Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and everything in it.
"Why isn't she moving?" Ron asked Hermione as they stared at the beautiful portrait of the Summoner inside the third floor west wing of the school. It was unusual, for a wizard, that the portrait did not move. She floated in the air, her arms extended as if receiving grace and her hands held an object. Objects that they need.
"She's pretty," Harry whispered. Ginny would be rather annoyed to hear that from him, especially with that kiss they shared yesterday at Hogsmead. But she agreed with him. She was inhumanly beautiful. Her skin was white as snow and her hair black as midnight. She had three braids flowing from the back of her head that seemed to fly with the wind. Indeed she was beautiful, but she was somehow...
"Sad," Hermione said as she scanned every inch of the portrait for a clue. "She's crying."
"Why?" Ron asked but he wasn't answered. Ginny felt great pain in her heart as she looked at her serene face. It seemed that she shared her pain and sorrow. Harry clutched his heart as a wave of sadness enveloped him.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Ron asked concerned for his friend. "Is it you-know- who?"
"No," laughed but he could still feel her sadness. "It's just I can feel her sorrow."
"Anyway," Hermione said as she looked at Harry and Ginny. They acted as if they knew each other's feelings. They started acting weird ever since they left Hogsmead. Did something happen to them when she and Ron... They had more important things to do that figure out what happened.
"As far as I can tell, the Guardian's Blade is in a cave somewhere and the Light of Alexandria is beneath a lake," all looked at her confusingly.
"How's that?" Ron asked doubting that she could really tell them where the keys are just by one look of the portrait.
"Honestly, Ron. It's so simple," she said. Ron on the other hand didn't see its simplicity. She sneered at Ron's ignorance. Was it too hard for someone as simple as him?
"How did you know, or does it trouble you to answer such a simple question?" Ron asked defiantly. Hermione growled at him but explained for the benefit of all.
"Notice the hands," she said. "It held one key. Behind each hand was a background of a scenery. If we could find those places, we find the keys." She smiled triumphantly.
Sure enough, the background behind the Guardian's Blade was a cave and behind the Light of Alexandria was a lake. But Harry groaned when he noticed that the cave was rather familiar. Too familiar.
"Let's split up," Harry said with a sight. "We'll be faster that way."
"Why do we need to?" Ron asked, confused at his friend's reluctance. "There's safety in numbers." Harry smiled at his friend's suggestion but continued anyway.
"It is safe to say that Ginny and I will take the cave," he smiled at Ron and Hermione. "You'll take the lake. I would assume that the school's lake would be the best place to start."
"But why can't we go together," Ron eyed Harry suspiciously. "What are you going to do with my sister in those caves?" Harry and Ginny blushed at the implication but Harry smiled for he had a counter for it.
"Do you RECOGNIZE the cave, Ron?" he asked. Still suspicious, Ron looked at the painting. But after a few moments, he turned white and cleared his throat.
"Fine, We'll take the lake. But where's the Maiden's Prayer?" he asked Hermione.
"That's the hard part," she said. "It seems that the Maiden's Prayer is with the summoner."
"But she's dead!" Ron exclaimed.
"We'll worry about it when we find the two keys," Harry said. "Let's go. And be careful."
*** *** ***
"Harry. Why did my brother quickly changed his mind when he recognized the cave?" Ginny asked as they walked deep into the forbidden forest. Harry had his wand out, lighting the path as he held Ginny's hand. He needed assurance that she was there for him and she with him. He hated going to THAT cave. The cave that they now stood in front of.
"We had a disagreement with the tenants of this cave when we were here about five years ago," he sullenly said.
"Disagreement?" she asked with her eyebrow raised.
"They wanted to eat us, we wanted to live," he shrugged. "I hope Aragog had forgotten us by now."
"Aragog?"
"Let's find the key and leave before they notice that we're here," Harry said and with a last sigh he entered the cave with Ginny. Upon entering, Ginny finally figured out why her brother changed his mind.
Spiders of all sizes crawled on the floors and walls. She wasn't as squeamish as his brother when it comes to spiders, but the volume of spiders here would give anyone a fright. As they walked, they came to a fork, Harry decided to take the passage to the left but Ginny held his hand and motioned him to the right.
Smirking, Harry decided to trust her. Within minutes they had reached the end of the tunnel. But he noticed that there weren't any spider webs anywhere.
"Strange," he said. "It looks like the spiders haven't dwelt here yet."
"Why is it strange," she asked, looking around.
