Harry Potter and the Keeper of Friendship
The Smoky Glass
By Starrysapphire
Disclaimer - For the eighth time, I don't own Digimon or Harry Potter. Some elements are lifted from Castrovalva again (but Doctor Who fans will be glad to note that there are no crappy yells of "My web! My weeeeeeeeeeeeeb!" this time.) I own the main plot and that's about it.
There's another CHARACTER DEATH but I'm not sure how much this one will bother everyone. I certainly was glad to see the back of him!
Yes folks, this is it - Harry and Draco FINALLY get it together in this part! Thanks for waiting so long!
Harry backed away slightly, gripping his wand. Voldemort walked into the room looking round at them.
"So...." he said "We have Potter and his Mudblood friend, Yamato Ishida's little witch-friend and assorted Digidestined. All searching my rooms apparently. Have you found what you were looking for?"
Harry said nothing.
"I see you have," Voldemort said. He held out his hand "Please hand over your wands, those who have them. NOW!"
Unhappily, Harry gave up his wand again. Hermione and Talitha handed theirs over too.
"Good," Voldemort said.
Then he turned to Hermione's Womblemon friend "And you - you betrayed us. You will see what happens to traitors when Myotismon gets hold of you. Now - march!"
The group walked down the stairs and though the corridors into the great hall. The other's were already there, surrounded by Womblemon and the other Death Eaters. Myotismon was standing there too.
"TAI!" Sora shouted.
"HARRY!" Ron yelled.
Tai waved at them tiredly. Voldemort pushed them over and they joined their friends. Ron grinned at Harry. Nearby, Harry saw Draco watching him. When Draco spotted Harry watching him, he gave Harry a quick smile. Then Harry saw Matt.
"MATT!" he heard Tai yell "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MATT?"
"They're using him to make that shadow and the Hall of Nightmares!" Draco said.
"That explains a lot!" Izzy said.
"Let Matt go!" Tai yelled.
Myotismon gave him a cold look.
"I think it's time we dealt with you all once and for all," he said "Lord Voldemort? Would you like to do the honours?"
Voldemort smiled. He looked at them all.
"The traitorous Womblemon first," Myotismon said icily.
The Womblemon was pushed forwards. Myotismon reached out his hand and shouted "Crimson Lightning!"
The Womblemon still wasn't very strong. It didn't take long before it was dead, the group watching in horror. "I think I'll start with Weasley now," Voldemort said "Enjoy watching your friends die Potter!"
Two of the Death Eaters grabbed Ron and shoved him forwards.
"If only Matt wasn't in danger!" Tai said desperately "We can't do anything until Matt's safe!"
But no one could think of how to rescue him.
"He looks half dead," Sora whispered.
Unseen by everyone, Tentamon flew over to the web. He hovered there for a moment, thinking.
"RON!" he heard Hermione cry behind him.
Tentamon flew straight into the web.
As Voldemort raised his wand, there was an amazing bang. Everyone whirled round. The web was glittering and sparking violently. Matt was crying out as the wires sprang out of his flesh but they only really heard Tentamon's scream.
"TENTAMON!" Izzy cried.
Behind them, the mirror exploded into smoky shards of glass. Tai launched himself over to the alcove and yanked Matt out. Matt stumbled against him, his arms looping round Tai's waist.
"Tai?" he murmured.
"You're safe now," Tai whispered "I've got you."
He looked at Tentamon. As he did, Tentamon faded into black data bytes and faded.
"Tentamon!" he heard Izzy sob.
Tai lost his temper. Tentamon was dead because of Myotismon and Voldemort. Matt was badly injured and they were all tired. Tai had had enough.
"ALL RIGHT EVERYONE!" he yelled "LET THEM HAVE IT!"
Behind him, Agumon and Gabumon finally managed to digivolve. The other Digimon gathered round. Draco and Ron (who still had their wands) brought them out and watched the group warily.
"KILL THEM!" Voldemort shrieked.
"Everyone behind the frame!" Tai yelled.
Pulling Matt, he leapt behind the smoking frame of the shattered mirror. Everyone else followed suit, anxiously gathering round. Sora was trying to comfort a crying Izzy while TK fussed over Matt. Tai looked anxiously at his friend. Matt had little cuts and wounds all over him from the wires. Some were quite deep and all were bleeding.
"What are we going to do?" Hermione said "The Digimon can't hold them off!"
Harry shook his head. Draco and Ron were using spells but neither of them wanted to kill or seriously hurt. The mirror frame would only give them cover for a little while.
"Couldn't we use the digivices to return home?" TK asked "Then we could sort out Matt and try to get help."
"There's no time!" Tai said "We can't leave now, we don't know what Myotismon and Voldemort will decide to do!"
"We can't do this alone!" Joe yelled.
Harry turned to Draco who was standing at the edge of the frame, holding his wand.
"Thanks for coming to get me," Harry said, a little awkwardly.
"That's okay," Draco said "I'm just sorry...."
He paused.
"That's it's going to end this way?" Harry suggested.
"No," Draco said "I'm sorry.....I'm sorry that we wasted all those years fighting. That's all."
Harry was surprised. He stared at Draco. Draco stared back. Then Draco leaned forward and kissed Harry, gently but firmly on the mouth.
Sora and Hermione were the only ones who happened to be looking. Despite her fear, Hermione couldn't help smiled to herself. She'd been waiting for that to happen. Sora simply smiled a little and turned back to Izzy. Harry put his hands on Draco's shoulders and pulled him closer, forgetting the danger they were in and that they should be fighting Voldemort, not kissing. But he didn't care. At that moment, he didn't want to fight anyone, just to hold Draco in his arms.
His crest flared into light, a shining silvery blue. He and Draco pulled backwards from each other, both startled and slightly embarrassed.
"ALL RIGHT HARRY!" Ron cheered. He hadn't seen Harry and Draco kissing but it was difficult to miss the fact that Harry's crest was now glowing.
The light from Harry's crest spread out. For a second it lingered around them, making a silver-blue corona. Then it spread out, fading as it did.
* * * *
Outside, the final remnants of the shadow surrounding the Valley of Death disappeared, erased by Harry's Crest of Peace. Taliesinmon watched it vanished. Then he called his other Digimon and together they began to walk towards the Valley of Death to help the Digidestined and their friends.
* * * *
In the great hall, things were getting increasingly desperate, despite Harry's contribution. Although the Avada Kedavra curse did not kill the Digimon, it drained their energy and they were beginning to slow down with exhaustion.
"We're gonna lose!" Joe wailed "What can we do?"
"Any ideas?" Draco snapped over his shoulder.
"Matt needs medical attention!" Tai said. He was kneeling beside his friend, supporting him.
"I'm sure it's not that bad...." Ron began doubtfully but Tai cut him off.
"It is that bad!" he said "He keeps drifting in and out of consciousness and some of his cuts won't stop bleeding! Look at him!"
Matt's face still had the unhealthy bluish tinge. His eyes were partly open but they weren't registering things. Tai's clothes were covered with Matt's blood.
"Joe, you know about medical things," Mimi said.
Joe went over and looked at Matt.
"I think it's the repeated electric shocks or something," he said helplessly "I don't really - WOAH!"
He and Tai flung themselves aside, pulling Matt with them, as some sort of spell flew past them.
"Tai!" WarGreymon shouted "We can't hold them off much longer!"
"We need the Digimon to distract long enough for us to escape," Draco said "There's no way that we can keep fighting. We're all exhausted."
"But we can't leave!" Tai said.
"He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day," Izzy said flatly from where he was standing "Tai, Tentamon gave his life to save us. I'm not having his life wasted. We have to get out of here, now."
Tai bit his lip, knowing that Izzy was right.
"WarGreymon!" he shouted "You have to distract them enough so we can escape!"
"MetalGarurumon and I will shield you!" WarGreymon shouted back.
"DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!" they heard Voldemort shriek.
Lillymon, Angemon and Angewoman flew over. Angemon carefully lifted Matt up in his arms. Matt was completely unconscious by this time, his mouth clenched shut. They prepared to run, then froze.
