Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters. If you
think I do you are in need of professional help or if already getting
professional help ask your doctor to check your prescription. I do this for fun
so enjoy. ^_^
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Blood of My Blood
By Nyghthawk28
Chapter Four - "Knockturn Alley"
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Right before Harry took off running or perhaps in his wake the little lights once again reappeared and grabbed the bags Harry dropped in his flight. Dudley paused bare seconds to hand over the packages he was carrying before giving chase.
Dudley wasn't surprised to see how people were jumping out of Harry's way. One poor guy even disappeared with a pop when he saw Harry coming. Dudley would have bet every pound he had that Harry's eyes were glowing again. He knew first hand how scary his cousin was when his eyes glowed.
One thing Dudley had going for him was the path Harry had cleared for him made pursuit easier and Dudley needed all the help he could get. When they jogged Dudley could keep up with Harry but when it came to flat out running it wasn't even a question. He counted himself lucky he was able to keep Harry's ruby locks in sight.
The sudden turn was a relief to Dudley. Less people, well actually there was almost no one down this street. Also the lighting wasn't too good which helped Dudley keep Harry in sight since for some reason Harry's hair seemed to be glowing. Dudley didn't have the time to question why his cousin's hair was glowing just glad that the glowing red cloak of hair made it easier for him to follow.
Harry rushed onward not really watching where he was going. All his attention was focused on a cry that pulled at his very essence. Also for some strange reason he was getting angry. Every step he took the anger was building. He had to find whatever was calling to him before he went berserk in fury.
Up above a storm was brewing. The sky was getting darker by the minute and low rumbles of thunder heralded a forming storm. Dudley had a bad feeling that the storm was a warning about the conflict to come.
Harry was vaguely aware of reaching a shop door. He noticed a rusted closed sign. He didn't have to try the handle to the know the door was locked and warded to. Usually he couldn't feel magic like this but he just knew the door was warded.
Besides being angry a force had been building around him as he got closer to whatever was calling him. He didn't know exactly what it was but he knew he could use it. He didn't try anything fancy. He just gathered some of the raw force around him and threw it at the door.
The door never stood chance. It exploded into splinters. Harry didn't even wait for the dust to settle. He moved inside and towards the back.
When confronted with another warded door Harry didn't blast it open. Instead he turned to the left of the door where a painting hung.
It was a picture of an old wood outhouse. A very odd thing for someone to even bother painting. Still it wasn't the shop owner's taste in art that had caught Harry's attention. The cry was coming from the direction of the painting and not the door. Not unusual really, the Gryffindor tower was guarded by a painting. The only problem was there was no apparent guardian in this painting and he didn't have a magic map to tell him the password if there was one.
With the cry driving him Harry used his instincts. He simply reached into the painting and opened the outhouse door. The door opened to reveal a room beyond. Harry stepped inside and found himself in a cavern of some sort. It was filled wall to wall with cages of all shapes, sizes, and materials.
These cages weren't empty. No one had to tell Harry that the animals in the cages were illegal to have. The baby unicorn was more than a small hint to what this shop really dealed in. This was a big clue to what was calling to him but none of the animals in this room were it.
Harry had been feeling a blind anger before but now looking at these poor animals his anger became a real solid thing. A burning fury inside him just waiting to find the wizard or wizards responsible and rip them apart. It was a kind of bloodlust he'd never felt before but seemed so natural to him. His anger at Vernon paled before his ever growing fury. Strangely even his hatred for Voldemort had never felt like this.
When he felt another cry the anger around him flared. The force he'd used to detonate the shop door lashed out once again. This time it was the cages Harry destroyed. Glass, steel, string, tin foil, salt, and various other material all exploded under the force of Harry's anger.
Most of the animals were in shock, a few were injured, and a handful were majorly pissed. Some had been captives for a long time, some were new, and some were just broken creatures. Unfortunately these were animals magical or not some were predators, some were prey, and some were just natural enemies and they'd all been let loose in the same place at the same time.
Harry didn't stay around to deal with the animal brawl that started. The cry was still coming and his anger was not sated. He let the rules of nature deal with what he'd unleashed he had his own battles to fight.
Meanwhile Dudley at his best running speed just barely managed to catch sight of Harry stepping into the painting. Actually all he saw was Harry taking a left before the door. It wasn't until he reached the back door that he realized Harry had gone into the picture.
Standing before the painting Dudley had no idea what to do. He didn't know anything about magical painting or how to open them. He looked behind the painting but all he saw was a wall. He vaguely remembered Harry mentioning something about magic portraits and passwords.
Dudley decided to try.
"Open sesame?"
Nothing.
"Abra Kadabra?"
Zip.
"Alla Kazam?"
Nada.
"Hocus pocus?"
Nope.
"Double, double, toil and trouble?"
Please call back and try again.
"Sim sim sala bim?"
Sad.
"Open up you piece of $@*!#!!!!!!!!"
