(A/N- here is the update I promised--like four or five months ago, I am so sorry!)
Chapter 14.
Harry entered the quarters near the west tower where his family was staying, he barely stepped four feet in when he was thrown against the wall, a dagger pointed at his neck, the owner being no other than the skilled swordsman himself, and of course his blade fanatic Knives, his face was dark and utterly raged.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't just slit your throat…" Knives hissed as he pressed the blade further into Harry's neck. Harry smirked and then motioned his head towards Sly who growled as she got into her pouncing position, immediately Knives pulled back, shooting a glare at Harry as he went. The lights in the small common room came on and Knuckles emerged holding a glass of liquor, dressed in some of Harry's street clothes.
"Nice to see you two are well." Harry smirked as he tossed the black duffle he had been carrying onto the couch.
"Where were you? Olivia has been going ballistic...and all we here is that you disappear in the middle of one of your classes." Knuckles stated his eyes hardening at the leader he had been worrying nonstop about for the past two days.
"The leaders of the UK territories had a summit, one I was called to." Harry explained tiredly as he dropped down on the couch beside the duffle and began to rub tiredly at his eyes, he kicked off his boots and placed them on the footstool and leaned back, sighing contently as he did so.
"Well?" Knives urged as he threw the knife he had been holding with perfect aim at one of the few moving portraits set around the room. The man in the portrait screamed in fright before he disappeared from his frame, eyeing the others inhabitants of the portraits around the room, they seemed to have taken the hint and left quickly. Knuckles, however, placed a sound proof shield around the three of them to keep their conversation a secret from straying ears they couldn't see.
"Voldemort went to them and told them to disband the Seekers, they wouldn't kill them though; they'd just force them onto their own turfs. We made a deal, I have one month to turn the gang around and bring them back up to drive to what we once were." Harry explained hazily, neither Knuckles nor Knives disagreed with the idea, for they too knew they had been loosing their drive for quite a while, and both knew that if things didn't change soon, they'd be the ones hunted instead of the ones hunting.
"So what did you do?" Knuckles asked curiously after a bit of a dreary silence
"I agreed, I just kicked more than forty homeless kids from our turf, I divided them by age and shipped the youngest to Wales, and the others to Landon. They'll care for them until they're ready to be trained. I only kept those qualified to fight, and the ones that were there when Jackal was in charge, they know what they must do, and I already sent five teams out to make amends to old industrial partners. The imports will speed up, the buyers will raise and widen in variety, and we will show no mercy to those who go against us. The Seekers now work with the Maddock family..." Knives and Knuckles froze and stared at Harry with a mix of surprise and horror, the Maddock family was an old English family of muggles with friends in high places. For centuries they had been known for the crime lord Francisco Maddock, a drug lord with an obsession with the godfather, and he like many other of the high ranked families in their society have gone to the Seekers for 'favors.' Favors of course which included the assassination of officials and those who broke their word, it was a dirty way of living, but it paid more than well.
"Well then, welcome back Shadow." Knives smirked as he continued to pick at his nails with one of his favorite daggers who he referred to as 'the shining,' it was a nasty habit of his, but Harry had learned that many had found the gesture intimidating, perhaps they were right.
"I'm not back, just visiting until I set things right." Harry chuckled darkly, his eyes glazed over in a faraway look. Both men just nodded their head in understanding and they stayed in their silence until all three separated to head off to bed. Harry was trudging up the stairs to his and Olivia's quarters, upon entering the door, he found Olivia sound asleep in the bed beneath the window. Her arms around her teddy bear while Sly slept contently at the foot of the bed making Harry smile slightly. Taking off his jacket, he threw it at the chair in front of his desk that was followed by the sweatshirt until all he stood in was a pair of jeans and a black wifebeater.
