Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling is a god to have given us that world.

Chapter 3

The weather was freezing, and the warming charms he had cast before entering the forest, were doing nothing for Albus. The Forest of La Neblina, was associated with its cold weather, and it was not because of its geographical location, but because of a mysterious magical mist, which always covered the forest. The coldness caused by the mist didn't allow any life to survive in the forest, and the trees were all dead and blackened. Magic also didn't seem to counter the cursed cold, as Albus was discovering it first- hand.

'Do you want some?' the woman beside him said handing him a small metal flask. Albus without a second thought took the flask and took a swig. The liquid, whatever it was, sent a warm sensation down his throat and he could immediately feel his body warming up.

'This is good. What is this, Anushka?' asked Albus taking another sip.

Anushka was extremely beautiful with her sharp features and bronze coloured skin. Her raven coloured hair was very long and she mostly wore it as a high ponytail. She had a very athletic physique, one which could only be obtained by strenuous training with dedication. But these were not the features which made people stare at her; it was because of her yellow feline like eyes, which granted her vision at night and the ability to see great distances.

'It's called Atapya Drau. My people drink it while they work during the winters,' Anushka explained. 'All though I could not find the all the ingredients used for making the original potion. I improvised with the local ingredients here.'

'Here Matias,' Albus said, handing the flask to the man next to him. 'I think it will do you good.' Matias didn't need to be told twice as he grabbed hold of the flask and quickly drowned the liquid.

'This really does work,' Matias said, handing the flask back to Albus.

'Do you think the information is correct?' Albus asked, he had started doubting the information they had received about the Baron doing something there. They had been inside the Forest of La Neblina for nearly two hours and they had seen nothing there, except the dark shadows of the dead trees surrounded by the white mist.

'She has never been wrong,' Matias replied, keeping a close eye on their surroundings.

'But if we continue to stay here any longer we might freeze to death,' Albus pointed out wrapping his cloak tighter around his body. The eerie silence and the darkened trees only seemed to add more to the coldness of the place. 'Do you know why the mist is confined to the forest?'

'Nobody knows the real reason, but there is an old legend told by the village folk,' Matias began. 'Once this land was ruled by a demon king. He thought himself to be the most powerful being in the realm, and decided to challenge the gods. The gods decided to teach the demon king a lesson. One day when the demon was passing through this forest, the gods launched a surprise attack on him. The demon king in order to save himself transformed himself into this mist, but the gods were cleverer than him. First they cast a barrier which didn't allow the mist to escape the forest. Then they cursed the demon king so that he could never change back.'

'And you believe all that?' Albus scoffed. He had never believed in demons, gods, or the various theories that explained the origins of magic. According to him, magic came into being just like the universe; it was a form of energy, which was spread throughout the universe and settled into vessels which could accommodate it, sort of a conductor. He supported the theory of Rigel Schneider of magic being an innate part of the universe, and magicals were just vessels which could conduct that energy.

'It is as I said, a legend. But legends are based somewhat on facts,' Matias countered.

'So you believe in demons and higher beings?' Albus asked, a bit disappointed by his comrade's thoughts.

'My people have believed in the existence of higher beings for thousands of years. I cannot challenge their faith nor change it. But what I can do is fight for what I believe in. And I believe in freedom of my people. If there is a god I know he too will side with me.'

Albus looked at Matias with admiration. Matias did not command great magic like Albus Dumbledore or Nushrat Khan. He was an ordinary wizard, but an extraordinary leader. His drive, his charisma, and his relentless pursuit for freedom was the reason why Albus had joined forces with him. He knew with Matias he could create a world which his father could never make; a free world.

'Angela has reported of their arrival,' Anushka spoke suddenly, grabbing the attention of both men instantly. 'She says they have just entered the north east part of the forest.'

Anushka was wearing one of the communicator earrings invented by his uncle George. George was quite impressed when he had first seen the muggle earpiece at work. He had thought that an unnoticeable communication device would be an excellent addition to his joke shop. So, after many failed attempts he finally managed to make the communicator earrings and earplugs.

