Iris Potter exits the swirling vortex and hits the grassy floor hard, knocking the air from her lungs with a huge gasp. Stunned, she lies on the ground, gasping and her whole-body aching, the rush of the past several minutes still flickering through her mind. Fleur, Cedric, and the fight against Krum for the Triwizard Cup. She'd offered it to Cedric, but he'd refused, saying they should both take it. But it was a portkey. And now she is here, wherever here is.
A second later, she jerks up at the sound a voice, a voice she knew too well, a voice that had tormented her since she was one years old.
"Give the young Potter a cheer for winning the Triwizard tournament!"
Her head jerks up and stares at the owner of the voice, the sounds of clapping fading away as her emerald green eyes meet piercing red eyes, belonging to an ashen white face with no nose. A man that looks more snake than human, a man responsible for so much death and torture. A person who tried to kill her and nearly did.
Voldemort. He'd tried so many times to get her over the years, and this time, he succeeded. And her scar burning lets her know that it really is him. And in just how much trouble she is in. Her breathing starts to accelerate, her heart thumping more than it ever did in the maze, or in the Chamber of Secrets.
Something slams into her back. She hadn't even realised she'd been crawling away. She stares up at a large statue of the Grim Reaper, and her eyes flit around, drinking in the sight of tombstones. Among them, rows and rows of figures in black robes and white masks are clapping, some laughing, some smiling with their teeth bared, showing fangs. She was in a cemetery. This is where she dies. She'll die here, and her family will never know where she was killed. Her father, her mother, Uncle Sirius, Uncle Remus, her friends.
Friends.
Her eyes dart around frantically searching for that one person who helped her in the maze, who should have been the true winner. Between her and Voldemort is the Triwizard cup, with Cedric lying beside it. For one heart stopping, she thinks he is dead, but the slow rise of his chest, and the haggard breathing filling the air says differently.
"Truly, you have had a promising history," Voldemort starts to speak again, making Iris's emerald green eyes dart to him. She can't let them kill Cedric!
"You're trying to kill me again?" His eyes fix upon hers, sending shudders rippling down her spine, and there are angry blusters at her speaking his name. Even among his followers, there are shudders and winces at the sound of the Dark Lords name. iris carries on taunting him. "Remember the last time? Didn't go so well, did it? You even need your little club to actually face me this time."
Mutters fill the now still rows of Death Eaters, falling quiet as Voldemort's piercing gaze crosses them. "I do not deny that once, a child, a baby, was responsible for my loss of power for so long. But that time is over." He smirks, eyes turning back to Iris. "I have grown stronger since then! My defeat has only made my powers greater!" And with a swirl of black cloth, he brings his wand down on his arm, severing it straight through. Gasps fills the air as the arm falls to the earth. With a flick of his wand, the arm is burned to dust. But no blood drips from where the arm was once attached. With another wave, the flesh began to writhe, extending out in a bloody tendril, curling and twisting, transforming. And then the red began to fade, turning into a pearly white as Voldemort's arm returned. Voldemort smiles at his followers which widens even as some of them turn to hurl. Iris felt like vomiting as well, but with a defiance that started to grow in her chest, she swallows it back down.
Once his arm shows no sign of its previous cut-off nature, the Dark Lord turns once more to the lightning scarred hero. She stands to meet his gaze, wand clenched tightly in her hands.
"That was just gross" she says with her chin thrust forward. "But at least it isn't as bad as your face." A childish insult, but it is all she can manage as her mind whirls, trying and thinking of a way out. She can't leave Cedric behind. She might be able to summon the cup like she did with her Nimbus against the Horntail and turn it back into a portkey. But that would leave Cedric behind. She nearly sobs as she can't realizes that she can't do anything. The only way she could get out of this is if she lets off some magic and maybe get the Underage magic Office to detect her. She grits her teeth. As though reading her thoughts, an eyebrow rises on a snake-like face.
"Take her," he commands softly, and three Death Eaters step forward. "Kill the boy if she resists," he adds as her wand comes up. Iris hesitates, and it cost her chance. She is disarmed and ropes fly from one of the approaching Death Eater's wand, binding her arms to her body and slamming her into the statue of the Grim Reaper. Her head jerks back from the force
All goes black.
##################################################################################################
The Stadium is quiet. The air is filled with a tension so thick, it almost strangles certain members of the audience. No one says a word as the time ticks on, past the time limit for the third event of the Triwizard tournament, not even as teachers jump to their feet and dart into the maze, using their wands to wave aside the bushes. When the first teacher returns, an ashen faced McGonagall who shakes her head at Dumbledore, murmurs start to rise. One by one, every teacher comes back empty handed, shaking their heads. Finally, Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody, the most thorough and paranoid person on the school grounds, exits. He looks up at Albus and speaks for the entire stadium to hear. His blue eye is fixed on a family at the forefront of the stands
"Iris Potter and Cedric Diggory are not on Hogwarts grounds. I believe The Cup was a portkey."
One man rises, as his red-haired wife stares blankly at the entrance to the maze.
"Then where," James Potter says through grit teeth, "IS. MY. DAUGHTER?!"
