Chapter 27: The Curse of Fire and Ice.

Snow began to fall heavy around the castle. Bellow the tower, that housed the office of the headmaster, the school continued to function unaware of the darkness and hatred that had taken over high above. Belinda sat and cried in a corner of the office, Snape never leaving her side and the headmasters of the past crowding into the picture frames near her to give condolences and support. Dominic sat silently at a window. He stared out into the darkness of the night. His eyes never focussed on anything. His breathing was shallow, slow and nearly in audible. His eyes looked glazed over and rarely blinking. He, himself, looked as though death had taken over. Ron, Harry and Hermione stood together against a wall. Hermione rested her tired head on Ron shoulder and held tight to Harry's hand. Dumbledore had taken to pacing, up and down, he walked the length of the office. Fawkes looked pail in colour as well. His eyes were not a vibrant black, but grey. His feathers no longer red and gold but shades of brown. He was nearing the end of another of his life cycles and stayed very still as sleep seemed to come to him. The dark silence had taken over the hearts if the mismatched soldiers. A call to war was what was left to wait for.

"Dumbledore, I want to see her body safely back in this castle," Belinda said softly as she broke the silence, "give him what he wants. Turn me over to him, just get her body out of his hands. Then the decisions can be made as to how we will let her live or die."

"I cannot give him was he wants," Dumbledore said finally, "I have every intention in the world to bring her back here but I cannot hand you over to him, nor can I give him the bird. To many more people will die."

"He will not give you any information unless he knows that there is the chance that he can take what he wants from you," Snape said finally addressing Dumbledore, "his orders are going to be that you bring him the bird and Belinda and if you show up with only one of the two things he covets you will not get the information you want."

Dumbledore sighed as he paced. He knew that Snape was right but how could he bring back the body and not bring the mother and the bird with him. The more he thought about everything the more he knew that if he was to go he would have to bring everyone in the room with him. Suddenly a scratching was heard at the window of the office. A black owl, one that was very uncommon, appeared on the ledge. In its beak was a letter and around its next a jewel incrusted snake, like the one that appeared in Amelia's hair. Dumbledore opened the window and took from the bird the letter. The jewel snake released itself from around the birds neck and crawled into the office as well. As soon as the snake was off, the owl flew away. The Snake crawled to the middle of the room and curled into a circle on the floor, there it froze again.

"What does the letter say?" Belinda asked as she got up and walked toward Dumbledore.

"They are instructions for the snake," Dumbledore said as he knelt down above the snake and pressed the diamond on the snakes head, as instructed in the letter.

A green fire issued from the eyes of the little jewelled snake and in the fire appeared Voldimort.

"Nice to see that you are all gathered together," he said as he looked around the room and casually greeted each of the wizards assembled.

Harry felt a great hatred rise up in him. His heart was in his throat. For the first time in months his scar tingled. Before him stood a man, who had killed his parents, his friends and now had paralysed Amelia a woman he was so deeply connected to and was now gone to his mind. He smiled at Harry, his sick taunting smile.

"Ah so you are here as well," Voldimort laughed, "how nice."

"What have you done with Amelia?" Harry angrily asked.

"Sent her to visit your mother," Voldimort laughed as he noticed the anger and the pain in Harry's face.

"Don't pay any attention to him Harry," Belinda said as tears rolled down her face, "he's not worth any of this."

"Ah she looks so much like you Belinda really, and she'll never grow old now, she will forever be my sleeping beauty," He said with a sick smile as Belinda fell back into Snape, "ah and Severus, so sad to see you leave us, but we couldn't have you rescuing the girl. You'll pay for what you have done to us, in your own time. Let this burden you now and let fear be with you till the end of your days."

"I am not afraid of you Voldimort," Snape said angrily.

"Ah but you should be," Voldimort said slyly, "you're afraid of me aren't you Belinda?"

"I can't fear you any longer, I can only hate you," Belinda said through hot, angry, tears.

"So many harsh words," he sighed, "I can see that I am not welcome here and so a leave you with my instructions. If you want your daughters body back come to the dark forest were she lies and bring the bird," he said to Belinda and disappeared.

The green fire continued to burn from the little jewel incrusted snake. A map to the place where Amelia was laid to rest flickered in the dancing fire. Dumbledore quickly pulled from his desk a map of the forest and mark on it how to reach the place that was told. The fire died away from the little snake and it came to life once more. It slithered quickly toward the window and through the crack between the frame and the glass and was gone.

"Fawkes," Belinda called as she stood from her seat, "come to me."

"What are you doing?" Dumbledore yelled as he watched the bird fly to her and she rushed for the door.

"I am going to get my child!" Belinda said and she grabbed the door.

