(A/N: Hello everyone! If you are part of our group, sorry that you have to read this again, we discussed that we are having a change in plans concerning our book, please visit the group if you are to grasp a little more as what exactally is going on. Nifty told me to tell you all that you will struggle a bit with the change but next chapter will be more explanatory. Hope you all enjoy and please leave a review. - Nex)
Chapter 9 A new beginning
Today is the day that Harry Potter escapes this wretched place. Three and a half years is enough for anybody to go delusional if spent alone. Were it not for the small stream that came through the roof, Harry would surely have died a long time ago. He cast one last look to the chamber that he called his home; but not any more. He would escape.
He picked up his Initiative, still as shiny and good looking as before, and looked at his reflection in the metal of the dagger. His beard was probably longer than necessary but hey, it kept him warm and he wasn't going to give that up for looking presentable to nobody.
Harry raised his right hand and opened his fist, palm downward. His eyes close; a single breath fills his lungs. Small balls, the size of snitches, start to form around his hand, moving in orbit and then Harry opens his eyes, breathes out, and closes his hand.
His "mole" as he called her told him his only chance was directly below him, an ocean ten miles in radius with uncountable maze-like tunnels leading to who knows where. But he would do it. He had spent three and a half years surviving under Voldemort's lair. Three and a half years with no food. Three and a half years where he had learned to do magic without anything more than his Initiative and his mind. Later on he learned to do it without batting an eye but only for small things. One year spend completely alone.
The balls shoot out of his hand, spinning around each other, gaining speed, feeding of off the energy provided by the other ball's friction as they move through the air. It was a simple case of manipulating the earth's physics 'cause that's what magic is all about right, to defy physics.
After about thirty seconds they move almost too fast for Harry to see them. He lowered his fists slowly and the balls, by now looking almost like a transparent sphere, about fifteen centimeters in radius, followed his fists to the ground.
The cave floor touch starts to give away. It sounds like one huge drill, hammering into the floor. Chunks of rock and dust fly everywhere and Harry quickly performs a shield charm to prevent any further pain of the shooting shrapnel.
The "sphere" moves so fast by now that it looks like a solid ball. The friction caused by the ground is far greater than that of the air, causing it to go faster. It was completely inside the ground by now, the sound almost unbearable to the brittle ears of Harry.
Then he heard water splashing madly far below. He opened his fist and the sound was gone, leaving in its wake only small tremors caused by the disturbance in the rock. He couldn't cast normal spells, not without his wand. But he had a basic idea of what he could do now. He took out his initiative with the dagger out and began a series of fluent movements.
A buzz of sort could be heard. It sounded almost like wind whistling around corners of buildings. It sounded like the buzzing of a swarm of bees. It was unearthly and the sound sent chills down Harry's spine, yet it gave him a sense of security. When he felt a small wind ruffle his head he blew into the air, softly, just like the wind around him.
Everything went silent and suddenly as if it was there all along a small manifestation appeared. It looked like tornados formed into a fairy with wind for clothes. This was what created air. Harry gave the small figure one glance and jumped down the hole, the figure following him, now and then passing around his head, giving him a fresh supply of air.
When his feet touched the water and his body submerged every nerve in his body screamed in protest. It was cold, unbearable piercing cold, as if every dark creature like Dementors washed their hands in this water. He lifted his one hand and took all of the heat around him out of the water, the little that was there, and forced it around him. It wasn't warm, in fact it wasn't even warm enough to stop his teeth from clattering but he wouldn't die in this condition.
It was strange, to feel water on your lips, cheeks, every other part of your body but when you opened your eyes there was air around it. When you open your mouth, sure that water will flood in like a small tidal wave, it doesn't. A bubble of air was always present right inside your nose, mouth and eyes. It was the work of the air manifestation, giving you a fresh supply of air and clear vision inside water.
Incredible things really, manifestations. They had their own brain, their own life force; the elements. They will do anything to save a life. The moment one of them appeared, sent to him by his "mole" he sort of fell in love. Heck, he even tried to kiss one when they planted a seed of a cucumber plant and made it grow but never again. The scorching heat of the fire manifestation –acting the sun- gave him blisters the size of grapes on his lips. He spent a lot of time trying to perform the art to summon or create one of them and he finally found out how to do it. His initiative. It was fire, water, air and earth. The four elements in one weapon.
And so Harry began to swim. Through the tunnels, into underground lakes, trying to find any indication of an exit. He had learnt a lot of things inside of that cave. Sometimes he even thought he was sent there for a reason, forgotten even by the beast that threw him in there. After a month of torture by Voldemort and his followers they lost interest. Bigger things were to be done, or so Harry heard one of them talk to another when the question came forth of why to throw him away, inside the cave surrounded by the darkest creatures known. Harry wasn't only surrounded by rocks and stone but a whole community of vampires, basilisks and other things, freakish breads of dragons, Dementors, ghost dogs, all as savage as hell itself.
That is where Harry had really learned to fight or die. The occasional undead creature, unbound by the laws of this world, would wander through the walls surrounding Harry, seeking fresh prey to claim as their eternal slaves. He fought them all, killed them all, and praised himself on a job well done. He would secure another moment for himself on this planet. Two years later on they let him be, thinking that he would die – after all, he didn't have any food. No living creature could live without food. They were wrong. Harry could, in fact any person with enough magic inside of them could. The magic will start to flow through your veins, feeding any organ that needed to be fed, cleansing them and healing where necessary. After a while Harry's blood changed from red to almost transparent. He didn't know how or why but it didn't matter, it kept him alive.
And so he swam thinking back to his time spent inside of that cave, his coffin as Voldemort called it. He learned more than he had all his years in Hogwarts. He didn't learn unnecessary things like how to make a tea cup run around. He learned how to live with magic. He figured out how to keep track of time with magic, how to create air or water, how to put up wards that would impress even Dumbledore.
One thing couldn't escape his mind though. It was always there, when he slept or ate or fought. It was the thought of his friends, what they might be doing now, how they felt or how they would react to the sight of him when he saw them again, if he saw them again. He missed them all; he cried his eyes dry, wondering if they were all still alive, happy or sad. He even found himself praying right before he fell asleep in the evenings for anther chance to see them, to say properly goodbye before he would die.
