The Binding of Fates II: Metus Obscuritatus
Chapter Twenty One:
The Torture Chamber
"DOBBY!" Narcissa Malfoy shouted the moment she arrived home. As soon as she heard Lucius was taken there was no reason to waste time at Sandringham.
"Mistress calls Dobby?" Dobby appeared at her side immediately.
"Lucius has been abducted," Narcissa spat. "Get unto the Bloodseeker De Souza fellow, immediately. And summon Twellmans. Now!"
"As you command, mistress," Dobby bowed, wringing his hands together.
Narcissa did not have to wait long. A tall, lean wizard came through the large fireplace. Native to Brazil, he had long black hair, light brown skin and his neck and arms were covered with tattoos and runes. Falcon De Souza, nicknamed the Bloodseeker, was the best tracker for hire. Lucius Malfoy had contacted him years ago to hunt down a vampire, but when they did eventually find him, Voldemort was defeated and everything turned upside down. The mission for Sanguini was cancelled.
They kept De Souza on retainer, just in case they needed to find people that did not wish to be found.
"Madame Malfoy. What's the situation?" Falcon De Souza said in accented English.
"They have my husband! I need you to find him," Narcissa spat, lighting a long wizard cigarette and taking a deep pull.
"Of course."
The floo roared again. Twellman, the head of Lucius' security team, stepped out. The ex auror was an impeccably neat person, but Narcissa knew he was ruthless and very knowledgeable about both criminal and law enforcement methods.
The two visitors exchanged short pleasantries. They worked together before, years ago.
"Alright. Tell me what happened," Twellman said. Narcissa gave them a very one sided tale of what happened less than ten minutes ago. "I see. It shouldn't be too hard. First stop, Sandringham- so we can start to track him. I will call Les Croises as back up. You did the right thing calling us first. Potter's only a boy. We'll get him soon, Mrs Malfoy."
"You better!" Narcissa shrieked. She sunk down into a chair and began to cry.
"Let's go," Twellman turned to the Bloodseeker. "Hope you're still on top of the game."
Bloodseeker smiled. "I am."
Ten minutes later Twellman and the Bloodseeker were finished investigating the Carrow residence. Potter's blood that was left on the front door handle and Mr Malfoy's blood that had spilled in the exit corridor were still fresh. Bloodseeker took out a prepared potion vial full of a vaporous substance. He touched the bloodstains then dipped his fingers into the grey vapor. It turned into a red mist, then liquefied. He tipped the vial back and drunk the potion without hesitation.
"I found them," Bloodseeker said. "Both are alive. Lucius' location is north, close to Hogwarts thereabouts. Do you have your strike team ready?"
"Only the manor's security and Mr Malfoy's business security guards are immediately available. Les Croises are assembling in Calais. About ten here in England, seventeen across the channel, and twenty Legacy of Blood agents are coming in from various cells," Twellman said.
"Les Croises? The Crusaders from France?" Bloodseeker asked.
"Yes. We do business with them regularly," Twellman nodded.
"Those guys are known killers. The ICOP staff would trigger the Aurors. I hope you're bringing them in quietly?" Bloodseeker asked.
"Of course," Twellman responded. He took out his pocket watch. "They should be in Devon within the hour. Let's go to the ICOP station. Make sure everything goes smoothly."
"Rook is on shift?" Bloodseeker asked. "He's a hardass. He does everything by the book."
"I know. Luckily, Wazza is on shift tonight. I'll give him a sizable new year's gift. He won't say a word," Twellman said. "Have faith. This is what I do."
Lucius Malfoy was placed into a holding cell many levels underground in the Ministry of Magic. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Tonks locked the cell with the Ministry's double key system.
"Happy new year," Tonks said with a bright smile as she locked the gate.
"And to you as well, my dear niece," Lucius returned darkly.
"You bag them abroad, you bag them home," Kingsley Shacklebolt said to Tonks while they were walking back to the lifts.
"Good work Warmage Tonks," said Robards, the guardsman at the security checkpoint. "Amycus and Runcorn are still in the interrogation room?"
"Thanks. Yeah, we're going to talk to them now," Tonks said.
"You're on fire these past few months," Kingsley congratulated her.
"My sources keep dropping them on my lap," Tonks said under her breath.
Harry was capturing them by the handful ever since they met. That boy was trouble. And now that she knew what he was capable of, she had to tread very carefully around him. He eliminated the Polish as if they were goblins to be taken care of. She was so happy Harry didn't simply kill these men in front of witnesses.
Kingsley and Tonks rehashed the interrogation sequence they were going to use as the lift took them back to their office.
Across from Lucius' cell was a prisoner he didn't recognize. He was young, and wearing what appeared to be Native American robes.
"I'm going to kill him," the boy repeated like a mantra while he paced in the small barred cell. Lucius let the young man vent. As time passed, Lucius' curiosity got the better of him.
"Ho there," Lucius called out.
Alexis Stormcloud stopped pacing. He did not speak. He looked across to his neighbour.
"You seem determined," Lucius said. "Words have power. Do you mean what you are saying?"
"You think I'm joking, huh? Look at me! Locked in a fucking cage on new year's eve!" Alexis roared.
"Who do you want to kill?" Lucius asked politely.
"Harry Potter. He ruined everything."
Lucius' right eyebrow raised. "What a coincidence. You think you could?" Lucius asked smoothly.
"What, you think I can't? He won't even see it coming."
"Hmmm. If you say so," Lucius said with an unbelieving tone.
"He ain't shit," Alexis spat. "Lucky. His friend, Jon Black is the one to look out for. He has impenetrable magical armour."
"Americans," Lucius lamented softly. "'He ain't shit'. Goodness. Where did you learn the Queen's English? Potter did kill a Dragon. Jon Black survived a Dark Wizard attack."
"So what? They're just fucking lucky."
"And according to you, he ruined everything. Should I presume he is the reason you're here?" Lucius asked.
Alexis went silent, sitting down on his cot like a petulant child.
Lucius Malfoy laughed. "What did he do to you?"
After a few minutes of silence Alexis rubbed his face.
"He made my girl break up with me," Alexis confessed. "She was the most beautiful girl I ever met. It took me weeks to get the courage to talk to her. Potter came into my country, my school, made my girl cry! I challenged him. Sneaky motherfucker attacked when I wasn't ready... burned my wand. Beat me up in front of her!" He pounded his own temple with the sides of his fists, wanting to beat the memory free from his skull.
Lucius smiled. Ah. Teenage drama. The good old days.
"A challenge. Lovely." So moronic. "So how did you end up here if this was done in... what is the school's name? Ilvermorny, am I correct?" Lucius asked.
"I... I rallied my tribe's warriors and my father... to come here. To challenge him again. For honor."
"Well, since I saw Harry Potter this evening, I take it that you lost," Lucius drawled. Face to face, again? What did he expect? To win?
"You saw him?" Alexis said, dodging the question.
"I did. So, where are your countrymen?" asked Lucius.
"Sent back across with recommendations by the healers," Alexis explained.
"Well why are you still here?" Lucius leaned in, interested in these new developments.
"I was the only one uninjured...they're keeping me here as some sort of punishment until their Ministries come to a decision on my extradition. My father was killed by the ninja motherfucker. Potter's goons. I think the Tribal council wants to somehow sabotage my family name. I am next in line to become leader."
