~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 11-A Friendly Enemy~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Harry, you are definitely not going alone. Its just not safe. You don't know what they're planning. I can follow you in the cloak." Lupin said aggresively.
"Of Course I am. I'm not letting anything happen to Hermione. She's too important to me. If I go with backup, and you get caught, they'll off her right then, and thats not a risk I'm willing to take."
"He's right Remus, we'll just have to keep our distance while he goes in. There are buildings we can watch from nearby, and there Harry can handle himself as hes proven so many times." Dumbledore contested.
It was January 1, a week after Hermione's kidnapping. Harry had been distraught ever since he found out, and how he managed a week, knowing that she was in the enemies' hands, he didn't know, but now that January 3rd was only two days away, he was anxious to get her back.
They were discussing the plan of going into Dracula's Other Form, a pub in Knockturn Alley, and how it should go down. They had already set to Harry having a spare wand in his cloak lining, but they would be ready for that, and decided he would go in with his spare wand, and have his real one shrunk, then hidden in his mouth.
It was least likely for them to look there, and if they made it small enough, he could talk properly.
"Well, its settled then. I'll go in alone, having two spare wands, and an Evaporation Potion. I will also take some Orcus Potion before I go, and that should keep me safe and sound." Harry said, trying to lighten the mood.
Evaporation Potion would take off the effect of almost all spells, so Hermione could be healed, and Harry had also managed to brew up an Orichnia of Lamentation.
The Orcus Potion was to make Harry see through invisibility cloaks, and disillusionment charms. It would also give Harry a slight idea as to what he was facing, because he could see figures moving through a door or thin wall. Harry was totally ready, and only needed for it to be January 3rd.
After getting everything in order, Harry went to sleep. All for naught however, as he didn't close his eyes the entire night, thinking about Hermione. Then he realized that nobody had told Ron, nor had he replied to Ron. He would do it after the 3rd, so he wouldn't worry him.
Harry got out of bed the next day, tired for not having slept. He found a note on his office door which read "Come to my office when you can" and it was signed by Dumbledore.
Harry put on his blue cloak, and proceeded to Dumbledore's office. When he arrived, he found Dumbledore seeted behind his desk.
"You asked to see me sir?" Harry began.
"Yes. Harry I have something which I think you should use. It belongs to me, but I want you to have it. My father gave it to me, and his father to him. There is no son for me to hand it down, so I want you to take it. " And when he finished speeking, Dumbledore walked over to his cupboard, and grabbed a silver box.
The box was encrusted with silver diamonds, of which Harry had never seen. It had a mystical look to it, and looked very old.
Dumbledore handed the box to Harry, and Harry took it in his hands. As soon as he took it from Dumbledore, he noticed how light it was. The box weighed as if a feather. Harry was reluctant to open it, wondering what valuable keepsake he was about to recieve.
Harry grabbed the lid of the box, and began to pull it, but the box didn't open.
"You can't open it yet," Dumbledore told him. "You can only open it when you truly are ready, however, I will explain to you what it does." Dumbledore went on. "This Harry, is the foundation of magic. Its what gives us the world we have today. The very first wizard used this to make all the spells we know. At one time, you could use the item, to make any spell you want, and hundreds were being made. Simple ones like summoning charms, and also more comlex ones like hexes and Dark Magic."
Dumbledore sighed, took a deep breath, and continued. "After enough spells had been made, the wise warlock decided that it wouldn't be a good thing for everyone to be making any spell they wanted, so he enchanted the box with a spell of his own. The way it works, is that, one spell could be made per person, by anyone who recieved the box as a gift. If the box was stolen, the thief could not use it, but was actually forced to return it. Anyway, once a person has made a spell, they are required to hand it down to someone else. This way, magic is forever expanding through the world, but not at a rate which can danger the people."
"Seeing a flaw in his plan, the wizard made it so that the spell can only be made if its purpose was good. If you intended to use the spell wrongly, it would not work, but this was not a perfect plan. You see someone with good intentions could make a spell, an intend to use it on a deserving enemy, however after that, anyone could use the spell however they wanted. This is how the Unforgivable Curses were brought out. Someone who intended to kill a Dark Wizard could make Avada Kedavra, but then all the other Dark Wizards around were able to use it as well. This is why I have kept this in my possession for so long."
