Disclaimer: I own nothing of the harry Potter characters.
Chapter Nine: The Hunter and the Hunted
Ron-
I am on an assignment out of the country and expect to be in the field for the next several days, possibly even weeks. Because of the nature of what I am undertaking; security is an issue and as such I will be unable to continue our correspondence for the time being. Please do not try and contact me as this could give away my position and compromise my personal safety. I will contact you as soon as I am safely able to do so. I am sorry that my inability to remain in close contact is not in keeping with your expectations, but it is solely an occupational constraint so please do not read anything in to it as more than that.
Tell everyone that I miss them and hope that they are well. Good luck against the Tornadoes next week, not that you'll need it. I hope to be done with my current assignment by early April so that I can have all of you over for dinner at my home. Remind the twins that it's April fool's Day on Thursday next!
All my love,
Harry
P.S. I was able to catch the Harpies game before I left. Ginny was brilliant!
As Ron finished Harry's letter, all eyes turned toward Ginny who was blushing profusely in response to the praise, but refused to make eye contact with the others as she kept her eyes glued to the floor.
"What do you think?" Ron directed the question toward Hermione, but he was really addressing all occupants in the room.
"I think Fred and George better be on their guard next Thursday." Charlie teased grinning.
His comment elicited chuckles from around the room and a pensive look shared between his twin brothers.
"If I were you two, I'd seriously think about going on holiday- out of the country." Bill added with a smirk.
"Sound advice, William." Percy quipped sagely. "What's the current prank score at: Harry 5 – Twins 0 ?"
"You're exaggerating, Percy." Fred admonished drolly.
"It's only 4-0." George sniffed indignantly as his siblings continued chuckling at his and Fred's expense.
"On that note I think we'll take our leave." George responded airily.
"Right" Fred agreed. "We've got a surprise to plan for our errant knight's return."
"Now boys, do be careful not to do anything too harsh to poor Harry." Molly Weasley warned her twin sons.
The twins shared an offended look.
"Sure,... Harry nearly electrocutes us last Christmas." Fred complained...
"..and she's worried about what we'll do to 'poor Harry' in retribution." George scoffed rolling his eyes as he finished his brother's sentiment.
"Treats the little villain like an angel ,she does." Fred quipped spitefully.
"Whilst we're scandalized and defamed at every turn." George spat disgustedly as they exited the Burrow with a disgruntled bang of the kitchen door.
Bill Weasley watched his younger brothers depart with a raised eyebrow and a quirk of a grin highlighting his handsome face. "I'd say those two will be nervous wrecks by next Thursday. Any idea what Harry's up two these days, Ron?"
Ron shrugged his shoulders noncommittally. "Not sure, really. 'Mione heard a rumor that he was heading out East on some very "hush-hush" mission. Bit odd that." He added rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Why's it odd?" Charlie was the first to ask what the rest of them were wondering.
"It's odd.." Hermione put in unexpectedly. ".. because the rumor was that it was some sort of follow up on that "Coven of Eight" business that Harry was involved with last year."
"Why is that odd, Hermione dear?" Molly asked concerned.
Hermione's eyes softened, but she couldn't quite completely hide the note of worry in her voice when she answered.
"It's odd because Harry's heading out east, but from what little anyone knows about that "Coven" business, is that the original mission took place out west in the states."
Tomorrow it would be two weeks. Two weeks that Harry had been on his quarry's trail. After two weeks he'd only managed to close the distance to his target by half.
Merlin, he was fast!
Even with using his magic to augment his own natural strength and endurance, Harry had to forgo his own rest and spend more hours on the trail to make up the distance whilst his quarry slept and renewed his own strength. He was run down and was leaving himself dangerously susceptible to attack because of it.
Apparating ahead of his quarry was out of the question. Though he knew the general direction that his target was following, he couldn't risk apparating in all this heavy foliage. Without being sure of open ground to land in, he'd splinch himself for sure if he attempted to apparate in the deep woods. Besides, whether he knew it or not, Fenrir Greybeck was leading Harry someplace that he was both eager to discover and dreading to go. Greybeck was leading Harry toward the lair of what could prove to be his most dangerous foe to date.
