Chapter 11
~ The Battle and the Invasion ~
(author's note: Family's gone, etc., etc. I should get this thing finished up by the end of the week, then. Fun, fun.)
The earth shook again, causing great boulders to fall from the ceiling and slam into the ground. Often, a house would be crushed under one of the great falling rocks. Already, several of the houses were on fire, and dozens of elves ran here and there, trying to put out the fires and send for help to fight the dragon.
Harry started to dart forward and knock the dragon back, but something caught his attention. Behind the dragon, an incoming flood of goblins and trolls started to pour through the now wide opening of Merlin's cave. Arrows flew over the young wizard's head in a great shower, and rocks were flung into houses by the mighty trolls.
"Runwemust!" Lunchbox yelled, tugging at Harry's sleeve.
Lewlynn began yanking hard at the other sleeve, yelling so fast Harry couldn't make out what he was saying.
"There'sjust so many" Harry whispered, holding his wand tightly. "How can I fight them all?"
Two large Wizards floated in, surrounded by a bubble of energy through the cave's entrance. Harry squinted, trying to see who they were from the distance. He jumped in surprise as he recognized the two. It was Nott and the eldest Goyle, high ranking members of Voldemort's Death Eaters.
"Lewlynn, Lunchbox, go!" Harry said, rolling his sleeve up. "I have to take care of two mosquitoes."
The two looked at each other, shrugged, and flew off towards the village, zig-zagging to avoid the falling arrows and boulders. Harry threw a couple of protective spells to knock away boulders that were about to hit them. When they made it in to the village and out of sight, Harry turned his attention to the invading army.
Stepping out from behind the boulders which hid him, Harry raised his wand high in the air and let a small smile slip out. The size of the incoming army was enormous. He would have to watch out for the goblins especially, as they had ways of fighting wizards even though they had no magical powers.
"Oy!" Nott yelled, floating a little lower at the head of the army. He had to scream it out, for the roar of the army below was great. "We are the lucky ones, aren't we, Goyle?"
"How does you figure?" Goyle asked awkwardly.
"Not only do we destroy the elves' village, but we gets te kill Harry Bleedin' Potter, too!"
Harry twirled his wand around a little, muttering the levitation spells. "I may not be so easy to kill, Nott," Harry yelled out as several arrows flipped by his head. "I may be outnumbered, but I have something you do not."
"What?" Nott laughed. "Power? Hardly, we will use spells that you'd never dare use!"
Harry looked up to Nott. Suddenly, thousands and thousands of little pebbles began to shake on the ground around Potter. By the hundreds they began to levitate to the air all around the village until they reached about five feet off the ground, then they halted. "I have imagination."
Potter threw his arms forward, and the small rocks and pebbles shot through the air, filling the cave with the screams of the goblins as they were nailed by the pebbles. The pebbles could not kill them, but they were knocking the daylights out of them.
The trolls began to rush forward, but Harry brought his wand around and sent several large boulders rolling along the ground and slamming into the large, ugly creatures.
Harry lunged forward, tapping his wand to the ground, then yanked it up, yelling "vineatus major!" Great, powerful vines ripped out of the cave's floor and wrapped tightly around the black dragon, causing it to cry out in great pain.
More trolls and goblins began to pour through the entrance to the cave. Nott and Goyle were starting to move down on him, and would attack at any moment. No one seemed to be coming to help from the village behind.
"Think, Harry," Potter said to himself, sweat rolling down his face. "Can't take them all on at once!"
The Dragon reeled out from the vines, snapping them with a great pull, turned and shot a blast of fire at the young wizard. Harry turned his wand and screamed out, "Firos Ivantierus!"
Swirling is wand around as though he were writing cursive in midair, Harry formed the fire blast into a living creature, completely made of fire, and turned it on the invading army.
As though it were a dragon itself, the fire creature swiftly moved to attack the invaders, shooting out fire from its "mouth," and spreading its fiery wings through the cavern. The goblins and Trolls hid from the great beast, trying not to get caught up, and the black dragon, not realizing what it was up against, tried to attack it with his own fire.
Harry turned to the two men standing on the ground not far behind him. Winds swept up from the battle blew their cloaks and hair around them, and embers from the fires that raged flittered through the air.
"Well done, Potter," Nott said, a slight smirk showing. "Your power may truly rival that of Voldemort's. We would fear you, but, well, you seeyou're toonice. We don't have to worry about you."
