Chapter 32
Disclaimer: Just because I own copies of them, doesn't mean I own the originals.
0x0x0x0
Harry was impressed with himself. He'd still managed to not die.
The first strike wasn't easily blocked. He'd squashed Bellatrix's nose, and made the mistake of catching her lower jaw. He'd kept his grip, until she flicked her entire upper body, smashing him into the wall.
"Crush the life from you, Potter," she hissed, her body slithering out of the hole in the ceiling as her hands went around his throat. Harry held off Bellatrix's maw, while working at freeing his throat. Then he felt the breath crushed out of him, as her thick coils wrapped around him. He sent a cutting charm at her, but it splashed into her skin like water.
"Poor, widdle Potter," she giggled, letting go of his throat, and grabbing his wrists. "Are you having trouble? Awwww... well, I suppose I should give you a hug." She added more force to her coils, and Harry's lungs burned from lack of anything in them. "Would you like a kiss, too?"
His vision began closing in on him, and all he could see were Bellatrix's jaws opening wide, her fangs gleaming with venom. As she moved in to devour him, he tried to force his hands to her jaws, to keep her away from eating him, but she was either too strong, or the lack of air was to much.
He could still hear that annoying rattle, and in a moment of distraction, looked to it. It looked like a rattlesnake tail, and reminded him, rather absently, of one of the Dudley's old rattles that was still in the heap of junk back at the Dursleys'. Largely because it was dirty, stained the color of excrement, and belonged to someone he wanted to throttle.
I'm about to die, and this is what I'm thinking of? Harry asked himself.
Harry watched his blood wolf leap, and slam its jaws around the base of the rattle.
Bellatrix jumped and screamed, slamming her head into the roof above her, while throwing the coils holding Harry into the wall. Harry realized they'd loosened around him enough that he could breathe, and began prying the coils off as Bellatrix screamed obscenities at the blood wolf. She made a swipe at the wolf, but it bit her hand, and with a jerk of its entire body, threw her into the wall. It then took off down the hall.
Harry suspected Bellatrix entirely forgot about him as he began to spin, her coils unwinding around him to drop him on the ground.
As both Bellatrix and the blood wolf disappeared around the corner, Harry dragged himself to his feet.
"I really should have picked up a weapon," he muttered to himself. He focused, taking a deep breath, and glared down the hallway, waiting for the blood wolf to come back around.
0x0x0x0
As Etna, Luna, and Hermione reached the 2nd floor, a massive blood wolf charged past them, heading down to the first floor. They paused, and then saw a massive snake-like thing slither past, following the blood wolf.
"Harry?" asked Hermione.
"Harry," replied Etna.
All three of them started down the stairs.
0x0x0x0
The blood wolf disappeared right as it reached Harry, dropping something disgusting and covered in dog slobber at his feet. As Harry saw Bellatrix's head come out of the darkness, he threw a punch straight at it.
For the first time, Harry realized his hand was glowing. It was also about this point, that Harry realized he could see in the dark without a lumos spell. Both of these were set aside, however, in favor of putting his fist through Bellatrix's face.
And he found that to be literal, as her skull caved in. The coils of her body twisted up, bunching together as her torso halted on his fist. He pulled his fist out of the remains of her corpse, and shook it off. The pair of them were obviously protecting something, so he stepped past them, and hoped that Hermione, Luna, and Etna were going for the same place.
Which is when he saw the white lights of lumos spells, and set off at a slow jog down the hall.
"Harry, you look like shit," were the first words out of Etna's mouth, before she dragged him into a hug.
"Thanks," said Harry, patting her on the back.
"By the way..." began Etna.
"Yes?"
"Your eyes are glowing."
"Oh."
"Just figured I'd point it out. So where's Pyramid Head?"
"Down that way. I think he's dead."
"You think?" asked Etna.
"Well, he couldn't get back up."
Etna sighed, and then stomped off down the hallway, stepping over Bellatrix's corpse, muttering about "always checking the body." Harry, Hermione, and Luna took off after her.
"I'd hug you Harry," said Hermione, "but I don't know what's on you."
"Bellatrix," said Harry.
