Fairy Tail Watches Death Battle

by Jyggilag

You should know the drill by now. A package from another world being discovered, blah, blah, blah, blah. This is my own take on this kind of react genre, with the most crazy guild of mages as the protagonists. So everybody must already have an idea of what to expect. The rating is M because its Death Battle, duh...

15. Luke VS Harry

AN: Well, here we are again… Before I begin…

Finally, after a year and thousands of delays, finally this crap is ready… Kind off. It's not as I had envisioned, but since I never was able to get the script of the deathly hallows movies, I'll had to make do.

Word of advice before we begin. I've seen almost none of the Harry Potter movies since I find them quite boring. An opinion my mother shares with me since she felt asleep in the movie theather when she took my younger brothers to see the Deadly Hallows. Also, haven't read the books.

Can't blame me for my lack of interest since when those movies first came out I was already in middle-school and they had to compete for my attention against the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Obviously, they failed. More so since when the LOTR movies ended I was fresh out from playing Warcraft III (Before that was Diablo 2) and found it really offensive the feeble and infantile way that magic was depicted (especially the casting method) in the Potter-verse.

So yeah, can't say I'm a fan of this franchise. Most of the time the only response that the mention of this series elicits from me is a mild-indifference. Though I'm sure it is a much better opinion than what many actual Potter fans feel nowadays after the last few prequel movies.

BWA HA HA HA! But that's neither here nor there. This is just to let you people know I don't care about this series.

This Author is biased…. I know, I know. Sad, but true. And there's nothing that can be done about it…

Disclaimer: I own nothing everything belongs to their respective owners.

This chapter was uploaded the 11/06/2019

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CHAPTER 11

Luke Skywalker VS Harry Potter

Levy browsed through the list of episodes written in the back of the CD's box sets, clear hesitation and indecision marrying her every movement. However, it didn't take her long for a name to catch her attention despite her heavy qualms.

"Ummm… Star Wars? Wasn't that the name of the same universe Bobba Feet is from?" The bluette mumbled to herself uner her breath as she read through the small summaries of each episode.

But it seems it wasn't low enough as Mirajane managed to hear her. "Have you made your pick, already?" She asked with a kind smile.

Levy was startled out of her thoughts despite Mirajane's soft approach. "I-I… M-maybe… I mean Yes! Yes, I think I've made my fist choice…" She answered, trying to project a confidence she didn't feel.

"Okay, let me see it then…" Mira said encouragenly as she extended a hand forward palm up for Levy to present her choice.

With some hesitation, the word mage set the box on the bartender's palm, pointing at her choice with a finger.

"Ah! Alright, it looks interesting." Mirajane simply said as she began to take the appropriate disc out and set it inside the blue ray. After pushing play the episode began to play. A small introduction starts running shows pictures of different Sci-Fi frnachises before presenting the two combatants for this episode.

(Cues Invader - Jim Johnston)

Wiz: Every generation has idolized a Sci-Fi hero.

"But of course,... It is inevitable when someone manages to achieve a great feat for people to celebrate such achievement and take inspiration from it." Makarov said with a nod as if it were an universal truth. "Though I'm not sure what he meant by Sci-Fi?" He added.

"That's a genre in Literature that revolves around fantastical or advanced depictions of science." Levy answered almost immediately since anything revolving letters was her domain. She then remembered who she was speaking to and gulped as result. "…Ummmph? Guildmaster…"

Boomstick: Like Luke Skywalker, Legacy of the Jedi...

Wiz: ...and Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived.

"Sounds like pretty interesting titles to have." Macao commented non-commitaly.

"So-so..." Wakaba replied with a hand gesture.

Boomstick: He's Wiz and I'm Boomstick.

Jocelyn: And I'm Jocelyn!

Wiz: And it's our job to analyze their weapons, armor, and skills to find out who would win a Death Battle.

The first contestant is a blonde-haired man wearing a black outfit and a robotic hand, he wields a sword of light made of energy as he is seen fighting various enemies and dwelling in a galaxy full of aliens and advanced technology.

Luke Skywalker

---

BACKGROUND

Height: 5'7"

Weight: 169 Ibs.

Raised as a Farmer

Prostechtic Right Hand (Erza began to think about her own artificial eye and unconsciously put a hand over it)

Son of Anakin Skywalker the Chosen One

Married to Mara Jade

---

(Cues Star Wars Rogue Squadron III - Mission Complete)

Wiz: As the orphaned son of Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker carries the blood of the most powerful Jedi and Force-user ever known. He was raised by his aunt and uncle, who kept him safe by disguising his true powers before being taught by a wise old mentor in the ways of the force.

The group were really interested, an orphaned boy turns out to be son of the most powerful hero that has ever existed. Now that's the beginning for an epic tale.

"Ah, That's a classic origin for a hero's story right there…" Jonah Reedus said.

"Yes… Yes, it is…" Levy replied, a small smile gracing her lips. She has read enough books to identify some of the most common tropes on this type of stories at first sight.

Jocelyn: Much to his frustration since his uncle proved a little too much overprotective for his tastes, and it wasn't until a turn of fate after his first meeting with Obi-Wan Kenobi twould he be able to take the reins of his own destiny.

A scene appears showing Luke in the company of a warm, motherly woman, filling a pitcher with blue a fluid from a refrigerated container located in a well-used kitchen. She puts the pitcher on a tray with some bowls of food and starts for the dining area.

Luke sits in front a table covered with steaming bowls of food alongside a large burly man in his mid-fifties dressed in some humble plain clothes.

Luke: 'You know, I think that R2 unit we bought might have been stolen.'

Owen: 'What makes you think that?'

Luke: 'Well, I stumbled across a recording while I was cleaning him. He says he belongs to someone called Obi-Wan Kenobi.'

Owen is greatly alarmed at the mention of this name but manages to control himself.

Luke: 'I thought he might have meant old Ben. Do you know what he's talking about? Well, I wonder if he's related to Ben.'

Owen breaks loose with a fit of uncontrolled anger.

Owen: 'That old man's just a crazy old wizard. Tomorrow I want you to take that R2 unit into Anchorhead and have its memory flushed. That'll be the end of it. It belongs to us now.'

Luke: 'But what if this Obi-Wan comes looking for him?'

Owen: 'He won't, I don't think he exists any more. He died about the same time as your father.'

Luke: 'He knew my father?'

Owen: 'I told you to forget it. Your only concern is to prepare the new droids for tomorrow. In the morning I want them on the south ridge working out those condensers.'

Luke: 'Yes, sir. I think those new droids are going to work out fine. In fact, I, uh, was also thinking about our agreement about me staying on another season. And if these new droids do work out, I want to transmit my application to the Academy this year.'

Owen's face becomes a scowl, although he tries to suppress it.

Owen: 'You mean the next semester before harvest?'

Luke: 'Sure, there're more than enough droids.

Owen: 'Harvest is when I need you the most. Only one more season. This year we'll make enough on the harvest, so I'll be able to hire some more hands. And then you can go to the Academy next year.'

Luke continues to toy with his food, not looking at his uncle.

Owen: 'You must understand I need you here, Luke.'

Luke: 'But it's a whole 'nother year.'

Owen: 'Look, it's only one more season.'

Luke pushes his half-eaten plate of food aside and stands. Beru looks at him in concern.

Luke: 'Yeah, that's what you said last year when Biggs and Tank left.'

Owen: 'Where are you going?'

Luke: 'It looks like I'm going nowhere. I have to finish cleaning those droids.'

Resigned to his fate, Luke paddles out of the room. Owen mechanically finishes his dinner. Beru turns towards him.

Beru: 'Owen, he can't stay here forever. Most of his friends have gone. It means so much to him.'

Owen: 'I'll make it up to him next year. I promise.

Beru: 'Luke's just not a farmer, Owen. He has too much of his father in him.'

Owen: 'That's what I'm afraid of.'

"His uncle might indeed look a little overbearing… But I can tell he only has the best of intentions for Luke. He and his wife seem like good people…" Makarov said with a gruff grunt.

"But if his friends are all gone, what point there is to remain?" Natsu asked as he always tended to put a great emphasis over friendship.

Makarov just shrugged. "Didn't said it was the best option, just said that the uncle simply wanted to protect him…"

They were introduced nextg to Luke's weapon, a silver cylinder handle, but that at the press of a button it shoots out a blade of pure light and energy that can slice through anything. It also comes in various different colors which makes some fairies very interested in having one in their respective colors.

---

LIGHTSABER

Custom Built

4 Foot Blade

Cuts Through Most Objects (Erza approves)

Based on Kenobi's Saber

Expends No Heat or Energy Until Physical Contact (Laki is intrigued)

Uses Form V [Dijem So]

---

Boomstick: Luke's weapon of choice is the Lightsaber, a combination of my two favorite killing tools: swords and lasers.

A new scene is shown of a small, spartan hovel that is cluttered with desert junk but still manages to radiate an air of time-worn comfort and security. Luke is in one corner repairing a golden automaton while an old white-bearded man that exhudes an air of wisdom is sitting in thought nearby.

Luke: 'No, my father didn't fight in the wars. He was a navigator on a spice freighter.'

Obi-Wan: 'That's what your uncle told you. He didn't hold with your father's ideals. Thought he should have stayed here and not gotten involved.'

Luke: 'You fought in the Clone Wars?'

Ben replied to Luke's question.

Luke: 'Yes, I was once a Jedi Knight the same as your father.'

"Oooooooh, Jedi… Sounds important!" Happy declared.

"By the name alone. They must have been an order of honorable warriors, without a doubt his father must have been a great knight…" Erza declared matter-of-factly.

"Yes… That's the way stories like this tend to go…" Levy said, pressing her index fingers together in a strange mix between approval and embarassment.

Luke: 'I wish I'd known him.'

Obi-Wan: 'He was the best star-pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior. I understand you've become quite a good pilot yourself. And he was a good friend. Which reminds me...'

Ben gets up and goes to a chest where he rummages around. As Luke finishes repairing Threepio and starts to fit the restraining bolt back on, Threepio looks at him nervously. Luke thinks about the bolt for a moment then puts it on the table. Ben shuffles up and presents Luke with a short handle with several electronic gadgets attached to it.

Obi-Wan: 'I have something here for you. Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it. He feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some damned-fool idealistic crusade like your father did.'

Ben hands Luke the saber.

Luke: 'What is it?'

Obi-Wan: 'Your father's lightsaber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster.'

Luke pushes a button on the handle. A long blue beam of light shoots out about four feet and flickers there, making a loud humming sound that overpowered any other noise.

"Whoa! That looks awesome!" Natsu declared, (I want one! Gimme'! Gimme'! Gimme'!) receiving a loud agreement from Happy.

"Tsk… For once, you are right flame-breath…" Gray reluctancly said.

"I want to know how it works!." Laki declared in excitement. Even Erza seemed to look at the weapon with childish glee, wishing one for herself and felling a little jealous over the fact she didn't have one…

Makarov seemed pensive. "I've heard of legendary magical weapons that are suppored to look like that, but I've never actually seen one for myself or confirmed their existence.

Obi-Wan: 'An elegant weapon for a more civilized time. For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire.'

Wiz: Despite having little formal training, Luke advanced in Lightsaber combat much faster than any other Jedi.

"So, he is a prodigy? Not the first time I've seen that. Many mages are prodigies in their own fields. Like Erza for example…" Macao said, pointing at the fairie queen in question.

Boomstick: He even took down a freakin' TIE fighter with it, only a month after he blew up the Death Star. What a badass!

"What's a TIE fighter? And how can he be a badass for taking one down!?" Happy boisterously asked.

"I'm more concerned about that Death Star that was mentioned. The name alone is pretty ominous…" Wakaba said, a small shudder running doen his spine.

Wiz: Luke is a master of Form V Djiem So, an aggressive combat stance with defensive postures, specializing in both perseverance and pressuring an opponent.

"I approve of that stance!" Elfman declared loudly.

"Yes, the best defense has always been a good offense. There's very little cause to worry when you don't give an opponent time to react…" Erza agreed with a stiff nod. "I admit I'm interested in learning this stance." She confessed.

"Of course you do… Considering you're the guild's designated swordsma- swordswoman and all that." Warren Rocko said as reply.

"If I knew how to wield a sword, I wouldn't mind learning that stance myself." Lucy admitted with a little blush.

Boomstick: Despite what you might think, the lightsaber isn't just for killing; it also works pretty damn well for defense.

They see Luke used his Lightsaber to deflect laser beams with his stance, earning oooooooooh's of appreciation from the fairies and making Erza even more determined to learn the style.

---

THE FORCE

Surrounds All Living Things

Control - Manipulating The Aspects of One's Body

Sense - Recognizing & Immersing in Environment

Alter - Manipulating Subjects & Environment

---

(Cues Star Wars Episode VI - Sail Barge Assault)

Wiz: Even so, Luke's most instrumental tool is his unrivaled connection to the Force. He can apply it in three aspects: Control, Sense, and Alter; controlling all aspects of the body, sensing and utilizing his surroundings, and altering the environment.

The mages became interested in this. This Force sounded like magic, and they always were interested in seeing magic from other worlds. This Force energy sounded as one very unique type of magic however, or something akin to it.

The scene of Luke speaking with Obi-Wan after he gave him his father's lightsaber is shown again.

Luke: 'How did my father die?'

Obi-Wan: 'A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father. Now the Jedi are all but extinct. Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force.'

The Fairies remembered who Darth Vader is from Bobba Feet's fight and were understandably disquieted by the news of him having killed Luke's father.

"Oh No! That evil looking Darth Vader killed his father!" Happy declared outloud, pointing dramatically with a finger. Or paw, digit, whatever…

"DISGRACEFUL! BETRAYAL IS NOT MANLY!" Elfman exclaimed in response.

"Elfman, shut up!"

Luke: 'The Force?'

Obi-Wan: 'Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.'

"Yup, it sounds like magic…" Macao said with a nod.

"I don't know… It sounds more mysterious that any type of magic I've ever heard…" Lucy said in doubt.

Boomstick: Oh, man! What I wouldn't give to be able to use the force… Especially the mind trick thingy! Oh man... the terrible things I would do with that.

The female fairies frowned at this, knowing Boomstick might do something perverted if he does manipulate someone else's mind.

Natsu as usual, seemed lost when this type of subject tends to come up. "What does he mean by that…?"

A scene is shown of Luke, Obi-Wan and the droids atop a vehicle being stopped and questioned by some soldiers clad in a weird full-body white armor in the middle of a sandy and desertic street.

Stormtrooper: 'Let me see your identification.'

Luke becomes very nervous as he fumbles to find his ID while Ben speaks to the Trooper in a very controlled voice as he makes a small hand gesture.

Obi-Wan: 'You don't need to see his identification.'

Stormtrooper: 'We don't need to see his identification.'

Obi-Wan: 'These are not the droids you're looking for.'

Stormtrooper: 'These are not the droids we're looking for.'

Obi-Wan: 'He can go about his business.'

Stormtrooper: 'You can go about your business'

Ben then turns to Luke.

Obi-Wan: 'Move along.'

The trooper keeps repeating Ben's instruction as he signals the speedster to get on its way.

Stormtrooper: 'Move along. Move along.'

"…!... I should learn to do that!" Warren Rocko said with no small amount of jealousy, as all his magic is able to grant him is a medium-level telepathic power.

"You only want that power, so you can get away without having to pay your bar tab… Not that I blame you…" Cana drolled in a deadpan. Mirajane turned to give Warren a disapproving look while the telepath could do nothing but chuckle in nervousness.

Jocelyn: The force is more than mind tricks boomstick! It allows Luke to manipulate his surroundings through his will alone, boost the abilities of his body into superhuman levels, and act as an early warning system when danger is aimed at him by unknown sources.

---

FORCE POWERS

Force Persuasion

Increased Senses

Increase Speed & Strength

Force Choke

Telekinesis

Shatterpoint

---

Wiz: When injured or exhausted, he can push his physical limits with the force body ability, and use flash burn to neglect pain until he can mend his wounds with force heal.

"So not only does he has great attack and defensive skills, but he also is able to heal himself? Man that's so not fair...!" Alzack moaned at the injustice of it all.

Makarov nodded. "Very few magical styles are capable of such versatility as this force is seemeingly capable of."

Boomstick: Yeah… I like it when Luke uses the force to move things with his mind, with almost no limits!

"Awww, I wish I could do that too. I get a headache if I try to lift heavy things!" Warren bemoaned again.

"That would actually be useful…" Erza said in thought.

Wiz: Finally, Luke can use Shatterpoint to identify any possible weakness or fracture in a subject. Add just a little pressure with the force...

Boomstick: ...and BOOM! They explode faster than a Firestone tire!

"Scary…" Levy said with a little shiver.

"What's a tire!?" Happy simply asked, uncaring of Levi's misgivings.

Wiz: Luke has defeated a wide variety of foes, ranging from stormtroopers to deadly Sith lords, one of which Luke had to construct a second Lightsaber to beat.

"You can double-wield a lightsaber!" Natsu exclaimed outloud. Erza seemed pretty intrigued by the prospect.

---

SHOTO LIGHTSABER

Shorter Red Blade

2 Feet Foot Blade

Used in Jar'Kai Form

Used Sparingly (The fairies found that lame)

---

Boomstick: His shorter red Shoto Saber was made to counter the Sith Lumious' Lightwhip, and it worked pretty damn well.

"Not only can you dial wield a lightsaber, but now you can also turn it into a whip!" Gray exclaimed in disbelief.

"This lightsaber technology is wonderful! I wonder what they will come up with next." Laki declared positively static.

Wiz: He still carries it, though he prefers a single blade over two handed combat.

Boomstick: Ha, Ha, penis joke.

Many of the fairies blushed at that, those who were drinking like Cana did a spitake for having been caught off-guard by the unexpected comment. Others like Gray and Macao facepalmed. And the eldest like Makarov and Wakaba did nothing but sigh and continue with whatever is they were doing.

Jocelyn: Always classy isn't it, Boomstick? Anyway… There's a lot that can be told about Luke's story, most of it things that any regular schmuck should already know, so I guess we should skip all of that since it would take a lot of time to even do the most basic of overviews…

Wiz: Actually, Jocelyn… Considering this is a special re-shot made exclusively for the DVD, we are not constrained by the same time limitations we had in Youtube. So you can go wild doing Luke's background if you want.

Jocelyn: What, for real!? Sweet! In that case I can give all the highlights about the Skywalker Saga at my leisure without a hurry… Alright, make sure to strap on, kiddos! Because we are in for a ride and we are not stoping until we finish with all the nitty gritty of Luke's story! Anyway, after meeting with Obi-Wan, Luke gave him the famous message from princess Leia that set him into the path of the Jedi.

Luke is seen gaping at the ghostly image of a young woman coming out from the squat round white and blue droid.

Leia: 'General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.'

"Sounds like a worthy honorable mission that any mage worth his salt who calls himself a member of this guild would not think twice into accepting. Or am I wrong?" Makarov said, giving pointed glances at his underlings.

"Of course, not Guildmaster! We would take this mission and fight against this evil Empire without a second thought!" Natsu declared boldly.

"I would be proud to fight for such noble goal!" Erza declared, standing ram-rod at attention.

"ANSWERING THE CALL FOR HELP OF PEOPLE WHO CANNOT DEFEND THEMSELVES IS MANLY!" Elfman declared with deafening enthusiasm.

"Shut up, Elfman!"

There is a little static and the transmission is cut short. Old Ben leans back and scratches his beard. He silently puffs on a tarnished chrome water pipe. Luke has stars in his eyes.

Obi-Wan: 'You must learn the ways of the Force, if you're to come with me to Alderaan.'

Luke: '(laughing) Alderaan? I'm not going to Alderaan. I've got to go home. It's late; I'm in for it as it is.'

Obi-Wan: 'I need your help, Luke. She needs your help. I'm getting too old for this sort of thing.'

Luke: 'I can't get involved! I've got work to do! It's not that I like the Empire. I hate it! But there's nothing I can do about it right now. It's such a long way from here.'

Obi-Wan: 'That's your uncle talking.'

Luke: '(sighing) Oh, God, my uncle. How am I ever going to explain this?

Obi-Wan: 'Learn about the Force, Luke.'

Luke ponders for a long moment, pacing around.

Luke: 'Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead. You can get a transport there to Mos Eisley or wherever you're going.'

Obi-Wan: 'You must do what you feel is right, of course.'

"I have a feeling things are not going to turn out the way Luke expects…" Wakaba said through a puff of smoke.

Levy nodded. "Yes, that's another classic trope. The reluctanct hero having doubts about leaving home only for something to turn his life on his head and set him on his journey…"

"Oh? You seem very well versed on this type of stories Levy…?" Macao asked with a grin.

The blunette blushed. "It's just something that anyone who has read enough books can easily pick-up. Nothing strange there."

Jocelyn: Obviously, things didn't turn out the way Luke wanted, since unknowingly was being tracked by one of the most baddass and imposing villains in cinematographic movie history ever! Darth Vader!"

Inside a metallic room eight Imperial officers and generals sit around a black conference table. Imperial stormtroopers stand guard around the room. A young, slimy-looking commander starts speaking.

Commander: 'Until this battle station is fully operational we are vulnerable. The Rebel Alliance is too well equipped. They're more dangerous than you realize.'

A bitter-looking Admiral twists nervously in his chair.

Admiral: 'Dangerous to your starfleet, Commander, not to this battle station!'

Commander: 'The Rebellion will continue to gain a support in the Imperial Senate as long as...'

Suddenly all heads turn as the commander's speech is cut short as a gaunt, stern looking older man that clearly seems to hold a high position by the manner of his bearing enters the room. He is followed by the powerful and intimidating Sith Lord, Darth Vader. The former Jedi who killed Luke's father. All of the generals stand and bow before the thin, evil-looking governor as he takes his place at the head of the table. The Dark Lord stands behind him.

Tarkin: 'The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I've just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away.'

Commander: 'That's impossible! How will the Emperor maintain control without the bureaucracy?'

Tarkin: 'The regional governors now have direct control over their territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station.'

Commander: 'And what of the Rebellion? If the Rebels have obtained a complete technical read-out of this station, it is possible, however unlikely, that they might find a weakness and exploit it.'

Vader: 'The plans you refer to will soon be back in our hands.'

Tarkin: 'Any attack made by the Rebels against this station would be a useless gesture, no matter what technical data they've obtained. This station is now the ultimate power in the universe. I suggest we use it!'

Vader: 'Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.'

("Did he say destroy a planet!" Lucy gasped)

Commander: 'Don't try to frighten us with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Vader. Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure up the stolen data tapes, or given you clairvoyance enough to find the Rebel's hidden fort...'

Suddenly the disrespectful commander starts choking, the muscles of his neck constricting under Vader's spell as he tries to claw against the invisible hold with his hands, the disturbing sound of a throat being strangled can be clearly heard by everyone. The fairies are understandably unnerved by such violent use of magical abilities.

Vader: 'I find your lack of faith disturbing...'

"Oh, my gods! He almost killed that man just because he dared to talk back to him!" Lucy exclaimed.

"He is evil!" Happy declared aloud.

"SHAMEFUL!" Elfman yeled in outrage.

"Shut up Elfman! …Though I don't disagree with any of you…" Cana said, dropping setting down her beer mug.

Jocelyn:It was Darth Vader's effort to recover the plans that Leia hid inside the droids that would force Luke to leave his home forever!"

Luke and co. can be seen in front of a huge moving vehicle with wheels (Jawa's Sandcrawler) that seemed to have come unde attack. Luke and Ben walk among the smoldering rubble and scattered bodies.

Luke: 'It looks like Sandpeople did this, all right. Look, here are Gaffi sticks, Bantha tracks. It's just... I never heard of them hitting anything this big before.'

Ben is crouching in the sand studying the tracks.

Obi-Wan: 'They didn't. But we are meant to think they did. These tracks are side by side. Sandpeople always ride single file to hide their numbers.'

Luke: 'These are the same Jawas that sold us Artoo and Threepio.'

Obi-Wan: 'And these blast points, too accurate for Sandpeople. Only Imperial stormtroopers are so precise.'

Luke: 'Why would Imperial troops want to slaughter Jawas?'

Luke looks back at the speeder where Artoo and Threepio are inspecting the dead Jawas, and puts two and two together.

Luke: 'If they traced the robots here, they may have learned who they sold them to. And that would lead them home!'

Luke reaches a sudden horrible realization, then races for the speeder and jumps it.

Obi-Wan: 'Wait, Luke! It's too dangerous.'

Luke races off leaving Ben and the two robots alone with the burning Sandcrawler.

"Oh no! Something bad happened!" Happy exclaimed in worry.

"You might be right Happy…" Makarov said grimly.

Luke is seen racing across the wasteland in his battered Landspeeder and then the scene changes, showing the speeder roaring up to the burning homestead. Luke jumps out and runs to the smoking holes that were once his home. Debris is scattered everywhere, and it looks as if a horrible massacre has taken place.

Luke: 'Uncle Owen! Aunt Beru! Uncle Owen!'

Luke stumbles around in a daze looking for his aunt and uncle. Suddenly he comes upon their smoldering charred skeletons. He is stunned and cannot speak. The fairies let out gasps of horror at the terrible sight. Hate slowly replaces Luke's fear and a new resolve comes over him.

"They murdered that innocent people! What kind of monsters do that!" Lucy gaped in horror.

"I can't look!" Levy exclaimed, covering her eyes.

"That crime cannot stand! Luke's aunt and uncle deserved to be avenged!" Erza declared, jumping atop a table and pointing at the screen with righteous anger.

"GET DOWN OFF THE TABLE ERZA!" Makarov threatened.

"Bwaaah! I'm going to miss the old grumpy one!" Happy wailed.

Jocelyn: But that wasn't the last or most evil deed of the Empire!

The scene changes to show a planet looming behind the Death Star battlestation. Admiral Motti enters the quiet control room and bows before Governor Tarkin, who stands before the huge wall screen displaying the small green planet.

Motti: "We've entered the Alderaan system."

Vader and two stormtroopers enter with Princess Leia, her hands bound in front of her.

Leia: "Governor Tarkin, I should have expected to find you holding Vader's leash. I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board."

"Woah-ho, this girl's tongue can sting. I think I like her!" Cana said with a grin as she took a sip of ale.

"Yes, though she is not in a position to be making fun about her captors. Especially with Vader standing right behind her…" Wakaba comented with a frown.

Tarkin: "Charming to the last. You don't know how hard I found it signing the order to terminate your life!"

Leia: "I'm surprised you had the courage to take the responsibility yourself!"

Tarkin: "Princess Leia, before your execution I would like you to be my guest at a ceremony that will make this battle station operational. No star system will dare oppose the Emperor now.

Leia: "The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers."

Tarkin: "Not after we demonstrate the power of this station. In a way, you have determined the choice of the planet that'll be destroyed first. Since you are reluctant to provide us with the location of the Rebel base, I have chosen to test this station's destructive power... on your home planet of Alderaan."

Leia: "No! Alderaan is peaceful. We have no weapons. You can't possibly..."

Tarkin: "You would prefer another target? A military target? Then name the system!"

Tarkin waves menacingly toward Leia, forcing the princess to take a step back but its stopped by Vader standing behind her and who clasp hers by the shoulder with one hand.

Tarkin: "I grow tired of asking this. So it'll be the last time. Where is the Rebel base?"

Leia stays silent for a few moments, staring at the image of her planet through the screens of the control room a voice over the intercom announces the approach to Alderaan.

Leia: "Dantooine."

Leia lowers her head.

Leia: "They're on Dantooine."

Tarkin smirks.

Tarkin: "There. You see Lord Vader, she can be reasonable."

He addresses Motti.

Tarkin: "Continue with the operation. You may fire when ready."

Leia: "What!?"

Leia tries to rush towards the Governor but it's stopped by Vader who keeps his hold on her.

Tarkin: "You're far too trusting. Dantooine is too remote to make an effective demonstration. But don't worry. We will deal with your Rebel friends soon enough."

Leia: "No!"

Inside the inner control sections of the Death Star, a group of technicians clad in black prepare to activate the superweapon.

"Commence primary ignition."

A button is pressed which switches on a panel of lights. A helmeted Imperial soldier reaches overhead and pulls a lever.

Another lever is pulled, and another and a bank of lights on a wall panel suddenly lights up. A huge beam of emerald light emanates from within a long giant corridor lined with electric generators on its walls, from outside the Death Star, the laser beam comes out from several points in the external cone-shaped area of the battle station and converges into a single laser beam that surges out toward Alderaan. In a single moment, the small green planet of Alderaan is blown into space dust.

The members of Fairy Tail just watch stupefied as an entire planet is completely destroyed.

⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙

"Oh my gods! They destroyed an entire planet!" Lucy all but screamed in horror.

"They're evil! The Empire is evil!" Happy exclaimed.

"Bastards! And she had already given them the location they wanted! Those cunts went back on their word without even a second of hesitation, this was nothing more but senseless slaughter!" Gray shouted no small amount of scorn and rage.

"They must pay!" Natsu bellowed, having exploded into flames.

Levy was shellshocked by what she had just seen. "My gods… And entire world murdered… All those people… I've never seen death in such scale…"

Makarov just stared at the screen with the grimmest expression he ever had. "This is unforgivable…"

The next scene shows Ben watching Luke practice with his lightsaber with the help of a small spherical "seeker" robot. Ben suddenly turns away and sits down. He falters, seemingly short of breath. Luke becomes preoccupied for him.

Luke: "Are you all right? What's wrong?"

Obi-Wan: "I felt a great disturbance in the Force... as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened."

Ben rubs his forehead. He seems to drift into a trance. Then he fixes his gaze on Luke.

Obi-Wan: "You'd better get on with your exercises."

Jocelyn: Obviously, such terrible disgrace made Obi-Wan more conscious of giving Luke a crash-course lesson about the force.

Luke stands in the middle of the small hold area; he seems frozen in place. A humming lightsaber is held high over his head. Ben watches him from the corner, studying his movements. Han watches with a bit of smugness.

Obi-Wan: "Remember, a Jedi can feel the Force flowing through him."

Luke: "You mean it controls your actions?"

Obi-Wan: "Partially. But it also obeys your commands."

Suspended at eye level, about ten feet in front of Luke, a "seeker", a chrome baseball-like robot covered with antennae, hovers slowly in a wide arc. The ball floats to one side of the youth then the other. Suddenly it makes a lightning-swift lunge and stops within a few feet of Luke's face.

("What's that flying ball? What's going to do?" Happy asked out loud.)

Luke doesn't move, and the ball backs off. It slowly moves behind the boy, then makes another quick lunge, this time emitting a blood red laser beam as it attacks. It hits Luke in the leg causing him to tumble over. Han lets loose with a burst of laughter.

"Ouch! That looks painful…" Macao said with a wince.

"But effective… I have no doubt this training will help Luke become a skillful Jedi…" Erza said before a thoughtful expression fel on her face. "Perhaps I should try a similar training of my own.

Han: "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Luke turns off his lightsaber with a hiss.

Luke: "You don't believe in the Force, do you?"

Han: "Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful force controlling everything. There's no mystical energy field that controls my destiny. It's all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense."

Ben smiles quietly.

Obi-Wan: "I suggest you try it again, Luke."

Ben places a large helmet on Luke's head which covers his eyes.

Obi-Wan: "This time, let go your conscious self and act on instinct."

Luke: "With the blast shield down, I can't even see. How am I supposed to fight?"

Obi-Wan: "Your eyes can deceive you. Don't trust them."

Han skeptically shakes his head as Ben throws the seeker into the air. The ball shoots straight up in the air, then drops like a rock. Luke swings the lightsaber around blindly missing the seeker, which fires off a laserbolt that hits Luke square on the seat of the pants. He lets out a painful yell and attempts to hit the seeker.

Obi-Wan: "Stretch out with your feelings."

Luke stands in one place, seemingly frozen. The seeker makes a dive at Luke and, incredibly, he manages to deflect the bolt and then another and another in rapid sucession. The ball ceases fire and moves back to its original position.

Obi-Wan: "You see, you can do it."

"That was awesome!" Natsu said with a smile.

"Very impressive, that's true…" Makarov said, nodding with a faint grin.

Han is grumpy at seeing Luke succeed. The young man takes out his helmet.

Han: "I call it luck."

Obi-Wan: "In my experience, there's no such thing as luck."

Han: "Look, going good against remotes is one thing. Going good against the living? That's something else."

Solo notices a small light flashing on the far side of the control panel.

Han: "Looks like we're coming up on Alderaan."

Han and Chewbacca head back to the cockpit. Luke turns back to Ben, still holding the helmet.

Luke: "You know, I did feel something. I could almost see the remote."

Obi-Wan: "That's good. You have taken your first step into a larger world."

Jocelyn: Our heroes reach Aldeeran but they find nothing but rubble of the once peaceful planet.

Back to the heroes of the movie, the pirateship is just coming out of hyperspace; a strange surreal light show surrounds the falcon as the scene moves towards the cockpit.

Han: "Stand by, Chewie, here we go. Cut in the sublight engines."

Han pulls back on a control lever. Outside the cockpit window stars begin streaking past, seem to decrease in speed, then stop. Suddenly the starship begins to shudder and violently shake about. Asteroids begin to race toward them, battering the sides of the ship.

Han: "What the...? Aw, we've come out of hyperspace into a meteor shower. Some kind of Asteroid collision? It's not on any of the charts."

The Wookiee flips off several controls and seems very cool in the emergency. Luke makes his way into the bouncing cockpit.

Luke: "What's going on?"

Han: "Our position is correct, except... No, Alderaan!"

Luke: "What do you mean? Where is it?"

Han: "Thats what I'm trying to tell you, kid. It ain't there. It's been totally blown away."

Luke: "What? How?"

Ben moves into the cockpit behind Luke as the ship begins to settle down.

Obi-Wan: "Destroyed... by the Empire!"

"THE EMPIRE!" Natsu exclaimed in outrage, covered in flames and waving both arms high as if vowing bloody vengeance to the heavens.

"We know Natsu! Stop screaming! It is already hard enough to keep our own emotions from running high without having you leaving us deaf with your shouting!" Makarov replied, his patience pretty thin.

"Sorry guildmaster…"

A small moon begins to take on the appearance of a monstrous spherical battle station. Obi-Wan suddenly starts to feel a great amount of foreboding.

Obi-Wan: "That's no moon! It's a space station."

Han: "It's too big to be a space station."

Luke: "I have a very bad feeling about this."

Jocelyn: Luckily this would give them the perfect opportunity to infiltrate the Death Star and rescue princess Leia.

A couple of stormtroopers (Luke and Han) are standing inside an elevator with Chewbacca chained between them like a prisoner, they step forward to exit the elevator, but the door slides open behind them. The giant Wookiee and his two guards enter an old grey security station. Guards and laser gates are everywhere. Han whispers to Luke under his breath.

Han: "This is not going to work."

Luke: "Why didn't you say so before?"

Han: "I did say so before!"

Once the Elevator's doors open. A tall, grim looking Officer approaches the trio.

Officer: "Where are you taking this... thing?"

Chewie growls a bit at the remark, but Han nudges him to shut up.

Luke: Prisoner transfer from Block one-one-three-eight.

Officer: I wasn't notified. I'll have to clear it.

The officer goes back to his console and begins to punch in the information. There are only three other troopers in the area. Luke and Han survey the situation, checking all of the alarms, laser gates, and camera eyes. Han unfastens one of Chewbacca's electronic cuffs and shrugs to Luke.

Suddenly Chewbacca throws up his hands and lets out with one of his ear-piercing howls. He grabs Han's laser rifle.

Han: Look out! He's loose!

Luke: He's going to pull us all apart.

Han: Go get him!

The startled guards are momentarily dumbfounded. Luke and Han have already pulled out their laser pistols and are blasting away at the terrifying Wookiee. Their barrage of laserfire misses Chewbacca, but hits the camera eyes, laser gate controls, and the Imperial guards. The officer is the last of the guards to fall under the laserfire just as he is about to push the alarm system.

("Well, that escalated quickly…." Cana deadpanned and then simply took a sip of beer, zero fucks given.)

Han rushes to the comlink system, which is screeching questions about what is going on. He quickly checks the computer readout.

Han: We've got to find out which cell this princess of yours is in. Here it is... cell twenty-one-eight-seven. You go get her. I'll hold them here.

Luke races down one of the cell corridors. Han speaks into the buzzing comlink.

Han: (sounding official) Everything is under control. Situation normal.

Intercom Voice: What happened?

Han: (getting nervous) Uh... had a slight weapons malfunction. But, uh, everything's perfectly all right now. We're fine. We're all fine here, now, thank you. How are you?

Intercom Voice: We're sending a squad up.

Han: Uh, uh, negative. We had a reactor leak here now. Give us a few minutes to lock it down. Large leak... very dangerous.

("He isn't very good at this is he?" Wakaba said with a puff of smoke.)

Intercom Voice: Who is this? What's your operating number?

Han blasts the comlink and it explodes.

Han: Boring conversation anyway. (yelling down the hall) Luke! We're going to have company!

"Of course, … It's never that easy isn't it…?" Alzack said with a shake of his head.

"Especially when you're bumbling it up." Bisca added.

Luke stops in front of one of the cells and blasts the door away with a laser pistol. When the smoke clears, Luke sees the dazzling young princess-senator. She had been sleeping and is now looking at him with an uncomprehending look on her face. Luke is stunned by her incredible beauty and stands staring at her like a fool.

("Oh? Someone has a crush…" Cana sing-sanged.)

Leia: Aren't you a little short to be a stormtrooper?

Luke takes off his helmet, coming out of it.

Luke: What? Oh... the uniform. I'm Luke Skywalker. I'm here to rescue you.

Leia: You're who?

Luke: I'm here to rescue you. I've got your R2 unit. I'm here with Ben Kenobi.

Leia: Ben Kenobi is here! Where is he?

Luke: Come on!

The scene changes to the interior of a conference room on the Death Star. Darth Vader paces the room as Governor Tarkin sits at the far end of the conference table.

Vader: He is here...

Tarkin: Obi-Wan Kenobi! What makes you think so?

Vader: A tremor in the Force. The last time I felt it was in the presence of my old master.

Tarkin: Surely, he must be dead by now.

Vader: Don't underestimate the power of the Force.

Tarkin: The Jedi are extinct; their fire has gone out of the universe. You, my friend, are all that's left of their religion.

There is a quiet buzz on the comlink.

Tarkin: Yes.

Intercom Voice: Governor Tarkin, we have an emergency alert in detention block A A-twenty-three.

Tarkin: The princess! Put all sections on alert!

Vader: Obi-Wan is here. The Force is with him.

Tarkin: If you're right, he must not be allowed to escape.

Vader: Escape is not his plan. I must face him alone.

"Oh no! Obi-wan will have to fight the bad guy!" Happy exclaimed in surprise.

"I hope nothing bad happens to him…" Levy said with obvious disquiet.

Natsu gave him a wide toothy smile. "Not to worry Levy, as long as Luke and the others are there are to help him, everything will turn out alright! That's what friends are for!"

Levy didn't seem wholly convinced by the words of the salamander. "I hope you're right Natsu…"

Meanwhile, back with the Luke and Co., Luke and Leia are crouching together in an alcove for protection as the farmboy exchanges blaster-fire with the troops sent to stop their little jail-break attempt. Han and Chewbacca are barely able to keep the stormtroopers at bay at the far and of the hallway. The laserfire is very intense, and smoke fills the narrow cell corridor.

Luke: There isn't any other way out.

Han: I can't hold them off forever! Now what?

Leia: This is some rescue. When you came in here, didn't you have a plan for getting out?

Han: (pointing at Luke) He's the brains, sweetheart.

Luke manages a sheepish grin and shrugs his shoulders.

Luke: Well, I didn't...

The princess grabs Luke's gun and fires at a small grate in the wall next to Han, almost frying him.

Han: What the hell are you doing?

Leia: Somebody has to save our skins. Into the garbage chute, wise guy.

She jumps through the narrow opening as Han and Chewbacca look on in amazement. Chewbacca sniffs the garbage chute and growls something.

Han: Get in there you big furry oaf! I don't care what you smell! Get in there and don't worry about it.

Han gives him a kick and the Wookiee disappears into the tiny opening. Luke and Han continue firing as they work their way toward the chute.

Han: Wonderful girl! Either I'm going to kill her or I'm beginning to like her. Get in there!

Luke ducks laserfire as he jumps into the darkness. Han fires off a couple of quick blasts creating a smokey cover, then slides into the chute himself and is gone.

"Well, that's one way to get out of trouble…" Macao commented with a deadpan.

"Reminds me when flames-brains here is always botching up any mission we are forced to do together, and we end up having to fight our way through all the opposition. "Gray snarked.

"Say that again to my face cold-breath!" Natsu threatened.

The scene changes to show what Obi-Wan was doing, the old Jedi enters a humming service trench that powers the huge tractor beam. The trench seems to be a hundred miles deep. The clacking sound of huge switching devices can be heard. The old Jedi edges his his way along a narrow ledge leading to a control panel that connects two large cables. He carefully makes several adjustments in the computer terminal, and several lights on the board go from red to blue.

"Whatever that did, I bet it will spell bad news for the Imperial guys." Cana said with a malicious grin.

Wakaba frowned. "They deserved that and more for killing an entire world of innocent people…" He grumbled sourly.

The screen shows Ben hurrying along one of the tunnels leading to the hangar where the pirateship waits. Just before he reaches the hangar, Darth Vader steps into view at the end of the tunnel, not ten feet away.

("OH fishsticks! It's Darth Vader!" Happy shouts in alarm.)

Vader lights his saber. Ben also ignites his and steps slowly forward.

Vader: I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again, at last. The circle is now complete.

Ben Kenobi moves with elegant ease into a classical offensive position. The fearsome Dark Knight takes a defensive stance.

Vader: When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the master.

Obi-Wan: Only a master of evil, Darth.

The two Galactic warriors stand perfectly still for a few moments, sizing each other up and waiting for the right moment. Ben seems to be under increasing pressure and strain, as if an invisible weight were being placed upon him. He shakes his head and, blinking, tries to clear his eyes.

Ben makes a sudden lunge at the huge warrior but is checked by a lightning movement of The Sith. A masterful slash stroke by Vader is blocked by the old Jedi. Another of the Jedi's blows is blocked, then countered. Ben moves around the Dark Lord and starts backing into the massive starship hangar. The two powerful warriors stand motionless for a few moments with laser swords locked in mid-air, creating a low buzzing sound.

Vader: Your powers are weak, old man.

Obi-Wan: You can't win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.

Their lightsabers continue to meet in combat.

"Oh no! This is too stressful! Darth Vader might actually kill Obi-Wan!" Lucy exclaimed in alarm, worried for the old Jedi. "Where are Luke and the others!? They must hurry vefore it is too late!"

Natsu just gritted his teeth in apprehension.

The screen now shows Han Solo and Chewbacca, their weapons in hand, leaning back against a wall as they survey the forward bay, watching the Imperial stormtroopers make their rounds of the hangar.

Han: Didn't we just leave this party?

Chewbacca growls a reply, as Luke and the princess join them.

Han: What kept you?

Leia: We ran into some old friends.

Luke: Is the ship all right?

Han: Seems okay, if we can get to it. Just hope the old man got the tractor beam out of commission.

Back to the battle, Vader and Ben Kenobi continue their powerful duel. As they hit their lightsabers together, lightning flashes on impact. Troopers look on in interest as the old Jedi and Dark Lord of The Sith fight. Suddenly Luke spots the battle from his group's vantage point.

Luke: Look!

Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewie look up and see Ben and Vader emerging from the hallways on the far side of the docking bay.

Solo, Chewie, Luke, and Leia tensely watch the duel. The troops rush toward the battling knights.

Han: Now's our chance! Go!

They start for the Millennium Falcon. Ben sees the troops charging toward him and realizes that he is trapped. Vader takes advantage of Ben's momentary distraction and brings his mighty lightsaber down on the old man. Ben manages to deflect the blow and swiftly turns around.

The old Jedi Knight looks over his shoulder at Luke, lifts his sword from Vader's then watches his opponent with a serene look on his face. Vader brings his sword down, cutting old Ben in half.

"Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" Happy screams in horror as he sees the old Jedi being cut down. The rest of the fairies are too shocked to offer any kind of reaction.

Ben's cloak falls to the floor in two parts, but Ben is not in it. Vader is puzzled at Ben's disappearance and pokes at the empty cloak. As the guards are distracted, the adventurers and the robots reach the starship. Luke sees Ben cut in two and starts for him. Aghast, he yells out.

Luke: No!

The stormtroopers turn toward Luke and begin firing at him. The robots are already moving up the ramp into the Millennium Falcon, while Luke, transfixed by anger and awe, returns their fire. Solo joins in the laserfire. Vader looks up and advances toward them, as one of his troopers is struck down.

Han: (to Luke) Come on!

Leia: Come on! Luke, its too late!

Han: Blast the door! Kid!

Luke fires his pistol at the door control panel, and it explodes. The door begins to slide shut. Three troopers charge forward firing laser bolts, as the door slides to a close behind them, shutting Vader and the other troops out of the docking bay. A stormtrooper lies dead at the feet of his onrushing compatriots. Luke starts for the advancing troops, as Solo and Leia move up the ramp into the pirateship. He fires, hitting a stormtrooper, who crumbles to the floor.

Ben's Voice: Run, Luke! Run!

Luke looks around to see where the voice came from. He turns toward the pirateship, ducking Imperial gunfire from the troopers and races into the ship.

"What was that!? Was that Obi Wan's voice? Has he become a spirit!" Lucy asked in confusion, the sudden horror at seeing the death of the old Jedi momentarily forgotten at hearing his voice again.

"Interesting… Is this some magic available through the force?" Laki asked in interest, fixing her glasses over her face.

Erza gritted her teeth. "It still doesn't change the fact that Vader killed him… The bastard! I pray for the day such villain gets his come-uppance!" There were grim nods from the rest of the fairies at that declaration.

Luke, saddened by the loss of Obi-Wan Kenobi, stares off blankly as the robots look on. Leia puts a blanket around him protectively, and Luke turns and looks up at her. She sits down beside him.

Luke looks downward sadly, shaking his head back and forth, as the princess smiles comfortingly at him.

Luke: I can't believe he's gone.

Artoo-Detoo beeps a reply.

Leia: There wasn't anything you could have done.

Jocelyn: After suffering the death of his mentor and escaping the Death Star. Luke and the other decide to go in search of the rebel base and deliver the plans of the giant space station. Unaware they were carrying a few surprises on their ship.

Darth Vader strides into the control room, where Tarkin is watching the huge view screen. A sea of stars is before him.

Tarkin: Are they away?

Vader: They have just made the jump into hyperspace.

Tarkin: You're sure the homing beacon is secure aboard their ship? I'm taking an awful risk, Vader. This had better work.

"Oh no! They're being followed!" Levi exclaimed in alarm.

"Those cowardly cheats!" Elfman yelled.

The battered pirateship drifts into orbit around the planet Yavin and proceeds to one of its tiny green moons.

Next, the millennium falcon is seen soaring over the dense jungle.

An alert guard, his laser gun in hand, scans the countryside. He sets the gun down and looks toward the temple, barely visible in the foliage.

"Seems they finally arrived at the base of their allies… This rebellion the empire speaks often with scorn…" Macao commented as he munched over his cigar.

"About time! Maybe now they will be able to take the fight against the empire!" Erza said with a serious demeanor.

The surface of the Death Star is seen ominously approaching the red planet Yavin. Inside the control room of the superstation, Grand Moff Tarkin and Lord Vader are interrupted in their discussion by the buzz of the comlink. Tarkin moves to answer the call.

Tarkin: Yes.

Intercom Voice: We are approaching the planet Yavin. The Rebel base is on a moon on the far side. We are preparing to orbit the planet.

Jocelyn: Despite having their headquarters being discovered through deception, this gave the rebellion a golden chance of attacking the Death Star and attempt to destroy it now that its structural plans had finally been delivered into their hands.

"An opportunity to avenge all those innocent people killed in the destruction of that planet!? They must take it, no questions asked! Such an unforgivable crime cannot be allowed to go unpunished!" Erza declared rather passionately, slamming her hands on her table.

"I don't think is going to be that easy to storm such a formidable fortress…" Makarov said in frustration.

A lone guard stands in a tower high above the Yavin landscape, surveying the countryside. A mist hangs over the jungle of twisted green.

Inside a war-room, Dodonna stands before a large electronic wall display ready to give her debriefing. Leia and several other senators are to one side of the giant readout. The low-ceilinged room is filled with starpilots, navigators, and a sprinkling of R2-type robots. Everyone is listening intently to what Dodonna is saying. Han and Chewbacca are standing near the back.

Dodonna: The battle station is heavily shielded and carries a firepower greater than half the star fleet. Its defenses are designed around a direct large-scale assault. A small one-man fighter should be able to penetrate the outer defense. Even though the faeries have almost zero knowledge about starship naval battles, theiy couldn't stop from being flabbergasted at wondering how a single manned vessel would be able to topple such a massive flying battle station.

Gold Leader, a rough looking man in his early thirties, stands and addresses Dodonna.

Gold Leader: Pardon me for asking, sir, but what good are snub fighters going to be against that?

("I would like to know the answer to that too…?" Wakaba said with an incredulous face.)

Dodonna: Well, the Empire doesn't consider a small one-man fighter to be any threat, or they'd have a tighter defense. An analysis of the plans provided by Princess Leia has demonstrated a weakness in the battle station.

Artoo-Detoo stands next to a similar robot, makes beeping sounds, and turns his head from right to left. Dodonna gestures towards the electronic wall as the designs of the death star are shown in its surface.

Dodonna: The approach will not be easy. You are required to maneuver straight down this trench and skim the surface to this point. The target area is only two meters wide. It's a small thermal exhaust port, right below the main port. The shaft leads directly to the reactor system. A precise hit will start a chain reaction which should destroy the station.

A murmur of disbelief runs through the room.

Dodonna: Only a precise hit will set up a chain reaction. The shaft is ray-shielded, so you'll have to use proton torpedoes.

Luke is sitting next to Wedge Antilles, a hotshot pilot about sixteen years old.

Wedge: That's impossible, even for a computer.

Luke: It's not impossible. I used to bull's-eye womp rats in my T-sixteen back home. They're not much bigger than two meters.

Dodonna: Man your ships! And may the Force be with you!

The group rises and begins to leave.

"And so, it begins…" Makarov said with a severe expression, the rest of the fairies just watched, keeping their own thoughts to themselves.

The Death Star begins to move around the planet toward the tiny green moon. Tarkin and Vader watch the computer projected screen with interest, as a circle of lights intertwines around one another on the screen showing its position in relation to Yavin and the forth moon.

Intercom Voice: Orbiting the planet at maximum velocity. The moon with the Rebel base will be in range in thirty minutes.

Vader: This will be a day long remembered. It has seen the end of Kenobi and it will soon see the end of the Rebellion.

The scene changes to show Luke, Threepio and little Artoo entering the huge spaceship hangar and hurry along a long line of gleaming spacefighters. Flight crews rush around loading last-minute armaments and unlocking power couplings. In an area isolated from this activity Luke finds Han and Chewbacca loading small boxes onto an armored speeder.

Loudspeaker's voice: All flight trooper, man your stations. All flight troops, man your stations.

Han is deliberately ignoring the activity of the fighter pilots' preparation. Luke is quite saddened at the sight of his friend's departure.

Luke: So... you got your reward and you're just leaving then?

Han: That's right, yeah! I got some old debts I've got to pay off with this stuff. Even if I didn't, you don't think I'd be fool enough to stick around here, do you? Why don't you come with us? You're pretty good in a fight. I could use you.

Luke: (getting angry) Come on! Why don't you take a look around? You know what's about to happen, what they're up against. They could use a good pilot like you. You're turning your back on them.

Han: What good's a reward if you ain't around to use it? Besides, attacking that battle station ain't my idea of courage. It's more like suicide.

Luke: All right. Well, take care of yourself, Han. I guess that's what you're best at, isn't it?

Luke goes off and Han hesitates, then calls to him.

Han: Hey, Luke... may the Force be with you!

Luke turns and sees Han wink at him. Luke lifts his hand in a small wave and then goes off.

"Why is he leaving!? Firneds should always stick with each other!" Natsu said aloud, not understanding why someone would willingly part away from their important people.

"Some people prefer to be on their own Natsu, don't take it personally, it's just how things are with how many diverse people live in the world…" Makarov said with a shrug.

Natsu frowned. "Well I don't agree with that idea…"

As Luke heads for his ship, another pilot rushes up to him and grabs his arm.

Biggs: Luke! I don't believe it! How'd you get here... are you going out with us?!

Luke: Biggs! Of course, I'll be up there with you! Listen, have I got some stories to tell...

Red Leader, a rugged handsome man in his forties, comes up behind Luke and Biggs. He has the confident smile of a born leader.

Red Leader: Are you... Luke Skywalker? Have you been checked out on the Incom T-sixty-five?

Biggs: Sir, Luke is the best bushpilot in the outer rim territories.

Red Leader pats Luke on the back as they stop in front of his fighter.

Red Leader: I met your father once when I was just a boy, he was a great pilot. You'll do all right. If you've got half of your father's skill, you'll do better than all right.

Luke: Thank you, sir. I'll try.

Red Leader hurries to his own ship.

Biggs: I've got to get aboard. Listen, you'll tell me your stories when we come back. All right?

Luke: I told you I'd make it someday, Biggs.

Biggs: (going off) You did, all right. It's going to be like old times, Luke. We're a couple of shooting stars that'll never be stopped!

Luke laughs and shakes his head in agreement. He heads for his ship.

"That Biggs seems like a good guy…" Levy said, earning nods from the rest of the fairies.

"That's what I'm always saying. You need friends who can have your back." Natsu declared in agreement.

All final preparations are made for the approaching battle. The hangar is buzzing with the last-minute activity as the pilots and crewmen alike make their final adjustments. The hum of activity is occasionally trespassed by the distorted voice of the loudspeaker issuing commands. Coupling hoses are disconnected from the ships as they are fueled. Cockpit shields roll smoothly into place over each pilot. A signalman, holding red guiding lights, directs the ships. Luke, a trace of a smile gracing his lips, peers about through his goggles.

Ben's Voice: Luke, the Force will be with you.

Luke is confused at the voice and taps his headphones.

All that can be seen of the fortress is a lone guard standing on a small pedestal jutting out above the dense jungle. The muted gruesome crying sounds that naturally permeate this eerie purgatory are overwhelmed by the thundering din of ion rockets as four silver starships catapult from the foliage in a tight formation and disappears into the morning cloud cover.

Back in the War Room, the princess, Threepio, and a field commander sit quietly before the giant display showing the planet Yavin and its four moons. The red dot that represents the Death Star moves ever closer to the system. A series of green dots appear around the fourth moon. A din of indistinct chatter fills the war room.

Intercom Voice: Stand-by alert. Death Star approaching. Estimated time to firing range, fifteen minutes.

The Death Star slowly moves behind the massive yellow surface of Yavin in the foreground, as many X-wing fighters flying in formation began to take their positions for the impending assault.

Light from a distant sun creates an eerie atmospheric glow around a huge planet, Yavin. The formation of Rebel fighters settles ominously in the foreground and very slowly pull away.

Inside his cockpit, Red Leader lowers his visor and adjusts his gun sights, looking to each side at his wing men.

Red Leader: All wings report in.

One of the Rebel fighters checks in through his mike.

Red Ten: Red Ten standing by.

Biggs checks his fighter's controls, alert and ready for combat.

Red Seven (over Biggs' headset): Red Seven standing by.

Biggs: Red Three standing by.

Porkins: Red Six standing by.

Red Nine: (over headset) Red Nine standing by.

Wedge: Red Two standing by.

Red Eleven (over headset): Red Eleven standing by.

Luke: Red Five standing by.

Artoo-Detoo, in position outside Luke's fighter, turns his head from side to side and makes beeping sounds.

Red Leader: Lock S-foils in attack position.

The group of X-wing fighters move in formation toward the Death Star, unfolding the wings and locking them in the "X" position.

The members of Fairy Tail just watch anxiously in anticipation as the x-wings prepare to storm the Death Star, never having seen a sight like it before since flying ships and machines of such sophistication did not exist in their world.

Red Leader: We're passing through their magnetic field. Hold tight!

Luke adjusts his controls as he concentrates on the approaching Death Star. The ship begins to be buffeted slightly.

Red Leader (over headset): Switch your deflectors on.

Inside another cockpit.

Red Leader (over headset): Double front!

The fighters, now X-shaped darts, move in formation. The Death Star now appears to be a small moon growing rapidly in size as the Rebel fighters' approach. Complex patterns on the metallic surface begin to become visible. A large dish antenna is built into the surface on one side.

Wedge, looking through his cockpit, is amazed and slightly frightened at the awesome spectacle.

Wedge: Look at the size of that thing!

Red Leader (over headset): Cut the chatter, Red Two.

"Oh, my gods! Just how much resources must this Empire posses to build such a monstrosity of that size!" Laki Olietta exclaimed, for once caught flat footed in surprise due to the sheer scope of the Death Star.

"And all those resources used for the benefit of evil…" Makarov said with a scowl, remembering what the real function of the space station is.

Red Leader: Accelerate to attack speed. This is it, boys!

As the fighters move closer to the Death Star, the awesome size of the gargantuan Imperial fortress is revealed. Half of the deadly space station is in shadow and this area sparkles with thousands of small lights running in thin lines and occasionally grouped in large clusters; somewhat like a city at night as seen from a weather satellite.

Gold Leader: Red Leader, this is Gold Leader.

Red Leader (over headset): I copy, Gold Leader.

Gold Leader: We're starting for the target shaft now.

Red Leader looks around at his wingmen; the Death Star looming in from behind. Two Y-wing fighters bob back and forth in the background. He moves his computer targeting device into position.

Red Leader: We're in position. I'm going to cut across the axis and try and draw their fire.

Two squads of Rebel fighters peel off. The X-wings dive towards the Death Star surface. A thousand lights glow across the dark grey expanse of the huge station.

Meanwhile, inside the Death Star, Alarm sirens scream as soldiers scramble to large turbo-powered laser gun emplacements. Electronic drivers rotate the huge guns into position as crew adjust their targeting devices.

Laserbolts streak through the star-filled night. The Rebel X-wing fighters move in toward the Imperial base, as the Death Star aims its massive laser guns at the Rebel forces and fires.

Back inside the rebel base, Leia listens to the battle over the intercom. Threepio is at her side.

Wedge (over war room speaker system): Heavy fire, boss! Twenty-degrees.

Red Leader (over speaker): I see it. Stay low.

An X-wing zooms across the surface of the Death Star.

Technical crews scurry here and there loading last-minute armaments and unlocking power cables.

Wedge maneuvers his fighter toward the menacing Death Star.

X-wings continue in their attack course on the Death Star.

Luke nosedives radically, starting his attack on the monstrous fortress. The Death Star surface streaks past the cockpit window.

Luke: This is Red Five; I'm going in!

Luke's X-wing races toward the Death Star. Laserbolts streak from Luke's weapons, creating a huge fireball explosion on the dim surface. Terror crosses Luke's face as he realizes he won't be able to pull out in time to avoid the fireball.

Biggs (over headset): Luke, pull up!

Luke's ship emerges from the fireball, with the leading edges of his wings slightly scorched.

Biggs: Are you all right?

Luke adjusts his controls and breathes a sigh of relief. Flak bursts outside the cockpit window.

Luke: I got a little cooked, but I'm okay.

Rebel fighters continue to strafe the Death Star's surface with laserbolts.

Walls inside the Death Star buckle and cave in. Troops and equipment are blown in all directions. Stormtroopers stagger out of the rubble. Standing in the middle of the chaos, a vision of calm and foreboding, is Darth Vader. One of his Astro-Officers rushes up to him.

Officer: We count thirty Rebel ships, Lord Vader. But they're so small they're evading our turbo-lasers!

Vader: We'll have to destroy them ship to ship. Get the crews to their fighters.

("Uh-Oh, here come the Empire's counterattack!" Cana exclaimed.)

Smoke belches from the giant laser guns installed on the Death Star's batteries as they wind up their turbine generators to create sufficient power. The crew rushes about preparing for another blast. Even the troopers head gear is not adequate to protect them from the overwhelming noise of the monstrous weapon. One trooper bangs his helmet with his hand in an attempt to stop the ringing.

Red Leader flies through a heavy hail of flak.

Red Leader: Luke, let me know when you're going in.

The Red Leader's X-wing flies past Luke as he puts his nose down and starts his attack dive.

Luke: I'm on my way in now...

Red Leader: Watch yourself! There's a lot of fire coming from the right side of that deflection tower.

Luke: I'm on it.

Luke flings his X-wing into a twisting dive across the horizon and down onto the dim grey surface. A shot hurls from Luke's guns. Laserbolts streak toward the onrushing Death Star surface. Several small radar emplacements erupt in flame. Laserfire erupts from a protruding tower on the surface.

The blurry Death Star surface races past the cockpit window as a big smile sweeps across Luke's face at the success of his run. Flak thunders on all sides of him. Luke maneuvers his craft through a wall of laserfire and peels away from the surface towards the heavens.

The thunder and smoke of the big guns reverberate throughout the massive structure. Many Imperial soldiers rush about in the smoke and chaos, silhouetted by the almost continual flash of explosions.

Biggs dives through a forest of radar domes, antennae, and gun towers as he shoots low across the Death Star surface. A dense barrage of laserfire streaks by on all sides.

Imperial star pilots dash in unison to a line of small auxiliary hatches that lead to Imperial TIE fighters.

Back on Yavin, Princess Leia, surrounded by her generals and aides, paces nervously before a lighted computer table. On all sides, technicians work in front of many lighted glass walls. Dodonna watches quietly from one corner. One of the officers working over a screen speaks into his headset.

Control Officer: Squad leaders, we've picked up a new group of signals. Enemy fighters coming your way.

("Oh Shit! Here they come!" Warren Rocko all but yelled, his nerves at the edge of fraying.)

Luke looks around to see if he can spot the approaching Imperial fighters.

Luke: My scope's negative. I don't see anything.

The Death Star's surface sweeps past as Red Leader searches the sky for the Imperial fighters. Flak pounds at his ship.

Red Leader: Keep up your visual scanning. With all this jamming, they'll be on top of you before your scope can pick them up.

Silhouetted against the rim lights of the Death Star horizon, four ferocious Imperial TIE ships dive on the Rebel fighters. Two of the TIE fighters peel off and drop out of formation, but the remaining two continue on course.

Bigg panics when he discovers a TIE ship on his tail. The horizon in the background twists around as he peels off, hoping to lose the Imperial fighter.

Red Leader: Biggs! You've picked one up... watch it!

Biggs: I can't see it! Where is he?!

Biggs zooms off the Death Star's surface and into space, closely followed by an Imperial TIE fighter. The TIE ship fires several laserbolts at Biggs but misses. Biggs then sees the TIE ship behind him and swings around, trying to avoid him.

Biggs: He's on me tight, I can't shake him... I can't shake him.

Biggs, flying at high altitude, peels off and dives toward the Death Star's surface, but he is unable to lose the TIE fighter, who sticks close to his tail.

Luke is flying upside down. He rotates his ship around to normal attitude as he comes out of his dive.

Luke: Hang on, Biggs, I'm coming in.

Biggs and the tailing TIE ship dive for the surface, now followed by a fast-gaining Luke. After Biggs dives out of sight, Luke chases the Imperial fighter. In the foreground, the Imperial fighter races across the Death Star's surface, closely followed by Luke in the background.

There is a shot from Luke's X-wing and the TIE ship explodes in a mass of flames. The fairies cheer at Luke for downing one of the enemy fighters.

Luke: Got him!

Darth Vader strides purposefully down a Death Star corridor, flanked by Imperial stormtroopers.

Vader: Several fighters have broken off from the main group. Come with me!

A concerned Princess Leia, Threepio, Dodonna, and other officers of the Rebellion stand around the huge round readout screen, listening to the ship-to-ship communication on the room's loudspeaker.

Biggs (over speaker): Pull in! Luke... pull in!

Wedge (over speaker): Watch your back, Luke!

The scene changes to the inside of Luke's cockpit.

Wedge (over headset) Watch your back! Fighter's above you, coming in!

Luke's ship soars away from the Death Star's surface as he spots the tailing TIE fighter.

The TIE pilot takes aim at Luke's X-wing before taking a shot and scoring a hit on Luke's ship. Fire breaks out on the right side of the X-wing. Many of the fairies' gasp at Luke's near brush with death. The farm-boy looks out of his cockpit at the flames on his ship.

Luke: I'm hit, but not bad.

Smoke pours out from behind Artoo-Detoo.

Luke: Artoo, see what you can do with it. Hang on back there.

Green laserfire moves past the beeping little robot as his head turns. Luke nervously works his controls.

Red Leader (over headset): Red Six...

In the war room, Leia stands frozen as she listens and worries about Luke.

Red Leader (over speaker): Can you see Red Five?

Red Ten (over speaker): There's a heavy fire zone on this side. Red Five, where are you?

Luke spots the TIE fighter behind him and soars away from the Death Star surface.

Luke: I can't shake him!

Luke's ship soars closer to the surface of the Death Star, an Imperial TIE fighter closing in on him in hot pursuit. The faeries watch anxiously as Luke is being chased without hope of escaping.

The Death Star whips below Wedge.

Wedge: I'm on him, Luke! Hold on!

Wedge dives across the horizon toward Luke and the TIE Fighter, moving his X-wing in rapidly.

Luke reacts frantically.

