THE BINDING OF FATES
CHAPTER 25
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
AN: Warning. This chapter has verbally implied scenes of sexual assault. Nothing too graphic, though. On to the story...
The Dark ritual site in the woods behind the Thomas' property was crawling with the French MLE.
"We're going inside. It's becoming a habit, but good work once again," Auror Bernard congratulated Tonks. He turned and addressed his Auror team in French. "Lucas, Robards, get these muggles to the healer and transport Mr. Thomas to detention level four. Robards come back as soon as you're finished and keep watch here. Doge, Petit, on me. Let's complete the sweep of the house."
The team of French Aurors got to work. Tonks was shining her wand at the signed documents in her hand.
"Nothing concrete for Thomas himself until he is convicted," Tonks grumbled. "And even then, no specifics on the amount. He was spotlessly clean: no previous criminal record of being a practitioner of the Dark. The muggle rescue and 'Dark Magic nullification' reward of a measly sixteen thousand," she cursed. "At least the Blood Purity Hit wizards got us a neat eighty."
"He did explain that on conviction the Ministry Contractor fee could go up to more than one hundred thousand. That is a huge bounty. In the meantime, let justice be its own reward, milady."
"Knowing how magical governments work, if it's not in writing ... it could be denied like that," she snapped her fingers for emphasis. "Maxime should be here just now. Maybe she could put pressure on their Wizengamot to get him put away immediately, or Kissed," Tonks spat. "All those poor kids..."
Jon didn't know what she meant by 'Kissed' but he thought better of showing ignorance in front of outsiders. "Harry and the others should also be here soon. He said they were rounding up the remains."
"Once he puts on the Onyx gloves."
"You did remind him, did you?" Jon asked, alarmed.
"I did. But that boy is mental. Absolutely fearless. He's going to make a mistake, sooner or later, with that recklessness," Tonks shook her head. "He snatched Lupin from right under their noses."
"That is why we are here, to cover for each other," Jon smiled. Something above caught Ghost's attention. He growled. Jon looked up into the sky at the white speck growing bigger against the black night sky. It was a massive carriage pulled by two regal Abraxan horses. "Look. Beauxbatons' crew has come."
"Let's go talk to her," Tonks agreed, and they walked from the ritual site around the property perimeter towards the front courtyard. Professor Allemons, Headmistress Maxime and an unknown wizard were having an intense discussion with the Auror on sentry patrol; Bentacour, if Jon remembered correctly.
"Wonder what that's about," Tonks said suspiciously. "Masks up, wands out," she ordered. As they came closer it was evident the Auror and the school staff were definitely arguing. Tonks approached confidently.
"Bonsoir Headmistress, pardon the interruption," she said. "Is there a problem?"
"There may be," she said. "I brought the Solicitor General from the Ministry to oversee this crime scene. Monsieur LeBouef, the British Clan The Crow's Vambrace." The man stepped forward towards Tonks. Auror Bentacour seemed annoyed.
"Loic LeBouef," he extended his hand. Tonks shook it. "A pleasure."
"Red," Tonks introduced herself. "He's Black." Jon nodded, but did not approach. "And this is Ghost."
Ghost lazily scratched behind his ear.
"I heard there were more. The Wizard of the Light, if I recall?"
"You mean Roderick Hallow," Jon corrected. Madame Maxime did well to hide her mirth with all these lofty and elaborate code names.
"Yes, the white wizard in the photos," LeBoeuf remarked. "Very, very interesting."
At that moment Alexandria and Ollivander swooped down. Ollivander disembarked from Tonks' broomstick and set Cloud free from his cage. There were two bulging grain sacks tied to the spare broom. Jon and Tonks waved them over. Introductions were made all around.
"Where is Ha- Hallow?" Tonks corrected herself.
"He's coming," Master Ollivander said, pointing up. They all looked up.
"What is that?" Auror Bentacour asked.
"Is it a bird?" LeBouef asked.
"It's not a plane," Tonks said.
Harry shot out of the sky, his bracer glowing hotly through the sleeve of his dueling robes. He somersaulted just before he landed, using all the braking spells in his arsenal right before the moment of impact. A rush of wind assailed the impromptu meeting as he came to an abrupt stop on the walkway.
Harry landed in a kneeling crouch, both hands outstretched towards the ground just in case he couldn't maintain balance and fell flat on his face. He remained motionless for a few seconds. No one said a word.
Harry raised his masked head towards them and stood up. The night wind swirled around him, leaves and dust skittering on the cobblestones.
The group simply stared, except Ollivander, who had a wide grin on his face. Alexandria was currently leashing Cloud, who was curiously sniffing the large bags full with Diablo corpses. Tonks was glad she had on her mask, because she would have sworn her jaw had detached and was touching her collarbone.
"Pardon the interruption," Harry's voice came through his mask. "Still need to work on my landing."
"Roderick Hallow, I presume?" Loic asked. This wizard seemed... smaller than he expected.
"That's right," Harry turned towards the well dressed wizard. If he didn't know better, he would have thought that Lucius Malfoy had a cousin, except with black hair and glasses.
"Loic LeBouef," he nodded. He presented Harry with a card.
"How do you do," Harry returned the nod and accepted it.
"Some of my colleagues would love to meet with you and your clan. Feel free to contact me if this could be possible," he said in immaculate English.
"Colleagues?"
"Pardon me, I did not explain myself fully. I am on the board of France's Arithmancy Guild... and a member of the International Body of Senior Arithmancers. We present reports for debate during the Confederation's biannual meetings. You are an anomaly. A wizard capable of flight!"
"I see. I'll think about it," Harry replied, nodding. As in, I'll think about losing this card as soon as possible.
The conversation returned to the crime scene. Loic was here to personally observe the Auror's work tonight. Too many slip ups, Maxime had said. She wanted these Aurors to have an airtight case. The Crows listened in and eventually Loic left with Professor Allemons to oversee the investigations.
"How was Gabrielle?" Maxime asked as soon as they left.
"Unharmed. A bit strange. She was either in a trance, or one very cool customer," Harry responded.
"Oh? What happened?" the large woman pressed.
"She was ...sort of expecting me?" Harry explained. "She said, 'I knew you would come. Take me to my home, Wizard of the Light. For the night is dark, and full of terrors'."
Jon's head snapped towards that quote. Harry was gesturing with his hands as he continued.
"There were five Diablo in the vicinity. Grey got three, I got the others. It was almost eerie ... she was unrestrained, and calm. Strange. She was all ...confident about being rescued. She made me laugh. For a little girl, she has a swagger about her."
"I met her once. She was charming, and full of questions," Madame Maxime said. "I shall visit her family shortly and interview her."
"You brought the documents?" Tonks asked the headmistress. Harry liked that about Tonks. When it came to business, Tonks was straightforward and didn't let other frivolities get in the way.
"Of course. Come, there is light and privacy for us to work inside the carriage."
Twenty minutes later the meeting was coming to an end.
"All right. For the core request, I have informed the Council that more should be appropriated to the retrieval of the victim, since you have changed the game with Richard's rescue. Bounty reward, twenty thousand galleons for the safe and timely retrieval of Gabrielle Delacour."
Madame Maxime stamped this document.
"Secondary request, elimination of the Diablo itself. You have brought proof of death of five of them at thirty thousand each-" Maxime sighed, "-One hundred and fifty thousand galleons. This would be paid fifty percent lump sum and the remaining fifty percent over ten installments. I will lean on the authorities to seize liquid assets from Jean Thomas to help pay this bounty. Once he is convicted, of course."
