Disclaimer- I don't own HP. Terry Pratchett, Patricia C. Wrede, Adamo Redamo, the Sigma Protocol, David Eddings, The Death Gate Cycle or AD&D.
A/N- some things are wrapping up, and others are unfolding. Uh oh… ^_^ I reiterate, if someone out there has the confidence that they are an excellent beta, would you mind contacting me? I would love you for forever…
COMPLICATIONS Chapter XIX
Harry stared down at the fire beneath him. It raged and consumed, flashing and flaring like so much chaos and light. Fire ruled this realm; already a variety of lesser imps and other such weak denizens of this hell-like place had attacked them. Harry closed his eyes before opening them again, green fires raging within each. His face had changed; a look of determination of had been stamped on it, with vengeance molded around the edges.
"It's not fair." Hermione mumbled again. The death of Dobby had hit her hard; her eyes were puffy and red from crying. Dobby's death had affected them all in some way, even if it was only to remind them that they were only mortal. Dumbledore too looked sad, his great wise eyes were glazed over with a level of sadness that hadn't been there before,
"They will be punished." Harry said and stood up. Within his eyes burned a fierce desire to exact revenge, power and anger in great amounts. Dumbledore looked up and nodded, he too felt a need for vengeance. He stood and smoothed out his robes, his old gnarled hands took out his wand and he began to whisper.
"What's next?" Ginny asked softly and Pansy snorted.
"We find the artifacts on this world and get ready for the final stage where we battle it out for bored all-powerful celestial beings." She said witheringly, her face translucent enough that you could see the rock outcroppings behind her. Ginny looked at the Slytherin ghost with something that seemed akin to pity in her eyes. Pansy couldn't have cared less.
Ron meanwhile had gotten out the Gauntlets of Hufflepuff, the second they went on his hands they shimmered and transformed. Now he wore wool mittens that ended at his first finger joint, they were a dull gray color and looked rather shabby. So far they had done nothing else and Ron was rather at a loss for what they should do.
Neville sat, his legs spread akimbo on the rough fire beaten floor, was fiddling with his Clypeus, his face was drawn and haggard. In the past few days he'd been expending tremendous amounts of energy, leaving him drained. Sorcerers although more powerful than wizards could quickly use up their strength if not careful, it took years before a Sorcerer's true power could emerge.
"Actually, what is next?" Lockheart asked, honest curiosity in his voice, his handsome face looking earnest in its desire to prove helpful. Dumbledore stood then, his long white beard no longer pristine but rather looking worn around the edges, much as they all were.
"We must journey, but- something is amiss. It would appear the spell we are under is unraveling." Dumbledore said, his deep rich voice that so often held the joy of a child with a secret was gone now. His voice was cracked with strain and age, it seemed as if all that held him together were his worn blue robes.
"No, first we must rest." Snape said firmly. "We may lose an advantage but we must rest, this is the Realm of Fire isn't it? Well that means we could facing anything from a Mite Imp to one of the Ta'aniri, we must rest Albus." Snape was the only one who seemed not the worst for wear, but then again the man was young and he was strong in both mind and body. Albus nodded and smiled at Snape, making the Potions Master's heart glow with a small flower of warmth.
"Of course Severus, rest we must, I shall-" Dumbledore began when Hermione placed one elegant dirty hand on his arm.
"No Headmaster, let me do it." She said, her voice still tinged with sorrow, but soon that sorrow would become determination. Her eyes were bright with emotion and intelligence, and Dumbledore drew her into a powerful embrace that she returned whole-heartedly.
"Of course my child." Dumbledore said and wearily lay down against a rock. Hermione sniffled and then took out the Book. Pansy snorted at the sentimentality of it all but didn't deign to comment.
Seamus was worried, very worried. Not for the demons mind you, or for the fact that the charm that was carrying them through the dimensions was unraveling, no, he was worried for his partners.
Harry was brooding still, and the amount of pure rage coming from him was making Seamus more than uneasy, it was scaring him. Because Seamus felt an immense amount of just pure hatred from his love, but Seamus didn't feel nearly all of it, he just felt what leaked through Harry's shielding. So if that was what was leaking… Seamus shuddered at the thought. He knew that right now Harry needed some time alone, but he couldn't help his worrying.
Draco on the other hand was- not emotional enough. For some reason the other love of his life was staring aimlessly off into space, or rather fire filled hell. His blonde hair was disheveled and dirty, which Seamus recognized in the back of his mind as making him look absolutely delicious- but now wasn't the time for that!
And then all hell broke loose.
