Time of Change
by
souls
Chapter 8: When Things Go Bad
"YES MILORD!" They all said before apparating away.
The Dark Lord arose from his throne stepping through the dark like a living shadow. The barely audible scratching of scales of Nagini accompanied him as he entered an alcove hidden in the walls of his throne room. A vast room of smooth sanded stone was situated at the other end of the small opening. A pentagram marred the floor's surface. Arranged at each point was a zodion symbol surrounded by a smaller pentagram drawn in glimmering silver chalk. A pit of black stones occupied its center.
Voldemort examined the floor carefully. 'Everything is in order for the Ritual of Ashraek.' +Children come forth.+ A great knot of snakes boiled forth from an opening in the wall. He commanded the four in the lead to join Nagini. The crimson light was cut off as he closed his eyes. Ice crept across the ceiling as Dementors floated in. The earthbound demons came to rest at the heart of the room. "Suplica eht Ashraek d' Jakrahn'yan evushnar eskrani'k Ashraek eht nuuru voldein'on veshu ehtudeorcan extrahere su dementis almas (I beseech thee Ashraek the souldrinker Ashraek the mind flayer immortal one creator of the darker beings extract their demon souls)!" The Dementors shuddered before bursting into flames igniting the stones. A series of black flame leapt up to consume the swarm of tiny white lights left behind by the Dementors. When the blaze finally died down dark blurs of movement could be seen darting violently back and forth. A cruel smile crossed Voldemort's lips. The snakes slithered forward at a motion from the Dark One. "Flean serpens flæsc desde anima Il'festumen dementis miht (Flay serpent flesh from spirit and feast on demon's might)." A mist struck out from each of the snakes ingesting the black lights before catching fire along with the silver symbols.
An eerie glow was cast over Voldemort's pale snake-like face as he said the final incantation, "Escupe adalante serpens purificared un infernum mutarae bestias et trans magus (Spit forth these serpents purified by hellfire changed from beast and give to them Mage form). Now arise my Ashraekine warriors." Violet serpentine eyes pierced the veil of flames.
"Yesss Masssterr." The words were spoken simultaneously in English and parseltongue. The words vibrating against each other like a echo in a canyon of rocks. "Weee herre and obeyy."
Weeks later along the ice fields of the north spires of ice jutted forth at odd intervals obscuring the Durmstrang Academy from view. Along with blistering cold, wards, and a Muggle repelling mist Durmstrang Academy sat safe in its own mind. Erik Zanatose, headmaster of Durmstrangs, walked along the walls of the castle. It had become his habit since assuming the position of headmaster after the disappearance of Igor Karkaroff. Zanatose was the youngest headmaster in European wizarding history but his long white hair was a contrast to his youth. The pre-dusk sun washed over the ice and snow and caused some of the wards to reflect with rainbow light before the sun was banished for the evening.
Elsewhere a man kneeled in the snow a blue bell flame illuminating his face. His eyebrows and beard crusted with ice crystals. He hoped for the thousandth time that the message had been received and his intentions understood. Hours pasted by but he didn't move from his spot patiently waiting. It had been five hours since his message had been received and all his questions were about to be answered but he didn't know that. A group of dark clad figures in long draping cloaks appeared and encircled him. The man did not look up there had not been the slightest noise as they appeared. Only the gradual waver of the fire alerted him that he was not alone. The man trembled only now did the full weight of how bad things could go wrong entered his mind but he put on the bravest face.
"Weee sssmelll yourr fearrr Huumman!" The words and unnatural voices making the man tremble even more. They looked 'round before speaking into the wind, "Itt isss asss he sssaid massster."
With those words said Voldemort appeared before the prone figure. "Igor what opportunity you now present to me is indeed great enough to almost overlook your transgression." Karkaroff lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding until he realizes that the dark lord had said, 'almost'.
"Crucio!" Karkaroff's body went into seizures until the curse was lifted. "Now come here my servant." He commanded.
Karkaroff rushed to his side. Voldemort rolled up the man's sleeve and touched the mark he bore. Karkaroff winced as the marked seared the surrounding flesh. A mass wave of snaps and pops accompanied the dark lord's summons as Death Eaters appeared before him.
"Lucius?"
"Is everything prepared?" Voldemort asked as the last vestiges of sunlight disappeared. The moon rising full to cast its silver light upon the snow.
"Yes master. Your faithful are ready."
"Then let us bring them over." The Death Eaters moved back and began chanting. The dark lord stretched forth his hands absorbing the raw energy from his servants before creating a massive dimension door. Even as the Death Eaters aided their master they all cowered at his unrivaled use of magic. It was as if someone had carved out a piece of universe and shoved it back into place sideways.
'Boom-ta-Boom…Boom-ta-Boom' came the sound of massive drums being beat as a couple of mountain trolls plodded out of the great portal. They were followed close behind by50 naked men and women. Each person's eyes were glazed over as if under the imperius curse and their throats were adorned with iron collars with a long chain affixed to them, MacNair reigning them in.
