A/N
– Hi Guys, look I'm sorry that this took quite a while to write, I was a little
erm stuck for inspiration as my mind seemed to wander to other things, but it's
done now, although once again it's short, *smiles apologetically*… Read!
(dedicated to abbey – from the riddles board)
Ron, Neville and Sirius relaxed in the chamber and after a
short argument Ron managed to persuade Sirius to eat the chocolate McGonagall
had pointed him to.
Very quickly Sirius fell asleep in his chair mumbling about
Harry. Ron and Neville were tired as
well so they sat in chairs near the fireplace and waited for someone to come
and tell them what was going on…
Little did they realise what was going on outside the
castle.
~~~*~~~*~~~
Harry's heart was racing. A wizard's duel was binding, but he had to do something. He couldn't let Voldemort kill Dumbledore...
he just couldn't let that happen. He
stretched his wings even further and painfully slowly the castle drew nearer.
Most people had seen Harry by now and there were many
pointed fingers and gasps from everyone, then, the two duellers happened to
notice him swoop over the edge of the forest.
Voldemort seemed ready to explode with anger, whilst
Dumbledore seemed completely stunned. They both held their wands half way to the ground.
The world seemed to have paused for Harry's arrival. Then suddenly Voldemort seemed to come to
his senses and seized his opportunity, turning away from Harry he pointed his
wand straight at Dumbledore and sent the cruciatus curse at his opponent.
Harry felt a fierce burning in his chest, seeing Dumbledore
writhing in pure agony from the curse, he roared, sending a flurry of flames
into the air.
Without a hesitation Harry plummeted to the ground in front
of Dumbledore shielding him from the curse.
Voldemort simply threw back his head and laughed manically.
"So, you challenge me do you Harry?"
Harry was burning with the pain of the cruciatus curse
still coursing through him and his scar felt like his head had been slashed
open.
Beside him Dumbledore was sitting obviously exhausted,
shaking violently with fire blazing in his eyes.
"You don't have to be a hero Harry." He whispered in a quiet, controlled voice.
Harry transformed back from his dragon form shifting himself
into a sitting position hands clutching his back.
"I'm no hero, but I know what I've got to do." He replied breathing deeply, he took a hand
from his back and brushed the hair from his face leaving a streak of crimson
across his brow.
Voldemort was standing watching them his red eyes glowing
insanely.
"Which of you will finish this fight?"
Harry held Dumbledore's gaze and the headmaster bowed his
head.
"I shall!" Replied
Harry turning his face to the dark lord.
There were several stunned faces in the Hogwarts ranks,
students who had believed Harry dead, teachers who had yet to see what chance
the boy had against You-Know-Who.
Only Snape seemed completely unsurprised, he ran to the
headmaster and helped Dumbledore to his feet. He leant down to do the same to Harry but the boy simply shook his head.
Snape drew back his hand in confusion and led the
headmaster away.
"I don't have all day Potter!" Yelled Voldemort raising his wand. "Crucio!"
The cruciatus curse raced towards Harry who was still on
the ground.
Harry glared at Voldemort his face was furious and his eyes
glittered with rage.
The curse struck the ground inches from Harry's legs, which
he had pulled away with his arms.
Realising
that he had to fight Harry used wingardium leviosa to raise himself upright to
face the dark lord, he hadn't even thought about the fact he didn't have his
wand, wandless magic seemed so natural to him now, but several small cries of
astonishment rippled through the crowds.
Voldemort
sneered
"Can't
even stand on your own two feet Potter?" He cried.
Harry
responded by hurling the banishing charm towards him, Voldemort was surprised
but blocked it expertly.
Harry's concentration was focused completely on the curses
that kept coming at him as well as keeping himself upright, he barely managed
to send any spells at Voldemort at all. But then, out of the corner of his eye he saw Hermione watching from the
ranks of Hogwartians, he felt fresh determination rush through him and, summoning
all of his strength he sent the strongest disarming spell he could make at
Voldemort.
It hit the dark lord straight in the chest sending him
reeling backwards towards the lake, his wand flying swiftly to Harry's waiting
hand.
