Harry Potter and the Flesh of the Jade Guardian

by Agent 99

COMPLETED::Harry returns to hogwarts under the threat of the Dark Lord and accompanied by the strange images of his parents' past. They may explain what the Potter's died for and why a mysterious appearance has the Ministry holding its breath...

26. The Flesh of the Jade Guardian

D/C: Sure, I'm J.K Rowling—that's right, I created the incredible HP universe…but then again, I also channel Elvis frequently, am convinced my professors speak to me through my alarm clock, can not walk down stairs while holding cake and/or other frosted desserts, speak often and passionately to the voices inside my head, and find the padded walls of my room quite comfy for boob tube watching…even though I don't have a t.v in here.   

Chapter 26: The Flesh of the Jade Guardian

            Ron's face grew pale as he watched the Cruciatus curse hit his brother, sending him to the ground. Percy shrieked and shook until at last Logan Price lifted it. He lay there, panting, trying feverishly to stand. Price was sneering at them, with cold gray eyes.

            "Just in time," he said coldly, directing their gazes to the entrance behind them. Harry, Hermione, and Ron whipped around, their hearts beating like war drums beneath their  rib cages.

            "Always a surprise," a voice announced. It was a cold, familiar, and high-pitched tone that burned into Harry's ears. A figure emerged from the gloom, slender and long, like a bone-white rail, clad in deep black robes. The eyes blinked a fervent red, and the nostrils flared, snake-like. Voldemort stood before them.

            Harry slammed his hand to his forehead as pain burst beneath his scar.

            "Harry Potter," Voldemort hissed. "And friends…" he stepped forward and acknowledge Price who stood behind them, still holding his sword.

            "I'd usually entertain the idea," the Dark lord was saying, "of explaining to you my plans for world domination…but I have found through trial and error that that always gives you time to escape."

            Harry's eye's widened…why did Voldemort have to grow conservative now?

            "So I've opted to just end it all quickly and kill you all now," his hissed much like the snake he so resembled. "AVADA KADAVRA"

            A flash of green light filled the room—engulfing Harry and beside him, Hermione and Ron. Price was screaming, caught in the curse along with Jade and Percy. Seconds passed and they were all dead.

~JUUUUUUST kidding~

hee hee hee…*looks out at all the angry faces*….er…*runs for life*

(the real) Chapter 26: The Flesh of the Jade Guardian

            Ron's face was stricken as he watched his brother's body hit the ground and convulse from the well-delivered Cruciatus curse. Percy's screams that filled the chamber were nearly deafening and Ron, Harry, and Hermione could only watch helplessly from a few feet away.

            "No, stop!" Ron cried out as if he felt the pain too. He sprang forward, but Hermione quickly took hold of his arm, though she was nearly sickened to the point of paralysis. At last the curse stopped, and Percy's body ceased the convulsions, though a random shudder ran visibly down his lanky form, making him look much like a macob marionette.

            Ron tore from Hermione and quickly stumbled the few steps to his brother, falling to his knees at his side. Percy was still shaking, breathing heavily, but his eyes were open and he was trying in vain to push himself up from the smooth, stone ground.

            Harry's senses were slowly flooding back into him and his eyes drifted up from the form of the two brothers and settled on the figure of Logan Price who stood above them. His gray eyes flashed with such a passionate fury, Harry thought he could feel the heat blow across his face. Yet it was not nearly enough to warm the chill that was seeping through his damp clothes and into the very core of his bones.

            Price was holding a familiar looking silver sword and had it directed on Percy—he was using it as a wand. Beside him was Jade. She was sitting with her back to them, in a silk-pillowed chair, staring at the back wall near the center pedestal, showing no sign that she was remotely aware of what was happening mere feet away.

            "Get up," Price said quietly to Percy. Percy was still trying to gather enough breath to push himself from the ground and couldn't obey. Price, retaining the calm slackness in his face, re-directed the sword, pointing its tip towards the wall behind them.

            "Reducto Maximus," he uttered and a blast erupted from the point of the blade, blowing a sizable chunk out of the wall.

            Beside Harry, Hermione cried out, and Percy frantically scrambled up successfully with Ron's help. They staggered back and away from the still smoking wall, staring at the young man before them.

            "You," Harry breathed out, his shock forced away by a growing anger.

            "Me, Harry Potter," Price said.

            "Why aren't you in France with Jade's parents?" Ron asked bewildered, his voice shaking with fear and resentment.

            "Ron—," Percy was panting. "He betrayed the Ministry…he's part of You-Know-Who's followers…"

            "Jade, get over here," Harry said as calmly as he could without letting his gaze drift from Price who's calm face was more unnerving than the blade in his hands.

            Jade didn't respond to Harry's request. Instead, she sat as stiffly as before. Price looked away from Harry and gazed at the girl in the overly ornate chair beside him. He lowered his hands, and the sword dropped to his side. With one swift movement, he pulled Jade gently up from the seat and kicked it away. It clattered and came to rest near the pedestal as Jade's head vaguely followed the movement.

            "Turn and face them," he said and spun her so that Jade's face was now to them. Harry's breath caught in his throat. Jade looked just as she had always looked before, except now, her features seemed dulled by blankness—as if the core of her being had dribbled from her body leaving a living, yet life-less shell. This was how a dementor's victim must look, Harry thought and the chill deepened within him. 

            "Jade?" Hermione asked quietly, her voice shaking. A small smile flickered across Price's face at their discomfort.

            "What have you done to her?" Harry blurted out, knowing very well that they had seen the beginnings of this coreless puppet within Jade days before this.

"Nothing," he replied. "She's merely revealed her true identity, that's all." Harry swallowed hard, knowing where this was all going.

"What are you going to do with her?"

            "Present her to my lord, of course," Price answered matter-of-factly.

            "But why?" Hermione ventured quietly. "She's nothing to you or You-Know-Who."

            "But on the contrary, she's very much something to the Dark Lord," he answered stepping forward and pushing Jade alongside him. "And to me…in fact, I would bet she's something to Mr. Potter too, am I right?"

            All eyes fell on Harry and he turned to look at each face before swallowing loudly. It was true—Harry had felt the strange connection to Jade ever since before she stumbled from the forbidden forest. However, there was something else that had accompanied the feeling of connection, but Harry had forced the qualm into the very back of his mind until the passing time and growing friendship made him forget all together.

            "She's not dangerous to anyone," Harry said unable to hide the waver in his tone. Price smiled, spreading the malice across his features like his lips spread across his face.

            "Not even to your parents?"

            Harry was startled into silence.

            "I don't know what you're talking about," Harry finally managed, angry that this man, who was now revealed to be their foe, had spoken of his, Harry Potter's, parents.

            Price leaned forward a bit and lowered his voice so that they had to strain to hear him.

            "Yes, you do," he said. "Just think about it—don't fight reality with ignorance, Harry—you've even seen it in your dreams—"

            "How d'you know about my dreams?" Harry asked.

            "Darcy Dumont," Price answered looking a little miffed at the subject change. "She made quite an informer for You-Know-Who during her time as one of your Hogwarts staff."

            Harry could feel his cheeks burn with anger at the thought of further betrayal—Voldemort's filthy influence had penetrated even Hogwarts in the form of Dumont, and he managed it even though he had yet to reach his optimal power.

            "Your sister," Ron said in shock. It was the first time Price seemed remotely startled.

            "You knew?" he asked.

            "We found out," Harry returned sharply. Price gave the three a calculating stare before letting his cold gaze fall back on Jade.

            "Darcy was how I kept tabs on Jade, as Dumbledore more than competently shrouded her in secrecy," Price explained. "She kept me informed on the growing evidence that Jade was indeed who I, Darcy, and even Dumbledore thought she was. At first, it seemed that my presumptions were wrong—after all, she was thinking for her self, made friends, she was composed of flesh for god's sake—she had a family. But when I came to Hogwarts that night a few weeks ago to share information from the Ministry with Dumbledore in attempts to build a friendly relationship, I saw what she did to you, Mr. Potter. Darcy was certain, more so after that event, that Jade would reveal herself."

            "Jade didn't do anything to me," Harry snapped his voice raising, though deep down he was still fighting with himself about whether or not he believed that was true.

            "She did," Price insisted. "You look like you don't believe me, Harry, but I know you do. Look at the girl, and remember what you saw in your dreams—remember the pain that she caused you that night. She's the bloody reason your parents died."

            Harry was speechless—he turned to look at Jade and found that he was contemplating what life would be like had his mother destroyed that unornamented jade pendant—if it was never found. Would his parents be alive? Would he be a completely different person? But Harry didn't have that choice even if he knew the outcome. He blinked and for a millisecond the world was black and when his eyelids finally opened, he saw a bit of familiarity in Jade's blank features—she didn't have a choice either. 

            "You're not saying that Jade—Jade is," Hermione was uttering in disbelief. "She can't be—"

            "She is," Price insisted placing a hand on Jade's shoulder. "She is the Jade Guardian."

            "But how can she be the Guardian?" Hermione persisted. "The Guardian is a pendant—"

            "The Jade Guardian is also a manifested form," Price stated firmly. "And that form resides right there in front of you." Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Percy looked straight at Jade who stared at a point somewhere beyond them.

            "It's a myth," Hermione breathed.

            "That's what you'd like to believe," Price said quietly, picking up the jade piece around Jade's neck. "But this vessel of power—she is real and nearly 1500 years old."

            "She looks good," Ron said bluntly. Price's eyes flashed and Ron quieted. He dropped the pendant and turned to face them.

            "Jade is the Guardian," he said, "and she remembers."

            "Remembers what?" Harry demanded. The young man smiled sardonically, flipping the sword around his one hand, while taking Jade's chin in the other.

            "Do you remember your past?" he asked her softly.

            "No," she answered expressionlessly. "I remember my creation."

            Harry shook his head, both startled and frightened by her words. No one knew the details of the Jade Guardian's origins—if they knew of the vessel of power at all.

            "What do you mean?" Hermione asked hesitantly. Jade didn't even look at them when she began to answer indifferently.

             "It started between the time of King Arthur and the Dark Ages, when Europe was hardly Europe, and history could not discern between fact and myth."

"You've done something to her," Harry said hotly.

"I haven't," Price replied easily. "She just knows."

"There was a dark wizard, Lord Medraut," Jade continued, making no acknowledgement of Harry and Price's exchange. "In his youth, he had fought side by side with King Arthur himself, but as Medraut's abilities grew, he turned away from the king in his thirst for power and domination."

            "During Lord Medraut's zenith, he had control over as much as half the wizarding populations—Not even Merlin could defeat him alone. Medraut was not only skilled in the arts of dark sorcery, but also in war and control. He had no desire for any human love, or things of beauty—he only lusted after power."