"Move 'long the lot of yer." He punctuated his words with a whip crack. The group stopped rending their flesh and howling with pain each collar glowing blood red. The noise died down some as fifty werewolves sniffed around at the snow and nipped at each other. Another whip crack, "Keep moving beasts." Thirty minutes later after Dementors, Bar-Lgura, giants, trolls, lethifolds, vampires and their ghouls exited the portal did it finally shut down.
Voldemort's eyes burned so bright they illuminated the entire assembly. It was like a red death had descended upon the area. There was utter silence as he spoke. "Tonight my faithful you are doubly blessed. One of our wayward brothers, Igor Karkaroff, has seen the error of his ways and rejoined the fold. He has also presented you the opportunity to show the entire world the power of your Lord and send a message to all. Tonight we take Durmstrang as our own and from it we shall strike out against the world. There will be no stopping us." His voice rose to deafening levels as he spoke the words, "Purus ur sanguine."
With a gesture from the dark lord Karkaroff reached into the very heart of the Durmstrang wards. He slowly poured his magic into them to keep the wards from sounding as the Death's Head Army entered the protective field. "Jugson you know what to do."
"Aye." He said as he stood beside him slowly drawing runes into the wards. As Karkaroff slowly eroded the old shields Jugson used the power to build them up rewriting like a Muggle hacker would a computer program. Voldemort looked on as the two men worked every now and then making strange wand motions. With each motion the two wizards felt an added charge.
"Done."
"As am I."
"Good now join the others tell Lucius to commence the attack."
As Zanatose was about to turn in for the evening a tremor passed through the battlements. It was an unsettling feeling. 'It almost felt as if the wards were being tampered with.' He quickly cast the spell that would lock down the castle before heading towards the nearest mirror.
"Tessa." A wraithlike woman with ice-white eyes and silver-shot hair appeared in the mirror.
"I felt it Erik. The wards are down."
"I've locked down the school." As he said this he could hear the pounding on the castle doors and the beating of drums. "We're under attack and those doors aren't going to hold."
"I'll do whatever I can."
"All teachers and staff arm yourselves and meet me in the great chamber."
Tessa was standing in front of the doors of the Great Chamber. She looked frazzled by the continuous beating and drumming. Erik noticed her wand on the chamber floor a few feet away. She had foregone it tying most of her life force and magical core into her protective barriers.
"Terra ascendus…Terra auquis glacius…Terra infernus…"
"Terra ascendus…Terra auquis glacius…Terra infernus…"
"Terra ascendus…Terra auquis glacius…Terra infernus…" She continued to chant. It became a mantra keeping her mind calm and focused while all Hell was breaking loose outside.
Outside thick tree like vines with great thorns grew out of the blistering snow winding their way round the school. Some vines writhed out to toss aside giants and trolls keeping them from getting too close to the castle doors. A wall of ice exploded before the great doors within moments a face appeared and began to speak. "YOU ARE NOT WELCOME. LEAVE THESE GROUNDS NOW!" From its mouth spewed spears of razor sharp ice. Several felled three giants only to enrage the others.
With their great hammers the giants began pounding on the ice in earnest
"Ah, so we have an ecomancer among us. Oh to have such power. Travers send the little ecomancer our reply."
"With pleasure milord."
The man giggled with glee. As he pulled away his hood and gloves great blisters and burns could be seen across half his face and arms. All hair looked to have been scorched from his head. Voldemort looked on him with a twisted vision of joy. He has always looked for ways to increase his powers but a little know fact is that he experimented on many of his followers. Flames burst from his skin like water coalescing into a hulking behemoth made of flames. It marched upon the building ignoring the cries of two trolls, as they were burned alive. Hermione would tell you there's no such thing as a Heliopath and Voldemort would agree they aren't born they're made.
It wasn't long before the monstrous being of flame battered, burned, and melted away the ecomancer's defenses. Inside, the Great Chamber the tension was staggering, as all eyes were on Tessa especially when the rock surrounding the door glowed orange.
"Whatever comes through that door we are going to meet head on with honor." As the words left his mouth, a pack of seven bar-lgura teleported in behind them. The pack dropping effortless to the floor one landed on an unsuspecting staff member skewering him with a spear. The orangutan-like warriors grinned evilly with a mouthful of wicked looking teeth. Their large arms rippling with muscles and untamed ferocity.
"Push them back we have to make it out passed the wards." Zanatose screamed as the group let loose with spells and crossbow bolts. The demonbred warriors dodged with uncanny skill as they bounded around the room attacking with spears from the ceiling fangs and claws when teleporting within the group. On one such occurrence a beast grabbed a teacher's arm using translocation to cut it off. One bar-lgura used telekinesis to toss a lady through a magic tempered window, which shattered slicing her to ribbons.
"Avada Kedavra!" Zanatose's killing curse struck one of the beasts in the face but the emerald fire only managed to scorch away some fur. Several teachers fired at the same beast as he bore down upon the headmaster. After several minutes it finally succumbed to death. Three more died from death scythe and acidius curses.
