Silver Blood
Chapter 27: Fighting Destiny
The force of the black hole sucking them in was so powerful the end of the broom all ready had less bristles than before. Luckily though, each bristle would automatically grow back right after. Harry was squeezing Sirius so tight he was shocked he could still breathe. They were soaring toward the center of the apocalypse while also trying to fly in the opposite direction. Voldemort was still standing and sneering in half amusement and half victory. His wand was still pointed at them, keeping the spell to cause them to fly backward even more.
Harry turned to Sirius, shouting over the wind, "Sirius, what do we do?"
Sirius looked back at him, "It's all right, Harry. We'll figure a way out of this!"
Harry smiled weakly and tried to nod, hoping his Godfather was right. Voldemort's loud, laugh of amusement, that sent shivers down Harry's spine each time he heard it, caused them to both turn. Before they could even fathom why Voldemort was laughing, if that was what it was, the broom was pulled out from beneath them, flying away from the hole but leaving them there. Harry gripped tightly onto Sirius' arm, but it didn't hold as they were flung backward, immediately being sucked toward the center.
Voldemort's eyes flashed toward Harry, watching as he was sucked deeper toward death, before he turned his attention back on the Ministry who was still trying to disarm the Death Eaters. Harry noticed that the muggle bodies were still floating in the air, millions of them, and coming toward the hole. He didn't have time to think on it though as he was slammed back roughly, wind so strong it knocked his glasses off his face.
"No!" Harry shouted, reaching out for them to no avail.
The force tugged at Harry's arm roughly pulling him faster toward the center. The black hole was a distance away, being up high in the sky and growing larger by the minute, but it was pulling him in extremely fast. Harry's eyes widened as he saw he was heading straight for a large object that he assumed was a tree (since he couldn't see without his glasses) that was heading quickly toward its doom. Unfortunately, because the tree was much larger than Harry it was being sucked at a slightly slower pace. Harry flung his hands out in front of him to try and lessen the crash.
He shut his eyes tightly not wanting to see it, but instead felt a warm hand on his shoulder. Harry opened his eyes and turned to see a blurry Sirius in front of him. He blinked in confusion, wondering how come he hadn't crashed.
"Sirius, how…?"
"I used a charm to surround us in a bubble field," Sirius answered quickly.
Harry blinked again and squinted, trying to make out what was around them. He put out his hand beneath him to feel something rubbery and soft. He realized they were indeed in a bubble and it had stopped Harry from moving any closer to the tree. Although the shield was proving to have stopped much of the force, they were still drawing slowly nearer. They had to think of something, and fast.
"It'll hold for a while, I hope. I'm not sure exactly how long," Sirius said uneasily, moving to glance out of the semi-transparent bubble shield. "We're still moving, which is not a good thing. But at least it will block any objects coming our way."
Sirius turned back to him and Harry could see his expression had changed, but he couldn't really make out any details.
"Harry, where are your glasses?"
"They got sucked into the hole," Harry answered.
"Come here," Sirius motioned with his hand.
Harry moved closer inside the small shield, reaching out toward the less blurry image of his Godfather. Sirius tilted his chin up and Harry saw him take out something with his hand. Sirius pointed the object, looking much like a wand, at Harry's face and muttered an incantation that sounded like reparo clarus. A tingling sensation tickled his pupils as he felt the cool spell enter his eyes. Harry blinked, his eyes watering from the sensation. After a minute, it slowly faded and Harry rubbed his eyes, blinking a couple times until the blurriness faded and his vision returned.
"I can see," Harry thought aloud in awe.
He turned to see Sirius smiling faintly, "It's a temporary spell. It should last a little while."
"Thanks, Sirius," Harry smiled at him warmly.
Sirius nodded, his smile widening a bit before his grim expression took place again, "We've got to find a way to block this hellhole," he said.
The reality of the situation came crashing down on Harry and now that they weren't flying toward their death he was able to think on what had happened. His eyes dimmed, and he lowered his head, not wanting to look Sirius in the eye.
"Maybe there's a temporary spell we could use, or— Harry?"
Harry blinked back tears to look up at him. He knew Sirius saw the pained look in his eyes and immediately rested his hands on Harry's shoulder.
"Don't worry, Harry. Voldemort has an advantage now, but we'll find a way out of this," he said sternly.
"It's not that," Harry said quietly, his voice cracking ever-so-slightly. "It's just…This wouldn't have happened if the charm or spell had worked. Dumbledore trusted me to do it and I…I failed."