Lucius screamed in agony as he felt his body being ripped apart and reassembled in another world. He landed on the ground heavily, clutching the dirt in his fists and coughing. Loud hard rasping coughs that seemed to scrape his lungs dry. He was now angry, he was Lucius Malfoy, one of the most powerful men on the planet, and he was forced into a game for-
Even more powerful beings. Lucius' ambition was only exceeded by his desire to survive. He recognized that Gazeroth was the only person- thing- being he knew who had the power to resist these others, but so far the daemon had been content to just let things flow.
"A little bit rough I guess." Speak of the devil, there he was now. Lucius cringed at the pun and uneasily stood up. Gazeroth took a deep breath and sighed. "Ah, it's good to be home again." He said and then began to change. His body quickly became that of the wizened old demon, one who held a simple wood staff he used as a cane and a loin cloth his only ornament.
"That was something I would rather not do again." Narcissa commented and Lucius gritted his teeth, his wife could be so damnable cool under fire it was- frustrating. He shook his elegant and beautiful hair out and snarled as he realized he was covered in sweat and dirt. He loathed dirtying his person, it made him so angry, not even Voldemort had required this of him…
"Oh stop brooding Lucius, you'll spoil my fun." Gazeroth said and Lucius was half tempted to smack the demon, but didn't knowing it would be futile. Gazeroth waved one wizened delicate hand and Lucius stiffened as magic washed over him and he felt- refreshed. He heard a sudden scream of agony and looked Gazeroth who winked.
"Rule number one, never use your own power if you can help it. And the imps are always whelping so there's never a shortage of 'em." The demon said and Lucius nodded in respect for the callous attitude. "Now I believe your son is about to be attacked by an Infernal so we'd best be going." Gazeroth commented and Lucius paled. Infernals were mindless beasts of destruction, they stood tall and were built like rock golems, but from every crack in their body they burned with an unearthly green flame. They were all but impossible to kill since they were immune to magic and magically created items.
Suddenly Lucius felt his world being wrenched apart and the trio were transported away. Karkaroff nodded to Wormtail and the two set off, they had a pact to keep with the Slayer.
"AAAH!" Seamus screamed, not caring he sounded like a girl but running for his life. The thing had appeared out of nowhere and had almost killed him before Draco had basically thrown him about a dozen yards away as his face transformed with the Veela rage. Now Draco was spinning in the air around the thing throwing fireballs at it but they didn't do anything.
Hermione had jumped to her feet and looked in the Book for something to do but she had frozen for some reason, god only knew why. Seamus suddenly felt his heart stop as out from beside him stumbled another demon and the Malfoys. Although on second thought the demon looked rather old and harmless-
"Slirath." The old demon snapped and Infernal whirled around and stopped attempting to catch Draco who was still furiously hurling energy at the thing. The Infernal gave a silent cry of rage and began to run towards the old demon who frowned.
"Blasted thing's been enchanted." He snarled and then his wings unfurled as he began to change. The Infernal stopped and slowed as the old demon suddenly began to change, it grew up and out and up and out- Seamus gaped up at the new demon, the wings had retracted into its body and it now had an almost centaur like body, except instead of hooves it had claws. Instead of a horse tail it was a wicked whip like thing with a stinger on the end and it had four arms, the top pair with five fingers and the bottom two with three large claws that gleamed like they were freshly doused in blood.
The Infernal charged and the demon crouched only to leap up and land on the Infernal. The centaur thing then proceeded to stamp the Infernal into oblivion, its tail had transformed into a giant club-like affair and its legs had become much more muscular while the feet turned into giant hooves. Seamus murmured a little as he watched in a mixture of awe and absolute terror.
"Oh bloody fucking hell why doesn't Gazeroth just finish it." Snapped the man Seamus knew to be Lucius Malfoy. Lucius turned his gaze to the Irish youth and looked at him appraisingly.
"Yes I can see why Draco would like you, in a few years after you got some experience I probably would as well." Lucius leered and Seamus felt disgusted, although in the back of his mind the part that was devoted to sex was thinking hot dog!
"Lucius, don't you love me anymore." Narcissa said horrified and Seamus blushed before growing angry at the man, who did he think he was-
"Narcissa, don't fuck with Draco's boy toy like that, he thinks we actually love each other." Lucius drawled and then Narcissa gave a cold laugh that sent chills down Seamus' spine. No wonder Draco had so many issues, Harry might have dealt with mental abuse and a closet, but Draco had terminally insane parents, at least one of whom beat him.
By now Gazeroth had stopped stamping the Infernal and was transforming back into his wizened old form, a small smirk making his features stand out as particularly evil. Draco floated down to the ground as the whole group drew together.