"They have been here YEARS ago," he said. "They fear something. And the only thing they fear is a basilisk."
"What's that?" Ginny asked as a sparkle got her attention. Shrugging, Harry made his way towards it with Ginny in tow. When they reached the sparkle, they found a dagger incased in crystal. The crystal was so clear that they could see the dagger in clear detail.
The handle was an intricate statue of a praying angel, his wings became the hilt. But there was no blade. Harry groaned at this.
"So, we have to find the blade," Ginny sighed as she touched the crystal.
"We need to free this handle first," Harry touched the crystal, almost touching Ginny's hand. Ginny blushed as she held her hand over his. Harry smiled lovingly at the witch, if it weren't for the spiders lurking at the other side of the tunnel, it would have been romantic.
Suddenly, the crystal glowed. They quickly withdrew their hands and stepped backward. The whole cave was enlightened and the two were standing in the middle of something great.
Hieroglyphics were painted in every wall of the cave. Pictures of creatures defeating dark forces were the main images. They were encircling two persons, a maiden in white and a knight. They were defending them from all evil as the two people seemed to have harmony between them.
Ginny recognized three of the creatures. A red firebird, a bluish-white wolf and a little light green fox-type creature. She didn't know what it all means but it may have something to do with her.
"What are those?" Harry asked. Ginny only shook her head and looked at the dagger handle.
"Arise, children of fate," she said and looked at Harry. "Now I REALLY need that book."
"We need to find the blade first," he held his palm against the glowing crystal. To his surprise it didn't burn him. The handle suddenly moved towards his hand. Harry, still puzzled, concentrated hard. The handle inched towards his hand, even when Harry held his hand out and was no longer touching the crystal. The handle came out from the crystal and Harry drew it out. Ginny gasped as she saw the dagger. Now she knew why they couldn't find the blade. The blade, was made of crystal. The same crystal that encased it.
The room dimmed at the crystal turned to dust. Looking at the blade then to Ginny, he sighed and ran towards her.
"I think we overstayed our welcome," he said and, grabbing Ginny, they ran out of the tunnel.
"The magic of the cave vanished with the removal of the Blade," Ginny said as she saw the drawings on the walls shatter. Harry didn't have time to agree or argue for he truly wanted to flee out of the cave before...
"We meet again, friend of Hagrid," the blind spider said as he and some of his children blocked the path.
"Uh oh," Harry muttered as they found out that they were surrounded. He really wished that it had forgotten them by now.
"You will not escape us as easily as before," his pincers clattered, sending a shiver through Ginny's spine. "We shall feast. And your friend will be first."
"You'll be dead before you could touch her," Harry said pointing the dagger at the giant Spider.
"Idle threats does not amuse me," Aragog said as three spiders the size of horses encircled them. Lashing out, Harry nicked one of them and the others were wary. This puzzled the boy-who-lived. They were out of range but he still cut one of them. Looking at the Blade, the crystal suddenly grew twice its length, making the dagger a sword.
"You will pay for that, friend of Hagrid," its voice was filled with anger that Harry grabbed Ginny and shielded her from the spiders.
"Awaken, child of fate," Ginny murmured. Harry glanced at her, thinking that she was in shock but she was calmer than he was. Harry's pulse raced as he saw the spiders massing against them. Even if he used any spell in his arsenal he would still lose.
"I'm sorry Ginny," he said, looking at her eyes. "I only wanted to keep you safe." Ginny smiled as she leaned on his back, for support and Protection.
"I know, Harry Potter," she smiled and kissed him tenderly on his lips. As they parted, he looked at the spiders, not wanting to fall without one last stand. With all the courage and determination he could muster, he was ready to face his fate.
The Blade shone, filling the cave with holy light. And it dimmed but it still glowed, looking threatening for the spiders.
"I didn't have a chance to say..." he sighed but before he could continue, the spiders stopped in their advance. Even Aragog, the biggest of them, seemed afraid. Then Harry heard a sound deep within the cave. A sound that he recognized but was out of place in a cave.
Hooves beat echoed through the cave and was getting louder reach moment. The spiders scattered, fearing the sound, fearing what made it. Looking at the direction of the sound, Harry saw an outline of a rider, speeding towards them.
The rider, leaned down and, while his horse was in full gallop, grabbed them and lifted them up to his saddle. Harry didn't look back but he could imagine that the giant spider was irked at the moment.
