Hello again! I'm sorry I ended the last chapter as a cliffy! I really wanted to post something and it was getting really late. I work, you know!!! And I was caught off guard by a major writer's block. You already know that if you read the notice in chapter 14.
On with chapter 15, then! I don't really have anything more to say, anyway…-_-;;;
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Fate has brought us together
Chapter 15: Death scythe
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Last time
Sirius didn't waist time and all but ran to Harry, giving him some support. He heard faint voices until they went into his head. Everyone was getting freaked. They were also beginning to hear them, and it was getting louder by the minute. Faster and louder and faster, they were getting scared.
Until a loud cry shot out above the insistent voices; "SHUT UP"!!!!!!
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A high pitch scream that made them wince and cover their ears was heard and then…nothing. The 2 mysterious veiled persons had disappeared. Instead, a very angry silver haired girl stood behind them, arms crossed and icy gaze directed to the archway. "Sorry I'm late."
"Serenity!!!" Harry ran to her and embraced her tightly. Crouch just stood there, mouth opening and closing like a fish. "YOU!!! How did you get in the ministry without permission?!" She smirked. "Who said I asked permission to enter? Your poor aurors must still be searching for me, by the way. They really need to get into shape." The minister made a strangled sound but didn't dare say more on the subject. That girl could easily decide to practice targets with him. He fidgeted on his spot.
"You made those whisperings stop, thank you, by the way. I don't know what it was but it was getting hard to concentrate." Crouch turned to Dumbledore, who had addressed the rabbit. "How did you make them stop, by the way? Why did they listen to you? And why was Potter the only one to hear them at first?"
Serenity looked grimly at Barty Crouch. "They don't really have a choice to listen to me…even if they made my life a total misery, I have to thank at least one of them for its effort in giving me a new chance at happiness. Harry heard them first because they toyed with his life a lot more than with yours." Harry gave a questioning look to her. She had managed to confuse the group once again. She sighted.
"They always love to meddle with the lives of others, mine first…Fate and Destiny…" While saying that, she was approaching the void between the arch and stopped short when Sirius's voice boomed out; "Don't get near it! You'll get sucked in!" He ran to her but she smiled reassuringly to him. "Don't worry. There is no chance for me to get lost in there. It's called a dream vortex. Fate and Destiny love to travel through them to 'torture' new victims. I guess you were the 'victim' last time. But weren't you at peace with yourself when they let you out of it?" She stopped and smiled ironically at Sirius's face. "They attracted you to it, years ago. You were asking yourself so many questions and denying most of your life, they decided to make you see the truth. Harry isn't James Potter." Said Harry made a surprised look.
Sirius looked sad and lowered his head. "No, he isn't." Harry gave him a pained look. The tone of voice Sirius had taken had made him almost regret to still be alive, instead of his father. But then he gave him a shocked look when his godfather continued; "No, he isn't…He's better, and I would never dare to leave him alone again." He locked his gaze with Harry seriously and nodded to him. Harry gave him a 100 watt smile. "Thanks Sirius. That means a lot to me."
The potions master gave a disgusted look. "This is so very touching but can we get out of this dreaded place and get on with the tour?" They snapped out of it and blushed. "Umm… Yeah. Sorry professor." Harry looked sheepishly at the headmaster. Crouch advanced to the exit door. "That was certainly an interesting experience but we should really get out of here. We have one more department to visit before dinner. Follow me!"
They hurried out and climbed several stairs before arriving at their destination. "This is the Misuse of muggle artefacts department. It's where bewitched muggle items are stored and studied. Follow me. I'll present you to the person in charge." "That's my dad's department!!! I finally get to see it!" Ron looked excitedly at Hermione, Harry and Serenity. Hermione looked happy for him but she scrunched up her nose in disdain. "At least you're not being a total pain like Malfoy when we visited his father's work place…" They shared a grim look.
They got into the office. It wasn't that big and strange stuff, well, at least for the pure blooded, was scattered all around the place. They spotted Mr Weasley along with an older looking man trying to work something up. They were so concentrated they didn't show signs of hearing them enter. "Hum, hum! Weasley!!!" Arthur jumped up and turned around, holding his heart. "Minister! I didn't hear you come in! I apologize, we were trying to make something work but the damned muggle box won't do a thing!" Some Slyhterins snickered while Ron moaned in embarrassment, half covering his face with his hand. "Must he always work on those bloody things?" Harry gave him a sympathetic look. "I see your father still loves muggle objects…"
"Hey! That's a computer!" Hermione walked to the muggle 'box', as Mr Weasley called it. "So…It's named a comp...computer? We found it in a raid last night. It was bewitched to make people get into a deep trance so we brought it back and got the spell off. We wanted to know what muggles did with but we never got it to work. We tried giving it a source of power, since we don't have those plugs things muggle use to have electricity in their houses but it still didn't work."
