CHAPTER 19
"Severus." Lucius raised his nose up into the air, trying to look down at Snape. They were about the same height. "Finally! Two weeks without a single message from you! What has held you back?"
"Dumbledore has been holding me on a tight leash. There are many war casualties and they need potions. He has put an Auror expert in Herbology at my side night and day. It is only now I could escape him and come here."
"Severus, the situation is critical. The Dark Lord hasn't recovered consciousness since Atropos battle. I'm keeping this secret, but I don't know how long I will be able to do it, if he doesn't get well soon."
Snape arched an eyebrow.
"He's unconscious and yet... his spirit is still tied to his body?"
"Bugger if I know! I know nothing of this stuff. I don't know how this ancient magic that has given the Lord a body works. *You* are the expert on this old hocus pocus!"
"Indeed, it's very complex, Lucius. Let me take care of it. You already have many political issues and responsibilities to handle." Snape stared at the pureblood, which made an impatient gesture. "Let me see him and examine his condition."
"Lucius, the only way for him to recover consciousness is to redo the ritual that tied him to this body. Otherwise, he will remain eternally tied to this body, and perhaps never become conscious again."
"To redo the ritual? But to do that we will need Harry Potter's blood!"
"Severus!" Harry ran to embrace him. They were in the main hall of 12 Grimmauld Place. "What are you doing here?"
"Harry, do you trust me?"
"Of course I trust you! Why do you ask?"
"Come with me. Now."
Snape was holding a little golden scarab - a Portkey. He placed his other arm around Harry and they disappeared from the Grimmauld Place hall to land in the middle of a... cemetery.
In a blink, Harry was tied to a stone. Where did that rope come from? And where was Snape? Then he lowered his eyes and saw a gigantic snake slithering through the grass, circling the headstone where he was tied.
To his right, Wormtail was pushing a huge stone cauldron to the foot of the grave. It was full of what seemed to be water, and seemed to heat very quickly. The surface began to bubble and to send out fiery sparks; steam was thickening, blurring the outline of Wormtail tending the fire. Harry had a horrible déja-vu feeling. This time, however, there weren't any other Death Eaters around. Only Wormtail, and Voldemort's unconscious body.
Gathering all his strength, Wormtail lifted the inert body and threw him into the cauldron. Then, he pronounced the ritual words:
"Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son!"
The surface of the grave at Harry's feet cracked, and Harry watched as a fine trickle of dust rose into the air at Wormtail's command and fell softly into the cauldron. The diamond surface of the water broke and hissed; it sent sparks in all directions and turned a vivid, poisonous-looking blue.
And now Wormtail was whimpering. He pulled a long, thin, shining silver dagger from inside his cloak. His voice broke into petrified sobs.
"Flesh - of the servant - w-willingly given - you will - revive - your master. "
He stretched his left hand out in front of him - the flesh hand, not the silver one. He gripped the dagger very tightly in his right hand and swung it upward. Harry heard something fall to the ground, heard Wormtail's anguished panting, and then a sickening splash, as something was dropped into the cauldron.
The potion turned a burning red. Gasping and moaning with agony, Wormtail approached Harry.
"B-blood of the enemy... forcibly taken... you will... resurrect your foe."
Suddenly, Harry remembered that he could use wandless magic. He managed to petrify Wormtail, but, precisely when he managed to loosen the ropes, he felt a dagger blade sinking into his shoulder and blood seeping down the sleeve of his torn robes. Strong arms grabbed him from behind his back, and a glass vial was held to his cut, so that a dribble of blood fell into it. Astonished, Harry saw Snape take the vial to the cauldron and pour the blood inside. The liquid within turned, instantly, a blinding white. The cauldron was simmering, sending its diamond sparks in all directions, so blindingly bright that it turned all else to velvety blackness.
And then, suddenly, the sparks emanating from the cauldron were extinguished. A surge of white steam billowed thickly from the cauldron instead, obliterating everything in front of Harry.
A very well known voice whispered in his ear:
"The portkey. Now."
Frantic, Harry refused the golden scarab.
"No!" he shouted. "You... you traitor!"
"Harry, do as I say," murmured Snape, grasping his hand. "You're losing blood. Go away before it's too late!"
"No! I will stay and fight! And you won't be able to stop me!"
Harry released himself from Snape and ran into the mist, towards the cauldron. At this moment, a thin man stepped out of the cauldron, staring at Harry... and Harry stared back into the face that had haunted his nightmares for many years. Whiter than a skull, with wide, livid scarlet eyes and a nose that was flat as a snake's with slits for nostrils.
Lord Voldemort had risen again.
TBC...
Author's Notes:
In this chapter, I've reproduced many lines of GoF's "Priori Incantatem"
chapter. It's curious that Mandi has corrected some lines by J. K. Rowling!
Really! With Mandi's corrections, J.K.R.'s text is better. J.K.R. should hire
her!
Next chapter is the last, but it will be longer than the others! You know something? I think I'll miss you. I can't tell you yet if there will be a sequel, but I think suaveserpens will have a longer life than I expected. ;-P
Replies to Reviews:
sev1970: I'm glad you liked the latest chapter! Hm, you know, at this point I can't tell you nothing about this story! If I'll be writing anything else? I think so! But only next year, LOL!
Kristen, Lady Lorene, and Anarane Anwamane: Thx! Things are changing fast, uh?
MissCrystalix and Sally-Jo: Oops. Happy ending? I'm doing the best that I can, but Voldie doesn't want to cooperate! Let's hope for the best, though.
jamie: Thank you, I'm glad you liked it! I hope you like the ending too.
Fuzzy-Bumpkins: Never mind the "stupid thing", I know who you are! Thank you!
Faerie Fighter: LOL! Of course I knew, I'm a Legilimens!
Nymphadora Tonks1: Oh, if you keep flattering me like that, maybe I *will*
write a happy ending! If Voldie lets me, I mean. Thank you, and a big hug.
leeleepotter: you are not yourself? Then who are you? And what have you done
to Lee Lee? Thank you, stranger, but if you touch one hair on Lee Lee's head,
you'll be sorry!
anna may: Oh, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. We can talk about it later, okay?
snapescookiejar: OMG! You said the three magical words! I hope you like the ending too. Thanks!