There was another stamp.
"If he is not convicted, someone really needs to kick the Auror Corps' arse," Tonks retorted. "It's been laid out on a plate, innit?"
"There are problems in the ministry, I admit it. That is why I brought Monsieur LeBouef, to make sure that the Aurors are under scrutiny and exercise due diligence this night," Madame Maxime said haughtily. "He will be punished, one way or the other."
The finality of her tone convinced Harry that she was pushing for the Dementor's Kiss.
"Now. About this raid. I will fight tooth and nail for you. But there was no request for the capture of this dark wizard, as yet. For stopping such heinous Dark practices, I can safely say you will be rewarded the sixteen thousand Ministry Contractor fee as written here by Auror Bernard, and the capture of a few International Bounty level C's..."
She hesitated. Maxime was stuck between a rock and a hard place. "As far as Monsieur LeBouef tells me, the budget for Ministry approved contracts and Clan work are one hundred thousand galleons per month. This has never really truly been passed in one quarter."
"If he is convicted, what do you think would be the resulting offer from your ministry?" Harry asked.
"I may be pushing it, but you may get one hundred and eighty, two hundred."
Tonks whistled.
"I am of a notion that they might try to give you some of his fixed assets as collateral, instead of gold." Maxime explained with a wave of her hand. "That, will meet more resistance from certain French Wizengamot members, who do not wish to see mere Clansmen..." Madame Maxime nodded to the two girls in the carriage, "And clanswomen; get any sort of land or business equity on French soil."
"Well they better pay fully in gold," Tonks stated.
"That, will be the simpler way of reimbursement, but the harder to actually achieve. The Ministry would not want a British Clan taking credit and such large sums of money from them. And the people who are affiliated with the Malfoy and Thomas' families would not want their interests seized and handed out to foreigners. It is a matter of patriotic pride. It may also have adverse effects on stakeholders, who, out of principle, may refuse to continue business with English owners."
"If that is the case, they can give us his land and buildings- then we sell it back on the private market," Tonks shrugged.
"Obviously for a profit, yes," Maxime stated. "I thought you would say something similar. Whoever buys it would also be at risk. But it shall be their risk to take."
"Tough," Tonks said.
"This is all conjecture, anyway. I do not know what the Wizengamot will do. I do not have any ties or influence in the decision process, and willingly keep it so. Dumbledore may have his fingers on his webs, but I refuse to get involved directly. If I may be frank, unless someone high up has a new and suddenly colossal growth of moral fiber- you may not get more than the International bounty assigned to the wanted Wizards we found here, and your Sixteen thousand for stopping the muggle-baiting Dark ritual, even though we all know that this was some of the vilest magic performed recently in our country. I repeat, I will fight on your behalf, as this has been going on nearly ten years now, a constant source of worry for non-pure families. Over the years our children have gone missing, never to laugh or play again. It was a curse on the south."
"A monster," Jon said solemnly. A monster who targeted children. Jon was having second thoughts on capturing him alive.
"Yes, this time, we hope it has come to an end. You will get your professionalism bonus for Speed and Accuracy, and the No Collateral Damage, No breach of Wizard Secrecy, No violent altercations with Clans or Locals. Sixteen thousand. Foreign thugs and riff-raff are fair game," she laughed. "So far- your South Council Bounty stands at One Hundred and Five thousand gold coin full deposit, and seventy five thousand galleons over ten months -and sixteen thousand bonus. Total One hundred and ninety six thousand." She stamped this paper.
Alexandria made a choking noise behind her mask. Jon patted her back firmly to help.
"For this raid- ninety six grand is your confirmed MLE bounty. Total confirmed monies: One nine six and another nine six- two hundred and ninety two thousand. Twenty nine thousand two hundred Guild commission. So that leaves you with," Madame Maxime was crunching numbers on today's paper.
"Two hundred and sixty two thousand and eight hundred allocated to The Crow's Vambrace," the large woman nodded a few times, impressed. "With provisions that can make that shoot up to probably one hundred thousand more... Red Dora, you outdo yourself."
"Oh, it's a team effort, believe that," Tonks said amicably. Harry and Jon's fists connected immediately without having to make eye contact.
Madame Maxime duplicated the forms and handed it over to the three founding members. "One hint: keep the focus on the customer's request and not simply for the money, and you should always bear fruit," Maxime said. "It is easy for the gold to corrupt."
"Agreed," Ollivander said. "We shall ever walk in the Light," he announced, nodding at the two boys.
Maxime stood up and crossed her arms in the Guild salute. "That's all for now, then. Victory belongs to the Crow's Vambrace. And a fortune to boot."
"Thank you for your support," Tonks said, giving her a bow. Harry, Jon and Tonks returned the salute.
"Oh. And Harry. If you ever want to talk about...you know," Madame Maxime flapped her large hands twice with little flicks of her wrists. "Please contact me. It would be lovely, if for once, just once, I have prior knowledge of magic that Albus has not figured out as yet! That old goat always has a trick up his sleeve... Consider it a little secret between friends. It would mean a lot to me," she smiled broadly.
"Who knows? I may take you up on that offer," Harry said gamely.
"Very well. I hope you have safe travels back home," Madame Maxime clasped her hands.
"Thank you once again, Headmistress," Tonks bowed slightly. "It has been a productive night."
"Indeed it has. Let's pray that everything goes smoothly. With Monsieur LeBouef here, there should be accuracy with the investigation and justice for all."
The Crows left the carriage and gathered their belongings. After everything was ready to go, Tonks opened the map and re-oriented the party with their starting position to head back to the ICOP office at Calais.
"Right. Back home we go. Dial in bearing 017 degrees on the compass. Should be an hour at full speed," Tonks ordered, dialing in the compass charm on the Quicksilver broom. "On me. Let's ride!"
"Five Diablos. You guys don't play around," the ICOP officer at Calais, Monsieur Koman, whistled approximately an hour later. "Documents," he requested.
Tonks had the documents ready and prepared for inspection. A few stamps and signatures later, and they were on the runic traveling circle ready to be port keyed back across the channel to Dover's ICOP office.
The gang re-emerged at the cellar of the Dover's Apothecary. Tonks grabbed her stuff and the others followed her up the steps.
"Back already? Oh. And with goods. You guys work fast," Rook Littleborough said in a bored tone. "Ah- Regulated cargo?"
"Yes. I have the licenses here," Jon produced his Apothecary's import license. Rook inspected the sacks of Diablo parts. He grimaced.
"Wow. Is this what I think it is? Your Clan specializes now?"
"You could say that," Harry shrugged.
"There is no charge for the corpses. Off you go," he stamped their French ICOP documents and made duplicates for them to keep. The gang exited Dover's Apothecary into the salty night air of the Dockyard. Tonks took off her gloves and picked up a handful of dirt.
"This mission went much smoother, all things considering." She rubbed the soil in between her hands then let it drop. "Potter. Come here."
Harry removed his mask and balaclava.
"What's up?"
"You did very well tonight. I'll give you that. But running off solo- that stunt with the Lancers- was way too risky. I know it was a spur of the moment decision, and it worked out ok; but that is the sort of action that puts our entire team in jeopardy. We'll have to make more communication badges to prevent this from happening again."
Harry just stared at her. Tonks just regarded him steadily. Harry knew she was right, but internally, he wanted to argue: that was his style- how he got stuff done. He sighed. "Understood," he nodded. "Safety is paramount."
