Crash And Burn
Author's Note: After the long pause I've finally turned out another chapter! For those of you who may not have read it, go under Chapter 16 again. I updated it so now it has the ball scene. *cracks knuckles* Without further adieu, the aftermath!
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Ginny paced nervously back and forth in front of the fireplace, her worry evident in her walk and her face. The professors had gone to bed, telling the four of them that they would hold a meeting tomorrow after breakfast to determine what should be done. It didn't help to ease Ginny's worry though. Something had to be done tonight. Voldemort could kill Harry and there would be no way of ending the grip on the world he had. She suddenly stopped, slamming her fist down on a table and causing a crack.
"Harry's stuck in that bastard's home and all we're doing is sitting here like bumps on a god damn log! We should be out there heading to his home right now rescuing him! This is a completely useless waste of my time!" She growled, again thrashing the table.
Ron approached her nervously. He knew what the Weasley woman's temper was like. He'd seen it flare in his mom. "Ginny, you breaking tables and wearing yourself and this floor out is doing absolutely nothing to help find him. Dumbledore will have a plan and reinforcement tomorrow and we can take them on them."
Ginny rounded on him, fixing him with a glare. "I don't give a shit what anybody says. This is Voldemort in case the rest of you have forgotten! He'll kill Harry tonight and raid the school tomorrow knowing full well that there's no way to stop him so don't give me this wait til tomorrow bullshit!"
"She's right you know," piped up Draco. "Voldemort's plan was to kill whoever was first through the gate and torture the second, although if Cho has as much of his admiration as she claims to have, he may wait until we launch the attack or try to save him, capture you, and then kill him. I'm betting it's the latter, seeing as how Cho thought up the plan and was running it. That was the plan in the beginning anyway. Ginny's right. We need a plan and we need to execute it tonight."
Ron backed away, glaring at Draco before sitting down next to Hermione. "I still think we should at least ask for Dumbledore's help. We're no match for the Dark Lord."
Ginny smirked. "Ron, have you forgotten about my little portal of happiness trick? Believe me, with the forces on our side like we have, we'll be fine. We still need a plan though."
"Right then. Accio parchment! Accio quill! So Draco, where would Voldemort most likely keep Harry," asked Hermione, being the ever vigilant planner.
Draco picked up the quill and drew a rough map of the Riddle Home on the parchment. "Here is where most prisoners are kept. Now, Voldemort will be expecting us to come so there'll be Death Eaters and Dementors patrolling the halls, waiting for us to come." Draco continued explaining the schematics of the home, telling where traps and secret passageways were.
Ginny, meanwhile, had taken up residence in a chair and was curled up. She leaned her head against the side of the chair and felt herself slipping into the foggy world once more.
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Harry looked at his surroundings, groggily taking them in. He was in a sort of holding cell, visible as well as invisible bars surrounding him. The floor beneath him smelled like sewage and moss and mold covered the walls. He could hear water slowly dripping somewhere, coming to a puddle on the floor. He could also hear footsteps approaching. He reached his hand up to his face and found he had been shackled about his wrists and ankles. He felt a bruise on his cheek and dried blood where he had been cut. ~What the hell happened to me~ Just then the footsteps stopped. He looked up to see Cho, her cruel smile spreading across her face.
"Well well well. Looks like everyone's hero has met his match. What does it feel like to know you're going to die soon Potter," asked Cho, sneering at him.
"I'm not going to die anytime soon, so I think it feels pretty good," he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Cho's eyes flashed with anger and her fists balled at her sides. Her face took on an immediate red flush. "There's no escaping this cell Potter. You can't get out and you can't escape. You'll die here and that precious prophecy will be smashed to bits. Then the true leader of the wizarding world will emerge and I shall be at his side. Even your precious Ginny can't save you now," she added, spitting in his face as she said her name. "Welcome to the last hours of your life."
Harry snarled up at her. "Mark my words Chang. You've seen your last days on this land."
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Ginny awoke once again in the room with Merlin and Lady Epona. She quickly rushed up to them, the fear and anger evident in her eyes.
"Please, please! You have to help! We need to save him!" She was shaking, the effort of trying to keep back the well of tears in her eyes becoming a lot to bear.