The door was blocked by what looked like hundreds of Womblemon. They couldn't escape.
"Can't we use the Digivices?" Mimi screamed.
"I don't know!" Tai yelled back "I don't know how you did it originally, remember? I wasn't there!"
"We thought about the qualities in our crests!" Draco said "But there isn't TIME!"
"Tai!"
Tai looked over. Angemon had lowered Matt back down and gone back to the fight. TK was kneeling by him.
"He's not breathing!" TK cried.
Tai was at Matt's side in a moment. Matt's face was utterly white now. His mouth was clenched shut and it was clear that TK was right; Matt wasn't breathing.
"JOE!" Tai screamed "HERMIONE! ANYBODY! DO SOMETHING! ANYTHING!"
Talitha stood by the mirror frame where she'd been forgotten. Voldemort had taken hers, Hermiones' and Harrys' wands and she couldn't fight. She had been watching the battle silently, not saying anything. As she watched, Myotismon shouted "Crimson Lightning!" and Angemon went flying, slamming into the wall.
Talitha swallowed painfully. She could hear Tai and TK's violent sobs and glanced over. A simple glance told her that Matt was dying. His lips were blue and the rest of his face was beginning to turn that colour. Joe and Hermione were trying to help but it was clear that they had no idea what to do. Ron and Draco were still fighting but they both looked completely exhausted and the spells seemed to be somewhat lacking. The Digimon were clearly exhausted as even the Womblemon's attacks seemed to be packing a great punch. Talitha could see Voldemort watching. He wasn't fighting, not getting his hands dirty. He was in clear shot for her if she just had something to throw or a wand.
Talitha looked at the floor. Glass from the broken mirror was scattered everywhere.
Talitha knelt down and picked up a large shard. It was very sharp and she nearly cut herself. She knew that if it hit Voldemort, it would probably kill him.
Was she willing to kill?
Talitha swallowed painfully and looked at the smoky glass. It seemed to stare back at her, taunting her, telling her to use it. She looked at Voldemort again. He was watching, a small smile on his face as the Digimon backed off a little more. They were nearly back at the mirror frame now. Any further and they reach it and then they'd be past it and the Death Eaters could simply kill them.
"Matt!" she heard Tai sob.
Beside her, Draco suddenly sank to the floor.
"I can't!" he gasped "I'm too tired!"
Harry knelt down beside him, his eyes anxious. Ron's face was grey but his teeth were gritted and he was obviously determined to fight to the death.
This is Voldemort, Talitha thought. Voldemort and Myotismon. If it wasn't for their partnership, we'd have no problems, could just go home.
"Crimson Lighting!" Myotismon shouted again.
This time, it was WarGreymon who was sent flying back. Instead of getting up, to Talitha's horror, he de-digivolved down to Koromon.
"I can't," the Digimon said limply "I'm too tired..."
The other Digimon were beginning to suffer the same fate, too tired to continue.
Talitha raised the piece of glass and took aim carefully. If she threw now, just before all the Digimon couldn't defend them, she'd have no problem hitting him. Then he'd be dead and that might distract the Death Eaters long enough for them to escape.
The glass dropped from her hand, breaking at her feet. Talitha gave a sob. She couldn't do it. She couldn't knowingly aim to kill, try to take a life. She just couldn't....
At her throat, the Crest of Life began to glow blood-red. It shone brighter than anything she'd ever seen. Everyone stopped, staring at the blood-red light that was gleaming around Talitha, immersing her, bathing her body in the light.
"What's happening?" she heard Voldemort say.
Talitha ignored him. Her eyes were almost expressionless. She walked over to kneel beside Matt's motionless body. Reaching out, she touched his face gently. Matt gave a soft sigh and began to breathe deeply. Talitha stood up. The Digimon were all staring at her. The light began to spread out, surrounding her friends in a strange blood-red bubble.
"She's giving us strength!" Koromon shouted.
Draco knew Koromon was right. He could feel it, strength entering him and running though his body. The Digimon were beginning to digivolve again.
"LOOK!" Mimi shouted.
At the door, Taliesinmon and his army had just arrived. They were watching Talitha in some awe but they were preparing to fight.
Talitha looked regretfully at where Tentamon had met his death but there was nothing she could do. The crest could heal, it could save when there was almost no hope and it could pull back from the brink of death. But there was no power, in their world or the Digital one that could bring the dead back to life.
Slowly, the blood-red light faded and Talitha was simply standing, blinking, looking a little confused.
"Wow," TK whispered softly from he was standing.
Sora nodded. The only time she'd seen anything that even came close to it was when Kari had freed the Numumon from slavery and that hadn't been anything like what had happened to Talitha.
Sitting up, Matt gave a shuddering gasp.
"Matt!"
Tai threw his arms round his friend. Matt hugged him back, looking a little confused. Then Tai drew back and for a second, Draco thought they were going to kiss, but they didn't. Tai gave Matt a sort of shoulder rub thing instead and then he stood up, carefully helping Matt to his feet.
"What's happening?" Matt asked bluntly.
The Death Eaters and evil Digimon had been standing looking completely non-plussed. Matt's puzzled question seemed to bring them back to life.
"KILL THEM!" Voldemort screamed "KILL THEM ALL!"
"I think not!" Tai yelled "Digimon! GO!"
Taliesinmon stepped forwards and raised his pipe to his lips.
"Dazzling Web!" he shouted and blew. A web flew out of the pipe, covering several of the Death Eaters.
"Yeah!" Sora yelled "All right!"
Matt darted forward and grabbed Tai's arm.
"Tai!" he said "I know how to defeat Myotismon!"
Instantly the kids had surrounded him.
"How?" Tai asked.
"The mirror!" Matt said "Myotismon is still just a memory! He's real but he's really just a memory of data connected to the real world. When he linked me to the web, I saw a lot of strange things. It took me places..." He stiffened, then gritted his teeth and continued "Myotismon didn't know he was doing it, but he was creating his own undoing. The viewing mirror looks onto the ether, the space between the worlds, where data goes. That's where Myotismon went when we defeated him. The mirror directly connected to the ether which is where Myotismon belongs. The Venom-Black potion is a smaller version of that mirror. You look into it, and it shows you the ether. The thing is, Myotismon went to a dark place in the ether, the evil place. Like what happened with Apocalyamon. Because of my own anger, I accidentally gave Myotismon an anchor so he could lock himself into this world. Then he took blood from real people which helped strengthen his anchor. I freed him accidentally but I can send him back! I'll need help but I can do it!"
"How?" Tai asked.
"I need shards of the mirror," Matt said "One for everyone."
Talitha ran over to the frame. She grabbed the remains of the large shard she'd had before.
"Are these okay?" she asked.
Matt nodded and every grabbed a smoky shard of glass. Matt looked at his piece and swallowed.
"Use your crests," he whispered "Think about your crests and yourselves, then put part of the quality in the glass. Myotismon's anchor is all the bad things. I have to destroy the anchor."
Everyone focused on their shard. Tai thought about when he'd attacked Myotismon, trying to save Matt. Matt focused on his time with Abby and what good friends they'd been. Sora thought about her love for all her friends and her special love for Tai which he was unaware of. Izzy thought about the knowledge that Tentamon would be glad that he'd helped them win. Mimi thought about how sorry she'd been for the others when Dumbledore had died. Joe thought about how he'd tried to save Matt, even when he'd been certain they'd all die anyway. TK thought about how he'd hoped they'd find Matt safe and sound and not hurt. Kari thought about how much she'd wanted to rid the place of the dark shadow that had surrounded the Valley of Death, to light the world again. Harry thought about how peaceful he'd felt with Draco in his arms. Ron thought about how he'd trust anyone there with his life, even Draco Malfoy, his one time great enemy. Hermione thought about how she'd run to help the Womblemon even though it was against them. Draco thought about how he stuck up for himself in front of his father, his longing to be renewed in Harry's eyes. And Talitha focused on the fact that she hadn't killed and had helped save Matt's life.