##################################################################################################
"Only the finest quarters for ickle little Potter," the deranged Bellatrix Lestrange cackles and shoves the barely conscious young Potter onto the hard stone floor, making her cry out as she comes fully out of her stupor. The door slams shut and Bellatrix's high-pitched shrieks of laughter face away. Iris groans on the dirty floor, slowly pulling herself up into a sitting position, wincing as the aches and pains of the last couple of hours catch up to her. She isn't sure how long she'd spent tied up, but her hands hurt from where the ropes cut into her. She slowly rubs them to get the blood flowing. Up and down, up and down, up and down. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. But it isn't long before her mind catches up.
Tears start to carve paths down the dirt on her face.
"Mum. Dad. Dani. Hermione," she whispers. "Please help."
"No one is coming for you girl," a deep guttural voice whispers outside her cell, making her jump to her feet, nearly collapsing as her body protests the sudden movement.
"Who are you?" Iris demands.
"Hmm? Oh, I guess I could tell you. You aren't going to live long enough for it to matter!" The voice cackles, making her shiver. A panel slides open on her cell door, briefly letting in a bit of morning light, before it is quickly covered. Is it morning already? It was only six in the evening when she was knocked out. An animalistic face covers the opening, teeth sharpened down into points shining as the Death Eater grins. A face she had memorised because of what he did to her Uncle Lupin.
"I'm Fenrir Greyback. Maybe you've heard of me from dear old Lupin. He and I have quite the close relationship."
"Fuck you!" Iris spits, landing the glob right under Greyback's eye. The Weasley twins had taught her well.
Greyback seems unconcerned. He reaches up and wipes it away with a gnarled hairy finger, before popping it into his mouth. Iris shudder back in revulsion as Greyback delicately licks his finger.
"Hmmm, tasty," a disgusting pleasure fills his voice. "I really hope the Dark Lord lets me eat your corpse when he's done with you. Then we'll be even closer than your Uncle and I."
"Shut your disgusting mouth," Iris screams, ripping off her shoe and throwing it at the cell door, thunking ineffectually against the bars across the panel. Greyback roars in laughter. "When I get out of here, I'm going to kill you! And that's only if I get to you before Uncle Sirius! He's a Black, you hear that!? A Black!"
"You're never getting out girl! I'm going to be here the whole time, until the Dark Lord requires you. I'll hear anything you try to do. I'll hear anyone that tries to rescue you. And if they attack the Manor…well, I have a little portkey here on my neck that'll let me take you far away. The Dark Lord says if that happens, we'll send your arm as a message. But the other arm…I get to rip that from your body myself!"
With a barking laugh, the panel slides closed, leaving Iris Potter in the dark once more, with only her emerald green eyes still shining. She slides back down to the ground, biting her lip, muttering to herself to prevent the tears from flowing again. "Don't cry. Don't cry Iris. Think how Padfoot will laugh at you. I'm not going to let them make me cry anymore. I promise Uncle Sirius."
She mutters herself to an exhausted sleep, and her final words before she slips into a nightmare fuelled darkness, she whispers:
"Someone, please, help me get out of here."
And someone, unluckily for them and luckily for her, answers. Though who can say if it is good or bad luck in the end?
Iris isn't sure how long it's been. Time passes in a blur, broken only by the occasional visit by Greyback, either bringing food or taunting her with descriptions of how he will eat her corpse. And even if Voldemort doesn't let him eat her, there is still the warm and living body of Cedric Diggory. Apparently, he is still alive, though with Iris trapped in her cell, she can't think on why they would keep him. The thought filled her with dread on what they are doing to him. Despite how much she hates the idea, she hopes he is actually dead.
It feels as though three days have passed since she woke up when something happens. The only reason why she thinks three days have passed is because of the meals, but her grumbling stomach seems to say she missed a few meals. She almost felt grateful when Greyback appeared, since it was the only change in the emptiness of the cell.
At one point, she hears rapid movement outside of her cell, and she presses her ear against the door, hoping to catch wind of whatever is happening. And then she hears it. What sounds like an explosion rocks the entire building, sending deep vibrations into the very stone and showing her red hair with dust. For a brief moment, she hopes that it is someone coming to rescue her. But then she remembers what Greyback said what would happen. She was both hopeful and dreading if it was someone coming to rescue her.
But then she heard the heavy breathing of Greyback approaching.
"No, no, no," she said, breathing hard in rapid gasps as she starts to hyperventilate. She searches frantically, for something – anything! – that could give her a chance. But there's nothing. She pushes her back against the wall as Greyback stops right outside her cell. She raises her fists like she'd seen on the boxer shows that Mom sometimes watched which fascinated Uncle Sirius.
The panel opens and Greyback peers in.
"Still here?" he says gruffly, oddly subdued. He doesn't even say anything about her raised fists. He takes a deep sniff, and huffs. "Guess I don't get to eat you after all. Voldemort is coming for you tomorrow." And he slides the panel shut with a hard-metallic clink. His steps fade away, without even a passing insult.
Iris falls to her knees, taking in deep heavy gasps as utter relief that he didn't take her. It takes her awhile to realize exactly what Greyback said.
