Title: The Dragon's Circle
Author: Willow
Status: Work in progress
Rating: R (For imagery and violence)
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any relating character,
place, spell, or idea. They belong to J.K. Rowling. I am not making
any money off this.
I'd like to thank my new beta, Mary Kate!
Chapter Two: Solitary
"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible
worlds, and the pessimist fears this is true." -James Branch Cabell
Pain woke him. It felt like shards of glass were digging in his
back. He tried pushing that thought to a corner of his mind. He had
to get out.
He needed his wand to do that. He tried reaching around but his left
side of his body was pinned. He attempted to move his legs but
couldn't tell if he succeeded.
He flinched when light filled his vision and blinked when it was
soon replaced by a sharp darkness. Streams of sunshine promptly broke
through and played over his face.
"James," he heard a female voice say. Then, a dark yellow light
enveloped him. He was lifted and set on solid ground. A silhouette
rushed over to him.
He tried to focus on her, but she kept blurring in and out. Black
hair bound tightly in a bun and a pale pinched face; she looked
vaguely like Minerva McGonangall. She was McGonangall. How did she
get here?
James closed his eyes. He lapsed back into the painless reaches of
unconsciousness.
*****
With a wave of his wand, Voldemort stopped the spell. Snape was left
gasping for breath. "This is getting us nowhere. Imperio! Did you
tell Dumbledore?"
Silence reigned. The forest they were in was almost deathly still.
The branches of the trees rattled slightly insects chirped and far
off an owl hooted.
Snape felt free from care or worry. All the pains and aches he was
feeling left him. He wanted to tell him the truth. He dimly heard
Voldemort ask him again. He almost confessed but something held him
back. He wanted to tell him but he knew he must not, and so he did
not. He would not betray his cause even if it meant his death. Such
loyalty is not usually Slytherin but he reasoned he owed it. It was
his fault that the Potters are dead.
"Yes or No? You might at least have a suspicion who told him my
plans..."
"My Lord."
Voldemort turned his attention from Snape and focused on the Death
Eater. "What?" He snapped.
"Aurors have found our location. We're holding them off for the
moment, but there are too many of them for us to handle without major
losses to our ranks."
"Send the signal to disperse."
"At once, my lord." The Death Eater bowed and began to leave.
He toppled to the ground after taking a few steps. Snape and
Voldemort were also sprawled on the forest floor. Pine needles, old
leafs, and sticks scratched at their faces. All of them were
clutching their heads in obvious pain.
Their headaches faded while an incessant droning took hold. After
about three minutes, that also became inaudible.
Voldemort was the first to stand. About thirty seconds afterwards,
Snape stood up fingers rubbing his temple.
Voldemort stuck his wand in the air and shouted "Morsemodre!"
A red strand fired out of his wand blazing in the morning sky with
his symbol. It signaled his followers to his exact location. A
dangerous spell to do because it also showed his enemies where he was.
He knows it was worth the risk, and he needed to gather his ranks.
He waited for them to arrive.
His Death Eaters pushed through the forest to get to him. Five
minutes passed; then ten. After fifteen, they found him standing in a
small clearing with Snape right beside him and a man groaning on the
ground.
They assembled around their dark lord waiting for him to speak.
"A few minutes ago I felt a disturbance. I do not recognize or even
know what it was. I need to know if anyone else felt it. If you did
not, will you step forward."
Nobody moved.
"So you all felt it also?"
He heard several 'yes m'lords'.
"Very well. Apparate to the base and I'll give more orders there."
"My lord," he asked. "What about him?" He pointed to the man on the
ground.
Voldemort sneered "Leave him. He's served his use."
They left.
*****
The Daily Prophet
*Unknown Occurrence Wrecks Havoc*
By: Nicholas Bothe
Earlier this morning, both the wizard and Muggle worlds received a
jolt of awakening. Details on this are sketchy except that it was not
magically induced.
Both Nonmagical and Magical people all over the world reported
symptoms of splitting headaches, a low buzzing noise and loss of
balance. Officials refuse to comment on this except that it has
absolutely nothing to do with He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.
Several hundred Muggle and thirty-four wizards died. Their deaths
are being blamed on this tragedy...(continued on page 2a)
The Minister of Magic is scheduled to hold a conference with his
advisors later today on this unexpected event. Expect an overview of
his meeting in tomorrow's newspaper as well as an update on this
situation.
