Bane

A/N: Harry is now back in the Wizarding World. In his thoughts he is Firefox or when he has to work the ley-lines. For the most part, I will be switching back in forth with his name when he tells me to. Sorry if it is confusing.

Disclaimer: See chapter 1. Reviews are welcomes, flames are not and will be deleted. Again special thanks to Miriam1 for her brilliant editing.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Chapter 14

The sky over the Forbidden Forest was dark and overcast with the foretelling of snow.

Firefox moved through the pitch-black tunnel with ease of one that was well able to. The moment he had exited the small tunnel that lead from the Chamber of Secrets to the forest, he had cast a night vision on his mage sight. To him, the forest became as bright as the noonday sun.

The moment they cleared the tunnel, Hedwig and Godric took to the cloud-shrouded night sky. Using his link to his beloved owl, Firefox now knew which way lay the castle, the village of the centaurs, and where the accursed nest of the acromantula was.

Kieryn also took to the sky, along with the owls. It was safer for him that way. He also sent back mental images and his impressions of the forest.

:There are more danger in this forest than I remember: Salazar commented with a flick of his tail, picking up the young mage's thoughts.

:You can thank Hogwarts' groundskeeper for that. His love for dangerous creatures is well known. According to him, they are just misunderstood 'beasties.' Never mind he is half-giant and immune to most magics.:

Salazar gave a snort before commenting, :Just watch your step, child.:

Firefox gave a slight nod as he moved through the trees, seeking out the nearest ley-lines; however what he discovered was shocking.

The ley-line ran the length of the forest heading towards the castle. It was swollen like a flooded river trying to overflow its banks. Its energy was untainted under the forest, but the closer it flowed to the node under the castle, it darkened in a molten swirling vortex of angry pooling lava.

:Not good. The Star-eyed was understating the issue when She told me it'll take years to fix this mess: Firefox mind-spoke as he gave a shudder as he carefully, keyed himself into the flow, praying that he didn't burn himself out or exploding the ley-line. There was a fair chance that both could happen.

Of course, he met with a huge obstacle – the acromantula nest. It laid between him and the castle. Hagrid should have never introduced them to this forest. It wasn't their nature environment and their nature predator wasn't a native to Scotland.

However, there was no way to get around them, so Aragog and his family had to die.

Firefox hated to kill off one of his friend's pets, but they really had no business being near Hogwarts. Using over-charged levin-bolts, he made short work of the nest and the larger spiders. Many of the smaller ones escaped, but he didn't worry about them at the moment. It was the nest of unhatched eggs and the adults that had to go first. Later, he would go after the rest, or allow Keiryn to take care of them.

After refilling his spent energy from the tapped ley-line, Firefox checked its flow once more. He barely made a splash. It was still trying to overflow its banks. Still not good. He had to get to the ward stone and find out what happened.

When he reached the edge of the forest, the sky was starting to turn mottled. Dawn was still an hour away.

"Demon Bane's Heir," came a voice in the dark foliage.

Firefox turned with his hands raised as energy danced through his fingers.

"Peace. I mean no harm," a centaur stepped out of the foliage.

The levin-bolt faded as Firefox sighed. "Firenze."

"You have finally returned as the stars predicted that you would. I would caution you about returning to the castle. It houses a stirring dragon that will soon awaken. You must return it to its peaceful slumber. Already, you know what to do." He looked over at the firecat that was sitting at the young mage's feet.

"It is good to see one of the founders returning to fix what is broken through time and neglect."

:If it can be fixed. A dragon waking is a good analogy. Destruction awaits if my student cannot repair the ward stone.:

"Just so," came an answer.

Firefox smiled. Trust the centaurs to speak in riddles which seems to have a sharp bite in its warning. He remembered this centaur from his days as a school. "Firenze. How long have I been gone?"

"Six full turns of the moon, Demon Bane's Heir. It is the night of what you humans call All Hallows Eve."

Six full. . .? Oh right! Six months. Just bloody great. Trust the Star-eyed to send him back on one of her holy days. He groaned softly. Of course, it would be this night. Nothing ever good happened to him on this night of nights.

:Thank you, descendant of Ixion.: Salazar sent. :I wish I could say it is a pleasure, but dark days are coming if my student here cannot fix the ward stone. A dragon indeed. A rogue ward stone will seem tame to a real one.:

"Indeed." Firenze turned and faded back into the dark foliage once his warning had been heeded.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The tower that Firefox wanted stood tall in the lightening sky. It had, until tonight, remained hidden for all times by Rowena's spells of secrecy. Salazar had told him in one of their lessons about how she valued her privacy, and warded her tower accordingly. He also taught his student the key to unravel the wards.

Thankfully, it was easy to get to, from the outside. Keiryn could fly up to the balcony as Salazar 'jumped' Firefox to land beside the gryphon.

Using a bit of magic, the locks and spells on the outer French doors broke allowing them to enter. The room was covered with dusty grey sheets hiding the furnishings. It appeared to be a sitting room. A free-standing loom with a half-finished tapestry stand stood by the cold and forgotten hearth. Dust and cobwebs covered everything.