Harry lowered his eyes again, but Sirius lifted his face so he could stare at him, "Harry, it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself for trying. Dumbledore knew there was a chance it wouldn't work since it was a last minute plan. Besides, once we get out of this and help Dumbledore we'll find a way for it to work, all right?"
"I know, but— "
"Harry, stop!" Sirius said angrily, gripping his shoulders tightly. "Nothing is your fault. You didn't know Voldemort was still alive when he should've been dead and you certainly shouldn't be the one to have to bear this burden by yourself!"
"I know," Harry answered quietly.
Sirius' eyes softened and he pulled Harry into a warm embrace, rubbing his back soothingly. Sirius pulled back, wiping at his damp eyes where tears had threatened to fall.
"Once this is all over, we'll go out and celebrate," Sirius smiled. "It'll all be in the past and we'll never look back."
Harry smiled weakly and hugged him once more, "I believe you."
"You should," Sirius said with a small grin. "Oh yes, I almost forgot. Happy birthday," he said kissing Harry's forehead. "We'll have to do something extra special for you. I really didn't have this in mind when I was planning your surprise."
Harry smiled a real smile, "Yeah, me either. What do you mean by surprise?"
Sirius' eyes glimmered for a split second before his grim expression came back, "Later. Right now we've got to get out of this mess."
Just as Harry nodded a loud rumble tore through the sky, shaking the shield. Harry toppled over from the shake, bumping his head on the rubbery surface. Sirius managed to keep steady but was looking around for the source.
"Oh no…," Sirius said, gritting his teeth together.
Harry looked in the direction he was staring and saw that the sky was now turning a sickly blue-green color. The hole had grown a tremendous size and was causing minor earthquakes.
But how is it doing that?
Harry turned around and felt his insides freeze instantly. The muggles that were unconsciously floating in the air, surrounded by a dark hue were being drawn toward the hole. He wheeled back to look at the hole just in time to see a body disappear within its depths.
Oh no! It's all ready feeding on the muggles! That's why it's getting bigger. If it feeds on all of them, it'll be unstoppable.
Suddenly, from the thick center of the hole, several slimy blue-green tentacle lashed out, one crashing to the ground and causing the earth to shake. Harry fell backward with wide eyes as a thick vine tentacle zoomed straight at him, crashing against the shield. Harry yelped as the shield was thrown widely from the force, knocking them around.
"Harry! Harry, are you all right?" Sirius asked, crawling toward him.
Harry nodded quickly, "Yeah, I think so. What was that?"
"I'm not sure. It looks like a long vine, like what the Devil's Snare has only much bigger and more dangerous. I don't like the looks of this," Sirius said grimly, holding onto Harry's arm in case they were hit again.
Harry suddenly grasped Sirius' arm, "Sirius! The shield!"
Sirius looked up as the shield flickered several times before coming back. Although it came back, Harry saw there were several cracks in it that would definitely get much bigger if they were hit again.
"I think it'll hold. We need to get out of here fas— "
BAM!
Harry flew to the side of the shield, crashing into the rubber wall as something hit them hard. Harry scrambled to keep his balance and looked to see that the shield was still standing, though a little more battered.
"Sirius, it's all ri…," Harry trailed off as his throat constricted. "Sirius!"
Feeling his heart racing a mile per minute, Harry scrambled to his Godfather's side. Sirius lay sprawled on the rubbery surface, his arm twisted beneath his body. Harry felt for a pulse and breathed a sigh of relief. He was just unconscious. Turning him slightly with care, Harry examined him to make sure he wasn't bleeding.
"His arm is broken," Harry murmured to himself, pulling Sirius' arm from beneath him and laying it beside him gently.
It didn't look incredibly bad, but the bone was certainly out of place. Otherwise, Sirius looked perfectly fine, besides being unconscious.
"Sirius? Sirius, wake up," Harry shook him gently, but Sirius remained still. "Sirius, please! Wake up! I don't want to be by myself, ple— Ahhh!"
Harry was cut off as another rumble shook the shield protecting them. He grasped Sirius' other hand in his and looked around frantically. His heart abruptly skipped a few beats as he saw what the cause was from. The vine or tentacle, whatever it was, had not only lashed out at them, but had wrapped around the bubble; its thick slimy exterior covering the entire shield.
"Sirius, please," Harry whispered frantically, fear rising in his voice. "You have to get up!"
