Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter series, not me. Too bad…oh well. In this chapter, I used more slipknot lyrics and a "pinky and the brain" quote. That show is cool. I also used the orc from Warcraft #1 called "Day of the Dragon" by Richard A. Knaak. I took a battle scene from that book as well, but only I twisted it around a bit to make it Harry Potter style.
A/N: The real battle scene is much more dramatic…and much better written than mine. Oh well.
Chapter 8: A Battle in the Sky
Harry realized that he only screamed because he was startled. This was no enemy. Its ebony skin barely covered its bony ribcage. The eyes, which were sparkly white, seemed to contradict the overall dark appearance. It looked like a deformed horse. Harry had seen these creatures before while pulling the 'Ogwats carriages full of students up to the large oak doors. Thestrals, Harry pondered. They won't hurt me. In fact, I can put them to good use. It found me easily because it could smell the blood from my wounds. Harry's scream woke Draco, who was staring at him with hate. However, Ginny was still lying on the ground unconscious.
"What is your problem, Potter?" Draco asked while irritated. Then he looked up and saw the thestral. "E gads, brain! What the hell is that thing?"
"This," Harry paused while petting it, "Is a thestral."
"Oh yeah I remember that we learned about them with Hagrawp - uh I mean Hagrid," Draco said reasonably. "Wow I never thought they would look like that!" he exclaimed.
"Ginny should be able to see them when she wakes up, since she had also seen death," Harry said. "But I am beginning to worry. She has been knocked out for a long time now. I hope she is okay."
Draco bent down to look at Ginny. He gently touched her hair and looked at her longingly, forgetting that Harry was there talking to him. He looked at her intensely with his cold gray eyes, as if trying to make her force her eyelids open. He bent down closer to her so his face was almost touching hers.
"Malfoy, get with the program. This is not sleeping beauty!" he snapped while Draco blushed. "As I was saying before you almost snogged Ginny, I was thinking that we could use this thestral to take us to the safe house."
"But what about Ginny? We need her to guide us there," Draco said calmly as the redness drained from his face.
"I know. That's why we must wait until she wakes up," Harry said reasonably.
"In the mean time, let's have breakfast," Draco suggested.
"Okay. Ascendio bagels!" Harry shouted. The bagels appeared and the boys began to eat. 'What should I get for the thestral to eat?" he asked.
"Let me handle this. Ascendio tortured baby cow!" Draco said.
"Malfoy, no! I don't want this poor thing to die," Harry stated sadly as the cow appeared. Its large eyes pleaded with Draco to be spared.
"Your sympathy sickens me," Draco said as he made the cow vanish. "Now what do you suppose it should have? I read somewhere that they love tortured baby cows…Hmm, but then again, who doesn't?"
"No!" Harry said quickly. "I don't like tortured baby cows! That's just sick!"
"It's called a joke, Potter. As in ha-ha," Draco sassed. "Oh I have a great idea! Ascendio cow carcass!" he yelled. As the dead body appeared, Harry's mouth dropped in awe as the thestral viciously ripped it apart and devoured it.
"That's so disturbing!" Harry said while outraged.
"Disturbing? Yes, I suppose it is. Maybe that's why I think this is entertaining," Draco replied slyly.
"You're sick. I think you need mental help," Harry said honestly.
Draco thought for a few seconds and then said, "Perhaps."
There was a small moment of silence after this. While eating, Harry thought of an annoying question to ask Draco.
"Why are you so fascinated with Ginny?" Harry asked while Draco was staring at the thestral brutally ripping open the body.
Draco turned Harry's way and said coolly, "Whatever gave you that idea?"
"Well, you saved her more than once, you called her 'Ginny love,' and you almost snogged her today," Harry said while counting on his fingers.
"I saved her so I can get praise, I called her that name because I figured she would open her eyes if she was faking, and as for the 'almost snogging' thing, there was dirt on her face and I was trying to wipe it off," Draco replied.
"Oh you're good. You're really good, but not good enough to trick me. I couldn't have thought of better lies myself. Now I know why you're in Slytherin," Harry admitted.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Draco replied stupidly while shrugging. He turned around to avoid the conversation while watching the thestral finish it's breakfast.
