Questions and Answers

PoisonAndSugar: The drafts for the sequels are all done. It is just remembering to write it all out now.

darkserpentcat: No spoilers! You have to wait.

Chapter 25: First Confrontation

"Tell me again why we are stumbling through the Forbidden Forest in the dead of the night?" hissed Hermione in anger.

The three Gryffindors were out in the forest, stumbling over roots and ducking under branches that reached for them. Over them, was Harry's invisibility cloak, shrouding them from the sight of any unwanted creatures.

"Erm… Because I left something in Hagrid's hut?" replied Harry uncertainly.

"Again, why are we in the forest then? It is forbidden for a reason" A pissed off Hermione glared at Harry as Ron swore beside him.

Both Ron and Hermione stopped. They trained harden looks on Harry who twitched uncomfortably.

Just as Harry was thinking of a reply, there was a crash. The noise seemed to reverberate through the eerily silent forest.

"What was that?" Harry exclaimed.

Before the other two can say anything, Harry had hurried off towards the noise, slipping out from under the protection of the cloak.

"Harry! Wai…mmffghh…" Ron swiftly placed his hand over Hermione's mouth, shaking his head silently at her.

"We don't want to attract any attention." He whispered. Nodding, Hermione then followed Harry with Ron behind her.

Harry could hear the sound of something thrashing in the bushes. Trying to tread as lightly as possible, he ran through the forest. Under the dim moonlight, it was a miracle he have not twisted an ankle or something rushing through the uneven forest floor.

Madara sensing his urgency had slipped out of Harry's robe, reducing his weight that was holding Harry down. The snake had originally been hiding under his shirt, wrapped around Harry's torso. The snake proceeded to slithered through the undergrowth alongside Harry, trying to stay out of Hermione's and Ron's sight.

Madara suddenly smelt something odd in the air during his haste. Because of that, he veered slightly off to the left and headed in that direction.

A sudden yell of pain had only hastened Harry's urgency. Behind him, he can hear Ron and Hermione thrashing through the undergrowth, both of them still under the Invisibility Cloak.

Suddenly, Harry burst through the undergrowth and ended up in a small clearing in the middle of the forest. The sudden brightness of the full moon made Harry squint. In the middle of the clearing was a cloaked figured hunched over, clutching something that was glowing a harsh red. There was a red mist that was travelling up the person's arm and Harry can hear the person panting in pain as the red mist seemed to be absorbed into his skin.

Harry's sudden arrival startled the dark figure and he glanced up. Underneath the hood, eyes widen as he recognized the student panting in front of him.

"Harry Potter?" the cloaked figured hissed out in a low raspy voice.

Harry furrowed his brow in confusion and took a step back in alarmed. "Do I know you?"

"Yes, of course you do." The cloaked figure released a dark chuckle. "In fact, I have been waiting for this day for eleven years.

This time, Harry was really confused. Eleven years? Who did I know eleven years ago? Harry was starting to get really nervous by now. Then Hagrid's voice echoed in his head.

"You survived his killing curse Harry… They said he is still alive, bidding his time to return…"

Harry knew it, he was in big trouble. "You are Voldemort., aren't you?" The boy asked cautiously.

"HOW DARE YOU CALL MY MASTER BY NAME BOY!" The cloaked figure roared, whipping his hood off to glare at Harry.

In shock, Harry stared at the all so familiar turban on the man's head. "Professor Quirrel? But how? Wait, where's Snape?" Harry shouted before looking around wildly, expecting his Potion's professor to pop out from behind a tree.

Professor Quirrel let loose a evil laugh, "Of course you would suspect that meddlesome greasy haired bat. Everyone does! To think that all these time he was trying to protect you and yet he still ended up as the suspect." With that, the man felt into another helpless fit of evil chuckling.

"What?" Harry gasped weakly. "All this time, it was you?"

The professor glared hotly at him. "Of course you brat. Then again, I played my cards well. No one ever suspected I was after the Pharaoh's Ruby."

Seeing Harry looking as confused as ever, the professor growled. "This is the Savior? The Boy-Who-Lived? Look at you, pathetic. You do not even know what is going on you."

Whipping the red gem upwards, the professor trusted the stone in front of him. "The Pharaoh's Ruby is a mystical stone of immense power. It is used to trap souls of assassins that threaten the pharaohs of ancient Egypt. At the same time, their souls could be used to reanimate objects, thus forcing those souls into a live of slavery and unwavering loyalty to the wielder of the gem. Of course, you don't know that, do you boy?" the professor leered at Harry.

"However, my master found another use for this gem actually. Instead of using that soul to reanimate an object, the soul could be drained to power another soul, to create a temporary functioning body. The soul that my master had been reduced too thanks to you."

At that, Professor Quirrel stopped at glanced skyward. Harry heard the man mumbling to himself "but master… u sure… strong enough…"

Meanwhile, Harry was trying to inch away. He hoped Ron and Hermione had been smart enough to run away. He hoped they have gone to get help. Because that crazy glint in his professors eyes was giving him the chills.

Too late, the professor whipped out his wand and let loose a flurry of sparks that scared Harry. The man then reached up to his turban and slowly unwrapping it.