"First, Virginia, you will need to calm yourself. You need to have a clear head going into this. Harry will be safe. But yes, you will need to go in and rescue him. The party must consist of three people: you, the one who has just joined your ranks, and the other boy. You will need to take Stardust as well. I fear Harry will not be in the greatest state when you find him, but haste you must make when rescuing him. Do this tonight or all may be lost." She waved her hand in front of her and a map appeared.
Ginny took the map from the air and looked closer at it. It appeared to be a much more detailed drawing of the Riddle Home. She saw a balloon in the basement with Harry's name on it. "Is this where he is being kept," she asked, pointing to the spot.
"Yes. Go now. You have no time to waste. Take the map and remember, you will always have my help. If things become rough, I will help you will the spell once more. I fear it will not be as strong this time, but will serve. And take some of the Animagi potion with you. You may find that it will be most helpful," she added, becoming cloudier by the second.
"Thank you again Lady Epona," Ginny called out.
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Ron was shaking Ginny, trying to get her to wake up. "Oh a fine damned time to take a nap it is now! Wake up already child!"
Ginny suddenly shook awake. She looked around a bit before taking things in. Her eyes settled on Ron. "Ron, move. I need to get to my room." She pushed him out of the way and ran up the stairs. Everyone was staring after her. A few minutes later she returned, now wearing a comfortable set of clothes and still with her headband. "Draco, Colin, you're coming with me. Ron, Hermione, you stay here and in one hour's time alert Dumbledore and McGonagall we are gone. Have them go to the infirmary. We shall arrive back there. Draco, you'll be riding Stardust. Colin, you'll be riding Harry's broom. Accio Firebolt," she called out. The Firebolt came whooshing towards her and she caught it midair.
"Wait just a damned second," Ron began but stopped when he saw Ginny's stare.
"Ron, you need to stay back here. If anything happens I assure you we'll send word. Nothing will, but in case something does you need to be here. Hermione, keep him from following us. Draco, Colin, come with me," she added. The other two boys followed her, both dumbstruck as to her new found toughness.
Ron watched them leave, watched the portrait hole close, before sitting back on the couch. "This is ridiculous. I feel completely useless right now and my best friend is out there and I just let my baby sister run off to fight some crazed lunatic with someone who tried to kill her once and someone who's probably working undercover for the bastard with Harry," he ranted, his face going the same color as his ears.
"Ron, you know she would've taken you along if she needed you. More than three people would be too many, Draco knows the place and the people, and Colin would know where Cho had taken them. Now please, let's sit for a moment and in an hour we go to Dumbledore."
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Ginny crept out to the back pasture. She had gotten into the Animagi room and taken a few bottles full of potion with her. "Stardust," she called out, albeit a whisper. "Stardust boy I need your help." She heard the beating of hoofs and soon he was standing in front of her, nickering and blowing into her hand. She turned to Draco. "You'll be riding him. Colin will be on the broom."
"And how, pray tell, will you be getting there," Draco asked.
"With this," she said, holding the bottle of potion in her hand. "Stardust, I need you to behave for him. This is important okay boy," she said, patting his nose. Stardust nodded his head and went to Draco, kneeling down in front of him. Draco hopped on and Colin mounted his broom. "Here goes," she said, swallowing the potion. The transformation went quickly this time, and a lot less painful. Soon the trio were on their way.
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Harry could feel something coming. He didn't know how, but he felt that something was coming. He stared around the room, his body aching, his mouth dry from thirst. He'd had nary a drink in well over 5 hours and it was beginning to toll on him. His powers may be great, but dehydration can bring down even the toughest of people. He found, soon, that he was right.
Voldemort stalked down the hall, practically floating down the hall, Cho at his side. They both stopped in front of Harry's cell. "It appears as though Mr. Potter has met his end in our lovely Miss Chang. You will serve well as my heir my dear. Not like that Malfoy child. But no worry. In time he too shall suffer the consequences."
Harry groggily lifted his head to look into the face of his captor. "Even if I die, you can kill as many as you want and we will still never be loyal to you."
"Brave words for someone in your position, but I expected no less. Cho, dear, when his precious red headed friend comes to save him, you may do with her as you wish. Once the two are captured all will be well," said Voldemort, turning to leave.