            "After every take-over, Medraut would return to his favorite residence—a massive castle nestled in the French Alps. His thirst for bloodshed did not cease during his war-hiatus—he exercised his cunning and cold-heartedness by taking over muggle villages around his home. He had a special enjoyment in destroying muggles for he felt that they were ignorant and hardly worth a battle."

            "On one such outing, he came to a village during a witch burning. All the villagers were gathered in the square when he and his army came charging through. There, he massacred nearly everyone—women, children, and the elderly--and showed no mercy just as he had done many times before. However, when he reach the center of the square, all that would change. There, tied to a stake set for burning, was a woman with dark hair. Around her neck was a pendant of curious, green stone and at her feet was a child no more than a year old."

            " He rode up to her, sword arched above his head, preparing to deliver the fatal blow, but the moment she looked up at him, he found that he could not deal it. He had killed witches and wizards before—but never had he looked upon a face so unmarked by fear in his presence that in that moment he thought he might have found an equal."

            "The woman was brought back with him to his castle where they were wed several weeks later. Suddenly, Medraut's activity slowed and more and more of his providences were being released or taken over by other competing dark wizards. For a handful of blissful months, Medraut reveled in the miracle of human affection and his stony heart began to change."

            "However, his pride would bring an end to it all. As time went on, Medraut lost control of his empire—and his respect. He became a laughing stock to all other wizarding lords, dark and light. They all said that he had given up his power to a woman. The final straw came when one young wizard launched an attack on Medraut's personal providence near the French Alps. Medraut, in his fury, massacred the arrogant youth and his army. That same night, Medraut, his pride bruised, blamed his wife and murdered her."

            "He commanded two of his groundskeepers to bury her before he went to make his announcement—He, who had killed his only love, was the most heartless and powerful dark wizard in existence. The groundskeepers buried the woman's body the next night in the front courtyard as Lord Medraut watched from a balcony. Her child was asleep in a cradle near him for try as he might, he could not bring himself to rid himself of the thing."

            "Just as the groundskeepers lowered the body, Medraut was taken with guilt—a suffering he had never known before even when his hands were wet with blood. Without thinking, he apparated to the gravesite, startling his groundskeepers. He jumped into the hole and hugged the cold body of his love against his chest where his cold heart resided in torment. He commanded his servants away and sat in the grave for hours. As dawn broke, he took the strange pendant from the woman's neck and buried her."

            "Medraut, in attempts to deaden his hurt, vowed to care for the woman's child as his own. He gave the woman's daughter her pendant and shared often the story of how her mother had come about getting such a peculiar stone as the girl grew. Her mother, an adventurous witch, had chartered passages with the wizards of Norse, and so found herself in a Far East land during one of her travels. There she met an elderly sage, who presented her a smooth, green, rectangular stone—a green mineral called jade. The sage explained that it's translucent quality and hardness embodied the spirit of nobleness, strength, innocence, and all that is sublime. Touched by the gift, the girl's mother had it put on a chain and used it as her vessel for magic."

            "Medraut raised the girl within the seclusion of the castle walls. She was to talk to no one but him. He imported all the beauties of the world for her—silks from India and artful depictions from French monasteries. He gave her a lavish life isolated from all human contact, where he educated her in all the arts of war and magic. The girl showed talent particularly with dark sorcery and alchemy."

            "As Medraut watched her grow, he dreamed of her becoming his heir and continuing his long and frightful reign. But the girl turned out to be much like her mother—adventurous and thirsty for the outside world. When she was nearly sixteen, she managed to escape the castle through an underground exit she had found. She wandered into the small village that was within her father's rule and there met a stable boy, whom she began to visit on a daily basis. The boy was passionate and brave, often sharing thoughts about overthrowing her father."

            "At first she was appalled by such ideas and nearly warned Medraut about them—but she was compelled by the boy as they became fast friends. He showed her the horrors Medraut had inflicted upon both the wizarding and non-magic world and even recalled the day the Lord murdered the girl's mother. The girl grew a hate towards the man she regarded as her father thenceforth. She soon began her own brand of espionage within the castle and told the stable boy Medraut's plans for taking King Arthur's lands, and the boy began his own plans for a village uprising. She soon became involved in a plot to kill Lord Medraut and volunteered to poison him by tainting his drink."

            "One morning, Medraut was coming back from another village terrorizing, even more satisfied than usual for he had gotten word that King Arthur was dead. As he came near the castle, he saw the girl he had raised as his own racing towards the stable boy's village. Angry at her disobedience, he followed her on foot. There he stumbled on her and the stable boy and their plans for his murder."

            "In a fury that would rival all the fire in hell, he revealed himself and murdered the stable boy as the girl begged for him to stop. He didn't hear her—all he wanted to do was kill the boy. After he had mutilated the stable boy's body, he displayed it out in the village square where the people cowered at the sight. The girl, crying as if her life had ended without her, was dragged back to the castle, where she was locked in her underground chambers."

            "It was weeks before Medraut felt remorsefully enough to let her out. A new silk parcel in hand, he descended into the dungeons to release his daughter. When he had at last unlocked the door and stepped into her chambers, he found she had hung herself."

            "It was then his stone heart died. Whatever soul he had was extinguished. He had no heir now—and was alone and jaded. Emblazoned with rage, he stole to his studies and procured a spell for binding someone's essence to an object. He wanted his power to inflict the world for as long as the desire for power and domination existed—and he wanted to punish the girl for releasing herself from him. The spell would capture her soul, her essence, as he could not bind her to him in life, and strip her of all free will. She would be a mere half-life, a witness to the destruction he dreamed he would create. However, the spell for such a Dark Existence that could capture his power, would also take his life."

            "At this point, Medraut didn't care. He was through with life. And so he bound his power to the essence of his lover's child, and thinking it a cruel irony, bound his dark magic and the girl's spirit to the Jade Pendant—for jade was the symbol of innocence, strength, and all that is sublime—this piece of jade would be the heart of much devastation."

            "And with his dying breath, he sent word to his rivals that the pendant would belong to anyone who could get to it, and hid it within the girl's chamber under his castle."

            "Eventually, several Dark wizards got to it—some say it was the Manifested power that killed Merlin. In retaliation, Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Salazar Slytherin, and Rowena Ravenclaw joined forces with other powerful light wizards to take control of the Jade Guardian. They discovered when a dark wizard lost possession of the Guardian, it would reappear within its chambers for another power-monger to procure. They helped put down many of the empires created by these new dark lords who possessed the Jade Guardian, but not before many lives were lost, and many dwellings destroyed. Eventually in the chaos of the Dark Age's end—most lost track of the Guardian—forgetting Medraut's castle existed—forgetting about Medraut himself. The pendant returned to it's hiding place and its records became myth, but it waited there for the next possessor."

            Percy, Ron, Hermione, and Harry were shocked into silence and they stared at Price's nonchalant face.

"You brainwashed her, you bleedin' fruitcake," Ron blurted out, his hands balling into fist at his sides.

"Ron," Percy broke in authoritatively. "That is not a thing to be saying to a man holding a huge sword!"

Harry's mind was reeling too much to be noticing the two brothers—he had known it in his heart, but he had chosen to be ignorant of it—as impossible as it seemed, Jade was the Guardian from his dream. The same Jade Guardian Dumbledore wanted destroyed because of the destruction it was the root of. She had couldn't remember her past because she never had one—only a creation. But how could this Guardian become flesh and bone, just as they were? Nevertheless, it was the same manifested power that his mother refused to obliterate—but Jade—Harry knew her, been her friend—she couldn't be evil or dangerous. Before he could help himself, he heard her voice from the confines of his memory, "How can you be so sure?" she had said. "You don't know me, I don't even know me!"

             "She's not dangerous," Harry muttered though he had meant the comment to be to himself. There was no other argument left—"She's not."

            The words seem to break something in Price though, shelling away the calm demeanor. Before Harry could fully register what was happening, Price was taking quick, furious strides towards him, the sword swinging like an axe at his side. Harry instinctively pressed back, but not before the young man reached him first. Price grabbed a handful of Harry's robes with one hand, and in the other, raised the blade so that it was pressed against his throat. The metal tip broke the dried blood of the cut from Dumont's sword and the trickle of blood started down Harry's collar again. 

            "No, let him go!"

            "Get off of him, you Nutter!"

            "Stop it!"

            The chorus of protest from his friends and Percy were nearly blocked out by the pounding of his heart. Harry gazed up at Price whose cold eyes burned with an overwhelming heat now that he was so close to him.

            "She's not dangerous?" Price hissed the composure that had made up his character slipping away, revealing a fearful face. "She's"—he spat out the word while throwing his chin back to indicate Jade—"she's not dangerous?"

            "No," Harry said firmly. Price's eye's widened in fury and pressed Harry back against the wall.

            "SHE—" he spat, his voice rising dangerously as he slammed Harry violently into the rock wall behind him at every word. "KILLED MY PARENTS!" Price pushed him back once more with so much vehemence that the force knocked Harry's head back. Harry's glasses slid off his face and fell to the ground.

            Dizzy and out of breath, Harry heard a distinct crack of his glasses breaking as he tried to push away from the crazed ministry official, but to no avail. Price was breathing hard—staring at him with anger so deeply sown, Harry thought he could see the young man's rage sprout on his face.

            "I want so badly to hurt you, Harry Potter," Price said fighting to restore calm to his voice. "Even kill you—but that is not my privilege." He released him and Harry nearly slid to the floor had Ron not appeared at his side to steady him.

            "It wasn't the Guardian's fault really," Price said in a steady tone, brushing his hair neatly back with a shaky hand. "It's your parents', Mr. Potter—she has to be commanded. They yielded the Guardian—they took my mother and father along with countless years of my life. Your parents used the pendant to kill them."

            And Harry saw the connection. The two Death Eaters that were crushed beneath the rubble that had fallen from the cavern roof in his dreams—beneath the same pile that he, Ron, and Hermione had climbed up on in attempts to get out of the same cavern—they were the Prices. His parents had killed Dumont and Price's parents…and their parents were the Death Eaters who betrayed both their master and their fellow wizards. 

            "Your parents were Death Eaters," Harry choked, pushing away from Ron and straightening. He blinked rapidly, trying in vain to focus his vision—he struggled to make out his glasses only to find that they had been crushed on the floor in the scuffle. Slowly, he reached down to pick up their broken remains and pocketed them.

            "Yes," Price responded composed again. "They were—and as a tribute to them, I have taken up their cause. I will serve their Lord with all my being. It is the only way I can make up for all my lost years and my parents' lost lives."

            "I trusted you," Percy blurted out, his face splotching red.

            "Not a good judge of character, are you?" Price replied simply, turning back to Jade.

            He fell silent and stepped away from Harry. Harry quickly turned to face Hermione, Ron, and Percy and tried to work out a plan for escape wordlessly with them. 

