A/N: Well, hello everyone! There are only 2 more chapters after this one, so get ready for everything to start wrapping up soon. I wrote a new story that is dedicated to my 50th reviewer, ParanoiaIn2005. It's called 'Perfect Love… Gone Wrong'. I am a little disappointed in its poor showing with the reviewers, but oh well that's life. I ask that ya'll please check it out and let me know what you think. It's a little strange, but I enjoyed writing it. I also have 2 new Star Wars things up, if you're interested in that, I recommend at least 'It's Harder Than It Looks.'
Part 8: Hear My Silent Prayer
Harry's world was a living hell. A never-ending whirl of pain and anguish that left no room to escape. Javen would leave him no room for thoughts of any kind, nor any reprieve of the attacks. He only remained awake through it all because Javen would not let him enjoy the sweetness of unconsciousness. He had no concept of time anymore. It only passed with fear, sweat, blood, tears, and pain.
Javen, on his part, had given up trying to make Harry see it his way and was determined to break him completely before remolding him into what he wanted. It was a shame, really. A broken spirit was never as strong as one who was never broken. And it seemed almost sacrilege to have to break the Boy Who Lived. But it was the only way; Harry had left him little choice in the matter.
He made sure to move as fast as he could from the shack in Dublin in case someone had traced Harry's call. He knew that without 'perfect clever Padfoot' or that crazy werewolf on his trail, there was barely anyone else who knew how his mind worked. And he had even taken precautions to find a place with silver ores running below the ground in case Remus was on his trail. He would never think to explore further in a place where even the earth was hostile to him. Dumbledore was brilliant, of course, but he could never think like Javen. And the others were all a bunch of Ministry brats. He could just stay right where he was until Potter was safely in his power once again.
Footsteps echoed ominously in his corner of the cave and Harry involuntarily curled further into a ball, trying to make himself disappear. His mind was in continual agony from the struggle that was always occurring between him and Javen. And every so often, Javen would drag him out and beat him to wear him down. He knew that Javen was trying to break him, but was determined not to let him. For as long as he lived he would never give in to the darkness that Javen was trying to force him to accept. He would die first. And, he realized bitterly, that day might soon be at hand.
Surprisingly, he was not at all afraid of death. No, there was nothing to fear in death. Dumbledore said it was only the last great adventure. And all the people he loved were there to greet him. Loving and sweet Lily, his mother who gave her life so he might live a life without fear. Brave and strong James, who defended his wife and child so they might escape, knowing that his son would have a father in Sirius. And, of course, Sirius. Clever, wise, loving, brave, strong Sirius. He would be able to see them all and never again be apart from them. No more threat of Voldemort, no more harassment that came with being the Boy Who Lived. He was really beginning to wish that Javen would kill him. Just to see Sirius again at least.
Javen's blows knocked him from the place of peace in Harry's mind. His body screamed in torment, telling him it could not take much longer. He bit his lip and grit his teeth, but there was no longer use in trying to fight back the cries. It just hurt too much.
"Make me stop!" screamed Javen in his ears and mind, "You can use your power to make me stop. Just reach out for it!"
"No," moaned Harry, "Never… no. Please, Javen, don't make me." No matter how much pain he was in, he knew that it was too high a price to pay. To reach out and fight Javen like this was to touch the darkness that he was fighting alongside Dumbledore to stop. He would begin the same unstoppable spiral that young Tom Riddle underwent over 50 years ago. And he knew that once he followed Riddle's path, there was nothing that could stop him from becoming a second Voldemort.
Instead, he reached for the magic that he knew to be good. He knew that one did not need a wand in order to make things happen. He had done so with Dudley plenty of times to know this. But it would not answer him. He was on his own, his fledgling power drowned out by the strength of Javen's darkness. He stopped fighting Javen and tried to reach into his mind with the magic filled with light and happiness.
Harry cried out louder, willing himself to be heard, "It's not too late, Javen. You can stop this! Let me go and I can help you!"
For an instant, he could see a brief pause in Javen's actions. A yearning, desperate look came across his face and Harry could see all the pain that the man endured throughout his life to become what he was now. But he could not stop this anymore than Harry could. He had given too much of himself over to it to turn back now. He was as dedicated to the Dark Arts now as Harry was to the Light.