"Immobulus!" Hermione yelled from the corner of the room and, striking Belinda, froze her in her spot.

"Thank you Hermione," Dumbledore said as he walked over to Belinda and placed his hands on her shoulders, "I will be freeing you in a moment," he said and waved his wand at the door, then at Belinda who was released from the charm.

"What have you done!" she cried as tears fell from her eyes and she struggled with the barred door.

"You can't leave like this Belinda, it will only mean the end for all of us if Voldimort wins like this," Dumbledore sighed.

"You can't go alone out there," Snape said finally as he took her hand, "none of us can. Its going to take all of us to win this."

"But how," Hermione asked, "Voldimort must now be expecting us all to come. He has seen us all, he spoke with us all in the room and we have all seen the map. His plan is probably to take us all out at once," she said as she looked apologetically at Belinda, "I only wish we could know his plan."

"I know his plan," Dominic said as he shakingly got up from where he was sitting.

Dominic was pail and sick looking but the colour had come back into his eyes. His teeth chattered as he walked into the centre of the room. His hair had gone a strange shade of white and he shivered all over. In his hands he carried a cloudy white bubble. His footsteps were slow and he blinked his eyes oddly and painfully. His lips were dry his voice cracked as he tried to speak. He stopped trying to speak through his struggle and motioned for Harry to come to his side and hold the bubble. Harry stretched out his hand, taking the orb and holding it tightly. Dominic placed one hand on Harry's wrist and the other on his shoulder as he began to loose his balance. Harry could feel the coldness in his touch. His hands were ice cold, he could feel them though his clothing. In his mind he could hear Dominic very weakly though a mass of what seemed like static. He was simply told to wait till the static was clear and to speak for him is any questions were directed toward him.

"What do you mean you know his plan?" Belinda asked fearfully as she watched her son in his state.

"He says that you all must keep your distance from him," Harry said as he held up his free hand to send Belinda back to her seat.

"What is happening to him?" She cried as she watched his eyes glaze over again.

Dumbledore watched in awe as the bubble in Harry's hands swirled and shifted in colour. The outside of the orb was becoming thicker. The mist inside was moving in rapid swirls, "he is making this prophecy as we speak," Dumbledore said to the group, "I have never seen anything like this. Its so advanced from what we are used to and yet it looks far more dangerous. Do you still hear him, Harry?"

"Yes," Harry said holding the orb more carefully now.

"Can you here what is the prophesy?" Dumbledore asked.

"No, I can only hear Dominic very faintly through the static," Harry said, "he says he can hear Amelia's voice."

"Amelia!" Belinda cried out, "where is she, ask him Harry!"

"He doesn't know, he can't lock onto her," Harry said sadly.

The orb in Harry's hands cast off a bright red light. The mist inside came together and was made into fire. It swirled into itself, inside the orb. The outside the orb became cold, as cold as Dominic's hands, clear like ice. The fire on the inside of the ice like orb cast light into the room. Rays of coloured light flew from the orb.

"Its so cold, I can hardly hold onto it!" Harry said as he feared he would drop it.

"Hand it to Dumbledore," her heard Dominic in his mind, "you best do it quickly because you will have to catch me."

Harry motioned for Dumbledore to take the orb and just as it had left Harry's hands, Dominic collapsed. His hair and face returned to their original colour. His eyes were closed but they moved beneath the lids. His mother watched him fall, and no amount of force could hold her back. She ran to his side and caught him as Harry did. They lowered him to the floor and soon, with a bit of coaching he opened his eyes again. The colour had come back, they focussed on his mother and then on Harry.

"Dominic you are like ice," his mother cried as she held his hand.

"Shall I get you the warming potion?" Snape asked as he knelt down by Dominic.

"Save it for Amelia," Dominic said as he sat up, "I can fight this."

Dumbledore held the icy orb in his bare hands. The fire continued to swirl within it but the orb was freezing cold, "can you tell us what it is, Dominic?" he asked as he placed the orb gently onto his desk.

"It is everything that Voldimort has planned for the moment we all come face to face. He will not hesitated to used the unforgivable curses on all of us to get his hands on the bird and my mother," Dominic said as he forced himself to his feet and walked toward Dumbledore's desk.

"Dominic what are you doing, sit down you've just been through a terrible ordeal," his mother cried out.

"Not so terrible mother," Dominic said as he grabbed the orb, "the answer to how we will win is within this ball!" he said as he raised it high above his head.

"Dominic don't!" Dumbledore yelled, "are you sure you want to do this, we only have one shot at it!"

"Yes I do!" Dominic said as everyone stepped back and he smashed the orb on the floor.

