Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter.
AN: Longer chapter to make up for the last one's shortness. And wow, lots of people have read my comment that Harry would not harm any of his friends.
Chapter 10 Illumination
Suddenly, the door burst open, and Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Tonks, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione came into the room, staring at the demonic apparition.
"Well, well, well. Looks like I've been caught Snivellus." 'Harry' said, looking at the terrified, shaking Potions Master casually. The demon released the spell, knowing that his full power would be needed. He didn't seem the least bit perturbed that six powerful wizards, three of them Order members, had run in and found him torturing their comrade (friend was too strong a word).
Everyone looked on him from looks ranging from anger on Dumbledore's face to sheer shock in Ginny's face. Dumbledore's mouth had been open, as if to say something, but now the words had died in his throat.
"Harry… What in the bloody hell happened to you?" Ron asked in fear.
"Your friend Harry is currently unavailable. In fact, I don't think I can allow him to remain in control any longer." The darker version of Harry smirked.
"Leave Harry at once!" Dumbledore demanded, his face angered and scared at the same time.
"Bite me, old man." 'Harry' said contemptuously to the Headmaster.
"Stupefy!" Dumbledore cried, and the jet of red light, which contained enough power to put a raging giant into a coma, struck the apparition, and simply faded, absorbed into the strange darkness that surrounded him.
"Really," The demon drawled, but the contempt was obvious in his voice, "I crap better magic than this."
"Bugger." Ron whispered, and no one thought to correct him.
Harry, or whatever kind of twisted, demented, psychotic demon was inside of him just had a good day disrupted. He knew eventually he would be discovered, but he had hoped to kill a few more people, gather some more strength, before the old man figured it out.
"Oh God Harry, what the hell happened to you?" Ginny asked, finally awakening from her stupor.
"God's out at the moment." 'Harry' answered evasively, smirking.
Dumbledore seemed to be discreetly ordering Ron, Hermione, Tonks, Professor McGonagall, and Ginny, the last of them not paying attention. Of course, Harry noticed.
As Dumbledore nodded, and, in unison, they cried out, "STUPEFY!", save Ginny, who was still to shocked to move.
The black haired devil leapt aside easily, with unnatural grace and speed, calling out, "Come on! You can do better than that!"
He landed on the floor, twisting before he landed so that he was facing them, wearing a smirk that would put Draco Malfoy, if not for the fact that he was currently dead, to shame. "Ah, ah, ah." He tutted, "Seven on one isn't fair."
Suddenly, the darkness grew and enshrouded all of them, blinding them to their allies and to Harry like some black fog or perhaps a shield for the demon to use.
"Much better." Harry's voice said, satisfied, as it echoed all around them, as if he was inside the darkness.
Suddenly, some of the shadows seemed to take a form, and, in the unreal, not quite light, but illumination, they could see Harry's familiar, if now twisted visage in front of them.
Dumbledore, as always, reacted first and with the most calm. Or at least first. His voice was laced with anger at the demon who had taken control of a young man as he shouted, "FULMEN!"
Elemental Spells were quite different from any other branch of spellwork, requiring much more power and control, but were far more powerful than the average spell. And the Lightning Spell was one of the strongest. So strong, in fact, that it was semi-restricted by the Ministry.
So it was no shock when several gasps were heard as the spell fired, all save one of them female. The lightning dispelled the Darkness, at least temporarily, revealing the demon before the light became too bright.
With the force to burn straight through solid rock and energy to power several electrical cars for a mile each, the Lightning Spell charged through the air with brutal power, straight for the demonic version Harry, sizzling the very air around it as it slashed through the air. The demon, temporarily blinded by the light of the lightning, was struck in the chest. The air smelled like warm ozone, and the flash blinded everyone, leaving bright spots in their vision as it cleared. They fully expected to be carting a half-burnt body a good ten feet away from the area, or at least a very injured Harry Potter. What they got couldn't have been more different.