Needless to say Dudley was getting angry at the painting that wasn't responding. He was tired of being verbal. It was time to get physical. He reached out his left hand to hit or rip the painting but to his surprise his hand encountered something. He blinked in surprise and found his hand on the outhouse knob. Without thought he automatically pulled the door open.
"Well I wanted in." said Dudley to himself. Taking a deep breath Dudley stepped through the painting door.
Once inside Dudley was entranced by all the magical creatures. A few he recognized from fantasy books but others were beyond anything he'd ever imagined. The scary part was the animals seemed to be in the middle of some sort of elaborate death match. Fur, scales, and various other things were flying in this battle. It sort of reminded him of Primal Rage the video game.
Still this was one game Dudley didn't want to play. He edged around the room trying to avoid all the battling creatures. It would have been cool to watch on the telly but in real life it was very very scary. As he tried to avoid the battling creatures but it wasn't easy. Luckily for Dudley most of the creatures didn't consider him much of a threat. He was more likely to fall under the category of prey.
As he was making his way to the tunnel beyond he came across a wounded fox. At least it looked like a fox for the most part. It had three extra tails but beyond that it looked like a snow fox. Solid white with gold eyes it's fur was stained with blood. A lot of it was old blood but some of it was fresh as well.
Something about this creature pulled at Dudley. He picked up the wounded creature and continued making his way around the room. He wasn't worried about being bitten which was strange since he'd never gotten along with animals very well. They seemed to instinctively dislike him but the fox creature seemed comfortable in his arms.
Dudley finally managed to get around to the tunnel leading beyond this room of fighting creatures. The fox remained silent in his arms. He took one last look back at the creatures fighting behind him before he moved onward.
When Harry left the room of cages he had no real idea what he'd find further on. After about a hundred yards of tunnel what appeared to be the main cavern was revealed. It was the size of a national football(soccer) stadium. Still it wasn't the size of the cavern that caught his eye first. He'd stumbled on to some sort of magical cult from the looks of things.
There were about fifty people in the cavern. They were all dressed in short kilts made of various colors and fabrics. A priest of some kind was anointing people with blood. He carried a bowl of silver filled with blood. He would dip his fingers into the bowl and draw lines down their faces and across their eyes.
In the center of the cavern was the main attraction. There was a raised platform of stone. All you had to do was look at it to know it was ancient. The stone was covered in chiseled runes and other magic symbols. It was a magic circle of complexity beyond belief with power engrained into it by centuries of use.
Atop the platform was the main attraction of the day. A horse black as darkest night with a mane and tail the color of moonlight. It's hooves looked like they were made of silver and it's eyes were a solid glowing blue. It's muzzle was wrapped in wire to keep it from biting and all four legged were manacled to keep it in place. Most important of all Harry had finally found the source of the cry.
Next to the horse was the person Harry believed to be the High Priestess. She wore what looked like a short Egyptian skirt. Her chest was bare and her long brown hair had rune stones braided into it. In her left hand was a ceremonial blade that looked like a silver machete with strange symbols engraved on it. By her side were two young boys of five or six. They were dressed in blood stained white loin clothes. Their entire faces were painted in blood. Together they held up a stone bowl covered in symbols. The bowl was empty for the moment but it wouldn't be for long.
It didn't take long for Harry to figure out what was going to happen. He was already on the edge of going completely berserk. The surprise of finding the cult had briefly held back the anger but no longer. Still it wasn't until he heard the first vocal cry of the horse that sent him completely over the edge.
Harry roared a battle cry then made a suicidal charge towards the platform. He was grossly outnumbered and had no real idea of the abilities of his opponents. It didn't matter though Harry wasn't thinking. Logic wasn't an issue in this fight Harry was being driven by instincts he never knew he had. It was a primitive feeling. An urge to rend, to tear, and to destroy. To feel your enemy's blood on your hands and cry to the heavens in glorious victory.
There were a few things in Harry's favor. The first being his attack was a complete and total surprise. The second was instead of cursing him to death all the cultists started to transform into beasts or half beasts. Third the energy/force/magic he'd used to blast the door was still with him and even stronger now and it seemed to be enhancing his strength, speed, and endurance. Fighting Werebeasts he needed this badly. Fourth although they had numbers they weren't used to fighting as a group so more often than not they were getting in each other's way.
Harry's disadvantages were too numerous to count. Still Harry charged in and started to attack. He gives the fire toad no chance to spit its fire he just punts it like a football with his enhanced strength. He backhands a bear man and ax kicks a two headed boar. He avoids the flying serpent that was trying to bite him while a buffalo with wings charges him. A helpful giant spiny rabbit pushed him in the path of the charging buffalo.
Dudley arrived in time to see Harry being rammed by the winged buffalo.
"Oh shit.!!!" said Dudley with feeling. Harry seemed to be fighting the zoo from hell. It was even worse than the other room. In the other room the animals had been fighting each other but here everyone was after Harry. He really REALLY wanted to run away but he wasn't going to leave Harry to die. At this point Harry was his only family left as far as he was concerned.
