Chapter 16

Harry went to the Infirmary once the meeting was over to check on Alex. She was still sleeping so Harry remained there for the night.

The next morning, he took her home after breakfast. Harry succeeded in getting Snape out during Occlumency two times, and almost succeeded the third time. Right when they ended, Splikvin alerted Snape through his pendant of an attack. Harry was forced to stay behind due to the splitting headache he'd gotten from practice.

He waited anxiously at Headquarters, wondering if the new dementors were there, and if anyone was getting hurt. All his friends were out there except Ginny. She challenged him to a practice duel. Harry agreed, figuring it would get his mind off things.

Apparently Ginny had picked up a few things from watching their lessons; she was pretty good. Harry disarmed her five times in the hour they practiced, and they stopped when the others returned.

He teleported to the cabin in the States and got some of the potions stored there, then returned and gave them to the people who needed them.

"No dementors," Padfoot told him as Harry healed a cut on his shoulder. "Scum bags only, and no casualties."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief.

In the following three days, the 'no casualties' would change to too many.

Voldemort's army attacked each day in groups. The first was Death Eaters and both types of dementors. Although Harry and Splikvin destroyed many of the normal dementors, and the Challengers halted the Guardians, over twenty people lost their souls, and seven died. Harry still couldn't get the sounds of the dementors' screams out of his mind when he went to bed.

The second attack was a group of chimeras and minotaurs that rampaged Hogsmede; the Ministry and the Order managed to drive them back, but just barely—there were losses on both sides. That's war, Harry often thought bitterly that day.

The third attack was the deadliest yet: basilisks in London.

They came in waves. First one, then three, then seven—soon there were fifteen of the monsters slithering around, murdering those of non-magic blood.

Harry had been visiting Alex in the park when the first basilisk came. He sent her to The Hideaway despite her protests, then immediately contacted the rest of the Order. "Stay hidden!" Sirius' voice commanded.

So Harry was forced to wait anxiously for the others to arrive while he paced the roof of a house which he had apperated onto. Each scream pierced Harry's soul. He could feel the basilisks' fangs sinking into their victims; see the horror on the muggles' faces when they met the serpents' eyes.

Finally, Harry heard several other people apperate behind him. He turned around and drew his wand in one swift movement—it was a few members of the Order. "'Bout time," he grumbled, and began to walk towards the edge of the roof. "If we use mirrors we should be able to keep from looking at their eyes," he said, "And if we get through the windows, we can portkey the muggles-" he stopped, feeling a hand on his shoulder.

"Tallon," Sirius began.

"What?" he demanded, noticing the tone of voice.

"We can't help them."

Harry's face drained of color. "Can't help them?" he repeated. Padfoot nodded sadly.

"It'd be suicide."

"How in Merlin's name can we no t— HELP— them?" Harry managed to keep his elemental magic in check, while the rest flared. He could feel his aura strengthening, pressing on everything near him—then it became visible.

Sparks of gold, red, black, copper, and blue surrounded him, growing as his anger did. Remus, Tonks, and his friends stepped back. "We are the ones who know what is going on!" Harry growled, voice rising in volume. "Because of one of our kind—Voldemort—those people are being SLAUGHTERED! And do you know why? Because of me! Voldemort knows I won't just stand here and watch innocents get murdered—and you know what? I'm—NOT." Harry turned back around and took another step, Sirius grabbed his arm. "Tallon, you can't fight those basilisks!"

Harry glared at him, "Yes I can. Maybe I can't win, and maybe I can win. But I can and I will help those muggles if it's the last thing I do!"

"Tallon, you'll die!"

"Maybe yes and maybe no," he hissed, "But I've got a better chance than those people down there do. Sorry Padfoot, but I won't stand aside and wait for Voldemort to kill every last one of them."

Sirius tightened his grip on Harry's arm, which made Tallon glower. "No," Padfoot said firmly.

Harry shook his head sadly, "Sometimes having a Slytherin side is a good thing," he said, and transformed into a cobra.

Padfoot's hand closed on empty air, and before anyone could realize what had happened, Harry was off the roof and flying through the air as a phoenix.

He pulled his aura back into him, it would only get him spotted quicker—something he couldn't afford right now. Tallon heard a basilisk in the house next to him and he flew inside. He saw a muggle family of five cowering in the corner of their living room as the basilisk advanced.

Harry blazed into the room and attacked the serpent from behind. He first took out its eyes, his talons sinking in and tearing through the soft material; he took no damage from the acidic blood that sprayed like an overripe berry.