Finally Harry reached a huge lake; the water became a bit warmer, more alive with fish here and there. It was a great feeling, knowing that he would be free any moment now. The only thing that boggled his mind was the fact that he saw a shark a while ago. If his suspicion was correct then he wasn't in a lake but the ocean.
It wasn't a reassuring thought.
He didn't care, he have had worse times in his past. What was an ocean in the face of our hero? He conquered three years in the clutches of Voldemort. He fought with his head held high against enemies so terrible that most would cower in fear. Some of those monsters still haunted his nightmares, as embarrassed he is to even acknowledge it to himself. His mind was scarred, not by Voldemort or the things he did to Harry but the faces of the undead. Their simple cruelty that shouldn't be allowed on earth in the first place but because of Voldemort they were.
Harry didn't know what Voldemort did to try and secure his immortality but it certainly didn't look good from Harry's point of view. Harry didn't know how the Wizarding world was faring with the war but if those things underneath Voldemort's lair were to be released…
That, Harry didn't want to think about.
Harry swam fast, using the heat available from the warmer ocean to create underwater streams and currents. And then he saw it, sunlight. One ray of the purest white light that Harry hadn't seen since his last days at Hogwarts. It spurred him on, he forgot about everything, the heat creating currents, the summoned air manifestation, all of it disappeared and it was only Harry, just plain Harry, in an ocean so vast that he would look like a single atom in a ton of feathers. He swam upwards while holding his breath, feeling the pain in his chest as his lungs inflated. He didn't care, the only thing that Harry yearned for at that moment was the sting of the air on his face, the relief that one breath would give him.
It happened… And it felt like heaven. It was the taste of life, the taste of freedom… A new beginning.
Harry took a few breaths, letting his eyes adjust to the harsh glare of the sun shining pleasantly over the ocean. He didn't know where he came from because when he looked back there was nothing but rich blue water. No sign of anything that could possibly resemble Voldemort's lair. In all directions only Harry and the water. Harry scrunched up his face and in the next instant he was lifted out of the water, standing on what seemed to be a thin layer of air. It moved forward, slowly at first but gaining speed at every passing second; Harry's determination used as fuel.
As he gained speed he had to sit down to minimize the air resistance. He followed his instinct, letting nature guide him to the nearest piece of land from where he could figure out a way to find his friends. The sun battered his skin without remorse; he hadn't felt sunlight on his skin for over three years. Heck, he must be as white as Voldemort by now.
A few hours later, a very sun burnt and thirsty Harry saw the first glimpse of land and he couldn't help the happy sound he made that seemed to come straight from his heart. He walked out of the small waves that struck his ankles every now and then. The beach, normal looking was a gift on its own for Harry. The sand sticking to his feet was like a pleasant foot massage but Harry had only one thing in mind. He would find his friends.
Harry walked inland for a while and found a lone man walking through the small forest.
'Uh, excuse me sir?' Harry asked, his voice sounding strange to his own ears. The man looked at him for a while and then pulled out an automatic rifle, pointing it right at Harry's face. Harry's eyes widened in surprise and he automatically lifted his hand into the air.
'Walk.' The man replied savagely. Harry looked around himself and started to walk in a random direction, to his left in this case.
'Other side.' The man said and Harry complied, more out of curiosity than anything else. He was slightly put out that in his first free moments on solid ground he was again taken hostage.
They walked in silence for ten minutes, the man poking him every now and then in the back with his gun, until someone deep in the undergrowth of the bush made a strange noise, repeating a single tune.
'Stop.' Said the man and Harry did as he was told. Not even three minutes had passed and already Harry could see seven points of guns aimed in his direction. Slowly but surely all of them came out and one of them, most likely the leader came up to him and bound his hands firmly with a strong rubber band. They led him into a hidden shed, not far from where they originally where, and bound him more firmly to one of the walls. For a moment Harry felt fear, past memories came flooding back.
A black wall stained with blood; his blood. A pitiful cry of pain out of his lungs that had shouted to long and hard for one lifetime. His shuddering body that had tolerated pain to much.
He was shaken out of his past thoughts by a fist striking him in the jaw. Harry opened his eyes again and saw a man standing there with a pistol in his hand but for the first time Harry paid attention to his surroundings. An old man, by the looks of it late in his seventies and a small girl, not even ten years old stood in one corner, at gun point.
'Kill the old useless waste of flesh.' Harry heard a bored voice from the doorway. A millisecond later a gun shot fired and it was all over. The life of an old man gone, Leaving behind only the shouts of anguish from a small child. She looked up from her position on top of the corpse with eyes that showed so much hurt it cut Harry deep.
'WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR?' Harry yelled in outrage. And here he was thinking that only Voldemort could be so evil. He apparently had a long way to go still.
'Ah, the new one.' Said the man, without a trace of sorrow on his face. Harry could still hear the little girl's muffled sobs as she buried her face into the clothes of the dead man. 'You could do good work for me. Are you willing? I won't kill you if you do; I'll give you enough food to live from and a place to sleep. If you don't want to, I'll make you.'
A slave driver. A FUCKING SLAVE DRIVER! HE killed the old man because he was useless in the eyes of this sick man.
'Lift up my shirt.' Harry told him calmly. The man gave him a look and ordered one of his minions to do as Harry said. When Harry's torso was uncovered Harry asked him 'What do you see?'
'Stop these games. Malout, get the knives.' He instructed but Harry stopped all movements.
'Where do you think I got all of this scars?' Harry said savagely 'I was tortured you fool! And I escaped to come back and find my friends but now I see you, my friends can wait.' With that said Harry broke free of the chains on his wrists and before anyone could see what was happening Harry's Initiative was in his hand, sword drawn.
Anarchy was one word to sum up what followed after that. Gunshots fired and bullets impacted everywhere. Harry wanted to strike, to attack but he couldn't - the girl was still in the middle of all this.