"I must be fucking nutters." Mumbled Dudley to himself. He put the fox down in the most sheltered area he could find before charging forward into the fray. He ran and jumped on the back of what turned out to be a three headed dog. When he realized what he'd jumped onto he held on for dear life and started to pray.
Dudley was out of biting range luckily but that might not last long. The tri headed dog was not happy to have a passenger. After realizing it couldn't bite off it's unwanted load it tried to buck Dudley off. The bucking had the side effect of trampling the other Werebeasts that had the misfortune to get in its path.
While Dudley played cowboy Harry got up from where he'd been thrown. A lizard man had broken his fall. He wasted no time and moved back into the fight. He did notice Dudley had joined the fight and was doing a pretty good rodeo impression. Too back he hadn't worn the cowboy outfit or at least the spurs.
A few of the beast men tried to grab his long hair. They found out the hard way this was a bad idea. The hair drew blood as if it had thorns and it also seemed to burn. Not like fire but like alcohol on an open wound.
Besides punches and kicks he was clawing his opponents. His nails making cuts that like his hair burned with pain. Sometimes his fingers wouldn't even connect but the cuts appeared anyway. He was drawing blood with every swipe.
As he got into a rhythm of sorts his mind started to clear up a little bit. It wasn't much but it got his mind working outside of the red haze and a idea popped up. He made a silent call and the little lights appeared.
"Free it." Said Harry. He didn't have to clarify the lights understood him perfectly. They flew off towards to the bound horse on the platform but Harry didn't watch them go he was too busy fighting and staying alive.
Harry ducked an acid strike from a swamp yeti. The acid hit the giant bird with the mohawk of spines. The bird screamed in pain them charged the swap yeti head first and spikes out. Harry moved out of the way.
Dudley finally got thrown by the three headed dog. He landed on a snake man or more specifically he landed on the snake man's head. This had a two sided effect. It cushioned Dudley's fall and completely knocked out the snake man whose head had been smashed into the ground by Dudley's considerable weight.
Dudley still had one huge three headed problem. The dog was not happy with him it wasn't a horse and it didn't like to be ridden. Dudley didn't have anywhere to run or hide. Running into the melee could get him killed just as easily as facing the dog. Besides he didn't want to turn his back on the angry giant three headed creature, also he had a thing about being attacked from behind. He rather see where the blows were coming from.
On the first charge Dudley got a lucky shot. He managed to hit the center head's nose so it backed up in pain. It was a small delay but it saved him from being torn to shreds for the moment. It didn't last long the dog shook off the pain and charged again. This time Dudley wasn't lucky. He got bit on both his right and left arm but before they managed to rip his arms off he kneed one of the biting heads in the throat. The whole dog reacted to this and the other biting head tossed Dudley away.
Dudley bounced off the wall and smacked his head against both the wall and the floor when he landed. He opened his eyes and the world seemed hazy and surreal. It was like he was watching everything from outside his body. Reality something distant and removed from him.
Dudley was snapped out of his shock in the most painful way possible. The three headed dog wasn't finished with him. It took a flying leap and landed it's front paws on Dudley's chest. The dog weighed somewhere around five to six hundred pounds. The result was bringing Dudley back to reality by breaking several of his ribs and leaving most of the others severely cracked.
Dudley learned a whole new world of pain. He'd been beaten pretty badly before but nothing like this. Pain beyond his ability to describe. Still his mind focused on his need to breathe more than on the pain. He felt like he was trying to breath his own blood.
As he tried to breath and was unsuccessful he started to panic. Blood was dribbling out of his mouth as he tried to breathe. He was started to see spots but that didn't stop him from seeing the three mirrored expression of the giant dog on his chest.
Amusement.
The fucking bastard canine was laughing at him as he was dying.
Laughing.
At.
HIM!!!
A roaring started in his mind. How DARE this Thing!!!!!!!!! Laugh at HIM!!! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The three headed dog witnessed the boy's eyes go from dazed to panicked to fury. The fury didn't bother the dog. It was when the dog started to see fire in the boy's eyes that the dog became worried. There were real flames in the boy's eyes.
A dog's howl of pain turned heads. They were a bit surprised to see the three headed dog bursting into flames. It howled in pain and seemed to be trying to roll the flames out but it wasn't working. If anything the flames seemed to be getting stronger.
"die." it was barely a whisper but everyone in the cavern heard it. Eyes turned to the source.
Dudley was standing.
Barely.
He swayed on his feet. His clothes were torn and soaked in blood. His blood. With every breath he took blood dripped from his mouth. Still what everyone was focusing on were the golden flames burning in his eyes.
"burn."
Small flames started to appear in the air. They were like floating blossoms of fire. Little deadly flowers of flame and when they started moving the fight took a new turn.
Harry didn't understand his current need to make things bleed. He didn't understand but he accepted it. What he didn't understand or accept was Dudley's death or the possibility of it.
It was as if someone had flipped a switch inside Harry. Before he'd been all anger and fury but now that was gone replaced by a coldness that was even more alien to him than his rage had been. Everything became clear and simple.