            "The Dark Lord is currently visiting the Minister of Magic," Price said making their heads snap towards his voice. "But don't worry, he will soon come here—to the Guardian's chamber to possess the pendant and the Spirit of Vengeance. And along with it, he shall have his foe. If I were you, Mr. Potter, I would be very much afraid."

            "Good thing you're not then," Harry breathed.

            Before Price had a chance to respond, the sound of pounding footsteps silenced him. Darcy Dumont burst into the chamber, wielding two swords: she held Godric Gryffindor's at her side, and in a leather sheath, a gold hilt adorned by a single jade piece was visible. She stepped in and only revealed her surprise at seeing Harry, Ron, and Hermione for a split second before she turned her attention to Price.

            "Hello brother," she said simply.

            Harry looked back at Hermione and Ron and saw his panic reflected in their faces. What little chance they had of outwitting Price and escaping was now further lessened by the appearance of Dumont…how could they escape two more than competent wizards wielding swords? 

            "Darcy," Price said and Harry was startled by the shock in his voice. "I left you in the woods."

            "And I came here," she replied slowly raising Godric Gryffindor's sword. "I had to get my sword back after all."

            "It isn't yours," Price insisted raising the silver blade in his hands that Harry now recalled to be the one Dumont had used in their Defense class months before. "I stole the thing back because Deceptor was left to me—it was in mother and father's will."

            "Yes, well," Dumont replied stepping deeper into the chamber, only letting her gray eyes drift fleetingly to Jade before settling her gaze back on her brother. "It wasn't much use to you in that padded room at St. Mungos, was it?"

            Ron and Percy's jaw dropped. Ron turned and looked at Harry who was gawking at the twins facing each other. Dumont wasn't the Price child that went insane—it was Logan. He had been committed, he had been the loon all this time, not the absentminded professor (A/N: I know! I just had to use it—"absentminded professor"—hahahaha…oh, sorry, continue…) Harry had become so sure was missing a few screws.

            "So when did you figure it out?" Price asked Dumont. "When did you figure out that you had made a mistake?"

            "When I came down to Hogsmeade during the attack of the death eaters to protect you from her," Dumont said pointing with her sword at Jade. "And you threw a curse at me. I figured that was a dead giveaway."

            "Sorry you had to find out like that, sis," Price said and his tone was bitter. Dumont was stepping forward again and what she said next left Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Percy in even more shock. 

            "It doesn't have to be this way—you can turn away from You-Know-Who."

            All of sudden the insane blaze rose in Price's eyes again, but he was able to take control of it unlike before.

            "You wouldn't understand, Darcy," he said shaking his head. He stared back at her and Harry was unnerved by the intensity in which they stared at each other.

            "You spent your years in the comforts of an adopted family who cared for you, sent you to school and abroad," Price said in a strained, even tone. "But what was I doing? Suffering alone a hundred miles away in St. Mungo's. I had nothing left when mother and father died—I had gone from a naïve and talented young boy to something broken and aware of my mortality. What was there to live for in a world where Voldemort's wrath left so many dead? It wasn't until Lucius Malfoy showed up one visitation day to tell me the truth—that my parents died for a reason, for their service to this great, dark lord. And all that time—the Ministry lied to us."

            "I wouldn't follow Mother and Father, even if I knew," Dumont said firmly and now her voice cracked with anger. "The ministry did what they did under Dumbledore's request to save us from further pain. Don't you think I suffered too? Knowing my only relation—my twin—had lost his mind, was alone and I couldn't help him? I threw myself into my studies because I could barely live with that—if I had to finish growing up with the knowledge that my parents were death eaters too—"

            She didn't finish, but the tension that her words produced filled the expanse of the chamber. Harry was beginning to understand this woman's nature now, as it finally began to surface. His memory flooded through his mind with the bits and pieces of everything he had gathered from the dreams and parts of conversations. The Prices must have been Ministry workers—Sirius had said Harry's parents were betrayed by the two who died that night— the fact that the Prices were Death Eaters was probably kept from Dumont and Price in hopes that it would save them from further suffering. After Dumont and Price's parents died in the cavern that night Lily and James went after the pendant, Price went insane and was pulled out of school. After Dumont left Hogwarts, a family adopted her because she had no relations other than her crazed brother and dead parents—her fleeting personality was a result of her wounds. Price on the other hand, must have spent several years at St. Mungo's, before eventually returning to the world of the sane.

            "It's because of Potter's parents and that thing our parents are dead," Price retorted, his voice slowly rising, pointing an accusing finger at Harry and acknowledging the pendant.

            "But Harry Potter had nothing to do with that," Dumont insisted. "His parents were fighting for the noble cause—whereas ours were not. They had to die if the wizarding community were to stay intact, and even if it hurts, I have come to accept that."

            "Our parents saw the future," Price said slowly. "And the future was with the Dark Lord."

            "But it doesn't have to be," Dumont said firmly. "Come on, Logan—I may have changed my name, but we are still blood. We can destroy the Jade Guardian forever."

            Harry's ability to act suddenly came rushing back to him.

            "No, you can't!" he cried out breaking between them and grabbing Jade's hand. Price turned quickly, the beginnings of a curse already on his lips.

            "Expelliramus!" Dumont cried out racing forward, sending the sword flying from Price's hands. Harry ducked it and pulled Jade away.

            "Come on!" he yelled. She didn't budge; instead she looked at him with a blank stare.

            "What are you doing?" she asked quietly in a flat, raspy tone.

            "Having tea," he answered dragging her towards the others, ducking another curse from the dueling siblings. "Trying to stay alive, silly." He forced her down behind a pile of silk pillows just as Price succeeded in retrieving his fallen sword and delivered a blasting curse their way.  Feathers burst everywhere as the curse glanced off course, and Harry pulled Jade up and was off again.   

            "Run!" he yelled as he neared Ron, Hermione, and Percy. Without replying, they turned and led the way through the door. They raced, hearts pounding, down the eerie hallway where the stone carvings stared after them. Percy leaned hard on Ron, but neither brother complained as they sped towards the end and found the stone wall they had fallen through solid and impenetrable once again.

            "No," Hermione gasped slamming her fist against the cool surface. "We need the sword to get back out!"

            Suddenly, the sound of pounding feet made their heads turn. Dumont was racing towards them, her gray eyes glinting behind the oblong frames. She had both the sword with the jade emblazoned hilt and Godric Gryffindor's in her hands. At first, Harry could have sworn that Dumont had finally gone beyond cracked and was going to spear them all in one go, but it all become clear as she raced towards them.

            "Get out of the way!" she cried out and they obliged, diving out of the way as she plunged forward, swung one of the swords and sliced clear through the rock. A bright light engulfed them and Harry and the others fell through to the other side where the wall closed up once more.

            Harry paused only long enough to blink the dust out of his eyes and recognize the rock creature's chamber. He had barely pulled himself and Jade to their feet when a loud roar shook the ground beneath them.

            "Look out!" Hermione cried as Ron pushed Harry and Jade from the hammering fist of the rock creature, still headless and obviously very angry.

            "Get out!" Dumont cried out, ducking beneath the stone bed in the middle of the room as the creature ambled blindly towards her.

            "We can't just leave her," Percy said looking unsurely back as they ran for the only entrance. "She can't take care of that thing on her own!"

            Just then, the Professor dove away towards the creature and sliced the jade-emblazoned sword through its legs. She scrambled up and made after them just as the rock legs broke and the creature toppled to the ground.

            "I'd say otherwise," Ron said pointedly, dragging Percy along.

            "Go! Hurry!" Dumont insisted flying towards them. Harry nodded and turned to move forward before realizing Jade did not follow. Rolling his eyes, he jumped back and grabbed her hand, yanking her forcefully along.

            They stumbled through the darkened passage until they reached the shore of the underground lake. The gondola was still grounded where Hermione and Harry had left it.

            "No," Ron groaned. "Not the lake again—"

            "We've got to get out of here," Dumont insisted.

            "But what about Price?" Harry asked.

            "Knocked him out good enough," she replied hastily examining the lake. "But You-Know-Who's set to apparate into the chamber soon—he'll know we've escaped within seconds—I think one of his servants warned him."

"Pettigrew," Harry muttered. She looked at him curiously, before making towards the gondola, urging them to hurry and get in.

            Ron sighed and helped Percy in, looking nervously out into the water.

            "I'm sure Gollum's had enough of us," Hermione said reassuringly, reading his face. "It's a bigger risk not to cross." He hardly looked comforted, but nodded anyway and climbed in. Hermione and Ron helped pull Jade into the boat as Harry and Dumont pushed it off the shore—the professor still seemed set against the girl and wouldn't touch her.

            Harry clamored in just as the water reached his waist and grabbed the oar. Bracing himself against the back of the gondola, he made to propel them as fast as possible to the other side. In the short time in the boat, Hermione was trying to reach Jade with no avail.

            "Jade," she said worriedly. "It's us—whatever Price told you—it's not true—don't you believe us?"

            Jade didn't answer. She only stared far off into the distance.

            "Let me try," Ron said quietly, clearing his throat, "Jade—you're driving us mental! Snap out of it before I go Whomping Willow on your—!"

            "Ron!" Hermione hissed furiously.

            "What? Just thought the more direct approach would help."

            "Could you be a little more sensitive?!" 

            "Quit wasting your time," Dumont said and silenced their bickering. "Price is right about one thing." Hermione cast the woman a disdainful look, just as Harry was sending the gondola forward with another stroke. They were thrown into each other as the bow collided with something in the water, stopping them completely. Harry dropped the oar as he threw his hands against the sides of the gondola to steady himself. He heard it splash as it hit the water. All unnerved, the passengers in the gondola turned to stare at him.

            "Please tell me you hit a rock," Ron pleaded. He turned to look at the oar in the water beside him.

            "I think so," Harry answered watching the blurry outline of his friend. Ron nodded and hesitantly reached out into the black water to retrieve the oar.

            "What's this?" he said pausing over the water cautiously, he picked up the oar and dropped it in the gondola before reaching into the water again. He pulled something black and spindly from the surface.

            "Oh, EW!" Ron gasped dropping the clawed arm onto the floor of the boat. Before Hermione could demand that he throw the detached arm from the water ghoul back, something shrieked an ear splitting note.

            "I'm thinking that thing's a bit miffed," Percy said uneasily turning his head to get a full view of the lake.

            Suddenly, a spindly, oil-black creature erupted from the water, grappling the side of the boat, upsetting the balance and nearly toppling them.

            "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Ron screamed pressing against Percy trying to push himself away from the edge. Harry cried out and stumbled backwards, trying to regain his balance in the rocking boat and bat the creature with the oar.

            Dumont pushed Hermione and Jade away as Ron and Percy yelled in panic. Ron scrambled about, falling off his seat and hitting the floorboards.