"Killed?" Leader? "What's your father's name?"
"Hiamovi Alexis Stormcloud. You heard of him?" Alexis asked.
"Of course I have. I supply books and magical artifacts to your Ministry," Malfoy nodded. "We conduct business now and again with the Stormcloud tribe."
"Really. What's your name?" Alexis Stormcloud said.
"Lucius."
"Ah," Alexis said. "I'm Alexis Stormcloud Jr. I would have said nice to meet you, but..." he indicated their sorry circumstances.
"It seems we have a common... nuisance," Lucius said easily.
"He ruined everything. Fucking boy who lived.. bullshit. He'll be the boy who died- by my hand!"
"I like your grit. However, you're too late. A vampire ate him. Half an hour ago. Give or take," Lucius shrugged.
"A what? You're lying," Alexis said, freezing on the spot.
Lucius stared at Alexis. Sometimes he knew when a potential recruit showed promise. True purpose, something deeper than just wanting to 'join up' was an excellent start.
"The vampire told me himself. If he was telling the truth, that I cannot guarantee. Usually very old creatures have little reason to lie. We will know soon, have no fear. If he doesn't show up at Hogwarts, maybe there is some truth to what the vampire said. He seems to be quite the talking point recently, with the Tri School Tournament and all."
"You're Lucius Malfoy," Alexis said, piecing together the name to the face. "You are a man of importance in England. Can you help me?"
"I could. When I am released, I will work something out for you," Lucius nodded.
"When are you getting out?" Alexis asked, eager.
"Patience, young man. I have now been imprisoned. These things take time," Lucius stretched out on the cot. He was locked up once for a couple days when he was young. He hated the cots though. Scratchy and smelly.
"I've been here almost a week!" Alexis complained.
"Go to sleep, son. Tomorrow is another day," Lucius chuckled.
Jon, Master Ollivander, Sirius, Eleanor, Alexandria and Garth Ollivander were the first to arrive at Manhattan's ICOP office. Valerian stood apart, watching them step into the portkey circle.
Garth Ollivander pulled a very big favour to get one of his colleages, Randy Braithwaite, the ICOP officer for the East Coast Wizard's immigration office to come out in the middle of the night to open up for them.
"Thanks Randy," Garth Ollivander said to his longtime school friend.
"You owe me one G," Randy said after activating their portkey to return to Falmouth.
"Anytime," Garth Ollivander and the American Wizard shook hands. "Stay safe, father. Nice seeing you again, Jon, ladies. And Sirius, you've got a good woman there."
"I do," Sirius agreed.
"Bon voyage. Look out for each other," Garth waved. Valerian rushed forward and hugged each of them in turn.
"Stay safe," she said sadly.
"You too, Lady Valerian," Jon saluted, putting his fist to his heart. Valerian returned the gesture and nodded. Jon indicated Mrs Potage pregnant stomach. "Allow me, Sirius, to make sure she is okay upon landing."
"Yes. Thanks, that'll be grand," Sirius said, nodding.
"Thank you, Jon," Eleanor said.
"We must take extra care for you," Jon bowed. He took a hold of Mrs Potage by her elbow and waist.
They all touched the portkey and within seconds were deposited across the Atlantic at Falmouth's ICOP office. Jon and Mrs Potage were the only people standing. The others got to their feet and cleaned their clothes with magic.
"I have to figure out how you do that, Jonny-boy," Sirius grumbled.
After submitting documents and paying for the floo powder, they all stepped through the large fireplaces. They dropped off Sirius and Eleanor at Grimmauld Place, and then used that floo node to reach the Clan Base in Hogsmeade. It was shortly before dawn.
"Jon Black, it is good to see you," Masahiko said as soon as Jon appeared. He had taken up guard duty in the clan hall, the most vulnerable point of entry to the manor. He greeted the others with a smile.
"What's the situation?" Master Ollivander asked.
Masahiko told them of what happened at Sandringham and that the captives were taken to the Ministry of Magic.
"Where is Harry?" Jon asked.
"He is taking a short rest in his chambers. We have people on shift patrolling the perimeter. Warmage Tonks left to go to the Ministry of Magic," Masahiko said.
"I'm going to tell him we're here," Jon said. A cup of tea was pushed into his hand by Rosie. "Er- thank you, Madam Rosie."
"You're welcome," she said, pouring for Alexandria and Master Ollivander as well.
Jon went up the stairs. He was blocked entry to the room by Katsumi, who was in full Onyx armor, acting as a sentry to Harry's door.
"State your name," Katsumi ordered, sword drawn.
"Jon Black-" Jon said. A hidden sneakascope placed on a nearby shelf began to spin.
"Yah!" Katsumi attacked with blinding speed.
Jon back-stepped quickly from the overhead slash, leaning back as far as he could. The tea cup crashed to the ground. To evade the follow-up stab to his chest he literally threw himself back down the steps, tumbling painfully down the staircase. Katsumi drew back her arm and a long green needle six inches long manifested between her fingers. With a quick motion, she threw the poison dart. Jon's adrenaline rush activated the Aegis and the Onyx Armour just before it connected. The green magic fizzled harmlessly against the multi-faceted magical armor and the physical aspect of the dart stuck in between the plates, the tip almost penetrating to the Onyx leather underneath.
Katsumi had another ready to release when she saw the armor materialize. "Jon?" She froze mid throw. Only he could activate both armours like that.
"It's me," Jon breathed. By that time everyone within earshot came rushing. Ezra White and Sanguini were first to arrive, silently slipping in from the underworld.
Mr White helped him stand. "I've never seen you taken down," he laughed. "Well done, Miss Hanzo Katsumi."
Katsumi said nothing. She held the saya carefully with her left fingers, returned the Katana's spine along her left forearm then guided it along the webbing between her thumb and forefinger. She inserted the tip of the sword into the saya, sheathing in the blade with a graceful movement.
Jon was mesmerized. He had never seen such a beautiful and elegant demonstration of swordsmanship.
Harry and Lord Fairweather were awakened by the loud noise of Jon tumbling down the steps. Both came out of their respective rooms along the corridor behind Katsumi. Sanguini, upon seeing Fairweather alive and well, stepped back and faded from sight. Katsumi was still on guard, watching Jon carefully from the top of the steps. Lord Fairweather tightened his fluffy sleeping robe's belt and sheathed his blade as well.
Katsumi raised her palm towards them, indicating that they stay where they were, behind her.
"Jon Black isn't your real name?" Katsumi said.
"That discussion is for closed doors," Jon said as he stood at the base of the steps. "It is I. Only I could control this bracer's magic."
"It's him," Harry reassured Katsumi.
"I do not trust him. This device recognizes when the truth is being hidden," Katsumi said, pointing at the sneakascope.
"He does have another name," Harry explained. "It's okay. Good job," Harry yawned and stepped around Katsumi. Katsumi followed him a few steps behind on his left, so that she could use a quickdraw Iado strike if necessary. Harry and Jon connected fists automatically.
"Lady Katsumi," Jon bowed. "Well done."
Katsumi remained silent, watching Jon carefully, as if he could still be an imposter.
