Harry Potter and the Chariots of Light

Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize.

Chapter 3

Harry took Pettigrew's words seriously. He studied religiously his Transfiguration books he acquired throughout the years. Because of this, he would remain hunched over when ever he got up. It wouldn't last long, but it always caused a creak in his neck, and it made him seem shorter than he was. He was still grimy, but it wasn't because of his drinking or his self-pitying. He hardly ate anymore, only when he remembered.

Harry's work had progressed unimaginable. He now understood every aspect of Transfiguration taught to him. He understood the theory, how it worked, why it worked, and even the magic used to attain maximum results. He could now transfigure anything by just thinking and pointing his wand. He tried it once, transfiguring his "flower vases" into a nice set of china.

When he wasn't focused on Transfiguration, he was trying to do another thing Pettigrew said. He tried to produce a Patronus with memories of love instead of happiness. He just couldn't think of any. The only thing he could produce was a faint ruby red mist. 'It's a start,' Harry thought. The only thing he thought he did have going for him was that having not been loved for the majority of his life, and then experiencing it, he understood how powerful it was, compared to almost everyone else who took it for granted.

Harry also reflected about the battle between Voldemort and Dumbledore. He determined that gold was the key. When Voldemort threw the Killing Curse at Harry or Dumbledore, it harmlessly deflected away. He figured that the only way Voldemort or any Death Eater for that matter to bypass his defense was to use a Reductor Curse to blow it up. Harry could Transfigure things to their gold counterpart, he just couldn't figure out how to animate them. They always remained inanimate no matter what he did. Harry figured gold was impervious to magic, but Dumbledore animated those gold statues at the Ministry. Harry would ponder that thought later.

Harry was now stroking Padfoot, a puppy he received from Hagrid for his birthday. It was the only gift he received. He didn't know why, but that was all he got. Padfoot was a Black Labrador puppy who was kind of on the chunky side, but Harry figured that it was just baby fat. The puppy also had a spot on the back of his head that always stuck up. Harry thought it must have been meant to be since they had the same hair. Hagrid thought it might make losing Sirius less hard on him. Harry didn't know if it was, but he thought he was going crazy because he would catch himself talking to the dog as if it was Sirius in Animagus form.

Harry glanced out the window and noticed a white speckle coming his way. Harry knew at once that it was Hedwig and not an imposture. As soon as she landed, Harry began to fuss over her and chided her in being so long. She just puffed up in an indignant sort of way like a rebellious teenager, and thrust her leg out. All that was attached was a small, ornate box. Harry turned it around a few times examining the exterior. Harry picked up his wand in case something came out he would not take to liking when he opened it. He sat it down on the floor and quickly flicked it open. Nothing happened at first. Then someone jumped out. A big someone. At first, they were about an inch big, but kept growing until someone who stood six foot and then some, with vibrant red hair and freckles and a nose that was longer than looked natural.

For some reason, his friend Ron Weasley stood right in front of him. He didn't look happy though. In fact, he looked a little scared. He turned around and helped two more identical red heads come out. The Twins were also in a somber mood.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked at once.

The three red heads looked at each other, deciding who would answer, when inevitably Ron turned to Harry to give the news.

"Hermione's been captured. Her parents were slaughtered and they took her. They're using her as bait for you," Ron said, he seemed a little mad at Harry for some reason.

"What?" Harry asked again as if someone just kicked him in the stomach.

"He's right," one of the twins said.

"We're the ones who told him," the other said.

"You see, we're like trial members to the Order, and they let that little bit slip," continued the other twin.

"Said only you knew where it was, said You Know Who knew you knew where it was because it was the little house where Diggory was killed." They finally finished.

Harry was now gasping for air. Why did they have to do this now, he couldn't take the pressure anymore. He fell to his knees, staring blankly at the wall ahead of him. Padfoot came down and nudged his hand. Harry absently stroked him, and started talking nonsense to him.

The Weasley's just stared at Harry as if he finally lost it. Ron gently shook his shoulder snapping Harry out of his blubbering. Harry didn't acknowledge any of them when he started scrabbling around his room. He threw things out his trunk until he found the book he was looking for. He flipped to the pages he was looking for. He read in an advance Defense book he got from Lupin and Sirius how to make a make shift Portkey for those to damaged in battle to apparate or run away. It said that the wizard needed to focus on the exact location while saying Portus. Harry did as the book said; grabbing two socks a broken toy from one of Dudley's early tantrums, and a broken radio. He couldn't make one for the entire group because that required more studying and practice. This was unreliable as it was now.

