Chapter 4.
Harry was as stunned as everybody else. Voldemort was lying on the ground writhing in agony from his shattered leg. A masked Death Eater approached the struggling man cautiously and moved his wand over the injured leg, and then with three sharp twists of his wand Harry heard the bone being violently reset. Another strangled cry of anguish came from Voldemort, and Harry found himself wincing in sympathy despite who the victim was.
"Kill him!" Voldemort gasped still lying on the ground. The Death Eaters though didn't move. The evening's events seemed to have overwhelmed them all. "Kill him! I command it," he screamed again in high anger, and this time they all moved as one. Harry's heart sank, the moment had come. He could flee, Voldemort was mortal now, and anybody could kill him, but inevitable others would die in the meantime, and the whole reason for coming back in time was that nobody else should have to.
The air in front of him turned into a kaleidoscope of colour from the wide variety of curses being thrown at him. Greens, reds, purples and many others blurred in front of him mesmerising him for a fraction of a second with their deadly beauty before he reacted.
His great advantage over the past year had been that he knew far more magic that someone his age should. In much the same way that British muggles weren't allowed to drive cars until they were seventeen Wizards and Witches weren't allowed to Apparate until they were seventeen as well. It wasn't that they were incapable of doing it before then, many were. Harry had managed it before he even knew he was a Wizard when he escaped Dudley and his gang and landed on the school roof. The general wisdom though was that it was safer for all concerned that a certain level of maturity should be reached first. Just like car crashes splinching was still a major hazard for the young and drunk.
It was therefore a total shock to the Death Eaters when the fourteen year old boy disapparated before their very eyes with an unheard pop. It was even more of a shock when he reappeared behind them and stunned two of them in the back of the head. Harry had no way of knowing who was who anymore as all were now once again wearing their masks and full hood. One of the two he stunned cracked his head as he clipped it on a gravestone on the way down.
The others turned as one and shot another barrage of curses and hexes at him. Again he apparated away this time he reappeared in the centre of the graveyard appearing behind the massive marble angel that had seen better days. It was the centre piece of the graveyard, its wings had badly weathered and the harp it was carrying was now in two separate pieces. This time he was only able to stun one Death Eater. His other shots were easily deflected.
"Surround him," the unmistakable voice of Lucius Malfoy said taking command. Dividing into two groups they moved either side of him all the while watching him through the dark holes of their masks. Harry made no attempt to apparate away as the Death Eaters threaded their way through the endless headstones, nor did he cast a spell at any of them. Voldemort he noticed was struggling to stand up, and Harry briefly wondered what had happened to him. Why was he so weak? Had his resurrection gone wrong somehow? It had all happened the same way as before.
The Death Eaters by now had moved all around him there had to be twenty five or so of them, with another three lying unconscious on the ground. None of the others had bothered to help them.
"Harry get out of there NOW!" a voice screamed. At last the trap had been set, and as soon as Harry heard the shout he again apparated away to land beside his Godfather just on the other side of the stone wall that surrounded the graveyard. "Now Remus!"
The air reverberated to an almighty crack of what sounded like thunder, and the ground began to rumble beneath their feet. There were cries of alarm from some of the Death Eaters within the graveyard. One of the marble angel's wings that Harry had just been hiding behind shattered and fell at its feet.
The ground then erupted as hundreds of thick metal chains with open manacles at the end of them punched through, throwing soil in the air as they did so. They began waving wildly around, and like demented snakes they lashed out at anybody near by.
Heading towards Harry and Sirius at a run was a bulky Death Eater, and it could have been Crabbe or Goyle Harry reckoned, but before he had taken two paces he was grabbed by the ankle. The manacle magical locked tight and then the chain slammed back into the ground. The Death Eater crashed to the ground, tripped by the manacle, and three more sprung up, spurting more soil as they did so. They latched onto an ankle and two wrists and sank again below the surface. Crabbe or Goyle, or whoever it was, was now pinned spread eagled to the ground unable to move.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted and the wand that had miraculously remained in the Death Eater's hand spun through the air into his own. He wasn't the only person in the graveyard to suffer the same ignominious fate. Others were being flattened into the earth in the same undignified manner.
"This is seriously cool," Sirius said with a broad grin as he summoned two more wands.
