ginny!" Hermione said quite shocked at Ginny's outburst. "We all care, me, Ron, your mum and all of the Ministry is even worried".
"I'm sorry I'm just so frustrated about the whole matter, and Kaylee is always gone. You would think that as his girlfriend she would be around a lot more!"
"Well she is an Auror and that is a busy and stressful job. Its not her fault she can't always be there. Anyway she has to go out there and catch those people that done this to Harry. Draco Malfoy is still on the run after all. But that's not what's bothering you, is it?" Hermione asked peering closely at Ginny.
"You know Ron is right. When you look at someone like that it does feel like you're reading their mind. Its kind of creepy", Ginny laughed, but then turned serious. "I just hate not being able to help".
"I know", Hermione said sympathetically. "He will be okay, I'll make sure of that!"
"Yeah", Ginny smiled and took Hermione's hands, squeezing them gently to let her know she cared. "So who's all going to be at the hospital today", Ginny asked changing the subject.
"Well Ron tells me your mum will be there and that Fred and George have also got some time of work to check in on Harry and they're taking their girlfriends with them. Apparently mum wants to meet them, then there's Bill with Fleur, oh and Kaylee just got back from a mission and is meeting us there. Apparently she has some news for us on this Shadow King", Hermione replied brightly getting up off the chair and returning to making pancakes.
"Before you know it we'll have caught and stopped this Shadow King, Malfoy will be behind bars and Harry will awaken from his coma and all will be well again", she added turning to her friend and smiling.
Quite far away from the hustle and bustle of London city, northwards in a rickety old house on the Scottish moors, very far away from any form of civilisation, there were a group of wizards dressed in blood reds cloaks and gold masks, huddled around a shimmering image of a grey old man, wrinkles too deep it blocked out some of his features, his cold grey eyes were the most remarkable of all his features, everything else was rather vague and undefined. When he spoke his voice was cold and gravely, like a voice not having been used in many centuries and it caught everyone's attention around him.
"What news have you on the heir of Gryffindor?" he asked, his voice resonating throughout the old house.
"It is who we think it is. They are currently in St Mungo's. Shall we go through with the plan Sir?" the voice of Draco Malfoy answered beneath the gold mask.
"Yes I want the heir of Gryffindor dead before they have a chance to learn of who they are. That heir is my greatest threat. I want them eliminated!" the shadowy man replied angrily.
"You heard the shadow King, I want a group of twenty men with me now. We are going to St Mungo's", Malfoy shouted out backing out of the circle. He bowed towards the Shadow King and walked out of the house, twenty men following behind him, their cloaks billowing in the strong wind.