Those Who Stand Behind
Bree was the first to appear. One moment there was no one there and the next she stood with a look of resolution written across her features. She clutched a small silver band in her left hand as she took in what she could see of the property. Then she began.
As the first words left her and the power from Nature began to coil around her in a tight embrace, she saw two hybrids appear as though from thin air, then as suddenly fall to the ground with eerie cracks and their heads at odd angles. She continued, ignoring them even as she saw a metallic ball appear from thin air and was put against the chest of the hybrid; ropes shot out of the ball just a moment before the hybrid was engulfed by a blue light, the same was done to the other hybrid.
The spell began to take hold. Bree could feel power moving through her and taking form. A minute, or two she estimated, then the spell would be complete. Unfortunately it didn't get that far as she was suddenly engulfed by an endless darkness.
Harry had honestly thought it was a good plan. Far better than anything he could have come up with, and the wizard had spared the thought that it might work.
After getting the lay-out of the house from Lexi's mind, something which had done more than disconcert Connor, Harry and Connor had Apparated into one of the lower rooms of the Mikaelson compound.
Harry's hand clenched around his wand, his heart beating fast against his chest and the adrenaline working well in clearing Harry's fatigue. He took a soft breath, preparing himself for any eventuality. They had prepared well: Harry had stretched -thin the amount of spells their armour could take and put on a Disillusionment Charm, a Quieting Charm and the Scent Removal Spell, though the latter of the spells would last only for an hour; and the wizard had also drained four cups of coffee before their appearance.
Harry gave a nod to the slightly off colour Connor who stood beside him. It was imperative that they not speak, the Quieting Charm was really watered down and Harry was afraid even a cough might shatter the thing. Connor held a pistol with a silencer in one hand and in the other was a small square-shaped device. The man looked around, then walked towards one of the sofas and shoved the device beneath it.
When the hunter was done, he walked towards Harry, took hold of the wizard's shoulder and both disappeared to appear in another drawing room on the second floor. Harry flicked his wand as he caught sight of three of them. The spell hit before any realised what happening and another was already leaving Harry's wand as a silver ball collided with one of the hybrid and he was engulfed by a blue light; Harry's second spell hit the hybrid in the face and her head snapped violently back and she clattered on the ground.
Harry didn't speak as he moved mechanically forward. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his own silver ball. The wizard put it against the hybrid whose head still hung at an odd angle and stepped back as ropes appeared a moment before the hybrid disappeared. The flash of another blue light told Harry that Connor had done the same to the man he'd Petrified.
Harry listened to everything else as Connor pulled out another of the square device behind a chest of drawers. There were the murmur of voices one floor up, Harry tried to discern who how many there were but they were speaking too low for him to hear, there were more than three though, Harry could make out that much.
Footstep echoed from outside the room. Harry tensed, the human Revealing Charm didn't work with the dead unfortunately and so when he could see the outline of a human body on the other side it was worrying. Connor must have heard the footsteps as well because the man took a position next to the door, a stake in one hand a silver ball in the other.
Harry slowly shook his head even as he heard the person touch the door knob. 'Not a hybrid,' Harry mouthed. 'I'll take care of him.' and he was relieved when Connor gave an understanding nod.
"Ryan," said the voice of a woman as the door opened. "Are you guys alright, I heard what definitely sounded like—" she didn't get to finish as she was struck by a Stunner from Harry. She toppled back, but Connor caught her before she could hit the ground.
He pulled her in, closing the door behind him. What to do now? Harry thought. They hadn't planned for any humans being in the compound. The townsfolk were laced with Vervain, of that Harry was sure, and therefore none would be here to feed Niklaus and his hybrids. But Harry could feel that she wasn't entirely human, there was magic around her but not strong enough that Harry thought she was a witch.
Harry tapped her shirt three times with his wand, for a moment it took on a blue glow and when the glow faded the girl disappeared. Harry gestured for them to move on, they had one more device to set-up on the third floor before they could fight, by which time they estimated that Bree would have been done with her spell.
They Apparated upstairs this time the room was empty and Connor quickly hid the device.
"It's time we do this," said Connor, the Silencing Charm breaking with a soft pop.
Harry gave a nod. "Stay safe," he said, then turned on the spot—a crack echoed as he left—appearing on the second floor with a loud crack.