Harry held Ginny close to him, fearing that she would fall. Ginny merely let him hold her, not really wanting to let go. Both of them didn't question the rider as he rode his stallion towards a path they knew. A path that led them home.
*** *** ***
Harry was the first to dismount and helped Ginny down. Moving a few steps away, they turned and for the first time, saw their savior.
He wore armor worthy of those knighted but wore no helmet. Surprisingly, his head had horns that pointed back and his black hair flowed with the wind. His skin was dark but Harry thought it was because of the lack of light. What surprised them wasn't the knight's appearance, although it seemed strange, but his steed.
It wasn't the lance that hung from its side or the color of his was darker than death. But it had six legs. Four forelegs and two hind legs. Never had they seen such a creature before. Despite their appearance, the were magnificent.
Ginny walked towards then and held out her hand for the horse to smell. The horse, touched her hand and nudged its head playfully towards her and she laughed. Finally, the knight spoke.
"At your service, my liege," he saluted and bowed to her. He had a deep voice like the wrath of God but was pleasant as well. He looked at Harry approvingly and saluted to him as well. "Tell the summoned one the darkness is near." He said and looked at the school. Following his gaze, the two teens looked at the school but found nothing. Turning back, they found the knight gone. Not a trace, not even a hoof print. Sighing, Ginny took Harry's arm and led him back towards the school
"Let's see the professor about it," she said when she noticed Harry's confusion.
"Let's," he agreed and looked at their find. The blade was back to normal and didn't show any of its properties it had when they were in the cave. Sighing in relief, Harry pocketed the dagger and held his arm around Ginny's shoulder as they headed to Professor Hart's office.
"I wonder if Ron and Hermione had a worse time than us?" Ginny asked as she leaned on Harry.
*** *** ***
Somewhere in the deepest cave a Guardian trekked. Searching for something that belonged to him, he walked the dark cave almost as if he knew it like the back of his hand. At the end of the passage he knew he had to face it. He had to face a dragon.
Not just any dragon. But a dragon so powerful that the mere sight of it generates fear to all those who it seen as its enemy. A dragon not even Voldemort could control.
A dragon dubbed King of its kind.
The Guardian's amethyst eyes searched for its goal, all the while wondering why he was doing this.
End of 11
A/n: thanks for all your reviews. Does my story keep you guessing?
"Why isn't she moving?" Ron asked Hermione as they stared at the beautiful portrait of the Summoner inside the third floor west wing of the school. It was unusual, for a wizard, that the portrait did not move. She floated in the air, her arms extended as if receiving grace and her hands held an object. Objects that they need.
"She's pretty," Harry whispered. Ginny would be rather annoyed to hear that from him, especially with that kiss they shared yesterday at Hogsmead. But she agreed with him. She was inhumanly beautiful. Her skin was white as snow and her hair black as midnight. She had three braids flowing from the back of her head that seemed to fly with the wind. Indeed she was beautiful, but she was somehow...
"Sad," Hermione said as she scanned every inch of the portrait for a clue. "She's crying."
"Why?" Ron asked but he wasn't answered. Ginny felt great pain in her heart as she looked at her serene face. It seemed that she shared her pain and sorrow. Harry clutched his heart as a wave of sadness enveloped him.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Ron asked concerned for his friend. "Is it you-know- who?"
"No," laughed but he could still feel her sadness. "It's just I can feel her sorrow."
"Anyway," Hermione said as she looked at Harry and Ginny. They acted as if they knew each other's feelings. They started acting weird ever since they left Hogsmead. Did something happen to them when she and Ron... They had more important things to do that figure out what happened.
"As far as I can tell, the Guardian's Blade is in a cave somewhere and the Light of Alexandria is beneath a lake," all looked at her confusingly.
"How's that?" Ron asked doubting that she could really tell them where the keys are just by one look of the portrait.
"Honestly, Ron. It's so simple," she said. Ron on the other hand didn't see its simplicity. She sneered at Ron's ignorance. Was it too hard for someone as simple as him?
"How did you know, or does it trouble you to answer such a simple question?" Ron asked defiantly. Hermione growled at him but explained for the benefit of all.
"Notice the hands," she said. "It held one key. Behind each hand was a background of a scenery. If we could find those places, we find the keys." She smiled triumphantly.
Sure enough, the background behind the Guardian's Blade was a cave and behind the Light of Alexandria was a lake. But Harry groaned when he noticed that the cave was rather familiar. Too familiar.
"Let's split up," Harry said with a sight. "We'll be faster that way."