It began slightly after dawn in Rio de Janeiro, thousands of large flying lizards descended on the city. Each was about 15 to 20 feet long and they resembled the dragons on legends and stories. At first no one could believe what was happening, and then they began to die.
Soon a counter attack was mounted, but the dragons took more than bullets to kill. They were poisonous and vicious and all over the world they had awoken. The little people were coming to life as well, the faerie were returning to the world.
And the wizards were terrified.
In another world, another dimension, beings of great might and power drew together, their numbers were few but they were the great and wise, the all-powerful. And they were worried.
"The world of Earth has awoken." Said one.
"Let us look to the source." Another said, and they looked, and they found-
"We are discovered!" Cried the woman and the shadow swore.
"Quickly, together!" Shouted the quiet man and they swirled together and were gone from that world. And their charm came apart. And the magic ran wild.
Harry groaned as he levered himself up, his entire body felt like it was on fire and his scar burned like never before. He groaned and coughed as the back of his throat itched. He felt like shit.
"Fuck." Swore a deep cultured voice that seemed to come from just beyond his sight. Harry grimaced as he realized he was missing his glasses and fumbled around for his wand.
"Accio glasses." He mumbled and felt the glasses bounce off of his chest. He grabbed them and slipped them on, blinking the dust out of his eyes and frowning at how dirty the lenses were. He mumbled a quick cleaning charm and looked at his surroundings.
"Interesting." Commented another voice quite close to him, this one was also masculine but held a note of age that the other didn't. Harry turned around and was met by two faces that he really didn't want to see.
Lucius Malfoy and the old demon guy. He frowned at the abusive father of one of his soul mates. Lucius cleaned his robes with a swish of his wand and raised one elegant eyebrow at the boy before him.
"Well, I guess introductions are in order then?" Gazeroth suggested. "My name is Gazeroth, and you two know each other so that's that." The demon finished and looked around him. "Interesting." Harry looked around as well, he didn't see what was so interesting, he saw great green meadows in every direction, forests off in the distance and the sun beating down on him, it felt good.
"Jesus it's cold." Lucius muttered and Harry noticed that the man was shivering and holding his robes to his body, and they were getting wet?
"Interesting indeed, Lucius try to think happier thoughts, we are in the realm of magic, and that changes things." Gazeroth said, and in his eyes that had witnessed the greatest of agony and the most powerful beauty, there glittered a spark of wonder. "For here, although everything is as it seems, nothing is as it seems."
"Right, that makes about as much sense as my son does when he spies a new kind of broom, what the hell are you talking about Gazeroth!" Lucius snapped, his face now dripping and Harry could have sworn it looked like it was raining on the other man, but there were no clouds.
"I'm saying that what you imagine is what is happening to you." Gazeroth inserted smoothly and Harry looked puzzled.
"So this is all in my imagination, then what is really here, what's real?" Harry said and Gazeroth shook his head.
"Oh you mortals, what I'm saying is that there is no difference, what you make of reality here is." Harry and Lucius both waited for Gazeroth to finish his sentence, and when he didn't it was Lucius that grasped the concept first. As he stood his clothes began to dry off and he gasped, his eyes widening in a way that was not dignified at all. Harry finally got it as well, and tried to let his mind go, to see what was really there-
Suddenly the scenery and warmth melted away and he was left standing in a void, lights sparkled in different places and there was nothing beneath his feet-
"Aah!" Harry shrieked and started to fall only to remember that if he wished it he wouldn't fall- and he stopped. He floated back up to the other two, one who looked amused and the other looking disgusted.
"Honestly, I shall have to talk to Draco about taste-" Lucius began and Harry got angry, this man had cause pain, incredible pain to both him, and the people he loved. Without thinking he launched a blitzing attack at Lucius' unprotected mind, only to have it wash over a smooth shield. Still, some of the raw hate and anger seeped through and hit the man like a slap on the face. Lucius looked utter aghast at the sheer impetuosity of the attack.
"Temper, temper lad, we need to work together for now." Gazeroth murmured and Harry knew that the demon had blocked his mental assault. Lucius was pale and sweating, he had felt the raw power that Harry had just thrown about and knew that without Gazeroth he would be hard pressed to stop Harry from killing him, especially without preparation. He clenched his fist and felt the stone grind beneath his palm. He would need to disguise the arm when the time came, it was rather ugly and he didn't know quite what it could do.