Firefox smiled. "This is perfect, Sal. The balcony has enough room for Kieryn to sun himself." He moved to one of the two doors on the walls. Inside was a small room with a small cot and press – a child's room. "This would do nicely for Kieryn, once it is cleared out. I can place warming spells easy enough and with mage lights, it would be quite comfortable. What do you think Kieryn?"

"It isss asss you sssay," the gryphon agreed. "It isss next to the balcony. I think you can replaccce the window with an outssside door forrr me to exit."

"I should be able to."

Firefox went to the other door and discovered a large master suite with a huge framed sleigh bed. "This must've been Rowena's bedchamber."

:Yes. She had just married when I was forced to leave: Salazar commented as he peeked in. :I didn't know she had a child or children.:

"Well this is in need of cleaning… " Firefox make a face. He hadn't needed to clean much, during his time with the Tayledras. Hertasi did most of the work and refused to allow the poor humans in their care to share in their duties.

Speaking of hertasi, Firefox really wished Cera could've accompanied them. She would've been a blessing. He frowned for a second before face-palming.

"Of course. Why didn't I . . . Dobby? Are you there?"

There was a pop and standing in front of Firefox was the most unusual hertasi-hybrid that Salazar had ever seen. For one, there were no lizard-like features on him. The hertasi that came with Great Escape had been badly experimented on by Ma'ar so that they would look more human and less reptilian.

"Great Master Harry..." Dobby started to say only to stop. His large bulging eyes grew even larger as he bowed over and over again. "Great One! Great Master Harry has become an Ancient Great One. One that came from the Great Escape. Never has Dobby dreamed to . . . "

"Dobby! Dobby! Stop! Please," Harry said, trying to calm his small friend down. "Just stop. Please? I need your help."

Dobby's head began to bobble in acknowledgment. "Dobby helps. What must Dobby do?"

"First, this is Salazar, he's a firecat. That's Kieryn and a friend. Everyone this is Dobby." Harry placed a hand on top of the excitable elf. "Dobby, are you bound to Hogwarts?"

"No, Great Master Harry Potter, sir. Dobby is . . ." Dobby paused and looked a bit guilty. "Dobby bonded himself to you when bad master freed Dobby."

Harry smiled. "Great!" He placed a hand on the house elf's shoulder, pouring his magic into his little friend. "That makes it easy. First off, I order you to call me 'Master Harry.' Now, my next order is to clean these rooms. Store Rowena's things away until I decide what to do with them. Next, is Winky bonded here?"

"No, Master Harry, Winky is in a bad way."

"She's dying, isn't she?"

"Yes, Master Harry, sir."

"Go get her."

Dobby popped out and a moment later returned. Winky was dirty, ragged, and clearly drunk. Harry knew she would be dead soon, if he didn't do something. Placing a hand on her head, he ordered, "Winky, I bind you to my service for all time. There will be no giving of clothes for you. I will not allow you to leave my service."

He poured magic into her. He and Salazar didn't know where the giving of clothes came from, but the original intent of these hybrid-hertasi were to service Ma'ar's and his nobles as unpaid slaves, living off the magic that the bond would give them.

Harry didn't have time to explore this change, but knew the old forms from Salazar.

Winky changed in front of him as his magic poured into the house elf. She began to look healthier.

"Winky, Dobby. Both of you are in my personal service. There will be no clothes given to break your binding. You are mine. There will be no punishment for any perceived slights in your duty. You will uphold my honor and keep my secrets. Both of you must be clean and well fed from now on. Winky, no more drinking of butter beer. You will remain sober at all times."

Both house elves nodded and popped away for a minute, then popped back wearing clean pillowcases.

Harry frowned and sighed. He would fix that later, but he was tired and already homesick. Missing everyone from the Vale, but there was still much to do.

He gave a tired sigh. Maybe he'd wait until tomorrow to re-introduce himself back to the Wizarding World. He wanted food and sleep. "I will give you more instructions later, on what your duties will be. For now, clean these rooms. Put Rowena's things and those things in the nursery into storage. Kieryn is a gryphon and my friend. He has special needs which you will listen to and help him. He will tell you more later. For now, I need food and information. Then sleep."

Dobby popped out as Winky began to clean the bedchamber. Dobby returned and led the young mage back into the sitting room. The fireplace had been cleaned and a small fire burned merrily in it. The straight back chair had a small tea table sitting beside it. A tea service with a small covered plate waited for him. Beside him were two bowls of cream and two, one large and one small, platters of choice uncooked meat for Salazar and Keiryn.

"Dobby, you are the best." The house elf burst into tears at the praise.

Firefox watched as the sun rose over the Black Lake while he ate. His thoughts returned to the home he left behind. He would know soon enough if he was on time or not. Not even Salazar knew just how much damage had been done to the ward stone and wouldn't know until they visited it.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

A/N: thanks all for the reviews and comments. Please check my profile for more information.

Until next time. – GF