Harry Potter and the Keeper of Friendship
The Hall of Nightmares
By Starrysapphire
Disclaimer - Nothing. Digimon isn't mine, Harry Potter isn't mine, no infringement on copyright intended. Oh and for any astute reader who may have noticed, yes, Matt's web is loosely based on the Master's in the Doctor Who story, Castrovalva, no that doesn't belong to me either.
The Digidestined looked at the castle which they had finally reached with the help of the Digimon.
"So what now?" Mimi asked.
"We can't just barge in," Draco said "We need to think."
"What are those things by the door?" Hermione asked.
"I know those," Argumon said "Those are Womblemon. They're very easily led but they're are not a good enemy."
"Well, Myotismon's obviously recruited them, making them our enemies," Draco said firmly "Now we need to work out what to do."
"If we take them by surprise we should be able to defeat them," Izzy said "There's only two of them. However, once we've done that, we need to decide what happens next."
"I think we go in," Draco said "There's no point delaying. We go in and see what happens."
"That sounds a very silly plan," Sora said "We need a real plan, not a 'Let's go in and see what happens' plan."
"You think of it then," Draco challenged her.
Sora sighed and Draco knew she was beaten. He knew it wasn't much of a plan but he couldn't think of anything better to do. He knew Voldemort, had met him in the summer when he'd come to Malfoy Manner. Draco knew that Voldemort would have all sorts of plans and traps and there was nothing that Draco could really think of the do anything.
"I guess I can't think of anything better," Sora said sadly.
"How many can work magic?" Izzy asked directly "We need to decide on our firepower."
"Ron can," Hermione said "Draco should be able to, after all he did get his crest to glow..."
"No, he didn't!" Sora said.
Everyone turned to her.
"He got my Digivice to glow and that's a whole different thing!" Sora pointed out.
"Well, that explains a lot," Draco said "Such as why I couldn't cast any spells on the Digimon."
"Well, that's irrelevant now," Izzy said "Only one of you can use magic so far so the others will just have to be careful."
Hermione nodded and the group began to head towards the castle.
* * * *
"So they have arrived," Voldemort said "They'll be in the Hall of Nightmares shortly."
Harry and Tai stared at the mirror where they could see their friends. They didn't understand how it worked, but it seemed real enough.
"They'll kick your ass!" Tai said, sounding confident. Harry wondered if he was feeling as confident as he sounded. He personally wasn't certain at all. He didn't know if any of them could use magic and Voldemort would be very prepared.
"Really?" Voldemort said, looking amused "Did Lord Myotismon tell you about the Hall of Nightmares?"
"No," Tai said "But I don't need to know! The others'll get though it just fine!"
Voldemort laughed.
"Fine. Hold onto your illusions," he said "But you shall see." He raised his voice "Take them to the room we prepared!"
The Womblemon gathered round them and ushered them away.
* * * *
The Womblemon barely noticed them until Lillymon zapped one of them with her Flower Cannon and Garudamon got the other with her Wing Blade.
"Fairly useless as guards go," Draco said, thinking about the defences on Malfoy Mannor.
Together, they walked inside.
They entered a huge dark hall which was so long that it didn't seem to have an end.
"Do we just keep going?" TK whispered. His whisper echoed and he winced.
"I guess," Hermione breathed.
Slowly they began to move though the shadowed hall.
It was Mimi who suddenly noticed it.
"Hey!" she cried, her voice echoing shrilly making everyone jerk with alarm "It's getting all foggy!"
Everyone looked round and realised she was right. Mist was swirling round their ankles. Draco tried to move but despite the mists swirling form, it seemed solid round his legs.
"What's happening?" Sora shouted.
"Is it gas?" Izzy said uncertainly.
"Gas!" Joe shrieked "We'll all die! I've read that poem, I know what happens!"
The mist was rising. It was cold and damp round Draco's arms.
"Help!" Hermione wailed "I can't get loose!"
The mist changed to a thick fog and kept rising until Draco couldn't see anything except white swirling fog. The others shouts and yells faded and it was almost like he was alone, lost in the thick fog. Slowly, Draco began to push his way though the fog. It was like wading though sticky melted toffee. Then he paused. He could see a figure in the smoky fog...
"Hello?" he said uncertainly "Ron? Hermione?"
But the figure was too tall to be any of those. Uncertainly, Draco took another step forward. Then he blinked.
"Father?" he said.
Lucius Malfoy stepped forward, looming over Draco.
"Father, what are you doing here?" Draco said.
Lucius looked like he hadn't heard his son. Then he glared down at Draco. Draco shrank instinctively.
"All this time," Lucius said, his voice sounding dark and cold "All this time, I've tried to teach you how to be a Malfoy, how to bring honour to the family name. But you were never good enough, were you? No matter what I did to you, you were never a real Malfoy..."
Draco swallowed.
"Father, that's not true," he said "I tried. I've always tried..."
"You were always a waste of space!" Lucius snapped "No matter what happened, no matter how many times I beat you...must have been your mother's influence."
Draco stared at his father, tears growing in his eyes. His father thought he wasn't good enough...nobody felt he was good enough...
"And now I discover that you've fallen in love with that Potter boy!" Lucius snapped "I'm disgusted....falling in love with him....our greatest enemy...."
"Father...." Draco croaked "I'm sorry...."
But his father was fading back into the fog. As Draco stared after him, tears beginning to creep down his face, another figure walked out of the fog; Harry Potter.
"Harry!" Draco said, trying to push his tears away "We've come to rescue you..."
"Like I'd go anywhere with you!" Harry hissed, his face angry "You're disgusting Malfoy! You love me!"
"No!" Draco said "Not exactly..."