Cho watched him go, admiration in her eyes. She turned then back to Harry. "You better watch him Harry. His is the last face you'll see. And none of this would've ever happened had you not left me for that Weasley bitch. But no matter. Soon she will die and so will you," said Cho, turning to leave.
"Why Cho? Even if you were pissed off at me for something, why go to Voldemort? You know what the prophecy says. You know it will go through. There's no way I'll end up dying here and even if I do someone will come along eventually and kill him and the rest of the Death Eaters. You're setting yourself up for a gruesome death. You saw what happened in that field. So why? Why do this to yourself," asked Harry, the confusion as to what turned her over to him still bothering him.
"Because you left me. We were a couple. The whole bloody school thought so! You left me and didn't even say goodbye or 'Sorry I found someone else.' NOTHING! You know how I find out? When you two walk into the hall for breakfast, in front of the whole school, hand in bloody hand all lovey dovey! You could've said something to me," she exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes. She quickly wiped them away and resumed her scowl. "No matter though. Soon both you and your Weasley will be dead and the world will belong to Voldemort. Then I can have whatever I want."
"Yes, you can. But you'll never have me and that's what gets you. After I die there'll be no chance of you ever having me. Is that what you really want Cho," Harry asked, trying to play on her emotions.
"If I can't have you nobody will. Goodbye Harry. Enjoy your last minutes on this earth," she said, turning her back to him and stalking away.
Harry sighed and let his chin fall to his chest. ~She'll never learn. She doesn't know how precious little time she has left here.~
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Draco flew at the head of the crowd, directing them as to where to fly. The Riddle Home came into view soon and all three touched down in a wooded area some distance from the site. The three stared up at the home, majestic in its own way yet gothic in the fact that it was nearly fallen down. Draco knew that the townspeople wouldn't dare go near the house for fear that the ghosts of the Riddle family would come after them. "Well guys, this is it. We need to sneak up very carefully on them. If they know we're coming, not even your spells and ancient magic may be able to save us," said Draco.
"I know. That's why I brought a few supplies so to speak," said Ginny, revealing the Invisibility Cloak and Map of the Riddle home she had. The two stared in disbelief while she continued on. "I'll explain all later. Stardust, you watch out for anyone. If you sense anything, fly up high. There are no dragons in the area so you'll be safe. Keep the Firebolt handy as well. You two, under the cloak. Let's go."
The trio silently crept along, Ginny keeping her eye on the map, looking out for any Death Eaters or Dementors roaming the area. She saw a large clump of Dementors on the map coming up on them from the side. Hurrying forward, the three hid behind a bush, waiting for them to pass. Unfortunately, they scented them and turned towards the bush, their breaths rattling hideously in and out as they breathed. Ginny could feel them draining her happiness. She turned to her side and saw the same effect happening to Draco and Colin. ~Oh no! And I can't conjure a Patronus!~ Suddenly a flash of white burst from the tip of Draco's wand and a ghostly silvery figure emerged, chasing them away before stopping to look back at them and disappearing.
Draco smiled. "Always knew that'd come in handy one of these days."
"Great. So you get to take care of the Dementors from now on. I don't think either of us can conjure a Patronus just yet," said Ginny, waving them forward and continuing on her way. They came to a door and pulled, finding it was locked.
"Don't try the Alohomora on it. It won't work and even if it did, the door's are tripped. You can't use magic on them," said Draco.
"And that would be why I'm here then," said Colin, stepping towards the door. He pulled a small leather pouch out of his pocket and stood at the door. He took a few metal tools of some sort out and soon the door eased open. He turned around and smiled. "It helps knowing a few muggle tricks."
"And we have our door man too. I knew Epona would be right about this," said Ginny.
"Epona," questioned Draco and Colin.
"I'll explain later. Come on. We need to hurry. I suspect we won't be in hiding for long," said Ginny
"No Weasley, you most certainly won't," came a voice from behind them.