From each child came a light, orange from Tai, blue from Matt, red from Sora, purple from Izzy, green from Mimi, white from Joe, yellow from TK, pink from Kari, blue-silver from Harry, silver-white from Ron, white-gold from Hermione, blue-green from Draco, blood-red from Talitha. The lights pieced the smoky glass they were holding, tingeing the strange smoke. Each child opened his or her eyes and stared at the glass they were holding, feeling a little surprised. Matt gripped his shard tighter.
"Give me your pieces," he whispered.
Everyone handed him their shard of glass. Matt swallowed. Then he pushed them together. To everyone's surprise, the edges shifted, as thought they were melting. There was a flash of light and then Matt was holding a medium sized, perfectly circular mirror in his hands. The colours swirled, mixing with each other, but keeping their own colour too. It was very strange. Matt stared at himself in the mirror. The smoke distorted his reflection like one of those fun mirrors in a fairground. Matt kept staring, picking out each colour and thinking of the quality of who possessed it. Slowly, the smoke rippled over his face in the mirror.
The others who were watching, could see the colours reflected in Matt's eyes. He suddenly looked more peaceful than Tai had ever seen him.
"MetalGarurumon!" he called "I need a ride!"
MetalGarurumon bounded over obediently and Matt scrambled up onto his back, gripping the new mirror in his hands. He whispered something to the Digimon who nodded.
"Is this gonna work?" Kari asked Tai.
Tai nodded.
"Yeah," he said "I trust Matt. He knows what he's doing."
MetalGarurumon began dodging though the battling Death Eaters and Digimon, straight towards Myotismon who saw them coming.
"Grizzly Wing!" he shouted.
The bats flew out. Matt held up the mirror. The bats shrieked with tiny voices as they were sucked into the mirror. Myotismon froze.
"What the....?"
Matt sprang off MetalGarurumon's back. This was pretty dangerous as the Death Eaters were fighting all around him and one stray Avada Kedavra curse would have finished Matt off once and for all. However, they were busy with the Digimon. Myotismon stared at Matt, who stared fearlessly back. Then he raised the mirror.
"See yourself, Myotismon!" he shouted.
A great coloured cloud rose from the mirror and began to wrap itself around Myotismon. Myotismon gave a yell and tried to twist away.
"I've broken your anchor, Myotismon!" Matt shouted "Dumbedore was right! You can't use me anymore! Now go back to the ether, where you belong!"
Myotismon screamed. The Death Eaters finally turned to see what was happening but it was too late. The cloud surrounded Myotismon. There was a sucking sound, like water going down a plug and then the cloud wooshed back into the mirror.
Myotismon was gone.
For a moment, there was another of those strange silences as everyone stared. Matt lowered the mirror and looked at the Death Eaters. His blue eyes were deep, like oceans. He gripped the mirror tighter, staring at Voldemort. Voldemort stared back at him.
"You've lost Voldemort," Matt said softly "Myotismon is destroyed, returned to the ether where he belongs. You can't kill the Digimon but they can kill you. We will win this battle."
Voldemort glared at him. Matt stared back at him silently. MetalGarurumon stepped up beside him, growling menacingly. The other Digimon began to gather round Matt and the other children, looking very menacing.
"This isn't over Ishida," Voldemort said softly "I will be revenged on you, and your friends."
He Disapperated and the other Death Eaters followed suit. Without Myotismon, the good Digimon made quick work of the evil Digimon. Then the hall was silent for a few moments.
"WE DID IT!" Tai yelled, leaping up and down "MATT, THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!"
Matt grinned. He put the mirror on the floor and went to pick up TK.
"That was just great!" Hermione said.
"Yeah!" Sora.
"Wicked!" Mimi agreed.
Everyone was leaping around, cheering and celebrating. Even Izzy was joining in. Harry looked at Draco who looked back.
"I'm sorry about what happened...." Draco began but Harry cut him off.
"Draco?"
"Yeah?"
"Shut up."
Reaching out, Harry pulled Draco into his arms and kissed him. Ron's mouth practically hit the floor.
"What.....how....when....?" he spluttered.
"Oh shut up Ron," Hermione said.
Tai looked a little puzzled and then grinned.
"Congratulations," Matt said.
"What are they doing?" TK said, looking slightly puzzled.
"Kissing," Matt said.
TK blinked.
"TK," Matt said "Do me a favour."
"Anything," TK said.
"Don't tell Mum and Dad you saw this. Right?"
"Okay. But why....?"
"I'll tell you when you're older."
* * * *
Sometime later when the celebrations had ended, the group were sitting on the castle roof, talking. They were quietly mourning the loss of their friends, the three who'd died; Abby, Dumbledore and Tentamon.
"What's going to happen when we get home?" TK asked.
"We'll have a new Headmaster," Harry said.
"Or Headmistress," Hermione said.
"We'll get lynched," Tai predicted "Mum and Dad will kill us for this."
"The sooner we go the better then," Sora said "We're finished here now."
"Must you?" Biyomon said "You've only just arrived."
"I know," Sora said "I'm sorry Biyomon. But we have to stop our parents worrying any more than they already have."
Biyomon nodded.
"We have to say goodbye to Taliesinmon first," Draco said "He and his army really came though."
Everyone agreed with this and they went down to find the Digimon. He was examining the shifting-colour mirror.
"We've come to say goodbye," Hermione said "We have to go back to our own world now."
Taliesinmon sighed.
"You have saved our world again," he said "We are grateful."
"We might not have saved it completely," Harry warned "Voldemort must know how to get in and out of this world."
"We will deal with him if he returns," Taliesinmon said "I doubt he will. The Digimon are more than a match for him and his people."
He lifted the mirror.
"Take it," he said "It is yours."
"No, we couldn't...." Matt began but Taliesinmon cut though him.
"You have lost your protector at school, yes?" he said "This mirror will offer some protection against dangers unknown. Take it."
Matt took the mirror.
"Anyway," Taliesinmon said softly "I think you can use it to return home."
They looked at each other.
"Goodbye," Tai said to Agumon "Thanks for rescuing me."
"Anytime!" Agumon said "You'll come back to visit, won't you?"
Tai nodded, quickly dashing away some tears. One by one, the others said goodbye to the Digimon. Only Izzy stood aside, his face very pale. Talitha put an arm round him.
"I'm sorry I couldn't help," she said.
"It's not your fault," Izzy said "Tentamon would have been glad that we all survived. He died to protect us all. I should be glad."
"But it's not that simple, is it?" Talitha said.
Izzy shook his head. For a moment, there was silence. Then Taliesinmon brought something out from his feathers.
"The Snake-Man dropped these," he said calmly "I believe they are yours."
It was Harry, Hermione and Talitha's wands. Slowly, they took them and tucked them away in their robes.
"Let's go," Matt said softly.
They stood round the mirror, staring at the ever-shifting colours, picking out their own. Reaching down, they touched the edge. The mirror's colours glowed, then pulsed brightly. Suddenly the coloured fog cleared and they could see the Hogwarts grounds. Gripping the edge, they one by one, swung themselves though the mirror. Matt went last. As he dropped though, he pulled the mirror frame. It was rather like pulling some clothes inside out. There was a strange pop and he was sitting on the grass, the mirror on his lap. He could see Taliesinmon and the other Digimon looking at them though it.
"Bye!" Tai shouted.
The others waved. Then the smoke obscured it and the Digital World was lost to them once more.
For a few moments, they all just sat there, staring into the mirror.
"Come on," Harry said eventually "We need to go inside."
"It's very late," Hermione murmured.
Slowly, the group stood up and began to walk up to the school.
* * * *
They walked up to Professor McGonagall's office.
"She might be asleep," Ron whispered.
"There's a light on," Hermione said.
"And voices," Tai said.
Harry knocked on the door.
"Who's there?" Professor McGonagall called.
Harry opened the door.
McGonagall looked up and gasped. Harry nearly gasped as well. The office was filled with people including the Weasleys, the Grangers and Draco's mother. Harry assumed that the others had to be the Digidestined parents. Professor Snape was standing in there as well.
"Potter!" Professor McGonagall gasped, looking like she might faint.