The other man working with Arthur huffed in impatience at the computer. "We tried all the buttons. The only thing that happens is when we hit the one at the side. Something flashes at the screen but it stays dark after that."
Hermione looked pensive. "I have a computer at home but I really don't know what to do in this case. Sorry." Seamus Finniggan looked aghast. "Hermione doesn't know how it works?! Well, nobody can do it if she can't!" She glared playfully at him. "I don't know everything, you know!" While they were arguing and getting the attention of the entire group, Harry and Serenity neared the computer and sat in the chair in which Mr Weasley previously was. She studied the muggle box. "So, Sere, do you think you can repair it?"
"Of course! It has all the things required. He even got the speakers! He really got everything from the computer in that raid! His source of energy, as he calls it, is perfect. But the problem comes from inside the computer. It's the machine code that has to be re-written in order to make the windows open. Mr Weasley probably toyed with the thing a little too much and he erased the code.
Harry sweatdropped. "That sounds like Mr Weasley, all right." Serenity started to type at a fast speed on the keyboard. Thousands of numbers appeared on the screen and then, the computer gave a loud 'BEEEP!'
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"Oh! Come on Hermione! I was just joking!" 'BEEEEP!' Their attention got diverted to the loud sound instead, and seeing Harry and the Lady Moon in front of the now working screen, Arthur all but rushed happily to them. "You got it to wor…!" 'BOOOOOOM!!!'
Mr Weasley didn't have time to finish his phrase, though. A large explosion occurred outside and the entire floor of the ministry shook dangerously. Mc Gonagall directed the panicked students out of the shaking room, followed by the rest of the teachers and the minister. It was chaos in the halls. They past in front of a big window and all paled. Ron gulped. Outside, the aurors who had been training got joined by the rest of them and were trying to hold half an army of dementors and DeathEaters. "Bloody hell! They're really here…"
"I have to get down there! The aurors will need all the help they can get!" "I will come with you! Everyone will stay here and not panic!" They didn't have time to argue, Crouch and Dumbledore were already on their way down, joined by other members from the different departments. They weren't all aurors, but they were a part of the ministry altogether.
The students rushed to the window, peering down on the now battlefield with horror, despite Snape and Mc Gonagall's warnings. The enemy was gaining strength fast. Harry gazed at Remus and Sirius. "Looks like they came prepared. Voldemort…" Hisses could be heard. He sighed in exasperation. "You-know-who must have mobilized at least half of his troops to get that attack right." Sirius nodded gravely while Remus continued to stare outside, then addressed the calm rabbit carefully; "Aren't you going to help them fight?" Serenity didn't show any intention to go there, merely watched the development with small interest.
"What will you when they attack someday and when I won't be there to fight for you?" She left it there, making them think about what she had said. She frowned suddenly at the outgoing fight. This caught their attention and they hurriedly directed their gaze downward. Dumbledore had been trapped between a dozen Death Eaters and looked pretty roughed up. They looked pleadingly at her but, though a little more alert, she didn't seem to move more. A Death Eater suddenly brandished a long and very sharp looking weapon towards the headmaster. Time seemed to slow down.
Minerva gasped loudly and the students screamed with horror. Harry ran towards the window and started to pound on it, yelling at the headmaster to get out of the way, while Sirius and Remus tried to stop him from breaking the window.
She watched them. Watched them implore the headmaster to move, to do something. An internal battle had begun in her heart.
'I won't always be there…
They will have to fight someday…
I can't always protect them…
But…I was born to protect…
Wasn't I?...
It isn't my fight, no…
But he is their source of protection…
I can't turn away from a fight…
But I don't want to fight…
Make them stop!...
I…
"Damn it all to hell!" Harry turned abruptly at her voice, but she had already disappeared in a flurry of silver specks. "HARRY! LOOK!" Ron gripped his arm roughly, pointing down at the flash of light that erupted between the DeathEater with the weapon and Dumbledore. He looked relieved as Serenity appeared but his face contorted with horror when the weapon stroked her instead. Her eyes got bigger but no sound came from her mouth as the weapon embedded itself in her chest. 'Damn, that hurt' she thought weakly.