Gazeroth grinned, he really could care less about what the mortals with him thought; his wildest dreams had come true. He had access to the world of Magic without having to break a single rule, merely letting others break the rules for him, the laws of accountability were important to Daemons too. His eyes suddenly became filled with lust, ultimate power was near; he could almost taste it. And soon… oh so soon… his dream would come to pass.
When Seamus came to, there were certain things he didn't expect to see as soon as his eyes opened. They included a brooding Narcissa Malfoy and a blushing Gilderoy Lockheart. Seamus cracked his eyes wide open and looked up at the beautiful ceiling, covered in dancing angels and devils. He shivered, somehow the picture looked unholy and sacred, it seemed to reek of blood and love, intertwined and unnaturally juxtaposed.
"So you're awake, the Muggle lovers will be pleased." Narcissa commented and Seamus stiffened, her voice was so cold and emotionless. He instantly decided that he really didn't like Draco's parents, it went a little deeper than that actually he partially loathed them.
"We're back on Earth too, although why I have no idea." Narcissa commented and Seamus's eyes widened in surprise. He got up and realized he was wearing only his boxers.
"Where are my robes?" Seamus asked, he really didn't care about his own nudity, it had never bothered him before to be nearly naked around other people, he was proud of his body after all.
"I had the house elves turn them into rags, you can wear some of Draco's clothes." Narcissa responded and Seamus stiffened and then relaxed, they were just robes, nothing special… But he still was starting to really loathe Narcissa Malfoy. He was then led out of the room and shown to a small shy creature, Lockheart trailing along silently.
"Lissy will show you where Draco's closet is, come Gilderoy." Narcissa ordered and walked off in another direction, her gate dignified and smooth. Seamus idly noticed that as she walked she looked like she was stalking something, and he knew that that wasn't that far-fetched of an idea. Honestly the woman looks like she shoved pure cold up her ass, despite the fact that I guess an hetero guy would be creaming his pants if she put the moves on him Seamus thought irritably. He let the house elf lead him down the long hallways that apparently made up most of Malfoy Manor, which he assumed was where he was.
"Here you is sir." Lissy said respectfully. "Does sir wish any help with dressing?" Seamus raised an eyebrow.
"No thank you." The idea of anyone else dressing him seemed too ludicrous for words, although he wouldn't mind Draco or Harry dressing him- actually just Draco, Harry has the fashion sense of a blind rhinoceros. So Seamus rummaged around until he found something that fit, and then set off, wondering where everyone else was.
Severus Snape was not happy. It was not a state he was in that often anyway so it didn't come as much of a surprise for him. He missed Fleur, he missed his potions- hell he even missed being in class with Longbottom blowing things up left and right. It would be far more preferable to his present situation.
"Come now child, it's all right." Dumbledore cooed softly and Severus turned his head to the side. They were back in the world of Air, that much was certain. He turned his head to see the shock of red hair peeping out from under Dumbledore's long silver mane. Severus felt a pang of sorrow for Ron, for it was just the four of them stuck here and they could offer no help to the boy other than alleviating the pain.
If his utterly incompetent boyfriend was here we wouldn't have to deal with this. Snape though crossly. It would have only been a matter of Neville resting up long enough to start a healing spell, if they were back in the real world Severus could certainly have brewed something up to make the leg grow back. Only those severely unbalanced or with damn good reasons let their limbs stay- well- not there in the wizarding world. Like Moody. He could have easily had his leg re-grown and had his scars smoothed over, he had connections to powerful wizards and the money to make it happen.
For now though, Ron would only be a hindrance. It was cruel thing but it was the truth. Severus growled deep in the back of his throat as he turned to look at the other person in his little group, Pansy.
Draco stood up slowly, his head throbbed in time with his heart and he hated that. The sensation of pain was fine but the throbbing was intolerable, it pissed the hell out of him. With a snarl he incinerated an imp that was slinking away from him. It's scream of pain soothed his tortured soul and he felt the head ache recede.
"Urgh, what was the name of that Hippogryph?" Neville muttered and Draco snarled internally. He drew himself up and felt energy flowing through his arms, coursing roughly through his body as he gave himself over to the Veela rage. There was a reason that Fleur Delacour was chosen for the Triwizard tournament, a reason why his father was so powerful, the combination of a creature of magic and a wizard could create a being that generated raw magic, much like a sorcerer.
"Where is everyone?" Neville murmured as he clumsily levered himself up. Draco could feel a sneer unfolding on his face, the idiot was disgustingly clumsy, ignorant, Squib… Sorcerer… Draco's thoughts grew darker and deep inside of him something was shunted away and something darker began to seep out. It was like the dawn on night. Inside Draco something died and out of the ashes-
Voldemort was back.
