Title: Wisdom From The Dark 18
Author: Jyrnn
Spoilers: All four books. Wait, can't say that now can I? Okay, PS, CS, PoA, and GoF. I'll probably pilfer whatever bits I can from The Order of The Phoenix. Incidently some of it can fit. Thank you J. K Rowling. Well except the part about Sirius.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor any of its characters. They are the sole intellectual property of J. K. Rowling and Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. I gain no monetary reward for this exercise and do not intend any copyright infringement.
Summery: A child has suffered enough, an intruder encounters unexpected resistance, and the careless words of Voldemort have the most unexpected results. Harry Potter is about to take a stand.
*...* Direct thoughts
Chapter 18: 360 Days
The pace of the journey was excruciatingly slow. The train seemed the
one magical transportation that was concerned with comfort and not
instantaneous results. The lush French countryside blurred past Harry as
the rhythmic jolting of the train carried him through verdant meadows
and closer to the Black Forest of Germany. Two days had past since he
had waved farewell to his Godfather and mentor in the Paris station.
Sirius needed to stay in France to monitor the news in Britain and to work
on his case. Harry had offered him his suite in Marseilles and the man
had quickly pounced upon the offer, though he regretted his Godson's
departure. Lupin was keeping the ex-fugitive company and proved a great
sounding board for his Dark Arts questions. It truly was a shame that
the lycanthrope had been forced to resign. Hogwarts would have
benefited greatly from his experience.
He was alone but for the statue like body guards Marduk had hired.
The train car was opulent and spacious, allowing much room for whatever
he could possibly want to do. It was his own as was the track he was
riding on. It would take quite some time to categorize every thing he now
owned. Generations of Potters had left him with quite a sizable
financial empire. Every thing he needed was here: bed, shower, and
workspace. The capable looking soldiers stationed at the entrances both
entrances to the private car belied his new found stature. They said little and
fingered there wands and weaponry reflexively but were ready to do
whatever Harry commanded. He had never had such power over another.
The leader of the guard was a man named Scarsdale. Out of all the
guards he was the only one who offered his name. He was short, even
smaller than Harry but had presence of complete control. Two wands were
sheathed at his belt, both about eighteen inches in length. He spoke
rarely which was far more frequent than the rest. The other three were
hooded in dull grey cloaks and seemed to fade into the background. It was
an altogether strange arrangement that Harry was forced to keep to
himself whilst surrounded by people.
As the edge of the ancient arboreal forest approached, Harry pushed
Goshawk's book aside, more than content with the new charms he had
studied. The books he had purchased back in Marseilles took up most of the
desk space. *Hmm, back to Creatures and Constructs, or should I try
something new? Origin of the Draconic Species? No, I'll save that for
the ride through Romania.* He searched the pile that he picked
arbitrarily in France and eventually stopped looking and went back to the book
Lupin had quizzed him on. He was well into the topic of Binding Circles
when the trouble started.
The train came to a screeching to a halt. Shouts from the engine car
were the only warning before a gigantic jolt buckled some unknown
stress. Scarsdale motioned towards the pair in the back and they quickly
exited Harry's private car via the windows. The remaining figured popped
out of existence and Scarsdale closed the distance between Harry and
himself. Both his wands were out and he had a guarded look upon his
face. For his part Harry checked to see that his wand was harnessed and
slipped on his dragon hide robe. He had no broom this time but he was
ready in other ways.
He saw streaks of red and green light streaked past the windows as the
assailants and Harry's guards engaged one another before Scarsdale
pushed him under the desk. Futile curses were drowned out by the roar of
anxiety from the passenger cars behind. From his sheltered place under
his desk Harry could only assume that his guards were holding their own.
New voices broke the stalemate as a few passengers piled out of their
berths with charms on their lips. For his part, Scarsdale stood
twitching he's head from side to side as he took in the fray warring around
Harry's private car. All seemed well until the entire train shook under
some unknown impact.
Actually to Harry it seemed much more than an impact. Cataclysm seems
more appropriate. The car tilted at thirty degree angle and landed
thunderously on the track as a chunk of the track ripped a section of the
roof from the train. The noise was of metal twisting in a painful
fashion and the force shattered the windows. As one, all those outside
yelled in unison, "Giants."
Scarsdale pulled himself from where the fall had dumped him and
ordered loudly at his men in German. Forcefully he pulled Harry up and
tugged him towards one of the shattered windows. The dim light outside
seemed to darken as a tide of black figures flooded from the depths of the
forest. The familiar cold sensation pricked Harry as he heard the
faint echoes of his parents' murder the aura of Dementors inflicted upon
him. Panicked shouts of "Dementors!" replaced the previous cry.