The demonic entity had simply stumbled back a few steps, as if taking a powerful, sometimes, and definitely in this case, lethal spell from a powerful wizard was like being punched in the chest. However, the black clothing he had worn was smoldering where it had been struck by lightning, the only true sign of damage on Dark Harry. "You burnt my clothes…" The darker Harry snarled. "Let me show you how I prefer lightning."
He raised his hand, and fired out his own brand of black lightning, which flew towards them, sizzling the air just as the Lightning Spell had. However, where Dumbledore's spell had burnt the air and cut a path, Harry's cleaved it apart with its power and force, leaving the hiss of displaced air in its wake, the air around them getting smoky and more difficult to breathe where it flew.
Dumbledore, taking the situation in stride, countered with a cry of "Terrae Murus!" as he waved his wand in a sweeping arc.
The ground underneath the sweep shot up in a spray of dirt directly in front of the wizards and witches, creating an Earth Wall. The black lightning totally disintegrated the wall of stone and dirt a moment later, leaving the stench of burnt earth around them.
However, the demon was nowhere to be seen.
Dumbledore, knowing that normal senses would fail them, relied instead on an ancient art of magic, the Sight. Opening his eyes to the world of magic, where power was most evident, he searched for the demon, certain that nothing would hide itself from his gaze.
But it was not to be. The darkness covered the demon's aura as well, shielding it, and amplifying his power it seemed. Dumbledore realized with a chill that the darkness was intertwined with the aura of whatever was within Harry, the two nearly indiscernible.
Suddenly, Dumbledore realized exactly what made this demon seemingly impervious to some spells, but not others. "Everyone, stun this demon when I fire my spell," Dumbledore ordered softly, but firmly. Although they seemed to be reluctant, considering the demon's ability to absorb spells it seemed, they followed Dumbledore's orders.
Dumbledore readied himself, and the demon smirked. "Lumos Maximus!" The smirk turned to one of shock as the Blinding Light Spell shined like a second Sun, dispelling the shadows around the demon. He screeched in agony, shielding his face with his arm, trying in vain to escape the light.
"Now!" Dumbledore ordered, and, as one, Tonks, Ron, Hermione, McGonagall, Snape, and Ginny fired Stunners, and, much to their surprise as well as the demon's shock, it connected and sent him flying through the air. The demon's face was frozen in shock as he hurtled through the air, before crashing into the ground, hard.
"What happened?"
Dumbledore didn't answer, instead opening his Sight once more. Now, without the shield of Darkness or the demon's own power to hide it, his aura was plain and visible, naked for all to see. But it was not a sight for the faint of heart, for even Albus Dumbledore was chilled by it. Even unconscious, the demon's aura was dark, a furious storm that would not be tamed, mixed in with a cold, dark, sadistic, calculating feeling that was superior to the best Slytherin mind. And worst of all, it was black, deep black, blacker than the new moon's midnight, darker than the darkest hearts, blacker than the burnt ground where the demon's spell had struck.
A dangerous opponent, to be sure.
"We must question this apparition." Dumbledore said gravely, and turned toward Hermione. "Miss Granger, would you fetch the Veritaserum in Professor Snape's storeroom?"
Hermione, nodded, and she got the Veritaserum after five minutes, and handed it to the Headmaster. Professor Dumbledore stood over the demon, not wanting to leave him out of his sights for a moment.
Dumbledore quickly poured the Veritaserum down the demon's throat. He then reawakened the demon, which merely glared quietly at them for a moment, before a mask settled over his face. An immovable calm, and they were sure that it was not the Veritaserum that was placating him, but that the demon was forcing himself to remain calm, holding back his rage for another day, a better time.
"Did you kill Draco Malfoy?" Dumbledore asked, once the Veritaserum had taken effect.
"Yeah." The demon said, closing his eyes at the memory, soaking in it. "You should have heard him scream…"
Hermione, Ginny, Tonks, and even Ron looked repulsed by this statement, while Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore barely held their composure. Only Snape seemed unaffected, but then again, he had just been through a rough torture session that forced him to relive his worst memories. Not much else could affect him after that.