Harry, trying not to show how out of breath he was, stood straight and readied his wand. Before he could raise it, however, he was knocked to the ground by Goyle's Cruciatus spell.
Potter's eyes went wide, his brilliant green irises shining wildly with the dancing flames. He pulled his arms around his body, holding tightly to his ribs, where a great knot was ripping and twisting his insides. The pain was now familiar, but it never seemed to hurt any less.
"Crucio!" Nott yelled, and Harry's pain doubled. Potter raised his head into the air, sweat streaming down his face, and through gritted teeth, screamed in agony.
"Enough!" Nott laughed. "C'mon, Goyle, let's have some real fun."
The two lowered their wands, and Harry fell to the hard ground, dust kicked up around him. Potter's ears heard the fire dragon give its last scream before finally being destroyed by Nott's water magic. The trolls and goblins immediately rushed in and started kicking and beating Potter.
"Get back!" Nott yelled, pushing the creatures out of the way. Goyle moved in and kicked Harry's head.
"Huh," Goyle said. "Still conscious."
"Good," Nott said. "I want him to see what's coming. The rest of you do what you're paid for. Destroy the city."
Harry's head was swimming. He couldn't feel anything but pain. A see of black and red greeted his eyes when he finally opened them. He quickly closed them, and felt himself starting to pass out.
"Get up."
"What?" Harry asked inside his head.
"Get up."
"Hermione?" Harry asked. It was impossible. She was in France. How could he hear her now?
"Even your precious Professor couldn't help you, now, Potter," Nott laughed. "Anyone else you want to whimper to before we kill you?"
"Get up, Harry. You have to find the Sliver."
"SSliver?"
"Sliver?" Nott asked, looking to Goyle with surprise. Goyle shook his head. He had no idea what Potter was saying. "Where's the Sliver, Potter!"
Harry mumbled something they couldn't understand.
Nott leaned over, lifting Harry's head by the hair and yelled in his face. "Where's the Sliver!"
When Harry didn't answer, Nott stood up, pointed his wand directly at Harry's head and screamed, "Crucio!"
Harry felt a thousand knives twisting the insides of his head. The pain was so intense he was about to pass out. Then, something strange happened. He felt something in his chest. Warmth. Peace.
"I can only give you so much power, Harry. You have to break free, and stop these two."
Harry pulled his fists together and screamed out. He threw his fists straight up in the air and a great green flash blasted out from his scar, reopening it.
The spell was broken, and Nott and Goyle were thrown yards away.
Harry gasped for air, sitting against a rock, and holding his wand. Suddenly, a very familiar voice rang out.
"Harry Potter broke it! Dobby knows Harry Potter is great wizard, great indeed, but to do this, Harry Potter must be greatest wizard ever!"
"Dobby?" Harry asked, trying to see straight. Dobby ignored him, though.
"Harry Potter is alive!" Dobby yelled, looking to the town. "We can win this fight!'
Harry squinted hard to the town to see what was going on when all of a sudden, hundreds and hundreds of elves began to pour out from the houses that weren't on fire. They had whatever they could find in their hands. Pitchforks, spoons, barrels, even some bows and arrows all were carried as the elves charged at the trolls and goblins.
Even though they were a tenth of the size, the elves, with a little of their own magical help, fought ferociously, knocking the great army back a little.
"D–Dobby, whathow did you?"
"Hermione Granger helped us here!" Dobby yelled with a smile. "Dobby come to help fight the bad wizards, Harry Potter!"
Harry stood up, a smile on his face, but holding his side with his hand. He watched as the sea of small elves swarmed over Nott and Goyle, beating and clawing at the two, he seemed more annoyed than anything else at the attack. Harry swore he heard Nott yelling that he would not die like this.
The ground shook violently, though, knocking most of the creatures around to the ground.
Harry turned and looked up at the great black dragon. It's eyes were focused on Potter, and the strong sulfuric smell made Harry cover his nose and mouth.
Before Potter had a chance to do anything, he was suddenly slammed against the wall by the dragon's tail. It then tried to slice him, but he was just able to duck under the attack.
Harry tried to run along the wall, but was slammed against it again by the quick tail.
Potter coughed, trying to catch his breath. He looked out across the battlefield, watching as the trolls and goblins, who had regained control of the fight, began pushing the elves back into the city. Explosions ripped through the ground, sending elves and goblins flying through the air.