Harry Potter had been secure, even content in his role as a Magical Knight. That had been before that whole
'Coven of Eight', business back in the states. The papers had downplayed the whole nasty business- Thank God! , and the Ukrainian MLES had successfully managed to keep the whole ugly fair under wraps. How long it would remain so was the question. Only top command level personnel within the confederation and various ministerial Unspeakable divisions had full disclosure concerning what happened that night and the full scope of what it portends.
Snap
Harry paused suppressing a shudder.
Another one?
He'd efficiently dispatched a spy the previous night, but by the sound of things, another had already taken it's fallen comrades place and was now tracking Harry whilst he in turn tracked Greybeck. Harry wouldn't have bothered dispatching its predecessor ,had it not gotten either overly curious or by having attempted to kill Harry in his sleep.
Harry had lain quiet in feigned sleep next to the dying embers of his conservative fire. He kept his breathing even and measured as if in a deep sleep. The night black fiend that had been stalking him through the dense forest could not resist the opportunity to make a name for itself, either that or it was just plain hungry and Harry looked favorably edible. The creature had floated down on leathern wings and landed feather soft just outside the perimeter of the waning light of Harry's campfire.
Slowly, cautiously the creature stalked around the perimeter of Harry's campsite. Its own senses were on high alert for any hint of deception. The air was filled with the stench of rot and decay. This was a lesser minion, a pawn. Harry was after the queen. Still, eliminating this nightmare would no doubt save future lives, if not be one less enemy to face in future battle. Besides, Harry could ill afford having his presence exposed to the creature's superiors, which would undoubtedly prove the result if he let this creature slip through his grasp.
Harry could hear the creature just off to his let sniffing the breeze, searching for any foreign scent or sign of duplicity.
Merlin! How can it smell anything over it's own foulness. Harry wondered as he fought down his own growing sense of revulsion and panic.
Overlong and pointed ears listened acutely to the sounds of the surrounding night. At last satisfied that the time was ripe, the creature glided forward toward Harry's prone form.
The creature's jaws opened and elongated impossibly wide, exposing wicked fangs and cruelly sharpened teeth. Its fingers ended in razor sharp talons. Boney hooks and projections were strategically placed at the joints of its leathery wings. It's wings were currently folded back against its back allowing for a stealthy approach. Harry noted, through the veil of his eyelashes, that the projections would prove deadly in aerial combat.
The creature loomed over Harry, pausing to take a last survey of the surrounding night before it feasted upon what it wrongly assumed was both unwitting and helpless prey. After all, it's prey's long knife rested upon the root of a tree on the other side of the dying fire- well out of reach.
The Knight had been a fool to leave himself so vulnerable, the creature's foul mind had entreated. Though hideous in their conception, these creatures were far from unintelligent.
Harry nearly choked on the horrific odor of the monstrosity that loomed over him. It smelled of earthen rot and musty decay. Wherever the creature's brethren laired, it was undoubtedly subterranean, by the smell of things.
Satisfied that all was as it should be, the creature's misshapen head swiveled back from its survey of its surroundings to not find the helpless sleeping form of it's supposed prey, but the Knight's fist closed around the hilt of a dagger that was plunged into its own breast as it had turned right into the arc of the impaling blade.
"Urrg!" The creature mouthed in shock and pain as the dagger went hilt deep into its heart.
With its dying breath the creature lashed out blindly , managing to slash a talon'd hand across Harry's torso and sent him flying back into the tree who's roots his own sword rested upon.
Harry managed to twist himself in the air, thereby only glancing off the trunk of the tree an sparing himself further injury. He rolled up into a crouch and cast out into the night with his own empathic senses. Having found no other source of concern in the vicinity he returned to the scene of carnage.
The creature's wings beat futilely in its death throes. Black blood dribbled from its frothing maw and trailed down from its bat like nostrils and ears. It was dying; the true death that it had probably avoided for a millennia. Despite it's great age, he doubted that this was one of the original humans that had been twisted and corrupted by night black power and treachery of the hate demon- Thaleon.
