Firstly I'd like to start by thanking each and everyone of you that read and reviewed this story. Especially those of you who stuck with me the whole way through, especially with my erratic updates. It's the people like you who make it worthwhile posting this. We are venturing into the final chapter of my baby "The Poison Tree" and I will admit to making my own challenges for the Stone. Fear not, the story will be continued in the sequel which as of yet has no title.
Once again, my thanks to you all for your reviews in the last chapter!
Without further ado… the final chapter!
DEDICATED TO ALEXANDER LACERTA. Thanks for sticking with me!
Crawling in my skin
These wounds, they will not heal
Fear is how I fall
Confusing what is real
Harry stared in shock at Skatha, not wanting to believe his eyes when he saw her. Neville and Draco quickly shoved him inwards so they could get in and they both froze with similar expressions of disbelief.
"Skatha?" Neville gasped.
"You said she was dead…" Draco mumbled.
"Dormant." Neville corrected, his eyes never leaving the demon.
She looked at the three boys uncertainly but smirked sinisterly as Harry stepped forwards.
"Harry, Skatha is long gone. She was destroyed in the dormant period, only I remain!"
Harry felt as though he'd been punched in the stomach, Skatha couldn't be gone! She just couldn't be!
"I don't believe you!" he yelled and Dorcha smirked.
"Oh? What a pity… you do know what I want though Harry? Your blood… all of it…"
The demon licked her lips, a feral expression on her face as she advanced towards him. Suddenly Neville surged forwards and shoved Harry aside.
"You can't have him!" he roared but he gaped as suddenly the demon morphed into… Harry?
"You're no brother of mine you fat lump! I'll never know what Skatha was thinking, taking you in. You're worthless! Pathetic!" the fake Harry sneered and Neville recoiled.
"No I'm not!" he cried.
"Weak… useless… unworthy… a disgrace!" fake Harry taunted.
"RIDIKULUS!" Draco screamed and the fake Harry exploded into nothing.
Draco looked at both Harry and Neville in horror, they were pale and shaking after what had just taken place.
"W-What was that… thing?" Harry gasped.
"A Boggart… they take the form of your deepest fears." Draco replied. "It wasn't real, any of it!"
Neville had tears in his eyes and Harry looked up at him briefly. Draco grabbed his best friend's arm and helped him over to the tearful boy.
"You are my brother Nev, don't ever doubt it!" Harry said in a voice that brooked no argument.
Neville didn't respond except to throw himself into Harry's embrace. "I'm sorry Harry…"
"Shush, don't apologise, you can't help your fears… but that fear of yours will never come to pass." Harry said.
Neville nodded once and together the three boys continued on to the next room.
"How did you know what it was Draco?" Harry asked thoughtfully.
"I had the misfortune to come across one in the Manor. I recognise the transformation and the fact that both of you were terrified helped me deduce it." Draco replied.
"Wow, thanks Drake." Neville said and Harry echoed the sentiment.
The next room was just as cold as the others but it was lit with torches that blazed brightly, lighting the room with an eerie glow.
"Great… what do we do here?" Draco muttered.
Four high pitched screams made them jump and suddenly three Gryffindors and a Ravenclaw were running towards them. In one way they were all relieved to see Hermione safe… but the question remained as to what had them so terrified.
"Harry, Neville, Draco, run!" Hermione shrieked.
"Why?" they asked in unison.
"CHIMERA!"
Harry gulped. A Chimera was a creature from Greek Mythology. It was part goat, lion and snake. It was a vicious creature that was capable of breathing fire too!
'No Skatha to save you this time!' a nasty voice sneered in his mind as the creature came tearing towards them.
"DIE TRESPASSERS!"
Harry gasped, the tail of the Chimera was a snake!
"Wait! We are not trying to steal the Stone! We were just looking for our friends!" he hissed frantically and the creature stopped in its tracks.
"A speaker… and one does not lie in the serpent tongue… but so long have we gone without fresh meat!" the Chimera hissed.
"Please, if you let us go, we'll get Hagrid to bring you some fresh meat right away!" Harry promised and the Chimera hissed undecidedly. The lion head growled in frustration at being denied its prey for so long.
"Another has already evaded us…" the snake hissed. "The Dark One… he seeks to regain his strength with the Stone."
Harry gulped. "Voldemort is down here… after the Stone."
"Help us protect the Stone and we will let your friends leave safely. That is the deal!" the Chimera hissed, announcing its decision.
Harry relayed the message and after much persuasion and a feral growl from the Chimera, they relented.
"I'm staying in this room!" Draco announced. "The rest of you go. I'll stay in case Harry gets hurt or something."
