Disclaimer: Same as always. Seriously, I'd stop putting this up here if I wasn't afraid of getting sued.
Reviewer Response:
Neristhaed: Remember, they're both in Harry's mind, which means their interaction goes beyond simple words. On a subconscious level, they both sense that the other means them no harm (At least that's what I believe). As for Dumbledore, he has thought of Horcruxs after the diary, and probably thinks Harry is one. He also recognizes that Justice is not acting anything like a Horcrux, and he's seen the magical readings Madam Pomfrey's been taking, so he knows there's more going on.
ShotgunWilly: Sorry, the Grey Wardens are unlikely to make an appearance, same with the Darkspawn. Harry's world has enough problems without a Blight causing havoc.
lyris musetta: Harry's going to have to work to keep his temper to avoid Vengeance making a resurgence. More than that I cannot say.
Danget the critic: Unfortunately, Justice is not all powerful, and he doesn't want to get directly involved (reasons for that to be explained in the story, probably next chapter) As for the connection, it's been around longer than Justice, so it won't be so easy to get rid of. (Besides, if Voldemort didn't rise, we wouldn't have much of a story.)
Pairings, see the AN at the bottom of the page, I'm getting ready to settle it once and for all.
FreelanceBum: The canon recap is because there are things that were set in motion before Justice's arrival that wouldn't change unless he or changed Harry had some reason to actively seek to alter them, which they don't. I have a potential plan to completely shake things up (see the AN at the bottom).
Cjonwalrus: Now if we can just find some way to get rid of Bella, my work will be complete…
Nauro: Yes, things are changing.
crazyjim87: Morrigan will not be making an appearance in this story, and Bellatrax… ugg. Pairings are discussed in the AN.
Andrew MacKenzie: There will be elements of Vengeance, though both Harry and Justice will be actively working to suppress that bit.
metal.v2: Harry is not yet stronger than Voldemort (This chapter will still end with him running with his tail between his legs.) He will simply be strong enough to actually give the Death Eaters a fight. The glowing is, in some ways, a sign of weakness rather than strength. Harry gains power, but loses control. If he fully gave in, he would have more raw power than anyone else but would be reduced to thrashing around with it. Justice also has a lot of issues of his own to work through. They both still have a long way to go. (At least, that's what I'm going for.)
Thanks for the constructive criticism, though. I'll try to follow it in the future.
TheDudeMan400: Hope they went well for you, and thank you for the kind words.
Maben00: Thank you.
Narutofan020: Unfortunately, Cedric surviving means that, if anything, there will be fewer people believing Harry since he can't say "Explain how Cedric died." The simple fact is that the Ministry doesn't want to believe, and thus they stick their heads in the dirt and ignore everything.
Sythe: There are unconscious factors at work between Harry and Justice that I believe explains the trust, as well as Harry remembering that Justice has never actually caused him harm, simply scared him a bit in the crypt.
I've checked out the forum, and unfortunately the first story is one that I cannot fairly review, since I hate rivelmances with an unholy passion. Until a new story is on top, I won't be able to participate.
Rizaidym: Harry's going to put up more of a fight, though he's still going to be outmatched. I plan on continuing this story at least until Voldemort is dust.
Violet Shadows: As much as Dragon Age 2 wants you to think otherwise, Mass Effect and Dragon Age are not the same thing, so Harry won't be acting like Commander Shepard. As for the rehashing, if Justice's presence wouldn't change something, it won't. Never fear, it will be stopping soon.
Virmin-lord: Thanks for the review, and if you like Harry/Luna, look at the AN and act accordingly.
Ibskib: Thanks for pointing CONSTANT VIGILANCE out, and if you want to beta or know someone who would, I'd be happy to let you. As for pairings, check the AN out.
kinda evil: I'm glad you like the story : ).
Chou ni Natte: I'm glad you like the story and I hope you continue reading. I always intended there to be romance, I just didn't think the Yule Ball through very well.
Just out of curiosity, does your name mean anything?
Eromancer: Don't worry, the story isn't dead, I've just had a lot to do recently.
Wow, this set of responses was longer than Chapter 6's… Let's go.
Chapter 9: Maleficar's Rise
Harry stumbled as his feet hit the ground, but was able to remain standing.
'What just happened?' he thought, confused.