Quickly, before he allowed himself to be dragged to the opposite
window by his anxious bodyguard and before the sensation became intolerable,
he summoned his Patronous. Silver light erupted from his wand and the
shimmering from of a stag charged through the empty window frame. Just
as before when he set loose his guardian to save his godfather, the
beast galloped across the intervening space and drove of the foul
creatures. Then he dashed to Hedwig's cage and set the snowy owl free. Only
then did he allow the German man to drag him out of the car in retreat.
The drop from the window was bearable yet jarring to his unconditioned
form. Rolling to his feet he dashed into the woods with his head low
as another lance of tempered steel whistled through the air, impaling
his car. Green killing curses impacted randomly on tree trunks and limbs
as Harry whirled through the thickly wooded path. Scarsdale was not
behind him, either the man had been felled by a curse or he hadn't made
it out of the car.
A break in the forest appeared just up ahead and Harry ran for it.
Barreling through the thick bush he looked up to find he had wandered
into a ring of Death Eaters. His guards lay in heap on the cold earth in
a vaguely triangular formation. A dozen wands were pointed at him and
Harry, exhausted from his run, could do nothing to defend himself.
Nevertheless, he held out his right arm and prepared to duel.
That proved unnecessary as one Death Eater stood out from his fellows
and took of his mask. The others dropped there wand to a neutral
position though one of the masked wizards seemed reluctant. Pale features
and blonde hair became apparent as soon as the ghastly skull-mask had
been removed. He turned to look at the one Death Eater still brandishing
his wand and sneered. The hostile Death Eater dropped his wand to his
side and the unmasked Death Eater turned to Harry. It was Lucius
Malfoy.
He spoke casually, as his men had not murdered his guards. He spoke
as if he and Harry had encountered one another on the street. It was
absurd actually, given the circumstances.
"Hello Potter, I reckon your day has gotten worse. How dreadful a
week you have had. First exiled and now assaulted." He made a languid
tsking sound under his breath and continued his conceited greeting. "No
doubt you think that we are going to kill you. That is not the case.
I bear a message and an object lesson from my Lord." He gestured at
the prone forms of his dead guards. Three men whom he had never spoken
to but who had tried to protect him. "That is the lesson. Protect
yourself but do not hide behind your ill-gotten wealth."
As coldly as he could manage under the dread and anger he felt, Harry
hazarded to ask, "And what message does Voldemort offer me?"
"Merely that you know your place. We can find you at any time, in any
place. Any safety you once had has evaporated. You live on the whim
of my master and only because he has specific plans for your demise. It
is a foregone conclusion that you're exile will be revoked next
August." Lucius smirked. "Your days are numbered until that time. The Dark
Lord grants you the three hundred and sixty days to live until he
reclaims his gift." With that he turned with a flourish and motioned for
his enforcers to leave. The popping sound of the wizards was obscured by
the lumbering steps of the receding giants.
Lucius remained. "I just saved you life Potter. I'm not actually
supposed to be here but I heard Falstaff was pressing for an "accident" to
happen during the raid. His nose will never be the same after your
little stunt, twisted beyond the abilities of any Medi-wizard."
"What is your point Malfoy? You deliver a message of death and expect
gratitude?" Harry asked incredulous.
"Not gratitude, a favor. No, it's not to forget my appearance here.
A hundred people will testify that I am currently at the opera."
"Polyjuice." Harry said with a grimace. Lucius nodded. "What do you
want then?"
"Merely that you make sure your godfather makes a fuss about Wormtail
being alive. Do not ask, my reasons are my own."
"Why should I?"
"It is in Black's best interest that Peter Pettigrew because a
household name once more and his redemption helps your futile defense against
the Dark Lord." Harry simply nodded.
"Adieu," Lucius said before he too popped out of existence. Harry
stood alone in the clearing until an anxious Scarsdale stumbled across his
position.
End 18
Author notes:
Another chapter and and some actual progress.
To my reviewers I must bow and offer my most profuse thanks. That means you all: Nighttime Sunshine, peeweepotter Relle, AJaKe, cricket, sil, Zaln, Lady FoxFire, Them Girl, fan, Otaku Freak, Saiyan Seker88, bostonian, ADJ, Webster, Star Mage, Lilybee2003, ZeonReborn, gallandro-83, Paul, pablo5280, Imaginaryfriend, Destruxion, kapies, rosie. Bill Weasly, Myrddin Ambrosius Jr.book worm, litine, clingon87,Siri Kat, pan, potter-man, DaBear, Potatoes, PheonixMan,GREENDAY 9829, Elessar, Jason Gregory, Ides of March, Orion, I)ark/-)ngel, keebler-elmo, Angelis, lollipozz, Sophie W., Sarah Rochester, azntgr01, Facade, Klover, Renee Fay and Rachel A. Prongs. You feedback is greatly appreciated and if I have missed anyone you have my apologies. I consider all of you suggestions and you support makes me want to write more. A special thanks to Artemis for being the beta of this chapter. Later
Author: Jyrnn
Spoilers: All four books. Wait, can't say that now can I? Okay, PS, CS, PoA, and GoF. I'll probably pilfer whatever bits I can from The Order of The Phoenix. Incidently some of it can fit. Thank you J. K Rowling. Well except the part about Sirius.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor any of its characters. They are the sole intellectual property of J. K. Rowling and Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. I gain no monetary reward for this exercise and do not intend any copyright infringement.
