Dreadful visions
Of seas turning black
Silent conquests masked
In mortal white
Rolling thunder
Mountains of brass
Marching one by one
To steal the light

March 10, 2019 – Sunday 8PM Hogwarts

The halls were eerily silent and empty as I made my way to Dumbledore's office. Part of me felt as if I was being pushed by some invisible force, another part laughed at that…then I remembered everything that had happened in my life. I suppose the idea of fate pushing me on my way isn't so farfetched after all, when faced with the reality of things like magic, dragons and evil wizards. The gargoyles moved out of the way without having to utter a word. My heart beat against my ribs as I rode the stairs up to stand in front of the office door.

"Enter," a familiar voice called out in a grandfatherly sort of way. "Ah, Miss Riddle, please have a seat." As I entered he gestured to one of the chairs on the other side of his large desk.

"Headmaster," I greeted as politely as possible. "I need to ask you about something." I could feel my cheeks heating up. "I need to know about…the power of love." Memories of the song with that exact title caused me to chuckle at the silliness of it all.

Dumbledore steepled his fingers and his expression grew serious. Even his eyes lost their twinkle. "Love magic is no laughing matter. The sheer power of it is something that even the Unspeakables have been unable to unlock. There is a room in the Department of Mysteries where it is studied and still no answers have been found. It is a mystery.

"But my father could have used it…before I mean, when he was young."

He nodded. "It's true, there was a time when he could have, but it has passed. Harry Potter was to destroy the Dark Lord while Gilgamesh dragged Enkidu to the abyss. The lost souls would be freed and the day would be won. Of course…"

"Things didn't go as planned," I interrupted. "Can I use it? This love magic?"

The old wizard cocked his head to the side. "Do you believe you can?"

Did I believe I could defeat Voldemort? I closed my eyes and contemplated the question. It seemed impossible, destroying the Dark Lord, but magic itself still seemed quite impossible. Perhaps that's why my spells never come out right and my magic only works half the time.

I shook my head and Dumbledore turned away to stare out at the stars. "Then we are lost."

I opened my mouth to reply, but closed it quickly. Charles and I had come up with a plan, but it wasn't one that I felt like sharing at the moment. I just knew the old man would try and talk me out of it. They all would, Khalida, my father and even Draco, if he knew, but I wasn't planning to tell any of them.

The crystal bottle sat in my pocket and I slipped a hand down to run a finger down the smooth container. That such a small thing could be so powerful. I sighed at the prospect and stood to leave. It all seems so impossible.

DSZ

Harry raised his sword high above his head with his left hand, blocking Khalida's attack. At the same time he raised his right hand and shot a spell with his wand. The vampire dodged out of the way and flipped high in the air, grasping one of the support beams in the ceiling. He watched her movements carefully as she scurried across, until a sound caught his attention.

Another vampire swooped in from behind, a sword in each hand. Harry dropped low and put up a shield, deflecting the man and sending him flying across the room. Khalida choose that moment for a frontal assault and Harry wasn't as quick this time. Her sword came in tight and true, cutting a small line across his already scarred face.

"First blood to me," she whispered into his ear as she rushed past and flew back up to the ceiling.

A smirk crossed his lips. "It's last blood that truly matters." Thinking quickly, he cast a spell on himself and launched into the air after the vampire. The gecko charm held true and his arms and legs stuck to the support beam with no problem.

"Miss me?" He questioned slyly.

Khalida grinned evilly. "Of course." Then she was all claws and teeth. She rushed at him without hesitation and he rushed backward across the ceiling. Two more vampires flew up to flank him and he looked around for the best escape route.

"If you can't beat us, then how do you expect to beat demons?" One of the male vampires hissed.

"Who says I can't beat you?" He questioned, pointing his wand at the man and whispering a soft spell. Instantly the room was flooded with a bright light causing all of the vampires to turn away and fall to the floor. Harry slowly glided down and cancelled his spell.

"That won't work against demons," Khalida spat angrily.

Harry shrugged. "No, but it will work against undead gits." He helped her up from the floor. "Shall we give it another try?"

"No wand this time," she replied, snatching the wooden stick away and shoving it into a pocket of her long, black dress.

DSz

Draco sat alone on a large bed, waiting for Jenny to return from wherever she'd gone. A large ring stared up at him and he lifted his left hand to get a better look. A large 'S' was etched over a black stone, not a very pretty thing, but he could feel the magic it contained.

Just one word, that's all it would take. Just one word and he could take Jenny away from here. They'd both be safe from all of the craziness going on around them. They could go somewhere else, anywhere else. An island maybe? Someplace with palm trees and pretty beaches. Jenny would like that, wouldn't she?

He fingered the ring and sighed unhappily. She would be angry at first, but eventually she'd get over it, right? Then they could be together forever and leave everyone else to fight amongst themselves.

A nagging voice in the back of his head kept whispering that it wouldn't be so easy, but that voice was easily quieted by visions of Jenny smiling happily on a sunny beach. Jenny safe and sound. That's what he wanted, right? Draco's shoulders slumped as he heard the door to the bedroom open.

"Sorry I'm so late. I had to talk to Dumbledore." Jenny smiled hesitantly.

"What did you need to talk to him about?" He questioned curiously.

Jenny rolled her eyes. "It's really silly. I asked him about love magic. Apparently love is an ancient and highly powerful form of magic. Isn't that corny?" She plopped down next to him on the bed.

"You don't think love can be powerful?"

She shook her head. "Of course it can be, but I think it has more to do with what people do for love, not actual love itself. What do you think?"

He fingered the ring. "I think you're right, but I think that's what makes it one of the most powerful things in the world. People will do some pretty crazy things when they love someone or something."

"I suppose you're right, but it still seems corny. The power of love…sheesh, it's like something out of a fairy tale."

Draco wrapped a firm arm around her. "I happen to like fairy tales. Especially the part when the knight comes to the rescue of the damsel in distress."

"So I'm a damsel in distress now? I seem to remember saving you a few times."

"Maybe it's time that I saved you. Would you let me do that if I could? Would you let me keep you safe?"

She let out a loud snort. "How in the world would you do that? I've got Voldemort after me and my father is Harry Potter, how in the world would you keep me safe?"

"Like this," he stated assuredly, before grabbing her hand and placing it over the ring. "Perdition." Jenny looked up, horror in her eyes, as she felt the familiar tug behind her navel.