"Shake hands, you two," Harry commanded. Jon offered his. Katsumi eventually took it. "Right, how was the trip?" Harry asked now that was dealt with.
"Good. Informative," Jon said. "I cannot leave you alone for a week. You said you started a war?"
"Sorta. I don't know. Maybe," Harry shrugged. "Tonks is working on it as we speak."
"Working on what?" Jon asked.
"Charges. Criminal process. Auror business."
"Ah," Jon said. "That means we do not have him to infuse-"
"Oi!" Harry cut him off.
"Sorry," Jon said, watching the crowd around them. Lord Fairweather stopped suddenly.
"There is a vampire nearby," he said, hand on the hilt of his sword. He crouched at the exact spot Sanguini slipped in from the underworld, touching the ground gingerly. "Recently fast traveled, right at this spot!"
"Oh, Mr Fairweather..." Harry said coming up close to him. "A vampire is part of my team. He is my ally. He asked that you do not continue this feud."
"I don't bargain with Vampires. The only one I have a 'feud' with has been laying low for almost six years. He wouldn't associate with-"
"His name is Sanguini," Harry grinned.
Lord Fairweather froze. "You must be joking. He's the Legendary Artificer, the highest worldwide bounty there is. Why in the world would he associate with clansmen?"
"Do we have a deal? Truce? No trouble?" Harry pressed.
"His 'alive and well' capture bounty is the equivalent of two million galleons, Potter," Fairweather snarled, eyes scanning around the room. "I consider his elimination the crown jewel for my tenure in Misuto Samurai."
"You will consider him off limits, Royston," Harry stared him down. "You were enemies before. Now, he is my comrade. Saved Katsumi and Masahiko on mission as well."
Both of them stared at each other. The atmosphere in the mansion grew tense. Fairweather had the physical advantage being almost six foot four. Lord Fairweather rubbed his recently healed side. "Only because it is you, Dragonslayer. I agree to the truce," Fairweather said.
Harry offered him his hand. Royston Fairweather shook it. "Good. Sanguini! You heard the man."
"That doesn't mean we need to be friends," Sanguini's voice echoed throughout the room.
"Hello, my old friend," Fairweather laughed, spreading his arms wide to the room.
"I had you at my mercy, Kurayami no samurai," Sanguini's voice rippled through the mansion. "Only because I have a deep respect for the Chosen One do you still breathe."
Fairweather laughed. "You are a strange wizard, Dragonslayer."
"Once you two behave, and do not interfere with each other's work, that's all I want," Harry said loudly so everyone could hear. "Misutosamurai, the Crows, Immortals, Ronin, under this roof, we work together. Right?"
There were grumbled murmurs of agreement.
"Right?" Harry said a bit louder at Royston.
"Right," came the responses from Sanguini and Fairweather. Harry spotted the three Carrows on the other side of the first floor landing, watching the showdown in the main ground floor foyer. Shea was watching him with wonder.
"Okay! Well, that was lovely. Now we're all one big happy family," Harry joked.
"Like the Adams," Sanguini added wryly.
Harry greeted Master Ollivander and Alexandria. Master Ollivander looked grim. "Lucius Malfoy is a powerful man," Ollivander muttered. "Highly connected. He knows a lot of dangerous elements as well."
"I know. I wish I could have kept him longer. But Tonks said the Ministry are mandated to find missing wizards- I would be the prime suspect." The sky was getting brighter. A new dawn was upon them. "As we're all awake, I'll help Rosie with breakfast, yeah? We can talk more after."
Ten minutes later, while Harry was beating eggs, someone spoke through the communication badges.
"Lads, rise and shine- we've got hostiles. We're surrounded, they are right on the edge of the heavy security wards. They didn't detect our softer wards, thanks to yours truly. Anyway. Battle fucking stations," said Ronin's warding specialist and ex-Dragon Lancer, Terrence Vance.
"How many?" Jon's voice said through the glove.
"Around fifty. And yep, they have a winged division. Ten Snallygaster riders. Two teams, north west and south east. Snallygasters are in the trees, with riders. Looks like aerial cover. These guys are prepared for assault."
Ezra White slipped into the kitchen, almost making Harry jump. Rosie frowned at the interruption but continued putting in breakfast pastries in the oven.
"One's in the house already," Ezra White said. "I don't know how he got in. When I scanned outside, I picked up someone lurking in the basement. I just sent Sanguini, he's dealing with it downstairs- the pipes room."
"Fuck," Harry said. Whoever it was, he was good, damn good. "Let's go," Harry said, racing out of the kitchen. When they went down the stairs Harry could hear Sanguini's voice.
"Keep still. You shall live longer, believe this," Sanguini snarled.
Harry and Mr White entered the room where they interrogated Malfoy. A tall brown skinned wizard with tattoos covering his neck right up to his chin was held captive by Sanguini. Sanguini's fingers were elongated and covering the man's face, deadly talons gripping into his skin. Blood was trickling slowly from the five wounds.
"A vampire, oh meu deus," the Bloodseeker whispered, hands held up in surrender. "I cry mercy."
"Who are you?" Harry demanded.
"De Souza. A tracker," the man said, grimacing. "Please. I am only doing my work."
"Your work? Who sent you?" Harry said.
"Narcissa Malfoy. I was hired to retrieve her husband."
"You were sloppy," Ezra White said. "Bringing a large strike force alerted us."
"I was not sloppy," the bloodseeker said, insulted. "I told them to let me work alone, and to stay back. How did you spot me?"
"We have specialists," Harry said. "Our team is better than yours. But I am curious- how did you get in?"
Falcon De Souza was silent until Sanguini put some more pressure on his face. De Souza screamed in agony.
"Answer!" Sanguini barked.
"I am invisible to all detection magic. It is my family's innate ability. Very rare. Please, mercy."
"I could use a guy like him," Harry told Ezra White. "What do you think?"
"I don't know. Might be safer to let Sanguini crush his skull," Mr White said.
"Good idea-" Sanguini said.
"No! Please! Mercy! I will work for you! Free!" De Souza said, putting both hands together, begging for his life.
The three members of the Immortals looked at each other, communicating nonverbally. De Souza's blood was now dripping from his neatly trimmed beard.
"Your call, Lord Dragonslayer," Mr White offered.
"Lock him in an Unbreakable Vow, Mr White," Harry said. He conjured a white handkerchief and expanded it into a scarf. "Loyalty to the Immortal Guardian and his comrades."
"Do you agree?" Mr White asked their captive.
"Lord Dragonslayer... is that the Dragonslayer from South Hampton AK guild?" Falcon De Souza asked.
"You've heard of me?" Harry said.
"It is my business to know about powerful wizards. Roderick Hallow, code named Dragonslayer, bounty rank one point five million alive- S ranked hitwizard of the Crow's Vambrace- credited with slaying the Wizardbane in Siberia, the Basilisk of Scotland, the crushing of the Gringotts rebellion. Currently the leader of the Immortal Heroes Clan, ranked SS. Known aliases: The Lightning Comet, The Wizard of the Light, Roderick Hallow, The DragonSlayer, The Basilisk Slayer, The Goblin Slayer, The Werewolf Slayer, the Lord of the Underworld. Any others I haven't heard of?"
