This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter universe, which are trademarked by J.K. Rowling. I do not claim ownership of these characters nor the locations such as Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, etc. that are Rowling's creations. This work also includes Pokémon, which belong to the Pokémon Company, and I again claim no ownership of these characters.
I thank both Rowling and the Pokémon Company for the universes they have created that allows me to do something like this for my own entertainment and, hopefully, the entertainment of the readers.
Harry darted for the Flame Plate.
"Heatran!" The legendary Pokémon bellowed as it unleashed a blast of fire towards where the Flame Plate lay.
"Umbreon, Protect!" Harry shouted, a barrier beaming into existence as Harry grabbed the Plate, wincing at the heat that seared through it. Heatran's attack burned fiercely at Umbreon's shield while behind him Ron and Hermione had jumped into action, Blastoise and Buizel firing out attacks into the waves of Pokémon that bared down upon them.
Even as Harry turned away from the pedestal more fire types pushed forward.
"Charizard! Greninja! Go!" Harry shouted, releasing his two Pokémon into the oncoming swarm. Charizard roared at his appearance, feeling the boost of having the Flame Plate nearby, while Greninja backed him up with Water Shurikens, firing them in with precision and power to hold the attacking Pokémon back.
Yet somehow the attacks didn't quite seem to hit as they should.
"It's the Flame Plate!" Hermione shouted, seeing his concern as before her Buizel was clearly struggling with his attacks as well. "It's weakening the water and making the fire stronger! We've got to use rock and ground attacks! Flygon, go!"
Flygon joined the defence, swirling up a Sandstorm as he appeared and giving Buizel some much needed respite. Ron, meanwhile, had already called up the help of Arcanine and Torkoal to aid Blastoise.
Another attack flew over from Heatran, clanging against Umbreon's shield and causing the dark type to stagger. Charizard roared.
"Wait! Charizard! No!" Harry shouted, his eyes wide, but it was all in vain. Charizard had already set his course and he bore down on Heatran, letting loose a blast of flame.
Heatran remained unmoved. It turned its eyes to Harry.
"Protect!" Harry shouted and Umbreon raised a shield as a blast of fire, more powerful than the ones previously, burned its way towards him. It hit the shield with a crash of roaring flames, burning tendrils licking at the barrier and forcing gaps within it as Umbreon struggled to hold back the attack.
"Greninja, Water Pulse!" Harry cried. Immediately Greninja shot into action, the ball of water flung into the stream of fire halfway between the two Pokémon, and it exploded.
Steam filled the air, momentarily putting a barrier between Harry and Heatran. Then a dark shape emerged through the mist.
Heatran crashed into the ground below, its claws digging viciously into the dirt beneath its feet, and it looked up at Harry, glaring towards him with narrowed eyes.
"We've got to go!" Harry shouted as Heatran let loose another attack, a combination of Umbreon and Greninja fighting to hold it at bay. "We can't stay here and fight!"
Hermione and Ron got the message.
"Pig, let's go!" Ron called, the Pidgeot appearing in a flash of light as Ron hastily pulled himself up onto its back.
"Mismagius, help me out!" Said Hermione, releasing her ghost type as her usual ride, Flygon, continued to help Buizel hold back the attackers. Mismagius's eyes began to glow and together trainer and Pokémon rose into the air.
"Charizard!" Harry shouted but a moment later he spotted Charizard in the air, barreling down towards Heatran at a ferocious pace, his fist cocked back and glowing white.
Charizard's Focus Punch struck Heatran viciously on the dome of the head, driving the Pokémon into the ground as its claws ripped up the rock beneath its feet and it was pushed backwards.
For a moment everything was still.
Then a stream of magma burst into the air around the place the Pokémon were standing. Charizard let out a roar of pain as the storm swirled around him, burning embers scorching his body as he was lifted into the air, powerless to escape the devastating attack.
Harry panicked. If Charizard was hurt he would have no clear means of escape. If Charizard could not be freed then Harry may as well be condemning himself and his Pokémon to spending the rest of their lives trapped in this cavern.
And a horrible feeling welled in his stomach as Harry picked up a Pokéball from his belt. He knew what he had to do. He just wished there was another way.
"Lucario, Aura Sphere!" The steel and fighting type burst from his Pokéball and immediately sprung into action, not paying any mind to the sheer extent of the danger he found himself in, surrounded by fire types, as he blasted an Aura Sphere in Heatran's direction.
The attack smashed into Heatran, causing the fire type to groan loudly at the hit, and the storm holding Charizard began to fade.