            "Get off!" Harry screamed pushing himself forward swinging the oar. It connected solidly with Gollum's head. The creature shrieked furiously, its open mouth spewing rank breath right into Ron's face.

            "ARGH!" Ron cried out. His outstretched hands reached out and he snatched up the detached arm from the floor of the gondola, swinging it hard like a bat so that the hand on one end of the arm struck the creature across the face. Gollum's fingers (on his one arm) unclenched from the side of the gondola and it disappeared into the water.

            "Ron, Harry!" Hermione said pushing past Dumont. "Are you two okay?"

            "Fine," Harry answered, shakily picking up the oar once more. Ron was breathing heavily against Percy who looked as if he was struggling to get his heart to start up again. Ron didn't answer, but when he looked down to find the spindly arm still in his hands, he yelped and threw it overboard.

            Harry propelled them to the other side as fast as his muscles could manage. He wanted to get them off the cursed water as fast as possible.

            When they grounded safely on the other side, Dumont hurried them out. It took Harry, Ron, and Percy to successfully get Jade out of the gondola because she refused to cooperate—she didn't fight back—in fact she didn't do anything, which made moving her difficult. Harry was growing steadily impatient with her—here they were, trying to save her life and she was refusing to at least make an effort.

            "Are we making for the woods?" Hermione panted as they entered the pitch-black tunnel that would lead them to the grotto and open cavern.

            "Yes," Dumont returned in a hushed tone. "We need to get out of the castle."

            They ran the rest of the way haphazardly through the gloom in silence. It was tedious going, as Harry had to stop several times to dislodge Jade from crevices she managed to lodge herself into and the like. So she was the Guardian, Harry thought as he pressed forward, dragging Jade along. As implausible as it was—Harry couldn't shake the feeling that it all made sense. He couldn't shake his growing qualms about her either…could she destroy them like Price insinuated? He forced the feeling down into the pit of his stomach—she had been his, Hermione's, and Ron's friend—she had been very much alive and good and he knew she deserved a chance.

            They skidded to a stop at the mouth of the grotto. Harry was about to say something but Dumont put a finger to her lips. As they strained their ears, they could make out voices. Harry was staring at Dumont and she nodded, pointing towards the open ceiling against the cavern wall before them. Even without his glasses, Harry could make out movement: Death Eaters.

            Without a word, Dumont mimed that she would levitate them down two at a time. When they were in the main cavern below—where her parents had died—they were to make for the exit.

            Percy and Ron went first. Dumont pointed the sword at them, and using it as a wand, muttered a spell and gently lowered them down to the cave floor. Hermione and Jade went next. Then it was Harry and Dumont's turn. She pointed the blade awkwardly between them and they too descended.

            When Harry's feet hit the ground, he cast a fleeting glance at the hole in the cave ceiling he, Ron, and Hermione had slipped down from. There was no denying they were right under a handful of Death Eater's noses.

            Quietly, they hurried to the entrance. Dumont clamored up the pile of rubble blocking the majority of the hole first and peered out—if she was disquieted by the fact that they stood where her parents were crushed, she didn't show it.

            She nodded and squeezed out on her stomach. They followed suit, Percy, then Jade (who had to be kind of pushed through), Hermione, Ron and lastly, Harry.

            The bright sunlight was shocking and even though everything was blurred, the light hit Harry's eyes and set them aflame. He had nearly forgotten what daylight was after their short time within the gloom of the castle's belly. They were now in a ravine. A dozen feet about them, creaking in the gentle breeze was the very decrepit bridge Harry, Ron, and Hermione had cautiously crossed after Pettigrew.

            "How do we get out?" Percy asked staring upwards.

            "Levitation charm, maybe?" Dumont said more to herself then anyone else. "But I don't like the idea of just appearing up over the edge without getting a look around."

            She led them towards the left over the rocky floor of the ravine. As luck would have it, they found the ravine sloped gently enough for them to climb up several yards from where they exited the cavern.

            "Jade come on," Harry said as they began to climb. She wouldn't budge. Instead she stood facing the ravine wall. In the end, to get them to hurry, Dumont levitated her after them. They reached the lip of the ravine and cautiously climbed out.

            As Percy was helping Hermione up, Dumont pointed to the woods a few feet off where Harry, Hermione, and Ron had been portkeyed.

            "We'll go as deep into the forest as possible," she said. "Then I'll work on setting up a portkey in there—The Dark Lord and his followers haven't been here long enough to know the land…"

            "I thought you were going to kill us," Harry blurted out as the woman stopped talking. "Up there, in the entrance hall." She silenced and looked at him and the stolid face that had so resembled Logan Price now relaxed into what could have been the face of a very unsure child.

            "I wasn't planning on it," she said apologetically. "I was roughened up a bit by Logan and I couldn't tell who you kids were at first—but this isn't exactly a time for apologies. We're still out in the—"

            She was cut off.

            "THERE! THAT'S THEM!"

            There was a large group of cloaked figures on the other side of the bridge, pointing at them.

            "Oh no," Percy and Hermione muttered in unison.

            "GO!" Harry screamed just as several curses flew their way. "Come ON, JADE!" he grabbed her hand and ran after them. Dumont sent as many curses as she could while running. Hermione had her wand drawn and was looking cautiously over her shoulder.

            "Abscindo!" she cried out, pointing her wand towards the bridge. It took her several tries, but at last the severing charm found it's mark and the decrepit bridge fell away.

            Dumont glanced at her looking impressed.

            However, they were not out of the clear yet. Another dozen Death Eaters were already on this side of the ravine and they closed in on them from either side. Harry and the others were only a few feet from the edge of the forest now, and they pressed on harder then before.

            "Split up!" Dumont cried out, sending a curse over her shoulder with Godric's sword. She and Percy ran to the right while Ron, Hermione, and Harry, dragging Jade, tore to the left. They plunged into the woods and the further they ran the dimmer the light grew as the foliage became thicker high above them. They could hear curses ricocheting off tree trunks all around them, and they dived forward as fast as possible, taking care of exposed roots and large rocks that could twist an ankle.

            They ran on until they could barely breath. Suddenly Jade stopped abruptly, bungee-cording Harry back so that he fell to the ground on his rear. Ron and Hermione stopped to help him up.

            "Jade!" Harry hissed before urging Hermione and Ron on. "Keep moving." And he grabbed for Jade's hand again as he, Hermione, and Ron broke forward—but she cleverly slipped it away as he ran and the three found themselves breaking through a cluster of trees—and falling straight into a shallow pond.

            "Will I never be dry again?" Ron groaned sitting up and pulling a lily pad off his face. Harry sat up sputtering and beside him, Hermione pushed her sodden tresses hastily from her eyes.

            "She tried to warn us about the pond," she said as Jade stepped towards them. At first, Harry thought that she was back to normal. He was disappointed to see the empty expression still upon her features. Sighing inwardly, Harry got up and he and Ron helped Hermione to her feet. Together, they climbed awkwardly out of the water, their shoes squishing on the low grass.

            "I hope Percy's all right," Ron said quietly, the worry seeping into his voice as he turned to examine their surroundings.   

            "I think he'll be all right—Dumont's with him," Harry said squinting in attempts to better his vision. Ron cast him a look as if to say, "and I'm suppose to be comforted by that?" but Harry looked away and continued to peer through the foliage.

            "Do you think we lost the Death Eaters?"

            "I hope so," Hermione said, tightly grasping her wand in her right hand. Ron drew his too and they stood in silence, straining their ears.

            Faintly, they could make out yells somewhere to the east, towards the castle, but they could see no one but themselves. Had their breaths not been caught painfully in their chests, or their minds not reeling with anticipation, the beauty of the woods they were in would have captured them. 

            Suddenly, bushy undergrowth near them rustled unsettlingly. Harry, Ron, and Hermione jumped in surprise and their heads snapped towards the now innocently still brush. The only sound was from a gaggle of birds lifting their wings to make for the skies.

            Harry could hear his pulse in his ears now over the stifling silence…and he had no wand to help his friends if the situation were to lead to that.

            Suddenly the brush moved again and two people burst from the leaves.

            "ARGH!" Harry, Hermione, and Ron screamed.

            "AHHH!" Percy squealed, falling backwards into Dumont. It took both groups a moment to catch their breath.

            "God, we thought you were Death Eaters!" Harry exclaimed.

            "Percy," Ron gasped. "Have you ever heard of 'tip-toeing'? Honestly, you walk like you've got elephants strapped to your feet!"

            Percy didn't answer. Instead he pushed himself clumsily up and walked towards his younger brother. He didn't say anything—just sort of shook his head apologetically. Suddenly, he awkwardly leaned forward and wrapped his arms around his brother. Ron struggled to free himself, but soon gave in and hugged Percy back—there was no denying he had feared for Percy's life.

            No one said anything for a while, just watched Ron and Percy silently reconcile. At last, Ron pulled away, pushing his hand through his hair, his cheeks burning as he caught Harry and Hermione's eyes.

            "Ron, I'm honestly sorry," Percy began but didn't finish, because Ron wouldn't let him.

            "Forget it," he said. "You couldn't have known." Percy smiled gratefully at him and he grinned back

            "What do we do now?"  Hermione asked looking nervously around. Dumont looked at her thoughtfully.

            "I'll set up a portkey," Dumont said. "To the French Ministry—they'll have better tools to send you all back to Hogwarts. But first—" And shocking them all, she raised up the gold, bejeweled blade in a dangerous striking mode.

            "What are you doing?!" Harry cried out surprised.

            "I'm going to destroy the Guardian," she said quietly—almost apologetically. "Before it falls into the wrong hands."

            "She's not an it," Harry exclaimed. "She's a person—she's our friend!"

            "She is it," Dumont retorted passionately and stepped forward. "I'm sorry, but I have to destroy her—if only you knew."

            "You can't!" Hermione cried out pulling on the professor's arm. "That's murder! She isn't a thing!"

            "I've taken every precaution to prove that that girl is the Guardian," Dumont said, her eyes never leaving Jade's. "I've watched her—first it was the pendant. Then it was her lack of memory—the Latin, her quickness in potions. I knew she would draw You-Know-Who to Hogwarts if I didn't get rid of her—at first I just wanted her out of the school, away from us…but when I met up with Logan in Hogsmeade—I knew I had made a mistake."

            "What did you do?" Ron asked angrily pointing his wand at her. She looked over at him, glancing at the wand as if it were something quite insignificant.

            "I had to convince Jade that she was the Guardian," Dumont explained. "I've been keeping tabs on her for my brother—even though I resented him—he refused to believe our parents weren't murdered. I knew he could have a say in the Ministry that would override Dumbledore's influence and the girl would be removed from Hogwarts—I had no idea he had taken to my parents' endeavors and wanted the Jade Guardian for the Dark Lord."