*****
"Glad to see you're awake."
James opened his eyes to see the concerned face of a wizened old man
with a sweeping white beard, Dumbledore. He took note of his
surroundings. He was on the bed furthest away from the door in the
infirmary at Hogwarts. How did he end up here? He was just at his
house. Dumbledore saw his look of bewilderment but said nothing.
Confusion led to panic. What exactly happened? Then it all rushed
back; the alarms setting off, and the explosion. Lily and Harry. Eyes
wide, he looked to Dumbledore for answers.
Dumbledore remained stoic.
Tears rolled down James's face. He remembered. "Lily's dead isn't
she." He put his head in his hands. "Harry is also."
"Yes, she is dead, but Harry's in perfect health. Do you wish to see
him?"
James only nodded.
Dumbledore called into the next room. "Poppy, can you bring Harry in
here?"
She walked into the room with the sleeping little boy wrapped in a
beige blanket in her arms.
She handed him to James. "Your son."
James took him from her and started to examine him. He was fine
which was more than he could say about Lily. He hugged the baby to
his chest and stared morosely at the wall in front on him.
Poppy ushered the headmaster out of the room to leave the father and
son alone.
*****
McGonangall met with Dumbledore outside of the infirmary. She had a
grave expression on her face. "Severus hasn't checked in yet."
"Do you remember the last time he checked in?"
"Two days ago."
"That's not unusual. Sometimes he doesn't check in for weeks at a
time."
"I just have a feeling." She waited before continuing with, "I need
to leave so I won't be late for class, but look out for any sort of
message from him."
"I will." He promised.
"I'm worried about him, Albus."
"As am I."
She stayed a moment longer.
"Also, did you find anything relating to do with today's
development?" she asked finally.
"Nothing that wasn't in the papers. It wasn't magical in origin and
Voldemort didn't cause it. I don't have the slightest idea of what it
could be."
She nodded. "Please tell me if you find out."
"Of course."
She turned and headed down the hall towards her classroom, leaving
Dumbledore alone.
*****
Author: Willow
Status: Work in progress
Rating: R (For imagery and violence)
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any relating character,
place, spell, or idea. They belong to J.K. Rowling. I am not making
any money off this.
I'd like to thank my new beta, Mary Kate!
Chapter Two: Solitary
"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible
worlds, and the pessimist fears this is true." -James Branch Cabell
Pain woke him. It felt like shards of glass were digging in his
back. He tried pushing that thought to a corner of his mind. He had
to get out.
He needed his wand to do that. He tried reaching around but his left
side of his body was pinned. He attempted to move his legs but
couldn't tell if he succeeded.
He flinched when light filled his vision and blinked when it was
soon replaced by a sharp darkness. Streams of sunshine promptly broke
through and played over his face.
"James," he heard a female voice say. Then, a dark yellow light
enveloped him. He was lifted and set on solid ground. A silhouette
rushed over to him.
He tried to focus on her, but she kept blurring in and out. Black
hair bound tightly in a bun and a pale pinched face; she looked
vaguely like Minerva McGonangall. She was McGonangall. How did she
get here?
James closed his eyes. He lapsed back into the painless reaches of
unconsciousness.
*****
With a wave of his wand, Voldemort stopped the spell. Snape was left
gasping for breath. "This is getting us nowhere. Imperio! Did you
tell Dumbledore?"
Silence reigned. The forest they were in was almost deathly still.
The branches of the trees rattled slightly insects chirped and far
off an owl hooted.
Snape felt free from care or worry. All the pains and aches he was
feeling left him. He wanted to tell him the truth. He dimly heard
Voldemort ask him again. He almost confessed but something held him
back. He wanted to tell him but he knew he must not, and so he did
not. He would not betray his cause even if it meant his death. Such
loyalty is not usually Slytherin but he reasoned he owed it. It was
his fault that the Potters are dead.
"Yes or No? You might at least have a suspicion who told him my
plans..."
"My Lord."
Voldemort turned his attention from Snape and focused on the Death
Eater. "What?" He snapped.
"Aurors have found our location. We're holding them off for the
moment, but there are too many of them for us to handle without major
losses to our ranks."
