Chapter 27: Oroste d'Andaron

They watched in silence as the events unfolded before them.

"Well?" he asked, his voice calm and serene, as though untroubled by what he beheld.

"Should he fall, there shall be none to fulfill his task. Without him to awaken them, there shall be nothing to stand in the way of the coming Darkness," she replied, a faint frown gracing her lips.

"Then he shall not fall," he replied simply.

She smiled faintly at his statement, the tone of his voice offering no doubt to his belief of the truth of his words.

"It is not so simple as that Adaron," she countered, gripping her staff tightly.

"Oh?" He asked, a slight feeling of humour present in his voice.

"Our powers are still limited. If we expend them now, we will not have enough to bring them back." She said vaguely.

"True," he agreed. "But all that is purposeless without him, as you so said. As he said so well 'Plans change, but the goal remains the same.' We'll figure something out."

She nodded slightly, the leaves woven amid her hair rustling slightly at the movement.

He smiled then, and the aura around him began to swirl and glow in anticipation.

"It will not drain all of our powers, I believe," he said, almost as much to himself as to her. "He certainly qualifies."

She looked at him quizzically, an eyebrow raised in inquiry.

He looked at her, and stars seemed to dance in his eyes,

"It has been some time since I have given the gift of my blessing to one of our children."

She smiled then, the grip on her staff lessening somewhat.

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Time stood still, and Ginny was frozen, mouth open in a silent scream.

Time stood still, and Voldemort was frozen, mouth open in silent laughter.

Time stood still, and the Dementor was frozen, mouth open in anticipation of its feast.

Time stood still, and Harry's soul was frozen, motionless in the air above the body it had so recently occupied.

Time stood still, and the battlefield was frozen, every mortal motionless as the sands of time paused.

A pale white light shimmered silently in the air before the frozen elves, and a figure emerged. He was translucent, incorporeal, but power still radiated around him. A silver breastplate adorned his chest, and his stance was that of a warrior, one of supreme confidence and infinite strength.

His eyes slowly drifted across the battlefield, taking in the bodies of the fallen elves. His eyes watered, a tear slowly running down his cheek as he mourned the passing of his children. He could not save them. Their spirits had already passed into Atara's loving embrace. His eyes continued to roam, and he spotted a fallen unicorn, one of the brave steeds that had carried the elves to battle. It still lived, despite a near-mortal wound. He smiled at the noble creature, and a moment later, its wounds were healed, leaving it weak from blood-loss, but alive.

He turned, and beheld the purpose for his presence there.

"Warrior's soul," he whispered, as he looked at the shining light above the frozen Elf.

He reached out, and touched it lightly. It awakened at his touch, pulsating briefly as it recognized him. He paused. Something was oddly...familiar about this soul. There was something about it-but he couldn't place it.

"Now is not your time," He spoke, his voice comforting and reassuring.

It flared briefly, and he smiled.

"Worry not about them, they are inconsequential" he said, gesturing to the vampires and the dementor. "Nor should you worry for her," he continued, pointing at Ginny, and the soul flared briefly again.

"Return now," he urged. "Trust me."

He nodded encouragement as the shimmering light seemed to hesitate, before darting back into the elf's frozen body.

Adaron smiled.

Next he looked towards the forest, his keen sight piercing through the forest, finding the approaching war party, frozen in place. He smiled mischievously and suddenly, for them, time seemed to flow normally. When, eventually, time returned to normal outside of the small bubble that encompassed them, moving with them as they rode, they would find themselves much closer to the battle then they had thought.

And Adaron smiled once more.

He walked around the frozen elf, and looked down at him.

"You are noble, young one," he whispered, looking briefly at Ginny, then back. "To sacrifice yourself, in such a manner, so that another may live. A selfless act. A just act."

He stood, looking at the force of elves, surrounded and outmatched, who had nevertheless charged forth, to do what was right.

He nodded to himself. "You have shown courage beyond your years. The Sindalion would have been well served by one such as you. Perhaps he may still, but that is not of import this moment."

He reached down, placing a hand upon the elf's brow, and reached inside, into the very essence of the elf's being. There, he found what he sought, the strength stored deep within all elves, waiting to be given the power to take form, however temporarily. With a smile, Adaron, the only one who could, gave it that power.

"Now arise, my blessed one," He whispered, "become what you are meant to be. Become my Avatar, that you may mete my justice."

With that, he faded away.

And the sands of time flowed once more.

It was only as his soul was sucked from his body and he sagged lifeless in the grip of the vampires that his eyes dimmed and dropped away.

It happened so fast any who blinked would have missed it entirely. One moment, Harry's head had fallen forward, and the bright shining light of his soul hovered above him. The next, the shining light of his soul was gone from the air, and his head was up again, eyes wide and shining with silver light so bright it threatened to blind any who beheld them.