"Shit," Harry said, impressed. "You would work for me, then?"
"If I had the freedom of choice, yes. If I had known who was behind this, I would have refused this job. You are well respected in the mercenary circles, Dragonslayer," Falcon de Souza let out a deep breath.
"You talk too much," Sanguini spat. "Enough of the arse kissing. Either you say Aye, or Nay. It is your choice."
"In this situation, I have no choice. I will take the unbreakable vow. But let me swear to the Dragonslayer. It will be an honor. At least give me that, an honorable surrender," the Bloodseeker begged.
Harry's armor activated, covering his face except for his eyes. "Let him go. I will do it."
Sanguini let him go. "Kneel before your new master."
De Souza knelt, blood dripping from the five cuts on the perimeter of his face. He offered Harry his right arm. Harry wrapped the conjured cloth around the Bloodseeker's wrist and gripped the other end in his fist.
"Swear allegiance to me," Harry commanded.
"I swear allegiance to you, Lord Dragonslayer."
Harry felt a strange magic ripple through the cloth. "Your name?"
"Falcon. Falcon De Souza, codenamed the Bloodseeker," Falcon said.
Harry put his hand on Falcon's head. "Vulnera Sanentur," Harry said, using the same wound healing charm Severus Snape used on Draco Malfoy. The spell worked instantly. "You are healed. Rise, Falcon."
"Obrigado, Dragonslayer," Falcon stood up, touching his healed face in wonderment.
Ezra White and Sanguini looked at Harry as if they had never seen him before.
"He knows how to heal wounds tainted with dark magic with only his hand," Sanguini said to Ezra White. "What can't he do?"
"I don't know," Ezra White shrugged. "He's right. Is there anything you can't do?"
"I can't cast curses," Harry shrugged.
"What the fuck," Falcon said. "So how do you accomplish all of these triumphs?"
"I work with a team," Harry said. "Come. Your strike team is still outside. I presume they are waiting for you to return?"
"The plan was for them to hide beyond the wards while I get our target to safety, and they would cover our escape, if necessary. I told them I would not be detected."
"And if you don't come out?" Harry asked.
"Assault," Falcon said. "Harry Potter is to be taken alive, if possible."
"Crap," Harry hissed.
"Do you have anyone special we should worry about?" Mr White asked him.
"Twellmans is an Auror veteran. He's sharp, not the most fearsome wizard, but smart, and knows how to command. We have a young one in the Purity of Blood team. We call him the Boy Who Lived. His name is Tom Gryfici. Joined the German cell about three months ago, after his family was killed. It seems he is invulnerable. His body cannot be harmed. His attack spells need work, but he is special. This is his first mission. He holds a special animosity for you Roderick Hallow," Falcon said. "The lads think he has taken on vengeance as his armor. He was very protective of his little sister. He claims she casts 'Divine Protection' upon him from above."
"Roderick Hallow is no more," Harry said. "Does he know my current alias?"
"No he doesn't. Most people don't... but I'm different. I get information no one else does. Espionage is my forte," Falcon boasted.
"Dragonslayer, we're waiting word from you," Terrence Vance said through the badge. "They are just waiting there, two miles out. Creepy."
"Armor up everyone," Harry said. "Jon, time to parley."
"Dragonslayer," Lord Fairweather said as soon as Harry entered the clan meeting room. "I- what? Who is this?"
"While everyone was watching outside, he was already inside," Harry said. There were a few expressions of alarm on the faces of those present. "He's ours now. Falcon is his name, codenamed the Bloodseeker. Where is Jon? And Clan Ronin?"
"On top the roof," Lord Fairweather informed him. "Your man says he could take them out without us actually going to face them. But I am a bit annoyed about the events of last night. I want to handle this situation for you."
"You can?" Harry said.
"Yes, with Katsumi's and Masahiko's help, we can eliminate all."
"Wow," Harry said. That was a big statement. "Jon, are you hearing this?"
"I am," Jon said through the badge.
"What was your option?" Harry asked.
"Miracle. Ghost," Jon said.
"That would be messy. But effective," Harry said. "And yours, Misuto samurai?"
"We will strike under the cover of mist- with Shadows to even out the numbers."
"I take it that it would be fatal strikes," Harry said disapprovingly.
Lord Fairweather stared at Harry. "I don't understand. Are you implying we capture all?"
"We are human first, wizards after," Harry said. "No life has been lost, not yet. Katsumi, the throwing knife spell you use. Can you enchant it with stupefy instead?"
"I... I believe I can. That is the first attack spell we learn," Katsumi said. "But to take them alive-"
"Is possible," Masahiko said, warming up to the idea. "It is the way of the Knight, yes?"
"No," Jon said, understanding Masahiko's confusion. "It is his personal creed. He walks in the Light. I second this approach. It can be done. I will help."
"Very well," Lord Fairweather said. "I guess I can be the Samurai of the Light, for once!" Fairweather laughed.
Harry thought that Fairweather needed to work on his jokes.
"Er... yeah. I have two wizards who have an amazing sleep spell. When you incapacitate them, they would make sure they don't get up until we say so, agreed, Mr Grey?"
"I will do my best," Mr Grey said.
"I will deal with the fliers," Harry said. "Let's do this quickly. I'm hungry. Ronin, you are to maintain overwatch. Misutosamurai, the floor is yours."
"Good. Ka-chan, Masahiko, lets go," Fairweather said. "Give us cover."
Katsumi clasped her hands. Mist thickened throughout the forest outside.
"Boss, the place is getting cloudy, visibility...almost nil," Terrence said. "That's us doing that, right?"
"Yes," Harry said. "I thought you said you could only do four Shadows, Masahiko?"
"Correct. However, Shogun shusho can do twenty. Katsumi can do one hundred. We will be back."
Katsumi clasped her hands in a different configuration and the three members of Misutosamurai disappeared.
Twellman frowned at the sudden mist pouring through the trees. His men were also getting concerned. "Crusaders, shields up-"
Men began falling around him like flies. The thick mist moved and parted with each man slumping to the ground.
"Homenium revelio!" Twellman screamed. Red outlines of shadowy figures emerged. He began casting blasting curses at each one he could find. Screams of battle ensued as magic began crisscrossing between the trees, parting the mist with streaks of spellfire, only for the mist to re-solidify and become a blanket of grey once again.
Within a minute the Southern strike team were all knocked unconscious. Only Twellman remained standing. He continued spinning on the spot, trying to find the source of the threat.
"Who's there?!" he screamed, casting all the detection spells and shield spells he knew. Finally one of the shadows took form into a young masked woman dressed in all black; like an assassin. She sprinted towards him, her feet not making any sound through the undergrowth.
"Impedimentia!" Twellman cried.
The spell burned through the woman, making her disintegrate into cherry blossom leaves. A heavy blow struck him from behind. He fell on the floor, desperation pulsing through him. His head rang loudly with pain.
The young masked woman stabbed him with a needle in his arm and everything went dark.
Meanwhile, Harry was facing the snallygaster riders, the Hallow Blade burning white as he stunned the riders from behind with his wand. The snallygasters were like small dragons, without the ability to breathe fire. They were tougher than hippogryffs or threstrals with a fearsome bite. When their riders fell off their mounts, Sanguini rounded up the bodies before they fell to their death. The Snallygasters themselves were dealt with using the Hallow blade, Miracle, or Ghost, if they zoomed too low.