With that done, he jumped onto the back of the basilisk and became human. "Salithren Excalibera." He whispered, holding onto the wildly thrashing snake with all his might.

Salazar's sword appeared in his left hand, and he drove it into the basilisks head. It screamed, thrashing harder before dropping to the ground with a thud that shook the house.

Harry jumped off and turned to the people. "Stay in here," he commanded, "There are more. Make as little noise as possible, talk only if you must. Beware people dressed in black robes and white masks." They nodded and he became a phoenix once more, then found the next basilisk.

He came in just as the giant serpent killed a man with its gaze. Harry flew straight for it. Quickly he destroyed its eyes, barely escaping its fangs. Once it was blinded, Harry became human and summoned the sword once more, and quickly killed the serpent. Salazar had been right, the sword moved to strike whenever Tallon needed to.

Three more he killed before coming to the bigger problem. Six basilisks had surrounded a group of screaming things—children, no more than seven at most. Tallon was consumed by fury, Voldemort dared to kill those younger than him, those who were helpless, having done no wrong except for merely being alive.

Harry dove with a screech, aiming for the largest one. He tore out its eyes, and slashed it across the face. He called his totems together and lashed out at the two serpents that came for him. Tallon had his eyes firmly shut, relying on his other sense to guide him; and guide him they did.

A basilisk screamed as Harry's claws raked across its eyes; Tallon covered the four children with his body to protect him from the thing's stinging blood.

"BE GONE!" he roared. To his surprise, his voice came out as a hiss—Parsletongue.

The basilisks halted, surprise overcoming them as well.

'Who are you that could command usss asss the Shadow?' asked one.

Harry kept his eyes firmly shut. "Tallon is my name. Tell me, what has the Shadow promised you?"

'Food, freedom, power,' they answered unanimously.

Tallon snorted, "And what have you gotten?" he asked scornfully, then answered his own question. "Death."

"By you," another retorted angrily.

"Yes, by me. By me because I protect those who have done nothing wrong. And I will continue to fight until they are safe. You are powerful creatures, yet you serve a mortal wizard for something he has not given. By all these mortals you have slain today, how many have you fed from?"

"None," came the hesitant reply.

"Why waste the time, the energy, the strength, doing something which has no profit? Only death?" They shifted uneasily, choosing not to answer. "All I ask is that you leave this place, return to your homes and I will not take any more of your lives. Not as long as I am not defending myself or those who are innocent, and you are not killing for sport. What do you say?"

"How long mussst we be gone?" a smaller one asked.

"Until this war between the Shadow and other mortals ends," Tallon answered, "I cam get you out of here safely, but you must not kill; agreed?"

There were some hissing murmurs among the basilisks. Some seemed unwilling, but after a larger one snapped and snarling at them, they slouched in defeat. Finally, they stopped conversing. "Agreed," said the largest remaining one. "Lead ussss out."

The basilisks turned away, letting Harry out. Tallon nudged the kids under him gently towards the opening. Some of them pet him before running, others sprinted with all their might. "This way," he said, and began to lead the serpents towards the outskirts of the city.

When he ran, they slithered faster—pretty fast in Harry's opinion. He led them away until the town disappeared from view. "Good luck," he told them, "I hope next time we meet it will be on more friendly terms."

"Farewell Tallon," they replied, "One who fights the Shadow."

Harry nodded and ran back towards London. When he could no longer see them, he became human and apperated back. He appeared on the roof he'd started on and found that some of the Order was still there: Tonks, Hermione, Ron, Splikvin, and Kingsley.

"Harry!" Hermione screeched, "What happened to you?"

Harry looked at his cloths and saw blood splattered all over them. "Basilisks," he answered simply/

"You're dead mate," Ron told him.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Trouble—Lupin's freaking out, and Sirius had to be knocked out to keep him from going after you; plus, Dumbledore's really frustrated, kept muttering to himself about choices and trust."

Harry sighed, "Sirius shouldn't have tried to stop me."

"I'm surprised he did," Ron admitted, "No offense mate, but you were kinda, well—scary."

Harry shrugged, trying to keep his face from hardening. "Innocent people shouldn't be slaughtered in a war they know nothing about."

Even if they didn't say it, Harry could tell that the others agreed with him. And that's all we need, he thought.

Coming Up:

Parsloz Duel

St. Mungos

Then:

The-Boy-Who-Lived

Review Response:

MinorMistake99: You've got it.

Archer: I am sad to say, no, there will not be a fourth installment. As for the other question, you will have to wait and see. Maybe yes and maybe no.