The Weasley's just watched with intrigue as Harry did this. Harry finally finished and turned to them.

"Grab one of these," he said pointing to the Portkeys, "and count down from three. I hope that it will take us where Hermione is. I hope you guys brought your fireworks," Harry finished to the twins. Harry then turned to Hedwig, "Watch out for Padfoot girl, bring him something to eat every now and again." With that, Harry touched the mustard yellow sock with a hole in the big toe and counted down from three to one.

Harry landed in front of a gate in Little Hangleton. Passed the gate was a path that was no longer in use, so it started losing its tameness turning rugged. Up on the hill, sat a small, innocent looking house. Harry knew otherwise as this was probably the temporary headquarters for the Death Eaters. Behind him, Harry heard three 'pops' and knew the Weasley's were behind him.

"What took you so long?" Harry said as he caught a glimpse of the graveyard behind the house.

"Weren't sure if they'd work," one twin answered.

"But figured since you did it, we might as well and join you in the great beyond," the other joked.

"So why did you two come anyway," Harry asked.

Ron answered. "They wouldn't let me come alone and said that since they didn't get to join last time and that they were going to this time."

Harry just nodded his head.

"So why didn't we tell Dumbledore?" one twin questioned.

"Because he didn't need to see fit to tell me what was going on and he figured I would either go after her or wallow in despair," Harry stated.

"Well, isn't that what you just did?" Ron questioned.

"I didn't say he was wrong, did I?" Harry smirked back at him.

"What are we going to do now?" a twin asked.

"Plan," Harry said immediately.

"Plan what?" Ron asked.

"The storming of the Death Eater's headquarters," Harry stated flatly. Harry knew on the out side he looked fearless, but he was shaking like mad on the inside.

They then proceeded to make their plans. Harry told them what they needed to do and how to do it. Harry asked if either of the twins seen someone die and George said he seen his great uncle Willis 'snuff it.' Harry then sent him to the Forbidden Forest to get two Thestrals. He did as he was told, even though he looked like he would rather storm the Death Eater's headquarters alone. Harry then told the other twin to set the traps they needed.

Now it was just Ron and him.

"Ron, when we go in there, watch my back and transfigure something to gold if you can." He said.

"Why?" Ron questioned.

"The Unforgivables or almost any spell for that matter is ineffective against gold," Harry told him.

Ron looked intense for a few moments and asked, "How do I transfigure something into gold?" he asked. Harry showed him and then went off to help Fred set the traps while Ron practiced the spell.

When he got back, he saw Ron with a bunch of gold nuggets around him.

"I'm going to cash these in at Gringotts," he said happily.

"I hate to burst your bubble Ron, but the goblins can tell when people do that, I checked already," Harry, replied. He was going to do the same thing and get everyone on the Qudditch team Firebolts.

Ron looked crestfallen, but cheered a little when he said, "At least I can do it now," he replied. Harry gave him a smile and transfigured a rock into a shield. He got the idea from Voldemort himself. Harry's was a little less powerful than Voldemort's, his having been conjured while Harry's was transfigured. Harry's shield was ivory with a gold crown on the front. Harry knew the spell was personalized for each person, but he didn't know why his showed a crown. He didn't ponder it long, but tried to transfigure his shield to gold. It failed, or so it appeared. Now there was gold trim along the outside edge, but if you looked across the shield while it was parallel, you could see the thinnest coat of gold across the front, giving the ivory what appeared to be a metallic feature.

Harry finally saw George coming with the two thestrals. He sat them down and came over to where the others were.

"Good job, they'll help a lot," Harry replied.

""How?" George asked, "We should have gotten two more." He said.

"No, we just need the two," Harry said matter of factly.

"And how's that?" Fred asked.

"Like this," Harry said and transfigured an other rock into a carriage. The carriage was also ivory and had flames across the top. The flames however were made of gold and the same gold crown was on the doors.

