Disclaimer: Won't you come home dear Ronnie? Won't you come home? My wild Weasley boy! Wow, that had nothing to do with a disclaimer. Let's see… HP belongs to Rowling and Warner Bros. There! :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 21"The Treasures of the founders"
After flying for what seemed liked forever, Ginny had gotten them all the way to Hag's Head Isle that was very easily recognizable from their distance above the water. Hermione was still studying her book, hoping to get more clues until Harry looked at her. She could tell that they wanted to her to try to contact Ron right away for they would have no where to go soon and there was no where to land. Hermione took a deep breath. Her visions were frightening and she had no idea why Ron wanted her to stop having them. However, his safety was all that mattered to her and they had no time to waste. So she closed her eyes and thought of him. She thought of his face, his eyes, his hair, and the way he smiled and how he liked to joke around. With these loving thoughts of him flooding her spirit she felt herself lifted and her ring began to glow. Soon she could see his him in her mind…
He sat on the ground, back turned towards her. Ron was looking through the bars and was fiddling with something in his hands. She wanted to call out towards him but something felt wrong. Instead, she settled with sitting in the bunk he slept in as she watched. In her vision she lifted her hand and pointed her finger towards Ron, her eyes saddened. In the car Harry saw Hermione do the same gesture. She pointed east and Harry figured that that was where they were supposed to go. Slowly as they traveled Hermione started pointing various directions, not speaking once. She was pointing to every space that Ron sat in as he, still never looking in her direction, paced weakly. After a while Ron rested his whole body on the floor and looked like he was ready to sleep. Hermione took that as a sign as resurfaced, weak and dazedly. Ginny then gasped and called out to her friends.
"That's it!" she said. "There, look!"
It was then that they faced Azkaban. A dark castle-like stronghold surrounded by water and sharp, stony cliffs. Dark clouds floated ominously about the prison and an eerie feeling crept within Harry, Hermione and Ginny. The tide seemed to always break angrily as it touched its rocky base. Nothing about this place felt comforting with the exception of one thing: that Ron was waiting inside of it.
***
"What is there to discuss?" asked Draco curiously.
"Your association with Mr. Potter and your will to help him," said Dumbledore.
Draco looked at him with a mixed stare. So, he knew. Dumbledore sat on the edge of his desk and looked at the young boy. He smiled kindly and began to speak.
"You wish to warn him about a threat. Is that right?"
"Yes…" he said uneasy.
"A threat, that has to do with Voldermort?"
"Yes…"
"Sadly, he has gone to face that threat. There is no way that we can catch –"
"You mean he's gone to Azkaban? You knew and you didn't stop him? Why?"
"I had no idea where he went Mr. Malfoy. All I knew was that I was destined to help in a way that would not interfere with the events that have passed and will pass to Mr. Potter. The same way Professor Snape had helped with you. You see, that day after you asked him to make that potion for your father he came to me to ask for advice. And I told him that he was to help you do everything and as predicted everything would fall into place… even if the first result would not be a good one,"
Dumbledore went to Professor Mc Gonagall's side and took the wrapped things she had in her hands. He returned to his position and looked back at Draco.
"You see, before Professor Trelawney had been taken from us by the hands of the Death Eaters, she had told me that the fight, even after Voldermort's fall, was not over. There would still be things to clean up and that I would end up repeating myself in the tasks I had done. Do you recognize these Mr. Malfoy?" he asked as he un-wrapped the things in his hands.
He lifted the blue fabric from what looked like a silver sword encrusted with rubies and a yellow orb. The cloth itself was none other then a cloak glittering with silver on the inside. Draco looked up at the old wizard's twinkling blue eyes.