"Always with the serious puns, don't you every get tired of them," Harry said catching one himself.
"Nope."
"Still it was worth all those nights sneaking out here setting this up," Harry said watching a Death Eater manage to blast one set of manacles into dust, but being grabbed by another two and flattened.
"I can't wait to see the action replays," Sirius continued, "especially watching it in slow motion."
"EVERYBODY KEEP STILL," Malfoy bellowed out to his fellow Death Eaters, "they only attack you if you move." He had ripped off his mask, his face contorted in fury. He had managed to destroy the nearest manacles to him and had begun to systematically clear a path towards Harry and Sirius. Both of them had been continuing to summon wands to them and they already had a pile of ten or more at their feet.
"I've got the wards up," Remus shouted about forty odd yards to their right hidden under Harry's invisibility cloak. Apparation was now impossible within the graveyard and just beyond, so the only escape route for the Death Eaters was to fight their way out. Harry searched the area hoping to spot Voldemort, but with all the gravestones there was no sign of him and he wondered if he had already slipped away.
The remaining Death Eaters had listened to Malfoy, and with as little movement as possible were slowly destroying the manacles nearest them. The chained manacles were swaying around so much that hitting them wasn't all that easy. It didn't help that they were also being assaulted from four different directions. Harry had moved to the left away from Sirius, and was having great success with the simple jelly-legs jinx. Unable to stop their dancing legs in time three more victims were now pinned to the ground unable to move, and wandless.
A concussion blast from the very far side of the graveyard sent two more Death Eaters sprawling to the ground, where they were quickly grappled and immobilised. Their wands flew off into the dark where Harry lost sight of them.
"Way to go Dobby," he shouted.
"Harry look out," Sirius screamed as a curved purple spell headed towards him. Harry ducked down behind the four foot wall he was standing behind. The curse crashed into it destroying the top third, and showering Harry in splinters of flint and concrete dust. He emerged covered in dust, and a cut to the corner of his forehead that trickled blood down his cheek.
"Pay attention Harry this isn't some Quidditch match," Sirius said angrily with fear on his face. Feeling ashamed at his carelessness, and the fact that he had been enjoying the spectacle a little too much, Harry just acknowledged with a brief wave and then fired off a series of stunners at the much thinned out Death Eaters. He was unsuccessful as they were finally getting organised. Those remaining were blasting paths through the graveyard and beginning to gather in small groups where they were able to protect each other and return spell fire.
Life was becoming a little trickier. There were less than a dozen Death Eaters out there still able to fight, far less than a moment ago, but they were still heavily outnumbered. Not only that, these were the ones who were still standing and as such by a simple process of elimination were the most able. Harry started to run back and forwards behind the wall popping up at random, and firing off a variety of curses and hexes. He soon realised that he was outclassed, and the target of choice.
Although he wasn't having much success Sirius, Remus and Dobby were, thanks to Harry drawing most of the spell fire. There were now three distinct groups of Death Eaters, and while one of them was busy destroying the manacles the others were firing and defecting spells. One individual who hadn't managed to join up with anybody yet suddenly found himself on the receiving end of three curses from three different directions. He threw himself to the ground to avoid them, but was unable to prevent two manacles grabbing an arm and a leg. A stunner to the head stopped him struggling.
Harry had no idea if that act had been planned or was just dumb luck because he was spending most of his time diving behind a rapidly shrinking wall. He'd decided not to fire anymore offensive spells and to simple concentrate on staying alive and in one piece. At the same time he wanted to give the others space to disable the remaining Death Eaters. He would have to continue making himself the bait and hope the others would take the opportunities he was going to provide. With his heart in his mouth he slowly stood up and faced towards the graveyard.
"Put your wands down and surrender, reinforcements will be here soon," he lied in as firm a tone as he could manage. He fully expected to be struck down at any moment.
"You forget yourself little boy," Malfoy said in his usual drawl swotting away a bright orange curse with contemptuous ease. "Your pathetic trap has failed, is this all you have?"
"You admit this is a trap then? That I knew what was going on all the time?" Harry answered, and he could see that he had sown a few more seeds of doubt as one or two began looking round for the threatened reinforcements. More curses flew at the group of Death Eaters and Harry saw Knot's face as his mask was knocked off as he was flung to the ground ten feet away where he was grabbed by more manacles. None of his associates made any attempt to help him. Camaraderie amongst the death eaters seemed to be non existent.
