A/N: Sorry for the late update :) But I'm giving you two chapters!!
Timra: You'll find out in this chapter ;)
kimmay: Thanks! I'd like to read your fic :)
Miss Piratess: No worries! No one will :) I'm keeping him safe, but ol' Snape will be in BIG trouble after this ;)
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Chapter 26 - I Want My Body Back
Sirius was obviously confused by his own reflection in the mirror. He watched himself turn back to his original self.
"Bloody hell! What's going to happen next?" he asked himself. "SNOW WHITE! WHERE THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU?!" he called.
"I'm right here Sirius," Snow White said, "and you don't have to shout."
Sirius jumped at her sudden appearance and turned to face her.
"Look at me! I'm back to myself!"
Snow White smiled at him. "I thought a little vacation from the position of the prince would be nice for you."
"But what about the spell? Voldemort? What about Lia?"
"Your friends are now in the palace. They'll take care of Voldemort and his two followers. As for the spell, it won't effect you as I am still protecting you, and I have a special task for you."
"Me?"
"You must be the one to find Lia. If you find her, you can save her soul and take her to the palace. That way you'll help saving the kingdoms. The evil witch will return to where she belongs, to the deadly swamp, and Lia will be back." Snow White started to fade.
"Can I use my animagus form?"
"No."
Sirius frowned. "Where am I supposed to look for her then?"
"Follow the sign." Snow White said and disappeared.
"Great! This is ridiculous!" Sirius muttered. "How am I supposed to follow a sign that I don't even know?!" he sighed and looked around the room. His jaw dropped at the sight in front of him. There was a small rectangular table in the middle of the room with seven little chairs around it. There were seven lanterns hanging from the wall. Seven plates, spoons, forks, knives and glasses on the table. Sirius walked around the room and went to the second floor. He entered a room and saw seven little beds covered with small blankets, which had lost their color throughout the years. He left the room and entered another. This one had one normal sized bed. Sirius smiled. He knew this place. He has heard about it when he was young, before going to Hogwarts. This was the cottage of Snow White and the seven dwarves.
"Bloody brilliant." He said with a smile. "Who would've thought? Sirius Black, standing in the cottage of the famous seven dwarves."
He went back downstairs and saw that there was some food on the table with a note. He picked it up and read.
Enjoy your meal. You can sleep in my bed when you get tired. It's the only normal sized item there. I'm sorry that I can't keep you company in my own house, but I have work to do. Make yourself at home.
Snow White
"Thanks." Sirius said, hoping that Snow White would hear him. He took a seat on one of the chairs and started to eat. He didn't realize that he was hungry until he saw food.
After finishing his dinner, he went upstairs and entered the room, which contained the big bed. Without a second thought, he threw himself on the bed and fell asleep.
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Tom Riddle eyed his hostages carefully. Tony wanted to say something, but Wendell held him in his place. He knew that Tony would spoil everything once he opened his mouth.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Voldemort or Tom Riddle said.
"I see that there are a couple missing." Isabel said, looking at Wendell and Tony.
"Not only a couple," Tom said and turned to Bellatrix, "go and find them. I want them alive."
"They're near." Isabel added with a smile.
Bellatrix bowed and left the room. Wormtail was standing behind professor McGonagall still pointing his wand at her throat. The rest of the hostages were looking frightened. Isabel's presence was dreadful for anyone in the Kingdoms, no matter what form did she take.
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Sirius opened his eyes at the sound of a humming in his ear. He sat up and looked around to see a little pixie flying around him.
"What the…"
"Watch your mouth!" she said in a tiny voice.
"You can talk?" he asked. "Who're you?"
"I'm Rose the pixie. I know what you want."
"And what do I want?"
"The girl. Snow White told me about her. I know where to find her and she's not so far from here. So, either get up or lose her forever." She said and went downstairs.
"Wait!" Sirius said and jumped out of bed and followed her. "Wait for me! I'm coming!"
"Stop shouting in the middle of the night! You'll wake the wolves up!" the pixie said.
"I thought everyone was asleep!" Sirius said.
"Not the animals."
Sirius followed her silently through the Disenchanted Forest, but he muttered curses whenever he tripped on a rock or a stump. It seemed to him that this journey was going to last forever until he saw the shadow of a ruined castle in front of him.