            "But I kept a close eye on you four," Dumont continued. "Especially her—," she paused enough to cast a hesitant glance Jade's way "—Snape had doubts about her innocence as well, but he would follow Dumbledore to hell. If she was the Guardian—then she could be convinced of it—she would change—if she weren't, then no one would come to harm. And if she was, the Ministry would force Dumbledore to hand her over—she'd be out of Hogwarts…and away from me. So I gave her my Study Guide and carefully marked the chapters on Manifested Powers—but then Professor Lupin figured out my intentions and cleverly removed those chapters. I managed to put them back right before that girl sent you to the hospital wing during the spring Promenade, Potter."

            "It was you," Harry breathed disbelievingly.

            "It was also me who encouraged her to search the Restricted Section for her past," Dumont replied. "And she did—her façade fell away as fast as she put two and two together."

            "But how could you know for sure?" Hermione demanded. "And Dumbledore? Why would he keep something so dangerous at Hogwarts if Jade was the Guardian?"

            "Because Jade did not seem to possess the power of the Spirit of Vengence—she was very much as vulnerable as any other youth her age…she even bled. Dumbledore felt that he could preserve her that way. He felt that was the best way to keep the Guardian out of You-Know-Who's hands."

            "But I knew he couldn't keep it up forever—how could you fight a past and a destiny already set? If I could convince her and change her, why couldn't the Dark Lord? There were people out there who were already suspicious of Jade—I couldn't live knowing I could have prevented catastrophe if Dumbledore's plans didn't work."

            "But she's human," Percy broke in. "I know the Ministry was suspicious of the girl, but you can't deny that she's a person!"

            "I don't know how she became flesh," Dumont returned never whipping away her icy gaze from Jade. "I'm not even sure how she ended up at Hogwarts—but I'm sure of one thing: she's not a person—not like you or I. I'm going to destroy her—and redeem myself for what my parents did. They wanted to destroy the wizarding world and I want to save it."

            She stepped sure-footedly towards Jade. Ron made a move to curse her but Dumont blocked it skillfully.

            "She is the Guardian—," she was chanting more to herself then anyone else. "I have to prevent disaster—." She moved forward like a pouncing cat.

            "No!" Harry cried out and threw himself in front of Jade. "You're just as crazy as your brother!" At that Dumont paused in mid swing, her eyes glazing over. Harry turned to face Jade, grabbing her shoulders.

            "Tell her you aren't the Guardian," he commanded shaking her. "Tell her." Jade just stared blankly at him—even without his glasses, he was certain of that. Then slowly, her mouth opened as if she made to speak.

            "I—" Jade started quietly.

            "Go on, tell her," Harry encouraged.

            "I am the Jade Guardian."

            Harry slapped his forehead in utter frustration.

            "Work with me here," he hissed. In the nine months that he had known her, she had not been the Guardian—why couldn't she fight it off now?

            "No, Jade," Hermione said stepping towards them. "You heard Professor Dumont—she tried to convince you." Behind her, Dumont was quivering as if she had a bad case of the flu. It looked as if she could barely hold up the sword.

            "If you kill her," Percy spoke up. "You'd be doing it all for the wrong reasons—you'd be just as blind as Mr. Price—or me."

            Dumont raised the blade again, her face contorting with the strain. Harry knew she was unsure—knew that she felt that she had handed Jade over to Voldemort.

            "You only want to kill because you think that will make up for what your parents did to the wizarding community," Harry insisted. "But can you kill her knowing that you could be wrong? That there may be a way to save her?"

            Dumont was shaking; her gray eyes were filled with tears of guilt and frustration. She raised the sword again.

            "I can," she hissed. "And I will—the Guardian won't come back with us!" And with that, she pushed Harry into Ron, Hermione and Percy. They fell on top of each other and quickly tried to leap to their feet in attempts to save Jade.

            "Don't!" Hermione was crying out, clenching her eyes shut as she tried to get up. Even in their tangled struggle, they could hear Darcy Dumont hiss in vehemence. Harry watched helplessly as Dumont brought up the sword and prepared to drive it into the girl he had come to accept as his friend—the girl who may not have been a human to begin with.

            The woman hesitated for only a second, but the fierce gleam in her eye spoke of her determination to carry out her intended plans of elimination.

            It was a second too long. Around them, the foliage seemed to burst and bleed black as a swarm of cloaked figures descended on them.

            "Stupefy!" a Death Eater cried out and Dumont was stunned, the sword falling between her and Jade. Harry's head whipped around to find that they were surrounded.

*          *          *

            They were herded back towards the castle at wand point crossing the ravine over a magically enforced bridge that replaced the one Hermione had severed. Percy and Dumont were beside them—a cloaked figure on Dumont's left held the two swords she had carried and another had taken away Ron, Hermione, and Percy's wands.

            Harry caught glimpses of Ron and Hermione's pale faces beside him as they were forced through the entrance hall once more, except, instead of going towards the dark hall, they were led up the grand staircase.

            Gradually, with every step, a burning started along Harry's scar until it was ablaze with pain. Tears further blurred his vision so that he tripped over Jade's feet and crashed to the ground. The Death Eater nearest him grabbed the back of his robes.

            "Get up," he commanded and Harry was nearly knocked back down by the voice. He knew that tone, he couldn't have recognized it more quickly had he been sitting in the dungeon classroom at Hogwarts—it was Snape.

            Harry quickly stumbled to his feet and refrained from turning around, but he was nearly sure that his Potions Master was standing just behind him.

            They were commanded to stop when they reached a massive pair of doors. Two of the cloaked servants of Voldemort ran forward and pushed them open and they were ushered forward into what appeared to be a throne room. It was easily the most beautiful room in the castle with its high ceilings and it's many detailed columns.

            "Harry Potter—what an unexpected surprise," came a high-pitched voice from a figure standing at the end of the chamber. Ron, Hermione, and Percy stopped in their tracks and Harry could feel them catch their breath.

            "And you brought company," the figure added turning to reveal his bone-white face and red snake-like eyes. Lord Voldemort stood before them, dressed in black velvet robes. He was taller now, thicker too, as if his slowly gaining power added weight to his body.

            Harry stiffened and stood up straight though his head was pounding now along the line of his scar. His fear was numbed by the pain and anger that was building inside his breast at the sight of the creature that had killed his parents, Cedric, and countless others—who now threatened his friends. Harry had to struggle to not become stupidly arrogant or emotional.

            "Voldemort," he said and even managed to turn his grimace into a brief, defiant smile. The Death Eaters behind him pushed him, Hermione, Ron, Percy, Dumont, and Jade to their knees as those who weren't covering them with their wands inched forwards on all fours to kiss the hem of the Dark Lord's robes.

            Harry forced his head up as the sweat trickled down his neck from the pain and found Logan Price, still armed with a silver sword, and a cloaked figure he was sure was Peter Pettigrew by the silver hand that protruded from one sleeve, standing beside Voldemort. At the Dark Lord's feet was a massive, acid-green serpent—Nagini. 

            They kneeled there in silence: Death Eaters behind and around them, Voldemort, Price, and a masked Pettigrew before them. Dumont glared hotly at her brother, and beside her, Hermione, Ron, and Harry's eyes never left the Dark Lord's. Jade was the only figure beside Voldemort who seemed non-pulsed by the situation. 

            "I'm sorry I came so late," Voldemort said mockingly, fingering the velvet hem of his robes. "But I had a bit of a hard time with the Minister—you heard about that, didn't you? I figured it was both a good ploy to keep the Aurors busy and a way to maybe see if I could pull some strings in the Ministry." He paused and looked mildly annoyed at the memory.

            "But at last, that imprudent Fudge threw himself out of the third-story window before I could put him under the Imperius curse—no matter, however, as I now have the Guardian."

            "Minister Fudge—"Percy stuttered in shock. "Fudge is dead?"

            "As a doornail," Voldemort replied.     

            "Harry," Hermione whimpered quietly. Voldemort raised the muscles above his bare brows inquisitively at the sound of her voice and stepped towards them, Price, Pettigrew, the serpent trailing behind him.

            "These," he said cunningly clasping his hands behind his back, "must be your trusty sidekicks"—he paused to look at Percy in a sort of indifferent mockery—"you must be Logan's assistant." Percy turned away as Voldemort sneered at them. He reached out with his bone-white, spindly fingers and Harry's scar burned with a fresh wave of pain. The fingers danced before his eyes before gently taking hold of Hermione's chin. Instantly, Harry felt a rage that easily equaled the searing along his scar in intensity. 

            "Don't," he shot sharply as Hermione wrenched her head away. Beside her Ron was also fired up, and the words left his mouth before he could stop them.

            "Keep your hands off her!" he demanded his eyes wide with fear, but his voice was threatening and Nagini hissed at him, her fangs dripping poison.

            "Hold your tongue," Voldemort said easily commanding the snake away, pointing his wand straight at Ron. Binds whipped out of thin air and wrapped around his mouth.  

            "Your friend could do with a little lesson in respect, Harry," Voldemort hissed amusedly, twirling his wand lazily. 

            Harry bit his tongue and looked over at Ron who was struggling to pull the binds from his mouth. Hermione turned to look at him and there were tears brimming in her eyes. Slowly, she looked past Harry and glanced at Jade—and Harry realized their predicament.

            Jade was the Jade Guardian—the question of how or why she was didn't hide the fact that she was the Spirit of Vengeance. In the hands of a dark wizard as powerful as Voldemort, the wizarding community stood hardly a chance. 

            "Get up," Voldemort ordered, commanding their attention. They were roughly pulled to their feet. "My young servant here tells me you've found out about my Jade Guardian. And that you escaped him during your chance meeting in the dungeons with the help of a sword-wielding sibling." The Dark Lord turned so that his robes swished around his thin figure and he stared hard at Dumont.

            "An invitation was extended to you, Darcy," Voldemort whispered. "Just like Logan—look what's become of your disloyalty to your parents."

            "If I followed you," she returned and looked past Voldemort to her brother accusingly, "I would have been disloyal to myself." It was the second time Harry had ever seen Logan Price flinch—the first was when he shook hands with Jade.

            Voldemort smiled a lipless sneer and turned to look at Jade. He stepped over and picked up the pendant that dangled from the fine chain around her neck. 

            "What's she to you?" Harry demanded. "You can't turn her into the Guardian." Voldemort's sneer widened and he raised a finger, dropping the pendant. He stood before Jade and clapped his thin palms together a hair away from her face and the sound was like thunder within the chamber. Jade didn't even blink.

            "You might not know it," Voldemort said in quiet triumph. "But that's proof that I'm getting pretty damn close." He stared at her almost nostalgically. "And I even have the spell that will allow me to take possession of it—Dumbledore must of done something to lock her powers in flesh where it can't be touched—but now that she has remembered…now that she's slowly fading away—I'd like to thank you for that, Darcy."