Something cold and unusually gooey touched the back of his arm. Harry froze in place, his mouth still partially open as he turned his head to look. Through the large crack in the shield, a thick vine was pushing through, drops of its gooey slim dribbling upon Harry's arm and neck. Harry backed up instinctively, still gripping tightly onto Sirius' hand. The vine pushed through slowly until it was inside the shield, moving as if searching for something. With a loud snap the vine seemed to be breaking, or peeling open. Harry watched with a terrified expression as the tip of the vine folded in on itself, cracking and bending until there was a hole at the end of it.
Harry carefully reached inside Sirius' robe, keeping an eye on the vine, as he searched for his wand. He grabbed it and slowly took it out, ready to use the same spell as he had on the Devil's Snare. Harry pointed the wand at it at shouted, "Lumos!" A bright light filled the bubble and Harry could hear the hissing noises caused from the vine. When the light finally cleared down Harry blinked to clear his vision from the intensity of the spell.
"No…It can't be," he whispered fearfully.
The vine had not only been unharmed but now it was spreading throughout the bubble; smaller vines coming out of the large one that had entered first. It hissed again, as Harry backed away to the corner, before the other smaller vines began to approach him, as if sensing someone was there from having been hit by the spell.
Harry turned around quickly and began shaking Sirius more roughly, desperate for some help.
"Sirius, wake up!"
Harry gasped in surprise as his leg was jerked roughly, pulling him away from Sirius. He wheeled his head around to find that his foot and lower calf was trapped by one of the vines that had wrapped around him. Harry turned back to Sirius, his eyes widening in horror as he saw Sirius' body being lifted and wound up by the vine.
"SIRIUS! Put him down!" Harry glared at the vines.
His eyes darted to the wand that lay nearby and he raced to get it. Just as his fingers grazed it he felt his body being lifted up away from it as the vine wrapped around him, preventing him from moving. Harry struggled violently, trying to break free, but it was no use. Whatever it was, it was stronger than the Devil's Snare. Harry tried to shout out once more to Sirius in case he knew a spell that might help them, but his voice was cut off when he saw the larger vine expanding; growing fatter from something.
The vine hissed loudly before dark, gooey liquid poured out the hole in the end of it, splattering inside the bubble and filling the small area quickly. Harry squirmed inside the grasp of the vine but couldn't budge as the slimy substance came up over his knees, rising within minutes. Sirius still remained unconscious, oblivious to what was going on. Harry turned his head to look for an escape, or something to help them, when he saw outside the bubble. The vine was not only trying to drown them in sickly matter, but was also drawing them to the center of the hole.
As the bubble drew toward the large black, endless tunnel before them, Harry could see a little ways inside of it. Deep in the mouth of the hole there was what looked like more vines, except they appeared to be blowing fire at the tree that had delved within its depths. Almost instantly, the tree was turned to ash, spreading into the nothingness of the black hole. Harry gasped with fear, but suddenly choked as he felt something cold and slimy on his mouth. He took a deep breath as the gooey substance rose higher onto his face.
Harry's eyes widened as he saw that Sirius' face had all ready been covered, and since he was unconscious he wouldn't know to hold his breath. Struggling madly against the vine's grip, Harry tried to break free. His eyes blinked away tears just as his entire face was covered by the goop.
The shield creaked as the force from inside the hole began slowly tearing at it. They were so close to the center that Harry was certain they were done for. His lungs were all ready aching with the need of oxygen.
I'm so sorry, Sirius…I'm so sorry. I should've been able to get us out of this mess. I should've….I should've killed Voldemort long before this, but I gave him a chance to unleash his plan and now…now he's going to win.
Harry made a sound in his throat as he felt his lungs beginning to burn. He knew he wouldn't last much longer. Sirius was probably all ready dead due to the fact that he had been unconscious. Harry would soon join him with his parents.
At least Voldemort won't send my soul to an eternal darkness like he wanted. Since Sirius put that charmed bubble-shield around us the dark magic of the black hole will have to get inside before we die, which it won't…We'll die and join mum and dad before it gets either of our souls.
Harry felt a pain in his chest at the thought of how many muggles and half muggles the black hole was consuming; how many of them wouldn't be able to move on, but remain in darkness forever.
It's all my fault…
No Harry.