Harry watched without expression as the creature gurgled low in its throat and then stilled. He quickly retrieved his dagger before the body went through the change he anticipated. This wasn't the first such creature like this that he had personally killed, nor would it be the last. He wouldn't have long to wait as the sun was beginning to lighten the horizon over the Ukrainian forest's eastern skyline.
The first rays of dawn's light peaked thru the tree line and faintly illuminated the small clearing that Harry had chosen to set up camp in. Minutes later the first ray of light fell on the corpse of the creature at Harry's feet. The body seemed to stiffen rigidly and turn ashen. Moments later cracks appeared in the now grayed surface of the creature's carcass. The sound of crumbling stone echoed thru the glad as the creature's body crumbled into dust and drifted away in the faint breeze that rustled the leafy canopy of the forest. Moments later there was absolutely nothing left to indicate that the creature had ever existed.
This was as it should be, Harry thought grimly. For who would ever believe that such a thing could have ever existed in the first place.
Harry turned to gather up his sword and his pack, but winced in pain from the movement. He could feel the wetness on his stomach before he even glanced down. His taut dragon hide vest and undershirt hung in tatters and blood dripped down steadily through the gap in his clothing. He pulled off his vest and shirt with some difficulty and a great deal of tenderness, only to find; three large gouges ran the length of his left rib cage. The creature's talons had laced him right down to the bone.
IT-Tore right through boiled dragon hide?
Harry had begun to experiment with wearing the boiled dragon hide as serviceable field armor. Though stiff and somewhat constricting, the dragon hide was supposed to provide adequate protection from most spells, (except unforgiveables), and nothing short of dragon claw was said to be able to penetrate dragon hide.
Merlin! A half inch deeper and the damn thing would have torn right thru my vital organs! Harry thought in wide eyed alarm.
He set about binding his wound closed with the remnants of his shirt. Harry retrieved a healing potion from his pack, pulling a face as he downed the entire contents of the putrid tasting amber liquid in one go. Gagging, he tossed away the now empty phial from his hand and with a painful grimace he pulled fresh shirt from his pack. The healing potion worked wonders on most spell damage and minor wounds, but, on something as deep as the wounds to his side, Harry would be lucky if it was able to coagulate the blood and give him a few more hours of tolerable pain control.
Bleakly, he considered his alternatives as he slumped down in exhaustion against a fallen spruce. He could:
A) Lightning travel to Madam Pomfrey or seek medical help at St. Mongo's, but by the time he returned Greybeck's trail would be stone cold.
B) He could risk apparating ahead of Greybeck, but there was no guarantee that he would guess Greybeck's destination correctly. Facing Greybeck in his weakened condition was not something he was eager to attempt. He could use his elemental powers to fry Greybeck to a crisp via a bolt of lightning. However, he needed Greybeck alive and that, unfortunately, required a good old fashioned capture. Greybeck wouldn't be too keen on going quietly without a fight and Harry was in no condition to give him one. Lastly, Harry could give up the hunt and return later to try and blindly find his way to the lair of his enemies. He could get lucky... but, probably not before Greybeck had a chance to align himself and his renegade werewolves with the rest of the creature's,(he'd slain), brethren.
Harry ignored the painful throbbing in his side and made his decision.
Pulling living energy from the surrounding wood, Harry called down the lightning and traveled several leagues in a northeasterly direction. Thunder followed in the wake of his passing. A split second later, he appeared in a flash of lightning at the edge of the forest he's been traversing. A rocky landscape stretched out before him. It climbed inexorably toward a cropping of distant mountains.
Harry reached out with his empathic senses but reined them back in in a trice as the hackles rose on the back of his neck. He could sense that Greybeck was nearly on top of him. Harry pulled his sword and twisted toward his right bringing his sword across his body slashing in a reverse grip from left to right. The sound of thunder boomed from a cloudless sky as Fenrir Greybeck looked down in absolute shock at the stump of his left arm and his severed hand lying on the ground.
