Chapter Eighteen: The Fortress of Aman Surl (AKA The Chapter From Hell)
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything associated with him. I wish I did, but I don't. Ms. J.K. Rowling gets to enjoy those fruits. I only get to play in her world.
A/N: I hate this chapter. Maybe hate is too strong of a word. I strongly dislike this chapter with a deep fiery passion. It would not go as I wanted it to and I rewrote it millions of times. Okay, so it was only eight, but still. Huhh, now that I got that out of my system, you may proceed to the actually story part of this chapter. I'm done complaining.
"Dad, how are we getting in?" James asked from behind him.
"Keep quiet!" Harry whispered. "I'm not sure yet." Harry crept cautiously around the building. It was made of complete stone and shot straight up as far as he could see. The night air continuously made Harry shiver, however the stone was warm to his touch. Puzzled, Harry pulled out his wand.
"Topica Evilara," Harry whispered into the darkness. The area around them lit up a brilliant shade of gold and faded into a map of their surroundings.
"Wicked," James whispered.
Harry smirked. "Just a tiny glimpse of that the Auror Academy will teach you, James. I learned that in my first week."
"What does it do?" James asked.
"It made a map of our surroundings. Anything that is evil and against us shows up red." Harry indicated to a hazy red area on one side of the map. Harry studied it for a moment before it disappeared.
Reading the confused look on his son's face, Harry said, "It fades quickly because the information changes. The map is only accurate for the moment the spell is cast." James nodded in understanding but looked lost in thought.
"Dad, if you can sense where Reagan is, why do you need a map?"
"I can't sense where she is," Harry replied. "If I get a thought, a definite thought, then I know its the Connection working. But I'm not psychic, I can't read her thoughts. We can just...think the same things."
"So now what do we do?" Erika asked.
"Well, that map showed us that there are no entrances on the ground," Harry replied.
"So," Erika began and followed Harry's upward glance.
"We have to climb," Harry finished. James and Erika both stared at him. They looked downright frightened.
"Oh, come on now, where is your sense of Gryffindor bravery and desire for adventure?" Harry teased.
"I left mine at Andrew's," Erika replied.
"Mine ran out this morning." James added.
Harry laughed. "Well, pretend that you have it again."
James looked up the side of the stone wall again, nervously, and then back at his father.
"Dad, you're crazy."
"You know your mother old me that once," Harry replied. "I didnÕt believe her."
"You should have," James responded. "How on Earth are we going to climb a stone wall?"
"James, I could tell you that," Erika said to her boyfriend. James raised his eyes at her.
"Really?" he challenged.
"Its that wonderful thing we call magic," Erika replied. "We could probably use the same charm your father used earlier to make Abby and Andy hold onto you."
"Oh," James said and rolled his eyes.
"She's right," Harry said. "I was actually thinking along the same lines. I might modify the spell a little though." He pulled out his wand again and pointing it at James' hands he said, "Adhesium Repitia."
"What did you just do?" his son asked.
"Do mine," Harry replied. James repeated the spell aimed at his father's hands, still completely confused.
"Watch," Harry said and took a step towards the wall. He placed his hands on the wall and pulled himself up. The charm had made his hands stick to the wall, allowing him to climb with ease.
"Wicked," James whispered again.
"James, do Erika's hands," Harry instructed. James charmed Erika's hands and soon the two were climbing the wall along side Harry.
"So did you just make up a charm, Mr. Potter?" Erika asked.
"Sort of," Harry replied. "I just modified it."
"You can do that?" James asked.
"Yup. And you will too," Harry answered. "You take a class your Seventh Year. Its called Practical Application."
"Dad, how many spells do you know?" his son asked.
"Tons," he replied. "But not as many as your Aunt Hermione does." James seemed satisfied with the answer and continued to climb.
~~~~~~~~~~
The pathway towards the fortress was free of any obstacles. It made Draco a bit nervous. Nothing ever made him nervous. But this did. The thought of confronting his cousin could also be taking a toll on his nerves. It wasn't that he was afraid of his cousin, he knew he wasn't. Draco was just unsure of what his reaction would be towards his cousin. He hated him with a passion. That bloody git swooped in and took his place in his father's eyes and forced Draco into hiding. Draco didn't like being in hiding. Even though Draco hated his father even more that he hated Kevin, somewhere deep within him wanted the acceptance of his father.
"Where has Potter gone off to?" Draco spat. Andrew raised an eyebrow at him.
"Isn't he your commanding officer?" Andrew asked. Draco opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted.
"Yes, he is," Lance Cruz answered. Draco glared at the man and thought of a hundred curses he could hit him with.
"And as your commanding officer, you need to show respect, in and outside of his presence." Imaera Cruz followed.
"I was just voicing my curiosity and concern for Captain Potter's well being. He does have to underage students with him."
"Sure you were," George muttered under his breath. Draco clenched his fists but didn't move towards his wand.
"I don't know where Harry is," Andrew replied. "But I'd like to know the same thing."
There were a million things racing through Draco's head that he wished to voice about Harry Potter. Draco's dislike for Harry had not increased or decreased since they left Hogwarts, though many would completely disagree.
"There don't seem to be any entrances at the base of the fortress," Josh relayed. They were still a ways away from the base of the fortress, but it was coming into view.
"No, there wouldn't be," Andrew said. "Aman Surl was an incredible wizard. He was able to fly so the entrance is on the top."
"How do you suggest we get inside?" Draco asked. "None of us can fly."