Footsteps echoed from above, below, and on Harry's floor. He tightened his hold over his wand and got out a silver ball from his pocket. He took a breath, he was still invisible. He was still at an advantage. The door was wretched open, Harry slashed his wand and the hybrid flew back as a gash appeared on his chest. Another appeared, quickly making their way into the room and headed straight for Harry. The wizard turned on the spot, appearing beside the fallen hybrid and putting the ball on his chest.
The hybrid in the drawing room turned just as his companion disappeared. The man charged again and Harry quickly conjured a shield. The hybrid didn't have time to stop, he slammed against the thin barrier and flew back , before quickly getting on his feet. Harry caught motion at the corner of his eye, he turned pointing his wand not at the four approaching hybrids but at the floor.
"Topsy-Turvy."
A golden mist spilt from Harry's wand, flooding both the hall and the drawing room in a millisecond. Everything suddenly changed: Harry and the hybrids, chairs, tables and sofas, fell the to the roof. Harry was quick to recover, getting to his feet and pulled out two silver balls and banishing them towards the hybrids that were still confounded by the mist below; it caught one but the other dodged.
"Bollocks," Harry muttered before the wizard ran for the drawing room, shooting a Bludgeoning Hex at the hybrid who tried to grab onto him, hitting the man on the face, it was unfortunate his head didn't snap back. Harry swished his wand and closed the door, then disabled the Limbo Mist; the world righted itself again, and Harry's shields activated as the chairs on the ceiling fell all at once. The wizard fortunately righted himself mid-air and landed on his feet, the same could not be said for the hybrid who was still recovering from the Bludgeoning Hex to the face.
This was enough attention, Harry thought. More footsteps were coming from outside the room, some going upstairs while others headed to him. Harry flicked his wand and the hybrid's body seized, the wizard then threw a silver ball at the man. There was a thud against the door, the wizard heard splinters at the hit, there was another hit and the door cracked open Harry could make out a dark-skinned woman on the other side.
He pointed his wand at the device peaking from where it sat. There was another thud and the door cracked even winder, Harry's wand took on a red glow. The hybrid pulled the door back, veins appeared around her eyes and her fangs bared.
"Incendio."
Fire shot out and hit the device. There was a loud bang and Harry's shields activated again as tiny pellets materialised from the room and began bouncing around in a frenzy; screams started as the pellets left the confines of the drawing room and escaped into the hallway.
A second bang echoed from upstairs, and Harry smiled; things were going as planned, when the charms on the pellets faded the hybrids would be weak enough that they would be easy picking. Harry felt a sinking feeling when there was no third, Lexi was supposed to have set the third one off. He didn't get much time to think about it though, his knees gave out and all strength left him; a scream he couldn't help passed through Harry's lips as Harry felt a connection to himself being viciously ripped off. The pain burned at Harry core, leaving a wound that ached far worse than anything Harry had ever felt. He shivered, his mind clouded with the sole thought of the pain. Darkness edged at Harry's vision, and with it the fatigue hurtled back. He felt far more tired than yesterday and add to that the pain still throbbing at his core.
Harry tried pushing back the darkness. It worked, though not by much. He was far too weak to even succeed at the mental exercise. He tried to get his bearings, all the hybrids were on the floor, clutching at various hissing injuries they had from the pellets which had buried themselves into various parts of their bodies.
Harry tried to stand. But his legs couldn't even move. His breath came harder and the darkness was still at the edge of his vision, threatening to engulf him in a matter of moments.
Harry fought, tried to push the darkness fully back. It still didn't fully work, but Harry had gathered enough strength that he could stand, though he faltered.
Something was wrong. Harry could feel it with his entire being that something was terribly wrong. Lexi hadn't done her part. Harry shakily reached into her pockets and fumbled before it fell on the ground. It felt too heavy, the ball, but Harry had magic on his side. He summoned more of the balls from his pocket and levitated to each above the hybrids whose number had risen to six and let them fall.
The balls stopped before they could hit and Harry was almost overwhelmed by the rising power in the air.