"It's disgusting!" Harry said "You're disgusting! Don't come near me!"
"Harry!" Draco said but Harry was already vanishing and another was coming forward in his place.
"Mother?" Draco said.
His mother stared at him icily.
"You've always been such a let down," she said "Always such a disappointment. No matter what I and your father did, you always let us down..."
"No!" Draco wailed "I didn't let you down, I always did what you wanted, just tried to make you proud in my own way! Mother!"
But his mother was fading and others were coming, other relations, his friends, all telling him that he was a waste of space, that he'd let the family name down. Draco sank to the floor, sobbing bitterly into his knees, the fog steadily thicking and swirling round him all the while.
* * * *
"Hello?" TK called uncertainly "Sora? Kari? Draco? Anyone?"
But no one answered. TK stared into the fog. He knew Sora had been standing just over there a moment ago but now she was completely invisible. Reaching out his arms, he tried to find his way to one of the others. Then he stopped.
"Matt!" he yelled joyfully, rushing towards his brother.
Matt stepped backwards and TK stopped, puzzled.
"Matt, what's wrong?" he asked "We've come to rescue you."
"You!" Matt snapped, his voice harsh "What use would a little squealing runt like you be?"
"Matt!" TK said, a wave of confusion washing over him.
"That's it," Matt said "Start to cry, make a scene. You've always been a little pain but no, I always had to look after you, carry you around with me, keep you out of trouble, listen to you bawling."
"M-matt?" TK said again, feeling a wave of confusion "W-why are you saying this? I'm not a c-cry-baby..."
"Yeah?" Matt sneered "Can you say that with less conviction? I'm sick of having you tagging around after me. Always getting into trouble, always whimpering and making a bloody fuss."
TK struggled with the tears that were trying to force themselves out of his eyes.
"Matt," he managed "There's something wrong...you don't think that, you know you don't..."
"Oh don't I?" Matt said "Yeah that's it. Pretend to be all-knowing when you're actually an ignorant little brat."
Turning, he began to walk away.
"MATT!" TK wailed "MATT, COME BACK!"
But Matt simply vanished into the mist. TK frantically struggled after him, tears pouring down his face. He spotted another figure.
"Tai!" he gasped "Tai, Matt's gone and he told me..."
"That you were a sobbing little baby?" Tai said mockingly "Can't blame him."
"Tai!" TK wailed despairingly "Not you too!"
"Well face it TK," Tai said "Who wants you?"
TK clutched at Tai but Tai pulled backwards, mockingly smiling.
"TK," he said "You were always the useless member of the group. We never really needed you. You just tagged around, getting in the way. Only Matt wanted you at first, only now he's seen sense, hasn't he?"
"No!" TK sobbed "That's not true! It's not true!"
But Tai was already backing away, leaving the terrified boy in the fog. TK looked around desperately but all he could hear were voices, telling him that he was a useless cry-baby, that he just tagged along, that he was a wretched little squealer, was a tiny little coward. As TK sobbed despairingly, the fog thickened around him.
* * * *
All around, the other Digidestined were suffering the same thing. People and Digimon from their pasts loomed up, mocking them, telling them that they weren't need, that they were stupid, that everyone hated them. One by one, the Digidestined and Co. collapsed on the stone floor, wallowing in misery, self doubt and despair. Myotismon and Voldemort watched amusedly as the Digidestined were overcome by their own fears.
"They aren't as strong as you thought," Voldemort said "My magic can defeat any children, no matter how strong they may be."
Myotismon frowned slightly.
"Perhaps," he said "But I have tried before and thought they were in my grasp, only to loose them. I wouldn't be so certain that you've defeated them yet."
Voldemort snorted mockingly.
"You are far to cautious Lord Myotismon," he said "We have them now."
Myotismon frowned. He wasn't so certain.
"I bore of this," Voldemort said abruptly. He turned away "They are finished. Send some of your minions in to finish them off."
Myotismon nodded and beckoned to the Womblemon.
"Send Asisamon in," he ordered "He'll finish them off."
* * * *
In their room, Harry and Tai watched in horror though a small silvery mirror as their friends dropped, overcome by their own fears and insecurities.
"Come on!" Tai yelled "You can defeat them, you can do it!"
Harry just stood there, his teeth gritted. Tai stopped yelling and just stared at the scene before them.
"Come on," he whispered again "Oh come on..."
But as the group curled themselves up into tighter balls, trying to shut out their fears, Tai's hopes began to die.
* * * *
In his web, Matt twisted and turned, struggling violently. He could see what was happening behind his eyelids.
"No!" he cried despairingly.
But he knew it was useless. He couldn't resist the web...
No. He had to resist, he had to. Couldn't he do anything?
Faintly, he heard TK's voice wail his name hysterically.
TK....
With the last tiny vestige of strength he had, Matt forced the fog away from his friends, wiping it from the room. Then he passed out, all his strength gone.
* * * *
Hermione was crouched on the stone floor, tears running down her face. Around her, her family and friends were mocking her, telling her how useless she was, how untalented, how all she knew were facts and figures from textbooks. Around her, she could hear faint cries and moans.
"If only I could help them," she whispered "I am useless, they're all frightened and I can't do anything...."
She hunched up tighter.
"I have to help them!" she whispered "I have to...what's the use of being a witch if I can't help my friends? I'm supposed to be able to help people...."
She shuddered all over.
"AHHHH!" she heard TK wail.
Gritting her teeth, Hermione tried to stagger to her feet. She had to help TK, no matter how bad she felt. It was only right....they had to be more scared than she was...
The fog pressed down on her, the voices yelled at her...
"NO!" she shouted "I have to help TK and the others!"