Harry gave one mighty push and all of his magic pooled around him, creating a small sphere. He didn't hesitate, and sprinted towards the girl. She looked terrified at Harry's form but didn't have time to react before Harry had her in his arms, safely secured inside the bubble of Harry's magic.
Harry didn't dwell though. He jumped out of his own protection to stop these monsters and he did it without a hitch, except for the fact that as he landed one of the bullets hit their mark and struck Harry in the knee. He didn't even think twice about the pain and slashed his sword around, slicing through one of the guns. Harry spun around, hitting the man out of action to stumble backwards a fall over a table. Harry jumped up as another burst of shots came out of the barrels and kicked one of them around the back of his head knocking him out cold. Harry could swear he heard something that spurred him on, gave him strength and courage.
A drum roll, sounding far away and then something like music, a war cry, one that filled Harry's heart with determination. He couldn't explain it. But it was incredible. He heard it every time he fought in that cave.
The last two Harry simply knocked out with the flat side of his sword, leaving unpleasant looking burns alongside their faces where the reddish sword made impact. Harry looked around and quickly bound the men with their own shackles. He canceled the magic around the girl and slowly walked to her.
She scrambled away like a frightened squirrel and cowered in the corner. Harry looked at his hand and noticed his sword still in his hand. Harry dropped it, hearing the clatter of metal on the floor as the sword hit. He lifted his hand, palms outstretched towards the girl. She seemed to take his peace offer because she stopped shaking but still looked terribly scared.
'Do you know anybody we can tell to come and sort this out?' Harry asked silently and slowly.
She looked terrified beyond reason but nodded her head shakily 'M… my, Bro… Brother.'
'Where is he?' Harry asked 'Can you show me?'
She stood up and wobbled slightly. Harry jumped to steady her and he caught her right before she fell but that simple movement scared her. She cried out with tears streaking her already dirty face, creating small rivers along her young face. Harry only pulled her into a hug. What more could he do?
She overcame her initial shock but then began to cry in earnest. Harry didn't know anything about her but her life couldn't have been good for one so young to cry because of something as simple as a hug. After a while she stopped crying and showed Harry where to go. She walked next to him and finally they came to a cage, hidden by thick bushes.
Thirty men and twenty women sat inside of a cage not nearly big enough for them all. Harry quickly forced the heat around him to the lock and it melted like butter. The people sitting near the door scrambled away but looked relieved all the same to be out of their housing.
A man walked out of the door, having to bend a bit to get out of it. He was a tall and strong black man, as were all the other people there. He looked at Harry and asked 'Who are you?' in a deep voice that could easily carry across a quidditch pitch.
'Harry.' Harry replied uncertainly.
'Why did you do this?' the man asked as more people pooled out of the cage. 'How did you know of us?'
'uh, I kinda asked one of them for directions, by the way were are we?' Harry asked hoping at least one of them know.
'You, my friend must have been whacked pretty hard on your head if you don't know where you are.' The man replied with a smile. Harry could only gawp. This man, locked up in a cage can laugh and truly mean it. Joke as if nothing is bothering him.
'How do you do it?' Harry asked but then saw his confused expression and added 'laugh like that. How can you be happy if you have nothing to be happy about.'
'Young man, laughter keeps us human.' He said his eyes looking like he's remembering some good memory from the past. 'We're in Mozambique, Africa. Come, I know where we can go.'
'What do you mean? Don't you want to go home? Where are the police, this can't go on.' Harry stuttered, trying to find logic in this man's decision.
'We have nowhere to go.' He said sadly 'all we can do is to pick up the pieces. Don't worry young man, we will be all right. Don't bother yourself any more with us, you have done enough, we will start over again.'
Harry had no idea what to say to that. Strange people lived in Mozambique, Harry decided but before he could ask the question brimming in the edge of his mind the man said 'there is a city east of here, about two kilometers. Hopefully we will see each other again.'
'I'll come visit some time.' Harry said, not believing even himself.
'goodbye friend, may there be lots of pleasantries ahead for you.' The man said with a nod.
As Harry walked away, he heard the girl say 'Who is he? How did he do all those things?' and he could have sworn the man smiled and say 'He, little girl, is a wise old wizard sent to save us.' and an 'Oooohhhh.' from the girl.
Harry allowed himself a small smile and felt his initiative latch itself to his side. He would find the city, find a wizard and then find his friends.
Meanwhile
Ginny walked out of her small kitchen towards her sofa where she fell like a dead weight on top of the battered furniture. It was times like these where she would sometimes wish that she were dead, away from the suffering and pain, the murder and destruction, and the bloody ministry of magic, the fools.
The Death Eaters had launched a huge attack on a Muggle town in Africa somewhere. Ginny had received word of this attack by Neville, who was working for the Auror corps of the ministry. He and Tonks were partners when it came to fighting Death Eaters and they made one frightening fighting force. Ginny had responded to his call and grabbed a Portkey that all of the order members had. It would take them to the destination they wanted to be, anywhere on earth. Hermione and Dumbledore had created it when they realized that Apparating to other countries was too draining, leaving the order members incapable of fighting.
Ginny went there and landed in the heat of a battle with about thirty Death Eaters, ten Aurors, five order members and a variety of vicious beasts all around her, fighting like there was no tomorrow, and for most of them there wasn't a tomorrow. Ginny, Neville and Tonks along with a few others had to collect the bodies of the fallen, talk to the Muggle police, Obliviate them, and make up excuses for the destruction. The Ministry didn't do anything. They were too "busy", as the big heads called it with wasting time and recourses.
If only Harry was still here, he would set them straight in a jiffy.
NO! Don't. It was already bad enough to live in these times where so little people could be trusted without the thoughts of her lost friend. And besides, he isn't dead, he is just hiding, bidding his time, until one day he would come back with shiny armor and kill Voldemort and would become minister of magic and would piece together the whole wide world.
Even though Ginny was almost twenty years old and fought in an uncountable amount of battles she still hung onto some of her innocence. Her imagination, her cheeky humor in front of close friends. Some things had to be done to keep on going; something must motivate a person. The thing that motivated her most of all was hope. Hope that someday Harry would come back and sort out this mess. But who was she kidding?