Summery: A child has suffered enough, an intruder encounters unexpected resistance, and the careless words of Voldemort have the most unexpected results. Harry Potter is about to take a stand.
*...* Direct thoughts
Chapter 18: 360 Days
The pace of the journey was excruciatingly slow. The train seemed the
one magical transportation that was concerned with comfort and not
instantaneous results. The lush French countryside blurred past Harry as
the rhythmic jolting of the train carried him through verdant meadows
and closer to the Black Forest of Germany. Two days had past since he
had waved farewell to his Godfather and mentor in the Paris station.
Sirius needed to stay in France to monitor the news in Britain and to work
on his case. Harry had offered him his suite in Marseilles and the man
had quickly pounced upon the offer, though he regretted his Godson's
departure. Lupin was keeping the ex-fugitive company and proved a great
sounding board for his Dark Arts questions. It truly was a shame that
the lycanthrope had been forced to resign. Hogwarts would have
benefited greatly from his experience.
He was alone but for the statue like body guards Marduk had hired.
The train car was opulent and spacious, allowing much room for whatever
he could possibly want to do. It was his own as was the track he was
riding on. It would take quite some time to categorize every thing he now
owned. Generations of Potters had left him with quite a sizable
financial empire. Every thing he needed was here: bed, shower, and
workspace. The capable looking soldiers stationed at the entrances both
entrances to the private car belied his new found stature. They said little and
fingered there wands and weaponry reflexively but were ready to do
whatever Harry commanded. He had never had such power over another.
The leader of the guard was a man named Scarsdale. Out of all the
guards he was the only one who offered his name. He was short, even
smaller than Harry but had presence of complete control. Two wands were
sheathed at his belt, both about eighteen inches in length. He spoke
rarely which was far more frequent than the rest. The other three were
hooded in dull grey cloaks and seemed to fade into the background. It was
an altogether strange arrangement that Harry was forced to keep to
himself whilst surrounded by people.
As the edge of the ancient arboreal forest approached, Harry pushed
Goshawk's book aside, more than content with the new charms he had
studied. The books he had purchased back in Marseilles took up most of the
desk space. *Hmm, back to Creatures and Constructs, or should I try
something new? Origin of the Draconic Species? No, I'll save that for
the ride through Romania.* He searched the pile that he picked
arbitrarily in France and eventually stopped looking and went back to the book
Lupin had quizzed him on. He was well into the topic of Binding Circles
when the trouble started.
The train came to a screeching to a halt. Shouts from the engine car
were the only warning before a gigantic jolt buckled some unknown
stress. Scarsdale motioned towards the pair in the back and they quickly
exited Harry's private car via the windows. The remaining figured popped
out of existence and Scarsdale closed the distance between Harry and
himself. Both his wands were out and he had a guarded look upon his
face. For his part Harry checked to see that his wand was harnessed and
slipped on his dragon hide robe. He had no broom this time but he was
ready in other ways.
He saw streaks of red and green light streaked past the windows as the
assailants and Harry's guards engaged one another before Scarsdale
pushed him under the desk. Futile curses were drowned out by the roar of
anxiety from the passenger cars behind. From his sheltered place under
his desk Harry could only assume that his guards were holding their own.
New voices broke the stalemate as a few passengers piled out of their
berths with charms on their lips. For his part, Scarsdale stood
twitching he's head from side to side as he took in the fray warring around
Harry's private car. All seemed well until the entire train shook under
some unknown impact.
Actually to Harry it seemed much more than an impact. Cataclysm seems
more appropriate. The car tilted at thirty degree angle and landed
thunderously on the track as a chunk of the track ripped a section of the
roof from the train. The noise was of metal twisting in a painful
fashion and the force shattered the windows. As one, all those outside
yelled in unison, "Giants."
Scarsdale pulled himself from where the fall had dumped him and
ordered loudly at his men in German. Forcefully he pulled Harry up and
tugged him towards one of the shattered windows. The dim light outside
seemed to darken as a tide of black figures flooded from the depths of the
forest. The familiar cold sensation pricked Harry as he heard the
faint echoes of his parents' murder the aura of Dementors inflicted upon
him. Panicked shouts of "Dementors!" replaced the previous cry.