Harry's hybrid armor was covered in Snallygaster blood by the time he was finished with the first two. Miracle made light work of the others, even those that tried to escape. Ghost had successfully caught two, and was now feasting on his hard earned kills. Within five minutes the entire strike team were taken out.
"That's it boss. Black and Grey are putting on the final touches. Forty seven hostiles accounted for," Terrence Vance said from his position on the roof. "You guys are fucking legit."
"Roger that. I'll cart them inside the barn. Did we get the Tom fellow?" Harry said in the middle of the air.
"Wait, no I haven't seen him," Terrence said. "He's the special bloke, right?"
"I don't have him," Masahiko said.
"Neither I," Fairweather said.
"Negative on that, Lord Dragonslayer," Katsumi said.
"Crap, fucking shit," Harry cursed. "He escaped."
"Are you looking for me, Roderick Hallow?" A voice called from below him.
Harry looked down from the sky. A young sandy haired lad was looking up at him.
"Tom?" Harry said.
"You remember me. I'm not too sure how I feel about that. Come on down. I can't challenge you if you're so high."
Harry landed a fair distance away Tom Gryfici. They were about the same height and build. There was a strained silence as Tom stared at Harry's armor and his hidden face.
"I'm like your Harry Potter legend, you know," Tom explained. "I lived, but my family is dead. I've read everything I could about him. Have you heard of him?"
"I have," Harry said. Fairweather, Masahiko and Katsumi flash stepped into the clearing, surrounding Harry and Tom. Tom looked at each of them and smiled.
"Do you think he killed the dark lord? Or was it spell backfire?" Tom asked.
"Spell backfire," Harry said. "Your father was an evil man. He deserved it."
"I could agree to that," Tom said. "I didn't agree with his narrow minded philosophies." Tom drew and pointed his wand. His hand was trembling with rage. "But my mother? My sister? What about me? What did we ever do to you?!"
Harry couldn't answer that.
"I want to see your face!" Tom shouted, angry sparks shooting out of his wand. "If I die today, at least I will know who you really fucking are!"
Harry disengaged the armor. He wore pajama pants and a vest to bed. "I am sorry about your mother and sister."
"No," Tom said, recognizing him immediately. "How could you? You are the hero of wizardry! Avada Kedavra!"
Harry, for a split second, recognized his own face in Tom's. He had always wanted to face Voldemort, like this, and wipe him from existence. That was before the prophecy, before Dumbledore told him it was destined that he would mark him his equal. That's when he realized it was a two way street, that they both wanted to kill each other.
Everything slowed in his mind's perspective.
I did this to him. I drove him to vengeance.
Am I now his Dark Lord?
Maybe I deserve to be put down.
Katsumi was a blur with her flash step technique. Harry thought the ribs on his left side shattered into pieces with the force of her tackle. The green streak of magic flew above them, right where his chest would have been if she didn't save him. Masahiko closed the distance instantaneously and cut off Tom's hand with the Diablo wand/sword Jon made for him.
Tom stared at his missing hand for half a second before he realized he was cut. Blood sprayed out like a fountain for a second. He began to hyperventilate, then screamed into the early morning.
"Are you insane, Harry?" Katsumi scolded him as she covered his body with hers. "Why would you disengage-" Katsumi was screaming in his face.
"I don't know. Help me up," Harry cut her off, holding his side.
Katsumi did. Harry groaned as he stood up. Masahiko was positioned behind Tom Gryfici, Diablo core blade held high in an executioner's stance. Pain radiated from Harry's side. Godwin or Alexandria would have to check him out.
"Are you all right?" Katsumi asked, dusting off his skin.
"Side hurts. Katsumi, my blade," Harry said, never taking his eyes off Tom. Katsumi picked it up for him and presented the goblin sword, handle first.
"Good work, misutosamurai. I fucked up," Harry said, anger rising in him. Harry's eyes glowed red with rage. This fucker almost killed him. "I'm not doing this over again. I am not! I am here to stop this bloody horcrux from fucking up everything. Not to get picked off by this little shit."
"No... Noooo!" Tom screamed as Harry advanced. "I'm s-s-sorry! Please!"
"You wanted your own 'dark lord' to kill?" Harry said quietly. "You had your shot. It's my turn now." He sunk the blade into the young man's chest. It pierced through him like butter.
To Harry and the others' amazement, Tom didn't seem affected by the mortal injury. He grabbed the blade with his left arm.
"Mummy, I'm scared! I... can't feel anything..." Tom cried as the poison ran through him. His eyes glazed over, dead.
"Arsehole," Harry said. "I am the boy-who-fucking-lived. Not you," he muttered to himself. He yanked the blade out. Tom Gryfici fell face first into the grass.
"Lord Dragonslayer," Masahiko bowed and offered him a cleaning cloth. Harry took it and wiped the blood off the Hallow Blade. Two wizards, struck down with this weapon.
Like father, like son, eh?
"Thanks," Harry said, returning the bloody cloth to Masahiko. Masahiko bowed and took it, burning it in his palm. "To the both of you," he nodded at the Hanzo siblings.
"Well, that was unexpected," Fairweather said, watching Harry carefully.
"I was sloppy. It won't happen again. You guys were perfect out there," Harry said. He reactivated his armor. "Let's get breakfast. And Tonks. Let her people deal with this shit." Harry took a deep breath. He opened communications over the badge. "Knight, come in!"
"Dragonslayer. We're done with the sleep spells," Jon said. "Did you find Tom?"
"He found me. We dealt with it," Harry said. He had to be tougher. Things were spiraling out of control. "Hear wot: change of plans. Keep a few of the Purity of Blood people. Or the Crusaders. Once they're not British, they'll do. Lock them up in the barn. The rest, round them up, let Godwin and Alexandria administer a couple hours of memory loss potion. Then take them to the train station. Tell Tonks to fetch them there."
"It will be done," Jon replied.
He had to be tougher. No self sacrificial shit based on bloody sentiment. He was never going to walk into the proverbial forest to die like a lamb to the slaughter again.
Those foreigners would have to do for now. It was time he dealt with the bloody horcruxes locked away in the bank. It was just their luck they decided to piss him off this morning.
He stared at Tom Gryfici's corpse. He wondered if that was what he looked like when Voldemort put him down not too far north of here, right in this same 'Forbidden' forest.
Face down, arse up, nose in the muck.
Tom looked pitiful. He was dead like a bloody doornail. Maybe that was how it was for him too.
It was a new year. Eating a Killing Curse wasn't on the agenda. Not now, not ever.
"Take off his head. Then incinerate him," Harry commanded Masahiko as he shot off into the sky towards the Clan mansion.
An hour later, during his much needed breakfast with the Carrows and Lord Fairweather, Tonks came through the fireplace.
"Harry, a word please," She poked her head in the eating room.
"Excuse me," Harry said. Silvia Carrow and Ralph were very cautious around him. Word of what he had done had spread throughout the house. Shea didn't seem to mind. She spoke to him as she usually did. Rosie appeared (seemingly out of nowhere) and secured his breakfast with a tray and cover made out of their finest silverware.