Tonks held his gaze for a few seconds more. She turned from him. "Everyone, bloody fantastic shift. Medic. Excellent start- you followed orders and were quick to help. You did well. Remember to fill out your logs for Master Ollivander."
"Thank you, Mademoiselle Tonks. I have learned so much this night." Alexandria shook her hair free and countered the acne inducing poison with a sip from one of her vials. Her face returned to normal.
"We'll talk later about your Gringotts account. Oh. Jon-" Tonks stared at him in a funny way. "Why do I get the feeling that I should be reporting to you? But that's impossible, isn't it?"
"Impossible," Jon agreed.
"Huh. Your skill is impeccable, as always. You are a natural."
"I try my best," Jon said simply as he folded his arms.
"Thanks once again Master Ollivander. Your knowledge is invaluable. Are you sure you do not want to officially join? We work so well together."
"Ranging is for the young," Ollivander smiled. "I was one a long time ago, when I was doing research on dragon core materials. But feel free to contact me. I will help when I can."
"Right! I have the information you wanted." Alexandria turned excitedly to Jon and Harry. "The only place the Onyx Dragon is found is in the Siberian wastelands. The dragon tracker's latest report is that there is a very old Queen who has laid her final batch of eggs ten months ago. She has left the roost and one of the younger females are guarding the eggs and the nest. They believe the Queen dragon has left the roost to find a spot to die. The information from the tracker claimed this Queen is almost four hundred years old. So you are in luck. Around Christmas there would be more Onyx material on the market."
Jon listened carefully. He suspected that this tracker was forgetting certain details. The wand lore books Ollivander instructed them to read had extensive information on Dragons.
"Do you trust the source of this information?" Jon said simply. He was not there when the initial discussion with the butler was held, as he was with Harry at the time.
"I ...guess? That is the information one of Uncle V's people told him."
"I assume he did not mention the male dragon who laid with this... Queen?" Jon queried.
"No.. he didn't," Alexandria stated, confused.
"Good point, son. Males are very protective of their last mate," Ollivander agreed. "He will pester her continuously until the female chases him away. And with her being so weak and at the end of her life, she would not have the strength to do so."
"So you're saying that the male would stick around until she dies?" Harry asked.
"Most likely," Ollivander replied.
"We can continue this Onyx business later. Let's get going. Harry, if you would?" Tonks asked.
"Um..." Harry hesitated.
"Something wrong?" she frowned.
"Star Scream is the only one free. The others are still hitched with Remus," Harry shrugged apologetically.
"Let's go talk to Rook," Tonks grumbled and went back into the Port office. They paid seventy galleons to get an application for a custom portkey. Ollivander bid his farewells and said he would apparate on home. The Crows bid him farewell and then sat down to wait. Alexandria tilted her head sideways on Jon's shoulder and within minutes they were sleeping. Ghost was allowed to roam outside. Cloud curled up inside his traveling case. Harry and Tonks talked softly, sometimes breaking the monotony by playing Wizard's rock-parchment-diffindo.
After an hour and a half of waiting, Rook finally received the Ministry approved Portkey to take them far north to Hogsmeade. By the time the gang arrived at the clan base, they were extremely tired and hungry. It was closing in on five in the morning.
"Tonks. The farm you raided for the roosters, did they also have sheep?" Harry asked her in the foyer, rubbing his gritty eyes.
"Yeah. Why?" she asked suspiciously.
"We need to snatch a couple. I promised."
"What? Promised?"
"The threstrals want lamb for interrupting their mating night," Harry laughed.
"You have to be kidding me."
Harry tiredly pulled down his balaclava. "Just give me some directions. I'll do it."
"It's ok. Jon, we'll be back. If you need us, get us through the badges," Tonks said wearily.
"Understood," Jon said, carrying the two bags of Diablo remains downstairs into the cellar. Alexandria was heading upstairs into the bathroom. Tonks tracked her movements, realizing that she would be leaving the both of them alone. She turned towards the corridor leading towards the cellar.
"Behave. No funny stuff!" Tonks warned as the sound of his footsteps receded down the steps.
"Yes, yes. No funny stuff," Jon replied wearily. "Harry. Watch out for her," Jon ordered.
Within twenty minutes Harry and Tonks were flying over the sheep pen of the farm. Five minutes later they had two sheep stunned and wrapped up in a dusty curtain they picked up in the storage cupboard.
They returned and immediately went to the stable house. It was smack dab in the middle of the vast expanse of property at the back of the mansion.
Harry was about to land when Tonks reprimanded him. "Don't touch the ground, remember? Better safe, than lycan."
"Right." Harry and Tonks approached the abandoned stable on broomstick. The main front doors were open, but darkness enveloped the inside like a great mouth into the abyss. Harry thought it was far too quiet.
"Shadow Wing?" he called. A screeching noise responded from the inside. A breath of relief went through him. "Well, I guess they are still there." Harry and Tonks approached the building cautiously.
"This is giving me the willies. You think he got free?" Tonks whispered.
"I doubt," Harry said softly. "Homenum revelio." One red outline was highlighted inside the barn. "He's still in there."
"Lumos!" Tonks whispered, and light penetrated the darkness inside. Multiple pairs of glowing eyes reflected the magical light, and the largest was a pair of yellow eyes in the centre. Her initial thought was a many-eyed monster. Tonks would have screamed if she didn't know that there were six threstrals and a werewolf inside. She bit down on her tongue. "That is fucking creepy," she hissed. "I am not going in there."
"I hear you. Bring him out," Harry ordered.
The threstrals pulled out the sled holding Remus' cage. The werewolf was hunched over, snarling at them. "Tonks, I'm going to let them hunt the lambs. Wake them back up." Harry came down and released the harness on the sled. Remus kept his focus on Harry. When the threstrals were free he levitated the cage back inside the barn and closed the door. Remus snarled and thrashed against the cage when Harry shut the door to the barn.
The bleating of sheep penetrated the quiet pre-dawn. Tonks used a mild stinging charm on them and they ran off.
"You may hunt," Harry commanded after the sheep got a sizable head start. The threstrals raced on foot after the trotting sheep. The sheep accelerated with a burst of speed that Harry didn't expect was in them.
That's how I was before- Dumbledore's sacrificial lamb. Running from monsters my entire life, only to fail at the end when I had everything to live for.
That is not happening this time. Now I am the one sending the monsters.
They watched the winged beasts chase the sheep into the edge of the forbidden forest. The bleating peaked in desperation, then was quickly cut off. Harry grimaced as he walked towards the back door, Tonks trailing behind him. "We'll leave Remus in there until seven o'clock. I'm knackered. Sleep sounds really good right now."
A few hours later Harry woke up. He stumbled out of bed and made his way to the bathrooms. He glanced at the large clock in the hall on his way back to the bedroom. It read eight.
"Crap!" Harry dashed back into the shared dorm room with Jon. "Snow! I have to check on Remus!"
"Coming," Jon grumbled, rubbing his face and putting both feet on the cold wooden floor. He reached for his bracer and Diablo core wand underneath the pillow.
"You're taller than me. You brought any spare robes?" Harry asked in a panic.
"I have the Hogwarts outer cloak. It is all I could spare."
"You're going to freeze without it," Harry dug into the sole trunk they brought. Inside was arrows, potions, boots, and their Hogwarts uniforms. Nothing that would fit. Harry took off his loose pyjama pants.
"I wont. Trust me," Jon smiled. "My home was called Winterfell, remember? This weather is pleasant."