"What is he going to do me?" she mutters quietly, rubbing her arms. Hundreds of different scenarios run through her head at what he could do to her. And a tense heavy block of dread builds up her chest until eventually she sinks into a stupor. When she wakes up, her body is cold. It feels like it is night-time. She hadn't gotten any food today. She glances around her bleak cell, and all she can think about is her family. "I'm sorry Mom. I'm going to miss your cupcakes. They were always the best." She curls her fingers through a lock of her hair, that was so like her mothers. She'd always been happy about her hair, even if people sometimes thought she was a Weasley. She liked to keep it short, messy like her dad's. "I'm sorry Dad. I wish I could have become an animagus like you. I wonder what mine would have been. Maybe an eagle? That would have been nice. I'm sorry Uncle Sirius, I wish we could pull one more prank on Dad. I'm sorry Uncle Remus. Your stories were always the best. I hoped you could help me with my OWLs. Guess that isn't going to happen now. I'm sorry Dani. I can't believe I'm not going to see my wonderful sister grow up with me. I'm sorry Hermione…"
The panel suddenly slides open, giving Iris a fright. She hadn't heard Greyback approaching, and it was only ever him that came to taunt and torment her. She glances warily at the panel. She was right. There is only light from candles drifting in, no sunlight. Through the panel, she see out of a window that shows the night sky. It takes a moment for her to realize what is wrong. There is nobody peering through the gap. Greyback would have said something by now, but no, there is nobody there.
"Who's there?" She says angry. "If you're trying to scare me, it isn't working! What do I have to be scared of anyway! Voldemort is killing me tomorrow, so nothing you can do will scare me anymore!"
No answer. After a few seconds, the panel slides closed. There are no footsteps, nothing to show that someone had been there. But the panel definitely didn't open on its own. Cautiously, Iris moves to the door and presses her ears against it. Nothing. No sound of people talking. People have to be asleep.
The door flap clanks as it is suddenly opened, making Iris shriek and stumble back. A platter filled with fruits and other kinds of food is shoved through before the flap closes, and there is a brief sound of footprints that vanish suddenly, as though the owner vanished into thin air.
Iris stares, stupefied, at the food, glancing between it and the door.
"Who was…?" Her stomach grumbling at the smell of citrus immediately distracts her. She doesn't want to eat it yet, but what would be the point of giving her food now? She doesn't know anything that Voldemort would want to know. For the first time ever, she is glad that her Dad and Mum never told her anything, despite her insistence. And what would be the point of poisoning her when an AK would work just as well? She couldn't fight back.
As she bites into deliciously sweet fruit, she wonders who her mysterious benefactor was.
##################################################################################################
"Don't try anything funny girl," Greyback steps into her cell, wand up. He seems especially sullen and grumpy. He isn't even licking his lips like he usually does at the sight of her.
"The only funny one here is you," she retorts. He snarls but his only response is to grab her arm and twist it behind her, making her cry out in pain, and shove her out of the cell. He pushes along a long hallway, with a lush red carpet and lined with tall windows. The walls are split between rich oaken wood and deep red painted wall. There are hooks embedded in the wall where there should have been paintings, but they had been removed.
Maybe so nobody knows where they are, Iris muses and then winces as Greyback sadistically twists her arm, but she refuses to cry out. The food from last night had done wonders for her state of mind, and she is going to use it all, down to the very last carb.
Eventually, Greyback stops in front of a large wooden door and shoves her into it. It looks like it could have been a living room or a cosy library. Iris could almost imagine cosy sofas in front of the roaring fireplace on the other side of the room from where she entered, but any furniture had been removed. The wood-panelled floor is completely bare. But any possibilities for this to be a nice room evaporated when she saw who was there with her.
Voldemort stood in the centre, smirking at her. In front of him is a runic circle, painted with a red liquid that looks suspiciously like blood. She can't even tell what it is supposed to do, despite taking Runes at Hogwarts. It is intensely complex.
"Thank you Greyback," Voldemort says softly. "You may leave."
Greyback hesitates, glancing between his master and Iris. "Master, could I not…"
Voldemort's eyes flash. "Are you defying me Greyback? Do you need a reminder on who your master is?"
"No, my…" Greyback doesn't even get a chance.
"Crucio!"
Greyback instantly releases her as he sinks to his knees in a howl of pain, spasming at the intense torture. Voldemort lifts the torture curse after several seconds, leaving Greyback whimpering on the ground.
"Leave," the snake-faced abomination says coldly, and Greyback scrambles out, a whine peeling out from his throat. Iris doesn't miss the chance at his distraction and sprints for the door as soon as Greyback opens it.
"Ah, ah, we can't have that," Voldemort waves his wand and Iris screams as her limbs are suddenly pulled to the extent they can stretch before tearing, freezing her on the spot. With another wave, she rises into the air and moved to hover over the runic circle.
"I must admire your tenacity," Voldemort says, amused. "You have done very well to avoid me. You possess a certain luck that is truly astounding. Perhaps Severus is right in how that is your only talent. Ah, but you also possess such bad luck as well. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Mum's going to wash my mouth out for this but F…"
"Language," Voldemort smirks as he waves his wand, silencing her. He prowls around her, moving along the edge of the circle, talking all the while. "You see this runic circle? I wanted to use you to fuel it all those years ago, but something happened. Somehow you survived, and I was crippled for so many years. As a result, you were called the Girl-Who-Lived. Have you enjoyed this title, young Potter?"
Iris can only glare. He smiles, a glint in his eyes that makes her stomach clench.