Then the fog abruptly faded. Hermione staggered to her feet, her robes drenched with cold sweat. Slowly, the group gathered together.
"That was..."
"What WAS that?"
Hermione shook her head.
"Where did it go?" Ron whispered.
"Um guys?" Joe said "What's THAT?"
They all turned. Joe was pointing at a huge Digimon that was staring icily down at them. It's eyes were huge and grey-green, it's body the same colour. Standing around it were several Womblemon.
"It looks like Fred!" Ron said.
"Only without the charm," Hermione said.
Slowly, the Digimon began to advance on them.
"It's a Asisamon!" Izzy yelled "And it's nasty!"
"Quick!" Draco yelled "Digimon!"
The Digimon leapt forward.
"Why aren't they digivolving!" Draco demanded.
"It was the fog!" Hermione said suddenly "What we saw and heard....it was our fears...we're all too weak!"
They all knew she was right. Everyone was shaking in terror and misery. The Asisamon slowly began to advance.
"We have to do something!" Draco yelled "Ron! A spell! ANY SPELL!"
Ron clutched uselessly at his wand, his eyes wide.
'We're all possessed by our fears' Hermione thought, staring at the Digimon in front of her 'We have to do something!'
The Asisamon roared.
"ICE SMOKE!" it shrieked.
The Womblemon dodged away from the billowing cloud that came out of it's mouth. The Digimon fell backwards, wailing in pain.
"Biyomon!" Sora cried in horror from where she was standing.
The Digimon staggered upwards but were once again blasted down. One of the Womblemon didn't manage to dodge fast enough. With a pitiful squeal, it fell over and lay there, struggling uselessly.
Before Ron could stop her, Hermione rushed over, kneeling beside the injured Digimon.
"Hermione!" she heard Izzy yell.
Hermione ignored him.
"You'll be okay," she said gently.
The Womblemon smiled at her gratefully. Then Hermione heard the Asisamon snarl. Turning, she realised that it was standing over her and the Womblemon. Behind it, her friends were kneeling over their weak and battered Digimon.
"HERMIONE!" Ron screamed.
'I shouldn't have tried to help the Womblemon' Hermione thought 'But I had to. It was hurt and it was on the Asisamon's side! I had to help...'
The crest round her throat suddenly exploded into light. Hermione stared in amazement. A whitish-gold light slowly pulsed from her crest, slamming into the Asisamon.
"Hermione!" she heard Biyomon cry "You crest has given me strength! I can digivolve!"
As Hermione watched, all the Digimon (except Argumon and Gabumon) digivolved, attacking the Asisamon with strength. It only took a few minutes before the Digimon had defeated the Asisamon. Then they all gathered around Hermione. The light was fading now.
"It's because you felt compassion for the Womblemon!" Joe said "That's why it worked!"
"Well I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not afraid anymore!" Kari said, sounding triumphant "Let's go find the others!"
"RIGHT!" everyone chorused.
They quickly ran though the hall and though the door.
"If you please..."
It was the Womblemon Hermione had helped. It was blinking it's curranty black eyes at them.
"Yes?" Hermione said gently.
"I know where your friends are," the Womblemon said "Well, two of them."
"Which two?" Ron asked.
"The strange one wearing the extra blue eyes on it's forehead and the one with the lighting mark," the Womblemon said.
"Harry and Tai," Sora said.
"Do you know where the other one is?" Talitha asked.
The Womblemon shook it's head.
"I was just ordered to take those two into the other room," he said.
"Right," Draco said promptly "I, Ron, Mimi, TK, Joe and Sora will go and find Matt or the bad guys. Talitha, Izzy, Kari and Hermione will go with the Womblemon. get Harry and Tai and then catch up with us. Argumon and Gabumon, go with them. They may need protection."
Everyone split up and scampered in different directions.
* * * *
Tai and Harry were standing anxiously near the door. Their friends had escaped the Hall of Nightmares. Surely now they'd come for them?
"I want to see Argumon again," Tai said "Then we'll kick that Voldemort's ass!"
"I want my wand and crest back," Harry said "I'm useless without them."
"Harry? Tai?"
It was Talitha.
"Talitha!" Harry hissed "We're in here!"
"I know. The Womblemon showed us the way," Talitha said "Of course, no key. Hermione?"
A moment later, the door opened. Tai scooped Argumon up in his arms and hugged him.
"Hey!" he said "Good to see you!"
"It's good to see you too!" Argumon said.
"Well, lets go!" Tai said "Let's go kiss ass!"
"Wait!" Harry said "I want to find my wand and crest first."
Tai frowned, then nodded.
"Right," he said "Hey you - Womblemon. Do you know where Voldemort would have put Harry's stuff?"
The Womblemon shook his head.
"No," he said "His rooms maybe?"
"Well, we'll try there," Tai said promptly.
"Is that a good idea?" Hermione asked "Draco said that we should just find you guys and then make our way back to them. And the idea of going though Voldemort's rooms don't sound very pleasant to me."
"Well, I'm no use without my wand!" Harry said "We've got to get it back!"
Hermione frowned.
"All right," she said "We'll just try his rooms and then we'll find the others."
The Womblemon began to lead them though the twisting passages.
* * * *
Draco and the others slowly entered the huge hall, looking around themselves.
"It's huge!" TK whispered.
"Yeah," Ron agreed.
"It's deserted," Draco said with a frown "That can't be normal."
Slowly, the five began walking though the hall.
"What's this mirror for?" Sora asked.
"It doesn't go with the rest of the decor," Draco said.
"And you'd know about this?" Ron asked, a little sarcastically.
"My mother's been helping me with my bedroom for the past fifteen years," Draco said bluntly "You'd know what does with the decor too."
