Chapter 22 – Forgotten Nemesis
As Harry took tentative steps through the ancient dark tunnel, nothing could be heard but the soft crackling of long, undisturbed pebbles beneath his feet. The sound seeming to echo down the unending black oblivion as Harry strained his eyes to make out Marius's dark form that led the way through the gloom. The dwindling light seemed to consume the old mage as he walked, his cloaked body slipping in and out of shadows for each stride he took, though he never faltered a step. His stern gaze remaining trained ahead as though studying something intently just beyond Harry's vision, though the boy felt damned as to what it was the man was looking at, with the half light of the tunnel closing in around him the further they went, the general form of the stone walls became more and more narrow every few meters.
Marius halted in his tracks for a moment as he peered through the dark, his arms crossed with fingers tapping ominously against his metal gauntlets. Harry felt only vaguely aware of the cold draft caressing his face from somewhere up ahead, as Marius sniffed a little, before he began walking again, his stride becoming slightly more vigorous as his steps kicked up small clouds of stale dust. Harry continued to walk behind, though an inkling of hesitation began to come over him, a distinct notion of impatience seeming to radiate from the mage as he went, his attention focused solely on the pathway ahead whilst leaving little for the boy he'd just rescued.
Unwittingly, Harry shivered. The decrepit image of the juvenile Narcissans seemed screwed into his head, and kept arising whenever he felt a chill in the air, or had the notion that Marius was not the only presence stalking the tunnels. Harry couldn't see anything moving whenever he turned his head in trepidation, but the feeling was there nonetheless. A haunting type of feeling. Not of fear, Harry was sure he'd know if it were that, but something different. Something greater than fear… dread. Harry clung tightly to his robes as another draft brushed his face, raising goose bumps on his skin, and at once he could feel the blood drained from his face with the lack of air this far below ground. Marius seemed quite tight lipped as to where he was leading him to, but wherever it was, a cool certainty struck him that there was fresh air at hand and in abundance. Forcing a harsh breath, he drew in another lungful of stale air that constricted inside him, causing him to cough violently.
Marius stopped and grunted detestably, gazing down at him from over his shoulder with a frown across his face. Harry fell silent immediately, holding his breath in as the old man stared him down and continued to walk, apparently lost in his own thoughts. Harry followed meekly, but kept a wary eye open, as Marius began grinding his teeth in the dark, that same sense of impatience radiating from him as he went, inducing a subtle bead of sweat on Harry's head.
'Try to keep up boy!' he spoke suddenly, making Harry start. 'We've walked near as far as this tunnel will take us, there's not long to go now I'm certain.'
Harry blinked, staring up meekly at the old man as he walked in his shadow. There was a definite note of irritation in his voice, and he figured it was likely due to his wandering off into Narcissus earlier. He was beginning to regret doing that, now more than ever. It felt to him that Marius hadn't forgiven him at all for the mess, and was lamenting having to bring him along. A boy not even out of school with only mediocre magic training… where's the advantage in that? Harry kept his head down to the ground as he walked, muttering incoherently to himself about the unfairness of everything, as well as his own stupidity, when he abruptly ran into the back of Marius, who'd stopped and was studying a caved in section of tunnel ahead of him. The tunnel was completely smashed up, rocks strewn across the ground in piles where the way should've been clear.
'Humph!' he grunted obstinately, as he felt along the rocky blockage with his hand, the bloodied metal of his gauntlets making odd clinking noises as he dragged it across the rocks.
'What is it?' Harry asked, peering about his side at the cave in, his eyes making out small shafts of light penetrating the cracks. Marius gave another unsatisfied grunt before he stepped back a few meters and raised his hand.
'I somewhat doubt that this tunnel goes any further Harry, we can only assume that whatever it was Voldemort wanted, it is here.'
'But professor, there's no need for force, all we need to do is…'
'GET OUT OF THE WAY!'
Harry leaped to the side as Marius drew back, the palm of his hand beginning to glow white.
'Aanshraknissaa!' he shouted, throwing a glowing white ball at the rocks, blasting the blockage apart with such force that Harry was scared he might induce another cave collapse on themselves. Rocks flew in every direction. Those that threatened the mage rebounded harmlessly off an invisible shield of air where he stood, falling harmlessly to the ground… Blinding light rushed in, washing over them. Even as Harry struggled to adjust his eyes, he'd already plunged his hand into his robes and withdrawn his wand, the lacquered piece of wood shining as the light seemed to consume him where he stood.
A few moments past before his eyes adjusted to the light and he took in the other side for what it truly was. The tunnel ended where they stood, and opened out to become a giant cavity carved from solid rock. Harry blinked as he took in his surroundings, which were unlike anything he'd been expecting. What seemed to him like a mish mash of different objects littered the room. Arranged on aging tables, Harry recognized many items of wizard descent. Cauldrons, potion bottles, spell books, the list went on. Casing the tables Harry felt absolutely fascinated by the items he saw, and could not help but open the covers of some of the books, which displayed dates supposedly before the birth of Christ. Though he did understand that objects of such an age should be left where they laid, so reluctantly, he snapped the old covers closed, Marius stalking along behind him, eyes flicking about like a cat.
Walking on, Harry's gaze passed over many other interesting pieces. Rune stones, magical rings, ancient stone tablets, crystal balls, even a wand carved with a snake wrapped about it's handle catching Harry's attention. He felt immediately that Dumbledore would most definitely want to take a look about this room and it's contents. If he knew the headmaster well enough, he'd have been very interested indeed to see all this, no matter how old they were… especially because of how old they were. Harry continued on, his fingers tapping gingerly on the ancient cedar tables as he went, occasionally creaking as though enjoying his touch. Harry thought he could case this room forever, walking back and forth just looking at what the room contained.
Suddenly he came upon something he did not expect… A muggle computer. Hooked up and wired for operation, a thin layer of dust covered the piece of technology as it sat idly on the wooden bench, as though it were never used. The thought coming to him as to why something like this was here of all places, and he went to press one of the buttons on the keyboard when Marius's solid hand grabbed his arm millimeters from contact.
'You'd be wise not to touch anything Harry, there's no telling what all this stuff does. One of those could be jinxed with a trap for all you know. I've seen it happen before to unwary muggles. Always somebody trying to toy with them, though it works just as well for wizards as it does magic folk.'
Harry instinctively drew his hand back, eyeing the computer warily. Marius nodded in a satisfied way and stalked away, looking back and forth to the items scattered about the room. Harry watched for a moment as the mage walked, his form gradually becoming smaller as he traveled further away, still holding himself with a deadly grace. Marius didn't look back to him for a while after, the time slowly passing before Harry got fed up with merely standing idly by, keeping his hands to himself. He had to do something, if only to relieve his boredom at the least. So with his hands dug loosely in his pockets, he turned his head this way and that, his eyes still passing over the thousands of objects that lied scattered about, many magical, some muggle and others, he wasn't quite sure.
Breathing a sigh he walked across a stone dais, looking at the old tables, occasionally picking up an object or two as he went, not heeding Marius's stern warning. Looking behind abruptly he saw that Marius was still a good hundred meters away, apparently too absorbed in his surroundings to notice that he was doing what he shouldn't. Harry exhaled with a tinge of relief. Marius was too demanding for his taste, and viewed discipline as the highest of arts. He was glad in a way that the old mage wasn't paying him any mind, as he continued staring about at the objects on the tables.
One item caught his attention suddenly, though he couldn't understand why exactly. A small statue of a robed lady, no more than a few centimeters tall, stood strangely by itself on the wooden table, given a wide berth by all the other magical objects. Harry peered closely at it, noticing even a tiny tear made of porcelain running down it's cheek.
"How beautiful…" Harry thought to himself as he stroked the white lady's hair. There didn't seem anything magical about it, but the statue's sheer beauty struck him inside and he wanted to hold it, just to see it all in it's grandeur. Just for a moment. Extending his hand, he tried to pick the statue up… It wouldn't move… He tried again, a little harder this time, and still nothing happened! Harry grunted irritatingly, scratching his head in confusion. What did it take just to move this thing? Perhaps it was somehow sealed to the table, he didn't know. Though he felt it was worth it at least for one last try, just in case. Grasping the small statue with both hands, he dug his heels into the floor and pulled hard with all the strength he could muster…
There was a sharp click, and Harry released it fearing he'd broken the statue. Looking at it he saw the statue had in fact moved slightly upwards from it's original position, revealing a metal brace beneath it binding the object to the table. There was another click, then another… and another. A series of clicks sounded from what seemed to be within the table. The sounds of ancient machinery, gears and cogs working and turning together in unison, until suddenly the table wretched and moved along runners to Harry's left, revealing what seemed to be an opening in the solid stone wall, just big enough for a man to fit through. Harry stared surprised at the opening. A secret doorway? The prospect tantalized him, though he had to consider that he almost got himself killed an hour ago. What was he to do? Looking around he saw that Marius had disappeared somewhere, most likely looking at some old magical contraption, completely oblivious to him. It wouldn't hurt at all just to take a look. Just a small look… So, breathing deep, he walked through the doorway.
Harry took a tentative few steps in as pitch blackness overcame him. The cavity on the other side of the doorway was completely devoid of light, and Harry found it impossible to see even his own hand waving in front of his face. The air inside felt stale and old as he breathed in, reminiscent of the tunnels Marius led him down earlier. And there was no telling what was inside. Hastily Harry reached for his wand, fumbling around within his robes before he withdrew the magical piece of wood and held it above himself.
'Lumos.' He spoke softly, the wand lighting the room brightly with an iridescent glow. Surprisingly the room was almost identical in size to the one he'd just been standing in. With his wand light only radiating a few meters, the darkness beyond it seemed to encroach and try to consume it, threatening to overcome him as it had when he'd first entered. Slowly he walked forwards, waving his wand in different directions, the light spreading off into the distance before abruptly halting for no apparent reason, making him feel enclosed and scared. From first appearances there seemed to be nothing in the room at all. Whichever way he looked, Harry saw nothing but the solid floor of rock beneath his feet, and for several minutes of walking aimlessly about in the dark, he could see no change in his surroundings whatsoever. The apparent monotony of the room struck a tense boredom streak within him and he turned to leave, only to find that they doorway was gone!
Running in the direction he'd come, he soon came upon the solid stone wall and felt along it with his hands. There was nothing! No apparent signs of any doorway, not even so much as a crack in the wall. The doorway had sealed itself up tight, and there was no other way out! Frantically he turned in every direction, his wand light scouring the floor for some kind of trigger… a lever of sorts for the doorway, just like there was on the other side. Like the statue. But his search came up empty. Again he looked, crawling on his knees, trying if vainly to find some weakness in the connection between the wall and floor, if only for the slimmest chance of escape, and again… he came up with nothing. What was he to do?!
Turning about he looked into the never ending darkness at the edge of the light. His entry was closed to him, bringing back reeling memories of him being blocked from entry at Kings Cross Station just a few short years back. At least then there was another way about it. He had Ron's car at the time… A small voice echoed inside his head.
"There's always a way, even if you don't see it immediately… Always a way out. Always."
Harry squinted in the half light of his wand, his eyes combing for some clue as to what to do next. And he could not help but wonder what was just beyond the circle of light. Perhaps there was something out there to help him escape. He'd seen more than enough magical objects this far underground to convince him the prospect was possible. But which way should he walk? Breathing a resigned sigh, he set off in a random direction, holding his wand up in front of him as he went, always careful of what may lay ahead…
Half an hour wore on. Harry could not sense anything about whichever way he turned. It seemed to him like some never ending abyss in all directions and he'd found nothing. In the back of his mind he knew Marius would skin him alive. This was just the kind of thing he'd warned about. Touching foreign objects and ending up in who knows where. It seemed to him like stupidity worthy of… Harry Potter. He'd gotten himself into situations like this before, and all because he was a headstrong fool, who didn't know any better than to walk blindly into whatever traps and snares that had been laid out about for him. Silently he cursed himself for it, as his mind brought him back to the reality that he was in. Walking about clueless in the dark without an idea as to where he was going or whether he'd make it out alive.
All of a sudden, a feeling struck him. Only faintly, but of it's existence he was sure. A small tingling in the back of his mind, calling from afar reached out to him tentatively. He craned his neck about for a sense of direction, before settling on a local to his far right, and walked that way. Putting one foot in front of the other Harry slowly paced towards the calling, the darkness still closing in on him but his sense of direction far improved with something to walk towards. Like a beacon in the night… It didn't really occur to him how long or far he'd been walking, but the air began to clear a little, filling his nostrils. The light from his wand had also begun to stretch further into the dark, allowing him greater vision. He was beginning to get used to his surroundings now, even though that dull thought resided in his head that he was trapped, when all of a sudden, something large loomed into view just ahead of him.