"Are we there yet?" he asked, just to make sure he was supposed to be there.
The pixie stopped. "This is where I bring you. The destiny of the kingdoms is in your hands."
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, but the pixie had already disappeared. "Bloody hell!" Sirius cursed and headed straight at the castle. He wasn't sure weather this was the right place to be, but he went to the front door and pushed it open.
"Anybody here?" he asked and only heard the echo of his voice. He was alone. He looked at the ground floor for something familiar, but didn't find anything. He went upstairs and stood at the middle of the stairs to look at the portrait of the evil queen, which was hanging at the top of the stairs.
"So, this is how she looks like." Sirius said. "Not bad. Not bad at all."
He continued his way to the next floor and searched every room, but again, he walked out with no success.
"Where else should I look for?" he asked himself. "The dungeons!"
He found his way to the dungeons and saw a black door. He reached the doorknob and tried to open it, but it was locked.
"That was all I needed at this bloody moment! If only I had my wand!" he put his hand on the side pocket of his pants and felt something. He pulled it out. "My wand! But how…" he smiled. It was Snow White who brought him his wand. He pointed it at the door and said, "Alohomora!"
The door clicked and opened. He rushed inside and stopped at the sight of a room full of mirrors. He scanned the mirrors one after another, but they all reflected him.
"This isn't normal. This should be her most precious possession." He said. "Lia must be here. But which one?"
The destiny of the kingdoms is in your hands.
He heard someone in his head, but he wasn't sure if it was Snow White or not. He looked at his hands and then looked at the mirrors.
"Alright. My hands it is." He said and put his wand back in his pocket. He approached a mirror and hit it with his fists. The mirror shattered and he moved to the next one, ignoring the stinging pain in his hands. He hit the next one, and the next, and the next. Mirrors shattered into pieces, and he didn't care that his hands were bleeding. The next mirror he hit made a strong hiss before breaking into pieces. He took a few steps back and saw a gray figure crawled in a corner inside the mirror.
"Lia?" he said, not sure if it was her.
Lia looked at him and got up. Sliver tears formed in her eyes and her mouth dropped open.
"It cannot be." She said in a whisper.
"Lia is that you?" Sirius said. "You're… gray."
"You're dead, aren't you?" she asked.
"Well, not anymore." He smiled.
She walked slowly toward him, she wasn't sure if she was having a vision or not.
"John?" she asked. "John is that really you?"
"Who's John?" Sirius asked. "I'm Sirius Black."
"You're obviously not Sirius Black, he's dead. Harry told me about him. John why are you pretending to be someone else?"
"Lia, I'm not John. I don't even know who he is. I'm Sirius for heaven's sake!" Sirius said, he beginning to get annoyed. "I'm your uncle's best friend!"
"But…" Lia took a step back. "You… you look just like him. Just like John."
"Well, er… coincidence?" Sirius said with a smile, but then, his smile faded as he continued, "Listen, we don't have time to chat, we must get to Wendell's palace and get your body back."
Lia nodded and looked at his hands. "You're bleeding!"
"Er… yeah, I guess." He said. "We don't have time, come on."
"No! Wait, let me at least put a bandage on them."
"And how are you supposed to do that? You're a… ghost." He didn't like the last word, but it was true.
"So what?" she said and pointed her hand at his shirt. It took itself out of his pants and got ripped by the edge. Then she moved her hands and pointed at Sirius' hands and the pieces of his shirt wrapped themselves around his hands.
"Brilliant!" Sirius said and looked at his bandaged hands.
"Sorry for ruining your shirt, but I can't use mine," she said with a shrug. "I guess that'll prevent it from bleeding for a while." Lia said.
"Thank you." Sirius smiled. "Remind me to kiss you when you get your body back."
"Deal." She smiled back.
They walked out of the dungeons and then out of the ruined castle and headed to Wendell's palace.
"How're we supposed to get there?" Lia asked.
"I don't know. Snow White would tell me somehow." Sirius replied and at that moment a white light flashed in front of them.
"Hello Sirius, Lia." Snow White said. "I see that you found her Sirius."
"Yeah, I guess I did." He said and showed his hands.
"Oh, poor lad. Virginia will take care of it, now you have to reach the palace. I'll take you there."
"How am I supposed to get my body back?" Lia asked.