If Dudley died everyone died. It didn't matter how Harry was going to manage this it was going to happen. Simple, direct, and ruthless.
A black dog appeared at his side. It looked at him with eyes the color of blood. It was a huge dog but not in comparison with the three headed one but about two hundred and fifty pounds of pure muscle. Harry offered a bloody hand in an indifferent manner. The dog sniffed his hand then a tongue as black as its eyes licked his bloody hand.
"Would you like to help me start all the blood and death?" asked Harry as he pet the dog. The Werebeasts around Harry looked at him and the dog strangely. They had heard his words and knew he was nutters. Be it man or beast, crazy was dangerous. Besides that was no ordinary dog the boy was petting.
The dog gave a bark then turned to face the Werebeasts. It bared its teeth and gave a howl. It wasn't a normal dog's howl or even a wolf's howl it had an eerie bell like tone to it. A chilling tone that brought fear and an overwhelming urge to run.
Harry bared his teeth at the crowd and so did the dog then together they ran forward. He grabbed the hair of a bird woman and smashed her face into his knee. The dog attacked a reptilian cat with walrus fangs.
Other creatures that had been released from the cages were also attacking. Most noticeable was a very vicious young unicorn. One of the things not usually mentioned about unicorns is the fact they were once greatly sought after as war mounts. They are and were vicious in battle but the virgin only riders clause cut down on their popularity. Blood lust has a tendency to lead to other kinds of lust. It sucked to ride into battle on a unicorn but not being able to ride back out on it afterwards.
While Harry was busy in the middle of the fighting frenzy Dudley was starting to feel the effects of massive blood loss. He was leaning against the wall which was the only thing keeping him standing. Still slowly but surely he was sliding down the wall towards the pool of his own blood. Not that he cared. All his attention was focused on his fires and watching things burn.
Harry didn't notice what was happening to Dudley because he was too busy making his way towards the High Priestess. The only way to end the fight was to either capture her or kill her. Like a chess game, wizard or muggle when you take out the leader you win the game but this was no game. It was real and Harry was not willing to sacrifice anyone to something he shouldn't have even started.
When the last of Dudley's fires blossoms died he was barely conscious. He was sad to see all the pretty flames die out. He willed with the last of his strength for another flame to appear to guard against bad dreams and the darkness. He'd always gone to bed with a nightlight.
What Dudley was incapable of noticing was the three headed dog was getting up. All the fires including the one burning the dog had gone out. While the burns were quite painful this wasn't a normal three headed dog it was a Werebeast and part of being a Were-anything was a healing ability on the unbelievable level. With a few exceptions Werebeasts could heal anything short of death.
The three headed dog wouldn't be healing overnight but he was healing. If he was angry for becoming the rodeo special it was nothing compared to almost becoming a crispy critter. He wanted Dudley dead very very badly and sitting in a pool of his own blood wasn't close enough for the Weredog.
He moved slowly towards Dudley to finish the boy off once and for all. The Weredog didn't notice another limping creature making its way towards Dudley as well. It was the little four tailed fox Dudley had saved from the former room of cages.
The Weredog reached Dudley and picked up the practically unconscious boy. The Weredog planned to literally rip him apart. Just before he was about to start it found itself face to face with a hissing fox creature. The dog paused in surprise but no fear. The fox creature was no danger to him. In fact it was sort of amusing.
Amusement fled when without warning Dudley's blood went up in flames like gasoline touched with a match. The Weredog was more than a little sensitive of fire at the moment. In fact he panicked. Logically figuring Dudley was the source of fire the Weredog flung Dudley as far away from himself as possible with a howl.
Harry had finally managed to reach the platform. He was bloody and bruised but still in fighting form.
Still Harry had one giant problem. The High Priestess was not happy with the interruption of her ceremony. It was very rare that they were able to offer such a great sacrifice. This was a very important ceremony and it was being made a mockery of by these. Outsiders!
When Harry had the nerve to stand before her on Her platform in Her Circle of power she reacted. In a motion learned from years of practice she slit the horse's throat wide open. Instead of going into the ceremonial bowl it splatter across the platform as the horse jerked in it's chains. She didn't even bother to watch but moved to deal with the person who Dared to ruin Her ceremony. His blood would have to wash away his sins because she planned to bathe in it.
The High Priestess moved to confront the Outsider with the ceremonial blade held out ready to carve him up like a Christmas goose.
Harry and the High Priestess clashed. She was trying to shish kabob him and he was trying to tear her throat out so they were even. Harry managed to make a few scratches and she managed a few cuts but nothing serious.
The fight changed when the black dog appeared on the platform and sunk his teeth into the High Priestess's right leg. She screamed and brought the blade down on her attacker. The dog cried off in pain and Harry charged forward.
A lot of things happened at once from here. Harry grabbed a handful of hair and bared her throat to be ripped out. The High Priestess ignored the pain and moved her blade towards the Outsider's heart. Then Dudley's flying bloody flaming body with fox accessory fell right on top of them. The force of Dudley's body caused Harry to rip out the High Priestess's throat and thrust her blade right through Harry's heart.