"Mum!" TK yelled. Pushing past, he ran over to his mother. She scooped him up in her arms, crying.
"TK, where have you been?" she cried "I was never more worried, never!"
"Sorry Mum," TK said muffledly "I had to help Matt."
Mrs Weasley had swept down on Ron and Harry and was hugging them both. Harry was watching Draco over her shoulder. He was looking nervously at his mother.
"Draco, where have you been?" she demanded.
Draco swallowed audibly.
"I was helping rescue Harry, Tai and Matt from Myotismon and from....from Voldemort," he said he said in a whisper.
The look his mother gave him made Draco shrink. Professor McGonagall gently interrupted everyone's rapturous reunions before the parents could start getting angry.
"An explanation would be nice," she said.
Everyone looked at each other. Then Matt started, going into the story from when he, Abby and Talitha had accidentally created the Venom-Black potion, up to when he, Tai and Harry had been taken. Then Draco nervously took over, telling them about the journey though the shadow of the Valley of Death. Then Tai told the last part, the battle and the mirror. Professor McGonagall examined the mirror carefully, listening to the story. Narcissa Malfoy was not looking pleased at all, and Draco was looking very nervous. Harry walked over and took his hand. Draco looked slightly startled but gratified. Narcissa's eyes widened with surprise, then anger. Snape looked slightly shocked as well.
"I thought all this business was over!" Mrs Kamiya said to Tai "Why didn't you say something?"
"You would never have let us go if we had," Tai pointed out "I'm sorry Mum but we didn't have a choice. We had to help Matt."
Matt glanced at his father and mother, then turned back to the mirror, running his fingers over the surface.
"That's no excuse!" Mrs Kamiya said "Do you have any idea what it was like, to find a note on your pillow saying you and Kari had gone away for a few days and not to worry? I nearly died! You could have been anywhere, doing anything! And when we received an owl saying you were all in England...."
"That wasn't a good thing?" Tai said weakly.
"HOW ON EARTH WERE WE TO KNOW HOW YOU'D GOT TO ENGLAND?!" Mrs Kamiya shrieked.
Tai decided then and there never to ever mention the idea of stealing money from his parents. He had a feeling that everyone else was quietly swearing that too.
"I think that they should all go to bed," McGonagall said, interrupting Mrs Kamiya's anger "Everyone is tired and over-excited. I don't even want to think about this until tomorrow."
They were taken up to the Hospital Wing and tucked into bed, their parents watching them. In a few moments, they were all fast asleep.
* * * *
A few days later, they were saying goodbye.
McGonagall was going to be the new Headmistress at Hogwarts and needed to talk to everyone. She talked to everyone separately, getting all the little details that they hadn't wanted to give in front of their parents. She then interviewed the parents and talked to them. She gently suggested that maybe it was best if Matt was removed from the school. When Mr Ishida and Mrs Takiashi protested, she got annoyed and ripped a couple of strips off them, pointing out that Matt had felt forced into coming to the school and thanks to that, he had accidentally pulled Myotismon into the world. She had asked Matt his opinion and he wanted to go home, rather than stay. While his parents still protested, they eventually agreed.
So now the Hogwarts group were saying goodbye to the Digidestined.
"You take care of yourselves," Hermione said firmly "Keep in touch! I'm expecting Ryo every now and then."
Harry nodded.
"We will," Matt promised.
"And don't stop studying," Hermione said "You know McGonagall said that maybe someone could come and specially tutor you so I'm expecting you to practise until they arrive!"
"Yeah, okay," Matt said.
"And no turning people into things," Hermione continued "And no..."
"Hermione," Matt interrupted "I'm not going to cause havoc. I promise."
"Well, you make sure you don't," Hermione said "TK, I'm expecting you to keep and eye on him!"
"I promise," TK said with a giggle.
"I'll miss you," Draco said "I can't believe I'm saying this to the boy who actually had the cheek to punch me in the face on his second day but I'll actually miss you."
"We'll all miss you lot," Tai said "You've been great, all of you. Thanks for rescuing us and everything else you did."
"The whole school will miss Matt," Harry said "We've never had a new pupil that caused so much excitement, not as far as I know anyway."
"Oh I don't know," Ron said "We could probably challenge him!"
"I doubt it!" Harry said with a laugh "All we did was fight a giant three-headed dog. That's nothing!"
"You take care," Matt said to Draco "I don't want an owl saying that you've let you parents boss you around."
Draco smiled slightly.
"I think what Father would do to me would be a lot worse than that," he said "But it doesn't matter. The Weasleys have invited me to stay with them."
"To live?" Kari asked.
"Mrs Weasley calls it 'a trial run'," Draco said "So maybe. But I don't know how I'm going to explain this to the rest of the Slytherins!"
"Yeah," Ron said "You're moving in with the Weasleys and dating Harry Potter. That'll be funny to watch."
"Very ha-ha," Draco said. Harry put an arm around him and Draco smiled.
"That still freaks me out," Ron said bluntly "I'm used to you two fighting to the death, not looking all lovey-dovey."
Harry swatted at him. Ron dodged and grinned.
"I'll miss you," Talitha said to Matt softly "You were a great big prat at first but you actually weren't that bad."
Matt grinned.
"Harry and the others will look after you," he said "You make sure to be the best witch in the year, right?"
Talitha nodded.
"You keep checking that mirror for trouble," Joe said.
The Ever-Colour Mirror was hanging in the Great Hall. McGonagall had framed it using a gold frame with the Hogwarts crest on it and said it was a memorial mirror for Dumbledore. Only she, the other teachers, the Digidestined and the Hogwarts Five knew it's true purpose.
Not that there weren't rumours. A Hufflepuff Sixth year swore that when she'd glanced in it, she'd seen Professor Dumbledore looking back at her in the smoke and several others were agreeing. But the teachers weren't saying anything and neither was the group.
"Will our crests still work now we're in our own world?" Hermione asked.
"Ours have," Tai said "Yours should."
"Don't lose them!" Matt said "And make sure you don't forget what they're for."
"We won't," Ron promised.
There was a pause.
"We should probably go," Sora said after a moment "Our parents are waiting."
"Great," Tai groaned "Despite what McGonagall told them, I think that Mum and Dad have plans for grounding for about twelve years. Terrific."
"I'm sure they won't Tai," Kari said "We were saving the world."
"Like that'll make a difference," Tai said "No more soccer for ages. Matt, this is all your fault."
"My fault!" Matt squawked "Where'd you get that from?"
"You were the one who called us!"
"Yeah well, I didn't say 'Sneak off, leaving you parents notes! That was your idea!"
"Well what did you expect us to do?"
"Explain?"
Sora rolled her eyes.
"Bye everyone," she said "We'll write soon. Take care."
"Bye!" the others all added.
The Hogwarts group watched as they walked towards the train that would take them to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, Matt and Tai arguing furiously.
"Those two are completely crazy," Talitha said.
"They fight a lot," Hermione remarked "But they like each other really. Sort of like two other boys I know." She grinned mischievously at Harry and Draco who both blushed.
"Matt would do anything for Tai and vice versa," Talitha said thoughtfully.
Draco and Harry looked at each other.
"Seriously though," Draco said "Do you think that Matt and Tai....?"
"Not yet," Hermione said "They're too young. But when they're older...."
"I'm holding you to that," Ron said.
Hermione laughed.
"The train's going," Talitha said, pointing.
They waved wildly to the Digidestined who waved back equally as wildly. Tai nearly took Matt's eye out and they could see them begin to argue again even while they were waving. Hermione started laughing as the train chugged off. Talitha however, started to cry.
"I'll miss them!" she sobbed "Matt and Abby were my best f-friends and now they've both g-gone!"
"Don't worry," Hermione said putting an arm round her "You've still got all your other friends. And us."
"And I bet that's not the last we hear from Yamato Ishida and Co.," Draco predicted "You mark my words. We'll hear from those trouble-makers again someday."
Talitha smiled faintly and wiped her tears away.
"You're right," she said "Come on. We should get back up to school."
The five turned and slowly set off up the path back to Hogwarts.