"Did you also kill Bellatrix Lestrange, Dolores Umbridge, and Cornelius Fudge?" Dumbledore asked after a moment.
"With a song in my heart." The demon replied, smiling.
"Was there anyone else?"
"Wormtail's soul was particularly tasty." The demon replied nonchalantly.
"I see." Dumbledore said quietly. The demon was far too dangerous. It needed to be contained.
"How long have you been within Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
The demon began laughing, despite the pacifying effects of Veritaserum. "Always." He answered.
"That's a lie!" Ron cried out.
"Far from it. I've been subconsciously helping your friend for quite some time. Merely for self-preservation, you see." The demon said, smirking.
"What do you mean?" Dumbledore asked.
"Haven't any of you noticed?" The demon asked, and after seeing their blank looks, he scoffed, "Really, how have you all survived this long?"
"Just tell us." McGonagall snapped.
"Harry's most amazing accomplishments, fighting Voldemort over the Philosopher's Stone, killing Tom's memory, defeating all those Dementors, surviving a duel with Voldemort," The demon drawled, looking bored as hell, "all of that, was through my aid."
"Your aid?!" Hermione said incredulously.
"My aid, my power, my killer instincts and strength. Not his." Dark Harry said, smirking at them. "I'm that dangerous part of Harry that you all refuse to admit exists."
"How did you come to be?" Dumbledore asked after a moment, seemingly shocked that this demon might be 'the power the Dark Lord knows not', instead of Harry's love. But he dismissed it after a moment. Harry was Harry, this demon was not.
"From what I figure, I was once simply your pathetic friend's darker side." The demon said, looking disgusted that he was once just half of Harry Potter, "But Voldemort changed all that. He left a piece of himself in here, and I took that piece. The two of us might share some talents, but more of it was left to me." The demon drawled, "And all of that pain, anguish, hatred, and bitterness from your friend's life fueled me, and then something else happened that gave me the full power I required."
"What?" Dumbledore asked, his tone and face grave.
"Voldemort possessing your pitiful friend back at the Ministry was the catalyst, along with everything else that happened. He left more of himself, enough of himself to give me full life. The other events merely fueled me further. Although, I was disappointed that Harry could not cast a Cruicatus. Then again, that kind of torture is nothing compared to what I did to Bellatrix." Dark Harry said, laughing.
All save Dumbledore, even Snape seemed shocked that Voldemort had possessed the Boy-Who-Lived, as well as him casting the Cruciatus. Ginny in particular seemed shocked and saddened, which was to be expected, her having been in this position once before.
"We must kill this demon." Snape managed to gasp.
"We cannot kill him, Severus." Dumbledore replied softly, "Not without killing Harry."
"A bonus." Snape snorted.
Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Tonks looked fit to kill the weakened Potions Master, while McGonagall merely glared at him dangerously. "We will contain the demon." Dumbledore continued, as if Snape hadn't suggested anything. "I know a way, but it requires a bit of help."
He turned towards Ginny, who looked bewildered. "Miss Weasley, you owe Harry a life debt, do you not?" Dumbledore asked carefully.
Ginny gulped, pained at why she owed Harry a life debt, but nodded. "What does that have to do with anything?" She asked, too freaked out by Dark Harry's appearance to worry about politeness.
"I know a spell that requires a magical bond to already be formed between to people." Dumbledore said gravely, "It will contain this demon. You owe Harry a life debt, and, if you might be willing, you could help us contain it."
"Doesn't Professor Snape owe Harry a life debt as well?" Hermione asked, not wanting a risky magical spell on one of her friends. Especially one she hadn't heard of. Snape on the other hand… no one would really miss him.
"I'm afraid that the animosity between Severus and Harry might shatter the binding spell." Dumbledore said, a small twinkle in his eye as he looked at his Potions Master, who snorted and looked aside.
"You, Miss Weasley, are his friend. You stand a much better chance of helping the bond contain the demon as well."