The circle practically exploded with magical power and it was completely wild. Blood always activated the circle but the High Priestess was usually focusing the magic. Now the blood of a Stormayne (the horse), a Darkke Hound (the black dog), a Werebeast (the High Priestess), a Firestarter (Dudley), a Frost Fox (the fox), and a Wizard (Harry) was being spilled on the circle and most of the creatures involved were edging death which increased the power of the magic.
The cultists were looking on in awe and fear. The magic being generated was a tangible weight in the air. Like a London fog, heavy and so thick you could choke on it. So much power and they had absolutely no control of it.
A shockwave of light and magic erupted and everything went black.
********************** end chapter four************************
Author's notes- _ "@*&#(@*#%$%^@(#&)@*_@()*&^%$#%^&*(_@)*(&^%#&%"
You can quote me on the above. This is the most painful thing I've ever had to write. I rewrote this thing about fifteen or sixteen times!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Arrrrgh!!! I'm sorry it took so long for me to get this out. I was really trying to get Harry to Hogwarts in this chapter but it was just not going to happen. Too many things were happening in this chapter already.
To all my reviewers I bow in thanks to you. It is your words that help me continue writing even when I want to tear me hair out in frustration. I hope you find the final results worth my aggravation. So please review, Review, and let us not forget REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!! Pretty please.
No Harry isn't dead. I just thought I should mention it.
Expect Lupin and an explanation on the difference between a Were and an Animagus. Maybe Hogwarts and maybe not. Harry has a lot to do and he hasn't even discovered about Snape yet.
Next chapter- "Clan of the Blood Moon"
P.S.- Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review
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Blood of My Blood
By Nyghthawk28
Chapter Four - "Knockturn Alley"
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Right before Harry took off running or perhaps in his wake the little lights once again reappeared and grabbed the bags Harry dropped in his flight. Dudley paused bare seconds to hand over the packages he was carrying before giving chase.
Dudley wasn't surprised to see how people were jumping out of Harry's way. One poor guy even disappeared with a pop when he saw Harry coming. Dudley would have bet every pound he had that Harry's eyes were glowing again. He knew first hand how scary his cousin was when his eyes glowed.
One thing Dudley had going for him was the path Harry had cleared for him made pursuit easier and Dudley needed all the help he could get. When they jogged Dudley could keep up with Harry but when it came to flat out running it wasn't even a question. He counted himself lucky he was able to keep Harry's ruby locks in sight.
The sudden turn was a relief to Dudley. Less people, well actually there was almost no one down this street. Also the lighting wasn't too good which helped Dudley keep Harry in sight since for some reason Harry's hair seemed to be glowing. Dudley didn't have the time to question why his cousin's hair was glowing just glad that the glowing red cloak of hair made it easier for him to follow.
Harry rushed onward not really watching where he was going. All his attention was focused on a cry that pulled at his very essence. Also for some strange reason he was getting angry. Every step he took the anger was building. He had to find whatever was calling to him before he went berserk in fury.
Up above a storm was brewing. The sky was getting darker by the minute and low rumbles of thunder heralded a forming storm. Dudley had a bad feeling that the storm was a warning about the conflict to come.
Harry was vaguely aware of reaching a shop door. He noticed a rusted closed sign. He didn't have to try the handle to the know the door was locked and warded to. Usually he couldn't feel magic like this but he just knew the door was warded.
Besides being angry a force had been building around him as he got closer to whatever was calling him. He didn't know exactly what it was but he knew he could use it. He didn't try anything fancy. He just gathered some of the raw force around him and threw it at the door.
The door never stood chance. It exploded into splinters. Harry didn't even wait for the dust to settle. He moved inside and towards the back.
When confronted with another warded door Harry didn't blast it open. Instead he turned to the left of the door where a painting hung.
It was a picture of an old wood outhouse. A very odd thing for someone to even bother painting. Still it wasn't the shop owner's taste in art that had caught Harry's attention. The cry was coming from the direction of the painting and not the door. Not unusual really, the Gryffindor tower was guarded by a painting. The only problem was there was no apparent guardian in this painting and he didn't have a magic map to tell him the password if there was one.
With the cry driving him Harry used his instincts. He simply reached into the painting and opened the outhouse door. The door opened to reveal a room beyond. Harry stepped inside and found himself in a cavern of some sort. It was filled wall to wall with cages of all shapes, sizes, and materials.
These cages weren't empty. No one had to tell Harry that the animals in the cages were illegal to have. The baby unicorn was more than a small hint to what this shop really dealed in. This was a big clue to what was calling to him but none of the animals in this room were it.
Harry had been feeling a blind anger before but now looking at these poor animals his anger became a real solid thing. A burning fury inside him just waiting to find the wizard or wizards responsible and rip them apart. It was a kind of bloodlust he'd never felt before but seemed so natural to him. His anger at Vernon paled before his ever growing fury. Strangely even his hatred for Voldemort had never felt like this.