The End.
The Smoky Glass
By Starrysapphire
Disclaimer - For the eighth time, I don't own Digimon or Harry Potter. Some elements are lifted from Castrovalva again (but Doctor Who fans will be glad to note that there are no crappy yells of "My web! My weeeeeeeeeeeeeb!" this time.) I own the main plot and that's about it.
There's another CHARACTER DEATH but I'm not sure how much this one will bother everyone. I certainly was glad to see the back of him!
Yes folks, this is it - Harry and Draco FINALLY get it together in this part! Thanks for waiting so long!
Harry backed away slightly, gripping his wand. Voldemort walked into the room looking round at them.
"So...." he said "We have Potter and his Mudblood friend, Yamato Ishida's little witch-friend and assorted Digidestined. All searching my rooms apparently. Have you found what you were looking for?"
Harry said nothing.
"I see you have," Voldemort said. He held out his hand "Please hand over your wands, those who have them. NOW!"
Unhappily, Harry gave up his wand again. Hermione and Talitha handed theirs over too.
"Good," Voldemort said.
Then he turned to Hermione's Womblemon friend "And you - you betrayed us. You will see what happens to traitors when Myotismon gets hold of you. Now - march!"
The group walked down the stairs and though the corridors into the great hall. The other's were already there, surrounded by Womblemon and the other Death Eaters. Myotismon was standing there too.
"TAI!" Sora shouted.
"HARRY!" Ron yelled.
Tai waved at them tiredly. Voldemort pushed them over and they joined their friends. Ron grinned at Harry. Nearby, Harry saw Draco watching him. When Draco spotted Harry watching him, he gave Harry a quick smile. Then Harry saw Matt.
"MATT!" he heard Tai yell "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MATT?"
"They're using him to make that shadow and the Hall of Nightmares!" Draco said.
"That explains a lot!" Izzy said.
"Let Matt go!" Tai yelled.
Myotismon gave him a cold look.
"I think it's time we dealt with you all once and for all," he said "Lord Voldemort? Would you like to do the honours?"
Voldemort smiled. He looked at them all.
"The traitorous Womblemon first," Myotismon said icily.
The Womblemon was pushed forwards. Myotismon reached out his hand and shouted "Crimson Lightning!"
The Womblemon still wasn't very strong. It didn't take long before it was dead, the group watching in horror. "I think I'll start with Weasley now," Voldemort said "Enjoy watching your friends die Potter!"
Two of the Death Eaters grabbed Ron and shoved him forwards.
"If only Matt wasn't in danger!" Tai said desperately "We can't do anything until Matt's safe!"
But no one could think of how to rescue him.
"He looks half dead," Sora whispered.
Unseen by everyone, Tentamon flew over to the web. He hovered there for a moment, thinking.
"RON!" he heard Hermione cry behind him.
Tentamon flew straight into the web.
As Voldemort raised his wand, there was an amazing bang. Everyone whirled round. The web was glittering and sparking violently. Matt was crying out as the wires sprang out of his flesh but they only really heard Tentamon's scream.
"TENTAMON!" Izzy cried.
Behind them, the mirror exploded into smoky shards of glass. Tai launched himself over to the alcove and yanked Matt out. Matt stumbled against him, his arms looping round Tai's waist.
"Tai?" he murmured.
"You're safe now," Tai whispered "I've got you."
He looked at Tentamon. As he did, Tentamon faded into black data bytes and faded.
"Tentamon!" he heard Izzy sob.
Tai lost his temper. Tentamon was dead because of Myotismon and Voldemort. Matt was badly injured and they were all tired. Tai had had enough.
"ALL RIGHT EVERYONE!" he yelled "LET THEM HAVE IT!"
Behind him, Agumon and Gabumon finally managed to digivolve. The other Digimon gathered round. Draco and Ron (who still had their wands) brought them out and watched the group warily.
"KILL THEM!" Voldemort shrieked.
"Everyone behind the frame!" Tai yelled.
Pulling Matt, he leapt behind the smoking frame of the shattered mirror. Everyone else followed suit, anxiously gathering round. Sora was trying to comfort a crying Izzy while TK fussed over Matt. Tai looked anxiously at his friend. Matt had little cuts and wounds all over him from the wires. Some were quite deep and all were bleeding.
"What are we going to do?" Hermione said "The Digimon can't hold them off!"
Harry shook his head. Draco and Ron were using spells but neither of them wanted to kill or seriously hurt. The mirror frame would only give them cover for a little while.
"Couldn't we use the digivices to return home?" TK asked "Then we could sort out Matt and try to get help."
"There's no time!" Tai said "We can't leave now, we don't know what Myotismon and Voldemort will decide to do!"
"We can't do this alone!" Joe yelled.
Harry turned to Draco who was standing at the edge of the frame, holding his wand.
"Thanks for coming to get me," Harry said, a little awkwardly.
"That's okay," Draco said "I'm just sorry...."
He paused.
"That's it's going to end this way?" Harry suggested.
"No," Draco said "I'm sorry.....I'm sorry that we wasted all those years fighting. That's all."
Harry was surprised. He stared at Draco. Draco stared back. Then Draco leaned forward and kissed Harry, gently but firmly on the mouth.
Sora and Hermione were the only ones who happened to be looking. Despite her fear, Hermione couldn't help smiled to herself. She'd been waiting for that to happen. Sora simply smiled a little and turned back to Izzy. Harry put his hands on Draco's shoulders and pulled him closer, forgetting the danger they were in and that they should be fighting Voldemort, not kissing. But he didn't care. At that moment, he didn't want to fight anyone, just to hold Draco in his arms.
His crest flared into light, a shining silvery blue. He and Draco pulled backwards from each other, both startled and slightly embarrassed.
"ALL RIGHT HARRY!" Ron cheered. He hadn't seen Harry and Draco kissing but it was difficult to miss the fact that Harry's crest was now glowing.
The light from Harry's crest spread out. For a second it lingered around them, making a silver-blue corona. Then it spread out, fading as it did.
* * * *
Outside, the final remnants of the shadow surrounding the Valley of Death disappeared, erased by Harry's Crest of Peace. Taliesinmon watched it vanished. Then he called his other Digimon and together they began to walk towards the Valley of Death to help the Digidestined and their friends.
* * * *
In the great hall, things were getting increasingly desperate, despite Harry's contribution. Although the Avada Kedavra curse did not kill the Digimon, it drained their energy and they were beginning to slow down with exhaustion.
"We're gonna lose!" Joe wailed "What can we do?"
"Any ideas?" Draco snapped over his shoulder.
"Matt needs medical attention!" Tai said. He was kneeling beside his friend, supporting him.
"I'm sure it's not that bad...." Ron began doubtfully but Tai cut him off.
"It is that bad!" he said "He keeps drifting in and out of consciousness and some of his cuts won't stop bleeding! Look at him!"
Matt's face still had the unhealthy bluish tinge. His eyes were partly open but they weren't registering things. Tai's clothes were covered with Matt's blood.
"Joe, you know about medical things," Mimi said.
Joe went over and looked at Matt.
"I think it's the repeated electric shocks or something," he said helplessly "I don't really - WOAH!"
He and Tai flung themselves aside, pulling Matt with them, as some sort of spell flew past them.
"Tai!" WarGreymon shouted "We can't hold them off much longer!"
"We need the Digimon to distract long enough for us to escape," Draco said "There's no way that we can keep fighting. We're all exhausted."
"But we can't leave!" Tai said.
"He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day," Izzy said flatly from where he was standing "Tai, Tentamon gave his life to save us. I'm not having his life wasted. We have to get out of here, now."
Tai bit his lip, knowing that Izzy was right.
"WarGreymon!" he shouted "You have to distract them enough so we can escape!"
"MetalGarurumon and I will shield you!" WarGreymon shouted back.
"DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!" they heard Voldemort shriek.
Lillymon, Angemon and Angewoman flew over. Angemon carefully lifted Matt up in his arms. Matt was completely unconscious by this time, his mouth clenched shut. They prepared to run, then froze.