Albus always used to carry many of his uncle's superb inventions with him. He was not much of a prankster, which his uncle was very very disappointed about, but those inventions came handy in various other situations. He had provided Matias with the earrings and earplugs, and they were being a great help, especially during missions.

'How many are there?' Matias asked.

Anushka touched the earring with her fingers and repeated Matias' question. After a brief pause she replied, 'There are three Shrouds and four guards.'

'Ask Angela to follow them but from a distance,' Matias ordered. 'Tell her our team will be the first to engage and only after that her team is to attack. And also inform Sebastian to move towards his east.' Anushka nodded and repeated her previous actions.

'Why would he send the Shrouds?' Albus asked.

The Baron was a dictator who had taken over the Venezuelan Magical World. He was a master of the dark arts and was known for his merciless killing. Matias, along with a group of wizards and witches, had formed a group which fought against the tyranny of the Baron. Albus and Anushka had decided to join them in their quest for freedom.

The Shrouds were the Baron's best magic casters. They were supposed to be made of pure magic, collected from the bodies of dead magical beings.

'That means we are at an advantage,' Matias replied. Albus could not help but notice the excitement in his comrade's voice. It sounded as if he was eager to face the Shrouds.

'How?'

'The mist devours magic and the Shrouds are pure magic,' Matias replied. 'As long as we don't use magic, we are safe.' Albus nodded in understanding. 'We move this way.' Matias motioned towards his right. 'We might be able to cut them off before they reach Sebastian and his team.'Albus and Anushka nodded in unison and started following Matias through the thick mist.

Albus didn't know where they were going. All he could see was the shadowy shape of the trees and white mist which hid everything. Matias had assured him he knew his way around the forest, but Albus doubted if there was a known path around the forest. It was like an unending maze, where only the extremely lucky ones could get out alive.

They walked through the mist, with Matias leading the way. Albus knew they were heading somewhere, but with the same scenery all around it was impossible to determine where they were, or where they were heading. Matias suddenly stopped on his tracks and motioned Albus and Anushka to stop as well. They were instantaneous to follow his command.

'They are coming,' Matias said in a whisper.

Albus was bewildered by Matias' statement. There was no indication of the Baron's men anywhere near them. Matias had warned him earlier not to cast any magic while they were inside the forest, unless he liked to die a horrible death, which he had added with a smile. But he readied his wand none the less, one never knew what could happen. He looked around to see if he had missed anything, but there was nothing but white mist and dead trees. He then concentrated on his hearing, there was a possibility Matias had heard something; there was nothing. He turned to Matias, and was about to ask how he had confidently declared that the Baron's men were near, when he heard cracking sounds. Albus quickly turned towards the direction of the sound; Anushka had also heard it. The sound drew closer and closer, and this time he could hear a whooshing sound accompanied by the cracking one. Suddenly bright blue lights became visible from the same direction, as the mist began to clear.

Four men carrying whips which seemed to be burning in blue flames were at the front. They were using the burning whips to somehow clear the mist. There were three heavily cloaked figures behind them, and they were carrying a chest.

'Your time has come,' Matias said turning to Anushka. Anushka nodded in understanding and then took out a small bronze item from her robes. She then rolled the item on her hand three times and then the bronze item was replaced by a regal looking bow. Albus now understood why Matias had asked Anushka to carry her bow with her. Even though, her bow was a magical item, magic was not required to use it. The only requirement was you had to be one of Anushka's family. She stretched the bow without putting any arrows in it, and took aim at one of the front men. She released the string of the bow, and an invisible arrow struck one of the men in his thigh.

The man who had been struck by the invisible arrow crashed to the ground crying out in pain. The region where he had been struck immediately began to freeze. Albus had seen Anushka use her invisible frost arrows before, actually he had been a recipient, so he knew how much pain it caused, and how it made the affected region inoperative.