When he felt another cry the anger around him flared. The force he'd used to detonate the shop door lashed out once again. This time it was the cages Harry destroyed. Glass, steel, string, tin foil, salt, and various other material all exploded under the force of Harry's anger.
Most of the animals were in shock, a few were injured, and a handful were majorly pissed. Some had been captives for a long time, some were new, and some were just broken creatures. Unfortunately these were animals magical or not some were predators, some were prey, and some were just natural enemies and they'd all been let loose in the same place at the same time.
Harry didn't stay around to deal with the animal brawl that started. The cry was still coming and his anger was not sated. He let the rules of nature deal with what he'd unleashed he had his own battles to fight.
Meanwhile Dudley at his best running speed just barely managed to catch sight of Harry stepping into the painting. Actually all he saw was Harry taking a left before the door. It wasn't until he reached the back door that he realized Harry had gone into the picture.
Standing before the painting Dudley had no idea what to do. He didn't know anything about magical painting or how to open them. He looked behind the painting but all he saw was a wall. He vaguely remembered Harry mentioning something about magic portraits and passwords.
Dudley decided to try.
"Open sesame?"
Nothing.
"Abra Kadabra?"
Zip.
"Alla Kazam?"
Nada.
"Hocus pocus?"
Nope.
"Double, double, toil and trouble?"
Please call back and try again.
"Sim sim sala bim?"
Sad.
"Open up you piece of $@*!#!!!!!!!!"
Needless to say Dudley was getting angry at the painting that wasn't responding. He was tired of being verbal. It was time to get physical. He reached out his left hand to hit or rip the painting but to his surprise his hand encountered something. He blinked in surprise and found his hand on the outhouse knob. Without thought he automatically pulled the door open.
"Well I wanted in." said Dudley to himself. Taking a deep breath Dudley stepped through the painting door.
Once inside Dudley was entranced by all the magical creatures. A few he recognized from fantasy books but others were beyond anything he'd ever imagined. The scary part was the animals seemed to be in the middle of some sort of elaborate death match. Fur, scales, and various other things were flying in this battle. It sort of reminded him of Primal Rage the video game.
Still this was one game Dudley didn't want to play. He edged around the room trying to avoid all the battling creatures. It would have been cool to watch on the telly but in real life it was very very scary. As he tried to avoid the battling creatures but it wasn't easy. Luckily for Dudley most of the creatures didn't consider him much of a threat. He was more likely to fall under the category of prey.
As he was making his way to the tunnel beyond he came across a wounded fox. At least it looked like a fox for the most part. It had three extra tails but beyond that it looked like a snow fox. Solid white with gold eyes it's fur was stained with blood. A lot of it was old blood but some of it was fresh as well.
Something about this creature pulled at Dudley. He picked up the wounded creature and continued making his way around the room. He wasn't worried about being bitten which was strange since he'd never gotten along with animals very well. They seemed to instinctively dislike him but the fox creature seemed comfortable in his arms.
Dudley finally managed to get around to the tunnel leading beyond this room of fighting creatures. The fox remained silent in his arms. He took one last look back at the creatures fighting behind him before he moved onward.
When Harry left the room of cages he had no real idea what he'd find further on. After about a hundred yards of tunnel what appeared to be the main cavern was revealed. It was the size of a national football(soccer) stadium. Still it wasn't the size of the cavern that caught his eye first. He'd stumbled on to some sort of magical cult from the looks of things.
There were about fifty people in the cavern. They were all dressed in short kilts made of various colors and fabrics. A priest of some kind was anointing people with blood. He carried a bowl of silver filled with blood. He would dip his fingers into the bowl and draw lines down their faces and across their eyes.
In the center of the cavern was the main attraction. There was a raised platform of stone. All you had to do was look at it to know it was ancient. The stone was covered in chiseled runes and other magic symbols. It was a magic circle of complexity beyond belief with power engrained into it by centuries of use.
Atop the platform was the main attraction of the day. A horse black as darkest night with a mane and tail the color of moonlight. It's hooves looked like they were made of silver and it's eyes were a solid glowing blue. It's muzzle was wrapped in wire to keep it from biting and all four legged were manacled to keep it in place. Most important of all Harry had finally found the source of the cry.
Next to the horse was the person Harry believed to be the High Priestess. She wore what looked like a short Egyptian skirt. Her chest was bare and her long brown hair had rune stones braided into it. In her left hand was a ceremonial blade that looked like a silver machete with strange symbols engraved on it. By her side were two young boys of five or six. They were dressed in blood stained white loin clothes. Their entire faces were painted in blood. Together they held up a stone bowl covered in symbols. The bowl was empty for the moment but it wouldn't be for long.
It didn't take long for Harry to figure out what was going to happen. He was already on the edge of going completely berserk. The surprise of finding the cult had briefly held back the anger but no longer. Still it wasn't until he heard the first vocal cry of the horse that sent him completely over the edge.