"Perhaps after today, you will be known as the Girl-Who-Screamed. Far catchier than your previous title, wouldn't you say? You see, this ritual requires the sacrifice to undergo a great amount of torture. They must scream, and cry, and beg for mercy, of which none will be given. They must be brought down to such a point that all they can think of is pain. I have done this several times, and each time was truly an experience. Of course, when I first wanted to sacrifice you, it would have taken much less time than it will now. Babies are such fragile things after all. So easy to… damage." His tongue caresses the word, his smile growing wider as Iris's eyes widen and she tries to struggle against her magical restraints. Voldemort continues even as her struggles intensify.
"Simply using crucio will not suffice. It is sufficient for punishment, but for this ritual, you must keep your mind. So, while I detested it at first, but I have now come to enjoy, I will be torturing you the muggle way." And from his sleeve, he pulls out a silver blade and holds it up for Iris to examine. "You two will become very acquainted over the next while. Perhaps you will even make it entertaining and last for several days, though the longest any sacrifice has lasted has been five hours. And oh, how they did scream."
Voldemort steps forward and lightly traces the edge across her arm, carving a line of red with ease. He watches amused as Iris tries to kick out.
"Oh yes, if you are to be known as the Girl-Who-Screamed, then perhaps I shall let your voice ring out for my followers to hear. And when, at last, you are dead, perhaps I shall send your dear parents your head. Or maybe bits and pieces, hoping that you are still alive. Or perhaps I shall display your mutilated body in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic. Perhaps I will let you decide."
And with another wave, he lifts the silencing charm. But Iris says nothing, only glares hatefully at Voldemort.
"You won't speak then? Such stubbornness in the Potters. We will see how long that lasts. Let us begin."
Voldemort sets his wand aside somewhere in his robes and raises the knife. Slowly, oh so slowly, he brings the knife closer and closer to her nose. The first thing to go will be her nose. Voldemort grin widens as the tip of the blade touches her nose, and a bead of blood immediately forms, rolling down the edge of the blade. Voldemort smiles and scoops the trail up with his finger, and brings it slowly to his mouth.
And then a glowing fist punches him straight in his ashen white face, flinging him across the room, crashing straight through the wall with a resounding boom. Iris stares in shock as Voldemort, one of the worst Dark Lords in Magical history, just got punched in the face.
Out of nowhere, a young man Iris's age flings off an invisibility cloak, looking extremely wild and frantic. A piece of cloth is wrapped around his forward, holding back a messy clump of hair. He is thin, almost unhealthily so. A pair of circular glasses rests on his nose. For just a moment, she thinks it is her father, with those glasses they look almost identical. But he is way too young. Iris's eyes widen as her own emerald green eyes meet his emerald green, though they are darker. For a second, the moment their eyes meet, they freeze. A shudder goes up Iris's spine, and her arms tingle. The youth seems to be feeling something similar but recovers quickly.
"Finite!" he waves, and she drops to the ground with a gasp.
"Who…?" she starts to instinctively say, curiosity burning in her, despite the danger of the situation.
"No time!" He yells, shoving a wand – her wand – into her hand, grabbing her arm and pulling her towards the door she came from, pulling a second wand out from his pocket. "Follow me now!" Startled into movement, she quickly falls in behind, glancing back at where Voldemort crashed through the wall, and her heart clenches as a dark figure stands up among the dust.
The unknown boy rips open the door, revealing Fenrir Greyback standing there, about to open said door. Days of taunts and mockery fill her with rage, and she lifts her wand to curse him into oblivion with everything Padfoot taught her that would get him crucified by her mother. But the dark-haired youth acts quicker, and in a way that is completely different form how a normal wizard would act.
He punches Greyback in the stomach so hard, it makes the werewolf keel over, straight into the youths rising knee.
"Reducto!"
The boy yells, but nothing comes out of his wand. Instead, his other hand starts to glow, and he slams the evil werewolf in the jaw. With an explosive shockwave reminiscent of a normal reducto, Greyback is flung against the wall with a crack. He slides to the ground, his neck at an unnatural angle.
"Come on!" the youth grabs her hand again, pulling her down the corridor, sprinting. As soon as they turn the corner, instead of carrying on, the boy rips opens a door, what looks to be a guestroom, pulling Iris in.
"Quickly!" He ducks behind a large bed, motioning to her to join him. She stares incredulously at the boy.
"Are you an idiot?"
"Possibly."
"We're trapped in here! They're going to find us!"
"Not if we're hiding! Now get down here!" He grabs her shirt and forcibly jerks her down, nearly sending her face first into the soft rugged carpet. As soon as she is kneeling, he waves his wand in an arc on their head and says: "Scentis nullis!" Then he pulls an invisibility cloak out of his shirt and flings it around them, hiding them from view. They listen carefully as the sound of people running is heard outside the room, and they both start as Voldemort's voice fills the building.
"The Potter girl has escaped! Find and bring her to me! She has someone with her. Bring him too. DO NOT KILL THEM." His final words promise a painful response if either of them do turn up dead.
The door to the guestroom opens, making Iris and the unknown boy freeze. A growl reaches their ear, one that Iris has gotten very familiar with over the past few days. There is a sound of sniffing before a frustrated growl and the door slams shut and rapid movement that sounds like a dog fading away. Both Iris and the unknown boy breath a sigh of relief.