Grinding to a halt as if he were running, Harry scanned the object up and down with his eyes, his wand light beginning to make out dull shapes. It seemed to look like a giant, glass tank… he squinted closer. Yes, yes it was. Harry could make out the dull shine of liquid contained within it from the light of his wand. And there was something inside it, suspended in the liquid… Harry walked slowly towards it, taking cautious steps forward as the tank came into view, small details that he had not been expecting, like muggle circuitry, seeming to reach out as the light touched them. What was this thing? And more importantly, what was it doing here?
Harry walked closer still and looked to the wretched object floating sinuously in the tank. From his vantage point he made out what seemed to be legs, with feet longer than any human, and long cruel talons extending from where toes should have been. Further up the legs disappeared behind what seemed to be whispy veils of organic fabric that clung to the body in strips, moving about in the water as though blowing in a non-existent breeze. Harry's mouth seemed to droop further as his eyes moved slowly up the malformed creature floating before him. And it felt safe to say that it's form didn't improve the further up Harry's eyes went. Branching out from the sides, two improbably sized, but powerful arms extended forth, opening finally in viciously clawed hands that looked capable of tearing a person limb from limb. Harry's disbelief at the creature's appearance was beginning to hype, the air about him seeming to thicken slightly as beads of cold sweat began to roll down his face… His eyes went up further to it's face and Harry's heart almost stopped beating.
Snake like scales grew up from the base of it's neck, extending around it's straight mouth and up to where it's ears should have been. What seemed like slits for nostrils almost stared at him mockingly from the base of a hollow, blood drained face. And all of a sudden, Harry's scar burned intensely, as though someone were placing a red hot piece of iron to his skin, and he clutched his throbbing head, stumbling backwards and falling over. Constantly he kept his vision centered on the unconscious being, scared as though it's eyes would suddenly snap open to reveal the bright red orbs that had haunted him in dreams since their last fateful encounter in the Ministry of Magic.
……It was Voldemort.
The sound of scraping metal suddenly attracted Harry's attention and his head swiveled around quickly to see a tall, black clad shadow merge from the shadows. A pitch black cloak swung lifelessly in a non-existent breeze, blood stained gauntlets gleaming hideously in the half light of Harry's wand as cruel dark eyes stared down at him…
Marius.
With his mouth curling at the edges into a malicious smile, Marius walked slowly about the boy sprawled on the hard stone floor, his grieves grinding ominously upon the rock as his footsteps dragged lazily in a casual way. Harry's mind reeled as he watched the grey haired mage from the corner of his vision, pacing about. Stalking… Abruptly the mage let out a seedy laugh, and Harry inched himself backwards slightly, aiming his wand at the man despite the idea amusing him greatly.
'Well done Harry. Oh yes, well done indeed.' Marius spoke silkily, his smile widening slightly as he eyed Harry, 'I've always pondered on your intelligence, but since you managed to find your way this far without getting yourself killed, I am inclined to agree you are clever… or perhaps foolish, I cannot tell the difference…'
Harry's grip on his wand tightened.
'Who are you… really?' he asked scathingly, sweat beginning to roll faster down his face than before, 'Marius isn't like this. He's Dumbledore's closest friend, he wouldn't pull me, a student, underground into the midst of danger when he's quite capable of dealing with it himself! No he wouldn't! WHO ARE YOU?!… SPEAK! I swear Marius, or whoever you are, I will kill you!'
For a brief moment Marius stood there looking slightly aghast, until his smile returned again and threatened to split his face in two, before laughing even harder than before, making Harry even more uneasy.
'Clever… oh yes you are. I fear however that you won't be needing that mundane piece of wood Harry…' and in a sideward glance, Harry's wand flew from him towards Marius, who grasped it in a metal clad hand. Tightening his grip, he snapped the piece of wood in two, sparks flying in all directions as he dropped the broken shards to the ground, landing with a clatter. 'I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself, or anyone else for that matter.'
Harry's eyes widened in horror at losing his only weapon so quickly, and scrambled back further, his mouth working questionably as the light quickly faded, plunging the room into it's familiar darkness. Another laugh broke the silence with an echo.
'Poor child… so lost without his magic. Without such a primitive tool to aid him. He is blinded in the dark without the light, but I see him clearly. Yes I do. Can you feel it Harry? Can you feel that fear?'
Harry inched back further in the darkness, his eyes darting every which way in desperation for light. The harsh sounds of footsteps approaching him.
'WHO ARE YOU?!' Harry shouted as if to no one, as he made contact with something hard against his back. He was against the tank. Shallow breathing answered a response, the footsteps stopping a few meters away.
'It seems only fair I offer you an explanation. Hmm… but where to begin? I wonder.' Marius went silent for a moment as if contemplating, even as Harry's own harsh breaths turned into a wheezing.
'I admit that I felt… admiration towards you Harry, when you made that subtle hint about not believing who I was. Very few people I have encountered have ever seen that far into my motives as to realize I am in fact deceiving everyone else… but you Harry, are indeed very special. You were correct in your assumption boy, I am not Marius. That man was a very fine wizard, and friends to another extraordinary mage named Albus Dumbledore. Regrettably however, Marius is long dead, far before your parents time. But his death was not in vain. Oh no it wasn't. He proved useful to an extent and his body has become a most acceptable host by which I have come to face you now, huddling scared and alone in the dark. What a pitiful excuse for a wizard you've become. For all I admire in your intelligence, your moral fiber seems fickle when you encounter a problem you cannot solve.'
Harry sat stone still, his mind coming to grips with why he hadn't realized this before. Marius was never the likable kind of person… He had to see his face again, there was something about it that he just knew he recognized from somewhere, so closing his eyes, Harry concentrated hard, until a small flame suddenly appeared from his outstretched hand.
'Oh I wouldn't bother with that Harry. Such a cheap trick!' and at once Harry's mind hit an invisible block, his concentration lapsing as the flame disappeared to nothingness. Harry found it impossible to gain his mental concentration again.
'It is hard being powerless, isn't it Harry?' Marius taunted from the dark, Harry's senses indicating him to be standing somewhere to his left and moving around him in a tight circle. 'But you shouldn't be powerless. I have seen things within you Harry, just as I see them now… Essence.'
Marius's voice seemed to shiver in ecstasy at the word, the sound rolling off his tongue.
'You can feel it, can't you Harry? Yes… yes you can, I know you can. You've felt it before. Like a rising tide of energy locked deep away inside you, struggling to escape. To be let loose! You know of what I speak Harry, don't you?!'
Harry lowered his head, lost in thought. It was true. All of it. He had felt it before, even if only a little. First there was the healing of his arm when shards of glass had been lodged into it. Then the scars left on his back from his dream. And now the small flickering flame that he struggled to keep a hold of.
'Yes.' Harry replied simply into the air, 'I'm aware of it. But how are you?'
A short grunt came to him as answer, this time from his right somewhere. A deep seated sense of dissatisfaction rife in his voice.
'Do not impugn me boy!' and an invisible hand slapped him hard across the face, 'It's foolish to ask questions for which you already know the answer! I remember things Harry. Every time you looked at me you were afraid. You didn't know why but you were. But, I know why. It is subconscious. You've seen me before I took position at Hogwarts Harry… in your dreams. Just as you saw me in more prophetic visions afterwards, all detailing a grisly end for you and your Hogwarts friends. Do you remember?… Tisk… foolish to ask that. I know you remember. Dreams have haunted the boy who lived since the first night he encountered the dark wizard Voldemort. Every night without fail, it proved convenient that your dreaming had become so advanced. I found it very simple to interlope and move your dreams the way I wanted you to see them… I've been keeping an eye on you Harry. My word I have.'
Harry shook his head in disbelief. It couldn't be true! How could this have gone on for so long? Ever since that first night at the Dursley's? Marius's footsteps wheeled about and settled some three meters in front of him from what he could tell in the gloom.
'How?' Harry asked breathlessly, his mind still racing at the thought, 'How could you do that to me? And why?! Are you so powerful that you can attack people in their sleep! You're right as you've always been Marius, or whoever you are. I do remember you from the night. Always you were there in your black cloak with your hood pulled down over your face. Did you really think I wouldn't recognize you?!'
Silence. Marius breathed shallowly for a moment, as though slightly taken aback, but a small chuckling soon sounded beneath his breath.
'You recognized me? Let me understand this fully. You… recognized… ME?! Harry, Harry, Harry… I've maintained that you're clever, yes… but you've no subtlety about you whatsoever. Absolutely none. You saw my current physical form for what it was and is. But tell me Harry, do you know what resides beneath this shell? Search yourself boy, think deeply. Inside you have a hunch. A small tinkering in your mind that shows me for what I am. Use your mind Harry, see past this putrid contraption of flesh and blood and see your forgotten nemesis… See me for who I AM!'
And just ahead of him, the darkness parted slightly and two red orbs glowed before him. Their intensity boring into Harry like knives.
'You recognize the evil you know over the evil you don't. How ironic Harry, that for all these years that you've escape Voldemort's twisted schemes, you didn't see me for who I really was… GRINDELWALD!'
And the entire room suddenly burst into light and Harry found himself face to face with the once dead demon. It's eyes shining like beacons stilled him with fear, even as Harry saw what had been an old man's face, had twisted and contorted into what seemed like a gnarled piece of wood, scars and gashes from the human form merging effortlessly with the hollowed out face of the being that truly held that body. Grindelwald smiled as Harry's own face twisted in horror at the sight and he struggled to crawl away.
Grindelwald seemed to tower over him, and with a gesture of his gnarled fingers, Harry was lifted into the air by his throat, thin columns of dust forming a vice around him.
'It is useless to deny my strength Harry, just as it's useless to fight against it. Better wizards than you have perished for less, and considering your unarmed, that is saying a lot. Ha Ha… I almost pity you boy. As your life does not end just yet. There is more that a child prodigy like yourself must know of my scheming, look behind you.'
And Harry felt his body suddenly turn in mid air until he once again came face to face with Voldemort's horribly mutated form.
'What is it?!' Harry asked in a strangled voice, his eyes cringing at the sight of it. Grindelwald walked around as Harry sat suspended in mid air, eyeing the tube's contents up and down.
'It is, my latest creation. In my later years, when muggles began to advance at an astronomical rate, I sought to harness their abilities so that I may benefit from them. Time bore on slowly enough, but it soon came to pass that muggles began dabbling in genetics, at the very foundation of what makes us who are. I could not resist the temptation to try such an art for myself. Cloning, gene splicing, regeneration of limbs. Very tempting I admit to that. This is the product of that ambition Harry. Within Voldemort's magically strengthened interior I have spliced with his human DNA, strands of the like, owned by adult Narcissans. The subject has taken much time to grow to this present stage of development, but given time, he will soon be capable of all that was lost so long ago when the world was put into castes. Just think Harry, one of the most powerful Dark wizards of the age being strengthened with Narcissan DNA!'
Harry's mouth dropped open in terror. If the sight of his enemy wasn't bad enough, then this news wasn't much appreciated.
'You're mad!' he stuttered in disbelief, still staring at the abomination before him. 'This kind of union just shouldn't be. Don't you have ANY idea as to what this, "creature" will be capable of?!'
Grindelwald drew back slightly, breathing irritation.
'Of course I do! That was the entire motivation behind this project. And when he awakens, and he certainly will, your world will be changed… forever!'
Harry still couldn't believe what he was seeing, but Grindelwald's red eyes seemed to intensify every time he spoke of his engineering skills. Even so however, questions still begged at Harry's mind.
'How?' he asked once more, drawing Grindelwald's curiosity of a sudden, 'How did you get Voldemort inside that tube?! I doubt he came willingly for your genetic tinkering.'
Grindelwald cringed and slapped Harry with another invisible backhand, a small splattering of blood beginning to drip from Harry's mouth.
'I prefer to call it improving nature's imperfections. But yes, again you're correct. Voldemort, had he known what laid in store for him would not have come at my beck and call. So subtlety was needed to bring HIM to me. Just before I joined Hogwarts's teaching staff, I cast the Nullifying Curse. With it's power I destroyed the magical foundation that supports ward magic over the entire of Britain. Chaos reined as was my intention, with magic even as powerful as what protects Hogwarts itself being reduced to dust. Naturally the muggles found out about the wizard world, and seeing as those in power felt absolutely paranoid towards us, I prompted here and there by putting high ranked generals under the Imperious Curse and from that the war started. Hogwarts was annihilated before a single muggle set foot on the school grounds, and with the order of the phoenix so battered and broken, it was only natural that just as I had, Voldemort gave into temptation and apparated into Hogwarts, where I took him for myself. That is how I achieved it. Quite clever really, though there were difficulties of course.'
And Grindelwald breathed out slowly, the air turning to shards of ice about him.
'Difficulties? What difficulties?! You played us all for the past year without anyone being the wiser.'
Nodding, Grindelwald sighed resentfully.