'I do not know,' Justice thought back. 'I am still confused about this teleportation, where I come from it is impossible.'
'The spell probably just hasn't been discovered yet,' Harry mused, looking around. It was dark, so it took a moment to recognize the dark shapes around him as headstones. 'I was more wondering why we're in a graveyard.'
'An important question, and unfortunately, one I do not have an answer for. Be on your guard, Harry.'
"Don't have to tell me twice," Harry muttered as he raised his still lit want, squinting into the darkness. For a long moment, he thought he was alone, but he couldn't help but feel he was being watched.
'Someone else is here,' Justice said suddenly. 'And there is… something else…'
Harry spun around, his eyes finding the moving shadow walking towards him. It seemed like a man, and he was carrying something in his arms, something that looked like a wrapped baby… except the sight of babies didn't fill Harry with a nameless dread that went along with the dull pounding of his lightning scar…
"Voldemort…" Harry whispered.
Suddenly, the pain in his scar flared as if someone had pressed a hot brand across his forehead. Almost blind, Harry fell to his knees, crying out.
'ON YOUR FEET!' Justice roared in Harry's mind. 'MOVE NOW!'
"I'm… trying…" Harry ground out, pressing his hands against the ground to steady himself.
He distantly heard footsteps approaching before his shoulders were grabbed and he was pulled to his feet.
"Let me go!" Harry growled, jerking himself out of the man's grip. He blinked, trying to clear his eyes.
"Stupefy!" he heard the man hiss before a wave of numbness swept over him, causing him to fall back to the ground.
'Not on my watch,' Justice snarled, his power flaring up and driving the stun from Harry's body. Harry blinked as the man reached down for him again. With a growl, Harry drew his legs back and kicked the man in the chest as hard as he could, causing him to stumble back with a pained grunt.
By the time the man had regained his balance, Harry was on his feet with his wand out and pointed at the man's face. "Who are you and what do you want?" Harry asked. The pain in his scar had not faded, but he had adapted to it enough to function, at least for the moment.
The man shivered under Harry's glare, raising his empty hands. One of them was missing its pointer finger.
"Peter Pettigrew…" Harry said slowly, staring at Voldemort's servant.
"Wormtail, you fool…" a cold voice hissed from the bundle, which Wormtail had set down during the time Harry was stunned.
Harry was about to stun the traitor when something moved in the corner of his eye. He turned, expecting another wizard, but was greeted instead by the sight of a massive snake lunging for him. His tried to bring his wand around, but was not quite fast enough. The snake's weight bore Harry to the ground, causing stars to flash before his eyes for a moment as his he hit the back of his head against a loose stone. His wand slipped from his fingers, and before he could think to try and grab it, the snake started wrapping its coils tightly around him.
"Let go!" Harry cried, his words unconsciously coming out as Parseltongue's strangled hiss. The snake paused for a long moment.
"You speak the tongue?" the snake asked, sounding surprised, but not releasing him. Its dark eyes met Harry's. "No matter, I shall not release you until my Master bids me to."
'Help me, Justice!' Harry thought desperately as he tried to wriggle his way out of the snake's coils.
'There is nothing I can do…' Justice said quietly.
'Whaddya mean, there's nothing you can do?' Harry gasped, shoving desperately at the tight bands of snake flesh. The snake, likely Nagini, hissed in annoyance, baring her fangs in front of Harry's face as a warning. 'What about that pulse I used against the gryndilows, wouldn't that work?'
'It is… not that…' Justice said, sounding scared.
'You have to do something! I can't get away from this thing on my own!'
Justice's answer was interrupted by the crackle of a flame lighting. While Harry had been struggling with Nagini, Wormtail had gotten a massive cauldron from somewhere and had lit a fire underneath it. The bundle that held Voldemort was twitching.
"Hurry, you fool…" the dark lord hissed,
"I'm trying, Master," Wormtail whimpered.
"Then try harder!"
'Dammit Justice!' Harry thought. 'You have to do something!'
'The only way… but I must not…' Justice said.
'Must not what!' Harry felt like screaming. Whatever was in the cauldron was beginning to shoot of sparks as it heated up, throwing Wormtail's stressed, rat-like face into sharp relief.
'The only way… for me to act… is to fully possess your body…' Justice said.
