Harry, Elora, Tsutsami, Velicity and Iceabelle (Iceabelle's hands were tied with a rope of fire) walked back to where they left Cecil. Elora's shoulder where she had been cut during the fight with Iceabelle was wrapped in cloth torn from her cloak. They all laughed at jokes Velicity had told them.
"Elora?" Velicity asked.
"Yes Velicity." Elora smiled.
"What's Hogwarts?" Velicity smiled back to her.
"Well Velicity. Hogwarts is a school for wizards and witches." Elora said, "Students usually start when they hit eleven. I'm another story. I started just this year and well, I'm 16."
"It doesn't make a difference." Harry said, "You had an excuse. Dumbledore couldn't get a message to you, he didn't even know where you were."
Elora smiled, "I guess. I just wish I could have started when you did, Harry. That way we would have known each other longer."
"We know each other now Elora. That's all that counts, and in the few weeks I've known you, it feels like I've known you all my life." Harry said.
Elora blushed, "Th-Thank you Harry."
Tsutsami hummed, "I see a little 'spark' appearing between you two."
Velicity giggled, "Elora. Are we there yet?"
Elora took her gaze off Harry and looked around, "Almost, Velicity. I think it's just around this corner." Then suddenly Elora stopped in her tracks. "Everyone. Hide!"
"Why, Elora?" Tsutsami asked.
"'Cause I can't move!" Elora responded. Indeed she looked frozen in place; a black mass, like gas, circled around her. Soon Harry's scar started to hurt, and he screamed in pain, leaning against the wall, then he, Tsutsami, and Velicity were in the same state as Elora.
"Harry!" Elora shouted, "Are you okay? What's wrong?"
Harry's scar still pounded in pain, "My scar. My head is pounding. This only happens when... Oh NO!"
In front of the frozen group, in a cyclone of black gas, a tall man in a black cloak appeared before them. "What?" Harry exclaimed, "That's NOT Voldemort! Then why..."
"Silence!" the roaring voice of the man echoed through the halls. He waved his hand once towards Elora. She screamed in pain. The fire ropes that held Iceabelle disappeared, and she ran to stand beside the dark man.
"Who are you?" screamed Elora, "Why are you doing this?"
The man stayed silent as he walked towards Elora. He brushed his hand against Elora's cheek and grinned, "My dear! You're strong, but you do have a weakness. I see darkness inside of you, you hold a part of me inside you. You'll be perfect!"
"Perfect for what? Get your grimy hands off of her!" Harry shouted.
The man's glare shot to Harry, "Potter? Well, well. What fun! If only I could kill you now. You've caused me so much torment, for such a small boy. Fortunately for you, I need you alive."
Harry looked into the man's eyes. Suddenly he got a cold chill, "You are Voldemort!"
The man laughed, "My outer appearance is that of the Shadow Guardian, Gaelen. When he was exiled from the Maze, he came to my side. His powers were strong, so I took over his body. But now, I'm searching for a stronger power." Voldemort-in-Gaelen looked towards Elora, "And you child, are perfect. I feel your power is strong, and with the darkness inside of you, you will not fight me."
Tsutsami growled, "Don't you dare touch her!"
Voldemort-in-Gaelen sneered towards Tsutsami; "I'd kill you all if you weren't all a very important piece of my plan."
"I wanna go home!" Velicity cried.
"Shut up, brat!" Voldemort-in-Gaelen barked.
"Don't you talk to her that way!" Elora shouted. She was soon disciplined by a slap across the face by Iceabelle.
"You cannot talk to my Lord like that." Iceabelle sneered, with a slight grin on her face.
Elora's eyes narrowed to Iceabelle; "If I were able to move, I'd fry your face off!"
Iceabelle laughed, "Ooh! I'm so scared!"
"Iceabelle!" Voldemort-in-Gaelen shouted.
Iceabelle curtsied, "Yes my Lord?"
"Take the Water and Wind Guardians to where the Forest Guardian lies. I want Harry to see me take over this girl's body." Voldemort-in-Gaelen sneered to Harry.
"Yes my Lord." Iceabelle said and in an instant she, Tsutsami and Velicity disappeared in cones of ice.
The black gas holding Harry and Elora frozen in place started to shape into rope, tying itself around their bodies. Their arms were bound to their sides by the rope, their legs were free but Harry couldn't move.
"I say we make a run for it the moment we are able to." Harry suggested silently to Elora.
Elora didn't respond. Her gaze was locked with that of Voldemort-in-Gaelen's. It was as if they were having a staring contest.
"It's no use Potter." Voldemort-in-Gaelen sneered, "She's mine now."
Continued: Chapter 19 - Underwraps