'Alas, no Harry. There was always the possibility that I might be found out by someone with enough brains to see through whatever was happening. Someone like Dumbledore… and someone like you. I knew that Albus listened very intently when you ever had a suspicion to tell, and always confided in him whenever things bothered you. You are his favorite by a long shot, and that annoyed me considerably. It was necessary when you came too close to the truth, that I put your suspicions to rest. You had a nice conversation with Hagrid I believe. Does this sound familiar to you…?'
And Grindelwald's body suddenly wretched and contorted, expanding and growing until Hagrid's giant form stood before him with that loving smile stretched across his face. He then quoted his conversation exactly when he'd been in the hut with him, ending finally with;
"…He may be a shrewd person Harry, but he's saved my life on more than one occasion long before you were born, and I know in my heart that Marius is not under Grindelwald's control. You should abandon that thought as quick as you can, it doesn't do good to live on rumors…"
Harry's mouth dropped even wider, and as Grindelwald changed back, he invisibly whacked Harry again over his face. This time seemingly for fun.
'You tricked me!' Harry blurted out, definitely feeling the pain in his jaw, 'Are you saying that I never talked to Hagrid at all?!'
Grindelwald smiled maliciously between gritted teeth.
'Yes, that is what I'm saying. Though that wasn't enough for you I figured. I did some research on your past at this school and you can be very stubborn indeed. So, I made a point to let you wander off into Narcissus by yourself, just so that I could save you when things got a little bit too nasty for your own good. I instilled your trust and kept you alive long enough so that you may hear the truth from me now as I speak it to you.'
Harry lowered his head, silent tears beginning to stream down his face. He'd had his suspicions, but ever since they'd both come underground together, Harry had started to believe that he may have been wrong about who he thought Grindelwald was at the time. How he cursed his stupidity again and again. Grindelwald's red eyes centered on his weeping form and smiled satisfactorily, opting not to slap him again, but let the spectacle continue, clear pity in his orb like eyes.
'Don't be so hard on yourself boy.' Grindelwald spoke mockingly, a slight laugh inherit in his voice, 'It's understandable that you were deceived so easily without Dumbledore to aid you. He was another nuisance I had to remove. It was because of wise minded wizards like Dumbledore that the human race was turned into three separate races. You can understand that I couldn't have him guide you to the truth as I'm certain he'd suspected, right when you needed it the most. I moved much of the Heliopath army out of Hogwarts so he'd be forced to spend his energy creating a shield for protection. I'm sure the original bombardment probably scared him enough for it too. But he'll live long enough to see the world be destroyed and built anew, I've granted him enough life for that at least, so you cannot accuse me of being uncompassionate!'
'No…' Harry spoke softly between sobs, 'It doesn't make sense…'
'What? What was that?!' Grindelwald retorted, rounding on the boy as he levitated, hands snapped to his sides by invisible coils of air.
'It doesn't make any sense!' Harry spoke louder this time, his voice straining a little, 'If what you say is true, you destroyed Britain's wards, and spent near an entire year lying and deceiving everyone you ever came into contact with as to what you were doing. If you were so afraid of being discovered for this long, then why did you rescue me back in Narcissus? If you really thought me smart enough to figure you out, then why didn't you kill me on first contact?'
Grindelwald skipped a breath suddenly, his eyes narrowing at the boy floating before him. In an instant the invisible coils of air binding Harry ceased to exist, and he fell to the stone floor with an awful thud, grunting in pain.
'I won't deny it's in my power Harry, but I kept you alive this long because you present a great opportunity to me. You know what exists within you. You've felt the lingering of Essence each day clawing away at you. One day you'll draw so much of that power that you will kill yourself, and that would be a terrible waste indeed. Oh yes it would… I'm here to give you an offer of absolution. So long as you roam free, you are a danger to yourself and others, whereas if you learned to harness your abilities, you could become so powerful that the world itself would kneel at your feet. Would it not be beneficial? I know you're scared Harry, of this power born within you. I would think you a fool not to be. But this is something you cannot ignore, as in time it will mature and take hold of you in ways you cannot imagine…'
Harry spat in disgust, looking to the snarling mage as he stood towering over him.
'Everything that has happened to me, I've overcome on my own. What's to say this is any different?!'
Grindelwald laughed loudly at him, putting Harry slightly off foot.
'Denial of the situation will destroy you Harry. In time it will. You know this too but that stubborn streak I mentioned you having is blinding you with pride. Why will you not accept what is and realize that you NEED aid if you're to survive your burgeoning powers? I give you this opportunity once and once only. Come with me! Come with me Harry and I'll teach you to harness what you hold within. Do that, and you will live to see power and glory. Do it not… and you will not live long enough to die from your magic, I will kill you here an now where you stand. It is your choice Harry. Make it!'
Harry stared at the man before him, glowering beneath his teeth. There seemed no expression on Grindelwald's stony face, but his eyes spoke volumes as they pierced him lying on the ground. Harry immediately broke his gaze with the man and looked to his right, casting his eyes over Voldemort's stasis tube. The horrid creature he had become floated lifelessly in the liquid, casting eerie shadows over the floor. That was the price of unlimited power. Somehow Harry knew it. Voldemort became a slave to his ambition, much like Grindelwald, except that Voldemort seemed to have little control of his current situation. Would he, Harry Potter become like that? A chained animal at Grindelwald's beck and call?
'No… NO!' Harry shouted, beads of sweat starting to stream down his face now, as he unconsciously became aware of the air constricting around him, 'There are consequences for everything Grindelwald. Voldemort has discovered that the hard way, but I am fully aware of what a risk I would be taking in following you! I will not be controlled. Not now, NOT EVER!'
Grindelwald never moved, but his smile failed him, being quickly replaced by a grimace as his mouth curled downwards at the edges. His eyes hardened as he stared at Harry. There was contempt there, oh yes there was. Though he did well not to show any. He let loose a harsh breath, the light around him fading slightly as his fingers flexed beneath his gauntlets.
'So be it, Harry Potter…'
The boy didn't know immediately what had happened. One second he was lying prone on the ground, the next, some invisible force grabbed at his cloak and hurled him through the air, smashing him against the floor as he fell in an uncontrolled spiral. Harry suddenly felt a sharp pain as a jagged crack sounded from somewhere within him. He clutched his ribs in agony.
'Poor boy… You're pathetic Harry, and weak! Only now at the end of it all, do you understand what true power is. Such a pity to waste a spark so full of life as you, but alas, you must learn the folly of your decision. As you said before Harry, everything has consequences. Unfortunate that you must suffer those as you are now.'
Grindelwald motioned another swift hand, and Harry felt that same pulling sensation again, as another of his ribs snapped inside of him. Harry screamed in pain, blood beginning to pour from his mouth as he struggled to get to his feet. Yet Grindelwald would have none of it, and promptly smashed Harry's spine with an invisible club of air, making him arch backwards and twitch violently.
'There is no hope left for you Harry. I'm sorry, but your time is over!' Grindelwald snarled beneath his breath at the boy curled up dying before him. In a moment his face flashed, and a wicked smile grew where there was once malice.
'What is fortunate however, is that I have no need for you to live at all. There is much I can do with a corpse as I can with a living body. Your suffering however, will be penance enough for daring to cross me!'
And at once Harry was lifted into the air once more, his broken bones inside of him stinging with fiery intensity. He could feel every distinct movement of his chest as shards of bone pierced him within. Grindelwald stalked closer, raising Harry to his eye level, before he placed a metal clad hand on his head, grasping his hair.
'I wonder,' Grindelwald began as he pulled Harry's head backwards, 'What else you may have locked away in this head of yours. Hmm, the knowledge you posses could be interesting to study, once you're dead of course. As you can see you're in no position to rent dissatisfaction at my decisions. So prepare yourself boy, your memories are now mine!'
Immediately Grindelwald grabbed Harry by his chest. The boy screamed in pain as he felt his skin being broken, but the mage forced his hand until blood began to smear his gauntlets before it suddenly glowed, and energy began seeping out of Harry, up Grindelwald's arm. Harry could feel nothing but a cool numbness, as though a part of him were leeching out, and for every moment that passed by, the feeling intensified, as did the wicked smile that had begun curling on Grindelwald's mouth. He was sucking him dry. There was no other way to describe it. Somewhere in the deep recesses of Harry's mind, he could feel it happening. In a few moments he WOULD be dead. He had to fight back. He had to retaliate. But how?!
Without thinking, Harry committed every working brain cell he had, and concentrated on the flow of energy between himself and the mage in front of him. Nothing happened. Again he tried… harder this time. Concentrating more and more until his jaw grew sore from gritted teeth, all his attention focused solely on the flow, and every particle of magic the passed between them. There was a slight falter in the flow, Grindelwald furrowed his brow slightly in confusion, whilst Harry pushed harder still, becoming one with the magic. One with the Essence. He would not let Grindelwald take his memories.
Slowly at first, the flow changed direction. Piece by agonizing piece Harry reeled the flows back into him, the numbness beginning to fade, refreshing warmth returning to his body, even as Grindelwald's realized what was happening and began focusing all his strength on the flows as well. It seemed a never ending struggle for power, but Harry would not give in. Too much was at stake here. His memories, his life, his identity itself was on the line, and he threw everything at the flow he could muster. Strength reserves he didn't know he had quickly entwined themselves with Grindelwald's magical bond as he pulled the flows into himself, further, further, further. And at once something miraculous happened… Visions flickered across his eyes. Grindelwald seemed to disappear from view as his mind became filled with thoughts… no, memories. Grindelwald's memories!
Visions of power and bloodlust. People dying at his hand, some begging for mercy at his feet before he killed them anyway. Visions of wizards and witches Harry had only seen in photographs that he assumed were long since dead, talking to him about a war too long ago for him to contemplate. Visions of Essence. The strange feelings inside that he somehow turned to his liking with thoughts, creating magic. Making him without any doubt amongst the most powerful of wizards in the world. Harry could only taste the pleasure Grindelwald felt at wielding such strength. The energy involved… or lack of, seething through him like the tide of an unstoppable river. He could see it in his mind as though he himself were using the magic. It felt simple. Achievable. Harry looked to the sensations and compared them with the struggling, yet identical powers he could feel within himself, and saw the key. The precise way to manipulate the energy that provided absolutely no concentration at all. He could do it now. He could control his own power! He knew he could, he just knew it.
Slowly Harry's eyes slid back into focus, sweeping over Grindelwald as he stood with beads of sweat rolling across his scarred face. He was desperately trying to control the magical bond he'd cast between himself and Harry. And he was losing. The flows had begun to spin out of control and were flying into Harry with incredible speed. There was no way he could stop it, and for a brief moment Grindelwald met Harry's gaze and all he could see… was fear. This had to end now.
A moment passed before Harry found it. Hiding like a tiger inside him, Essence laid in wait, like a tool wanting to be used but in the furthest corner of a garage, slightly out of reach. Harry went for it with Grindelwald's knowledge in his head, and grasped it! In an instant the connection between the two of them snapped apart, and Harry wove the flows of energy about Grindelwald, hurling him away as far he could manage, to land with a thud a few hundred meters away. The feeling was incredible. It felt like being reborn! Untapped power flowed through Harry's veins like a rushing river, threatening to consume him. Nothing in his experience could ever have prepared him for this, the feeling was just so wonderful. So revitalizing. To him, life felt little more than a horrible shadow compared to the gleaming presence of Essence.
A sharp pain in his chest made him cringe of a sudden. Looking down he realized that his lungs had been broken. Reaching for it again, Harry manipulated the flows of Essence around his broken chest and pushed the bones painfully back into place before he healed them over as though they'd never been broken at all.
'Incredible!' he spoke to himself, before he heard a noise somewhere in the distance, just ahead of him. Looking up, Harry saw Grindelwald pull himself slowly to his feet, rubble falling off his back where he'd made a man sized crater in the stone floor. He seemed unperturbed, but stared at Harry with a greater form on contempt than he remembered. Harry stared back, his teeth gritting together. He couldn't tell for sure, but it seemed that he could feel everything about him with heightened senses. Even from the distance Harry could hear Grindelwald breathing heavier than before, and feel the slickness of sweat rolling down his face. He spoke softly, though Harry could hear everything with as much clarity as if he were standing face to face with him.
'So it has come to this has it? The boy who lived has finally found his inner strength. Heh, enjoy it boy whilst you can, you know nothing of what you can do!'
And in a split second, Grindelwald disappeared where he stood, before he suddenly reappeared right in front of Harry and plunged and heavy fist into the boy's stomach. Harry lurched in shock before he had time to realize what was happening and careened like a bullet through the air, grinding into the stone floor with a smash. Slowly the dust settled, and Harry swiveled his eyes down to his stomach, his innards opened and bleeding, blood strewn across his robes.