Harry followed Tonks into the Clan meeting room. It was empty.
"Sixteen local and twenty five foreign mercs, without proper papers. Some are on the international bounty list. They have no clue why they are currently locked up in our cells," Tonks said.
"Strange huh?" Harry said.
"Most have some sort of connection to the Malfoy group of companies," Tonks said.
"What a coincidence," Harry said.
"They attacked?" Tonks huffed. "Come on Harry. Let's be open."
"One tried to infiltrate, Mr White spotted him. We didn't wait for the rest to come knocking on the front door."
"The healers say they're all unharmed," Tonks said suspiciously. "Forty one mercernaries, basically unscathed. Is this some sort of joke?"
"Are there bounties to be awarded? I need to check Melody Knights if there are," Harry put his finger to his lips, thinking.
"A few. Not all. The others we have to release in forty eight hours. Malfoy is spitting mad. I think we have one of his right hand men, Twellman. Private security aaaand an Ex Auror. Malfoy wasn't pleased to see him at all. I take it he was responsible for the attempt to rescue him. What a mess."
"Tonks, you're worked up," Harry said. "You didn't get any rest, did you."
"We just got a bunch of well trained mercenaries being processed by the Auror department. They're crowding the screening area like spectators trying to get in the hottest quidditch game of the season. Everyone off shift was called in. Of course I didn't get any sleep," Tonks said. "Could use a cuppa."
As she said it Rosie entered the Clan room with sandwiches, tea, and coffee.
"Warmage Tonks, you like it black, one sugar, oui?" Rosie asked.
"I do," Tonks said, pleasantly surprised. She grabbed a sandwich and accepted the offered cup. Rosie put down the tea service and the tray of sandwiches.
"Monsieur Harry, would you prefer if I start a fresh breakfast for you?" Rosie turned to him.
"No, I want to finish what I started, thanks," Harry said with a smile.
"Very well, shout if you need anything," Rosie bowed and closed the door behind her.
"The gaffer at work is astounded at my proficiency. I tell him my sources are top notch. He knows it's Roderick Hallow, whoever he is calling himself now. He's holding my leash loosely, so to speak," Tonks lamented.
"Why fix if it's not broken and all that?" Harry laughed.
"Yeah, our metrics are the highest it's been in a long while. Just the conviction rate we need to work on. Listen Harry. The memory potion was good foresight, but that isn't one hundred percent. Over time people might remember. And most of the British lads we're going to send home in a couple days. Nothing to charge them with."
"Uh-huh..?" Harry said, waiting for her to continue.
"You're okay with that, right?" Tonks said, getting all up in his face, watching his eyes.
"I ... think so? Why shouldn't I be alright?" Harry asked, clueless.
"What if they remember this place, what happened here?" Tonks said. "Aren't you worried about retaliation?"
"They lost. They're alive. They're paid blokes. I don't think they would come back. Malfoy, or Death Eaters might. These guys go on jobs, get paid, are happy to come home. Don't you remember how it was? That good feeling when you reach home in one piece?"
"Sometimes," Tonks said, looking up into his face. "Sometimes I remember how it used to be."
There was an awkward silence between the two of them.
"Aw. Your beard is cute," Tonks said, touching the few strands covering his chin and then running her finger over the heavier bit on his top lip.
"Thanks?" Harry said, rubbing his face. Tonks was doing her thing, again.
"Melody Knights has been called by a few of the mercs," Tonks changed the subject abruptly. "To act as an intermediary. The foreigners are getting the whole nine yards. Illegal activity on foreign soil, no papers, no job requests, blah blah. It would have been a stronger request if you were injured, or any British Citizen."
"So I'm not under scrutiny, right?" Harry asked.
"Not in the criminal way," Tonks hesitated.
"Then what 'way'?"
"More like in the um... Warmage way," Tonks admitted.
"Bethselzder?" Harry asked, watching Tonks carefully.
"And... well... let's just say I am very very happy you didn't commit any unforgivables or murders on British soil. I would have to ask you to pay me a visit, if you get my drift."
"Ah," Harry said.
"You didn't; did you?" Tonks queried lightly.
"Of course not," Harry lied.
"Excellent. These sandwiches are lovely," Tonks said, grabbing another.
Harry looked at Tonks. Her hair was disheveled. Her fingers were inked heavily, and there seemed to be a hastily cleaned spill of ink, or coffee, he couldn't tell which; on her pants. There was a tiredness about her movements.
"Hey," Harry said. "My room is free. Grab a nap. Take a shower. You look like you need it."
"I can't. I have too much work to do," Tonks said. "Keep your nose clean; and I mean it." She pointed sternly at him. "Later." She picked up floo powder, ready to leave in the large fireplace.
"I didn't keep it clean coming for you," Harry retorted.
Tonks froze. "I know. And I appreciate what you did, more than you know. But at least try, alright?"
"And if I don't 'keep my nose clean'?" Harry challenged her. Tonks turned around, studying him. She took a minute to formulate her response. She sighed loudly, letting the floo powder trickle out of her fist back into the jar.
"I guess I'll quit if I see it coming," Tonks said. "But if I'm still active when the order comes in, I won't betray you. I'll try to help you do the right thing- but if it comes down to choosing orders or coming for you... I'll accept being court-martialed for insubordination. The law books say for my rank, it's only two years in Azkaban, and black listed from Ministry employment for life." She shrugged, as if it two years of Azkaban was a piece of cake. "So, to avoid all of that... just.. be nice, yeah?"
"Yeah," Harry's ire deflated. "I'll be nice."
"You did well today. Nice and clean. Keep it up," Tonks saluted, grabbed the floo powder, and left through the green flames.
The next few days Ezra White was in and out the clan mansion. He brought statements of clan payments for the foreign nationals' bounties, and even the locals who were wanted in connection with previous incidents.
The feedback from Melody Knights was that the lads from Britain were trying to figure out what happened New Year's Morning as if it were some sort of shared joke- a party hangover of epic proportions.
Alexandria, Katsumi and Gerald Godwin's expertise in potions was instrumental in inducing a few hours of memory loss in the majority of attackers.
Harry sent Jon to London to 'visit' his uncle at the bank, but in reality, it was to retrieve the Horcruxes secured in the Onyx crate. That night they were to meet with Sanguini, and Masahiko at the Clan Torture chamber.
The six foreign wizards held captive in the barn were being taken care of by Aloysius Harding, Gerald Godwin, and Ralph Carrow. Their orders were to poison them with a blindness potion and keep them clean and fed until Harry was ready for them.
Gerarld Godwin, as a trained healer's apprentice, knew the captives' days were numbered. Prisoners that weren't interrogated for information were usually kept alive for illegal experimentation. He found that out the hard way during his... darker experiments in St Mungo's mortuary.
That night, Harry and Sanguini loaded the prisoners in Remus' silver cage and wheeled them out on the cart.
"I can't wait," Sanguini said, rubbing his palms while he watched their lab rats.
Harry said nothing as he summoned his threstral team and hooked them to the werewolf transport. "Knight, are you at the lighthouse?"
"I am. I also have the crate of cursed objects."