Harry roared a battle cry then made a suicidal charge towards the platform. He was grossly outnumbered and had no real idea of the abilities of his opponents. It didn't matter though Harry wasn't thinking. Logic wasn't an issue in this fight Harry was being driven by instincts he never knew he had. It was a primitive feeling. An urge to rend, to tear, and to destroy. To feel your enemy's blood on your hands and cry to the heavens in glorious victory.
There were a few things in Harry's favor. The first being his attack was a complete and total surprise. The second was instead of cursing him to death all the cultists started to transform into beasts or half beasts. Third the energy/force/magic he'd used to blast the door was still with him and even stronger now and it seemed to be enhancing his strength, speed, and endurance. Fighting Werebeasts he needed this badly. Fourth although they had numbers they weren't used to fighting as a group so more often than not they were getting in each other's way.
Harry's disadvantages were too numerous to count. Still Harry charged in and started to attack. He gives the fire toad no chance to spit its fire he just punts it like a football with his enhanced strength. He backhands a bear man and ax kicks a two headed boar. He avoids the flying serpent that was trying to bite him while a buffalo with wings charges him. A helpful giant spiny rabbit pushed him in the path of the charging buffalo.
Dudley arrived in time to see Harry being rammed by the winged buffalo.
"Oh shit.!!!" said Dudley with feeling. Harry seemed to be fighting the zoo from hell. It was even worse than the other room. In the other room the animals had been fighting each other but here everyone was after Harry. He really REALLY wanted to run away but he wasn't going to leave Harry to die. At this point Harry was his only family left as far as he was concerned.
"I must be fucking nutters." Mumbled Dudley to himself. He put the fox down in the most sheltered area he could find before charging forward into the fray. He ran and jumped on the back of what turned out to be a three headed dog. When he realized what he'd jumped onto he held on for dear life and started to pray.
Dudley was out of biting range luckily but that might not last long. The tri headed dog was not happy to have a passenger. After realizing it couldn't bite off it's unwanted load it tried to buck Dudley off. The bucking had the side effect of trampling the other Werebeasts that had the misfortune to get in its path.
While Dudley played cowboy Harry got up from where he'd been thrown. A lizard man had broken his fall. He wasted no time and moved back into the fight. He did notice Dudley had joined the fight and was doing a pretty good rodeo impression. Too back he hadn't worn the cowboy outfit or at least the spurs.
A few of the beast men tried to grab his long hair. They found out the hard way this was a bad idea. The hair drew blood as if it had thorns and it also seemed to burn. Not like fire but like alcohol on an open wound.
Besides punches and kicks he was clawing his opponents. His nails making cuts that like his hair burned with pain. Sometimes his fingers wouldn't even connect but the cuts appeared anyway. He was drawing blood with every swipe.
As he got into a rhythm of sorts his mind started to clear up a little bit. It wasn't much but it got his mind working outside of the red haze and a idea popped up. He made a silent call and the little lights appeared.
"Free it." Said Harry. He didn't have to clarify the lights understood him perfectly. They flew off towards to the bound horse on the platform but Harry didn't watch them go he was too busy fighting and staying alive.
Harry ducked an acid strike from a swamp yeti. The acid hit the giant bird with the mohawk of spines. The bird screamed in pain them charged the swap yeti head first and spikes out. Harry moved out of the way.
Dudley finally got thrown by the three headed dog. He landed on a snake man or more specifically he landed on the snake man's head. This had a two sided effect. It cushioned Dudley's fall and completely knocked out the snake man whose head had been smashed into the ground by Dudley's considerable weight.
Dudley still had one huge three headed problem. The dog was not happy with him it wasn't a horse and it didn't like to be ridden. Dudley didn't have anywhere to run or hide. Running into the melee could get him killed just as easily as facing the dog. Besides he didn't want to turn his back on the angry giant three headed creature, also he had a thing about being attacked from behind. He rather see where the blows were coming from.
On the first charge Dudley got a lucky shot. He managed to hit the center head's nose so it backed up in pain. It was a small delay but it saved him from being torn to shreds for the moment. It didn't last long the dog shook off the pain and charged again. This time Dudley wasn't lucky. He got bit on both his right and left arm but before they managed to rip his arms off he kneed one of the biting heads in the throat. The whole dog reacted to this and the other biting head tossed Dudley away.
Dudley bounced off the wall and smacked his head against both the wall and the floor when he landed. He opened his eyes and the world seemed hazy and surreal. It was like he was watching everything from outside his body. Reality something distant and removed from him.
Dudley was snapped out of his shock in the most painful way possible. The three headed dog wasn't finished with him. It took a flying leap and landed it's front paws on Dudley's chest. The dog weighed somewhere around five to six hundred pounds. The result was bringing Dudley back to reality by breaking several of his ribs and leaving most of the others severely cracked.
Dudley learned a whole new world of pain. He'd been beaten pretty badly before but nothing like this. Pain beyond his ability to describe. Still his mind focused on his need to breathe more than on the pain. He felt like he was trying to breath his own blood.