'DO IT!' Harry pleaded. 'Voldemort's planning something and I don't want to stick around to see what it is!' As he thought this, Wormtail said something, and walked over to Voldemort, unwrapping the cloth and carrying a shadowy form to the cauldron. Just before he placed it inside, the light from the potion washed over the shape, showing a hideous, scaly, baby-like yet profoundly wrong shape.
'I… must not…' Justice said, the fear in his voice becoming more evident. 'I cannot be trusted…'
'Better you than Voldemort!'
'Hundreds dead by my hand… thousands by my actions… Do not ask this of me…'
"Bone of the father, unknowingly given," Wormtail spoke up, pointing his wand at a nearby headstone, "you will renew your son!"
Harry watched in horror as a trickle of dust rose from the base of the grave, flying swiftly to the cauldron. The bright light coming from the potion within shifted to a sickly blue.
'Please, Justice! Don't do this!' Harry begged, watching Wormtail steel himself for something.
'The results… will be far worse…' Justice said miserably.
'We're going to die if you don't do anything! Or at least I will, I suppose you'll just flit off to another body and forget me!'
"Flesh… of the se-servant, willingly… sacrificed…" Wormtail whimpered, holding out his four-fingered hand and raising a long, sharp knife over his head. Harry desperately closed his eyes. "You will… revive… your master…"
'I would not survive the passage…' Justice said.
'Then do something!' Harry begged, wincing as Wormtail started screaming, he had obviously cut his hand off. A sickening splash followed, and the light brightened and turned red. 'What the hell is wrong with you!'
'There are things… worse than death… To lose yourself… is the ultimate death…' Justice said. 'I never want… to feel that again…'
Harry felt Nagini shift, exposing his left shoulder. Desperately, he tried to pull his arm out and grab his wand, but the coils were still too tight, and Harry soon felt a spike of pain at the crook of his arm as the dagger pierced him. He stared helplessly up at a crying Wormtail, silently pleading with him to stop. If the former Marauder was moved by the sight of one of his friend's sons suffering, he didn't show it. He simply held a vial under the wound, gathering some of the blood before lurching back to the cauldron.
"Justice… please…" Harry said.
"Blood… of the enemy… forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe…"
The potion turned a blinding white and started boiling, diamond sparks flying everywhere, scorching the grass where they touched. Wormtail slumped to the ground, moaning and clutching his severed wrist.
'I am sorry, Harry,' Justice said. 'I am not strong enough…'
Thick steam was now billowing from the cauldron, obscuring everything. For a long moment, Harry had the hope that the potion had failed, that something had gone wrong…
These hopes were dashed, however, as a shape slowly rose from the cauldron.
"Robe me," the high, cold voice of Voldemort said, causing the still wounded Wormtail to scrabbled to pick up the robes and pull them over his master's head.
Lord Voldemort had risen again.
The smoke slowly fade, leaving Harry to stare helplessly at the bone-white face of the Dark Lord, his red eyes shining in the darkness. He turned to look at Harry, completely ignoring the still-crying Wormtail at his feet.
"Release him, Nagini," he said in amusement, pulling a wand out of his robes. As the massive snake unwrapped from around Harry, there was a moment when he might have been able to grab his own wand, but was too paralyzed by raw, uncontrollable fear to take it. By the time he thought to move, Voldemort had already grabbed him with magic and thrown him over to the grave Wormtail had drawn bone from, conjuring cords as he did so.
Turning away from Harry, Voldemort started studying his new body. He raised his hands to touch his face, running unnaturally long fingers over the place where his nose should have been.
"Master…" Wormtail choked out, raising his tearstained eyes to gaze pleadingly at Voldemort. It looked for a long moment like the dark wizard was going to simply ignore his wounded servant, but he finally turned his cold gaze on Wormtail. "You… promised."
Voldemort started laughing mirthlessly. "Hold out your arm, Wormtail."
"Oh, Master, thank you…" Wormtail said weakly, holding out the stump.
"The other arm, Wormtail," Voldemort said coldly.
"But… Master…"
Voldemort roughly grabbed Wormtail's left arm, pushing the sleeve back with a contemptuous flick. From his raised position, Harry could faintly see a vivid red skull with a snake for a tongue.
The Dark Mark.