"I honestly thought I killed him," the boy shakes his head in disbelief.
"I don't think it's that easy to kill a werewolf, even if it isn't the full moon," she says and stares curiously at the boy. "I'm grateful that you rescued me, but who are you?"
Strangely, he looks taken aback before nodding and sticking out a tentative hand out. "I'm Harry. And you are?"
A similar expression to Harry's, when asked who he was, crosses her face and she stares at him, before realizing that he really doesn't know who she is. "I'm Iris. Pleasure to meet you. Any plans on how to get out of here?"
He shakes his head. "We can't leave yet. They still have Cedric Diggory."
Iris's eyes widen. "They still have him? I thought they were lying when they said they kept him alive. How is he? Is he okay?"
"He's fine," Harry reassures her. "But for how long, I don't know. Voldemort," Iris starts at hearing him say Dark Lord's name so easily. Harry misinterprets her jump and gives her a disgusted look. "Voldemort," he enunciates clearly, irritating Iris at the implied condescension, "wants to do something with him. I only caught a little bit of his plan, but whatever it is, it isn't good. I know where he is, so come on."
Huddling under the cloak, they tentatively stepped into the hallway. It was clear for the moment, but they can't be certain how long it will stay that way. Harry jerks his head to her, and the two set off further into the building. He walks with certainty, not getting lost in the maze of halls and corridors. Several times, they have to jump out of the way of Death Eaters running around, searching for them. Iris winces as her scar starts to burn even worse as Voldemort's frustration gets higher and higher. The hair on the back of her neck stands up in response as more time passes, and she can see the same thing happening on the back of Harry's neck.
Eventually they come to a hallway with two serpent statues flanking a door. Harry quickly moves towards it, making Iris have to pick up the pace.
"Thank Merlin our escape was good for one thing," Harry mutters. "Usually there are guards. Guess they didn't think we would hang around." He gently presses the door open, revealing stairs descending into darkness.
"How do you know where everything is?" Iris asks what had been burning in her mind.
"I've been here a day or so," he says slowly, wand up and at the ready, and Iris quickly follows suit. If someone comes running up, there would be no way to avoid them. "Managed to find my way around. It's a lot less confusing than it seems."
"Were you the one who gave me that food?"
He nods but doesn't say more as they reach the bottom of the stairs, a damp area with holding cells lining the walls. As they pass them, most are empty, but at the end, Harry's destination, is a figure huddled in on itself. Iris gulps at seeing Cedric cut and bruised. It's only because of her that he is here, she curses herself. Of all people, he needs to be the one that gets out of here and back to his father.
"Psst," Harry hisses, making Cedric's head jerk up.
"Who's there?" he demands, glaring at the empty space, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Don't worry, we're here to help." Harry reaches into his pocket and pulls out a heavy key – how deep are his pockets? He's wearing jeans for Merlin's sake. With the sound of grinding metal, he inserts it into the old lock and turns, pulling the door open.
"Who are you?" Cedric is still suspicious, and Iris takes matters into her own hands.
"Cedric, its me." Iris sticks her head out from under the invisibility cloak. The reaction is instantaneous. Instant relief fills his face and he quickly steps forward before hesitating.
"Iris. I'm so glad you're okay."
"I'm so sorry for dragging you into this. This is all my fault."
"This wasn't your fault," Cedric reassures, but Iris can't believe him.
"This is all really touching, but could we please get moving," Harry says irately. "In case you forgot, we are in a Death Eater stronghold filled with people looking for us! Get under here already! You're making me nervous." He steps into the cell and motions for Cedric to duck in with them.
"Who are you?" Despite his question, he ducks under the invisibility cloak. Space under it immediately became a lot less with Cedric's seventeen-year-old body. It just barely covered them all. Harry quickly pulled out another wand and shoved it into Cedric's hands. He looks at in surprise, as well as Iris. Somehow, Harry had gotten Cedric's wand.
"No time," Harry brushes aside the question, watching the entrance to the prison. "Listen, can you apparate?"
"Yes, I have my license."
"Good. As soon we get beyond the ward line, you and Iris need to teleport to Hogwarts and back to safety."
"What about you?" Iris says indignantly. "We're not leaving you behind!"
"I can't leave," Harry says nervously, eyes flitting between the prison entrance and Iris, very anxious for reasons beyond Death Eaters. "This is one of Voldemort's biggest hideouts. I might be able to get some important information here. I'll figure out how to get the information to you."
"That is reckless," Cedric says, siding with Iris. "How old are you? Twelve? Eleven?"
"I'm fourteen," Harry says indignantly. Cedric raises a disbelieving eyebrow. Iris can't help but agree. Harry is very small for his age, though so is she. At least she doesn't look anorexic. "Can we please stop talking before my luck screws us over? Let's move!"
Together they step out of the cell. Sadly, Harry's luck catches up them before they can get much further than just outside the cell's entrance.
Alarms begin to blare.
"Merlin, I forgot!" Cedric swore. "They cast a spell whenever I left my cell. It must have been a deactivator to make sure prisoners don't leave."
"Again with the talking! Run!" Harry leaps forward, whipping the invisibility cloak off and shoving it into his pocket. They rush up the stairs, but before they can reach the door above, it is ripped open and three black-cloaked figures start to run down the stairs. They freeze at the sight of the three teens, who each react at once:
"Stupefy" "Reducto" "Bombarda!"