Javen lashed out at him again, making Harry fall against the stone wall and opening a cut across his back. He stepped on the boy's wrists to keep him from moving. He barely registered one of them snapping painfully and the boy's cries of pain. "It's too late for that now, Potter. Don't think you can change my mind," he hissed vehemently.
* * *
"Are you sure this is it?" asked Sirius, after they had Apparated to a cliff overlooking an island in the distance.
"Am I not Moony? Trust me on this. Transform and take a sniff."
Sirius complied and could immediately detect the faint scents of Javen and Harry. The scents were fading due to the windy nature of the north side of the island, but he could definitely tell that they were here not too long ago. And the trail seemed to move out to the water where a small rocky island lay in wait.
"Think they're down there?" asked Sirius, transforming back.
"I'm sure of it." Remus' breathing suddenly became labored and ragged as they approached the cliff. He clutched his heart and immediately backed away. Sirius held him upright with a grip on his back and right arm. Concern was written all over his face.
"Moony? What's wrong? Talk to me, Moony!"
Remus said nothing, but backed away even more, until he was nearly 40 yards from the cliff. He was pale and shivering slightly, his white highlights standing out even more than usual. All of a sudden he looked twice his age. Sirius forced him to sit on a tree stump to collect himself.
"What happened back there?" asked Sirius, "What was it?"
"Silver," rasped Remus, swallowing down nausea, "The place is full of it. There must be a large silver vein underneath here. I can feel it everywhere." He looked like he would be physically ill any time now. "It's in the air, water, earth…" he shook his head, trying to get a hold of himself. He was beginning to break into a cold sweat. Silver to him was like crucifixes and garlic to a vampire. The mere presence of it got him ill and clammy. And long exposure could do worse.
Sirius allowed his friend to take some time to relax. He knew that Remus had to get out of there before the silver ores really did some serious damage. The wolf alternated between taking deep breaths to slow his heart and shallow ones to minimize the silver exposure to his burning lungs. Sirius knew he would have to go on alone.
"Damn you, Javen," he swore underneath his breath, "You really thought of everything, didn't you? Knew that the werewolf was the only one who could track you." He turned back to Remus, "Listen, you can't stay here. I'll go down to the island and get Harry. You Apparate to Hogsmeade and go to Hogwarts for Dumbledore. He'll know what to do."
"You can't stay here alone, Sirius," panted Remus trying to stand up. Sirius stopped him.
"Yes, I can. And I will. Just get a few Aurors here on the double in case I can't take Javen by myself or if we need a rush to St. Mungo's. You can't stay here, that's obvious."
"But…"
"Get out of here, Moony! You can't help with all this silver around, and I can't worry about you too. I'll need the back-up."
Finally, Remus nodded. He stood up shakily and took out his wand. Putting a hand on his friend's shoulder, he said in a raspy voice, "Take care of yourself, Padfoot. Don't do anything stupid."
"Of course not. I'll give Javen a good curse for you."
Nodding, Remus stepped back and Disapparated from the area, leaving Sirius alone. He turned back to the island where he thought he could hear a boy's cries. Perhaps it was just the wind, though. Transforming into a dog, he made his way to the cliff where he could simply jump down and swim to the island easily. He knew he would not be back without Harry or his body.
'Hold on, Harry,' he thought, a strange calmness sweeping over him as his brain worked through a plan, 'I'm coming for you. Just hold on a little longer.' He reached the shore in record timing and trotted to the mouth of a deep cavern. Taking a deep breath, the dog silently entered the gaping hole.
* * *
As he made his way through the deep the cavern, Sirius could almost touch the fear and pain surrounding him and knew that it was Harry's blood that he could taste in the air. The hell with stealth, he thought. He had to let Harry know that help was on the way. Letting loose a string of loud barks, he sent out a silent plea for the boy to hold on just for a little longer.
Through the haze Harry was living in, he could hear a very familiar sound. 'I must be dying, then,' he thought happily, 'Sirius is here for me.'
Javen knew those barks too. His mind was in a near state of panic. How had Sirius survived and found him? He had been so preoccupied with breaking down Harry, he didn't bother with illusion charms on the island. It was a fatal mistake and he knew it.
He leveled his wand with Harry's scar. "Chose now and forever, Potter," he said, "Me or death." He put forth all his mental strength in a last-ditch effort. But he knew the boy's answer before he gave it.