Grim though the scene was, the results couldn't have been more perfect if Harry had planned for a month. Greybeck watched in horror as his life's blood gushed from his stump and splattered down on his still twitching hand. Magic could save his hand, but Greybeck was too far away from civilization to be able to apparate the distance to reach adequate medical care before he succumbed to blood loss. Harry was the only wizard alive that was powerful enough to travel that distance through the use of his elemental abilities.
"Greybeck?" Harry shouted to pull the werewolf out of his shocked state.
"I can take you to get medical help. They should be able to save your hand, if we leave immediately." Harry offered cunningly.
Greybeck blinked stupidly trying to understand the offer. Despite his wound he was able to pull himself together enough to snarl out. "I've still got one good arm to tear you limb from limb, Potter." Greybeck cradled his stump protectively against his body and crouched down as if readying himself to spring.
Harry shot him an incredulous look and held his sword out to show Greybeck the evidence of his own blood where it stained the edge of Harry's blade.
"Don't be daft, man. You're critically wounded. With every heart beat you lose more strength. I need only wait a few more precious minutes and your own heart will kill you." Harry cocked his head to one side as if he was considering something.
"Perhaps you think that your, 'would be', allies in yonder mountains will come to your rescue? Then think again. They can't venture out into the light and even if you did make it to them, you'd have to wait till nightfall before they could possibly aid you and by then you'd be no more than meat for their larder."
For all his ferocity, Greybeck paled Harry's words. "W-What do you want, Potter?"
Harry smirked knowingly. "In exchange for your hand and your life?"
"Y-Yes." Greybeck snarled in confirmation.
"Information" Harry answered flatly, then added. "Information ,and your freedom."
"Forget it!" Greybeck growled defiantly.
"As you wish." Harry agreed solemnly.
Harry nonchalantly wiped down his blade and returned it to its scabbard. Then he picked a spot in the shade and propped himself comfortably against the trunk of a nearby elm.
"W-What're you playing at ,P-Potter?" Greybeck bristled despite the pain and dizziness he felt as he began to succumb to blood loss.
"Me?" Harry asked innocently pointing a finger at his own chest. "I'm just waiting for the inevitable. You'll die from blood loss. I'll take your head as proof of death, and then leave your carcass here for the wolves to feast upon. That is what you would want isn't it? To provide for your woodland kin, even in death?"
Greybeck's face went ashen in panic.
"I-I'll agree under o-one condition?" he attempted to bargain.
Harry quirked an eyebrow."You're hardly in a position to bargain, Greybeck. But, just out of curiosity what do you want?"
"I have a wife,.. a d-daughter.." he implored.
"They will be cared for." Harry offered without reservation.
"Y-You promise?" Greybeck questioned.
"Unlike your late dark lord, my word is my bond. I will see to it that your family is not left wanting."
"T-Thank you." Greybeck conceded gratefully before passing out and falling to the rocky ground in a heap.
With a weary sigh, Harry limped over to Greybeck's unconscious form and, suppressing a shiver of revulsion, he gathered up Greybeck's severed hand and put a stasis spell over it to keep the tissues from decomposing further. He shrugged of his cloak and wrapped the hand in it, then tied the ends of the cloak on his hip. Harry rummaged thru his pack until he found the emergency port key that he had become accustomed to carrying with him at all times. He withdrew the emergency port key that would transport him directly to 's emergency ward. Knelling down, he grabbed a hold of Greybecks good arm and activated it.
He felt the familiar tug behind his navel and the landscape disappeared around him in a swirl of color. Moments later, his knees hit an all too familiar green tile floor with a dull thud.
"I-It's the Knight!"
"Healer Jennings, Harry Potter's here." voices called out in alarm.
Harry shrugged off the many reaching hands intent on helping him to his feet as he barked out. "Confederation emergency priority one. This man is my prisoner. He has a severed right hand at the wrist joint. His hand is wrapped in my cloak and is under a stasis spell."
Emergency personal immediately set to work on Greybeck at Harry's command. Nobody ignored an emergency directive from the Confederation, let alone the Magical Knight.
Harry untied the blood stained cloak from around his waist and shoved it into the reaching hands of the nearest nurse.