"Oh. Then I definitely won't. At least not until you've taken a shower."
Harry snorted in amusement as they walked up to it.
Etna was on her haunches next to it, spear out, and inspecting the broken handcuffs it was wearing. She reached forward, and lifted it up by its arm, turning the torso onto its side.
"There it is," said Etna, and poked something with her spear.
"There what is?" asked Hermione.
"He was bound," said Luna. "You found the control?"
"Yep," said Etna. "Right there."
Hidden behind the metal, was a simple metal badge.
"That's a police officer's badge," said Hermione.
"And it's also impressively cursed," said Etna. She pointed her spear at its hand, which was starting to twitch.
"You mean it isn't dead?" asked Harry.
"I don't think it can," replied Etna. "Mortimer bound some bastard to this thing. Come on, let's finish this before it gets back up."
They went back over Bellatrix's corpse, and found the last door on the left. It was locked, but several unlocking charms on Hermione's part opened the door.
"Bella, stop bothering me, I've got more important things to deal with," came a cultured voice, tinged with the slightest bit of fear.
Inside was a blonde woman, her wand making fast motions at her own fingers. The color was fading from her robes, turning the blue silk into the white cotton of the other nurses.
Then they looked to the bed.
The medical report hadn't done what happened to her justice. Even now, her skin was missing, bandages only half-covering exposed flesh. Milky, sightless eyes stared at the ceiling, and her teeth were exposed to open air.
The blonde noticed them.
"Where's Bella?" she asked.
"Dead," replied Harry, staring at the wounded girl in revulsion.
She sized up each of them.
"Mister Potter, Miss Granger," said Narcissa. "And you would be Miss Lovegood, and Miss de Malebolge?"
"That's correct," said Harry.
She glanced at Harry.
"Are you aware your eyes are glowing and that you've got third-degree burns covering half your body?"
"Yes."
"As long as you're aware," said Narcissa. "Now, if you don't mind, I need to figure out what's happening to me."
"You're joining the story," said Luna.
"What?"
"You're joining the story. You're the good nurse, and you have to protect her."
"I'd rather heal her, thank you," said Narcissa, ignoring Luna. Luna turned, and took Hermione's hand and dragged her out of the hospital room.
"There's no healing her," said Etna.
"Any curse can be broken," said Narcissa.
"That's definitely true," said Etna. She jumped onto the bed, and raised her spear.
"You're sure?" asked Harry.
"She's not as strong as you, Harry, and however Voldemort did this, he made it a lot worse with her. Its keeping her from healing so she can't fight it. I know you want to save everyone, but we don't exactly have a choice."
"You can't do this!" shouted Narcissa, her wand pointed at Etna.
"We have to," whispered Harry, taking hold of her hand. "I wish we didn't. I really do."
"Why? Why does she have to die?!" asked Narcissa.
"Because Riddle cursed a little girl with eternal nightmares," said Luna, standing at the door. "We're in her nightmare, now, trapped in it until she can wake up. Except she can't wake up. It's kinder, this way, putting her out of her misery, but there's no way we can like it."
"But... but... the curse! The curse can be broken!"
"Yeah," said Etna. "She can fight it off with her own will and magic, or she can die. Except she can't fight it off with her own will and magic. What do you think is making this hellhole? Voldemort's curse? No. Voldemort didn't curse this place, he hid it. The curse on her is causing her magic to run wild, and curse everything else."
"She..."
"It's her nightmare," said Luna, tears streaming down her face. "And she can't wake from it. So we have to end it."
Harry led Narcissa to Luna, and Luna her led her out, and closed the door behind them.
"Not going to step out?" asked Etna.
"No. I can't do it myself, but that doesn't mean I'm going to hide from it." He looked at the little girl, in the bed, tears in his own eyes. "Do it."
"Okay," said Etna. She raised the spear over her head, and stabbed it down into the girl's heart.
The girl screamed.
The walls began to unravel, rust flaking off and up and away. Lights began to form, as the floors changed from rust-stained metal to ugly, stained linoleum. A bare metal light dropped from the ceiling, stopping on the chain that held it aloft, swaying in the non-existent wind. Light began to pour in through the window, and as it touched the girl, she stopped.