The door was blocked by what looked like hundreds of Womblemon. They couldn't escape.
"Can't we use the Digivices?" Mimi screamed.
"I don't know!" Tai yelled back "I don't know how you did it originally, remember? I wasn't there!"
"We thought about the qualities in our crests!" Draco said "But there isn't TIME!"
"Tai!"
Tai looked over. Angemon had lowered Matt back down and gone back to the fight. TK was kneeling by him.
"He's not breathing!" TK cried.
Tai was at Matt's side in a moment. Matt's face was utterly white now. His mouth was clenched shut and it was clear that TK was right; Matt wasn't breathing.
"JOE!" Tai screamed "HERMIONE! ANYBODY! DO SOMETHING! ANYTHING!"
Talitha stood by the mirror frame where she'd been forgotten. Voldemort had taken hers, Hermiones' and Harrys' wands and she couldn't fight. She had been watching the battle silently, not saying anything. As she watched, Myotismon shouted "Crimson Lightning!" and Angemon went flying, slamming into the wall.
Talitha swallowed painfully. She could hear Tai and TK's violent sobs and glanced over. A simple glance told her that Matt was dying. His lips were blue and the rest of his face was beginning to turn that colour. Joe and Hermione were trying to help but it was clear that they had no idea what to do. Ron and Draco were still fighting but they both looked completely exhausted and the spells seemed to be somewhat lacking. The Digimon were clearly exhausted as even the Womblemon's attacks seemed to be packing a great punch. Talitha could see Voldemort watching. He wasn't fighting, not getting his hands dirty. He was in clear shot for her if she just had something to throw or a wand.
Talitha looked at the floor. Glass from the broken mirror was scattered everywhere.
Talitha knelt down and picked up a large shard. It was very sharp and she nearly cut herself. She knew that if it hit Voldemort, it would probably kill him.
Was she willing to kill?
Talitha swallowed painfully and looked at the smoky glass. It seemed to stare back at her, taunting her, telling her to use it. She looked at Voldemort again. He was watching, a small smile on his face as the Digimon backed off a little more. They were nearly back at the mirror frame now. Any further and they reach it and then they'd be past it and the Death Eaters could simply kill them.
"Matt!" she heard Tai sob.
Beside her, Draco suddenly sank to the floor.
"I can't!" he gasped "I'm too tired!"
Harry knelt down beside him, his eyes anxious. Ron's face was grey but his teeth were gritted and he was obviously determined to fight to the death.
This is Voldemort, Talitha thought. Voldemort and Myotismon. If it wasn't for their partnership, we'd have no problems, could just go home.
"Crimson Lighting!" Myotismon shouted again.
This time, it was WarGreymon who was sent flying back. Instead of getting up, to Talitha's horror, he de-digivolved down to Koromon.
"I can't," the Digimon said limply "I'm too tired..."
The other Digimon were beginning to suffer the same fate, too tired to continue.
Talitha raised the piece of glass and took aim carefully. If she threw now, just before all the Digimon couldn't defend them, she'd have no problem hitting him. Then he'd be dead and that might distract the Death Eaters long enough for them to escape.
The glass dropped from her hand, breaking at her feet. Talitha gave a sob. She couldn't do it. She couldn't knowingly aim to kill, try to take a life. She just couldn't....
At her throat, the Crest of Life began to glow blood-red. It shone brighter than anything she'd ever seen. Everyone stopped, staring at the blood-red light that was gleaming around Talitha, immersing her, bathing her body in the light.
"What's happening?" she heard Voldemort say.
Talitha ignored him. Her eyes were almost expressionless. She walked over to kneel beside Matt's motionless body. Reaching out, she touched his face gently. Matt gave a soft sigh and began to breathe deeply. Talitha stood up. The Digimon were all staring at her. The light began to spread out, surrounding her friends in a strange blood-red bubble.
"She's giving us strength!" Koromon shouted.
Draco knew Koromon was right. He could feel it, strength entering him and running though his body. The Digimon were beginning to digivolve again.
"LOOK!" Mimi shouted.
At the door, Taliesinmon and his army had just arrived. They were watching Talitha in some awe but they were preparing to fight.
Talitha looked regretfully at where Tentamon had met his death but there was nothing she could do. The crest could heal, it could save when there was almost no hope and it could pull back from the brink of death. But there was no power, in their world or the Digital one that could bring the dead back to life.
Slowly, the blood-red light faded and Talitha was simply standing, blinking, looking a little confused.
"Wow," TK whispered softly from he was standing.
Sora nodded. The only time she'd seen anything that even came close to it was when Kari had freed the Numumon from slavery and that hadn't been anything like what had happened to Talitha.
Sitting up, Matt gave a shuddering gasp.
"Matt!"
Tai threw his arms round his friend. Matt hugged him back, looking a little confused. Then Tai drew back and for a second, Draco thought they were going to kiss, but they didn't. Tai gave Matt a sort of shoulder rub thing instead and then he stood up, carefully helping Matt to his feet.
"What's happening?" Matt asked bluntly.
The Death Eaters and evil Digimon had been standing looking completely non-plussed. Matt's puzzled question seemed to bring them back to life.
"KILL THEM!" Voldemort screamed "KILL THEM ALL!"
"I think not!" Tai yelled "Digimon! GO!"
Taliesinmon stepped forwards and raised his pipe to his lips.
"Dazzling Web!" he shouted and blew. A web flew out of the pipe, covering several of the Death Eaters.
"Yeah!" Sora yelled "All right!"
Matt darted forward and grabbed Tai's arm.
"Tai!" he said "I know how to defeat Myotismon!"
Instantly the kids had surrounded him.
"How?" Tai asked.
"The mirror!" Matt said "Myotismon is still just a memory! He's real but he's really just a memory of data connected to the real world. When he linked me to the web, I saw a lot of strange things. It took me places..." He stiffened, then gritted his teeth and continued "Myotismon didn't know he was doing it, but he was creating his own undoing. The viewing mirror looks onto the ether, the space between the worlds, where data goes. That's where Myotismon went when we defeated him. The mirror directly connected to the ether which is where Myotismon belongs. The Venom-Black potion is a smaller version of that mirror. You look into it, and it shows you the ether. The thing is, Myotismon went to a dark place in the ether, the evil place. Like what happened with Apocalyamon. Because of my own anger, I accidentally gave Myotismon an anchor so he could lock himself into this world. Then he took blood from real people which helped strengthen his anchor. I freed him accidentally but I can send him back! I'll need help but I can do it!"
"How?" Tai asked.
"I need shards of the mirror," Matt said "One for everyone."
Talitha ran over to the frame. She grabbed the remains of the large shard she'd had before.
"Are these okay?" she asked.
Matt nodded and every grabbed a smoky shard of glass. Matt looked at his piece and swallowed.
"Use your crests," he whispered "Think about your crests and yourselves, then put part of the quality in the glass. Myotismon's anchor is all the bad things. I have to destroy the anchor."
Everyone focused on their shard. Tai thought about when he'd attacked Myotismon, trying to save Matt. Matt focused on his time with Abby and what good friends they'd been. Sora thought about her love for all her friends and her special love for Tai which he was unaware of. Izzy thought about the knowledge that Tentamon would be glad that he'd helped them win. Mimi thought about how sorry she'd been for the others when Dumbledore had died. Joe thought about how he'd tried to save Matt, even when he'd been certain they'd all die anyway. TK thought about how he'd hoped they'd find Matt safe and sound and not hurt. Kari thought about how much she'd wanted to rid the place of the dark shadow that had surrounded the Valley of Death, to light the world again. Harry thought about how peaceful he'd felt with Draco in his arms. Ron thought about how he'd trust anyone there with his life, even Draco Malfoy, his one time great enemy. Hermione thought about how she'd run to help the Womblemon even though it was against them. Draco thought about how he stuck up for himself in front of his father, his longing to be renewed in Harry's eyes. And Talitha focused on the fact that she hadn't killed and had helped save Matt's life.