"It is back," Voldemort said softly, ignoring Wormtail's continued sobs. "They must have noticed it… Now we shall see…" With those words, he pressed a single finger against the brand.
Wormtail screamed in pain again, and Harry felt a surge of energy emanate from the mark, which had turned black when Voldemort removed his finger.
"How many will be brave enough to return?" Voldemort whispered as he rose to his feet, looking at the sky pensively. "How many will be foolish enough to try and hide?" He glanced at Harry, a cold smirk spreading across his face. "You stand upon the grave of my father, Harry," he said, almost as if he were talking to an old friend. "A Muggle and a fool, he lived in that house, just at the top of the hill. He abandoned my mother once he learned what she was, he did not like magic." Voldemort's smile widened. "I had the very great pleasure of killing him, and see how useful he has proven himself, in death. Very much like your mother…"
Harry felt a surge of anger pass through him at the taunting, condescending tone of Voldemort's voice. "My mother was nothing like him," he growled before he could stop himself. Voldemort laughed again.
"So bold, Harry, I like that." He glanced at the sky again. "I'm afraid our little chat must wait, my… helpers… return."
Cracks started filling the graveyard as wizards appeared, all hooded and wearing the skull masks of the Death Eaters. They approached Voldemort slowly, clearly not wanting to be the first to catch his attention but not wanting to appear scared, though they were failing horribly at the latter.
Finally, one man fell to his knees, crawled to Voldemort, and kissed the hem of his robes. "Master…" he breathed as he retreated. Following his lead, the others copied his actions, slowly forming a circle.
"Welcome, Death Eaters," Voldemort said as the last one stood in his place. "Thirteen years, and yet you return as if it were yesterday…" He turned in a slow circle, studying each of the Death Eaters. "We remain united, then? Or… do I smell guilt, upon the air?" A shudder passed through the circle.
'Are you going to do anything now, Justice?' Harry asked as Voldemort paused, letting the fear build in his servants.
'… I cannot…'
Voldemort continued his monologue "Why did you not seek me out, Death Eaters? You all swore eternal loyalty, didn't you? You all knew that I took steps to conquer death, do you not? Why did none of you try to find me?" The fear in the air was almost palpable.
"Did you believe that I was destroyed? That my efforts had somehow failed? Did you think that the likes of Albus Dumbledore could banish me forever? I am disappointed, my friends, so very disappointed…"
Suddenly, one of the Death Eaters fell to his knees. "Please, Master, forgive us!" he wailed. Voldemort simply stared at him before raising his wand.
"Crucio!"
The man's screams split the air as if he were being stabbed by thousands of flaming knives. After about fifteen seconds, which must have felt like an eternity for the Death Eater, Voldemort raised his wand and the cries faded.
"Get up, Avery," Voldemort whispered. "Give me thirteen years of loyal, devoted service and I will consider forgiving you." He glanced down at Wormtail, who was still twitching. "Wormtail here has already repaid some of his debt, have you not? Though not out of any sense of loyalty, but fear. Fear of your old friends. You deserve that pain."
"Yes, Master," Wormtail moaned. "Please… you promised…"
"You almost ruined everything twice, Wormtail," Voldemort said coldly. "Both times, someone else had to cover up for your blunder. Why should I reward you for nearly allowing my plan to be ruined?"
"I… did… most things right…" Wormtail choked out.
"True, I suppose," Voldemort said lazily. "You did prove helpful, and Lord Voldemort rewards his helpers." He waved his wand through the air, leaving a trail of silver light. After a long moment, the silver formed itself into a glowing hand that attached itself to Wormtail's hand.
"Master…" Wormtail gasped, his sobs tapering of as he gazed at the glowing hand. "It's beautiful… thank you, Master!" He swiftly scrambled forward and kissed the hem of Voldemort's robes.
"Do not fail me again, Wormtail," Voldemort said coldly. He watched Wormtail hurry to an empty place in the circle before slowly following. "Lucius, my slippery friend…"
'Justice? I hope you have a plan, because I don't,' Harry said as Voldemort started talking to his servants.
'I am trying, Harry,' Justice said, the panic in his voice having faded.
'What was wrong with you before? Normally you seem… calm and rational."
'Fear feedback,' Justice said. "Your fear affected me, causing my own worries to increase, which then fed back onto you." The spirit sighed. 'It didn't help that you were asking me to do something that had led to enormous trouble and suffering in the past.'