'We have been attacked!' cried one of the whip wielders in spanish. The others quickly formed a defensive cover around the cloaked figures. But Anushka was too quick for them as another one of her frost arrows struck one of the wielders on the back, and another quickly followed striking the last human guard.

'I think that is enough,' Matias said motioning Anushka to stop her attack. Anushka without questioning lowered her bow. The mist began to settle back, slowly devouring the vision of enemies.

'Why are we not attacking? We have the upper hand?' Albus pointed out. He was a bit taken aback by Matias' command.

'The Shrouds don't like the mist,' Matias replied as if that would explain anything.

'I think Albus is right,' Anushka interjected. 'We may not get a better opportunity.'

'You will understand in a few moments,' Matias countered calmly. Just as Matias had finished speaking those words, a forceful wind blew through the area clearing all the mist. Albus brought up his hands to shield his eyes from the wind, which was without any doubt generated by the Shrouds. This surprised Albus, because Matias had told him it was not a good idea to use magic inside the forest.

The wind passed away giving them, as well as the enemy, a clear view of the area. The moisture on the outer surface of the trees glistened under the light, making them look alive. Albus noticed that the ground around the Shrouds were burning, but the flames were not causing any damage to them or the guards. The Shrouds then raised their hands and began to chant in some unknown language. The burning earth began to rise from the ground and they began to take the shape of long spikes. Suddenly, the spikes were thrown in different directions with great force. Albus saw that some of the spikes were heading straight towards them, so he conjured a shield to protect themselves from the incoming attack.

'What have you done?' Matias paled looking at the shield as the spikes crashed into it. 'I warned you not to cast any magic.'

'It was reaction out of habit,' Albus shrugged. 'And they are using magic as well.'

'No you don't understand-'

Before Matias could complete what he was saying a loud roaring sound resonated throughout the forest.

'What was that?' Albus asked. The sound was unlike any creature he had ever heard; it sounded terrifying and big.

'The forest's protector,' Matias said in a fearful tone.

Whatever was making the noise didn't seem to scare the Shrouds as much as it scared Matias. They immediately launched an attack towards them, this time it was some kind of cutting curse. The curse sliced the trees on its way towards them, and then it crashed into Albus' shield, shattering it. Albus and the others were knocked back a few steps but remained unhurt. Since, he had already broken the rule of not using magic inside the forest, and had already awakened the protector, there was no point in holding back. Albus, quickly regained his footing and charged towards the Shrouds.

'Stupefy' Albus yelled out, and sent the dark cutting curse towards one of the Shrouds. The curse hit the Shroud square on the chest, but to Albus' total shock the Shroud did not even fall back, let alone be stunned.

'Reducto' Matias yelled from behind him. It seemed that Matias had followed his thinking and had thrown caution to the wind. Matias' spell also connected full on, but the result was the same.

Albus was absolutely shocked by what was happening. Their spells were having little to no effect on the Shrouds. Was it some kind of shield? Or were they immune to magic?

Albus' thoughts were cut short when the Shrouds began to chant again and threw a wave of flames towards them. Albus quickly ran towards his side, taking cover among the trees, and expertly dodged the flames. The flames hit the trees and they started to burn. His experience in duelling had taught him to avoid unnecessary shields when he could avoid spells by dodging them. This gave him more time to attack, and use less magic.

'Reducto' cried Albus aiming his wand at the Shrouds, but again the Shrouds remained unscathed. One of the Shrouds then turned towards Albus and aimed his palm at him. Albus did not know what he was doing, but continued to run in a haphazard manner using the trees as a cover. A blue light shot from the palm of the Shroud and it dispersed into hundreds of smaller light beams in mid-air. The light beams crashed into the trees, and the ground, but one managed to hit Albus on his right shoulder.

The pain was excruciating, but Albus fought through the pain and cried out 'Sectumsempra.'

The spell hit the Shroud and slashed the cloak it was wearing. The Shroud did not bleed, in fact there was no flesh beneath the cloak. Albus realized at that moment, Shrouds were not human at all.