"It will only be like this for a few more hours," Harry said. "Now here's what were going to do…"

The plan was set. Harry and Ron would be sneaking into the house while Fred and George distracted the Death Eaters. Harry didn't bring his Invisibility Cloak because he knew the Death Eaters had wards set that would alert them to anyone coming by stealth. All four got up to the house and Harry signaled Fred and George to start. They snuck on the other side of the house and started their barrage. They modified their fireworks to be dragons and lions and would run into the house and explode, rattling the house to the core. Twenty Death Eaters streamed out, looking for the offending parties. Harry and Ron saw their chance and got in the house unobserved.

They searched first in the basement, finding nothing. They then searched the main level, finding nothing, until finally they were to make their way to the top level. Harry knew which room it was. He remembered the vision he had before fourth year. It was the same room the muggle was killed in. they crept to the room, finding it swamped in darkness. Harry flicked his wand and the fireplace roared to life, showing a beaten Hermione and another ten Death Eaters and Voldemort himself. Coiled around Hermione was Nagini, Voldemort's snake. Harry heard what the snake said as soon as the light came to life.

"May I eat her now, master?" it questioned. Voldemort just smiled. Harry looked at Ron and knew he was frozen with fear, and that he would be of no help.

"Glad you have finally arrived Harry," Voldemort said, "I did not know if my message would reach you with that old codger in charge after all."

Harry said nothing, but noticed how the Death Eaters looked like Christmas had come early. Harry got into a dueling position, readying himself for the coming onslaught with his shield protecting him.

"Very well, Harry, if that is the way you want it, so be it," he said and the Death Eaters unloaded their curses at the duo. The shield blocked all the spells that came close to hitting Harry. He felt nothing when this happened, but felt a little recoil whenever he thought an Unforgivable hit his shield. The barrage finally stopped, and Harry lowered his shield. He had five scorch marks where the Unforgivables had hit, and he noticed the gold sheen had been shattered. His shield was useless now.

He casted his shield aside, and raised his wand to curse something. He sent a Dancing Jinx at a chair, and the Death Eaters laughed as he missed with such a weak curse. They however didn't notice the chair dancing towards them; finally, it kicked one in the back of the leg causing that Death Eater to fall to one leg. It then crashed into the mix of the Death Eaters causing confusion.

Ron finally broke out of his frozen stance and began throwing Stunners at the Death Eaters. Harry followed suit and soon, half of the Death Eaters were unconscious. Harry charged forward, barreling down the remaining few left. Ron continued to throw jinxes and hexes while Harry charged to Hermione. Seeing her broke his heart. He remembered the first time he saved her from the troll and how she helped him and how they each saved eachother. Harry realized how much he loved her and Ron, who was throwing curses, distracting the Death Eaters from Harry.

Voldemort appeared in front of Harry, saying, "Harry, how rude of you to do this to my faithful followers. I shall have to teach you a lesson." The next thing he knew he was under the Cruciatus Curse. It let up after five seconds of what seemed to be an eternity of pain.

Harry was panting on they floor and heard a yelp from Ron. Harry's love for his best friend's retuned and Harry did the only thing that seemed to make sense.

"Expecto Patronum" and a ruby red beast jumped from his wand. It looked alarmingly like Moony. It snarled and leapt for Voldemort, passing through him, but causing him to shriek with what was unmistakable pain. Moony did it a few more times, leaving red marks on Voldemort. The Death Eaters didn't know what to do. They scrambled to help their master, but they couldn't stop the beast from attacking.

Harry scrambled over and undid the bindings on Hermione. He scrambled over to Ron and roused him. They were about to leave when Harry noticed his werewolf summons was a faint red color instead of the vibrant ruby it was before. Harry said the incantation one more time, listening to the wails of Voldemort as they walked down the stairs and out of the house.

Outside, Harry noticed one twin was on the ground while the other was holding off a wave of Death Eaters. Harry hit all five with Stunners before they even turned around to see what happened to their comrades. Fred, he noticed, levitated George and they all made their way to the carriage. Harry noticed the inner circle coming from the house, irate at what happened to their master and began charging. Harry ungraciously threw Hermione in the carriage and whispered their destination before they took off.

In the air, the conscious members of the team gave a sigh of relief, as they watched the multi colored beams zoom by their carriage. They were soon over farming country away from the carnage they caused.