"Let's go then." He jumped in his school uniform and put on the boots. Harry grabbed his Troll on Holly wand, the pajama pants and the flimsy sheet off his bed. Jon threw on his uniform and followed him downstairs through the back door. There was the sound of someone trying to call for help, and the ting-ting-ting of a metal object hitting metal coming from the barn.
"Shit- he's awake. I overslept!" Harry sprinted over the icy cold grass.
He opened the door and shone light from his wand. "Remus! I'm so sorry!" Harry apologized.
"Who are you? You look like James...wait...no Harry?!" Remus croaked. "What- how...?"
Harry approached the bars. Remus had gathered what scraps of clothing remained and tried to cover what needed to be covered. "Look, hold this," Harry offered him the pajama pants, white sheet and the Hogwarts cloak. Remus accepted the pants and put it on. "We don't have extra clothes, but let's get you out of here first." He began inspecting the cage for hinges, a lock, anything. There was none.
"Get to Headmaster Dumbledore. Tell him I'm..." Remus cut himself off, then his personality changed. He had a panicked, sort of maniacal gleam to his eyes. He folded unto himself, eyes darting at all the corners of the barn. "Who am I? And where are you?" He took up a piece of shredded robe and began to chew on it.
"We're right here- and you are Remus Lupin," Harry answered.
"My name is Jon," Jon said simply. "This is Harry, of House Potter. I am a friend of his."
Remus wrapped himself in the sheet and draped the cloak over that. "No one! Won't be able to free me! The lock is under the bars of hell! Silver cages, yes. I will stay here. I know exactly what they are doing. They want... for me to bite them, haha!" Remus stamped his foot a few times awkwardly on the floor of the cage. Harry got a weird sense of deja vu, when Remus was desperately scratching the floor of the cage in his werewolf form. His personality reverted again. "Where are we?"
"Behind Hogsmeade station," Harry explained. "You're safe. I will get you out of here. Hold on. I'm going to levitate the cage and take a look."
Remus coughed and hacked with laughter. "You're going to do what?" Remus coughed again in laughter, his throat was still raw from the transformation. "This cage must be close to five hundred pounds- six hundred with me, if I'm lucky."
Remus abruptly sunk down to the floor, lying flat on his back. His face ticked repeatedly. His rambling began again.
"Prisoner's dementia," Jon explained. Harry just watched the grown man turn from one side to the next on the filthy cage floor.
"No food for days, or was it years? Silver silver silver, I should have listened- why do I trust people. I just need to bite. Why am I not hungry?" Remus muttered to himself nonsensically. "Locked up like a criminal, a pet parrot. It can only get better. A kid says he's going to lift me up, maybe he can, maybe he cant? Lift me up from the bars of hell, can he? Or won't he?" Remus crawled over and began climbing the bars, going to the top, desperate for an escape, even though the top of the cage was identical to the rest. He began to laugh in glee. "Help!" he began shouting again to the rooftop, hitting the bars with a belt buckle.
Harry's heart went out to the man. Whatever he has been through all these years must have taken a tremendous toll on him.
"Brace yourself," Jon commanded Remus. "Hold on tightly, we shall get you out. Harry, do it."
Harry levitated the cage smoothly. He and Jon stood up underneath, inspecting it. Remus suddenly kicked up his legs and stuck his bare feet through the cross bars. Remus laughed, full of madness. "A dream of silver, a dream of bars, come to me my feathered pet, wings to fly! Sing your sweet songs in the morning dawn!" Remus crowed like a rooster at the top of his lungs, his face pressing against the cage.
Harry and Jon looked under the floor of the cage. There was an iron bar crossing below the floor, with a padlock that locked the two halves together.
"Keep it steady. Stand back." Jon drew his diablo wand and summoned the Claymore. He assumed a drill perfect stance for half a second, took a breath, then swung the sword. The lock was cut in two. The floor swung open like a trapdoor.
"Freedom!" Remus threw himself over backwards from his perch and landed like an agile monkey on the barn floor. Then he threw himself at Jon.
Jon was having none of it. He sheathed his wand with a fluid motion and pivoted on his right foot. He weaved as Remus slashed with his imaginary claws right, then ducked under Remus' left swing, perfectly mirroring Harry's technique versus Draco Malfoy. Remus growled and threw himself into a full bodied dive at Jon. Jon immediately dropped to his back while simultaneously planting his leg upwards in Remus' stomach. Remus was sent catapulting over him. Harry was desperately maneuvering the heavy cage out of the barn and threw it outside on the grass.
Remus was back on his feet and circling, snarling. His weight shifted, ready to attack again. Jon had both hands up, thoroughly enjoying this early morning fight.
"Potter, observe the point of impact. It is a vital weak spot!" Jon snapped. "Watch the footwork! Come!" he goaded Remus.
Once again Jon avoided the swings, but when he ducked under the taller man's third swipe, he countered with a smooth uppercut into his solar plexus. Remus coughed as he folded in two, completely debilitated. He hunched over, holding the center of his chest, gasping for air.
"Dart strikes Bull is the name of that technique," Jon breathed out as he took a sliding step to Remus right. "And this," Jon took a short step forward then spun on his heel. He connected with a fluid round kick to the side of his face, "-is called the Executioner's swing." Remus' head rocked hard to one side. He wavered comically for two seconds, then toppled face first unto the dirty floor, his limbs moving slowly.
Jon took a few deep breaths.
"These basic moves, executed with a short dagger and then finished with a long blade or mace, is the most humiliating way for a swordsman to die in battle. All squires are taught this technique when they start the way of the sword, and hence forth; must know how to defend themselves against it."
"Fuck," Harry breathed, unbelieving of what he just witnessed. Jon was lethal, with or without weapons.
"He is not permanently harmed." Jon used his foot to push him over on his side so that he could breathe properly. "After the third swing, an untrained combatant needs to recover his breathing. That moment is the best time to counterattack with a strike here-" he poked Harry in the Solar plexus. Harry felt winded from the moderate pressure at that spot.
"Good to know," Harry breathed, rubbing just above his stomach.
"Right. That was a good lesson," Jon said with a nod. He grinned. "Ah- that got the blood pumping. How I miss early morning training."
An hour and a half later Harry, Jon and Alexandria were downstairs in the main foyer, ready to leave. "Right-o Tonks, we're off."
"Owl Madame Pomfrey if he doesn't get better by this evening," Alexandria said. "She will be present at the dueling club today. Send it to the main hall."
Earlier on while Harry had cooked breakfast, the three of them prepared a master bedroom for Remus' stay. Tonks enchanted the door and windows to be temporarily unbreakable, creating a makeshift detention center. The bathroom was conveniently en suite and also charmed against any means of escape. Jon and Alexandria brought in a desk, a comfortable armchair, some books to read and a change of clothes hastily bought at Hogsmeade's clothing store. Alexandria had left three vials of calming draught to help him along with his post-transformation erratic behavior. Harry covered a hearty breakfast with a plastic cover and left it there on the writing table.
Remus was currently sleeping on Harry's brand new mattress. A large purple bruise was on the right side of his face.
"No problem. I'll heal him and wake him up soon. I'll treat this as part of my Auror practicals; prisoner handling is what we've just started reading up on, actually. I know all the psychological stages and so forth. Once I convince him that he won't be held long against his will, he should be fine. And food and lots of rest, of course."
"Stay safe, remember: he's not himself," Harry said. "Don't underestimate him. Jon, loan her your least used wand."
Jon took out his Fwooper on Cedar wand. "This one is good for confusion, destruction, and other mind altering charms."