"Now Harry, its my turn to hand this down, and I want you to have it. You of all people could use some reward, other than a pin, for your deeds, and your own spell is something very useful I could imagine. You see Harry, a wizard can only make his spell as powerful as that wizard is, but this shouldn't be a problem for the "Boy-Who-Lived"."
Dumbledore winked.
Harry was speechless. His own magic. He could do anything he wanted. Anything. With the ability to make hos own spell, imagine the things he could do.
"One more thing Harry, I said you couldn't open it, until you were ready, that is not entriely true. You can use this after one day. This wizard thought it would be wise to give someone proper thought before one could create any magic in the world."
Harry didn't even know how to respond. So many things were going through his head. Tons of new spells he could make. Fly without a broom, a spell that didn't needed to be aimed, but was a "homing" spell. Automatic Animagus. There were just so many possibilities, he didn't know what to choose.
"T-thank you, Professor. I, don't know what to say. This is one of the most meaningful gifts I've ever gotten." And with nothing else to say, Harry left Dumbledore's office, still dumbfounded by the surprise that was his gift.
Harry was thinking extraordinarily hard about the Spell Maker as he called it in his mind, and didn't notice the owl in his office, until he walked right into the desk.
Harry picked up the letter, who happened to be from Ron, and read:
i
Dear Harry,
Sorry I have written, but theres been a good reason. Coach went crazy when we lost to the Zooming Zimmermans, the worst team in South America. He intercepted and destroyed all of our mail, so we would focus only on Quiditch. Well lets just say that Coach got so many hexes, that he might not be touching his own mail for a while. I don't think you'll be able to come by soon, since we're almost done here, but I will drop in, as soon as I get back.
Ron
/i
So thats why Ron was sending about Hermione. He had no idea. Harry decided not to answer the letter, until after the rescue, so as to keep Ron focused. For Ron's sake, his job was something he needed at the moment, with a kid running around.
Harry passed the rest of the day by thinking on the Spell Maker, and also on what he would do once he revived Hermione. He loved her so much now, and knew that nothing could change that. He practiced his spell work, which had been a little rusty, but he found that he was still extremly crafty with his wands.
Finally night arrived, and with it came anxiety, and nerves. Harry didn't sleep a wink, and at promptly 6:00, a message appeared on Harry's desk.
iYour time is up Harry Potter, come now/i
He knew what he had to do. Kill these people, find the wands they used to poison the Researchers, and make sure that Hermione is alive. It was quite simple really. He could do this, because Harry Potter could do anything. Almost.
Harry went to Dumbledore's office, to find him, and Lupin sitting there. Harry broke the silence with the letter that had appeared.
"I got this. Its time, lets get this over with shall we?" Harry said.
"Harry, you need to be extremely careful. I know you've heard this tons of times, but it must be said. We don't know who we're dealing with, or what they have on you. They obviously have powers, so you need to watch yourself. Remember the signal. Click your tongue four times to call us in. Be very careful." Lupin looked overly worried.
Everyone else simply nodded, so Harry just did what he was supposed to. Grabbed the book in the middle of the room, which Dumbledore had made a portkey, and as he did so, so did Dumbledore, and Lupin.
They arrived in the Leaky Cauldron, and without even speaking to each other, each went to his assigned post. Lupin proceeded to an empty store room across from the pub, Dumbledore became invisible, and walked around to the end of the road were he waited.
Harry went to the door of the pub, and reached for the doorknob to enter, but instead of opening the door when the know turned, Harry felt an all-too-familiar jerk at his navel, followed by a whirling sensation. The doorknob was a port key.
Harry was no longer at Dracula's Other Form, but inside a house. Well, he was inside what he thought was a house, and he was standing on the landing of the second floor. There was a hall in front of him, and stairs behing him. In the hall were 6 doors.
Harry, unsure of himself, stepped forward, but instead of going down the hall, fell through the floor, and was no longer on this house, but rather on a long street.
Cautious of moving, Harry just stood there. As he looked around, he saw abondoned houses on either side of him, the led all the way down a cobble street, with only one dimly lit street candle. Harry had no other choice but to take a step forward, and as he did, he was transported yet again.