Tessa diverted her attention from the door to aid her fellow teachers. Shards of stone shot across the room the beasts dodged or teleported out of the way before vanishing. The group looked around carefully however Talia Wagner was impaled from behind. Bartholomew Krieg slashed out catching nothing.
"Why won't these bastards show themselves?"
"We can't take much more of this. They'll be through those doors soon. We have to find a way to get the students out of here."
A swirling cloud of dust swept up from the floor collecting upon their invisible foes. "Everybody run." She screamed as the stone floor tossed the remaining staff down an open corridor. Minutes later there were three large explosions and a blood curdling scream.
The Death's Head Army entered the school some through the front and top of the castle. In thirty minutes it was all over. Zanatose was led into the Great Chamber in shackles and thrown to the floor. "Your colleagues have already pledged themselves to me. Join me and you too will know great power. A power beyond all others that of life and death."
"I have no need of such power and I'd rather die than serve you."
"There are worse things than death."
Moments later ten trembling first years were led into the chamber by a group of dementors and vampires. Voldemort made him watch while they were set upon by a frenzy of dark creatures. A few were turned before his eyes while others were left soulless with no will of their own.
"Go to Hell."
"If that is your answer so be it." Voldemort said in a cold cruel voice. The coolness of it frightened every being in the room. "Mulciber break his mind slowly." The Death Eater stunned him and dragged him down to the dungeons. "Lucius oversee repairs. Bellatrix let's you and I inspect our young recruits." They both cackled with unrepressed insanity.
Weeks later a young wizard entered the inner chambers of the International Confederation of Wizards. The crimson staining his shirt matched the color of his eyes. The members in assembly were startled at his arrival and appearance.
"It's Erik Zanatose."
"Isn't he Durmstang's headmaster."
"What's he doing here?"
"What's happened to him?"
Finally the council scribe spoke to him. "Sit down. What brings you here in such a state?" She asked. As if that was the key, Zanatose let out a gurgling scream and fell over dead.
The MLE was called in to examine the body. What the Aurors, Hitwizards, and Unspeakables found shook them to their very core. The man's tongue had been cut out and a dark mark had been carved into his chest.
At Hogwarts, Remus and Tonks moved quietly under the guise of a disillusionment charm. Their pace was slow as they crept along the battlements their cloaks flapping in the wind. Eventually they stopped as they neared the end of the Western Wall. Remus and Tonks leapt from the wall casting a feather falling charm on the way. The duo drifted slowly to the ground. No one had noticed the noise of their descent. With a quick glance round they ran for the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
They didn't move out of cover of the trees until they reached the clearing behind the Shrieking Shack. Remus' werewolf hearing didn't pick up anything as the two dashed to the rickety building. It might have been simpler to just apparate once inside the forest but there were too many trackers about. Surely by now Fudge had also placed them under surveillance.
A low level reductor curse allowed them entrance through the back door. The inside was just as Remus remembered it. Torn tapestries and broken furniture littered a few rooms. As they looked around nothing out of the ordinary jumped out at them. "Let's check the second floor."
"What are we looking for?"
"I'll know it when I see it." He said as he and Tonks went from room to room along the second floor. After what felt like forever Remus' spirits were beginning to fail. 'Harry's letter said it'd be here so it'll be here.'
Flashback
A silent pop, well silent to non-werewolf ears was heard within the room. His senses went on high alert one of the advantages to being a werewolf. He scanned the room a couple of times before his eyes fell on a beat up piece of parchment. A quick set of privacy charms and he snatched it up the familiar code phrase on his lips. 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good!'
The parchment hid a small letter:
Remus,
We had to leave quickly or we wouldn't have been able to leave at all. Go to the Shrieking Shack. I left something for you there. I know Sirius told you about it so you should have no trouble figuring it out. I would have given it to Dobby but he's taken enough risks as it is.
See you soon.
Harry.
'Well there's only one room left to check and that's the one in which he first met Sirius. Why didn't I think of this before?' Remus finally located the galleon stuck to the underside of chair. He quickly tore it loose from chair. The coin once cold began to warm. The coin had an engraving of Harry on one side. It winked at him and then the words 'hold on' appeared. Remus grabbed Tonks as the serial number ticked down to zero.
Fudge sat at his desk his brow knitted hands clenched into fists as he looked over a letter baring the seal of the International Confederation of Wizards. 'The ministry's problems were now growing to levels I had never dared think of even in my scariest nightmares. Lord Thingy's forces now included several hordes of dark creatures, whatever was left of Durmstrang, plus witches and wizards from Northern Europe were defecting en masse. This new development coupled with Dumbledore's defiance and Harry Potter's insurrection may see the end of the British Ministry if not all wizarding way of life.'
"Why me? I won't stand for it. They all must be dealt with."
A/N: I don't know why this chapter previously appeared all in bold. I hope that I have fixed the problem.