Title:  Elementals of Magic:  Prophecy of Lies

Author name and e-mail: mistykasumi at SeducerofFantasy@hotmail.com

Summary:  A 7th year contest causes Harry and Draco to bond, setting off a prophecy long ago stopped by the interference of Sirius Black.  A prophecy that told of Voldemort's destruction.

Rating: PG-13

Category: Action/Adventure/Romance

Disclaimer:  I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters and objects.  They belong to J. K. Rowling, Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Inc., Warner Bros, and anyone else with copyrights.  I, however, do own the plot of this, and any original items, characters, spells, and other objects do belong to me.

Dedication:  IcyEyes202, for being a dear!

Homepage:

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Chapter 31

Into the Light

                Harry never thought that he would meet a mother like Victoria.  Mothers were supposed to be sweet, caring, compassionate, always there to talk to, and all the other things that defined them.  Victoria was anything but.

                She was not truly cold towards the two of them, but she wasn't warm, either.  Victoria kept a certain distance from them emotionally, and her eyes never changed expressions.  She was as sarcastic and cutting as a lethal blade, and she made no exceptions for her son and soon-to-be son-in-law.

                After Draco had returned, she had immediately gone to work.  She had them clear a space in the middle of the floor, and then, she took out a dagger.  The blade was full of luster and was extremely sharp, a sign that she took care of the weapon, which meant that the dagger was important in some way.

                They watched as she brought the dagger to nip the tip of a finger, and when blood started to creep out of the puncture, she used the blood to draw a Chinese symbol onto the stone floor.

                "What is that, Mother?"

                "It's the complex Chinese symbol for dragon, but I won't tell you the use yet.  Dragon Magic entails the use of blood for many spells, and all higher magics usually have blood as a key component.  Blood is a very powerful thing when used correctly.  Even Soul, Mind, and Heart Magic employ the use of blood, as it creates strong bonds.  Narcissa was supposed to learn these three magics when she left Hogwarts, though she never did because of her marriage to Lucius.  But she was more than repaid for such a loss, as I found her and gave her her signet and her book.  I'll give you your books once we arrive at where we are headed.  Make sure that the two of you do not step on or touch or smear the mark.  It's the key to escaping this place."

                And then, she went back to her unnerving silence in which she did not speak nor train her eyes on them.  She didn't breathe, she didn't move, she just sat and stared into space, though her eyes never turned glossy, and Harry didn't think that she blinked, either.  It was as if she found no purpose in life, and she most likely didn't.

                The first night, they had been scared to do anything in front of her.  They had ached for each other badly, but they did not go beyond gentle kisses and just plain holding each other.  That is, until Victoria's eyes turned to them and said, "My eyes don't see what I don't need to see.  If you want to fuck, then do it.  Don't snivel around and pretend you can do without it."  Her eyes then turned away, and in the next moment, Draco had Harry on the floor and his hands taking off Harry's clothes, and Harry couldn't complain.  It didn't matter after that.  Victoria, she saw but did not see at the same time.  It was like she had trapped her mind in her own world and her body in the room they were in.

                The room was completely made of stone, and the only way in or out was a spellbound door.  The "cell" was in a perpetual state of semi-darkness, and it was romantic and depressing at the same time.  Being stuck in there made Harry felt extremely helpless because he had nothing to pass the time with.

                His mind had drifted, while he lay in Draco's arms the first night, to doing it in front of his future mother-in-law.  It was a bit embarrassing, though it seemed that Draco didn't care even though Victoria was his long-lost mother.  And his father-in-law was the one who had confined them to this small, dingy room.  What a twisted family he was marrying into.

                Then, two days later, Draco came in with good news along with their meals.  After setting the trays down and giving Harry a swift kiss, he turned to Victoria while his hand snaked to intertwine with Harry's.

                "The next attack is two days from now.  There will be about ten Death Eaters staying behind, not including me."

                "And just where are they attacking?" Victoria asked while she pushed her tray to Draco.

                "The Ministry of Magic."

                Victoria laughed contemptuously.

                "Serves Fudge right.  I hope he's killed in the battle.  I don't understand how he even got into the Ministry, much less become Minister of Magic."

                "What's wrong with him?" asked Harry.

                "Cornelius?  He was the Neville Longbottom of our year.  In fact, he was even worse than little Neville.  Tom tormented him so badly that he asked to have classes with the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs so that he could avoid my dear Head Boy.  Of course, Tom found other ways."  She laughed mirthlessly.

                "And for how long were you involved?" Draco asked harshly.

                Victoria shrugged, making no sign to indicate that she had heard Draco's tone of voice.

                "We were steady from Second to Fourth Year, though I left when Voldemort started taking control.  Now when I think back, I should have stayed and helped him fight for control.  With me gone, he had nothing left to fight for, and Voldemort had a clear path.  After we left Hogwarts, I went to him several times, and each time, Tom had enough control to be with me, though Voldemort did let him.  Then, when I became pregnant, Voldemort was finally able to convince Tom that I didn't love him, and with that last shred of hope gone, Voldemort took complete control.  Neither of them knows about Draco, of course, and it needs to stay that way.  Because if Voldemort found out, then I wouldn't expect Draco to live for very long."