"We're bringing them in," Harry said with a heavy heart. After half an hour of Harry transporting the captives to the tunnel leading into the cliff-side prison, Sanguini opened the door with a flourish. Jon and Masahiko were fully armored next to the vampire, the crate of horcruxes hitched on Jon's shoulder.
"Lord Dragonslayer," Masahiko greeted him.
"Oy," Harry responded. He levitated the silver cage with the six blinded wizards from the werewolf cart. Masahiko's eyes flickered to the captives.
"Shall we?" Sanguini said, walking down the tunnel. "Anti apparition and Portkey dimensional flux. Blood wards. Levitation reversal field, for brooms and the like. Physical traps incorporated into the trees and undergrowth. The only safe ways in are through the underworld, flight on a winged creature, or with my permission. A new project. I like trying new things."
Sanguini's laugh was chilling along the narrow tunnel.
"Looks cozy," Masahiko said when they stood at the top of the steep rope-slope leading down into the torture chamber itself. "Is that a Crucifix torture rack?"
"It is," Jon said grimly.
Wails of despair and desperate pleas for mercy erupted from the silver cage levitating behind Harry.
"Silence them, please," Harry told Jon. Jon cast Silencio on the captives. They were now blinded and no sound came from their mouths.
The silence was now even more ominous than before.
"Let's go," Harry said. He levitated the cage unto the torture chamber's stone floor. Jon and Masahiko climbed down the slope while Harry and Sanguini flew down. When they were standing around the crucifix shaped table, Harry rubbed his eyes. "Masahiko, you are not to touch the cursed objects. Stay sharp. Obey my commands. Understood?"
"Yes, Lord Dragonslayer."
Harry opened the cage. Jon grabbed the closest one and pulled him out. Harry shut the cage behind before the others could try to escape. The prisoners gripped the bars, trying to make it topple. It was too heavy. Their voiceless screams and outstretched arms would sear into Harry's memories forever.
Jon easily restrained the captive. "Sleep," Jon said, touching his wand to his temple. Jon picked him up and aligned him on the torture table. He secured the chains at the waist, ankles, neck, and wrists.
"What now, Chosen One?" Sanguini said.
"The Diadem. It would speak to him when we put it on."
"Very well," Sanguini said. He kicked open the trunk. "Which one is it?"
Harry used his wand to gingerly open the smaller box with the diadem in it. Harry maneuvered the Horcrux with his wand unto the sleeping's man head.
"Now what?" Jon asked after nothing happened.
"We wait... I guess," Harry said, watching the man sleeping peacefully on the concrete slab shaped like a cross. "It takes about.. I dunno, half an hour to an hour to activate. If so much."
The tension was unbearable. Only Sanguini seemed unaffected. Harry thought that made sense. Sanguini was immortal. Even though his immortality was currently broken, old habits died hard.
An hour later, the sleeping man began to twitch. Jon, Harry and Masahiko drew their blades, stepping away from each other.
"The headpiece is awake," Sanguini said. "It's so strong, the underworld resonates with it... Voldemort was an artist."
"Cut it out with the dark shit, Sanguini," Harry said.
"On alert, men," Jon said, watching the weird, unnatural movements of the sleeping victim.
Harry thought they were prepared. Without warning the body convulsed, then the eyes opened, a dull, glowing red.
"Harry, how are you?" the blind red eyes blinked a few times. "Release me. We need to talk."
"Get back!" Harry shouted. He dashed forward, blade ready to pierce the heart.
"No," Voldemort chuckled, still unable to see.
Harry's entire body froze, sword tip a foot away. His heart was racing, beating like a drum in his chest. What was going on?
"Help me!" Harry screamed.
His three companions were face down on the torture chamber floor, hands desperately trying to prevent being crushed by the overlapping underworld.
"-Harry- lift- the magic!" Jon shouted.
"I'm not doing it! I'm stuck!" Harry shouted.
"My legs!" Masahiko screamed in his native tongue. His ankles were being broken, his feet turning sideways at an impossible angle.
"Harry!" Jon screamed. "Can't..." A loud crunch popped from behind him. Jon's scream was cut short as he abruptly ran out of breath.
"Sanguini! Go down!" Harry shouted.
"Who are those three, Harry? Why am I tied down like a common slave?" Voldemort asked politely.
"I should have thought of that," Sanguini said. He stopped fighting the crush and slipped into the underworld. Harry noted that the silenced prisoners were all now scattered bones and bloody soup spilling out the cage. Surprisingly, the cage itself was unaffected.
Sanguini reappeared at the top of the vast cave right above the torture table with what appeared to be a guillotine blade in both hands. He allowed the heavy summoning magic to pull him down at full speed with the rusted, hundred pound iron and steel tool held both hands. He cut right through the chest of the prisoner and destroyed the concrete slab with an earsplitting crash.
A disgusting explosion of guts and mortar splattered Harry's armor. The top half of the body fell off the destroyed concrete table.
"Freedom!" Voldemort said from the bisected corpse as he used the arms to lift himself up.
Harry realized that the overlapping summoning magic was released . Using his flight ability he shot off at full speed, stabbing the head right between the eyes with the Hallow Blade. He let go in shock when the glowing red eyes looked directly into his.
"Not enough, my dear Harry. Still not enough!" Voldemort almost touched him when his hand whipped forward like a snake. Harry jumped back as if his life depended on it.
"Not your life, my boy. Your body. Strong. Young. Handsome. Perfect," Voldemort said with a smile. The Hallow Blade had pierced through the skull, pinning it to the floor below.
How is it still alive?
Oh shit! Where is the diadem?!
"The fucking diadem! Where is it?" Harry screamed.
"Here, I can see it!" Jon wheezed. He was awkwardly trying to move along the ground with the use of one arm. Masahiko wasn't moving at all.
Harry backed off from the top half of Voldemort's corpse. It was using its arms to lift the pierced skull up higher along the blade to get off the ground. Voldemort groaned with the effort, but to Harry's horror, appeared to be enjoying this brain skewering maneuver. He smiled at Harry, eyes fully seeing him now.
"Come to me, my son. Let me empower you like never before," Voldemort offered.
"Jon put everything into your fire spell. Burn it!" Harry said, watching the horcrux laying motionless on the ground. Harry cut his palm open and let the blood drip all over the ornament, ready to cast purification.
To his horror, the horcrux absorbed the blood and began to skitter away from him towards Voldemort, whose skull was still sliding back and forth along the Goblin forged blade, arms trying to lever the tip free from where it was lodged into the stone.
"Enflamare!" Harry and Jon said simultaneously, pointing their wands.
The spells connected with each other at the same point on the horcrux. It reached the bloody spine, a twinkling eagle head with gem encrusted wings racing up the entrails.
What happened next was incredible.
The room swelled, then fire imploded into the Hallow Blade, like a reverse black hole, a searing bright white hole of energy about to be released.
Harry instinctively held his Phoenix on Snakewood between both thumbs, fingers spread as if pushing out. "Ignis Clypeus!"
The explosion spread throughout the chamber, made contact with Harry's flame barricade, then circumvented around all of them. Sanguini and Jon protected their heads with their arms as Harry's shield saved them from immediate incineration.
This fire was hotter than Dragon Fire. This fire, was Phoenix fire.
Sanguini wailed with the heat.