"Why do we need to?" Ron asked, confused at his friend's reluctance. "There's safety in numbers." Harry smiled at his friend's suggestion but continued anyway.
"It is safe to say that Ginny and I will take the cave," he smiled at Ron and Hermione. "You'll take the lake. I would assume that the school's lake would be the best place to start."
"But why can't we go together," Ron eyed Harry suspiciously. "What are you going to do with my sister in those caves?" Harry and Ginny blushed at the implication but Harry smiled for he had a counter for it.
"Do you RECOGNIZE the cave, Ron?" he asked. Still suspicious, Ron looked at the painting. But after a few moments, he turned white and cleared his throat.
"Fine, We'll take the lake. But where's the Maiden's Prayer?" he asked Hermione.
"That's the hard part," she said. "It seems that the Maiden's Prayer is with the summoner."
"But she's dead!" Ron exclaimed.
"We'll worry about it when we find the two keys," Harry said. "Let's go. And be careful."
*** *** ***
"Harry. Why did my brother quickly changed his mind when he recognized the cave?" Ginny asked as they walked deep into the forbidden forest. Harry had his wand out, lighting the path as he held Ginny's hand. He needed assurance that she was there for him and she with him. He hated going to THAT cave. The cave that they now stood in front of.
"We had a disagreement with the tenants of this cave when we were here about five years ago," he sullenly said.
"Disagreement?" she asked with her eyebrow raised.
"They wanted to eat us, we wanted to live," he shrugged. "I hope Aragog had forgotten us by now."
"Aragog?"
"Let's find the key and leave before they notice that we're here," Harry said and with a last sigh he entered the cave with Ginny. Upon entering, Ginny finally figured out why her brother changed his mind.
Spiders of all sizes crawled on the floors and walls. She wasn't as squeamish as his brother when it comes to spiders, but the volume of spiders here would give anyone a fright. As they walked, they came to a fork, Harry decided to take the passage to the left but Ginny held his hand and motioned him to the right.
Smirking, Harry decided to trust her. Within minutes they had reached the end of the tunnel. But he noticed that there weren't any spider webs anywhere.
"Strange," he said. "It looks like the spiders haven't dwelt here yet."
"Why is it strange," she asked, looking around.
"They have been here YEARS ago," he said. "They fear something. And the only thing they fear is a basilisk."
"What's that?" Ginny asked as a sparkle got her attention. Shrugging, Harry made his way towards it with Ginny in tow. When they reached the sparkle, they found a dagger incased in crystal. The crystal was so clear that they could see the dagger in clear detail.
The handle was an intricate statue of a praying angel, his wings became the hilt. But there was no blade. Harry groaned at this.
"So, we have to find the blade," Ginny sighed as she touched the crystal.
"We need to free this handle first," Harry touched the crystal, almost touching Ginny's hand. Ginny blushed as she held her hand over his. Harry smiled lovingly at the witch, if it weren't for the spiders lurking at the other side of the tunnel, it would have been romantic.
Suddenly, the crystal glowed. They quickly withdrew their hands and stepped backward. The whole cave was enlightened and the two were standing in the middle of something great.
Hieroglyphics were painted in every wall of the cave. Pictures of creatures defeating dark forces were the main images. They were encircling two persons, a maiden in white and a knight. They were defending them from all evil as the two people seemed to have harmony between them.
Ginny recognized three of the creatures. A red firebird, a bluish-white wolf and a little light green fox-type creature. She didn't know what it all means but it may have something to do with her.
"What are those?" Harry asked. Ginny only shook her head and looked at the dagger handle.
"Arise, children of fate," she said and looked at Harry. "Now I REALLY need that book."
"We need to find the blade first," he held his palm against the glowing crystal. To his surprise it didn't burn him. The handle suddenly moved towards his hand. Harry, still puzzled, concentrated hard. The handle inched towards his hand, even when Harry held his hand out and was no longer touching the crystal. The handle came out from the crystal and Harry drew it out. Ginny gasped as she saw the dagger. Now she knew why they couldn't find the blade. The blade, was made of crystal. The same crystal that encased it.
The room dimmed at the crystal turned to dust. Looking at the blade then to Ginny, he sighed and ran towards her.
"I think we overstayed our welcome," he said and, grabbing Ginny, they ran out of the tunnel.
"The magic of the cave vanished with the removal of the Blade," Ginny said as she saw the drawings on the walls shatter. Harry didn't have time to agree or argue for he truly wanted to flee out of the cave before...