"I'll never join you." Harry's voice was strong and steady for the first time in days.
Javen sighed in frustration. So be it, then. He raised his wand and aimed between the boy's fading green eyes. At least the boy would die on his terms.
Harry closed his eyes, preparing for death. He would never be able to block or fight the curse even if he wanted to.
"Avada Keda…" a large furry body collided with the wizard and he couldn't pronounce the last syllables. A sharp kick by a leg knocked the wind out of him temporarily and he felt his wand being ripped out of his grasp by tiny razor blade teeth.
Harry barely registered what was going on until the small scuffle was over. When he looked again, he saw the beloved form of Sirius standing protectively over Harry and holding two wands. Javen's and his own.
"Touch him again, and I swear to Merlin I will tear you apart!" Sirius snarled, his voice dripping with venom. His jaw was set and his eyes held a murderous gleam in them. But inside, his mind was working perfectly. The old schoolboy Padfoot was back. The one who could turn Snape's final exam potion into a vat of shampoo and not get caught. The one whose idea it was to become an Animagus for Remus' sake.
"Sirius!" exclaimed Harry in surprise and joy. Any thoughts of the peace death offered were swept from his mind immediately.
"Everything will be all right, Harry," Sirius said, not risking a glance at him, "Just lay back and relax. It's ok."
Javen grinned from his doubled-up position, "Is it really?"
Harry cried out at the pain that ripped throughout his mind again. It was useless to try to hold in the pain. It had gone on too long.
Sirius turned around at the cry and knelt at his side, forgetting Javen. "Harry? What's wrong? What is he doing?"
He heard Javen's approach too late. Javen leaped at his wand, not caring that Harry was being nearly trampled in the process. Sirius reacted quickly, pushing him away from Harry so the fight would not include him in the crossfire. He lost Javen's wand to him, but he still had his dueling skills. This was the part he knew he would enjoy.
Javen sent a string of curses at Sirius and a few at Harry when he could get a clear shot. If he could just get Sirius to lose his focus and temper, he would have him where he needed him. Sirius in return was forced to resort to a defensive position as he was blocking Harry as well as himself from Javen. He managed to tune out the pained cries of the boy as his mind was being literally ripped apart.
Harry watched in mute anxiety as Sirius became quickly tired from protecting them both. He had to help him somehow! He could see his own wand hanging on Javen's belt. If he could only get it… but Sirius would never let him get that close to Javen and he doubted he could get there on his own.
"Sirius, my wand!" he cried out, ignoring Javen's assaults on his mind. Sirius nodded curtly and summoned the wand quickly.
Javen snarled and sent a powerful curse in the boy's direction that neither of them could block. Harry crumpled over, not able to use a single spell. Sirius looked to see if he was all right, but forgot to watch his back again. Javen sent a searing fire hex at his shoulder, causing him to yell out in pain.
He was forced to turn away from Harry and to once more take the defensive. He let loose a string of stunning spells, noting unhappily that Javen managed to block or dodge them all. The spells instead hit the cavern walls and knocked down many large boulders. The area was becoming increasingly unsafe by the minute. These curses could start an avalanche any second.
"We have to get out of here!" he called to Javen, "It's not safe here." He took a deep breath before continuing. He could not possibly defeat and kill Javen as much as he wanted to. It was up to Fudge to deal with him. He swallowed hard. "Just let it go. This doesn't have to end in death."
Javen narrowed his eyes at Sirius, "I don't need your bloody help! I have tapped more power than you ever will! I see the same thing in your eyes that I saw in Harry's eyes and in the eyes of those bureaucrats at home. You all pity poor orphan Javen. I don't need your pity or your help! All I want to do it is explore a new source of power. None of you high and mighty wizards will dare look past what fits your narrow view of things. It's either your way or it's Dark Magic. But there is so much we don't know about our magical gifts. Look at Harry! What he has is so special no one has ever seen the likes of it before. And yet you don't bother to stretch his gift and learn from it. He has the power to be great and you just let him rot behind your little spellbooks and toy cauldrons. I'm sick of rotting, Black! I want to reach my potential and not hinder it for some bloody rules!"