Harry shot Draco a grateful smile and handed him a fiercely struggling Laini before the Chimera crouched low.
"On my back human… and remember what a privilege it is to escape a Chimera unscathed, let alone be permitted to ride one!"
Harry gulped as the Chimera shot through the rest of the rooms.
"So… do you have a name?" Harry asked.
"We are called Aries." the Chimera boasted.
Aries leaped through a barrier of flames before landing in front of a mirror that was only too familiar to Harry… the Mirror of Erised.
"The smell of Death is here…" Aries hissed and Harry looked at the Mirror, slowly approaching it.
"Well, well… Potter."
Harry whirled round to see Quirrel sneering at him, his wand pointed at his chest.
"Quirrel." Harry sneered right back and the Chimera hissed angrily. Quirrel paid no heed to the angered beast and walked right up to Harry.
"Move boy."
He shoved Harry out of the way and began muttered and growling at the Mirror.
"How do I get the Stone?" he hissed angrily.
"Use the boy…" a voice hissed.
"Come here Potter! Now!" Quirrel snarled.
Harry's legs pulled him forward until he was staring at his reflection in the Mirror. This time he didn't see Skatha in the mirror… he saw two people.
"My parents…" he whispered and watched as his reflection reached into its pocket, pulled out a ruby red stone before replacing it in the pocket. As it did, Harry felt a weight appear in his own pocket, he had the Stone!
"What do you see?" Quirrel demanded.
"I'm with my parents…" Harry replied, injecting pure awe into his tone.
Quirrel shoved him away and began swearing at the Mirror. The Chimera nodded at Harry and Harry made a break for it only to find himself suddenly bound by a series of ropes.
"Lies… such lies you tell me Harry Potter…" the voice hissed again. "Let me speak to him face to face."
"Master you are not strong enough!" Quirrel whimpered, the fear in his voice real for once.
"I have strength enough… for this."
Quirrel began removing the turban on his head and Harry swallowed bile as the man turned around to reveal a face on the back of his head.
"Voldemort…"
"Yes… you see what I've become? Shadow and vapour, a mere parasite. Unicorn blood has strengthened me but it cannot give me a body of my own… but there is something that can Harry." Voldemort hissed meaningfully. He knew that Harry had the Stone!
"I see you are in my old House… what a surprise… why not join me Harry? We can do extraordinary things together… even bring back your parents. All I need is the Stone."
Harry glared. "I don't need my parents, I've survived without them haven't I?" he spat.
Voldemort chuckled lowly. "Of course Harry… but the reason you are alive is because your mother gave her life for yours."
Harry looked spitefully at the excuse for a Dark Lord.
"You're a liar… no spell can reawaken the dead."
"Are you sure though?" Voldemort pressed and Harry gulped. He couldn't tell if he was bluffing or not.
"Give me the Stone Harry."
Harry sneered. "It would help if I wasn't tied up."
The ropes disappeared and Harry pulled the Stone out of his pocket, red sheen glimmering in the torchlight. Without a second thought he threw it to the Chimera.
Aries caught it with its snake head and Harry hissed frantically at it to run and get as far away as possible.
Voldemort screamed in anger. "KILL HIM!"
Quirrel pointed his wand at Harry. "Crucio!"
Thousands of hot knives were stabbing into every nerve of Harry's body and eventually he screamed under the agony. The curse was lifted and Harry noticed that he was on the floor, his extremities twitching violently.
Quirrel bent down and yanked Harry up by the throat, slowly throttling him. Suddenly Quirrel was screaming in agony as his hand began to disintegrate into ash before his very eyes.
"What is this magic?" Quirrel screamed but Harry jumped at the man, pressing his hands to Quirrel's face. With a violent scream, Quirrel crumbled to ash and Harry stumbled backwards, his legs trembling violently.
Suddenly a black cloud rose up from what was left of Quirrel and charged at Harry, an eerie scream echoing from it. Harry cried out in agony as the cloud passed through his chest and came out his back.
He half fell to the ground before heaving himself back to his feet and staggering up the steps. Finally, he could go no further and he collapsed face down on the cold stone floor, knowing no more.
Albus Dumbledore tore down through the third floor corridor, Snape and Blaise Zabini in his wake. As they got to the room with the trapdoor, he heard Snape bark at the young Zabini heir to remain where he was.
"Severus… I can only hope we are not too late." Dumbledore said worriedly as they hurried down. The Devil's Snare had been burnt to ashes, the Boggart was nowhere to be see but they ran into five of the seven children that were supposedly missing.
"Neville, Hermione, Ron, Dean and Seamus… where are Harry and Draco?" he demanded.