His arms flung back, tossing the vampires who had held him fifty feet through the air, before they landed with a sickening crunch on the unforgiving ground.

He slowly got to his feet, as the glow in his eyes spread, encompassing his whole body. His wings burst forth from his back, but where once they were white with golden tips, now they shone a pure, brilliant silver and as they moved they trailed rainbows and twinkling starlight.

His wings began to beat, almost involuntarily, lifting him several feet from the ground. The gleaming light flared around his brightly, surrounding his entire body, and everyone looking at him had to turn away from the brilliant light.

When the light faded, those who beheld him were stunned. It wasn't the fact that he was still technically glowing, a pale silver light glowing faintly around him. It wasn't the glowing silver breastplate that had materialized on his chest, nor was it the sword in his hand, that glowed a brilliant white, and trailed sparkling stars behind it as it moved.

It wasn't even the fact that he had gotten several feet taller, and now looked to have gained enough muscle to put a giant to shame.

It was the pure power that radiated from him, and the supreme confidence in the way he stood, the way he held himself.

His eyes, deep wells of pure silver light, looked at Voldemort, and the Dark Lord knew fear.

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"Would someone explain to me WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON?" Ron blurted out, staring in extreme confusion at Harry.

"Oroste d'Andaron," Olvyn whispered in awe. "Avatar of Justice."

"What?" Sirius asked, still staring somewhat wide eyed at his godson.

"Its said that an elf who sacrifices himself for a greater cause, such as love, in a totally selfless act...that they are blessed," James stammered. "Its supposedly something that lurks within all of us, the ability to become the avatar. But...its not happened in milennia. It was practically a myth..."

"Why?" Hermione asked.

"Because...because supposedly, it requires a great deal of power to make the transformation," he whispered, looking down at his son in awe. "More power then any one mortal has ever had."

"Then who-" Dumbledore began, before pausing, eyes widening. "My god..."

"Yup," James said, nodding. "Pretty much."

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Ginny smirked over at Voldemort when Harry turned his glowing eyes upon him.

"I don't think he likes you very much," she said, smiling faintly. "And he looks considerably angry."

Voldemort backed up a few steps, before screaming for his army to attack.

"Get her back behind the line." Voldemort hissed to the vampire holding her. "Then kill her. Slowly."

The vampire grinned ferally, and before she could scream out, he began to drag her back, while the vampires and death eaters around him rushed forward to attack.

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A giant charged towards him. He charged back, fearless, leaping forward, his wings giving him extra lift. He moved with startling speed, stabbing his sword into the giant's neck lightning fast, before landing smoothly. The giant looked stunned for a moment, before slowly crumpling to the ground. A barrage of curses rushed towards Harry's chest, but bounced of his gleaming armour, rebounding back on their casters, some of whom didn't duck away in time, and were struck down by their own spells.

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"Bloody hell," Remus breathed. "He's..."

"Kicking ass?" Sirius supplied.

Remus nodded. "Ya...that works."

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The Avatar, and everyone watching had a hard time calling it Harry for it attacked with a mindless fury and what looked like an expression of boredom on its face, tore through the enemy ranks, his sword cleaving through vampires with terrible ease.

The Death Eaters found their curses useless. Those that didn't reflect off his armour seemed to be absorbed before they touched his skin.

The avatar fought through the enemy, cutting a path straight towards the Dark Lord. Voldemort, realizing that he was the focus of its attention, quickly fell back, putting as much space between the himself and the elf. His servants continually threw themselves in the way, but the avatar was relentless, driving through the enemy, endlessly pursuing the one who radiated the most darkness.

"Stop him!" Voldemort cried, stumbling backward as the avatar closed in. He'd seen the ease with which it brushed aside curses, and it terrified him. Unfortunately for him, everyone else had seen the same thing, and a path was opening directly between them, as vampires and Death Eaters fought to get out of its way.

"You have been judged." The avatar yelled, voice full of power and strength. His blade slashed out, and Voldemort only barely managed to stumble back out of its reach.

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"I get the feeling Voldie's having a bad day all of a sudden," Sirius said, grinning widely.

"Ya," Ron agreed. "But where's Ginny?"

Sirius' grin slowly faded as they realized that Ginny was still in danger.

"There she is!" Hermioine pointed, to the rear of the enemy line. "Oh no..."

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"Your boyfriend can't save you now, bitch." The vampire hissed, as he dragged her to the edge of the forest, about twenty yards behind the rear of the enemy line, despite her struggles to break free.

"Harry will kill you," she replied simply.

"He might," the vampire agreed, nodding. "But you won't live to see it."

The vampire twisted her head to the side, bearing her neck, and with a cruel grin, jerked his head down, to bury his fangs into her neck.

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Voldemort stumbled backward, barely avoiding another swing of that vicious sword. He cursed at the vampires, for they had failed him. He cursed at his death eaters, for they too had failed him.

