Okay I'm back! That's fast isn't it? Anyway I want to thank everyone for showing so much support throughmy first story. I wouldn't be writing this sequel without all you loyal readers. I also want to thank those random readers who left behind some constructive criticisms. I sincerely apologise to anyone and everyone for the mistakes I've made regarding the story but I'm not gonna be changing them. Maybe I will, on the back up copy on my laptop but I'm not gonna edit the one posted here. It'll be too much of a hassle and I don't think anyone of you will bother to read them again.
I'm really sorry if I messed up some of the facts in HP because all the time I was writing The Blood of The Enemy, I did not have the first three HP books with me and half the time I did not have the 4th and 5th book as well. There was no way I could verify the facts and most of the time I just had to rely on my memory and keep my fingers crossed that they don't fail me.
Also I apologised if I may have made some mistakes regarding the places, norms, laws or the style of speaking in England in my stories because personally I lived pretty far from England or even Europe for that matter.
Lastly I hope you'll enjoy this sequel. Much thought is given in the making of this plot and it should be more interesting (I hope) than the last. I'm still open for more constructive criticisms and words of encouragement. Take it away.
Chapter 1: Fury of a Horntail
"Harry Potter!"
Harry walked up to the plump middle-age woman sitting behind the desk nervously. Every step he took towards her was leaded with excitement, fear of rejection and anticipation all at the same time. He amazed himself when he finally made it to the chest high desk without anxiety attack. It was not that he doubted his own capabilities but rather he could not accept the possibility of himself actually failing.
"This is your test results. Good luck," she said mechanically.
Harry reached over for the white, file size envelope with difficulty. Once it was carefully tucked under his arm, he walked down the corridor and turned a corner. The sign on the door indicated Wizards and Harry pushed his way into it. Inside, he found himself an empty cubicle and settled atop of the toilet bowl lid.
Sucking in a deep breath, Harry tore off the envelope's red seal in one swift motion. When the contents of the envelope were spilled onto his lap, he forced his eyes to the top piece of parchment.
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Harry walked out of the greyish blue building dejectedly. His ex-professor at Hogwarts, whom he respected very much, Remus Lupin was waiting for him at the gate. As Harry approached him, the grin on Lupin's face faltered.
"I can't believe it. How could you not have made it? There must be a mistake!" Lupin declared.
Harry looked down at the gravel where his feet stood on.
"Oh Harry, you'll just try again until you pass," Lupin consoled, "I'm pretty sure you'll pass the next time."
"I'm not coming back again," Harry said sourly.
"Come on, the Harry I know is not a quitter," Lupin said encouragingly.
Harry just kept quiet as he thrust the envelope at Lupin. Lupin, casting one questionable look at Harry, removed the contents and scanned down the first letter hurriedly. He could not believe his eyes at what he saw so he re-read them again.
Dear Mr. H. Potter
Congratulations on passing the apparition test conducted by the London Apparition Test Centre (LATC). As such, you'll be eligible for apparition class three. We will be issuing you an official license by owl post within a week. If you do not receive it within this period, please contact our administrator at the centre.
Attached are your test results and comments by your test instructor. Please do bear in mind that extra cautious must still be exercised when apparating.
We wish you all the best.
Yours truly,
Michael Singora
Director, LATC
"Bloody hell Harry! You tricked me!" Lupin exclaimed.
"I'm sorry… Could not… resist!" Harry said between fits of laughter. "Besides, I didn't really trick you if you think about it. You jumped to the wrong conclusion," Harry added when his laughter subsided sufficiently.
"Well thanks Harry," Lupin said sarcastically, although he could hardly keep a straight face himself, "it's such a waste you're not an actor."
Harry burst into laughter again and Lupin cracked up along with him. When they finally calmed down, Lupin said, "At least we don't have to walk home now."
Harry nodded in agreement.
Harry was in a really jovial mood. He was finally seventeen, the legal age in the Wizard World, he could apparate to wherever he likes, except maybe Hogwarts, and he could use magic as and when he pleases. Also, after another dreaded summer with the Dursleys, Harry was going back to stay with his friends, most probably, for good.
So as Harry apparated together with Remus Lupin to Grimmauld Place that afternoon, he felt like nothing could dissolve this feeling of euphoria he had in him.