"Draco stayed behind to wait for Harry. He and the Chimera went to stop the thief…" Neville trailed off.
Dumbledore noticed both Seamus and Ron staring at Snape in shock and picked up a faint thought from their minds. They had though that Severus was the thief.
"Chimera?" Severus gasped and they all nodded.
"Potter could talk to its snake head!" Ron announced and Dumbledore frowned. Neville and Hermione rounded on him, yelling at him for blabbing secrets.
"Obliviate." Dumbledore said, getting Ron, Dean and Seamus, erasing any knowledge of Harry's gift from their minds.
Hermione looked horrified but Dumbledore looked at her sadly. "It is for the greater… not to mention Harry's good. You know the view on such a gift, Miss Granger."
Hermione nodded once and the three boys became aware once again.
"You were saying Mr Weasley?" Dumbledore pressed.
"That the Chimera didn't attack Potter but let him get on its back. He told us to go back while he went ahead. Malfoy stayed behind."
"I see… Severus escort them to the Hospital Wing, I shall go ahead."
"As you wish Headmaster…" Severus bit out.
Dumbledore continued on, not finding the Malfoy heir in the room that he was supposed to be in. He reached the chamber in which the Stone was hidden and halted in shock. On the ground was Harry Potter being cradled in the arms of a sobbing Draco Malfoy.
"Come on Harry wake up!" Draco sobbed before whirling around and spotting Dumbledore.
"I don't think he's breathing!" Draco cried and Dumbledore charged forwards, hoisting Harry into his arms and calling Fawkes to escort the three of them to the Hospital Wing.
'You cannot be dead Harry… you must survive this!' he thought frantically.
Draco watched in horror as Dumbledore cast a series of diagnostic spells on Harry's still form. Severus burst in with armfuls of potions and began administering them to Harry. Pausing, he came over to Draco and handed him a potion. Draco eyed it curiously before downing it. He instantly felt drowsy and looked at Snape.
"W-What…" he mumbled and Snape took the empty vial.
"Dreamless Sleep."
As Severus watched his godson fall asleep, Dumbledore worked furiously on saving the boy's life until Madame Pomfrey shoved him away.
"I said MOVE you old goat!" she shrieked, finally losing her temper and Dumbledore obeyed at last, letting the furious Mediwitch work.
Harry was in a room that looked oddly like the Entrance Hall back on the Isle… just much barer and lifeless.
"Hello?" he yelled and listened to his voice echoing.
"Harry?" a voice whispered and he followed it blindly. It led him down the stairs and he paused as he found himself in front of a mirror.
"So… this is what you've let yourself become?" his reflection sneered. "You were so much more than this!"
Harry stared. "What?"
"Honestly, you're nothing but a whelp! You have let yourself become complacent and foolish. You have forgotten to rely on yourself alone! Where is the hardened, independent boy that lived in the orphanage? The one that saw every day as a battle to be won! Where is he now?"
Harry paused, thinking deeply. He suddenly felt a sensation similar to that of a portkey and found himself in the orphanage yet again.
"Watch it freak!" someone yelled at a small boy that Harry slowly recognised as himself.
He watched as the boy, only about six, kept a mask of cool indifference on his face and dodged the many things thrown at him. The scene changed and showed a six-year old Harry cornered by older orphans. They called him nasty names and pinched him. The eleven year old Harry growled at the treatment and the voice is his head chuckled lowly.
'You see? This is what is missing… Dumbledore has befuddled you.'
Harry frowned and kept watching the scene, observing the abuse given to him as a younger child. Suddenly he watched as the young boy whirled around, his green eyes actually glowing with an eerie flickering light before the lead bully's hair went up in flames. He watched as a smirk appeared on the young boy's face before the flames went out and left the bully with minor scalp burns.
The scene changed to one of his many beatings from Grimm and he flinched as he remembered the sting of that bamboo stick. The scene faded out and he was back in front of the mirror.
"Do you see now? You see how much you have let your guard down?" his reflection asked.
"Yes…" he whispered, looking into his eyes. They were harder than before and he looked approvingly at his mask. It was like he'd never let it fall.
"Good because you can't let your guard down, not ever! You won't survive if you do. Now wake up dammit!"
"Wake up!"
"Come on Harry!"
Harry opened his eyes blearily and stared at the red and puffy grey eyes of Draco Malfoy.
"D-Drake…" he coughed violently before a cup of water was pressed to his lips. Taking a few sips relieved the sand-like sensation in his throat and he locked gazes with the Malfoy heir.
"It's about time!" Draco growled. "It's been a full week! Tomorrow is the end of term!"