He tried to think of a plan as another wave of flames missed him. The Shrouds were probably some kind of creature which could command magic. And if they were any similar to the creatures he had faced then they were bound to have a weakness, but the question was whether they could survive long enough to discover that weakness.

Albus saw that the Shroud was again taking aim at him. He was growing tired from running around, but there was no other choice. Just when the Shroud was about to release an attack, a volley of frost arrows connected with it. The Shroud remained immobile for a few moments, as the places where he had been struck began to freeze. The burning ground from where the Shrouds had remained unmoved began to glow brighter and the frozen parts began to melt, the Shroud after its brief nullification began to move again.

Ice was their weakness, came the immediate thought in his mind.

'We need to freeze them!' Albus shouted to his allies. His information had an instant reaction, as Matias threw a freezing spell on one of the Shrouds. The spell connected and the Shroud became immobile, but again the burning earth began to glow and the effects of the spell were cancelled out.

The scorched earth was protecting the Shrouds from any freezing attack. So, they had to first destroy the scorched earth before they started to attack the Shrouds.

'We need to destroy the burning ground first!' Albus shouted continuing to move around. Albus then sent a freezing spell towards the scorched earth, hoping it would have the desired effect. The spell struck the ground, but nothing happened, it was as if the spell was absorbed by the earth.

Matias also seemed to be thinking on the same lines and cast a reducto on the burning ground, but the same thing happened to his spell as well. Anushka too tried to destroy the scorched earth with a flurry of her arrows, but they had no effect on it.

Albus was running out of ideas. If they continued to fight they would certainly loose, and if they backed down all their efforts would have been for naught.

Albus dodged another attack of the blue beams by backing into the forest. He put hid himself behind a thick tree, away from the sight of the Shrouds. His stamina was running out, and the burning tress were making it difficult for him to run in the frontlines. Maybe if they stayed back and attacked from a distance the Shrouds would try and chase them leaving the area of the scorched earth, thought Albus. While he was thinking of another plan, Albus noticed something strange; all the mist had vanished.

'The mist is gone!' Albus shouted. But there was no reply to his cry because his voice was drowned by a strange loud sound, it was like hundreds of centaurs galloping at the same time, and it was heading towards them. Albus saw something white coming towards them. At first he thought it was the mist, but then he realized it was faster and heavier. He stood up to run, but before his body could be set into motion a fierce, freezing and decimating blizzard hit him, forcing his body to crash onto the tree behind which he was hiding. The power of the blizzard did not allow him to keep his eyes open nor move his body, he could feel his face and his hands freezing under its chill. He thought he was going to die frozen inside the forest of La Neblina. Then all of a sudden the blizzard stopped as it had begun.

His eyelids felt very heavy and with great effort he was able to open them slightly, he looked around and saw a completely different scene, he had woken into an icy world. He tried to move his hands but they felt numb, along with the rest of his body. He could not help but wonder what had caused all this, then he remembered using magic inside the forest. He then thought of Anushka and Matias, they were also probably struck by the blizzard. He was pretty sure the Shrouds, whose weakness was cold, perished under the blizzard. He needed to move, he needed to get up; he needed to save his comrades.

He closed his eyes and tried to meditate, concentrating fully on reaching the magic within him. He had learnt to do this from the monks in the Eastern Himalayas. He had never been able to completely master the art, but he knew he could achieve what was needed. He began to imagine a light passing through his body, he concentrated on that light. The light then began to flow through his body, grasping the magic within him. He felt his magic responding, as heat began to spread throughout his body. He continued to concentrate as the imaginary light started to grow brighter and completely engulf his body.

Albus slowly opened his eyes, they were no longer heavy. His body no longer felt cold or numb, and moved at his will. He slowly pulled his body up from the ground and looked around at his frozen surroundings. It was like he was back in the Himalayas. He grabbed his wand and turned towards the battleground, but what he saw next blew his mind.

