A/N: I hope you all head a wonderful new-year's day! (I didn't because I had to study for the exam I had today.)
teacherchez: neither bewitched, nor J.K.R. in disguise, you can take my word for that :-)
Angel Solo: I love reviewers like you! Thanks for reviewing all the chapters!
Anigurl88: yes, I made up the riddle. The story is about 200 A4 pages long – almost as long as HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Nefertiti: two chapters together with this one.
gurlie409: pretty close, though not totally.
PepsiAngel: one more chapter after this one.
VeRyWiLdWiTcH: yes, the "thingy way up at the top" is almost as long as the story itself! Sorry about that, but all of you ask so many questions that I feel I need to answer them all (well, almost all of them :-)
JoeBob1379: more about Sunny and Gilderoy in the next chapter. The other question: yes.
D2: Wormtail will answer your question in person.
georgia: daggers, swords, lances… it doesn't matter – all that matters is that it has to hurt!
Pudadingding: really? *huge grin*
Lionheart Eternal: nice ending – yes. Simple – no.
Armageddon: no, Wormtail isn't dead – he'll explain how he got away.
princesswitch: may I ask something? What does "toodles" mean? I can't find it in any dictionary.
moonys*gal: yes, I made it up, back in August (it was a very nice late-August evening, the Moon had just come up, and I was thinking of a riddle for the sphinx. Then I looked at the Moon and said: "that's it!")
Tsar: just like reading a Playstation action game? LOL! About "that Draco git"… um… I might disappoint you… truly sorry that I made you sad :-(
X-Tow_Naga: lol, you gave me a good laugh! Thanks for the descriptions!
HarryPotterCC1: what do I do when I finish the story? A sequel, of course! (But don't expect it earlier than Easter!)
Princess Backstreet: the boulder? Yes, I guess that was from Indiana Jones.
Waldomier: how does he get inside? Just wait you'll find out… You REALLY didn't know there was an original British version of the book? But Rowling IS British! Anyway, the original version is not much different – the title of the first book is the greatest difference, I guess. There are a couple of words that are different in British and American English, but I can't remember any of them now (though there are definitely some, I know it, since I've read the books both in British and American English.)
Twink: the torch can only be used for bringing back ONE person. Only one.
Toby Haine: what? I fear I don't understand your problem with the italics and bold and underlined writing. I write them in Word, then transform the Word format into HTML format and for me it doesn't take away the italics and bold.
Jazzofborg: no, nothing that devious.
star queen: you'll get more Herm and Ron in the next chapter that will be the last one. (sorry to disappoint you… but I'm working on a sequel, so don't get too disappointed!)
obi_ewan_maul_lover: yes, I think the riddle was far too easy – that one with the spider was much more difficult but I couldn't think up something that complicated. Yes, you can look forward to the sequel – until April or May. (sorry, but I won't start posting it before the whole story is ready – I did the same with this fic – because after having written chapter 30 I still found stuff in chapter 1 that had to be corrected. I promise that as soon as I'm ready with my exams I'll really get down to the sequel and try to write it as quickly as possible.)
Slytherins R Sexy: you mean the London Dungeon was scary? I'd like to see it! About the "Ethiopian" racer – yes, I wrote it wrong, left out an "h". I also now schnoogle and visit it frequently for the Draco Series, and I also like gryffindortower. About the side-story with Voldie in the shower cap… I might include it into the sequel, okay? In case it turns dark, I'll insert a dream about Voldie having shower and it will enlighten the mood, LOL. About your grades dropping… I suggest you stop reading that many fics! They are harmful… especially mine… and I'd be really sad if you got bad grades because of me… ;-)
chuckles: you've got a nice uncle then!
Hermione/Nina/Ginny: …otherwise my new-year isn't going to be how I imagined it might be? Cool, because I imagined it pretty bad… all those exams… yuck!
JingleJake: no, impossible – only one person!
speaker-of-the-dead: she WILL finish her studies. Yes, you'll see more of Draco, Dudley and Millicent.
lady nagini: yes.
AniMourner: no, actually I haven't done any research on it.
TheBestFlamer: you lived up to your name.
pandarwin: a boggart? Nay.
HpgoldySnitch: I wish I could meet her! I had so many questions for her (as I presume you all do!)
Meatball Head: as I have told someone else, my SW fics aren't worth reading. Silly, sappy stuff.
Moony Lover: thanks!
Yibble Legnets: thanks for the encouragement :-)
LisaQT3: I also think this is the best twist :-)
SOMEONE HAS ALREADY ASKED HOW THEY WILL FIND THE SEQUEL AMONG ALL THOSE FICS – NOW I'M MAKING YOU AN OFFER: IF YOU WANT ME, I'LL EMAIL YOU AS SOON AS I START UPLOADING THE SEQUEL (SOMETIME IN LATE SPRING, NO SOONER). SO, IF YOU WANT ME TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT IT, GIVE ME YOUR EMAIL-ADDRESSES AND I'LL NOTIFY YOU, OKAY?
And now, enjoy the one-before-the-last chapter!
Chapter 33
The green ring of fire
"Wormtail!" Harry whispered. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Following you, Harry." the death-eater replied calmly.