"Those… are the treasures of the founders. The same things that Potter has used against the Dark lord the first time,"
"Yes, that's right Draco. The treasures: Rowena Ravenclaw's Cloak, Godric Gryffindor's Sword and Helga Hufflepuff's magical Protection Orb. Harry and I had combined our strength and these treasures when we defeated Voldermort and now, it is time to use them again,"
Dumbledore handed these items to Draco. The boy's eyes filled with questions as the priceless relics surged with power.
"The power of three strong friendships is concealed within these items and they should be used that way this time… Do you understand Draco?" he said as Draco looked up at him. "There is no need for us to know more then we do but we are behind you all. Time is of the essence! Use Rowena's cloak to reach them Draco,"
"What? You said that we couldn't catch them! "
"I meant us the teachers. You can reach him. The Raven Cloak can transport you to where ever you want it to take you. Throw it over you head and concentrate,"
"Yes sir…" he said as he took the cloak and wrapped it around him.
"And Draco, thank you,"
"For what?"
"For learning that there is more to life then power and more to others then whether or not they stand in your way,"
Draco did not say a word and looked away. He then, took the cloak and threw it on him quickly. He held the sword in one hand and put the orb in his pocket. With a hand he grabbed the end of the cloak and threw it over his head. With a "swish" it wrapped around him and he disappeared in a flash of light. It was all up to him now.
***
Harry, Hermione and Ginny had stopped near a large enough ridge of the prison. The car began to beep happily until the trio shushed it angrily. It turned off its headlights a tad offended and rolled as much as it could away from them. Harry had looked around and saw there seemed to be no other wizards guarding the extremities of the building. Hermione found that curious but decided to take this as simple good fortune.
"It would be silly to walk in through the front door," said Hermione looking at her book.
"Is there any sight of an opening in there?" asked Harry.
"No… not on this side…"
"Oh! What's that!" pointed Ginny as a blue flash of light appeared from nowhere.
All three had quickly taken out their wands by instinct and waited for the light to dim. Within moments it dissipated into a blue cloth and Draco emerged from under it. He looked before him and saw the three Gryffindors looking completely baffled. He marched to them and with a smile said:
"It figures you can't do anything without me,"
"DRACO!" they all shouted forgetting that they were planning a covert operation.
"You haven't gotten in? Good. You all should bless your stupidity," he said looking happier then he had felt in a while.
"Draco, how-" started Hermione.
"I came here to warn you. There's something in there and it's waiting for you Potter. It's the Dementor and it wants to take your soul and leave behind nothing but Voldermort's essence. From what I understand, it means that through you, Voldermort will come back," said Draco seriously. "We can't stay here,"
"What!" said Ginny frightened as she clutched Harry's arm.
"Ginny…" he whispered then looked back at the Slytherin with a sigh. "You're right," said Harry as he looked at the building. "We can't stay here. We have to get inside,"
"What? Didn't you hear what I told you?"
"Draco, I have been persecuted, hunted and sought after my entire life! Whether or not this creature wants to kill me I still can't abandon one of the very people that have helped me to stay alive in the first place! I know that it is waiting for me but if I'm not there to satisfy its hunger it will go for Ron. I can't just leave him!" he said Harry bravely.
Ginny was holding him closer and rested her head on his chest. She was scared, she knew that both her brother and Harry were at risk but actually hearing what was planned for either of them was a lot to handle. Hermione felt torn but she knew what was to come. They had promised each other that they'd look out for one another no matter what and she also knew that no matter Draco's warnings, the path they had chosen was still crystal clear. She then looked at Draco surprised.
"The Raven Cloak? The sword? Draco, how did you get them? The only person that has access to those is Professor Mc Gonagall! She was entrusted to them after last year," said Hermione confused.
"It was given to me but I don't think that I'm supposed to keep them," Draco looked at Harry and handed him the sword. "My best guess is that this is for you,"
The moment Harry took hold of it his ring began to glow. Harry felt a strange new energy fill him and the rubies on the sword shimmer with the ring. Draco then felt a vibration in his pocket. He reached for the object and saw the yellow orb glow with Hermione's ring.