"Okay," Ginny said quietly, "If it will help bring Harry back and take this… thing" she spat, "Away."
"Ginny, I'm hurt." The demon drawled, looking at her with a hunger in his eyes. "Don't you like me? I know you used to?" He said mockingly.
Ginny blushed, but was angered. "It wasn't you!" She snarled, "It was the real Harry."
"I am the real Harry." The demon shot back.
"You're lying!" Ron said. "My best mate is not you!"
"Your 'best mate' is nothing but a shell." The demon said, leaning back into his chair. "I'm what he truly is, what hides behind the mask."
"Enough." Dumbledore said forcefully, looking at Dark Harry. "We will do the spell now."
A half hour later, they were ready.
"Are you ready, Miss Weasley?" the Headmaster asked concernedly.
The redhead nodded, swallowing her fear. "It will get Harry back, won't it?" Her voice sounded much more like the scared little girl the Boy-Who-Lived brought out of the Chamber of Secrets than the young woman she was.
"Of course," Dumbledore nodded, his voice kind and firm.
"Getting bored over here!" The demon complained, having been hit with several Full Body Binds and Tonks keeping the Blinding Light spell high above him, keeping his powers nullified. "You guys suck at treating prisoners."
"Shut up you impudent brat!" Snape snarled, about to curse the demon, but Dumbledore stayed his hand.
"You, Minvera, and Nymphadora should stand guard and take Miss Granger and Mister Weasley outside." Dumbledore said, and, albeit reluctantly, Snape nodded with the others.
Ron and Hermione on the other hand, protested violently. "That's my little sister and best mate!" Ron complained bitterly.
"I told you, I'm not your best mate!" Dark Harry shot back.
"Enough. Mister Weasley, you will go." McGonagall said firmly, fixing him with that patented 'Do-What-I-Say-Or-It's-Detention-Till-January' glare.
Ron nodded unhappily, and he and Hermione were ushered out quickly.
"Let us begin." With a flick of his wand, Dumbledore summoned the special sacred dagger he had brought down. Its blade was sharp and was rumored to be blessed by one of the Roman Catholic Popes over five hundred years ago. With another flick, the demon was dragged over to him, Tonks still holding up the Blinding Light Spell.
"Jeez, you guys sure know how to make a guy feel welcome." Dark Harry drawled slowly.
The Headmaster ignored him and motioned Ginny to stand in front of the demon. Brown eyes met black eyes for a moment, and the demon seemed to be willing her to die with his eyes. The redhead shuddered and looked away.
"Hold out your hand." Dumbledore commanded, at Ginny raised her hand out to the demon, as if she wished to shake its hand.
"I'd shake back, but I'm a bit tied up at the moment." The demon smirked, but Dumbledore flicked his wand again, and the demon was raised into the air.
Dumbledore swallowed. There was only one way to keep this demon pacified but complete the ritual. It required a mixing of blood and an established magical link between the two. It was designed to keep a possessed person under pacification until the presence could be exorcised.
"Severus, hand me some of that Calming Draught, would you?" Dumbledore asked jovially. The dour man handed him the vial, and Dumbledore poured that liquid down the demon's mouth. There was enough in that vial to keep a rampaging hippogriff docile for two hours.
"Finite Incantatem." The demon relaxed, but the Calming Draught seemed to be affecting him greatly. "Dominatio Ulna!" Dumbledore roared, a jet of gray light flying out of his wand and striking the demon's arm.
Tonks and McGonagall damn near fainted at hearing the spell name. This seemed to be the night where Albus Dumbledore was pulling out all the stops, disregarding any spell necessary. In this case, the Control Curse allowed the caster to control one limb of the victim, like a more centralized, more difficult to fight Imperius Curse.
Another restricted spell from the Ministry. "I know," Dumbledore whispered softly, but enough so that they could hear him, "But I have no other option."