Harry's eyes blazed in triumph and he crushed the wand into
two pieces.
Voldemort clutched his chest and glared at Harry, obviously
enraged.
"Don't think I won't be back Potter! You won't be so lucky next time." He screeched, but he didn't leave right
away.
He had one last card to play, watching the dark lord begin to
chant Harry trembled in fear, he dropped the broken wand to the ground but he
was frozen on the spot.
The silvery snake-like spell hit Harry on the arm before he
could react, and then, Voldemort disappeared along with the Death Eaters.
Harry fell to the floor, exhausted, still bleeding and his
head spiralling into a daze.
~~~*~~~*~~~
Minerva McGonagall hurried down the corridor with Snape
beside her, after Voldemort and the Death Eaters had gone Dumbledore and
Flitwick had taken an unconscious Harry to the Hospital Wing and the other
teachers were leading the students back to their common rooms, trying to
explain what had happened.
McGonagall and Snape were on their way to find Sirius, Ron
and Neville who had obviously been forgotten in all of the panic and left in
the Gryffindor chamber.
"Was probably best that they were there. Those three tend to overreact where Harry's
concerned"
Said McGonagall trying to engage the terribly quiet and
withdrawn potions master in conversation.
"Quite." Replied
Snape becoming even more stoney-faced at the mention of Harry.
"I'm sure Harry will be okay Severus." Said Minerva as they reached the entrance.
"I'll wait here." Said Snape staring at his feet.
"Are you alright Severus?" Asked McGonagall feeling slightly nervous.
It took a lot to ruffle professor Snape.
"You wouldn't understand Minerva! You didn't see what the curse did to him before… he… he… asked me…"
McGonagall looked Snape in the eye her stomach felt as
though it were twisting into knots.
"What?" She asked
softly.
"He asked me about his scar… he couldn't remember…" Mumbled Snape rubbing his forehead.
McGonagall felt ill, she had obviously gone very pale
because it was Snape's turn to ask if she was alright.
Giving him a swift nod, Minerva turned away and entered the
chamber. The three in the room were all
snoring softly in the firelight.#
"Sirius!" Said
McGonagall softly shaking him.
Sirius shifted away slightly and snorted.
"Wake up!" She
almost shouted.
"Sorry Professor! I'll transfigure the toad in a minute." Mumbled Sirius into his arm.
"Sirius Black, wake up this instant!" Shouted McGonagall smiling slightly.
"Woah! Sorry, must
have dozed off for a minute there…"
"Sirius, Harry's here, he's safe now." Said Minerva.
"Harry! Alive! Safe! Here!" Yelled Sirius
waking up the two boys.
"Wha'?" Asked Ron
rubbing his eyes.
"Harry's here, he's safe!" Whooped Sirius jumping up from his chair and hoisting Ron and Neville up
by their arms.
"Sirius, I think you'd better come with me. Ron, Neville, I believe Miss Granger wishes
to talk to you."
"What! You mean we
can't see Harry?" Said Neville looking
devastated.
"You can see him later, we don't want to crowd him straight
away, besides, you three have missed quite a lot whilst you were sleeping. Hermione will tell you about it." Said McGonagall firmly.
"Come on Sirius."
~~~*~~~*~~~
The darkness dissolved from the centre outwards and light
burst through into Harry's vision.
He rubbed his eyes marvelling at the blur of faces around
him.
A pair of hands rather shakily placed some glasses on his
face and everything suddenly became clear, in his vision at least. In his mind was another matter.
"How are you feeling?" Asked a girl with very curly hair who was holding one of his hands.
"Err, okay." Said
Harry rather hoarsely.
Harry closed his eyes again and sunk back into the
comfortable bed he'd found himself in.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N
Kay, Hope you all enjoyed that!
(I hope you all realised that the silvery spell was the
Anillia Equanimia… again! I'm sorry
that Harry has to suffer so, but he did kick Voldie's ass!
Love 2 my most wonderful reviewers!
THANKYOU!
Reviews are my life… ahem, I mean I really like reviews.
*grins*
Lots of love
Jona
xxx