Harry must have changed location at least 7 times. He went through a forest, an island, a mountain, a crowded city, and even a muggle movie theater, until finally he reached the same house he had been taken to the first time. This time however, he was at the main entrance, and before he could even think about moving, a voice echoed through the walls.
"Welocme Harry Potter, to my humble abode. This is were we make history. This is the end of you, and the insurance of my immortality. If you don't mind, just take the stairs, and enter the first door on your left.
Harry did as he was told, firmly gripping the his wand. When he arrived at the door, he dared not turn the knob, but rather he blasted it open with his wand. It was a good thing too, because as the room revealed itself, Harry saw that the entire room was doused in flames.
Harry saw a man, sitting on a large, cushioned chair, stairing at the doorway, with cold piercing eyes, swallowing the flames with his glare.
"Come in Harry Potter, do not worry about the flames, they will not harm you. See, I am here, living perfectly, and I assure you there is no flame freesing charm. Enter Harry Potter."
Harry didn't have much of a choice, and as he entered, he felt a strange warmth. The fire didn't harm him, but left him feeling eerily strange. Harry walked in, and for seam reason, he didn't raise his wand, he lowered it.
"Welcome Potter. Do you like my home?" The hooded figure asked.
The fire flickered in his face, revealing scars and scathes beneath his eyes. He looked very familiar, thought Harry wasn't sure how.
"I believe there is a problem. You know my name, and I don't know yours. Or should I just call you stupid for thinking you can come out of here alive?" Harry sneered.
"Well, formalities are not necesary, but if you insist, you can call me Your Doom" The man replied with a sick tinge in his voice.
"Nah, I'll go with stupid. So, here is how this will go. First, you're going to give me Hermione. Second, You're going to give me the wands which you used to put her, and all the other people into their coma, and Third, I will kill you. Ready?"
"Ah, Mr. Potter, your over confidence blinds you. I see you know how to save your friend, though it will do you no good. I can give you back the mudblood." And as he spoke the words, Hermione came out of the fireplace, and by some stroke of luck, she was consciouss.
"HARRY!" She called out to him.
Hermione was alive. As soon as Harry saw this, a lump in his throat fell down to his chest. He was relieved beyond comparison, but he needed to take focus.
"Good, theres number one, now the wands." Harry said, not speaking to Hermione.
"As you wish." And he tossed his wand to Harry's feet, though Harry didn't pick it up.
"Finally, give me back my wand." Harry commanded.
"Ah, but Harry, I conceded to two of your wishes, now you must give me two wishes. First, you are going to watch me kill this mudblood with your wand, and second, you will let me kill you. We'll go from there shall we?"
And the man in the chair lifted up another wand, and Harry could see the words pouring out of his mouth. A-V-A-D-A,
K-E-D-A-V-R-A. And a green jet of light threw itself out of the wand, and sped toward Hermione's stiff body. It was going to hit her.
Past the lamp, and just past the fireplace, right to Hermione's heart. Harry spit out his wand, and had already enlarged it. He was going to block the spell, but for some reason, he didn't. He just let the spell keep going right at her heart.
It was only inches away. DO SOMETHING his mind yelled at him, yet someone else told him NO. It was like imperius curse, yet he didn't want to fight it. He just wanted to exist, and that meant listening.
Even if Harry wanted to, there would have been no way for him to stop the spell. It was too close, and as he yelled at his own mind, he noticed a red burst of light shoot out of the fireplace. The light lit up the man's face, which displayed a creepily satisfying smile.
That is until he saw the light, which was heading right at his own green jet of light. The two spells collided, inches from Hermione's heart, and both vanished.
Only seconds later another purple light shot out right at Harry, and this one hit him straight in the chest. Suddenly Harry felt much different, much more aware. He was feeling an amazing heat, though the flame wasn't burning him, he was suddenly doing things of his own will, and he rasied his wand, and shot a stunning spell at the man.
The man was on his feet now, and Harry's spell hit him, yet, awkwardly, it went right through him, having no effect. The man let out a quick cackle, before turning to the fire, and Harry soon realized why.
Standing against the flames, was a tall rugged looking silhouette, raising a wand, and saying incantations, faster than Harry had heard anyone speak.