Climbing onto his large poster bed to settle down between the thick blankets and sheets, Harry laid there shivering for a few minutes and allowed his heart and mind to calm. He still couldn't get them out of his head, the faces of the betrayed, he felt like a traitor. The youngest children between the ages of five and eight were taken to the orphanages, he made sure they were all upstate children's homes, where they'd be sure to find good homes, but the look on their faces nearly broke his heart. He kept seeing Olivia within the group he abandoned, looking to him with those tearful orbs that were so like his own, her bottom lip trembling as she pleaded for him to hold her with reaching arms. But he turned his back on that image and fled into the night, it was for the better… that was the mantra he kept telling himself, but who was he kidding?
Harry still couldn't believe he had allowed Lorena to talk him into this, as he stood backstage he stared out the curtain to the many students dressed in various costumes, mostly that of Wizarding ancestry, but the muggle borne made their presence known with themes from movies, novels, and musicians, while the few of wizard ancestry who tried to dress 'muggle' he couldn't help but laugh. Lovette had come as Dracula's bride; she wore a very tight black corset dress that pronounced her body beautifully. Her dark hair was swept into tight curls and piled on top of her head allowing a few stray curls to frame her lovely face. A simple charm allowed fangs to show when she smiled and as she danced; Harry, who had gone as Dracula himself, couldn't help but become mesmerized as she swayed her hips vigorously to the music played by a muggle stereo.
"Alright Romeo, come back to the present oh futuristic one…" Harry raised an eyebrow as he glanced back at Knives who had already made himself comfortable behind a set of drums, spinning the two drumsticks between his fingers with precise movements, Harry could see his blue eyes glowing in delight. Knuckles busied himself tuning his bass, all the while rolling his eyes at the choice of music they played outside. He had always been a head banger growing up, and Harry could see the irritancies and nausea in his face as they played the Backstreet Boys and the top of the speakers.
"I still can't believe you talked me into this, I rather be off playing dolls with Olivia." Knuckles muttered as he winced as yet another pop song came on, this time being that of NSYNC, he didn't know which one was worse. Harry laughed shaking his head all the while going back to tuning his own instrument. They had Malcolm, who was quite a talented guitarist there to back Harry up when he started singing, all the while a Hufflepuff named Aaron would play keyboard when need be.
"Why would you want to do that? You do it everyday…" Knives voiced earning him a death glare from the vicious assassin. Harry all the while laughed and shook his head. The music outside faded and Hermione, the head girl, could be heard clamoring up the stage steps and to the microphone set at the front. She talked for a few minutes; in which Harry enjoyed ignoring. The only back draw was his lack of attention caused him to nearly fall when the curtain was removed from around their stage area and they were revealed to the public. Harry chuckled nervously as he took a few steps up while the students continued to clap and cheer them on eagerly. Upon reaching the microphone he plastered a smirk on his face and cleared his throat.
"So…anybody know how to Waltz?" People seemed to look at Harry in disbelief, as if he were getting ready to play some classical music, while others, mostly purebloods, voiced their agreements about the formality of it all.
"He-he, I'm just messing with you…but do you really know the Waltz Weasley?" Harry asked curiously while others looked to the redhead and laughed watching as the redhead dressed as an auror blushed and moved to stand beside his date.
"Are you ready to party Hogwarts?" A loud cheer was his answer
"Good, cause I'm really going to need a drink once this is over…" Harry muttered before he nodded to Knives. Knives counted out with his sticks before the music sounded out loudly making some of the older Professors wince at the gift to still be able to hear.
"Breakdown!
Let the fun and games begin
She is spayed and broken in
Skin is cold and white
Such a lovely lonely night
Pre-chorus
Heaven is on the way
You could feel the hate
but I guess you never will
I'm on a roll again
and I want an end
'cause I feel you creeping in
Chorus:
What I found in this town
I'm heading for a breakdown
What's that sound, you're so loud
I'm heading for a breakdown
Drank up all my alcohol
This is not a free for all
I'll be there for you
'Til my heart is black and blue
Pre-chorus
Heaven is on the way
You could feel the hate
but I guess you never will
I'm on a roll again
and I want an end
'cause I feel you creeping in
Chorus x3
What I found in this town
I'm heading for a breakdown
What's that sound, you're so loud
I'm heading for a breakdown…"
The students were going crazy, mostly screaming their heads off while the boys voiced their agreements with gruff barks as they tried to seem macho. Harry all the while looked to his friends and smiled, it had been a while since he felt younger than how he acted, and music was just the thing to let him hang loose for a while. As the screaming quieted, Harry licked his lips and stepped to the microphone once more.