From each child came a light, orange from Tai, blue from Matt, red from Sora, purple from Izzy, green from Mimi, white from Joe, yellow from TK, pink from Kari, blue-silver from Harry, silver-white from Ron, white-gold from Hermione, blue-green from Draco, blood-red from Talitha. The lights pieced the smoky glass they were holding, tingeing the strange smoke. Each child opened his or her eyes and stared at the glass they were holding, feeling a little surprised. Matt gripped his shard tighter.
"Give me your pieces," he whispered.
Everyone handed him their shard of glass. Matt swallowed. Then he pushed them together. To everyone's surprise, the edges shifted, as thought they were melting. There was a flash of light and then Matt was holding a medium sized, perfectly circular mirror in his hands. The colours swirled, mixing with each other, but keeping their own colour too. It was very strange. Matt stared at himself in the mirror. The smoke distorted his reflection like one of those fun mirrors in a fairground. Matt kept staring, picking out each colour and thinking of the quality of who possessed it. Slowly, the smoke rippled over his face in the mirror.
The others who were watching, could see the colours reflected in Matt's eyes. He suddenly looked more peaceful than Tai had ever seen him.
"MetalGarurumon!" he called "I need a ride!"
MetalGarurumon bounded over obediently and Matt scrambled up onto his back, gripping the new mirror in his hands. He whispered something to the Digimon who nodded.
"Is this gonna work?" Kari asked Tai.
Tai nodded.
"Yeah," he said "I trust Matt. He knows what he's doing."
MetalGarurumon began dodging though the battling Death Eaters and Digimon, straight towards Myotismon who saw them coming.
"Grizzly Wing!" he shouted.
The bats flew out. Matt held up the mirror. The bats shrieked with tiny voices as they were sucked into the mirror. Myotismon froze.
"What the....?"
Matt sprang off MetalGarurumon's back. This was pretty dangerous as the Death Eaters were fighting all around him and one stray Avada Kedavra curse would have finished Matt off once and for all. However, they were busy with the Digimon. Myotismon stared at Matt, who stared fearlessly back. Then he raised the mirror.
"See yourself, Myotismon!" he shouted.
A great coloured cloud rose from the mirror and began to wrap itself around Myotismon. Myotismon gave a yell and tried to twist away.
"I've broken your anchor, Myotismon!" Matt shouted "Dumbedore was right! You can't use me anymore! Now go back to the ether, where you belong!"
Myotismon screamed. The Death Eaters finally turned to see what was happening but it was too late. The cloud surrounded Myotismon. There was a sucking sound, like water going down a plug and then the cloud wooshed back into the mirror.
Myotismon was gone.
For a moment, there was another of those strange silences as everyone stared. Matt lowered the mirror and looked at the Death Eaters. His blue eyes were deep, like oceans. He gripped the mirror tighter, staring at Voldemort. Voldemort stared back at him.
"You've lost Voldemort," Matt said softly "Myotismon is destroyed, returned to the ether where he belongs. You can't kill the Digimon but they can kill you. We will win this battle."
Voldemort glared at him. Matt stared back at him silently. MetalGarurumon stepped up beside him, growling menacingly. The other Digimon began to gather round Matt and the other children, looking very menacing.
"This isn't over Ishida," Voldemort said softly "I will be revenged on you, and your friends."
He Disapperated and the other Death Eaters followed suit. Without Myotismon, the good Digimon made quick work of the evil Digimon. Then the hall was silent for a few moments.
"WE DID IT!" Tai yelled, leaping up and down "MATT, THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!"
Matt grinned. He put the mirror on the floor and went to pick up TK.
"That was just great!" Hermione said.
"Yeah!" Sora.
"Wicked!" Mimi agreed.
Everyone was leaping around, cheering and celebrating. Even Izzy was joining in. Harry looked at Draco who looked back.
"I'm sorry about what happened...." Draco began but Harry cut him off.
"Draco?"
"Yeah?"
"Shut up."
Reaching out, Harry pulled Draco into his arms and kissed him. Ron's mouth practically hit the floor.
"What.....how....when....?" he spluttered.
"Oh shut up Ron," Hermione said.
Tai looked a little puzzled and then grinned.
"Congratulations," Matt said.
"What are they doing?" TK said, looking slightly puzzled.
"Kissing," Matt said.
TK blinked.
"TK," Matt said "Do me a favour."
"Anything," TK said.
"Don't tell Mum and Dad you saw this. Right?"
"Okay. But why....?"
"I'll tell you when you're older."
* * * *
Sometime later when the celebrations had ended, the group were sitting on the castle roof, talking. They were quietly mourning the loss of their friends, the three who'd died; Abby, Dumbledore and Tentamon.
"What's going to happen when we get home?" TK asked.
"We'll have a new Headmaster," Harry said.
"Or Headmistress," Hermione said.
"We'll get lynched," Tai predicted "Mum and Dad will kill us for this."
"The sooner we go the better then," Sora said "We're finished here now."
"Must you?" Biyomon said "You've only just arrived."
"I know," Sora said "I'm sorry Biyomon. But we have to stop our parents worrying any more than they already have."
Biyomon nodded.
"We have to say goodbye to Taliesinmon first," Draco said "He and his army really came though."
Everyone agreed with this and they went down to find the Digimon. He was examining the shifting-colour mirror.
"We've come to say goodbye," Hermione said "We have to go back to our own world now."
Taliesinmon sighed.
"You have saved our world again," he said "We are grateful."
"We might not have saved it completely," Harry warned "Voldemort must know how to get in and out of this world."
"We will deal with him if he returns," Taliesinmon said "I doubt he will. The Digimon are more than a match for him and his people."
He lifted the mirror.
"Take it," he said "It is yours."
"No, we couldn't...." Matt began but Taliesinmon cut though him.
"You have lost your protector at school, yes?" he said "This mirror will offer some protection against dangers unknown. Take it."
Matt took the mirror.
"Anyway," Taliesinmon said softly "I think you can use it to return home."
They looked at each other.
"Goodbye," Tai said to Agumon "Thanks for rescuing me."
"Anytime!" Agumon said "You'll come back to visit, won't you?"
Tai nodded, quickly dashing away some tears. One by one, the others said goodbye to the Digimon. Only Izzy stood aside, his face very pale. Talitha put an arm round him.
"I'm sorry I couldn't help," she said.
"It's not your fault," Izzy said "Tentamon would have been glad that we all survived. He died to protect us all. I should be glad."
"But it's not that simple, is it?" Talitha said.
Izzy shook his head. For a moment, there was silence. Then Taliesinmon brought something out from his feathers.
"The Snake-Man dropped these," he said calmly "I believe they are yours."
It was Harry, Hermione and Talitha's wands. Slowly, they took them and tucked them away in their robes.
"Let's go," Matt said softly.
They stood round the mirror, staring at the ever-shifting colours, picking out their own. Reaching down, they touched the edge. The mirror's colours glowed, then pulsed brightly. Suddenly the coloured fog cleared and they could see the Hogwarts grounds. Gripping the edge, they one by one, swung themselves though the mirror. Matt went last. As he dropped though, he pulled the mirror frame. It was rather like pulling some clothes inside out. There was a strange pop and he was sitting on the grass, the mirror on his lap. He could see Taliesinmon and the other Digimon looking at them though it.
"Bye!" Tai shouted.
The others waved. Then the smoke obscured it and the Digital World was lost to them once more.
For a few moments, they all just sat there, staring into the mirror.
"Come on," Harry said eventually "We need to go inside."
"It's very late," Hermione murmured.
Slowly, the group stood up and began to walk up to the school.
* * * *
They walked up to Professor McGonagall's office.
"She might be asleep," Ron whispered.
"There's a light on," Hermione said.
"And voices," Tai said.
Harry knocked on the door.
"Who's there?" Professor McGonagall called.
Harry opened the door.
McGonagall looked up and gasped. Harry nearly gasped as well. The office was filled with people including the Weasleys, the Grangers and Draco's mother. Harry assumed that the others had to be the Digidestined parents. Professor Snape was standing in there as well.
"Potter!" Professor McGonagall gasped, looking like she might faint.