'ARRGHHHHH!' he yelled, pain driving into him like nails. Struggling, Harry stared at his wound and flowed energy into it. The wound contorted for a moment before it closed up on itself, healing over. Far away Harry saw Grindelwald looking dangerously at him, that familiar smile once more stretched across his face. Anger seeped into him at the sight of that mocking expression, and everything he'd seen when he'd emerged at the surface came back. The death, the destruction. Everyone who had been pulled into Grindelwald's snare had died. Innocent people, both wizard and muggle alike. He couldn't just let Grindelwald get away with that. NEVER!
Adrenaline and energy combined within him, a seething anger replacing whatever sense of rationality he had inside, and he magically pulled himself off the ground, floating to his feet.
'Why do you bother Harry?' Grindelwald spoke imperiously, his eyes downcast at the boy who flexed his hands in rage, 'Can't you see your failure is inevitable?! I have been with Essence longer than your feeble mind can contemplate. It is useless to resist your destiny!'
'I resist because your time is over Grindelwald! You've been with Essence for far too long, and have lost whatever value for life you may have had. You are not human anymore. No soul, no right to live.'
'No soul eh…' Grindelwald stared acceptingly at the boy, eyeing him up and down as his mouth flexed awkwardly, 'I always said you were smart Harry. You may just be correct about me, but you… you were always a fool. I could see it in your eyes the moment I met you, and it will be the last thing you know when final breath comes! And come it will…'
Grindelwald's image shimmered slightly and disappeared once more, but Harry was ready this time, and visualized time slowing down in his head. The world stretched suddenly, and flowed back into place before he could see Grindelwald only two meters away from him, his moving slowed in an inconceivable running motion, his fist outstretched to land Harry with another blow to the stomach. Harry immediately sidestepped him and tore his legs out from beneath him, before face planting the mage into the stone floor with flows of air. Producing a lengthened groan of surprise as time flowed back to normal once more and a cloud of impenetrable dust rose from the floor where Grindelwald laid in a crumpled heap, not moving an inch.
Breathing deeply, Harry walked backwards, staring hypnotically at the dust cloud that had enveloped the floor in front of him. Suddenly he felt a tingle in the hairs of his neck and turned just in time to see a bolt of lighting come seemingly out of nowhere at him. Harry lunged quickly out of the way as the bolt hit the floor and brought up clouds of smoke and dust, producing a crater where he'd been standing just a split second before. Looking up he saw Grindelwald hovering twenty feet above him, smoke rising sinuously from his outstretched hands.
'I must say Harry, again you impress me… for a moment I was beginning to think you nothing of a challenge. Does it feel good? Having the Essence flowing through you? Ha ha. I'm sure it does.' And he laughed manically. Harry opened his hand quickly, a long, yellow blade of writhing energy forming from thin air. Grindelwald's laughter cut off at the sight of it and stared intently at Harry, his bright red eyes seeming a lost fury of anger and surprise.
'Yes Grindelwald, it does feel good. And I may just know more than you would care to gamble.'
He raised the blade of glowing energy above his face and stared at the floating mage with furious intensity. Grindelwald's face suddenly hardened as he withdrew his long, triple bladed knife, which gleamed in the half light for a second before it too glowed, this time in a bluish hue, casting ominous shadows over his ruined face which had already begun to heal itself.
'Very well boy. If you wish it this way, I'll defeat you on your own level!' and Grindelwald's form blurred as he descended towards him with breakneck speed, the air failing to part quick enough from his face as he headed towards Harry with his blade outstretched. Harry instantly rose into the air to meet him, his own sword looking as though it had been wrought by fire as he swung it across in a viscous downward slash to meet Grindelwald's parry thrust to his belly, the two ethereal blades making contact in a shower of magical sparks. Grindelwald turned into a whirlwind of glowing blades, his body swinging sinuously through the air as his blade came at Harry from every conceivable direction. It was all the untrained boy could do to bring his own power wrought weapon up to meet every advance, sparks flying as they both twisted and turned, writhing in the air as blades lunged towards each other, missing their targets by the smallest of margins.
Grindelwald met Harry's gaze as their blades clashed brightly, his red eyes driving into Harry like knife blades as his hands whirled in innumerable forms to contend Harry's own futile defense.
'YOU CANNOT WIN HARRY! YOU WILL MEET YOUR DESTINY!' and Grindelwald turned suddenly about Harry and slashed the boy's face across the cheek, before raising his free hand and launching Harry to the ground, before Harry stopped himself in mid air, nearly colliding with the floor, flows of air cushioning him where he floated.
Harry wiped a hand over his face quickly and his open gash closed up immediately, blood sucking back into his body.
'I will not become your slave Grindelwald! Your death will come long before my own, prepare to meet your own destiny!'
And at once Harry surged like a bullet into the air, catching the mage by surprise as he swung his blade in a ruthless side swipe and took Grindelwald in the side of the face, blood spurting as the blade continued it's form through the air… Time slowed for a few seconds, as Grindelwald's face slowly turned to him, smiling despite his wounds. His flesh from his chin to his left ear had been entirely stripped away by the blade, revealing rows of long, serrated teeth that dripped hungrily with saliva. Harry bit back the urge to groan in horror at the sight. Grindelwald merely smiled back.
'Impossible!' Harry remarked as Grindelwald's face slowly began to reform, 'You're Narcissan!'
For a moment Grindelwald laughed, his long, sharp teeth parting as the skin closed over it.
'Only part Narcissan I'm afraid… Dear me I am sorry, did I forget to mention? I did a little tinkering on myself as well!'
And in a split second Grindelwald grabbed Harry and threw him bodily to the floor where he crashed into the stone, lifting rocks and rubble in a shower of dust. Grindelwald descended to the ground and lifted Harry again, smashing his face with his metal gauntlets, breaking the boy's nose and hurling him once more across the floor, where Harry laid for a moment, motionless and struggling to breath. Grindelwald laughed wickedly again before he landed on the floor and walked slowly over to Harry's crumpled form.
'I think inside yourself you already knew that this would come. Didn't you Harry?!'
The boy wretched slightly and coughed up blood, his face slowly coming back together from it's ruined state. Harry felt utterly drained and helpless where he laid. Healing himself was starting to take it's toll on his strength, there was little more he could do now to Grindelwald, who stood powerfully over him. Suddenly the mage bent down and grabbed Harry by his hair, lifting his head with yells of pain from the bloodied teen.
'It is time Harry, that you saw exactly what awaits you. Have you ever wondered where I found all this adult Narcissan DNA?! You would never guess…' and Grindelwald raised his free hand and fired a blue nova into the rocky floor, tearing it apart with a show of rocks. When Harry opened his eyes, shock burned through his bleariness. He was looking down what seemed a giant pit, the deepest regions glowing in a satanic red that hurt his eyes, and far down he could see the sinister forms of tall, whispy beings as they moved with each other in their hundreds, gliding along the floor with deadly grace as Harry stared down at them in awe.
'Adult Narcissans Harry. They crave Essence, and your presence amongst them will cause quite a stir indeed. Take a good look boy, that's where you're headed… unless…' he suddenly lifted Harry into the air away from the glowing pit and held him there by his throat with invisible coils of air.
'What I have seen this day has impressed me beyond anything I'd have previously imagined possible Harry, but know that you will never be my equal so long as I live. I give you this one final chance to redeem yourself. Join me Harry! Learn from someone who has used Essence everyday since he was born, or embrace your own destruction! What will it be?! Answer quickly, my patience is wearing thin!'
Harry's eyes darted from the mage, and to the pit consecutively. His bleariness beginning to leave him now, with shapes in his vision gaining more clarity. His body told him to join the mage, there was little more that he could take and should into the pit, it would mean certain doom. But his mind refused. Grindelwald was purest evil, and staring at him now Harry could sense it on him, rising into the air like smoke. There would be no bargain with such a fiend, and he hastily searched the floor for anything that he could use for salvation. Immediately he spotted something. A rock the size of his fist laid idly by as Grindelwald held him with air, a maniac smile stretched across his face. There was nothing else for it, and he stared at Grindelwald again, his teeth gritting together in anger.
'Never Grindelwald. I'll never join you!' and he took his chance. Weaving flows of magic around the rock, he hurled the thing at Grindelwald. Only managing a surprised expression, the rock struck Grindelwald between his glowing red eyes, stunning him. Immediately the flows constricting Harry ceased and Grindelwald stumbled backwards and slipped off the edge of the cliff into the deep pit, flinging out his knife at the last moment and plunging it into the floor as he fell, halting his descent.
Harry crawled over to Grindelwald as he held on desperately to his knife, his body swinging uselessly off the edge of the cliff.
'You're a fool Harry Potter! I offered you friendship, and you spat it back in my face. You will DIE FOR THIS!' and he made to reach Harry with his free hand when a sudden screaming echoed from within the pit. Grindelwald and Harry both looked down in horror, as a fully grown Narcissan stared up at the mage swinging deathly of the side of the cliff. It's face looked old and decayed, long tooth jaws extending out from it's skull that upon it, was covered by an ancient helmet tattooed in runes. Screaming again, and flung itself against the wall and climbed with incredible speed, long, clawed fingers driving into the rock as it made it's way up the cliff face, before it immediately grabbed Grindelwald by his foot with one gnarled hand.
Grindelwald's eyes slid out of focus for a moment, before his sharp teeth gritted hard as he uselessly scraped away at the rocky floor, trying desperately to gain a hold to pull himself up. But it was too late. The Narcissan climbed up further and pinned him to the side of the cliff, long whispy robes blowing about on it's body as though in a non-existent breeze.
Grindelwald yelled in anger as his struggling became more frantic and useless, the Narcissan drawing from beneath it's robes, a long, serrated sword and plunged it into Grindelwald's back, drawing a vicious howl of pain as Harry watched horrifyingly onwards. His hand faltering, Grindelwald stared painfully at Harry, his mouth flexing in a mixed expression of anger and rage.
'THIS IS NOT OVER HARRY! YOU CANNOT ESCAPE. YOU'LL NEVER ESCAPE FROM YOUR DESTINY!' and Grindelwald let go of the knife, his body beginning to fall into the Narcissan hands that waited below, hungry mouths dripping with saliva as they all screamed with a tumultuous roar.
…Then it happened…
Before Harry knew what was happening, Grindelwald's head suddenly tore itself open from the inside, and long, grasping tentacles flung out at Harry, wrapping around his neck, choking him. From his vantage point Harry could see two red eyes staring at him with rage from the torn body of what was once Marius. Sharp sounding hisses being heard over the Narcissan screams as the creature's host was pulled down into the pit and pulled apart. Harry looked in terror as a lithe, flowing creature emerged from Marius's body. Looking similar to a Narcissan, it held Harry with a whispy tentacle as the Narcissan turned it's attention to it and grabbed the creature as well, pulling it down as hard as it could.
Harry felt his footing and life beginning to give way as the creature pulled Harry down into the pit with him, Grindelwald's true form not relenting to it's fate. There was nothing else for it. No other way he could survive this mess. He had to do something or risk being dragged down with Grindelwald to certain death. And he instantly turned to Grindelwald's knife, that stuck ferociously in the ground next to him, it's blades still glowing blue with energy. Reaching it desperately, Harry grabbed the knife and swung upwards in absolute rage. In a split second the blade traveled serenely through the air and cut the tentacle in half that was holding Harry's neck. There was a falter, then a scream louder than anything he'd heard before, as Grindelwald's spirit was dragged down into the milling masses of Narcissans that awaited it with hungry mouths, before they all crowded like vultures and tore it apart with snapping jaws and ripping hands.
Harry sprung backwards from the pit as fast he could and with all his remaining energy, heaved rock and stone together with air and sealed the crevice closed, shutting off the screams to the much appreciated dim of silence. Collapsing onto his back, Harry breathed deeply, his heart racing and his lungs panting, just thankful that he was alive.
Harry didn't know when it happened, nor did he notice the hurrying sound of running feet and concerned shouting of witches and wizards around him, but his energy just gave out on him there and then. With Grindelwald dead and the feeling of Essence beginning to leave him at last, he found just how tired he had become… his world slipping into total darkness once more as he finally fell unconscious…
A day's work complete… a job well done. One of them at least, had met their destiny…
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Too long, that's fore sure. That is the climax to the Dark Veil of Hatred. Now there is officially one last chapter to go, and then it's on with the sequal, assuming of course that you're all still interested to read it. I know that this last chapter went on for a very long time. Sorry if you died trying to read it, but I had a lot to say. Well then, Marius finally showed his true colours. I'm sure that many of you had suspicians about him from the start, and rightly so, but I bet none of you knew how far down the rabbit hole went eh? Anyway, I hoped you liked the chapter because right now I feel dead. Roughly eight hours of non stop typing have taken their toll on my hands, so I think I've had enough. Happy reading loyal reviewers, I assure you the final chapter will not be as long as that, but on the up side, right at the end I'll be telling you all what the sequal will be called so all of you stay tuned. I'll make sure to update for you as soon as I can.