The three spells combine into one multicoloured ball of light and impacted against the leading Death Eater. The crunch of bones are audible, and all three are flung right back out of the doorway. As they step out, more Death Eaters appear form down the hall.
"This way!" Harry yells, leading them in the opposite direction as the Death Eaters open fire. Spells hit the ground around them, sending up shards of stone and wood, cutting Iris's and Cedric's skin before they get around the bend in the corridor and out of the line of fire.
More Death Eater's appear ahead of them, and they have to dive into an open doorway to avoid them. Harry leads them in a winding path through the house, avoiding Death Eaters at almost every turn.
"Where are we going? Do you even have a plan on how to get out of here?" Iris yells, frustrated as they duck to avoid spellfire.
"Working on it!" Harry yells in response, shoving a door closed, right as several spells impact against it, showering the three young wizards with shards of wood. They were in yet another hallway, one that was uncomfortably familiar.
"We're back at the prison you dolt!" Iris shrieks, staring at the two serpent statues flanking the entrance. The three Death Eaters they first encountered still lie crumpled against the wall. The window above them lies cracked from the impact.
"We need to find an exit now!" Cedric says, looking exhausted, and Iris is the same. Even with the food the previous night, several days alone in a cell, with a guard that continually drained her hope, had left her tired beyond belief. Harry isn't looking much better. He was extremely thin and seemed exhausted.
Said boy chews on his lip before is eyes land on the cracked window, and a flash of inspiration crosses his face.
"Then we make our own exit! Reducto the window!" Too tired to question it, Cedric and Iris raise their wands with Harry and fire. It takes several attempts, but the window is blows outward, leading the way into a long path to two gates that hopefully signal the end of the ward line.
"Go, go!" Harry nearly shoves them out of the window, continually glancing up and down the hallway. As Iris climbs out, she catches a glance of a large group of Death Eaters appearing at the end of the hallway. She stumbles as she falls out and gives a cry out as her knee slams into a rock and she feels something shift. She tries to stand, but instantly collapses, caught by Cedric, who quickly gives her a leg look over.
"Her kneecaps dislocated!" Cedric says urgently as Harry joins them. "We aren't going to get out of here." Despite his words, Harry and Cedric grab her by her shoulders and start to drag her away.
Blood pounding, Iris immediately tries to get to her feet at those words, but the pain makes her cry out. She can't let Cedric get caught again, and Harry needs to get out of this hellhole as well.
"Leave me and get out of here for Merlin's sake!" Iris begs them. Only to be promptly ignored.
"We need a distraction," Harry says, looking off into the distance, head slightly tilted as though he is listening to something. A wary grin starts to dance on his lips. "I think I have an idea, but it may just blow up in our face!"
"Do it!" Cedric roars, pulling Iris away as Death Eaters appear at the window.
Harry drops Iris and turns to the building, a Mansion now that they could see it clearly, and raises his wand. And then he utters a spell that Iris doesn't recognise, but just its utterance sends sharp chills up her spine like the River Styx is flowing through her blood. A spell so cursed and feared that only a rare few had ever used it before, to devasting results.
"Spiritus Ignis!"
Flame pours like a fire hose from the young boy's wand, rising into the air, forming into a shape like an animal. An animal with wings that spread right in front of them, shielding them from anything that might attack them. Even in that moment, Iris couldn't help but appreciate how an incarnation of destruction was turned to defend them.
Fiendfyre.
With a vicious cry, the bird pours through the broken window, incinerating the Death Eaters like paper, turning the wooden black and melting stone down to slag. Iris and Cedric stare at the boy that is capable and dangerous enough to produce such destruction. They still stare as he grabs a hold of them, and they spin in place and the air feels as though it is constricting them.
Apparation! Iris thinks distantly. But they were still in the ward line! But then all her attention is brought down to her leg as the swirling world seems to wrench on her leg, nearly making her blackout
And then the world stabilised, transforming into an office that Iris instantly recognises. Her back slams against a wall, Cedric still gripping her shoulder, and Harry's hand on hers. They fall to the ground and the last thing she sees is a group of people standing around Dumbledore's desk, their faces haggard and exhausted, eyes wide as they stare at the two of them. And then she hears a single scream as she passes out. The sound of her mother's voice.
"Iris?!"
##################################################################################################
Consciousness comes to her slowly. She can distantly hear the sound of people talking.
"Out of nowhere…"
"Hogwarts grounds stops…"
"…who's the boy?"…
"…will he survive?"
The achingly familiar smell of antiseptic fill her nose, and Iris nearly groans as she realizes where she is: The Hospital Wing. Can't she go at least a month without having to see Madam Pomfrey? Iris slowly opens her eyes and stares up at the ceiling. She could vaguely see that it is dark outside, so she must have been sleep for several hours. Her whole-body aches, and there is something around her knee. A curtain shields her from the rest of the room, and she could vaguely see the shadows of people talking, but not what they were saying. But after a moment, she could hear her mother's voice.
"Mom?"
"Iris?" The curtain is ripped aside, and Iris nearly breaks down at seeing her mother's worried as well as relieved face. Iris catches a single glimpse of the dark shadows under Lily Potter's eyes and a haggard expression before she is engulfed in a massive embrace.