A chanting echoed around him, words of a language Harry didn't recognise being repeated as the chanting got louder. As one the silver balls exploded into dust, the hybrids safe and Harry left shaking not only from the magic but because of his fatigue.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the wizard," said Niklaus appearing at the doorway. He wore a smirk, though it didn't reach his eyes. The chanting changed as one, the many voices coordinated beyond anything Harry had ever heard short of a practised musical number.
"You look weary, friend," the man said and Harry looked glanced at himself. He didn't look slightly off colour through his goggles. The chanters had stripped him of his disillusionment.
"You brought witches into the fray," Harry said, his voice coming out ragged, but a little of his strength was returning. He felt a little stronger. He didn't feel the need to hold himself against teetering forward and back.
Niklaus nodded. "Travellers," he said. "They're an easy bunch to buy, and not much in the way of morals." The chanting changed. "That little charm should be to incapacitate that hunter friend of yours."
"Connor," Harry said and started turning but a hand appeared around his throat.
"We won't be having that little trick again," said Niklaus, holding the wizard above the ground.
"Pello Cohibeo," Harry grit out with the last of his oxygen. There was a flash and a cannon-like bang then Harry felt himself being wrenched forward, still with Niklaus' hand around his throat. There was the sound of splintering wood, then Harry felt the grip around his neck fade as he toppled on the ground.
Harry's ears were ringing and he was face first on the floor. He turned himself, aware that the chanting had stopped and he felt worried because of it. He pulled himself to his feet. Niklaus was on the floor wood embedded in his person and every visible part of his body lined with bleeding wounds which weren't healing.
Harry found his feet and turned on the spot, appearing in the devastated drawing room. Three hybrids lay on the floor, one with his neck viciously cut open, another with stakes through both his arms and neck, and a the third with a smoking hole in his head. Connor, however was not in the room.
Harry shuffled out of the drawing room, his wand held at his side as he walked. He caught something in the corner of his eye.
"Bombarda," he said just as a word of a foreign language was said by the man with the bloodied hands. The spell hit and was absorbed by an invisible shield.
Harry stared, his wand shaking as it pointed at the man. Harry though wasn't looking at the man himself, but the large dark cloud hanging over the man; the cloud was vaguely humanoid, with arms outstretched and holding onto the man's head.
"Oshalana!" the man said and Harry instinctively jumped to the side, but the magic of this world didn't work that way.
Pain surrounded Harry. It felt like a current of electricity was running through Harry; for a moment he lost all control of his limbs before he had enough presence for his arm to rise.
"Crucio!"
A shrill scream from the man and Harry's pain was quickly gone as his curse won over. The witch writhed on the ground still screaming. Harry heard footsteps and let go of the spell; the humanoid shape stood over the man, looking at Harry with an expression Harry couldn't tell, his hands no longer at the man's head.
Harry shakily rose to his feet.
Two men and a woman appeared; hanging over them were the disembodied figures with arms outstretched and holding onto their heads. They took in the scene for a second, then power began to take form around them as they raised bloodied hands.
"Evhas Elebuk Estupay!" they said simultaneously. Pain started but Harry was quick to act. He slashed his wand, a stream of purple light shot out and slammed into the taller of the men; the man clattered to the ground, the figure over him evaporating
"Evhas Elebuk Estupay!" the two continued not looking to have heard taken much of their friend's death. The pain Harry felt increased three folds, but the wizard grit his teeth and fired another stream of purple light. The woman didn't dodge and when she was hit the figure over her dissipated.
"Evhas Elebuk Estupay!" the sole man continued and this time the pain was so bad Harry lost consciousness.
He woke up tied to a chair. He tried moving his arms a little too far and hissed as the bindings burned against his skin.
"Their cursed," said a woman's voice. "Every time you move your arms they will burn you, increasing intensity until the pain become too much for your mind to bear and you will go insane."
"Why do I get the feeling that you don't like me?" he asked with a bit of a smile. He knew the answer and yet to play the game was fun.
"You killed two in our coven, dislodged another," she said her voice low. "I should kill you now."
"But I guess your employer doesn't want that now does he?" He smirked as the anger showed on the woman's face. "Where is Niklaus? I hope my spell didn't do too much damage to his old bones."
The woman held up her hand. "Oshalana!"
Electricity flared through him and he grit his teeth. The pain lasted mere moments, then it was gone.