"But who is..?" Healer Jennings began to ask as he ran his wand over Greybeck performing a diagnostic scan. Harry's raised palm instantly silenced him. Harry tapped the medallion that hung around his neck and spoke out in a clear, formal voice.
"This is MK-1 to command, over."
"Go ahead, Commander." a voice crackled back softly from the medallion.
"I have Greybeck in custody." He paused briefly to silence the medical personnel around him with a glare. They had responded in frightened gasps of recognition at the mention of Greybeck's infamous name.
"I repeat: Greybeck is in custody and currently at 's emergency being stabilized. I require a guard detail to monitor the prisoner and to take him into ministerial custody once he has been medically released, over."
"Acknowledged, MK1. Unspeakable squad Alpha 1 will arrive shortly to relieve you. Commander Turner sends his compliments on a job well done. The rest of the squad wants me to pass along- Good hunting MK1. Command out."
Harry let out a sigh of relief. It was good to be back in England after nearly a month in the field. What little measure of rest he was enjoying was over as quickly as it began with the arrival of the Unspeakable security detachment.
Three black uniformed Unspeakables took flanking positions around Greybeck's prone form, just outside of the medical personnel's work perimeter. One of the Unspeakable's, wearing twin gold bars on his uniform's shoulders, approached Harry stiffly.
"Magical Knight Potter, I'm Captain Belfour. I officially release you from further responsibility for the prisoner, Fenrir Greybeck." the man announced formally.
Harry quirked an amused eyebrow and responded, "I appreciate it Captain. The prisoner has a wife and daughter. Would you see to it that relief services are contacted regarding them? Anything additional that the mother might require for the daughter's welfare, have billed to the Knightway Foudation under my authority."
"Yes, sir, Commander." the man snapped out with a click of his heals.
"Thanks, Mike. It's good to see ya." Harry offered his hand warmly.
"You too, Harry." Capatain Belfour said easily taking his hand and relaxing from official decorum.
"Greybeck, huh? That's nice work, Harry." Mike complimented.
Harry merely shrugged his shoulders in acknowledgement.
"You look like hell, Harry. Why don't you go clean up and get a bit to eat. Me and the boys will make sure Greybeck's secure." Mike suggested with a grin.
"Thanks, Mike. I guess I better,.. urrgh!" Harry had been turning to leave when his wounded side took that moment to spasm and send a fresh wave of pain lancing through his rib cage.
"Harry, what?" Captain Mike Belfour pulled his supporting hand back to find it covered in fresh blood.
"Get a healer over here, now!" Belfour barked out in command. "The Knight's wounded."
"N-No really, I'm f-fine.." Harry stammered in disagreement and began to pull back from Captain Belfour's concerned grip, but stilled when a soft hand touched his face and turned his chin to look into her compassionate blue eyes.
"Please,.. let me help you, Harry?"
"S-Susan?" Harry whispered in recognition.
Her nose crinkled as she smiled warmly. "That's Healer Bones, but yes, Susan will do for an old school friend like you, Harry. Let me help you." It wasn't so much a request as an order.
"Don't bother. It's nothing really. I'm.." Harry attempted to reassure.
"Your, Fine?" I believe that's what you were going to say wasn't it?" Susan Bones chided him with a knowing look." The last time I heard you say that, you had a skull fracture from a fall of fifty feet on the quidditch pitch. Oh, and let's not forget the exposure to Dementors that you suffered as well." Harry scowled not from her admonishment, but from the sniggering of Belfour behind her.
Harry shot Mike a disgruntled look and shrugged off Susan's hands. He turned away with the intention of leaving under his own power. He hadn't made it two steps before he crumpled and fell to the E.R. floor.
Harry barely noticed the pandemonium that erupted around him as he slipped into unconsciousness.
"Faden, Holmin. Help us over here and then secure the perimeter. McCormick you stay with Greybeck. Don't let him out of your sight for a second... Base, this is Belfour. Emergency Priority One. I repeat, Emergency Priority One. The Knight has fallen! I repeat, the Knight has fallen!" Belfour's voice barked out urgently as Harry floated into the ether...