Silence had now complete reign over the students. They looked as shocked as the headmaster, who was kneeling on the ground. Now Harry DID break the glass with his bare hands, and almost jumped down if it wasn't for a very disturbed Sirius restraining him. Truth is, Sirius wanted to go down there as much as his godson. "SERENITY!!! NOOOO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!"
She ignored him for the moment and gripped the handle of the weapon, which she had discovered it to be some sort of scythe. She laughed weakly and shakily. "I'm so careless…" Then, she glared at the DeathEater menacingly, getting him out of his stupor. She gripped at the handle and got it out of her chest, shoving the enemy away. She gave a look of pure hatred and smiled sadistically. "You call this a scythe? How dare you take the name of Saturn? You are worthless! Let me show you…the true power of death!!!"
A dark and unwelcoming aura swept over the ground, chilling the people deep into their heart. Keening cries were heard as the dementors backed away. Such evil energy, they couldn't withstand. She put her hands together in front of her, as if she was summoning something. Up in the building, the restrained Harry could only watch the development. "No…Is that? Is she really gonna do it?"
Lupin, who was the one restraining Harry, with the help of Sirius, gave him a questioning look. "What's going on, Harry? What's that dark feeling that's settling into my soul?" "It's the second most powerful power she could ever use. The attacks and energies she emitted throughout the year is nothing compared to this, and it's only second to what she can really do. She never showed me this power for it is too dangerous, but she told me about it and what it did…
"So she toyed with us all year long?! What is this power? And what happens when you use it?"
"…Death…" Remus got so shocked he actually let go of Harry and backed away, leaving a surprised dog animagus holding his arm. Remus sputtered. "What do you mean, death?! No one can control death!"
Harry sighted a defeated and obviously tired sigh. "That scythe is the real deal, straight from hell itself. It's the death scythe of Saturn, the planet of destruction and revolution. Last time Saturn used the ultimate attack, she died. That's the price to pay for using this attack." Professor Flitwick gasped from where he was, dread obvious in his voice. "Is she going to sacrifice herself for us?! Is she going to…die?" Hermione made a strangled sound and buried her head in Ron's robes.
"She can't…she can't die. She's……immortal." Harry said so silently, they almost didn't hear. But they did. Hagrid, who had been silent the whole time, voiced his worries to him. " 'Arry. She can't be immortal. She may have blood that resembles unicorn blood, even unicorn die if they're too injured or in that time in the forest, in your firs' year…"
"Don't you think I know that? Of course, unicorns aren't totally immortal. Heck! It's not even immortality! It's more like longevity. Sere has it also, but she's a true immortal. She told you before, about Fate and Destiny…If she dies, she comes back as fast as she went away…" He finished his phrase in a quiet whisper, leaving a bunch of opened mouths. Malfoy snorted. "If she's so immortal, as you say, why are you scared about her dying? She'll come back anyway, her and her annoying personality!"
Mc Gonagall almost whacked him in the head for his lack of concern. Harry looked downright outraged. "It's not because she's immortal that I'll accept to see her die and come back like this! If you think the transition between the dead and living world is easy, you're wrong! And besides! What would you do if you saw the one you love get killed right in front of your eyes???" Malfoy shut up but looked angrily at him. Ron glared at Malfoy and muttered; "I know I wouldn't be able to handle it…" He got several nodding from his own fellow Gryffindors.
The dark feeling intensified and they were forced to back away from the window. A weapon finally appeared from the dark violet mist surrounding her. A very long and sharp scythe took its place in her hands. She made it swirl a little to test it and violently slashed the other's weapon. The Death Eater was forced to brandish his wand and he yelled the killing curse; "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
"SILENCE WALL!!!" The curse hit the black shield and got absorbed as fast as it came. The Death Eater started to panic. The dementors had pretty much all gone away. They, who weren't totally human, could understand they were no match for this kind of magic. But still, a lot of followers had stayed and were approaching Serenity. Suddenly, one of them spotted the boy who lived, beside the window. As soon as he made the threatening move towards Harry, as soon as Serenity made hers, no longer thinking about her own safety. 'It IS right!'