Regards: Richard.
As Harry took tentative steps through the ancient dark tunnel, nothing could be heard but the soft crackling of long, undisturbed pebbles beneath his feet. The sound seeming to echo down the unending black oblivion as Harry strained his eyes to make out Marius's dark form that led the way through the gloom. The dwindling light seemed to consume the old mage as he walked, his cloaked body slipping in and out of shadows for each stride he took, though he never faltered a step. His stern gaze remaining trained ahead as though studying something intently just beyond Harry's vision, though the boy felt damned as to what it was the man was looking at, with the half light of the tunnel closing in around him the further they went, the general form of the stone walls became more and more narrow every few meters.
Marius halted in his tracks for a moment as he peered through the dark, his arms crossed with fingers tapping ominously against his metal gauntlets. Harry felt only vaguely aware of the cold draft caressing his face from somewhere up ahead, as Marius sniffed a little, before he began walking again, his stride becoming slightly more vigorous as his steps kicked up small clouds of stale dust. Harry continued to walk behind, though an inkling of hesitation began to come over him, a distinct notion of impatience seeming to radiate from the mage as he went, his attention focused solely on the pathway ahead whilst leaving little for the boy he'd just rescued.
Unwittingly, Harry shivered. The decrepit image of the juvenile Narcissans seemed screwed into his head, and kept arising whenever he felt a chill in the air, or had the notion that Marius was not the only presence stalking the tunnels. Harry couldn't see anything moving whenever he turned his head in trepidation, but the feeling was there nonetheless. A haunting type of feeling. Not of fear, Harry was sure he'd know if it were that, but something different. Something greater than fear… dread. Harry clung tightly to his robes as another draft brushed his face, raising goose bumps on his skin, and at once he could feel the blood drained from his face with the lack of air this far below ground. Marius seemed quite tight lipped as to where he was leading him to, but wherever it was, a cool certainty struck him that there was fresh air at hand and in abundance. Forcing a harsh breath, he drew in another lungful of stale air that constricted inside him, causing him to cough violently.
Marius stopped and grunted detestably, gazing down at him from over his shoulder with a frown across his face. Harry fell silent immediately, holding his breath in as the old man stared him down and continued to walk, apparently lost in his own thoughts. Harry followed meekly, but kept a wary eye open, as Marius began grinding his teeth in the dark, that same sense of impatience radiating from him as he went, inducing a subtle bead of sweat on Harry's head.
'Try to keep up boy!' he spoke suddenly, making Harry start. 'We've walked near as far as this tunnel will take us, there's not long to go now I'm certain.'
Harry blinked, staring up meekly at the old man as he walked in his shadow. There was a definite note of irritation in his voice, and he figured it was likely due to his wandering off into Narcissus earlier. He was beginning to regret doing that, now more than ever. It felt to him that Marius hadn't forgiven him at all for the mess, and was lamenting having to bring him along. A boy not even out of school with only mediocre magic training… where's the advantage in that? Harry kept his head down to the ground as he walked, muttering incoherently to himself about the unfairness of everything, as well as his own stupidity, when he abruptly ran into the back of Marius, who'd stopped and was studying a caved in section of tunnel ahead of him. The tunnel was completely smashed up, rocks strewn across the ground in piles where the way should've been clear.
'Humph!' he grunted obstinately, as he felt along the rocky blockage with his hand, the bloodied metal of his gauntlets making odd clinking noises as he dragged it across the rocks.
'What is it?' Harry asked, peering about his side at the cave in, his eyes making out small shafts of light penetrating the cracks. Marius gave another unsatisfied grunt before he stepped back a few meters and raised his hand.
'I somewhat doubt that this tunnel goes any further Harry, we can only assume that whatever it was Voldemort wanted, it is here.'
'But professor, there's no need for force, all we need to do is…'
'GET OUT OF THE WAY!'
Harry leaped to the side as Marius drew back, the palm of his hand beginning to glow white.
'Aanshraknissaa!' he shouted, throwing a glowing white ball at the rocks, blasting the blockage apart with such force that Harry was scared he might induce another cave collapse on themselves. Rocks flew in every direction. Those that threatened the mage rebounded harmlessly off an invisible shield of air where he stood, falling harmlessly to the ground… Blinding light rushed in, washing over them. Even as Harry struggled to adjust his eyes, he'd already plunged his hand into his robes and withdrawn his wand, the lacquered piece of wood shining as the light seemed to consume him where he stood.
A few moments past before his eyes adjusted to the light and he took in the other side for what it truly was. The tunnel ended where they stood, and opened out to become a giant cavity carved from solid rock. Harry blinked as he took in his surroundings, which were unlike anything he'd been expecting. What seemed to him like a mish mash of different objects littered the room. Arranged on aging tables, Harry recognized many items of wizard descent. Cauldrons, potion bottles, spell books, the list went on. Casing the tables Harry felt absolutely fascinated by the items he saw, and could not help but open the covers of some of the books, which displayed dates supposedly before the birth of Christ. Though he did understand that objects of such an age should be left where they laid, so reluctantly, he snapped the old covers closed, Marius stalking along behind him, eyes flicking about like a cat.
Walking on, Harry's gaze passed over many other interesting pieces. Rune stones, magical rings, ancient stone tablets, crystal balls, even a wand carved with a snake wrapped about it's handle catching Harry's attention. He felt immediately that Dumbledore would most definitely want to take a look about this room and it's contents. If he knew the headmaster well enough, he'd have been very interested indeed to see all this, no matter how old they were… especially because of how old they were. Harry continued on, his fingers tapping gingerly on the ancient cedar tables as he went, occasionally creaking as though enjoying his touch. Harry thought he could case this room forever, walking back and forth just looking at what the room contained.
Suddenly he came upon something he did not expect… A muggle computer. Hooked up and wired for operation, a thin layer of dust covered the piece of technology as it sat idly on the wooden bench, as though it were never used. The thought coming to him as to why something like this was here of all places, and he went to press one of the buttons on the keyboard when Marius's solid hand grabbed his arm millimeters from contact.
'You'd be wise not to touch anything Harry, there's no telling what all this stuff does. One of those could be jinxed with a trap for all you know. I've seen it happen before to unwary muggles. Always somebody trying to toy with them, though it works just as well for wizards as it does magic folk.'
Harry instinctively drew his hand back, eyeing the computer warily. Marius nodded in a satisfied way and stalked away, looking back and forth to the items scattered about the room. Harry watched for a moment as the mage walked, his form gradually becoming smaller as he traveled further away, still holding himself with a deadly grace. Marius didn't look back to him for a while after, the time slowly passing before Harry got fed up with merely standing idly by, keeping his hands to himself. He had to do something, if only to relieve his boredom at the least. So with his hands dug loosely in his pockets, he turned his head this way and that, his eyes still passing over the thousands of objects that lied scattered about, many magical, some muggle and others, he wasn't quite sure.
Breathing a sigh he walked across a stone dais, looking at the old tables, occasionally picking up an object or two as he went, not heeding Marius's stern warning. Looking behind abruptly he saw that Marius was still a good hundred meters away, apparently too absorbed in his surroundings to notice that he was doing what he shouldn't. Harry exhaled with a tinge of relief. Marius was too demanding for his taste, and viewed discipline as the highest of arts. He was glad in a way that the old mage wasn't paying him any mind, as he continued staring about at the objects on the tables.
One item caught his attention suddenly, though he couldn't understand why exactly. A small statue of a robed lady, no more than a few centimeters tall, stood strangely by itself on the wooden table, given a wide berth by all the other magical objects. Harry peered closely at it, noticing even a tiny tear made of porcelain running down it's cheek.
"How beautiful…" Harry thought to himself as he stroked the white lady's hair. There didn't seem anything magical about it, but the statue's sheer beauty struck him inside and he wanted to hold it, just to see it all in it's grandeur. Just for a moment. Extending his hand, he tried to pick the statue up… It wouldn't move… He tried again, a little harder this time, and still nothing happened! Harry grunted irritatingly, scratching his head in confusion. What did it take just to move this thing? Perhaps it was somehow sealed to the table, he didn't know. Though he felt it was worth it at least for one last try, just in case. Grasping the small statue with both hands, he dug his heels into the floor and pulled hard with all the strength he could muster…
There was a sharp click, and Harry released it fearing he'd broken the statue. Looking at it he saw the statue had in fact moved slightly upwards from it's original position, revealing a metal brace beneath it binding the object to the table. There was another click, then another… and another. A series of clicks sounded from what seemed to be within the table. The sounds of ancient machinery, gears and cogs working and turning together in unison, until suddenly the table wretched and moved along runners to Harry's left, revealing what seemed to be an opening in the solid stone wall, just big enough for a man to fit through. Harry stared surprised at the opening. A secret doorway? The prospect tantalized him, though he had to consider that he almost got himself killed an hour ago. What was he to do? Looking around he saw that Marius had disappeared somewhere, most likely looking at some old magical contraption, completely oblivious to him. It wouldn't hurt at all just to take a look. Just a small look… So, breathing deep, he walked through the doorway.
Harry took a tentative few steps in as pitch blackness overcame him. The cavity on the other side of the doorway was completely devoid of light, and Harry found it impossible to see even his own hand waving in front of his face. The air inside felt stale and old as he breathed in, reminiscent of the tunnels Marius led him down earlier. And there was no telling what was inside. Hastily Harry reached for his wand, fumbling around within his robes before he withdrew the magical piece of wood and held it above himself.
'Lumos.' He spoke softly, the wand lighting the room brightly with an iridescent glow. Surprisingly the room was almost identical in size to the one he'd just been standing in. With his wand light only radiating a few meters, the darkness beyond it seemed to encroach and try to consume it, threatening to overcome him as it had when he'd first entered. Slowly he walked forwards, waving his wand in different directions, the light spreading off into the distance before abruptly halting for no apparent reason, making him feel enclosed and scared. From first appearances there seemed to be nothing in the room at all. Whichever way he looked, Harry saw nothing but the solid floor of rock beneath his feet, and for several minutes of walking aimlessly about in the dark, he could see no change in his surroundings whatsoever. The apparent monotony of the room struck a tense boredom streak within him and he turned to leave, only to find that they doorway was gone!
Running in the direction he'd come, he soon came upon the solid stone wall and felt along it with his hands. There was nothing! No apparent signs of any doorway, not even so much as a crack in the wall. The doorway had sealed itself up tight, and there was no other way out! Frantically he turned in every direction, his wand light scouring the floor for some kind of trigger… a lever of sorts for the doorway, just like there was on the other side. Like the statue. But his search came up empty. Again he looked, crawling on his knees, trying if vainly to find some weakness in the connection between the wall and floor, if only for the slimmest chance of escape, and again… he came up with nothing. What was he to do?!
Turning about he looked into the never ending darkness at the edge of the light. His entry was closed to him, bringing back reeling memories of him being blocked from entry at Kings Cross Station just a few short years back. At least then there was another way about it. He had Ron's car at the time… A small voice echoed inside his head.
"There's always a way, even if you don't see it immediately… Always a way out. Always."
Harry squinted in the half light of his wand, his eyes combing for some clue as to what to do next. And he could not help but wonder what was just beyond the circle of light. Perhaps there was something out there to help him escape. He'd seen more than enough magical objects this far underground to convince him the prospect was possible. But which way should he walk? Breathing a resigned sigh, he set off in a random direction, holding his wand up in front of him as he went, always careful of what may lay ahead…
Half an hour wore on. Harry could not sense anything about whichever way he turned. It seemed to him like some never ending abyss in all directions and he'd found nothing. In the back of his mind he knew Marius would skin him alive. This was just the kind of thing he'd warned about. Touching foreign objects and ending up in who knows where. It seemed to him like stupidity worthy of… Harry Potter. He'd gotten himself into situations like this before, and all because he was a headstrong fool, who didn't know any better than to walk blindly into whatever traps and snares that had been laid out about for him. Silently he cursed himself for it, as his mind brought him back to the reality that he was in. Walking about clueless in the dark without an idea as to where he was going or whether he'd make it out alive.
All of a sudden, a feeling struck him. Only faintly, but of it's existence he was sure. A small tingling in the back of his mind, calling from afar reached out to him tentatively. He craned his neck about for a sense of direction, before settling on a local to his far right, and walked that way. Putting one foot in front of the other Harry slowly paced towards the calling, the darkness still closing in on him but his sense of direction far improved with something to walk towards. Like a beacon in the night… It didn't really occur to him how long or far he'd been walking, but the air began to clear a little, filling his nostrils. The light from his wand had also begun to stretch further into the dark, allowing him greater vision. He was beginning to get used to his surroundings now, even though that dull thought resided in his head that he was trapped, when all of a sudden, something large loomed into view just ahead of him.