As soon as it began, it was over. The entire roof of the chamber was on fire. The Silver Cage and its' bloody contents had disappeared. The centuries old rope- ladder-slope leading to the exit tunnel was gone. The tunnel itself was smoldering.
Jon, Masahiko and Sanguini lifted their heads tentatively. "Is it dead?" Sanguini asked, almost like a child hiding under his covers after a flying roach was killed by a watchful parent.
Harry released the shield. The Hallow Blade, previously highly polished with an impeccable gleam, was completely black. His Phoenix on Snakewood wand had suffered a similar fate. There was no trace of the Diadem, neither the corpse.
"Yeah. It's done," Harry said. The Onyx crate and smaller Onyx boxes were destroyed, but the Diary, the Ring, and the Locket, were sitting innocently on the seared stone, mocking him.
Laughing at him.
Harry had a feeling his and Jon's Priori Incantem version of Phoenix Fire wouldn't work on the remaining horcruxes. At least the Hallow Blade had some sort of effect on the body.
"Everyone okay?" Harry said, wrenching the sword free.
"Not really. I'm almost done for," Sanguini said.
Sanguini was a horrible sight. His face was burnt almost to the bone. His robes were tatters, appendages burnt raw.
"Holy fuck," Harry said. "What can I do?"
"A coffin. Quickly. Use a high level transfiguration- anything to make it permanent. Put me in. And bring me some blood. A muggle would do. A wizard's even better."
"I would also need... assistance," Masahiko breathed in extreme pain. From his ankles down were flattened in the Onyx armor.
Harry grabbed his head in shock. "Jon?" He asked, fearing to look at him.
"I've... cant feel my left arm, actually... can't feel anything right now," Jon breathed.
Jon's shoulder and upper arm were also similarly flattened. Masahiko began to tremble with shock from the pain.
"Holy fuck holy fuck holy fuck," Harry said. He screamed into his badge. "Mr White! I need you here, now!"
"Coming!" Ezra said. "On my way!"
"Bring pain relief bring murtlap bring skele grow bring blood replenish bring every fucking healing thing in that fucking house!" Harry shouted.
"Rest your hands on their injuries, Harry. It will give them ease. I'm on my way!" Mr White said.
Harry was about to touch Sanguini when he shrieked in deathly fright. "Do you wish to end it sooner! Don't fucking touch me!"
"Right," Harry apologized. He sat down between the prone figures of Masahiko and Jon and rest a palm on each of their heads. He closed his eyes and withdrew the Onyx Armor on his teammates. Both young men screamed as their armor was released.
Jon's injury was more severe than he thought. His whole left side looked malformed, not just his shoulder and upper arm. Masahiko's shattered feet were a nightmare.
"Eyes on me," Harry ordered, kneeling between them, willing healing and hope into his magic. "Don't look at it." Harry petted the back of their heads in a comforting manner. It appeared to have some sort of magical affect. They breathed easier as his magic trickled through them.
Within five minutes Ezra White slipped into the torture chamber. With a grim nod at Harry, he began treating the two young men with pain relief and blood replenishing potion. "See about him, I got these two for now."
Harry magicked rectangular stone slabs cut out from the floor to make a simple coffin. Harry was about to levitate Sanguini into it but was prevented from doing so by a sturdy arm on his wrist.
"Don't point that at him. Your magic will finish him off," Ezra warned. Ezra hefted Sanguini's burnt body unto the 'lid' of the coffin. "Flip him over, by lifting the stone, not his body."
Harry levitated the coffin lid and Sanguini willingly rolled into the crude coffin Harry made. He gently lowered the lid, sealing the vampire in.
"Thanks," came Sanguini's voice from inside the stone box. Strangely enough, his voice echoed loudly in the burning chamber. That was a cool trick.
"You're welcome," Harry said awkwardly, lowering his mouth closer to where the 'head' side was of the coffin.
"Don't forget to bring the blood. A pint would do. The sooner, the better," Sanguini reminded him.
"Right. How long would you take to heal?" Harry said.
"Not long. Three to four months," Sanguini said. "This is nice, actually. I forgot how comfy a stone tomb was."
"Glad you're comfy," Harry said. Yikes. Three to four months? That was a long time. What am I going to do about these fucking Horcruxes without his help?
"Help the others, Chosen One. This experiment was a success, but barely. We need to think this through better," Sanguini's voice echoed grandiosely through the burning chamber.
"Yeah. Definitely," Harry said, watching Masahiko's and Jon's predicament. They were really fucked up.
"Don't forget to bring me the blood," Sanguini reminded them.
"I won't," Harry said, trying to speak between the lid and the body of the coffin.
"Right-o," Sanguini said.
"I've stabilized them," Ezra said. "Jon's bones can be healed. Masahiko would need implants and heavy rehabilitation. Godwin has Dragon parts in him. Healer Warthington would need to do the same for Masahiko here."
"Shit," Harry said. "I'm so sorry, Aegon, Masahiko."
"Nothing but a scratch," Masahiko chuckled, clearly in pain.
"A mishap on the stitching bench," Jon reinforced. Both young men feebly connected with their fists.
Masahiko was breathing heavily. "More pain potion," he gritted through clenched teeth. "Please."
"Jon, put him to sleep," Ezra White said as he administered more potion. "Moving him would be excruciatingly painful... but we need to get him to surgery. You too. The sooner the better. I will go on ahead and let Healer Warthington know what to expect."
"Rest easy, my friend," Jon said. "I'm going to put you to sleep. You won't feel a thing."
"See you when I awaken, comrades," Masahiko nodded. He closed his eyes. "Do it, Jon Black."
Jon touched his wand to Masahiko's temple and put him into the deep sleep.
"Lift them up, let's get out of here," Ezra White said. He picked up the Horcruxes and put them in the potion's kit. "Take these. Don't touch them. They're frightfully powerful."
"You're telling me?" Harry grumbled.
"Put them away safely in another onyx box. You know what to do." Ezra White slipped into the underworld.
Harry took hold of the potions kit and levitated the injured out of the tunnel. He settled them down on the threstral cart and used the chain binding spell to make sure they didn't fall off during the flight. He sat down on the driver's seat.
"Ready, Aegon?"
"It hurts. Lets get to the healer, quickly," Jon hissed.
"On it. Yah!"
During the flight south Harry recalled that Crabbe or Goyle's (he couldn't remember who cast it) Fiendfyre spell destroyed the Diadem the last time around. Events that happened before, were happening again, except worse.
This time, it was Phoenixfyre, a fire even hotter than that. If it weren't for his quick thinking during the 'ignition period' of the rebirth flame, the blast would have wiped them out.
The Dark Lord gains strength the more you delve into the night. It would be tenfold as difficult.
Lucky.
He was bloody lucky. They were all bloody lucky. Voldemort didn't blink at being stabbed through the brain. Harry couldn't imagine what an awakened Voldemort with a horcrux in his hand could do. Wait. He could. Voldemort would have burned through all of them with his dark beam, or simply taken him over, as he threatened previously.
He shut those negative thoughts out and spurred the threstrals faster towards St Mungo's. His comrades, no, his friends were depending on him.
And seeing how stuff kept repeating on an even more dire scale, maybe the whole world was depending on him.
Same old shit, just another life.
Author's note: Thanks for reading.