"Just get it back." Snow White replied with a smile.
Sirius felt as he was going to be blinded by the white flash that appeared around him.
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The group entered the castle. They walked close to each other and everyone, except for Wolf and Virginia, had their wands in their hands.
"Someone's coming." Wolf said as he sniffed. "A female. She stinks by the way." He added with a disgusted look on his face.
"That must be Bellatrix Lestrange." Remus said.
Harry growled. He hated Bellatrix more than any other Death Eater, for she has been the one to kill Sirius.
"Harry, calm down." Ron whispered.
A red light erupted from nowhere and Virginia fell to the ground screaming in pain.
"Virginia!" Wolf called and knelt beside her. "Oh Cripes! What's happening to her?"
"W-Wolf! H-help!" Virginia screamed in pain.
"Finite Incantatem!" Snape said and Virginia felt the pain subside. She started breathing heavily.
"Virginia, my love, are you alright?" Wolf asked, obvious concern in his eyes. He stroked her hair and kissed her forehead.
"It… was… awful." She said, still gasping for breath. "My whole body hurt."
"It's over." Wolf whispered and helped her to get up.
"She will pay by her life!" Harry growled and looked around. He noticed a figure standing at a corner; he pointed his wand at it. "Stupefy!" he shouted but the figure disappeared.
"Look who's here!" Bellatrix appeared from another corner. "Baby Potty and his friends! How nice to see you…" she paused when she saw Snape. "What're you doing with them?"
"That's none of your business Lestrange." Snape growled. "Relashio!" he pointed his wand at her but missed, as she jumped to a side to avoid the fiery sparks.
"That was so pathetic of you Snape." She said and pointed her wand at him. "Crucio!"
"Protego!" Snape replied and a golden shield formed in front of him and blocked the curse.
"Not bad." Bellatrix said with a smile.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Ron shouted and Harry joined him with another stunning spell.
Bellatrix ducked and they missed again.
"Harry, Ron," Remus whispered. "Cruciatus on the count of three." The boys nodded and Remus continued. "Wand at the ready. One, two, three!"
"Crucio!" Remus, Harry and Ron said at the top of their voice. The spell hit Bellatrix straight in the chest and she was pushed backwards and to the ground screaming in pain, but it didn't last for long as her voice stopped suddenly and she lay there unconscious.
"Wow!" Wolf said.
"Is she dead?" Virginia asked.
"I hope so." Harry said and walked toward Bellatrix. He looked at her with disgust. Remus approached her and put a finger on her neck to check her pulse.
"She's dead." Remus said and stood.
Harry smiled and looked at Ron who smiled at him. "Well done mate!" Ron said happily.
"Let's find the others." Snape said and moved forward.
Wolf sniffed the air and led the group to the meeting room. "They're inside." He said in a whisper.
"Virginia, you must stay out of this room no matter what." Remus said.
"But my dad's in there!" she replied.
"Virginia, please stay out of this room. I don't want you or our baby to get hurt." Wolf said. "I'll get Tony out of there. I promise."
Virginia looked into Wolf's eyes. She knew that he meant every word he said, and his promise convinced her. Wolves always keep their word.
"Alright." she was disappointed. "I'll wait here."
"No." Snape said. "You better stay away from this floor. Go to another one. Please." He added.
"Come on my cream-dreamy one. Go somewhere safe." Wolf said.
Virginia gave Wolf a quick kiss and walked away. She didn't want to leave her future husband face the evil witch alone, but she had to. After all, she was carrying his child.
It all happened so fast. The group of five blew the door open and stormed in. Flashes of red and green filled the room while the wizards dueled. Wolf helped the council members to get out of the room safely. Queen Red Riding Hood III was the last to go out.
"Hurry up Red!" Wolf shouted at her.
She ducked as red sparks flew just above her head. She reached the door and was about to get out when a huge green light filled the room and she screamed before falling to the ground.
"RED!" It was Wendell. He ran to her and carried her out of the room. She lay unconscious in his arms. "Red, please speak to me." He shook her gently, but she didn't respond.
"Red, are you alright?" Leaf Fall tried to wake her up.
"What was that green light?" Tony asked.
"I don't know Tony." Wolf replied. "There are many green lights inside that room."
"That one was strange, though." Tony said. "It was just before she fell."