"Also, Levicorpus- it flips a wizard mid air," Harry said, a bit embarrassed by that spell. But he knew Remus was tough, any advantage Tonks had for her own protection would help. Tonks accepted the wand.
"Yes yes. Keep me informed. Don't use the badges unless you absolutely must. The enchantments on that castle are crazy strong- they screw up floo-based magic that aren't authorized by the headmaster. A security feature to stop older wizards trying to chat up you young hearts, yeah? Happened before. Owl. It'll be easier, trust me."
Alexandria blushed, but did well not to look at Jon. Harry was getting cold just watching Jon in his Hogwarts white shirt without the pullover and cloak. Alexandria and himself were bundled up to the chin with scarf and cloak in this chilly early Sunday morning.
"Ghost, Cloud," Jon called out. "Let's go." The two animals got up from in front the main fireplace rug and joined them as they went outside. Cloud hesitated at the doorway when he realized Tonks was staying in the house. He began to whine.
"Leave him," Tonks said fondly. "He's a smart lad."
"Laters," Harry said, waving. The three of them said their goodbyes and mounted the broomsticks. Within ten minutes they were landing outside Hagrid's. Fang began barking from inside. The friendly half giant opened the door.
"Hey Hagrid," Harry greeted. "Just bringing back Ghost."
"Mornin' mornin," Hagrid greeted. "Wasn't expecting you lot back so early. How did the workshop go?"
"Better than expected. Everything went smoothly," Jon nodded.
"Must have been an all-nighter," Hagrid observed. "You three look like you need to get some sleep. And when did you start wearing Harry's glasses?"
Alexandria took off the frames she used for the disguise. "Oh, it was nothing. Was just trying them on," she said lamely.
"Alright," Hagrid eyed the three students. "You three were up to something, I know it. But once you're back safe and sound, that's all that matters. Ghost! you lookin' fit and fine for hunting, aren't ya lad?"
Ghost sniffed Hagrid's boots as a show of affection. "Alright, Jon. I'll look after him for ya- and get a bloody cloak on! You want to freeze? Get inside the castle, quickly now!" The three of them mounted their brooms and waved before they shot off. "Don't be afraid to pop in soon!" Hagrid shouted as he closed the door.
"Follow me," Harry said to the others. Harry flew around the grounds towards the Quidditch pitch. They dismounted near the side entrance and made their way in the castle through the empty hallways. Everyone would most probably be in the Great Hall. They made their way back into the Gryffindor portrait without coming across a soul.
"I've got to hurry. The fifth years are first this morning!" Alexandria raced up the steps. The Common Room was also empty. Jon and Harry went up to the second year dorms to drop their stuff. Jon regarded Harry with one of those stares.
"The little girl, Delacour," Jon stated. "What she said ... was something that I have heard before. And how you described her, it fits perfectly."
"What? What are you on about, mate..." Harry said, irritated. He was dying for a proper shower.
"The Servant of R'hllor who would have brought me back from the dead... her name was Melisandre, the Red Witch. Those were her watchwords when there was imminent danger- 'The night is dark, and full of terrors'."
Harry frowned. "Could be just a coincidence. The night was dark, and full of terrors; to be honest."
Jon and Harry enjoyed another of those weird stare-downs.
"You're the wizard here," Jon scolded. "What do you think?"
"I think that you are the only... person not from this reality, is what I think," Harry said. Inside, he was beginning to panic. "That girl was strange, but not- 'Hey I'm from Westeros, like Jon. I'm just chilling in this nine year old' weird." Harry replayed the whole scene. She did act older- more aristocratic and accustomed to men doing her bidding. Was there any sort of validity to Jon's suspicions?
Jon was pacing back and forth.
"Tell me everything she said, and everything she did," Jon demanded. "Every single detail is important."
Harry painstakingly described the Diablo Hunt and the rescue.
"She called you this; the 'Lord of the Light'?"
"Yeah."
Jon began to curse and call names of Gods Harry had never heard before. "R'hllor, is the name of the God she serves. The Lord Of The Light. She always watches in the flames for his signs, or visions. Whoever spoke to you, it is her. Or somehow, a projection of Melisandre. It has to be."
Harry tried to calm him down. "Well, nothing we could do now about it right now. Let's head down and make sure we see Lexie's duel."
Jon cursed again in frustration. "That woman is trouble, a lot of trouble. She prophecies about things in the Flames that she sees, visions, but sometimes, they are right, and a lot of times, they are wrong."
"We got one of those here already," Harry shrugged. "We have her before lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays, remember?"
"This is different. The Red Woman is dangerous," Jon reinforced.
"Mate, we can't do anything about Gabrielle right now. Right now, I must take a bath. Meet me downstairs in a few minutes."
The upper years' duels were entertaining. Alexandria's bout was swift and to the point. She wiped the floor with Marlene Highlander, a fifth year Slytherin. Alexandria, despite her girlish ways, showed no mercy on the table. A simple combination of Protego, Incarcerous, Depulso and Expelliarmus was enough to totally overwhelm Highlander, whose Impedimentia Jinx was easily blocked. She had no counters for the binding and banishing charms. She was disarmed easily after she was knocked down and tied up.
Angelina Johnson and her fellow year five classmates congratulated her. Jon came over to offer congratulations as well, and she hugged him excitedly before he could open his mouth.
"Jon, I wasn't even nervous, or scared at all!" She grinned at him. "After last night, this seems like child's play," she whispered, her grin infectious.
Jon returned her smile. "You did well, on both counts. 'Twas an easy victory, Alexandria," Jon replied. "As I expected."
"The wand feels eager for offense as well, my attacks came out immediately after I thought of using them, almost as if I silent cast! They flowed out smoothly, and true!"
"The Holly stem and white poplar mixture causes that. The Unicorn Hair is well suited to the Holly, but your handle has mated with your magical touch, so we decided to keep it. I believe the customization performs much better," Jon explained. "You were perfect up there."
"Merci," Alexandria said, laughing. She came closer. "You are always so serious. That's what I like about you Jon, you're always...steadfast. You don't waver," Alexandria whispered in his ear. "Mon chevalier en armure etincelante," she said huskily in her home language.
Jon reddened. This pretty girl speaking to him like that was getting under his skin. "You flatter me. I did what I could, that's all."
Alexandria kept watching him, as if trying to figure him out. She took his hand in hers. "You are way too humble, if there is anyone in this school who deserves to be called a Knight, it is the both of you. And you have a Sword, and the Aegis. You are an enigma, Jon Black. I am still trying to understand what makes you so brave."
Jon shrugged.
"Sooner or later, I will bring out zis secret from you," Alexandria smiled at him. "One way, or the other," she promised with a glint in her eye.
Harry ate lunch methodically, not even tasting the food he was so sleepy. He was heavily cloaked, sitting by himself in the open area outside. Most of the students who braved the cold to eat outside were chatting about the seventh year duels commencing that afternoon. His second year classmates preferred the warmth inside of the castle. He didn't blame them, but Harry wanted some alone time to think.
"Success. I think I've got it rigged," Oliver sat down abruptly next to him.
"Hm? What?" Harry asked sleepily. He yawned.
"If my hypothesis is correct, I will get Michael as my opponent first thing once the Dueling contest resumes."
"Brilliant! You found a way?" Harry was immediately awakened.
"Yes. It is a weird muggle baiting spell- a cheat a wizard formulated to win the lottery."
"Is there a catch?"