Quickly, before he allowed himself to be dragged to the opposite
window by his anxious bodyguard and before the sensation became intolerable,
he summoned his Patronous. Silver light erupted from his wand and the
shimmering from of a stag charged through the empty window frame. Just
as before when he set loose his guardian to save his godfather, the
beast galloped across the intervening space and drove of the foul
creatures. Then he dashed to Hedwig's cage and set the snowy owl free. Only
then did he allow the German man to drag him out of the car in retreat.
The drop from the window was bearable yet jarring to his unconditioned
form. Rolling to his feet he dashed into the woods with his head low
as another lance of tempered steel whistled through the air, impaling
his car. Green killing curses impacted randomly on tree trunks and limbs
as Harry whirled through the thickly wooded path. Scarsdale was not
behind him, either the man had been felled by a curse or he hadn't made
it out of the car.
A break in the forest appeared just up ahead and Harry ran for it.
Barreling through the thick bush he looked up to find he had wandered
into a ring of Death Eaters. His guards lay in heap on the cold earth in
a vaguely triangular formation. A dozen wands were pointed at him and
Harry, exhausted from his run, could do nothing to defend himself.
Nevertheless, he held out his right arm and prepared to duel.
That proved unnecessary as one Death Eater stood out from his fellows
and took of his mask. The others dropped there wand to a neutral
position though one of the masked wizards seemed reluctant. Pale features
and blonde hair became apparent as soon as the ghastly skull-mask had
been removed. He turned to look at the one Death Eater still brandishing
his wand and sneered. The hostile Death Eater dropped his wand to his
side and the unmasked Death Eater turned to Harry. It was Lucius
Malfoy.
He spoke casually, as his men had not murdered his guards. He spoke
as if he and Harry had encountered one another on the street. It was
absurd actually, given the circumstances.
"Hello Potter, I reckon your day has gotten worse. How dreadful a
week you have had. First exiled and now assaulted." He made a languid
tsking sound under his breath and continued his conceited greeting. "No
doubt you think that we are going to kill you. That is not the case.
I bear a message and an object lesson from my Lord." He gestured at
the prone forms of his dead guards. Three men whom he had never spoken
to but who had tried to protect him. "That is the lesson. Protect
yourself but do not hide behind your ill-gotten wealth."
As coldly as he could manage under the dread and anger he felt, Harry
hazarded to ask, "And what message does Voldemort offer me?"
"Merely that you know your place. We can find you at any time, in any
place. Any safety you once had has evaporated. You live on the whim
of my master and only because he has specific plans for your demise. It
is a foregone conclusion that you're exile will be revoked next
August." Lucius smirked. "Your days are numbered until that time. The Dark
Lord grants you the three hundred and sixty days to live until he
reclaims his gift." With that he turned with a flourish and motioned for
his enforcers to leave. The popping sound of the wizards was obscured by
the lumbering steps of the receding giants.
Lucius remained. "I just saved you life Potter. I'm not actually
supposed to be here but I heard Falstaff was pressing for an "accident" to
happen during the raid. His nose will never be the same after your
little stunt, twisted beyond the abilities of any Medi-wizard."
"What is your point Malfoy? You deliver a message of death and expect
gratitude?" Harry asked incredulous.
"Not gratitude, a favor. No, it's not to forget my appearance here.
A hundred people will testify that I am currently at the opera."
"Polyjuice." Harry said with a grimace. Lucius nodded. "What do you
want then?"
"Merely that you make sure your godfather makes a fuss about Wormtail
being alive. Do not ask, my reasons are my own."
"Why should I?"
"It is in Black's best interest that Peter Pettigrew because a
household name once more and his redemption helps your futile defense against
the Dark Lord." Harry simply nodded.
"Adieu," Lucius said before he too popped out of existence. Harry
stood alone in the clearing until an anxious Scarsdale stumbled across his
position.
End 18
Author notes:
Another chapter and and some actual progress.
To my reviewers I must bow and offer my most profuse thanks. That means you all: Nighttime Sunshine, peeweepotter Relle, AJaKe, cricket, sil, Zaln, Lady FoxFire, Them Girl, fan, Otaku Freak, Saiyan Seker88, bostonian, ADJ, Webster, Star Mage, Lilybee2003, ZeonReborn, gallandro-83, Paul, pablo5280, Imaginaryfriend, Destruxion, kapies, rosie. Bill Weasly, Myrddin Ambrosius Jr.book worm, litine, clingon87,Siri Kat, pan, potter-man, DaBear, Potatoes, PheonixMan,GREENDAY 9829, Elessar, Jason Gregory, Ides of March, Orion, I)ark/-)ngel, keebler-elmo, Angelis, lollipozz, Sophie W., Sarah Rochester, azntgr01, Facade, Klover, Renee Fay and Rachel A. Prongs. You feedback is greatly appreciated and if I have missed anyone you have my apologies. I consider all of you suggestions and you support makes me want to write more. A special thanks to Artemis for being the beta of this chapter. Later