Wormtail grinned at his successful spell. Ron glared at him with hatred.
"Professor McGonagall," he said and ducked to avoid another spell. "Please forgive me for what I'm about to do, but I have no other choice."
"What do you mean Mr. Weasley?" McGonagall asked and shouted, "Protego!"
"Just forgive me." Ron said and pointed his wand at Wormtail. "This is for betraying my family's trust and for betraying Harry and Sirius and Remus and everyone else. AVADA KEDAVRA!"
A green light shot out of Ron's wand and hit Wormtail. He stared at Ron with a surprised expression on his face before he fell to the ground… dead.
Red sparks hit Ron and he hit the wall behind him. He fell to the ground unconscious.
"RON!" Harry shouted and rushed to his friend's side. "Ron speak to me!"
Ron's head had hit the wall and it was bleeding. Harry put his head on Ron's chest and was relieved to hear his friend's heart beating. He got up and started casting spells randomly at Tom and Isabel, who didn't seem to know that they were two people short.
The Ice Queen closed her eyes and opened her arms wide. The room started to get colder. Thunder was heard from outside and clouds gathered above the Fourth Kingdom. Harry threw himself on Ron to cover his friend's body from the sudden storm that entered the meeting room. Remus was pushed to a wall, and Snape took McGonagall in his arms, protecting her from the storm.
Burly, the troll king, was hiding under the table, but the sudden cold in the room made him run out.
"Coward." Tony muttered as he noticed how Burly ran out of the meeting room, covering his head with both of his hands. Tony tried to keep himself from falling because of the wind and went to Wendell's side.
Isabel and Tom Riddle were shoved to a side because of the wind, which seemed to be aimed at them.
"You'll regret this Blanche!" Isabel called and waved her hand at the Ice Queen. The storm stopped and the Ice Queen fell to the ground. Isabel grinned and walked to her direction. "It seems that you're losing your touch, Blanche." She said with sarcasm.
"It's been a while since we last met, Blanch," said Riddle, "how about a payback for your unsuccessful training course?" he pointed his wand at her, "Avada Kedav…"
"Expelliarmus!" Harry said and Riddle's wand flew out of his hand. "Get out of here!" Harry told the Ice Queen and McGonagall helped her up.
"Accio wand!" Riddle said and his wand flew back to his hand. "Nice work Potter, but you won't live to celebrate it."
"In your dreams! Serpensortia!" Harry called and a large snake appeared from the tip of his wand and slithered toward Tom Riddle, who only smiled at the snake and pointed his wand at it.
"Evanesco!" Riddle muttered and the snake disappeared.
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Sirius and Lia appeared at the ballroom of the palace. They rushed out of it and heard voices.
"They're upstairs." Sirius said and they headed to the stairs.
Virginia was going down when she saw Sirius and Lia coming up. "Lia! Oh God you're gray!"
"Hello Virginia," Lia said with a smile, "nice to see you again."
"Who're you?" Virginia looked at Sirius.
A bark caught their attention. They turned to see Rex running to their direction.
"Rex!" Lia called and knelt to touch her dog but it passed through her and approached Virginia. He ran around her and pulled her skirt.
"What is it?" Virginia asked.
"I think that he can't see you Lia." Sirius said calmly.
"I…" Lia couldn't think. Anger rose inside of her and she felt tears scrolling down her cheeks. "I'll get her for what she did."
"Rex what is it?" Rex was pulling Virginia to the direction of the dungeons. "Don't wait for me!" she told Sirius and Lia.
"Let's go upstairs." Sirius said and climbed the stairs. Lia followed silently.
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"I'm coming! You don't have to pull me like mad!" Virginia said as she ran after Rex. She froze in front of a black door. "I don't want to get in." she told the dog with a harsh tone.
Rex barked at her and pulled her again.
"I don't want to! My mother's in there!" she said and backed away, but Rex kept pulling her skirt.
"Please Rex, don't do this to me." She was crying. "She caused me so much pain and I don't want to…" she stopped because of the white flash of light.
"Hello Virginia."
"Snow White!" Virginia gasped. "Thank goodness you're here!"
"You must enter the room Virginia." Snow White said determinedly.
"But my mother's in there. Her coffin…"
"You will not find her there Virginia. Her body was removed from there and buried right after you and Wolf went back to New York."