Sirius was secretly impressed with Javen's ability to sound so convincing and reasonable. He wondered how Harry had ever managed to ignore Javen's logical arguments for so long. No wonder the Ministry didn't find it in their hearts to snap his wand. And he could see how easily he and Remus were led to trust this man. But Javen could not pull a 180-degree persona on him. All he had to do was look at Harry to see what evil Javen possessed.
"You can't go from trying to kill me to suddenly enlist me, Javen," he laughed harshly, raising his wand as a precaution. "This isn't reaching potential, this is bloody madness! The only thing you're achieving is a place among the dark wizards. Harry's potential isn't in hurting others or fulfilling your little revenge trip. He'll become great on his own terms, not anyone else's. And what we consider Dark isn't just what we don't understand. It's what we know is wrong: disregard for others, lust for power, hatred… all those attributes that Voldemort has and promotes, and all that I've seen in you." He hated having to reason with the man, but he knew they had to get out of that cavern and Javen was not going to let him out without one of them being dead. He was blunt and insensitive to Javen's reactions at this point. It was the only way to dissolve his twisted words and half-truths.
During this whole exchange, neither wizard dared to lower their wands or their eye contact. They paced back and forth with Sirius standing protectively over Harry, and Javen covering the exit.
Harry had regained consciousness during the argument and lay listening to Sirius' voice reverberate throughout the cavern. The deep voice was as soothing as a lullaby to him, as was the meaning of the words. He smiled to himself as Javen was revealed for what he was: evil. It felt good to finally hear the truth as the last shreds of doubt washed away. He found it hard to move at all whether it was from the abuse or some traces of Javen still in his mind.
Javen let loose some more hexes Sirius' way, which were reflected and hit the rocks above the dark wizard's head. The cavern shook and trembled, sending some more debris falling around their exhausted bodies. Sirius covered Harry to protect him. He looked up at Javen who had momentarily lost his balance.
"Time's up, Javen," he called, moving to scoop up Harry, "We're leaving. Come with us."
"You're not going anywhere!" Javen screamed, jumping between Sirius and the exit. He held his wand so tightly, Sirius thought it would snap on its own any minute.
"Are you bloody crazy?" Sirius yelled, blocking more hexes, "The cavern will collapse on us any minute. We have to leave now! We'll all be killed!"
"Then we'll die!" Javen laughed, his eyes gleaming with his near-insanity, "If what you say is true, then I don't have anything to lose anyway."
More rocks fell, throwing Javen out of sight. Sirius dove on top of Harry again, bracing himself against the onslaught of the sharp debris. When he looked through the dust, he couldn't see Javen anymore. All he saw was the light of the exit, so close and yet so far.
He looked down at Harry who, he was pleased to note, was still alive and awake. "Are you alright, Harry? Can you walk?"
The boy nodded once and put his wand in his belt. Rolling over on his stomach, he tried to get up on all fours. He had just struggled to his knees when his poor body couldn't take it anymore. The days of starvation and abuse had taken its toll on him and he felt his head go light and he became vaguely aware of the rocky ground rising to meet him. Sirius caught him before he hit, however, and scooped the boy up as though he weighed nothing. Perhaps he did.
"I'm sorry, Sirius," he whispered to his savior who gave him a gentle squeeze.
"It's all right, Harry," he responded, "We're leaving now."
All of a sudden, something large and heavy smashed into Sirius. It was Javen. He had lured Sirius into a false sense of security so he could strike with more efficiency. Sirius fell hard, throwing Harry nearly 5 feet with the force of the blow.
Javen kicked Sirius hard in the side, temporarily paralyzing him. Then he raised his wand like he had with Harry only minutes before. Only this time, it was Sirius' life he sought to take. "If we're all going to die here anyway," he smiled, "I may at least gain the pleasure of seeing you go first."
Harry watched in horror as Javen raised his wand against Sirius. Time crawled nearly to a halt and focused only on the wand and its target. Something burned inside Harry. Some strange hidden power that Javen had not been able to tap and harm. The dark wizard wouldn't have understood this power even if he had found it. He embraced it, for he knew it was good and strong. It was what gave a mother the strength to lift a car to save her trapped children. It was what gave a man the courage to run into a burning building for his friends. It was a power born out of deep caring and love.