"Grab the girl and run." The man spoke ina raspy voice.
Harry didn't know why he listened, but something about the man's command told him it was OK. Harry ran to Hermione, and threw her over his shoulder. Before he did, he noticed a tear drop from her eye. She was silent, and apparently this was caused by a charm.
Harry ran to the door, and put Hermione down the told her to head to the exit. She did so without question, but Harry turned around to help the figure in the room.
The two men were dueling now. Jets of light, in all colors were rocketing in every direction. There were transfigurations as well. Harry saw his opening however, as the attacker attempted a considerably longer incantation.
"Mesrus Transpus" Harry said. He sent a diamond shaped clear crystal at the man, and it hit his wand. It seemed as thought the wand absorbed the attack, but then the spell came gunning back at Harry.
"You can't charm him you fool now go. I can handle this one, get back to Hogwarts fast." The raspy voice yelled, while attempting to subdue his attacker.
The mystery man suddenly conjured a large mirror, and held it up as a shield.
"Ha Ha Ha, you think that mirror will protect you? iDividum Tempech/i" He yelled, and a large beam of red and blue colors burst out of his wand, and blasted right into the mirror, only the mirror didn't break. The beam shot right out of the mirror the way it came in, and blasted its creator.
He went flying backwards into the wall, and began to slowly dissolve into shattered images of himself.
"I'm gone for now, but you have already lost. Soon all the ingredients will be necesary. Finding a replacement will be simple indeed." And as he finished those words, he was gone.
The man turned to Harry, but instead of speaking to him, the man just walked right by him and out of the door.
Harry ran after him. "Wait. Who are you?" Harry asked.
"I have no name, but if you must refer to me, call me Rider." The man responded.
"I don't really care too much for your name, I want to know who you are. How did you get in there? How is it that you could duel with that man, but I couldn't? How did you find me, when other people couldn't? Thats what I wanted to know." Harry responded.
"Its simple really. I got in there through a Floo Connection, I couldn't duel agianst him, only for me, and I found you, because I have been following the girl since she overheard a conversation between the man inside, and two other man, nearly 5 months ago. She overheard them speaking, and I followed her since then. I've known she was here for a very long time, but I waited, because I knew he would lure you here, and you would foolishly come. If it were not for me, you would be dead." Rider told Harry.
"FOOLISHLY? I was saving my friend. Do you know what a friend is? And what do you mean, I would be dead? I was handling myself just fine thank you." Harry responded hotly.
"No, you were under a confundus charm, Class 6, you were doing only what you thought would please him." Rider said knowingly.
"Oh is that so, and when would he have put a confundus charm on me, especially a Class 6 one. Class 6 confundus charms can't be shot at someone, they have to be inhaled. Didn't know that did you?" Harry asked feeling superior.
"Of course I knew that. What do you think the point of the fire was, make the room cozy eh?" Rider said, a slight edge in his voice.
Harry just stared. Of Coure! As soon as he stepped in, he felt funny, but when he was hit with the countercharm, he felt the natural heat.
"You might want to get back to Hogwarts. It will have happened already." Rider said, still acting very cooly as if nothing big had just happened.
"What the bloody hell does that mean?" Harry questioned.
Rider however didn't answer. By this time, they were outside already. Harry imagined they were somewere in Scotland, because it was quite cold, and there were snow-capped mountains for off.
As Rider walked out, he lifted his wand, and as if tracing a stencil with his wand, a horse appeared. Rider mounted the horse, and was about to leave, when Harry yelled.
"Well what the hell am I supposed to do now? Pretend that man is just gone. He sounded to happy to have died back there, so am I supposed to just let hime go, and pretend he is gone?"
"The girl knows more than any one, ask her. Mainly though, DO NOT LEAVE HOGWARTS. That is the only place they can get it." And as Rider finished his sentence, his horse took off, though instead of riding on the ground, it took off into the air, and instead of being visible until it had traveled a while, it disappeared.
****Author's Note**** Chapter 11 done. I decided to throw in a new angle. I wasn't sure if I should make this the last show down, but that would leave so many things unaswered, so there is going to be much more instead. Please R/R, cuz it makes the chapters come out faster, and if you like it let me know, if you flame it, ill have a BBQ, so any review is ok with me.