"I guess the Protection Orb is yours then," said Harry as Draco handed it to Hermione.
"Thank you. With these, we might be able to get into Azkaban," said Hermione hopeful.
"Gah! You're all such stupid idiots! So… how are we going to get in there?" said Draco looking up at the structure.
Hermione couldn't help but smile. He really did want to help. She took out her book and looked at the plan of Azkaban. A side from the numerous high windows and tiny drains, there was nothing aside from the main entrance that led inside. There was not a crevice to crawl in and not a door to break down. The outside walls were thick and lined with concrete. So Hermione examined other options. It seemed that not too far to their right there was a wall that was thinner and simply bricked up.
"We can use that thing that Remus sent Harry to see through the walls," she said.
Ginny was carrying the bag and reached in to grab the object. She shined it onto the wall to see what looked like a bathroom stall.
"It's wonderful we can see through it and all but this doesn't exactly help," said Draco.
Harry clutched the Gryffindor Sword tightly and suddenly felt his hand shake. The Phoenix Ring began to glow again and Harry felt a sudden surge of power. He removed it from its sheath and saw the blade turn a bright red. He then looked at the wall and came to a realization.
"Ginny, Hermione, Draco… move back!" he said as he rushed the wall!
Harry ran towards it and swung the blade into the wall. The Phoenix's ring's light was almost blinding as the blade came into contact with the brick, cutting it like paper. Soon a huge gap was made and the glow died out. The brick has been complete disintegrated into dust and Harry stood back breathing loudly.
"Harry!" gasped Ginny.
"Mind, have you ever been able to do that before?" asked Draco in mock shock.
"It's these rings… they react to the treasures. Come on!" said Hermione as she was the first to dash into the gap.
"Hold on Hermione!" said Harry as the rest followed.
They began to walk into the dank passages of the prison. Her wand alit, Hermione lead the charge with stubborn determination. The place was bare. Not a torch light in sight and not a guard around at all. It was so dark that it was difficult to see their own feet so they stood closely together and walked in a huddled group by the spark of Hermione's wand. Ron was supposed to be held in one of the upper stories where the most dangerous prisoners were held; mostly servants of Voldermort. According to the plan of the prison, they knew that had to get to the main staircase at the very entrance of the building to ascend any higher. This meant getting passed the guards. As they walked on, there was not a sound in the building. No clanging of cans or cup, mo moaning or begging for freedom, nothing that Harry, Ginny or Hermione had imagined they'd face from people that had been sent here, most likely, for life. They could see a few limbs hanging loosely on the bars and just assumed that the prisoners had fallen asleep there. They were getting nearer with still no diversion but it didn't matter to the bushy-haired girl, she had to find Ron before –
"Oh No!!" she gasped very loudly.
"Hermione! Everyone will hear you!" hushed Ginny loudly.
"There's no need for that," said Hermione no longer waking the effort to whisper, her voice trembling as she took a deep breath. "Everyone's dead…"
Hermione separated from the group and looked about the walls. She whispered in a shaky voice "Larcarnem Inflamare" pointed her wand to the unlit torches. It soon brought new life into the room… or at least for a few moments before the rest of the group would see what Hermione had seen. There on the floor were bodies scattered everywhere. Most were face down but those whose faces were showing had completely blank stares and an expression of pure horror imprinted upon them. She then brought her eyes to the nearby prison cells. Those 'sleeping prisoner' had no more life in them then the guards did as their heads hung like dead weight over the bars, the same terror embedded. Their arms, however, were scarred with what looked like markings of pressure and force. It could only be that what ever caused this deathblow had to be strong enough to have pulled the prisoners away from the corners of their cells and hoisted them to the edges of the bars with mammoth force. Some hung so strangely that it looked like their shoulders were dislocated.
"The Dementor is here. This isn't a prison anymore… it's a tomb,"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Hehehe... I love that end. *^_^*