He forced Dark Harry's arm to rise up, until the fingertips brushed that of Ginny's hand, who shuddered at the contact. "Hold your arm steady." Dumbledore ordered the redhead, before coming down with the knife in a slash, right down Ginny's right palm, causing a slightly deep gash.
She winced in pain, but had been informed about this before hand. Dumbledore then slashed the demon's left hand in the same area, and blood began pouring from both their palms, like red rain on the floor.
Ginny knew what she had to do now. Grasping the demon's hand, their blood began mixing already, causing Ginny to wince in pain and shudder in horror.
"Blood of the indebted and the debtor, mix together. Covenant made in blood, keep the dark presence within this being at bay, blood of two, blood of debt. Let this bond hold the presence within at bay, uniting the strength of these two. Let their bond, their feelings, their relationship hold this demon." Dumbledore intoned. He continued to chant this phrase again and again as the blood continued to mix and fall to the floor.
As the binding spell neared completion, the demon still didn't look the least bit perturbed "You know, the longer I'm held by this spell, the longer I'll keep you alive." Demon Harry said with the normal diabolical calm he possessed. As if somehow, he knew, deep down, he would get his revenge on all of them. And besides, it was far scarier to be calm and wait for your time, the demon had learned, than rage and storm and attack when the mood strikes.
After all, revenge is a dish best served cold, and this demon preferred his frozen.
"Pact of blood, I beseech you!" Dumbledore commanded, and then there was a brilliant flash of light, as if the sun had descended into the dark dungeons, and then it faded slowly, leaving Ginny sprawled on the floor and the other half of the bond barely holding himself against the wall.
And with that last chilling message and flash of light, the demon was gone, held back by Ancient Magic, and only Harry James Potter remained. For now, at least.
Thanks to Night-Owl123, Harrie, Pleione, DoomIceGaze, VFPC, OldNick, Hunter101, TGB, Zeromaru: Chaos Mode, Black Roses, japanese-jew, brilliant-author16, David M. Potter, CharmedMilliE, Evil Penguin Slayer, jbfritz, Citan, MMockler4Tonks, Stryder, harrysmom, Tanydwr, csferosha, RealityIntrovert, Emma Barrows, HPfan, Starfire Greenleaf, Cattatra, A-man, skittles-07, Lady of Masbolle, ginnym, FroBoy, Lunatic Pandora1, Tondo-the-half-elf, Lady Urquentha, Discombobulatedperson, jasmine s., eliteshadow, NightShadow135, Fire Gazer, sniffles4padfoot, jen, HPbabe143, Sapphire Phoenix, and Earth Dragon for reviewing!
Q&A
Harrie- Maybe... (sly smile)
Hunter101- Harry was too confused.
Zeromaru: Chaos Mode- How did you know?
japanese-jew- That would be telling.
Citan- There's Harry's Madness by SilverLocke
Tanywdr- I suppose the whole getting angry thing works for the Hulk.
Cattatra- Its not Voldemort, but perchance the Heir of Slytherin has something to do with it.
Lady of Masbolle- Dean summon a demon? (Scratches head) I don't see how... As you can see, they outsmarted him. But will they get lucky if he should rise again?
ginnym- I didn't.
Lunatic Pandora1- I did say Harry wouldn't attack his friends, didn't I?
Tondo-the-half-elf- Or there's option 3.
jasmine s- Thanks for the suggestion, but I've got one already. Thanks anyway!
sniffles4padfoot- Can't explain how it came to be, or its powers. That comes up later.
Sapphire Phoenix- Secret.
AN: I noticed that went Harry does powerful things, it seems to be when it is dark, or at least without light. Philospher's Stone- Underground, probably at night. Chamber of Secrets- Underground, at night. Fighting off the Dementors- At night. Dueling Voldemort- At night. Just my own little twisted extrapolation of that. Tiny tributes to Angel and other of my favorite shows throughout my stories. I like to throw in little quotes and echoes of different things, to see if you can catch them in my stories. I told you that the Ginny/Harry ship would be important. And it is, see! Thanks for reading and please review!