A large white wyvern was circling the sky. Its entire body appeared to be made of ice, and its movement was causing snow to fall on the ground beneath. Albus had little doubt that the wyvern was the cause of the blizzard. Then he turned his focus onto the ground, the burning earth had vanished and only the cloaks of the Shrouds remained. The body of the guards were partially covered with snow and on the other side Matias and Anushka lay motionless on the cold ground.

Albus tried to run towards them but a piercing screech from the wyvern caused him to stop on his tracks. He turned his attention back at the wyvern who swooped down towards the ground. The wyvern was about to make a feast out of his comrades, but he was not going to allow it. Gripping his wand tightly he aimed at the ground and screamed:

'Delkhii Zavsarlaga An Tsavyn Khagalakh'

The ground began to break sending the broken pieces flying into the air. The broken pieces pierced the wyvern's body, making it cry out in pain. Albus thought that was enough to stop the wyvern, but he could not have been more wrong. The hurt and angered wyvern turned its attention towards him. The wyvern charged towards him. Albus pointed his wand towards the incoming air assault and yelled:

'Fiendfyre.'

The dark fire escaped from his wand and hit the wyvern head on. The wyvern began to fall back, as Albus pushed more of his magic into the fire. It looked like Albus was going to win the battle, but then the wyvern opened its mouth and released a frosty breath. The breath was more powerful than any dragon he had seen or heard of. It was so powerful that it was able to extinguish the dark fire.

Albus was truly out of wits, how could he possibly fight something that could easily extinguish fiendfyre? If he had not died during the countless times he had risked his life he was surely going to die now. There was no way he could escape that thing let alone fight it.

The wyvern screeched, as if gloating at him. The wyvern then waved its wings towards him, the wind created by wings was so strong that it sent Albus flying for a few hundred metres before his body crashed down to the cold hard ground.

He had never imagined that he would meet his end in this fashion, but he was contended to die at the hands of such a powerful opponent. The only thing he regretted was not sending the letter he had written to Lily that morning.

He remained lying on the ground, his shoulders and back were hurting like anything. He could hear the wyvern's screeches coming near him. He did not attempt to move his body, it was useless, the wyvern would easily catch up with him, no matter how hard he were to try to escape. The mist was beginning to come back as he saw traces of it flowing above.

I like your smell he heard a feminine voice whisper in his ear. You smell like me, you reek of his blood.

He tried to sit up and see who was speaking, but his body seemed rooted. The mist began to grow thicker and he could no longer hear the wyvern's cries. He felt something caress his face, but it was more likely the mist than a person.

I find you interesting. Do you want to stay with me?

Albus wanted to say no but his lips would not move.

But we could be so good together. I can give you any wish you want.

No, Albus yelled mentally.

Why? Don't you have any wishes?

Albus could not believe his luck, one moment he was about to be killed by a wyvern and next he was being tempted by a mysterious voice. But he would gladly choose death than be taken over by something dark.

With your thoughts you try to act noble, but let us ask your heart what it really wants.

Albus, literally felt cold fingers wrap around his heart. Suddenly Albus' vision began to darken and just before he lost consciousness he heard the feminine voice say in an amused tone:

So, that is what you want.

#

Albus opened his eyes to be welcomed by an unfamiliar ceiling. He sat up from his bed, his head was feeling heavy for some odd reason, but he what surprised him most was the fact that he was alive. He tried to recall what had happened to him, but he could remember only fragments of it. He remembered the wyvern extinguishing the fiendfyre, then there was that voice. He tried to remember what that voice had said, but it was all foggy, had it been a dream? And how had he ended up inside this room?

'You're finally awake,' Matias said entering the room. 'I thought you were never going to wake up.'

'How did we get out alive?' Albus asked immediately.

'You don't remember?' Matias questioned back, raising his eyebrows in surprise. 'And I thought you were going to enlighten us on how you rescued us from that snowstorm.'

'What do you mean I rescued?' Albus was clearly confused.

