Jez: I noticed those. And it dropped my three dashes, that were in there. I'll try and replace those.
"How exactly is this supposed to work?" Malfoy asked. Monica sighed.
"I'm not entirely sure. I've never had to use this before." She answered, wincing.
"You're not sure? What could go wrong?" Ron asked.
"At best it'll go poof. At worst, we go poof." Came the slightly nervous reply.
"Bloody Hell." Ron grunted. "I don't know if this is such a good idea."
"There's no one else Ron. Come on, it can't go that badly." Hermoine urged.
"And besides, if it fails, we won't be around to care." Malfoy grinned. "It'll be painless in any case, won't it?" He asked Monica, as she moved into the circle formed of black sand. She gave him a level stare.
"I wouldn't know. I've never gone poof before." She answered flatly. Harry coughed.
"Can we get on with it?" He asked. Ron moved forwards, and stepped into the circle. Four wands lifted, and pointed at the rather carefully arranged objects. Just off Hogwarts grounds, meant Monica could use her hands instead of her staff, which she was still leaning on. The hand joined, and as one, they spoke.
"Obvius foris alio!" There was a flare of light, as the circle exploded into a burst of light, and then they were gone from the world.
"Did we go poof?" Ron asked.
"No, it worked." Monica grinned. Harry looked around.
"Now what?" He asked. Another voice, not from one of his companions answered.
"Now, you die." Lightning crackled at him, and he leapt to the side, so that it caught Malfoy instead. His father stepped out of the shadows, wand aiming at him. "You're quick, but you're not that quick." Lightning issued from his wand again, but Harry rolled away.
"Expelliarmus!" Hermoine shouted. The spell slammed into the man, and he reeled back, but didn't drop his wand.
"Exnori!" The blast from Ron's wand ripped not only the man's wand away, but also his entire hand. He screamed in pain, staggering back.
:Pitiful fool. Lord Voldemort, now is the time to claim your prize. Kill Potter.: The voice echoed from all around them, with no visible source. A flapping sound greeted their ears, as Voldemort dropped to the ground before them. Harry reached for his wand, but Hermoine grabbed his arm.
"Harry no, you can't fight him, not without the magic protecting you." She warned he shook off her hand.
"Harry, she's right, and you know it." Ron snapped as he interposed himself between Harry and the powerful wizard. Voldemort snorted, and hissed something. There was a flare of light from his wand, and Ron was flung away. He hit, and rolled to the side.
"Begone child." Voldemort's wand turned on Harry, but found himself staring into Hermoine's face. He hissed again, and again came the flare of light, but this time it was matched by a darker blue flare. His own spell rebounded, blowing him back. It also threw Hermoine away. Malfoy stood frozen with indecision. Stopping Voldemort would save Harry, his rival, and he'd never live it down. Aiding Voldemort would do no good if the wizard was defeated. Star crashing into the side of his head stirred him.
"If you stop Voldemort, Harry won't have that over you." Monica hissed in his ear. Malfoy nodded. As he reached for his wand, a second voice reached out the darkness.
:If you kill Potter, I will give you the immortality sought by Voldemort, and you shall be given all his powers. And then to no man will you bow.: The voice reached into his mind, stirring the thoughts there. Malfoy froze again.
"If you give in to the Lance, you will find yourself destroyed, a shell of your former life. A mindless killing tool." Monica whispered, striking back against the Lance.
:Help me, and you can have her as well. Or any woman you might desire.: The Lance offered, stirring urges.
"If you help Harry, I'll make sure you receive a just reward." Monica offered, slipping an arm around his waist, and pulling herself close.
:I'll give you this world as your own if you destroy the boy.: The Lance countered, urging the greedy side of his nature on.
"Look into my eyes." Monica commanded, turning his head. The blue eyes flared and he screamed. An instant later he was back to reality, and his wand was rising, as was his temper. His wand was not pointing at Voldemort, but instead at the sobbing form of his father.
"Imperio!" Though normally the age and experience difference would have meant he could never have used the spell, his own anger and pain at feeling what Monica had just shown him, and the emotionally, and physically weakened state of his father, gave him the needed edge. The spell took hold. "Stop him!" Lucius rose, turned, and lunged across the intervening space at Voldemort, who had just begun to rise again. The weight of the other man, and his own surprise at a physical attack, caused Voldemort to fall again.
Leaving the boys to struggle with Voldemort, Monica turned to Hermoine, who was just beginning to rise. A collapsable cauldron appeared from her robes, and Hermoine lit flames below it.
"What now?" Hermoine asked. "Potions take time."
"Not this one." Monica shook her head. "Add the water, then the Orihalcum crystal. Heat the water to boiling, and then drop in the Cockatrice tongue." She gave the instructions, and then pulled the two items she ordered Harry and Malfoy to retrieve. The driver she settled to the ground, and opened the boxed speed. Inside rested only light. Hermoine, adding water, gasped. As she dropped in the crystal, the light vanished, and she saw Monica lower the box from her mouth. There was a pained look on the others face, but she didn't say anything. When the water boiled, she threw in the tongue. The water dissipated, and the crystal was a deep blue in color.
"Now what?" Hermoine asked.
"Call Ron." Monica panted. Hermoine nodded, wondering what was about to happen. Monica had lifted the crystal out of the water, and set it against the driver.
The tide had shifted in favor the Lance when another of his servants, Goyle, had appeared, summoned from where he lay. He dropped into the fighting, just as Harry brought his arms around to knock Voldemort down from behind. Goyle grabbed Harry's arms, and used the force of the blow to throw Harry into the air. Malfoy saw it happen, but couldn't do anything in time. Harry crashed into him and they rolled away. Lightning issued from Voldemort's wand, sending the older Malfoy flying. He landed in a heap. Voldemort rose, and glanced at Goyle.
"Stop Malfoy, Potter is mine." Goyle grunted in responce, and crossed behind Voldemort as they advanced on the two. Ron hit them from the side.
"Accio!" The force behind the spell propelled the shattered remains of Lucius hand towards Ron, crashing into Voldemort, and sending him and Goyle down in a heap. Harry and Malfoy circled around the two, and came to stand beside Ron. Lucius came to his feet again, still under the effects of the curse, and charged Voldemort again. At the same time, Hermoine called.
"Ron, come quick!" All three turned and headed there.
"What's going on?" Malfoy snapped.
"What happened to Monica?" Harry asked, pointing.
"Ron, it's time." Monica grunted, coming to her feet as she held a jewel bladed dagger out to him. There was blood on the blade as he took it from her.
"Time for what?" Hermoine asked.
"To stop the Lance." Ron replied, since Monica couldn't speak. "She told me what had to be done. Once everything was ready, the Lance could only be stopped with a blood sacrifice." He lifted the dagger, and sighed.
"What are you going to do?" Harry asked.
"Offer the sacrifice." Monica grunted, forcing herself to stand straight. The robes fell in a pile behind her. "Remember, just under the ribs, then twist the blade up and left. That should open the heart."
"No, you can't do this." Malfoy snarled. "You promised me a reward."
"Your life is an acceptable reward." Monica grunted. "Sometime today." Ron moved forwards, but Harry stopped him.
"Use me instead." He growled.
"I told you, too strong willed to let anyone else do anything for him." Monica grunted. Ron pushed Harry aside. Hermoine grabbed for the dagger, but Ron pulled it away, and she fell. Harry reached for her as Ron stepped over her. He found himself facing Monica.
"Are you sure about this?" Ron asked.
"Yes, I'm very sure, now do it." Monica snapped. Ron plunged the blade in. Light flared as he twisted the weapon, and the air exploded.