The soft whisper had been inside of his head, but he was sure it was Sirius. He remembered what Sirius had told him moments before: that the burden was too great for him to carry alone and that Sirius, and his friends and people he cared about, were helping as much as they could. Harry hoped his friends were doing all right back at the school, or the safety of the charmed tower were all the survivors were staying.
Slowly, his head drooped down, barely away that more vines were trying to burst open the bubble shield. He felt his tense muscles relax as his lungs were ready to burst.
Sirius is right. What's the point in blaming myself? Even if I had tried to kill Voldemort before, it may not have worked. And that wouldn't have stopped the creatures from feasting. The eclipse would still be here as well. But since I have been with Voldemort, I understand what is going on, which makes all the difference. If I didn't understand anything, I couldn't help…
Harry knew his breath wouldn't hold, but he had to forgive himself before he died and let go of everything that had been holding him back from living his life to the fullest. Since he had been living with Sirius so much of the pressure and worry and problems had lifted from his shoulders, all except one. The only burden he had kept on him was that he felt everything was his responsibility. While the world gave him a break after the second defeat of Lord Voldemort, Harry never gave himself a break. Dumbledore's words drifted through his head: "Harry, you must use every ounce of your heart. Everything you believe in and love about the world, use it. Accept the bad with the good and don't look back."
A very subtle smile crossed his face as his entire body finally relaxed. His eyes were closed shut and his head was drooping lower. He was ready to release his breath and join the people he loved.
Dumbledore's right. Never look back on everything that has happened. There can be good memories to keep, but I can't keep living in the past. The future is all the matters and living the present as if every day is more important than the last. Now, I understand.
Harry's thoughts finished as he opened his mouth to release his very last breath. He was prepared for the goop to enter his lungs and suffocate him, or even strangle him until he passed out from lack of oxygen and finally moved on. His mouth was open and his breath had left…but he felt nothing. Harry's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
Have I moved on all ready? I didn't even feel anything.
Very gently, he moved his eyelids, carefully opening them. Harry's eyes opened entirely and he blinked several times, wondering if he was dreaming. He could tell he was still inside the bubble shield that was filled with the slimy goop. Sirius' head was lolled back as one arm dangled loosely against the binds, and his broken arm was trapped at his side.
But…how is this possible?! I'm still alive?
Harry stopped in his thoughts as he realized he didn't feel the same feeling on him as earlier. Looking down in confusion and wonder, his eyes suddenly widened as his mouth dropped open slightly. The goop that had been around him had turned entirely transparent, floating around him harmlessly. He took in a deep breath when he gasped and noticed that he could breathe. He wondered if somehow Dumbledore was saving them, or had saved them, but then he realized that he was the only one protected.
Could it be?
Harry's heart began to race, but not in fear but excitement. He looked down at himself and realized that he was glowing somewhat brightly, his entire body encased in an aura that protected him much like the bubble shield had. He pushed all his doubts and fears away as he focused on doing exactly what he said he would. Feeling his confidence grow, Harry turned his head to see that they were inside the black hole, delving closer to the fire breathing vines. Harry wasn't sure about everything, but he was going with his instincts. He focused hard on breaking free, watching as the vine untangled from his body, releasing its grip.
Without hesitation, Harry made his way through the goop, watching in awe as the goop that was touched by him became transparent. He reached toward Sirius and with great effort tore at the vines to release his Godfather. Harry lifted an unconscious Sirius as best as he could, picking up the wand and casting a spell on him to make Sirius lighter. The bubble shook violently and Harry turned his head just in time to see a ball of fire surround it and crack that all ready run-down shield. In a matter of seconds the shield shattered, leaving Harry and an unconscious Sirius exposed.
The fire breathing vines hissed in victory as another ball of fire came toward them, but Harry was all ready prepared. His confidence had rose the moment he realized he was given a second chance. Maybe it was coincidence, or maybe it was fate, but he had accidentally figured out how to activate Dumbledore's spell the second before he had died. Now he had to finish it once and for all.
You have no power over me, Harry's mind hissed to the vines.
The ball of fire came so close Harry thought perhaps he had been wrong, but it vanished in a puff of smoke inches from his face. Wrapping his arm tightly around his Godfather (who was very light now thanks to the spell), Harry concentrated on blocking the hole that was in front of him. He had no idea if he was supposed to wish it, or think it, or will it to happen, but he knew he had to do it either way. He tried to concentrate hard, but nothing appeared to be happening.