Ron pretending to be sick and the two boys grinned at each other.
"It's not a very good mirror," Sora said "It's all smoky grey."
Everyone gathered round and stared. The mirror was covered in swirling smoke.
"What's it for?" Draco muttered.
"I don't know but it's creepy," Joe said.
"Joe's right," Mimi said "Who'd want a mirror like that?"
"It must have some use," Sora said "Maybe it's magical?"
"Not really," Myotismon said lazily from behind them "It's more Digital really."
They all turned. Myotismon was standing beside a scarlet curtain. Behind him were several Death Eaters.
"Uh oh," Sora whispered.
Draco swallowed painfully.
"Draco," his father's voice said, sounding deadly "What is the meaning of this?"
"Who's that?" Mimi whispered.
"Draco's father," Ron whispered back.
Draco tried to think of something to say which wasn't going to make things unduly worse. His mind was completely blank.
"I'm waiting Draco," his father said.
"What does it look like Father?" Draco said.
"It looks," Mr Malfoy said "As though you are helping these Muggles and a Weasley. But no son of mine would ever do something like that. Would you?"
Draco glanced at the others who stared back blankly. Then he turned back.
"Yes Father," he said "I am helping them."
He knew that his father was about to say something else and quickly took the plunge.
"I'm not just your son Father," he said "I'm my own person and I have to make choices of my own. And I don't want to do what you've done. I'm finally following my own path and you can say what you like; it won't make a difference."
Draco could feel his father's eyes boring into him but he continued anyway.
"I've finally found some friends Father, people who like me, rather than who are frightened of me. I've got a purpose, a real one. It doesn't make a difference what type of blood we've got. It's all red and runny anyway. We all need to support each other. So you think what you like Father. I suppose we're fighting on opposite sides now."
"How DARE you speak to me like that Draco?" Mr Malfoy shouted.
"I don't know," Draco answered "I've seen what you've done to people who've upset you before. I've even helped you now I'm older. But I'm different now. I'm not afraid of you. And I'll fight to stop you killing my new friends."
A bright blue-green light radiated from his crest. The Death Eaters and Myotismon both stepped back slightly.
"YEAH!" Ron yelled "ALL RIGHT DRACO!"
Draco blinked. He didn't know how he'd dared to speak to his father like that. His father wasn't going to appreciate it. But he'd made his crest glow. And that was important.
Mr Malfoy was preparing to speak. However, Myotismon got there first.
"Very impressive," he said calmly "Not many have the strength to do what you just did. However, you may want to reconsider the fighting."
"Yeah right!" Sora yelled "We'll all fight you!"
The Digimon had already digivolved and were all ready for fighting. Myotismon looked at them. Then he pulled the curtain aside. The group stared, stunned.
Matt was there, in an alcove. He was hanging in a silvery web, which was enmeshed in his skin. His eyes were closed and his face was grey-white with a faint blueish tinge.
"MATT!" TK cried. He tried to run forwards but Sora stopped him.
"What have you done to him?" Joe demanded.
"Merely used him for my own purposes," Myotismon said lazily "His loyalty to his friend meant that he was ripe for my purposes. He has meant that we have known what you were up to all along."
"So that's how you made those things from his memory," Draco said.
"Yes," Myotismon said "That's also how I created the Hall of Nightmares. If it hadn't been for his last act of defiance, you would have died in there, surrounded by your own fears. Yamato has been very useful." His voice harder "However, should you attack me, I shall be forced to kill him instantly."
A ripple of electric blue power flickered over one of the silvery wires. Matt grimaced violently and jerked his head backwards.
"Matt!" TK cried again "Matt, it's me TK! Are you all right?"
"He can't hear you," Myotismon said "He is quite unconscious."
TK sniffled.
"Where are the rest of you friends?" Myotismon asked.
The group looked at each other. None of them knew what to say.
"I'm waiting," Myotismon said dangerously.
"They went to look for Harry and Tai," Ron said.
"A natural response," Myotismon said. He turned to Matt, hanging still in the web "Show me your other friends."
Matt gave a faint whimper. More ripples of blue light ran into him and he remained still. He'd obviously used all his strength and was just letting Myotismon use him now.
Behind them, the smoke in the mirror began to clear, swirling off to the sides. Slowly, they could see an image forming. There was a lot of interference, like a badly tuned TV but slowly it cleared and came into focus.
"Matt!" TK wailed "Don't!"
Matt didn't respond, simply lay still in his web. Myotismon swept up behind them and stared into the mirror. The others watched too.
* * * *
"This is it," the Womblemon said "This is Lord Voldemort's set of rooms."
"Come on then," Tai said.
"Wait!" Hermione gasped.
She murmured a spell. The door lit up with a greenish glow.
"What's that mean?" Tai asked.
"That means that it's been magicked," Hermione explained "I might be able..."
She muttered something, waving her wand. The greenish light vanished and Hermione opened the door. Slowly, the group walked in.
"Nice depressing place," Talitha said.
Harry looked round.
"Where might he put my crest and wand?" Harry asked.
"Don't ask me," Tai said.
Harry wandered though the room, looking round hopefully.
"Maybe he's got them with him," Kari suggested.
"No!" Hermione called "I've got them!"
She held out the crest and wand she'd found. Harry grabbed them and put the crest on.
"Come on," Talitha said "This place gives me the creeps!"
They turned to leave and froze.
"Going somewhere?" Voldemort asked pleasantly from the doorway, twirling his wand in his hand.
Behind him, a group of Death Eaters stood, completely blocking the door. Harry looked desperately around but there was no way out.
They were trapped at Voldemort's mercy!