Virginia let out a sigh of relief. She never felt comfortable about remembering her mother. "What should I do inside?" she asked.
"You must use poison to kill the witch." Snow White said.
"I can't kill her!" Virginia exclaimed. "She has Lia's body, and…"
"Lia will take her body back. You must work together." Snow White said and disappeared.
"Great." Virginia muttered, "this is just great. I have to kill the witch and she still has Lia's body, but if I do I'd be killing Lia."
Rex barked and pulled her skirt.
"Oh yeah, we don't have time." Virginia opened the door and hesitated for a moment. She wasn't sure about what would she see inside the room, but she had to enter. Lives of many people were counting on her now. If she doesn't kill the witch, she won't live to see her unborn child.
She walked inside and looked around. Candles lit the empty room, which had a small table in the middle covered with a red velvety cloth. Virginia walked to it and saw a rose and a comb placed next to each other on the table. She recognized the rose instantly. It was the same one that Wendell had given her the night he rewarded them for saving the kingdoms. She had placed the rose on her mother's cold hands when she went to pay her last respect to her mother, and to say goodbye. She loved her mother and hated her at the same time.
She shook memories out of her head and picked up the comb, but she couldn't help it. The memory flashed into her mind as soon as her hand touched the poisoned comb. She had killed her mother with the same comb a couple of months ago.
Virginia gasped as he started to cry. This was too much for her to handle. All these memories flashing back to her. She stood there while she was supposed to go upstairs and help the others. Rex whimpered and pulled her skirt.
"I'm coming." She said and wiped her tears. She pocketed the comb and went out of the room without looking back.
She ran upstairs and saw Cinderella coming. "Cinderella! Are you alright?" she asked.
"I do not know child." Cinderella said and went to the ballroom.
"What's going on here?" Virginia asked as she saw Leaf Fall being brought down stairs by the Dwarf King and King Cole. No one answered her and she ran through the corridors until she reached Wendell's office. Rex was following her closely. She entered and saw Wendell sitting on the ground, in a corner with Queen Red Riding Hood III lying unconscious in his arms. Wendell looked grim. His cheeks were wet and his eyes red. Lia's ghost form emerged out of the meeting room.
"They're still dueling," she told Virginia, "McGonagall is injured, Snape is stunned, Ron is unconscious and I'm standing here and can't do anything about it!"
"I'm here to help." Virginia said, "Snow White said that you will take back your body."
"Yeah, take it back but how?" Lia said and she stared at Virginia as the thought hit her. "Take it back! Of course! Take it back by force!"
"Er… good idea, but Snow White said that we must do it together, but I can't figure out how would that be." Virginia said.
"Let's distract her from the duel for a moment, shall we?" Lia grinned.
They entered the meeting room slowly, Rex following them. Virginia ducked as a green light stormed right next to her ear.
"Sorry!" Sirius shouted from the far end of the room.
"Don't worry!" Virginia called back and turned to look at Isabel. "Hey!" she called.
Isabel turned to look at Virginia. "Well, well, well. Whom do I owe this amount of luck? Miss Virginia Lewis coming to me by herself." She grinned. "I have the honor to kill you with my bare hands."
"In your dreams." Virginia said and took out the comb from her pocket as she stormed toward the witch.
Isabel held a hand and Virginia was pushed to the wall. She felt like an invisible hand was holding her.
"You think you can kill me with that silly toy?" Isabel said. "That kind of magic doesn't work anymore."
She was caught off guard when Rex jumped at her and pinned her to the ground. He stared at her and growled.
"Protego!" Remus cast a protection shield in front of him and Harry. They were dueling against Tom Riddle.
"This is getting ridiculous." Virginia said as she felt herself free of the invisible grip. "Rex, leave her to me!"
Rex got off the witch and she stood up. Virginia hit her with the comb but she was fast and blocked her face. The comb touched her arm and scratched it.
"Lia, now!" Virginia called.
Lia didn't need a second thought. She ran toward the witch with all her might and hugged her tightly.
The room was filled with a white flash of light that was almost blinding. Tom Riddle closed his eyes and felt himself getting weaker.
"You will pay Potter!" he said and disappeared.
Everyone in the room closed their eyes. The light grew stronger and the ground started to shake. A large hiss was heard in the room as the light subsided and two figures fell to the ground.