The Wizard Returns

Chapter Four

-dutchtulips-

At that moment, a large bus came careening up the street and braked mere feet in front of Ron, Hermione, and Harry. Fred was at the wheel, George next to him, and Jordan was hanging near the front. "Mum!" He cried out happily, upon seeing her.

Without thinking, Hermione jumped onboard and hugged Jordan tightly. Harry hopped on the back while Ron was still standing at the entryway to the bus, arguing with Fred and George.

"What's wrong with my car?" He exclaimed.

"Well, er. . .we were forced to find another means of transportation," George said quickly.

"On the Knight Bus?" He yelled back.

"It was Fred's idea!"

"Was not!" Fred replied.

"Yes it was, old boy," George shot back.

Ron didn't waste any more time. While his twin brothers exchanged was toos and was nots, he followed Harry, jumping on the back of the bus.

Harry was pulling a dozen or so magic explosives out of his robes, along with his wand to light them. "Ready for this?" He called.

"Whether or not, here they come!" Ron said back, jumping to the second level of the vacant bus. From the back window on the second tier, he could see the four mummy soldiers galloping towards the bus, scrambling along building walls, violently knocking over things in the street, and bounding impossible leaps.

"Oh, I hate mummies. . ." Ron grumbled. No sooner had he said that when two of them - flew? towards the second tier and with a resounding wham, hit the roof, thrashing inside.

Meanwhile, the second two had stayed around to attack Harry on the lower tier. One smashed through the back entryway, only to be blown into oblivion a minute later by a spell from Harry's wand. He was not as lucky with the second one; it pounced on him at once, trying to beat him senseless.

Back on the second tier, one mummy soldier had crashed a hole in the ceiling, and jumping through it, gave Ron a powerful punch, knocking him down to the floor. He got up as quickly as he could, lighting an explosive while doing so. He speedily crammed it down the mummy's throat, and then smirked slightly when it exploded into fragments.

Harry heard the loud blast, and felt renewed determination. He managed to beat back the mummy soldier that was atop him, and jumped for him, ready to slash it to pieces with his scimitar. But before he could, the thing knocked him backwards again, hitting the far wall.

Hermione turned around and screamed at Fred, "Turn, Fred, turn!"

The large Knight Bus careened to the left, going so fast it nearly tipped on its side. Inside the bus, the turn had knocked the mummy soldier off his feet as well, and Harry accelerated for it, repeating Ron's tactic of shoving a magic explosive down the throat of it and watching it explode.

Ron was grappling with the last mummy soldier as it threw punches at him. He lifted his foot and pried the thing away from him, and then waved his wand at it. The mummy was abruptly covered in flames, and with a bone-chilling shriek, tumbled out of a window and dropped into the Thames as the bus roared by it.

Ron let out a relieving sigh, and then, catching his breath, headed down for the first tier. He found Harry slumped over in a seat, doing the same. "You all right?"

The Auror chieftain looked up at his best friend, and with a small smile, said, "Well, this was very different than my last ride on the Knight Bus."

Moments later, the bus came to a grunting stop. George called out to them. "I think this old darling is on its last legs, people." As if in response, the engine stopped completely.

Hermione looked at Ron, and beckoned him over with a single finger, not bothering to say a word. He grinned his lopsided grin, and came hither, taking her in his tired arms, and they started to kiss.

Jordan, who was standing nearby, rolled his eyes and groaned. "Please. . ." He walked away from the scene and towards the back of the bus, looking around.

As if from nowhere, an arm shot and grabbed Jordan from the bus. "Help!" He managed to shout before a hand was clamped over his mouth. Ron and Hermione broke out of their embrace and raced for the back of the bus.

"Jordan!" She screamed as he was shoved into a car.

Ron hopped from the bus and chased after the speeding car that was carrying his son. "Jordan!" He yelled. Only a little further. . .

But there was a loud noise, and Ron saw that the Tower drawbridge was beginning to rise, slowly cutting off his view of the car, and until it had raised completely and his view was gone.

Ron launched himself on the top of the raised bridge, looking out over it and seeing the car carrying his son speeding away down the street. "Jordan. . ." He whispered.

~*~

At the uppermost part of the History of Magic museum, Pansy stood out on the balcony, looking over on the city, her black dress robes being whipped gently by the wind.