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Ron and Hermione paced in front of the fireplace, trying to do anything to keep their minds off the danger their friends had just put themselves in. Ron knew it was vital that they don't go to Dumbledore or McGonagall before that hour. After the hour Dumbledore couldn't send any help and McGonagall couldn't find them to stop them. They'd be on their own. Still, the waiting was enough to drive them insane.
Ron suddenly let out a frustrated growl. "UGH! How much longer do we have to wait," he exclaimed, suddenly plopping himself unceremoniously down in a chair.
Hermione checked the clock on the wall. "Five more minutes. Just five. I agree though. This wait is terrible."
"Harry should've known Cho would pull something like this! He never should've agreed to dance with her! And why in the hell Cho is still in Hogwarts is beyond me. So help me gods if Dumbledore doesn't expel her now on the graves of my ancestors I'll use the Killing Curse on her myself," exclaimed Ron, punching the side of the chair.
Hermione resumed her pacing. "Well, let's think about this. Draco knows the house better than anyone here. He was, after all, Voldemort's alleged heir before tonight's events. Colin knows where Cho would be taking Harry as she would've told him the whole plan. The girl never could keep a secret for long, especially if telling it made her think she was important. And Ginny has the protection of the ancients with her. You saw what she did in that field. I'm sure she could do it again if given the chance or the need. They'll be fine Ron. Still, we will need to alert Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Poppy as soon as possible. I'm sure Harry won't be in the best of conditions if he's been with Voldemort longer than 2 seconds. Come on," she said, running towards the portrait hole. Ron followed in her wake, the two knowing full well that their part was just as important.
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Harry looked up suddenly. ~She's here! I can feel it! But why did she come! She must know she's being thrown into a trap!~ His head started whipping around, hurriedly scanning the room, waiting for her to appear from under the cloak. "Ginny," he whispered, calling out. "Ginny, are you here?" He got no answer but the clicking of heels on the stone steps. ~Cho~ He knew it was her by the way the heels hit the stone, slamming into it with each step. Sure enough, she was before him a few moments later.
"So Potter, your girlfriend thinks she can rescue you does she," said Cho, her face flushed with anger. "Let's see how she likes you after you've lost your mind." She pointed her wand at him, bellowing "Cruciatus!" Harry felt the pain rip through him. It felt like someone was putting liquid fire through his veins, his whole body burning from the inside out. He could hear Cho walking away, laughing cruelly. He tried to will the pain to stop yet couldn't. ~Ginny, please hurry~
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Ginny whipped around to see Cho standing before her. "Cho," she growled. "Out of my way."
"You're no match for me muggle lover. You'll die just like everyone else who stands in my way," she said, raising her wand.
Ginny waved her hand and Cho's wand flew to her. She waved it once more and ropes once again tied Cho up, the gag in her mouth preventing her from screaming. Ginny stalked up to her, trying to control her ever flaring temper. "You'll pay Cho. Everyone here in this house will die, and you shall be no exception." She turned from her and ran towards the dungeons, Draco and Colin in tow. "Come on! We don't have much time! He's got the Cruciatus Curse on him right now!"
The three hurried down the steps, hoping that they weren't too late. They found him writhing in pain on the floor.
"Finite incantatum Cruciatus," said Draco, taking the curse off. Harry just lay there, unmoving. Ginny waved her hand, trying to use Alohomora.
"It's not working! It's not working," she exclaimed in a panic. She suddenly heard a voice in her head. ~Use the headband~ Knowing what it meant, she put her heads to the side of her head, concentrating on the cage and the invisible bars around it. A jet of light shot out of it, shattering the iron and steel bars like they were mere paper. They ran up to him, Ginny holding his head, looking for signs of life. "Harry, Harry," she whispered, desperately looking for signs of movement. They all waited, fearing the Death Eaters and Dementors coming soon. They heard him moan and saw movement. A sigh of relief escaped all of them.
"Well, at least we know he's not permanently crackers," said Colin.
"Isn't that just reassuring," Ginny said, her sarcasm not to be overlooked. Draco and Colin hefted him up, trying to get him to stand on his own but to no avail. Ginny used the Mobilicorpus spell on him and had him following them as they raced up the stairs, hoping that they hadn't been discovered. Of course, breaking into Voldemort's house wouldn't be that much of a free ride. Waiting for them at the door were a line of Death Eaters, followed by lines of Dementors. Ginny turned to her two companions.