"Then why did you smile when I told you to carry Ginny?" Harry nagged.
"Look, Potter. You need to shut the hell up before I make you. Mind your own business!" Draco yelled with rage.
Harry left the area where they had breakfast to check on Ginny. Much to his delight, she was awake. He headed over to her. She was looking around bewilderedly as if wondering where she was. She even seemed sort of frightened. I can't really blame her, Harry thought. However, when she saw him heading over to her, her expression was cheerful.
"Harry, where are we?" she asked.
"We're out of the Forbidden Forest, so don't worry," Harry said reassuringly. "Oh I found a thestral. I was hoping that you could give it directions to go to the safe house. We can get there much faster now."
"Oh that's great," she replied. "Oh my, what happened to your arm?" Ginny asked as her eyes darted to Harry's injury.
"The centaur burned and shot it. It really hurts. Draco picked some herbs for us though. You missed it. He was actually being nice for once!"
"That's surprising," Ginny said. "Oh I wish I could have seen that!"
"It's not too late. Go see him. He's over there. I'll bet he will be glad to see you. He was the one who rescued you. He was very worried," Harry admitted.
"Okay!" Ginny said while excited.
Harry walked her to Draco, who was petting the thestral. Draco's eyebrows shot up in surprise as he gazed at Ginny.
"Why if it isn't the weasel and her friend, Potty," Draco teased.
Harry's smile turned into a frown. He was so worried about her and all he could do now is make fun of her. "Leave Ginny alone. She's been through a lot," Harry said.
"You're such a bitch, you know that?" Ginny said to him. "I thought you were actually going to be nice for once!" she yelled.
"Now why would I do a thing like that?" he asked innocently.
"Because its polite!" Ginny screamed.
Draco should know better not to piss Ginny off, Harry thought wisely. She has a fiery temper.
"I can't stand you, Draco Malfoy! You need to go jump off a cliff."
"I would just to get away from you and Potty Wee Potter," Draco sneered.
"I HATE YOU!!!" Ginny yelled.
He walked over to her and stared at her coldly with his intense gray eyes for several seconds. Harry feared that he would try to hurt her. Instead, Draco did something unexpected. He grabbed Ginny in a tight hug while Harry stared with his mouth half opened. Ginny didn't push him away. She just stood there as if she was unable to move.
When he finally let go of her, he said, "You always fight back. That's what I like about you, Ginny." He walked away to pet the thestral as if nothing ever happened. Both Ginny and Harry watched him walk away with surprised looks on their faces.
Harry had the courage to ask, "What in the world was that about?"
"Uh…I don't know?" Ginny said unsurely. "I hate him even more now! How can he change his moods like that so quickly? ARGH! I just want to slap him!" Harry noticed that Ginny's voice didn't sound that convincing.
"How about we take a short walk? It will keep your mid off of things. And I can tell you about my victory over the centaur," Harry suggested while changing the subject.
"That sounds good," Ginny said cheerfully.
When Harry and Ginny returned from their refreshing walk, they saw Draco in the same place they had left him. He continued to pet the thestral affectionately, while ignoring the duo. He must really like that thing, he thought. No surprise there. Harry noticed that there was another thestral along with the first one.
Draco finally acknowledged their presence. He turned to them and said, "I found Raven's friend."
"Raven?" Ginny asked.
"Yes I named it. Quite appropriate, don't you think?"
"Whatever," Ginny said. She was clearly still annoyed with him.
"Where did you find it?" Harry asked while wanting to change the subject.
"It was deeper in the woods, so I went after it. Once it saw Raven, it came out here to greet me. I figured we could use it," Draco replied.
"You should have gotten another one," Ginny snapped.
"Well I did see another one, but I was too lazy to run after it. It didn't seem as eager to meet me. And besides, I figured it would be much more entertaining riding with you," Draco said while snickering.
"Go get the other one!" she ordered.
"Too late. It's long gone."
"Then I'll ride with Harry!"
"Potter doesn't want to ride with you, right?" Draco emphasized the last word to make it sound like a threat as he looked towards Harry.
