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Chapter Three
The Sword
Updated 3/28/2015
-o=o-
Light flashed brightly around Harry and he found the blonde girl Illyana, the injured man and himself standing on the grounds of Hogwarts, between the Quidditch pitch and the front of the castle.
"Is this the place?" Illyana asked.
Harry nodded and used the ring to levitate the injured Green Lantern off the ground. "Come on!" he said to the girl, and they ran toward the castle doors, which obligingly opened to admit them. Harry didn't pause but ran up the main staircase, the girl on his heels, with his injured burden, headed for the hospital wing on the third floor.
They burst through the hospital doors, Harry settling the man on the nearest bed. The door to the nurse's office flew open a moment later as Madame Pomfrey came out, demanding, "Who's there? Merlin's sake, we've already had enough excitement for tonight—"
She halted, shocked as she saw the Green Lantern on the hospital bed. "Oh, my," she breathed, taking out her wand and passing over him as she cast several spells to determine his injuries. "What happened?" she demanded of Harry, who was looking at her anxiously. "Who is this man, Mr. Potter?"
"Can you help him?" Harry asked rather than answer her question. There were only minutes left before the man was beyond help. "Someone attacked him!"
"I can see that," Pomfrey murmured. "I'm surprised he's still alive, with these injuries." She turned to Harry. "Did you cast any healing spells on him?"
"No," Harry shook his head. "I don't know any. I used this." He held up his hand, showing her the ring. "This was his until he got injured, then it found me. Once I brought Cedric back I went to find him. He was like this. Can you help him?" he asked again.
"I can try," Pomfrey said grimly, pointing her wand at the unconscious man. "You and the girl wait outside," she said as her wand began weaving ribbons of magic around the man's body.
"But—"
"No buts," Pomfrey cut him off. "Leave. I'll do what I can for him."
Harry wanted to argue more but decided Madam Pomfrey knew what she was doing. He and Illyana walked out of the infirmary.
In the corridor, Illyana was looking around thoughtfully. "There's a lot of magic in this castle," she said to Harry. "What do you do here?"
"I'm a student here," Harry said. "This is a school for learning magic."
Illyana smiled. "So what were you doing up in Scandinavia with him?" She jerked a thumb toward the hospital doors.
"I don't know," Harry shook his head. "This ring, it sort of saved me —"
At that moment Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape, along with Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, entered the corridor from a nearby intersection, heading their way. Harry tensed.
"Uh-oh. Are you in trouble?" Illyana whispered, watching their approach.
"I hope not," Harry whispered back. But the Minister and all three professors had serious expressions on their faces. Professor Dumbledore looked as somber as Harry had ever seen him.
"Harry," Dumbledore nodded to him, then to Illyana. "I don't believe I know this young lady…" He gave Harry an inquiring glance.
"Oh." Harry finally realized the Headmaster wanted him to introduce her. "Sorry, Professor, this is Illyana Rasputin, from —" he stopped, realizing he knew nothing about her beyond her name.
"Hello, sir," Illyana said, actually curtseying as she spoke. "I'm originally from Siberia, though I live in the United States these days."
"This is Professor McGonagall," Dumbledore said, indicating the Transfiguration professor, who nodded curtly at Harry and the girl. "Professor Snape, and our Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge." Neither Snape nor Fudge gave any indication they noticed Illyana. "Harry, perhaps we should go somewhere more private so you can give us the details of what happened after you reached the Tri-Wizard Cup."
Harry didn't move. "Sir, if it's alright with you, I would prefer to stay here until Madam Pomfrey finishes helping the man in there."
"Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall spoke up. "This is very serious. Cedric Diggory is dead and his father is demanding to know what happened."
"What about Voldemort and the Death Eaters?" Harry asked. McGonagall flinched involuntarily at the Name and Snape's lip curled in anger.
"They have been taken into custody," Dumbledore said. "We must also discuss how you were able to accomplish that, Harry."
"With this." Harry held up his hand, showing them the green ring. "It came to me when Voldemort—"
"Stop saying his name, Potter!" Snape hissed.
"—was trying to kill me," Harry went on, ignoring the Potions Master. "It can make solid objects out of light — all I have to do is think of something and the ring can create it."
"Quite interesting…" Dumbledore murmured, looking closely at the ring over his half-moon spectacles.
"Yes, yes, it's all quite fascinating," Fudge broke in. "But if that ring is what captured You-Know-Who, it needs to be taken to the Department of Mysteries and carefully studied, Dumbledore! Harry, you'll need to hand that ring over immediately."
"I quite agree," Snape quickly added, before the Headmaster could speak. "A boy of Potter's age should not be trusted with so dangerous a weapon." He turned to Harry. "Hand over the ring."
Harry took a step back. "The ring was given to me," he said, holding it close to himself. "The Green Lantern told me—"
"Who is this 'Green Lantern,' boy?" Fudge demanded.