A full week? It had felt like minutes.
Madame Pomfrey ushered Draco out after a few minutes before Dumbledore walked in and Harry groaned.
"Hello Harry, I see you are recovering!" Dumbledore said happily.
"Hm." Harry grunted, not looking at the man.
"I have to thank you Harry, what you did was brave and I am most grateful."
Harry glared. "I didn't do it for you! The only reason I was down there was because Hermione was in danger and I owed her a life debt."
Dumbledore's smile drooped a bit and Harry smirked inwardly.
"Well, I am still grateful. Now, I'm sure Madame Pomfrey will want to give you a once over before you can be discharged. I shall see you at the Feast!" Dumbledore said in a jolly tone and Harry merely rolled his eyes.
Albus Dumbledore had every reason to be happy. While Harry had been unconscious, the boy had muttered in his sleep about someone called Skatha… and another called Dorcha. He had muttered about the Portkey on his neck. Dumbledore knew well that Harry would have to go on the train to the Platform before he could use the Portkey as there would be Anti-Portkey wards set up around Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. Of course… whoever that so called 'Eris' girl was, she was smart. The amulet couldn't be taken from Harry… he could meddle with its location though…
While Harry slept, Dumbledore snuck in to the Hospital Wing one night and changed the location on the Portkey, also making it only work one-way as well as casting a charm that would make the amulet mask Harry's magical signature, provided Harry didn't take the amulet off, which Dumbledore was sure he wouldn't.
"Now Harry… we shall see how you respond to me when you come back from your summer…" Dumbledore whispered. "I'm sorry my boy but I just can't risk you being so untouchable, you must be moulded into the warrior you were born to be."
It was the end of term feast and Harry was quietly sitting with Draco, Neville and Blaise as Dumbledore stood up to give his speech.
"Another year… gone! And while Slytherin are in the lead for the House Cup… there are some last minute points I should like to announce!" the old coot said happily. "Firstly to Messrs Weasley, Thomas and Finnegan, I award fifty points each for bravery and loyalty to the school. To Miss Hermione Granger, for the cool use of logic in dangerous situations, I award fifty points. To Mister Zabini, I award fifty points for keeping a cool head and alerting the right people in a moment of crisis. To Neville of Slytherin I award fifty points for an impressive show of loyalty and inter-House unity. To Mister Malfoy, for bravery and loyalty and also refusing to leave a friend behind, I award fifty points. Finally… to Mister Harry Potter, for an extraordinary show of bravery where most would have cowered and for a powerful show of inter-House unity along with loyalty to the school, I award seventy points. I see Slytherin is still in the lead and thus, wins the House Cup. Congratulations Slytherin, Now let us enjoy our end of term feast together as for some people, it is their last in this Hall."
Harry merely sneered at the mention of his name throughout Dumbledore's speech when the Slytherins looked at him. The majority relaxed when they saw the disgust on his face but many maintained glares at him.
Ignoring them, Harry focused on his meal and watched as Hermione slowly got up from her seat and walked over to them. Neville slid down one place to make room for her and she sat opposite Harry. He cast a brief glance up at her and her eyes widened in surprise.
Hermione Granger had never felt very accepted in her House. Even though everyone was practically a swot, they still disliked her. Since she had made friends with Neville, and the through him, Harry, she felt accepted for the first time in her life. As the Feast progressed, she made a decision and stood up, heading over to the Slytherin Table. She was met with many glares and confused looks but she pressed on and Neville slid down to make room for her. She sat down opposite Harry and watched as he raised his head to lock gazes with her. Her eyes widened as she saw the lack of emotion in the green depths and he returned to his meal while she watched worriedly. He hadn't spoken to her since that night… actually he'd barely spoken to anyone… even Neville.
She nudged Neville and he shrugged, shaking his head slightly and they resumed eating together, hoping that whatever was wrong with Harry would get better soon.
Neville was looking forward to going back to the Isle but there was still that pang of loneliness when he thought of his old home. Banishing the thoughts from his head, he finished packing and his thoughts drifted to Harry. Whatever had happened to him was odd, it was like Harry didn't care about anything anymore. He wore the cool, emotionless mask that the Slytherin House was so famous for but he gave a whole new meaning to emotionless. His sparkling emerald eyes while still sharp, weren't as carefree anymore. He sighed, he had the whole summer to figure it out. He fiddled with the portkey Patch had given him for the isle before heading down the corridor to Harry's room.
Harry was packing his things in a deliberate manner and Laini looked on sadly.
"Laini will miss this place…" the snake hiss forlornly
"You mean you'll miss Spectre." Harry replied lightly and she glared at him.