"Justice has come for you." The glowing figure cried, as it swung once more, and this time Voldemort knew he wouldn't be able to dodge aside in time.

Screaming in anger and frustration, he activated his emergency portkey, and fled the battle.

Less then a second later, the shining sword of the Avatar of Justice buried itself in the ground where he had been.

"Coward!" The avatar cried, as it wrenched its sword from the ground. It had failed. Judgement had been passed, but Justice had not been done.

It felt something then, that tugging that drew its attention once more towards the forest.

There...the elf. He felt something...a connection to her. He could not remember what. She was in danger...he could tell that easily-but there was no way he could reach her in time. The blow was already being struck.

Then his eyes, still shining brilliantly, focused on something behind her, and he smiled and turned away.

He was not needed there, and there were still numerous enemies upon the field.

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Ginny tensed, closing her eyes, anticipating at any moment to feel the searing pain of the vampire's bite ... but it never came.

Her eyes opened as she felt the grip on her head loosen, and she half turned, eyes widening in surprise as the vampire fell to the ground beside her, an arrow visible in his back, buried deep into its black heart.

She looked towards the forest in shock, and almost sobbed in relief as she saw Allia ride out, not looking the least bit concerned at the mass of enemies that still stood on the field, and were even now turning, spotting the lone pair of elves who apparently stood between them and their escape.

"You look like you could use some help," Allia said, as she rode forward, stopping beside Ginny, Warwick pawing the ground in anticipation.

"Umm," Ginny said, swallowing nervously, "I think the odds are a bit uneven aren't they?"

Allia smiled, and looked down at her, eyes twinkling mysteriously.

"Of course they are," Allia answered. "They would need at least twice their number to have a chance!"

Just then, a horn call rang from the castle, and Ginny could almost swear she heard disbelief and wonder in the sound.

Allia looked up and laughed.

"Stay close to me Ginny. They'll be coming in hard." Allia said, and she raised her horn to her lips, and gave a tremendous blast, the sound echoing through the air.

Then the air was filled with the braying of trumpets, as a line of riders burst from the tree line, over three hundred mount elves charging forth, flowing past Allia and Ginny, to crash into the already wavering lines of the enemy.

Arrows arched over head, passing over the line of clashing cavalry, to fall amidst the enemy, cutting down countless foes.

"So here's a question," Allia began, as a line of infantry moved from the forest to their left, moving into flanking position.

"Hmm?" Ginny asked, still somewhat stunned by the sudden reinforcements.

"Who is that, and what has he done with Harry?" Allia asked.

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The dark army, already in disarray, and without their Lord to order them, quickly fell apart in the face of the superior elven forces.

They broke, fleeing. Some, those lucky enough to have been deemed worthy of portkeys, used them, fleeing the battle.

However they were a select few. The elven cavalry proved quite efficient in running down fleeing foes, and the line of infantry proved to be too solid a wall for the enemy to break through, blocking all escape into the forest.

Several remaining giants tried to keep up the fight, but faced against the superior speed and agility of the elven cavalry, they were quickly felled.

A group of Death Eaters tried to flee along the shoreline of the lake, but were quickly spotted by the elven archers, who wasted no time in sweeping the beach with arrows.

A pack of Vampires even tried to flee toward the school. This was beyond a doubt a mistake, as Olyvn, seeing that it was no longer necessary to hold up the extra wards, let them fall.

The vampires were struck down by bolts of blue energy, as the powerful mage struck out with his battle magics.

It wasn't long before the only remaining enemies were being rounded up by mounted groups of elves, and Ginny turned her attention once more to the glowing figure that...had...been Harry.

Ginny approached, to where he was standing still in the centre of the bloodstained battlefield. He looked down at her.

"I failed," his voice said, and there was a hint of weakness in it now. The glow around him seemed softer now.

Ginny shook her head. "No, you didn't. You won."

"But-but he escaped."

"But his army was defeated Harry." She said, smiling at him. "You won."

"I know you,"he said, but a confused look was on his face.

She nodded again. "Yes...its me...Ginny. Remember?"

"I-I think so?" He answered questioningly.

She sighed. She didn't know quite what exactly was wrong with him, but she had an idea as to how to fix it.

Looking square at him, she repeated what he had done earlier, and send all her love and feelings through their bond. She also sent the echoes of what she had felt from him.

His eyes widened for a moment, before the light around him flared up once more, pulsating brightly, before vanishing.

Gone was the Avatar, and all that was left was Harry.

"Ginny?" He asked, eyes somewhat unfocused, wobbling slightly.

She nodded, tears of joy running down her face.

"What happened?" He asked.

"I haven't a clue," she answered truthfully.

"Oh...okay," he said, nodding. "Ginny?"

"Hmm?"

He looked at her, and smiled slightly. "I think I'm going to pass out now, if you don't mind," and he collapsed.