'Well, you have any thoughts?' Harry asked after a long moment.
'We need your wand to be able to fully access your power,' Justice said.
'And how do you propose we do that?' Harry asked sardonically. 'We can't use magic to get it without having it.'
'Not true,' Justice said. 'The wand is simply a focus, it does not create magic. You can still use your power without it, it will simply be more difficult. Focus.'
'So, what, should I just try to summon my wand?' Harry asked.
'It is the best idea I can come up with,' Justice said. "And Harry… I am sorry about before, for what it is worth."
'That's nice to know,' Harry said before taking a deep breath. "Accio!" he whispered, concentrating with all his might on his wand.
For a few nerve wracking seconds, it seemed like nothing would happen. Then, slowly but surely, the holly wand started sliding towards the grave.
"…and here," Voldemort continued, gazing at a large gap, "we have six missing Death Eaters. Three dead in my service. One, too cowardly to return… he will be punished. One I believe has left me forever, he will be killed. And the last… the last remains my most faithful servant, and has already reentered my service at Hogwarts. It is through his tireless efforts that our young friend has joined us tonight."
'Crap,' Harry though, taking his eyes of his wand to look at Voldemort, who was sweeping over to him.
"Yes, Harry Potter was kind enough to attend my rebirth," Voldemort called out. "One might go so far as to call him… the guest of honor."
"Master?" Lucius Malfoy said, stepping forward slightly. Voldemort nodded for him to continue. "We beg you to tell us how you achieved this… this miracle, and returned to us."
"That is quite the story, my friends," Voldemort said. "A story that begins, and ends, with young Harry Potter here." Voldemort slowly started circling the grave Harry was tied to, his eyes on the Death Eaters.
"They have called this boy my downfall," Voldemort started quietly. "As you all know, he is the one person I could not kill, though it was not through any special power of his own. In fact, that honor actually goes to his mother. She gave her life for him, unwittingly giving her son a powerful defense that I did not anticipate. It was ancient magic, bound in blood. Thanks to steps I took today, this shield has finally been negated."
Harry watched helplessly as Voldemort slowly pressed a finger against his scar, causing the pain to reach new a new peak. Unable to stop himself, Harry screamed in pain.
"But at the time, the woman's sacrifice made me unable to harm the boy," Voldemort continued, resuming his pacing. "My curse was reflected back upon me, driving me from my body. However, as you also know, I have taken many efforts to avoid the indignity of death. One or more of these experiments must have paid off, since I was alive. I may have been weak, less than the meanest ghost, but I was alive."
Harry blinked, forcing himself to concentrate. Hoping that Voldemort was too busy gloating to notice anything else, he repeated his Summoning Charm and continued pulling his wand towards him.
"It took almost all of my energy to simply continue existing, my friends," Voldemort went on dramatically. "I retreated to a faraway place, waiting for one of my loyal Death Eaters to find me, as I knew they could." His voice turned cold. "But I waited in vain, didn't I?" The Death Eaters trembled slightly at this reminder.
'Almost… there…' Harry though, keeping his eyes fixed on his wand as it slid, inch-by-inch, towards the grave.
"The only power remaining to me was to possess bodies, but this was of little use, since the only creatures in the forest were ill suited for magic, and my entrance into their bodies severely shortened their lifespan. And then, four years ago, it seemed all my dreams were going to come true, for a wizard stumbled across me. A weak and foolish man, certainly, but a teacher at Dumbledore's school, and thus trusted by many. I sought out one of the objects that would have brought me back. However, I was unable to secure the stone, thwarted by Harry Potter…"
Harry had to stop the wand's motion ever time Voldemort might see it, slowing his progress significantly. Fortunately, it seemed the Death Eaters were too focused on their master's story to notice the dark piece of wood sliding through the shadowy grass.
"The servant died as I left his body, leaving me as weak as I ever was. I returned to my forest, fearing that I might never regain my power, since it seemed my Death Eaters did not care what had become of me." Voldemort smiled grimly.
"Then, then things started going right. Wormtail here was driven out of hiding by those he once counted as friends, and in desperation sought me out. He quickly found me once he bothered to look." His eyes met Wormtail's for a long moment before he continued.