The Dragon turned to Harry and let out a great burst of fire.
"No" Harry whispered. Summoning all the strength he had left, he raised his wand and yelled out a spell, causing waves of ice to shoot out and go against the flame. It was too weak, however, and Harry was quickly surrounded by flames.
He felt his skin getting hot, and fell to the ground, trying to cover himself up. However, when he hit the ground, it shattered underneath him, as though he had been standing on an icy pond. He fell through the ground, and, as it covered back up behind him, fell to the ground of a chamber below.
"You have done well, Harry," Hermione's voice echoed through the chamber. The battle could still be heard above. "I am quite proud of you. No wizard alive has stood up against such odds."
"Hermione?" Harry asked, painfully standing up. He looked around, but saw nothing in the room, save a green oddly shaped rock, laying in the middle of a small podium in the middle of the cavern.
"I have used the voice of one close to you to give you encouragement. The young woman you know as Hermione seemed somehowappropriate."
"Wh–what are you?" Harry asked.
"I am that which was meant to restore. That which, in your hands will restore all that has been destroyed. All that will be destroyed."
"You–You're the Sliver, right? The Earth Sliver?" Harry asked, walking towards the podium.
"You are right. Come and join with me, so that we may stop the destruction of the world."
"I thought you were in Durmstrang," Harry laughed, picking the Sliver up.
"Dumbledore moved me here, knowing that the Sliver was in danger there," the Sliver said. "NowI have found you, and I shall be one with you."
Harry could feel it sliding through his skin on his arm. A great rush of energy swept over him, and his wounds no longer hurt him at all.
Harry watched as his wand suddenly slipped into his skin, as well, joining its powers with his own body. Harry's head felt like it was being filled with water, and great amounts of knowledge seemed to be easily accessible.
Potter looked to the ceiling and smiled. "Dobby, I'm coming back."
***
Ginny thought it had been cold in England and France. However, now that she was only a few miles out of Durmstrang, she realized the summers here are colder than the winters back home.
The young woman pulled her cloak tightly around her shivering body, trying to block out the cold, cold air.
Bludger Squadron was on the move, hurrying through the thick snow and around the many trees in the forest, trying to not only avoid the snow wolves, but the peering eyes of any of the Death Eaters or Death Squads that might be out in the woods.
Before coming here, Ginny had went into Paris, trying to find some supplies with the others in the group, and what they found was simply amazing. There were no muggles to be found anywhere. Cars had crashed into walls, bicycles lay against the curb, even cellular phones were laying on the ground, beeping loudly. The non-magic population of the world had simply disappeared.
After running for what felt like an eternity, Ginny finally came through the trees with Lupin, Snape, and her brothers Charlie and Bill, and hit the ground hard. The Durmstrang castle was filled with wizards. The castle itself was smoking greatly, as though it were heavily on fire.
"They're likely looking for the Sliver," Charley whispered. Snape shook his head in agreement.
"Listen," Lupin whispered looking to the others, "I want you to stay behind, Ginny. If we're not back in an hour, I want you to go and join the others. Don't worry about us. We'll either find the Sliver, or, most likely, we'll be dead."
"No!" Ginny whispered. "I want to come! I can fight, too, you know!"
"I knowbut one of us has to stay behind," Charlie said. "One of us may need to stay to cover the others on their way out of the castle."
"Why can't Bill? Or Professor Snape?" Ginny cried.
"Because, they know the castle too well," Lupin said. "Ginny, just stay here, okay? If we're not back in an hour, go. Understand?"
Ginny nodded, her eyes full of tears. "Come back, okay?"
"Of course," Bill laughed.
Lupin, Snape, and the Weasley brothers crawled through the snow, and got into boats on the lake and began rowing across. Ginny started to move back to the trees to hide and wait when a shadow suddenly glided across the snow and directly over her.
Ginny quickly looked up and gasped. Her eyes opened wide, and she wanted to scream, but was frozen. A great, dark creature was floating in front of her, with several other people that Ginny recognized as Lucius and Draco Malfoy, and another girl Ginny didn't know.
"Where, exactly are you going?" the dark creature asked. Ginny couldn't answer, but her eyes darted to the boats of people on the lake.