Luke: Blast it! Wedge where are you?

The fighter pilot watches Wedge's X-wing approach. Another X-wing joins him, and both unleash a volley of laserfire on the Imperial fighter. The TIE fighter explodes, filling the screen with white light. Luke's ship can be seen far in the distance.

The young farm-boy looks about in relief.

Luke: Thanks, Wedge.

"Fiuuu, that was close…." Happy said, wiping illusionary sweat from his brow.

Leia, Threepio, Dodonna and other Rebel officers are listening to the Rebel Fighter's radio transmissions over the war room intercom.

Biggs (over speaker): Good shooting, Wedge!

Gold Leader (over speaker): Red Leader...

Gold Leader peels off and starts toward the long trenches at the Death Star surface pole.

Gold Leader: This is Gold Leader. We're starting our attack run.

Three Y-wing fighters of the Gold group dive out of the stars toward the Death Star surface.

Leia and the others are grouped around the screen, as technicians move about attending to their duties.

Red Leader (over speaker): I copy, Gold Leader. Move into position.

Three Imperial TIE ships in precise formation dive toward the Death Star surface. Darth Vader calmly adjusts his control stick as the stars whip past across the window above his head.

Vader: Stay in attack formation!

Back on Yavin, Technicians are seated at the computer readout table.

Gold Leader (over speaker): The exhaust post is marked and locked in!

Gold Leader approaches the surface and pulls out to skim the surface of the huge station. The ship moves into a deep trench, firing laserbolts. The surface streaks past as laserfire is returned by the Death Star.

Gold Five is a pilot in his early fifties with a very battered helmet that looks like it's been through many battles. He looks around to see if enemy ships are near. His fighter is buffeted by Imperial flak.

Gold Leader races down the enormous trench that leads to the exhaust port. Laserbolts blast toward him in increasing numbers, occasionally exploding near the ship causing it to bounce about.

Gold Leader: Switch power to front deflector screens.

Three Y-wing skim the Death Star surface deep in the trench, as laserbolts streak past on all sides. An exterior surface gun blazes away at the oncoming Rebel fighters.

Gold Leader: How many guns do you think, Gold Five.

Gold Five (over speaker): I'd say about twenty guns. Some on the surface, some on the towers.

Leia, Threepio, and the technicians view the projected target screen, as red and blue target lights glow. The red target near the center blinks on and off.

Intercom Voice (over speaker) Death Star will be in range in five minutes.

"Oh no! They almost run out of time to stop the Death Star before it can have their base on its sights!" Lucy exclaimed rather alarm.

"Luckily they have already begun their bombing runs…" Macao said, a little tense himself.

The three Y-wing fighters race toward camera and zoom overhead through a hail of laserfire. Gold Leader pulls his computer targeting device down in front of his eye. Laserbolts continue to batter the Rebel craft.

Gold Leader: Switching to targeting computer.

("Targeting computer!?" Laki Olietta asked intrigued. She was shushed by Cana.)

Gold Two, a younger pilot about Luke's age, pulls down his targeting eye viewer and adjusts it. His ship shudders under intense laser barrage.

Gold Two: Computer's locked. Getting a signal.

As the fighters begin to approach the target area, suddenly all the laserfire stops. An eerie clam clings over the trench as the surface whips past in a blur.

Gold Two: The guns... they've stopped!

("I have the feeling that's not a good thing…" Alzack said with a sour face.)

Gold Five looks behind him.

Gold Five: Stabilize your rear deflectors. Watch for enemy fighters.

Gold Leader: They're coming in! Three marks at two ten.

Three Imperial TIE ships, Darth Vader in the center flanked by two wingmen, dive in precise formation almost vertically toward the Death Star surface. The dark lord calmly adjusts his control stick as the stars zoom by.

Vader: I'll take them myself! Cover me!

Wingman (over speaker): Yes, sir.

The three TIE fighters zoom across the surface of the Death Star. Vader lines up Gold Two in his targeting computer. Vader's hands grip the control stick as he presses the button. A short stream of green laser-fire is angrily spewed by Vader's Tie fighter, and the cockpit of the Y-fighter explodes around Gold Two. His head lolling forward. As Gold Two's ship explodes, debris is flung out into space.

Gold Leader looks over his shoulder at the scene. The three TIE fighters race along in the trench in a tight formation. Gold Leader panics.

Gold Leader (into mike): I can't maneuver!

Gold Five, the old veteran, tries to calm Gold Leader.

Gold Five: Stay on target.

The Death Star races by outside the cockpit window as Gold Leader tries to adjust his targeting device.

Gold Leader: We're too close.

The older pilot remains calm.

Gold Five: Stay on target!

Now Gold Leader is really panicked.

Gold Leader: Loosen up!

Vader calmly adjusts his targeting computer and pushes the fire button.

Gold Leader's ship is hit by Vader's laser fire and he explodes in a ball of flames as he screams, throwing debris in all directions.

Gold Five moves in on the exhaust port.

Gold Five: Gold Five to Red Leader...

Luke looks over his shoulder at the action outside of his cockpit.

Gold Five: (over headset): Lost Tiree, lost Dutch.

Red Leader: I copy, Gold Five.

Gold Five: They came from behind...

One of the engines explodes on Gold Five's Y-wing fighter, blazing out of control. He dives past the horizon toward the Death Star's surface, passing a TIE fighter during his descent. Gold Five, a veteran of countless campaigns, spins toward his death.

"Noooooooo! The entire assault team has been eliminated! They killed every single one of them!" Lucy exclaimed in panic.

Cana blinked. "Well, shit… They're fucked…" She succinctly summarized the situation.

Luke looks nervously about him at the explosive battle.

Grant Moff Tarkin and a Chief Officer stand in the Death Star's control room.

Officer: We've analyzed their attack, sir, and there is a danger. Should I have your ship standing by?

Tarkin: Evacuate? In our moment of triumph? I think you overestimate their chances!

Tarkin turns to the computer readout screen. Flames move around the green disk at the center of the screen, as numbers read across the bottom.

Intercom Voice (over speaker): Rebel base, three minutes and closing.

Meanwhile, Red Leader looks over at his wingmen.

Red Leader: Red Group, this is Red Leader.

Dodonna moves to the intercom and starts fiddling with the computer keys.

Red Leader (over speaker): Rendezvous at mark six point one.

Wedge (over speaker): This is Red Two. Flying toward you.

Biggs (over speaker) Red Three, standing by.

Dodonna (over headset): Red Leader, this is Base One. Keep half your group out of range for the next run.

Red Leader (over headset): Copy, Base One. Luke, take Red Two and Three. Hold up here and wait for my signal... to start your run.

Luke nods his head.

The X-wing fighters of Luke, Biggs, and Wedge fly in formation high above the Death Star's surface. Luke peers out from his cockpit.

Two X-wings move across the surface of the Death Star. Red Leader's X-wing drops down to the surface leading to the exhaust port.

Red Leader looks around to watch for the TIE fighters. He begins to perspire.

Red Leader: This is it!

Red Leader roams down the trench of the Death Star as lasers streak across the black heavens. A huge remote-control laser cannon fires at the approaching Rebel fighters. The X-wings evade the Imperial laser blasts.

Red Ten looks around for the Imperial Ties.

Red Ten: We should be able to see it by now.

From the cockpits of the Rebel pilots, the surface of the Death Star streaks by, with Imperial laserfire shooting toward them.

Red Leader: Keep your eyes open for those fighters!

Red Ten: There's too much interference!

Three X-wing fighters move in formation down the Death Star trench.

Red Ten: Red Five, can you see them from where you are?

Luke looks down at the Death Star surface below.

Luke: No sign of any... wait!

Red Ten looks up and sees the Imperial fighters.

Luke: (over headset) Coming in point three five.

Red Ten: I see them.

Three TIE fighters, Vader flanked by two wingmen, dive in a tight formation. The sun reflects off their dominate solar fins as they loop toward the Death Star's surface.

("Oh no, here they come again!" Joey Fullborn exclaimed with dread.)

Red Leader pulls his targeting device in front of his eyes and makes several adjustments.

Red Leader: I'm in range.

Red Leader's X-wing moves up the Death Star trench.

Red Leader: Target's coming up!

Red Leader looks at his computer target readout screen. He then looks into his targeting device.

Red Leader: Just hold them off for a few seconds.

Vader adjusts his control lever and dives towards the X-wing fighters.

Vader: Close up formation.

The three TIE fighters move in formation across the Death Star surface.

Red Leader lines up his target on the targeting device crosshairs.

Vader and his wingmen zoom down the trench. The Sith Lord rapidly approaches the two X-wings of Red Ten and Red Twelve. Vader's laser cannon flashes below the view of the front porthole. the X-wings show in the center of Vader's computer screen.

Red Twelve's X-wing fighter is hit by Vader's laserfire, and it explodes into flames against the trench.

Natsu winces at hearing the screams of the pilot as he dies in a ball of flames. "Shit! They've killed another one!"

"This is bad, at this rate all of the assault squads will be eliminated, and the Death Star will destroy the rebel headquarters…" Erza said as she bit the tip of her right thumb in frustration and anxiety.

Red Ten works at his controls furiously, trying to avoid Vader's fighter behind him.

Red Ten: You'd better let her loose.

Red Leader is concentrating on his targeting device.

Red Leader: Almost there!

Red Ten panics.

Red Ten: I can't hold them!

Vader and his wingmen whip through the trench in pursuit of the Rebel fighters. The cyborg cooly pushes the fire button on his control stick. Darth Vader's well-aimed laserfire proves to be unavoidable and strikes Red Ten's ship. Red Ten screams in anguish and pain as his ship explodes and bursts into flames.

Grimly, Red Leader takes careful aim and watches his computer targeting device, which shows the target lined up in the cross hairs, and fires.

Red Leader: It's away!

An armed Imperial stormtrooper is knocked to the floor from the attack's explosion. Other troopers scurrying about the corridors are knocked against the wall and lose their balance.

Back on Yavin, Leia and the others stare at the computer screen.

Red nine (over speaker): It's a hit!

Red Leader: (over speaker) Negative.

Red Leader looks back at the receding Death Star. Tiny explosions are visible in the distance.

Red Leader: Negative! It didn't go in. It just impacted on the surface.

Darth Vader peels off in pursuit as Red Leader's X-wing passes the Death Star horizon. He swings his ship around for the next kill.

Luke (over headset): Red Leader, we're right above you. Turn to point...

Luke tries to spot Red Leader. He looks down at the Death Star surface.

Luke: ...oh-five; we'll cover for you.

Red Leader (over headset): Stay there...

A wary Red Leader looks about nervously.

Red Leader: ...I just lost my starboard engine.

Luke looks excitedly toward Red Leader's X-wing.

Red Leader (over headset): Get set to make your attack run.

Vader's gloved hands make contact with the control sticks, and he presses their firing buttons. Red Leader fights to gain control of his ship. Green laserbolts are flung from Vader's TIE fighter, connecting with Red Leader's Rebel X-wing fighter. Red Leader buys it, creating a tremendous explosion far below. He screams and is destroyed.

Luke looks out the window of his X-wing at the explosion far below. For the first time, he feels the helplessness of his situation.

The entire ground floor of the Fairy Tail Guild is silent after seeing Red Leader die, the entire situation feeling hopeless.

"Fuck….!" Bisca declares quietly, but in the silent floor it might as well had been come out of a megaphone.

Inside the Death Star, Grand Moff Tarkin casts a sinister eye at the computer screen.

Intercom voice: Rebel base, one minute and closing.

On the Rebel HQ, Dodonna and Princess Leia, with Threepio beside them, listen intently to the talk between the pilots. The room is grim after Red Leader's death. Princess Leia nervously paces the length of the room.

Luke (over speaker): Biggs, Wedge, let's close it up. We're going in. We're going in full throttle.

From inside Wedge's cockpit, the horizon twists as Wedge begins to pull out.

Wedge: Right with you, boss.

The two X-wings peel off against a background of stars and dive toward the Death Star.

Biggs: Luke, at that speed will you be able to pull out in time?

Luke: It'll be just like Beggar's Canyon back home.

The three X-wings move in, unleashing a barrage of laserfire. Laserbolts are returned from the Death Star. Luke's lifelong friend struggles with his controls.

Biggs: We'll stay back far enough to cover you.

Flak and laserbolts flash outside Luke's cockpit window.

Wedge (over headset): My scope shows the tower, but I can't see the exhaust port! Are you sure the computer can hit it?

The Death Star laser cannon slowly rotates as it shoots laserbolts.

Luke looks around for the Imperial TIE fighters. He thinks for a moment and then moves his targeting device into position.

Luke: Watch yourself! Increase speed full throttle!

Wedge looks excitedly about for any sign of the TIE fighters.

Wedge: What about the tower?

Luke: You worry about those fighters! I'll worry about the tower!

Luke's X-wing streaks through the trench, firing lasers.

Luke breaks into a nervous sweat as the laserfire is returned, knicking one of his wings close to the engine.

Luke (to Artoo): Artoo... that, that stabilizer's broken loose again! See if you can lock it down!

Artoo works to repair the damages. The canyon wall rushes by in the background, making his delicate task seem even more precarious. Two laser cannons fire on the Rebel fighters. Wedge looks up and sees the TIE ships.

Luke's targeting device marks off the distance to the target. Vader and his wingmen zoom closer. The Sith Lord adjusts his controls and fires laserbolts at the two X-wings flying down the trench. He scores a direct hit on Wedge.

Leia and the others are grouped around the computer board.

Wedge (over speaker): I'm hit! I can't stay with you.

Luke (over speaker): Get clear, Wedge.

Luke: You can't do any more good back there!

Wedge: Sorry!

Wedge pulls his crippled X-wing back away from the battle. Vader watches the retreat and issues a command to his wingmen.

Vader: Let him go! Stay on the leader!

Luke's X-wing speeds down the trench; the three TIE fighters, still in perfect unbroken formation, tail close behind. Biggs looks around at the TIE fighters. He is worried.

Biggs: Hurry, Luke, they're coming in much faster this time. I can't hold them!

The three TIE fighters move ever closer, closing in on Luke and Biggs. Luke looks back anxiously at little Artoo.

Luke: Artoo, try and increase the power!

Ignoring the bumpy ride, flak, and lasers, a beeping Artoo-Detoo struggles to increase the power, his dome turning from side to side.

Stealthily, the TIE formation creeps closer. Vader adjusts his control stick while Biggs looks around at the TIE fighters.

Luke looks into his targeting device. He moves it away for a moment and ponders its use. He looks back into the computer targeter.

Biggs (over headset): Hurry up, Luke!

Vader and his wingmen race through the Death Star trench. Biggs moves in to cover for Luke, but Vader gains on him. Biggs sees the TIE fighter aiming at him.

Biggs: Wait!

Vader squeezes the fire button on his controls and Biggs' cockpit explodes around him, lighting him in red; his ship bursts into a million flaming bits and scatters across the surface of the Death Star.

"OH NOOOOO! Luke's friend has been killed!" Lucy declared with horror.

"That bastard of Vader!" Natsu exclaimed with great scorn.

"He is evil!" Happy agreed.

Leia and the others stare at the computer board.

Luke is stunned by Biggs' death. His eyes are watering, but his anger is also growing.

Grand Moff Tarkin watches the projected target screen with satisfaction.

Intercom Voice: Rebel base, thirty seconds and closing.

Vader takes aim on Luke and talks to the wingmen.

Vader: I'm on the leader.

Luke's ship streaks through the trench of the Death Star.

Princess Leia returns her general's worried and doubtful glances with solid, grim determination. Threepio seems nervous.

Threepio: Hang on, Artoo!

Luke concentrates on his targeting device as the three TIE fighters charge away down the trench towards him. Vader's finger's curls around the control stick.

Luke adjusts the lens of his targeting device as his ship charges down the trench. He lines up the yellow cross-hair lines of the targeting device's screen and looks into the targeting device, then starts at a voice that can suddenly be heard.

Obi-Wan: Use the Force, Luke.

The Death Star trench zooms by. Luke looks up, then starts to look back into the targeting device again. But now he has second thoughts.

Obi-Wan: Let go, Luke.

Happy is startled at hearing the voice of the old Jedi again. "Ah! It's Obi-wan! Is he…?"

"No… It's probably just his spirit talking to Luke…" Makarov replied, not unkindly.

A grim determination sweeps across Luke's face as he closes his eyes and starts to mumble Ben's training to himself. Luke's fighter streaks through the trench.

Vader picks up with his senses that something is about to happen.

Vader: The Force is strong with this one!

Vader follows Luke's X-wing down the trench. Luke looks into the targeting device, then away as he hears

Ben's voice again.

Obi-Wan: Luke, trust me.

Luke's hand reaches for the control panel and presses the button. The targeting device moves away.

Leia and the others stand watching the projected screen.

Comm. Officer (over speaker): His computer's off. Luke, you switched off your targeting computer. What's wrong?

Luke (over speaker): Nothing. I'm all right.

Luke's ship streaks ever close to the exhaust port. Luke looks at the Death Star surface streaking by.

Artoo-Detoo turns his head from side to side, beeping in anticipation.

The three TIE fighters, manned by Vader and his two wingmen, follow Luke's X-wing down the trench. Vader maneuvers his controls as he looks at his doomed target. He presses the fire buttons on his control sticks. Laserfire shoots toward Luke's X-wing fighter.

A large burst of Vader's laserfire engulfs Artoo. The arms go limp on the smoking little droid as he makes a high-pitched sound. Luke looks frantically back over his shoulder at Artoo. Smoke billows out around little Artoo and sparks begin to fly.

Luke: I've lost Artoo!

Artoo's beeping sounds die out.

Leia and the others stare intently at the projected screen, while Threepio watches the Princess. Lights representing the Death Star and targets glow brightly.

Intercom Voice: The Death Star has cleared the planet. The Death Star has cleared the planet.

Tarkin glares at the projected target screen.

Intercom Voice: Rebel base, in range.

Tarkin: You may fire when ready.

Intercom Voice: Commence primary ignition.

An officer reaches up and pushes buttons on the control panel, as green lighted buttons turn to red.

The three TIE fighters zoom down the Death Star trench in pursuit of Luke, never breaking formation.

Luke looks anxiously at the exhaust port.

Vader adjusts his control sticks, checking his projected targeting screen.

Luke's ship barrels down the trench.

Vader's targeting computer swings around into position, he takes careful aim on Luke's X-wing fighter. The mages of Fairy Tail anxiously grit their teeth as they impotently witness Luke's encroaching demise.

Vader: I have you now.

He pushes the fire buttons.

The three TIE fighters move in on Luke. As Vader's center fighter unleashes a volley of laserfire, one of the TIE ships at his side is hit and explodes into flame. The two remaining ships continue to move in.

Luke looks about, wondering whose laserfire destroyed Vader's wingman.

Vader is taken by surprise and looks out from his cockpit.

Vader: What?

Vader's wingman searches around him trying to locate the unknown attacker.

The Millenium Falcon appears, diving down from the light of a nearby star. Han and Chewbacca grin from ear to ear.

Han (yelling): Yahoo!

The Millennium Falcon heads right at the two TIE fighters. It's a collision course.

The wingman spots the pirateship coming at him and warns the Dark Lord.

Wingman: Look out!

Vader's wingman panics at the sight of the oncoming pirate starship and veers radically to one side, colliding with Vader's TIE fighter in the process. Vader's wingman crashes into the side wall of the trench and explodes. Vader's damaged ship spins out of the trench with a damaged wing. It spins out of control with a bent solar fin, heading for deep space.

Vader turns round and around in circles as his ship spins into space.

"He came back! He does care for his friends after all!" Happy cheered.

"I knew he was a real friend to Luke after all!" Natsu nodded in satisfaction.

Solo's ship moves in toward the Death Star trench. Han smiling, speaks to Luke over his headset mike.

Han: You're all clear, kid.

Leia and the others listen to Solo's transmission.

Han: (over speaker) Now let's blow this thing and go home!

Luke looks up and smiles. He concentrates on the exhaust port, then fires his laser torpedoes.

The projectiles shoot toward the port and seem to simply disappear into the distance and do nothing. But the shots do find their mark and enter inside the exhaust port, heading for the main reactor. Luke throws his head back in relief.

An Imperial soldier runs to the control panel board and pulls the attack lever as the board behind him lights up.

Intercom Voice: Stand by to fire at Rebel base.

On the exterior space of the Death Star, Two X-wings, a Y-wing, and the pirateship race toward Yavin in the distance.

Several Imperial soldiers, flanking a pensive Grand Moff Tarkin, busily push control levers and buttons.

Intercom Voice: Standing by.

The rumble of a distant explosion begins.

The Rebel ships race out of sight, leaving the moon-like Death Star alone against a blanket of stars. Several small flashes appear on the surface. The Death Star bursts into a supernova, creating a spectacular heavenly display. The fairies look fascinated at the light show.

Han: Great shot, kid. That was one in a million.

Luke is at ease, as he closes his eyes in mild-weariness.

Obi-Wan: Remember, the Force will be with you... Always…

The star-fighter rocks back and forth.

Meanwhile, Vader's ship spins off into space.

Jocelyn: However, this important victory would not be the end of either the Empire or Vader, and both would have their revenge over the Rebellion for this humiliation.

"Oh no!" Happy exclaimed in dread, the rest of the mages became unsettled at the thought of just what kind of terrible revenge a man like Vader could carry out.

Jocelyn: But before all that, Luke would run afoul with a wild savage creature, but this would allow him to be contacted by the spirit of Obi-Wan again.

The screen now shows a snowy frozen wasteland, a small figure gallops across a windswept ice slope. The bundled rider is mounted on a large gray bipedal creature that looks like a crossbreed of a goat and a lizard. The rider gallops up a slope and reins his mount to a stop. Pulling off his protective goggles, Luke Skywalker notices something in the sky.

Luke clicks off his transmitter and reins back on his nervous mount. He pats the beast on the head to calm it.

Luke: Hey, steady girl. What's the matter? You smell something?

Luke takes a small device from his belt and starts to adjust it when suddenly a large shadow falls over him from behind. He hears a monstrous howl and turns to see an eleven-foot-tall shape towering over him and lunging at him ferociously.

Luke: Aaargh!

Luke grabs for his light-saber but is hit flat in the face by a huge white claw. He falls unconscious into the snow and in a moment the terrified screams of the Tauntaun are cut short by the horrible snap of a neck being broken. The unknown creature grabs Luke by one ankle and drags him away across the frozen plain.

"Luke!" Happy exclaims in alarm at seeing the young Jedi in danger.

"I hope he will be okay…" Levy said with a she trembled in fear.

"Yes, let us hope…" Wakaba said seriously.

The jagged face of a huge ice wall sits gloomily in the dim twilight of a Hoth day. Luke hangs upside down, ankles frozen into icy stalactites, his extended arms within a foot of the snow floor. One side of his face is covered in a dried mask of frozen blood. He opens his eyes as a chilling moan of the hideous ice creature echoes off the gorge walls. Luke pulls himself up, grabs hold of his ankles, and futilely tries to unfasten the throngs.

Exhausted, he drops back into his hanging position. As he hangs there, he spies his lightsaber lying near a pile of his discarded gear, about three feet out of reach. He focuses on the saber and, as his hand strains toward the weapon, he squeezes his eyes tight in concentration. Just as the ice creature looms over Luke, the lightsaber jumps into Luke's hand.

The young warrior instantly ignites his sword, swinging up, and cuts himself loose from the ice.

He flops to the snow in a heap. The startled creature moves back, his giant yellow eyes blinking. Luke scrambles to his feet. He swings his lightsaber and the beast screams in pain as one of his arms fall on the ground, blood splattering into the ice. The mages of Fairy Tail are mildy disquieted by the graphic and gruesome scene but are relieved to know that Luke is okay as he takes the opportunity to high-tail it out of the frozen cave.

Luke staggers out of the gorge into the dark and snowy twilight. Weak and exhausted, he stumbles down a snow bank. Luke lies face down in the snow, nearly unconscious. Slowly he looks up and sees Ben Kenobi, barely visible through the blowing snow. It is hard to tell if Kenobi is real or a hallucination.

Ben: Luke... Luke.

Luke (Weakly): Ben?

Ben: You will go to the Dagobah system.

Luke: Dagobah system?

Ben: There you will learn from Yoda, the Jedi Master who instructed me.

The image of Ben fades, revealing a lone Tauntaun rider approaching from the windswept horizon.

Luke: Ben... Ben.

Luke drops into unconsciousness. Han pulls up and leaps off his mount. He hurries to his snow-covered

friend, cradling him in his arms. Han's Tauntaun lets out a low, pitiful bellow. But Han's concern is with Luke, and he shakes him urgently.

Han: Luke! Luke! Don't do this, Luke. Come on, give me a sign here.

Luke doesn't respond. Han begins frantically rubbing and slapping Luke's unconscious face. As he starts to lift the youth, Han hears a rasping sound behind him. He turns, just in time to see his Tauntaun stagger and then fall over into the snow.

Han carries Luke to the moaning beast. Then, with a final groan, the Tauntaun expires.

Han: Not much time.

He pushes Luke's inert form against the belly of the dead beast.

Luke (moaning): Ben... Ben...

Han: Hang on, kid.

Luke: Dagobah system...

Han ignites Luke's saber and cuts the beast from head to toe. He quickly tosses its steaming innards into the snow, then lifts Luke's inert form and stuffs him inside the carcass.

Han (reeling from the odor): Whew...

Luke: Dagobah...

Han: This may smell bad, kid...

Luke (moaning): Yoda...

Han: ...but it will keep you warm... 'til I get the shelter built. (struggling to get Luke inside the carcass) Ooh... I thought they smelled bad on the outside!

The wind has picked up considerably, making it difficult to move. Han removes a pack from the dead creature's back, taking out a shelter container. He begins to set up what can only be a pitiful protection against a bitter Hoth night.

"Ah, It's that guy again! He saved Luke once more! He is a true friend!" Happy exclaims pointing with a claw.

"Friendship saves the day again!" Natsu declares.

The next morning, Four snub-nosed armored snowspeeders race across the white landscape.

There is only one pilot, Zev, in the enclosed two-man craft. He concentrates on the scopes which ring his cockpit. He hears a low beep from one of his monitors.

Zev (into transmitter): Echo Base... I've got something! Not much, but it could be a life form.

The small craft banks and makes a slow arc, then races off in a new direction. The pilot switches over to a new transmitter.

Zev (into transmitter): This is Rogue Two. this is Rogue Two. Captain Solo, so you copy? Commander Skywalker, do you copy? This is Rogue Two.

There is a sharp crackle of static, then a faint voice.

Han (filtered over Zev's receiver): Good morning. Nice of you guys to drop by.

Zev (switching transmitters): Echo Base... this is Rogue Two. I found them. Repeat, I found them.

(Levy, wipes off some imaginary sweat from her forehead. "Fiuuu… That was close, thank the gods Luke is alright…")

Meanwhile, Darth Vader's Star Destroyer, larger and more awesome than the five Imperial Star Destroyers that surround it, sits in the vastness of space. The six huge ships are surrounded by a convoy of smaller spacecraft. TIE fighters dart to and fro.

Controllers working the vast complex of electronic controls hear ominous approaching footsteps and look up from their stations. The squat, evil-looking Admiral Ozzel and the young, powerfully built General Veers, who have been conferring near the front, also feel the approaching presence and turn toward it. Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith, enters like a chill wind. As Vader moves across the wide bridge, Captain Piett hurries up to Ozzel.

Piett: Admiral.

Ozzel: Yes, Captain

Piett: I think we've got something, sir. The report is only a fragment from a probe droid in the Hoth system, but it's the best lead we've had.

Ozzel (irritated): We have thousands of probe droids searching the galaxy. I want proof, not leads!

Piett: The visuals indicate life readings.

Ozzel: It could mean anything. If we followed every lead...

Piett: But, sir, the Hoth system is supposed to be devoid of human forms.

Vader moves to a large screen showing an image of the Rebel snow base. Rebel speeders can be seen approaching the base in the distance.

Vader: You found something?

Piett: Yes, my lord.

Vader (studying the image on the console screen): That's it. The Rebels are there.

Ozzel: My lord, there are so many uncharted settlements. It could be smugglers, it could be...

Vader: That is the system. And I'm sure Skywalker is with them. Set your course for the Hoth system. General Veers, prepare you men.

Alarms sound throughout the hidden Rebel base. In the control room, a controller urgently gestures for General Rieekan to check a computer scan.

Controller: General, there's a fleet of Star Destroyers coming out of hyperspace in sector four.

Rieekan: Reroute all power to the energy shield. We've got to hold them till all transports are away. Prepare for ground assault.

Rieekan exits hurriedly.

Back in Vader's ship, a dark cubicle is illuminated by a single shaft of light which falls on the brooding Dark Lord as he sits on a raised meditation cube. General Veers enters the room and approaches the silent, unmoving Vader. Although seemingly very sure of himself, Veers is still not bold enough to interrupt the meditating lord. The younger general stands quietly at attention until the evil presence speaks.

Vader: What is it, General?

Veers: My lord, the fleet has moved out of light-speed. Com-Scan has detected an energy field protecting an area around the sixth planet of the Hoth system. The field is strong enough to deflect any bombardment.

Vader (angrily): The Rebels are alerted to our presence. Admiral Ozzel came out of light-speed too close to the system.

Veers: He felt surprise was wiser...

Vader: He is as clumsy as he is stupid. General, prepare your troops for a surface attack.

Veers: Yes, my lord.

Veers turns smartly and leaves as Vader activates a large viewscreen showing the bridge of his mighty ship. Admiral Ozzel appears on the viewscreen, standing slightly in front of Captain Piett.

Ozzel: Lord Vader, the fleet has moved out of light-speed, and we're preparing to... Aaagh!

Vader uses the Force to choke the life out of Ozzel.

Vader: You have failed me for the last time, Admiral. Captain Piett.

Piett steps forward, as the admiral moves away, slightly confused, touching his throat as it begins to constrict painfully.

Piett: Yes, my lord.

Vader: Make ready to land out troops beyond the energy shield and deploy the fleet so that nothing gets off that system. You are in command now, Admiral Piett.

Piett: Thank you, Lord Vader.

Piett's pleasure about his unexpected promotion is not an unmixed emotion. He glances warily at the struggling Admiral Ozzel who, with a final choke, stumbles and falls in a lifeless heap before him.

"He is evil! EVIL!" Happy wails.

Gray stares with unease. "Yeah I'm not going to argue you that Happy…"

Back on the surface of the frozen planet, Rebel troops carry heavy bazooka-type weapons and position them along a long snow trench. Men hurriedly respond to their officers' yelled orders and brace themselves against the rhythmic gusts of bitter-cold wind.

Other troops load power packs into a gun turret and swing its guns into position.

Spaceships fly overhead, a Rebel transport and two escort fighters as they begin their departure from the ice planet.

A huge Imperial Star Destroyer rests against a sea of stars, far above the white surface of the planet Hoth.

An Imperial controller approaches his commander.

Controller: Sir, Rebel ships are coming into our sector.

Captain: Good. Our first catch of the day.

Inside the rebel base, orders are being given to spring a little nasty surprise on the Empire's capital ships.

Woman controller: Stand by, ion control... Fire!

The giant ball-shaped ion cannon rotates into position and blasts two red energy beams skyward. The Rebel transport and its escort race away from the white planet, closely followed by the two red energy beams.

As the Rebel transport races toward the waiting Imperial Star Destroyer, it is suddenly overtaken by the two scarlet energy bolts. The Imperial Star Destroyer is hit in the conning tower by the powerful bolts, which set up fiery explosions on its metal hull.

The big Star Destroyer veers, then spins wildly out of control. As the Imperial ship careers into deep space, the Rebel transport races away to safety.

"Ha, Ha! They had already plans in place to counteract whatever the Empire might throw at them. Nice!" Alzack said, clearly impressed by the rebellion's foresight.

"It is the least they deserve." Erza huffed.

On the surface of the planet, a thin horizon line cuts across the bleak landscape. Small dot-size objects begin to appear on the horizon, moving in the direction of the Rebel base.

A Rebel officer lifts a pair of electrobinoculars to his eyes. Through the lens he sees a very close view of a giant Imperial snow walker. He adjusts the view which then zooms back to reveal three more of the ominous battle machines. Small flashes of yellow fire billow from the guns of the lumbering snow walkers.

"What the hells are those!" Warren Rocko declares in surprise.

"Bad news, without doubt…" Wakaba simply grunted.

The officer lowers his binoculars as the regular rhythmic pounding begins to make the ground vibrate. The pounding grows louder and is accompanied by a high-pitched, metallic rattling. The officer speaks into his comlink.

Officer: Echo Station Three-T-Eight.

Pilots and gunners race to their waiting snowspeeders. Ice and snow begin falling from the walls of the corridor, shaken by the pounding Imperial snow walker as they draw ever nearer.

Officer (over comlink): We have spotted Imperial walkers!

Controller: Imperial walkers on the north ridge.

The Rebel troops posted inside the trenches aim their weapons at the horizon as explosions erupt all around them. They are nervous and their grip on their weapons tightens from the cold and from fear.

Behind the troops a dozen snowspeeders race through the sky.

Luke (into comlink): Echo station Five-Seven. We're on our way.

The fleet of snowspeeders races above the ice field at full throttle. They accelerate away from the base and head toward the distant walkers.

Luke (into comlink): All right, boys, keep tight now.

His gunner, sitting behind him, seems to be having problems with his controls.

Dack: Luke, I have no approach vector. I'm not set.

Luke: Steady, Dack. Attack pattern delta. Go now!

The cannons mounted on the walker head fire at the speeders. Other walkers loom in the background. Two speeders race away past two of the enormous walkers and bank to the right.

Luke: All right, I'm coming in.

He turns his speeder and heads directly at one of the walkers, flying toward its towering legs. The horizon twists as the speeder banks between the legs.

Luke (into comlink): Hobbie, you still with me?

Two speeders race directly at the head of a walker, then split and fly past it. Three other walkers march onward, firing all cannons.

On the trench, rebel troops fire on the approaching walkers, as the snow and ice explode all around them.

A speeder banks through and away from the legs of a walker. Two other speeders pass the first speeder from the opposite direction. Other Rebel craft race just above the icy plain.

A giant walker head swivels and fires, striking a snowspeeder and sending it crashing in a ball of flames.

Inside the cockpit of one of the walkers, General Veers and two walker pilots keep a careful eye on the racing Rebel snowspeeders as they maneuver their lumbering war machine forward.

Luke's speeder banks in from the side of Veers's walker and heads straight for its viewport, blasting away. An explosion hits the walker window, but dissipates, doing no harm. The speeder roars up and over the impregnable war machine. Luke looks back at the walker as it grows smaller in the distance.

Luke: That armor's too strong for blasters.

On the horizon, another walker moves up past Luke's cockpit window, twisting out of sight as Luke banks and starts another run.

Luke (into comlink): Rogue Group, use your harpoons and tow cables. Go for the legs. It might be our only chance of stopping them. (to Dack) All right, stand by, Dack.

Dack is at the gunner's controls.

Dack: Luke, we've got a malfunction in fire control. I'll have to cut in the auxiliary.

Luke: Just hang on. Hang on, Dack. Get ready to fire that tow cable.

Barely keeping his seat in the tumbling ship, Dack struggles to set up his harpoon gun.

Luke swings his speeder around and heads toward an oncoming walker. Laser bolts and flak fill the air, creating a deadly obstacle course for the tiny craft.

Rogue Leader and another snowspeeder fly in tight formation toward the walker as explosions burst all around them. One of them hits pretty close as to inflict a glancing blow and make the entire speeder rattle.

After sustaining the heavy volley of fire, Luke turns around to see if Dack is all right.

Luke: Dack? Dack!

Dack is lost. Blood streams down his forehead, which rests on his smoldering controls. Out the back window, an Imperial walker recedes in the distance.

"Oh no, they killed another of his friends!" Happy wailed in outcry.

"Another death to be laid at the feet of the Empire!" Erza said harshly.

"Those bastards!" Natsu exclaimed.

Back on the trench, Rebel troops fire the mounted dishlike ray gun while explosions erupt around them.

Two walkers lumber toward the Rebel base as a speeder between them explodes in a ball of flames.

The dish-like ray gun is hit by a laser bolt and instantly explodes.

Through the cockpit window, Veers and his pilot can see the Rebel power generators in the distance. A hologram of Darth Vader appears on a control panel screen.

Veers: Yes, Lord Vader. I've reached the main power generator. The shield will be down in moments. You may start your landing.

Gray slams his fist into his table on frustration. "Dammit they're being pushed back!"

Laki Olietta fixes her glasses over her face as she watches the screem. "Those Imperial Walkers as they are called… Their armor is massive and tick and their weapons strong and powerful. They're like giant moving fortresses with devastating ranged capabilities, a very terrifying combination. If they don't stop them soon, they will march over and stomp any oposition under their feet. However, the only apparent weakness I can see in their design would be their legs, though I ignore how thick the armor protecting those sections might be, it would be wise for Luke and the rest of his squadron to focus on them." She advices after finishing her assessment.

The scene transits back to Luke

Luke (into comlink): Rogue Three.

Wedge (into comlink): Copy, Rogue Leader

Luke (over comlink): Wedge, I've lost my gunner. You'll have to make this shot. I'll cover for you. Set your harpoon. Follow me on the next pass.

Wedge (into comlink): Coming around, Rogue Leader.

Luke (into comlink): Steady, Rogue Two

("It's Wedge! He's still alive!" Happy exclaims excitedly, recognizing the pilot from the battle of the Death Star.)

Wedge's speeder races through the legs of one of the monstrous walkers.

Wedge (to gunner): Activate harpoon.

Wedge's gunner reaches for a firing switch to activate the harpoon. The harpoon flashes out, and speeds toward the receding legs of the walker.

The harpoon hurles toward the walker, in an instant it is embedded in one of the walker's legs.

Wedge (to gunner): Good shot, Janson.

The speeder Rogue Three races around one of the giant walker's feet, trailing the cable behind it. Continuing around the back foot, Rogue Three then circles the walker around the tail end. Wedge then checks his controls and banks around the front of the walker.

Wedge: One more pass.

Janson: Coming around. Once more.

The speeder sweeps left to right in front of the giant legs, towing the cable behind it.

Janson: Once more.

Wedge swings the speeder between the legs of the giant walker.

Janson: Cable out! Let her go!

Wedge: Detach cable.

The cable released on the back of the speeder snaps loose and drops away.

Janson: Cable detached.

The speeder zooms away into the distance. The tangled legs of the enormous war machine attempt a step, but as they do the giant Imperial walker begins to topple. It teeters for a moment, and then crashes onto the icy ground, sending snow and metal pieces flying.

The troops in the trenches cheer at the sight of the crashing walker. The mages of fairy tail watching the confrontation celebrate too the fall of the giant war machine.

"You were right Laki!" Natsu declares overjoyed as he rushes at the bespectacle violette and gives her a crushing hug, much to her unease.

"Laki, you're so smart!" Happy exclaims, following after his friend.

An officer gives a signal to his men and Rebel troops charge the fallen war machine.

Officer: Come on!

The troops run toward the downed walker, followed by two Rebel speeders flying overhead. Just as they reach the walker, it explodes, the impact throwing some of the men onto the frozen ground.

Wedge lets out a triumphant yell, banking his speeder away from the fallen walker.

Wedge (into comlink): Whooha! That got him!

Luke (into comlink): I see it, Wedge. Good work.

Meanwhile, large chunks of ice tumble into the command center as Leia and General Rieekan monitor computer screens.

Rieekan: I don't think we can protect two transports at a time.

Leia: It's risky, but we can't hold out much longer. We have no choice.

Rieekan (into comlink): Launch patrols.

Leia (to an aide): Evacuate remaining ground staff.

As orders for the evacuation begin to be carried out, the fierce battle on the vast snow plains of Hoth rages on. The Imperial walkers continue their slow, steady assault on the Rebel base, firing lasers as they lumber ever onward. In the snow trench, Rebel troops fire large bazookalike guns and dishlike ray guns as explosions erupt around them. A gun tower is hit by a laser bolt and instantly explodes. Another blast destroys a ray gun.

General Veers studies various readouts on his control panel.

Veers: All troops will desembark for ground assault. Prepare to target the main generator.

Luke's speeder and Rogue Two fly in formation, banking from right to left and flying above the erupting battlefield. Flak bursts all around them.

Luke, glancing over, sees Rogue Two on his left. His ship shudders as flak bursts nearby.

Luke (into comlink): Rogue Two, are you all right?

Zev (into comlink): Yeah. I'm with you, Rogue Leader.

Luke (into comlink): We'll set harpoon. I'll cover for you.

The two speeders race across the horizon toward the giant walkers.

Zev (into comlink): Coming around.

Luke (into comlink): Watch that cross fire, boys.

Zev (into comlink): Set for position three. (to gunner) Steady.

Luke (over comlink): Stay tight and low.

Luke's speeder moves in formation with Rogue Two, when suddenly Zev's speeder is hit by a laser bolt. His ship bucks violently under the impact and the cockpit explodes in a ball of flame.

Spewing smoke, the speeder hurtles toward a looming walker. Before they collide. Rogue Two explodes in a million flaming pieces.

Desperately, Luke works the controls of his flak-buffeted ship. Suddenly, the speeder is rocked by a huge explosion. Luke struggles with the controls with a look of terror on his face. The speeder fills with smoke, and electrical sparks jump about the cockpit.

Luke (into comlink): Hobbie, I've been hit!

("Oh no, Luke!" Happy exclaims in alarm.)

Apart from the distant thunder of laser blasts, a corridor inside the rebel command center is strangely quiet and empty. Running footsteps echo through the freezing hallway, then Han appears. Cracks have appeared in some of the walls and some pipes have broken, sending hot steam billowing into the underground hallways. Han hurries into the command center. It is in shambles, but some people are still at their posts.

Leia: Send all troops in sector twelve to the south slope to protect the fighters.

A blast rocks the command center, throwing Threepio backward into Han's arms.

Announcer (over loudspeaker): Imperial troops have entered the base.

Han: Come on... that's it.

Leia (to head controller): Give the evacuation code signal. And get to your transports!

Leia looks exhausted. Han grabs her and starts to lead her out.

As Han, Leia, and Threepio run out of the command center, the code signal can be heard echoing off the corridor walls.

Head Controller: K-one-zero... all troops disengage.

Threepio (to Han and Leia): Oh! Wait for me!

Back in the trenches the Rebel troops began to retreat under the awesome Imperial onslaught.

Officer: Begin retreat!

Secon Officer: Fall back!

Troops flee from the battle, the ground exploding around them.

Erza slams her fist on a table in rage. "Dammit! Stand your ground and fight! Do not give victory to the Empire! They do not deserve it!"

"Calm down Erza!" Makarov chided. "You cannot blame them from retreating against the might of those walkers, there would be nothing to be gained by remaining on the field, all they would accomplish is getting themselves killed. And who will be there left to continue the fight against the Empire if all the rebel troops are eliminated in a single engagement? That's a terrible strategy right there. Better to retreat for now to fight another day. Just because the empire has managed to win this battle doesn't mean they will be able to win the war. So calm down!" He ordered to his subordinate.

"Right… Calm… Yes… Yes, I understand, I apologize guildmaster…" Erza replied, controlling her temper.

Three of the giant walkers, firing lasers, advance toward the Rebel headquarters.

Continuing their retreat, the Rebels see the walkers looming ever nearer.

On another part of the battlefield, Luke watches as a walker foot rises and moves over him. He looks up at the underbelly of the huge walker, passing overhead.

Running beneath the monstrous machine, Luke fires his harpoon gun at the walker's underside. A thin cable follows the projectile from the gun. The magnetic head and cable attach firmly to the metal hull.

("What is Luke doing?" Happy asks in confusion.)

Still running under the walker, Luke attaches the cable drum to his belt buckle. Soon he is pulled up the cable and hangs dangling underneath the walker.

The walker's giant feet continue to pound onward across the frozen snow. Stray laser bolts whistle by Luke as he climbs up the cable to the walker's hull, reaching a small hatch. Hanging precariously, Luke cuts the solid metal hatch with his laser sword.

He takes a landmine from around his neck and throws it inside the Imperial machine. Quickly, Luke starts down the cable and crashes onto the icy ground far below. He lies unconscious as a giant rear leg passes by - and just misses him.

The giant walker stops in mid-step. A muffled explosion comes from within - and then the walker's mechanical insides are spewed out every conceivable opening. The machine sits dead in its tracks, smoking like a locomotive on stilts.

("Yes! Well done Luke!" Natsu applauds.)

Veers's walker, meanwhile, continues to advance toward the Rebel base. The smoldering walker that Luke exploded stands smoking just to the right of Veers's path. General Veers ignores it and prepares to fire on the Rebel power generators.

Veers: Distance to power generators?

Pilot: One-seven, decimal two-eight.

Veers reaches for the electrorangefinder and lines up the main generator.

Veers: Target. Maximum fire power.

The next moment the walker shots, and the shield generator blows up in a fiery explosion.

The Rebel troops continue their desperate retreat, pushed back by the relentless Imperial assault.

With Threepio lagging behind, Han and Leia race through the crumbling ice corridors. Suddenly, there is an explosion. Han turns, grabs the princess, and pulls her to the wall as a tremendous cave-in blacks their path. He then takes the comlink from his pocket.

Han (into comlink) Transport, this is Solo. Better take off - I can't get to you. I'll get the princess out on the Falcon.

("So, his name is Solo? Good to know…" Cana said as she drank.)

Han and Leia turn and race down the corridor.

Threepio: But... but... but... where are you going? Uh... come back!

Imperial troops have reached the base. As they push through the blocked passageway, Darth Vader strides behind them.

("Oh shit! Is Vader!" Joey Fullborn declares.)

Han and Leia run toward the entrance of the main hangar where the Millennium Falcon is docked. Threepio still lags behind.

Threepio: Wait! Wait for me! Wait! Stop!

The door to the hangar closes in his face.

Threepio: (exasperated) How typical.

Quickly, the door reopens as Han reaches out and pulls the golden droid through.

Han: Come on.

Chewie paces under the shelter of the Millennium Falcon's landing gear. The giant Wookiee pats the underbelly of his beloved ship and barks a few reassuring words. As he searches worriedly for his captain, something at last catches his eye.

Chewie lets out a relieved shriek at seeing Han and Leia running toward the ship. The Wookiee runs out into the falling ice, lets out a howl, then runs up the ship's ramp. Han and Leia run up the ramp after him, closely followed by Threepio.

Han: Hurry up, goldenrod, or you're going to be a permanent resident!

Threepio: Wait! Wait!

Imperial troops run through the base corridors. Vader surveys the place. A huge chunk falls, almost hitting him, but he calmly, purposefully, continues around it.

A distant, huge, explosion rocks the hangar deck. Ice cakes come crashing down on the Millennium and Leia look out the cockpit window and see a squad of stormtroopers rushing into the far side of the hangar.

Quickly, Han straps himself into the pilot's seat and Leia into the navigator's chair.

Stormtroopers hurriedly set up a large bazookalike weapon. Behind them the giant hangar doors open slowly.

A laser gun appears on the Falcon and swings around to aim at the Imperial troops.

The stormtroopers, preparing to fire their bazooka cannon, are hit by the Falcon's fire and are thrown about in all directions.

Chewie rushes into the cockpit.

Han: Come on! Come on! Switch over. Let's hope we don't have a burnout.

A laser hits the window near Chewie as he is settling into his chair. Letting out a loud whelp, Chewie quickly pulls back on the controls and the first stage of engine fire can be heard. Han flashes a big grin at Leia.

Han: See?

Leia: Someday you're going to be wrong, and I hope I'm there to see it.

Han looks at Chewie.

Han: Punch it!

The roar of the Falcon's main engines blasts out everything as the ice-cave wall rushes by outside the cockpit window.

More stormtroopers run into the hangar, closely followed by Vader. Hearing the loud roar of the Millennium Falcon's engines, Vader looks toward the main hangar doors just in time to see the Falcon lift up and disappear outside the cave.

Luke and two other pilots trudging through the snow, look up as the Millennium Falcon races above them, flying very close to the ground.

The three pilots turn then, and continue onward toward their X-wing fighters, each going to his own ship. Luke waves farewell, then heads toward his own fighter.

Artoo, seated on his cubbyhole, chirps an excited greeting as Luke climbs aboard the spacecraft.

Luke: Artoo! Get her ready for takeoff.

From his ship, Luke sees Wedge in his own X-wing, preparing for takeoff.

Wedge: Good luck, Luke. See you at the rendezvous.

Luke smiles and nods at Wedge, then lowers himself into the cockpit of his X-wing while Artoo waits in the cubbyhole, beeping impatiently.

Luke: Don't worry, Artoo. We're going, we're going.

The canopy over the X-wing lowers and snaps shut. Luke's fighter, its wings closed, takes off and speeds away from the icy planet. Soon it disappears into the stars.

As he flies his ship, Luke, looking thoughtful, suddenly makes a decision. He flips several switches. The stars shift as he takes his fighter into a steep turn. The X-wing banks sharply and flies away in a new direction.

The monitor screen on Luke's control panel prints out a question from the concerned Artoo.

Luke (into comlink): There's nothing wrong, Artoo. I'm just setting a new course.

Artoo beeps once again.

Luke (into comlink): We're not going to regroup with the others.

Artoo begins a protest, whistling an unbelieving, "What?!"

Luke reads Artoo's exclamation on his control panel.

Luke (into comlink): We're going to the Dagobah system. The tiny X-wing speeds toward the cloud cover of Dagobah. Artoo, riding on the back of the fighter, turns his head back and forth with some anxiety.

The scene then transitions, and the X-wing reaches a small nebulous cloudy planet. Luke watches Artoo's words as they are translated and screened on the computer scope.

Luke (into comlink): Yes, that's it. Dagobah.

The X-wing continues its flight through the twilight above the cloud-covered planet.

Luke sees the cloud race by as he takes his craft closer to the planet. He must operate his controls carefully since the cloud cover has completely obscured his vision. An alarm buzzes in the background, Artoo beeps and whistles frantically.

Luke (into comlink): I know, I know! All the scopes are dead. I can't see a thing! Just hang on, I'm going to start the landing cycle...

The blast of the retrorockets is deafening, drowning out Artoo's electronic squeals. Suddenly, there is a cracking sound as if limbs were being broken off trees and then a tremendous jolt as the spacecraft stops. Luke pulls a switch and his canopy pops open.

The mist-shrouded X-wing fighter is almost invisible in the thick fog. Luke climbs out onto the long nose of the spacecraft as Artoo pops out of his cubbyhole on the back. The young warrior surveys the fog, which is barely pierced by the ship's landing lights. About all he can make out are some giant, twisted trees nearby. Artoo whistles anxiously.

("Yuck! A bog! I hate bogs!" Lucy declared in disgust at seeing the first scenery of this new planet.)

Luke: No, Artoo, you stay put. I'll have a look around.

Artoo lets out a short beep. As Luke moves along the nose, Artoo loses his balance and disappears with a splash into the boggy lake.

Luke: Artoo?

Luke kneels and leans over the plane looking for Artoo, but the water is still and reveals no sign of the little droid.

Luke: Artoo! Where are you?

A small periscope breaks the surface of the water and a gurgly beep is heard. The periscope starts to move to shore. Relieved, Luke starts running along the nose of the fighter to its tip.

Luke: Artoo! You be more careful.

The outline of the shore is now more than ten feet away. Luke jumps off the plane into the water, scrambles up to the shore, and turns to look for Artoo. The periscope still steadily moves toward the shore.

Luke: Artoo - that way!

Suddenly, through the thick fog layer, a dark shape appears, moving toward the little droid. The dark, sinuous bog beast dives beneath the swampy water, making a loud clunk against Artoo's metal hull. The droid disappears from sight, uttering a pathetic electronic scream.

Holding his ignited lightsaber before him, Luke wades a few feet into the murky pool, looking for any sign of his little friend.

Luke: Artoo!

"Oh no! Not Artoo!" Happy exclaimed.

The black surface is still as death itself... until a few bubbles begin to appear. Then, phheewaat! The runt-size robot is spit out of the water, makes a graceful arc, and comes crashing down into a patch of soft gray moss.

Luke: Oh, no! Are you all right? Come on. You're lucky you don't taste very good. Anything broken?

"For a little metal bucket, it flew well…" Wakaba commented.

Luke helps Artoo to his feet and begins wiping the mud and roots from his round metal body. Artoo responds with feeble, soggy beeps.

Luke: If you're saying coming here was a bad idea, I'm beginning to agree with you. Oh, Artoo, what are we doing here? It's like... something out of a dream, or, I don't know. Maybe I'm just going crazy.

As Luke glances around at the spooky swamp jungle that surrounds him, Artoo ejects a stream of muddy water from one of his cranial ports. The mist has dispersed a bit, but it is still a very gloomy-looking swamp.

Luke pulls an equipment box from the shore to the clearing. He ignites a little fusion furnace and warms his hands before it. Taking a power cable, he plugs it into Artoo's noselike socket.

Luke: Ready for some power? Okay. Let's see now. Put that in there. There you go.

The droid whistles his appreciation. Luke then opens a container of processed food and sits before the thermal heater.

Luke (sighs): Now all I have to do is find this Yoda... if he even exists.

Nervously, he looks around at the foreboding jungle.

Luke: Still... there's something familiar about this place. I feel like... I don't know...

Strange Voice: Feel like what?

Luke jumps out of his skin. Artoo screeches in terror. The mages also get a jump-scare at having not expected such unforeseen interruption. The young warrior grabs for his lightsaber as he spins around, looking for the speaker. Mysteriously standing right in front of Luke is a strange, greenish creature, not more than two feet tall. The wizened little thing is dressed in rags. It motions toward Luke's sword.

Luke (looking at the creature): Like we're being watched!

Creature: Away with your weapon! I mean you no harm.

After some hesitation, Luke puts away his weapon, although he really doesn't understand why. Artoo watches with interest.

"Look! Is a Guildmaster from another planet!" Natsu exclaims pointing with a finger in surprise. Earning chuckles from his fellow fairies but embarrassing Makarov to the point of causing him to slam a black engorged fist on the top of his skull.

"You little brat! I'll teach you some respect!"

Creature: I am wondering, why are you here?

Luke: I'm looking for someone.

Creature: Looking? Found someone, you have, I would say, hmmm?

The little creature laughs.

Luke (Trying to keep from smiling): Right.

Creature: Help you I can. Yes, mmmm.

Luke: I don't think so. I'm looking for a great warrior.

Creature: Ahhh! A great warrior. (laughs and shakes his head) Wars not make one great.

With the aid of a walking stick, the tiny stranger moves over to one of the cases of supplies. He begins to rummage around.

Artoo moves to the edge of the case - standing almost eye level to the creature who is carelessly handling the supplies - and squeaks his disapproval. Their tiny visitor picks up the container of food Luke was eating from and takes a bite.

Luke: Put that down. Hey! That's my dinner!

The creature spits out the bite he has taken. He makes a face.

Creature: How you get so big, eating food of this kind?

He flips the container in Luke's direction and reaches into one of Luke's supply cases.

Luke: Listen, friend, we didn't mean to land in that puddle, and if we could get our ship out, we would, but we can't, so why don't you just...

Creature (teasing): Aww, cannot get your ship out?

The creature spots something of interest in Luke's case. Luke loses patience and grabs the case away. The creature retains his prize - a tiny power lamp - and examines it with delight.

Luke: Hey, you could have broken this. Don't do that. Ohhh... you're making a mess. Hey, give me that!

Creature (retreating with the lamp): Mine! Or I will help you not.

Clutching its treasure, the creature backs away from Luke, drawing closer to Artoo. As Luke and the creature argue, one of Artoo's little arms slowly moves out toward the power lamp, completely unnoticed by the creature.

Luke: I don't want your help. I want my lamp back. I'll need it to get out of this slimy mudhole.

Creature: Mudhole? Slimy? My home this is.

Artoo grabs hold of the lamp and the two little figures are immediately engaged in a tug-of-war over it.

Artoo beeps a few angry, "Give me that's."

Creature: Ah, ah, ah!

Luke: Oh, Artoo, let him have it!

Creature: Mine! Mine!

Luke: Artoo!

Creature: Mine!

The creature lets go with one hand and pokes Artoo lightly with one finger. Artoo reacts with a startled squeal and lets go.

Creature: Mine!

"What an annoying creature…" Lucy comments, staring. "He's even worse than Natsu and Happy…"

"Hey!" Both friends exclaim in affront.

"Shut up, Natsu. You two are indeed annoying at times…" Makarov simply said.

Luke (fed up): Now will you move along, little fella? We're got a lot of work to do.

Creature: No! No, no! Stay and help you, I will. (laughs) Find your friend, hmm?

Luke: I'm not looking for a friend. I'm looking for a Jedi Master.

Creature: Oohhh. Jedi Master. Yoda. You seek Yoda.

Luke: You know him?

Creature: Mmm. Take you to him, I will. (laughs) Yes, yes. But now, we must eat. Come. Good food. Come.

With that, the creature scurries out of the clearing, laughing merrily. Luke stares after him. All he sees is the faint light from the small power lamp moving through the fog. Luke makes his decision and starts after the creature.

Creature: (in the distance) Come, come.

Artoo, very upset, whistles a blue streak of protest.

Luke: Stay here and watch after the camp, Artoo.

Artoo beeps even more frantically. But as Luke disappears from view, the worried little droid grows quieter, and utters a soft electronic sigh.

Jocelyn: However, while Luke looks in search of the legendary Jedi Master Yoda, dark forces were gathering and plotting against him and his friends.

The Imperial fleet moves through the asteroid-filled void, intently seeking its prey. Asteroids collide, creating a fireworks display outside the bridge window. Darth Vader stands, staring out of the glass above the control deck. Then slowly turns toward the bridge. Before him are the hologram images of three battleship commanders. One of these images, the commander of a ship whose bridge just exploded due to an asteroid collision, is fading away quickly. Another image, in the center, is faded and continually disrupted by static. It is the image of Captain Needa, commander of the Star Destroyer most hotly on the tail of the Millennium Falcon. Admiral Piett and an aide stand behind the Dark Lord.

Needa (in hologram): ... and that, Lord Vader, was the last time they appeared in any of our scopes. Considering the amount of damage we've sustained, they must have been destroyed.

Vader: No, Captain, they're alive. I want every ship available to sweep the asteroid field until they are found.

The Imperial star captains fade out one by one as Vader turns to Admiral Piett.

Piett: Lord Vader.

Vader: Yes, Admiral, what is it?

The admiral is scared, his face white as a sheet.

Piett: The Emperor commands you make contact with him.

Vader: Move the ship out of the asteroid field so that we can send a clear transmission.

Piett: Yes, my lord.

Vader's Imperial Star Destroyer moves against the vast sea of stars away from the rest of the fleet.

The Dark Lord, Darth Vader, is alone in his chambers. A strange sound enters the room and a light begins to play across Vader's black figure. He looks up and bows quickly.

A twelve-foot hologram of the Galactic Emperor materializes before Vader. The Emperor's dark robes and monk's hood are reminiscent of the cloak worn by Ben Kenobi. His voice is even deeper and more frightening than Vader's.

Erza was on guard immediately at the sight of the Emperor. "So this is the Emperor…! The one behind all the crimes commited by the empire!" She declared with no small amount of derision.

"He looks evil!" Happy exclaimed.

Vader: What is thy bidding, my master?

Emperor: There is a great disturbance in the Force.

Vader: I have felt it.

Emperor. We have a new enemy - Luke Skywalker.

Vader: Yes, my master.

Emperor: He could destroy us.

Vader: He's just a boy. Obi-Wan can no longer help him.

Emperor: The Force is strong with him. The son of Skywalker must not become a Jedi.

Vader: If he could be turned, he would become a powerful ally.

Emperor: Yes. Yes. He would be a great asset. Can it be done?

Vader: He will join us or die, my master.

Vader kneels. The supreme Emperor passes a hand over the crouched Lord of the Sith and fades away.

Erza pointed at the screen dramatically. "That will never Happen! Luke will never join the likes of Empire! He will become a Jedi and bring down their abominable hold of pain and misery upon their own heads!"

Happy agreed. "Luke is one of the good guys! He will never join the side of evil!"

The eldest members of Fairy Tail like Makarov, Macao and Wakaba were not so convinced of it. Even the likes of Natsu were disturbed by what they just saw, his usual smile having disappeared.

"Don't be so sure of yourself Happy. I fear a great danger is looming over young Luke…" Makarov said with outmost seriousness

Back in Dagobah, a heavy downpour of rain pounds through the gnarled trees. A strange baroque mud house sits on a moss-covered knoll on the edge of a small lagoon. The small, gnomish structure radiates a warm glow from its thick glass windows. As rain tap-dances a merry tune on Artoo's head, the stubby little droid rises up on his tip-toes to peek into one of the glowing portals.

As Artoo peeks into the window, he sees the inside of the house - a very plain, but cozy dwelling. Everything is in the same small scale as the creature. The only thing out of place in the miniature room is Luke, whose height makes the four-foot ceiling seem even lower. He sits cross-legged on the floor of the living room.

The creature is in an adjoining area - his little kitchen -cooking up an incredible meal. The stove is a steaming hodgepodge of pots and pans. The wizened little host scurries about chopping this, shredding that, and showering everything with exotic herbs and spices. He rushes back and forth putting platters on the table in front of Luke, who watches the creature impatiently.

Luke: Look, I'm sure it's delicious. I just don't understand why we can't see Yoda now.

Creature: Patience! For the Jedi it is time to eat as well. Eat, eat. Hot. Good food, hm? Good, hmm?

Moving with some difficulty in the cramped quarters, Luke sits down near the fire and serves himself from the pot. Tasting the unfamiliar concoction, he is pleasantly surprised.

Luke: How far away is Yoda? Will it take us long to get there?

Creature: Not far. Yoda not far. Patience. Soon you will be with him. (tasting food from the pot) Rootleaf, I cook. Why wish you become Jedi? Hm?

Luke: Mostly because of my father, I guess.

Creature: Ah, your father. Powerful Jedi was he, powerful Jedi, mmm.

Luke (a little angry): Oh, come on. How could you know my father? You don't even know who I am. (fed up) Oh, I don't know what I'm doing here. We're wasting our time.

The creature turns away from Luke and speaks to a third party.

Creature (irritated): I cannot teach him. The boy has no patience.

Luke's head spins in the direction the creature faces. But there is no one there. The boy is bewildered, but it gradually dawns on him that the little creature is Yoda, the Jedi Master, and that he is speaking with Ben.

Ben's voice: He will learn patience.

Yoda: Hmmm. Much anger in him, like his father.

Ben's voice: Was I any different when you taught me?

Yoda: Hah. He is not ready.

The mages were surprised by the revelation of Yoda's identity.

"He is Yoda!? I can't believe it!" Said a stupefied Lucy.

Natsu grinned. "I called since the beginning didn't I! I said that one is a guildmaster from another planet."

"Naaaaaatsu!"

Luke: Yoda! I am ready. I... Ben! I can be a Jedi. Ben, tell him I'm ready.

Trying to see Ben, Luke starts to get up but hits his head on the low ceiling.

Yoda: Ready, are you? What know you of ready? For eight hundred years have I trained Jedi. My own counsel will I keep on who is to be trained! A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. (to the invisible Ben, indicating Luke) This one a long time have I watched. All his life has he looked away... to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing. Hmph. Adventure. Heh! Excitement. Heh! A Jedi craves not these things. (turning to Luke) You are reckless!

The mages of Fairy Tail were getting anxious at the thought of Yoda rejecting to train Luke. Erza began to bite on a nail in worry.

Luke looks down. He knows it is true.

Ben's voice: So was I, if you'll remember.

Yoda: He is too old. Yes, too old to begin the training.

Luke thinks he detects a subtle softening in Yoda's voice.

Luke: But I've learned so much.

Yoda turns his piercing gaze on Luke, as though the Jedi Master's huge eyes could somehow determine how much the boy had learned. After a long moment, the little Jedi turns toward where he alone sees Ben.

Yoda (sighs): Will he finish what he begins?

Luke: I won't fail you - I'm not afraid.

Yoda (turns slowly toward him): Oh, you will be. You will be.

("Well… That wasn't an ominous thing to say at all…" Cana said with a face.)

Jocelyn: With Yoda accepting to train him, Luke began to delve into the deeper mysteries of the force. It would be easy task however, as many challenges would lay in his way.

With Yoda strapped to his back, Luke climbs up one of the many thick vines that grow in the swamp. Panting heavily, he continues his course - climbing, flipping through the air, jumping over roots, and racing in and out of the heavy ground fog.

Yoda: Run! Yes. A Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger... fear... aggression. The dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan's apprentice.

Luke: Vader. Is the dark side stronger?

Yoda: No... no... no. Quicker, easier, more seductive.

Luke: But how am I to know the good side from the bad?

Yoda: You will know. When you are calm, at peace. Passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.

Luke: But tell me why I can't...

Yoda (interrupting): No, no, there is no why. Nothing more will I teach you today. Clear your mind of questions. Mmm. Mmmmmmmm.

Artoo beeps in the distance as Luke lets Yoda down to the ground. Breathing heavily, he takes his shirt from a nearby tree branch and pulls it on.

He turns to see a huge, dead, black tree, its base surrounded by a few feet of water. Giant, twisted roots form a dark and sinister cave on one side. Luke stares at the tree, trembling.

Luke: There's something not right here.

Yoda sits on a large root, poking his Gimer Stick into the dirt.

Luke: I feel cold, death.