            Voldemort regarded Dumont with a cold grin and shame seem to wash over her. Her cheeks began to redden and the curls around her head shook with the tremor that had rippled through her body. 

            Suddenly, she let out a war cry that was so fervent it startled the surrounding death eaters and they fell back. Dumont pushed Percy aside and dove for the Death Eater holding the two swords. Their bodies hit the ground, the Dark Lord's servant's cry muffled by his mask. The swords clattered away and Dumont rolled over and snatched one up. With a single thrust, one Death Eater was dead. She plunged forward, trying to hack through the cloaked figures holding Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Jade.

            But even her speed and accuracy couldn't save her.

            Nagini sped towards her and sunk it's fangs into her thigh. Dumont stumbled but held her balance, tearing herself away. She teetered as Voldemort drew his wand and strode towards her without a single regard for the weapon she held in her hands. Dumont faltered from the poison and her eyes began to glaze but still she brought the blade up. Her sword came down, but Voldemort easily blasted it aside. Harry winced as it clattered against the far wall. Voldemort swept up close to the young woman and grabbed her throat. She struggled against the bone-white hand and Harry and the others could do nothing but watch as the Death Eaters held them back.

            "No," Price spoke up, a pleading note in his voice as he stepped forward. "Wait." Voldemort ignored him and continued to squeeze the woman's throat.

            "That wasn't a very clever move," he hissed, the snake-like eyes narrowing as he brought his face close to hers. "But before I kill you—know that it is because of you—the world is mine." And with that, he pressed his wand to her throat. Dumont's gray eyes were wide and she cast one forlorn look at Price before her gaze fell on Jade.

"I'm sorry—," she murmured. "Cognito…remember—"

"Avada Kadavra," Voldemort said, cutting her off.  Bright green light cascaded over them and Harry's head threatened to split open. It faded at once and Darcy Dumont was dead.

            "No!" Price cried out and tried to race forward as his sister's body crumpled to the ground, but Pettigrew held him back with his silver hand. Harry was staring at Dumont's still form in shock, feeling the bile prickle and burn his throat. Hermione was gasping, her hands shaking even as she pressed them to her mouth and Ron—who's own mouth was bound—was making an indiscernible sound of horror. Beside him, Percy had crashed to his knees and retched.

            "Why?" Price was demanding—for once the scorn for his sister was gone and he seemed wounded by her murder. "Why did you have to kill her?" Voldemort turned and glared at him as if he were thoroughly annoyed.

            "Because I didn't like her," he replied simply.

            "I—I didn't want her to die!" Price cried out and tore his arm from Pettigrew's grip. "You said you wouldn't hurt Darcy—!"

            "Yes, but that was before she tried to attack me with a sword," Voldemort returned.

            "You—"

            "Oh, stop your sniveling, you weak pathetic, boy!" Voldemort spat having reached the end of his patience. He turned on the young man, the red snake-like eyes flashing. "Your loyalty was never what I was after—I wanted your drive. I knew if I made you think your parents gave their lives to find that pendant you would too—and you would succeed."

            "What?" Price said startled. He stumbled towards his master, his face pale. His gray eyes flickered to the body of his sister. "What do you mean you made me think my parents gave their lives to find the pendant?" he asked shakily.

            "I mean, you fool," Voldemort spat and his voice rose to a frightening pitch. "That you're parents along with Karkaroff and a handful of others betrayed me! You have spent your life following a false cause and you're just as fallible as they were!"

            Price's eyes widened and his body shook as he stumbled to the ground.

            "You, Logan Price," Voldemort said lowering his tone. "Are more a slave to your own insignificance than a servant to me." 

            "No," Price whispered staring at his dead sister—and finally looking up at Jade who was silent and unaware of the destiny he had ultimately brought her too.

            "Yes," Voldemort said. "No one knew—but I did. I would have killed your parents myself if they didn't die the night they went after the Jade Guardian—those who went after it were too weak to make any use of such a power."

            "She was right," Price muttered, clutching at his heart. He looked up at Voldemort and hate filled his face. "You're going to pay." Nagini hissed at him but he didn't back away.

            "Will I?" the Dark Lord said, sneering that lipless grin. "I have gotten the Guardian—and you, you have gotten the truth." Price was gripping his sister's silver sword, and slowly he got up. Voldemort turned away from him and snapped at Pettigrew.

            "Wormtail," he commanded. "Disarm him—"

            "Expelliramus," Pettigrew cried out and before Price could attack, the sword flew from his hands.

            "No," Price repeated before diving towards Pettigrew—his hands wrapped around the hilt and the blade so that blood began to trickle down the mirrored surface. Voldemort calmly took aim with his wand from mere feet away.

            "Reducto!" he commanded and the curse hit Price head on, sending him and the sword soaring across the room and into the far wall. Price hit hard and slid down into a still heap. Pettigrew backed away and groveled.

            "Thank you, master," he said and Harry felt the angry heat within him rise again.

            "Now, on to matters regarding you," Voldemort said pushing past the half bent figure of Wormtail. He reached forward and placed a hand on Jade's shoulder, pulling her away from the others.

            Harry knew he had to do something—if not, Jade would be dead, and Voldemort would get the power of Medraut.

            "The Jade Guardian—at long last," Voldemort breathed staring at the girl. "She's a bit more solid than I imagined—but there she is, isn't she?"

            "Don't touch her," Harry hissed and he tried to step forward, but a strong hand held him back.

            "I first stumbled across the myth of this Manifested Power during my fifty years of evolution," Voldemort explained in an air of eerie nostalgia. "It was a hobby of mine, you could say, to gather information on vessels of power. I wasn't sure it actually existed until a whistle-blower amongst my servants told me that several of my own death eaters had found it—and were planning to use it to over throw me…it doesn't matter now, as they're all dead. I also received news that the Ministry was interested in it, which further proved to me that it did exist—but how it eluded me for so long."

            "You can't get it," Harry said fiercely. "You can't get to that power—somehow Jade being a human being has locked it away from you."

            Voldemort looked at him and a cunning smile evolved on his flat face.

            "Maybe you just need the right key," he sneered mockingly. Voldemort stepped over the dead Death Eater indifferently and picked up the golden sword with the jade-emblazoned hilt. He straightened and swung it lightly in his hands, stepping towards Jade again.

            "Watch, Harry," he hissed and plunged the blade into Jade's stomach.

            "NO!" Hermione cried out, covering her eyes with her hands, Ron was choking in shock and Percy tried to scramble away from his captors. Harry's insides quivered and the voice of his mother rang through his ears—she died because she didn't want this being destroyed.

            The golden blade had penetrated the width of Jade's body and protruded out her back—yet she didn't even double over. In fact, she seemed completely unfazed.

            Voldemort, looking triumphant, slid the sword out and Harry's breath caught in his throat as he realized that Jade was completely unharmed.

            "What have we done?" Percy whispered hoarsely staring anxiously at the girl who continued to stare blankly off into space.

            "I wouldn't call that very human," Voldemort said examining the craftsmanship of the sword he held. "She is no longer flesh—the power of the Jade Guardian is no longer locked away."

            "Jade—," Harry muttered, hardly able to speak.

            Voldemort stepped over Dumont's dead body and turned to look at his captives. His fingers caressed the hilt of the sword as he stared at Harry—and the hatred was clear.

            "It seems, Harry Potter," Voldemort said calculatingly. "That your luck—for that is all that saved you from me before—has run out. You haven't your wand, and there are no tools for Priori Incantatum to buy you time…but then, it isn't really death you fear—is it, Harry?"

            Harry defiantly pressed his lips in a thin line and didn't answer. He wasn't going to go without a fight, that's for sure. Voldemort smiled amusedly and snapped his fingers. Pettigrew scuffle towards him and awaited his command.

            "Bring Mr. Potter closer to me, Wormtail."

            "Yes, master," Pettigrew replied and hurried forward. He grabbed Harry tightly above the elbow. Harry struggled, but the more he twisted the more tightly the little man held so that the silver hand threatened to break his arm.

"I saved you," Harry hissed in disgust as he was shoved forcefully forward. Pettigrew didn't respond. Harry would have fought back, but the closer he got to the dark lord the more wrathfully his scar burned. He blinked furiously to clear the black spots from his eyes and stared up with as much courage as he could muster at Voldemort.

            "I think," the serpentine wizard hissed. "You deserve more than death."  And he pointed the gold sword straight at Harry, who stopped struggling enough to straightened bravely.

            "No, stop!" Ron cried out, having torn the binds from his mouth. He and Hermione kicked at their captors in attempts to help their friend and broke free. But Voldemort had redirected the sword from Harry onto them.

            "Crucio!"

            "NO!" Harry cried out as Hermione and Ron hit the floor. Their bodies jerked and their screams filled the chamber so that he thought they would go on forever. Harry's stomach jerked as he struggled forward, yelling for Voldemort to stop. But Pettigrew's grip was strong, and all Harry could do was watch—he felt then that he would rather suffer the Cruciatus curse endlessly then see his friends in so much pain.

            Percy broke forward and tried to wrestle a wand away from a Death Eater behind him. He yelled fiercely and managed to obtain one but he was knocked with "stupefy" before he could deliver a curse to help his brother.

            "Stop! BLOODY STOP IT!" Harry was screaming, and tears formed hotly in his eyes—he would die a million times if Voldemort would just stop.

            Voldemort looked over at him, his face revealing his enjoyment and at last, he lifted the curse. Ron and Hermione lay were they fell, twitching and gasping for breath. Their faces were pale and slick with sweat, and Harry felt his knees go weak. He looked up at Voldemort with a loathing so deep it scared him.

            "You liked that, didn't you Harry?" Voldemort said. "You would rather die than see your friends suffer—how noble, like your parents. And your friends—they would fight to save you—loyal sidekicks indeed."

            "Leave them alone," Harry retorted quietly. "It's me you want—just leave them alone."

            The pale figure blinked his red eyes at him.

            "You've got that partially right," he said as Nagini swirled around her master's legs. "I don't want you as much as I just want to see you suffer. I also want"—he stepped forward and pulled Jade towards him, draping an arm around her shoulder—"what she's got."

            There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd of Death Eaters and they pressed in with anticipation. Voldemort looked up at them, his eyes narrowing and they were instantly silenced.

            "Take Potter's friends away—that unconscious red-head too," Voldemort commanded holding Jade to his side. "Feel free to torture them as much as your little cold, empty hearts desire—but make sure they're alive—I want Harry to see their deaths. All of you—leave!"

            Harry watched helplessly as the death eaters fell back pulling Ron, Hermione, and Percy to their feet and dragging them away. They trickled out like a stream of black oil as Harry struggled against Pettigrew, both disgusted and fearful.