Voldemort looked to the lake, following her eyes and spotted the Bludger squadron. "Aaaah, yes. Looking for the Sliver, are we?" he laughed. "Come, Death Eaters, we have business."
Ginny, tears at her eyes, wanted to crawl forward and yell out a warning, but she found she was stuck in the snow. She couldn't move forward. She couldn't yell. She was stuck.
What happened in the next few moments forever changed her life. Voldemort and the others floated across the lake to the boats, and after a few moments of arguing with Snape and Lupin, pointed his hand down at the four, and destroyed them with a powerful blast. Ginny could hear the cries of her brothers as they were ripped apart.
"N–No" Ginny cried. "I"
Finally, she cried. The tears rolled down her cheeks. She kept waiting for Voldemort to come back and finish her off, but, as though it were one last insult, they laughed and turned away, not even considering her a threat.
Ginny pulled her legs around front, and covered her eyes to keep from seeing the burning boats and remains on the lake. She could no longer see straight. She leaned forward and vomited.
Finally, she lay back and passed out. The last thought on her mind before she fell unconscious was simply, "I wonder how Harry is?"
***
"Elves must keep back!" Dobby yelled. "Keep fighting, but fall back!"
The elves were now encircled. They had used up all the knowledge of magic they knew. With Harry having been destroyed, or so they believed, there was no chance. They could finish strong, but they were all dead.
The dragon ran through the town, destroying everything it came near. All was lost. Then, something strange happened. Another great green dragon suddenly phased through the floor and into the room.
All of the creatures, the wizards, and the dragon in the city, turned to look at this great beast. It was an odd looking dragon. It's entire body was covered with green, except for two black lines that encircled its eyes, giving it a look as though it were wearing glasses.
Then it hit Dobby. "Oh! Dobby understands! Harry Potter is now a dragon!"
Harry, with the powers of the Sliver, roared through the cavern and attacked the black dragon. The two rolled over and over again, ripping into each other, but Harry was faster, stronger, and smarter. He eventually started banging the other dragon's head against a stalactite, before he finally chased the great beast off from the cave.
He then turned to look down at the armies below.
The trolls and Goblins dropped their weapons and ran off as fast as they could from the caves, leaving the elves who began cheering and laughing and celebrating.
Only two wizards were left, and they looked as though they were ready cry.
Harry transformed himself back to his original state, only still floating in mid-air, and surrounded by a green aura.
A smile on his face, he floated forward, pointed his hands at the two, and turned them into mosquitoes.
"Go," Harry said, laughing. "Before someone squashes you."
The two wasted no time dashing from the cave.
The elves cheered and danced, holding tightly onto one another, and throwing their hats or sheets or whatever they had high into the air. Harry wasn't finished, though.
The green wizard floated to the center of the enormous cave and put his hands out to his sides. Golden sparks began to fly out from his hands and fill the room. As the sparks landed, they repaired whatever was damaged. Houses were rebuilt, stones replaced, the cave entrance was shrunk again. Even lives were restored to the elves, goblins, and trolls that littered the ground.
The trolls and Goblins woke and looked around as though they had been in a trance, which they likely had, and showed no danger to the celebrating elves.
Harry floated back to the ground, where Dobby and Winky led the charge to surround him.
Just before he landed, however, he swore he heard a voice ask, "I wonder how Harry is?" Harry lifted his finger in the air, and brought the source of the voice to the ground in front of him.
Ginny lay passed out on the hard ground as hundreds of elves rushed in to thank Harry, and help the young girl.
"Ginny?" Harry asked, trying to hold her.
He put his hand on her shoulder, and the green energy that filled him quickly passed through her. Her eyes flittered open, and she looked at him awkwardly. "Harry?" she asked.
Ginny looked around at all the celebrating elves and stood up to face Harry. "Is this a dream?" she asked.
"No, it's real. I brought you here."
A sudden thought hit her head, and tears at once formed. "Oh my god, Harry"
"What? What is it?" he asked, trying to hold up her trembling body.
"I–I let them die, Harry! All of them! I'm the only one left!"
Harry's eyes went wide. "No"
***
(Author's notebefore I get flames or mean or bad reviews, I just want to say I'm sorry. Oh, and don't get mad. They're not dead. I hate giving that part away, but I don't want to lose readers who will get mad because I kill Snape. There is still much more to come, so just hang in there, okay? We're in the homestretch, and the end is coming real soon. Should be done by the end of the week.