Yoda: That place... is strong with the dark side of the Force. A domain of evil it is. In you must go.

Luke: What's in there?

Yoda: Only what you take with you.

Luke looks warily between the tree and Yoda. He starts to strap on his weapon belt.

Yoda: Your weapons... you will not need them.

Luke gives the tree a long look, than shakes his head "no." Yoda shrugs. Luke reaches up to brush aside some hanging vines and enters the tree.

Luke moves into the almost total darkness of the wet and slimy cave. The youth can barely make out the edge of the passage. Holding his lit saber before him, he sees a lizard crawling up the side of the cave and a snake wrapped around the branches of a tree. Luke draws a deep breath, then pushes deeper into the cave.

The space widens around him, but he feels that rather than sees it. His sword casts the only light as he peers into the darkness. It is very quiet here.

Then, a loud HISS! Darth Vader appears across the blackness, illuminated by his own just-ignited laser sword.

"Vader!" Happy yells in alarm, pointing. The ends of his fur strands pointing up due the surprise. He wasn't the only one as all the mages were caught off-guard by the sudden appearance of the Sith Lord.

"Oh, my gods! How he got there!?" Levy exclaims in fear.

Immediately, Vader charges Luke, saber held high. He is upon the youth in seconds, but Luke sidesteps perfectly and slashes at Vader with his sword.

Vader is decapitated. His helmet-encased head flies from his shoulders as his body disappears into the darkness. The metallic banging of the helmet fills the cave as Vader's head spins and bounces, smashes on the floor, and finally stops. For an instant it rests on the floor, then it cracks vertically. The black helmet and breath mask fall away to reveal... Luke's head.

Across the space, the standing Luke gasps at the sight, wide-eyed in terror. The decapitated head fades away, as in a vision.

Meanwhile, Yoda sits on the root, calmly leaning on his Gimer Stick.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!? A vision!" Gray asked out loud, still pretty off putted by the unexpected image of Vader.

Makarov, mulled over what they had just seen. "I think this was a test… One that young Luke failed…"

"The dark side…" Levy whispered in a small diminute voice that could barely be heard. But Makarov did, and simply nodded solemnly.

The scene changes and whe found Luke's face close to the screen while upside-down and showing enormous strain. He stands on his hands, with Yoda perched atop his feet. Opposite Luke and Yoda are two rocks the size of bowling balls. Luke stares at the rocks and concentrates. One of the rocks lifts from the ground and floats up to rest on the other.

Yoda: Use the Force. Yes...

Yoda taps Luke's leg. Quickly, Luke lifts one hand from the ground. His body wavers, but he maintains his balance. Artoo, standing nearby, is whistling and beeping frantically.

Yoda: Now... the stone. Feel it.

"Seems they're training hard! It is good for Luke to sharp his skills, I approve!" Erza declares with a nod.

"What a curious exercise…" Lucy said as she cranes her neck in several directions.

Luke concentrates on trying to lift the top rock. It rises a few feet, shaking under the strain. But, distracted by Artoo's frantic beeping, Luke loses his balance and finally collapses. Yoda yells in alarm as he falls along.

Yoda: Concentrate!

Annoyed at the disturbance, Luke looks over at Artoo, who is rocking urgently back and forth in front of him.

Artoo waddles closer to Luke, chirping wildly, then scoots over the edge of the swamp. Catching on, Luke rushes to the water's edge. The X-wing fighter has sunk, and only the tip of its nose shows above the lake's surface.

Luke: Oh, no. We'll never get it out now.

Yoda stamps his foot in irritation.

Yoda: So certain are you. Always with you it cannot be done. Hear you nothing that I say?

Luke looks uncertainly out at the ship.

Luke: Master, moving stones around is one thing. This is totally different.

Yoda: No! No different! Only different in your mind. You must unlearn what you have learned.

Luke (focusing, quietly): All right, I'll give it a try.

Yoda: No! Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.

Luke closes his eyes and concentrates on thinking the ship out.

Slowly, the X-wing's nose begins to rise above the water. It hovers for a moment and then slides back, disappearing once again.

Luke: (panting heavily) I can't. It's too big.

Yoda: Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hm? Mmmm.

Luke shakes his head.

"We would never underestimate someine beause on his size. The Guildmaster is proof that little people can also be powerful." Natsu began to say. "Plus he would kick our asses if we were ever to do something like that!" He added.

"Damn right I would! I've taught all of you well Natsu…" Makarov said with a pleased nod.

Yoda: And well you should not. For my ally is the Force. And a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we... (Yoda pinches Luke's shoulder) ...not this crude matter. (He does a sweeping gesture) You must feel the Force around you. (gesturing) Here, between you... me... the tree... the rock... everywhere! Yes, even between this land and that ship!

Happy has stars in his eyes. "Oh, Yoda! He is so wise! Just like our own Guildmaster.

Makarov blushes at that and can't help to cough a little to dissimulate.

"Well… It's the wisdom one gains with age…"

Luke (discouraged): You want the impossible.

"No Luke! Don't give up! You must train to become a Jedi and be able to defeat Vader and the Empire!" Happy exclaimed in worry.

"Giving up is not manly!" Elfman declared.

Quietly Yoda turns toward the X-wing fighter. With his eyes closed and his head bowed, he raises his arm and points at the , the fighter rises above the water and moves forward as Artoo beeps in terror and scoots away.

The entire X-wing moves majestically, surely, toward the shore. Yoda stands on a tree root and guides the fighter carefully down toward the beach.

Luke stares in astonishment as the fighter settles down onto the shore. He walks toward Yoda.

Luke: I don't... I don't believe it.

Yoda: That is why you fail.

Luke shakes his head, bewildered.

"Damn! Even I am impressed!" Warren Rocko said, seeing the feat of telepathy. "Dammit! Not even I can do that with my mind magic. I guess I should train harder.

"Yes… Yes you should Warren…" Makarov simply agreed.

"Maybe we can help you devise your own Jedi training!" Natsu declared in support.

Erza became pensive at that. Imagining herself training in the force, becoming a Jedi and gaining her own Lightsaber to fight injustice. She lost herself in fantasies she rarely ever had even as a child.

Later, on the clearing behind Yoda's house, Luke again stands upside-down, but his face shows less strain and more concentration than before. Yoda sits on the ground below the young warrior. On the other side of the clearing, two equipment cases slowly rise into the air. Nearby Artoo watches, humming to himself, when suddenly he, too, rises into the air. His little legs kick desperately and his head turns frantically, looking for help.

Yoda: Concentrate... feel the Force flow. Yes. Good. Calm, yes. Through the Force, things you will see. Other places. The future... the past. Old friends long gone.

Luke suddenly becomes distressed.

Luke: Han! Leia!

The two packing boxes and Artoo fall to the ground with a crash, then Luke himself tumbles over.

Yoda (shaking his head): Hmm. Control, control. You must learn control.

Luke: I saw... I saw a city in the clouds.

Yoda: Mmm. Friends you have there.

Luke: They were in pain.

Yoda: It is the future you see.

Luke: Future? Will they die?

Yoda closes his eyes and lowers his head.

Yoda: Difficult to see. Always in motion the future is.

Luke: I've got to go to them.

Yoda: Decide you must how to serve them best. If you leave now, help them you could. But you would destroy all for which they have fought and suffered.

Luke is stopped cold by Yoda's words. Gloom shrouds him as he nods his head sadly.

Natsu was alarmed by that. "No! He has to help his friends! You never abandon your friends!

"It's not so easy Natsu…" Makarov interrupted. "Remember that Vader and the Emperor are hunting for him… They would surely try to use his friends as bait to lure him out and lead him to a trap.

Natsu gritted his teeth in dislike. "It doesn't matter! He must help them nonetheless.

In a corridor of a city that seems to be located amont the clouds, for what can be seen through clear windows, Leia walks between Han and Lando as Chewie follows a short distance behind. Long shafts of light pour across the corridor between tall, pure-white columns. The faries seem puzzled over the dark-skinned man accompanying Luke's friend.

"Who's that guy!?" Happy asks, pointing with a paw.

"I dunno' Happy. Maybe they'll tell us who he is if we keep watching…" Gray said.

Lando: So, you see, since we're a small operation, we don't fall into the... uh... jurisdiction of the Empire.

Leia: So, you're part of the mining guild then?

Lando: No, not actually. Our operation is small enough not to be noticed... which is advantageous for everybody since our customers are anxious to avoid attracting attention to themselves.

The group walks into another corridor and heads for a huge doorway at the far end.

Han: Aren't you afraid the Empire's going to find out about this little operation and shut you down?

Lando: That's always been a danger looming like a shadow over everything we've built here. But things have developed that will insure security. I've just made a deal that will keep the Empire out of here forever.

The mighty doors to the dining room slide open and the group enters inside the room. At the far end of a huge banquet table sits Darth Vader. Standing at his side and slightly behind him is Boba Fett, the bounty hunter.

("Vader!" Happy exclaims, his fur standing on end in surprise.)

Faster than the wink of an eye, Han draws his blaster and pops off a couple of shots directly at Vader. The Dark Lord quickly raises his hand, deflecting the bolts into the side walls with his bare appendice, where they explode harmlessly. Just as quickly, Han's weapon zips into Vader's hand. The evil presence calmly places the gun on the table in front of him.

Vader: We would be honored if you would join us.

Han gives Lando a mean look.

Lando: I had no choice. They arrived right before you did. I'm sorry.

Han: I'm sorry, too.

"BASTARD! TRAITOR!" Natsu yells at seeing Luke's friend being backstabbed and delivered into Vader's grasp.

"BETRAYING YOUR FRIENDS IS NOT MANLY!" Elfman yells in kind.

"NATSU, ELFMAN! SHUT UP!" Cana replies.

"SHUT UP EVERYBODY! STOP YELLING LIKE SAVAGES!" Makarov yells turning into his Black giant form.

Back on Dagobah, under the bright lights of the fighter, Luke loads a heavy case into the belly of the ship. Artoo sits on top of the X-wing, settling down into his cubbyhole. Yoda stands nearby on a log.

Yoda: Luke! You must complete the training.

Luke: I can't keep the vision out of my head. They're my friends. I've got to help them.

Yoda: You must not go!

"He must go! They're his friends!" Natsu interjects. Happy agrees with him with a 'Yeah'

"We know Natsu, shut up and stop interrumping!" Makarov warns.

Luke: But Han and Leia will die if I don't.

Ben's voice: You don't know that.

Luke looks toward the voice in amazement. Ben has materialized as a real, slightly shimmering image near Yoda. The power of his presence stops Luke.

Ben: Even Yoda cannot see their fate.

Luke: But I can help them! I feel the Force!

Ben: But you cannot control it. This is a dangerous time for you, when you will be tempted by the dark side of the Force.

Yoda: Yes, yes. To Obi-Wan you listen. The cave. Remember your failure at the cave!

Luke: But I've learned so much since then. Master Yoda, I promise to return and finish what I've begun. You have my word.

Ben: It is you and your abilities the Emperor wants. that is why your friends are made to suffer.

Luke: And that is why I have to go.

Ben: Luke, I don't want to lose you to the Emperor the way I lost Vader.

Luke: You won't.

Yoda: Stopped they must be. On this all depends. Only a fully trained Jedi Knight with the Force as his ally will conquer Vader and his Emperor. If you end your training now, if you choose the quick and easy path, as Vader did, you will become an agent of evil.

The mages were anxious at hearing that, they wanted Luke to save his friends, yes… But not at the cost of becoming like Vader. Even Natsu was tense, as he had nothing to say that.

"I believe in Luke! He will not fall to evil like Vader!" Happy declared loudly.

Makarov was solemn. "Let us hope you're right Happy…."

Ben: Patience.

Luke: And sacrifice Han and Leia?

Yoda: If you honor what they fight for... yes!

Luke is in great anguish. He struggles with the dilemma, a battle raging in his mind.

Ben: If you choose to face Vader, you will do it alone. I cannot interfere.

Luke: I understand. (he moves to his X-wing) Artoo, fire up the converters.

Artoo whistles a happy reply.

Ben: Luke, don't give in to hate - that leads to the dark side.

Luke nods and climbs into his ship.

Yoda: Strong is Vader. Mind what you have learned. Save you it can.

Luke: I will. And I'll return. I promise.

Artoo closes the cockpit. Ben and Yoda stand watching as the roar of the engines, the wind and a red light engulf them.

Yoda (sighs): Told you, I did. Reckless is he. Now matters are worse.

Ben: That boy is our last hope.

Yoda (looks up): No. There is another.

"What did he mean by that? Another Jedi?" Levy asks outloud in confusion.

Macao shrugs… "I dunno… Perhaps…"

Darth Vader strides through a room as two stormtroopers prepare an elaborate torture mechanism. Han is strapped to a rack which tilts forward onto the torture device. Vader activates the mechanism, creating two bursts of sparks, one of which strikes Han's face.

The door opens, and Vader leaves the torture room just as Han screams a sharp, piercing cry of agony.

"Those beasts! They are hurting him!" Levy exclaimed in an appalled alarmed tone, as she feared for solo's life

"SAVAGES!" Elfman declared, this time Cana didn't bothered to shut him up.

Darth Vader moves to the holding chamber, where Lando and Boba Fett await him.

Lando: Lord Vader.

Vader: (to Fett) You may take Captain Solo to Jabba the Hut after I have Skywalker.

Han's screams filter through the torture room door.

Bobba Fett: He's no good to me dead.

Vader: He will not be permanently damaged.

Lando: Lord Vader, what about Leia and the Wookiee?

Vader: They must never again leave this city.

Lando: That was never a condition of our agreement, nor was giving Han to this bounty hunter!

Vader: Perhaps you think you're being treated unfairly.

Lando: No…

Vader: Good. It would be unfortunate if I had to leave a garrison here.

Vader turns and sweeps into the elevator with Boba Fett. Lando walks swiftly down another corridor, muttering to himself.

Lando: This deal's getting worse all the time.

"That's what you get for trusting the Empire and betraying Luke's friends!" Erza began to say. "They are scum of the worst kind who do not know the meaning of honor and break their word whenever they please. What that Tarkin bastard did is proof of that, it is a good thing that he died when the Death Star was destroyed."

"Yes… Amen to that Erza…" Wakaba replied with a puff of smoke.

Four armor-suited stormtroopers stand at the ready inside a large dark chamber that is filled with pipes and chemical tanks. In the middle of the room is a round pit housing a hydraulic platform. Darth Vader and Lando stand near the platform.

Vader: This facility is crude, but it should be adequate to freeze Skywalker for his journey to the Emperor.

("Freeze!? What does he mean by that?" Lucy asked in concern.)

An Imperial soldier appears.

Soldier: Lord Vader, ship approaching. X-wing class.

Vader: Good. Monitor Skywalker and allow him to land.

The soldier bows and leaves the chamber.

Lando: Lord Vader, we only use this facility for carbon freezing. If you put him in there, it might kill him.

Vader: I do not want the Emperor's prize damaged. We will test it... on Captain Solo.

Lando's face registers dismay.

Meanwhile, Luke's X-wing moves through the clouds as it nears the city. Encountering no city guards, Luke scans the display panel with concern.

There is a great activity on the carbon-freezing platform. Six Ugnaughts frantically prepare the chamber for use. A special coffinlike container is put in place. With Boba Fett in the lead, a squad of six stormtroopers brings in Han, Leia and Chewie. Strapped to Chewie's back, with only his head, torso, and one arm assembled, is Threepio. Threepio's head faces the opposite direction from Chewie's and the droid is constantly twisting around in a vain effort to see what is happening. His one attached arm is animate and expressive, intermittently pointing, gesturing, and covering his eyes. The remaining pieces of his body are randomly bundled to the Wookiee's back so that his legs and other arm stick out at odd angles from the pack.

Threepio: If only you had attached my legs, I wouldn't be in this ridiculous position. Now, remember, Chewbacca, you have a responsibility to me, so don't do anything foolish.

Han (to Lando): What's going on... buddy?

Lando: You're being put into carbon freeze.

Boba Fett moves away from the group to Darth Vader.

Fett: What if he doesn't survive? He's worth a lot to me.

Vader: The Empire will compensate you if he dies. Put him in!

Realizing what is about to happen, Chewie lets out a wild howl and attacks the stormtroopers surrounding Han. Within seconds, other Imperial reinforcements join the scuffle, clubbing the giant Wookiee with their laser weapons.

From the instant of Chewie's first move, Threepio begins to scream in panic while he tries to protect himself with his one arm.

Threepio: Oh, no! No, no, no! Stop, Chewbacca, stop...!

The stormtroopers are about to bash Chewie in the face.

Han: Stop, Chewie, stop! Do you hear me? Stop!

Threepio: Yes, stop, please! I'm not ready to die.

Han breaks away from his captors. Vader nods to the guards to let him go and the pirate breaks up the fight.

Han: Chewie! Chewie, this won't help me. Hey!

Han gives the Wookiee a stern look.

Han: Save your strength. There'll be another time. The princess - you have to take care of her. You hear me?

Han winks at the Wookiee, who wails a doleful farewell.

In a flash the guards have slipped binders on Chewbacca, who is too distraught to protest. Han turns to Princess Leia. They look sorrowfully at one another, then Han moves toward her and gives her a final, passionate kiss.

Leia: I love you!

Han: I know…

Tears roll down Leia's face as she watches the dashing pirate walk to the hydraulic platform. Han looks one final time at his friends - and then, suddenly, the platform drops. Chewie howls. Leia turns away in agony.

Lando winces in sorrow; it makes a life-changing impression on him.

Instantly, fiery liquid begins to pour down in a shower of sparks and fluid as great as any steel furnace. Holding Leia, Chewie half-turns away from the sight, giving Threepio a view of the procedure.

Threepio: What... what's going on? Turn round, Chewbacca, I can't see. Oh... they've encased him in carbonite. He should be quite well-protected - if he survives the freezing process, that is.

Chewie is in no mood for technical discussion; he gives the droid an angry glance and bark.

A huge mechanical tong lifts the steaming metal-encased space pirate out of the vat and stands him on the platform.

The mages of Fairy Tail are horrified at seeing the encased figured of the smuggler captain.

"Oh my gods!" Lucy exclaims.

"Those bastards!" Gray yells.

Some Ugnaughts rush over and push the block over onto the platform. They slide the coffinlike structure to the block and lift the metal block, placing it inside. They then attach an electronic box onto the structure and step away. Lando kneels and adjusts some knobs, measuring the heat. He shakes his head in relief.

Vader: Well, Calrissian, did he survive?

Lando: Yes, he's alive. And in perfect hibernation.

Vader turns to Boba Fett.

Vader: He's all yours bounty hunter. Reset the chamber for Skywalker.

Imperial officer: Skywalker has just landed, my lord.

Vader: Good. See to it that he finds his way here. Calrissian, take the princess and the Wookiee to my ship.

Lando: You said they'd be left in the city under my supervision.

Vader: I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further.

Lando's hand instinctively goes to his throat as he turns to Leia, Chewie, and Threepio.

As Luke and Artoo move carefully down a deserted corridor, they hear a group of people coming down a side hallway. Artoo lets out an excited series of beeps and whistles. Luke glares at the tiny droid, who stops in his tracks with a feeble squeak.

"Luke, hurry! You gotta save your friends! You gotta save Solo!" Happy said in worry, waving his arms around.

"I don't know… I have a bad feeling about this…" Warren Rocko said with anxiety.

Boba Fett enters from a side hallway followed by two guards pushing the floating, encased body of Han Solo. Two stormtroopers, who follow, immediately spot Luke and open fire on him. The youth draws his weapon and blasts the two troopers before they can get off a second shot. The two guards whisk Han into another hallway as Fett lowers his arm and fires a deadly laser at Luke, which explodes to one side and tears up a huge chunk of the wall.

"Dayyum! Those weapons are dangerous!" Alzack exclaims at seeing the literally burning flaming hole in the wall.

"I want one just like that!" Bisca declares.

"I am interested in their inner workings for scientific purposes." Laki Olietta says.

Luke rushes to a side hallway, but by the time he reaches it, Fett, Han, and the guards are gone. A thickmetal door blocks the passage. Luke turns to see Leia, Chewie, Threepio, and Lando being herded down a second hallway by several other stormtroopers. Leia turns just in time to see Luke.

Leia: Luke! Luke, don't - it's a trap! It's a trap!

Before she can finish, she is pulled through a doorway and disappears from sight. Luke races after the group, leaving little Artoo trailing behind. The young man runs into an anteroom and stops to get his bearings. Leia and the others are nowhere to be seen. Behind Luke, Artoo scoots down the corridor toward the anteroom when suddenly a giant metal door comes slamming down, cutting off Luke's exit. Several more doors clang shut, echoing through the chamber.

Artoo stands with his nose pressed against the giant metal door. He whistles a long sigh of relief and, a little dazed, wanders off in the other direction.

Luke cautiously walks forward among hissing pipes and steam. Seeing an opening above him, he stops to look up. As he does, the platform he stands on begins to move. He rises into a chamber, borne by the platform. The room is deathly quiet. Very little steam escapes the pipes and no one else seems to be in the large room. Warily, Luke walks toward the stairway.

The mages were tense since they knew this was the room they had seen Vader last and wondered where he might be or if he might be planning an ambush.

Steam begins to build up in the chamber. Looking up through the steam, Luke sees a dark figure standing on a walkway above him. Luke holsters his gun and moves up the stairs to face Vader. He feels confident, eager to engage his enemy. The members of Fairy Tail were sitting at the edge of their seats for the incoming confrontation, no one daring to speak.

Vader: The Force is with you, young Skywalker. But you are not a Jedi yet.

Luke ignites his lightsaber in answer. In an instant, Vader's own saber is lit. Luke lunges, but Vader repels the blow. Again Luke attacks, and the swords of the two combatants clash in battle. Luke and Vader become locked in combat on the platform overlooking the chamber. Their swords clash, the platform sways. Luke aggressively drives Vader back, forcing Vader to use defensive tactics.

Vader: You have learned much, young one.

Luke: You'll find I'm full of surprises.

Vader makes two quick moves, hooking Luke's sword out of his hand and sending it flying. Another lightning move at Luke's feet forces the youth to jump back to protect himself. Losing his balance, Luke rolls down the stairs to the circular carbon-freezing platform. There he sprawls on the floor, surprised and shaken. Just in time he looks up to see Vader, like a giant black bird, flying right at him. Luke rolls away as Vader lands. Crouching, Luke keeps his gaze steadily on his enemy.

("C'mon Luke! You have to win! You have to defeat Vader!" Happy cheered, wishing for the young padawan's victory, the rest of the mages agreeing in the sentiment.)

Vader: Your destiny lies with me, Skywalker. Obi-Wan knew this to be true.

Luke: No!

("Don't listen to his lies!" Happy warned out loud.)

Behind Luke the hydraulic elevator cover has opened noiselessly. All the while, Luke slowly, cautiously moves back, away from the Dark Lord.

("Watch out, Luke!" Happy yells.)

Suddenly, Vader attacks so forcefully that Luke loses his balance and falls back into the opening. There is a rumble, and in an instant freezing steam rises to obscure Vader's vision. Vader turns aside and deactivates his sword.

Vader: All to easy. Perhaps you are not as strong as the Emperor thought.

("Nooo!" Happy yells in dread.)

Through the steam behind Vader something blurs upward. Liquid metal begins to pour into the pit.

Vader turns around - and then looks up. He sees Luke, who has leaped fifteen feet straight up and who now hangs from some hoses on the carbonite outlet. Happy and the other mages let out a sigh of relief.

Vader: Impressive... most impressive.

Luke jumps down to the platform where he is separated from Vader by the steaming carbonite pit. He raises his hand. His lightsaber, which had fallen on another part of the platform, swiftly jumps into his outstretched hand and is instantly ignited. Vader immediately lights his saber as well.

Vader: Obi-Wan has taught you well. You have controlled your fear... now release your anger.

Luke is more cautious, controlling his anger. He begins to retreat as Vader goads him on. As Luke takes a defensive position, he realizes he has been foolhardy. A quick sword exchange and Luke forces Vader back. Another exchange and Vader retreats. Luke presses forward.

Vader: Only your hatred can destroy me.

("No! Don't give in, Luke!" Happy warned.)

Breathing hard, Luke jumps in the air, turning a somersault over Vader. He lands on the floor and slashes at Vader as the room continues to fill up with steam.

Vader retreats before Luke's skillful sword. Vader blocks the saber but looses his balance and falls into the outer rim of pipes.

("Yes! That's it, Luke!" Happy cheers in elation. Erza smiles.)

The energy Luke has used to stop Vader has brought him to the point of collapse. Luke moves to the edge and looks down but sees no sign of Vader.

("Damn! He's gone…" Macao says. Erza frowns displeased.)

He then deactivates his saber, hooks it on his belt, and lowers himself into the pit. Moving through a tunnellike entrance, Luke cautiously approaches the reactor room. He ignites his sword and moves into the room and toward a large window as Vader enters.

Luke raises his sword and moves forward to attack.

("Watch out!" Levy yells.)

Behind Luke a large piece of machinery detaches itself from the wall and comes smashing forward toward his back. Luke turns and cuts it in half just as another machine comes hurtling at him. Using the Force, Luke manages to deflect it and send it flying as if it had hit an invisible shield.

A large pipe detaches and comes flying at Luke. He deflects it. Sparking wires pull out of the wall and begin to whip at the youth. Small tools and equipment come flying at him. Bombardment from all sides, Luke does his best to deflect everything, but soon he is bloodied and bruised. Finally, one machine glances off his and goes flying out the large window. A fierce wind blows into the room, unmoving, stands the dark, rocklike figure of Vader.

A piece of machinery hits Luke and he is knocked out of the window.

("No!" Happy yells.)

Luke falls onto the gantry, rolls, and hangs over the edge, holding his deactivated sword in hand. He puts the sword on his belt and begins to scramble up.

Luke moves along the railing and up to the control room.

Vader lunges at him and Luke immediately raises his lit sword to meet Vader's. Sparks fly as they duel, Vader gradually forcing Luke backward toward the gantry.

Vader: You are beaten. It is useless to resist. Don't let yourself be destroyed as Obi-Wan did.

Luke answers by rolling sideways and thrusting his sword at Vader so viciously that he nicks Vader on the shoulder. The black armor sparks and smokes and Vader seems to be hurt, but immediately recovers.

Luke backs off along the narrow end of the gantry as Vader comes at him, slashing at the young Jedi with his saber. Luke makes a quick move around the instrument complex attached to the end of the gantry. Vader's lightsaber comes slashing down, cutting the complex loose; it begins to fall, then is caught by the rising wind and blown upward.

Luke glances at the instrument complex floating away. At that instant, Vader's slightsaber comes down across Luke's right forearm, cutting off his hand and sending his sword flying.

"Luke!" Happy screams in horror, the rest of the fairies also reacted poorly to the gruesome act of maiming.

"Oh my gods!" Lucy exclaims.

"I can't watch this!" Levy declares as she covers her eyes with her hands.

In great pain, Luke squeezes his forearm under his left armpit and moves back along the gantry to its extreme end. Vaderfollows. The wind subsides. Luke holds on. There is nowhere else to go.

Vader: There is no escape. Don't make me destroy you. You do not yet know your importance. You have only begun to discover your power. Join me and I will complete your training. With our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy.

"He'll never join you! You're evil! You kill people!" Happy screams at the edge of Hysteria, really upset by Luke's bloody defeat but trying to show a strong front of defiance.

Luke: I'll never join you!

("Yes, you tell him Luke!")

Vader: If you only knew the power of the dark side. Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father.

Luke: He told me enough! It was you who killed him.

Vader: No... I… Am your father.

Shocked, Luke looks at Vader in utter disbelief. All the mages too are left dumbstruck at the unforeseen revelation, leaving them gaping in disbelief.

⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙ ⊙Д⊙

"…!... Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~!" It was all that a stupefied Happy could mutter.

Luke: No. No. That's not true! That's impossible!

Vader: Search your feelings. You know it to be true.

Luke: No! No! No!

"It is a Lie!" Happy suddenly yelled. "It is a vile lie! Do not believe him Luke! He is lying! He is lying... He has to be... Oh gods…!" The winged cat lost his will to resist as he fell to his knees and tears began to form in his eyes.

Vader: Luke. You can destroy the Emperor. He has foreseen this. It is your destiny. Join me, and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son. Come with me. It is the only way.

Vader puts away his lightsaber and holds his hand out to Luke.

The members of Fairy Tail were watching with terrified expresions the unfolding scene in front of them. This wasn't like any other evil they had faced, it didn't strive to kill and destroy through violent means, but to corrupt and enslave by turning them into shadows of their former selves. An insidious threat that they didn't how to fight against.

"Run, Luke! Run! Go as far as you can and don't look back! You must get away!" Happy yelled in desperation, finally daring to speak again.

A calm comes over Luke, and he makes a decision. In the next instant he steps off the gantry platform into space. The Dark Lord looks over the platform and sees Luke falling far below. The wind begins to blow at Vader's cape and the torrent finally forces him back, away from the edge. The wind soon fades, and the wounded Jedi begins to drop fast, unable to grab onto anything to break his fall.

Suddenly Luke is sucked into an exhaust pipe in the side of the shaft. When Vader sees this, he turns and hurries off the platform.

Luke tumbles through the exhaust pipe. He slides to the end of the slickly polished pipe and stops as his feet hit a circular grill and knock it open. Luke claws at the surface of the pipe, trying to keep from sliding out into space.

Jocelyn: After the disastrous encounter with Vader and the terrible revelation about his true parentage, our defeated hero manages to escape from the Cloud city and regroup with the rest of his friends.

Fairy Tail watches scenes of Luke hanging from an antenna over the clouds before being picked up by the Millenium Falcon. They see him on a med-bay being grafted a new robotic hand by a droid.

Jocelyn: Then, after saving Han from Jabba the Hutt. He would get the chance to face his father again.

Fairy Tail watches scenes of Luke alongside his friends fighting above the Saarlac pit, something they had already seen in a previous episode, the scene changes to show a Super Star Destroyer while several ships of the Imperial Fleet rest in space above a half-completed Death Star orbiting a nearby green planet. Four squads of TIE fighters escort an Imperial shuttle toward the Death Star.

"Oh shit! They're rebulding the Death Star!" Warren Rocko exclaimed in alarm.

"No! That monstrosity has to be destroyed before it can be completed!" Erza declared with urgency.

Lord Vader strides down a hallway, accompanied by a very nervous Death Star commander. Thousands of Imperial troops in tight formation fill the mammoth docking bay. Vader and the officer walk to the landing platform, where the shuttle is coming to rest.

The shuttle's ramp lowers and the Emperor's Royal Guards come out and create a lethal perimeter. The assembled troops move to rigid attention with a momentous SNAP.

Then, in the huge silence which follows, the EMPEROR appears. He is a rather small, shriveled old man. His bent frame slowly makes its way down the ramp with the aid of a gnarled cane. He wears a hooded cloak similar to the one Ben wears, except that it is black. The Emperor's face is shrouded and difficult to see, except for his piercing yellow eyes. Commander Jerjerrod and Darth Vader kneel to him. The Supreme Ruler of the galaxy beckons to the Dark Lord.

Emperor (to Vader): Rise, my friend.

Vader rises and falls in next to the Emperor as he slowly makes his way along the rows of troops. Jerjerrod and the other commanders stay kneeling until the Supreme Ruler and Vader, followed by several Imperial dignitaries, pass by; only then do they join in the procession.

Vader: The Death Star will be completed on schedule.

Emperor: You have done well, Lord Vader. And now I sense you wish to continue your search for young Skywalker.

Vader: Yes, my Master.

Emperor: Patience, my friend. In time he will seek you out. And when he does, you must bring him before me. He has grown strong. Only together can we turn him to the dark side of the Force.

Vader: As you wish.

Emperor: Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.

He laughs to himself as they pass along the vast line of Imperial troops.

Natsu grited his teeth. "Tsk! They're still trying to bring Luke to the Dark Side!

"He will not fall!" Happy shouted.

Once again, Artoo finds himself waiting around in the damp environs of the swamp planet Degobah, and he's none too happy about it. He beeps disconsolately to himself and turns to look at Yoda's cottage. Warm yellow light escapes the oddly shaped windows to fight the gloom.

The tip of a walking stick taps hesitantly across the earthen floor of the cottage. Our view travels up the stick to the small green hand that clutches it, and then to the familiar face of Yoda, The Jedi Master. His manner is frail, and his voice, though cheerful, seems weaker.

Yoda: Hmm. That face you make. Look I so old to young eyes?

Luke is sitting in a corner of the cramped space and, indeed, his look has been woeful. Caught, he tries to hide it.

Luke: No... of course not.

Yoda (tickled, chuckles): I do, yes, I do! Sick have I become. Old and weak. (Points a crooked finger) When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not. Hmm?

"He's that old!? How is that possible!?" A bugged-eyed Lucy asks in surprise.

"It must be because he is an alien!? A trait of his particular species!?" An excited Laki Olietta theorized. "Oh!? How I wish to meet a being like Yoda and do some tests on him!" She lamented.

"Then it is a great fortune for poor old Yoda that you can't…" Makarov deadpanned, causing Laki to pout.

Yoda chuckles at this, coughs, and hobbles over toward his bed.

Yoda: Soon will I rest. Yes, forever sleep. Earned it, I have.

Yoda sits himself on his bed, with great effort. The mages look sadly at the old dying green Jedi Master.

Luke: Master Yoda, you can't die.

Yosa: Strong am I with the Force... but not that strong! Twilight is upon me and soon night must fall. That is the way of things... the way of the Force.

"No! The green guildmaster is dying!" Happy wailed in despair.

Makarov was scandalized by that. "Oy! Stop making fun of an old man!"

Luke: But I need your help. I've come back to complete the training.

Yoda: No more training do you require. Already know you that which you need.

Yoda sighs, and lies back on his bed.

Luke: Then I am a Jedi?

Yoda (shakes his head): Ohhh. Not yet. One thing remains: Vader. You must confront Vader. Then, only then, a Jedi will you be. And confront him you will.

Luke is in agony. He is silent for a long moment, screwing up his courage. Finally, he is able to ask.

Luke: Master Yoda... is Darth Vader my father?

The mages get on edge, remembering the recent earth-shaking revelation. Yoda's eyes are full of weariness and compassion. An odd, sad smile creases his face. He turns painfully on his side, away from Luke.

Yoda: Mmm... rest I need. Yes... rest.

Luke watches him, each moment an eternity.

Luke: Yoda, I must know.

Yoda: Your father he is.

Luke reacts as if cut. The mages too seem distraught at having such revelation being confirmed.

Yoda: Told you, did he?

Luke: Yes.

A new look of concern crosses Yoda's face. He closes his eyes.

Yoda: Unexpected this is, and unfortunate...

Luke: Unfortunate that I know the truth?

Yoda opens his eyes again and studies the youth.

Yoda (gathering all his strength): No. Unfortunate that you rushed to face him... that incomplete was your training. Not ready for the burden were you.

Luke: Well, I'm sorry.

Yoda: Remember, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware. Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.

He beckons the young Jedi closer to him.

Yoda: Luke...Luke...Do not...Do not underestimate the powers of the Emperor, or suffer your father's fate, you will. Luke, when gone am I (cough), the last of the Jedi will you be. Luke, the Force runs strong in your family. Pass on what you have learned, Luke... (with great effort) There is... another... Sky... Sky... walker.

("Whaaaaaaaaaaaat!? Another Skywalker!" Lucy exclaimed in surprise. "H-How!? Who? When!? There's so much that we need to know!")

Yoda catches his breath. A shiver runs through the ancient green creature, and he dies. Luke stares at his dead master as he disappears in front of his eyes.

("Oh, that dick!" Cana declared with a stumped expression. "He cannot be making revelations like that only to keel over at the next moment! That's not cool, yo'!")

Luke wanders back to where his ship is sitting. Artoo beeps a greeting but is ignored by his depressed master. Luke kneels down, begins to help Artoo with the ship, then stops and shakes his head dejectedly.

Luke: I can't do it, Artoo. I can't go on alone.

Ben's voice: Yoda will always be with you.

Luke looks up to see the shimmering image of Bem Kenobi.

Luke: Obi-Wan! Why didn't you tell me?

The ghost of Ben Kenobi approaches him through the swamp.

Luke: You told me Vader betrayed and murdered my father.

Ben: You father was seduced by the dark side of the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and became Darth Vader. When that happened, the good man who was your father was destroyed. So, what I have told you was true... from a certain point of view.

("The fuck is that answer!?" Cana declares in disbelief.)

Luke (turning away, derisive): A certain point of view!

Ben: Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.

Luke is unresponsive. Ben studies him in silence for a moment.

Ben: I don't blame you for being angry. If I was wrong in what I did, it certainly wouldn't have been for the first time. You see, what happened to your father was my fault.

Ben pauses sadly.

Ben: Anakin was a good friend.

Luke turns with interest at this. As Ben speaks, Luke settles on a stump, mesmerized. Artoo comes over to offer his comforting presence.

Ben: When I first knew him, your father was already a great pilot. But I was amazed how strongly the Force was with him. I took it upon myself to train him as a Jedi. I thought that I could instruct him just as well as Yoda. I was wrong. My pride has had terrible consequences for the galaxy.

Luke is entranced.

Luke: There's still good in him.

Ben: I also thought he could be turned back to the good side. It couldn't be done. He is more machine now than man. Twisted and evil.

Luke: I can't do it, Ben.

Ben: You cannot escape your destiny.

Luke: I tried to stop him once. I couldn't do it.

Ben: Vader humbled you when first you met him, Luke... but that experience was part of your training. It taught you, among other things, the value of patience. Had you not been so impatient to defeat Vader then, you could have finished your training here with Yoda. You would have been prepared.

Luke: But I had to help my friends.

Ben (grinning at Luke's indignation): And did you help them? It was they who had to save you. You achieved little by rushing back prematurely, I fear.

Luke (with sadness): I found out Darth Vader was my father.

Ben: To be a Jedi, Luke, you must confront and then go beyond the dark side - the side your father couldn't get past. Impatience is the easiest door - for you, like your father. Only, your father was seduced by what he found on the other side of the door, and you have held firm. You're no longer so reckless now, Luke. You are strong and patient. And now, you must face Darth Vader again!

Luke: I can't kill my own father.

Ben: Then the Emperor has already won. You were our only hope.

Luke: Yoda spoke of another.

Ben: The other he spoke of is your twin sister.

Luke: But I have no sister.

Ben: Hmm. To protect you both from the Emperor, you and your sister were hidden from your father when you were born. The Emperor knew, as I did, if Anakin were to have any offspring, they would be a threat to him. That is the reason why your sister remains safely anonymous.

Luke: Leia! Leia's my sister.

("The Princess!?" Macao asked outloud in surprise.)

Ben: Your insight serves you well. Bury your feelings deep down, Luke. They do you credit. But they could be made to serve the Emperor.

Luke looks into the distance, trying to comprehend all this.

The scene changes to show sundreds of Rebel commanders of all races and forms assembled in a war room. Wedge is among them. In the center of the room is a holographic model depicting the half-completed Imperial Death Star, the nearby Moon of Endor, and the protecting deflector shield.

Mon Mothma, the leader of the Alliance, enters the room. She is a stern but beautiful woman in her fifties. Conferring with her are several military leaders, including General Madine and Admiral Ackbar (a salmon-colored Mon Calamari). Lando moves through the crowd until he finds Han and Chewie, standing next to Leia and the two droids.

Han peers at Lando's new insignia on his chest, and is amused.

Han: Well, look at you, a general, huh?

Lando: Oh, well, someone must have told them about my little maneuver at the battle of Taanab.

Han (sarcastic): Well, don't look at me, pal. I just said you were a fair pilot. I didn't know they were lookin' for somebody to lead this crazy attack.

Lando (smiling): I'm surprised they didn't ask you to do it.

Han: Well, who says they didn't. But I ain't crazy. You're the respectable one, remember?

Mon Mothma signals for attention, and the room falls silent.

Mon Mothma: The Emperor has made a critical error and the time for our attack has come.

This causes a stir. Mon Mothma turns to a holographic model of the Death Star, the Endor moon and the protecting deflector shield in the center of the room.

Mon Mothma: The data brought to us by the Bothan spies pinpoints the exact location of the Emperor's new battle station. We also know that the weapon systems of this Death Star are not yet operational. With the Imperial Fleet spread throughout the galaxy in a vain effort to engage us, it is relatively unprotected. But most important of all, we've learned that the Emperor himself is personally overseeing the final stages of the construction of this Death Star.

A volley of spirited chatter erupts from the crowd. Han turns to Leia as Chewie barks his amazement.

Mon Mothma: Many Bothans died to bring us this information. Admiral Ackbar, please.

Admiral Ackbar steps forward and points to the Death Star's force field and the Moon of Endor.

Ackbar: You can see here the Death Star orbiting the forest Moon of Endor. Although the weapon systems on this Death Star are not yet operational, the Death Star does have a strong defense mechanism. It is protected by an energy shield, which is generated from the nearby forest Moon of Endor. The shield must be deactivated if any attack is to be attempted. Once the shield is down, our cruisers will create a perimeter, while the fighters fly into the superstructure and attempt to knock out the main reactor.

There's a concerned murmur.

"That Death Star has to be destroyed before it can fire its main weapon. The rebels are doing good by attacking before it has a chance to do so…" Erza said with a node.

Levy looked unsure. "I don't think I'll be that easy, the Empire is sure to have it well defended."

Laki nodded. "Yes, that energy shield… I wonder how it works…"

Ackbar: General Calrissian has volunteered to lead the fighter attack

Han turns to Lando with a look of respect.

Han: Good luck.

Lando nods his thanks.

Han: You're gonna need it.

Ackbar: General Madine.

Madine moves center stage.

Madine: We have stolen a small Imperial shuttle. Disguised as a cargo ship, and using a secret Imperial code, a strike team will land on the moon and deactivate the shield generator.

The assembly begins to mumble among themselves.

Threepio: Sounds dangerous.

Leia (to Han): I wonder who they found to pull that off.

Madine: General Solo, is your strike team assembled?

Leia, startled, looks up at Han, surprise changing to admiration.

Han: Uh, my team's ready. I don't have a command crew for the shuttle.

Chewbacca raises his hairy paw and volunteers. Han looks up at him.

Han: Well, it's gonna be rough, pal. I didn't want to speak for you.

Chewie waves that off with a huge growl.

Han (smiles): That's one.

Leia: Uh, General... count me in.

Luke: I'm with you, too!

They turn in that direction and peer into the crowd as there are more cheers. The commander's part, and there at the back stands Luke. Han and Leia are surprised and delighted.

The scene changes to show a converted control room dimly lit, except for a pool of light at the far end. There the Emperor sits in an elaborate control chair before a large window which looks out across the half-completed Death Star to the giant green moon of Endor.

Darth Vader, standing with other members of the Imperial council, cautiously approaches his master. The ruler's back is to Vader. After several tense moments, the Emperor's chair rotates around to face him.

Vader: What is thy bidding, my Master?

Emperor: Send the fleet to the far side of Endor. There it will stay until called for.

Vader: What of the reports of the Rebel fleet massing near Sullust?

Emperor: It is of no concern. Soon the Rebellion will be crushed, and young Skywalker will be one of us! Your work here is finished, my friend. Go out to the command ship and await my orders.

Vader: Yes, my Master.

Vader bows, then turns and exits the throne room as the Emperor walks toward the waiting council members.

Later, two red Imperial Guards stand watch at the elevator as the door opens to reveal Vader. Vader enters the eerie, foreboding throne room. It appears to be empty. His footsteps echo as he approaches the throne. He waits, absolutely still. The Emperor sits with his back to the Dark Lord.

Emperor: I told you to remain on the command ship.

Vader: A small Rebel force has penetrated the shield and landed on Endor.

Emperor (no surprise): Yes, I know.

Vader: My son is with them.

Emperor: Are you sure?

Vader: I have felt him, my Master.

Emperor: Strange, that I have not. I wonder if your feelings on this matter are clear, Lord Vader.

Vader knows what is being asked.

Vader: They are clear, my Master.

Emperor: Then you must go to the Sanctuary Moon and wait for them.

Vader (skeptical): He will come to me?

Emperor: I have foreseen it. His compassion for you will be his undoing. He will come to you and then you will bring him before me.

Vader (bows): As you wish.

The Dark Lord strides out of the throne room. The mages of Fairy Tail were not reassured by what they just heard.

"Shit! They know the rebels are coming!" Alzack said with worried countenance.

"This is a trap, no doubt about it!" Wakaba declared seriously.

The scene changes to show a deserted wooden walkway. The windows of the little huts in the background glow and flicker from the fires inside. The sounds of the forest fill the soft night air. Luke wanders away from the hut and stands staring up at the Death Star. Leia finds him like that.

Leia: Luke, what's wrong?

Luke turns and looks at her a long moment.

Luke: Leia... do you remember your mother? Your real mother?

Leia: Just a little bit. She died when I was very young.

Luke: What do you remember?

Leia: Just...images, really. Feelings.

Luke: Tell me.

Leia (a little surprised at his insistence): She was very beautiful. Kind, but...sad. (looks up) Why are you asking me all this?

He looks away.

Luke: I have no memory of my mother. I never knew her.

The mages stay silent, hearing solemny the words of the young Jedi as he poured out his heart.

Leia: Luke, tell me. What's troubling you?

Luke: Vader is here... Now, on this moon.

Leia (alarmed): How do you know?

Luke: I felt his presence. He's come for me. He can feel when I'm near. That's why I have to go. (facing her) As long as I stay, I'm endangering the group and our mission here… I have to face him.

Leia is distraught, confused.

Leia: Why?

Luke moves close and his manner is gentle. And very calm.

Luke: He's my father.

Leia: Your father?

Luke: There's more. It won't be easy for you to hear it, but you must. If I don't make it back, you're the only hope for the Alliance.

Leia is very disturbed by this. She moves away, as if to deny it.

Leia: Luke, don't talk that way. You have a power I-I don't understand and could never have.

Luke: You're wrong, Leia. You have that power too. In time you'll learn to use it as I have. The Force is strong in my family. My father has it... I have it... and... my sister has it.

Leia stares into his eyes. What she sees there frightens her. But she doesn't draw away. She begins to understand.

Luke: Yes. It's you Leia.

Leia: I know. Somehow...I've always known.

Luke: Then you know why I have to face him.

Leia: No! Luke, run away, far away. If he can feel your presence, then leave this place. I wish I could go with you.

Luke: No, you don't. You've always been strong.

Leia: But, why must you confront him?

Luke: Because... There is good in him. I've felt it. He won't turn me over to the Emperor. I can save him. I can turn him back to the good side. I have to try.

("I seriously doubt that…" Macao said with a skeptical face, it earned him a scathing look from Erza that leaved the smoke mage frozen on his spot.)

The two siblings hold each other close and look at each other, brother and sister. Leia holds back her tears as Luke slowly lets her go and moves away. He disappears onto the walkway that leads out of the village. Leia, bathed in moonlight, watches him go as Han comes out of the nearby hut and comes over to her. Leia is crying, her body trembling. He realizes only now that she is crying.

Han: Hey, what's goin' on?

Leia attempts to stifle her sobs and wipes her eyes.

Leia: Nothing. I - just want to be alone for a little while.

Han (angry): Nothing? Come on, tell me. What's goin' on?

She looks up at him, struggling to control herself.

Leia: I... I can't tell you.

Han (loses his temper): Did you tell Luke? Is that who you could tell?

Leia: I...

Han: Ahhh...

He starts to walk away, exasperated, then stops and walks back to her.

Han: I'm sorry.

Leia: Hold me.

Han gathers her tightly in his protective embrace.

("I almost thought badly of Solo. But it seems he really is a good man…" Bisca said with a nod.)

On another part of the forested planet, an Imperial shuttle floats down from the Death Star and lands gracefully on a huge platform.

Now, an Imperial walker approaches the platform from the darkness of the forest. The whole outpost - platform, walkers, military - looks particularly offensive in the midst of this verdant beauty.

Darth Vader walks down the ramp of the shuttle onto the platform, into an elevator, and appears on a ramp on a lower level. He walks toward another ramp exit and is met by two troopers and a commander with Luke, in binders, at their center. The young Jedi gazes at Vader with complete calm.

("Vader! And they have Luke!" Happy exclaims in alarm, pointing with a paw.)

Commander: This is a Rebel that surrendered to us. Although he denies it, I believe there may be more of them, and I request permission to conduct a further search of the area.

The commander extends his hand, revealing Luke's lightsaber.

Commander: He was armed only with this.

Vader looks at Luke, turns away and faces the commander, taking the lightsaber from the commander's hand.

Vader: Good work, Commander. Leave us. Conduct your search and bring his companions to me.

Commander: Yes, my Lord.

The officer and troops withdraw. Vader and Luke are left standing alone in the oddly tranquil beauty of the place. The sounds of the forest filter in upon them.

Vader: The Emperor has been expecting you.

Luke: I know, father.

Vader: So, you have accepted the truth.

Luke: I've accepted the truth that you were once Anakin Skywalker, my father.

Vader (turning to face him): That name no longer has any meaning for me.

Luke: It is the name of your true self. You've only forgotten. I know there is good in you. The Emperor hasn't driven it from you fully. That is why you couldn't destroy me. That's why you won't bring me to your Emperor now.

Vader looks down from Luke to the lightsaber in his own black- gloved hand. He seems to ponder Luke's words.

Vader (indicating lightsaber): I see you have constructed a new lightsaber.

Vader ignites the lightsaber and holds it to examine its humming, brilliant blade.

Vader: Your skills are complete. Indeed, you are powerful, as the Emperor has foreseen.

They stand for a moment, then Vader extinguishes the lightsaber.

Luke: Come with me.

Vader: Obi-Wan once thought as you do.

Luke steps close to Vader, then stops. Vader is still.

Vader: You don't know the power of the dark side. I must obey my master.

Luke: I will not turn... And you'll be forced to kill me.

Vader: If that is your destiny.

Luke: Search your feelings, father. You can't do this. I feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate.

Vader: It is too late for me, son. The Emperor will show you the true nature of the Force. He is your master now.

Vader signals to some distant stormtroopers. He and Luke stand staring at one another for a long moment.

Luke: Then my father is truly dead.

"I knew that was going to happen…" Macao deadpanned.

Erza blushed, embarrassed that Luke's plan failed and looked and turned towards the older mage. "S-Shut up Macao!"

A vast fleet hangs in space near a blue planet. A giant Rebel Star Cruiser is up at the front, but now the Millennium Flacon roars up to a spot ahead of it, tiny in comparison.

Lando is in the pilot seat. His alien copilot, NIEN NUNB, takes some getting used to in the familiar environs of the Falcon's cockpit. Lando speaks into his comlink.

Lando: Admiral, we're in position. All fighters accounted for.

Ackbar: Proceed with the countdown. All groups assume attack coordinates.

Lando turns to his weird copilot.

Lando: Don't worry, my friends are down there. They'll have that shield down on time... (to himself) or this'll be the shortest offensive of all time.

The copilot flips some switches and grunts an alien comment.

Ackbar: All craft, prepare to jump to hyperspace on my mark.

Lando: All right. Stand by.

He pulls a lever, and the stars outside begin to streak.

The mages are treated to an awesome sight: first the Millennium Falcon, then Ackbar's Star Cruiser, then, in large segments, the huge fleet roars into hyperspace. And disappears.

("Awesome!" Happy says out loud.)

The elevator opens. Vader and Luke enter the room alone. They walk across the dark space to stand before the throne, father and son side by side beneath the gaze of the Emperor. Vader bows to his Master.

Emperor: Welcome, young Skywalker. I have been expecting you.

Luke peers at the hooded figure defiantly. The Emperor then looks down at Luke's binders.

Emperor: You no longer need those.

The Emperor motions ever so slightly with his finger and Luke's binders fall away, clattering to the floor. Luke looks down at his own hands, free now to reach out and grab the Emperor's neck. He does nothing.

Emperor: Guards, leave us.

The red-cloaked guards turn and disappear behind the elevator.

Emperor (to Luke): I'm looking forward to completing your training. In time you will call me Master.

("Mighty arrogant this one, isn't it…?" Makarov said in a less than impressed tone.)

Luke: You're gravely mistaken. You won't convert me as you did my father.

The Emperor gets down from his throne and walks up very close to Luke. The Emperor looks into his eyes and, for the first time, Luke can perceive the evil visage within the hood.

Emperor: Oh, no, my young Jedi. You will find that it is you who are mistaken... About a great many things.

Vader: His lightsaber.

Vader extends a gloved hand toward the Emperor, revealing Luke's lightsaber. The Emperor takes it.

Emperor: Ah, yes, a Jedi's weapon. Much like your father's. By now you must know your father can never be turned from the dark side. So, will it be with you.

Luke: You're wrong. Soon I'll be dead... And you with me.

The Emperor laughs.

Emperor: Perhaps you refer to the imminent attack of your Rebel fleet.

Luke looks up sharply.

Emperor: Yes...I assure you we are quite safe from your friends here.

Vader looks at Luke.

Luke: Your overconfidence is your weakness.

Emperor: Your faith in your friends is yours.

Vader: It is pointless to resist, my son.

The Emperor turns to face Luke.

Emperor (angry): Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design. (indicates Endor) Your friends up there on the Sanctuary Moon...

Luke reacts. The Emperor notes it.

Emperor: ...are walking into a trap. As is your Rebel fleet! It was I who allowed the Alliance to know the location of the shield generator. It is quite safe from your pitiful little band. An entire legion of my best troops awaits them.

Luke's look darts from the Emperor to Vader and, finally, to the sword in the Emperor's hand.

Emperor: Oh...I'm afraid the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends arrive.

"Shit! So, it was a trap after all! And from the very beginning, he had been deceiving everybody all along!" Alzack exclaimed in dread.

Natsu could do nothing but grit his teeth and bite his nails in frustration.

Meanwhile Han, Leia, Chewie, and the Rebel strike team storm through a door and enter the main control room of the shield generator, taking all of the personnel prisoner.

Han: All right! Up! Move! Come on! Quickly! Quickly, Chewie.

The Rebel troops herd the generator controllers away from their panels. Leia glances at one of the screens on the control panel.

Leia: Han! Hurry! The fleet will be here any moment.

Han: Charges! Come on, come on!

Outside, Threepio watches nervously in the bushes as several more controllers and stormtroopers run into the bunker, leaving guards at the door. He turns towards a teddy bear standing next to him.

Threepio (to Wicket): Oh, my! They'll be captured!

Lucy lets out a girly squeal. "What is that! He looks so cute!"

Cana shakes her head. "You have to be such a girl…"

Wicket chatters in Ewok language, and then takes off full steam into the forest.

Threepio: Wa-wait! Wait, come back! Artoo, stay with me.

Inside the bunker, Han looks up from setting charges as an Imperial commander enters.

Commander: Freeze! You Rebel scum.

Han and Leia spin, to find dozens of Imperial weapons trained on them and their cohorts. A poised force of Imperial troops surrounds them. Even more pour into the room, roughly disarming the Rebel contingent. Han, Leia, and Chewie exchange looks. They're helpless.

Out in space, the Death Star and its Sanctuary Moon hang distant in space as the Rebel fleet comes out of hyperspace with an awesome roar. The Millennium Falcon and several Rebel fighters are at the front as the space armada bears down on its target.

Lando flips switches, checks his screen, and speaks into the radio.

Lando: All wings report in.

Wedge: Red Leader standing by.

Gray Leader: Gray Leader standing by.

Green Leader: Green Leader standing by.

Wedge: Lock S-foils in attack positions.

From the bridge of the Rebel Headquarters Frigate, Admiral Ackbar watches the fighters massing outside his viewscreen.

Ackbar: May the Force be with us.

Lando looks worriedly at his alien copilot, Nien Nunb, who points to the control panel and talks to Lando.

Lando: We've got to be able to get some kind of a reading on that shield, up or down. Well, how could they be jamming us if they don't know if we're coming.

Lando shoots a concerned look out at the approaching Death Star as the implications of what he's just said sink in. He hits a switch on his comlink.

Lando: Break off the attack! The shield is still up.

Wedge: I get no reading. Are you sure?

Lando: Pull up! All craft pull up!

The Falcon turns hard to the left. Out the window the stars and the Death Star move off right.

The Falcon and the fighters of Red Squad veer off desperately to avoid the unseen wall.

Alarms are screaming and lights flashing as the huge ship changes course abruptly. Other ships in the fleet shoot by outside as the armada tries to halt its forward momentum.

Ackbar: Take evasive action! Green Group, stick close to holding sector MV-7.

A Mon Calamari controller turns away from his screen and calls out to Ackbar, quite excited. The Admiral rushes over to the controller.

Controller: Admiral, we have enemy ships in sector 47.

On the screen can be seen the moon, Death Star, and the massive Imperial fleet. Ackbar moves to the comlink.

Ackbar: It's a trap!

Lando (over comlink): Fighters coming in.

There is much excitement on the bridge as the attack begins. The Millennium Falcon and several squads of Rebel fighters head into an armada of TIE fighters. The sky explodes as a fierce dogfight ensues in and around the giant Rebel cruisers.

Rebel Pilot: There's too many of them!

("Yeah, fuck. No kidding…" Cana mutters as she sees the screen choke-full of star fighters.)

Lando: Accelerate to attack speed! Draw their fire away from the cruisers.

Wedge: Copy, Gold Leader.

The battle continues around the giant cruisers.

Through the round window behind the Emperor's throne the distant flashes of the space battle in progress can be seen.

Emperor: Come, boy. See for yourself.

The Emperor is sitting in his throne, with Vader standing at his side. Luke moves to look through a small section of the window.

Emperor: From here you will witness the final destruction of the Alliance, and the end of your insignificant Rebellion.

Luke is in torment. He glances at his lightsaber sitting on the armrest of the throne. The Emperor watches him and smiles, before touching the lightsaber.

Emperor: You want this, don't you? The hate is swelling in you now. Take your Jedi weapon. Use it. I am unarmed. Strike me down with it. Give in to your anger. With each passing moment, you make yourself more my servant.

Vader watches Luke in his agony.

Luke: No!

Emperor: It is unavoidable. It is your destiny. You, like your father, are now mine!

("Bastard!" Natsu yells, feeling too impotent and frustrated at the ensuing drama.)

Han, Leia, Chewie, and the rest of the strike team are led out of the bunker by their captors. The surrounding area, deserted before, is now crowded with two-legged Imperial walkers and hundreds of Imperial troops. The situation looks hopeless.

Back on space, the Falcon and other Rebel fighters are engaged in a ferocious combat with Imperial TIE fighters, the battle raging around the cruisers of the Rebel armada. Lando is in radio communication with the pilots of the other Rebel squads.

Lando: Watch yourself, Wedge! Three from above!

Wedge: Red Three, Red Two, pull in!

Red Two: Got it!

Red Three: Three of them coming in, twenty degrees!

Wedge: Cut to the left! I'll take the leader! They're heading for the medical frigate.

Lando steers the Falcon through a complete flip, as his crew fires at the TIEs from the belly guns.

Navigator: Pressure's steady.

The copilot Nien Nunb chatters an observation.

Lando: Only the fighters are attacking. I wonder what those Star Destroyers are waiting for.

The giant Imperial Star Destroyer waits silently some distance from the battle. The Emperor's huge Super Star Destroyer rests in the middle of the fleet.

Admiral Piett and two fleet commanders watch the battle at the huge window of the Super Star Destroyer bridge.

Commander: We're in attack position now, sir.

Piett: Hold here.

Commander: We're not going to attack?

Piett: I have my orders from the Emperor himself. He has something special planned for them. We only need to keep them from escaping.

The Emperor, Vader, and a horrified Luke watch the aerial battle fireworks out the window and on the viewscreens. Another Rebel ship explodes against the protective shield.

Emperor: As you can see, my young apprentice, your friends have failed. Now witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational battle station. (into comlink) Fire at will, Commander.

Luke, in shock, looks out across the surface of the Death Star to the Rebel fleet beyond.

Controllers pull back on several switches. Commander Jerjerrod stands over them.

Jerjerrod: Fire!

A button is pressed, which switches on a panel of lights. A hooded Imperial soldier reaches overhead and pulls a lever. A huge beam of light emanates from a long shaft. Two stormtroopers stand to one side at a control panel.

The giant laser dish on the completed half of the Death Star begins to glow; then a powerful beam shoots out toward the aerial battle.

The air is thick with giant ships. In among them, Rebel X-wings dogfight with Imperial TIE fighters. Now an enormous Rebel cruiser is hit by the Death Star beam and is blown to dust.

"Shit! That thing is active!" Cana calls out loud, everybody knowing just how bad was for the Death Star to be able to use its main weapon.

The Millennium Falcon roars over, followed closely by several TIE fighters. The ship is buffeted by the tremendous explosion of the Rebel cruiser. Lando and his copilot are stunned by the sight of the Death Star firepower.

Lando: That blast came from the Death Star! That thing's operational! (into comlink) Home One, this is Gold Leader.

Ackbar stands amid the confusion on the wide bridge and speaks into the comlink.

Ackbar: We saw it. All craft prepare to retreat.

Lando: You won't get another chance at this, Admiral.

Ackbar: We have no choice, General Calrissian. Our cruisers can't repel firepower of that magnitude.

Lando: Han will have that shield down. We've got to give him more time.

The Rebel fleet continues to be picked off, from one side by the Death Star's deadly beam, from the other by the rampaging Imperial Star Destroyers. Lando steers the Falcon wildly through an obstacle course of floating giants. He's been yelling into the comlink.

Lando (desperately): Yes! I said closer! Move as close as you can and engage those Star Destroyers at point-blank range.

Ackbar: At that close range, we won't last long against those Star Destroyers.

Lando: We'll last longer then we will against that Death Star...and we might just take a few of them with us.

The Rebel cruisers move very close to the Imperial Star Destroyers and begin to blast away at point-blank range. Tiny fighters' race across the giant surfaces, against a backdrop of laser fire.

The control tower of a Star Destroyer is under attack.

Rebel Pilot: She's gonna blow!

Y-Wing pilot: I'm hit!

The damaged Y-wing plummets toward the Star Destroyer, and crashes into the control tower, exploding.

Out of the window and on the view screens, the Rebel fleet is being decimated in blinding explosions of light and debris. But in here there is no sound of battle. The Emperor turns to Luke.

Emperor: Your fleet has lost. And your friends on the Endor moon will not survive. There is no escape, my young apprentice. The Alliance will die... as will your friends.

("That cunt!" Gray rages, simmering in rage.)

Luke's eyes are full of rage. Vader watches him.

Emperor: Good. I can feel your anger. I am defenseless. Take your weapon! Strike me down with all your hatred, and your journey towards the dark side will be complete.

Luke can resist no longer. The lightsaber flies into his hand. He ignites it in an instant and swings at the Emperor. Vader's lightsaber flashes into view, blocking Luke's blow before it can reach the Emperor. The two blades spark at contact. The empeor laughing in sadistic glee, knowing he had succeeded in his goal of turning Luke to the dark.

Fater and son become engaged in a man-to-man duel of lightsabers even more vicious then the battle on Bespin. But the young Jedi has grown stronger in the interim, and now the advantage shifts to him. Vader is forced back, losing his balance, and is knocked down the stairs. Luke stands at the top of the stairs, ready to attack.

Emperor (laughing): Good. Use your aggressive feelings, boy! Let the hate flow through you.

("NO, LUKE! DON'T DO IT!" Happy yells in alarm.)

Luke looks momentarily toward the Emperor, then back to Vader, and realizes he is using the dark side. He steps back, turns off his lightsaber, and relaxes, driving the hate from his being.

Vader: Obi-Wan has taught you well.

Luke: I will not fight you, father.

Vader walks back up the stairs to Luke.

Vader: You are unwise to lower your defenses.

Vader attacks, forcing Luke on the defensive. The young Jedi leaps in an amazing reverse flip up to the safety of the catwalk overhead. Vader stands below him.

Luke: Your thoughts betray you, father. I feel the good in you... The conflict.

Vader: There is no conflict.

Luke: You couldn't bring yourself to kill me before, and I don't believe you'll destroy me now.

Vader: You underestimate the power of the dark side. If you will not fight, then you will meet your destiny.

Vader throws the laser sword and it cuts through the supports holding the catwalk, then returns to Vader's hand. Luke tumbles to the ground in a shower of sparks and rolls out of sight under the Emperor's platform. Vader moves to find him.

Emperor (laughs): Good. Good. Vader stalks the low-ceilinged area on the level below the throne, searching for Luke in the semi-darkness, his lightsaber held ready.

Vader: You cannot hide forever, Luke.

Luke: I will not fight you.

Vader: Give yourself to the dark side. It is the only way you can save your friends. Yes, your thoughts betray you. Your feelings for them are strong. Especially for...

Vader stops and senses something. Luke shuts his eyes tightly, in anguish.

Vader: Your sister! So... you have a twin sister. Your feelings have now betrayed her, too. Obi-Wan was wise to hide her from me. Now his failure is complete. If you will not turn to the dark side, then perhaps she will.

Luke: Never-r-r!

Luke ignites his lightsaber and screams in anger, rushing at his father with a frenzy we have not seen before. Sparks fly as Luke and Vader fight in the cramped area. Luke's hatred forces Vader to retreat out of the low area and across a bridge overlooking a vast elevator shaft. Each stroke of Luke's sword drives his father further toward defeat.