Every time she thought this she felt mad at herself. She wanted Harry to sort out this mess, place the burden on poor old Harry's shoulder and then let him suffer instead of us. Harry had all the rights to hate everybody but still he carried on. For one month he was being tortured by Voldemort. The sick bastard sent them a new piece of Harry everyday. Firstly it was a single hair, tainted with blood. The next a nail, ripped out of Harry's hand. It only became worse. Until the last day, he sent them Harry's wand with a vein, Harry's main artery, inside a small box with a note that said.
Farewell, side of the light.
The dark will reign!
V.
The utter depression that followed that note was like none ever witnessed by Ginny. It was complete and utter defeat.
She went through the months that past in a kind of stupor, unaware of anything going on around her, not noticing the death toll rising, not noticing Hagrid crying while he was giving lessons, not even noticing Hermione and Ron getting together. Until one night when Hedwig showed up with Osiris, clearly saying goodbye. They were trying to find Harry Even in death they didn't give up. So nether would she.
She carried on, learning to fight, trained by Dumbledore and Xilion. She became an Animagus just before she finished her seventh year. She learnt how to kill. Her parents and Dumbledore tried to persuade her to apply for Auror training but she wouldn't have it. She would not work for the ministry, submitting to the never ending list of rules and regulations.
She participated in most of the battles, earning awards from the ministry, a small amount of fame, and a huge bounty on her head from Voldemort. Harry's possessions were distributed to all of his friends. She got his gun. It became one of her favorite weapons apart from her wand and she didn't hesitate to use it. In short she became a loose cannon.
After Hermione got pregnant she and Ron went into hiding under the Fidelius charm with Snape as their secret keeper. His Occlumency skills and immunity to pain and Veritaserum made him the perfect choice. He might be a bastard but he was loyal. Ginny knew most of everything these days. She knew who her parents' secret keeper was. Nobody else was supposed to know who any secret keeper was but she found out. She found out who all of them were.
There was a pop, announcing the workings of a Floo communication and Ginny sat upright, at least trying to look presentable for who ever was calling. It was none other than the headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore.
'Ah Ginny, good to see you are resting.' The old man said in a voice that suggested he is the one in need of rest.
'Hello Professor.' Ginny greeted 'what's up?'
'Not too much,' he said 'same things as always.'
'Any news?' she asked him.
'Oh yeah, uh, lets see,' he seemed to be looking down at his hand 'a few scattered raindrops accompanied by the trademark lightning caused by friction in the rain. I've had to wrap my head in cling foil, mind you.'
'Aberforth?' Ginny questioned, narrowing her eyes at the man while her hand moves towards her side where her wand was.
'The one and only.' He said smiling at her 'I wanted to tell you that the real professor will be holding a meeting as soon as his birdie snuffs it.'
'And that will be?' Ginny asked again.
'Figure it out, it's not that hard.' And with that said he disappeared again.
Ginny shook her head at the crazy old man. How the hell was she supposed to know when Fawkes is going to burn? She sat a while pondering the riddle of the man who might as well be a sphinx, but gave up.
She quickly took a shower and dressed. After she got everything she needed - wand, gun, chest armor, and a poisonous dagger - she left her compartment muttering the charm to seal it. She decided that if she was early she could always spent some time with the Aurors patrolling the school grounds, or even pay Dobby a visit. She giggled at her last thought and apparated with a slight pop. The only person who would pay dobby willingly a visit would be Harry. She re-appeared at the gates leading up to the magnificent castle and Ginny was just going to start walking when there was a pop slightly in front of her, marking the arrival of Tonks.
'Hi, Gin.' She said merrily, her hair forming a red Mohawk with green for base. Her nose also had a definite red shade to it.
'You look awfully merry today, why so happy?' Ginny replied, eyeing her hair with amusement.
Tonks simply grinned a strange smile and motioned for them to start walking.
'So, wha…' Ginny started but Tonks interrupted her before she could finish her sentence'
'I got promoted.' She said beaming.
'Then that means you're…' Ginny thought for a moment 'only four steps away from being head.'
'Yeah, they told me today. My own squad to command, it's great, all the things we could do. I always thought they needed sharpening around the edges and that's what I'm for…' Tonks started to blubber and Ginny tuned herself out, thinking instead of what the meeting might be about.
When they arrived at the headmaster's door they knocked once and let themselves in to find the meeting already in sequence, looking like they had been going on for a while.
'What…' Ginny said confused and glanced at Fawkes who looked perfectly fine.
'We told you Aberforth, come on pay up.' Said George, sitting next to Aberforth.
'Ginny, come on it wasn't that difficult' Aberforth said jovially 'If you hear that someone's pet is going to die you have to come immediately. See how much these two woman care for your bird Albus?'
'Ginny, Tonks, welcome. Please take a seat.' Said Dumbledore smiling with a tinkle in his eye.
'Dumbledore, sorry. Your brother told us the meeting will start when your "birdie will snuff it".' Tonks said quickly, making apologies.
'We didn't know when Fawkes' next burning day will be so…' Ginny finished lamely
'Not to worry, we were only informing the rest of the most recent attack.' He said conjuring two more chairs for them.
Dumbledore slowly got to his feet and started talking again, in his old and tired voice he always used since Harry died.
'So to finish off, the attack was completely spontaneous and nothing more than a little fun for them. If any of you have gotten any ideas or plans tell us about it, please. Our time is up. They have more men, although not as good as us,' he smiled at them 'we are outnumbered fifty three to one, not even counting dark creatures.'
There was a silence so deafening that Ginny hoped beyond hope that one of the twins would crack a silly joke. Who stood up however were Kingsley and Moody.
'We are outnumbered, Voldemort may never die, we may loose many more in the way that we already lost countless, but' Kingsley's voice shook them all out of their silence while Moody carried on the speech.
'We carry on. We fight. No matter how dark the outcome, we have to be strong. If we fight strong enough we will kill of their numbers one by one until only Voldemort remains. We will all die, why not live on the edge, enjoy our lives, kill some Death Eaters, and make the future at least a bit brighter. I vote to carry on, if we stand firm, there will be another who could kill him, mark my words, I know it.' He growled, his eye spinning madly while he twirl his wand between his fingers. Moody never let his wand go from his hand these days, not even once.