"You know, it's really lazy for you to resort to magic when we're having a verbal trade-off," he said. "Especially since I can't defend myself. You have my wand."
"We do," said a voice, Niklaus. He didn't turn not wanting to in case his bindings burned him again, "and I've taken the liberty to hide it where you won't ever find it."
He shrugged. "I think I can get you to give it back to me," he said. "And I won't even be using magic."
"Quite the boast for a bound witch," said Niklaus.
He hummed. "I suppose I should say wizard, but I don't really care. Are you still interested in having a wizard of my power as an ally?"
Niklaus chuckled. "Are we that desperate?" the Original asked.
He shook his head. "There's still a play at hand," he said. "Have you spoken to Damon Salvatore?" Niklaus didn't answer though he looked a little confused. His gaze shifted to the woman beside the hybrid. "If you would give us some privacy, love, it's privileged information I'm about to give."
The woman looked at Niklaus who gave a nod, then left.
"Speak," the man ordered when the witch was out of range.
"I have a ring which can bring back the dead," he said, smiling as an intrigued look appeared on Niklaus. "One such ring that is currently in the possession of one Connor Jordan, if you haven't killed him he is under the order to bring the Destroyer back to life if the situation seems insurmountable," he finished with a grin.
Fear shone in Niklaus' eyes, the man was rigid, antsy looking. He shook his head. "That can't be possible."
"You fought Alaric," he said. "Friend of Damon Salvatore. Mikael will return if you don't take the ring off Connor's finger. By your expression I can see he's still alive. If I were you I'd work fast in taking it off."
Niklaus disappeared and he chuckled. "This is fun."
'Just get it done. Who knows when he'll wake up.'
"Calm down, Remus, soon we will be out of here and in the real world," Sirius answered as he waited. After Harry had left he and Remus had been pissed. What right did Harry have to keep them in his mind? What right did he have over their freedom? It was true that once upon a time that they were a part of him, but now that wasn't true. They weren't, and they were fully justified in wanting their freedom, especially now that he knew how it felt to be truly alive.
To be alive was an experience. Sound, sight, and feeling were all that much more vivid than he remembered from when he had been a part of Harry. He wanted more of these feelings, the sensations spreading through him. Heck, he wanted to fill more of the pain from them cuffs. He pulled against them and, after wincing, he chuckled.
"Such an experience," he said to himself, his heart starting to beat a little faster. He could feel adrenaline start building up and Sirius let out another chuckle.
"Something amusing?" asked Niklaus briskly walking in.
"Have you ever just awoken up and thought how wonderful it was to be alive?" Sirius asked.
'Cut the crap, Sirius. We have a plan. Stick for it before our jailer wakes up."
"I've been alive for a thousand years, give or take, life can get a little insipid in all that time," Niklaus said. He held up the Ring with the Resurrection Stone. "Your timing was opportune, your hunter was just waking up. I dread to think what would have become of this town were my father to come back to life."
Sirius hummed. "He was a tool in his long life, and somewhat of a hypocrite in my opinion. I mean, he called you an abomination, and yet he was a vampire, an act that goes against Nature." Sirius shook his head. "Hypocrite. The man just couldn't deal with his wife's cheating."
"You know a lot about my father," said Niklaus. "How?"
"Harry was trained by him," said Sirius. "Trained to kill you, would you believe? He's the one who supposedly helped come up with the spell that got you when you fought."
"You keep speaking of yourself in the third person, the traveller's say magic pain can cause the mind to addle, I wonder if the same hasn't happened to you…"
Sirius shook his head. "That, friend, is because I am not Harry Potter. Sirius Black," he said. "I would shake your hand but you've shackled me."
"Sirius Black? And what, Sirius Black, would you be doing in Harry Potter's body?"
"I'm stuck," answered Sirius, "and I want to get out. You get me that, and I'll stick around. Help you if my help, and maybe have a little fun along the way."
"Why don't you just take control?"
"I can't," Sirius answered. "Whatever happened to Harry that got us to this point, allowed me, and only me, to take control. Now. I have no idea why. I'm totally cut off from the world and Harry has taken to hiding all his memories-if you didn't know, he's very good in the mind arts. It's a bother really. But the important thing is, I have control, and I plan to use that control to get myself and my friend out. I can't do anything without your help, though. Will you?"