"I'll miss you too Laini!" Spectre called from the bathroom. If snakes could blush, Harry had no doubt that Laini would look like a Weasley right about now.
He resumed his packing and wandered into the bathroom to talk to Spectre before he left.
"Harry… keep your wits about you… I sense bad things to come…" Spectre warned him and Harry nodded.
"I will, I'll be safe in the Isle anyway so don't worry." Harry replied and Spectre nodded.
"Just be careful. I shall miss you my friend. Remember what I told you about being true to yourself."
Harry nodded slowly and waved goodbye to the stained glass snake before hoisting Laini into his arms. She wrapped around his shoulders and turned invisible as Harry opened the door. He started slightly as he saw Neville standing in the doorway, his hand raised to knock.
"Good timing!" Neville said and Harry smirked.
"Shall we?" he asked and Neville nodded.
They boarded the train at the station and took a compartment with Blaise, Draco and Hermione.
"So what are everyone's plans for the summer?" Blaise asked.
"Just staying in the Isle I guess?" Neville said and looked at Harry for confirmation. Harry nodded and went back to gazing out the window as the train took off and Hogwarts faded into the distance.
"I'll be spending some time in Paris with Mother and Father, then I guess Quidditch and the like for the rest of the summer." Draco said and Blaise looked at Hermione, who seemed surprised that they cared about her summer.
"Well I'll get started on the summer assignments right away of course but then I guess I'll be helping Mum and Dad out for a few weeks. Then we're going on holidays to Nice in France. I can't wait!"
Blaise smiled. "Sounds nice. I'll be in Italy for June with my mother and then I should be back for a trip to Diagon Alley and your birthdays of course!"
Harry frowned thoughtfully, he had forgotten his birthday in all honesty, he didn't care much for it. Neville's birthday was the day before his, the 30th of July.
The train finally pulled up and everyone stood up, looking at each other.
Hermione hugged Neville tightly before hugging a shocked Harry. He stood stock still until she let go and watched as she turned to Draco. She extended her hand timidly and Draco took it, giving it one brief shake before letting go. Hermione smiled at him before turning to Blaise. She repeated the gesture and he smiled, shaking her hand with more enthusiasm than Draco.
With that she left and Draco grabbed Harry in a tight hug before leaving with Blaise. Harry and Neville left together, uttering goodbyes to the Weasley twins before they grabbed their luggage. Laini opted to go with Neville seeing as Hedwig's cage was more bulky.
"Okay, let's get back." Harry said and held both his trunk and Hedwig close as he spoke the activation word for the Portkey. There was a yank behind his navel and suddenly Harry found himself in a room that was most certainly not where he meant to go. He spoke the activation word again to no avail.
He turned to walk out of the kitchen/living-room area and skidded to a halt at the stairs, eying the cupboard warily. He shook his head furiously and growled at himself.
"Don't be stupid Potter!" he snarled and wrenched open the door of the cupboard to prove to himself that he was being stupid.
He froze when he saw the interior of the cupboard. There was a moth-eaten blanket on top of a torn mattress and on the wall, written in coloured chalk was "Harreez Room".
"Oh Gods no…" he whimpered and ran out, grabbing his luggage and making for the door as fast as possible. Just as he reached for the handle, the door opened and a face that Harry was all too familiar with glared maliciously down at him.
"Well, well Boy… it's been a while."
Harry backed away slowly from the gleeful face of Vernon Dursley, his blood thundering in his ears as his heart threatened to burst out of his chest. His lungs seemed to have seized and he watched in horror as his horse-necked Aunt walked in the door followed by his whale-like cousin Dudley.
"Mum! Why is the freak back?" Dudley squealed like the pig he was.
"Hush Diddykins." Petunia simpered and Vernon grinned evilly.
"Because little freaks now what's good for them. Freaks must be punished… isn't that right Boy?"
Harry started hyperventilating as the panic set in. He was back in Number Four, Privet Drive, unable to do magic, with no escape and he didn't even have Laini to protect him.
"I'm dead…" he whispered before the panic overwhelmed him and his world faded into darkness, foul laughter being the last thing he heard…
To be Continued...
And thus, The Poison Tree has reached its end. I look forward to your reviews and work will begin soon on the sequel. Suggestions for the sequel will be welcomed and appreciated although I have a relatively good idea as to what I'm going to do. Still… I can't believe I can finally click that shiny COMPLETE button on my story! ^^
To all of you who stuck with me… thank you, you've been my rocks throughout this story.
Farewell, but only for a little while – DominaDeSerpensDorcha! x