Harry was then forced to dive to the ground as a barrage of vicious coloured light headed his way. Crawling on his belly he headed along the wall until he came to an undamaged bit. Crouching on his haunches he pointed his wand over the top of the wall and sent a burst of flame in what he hoped was the right direction. He had no expectation of hitting anybody but he was rewarded by a cry of alarm. He made no effort to see what had happened but scampered further along the wall. The section of wall where he had just fired from disintegrated.
"Missed me," he shouted before moving on again. This time he risked a look over the wall. It was a mistake. He was greeted by the sight of two Death Eaters one of whom grabbed him by the front of his robes and yanked him over the wall and back into the graveyard. His knees slammed into the top of the wall sending a wave of pain through his whole body. His wand was snatched out of his hand by the other Death Eater.
Before he could react he found himself pinned from behind with a wand at his throat. He struggled at first but his fourteen year old body was no match for the man mountain that had caught him.
"Harry!" Sirius shouted.
"Stay where you are Black, or I'll get Macnair to slit his throat," Malfoy said.
"You can't you fool. Weren't you listening earlier? The Prophecy said I couldn't be killed," Harry lied.
"Everybody can die Potter, including you," Malfoy snapped back. This discussion wasn't going to go anyway useful, so Harry thought it was time to try a little something that his original Ginny had taught him. He wriggled as though trying to get out of Macnair's grip. Macnair caught by surprise was forced to move his wand as he readjusted and tightened his hold. That was when Harry struck.
He lifted and then twisted his right foot, and then with the outside of his outdoor walking boot he ripped it down Macnair's shin bone and slammed onto the top of his foot. The pain from his shredded leg was enough on its own for Macnair to release the hold he had the rest was a bonus. Harry though hadn't finished his mini assault.
A split second after he had attempted to break Macnair's foot Harry rammed his elbow in what he hoped was the general area of the Death Eaters kidney. This caused Macnair to bend at the waist gasping for air. His head was now low enough, so that when Harry flung his head backwards it connected perfectly with the bridge of his nose.
Blood spurting from his ruined nose Macnair collapsed to the ground. Harry, with his head ringing from the blow, followed him down and grabbed the fallen wand. With a quick flick he banished the other Death Eater that had grabbed him towards the heart of the graveyard. Like many before him, a set of manacles reached up and snagged him.
Having dealt with the immediate danger, Harry now found himself the centre of attention from the remaining death eaters, but without the benefit of any cover. Four curses were heading his way before he could even regain his feet. He rolled over as fast as he could, managing to avoid them, but then disaster struck as he found himself grabbed by the ankle. A manacle that seemed to have been missed by the Death Eaters prevented him from anymore movement. A low drawling chuckle came from behind Malfoy's mask, his long blonde hair giving away his identity.
"I do hope you're enjoying the irony of the situation Mr Potter. Now tell your mongrel friends to drop their wands."
"You touch him Malfoy and they'll be no where safe on this Earth for you." Sirius shouted as he and Remus were still casting spells in desperation to save Harry.
"Stay back Sirius," Harry screamed in terror for his Godfather. The thought of losing him again was too much to bear.
"You'd do well to listen to him Black," Malfoy shouted while still looking at Harry. "Tell me Potter you maybe able to survive the killing curse but about something as mundane as a blade." Malfoy then withdrew a six inch dagger from inside his robe and advanced on Harry removing his mask once again.
He was unable to tear his eyes away from the glistening blade that shone in the weak moon light. He was in trouble and Harry knew it. A malicious grin spread across Malfoy's face.
"Voldemort will never forgive you for losing his diary," Harry said stalling for time, "and where is he by the way? You don't think he's run away do you. Run away and left his loyal supporters to face the music alone, while he hides shivering in fear at the thought he might be mortal." Harry's words wiped the smug grin off Malfoy's face and was replaced by one of anger.
"He is the greatest wizard to have ever lived. He has more power in his little finger than you could ever comprehend. He rewards those that serve him well. You are too young and foolish to understand."
"You keep thinking that. He'll use you, and when he's done with you he'll spit you out. Then he'll use that idiot son of yours, and when you've both served your purpose, he dispose of the pair if you. Then he'll move onto some other sucker to obey his every whim. He never shares anything with anybody. He considers that a fatal weakness along with gratitude."