Then, a violent burst of energy surrounded the field. "DEATH! RIBBON! REVOLUTIOOON!!!" All they saw was a dark void, forming where the courageous bunny had been, stopping short of where the members of the ministry and Dumbledore had escaped in their spare time. 'For Harry…'
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'Where am I? It's so warm…' She was floating in an empty space; no light whatsoever to guide her. Still, she felt in peace. A place where she could finally rest and let go of all the fighting. "Are you giving up?" A familiar voice forced her to open her eyes. A dark violet light formed in the darkness, revealing no other than…"Ho.ta.ru? Is it really you? She faintly asked. The small girl giggled and looked behind her, where numerous other lights appeared.
"Minna? You're all here?" "You're still the same, Odango-Atama!" "Rei-chan…" "But I must admit, you've grown in the lady we always thought you to be!" The fiery priestess smiled serenely at her princess.
Hotaru advanced and looked up at her source of light. "Don't give up, Serenity-sama! Lots of people are still in need of your help!" "Hotaru…"
"She's right you know! And what about that emerald eyed boy? I like him! So don't you dare leaving him alone!" Michiru whacked the wind senshi on the arm. "Haruka! Serenity-hime doesn't need your approval to date someone! But really, hime-chan, we still believe in you and in what you can do for the world."
"Haruka-san, Michiru-san! Thank you…" They others circled her. "Ami, Rei, Makoto, Minako, Haruka, Michiru, Setsuna, Hotaru…I miss you so much!" The Ginzuishou appeared from the Cosmos seed and the familiar white dress took its place. The darkness started to fade away and light was rapidly taking its righteous place. She was fading away and extended her hand to them one last time. I won't ever forget you, my friends!!!" Crystalline tears were forming and dropped on her rosy cheeks.
The senshi said in unison; "Remember Usagi-chan! We'll always be proud of you, no matter what happens!" She closed her eyes; the light was getting too bright. But she had the time to hear one last thing from Minako and Makoto. "You go girl! Get that creep Voldie-what's -his-name and say hello to that cutie you fetched yourself!!!" "He looks like my old boyfriend!" This time, she did laugh. 'They are truly happy where they are. Good for them. But I have a new life to live, and nobody's going to ruin it. No one!'
With that last thought, she touched the bright shining silver light, everything imploded.
Harry was getting restless. It had been awhile since the dark dome had formed and he dreaded the worst for his love. But then, the giant dark bubble imploded on itself, leaving a very much desolated environment behind. The grass area had completely disappeared, leaving only a dirtied earth where the attack had formed. The enemy had completely vanished and Ron shuddered just about thinking what happened to them. The total destruction they now faced made them realize painfully the gravity of the situation.
The boy who lived felt a pulling at his heart. A small light was descending to the middle of the field. Shining butterflies of all the colors encircled it and in a flash of light, Princess Serenity appeared and landed on the ground, unconscious. Sirius automatically let go of his godson who jumped directly out of the broken window, illuminating his wand of a reddish color again by using the Wingardium Leviosa spell on himself. Sirius almost did the same but reminded himself it probably wasn't a very good idea so he got down the stairs hurriedly, followed by the rest of the student body.
"SERE!" Dumbledore was kneeling besides her, taking in her appearance. Harry kneeled by his side and took the exhausted princess in his arms, hugging her tightly to his body, as if afraid she would vanish again. He heard a small yawn and gazed down at her worriedly. "You scared me so much! Are you ok?" She smiled tiredly but lovingly at him, stroking his face with one of her hands. "Of course I'm alright, love! We're together! So everything's fine!" A tear made its way down Harry's cheek. He gently placed his lips upon hers, engaging in a deep and loving kiss.
He got up afterwards, with his only light secured in his arms. He gave a questioning look at the half accusing-half playful glare the headmaster was giving him. "Pray tell, Mr Potter, why you decided not to tell me she was also the high princess of the silver millennium?" Harry looked down at his love's forehead and surely, the crescent moon was visible, barely hidden in the 8 pointed star but it was still shining. Harry blushed. "Ummm…Oooops?"
They said their goodbyes to the ministry people, not too long after. In the carriage, Snape brushed past him. He could've sworn he heard the potions professor mutter; "How many titles does she have anyway?"
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AHHHHH!!!! LOOONG, VERY LOONG CHAPTER!!!! You guys better review! I wrote this for you!
I wanted to post it faster but FF.net had a little problem. So I lengthened the chapter instead. Neat, isn't it? ^_^
Don't forget!
I WANT REVIEWS!!!!!! ^_~
Love ya all! Until next time!