Here endeth part seven.
The Hall of Nightmares
By Starrysapphire
Disclaimer - Nothing. Digimon isn't mine, Harry Potter isn't mine, no infringement on copyright intended. Oh and for any astute reader who may have noticed, yes, Matt's web is loosely based on the Master's in the Doctor Who story, Castrovalva, no that doesn't belong to me either.
The Digidestined looked at the castle which they had finally reached with the help of the Digimon.
"So what now?" Mimi asked.
"We can't just barge in," Draco said "We need to think."
"What are those things by the door?" Hermione asked.
"I know those," Argumon said "Those are Womblemon. They're very easily led but they're are not a good enemy."
"Well, Myotismon's obviously recruited them, making them our enemies," Draco said firmly "Now we need to work out what to do."
"If we take them by surprise we should be able to defeat them," Izzy said "There's only two of them. However, once we've done that, we need to decide what happens next."
"I think we go in," Draco said "There's no point delaying. We go in and see what happens."
"That sounds a very silly plan," Sora said "We need a real plan, not a 'Let's go in and see what happens' plan."
"You think of it then," Draco challenged her.
Sora sighed and Draco knew she was beaten. He knew it wasn't much of a plan but he couldn't think of anything better to do. He knew Voldemort, had met him in the summer when he'd come to Malfoy Manner. Draco knew that Voldemort would have all sorts of plans and traps and there was nothing that Draco could really think of the do anything.
"I guess I can't think of anything better," Sora said sadly.
"How many can work magic?" Izzy asked directly "We need to decide on our firepower."
"Ron can," Hermione said "Draco should be able to, after all he did get his crest to glow..."
"No, he didn't!" Sora said.
Everyone turned to her.
"He got my Digivice to glow and that's a whole different thing!" Sora pointed out.
"Well, that explains a lot," Draco said "Such as why I couldn't cast any spells on the Digimon."
"Well, that's irrelevant now," Izzy said "Only one of you can use magic so far so the others will just have to be careful."
Hermione nodded and the group began to head towards the castle.
* * * *
"So they have arrived," Voldemort said "They'll be in the Hall of Nightmares shortly."
Harry and Tai stared at the mirror where they could see their friends. They didn't understand how it worked, but it seemed real enough.
"They'll kick your ass!" Tai said, sounding confident. Harry wondered if he was feeling as confident as he sounded. He personally wasn't certain at all. He didn't know if any of them could use magic and Voldemort would be very prepared.
"Really?" Voldemort said, looking amused "Did Lord Myotismon tell you about the Hall of Nightmares?"
"No," Tai said "But I don't need to know! The others'll get though it just fine!"
Voldemort laughed.
"Fine. Hold onto your illusions," he said "But you shall see." He raised his voice "Take them to the room we prepared!"
The Womblemon gathered round them and ushered them away.
* * * *
The Womblemon barely noticed them until Lillymon zapped one of them with her Flower Cannon and Garudamon got the other with her Wing Blade.
"Fairly useless as guards go," Draco said, thinking about the defences on Malfoy Mannor.
Together, they walked inside.
They entered a huge dark hall which was so long that it didn't seem to have an end.
"Do we just keep going?" TK whispered. His whisper echoed and he winced.
"I guess," Hermione breathed.
Slowly they began to move though the shadowed hall.
It was Mimi who suddenly noticed it.
"Hey!" she cried, her voice echoing shrilly making everyone jerk with alarm "It's getting all foggy!"
Everyone looked round and realised she was right. Mist was swirling round their ankles. Draco tried to move but despite the mists swirling form, it seemed solid round his legs.
"What's happening?" Sora shouted.
"Is it gas?" Izzy said uncertainly.
"Gas!" Joe shrieked "We'll all die! I've read that poem, I know what happens!"
The mist was rising. It was cold and damp round Draco's arms.
"Help!" Hermione wailed "I can't get loose!"
The mist changed to a thick fog and kept rising until Draco couldn't see anything except white swirling fog. The others shouts and yells faded and it was almost like he was alone, lost in the thick fog. Slowly, Draco began to push his way though the fog. It was like wading though sticky melted toffee. Then he paused. He could see a figure in the smoky fog...
"Hello?" he said uncertainly "Ron? Hermione?"
But the figure was too tall to be any of those. Uncertainly, Draco took another step forward. Then he blinked.
"Father?" he said.
Lucius Malfoy stepped forward, looming over Draco.
"Father, what are you doing here?" Draco said.
Lucius looked like he hadn't heard his son. Then he glared down at Draco. Draco shrank instinctively.
"All this time," Lucius said, his voice sounding dark and cold "All this time, I've tried to teach you how to be a Malfoy, how to bring honour to the family name. But you were never good enough, were you? No matter what I did to you, you were never a real Malfoy..."
Draco swallowed.
"Father, that's not true," he said "I tried. I've always tried..."
"You were always a waste of space!" Lucius snapped "No matter what happened, no matter how many times I beat you...must have been your mother's influence."
Draco stared at his father, tears growing in his eyes. His father thought he wasn't good enough...nobody felt he was good enough...
"And now I discover that you've fallen in love with that Potter boy!" Lucius snapped "I'm disgusted....falling in love with him....our greatest enemy...."
"Father...." Draco croaked "I'm sorry...."
But his father was fading back into the fog. As Draco stared after him, tears beginning to creep down his face, another figure walked out of the fog; Harry Potter.
"Harry!" Draco said, trying to push his tears away "We've come to rescue you..."
"Like I'd go anywhere with you!" Harry hissed, his face angry "You're disgusting Malfoy! You love me!"
"No!" Draco said "Not exactly..."
