Another quick bit just to let you know that I'm alive. There isn't much to this but we're getting into the real plot now. Stick with me.

Wizard of Crow

Chapter 3

Harry stared at the figure in front of him. There was only one person, no, thing, that it could be. As the man came closer, Harry's breath caught in his chest. His mind was racing and with every slow step the man took the thoughts in Harry's head swirled and collided failing to form any coherent ideas. When the figure finally came to a stop about three yards in front of Harry, the young wizard shook his head, trying to rid his head of the confusing thoughts. The last thing he needed now were distractions. Harry was scared, but unless he did something quick trivial things like emotions and thinking wouldn't be top on his priorities anymore.

All of a sudden, the man spoke again. "Yes, Potter, you know who I am. And I am sure you know why I am here. So many times I have had the chance to get rid of you and each time something has gone amiss. But not this time. There is nothing that can get in my way. I have sealed this room off from the rest of the castle and removed it from this time completely. In other words, no one can hear you scream."

He let that thought linger in Harry's mind for a moment before continuing. "The only way out is if I lift the spell, which I assure you will not be done until you are dead." Another pause. "Actually... there is one other way that you could get out, but it is highly unlikely."

As these words echoed in Harry's mind, a small, evil smile played across the face of the figure standing opposite him. Harry's mind was spinning. Despite his efforts to clear his mind, all of this was crashing in on him. He didn't know quite what was going on, and all this talk of sealing off the entrance hall was confusing him. On top of all that, his scar had begun to hurt. He had noticed it as a dull ache when the room began to grow dark, but now it was a searing pain that had Harry nearly doubled over. He was fighting just to stay on his feet now.

The sinister form grew excited upon seeing the pain the young wizard was enduring. "As I was saying, the only other way for you to escape this world, is if you kill me, the caster of the spell. However, looking at your current condition, it seems highly unlikely that you would be able to beat me in so much as a staring contest. It seems your scar is hurting you, yes?" He took a few steps closer to Harry and stared almost lovingly at his forehead. "I remember the day I gave you that scar," all at once his expression changed to one of loathing, "and then you took away my power. I've had to wait 16 years to get to you, but now the time is finally here and my waiting can end."

Harry panicked. He did his best to pull his thoughts together. On impulse he reached into his robes and pulled out his wand. He wasn't quite sure what to do with it however. Harry didn't know how to cast the killing spell, and even if he did there's a chance something like that may not work on the inhuman form in front of him. Taking a deep breath, he attempted to calm himself again.

As Harry stood breathing in and out he heard the black shape begin to speak softly under his breath. It didn't sound like the killing curse, and it was too long on top of that. It was some sort of jinx or hex Harry though, or maybe a charm. As a small, but bright, white light began to grow on the end if the other wand Harry calm snapped and he couldn't stand there any longer. Wand pointed out, he yelled out the first spell that came to his mind. "Expecto Patronum!" A silvery shape sprang forward from the end of Harry's wand but did not shape. Glowing slightly, the silver mass settled around the form. Harry looked on in wonder as the mass grew closer and tighter, the body struggling and trying desperately to break free. Yet the silver solidified and the shape finally stopped moving. Small noises of a struggling person escaped from inside until eventually they stopped.

Harry just stared, watching in wonder. He didn't notice when the silver began to crack and break. The shell and it's contents blew apart into millions of pieces. Along with the explosion a wave of magic was released and plowed through the room. When the wave came upon the young wizard that stood there so helplessly, he was knocked flat down, passing out almost immediately.

The magic dissipated slowly. There was nothing left in the room other than the crumpled body of Harry Potter.