"You know nothing boy." Malfoy was now standing over Harry blade in hand.
"I know plenty, like I said before I've been in and out of his mind for most of the last year."
"And yet you have no idea where he is."
"I no longer have the connection. He destroyed the link with me the last time he tried to kill me, it's complicated."
"Oh very convenient I'm sure. I don't believe you, and I grow weary of this conversation it is time for you to die."
"You will not harm Harry Potter," the squeaky voice of Dobby suddenly said behind Harry's head. His hair stood up on end as a wave of magic blasted over the top of him. All the remaining standing Death Eaters were flung backwards back into the centre of the graveyard.
Malfoy was the only one who had managed to cast a shield charm, but he was still thrown back twenty feet. The Malfoy luck was with him once more, and he landed on an area that had already been cleared of the manacles. The rest were not so lucky and were soon immobilised.
"Dobby!" Harry shouted. The little Elf swayed and then collapsed.
"Harry look out," Remus yelled. Distracted by Dobby's plight Harry had failed to see that Malfoy was up, and running directly at him. However instead of attacking him the pureblood leapt over him and continued running towards the damaged wall where he again jumped. Ten paces later the last Death Eater standing had apparated away, and an eerie silence descended on the graveyard.
It was over, but had they succeeded fully, was Voldemort still here, or had he gone? Harry suddenly felt strangely deflated this had been his busiest year ever, and wave of utter exhaustion made him lie flat to the ground. There was a loud bang that stirred him from his thoughts, and it was followed by the remaining moving manacles collapsing to the ground.
"It's safe Sirius," Remus said. Within seconds his Godfather was beside him.
"You did it Harry, you did it. We got all but one of them, and Malfoy is only a matter of time. He won't get out of it this time." Sirius's eyes were alight he had never looked so young and alive to Harry.
"Couldn't have done it without you, Remus and Dobby, is he ok?" Panic suddenly swept through him. It had been the elf's self sacrifice in the original timeline that had tipped the scales in his decision to come back, and the thought that he might have done that again made him feel physical sick.
"I is fine Harry Potter," a faint voice said. "I is just tired." Relief flooded through him, everybody he had come to save was still alive, all that mattered now was the fate of Tom Riddle.
"Get this off me will you," Harry said indicating his trapped hand.
"Oh I don't know about that Harry," Sirius said with an evil grin. "You'll only get into more trouble if I do. Merlin knows you've given me and Remus enough heart attacks for one night."
"Stop pratting about Sirius there's more to be done tonight."
"Like what?"
"Oh just a small matter of Voldemort, never mind about three dozen Death Eaters scattered throughout the graveyard that have to be dealt with."
"Ah relax Harry they're going no where, and modi-warts is either laying out there with them or has done a bunk. Either way he's not a problem right now."
"Don't be mean Padfoot," Remus said walking across the graveyard. "Harry's done great thing today, you should treat the hero of the Wizarding World with a little more respect."
"I'm just making sure Harry here keeps his feet on the ground, or should I say is back. It's my duty as his Godfather, besides when am I going to get a chance like this again."
"May I remind you that you are still an escaped prisoner, with the promise of losing your soul if you're caught," Harry said, "and you needn't worry about my feet with Hermione as my friend they'll always be on the ground."
"Ah Hermione, she was my favourite student," Remus said, "such a sharp mind. A little intense at times…"
"Alright, alright you lot are no fun," Sirius said removing the manacle from Harry's wrist, allowing him to rub the circulation back into his hand. Standing up he saw that Dobby was lying down looking off colour, but a faint smile appeared on his face when he noticed Harry looking at him.
"How are you Dobby?"
"Dobby is fine. But Dobby needs to regain his magic and strength."
"What can I do to help?"
"Harry Potter wants to help Dobby," the little Elf cried. "Dobby is so unworthy of the great Harry Potter's help."
"For goodness sake Dobby just answer the question?" Harry cared for Dobby deeply but sometimes he was exasperating, and he really didn't think they had time for the usual roundabout self effacing conversation.
"Oh no Dobby has upset the great Harry Potter. Dobby will punish himself just as soon as he is able."