"But the trip back was not smooth, was it? For reasons best known to himself, Wormtail risked everything by stopping at an inn just outside the forest I had long been rumored to be inhabiting. And who did he meet there but Bertha Jorkins, a witch from the Ministry of Magic." Voldemort's voice softened. "Fortunately, fate favored me that night, and Wormtail showed prowess I would have never thought him capable of. He was able to capture Bertha rather than the other way around, and he brought her to me, and with some… persuasion… she became a venerable mine of information."
"She told me of the Triwizard Tournament, she told me of a faithful Death Eater who was imprisoned but in a position to be rescued. With this information, I set about my plan after disposing of her."
"I had long know of the Dark potion that I used to bring myself back tonight, but it was only after Wormtail arrived that I was in a position to use it. With some work and a lot of guidance from myself, Wormtail was able to create a rudimentary body for me to use while we set about preparing for my true rebirth. I needed three powerful ingredients for the potion, two of which were easy to acquire: flesh of the servant and bone of the father. The third, however, was blood of the enemy. Wormtail shortsightedly suggested that I simply use the nearest person who had opposed me, and there were many. However, I knew that the only one whose blood was worth using was Harry Potter, so that I might have the protection his mother had granted him. Only then could I rise even greater than when I had fallen."
"But Harry Potter was not easily captured. When he is with his blood relatives, I cannot touch him, not even now. There were too may Ministry wizards around during the Quidditch World Cup, so I could not strike then. And not even at my full strength could I assault Hogwarts directly. So how would I get to Harry Potter?" Voldemort smirked at the confused looks his Death Eaters were throwing him. "I used Bertha Jorkin's information. I placed the single loyal Death Eater at Hogwarts, who then worked to ensure that Harry Potter won the Triwizard Tournament. And here he is."
Harry's wand had reached the base of the grave as Voldemort dramatically turned to stand in front of Harry, raising his wand.
"Crucio!"
Harry's concentration was shattered as indescribably pain rushed through his body. Even as he screamed, he knew that they did nothing to convey the true depths of just how much the Torture Curse hurt. Any lingering doubts that the use of this spell warranted life in Azkaban faded from Harry's mind. For a moment, he wanted nothing more than to die, just so that the pain would stop. Finally, Voldemort lowered his wand, laughing.
"Harry Potter only ever escaped me due to lucky chance and other's protection. He was never a true match for me, despite what the fools who oppose us believe," Voldemort said. "I will prove this by killing him, here and now, right in front of you all, so that you all might know that I am the greatest of wizards." Voldemort smiled. "He will be given a chance to fight, as is fair. If he has the strength to oppose me, let him show it." Voldemort flicked his wrist, cutting Harry's bonds with contemptuous ease. He then turned to look for Harry's wand.
"STUPEFY!" Harry roared the first spell he thought of as he grabbed the wand lying at his feet and pointed it at Voldemort.
"Tut tut, Harry," Voldemort said as he batted the jet of red light aside with his hand. "It is not sporting to attack when you're opponent's back is turned." His evil smile widened. "Though I must say I am impressed that you were able to get your wand back without my noticing. Bravo."
The Death Eaters were closing ranks, forming a unified circle around Harry and Voldemort.
"Now, Harry, let us do this properly," Voldemort said, bowing slightly. "The niceties must be observed. Bow to Death, Harry."
"Fuck you, you nose-less bastard," Harry snarled, his anger starting to rise. This was all just a game to Voldemort. He took pleasure in causing suffering! But he, Harry, wasn't going to meekly play along.
"Harry, Harry, Harry," Voldemort said over the raucous laughter of the Death Eaters. "Such vulgar language? Wherever did you learn words like that?" His cat-like eyes narrowed. "I. Said. Bow."
As Voldemort jerked his wand at Harry, the young wizard felt a pressure start to bend his spine.
"Finite Incantatem!" Harry hissed, causing the spell to break. "I. Said. No." he shot back mockingly. The Death Eater's laughter faded.
"Impressive, Harry," Voldemort said, bowing again, a bit more deeply this time. "Perhaps there is something to you after all. In honor of your display of courage and strength… I'll make this quick."
"Accio!" Harry shouted again, pointing his wand over Voldemort's shoulder. One of the Death Eaters, not expecting any spells to be aimed at him, was jerked off his feet and flew at Voldemort's back.