            Voldemort turned to look at him and Pettigrew who held him fast.

            "You too, Wormtail," he commanded sharply. Pettigrew looked up at his master and hesitantly let go. Harry fell away and landed on his knees.

            "But—But master—I am loyal—," Pettigrew stuttered pointing at his chest with his silver hand.

            "It's not a question of your loyalty, fool!" Voldemort retorted. "It is your wizard's debt to this boy that can ruin everything! Now go before I punish you!" Gasping, the little man groveled and walked from the chamber backwards, shutting the doors as he left.

            Harry scrambled to his feet and glanced around the room. Near Dumont's crumpled body was a gold, bejeweled sword—he could reach it, if he just dived for it. He looked up at Voldemort who was examining the jade pendant around Jade's neck again. Now or never, Harry thought and skidded towards the blade. His hands wrapped around the hilt and he lifted it up, feeling slightly comforted by the familiar weight of Godric Gryffindor's sword.

            "Keep it, Harry," Voldemort said without even glancing at him. "I'm sure it'll make you feel much safer."

            "Aren't you going to kill me?" Harry demanded trying to remember the handful of lessons Lupin and Dumont had taught him about dueling with swords. He wasn't going to let Ron, Hermione, and Percy die…he wasn't going to let him take the Guardian…as long as he breathed.

            "Oh yes," Voldemort replied straightening, dropping his hand to caress Nagini's fierce, diamond shaped head. "But first, I want you to bear witness to the second greatest infliction on the wizarding world—the first was my rebirth for which you supplied your blood. I think that your presence is only appropriate. The boy who was my downfall because of a series of lucky events—will be brought down along with all those who are important to him in another series of events much more unfortunate." Harry's jaw clenched and his fist tightened around the hilt of the bejeweled sword as Voldemort continued.

            "I want you, Harry, to see what your parents gave their lives for—your mother could have prevented it all had she just destroyed the Guardian…you will see the outcome of her hesitance." Voldemort swept his black robes around his long body, and stared at Jade.

            "Watch one friend fade away and become my key to omnipotence. And after that, you will watch your loyal companions die—what were their names?"

            "Ron and Hermione," Harry spat. "And they're not going to die." Voldemort laughed maliciously and Harry felt his blood heat and burn his face. He plunged forward, no longer caring whether or not he could take the Dark Lord. He swung his sword back, but before he could strike, Voldemort turned, and cast the cruciatus curse on him. Harry hit the ground hard and his body burned and chilled in a way far worse then he could remember—his head throbbed and his skin felt like it was on fire. At last, it ended and he rolled away, stumbling shakily to his feet again, clasping the sword to his chest.

            "Do you want to suffer more?" Voldemort asked nonchalantly. Harry bit his lip and staggered forward, holding the sword out before him with both hands.

            "Imperious!" Voldemort said pointing his sword at him. That familiar feeling of calm and bliss washed over Harry and for a split moment he could feel his mind detach from his hurt body. The qualms began to drift away—but there was something different this time—he could see Voldemort and Jade faintly before him—but he found he no longer had a care about the outcome of the situation—there was neither pain, or even a wizarding world here within the expanses of his peace.

            "Watch Harry," Voldemort commanded and Harry did, no thought entering his mind. Voldemort turned to face Jade—looking as if he was reveling in his moment of triumph.

            "Excio ad me vox," he said and at those words, something stirred in Harry.

            That sounds familiar, he thought, and the image of the dark lord and Jade grew sharper. Where had he heard those words before? He noticed now that Jade was beginning to change—she was growing translucent—like milk after it's settled.

            "Adsuevi exicio ad auditio," she replied and her low, raspy tone grew more and more hollow.

            Those were the words mum spoke, Harry realized as the image of the two figures before him grew even sharper. That was the spell to take possession of the Guardian—his mother had used it! And now, Voldemort nearly had possession of it himself!

            "NO!" Harry screamed, wrenching himself from the numbing solitude. He launched his frame at Voldemort and they fell away from Jade.

            "It's too late Potter!" Voldemort cried out, pushing him aside. "Reducto!"  The blasting curse hit Harry hard and he slid across the stone floor, smacking his head against the wall. He blinked both stars and blood from his eyes, trying in vain to push himself up, nearly falling on top of Logan Price's still body, which lay near him. Harry sat there, sprawled with his back against the wall, trying to catch his breath.

            "If you want to duel the ancient way," Voldemort said striding up to him. "I'll be happy to appease you—you'll live long enough for a little torment even without one of your appendages." And with that, he brought down the simple gold blade over Harry's legs.

            "ARGH!" Harry cried out, shutting his eyes and swinging Godric's sword up with all his might. He was surprised to hear a sharp clang of metal meeting metal, and his green eyes snapped open to find he had blocked Voldemort's swing—and somehow, Godric Gryffindor's sword was still intact, though a sword that could cut through stone had hit it.

            Voldemort fell back, his face suddenly growing livid with anger. Harry scrambled to his feet and took the defense position he had remembered Dumont demonstrating for them in class.

            "I can play this game," Voldemort hissed. "I've been trained for this too."  And he swung around, bringing the blade with him. Harry ducked away and tried to deliver blow after blow, but Voldemort skillfully blocked each attack with ease. They danced around the chamber, Harry's green eyes never leaving the serpentine, red ones.

            "You could be great Harry," Voldemort finally said, though he didn't try to hide his distaste, "I would extend an invitation to you just as I've extended one to my betrayers' children."

            "I'd rather die," Harry replied.

            "I was hoping you'd say that," Voldemort sneered and delivered another swing.

            "Ahh!" Harry cried out, nearly dropping his sword—a cut was opened on his right arm and he could feel the blood seep down his sleeve. Harry looked up at Voldemort, clasping his hand over the cut, feeling as if there was no way out—he was fighting a wizard that was beyond his capabilities—beyond many of the most powerful within the wizarding world. And Harry was alone—defending himself and his friends with blurry vision, a sword, and a whole lot of wishful thinking.

            I can't give up, Harry thought. This is for Ron, Hermione—for Jade and the rest of the wizarding community. And with that, he hissed between his teeth and grasped Godric's sword in both hands once more. Watch the center of the chest right between the shoulder blades, Lupin's voice said in Harry's ear. The arms can fake, whereas the chest can't…

            "Had enough?" Voldemort asked, his lipless sneer not competently hiding his hatred for Harry.

            "D'you have to ask?" Harry breathed stepping forward, squinting his eyes to better bring the center of Voldmort's body into focus. It was barely noticeable—even harder because the subtle glare of light on the velvet robes was blurry and hard to distinguish—but it was there. Voldemort was going to strike left.

            Harry brought up his blade and felt the force from the two hitting swords vibrate satisfyingly through his body. He stabbed forward, and sliced through Voldemort's thick, velvet robes to the skin. The Dark Lord whirled around looking frightfully angered, hissing as he peered at the impossibly dark blood trickling from the small wound on his side. Harry was so taken back by the fierce eyes and the cut that he faltered and stumbled backwards. Voldemort and Nagini hissed, and the loyal serpent swept up towards him and bared her fangs. 

            "Get away!" Harry yelled, the familiar parseltongue erupting from his throat as he caught sight of the eyes with their vertical pupils. But the snake did not move away—instead it slid stealthily towards him easily within striking distance. 

            "No, Nagini," Voldemort commanded, but the snake was already shooting forward with open mouth.

            Harry fell backwards and swung the sword wildly in front of him as he crashed to the ground. The blade plunged into the serpents neck and sliced it's acid-green head clear off. Blood bubbled up from the twitching hose of a body and Harry staggered away from the pooling liquid.

            "NO!" Voldemort cried out, running to his loyal, dead serpent. He turned and faced Harry with a fury that rivaled that of any hell god. The skull-like face became startlingly calm once more, and he stepped towards Harry, his lips pressed frighteningly tight so that it seemed that he had no mouth at all.

            "You," Voldemort whispered toxically. "Will pay." And with that, he struck Harry across the face with the hilt of his sword. Harry heard his teeth clatter together as he fell to the ground. His sword, the only weapon he was allotted, skidded away from him.

            "Crucio!" Voldemort hollered and the waves of pain washed over the boy who lived, drowning out the furious pain along the line of his scar by a million times. When it stopped, Harry was shaking all over—trying desperately to stay conscious.

            "Watch me, Potter!" Voldemort cried out pointing at Jade. "Awake to my voice!" and Jade's outline grew fainter.

            "I am awake and listening," she said—and the voice was unmistakably the one from Harry's dream.

            Harry lay there, unable to move remembering the visions of his parents—the ones that must have taken place after his parents' last mission. Why didn't his mother destroy the Guardian? Why didn't she prevent all this from happening?

            From somewhere far way, Voldemort was throwing back his hairless head and laughing.

            But if Lily Potter had destroyed the Guardian—Harry would have never met Jade. That strange connection to her—as if she were a sister—it would have never happened. Harry thought hard, riffling through the inexplicable dreams. There was one in particular that became more and more vivid—one with his mother and father sitting with Dumbledore in his office—Lily had refused to destroy the Jade Guardian.

             But why?

            Because she had felt connected with the Guardian—because the Guardian had made a conscious choice to go with her even though Lily hardly fit the profile of a power-monger. Harry's mother felt something when she had possession of the Jade Guardian—she felt it's consciousness starting to awaken—that's why she couldn't destroy it—because it had a cognito—it was Jade.

            "Jade," Harry muttered, trying to pull himself up. "Jade! Don't listen to him!" Voldemort was still laughing.

"You think she can stop this?" he said sneering. But the sneer fell away as he noticed the girl's head was turned in Harry's direction.

"You can stop this!" Harry said. "You're more than just a vessel of power—more than just a necklace."

"Quiet!" Voldemort demanded turning to face Jade. "You were created, girl! You are no more alive then the pendant you guard—you don't exist as a human! You will awake to my voice!"

            "NO!" Harry yelled back. "YOU ARE! You're our FRIEND! Remember?"

            "You were created to be commanded," Voldemort insisted, "Adsuevi exicio ad auditio!"

            "JADE CORDONNIER!" Harry hollered fiercly, pushing himself up. "Remember what Lupin said—about Descartes! Do you remember that lesson? You can stop this! You're a person—with free will and a mind—a Cognito! Just remember that!"

            "You can't stop it, Potter," Voldemort hissed grasping the gold sword. "Try—you won't stop it. She's already changing!"

            Jade was staring at Harry now and a funny expression was forming on her face—like she just drank sour milk.

            "You think," Harry said. "Therefore you are—now decide whether you want to be the Guardian or not."

            Voldemort swept towards Harry, raising the sword, preparing to bring it down on him.

            "You won't stop this!" he spat, his red eyes widening maliciously.

            "Adsuevi exicio…" Jade began.