Being dead usually enables you to have certain privileges, or rather being undead entails the privileges. For one, breathing, totally optional, your limbs should be running on whatever necromantic energies are keeping your soul in your body. Actually that was where the crux of the matter came in, being undead is kind of like being an unstable isotope, you let of a lot of radiation over a lone period of time. And the term undead is itself almost misleading, it refers to those who are half breeds, not entirely human. There is no word for the term yet, maybe some day there will be.
That was why Muggles could be vampires, werewolves and etc… When it was wizards that became undead however, they emitted much more magical energy than usual, although the energy is usually dark and takes years to learn to harness. Case in point, Remus Lupin and Lucius Malfoy. Lucius had been trained from birth to use his Veela powers to the fullest, and Remus had been scorned for his freakishness. It was cruel but people are cruel. However it made Remus reject the energy he was naturally generating, if he'd been trained to use it he might even have been able to control the transformation.
Countess was not thinking of any of this, indeed she wasn't really thinking, she was meditating. Her mind was empty of all thought, just the subtle glow of magical power floating out of her. Countess had been a vampire for about 50 years, and she had long ago mastered the amount of control it took to dominate the necromantic energies being undead produced. It had taken her nearly half of those years and immense effort, and sometimes her powers failed her.
Jester had been handed his with a ribbon tied around them. And they always worked.
"With the release of the charm there are no objects to collect on this world, the weapons were scattered into the Nexus Gate and we can't go there." Jester told King and Queen. Lady was sitting, or rather floating and watching nothing in particular. Countess privately thought Lady was insane. But she wasn't about to let Lady know that, ever since Lady had melded with her wand her power had increased to the point where Countess couldn't tell just what Lady was capable of now.
"So there is no point in us staying here is there?" Asked Queen. The five had taken the deaths of their comrades easily, they were only business partnerships after all, and the business they were in it was a testament to their skill that they were approaching middle age, for wizards at least. And Jester didn't really count since he had died… Countess shook her head, such useless semantics, it was obvious what the next course of action would be, return to Earth and escape from this watery prison. As she shook her head she missed queen swiftly bottling some of the water in a special flask that she would have recognized as a bottomless container.
Water that King and Queen can breathe. She reminded herself, but Jester had told them that this world was different from others, and that the water was actually infused with the essence of magical life, so breathing was optional for the living too.
"Very well, you said this water is magically infused didn't you?" King asked mildly and without waiting for Jester to even nod he began to wave his wand, muttering Latin under his breath as he did so. Soon a gate began to open up and Countess noticed Jester frowning. King was good, very good, she had the feeling whatever Jester had planned would be in for a nasty surprise.
But as it turned out, they were all in for a nasty surprise.
"-along with London, New York, Paris, Moscow, Tokyo and many other huge cities, the situation is quickly becoming intolerable and militaries all over the world are in panic. Israeli fundamentalists are working alongside Islamic terrorists, the US and Russia are discussing the use of nuclear explosions in remote areas and- what- NO! GET AWAY- AHHHH-" Static.
Shout Outs-
HAY EVERYONE, I REACHED THE 150 MARK! LET'S LET OUT A BIG CHEEER AND DANCE SOME OK? ER… *SHIFTY EYES* MAYBE NOT…
KDay2- Sadly the Ron/Draco confrontation will have to wait for some time (maybe in a few chapters, everybody has to get back to earth, well, those that survive…).
Mizzy- So you liked? Well if you want more I want more from you… Just about anything will do… *looks at Mizzy with Puppy Eyes and realizes he looks like a sick cow* er, how about you just write some more for me too eh? ^_^
Tenshimagic- oh don't worry, the manipulators will be getting their cummupence, and boy will it be funny when they do- oops, small plot element escaped, oh well, something for you to look forward to. Thanks for the review!
Foxygalatea- the big break was because I wanted it too seem longer than the usual POV change, but I shortened it as I realize it could be confusing to people that aren't the author. So thanks for the heads up!
HEY, THE USUAL 300 PEOPLE READ THIS CHAPTER, AND I GOT 3 REVIEWS, THAT'S 1 REVIEW FOR EVERY 100 PEOPLE. I AM NOT HAPPY, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT OTHER AUTHORS BUT REVIEWS KEEP ME MOTIVATED, IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO WRITE DURING SCHOOL AS IT IS, THANKS TO THE DEDICATED, I PERFORM A MENTAL GLOMP ON YOU RIGHT NOW! SO HIT THAT LITTLE REVIEW BUTTON AND GET A SHOUT OUT GUYS!