Jaakko came up behind her, saying in his ancient tongue, "I shall now go to Yané Seek and slay the Dragon King."

"And with his army," she replied, a glint in her eye, "We shall rule the world together."

"My lord."

Jaakko turned around and saw Snape standing there, a troubled look in his face. He had been the one who had spoken. "My lord, there is something you should know. Tonight when I went to retrieve the bracelet, I saw Weasley's brothers with the Scepter of Ibis."

Fury contorted the mummy's face for a moment, but then it disappeared. "By the time we reach Yané Seek, my powers will be fully regenerated, and I will have no need for the scepter."

Jaakko turned back to Pansy and leaned in to kiss her. She reared back for a moment, but only a moment, because then something incredible happened. . .

. . .they were both face-to-face at the minister's palace, out on the balcony, Leopold's chosen olive-skinned beauty and the handsome High Wizard and Grand Priest of Ibis, about to seal their forbidden love with a kiss. Cat-a-la-lina, whom Pansy was in the vision, found her hesiation dropping away as she leaned in to kiss Jaakko, closing her eyes and offering her lips. . .

And it was fortunate for Pansy that her eyes were closed and that she was lost in the vision, otherwise she would see her lord's fetid lips pressed against her red mouth.

~*~

Ron was gently holding Hermione, who was near tears, and rocking her slowly. All they could think about was Jordan, hoping that he was alive. "It's gonna be okay, 'Mione. We'll get him back. . ." Ron whispered to her.

Harry stepped forward. "Do not fear for Jordan," he said to them. "They cannot hurt him because he is wearing the Bracelet of Arana."

Hermione sniffled and looked up at Ron. "He's wearing the bracelet?" She questioned, bewildered.

He nodded slowly. "When he put it on he said he saw the Giza pyramids, and the temple at Karnack. . ."

"Yes," Harry cut in. "And when they reach Karnack, the bracelet will show Jordan the next step of the journey."

"If we don't get to Karnack before them we won't know where to go next!" Hermione exclaimed.

Ron seemed lost in thought. "You know what? I think we need a Fizzing Whizbee."

Fred who was standing nearby, said, "I don't think now's the time for candy, old chap. Although, if we could get our Exploding Gum elixir from the manor. . ."

Ron hastily waved his hand, cutting him off. "No, no. Another kind of Fizzing Whizbee. You'll find out."

~*~

Cairo, Egypt. By the bank of the Nile, large boats waited to be loaded and unloaded, and a small train station nearby had its freight and passenger cars open, doing the same. An exception was one lengthy train that was now pulling out of the station, whom sitting atop it were a dozen or so familiar dark robed minions, acting as lookouts.

Inside the train, in the parlor car, sat Snape, looking out of a window for a moment as the train began gaining speed on the tracks. He turned around to face Pansy, who was sitting in front of him, and spoke.

"When Lord Jaakko was executed, his immortal soul was condemned to the underworld. Because of this, he will be vulnerable, even with his fully regenerated powers. Only when he stands at the head of the Army of Arana, will he again be impermeable."

Snape suddenly withdrew a large obsidian book, and extended it to Pansy. He waved his wand over it and whispered a spell, and then said to her, as she took it, "Keep this with you at all times."

Suddenly Malfoy burst in, carrying a squirming Jordan. He hastily deposited the auburn boy on the floor as Jordan exclaimed, "Hey, it's The Book of the Dead!"

Pansy looked at him. "What a bright little child." She kneeled down in front of him and said softly, "Your mother must be missing you terribly right now. If you wish to her again, you'd better behave."

"Lady," Jordan began, impertinently, "I don't behave for my parents. What makes you think I'll do it for you?"

Pansy smirked. "Because your parents would not slip poisonous snakes into your bed while you are sleeping."

His eyes widened.

Snape suddenly cut in, saying to Malfoy, "Lord Jaakko wishes to meet the boy."

Malfoy nodded and shoved Jordan into the next car. "Hey, watch it!" He shouted.

"Move it!" He yelled at the young boy.

Jordan stepped into the adjoining room, which had been fashioned to look like an ancient Egyptian temple. Torches were lit and hanging against the walls, and air was heavy with the smell of burning incense. Presiding over it all was a tall, eerie figure in a hooded black robe.