"Don't you ever do that again, you hear me?" Lily says quietly, hugging her tightly.
"I was kidnapped by Voldemort Mom," Iris chuckles lightly, trying to bring a bit of levity to the situation. "It's not like I broke curfew with a boy." Behind her mother, she sees James Potter and Sirius Black step forward, quickly moving to the other side of the bed, James enveloping her in a hug as well.
"Hey Pup, seems you're a bit full on hugs," Sirius waggles his eyebrows at her, a wide grin filling his face, eyes sparkling. Despite his joking attitude, he is looking as drawn as her mom, and she can feel her dad shaking next to her.
"What happened to you?" James finally asks, step back slightly.
"That is something I am certain everyone would like an answer to," Dumbledore says, joining into the conversation. "We have been attempting to find you since you vanished from the maze with Mr Diggory five days ago. But to no avail. It took us three days to track your location to a graveyard, but that was the extent to what we could find."
"She's not answering anything until I've checked her," Pomfrey suddenly appears, glaring at Dumbledore as she starts waving her wand over Iris. After a few seconds she says: "Nothing major. Aside from her dislocated knee, she was only exhausted. Diggory was in a similar state. The other boy though…"
"Harry?" Iris blurts out. "Is he okay?"
"He appears fine," Pomfrey says cautiously, glancing at Dumbledore who quickly interjects.
"Perhaps you should first tell us what has happened to you?"
Iris nods and starts to tell what happened. There wasn't much to tell since all that happened was that Greyback taunted her in her cell. She left out a few details to spare her mom who still seemed ready to break down, but both her dad's and Padfoot's expressions were murderous at hearing about Greyback. But that changed when Iris told them how she was rescued.
"He punched…?" James says incredulously
"…Voldemort!" Sirius crows in delight. "I like this kid! He actually punched the Dark Wanker? I might just adopt him."
"That might be a worse fate than anything Voldemort could do to him," James says dryly, earning him a glare from the exuberant animagus.
"But how did he make his hand do that?" Lily frowns, ever the curious about magic. "Some kind of wandless magic? But he looks like he is only fourteen. And you said it was wrapped all the way around his hand? Strange."
"Indeed," Dumbledore says curiously, gazing off in the distance, an expression of contemplation on his face. "I am more concerned on where he comes from. He is certainly no student of Hogwarts. I would garner a guess that he is a muggleborn that was captured, but invisibility cloaks are rare enough that they would not simply be something anyone could pick up."
Iris carries on with her story, earning more crows of delight and a promise from Iris to give the memory of Harry punching Greyback to Remus. Apparently, he was still out searching for information among the werewolf tribes and would only be back the next day. They could not send an owl without endangering him, much to James and Sirius's irritation. Iris goes over how they went to save Cedric and the subsequent running away through mansion and the leaping out of the window. Here Iris hesitates.
"What's wrong?" Lily asks, worried. Iris chews her lips for a moment, looking uncertainly at Dumbledore especially.
"I really think he is a good person," she says hesitantly. "He wanted to help us, I'm sure of it, so please don't think badly of him."
"Why would we do that?" Dumbledore says curiously. "From everything you have told us, he is certainly someone we can at least treat well."
"What did he do?" James asks warily, glancing behind him.
Iris hesitates again. "We weren't going to get to the ward-line before the Death Eaters caught up to us. My knee was dislocated, and we were tired. He said we needed a distraction, and then he cast a spell at the mansion. A very Dark spell."
Dumbledore's face darkens, and even Lily and James didn't look very happy. Sirius doesn't show anything yet, more curious on what spell he used. Iris takes a breath.
"He used Fiendfyre."
Lily gasps and James frowns heavily. Sirius's eyebrows raise in surprise and an appreciative look is thrown towards the curtain.
"That is…troubling," Dumbledore says. "For such a young boy to use such a spell is frightening to say the least."
"Oh, come on Albus," Sirius rolls his eyes. "Can you blame him? Just because he used a dark spell doesn't mean he's a dark wizard. Fiendfyre would have been an excellent distraction in the situation. I would have used it as well if I was in his shoes."
"It's not just that Padfoot," James shakes his head. "Fiendfyre is extremely difficult to control as well. It could easily have turned on its caster. The fact that it didn't is…I don't know what it means, but we need to be wary of this…Harry you called him?" Iris nods.
"Prongs," Sirius whines, his inner dog shining through more than ever, including the puppy eyes, "He's just a kid. I say give him a medal!"
"The kid used Fiendfyre Sirius! Only two wizards in history have ever used it successfully! And that doesn't include Dumbledore! Voldemort has only ever used it once, and it nearly consumed him!"
"I don't know if he actually could control it, okay," Iris protests. "We apparated away before he could do anything with it."
"That is another point that concerns me about this boy," Dumbledore says, stroking his beard. "Firstly, according to young Mr Diggory, you had not yet crossed the ward line. Somehow, this Harry was able to apparate, something he could not do himself as he asked Mr Diggory if he would. And he did it in within the confines of the wards. It could be explained away as powerful accidental magic. But that brings me to my second point." He looks at them all with a steely glint, no sparkle, in his eyes. "He was able to apparate onto Hogwarts grounds, and in my office at that. Not even Voldemort could do so without launching a lengthy assault on the wards. And yet he bypassed it completely. I have many questions for him when he wakes."