"Right," Harry replied. He would rather have his own thestral, even though he knew that he should have offered to ride with Ginny.
Giny gave him a furious glare and then gave in. "As long as you try nothing funny, Malfoy!"
"Ah, I see you must be annoyed. We're back on a last name basis with each other. As you wish, little weasel!" he said the last words harshly.
"Fine!" she yelled.
When Ginny turned her back to mount the thestral, Draco gave Harry a lame attempt at a smile. Harry took it as a way of thanking him. They all climbed aboard there thestrals. When Draco gripped Ginny's waist firmly, she squeaked.
"I told you to cut it out!" she yelled.
"What? I have to hold onto something. I don't want to fall off, you know. These things are pretty fast!" he admitted.
As Ginny seemed to accept this excuse, Harry chuckled.
"What are you cackling about, Potter?" Draco said while glaring at him.
"Oh nothing," he lied. "We better get going."
Just when Harry said that, the thestrals all zoomed in the air swiftly without warning. Harry thought he was going to fall off, but he was glad that he had great instincts and a firm grip. I bet Draco has the same thing, Harry thought while imagining him holding onto Ginny's waist. When he saw them pass by him, he laughed again. The laughter almost distracted him from the constant pain in his arm and how uncomfortable he was riding the thestral. It seemed like he was going to fall off any minute. Meanwhile, he was nauseous. I can't wait to get off this thing, he thought miserably. He continued to follow Ginny and Draco.
As he was beginning to relax on the thestral, he saw something up ahead. He couldn't tell what it was from a distance, but it did not look friendly. When he flew up closer, he could see it. It was a mighty green beast riding a crimson dragon with massive talons. He saw the details up close now. This is not just any beast, he thought. This is a warrior. It was wearing heavy armor over it's green muscular body that covered him from head to toe, save for the neck and the hands. It even had a metal helmet over its long black hair while carrying an axe. Its crisp white fangs emerged from the bottom lip, while covering the top teeth. Its bright blue eyes contradicted the appearance. He remembered reading about these creatures before, but he had never actually seen one. They are known as orcs.
Harry darted his eyes away from the orc to look for Ginny and Draco. He saw them coming nearer to the green beast, but when they tried to get around it, the latter blocked them so they were trapped. Even the massive wings of the thestrals couldn't get around this orc. This was a really tough one. Harry felt that a battle was unavoidable.
"Petrificus totalus!" Harry heard Ginny shout.
The spell backfired and the creature seemed unharmed, yet very annoyed. It roared with rage, and then it struck. It said something in an unfamiliar language. Then the dragon spat out flames from its mouth directly at Ginny. Harry flew closer and used the flame freezing charm just in time to save Ginny. The embers turned into a chunk of ice and Harry heard it hit the ground below.
By now, the orc was even more angrier that before. It flew after Harry at great speed while narrowly missing his head as he swung the axe. He used the crimson dragon to attempt to burn him, but Harry kept ducking out of the way. Once again, he was thankful for his superb instincts. Draco kept shouting dark, mysterious spells at the orc, but they all kept missing. Harry wondered why this could happen, but there was no solution to the problem. Ginny tried to stupefy it a few times, but that also failed.
"Why isn't it working?" Harry heard Ginny ask Draco.
Harry thought of a brilliant idea. "There's only one spell that will work on it now," Harry said.
"Priori Incantem!" Harry shouted. Just as he wished, he got answers. Harry saw that the last spell used on the suit of armor was a magic charm. The charm protected the orc against all types of magic, just as Harry suspected.
"How does that help, Potter? Now we're defenseless."
Harry was speechless. He thought that finding out one question would lead him to more answers, but he was wrong. Draco, however, seemed to have an idea after a few moments of thinking.
"Ascendio axe!" he said as the axe flew towards him perfectly.
"How did you do that? The armor would have prevented that spell!" Harry said reasonably.
"The armor would have, but remember that the orc's hands aren't covered," Ginny said.
"Oh…" Harry said stupidly. I should have known that! He thought while annoyed.
Draco looked down at his hands holding the axe and grinned. Oh no. Whenever he grins like that, something bad is going to happen. We're doomed!