"Harry, you are definitely not going alone. Its just not safe. You don't know what they're planning. I can follow you in the cloak." Lupin said aggresively.
"Of Course I am. I'm not letting anything happen to Hermione. She's too important to me. If I go with backup, and you get caught, they'll off her right then, and thats not a risk I'm willing to take."
"He's right Remus, we'll just have to keep our distance while he goes in. There are buildings we can watch from nearby, and there Harry can handle himself as hes proven so many times." Dumbledore contested.
It was January 1, a week after Hermione's kidnapping. Harry had been distraught ever since he found out, and how he managed a week, knowing that she was in the enemies' hands, he didn't know, but now that January 3rd was only two days away, he was anxious to get her back.
They were discussing the plan of going into Dracula's Other Form, a pub in Knockturn Alley, and how it should go down. They had already set to Harry having a spare wand in his cloak lining, but they would be ready for that, and decided he would go in with his spare wand, and have his real one shrunk, then hidden in his mouth.
It was least likely for them to look there, and if they made it small enough, he could talk properly.
"Well, its settled then. I'll go in alone, having two spare wands, and an Evaporation Potion. I will also take some Orcus Potion before I go, and that should keep me safe and sound." Harry said, trying to lighten the mood.
Evaporation Potion would take off the effect of almost all spells, so Hermione could be healed, and Harry had also managed to brew up an Orichnia of Lamentation.
The Orcus Potion was to make Harry see through invisibility cloaks, and disillusionment charms. It would also give Harry a slight idea as to what he was facing, because he could see figures moving through a door or thin wall. Harry was totally ready, and only needed for it to be January 3rd.
After getting everything in order, Harry went to sleep. All for naught however, as he didn't close his eyes the entire night, thinking about Hermione. Then he realized that nobody had told Ron, nor had he replied to Ron. He would do it after the 3rd, so he wouldn't worry him.
Harry got out of bed the next day, tired for not having slept. He found a note on his office door which read "Come to my office when you can" and it was signed by Dumbledore.
Harry put on his blue cloak, and proceeded to Dumbledore's office. When he arrived, he found Dumbledore seeted behind his desk.
"You asked to see me sir?" Harry began.
"Yes. Harry I have something which I think you should use. It belongs to me, but I want you to have it. My father gave it to me, and his father to him. There is no son for me to hand it down, so I want you to take it. " And when he finished speeking, Dumbledore walked over to his cupboard, and grabbed a silver box.
The box was encrusted with silver diamonds, of which Harry had never seen. It had a mystical look to it, and looked very old.
Dumbledore handed the box to Harry, and Harry took it in his hands. As soon as he took it from Dumbledore, he noticed how light it was. The box weighed as if a feather. Harry was reluctant to open it, wondering what valuable keepsake he was about to recieve.
Harry grabbed the lid of the box, and began to pull it, but the box didn't open.
"You can't open it yet," Dumbledore told him. "You can only open it when you truly are ready, however, I will explain to you what it does." Dumbledore went on. "This Harry, is the foundation of magic. Its what gives us the world we have today. The very first wizard used this to make all the spells we know. At one time, you could use the item, to make any spell you want, and hundreds were being made. Simple ones like summoning charms, and also more comlex ones like hexes and Dark Magic."
Dumbledore sighed, took a deep breath, and continued. "After enough spells had been made, the wise warlock decided that it wouldn't be a good thing for everyone to be making any spell they wanted, so he enchanted the box with a spell of his own. The way it works, is that, one spell could be made per person, by anyone who recieved the box as a gift. If the box was stolen, the thief could not use it, but was actually forced to return it. Anyway, once a person has made a spell, they are required to hand it down to someone else. This way, magic is forever expanding through the world, but not at a rate which can danger the people."
"Seeing a flaw in his plan, the wizard made it so that the spell can only be made if its purpose was good. If you intended to use the spell wrongly, it would not work, but this was not a perfect plan. You see someone with good intentions could make a spell, an intend to use it on a deserving enemy, however after that, anyone could use the spell however they wanted. This is how the Unforgivable Curses were brought out. Someone who intended to kill a Dark Wizard could make Avada Kedavra, but then all the other Dark Wizards around were able to use it as well. This is why I have kept this in my possession for so long."