"In there." Harry pointed toward the hospital doors. "That man. The ring told me he's—"
"The ring told you?" Snape looked dubious. "What nonsense is this? Headmaster, Potter is obviously not thinking straight — the events of the final Task, Diggory's death — he's most likely in shock."
"I'm not in shock," Harry said. "And I'm not giving up this ring."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Snape snapped. He stepped toward Harry, reaching out to grab his hand. "Hand it ov—"
"Stop." Illyana's arm came forward. As it did a silver light blazed from her hand, solidifying into a long, thin sword, gleaming brightly as its edge flashed up to touch Snape's Adam's apple. "He said, he's keeping the ring."
Snape's eyes were embers of dark fury. "What do you think you are doing, girl?" His voice was low and menacing, but he did not try to move forward.
Fudge had backed away upon seeing the sword, while McGonagall's eyes were wide with surprise. Harry wanted to tell Illyana not to hurt Snape, but couldn't quite bring himself to utter the words. Only Dumbledore appeared to remain calm. "Young lady, I'm sure we can avoid needless conflict. Severus, would you back away from Harry, please?"
Snape moved back, touching his throat where the blade had left a hair-thin incision that was turning red. Illyana relaxed her stance but the blade remained in her hand.
"Thank you," Dumbledore said to her. "I should be interested in learning how you were able to conjure a steel blade of such high quality so quickly, my dear."
Illyana looked at Harry. "Is he kidding?" she asked.
Harry started to answer but was interrupted when the doors to the hospital wing swung open and Madam Pomfrey appeared. Everyone immediately turned to her. "Ah, Poppy!" Dumbledore said. "How is he?"
"Not good," Madam Pomfrey shook her head. She was taking deep breaths, trying to regain her wind. "He has a lot of internal injuries — too many for me to handle in time. We can try to get him to St. Mungo's, but I'm afraid even a Portkey will be more than his body can take. I'm sorry, Mr. Potter."
"No!" Harry said, shaking his head wildly. "That can't be all we can do!"
"There's nothing more I can do," Pomfrey said. Her voice was almost pleading. "I've tried, but there's too much damage to fix."
"There has to be something we can do!" Harry shouted. He looked at the ring. "Ring! What can I do to save —" I don't even know his name, Harry realized "er— the Green Lantern?"
A beam of green light flashed from the ring, into the hospital ward and enveloped the dying Green Lantern. ANALYZING. SUBJECT JORDAN HAS UNDERGONE MINIMAL PHYSIOLOGICAL HEALING BASED ON MYSTICAL ENERGIES. INSUFFICIENT TO PREVENT ORGAN SHUTDOWN AND LIFE TERMINATION IN APPROXIMATELY FOUR MINUTES.
"Okay! I know that! But what can I do to help him?!" Harry screamed.
SUGGEST FURTHER APPLICATION OF MYSTICAL ENERGY.
"I don't know how!" Harry said, frustrated. The man's life was slipping away in front of him and there was nothing he could do—
SUGGEST ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE.
"What? What do you mean?" Harry didn't know what the Ring was saying to him. "How can I—"
"What did it say?" Illyana asked him.
"It said I should acquire the knowledge to help the Lantern," Harry replied. "But how am I going to learn how to heal—"
"Didn't you say this was a school?" Illyana said quickly. "Does it have a library?"
Harry nodded. "It does." He suddenly realized— "It does! Ring, can you read information from books?" AFFIRMATIVE. "How fast?" VERY FAST. "Then let's get to the Library!"
A green glow enveloped Harry and he shot off down the corridor before any of the teachers or Fudge could speak. After a few moments all four adults turned their gaze toward Illyana, who smiled sweetly at them as she stood holding her sword.
In seconds Harry had reached the Library and landed in the middle of the room, the ring on his hand held high. At her desk, Irma Pince, the librarian, looked up in annoyance. "Shh—" she began, then shrieked in surprise and ducked as a dozen beams shot from Harry's ring, causing shelf after shelf of books to glow. The beams moved across the room, from shelf to shelf, absorbing every jot and tittle of information in every book and scroll, every grimoire and manuscript, every rune carving and symbol.
ANALYSIS…COMPLETED. SOLUTION…READY. RETURN TO SUBJECT JORDAN FOR APPLICATION. Harry shot back toward the hospital wing, finding Illyana, the professors and Fudge as he'd left them. He flew straight through the doors, the green energy allowing him to pass through them, and landed next to the Lantern's bed.
"What do I do now?" Harry asked the ring, staring anxiously at the man. Jordan was his name, the ring had told him.
YOU MUST USE YOUR WAND TO CAST THE SPELLS, the ring told him. I AM TRANSFERRING THE SPELL WORDS AND SOMATICS TO YOUR MIND. Harry felt unfamiliar words and phrases flooding into his brain. It...hurt, almost as bad as his scar did sometimes, but that wasn't important if it helped Jordan survive. BEGIN.