Moony stood up and said 'I second that. You know my history, I have nothing to loose.'
Dumbledore stood up again, he looked sad, probably thinking of Harry. Ginny knew that look. He cleared his throat 'It is all well and good, but we have to work with a plan. Voldemort can recruit more members than we can possibly kill. I fear for a lot of things these days. But I fear mostly for this school. Every Muggleborn is within these walls, except those under the Fidelius, and if Voldemort decides to strike, he will break through. He will loose many people but he can take it. He doesn't know it but he can.'
'Where is your optimism man!' said Fred loudly 'You are becoming old, don't talk shite into our heads! I have respect for you Professor, more than you may think, but we did this countless times, overcame impossible odds. You may think the castle is weak, you may think you are becoming weak but every time you weep for Harry, we all feel it. Through the bond shared by order members, we all feel it. That just shows that you are still strong, very much so.'
George carried on 'Who of you will take on Dumbledore in a duel?' he waited a moment 'see Professor, nobody, not even the head of the ministry's Auror corpse. Come on, don't feel like you failed because Harry is dead. You are still very capable at the age of one hundred and sixty this year, even though you don't see it, we do. Don't doubt yourself. My brother did that and see were he is now, under Fidelius, hiding. Don't get me wrong, I understand his position, with his lad and all, but why aren't you hiding if you are so afraid? It's because your subconscious won't allow you.'
He and Fred looked at one another and then sat down at the same time with a huge sigh.
'Wonderfully said' Dumbledore declared 'I will think this through. Who can help me with the wards? I want to reinforce them with a spike charm just for good measure.'
'You do realize that it will take a very long time to conjure up all those spike and embed them into the wards, don't you Albus?' said his brother.
Dumbledore nodded with a wink at Fred and George.
'Then I will help you.' He said but at that moment Fawkes disappeared with a shrill tone and a burst of flame, re-appearing a few seconds later, looking at Dumbledore with a tear in his pearly eyes
'Oh no! There again?' Fawkes nodded 'Very well.' He turned around and looked at the assembled people 'Mozambique, come on, I'll come with you, we take this one with force!' he walked into his room and got his battle cloak. When he walked out again he saw all of the people ready and waiting for him.
Ginny couldn't remember when last the Order showed so much enthusiasm for an upcoming fight but she was grateful for it all the same. She was tired of it that before every fight people thought only one thought; who will die today? Ginny looked at every man and woman there, all of them ready to fight. Dumbledore and his brother, Ginny and her brothers, every teacher assembled, Hagrid, Xilion and his wife, people of the ministry she didn't know all that well. Everybody was ready.
'We defend those people and their land, we stop Voldemort's forces and we protect the land's great up bring of restorative potion. Without it we wouldn't have come this far.' Dumbledore announced 'Severus, inform the Aurors that we will be going, I will meet you there.'
With that they sprung into action, heading out of the castle, earning stares of admiration from students and remaining teachers as well. They knew what those people will be doing shortly, defending the world, so to speak. All of the students they passed lifted their wands in thanks and question to join them, a tradition that came not long ago, after the first Hogwarts battle, and the day Harry was taken away. Dumbledore nodded to a few of them with a sad look on his face and then they would fall is step with the Order. They will join the fight.
Six seventh years, three sixth years and four fifth years fell in pace. They were strong people, brave students, not afraid of dying. When they crossed the wards Dumbledore lifted his arms and everybody fell silent.
'Students, protect yourselves and don't take risks. I don't want any casualty of the student body today, do you hear me?'
Eight boys and five girls agreed to the terms and then the order members pulled out their Portkeys. Ginny motioned one of the fifth year girls to come to her and she did.
'You'll be fine, don't worry and stay close.' Ginny said, reassuring the girl.
The countdown started and before she knew it she was standing in front of Death-Eaters, rows of them. All hell broke loose in that instant and the sky were filled with cries of enchantments or pain. The spells streamed like rainbows through the air but Ginny didn't waist time to admire the sight. The girl was already firing spells of her own and transfiguring barriers for protection. Ginny could only admire her cool logic and speed before she too sprung into action.
Twenty minutes later more Death Eaters arrived, dark creatures in tow. A few order members were down but Ginny didn't think any of them were dead. She couldn't say the same for the Death Eaters though. She took out five with her gun alone and she saw Xilion stabbing his third victim with his sword. The girl that came with Ginny gave a yell when a Death Eater fired and killing curse right in her direction. There was nothing she could have done to prevent the inevitable. That girl was going to die.
Ginny fired a shot from her gun, sending the offending Death-Eater hurling away from the force of the Banishing charm inside the bullet. The girl and the Death-Eater fell at the same time, both of them dead.
The cry of anguish from Dumbledore broke through the battle field like a siren. It seemed like the weight of the world was thrusted upon his shoulders and without any delay, he fought like he was supposed to. Sending spells faster than Ginny could possibly ever hope to achieve. His movements became faster, his eyes blazed like a light in the dark and he cursed and hexed, taking out people faster than Ginny could count. He looked as if he weighed nothing, moving graciously through the crowds, dodging spells, taking others without ill effect. He swept his wand in one long movement, tripping most of the Death-Eaters and sending flying ones spinning wildly. The Order took this as their cue and sprung into action, stunning, killing or hexing the enemy. Ginny fired shots to a chimera that had only now joined in. Not even the burst of reductor curses combined with the heavy lead of her bullets seemed did any damage to the beast. It turned his attention to Ginny, its eyes bloodthirsty, green drool dripping from its mouth and its claw raised high above its head.