Oliver shrugged. "It's a slightly Dark hex. It can work perfectly, or backfire. I think due to the nature of the result I want, even if it backfires, it wouldn't be that drastic... I mean... I'm rigging the draw so I can fight against a suspected Dark wizard. Usually someone will try to get out of that sort of confrontation."
Harry went on the alert. Oliver said it was a 'slightly dark hex'. He didn't like the sound of that. But technically, Oliver was academically far superior than he was, even compared to his seventeen year old persona on his previous journey. He could handle it. Harry thought quickly on how to help him.
Tonks was nearby- and she had Secrets Unveiled potion!
"Do you know a syringe curse?" Harry asked suddenly. Oliver thought hard a second.
"You mean the Poison Dart hex?"
"Yeah, that, anything that could deliver a poison in a fight?" Harry asked. A plan was formulating in his mind. He would have to be quick, though, it was only forty-five minutes for lunch. Ten minutes had passed.
"Yeah, I think I remember trying something similar a few times on a hunting trip with dad," Oliver touched his lip in thought.
"I want to get a truth serum from a friend in Hogsmeade. I'll be right back. Practice that spell in the meantime!" Harry got up and left his food behind on the table. He took off at a sprint towards the changing rooms behind the Quidditch Pitch.
"Potter! What the? Where are you going?!" Oliver stood up. "The place is bloody cold!"
"Practice!" Harry shouted behind him. As soon as he was out of sight, he leaped into the sky. The adrenaline rush of flight overtook him once again. As he accelerated higher, he realized that the Dueling mask protected his face and eyes from the biting cold wind in his eyes. He ignored the discomfort and took the direct route over the forbidden forest towards Hogsmeade and the Clan mansion. Star Scream and Tornado jumped out of the thick canopy and joined him for a few seconds, screeching as they flew in formation with him. Harry accelerated even faster and the threstrals eventually darted back into the forest. He flew for about three minutes, the cold air making his nose and ears sting with pain. The open horse ranch and the barn house came into view first, then the three story building. Harry landed on the first level balcony adjacent to the master bedroom. He took out his key chain and opened the balcony door.
"Tonks?" he called out. He sunk his hands under his armpits, trying to get warmth back in his hands. He made his way down one flight of steps on to the floor with their bedrooms. It was very quiet.
"Tonks?" he called again. No answer. He drew his wand, on alert. He hastily made his way to her bedroom. "Tonks?" he whispered at her door. He put his ear to it. The door felt warm to the touch. As far as he knew, there was no fireplace in the side rooms, only in the master bedrooms facing the backyard. He opened the door. His heart could have stopped.
Tonks was motionless. She lay face down on the bed, naked. There was a pillow lying over the back of her head. The room felt humid, pleasantly warm and relaxing. There was a smell of lavender, or some fragrance he could not put a name to.
"Tonks!" he called. She didn't move a muscle. "No!" he breathed. His legs felt weak. His heart began to pound behind his ribs. Everything in his vision went Red.
"No... no...!" Harry growled to himself. His anger was skyrocketing. Was she hurt? He had no time to waste.
He strode across the bedroom and removed the pillow from her head. Tonks shrieked as she rolled over and fell off the bed. She rebounded in record time and snatched her wand. Harry held up the pillow and his other hand in surrender, surprised. The pillow dropped to the ground.
"Harry! What the fuck are you doing here in my room!" she screamed.
Harry examined her naked body. She was unmarked, and unharmed. She snatched the second pillow from the bed head and covered her chest. She ducked behind the other side of the bed, embarrassed.
"What happened to your eyes?" Tonks asked, alarmed. She totally forgot about her nakedness. "They're glowing red!" She brought her wand to bear on him.
Tonks was okay. He overreacted to her unresponsiveness. He could have sworn she had been attacked. Harry closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths.
Calm, Potter. Calm.
"You're freaking me out! Say something!"
He felt the rage still simmering under the surface.
"By Merlin, I swear, if you do not answer me right now I'm going to hex you senseless!"
"It's okay, Tonks, I was ...concerned, that's all," he responded, keeping his eyes closed. The heavy magic was pulsing in his eyes, he could still feel it.
"What are you doing here? In my room!"
Tonks' normal bossy-yet-irritated tone somewhat eventually calmed him down. She was fine. Nothing to worry about. He opened his eyes.
He shouldn't have because Tonks was still naked, her wand pointed right at his forehead. Her hair was damp, as if she had not fully dried it from the shower. She was breathing heavily, her body was covered in sweat. He averted his eyes momentarily. There was an extremely large white towel laid on the bed and what appeared to be an oval hole with a cushioned border for her face. There was a small cauldron inside the hole, sitting over a lit Bunsen burner on the floor. That was where the lovely fragrance was coming from.
It was a strange setup, that was for sure.
"What is this?" Harry asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"It's a temporary bed transfiguration. I make the hole, set up a real cauldron and breathe in scented oils. Also, I charm those," she pointed at numerous charmed pots placed around the room filled with boiling water. "To create a sauna. You know what a sauna is right?"
"Um. I think so..." Harry said, uncertain. Wasn't that a running joke in most comedies where sweaty blokes sat next to each other in a wooden steam room?
At this point in time, Harry didn't care about the wand pointed in his face. He just stared at the teenager in front of him who was hiding her privates with a pillow. If he thought her visiting him and giving him a kiss on the cheek when he was injured was good enough for a new Patronus charm, this delicately balanced situation far surpassed that by miles. Everything about her right now, was perfect. The fearlessness, the taut lines of her muscles ready to do him in if he so much as flinched, the sweat on her beautiful body, her heavy breathing, her half attempt to hide her modesty, everything. She was a witch ready for the kill.
"Stop staring at me," she commanded, her voice going low and purposeful.
Harry ignored her.
She cursed and awkwardly backed away to get to her cupboard, never taking her wand off of him. She twisted her body so that he couldn't see her bits as she dropped the pillow to grab the cloak hanging on the cupboard door.
"Can you turn around or something, Potter?" she spat. Harry reluctantly turned around. "What in the devil are you doing here, in my room? And why were your eyes blood red?"
Deflection level: Sub-Dumbledore level, activate!
"I want to incriminate Michael. Now is the time. I have to be fast."
"What?"
"You decent as yet?" Harry sighed.
"Not really. Never mind that. But speak quickly. What is this, then?" she said in a rushed tone. Harry turned around. Tonks was blushing hard, and trying not to let it show. Maybe she was as embarrassed as he was. Her traveling cloak was wrapped around her. Her wand was still ready in her hand, but no longer pointing at him.
"I need your Secrets Unveiled Potion and the corresponding antidote. I'm doctoring it so that Ollie can face him in a duel, in front of the Auror, and the school at large. If I reach back in time, I can tell Ollie exactly what to ask him if he manages to land the Poison Dart spell."
Tonks stared at him for a few seconds.
"That's a good plan," Tonks said simply.
"Thanks."
There was a lull of silence where neither knew what to say next. She was flustered as she picked up the pillow off the floor. "I use silencio on the pillow when I do this. It blocks out the world. It calms me; the silence with the sauna."
"Oh. I tried calling, if that's worth anything now," Harry smiled. "At first, I panicked. It looked like you were... y'know..."
She realized what Harry was implying. Tonks shook her head and got busy bustling about, putting together the vials and flasks in a metallic traveling case. "Clearly not. This is a muggle hazmat case used to hold radioactive material. Even the strongest poisons cannot penetrate or leak out if the enclosures break." She demonstrated how to pack and secure the potions in the cushioned interior. It was the size of a pistol traveling case. "Do not charm security or any sort of magic on it. Some potions are agitated by being held in spelled enclosures."