Once again, the decaying rotting smell grew stronger and stronger. Harry felt like he was going to puke, it was kind of gross. Under the bright moonlight, Harry realized his professor was bald. Then, he turned around and the poor boy had to surpress a scream of terror.

Etched onto the back of his professor's heard was a face. There were wrinkles along the top and a indention where a nose should have been. The face had glowing red eyes that were squinting at Harry. There was also a thin line that was shaped into a leer and then, the face spoke.

"Harry Potter!"

Harry shuddered, the voice was deep and raspy. It sounded hoarse and raspy, from lack of use and reminded him of the zombies he used to see on the television programs Dudly watched at home.

"After so long, we finally meet again. Look what you have reduced me too. A face on another's body. You will pay for what you have done Harry Potter. Tonight, I will end it all. Make no mistake." The face hissed angrily at Harry. Without a doubt, Harry knew this was Voldemort. Somehow, he was alive after all.

Before Harry could respond, Professor Quirrel lifted the red gem once again. A blood red glow lit the clearing and a painful scream resonated through the area. Squinting his eyes, Harry saw gashes opening along the man's arm. Yet, the scream was not from the professor. It was higher in pitch, the same scream Harry heard while running through the forest. It sounded like it was coming from the stone itself.

The face on the professor's head suddenly seemed to dissolve downwards. At the same time, blood seemed to flow from Professor's Quirrel arm and swirled beside him. From the stone, a white mist leaked out. The mist seemed to be struggling. As soon as it came in contact with the professor's blood, it was stained red and started to coagulate beside the professor. As the misture of blood and mist swirled in spirals, it started to take on shape, limbs were starting to form and the body of a man could be vaguely been seen. During this time, a beam of red magic can be seen connecting to the mist figure to the glowing blood red gem.

"No!" Harry shouted. Fear gripped his heart, he could not let the Dark Wizard of all time be resurrected once again. He stepped forward.

Professor Quirrel whipped around and shot a beam of red light. It missed Harry by inches, hitting the tree behind Harry. The sound of splintering wood can be heard as Harry flinched from almost being hit.

Harry quickly whipped out his own wand but he was at a lost to what to do. This was magic far beyond his letter. He shouted the first spell that came to mind. "Petrificus Totalus!" A jet of white flew out of his wand towards the professor.

Professor Quirrel flicked his wand and the spell was easily deflacted. With a loud laugh, he taunted Harry. "Foolish child, do you think your petty tricks can stop me? I have enough games, time to end this." With a wide slashing motion, the man drew his wand backwards and with a loud arch, started the words to a new spell.

"NOO!" There was a horrified scream and suddenly, a rock as large as a Bludger smashed into Professor Quirrel hand, making him released a cry of pain. His wand fell to the side and the spell aimed for Harry was interrupted. Harry sighed in relief before whipping his head sideways.

"What?" The injured professor hissed out, cradling his injured hand.

To the side was Ron and Hermione, the protection of the invisibility cloak gone. Both of them were ashen and Ron particularly was trembling while Hermione was staring at them wide wide frighten eyes. Both Gryffindor had their wands out, pointing at Professor Quirrel. Beside the duo was another similar rock, levitating in the air. The rock was trembling violently in the air as Ron tried to steady his trembling hand. The sight was actually quite comical if only they were not in such a precarious situation.

"Flagera ignis"

Hermione screamed in desperation. A jet of blue flames flew out of her wand and enveloped the professor and the red mist figure in rings of blue fire. Ron swung his wand, this time the rock flew towards the red mist figure. Sadly, the rock just passed through, temporarily disrupting the mist and hit Professor Quirrel on the shoulder.

This time, the professor stumbled backwards. Harry seeing his chance sent out a Tripping Hex at the professor. At the same time, the cries of "Wingardium Leviosa" by Ron could be hear as he levitated another rock in the clearing. The man fell and along with him, the red gem that was in his arm. By now, the red mist had solidified into the outline of a man. The face that was originally on the professor's head had now appeared on the figure.

With a harsh growl, the mist figure spoke. "Imbecile brats! Looks like you brought some friends Potter. Well, that will never do. Say goodbye to your friends Potter.!"

Stretching his hand out, the fallen professor's wand flew into the red mist figure's hand. With a swift flick, the blue flames surrounding him were dispelled. Next, with a swift flash in their direction, blue sparks flew out of the wand and towards Ron and Hermione.

"Ron! Hermione! No!"

Harry could only watch in horror as the sparks struck the ground and trees below and above the Gryffindors. There was an extremely loud bang, a sickening crunch and the sound of splintering wood, all at the same time. It was joined by the sound of Hermione's terrified scream and Ron's fearful yell. Dust spewed out of the ground and the next minute, broken foliage came raining down on the spot where the two students had been standing.

"No!"

Harry felt tears sprang to his eyes. The dust clear slightly and all he could see were broken branches and dirt that have been blown up. No sight of his two friends.

He tried to run towards them. The red figure gave an evil glint. "Not likely Potter!"

Another swished in Harry's direction. This time, a yellow beam of light streaked forwards. Before Harry could even dodge the spell, it hit.

"CRACK"

Ooh! Clifhanger! :P