"Charizard! To me!" Harry shouted before Charizard could get any ideas of rejoining the battle. Meanwhile Lucario, not needing any verbal command, went charging forward, a Bone Rush attack forming between his paws as he looked to press his advantage, hammering super effective attack after super effective attack into Heatran as it struggled to regain its composure.
Charizard arrived back to Harry and Harry climbed on, hoping he could do so quickly enough to ward off the inevitable.
He couldn't.
A roar of flame was accompanied by a roar of pain as Lucario was blasted backwards, his body burned and scorched as Heatran was finally able to fire back with an attack no steel type should ever have to take.
"Lucario! Return!" Harry shouted, calling him back and hoping that the damage was not as bad as he feared it to be. "Charizard! Earthquake!"
No one was ready for this attack. Not the fire type Pokémon surrounding them or even their own Pokémon that remained on the ground in their defence. Charizard slammed his fists into the ground with such incredible force that everyone, friend and foe alike, was knocked off balance, or sometimes more, as Harry, Ron and Hermione flew above them.
"Greninja! Umbreon! Return!" Harry called his Pokémon back as Charizard swept into the air.
"Blastoise! Arcanine! Torkoal!" Shouted Ron as Pidgeot did the same.
"Come back, Buizel!" Called Hermione as Mismagius raised her serenely up into the air and Flygon swooped through the sky below her.
They made a break for it. While the Pokémon on the ground were still fighting to regain their balance Charizard, Pidgeot, Mismagius and Flygon blasted through the air, guiding their trainers towards the exit.
But they were not alone.
"Talonflame, use Acrobatics!" Harry shouted, releasing the flying type as a Volcarona buzzed dangerously close to him. "Charizard, Flamethrower!"
"Pig, use Twister!" Shouted Ron, directing his Pokémon's attack towards a ledge in one of the walls where a pride of Pyroar had set up, waiting to strike.
By the other wall Hermione continued to float along, even as a Darmanitan leapt towards her, being tackled midair by Flygon and thrown into the ground below.
With the Pokémon beginning to fall behind them Harry began to feel his hopes rise. A blast of flame nearly ended that immediately, the fire burning dangerously close to where Harry sat on Charizard's back, forcing himself to press tightly into the fire type to evade it.
The blast missed Harry. But it hit Mismagius.
"Ah!" Hermione screamed. She fell through the air, her means of transport brought to a sudden end as Mismagius became engulfed in greedily burning flames and lost all control of their connection.
"Flygon, catch her!" Ron yelled desperately, twisting round from his perch atop Pidgeot to look behind him to where disaster had struck. Flygon swooped towards Hermione, but it was obvious he'd never get there.
Talonflame was faster. He dove after the girl, catching her as his talons took a hold of her shoulders, and he tried to pull her up. But it was no use, Talonflame was not strong enough to support Hermione's weight and even as he tried desperately he was being dragged lower as his talons dug painfully into Hermione's shoulders.
But he'd done enough. Just when it looked like Talonflame's strength was going to give out Flygon swooped in, taking Hermione's weight with ease and allowing an exhausted Talonflame to let go.
"Great job, Talonflame!" Harry shouted down to the Pokémon. "Return!"
Up ahead Hermione had been raised up to normal height once more. Returning the smoking form of Mismagius she wiped at her face, her eyes wet from tears of pain and of terror.
They soared on. Finally out ahead of the other Pokémon and able to swoop round the corner out of Heatran's sight, they were at last able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The fire Pokémon had gathered around the Plate so as long as they could stay ahead of their pursuers they would be able to escape.
But that was easier said than done.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Harry cried as Pikachu took up a position on top of his head. A flock of Talonflame were chasing after them, much faster than the larger, bulkier flying Pokémon making the escape, and Pikachu fired off his attacks into the group indiscriminately, rarely able to hit his target due to Talonflame's evasion but doing just enough to keep them at bay.
Meanwhile dark figures were running along the cavern walls. Houndoom, Pyroar, Darmanitan, even a Flareon, were chasing after the group, trying to catch up before they could make it back to the exit.
It was within reach.
"How are we going to do this?!" Ron shouted from up ahead. "Will we even fit?!"
"We have to try!" Harry shouted back. Ron looked pale, but nodded.
"Here goes," he said and as they reached the plateau where they had started Ron guided Pidgeot into the tunnel.
"Keep it up, Pikachu!" Harry shouted as Hermione and Flygon flew in after Ron, leaving only Harry left.