"Now Harry, its my turn to hand this down, and I want you to have it. You of all people could use some reward, other than a pin, for your deeds, and your own spell is something very useful I could imagine. You see Harry, a wizard can only make his spell as powerful as that wizard is, but this shouldn't be a problem for the "Boy-Who-Lived"."
Dumbledore winked.
Harry was speechless. His own magic. He could do anything he wanted. Anything. With the ability to make hos own spell, imagine the things he could do.
"One more thing Harry, I said you couldn't open it, until you were ready, that is not entriely true. You can use this after one day. This wizard thought it would be wise to give someone proper thought before one could create any magic in the world."
Harry didn't even know how to respond. So many things were going through his head. Tons of new spells he could make. Fly without a broom, a spell that didn't needed to be aimed, but was a "homing" spell. Automatic Animagus. There were just so many possibilities, he didn't know what to choose.
"T-thank you, Professor. I, don't know what to say. This is one of the most meaningful gifts I've ever gotten." And with nothing else to say, Harry left Dumbledore's office, still dumbfounded by the surprise that was his gift.
Harry was thinking extraordinarily hard about the Spell Maker as he called it in his mind, and didn't notice the owl in his office, until he walked right into the desk.
Harry picked up the letter, who happened to be from Ron, and read:
i
Dear Harry,
Sorry I have written, but theres been a good reason. Coach went crazy when we lost to the Zooming Zimmermans, the worst team in South America. He intercepted and destroyed all of our mail, so we would focus only on Quiditch. Well lets just say that Coach got so many hexes, that he might not be touching his own mail for a while. I don't think you'll be able to come by soon, since we're almost done here, but I will drop in, as soon as I get back.
Ron
/i
So thats why Ron was sending about Hermione. He had no idea. Harry decided not to answer the letter, until after the rescue, so as to keep Ron focused. For Ron's sake, his job was something he needed at the moment, with a kid running around.
Harry passed the rest of the day by thinking on the Spell Maker, and also on what he would do once he revived Hermione. He loved her so much now, and knew that nothing could change that. He practiced his spell work, which had been a little rusty, but he found that he was still extremly crafty with his wands.
Finally night arrived, and with it came anxiety, and nerves. Harry didn't sleep a wink, and at promptly 6:00, a message appeared on Harry's desk.
iYour time is up Harry Potter, come now/i
He knew what he had to do. Kill these people, find the wands they used to poison the Researchers, and make sure that Hermione is alive. It was quite simple really. He could do this, because Harry Potter could do anything. Almost.
Harry went to Dumbledore's office, to find him, and Lupin sitting there. Harry broke the silence with the letter that had appeared.
"I got this. Its time, lets get this over with shall we?" Harry said.
"Harry, you need to be extremely careful. I know you've heard this tons of times, but it must be said. We don't know who we're dealing with, or what they have on you. They obviously have powers, so you need to watch yourself. Remember the signal. Click your tongue four times to call us in. Be very careful." Lupin looked overly worried.
Everyone else simply nodded, so Harry just did what he was supposed to. Grabbed the book in the middle of the room, which Dumbledore had made a portkey, and as he did so, so did Dumbledore, and Lupin.
They arrived in the Leaky Cauldron, and without even speaking to each other, each went to his assigned post. Lupin proceeded to an empty store room across from the pub, Dumbledore became invisible, and walked around to the end of the road were he waited.
Harry went to the door of the pub, and reached for the doorknob to enter, but instead of opening the door when the know turned, Harry felt an all-too-familiar jerk at his navel, followed by a whirling sensation. The doorknob was a port key.
Harry was no longer at Dracula's Other Form, but inside a house. Well, he was inside what he thought was a house, and he was standing on the landing of the second floor. There was a hall in front of him, and stairs behing him. In the hall were 6 doors.
Harry, unsure of himself, stepped forward, but instead of going down the hall, fell through the floor, and was no longer on this house, but rather on a long street.
Cautious of moving, Harry just stood there. As he looked around, he saw abondoned houses on either side of him, the led all the way down a cobble street, with only one dimly lit street candle. Harry had no other choice but to take a step forward, and as he did, he was transported yet again.