"Why?" the boy raised his wand in case he needed to defend himself.
"Because I knew what you wanted to do here."
"Knew? How?"
"After My Lord died, I turned into a rat and ran away – as far as I could. I chose to move to Thailand, but on my way I stopped in Egypt… So, I came to Systematic Alley. As I got tired wandering around on the streets, I decided to rest a bit, and moved into a house that I found most sympathetic. I was just taking a nap in a corner when I was awoken by an excited boy blabbering about a ring he needed, and a torch he wanted to use to help his dead lover come back to life." Harry's eyes became slits, but Wormtail didn't bother to carry on with his speech. "Then I remembered Aunt Maggie… she was an Egyptologist witch, who swore to have discovered an ancient script about a mysterious torch. According to her, the torch had green flames, and was able to bring back the dead. Of course no one believed her. Not much later she was brought into St. Mungo, because she maniacally insisted on her theory. She died in the lunatic ward of the hospital. I didn't believe her either – but now I do. When I heard about your intention of saving the Weasley girl, I immediately knew where to look for you."
"How did you manage to pass all the traps?" Harry asked, suspiciously.
"I followed the silver thread that your ring ejected… of course I did so as a rat. Neither the mummy, nor the shape-shifter snake, not even the sphinx noticed that I was no real rat."
"Then Crookshanks is smarter than any of them." Harry murmured. "I hope you know that I won't let you reach your aim, Wormtail!" he swished his wand a bit to indicate that he was ready to strike down if needed.
"To reach my aim?" the ratty death-eater raised an eyebrow. "What do you know of my aims?"
"I know enough." Harry gritted his teeth. "You are eager on resurrecting Voldemort! That's why you followed me! You just let me fight down all the obstacles, so that you could have the torch for your own vile purposes!"
"Now, now, son…"
"Don't call me son!" the boy bellowed. "You caused my parents' death!"
"I don't deny it." Wormtail nodded. "But I deny your accusation that I want to resurrect My Lord."
"Why should I believe you? You still call him Your Lord!"
"Why should you believe me?" the death-eater's beady little eyes scrutinised Harry's features. "Why? Because I helped you."
"Helped – me???" the boy let out a hysteric laugh.
"Yes." Wormtail replied. "Who do you think bit your ankle to bring you to your senses? I did."
"But you bit my ankle on purpose! You wanted me to move ahead, so that you could access the torch!"
"Your deduction is almost brilliant. Almost. You may believe that I want the torch… You may think whatever you want to." Wormtail shrugged. "But you still won't be able to get the torch without my help."
"What do you mean?" Harry crossed his arms.
"Do you see that small, round hole at the bottom of the door?"
Harry nodded.
"It's the entrance." the animagus asserted.
Harry gave him a 'don't-take-me-for-a-fool'-stare.
"Believe me, it's the entrance. Aunt Maggie wrote down everything in her notes. She wrote that only a Parselmouth could access the torch, but if he or she doesn't use the first opportunity, and comes back later, won't be able to open the door, unless he can turn into something small enough to run… or slither through that tiny round door."
"How do you know that this is my second time here?" Harry furrowed his brow.
"It's simple, boy. Number one: I heard the girl telling you that she cannot come in here again with you. Number two: had this been your first time, you wouldn't have been hindered by so many obstacles."
Harry had to admit that Wormtail's reasoning made sense.
"Do you reckon that this entrance, or what, was designed for snakes?"
"Exactly." the bald man nodded. "The torch belongs to Apophys, after all…"
"And you think you could go in there as a rat?" the boy asked, dubiously.
"I do."
"What guarantee do I get that you won't try to use the torch to bring back Voldemort, once you are in the chamber?"
"Guarantee? No need for that. I cannot use the torch. Remember… only a Parselmouth can use it, and I'm no adept of the serpent language. Thus you don't need a guarantee… Anyway, you don't have another choice – you can't get in there without my help."
Harry contemplated Wormtail's words. He simply knew that he had to take chances with Wormtail.
"Okay. Do it. Go in and open the door for me." he sighed.
"Wise decision." the bald little man nodded, and turned into a rat.
Harry watched as Wormtail ran through the small round hole into the chamber of the Green Flame Torch.
For a moment the boy crossed his fingers, following Wormtail with his eyes, seeing as the small animal turned into a man again. Harry strongly hoped that he did the right thing when trusting that 'rat'.
His fear was unfounded – the massive crystal door slid aside, making Harry's way free into the chamber lit by the mysterious green flames of the torch.
Wormtail stood next to the circle drawn on the floor.
"Come, take the torch." he said.
Harry still remembered Anck-sun-Amun's words, that he had to step inside the circle and ignite it around himself.
He gulped, reached out for the torch, and stepped into the middle of the circle.
"Go, and bring her back." Wormtail encouraged him.
The boy nodded and touched the flames to the circle that caught fire at once, separating him from the outside world by a wall of green flames.
"Are you ready to enter the netherworld?" a low, hissing voice asked.