The Dark Lord is knocked to his knees, and as he raises his sword to block another onslaught, Luke slashes Vader's right hand off at the wrist, causing metal and electronic parts to fly from the mechanical stump. Vader's sword clatters uselessly away, over the edge of the platform and into the bottomless shaft below. Luke moves over Vader and holds the blade of his sword to the Dark Lord's throat. The Emperor watches with uncontrollable, pleased agitation.

Emperor: Good! Your hate has made you powerful. Now, fulfill your destiny and take your father's place at my side!

Luke looks at his father's mechanical hand, then to his own mechanical, black-gloved hand, and realizes how much he is becoming like his father. He makes the decision for which he has spent a lifetime in preparation. Luke steps back and hurls his lightsaber away.

Luke: Never! I'll never turn to the dark side. You've failed, Your Highness. I am a Jedi, like my father before me.

The Emperor's glee turns to rage.

Emperor: So be it... Jedi.

The final confrontation against the emperor is interrupted by Boomstick, barging into scene.

Boomstick: AH, yes… The original Star Wars trilogy. Good stuff… Movies are not made like that anymore… Anyways, Luke doesn't have an obvious weakness, aside from some pretty serious daddy issues. He doesn't carry a blaster, but unlike another stupid Jedi, he isn't afraid to use one.

The fairies were practically up in arms at the interruption.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait a minute…! They can't simply leave things like this can't they!?" Cana suddenly called, a gob-smacked expression on her face. "Oh, my gods, those assholes will do it, isn't it? They will truly leave us hanging to dry without seeing how things ends!"

"I'm… I'm sure everything will turn alright…" Levy timidly said.

"I trust Luke! He cannot lose! The emperor tried to make him fall to the dark side and he failed!" Happy calls loudly, nodding in confidence.

"And master Yoda did said only a true Jedi would be able to defeat the emperor…" Erza commented in agremment.

Wiz: While Luke is no fan of violence, he certainly will not pull any punches.

"Yes… We are aware…" Macao said, a little irritated.

Luke was a very compelling and interesting character on his own, even if he's the son of Darth Vader. They all wanted to know on on how to wield the Force works, it seems you could do a lot of things with it, they even wanted their very own Lightsabers after seeing them in action. On to the next combatant.

The next contestant is another young man with jet black hair with bright green eyes. He wore a robe and a school uniform and carries a wand, and most noticeable part is his lightning shaped scar and is seen fighting and encountering various magical creatures.

Harry Potter

---

BACKGROUND

Height: Unknown [Tall]

Weight: Unknown [Skinny]

Born July 31, 1980

Half-Blood Wizard

Accidentally Cursed to Carry Voldemort's Powers

Married to Ginny Weasley

---

(Cues Harry Potter - Hedwig's Theme)

Wiz: As an orphan, Harry Potter carries the talents of the most powerful dark wizard ever known: Lord Voldemort. He was raised by his aunt and uncle, who kept him safe by disguising his true power before being taught by a wise old mentor in the ways of magic.

Boomstick: Now why does that sound familiar?

"Guess it was to be expected for some fighters to share a similar Origin. Many stories show similar traits in real life…" Levy said with a throughtful expression.

"Levy, you're so smart!" Happy exclaimed.

"You've said that already Happy!" Gray grouched.

"That's not true! I said that Laki was smart, not Levy!" Retorted the winged feline.

The screen pans on a sleeping boy, almost eleven, with a lightning-bolt shaped scar on his forehead. There is a click and knocking. Outside, a tall woman, PETUNIA DURSLEY, raps the door.

Petunia: Up. Get up. {Knocks} {sighs} Now! {Smacks door of closet which is the boy's bedroom}

A large, tubby boy, DUDLEY DURSLEY, suddenly comes running down the stairs above the closet. He stops half-way down and goes back, jumping on the staircase.

Dudley: Wake up, cousin! We're going to the zoo!

Dudley laughs, comes down the stairs and runs for the kitchen. The boy, HARRY POTTER, tries to come out of the closet, but is pushed back in by Dudley.

"Man, what a little shit!" Cana says, much to the agreement of her fellow fairies.

"That kid should cut down on the sandwiches and go outside fro some exercise. He's starting to look like a little pig. Just saying…" Wakaba says with a shrug.

Petunia is in the kitchen, where Dudley has gone.

Petunia: Oh, here he comes, the birthday boy!

A larger man, VERNON DURSLEY, is sitting at the kitchen table.

"It's that a planet!?" Happy exclaims in stupefied surprise, pointing with a finger.

Makarov blinks. "In all my years, I didn't know people could get that big without the aid of Magic…"

Vernon: Happy birthday, son.

Petunia and Dudley giggle together. Harry comes into the kitchen, dressed in rags.

Petunia: Why don't you just cook the breakfast and try not to burn anything.

Harry: Yes, Aunt Petunia.

He sets to work.

("Something is not right in here…" Lucy says with great suspicion.)

Petunia: I want everything to be perfect for my Dudley's special day.

Vernon: Hurry up! Bring my coffee, boy!

Harry: Yes, Uncle Vernon.

Petunia leads Dudley over to the family room, where there are a vast number of presents. Dudley stares.

Dudley: How many are there?

Vernon: Thirty-six. Counted 'em myself.

Dudley: Thirty-six?! But last year last year I got thirty-seven!

Vernon: Yes, well, some of them are quite a bit bigger than last year!

Dudley: I don't care how big they are!

Petunia: Oh, now, now, now. This is what we're going to do, is that when we go out, we're going to buy you two new presents! How's that, Pumpkin?

All the fairies look on in disapproval.

"That kid is spoiled rotten…" Alzack says with a frown.

"Yeah and not in the good way…" Macao interjects.

"Never have I seen a child receive so many presents on his birthday…" Mirajane says with an incredulous stare.

"Yes… Not even my father gave me that many presents on any of my birthdays. He used to prefer more going over size than quantity." Lucy declares with a stare of her own.

"I never received any birthday's present during my childhood." Erza reveals with an expressionless face. Now everybody turns to stare at her.

"Whaaaaaaa~?" Happy drones.

Makarov nod. "Ah that's true, you never knew your parents and used to be a child slave from what I remember. But we did give you presents (and still do) during the anniversary of your joining into the guild."

Erza nods. "That's true…"

Outside, it is morning. The happy family is heading to the car. Harry goes to get in but is stopped by Vernon.

Petunia: This will be a lovely day at the zoo. I'm really looking forward to it.

Vernon: I'm warning you now, boy. Any funny business, any at all, and you won't have any meals for a week. Get in.

Wiz: Okay… Maybe not as familiar as we might have thought initially.

"Yes… I would fucking say so…" Cana said, feeling sober all of a sudden. "That family sucks! They're clearly a far cry from Luke's own aunt and uncle."

"Yes, they are…" Makarov nodded.

Outside, some time later. An owl flies by the house and drops a letter, which zooms in the letterbox. It lands away from the house and hoots.

Harry, inside, goes to collect the mail. He sorts through the letters and sees his, addressed to him. He goes into the kitchen, hands Vernon the rest of the mail, and walks around the other side of the table to see his letter.

Vernon: Ah, Marge is ill. Ate a funny whelk.

Dudley: {Sees Harrys letter. He runs and grabs it} Dad, look! Harry's got a letter!

Harry: Hey, give it back! It's mine!

Vernon: {Laughs} Yours? Who'd be writing to you?

The family gathers to look at the address. There is a broken seal on the letter. The family looks up and Harry gulps.

Later, another owl flies by with a letter and drops it off. Inside, Vernon grabs a handful of letters and rips them up. In the closet, Harry hears a whirring noise. He looks out at Vernon drilling wood over the letterbox opening.

Vernon: No more mail through this letterbox.

The next day, Vernon and Petunia appear outside. Vernon is about to head off to work. Petunia kisses his cheek.

Petunia: Have a lovely day at the office, dear.

She stops, looks and sees a bunch of owls.

Vernon: Shoo! Go on!

That afternoon, Vernon is tossing letters into the fireplace. Harry comes around the corner. Vernon grins evilly and tosses more in.

Days later, the family is sitting around, Harry is serving cookies.

Vernon: Fine day Sunday. In my opinion, best day of the week. Why is that, Dudley?

Dudley shrugs.

Harry: {Hands cookie to Vernon} Because there's no post on Sunday? Ah, right you are, Harry. No post on Sunday. Hah! No blasted letters today. No, sir. {Harry sees a shadow outside the window. Outside, millions of owls are perched.} No sir, not one blasted, miserable-

A letter shoots out of the fireplace and zips across Vernons face. There is a rumbling and then zillions of letters come shooting out of the fireplace.

Dudley: AHH! Make it stop! Please make it stop! {He jumps on Petunias lap}

Petunia and Vernon: {Screaming}

Vernon: Go away, ahh!

Dudley: What is it? Please tell me what's happening!

Harry jumps onto the coffee table to grab a letter. He gets one and starts to run away. Vernon jumps up as well.

Vernon: Give me that! Give me that letter!

He chases Harry and grabs him before Harry gets into his closet.

Harry: Get off! Ahh!

Vernon: Ahh!

Harry: They're my letters! Let go of me!

Vernon: That's it! We're going away! Far away! Where they can't find us!

Dudley: Daddy's gone mad, hasn't he?!

(Cana grins. "Yes, he is! He deserves it, Asshole!")

A house, on a rock island somewhere out at sea. The family is sleeping, with Harry on the cold, dirt floor. He has drawn a birthday cake which reads, Happy Birthday Harry. Harry looks at Dudley's watch, which beeps 12:00.

Harry: Make a wish, Harry. {Blows}

"This is so sad, it is hard for me to watch…" Levy said, clearly dejected.

"Yes, What's their proBlem with tHe child!? I hate people like thAt!" Mirajane said, getting irate at the memory of how people treted her and her siblings when they became orphans.

Suddenly, the door thumps. Harry jumps. The door thumps again and Dudley and Harry jump up and back away. Petunia and Vernonappear, Vernon with a gun. The door bangs again and then cracks open, and a giant man appears.

("Whoa! He's big!" Happy said in fascination.)

Vernon: Who's there? Ahh!

Hagrid: Sorry 'bout that. {He puts the door back up}

Vernon: I demand that you leave at once, Sir! You are breaking and entering!

Petunia: Ooh.

Hagrid comes over, grabs the gun and bends it upwards.

Hagrid: Dry up, Dursley, you great prune. {The gun fires}

All: Ahh!

Hagrid: {sees Dudley} Mind, I haven't seen you since you was a baby, Harry, but you're a bit more along than I would have expected. Particularly 'round the middle!

Dudley: I-I-I'm not Harry.

Harry appears: I-I am.

Hagrid: Oh, well, of course you are! Got something for ya. 'Fraid I might have sat on it at some point! I imagine that it'll taste fine just the same. Ahh. Baked it myself. {Hands Harry the cake} Words and all. Heh.

Harry: Thank you! {Opens cake, which reads: Happee Birdae Harry.}

Hagrid: It's not every day that your young man turns eleven, now is it?

Hagrid sits down on the couch, takes out an umbrella and points it at the empty fire. Poof, poof! Two sparks fly out and the fire starts. The family gapes.

Harry: {puts cake down} Excuse me, who are you?

Hagrid: Rubeus Hagrid. Keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts. Course, you'll know all about Hogwarts.

Harry: Sorry, no.

Hagrid: No? Blimey, Harry, didn't you ever wonder where your mum and dad learned it all?

Harry: Learnt what?

Hagrid: You're a wizard, Harry.

Harry: I-I'm a what?

Harry: A wizard. And a thumping good one at that, I'd wager. Once you train up a little.

Harry: No, you've made a mistake. I can't be...a-a wizard. I mean, I'm just... Harry. Just Harry.

Hagrid: Well, Just Harry, did you ever make anything happen? Anything you couldn't explain when you were angry or scared? {Harry softens his expression} Ah.

Dudley: {whimpers}

Hagrid hands Harry the same letter that has been sent the past while. Harry opens it.

Harry: Dear, Mr. Potter. We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts' School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!

Vernon: He'll not be going! We swore when we took him in wed put an end to this rubbish!

Harry: You knew? You knew all along and you never told me?

Petunia: Of course, we knew. How could you not be? My perfect sister being who she was. Oh, my mother and father were so proud the day she got her letter. We have a witch in the family. Isn't it wonderful? I was the only one to see her for what she was. A freak! And then she met that Potter, and then she had you, and I knew you'd be just the same, just as strange, just as... abnormal. And then, if you please, she went and got herself blown up! And we got landed with you.

The mages glared at that, several of them were familiar of how some people tended to discriminate against magical people.

"Hag!" Cana said.

Natsu began to let out smoke from his nostrils. "I don't like hags!" He declared.

"We should break her legs!" Happy exclaimed cheerily.

"I approve of that motion Happy!" Mirajane said with a deranged smile.

"Sister, calm down!" Elfman advised with clear discomfort as he began to sweat bullets.

Harry: Blown up? You told me my parents died in a car crash!

Hagrid: A car crash? A car crash killed James and Lily Potter?

Petunia: We had to tell him something.

Hagrid: It's an outrage! It's a scandal!

Vernon: He'll not be going!

Hagrid: Oh, and I suppose a great Muggle like yourself's going to stop him, are you?

Harry: Muggle?

Hagrid: Non magic folk. This boy had his name down ever since he was born! He's going to the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world, and he'll be under the greatest headmaster Hogwarts' has ever seen: Albus Dumbledore.

"A magical school! How distinguished!" Laki Olietta commented, seemingly impressed.

"Aw! Now I'm jealous because I'm incapable of going there!" Levy lamented.

"Yes, I know how you feel." Lucy said in understanding.

Vernon: I will not pay for some crackpot old fool to teach him magic tricks!

Hagrid: {whips out umbrella and points it at Vernon} Never insult Albus Dumbledore in front of me.

Hagrid sees Dudley eating Harry's cake, and points the umbrella at his rear. A grey tail grows.

Dudley: Ahh!

All: Ahh! {family chases Dudley}

Harry: {laughs}

Hagrid: Oh, um, I'd appreciate if you didn't tell anyone at Hogwarts about that. Strictly speaking, I'm not allowed to do magic.

Harry: {Nods} Okay.

Hagrid: {checks a clock} Ooh, we're a bit behind schedule. Best be off. Unless you'd rather stay, of course. Hmm? {Leaves}

Harry grins, looks back, and grins again.

---

WAND

Length: 11 Inches

Make: Holly

Core: Phoenix Feather

Described as "Nice" and "Supple"

Brother to Voldemort's Wand

---

Wiz: At any rate, Harry wields an 11 inch phoenix core holly wand. He has learned many spells and is exceptionally skilled in charms.

"Wands...?" Wakaba said with a small smile. "That's cute. I haven't seen someone playing with wands since my daughter was a toddler…"

"Perhaps we should sEe what they cand do with the wands of their world before we start making fun of them...?" Levy advised with some chastisement in her voice.

---

CHARMS

Expelliarmus [Disarm]

Confundus [Confuse]

Stupefy [Stun]

Protego [Shields]

Patronus [Shields from Dark Creatures]

Accio [Summons Objects]

---

(Cues Fireworks - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince *End Credit Version*)

Boomstick: His trademark attack is the disarming charm, Expelleraptamus... or whatever.

Wiz: Expelliarmus.

Boomstick: ...Which can either knock a weapon away or throw the opponent through the air.

"Cool!" Both Happy and Natsu said.

"Seems useful enough." Wakaba commented.

Levy seemed pensive. "I wonder what would happen if I were to write the name of these spells using my solid script…?" She wondered, before doing exactly that and start writing words in the air. "Expelliarmus…"

A wave of energy suddenly thundered past and slammed right into Natsu and Happy, sending the two of them flying away. "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" They screamed before smashing right atop a mound of debris that the mages had collected during the day. "Ouch!"

Cana began to laugh. "Bwahahahahaha!"

Levy blushed strongly. "S-sorry H-happy! N-atsu!"

Erza nodded in appreciation. "It would seem that these spells do work rather well with your type of magic.

Laki fixed her glasses as she observed the result of the impromptu test. "Fascinating…"

However, Natsu proved to be much hardier than he seemed at first sight as he bursted through the broken pieces of wood seemingly none to worse for wear. "Woah! Levy, that was awesome!"

"Yeah!"

Wiz: The Confundus charm temporarily confuses the target, Stupefy stuns people, and the shield charm protects Harry from all attacks.

"Not bad." Gray said.

"Indeed." Makarov added.

Boomstick: And he can summon anything he wants to him with Accio. *clears throat* Accio money! Accio loose women! Damn!

The group shook their heads and chuckled at Boomstick trying to cast the spell but failing miserably instead.

---

FIREBOLT BROOMSTICK

0 to 150 MPH in 10 Seconds

Braking Charm

Perfect Balance

Streamlined Ash

Individually Selected Twigs of Aerodynamic Perfection

---

Wiz: His Firebolt is a racing broom that can reach 150 miles per hour in less than 10 seconds.

"I've seen faster." Cana said.

"Still decent though." Vijeeter added.

Boomstick: That's even faster than Wiz getting shot down by a woman!

Wiz: Right!... wait, no!

The fairies laughed at that and the others couldn't help but chuckle at Wiz's embarrassment.

---

CURSES

Reducto [Destroys Objects]

Sectumsempra [Slashes]

Oppugo [Objects Attack]

Imperio [Controls Minds]

Crucio [Causes Pain]

Avada Kedavra [The Killing Curse]

---

Wiz: Back to spells! Harry is also experienced in curses. He destroys objects with Reducto, slashes enemies with Sectumsempra, and controls minds with Imperius.

"Some of those sound like some pretty dark spells." Makarov commented with seriousness.

"Yes, guildmaster. Best to have the outmost care if we try to study some of them" Levy replied.

The scene changes to show a classroom filled with students wearing robes, at the front of the class a rather eccentric looking man is writing his name on the board.

Mad-eye: Alastor Moody. Ministry malcontent. And your new defence against the dark arts teacher. I'm here because Dumbledore asked me, end of story, goodbye, the end. Any questions? When it comes to the dark arts, I believe in a practical approach. But first, which of you can tell me how many unforgivable curses there are?

Hermione: Three sir.

Mad-eye: And they are so named?

Hermione: Because they are unforgivable. Use of any one of them will...

Mad-eye: Will earn you a one way ticket to Azkaban. Correct. Now the ministry says you're too young to see what these curses do. I say different! You need to know what you're up against, you need to be prepared, you need to find somewhere else to put your chewing gum other than the underside of your desk Mr Finnigan!

Pupil: Aw, no way the old codger can see out the back of his head.

Mad-Eye throws the chalk in anger.

Makarov humms, seemingly unimpressed. "You know, I'm all about doing what you can to prepare young pupils to protect themselves against the dark arts. But I can tell with such an abrasive style of teaching this is just a disaster waiting to happen.

Mad-eye: So, which curse shall we see first? WEASLEY!

Ron: Yes...

Mad-eye: Give us a curse.

Ron: Well, my dad did tell me about one... The imperious curse.

Mad-eye: Ahhh yes, your father would know all about that. Gave the ministry quite a bit of grief a few years ago. Perhaps this will show you why.

Mad-Eye pops open a jar with a spider in it.

Mad-eye: Hello. What a little beauty.

He uses his wand to send it around the class.

Mad-eye: Don't worry. Completely harmless. The class is unsettled.

Mad-eye: But if she bites... she's lethal!

Draco laughs.

Mad-eye: What are you laughing at?

Mad-Eye sends the spider onto Draco's face.

Mad-eye: Talented isn't she? What shall I have her do next? Jump out the window? Drown herself?

Mad-Eye has the spider over a bucket of water, it's wriggling.

Mad-eye: Scores of witches and wizards have claimed that they only did you-know-whose bidding under the influence of the imperious curse. But here's the rub, how do we sort out the liars? Another.. another.. Come on come on. Longbottom is it? Up.

Neville Longbottom stands.

Mad-eye: Professor Sprout tells me you have an aptitude for herbology.

Neville: There's the um... The cruciatus curse.

Mad-eye: Correct! Correct! Come, come. Particularly nasty. The torture curse.

Mad-Eye begins torturing the spider with magic, it squeals.

Hermione: Stop it! Can't you see it's bothering him, stop it!

Mad-Eye stops. Neville is disturbed. Mad-Eye picks up the spider which is still making a noise.

"That is one seriously dark magic…" Macao said with outmost seriousness.

"Yes, it is…" Makarov agrees, equally tense.

Mad-eye: Perhaps you could give us the last unforgivable curse Miss Granger.

Hermione shakes her head. He casts a spell and the spider disintegrates.

Mad-eye: The killing curse. Only one person is known to have survived it. And he's sitting in this room.

He approaches Harry's desk and takes a drink.

Boomstick: Ah, yes… The one and only, killing curse... abra cadabra.

Wiz: Avada Kedavra.

The fairies couldn't help but feel dread at just the mention of the curse's name.

Boomstick: Oh. That magician wasn't trying to kill me. I guess I should probably go apologize to his family.

"Goddammit Boomstick." Lucy muttered as she facepalmed.

Wiz: While Harry's never used the killing curse, it is implied that he can. It is an instant kill and unblockable.

Boomstick: Unless it hits a wall... or a sword... or anything really.

"Well, it's a good thing there exists ways to protect you against this curse. But it seems it will still insta-kill you on a direct hit." Makarov said.

"Then we better be on the lookout against dark magics like this killing curse." Erza advised.

Wiz: Almost all magic requires a line of sight and eye contact to perform. The killing curse is no exception.

"Lame!" Cana exclaimed.

Jocelyn: But despite these setbacks, the killing curse is still a one-shot spell that can end the life of anyone if it gets to connect. As Cedric Diggory can tell… Oh, wait he cannot because he's dead!

The fairies see and older, yet still underage Harry, being transported into a decrepit old graveyard alongside another boy several years his senior.

Cedric: You ok?

Harry: Yeah, you?

Cedric: Where are we?

Harry: I've been here before.

Cedric: It's a portkey. Harry the cup is a portkey.

"The hell is a portkey?" Gray asks confused.

Harry: I've been here before in a dream. Cedric, we have to get back to the cup? Now!

Cedric: What are you talking about?

Harry lets out a shout and holds his head, he is in pain.

Cedric: What is it?

Harry: Get back to the cup!

We see Wormtail and Voldemort as a small wretched emaciated creature the size of a baby wrapped in rags nearby.

"Ewww! What is that thing!?" Lucy exclaims, disgusted by the little deformed monkey.

Cedric: Who are you? What do you want?

Voldemort: Kill the spare.

Wormtail: Avada Kadavra!

Wormtail casts the killing curse and kills Cedric. An ominous green light glows over the graveyard before the curse strikes Cedric in a surge of sickly emerald and launches him away before dropping him to the ground like a log.

Harry: Cedric!

Cedric lays dead and stiff. His eyes wide open as all trace of life vanished from his body, leaving only the chilling paleness of death.

It made all of the faries to rear back in shock due to the jarring abruptness of the murder.

Makarov just stares with a flat expression. Taking a few moments before he is capable of speech again.

"Levy. You are strictly forbidden from using that spell. If you ever do so, I will immediately expel you from the guild. Is that understood…" He said with outmost seriousness

"Yes… Guildmaster…" Levy answered in a quit voice, completely in agreement with Makarov. She wants nothing to do with such horrible and terrible magic.

Wormtail pulls Harry closer, a statue grabs hold of Harry and traps him.

Voldemort: Do it, now!

Wormtail drops something into a cauldron, Harry watches on.

Wormtail: Bones of the father, unwillingly given.

A bone hovers in the air under Wormtail's control, he drops it into the cauldron.

Wormtail: Flesh of the servant willingly sacrificed.

He takes a knife and slashes his arm over the cauldron.

Wormtail: Blood of the enemy forcibly taken.

He takes the knife to Harry and cuts at his arm. Harry shouts. Wormtail takes the knife over to the cauldron and lets the drops fall into it.

Wormtail: The dark lord shall rise again.

The cauldron bursts into flame and a reformed Voldemort emerges. To the disgust and dread of the fairies considering the dark lord noseless appearance.

"Oh my gods! He is horrible!" Lucy wails.

"His face looks like one big ugly green Di-" Cana began to say but was interrupted by the Guildmaster.

"Cana! Do not finish that sentence!" Makarov warned testily.

Voldemort: My wand Wormtail.

Wormtail hands him the wand and bows deeply.

Voldemort: Hold out your arm.

Wormtail: Master. Thank you master.

Voldemort: The other arm Wormtail.

Wormtail looks concerned but does it anyway. Voldemort sticks the wand into Wormtail's arm. The sky changes and a string of several sounds like thunder can be heard, others have been summoned.

Voldemort: Welcome my friends. Thirty years it's been, and yet you stand before me as though it were only yesterday. I confess myself disappointed, not one of you tried to find me.

He proceeds to start slashing angrily at the hooded figures.

Voldemort: Not even you, Lucius.

Lucius: My lord. Had I detected any sign or even a whisper of your whereabouts.

Voldemort: There were signs my friend, and more than whispers.

Lucius: I assure you I never renounced the old ways. The face I have been obliged to present each day since your absence, that was my true mask.

Wormtail: I returned.

Voldemort: Out of fear, not loyalty. Still you have proved yourself useful these past few months Wormtail.

Voldemort grants Wormtail a new hand.

Wormtail: Thank you master, thank you.

Voldemort (To Cedric's corpse): Oh, such a handsome boy.

Harry: Don't touch him.

Harry struggles to get free.

Voldemort: Harry! I'd almost forgotten you were here. Standing on the bones of my father. I'd introduce you but word has it you're almost as famous as me these days. The boy who lived. How lies have fed your
legend Harry. Shall I reveal what really happened that night thirteen years ago? Shall I divulge how I truly lost my powers? It was love. You see when dear sweet Lily Potter gave her life for her only son, she provided the ultimate protection. I could not touch you. It was old magic, something I should have forseen. But no matter, no matter. Things have changed, I can touch you now!

"The fact he couldn't suspect that a mother would protect her own child with all of her love speaks wonders about him…" Wakaba deadpanned in a disapproving tone.

"He is a revolting creature…" Mirajane said with a disgused expression.

Voldemort puts his hand on Harry's head, and he screams.

Voldemort: Astonishing what a few drops of your blood will do eh Harry? Pick up your wand Potter. I said pick it up, get up. Get up! You've been taught how to duel I presume yes? First, we bow to each other. Come on now Harry the niceties must be observed, Dumbledore would not want you to forget your manners, now would he? I said bow!

Voldemort forces Harry to bow with magic.

Voldemort: That's better. And now...

Voldemort casts at Harry and he wriggles in pain.

Voldemort: Atta boy Harry, your parents would be proud. Especially your filthy mongrel mother. I'm going to kill you Harry Potter, I'm going to destroy you. After tonight no one will ever again question my powers. After tonight if they speak of you, they'll speak only of how you begged for death, and I being a merciful lord obliged. Get up.

Voldemort pulls Harry to his feet, Harry begins to move away.

Voldemort: Don't you turn your back on me Harry Potter I want you to look at me when I kill you, I want to see the lights leave your eyes.

Harry takes steps toward Voldemort.

Harry: Have it your way.

They both cast and their streams of magic meet. They both struggle.

Voldemort: Do nothing. He is mine to finish. He's mine!

Shapes form in the surrounding magical energy. Several voices began to be heard.

Harry's father (voice): Harry when the connection is broken you must get to the portkey. We can delay it for a moment to give you time but only a moment, do you understand?

Cedric (voice): Harry take my body back will you? Take my body back to my father.

Harry's mother (voice): Let go. Sweetheart you're ready. Let go! Let go!

The connection breaks, Harry runs over to Cedric's body and summons the cup over to them. In an instant the port out. Voldemort looks angry.

Voldemort: No!

Back at the arena Harry appears with Cedric's body. The crowd doesn't understand what has taken place and they all cheer, triumphant music starts to play. Harry weeps on Cedric's body.

Dumbledore: Harry! Harry!

Dumbledore tries to prize Harry from Cedric's body.

Dumbledore: Tell me what happened!

Harry: He's back, he's back! Voldemort's back. Cedric, he asked me to bring his body back. I couldn't leave him, not there.

Dumbledore: It's alright Harry. It's alright, he's home, you both are.

Fudge: Keep everybody in their seats. A boy has just been killed. The body must be moved Dumbledore, there are... too many people.

Amos: Let me through! That's my son! My boy!

Amos breaks down wailing. The crowd look on distraught. The fairies too weren't looking pretty good as they watched Amos hugging the body of his dead son with disturbed expressions while he cried.

"This is too heart-breaking to watch…" Levy said, unable to look.

"This Voldemort is a monster! A dark evil wizard if I've ever seen one…" Makarov said with a frown.

---

APPARITION

Teleportation

Long Range

Instantaneous

Does Not Require a Wand

Possibly Easier to Do With a Wand

---

Boomstick: Yeah… The killing curse is no joke. Anyway! Luckily for those who don't like violence. Bunch of weirdos… Harry also knows appara... teleporting and can do it without a wand.

"Nice." Alzack commented.

"That is a useful magic to know." Erza said with a nod.

---

OCCLUMENCY

Prevents Mind Control & Mind Reading

Has Not Mastered but is Adequate

Unconventionally Uses a Fond Memory as a Shield

---

Wiz: His training in Occlumency defends his mind from any sort of mental attack or illusion.

"Very useful against mind magics." Makarov commented.

"Mmmph... I wonder if I could learn that…" Warren Rocko wondered out loud.

Boomstick: And he's got all sorts of other spells, but I seriously doubt the tickle charm's gonna help him much in the fight, so let's move on.

---

CLOAK OF INVISIBLITY

The Third Deathly Hallow

Does Not Wear Out

Hides The Wearer

Cannot Be Detected Unless the Wearer Allows it

---

Wiz: Harry owns the Cloak of Invisibility, an unrelenting Deathly Hallow that hides the wearer from sight and cannot be detected.

"That looks like a very useful magical artifact to have." Levy says as she sees the cloak in action.

"I would like to examine that cloak. Maybe I could learn how to craft my own!" Laki said.

"That would be awesome Laki!" Happy agreed.

Boomstick: Unless he makes a noise or pokes his foot out.

"Well, I suppose that makes sense. The cloak will make you invisible but will not silence your footsteps." Levy comments as she sees Harry trip and fall over a few students.

Wiz: Harry is a quick draw with his wand and has performed many great feats at very young ages. He has also mastered non-verbal spells.

"Is always good to have alternate catalysts for your magic in case something happens to your main ones." Makarov lectured sagely.

Boomstick: By the time he was 17, he was beating up way more experienced wizards. In the battle for Hogwarts, he had no problem kicking a ton of Death Eater ass. Not to mention, Lord Voldemort himself.

"Impressive." Erza said.

"Not bad." Cana granted.

Jocelyn: Considering he's been fighting Voldemort and his ranks of dark wizards consistently every single year since he was eleven. Yes, I would say he is an accomplished battle mage. Though I can't help but wonder just how backwards Hogwarts is for allowing one of his students to endure lethal life-threatening dangers year after year with no exception. How is that such a school hasn't been shut down by a parent's association or the board of education, boggles my mind?

A scene appears of a dark forest at night. A small group of children led by Hagrid walks along a path to a tree. A young 11-year-old Harry is among them. Suddenly, Hagrid stops, bends down and dips his fingers in a silver puddle. He pulls out his fingers and rubs them together. A silver trail smears with his fingers.

Harry: Hagrid, what's that?

Hagrid: What we're here for. See that? That's unicorn's blood, that is. I found one dead a few weeks ago. Now, this one's been injured bad by something. {Harry suddenly sees a large cloaked figure walking through the trees. He looks at Hagrid.} So, it's our job to find the poor beast. Ron, Hermione, you'll come with me.

Ron: {weakly} Okay.

Hagrid: And Harry, you'll go with Malfoy. {Draco grimaces, and Harry nods.}

Draco: Okay. Then I get Fang!

Hagrid: Fine. Just so you know, he's a bloody coward. {Fang whines.}

Later, Harry and Draco are walking through the forest, Fang leading. Draco has the lamp.

Draco: You wait till my father hears about this. This is servant's stuff.

Harry: If I didn't know better, Draco, I'd say you were scared.

Draco: Scared, Potter?! {Scoffs} {howl} Did you hear that? Come on, Fang. Scared.

The group approaches a flat ground with gnarled roots all over. Fang stops, then growls.

Harry: What is it, Fang?

Up ahead, a cloaked figure is crouched over a dead unicorn, drinking its blood. The figure raises its head, silver blood dripping from its mouth.

Harry gasps and grabs his scar, which is hurting.

Draco: {A look of pure fear} AHHHHHHHHH! AHHH! {runs away, with Fang} HELP!

Harry is left by himself. The figure slides over the unicorn and rises erect. It advances towards Harry, who backs up, but trips. He crawls backwards. Suddenly, there is the sound of hoofbeats. A figure leaps over Harry and lands near the cloaked figure. It is a silver centaur, FIRENZE. It rears, and the cloaked figure retreats, flying away.

Firenze: Harry Potter, you must leave. You are known to many creatures here. The forest is not safe at this time. Especially for you.

Harry: {rises} But what was that thing you saved me from?

Firenze: A monstrous creature. It is a terrible crime to slay a unicorn. Drinking the blood of a unicorn will keep you alive even if you are an inch from death. But at a terrible price. You have slain something so pure that the moment the blood touches your lips, you will have a half-life. A cursed life.

Harry: But who would choose such a life?

Firenze: Can you think of no one?

Harry: Do you mean to say...that that thing that killed the unicorn...that was drinking its blood...that was Voldemort?

Firenze: Do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment?

Harry: The Philosopher's Stone.

"Okay… That was ominous. But what the heck is a Philosopher's stone?" Cana asks with a strange look.

Harry walks down a long staircase to an empty room with pillars around it. A great mirror is in the middle of the room, and a man is standing before it. His name is Quirrell. Harry yelps and grabs his scar.

Harry: You? {Quirrell turns around.} No. It can't be... Snape. He was the one…

Quirrell: Yes. He does seem the type, doesn't he? Next to me, who would suspect, "p-p-poor s-stuttering Professor Quirrell?"

Harry: B-but, that day, during the Quidditch Match, Snape tried to kill me.

Quirrell: No, dear boy. I tried to kill you! And trust me, if Snape's cloak hadn't caught fire and broken my eye contact, I would have succeeded. Even with Snape muttering his little counter-curse.

Harry: Snape was trying to... Save me?

Quirrell: I knew you were a danger right from the off. Especially after Halloween.

Harry: Th-then you let the troll in.

Quirrell: Very good Potter, yes. Snape, unfortunately, wasn't fooled. While everyone else was running to the dungeon, he went to the 3rd floor to head me off. He, of course, never trusted me again. He rarely left me alone. {Quirrell turns back to the mirror and Harry's scar hurts.} But he doesn't understand. I'm never alone. Never. Now... What does this mirror do? I see what I desire. I see myself holding the stone. But how do I get it?

{A raspy voice, Voldemort, calls.}: Use the boy.

Quirrell: Come here, Potter, now!

Harry walks forward shakily.

Quirrell: Tell me. What do you see?

Harry looks in the mirror. He sees himself. His mirror self brings his hand into his pocket and takes out a red stone! The mirror self winks and puts the stone back. Very subtly, Harry reaches to his pocket. There is a lump. He gasps.

Quirrell: What is it?! What do you see?!

Harry: I-I'm shaking hands with Dumbledore. I've won the house cup.

Voldemort's voice: He lies.

Quirrell: Tell the truth! What do you see?!

Voldemort's voice: Let me speak to him.

Quirrell: Master, you are not strong enough.

Voldemort's voice: I have strength enough for this. {Quirrell unwraps his turban and on the side opposite his face, another face is planted. It is Voldemort who appears kind of like a snake. He stretches out and faces Harry via the mirror.} Harry Potter. We meet again.

Harry: Voldemort.

The fairies again make faces of disgust at the sight of Voldemort.

"Oh, my gods! This is going to be a thing isn't it? Every time this Voldemort fellow appears, we are going to suffer through a sight capable of making our stomachs churn…" Cana declared with a horrified expression.

"This dark lord is a very disgusting creature, yes…" Lucy agreed.

Voldemort: Yes. You see what I have become? See what I must do to survive? Live off another. A mere parasite. Unicorn blood can sustain me, but it cannot give me a body of my own. But there is something that can. Something, that conveniently enough, lies in your pocket!

"Even though I do find his methods pretty questionable, I cannot help but feel this Voldemort in this current form would be an excellent specimen to study." Laki Olietta said, fixing her glasses.

Gray just stared. "You know… This is the first time I find myself not caring about whatever you may do to someone you wish to study Laki… I feel he has it well deserved." He stated flaty, to the agreement of his fellow mages.

Laki frowned at him. "What do you mean by that Gray?"

Harry turns and runs.

Voldemort: Stop him! {Quirrell snaps his fingers and fire erupts all around the room. Harry is stuck.} Don't be a fool! Why suffer a horrific death when you can join me and live?!

Harry: {shakes his head} Never!

Voldemort: Haha. Bravery. Your parents had it too. Tell me, Harry, would you like to see your mother and father again? Together, we can bring them back. {In the mirror, Harrys parents faces appear.} All I ask for is something in return. {Harry takes the stone from his pocket.} That's it, Harry. There is no good and evil. There is only power, and those too weak to seek it. Together, we'll do extraordinary things. Just give me the stone! {Mother and father vanish.}

"Darth Vader was more compelling in his attempt to convince Luke to join him. This noseless freak just screams evil sorcerer all around every time he speaks." Macao said, shaking his head.

Harry: You liar!

Voldemort: Kill him!

Quirrell soars into the air and smashes into Harry, one hand on Harrys throat. They fall to the steps. The stone falls out of Harry's reach as Quirrell chokes him. Harry strains and squeaks. Suddenly, Harry puts his hand on Quirrell's, trying to get him off. Smoke furls from under his hand.

Quirrell: Ahh! Ahh! {backs up. His hand is crumbling into a mountain of black ash.} What is this magic? {hand dissipates.}

Voldemort: Fool! Get the stone!

Quirrell: {Walks forward, but Harry puts both hands on his face.} Ahhhhhhhhhh!

Quirrell backs up, then his face, which is horrendously burned, crumbles as he walks forward. His whole body is ash. He falls to the floor. Harry gasps. He looks at his own hands and hurries over to the stone. He picks it up and sighs, when he hears something. Turning, Harry sees a dust clouds with Voldemort's face. The cloud rushes forward, right through Harry!

Voldemort: Arrrhhhhhh!

Harry: Ahhhhhhhhh! {Voldemort flies away. Harry falls to the ground, unconscious. He holds the stone in an outstretched hand.}

"That's so creepy, that bastard doesn't know when to die." Cana said with an appalled expression.

"It seems to me not even death is capable of stopping him!" Levy exclaims with great misgivings.

"It reeks of Black magic, without a doubt…" Makarov said seriously.

Later on, a hospital wing. Harry is bandaged, lying in bed. He awakens, puts on his glasses, and sits up. There are cards and candy all over. Dumbledore approaches him.

Dumbledore: Good afternoon, Harry. Ah. Tokens from your admirers?

Harry: Admirers?

Dumbledore: What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows. {Both smile.} Ah, I see your friend Ronald has saved you the trouble of opening your Chocolate Frogs.

Harry: Ron was here? Is he all right? What about Hermione?

Dumbledore: Fine. They're both just fine.

Harry: But what happened to the Stone?

Dumbledore: Relax, dear boy. The stone has been destroyed. My friend Nicholas and I had a little chat and agreed it was best all around.

Harry: But Flamel, he'll die, won't he?

Dumbledore: {sits on the bed.} He has enough Elixir to set his affairs in order. But yes, he will die.

"That stone can grant immortality!" Lucy says in surprise.

"An apparently can revive the dead!" Warren Rocko adds.

"That is a dangerous power that no man should ever have… It will lure any would-be Dark Lord all around like this Voldemort, wishing to take the power of the stone for themselves. They are wise to keep such power from the hands of mortals." Makarov declared.

Harry: How is it I got the Stone, sir? One minute I was staring in the mirror, and the next...

Dumbledore: Ah. You see, only a person who wanted to find the Stone, find it, but not use it, would be able to get it. That is one of my more brilliant ideas. And between you and me thats saying something. {Smile both.}

Harry: Does that mean, with the Stone gone, I mean, that Voldemort can never come back?

Dumbledore: Ah, I'm afraid there are ways in which he can return. Harry, do you know why Professor Quirrell couldn't bear to have you touch him? {Harry shakes his head.} It was because of your mother. She sacrificed herself for you, and that kind of act leaves a mark. {Harry touches his scar.} No, no, this kind of mark cannot be seen. It lives in your very skin.

Harry: What is it?

Dumbledore: Love, Harry, love. {Pats Harry's head and stands up.}

"I understand that love can be used to offer great protection for those you care about. But to be able to kill anyone that might attack your children seems a tad excesive to me…" Wakaba said with a deadpan.

"Only evil people apparently…" Makarov replied.

"Whatever works to protect your child…" Macao agreed.

Jocelyn: And this was just first year, the next year Harry had to deal with spirit possessed books and giant snakes able to kill by sight alone!

That revelation bouth surprised and unnerved the fairies at the same time.

The screen now shows the walls of an office, as the camera pans through the lined framed photographs of a very foppish man. Harry and the man of the photos work by candlelight at an ornate desk. Bleary-eyed, Harry addresses envelopes, while the cheery man puts his signature to the stack of glossy photos bearing his image.

The signature reads: Gilderoy Lockhart.

Lockhart: Harry, Harry, Harry... Can you possibly imagine a better way to serve detention than by helping me answer my fan mail?

Harry forces a smile.

"That man is a teacher!? What the hell is this!?" A rather offended Laki Olietta exclaims aloud, much to the surprise of her fellow fairies. "This is an insult to learning institutions everywhere!"

Lockhart: Fame's a fickle friend, Harry. Celebrity is as celebrity does. Remember that.

Harry nods, glancing gloomily at the towering stack of envelopes that remain. Dipping his quill, he starts to write, when... a chilly voice fills the room.

Voice: Come... come to me...

Harry: What?

Lockhart: I was saying, six solid months at the top of the bestseller list! Broke all records!

Harry: No... not you, that... voice.

Lockhart: Voice?

Harry: That... voice. Didn't you hear it?

Lockhart: What are you talking about, Harry? I think we're getting a bit drowsy. Great Scott - and no wonder - look at the time! We've been here nearly four hours! Dinner's nearly done! If you hurry you might make pudding. Spooky how the time flies when one's having fun!

Harry: Spooky.

The scene changes, Harry passes quickly through the lengthening shadows of the empty corridor, when...

Voice: Blood... I smell blood...

Harry stops cold, looking around for the source of the voice.

Voice: Let me rip you... let me kill you...

("Okay… That's creepy as fuck…" Cana declares.)

Harry steps to the wall, playing his fingers along the stone, then begins walk, slowly at first, then more quickly, as if following something, moving faster and faster, rounding the corner and coming face to face with... Hermione and Ron.

Hermione: Harry!

Harry: Did you hear it?

Ron: Hear what?

Harry: That... voice.

Hermione: Voice? What voice?

Harry (eyes darting around): I heard it first in Lockhart's office and then again, just -

Voice: Kill... Time to kill...

As Harry stiffens, Hermione and Ron study him curiously.

Harry: It's moving. I think it's going to... kill.

Harry runs off. Hermione and Ron exchange a glance, follow.

Harry dashes madly, taking the steps three at a time. He makes the landing, rushes through the archway, and... slides to a stop, listening: Nothing. Slowly, he peers down. Water is oozing over the stone floor, surrounding his shoes. His own reflection appears and, behind it, undulating like a dream... Words. Ron and Hermione come huffing up.

Ron: Harry, what are you doing?

He points. Shimmering on the wall are the words he saw reflected in water.

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED

ENEMIES OF THE HEIR... BEWARE.

Hermione: 'The Chamber of Secrets has been opened...?'

Ron: What's that? Hanging underneath?

Harry: That's Filch's cat. Mrs. Norris.

The cat hangs stiffly by her tail from a torch bracket, eyes open and blank. Harry's eyes shift to the adjacent

"Yuck what an ugly cat!" Cana exclaims. "No offense Happy…" She amends.

"None taken! That is one old and ugly cat!" Happy replies.

From one of the topmost windows in the corridors, spiders scuttle up a silvery thread as they fight to get through a crack in the glass.

Hermione: Look at that. Have you ever seen spiders act like that? Ron...?

Ron (backing away): I... don't... like... spiders.

Suddenly, the stairwell is alive with voices and, seconds later, dozens of students stream forth, chattering... Suddenly they stop, seeing the wall and, standing before it, Harry, Ron and Hermione. A thudding silence falls. Then Draco pushes forward, eyes the wall, and grins nastily.

Draco: Enemies of the heir, beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!

Draco's eyes find Hermione, just as Filch appears.

Filch: What's going on here? Go on now! Make way... (stopping dead) Mrs. Norris! (rounding on Harry) You! You've murdered my cat! I'll kill you! I'll -

Dumbledore: Argus! Dumbledore marches forward, trailed by a phalanx of teachers. Seeing the wall, Dumbledore's face darkens.

Dumbledore: Everyone will proceed to their dormitories immediately. (to Harry, Ron, Hermione) Everyone except you three. As the corridor empties, Dumbledore steps to the wall and, with extreme gentleness, removes Mrs. Norris.

Lockhart: It was definitely a curse that killed her - probably the Transmogrifian Torture. Encountered it myself once, in Ouagadougou. The full story's in my autobiography...

Dumbledore: She's not dead, Argus. She's been Petrified.

Lockhart: Precisely! So unlucky I wasn't there. I know the very countercurse that could have spared her...

Dumbledore: But how she's been Petrified... I cannot say.

Filch (pointing at Harry): Ask him! It's him that's done it. You saw what he wrote on the wall! Besides, he knows I'm - I'm a Squib.

Harry: It's not true, sir! I swear! I never touched Mrs. Norris - And I don't even know what a Squib is.

Filch: Rubbish! He saw my Kwikspell letter!

Snape: If I might, Headmaster...

The others turn, watch Snape separate from the shadows.

Snape: Perhaps Potter and his friends were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time...

Could Snape be defending them? Harry and the others blink.

Snape: However, the circumstances are suspicious. I, for one, don't recall seeing Potter at dinner.

Lockhart: I'm afraid that's my doing, Severus. You see, Harry was helping me answer my fan mail...

As Snape's lip curls in disgust, Hermione leaps in.

Hermione: That's why Ron and I went looking for him, Professor. We'd just found him when Harry said...

Snape (raising an eyebrow): Yes, Miss Granger?

Harry: When I said I wasn't hungry. We were heading back to the Common Room and... found Mrs. Norris.

Snape eyes Harry coldly, knowing he's lying. Harry looks away... and finds Dumbledore studying him as well.

Dumbledore: Innocent until proven guilty.

Filch: My cat has been Petrified! I want to see some punishment!

Dumbledore: We will be able to cure her, Argus. As I understand it, Madam Sprout has a very healthy growth of Mandrakes. When they have matured, a potion will be made which will revive Mrs. Norris. In the meantime, I advise caution to all.

Harry, Ron and Hermione walk down the corridor.

Ron: A Squib's someone who's born into a wizarding family but hasn't got any powers of their own. It's why Filch is trying to learn magic from a Kwikspell course. It's also why he hates students so much. He's bitter.

"Who the hell would think is a good idea to hire someone like that to work in a school full of magical children!?" Lucy exclaims with a flabergasted expression. "That Dumbledore fellow must be senile! No offense guildmaster…" She amends, turning towards Makarov.

"It's alright… I too don't approve of such decision…" He simply replied.

Hermione, who's only been half-listening - as if trying to unravel something in her mind - speaks then.

Hermione: Harry. This voice. You said you heard it first in Lockhart's office?

Harry: Yes.

Hermione: And did he hear it?

Harry: He said he didn't.

Ron: Maybe he was lying.

Hermione: I hardly think someone with Gilderoy Lockhart's credentials would lie to one of his students, Ronald. Besides, if you recall, we didn't hear anything either.

Harry: You do believe me, don't you?

Hermione: 'Course we do. It's just... it's a bit weird, isn't it? You hear this voice and then... Mrs. Norris turns up Petrified.

Harry: I can't explain it - it was... scary. (frowning) D'you think I should've told them - Dumbledore and the others, I mean.

Ron: Are you mad!

Hermione: No, Harry. Even in the wizarding world, hearing voices isn't a good sign.

"It is common sense that no matter which world you are in, hearing voices inside your head is not a good thing." Makarov stated with emphasis.

"Yes, but there was clearly something there speaking into Harry's mind before that cat was attacked!" Levy exclaimed in response.

Laki Olietta fized her glasses. "A puzzling mystery for sure…"

The scene changes to show a classroom where the professor (McGonagall) sees Hermione's raised hand.

McGonagall: Yes, Miss Granger?

Hermione: Professor, I was wondering if you could tell us about the Chamber of Secrets?

A hush falls over the class.

McGonagall: My subject is Transfiguration, Miss Granger.

Hermione: Yes, Professor. But there seems to be very little written about the Chamber of Secrets. For those of us with a personal interest in the subject, that is... disturbing.

Malfoy regards Hermione with chilly amusement.

McGonagall considers Hermione's question for a long moment, then nods.

McGonagall: Very well. You all know, of course, that Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago by the four greatest witches and wizards of the age: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin.

"Ooooh history class…!" Lucy said, intrigued.

Natsu scowled. "Boooring! Bring back the magic spells!" He received a smack in the back of his head by Erza for his comment.

McGonagall: Three of the founders co-existed quite harmoniously. One did not.

Ron: Three guesses who?

McGonagall: Salazar Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts. He believed that magical learning should be kept within all-magic families. In other words, purebloods. Unable to sway the others, he decided to leave the school.

"I've seen that kind of classism before… It's a good thing the other three founders did not share the views of his fellow colleague and put a stop to it!" Macao said with a little scorn in his voice.

"Knowledge should never be kept away from those who wish to learn!" Laki Olietta exclaimed heathedly.

"Well said, Laki!" Levy agreed.

McGonagall: According to legend, Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in this castle, known as the Chamber of Secrets. Shortly before departing, he sealed it until that time when his own true heir returned to the school. The heir alone would be able to open the Chamber of Secrets and unleash the horror within, and by so doing, purge the school of all those who, in Slytherin's view, were unworthy to study magic.

Hermione: Muggle-borns.

McGonagall: Yes. Naturally, the school has been searched many times for such a chamber. It has never been found.

Hermione: Professor, what exactly does legend tell us lies within the Chamber?

McGonagall: The Chamber is said to be home to something which the heir of Slytherin alone can control. It is said to be home... to a monster.

Ron's eyes shift. Malfoy sits calmly, smiling to himself.

Later, Harry, Hermione, and Ron thread their way through the teeming corridor. Up ahead, Malfoy walks with Crabbe and Goyle.

Ron: D'you think it's true? D'you think there really is a Chamber of Secrets?

Hermione: Yes. Couldn't you tell: McGonagall's worried. All the teachers are.

Harry: But if there really is a Chamber of Secrets, and it's really been opened, that means...

Hermione: The Heir of Slytherin has returned to Hogwarts. The question is, who is it?

Ron: (in mock puzzlement) Let's think. Who do we know who thinks Muggle-borns are scum?

Hermione: (eyeing Malfoy ahead) If you're talking about him -

Ron: Of course! You heard him: 'You'll be next, Mudbloods'!

Hermione: I heard him. But Malfoy? The Heir of Slytherin?

Harry: Maybe Ron's right, Hermione. I mean, look at his family. The whole lot of them have been in Slytherin for centuries.

Ron: Crabbe and Goyle must know. Maybe we could trick them into telling...

Hermione: No. Even they aren't that thick. But there might be another way. Mind you, it would be difficult. Not to mention we'd be breaking about fifty school rules. And it would be dangerous. Very dangerous.

Ron: When do we start?

"That is not going to end well…" Wakaba commented, unimpressed.

The scene changes again and now it shows Harry laying in his own cor in what appear to be an infairmary. Courtains are drown around his bed to give him some privacy. The fairies wonder if he got hurt or something. Harry suddenly hears something and slumps down... He peers through a slit in the curtains and sees Dumbledore, in a nightcap, and McGonagall, in a tartan robe, heave a small statue onto an empty bed. Seconds later, Madam Pomfrey bustles in.

Pomfrey: What's happened?

Dumbledore: There's been another attack.

Madam Pomfrey gasps. It is not a statue lying there. It is Colin Creevey, camera still clutched to his eye.

McGonagall: Perhaps he managed to get a picture of his attacker...

Dumbledore opens the camera. A jet of steam hisses forth.

McGonagall: What does this mean, Albus?

Dumbledore: It means our students are in great danger, Minerva. Mr. Creevey was fortunate. If not for this... (holding up the camera) He would surely be dead.

"Yes.., That's not ominous at all…" Cana deadpanned. "This is the worst school ever!"

"Indeed, their security measures leave much to be desired…" Laki agreed.

McGonagall: What should I tell the staff, Albus?

Dumbledore: Tell them the truth. Tell them Hogwarts is no longer safe. Tell them it's as we feared. The Chamber of Secrets is indeed open again.

The scene ghanges, and now Harry can be seen walking in a corridor at night. Up ahead, in the light of a flickering torch, something dark lies. A windowpane rattles in the wind and the torch... goes out. Harry steps closer and finds... Justin-Finch-Fletchley. Lying rigid on the floor, a look of shock on his frozen face. Nearby, an inert Nearly Headless Nick floats, body teeming with Black smoke.

"A GHOST!" Happy screeched in fright much to the annoyance of the mages.

Kneeling, Harry notices a trail of spiders scuttling away from Justin's body and out the loose windowpane... when suddenly... Harry senses someone watching him, wheels: McGonagall.

Harry: Professor, I swear I didn't –

McGonagall: This is out of my hands, Potter. Mr. Filch, will you take care of this, please?

Harry's eyes shift. Filch lurks in the shadows beyond McGonagall. He steps forward, hisses quietly.

Filch: Caught in the act. I'll have you out this time, Potter. Mark my words...

As McGonagall leads Harry away, he looks back. Filch stares at Justin and Nick, then turns.

Filch: Dark magic. That's what you've got, Potter. Even the air you breathe comes out poison. You're evil. Evil as they come...

"Man, what a dick!" Cana exclains with a glare.

"I hOpe He dIEs iN a FiRe!" Mirajane declares, partially turning into her demon form.

"I'll abstain from commenting on that." Makarov simply said.

McGonagall marches Harry down to an ugly stone gargoyle.

McGonagall: Sherbet lemon.

The Gargoyle springs to life, its wings opening.

McGonagall: Professor Dumbledore will be waiting for you.

McGonagall ushers Harry inside. It's an elevator. The Gargoyle's wings close. Harry rises to an upper floor. He steps out of the Gargoyle's embrace and enters a large, circular room. Strange silver instruments whirl quietly. On a nearby shelf, the sorting hat sits. Harry casts a wary eye at the past headmasters snoozing in the portraits around him. In the last portrait, the Headmaster is awake, reading a book. He is professor Dippet.

"What a weird-ass portraits are those!" Natsu declared.

"Perhaps, but I'm intrigued about what kind of spell can make still paintings move…" Levy replied.

Harry approaches the Sorting Hat, glances around, then places it atop his head.

Sorting Hat: Bee in your bonnet, Potter?

"IT SPEAKS!" Happy exclaims.

Harry: Well, you see, I was wondering...

Sorting Hat: If I put you in the right house? Yes... you were particularly difficult to place. But I stand by what I said last year... you would have done well in Slytherin.

Harry strips the hat off, tosses it back onto the shelf.

Harry: You're wrong!

The hat sits motionless. Silent. Hearing a gagging sound, Harry wheels, finds an old, decrepit bird sitting on a golden perch. It wobbles, then... Burst into flames.

"What the fuck!?" States a very flabbergasted Gray. Even Natsu doesn't know what to think.

As Dumbledore enters, Harry looks horror-struck.

Harry: Professor, your bird... I couldn't do anything... He just caught fire.

Dumbledore: About time too. He's been looking dreadful for days. Pity you had to see him on a Burning Day. He's really very handsome most of the time. (Harry looks off) Fawkes is a phoenix, Harry. Phoenixes burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes.

Harry looks to the floor. The ashes swirl. A baby Fawkes pokes out his wrinkled head, blinking through the dust.

"Oooooooooooooooooh!" It's the general response from the fairies.

Dumbledore: Fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, and they make highly faithful pets.

"I think I want a phoenix as pet!" Natsu declared, excited.

"Of course, YOU do!" Gray replies.

On the next scene Harry is seen examining a book as he and Ron walk.

Harry: This is a diary. And it's old...

Ron: It's a diary, it's old... and was most recently in a toilet, Harry.

"Ewww!" Was the general response at that.

Harry starts to open it... when Ron grabs his hand.

Ron: Are you mad? That could be cursed. Dad once told me about a book the Ministry confiscated that burned the eyes out of anyone who tried to read it.

"Awesome!" Natsu and Happy declared.

"Seems a bit excessive in my opinion…" Macao chimed.

"That's a terrible thing to do!" Laky Olietta exclaimed.

Harry: I'll take my chances... (opening it) Ahhh! MY EYES! MY EYES!

Ron freezes, terrified, when... Harry grins, ending the ruse. At the end of corridor, Ginny stands, looking from the diary to Harry - utter terror on her face – then dashes off.

Harry: Ginny! I was only joking - Brilliant. Even your sister thinks I'm the monster now.

Ron: Who doesn't?

Ron frowns suddenly. On the first page on the diary, embossed letters spell out a name: TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE.

Ron: Tom Marvolo Riddle? Hang on. I know that name... (thinking, then) Of course! The night I had detention... My job was to polish the silver in the trophy room. I remember because I kept burping slugs all over Tom Riddle's trophy. (May of the fairies were dumbstrucked by that) I must have wiped slime off his name for an hour.

Harry fans the pages. They're empty.

Harry: That's odd. He never wrote in it.

Makarov sighed. "Despite all the sillines. That ginger boy is right… It is never a god idea to lay hands of an artifact that might be magical in nature. Especially when suspicions of dark magic are involved. Who knows what kind of surprises some old magician might have left in store for the unwary…?"

Later that night, the camera closes upon the diary. A gold embossed adress on the back reads: WAXFLATTER'S BOOKSELLERS. 422 VAUXHALL ROAD.

The camera pulls back and focuses on Harry as he sits with Hermione in the moonlit room. Hermione studies the diary curiously.

Hermione: Tom Riddle... Hm. And Ron said he won an award fifty years ago?

Harry: Special Services to the School or something -

Hermione: Fifty years ago? You're sure?

Harry: Yes. Why?

Hermione: Don't you remember what Malfoy told you? The last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened was -

Harru: Fifty years ago! That means -

Hermione: Tom Riddle was here, at Hogwarts, when it happened. What if he wrote about what he saw? It's possible he knew where the Chamber was, how to open it, even what sort of creature lives in it. If so, whoever's behind the attacks this time wouldn't want a diary like this lying around, would they?

Harry: That's a brilliant theory, Hermione. With just one tiny little flaw. There's nothing written in this diary.

Hermione: It might be invisible ink. (pulls out her wand) Aparecium!

She taps the diary three times. Nothing happens. The pages remain BLANK. She frowns, passes the book back to Harry.

Hermione: I don't know, Harry. But I think you should be careful with this. Something tells me Ron might be right. It could be dangerous.

Harry: You don't think I'm dangerous, do you, Hermione? I mean, you're not scared. Of me.

Hermione: I'm scared, Harry. But not of you.

Yet later that night, the view moves towards the the boys' dormitory. Seamus, Neville, Ron and Dean are asleep. One bed is empty. The camera cranes to the Common Room to find Harry sitting alone, flipping through the blank pages of the diary.

Harry starts to set the diary aside, then notices a bottle of ink sitting on the desk. An idea flickers. Taking his quill, Harry dips it, and hesitates. As he does, a drop of ink hangs, suspended like a tear, then... falls!

The ink blazes briefly, then... Vanishes... As if it were sucked into the page. Excited, Harry dips his quill again, and, this time, writes:

My name is Harry Potter.

The words blaze, vanish. Slowly, oozing out of the page, comes a response:

Hello, Harry Potter. My name is Tom Riddle.

"Ah shit, you were right Guildmaster… It is magical!" Warren Rocko exclaims with suspicion.

"I'm starting to have a bad feeling on my spine about this…" Macao said.

Harry's mind races. Deciding, he mutters the words he writes: Do... you... know... anything... about... the... Chamber... of... Secrets?

Yes.

Can... you... tell... me?

No.

Harry frowns. Then... slowly... new words ooze to the surface.

But I can show you...

Harry waits, intrigued. Then, suddenly... The pages flutter wildly, stop on "June the 13th." On the page, a tiny square shimmer... like a window. Harry lifts the book, puts his eye close and... Pitches forward, spilling through the widening window, into a whirl of color and shadow, tumbling onto his feet...

...inside a torch-lit corridor. Everything is de-saturated, save for Harry, who retains the true, rich colors of the present. He glances about, disoriented, then spies a boy at the end of the corridor, peering around a corner. A flurry of shadows dances on the wall beyond the boy, revealing the presence of others, unseen, in an adjoining room.

As Harry advances, low voices emanate from the shadows. As he reaches the boy, Harry speaks in a whisper.

Harry: Excuse me. Could you tell me where I am? Hello...?

The boy doesn't respond, eyes staked to the activity in the adjoining room... which Harry sees now is the

Entrance Hall. A group of ELDER WITCelder witches and wizards - Hogwarts Professors - talk amongst themselves, then... abruptly go silent and Make way for two young wizards, bearing a stretcher.

Voice: Riddle.

The boy wheels... and looks right through Harry. Harry turns, too. It's Dumbledore... fifty years younger.

Tom Riddle: Professor Dumbledore.

Dumbledore: It's not wise to be wandering around this late, Tom.

Tom Riddle: Yes, Professor. I suppose I – I just had to see for myself, if...

Riddle glances toward the young wizards, watches them carry the stretcher out of the Hall, into the night.

Tom Riddle: ...the rumors were true.

Dumbledore: I'm afraid they are, Tom.

Tom Riddle: About the school as well? They wouldn't really close Hogwarts, would they, Professor?

Dumbledore: Headmaster Dippet may have no choice, I'm afraid.

Tom Riddle: Sir? If it all stopped. If the person responsible was caught...

Dumbledore: Is there something you wish to tell me, Tom?

Tom Riddle: (a long beat) No, sir. Nothing.

Dumbledore studies Riddle for a moment.

Dumbledore: Very well then. Hurry along.

Dumbledore strides directly past Harry, not seeing him. When he is gone, Riddle moves quickly, toward the dungeon steps. Up ahead, a splinter of light leaks through a door. Riddle puts his eye to the crack. Inside, someone is speaking.

Voice: C'mon, Aragog. Gotta get yeh outta here... C'mon now.. in the box...

As Riddle pushes the door clear, Harry sees a second, smaller room. Crouched by a box, is a huge boy... Young Hagrid. A stange clicking comes from the box.

Tom Riddle: Evening, Hagrid.

Hagrid slams the door shut.

Tom Riddle: I'm going to have to turn you in, Hagrid. I don't think you meant it to kill anyone -

Young Hagrid: No, yeh can't! Yeh don' understand!

Tom Riddle: Hagrid. The dead girl's parents will be here tomorrow. The least Hogwarts can do is make sure the thing that killed their daughter is slaughtered.

Young Hagrid: It wasn' him! Aragog never'd kill no one! Never!

Tom Riddle: Monsters don't make good pets, Hagrid. Now... stand aside...

Riddle draws his wand, blasts the closed door off its hinges, extinguishing the torches within. Harry gasps. A low-slung creature with a tangle of black legs, a gleam of many eyes and a pair of razor-sharp pincers, scuttles out of the shadows.

("Ewww! A spider!" Lucy exclaims.)

As Riddle points his wand at it, Hagrid leaps...

Young Hagrid: Noooooo!

As they tumble to the floor, the entire room whirls off its axis, spinning, and Harry finds himself plummeting through color and shadow again, falling flat on his back... And into the floor of the Gryffindor Common Room, the ceiling above spinning, slowly, to a stop. Harry rises, dashes upstairs.

Later, Harry, Ron and Hermione are walking together across the castle's grounds.

Hermione: It can't be Hagrid. It just can't be.

Ron: We don't even know this Riddle. He sounds like a dirty, rotten snitch to me.

Harry: The monster had killed someone, Ron. What would any of us done?

"The boy is jumping to conclusions…" Makarov said. "Remember that all the victims have been turn to stone and I doubt a spider, no matter how magical or big may be, has the ability to petrify people.

Wakaba agreed with a nod and gave his two cents. "Plus, it is as the ginger boy says: There is something rotten about that Tom Riddle… He gives me a bad spine…

Hermione: Look. Hagrid's our friend. Why don't we just go ask him about it?

Ron: That'd be a cheerful visit. Hullo, Hagrid. Tell us, have you been setting anything mad and hairy loose in the castle lately?

Hagrid's voice can suddenly being heard from behind..

Hagrid: Mad an' hairy? Wouldn' be talkin' 'bou me, now would yeh?

The trio wheels, spots Hagrid grinning at them. They instantly look guilty.

All: No!

Hagrid looks at them curiously. Harry nods to the strange canister in the half-giant's hand.

Harry: What's that you've got, Hagrid?