"Where is he anyway?" Iris says, trying to distract her family away from the worried thoughts that were going through their heads. "Is he okay?"
"We…aren't sure," Lily says, glancing at Pomfrey who had been lurking in the shadows, listening in as well.
"He is surrounded by some kind of magical shield," Pomfrey explains. "None of my diagnostic spells penetrate it, though I am still able to do a physical examination. There are several signs of malnutrition, but he is surprisingly fit despite that. My only concern is the cloth across his forehead. He appears to have placed it there with a powerful sticking charm, for what reason I am not sure. He had several injuries as well, but relatively minor, nothing unlike Iris herself sustained as well."
"Would it be possible to obtain a blood sample?" Dumbledore asks. "Perhaps we may be able to ascertain his origins…" but Pompfrey is already shaking her head.
"The magical shield prevents me from treating his injuries at this point, the only thing we can do is…" Pompfrey freezes, instantly drawing everyone who is present attention. All their eyes are drawn to the edge of the curtain, where the subject of their conversation steps around it into view.
Harry's eyes are wide as he stares at them, drifting from Dumbledore, to Sirius and Remus, before landing on James and Lily. He stares at them, his eyes wide, his mouth slightly open. James frowns at the stare, while Lily returns the gaze with an unreadable expression. His green eyes, so much like Lily Potters, gleam with a sudden wetness.
"Good evening my boy," Dumbledore says jovially. "We were just talking about you. I believe we have you to thank for the rescue of young Miss Potter and Mr Diggory." Harry's eyes flicker briefly to Iris, but they quickly dive back at James and Lily like a magnet. Something about that gaze screams desperation to Iris, making her heart pound and an indescribably feeling to well up in her. Suddenly, she is extremely glad her parents are at her side. "However unfortunate it is, we must ask you some questions, to ascertain who you are." Dumbledore eyes him over his half-moon glasses, subtly drawing his wand as Harry continues to stare.
"Harry don't worry," Iris tries to sooth the obviously distraught boy, though why she isn't sure. "Dumbledore won't hurt you so long as you answer him. It'll be fine." Harry turns to her slowly, making everyone tense. James steps slightly in front of Lily, much to her annoyance, even with the tense atmosphere.
Harry opens his mouth, and they tense. But nothing comes out. Harry seems to struggle to say anything. It is like his whole body is trying to force out the words, but at the same time, doing all it can to stop him. The tendons in his neck are pushed to the extreme. He closes his mouth and grits his teeth, his fist clenching and slamming it into his chest, making everyone jump, and Dumbledore's wand rises into the air, ready for anything. But Harry barely notices, his attention still focused on James and Lily.
And then, he speaks:
"I," he gasps as though the word took an extreme effort to put out. "I. can't…" Tears start to flow down his cheeks, pure agony on his face as he drinks in the image of James and Lily.
"I…"
"Can't…"
"Do…"
"This…"
He falls to the to ground, gasps, or rather sobs, wracking his body.
"What's wrong with him?" Iris says worriedly, leaping out of her bed, despite the cries of warning from her family. She tries to go to Harry, but Pompfrey grabs her and holds her back.
"It's dangerous Iris," the Matron hisses, fear in her voice. Iris is just about to snap at her sand say Harry isn't dangerous, but then she feels it. The entire air is shaking from the magic pouring out of the boy. Every single bed in the large room is vibrating from the energy being put out from Harry.
"Please…please…please," the black-haired youth is crying, pleading, into the ground. And then he throws his head up, showing a look of utter despair as he pleads to the air. "Please Hogwarts…Take me away from here! PLEASE!"
And with a crack like the sound of a tree being broken across a giant's knee, the boy disappears, sending one final shockwave of energy that makes everyone stumble back. Dumbledore is the only one who doesn't move back, a glowing shield in front of him. Iris hadn't even noticed him casting the spell.
They stare at the spot where Harry disappeared, awestruck. It is several seconds before anyone speaks, and of course it is Sirius that describes what happened in so few words.
"Well…That was exciting!"
Authors Note
So this story idea came to me while I was reading some of my favourite parallel universe stories, specifically "I'm still here" by kathryn518. Really wish they would keep it up, since it is such a great fanfiction. Anyway, a lot of Time travel stories, and parallel worlds, they have Harry as a god of sorts with all these animagus forms, all these abilities and that whole stuff. "I'm still here" is one of the best depictions of a competent and powerful Harry without being over the top, at least in my opinion. And so, I want to write something similar, but have Harry still be mostly the same, though there probably will be some Out of Character stuff since I'm not experienced in writing Harry Potter. Sorry about that.
Basically, Harry is going to be powerful, but not quite in the same way as those other stories. His power is going to be…. Luck! And Bad Luck. You'll see what I mean as the story goes on. Just bear in mind that he isn't going to be a God, or ridiculously powerful, though some people may think he is (in the HP universe I mean).
I think that's all I want to say at the moment, but I hope you will leave a review. I'd like to improve my writing, so be as critical as you want if you decide to leave a review.
Also, no Slash. Sorry for Slash Lovers. There won't be any romance for quite awhile anyway.