"Mum!" TK yelled. Pushing past, he ran over to his mother. She scooped him up in her arms, crying.
"TK, where have you been?" she cried "I was never more worried, never!"
"Sorry Mum," TK said muffledly "I had to help Matt."
Mrs Weasley had swept down on Ron and Harry and was hugging them both. Harry was watching Draco over her shoulder. He was looking nervously at his mother.
"Draco, where have you been?" she demanded.
Draco swallowed audibly.
"I was helping rescue Harry, Tai and Matt from Myotismon and from....from Voldemort," he said he said in a whisper.
The look his mother gave him made Draco shrink. Professor McGonagall gently interrupted everyone's rapturous reunions before the parents could start getting angry.
"An explanation would be nice," she said.
Everyone looked at each other. Then Matt started, going into the story from when he, Abby and Talitha had accidentally created the Venom-Black potion, up to when he, Tai and Harry had been taken. Then Draco nervously took over, telling them about the journey though the shadow of the Valley of Death. Then Tai told the last part, the battle and the mirror. Professor McGonagall examined the mirror carefully, listening to the story. Narcissa Malfoy was not looking pleased at all, and Draco was looking very nervous. Harry walked over and took his hand. Draco looked slightly startled but gratified. Narcissa's eyes widened with surprise, then anger. Snape looked slightly shocked as well.
"I thought all this business was over!" Mrs Kamiya said to Tai "Why didn't you say something?"
"You would never have let us go if we had," Tai pointed out "I'm sorry Mum but we didn't have a choice. We had to help Matt."
Matt glanced at his father and mother, then turned back to the mirror, running his fingers over the surface.
"That's no excuse!" Mrs Kamiya said "Do you have any idea what it was like, to find a note on your pillow saying you and Kari had gone away for a few days and not to worry? I nearly died! You could have been anywhere, doing anything! And when we received an owl saying you were all in England...."
"That wasn't a good thing?" Tai said weakly.
"HOW ON EARTH WERE WE TO KNOW HOW YOU'D GOT TO ENGLAND?!" Mrs Kamiya shrieked.
Tai decided then and there never to ever mention the idea of stealing money from his parents. He had a feeling that everyone else was quietly swearing that too.
"I think that they should all go to bed," McGonagall said, interrupting Mrs Kamiya's anger "Everyone is tired and over-excited. I don't even want to think about this until tomorrow."
They were taken up to the Hospital Wing and tucked into bed, their parents watching them. In a few moments, they were all fast asleep.
* * * *
A few days later, they were saying goodbye.
McGonagall was going to be the new Headmistress at Hogwarts and needed to talk to everyone. She talked to everyone separately, getting all the little details that they hadn't wanted to give in front of their parents. She then interviewed the parents and talked to them. She gently suggested that maybe it was best if Matt was removed from the school. When Mr Ishida and Mrs Takiashi protested, she got annoyed and ripped a couple of strips off them, pointing out that Matt had felt forced into coming to the school and thanks to that, he had accidentally pulled Myotismon into the world. She had asked Matt his opinion and he wanted to go home, rather than stay. While his parents still protested, they eventually agreed.
So now the Hogwarts group were saying goodbye to the Digidestined.
"You take care of yourselves," Hermione said firmly "Keep in touch! I'm expecting Ryo every now and then."
Harry nodded.
"We will," Matt promised.
"And don't stop studying," Hermione said "You know McGonagall said that maybe someone could come and specially tutor you so I'm expecting you to practise until they arrive!"
"Yeah, okay," Matt said.
"And no turning people into things," Hermione continued "And no..."
"Hermione," Matt interrupted "I'm not going to cause havoc. I promise."
"Well, you make sure you don't," Hermione said "TK, I'm expecting you to keep and eye on him!"
"I promise," TK said with a giggle.
"I'll miss you," Draco said "I can't believe I'm saying this to the boy who actually had the cheek to punch me in the face on his second day but I'll actually miss you."
"We'll all miss you lot," Tai said "You've been great, all of you. Thanks for rescuing us and everything else you did."
"The whole school will miss Matt," Harry said "We've never had a new pupil that caused so much excitement, not as far as I know anyway."
"Oh I don't know," Ron said "We could probably challenge him!"
"I doubt it!" Harry said with a laugh "All we did was fight a giant three-headed dog. That's nothing!"
"You take care," Matt said to Draco "I don't want an owl saying that you've let you parents boss you around."
Draco smiled slightly.
"I think what Father would do to me would be a lot worse than that," he said "But it doesn't matter. The Weasleys have invited me to stay with them."
"To live?" Kari asked.
"Mrs Weasley calls it 'a trial run'," Draco said "So maybe. But I don't know how I'm going to explain this to the rest of the Slytherins!"
"Yeah," Ron said "You're moving in with the Weasleys and dating Harry Potter. That'll be funny to watch."
"Very ha-ha," Draco said. Harry put an arm around him and Draco smiled.
"That still freaks me out," Ron said bluntly "I'm used to you two fighting to the death, not looking all lovey-dovey."
Harry swatted at him. Ron dodged and grinned.
"I'll miss you," Talitha said to Matt softly "You were a great big prat at first but you actually weren't that bad."
Matt grinned.
"Harry and the others will look after you," he said "You make sure to be the best witch in the year, right?"
Talitha nodded.
"You keep checking that mirror for trouble," Joe said.
The Ever-Colour Mirror was hanging in the Great Hall. McGonagall had framed it using a gold frame with the Hogwarts crest on it and said it was a memorial mirror for Dumbledore. Only she, the other teachers, the Digidestined and the Hogwarts Five knew it's true purpose.
Not that there weren't rumours. A Hufflepuff Sixth year swore that when she'd glanced in it, she'd seen Professor Dumbledore looking back at her in the smoke and several others were agreeing. But the teachers weren't saying anything and neither was the group.
"Will our crests still work now we're in our own world?" Hermione asked.
"Ours have," Tai said "Yours should."
"Don't lose them!" Matt said "And make sure you don't forget what they're for."
"We won't," Ron promised.
There was a pause.
"We should probably go," Sora said after a moment "Our parents are waiting."
"Great," Tai groaned "Despite what McGonagall told them, I think that Mum and Dad have plans for grounding for about twelve years. Terrific."
"I'm sure they won't Tai," Kari said "We were saving the world."
"Like that'll make a difference," Tai said "No more soccer for ages. Matt, this is all your fault."
"My fault!" Matt squawked "Where'd you get that from?"
"You were the one who called us!"
"Yeah well, I didn't say 'Sneak off, leaving you parents notes! That was your idea!"
"Well what did you expect us to do?"
"Explain?"
Sora rolled her eyes.
"Bye everyone," she said "We'll write soon. Take care."
"Bye!" the others all added.
The Hogwarts group watched as they walked towards the train that would take them to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, Matt and Tai arguing furiously.
"Those two are completely crazy," Talitha said.
"They fight a lot," Hermione remarked "But they like each other really. Sort of like two other boys I know." She grinned mischievously at Harry and Draco who both blushed.
"Matt would do anything for Tai and vice versa," Talitha said thoughtfully.
Draco and Harry looked at each other.
"Seriously though," Draco said "Do you think that Matt and Tai....?"
"Not yet," Hermione said "They're too young. But when they're older...."
"I'm holding you to that," Ron said.
Hermione laughed.
"The train's going," Talitha said, pointing.
They waved wildly to the Digidestined who waved back equally as wildly. Tai nearly took Matt's eye out and they could see them begin to argue again even while they were waving. Hermione started laughing as the train chugged off. Talitha however, started to cry.
"I'll miss them!" she sobbed "Matt and Abby were my best f-friends and now they've both g-gone!"
"Don't worry," Hermione said putting an arm round her "You've still got all your other friends. And us."
"And I bet that's not the last we hear from Yamato Ishida and Co.," Draco predicted "You mark my words. We'll hear from those trouble-makers again someday."
Talitha smiled faintly and wiped her tears away.
"You're right," she said "Come on. We should get back up to school."
The five turned and slowly set off up the path back to Hogwarts.
The End.