Harry began casting spells. There were a lot of spells to cast, so much healing to be done. After two minutes of casting he began to feel tired. This was something the green energy couldn't do for him — the magic had to come from him.
After four minutes Harry's arm was trembling with exhaustion. He had cast more spells in the past four minutes than in his entire fourth year of school! He hadn't even noticed that Illyana and the adults had come into the room behind him. He kept up the casting, even though he was on the verge of collapse.
Illyana caught him as he fell to his knees next to Jordan's cot. "How much more?" she whispered.
"Too — too much…" Harry gasped. "But — I have…keep…going…" He looked at her. "Help me up," he whispered.
"You need to rest," Illyana urged him. "You're pushing too hard."
"Mr. Potter—!" McGonagall, behind him, called out in concern. "Harry, don't—"
"I have an idea," Illyana said. She put her arms around his shoulders. A bright flash of light made everyone look away for a moment. When they turned back, Harry was up again and casting spells.
"What happened?" McGonagall whispered to Dumbledore. The ancient wizard merely shook his head. What Harry was doing was unprecedented in his long years of experience.
"Dumbledore," Fudged hissed. "You know we cannot let the boy keep that—"
Dumbledore put up a hand and the Minister fell silent, though his eyes remained on the glowing ring on Potter's hand.
After ten full minutes of spells, Harry finally took a staggering step back from the bed. "He'll make it," he breathed, looking at Illyana. "We did it."
"Incredible," Dumbledore breathed. McGonagall's eyes were wide and wet. Madam Pomfrey was staring in admiration at the young man who had done what she couldn't. Even Snape was silent, recognizing there was nothing he could say against the boy at this moment. Fudge's green bowler was twirling madly in his hands as he eyed the green ring on Harry's hand.
Harry turned to Pomfrey and the Headmaster. "He needs to rest while the bones in his legs and hand regrow," he said, shakily.
"That was quite amazing, Harry," Dumbledore said quietly. "You were able to learn the necessary magic in only a few minutes."
"The ring learned the magic," Harry mumbled. "It taught the spells to me, put them in my head. I was just providing the magic..." He pointed weakly at a nearby cot, and Illyana helped him over to sit on it. "I need to rest for a minute," Harry said, stretching out on the cot. He closed his eyes and immediately fell asleep.
Illyana sat down on the bed next to Harry's. She looked over at the adults who were watching the two of them. "I'll watch over him while he sleeps," she said to them; her eyes were particularly on Fudge and Snape. "So nothing happens to him," she added, pointedly.
"Dumbledore," Fudge said softly, though it was obvious he wasn't speaking quietly in deference to the sleeping Harry. "We need to talk."
"As you wish, Cornelius," Dumbledore replied. He gestured toward the hospital doors. "Perhaps we should speak elsewhere." The Headmaster led the way out.
Illyana watched as the adults left the room, except for the nurse, who gave her a curious look before she went back into her office. After everyone was gone she let her Soulsword become ethereal again. The guy with the silly green bowler hat would bear watching, she decided. So would the guy with the long, greasy hair. Neither one of them seemed to like Harry very much.
She liked him. They were about the same age. And this place was interesting, too, however she'd managed to come here and meet him. A school full of magical students. Nothing like Xavier's school back in America, which was a lot more high-tech and sciency. There might be some things she could learn here, especially since her powers outside of Limbo were a lot more limited. At least the old guy who seemed to be running the school was curious about her, so maybe he'd give her a chance.
Illyana leaned back on her hands, wondering where she could get a bite to eat around here. Hopefully there was a burger place nearby.
-o=o-
High above the grounds of Hogwarts, the red-skinned alien slowed to a halt, hovering above the source of the green energy. The signal was weak — something was trying to mask it, the alien noted, but he could tell it was somewhere within the castle below him.
Moving lower, the alien cloaked himself in an aura of yellow energy, making himself invisible to detection as he observed the goings-on outside the castle. A large number of human children were gathered in stands to the west of the castle, surrounding a strange oblong growth of shrubs that were arranged into a maze of sorts. There were men in red robes preventing them from leaving the stands. Nearby, another group of men in red robes were leading away a man with light-colored hair wearing baggy clothing. Without context, none of this made sense.
But his ring was picking up conversations from below and translating them into his native tongue. There had been a tournament—a competition—and the two leading contenders had returned with one of them dead. The man being led away had pretended to be someone else and had been caught.
And there was something else. A very evil man, one thought to be dead, had returned and been captured, along with a group of his followers. They would be brought to a place called Azkaban, along with the man being led away now.
The red-skinned alien smiled thinly. He could use allies on this world to help him combat the other members of the Green Lantern Corps. He had his ring put a trace on the young man being taken away while he concentrated on finding a way to observe what was going on inside the castle.