"Thanks," Harry made to leave. "I will be careful."
"Potter," Tonks said to him. Harry turned. "Do not scare me like that again. Especially that eye spell. I thought... ah forget it."
"What?" Harry ventured. "I'm listening."
"Thought you were going to attack...or something..." her rate of breathing increased.
"I will never attack you, Nymphadora. Never," Harry promised in a low, truthful tone.
Tonks just looked into those green eyes of his. Her mouth twisted into a bemused smile. "I think that is the most romantic thing a wizard has ever said to me," she admitted. "Coming from you, who almost crushed that girl's windpipe for pissing you off, that's reassuring."
Harry had the decency to duck his head in shame. "I'm sorry for that. I... didn't know what came over me."
"Magic at these developmental stages can manifest in different ways. We didn't even get to talk about the flight thing properly."
"That's a long story. I have about fifteen minutes to get back. We'll talk about that another time. I'll tell you after how it goes with Michael."
"You're sure you are okay, though?" Tonks asked, concerned. Harry got the weird feeling that she didn't want him to go.
"I'm good, now, that is. Sorry if I scared you."
"Partially my fault. There's an auror who oversees some of the field work... 'Constant Vigilance' are his watchwords." Tonks folded her arms, which had the opposite effect of slightly opening the chest area of the cloak. "Guess I was too complacent. I didn't even lock the door."
"All's well that ends well," Harry shrugged in apology.
Tonks came closer and gave him a chummy one armed hug around his shoulders. "Having you and Jon around is growing on me. Be careful with Michael. He's quietly deceptive with his magic. Do not underestimate him. He fucked up Lockhart good and proper if what Jon said is true."
Harry thought his legs would go weak with her proximity and smell of her warm body. This room in itself was making his head spin. It was just too much ..of her.
"Drinkwater and Snape would be there. We have him surrounded," he choked out, trying to get back on topic.
"I'll see you out," Tonks said, leading the way.
"You'll get...cold," Harry said, trying to keep a straight face and not watch the teasing cleavage.
"Cold, what..?" Tonks caught on and re-fastened the outer cloak over her slightly exposed chest. "Oh. You wanker. You've seen me like this before. Aren't you supposed to be... older?" Tonks queried. "This shouldn't have you dying of thirst. Like exactly what seems to be happening to you right now." She chuckled.
Harry reddened, his mouth opening a few centimeters. He had no idea what to say. Tonks was the first and only naked girl he had seen in both of his lives. And here she was, teasing him. He was stuck imitating a goldfish, trying to find words.
"Oh my god," Tonks said, catching on. She blocked his exit at the door.
"What?" Harry snapped, embarrassed. He looked away.
"You... you're still a virgin!" Tonks said incredulously.
Harry didn't say anything, just turned even redder. Yes he was. And died one as well.
Tonks' eyes flicked over his features.
"If you were my age, as you proclaim... you'd look alright enough. Were you... like... awkward with girls or something?" there was a Dumbledore-esque twinkle in her eyes. When females did it, it was just unfair.
"Not really..." Harry was feeling a bit self conscious. "I- I..." he trailed off lamely.
"It's okay, luv," Tonks smiled. "Not everyone goes shagging willy-nilly just because," she said in a comforting tone. "Especially not renowned heroes such as the Boy-Who-Lived." Her expression was strange, but in a good way. Could it be that she was proud of him? Harry didn't think she was taking the mick out of him.
There was something about the way she said the word 'because'. It had him thinking... what if...?
Only one way to know for sure.
Sweetheart, Harry thought. Please don't hate me for this.
He cupped her face gently by her jawline and searched her eyes. Using his Leglimens ability, he delved into her thoughts.
He saw flashes of a graduation party, dancing, alcohol. Then a slightly younger version of herself in the bathroom mirror wearing a tight, form fitting cocktail dress. A featureless boy and herself- walking into a hotel's bedroom suite. Kissing. Touching. Clothes being tugged. Then fear. Absolute and desperate fear. A confrontation. Heated words and a shove. A ripped dress. A slap across the boy's face. Tonks, running and running, tears on her face.
She's still a virgin as well.
He broke off the mental contact. Tonks was never with anyone. That was surprising. Or maybe not, since she was only eighteen. Maybe he had this preconception that with her... provocative ways she would actually have done the deed.
"Tonks?" Harry watched her glazed over eyes. She blinked a few times, stepping back.
"I had the weirdest feeling that ...we shared something there," Tonks said, confused. She focused on his eyes.
Harry cupped behind her neck to bring her back close and kissed her, slowly and surely. Tonks accepted the kiss, too shocked to move.
"We did," he smiled. "I have to go." Harry gave her a quick hug then jumped over the banister overlooking the open central area of the front of the mansion. He shot off upwards towards the stair well between floors, through the master bedroom and out the balcony doors.
Harry and Jon were tense as they watched the first seventh year match-up after lunch. Oliver had succeeding in drawing Michael Ellewyn-Sare as promised. Oliver's wand tip was dipped in the potion prior to his coming to the front. The carefully constructed questions were drilled into him not even five minutes ago. All he had to do was land the Poison Dart hex and get him talking.
"On the count of three, you may turn and cast magic!" Severus Snape commanded. Harry crossed his fingers in morbid anticipation.
"One!"
"Tw-"
"Foramen acus transire iecit!" Oliver didn't even wait for the full count. He cast the poison spell directly on Michael who spun too late to cast his shield spell.
"Halt!" Professor Snape called. "Foul!" Oliver ignored him, his wand still pointing at Micheal.
"Did Katie reject you? Why did you do that to her?" he asked forcefully.
"Yes, that pompous half blooded bint. She has her eye on someone else. I did it for revenge, and partially because I was paid to, of course," Michael blurted. He was shell shocked. He covered his mouth with both of his hands.
The crowd went eerily silent.
"Oh? Were you lacking the equipment to please Penelope...?" Oliver cast an arm locking curse at Michael. His arms straightened at his sides, like a wooden toy soldier.
"Of course not! She screamed and screamed when I gave it to her!" Michael bit down on his tongue so hard he began to dribble blood. Auror Drinkwater was walking forward towards the stage, intrigued.
"Yeah right. You must be making that shit up," Oliver goaded him. "She thinks she's still a virgin."
The crowd gasped.
"That's because I wiped her memories after I used the lust potion you fuckwit!" Micheal spat, enraged. Blood splattered on the dueling platform. Michael, unable to stop his confessions, turned to run. Oliver grabbed him with a lasso charm.
"Looks like the only thing you can do to get a girl is poison her. But you didn't have that problem with Flint! You boned him good!"
"I'm not gay! I only wiped his memories after Imperio! Fuck! Professor Snape! Help me please! He's making me say things..." Michael began to cry, his mouth leaking blood.
"Are your answers the truth?" Snape asked, cool and composed. His wand had somehow appeared in his hand. Snape shot off two Patronus messages to various points in the castle.
"Yes! They are!" Michael screamed in frustration. He began to gnaw on his bloody tongue.
"Continue, Mr. Wood," Snape said coolly, now the Judge of the proceedings.
"The only thing that links your victims was that they were half-bloods. You didn't want to kill them, did you?"
"No! Stop talking to me!" he sputtered more blood from his mangled and bleeding tongue.