Malfoy kneeled down as the figure turned around to look at Jordan. The young boy noticed that he was wearing a mask. Jordan was the son of Ron Weasley and had inherited his father's prowess; he was the son of Hermione Granger Weasley, whose intellect he had also gained, but he was only eight years old, and now, he was scared.

Jaakko began to speak. At first Jordan couldn't understand the words, as they were in ancient Egyptian, but then, suddenly, mysteriously, it turned into English. "It is you, young Weasley. You are the one to take me to Yané Seek."

"What if I don't?" Jordan replied, unaware that he was now speaking the ancient tongue. "What if I happen to get, sort of. . .lost?"

The mummy laughed, and kneeled down to be at the young boy's level. He reached out a gloved hand and lifted Jordan's wrist, the one bearing the heavy Bracelet of Arana. "This bracelet is both a blessing and a curse. The sands of time have already began to pour out against you."

Jordan steeled himself, hastily saying, "Yeah, yeah. I already heard this part. I put the bracelet on, and seven days later the Dragon King wakes up."

"Did you also hear that if you do not enter the golden pyramid of Yané Seek before its apex is touched by the sun - on that last morning, that the bracelet will suck the very life from you?" Jaakko replied.

Jordan's heart dropped to his feet. Eyes widened, he said, "That part I missed." Pause. "Hey, I only have five days left!"

"Perhaps then, I think it best if you do not 'get lost.' "

Jordan gritted his teeth and said fearlessly to the mummy's face, "My dad is going kick your ass."

Jaakko reached up and pulled his mask away, revealing his fetid, maggot-infested face. Skull grinning, he said, "I do not think so."

The auburn boy jumped back, terror-stricken upon seeing this sight, and then suddenly, Malfoy grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the car.

~*~

Back in the parlor car, three men stepped inside - Macnair, the leader, followed by Pettigrew and Karkaroff, who were lugging a heavy object, covered in a blanket, between them. Snape, upon seeing them, stepped forward. "Did you acquire it?"

"Oh, we 'acquired' it all right. We had to knock off a couple guards back at the museum to 'acquire' it," Macnair said.

Karkaroff jerked the blanket off the object, which turned out to be a ornate, wooden chest. He glided his fingers over the hieroglyphics. "It says that there is one, the undead, who will kill all those who open this."

"Yes, yes, suck them dry so that he shall become whole again," Snape waved his hand carelessly. "Load of rubbish."

"Yes, but we heard the original people who found it died horrible deaths. So it appears -"

"We want ten thousand!" Pettigrew exclaimed.

Snape gritted his teeth. "The agreement was for five."

"Yes, but we want ten. Or we'll take it somewhere else," Macnair spat.

Pansy laid a hand on Snape's shoulder to get his attention. "Ten will be just fine. Follow me, gentlemen. And please, bring the chest."

Pettigrew and Karkaroff lugged it along as they followed Macnair, who followed Pansy into the next car, the room in which Jordan Weasley and Lord Jaakko had exchanged words in only moments before. "In here you will receive your just rewards."

Macnair entered, looking around. "No tricks now, woman. We're not giving up the chest 'til we're satisfied."

Pansy smirked at them. "Oh, there is much satisfaction to be had." With that, she slammed the door behind them, locking them in.

Macnair turned around. "What the hell?"

"This place is cursed," Karkaroff said.

Suddenly Jaakko swooped down in front of them, bellowing. The three mercenaries screamed upon seeing the decaying, rotten, and fetid figure and drew their wands, shouting spells. . .but it did no good, as the mummy was impervious to them.

Pettigrew banged on the door, praying for answer, for someone to hear and let them out of this place, and he got one.

Pansy slid open a metal plate in the door and exclaimed, "Open the chest! He wants you to open the chest!" And then she disappeared.

Without thinking, Pettigrew bounded forward and jerked the lid of the chest, and it emanated a large cloud of white vapor, which filled the room, blocking their view of the creature. Finally it cleared, but the mummy was nowhere to be seen.

"Where'd it go?" Macnair mumbled.

He got his answer. He jumped off the ceiling and latched onto the nearest man - Pettigrew, and stretched his jaw incredibly wide, sucking the soul, the life, from him. . .

Soon, the creature was stepping around the corpses of the three men, a mummy no longer, but a muscular, handsome, and copper-skinned man, as he had been in 1280 B.C.

Lord Jaakko was as alive as the mercenaries were dead.

~*~

To Be Continued