The dark wizard simply Disapparated, causing Harry to have to jump out of the way of the flying Death Eater.
'Behind you,' Justice said as Harry rolled to his feet. Without question, Harry spun to see Voldemort tossing the Death Eater aside.
"Yes, Harry!" Voldemort laughed. "Very well done!" He pointed his wand at Harry's face. "So, do you have any other tricks up your sleeve? I'm interested. Come, Harry, hit me with your best shot!"
'Fire,' Justice said simply. 'Use fire as a distraction, then something else.'
"Okay," Harry whispered, thinking. "Incendio!"
Concentrating with all his might, Harry launched a wave of fire at Voldemort, before following it up with Diffindo.
Voldemort effortlessly dispelled the fire, then parried the Cutting Curse with equal ease.
"Is that all, Harry?" he asked, shaking his head, pretending to look sad. "I'm disappointed in you, I though you would come up with something interesting. Very well, let us end this little game." He Disapparated again.
'On the right!'
Harry spun, shouting "Stupefy!" at the same moment Voldemort reappeared, already screaming "Avada Kedavra!"
The red light from Harry's wand met the green light from Voldemort's, and a deep boom echoed throughout the graveyard. Harry's wand started vibrating violently as a thin beam of light, a brilliant, comforting gold beam. Harry looked at Voldemort, who was also gripping his wand desperately. Their eyes met, and Harry realized that Voldemort had no more clue what was going on than he did, which was comforting.
Suddenly, from the center of the connecting thread, another beam of gold light stabbed the sky, splintering into dozens, hundreds of threads, curving gracefully back to earth and forming a cage around the pair, locking the Death Eaters out. Their cries of confusion became muffled as another sound rose, a gentle, soothing song that filled Harry with hope and confidence: a phoenix song.
"Do nothing!" Voldemort was screaming, wrenching his wand around to try and break the thread. Harry steeled himself, willing the light to remain. So long as he had some defense, he wasn't going to relinquish it.
At the center of the beam, where the cage began, a single bead of light hovered. After a moment, it started sliding towards Harry, causing his already violently shaking wand to vibrate harder and start heating up. Somehow, Harry knew bad things would happen if that bead of light touched his wand.
'Then will it back, Harry,' Justice said, sounding stronger than ever. 'That's all magic is, you using the power that lives in you in accordance with your will. And you have such a strong will…'
"Thank you, Justice," Harry whispered back, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he focused on the bead to a degree that made his efforts to retrieve his wand seem like a fleeting whim.
Slowly, the mote of light shivered to a stop; then it reversed just as slowly. As it slid down the thread towards Voldemort's wand, it started picking up speed, causing the dark lord's wand to shiver.
'Maybe his wand will blow up?' Harry though eagerly as he continued forcing the bead back towards his enemy, who was starting to look truly scared.
Finally, the light was hovering mere centimeters from the end of Voldemort's wand, which looked like it was about to break in half, it was vibrating so hard. Harry took a deep breath as he continued to try to push the bead with his will. After a long moment, it finally took the final step, connecting with the tip.
Instantly, screams split the air, screams Harry recognized as his own. A smoky hand appeared for a moment before the screams resumed, this time the Death Eater Voldemort had tortured. The screams went on and on before suddenly stopping. Slowly, dense smoke started crawling from the end of Voldemort's wand. Slowly, inch by inch, the form of an old man forced its way from the wand, until it was finally free. The man straightened up, looking around curiously.
"He was a true wizard, was he?" the man said in a distant, echoy voice. "You, boy, fight him, won't you?"
"I will," Harry promised, and the man nodded before starting to circle just inside the cage.
More screams echoed from the wand, making Harry wonder just how many people Voldemort had tortured since he had gotten his wand back when they stopped again. Another figure started crawling out of the end of the wand, this time a woman. As she straightened up, Harry recognized her as an older version of the Bertha Jorkins he had seen come out of Dumbledore's Pensive.
"Don't let him get you, Harry!" she called in the same echoy voice as the old man. "Please, be careful!"
There was a long moment of silence from Voldemort's wand, probably representing the decade or so that it had remained unused. Finally, another head started blossoming from the end, long hair obscuring the woman's face. Still, Harry knew exactly who it was.