Hagrid: Flesh-Eatin' Slug Repellent. Fer the Mandrakes, yeh know. Accordin' ter Professor Sprout, they still got a bit o' growin' up ter do, but once their acne clears up, we'll be able to chop 'em up, stew 'em, an' get those people in the hospital un-Petrified. 'Til then, you three best watch yerselves, all righ'?

They nod, watch Hagrid lope away. Just then, Neville comes running up. He looks pale with fright.

Neville: Harry, I don't know who did it, but... you'd better come.

Harry's space is a disaster: trunk riffled, drawers flung open, bedclothes strewn on the floor.

Hermione: It had to be a Gryffindor. Nobody else knows our password. Unless, it wasn't a student...

Ron: Well, whoever it was, they were looking for something.

Harry: And they found it... Tom Riddle's diary is gone.

"Well… Isn't that suspicious?" Gray said. "Clearly someone doesn't want something to be spread around the place."

The scene changes. Harry and his house teammates march toward the Quidditch tower. The cheers of a crowd are heard.

Wood: Listen up now. We play our game, Hufflepuff doesn't stand a chance. We're stronger, quicker, smarter.

George: Not to mention they're dead terrified Harry'll Petrify them if they fly anywhere near him.

Wood: That, too. Just then, Professor McGonagall appears, barring their way.

Wood: Professor McGonagall -

McGonagall: This match has been cancelled.

Wood: Cancelled! They can't cancel Quidditch –

"The hell is Quidditch?" Alzack asked out loud.

"I don't know, that name sounds silly thought…" Bisca answered him.

McGonagall: Silence, Wood! You will return to Gryffindor Tower now. Potter, you and I will find Mr. Weasley. There's something the both of you need to see.

McGonagall pauses outside the door of the hospital wing, turns to Harry and Ron.

McGonagall: I warn you. This will be a bit of a shock.

She opens the door. Madam Pomfrey is leaning over a bed where a girl lies. As she straightens up, it reveals the the girl to be...

Ron: Hermione!

McGonagall: She was found near the library. Along with this. Does it mean anything to either of you?

She holds up a small circular mirror. Harry shakes his head. McGonagall nods gravely, leads them out. As they go, the camera drifts to Hermione's hand. Clinched tight in her stiff knuckles, barely visible, is a piece of paper.

"Damn!" Macao curses.

"Oh no! His friend has been turned to stone!" Happy yells.

"Crap!" Narsu's exclaims.

We now see Hagrid on his hut, there's a knock at the door. Hagrid swings open the door, Crossbow in hand.

Hagrid: Who's there?

Harry and Ron drop the cloak. Hagrid lowers the crossbow. Fang, Hagrid's enormous Boarhound, thumps his tail at the sight of Harry and Ron. Harry points to the crossbow.

Harry: What's that for?

Hagrid: Nothin', nothin'. I've been expectin'... Doesn't matter. Sit down... I'll make tea...

Hagrid nervously takes the kettle, spills the water...

Harry: Are you okay? Hagrid? Did you hear about Hermione?

Hagrid: Oh, yea. I heard, all righ'.

Harry: Look... we have to ask you something. Do you know who's opened the Chamber of Secrets?

Hagrid takes a fruit cake, stops, then turns to answer, when... there is a loud knock. The fruitcake smashes to the floor. Panicked, Harry and Ron throw the cloak over themselves. Sweating, Hagrid grabs his crossbow, points it at the door.

Hagrid: C-come in.

The door opens. A grim Dumbledore enters, followed by a portly man in a pin-stripe suit and bowler: Corcelius Fudge.

Dumbledore: Good evening, Hagrid.

Ron (whispering to Harry): That's Dad's boss! Cornelius Fudge. The Minister of Magic!

"Minister of Magic!" Lucy exclaims, impressed. "That sounds like a very important title!"

Wakaba grimaces. "Ugh! Politicians! I can already see how this situation will play out…" He groaned.

Harry elbows Ron to shut him up.

Fudge: Bad business, Hagrid. Very bad business. Had to come. Four attacks on Muggle-borns. Things've gone far enough. Ministry's got to act.

Hagrid: I never... You know I never, Professor Dumbledore, sir...

Dumbledore: I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence.

Fudge: Look, Albus, Hagrid's records against him. I've got to take him.

Hagrid: Take me? Where? Not Azkaban prison.

Fudge: For a short stretch only. Not a punishment, Hagrid. More of a precaution. If someone else is caught, you'll be released with a full apology.

Just then, there is a sharp rap on the door. As Dumbledore opens it, Harry slumps. It's Lucius Malfoy.

Lucius: Already here, Fudge? Good, good...

Hagrid: What're you doin' here! Get outta my house!

Lucius: My dear man, please believe me, I have no pleasure at all in being inside your - do you call this a house? I simply called at the school and was told the Headmaster was here.

Dumbledore: And what exactly did you want with me, Lucius?

Lucius: Dreadful thing, Dumbledore, but the governors feel it's time for you to step aside. This is an Order of Suspension. You'll find all twelve signatures on it. I'm afraid we feel you're losing your touch. What with all these attacks, there'll be no Muggle- borns left at Hogwarts. And we all know what an awful loss that would be.

Malfoy hands Fudge an official roll of parchment.

Fudge: Now, see here, Lucius. Dumbledore suspended!? No, no... last thing we want right now... If Dumbledore can't stop these attacks... I mean to say, who can?

Lucius: That remains to be seen, but as all twelve governors have voted -

Hagrid: An' how many did yeh have ter threaten before they agreed!

Lucius: I would advise you not to shout at the Azkaban guards like that.

Hagrid: Yeh can' take Dumbledore! Take him away an' the Muggle-borns won' stand a chance! There'll be killin's next!

Dumbledore: Calm yourself, Hagrid! (steely-eyed) If the governors want my removal, Lucius, I shall of course step aside. However... you will find that I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me. You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who... ask for it.

Dumbledore's eyes drift - unmistakably - to Harry.

Lucius: Admirable sentiments. We shall all miss your highly individual way of running things, Albus, and only hope your successor will manage to prevent any more, um, killin's.

Malfoy strides to the door and bows Dumbledore out.

(That man makes me want to punch him in the face…" Mirajane says as she waches Malfoy leave. None of her fellow faeries disagree with her declaration.)

Fudge, fiddling with his bowler, waits for Hagrid. Instead, Hagrid stands his ground, takes a deep breath and says carefully...

Hagrid: If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they'd have ter do is follow the spiders. That'd lead 'em right! Tha's all I'm sayin'.

Fudge stares at Hagrid in amazement, then follows him out. As the door slams shut, Fang starts to howl, scratching at the closed door. Harry and Ron emerge from the cloak.

Ron: Hagrid's right. With Dumbledore gone, there'll be an attack a day.

("Mmmph… The stakes are getting high…" Makarov iddly commented.)

The scene changes and shows Harry and Ron enter a hollow ribboned with shadows. Enormous trees tower over them, strewn with strands of white webbing. Ron steps on a strand, kicks it off queasily. Harry peers up ahead: at the far end of the hollow, spiders' stream toward a dark opening.

("Oh gods! More spiders!" Lucy exclaims in disgust.)

As Harry and Ron approach the opening, a clicking sound emanates from within, echoing in the branches of the tall trees. Growing louder. Ron falters, glancing about nervously.

Ron: I don't have a good feeling about this, Harry –

("Yeah… Me neither, kid…" Macao grunts in agreement.)

Harry: Don't panic.

As Harry steps to the mouth of the cavern, the air suddenly crackles with covement. Twigs snap. A huge shadow emerges, slowly engulfs Harry. He peers up. And sees an ancient spider, the size of a small elephant.

Many of the girls at Fairy tail scream at the sight of the gigantic spider. All those eyes and hair.

As it advances, Harry and Ron back slowly away. Then: its blind eyes catch the light, and it stops. As if... listening.

Spider: You do not come from the forest. Your hearts beat like... men.

"It speaks!" Lucy exclaims in fright.

"Well… I'll be damned…" Wakaba blinks in stupefaction.

Harry (breathing finally): Yes. We're friends of Hagrid's. And you... you're... (as it comes to him) ...Aragog, aren't you?

Aragog: Hagrid has never sent men into our hollow before.

Harry: He's in trouble. Up at school, there've been attacks. They think it's Hagrid. They think he's opened the Chamber of Secrets. Like before.

As Harry talks, Ron's eyes dart warily about, then... a pair of long legs – Spider's legs—curl slowly around the trunk of the tree to his left. Terrified, Ron nudges Harry, but Harry ignores him.

Aragog: That's a lie! Hagrid never opend the Chamber of Secrets!

Harry: But if Hagrid never... that means... you're not the monster.

Aragog: The monster was born in the castle. I came from a distant land, in the pocket of a traveler. Ron turns. Two crawling silhouettes inch forward. Pause. Waiting. Watching.

Ron: Harry...

Harry: Shhh! (to Aragog) But if you're not the monster, what did kill that girl fifty years ago?

Aragog: We do not speak of it! It is an ancient creature we spiders fear above all others.

Harry: But have you seen it?

A scrabbling sound echoes above Ron. He glances up: a spider crouches on a branch above.

Aragog: I never saw any part of the castle but the cupboard in which Hagrid kept me. The girl was discovered in a bathroom. When I was accused, Hagrid brought me here.

More scrabbling. Ron looks up. And sees more spiders! - in high and low branches – dropping downwards like paratroopers.

"That doesn't look good…" Alzack said lamely.

"Gee… you think!?" Cana deadpans.

Ron grabs Harry.

Harry (annoyed): What!?

Ron points. Harry looks. Pales. Turns slowly back to Aragog.

Harry: Well... thank you. We'll just go...

Aragog: Go? I think not. My sons and daughters do not harm Hagrid, on my command. But I cannot deny them fresh meat when it wanders so willingly into our midst. Goodbye, friend of Hagrid. Aragog turns, disappears into the shadows of the cavern.

Ron: Can we panic now?

CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! Harry and Ron spin. A gang of fice-foot spiders bar the path ahead and begin to move forward. Harry and Ron spin again: Spiders. Everywhere. Closing in. Desperately, Harry swings the lantern in his hand. The spiders falter, then creep forward again as the arc of the light chases itself away. Around and around. Then: The lantern goes out.

Harry pitches it aside. As one, he and Ron draw their wands.

Ron: Nice knowing you.

After a hair-raising close call chase sequence. Harry and Ron manage to escape the spiders. The scene changes again to show Harry and Ron in the infirmary visiting the petrified Hermione. Harry studies his friend's face.

Harry: Wish you were here, Hermione. We need you. Now more than ever...

Just then, the mirror in Ron's hand catches the late afternoon sunlight and casts a jagged flame across Hermione's hand. Harry watches the light dance over her fingers... then looks closer. Sees the paper clutched there.

Harry and Ron duck into an alcove amd take out the crinkled paper, which it seems to have been torn from a library book.

Harry: 'Of the many fearsome beasts that roam our land, none is more deadly than the Basilisk. Capable of living for hundreds of years, instant death awaits any who meet this giant serpent's eye. Spiders flee before it and only the crowing of the rooster can kill it.' (looking up)

Ron! This is it! The monster in the Chamber of Secrets is a Basilisk. That's why I can hear it speak. It's a snake.

Ron: But it kills by looking people in the eye. Why is it no one's dead?

"A giant snake that can kill people by looking at them!? You're right Cana, this school it's the worst!" Warren Rocko declares outloud.

"And it seems things just keep going to the bad." Reedus Jonah adds.

"Giant spiders, and now gant snakes. Yuck! Why does it always has to be a nasty critter!" Lucy complained.

Harry frowns, contemplating this, then catches he and Ron's reflection in the window opposite. He mutters

Harry: Because no one did look it in the eye. Not directly at least... (in a rush) Colin saw it through his camera. Justin - Justin must've seen the Basilisk through Nearly Headless Nick! Nick got the full blast of it, but he's a ghost – he couldn't die again... And Hermione... had the mirror! I bet you anything she was using it to look round corners, in case it came along.

Ron: And Mrs. Norris? I'm pretty sure she didn't have a camera or a mirror, Harry.

Harry: The water... there was water on the floor that night. She only saw the Basilisk's reflection... (scanning the page again) The crowing of the rooster is fatal to it! That's why Hagrid's roosters were killed! Spiders flee before it! It all fits!

Ron: But how's the Basilisk been getting around? A dirty great snake. Someone would have seen...

Harry: Hermione answered that too.

Harry points. Scribbled, in Hermione's hand, is: "Pipes."

Ron (aghast): Pipes...? It's using the plumbing.

Harry: Remember what Aragog said? About that girl fifty years ago? She died in a bathroom. What if she never left.

Ron: Moaning Myrtle!

Harry nods. Just then, McGonagall's voice echoes throughout the castle, magically magnified.

McGonagall (V.O.): All students are to return to their house dormitories at once. All teachers to the second-floor corridor. Immediately.

McGonagall stands before a desecrated wall, surrounded by the rest of the staff. Harry and Ron creep up the stairwell.

McGonagall: As you can see, the Heir of Slytherin has left another message. Our worst fear has been realized. A student has been taken by the monster. Into the Chamber itself. (as the teachers react) I'm afraid we shall have to send the students home. I'm afraid... this is the end of Hogwarts.

Lockhart (bursting in cheerily): So sorry. Dozed off. What have I missed?

Snape: Just the man. A girl has been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. Your moment has come at last.

Lockhart: My m-moment?

Snape: Weren't you saying just last night that you've known all along where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is?

Lockhart: D-did I? I don't recall...

McGonagall: That settles it. We'll leave it to you to deal with the monster, Gilderoy. Your skills, after all, are legend.

Lockhart: V-very well. I'll - I'll be in my office, getting – getting ready.

McGonagall: The rest of us should go and inform the students what has happened.

Sprout: Who is it the monster's taken, Minerva?

McGonagall: Ginny Weasley.

Ron's knees give way. As Harry catches him, the staff scatters, revealing what is written on the wall: Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever.

Harry and a very upset Ron walk with desperate purpose.

Ron: She knew something, Harry. She'd found out something about the Chamber of Secrets. That's why she was taken. I mean, she was - is - a pure-blood. There can't be any other reason.

Harry: (pulling him away) C'mon. Let's go see Lockhart. He may be a brainless git, but he's going to try and get into the Chamber. We can tell him what we know...

Ron: Harry. D'you think there's any chance at all she's not, you know -

Harry glances over, studies Ron's tortured eyes.

Harry: We'll find her, Ron. Ginny's going to be fine.

Ron nods, smiles shakily, and looks away. As he does, Harry's face changes, looks troubled. Even he doesn't believe what he's just said.

"Yes… I too believe it may be too late…" Makarov said seriously.

"Don't say such things Guildmaster!" Levy chastisied. Makarov just shook his head and kept watching.

There's a scene transition and the fairies can now see Lockhart walking ahead of Harry and Ron, their wands out and pointed at him. A ghost, Moaning Myrtle, floats above the cistern.

Moaning Myrtle: Who's there? Oh... (smiles, flirty) Hello, Harry. What do you want?

Harry: To ask you how you died.

Moaning Myrtle: (flattered) Oooooh, it was dreadful. It happened right here. In this very cubicle. I'd hidden because Olive Hornby was teasing me about my glasses. I was crying, and then I heard somebody come in.

"Why is she flattered of having someone asking her about her death?" Gray asked out loud with a stumped expression.

"I don't know… I've never been able to understand what goes through a woman's head…" Wakaba replied, only to receive a slap in the back of his head by Mirajane, who simply rolled her eyes at him.

Harry: Who was it, Myrtle?

Moaning Myrtle: I don't know! I was distraught! But they said something funny. A kind of made-up language. And I realized it was a boy speaking. So, I unlocked the door, to tell him to go away, and... I died.

Harry: Just like that? How?

Moaning Myrtle: No idea. I just remember seeing a pair of great big yellow eyes. Over there...

Myrtle points to the bank of sinks. Harry and Ron hurry over, examining the pipes below, the tile above, then... Harry sees it: etched on one of the copper taps is a tiny snake.

Harry: This is it, Ron. This is the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.

Ron: Say something, Harry. Say something in Parseltongue.

Harry stares off self-consciously at the tiny snake.

Harry: Open up.

Ron shakes his head. Harry's spoken in his regular voice.

Ron: English.

Harry concentrates harder this time, staring so intensely that the snake almost looks alive. When, finally, he speaks, it is more like a hiss. Parseltongue. The circular group of sinks open and a large, open pipe is exposed.

Lockhart: Excellent, Harry. Good work. Well then. I'll just be going. There's no need for me...

Harry: Oh, yes there is. You first.

Harry points his wand at Lockhart, then the opening.

"Why do they need the help of that fop? He looks useless…?" Bisca Mulan asks with an expression of incomprehension.

Cana shrugs. "I don't know… Perhaps they want to use him as a meat shield?"

Lockhart: Now, boys. What good will it do?

Ron: A bloody lot of good if it's a two-hundred-foot drop onto jagged rocks.

("Aha! It seems I was right!" Cana cheers.)

Lockhart steps grimly to the dark, gaping hole. Ron gives him a shove and he topples headfirst and out of sight. They wait. Finally...

Lockhart: It's really quite filthy down here.

Harry: All right. Let's go.

Moaning Myrtle: Oh, Harry... if you die down there, you're welcome to share my toilet.

Harry: Thanks, Myrtle.

Harry turns. Jumps. Seconds later, Ron follows.

("Well, that wasn't creepy at all…" Warren Rocko ays with a deadpan at Myrtle's comment.)

Harry and Ron slide wicked fast, in a hair-raising vertical plummet, catching glimpses of other, smaller pipes branching off in all directions, twisting and turning until the pipe levels off, dumps them onto the damp floor of a stone tunnel.

Lockhart stares miserably at the muck dripping from his robes. Harry takes a torch from the wall, poises his wand.

Harry: Lumos!

The torch blooms with a bright orange flame.

Harry: Remember. Any sign of movement close your eyes straight away.

Harry leads the way down the tunnel. crunch! They look down: a rat's skull. All around them, the ground is littered with tiny skeletons. Ron squints, sees something huge and curved lying ahead. When he speaks, his voice is hollow with dread.

Ron: What's that? Up ahead?

Lockhart: That looks like a... snake.

Terrified, Lockhart quickly hides his eyes.

Harry: Maybe it's asleep.

Ron draws his wand as they approach, squinting. Harry shines his light, revealing... a gigantic coil of empty skin.

Ron: Bloody hell. Whatever shed this must be twenty feet long. Or more.

THUD! They turn. Lockhart has passed out.

Ron: Heart of a lion, this one.

Ron kneels by him, when... Lockhart's eyes open and, quick as a fox... He snatches Ron's wand and scrambles to his feet.

Lockhart: The adventure ends here, boys! But don't fret. The world will know our story. How I was too late to save the girl. How you two tragically lost your minds at the sight of her mangled body. I'll even bind a limited edition in this snake skin. Say goodbye to your memories. (raising Ron's wand) Obliviate!

Ron's wand explodes like a small bomb, blasting Lockhart off his feet and spitting great jets of fire into the rock above. As rubble rains, Ron leaps one way and Harry the other. Harry sits up, squints through the settling dust. A solid wall of broken rock seals the tunnel between him and Ron.

Harry: Ron? Are you okay?

Ron: I'm okay. This git's not, though. He got blasted by my wand.

Lockhart sits up, dazed. Ron picks up a rock and conks him on the head. Lockhart passes out.

("I am not surprised about this…" Cana dedpanned as she took a sip of her mug.)

Ron calls to Harry.

Ron: What now?

Harry: Wait here. I'll go on. I'll go on and... find Ginny. If I'm not back in an hour...

He leaves it there.

Rock: I'll try and shift some of this rock. So, you can get back through. And, Harry -

Harry: See you in a bit.

Harry glances at the snake skin at his feet, moves off. He steps carefully through the shadows until he reaches a towering stone wall, carved with twin serpents.

Harry: (Parseltongue) Open.

The serpents part and the giant wall slides open. Harry removes his wand and enters. A vast chamber stretches ahead. Along the path are rows of stone serpents. The serpents rest in pools of black water. Ahead is an enormous statue of Salazar Slytherin.

Several feet in front of the statue, Ginny Weasley lies motionless. As Harry dashes and takes her into his arms, her head lolls to one side, cheeks white as marble. A pale hand clutches Tom Riddle's diary to her chest. Harry drops the torch, races to Ginny, places his wand on the floor and kneels beside her.

Harry: Ginny! Please don't be dead. Wake up! Wake up! Ginny!

Tom Riddle: She won't wake.

Harry spins. Tom Riddle stands nearby. He is strangely blurred around the edges, as though Harry was looking at him through a misted window.

Harry: Tom... Tom Riddle? What d'you mean, she won't wake? She's not...

Tom Riddle: She's still alive. But only just.

Harry: Are you a ghost?

Tom Riddle: A memory. Preserved in a diary for fifty years.

Harry looks to the diary in Ginny's hand, then places his own hand on Ginny's arm.

Harry: She's cold as ice. You've got to help me, Tom. There's a basilisk -

Tom Riddle: It won't come until it's called.

Harry looks up, sees Riddle twirling a wand in his fingers

"I have a bad feeling about this…" Macao said with apprehension.

"What kind of magic allows you to grant life to a memory of the past!?" Levy asked with outmost seriousness.

Harry: Give me my wand, Tom.

Tom Riddle: You won't be needing it.

Harry: Listen, we've got to go! We've got to save her!

Tom Riddle: I'm afraid I can't do that, Harry. You see, as poor Ginny grows weaker... I grow stronger.

Harry: But she's dying!

Tom Riddle: Yes. I'm afraid so. But then, she's been in so much pain, poor Ginny. She's been writing to me for months, telling me all her pitiful worries and woes. Ginny poured her soul out to me. I grew stronger on a diet of her deepest fears, her darkest secrets. I grew powerful enough to start feeding Ginny a few secrets, to start pouring a bit of my soul back into her...

("This is sick…" Reedus Jonah says, visibly ill at hearing what Riddle was telling.

"And vomit-inducing…" Cana said, feeling green.)

Riddle, growing less vaporous by the second, grins cruelly.

Tom Riddle: Yes, Harry, it was Ginny Weasley who opened the Chamber of Secrets.

Harry: No... she couldn't – she wouldn't.

Tom Riddle: It was Ginny who set the Basilisk on the Mudbloods and the Squib's cat. Ginny who wrote threatening messages on the walls.

Harry: But... Why?...

Tom Riddle: Because I told her to. You'll find that I can be very persuasive. Not that she knew what she was doing. She was, shall we say, in a kind of trance. Still, the power of the diary began to scare her, and she tried to dispose of it in the girls' bathroom. But then, who should find it... but you. The very person I was most anxious to meet.

Harry: (getting angry): And why did you want to meet me?

Tom Riddle: Ginny told me all about you. I knew I had to talk to you, meet you if I could. So, I decided to show you my capture of that brainless oaf, Hagrid, to gain your trust.

Harry: Hagrid's my friend. And you framed him, didn't you?

Tom Riddle: It was my word against Hagrid's. Only Dumbledore seemed to think Hagrid was innocent.

Harry: I'll bet Dumbledore saw right through you.

Harry: I knew it wouldn't be safe to open the Chamber again while I was still at school. So, I decided to leave behind a diary, preserving my sixteen-year-old self in its pages, so that one day... I would be able to lead another to finish Salazar Slytherin's noble work.

Harry: Well, you haven't finished it this time. In a few hours Mandrake Draught will be ready and everyone who was petrified will be all right again.

Tom Riddle: Haven't I told you, that killing Mudbloods doesn't matter to me anymore? For many months now, my new target has been... you. (grinning) Imagine my disappointment when I learned Ginny had stolen the diary back from you.

Harry: Ginny stole the diary from my room? But why?

Tom Riddle: She was afraid. Afraid you'd learn how to work the diary. Afraid I'd tell you just who it was that had been strangling all those roosters.

Horrified, Harry glances at Ginny, growing more pale, then back to Riddle, who is growing more solid.

Tom Riddle: Come now, Harry. Don't look so disappointed. Had Ginny succeeded in destroying the diary, she would have destroyed me. And we couldn't be having this little talk. And I have so many questions for you.

Harry: Like what?

Tom Riddle: Well, how is it that a baby with no extraordinary magical talent managed to defeat the greatest wizard of all time? How did you escape with nothing but a scar, while Lord Voldemort's powers were destroyed?

Harry: Why do you care how I escaped? Voldemort was after your time.

Tom Riddle: Voldemort is my past, present and future.

Riddle pulls Harry's wand from his pocket and begins to trace it through the air, writing three words: "TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE." Then, with a wave, he re-arranges them: "I AM LORD VOLDEMORT."

Mirajane was mindboggled by this revelation. "He's penis face!?" She exclaimed, forgetting for a moment about restraining her language and reverting back to the personality of her rebellious days due to her impression.

Cana spat her drink and began to choke due to the laughter attack that was suddenly assailing her.

"Mirajane!" Makarov exclaims, scandalized.

"Oooops!" Mirajane can only reply with a blush.

Harry: You. You're the heir of Slytherin. You're Voldemort?

Tom Riddle: Surely you didn't think I would keep my filthy Muggle father's name? No, I fashioned myself a new name, a name I knew wizards everywhere would one day fear to speak, when I became the greatest sorcerer in the world.

Harry: Albus Dumbledore is the greatest sorcerer in the world!

Tom Riddle: Dumbledore's been driven out of this castle by the mere memory of me.

Harry: He'll never be gone! Not as long as those who remain are loyal to him!

Suddenly, music... Eerie and unearhtly... Echoes deep within the chamber and a small, swift shadow ribbons over the rock. Flying from above is fawkes, the Phoenix. The bird swoops into the chamber, clutching a ragged bundle in its golden talons.

Harry: Fawkes.

Fawkes flies toward Harry, drops the ragged bundle, which turns out to be the sorting hat, at his feet. Riddle picks it up.

Tom Riddle: (giggling) This is what Dumbledore sends his defender! A songbird and an old hat!

Riddle tosses aside the hat. He turns to the statue of Salazar Slytherin and speaks in Parseltongue.

Tom Riddle: (Parseltongue) Speak to me, Slytherin.

Suddenly, the stone face's mouth opens. There is a rumbling sound, followed by the sound of slithering. Harry turns away. The Basilisk, a giant serpent, spills out, uncoiling heavily to the floor. Harry turns to the wall. The shadow of the serpent is visible on the stone.

("Well, shit…" Macao simply says.)

Tom Riddle looks at Harry.

Tom Riddle: Let's match the powers of Lord Voldemort, Heir of Salazar Slytherin, against the famous Harry Potter, shall we?

Riddle turns to the serpent, speaking in Parseltongue.

Tom Riddle: Kill him!

The hissing serpent shoots forward. Harry turns, runs away.

Tom Riddle: Parseltongue won't save you now, Potter. The Basilisk only obeys me.

Harry: (to himself) Don't look. Don't look into its eyes.

Harry races along the stone path, but the giant serpent is faster. Harry trips. falls. The Basilisk rises. Harry looks to the wall, sees the serpent about to strike. Suddenly fawkes screeches, soaring toward the Basilisk and circling its blunt head, confusing it. The snake snaps furiously, when... Fawkes drops like a knife, driving its talons deep into the serpent's glittering eyes.

As Harry watches the angry play of shadows on the wall, the basilisk roars, hissing in pain. Fawkes wings away, its talons dripping with blood and Harry turns, looks: the Basilisk's eyes are a blind, bloody mess.

Tom Riddle: Fool! Think you're safe! It can still hear you!

As Harry flees, the serpent thunders after him, striking blindly as its whipping tail shatters a Slytherin statue. Harry dodges and ducks, then, seeing the snake about to strike again... leaps clear, stumbling toward a side tunnel.

Harry races headlong into the shadows, then looks back, sees the snake eclipse the light at the far end of the tunnel and slither quickly inside. Thinking, Harry ducks into an alcove, puts his hand over his mouth and waits, desperate to remain still and silent. The snake slides heavily by, then... slows. Turns back...

The snake's head weaves inside, only inches from Harry's face. The fairies grow tense at seeing such humongous creature so close to the boy. Harry trembles as the snake's head cocks to the side, then... finally... withdraws. Harry dashes back into the main chamber. Ginny looks frighteningly pale. Riddle grins cruelly, almost solid now.

Tom Riddle: Yes, Potter. The process is nearly complete. In a few minutes, Ginny Weasley will be dead. And I will cease to be a memory. Lord Voldemort will return. Very much... alive.

Harry moves toward Ginny, then suddenly... the Basilisk shoots out of the tunnel, hissing directly in front of Harry. Trapped, Harry glances around, then - impulsively - leaps upward, begins to scale the statue of Salazar Slytherin. The serpent strikes madly, but Harry continues on, climbing boldly until he reaches the top. He turns. Sees the Sorting Hat, and caughts a glimpse of what glitters within: the ruby handle of a sword. The sword of Griffyndor

Harry wheels, sword in hand, and fends off the slashing serpent like St. George and the dragon. In a mad rush of courage, he pitches himself onto the serpent, slides down its back and rolls up, sword raised. Too tired to flee, Harry simply waits. The serpent rises and, fangs bared... Strikes!

Marshalling every ounce of strength left to him, Harry drives the sword upward, deep into the roof of the serpent's mouth. It hisses in pain, thrashing madly as it drives a fang into Harry's arm. Harry clutches his arm in agony, stumbles back and falls to the floor, watching as the serpent thrashes briefly... then goes still.

Harry peers down, sees the fang that pierces his arm, the blood soaking slowly into his robe. As he yanks the fang free, Riddle steps forward, almost fully whole now. His eyes shine at the sight of Harry's wound.

Tom Riddle: Remarkable, isn't it? How quickly the venom of the Basilisk penetrates the body? If you have any final words, Potter, you'd best speak them now. I'd guess you have little more than a minute to live.

Harry blinks heavily, watching as the skin of his forearm turns a troubling gray.

Tom Riddle: So, ends the famous Harry Potter. On his knees in the Chamber of Secrets. Defeated at last by the Dark Lord he so unwisely challenged. You'll be back with your dear Mudblood mother soon, Harry...

As Riddle talks, Harry glances at Ginny, nearly white now, a small ghost, the only evidence of life the trembling of a single finger. Harry studies the finger and what lies beneath it: Tom Riddle's diary. Harry begins to crawl toward her.

Tom Riddle: Funny, isn't it? The damage a silly little book can do? Especially in the hands of a silly little girl…

"That arrogant fool! He doesn't even imagine what the boy is planning to do…" Wakaba said as he watched Riddle gloating.

As Harry reaches Ginny, he places his hand on hers, then... slips the diary free.

Tom Riddle: What are you doing? No. Stop...

Riddle's face creases in fear. He lunges foward. But Harry is too quick. Raising his hand high... he plunges the fang into the book. Instantly, black ink spurts from the pages.

Tom Riddle: No!

Riddle shrieks, writhing in pain. His body begins to wither instantly, growing blurry once more. As the ink runs off Harry's fingers to the floor, Riddle vanishes altogether. Harry sinks back, then... hears a faint moan. Ginny stirs, color blooming in her cheeks. As she sees Harry, she sobs.

Ginny: Harry. It was me! But I swear, I didn't mean to... Riddle made me. He wrote to me... took me over... I didn't even know whose diary it was. I found it inside my cauldron. The day we all went to Diagon Alley and... Harry. You're hurt...

Harry: Ginny. You need to get yourself out... Follow the chamber... You'll find Ron...

There is a rush of wings and Fawkes circles down, lays his head onto Harry's arm.

Harry: You were brilliant, Fawkes. I just... wasn't quick enough.

Then Harry blinks, looks down. Thick pearly tears are trickling down Fawkes' face and onto his arm. Almost instantly, his wound... begins to heal itself.

Harry: Of course. Dumbledore told me. Phoenix tears have healing powers. (looking up at Ginny) It's all right, Ginny. It's over. It's just a memory...

With Fawkes gliding gracefully ahead of them, Harry and Ginny make their way back. Up ahead, shifting rock can be heard and a jagged fissure of light glimmers. Ron's face appears.

Ron: Ginny!

Ron wriggles through, rushes forward and hugs Ginny.

Ron: You're alive. I can't believe it.

Ginny: I'm going to be expelled, I just know it!

Ron (to Harry): Remind you of anyone?

Harry: Where's Lockhart?

Harry eyes Lockhart, sitting by himself, humming placidly.

Ron: His Memory Charm backfired. Hasn't got a clue who he is. I keep having to stop him wandering off. He's a danger to himself.

Lockhart: Hello. Odd sort of place, this, isn't it? Do you live here?

Ron: No.

Ron turns, raises his eyebrows at Harry. Harry looks upward. There is an opening, hundreds of feet up. Just then, Fawkes circles back, fluttering in front of Harry.

Ron: What's with the bird?

Harry: I think... I think he's telling me he can take us out of here.

A curious, gliding shadow ripples across the cavernous wall, and then Harry, Ron, Ginny and Lockhart soar out of the darkness, linked hand in hand. Fawkes is flying them home.

Lockhart: Amazing! This is just like magic!

Later, Harry and Ron, covered in muck and slime - stand inside Dumbledore's office. Fawkes perches on a pedestal behind Dumbledore, who sits at his desk, examining the charred diary. He looks up, regarding Harry and Ron gravely.

Dumbledore: Ingenious. Simply... ingenious. (looking up) Of course, Tom Riddle was probably the most brilliant student Hogwarts has ever seen. I taught him myself fifty years ago. After he left, I would occasionally hear stories of his activities – dark rumors - but after awhile, even the rumors stopped. When he finally resurfaced as Lord Voldemort, most people had completely forgotten the clever Head Boy he'd once been.

Ginny: I didn't know whose diary it was, sir. I swear. I found it inside my cauldron. (to the others) The day we all went to Diagon Alley.

Hearing this, Harry frowns in thought, recollecting...

Ginny: But I understand if... given all the trouble I've caused... if you -

Dumbledore: Wiser wizards than you have been hoodwinked by Lord Voldemort, Miss Weasley. No, I think you've endured enough. I would suggest a bit of bed rest, however. And perhaps a large mug of hot chocolate. I always find that cheers me up. Minerva, will you show Arthur and Molly up to the hospital wing?

McGonagall: Certainly, Albus.

As they exit, Harry and Ron watch them go. Mrs. Weasley's voice carries down the hall:

Mrs. Weasley: A diary that writes back to you! Honestly, Ginny! What were you thinking? Haven't I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain!

Harry and Ron turn back. See Dumbledore regarding them gravely.

Dumbledore: You two realize, of course, that in the last few hours, you have broken perhaps a dozen school rules?

Harry/Ron: Yes, sir.

"That's not fair! Why they have to be punished after everything they had to go through!?" Lucy said out loud in discontent.

"Rules are rules and there will always be people trying to enforce them and attempt to punish us if we break them…" Erza lectured, speaking from recent experience, she turned towards natsu. "Isn't that right Natsu?"

The salamander just grumbled, complaining and throwing unintelligible threats against the magic council under his breath.

Dumbledore: And that there is sufficient evidence to expel you both?

Harry/Ron: Yes, sir.

Dumbledore: Therefore, it seems only fitting... (eyes twinkling) That you both receive Special Awards for Services to the School. And - let me see - yes, I think two hundred points apiece, which, I believe, should be more than enough to secure Gryffindor the House Cup.

Harry/Ron: (grinning) Thank you, sir.

Dumbledore: Now, Mr. Weasley, if you would, have an owl deliver these release papers to Azkaban. We need our gamekeeper back.

Ron nods, takes the envelope and exits.

Dumbledore: First, Harry, I want to thank you. You must have shown me real loyalty down in the Chamber. Nothing but that could have called Fawkes to you. Secondly, I sense you're troubled by something. Am I right?

Harry: It's just, you see, sir, I couldn't help noticing certain things. Certain similarities. Between Tom Riddle and me.

Dumbledore: You can speak Parseltongue, Harry, because Lord Voldemort can speak Parseltongue. Unless I'm much mistaken, he transfered some of his own powers to you the night he gave you that scar.

Harry: Voldemort put a bit of himself in me?

"EEEEEW!" It was the general consensus among the fairies.

"Oh, my gods! I did not need to know that!" An upset Levy exclaimed.

Even Cana looked unwell due to what she had just heard. "That's fucked up…"

Dumbledore: Not intentionally, but... yes.

"What? He slipped and ended up shoving just the tip inside him by accident!?" A rather flabbergasted Cana sarcastically declared with a deadpan.

"Cana!" Makarov wailed in outrage.

Harry: So, the Sorting Hat was right. I should be a Slytherin.

Dumbledore: It's true, Harry. You do possess many of the qualities Voldemort himself prizes. Resourcefulness. Determination. A certain disregard for the rules. Yet the Sorting Hat placed you in Gryffindor.

Harry: Only because I asked it to.

Dumbledore: Exactly. Which makes you very different from Voldemort. It's not our abilities that show what we truly are, Harry. It's our choices. (smiling at him) If you want proof that you belong in Gryffindor, Harry, I suggest you look more closely at this.

Dumbledore hands the bloodstained sword to Harry. An engraved name glimmers above the ruby-encrusted hilt.

Harry: 'Godric Gryffindor.'

Dumbledore: Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that out of the Hat.

The screen fades to black

"Well… I suppose that was some adventure…" Levy said.

"Yes… An adventure filled with black magic, giant man-eating spiders and serpents that can kill people with their eyes and ghosts trapped in books trying to suck the life out of little girls. There's something inherently wrong with all that. What is wrong with that school? How can a place like that function?" Wakaba asked with clear disapproval.

Jocelyn: After narrowingly avoiding becoming snake-chow, Harry was able to survive another year at Hogwards and return happily to his relative's house to continue his imprisonment into forced slavey- I mean to spend the summer in peace… Yes, that's right… In any case… the next year would bring its own set of troubles. What with an escaped murdered sentenced for life and black hooded wraiths that spread misery and death wherever they go by sucking the joy and life out of people.

"Great…" Wakaba said in the most unexpressive face ever.

The screen transitions to show a Bus fishtailing into view and squealing to a stop, centimeters from a parked car. WHOOSH! The bus settles and - TINK! - taps the bumper. Instantly, the car's
alarm wails. The chandelier sways drunkenly as the bus doors open. The steps groan with heavy feet and a figure appears: Tom, Innkeeper of the Leaky Cauldron pub.

Tom: Mr. Potter... at last.

As the Knight Bus rockets off, Tom and Harry are revealed, Harry glances up, reads the sign above: THE
LEAKY CAULDRON. Tom drags Harry's trunk inside, then pauses and, with a flick of his wand, silences the car alarm.

Harry trails Tom through the quiet bar. The bartender glances up, his gaze lingering perhaps a bit too long. A solitary wizard reads a book while, at his elbow, his coffe cup stirs itself. Tom leads Harry upstairs.
As the boy follows Tom inside, he finds a snow white owl perched atop a chair.

Harry: Hedwig!

Tom: Right smart bird you've got there, Mr. Potter. Arrived only minutes before yourself.

A man clears his throat. Harry turns, finds a pinstriped silhouette (Cornelius Fudge) at the window, staring at the ghostly shadows beyond. Harry's reflection shivers in the glass, but the man doesn't turn. Tom takes a position against the wall, fishes a pair of walnuts from his pocket and - CRACK - crushes the shells between his palms.

Fudge: I should tell you, Mr. Potter, earlier this evening your uncle's sister was located just south of Sheffield, circling a chimney stack. The Accidental Magic Reversal Department was dispatched, and she's been properly punctured and her memory modified. She has no recollection of the incident
whatsoever.

("It's the useless politician again…" Wakaba harrumped in dissatisfaction.)

Harry waits. A man condemned. Then Fudge turns.

Fudge: So that's that, and no harm done. (smiling) Pea soup?

Harry glances warily from the steaming tureen of green to Tom, who works a grimy thumb into his gum, and frees a walnut sliver.

Harry: No thank you. Minister... I don't understand. I broke the law. Underage wizards aren't allowed to use magic at home –

Fudge (dishing up a bowl): Oh, come now, Harry. The Ministry doesn't send people to Azkaban for blowing up their aunts! On the other hand... running away like that... given the state of things... very, very irresponsible.

"Mmmph… Didn't Hagrid said this Azkaban was some kind of prison…?" Macao commented aloud. "If that's the case, this Ministry is much laxer at the time of doling out punishments than our own magic council. Good for them…"

"Yes… Which explains why they have giant snakes slithering all over their magic schools and pretrifying people left and right…" Makarov sarcastically answers, earning a wince from Macao.

Harry: 'The state of things' sir?

Fudge: We have a killer on the loose.

That kind of comment leaves the mages of fairy tail stumped for a solid second.

"Fucking nice improvement from last time…" Cana sarcastically commented.

Harry: Sirius Black, you mean. But... what's that got to do with me?

CRACK! Tom shatters another walnut. Fudge smiles nervously.

Fudge: Hm? Oh, nothing. You're safe, that's what matters. Tomorrow you'll be on your way to Hogwarts. These are your new schoolbooks. I took the liberty of having them brought here for you.

Harry eyes the stack of books. One is bound by a rope.

Fudge: By the way, Harry. Whilst you're here it would be best if you didn't... wander.

The scene changes to show a clipping from a newspaper, the headline screams: "GRAND PRIZE WINNER VISITS EGYPT!" In the accompanying ohoto, the entire wealey family stands before the great pyramids, waving. Smack in the middle is Ron, Scabbers perched on his shoulder.

"Moving photos! Wish we had something like that!" Levy says wistfully.

"We have something like that levy… They're called lacrimas…" Jet replies to her with a deadpan.

The blunette shoves him on his shoulder. "Ash! You know it's not the same…"

As Ron smoothes the dog-eared clipping onto the table, Harry studies it. Hermione ignores it, stroking Crookshanks.

Harry: Egypt! What's it like?

Ron: Brilliant. It's got loads of old stuff. Mummies. Death masks. Tombs –

Hermione: You know, the ancient Egyptians of the Nile River delta worshipped the cat goddess Bast.

Ron glares stonily at Hermione, then turns back to Harry.

Ron: I also got a new wand.

Just then, a commotion is head. The Weasleys - Percy, Fred, George, Ginny, Arthur, and Molly - arrive en masse, laden with purchases from Diagon Alley.

"So many redheads!" Gray says with a face akin to horror, since they remind him of Erza.

He wasn't the only one to find such reminder. Natsu as always doesn't take the time to consider his words. "They must be Erza's long lost family!"

And aura of dread suddenly fell upon the remains of the hall as Erza began to try to choke Natsu by sheer willpower alone, just as she had seen Darth Vader do to his officers… It was working…

"Enough, Erza! Release him!" Makarov ordered. The red-head clicked her teeth but did as ordered. Natsu fell to the ground like a stringless puppet.

"Natsu! Stop making that kind of comments before you make Erza fall to the Dark Side like Darth Vader did. If that happens, is going to be your ass…" The guildmaster warned.

"Yes.. Guild… Master…" The Salamander could only pathetically wheeze.

George: Not flashing that clipping about again, are you, Ron?

Ron: I haven't shown anyone!

Fred: No, not a soul. Unless you count Tom. The day maid. The night maid. The cook. The bloke that came to fix the toilet. That wizard from Belgium...

Mrs. Weasley takes Harry's face in her hands, smiles. As if relieved to see him.

Mrs. Weasley: It's good to see you, Harry.

Harry: Good to see you too, Mrs. Weasley.

Mr. Weasley: Harry. I wonder if I might have a word.

Harry: Of course, Mr. Weasley.

As Mr. Weasley pulls Harry away, the others continue to hover over the clipping in the b.g.

Fred: George's nose looks positively massive in that photograph.

Ginny: That's your nose, Fred.

Fred: Bloody hell. 'Tis, isn't it? Take after your side of the family, don't I, Mum?

Harry notices Mr. Weasley glance edgily at a fugitive poster tacked to the wall. In it, Sirius Black glowers back and forth displaying his prisoner number like a lunatic undergoing an attack of Hysteria. Under him the words, "Have You Seen This Man?" can be seen.

The fairies just stare at the poster of the fugitive.

"He looks like a cheery man…" Gray deadpans with boundless sarcasm.

Mr. Weasley: Harry. There are some within the Ministry who would strongly discourage me from divulging what I'm about to tell you. But I think you need to know the facts. Because you're in danger. Grave danger.

Harry's eyes drift to the fugitive poster.

Harry: Has this anything to do with him, sir?

Mr. Weasley: What do you know of Sirius Black, Harry?

Harry: That he escaped from Azkaban. That he killed someone...

Mr. Weasley: Harry, thirteen years ago, when you stopped...

Mr. Weasley hesitates, unable to continue.

Harry: Voldemort...?

Mr. Weasley (nodding nervously): Black lost everything. But he remains a loyal servant to this day. In his mind, only you stand in the way of...

Once again, Mr. Weasley hesitates.

Harry: Voldemort...?

Mr. Weasley: Harry, I hate it when you say -

Harry: I know, sorry. Ron hates it too.

Mr. Weasley: In Black's mind, only you stand in the way of... You-Know-Who returning to power. That's why he's broken. That's why he's broken out of Azkaban. To find you. And...

Mr. Weasley hesitates yet again.

Harry: Kill me?

Mr. Weasley nods. Nervously.

Mr. Weasley: Harry. I want you to swear that - whatever you might hear - you won't go looking for Black.

Harry: Mr. Weasley, why would I go looking for someone who wants to kill me?

Mr. Weasley nods, then claps Harry on the shoulder.

Mr. Weasley: Just watch yourself, will you, Harry?

Later that same day. Storm clouds, like dark ghosts, toss sheets of rain onto the scarlet engine as it heads north. Inside their compartment, Ron and Hermione stare at Harry, faces stricken in the lantern light that now glows insode their booth. Crookshanks slumbers in his cage.

Ron: Let me get this straight. Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban to come after you?

Harry: Yes.

Hermione: But they'll catch Black, won't they? I mean... eventually?

Ron: Sure - Of course, no one's ever broken out of Azkaban before and he's a raving, murderous lunatic...

Just then, the compartment rattles. Lanterns flicker. The train lurches and begins to slow. Hermione slides down the seat, pinning Ron against the window. They exchange an awkward glance, then Hermione carefully slides to the other end of the seat and glances at her watch. Frowns.

Hermione: Why're we stopping? We can't be there yet...

Harry rises, slides open the door, peers into the corridor. All along the carriage, heads look out

curiously. Then - the train jerks - the car sways - and the lamps running along the ceiling flicker and... die. One by one. Until all is... Dark.

Ron: What's going on?

A thin wisp of steam escapes Ron's mouth. Harry notices.

Harry: Dunno... Maybe we've broken down?

Hermione: Ouch! Ron, that was my foot!

SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK. Ron, a dark silhouette against the window, wipes a patch of condensation from the glass.

Ron: There's something moving out there. I think... people are coming aboard.

Suddenly the car sways violently... rights itself. The metal window's trim at Ron's fingertips begins to vibrate.

Ron: Bloody hell. What's happening?

SSSSST! A soft crackling fills the car and flames bloom... in the hands of R.J. Lupin. In the shivering light, his face looks tired and gray, but his eyes are alert. Wary.

Lupin: Don't. Move.

A hand - slimy and scabbed - a hand of death – grips the half-open compartment door, pushes it aside. And reveals a rowering, cloaked figure, its face hidden beneath its black hood. Crookshanks' hair rises and as she hisses... WHOOSHHHHH. The folds of the hood tremble. A chill, rattling intake of air is heard. The flames in Lupin's hands sputter.

"The hell is that thing!" Gray exclaims, unnerved by the sight of the robed terror.

"Undead…" Makarov says with outmost seriousness.

A sound swells in Harry's ears. Eerie. Painful. The sound of a woman screaming. Harry's eyes roll up, eyelids fluttering. And then... a silvery white light drifts from his mouth. The world spins off its axis and Harry falls... glasses tumbling hard to the ground... then Harry... the muscles of his jaw twitching. Thunder cracks. Lighting paints the icy windows... White. Black. White. Black...

With a desperate gasp, Harry opens his eyes. Blinks. Dusk is gone. The windows black. The floor at his spine is shaking gently. The train moving again. His eyes shift, sees a drop of water, newly unfrozen, running slowly down the window.

Hermione: Harry? Harry, are you all right?

Hermione's troubled face hovers above him. He nods. Sits up. Ron - pale, nervous - extends his hand. He's holding Harry's glasses.

Harry: Thanks.

Harry slips them on. Discovers the cold sweat glazing his brow. SNAP! Professor Lupin breaks a ragged triangle of chocolate off the slab in his hands. Holds it out.

Lupin: Chocolate. Eat. It'll help.

Harry: What was that - that thing?

Lupin: A Dementor. One of the guards of Azkaban. It's gone now.

Harry frowns in confusion.

Hermione: It was searching the train, Harry. For Sirius Black.

Lupin: I need to have a word with the driver. Excuse me. (Gestures toward the chocolate) Eat. It'll help.

As he leaves, Harry turns to Ron and Hermione.

Harry: What happened to me?

Ron: Well, you sort of went... rigid. We thought maybe you were having a fit or something.

Harry: And did either of you? You know... pass out?

Ron: No. I felt... weird. Like I'd never be cheerful again. But... no.

Harry turns to Hermione. She shakes her head.

Hermione: I was trembling. Cold. But then... Professor Lupin made it go away...

Harry: But someone was screaming. A woman.

Hermione and Ron glance nervously at each other.

Hermione: No one was screaming, Harry.

The scene changes to show the grave face of Dumbledore in the great hall.

Dumbledore: Finally, on a more disquieting note, Hogwarts - at the request of the Ministry of Magic - will, until further notice, play host to the Dementors of Azkaban.

"That's one of the most dumbass decision I've heard in my entire life! And I've heard plenty of poor idiotic ideas from the magic council in my time…" Makarov said with a face that clearly told how much he thought that announcement to be a bad idea.

"I have to agree with you Guildmaster. Just what kind of idiot let's undead monstrosities to dwell near children?" Levy said with a face of disbelief.

A murmur of apprehension fills the hall. At the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy, flanked by the ever-present Crabbe and Goyle, catches Harry's eye, feigns a dead faint.

Dumbledore: The Dementors will be stationed at the entrances to the grounds. While they are under strict orders not to enter the castle itself, you will on occasion see them as you go about your daily activities. Under no circumstances are you to approach them. It is not in the nature of a Dementor to be forgiving.

Draco (a tad theatrical): It comes and goes. Still... I consider myself lucky. According to Madam Pomfrey, another minute or two... and I could've lost the arm.

Harry, Ron and Hermione watch from the Gryffindor table.

Ron: The little git. He's really laying it on thick, isn't he?

Harry: At least Hagrid didn't get sacked.

Hermione: Yes. But I hear Draco's father's furious. I don't think we've heard the end of this...

Seamus: He's been sighted!

They turn. Seamus and the other Gryffindors are huddled over a copy of The Daily Prophet.

Ron: Who?

But the photograph on the Prophet's front page provides a chilling answer: Sirius Black. Hermione reads over the shoulders of others. Whispers half to herself:

Hermione: Achintee? That's not far from here...

Neville: You don't think he'd come to Hogwarts, do you?

Lavender: With the Dementors at every entrance?

Lavendar: Dementors? He's already slipped by them once, hasn't he? Who's to say he can't do it again?

As a flicker of fear passes through Harry's face, Bem, a Nigerian boy, stares grimly at the grainy image of Black.

Bem: That's right. Black could be anywhere. It's like trying to catch smoke. Like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands.

The scene transitions to show Harry speaking with Lupin after class.

Harry: Professor, can I ask you something?

Lupin: You'd like to know why I stopped you from facing the Boggart (At seeing Harry's surprise) I should think it'd be obvious. I assumed the Boggart would take the shape of Lord Voldemort.

Harry frowns. Lupin studies him curiously.

Lupin: But clearly... I was wrong.

Harry: I did think of Voldemort first. But then, I remembered that night on the train... and the Dementors...

Lupin: Well, well. I'm impressed. That suggests that what you fear most of all is... fear. Very wise.

Harry: Before I fainted... I heard something. A woman. Screaming.

Lupin: Dementors force us to relive the worst memories of our lives. Our pain becomes their power.

Harry: I think it was my mother. The night she was murdered.

Harry looks up. Finds Lupin studying him.

Lupin: The first time I saw you, Harry, I recognized you immediately. Not by your scar. But by your eyes. They're your mother Lily's. (nodding) Yes. I knew her. She was there for me at a time when no one else was. We used to talk for hours. She was not only a singularly gifted witch but an uncommonly kind woman. She had a way of seeing the beauty in whoever she met, even - and perhaps most especially - when that person couldn't see it in themselves...

Lupin's eyes glaze in memory, then he blinks, smiles.

Lupin: Which perhaps explains her affection for your father. James had, shall we say, a certain talent for trouble. A gift, rumor has it, he passed on to you.

Lupin turns, eyes Harry affectionately. Harry smiles vaguely.

Lupin: I could tell you stories – and there are many about your parents, Harry - but know this... (eyeing Harry intensely) They lived. Every moment of every day. You should know that. That's how they'd want to be remembered.

"This professor seems like a good man…" Lucy said, pleased.

"The first one I can say I like of the whole lot we've already seen…" Cana said as she drank.

Later that night, As Harry, Ron, and Hermione climb the stairs, they find a crowd gathering on the Seventh Floor landing.

Ron: What's the hold-up? Only Neville ever forgets the password.

Percy (pushing past): Let me through, please. Excuse me, thank you, I'm Head Boy... (stopping dead) Back! All of you! No one is to enter this dormitory until it has been fully searched!

Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchange dark glances, when... Ginny emerges from the crowd, her face ashen.

Ginny: The Fat Lady... she's gone.

Ron: Probably stuffing her face with the apples in that still life on the second floor again.

Ginny: No. You don't understand -

Hermione gasps. Grabs Harry's arm. He looks and sees: The Fat Lady's portrait has been slashed viciously, great strips of canvas hanging from the frame. Just then, Dumbledore appears.

Dumbledore: Mr. Filch. Round up the ghosts. Tell them to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady.

Just then, there is a scream. The students dash to the landing, where all the paintings whisper fearfully. Filch's rheumy eyes peer up, searching the upper shadows, then... narrow.

Filch: There'll be no need for ghosts, Professor...

Filch extends a crooked finger. High up, near the ceiling, the Fat Lady cowers in a portrait not her own, trembling.

"She is fat!" Happy exclaims, pointing.

"Happy, don't be rude!" Lucy chided.

"But she is fat! How can a ghost get that round!?" It was Nasu who interjected this time, much to the key summoner annoyance.

Dumbledore: Dear lady. Who did this to you?

Fat Lady (in a trance): Eyes like the devil he's got. And a soul as dark as his name. It was him, Headmaster. The one they talk about. He's here. Somewhere in the castle. Sirius Black.

As the students react, Dumbledore's voice cuts through.

Dumbledore: Secure the castle, Mr. Filch. The rest of you... to the Great Hall.

"Oh great! The crazed killer got inside the castle!" Wakaba deadpanned with endless sarcasm. "Who is in charge of that place's security again? They should fire him for sucking at his job. Seriously what is the point of having the soul-sucking specters around if they prove useless to stop the killer?"

The scene changes, great groaning tumblers fall from a door with the carving of a clock. Spindles rotate. cylnders - one after another – fire into place. Iron spikes, sharp as razors, rise instantly from windows. One by one, deep in the distance, the lights of the Great Hall go out. Dementors appear, then separate like a curtain...

The camera drifts through the silent great hall, over an ocean of sleeping bags, Harry is lying awake, staring at the net of stars glimmering beyond the highest window. A gentle creak is heard and Harry's eyes shift, seeing Snape pass through the great doors, converging with Dumbledore.

Snape: I've done the dungeons, Headmaster. No sign of Black. Nor anywhere else in the castle.

Dumbledore (nodding): I didn't really expect him to linger.

Snape: Remarkable feat, don't you think? To enter Hogwarts castle on one's own, completely undetected...

Dumbledore gazes at the students, refusing to take the bait.

Snape: You may recall, prior to the start of term, I did express my concerns when you appointed Professor -

Dumbledore: I do not believe a single professor inside this castle would have helped Sirius Black enter it, Severus.

As Snape's eyes glitter darkly, Dumbledore gazes out over the slumbering students.

Dumbledore: No... I feel quite confident the castle is safe. And I'm more than willing to let the students return to their Houses. But tomorrow. For now, let them sleep...

As Dumbledore's gaze finds Harry, he shuts his eyes, feigns sleep.

Dumbledore: It's astonishing what the body can endure when the mind allows itself to rest.

The screen transitions and Harry can be seen chasing after the Snitch during a Quidditch match, the crowd rises to their feet, roaring. Ron grins over the binoculars, watching Harry shred the mist as he urges his broom on.

Harry: Faster! Come on!

"What is he doing!? It looks fun!?" Happy exclaims delighted at seeing the aerial stunts.

"They seem to be playing some kind of aerial sport with flying brooms…" Makarov theorized, watching the screen.

The trace of a smile forms on Harry's lips as he closes on the Snitch... only yards away... reaching out... when... a thin glaze of ice clouds his glasses. He wipes at them, then flinches: blood trickles down his cheek. The rain is turning to needles. Needles of ice. Harry glances at the handle of his broomstick. The water sluicing through the grain is freezing. vapor streams from his mouth and nose.

SWOOSH! A dark silhouette passes on his right. He turns. SWOOSH! - a twin silhouette passes on his left. Harry sees neither. Looks down. The layers of mist are parting below. Lightning strikes. Reveals: an army of silhouettes drifting onto the pitch. A vast legion of them...

DEMENTORS.

A distant whistle weaves into the wind, rises in pitch, not a whistle at all, but a... Scream. A woman's scream. Harry's eyes flutter, and wisps of silvery white light float from his mouth. His glasses glaze over completely. His fingers, rigid, can no longer grip the broom and... He falls.

Hermione: No!

Harry and broom tumble in opposite directions. The Nimbus soars end over end, tossed by the currents, then drops... right into the Whomping Willow. FLOOMPH! Harry, in freefall, drops through one cloud, then another. Plummeting through the circling Dementors. Then... a tall figure rises from the crowd. Raises an open hand to the heavens. Eyes angry but clear.

Dumbledore.

An explosion - more powerful than thunder - rocks the air. A flash - fiercer than lightning - shocks the sky. And then... The screen goes black.

Not a sound. For the longest time. Then... Voices:

Ron: Looks a bit peaky, doesn't he?

Fred: Peaky? What d'you expect him to look like? He fell fifty feet.

George: Yeah, c'mon, Ron. We'll walk you off the Astronomy Tower and see how you come out looking.

Harry: Probably a right sight better than he normally does.

Harry opens his eyes and Ron, Fred, George, and Hermione slowly come into focus, standing at the foot of his bed in the hospital wing.

Hermione: Harry! How're you feeling?

As Harry edges up against his pillow, we see a NURSE in the b.g., removing the SPOKES of an umbrella from a Hufflepuff player's neck. Harry doesn't look so good himself.

Harry: Brilliant.

Fred: Gave us a right good scare, mate.

Harry: What happened?

Ron: You fell off your broom.

Harry: Really? I meant the match. Who won?

Silence. Uncomfortable glances.

Hermione: No one blames you, Harry. The Dementors aren't meant to come on the grounds. Dumbledore was furious. After he saved you, he sent them straight off.

Harry nods grimly, stares at the rain lashing the window.

Ron: There's something else you should know, Harry. Your Nimbus – when it blew away? - it sort of landed in the Whomping Willow. And well...

He tips a bag of splintered wood and twisted twigs onto the bed. Harry just stares.

"Well that's a shame…" Alzack says with a frown.

"Those creatures truly do nothing but destroy other people's joys…" Macao said with a displeased shake of his head.

Another scene transition.

Lupin: I'm sorry about your broom, Harry. There's no chance of fixing it?

Harry shakes his head in response to Lupin's question, then - WHOOSH! - sets Hedwig free of her traces. As she soars into the sky, Harry and Lupin watch from the lake's edge.

Harry: Why do they affect me so, Professor? I mean, more than everyone else...

Lupin: Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They feed on every good feeling, every happy memory, until a person is left with nothing but his worst experiences. You're not weak, Harry. The Dementors affect you most, because there are true horrors in your past. Horrors your classmates can scarcely imagine. You have nothing to be ashamed of.

Harry: I'm scared, Professor.

Lupin: I'd consider you a fool if you weren't.

Harry: I need to learn how to fight them. You could teach me, Professor. You made that Dementor on the train go away...

Lupin: There was only one that night...

Harry: But you made it go away.

Lupin: I don't pretend to be an expert, Harry. But yes, I can teach you. Perhaps after the holiday. For now, though, I need to rest. I'm feeling... tired.

Harry turns, studies Lupin's haggard face. A weary smile appears as Hedwig's reflection glides over Lupin's irises.

The trio trudge through the swirling snow. Harry's donned Hermione's scarf and Ron's hat to disguise himself.

Ron: Those weasels! Never told me about any Marauder's Map!

Hermione: But Harry isn't going to keep it. He's going to turn it over to Professor McGonagall, aren't you?

Ron: Oh sure. Along with his invisibility cloak, his pack of exploding snap cards, his -

Hermione: Oh, shut up.

Fudge: Rosmerta, m'dear!

Up ahead Cornelius Fudge emerges from a Ministry sleigh as Hagrid swings the door clear and - with unfortunate ease - rips it clean off the fittings. Fudge joins McGonagall and a curvy Barmaid outside the THREE BROOMSTICKS PUB.

Hermione That's Madam Rosmerta. Ron fancies her.

Ron: It's not true!

Harry: Shhh.

Fudge: I trust business is good?

Rosmerta: It'd be a right sight better if the Ministry wasn't sending Dementors into my pub every other night.

Fudge: We have a killer on the loose.

Rosmerta: Sirius Black? In Hogsmeade! And what would bring him here?

Fudge: Harry Potter.

Rosmerta: Harry Potter!

Fudge looks around nervously, then jerks his head toward the pub. As he leads Rosmerta and McGonagall inside, while Hermione and Ron watch from a distance.

Ron: Harry?

He's gone. footprints track through the snow, into the pub...

Harry threads through the teeming pub, past a sign ("No Underage Wizards") and nearly collides with some very strange-looking patrons. Ron and Hermione ripple briefly past a frosted window, then... Three shrunken heads swing into view.

Head #1: So, I says to him, 'Careful, Ned. Don't want to go losing your head!' AN: Game of Thrones reference?

As the three heads cackle hysterically, bobbing up and down on their strings, Harry turns... just as an unshaven wizard's arm whips down and a dart goes whistling right toward Harry's eyes. Harry ducks, pivots, and - THWOCK! Sees the dart pierce, the cork of the disfigured dartboard behind him.

"Using that invisibility cloak is more dangerous than one would first suspect…" Warren Rocko said with great qualms regarding the cloak.

"Well, obviously, if people don't know you're there, you would easily get in the way of their activities." Mirajane spoke out. "Is hard enough as it is to serve drinks without spilling anything on a day-to-day basis considering how lively the guildhall tends to be…"

Harry hurries on, trailing Fudge and McGonagall up a dark stairwell as Rosmerta leads them into a small back room. As the door starts to close, Harry rushes forward: SLAM! Too late. A moment later, the knob turns, the door opens... and snow flutters off the sill of a half-open window.

McGonagall turns, frowning, and re-closes the door, harder this time, then joins Fudge and Rosmerta. Harry's sight, switch between them from one another as they speak.

Rosmerta: Come on then. Let's hear it.

McGonagall: Years ago, when Harry Potter's parents were marked for death, they went into hiding. Few knew where they were. One who did was Black. And he told...

Rosmerta: You-Know-Who. I've heard this rot. It was all over The Daily Prophet back in the day. And I'll say now what I said then: Of all the boys I ran out of here, Black's the last who would've gone over to the dark side. Hearsay. That's all the Ministry had. Hearsay.

Fudge: Ha! Tell that to Peter Pettigrew!

Rosmerta: Peter Pettigrew?

McGonagall: Little lump of a boy? Always tagging after Black and...

Rosmerta: I remember him. What's he got to do with it?

McGonagall: After the Potters were killed, Pettigrew went looking for Black. And, unfortunately... found him.

Fudge: Black was vicious. He didn't kill Pettigrew. He destroyed him. A finger. That's all that was left. A finger - there's your hearsay.

Rosmerta looks to McGonagall. She nods grimly.

McGonagall: Sirius Black may not have put his hands to the Potters, but he's the reason they're dead. And now he wants to finish what he started.

Rosmerta: Harry.

McGonagall nods, then looks pained.

Fudge: But that's not the worst of it.

Rosmerta: What could be worse?

McGonagall: This! Sirius Black was and remains today... Harry Potter's godfather.

BLAM! The pub doors fly open, revealing the Main Street, where Ron and Hermione wait, rubbing their hands against the chill. As they look down, they see footprints appear in the snow. Hermione and Ron follow the footprints, a poster of Black, flutters against a lamppost: "Have you seen this wizard?"

At the end of a rocky outcrop, the footprints end, and sobs are now heard. Ron takes Hermione's arm, discouraging her from going further, but she does so anyway, filling the footprints with her own, then kneeling and - very gently - drawing the cloak from Harry. He stares into the mist, eyes stinging with tears.

Harry: He was their friend. And he betrayed them. He was their friend. (eyes hardening) I hope he finds me. But when he does, I'm going to be ready. When he does, I'm going to kill him.

("That's a very dark road for a young boy to follow…" Makarov simply said.)