"How many of you have a sweetheart with you tonight?" Harry called out and was answered when students started to couple up automatically. Harry smiled and scanned the room until his eyes landed on Lovette who was standing near the stage and watching Harry with gleaming eyes.
"This one is for you happy couples, but mostly it's for a sweetheart of my own…I love ya baby…" Harry voiced out giving a wink to Lovette who easily was cooed at by the girls.
"Look into my eyes - you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart - search your soul
And when you find me there you'll search no more
Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you
Look into my heart - you will find
There's nothin' there to hide
Take me as I am - take my life
I would give it all I would sacrifice
Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for
I can't help it there's nothin' I want more
Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you
There's no love - like your love
And no other - could give more love
There's nowhere - unless you're there
All the time - all the way
Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
I can't help it there's nothin' I want more
I would fight for you - I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you - Ya I'd die for you
Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you"
(A/N- God, I'm sorry to all the readers for that horribly bad fuzzy moment, excuse me while I go hurl; it will never, ever, ever happen again)
Lovette had tears in her eyes as he finished the song and quickly Harry took of his guitar, threw it to Christian to catch; with that done, Harry quickly jumped from the stage and enveloped Lovette with a passionate kiss that sent the rest of the school roaring.
"You always love causing scenes don't you?" Lovette whispered panting into Harry's ear making him groan with much needed lust.
"Perhaps…but you enjoy every minutes of it." Lovette giggled and nodded her head as she and Harry continued to kiss, it was when the noise around the room stopped that Harry reluctantly let go of Lovette and turned to see what had everyone's attention. What he found as his answer made his blood run cold. There standing in the middle of the now empty dance floor was a man he had thought he had killed years ago. And yet he seemed as to not have aged a day, his hazel eyes scanned the room like a predator searching out its prey…and when his eyes landed on Harry they glowed to a furious golden color.
"Oh-My-God…" Harry breathed out in disbelief as he took a step away from Lovette and reached into his back pocket to finger his wand, Jackal sensed this and easily disarmed Harry with a flick of his wrist, a force of dark magic that sent Harry's wand into Jackal's hand; while Harry was flung through the air to crash into an opposite wall.
"HARRY!" Lovette shrieked in horror as she rushed to Harry, but Harry quickly waved her off and stood on his own, though it was painful to him he didn't let it show.
"Remove yourself from this school immediately young man or I will have you arrested!" Dumbledore roared as he stood from where he sat at the teacher's table. This caused Jackal to chuckle before he ran at the old Headmaster like a speed of light, and before anyone knew it he had the old man on his feet with his throat gripped tightly in his hand.
"Don't make me laugh old man, besides, I only come for something that belongs to me." Jackal seethed out, tightening his grip on the old wizard to make the threat known to anyone who should dare attack. To everyone's horror, Dumbledore lost consciousness due to the lack of air and was flung carelessly away.
"We have nothing of yours!" Sirius protested as he now came to stand beside Harry, Jackal shook his head in amusement as he leapt from the small platform and landed ten feet from Harry.
"But you do, he's standing beside you…right Shadow?" Harry shuttered upon hearing his gang name from Jackal's lips, for he had been the one to name Harry in the first place all those years ago. Harry shook his head as he glared at Jackal, he was afraid to say the least, Jackal wasn't Harry's equal, for the man surpassed Harry in many ways, which was why he had cowardly killed the man…at least he had thought he had killed him…
"Sirius, you and Remus get Olivia out of here, take her where no one, not even I would think to look…" Sirius looked as if he were about to object but Harry cut him off once more shaking his head vigorously. "Now Sirius, I need you to do this for me." Harry whispered pleadingly to him, Sirius finally agreed reluctantly and before he went Harry grabbed his arm once more. "Take Lovette with you…" Sirius nodded before he left practically having to drag a frantic Lovette away as he went.