                "Why are you still alive?"

                Victoria laughed sharply.

                "If I had only known…In fact, I wish that I had died that day now because I have nothing to live for anymore except what I said in my oath, and that has dragged on for too long.  All Elementals are capable of taking an oath with their First, which ensures that they will not die until certain conditions are met.  Of course, it must be sealed by blood."  Victoria's hand reached up to trace her scar.  "I ruined my beauty to insure that I would not die until I saved Tom.  Had I not done so, I would be dead already, and Draco would most likely have to grow up in an orphanage."

                She turned quiet again, and Harry and Draco ate lunch together silently.  When Draco was about to go, though, she looked up at him.

                "Good job, Draco."

                The day leading up to the date of the attack was full of nervousness and excitement.  Finally, to be able to escape from Voldemort's clutches, not that they couldn't already, but they could finally leave the filthy room and start the plan that would defeat Voldemort and save Tom Riddle, as Victoria called it.  While Harry paced the stone room, Victoria just sat in her usual place, eyes staring straight ahead like how she usually was, and Harry had to wonder if maybe some part of her soul died along with her physical death.

                When Draco came in for the night, Victoria beckoned them close to her.

                "Tomorrow, the first thing you do, Draco, is to go out and see when they go.  When Voldemort's gone with the rest of his lackeys, come in and tell me.  I'll be here to summon a Firewind Dragon, who will receive us outside.  The two of you will then leave, and I will cast a shield around the two of you, but you two, remember, stun all the ones you can before they can alert Voldemort.  Don't worry about Severus, I'll take care of him.  If Voldemort comes back before I'm done, go without me to Hogwarts, and Albus, Remus, and Flora should be ready then.  They'll know what to do afterwards."

                "It's that simple?" asked Draco a bit disbelievingly.

                "It sounds simple, Draco, but it's not that easy.  It takes more time than you think it does.  There's a lot involved in this part of the plan, which is the most crucial of the whole thing.  If we don't get out, then the world will probably be conquered.  Just pretend that tonight is the last night you can spend with your dear Harry, and tomorrow, we'll see how everything goes."

                And that night was perhaps the best that Harry had ever experienced, even more so than their first night together.  Everything was gentle and sweet, and all of it spoke of undying and devoted love.  When they were together, it was like Victoria wasn't even in the room, like Voldemort did not exist nor want to kill his family, like life was actually perfect and they could possibly live a fairy tale life where everything was okay in the end, no matter what hardships and trials they had to endure to get there.

                The next morning found Harry alone.  Draco had left early, and the raven-haired man waited impatiently for his lover to return so they could leave the wretched place.  A bit before midday, Draco came back, cheeks a tiny bit flushed.

                "They're gone," he said quickly, and Victoria leapt into action.  She stood in front of the symbol, then started chanting in Chinese.  Her signet and the symbol of blood glowed gold for a moment, and she turned to them.  She waved her hand at them.

                "The shield is in effect.  Two are on their way, and treat them both with respect.  No matter what happens, do not make them angry, or things will become ugly.  Get out of here as fast as you can, and stun all the Death Eaters you can."

                She made a shooing motion at the door, and the stones slid away to reveal an exit.  Needing no second bidding, Draco and Harry hurried out of the room.  A Death Eater stood a few meters down from them in the stone corridor, but Draco stunned him before the Death Eater noticed them.

                "We're in Slytherin's Castle—Stupefy!—Don't get lost or you won't find your way out, just stay by me—Stupefy!"

                The two stunned any Death Eaters that they saw, and following Draco's lead, Harry ran out of his place of confinement and into the first taste of fresh air after almost a week of confinement.  He inhaled the fresh air greedily while Draco stood in front of him, eyes surveying the sky for a Firewind Dragon.

                Moments later, two long, serpentine shapes appeared in the sky, and Draco knew that the Firewind Dragon had arrived.  Now, where was Victoria?

***

                After watching her son and her son-in-law run out of the door, Victoria took out a pre-made potion from the inside of her robe.  She uncorked the vial and gulped the purple liquid down.

                And then, she could feel Severus's signet radiating from another chamber within the castle, and after casting a shield around herself, she set off down the stone corridors.

                Twists, turns, and several incredibly stupid Death Eaters later, she was standing in front of a bare patch of stone wall.  She impatiently waved her hand at the wall, and the stones forming the doorway slid away to reveal an opening into a dim chamber.

                Victoria walked straight in and heard a choked noise to her left.  She turned to find Severus chained against the stone wall, robes torn and bloodied and hair even greasier than usual.  She sighed.

                "Severus."

                He lifted his head to look at her, and Victoria watched as a spark of life lit in the coal-black eyes.

                "Victoria?" he asked uncertainly, as if her presence was a mirage.

                She scrutinized the wall behind him and was not too surprised to see mold and other such disgusting objects growing on the wall along with dried semen and blood crusting the stones.  Poor Severus.  She gingerly stepped over the skeletons decaying on the stone floor and walked to him.

                "Yes, it's me.  Thank you for keeping your faith in me and believing that I would come."