"Yeah… I am." he answered in Parseltongue, and in the next instant he got sucked into something like an eddy, that whirled, twirled and finally spat him out into a meadow full of flowers.
Harry landed on all fours, his glasses sliding down to the tip of his nose.
He slowly stood up, dusted his robes, adjusted his glasses and looked around.
He saw meadows as far as the eye could reach: dandelions, bluebells and daises swaying in the breeze, a clear-watered little creek running through the field.
It was beautiful, and made Harry feel alive – truly alive, though he was in the netherworld. He no more felt tired or drowsy, not even his leg and ribs hurt anymore.
Well, this place could not be hell.
"Harry?" a soft voice came from behind him.
He spun around to see a beautiful, red-haired woman with emerald green eyes.
"M…mom!" he whispered.
The woman's eyes filled with tears, as she stretched out her arms for him. Harry flung his arms around her neck, sobbing.
"Mom… oh mom!" for the first time in his life he could hug the woman who had given birth to him.
"Son…" this time a virile voice spoke up, making Harry look up to see a tall man with jet-black hair and glasses, through his tears.
"Dad!" he wiped his tears, (no man would show his father that he was crying), and let James Potter gather him into an embrace.
"My son…" James looked at Harry, taking in all his features. "Man, you've grown! I'm so proud of you!"
"Are you?" Harry blinked. "I did things one should never be proud of."
James looked directly into his son's eyes. "But you mended your ways, my son. You have nothing to feel ashamed about." he said with a very serious voice.
"Your father is right, Harry." Lily Potter put her hand on her son's shoulder. "You made mistakes, but everyone does. You really did things you should never be proud of, but when needed, you showed courage and generosity. We saw it… and our little daughter-in-law here can also attest to that."
Harry turned around to see a brightly smiling Ginny, standing in a cluster of violets, wearing a dress so white, that it seemed to have been woven of moonlight.
"Ginny!" Harry ran up to her, pulling her into a loving hug.
"What are you doing here, Love?" her face looked a bit worried. "You aren't dead, are you?"
"No way. I've come for you, dearest." he replied.
"For me?"
"Yes." he nodded. "Mom… dad… we have to go."
"We know, son." James smiled. "Hurry up, you have only two hours left before the pyramid closes. I suppose you don't intend to wait for another 1000 years."
"That's right."
"Take care, my son." Lily kissed him on the cheek. "And you, young lady, also take care of him! Never let him come home too late, and don't let him flutter huge amounts, and…"
"Lily." James cut in. "She'll know how to control him."
"I hope so." his wife chuckled.
"Good bye, mom, dad." Harry said.
"Bye… see you in a hundred years, my dear!" Lily waved.
Harry took Ginny by the hand and said back! in Parseltongue.
* * * * *
He fell out of the circle that didn't blaze anymore. The handle of the green flame torch was again buried two inches into the ground, casting an eerie glow on the walls.
However, it was not the only light in the chamber.
Harry looked down at his right hand, in which he had held Ginny's hand before they 'came back'. Now he had a small, green flame dancing in his hand – Ginny's spirit.
"Time is running out." Wormtail broke the silence. "You have to go if you want to reach the gate before it closes."
"And you?" Harry asked.
"I forgot to mention you something, boy." the man replied with a wistful smile. "In Aunt Maggie's notes I read something important: if you enter the chamber for the second time, and leave it again, you'll be cursed and won't be able to reach the gate alive… unless someone takes the curse on himself, and stays here for you."
"Then… the chamber is a trap?" Harry looked shocked.
"Yes and no. Only if you come here for the second time… Apophys had a weird sense of humour, and never liked returning guests."
"Does it mean, that I fought down all those obstacles for nothing???" Harry gasped.
"No." Wormtail shook his head. "No, because I'm here. And I'll stay here."
"You? Why?" Harry didn't dare trust his ears. Why would this ever-greedy, egoistic guy want to stay here… instead of him?
"As you know I owe you a life-debt, which is the strongest bind between two wizards…" Harry saw the death-eater's eyes glint with an unaccustomed sincerity. "I have nothing left, boy… no Lord, no aims, nothing. But you, you are young, full of energy, with a prospect for a wonderful life. You have people loving you and expecting you back – a daughter, first of all. I have no one who cares for me… Anyway, I'm sure I'll hit it off with the other rats in here…" he let out a resigned sigh. "Go before I change my mind… this is a one-time offer… take it. Go, Harry, be a great wizard and make your parents be proud of you."
"Peter…" Harry stepped closer.
"Hurry now." Pettigrew backed away. "Go, and be happy, Harry Potter."
"Thank you." the boy gave him a faint smile and left the chamber, hearing its crystal door slam shut behind his back.
Harry still remembered Dumbledore telling him: "The time may come when you will be very glad you saved Pettigrew's life…"
Back in third year Harry thought that the old headmaster must have gone crazy. Now he began to see Dumbledore's words from another point of view… and those words made sense.
Now all he needed to do was follow Ariadne's thread back to the gate – back to freedom.
A/N2: okay, you can say that I'm an emotional dupe for making Peter sacrifice himself, but I wanted to. Period. Only one more chapter to go, and the last one will be REALLY LONG!!!