The scene changes, the dying sun streams through high windows, painting Harry's face a fierce amber-red as he stands opposite to Lupin. Ancient charts drape the walls while gleaming spheres of spun glass orbit one another silently. Lupin paces before a large trunk.

Lupin: You're sure about this, Harry? This is very advanced magic. Well beyond Ordinary Wizarding Level.

Hary: If Black can fight the Dementors, I need to know how too.

Lupin studies Harry - as if conflicted - then decides.

Lupin: Very well. The spell I'm going to teach you is called the Patronus Charm. Ever hear of it?

Harry shakes his head.

Lupin: A Patronus is a kind of positive force. For the wizard who can conjure one, the Patronus works something like a shield. The Dementor feeds on it instead of him.

Just then, the trunk rattles violently. As Harry's eyes wander, Lupin snaps his fingers, brings his attention back.

Lupin: But in order for it to work, you must think of a memory. And not just any. This memory needs to be a very happy one. And powerful. Harry thinks a bit. Then... nods.

Lupin: Got something? Good. Let it fill you up. Lose yourself in it. Then speak the incantation: Expecto Patronum. Without your wand...

Harry: Expecto Patronum...

Lupin: Right then. Shall we?

Harry nods, raises his wand. Lupin, watching closely, reaches over, grips the lid of the trunk...

Lupin: Concentrate, Harry. Concentrate...

As Lupin flings open the case, Harry opens his eyes. In the sun's blood-light, the Dementor looks particularly horrific.

Harry: Expecto... Patronum...

The torches on the wall flicker as a chill breeze fills the chamber. A scream echoes distantly. Harry's hand trembles. His eyes begin to roll up...

Harry: Expecto... Expecto...

Lupin: Here!

CRACK! - the Dementor mutates into a silvery white orb.

Lupin: Riddikulus!

Lupin flicks his wand, sends the orb back into the packing case. Harry stands blinking. Dazed. Lupin fishes a chocolate frog from his pocket. Presses it into Harry's trembling hand.

Lupin: Quickly.

Harry studies the frog. Takes a bite. Begins to recover.

Harry: That's one nasty Dementor.

Lupin: Boggart, Harry. The real thing would be much, much worse. Just out of interest, what were you thinking of? What memory did you choose?

Harry: The first time I rode a broom.

Lupin: That's not good enough, Harry. Not nearly.

Harry glances toward the window, at the bloody sun.

Harry: There's another. It's not happy exactly. I mean, it is. It's the happiest I've ever felt. But it's... complicated.

Lupin: Is it strong?

Harry looks up into Lupin's eyes. Emotional. Nods.

Lupin: Then let's try it.

Harry takes a breath. Tosses the frog aside. Poises himself.

Lupin: Think, Harry, think -

Harry: Just do it!

Lupin blinks at Harry's quiet fierceness. Opens the packing case. Instantly, the Dementor appears again. A chill fills the air. The hair skates off Harry's scar. He sets his jaw...

Harry: Expecto Patronum!

Harry's hand trembles. His whole body trembles. But he holds his ground, when - WHOOSH! - a huge silver shadow bursts from the end of his wand, hovering between him and the Dementor. The Dementor falters... Harry's legs like water...

Lupin: Riddikulus!

CRACK! The Dementor vanishes. Harry's arm drops. Slack. Lupin eyes Harry with a kind of awe. His voice barely a whisper.

Lupin: Well done.

Harry: I think I've had enough. For today.

Lupin nods. Watches Harry move to the door.

Lupin: So, you know, Harry: You'd have given your father a run for his money. And, believe me, that's saying something.

Harry ponders this. Then speaks, deep inside himself.

Harry: I was thinking of him. And Mum. Seeing their faces. They're just talking to me. Just... talking. That was the memory I chose. I don't even know if it's real...

Harry grips the door, pushes past.

Harry: But it's the best I have.

The fairies ponder gravely at hearing that confession.

Later, on the Gryffindor Tower. All the boys are asleep. All except Harry, who lies in bed, studying the photo of his parents, barely visible in the fluttering light of a guttering candle. As the flame dies with a soft hiss, all goes black for a few seconds… Only for a windowpane to suddenly rattle, up high, the corridor thatched in shadow. Slowly... A shadow engulfs Sir Cadogan, dozing against his tree...

Inside the dormitory, a whistle shriek. A Sneakoscope, whirls madly, skitters across the bedside cabinet and - CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! - taps against a water glass, sending shafts of red light pinwheeling over the photo of Harry's parents...

Ron: Aaaahhhh!

Harry bolts up, sees a silhouette etched on the window - a man clutching a knife. All the boys are up now. Screaming. Amid the chaos, Harry grabs his wand.

Harry: Everybody out!

The others flee. Harry faces the hulking shadow, wand poised.

Harry: Show yourself.

Crash! The water glass shatters on the floor and Scabbers darts past Harry's bare feet, chased by Crookshanks. Seizing the moment, the silhouette grasps the curtains and swings through the open window, plunging into the night. Harry rushes to the window, looks down. The silhouette leaps from ledge to ledge with an animal's grace, then... vanishes.

Harry sweeps Ron's curtains aside. His bed is... empty.

Harry: Ron! Ron!

Harry's eyes flash toward the window, when... Ron pokes his head out from under the bed.

Ron: Is he gone?

Later, the entire Gryffindor House, in pajamas, stand before McGonagall, who wears a tartan robe and an expression of singular irritation.

McGonagall: That's preposterous, Weasley. How could Sirius Black possibly have got through the portrait hole?

Ron: I don't know how he got in! I was a bit busy dodging his knife!

Just then, a curiously content Crookshanks wends his way through Ron's legs.

Ron: And this bloody cat ate my rat!

Hermione: That's a lie!

Ron: It is not, and you bloody well know it!

McGonagall: Silence!

McGonagall turns then and everyone follows her eye to Sir Cadogan who, sensing the attention, perks up instantly.

Dumbledore: Sir Cadogan. Is it possible that you let a mysterious man enter Gryffindor Tower tonight?

Sir Cadogan: Certainly, good lady! He had the password. Had the whole week's, in fact. On a little piece of paper.

McGonagall: Which abysmally foolish person wrote down the passwords and then proceeded to lose them!

Every eye shifts once more: Neville. McGonagall sighs.

McGonagall: Is it always going to be you, Longbottom?

Neville; I'm afraid so, ma'am.

McGonagall (to the group at large): While we know Sirius Black is gone tonight, I think you can safely assume he will, at some future time, attempt to return. Let me be clear. You are not to move about the castle alone. And you are not to write down the password! Understood!

A collective nod of heads answers her. McGonagall gives the tie of her robe a sharp tug, collects herself, and exits.

McGonagall: Very well then. Go to bed.

As the students drift off, Ron casts a last angry glance toward Hermione, who now holds Crookshanks in her arms.

"I said it once, and I say it again. Worse magic school ever!" Cana stated, her arms crossed.

"Yes… That was scary… To have a known killer sneak into your room while you are sleeping." Levy said, shivering visibly.

Mirajane scowled. "What surprises me the most is that old hag simply dismissing the worries of her students and acting as if the entire thing was a bother to her. One of her students got attacked inside their own dormitory and she didn't even care. What a bitch!" She exclaimed, shades of her old personality rising to the surface due to her agitation.

Harry: I could've killed him.

Hermione turns, sees Harry staring out the window.

Harry: He was right there. Close enough to touch. I could've killed him.

The fairies frown heavily at Potter's confession.

The scene transitions. Harry walks aside a fuming Lupin, who grips a map fiercely.

Lupin: I don't know how this map came to be in your possession, Harry, but I'm astounded that you didn't turn it in. Did you ever stop to think that this - in the hands of Sirius Black - is a map to you?

Harry walks silently. Lupin can barely contain his anger.

Lupin: Your father didn't set much store by rules either. But he and your mother did give their lives to save yours. Gambling their sacrifice by walking about the castle unprotected, with a killer on the loose, strikes me as a poor way to repay them. I won't cover up for you again, Harry.

Lupin enters his office, tosses the map on his desk, and begins to sort through some papers. Harry lingers briefly in the doorway, absently eyes the waxing moon that glimmers beyond the window, then starts to turn away. Stops.

Harry: Professor. Just so you know, I don't think the map always works. Earlier, it showed someone in the castle. Someone I know to be dead.

Lupin: (only half-listening) And who was that, Harry?

Harry: Peter Pettigrew.

Lupin hesitates ever-so-slightly, then returns to his papers.

Lupin: Very well. I'd like you to return to your dormitory now. Oh, and Harry? Don't take any detours.

As Harry looks back, Lupin taps the map.

Lupin: If you do. I'll know.

Another change of scene, Harry and Hermione can be seen making their way through a primitive passageway, ducking roots that dangle overhead. Then, abruptly, the tunnel... ends. Confused, Harry and Hermione glance about, then - as one - peer up. A small opening. Harry reaches up, hoists himself through.

Harry pulls Hermione up. Looks about. Paper peels from the walls. Stains - suspiciously similar to dried blood - blot the floorboards. Shattered furniture lies strewn everywhere.

Hermione: We're in the Shrieking Shack, aren't we?

Harry doesn't answer, staring at the dog prints in the dust on the floor. The ceiling creaks. They dash to the stairs.

They come out, look down. A wide, shiny stripe cuts through the dust-laden floor - as if something has been dragged - to the end of the hallway, where a light seeps from a door.

Harry: Nox.

His wand-light dies. Slowly, they step to the door. Exchange a look. She nods, wand ready, and Harry kicks the door aside. They find Ron sitting upon a sagging bed, clutching his bloody foot.

Hermione: Ron! You're okay -

Harry: The dog - where's the -

Ron: He's the dog. It's a trap, Harry. He's an Animagus...

Harry looks down, follows the paw prints on the floor to a pair of filthy human feet. Harry looks up slowly at the man standing in the shadows. Filthy, matted hair hangs to his shoulders. His skin like a corpse.

SIRIUS BLACK.

He studies Harry's face keenly. Harry draws his wand.

Hermione: If you want to kill Harry, you'll - you'll... have to kill us, too!

Sirius Black: No. Only one will die tonight.

Harry: Then it'll be you!

Hermione: Harry! No!

Just then, footsteps sound. Black wheels toward the door, edgy. Harry eyes Black, wand hand shaking violently. As Black turns back, he stops, regards Harry cautiously.

Sirius Black: Going to kill me, Harry?

Harry: Yes.

Harry raises his wand. BLAM! - the door crashes open: It's Lupin.

Harry/Hermione/Ron: Professor Lupin!

Lupin ignores them, eying Black intensely.

Lupin: Looking a bit ragged, aren't we, Sirius? Finally, the skin reflects the madness within.

Black: You'd know all about the madness within, wouldn't you, Remus?

The two regard each other, the moment taut with tension, then Lupin steps forward and... Embraces Black like a brother.

"Okay, what the fuck!?" Cana exclaims, having not expected that development and not liking it one bit.

"TRAITOR!" Happy yells, accusingly.

"TREASON IS NOT MANLY!" Elfman wailed.

"Shut up Elfman!"

Hermione: No! I trusted you! I covered up for you. And all this time you've been his friend! (pointing) He's a werewolf! That's why he's been missing classes!

Harry and Ron stare, dumbfounded, at Lupin. Black howls then, bitterly amused. Lupin eyes him, then turns back.

Lupin: How long have you known?

Hermione: Since Professor Snape set the essay.

Lupin: You're the brightest witch of your age I've ever met, Hermione.

Black: Yes, you glow like the sun. And you howl at the moon. Enough talk! He dies. Now. If you won't do it with me, Remus, I'll do it alone.

Lupin: Wait, Sirius -

Black: I did my waiting! Twelve years of it! In Azkaban! Trust me, you wouldn't have lasted a week!

Lupin eyes Black, then nods.

Lupin: All right then. As you wish...

Harry: No!

Harry raises his wand when Lupin wheels and, with a flick of his own, disarms him. Furious, Harry eyes Black murderously.

"This has no sense at all… Why would professor Lupin betray Harry and join the man who wants to kill him?" Levy asked aloud with a stumped expression.

"I dunno, perhaps a failing of the plot?" Lucy replied indecisive.

Harry: You betrayed my parents! You sold them to Voldemort!

Black: It's a lie! I never would've betrayed James and Lily!

Lupin: Harry! You've got to listen -

Harry: Did he listen! When my mother was dying! Did he hear her screaming!

Black: No! I wasn't there! And I'll regret it the rest of my life! Harry's eyes flash to Black's, glittering with pain.

Lupin: Someone else betrayed your parents, Harry. Someone in this room right now. Someone who, until quite recently, I believed to be dead.

Black: He's as good as dead.

"Whaaaaaaaat? So, this Black is a good guy!?" Happy asks with a cinfused expression.

"Things are getting weird…" Warren Rocko says.

Harry: What're you talking about? There's nobody here.

Black: Oh yes there is...

Black turns then, to Ron, and croons in a cruel sing-song.

Black: Come out, come out, Peter Come out, come out and play...

Ron draws back from Black's demented gaze.

Ron: You're mad...

Harry's eyes shift from Ron's face to his hands, where Scabbers twists violently. As a curious expression befalls Harry; Lupin and Black, as one, raise their wands... when.

Snape: Expelliarmus!

The wands fly from their hands. The others turn, find Snape standing in the doorway, smiling smugly.

Snape: (eying Black) Ah, vengeance is sweet. How I hoped I'd be the one to catch you.

Lupin: Severus -

Snape: I told Dumbledore you were helping your old friend into the castle. And here's the proof.

Black: Brilliant! And - as usual - dead wrong. Now give us our wands back. Remus and I have a bit of unfinished business to tend to.

As Black approaches, Snape puts his wand to Black's neck.

Snape: Give me a reason. I beg you.

Lupin: Don't be a fool, Severus!

Black: He can't help it. It's habit by now.

Lupin: Quiet, Sirius!

Snape: (clucking his tongue) Listen to you two. Quarreling like an old married couple. The creature and the criminal.

Black: Piss off.

Snape: Witty as ever I see. Tell me, will you be so irreverent when I turn you over to the Dementors? (as Black reacts) Do I detect a flicker of fear? One can only imagine what it must be like to endure the Dementor's Kiss. It's said to be unbearable to witness. But I'll do my best.

Snape's eyes harden. He gestures to the door.

Snape: After you.

As the others start to go, Harry glances at the table where Lupin has left Harry's wand. In a flash, it's in his hand.

Harry: Expelliarmus!

Snape soars into the air, hits the wall with a thud, and slides down. Ron and Hermione stare in shock.

Hermione: You attacked a teacher. Harry.

Harry looks a bit shocked himself, then turns to Black.

Harry: You said Peter before. Peter who?

Lupin: Pettigrew. He was at school with us. We thought he was a friend.

Harry: He killed… No. Pettigrew's dead. He killed him.

As Harry points at Black, Black laughs mirthlessly.

Lupin: I thought so, too. Until you mentioned seeing Pettigrew on the Map.

Harry: The Map was lying then -

Black: The Map never lies. Pettigrew's alive. And he's right there.

Black points at... Ron. Ron goes white with fear.

Ron: M-me? It's lunatic...

Black: Not you, you idiot. Your rat.

Ron: Scabbers? Scabbers has been in my family for -

Black (bitterly): Twelve years. A curiously long life for a common garden rat. He's missing a toe, isn't he?

Black unfolds a dog-eared clipping from The Daily Prophet: it shows Ron in Egypt with his family, Scabbers on his shoulder.

Ron: So, what?

Harry: All they could find of Pettigrew was his -

Black: Finger. Dirty coward cut it off so everyone would think he was dead. Then he transformed into a rat.

Harry stares into Black's sunken eyes. Wanting to believe. Desperate to believe. Glances at Ron, his agonized face. Scabbers squirms violently.

Harry: Show me.

Lupin and Black turn to Ron. He holds Scabbers protectively.

Ron: What are you going to do to him?

Sirius and Lupin exchange a glance.

Black: Together.

With that, Lupin takes out his wand and, as one, he and Black cast a stream of blue-white light. Scabbers twists madly in midair, then - FLASH! - transforms into... a very short man with thinning hair and grubby hands. PETER PETTIGREW.

"Ah! So, the real culprit is revealed…" Makarov declares.

"Animal shape-shifting! Intriguing!" Laki Olietta exclaims.

"Black is innocent! He didn't kill Harry's parents." Levy states.

"That fat bastard is really ugly though…" Bisca comments in a deadpan.

Pettigrew: S-Sirius... R-Remus. My old friends.

Neither speaks. Pettigrew's small, watery eyes dart toward the windows and door. Suddenly, he makes a break for it, but Sirius merely shoves him back. Pettigrew's nose twitches, his gaze finding Harry. His hands flutter nervously, reveal a missing index finger.

Pettigrew: Harry! Look at you! Y-you look just like your father. Like James. We were the best of friends, he and I -

Black: Shut up!

Pettigrew: I didn't mean to! The Dark Lord, you have no idea the weapons he possesses! Ask yourself what you would have done, Sirius. What would you have done!

Black: Died! Died rather than betray my friends! And you should have realized, Peter, if Voldemort didn't kill you...

Lupin: We would.

Pettigrew: No... please... you can't... (eyes darting, finding) Ron! Haven't I been a good friend? A good pet? You won't let them kill me, will you? I was your rat...

"Ewww!" Cana rears back in disgust as a realization dawns over her. "This ugly fatso has been living for years in the same house as an underage boy, eating his food from the same plate, sleeping in the same bed!"

Exclamations of revulsion answered her after that declaration, many of the mages looking physically ill.

"THE ULTIMATE SHOTA-LOVER!" Happy exclaims loudly.

"Fuckin' sicko!" Wakaba grumbles.

Ron draws back in disgust. Pettigrew turns to Hermione.

Pettigrew: Sweet girl. Clever girl. Surely you won't let them...

As one, Lupin and Black raise their wands, point them directly into Pettigrew's face. He shrinks back trembling, closing his eyes in fear, when...

Harry: No.

Pettigrew's lids lift. Lupin and Black turn, staggered.

Lupin: Harry, this man...

Harry: I know what he is. But we'll take him to the castle.

Pettigrew: Bless you, boy! Bless you –

Harry: Get off! I said we'd take you to the castle. After that, the Dementors can have you.

As Pettigrew emerges from the gap, he prattles desperately:

Pettigrew: Turn me into a maggot. A dung beetle. A Flobberworm! Anything but the Dementors... (as Ron emerges) Ron! Haven't I been a good friend? A good pet? You won't let them kill me, will you? I was your rat...

"This fatty rat is pathetic, I can barely look at him without retching…" Alzack said with clear disapproval in his voice.

"Yes! Not even I would like to eat such a cowardly rat!" Happy exclaimed.

As Ron draws back in disgust, a sleepwalking Snape bumps his head against a low limb. Hermione turns to Harry.

Hermione: Don't worry. He's under the Somnambulist Charm. It's primarily used to transport the seriously deranged.

As Harry nods, Pettigrew's pleading eyes find Hermione.

Pettigrew: Sweet girl. Clever girl. Surely you won't let them...

Hermione tugs her robes from Pettigrew's sweaty grasp.

Harry turns, sees Black staring in wonder at the castle, shining radiantly under the bright bowl of the night sky.

Black: Beautiful, isn't it? I'll never forget the first time I walked through those doors. It'll be nice to do it again. Freely. (turning to Harry) That was a noble thing you did back there. He doesn't deserve it.

("No, he doesn't…" Mirajane agreed.)

Harry studies Pettigrew briefly, looks away. Lost in thought.

Harry: I don't reckon my father'd want his best friends to become killers for a worthless piece of vermin like Pettigrew. Besides: Dead, the truth dies with him. Alive... you're free.

Sirius studies Harry's profile, moved by this.

Black: I don't know if you know, Harry, but when you were born, James and Lily made me your guardian...

Harry: I know.

Black: And, well, I'll understand if you choose to stay with your aunt and uncle, but, so you know, you could -

Harry: When! Can I come live with you?

Black: As soon as my name's cleared...

Harry looks at Hogwarts. GRINS. Sirius does the same. Then, Hermione's voice rises on the air, quavering with fear.

Hermione: Harry...

He turns, see Hermione staring at the Full Moon. His eyes shift. Lupin is a rigid silhouette, his fingers twitching.

Black: Remus, old friend... did you take your potion tonight?

Lupin, twitching, shakes his head. Pettigrew's eyes dart, taking in the situation, then slowly shift, noting the wand trembling in Lupin's lengthening fist.

Black: Run. All of you. Now.

But none of them do, transfixed, watching as bristles poke through Lupin's skin. Black steps forward, wraps his arms around his friend, presses his mouth to his ear.

"Okay, that's not good!" Jonah Reedus says.

"No shit!" Cana replies.

Black: You know the man you truly are, Remus. This flesh is only flesh. (Pounding Lupin's chest) This heart is where you truly live. This heart! Here!

As Lupin's wand drops... Pettigrew leaps.

Harry: No! (flashing his wand) Expelliarmus!

Lupin's wand flies from Pettigrew's hand and he freezes. Then slowly turns. Face blank, eyes closed, he... grins grins hideously. Waves back with a long-nailed hand and transforms. Stunned, Harry watches a rat dart into the night.

A howl pierces the air and Harry wheels. With a shrug, Lupin tosses Black into the air, then turns. He is no longer human. He's a werewolf. Harry and Hermione begin to edge back. The mages of Fairy Tail are rather underwhelmed at the werewolf's appearance.

"The hell…!? That is a werewolf? It looks more like a starving mutt in my opinion!" Wakaba deckared with a snort.

"I can't- disagree with you…" Makarov replied.

Hermione: Professor...?

The werewolf's eyes blaze. Long teeth glitter. Then... a horrifying growl erupts from its throat. Harry and Hermione spin, begin to flee... and run flat into Snape.

As they collapse in a great clumsy pile, Snape's eyes flutter open, the spell broken. Seeing Hermione atop him, he sweeps her aside...

Snape: Out of the way!

...and finds the werewolf preparing to pounce. Leaping to his feet, Snape draws his wand and steps forward, shielding Hermione, Harry and Ron.

The werewolf howls, sprints forward, when - SWOOSH! – a giant dog (Black) intercepts it in mid-air. They hit the ground in a fierce tangle of flashing teeth, a single horrible flailing beast. Again and again, the dog pushes the werewolf back, but the werewolf is too strong...

Harry: Sirius!

The dog telps, roars in pain, and the werewolf flings it into the tall grass. As it charges after, Harry pushes past Snape, dashes into the night. Hermione makes to follow, but Snape holds her back.

Hermione: Harry!

Harry runs full out. Up ahead, framed against a full moon, he spies the dog, lying inert, the werewolf's razor-sharp claws suspended over its neck.

Harry: NO!

Desperately, Harry plucks a thick branch from the ground and hurls it with all his might. Bull's-eye. The werewolf freezes. Turns. Begins to move towards… Harry.

Harry draws his wand, terrified, but tormented as well, knowing Lupin dwells somewhere within the beast.

Harry: Please, Professor. Stop... It's me.

Suddenly... a howl pierces the night. The werewolf falters, cocking its head toward the forest. Harry waits, petrified. The werewolfs's eyes shift back to him. It snarls, moves closer, ready to kill. Harry covers his face with his arm, when... a second howl echoes high above the forest. Slowly, Harry drops his arm. Looks. The werewolf bounds toward the forest, vanishes. Harry's eyes shift. In the darkness, the wounded dog lurches through the tall grass. Falls. Rises. Falls again. Each time becoming more human. As he disappears over the ridge, Harry sprints after and stumbles down to Black, who lies on the water's edge, now fully a man, arms and face gleaming with lacerations.

Harry: Sirius!

Harry looks into his glassy eyes.

Harry: Sirius!

A fragile mist escapes Harry's mouth. A raw wind tosses his hair. Chill-bumps pebble his skin. A fringe of ice appears at the lake's edge. Then they appear, oozing like smoke through the trees across the lake Dementors.

Harry: No... No! (drawing his wand) Expecto... Patronum!

A thin silvery wisp weeps from Harry's wand, hovering like a veil, but the Dementors continue to come. Harry places his hand on Black's heaving heart, poises his wand once more:

Harry: Expecto... Patronum...

Harry's Patronus blooms briefly... and dies. Harry's eyes flutter, the dementors twisting madly in his vision, drawing closer. Black gasps. Silvery feathers of light tumble from his lips, as if his very soul were leaving him...

Then... a light splinters the trees. Harry squints, sees a fiery stag appears... its body luminous... slashing through the trees... sowing light in the darkness. The Dementors wilt in its wake, but more replace them, sweeping down in waves. Still, the stag charges on. The light expands. The forest blazing with it. The remaining Dementors flee, drifting across the moon like ash.

The light ebbs. The stag's luminous body flickers. There is a bright flash and darkness returns, a single thread of light all that remains, spinning down to the size of a pearl... in the palm of man, standing deep in the trees. Harry studies the strangely familiar silhouette, then... it is gone.

"Those creatures are a menace…" Macao said seriously, talking about the dementors.

"I think we should start delving into countermeasures to fight against the undead…" Macao replied in agreement with that sentiment.

"I'll make sure to research the subject extensively and inform you of any breakthrough guildmaster!" Laki exclaimed in delight, pretty pleased at the idea of doing research. Cue another scene transition on the screen.

Hermione: Listen, Harry. They've captured Sirius. Any minute the Dementors are going to perform the Kiss.

Harry: The Kiss...?

Hermione: It's what Dementors do to those they want to destroy. They clamp their jaws over the victim's mouth and... suck out his soul.

The fairies were not thrilled by that revelation.

"Yeah… I think I'm going to give a hand to Laki on her investigation after we are done watching today's episodes…" Levy said.

Harry: You mean, they're going to kill Sirius?

Hermione: No. It's worse. Much worse. You go on living. But you have no memory. No sense of self. You're just a shell. An empty shell...

As Harry reacts, the door opens and Dumbledore enters.

Hermione: Headmaster! You've got to stop them! They've got the wrong man!

Harry: It's true, sir. Sirius is innocent -

Ron: It's Scabbers who did it!

Dumbledore: Scabbers...?

Ron: My rat, sir. Only he's not really. Well, he was a rat. You a rat. See, he used to be my brother Percy's -

Hermione: The point is... we know the truth. Please, sir, you must believe us.

Dumbledore: I do, Miss Granger. But I'm sorry to say the word of three thirteen-year-old wizards will convince few others. A child's voice, however honest and true, is meaningless to those who have forgotten how to listen.

As Dumbledore turns to the window, a shooting star plummets silently through the sky.

Dumbledore: Ah... a shooting star. If ever one was to make a wish, now would be the time. But time, I'm afraid, is precisely our problem...

On cue, the midnight bell begins to chime... DING!... DING!

Dumbledore: Mysterious thing, time. Powerful. And, when meddled with... dangerous. (Pause) Sirius Black is in the topmost cell of the Dark Tower. (to Hermione) You know the laws, Miss Granger. You must not be seen. And you would, I feel, do well to return before this last chime. If not... well, the consequences are really too ghastly to discuss. Three turns should do it, I think. If you succeed, more than one innocent life may be spared tonight.

Dumbledore hands Harry and Hermione each a stick of chocolate, then starts to go... stops.

Dumbledore: By the way, when in doubt, I find retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin... Good luck.

He smiles, exits. Harry glances curiously at the chocolate.

Ron: What in bloody hell was all that about?

But Hermione doesn't reply, instead looping the long chain of the pendant on her hand around Harry's neck as well as her own.

Hermione: Sorry, Ron. But seeing as you can't walk...

As Ron and Harry exchange a curious glance, the bell continues to chime - DING! DING! - and... Time reverses in a dizzying backward blur, as if a tape were being rewound, every moment that occurred in the hospital room flickering by at a dizzying speed while, outside the window, darkness gives way to dusk and the sun "un-sets," returning to its place low on the horizon. At this point, the time reversal ends, and the room is... Empty. Except for Harry and Hermione. As Hermione unloops the necklace, Harry glances around in confusion.

Harry: What just happened? Where's Ron?

Hermione ignores the question, eyes the clock on the wall.

Hermione: Seven-thirty. Where were we at seven-thirty?

Harry: Huh? Dunno... going to Hagrid's?

Hermione: Come on! We can't be seen! Hermione grabs Harry's arm, slams through the door.

After a brief run, Harry and Hermione come to a mad, huffing halt.

Harry: Hermione! Will you please tell me what it is we're doing?!

She holds up a hand, silencing him. Annoyed, Harry follows her gaze and blinks in disbelief. Across the grounds... He sees himself, along with Hermione and Ron, about to confront Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle near the monoliths.

Harry: But that... that's... us. This is not... normal.

Dumbfounded, Harry turns. Hermione holds up the hourglass. Hermione: This is a Time-Turner, Harry. McGonagall gave it to me first term. This is how I've been getting to my lessons all year.

Harry: You mean, we've gone back in time?

Hermione: Yes. Dumbledore wanted us to return to this moment. Clearly something happened he wants us to change.

"I have so many questions…" Warren Rocko said with a stumped expression.

"I know how you feel…" Jet agreed.

As Buckbeak feasts on a ferret, Harry and Hermione duck behind a pile of pumpkins. Peering into the hut, Harry sees Hermione and Ron embrace awkwardly.

He grins, turns, only to find Hermione analyzing the moment with considerable fascination. Caught – regards Harry defensively.

Hermione: What?

Harry: Nothing.

Harry looks toward the slope, sees Fudge and the others approaching in a CLOUD of CROWS.

Harry: Here they come. I better hurry.

Hermione: No! Fudge has to see Buckbeak before we steal him. Otherwise, he'll think Hagrid set him free!

Harry nods, then looks toward the hut. Inside, Hagrid is handing Scabbers to Ron.

Harry: That's Pettigrew…

As he starts to rise, Hermione grabs him, speaks fiercely.

Hermione: No, Harry! You can't!

Harry: Hermione, that's the man who betrayed my parents! You don't expect me to just sit here...

Hermione: Yes! You Must! (pointing inside) Harry, you're in Hagrid's hut right now. If you go bursting inside, you'll think you've gone mad. Awful things can happen when wizards meddle with time. We can't be seen.

"Then why tempt fate and use some relic to travel through time in the first place?" Makarov asked aloud, a skeptic expression on his face. "You are right Warren… This doesn't have any sense. I they are capable of using time travel why someone hasn't done something to get rid of that Voldemort guy before he became a threat or use it to save Harry's parent's? And if it is so dangerous to mess with time and create a paradox, then why risk it on this specific instance?" He wondered with boundless confusion.

"That is the problem of time travel in most stories…" Levy spoke. "It can seriously break the continuity of the plot and create holes in the narrative if you are not paying the closest of attention to even the most diminute minutae…"

"Sounds too much trouble to bother with…" Gray said.

Harry watches himself vainly attempt to conjure a Patronus as the cyclone of dementors only continues to grow...

Hermione: This is horrible...

Harry: Don't worry. My Dad will come... Right there... you'll see... he'll come... any minute... he'll conjure the Patronus…

Hermione eyes Harry warily. He is transfixed, staring hungrily toward the outcrop. The wind rises. The Lake begins to freeze. WHOOSH! WHOOSH! One after another, Dementors drop from the sky, vanish in the cyclone...

Hermione: No one's coming, Harry...

Harry: HE WILL! He will come!

She looks. Nothing. Desperately, her eyes flash to the cyclone, to the pitiful sight of Harry and Black at the water's edge... wracked with pain... dying...

Hermione: No one's coming! You're dying, both of you... and no one's coming!

Harry's face changes. A riddle unravels. He draws his wand.

Hermione: HARRY, NO!

Too late. Harry slashes through the trees, down to the rocky outcrop, to the exact spot where his father appeared. Poising his wand, he looks out over the sea of Dementors on the other side of the lake.

Harry: EXPECTO PATRONUM!

A wisp of silver escapes his wand, hovering like a mist, then blooms magnificently. The trees explode with light. The Lake blazes with reflected fire. Harry stands utterly still, wand extended to the heavens. Across the lake, the Dementors retreat. Harry waits, still as a statue, until each and every one is gone. Then he simply lets his arm drop.

Scene change.

WHOOSH! Harry and Hermione plunge through the night sky astride Buckbeak, soaring toward the castle. Outside the grounds, the Dementors wait restlessly. Up ahead, Fudge and Snape enter the Dark Tower, torches in hand.

Hary: You were right, Hermione. It wasn't my dad I saw earlier. It was... me. I saw myself conjuring the Patronus before. I knew I could do it this time, because... because I'd already done it. Does that make sense?

Hermione contemplates this.

Hermione: No. (looking down in fear) But I don't like this!

("Neither do I." Makarov calls. "It was a mistake for those two to attempt this.")

Buckbeak lands. Sirius paces within a small cell, a man condemned. Spying Harry and Hermione, he stops. Stunned to see them.

Snape, torch in hand, leads the way as Fudge huffs after. Hermione pushes past Harry.

Hermione: Out of the way! (raising her wand) Alohomora!

Sirius tests the iron door. Still locked.

Hermione: Didn't really expect that to work.

Snape and Fudge draw closer...

Wand flashing, Hermione tries spell after spell.

Hermione: Dunamis! Liberare! Annihilare! Emancipare! No. No. No. No.

Black: You might try -

Hermione: Quiet! I'm trying to think.

("I have absolutely no idea what those spells do… I'm just writing them down to test their effects later…" Levy shamelessly declared as she jotted down on her notebook.)

She resumes pacing, muttering furiously. Then... stops. Turns.

Hermione: BOMBARDA!

KA-BOOM! The cell door rockets to the sky.

Black: That'll do.

"Awesome!" Natsu and Happy exclaim.

Grays groans. "Of course, you would like when things explode…"

Buckbeak spirits Harry, Hermione and Sirius off the terrace and soars away... Just as Snape and Fudge reach the top of the Tower.

Sirius laughs, hair blowing in the wind.

Black: You truly are your father's son, Harry!

Black puts his hands to Hermione's waist, swings her off Buckbeak and onto the ground next to Harry.

Black: I'll be forever grateful for this. To both of you.

Harry: I want to go with you.

Black: One day perhaps. For some time... life will be too... unpredictable. Besides, you're meant to be here.

Black claps his shoulder, looks him in the eye.

Black: But promise me something, Harry.

Harry: Anything.

Black: Trust yourself. No matter the challenges you face - and I fear they will be many - you'll be surprised how many times you can find the answers... (tapping his heart) ...here.

As Sirius climbs atop Buckbeak, a shooting star arcs through the heavens.

Black: A shooting star. Make a wish.

WHACK! - Black gives Buckbeak a slap and they soar into the glittering sky. Harry and Hermione stand watching, when... DING! They wheel. Look to the Clock Tower.

Hermione: We have to go.

Harry walks softly toward an open door - Lupin's office - and peers in. Lupin stands over a battered suitcase, filling it with the last of his books. Without turning, he speaks.

Lupin: Hello, Harry.

Harry jumps. Lupin turns, smiles through haggard eyes.

Lupin: Saw you coming.

The Marauder's Map lies open on an otherwise bare desk. Harry nods, looks back to Lupin. Unable to disguise his shock at Lupin's appearance.

Lupin: I've looked worse, believe me.

Harry eyes the open desk drawers... the bare bookshelves...

Harry: You've been sacked.

Lupin; Resigned, actually.

Harry: Resigned! But why!

Lupin: It seems that someone has let slip the nature of my condition.

Harry: Snape.

Lupin: Whoever. It was bound to get out. This time tomorrow, the owls will start arriving. Parents will not want a - someone like me - teaching their children.

Harry: But Dumbledore -

Lupin: Has already risked enough on my behalf. Besides, people like me, well... let's just say I'm used to this by now. But before I go, tell me about your Patrons.

Harry: Well. At first, I thought it was a horse, or perhaps a unicorn, but I think it was -

Lupin: A stag.

Harry: Yes.

Lupin: Your father used to transform into one. That's how he was able to keep me company when I became... sick. He was a great friend. James.

Lupin smiles wanly, lifts his sorry suitcase. Then stops.

Lupin: There are stories about him and your mother, you know. Some are even true. But I think it's safe to say, in the end, you'll know them best by getting to know yourself.

Lupin then - with a wicked twinkle - raises his wand.

Lupin: Mischief managed.

Harry watches the Map go blank. Looks back. Lupin is gone.

Jocelyn: Then came a deadly gladiatorial multi-school tournament next year, and the return of Voldemort alongside the murder of Cedric Diggory. But we've already broached that subject previously so we're not going to bother with it again.

The image of Seamus wailing over the corpse of his son is seen again briefly, making the fairies feel really awkward.

"Okay…." Alzack uncomfortably said.

Wiz: Better get on with in Jocelyn. This episode has stretched enough as it is. I know this is a special DVD release and we are not constrained by Youtube's policies, but it is starting to get ridiculous long…

Jocelyn: Right… Alright, stepping on the pedal. Next came Harry's discovery of the order of the phoenix. But we are going to skip all that ball-breaking torture with Un-bitch and go straight to the confrontation in the ministry of magic.

Fairy Tail sees the image of a frog on a pink dress and everybody feels the need of clawing their eyes out.

"AAAAAAAAAAAH MY EYES!"

"I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE!"

"Happy! Natsu! Stop overeacting and let everybody watch the episode in peace!" Ordered the guildmaster.

"So, you're saying you're okay with the way that pink monstrosity looks?" Cana asked in a knowing tone.

"Gods, No!" Makarov replied, much to Cana's expectations. "But you are mages of Fairy Tail, so you must show courage no matter what kinds of terrible sights you must face!" He declared proudly.

"Easy for you to say old man…" Gray complained.

A group of Thestrals soar through the clouds glimmering with internal lightning. They burst from the belly of the storm to appear over a rain-swept London. A building wipes through the screen and the view lowers until it reveals Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Luna and Neville standing side by side in a deserted Atrium. The vast lobby is silent except for a burbling fountain. Harry's friends stare in awe, then look at him nervously...

Harry: It's this way.

A golden lift grille rumbles open to show the students on another floor.

Lift Voice: Department of Mysteries.

Harry hurries down the corridor, turns the corner-and stops at the sight of the black door at the end of the hall. Harry stares; for a moment whispers seem to call from beyond...then:

Harry: Stay behind me. Once we've found Sirius, I'll create a diversion-you just get him out of danger quick as you can...

Hermione: But V-Voldemort...

It's still hard for her to say his name. Harry hesitates-

Harry (grim): Leave Voldemort to me.

Harry takes a deep breath. Opens the door—And fiunds nothing but darkness… The group nervously follows Harry in. They notice the door is floating slowly but methodically across the floor-the corridor still disorientingly visible beyond. More Free-standing doors drift past rows of high shelves, lined with rows of orbs that give off a weird liquid glow.

Harry: Lumos.

His wand tip flares but the black void seems to suck up all the light. As Harry takes point, the others fall into an arrow formation behind him. The tiny group makes their way through the blackness... a sudden dark WHOOSH wipes among the place-

Their footsteps echo as they trudge with their nervous faces... extended wands... trembling hands... As they approach a crossroads of two wider aisles, Harry notes the labels on the end of each row: ROW 95, 96... 97.

Harry silently raises his hand to stop the others, who exchange nervous glances. Harry flattens himself against the end of the shelf-slowly peers around the cornet, wand extended...

Empty.

Harry stares-then moves quickly to where he saw Sirius in his vision. He finds only dusty floor.

Harry: He should be here!

Harry looks around wildly-down row after empty row.

Harry (his voice echoing): SIRIUS! (returns) They've done something with him! Taken him somewhere else, or-

Hermione (scared): Harry-what if Sirius was never here at all?

Harry: What? But I saw—

Hermione: What if Voldemort learned about the connection between you-and tricked you into only thinking you saw him?

Harry stares at her, unwilling to believe it.

Neville: Harry...

Harry turns to see Neville peering up at a glowing globe high on a shelf. He turns to Harry.

Neville: It's got your name on it.

As Harry approaches the shelf silently lowers itself to Harry's level, as if presenting the globe to him. The dusty label beneath it reads: S.P.T. to A.P.W.B.D. Dark Lord and (?) Harry Potter. As the globe reaches Harry its low throbbing hum grows more powerful; it lights up his face with an ethereal glow.

Transfixed, Harry reaches for it-

Hermione (worried): Harry...

Harry: It's got my name on it.

Harry grasps the globe-and is electrified by its power. Sybill Trewlawney's voice echoes in an eerily hollow tone.

Trewlawney: The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...

Makarov makes a face.

"Yuck! Prophecies… They're always a pain in the ass to deal with…"

"And it's not like they're particularly useful too..." Mirajane says with a shrug. "It basically says that Voldemort and Harry must kill each other since neither can live while the other survives. And at this point it is more than obvious that a confrontation is inevitable, so I don't see the case of needing a prophecy to tell us that."

A distant scream rapidly grows louder. With enormous difficulty Harry tears his focus away from the globe-to find Hermione holding a frightened Ginny-Harry stares at her in confusion-Ginny points-

Harry turns-to see a tall, dark figure, silhouetted against the blackness-Voldemort? But as it steps into the light, we see its hooded, hideous mask: a Death Eater.

Lucius Malfoy: Very good, Potter...

Two more Death Eaters seem to form from the shadows behind Malfoy, flanking him.

Lucius: ...now give me the Prophecy.

Harry's eyes widen in confusion. He turns to take in the endless rows-

Harry: Sirius-

Lucius: It's time you learned the difference between reality and dreams, Potter- you saw what the Dark Lord wanted you to see. Now give. That. To me.

Harry slowly looks down at the globe in his hands. Then:

Harry: Get behind me. (the others realize, fall back. To Malfoy:) If you want to get to us, you're going to have to smash this first. [Something tells me your boss wouldn't be too pleased about that.]

Female (voice): Oh, he knows how to play, little bitty baby Potter...

Another Death Eater hisses, steps forward. Familiar mad eyes glitter behind the mask: Bellatrix Lestrange. She raises her wand-

Lucius: Bellatrix, no.

Neville (eyes widening): Bellatrix Lestrange.

A spark of delighted recognition dawns in Bellatrix' eyes.

Bellatrix: Master Longbottom! How's Mum and Dad?

Neville: B-better, now they're about to be avenged.

Bellatrix's smile twists into a sneer of rage-she abruptly raises her wand-

Neville: EXPELLIARMUS!

Just as a jet of fiery light shoots from Bellatrix' wand Neville's spell pulls it from her hand. His eyes widen in amazement as the explosion rocks the shelf a foot to Harry's left; shattering several globes. Two smoke-like figures unfurl from the broken glass, murmuring inaudibly.

Lucius: DO NOT ATTACK. WE NEED THAT PROPHECY.

Harry: I don't understand. Why did Voldemort need me to come get it?

Bellatrix: Filthy half-blood. You dare speak his name!

"What a sterotypical crazy witch that woman is…" Cana says, unimpressed.

"Yes… crazy, alright…" Alzack agrees.

Malfoy restrains Bellatrix; icily.

Malfoy: As those who died trying to acquire it for the Dark Lord learned-prophecies can only be retrieved by those about whom they are made. (changing tactivs; seductively) Haven't you ever wondered why the Dark Lord tried to kill you as an infant? The reason for the connection between you? The secret...of your scar? You hold the answer in your hands. Come-let me show it to you-

Harry looks down at the glowing orb-hesitates-then:

Harry: I've been waiting fourteen years...I guess I can wait a little longer. NOW-!

Harry's friends: STUPEFY!

Five jets of light explode outward, sending an equal number of Death Eaters crashing into the shelves of prophecies-

Harry: RUN!

Fiery jets of light crackle through the air as the Six scatter in all directions. Arrows of light explode globes left and right, lighting up the darkness- The vast scale of the room is revealed—infinitely tall shevles stretch as far as the eye can see-

Luna races down an aisle, looking behind her in terror-and runs straight into a huge Death Eater. She stares up at him in horror-turns to run but he grabs her brutally around the neck. Kicking and struggling desperately, she spots his Dark Mark floating on his arm-and suddenly bites it, hard. The Death Eater cries out, drops her. Luna scrambles away on hands and knees-and runs right into another Death Eater. As the two advance on her she looks wildly back and forth-

The first Death Eater raises his wand-Fires-but at the last second Luna dives for cover, the jet of fire sizzling just over her head, singing her hair-it hits the second Death Eater, sending him flying into a shelf-and giving Luna the diversion she needs to fire a blast at the first, who goes sprawling.

Luna scrambles through a small gap between globes on the bottom shelf and climbs to her feet in the adjacent aisle, starts to run. But as she rounds a corner... She suddenly slows to a halt, confused. She tilts her head quizzically...
And sees Neville, standing stunned and mute, wand in hand, looking down at a petrified Death Eater, his arms still reaching skywards clutching at nothing. Neville seems equally frozen, utterly stunned at his accomplishment.

For a long moment Luna just stands there, breathing hard, staring at Neville, breathing hard, staring at the Death Eater, not breathing at all. Finally:

Luna: Well done, Neville.

Neville remains utterly oblivious. Another endless moment of mutual breathing...and then an explosion goes off nearby. Startled in action, Luna grabs Neville by the hand-

Luna: Come on, Neville. You can do it some more.

As she pulls Neville off, he continues to stare back at the frozen Death Eater in stunned amazement... The camera pans through the shelves, only to find…

Ron and Hermione racing down an aisle, shooting off spells behind them as they are pursued by two Death Eaters. Hermione wings one of them but the other remains hot on their trail. Seeing the ghostly fog inside some of the Prophecies she's running past, Hermione gets an idea- And uses her wand to tip a row of prophecies off their stands. Ron, realizing what she's doing, immediately does likewise-

In rapid succession orbs explode on the floor like giant light bulbs. Rising murmuring ghostly figures obscure the Death Eater's view; as he struggles through the mist red bolts of fire flash in the fog around him; he takes a hit, vanishing into the fog-

-as Ron and Hermione approach the end of the aisle suddenly a huge death eater appears from the darkness, blocking their way. A flash of light as Ron takes a hit to his arm and goes flying-

Hermione: Ron-!

But before she can say another word the Death Eater uses his wand to float Hermione into the air-she screams- Hermione's eyes find Ron's, plead-"do something!" With steely resolve Ron scrambles for his wand, takes aim-

Ron: STUPEFY-!

The Death Eater goes spinning round and crashing into the shelves-as a shower of prophecies rain down on him, knocking him out cold- but leaving Hermione floating in mid-air. She keeps screaming, tumbling through space—and abruptly stopping as she lands in Ron's arms. Ron is as just as stunned as Hermione, who stares at Ron, as if seeing him with new eyes. Finally:

Ron: Better keep running.

Hermione (instantly): Right.

They race off-

Meanwhile, Harry is on the run through the maze. As he races through the endless disorienting rows and aisles, voices cry out in the darkness. Suddenly a Death Eater seems almost to form from the shadows right in front of him-Harry sends it flying with a stupefy, races back the other way-only to find another appear-seemingly out of nowhere-before him. Harry sends it too flying, but-nightmarishly—Two more instantly take its place. He turns again-to see Malfoy striding toward him, wand extended, roaring-

Lucius: GIVE IT TO ME-!

Again Harry turns-but he's surrounded- and then his eyes lock onto:

Ginny, breathing hard, visible watching through the prophecies on a shelf. They lock eyes. She raises her wand, takes a deep breath-

Ginny: REDUCTO!

A massive explosion takes out the bottom of the shelf beyond-the Death Eaters whirl- to see the towering shelf sway -Tip-

Harry runs- dives and rolls as a huge piece of a shelf barely misses him- and crashes on top of Malfoy and the Death Eaters. Who at the last instant Implode into black smoke- their plumes rocket up through the fallen shelf and high into the air—

("How the hell…?" Macao exclaims in surprise. "I need to learn that spell!")

Harry and Ginny stare in breathless amazement-that's how these guys have been moving so fast. And they realize something else: they're utterly out of their depth.

Ginny: Y-you were right, Harry. This isn't like being in school.

Suddenly a deep rumbling is heard. As Harry and Ginny slowly turn, their eyes widen in disbelief: The falling shelf has caused a chain reaction- shelf after shelf toppling like the world's largest dominos. Headed straight for them.

Harry grabs Ginny's hand as they race away from the chaos-and down the long aisle toward the distant doors. Twenty yards ahead of them Neville and Luna suddenly spill into the main aisle, also racing for the line of doors- after a moment Ron and Hermione tumble out of another aisle, joining Neville and Luna-

Harry and Ginny keep running, smashing through the shelves, exploding globes left and right-raining fire down on Harry and Ginny—The redheaded girl cries out in pain as a bolt hits her leg; she stumbles. Looks behind her in terror at the approaching wave of destruction. Harry quickly helps her up, holds her as she limps bravely onward. Near the door the other four students look helplessly as the wave approaches Harry and Ginny-

Hermione: HURRY!

Now Harry and Ginny are almost at the door-which begins to swing shut. Behind them the wave of crashing shelves has almost reached them; converging bolts of fire are raining down, one singing Luna's hair-another hitting Ron in the arm as he pushes Ginny ahead of him-the group dives into the blackness just as the door slams shut behind them.

Blackness. Silence. Only approaching cries can be heard as the six suddenly fall and plummet into oblivion. At the last second an upward blast of wind arrests their fall and deposits them-OOF-in a pile-the globe miraculously intact in Harry's hands.

Bruised and battered, the Six pull themselves to their feet. Ron helps Hermione up and mutters:

Ron: "Department of Mysteries..." Got that one right, didn't they...

And now as the Six look around, they notice they are standing on huge stones that make up the floor of a vast amphitheater, its risers dwindling into infinity.

In the center of the space is a dais, upon which stands a cracked and crumbling stpne archway. It is hung with a tattered black veil, which sways eerily in an invisible breeze. The whispers that have been heard in Harry's dreams are quite loud here-this, apparently, is their source.

Mesmerized, Harry steps onto the dais, approaches the veil. He shivers as a frigid breeze blows through it.

Harry: The voices. Can you tell what they're saying?

Ron and Hermione share a chilled look.

Hermione: There aren't any voices, Harry. Let's get out of here-

Luna approaches the fluttering veil, rapt. The breeze rustles her hair.

Luna: I hear them too.

Hermione: It's just an empty archway! Please Harry, they'll be here any-

Too late. A howling wind draws her gaze upwards-where high above, ten plumes of thick black smoke are billowing toward them. Harry looks around. There's no where to run. The Six stand abreat. The plumes scream in. Six wands rise in unison-

Everybody: STUPEFY-!

-but it's too late- their voices are swallowed in the deafening windas now two more plumes sweep down behind them from opposite directions-the Six spin in confusion-

And then the other plumes are there, spiraling down around them, creating a tornado effect. As the grotesque forms of half-reconstituted Death Eaters howl past one by one each of the kids is sucked into the maelstrom. Finally only Harry is left, hugging the Prophecy to his chest-

And then suddenly the roar of the wind dwindles to silence. Harry looks up from the ground-to see each of his friends held at wandpoint in a circle around him.

Malfoy begins to laugh.

Lucius: Did you actually believe...Were you really naive enough to think that children stood a chance against...us?

"Mmmmph… These children haven't been trained to fight against dark magic. Such a thing is an important subject that all mages need to instruct their apprentices sooner or later. I don't know exactly what they teach in this school, but how to resist the black arts is not…" Makarov said with obvious displeasure.

Harry looks helplessly at the others. Malfoy holds out his hand.

Lucius: The Prophecy.

Neville (his nose bleeding): DON'T GIB IT TO DEM, HARRY!

Dolohov roughly twists Neville's arm behind his back.

Lucius: I'll make it easy for you, Potter. Give it to me now...or watch them die.

"He has no choice…" Alzack said seriously as Natsu gritted his teeth.

"But it is obvious he is just going to end up being betrayed!" Lucy exclaimed.

"Yes he will…" Wakaba agreed.

Beaten Harry haltingly steps forward... and hands Malfoy the Prophecy. Malfoy raises the glowing orb up to his face, illuminating a cruel smile:

Lucius: Kill the spares.

Harry stares. Ron and Hermione exchange a last look. Ginny and Luna clasp hands. Neville steels himself, looks unblinkingly at Bellatrix. Grinning horribly, she raises her wand- draws an ecstatic breath to cast the killing spell-

-then suddenly her wand goes flying from her hand- Rookwood and Dolohov's are stripped from theirs as well-

Harry whirls- all heads turn- to see Sirius stepping from shadow into light, his dark eyes shining.

Sirius: Get away from my godson.

And with that he punches Malfoy brutally in the jaw—

"YAY! It's Sirius!" Happy exclaims.

"Just in the nick of time…" Wakaba says with a grin.

-as the Prophecy goes sailing out of his hands. Malfoy stares in disbelief as it smashes on the stone. As the pearly-white figure of Sybill Trelawney rises from the broken glass and dissolves into smoke Malfoy falls to his knees, holds up the broken shards in horror-

Lucius: No...

Now the sound of rushing wind spins the heads of the stunned Death Eaters as a white vapor trail cicles in from above as the kids use the diversion to elbow, kick and pull free of their captors. Simultaneously Sirius grabs Harry, pulls him to the ground just as the vapor trail rockets overhead-and an arc of white lightning shoots from it, forking and splitting into multiple bolts that send Death Eaters flying left and right-

-as the white plume coalesces into Tonks, spinning balletically as she lands gracefully on the run, suddenly she trips, then catches herself at the last moment, sticking her landing. More white vapor trails are streaming in from all directions; in disarray, the Death Eaters fire spells off wildly as the white plume coalesce into Lupin- Moody- Shacklebolt- all in motion, wands blazing. Tonks quickly helps shepherd the kids out of harms way as the battle begins.

High on a riser, Madeye Moody is in his element, sending spells booming left and right. A Death Eater comes at him from behind-but Moody's eye spins in his socket—

("Ewww!" Lucy exclaims at such sight.)

Mad Eye Moody: Oh no you don't, boyo-

Moody elbows him brutally, grabs him, yanks him around and head butts him. As Moody watches him crash down the riser, he takes a hit from his flask, belches with satisfaction-

A Death Eater screams like a banshee as he flies toward Shacklebolt-who just calmly fires a carefully aimed shot that sends him twirling fifty feet through the air. Just then Rookwood rockets upward, transforming into a black plume as he sends fire raining down on Shacklebolt- who, without missing a beat, aims over his shoulder and hits the billowing trail dead on. Rookwood reconstitues in mid-air, plummets, flailing helplessly, as Shacklebolt whirls with a flourish, wand already sweeping towards its next target…

Elsewhere, Sirius leans over Harry in concern; helps him sit up. They are just out of the battlezone, in the shadow of the arch.

Sirius: Harry-are you all right?

Harry is overwhelmed with joy and relief at seeing his Godfather unharmed.

Harry: Sirius...I thought...I mean I saw...

Sirius (gently): I know. But its all right. I'm fine. (a moment... then an explosion goes off nearby) Listen to me: I want you to take the others and get out of here-

Harry: What? No! I'm staying with you!

Sirius: Harry-

Harry: Sirius, I won't lose you again!

Sirius looks at his Godson. For a moment the sounds of the battle grow distant.

Sirius: Harry... my life... has largely been a wasted one. Twelve years in Azkaban. Living on the run. The one good thing in it... has been you. Don't take that away from me. (Harry is torn) Besides...

Sirius is looking beyond him. Harry turns, follows his gaze... to where Tonks is helping the other kids, bruised and battered. Luna is still very shaky; Rin helps the limping Ginny.

Sirius: They need their leader.

"He's right! You must never abandon your friends!" Natsu yells.

"We know, tone it down Natsu!" Makarov chides.

Harry looks at his friends-back at Sirius-and finally, reluctantly nods. Sirius smiles- BOOM! Harry darts across the no-man's land of explosions and strobing colored Light. As he reaches the others, headed toward the amphitheater doorway, Tonks squeezes his shoulder, then rushes back into the fray. As Harry watches her go, he takes a last look at the battle- his searching eyes find Shacklebolt- Lupin—then Sirius dueling Malfoy before the Veil. Bolts of fire explode from their wands as they circle, each seeking the high ground. Malfoy is good-very good. He battles Sirius back, gaining the advantage-

Lucius: You should have stayed in hiding, Black!

Sirius: When I'm done with you, Malfoy- (deftly tosses his wand from hand to hand) -you'll wish I had.

Sirius backs up onto the dais, sends a multicolored barrage of flames at Malfoy. Malfoy ducks behind the Arch-but suddenly a bolt comes at Sirius from behind-he spins to find Bellatrix. She hisses as she fires again-he nimbly dodges it.

Sirius: Come now Cousin, we can do better than that!

("They're related? Man, that must suck!" Warren Rocko declares.)

Bellatrix fires- but as Sirius moves to evade it he is blocked by another sizzling bolt from Malfoy- and Sirius takes a painful hit in the side- Harry, watching sucks in his breath- looks at Ron and Hermione, also riveted, torn- Sirius' eyes grow hard as he summons all his power- sends a massive crackling electric bolt, frying Bellatrix as she's hurled screaming through the air out of sight-

Now Dolohov flies to Malfoy's aide. Together they use their wands to press Sirius back against the veil. As Sirius struggles against the crushing force of the spell, Rookwood dives down from above, sending fire raining down on Sirius. Paralyzed, he struggles to roll clear- takes another agonizing Hit-

Harry Can't take it anymore. Hermione sees it. With quiet urgency:

Hermione: Go.

Malfoy and Dolohov advance on the pinned Sirius, wands extended-Sirius is helpless as Malfoy moves in for the kill-

Lucius: The Dark Lord will be pleased indeed. Today will see both the end of Harry Potter-and the Order of the Phoenix!

Suddenly Malfoy is blasted, sent flying. A wild-eyed Sirius looks up to see Harry-

Sirius: Good one, James!

Harry stares at Sirius. Dolohov sends a bolt of fire at him-who dodges as he spins into action. Caught in the crossfire, Harry and Sirius are dueling back to back. Sirius is ebullient, taking all comers. And then in the foreground a bloodied Bellatrix rises into view, unseen. She takes shaky aim at Sirius-at the last second Harry sees—

"Oh No!" Happy screams, dreading what's about to happen

Harry: Sirius, look out-!

Sirius: It's all right Harry! I'm back-

He laughs triumphantly as Bellatrix fires and a jet of light hits Sirius squarely on the chest. His laughter is still ringing as his eyes widen in surprise-

Time slows, sound fades.

Harry and Sirius lock eyes as Sirius goes sprawling backwards in slow motion. Terror lights in Harry's eyes. A look of surprise, and at the last moment, fear glints in Sirius' eyes as he flies backwards through the ragged veil... and vanishes.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO! They've killed him!" Happy yells in dismay.

"BASTARDS!" Natsu exclaims.

Silence... then sound returns with a rush as we hear Bellatrix' triumphant scream.

Harry: Sirius?

With dawning horror he starts toward the veil, but Lupin is there to hold him back.

Lupin: No, Harry- he's gone.

Harry is stunned. Hermione, Ron, Neville, Luna white-faced. Harry struggles against Lupin's grip, refusing to believe it.

Harry: SIRIUS!

Bellatrix is on the run, both Shacklebolt and Tonks firing after her. A shot hits Tonks'-her face contorts in pain as her hair turns white.

Bellatrix disappears through the amphitheater doorway as Harry pulls free of Lupin and races after her.

Lupin: Harry, no-!

"Ahhh, goddamn. He's just going end up making everything worse than it already is with that recklessness…" Wakaba says. "I know he's hurting, but this is not going to help! Now is not the time for vengeance."

"I hope he'll be okay…" Levy says quietly.

The vast deserted hallway is illuminated only by a glowing, golden fountain.

As Harry enters, he spots Bellatrix across the Atrium, heading for the fireplace. He raises his wand-hesitates- then raises it higher. A flash of light sends a hanging gargoyle crashing down onto her-

Bellatrix screams as she falls; her wand goes skittering off into the darkness. She looks down at her legs, trapped by rubble- Harry is there. On fire, his wand pointed at her head. She looks up at him in terror-

Bellatrix (whispers): No-

on Harry, Grief and murder can be seen blazing in his eyes-a timeless moment-

And then from the inky blackness beyond him a bone-white visage emerges, swims toward us.

Voldemort: Do it, Harry.

("Ah shit! Is dickface!" Gray exclaims. "You were right, things did get worse!")

Harry is in such a state he doesn't even flinch- is the voice in his head or is it real? Voldemort draws closer. Whipsers in his ear.

Voldemort: She killed him. She deserves it-

Bellatrix: My Lord-!

Voldemort (ignoring her): You know the spell. Do it—

("No! Don't do it! Don't fall to the darkside!" Happy yells.)

Harry is on the brink-his wand trembling-

-and then a flash of light illuminates his face.

Dumbledore: Harry

Harry tears his eyes away from Bellatrix... to see Dumbledore's pained, kindly eyes.

Voldemort: You're too late, old man. The boys knows the truth. I can smell it. (whispers) Look at him, Harry. He doesn't really care about you-not really.

Harry: That's not true!

Voldemort: He cares only to the extent you're useful to him- you're but a pawn in his great chess match against me. And the love he professes is the greatest illusion of all... (sadly) He may even believe it. But it's a child's fantasy, Harry... and friendship and loyalty a fairy tale. Mine is a hard truth... but it is the truth. You are alone.

("Those are lies! Friendship and loyalty will never be illusions!" Natsu replies hotly.)

Dumbledore just continues to look at Harry with loving eyes.

Dumbledore: It was foolish of you to come here tonight, Tom. The Aurors are on their way.

Voldemort: By which time I shall be gone and you dead.

Suddenly a scalding rope of fire arcs toward Dumbledore-but he is already brandishing his wand. Another rope of fire emanates from it, wraps itself around Voldemort. Harry is blown back against the wall by the power of the confrontation. The two great wizards are face to face.

Voldemort: You do not seek to kill me, Dumbledore? Above such brutality?

Dumbledore: There are more ways of destroying a man... and fates worse than death.

"That may be true, but now is not the best of times to debate philosophy when there's a clear and present danger that needs to be put down immediately…" Makarov commented at the exchanged between wizards.

Voldemort sneers contemptuously-and vanishes. Instantly the firey rope transforms into a giant serpent, turning on Dumbledore, hissing furiously-

With a burst of flame Voldemort reappears on the plinth in the fountain. He watches, laughing, as the serpent rears high above Dumbledore-strikes- and suddenly implodes into smoke, quickly dissipates...
Voldemort's smile fades- and then the water in the pool begins to rise up, covering him like a cocoon of molten glass. His rippling faceless figure struggles to throw off the suffocating mass-suddenly goes still as he again vanishes, and the water crashes to the floor. Voldemort reappears, squares off against Dumbledore. Raises his wand-Dumbledore raises his-

Lights strobe and arc across Hary's face as the two great Wizards continue to battle, the very walls trembling. Rubble and shattered tiles fall in slow motion around him. But it all seems distant, remote as Harry is visibly crushed with grief.

Dumbledore's brow is shining; he is weakening visibly.

Voldemort: I should kill you now, old Man. (a thought) Then again, if your own death means nothing to you... perhaps...

Voldemort smiles malignantly -vanishes- as Dumbledore realizes-

Dumbledore: Harry! Stay where you are-

Harry suddenly squeezes his eyes tight-and when he opens them again his eyes are -for a brief moment- Snake-Slits.

"Oh no, he's possessed!" Levy exclaims in dread.

"The darkest of magics indeed…" Wakaba said, completely serious.

Harry/Voldemort: Kill me now, Dumbledore. If death is nothing- kill the boy.

As Harry cries out his terrified eyes revert to normal. Some tortured internal battle is raging within him. Dumbledore watches, helpless.

A kaleidoscopic flurry of images washes over the screen, a blur of random shots of Harry thoughout his life flash by, too quick to grasp- it is as if Voldemort is rifling through Harry's brain. Simultaneously a supersonic whine rises in pitch, becomes excruciating -ZZZP-

A sudden silence as Harry opens his eyes to find he is once again standing in a familiar empty classroom. Blazing light from the windows divide the room into bands of washed-out light and deep shadow. He sweeps his sight around to reveal the mirror of ERISED across the empty room. Terrified but irresistibly compelled, Harry starts toward it-

FLASH CUT-Sirius being blown back through the veil, terror dawning in his eyes-

ZZZP. Closer now, Harry continues approaching the Mirror, passing from light into shadow. The laugh of Voldemort can be heard-

FLASH CUT: Young James laughs as he floats Young Snape in mid-air-

ZZZP- Shaking now, Harry draws still closer to the Mirror, stepping through dazzling light. Voldemort's laughter grows-

FLASH CUT: Harry stands staring down at the terrified Bellatrix, on the brink of murder-his wand trembling with hate-

ZZZP. Harry takes a last step toward the mirror as it reveals Harry's reflection: It is Voldemort. Harry tries desperately to avert his eyes.

Voldemort: LOOK AT ME!

ZZZP. For a split second we are back in the Atrium -Harry is SHIVERING violently-

Harry: (whispers) He's-too-strong-

Dumbledore: Don't fight him Harry! You can't win, not on his terms-

ZZZP- FLASH CUT: Adult James smiles out from the photo of the Original Order, his arm around Sirius...

Sirius: We've all got both light and dark inside us...

Suddenly Harry is back in the Tapestry room with Sirius.

Sirius: What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are.

Sirius smiles...and then his face begins to change, transforming into a serpent -Then again into Voldemort- the room swirls and suddenly Harry is again standing in front of the mirror- Voldemort's Laughter fills the room-

Harry smashes the Mirror-the room plunges into Darkness-

ZZZP-

Silence. Eye of the storm.

Young lily, now alone on the lawn, turns and looks at Harry.