His eyes suddenly darted upward to see more muggles being sucked toward the center. Feeling determination course through him, he concentrated on saving the muggles. After several minutes, Harry was beginning to wonder if it was the spell at all that saved him, when a brilliant light took place of the strange blue aura that had been encasing the muggles. Very slowly, the muggle bodies were drifting away from the center of the hole. Smiling, Harry turned his attention on the hole, his eyes sparkling with a fire that sprouted inside him.
Now, it's your turn.
XXXXX
"We have to fall back!" one auror shouted loudly to the large group of Order members and Ministry members.
"But we can't just give up," Professor McGonagall said desperately. "We'd be handing over the world."
"Look how many muggles that bloody hellhole has swallowed!" another shouted. "We're in over our heads. Without that spell…"
"Don't even think about blaming, Harry," Remus said unusually cold.
The man appeared intimidated but didn't answer. A cold, high-pitched laughter echoed through the air, sending shivers down everyone's spines. The attention was turned to Voldemort who had just knocked Dumbledore off his broom. Luckily though, Arthur Weasley had provided something soft for him to fall on moments before.
"It is futile to fight me!" Voldemort hissed towards them, as his Death Eaters cheered him on.
Only half of the Death Eaters had either been knocked out or injured in the battle. There was still some helping Voldemort and the Order and Ministry members were growing weary and tired. Sooner of later they would all fall if no help came.
Dumbledore took a deep breath as he shakily stood on his feet with Arthur's help. Voldemort's piercing gaze stopped on Dumbledore as he sneered in amusement.
"How does it feel to have your favorite pupil fail you?" he said coldly. "Now all of you will die and finally the world will have only Slytherins, as Salazar imagined. Say goodbye, precious mud blood-lover," Voldemort hissed, pointing his wand at Dumbledore.
Arthur gripped Dumbledore's arm fearfully but remained by his side as Voldemort's eyes flashed dangerously; the two deadly words on his lips. A suddenly loud explosion caused the ground to shake, startling everyone including the Death Eaters. A loud hissing scream echoed through the night, as everyone searched for the source of that sound.
"Look, the muggles are coming back!" Tonks shouted, pointing toward the hole that had taken up an extremely large portion of the sky.
All eyes were turned toward the apocalypse as they all saw the muggles floating away from the black hole. Voldemort's face contorted into fury and the Death Eaters looked at each other in worry and confusion. A blinding light suddenly ripped through the depths of the black hole, lighting up the sky. The light rippled until it was bending, coming out in a circular spiral. It suddenly folded in on itself and spread across the black hole, blocking the part of the apocalypse that sucked everything inside. Although it didn't destroy it, it was preventing anything from being sucked in, including the muggles.
The Order and Ministry members cheered in delight, knowing that somehow Harry Potter had figured out the spell. Arthur's eyes dimmed, turning to Dumbledore who had a more lively look in his eyes now. Voldemort's cold laughter of amusement broke through the cheering and slowly it faded. Voldemort's lips curled as he spoke.
"Do you really think that will save you, old man? That is only a temporary solution. It won't be enough to destroy what's coming," Voldemort said coldly.
"Not yet."
Heads were turned to the voice that had said it with determination.
"Harry! You're all right!" Arthur stated happily.
Harry stood behind them all, nearby where he had first come out on top of the Ministry building. Sirius' body lay on the ground by his feet, but Harry had surrounded him in a shield that would protect him from the Death Eaters. Voldemort's gaze locked into his and Harry could sense his rage.
"I'm sorry Voldemort, but your fun is over," Harry said bravely, his eyes flashing into his enemy's. "It's time to finish this once and for all."
Voldemort sneered coldly and took out his wand, pointing it at Harry. Instead of posing for a duel with Sirius' wand, Harry smiled slightly and suddenly raced in the opposite direction toward the door on the roof. Voldemort's sneer disappeared as he realized what Harry was doing.
"STOP HIM!"
Before the Death Eaters could move the Order and Ministry members were suddenly conjuring spells and hexes with new strength to prevent the Death Eaters from following Harry. Voldemort on the other hand hissed with anger, his eyes flashing toward Dumbledore in fury. As Dumbledore prepared for attack, Voldemort's angry expression turned into a malicious grin. Instead of pointing his wand he suddenly vanished.
Arthur Weasley looked fearfully around, turning toward Dumbledore, "Where did he go?"
Dumbledore's expression turned grave, "After Harry."
"We've got to help him!" Arthur exclaimed.