Amelia's voice was heard coming from the orb as it hit the floor. The fire raged in its place as the shards of ice scattered all over the room. The fire turned a brilliant icy blue and in the fire appeared a woman dressed in white. Her hair curled and her dressed flowing. Her eyes as blue as ice and her lips fire red. In her hair was not a snake but the jewelled feathers of a phoenix. It was Amelia, more radiant than anyone had ever seen her. Everyone stood in silence and listened as the angelic figure spoke,

Do not cry for me, as I have gone so that I may help you in your quest. Lord Voldimort has planned to strike you down, to snub your eternal flame, the moment he sees you within the clearing, where my mortal body lays to rest. To win your battle come in silence, come in darkness, come invisible. Bring with you the bird of fire and the portion of ice and use the words 'auduro glacialis' as your protection. With my passing I bring to you a great gift. A spell to be used in love and protection. A curse to those who's curse works no more. Bring to them a curse of fire and ice. Weep no more for the past or the present but prepare for the coming of the future war. It is in this place, of snow and darkness, that my body rest and feels no more. I pray my words are clear and comforting to everyone who now looks upon me. My mind is free and with you all, to find me you must only listen, follow your hearts and your souls. Mother, be strong and confide in a man who has never loved you any less. Dominic, protect what is in your future and love with all your heart and mind. Ron, Hermione be happy even when it is impossible to see happiness in the darkness. Harry free your mind for my heart and mind belong to you. Prepare for battle, dear warriors, the time for war is near.

And with that, the ice shards melted and pooled together around the fire, extinguishing the flames and leaving only the words in the minds of the gathered friends.

"Did that really just happen?" Hermione asked fearfully as she held close to Ron.

"It did, Hermione,"Dumbledore smiled, "for every wrong, a right is done and Amelia has given to us a great bought of power."

"You are sure the curse will work?" Snape asked.

"It has to," Dominic said as he pulled out his wand, "curse me Harry," he said as he ran across the room.

"I can't do that," Harry said sadly, "I can't curse you."

"Just do it!" Dominic yelled.

"Darling what if it doesn't work?" Belinda cried, "I can't loose you too!"

"Let that happen then I will be with Amelia, but I trust her more than anyone in this world. So for god sakes Harry curse me!" Dominic yelled

"Crucio!" Harry yelled.

"Auduro glacialis!" Dominic yelled back and a blast of light flew from both wands.

Harry's curse struck Dominic's and turned instantly to ice. Fire followed melting the ice as water fell onto the floor of Dumbledore's office.

"It worked," Dumbledore shouted as he clapped his hands together.

"It works against the unforgivables?" Snape gasped.

"At least one of them," Hermione said as she drew her wand and looked at Snape.

Snape silently drew his.

"Imperio!" Hermione yelled.

"Auduro glacialis!" Snape yelled back and the same thing happened.

"One more to go," Harry said as he looked fearfully at Dumbledore.

"This will rewrite the books on defence against the dark arts," Dumbledore said, then drew his wand.

"Avada Kedavra!" Harry yelled.

"Auduro glacialis!" Dumbledore yelled back and once again the floor of the office was soaked.

"Amelia you're the best!" Dominic shouted with joy.

"We can do this!" Harry smiled, "lets go get her back!"

"Wait you are jumping to far ahead of yourself," Belinda said placing a hand on Harry's shoulder, "how are we all going to go invisible?"

"I have my cloak," Harry said

"What cloak?" Snape asked.

"...um...well... my fathers invisibility cloak," Harry said knowing that Snape now knew about his secret.

"That's not big enough for all of us!" Hermione said.

"But it might be useful. Go and get it Harry and bring it back here," Dumbledore said and released the door from the binding spell.

"How are we all going to get invisible to go?" Ron asked again.

"Use the Disillusionment charm," Hermione said.

Dumbledore smiled at her, "you are a bright one," and with a flick of his wand everyone in the room began to blend in with everything that was around them.

"This is wicked!" Ron said excitedly.

Harry walked back into the room to find it empty, all except Fawkes had left, "this is not fair, they didn't leave me behind."

"We're still here Harry," Dominic laughed as he placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. It changed the same colour as his school robe.

"Fawkes can't be charmed, that's why you still see him and he can see all of us." Dumbledore's voice could be heard.

"So he's not coming then?" Harry said as he tossed his cloak over his head and disappeared completely.

"It would be best to leave him," Dumbledore said, "but if anyone is injured it would be good to have him. Harry, take him and protect him, bring him under the cloak with you. You are the safest to have him as Voldimort's wand cannot work against yours as long as you have the bird you will be safe."

And with that the bird was hidden away. The final plan was hatched and soon they slipped out of the castle undetected by anyone.