"We meet again, friend of Hagrid," the blind spider said as he and some of his children blocked the path.
"Uh oh," Harry muttered as they found out that they were surrounded. He really wished that it had forgotten them by now.
"You will not escape us as easily as before," his pincers clattered, sending a shiver through Ginny's spine. "We shall feast. And your friend will be first."
"You'll be dead before you could touch her," Harry said pointing the dagger at the giant Spider.
"Idle threats does not amuse me," Aragog said as three spiders the size of horses encircled them. Lashing out, Harry nicked one of them and the others were wary. This puzzled the boy-who-lived. They were out of range but he still cut one of them. Looking at the Blade, the crystal suddenly grew twice its length, making the dagger a sword.
"You will pay for that, friend of Hagrid," its voice was filled with anger that Harry grabbed Ginny and shielded her from the spiders.
"Awaken, child of fate," Ginny murmured. Harry glanced at her, thinking that she was in shock but she was calmer than he was. Harry's pulse raced as he saw the spiders massing against them. Even if he used any spell in his arsenal he would still lose.
"I'm sorry Ginny," he said, looking at her eyes. "I only wanted to keep you safe." Ginny smiled as she leaned on his back, for support and Protection.
"I know, Harry Potter," she smiled and kissed him tenderly on his lips. As they parted, he looked at the spiders, not wanting to fall without one last stand. With all the courage and determination he could muster, he was ready to face his fate.
The Blade shone, filling the cave with holy light. And it dimmed but it still glowed, looking threatening for the spiders.
"I didn't have a chance to say..." he sighed but before he could continue, the spiders stopped in their advance. Even Aragog, the biggest of them, seemed afraid. Then Harry heard a sound deep within the cave. A sound that he recognized but was out of place in a cave.
Hooves beat echoed through the cave and was getting louder reach moment. The spiders scattered, fearing the sound, fearing what made it. Looking at the direction of the sound, Harry saw an outline of a rider, speeding towards them.
The rider, leaned down and, while his horse was in full gallop, grabbed them and lifted them up to his saddle. Harry didn't look back but he could imagine that the giant spider was irked at the moment.
Harry held Ginny close to him, fearing that she would fall. Ginny merely let him hold her, not really wanting to let go. Both of them didn't question the rider as he rode his stallion towards a path they knew. A path that led them home.
*** *** ***
Harry was the first to dismount and helped Ginny down. Moving a few steps away, they turned and for the first time, saw their savior.
He wore armor worthy of those knighted but wore no helmet. Surprisingly, his head had horns that pointed back and his black hair flowed with the wind. His skin was dark but Harry thought it was because of the lack of light. What surprised them wasn't the knight's appearance, although it seemed strange, but his steed.
It wasn't the lance that hung from its side or the color of his was darker than death. But it had six legs. Four forelegs and two hind legs. Never had they seen such a creature before. Despite their appearance, the were magnificent.
Ginny walked towards then and held out her hand for the horse to smell. The horse, touched her hand and nudged its head playfully towards her and she laughed. Finally, the knight spoke.
"At your service, my liege," he saluted and bowed to her. He had a deep voice like the wrath of God but was pleasant as well. He looked at Harry approvingly and saluted to him as well. "Tell the summoned one the darkness is near." He said and looked at the school. Following his gaze, the two teens looked at the school but found nothing. Turning back, they found the knight gone. Not a trace, not even a hoof print. Sighing, Ginny took Harry's arm and led him back towards the school
"Let's see the professor about it," she said when she noticed Harry's confusion.
"Let's," he agreed and looked at their find. The blade was back to normal and didn't show any of its properties it had when they were in the cave. Sighing in relief, Harry pocketed the dagger and held his arm around Ginny's shoulder as they headed to Professor Hart's office.
"I wonder if Ron and Hermione had a worse time than us?" Ginny asked as she leaned on Harry.
*** *** ***
Somewhere in the deepest cave a Guardian trekked. Searching for something that belonged to him, he walked the dark cave almost as if he knew it like the back of his hand. At the end of the passage he knew he had to face it. He had to face a dragon.
Not just any dragon. But a dragon so powerful that the mere sight of it generates fear to all those who it seen as its enemy. A dragon not even Voldemort could control.
A dragon dubbed King of its kind.
The Guardian's amethyst eyes searched for its goal, all the while wondering why he was doing this.
End of 11
A/n: thanks for all your reviews. Does my story keep you guessing?