"How is it you're alive?" Harry asked taking a step closer to his former teacher
"You never had the heart to kill Shadow; besides, you didn't want to kill me…or else it would've worked." Jackal assured him, but Harry shook his head in denial, he had wanted to kill him, to be rid of his tormentor, and manipulator in dreams.
"You can't kill me Shadow; you owe me much more than that. I created what you are today, your magic capability, fighting techniques, every skill that you possess you learned through me. Now you are going to come with me now, or I will have to break you in front of everyone here and then take you by force." Jackal warned as he moved closer to Harry, his wand clutched firmly in his pale, steady hand. A knife suddenly flared in the candlelight of the room and launched itself into Jackal's abdomen. Harry's eyes widened as everyone screamed at the sight to behold. The pocketknife was still in Harry's hand…meaning…Harry looked to the stage to find Knives with a small smirk on his face, another dagger in his hand at the ready while Knuckles seemed to have disappeared at the moment; no doubt Knuckles was going off to find a more useful tool for this fight.
Cruel, dark laughter brought Harry's attention back to his former leader, Jackal had straightened his posture now and the knife that had been launched into his body was now in his hand; the blood from the wound still dripping off the dagger like a bad horror movie. The wound in his abdomen closed up and the blood staining his white tunic disappeared leaving him as good as new. The laughter grew louder as the knife was thrown back at Knives, who thankfully, had quickly dodged the flying blade with a back flip.
"Knives…so good to see you're still alive, I see you haven't lost any of your childish nature of attacking with your cowardly methods." Jackal chuckled as he began walking towards the stage. Knives' eyes narrowed as he dropped from the stage and got into a fighting stance, a wand in one hand, and a dagger in the other. This seemed to amuse Jackal, for the vampire's laughter only grew harder and far more deadly, his fangs fully emerged into blood lust and his golden eyes gleaming demonically as he did so.
"Shadow!" Harry looked to the entrance hall to see Knuckles carrying in the duffle bags Harry had brought with him from home. He quickly ran towards Knuckles being careful to keep an eye on Jackal as he did so. Upon opening the bag, Harry quickly searched through the weapons he brought and ended up pulling out his Sais, which he put into his boots, and Sly's Samarii sword which he pointed threateningly in front of him as he headed straight for Jackal.
"Harry…" Harry turned to see Knuckles offering his wand to him, Harry shook his head in refusal, but Knuckles ignored the protest and stuffed the wand into Harry's pocket before grinning.
"Go kill the bastard Harry…and this time do it right."
Harry smiled at his friend and nodded before hurrying back towards the front of the hall where Knives and Jackal were fighting in hand to hand combat. Well, it was mostly Jackal fighting while Knives fought hard to miss the blows aimed at him. A blade suddenly whipped around and met his sword, making Harry's eyes widen in surprise, but then he realized it was Jackal, the leader always had a trusty blade or two with him for as long as Harry had known him.
"Go Knives, it's between him and me." Harry ordered curtly not taking his eyes off of Jackal or the two swords still pressed against each other in a fight for dominance. Knives moved to go, but held back reluctantly until Harry shot him a glare. Neither Knives nor Knuckles left the hall; they stood back and watched to make sure Harry wouldn't need their assistance later.
"Always noble Potter, you know that was your weakness Shadow…always defending others when you should be taking care of yourself. A true Gryffindor at heart, just like those damned parents of yours…it's no good to be that way Shadow; after all, look what happened to them." Jack bit out in own anger as a surreal green glow emitted from the vampire before the globe like light created a sphere like globe around the two fighters. The barrier would make sure no one could get in, nor would they get out. And so the battle began…
Their talent when it came to fighting was remarkable. Both fighters were heavily skilled with years upon years of hard work and dedication to the intricate blades of various weapons. But Jackal held superiority over the fact that Jackal had taught Harry everything Harry had learned over the years in the Seekers, and because of that, Jackal knew Harry's every move. Footwork was fast pace and as their fighting became that of a dance, Harry lost himself within the world of warfare, only to find himself once more with every loud clang of medal meeting medal.