Harry must have changed location at least 7 times. He went through a forest, an island, a mountain, a crowded city, and even a muggle movie theater, until finally he reached the same house he had been taken to the first time. This time however, he was at the main entrance, and before he could even think about moving, a voice echoed through the walls.
"Welocme Harry Potter, to my humble abode. This is were we make history. This is the end of you, and the insurance of my immortality. If you don't mind, just take the stairs, and enter the first door on your left.
Harry did as he was told, firmly gripping the his wand. When he arrived at the door, he dared not turn the knob, but rather he blasted it open with his wand. It was a good thing too, because as the room revealed itself, Harry saw that the entire room was doused in flames.
Harry saw a man, sitting on a large, cushioned chair, stairing at the doorway, with cold piercing eyes, swallowing the flames with his glare.
"Come in Harry Potter, do not worry about the flames, they will not harm you. See, I am here, living perfectly, and I assure you there is no flame freesing charm. Enter Harry Potter."
Harry didn't have much of a choice, and as he entered, he felt a strange warmth. The fire didn't harm him, but left him feeling eerily strange. Harry walked in, and for seam reason, he didn't raise his wand, he lowered it.
"Welcome Potter. Do you like my home?" The hooded figure asked.
The fire flickered in his face, revealing scars and scathes beneath his eyes. He looked very familiar, thought Harry wasn't sure how.
"I believe there is a problem. You know my name, and I don't know yours. Or should I just call you stupid for thinking you can come out of here alive?" Harry sneered.
"Well, formalities are not necesary, but if you insist, you can call me Your Doom" The man replied with a sick tinge in his voice.
"Nah, I'll go with stupid. So, here is how this will go. First, you're going to give me Hermione. Second, You're going to give me the wands which you used to put her, and all the other people into their coma, and Third, I will kill you. Ready?"
"Ah, Mr. Potter, your over confidence blinds you. I see you know how to save your friend, though it will do you no good. I can give you back the mudblood." And as he spoke the words, Hermione came out of the fireplace, and by some stroke of luck, she was consciouss.
"HARRY!" She called out to him.
Hermione was alive. As soon as Harry saw this, a lump in his throat fell down to his chest. He was relieved beyond comparison, but he needed to take focus.
"Good, theres number one, now the wands." Harry said, not speaking to Hermione.
"As you wish." And he tossed his wand to Harry's feet, though Harry didn't pick it up.
"Finally, give me back my wand." Harry commanded.
"Ah, but Harry, I conceded to two of your wishes, now you must give me two wishes. First, you are going to watch me kill this mudblood with your wand, and second, you will let me kill you. We'll go from there shall we?"
And the man in the chair lifted up another wand, and Harry could see the words pouring out of his mouth. A-V-A-D-A,
K-E-D-A-V-R-A. And a green jet of light threw itself out of the wand, and sped toward Hermione's stiff body. It was going to hit her.
Past the lamp, and just past the fireplace, right to Hermione's heart. Harry spit out his wand, and had already enlarged it. He was going to block the spell, but for some reason, he didn't. He just let the spell keep going right at her heart.
It was only inches away. DO SOMETHING his mind yelled at him, yet someone else told him NO. It was like imperius curse, yet he didn't want to fight it. He just wanted to exist, and that meant listening.
Even if Harry wanted to, there would have been no way for him to stop the spell. It was too close, and as he yelled at his own mind, he noticed a red burst of light shoot out of the fireplace. The light lit up the man's face, which displayed a creepily satisfying smile.
That is until he saw the light, which was heading right at his own green jet of light. The two spells collided, inches from Hermione's heart, and both vanished.
Only seconds later another purple light shot out right at Harry, and this one hit him straight in the chest. Suddenly Harry felt much different, much more aware. He was feeling an amazing heat, though the flame wasn't burning him, he was suddenly doing things of his own will, and he rasied his wand, and shot a stunning spell at the man.
The man was on his feet now, and Harry's spell hit him, yet, awkwardly, it went right through him, having no effect. The man let out a quick cackle, before turning to the fire, and Harry soon realized why.
Standing against the flames, was a tall rugged looking silhouette, raising a wand, and saying incantations, faster than Harry had heard anyone speak.