Grinding to a halt as if he were running, Harry scanned the object up and down with his eyes, his wand light beginning to make out dull shapes. It seemed to look like a giant, glass tank… he squinted closer. Yes, yes it was. Harry could make out the dull shine of liquid contained within it from the light of his wand. And there was something inside it, suspended in the liquid… Harry walked slowly towards it, taking cautious steps forward as the tank came into view, small details that he had not been expecting, like muggle circuitry, seeming to reach out as the light touched them. What was this thing? And more importantly, what was it doing here?
Harry walked closer still and looked to the wretched object floating sinuously in the tank. From his vantage point he made out what seemed to be legs, with feet longer than any human, and long cruel talons extending from where toes should have been. Further up the legs disappeared behind what seemed to be whispy veils of organic fabric that clung to the body in strips, moving about in the water as though blowing in a non-existent breeze. Harry's mouth seemed to droop further as his eyes moved slowly up the malformed creature floating before him. And it felt safe to say that it's form didn't improve the further up Harry's eyes went. Branching out from the sides, two improbably sized, but powerful arms extended forth, opening finally in viciously clawed hands that looked capable of tearing a person limb from limb. Harry's disbelief at the creature's appearance was beginning to hype, the air about him seeming to thicken slightly as beads of cold sweat began to roll down his face… His eyes went up further to it's face and Harry's heart almost stopped beating.
Snake like scales grew up from the base of it's neck, extending around it's straight mouth and up to where it's ears should have been. What seemed like slits for nostrils almost stared at him mockingly from the base of a hollow, blood drained face. And all of a sudden, Harry's scar burned intensely, as though someone were placing a red hot piece of iron to his skin, and he clutched his throbbing head, stumbling backwards and falling over. Constantly he kept his vision centered on the unconscious being, scared as though it's eyes would suddenly snap open to reveal the bright red orbs that had haunted him in dreams since their last fateful encounter in the Ministry of Magic.
……It was Voldemort.
The sound of scraping metal suddenly attracted Harry's attention and his head swiveled around quickly to see a tall, black clad shadow merge from the shadows. A pitch black cloak swung lifelessly in a non-existent breeze, blood stained gauntlets gleaming hideously in the half light of Harry's wand as cruel dark eyes stared down at him…
Marius.
With his mouth curling at the edges into a malicious smile, Marius walked slowly about the boy sprawled on the hard stone floor, his grieves grinding ominously upon the rock as his footsteps dragged lazily in a casual way. Harry's mind reeled as he watched the grey haired mage from the corner of his vision, pacing about. Stalking… Abruptly the mage let out a seedy laugh, and Harry inched himself backwards slightly, aiming his wand at the man despite the idea amusing him greatly.
'Well done Harry. Oh yes, well done indeed.' Marius spoke silkily, his smile widening slightly as he eyed Harry, 'I've always pondered on your intelligence, but since you managed to find your way this far without getting yourself killed, I am inclined to agree you are clever… or perhaps foolish, I cannot tell the difference…'
Harry's grip on his wand tightened.
'Who are you… really?' he asked scathingly, sweat beginning to roll faster down his face than before, 'Marius isn't like this. He's Dumbledore's closest friend, he wouldn't pull me, a student, underground into the midst of danger when he's quite capable of dealing with it himself! No he wouldn't! WHO ARE YOU?!… SPEAK! I swear Marius, or whoever you are, I will kill you!'
For a brief moment Marius stood there looking slightly aghast, until his smile returned again and threatened to split his face in two, before laughing even harder than before, making Harry even more uneasy.
'Clever… oh yes you are. I fear however that you won't be needing that mundane piece of wood Harry…' and in a sideward glance, Harry's wand flew from him towards Marius, who grasped it in a metal clad hand. Tightening his grip, he snapped the piece of wood in two, sparks flying in all directions as he dropped the broken shards to the ground, landing with a clatter. 'I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself, or anyone else for that matter.'
Harry's eyes widened in horror at losing his only weapon so quickly, and scrambled back further, his mouth working questionably as the light quickly faded, plunging the room into it's familiar darkness. Another laugh broke the silence with an echo.
'Poor child… so lost without his magic. Without such a primitive tool to aid him. He is blinded in the dark without the light, but I see him clearly. Yes I do. Can you feel it Harry? Can you feel that fear?'
Harry inched back further in the darkness, his eyes darting every which way in desperation for light. The harsh sounds of footsteps approaching him.
'WHO ARE YOU?!' Harry shouted as if to no one, as he made contact with something hard against his back. He was against the tank. Shallow breathing answered a response, the footsteps stopping a few meters away.
'It seems only fair I offer you an explanation. Hmm… but where to begin? I wonder.' Marius went silent for a moment as if contemplating, even as Harry's own harsh breaths turned into a wheezing.
'I admit that I felt… admiration towards you Harry, when you made that subtle hint about not believing who I was. Very few people I have encountered have ever seen that far into my motives as to realize I am in fact deceiving everyone else… but you Harry, are indeed very special. You were correct in your assumption boy, I am not Marius. That man was a very fine wizard, and friends to another extraordinary mage named Albus Dumbledore. Regrettably however, Marius is long dead, far before your parents time. But his death was not in vain. Oh no it wasn't. He proved useful to an extent and his body has become a most acceptable host by which I have come to face you now, huddling scared and alone in the dark. What a pitiful excuse for a wizard you've become. For all I admire in your intelligence, your moral fiber seems fickle when you encounter a problem you cannot solve.'
Harry sat stone still, his mind coming to grips with why he hadn't realized this before. Marius was never the likable kind of person… He had to see his face again, there was something about it that he just knew he recognized from somewhere, so closing his eyes, Harry concentrated hard, until a small flame suddenly appeared from his outstretched hand.
'Oh I wouldn't bother with that Harry. Such a cheap trick!' and at once Harry's mind hit an invisible block, his concentration lapsing as the flame disappeared to nothingness. Harry found it impossible to gain his mental concentration again.
'It is hard being powerless, isn't it Harry?' Marius taunted from the dark, Harry's senses indicating him to be standing somewhere to his left and moving around him in a tight circle. 'But you shouldn't be powerless. I have seen things within you Harry, just as I see them now… Essence.'
Marius's voice seemed to shiver in ecstasy at the word, the sound rolling off his tongue.
'You can feel it, can't you Harry? Yes… yes you can, I know you can. You've felt it before. Like a rising tide of energy locked deep away inside you, struggling to escape. To be let loose! You know of what I speak Harry, don't you?!'
Harry lowered his head, lost in thought. It was true. All of it. He had felt it before, even if only a little. First there was the healing of his arm when shards of glass had been lodged into it. Then the scars left on his back from his dream. And now the small flickering flame that he struggled to keep a hold of.
'Yes.' Harry replied simply into the air, 'I'm aware of it. But how are you?'
A short grunt came to him as answer, this time from his right somewhere. A deep seated sense of dissatisfaction rife in his voice.
'Do not impugn me boy!' and an invisible hand slapped him hard across the face, 'It's foolish to ask questions for which you already know the answer! I remember things Harry. Every time you looked at me you were afraid. You didn't know why but you were. But, I know why. It is subconscious. You've seen me before I took position at Hogwarts Harry… in your dreams. Just as you saw me in more prophetic visions afterwards, all detailing a grisly end for you and your Hogwarts friends. Do you remember?… Tisk… foolish to ask that. I know you remember. Dreams have haunted the boy who lived since the first night he encountered the dark wizard Voldemort. Every night without fail, it proved convenient that your dreaming had become so advanced. I found it very simple to interlope and move your dreams the way I wanted you to see them… I've been keeping an eye on you Harry. My word I have.'
Harry shook his head in disbelief. It couldn't be true! How could this have gone on for so long? Ever since that first night at the Dursley's? Marius's footsteps wheeled about and settled some three meters in front of him from what he could tell in the gloom.
'How?' Harry asked breathlessly, his mind still racing at the thought, 'How could you do that to me? And why?! Are you so powerful that you can attack people in their sleep! You're right as you've always been Marius, or whoever you are. I do remember you from the night. Always you were there in your black cloak with your hood pulled down over your face. Did you really think I wouldn't recognize you?!'
Silence. Marius breathed shallowly for a moment, as though slightly taken aback, but a small chuckling soon sounded beneath his breath.
'You recognized me? Let me understand this fully. You… recognized… ME?! Harry, Harry, Harry… I've maintained that you're clever, yes… but you've no subtlety about you whatsoever. Absolutely none. You saw my current physical form for what it was and is. But tell me Harry, do you know what resides beneath this shell? Search yourself boy, think deeply. Inside you have a hunch. A small tinkering in your mind that shows me for what I am. Use your mind Harry, see past this putrid contraption of flesh and blood and see your forgotten nemesis… See me for who I AM!'
And just ahead of him, the darkness parted slightly and two red orbs glowed before him. Their intensity boring into Harry like knives.
'You recognize the evil you know over the evil you don't. How ironic Harry, that for all these years that you've escape Voldemort's twisted schemes, you didn't see me for who I really was… GRINDELWALD!'
And the entire room suddenly burst into light and Harry found himself face to face with the once dead demon. It's eyes shining like beacons stilled him with fear, even as Harry saw what had been an old man's face, had twisted and contorted into what seemed like a gnarled piece of wood, scars and gashes from the human form merging effortlessly with the hollowed out face of the being that truly held that body. Grindelwald smiled as Harry's own face twisted in horror at the sight and he struggled to crawl away.
Grindelwald seemed to tower over him, and with a gesture of his gnarled fingers, Harry was lifted into the air by his throat, thin columns of dust forming a vice around him.
'It is useless to deny my strength Harry, just as it's useless to fight against it. Better wizards than you have perished for less, and considering your unarmed, that is saying a lot. Ha Ha… I almost pity you boy. As your life does not end just yet. There is more that a child prodigy like yourself must know of my scheming, look behind you.'
And Harry felt his body suddenly turn in mid air until he once again came face to face with Voldemort's horribly mutated form.
'What is it?!' Harry asked in a strangled voice, his eyes cringing at the sight of it. Grindelwald walked around as Harry sat suspended in mid air, eyeing the tube's contents up and down.
'It is, my latest creation. In my later years, when muggles began to advance at an astronomical rate, I sought to harness their abilities so that I may benefit from them. Time bore on slowly enough, but it soon came to pass that muggles began dabbling in genetics, at the very foundation of what makes us who are. I could not resist the temptation to try such an art for myself. Cloning, gene splicing, regeneration of limbs. Very tempting I admit to that. This is the product of that ambition Harry. Within Voldemort's magically strengthened interior I have spliced with his human DNA, strands of the like, owned by adult Narcissans. The subject has taken much time to grow to this present stage of development, but given time, he will soon be capable of all that was lost so long ago when the world was put into castes. Just think Harry, one of the most powerful Dark wizards of the age being strengthened with Narcissan DNA!'
Harry's mouth dropped open in terror. If the sight of his enemy wasn't bad enough, then this news wasn't much appreciated.
'You're mad!' he stuttered in disbelief, still staring at the abomination before him. 'This kind of union just shouldn't be. Don't you have ANY idea as to what this, "creature" will be capable of?!'
Grindelwald drew back slightly, breathing irritation.
'Of course I do! That was the entire motivation behind this project. And when he awakens, and he certainly will, your world will be changed… forever!'
Harry still couldn't believe what he was seeing, but Grindelwald's red eyes seemed to intensify every time he spoke of his engineering skills. Even so however, questions still begged at Harry's mind.
'How?' he asked once more, drawing Grindelwald's curiosity of a sudden, 'How did you get Voldemort inside that tube?! I doubt he came willingly for your genetic tinkering.'
Grindelwald cringed and slapped Harry with another invisible backhand, a small splattering of blood beginning to drip from Harry's mouth.
'I prefer to call it improving nature's imperfections. But yes, again you're correct. Voldemort, had he known what laid in store for him would not have come at my beck and call. So subtlety was needed to bring HIM to me. Just before I joined Hogwarts's teaching staff, I cast the Nullifying Curse. With it's power I destroyed the magical foundation that supports ward magic over the entire of Britain. Chaos reined as was my intention, with magic even as powerful as what protects Hogwarts itself being reduced to dust. Naturally the muggles found out about the wizard world, and seeing as those in power felt absolutely paranoid towards us, I prompted here and there by putting high ranked generals under the Imperious Curse and from that the war started. Hogwarts was annihilated before a single muggle set foot on the school grounds, and with the order of the phoenix so battered and broken, it was only natural that just as I had, Voldemort gave into temptation and apparated into Hogwarts, where I took him for myself. That is how I achieved it. Quite clever really, though there were difficulties of course.'
And Grindelwald breathed out slowly, the air turning to shards of ice about him.
'Difficulties? What difficulties?! You played us all for the past year without anyone being the wiser.'
Nodding, Grindelwald sighed resentfully.