"Ok Dobby you rest until you're ready and no punishing yourself now or later."
"Yes Harry Potter, Dobby understands. Dobby is sorry."
"You saved my life Dobby there will never ever be a reason for you to be sorry. Stay there while we sort these Death Eaters out."
"Yes Harry Potter sir, Dobby stays here until he feels better."
"Good, right come on you two lets get these scumbags Portkeyed to the Shrieking Shack. Then we can finally get this settled."
XXXXX
Harry took a quick peek out from the hole under the Whomping willow and was glad to see that there was nobody in sight. His cloak was otherwise engaged at the moment and he didn't want anybody to know where he had come from just yet. He pressed the knot that would stop the tree from beating the living daylights out of him and jogged out of range of its lethal branches.
Tonight had gone better than he expected. There had been surprises, and Malfoy escaping had been a bit of a blow, but the man's options were limited from where Harry stood. He was sure that the pureblood would try something, but Harry for once knew more than he did. So whatever he did could be handled.
Sorting out the Death Eaters had taken far longer than they had planned with the result that the grounds were empty. It had been over four hours since he had been abducted, far longer than in the old timeline. He knew that the people he loved would be panicking about his fate and thinking the worst, but there was very little he could do about that. In the distance he could see two people sitting on the steps that lead up to the giant doors of Hogwarts.
At first he thought it might have been Ron and Hermione hoping that he would suddenly turn up, but they weren't acting like them. They were in a tight embrace and oblivious to their surroundings. He wouldn't have minded catching Ron and Hermione in such a position, but this year had made it crystal clear that Ron just wasn't mature enough yet or Hermione forgiving enough. He was a vast improvement on the old Ron, so maybe next year.
"Sorry to interrupt Cedric," Harry said two paces away from the courting couple. It was a toss up who jumped highest Cedric or Cho.
"Harry you're back, what the hell have you been up to? I was starting to think you weren't coming."
"All in good time Cedric. What happened with Moody?"
"I told Dumbledore what you said, and he stunned him just like that. I reckon he must have had suspicions. Then he, the Minister, and Professor Snape vanished into the Castle. I haven't seen any of them since." Harry suspected that they were in Moody's office interrogating Barty Crouch junior.
"No-one's brought a Dementor in?"
"No … why would anyone do that?" Harry ignored the question. Fudge hadn't decided to cover up the truth yet, or maybe Dumbledore hadn't left Barty Crouch's side and given him the opportunity.
"How's your leg?"
"Not too bad Madame Pomfrey had the antidote already and waiting just n case. It's just a little stiff."
"So you're up for a walk around."
"I guess."
"I need you to fetch a few people, for me and bring them and yourselves to the Great Hall. Do you mind helping as well Cho?"
"No Harry of course not."
Harry then pulled out the Marauders map. "If you could find Luna Lovegood she's in the Astronomy tower for some reason, and Professor McGonagall who seems to be in her office with Ginny. I want her here as well." Cho smiled it had become common knowledge that they were now an item. Harry didn't feel very happy that she was with McGonagall. He suspected that she hadn't taken his disappearance very well.
"I assume you want me to find Hermione and Ron," Cedric said.
"It's clear that rumours about Hufflepuffs aren't true," Harry said with a smile. "Oh make sure that Hermione brings Crookshanks with her that'll make things easier."
"What's this all about?" Cho asked. She had seemed intimidated at first but her curiosity was now getting the better of her.
"I need witnesses Cho and this way I don't have to explain myself more than once. Trust me it'll be worth it." Both of them started to head up towards the staircases. "Oh just a minute I nearly forgot, your wand Cedric. I'm afraid Voldemort cast the last spell on it, but don't hold that against it. It saved my life." Harry wished he had a camera to record the look on their faces. It was priceless.
"You-know-who!" Cedric stuttered the colour draining from his face.
"Everything will be explained in good time, just be back here as soon as possible. I need to go and find Dumbledore."
He wasn't looking forward to this moment everything he had done this year seemed like a betrayal of his old mentor, and the unspoken trust between them would never be the same after this night. He supposed that was always the way in the end, but it still left a bitter taste in the mouth.
The map showed him that they were all in Moody's office as were four other names he recognised, Dawlish, Shacklebolt, Snape, and Madame Pomfrey.