"Grab the girl and run." The man spoke ina raspy voice.
Harry didn't know why he listened, but something about the man's command told him it was OK. Harry ran to Hermione, and threw her over his shoulder. Before he did, he noticed a tear drop from her eye. She was silent, and apparently this was caused by a charm.
Harry ran to the door, and put Hermione down the told her to head to the exit. She did so without question, but Harry turned around to help the figure in the room.
The two men were dueling now. Jets of light, in all colors were rocketing in every direction. There were transfigurations as well. Harry saw his opening however, as the attacker attempted a considerably longer incantation.
"Mesrus Transpus" Harry said. He sent a diamond shaped clear crystal at the man, and it hit his wand. It seemed as thought the wand absorbed the attack, but then the spell came gunning back at Harry.
"You can't charm him you fool now go. I can handle this one, get back to Hogwarts fast." The raspy voice yelled, while attempting to subdue his attacker.
The mystery man suddenly conjured a large mirror, and held it up as a shield.
"Ha Ha Ha, you think that mirror will protect you? iDividum Tempech/i" He yelled, and a large beam of red and blue colors burst out of his wand, and blasted right into the mirror, only the mirror didn't break. The beam shot right out of the mirror the way it came in, and blasted its creator.
He went flying backwards into the wall, and began to slowly dissolve into shattered images of himself.
"I'm gone for now, but you have already lost. Soon all the ingredients will be necesary. Finding a replacement will be simple indeed." And as he finished those words, he was gone.
The man turned to Harry, but instead of speaking to him, the man just walked right by him and out of the door.
Harry ran after him. "Wait. Who are you?" Harry asked.
"I have no name, but if you must refer to me, call me Rider." The man responded.
"I don't really care too much for your name, I want to know who you are. How did you get in there? How is it that you could duel with that man, but I couldn't? How did you find me, when other people couldn't? Thats what I wanted to know." Harry responded.
"Its simple really. I got in there through a Floo Connection, I couldn't duel agianst him, only for me, and I found you, because I have been following the girl since she overheard a conversation between the man inside, and two other man, nearly 5 months ago. She overheard them speaking, and I followed her since then. I've known she was here for a very long time, but I waited, because I knew he would lure you here, and you would foolishly come. If it were not for me, you would be dead." Rider told Harry.
"FOOLISHLY? I was saving my friend. Do you know what a friend is? And what do you mean, I would be dead? I was handling myself just fine thank you." Harry responded hotly.
"No, you were under a confundus charm, Class 6, you were doing only what you thought would please him." Rider said knowingly.
"Oh is that so, and when would he have put a confundus charm on me, especially a Class 6 one. Class 6 confundus charms can't be shot at someone, they have to be inhaled. Didn't know that did you?" Harry asked feeling superior.
"Of course I knew that. What do you think the point of the fire was, make the room cozy eh?" Rider said, a slight edge in his voice.
Harry just stared. Of Coure! As soon as he stepped in, he felt funny, but when he was hit with the countercharm, he felt the natural heat.
"You might want to get back to Hogwarts. It will have happened already." Rider said, still acting very cooly as if nothing big had just happened.
"What the bloody hell does that mean?" Harry questioned.
Rider however didn't answer. By this time, they were outside already. Harry imagined they were somewere in Scotland, because it was quite cold, and there were snow-capped mountains for off.
As Rider walked out, he lifted his wand, and as if tracing a stencil with his wand, a horse appeared. Rider mounted the horse, and was about to leave, when Harry yelled.
"Well what the hell am I supposed to do now? Pretend that man is just gone. He sounded to happy to have died back there, so am I supposed to just let hime go, and pretend he is gone?"
"The girl knows more than any one, ask her. Mainly though, DO NOT LEAVE HOGWARTS. That is the only place they can get it." And as Rider finished his sentence, his horse took off, though instead of riding on the ground, it took off into the air, and instead of being visible until it had traveled a while, it disappeared.
****Author's Note**** Chapter 11 done. I decided to throw in a new angle. I wasn't sure if I should make this the last show down, but that would leave so many things unaswered, so there is going to be much more instead. Please R/R, cuz it makes the chapters come out faster, and if you like it let me know, if you flame it, ill have a BBQ, so any review is ok with me.