'Angela says you were the one that carried us out of the forest. I had asked them to retreat immediately after you cast the shield charm. They were supposed to be waiting for us outside the forest, but when we didn't come back they decided to look for us. And just as they were about to enter the forest you emerged out of the mist carrying our unconscious bodies. That is what Angela told me.'

Nothing was making any sense. The last thing he remembered was the wyvern, and Matias was telling him a different tale. What had happened in that forest?

'How did I end up unconscious?' Albus asked.

'Angela says you collapsed immediately after seeing them. We diagnosed your body afterwards. The mist had completely drained your magic. Our magic was also depleted- we thought you were never going to wake up.' Matias paused and gave him a curious look. 'What happened over there?'

That was the same thing Albus wanted to know.

'I don't know,' Albus managed to say. He did not want to explain things which he was also unsure about.

Matias gave him a questioning look but did not press him further. 'Anuksa. I mean Anusha.' Albus could help but smile at Matias continuous attempt to pronounce Anushka's name correctly. He had been at it for months and he was still having problem saying it. 'I don't know why I can't say it like you do. But she was extremely worried about you. We finally got her to sleep. She had stayed without sleeping for four straight days.'

'Four days?'

'You have been in comatose for nearly five days.'

Everything was getting even more puzzling. Why couldn't he remember anything after the wyvern incident? And what had he done that had drained so much of magic from him?

'Say, I know it's not my place,' Matias began but trailed off.

'What?'

'Are you and Anusaka lovers?'

'What gave you that idea?' Albus asked with a frown.

'It's nothing really,' Matias said defensively. 'It's just that I have never seen a woman so devoted to a man before. Sorry if my question offended you.'

'No, it is not that- I just thought- never mind,' Albus brushed it off. People who did not understand his and Anushka's relationship, they usually thought of her as someone who satisfied his physical needs, and he had hated that thought. It was disrespectful to her and the relationship they shared.

'And by the way a letter arrived for you a day after our visit to La Neblina,' Matias said taking out a letter from the breast pocket of his shirt. 'It was amusing.'

'Why? What was on the letter?' Albus asked with a yawn.

'What do you think of me? I am not someone who pries on others private lives,' Matias countered looking offended.

'Then tell me what is so amusing about receiving a letter,' Albus said sarcastically.

'Well you see, Luciana put us under the Fidelius after we set camp. All of our party members had depleted magic, and we could not fight back if we were attacked,' Matias explained. 'But somehow the bird bringing the letter found exactly where you were. It was simply fascinating.'

'Was it a raven?' Albus asked quickly.

'Yes.'

'Hand me the letter quick.' Matias handed him the letter looking puzzled by Albus' sudden urgency.

Albus turned the letter and saw a familiar crest on the back. The crest consisted of a sceptre entwined by a vine and the words Bon Sang ne Saurait Mentir written below it; it was the family crest of the Greengrass family. His mother would not send him a letter using Huninn unless something major had happened. Albus unceremoniously tore open the letter and read the contents.

Albus,

Your mother is no longer with us. I cannot give the details, but come home quickly.

-D

His mother Ginny Weasley was dead. He reread the letter hoping to feel something regarding his biological mother's death, but there was nothing. He felt strange, his hate for her had not withered even on her death. It would be best if he didn't respond to the letter. But then his thoughts wandered to his siblings, they had to be going through a tough time; especially Lily. He thought about the last time he had seen her. She was still a child at that time, young and carefree. He missed her smile, her annoyed face, and her scent; the scent of green apples and burning pine. A warm feeling erupted inside him just thinking about her, like a phoenix suddenly bursting into flames.

'What's wrong?' Matias asked giving him a concerned look.

Albus finally looked up from the letter. 'I have to go back to England.'

A/N: I write stories for my own pleasure...and hopefully yours. The only way I can know if you enjoyed my work is through your feedback.

P.S. English is not my first language, so please be free to correct my errors.

P.S.S And this is my first story in this site; no flames please.