"Stick close to me yet fight if you have to," she said. She kept Harry close to her as well, the spell still on him as she began her chant. The Death Eaters began firing spells at them, Ginny missing them deftly as well as Draco and Colin. Draco conjured his Patronus over and over, driving back the onslaught of Dementors that were coming from every angle, taking a few hits himself. Colin was throwing spells at them left and right, keeping back Death Eaters as best he could. Soon they saw the jet of light shoot out of Ginny's wand and the Death Eaters began to run, knowing full well what that meant after the disaster in the fields of Hogsmeade. Draco drove off the rest of the Dementors with one last Patronus before ducking down with Colin next to Ginny. The portal opened again and anguished screams could be heard coming from all directions. Soon the spell was over with and they had a clear view of the door. When they opened the doors, it was a sight that met them.
Death Eaters lay strewn in front of them, bodies with faces frozen in masks of horror all around them. Wasting no time, the three of them used their magic to move the bodies aside and run out the gates. Ginny whistled for Stardust and watched him running towards her. She noticed he had scratches and cuts all over his body. "Oh gods Stardust, what happened," she said, concerned as to his welfare. He nickered to her before facing the direction of Hogwarts and standing, waiting for someone to get on his back.
Colin grabbed the Firebolt. "Who's taking Harry back? He doesn't have the strength to stay on Ginny's back while flying and the Firebolt can handle two just as easily. I think I should take him if only to spare Stardust any more stress. It looks as though he had to fight a few things off."
Ginny nodded. "That would be the best plan. Draco, get on Stardust. Colin, here. Take Harry and keep the Mobilicorpus spell on him just in case we have to fly faster and something happens to where he'll fall off the broom." The two nodded, taking their respective positions. Ginny drank her potion and in a few moments the three were off. Gazing down at the ground as they left, Draco noticed a few bodies in the woods that looked as though they'd been mangled pretty bad. Patting his neck, Draco whispered to Stardust. "Good boy Stardust," he praised, the two eager to get home.
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Ron and Hermione ran to Dumbledore's office. "Hospital wing. NOW," they shouted, hoping that Dumbledore would hear them. They saw the gargoyles moving aside and soon Dumbledore and McGonagall emerged.
"What is it," they asked.
"Ginny…Draco…Colin…Voldemort…gone…," the two breathed out. They turned and ran for the Hospital Wing, hoping that Dumbledore and McGonagall would follow. They soon reached it and a few moments later, so did the two professors. McGonagall was wearing her stern expression and Dumbledore looked a bit pale.
"Would you two please explain what exactly you two are talking about," she asked.
"You see, Ginny took Draco and Colin with her…," said Ron.
"…to go rescue Harry…," said Hermione.
"And we had to wait an hour to tell you," they finished together.
"Oh dear," said Dumbledore. "I fear it's worse than I thought. Ginny must have known we couldn't send reinforcements if you two waited an hour. They would already be there. We can only hope now that they return safely."
The four of them paced around the hospital wing, the hours slowly passing for them. They knew that there was a high chance one of them would die in the process of rescuing Harry, one if not all. Raiding Voldemort's house like they were doing had never been done without loss of life. Even with Draco and Colin's knowledge of the building and Ginny's power, there wasn't a guarantee that they would survive. Soon there was a clattering at the window and two horses flew in, one carrying Draco and looking beat up, the other transforming back into Ginny. Stardust immediately lay down, Draco climbing off his back quickly to help Colin get Harry over to a bed. Hermione and Ron rushed up to them.
"What happened," they asked.
"Yes, Miss Weasley, I believe you have some explaining to do," said McGonagall, a stern look in her eyes.
"I wasn't going to wait until tomorrow morning. He'd had the Cruciatus Curse on him for a good while when I got there and it's only by luck and the gods he isn't completely gone right now. The rest of the questions will wait until tomorrow," said Ginny, conjuring healing cloths and using them on Stardust. "Ron or Hermione, will you go get Hagrid for me? He'll be able to help with Stardust as well." She turned back to Stardust, allowing Poppy to help Harry, Draco and Colin. Tonight was going to be a long night.