Charizard rose up over the plateau and for a brief moment Harry could look all the way down to the exit, filled with its uneven walls and tight spaces, before Charizard dived in.
All thoughts of seeing where they were going flew from Harry's mind as the rock walls of the tunnel flashed by him, Harry digging himself into Charizard's back to make himself as small as possible to avoid striking any protruding boulders, holding Pikachu close in his arms.
"Pig, return!" Ron's panicked voice yelled ahead. Harry swallowed.
"Ah, Flygon!" Came Hermione's cry a moment later, a flash of red up ahead signalling Flygon being called back into his Pokéball too. Harry braced himself as he realised what this meant.
The tunnel was too small.
He readied Charizard's Pokéball.
"Ah!" He cried as he suddenly found himself flying through the air, momentarily weightless as he and an equally surprised Pikachu were flung forward through the tunnel. He hit the ground, hard, feeling the rocks scratching against his exposed arms and face, even as he fought to protect his head, and Charizard's Pokéball flew from his grasp.
Coming to a stop he pulled himself up dizzily to find Ron and Hermione lying awkwardly a few feet further down the tunnel. Harry turned to look back the way they had come.
Charizard was standing in the tunnel, his form taking up almost the entire width of it, and he gazed at Harry with a sad expression on his face. And it was to Harry's shock that he realised they hadn't crashed. Charizard had thrown him off.
Behind Charizard Harry could just make out the shapes of Pokémon entering the tunnel above, catching up with the now stationary group in no time at all, and Charizard turned away from him to face the oncoming horde, his claws covered in a metallic sheen.
"No," Harry murmured as he realised just what Charizard was about to do. With a loud grunt Charizard threw his claws into the air and slammed them into the roof of the tunnel, piercing the rock above his head with Metal Claw before, with a great heave, he pulled it down onto the pursuing Pokémon.
And himself.
"No!" Harry shouted, clambering to his feet and staggering forward desperately as heavy rocks began to collapse within the tunnel. Charizard's Pokéball lay only a few feet away but, as he scrambled towards it, his hands burnt, cut and numb, he fumbled with it, struggling as he tried to point it back to his Pokémon.
Charizard was barely visible when Harry turned to face him, the enormous rocks falling starting to obstruct his view, and Harry gasped desperately, "Charizard! Return!"
The beam of red light flew forward, seeking out the Pokémon it was meant for, and stretched towards him.
A rock fell in its path.
"No!" Harry moaned. "Charizard, return! Charizard, return!"
Again and again the beam of red light flew forwards only to be cut out as Harry pleaded, tears running down his cheeks as he desperately jabbed the Pokéball towards Charizard again and again.
"Please."
It was as though his prayers had been answered. As he jabbed the Pokéball forward one final time, his vision swimming with tears and his body barely holding itself up, the beam of red light slipped through the tiniest of gaps between the rocks and struck Charizard's back. It sucked the Pokémon away from the danger and back to the Pokéball, the Pokéball snapping shut decisively as Charizard was properly returned.
The last rock fell into place and the tunnel went still.
Harry cradled Charizard's Pokéball to his chest, feeling numb even as pure relief rushed through him. He leaned back on his heels, his eyes closed as he allowed the tears to flow freely and he thanked whatever there was out there that had blessed him with the good fortune to still have Charizard in his arms.
Ever so slowly he unfurled his hands from the Pokéball and he gently pried it open.
Charizard appeared before him, stooped as the tunnel was too small for his build, and he looked down at Harry with somber eyes.
"Don't do that ever again," Harry choked. "Don't you dare sacrifice yourself for me." He pulled Charizard's head towards his, resting them forehead to forehead.
"We're in this together," Harry murmured. "Until the very end."
Some time later they made camp. As they gathered all around the campsite was evidence of the brutal battle they'd just fought. Lucario was lying flat on his back, having been given what little treatment Harry could for the burns that had been inflicted by Heatran. Mismagius wasn't far away from him, floating in the air with her eyes closed as she slept off her injuries, not as badly burned, but not as naturally robust as Lucario was.
All around the Pokémon that had battled rested, not making a sound as they had nothing left to give. Charizard, Pikachu, Talonflame, Umbreon, Greninja, Blastoise, Arcanine, Torkoal, Pig, Buizel and Flygon had not taken significant damage, but they had all been roughed up, some more than others, and it would be some time before they were ready for battle once more.
The same could be said for the humans of the group. Harry's body was littered with cuts and bruises from his violent fall from Charizard's back and he was pretty sure he had a concussion, though he had little faith he was treating it correctly. Ron likewise was nursing more than a few burns.