Reaching for the nearest fist-sized rock, Harry aimed it for Javen's wand. His aim was true and the Avada Kedavra was not completed, the curse dying on Javen's lips. He was stunned for a moment with surprise, searching for the source of the disturbance. It was all the time Harry needed. His own wand forgotten, Harry leaped for Javen, throwing him away from the gasping Sirius. They rolled over various rocks and other debris, but neither person seemed to care. Harry would not let one more person die for him. It was time he fought his own battles.
Javen tried to get his hands around the boy's throat, all the while trying to get a hold of his mind again. But Harry was not behaving like he was used to, and the mind control became obsolete. Harry, in turn, refused to succumb to the darkness of Javen's mind and physically fought against the man just as hard. Curling up his legs, he kicked out as hard as he could, throwing Javen off of him.
Javen was knocked back several feet into a wall, causing a new wave of boulders to come crashing down. He gave one last howl of rage before being buried underneath it all. Harry squeezed his eyes shut to block out the image, but was unable to block out the screams in his ears and mind as Javen died. Then, as suddenly as they had begun, the voices in his head were finally silenced. His mind was once again his own. He was free, and he was unbroken.
He hadn't noticed that Sirius managed to fight his way to his side, until he felt the man's hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see his true guardian smiling warmly. His shoulders were slumped with fatigue and pain. His rich dark hair lay limp and unkempt. The lines on his face seemed deeper, brought on with worry for his wayward charge. But his bright sapphire eyes shown with all the pride, love, and worry that he had for the boy.
The cavern shook again ominously, breaking the companionable silence between the two. Sirius led the way out of the cavern as it gave its final death throws and collapsing on itself. They just managed to escape before everything was destroyed. Javen's body would be unrecoverable.
Just as they left the caverns, so did Harry's strength that had saved Sirius' life. The effects of the severed Contiosa Botaya finally got to him, as did the wounds inflicted upon him. The world around him turned a hazy red and black as he rocked on his feet. The last thing he saw before blacking out, was Sirius' worried face as he caught him.
Review Time!
Larissa Hahn: Thanks! I do what I can ^_^
ParanoiIn2005: Hehe you got more than a hug, check my A/N at the beginning of the chapter. Novellas are fine, I happen to do the same thing. I love to ramble in case you couldn't tell ^_^. That's weird cause the line that you found awkward actually was part of the second cut. Originally, it wasn't a part of the story. I'll try to keep that in mind and check for correct 'flowage' of my sentences. And I'll try to keep my time frames better labeled. Thanks for your review and I hope I continue to see you on my review board J.
Jen: Here it is!
Siri Kat: Oh I don't think Fudge is heartless at all. I think he's a corrupt politician, but I'm against anyone being portrayed as being 'the bad guy' or 'the good guy'. Even Javen is a victim if you look at it another way. The thing with Fudge is that he can't just think with his heart. He has the rest of the country to think about and if he does something incorrectly, than it can be seen as very bad. He honestly didn't think that Javen would do something like this or he would have done something. He didn't want anyone to think that he was gaining up on Javen, because Javen came from a well-off family and families like that tend to stick together. Fudge could have been ruined if he went for an overkill on a situation. And remember, that part of chapter 7 was seen mostly from the perspective of Remus and Sirius who both walked in not liking Fudge. So that's how I worded it; with them thinking worse of him than he is.
Kagome, Rose, Black: Oh, I loved your quotes, where did you get them?! I recognize the ones from CoS, but not the others. And I'd love to review your story. You're lucky I'm on an Inu-kick right now ^_^. My best friend from high school has some Inu stories. Her name is Cattico so if you check out her stories, drop a line. She's very friendly and rarely bites ^_~.
Hi: Hi! And what part is that? Hehe, they're a coming I promise!
Norma: I'm sorry you had to wait. But here 'tis! Enjoy!
Schnickledooger: ^_^ Oh shush you! I'm going as fast as college will let me. Now what fun is letting the pup out of the bag too early, eh? Besides, I think it's better if Harry doesn't know till this chappie anyway. That way Javen doesn't suspect anything. If he knew Sirius was still alive, don't you think he'd be even harder to find? ^_^ You wanna see heartless? How about I don't update until next semester? After all, I could be studying right now.
Chibi-Ravenclaw: O_O Wow, when you put it that way, I have no choice. I haven't lost a reader to death yet and I don't intend to start. So here ya go, mon ami!