Lily Potter rose to her feet and moved swiftly to Harry's side. "You're father's coming, Harry," she whispered tenderly. "He wants to talk to you. Please, stay strong."
"…I will, Mum…" Harry choked out. Though he had seen her reflection in the Mirror of Erised and heard her voice when the dementors approached, this was the first time he had truly connected the two. It took all his self-control to not try to touch her, even though he knew the smoke wouldn't be solid.
His eyes were drawn back to Voldemort's wand as one last shape emerged from it. James Potter's messy hair, so like Harry's, was brushed aside as the ghostly presence glided over to stand with his wife and son.
"Harry," he said quietly, "the Cup is still a Portkey, it will take you away from here. Once the connection is broken, run to it. We will keep Voldemort busy. Do you understand."
"I do, Dad," Harry said, nodding. His parents smiled at him.
"Oh, Harry, we're so proud of you. You've grown so much," Lily Potter said gently, running a hand along Harry's face. Despite the fact that it was incorporeal, Harry somehow still felt its warmth. The phoenix song surged.
"Justice, take care of our son, won't you?" James Potter said quietly, staring into Harry's eyes.
'…Tell him I say that I will do my best,' Justice said. James chuckled.
"I can hear you. We're beings of magic, too."
"Mum, Dad… thank you," Harry said.
"We love you, Harry. Now go! Hurry!"
"NOW!" Harry roared, giving the wand a jerk. The thread snapped, and the cage and song faded. The smoky figures remained, however, and darted between Harry and Voldemort, forming an almost solid wall.
Harry ran like he had never run in his life, knocking a stunned Death Eater out of the way with a quick Knockback Jinx. He vaulted over a grave, feeling the air move as poorly aimed curses flew all around him.
"STUN HIM, YOU FOOLS!" Voldemort screamed.
"PROTEGO!" Harry shouted, spinning his wand over his shoulder to deflect a pair of spells that came too close. Jumping over another headstone, Harry dove for the Cup, coming up just short.
"AVADA…" Voldemort started.
"ACCIO!" Harry screamed, pointing his wand at the Cup, which flew obediently to his hand. He felt a familiar jerk behind his navel as the world became a jumble of wind and colors.
He was safe, and he was going home.
AN: One of the major points of contention for this story has been who, if anyone, Harry will be paired with. Because I've been flip-flopping in my head ever since it became an issue, I have decided to become a democracy and put it to a straight vote. There are going to be three choices, any others will be disregarded.
Ginny Weasley: I hesitated to even put Ginny here, since you all seem to hate her. Still, I personally like her, and she would fit well with several scenes Harry and his significant other would have. She's been possessed, though the circumstances were different, giving her a sense of connection. She's also the girl Harry probably knows best other than Hermione, who is not an option in this story. Even if he didn't notice her as a potential love interest immediately due to immaturity and other concerns, he still knew her. She's also (in Book 5) shown herself willing to stand up to Harry when he needs it (His sulking after thinking he was possessed by Voldemort at Christmas). Thus, I see her as a strong contender even if no one else does.
Luna Lovegood: Luna's an interesting choice. She would also work well with Harry; her open and accepting nature would probably set Harry and Justice at ease. She would also be the most likely to truly recognize Justice as his own person rather than an extension of Harry himself. Her flaw, however, is the same as her strength: her odd nature. As JKR said when talking about Luna/Neville, she does kind of weird people out. That's a fairly minor flaw, however, and one that's easily brushed aside.
Daphne Greengrass (or other Slytherin girl): If anyone's been reading since Chapter 6: Blazing and Ball, you may remember I said that, unless I had a brainwave, the only real options were Luna and Ginny. Well, I'm sure some of you will be happy to know I've had that brainwave. I won't go into detail here, but it would put Harry in a position where he could make some Slytherin friends, and even a girlfriend. NOTE!: This does not mean that he will abandon Ron and Hermione, he will simply expand his horizons.
NOTE: In the interest of both saving energy and keeping this from descending into a flame fest, I am setting a standard for how the vote goes:
Name of Girl
Strong, constructive reason (IE, something good about that girl, not "Oh, Ginny/Luna sucks, Slytherins are the only smart ones!")
Please keep this friendly and don't make me regret my openness.