Ginny was, for the first time since she actually started to fight, scared for her life. It didn't hesitate, couldn't sense her fear and swung. Before she could move the claw made impact against her arm which was hanging at her side, and shattered the bones. The force lifted her from her feet and she was hurled straight into the waiting arms of a giant. It didn't hesitate to strike, throwing her savagely to the ground like a rag doll. Ginny could feel the life draining out of her when she made impact. Her air was knocked out of her lungs, she could feel her ribs puncturing her lungs from the side, she could feel her leg snapping, hanging at an odd angle. It was the worst Ginny ever felt in her life, her heart were hammering against her battered chest as she saw the giant raise it foot, intending to stomp Ginny. At that moment Ginny could have sworn she saw a white beard, clear blue eyes staring at her over the top of half moon glasses on a crooked nose.
'Let's go home Ginny' said Dumbledore right before he embraced her and Apparated away, to Hogwarts.
'Ron!' Hermione screamed from the kitchen over the cries of her baby boy. She waited a moment longer and then screamed again.
'Damnit Ron! It's your turn to change his nappy!' She bellowed again. The nerve of that man! He could be the sweetest gentleman she knew and utterly lamely romantic but sometimes she wish she could pluck his head out of Quidditch's arse. She finally heard footsteps come down the stairs and she prepared her speech. When Ron finally came down the look on his face made her get second thoughts.
'Sorry, had a Floo.' He said and Hermione felt the cold fingers of dread creep up to her heart. The only person who could Floo them wouldn't normally do it for their own pleasure. Ron went through the stages of changing a nappy second naturedly, lifting his son right onto the food counter but he didn't even seem to notice. As he started to change the nappy he began to speak.
'There was a battle, major from the sounds of it.' He started 'the whole Order was there, including Dumbledore.' Hermione let out a small gasp 'it seemed like they wanted to win this battle good, give courage back to the light. It worked beautifully; everything was done in little over four hours, minor Order casualties. Only one Auror and a student' here Hermione let go another gasp, she could feel the same feeling return to her she had since Harry was gone, fear. Don't go there. 'Ginny was fighting like a woman possessed again, only…' here Ron faltered and Hermione snaked her arm around his waist. 'She got struck by a chimera. It threw her straight at a giant.'
'Ron, please tell me she's not…' she couldn't finish her sentence, it was too hard, her eyes were already starting to water.
'She's alive.' He said with a sigh 'her arm is shattered, leg broken on three places, punctured lung, cracked skull, and vast amounts of damage from the chimera's poison.'
He broke down completely, sinking to the ground, holding his only son (with a new nappy) close to his heart, and cried out in pain. Hermione sunk with him to the ground, trying but to no avail to quell her own sobs. Ginny would certainly have lasting damage, she shouldn't even be alive.
'How long are we going to hide?' he said in between sobs 'Voldemort will get us in the end, we know that deep down.'
'Ron' Hermione pleaded 'it's for the best, we decided long ago.'
'Hermione, I know you, it gnaws at your heart just like it does to mine. We can't hide. It's no use. I don't want to die a coward. I want to go like Harry.' He said Harry's name softly but with so much respect one would think he is a three year old boasting about his father.
'He held his head up high. He was tortured for a month Hermione. Every single day something new from Harry's body came to us. Even one of his testicles. From what we heard he never gave up. He even looked Voldemort in the eye when he removed Harry's main artery. Macnair went mad from Harry even though it was supposed to be the other way round. Harry laughed at Voldemort and spat in his face, just before Bellatrix removed him for his death. You heard the testimonies of some of them under veritaserum. I will not go down like Wormtail. And I would much rather kill myself before Voldemort can do it Hermione. I know you feel the same.'
Hermione couldn't speak; she had a hard time as it was to breathe. Everything Ron said was true, every last word of it. She would rather kill her own son before he joined voldemort and as things were going now, that isn't a long way ahead.
Finally she said 'Okay.' And it was all she could not to break down again. They would fight like Harry. They would fight for him, he couldn't fulfill the prophecy but that wouldn't stop her and Ron from trying to carry on where Harry stopped.
Professor McGonagall walked the walls of Hogwarts, tired and sore from the battle. She was lucky in this one. She didn't even realize how rusty one can become if you didn't practice something on a regular basis, like fighting. It was just a stroke of miracle that she "happened" to find herself next to Alastor and right behind the twins with all of their ingenious inventions. With them around you didn't even had to use a wand!
Small things they call hand grenades explode. Awful things those. And then there were the shields they made. Small plates of iron that hover in front of you and buzz around like snitches, taking the curses and hexes. In fact they look like clowns on a battle field, with all their colorful contraptions and strange use of spells. She caught one of them throwing a laxative charm at a Death-Eater, hardly the mostly used fighting spell. But she must admit they were effective, in a manner of speaking. More so than most of the more brutal types, like Ginny. Unlike their sister they don't just give the Death-Eaters what they deserve; they humiliate them in front of their comrades and leave them alive for apprehension and interrogation.
She walked towards Albus' office, and gave the password to the statue. When she approached the doors it swung open of their own accord revealing Albus sitting on his chair, looking happy, as if he had just taken a stroll around the lake instead of a full fledged battle.
'Minerva, what a pleasant surprise.' He announced. It annoyed her that he always greets her in some fashion that contradicts himself completely. He knew I was coming.
'How is everything?' she asked him tiredly.
'Oh… It is a terrible disaster that one student had to go, a good girl.' He looked truly sad as he talked about the girl 'her parents were already here.'
He paused for a moment while he chewed on a biscuit, looking like he was pulling himself together.
'The people who were apprehended are being interrogated at this moment - hopefully some of them will have information. We need to know where his fortress is if we ever hope to win this war. I know that he is almost done with his dragons and if he releases them…'
'What about Charlie Weasley and the whole camp full of dragons? They can be controlled to an extent.' McGonagall said with no small amount of apprehension.
'You know what he did to those dragons; Hogwarts' wards will have a hard time with those. Strong as they may be, it can only last so long and if we put a small army with them, we will have an old castle without any protection save the walls.'
'The walls are the strongest protection this castle has.' She stuttered 'Surely you know that.'
'I do, I do. But what can we do? I can feel my power leaving me, I can feel myself getting old. Look at me.' With a wave of his wand he removed the glamour charms on his face. Wrinkles spread over his face, his eyes became droopy, looking tired and his beard and hair thinned out looking more gray now than white. He looked like a picture perfect grandpa.