"Ginny, fly closer to the orc!" he demanded.
"Why?" she asked while perplexed.
"Just do it!" he snapped.
Oh gods, he must be on a suicide mission. I have to stop it! Harry thought. "Draco, don't do this!" Harry yelled to him. "Just think of all the people that care about you! Let's see, there's um…well, there's got to be someone."
"I do," Ginny said while smiling. All anger seemed to have evaporated from her. Draco turned to smile back at her sincerely, while forgetting his evil sneer and taunting jokes.
He returned to himself again after a few seconds. "Whatever, little weasel. What are you blabbering about, Potter?"
"Don't kill yourself!"
"I wasn't going to. Watch and learn," he said coolly.
Ginny flew closer to the orc riding the dragon. He told Ginny directions to get around the orc. Then he ordered her to stop as its back was facing them. Harry was watching from afar. He unexpectedly jumped off of the thestral and hopped onto the dragon, which roared and kicked. The orc had no weapon, except for its strength. It tried grabbing Draco, but he was much too quick for it. The dragon fiercely tried killing him with its long talons. Draco seemed to be having difficulty holding onto the dragon, because it was twisting and rolling in an unsuccessful attempt to dispose of him. He would do great on one of those mechanical bull things, Harry thought randomly. Stop being an ass! Any small movement can be fatal!
As Draco regained his footing, he held the axe firmly in his hands. He looked from the axe to the orc repeatedly as the orc seemed to be frozen in place. Draco suddenly lifted the axe and swung it fiercely, but missed. The orc grabbed his arm and twisted it in an unnatural position as Draco screamed in agony. Surprisingly, he wouldn't let go of the axe. After the painful screaming ceased, Draco glared at the orc even more evilly than he glared at Harry. The eight-foot orc stood up while towering over Draco's small figure. The orc bent down to grasp Draco again, but it missed. While Draco snuck behind the orc, he tried pushing it off of the dragon, which was a stupid move because it did nothing. Goodbye, Draco. The end is near for all of us. If only you weren't so conceited…
Draco looked pissed off. "Fuck this shit. I'm sick of this. You're going down. This is a war!" Draco said through ragged breathing.
When the orc bent down to grasp Draco, the latter used the axe successfully. Draco slammed the axe down on the orc's head. It was completely severed and it rolled off the side of the dragon. (A/N: If this were real, the orc would kick Draco's ass. I didn't want him to die though, so the orc had to… sniffle sob sob). Draco laughed as he pushed the rest of the body off of the dragon and said casually, "Well, that was interesting."
There was an inhuman cry of rage as Draco looked to the ferocious dragon. "Oh yeah, I forgot about that," he admitted.
Draco swung the axe at the red dragon, but it wouldn't work. "I can't do it! The scales are too thick! Use magic. It should work since the armor is gone!" Draco yelled.
"I got it," Ginny said while volunteering to defeat the dragon. "Orchideous!" she said as flowers emerged from her wand. There was no effect on the dragon.
"What was that?" Harry asked her while confused.
"I always wanted to see Draco covered in flowers. He looks adorable!" she said.
"I am not a playtoy!" Draco yelled.
"But we can arrange that," Ginny flirted.
"Next thing I know, you're going to dress me in drag," Draco said while annoyed.
"That's a good idea!" Ginny said cheerfully.
"Stop it, Ginny. He could die any moment! Remember that!" Harry snapped as Draco stared at her.
"Oh…right. Sorry," she said meekly. "Petrificus totalus!" she yelled, as the petrified dragon began to sink to the ground while Draco was still on it. He screamed as he fell with the dragon.
Ginny dove down to where he was falling, Harry didn't think she would make it. She disappeared down into the clouds. They disappeared for a few minutes as Harry waited for them to emerge. Please let them be okay, he thought desperately. He went looking for them, while diving deeper and deeper into the puffy white clouds that seemed to mock his worried mood. He searched all over the area. When he saw nothing, he decided that they both died in a bold rescue attempt and he must sadly move on with his life. "I'm sorry," he said to no one in particular, since he knew that Ginny and Draco were dead. Tears blurred his vision. "I'm so sorry."