Her body went slack, her blind eyes became dull and glassy, and what was left of her lips relaxed into something that Harry could, if he were very generous, approximate as a smile.
There wasn't anything either of them could say, as Harry held out his hand for Etna. Etna took it, and jumped down from the bed. She reached out, and pulled Harry into a hug.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I know you want to save everyone, but sometimes you can't."
"Doesn't make it any better."
"I know," she replied. "But we're a step closer to punching Riddle's ticket. And once we've done that, he can't do this to anybody anymore."
Harry nodded.
She pulled away, and they both stood a moment, staring at the life they'd ended.
"This is what they mean, when they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, isn't it?" asked Harry.
"Yep," replied Etna. She let go of Harry's hand, and walked to the nightstand, and picked up a beige book. On the cover was two children on a lion, surrounded by fawns and trees.
"What is it?" asked Harry.
"The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe," replied Etna. She flicked open the book, and saw the inscription, before snapping it shut. "Come on. Let's go home."
They stepped out of the room. Narcissa was seated on the ground, her head in her hands, crying. Hermione and Luna were on either side of her, patting her on the back. Her robes had returned to their original blue color, and her fingers looked whole, pale, and normal.
"Riddle left a piece of his soul in her," said Harry. "I used to have one as well, from that night."
"I don't see your bitch stabbing you through your heart," replied Narcissa.
"No," replied Harry. "I managed to fight him off. I was also awake, and destroying one of the other ones he made at the time. But neither of them were anything like that one."
"We can figure it out with Dumbledore later," said Etna. "Right now, I'm thinking we get the hell out of here. Should we be leaving you, or would you like to see that useless waste of spooge that crawled out of your cunt again?"
Narcissa looked dumbfounded at Etna.
"She's talking about Draco," said Luna.
She sighed, and then shook her head.
"Somehow, you manage to both be and not be the Dark Lord's daughter."
"Well, it helps that I'm not," replied Etna, holding out a rainbow colored sock. "Now grab the sock. We're getting out of here."
Narcissa took one look at it before taking hold of it. The others took hold of her portkey as well.
"Dumbledore?" she asked.
"Well, duh. There's no place like home!"
0x0x0x0
Sirius jumped when five people landed in the sitting room.
"I'm awake!" he shouted, and then looked at who landed. "Harry? Where's Harry?"
"Here," said Harry, raising a hand.
"Harry, you're not very hairy. And... what happened to you?"
"Bad, stupid, idiotic things," said Etna, helping Harry to his feet. "And he should get healed. Malfoy, if you don't mind?"
Narcissa was still standing, and while slightly amused by Harry's bad landing, was more than a little on the angry side.
"Are you going to kill me, too?"
"Depends. You plan on going to the Dark Lord?" asked Etna.
"Given what he did to Lucius? No," replied Narcissa.
"Then you get to live," replied Etna. "Start healing."
Narcissa glared at Etna, but moved over to Harry and began casting the variety of spells required to undo burns.
As Narcissa began to work on Harry's burns, Sirius sent a messenger to Dumbledore.
"So is this where you've been hiding, Sirius?"
"Yep. The wonderful home of my parents. Walburga's portrait is out in the front hall if you want some conversation."
"No, thank you," replied Narcissa, furrowing her brow. "I recall how much of an... eccentric she was. I assume you'll want to know where Pettigrew is?"
"I'd like that, yes."
"Good. Because the first thing I'm going to do is go before the Wizengamot and proclaim that the Dark Lord has returned."
"That is very good news to hear, Mrs. Malfoy," said Dumbledore from the door. "Harry, are you alright?"
"Feeling much better, actually," replied Harry, the burns on his face and arms already receding to under his shirt.
"You're healing much faster than... I... expected..." trailed off Narcissa, looking at Harry's bald head.
"What?"
"Your ears," said Narcissa, "are pointed."
"Oh."
There was silence in the room, as Harry looked to Sirius. Sirius watched as Etna sat next to Harry on the couch, placing her hand in his.
"Harry?" asked Sirius. "What did you do?"