Dumbledore nodded and immediately the two of them began to head toward the door. They were suddenly blocked by a new group of Death Eaters that suddenly apparated in front of them.
"Going somewhere, Dumbledore?" Bellatrix Lestrange sneered.
"Voldemort called for back-up," Arthur whispered.
"Yes," Dumbledore said gravely.
"Sorry, but there's no going in while our master takes care of a very large…problem," she smirked. "And I'm afraid there's no apparating now. No one is allowed to go in, or come out. So put up your wand you muggle-loving fool and let's see what you've got!"
XXXXX
The sound of footsteps echoed on the cement floor as Harry raced down the long hallway toward the room where the Orb had been. He knew there had to be a way to destroy it, if he could only find the answer. He flew through the door, not bothering to close it and went inside of the room where the Orb had been. Harry looked around frantically, hoping that Dumbledore was buying him some time. He walked around, looking at each wall and wondering if there was anything that would give him a clue.
"What's this?" he whispered aloud as he bent down to scrutinize the wall.
There was something peeling away at the cement, which Harry found very strange. Backing up a little, he took out Sirius' wand and muttered a simple incantation that makes things visible if they're hidden. He saw something flicker but nothing else. Casting the spell with a little more power, the paint finally peeled and Harry stumbled backward in awe. Strange markings or drawings rather, covered the wall.
Harry noticed the pictures had the Orb in them. It was some sort of ancient directions that had been concealed beneath the paint and no one thought to use a cleansing spell to make invisible things visible. It had just been too simple, and Dumbledore had once told him many pure-blooded wizards lacked logic.
And Muldoon must've known this.
"I see you found the markings," a voice hissed from behind him.
Harry wheeled around, backing up as he did so until he was against the wall. Voldemort stood staring at him with gleaming eyes. He was half hidden by shadows so Harry didn't know how long he had been standing there. Strangely, with the Orb not even being near him, but rather a hole in the sky, the mystical energy it was giving off still allowed for Harry's scar to not feeling anything near Voldemort.
Voldemort stepped forward into the light, "You have no where to run, Harry. And this time I will make sure you won't get in my way again."
Harry's eyes darted to the door he entered through as he tried easing his way away from him.
"You cannot escape," he hissed, pulling out his wand (or Harry's rather) and pointing it at him. "My loyal servants have sealed off the exits so no one can enter or exit."
Harry swallowed and stared at him, summoning as much courage as he could being in his condition.
"Then I'll need my wand to fight you," Harry glanced at his wand that Voldemort was holding.
Voldemort's lips curled in amusement, glancing at the wand that was in Harry's hand, which lay at his side. If Harry hadn't been ready to start the duel in the first place, he would've never even lifted his arm up, but he did just in time as Voldemort's curse came flying toward him. He blocked it with a simple shield charm from Sirius' wand, jumping sideways so he wasn't up against the wall.
Voldemort sneered at him, "You can not dodge my attacks forever, Potter. Sooner or later we'll see who is more powerful. And because the wands we use aren't brothers you have no one to save you including your dead parents."
Harry glared at him and shouted, "Expelliarmus!"
Voldemort casually blocked it with ease not wasting time with going for the Unforgiveable Curses.
"Crucio!" he hissed.
"Infatig Statis!" Harry shouted, using the spell that blasted Draco Malfoy backward during their second year when they were dueling for practice.
The two curses collided with a loud sizzling bang. Harry thought they'd cancel each other out, but was stunned when Voldemort's curse broke straight through his own. He instinctively tried to apparate, only realizing seconds before the curse hit him that he couldn't.
Fire burned through his nerves, tearing at his limbs and mind. It was the same as he imagined it; the same as the first time he had ever been placed under it. Harry screamed loudly, luckily not writhing as badly on the floor as he had years ago. Voldemort, however, appeared to be enjoying himself and held the curse longer until Harry was sure his muscles would rip. The curse was finally lifted and Harry shakily stood back on his feet, stumbling once to regain his balance.
Voldemort's eyes glittered with amusement and satisfaction as he spoke softly, "I made sure to block apparation."
Harry glared at him, panting for breath and feeling the sweat on the back of his neck.
"If you kill me now it won't matter because the hole is blocked and sooner or later your Death Eaters will be defeated by the Order. Once that happens I'm sure Dumbledore will find a way to stop you," Harry said determinedly, glaring at his arch enemy.