'Alas, no Harry. There was always the possibility that I might be found out by someone with enough brains to see through whatever was happening. Someone like Dumbledore… and someone like you. I knew that Albus listened very intently when you ever had a suspicion to tell, and always confided in him whenever things bothered you. You are his favorite by a long shot, and that annoyed me considerably. It was necessary when you came too close to the truth, that I put your suspicions to rest. You had a nice conversation with Hagrid I believe. Does this sound familiar to you…?'
And Grindelwald's body suddenly wretched and contorted, expanding and growing until Hagrid's giant form stood before him with that loving smile stretched across his face. He then quoted his conversation exactly when he'd been in the hut with him, ending finally with;
"…He may be a shrewd person Harry, but he's saved my life on more than one occasion long before you were born, and I know in my heart that Marius is not under Grindelwald's control. You should abandon that thought as quick as you can, it doesn't do good to live on rumors…"
Harry's mouth dropped even wider, and as Grindelwald changed back, he invisibly whacked Harry again over his face. This time seemingly for fun.
'You tricked me!' Harry blurted out, definitely feeling the pain in his jaw, 'Are you saying that I never talked to Hagrid at all?!'
Grindelwald smiled maliciously between gritted teeth.
'Yes, that is what I'm saying. Though that wasn't enough for you I figured. I did some research on your past at this school and you can be very stubborn indeed. So, I made a point to let you wander off into Narcissus by yourself, just so that I could save you when things got a little bit too nasty for your own good. I instilled your trust and kept you alive long enough so that you may hear the truth from me now as I speak it to you.'
Harry lowered his head, silent tears beginning to stream down his face. He'd had his suspicions, but ever since they'd both come underground together, Harry had started to believe that he may have been wrong about who he thought Grindelwald was at the time. How he cursed his stupidity again and again. Grindelwald's red eyes centered on his weeping form and smiled satisfactorily, opting not to slap him again, but let the spectacle continue, clear pity in his orb like eyes.
'Don't be so hard on yourself boy.' Grindelwald spoke mockingly, a slight laugh inherit in his voice, 'It's understandable that you were deceived so easily without Dumbledore to aid you. He was another nuisance I had to remove. It was because of wise minded wizards like Dumbledore that the human race was turned into three separate races. You can understand that I couldn't have him guide you to the truth as I'm certain he'd suspected, right when you needed it the most. I moved much of the Heliopath army out of Hogwarts so he'd be forced to spend his energy creating a shield for protection. I'm sure the original bombardment probably scared him enough for it too. But he'll live long enough to see the world be destroyed and built anew, I've granted him enough life for that at least, so you cannot accuse me of being uncompassionate!'
'No…' Harry spoke softly between sobs, 'It doesn't make sense…'
'What? What was that?!' Grindelwald retorted, rounding on the boy as he levitated, hands snapped to his sides by invisible coils of air.
'It doesn't make any sense!' Harry spoke louder this time, his voice straining a little, 'If what you say is true, you destroyed Britain's wards, and spent near an entire year lying and deceiving everyone you ever came into contact with as to what you were doing. If you were so afraid of being discovered for this long, then why did you rescue me back in Narcissus? If you really thought me smart enough to figure you out, then why didn't you kill me on first contact?'
Grindelwald skipped a breath suddenly, his eyes narrowing at the boy floating before him. In an instant the invisible coils of air binding Harry ceased to exist, and he fell to the stone floor with an awful thud, grunting in pain.
'I won't deny it's in my power Harry, but I kept you alive this long because you present a great opportunity to me. You know what exists within you. You've felt the lingering of Essence each day clawing away at you. One day you'll draw so much of that power that you will kill yourself, and that would be a terrible waste indeed. Oh yes it would… I'm here to give you an offer of absolution. So long as you roam free, you are a danger to yourself and others, whereas if you learned to harness your abilities, you could become so powerful that the world itself would kneel at your feet. Would it not be beneficial? I know you're scared Harry, of this power born within you. I would think you a fool not to be. But this is something you cannot ignore, as in time it will mature and take hold of you in ways you cannot imagine…'
Harry spat in disgust, looking to the snarling mage as he stood towering over him.
'Everything that has happened to me, I've overcome on my own. What's to say this is any different?!'
Grindelwald laughed loudly at him, putting Harry slightly off foot.
'Denial of the situation will destroy you Harry. In time it will. You know this too but that stubborn streak I mentioned you having is blinding you with pride. Why will you not accept what is and realize that you NEED aid if you're to survive your burgeoning powers? I give you this opportunity once and once only. Come with me! Come with me Harry and I'll teach you to harness what you hold within. Do that, and you will live to see power and glory. Do it not… and you will not live long enough to die from your magic, I will kill you here an now where you stand. It is your choice Harry. Make it!'
Harry stared at the man before him, glowering beneath his teeth. There seemed no expression on Grindelwald's stony face, but his eyes spoke volumes as they pierced him lying on the ground. Harry immediately broke his gaze with the man and looked to his right, casting his eyes over Voldemort's stasis tube. The horrid creature he had become floated lifelessly in the liquid, casting eerie shadows over the floor. That was the price of unlimited power. Somehow Harry knew it. Voldemort became a slave to his ambition, much like Grindelwald, except that Voldemort seemed to have little control of his current situation. Would he, Harry Potter become like that? A chained animal at Grindelwald's beck and call?
'No… NO!' Harry shouted, beads of sweat starting to stream down his face now, as he unconsciously became aware of the air constricting around him, 'There are consequences for everything Grindelwald. Voldemort has discovered that the hard way, but I am fully aware of what a risk I would be taking in following you! I will not be controlled. Not now, NOT EVER!'
Grindelwald never moved, but his smile failed him, being quickly replaced by a grimace as his mouth curled downwards at the edges. His eyes hardened as he stared at Harry. There was contempt there, oh yes there was. Though he did well not to show any. He let loose a harsh breath, the light around him fading slightly as his fingers flexed beneath his gauntlets.
'So be it, Harry Potter…'
The boy didn't know immediately what had happened. One second he was lying prone on the ground, the next, some invisible force grabbed at his cloak and hurled him through the air, smashing him against the floor as he fell in an uncontrolled spiral. Harry suddenly felt a sharp pain as a jagged crack sounded from somewhere within him. He clutched his ribs in agony.
'Poor boy… You're pathetic Harry, and weak! Only now at the end of it all, do you understand what true power is. Such a pity to waste a spark so full of life as you, but alas, you must learn the folly of your decision. As you said before Harry, everything has consequences. Unfortunate that you must suffer those as you are now.'
Grindelwald motioned another swift hand, and Harry felt that same pulling sensation again, as another of his ribs snapped inside of him. Harry screamed in pain, blood beginning to pour from his mouth as he struggled to get to his feet. Yet Grindelwald would have none of it, and promptly smashed Harry's spine with an invisible club of air, making him arch backwards and twitch violently.
'There is no hope left for you Harry. I'm sorry, but your time is over!' Grindelwald snarled beneath his breath at the boy curled up dying before him. In a moment his face flashed, and a wicked smile grew where there was once malice.
'What is fortunate however, is that I have no need for you to live at all. There is much I can do with a corpse as I can with a living body. Your suffering however, will be penance enough for daring to cross me!'
And at once Harry was lifted into the air once more, his broken bones inside of him stinging with fiery intensity. He could feel every distinct movement of his chest as shards of bone pierced him within. Grindelwald stalked closer, raising Harry to his eye level, before he placed a metal clad hand on his head, grasping his hair.
'I wonder,' Grindelwald began as he pulled Harry's head backwards, 'What else you may have locked away in this head of yours. Hmm, the knowledge you posses could be interesting to study, once you're dead of course. As you can see you're in no position to rent dissatisfaction at my decisions. So prepare yourself boy, your memories are now mine!'
Immediately Grindelwald grabbed Harry by his chest. The boy screamed in pain as he felt his skin being broken, but the mage forced his hand until blood began to smear his gauntlets before it suddenly glowed, and energy began seeping out of Harry, up Grindelwald's arm. Harry could feel nothing but a cool numbness, as though a part of him were leeching out, and for every moment that passed by, the feeling intensified, as did the wicked smile that had begun curling on Grindelwald's mouth. He was sucking him dry. There was no other way to describe it. Somewhere in the deep recesses of Harry's mind, he could feel it happening. In a few moments he WOULD be dead. He had to fight back. He had to retaliate. But how?!
Without thinking, Harry committed every working brain cell he had, and concentrated on the flow of energy between himself and the mage in front of him. Nothing happened. Again he tried… harder this time. Concentrating more and more until his jaw grew sore from gritted teeth, all his attention focused solely on the flow, and every particle of magic the passed between them. There was a slight falter in the flow, Grindelwald furrowed his brow slightly in confusion, whilst Harry pushed harder still, becoming one with the magic. One with the Essence. He would not let Grindelwald take his memories.
Slowly at first, the flow changed direction. Piece by agonizing piece Harry reeled the flows back into him, the numbness beginning to fade, refreshing warmth returning to his body, even as Grindelwald's realized what was happening and began focusing all his strength on the flows as well. It seemed a never ending struggle for power, but Harry would not give in. Too much was at stake here. His memories, his life, his identity itself was on the line, and he threw everything at the flow he could muster. Strength reserves he didn't know he had quickly entwined themselves with Grindelwald's magical bond as he pulled the flows into himself, further, further, further. And at once something miraculous happened… Visions flickered across his eyes. Grindelwald seemed to disappear from view as his mind became filled with thoughts… no, memories. Grindelwald's memories!
Visions of power and bloodlust. People dying at his hand, some begging for mercy at his feet before he killed them anyway. Visions of wizards and witches Harry had only seen in photographs that he assumed were long since dead, talking to him about a war too long ago for him to contemplate. Visions of Essence. The strange feelings inside that he somehow turned to his liking with thoughts, creating magic. Making him without any doubt amongst the most powerful of wizards in the world. Harry could only taste the pleasure Grindelwald felt at wielding such strength. The energy involved… or lack of, seething through him like the tide of an unstoppable river. He could see it in his mind as though he himself were using the magic. It felt simple. Achievable. Harry looked to the sensations and compared them with the struggling, yet identical powers he could feel within himself, and saw the key. The precise way to manipulate the energy that provided absolutely no concentration at all. He could do it now. He could control his own power! He knew he could, he just knew it.
Slowly Harry's eyes slid back into focus, sweeping over Grindelwald as he stood with beads of sweat rolling across his scarred face. He was desperately trying to control the magical bond he'd cast between himself and Harry. And he was losing. The flows had begun to spin out of control and were flying into Harry with incredible speed. There was no way he could stop it, and for a brief moment Grindelwald met Harry's gaze and all he could see… was fear. This had to end now.
A moment passed before Harry found it. Hiding like a tiger inside him, Essence laid in wait, like a tool wanting to be used but in the furthest corner of a garage, slightly out of reach. Harry went for it with Grindelwald's knowledge in his head, and grasped it! In an instant the connection between the two of them snapped apart, and Harry wove the flows of energy about Grindelwald, hurling him away as far he could manage, to land with a thud a few hundred meters away. The feeling was incredible. It felt like being reborn! Untapped power flowed through Harry's veins like a rushing river, threatening to consume him. Nothing in his experience could ever have prepared him for this, the feeling was just so wonderful. So revitalizing. To him, life felt little more than a horrible shadow compared to the gleaming presence of Essence.
A sharp pain in his chest made him cringe of a sudden. Looking down he realized that his lungs had been broken. Reaching for it again, Harry manipulated the flows of Essence around his broken chest and pushed the bones painfully back into place before he healed them over as though they'd never been broken at all.
'Incredible!' he spoke to himself, before he heard a noise somewhere in the distance, just ahead of him. Looking up, Harry saw Grindelwald pull himself slowly to his feet, rubble falling off his back where he'd made a man sized crater in the stone floor. He seemed unperturbed, but stared at Harry with a greater form on contempt than he remembered. Harry stared back, his teeth gritting together. He couldn't tell for sure, but it seemed that he could feel everything about him with heightened senses. Even from the distance Harry could hear Grindelwald breathing heavier than before, and feel the slickness of sweat rolling down his face. He spoke softly, though Harry could hear everything with as much clarity as if he were standing face to face with him.
'So it has come to this has it? The boy who lived has finally found his inner strength. Heh, enjoy it boy whilst you can, you know nothing of what you can do!'
And in a split second, Grindelwald disappeared where he stood, before he suddenly reappeared right in front of Harry and plunged and heavy fist into the boy's stomach. Harry lurched in shock before he had time to realize what was happening and careened like a bullet through the air, grinding into the stone floor with a smash. Slowly the dust settled, and Harry swiveled his eyes down to his stomach, his innards opened and bleeding, blood strewn across his robes.