            "Too late, Potter," Voldemort said, bringing his face so close, Harry could make out the faint, blue veins beneath the bone-white skin "She's completing the spell."

            "…exicio ad aud"—Jade paused and Voldemort whipped around—"just kidding." Smiling wickedly, she reached up and took hold of the jade pendant. The lines of her body began to solidify as she pointed towards Voldemort and yelled, "Expellerimus!" The sword flew from his hands and fell with a clatter beside Logan Price's still form. 

            "You're back!" Harry said, a smile breaking across his face. "Took you long enough."

            "No—" Voldemot hissed in both shock and heated fury. "But how—?"

            "Harry's right," Jade said narrowing her eyes at the Dark Lord. "I was human in the past—and I can be again—my consciousness and free will were locked away from me by Medraut—but a kind woman gave them back." She reached up for the jade piece around her neck and pulled so that the chain snapped and fell around her hand.

            Voldemort's slitted nostrils flared and his chest rose and fell to the beat of Harry's heart. Suddenly, he grabbed Harry by the throat and drew his wand, pressing it against the flesh over his Adam's apple. Harry gasped, struggling to claw at the bone-white fingers wrapped around his throat—fighting against the burst of pain that traveled across his forehead.

            Jade's face grew pale as she watched and Harry saw that she had grown afraid.

            "No, don't," Jade said, her voice quivering. "I can't give you anything—don't."

            "You can all die then," Voldemort hissed for he knew nothing of mercy. He turned and hissed in Harry's ear, "You're friends will be joining you shortly—Avada—!"  

            This is the end, Harry thought, and he turned his face away…just in time to see movement in the corner of his eye. Before Voldemort could finish the death curse, a shriek erupted from his mouth. Harry plunged his elbow into the dark lord's side and fell away. Logan Price, breathing heavily, had stabbed his silver sword into Voldemort's side.

            "Payback!" Price hissed.

            Jade's face darkened at this new opportunity, and she raised the pendant high above her head.

"Watch this!" she cried out fiercely—and threw the pendant onto the ground. It shattered like glass and a gold light engulf them—much like the light that had surrounded Harry's mother in his dreams. Harry threw his arm over his head and felt a powerful rippling force blow over him, sending him to the ground. The pieces of the jade square flew in all directions, stinging his face and hands.

In the roar of light, Harry heard Voldemort scream furiously, and then the pain in his scar faded. At last the gold ebbed away—just as it did when his mother took possession of the Guardian in his dreams. Harry lay against the ground for a moment; letting his heart slow it's racehorse speed. Slowly, he opened his eyes.

"Where's Voldemort?" he said, blinking to clear his blurry vision. Light spots danced across his eyes as he pushed himself to his feet.

"Apparated, I reckon," Price rasped, breathing hard against the far wall. Harry turned away from him and hastily surveyed the damage.

"Jade?" he called before tripping over a sizable chunk of the ceiling. "Jeez—I think

Flitwick will give you extra credit for this—" Harry stopped in mid-sentence when he caught sight of a crumpled figure dressed in school robes.

"No," he muttered shaking his head, running towards Jade's still form. Blood had drenched her front and was pooling under her—marking the entrance and exit wound from the sword Voldemort had plunged into her.

"Oh no," Harry said quietly, kneeling down beside her.

"Harry!"

The doors to the chamber where flung open. Hermione, Ron, and Percy dashed into the chamber, followed by Snape, who's death eater mask was crumpled in one hand. The potions master was limping, nursing one arm as he trailed behind his two pupils.

"Harry!" Ron was saying. "Harry—the Auror's have arrived—"

"No," Hermione whispered stopping a few feet away. Ron silenced and came up behind her, stepping towards Harry.

"What happened?" he asked quietly. Harry looked up worriedly at them, before turning his face back to Jade.

"Jade, can you hear me?" Harry asked, shaking the girl's shoulder gently. Above them, Snape stood, surveying the two figures, one eye swelled so that it was barely a slit. The mask he was holding in his uninjured hand quivered slightly as he took a slow breath. Without saying anything, he knelt beside them and checked the girl for a pulse.

Jade's eyes fluttered open and she looked up at the crowd gathered above her.

"Don't move," Snape said shortly. Jade gasped, swallowing several times as if trying to catch words in her mouth.

"This—," she managed to rasp, trying to sit up.

"What is it?" Harry asked as Hermione pushed her gently back down. She stared up at them, and her gaze began to glaze over so that it seemed she could hardly look at them at all. 

            "—most definitely hurts like hell," she whispered before her body slackened and her eyes rolled into the back of her head.

A/N: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I finally finished and posted the damn thing! Honestly this chapter was the BIGGEST monster to write! I hope you enjoyed it  as much as I enjoyed imagining and creating it. Right, thank you for taking a little time to read the thing—please let me know how it fared and review! I would most definitely appreciate your comments whether they be long or short or incredibly malicious. Also, many apologies for taking FOREVER to post—you wouldn't believe the poop I've had to tackle. Please check out the reviewer thanx below and hopefully, the LAST (hallelujah!) chapter will be finished and posted within the next two weeks. Sirius loads of love!

~jess

Lukias: Ekk! Forgive! Forgive! Sorry to keep you waiting, doll face, but I've been swamped with loads of ridiculous school-related issues to take care of…damn my need for higher education!  And how'd you know about my writer's constipation? It took my two weeks just to start this friggin' chapter…I think I've restarted it three times at least. Anywho, thanks for being so infuriated by having to wait you would review TWICE (hmmmm…maybe I should wait a month before I post the next chapter…*grins maliciously*). By the way, I have a very big fetish for scarves…NO BODY understands!!! I've got a butt load and I live in freakin' Southern California! Okay enough—thanks for both reviews, your humor is always amusing (my lack of sleep may have something to do with that, but I'll just give you the benefit of a doubt : p) Well, hope you got a pleasant fix of Jade (I'm sure she likes clubbing…I created her, damnit and I say she does!) right o, thanx again!take care! p.s…where in the hell is your fic? That's right, you look ashamed, then get your self to your computer and start typing!

Person-who-did-not-leave-a-name: thanks for the review, I hope you stick around for the last chapter and enjoy!

Spoiled Girl: Glad to hear you liked 25! Hope you felt the same way about 26…and 27! Thanks again!

Blood moon: gah! You got lost? I'm sorry, tramping through my aimless literal meanderings is pretty dangerous—If you'd like me to clear anything up, just email…if not, I hope you enjoy this past chapter…thanks for stopping by!

Arif: hee hee *shrugs sheepishly*…so, you liked that I didn't have Ron or Ginny on the quidditch team, eh? Sorry, to burst your bubble, but I SWEAR ron was only doing one game…he wants to be a beater! I hope you could over look that little fact anyway, and enjoy the rest of the fic. Thank you though for the review, it was very funny ;)

Sea: Thank you so much for the review! It's okay you didn't review before, I'm just glad you found my fic amusing. Anywho, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and stick around for the last one. Thanks again!

magical mischief maker: hey! I haven't seen you around in ages! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a review. I really appreciate your comments. Yeah, I'm really glad Jade didn't turn out to be a Mary-sue—I really hate perfectionism! Anywho, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter, see you around!

Mari: hee hee, thanks for the review. I love snape, don't you? Thanks again!

Blondie: Aw shucks…thank you so much for the compliment. Trust me, I only wish I had a fraction of JK's talent! Anywho, thank you to the infinite power for the review, it made me feel all warm and squishy inside. Take care! thanks again!

Nataly Ravenlock: hey! Haven't seen you in a while! I'm so glad you liked the last chapter—I'm a totally LOTR nerd too…all those swords and hot elves with bows n' arrows…very fun. I hope you liked the latest—it has fighting…sort of…thanks again for all your pointers. How is your fic doing? I've been really bad and haven't reviewed lately *grins sheepishly*, but I'll be back! Anywho, take care, and thanks again!

Smfandonja: I'm glad you like! Thanks for the review, I'm working on finishing very quickly.

Camille: I love you. You are so the best. Thanks for all the in depth reviews—they really helped guide me out of my writer's block this chapter…all your comments kinda of mapped out the events so I could clearly pick through the rubble that is this fic…and you're so amusing! Yay for aimless ramble! As for calculus, I am done! But I would love to hear the "down with calculus" cheer no less…since I've got three more lovely quarters of it to go. Hope you trip when well, heard you were forced to wash dishes *gasp* oh the humanity! Anywho, thanks for the pointers (*chants to self* commas are my friends…), I love your insight! I.M when you have time!

Eleanor: ack! Sorry for making you wait so long! Anywho, thank you so much for the review, I'm so happy that you want to read the next chapter. As for the riddles, most are from my  "middle-english" study way back in highschool…I have hardly the brain caliber to answer them much less write one :) Anywho, thanks again doll!

Josh Whitt: I spelt your name right :) I hope you didn't hurt yourself to badly on my cliffs…I know, I'm just a sucker for putting them in! well on the bright side…er…this *should* be the last cliffy…I hope it wasn't much of one. Well in anycase, thanks a bunch for the review, hope your summer's going great (even though it's ENDING!!!), see you around!

Pete B.: Pete! You're back! I was starting to miss all you're awesome comments and insight! Well, I was really excited to get Voldemort back in the picture—he is the Big Bad Bad Guy after all :) I hope his appearance was satisfactory. Anywho, about your very perceptive comment about Voldemort all of a sudden stumbling on something like the Jade Guardian that is all powerful—I meant it to be a sort of myth for Volde. I could imagine the snake king to be a little curious about myths of Dark wizards before his time and things of power—I hope this chapter touched up on it a little, though admittedly I didn't spend too much time on it. Also, you could blame my own lack of insight on my amateurish abilities—and the fact that I kinda did this whole fic on a whim…I honestly wish I can start all over and have everything to map out. It's pretty bad—I had no idea where this was going until very, VERY recently. Anywho, doll, I hope everything is going fantastic for you…the school year is just on the horizon! Do tell me how your new job is working out! Take care, thanks again, and I hoped you enjoyed the latest installment!

Veronica Lupin: Sorry to dismantle all possible credos for the "I hate Dumont" club. But yeah, I hope you liked this chapter—and Gollum? Couldn't resist adding a little more insult to injury by letting him get the crud beat out of him by his own detached appendage. There was a point I wanted to kill everyone in this fic…damn that writer's block. Speaking writers…what is JK doing? I know I know, you should never pester an artist, but honestly…it's been nearly THREE friggin' years since her last Be-spectacled wizard adventure! Oh well, anywho, thanks for the review as always I was very entertained…I better hear you're feverishly finishing up the latest chapter in "Padded cell". You don't want the anxious readers to get violent. :), see you around!

~welp, that concludes this section…you all have fun…enjoy whatever's left of summer! *runs off to work on ch.27*

Agent 99 (jess)