He was answered with a cold laugh, "I don't plan on killing you right away. I plan on making sure you suffer for putting me through all those years of ruining my plans, of which some of my followers thought that meant I was weaker than you."
"You?! What about what you did to me?!" Harry blurted out angrily. "You ruined my life just because you thought my family was the family from the prophecy!"
Voldemort laughed coldly, his eyes gleaming, "You should've died with your parents the day I killed them. I will have to teach you how to be obedient to those superior to you."
"NO!" Harry shouted.
"No? No I'm not superior? I will have to teach you manners as well," Voldemort sneered coldly.
Harry prepared for another attack, expecting another Cruciatus curse. Instead, Voldemort's sneer grew before he suddenly vanished. Harry's eyes widened as he searched frantically around, looking in all directions.
I thought he said there was no apparating! And I can't sense him because of the Orb's power!
Harry took a step forward, keeping his eyes everywhere in case he spotted him. His footsteps echoed in the silent room, causing his heart rate to increase. Harry was thinking about running for the door when he felt the hairs on the back of his neck tingle. It was the same sensation he had gotten during his third year when Sirius was watching him from the alley in his dog form. Harry wheeled around with his wand up and opened his mouth to shout the first spell or curse that came to his mind, but he found himself on the floor screaming in pain, writhing somewhat from the force. It felt like white-hot knives were digging into his skin.
Finally the curse lifted and Harry stumbled to get back up. He was thankful of the spell Sirius had done to clear his vision for if he had his glasses on they might've broke from shaking on the floor so hard.
Harry wiped sweat from his forehead and took a deep breath, focusing on Voldemort who was standing behind him with a malicious glint in his eyes.
"I thought you said no apparating," Harry said breathlessly.
Voldemort sneered, "I said you couldn't apparate."
Harry's eyebrows furrowed, "But…how is that possible? There's a spell that blocks all apparation."
Voldemort sniggered in response, "An experienced wizard can figure out ways around certain spells and curses," he said, coming closer. "Only some wizards really figure out the trick, and I was one of them. Not even Salazar Slytherin could do it, though he tried. And yet the wizard world still thinks their savior is the best," he sneered. "Before you die I will teach you that you are not superior to my powers, and then I will teach the world."
Harry backed away, hoping that Voldemort wasn't going to apparate again and catch him off guard.
I have to find a way to destroy the Orb and fast! There has to be a way. Maybe those markings show how to destroy it, or hint to it.
Harry's eyes glistened as an idea came to mind. He pointed Sirius' wand toward Voldemort, watching as he sneered coldly again, and was rewarded when Voldemort apparated again, just as Harry expected him to. Running quickly, Harry tore to the back wall where the markings were and quickly surrounded himself with a shield charm. His eyes ranked over the pictures, understanding them as he followed the order. It explained, through pictures, how to activate the Orb (using blood) and then showed the Orb in its staff form. It did not, however, show a big black hole, but there were a couple pictures that Harry didn't completely understand.
Before he had a chance to read it he felt something smash against him, pulling him back roughly. The shield shattered and Harry skid across the floor on his back. He scrambled to his feet in order to defend himself, but he was too slow. He was on the ground screaming again, his voice becoming hoarse from having been placed under the Cruciatus curse once again.
When the curse finally lifted he was too exhausted to get back up. He heard footsteps approach him and he craned his neck to see a shadow lurking his way. He knew, this time, Voldemort would not hesitate to make sure he didn't foil his last, but greatest, plan.
"How does it feel to know you're going to lose?" he heard the voice hiss.
Harry remained silent, taking deep breaths until the pain subsided. He had to convince Voldemort he couldn't get up in order to fool him before another Cruciatus curse came at him.
"Now, I'm going to teach you a lesson, Harry Potter. A lesson that my past enemies and betrayers learned," he heard Voldemort hiss pleasurably.
Using his Quidditch instincts, Harry suddenly rolled out of the way missing the curse by inches. Harry scrambled to get on his feet so he could dodge the next attack, only he realized that his vision was beginning to fade very slightly. The spell was just starting to wear off. He blinked several times but it wasn't helping. Before he could prepare to dodge for another attack Voldemort vanished completely. Harry didn't even have time to wheel around before he felt something wash over him. His body was suddenly rooted to the spot, unable to move.
Oh no, he's immobilized me!
"Now, the fun begins," Voldemort hissed from directly behind him.
TO BE CONTINUED…