"So, why did you give Flint a potentially fatal potion, called Sanity's Eclipse?"
"Because it is mine! All mine! I can do the fuck I want with it!" Michael was stamping his feet, trying to escape the ropes. Oliver put more magic into the lasso spell. He needed to change the angle of questioning.
"But why her? Did you have a crush on her? Was it her intelligence?" Oliver left the question open to interpretation.
"Perish the fucking thought! Mudbloods deserve to die!" Michael bellowed. He screamed in rage. Blood was now running down his mouth, his chin, and over the white shirt of his uniform.
Hermione ran out the main hall, crying. Ginny, Ron and Neville all chased after her. Harry made to dash after her as well but Jon snatched him lightning quick by the back of the robes.
"Do not. When a man is about to break, is when he is the most dangerous," Jon said solemnly. His Dragon-string on Olive wand was already drawn and ready. "Look," Jon pointed.
Harry drew his wand. The ropes binding Michael Ellewyn-Sare were smoking where his spilled blood landed. Michael's arms were actually regaining mobility once again. Harry saw on Ellewyn-Sare the face of a man who was willing to die for his cause.
"OLIVER, WATCH IT! DISARM HIM!"
"I will open the Hidden Chamber! YOU CUNTS WILL ALL FUCKING DIE!" Michael screamed. Magic suddenly burst free from the lasso spell. A blast of raw blood magic pushed the crowd off their feet. The podium Professor Snape stood on shattered, throwing him to the ground. Oliver was physically and mentally prepared to stand his ground and shielded himself from the blast. Michael didn't hesitate with this opportunity. Blood flew out his mouth as he screamed-
"Sectumsempra!"
Oliver had no counter. His arm, from the shoulder down, went flying off behind him. There was a massive spray of his blood over the crowd. The students screamed in terror. Drinkwater was still too far away from Michael's end of the table to be truly effective. He began desperately pushing his way through the crowd struggling to get to their feet. Harry cursed as he and Jon got up. He tracked who Michael's next intended target was. The Auror wasn't expecting it and didn't even have up a shield.
"Ossio Reductimius!" Micheal hissed.
Drinkwater had no idea what spell that was. He countered by using a boomerang spell in conjunction with a basic shield charm. "Ad Mittens Protego!"
The curse shattered his shield and a sickly purple magic wrapped around his arm. The spell was automatically returned towards the caster by Drinkwater's wand then it exploded into fine fragments of wood. There were loud crunching noises coming from his arm. He screamed in pain, grabbing the shattered bones and mangled flesh of his right arm then crumpled to the floor in agony.
Michael easily countered his own magic with the correct block.
"Adsunt octo caligo!" A black jet of inky substance shot out of his wand, absorbing his Sinew and Bone Reducing curse.
Harry could not believe what was happening. Pandemonium ensued. Michael cast a wide range mist spell and enchanted it with bees. He made a mad dash off the table towards the front main doors. The students began to run as far away as possible from him towards the exits. Harry and Jon ran after Michael, ignoring the stings that came their way.
"Homenium Revelio!" Harry cast. One second there was a human outline of Michael running away, then it vanished.
Harry and Jon kept running towards the exit of the main hall, but their quarry had disappeared. "Fuck!" They spun on the spot, searching.
The mist suddenly vanished. Dumbledore had arrived and cast a banishing counter spell. He was immediately attending to Oliver; who was pale, gasping for breath, and screaming at the top of his lungs. "Severus! Get Rivers to the hospital wing!" Dumbledore summoned Oliver's arm and levitated the seventh year out of the Hall. "Prefects! Do what you can to corner the culprit!" Dumbledore shepherded the students away from the bloody scene. Percy Weasley, Andrew Bole, Claudia Howard and Rachael Corner came together, panicked. They began to argue on what to do next.
"The fox spell!" Jon barked. "That was the only way. He did not turn invisible."
"Animagus," Harry agreed. He didn't know the correct tracking or revealing spells. He could be anywhere by now. He had escaped...just like Pettigrew in his third year. "For crying out loud!" Harry screamed in frustration. This was a disaster. He waved his wand in frustration, casting stupefy with a twirl instead of a stabbing motion. A faint red orbital release of magic expanded. The bees around all of them fell to the ground. The dueling table was covered in swashes and smatterings of blood.
How could I have screwed this up so badly? Harry remembered what Tonks told him not even fifteen minutes ago: 'Be careful with Michael. He's quietly deceptive with his magic. Do not underestimate him.'
He should have taken her words more to heart. They were this close to catching that blood-spitting snake!
Jon was standing unnaturally still. His head was tilted upwards to the ceiling. The entirety of his eyes had gone a pale, cloudy grey.
"Jon?" Harry asked, bewildered. "Jon!" Jon stood as still as a statue still for half a minute. Harry waved his hand in front his face. He didn't even blink.
"It is done," Jon finally responded. He watched Harry with those weird cloud filled eyes. Harry's jaw dropped in shock when Jon's irises flickered momentarily and turned into the brilliant red of Ghost's. After a second, it faded back into Jon's natural brown colour.
At least I'm not alone.
"What WAS THAT?"
"Ghost has captured him. I made sure he crushed his right foreleg. Right now he has him by his neck, roughly halfway towards the front gates. I have commanded him to maintain a firm grip, but do not puncture further."
"The fuck?" Harry said, lost.
"I was telling you my connection with my familiar has grown stronger last night, but you cut me off. You really thought a wolf pup would willingly give up his hunt for a creature he is scared to death of?"
"I didn't really think of it at the time," Harry responded. "What does that that have to do with all of this?"
"Now, I can embody Ghost when needed. This is the Old magic of my House Stark, and of the people North of the Wall," Jon walked towards the smaller entrance hall.
"And here I thought I was the wizard here," Harry breathed, completely taken off guard. He was impressed that Jon never mentioned this. "That's awesome."
"Nothing to shout about, really," Jon took off at a trot towards the grounds.
"Right. Normal stuff. What 'Immortal Heroes do for fun', huh?" Harry stated.
"Exactly. As a knight, I cannot allow wastrels to escape. It is our way of the North."
Jon paused, looking abruptly at the sky. An icy flake melted as it connected with his misty breath. The coldness of the morning had now manifested into a light snowfall. "So be it. Michael, Winter has Come for you."
"What a weekend. Told you Dark magic strikes all at once," Harry cursed as he drew his cowl over his head. They trotted down the slope together.
"I have no fear. For you are fighting to protect this school. You are the Beacon of the Light. Be it Slytherins, human monsters who summon creatures to attack children, the Silver Lancers, Michael: it does not fucking matter. All are welcome to challenge us... when we work together, there will be a reckoning."
Harry looked at Jon for a long moment. This man truly believed in Harry's cause, and what he was trying to do. It made Harry feel uncomfortable. They eventually found Ghost, holding down a fox by the throat. Anytime the fox twitched, Ghost would snarl and wring his neck slightly, warning him that only a few inches more was all it took to end him.
"Ghost, release!" he commanded.
Jon stunned the fox as soon as Ghost was clear. The fox slowly reverted into Michael. Blood was everywhere on his uniform, face and neck. Jon waved his dragon heartstring wand in his face to put him into the deep sleep. Jon pushed him unto his side, so he did not choke on his own blood.
"See? A true knight shall persevere against all odds, with unwavering determination, honor, and justice for all."
AN: Thank you for reading. Are we having fun yet? 200k+ words in. You guys are great. Thank you once again for sticking with it for the long haul.
-TDLN