"It's disgusting!" Harry said "You're disgusting! Don't come near me!"
"Harry!" Draco said but Harry was already vanishing and another was coming forward in his place.
"Mother?" Draco said.
His mother stared at him icily.
"You've always been such a let down," she said "Always such a disappointment. No matter what I and your father did, you always let us down..."
"No!" Draco wailed "I didn't let you down, I always did what you wanted, just tried to make you proud in my own way! Mother!"
But his mother was fading and others were coming, other relations, his friends, all telling him that he was a waste of space, that he'd let the family name down. Draco sank to the floor, sobbing bitterly into his knees, the fog steadily thicking and swirling round him all the while.
* * * *
"Hello?" TK called uncertainly "Sora? Kari? Draco? Anyone?"
But no one answered. TK stared into the fog. He knew Sora had been standing just over there a moment ago but now she was completely invisible. Reaching out his arms, he tried to find his way to one of the others. Then he stopped.
"Matt!" he yelled joyfully, rushing towards his brother.
Matt stepped backwards and TK stopped, puzzled.
"Matt, what's wrong?" he asked "We've come to rescue you."
"You!" Matt snapped, his voice harsh "What use would a little squealing runt like you be?"
"Matt!" TK said, a wave of confusion washing over him.
"That's it," Matt said "Start to cry, make a scene. You've always been a little pain but no, I always had to look after you, carry you around with me, keep you out of trouble, listen to you bawling."
"M-matt?" TK said again, feeling a wave of confusion "W-why are you saying this? I'm not a c-cry-baby..."
"Yeah?" Matt sneered "Can you say that with less conviction? I'm sick of having you tagging around after me. Always getting into trouble, always whimpering and making a bloody fuss."
TK struggled with the tears that were trying to force themselves out of his eyes.
"Matt," he managed "There's something wrong...you don't think that, you know you don't..."
"Oh don't I?" Matt said "Yeah that's it. Pretend to be all-knowing when you're actually an ignorant little brat."
Turning, he began to walk away.
"MATT!" TK wailed "MATT, COME BACK!"
But Matt simply vanished into the mist. TK frantically struggled after him, tears pouring down his face. He spotted another figure.
"Tai!" he gasped "Tai, Matt's gone and he told me..."
"That you were a sobbing little baby?" Tai said mockingly "Can't blame him."
"Tai!" TK wailed despairingly "Not you too!"
"Well face it TK," Tai said "Who wants you?"
TK clutched at Tai but Tai pulled backwards, mockingly smiling.
"TK," he said "You were always the useless member of the group. We never really needed you. You just tagged around, getting in the way. Only Matt wanted you at first, only now he's seen sense, hasn't he?"
"No!" TK sobbed "That's not true! It's not true!"
But Tai was already backing away, leaving the terrified boy in the fog. TK looked around desperately but all he could hear were voices, telling him that he was a useless cry-baby, that he just tagged along, that he was a wretched little squealer, was a tiny little coward. As TK sobbed despairingly, the fog thickened around him.
* * * *
All around, the other Digidestined were suffering the same thing. People and Digimon from their pasts loomed up, mocking them, telling them that they weren't need, that they were stupid, that everyone hated them. One by one, the Digidestined and Co. collapsed on the stone floor, wallowing in misery, self doubt and despair. Myotismon and Voldemort watched amusedly as the Digidestined were overcome by their own fears.
"They aren't as strong as you thought," Voldemort said "My magic can defeat any children, no matter how strong they may be."
Myotismon frowned slightly.
"Perhaps," he said "But I have tried before and thought they were in my grasp, only to loose them. I wouldn't be so certain that you've defeated them yet."
Voldemort snorted mockingly.
"You are far to cautious Lord Myotismon," he said "We have them now."
Myotismon frowned. He wasn't so certain.
"I bore of this," Voldemort said abruptly. He turned away "They are finished. Send some of your minions in to finish them off."
Myotismon nodded and beckoned to the Womblemon.
"Send Asisamon in," he ordered "He'll finish them off."
* * * *
In their room, Harry and Tai watched in horror though a small silvery mirror as their friends dropped, overcome by their own fears and insecurities.
"Come on!" Tai yelled "You can defeat them, you can do it!"
Harry just stood there, his teeth gritted. Tai stopped yelling and just stared at the scene before them.
"Come on," he whispered again "Oh come on..."
But as the group curled themselves up into tighter balls, trying to shut out their fears, Tai's hopes began to die.
* * * *
In his web, Matt twisted and turned, struggling violently. He could see what was happening behind his eyelids.
"No!" he cried despairingly.
But he knew it was useless. He couldn't resist the web...
No. He had to resist, he had to. Couldn't he do anything?
Faintly, he heard TK's voice wail his name hysterically.
TK....
With the last tiny vestige of strength he had, Matt forced the fog away from his friends, wiping it from the room. Then he passed out, all his strength gone.
* * * *
Hermione was crouched on the stone floor, tears running down her face. Around her, her family and friends were mocking her, telling her how useless she was, how untalented, how all she knew were facts and figures from textbooks. Around her, she could hear faint cries and moans.
"If only I could help them," she whispered "I am useless, they're all frightened and I can't do anything...."
She hunched up tighter.
"I have to help them!" she whispered "I have to...what's the use of being a witch if I can't help my friends? I'm supposed to be able to help people...."
She shuddered all over.
"AHHHH!" she heard TK wail.
Gritting her teeth, Hermione tried to stagger to her feet. She had to help TK, no matter how bad she felt. It was only right....they had to be more scared than she was...
The fog pressed down on her, the voices yelled at her...
"NO!" she shouted "I have to help TK and the others!"