Lily: Why do you hate him so?

FLASH CUT—Adult Lily turns in terror, holding Infant Harry-

Harry: Because he murdered you!

Lily (gently): That's the thing, isn't it. Hate is easy. It's compassion that's hard.

Harry stares at her, as the scene whites out.

ZZZZZP- In the Atruim, Harry is fading. His heartbeat echoes; Voldemort's laughter rings distantly as Harry starts to lose consciousness. This is his final moment.

Trelawney (Voice): ...but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...

And then Harry sees them.

Ron and Hermione, breathless and fearful at the entrance of the smoking, ruined Atrium.

Something clicks in Harry's head. Whispers-

Harry: You're not strong. You're weak.

FLASH CUTS: In silence images of Ron and Hermione appear, private moments of friendship and warmth, some the fairies have seen before, some they haven't. Their first moment meeting during first year. Ron smiling. Hermione sighing...

And then again, they're gazing helplessly at Harry in the Atrium... as Luna, Neville, and Ginny appear behind them, bloody but unbowed. Harry looks back. Whispers with the last of his strength-

Harry: You'll never know friendship- or love, or real happiness- and I-FEEL-SORRY-FOR-YOU-!

Harry is suddenly buffeted by a violent wind-

-and then Voldemort is standing above him like a dark mirror. But his expression betrays no anger, or weakness. Instead it shows an almost humane sadness.

Voldemort (softly): You are a fool, Harry Potter...

He reaches out to gently touch Harry's face.

Voldemort: And you will lose everything.

A suspended moment- the world is frozen around the two of them- then-

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!—The fireplaces ignite in a quick succession of emerald bursts; loud voices echo all over the Atrium-Voldemort looks evenly at Harry- and with another blast of wind, he vanishes as Harry collapses to the floor.

And then Dumbledore is there, gently touching his face as Harry, shivering, stares up into his kindly eyes through his shattered glasses. In a moment they are surrounded by ministry officials-and a stunned Cornelius Fudge, pajamas visible under his robes. Voices cry "I saw him!" "It was Voldemort, he was here!"

Dumbledore looks up from Harry, his hard eyes meeting Fudge's... as Fudge sags in defeat.

Fudge: He's back.

The scene is a chaos of rushing wizards, as Dumbledore turns lovingly back to Harry, who has finally passed out.

"Well… That was nerve-wracking…" Cana states with the most unhappy face ever.

Makarov drummed his fingers on his table as he thought. "This Voldemort… He is dangerous, and he has delved too deeply in dark magic… He will not be an easy opponent to defeat for young Harry."

"He will lose!" Natsu exclaimed hotly. "He will never be able to defeat Harry and his friends standing behind him!"

"Perhaps… But it might come at a too high a price…" Wakaba groused.

Jocelyn: It is from this point forward that shit gets real for Harry and his friends!

"Oh… Great…" Alzack deadpans in a dry tone.

Tall grasses toss dreamily in a slanting rain. An old mill lists like an ancient ruin against a charcoal sky. A dark figure materializes as she turns for the town in the distance, another witch materializes: Bellatrix Lestrange.

("HER!" Happy hisses, hair standing on end.)

Bellatrix: Narcissa!

Like a rat in a maze, Narcissa makes her way through a labyrinth of dilapidated brick houses. Bellatrix trails after her.

Bellatrix: Cissy! You mustn't do this. He can't be trusted.

Narcissa: The Dark Lord trusts him.

Bellatrix: The Dark Lord is mistaken.

Narcissa turns, shocked. Bellatrix looks shocked herself, rain running down her cheeks.

Bellatrix: Or so I believe.

Narcissa: Well, who can one trust these days?

Grim and dark the mill stands, lit by guttering candles. Rain drums the roof eerily. A knocker clangs. A squat man shuffles forth, something familiar in his gait.

The door cracks, spilling sallow light onto Narcissa and Bellatrix. A face: Wormtail.

"It's the rat!" Happy exclaims, pointing.

"And he stills looks as disgusting as last time…" Cana comments.

The sisters follow Wormtail down a narrow hallway.

Bellatrix: He lives in this Muggle dunghill?

Wormtail glowers over his shoulder at her. They pass into a room where a man sits by the window running with rain, his face hidden by the Daily Prophet. On the front page is a photograph of the Millenium Bridge crashing into the Thames. But even more prominent is the silhouette of a young wizard and a headline: HARRY POTTER: THE CHOSEN ONE? Young Wizard Destined to Kill You-Know-Who?

The paper drops and Severus Snape eyes the women curiously.

("I knew he was a bad guy! He certainly looks the type!" Gray declares.)

Snape: Run along, Wormtail.

Snape fills the last of three goblets with wine.

Narcissa: I've nowhere else to turn, Severus.

Snape hands her a goblet, extends one to Bellatrix.

Bellatrix: You must be joking.

Snape smiles faintly, brings the goblet to his own lips.

Narcissa: I know I ought not to be here. The Dark Lord himself has forbidden me to speak of this –

Snape: If the Dark Lord has forbidden it, you ought not to speak. (eyes shifting) Put it down, Bella. We mustn't touch what isn't ours.

Bellatrix, dark curio in hand, glowers, sets it back down.

Snape: As it so happens, I'm aware of your situation, Narcissa.

Bellatrix: You? The Dark Lord told you?

Snape: Your sister doubts me, Narcissa. Understandable.

Over the years I have played my part well. So, well I've deceived one of the greatest wizards of all time.

Bellatrix makes a scathing sound. Snape turns, eyes hard.

Snape: Dumbledore is a great wizard. Only a fool would question it.

Narcissa: I... I don't doubt you, Severus.

Bellatrix: You should feel honored, Cissy. As should Draco –

Narcissa: He's just a boy!

Snape: I can't change the Dark Lord's mind. But it might be possible for me to help Draco. To provide some... protection.

Bellatrix eyes Snape keenly.

Narcissa: Do you mean it, Severus?

Snape: I can try.

Narcissa: Oh, Severus, please, if you would... (I would be forever in * your debt.) *

Bellatrix: Swear to it.

Snape's eyes shift, meet Bellatrix's challenging gaze.

Bellatrix: Make the Unbreakable Vow. (as Snape looks away) You see. It's just empty words. Oh he'll try. He'll give it his best effort. But when it matters most he'll slither back into his hole. Bloody coward...

After a scene transition, Bellatrix goes on muttering as she splashes some wine into a goblet. Snape turns back, anger flashing in his eyes.

Snape: Take out your wand.

Bellatrix freezes, goblet to her lips. As she lowers it, a rivulet of red runs out of the corner of her mouth. Moments later Snape faces Narcissa. Bellatrix, hand faintly trembling, places the tip of her wand over their linked hands.

Bellatrix: Will you, Severus Snape, watch over Draco Malfoy as he attempts to fulfill the Dark Lord's wishes.

Snape: I will.

A single strand of liquid fire issues from Bellatrix's wand and wends its way around their hands.

Bellatrix: And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?

Snape: I will.

A second strand of fire intertwines with the first.

Bellatrix: And should it prove necessary, if it seems Draco will fail... Will you yourself carry out the deed that the Dark Lord has ordered Draco to perform?

Snape's hand twitches within Narcissa's. Bellatrix waits.

Snape: I will.

"Well That's not ominous at all." Cana mutters.

Snape appears on a door, eyeing Harry and his friends.

McGonagall: Severus.

Snape: Is this it?

McGonagall nods. Snape takes his wand, lifts a necklace like a dead snake. Eyes it with fascination.

McGonagall: What do you think?

Snape: I think Miss Bell is lucky to be alive.

Harry: She was cursed, wasn't she? I know Katie. Off the Quidditch pitch she wouldn't hurt a fly. If she was bringing that to someone, she wasn't doing it knowingly.

Snape eyes Harry levelly.

McGonagall: Yes. She was cursed.

Harry: It was Malfoy.

McGonagall: That's a very serious accusation, Potter.

Snape: Indeed. Your evidence?

Harry: I... just... know.

Snape: You... just... know. Once again you astonish with your gifts, Potter, gifts mere mortals could only dream of possessing. How grand it must be to be the Chosen One.

"I doN'T LIkE Him! hE's A cUNt!" A demonized Mirajane said to general agreement.

On what seems to be a party, Snape, looking bored, stands on the periphery of a conversation, when he sees Hermione exit one side a hanging and Cormac enter the other.

Harry: I think she went to powder her nose.

Harry looks past Cormac's shoulder, out past the hanging and sees Slughorn laughing with a guest. Cormac plucks a dragon blob off the tray in Harry's hand, pops it.

Cormac: Slippery little minx, your friend. Likes to work her mouth too, doesn't she? Yak yak yak. What is this I'm eating, by the way?

Harry: Dragon balls. (AN: Siriusly!?) Ewwww! Was the general concensus of the fairies.

As Cormac's face freezes, Harry starts to head toward Slughorn when the HANGING IS SWEAP ASIDE: It's Snape.

Snape: What's going on back here?

Cormac spews raw dragon all over Snape's shoes. Snape surveys the damage, then his eyes rise darkly.

Snape: You've just bought yourself a month's detention, McLaggen.

McLaggen dashes off. Harry makes to follow.

Snape: Not so quick, Potter.

Harry: I think I should rejoin the party, sir. My date...

Snape: ... Can surely survive your absence for another minute or two. Besides, I only wish to convey a message.

Harry: A message...?

Snape: From Professor Dumbledore. He asked that I give you his best and that he hopes you enjoy your holiday. You see, he's traveling and won't return until term resumes.

Harry: Traveling? Where?

Snape merely stares a Harry silently, briefly, then exits, taking Harry's gaze with him, to Slughorn once again, wildly gesturing with a full glass of wine.

"Rude much…" Reedus Jonah says.

Malfoy (voice): Take your hands off me, you filthy squib!

A frown overtakes Slughorn's face and he turns toward the source of the commotion, exits Harry's view. Harry emerges from the hanging, finds Malfoy in Filch's rough grip.

Filch: Professor Slughorn, sir! I've just discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party.

Malfoy: Okay, okay, I was gate-crashing. Happy?

Snape: I'll escort him out.

Draco's eyes shift, regard Snape. He shrugs free of Filch.

Malfoy: Certainly... Professor.

The scene changes and Malfoy can be seen, slumped against the wall in lazy insolence, alongside Snape.

Malfoy: Maybe I did hex that Bell girl. Maybe I didn't. What's it to you?

Snape: I swore to protect you. I made the Unbreakable Vow –

Malfoy: I don't need protection. I was chosen for this! Out of all others. Me! And I won't fail him.

Snape: You're afraid, Draco. You attempt to conceal it, but it's obvious. Let me assist you –

Malfoy: No! I was chosen. This is my moment!

Malfoy exits. Then Snape.

"That one is a little shit, too…" Warren Rocko says.

Slughorn, with practiced ease, mixes a concoction of powders and potions into a goblet while Ron peers into a mirror. As he paces, Harry passes "the shelf" and finds, front and center, a photograph of himself and Slughorn - the one taken at the Christmas party. Another photograph is of Snape, as a young student, clutching his potions textbook.

Slughorn: I'd have thought you could whip up a remedy for this in no time, Harry - an expert potioneer like you.

Harry: I figured this called for a more practiced hand, sir.

The scene changes again to show Harry and Malfoy apparently dueling.

Malfoy: Cruci—

Harry: SECTUMSEMPRA!

Blood spurts from Malfoy's face and scarlet slashes ooze through the white of his shirt. He staggers, howls again and collapses. Harry glares at his wand in horror, then slushes across the floor, the water running red with Malfoy's blood.

Malfoy: Don't touch me! Don't you dare touch me!

Harry stops dead... transfixed by a flash of something dark pushing through the wet fabric of Malfoy's shirtsleeve. Just then... Snape bursts through the door. Seeing Malfoy - and the nature of his injuries – he eyes Harry with keen curiosity. Kneeling, he traces the tip of his wand over Malfoy's wounds, murmuring an eerie incantation. Instantly, the skin begins to knit itself together. Harry backs away, Snape's ancient chant ringing in his ears, blood floating like crimson flowers on the floor, backing away until he reaches the door...

"How can you heal someone with dark magic? That doesn't seem to have any sense?" A puzzled Lucy asked.

"You can... If you pay a price…" Makarov answered but refused to elaborate further.

As Harry trots up the spiraling exterior stairs of the astronomy tower, he hears voices coming from the topmost level and pauses, peering up through the grid-like floor above: Dumbledore and Snape.

Snape: Have you ever considered that you ask too much? That you take too much for granted? Has it ever crossed your brilliant mind that I don't want to do this anymore?

Dumbledore: Whether it has or hasn't is irrelevant. I will not negotiate this with you, Severus. You agreed. There's nothing more to discuss.

Harry stands poised, peering upward, where Dumbledore squints toward the dying sun and Snape glares at his back. Finally, Snape turns away and - before Harry can react - is descending the stairs. Seeing Harry, Snape falters briefly, then continues on without a word. As his footsteps fade, Harry ascends to the upper tier. Dumbledore turns. Smiles.

"Something is brewing… And I have the feeling is nothing good…" Macao says with suspicion.

McGonagall: To your Houses. No dawdling.

As the students scuttle off, McGonagall looks to the sky. A vortex of clouds swirls eerily in on itself.

Out of a window at the castle, its glass prickling with ambient light, Snape stands silently, staring at the gathering storm, his expression inscrutable. The ambient choir a murmur.

The scene changes to show Draco confronting Harry again, in the presence of Dumbledore while being backed by the likes of Bellatrix and a big savage feral looking man.

Malfoy's wand rises once again. Harry raises his own, aiming through the grid, poised. Just then, a shadow splinters through the columns to his right. He looks, finds Snape, quiet as a ghost, peering upward. Carefully, Snape draws his wand, then turns to Harry, a finger to his lips: Shhh. Then he is drifting upward. Silent. A ghost again.

Greyback: He doesn't have the stomach. Like his father. Let me finish him. In my own way.

"Who's that guy, he looks like a creep?" Natsu says with his usual tact.

"I don't know but by looks alone, I would safely assume he must be another werewolf…" Gray replies.

Bellatrix: No! The Dark Lord was clear. The boy's to do it. Go on, Draco. Now!

Once again Draco raises his wand, his hand trembling. Harry's own arm is stiff, sure. The vein in his hand
pulsates...

Snape: No.

Harry watches Snape come into view.

Dumbledore: Severus...

Bellatrix: Well, look who's here. Hogwarts own Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Come to see the slaughter?

Dumbledore: Severus... please.

Snape: I gave my word. I made a vow...

Harry's eyes dart back and forth frantically, trying to make sense of the scene playing out above. Snape's arm rises.

Snape: Avada Kedavra!

A jet of green light hits Dumbledore squarely in the chest. For a second he hangs, suspended upon the
ramparts, and then... the night swallows him.

"Filthy unmanly traitor!" Elfman exclaims.

Harry creams in rage. Bellatrix raises her wand to the sky and a deafening blast shakes the castle, masking Harry's cry. The clouds explode with grim light, mutating into a skull. As the Death Eaters flee, Snape's arm drops limply to his side.

Snape: You can no longer stay here.

Draco, stunned, stares at the empty place where Dumbledore stood only seconds before. Snape takes him by the scruff of the neck, forces him through the door, then follows.

Harry scrambles up the stairs and lurches to the ramparts, bathed in the green light from above. He peers down. Agony wrecks Harry's face and he has to steady himself. He looks up into the leering skull above. Rage fills his eyes.

Snape leads Malfoy and Bellatrix down the spiraling staircase, his face a mask as he rounds a corner. Students in pajamas and robes peer at the emerald sky, then turn, stare curiously at their teacher and his companions. Snape sweeps past wordlessly. Draco averts his eyes. Bellatrix leers at a tiny first year, leans close:

Bellatrix: Boo.

"That was mean…" Happy says.

"I don't think she cares Happy…" Wakaba replies.

Hearing footsteps, an auror turns, is blasted off his feet as Snape and the others appear. Bellatrix lags, then steps to the towering doors of the Hall, peering upward, past the floating candles to the vaulted ceiling, solemn as a church. Raising her wand, she sends a fiery bolt toward the frand window opposite. As it explodes, a blast of cold air sweeps the room, extinguishing the candles. Snape turns, looks back. Bellatrix simply grins, a mad child.

Outside the castle, near Hagrid's hut, everything is quiet for a moment, then slowly, figures appear on the horizon. The Death Eaters. Greyback. Bellatrix, Draco. And Snape.

Harry bursts through the entrance doors, wand in hand. Before him, the grounds shimmer eerily in the green glow. He sees the figures fleeing towards Hagrid's Hut.

Snape and the others race toward the edge of the grounds. Suddenly, Snape pulls up, looks back. Sees Harry sprinting toward him. Malfoy, looking edgy, is watching Harry too.

Snape: Go on!

Just then a giant fireball erupts into the sky. Snape wheels, sees Bellatrix and the others silhouetted against the flames. They've set Hagrid's Hut ablaze. Malfoy stands paralyzed.

Snape: Go on!

Harry bolts forth, running, wand in hand, vengeance in his eyes. Up ahead, Snape stands stolidly, tall and
black against the raging fire. Harry points his wand, fires a jet of red light. Snape doesn't move, merely lets it streak by his head. Harry stops, chest heaving, and takes aim again.

Harry: Cruciatus!

Snape raises his wand, parries the curse with ease.

Harry: Incacerata!

Once again, Snape deflects the spell.

Harry: Impedimenta!

Another lazy flick of the arm, another curse defeated. Harry drops his arm in frustration.

Harry: Fight! Fight back, you coward!

With staggering quickness, Snape's wand whips forth and Harry is off his heels and crashing to the earth.

Snape: Don't ever associate that word and my name again.

Harry raises himself up on one knee, points his wand when... a jet of red light sends him crashing back into the grass. Snape wheels, sees Bellatrix standing behind.

Snape: No! He belongs to the Dark Lord!

Bellatrix eyes Snape levelly, then turns, trots off. Snape glances at Harry, then turns away himself, walking. Harry grimaces, pulls himself to his feet and aims one last time.

Harry: Sectumsempra!

Bang! Snape wheels and once more sends Harry flying onto his back. Harry stares at the stars as they wheel over him, when Snape comes into view.

Snape: You dare use my own spells against me, Potter?

Harry goes still. His eyes shift, meet Snape's.

Snape: You may have gotten your mother's eyes, but you're as dim as your father. Yes. It's me. I'm the Half-Blood Prince.

Snape kicks Harry's wand aside and turns away, joining Malfoy and the others where they wait beyond the flaming ruins of Hagrid's Hut. They head for the darkness of the treeline. And vanish.

"The heck was all that?" Cana asks with a WTF face.

Harry pounds his fist into the ground, then stops.

Harry: Hagrid... HAGRID!

Harry races toward the hut when the door flies off its hinges. Seconds later, Hagrid stumbles out, beard
smoking.

Harry: Hagrid! You alright?

Hagrid: Take more'n tha' ter finish me off. Not sure about me 'ouse, tho'. But if anybody can put it righ', Dumbledore can.

Harry: Hagrid, Dumbledore –

Hagrid: Only thing I can't reckon is wha' Snape was doin' with tha' lot.

Hagrid turns then, sees the huge throng of students and staff assembled outside the castle.

"Well that was a downer…" Macao comments.

"Bet is not the only thing that is a bout ot go all fudged up" Cana replies with a nod.

The screen zooms into a moving picture of a newspaper named the daily prophet, it shows an atrium of the Ministry of Magic, addressing a sea of ministry employees as reporters scribble intently.

Scrimgeour: These are dark times, there is no denying. Our world has perhaps faced no greater threat than it does today. But I say this to our citizenry: we, ever your servants, continue to defend your liberty and repel the forces that would seek to take it from you. Your Ministry remains strong...

"Yeah… I don't buy that for even a second…" Alzack drones skeptically.

Mr. Weasley fiddles with a small radio. Another halfdozen - in various stages of repair - stand in a line before him.

Ron: What are those?

Mr. Weasley turns, sees Ron standing in the doorway.

Mr. Weasley: Close the door.

Ron eases inside and steps to the workbench.

Mr. Weasley turns the knob on the radio before him. Static spits forth, then a voice comes clear:

Radio Voice: ... comes to us this evening from the north of England, where a wizard family by the name of Westinburgh were found dead in their cellar. While not a member of the Order, Mr. Westinburgh and his wife had, on numerous occasions, provided shelter for its members...

Arthur switches off the radio. Gestures to the others.

Mr. Weasley: These are for the Order. So many are on the run now, it helps them to stay connected with the rest of us. Know they're not alone...

"Yeah… Things ain't looking look…" Wakaba comments as he twirls his cigar in his mouth.

Snape is found lingering in a dark hallway, a door looming at its end. Reaching it, Snape hesitates for a heartbeat, then enters.

"It's the Traitor!" Happy wails loudly, pointing with an acussing finger.

Two dozen figures sit silently at a large ornate table, illuminated by the flickering light of a fireplace. Snape studies the scene, then his eyes rise. Revolving slowly near the ceiling, as if suspended by an invisible rope, is an unconscious woman.

Voldemort: Severus. I was beginning to worry you'd lost your way. Come. I've saved you a seat.

Voldemort grins, silhouetted against the fire, and gestures to the seat nearest his own. All eyes follow Snape, all except Draco Malfoy, who nervously stares at the body above and a haggard Lucius Malfoy, who merely stares vaguely at his wand while his wife Narcissa looks straight ahead.

Voldemort: You know our hosts, of course, Severus. Narcissa in particular has been most hospitable. Lucius, on the other hand, is, I fear, burdened by my presence. Are you, Lucius?

Lucius: My lord?

Voldemort: Are you burdened?

Narcissa: My lord is always welcome here.

Voldemort smiles, his eyes shifting to Snape, who watches the great snake Nagini as she slopes slowly over the feet of those present, unnerving all.

Voldemort: You bring news I trust, Severus?

Snape: It will happen Saturday next. At nightfall.

Voldemort: And this information comes-

Snape: -from the source we discussed.

Yaxley, the wizard seen at the Ministry, leans into the flickering light from the opposite end of the table.

Yaxley: I have heard differently, my lord. Dawlish, the Auror, let slip that the Potter boy will not be moved until the thirtieth of this month, the night before he turns seventeen.

Snape: This is a false trail. The Auror Office no longer plays any part in the protection of Harry Potter. Those closest to him believe we have infiltrated the Ministry.

Squat Man: Well, they've got that right, then, 'aven't they?

As the Squat Man cackles wheezily, others join in. Voldemort raises a hand. All goes silent.

Voldemort: Pius, what say you?

PiusThicknesse looks up, his gaze placid.

Thicknesse: One hears many things, my lord. Whether the truth is among them is not clear.

Voldemort: Spoken like a true politician. You will, I think, prove most useful, Pius. Where will he be taken? The boy?

Snape: To a safehouse. Likely the home of someone in the Order. I'm told it has been given every manner of protection possible. Once there, it will be impractical to attack him. We may have compromised the Ministry, but there are those who remain loyal to him. As long as the Ministry stands, his allies within will have the means at their disposal to insure his safety.

Bellatrix My lord, if I might, I'd like to volunteer myself for this task. I'd like to kill the boy.

Just then a wail rises from the floorboards. Voldemort's eyes flash briefly with red.

Voldemort: Wormtail! Have I not spoken to you about keeping our guest quiet?

Wormtail: Yes, m-my lord. Right away, my lord.

As Wormtail scrambles up, Voldemort returns his gaze to Bellatrix.

Voldemort: As inspiring as I find your bloodlust, Bellatrix, I must be the one to kill Harry Potter. But I face an unfortunate complication. It has recently come to my attention that my wand and Potter's share the same core. They are, in some ways, twins. We can wound but not fatally harm one another. Which means, if I am to kill him... I will have to do it with another's wand.

The others at the table stir nervously. Bellatrix stiffens. Voldemort's narrow eyes rake the room.

Voldemort: Come now. Surely one of you would like the honor? What about... you, Lucius?

Lucius peers up, sallow and beaten.

Voldemort: I require your wand.

Lucius sits mute, paralyzed by the request, scanning the faces of the others, who avoid his gaze, all but Snape, who regards him with naked contempt and Draco, whose eyes meet his briefly, then glance away. Finally Narcissa's fingers lightly graze his wrist, summoning him back to the moment. Turning, he watches as, almost imperceptibly, she nods. Lowering his head, he rolls his wand slowly across the table, where it stops at Voldemort's skeletal hand. Voldemort holds the wand to the light.

Voldemort: Do I detect elm?

Lucius: Yes, my lord.

Voldemort: And the core?

Lucius: Dragon - dragon heartstring.

Voldemort nods, getting a feel for the wand's heft, then his eyes shift, catch Lucius staring at the wand on the table - Voldemort's own.

Voldemort: My wand? You can't possibly think I would give you my wand.

Lucius' eyes meet Voldemort's. For a moment he is speechless. Finally his chin drops.

Lucius: No, my lord.

Voldemort studies Lucius' bowed head, then returns his attention to the wand in his hand. Raising it, he points it at the body above. With a flick, the body awakens, twitching against its invisible bonds.

Voldemort: For those of you who do not know, we are joined tonight by Miss Charity Burbage who until recently taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her specialty was Muggle studies. It is Miss Burbage's belief that Muggles are not so different from us. She would, given her way, have us mate with them. To her, the mixture of magical and Muggle blood is not an abomination but something to be encouraged. I, of course, take a contrary view. But we're all civilized here. All adults. We can agree to disagree. Charity's tear-streaked face revolves once more to face Snape, her voice hoarse with fear.

Charity: Severus, please. We're friends...

Snape's face remains impassive. Voldemort's eyes narrow to scarlet slits... his voice Hisses. Draco watches a teardrop strike the table...

Voldemort: Avada Kedavra!

Green Light envelops the room. Charity plummets to the table, body still. Voldemort ponders the wand, satisfied.

Voldemort: Nagini... Dinner.

"Well he's a fucking piece of shit…" Cana says after watching that whole scene…

"Agreed…" Erza said, rather incensed at the blatant murder.

Harry is seen atop a flying motorbike being driven by Hagrid at night, massive electrical pylons appear in the darkness. As Hagrid weaves through the towers, a gang of Death Eaters jet into view. Harry fires a volley of Stunning Spells, sending a pair of Death Eaters into the sizzling wires where they dangle briefly, spasming, before plummeting into the darkness. Harry fires again and watches two others take evasive measures... unaware of the Death Eater closing in from behind. Finally he turns. The Death Eater grins, wand twitching, then Hedwig swoops down, flaying the Death Eater's wand hand. Harry grins triumphantly when suddenly, a mad volley of wand blasts ricochet off the motorbike and Hedwig is gone. Harry glances about desperately, when:

Death Eater: That's him! The real one!

The remaining Death Eaters fall back and disappear.

Hagrid: Hol' tight, 'arry! We've got ter get yeh out of here!

Hagrid hits the purple button again and the motorbike rockets forth. Harry gazes bleakly behind... then winces, eyes rolling back in his head. Gripping his scar, he squints toward the horizon and sees something closing on them. It looks like smoke, then begins to take shape. Voldemort. Flying. Slowly, Harry raises his wand.

Harry: Hagrid... HAGRID...!

Harry lets out a primal scream, his eyes clenched shut in pain, his wand hand trembling as he points it blindly. Voldemort's snake-like face draws near, his wand trained on Harry. Harry's arm goes slack, his wand dropping...

Voldemort: Avada...

Abruptly, Harry's arm rises as if on a string, drawn up by the wand trembling in his hand. Gold fire spits forth and - Crack! - Sparks skitter up the chassis of the motorbike. Harry wheels and - for a split second - is face to face with Voldemort, whose eyes drift, staring - with something like fear - at Harry's wand. Then - whoosh! - Voldemort peels backward and away, evaporating like smoke. Just then... ... the motorbike's engine hiccups and Hagrid and Harry begin to drop. PUTT... PUTT... PUTT...

The motorbike splashes down into the reeds, sputters, then cuts out altogether in a smoking hiss. Harry glances about. A door opens in a crooked house. Two silhouettes appear, dash forward - Mrs. Weasley and Ginny.

Mrs. Weasley: Harry! Hagrid! What happened?! Have you seen the others?

Harry: Is no one back yet?

He looks from Mrs. Weasley to Ginny. Ginny shakes her head.

Hagrid: They were on us from the star', Molly - the Death Eaters. And You-Know-Who as well.

"You can thank the greasy traitor for that…" Gray commented with a pissed expression.

Harry tosses fitfully, something bedeviling his sleep. Suddenly, his dcar contracts. He grimaces.

Voldemort (Voice): You lied to me, Ollivander!

At the bottom of a run of rotting wooden stairs, Wormtail props up an emaciated Ollivander. In the cracked surface of a taññ mirror, Voldemort is reflected at the top of the stairs - an angry silhouette.

Ollivander: No! No! I believed a different wand would work, I swear!

Voldemort: Then explain this!

Voldemort extends his skeletal fingers. Lucius Malfoy's wand lies shattered upon his ghostly skin.

Ollivander: But it makes no sense...

Voldemort: Perhaps our friend's loyalties lie elsewhere, Wormtail.

Ollivander: No! There must be a way! I'll think of something else!

Voldemort: I hope so, Ollivander, for your sake. I won't be so forgiving next time...

Harry awakens with a gasp, eyes flashing in the darkness. He eyes the shadows above him, then looks down at his hand where his wand glimmers in the moonlight.

Rucksack slung over his shoulder, Harry picks his way softly down the spiraling steps, past silent doorways, slipping in and out of shadow. Harry emerges into the night, shifting the rucksack as he eyes the reeds shifting eerily in the darkness.

Ron: Going somewhere?

Harry stiffens, turns to meet Ron's accusatory gaze, then continues on.

Harry: No one else is going to die. Not for me.

Ron: For you? You think Madeye died for you? You think George took that curse for you? You may be the Chosen One, mate, but this is a whole lot bigger than that.

Harry stares at Ron. The air is tense.

Harry: Come with me. Now.

Ron: And leave Hermione? Are you mad? We wouldn't last two days without her. (glancing around) Don't tell her I said that. (back to Harry) Besides, you've still got the Trace on you. And there's the wedding...

Harry: Wedding?

Ron: Bill and Fleur. Mum's been planning it for months. Only thing that's kept her sane, I reckon. She'll kill me if I miss it. Kill you too. Rather go face to face with You-Know-Who if I'm honest.

Ron tries a smile, but Harry looks foul.

Harry: I don't care about a bloody wedding - no matter whose it is. I have to start searching for the Horcruxes. It's the only chance we have to beat him. And the longer we wait the stronger he gets.

Ron just stares at Harry, calm, poised.

Ron: Tonight's not the night, mate. You'd only be doing him a favor.

Harry stares at Ron - incensed by his cool demeanor and common sense. Finally, he turns away, tosses the rucksack in frustration. For a moment they stand like this, Harry's back to Ron. Silent. Finally Ron speaks.

Ron: Do you think he knows?

Harry turns his head halfway, but doesn't speak.

Ron: I mean, they're bits of his soul, the Horcruxes. Bits of him. When Dumbledore destroyed the ring and you destroyed Tom Riddle's diary all those years ago - he must've felt something right?

Harry ponders this, but remains silent.

Ron: What I'm saying is, if we do this thing right, if we find the Horcruxes and begin to destroy them one by one...

Harry waits.

Ron: Won't he know he's being hunted?

Still Harry says nothing. Silence descends once more.

"That is a reasonable concern…" Makarov commented. "Who knows what kind of effects tearing your soul to pieces and teteering the fragments into objects would do to a person."

"What kind of dumbass would do that to himself?" Gray comments in obvious disbelief.

"A wannabe Dark Lord obsessed with power…" Wakaba replies as he smokes.

Macao nods in agreement. "There's always someone willing to try self mutilation in the pursuit of forbidden magical knowledge…"

Harry approaches a man sitting alone in a garden. - Elphias Doge sits alone, smiling absently as he observes the happy goings-on around him. Then:

Harry: Sir? May I sit down?

Elphias Doge: Mr. Potter! By all means!

In a nervous flutter, Doge pours Harry a goblet of champagne.

Harry: I found what you wrote in the Daily Prophet very moving, sir. I take it you knew Professor Dumbledore well?

Elphias Doge: I certainly knew him the longest, if you don't count his brother Aberforth - and somehow, people never do seem to count Aberforth.

Harry: I never even knew he had a brother, sir.

Elphias Doge: Yes, well, Dumbledore was always very private. Even as a boy.

Harry: Sir, I was wondering if you'd had much contact with him before he died.

Elphias Doge: The occasional owl. Though it was strange...

Harry: Strange, sir?

Elphias Doge: It was the owls themselves. They often arrived in distress. It was clear they'd traveled great distances in some cases.

Harry: Could you tell me from where they'd come, sir?

Elphias Doge: I'm afraid not. Albus' messages mostly referenced our days together as schoolboys. They were surprisingly intimate. When he did speak of his current activities his words would turn elliptical. Still, I sensed he was under great stress. Why do you ask?

Harry: Just curious. I was... close to Professor Dumbledore.

Elphias Doge: Well, he treasured you, Mr. Potter, I can attest to that. I can also tell you that when a person passes, it's only natural to rue the things left unsaid, to regret the question never asked. I knew Albus nigh on 100 years, but in many ways, he will always remain a riddle even to me.

"I can totally believe that old coot to be a hundred years old" Natsu exclaims in his usual boisterous self.

"Natsu, that's rude!" Lucy exclaims scandalized.

"Meh, it's not unusual for old wizards to reach that age…" Makarov interjects with a shrug.

Woman: Don't despair, Elphias. I'm told he's been thoroughly unriddled by Rita Skeeter. In 800 pages no less.

Harry and Doge turn, study the profile of an ancient witch sitting at an adjacent table, a glass of champagne cradled in the bony fingers of one hand.

"A HAG!" Happy exclaims, pointing.

"HAPPY!"

Elphias Doge: That woman is a vulture, Muriel, and you well know it.

Muriel: Someone has to pick the bones to get at the truth. I read your obituary, Elphias. Lovely. But you did skate over some of the sticky patches in Dumbledore's life.

Elphias Doge: I'm sorry you think so, Muriel. I assure you I was writing from the heart.

Muriel: Yes, well, Rita Skeeter hasn't made that mistake, I'm sure. Word has it someone talked to her, someone who knew the Dumbledore family well. You and I both know who that is, Elphias.

Elphias Doge: A monstrous betrayal. I can only conclude the rumors are true and that she has become untethered.

Harry: Who are you talking about?

Muriel: Well, I don't suppose it'll be a secret once the book comes out. (relishing the moment) Bathilda Bagshot.

Harry: Who?

Muriel: Who? Bathilda Bagshot! My god, boy, she's only the most celebrated magical historian of the last century. Don't they read History of Magic at Hogwarts anymore?

Harry: Oh, right. Slipped my mind...

Muriel: She knew the Dumbledores as well as anyone. She'd have letters, perhaps an interesting photograph or two. I'm sure Rita Skeeter would have thought it well worth a trip to Godric's Hollow to take a peek into that old bird's rattled cage.

Harry: Godric's Hollow? Bathilda Bagshot lives in Godric's Hollow?

Muriel: For years now. That's where she first met Dumbledore.

Harry: Excuse me? You don't mean to say Dumbledore lived there too?

Muriel Of course. The family moved there after his father killed those three Muggles. It was quite the scandal. (eyeing him) Honestly, my boy, are you sure you knew him at all?

Harry sits, speechless, then his eye catches a shooting star - or what appears to be. As it plummets, it grows, gaining speed until it slices through the canopy, exploding in a burst of light. All goes silent as a Silver Lynx - graceful and gleaming - Materializes amid the crowd. When it speaks, the Patronus has Shacklebolt's sonorous voice.

Patronus: The Ministry has fallen. The Minister of Magic is dead. They are coming...

The lynx vanishes. A scream shreds the silence. Then: chaos.

Elphias Doge: Nice meeting you, Mr. Potter! Doge extends his hand toward Harry when - CRACK! - he Disapparates.

"…!... Well, fuck…" Cana can simply say.

Seconds later, the ancient witch has done the same. Harry scans the scattering crowd and meets Ginny's eyes, as she gets buffeted about. He pelts toward her, bouncing between bodies, losing sight of her.

Hermione: Ron! Ron!

Harry turns, sees Hermione glancing about frantically. As she turns, Ron comes into view, pushes toward her. Suddenly the canopy above turns to ribbons as Death Eaters - in dark cloaks and masks - descend into the crowd. Arthur, Fred and George wield their wands. Harry sees a flower fall from Fleur's hair, watches it crushed underfoot, then catches sight of Ginny through the madness as she draws her own wand, copper hair gleaming, eyes flashing. He starts toward her, when... Lupin crashes in, spinning him roughly round.

Lupin: Harry! Go! Go!

A hand reaches out and grabs his. He looks. It's Hermione, clutching Ron's hand with her other. She closes her eyes and a great whooshing sound fills Harry's ears. He takes one last desperate look at Ginny as he is thrown up and back in a whirlwind and all goes black.

A horn blares as a double-decker bus careens within inches of Harry, Ron and Hermione as they stumble about, the streets teeming with drunken pub crawlers.

Ron: Where are we?

Hermione: Shaftesbury Avenue. I used to come here to the theater with my mum and dad. Just popped into my head. I don't know why...

They hurry on, glancing over their shoulders at the dark shapes that move within the crowd behind them, strangers bumping by, faces passing in a paranoiac blur: a drunken man, a cackling woman with Blood-Red lipstick...

Hermione: This way!

As they take refuge in the shadows, Hermione begins to rummage through her tiny beaded purse.

Hermione: We need to change. Ron and Harry look at each other's dress robes. From the purse, Hermione extracts - in quick succession - two pairs of jeans, T-shirts, and a pair of light overcoats.

Ron: How the ruddy –

Hermione: Undetectable Extension Charm.

Ron: You're amazing, you are.

Hermione: Always the tone of surprise.

As she gives the bag a shake, there is loud echoing of heavy objects, as if something has fallen.

Hermione: That'll be the books.

"I wish I had a bag like that… I could take entire libraries of books wherever I'd go…" Levy mentions with a sigh.

"I feel you…" Lucy says.

"…!?... I'll make sure to prioritize the research for a spell that allows spatial manipulation in such a degree…" Laki Olietta declares, suddenly pretty serious.

Later that night in a shabby, greasy, empty cafe. The trio slides into a booth.

Harry: Do you reckon everyone's alright at the wedding? Maybe we should –

Ron: They were after you, mate. We'd just put everyone in danger going back.

Hermione: Ron's right. Cappuccino, please.

A gum-chewing waitress stands behind Harry. Ron, clueless when it comes to cappuccinos, nods to Hermione.

Ron: What she said.

Harry: Same.

Ron (as the waitress exits): So where do we go from here? The Leaky Cauldron?

Hermione: Too dangerous. If Voldemort's taken over the Ministry, none of the old places are safe.

The front door squeals and two workmen enter, glance idly at the trio and step to the counter.

Harry: My rucksack. With all my things. I left it back at the Burrow –

Hermione is shaking her head. Harry eyes the beaded purse.

Harry: You're joking.

Hermione: I've had the essentials packed for days. Just in case.

Ron: By the way - these jeans? Not my favorite. Bit tight.

Hermione gives him a withering glance. Harry can't help but smile. Then his eyes shift to the small security mirror near the ceiling, see the two workmen turning.

Harry: DOWN!

The tile explodes on the wall where Ron's head had been only seconds before. A rope of green light singes Hermione's hair.

Harry: Stupefy!

The jet of res light hits the biggest Death Eater straight in the face and he crumples instantly.

Death Eater: Expulsio!

The table behind Harry explodes and the spell ricochets, shattering the security mirror - sending shards raining everywhere, including one that laces Hermione's cheek - then striking the cappuccino machine, which sprays hot liquid all over the Death Eater. He bellows in pain and Hermione and Ron hit him with twin stunning spells. As he spasms on the ground, Hermione adds another for good measure:

Hermione: Petrificus Totalus!

He goes still.

The Waitress steps from the backroom. Sees the trio. The wands. Her gum bubble... Pop.

"Ugh… That reminds me all the reparations I have to pay everytime Natsu goes out in a quest…" Makarov bemoaned.

Hermione: Go.

She doesn't argue.

Harry: Lock the door, get the lights.

Hermione throws the bolt. Ron clicks the Deluminator, pitching the cafe into shadow. Harry eyes the unconscious Death Eater.

Harry: This one's name is Rowle. He was on the Astronomy Tower the night Snape killed Dumbledore.

Ron: This is Dolohov. I recognize him from the wanted posters.

Ron rolls him over with his foot. Dolohov's eyes shift in fear from Harry to Hermione, then back to Ron.

Ron: So what do we do with you, huh? Kill us if it was turned around, wouldn't you?

Ron's face is hard. Hermione eyes him uneasily. He notices.

Ron: Suppose it's him that did Mad-Eye. How would you feel then?

Hermione looks at Dolohov. The moment hangs, then:

Hsrry: It's better we wipe their memories. We kill them, they'll know we were here.

Ron: You're the boss. (turning to Hermione) Hermione?

She turns, looks at him. He reaches out, wipes a trickle of blood from her cheek.

Ron: You're the best with spells.

Shakily, she points her wand at Dolohov. Her arm trembles.

Hermione: Obliviate.

"These children are too young to be fighting in a war…" Wakaba says.

"They are horribly underprepared…" Macao acknowledges with a nod.

"Is it really a war considering the dark wizard and his lackeys have all but already won by killing the leader of their magical government and taken over their magical council?" Alzack inquires.

Harry is moving down a narrow corridor to its end and reaching a doorway. He eyes the nameplate: "SIRIUS." Harry enters, but something seems to be watching him from an unsettingly low position. The room seems to have been ransacked. Harry lingers by a photograph. In it, four young Hogwarts students – James Potter, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew and Lupin - stand grinning before the whomping willow. Harry traces the thin cone of light of his wand across their faces. Books and papers carpet the floor. A woman's face, striking and wise, peers out from a dust jacket. Harry crouches, turns the book over to read its title: A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot. Harry turns it back over, studies the woman's face again. He begins to rise when he notices a crumpled piece of paper embossed at the top with a name: Lily Potter. As Harry begins to read, we hear her voice can be heard:

Lily (voice): Dear Sirius. Thank you for Harry's birthday present. You'd think he'd been born on a broom. James says he's got the look of a Seeker, but then James would. We had a very quiet birthday tea, just us and old Bathilda, who dotes on Harry. Wormy dropped by late in the day, but seemed down and didn't stay long. James is frustrated being shut up here, but Dumbledore's still got his Invisibility Cloak, so he doesn't have much choice. By the way, Bathilda tells the most amazing stories about our old Headmaster. I don't know how much to believe. Can it really be true that Dumbledore –

Harry turns the letter over, but there is no more.

Hermione: Harry! Harry!

Harry steps out, finds Hermione dashing up the stairs. Seeing him, she exhales in relief. Calls out:

Hermione: Ron! I've found him!

Ron: Good! Tell him from me he's a git!

Hermione: Harry, you can't just disappear. We thought - She stops as Harry hands her the letter. She reads.

Hermione: It's from your Mum. To Sirius. Bathilda Bagshot...?

Harry: Yeah. They knew her. She wrote A History of Magic, you know.

Hermione: (with irony) Did she now?

Harry: I'm thinking maybe we should go talk to her. She still lives in Godric's Hollow. I'm thinking maybe she could help us. Hermione looks up, regards Harry closely.

Hermione: Harry. I can imagine why you'd want to go there, but... I don't think Bathilda Bagshot is going to know where Voldemort hid his Horcruxes.

Harry starts to respond, frowns. Hermione reaches out, touches his face lightly.

Harry and Hermione trail Ron to a narrow doorway. Beyond is a cramped bedroom, walls covered with eerie scrawlings and symbols of Dark Magic.

Hermione: Lovely.

Ron pulls the door shut. Affixed to the outside is a small sign, hand-lettered in a spidery crawl: Do Not Enter Without the Express Permission of Regulus Arcturus Black

Hermione: Regulus Arcturus Black...?

Hermione GASPS. Ron nods, extends his hand and taps the first letter of each name on the sign.

Ron: R... A... B.

Harry removes the note.

Harry: To the Dark Lord. I know I will be dead long before you read this... I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it...

Ron: R.A.B. was Sirius' brother?

Sloppy stacks of old daily prophets surround the trio.

Hermione: Yes. Question is, did he actually destroy the real Horcrux?

Harry nods... then spots a shadow trembling on the wall just outside the kitchen. He scrambles up and out of sight.

Harry: Stop! I order you!

Seconds later, Harry reappears... dragging Kreacher the house-elf by one ear. Kreacher mumbles foul oaths.

Ron: Kreacher...

"Ewww! What a disgusting creature!" Lucy declares.

Harry: Been spying on us, have you?

Kreacher: Kreacher has been... watching. Kreacher always watches.

Hermione: Maybe he knows.

Harry glances at her, realizes what she means, takes the locket and dangles it before Kreacher's massive eyes like a hypnotist. Kreacher watches it sway back and forth.

Harry: Ever seen this before?

Kreacher grumbles incoherently.

Harry: Kreacher, I own this place. Sirius left it to me. Which means I own you too. Kreacher grimaces mightily, then gives in.

Kreacher: That was Master Regulus' locket.

Harry: That's right. But there were two, weren't there?

Kreacher's eyes widen in surprise. He nods again.

Harry: Where's the other one?

Kreacher: Kreacher doesn't know where the other locket is

Hermione: But was it here? Did you ever see it?

Kreacher spins, his face ugly and vicious:

Kreacher: Filthy Mudblood - The Death Eaters will soon be coming for you!

Ron snatches Kreacher by the neck, shakes him.

Kreacher: (gargling the words) Blood-traitor Weasley –

Hermione: Ron! RON!

Reluctantly, Ron releases the elf.

Harry: Answer her.

Kreacher: Yes. It was here, in this house. A most evil object...

Harry: How do you mean?

Kreacher: Before he died, Master Regulus ordered Kreacher to destroy it. It was the last thing he asked of Kreacher. But no matter how Kreacher tried, he could not..

Harry: Where is it now? Did someone take it, Kreacher?

Kreacher: (nodding) He came in the night. He took many things, including the locket.

Harry: Who, Kreacher? Who was it?

Kreacher: Mundungus. Mundungus Fletcher.

The trio glance at one another, then Harry turns back to Kreacher, looks him in the eye.

Harry: Find him.

Crack! - Kreacher VANISHES.

The scene changes to show the ministry of magic. Pius Thicknesse, the new Minister For Magic, stands just where his predecessor did, addressing his employees. Alongside him we see Yaxley and Dolores Umbrige.

"Hey! That guy was with Dick-face and his lackeys! What is he doing there!?" Happy exclaimed, pointing.

"Nothing good I bet…" Gray replied.

Thicknesse: As your new Minister for Magic, I promise to restore this temple of tolerance to its former glory. Therefore, beginning today, each employee will be required to submit themselves for evaluation. But know this: You have nothing to fear... as long as you have nothing to hide...

As Thicknesse smiles, a gang of dark wizards emerge into the atrium, pushing a bloodied man before them. The crowd stirs uneasily and a flurry of leaflets flutter from the sky and land in a neat pile next to a stack of Daily Prophets. Instantly, the newspaper boy begins to insert the leaflets into the paper. Each leaflet is imprinted with Harry's face and emblazoned with "UNDESIRABLE #1"...

"Ah shit… This is not going to end well…" Cana commented.

"Dark wizards taking control of the government… Things are about to get fucked up for a lot of innocent people…" Alzack said.

The Hogwarts Express stands still upon the cracks as Dark Wizards board the train... They move down the aisle, flinging open cabin doors, in search of Harry. They pass Ginny and Seamus, Katie Bell, Lavender, Romilda Vane and Cormac.

Cormac: My father will hear about this.

Finally, Neville bars their way, smiles defiantly.

Neville: He's not here, you fools.

In the Granger's house, Dark wizards smash through the front door, enter the parlor. Photographs sit still upon the mantle, showing only Hermione's parents, the tea they'd been drinking still sitting on the table, dried up, but unwashed... In Diagon Alley, Posters of Harry pattern alley walls and street posts, trembling in a bitter wind. In the shadows, Mundungus Fletcher concludes a transaction with a desperate-looking witch, then begins to count his money with a cruel smile. Seconds later, a Snatcher squad appears, and he withdraws into an alley, into the safety of the darkness.

A scene transition, Ron fiddles with a Radio, which whistles eerily as he attempts to find a signal. Harry lies on his side, studying the Snitch in his palm, its wings flapping slowly.

Hermione: They have flesh memories.

Harry turns, sees that Hermione is eyeing the Snitch.

Hermione: Snitches. They're never touched by bare skin until the Seeker captures it. Even the wizard who fabricates it wears gloves. That way, if there's a dispute, the Snitch can identify who first touched it.

Harry: You mean... it remembers me?

Hermione: (nodding) When Scrimgeour first gave it to you, I thought it might open at your touch - that Dumbledore had hidden something in it.

Harry ponders this, eyeing the wings flapping slowly, then... Crack! A sound echoes down the hall. Harry and Hermione race into the kitchen. Crazy shadows spill from a far door and pots crash. Suddenly, a tiny figure, wet and ragged, tumbles into view, bangs into the wall opposite, and scrambles up. As he starts back for the kitchen, he stops. Sees Harry. Smiles. DOBBY.

Dobby: Harry Potter! So long it's been –

Just then, a hand - Kreacher's - reaches out, grabs Dobby by the neck and pulls him away. Kreacher, Dobby and Mundungus Fletcher tumble from one side of the kitchen to the other. As they fly apart, Mundungus rolls to his feet, dripping wet, wand flashing.

Hermione: Expelliarmus!

Mundungus' wand soars into the air... into Hermione's hand.

Kreacher: As requested, Kreacher has returned with the thief Mundungus Fletcher!

Dobby: Dobby has also returned with the thief Mundungus Fletcher!

Mundungus: What are you playing at - setting a pair of bleedin' 'ouse-elves on me!

Dobby: Dobby was only trying to help! Dobby saw Kreacher in Diagon Alley, which Dobby thought was curious. And then Dobby heard Kreacher mention Harry Potter's name, which Dobby thought was very curious. And then Dobby saw that Kreacher was talking to the thief Mundungus Fletcher, which Dobby thought was very, very –

Mundungus: I'm no thief, you foul little git. I'm a purveyer of rare and wondrous objects –

Ron: You're a thief, Dung. Everyone knows it. Everyone turns. Ron stands in the doorway. Dobby smiles.

Dobby: Master Weasley! So good to see you again!

Ron nods, eyes the btight red shoes on Dobby's feet.

Ron: Wicked trainers.

Mundungus: Listen, I panicked that night, all right? I never volunteered to die for you, mate. Can I help it if Mad-Eye fell off his broom –

Hermione: Stop lying!

Hermione begins to move toward Mundungus. Ron reaches out, takes her by the shoulders, eyes Mundungus warningly.

Ron: Piece of advice. Let's not rehash old times. Got it... mate?

Harry: When you turned this place over - don't deny it! - you found a locket, am I right?

Mundungus: Why? Was it valuable?

Hermione: You've still got it.

Ron: No. He's worried he should have got more money for it.

Mundungus: Wouldn't be difficult, would it? Bleedin' gave it away, din' I? There I was, pitching me wares in Diagon Alley when some ministry hag comes up and asks to see my license. Says she's of a mind to lock me up and would've, too, she hadn' taken a fancy to that locket.

Harry: Who was she? This witch?

Mundungus: Well, she's right there, in't she? Bleedin' bow an' all.

He points to a yellowed Prophet on top of a nearby stack, where a squat woman with the face of a toad blinks from the front page: DOLORES UMBRIDGE.

"Ugh! Why it has to be the toad woman!" Warren Rocko says with a sneer of disgust.

The scene changes to show a dark cathedral, possessed of a palpable chill. Dementors float eerily in the gloom. The ceiling stretches high, disappears in darkness. As Harry and Ron enter - unnoticed at first, wearing a disguise under Polyjuice potion - they move cautiously, taking in their surroundings. Hermione comes into view, sitting with a stack of parchment behind a balustrade alongside Umbridge and Yaxley, while a bright-silver cat - Umbridge's Patronus - prowls up and down, providing warmth to them and them only. Harry's eyes track the cat, then drift to Umbridge herself. Suddenly he falters. Ron notices. Eyes him curiously. Whispers:

Ron: What is it?

The corners of Harry's eyes contract, his head slightly cocked... as if he can sense the presence of something.

Harry: It's here...

As Ron reacts - deciphering Harry's words - a woman's voice comes their way:

Woman: Reg...

Ron turns. Below the balustrade, a frail woman, Mary Cattermole, sits alone, wrists chained. Seeing Ron, her wan face brightens. Ron glances at Harry, who nods, urging him on. Ron moves to the center of the room, taking his place behind the woman. Hesitating, he places his hands gently upon her shoulders, then glances up, sees Hermione watching him.

Umbridge: Mary Elizabeth Cattermole?

Mary: Yes.

Ubridge: Mother to Maisie, Ellie and Alfred? Wife to Reginald?

Mary looks up to Ron, her eyes glistening with fear. He smiles reassuringly. She looks away, replies:

Mary: Yes.

Harry eyes Umbridge. She has draped the pink scarf over her chair, revealing a gold chain that extends from her neck down into the ruffled folds of her blouse. A slight humming, faint and oddly lyrical, rings in Harry's ears as he studies the chain. As if drawn forward by some irresistible force, he begins to drift toward the balustrade.

Umbridge: A wand was taken from you upon your arrival at the Ministry today, Mrs. Cattermole. Is this that wand? Umbridge displays a cheerywood wand. Mary Cattermole nods.

Umbridge: Would you please tell the court from which witch or wizard you took this wand.

Mary: But I didn't take it. I got it in Diagon Alley, at Ollivander's, when I was eleven. It chose me.

Umbridge leans forward, teeth glittering as the cat slinks by and briefly illuminates her face - and the chain at her neck trembles like a snake, something heavy swinging forward and dangling over the void. The locket. Ron stares at it dumbstruck. Hermione catches her breath. Harry, fully removed from the shadow now, stands clearly in view, the corners of his eyes narrowing once again, the hum growing louder in his ears. Slowly, he reaches into his pocket...

Umbridge: No, no, I don't think so, Mrs. Cattermole. Wands only choose witches. And you are not a witch.

Mary: But I am! Tell them, Reg! Tell them what I am!

Ron starts to speak, but Umbridge's gaze has shifted, to Harry, to the wand rising in his hand.. and pointed at her.

Umbridge: What the devil are you doing, Albert?

As Harry speaks, his own face ripples through Runcorn's, the Polyjuice Potion wearing off.

Albert Runcorn/Harry: You're lying. And one mustn't tell lies, Dolores... Stupefy!

A flash of red light hits Umbridge and she slumps, forehead striking the balustrade. Instantly the silver cat vanishes. Yaxley draws his wand, but Ron is too quick and takes him out with a single blast. Hermione strips the locket from Umbridge's neck and leaps down. Instantly, her breath comes in plumes as the Dementors drift forward.

Harry: EXPECTO PATRONUM!

A silver stag soars from the tip of Harry's wand, circling the room as it drives the Dementors back.

Hermione: Relashio!

The chains encircling Mary Cattermole's wrists drop like dead snakes. As she stands, she eyes Harry in amazement as he transforms back into himself.

Mary: You? It's you! Reg, it's Harry Potter!

Reg Cattermole/Ron: 'Tis, isn't it? This'll be one to tell the kids.

As the trio, along with Mary Cattermole, pelts into the atrium and races toward the fireplaces, Harry bumps into the muttering wizard, who spins, takes a look at Harry, blinks.

Wizard: Harry Potter...? (louder) Harry Potter.

Another wizard hears, looks, then repeats the same, Harry's name spreading like wildfire in the gloomy hush. Hermione glances about nervously and as she does, begins to transform back into herself.

Hermione: Harry... they've seen you. We've got to get out of here.

Harry nods, quickens his pace. Ron glances about, then turns, facing Mary as he continues to walk backwards.

Reg Cattermole/Ron: Mary. Go home. Get the kids. I'll... I'll meet you there. We have to get out the country, understand?

Mary shakes her head, confused.

Reg Cattermole/Ron: Mary! Do as I say!

Mary stops, a bit teary-eyed, nods dutifully. Ron frowns.

Reg Cattermole/Ron: I'm sorry. It's just –

Mary Cattermole takes him by the collar, pulls him into a deep kiss. Harry and Hermione glance back and watch as Ron transforms - during the kiss - back into himself.

Reg Cattermole: MARY!

All eyes turn. The real Reg Cattermole stands - robeless - outside one of the fireplaces. She looks up at Ron, now transformed, and jumps back.

Ron: Long story. Nice meeting you.

He gives her a peck, races off. He's halfway to the fireplaces when he spies... Percy. He slows, then stops altogether, and they stare, wordless, at one another. Finally, Percy begins to open his mouth –

Ron: Piss off.

"Bwa Ha Ha Ha. I bet that was awkward…" Cana said with a shit-eating grin, highly amused.

Wakaba shook his head in disapproval. "It's bad news getting yourself involved with another man's wife. That's a heap of trouble you don't need…"

Yaxley staggers into the atrium.

Yaxley: Seal the exits! Now!

Harry, Ron and Hermione glance at each other, break for the fireplaces. As Yaxley fires on them, one fireplace after another seals itself. As they reach the last open grate, they pitch themselves - as one - onto the polished marble floor - spells sailing over their heads - and go sliding inside. As they fall into darkness, Harry glances back and watches Yaxley pitch himself into the void just before a solid block of granite drops - like a guillotine - sealing the fireplace and plunging Yaxley - and the trio - into total darkness. A whirlwind tosses the trio as flashes of light reveal each briefly, including Yaxley, who reaches out for Hermione's robe. The door of Grimmauld Place rushes forward, the eyes of the serpent knocker flashing, then there is a burst of purple light, a tortured scream and... The world spins as Harry lies on his back on a bed of leaves and twigs. Above, sunlight streams through a canopy of trees. Wincing, Harry rises on his elbows, sees the locket lying in the dirt. He scrabbles up, scoops it into his fingers and grins.

Later Harry and Hermione are talking in front a fireplace.

Hermione: So where do we go next?

Harry: Dumbledore had a theory. He felt that the Horcruxes would not be made out of random objects. And he felt they wouldn't be hidden randomly either. We know of three so far. The ring, which according to Dumbledore belonged to Tom Riddle's grandfather. The diary, which belonged to Tom himself. And this, which - again, according to Dumbledore - belonged to his mother. Hermione eyes the locket as it glimmers in the firelight.

Hermione: It scares me a bit, that, thinking it's a piece of Vol—

Ron: No, don't! Don't say it!

Harry and Hermione turn, see Ron stirring.

Ron: It's taboo - You-Know-Who's name. That's how they track people now. It's how they found us in the cafe that night.

Harry: How d'you know?

Ron: I overheard a bloke from the Enforcement office talking about it at the Ministry.

"Seriously!? Dick-face can track people down everytime someone says his name? That's some messed up magic!?" Reedus Jonah says incredulously.

"Which means there's no other choice but to keep calling him dick-face. Fine by me…" Cana says with a nod before downing the contents of her mug.

Harry turns the shard of a mirror over in his fingers, then eyes Hermione collecting flowers in the distance. She looks beautiful. Seeing him, she smiles, waves, moves on. The Radio spits static and he tilts the mirror so he can see Ron. He looks annoyed, but holds his tongue and slips the mirror in his pocket. Noticing the locket, he slips it from his shirt, studies the fissures in the locket's metal skin. Suddenly he winces. The locket spills from his palm, dances upon the chain. The skin encircling his scar constricts.

Voldemort (voice): Tell me, Gregorovitch. Tell me where it is...

An old man (Gregorovitch) with pure-white hair and a bushy beard cowers in a dark corner.

Gregorovitch: I told you! I no longer have it! It was stolen from me! Many years ago!

Voldemort: You wouldn't be lying to me, would you, Gregorovitch? Because, I must tell you... that will only make it worse for you...

As a bony hand - Voldemort's - extends a wand, Gregorovitch reacts with fear before the camera rushes in, drifting through his dilating pupil into... A hall of shadows. A younger Gregorovitch hurries toward a distant room, a lantern bobbing in his hand.

Gregorovitch (Voice): I speak the truth! I remember like it was yesterday...

Gregorovitch bursts inside, lantern swaying. Wood shavings litter the floor. On the window ledge, perched like a giant bird, a young man with golden hair grins devilishly, then raises his wand. A blast of light bleaches the screen and we are back to the present. Gregorovitch's face stricken with terror, as Voldemort's want tip blazes with light.

Voldemort: Who was he? The thief?

Gregorovitch: Just a boy! Not of the village. It was he who took it. I never saw it again. I swear on my life.

Voldemort: I believe you...

A burst of green light engulfs the room and... Harry's eyes flutter open. He sees Hermione, beautiful in the amber dusk, standing a bit away, studying him.

Hermione: I thought it had stopped.

Harry looks at her, shakes his head.

Hermione: You can't let him in, Harry. Dumbledore himself said it. You have to close your mind. It's too dangerous –

Harry: It's not a candle I can blow out, Hermione. It always burns, even if it's just a flicker. Can you understand that?

Harry eyes her, then looks away. She frowns, concerned by this, then:

Hermione: Tell me. What you saw.

Harry: He's found him. Vol—

He stops, glancing back toward the tent, toward Ron.

Harry: You-Know-Who. He's found Gregorovitch –

Hermione: The wandmaker?

Harry: Yes. How'd you know?

Hermione: Viktor got his wand from Gregorovitch. Most Durmstrang students did at one time. What's he got to do with You-Know-Who?

Harry: You-Know-Who wants something Gregorovitch once had - dunno what. But he's desperate to have it. It's as if his life depends on it.

Hermione studies Harry. The radio squawks from inside the tent. Harry's eyes flare; he starts to speak –

Hermione: Don't - It... comforts him.

Harry: Well it sets my teeth on edge. What's he expecting to hear? Good news?

Hermione: I think he just hopes he doesn't hear bad news. It gets him through the day.

Harry: And what gets you through the day?

Hermione: We've all made sacrifices, Harry. Harry eyes her expressionlessly, nods toward the tent.

Harry: How long before he can travel?

Hermione: I don't know. It takes time. I'm doing all I can.

Harry: You're not doing enough.

Hermione studies Harry's angry profile. Then:

Hermione: Take it off.

Harry turns, sees Hermione studying him closely. She points toward his throat, toward the locket.

Hermione: Take it off. Now.

Harry slips the locket off... Reacts.

Hermione: Better?

Harry: Loads.

Hermione takes the locket, cradles it in her fingers.

Hermione: It's cold. Even though it's been lying against your skin for days.

Hermione sees Harry studying the locket, troubled.

Hermione: We'll take turns. Okay?

Hermione slips it over her neck. She frowns briefly, sensing its presence, then looks up at Harry. He studies her, then nods.

"A cursed object? Great… Because that's the only thing that was needed right at the very moment…" Macao says with boundless sarcasm.

Harry is seen pushing through a gate, then let's go of Hermione's hand, row upon row of snowy tombstones stretch before him. As he heads off, Hermione studies him, then follows. She pauses by a large tombstone freckled with lichen.

Hermione: Harry.

Harry: Is it - ?

Hermione: No. But look.

Harry steps over, looks: KENDRA DUMBLEDORE AND HER DAUGHTER ARIANA. A quotation is etched in the granite: "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Hermione: Did you know he had a sister? Harry stares at the stone, his face a mask

Harry: No.

Harry turns away, walks off. Hermione starts walking amid the stones, studying the names, then stops by an extremely old grave. She crouches.

Hermione: Lumos.

Hermione plays the wand's light over the surface of the stone, then stops. Though deeply worn by time, the symbol is unmistakable: the TRIANGULAR EYE. Hermione rakes the light over the name: IGNOTUS PEVERELL.

Hermione: Ignotus... Hey, Har –

She stops. Harry stands several rows away. Utterly still as he stares at the tombstones of his parents: JAMES POTTER Born 27 March 1960 Died 31 October 1981. LILY POTTER Born 30 January 1960 Died 31 October 1981 "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." Hermione appears, looks at Harry. Sees that tears are streaming down his cheeks. Hermione raises her wand, traces a circle in the air and a wreath of Christmas roses blossom in the snow. Harry nods, staring at them.

Harry: Happy Christmas, Hermione.

Hermione: Happy Christmas, Harry. Hermione laces her arm around his waist, and he drapes his arm over her shoulder. They stand silently.

"That is so sad and heartwarming at the same time…" Levy says with a solemn esxpression.

"Bwaaah, the parents died protecting their kitty…" Happy cried.

Hermione: Harry...

Harry: Yeah.

Hermione: Someone's watching us. By the gate.

Harry nods, careful not to look too soon, then glances up. A stooped figure, barely discernible in the drifting snow, stands in the shadows of the church. She - it is distinctly female, and older - doesn't move initially - as if wanting Harry to see her - then turns away.

Harry: C'mon.

All light has left the sky. The stooped figure hobbles along, past the pub, where shadows play against the windows and muffled voices can be heard. Harry and Hermione follow through a narrow alley. Hermione eyes the woman ahead, then looks about their surroundings, feeling trapped.

Hermione: I don't think this is a good idea.

Harry: We look like ordinary Muggles.