"Send the signal to disperse."
"At once, my lord." The Death Eater bowed and began to leave.
He toppled to the ground after taking a few steps. Snape and
Voldemort were also sprawled on the forest floor. Pine needles, old
leafs, and sticks scratched at their faces. All of them were
clutching their heads in obvious pain.
Their headaches faded while an incessant droning took hold. After
about three minutes, that also became inaudible.
Voldemort was the first to stand. About thirty seconds afterwards,
Snape stood up fingers rubbing his temple.
Voldemort stuck his wand in the air and shouted "Morsemodre!"
A red strand fired out of his wand blazing in the morning sky with
his symbol. It signaled his followers to his exact location. A
dangerous spell to do because it also showed his enemies where he was.
He knows it was worth the risk, and he needed to gather his ranks.
He waited for them to arrive.
His Death Eaters pushed through the forest to get to him. Five
minutes passed; then ten. After fifteen, they found him standing in a
small clearing with Snape right beside him and a man groaning on the
ground.
They assembled around their dark lord waiting for him to speak.
"A few minutes ago I felt a disturbance. I do not recognize or even
know what it was. I need to know if anyone else felt it. If you did
not, will you step forward."
Nobody moved.
"So you all felt it also?"
He heard several 'yes m'lords'.
"Very well. Apparate to the base and I'll give more orders there."
"My lord," he asked. "What about him?" He pointed to the man on the
ground.
Voldemort sneered "Leave him. He's served his use."
They left.
*****
The Daily Prophet
*Unknown Occurrence Wrecks Havoc*
By: Nicholas Bothe
Earlier this morning, both the wizard and Muggle worlds received a
jolt of awakening. Details on this are sketchy except that it was not
magically induced.
Both Nonmagical and Magical people all over the world reported
symptoms of splitting headaches, a low buzzing noise and loss of
balance. Officials refuse to comment on this except that it has
absolutely nothing to do with He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.
Several hundred Muggle and thirty-four wizards died. Their deaths
are being blamed on this tragedy...(continued on page 2a)
The Minister of Magic is scheduled to hold a conference with his
advisors later today on this unexpected event. Expect an overview of
his meeting in tomorrow's newspaper as well as an update on this
situation.
*****
"Glad to see you're awake."
James opened his eyes to see the concerned face of a wizened old man
with a sweeping white beard, Dumbledore. He took note of his
surroundings. He was on the bed furthest away from the door in the
infirmary at Hogwarts. How did he end up here? He was just at his
house. Dumbledore saw his look of bewilderment but said nothing.
Confusion led to panic. What exactly happened? Then it all rushed
back; the alarms setting off, and the explosion. Lily and Harry. Eyes
wide, he looked to Dumbledore for answers.
Dumbledore remained stoic.
Tears rolled down James's face. He remembered. "Lily's dead isn't
she." He put his head in his hands. "Harry is also."
"Yes, she is dead, but Harry's in perfect health. Do you wish to see
him?"
James only nodded.
Dumbledore called into the next room. "Poppy, can you bring Harry in
here?"
She walked into the room with the sleeping little boy wrapped in a
beige blanket in her arms.
She handed him to James. "Your son."
James took him from her and started to examine him. He was fine
which was more than he could say about Lily. He hugged the baby to
his chest and stared morosely at the wall in front on him.
Poppy ushered the headmaster out of the room to leave the father and
son alone.
*****
McGonangall met with Dumbledore outside of the infirmary. She had a
grave expression on her face. "Severus hasn't checked in yet."
"Do you remember the last time he checked in?"
"Two days ago."
"That's not unusual. Sometimes he doesn't check in for weeks at a
time."
"I just have a feeling." She waited before continuing with, "I need
to leave so I won't be late for class, but look out for any sort of
message from him."
"I will." He promised.
"I'm worried about him, Albus."
"As am I."
She stayed a moment longer.
"Also, did you find anything relating to do with today's
development?" she asked finally.
"Nothing that wasn't in the papers. It wasn't magical in origin and
Voldemort didn't cause it. I don't have the slightest idea of what it
could be."
She nodded. "Please tell me if you find out."
"Of course."
She turned and headed down the hall towards her classroom, leaving
Dumbledore alone.
*****