Then the fog abruptly faded. Hermione staggered to her feet, her robes drenched with cold sweat. Slowly, the group gathered together.
"That was..."
"What WAS that?"
Hermione shook her head.
"Where did it go?" Ron whispered.
"Um guys?" Joe said "What's THAT?"
They all turned. Joe was pointing at a huge Digimon that was staring icily down at them. It's eyes were huge and grey-green, it's body the same colour. Standing around it were several Womblemon.
"It looks like Fred!" Ron said.
"Only without the charm," Hermione said.
Slowly, the Digimon began to advance on them.
"It's a Asisamon!" Izzy yelled "And it's nasty!"
"Quick!" Draco yelled "Digimon!"
The Digimon leapt forward.
"Why aren't they digivolving!" Draco demanded.
"It was the fog!" Hermione said suddenly "What we saw and heard....it was our fears...we're all too weak!"
They all knew she was right. Everyone was shaking in terror and misery. The Asisamon slowly began to advance.
"We have to do something!" Draco yelled "Ron! A spell! ANY SPELL!"
Ron clutched uselessly at his wand, his eyes wide.
'We're all possessed by our fears' Hermione thought, staring at the Digimon in front of her 'We have to do something!'
The Asisamon roared.
"ICE SMOKE!" it shrieked.
The Womblemon dodged away from the billowing cloud that came out of it's mouth. The Digimon fell backwards, wailing in pain.
"Biyomon!" Sora cried in horror from where she was standing.
The Digimon staggered upwards but were once again blasted down. One of the Womblemon didn't manage to dodge fast enough. With a pitiful squeal, it fell over and lay there, struggling uselessly.
Before Ron could stop her, Hermione rushed over, kneeling beside the injured Digimon.
"Hermione!" she heard Izzy yell.
Hermione ignored him.
"You'll be okay," she said gently.
The Womblemon smiled at her gratefully. Then Hermione heard the Asisamon snarl. Turning, she realised that it was standing over her and the Womblemon. Behind it, her friends were kneeling over their weak and battered Digimon.
"HERMIONE!" Ron screamed.
'I shouldn't have tried to help the Womblemon' Hermione thought 'But I had to. It was hurt and it was on the Asisamon's side! I had to help...'
The crest round her throat suddenly exploded into light. Hermione stared in amazement. A whitish-gold light slowly pulsed from her crest, slamming into the Asisamon.
"Hermione!" she heard Biyomon cry "You crest has given me strength! I can digivolve!"
As Hermione watched, all the Digimon (except Argumon and Gabumon) digivolved, attacking the Asisamon with strength. It only took a few minutes before the Digimon had defeated the Asisamon. Then they all gathered around Hermione. The light was fading now.
"It's because you felt compassion for the Womblemon!" Joe said "That's why it worked!"
"Well I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not afraid anymore!" Kari said, sounding triumphant "Let's go find the others!"
"RIGHT!" everyone chorused.
They quickly ran though the hall and though the door.
"If you please..."
It was the Womblemon Hermione had helped. It was blinking it's curranty black eyes at them.
"Yes?" Hermione said gently.
"I know where your friends are," the Womblemon said "Well, two of them."
"Which two?" Ron asked.
"The strange one wearing the extra blue eyes on it's forehead and the one with the lighting mark," the Womblemon said.
"Harry and Tai," Sora said.
"Do you know where the other one is?" Talitha asked.
The Womblemon shook it's head.
"I was just ordered to take those two into the other room," he said.
"Right," Draco said promptly "I, Ron, Mimi, TK, Joe and Sora will go and find Matt or the bad guys. Talitha, Izzy, Kari and Hermione will go with the Womblemon. get Harry and Tai and then catch up with us. Argumon and Gabumon, go with them. They may need protection."
Everyone split up and scampered in different directions.
* * * *
Tai and Harry were standing anxiously near the door. Their friends had escaped the Hall of Nightmares. Surely now they'd come for them?
"I want to see Argumon again," Tai said "Then we'll kick that Voldemort's ass!"
"I want my wand and crest back," Harry said "I'm useless without them."
"Harry? Tai?"
It was Talitha.
"Talitha!" Harry hissed "We're in here!"
"I know. The Womblemon showed us the way," Talitha said "Of course, no key. Hermione?"
A moment later, the door opened. Tai scooped Argumon up in his arms and hugged him.
"Hey!" he said "Good to see you!"
"It's good to see you too!" Argumon said.
"Well, lets go!" Tai said "Let's go kiss ass!"
"Wait!" Harry said "I want to find my wand and crest first."
Tai frowned, then nodded.
"Right," he said "Hey you - Womblemon. Do you know where Voldemort would have put Harry's stuff?"
The Womblemon shook his head.
"No," he said "His rooms maybe?"
"Well, we'll try there," Tai said promptly.
"Is that a good idea?" Hermione asked "Draco said that we should just find you guys and then make our way back to them. And the idea of going though Voldemort's rooms don't sound very pleasant to me."
"Well, I'm no use without my wand!" Harry said "We've got to get it back!"
Hermione frowned.
"All right," she said "We'll just try his rooms and then we'll find the others."
The Womblemon began to lead them though the twisting passages.
* * * *
Draco and the others slowly entered the huge hall, looking around themselves.
"It's huge!" TK whispered.
"Yeah," Ron agreed.
"It's deserted," Draco said with a frown "That can't be normal."
Slowly, the five began walking though the hall.
"What's this mirror for?" Sora asked.
"It doesn't go with the rest of the decor," Draco said.
"And you'd know about this?" Ron asked, a little sarcastically.
"My mother's been helping me with my bedroom for the past fifteen years," Draco said bluntly "You'd know what does with the decor too."