                She flicked her wrist at the chains, and instantly, they disappeared, though Severus dropped to the floor in a crumple.  Victoria cursed inwardly as she stooped down and helped Severus shakily stand.  He cast an eye around.

                "Where are the rest?"

                "There's an attack on the Ministry of Magic right now, but we better get going before they come back or one of the ones that stayed behind realize that we're escaping.  Do you know how to Speed?"

                Severus shook his head warily and unsteadily.  He flexed his fingers as if he could hardly believe that he was free.

                Cursing inwardly again, Victoria cast a shield around them, then helped Severus hobble out of the cell.  She then helped him walk down the corridor, though slowly, Severus began to regain the use of his legs, and by the time they had reached the door, he was fully capable of walking on his own, much to Victoria's relief.

                They quickly made their way out of the doors, and waiting in front of the castle were a Firewind Dragon, and Draco was talking to one of them.  The Dragon said something, and Draco turned towards them.

                "Severus!" he said joyfully and hugged the older man once they had arrived.

                "Draco," Severus said with a hint of affection in his voice.

                "Severus, I…"

                "We can discuss things later, Draco.  Right now, the only thing that matters is escaping from this dreadful place.  I never want to be anywhere near here again."

                They found Victoria talking to the dragon that Draco had been speaking to quietly, and Draco realized finally that they were not talking in English.

                "So will you please take us to Hogwarts, then to the Elemental Wood's family place?"

                "The First has told us that it is about time for the Prophecy to come to pass.  Is the beginning of the end coming?"

                "Yes, it is."

                "I will help as much as I can."

                "Thank you, brother."

                Victoria motioned to them.

                "Climb on."

                She swung herself effortlessly onto the thick, scaly body, and Draco followed her example.  Harry looked at the dragon hesitantly, though with Draco's persuasion and help, he climbed on.  Severus, with Victoria's help, climbed on, and then, the dragon set off.

                Flying on the dragon was amazing, though in Harry's opinion, Quidditch was better.  But with the dragon, they were flying among the clouds, with the wind blowing behind them.  It was an exhilarating rush, much like Quidditch, except that Harry didn't have control.  But it was still memorable, looking down and seeing the villages dotted here and there.

                Soon, they came into sight of Hogwarts, and the dragon landed in front of the main doors, the other dragon landing by him.  Hagrid came striding up, though he stopped when he caught sight of Victoria.

                "Victoria?" he asked.

                She turned a cool eye onto him.

                "Rubeus.  Long time, no see.  Do alert the Headmaster, will you?"

                "No need, Victoria," another voice replied, and they found Albus Dumbledore standing in front of the now open main doors, Flora Sprout and Remus Lupin standing by him.

                Severus and Remus's gazes locked on each other immediately, and they stared at each other.  Victoria, though, ignored them.  She hopped off the dragon.

                "Albus.  I see that you have prepared very well."

                "Yes, I have.  Are we to go now?"

                "Yes.  We shall be making a stop at Malfoy Manor for Narcissa—"

                "No need," the cool voice of Narcissa Malfoy spoke, and she glided to the group to stand by the other Elementals.

                "Good.  Saves us a trip and some time then.  Remus, is your place still available?"

                "Yes, but you're not planning to go there, are you?"

                "Of course.  It's right by that nice big field that's perfect to do battle on.  And besides, you don't possibly expect us to stay at Hogwarts or Malfoy Manor, do you?"

                Remus did not reply, and Victoria considered the issue settled.

                "Good.  Climb up on her," Victoria pointed to the other dragon, "and then, we're leaving."

                When everyone was on a dragon, Victoria leaned close to his head and whispered something.  The two dragons then took off and soon landed in front of a two-story cottage, though Harry could tell that it was far away from Hogwarts.

                The eight climbed off, and Victoria stroked both dragons.

                "Thank you," she said.

                "Always glad to help, sister," the male said, and turning to Draco, he said, "Glad to meet you, brother."  The dragons then took off and were out of sight in a few seconds.

                Victoria turned to all of them.

                "Now, this has to be quick.  The most time I would give us is two days, which means that we have to have everything ready today.  Once all that's done, you seven can relax because after you played your part, you're not in danger anymore."

                "And what about you?" Narcissa asked.

                "I will make the final preparations for Voldemort's arrival."

                And when the seven lesser Elementals trooped into the house, Victoria's eyes turned brown.

                "Or do you mean I will, Dragon Star?  Because my brother is the one who I will face and the one I need to be ready for.  Finally, after all these years, I can save him from what he has done to himself."

                The irises turned back into their former Malfoy Grey, and Victoria sighed.

                "Yes, you will, Dragon Goddess.  The battle's all yours.  And then, we can finally go to our peace."

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Thanks to:

Unintentional Nightmare – This is weekly, so I think you know the dates.

Hyperbole – Thanks!  My thought exactly, since it's Gryffindor and Slytherin!

Ugly Duckling – Really?  I never liked the beginning, but thanks!

Aurora_Angel – It says Chapter 29 was added March 1, but how come I didn't get it in my Chapter Owls?  I think we both missed it.  =)  The ending should be in 3 chapters!  And then the sequel!

And all readers!