But Hermione was by far the worst off. She sat next to Torkoal's warmth, shirtless and with her hands holding up her bra so that her shoulders could be made bare. Vicious claw marks stood out starkly against Hermione's pale skin, the price she'd had to pay to avoid a violent and potentially fatal fall when Talonflame had caught her. The only positive to take was that it could have been so much worse.
"Is it always like this?"
Harry glanced up. Ron was looking over at him. "What?"
"When you got the Splash Plate with Dumbledore," Ron said quietly. "Was it like this?"
"Sort of," Harry admitted softly, feeling exhaustion sweeping over him. "I wasn't lying when I said it almost killed us."
"I know," said Ron. "I never thought you were lying but…" he let out a breath. "Man, it is so much different when you're experiencing it for yourself." Harry nodded.
"You don't have to keep doing this," Harry told him, turning to Hermione too. It only felt right to give them the chance to back out now when they'd got their first glimpse of what this really entailed. "You don't have to stay with me."
"Of course we do," Hermione said softly. "We can't leave you to do this alone."
"Yeah mate," said Ron. "It took all three of us to escape and still we barely managed. I'm not letting either of you try to go after a Plate without me there to help you."
Harry let out a small smile.
"I know," he said warmly. "I knew the two of you would stick by me, you always do. And I know I need you. I always have." He ducked his head. "And I'm sorry about the way I've been acting in the last month or so. Ever since the time plant…"
"You don't need to explain, Harry, we understand," Hermione told him.
"Yeah, that's what we meant when we said we'd help you, after all," Ron agreed. "I mean, sure, we'll help with the heavy lifting, but doing something like this is tough on the mind. We're here to make it a little easier."
"We're all going to go through some rough times, Harry," Hermione continued. "You don't have to feel ashamed about it."
"Never," Ron agreed. Harry smiled.
"Thanks guys," he murmured. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
"The feeling's mutual," said Hermione. She glanced at Ron. "The three of us, we're a team. We are strong and smart and powerful and most importantly when we are together we're so much more."
"And we can do anything," Ron added. "Including beating Voldemort." He gave Harry a significant look. "So long as we're together there is always hope."
"I know," said Harry, accepting the reprimand and assuring himself he would not forget it. "I know."
A companionable silence fell over them.
"So," said Ron. "That Pokémon, right. Never seen something like that." He glanced down at the book in Harry's lap. "Got anything on it in there?"
Harry had pulled out 'Gods on Earth' almost by habit, Heatran's appearance firmly in mind, but he had yet to open it.
"Yeah," he said, shifting so that he could search through the book, flicking through the pages as he spoke on the search for Heatran's chapter. "Heatran, a fire and steel type Pokémon sometimes referred to as Lord of Stark Mountain. I don't know where that is but I don't believe that's where we found it."
"Probably not," Ron agreed. Harry found the correct chapter.
"It has an intense internal body heat, making volcanos its ideal home," he continued. "Its ability is Flash Fire, hence why it only got stronger once Charizard attacked it, and it has a signature move, apparently, called Magma Storm. I think that's what it used on Charizard." Harry sighed.
"All in all it seemed like the perfect Pokémon to protect the Flame Plate," he concluded. "No wonder Voldemort recruited it."
"And no wonder it agreed," said Hermione. "It is clear the effect the Plate has on fire type Pokémon. They love it. Look at Torkoal."
Torkoal, acting as their source of heat in place of an actual campfire, was lying tucked into his shell directly on top of the Flame Plate, and as he lay there the coals in his back seemed to burn even brighter.
Charizard, Arcanine and Talonflame had also drawn close to it, whether consciously or not, and Greninja, Buizel and Blastoise were by contrast keeping their distance.
"It's a useful little thing, isn't it," Ron opined. "Especially with winter coming." The thought of the extra cold weather, with no tent with which to take shelter, made Harry extra glad to have the Plate.
"We will have to keep our guard up, though," he warned. Ron and Hermione looked at him. "Pokémon are drawn to the Plate. We don't want any unnecessary conflicts. We should keep moving as much as possible."
Ron and Hermione agreed. Tomorrow they would continue their search once more, moving over to some other region as it made no sense for Voldemort to hide two Plates so close to each other. For tonight they would simply rest and recover, and quietly prepare themselves for more to come.
A/N: And that's it for this chapter. The first Plate has been retrieved.
If you enjoyed then please leave a Review and follow me on Twitter for updates.
Until next time.