Hermione: Muggles who've just been laying flowers on your parents' grave. Just then, up ahead, the stooped woman holds up her hand and Hermione and Harry stop. Seconds later, a group of snatchers passes by the alley. As they vanish, the woman continues on.

Harry: Relax. This is right. I know it.

"I have a bad feeling about this…" Warren Rocko said, with obvious worry.

"You're not the only one…" Alzack replied.

The woman hobbles on. The lane is lined with modest cottages with small and tidy gardens. Hermione barely gives them a glance, nervously eyeing the woman ahead, before realizing she is walking alone. She turns, sees Harry standing several yards back, staring at a dark cottage, its garden overgrown with weeds, its roof entirely covered in ivy and snow. Hermione returns to him, looks. Gasps.

Hermione: Oh my god. Harry...

Harry: This is where they died, Hermione. This is where he murdered them.

Hermione studies Harry's bitter profile, then the house, careful not to disturb the moment with words. Absently, Harry places his fingers upon the locket at his chest. It is trembling - over-so-slightly. Then, without turning, while still staring at the house, Harry speaks:

Harry: You're Bathilda, aren't you?

Hermione blinks, confused, then turns and jumps. The old woman is standing only yards away, watching them. The door rattles open and tiny Bathilda Bagshot hobbles inside, followed first by Harry, then Hermione, who wrinkles her nose. As Bathilda exits the room, Hermione glances about.

Hermione: Harry, I'm not sure about this.

Harry: Hermione, she knew Dumbledore. She might have the sword. Besides, she's barely knee-high to a house-elf. I think we can overpower her if it turns ugly.

Hermione: There's something odd about her. And what's that smell?

Harry: She's gaga, remember?

"That's a rude thing to say to old people!" Makarov huffs.

Bathilda returns, holding a box of matches. She strikes one, tries to light a candle, but her movements are clumsy.

Harry: Here. Let me do that.

Hermione: You have a lovely house, Miss Bagshot.

Hermione eyes a photograph of a curiously compelling young girl, then runs a finger along a table. It comes away thick with dust. She frowns, looks up, finds Bathilda watching her.

Harry: Miss Bagshot? Who is this man?

Harry stands by a chest of drawers, holding the match over a grouping of photographs. Coated in dust, the figures in the frames flit like ghosts behind veils. Harry picks one up, wipes away the dust with his hand. In it a merry-faced boy looks out, his cheery expression belying a particularly intense gaze.

Hsrry: His name. Can you tell me his name?

Bathilda stares at the photograph solemnly, then peers up at Harry. Her eyes are thick with cataracts. Harry stares, unnerved, then Hermione walks over, looks at the picture.

Harry: This is him, Hermione. The one I saw in Gregorovitch's wandshop. The thief. Miss Bagshot, who is he?

She looks at him, then jerks her head toward the stairs.

Harry: She wants us to go upstairs.

Hermione: All right...

As Hermione moves, Bathilda shakes her head, points at Harry.

Harry: She wants me to go. Alone.

Hermione: Why?

Harry: It's all right. You stay here.

Hermione: Harry...

Harry holds up his hand, silencing her, then follows Bathilda. Just before he disappears, he looks back and winks, but Hermione doesn't look reassured. Harry trails Bathilda up a circular staircase, uncomfortably narrow and lined with books.

Meanwhile, back with Hermione, she's reaching for a book, The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore. A note is attached: "Dear Batty. Thanks for your help. You said everything... even if you don't remember. Rita."

Harry enters a dark low-ceilinged room. He wrinkles his nose at the smell, then hears the door close behind him. The room plunges into darkness.

Harry: Lumos.

Harry sweeps the room, gives a start. Bathilda's face wavers in the dark, only feet away, staring at him.

Hermione hugs herself as she exits the sitting room and peers into the adjacent hallway. A sliver of the kitchen can be seen, and a faint buzzing heard. A strange shadow dances on one kitchen wall, specks moving. Hermione approaches.

Harry watches as Bathilda moves closer, transfixed by her milky eyes. The Horcrux on his chest twitches.

Bathilda (in Parseltongue): You are Potter?

Harry (in Parseltongue): Yes.

As Hermione nears the kitchen, she eyes the cloud of specks swarming the wall curiously. The buzzing grows to a hiss as the room... comes into view. Hermione gasps. Clotted blood streaks the sink and great wide swaths of red stain the floor where hundreds of flies swarm.

Bathilds (in Parseltongue): I have something for you...

Hermione's gaze rises, to the ceiling, to the heating vent, from which the hissing voice has just come.

Harry's arm droops, his wand tip painting the room with dots of light as he sways, wincing as his scar stings. Bathilda points, to a dressing table cluttered with soiled laundry, her milky eyes fixed on Harry. Something surfaces in her filmy corneas, her pupils changing from dots to silts.

Hermione, wand drawn, ascends the stairs.

Harry peers at the foul laundry, moving closer, when, out of the corner of his eye, Bathilda moves weirdly. He wheels and watches in horror as... Bathilda's old body collapses and Nagini pours from her neck. As Harry raises his wand, Nagini strikes, piercing his forearm. His wand flies out of his hand, its light spinning dizzily around the room. Nagini's tail swings about, knocks Harry's legs out from under him.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" All of the Fairy Tail mages scream at the unexpected reveal of the big-ass serpent.

"I did not see that coming!" Cana exclaims, having reared back away from her seat.

Hermione: Harry!

As Harry rolls onto his back, gasping for breath, Nagini's massive body rolls over him, the Horcrux ticking feverishly against his chest. As Harry roars in pain, the lenses of his glasses fracture. The bedroom door swings open, reveals Hermione silhouetted against the stairwell, wand poised. A flash of red-light ricochets around the room and Nagini's tail whips angrily about, shattering the bedroom window. Hermione dives aside and Harry covers his face as the curtains burst into flames and shards of glass shower the room in a rush of cold air. As Harry reclaims his wand and rises, Nagini's body uncoils in fury, splintering furniture and blasting holes into the walls.

Hermione: Confringo!

As Hermione's spell caroms off the trembling walls, we see both her and Harry reflected in a mirror. He leaps, sweeping her toward the smoldering window. As they pitch themselves into the night, the mirror explodes and shards of glass, reflecting bits of Hermione and Harry and the giant snake, tumble in the night, slowly vanishing into... nothingness.

"Well that was a bust…" Reedus Jonah said with a depressed expression.

"I think I'm going to develop a dislike of snakes after this…" Lucy said with a shudder.

The scene changes to show Hermione holding up a book in her lap: The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore.

Hermione: It was in Bathilda's sitting room. Rita Skeeter had sent it to her. Harry, it doesn't make for very nice reading –

Harry: Who is he, Hermione? The thief? Did Dumbledore know him?

Hermione: Yes.

Harry: Well?

Hermione: For a time.

Harry: Tell me, Hermione. Who is he?

Hermione: Gellert Grindelwald. He's not very well known in Britain, but there was a time, before You-Know-Who...

Harry: Hermione, I don't need to have read A History of Magic to know who Gellert Grindelwald is.

Hermione nods, hands him the book, open to a photograph of a teenager dumbledore laughing with another boy (Gellert Grindelwald). The caption: "For the Greater Good? Dark Days; Dumbledore and Grindelwald." On the opposite page is a photograph of Grindelwald in later days, clad in black, holding a jagged wand - no longer the carefree lad of youth.

Hermione: When Grindelwald was seventeen, he was expelled from Durmstrang. He'd started doing some twisted things at school - experiments. A few teachers had always protected him, but they couldn't anymore. After he left, he traveled for awhile, then ended up in Godric's Hollow where his great aunt lived, Bathilda Bagshot.

Harry: Get to the hard part, Hermione.

Hermione: She introduced him to Dumbledore. It made sense. Dumbledore's mother had just died, Grindelwald was troubled, and they were both brilliant - they'd never really had anyone they could talk to on the same level. They did a lot of talking that summer. But they always returned to one particular subject.

Harry looks up.

Hermione: Wizard rule over Muggles.

Harry: And Dumbledore believed in it?

Hermione: Yes. Harry nods, looking at the photograph again.

Harry: 'For the Greater Good.' What does that mean?

Hermione: It was something Dumbledore came up with. He believed wizards were superior and should rule over Muggles, but gently, for their own good. Grindelwald took a more violent position. Harry shakes his head, staring at the book.

Hermione: It was a different time, Harry. It was one summer. Dumbledore was young –

Harry: We're young, Hermione. And here we are, risking our lives to fight against the very thing Dumbledore supported.

"Oh…? I see… So, this is what this entire fiasco is about…" Nab Lasaro said with a completely serious mien, "Mages wanting to rule over those who don't posses magic… I've seen the type before…"

"We all have seen these kinds of people before, we have fought against them." Wakaba spoke through wafts of smoke. "There's not a single member of Fairy Tail who hasn't take a quest that has led them into conflict with would be dictators wanting to enslave the common people…

Makarov nodded. "There will always be those who believe their magic and power gives them the right to rule over those weaker than them…"

Hermione: He changed, Harry. Years later, it was Dumbledore who put Grindelwald in prison.

Harry stares at the photograph of the laughing thief one last moment, then tosses the book away.

Harry: Where's my wand? I'll take the watch.

Hermione hesitates. Her expression makes him apprehensive.

Harry: Hermione. Where's my wand?

She points. There, lying by the fire, is a shattered stick. He picks it up gently, sees that it is nearly severed in two. One fragile strand of phoenix feather holds it together.

Hermione: It's my fault. As we were leaving Godric's Hollow, I cast a curse and it rebounded... I'm sorry, Harry, I tried to mend it, but wands are different –

Harry: It's done.

Hermione: Maybe we can –

Harry: It's done.

His tone puts an end to it. She nods.

Harry: Leave me yours. You get back in the warm. And give me that.

Harry gestures to the locket. Hermione starts to speak, then simply hands it over. She starts to leave, pauses.

Hermione: He loved you, Harry. I know he loved you.

She trails her fingers lightly over his hair, and he closes his eyes.

Cana gave a pointed stare at the guildmaster… "You don't have a dark little secret lying around somewhere that you might be keeping from us, right? Something that might shatter the opinion we have of you headmaster?

Makarov gave her an 'Are you fucking serious?' look. "No! I do admit that at my old age, I've lived and experienced many things… Some things that I regret, and others that I would like to forget… But I've never helped a wannabe dark lord in his quest for world domination if that's what you're asking about…"

"Good, good… I was just checking…" Cana replied with a satisfied nod.

A wet and frozen Harry eyes Ron, then steps forward and dangles the locket close to the sword of Gryffindor. It immediately begins to twitch.

Harry: See that? It knows. It's afraid. (looking up) Do it.

Ron: What? No. Harry. That thing's bad for me. I can't handle it. I'm not making excuses for how I acted, but that thing affects me more than it affects you and Hermione. It made me think stuff - stuff I was thinking anyway, but it made everything worse.

Harry: All the more reason.

Ron: No. I can't –

Harry: Then why are you here? Why did you come back?

Harry's tone is hard, meant to wound. This stops Ron. He steps back, grips the sword with both hands. Harry nods.

Harry: I'll have to speak to it in order for it to open. When it does, don't hesitate. I don't know what's in here, but it'll put up a fight. The bit of Riddle that was in his diary tried to kill me.

"Yes, we remember…" Macao says sarcastically.

"Messing with dark relics that are probably cursed. This has terrible idea written all over…" "Wakaba complained.

Ron nods and then Harry sweeps a layer of frost from a flat rock, lays the locket down.

Harry: On three. One. Two. Three. (in Parseltongue) Take me inside...

Click! The twin doors of the locket snap open. Behind each glass window a living eye blinks - Tom Riddle's eyes.

Harry: Stab it, Ron. Now.

Ron raises his trembling hands, poises the sword. Then a voicd hisses from the Horcrux.

Voice: I have seen your heart and it is mine...

Harry: Don't listen to it.

Voice: I have seen your dreams, Ronald Weasley, and I have seen your fears...

Harry: Ron. Don't listen to it!

Voice: Least loved, by the mother who craved a daughter. Least loved, by the girl who prefers your friend...

Harry: Ron. Stab it!

The locket quivers in Harry's fingers, turning white-hot, and he releases it. As the eyes gleam scarlet, Harry grimaces and a flash of blinding light bursts forth, leaving in its wake two figures floating in the darkness – Ghost images of Harry and Hermione.

Ghost-Harry: We were better without you, happier without you.

Ghost-Hermione: Who could look at you beside Harry Potter? What are you, compared with the Chosen One...?

Ron stands transfixed, sword in hand, horrified.

Harry: Ron. It lies! Stab it! STAB IT!

Ghost-Harry: Your mother confessed that she would have preferred me as a son...

Ghost-Hermione: Who wouldn't prefer him, what woman would take you, you are nothing, nothing, nothing to him...

The ghostly Hermione, frightening yet beautiful, entwines herself around the ghostly Harry, her hair running like silk over their faces as she leans forward and covers his mouth with hers.

Harry: Do it, Ron! Kill it! Ron's head turns then, to Harry, and Harry freezes. A trace of scarlet glints in Ron's eyes. He raises the sword high and - for a moment - Harry looks fearful. Then, Ron pivots and brings the blade down hard, cleaving the locket. A scream echoes throughout the forest and the ghostly Harry and Hermione turn to dust, becoming one with the vapor drifting from Ron's mouth and all is... Quiet. Harry eyes the shattered locket, then turns his gaze on Ron who stands alone, sword dangling from the end of his arm, chest heaving. Harry scoops up the locket and examines it. Riddle's eyes are gone, the silk lining stained and faintly smoking. Ron lets the sword fall to the ground, drops to his knees. Harry steps forward and - carefully - places a hand upon his shoulder.

"Fucking cursed objects…" Wakaba groused.

"It was pretty scary!" Happy exclaimed.

Harry: After you left, she cried for a week. She's like my sister.

Ron: I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left.

Harry: You've sort of made up for it tonight. Getting the sword. Finishing off the Horcrux.

Ron: Saving your life.

Harry: That too.

They both stare at the remains of the locket.

Ron: And just think of it. Only three to go.

"Well, fuck…" Cana declared, clearly not agreeing with that idea.

Hermione: We need to talk.

Ron wheels, sees Hermione standing in the mouth of the tent, Life and Lies in hand, looking at Harry.

Ron: All right.

Hermione (ignoring him): I want to go and see Xenophilius Lovegood.

Harry: Sorry?

Hermione: See this? It's a letter Dumbledore wrote to Grindelwald. Look at the signature. It's the mark again.

Hermione turns the book in Harry's direction. Dumbledore replaced the "A" in Albus with the triangular eye.

Hermione: It keeps cropping up. Here. In Beedle the Bard. In the graveyard in Godric's Hollow - what?

The scene transitions and now a press room can be seen, great tottering towers of Quibbler back-issues rise to the ceiling while an old-fashioned wooden printing press chugs away in the center of the room, spitting out new ones.

Xenophilius: Excuse me.

As Lovegood steps to the wheezing press, the trio glance at past quibblers laying about: MUGGLE MURDERS RISE, DOZENS DIE AS DEATH EATERS ATTACK, HARRY IN HIDING, WHERE IS THE CHOSEN ONE? YOU-KNOW-WHO CLAIMS ANOTHER VICTIM: QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP CANCELLED AMID DEATH THREATS. Abruptly, the press goes silent and Lovegood turns.

Xenophilius: So. What brings you here, Mr. Potter?

Harry: Well, sir, we need some help.

Xenophilius: Ah. Help. I see. Yes, well, the thing is, helping Harry Potter, rather dangerous these days...

The trio exchange glances.

Ron: Aren't you the one who keeps telling everyone it's their first duty to help Harry?

Xenophilius: I have expressed that view, yes. In the past. Would you excuse me one moment. I shall return shortly and, um, try to help you...

Lovegood dashes from the room.

Harry: What's going on here?

Ron: He's mental. Let's face it. Luna's always good value, but she's nutty as squirrel poo.

Just then, Hermione gasps, points to an enourmous spiral horn mounted on the wall.

Ron: Well, yeah, of course. It's massive, isn't it?

Hermione: No! Don't go near it!

Harry stops.

Hermione: It's an Erumpent horn. It's a Class B Tradeable Material.

Harry and Ron exchange a "she's mental" glance.

Ron: Yeah, all right...

Just then, Lovegood returns with a tray rattling with cups.

Xenophilius: May I offer you all an infusion of Gurdyroots? We make it ourselves.

Hermione: Where is Luna, sir?

Xenophilius: Luna? Oh, um, she'll be along. Now how can I help you, Mr. Potter?

Harry: Well, sir, it's about something you were wearing around your neck at the wedding. A symbol...

Xenophilius: You mean this?

Lovegood reaches into his nightshirt and pulls out the chain with the triangular eye.

Harry: Yes! Exactly. What we wondered, sir, is, well, what is it?

Xenophilius: What is it? Well, it's the sign of the Deathly Hallows, of course.

Harry/Ron/Hermione: The what?

Xenophilius: The Deathly Hallows. I assume you're all familiar with 'The Tale of the Three Brothers?'

Hermione/Ron: Yes.

Harry: No.

Harry looks at the others, then Hermione reaches into her beaded bag and pulls out The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

Hermione: It's in here.

Xenophilius: Well, there's no real reason to go on unless one is familiar with the tale. Why don't you read it aloud, Miss...?

Hermione: Granger. Well... all right. (opening the book) There were once three brothers who were traveling along a lonely, winding road at twilight –

Ron: Midnight. Mum always said midnight. (as Hermione glowers) But twilight's fine. Better actually.

Hermione: In time, the brothers reached a river too treacherous to pass...

As Hermione continues, Lovegood looks out the window. A crow cycles into view and as it flies, the sky darkens. The crow swoops over a river to reveal three Silhouettes.

Hermione: But being learned in the magical arts, the three brothers simply waved their wands and made a bridge. They were halfway across it when they found their path blocked by a hooded figure.

A bridge magically materializes, and the three figures begin to cross, when the hooded figure appears.

Hermione: It was Death and he felt cheated, for travelers usually drowned in the river. But Death was cunning. He granted each brother a wish for their cleverness. The oldest, who was a combative man, asked for a wand more powerful than any in existence. So, Death fashioned one from an elder tree on the banks of the river.

All of this is dramatized in surreal silhouettes.

Hermione: The second brother, who was an arrogant man, asked for the power to recall others from Death. So, Death plucked a stone from the river. Finally, Death turned to the third brother. A humble man, he asked for something that would make him disappear. And so, it was that Death handed over his own Cloak of Invisibility. Death then stepped aside and the brothers went their separate ways...

The brothers cross the bridge, and part.

Hermione: The first brother traveled to a distant village where, with Elder Wand in hand, he killed a wizard with whom he had once quarreled. Proceeding to an Inn, he bragged of his invincibility. But that very night...

A wizard in shadows is seen, slipping into a room, knife in hand.

Hermione: ...Another wizard crept upon him as he lay sleeping. He took the Elder Wand... and slit the brother's throat for good measure. And so, Death took the first brother for his own...

"Ah, yes… The perils of pride and great ego." Makarov said with a nod. "You'll do well to learn from this little tale Natsu…" He looked pointedly at the Salamander

"What? Why am the only one being singled out!?" The dragonslayer magician replied offended.

"Because you're an annoying braggart who tends to run his mouth before his brain…" Gray replied immediately scathingly.

That pissed Natsu off… "Say that again to my face, Ice-cube!?"

"Shut up you two!" Cana called.

"Natsu… Gray…" Erza threatened…"

We see the second brother approach a cottage.

Hermione: Meanwhile, the second brother journeyed to his home, where he took out the stone and turned it thrice in hand. To his delight, the girl he had once hoped to marry before her untimely death appeared before him. Yet soon she turned sad and cold, for she did not belong in the mortal world. Driven mad with hopeless longing, the second brother killed himself so as to join her. And so, Death took the second brother...

We see Death etched upon a bleak hillside.

Hermione: As for the third brother, Death searched for many years but was never able to find him. Only when he had attained a great age did the youngest brother shed the Cloak of Invisibility and give it to his son. He then greeted Death as an old friend and went with him gladly, departing this life as equals...

As Death and the third brother retreat, the crow returns, beating into the sky, which lightens, and the point of view pulls back into the press room to find Xenophilius Lovegood staring out the window. The sun has nearly vanished over the lip of the hill.

Xenophilius: Well, there you are. Those are the Deathly Hallows.

Harry: Sorry... I still don't really understand...

Lovegood turns and, taking quill and parchment, draws a straight vertical line...

Xenophilius: The Elder Wand...

Then adds a circle on top of the line...

Xenophilius: The Resurrection Stone...

Then encloses both in a triangle.

Xenophilius: The Cloak of Invisibility. Together... they make the Deathly Hallows. Together... they make one master of Death.

The trio stare at the symbol.

Hermione: Mr. Lovegood, does the Peverell family have anything to do with the Deathly Hallows? (to Harry and Ron) That was the name on the grave with the mark on it in Godric's Hollow. Ignotus Peverell.

Xenophilius: Ignotus and his brothers Cadmus and Antioch are thought to be the original owners of the Hallows and therefore the inspiration for the story.

Lovegood's focus abruptly wavers, sadness in his eyes, then he blinks, eyes the tea kettle.

Xenophilius: Ah, but your tea's grown cold. Excuse me, I'll be right back.

Ron (as Lovegood exits): Let's get out of here once he's back. I'm not touching this stuff, hot or cold.

Harry: (lost in thought) Which one would you choose if you could? Of the Deathly Hallows?

Hermione: It's obvious, isn't it?

All three speak at once:

Ron: The Wand.

Hermione: The Cloak.

Harry: The Stone.

They glance at each other, amused.

Ron: You're supposed to say the Cloak, but who wants to spend all day being invisible. Dead boring if you ask me. But an unbeatable wand!

Hermione: Its owner grew drunk with power and was murdered.

Ron: Yeah, but imagine what a short wicked life you'd lead.

Hermione: (rolling her eyes) Why the Stone, Harry?

Harry: Well, you could bring people back, couldn't you? Mad-Eye. Dumbledore. Sirius. Anybody.

Hermione (gently): But according to the story they don't want to come back. It's all rubbish anyway. There's no such thing as the Deathly Hallows.

Harry: But I have one. The Invisibility Cloak my father left me.

Hermione: There have always been Cloaks –

Ron: Not like Harry's. I've seen a fair few. Dad used to bring home the ones the Ministry confiscated from petty thieves and the like. They always got holes or tears. Harry's is different. It's perfect.

Harry: And I think I've actually held the Resurrection Stone in my hands, that night in Dumbledore's office when he showed me the ring he'd destroyed, the Horcrux. It had a symbol on it. Now I think it was the mark of the Hallows. The trio stand silently when Lovegood returns.

Hermione: Mr. Lovegood. Thank you, sir –

Ron: You forgot the water.

Xenophilius: The water?

Ron: For the tea.

Xenophilius: Did, didn't I? How silly of me.

Hermione No matter, sir. We really ought to be go—

Xenophilius: No, you mustn't –

Harry: Sir?

Xenophilius: You're my only hope. They were angry, you see, about what I'd been writing, so they took her. They took my Luna... (eyes finding Harry) But it's really you they want...

Harry: Who took her, sir?

Hermione eyes the printing press. A copy of the Quibbler lies stuck under a roller. She reaches out, pulls it free, the ink streaking over the cover, over Harry's face and the blazing headline: UNDESIRABLE NUMBER #1.

Xenophilius: Him. Surely you call him You-Know-Who. But his real name of course is... Voldemort.

Ron: Nooooooooo!

Instantly, out the window, figures on broomsticks appear in the sky, jetting directly toward the house. As Harry, Ron and Hermione hit the floor, ropes of light ricochet off the windowsill. The printing press explodes, raining Quibblers everywhere, like a flock of doves, smoking with flames. Lovegood waves madly from the window.

Xenophilius: Stop! I've got him –

Lovegood is blasted off his feet by a Stunning Spell so great the chain around his neck flies across the room and settles at Harry's feet. Harry glances down, watches the symbol of the Deathly Hallows dissolve like mercury, then looks up, sees Lovegood streak out the door.

Hermione: Ron! Harry! Take my hand!

Harry and Ron begin to crawl on their knees toward Hermione when another volley of spells ricochet about the room and - ping! - strike the Gurdyroot teapot. As Hermione watches, it flies into the air, tumbling end over end toward the Erumpent Horn. Harry's hand closes on hers, Ron reaches out and the teapot strikes the Horn. There is a colossal explosion. The second floor of the black cylinder ruptures. Quibblers belch into the air like confetti as Lovegood narrowly escapes and the Death Eaters are engulfed while Harry, Ron and Hermione tumble into a riverbank and roll to their feet, barely visible in the darkness.

Ron: That treacherous old bleeder! Is there no one we can trust!

Harry (softly): They've kidnapped Luna because he supported me. He was just desperate.

Ron says nothing, then spits, clearing the grit from his teeth and peers toward the river.

"Things just keep getting worse innit'?" Alzack says without a hint of amusement.

"And I have a feeling things will keep spiraling down before the end…" Reedus Jonah replies.

The fairies can now see through a window - little more than a slit - a skeletal figure lying beneath a ragged blanket. The figure stirs, looks up, and grins with broken teeth. It is the young man - the thief - grown old. Grindelwald.

Grindelwald: Ah, Tom, I thought you would come one day. But surely you must know I no longer have what you seek...

A shadow - Voldemort's - falls across Grindelwald.

Voldemort: If not you, then who?

Grindelwald: You're so innocent, Tom. Like a schoolboy. There's so much you don't understand...

Voldemort: Tell me, Grindelwald. Tell me where to find it! Tell me who possesses it! The name, Grindelwald! The name!

Grindelwald: Can't you guess, Tom? It lies with him, of course. Buried within the earth. It is he who possesses it, even in death. Your old friend and mine... Dumbledore.

"What are they talking about?" Natsu says in puzzlement, scratching his head.

"Probably one of the Hallows…" Macao replies. "During that little story time they mentioned the whereabouts of two of them: The stone and the cloak. Which means one other is missing…"

"The wand…" Levy answers…

The scene changes again to show Harry, Ron and Hermione being chased through a forest by Death Eaters, only to be captured and Hermione quickly using a spell on Harry's face to deform it. The all are escorted to Malfoy Manor, past some yew hedges.

"Oh No! They've been captured!" Happy exclaims.

Hermione eyes a white peacock, looking like a ghostly lawn ornament. Harry whispers:

Harry: What did you put on me?

Hermione: A Stinging Jinx.

Harry: How long will it last?

Hermione: Not long.

Harry glances down, sees his glasses cupped in Hermione's palm. As he slips them into his pocket, the group suddenly slows. Up ahead, on the other side of the gate, Bellatrix, Lucius and Narcissa approach. Scabior grabs Harry's arm, pushes his face up to the iron bars. Bellatrix steps close.

Bellatrix: Show me.

Scabior reaches out and pushes Harry's hair off his forehead. Bellatrix points her wand, illuminating the skin. Slowly, she smiles. Despite the swelling, one intriguing feature can be seen. A scar. In the shape of a lightning bolt?

In the next scene, Bellatrix is lifting Harry's head by the scalp as he displays him like some kind of trophy at the Malfoys and the rest of the Death Eaters inside the Manor.

Bellatrix: Well?

Draco: I can't be sure…

A haggard-looking Lucius approaches Draco from behind and places his hand on his shoulder while holding a wine goblet with the other hand.

Lucius: Draco, look closely, son. If we are the ones to hand Potter to the Dark Lord, Everything will be forgiven. A-all would be as it was, you understand?

One of the snatchers who caught Harry and his friends speaks.

Scabior: Now, we won't be forgetting who actually caught him, I hope, Mr. Malfoy…

Lucius becomes angry all of a sudden.

Lucius: How dare you talk to me like that in my OWN HOUSE!

Narcissa: Lucius.

Narcissa pulls her husband nack as she whispers sweet nothings to try and sooth him.

Bellatrix: Don't be shy sweetie. Come over…

Bellatrix leads Draco by the hand and places him in front of Harry so that he can take a better look at his swollen face.

Bellatrix: Now, if this isn't who we think it is, Draco, and we call him, he will kill us all. We need to be absolutely sure.

Draco: What's wrong with his face?

Bellatrix: Yes, What is wrong with his face?

Scabior: He came to us like that. Something he picked up in the forest, I reckon.

Bellatrix: Or ran into a stinging jinx…

"That crazy woman is much smarter and dangerous than she appears…" Alzack said rather tense.

"Indeed…" Wakaba nodded with a stoic expression.

Bellatrix then turns and points with her wand towards Hermaione.

Bellatrix: Was it you, dearie?

She then slowly starts to walk towards the captured girl and Ron being restrained.

Bellatrix: Give me her wand. We'll see what her last spell was…

She walks past Hermione and Ron.

Bellatrix: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Got you! Bwa Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

Bellatrix suddenly stops cold and gasps. Sees the sword being held in Scabior's grasp.

Bellatrix: What's that!?

The snatcher just glances at the sword, not understanding what could be cause of alarm.

Bellatrix: Where'd you get that from?

Scabior: It was in her bag when we searched her. Reckon it's mine now.

Bellatrix blasts him away with a spell and snatches the sword from the air with a spin. Scabior's companions let's go of Harry's friends and starts moving towards Bellatrix, but the crazy witch uses another spell to restrain him.

Snatcher: Are you mad!?

Another Snatcher demands, but Bellatrix simply swipes her wand towards him, transforming it into a whip that coils around his neck and slowly starts choking him. She pulls him down to the floor and and keeps strangling him, slowly circling around him before pulling him towards her again and punching him in the face.

Bellatrix: GO! GET OUT!

Bellatrix stalks towards Harry's friends as she addresses Narcissa.

Bellatrix: Cissy… Put the boys in the cellar!

She shoves Ron into Narcissa, who escorts him and Harry to the other end of the room at the feet of the stairs where wormtail is waiting.

Bellatrix: I want to have a little conversation with this one. Girl to Girl!

The boys are thrown into the cellar by wormtail, who closes the iron gate that bars the only entrance into the room. The two boys usselesy struggling against them.

Ron: What are we gonna' do! We can't leave Hermione with her!

Fairy Tail then sees Hermione being tortured by Bellatrix. The Mages didn't appreaciated that.

"This is sick…!?" Lucy said, her face going green.

Harry is seen speakin to olivander.

Ollivander: He's after you, Mr. Potter. If it's true what you say and he (Voldemort) has found the Elder Wand, I'm afraid you really don't stand a chance.

Harry Potter: I suppose I'll have to kill him before he finds me, then.

Voldemort:[to Nagini, speaking in Parseltongue] The boy has discovered our secret, Nagini. It makes us vulnerable. We must deploy all our forces now to find him. And you, my friend, must stay close.

Scene changes to Harry and his friends.

Harry Potter: He knows. You-Know-Who. He knows we broke into Gringotts, he knows what we took, and he knows we're hunting Horcruxes.

Hermione Granger: How is it you know?

Harry Potter: I saw him.

Hermione Granger: You let him in? Harry, you can't do that!

Harry Potter: Hermione, I can't always help it! Well, maybe I can, I don't know.

Ron Weasley: Never mind; what happened?

Harry: Well, he's angry, and he's scared too. He knows if we find and destroy all the Horcruxes, we'll be able to kill him. I reckon he'll stop at nothing to make sure we don't find the rest. There's more. One of them's at Hogwarts.

Hermione: What? You saw it?

Harry: I saw the castle. And Rowena Ravenclaw. They must have something to do with her. We have to go there, now.

Hermione: What? We can't do that! We've got to plan, we've got to figure it out...

Harry: Hermione, when have any of our plans ever actually worked? We plan, we get there, all hell breaks loose.

Ron: He's right. One problem. Snape's headmaster now; we can't just walk in through the front door.

Harry: Well, we'll go to Hogsmeade, to Honeyduke's. Take the secret passage in the cellar. It's... There's something wrong with him. It's like, you know, in the past, I've always been able to follow his thoughts. And now, everything just feels disconnected.

Ron: Maybe it's the Horcruxes. Maybe he's growing weaker; maybe he's dying.

Harry: No. No, it's...it's more like he's wounded. If anything, he feels more dangerous.

The scene changes to show the trio confronting an old man.

Aberfort: Bloody fools, what were you thinking coming here? Have you any idea of how dangerous it is?

Harry: You're Aberforth, Dumbledore's brother. It's you that I've been seeing in here. You're the one who sent Dobby.

Aberforth: Where have you left him?

Harry: He's dead.

Aberforth: Sorry to hear it. I liked that elf.

Harry: Who gave that to you? The mirror?

Aberforth: Mundungus Fletcher. About a year ago.

Harry: Dung had no right sending it to you. It belongs to...

Aberforth: Sirius. Albus told me. He also told me you'd likely be hacked off if you ever found out that I had it, but ask yourself: where would you be if I didn't? [Gives the trio some food]

Hermione: Do you hear from the others much? From the Order?

Aberforth: The Order's finished. You-Know-Who's won. Anyone who says otherwise is kidding themselves.

Harry: We need to get into Hogwarts, tonight. Dumbledore gave us a job to do.

Aberforth: Did he now? Nice job? Easy?

Harry Potter: We've been hunting Horcruxes. We think the last one's inside the castle, but we'll need your help in getting in.

Aberforth: It's not a job my brother's given you. It's a suicide mission. Do yourself a favor, boy, and go home. Live a little longer.

Harry: Dumbledore trusted me to see this through.

Aberforth: What makes you think you can trust him? What makes you think you can believe anything my brother told you? In all the time you knew him, did he ever mention my name? Did he ever mention hers? [Referring to the portrait of Ariana on the wall]

Harry: Why should he...

Aberforth: ...Keep secrets, you tell me?

Harry: I trusted him.

Aberforth Dumbledore: That's a boy's answer. A boy who goes chasing Horcruxes on the word of a man who wouldn't even tell you where to start. You're lying! Not just to me, it doesn't matter, but to yourself as well. That's what a fool does. You don't strike me as a fool, Harry Potter. So, I'll ask you again, there must be a reason.

[after a moment of silence]

Harry: I'm not interested in what happened between you and your brother. I don't care that you've given up. I trusted the man I knew. We need to get into the castle tonight.

Aberforth Dumbledore: [motions toward Ariana's portrait] You know what to do. [Ariana's image nods and turns away]

"Mmmmph…. It is a hard thing to do… To trust in a man that all the time you thought you knew him, in reality he held many dark secrets to himself…" Makarov said pensive.

"Doesn't seem to me as if they have much in the way of options headmaster." Macao replies.

The mages then watch Harry and his friends smuggle their way back into Hogwarts and being welcomed by the majority of the student's body.

Ginny: [sees Harry] Harry!

Harry: Hi there.

Ron: Six months she hasn't see me, it's like I'm a Frankie First Year. I'm only her brother...

Seamus: She's got lots of those, though. There's only one Harry.

Ron: Shut up, Seamus.

Neville: [to Ginny] What is it, Ginny?

Ginny: Snape knows. He knows that Harry was spotted in Hogsmeade.

All of the students stare at the trio disapprovingly

Neville Longbottom: Right then, so what's the plan, Harry?

Harry Potter: Okay, there's something we need to find, something hidden here in the castle, and it may help us defeat You-Know-Who.

Neville Longbottom: Right, what is it?

Harry Potter: We don't know.

Dean Thomas: Where is it?

Harry Potter: We don't know that either. I realize that's not much to go on.

Seamus Finnigan: That's nothin' to go on.

The scene transitions to show Snape in Hogwarts main Hall addressing all of the assembled students there. He is flanked by the Carrow twins

Snape: Many of you are surely wondering why I have summoned you at this hour. It's come to my attention that earlier this evening, Harry Potter was sighted in Hogsmeade. Now, should anyone, student or staff, attempt to aid Mr. Potter, they will be punished, in a manner consistent with the severity of their transgression. Furthermore, any person found to have knowledge of these events... who fails to come forward, will be treated... as... equally guilty. If anyone here knows any knowledge of Mr. Potter's movements this evening, I invite them to step forward... now.

[There is a long pause, as the assembled students and professors just stare at the ground in terror. Harry then steps out from the crowd, causing audible gasps from everyone present]

Harry Potter: [coldly] It seems despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you still have a bit of a security problem, Headmaster. [All the remaining members of the Order of Phoenix enter the hall] And I'm afraid it's quite extensive. How dare you stand where he stood. Tell them how it happened that night! How you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you, and killed him! Tell them!

McGonagall and Snape fight with their wands as all the students move to either side of the Great Hall. The Carrows fall to the ground as a result of Snape's redirection of McGonagall's spell and Snape then… Starts doing some very strange-looking and effeminate movements with his hands before retreating.

It left all of the members of Fairy Tail flabbergasted at what they just saw.

McGonagall: Coward!

"The hell was that?" Gray says with a WTF expression.

"I… Don't know… Maybe he's secretly Okama or something…" Wakaba replied stumped.

AN: Seriously, I watched this scene and the very first thought in my head was 'What the hell is this faggotry?' Snape starts acting and looking pretty homo out of nowhere for no apparent reason at all. It was gay as fuck and not the good kind of gay like Dorian Pavus from DA Inquisition, but Twilight levels of gay. In short it was terrible. I just simply chalk it up on being another failure of the transition from a written source to a visual media. God knows these fucking movies are choke full of them.

After a long, awkward silence in the hall, Pansy Parkinson speaks out loud.

Pansy: What are you waiting for? Someone grab him!

Ginny, Hermione and the others walk up to protect Harry.

Argus Filch: [running in with Mrs. Norris; yelling] Students out of bed! STUDENTS OUT OF BED! Students in the corridor!

McGonagall: [snapping] They're supposed to be out of bed, you blithering idiot!

Filch: Oh. Sorry, ma'am.

Minerva McGonagall: As it happens, Mr. Filch, your arrival is most opportune. If you would, I would like you, please, to lead Miss Parkinson and the rest of Slytherin House from the Hall! [motions with her wand]

Filch: Exactly where is it I'll be leading 'em to, ma'am?

McGonagall: The dungeons would do.

The other students cheer wildly

Minerva McGonagall: I presume you have a reason for returning, Potter. What is it you need?

Harry: Time, Professor. As much as you can get me.

Minerva McGonagall: Do what you have to do. I'll secure the castle. [as Harry turns to leave] And Potter, it's good to see you.

Harry Potter: It's good to see you, too, Professor. [leaves]

Harry Potter: [to Neville]: Hold the fort, Neville.

The voice of Voldemort can then be heard throughout the entire castle

Voldemort: [to all of Hogwarts] I know that many of you will want to fight. Some of you may even think that to fight is wise. But this is folly. Give me Harry Potter. Do this and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave Hogwarts untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded. You have one hour.

Neville is then seen speaking to McGonagall.

Neville Longbottom: Let me get this straight, Professor. [grabs her arm] You're actually giving us permission to do this?

Minerva McGonagall: That is correct, Longbottom.

Neville Longbottom: To blow it up? Boom?

Minerva McGonagall: BOOM!

Neville Longbottom: [laughing] Wicked. But how on earth are we gonna do that?

Minerva McGonagall: Why don't you confer with Mr. Finnigan? As I recall, he has a particular proclivity for pyrotechnics.

Seamus Finnigan: [nodding] I can bring it down.

Minerva McGonagall: That's the spirit. Off you go.

---

Flitwick: You do realize, of course, we can't keep out You-Know-Who indefinitely.

McGonagall: That doesn't mean we can't delay him. And his name is Voldemort! Filius, you might as well use it; he's going to try to kill you either way.

Luna: Harry, wait, I need to talk to you.

Harry Potter: I'm a bit preoccupied at the moment, Luna.

Luna Lovegood: You won't find it where you're going, you're wasting your time.

Harry Potter: We'll talk later, okay, Luna?

Luna Lovegood: Harry!

Harry Potter: Later!

Luna Lovegood: [shouting] Harry Potter! You listen to me right now! [calmer] Don't you remember what Cho said about Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem? There's not a person alive who's seen it. It's obvious, isn't it? You have to talk to someone who's dead.

"I hope she's not talking about something nefarious…" Macao said, suddenly pretty on guard.

"Remember that ghosts dwell in that castle." Levy interjected. "Perhaps she's alluding about speaking with one of them?" She theorized.

The scene changes to show Harry speaking with the ghost of a young woman dressed in a gray faded dress.

Harry: You're the Grey Lady. The Ghost of Ravenclaw Tower.

Gray Lady: I do not answer to that name.

Harry: No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It's Helena, isn't it? Helena Ravenclaw. Rowena's daughter.

Helena Ravenclaw: Are you a friend of Luna's?

Harry: Yes. And she thought you might be able to help me.

Helena Ravenclaw: You seek my mother's diadem.

Harry: Yes. That's right.

Helena Ravenclaw: Luna is kind, unlike so many of the others. But she was wrong. I cannot help you.

Harry: Wait! Please! I want to destroy it. [pause] That's what you want too, isn't it, Helena? You want it destroyed.

Helena Ravenclaw: Another swore to destroy it many years ago... A strange boy with a strange name.

Harry: Tom Riddle.

Helena Ravenclaw: But he lied.

Harry: He's lied to many people.

Helena Ravenclaw: I know what he's done! I know who he is! HE DEFILED IT WITH DARK MAGIC!

[after a moment of silence]

Harry: I can destroy it once and for all. But only if you tell me where he hid it. You do know where he hid it, don't you, Helena? You just have to tell me. Please.

Helena Ravenclaw: Strange. You remind me of him a bit. It's here, in the castle, in the place where everything is hidden. If you have to ask, you will never know. If you know, you need only ask.

Harry: Thank you.

"That was so unhelpful…" Cana said out loud. "Gods-dammit! The situation is serious enough already! Can't somebody speak plainly instead of giving useless riddles!?" She complained.

Scene changes to Voldemort's camp.

Lucius Malfoy: My Lord, might it be less... Might it not be more prudent to call off this attack? Simply seek the boy yourself?

Lord Voldemort: I do not need to seek the boy. Before the night is out, he will come to me! Do you understand?! [slaps his face] Look at me! How can you live with yourself, Lucius?

Lucius Malfoy: I... I don't know.

Lord Voldemort: Go and find Severus. Bring him to me.

The scene skips to Snape meeting with the Dark Lord.

Snape: You have performed extraordinary magic with this wand, my Lord, in the last few hours alone.

Voldemort: No. No, I am extraordinary, but the wand... resists me.

Snape: There is no wand more powerful, Ollivander himself has said. Tonight, when the boy comes, it will not fail you, I am sure of it. It answers to you, and you only.

Lord Voldemort: Does it?

Severus Snape: My Lord...

Lord Voldemort: The wand, does it truly answer to me? You're a clever man, Severus. Surely, you must know. Where does its true loyalty lie?

Severus Snape: With you, of course, my Lord.

Lord Voldemort: The Elder Wand cannot serve me properly because I am not its true master. The Elder Wand belongs to the wizard who killed its last owner. You killed Dumbledore, Severus. While you live, the Elder Wand cannot truly be mine. You've been a good and faithful servant, Severus, but only I can live...forever.

Snape: My Lord... [Voldemort slashes with his wand and cuts Snape's throat; blood spills; Severus falls onto the window]

Lord Voldemort: Nagini, kill. [Nagini repeatedly bites Snape, mortally wounding him]

"Yes… That is why it's never good for your health to serve a dark lord…" Makarov spoke, unsurprised by the brutal murder. "They will always betray you in the end and will not hesitate to sacrifice you if it suits their plans…

Harry is seen looking over the mortally wounded Snape, he is collecting his tears in a flask:

Snape: Take them to the Pensieve. Look at me. You have your mother's eyes. [dies]

Harry is viewing Snape's memories in the Pensieve in Dumbledore's office

Snape: It will contain the curse to your hand for the time being. It will spread, Albus.

Dumbledore: How long?

Snape: Maybe a year.

Snape turns to leave, but Dumbledore stops him.

Albus Dumbledore: Don't ignore me, Severus. We both know Lord Voldemort has ordered the Malfoy boy to murder me. But should he fail, one should presume that the Dark Lord would turn to you. You must be the one to kill me, Severus. It is the only way. Only then will the Dark Lord trust you completely.

A flashback of Dumbledore being killed by Snape, back in the clock tower plays.

There will come a time when Harry Potter must be told something, but you must wait until Lord Voldemort is at his most vulnerable.

Snape: Must be told what?

As Dumbledore speaks, we see a worried Snape running inside the Potter home.

Dumbledore: On the night Lord Voldemort went to Godric's Hollow to kill Harry, and Lily Potter cast herself between them, the curse rebounded. When that happened, a part of Voldemort's soul latched itself onto the only living thing that it could find: Harry himself. There is a reason Harry can speak with snakes. There is a reason he can look into Voldemort's mind. A part of Voldemort lives inside him.

Snape: So, when the time comes... The boy must die?

Albus Dumbledore: Yes, yes, he must die.

We see Snape arrive in Harry's bedroom and collapsing in horror at the sight of Lily's dead body

Snape: You've kept him alive so he can die at the proper moment. You've been raising him like a pig for slaughter!

Albus Dumbledore: Don't tell me now that you've grown to care for the boy. [Snape casts a deer Patronus, the same one that helped Harry find the Sword of Gryffindor.] Lily? [A crying Snape is shown holding Lily's body] After all this time?

Snape: Always. So, when the time comes... The boy must die?

Dumbledore: Yes, he must die. And Voldemort himself must do it. That is essential.

The mages of Fairy Tail were rather dumbstruck by this revelation.

"What. The. Fuck…!?" A gobsmacked Cana exclaimed.

"This Dumbledore fellow just lost any respect I might have had of him…" Macao said plainly.

Makarov turns toward his subordinates. "You know I would never willingly do anything that would either endanger you or make you lose your faith in me like that…" He said seriously as he pointed towards the screen.

"Yes… We know Guildmaster. You're not like him… And we are thankful for it." Levy replied.

Volsemort adresses all of Hogwarts again.

Voldemort: You have fought valiantly, but in vain. I do not wish this. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a terrible waste. I therefore command my forces to retreat. In their absence, dispose of your dead with dignity. Harry Potter, I now speak directly to you. On this night, you have allowed your friends to die for you, rather than face me yourself. There is no greater dishonor. Join me in the Forbidden Forest, and confront your fate. If you do not do this, I shall kill every last man, woman and child who tries to conceal you from me.

"Of course he will, the walking piece of shit…." Cana said with a frustrated sigh.

"Goddamit, he's going to let himself be killed isn't it?" Alzack says with concern.

Harry is seen walking into a clearing in the Forest, he pulls the Snitch from his pocket.

Harry: I'm ready to die.

He kisses it, and it opens to reveal a small black stone. The Resurrection Stone... his parents, Sirius, and Remus appear in the clearing.

Lily Potter: You've been so brave, sweetheart.

Harry: Why are you here, all of you?

Lily Potter: We never left.

Harry: Does it hurt, dying?

Sirius Black: Quicker than falling asleep.

James Potter: You're nearly there, son.

Harry: I'm sorry. I never wanted any of you to die for me. And Remus, your son...

Remus Lupin: Others will tell him what his mother and father died for. One day, he'll understand.

Harry: You'll stay with me?

James Potter: Until the end.

Harry: And he won't be able to see you?

Sirius Black: No. [points to Harry's heart] We're here, you see.

Harry Potter: Stay close to me.

Lily Potter: Always.

Voldemort appears in the clearing.

Voldemort: Harry Potter, the Boy who Lived... come to die. [pause] Avada Kedavra!

"Nooooooooooo!" Happy screams after seeing Harry getting killed.

"This was messed up…" Macao said without a trace of emotion.

After Voldemort kills Harry in the forest, he is left in limbo and meets Dumbledore in what looks like King's Cross Station.

Albus Dumbledore: Harry, you wonderful boy. You brave man. Let us walk.

Harry Potter: Professor, what is that?

A creature that looks like a much smaller version of Voldemort is in the fetal position under a bench

[EEEEW!" The entireity of Fairy Tail exclaims]

Albus Dumbledore: Something beyond either of our help. A part of Voldemort, sent here to die.

Harry Potter: And exactly where are we?

Albus Dumbledore: I was going to ask you that. Where would you say that we are?

Harry Potter: Well, it looks like King's Cross Station, only cleaner, and without all the trains.

Albus Dumbledore: King's Cross, is that right? This is, as they say, your party. I expect you now realize that you and Voldemort have been connected by something other than fate, since that night in Godric's Hollow all those years ago.

Harry: So it's true then, isn't it, Sir? A part of him lives in me, doesn't it?

Dumbledore: Did. It was just destroyed many moments ago by none other than Voldemort himself. You were the Horcrux he never meant to make, Harry.

[They sit on a bench]

Harry: I have to go back, haven't I?

Dumbledore: Oh, that's up to you.

Harry Potter: I have a choice?

Albus Dumbledore: Oh, yes. We're in King's Cross, you say? I think if you so desired, you'd be able to board a train.

Harry Potter: And where would it take me?

Albus Dumbledore: [chuckles] On.

Dumbledore begins walking away.

Harry Potter: Voldemort has the Elder Wand.

Albus Dumbledore: True.

Harry Potter: And the snake's still alive.

Albus Dumbledore: Yes.

Harry Potter: And I've nothing to kill it with.

Dumbledore: [walks back to Harry] Help will always be given at Hogwarts, Harry, to those who ask for it. I've always prized myself on my ability to turn a phrase. Words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it. But I would, in this case, amend my original statement to this: "Help would always be given at Hogwarts to those who deserve it." Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living. And above all, those who live without love.

Harry: Professor, my mother's Patronus was a doe, wasn't it? It's the same as Professor Snape's. It's curious, don't you think?

Albus Dumbledore: Actually, if I think about it, it doesn't seem curious at all. I'll be going now, Harry. [turns to leave]

Harry Potter: Professor? Is this all real? Or is it just happening inside my head?

Albus Dumbledore: Of course it's happening inside your head, Harry. Why should that mean that it's not real? [he fades into the light]

Harry Potter: Professor, what shall I do? Professor?

[Back in the forest]

Bellatrix Lestrange: The boy... is he dead?

Narcissa Malfoy: [Leaning into Harry, her eyes widen as she feels his heart still beating] Is he alive? Draco, is he alive?

Narcissa Malfoy: [after Harry nods, she stands and faces Voldemort] Dead.

"I still don't like Dumbledore… Even if it there was no other choice but to sacrifice Harry because of the Horcrux, his handling of the situation leaves much to be desired." Lucy says with a huff as she crosses her arms under her chest.

"He was pretty deceitful, alright…" Wakaba agrees with a nod.

Voldemort, in his premature celebration, drags the body of the supposedly dead Harry back to Hogwarts to gloat.

Ginny: Who is that Hagrid's carrying? Neville, who is it?

Voldemort: Harry Potter... is dead!

Weasley: No! NO!

Voldemort: Silence! [fires a spell towards Ginny, causing her to back down] Stupid girl. Harry Potter is dead. [to Hogwarts' assembled] From this day forth, you put your faith... in me. [to Death Eaters] Harry Potter is dead! [He and his Death Eaters laugh] And now is the time to declare yourself. Come forward and join us... or die.

Lucius Malfoy: Draco! Draco.

Narcissa Malfoy: Draco, come.

Reluctantly, Draco walks over to Voldemort, who hugs him

Lord Voldemort: Well done, Draco. Well done. [Draco walks to his parents. Neville comes forward] Well, I must say, I hoped for better. [Death Eaters laugh] And who might you be, young man?

Neville Longbottom: Neville Longbottom. [Death Eaters laugh]

Bellatrix Lestrange: Ha-ha!

Lord Voldemort: Well, Neville, I'm sure we can find a place for you in our ranks—

Neville: I'd like to say somethin'.

Voldemort: [makes a fist, but then lowers it] Well, Neville, I'm sure we'd all be fascinated to hear what you have to say.

Longbottom: It doesn't matter that Harry's gone.

Seamus Finnigan: Stand down, Neville.

Neville: People die every day. Friends, family. Yeah, we lost Harry tonight. But he's still with us, in here. [gestures to his heart] So's Fred, and Remus, Tonks... all of them. They didn't die in vain. [to Voldemort] But you will, 'cause you're wrong! Harry's heart did beat for us, for all of us! It's not over!

[He draws the Sword of Gryffindor. Harry's eyes open, he flings out of Hagrid's arms, and pulls out his wand, to Voldemort's utter and complete shock]

Harry: Confringo!

He fires a spell at Voldemort's snake, Nagini, but it reflects onto the Death Eaters. As Harry begins to run, Voldemort, now enraged, fires several curses at Harry. As he does, some of his Death Eaters begin to disapparate

Bellatrix: No! No, come back! Lucius! Come back! Come back and fight!

Some Death Eaters continue to leave, but many stay behind to join Voldemort, who is about to charge the castle

Harry: [to Ron, Hermione, and Neville] I'll lure him into the castle! We have to kill the snake.

"'Bout time they finally decide to kill dick-face…" Cana muttered through gulps of ale.

"He's been escaping death for far too long…" Mirajane agreed.

Harry and Voldemort are flinging spells at each other atop a ruined starcaise, Voldemort slowly but surely pushing Harry back with his barrage of spells. Nagini is seen slithering around. Voldemort suddenly apparates behind Harry and launches a spell in the form of a red stream of energy. Harry blocks with his wand, but it's all he can do from being blown back. Nagini keeps slithering towards Harry.

Harry sees the serpent getting close and with great effort, redirects Voldemort's attack into the ceiling, bringing it down in a shower of masonry and debris. Harry dodges, and sees Nagini again. He tries to attack the serpent with a dagger, but Voldemort discovers him and and launches a dark spell at him. A black miasma flies towards Harry and he is forced to jump into a lower staircase in order to avoid it.

His dagger falls from his hands and it seems to lose its power, Voldemort keeps attacking Harry from above, blowing great craters into the staircase, forcing Harry to flee. Voldemort goes after him in the form of a great floating shadow. He appears in front of Harry and blasts him down into a clocktower, he tries to flee again but Voldemort traps him with great long shadows that resemble the tails of serpents. He brings Harry close to him and grabs him by the face.

Voldemort: Why do you live?

Harry: Because I have something worth living for.

Voldemort is enraged, he tosses Harry away and starts beating him with his own hands. Harry is forced to retreat and give ground. Yet he doesn't look worried in the least.

Harry Potter: You were right. When you told Professor Snape that wand was failing you, it will always fail you.

Voldemort: I killed Snape!

Harry Potter: But what if the Wand never belonged to Snape? What if its allegiance was always to someone else? Come on, Tom. Let's finish this the way we started it: TOGETHER! [throws himself and Voldemort off the roof]

"What the hell…?" Wakaba says at Harry's reckless actions.

"I've heard desperate times require desperate measures. But damn…!" Macao says with a face.

They both scream as they fall, Voldemort is forced to use his transportation spell, turning into a floating shadow again and bringing Harry along with him. Their reckless flight takes them all around Hogwarts smashing through roofs and decrepit battlements as they kept fighting against each other.

The battle looks pretty creepy as both combatants are locked close to each other, surrounded in darkness and shadows. Harry can do nothing but stare at Voldemort's crazed laughing face as he screams during the violent uncontrolled erratic flight.

"Okay… That's creepy…" Warren deadpans…

"I'm going to have nightmares after this…" Lucy says.

"I'm already having them…" Levy replies.

Eventually they crash in a ruined courtyard. They both struggle to get up, crawling along the ground. Voldemort tries to grab the Elder Wand again While Harry tries to get ahold of his own wand. Both grab their wands at the same time, get on their feet again and face each other once more.

Voldemort yells and launches a spell. Harry replies and both are locked in a life-and-death struggle as they try to overpower each other. Green sickly stream versus red fiery stream. The clash lasts for long minutes, none capable of overpowering the other. And eventually both streams of energy die out.

Voldemort looks sick, something clearly is wrong. He tries to attack Harry again, another clash of wills ensues. Yet Harry seems to have the clear advantage now as the red stream slowly starts to push back the emerald stream of Voldemort's attack, all the way back into his own wand. Voldemort attack fizzes out, his wand flies out of his hand, spinning through the air. And into Harry's own hand.

Harry looks triumphant. Voldemort sways, and then… He starts to disintegrate into flakes of dust. A last choking scream escapes from his throat before nothing but floating specks is all that remains of him.

"He didn't go out with a bang, but with a whimper… I suppose there's a poetic irony in it…" Makarov comments.

Laki humms in thought.

[Harry, Ron and Hermione are walking on the damaged Viaduct after Voldemort's death]

Hermione Granger: Why didn't it work for him? The Elder Wand?

Harry Potter: It answered to somebody else. When he killed Snape, he thought the Wand would become his, but the thing is, the Wand never belonged to Snape. It was Draco who disarmed Dumbledore that night at the Astronomy Tower. From that moment on, the Wand answered to him, until... the other night, when I disarmed Draco at Malfoy Manor.

Ron Weasley: So that means...

Harry Potter: ...It's mine.

Ron Weasley: What do you reckon we should do with it?

Hermione Granger: "We"?

Ron Weasley: I'm just saying, that's the Elder Wand, the most powerful wand in the world. With that, we'd be invincible.

[Harry, after thinking for a moment, breaks the Wand in two, and throws it off the viaduct]

"Now that's wise of him…" Wakaba comments with a puff of smoke.

"Yes… Better to avoid any temptation…" Makarov agrees.

Wiz: Afterwards, Harry became head of the Dark Wizard Hunting Auror office, even though he is technically a Hogwarts drop-out.

Boomstick: He never did finish that seventh year, but I guess if you killed the lord of ultimate evil, you'd get a G.E.D.

"After going through all that, the boy deserves it..." Wakaba noted.

"Aye." Macao agreed.

Makarov mused. "You know this reminds me of the reason as to why the magical council exist in the first place. Yhey can ve quite the bother at times, but they are here to regulate the use of magic and make sure no one is delving in the dark arts in order to prevent the rise of Dark Wizards like this Voldemort." He stated solemnly.

Lucy was curious about that. "Has there been Dark Wizards like this Voldemort in the past?"

Makarov was silent for a moment. The answer to that question bringing a sour taste into his mouth. "Yes… Once…" It was all he ultimately said and refused to elaborate further.

They see Harry uses his wand on a candle in a jar, which creates a huge fire. He then uses another spell to put it out.

Harry: Crudicio!

After that, the mages do some thinking about Harry. He has some similarities in his backstory that are just like Luke, but different in many other ways plus he has tons of versatile spells that might help him in battle. And also, magical artifacts like the cloak of invisibility that can give him the element of surprise if given the chance, overall, he's pretty cool in the Fairies' book. Now on to the fight.

Wiz: All right the combatants are set. Let's end this once and for all. But first let me recommend Carbonite.

Boomstick: For all your Han Solo freezing needs!

They see the man freezed inside the block of carbonite.

"That's just fucked up..." Reedus Jonah said in sympathy, and everyone agreed.

Wiz: Uh no Boomstick, it's a website.

Boomstick: What?

Once the advertisement rolls, they debated on who would win. Luke is very agile and has his Force abilities to even the playing field, Harry also has a variety of spells and if he played his moves right he might end Luke's life with the killing curse. But Luke might find a weakness to give him an opportunity to win against The Boy Who Lived.

Boomstick: It's time for a Death Battle!

---

The mages see Luke in another futuristic city when he spots Harry walking towards him and pulling out his wand, Luke activates his Lightsaber in retaliation to stop the wizard in his tracks.

Time to see who is the true chosen one.

FIGHT!

(Cues Star Wars Episode III - Battle of Heroes)

Harry: Avada Kedavr...

Harry quicklytries to cast the killing curse to end the fight early, but Luke attempts to use Force Persuasion to stop him.

"I doubt that's going to be effective." Warren Rocko says.

Sure enough Harry breaks free thanks to his Occlumency's training and prepares to cast the killing curse again.

Harry: Avada Kedavr...

But Luke interrupts him again by knocking him away with Force Push. He then leaps towards Harry with his Lightsaber swinging, but Harry uses Apparition to teleport himself away from the Jedi. He then fires several non-verbal spells at Luke, which he manages to deflect them all easily with his lightsaber before leaping towards Harry again; but the boy-who-lived simply teleports away once again.

"Mmmph… So far they've been battling it out pretty well." Erza states, as she watches the fight arms crossed.

"Go Luke, go!" Happy cheers.

Harry: Expelliarmus!

Harry fires the spell at Luke only to follow up with a barrage of non-verbal spells, but the Jedi blocks all of them and uses the Force to knock away Harry's wand. Luke charges towards Harry, but the wizard teleports to his wand and picks it up.

Harry: Accio Firebolt!

Luke throws his Lightsaber at Harry, but he defends pretty easily with another charm.

Harry: Protego!

The shield charm deflects the Lightsaber away back at Luke but the Jedi catches it without issue, he is then suddenly attacked by the Firebolt broom as Harry jumps at it and manages to get atop it and ride off. Harry then proceeds to fire several non-verbal spells at Luke as he rides on his broom, Luke manages to block or deflected them all before using the Force to catch Harry and his Firebolt and forcibly bringing them down, causing them to crash violently into the ground. But Harry uses the Cloak of Invisibility to give him a surprise advantage and make Luke unable to sense him.

"This is getting pretty intense." Mirajan commented.

"Anyone could win the duel at any moment." Laki Olietta states.

"I have faith that Luke will win!" Happy declares.

(Cues Star Wars Battlefront II - Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader Theme)

Harry: Confundo!

Luke throws his Lightsaber at the direction he heard Harry's voice coming from.

Harry: Stu...

Harry teleports out of the way and proceeds to cast his charm again.

Harry: Stupefy!

Luke rolls to avoid the Stupefy and recovers his Lightsaber as it flies back to him and uses Force Push to blow away the Cloak of Invisibility away from Harry. He then proceeds to Force Choke the hell out of Harry, stopping him from using his verbal spells.

The mages were a little disturbed by the lack of mercy being shown by Luke.

"He's starting to act a little like Vader." Nab Lasaro states.

"Well, whatever works to bring Harry down I suppose." Mirajane replies.

(Cues Battle of Hoth *Part 2* - Star Wars Episode V)

Luke throws his Lightsaber at Harry, but he manages to cast a non-verbal spell and destroys the weapon. Afterwards he manages to break free and fires the killing curse once again.

Harry: Avada Kedavra!

Luke dodges the killing curse by rolling through the ground and Harry fires more non-verbal spells at him as results, which causes the Jedi to use the Force to block them all.

Harry: Sectumsempra!

Luke was caught by surprise by the instantaneous slashing curse as it strikes him, leaving his side bleeding.

"Ouch! That's going to leave a nasty scar." Alzack winces.

"That's not going to be enough to beat Luke, though." Wakaba replies with a puff of smoke.

Luke just about had enough of this game.

The Jedi then uses Shatterpoint to look for a flaw on Harry that would give him victory. He finds it… The camera zooms towards Harry's lightning scar and for a few seconds it forcibly stretches and expands painfully before suudenly being torn wide open. Large amounts of blood start gushing out of the wizard's forehead.

The Mages wince as they see Harry screaming in pain.

"Dayyum! That was brutal!" Bisca exclaims in shock.

"Looks like Luke has this one in the bag…" Cana comments, as she scratches her forehead, wondering how horrible it would feel being under the effects of the Shatterpoint.

"Yeah, that's pretty much game set for me..." Wakaba says.

Luke then brought out his Shoto Lightsaber and quickly impaled it into Harry's chest, ending The Boy Who Lived's life.

K.O.!

(Cues Star Wars Episode IV - The Throne Room)

Boomstick: Man, Harry did a surprisingly good job keeping Luke at a distance.

"Yes, but it wasn't enough." Droy says.

Wiz: But Luke fought smart and tried to finish Harry off quickly with Force Persuasion, but Harry was able to resist thanks to Occlumency.

Everyone nodded at this.

Boomstick: Then Luke used Force Choke to stop Harry from casting spells.

"But it didn't matter since he was capable of casting spells non-verbally too." Laki piped in.

Wiz: And although Luke can dodge the Avada Kedavra, the instantaneous Sectumsempra curse caught him off-guard. But with Shatterpoint, Luke discovered an exploitable flaw.

Boomstick: That famous lightning bolt scar, which Forced Harry to lose the battle.

Everyone was slightly, just barely amused by the comment. It wasn't as good as others.

Wiz: The winner is Luke Skywalker.

"Okay… I suppose that's the episode… It was a bit lengthy but it was good nonetheless…" Makarov grunted with a nod.

"I liked the spells, I'm going to try and see if I can reverse-engineer some of them…" Laki said pretty excited.

"Not the dark ones, otherwise I will have to punish you the same way I would do Levi if she were ever to cast the Avada Kadabra…" Makarov warned with a pointed look.

"Of course Guildmaster, I only wish to do so for research sake…" Laki was quick to appease.

"Anyhow… Is there another episode you would like to see, Levy?" Wakaba interjected, changing the subject of the conversation.

Levy looked unsure. "I don't know… I will have to check the episode list…" She said, signaling to Mirajane to pass the cd case to her.

---

Bleh, at last this shit is done. Whatever, now I can move to other stuff. I will return to this story eventually. When I feel like it. But yeah as I said, Harry Potter is not my cup of tea. I will only say this about this series, it has its moments I will admit, especially during deathly hallows, but overall… It has issues, more so since most of the special effects now look pretty dated. It's a series of movies that have a lot of heart, but suffer from many flaws.

The books however, I do would recommend reading them as a literary piece of fiction.

In any case, as always leave a review, tell me what you think, recommend this story to your friends and check out my p- at-r .eon and I'll see you all next time.