'ARRGHHHHH!' he yelled, pain driving into him like nails. Struggling, Harry stared at his wound and flowed energy into it. The wound contorted for a moment before it closed up on itself, healing over. Far away Harry saw Grindelwald looking dangerously at him, that familiar smile once more stretched across his face. Anger seeped into him at the sight of that mocking expression, and everything he'd seen when he'd emerged at the surface came back. The death, the destruction. Everyone who had been pulled into Grindelwald's snare had died. Innocent people, both wizard and muggle alike. He couldn't just let Grindelwald get away with that. NEVER!
Adrenaline and energy combined within him, a seething anger replacing whatever sense of rationality he had inside, and he magically pulled himself off the ground, floating to his feet.
'Why do you bother Harry?' Grindelwald spoke imperiously, his eyes downcast at the boy who flexed his hands in rage, 'Can't you see your failure is inevitable?! I have been with Essence longer than your feeble mind can contemplate. It is useless to resist your destiny!'
'I resist because your time is over Grindelwald! You've been with Essence for far too long, and have lost whatever value for life you may have had. You are not human anymore. No soul, no right to live.'
'No soul eh…' Grindelwald stared acceptingly at the boy, eyeing him up and down as his mouth flexed awkwardly, 'I always said you were smart Harry. You may just be correct about me, but you… you were always a fool. I could see it in your eyes the moment I met you, and it will be the last thing you know when final breath comes! And come it will…'
Grindelwald's image shimmered slightly and disappeared once more, but Harry was ready this time, and visualized time slowing down in his head. The world stretched suddenly, and flowed back into place before he could see Grindelwald only two meters away from him, his moving slowed in an inconceivable running motion, his fist outstretched to land Harry with another blow to the stomach. Harry immediately sidestepped him and tore his legs out from beneath him, before face planting the mage into the stone floor with flows of air. Producing a lengthened groan of surprise as time flowed back to normal once more and a cloud of impenetrable dust rose from the floor where Grindelwald laid in a crumpled heap, not moving an inch.
Breathing deeply, Harry walked backwards, staring hypnotically at the dust cloud that had enveloped the floor in front of him. Suddenly he felt a tingle in the hairs of his neck and turned just in time to see a bolt of lighting come seemingly out of nowhere at him. Harry lunged quickly out of the way as the bolt hit the floor and brought up clouds of smoke and dust, producing a crater where he'd been standing just a split second before. Looking up he saw Grindelwald hovering twenty feet above him, smoke rising sinuously from his outstretched hands.
'I must say Harry, again you impress me… for a moment I was beginning to think you nothing of a challenge. Does it feel good? Having the Essence flowing through you? Ha ha. I'm sure it does.' And he laughed manically. Harry opened his hand quickly, a long, yellow blade of writhing energy forming from thin air. Grindelwald's laughter cut off at the sight of it and stared intently at Harry, his bright red eyes seeming a lost fury of anger and surprise.
'Yes Grindelwald, it does feel good. And I may just know more than you would care to gamble.'
He raised the blade of glowing energy above his face and stared at the floating mage with furious intensity. Grindelwald's face suddenly hardened as he withdrew his long, triple bladed knife, which gleamed in the half light for a second before it too glowed, this time in a bluish hue, casting ominous shadows over his ruined face which had already begun to heal itself.
'Very well boy. If you wish it this way, I'll defeat you on your own level!' and Grindelwald's form blurred as he descended towards him with breakneck speed, the air failing to part quick enough from his face as he headed towards Harry with his blade outstretched. Harry instantly rose into the air to meet him, his own sword looking as though it had been wrought by fire as he swung it across in a viscous downward slash to meet Grindelwald's parry thrust to his belly, the two ethereal blades making contact in a shower of magical sparks. Grindelwald turned into a whirlwind of glowing blades, his body swinging sinuously through the air as his blade came at Harry from every conceivable direction. It was all the untrained boy could do to bring his own power wrought weapon up to meet every advance, sparks flying as they both twisted and turned, writhing in the air as blades lunged towards each other, missing their targets by the smallest of margins.
Grindelwald met Harry's gaze as their blades clashed brightly, his red eyes driving into Harry like knife blades as his hands whirled in innumerable forms to contend Harry's own futile defense.
'YOU CANNOT WIN HARRY! YOU WILL MEET YOUR DESTINY!' and Grindelwald turned suddenly about Harry and slashed the boy's face across the cheek, before raising his free hand and launching Harry to the ground, before Harry stopped himself in mid air, nearly colliding with the floor, flows of air cushioning him where he floated.
Harry wiped a hand over his face quickly and his open gash closed up immediately, blood sucking back into his body.
'I will not become your slave Grindelwald! Your death will come long before my own, prepare to meet your own destiny!'
And at once Harry surged like a bullet into the air, catching the mage by surprise as he swung his blade in a ruthless side swipe and took Grindelwald in the side of the face, blood spurting as the blade continued it's form through the air… Time slowed for a few seconds, as Grindelwald's face slowly turned to him, smiling despite his wounds. His flesh from his chin to his left ear had been entirely stripped away by the blade, revealing rows of long, serrated teeth that dripped hungrily with saliva. Harry bit back the urge to groan in horror at the sight. Grindelwald merely smiled back.
'Impossible!' Harry remarked as Grindelwald's face slowly began to reform, 'You're Narcissan!'
For a moment Grindelwald laughed, his long, sharp teeth parting as the skin closed over it.
'Only part Narcissan I'm afraid… Dear me I am sorry, did I forget to mention? I did a little tinkering on myself as well!'
And in a split second Grindelwald grabbed Harry and threw him bodily to the floor where he crashed into the stone, lifting rocks and rubble in a shower of dust. Grindelwald descended to the ground and lifted Harry again, smashing his face with his metal gauntlets, breaking the boy's nose and hurling him once more across the floor, where Harry laid for a moment, motionless and struggling to breath. Grindelwald laughed wickedly again before he landed on the floor and walked slowly over to Harry's crumpled form.
'I think inside yourself you already knew that this would come. Didn't you Harry?!'
The boy wretched slightly and coughed up blood, his face slowly coming back together from it's ruined state. Harry felt utterly drained and helpless where he laid. Healing himself was starting to take it's toll on his strength, there was little more he could do now to Grindelwald, who stood powerfully over him. Suddenly the mage bent down and grabbed Harry by his hair, lifting his head with yells of pain from the bloodied teen.
'It is time Harry, that you saw exactly what awaits you. Have you ever wondered where I found all this adult Narcissan DNA?! You would never guess…' and Grindelwald raised his free hand and fired a blue nova into the rocky floor, tearing it apart with a show of rocks. When Harry opened his eyes, shock burned through his bleariness. He was looking down what seemed a giant pit, the deepest regions glowing in a satanic red that hurt his eyes, and far down he could see the sinister forms of tall, whispy beings as they moved with each other in their hundreds, gliding along the floor with deadly grace as Harry stared down at them in awe.
'Adult Narcissans Harry. They crave Essence, and your presence amongst them will cause quite a stir indeed. Take a good look boy, that's where you're headed… unless…' he suddenly lifted Harry into the air away from the glowing pit and held him there by his throat with invisible coils of air.
'What I have seen this day has impressed me beyond anything I'd have previously imagined possible Harry, but know that you will never be my equal so long as I live. I give you this one final chance to redeem yourself. Join me Harry! Learn from someone who has used Essence everyday since he was born, or embrace your own destruction! What will it be?! Answer quickly, my patience is wearing thin!'
Harry's eyes darted from the mage, and to the pit consecutively. His bleariness beginning to leave him now, with shapes in his vision gaining more clarity. His body told him to join the mage, there was little more that he could take and should into the pit, it would mean certain doom. But his mind refused. Grindelwald was purest evil, and staring at him now Harry could sense it on him, rising into the air like smoke. There would be no bargain with such a fiend, and he hastily searched the floor for anything that he could use for salvation. Immediately he spotted something. A rock the size of his fist laid idly by as Grindelwald held him with air, a maniac smile stretched across his face. There was nothing else for it, and he stared at Grindelwald again, his teeth gritting together in anger.
'Never Grindelwald. I'll never join you!' and he took his chance. Weaving flows of magic around the rock, he hurled the thing at Grindelwald. Only managing a surprised expression, the rock struck Grindelwald between his glowing red eyes, stunning him. Immediately the flows constricting Harry ceased and Grindelwald stumbled backwards and slipped off the edge of the cliff into the deep pit, flinging out his knife at the last moment and plunging it into the floor as he fell, halting his descent.
Harry crawled over to Grindelwald as he held on desperately to his knife, his body swinging uselessly off the edge of the cliff.
'You're a fool Harry Potter! I offered you friendship, and you spat it back in my face. You will DIE FOR THIS!' and he made to reach Harry with his free hand when a sudden screaming echoed from within the pit. Grindelwald and Harry both looked down in horror, as a fully grown Narcissan stared up at the mage swinging deathly of the side of the cliff. It's face looked old and decayed, long tooth jaws extending out from it's skull that upon it, was covered by an ancient helmet tattooed in runes. Screaming again, and flung itself against the wall and climbed with incredible speed, long, clawed fingers driving into the rock as it made it's way up the cliff face, before it immediately grabbed Grindelwald by his foot with one gnarled hand.
Grindelwald's eyes slid out of focus for a moment, before his sharp teeth gritted hard as he uselessly scraped away at the rocky floor, trying desperately to gain a hold to pull himself up. But it was too late. The Narcissan climbed up further and pinned him to the side of the cliff, long whispy robes blowing about on it's body as though in a non-existent breeze.
Grindelwald yelled in anger as his struggling became more frantic and useless, the Narcissan drawing from beneath it's robes, a long, serrated sword and plunged it into Grindelwald's back, drawing a vicious howl of pain as Harry watched horrifyingly onwards. His hand faltering, Grindelwald stared painfully at Harry, his mouth flexing in a mixed expression of anger and rage.
'THIS IS NOT OVER HARRY! YOU CANNOT ESCAPE. YOU'LL NEVER ESCAPE FROM YOUR DESTINY!' and Grindelwald let go of the knife, his body beginning to fall into the Narcissan hands that waited below, hungry mouths dripping with saliva as they all screamed with a tumultuous roar.
…Then it happened…
Before Harry knew what was happening, Grindelwald's head suddenly tore itself open from the inside, and long, grasping tentacles flung out at Harry, wrapping around his neck, choking him. From his vantage point Harry could see two red eyes staring at him with rage from the torn body of what was once Marius. Sharp sounding hisses being heard over the Narcissan screams as the creature's host was pulled down into the pit and pulled apart. Harry looked in terror as a lithe, flowing creature emerged from Marius's body. Looking similar to a Narcissan, it held Harry with a whispy tentacle as the Narcissan turned it's attention to it and grabbed the creature as well, pulling it down as hard as it could.
Harry felt his footing and life beginning to give way as the creature pulled Harry down into the pit with him, Grindelwald's true form not relenting to it's fate. There was nothing else for it. No other way he could survive this mess. He had to do something or risk being dragged down with Grindelwald to certain death. And he instantly turned to Grindelwald's knife, that stuck ferociously in the ground next to him, it's blades still glowing blue with energy. Reaching it desperately, Harry grabbed the knife and swung upwards in absolute rage. In a split second the blade traveled serenely through the air and cut the tentacle in half that was holding Harry's neck. There was a falter, then a scream louder than anything he'd heard before, as Grindelwald's spirit was dragged down into the milling masses of Narcissans that awaited it with hungry mouths, before they all crowded like vultures and tore it apart with snapping jaws and ripping hands.
Harry sprung backwards from the pit as fast he could and with all his remaining energy, heaved rock and stone together with air and sealed the crevice closed, shutting off the screams to the much appreciated dim of silence. Collapsing onto his back, Harry breathed deeply, his heart racing and his lungs panting, just thankful that he was alive.
Harry didn't know when it happened, nor did he notice the hurrying sound of running feet and concerned shouting of witches and wizards around him, but his energy just gave out on him there and then. With Grindelwald dead and the feeling of Essence beginning to leave him at last, he found just how tired he had become… his world slipping into total darkness once more as he finally fell unconscious…
A day's work complete… a job well done. One of them at least, had met their destiny…
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Too long, that's fore sure. That is the climax to the Dark Veil of Hatred. Now there is officially one last chapter to go, and then it's on with the sequal, assuming of course that you're all still interested to read it. I know that this last chapter went on for a very long time. Sorry if you died trying to read it, but I had a lot to say. Well then, Marius finally showed his true colours. I'm sure that many of you had suspicians about him from the start, and rightly so, but I bet none of you knew how far down the rabbit hole went eh? Anyway, I hoped you liked the chapter because right now I feel dead. Roughly eight hours of non stop typing have taken their toll on my hands, so I think I've had enough. Happy reading loyal reviewers, I assure you the final chapter will not be as long as that, but on the up side, right at the end I'll be telling you all what the sequal will be called so all of you stay tuned. I'll make sure to update for you as soon as I can.
Regards: Richard.