"Come now my boy, don't tell me that's all you have. The great Shadow, the one who thought he could defeat a legend…who's superior Harry? Tell them how you thought you could beat me; tell them how you thought you had slain me! And left me to die at the bottom of a bridge! TELL THEM!" Jackal snapped pulling from the confines of his sleeve with a flick of a wrist before plunging the well aimed deeply into that of his victim's shoulder.
"Tell them…" Jackal whispered with a snide grin, starring vehemently into the wide eyes of the breathless boy-who-lived. Twisting the blade to widen the wound and jagged the skin, Jackal listened with precision, listening to the crunch of broken bone and the sloshing of fresh blood seeping down Harry's shoulder, arm, and chest.
Pulling the dagger barbarically from the wound of the still shocked boy, Jackal pressed anther deep incision into the abdomen, right where Knives had struck on his own body. The gasp that had emitted from the boy's bloodied was like music to the ears and as he pulled the dagger out for the last time, he watched with great amusement as Harry dropped the heavy weight of his sword and all but crumbled pitifully to the floor. Starring down at the ceremonial dagger in his hands, he smiled languidly at the blood covering the sterling silver and brought it up to his nose to take in the intoxicating scent of the boy-who-lived, his very lifeline. Licking the metallic taste from the dagger, Jackal found the very taste to take him to a whole new height of ecstasy
"Harry! Harry, can you hear me?" Jackal looked to his right to see two of his ex followers hovering outside the globed boundary and smiled, Harry's blood tainting his white teeth making both boys' freeze in sudden fear.
"Don't worry Shadow, the transition between human and vampire isn't all that bad. I'll be sure to let you see your friends for your first feeding." Jack chuckled as he moved down beside the prone form of Harry's curled up body and flipped the boy onto his back.
"I'm sorry Jackal…" Jackal frowned at the deliriously slurred words, all to have everything come into clear comprehension as Harry's Sais found its way into the dead center of Jack's neck. Jackal coughed on the blood erupting from his mouth as his fingers closed around the handle of the Sais, all the while he stared down at Harry in disbelief. Straightening clumsily to his feet, Jackal let out an ear shattering scream that clearly surprised the inhabitants from the room who hadn't expected the vampire to be able to talk. But before anything else could be done, Jackal disappeared into a heavy, tick puff of smoke that left Harry to suffocate until the globe that still surrounded him from all sides went down.
"HARRY! HARRY!" Harry groaned leaning his head back as another wave of pain engulfed his body, leaving him on the floor panting. Knuckles and Knives fell to their knees on either side of his heaving body, each with a great amount on concern stoning their faces into a seriousness that left Harry grinning slightly.
"I didn't kill him…" Harry admittedly with a small gasp of hair he knew he should be saving at that moment.
"Shut up Harry, you don't need to be talking right now, just try to relax, we sent someone out to get Poppy down here." Harry decided to not make a comment about his brothers relating to the school's head nurse by her first name and instead leaned his head back to stare up at the beautiful masterpiece that was the enchanted ceiling. Stars flew left and right, all gleaming down at him with magnificence far too mysterious and majestic to ever possess. Harry watched another shoot star pass by the gleaming point of the north star and before Harry had a chance to loose consciousness, Harry made a wish.
A wish not for himself, not the others around him, it was simple and unselfish…he wished for—
"I wish for Olivia to be happy."
(A/N- ok that was to sappy moments, sorry this chapter was so late and horrible, I started this chapter around the beginning of the school year and finished up like—tonight so I had no clue what I was thinking all those months ago and just picked up as best as I could. Promise to have the next chapter up around next week, sooner if I have time. Thank you for those who e-mailed me, I admit I completely lost track on this story but now I'm back! I honestly didn't know people were actually reading and liking this story, so once again thank you for those who e-mailed me.)