"Yes, I know and I don't expect you to," Andrew retorted. Turning towards Draco he asked, "Honestly, Draco, do you have any faith in this at all?"
Draco shrugged. "Anything that that idiot Potter.." Lance shot him a warning glare again and Draco changed his tone and word choice. "I fully support anything Captain Potter thinks is an achievable mission."
"So, uh, how are we going to get to the top of that thing?" Ron asked.
"Actually, Ron, I was hoping to use your area of expertise," Andrew replied. "You are a Charm Master, are you not?"
"Well yeah," Ron answered.
"And as I understand it, a Charm Master has a great and deep understanding for charms and spells, correct?"
"Yes, but I work with Quidditch. I charm the Quidditch balls from going out of bounds and I put up Anti-Muggle wards. How can any of that help?"
"Using your understanding and knowledge of charm work, you can create a way to basically levitate us to the top," Andrew finished.
Ron had a glazed over, blank and confused look on his face, but a few moments later, realization and understanding snuck in and his face lit up.
"Oh!" he exclaimed. "I get it!"
"Honestly Weasley, if you were any slower you could make a dollar off of each snail that just passed you by!" Draco cried.
"Watch it, Draco," George hissed, taking a step towards him and stopping him in his tracks. "We're not at Hogwarts anymore and I could curse you into a million pieces before you could say another word."
"Right, we're not at Hogwarts anymore," Draco replied. "And that would be considered a crime. I doubt even you and your pitiful advising position at Zonko's could cover the legal expenses."
"Draco!" Imaera snapped. "That-Is-Enough." The blond woman annunciated each world perfectly and clearly, causing Draco to back down.
"I'm curious, Draco," Lance continued, "why on Earth would you insult the Weasley family with four grown Weasleys present?"
"Hey, there's six present!" Mackenzie exclaimed. William nodded beside her.
"Correction, SIX Weasleys present," Lance said. "It certainly makes me question your judgment."
"My judgment is fine," Draco replied.
"You are on duty," Imaera remind him. "You need to act like it."
Draco didn't reply audibly.
"You also should not speak about things that you don't have enough information about," Lance scolded.
"What does that mean?" Draco asked.
"George Weasley is not an Inventive Consultant for Zonko's," Lance explained. "That is his cover. He's an Unspeakable, and has a higher government clearance than you do, might I add."
"So I'd watch your step, Malfoy," George threatened. Draco stared at George Weasley, completely amazed and surprised. And yet there was a slight amount of fear that crept over him but he pushed it to the bottom of his soul immediately.
"I have an idea," Ron said suddenly. "About the Levitation Charm. We could use a modified version of Wingardium Leviosa." Ron picked up and rock and muttered the Levitation Charm. Instantly the rock floated in mid air.
"Now, if we use this we can't control where we go. But if we used a version of the Mobilicorpus Spell, it might work. Paul, hold still for a moment." Paul stopped walking and turned to face his father.
"Mobilipse," Ron said, pointing his wand at his son.
"Whoa!" Paul cried in fear and excitement as he lifted off the ground. Ron released the spell and Paul came back down safely.
"Amazing," Andrew stared. "I never understood charm work. My son is completely fascinated in it but it completely boggles my mind. That was incredible!"
Draco didn't think it was amazing. So what? He added a suffix to "mobil" to move what he wanted. Big deal!
"So are you going to cast that on everyone one at a time?" Draco asked.
Ron turned towards him. "No, actually, each person can cast their own. Would you like to be the first to try?" Ron smirked at Draco, knowing the Slytherin wouldn't pass up the challenge. Especially if it made him look good.
"All right," Draco replied and pulled out his wand.
"Do you want a tip?" Ron asked.
"No," Draco replied. "I think I can handle a simple spell."
Ron shrugged and backed away from Draco.
"Mobilipse!" Draco cried, swishing and flicking his wand towards his feet. He was instantly lifted off the ground. Draco smiled as he rose up, but quickly lost his balance. He fell forward but didn't hit the ground. His feet were still floating up, holding Draco upside down, suspended in mid air.
"Finite Incantatem!" Ron cried and Draco came crashing down on his head. He stood up in a huff, throwing his cloak off of his head.
"As I tried to tell you before, you need to aim at your entire body. If you stay stiff and guide yourself with your wand, it works perfectly," Ron told him.
Draco grumbled something inaudible under his breath about idiotic red heads and rubbed the back of his head where he had fallen.
~~~~~~~
Harry breathed hard as he climbed over the top of the tower. James and Erika were right behind him, all three of them getting their workout. Harry hadn't anticipated the climb being that hard or that long.
"Well," James breathed. "That was fun."
"Yeah right," Erika grumbled, trying to catch her breath.
"Well, we made it to the top," Harry said standing up. "Now, where do we go from here?" He peered around the top of the tower. It seemed to be empty, but Harry saw something on the other side of the tower. James and Erika quickly stood up at the sound of Harry's quick breath intake and watched as a black figure less object moved quickly towards them.
Harry paternally moved James and Erika behind him and drew his wand.
"Harry Potter," a sneering voice said. "How nice of you to join us."
Before Harry could move, a flash of brilliant green light flashed before his eyes.
A/N: Oh thank Merlin that I am done! Well, with this chapter at least. I haven't looked at the rest yet, who knows what I still have to do to them. I'm still curious to see if anyone can spot the Lord of the Rings reference. There are actually a couple. Please review! It really is encouraging!