Ron pretending to be sick and the two boys grinned at each other.
"It's not a very good mirror," Sora said "It's all smoky grey."
Everyone gathered round and stared. The mirror was covered in swirling smoke.
"What's it for?" Draco muttered.
"I don't know but it's creepy," Joe said.
"Joe's right," Mimi said "Who'd want a mirror like that?"
"It must have some use," Sora said "Maybe it's magical?"
"Not really," Myotismon said lazily from behind them "It's more Digital really."
They all turned. Myotismon was standing beside a scarlet curtain. Behind him were several Death Eaters.
"Uh oh," Sora whispered.
Draco swallowed painfully.
"Draco," his father's voice said, sounding deadly "What is the meaning of this?"
"Who's that?" Mimi whispered.
"Draco's father," Ron whispered back.
Draco tried to think of something to say which wasn't going to make things unduly worse. His mind was completely blank.
"I'm waiting Draco," his father said.
"What does it look like Father?" Draco said.
"It looks," Mr Malfoy said "As though you are helping these Muggles and a Weasley. But no son of mine would ever do something like that. Would you?"
Draco glanced at the others who stared back blankly. Then he turned back.
"Yes Father," he said "I am helping them."
He knew that his father was about to say something else and quickly took the plunge.
"I'm not just your son Father," he said "I'm my own person and I have to make choices of my own. And I don't want to do what you've done. I'm finally following my own path and you can say what you like; it won't make a difference."
Draco could feel his father's eyes boring into him but he continued anyway.
"I've finally found some friends Father, people who like me, rather than who are frightened of me. I've got a purpose, a real one. It doesn't make a difference what type of blood we've got. It's all red and runny anyway. We all need to support each other. So you think what you like Father. I suppose we're fighting on opposite sides now."
"How DARE you speak to me like that Draco?" Mr Malfoy shouted.
"I don't know," Draco answered "I've seen what you've done to people who've upset you before. I've even helped you now I'm older. But I'm different now. I'm not afraid of you. And I'll fight to stop you killing my new friends."
A bright blue-green light radiated from his crest. The Death Eaters and Myotismon both stepped back slightly.
"YEAH!" Ron yelled "ALL RIGHT DRACO!"
Draco blinked. He didn't know how he'd dared to speak to his father like that. His father wasn't going to appreciate it. But he'd made his crest glow. And that was important.
Mr Malfoy was preparing to speak. However, Myotismon got there first.
"Very impressive," he said calmly "Not many have the strength to do what you just did. However, you may want to reconsider the fighting."
"Yeah right!" Sora yelled "We'll all fight you!"
The Digimon had already digivolved and were all ready for fighting. Myotismon looked at them. Then he pulled the curtain aside. The group stared, stunned.
Matt was there, in an alcove. He was hanging in a silvery web, which was enmeshed in his skin. His eyes were closed and his face was grey-white with a faint blueish tinge.
"MATT!" TK cried. He tried to run forwards but Sora stopped him.
"What have you done to him?" Joe demanded.
"Merely used him for my own purposes," Myotismon said lazily "His loyalty to his friend meant that he was ripe for my purposes. He has meant that we have known what you were up to all along."
"So that's how you made those things from his memory," Draco said.
"Yes," Myotismon said "That's also how I created the Hall of Nightmares. If it hadn't been for his last act of defiance, you would have died in there, surrounded by your own fears. Yamato has been very useful." His voice harder "However, should you attack me, I shall be forced to kill him instantly."
A ripple of electric blue power flickered over one of the silvery wires. Matt grimaced violently and jerked his head backwards.
"Matt!" TK cried again "Matt, it's me TK! Are you all right?"
"He can't hear you," Myotismon said "He is quite unconscious."
TK sniffled.
"Where are the rest of you friends?" Myotismon asked.
The group looked at each other. None of them knew what to say.
"I'm waiting," Myotismon said dangerously.
"They went to look for Harry and Tai," Ron said.
"A natural response," Myotismon said. He turned to Matt, hanging still in the web "Show me your other friends."
Matt gave a faint whimper. More ripples of blue light ran into him and he remained still. He'd obviously used all his strength and was just letting Myotismon use him now.
Behind them, the smoke in the mirror began to clear, swirling off to the sides. Slowly, they could see an image forming. There was a lot of interference, like a badly tuned TV but slowly it cleared and came into focus.
"Matt!" TK wailed "Don't!"
Matt didn't respond, simply lay still in his web. Myotismon swept up behind them and stared into the mirror. The others watched too.
* * * *
"This is it," the Womblemon said "This is Lord Voldemort's set of rooms."
"Come on then," Tai said.
"Wait!" Hermione gasped.
She murmured a spell. The door lit up with a greenish glow.
"What's that mean?" Tai asked.
"That means that it's been magicked," Hermione explained "I might be able..."
She muttered something, waving her wand. The greenish light vanished and Hermione opened the door. Slowly, the group walked in.
"Nice depressing place," Talitha said.
Harry looked round.
"Where might he put my crest and wand?" Harry asked.
"Don't ask me," Tai said.
Harry wandered though the room, looking round hopefully.
"Maybe he's got them with him," Kari suggested.
"No!" Hermione called "I've got them!"
She held out the crest and wand she'd found. Harry grabbed them and put the crest on.
"Come on," Talitha said "This place gives me the creeps!"
They turned to leave and froze.
"Going somewhere?" Voldemort asked pleasantly from the doorway, twirling his wand in his hand.
Behind him, a group of Death Eaters stood, completely blocking the door. Harry looked desperately around but there was no way out.
They were trapped at Voldemort's mercy!
Here endeth part seven.