'Oh Albus.' McGonagall said softly.
'See, now you understand why I act the way I do, why I can't do much more.' He said slowly, his voice box preventing him from speaking louder of faster.
Harry walked down the road, his mind a jumble. There was a battle fought only a few kilometers back, a magical battle. That means wizards and witches, and that means one step closer to home. He walked some more, the road seemed to have no end. He craved the times of when he was still in school, thinking of homework, quidditch, a small cut on his hand maybe. Now everything was so much worse.
He was tired, and sore. Some of the wounds the monsters inflicted couldn't be healed. His body seamed to respond in some unnatural way. He found he had to use the toilet far more often, but still nothing would come out. He was thirsty and so hungry.
Now that he was out of the chamber he felt weak. It must have had some kind of magic on it, he could go weeks without food and he was actually living a normal life in solitude. His knee was bleeding badly, throbbing painfully and each step he took it became worse. His blood was returning a normal shade of red - he couldn't even will his magic to still the pain anymore. It was like his magic seemed exhausted.
His sword didn't shine bright as it used to, in fact it was a normal blade. He felt his magic leave him for a while now but he didn't think it would come so sudden, so fierce. He felt powerless.
He lifted his palm, he just had to see. He willed the magic inside of him to co-operate and it did. A flame the same size one match stick could generate sprung up in his hand. Was it only a month ago that he could summon a fire the size of a sphinx? Was it only a month ago that he felt so powerful? Daily he saw his fire reducing until only this was left. He thought it was the anticipation of escape that made the flame reduce in size. Perhaps even the subconscious thought of people out there that could take care of him if he needed it.
The one thing he didn't think about, no didn't want to think about that maybe, just maybe he was dying. Slowly but surely for a month and counting. It was ironic that he could survive all that he went through in his miserable life but in the end, when he thought he could recuperate for a while by escaping he was in fact dying. The flame he generated reduced until it flickered out completely and at once Harry felt pain beyond pain flaring up from his knee. Everything was in pain, the huge gash in his arm, it wasn't just throbbing now, it was burning like hell. He felt blood starting to flow through the sore, and every other part of his body that was cut or torn.
How he didn't realize all his wounds earlier was not something his mind could work out at this moment. Harry fell down to the ground with a cry of pain. His couldn't speak, his throat was to sore, he tried to breath but the air sucked in from somewhere below his chin, filling his lungs not only with air but blood as well. He could feel his blood dripping from his fingertips, running down his legs and chest. He could feel it flow over his face, his vision like a red and warm blanket covering him for his eternal sleep. It was comfortable in his cocoon made by his own blood. He would stay there for a while. It was so peaceful, so calm…
Molly Weasley stood next to her little vegetable garden next to the burrow thinking, not for the first time, how it was going with all her children. Bill, working with treasure of Gringots. She didn't know what he did but it was dangerous all the same. He was the one that had to ensure the safety of the wards around the piles of gold and gems buried deeply within the earth. And Charlie - dragon keeper was already a dangerous title to have in front of your name, more so in these times, with all the Death Eaters out for a dragon. It was Charlie's job to not only keep them safe from disease but from the enemy as well.
Then there was Percy. Working in the ministry that didn't mean anything these days. He still worshipped Fudge but at least he was speaking to his father and mother, sending them funds to help them in their forced retirement. The whole place was plagued with spies from him. Then the twins, still with their joke shop, but fighting as well. How is it that all the younger ones fight and the older more experienced had jobs outside of the battle field. At least they promised her they would make sure of their safety first and then carry on. So long they keep that promise. Thankfully Ron was the sensible one and fled with Hermione and their son. At least one of her siblings will be safe.
She couldn't say the same for Ginny. If only she could make sure her daughter is safe, every mother has a soft spot for their only daughters. What made her turn the way she did? Why did she have to go and become one of the most prominent fighters for the Order? Molly didn't have to think too hard to answer that question. Harry.
As soon as she thought about that Hedwig gave a mighty screech like a caged animal although she was sitting next to Osiris on the tree in front of the Burrow. They were restless ever since Harry died. Going for weeks on end and returning with nothing, only they knew what they were searching for, thin as skeletons. They would accept the care Molly offered them and then set of again; the two of them making for a strange sight. A snowy white owl accompanied by a pitch black dragon, both the same size. Today they were simply being menaces - Hedwig screeching like hell was freezing over and Osiris pawing the ground, sending small fireballs everywhere. Every now and then he would whine and roar, looking like he was going to be sick and then sending another fireball.
Suddenly he gave a roar so loud Molly was sure it must have came from a fully grown dragon's throat. He stood on all fours, charring the ground he was standing on. He made as if he was going to be sick again but instead he gave another roar the made molly's ears ring. There was a shimmering around the dragon for a moment and then it blinked out with a flash of bright white light. Molly screamed and covered her eyes from the light and when she reopened them something not exactly Osiris stood in front of her. The cute and cuddly small dragon was gone, and in its place was an exact replica, only a hundred times bigger.
Standing next to the burrow was a fully fledged dragon, standing on its hind legs - its face turned upwards, mouth turned open. It sucked in air with a purring noise that molly felt in the ground and suddenly sent a streak of fire so huge it could have incinerated the whole Burrow to nothing but ashes if it was heading that way. When the flames three times as high as the Burrow went out a great big ball of black smoke remained that waived away with the wind.
'MOLLY!' she heard her husband scream from the interior of the house 'WHAT IS THAT!' before she could reply Arthur burst out of the front door with his wand held high, sending stunners at the huge beast but to no avail. Ten stunners didn't even make slow it down. Instead it lowered to the ground slowly, its head moving in a lazy fashion towards Arthur. It was three meters away when it stopped, its shiny eyes glistering in the sunlight, pinning Arthur where he stood with fright. It made a soft purring sound from deep within its throat that still managed to send tremors through the ground. It moved cautiously closer to Arthur but didn't look like it was going to strike at any moment, instead it tilted its head sideway and fell down onto its stomach, exactly like Osiris used to do when he wanted a rub on the neck from Arthur. The impact made them stumble but they kept their balance.