"Mrs. Malfoy, thank you for your help," said Etna. "Luna, Hermione, maybe she'd like something to eat?"
"Right," said Hermione, leading Narcissa and Luna out of the room. Albus stepped into the room, and took a seat in one of the many chairs in the sitting room.
Harry looked straight at Sirius as he spoke.
"I became a demon so that I could survive fighting Voldemort."
Sirius was about to shout at Harry, when he paused to shudder over You-Know-Who's name. Dumbledore gave him a look, and he recognized it from when he caused Remus to nearly eat Snape. The sense of disappointment that Dumbledore exuded, the sense of despair that he could fall so far from this single conversation. And it made Sirius angry, that Dumbledore was looking down on him like that.
Then Sirius remembered all the great and wonderful changes to his life that his temper gave him. Especially Azkaban.
"Why?" he asked, finally.
"I want to survive, no, I want to live. I want to see Voldemort put six feet under. And in order to do that, I've got to be stronger." Harry was silent for a time. "Is it the best way? No. Does it have consequences? Yeah. Can anybody think of something better, that doesn't let Voldemort run rampant for years and years while I'm trapped in training?"
And for that, Sirius had no answer.
"So I had a choice, and I took it."
Sirius nodded, unwilling to trust his words at the moment.
"I think Sirius needs some time to come to terms with this. It is quite a bit to take in," said Albus diplomatically. "I trust the Horcrux was destroyed?"
"It was," said Etna. She sent a quick glance at Sirius. "And we've got a few questions about it that we'll discuss later."
Dumbledore nodded, and then looked in the general direction of the kitchen.
"If Narcissa was there, I imagine Voldemort thought we could not pierce the Fidelius," said Albus. "Was Bellatrix there as well?"
"She was," said Harry. He looked at his hand, and noticed that it was clean of Bellatrix's blood. "She's dead, now."
Dumbledore nodded.
"I imagine you need to take some time, as well. Let tempers cool, and give everyone time to think. There is some news on this side of the Atlantic that I feel necessary to hold off reporting until tomorrow."
"That bad?" asked Etna.
"Yes, actually. It seems that the Board of Governors was rather busy the last two days. We shall put it off until tomorrow morning, when everyone has rested. I imagine everyone will want to know about it."
"Right," said Harry. He pulled himself up off of the couch.
"Come on, let's get you into a bed," said Etna.
"Yeah, bed might be nice," said Harry.
Sirius and Albus watched them leave. They heard Walburga start screaming, and Harry shout back "Shut the fuck up you useless hag!" before stomping up the stairs.
"A demon, Dumbledore?" asked Sirius.
"I know," replied Dumbledore.
"And what do you have to say about this?"
"Fawkes still accepts them," replied Dumbledore.
Sirius stared at the floor.
"All I can think of is yelling at him. And then all I can think about is how that'd be my dear mother's reaction."
Dumbledore nodded, knowing Sirius needed to say this.
"I don't want to be her," said Sirius. "I don't want to be my father, either. But Harry... but Lily and James' son doing that to himself... accepting that darkness. I thought he was stronger than that."
"Sirus," began Dumbledore, "has he gone dark?"
"He's become a demon, Dumbledore."
"And I repeat, Sirius, Fawkes still accepts him. Fawkes had reservations about Miss de Malebolge, as well, but now is perfectly accepting of their presence."
"Fawkes was fine in Peter's presence," replied Sirius.
"Sirius, you're arguing that your godson is a dark creature."
"He is!"
"Like a werewolf?" asked Dumbledore.
"Yes, like a were-" and then Sirius stopped and closed his eyes.
"I am very sorry to rub previous mistakes in your face, Sirius. I am more than aware of how painful it can be. And I honestly do wish that something could be done for Harry, but I think we both know how independent Harry is. He knows the consequences of being found out, and has decided that this is the course he must take."
Author's Note: Sometimes, there's a way, and sometimes, there isn't.
A few notes: Albus assumes Harry had a choice about going demon. This amuses Etna greatly.
Beta by Luan Mao.
By the way. There's an update in my profile that should make a few of you happy.