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"Harry!" greeted Hermione.
"Hi Hermione," Harry replied cheerfully.
"Goodness! I take it you apparated here legally?" she said.
"Definitely," Harry confirmed, and Hermione rushed forward to give him a hug.
"Congratulation!" she said.
"Harry!" Ron shouted as he practically skipped down two steps at a time down the stairs.
"Ron!" Harry shouted back happily.
"I've been waiting for you all day! I swear I had been pacing the house all day. And when you had not appeared after such a long time, we thought we had gotten the time wrong," Ron explained.
Harry laughed good-naturedly.
"It's great seeing you again," Harry said, "but something seems to be amiss."
"That's really sharp of you," replied Hermione, "we finally got rid of the portrait of Mrs. Black!"
"For real?" Harry choked amusedly.
Hermione nodded her head vigorously.
"No wonder this house seems awfully quiet than usual," Harry commented.
"Plus the fact that George and Fred had gone shop hunting again," said Ron, "A place without them is always peaceful."
"Shop hunting?" Harry asked.
"That's right Harry. The twins' business had been doing so well, they had been branching out in different areas. They opened one in Diagon Alley, did you know?" Hermione supplied.
"Yeah, they wrote to me, giving me a discount card and such," Harry lied. Truth was the twins had written to Harry to return Harry the Triwizard prize money including interests while mentioning the Diagon Alley shop. However, Harry had sent back the money and chided them for it. Harry had given them the money and it was theirs to keep. There was no way Harry was taking them back.
As Harry lugged his luggage towards the room he shared with Ron, with Ron's help of course, Harry also noticed a significant someone missing – Janieve. He had been hoping to see her when he came back at the end of the summer. Even though Harry knew that even if she was around, he would not be able to talk to her as much as he would like to. However, it would be better than not seeing her beautiful face at all. The one he had in his head was getting vague and he desperately needed to refresh his memory.
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"At the count of three… One… two… three… Stupefy!" shouted Charlie Weasley. A few jet of red and green lights shot out from twenty-something different wands, hit and penetrated the scaly dragon skin and the huge, ferocious creature stumbled forward and hit the ground with a thunderous thud. Golden sparks flew into the sky and shower down on them in the cold night sky.
"Ahhh!"
"Janieve!" yelled Charlie, "stay back!" A black Hungarian Horntail with yellowing teeth was advancing towards Janieve menacingly and it was baring its teeth at Janieve viciously. Janieve staggered backward, fear reflected in her eyes. However, the wand in her hand was held steadily in front of her nonetheless.
Janieve had been learning how to tame the dragons from Charlie ever since the start of the summer. It started when Charlie mentioned that they were lacking keepers and Janieve had offered to help if they were willing to guide her along. So far, it had been a pleasant experience, until now, when the dragons had shaken loose of their locks and chains mysteriously.
Charlie and a few of the other dragon keepers rushed forward to Janieve's aid. It was no good though because each time enough of them came close enough to the mighty Horntail, the Horntail would swing its lethal tail adorning a length of bronze spikes at them, forcing the keepers to leap out of the way.
"Stupefy!" A simultaneous chorus of stunning spells were shouted but they were all uncoordinated and hence, useless against the noble creature.
The Horntail flapped its wing angrily and jumped a few steps forward. Janieve's knees trembled dangerously but she kept stepping backward, while her eyes and wand remained trained on the Horntail.
She gasped in horror when she felt herself back against a trunk. She swerved around and tripped on the root ofthe gigantic tree. She fell on her knees and her knee cap throbbed painfully.
The Horntail stepped up towards Janieve, its lizard-like head hovering over her with a triumph glint in its black evil-looking eyes. It turned its enormous weight around and swung its tail towards Janieve.
Janieve rolled away from it fairly quickly, owing to her Killet's abilities. At the same time, she took out a large syringe and injected the needle into the creature's side swiftly.
The pain ignited more fury from the disturbed Horntail. It swung its tail the other way and it connected with Janieve's back. The impact threw her thirty feet away and she was rendered unconscious. The Horntail flew towards her and bared its fangs at her. Its head drew back, preparing to attack.