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Note to readers: Due to the untimely stealing of my computer I lost the original version of chapter 6 (which had been my favourite! shakes fist angrily at thieves). I have written another copy for the sake of my readers but I find it to be nowhere near as good as the original. I only hope someone out there is enjoying it...

Chapter 6: Magical Memories

The next few days Harry continued the teachings of the DA along with the input of the international wizards. Richard aided them with disarming and stunning spells, Catherine specialized in defensive spells, Greg taught stunning and disillusioning spells and Amilian showed them how to ask for aid of the creatures around them, camouflage and other spells of distraction.

Krum found it his duty to teach Hermione spells he knew although she often mastered them faster then he could explain them. Ron had trouble focusing on his training which resulted in his being hit with the 'jiggy' curse as Ernie called it and spent the rest of the evening attempting to halt the relentless movement of his limbs.

Every time Harry turned his back he could hear them going on about how they were planning to protect him from the Dark Lord. At least Ron and Hermione weren't rubbing in the fact that you could practically see the numbers floating across your consciousness, counting down your days. The less experienced seemed to be more cocky.

Fred and George still found time to terrorize everyone with their newest invention, spider chocolate which sprouted eight legs when you were preparing to pop it in your mouth. Meal time had become more a hazard than a pleasure.

On the evening of their fourth night in the safe house their efforts were finally put to the test. During a fairly normal session of Neville chasing his levitating toad around the table (courtesy of Fred) there was a sudden blast of cold air interrupting Neville's grandmother in mid-screech. Luna and George leapt to their feet as the freezing wind made them shiver.

"He's here."

And the door blew open as Syaoran and his Dementors glided into the room, extinguishing the fire that had been burning so merrily in its grate. Syaoran's eyes no longer had pupils only glinting whites, his sword slicing the thin carpet as he twirled it.

"Some alarm system Sakura." Fred whispered, getting to his feet as the others slowly followed suit.

"Kill them but leave Potter to me." Syaoran's voice was a dead sound, much like the rattling breath of the Dementors.

Luna and Sakura jumped in front attempting to halt the procession of growing cold as the others ushered Harry down the hall to the stone eagle that was their way out.

Catherine led the panicked procession and calmly asked for it to let them through. When nothing happened she tried again, her voice growing in intensity as the presence of the Dementors came steadily closer. Finally the whole group was pounding desperately on the eagle and screaming commands at the unchanging stone. They were forced to separate as the Dementors swooped amongst them like shadows, their glistening hands grabbing handfuls of their prey's clothes.

Sakura ushered Ginny and Harry into a side room empty except for a glowing orb on a pedestal in the center. Syaoran materialized in the doorway behind them and Sakura summoned the Freeze Card.

Syaoran and the Dementors who came in with him were coated in a crusty encasing of ice. As Harry and Ginny watched in aw the frozen Dementors cracked and fell to pieces Syaoran, however, broke through the barrier and advanced, a smile growing on his human face.

Calling upon the Maze Card Sakura and the others lost sight of Syaoran as he became lost in the weedy walls. Harry backed farther away from the maze as he felt the cold presence of more Dementors but was forced to jump away from the heat of the orb on his back. Turning to stare into its misty depths he was tempted to reach out a hand and touch it, just to see how those rippling torrents of power would react....

"Don't touch that!" Sakura cried, hastily pulling him away. "That is where the Malfoy's stored their most powerful spells and curses before their death. To touch it means to suffer the fate of all those spells combined, most likely death."

"Then why did they..." Ginny began but was hushed by the slash of Syaoran's sword breaking through the maze wall.

Sakura searched vainly for another card to use but was sliced across the chest by Syaoran's sword. She fell to the ground and Syaoran advanced toward Harry. Ginny jumped him, knocking him off balance. Harry was forced to leap aside as Syaoran fell past him, making contact with the orb.

Bright red light flashed and a soul-shattering scream tore through the air as the sorcerer cried out in mortal agony. Syaoran was dieing...

It was a good thing, Harry told himself, Syaoran was a powerful enemy, it would save so many if he was dead. But something in Harry told him that, no matter what, it couldn't end like this.

"Sakura, use the Hope Card!" He shouted, panicking as Syaoran's body went limper.

"What."

"Just do it!"

Weakly she pulled out the card and struck it with her staff.

And the world changed. It was as though he was no longer seeing life with his own eyes but through the eyes of another. He saw Sakura and Syaoran when they were young children laughing and chasing after the cards together. Holding each other close when Sakura had thought she'd been unloved and that day when she'd had to say goodbye to her one true love...Syaoran.

When Harry awoke he was on the chamber floor with Ginny, Sakura and an unconscious Syaoran. Neville's grandmother discovered them and immediately began healing Sakura's wounds although the exhausted Card Mistress kept insisting that she was fine. The two adults bound Syaoran and took away his sword which had shrunk back into its amulet form.

Everyone had escaped relatively unscathed from the Dementors but it was apparent that they could no longer stay at the safe house. Thus is the reason they set out to the Order's hideout, Harry plagued with the visions he'd seen and a dream the following night.

Syaoran had been floating in a world of white light with the Hope Card, the winged heart extended toward him.

"Come back to me," she whispered, her hair wrapping around him, "I love you, come back to me."

Slowly his pupils returned but his eyes began to close and he lowered his head in submission.

"I'm trying dearest....I'll try...."