'Molly,' Arthur said slowly 'what is this?'
'I… I don't know. Osiris was there a moment ago and then a flash of light and then this thing.' She said scared beyond words.
'How did it happen?' he asked.
'Osiris was looking like he was going to be sick and then suddenly a flash of light and then this.' She said starting to babble.
Arthur looked at the Dragon in front of him and stepped closer until he was in reach distance. He patted the huge dragon's head with a shakily hand and his suspicion was confirmed when the dragon began to purr again. Hedwig hooted from somewhere in the sky and molly thought she about summed it up, 'oh hooooo' indeed.
Osiris looked at molly and then took flight after Hedwig who after all seemed to have called him rather than display her disbelieve. They flew one circle above the burrow and then Hedwig shot South-East with a tremendous bust of speed, followed closely by Osiris who seemed to enjoy his huge fire balls, for every few flaps it took, another ball of flame could be seen lighting up the horizon. They flew so fast within minutes they were completely out of sight, going to who knows where.
'Could you tell me what happened?' she asked her husband who had come to stand next to her.
'Don't know' he answered slowly 'It must be something important if Osiris broke free of whatever enchantment or potion was on him.'
Harry was vaguely aware of the sound of drum rolls, a symphony-like song; a battle cry. It gave him strength, he could feel it returning to him slowly but to no avail. Every time he gained strength the pain would come back, the pressing need his body has to simply stop functioning. The song continued and Harry didn't stop to fight, the pain lessened every now and then but it came back like nothing before. He was aware of some presence near him but he couldn't see it, he doubted that anybody could see it because Harry had a vague idea that it was not there at all. He could feel something, he just didn't know what; it was like you feel someone watching you but can't pinpoint the person.
It didn't have harmful intentions towards Harry, only towards the people who inflicted the pain on him. Harry was starting to feel scared, this thing, whatever it was, wanted to come to Harry but something held it back, Harry couldn't tell what. It would be nice to have a companion with him at that moment, anything. The music started again and Harry felt heartened, this thing, whatever it was, was sending the sound to Harry.
Harry wanted it with him, it was powerful but most of all it wanted to be with Harry, sooth his painful sores, give him strength but it couldn't come.
Harry willed it to come, he cried out in his head for it to come, he even cursed and threatened it for it to come but nothing worked. He had to get it; it was an opportunity that he couldn't simply throw away. Again he willed it on with his mind, helping the thing with its struggles to come to Harry, cheering it on. And finally Harry felt a breakthrough. The music fell into place. It wasn't a small glimpse of the sound Harry heard, it was a symphony so inspiring that Harry felt his determination returning. Adrenaline started to pump through his body, he couldn't help it, it just came. Harry opened his eyes a bit, breaking the dried blood on his eyes.
Even now, when Harry felt so strong and happy that this thing was with him, he could feel the life drain out of him. If only he could just catch sight of the thing that gave him strength for the last time. Harry could hear breathing nearby, only it was so soft one would miss it if you didn't listen closely. He could hear paws stomping on the dirt next to Harry's chest. He could feel the sunlight being blocked by a shape in front of his eyes. And then Harry felt a snout of some animal on his cheek followed by a tongue licking the wounds. At once the pain stopped where the animal licked it. Harry could feel whiskers of some sort. He opened turned his eyes so that he could focus on the creature in front of him. It was the size of a wolf, no; maybe a bit bigger and it had thick white fur with red streaks in it.
The fur right below its big clear eyes was deep red, making it look as if it is crying blood. Its face was the same form of a wolf's only the snout was a bit longer and broader, its teeth were perfect white, sharp front teeth. For a moment Harry felt a flare of fear, what if it was a werewolf? But when it licked Harry's deep gash on his neck and the pain stopped, Harry knew it couldn't be one. This thing was better built than a werewolf, the same size but it looked stronger. Harry knew that no werewolf stood a chance against this thing. Harry thought that it looked like cross between a lion, a tiger, a cheetah, and a wolf, except it had no mane. It had characteristics of each animal. It looked stealthy but yet strong like it could fight face to face as well. And it soothed Harry's pain, sustained his wounds just as Harry had done for three and a half years.
This was one incredible creature. And then in the distance Harry could hear a roar, Harry had heard that roar before but what would that do here now? Hopefully it would leave Harry alone - Harry didn't fancy a hungry dragon next to him now. The thing next to Harry had other ideas though. It stood next to Harry and gave a roar in return. Only the roar was so strong, so terrifying that Harry was sure it would send Voldemort running tail between legs. The dragon roared again, this time closer and Harry heard it touch down. In the next instant Harry saw a bird circle overhead, an owl, a white owl to be precise. It dropped down and hovered right in Harry's field of vision. It hooted softly, soothingly and Harry remembered that sound. It was Hedwig. His owl!
'H… Hed…' that was the most Harry could say but the bird touched down next to Harry and nuzzled his cheek. Clearly she understood what Harry was trying to say. The creature purred softly next to Harry and then Harry opened his eyes again. He couldn't even remember closing them to see the face of a dragon hovering right in his field of vision. Something of his face looked familiar, only last time Harry checked it was hundred times smaller.
'Os…' it was the most Harry could manage the second time but the dragon hopped up and down. He flapped his huge wings and lifted of the ground. Next he reached out with his claws and scooped Harry softly of the ground. Hedwig flew up next to Harry's face and hooted softly flying out front. Harry looked down and saw the magnificent creature running full tilt below them on the ground. He looked even more incredible from up there and he could keep up with a dragon and a post owl. That must be fast. Harry could feel their speed increasing as they flew, he could feel the wind whipping his face and clothes but just when it became too much Osiris lowered his head and the wind stopped mostly. Still the creature kept up and it didn't look as if it was going to fall behind.
It would keep Harry safe from the ground, from predators and Death-Eaters while Osiris made sure Harry got there safely. Harry had his own guard of honor of magical creatures. They were taking care of him. They would make sure that Harry arrived safely at the destination Hedwig chose. Harry could take a nap for the trip. Nothing can touch him here. He was safe, they would ensure it.