"First, tell me how the compass works," said Niklaus. "I've been trying to find something and for the life of me I can't get that compass of yours to work."
"When I tell you, do I have your word you will help me? And before you answer I should tell you, the oaths made to wizards and witches are closely guarded by a higher force. Tread lightly."
"I'm an Original," said Niklaus with some contempt. "We make it a point to keep our word."
"Brilliant. Find the reason why the object you're looking for will make you happy, then the compass will work."
"Sloan!" The witch appeared after a moment. "Your last act under my employment," said Niklaus. "Seal this room, the human you need will be in the cells below."
"And the payment?"
"I've Compelled Stefan to give it to you when you ask," Niklaus returned.
Sloan nodded, then walked off. Thirty minutes Sirius spent just sitting, letting himself revel in the feelings that were still new to him. Soon he would be free.
"It seems you were right, Remus."
'I am the smart one in here,' the man responded. 'Let's hope the Hybrid won't take too long. I'm anxious that Harry could wake up at any moment.'
"Relax, Remus. You worried too much." said Sirius in a blasé tone.
'Should I remind you how boring it is in here?' asked Remus. 'I think I should. I've just read all the spell books can remember in the Library, fifty times during your conversation with Niklaus Mikaelson.'
Sirius grimaced. "I'll get it done," said Sirius. Sloan appeared dragging a bedraggled looking girl, with her six people, four of whom had humanoid figures standing over them. Harry stared. Sloan pulled out a knife and held it against the girl's throat, she didn't scream even as the knife slid and blood started spurting out.
"Let's begin," said Sloan before she started chanting.
Sirius swallowed as he felt the power appear. It was something indescribable, it was grating against his skin and yet soothing to him. The power pitched higher and higher to the point where it was hard for him to even be around it, then it stopped and the cuffs popped open. Sirius made a show of rubbing his wrists, then he stood and relished it.
"Who would have thought standing would be this much of an experience?" Harry asked no one in particular. "Merlin, I can't wait to have sex. Are you up for it, love?" he asked looking at Sloan. She grimaced.
"Don't give me a reason to hurt you again," she said.
"I have experience the Cruciatus Curse, you spell is nothing when compared to it."
"Big talk, but I can have you on your knees and begging for me to stop in a second."
Sirius began walking forward, looking at the witch squarely in the eyes. "Why don't we give it a try?"
She held up her hand, but before she could say the incantation Niklaus appeared. "If everything's done I'll ask you to leave."
"The spell is bound to the moon. You have nineteen days," said Sloan before she and her fellow witches walked away.
"Why do they have ghost-like being hanging over them?" asked Sirius.
"Do they now?" asked Niklaus, but it sounded like the question was more to himself than directed at Sirius. "So the rumours are true then?"
"What rumours?"
"Travellers can switch bodies by putting a part of themselves into others," said Niklaus. "But that's not what you most cared about. Tell me, Sirius. How do we get you out of that body?"
Sirius smirked. "Niklaus, you just became my favourite person. Have a seat, let's talk."
"The process is quite simple," said Sirius. He stopped, relishing the steak set before him, then continued. "You get your hands on a coven of fourteen witches, a pair of bodies in their early twenties—both should be witches as well preferably, male—and get them to do a Spirit Transference Spell."
"If it's so simple why don't you just do it yourself?" asked Niklaus.
"Because, Harry could come back at any moment and I don't want that to happened until Remus and I have our bodies."
"Remus would be?"
"My older brother," said Sirius, "and the one who came up with this plan. He's the studious sort," Sirius added.
"I'll get it done," said Niklaus, "and you would better not betray me when all is said and done."
"Never dreamt of it, but then again, I have yet to fall asleep have I? Rest assured that I'll try not to, but should you give me reason, even if a little, and I will become your enemy."
"You seek my help and yet to threaten me? Tut, tut, little witch, I wonder what Harry would do if he would learn of your deception?" The hybrid smirked as a slight hint of fear played out across Sirius' fears. "Do not ever, think you can threaten me," said Niklaus in a low voice filled with anger.
"Noted."
'I see why Harry doesn't like him,' said Remus.
Niklaus smirked. "Excellent. Our relationship will prove most useful with the coming tide." the man said.