As he tried to breath and was unsuccessful he started to panic. Blood was dribbling out of his mouth as he tried to breathe. He was started to see spots but that didn't stop him from seeing the three mirrored expression of the giant dog on his chest.
Amusement.
The fucking bastard canine was laughing at him as he was dying.
Laughing.
At.
HIM!!!
A roaring started in his mind. How DARE this Thing!!!!!!!!! Laugh at HIM!!! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The three headed dog witnessed the boy's eyes go from dazed to panicked to fury. The fury didn't bother the dog. It was when the dog started to see fire in the boy's eyes that the dog became worried. There were real flames in the boy's eyes.
A dog's howl of pain turned heads. They were a bit surprised to see the three headed dog bursting into flames. It howled in pain and seemed to be trying to roll the flames out but it wasn't working. If anything the flames seemed to be getting stronger.
"die." it was barely a whisper but everyone in the cavern heard it. Eyes turned to the source.
Dudley was standing.
Barely.
He swayed on his feet. His clothes were torn and soaked in blood. His blood. With every breath he took blood dripped from his mouth. Still what everyone was focusing on were the golden flames burning in his eyes.
"burn."
Small flames started to appear in the air. They were like floating blossoms of fire. Little deadly flowers of flame and when they started moving the fight took a new turn.
Harry didn't understand his current need to make things bleed. He didn't understand but he accepted it. What he didn't understand or accept was Dudley's death or the possibility of it.
It was as if someone had flipped a switch inside Harry. Before he'd been all anger and fury but now that was gone replaced by a coldness that was even more alien to him than his rage had been. Everything became clear and simple.
If Dudley died everyone died. It didn't matter how Harry was going to manage this it was going to happen. Simple, direct, and ruthless.
A black dog appeared at his side. It looked at him with eyes the color of blood. It was a huge dog but not in comparison with the three headed one but about two hundred and fifty pounds of pure muscle. Harry offered a bloody hand in an indifferent manner. The dog sniffed his hand then a tongue as black as its eyes licked his bloody hand.
"Would you like to help me start all the blood and death?" asked Harry as he pet the dog. The Werebeasts around Harry looked at him and the dog strangely. They had heard his words and knew he was nutters. Be it man or beast, crazy was dangerous. Besides that was no ordinary dog the boy was petting.
The dog gave a bark then turned to face the Werebeasts. It bared its teeth and gave a howl. It wasn't a normal dog's howl or even a wolf's howl it had an eerie bell like tone to it. A chilling tone that brought fear and an overwhelming urge to run.
Harry bared his teeth at the crowd and so did the dog then together they ran forward. He grabbed the hair of a bird woman and smashed her face into his knee. The dog attacked a reptilian cat with walrus fangs.
Other creatures that had been released from the cages were also attacking. Most noticeable was a very vicious young unicorn. One of the things not usually mentioned about unicorns is the fact they were once greatly sought after as war mounts. They are and were vicious in battle but the virgin only riders clause cut down on their popularity. Blood lust has a tendency to lead to other kinds of lust. It sucked to ride into battle on a unicorn but not being able to ride back out on it afterwards.
While Harry was busy in the middle of the fighting frenzy Dudley was starting to feel the effects of massive blood loss. He was leaning against the wall which was the only thing keeping him standing. Still slowly but surely he was sliding down the wall towards the pool of his own blood. Not that he cared. All his attention was focused on his fires and watching things burn.
Harry didn't notice what was happening to Dudley because he was too busy making his way towards the High Priestess. The only way to end the fight was to either capture her or kill her. Like a chess game, wizard or muggle when you take out the leader you win the game but this was no game. It was real and Harry was not willing to sacrifice anyone to something he shouldn't have even started.
When the last of Dudley's fires blossoms died he was barely conscious. He was sad to see all the pretty flames die out. He willed with the last of his strength for another flame to appear to guard against bad dreams and the darkness. He'd always gone to bed with a nightlight.
What Dudley was incapable of noticing was the three headed dog was getting up. All the fires including the one burning the dog had gone out. While the burns were quite painful this wasn't a normal three headed dog it was a Werebeast and part of being a Were-anything was a healing ability on the unbelievable level. With a few exceptions Werebeasts could heal anything short of death.
The three headed dog wouldn't be healing overnight but he was healing. If he was angry for becoming the rodeo special it was nothing compared to almost becoming a crispy critter. He wanted Dudley dead very very badly and sitting in a pool of his own blood wasn't close enough for the Weredog.
He moved slowly towards Dudley to finish the boy off once and for all. The Weredog didn't notice another limping creature making its way towards Dudley as well. It was the little four tailed fox Dudley had saved from the former room of cages.
The Weredog reached Dudley and picked up the practically unconscious boy. The Weredog planned to literally rip him apart. Just before he was about to start it found itself face to face with a hissing fox creature. The dog paused in surprise but no fear. The fox creature was no danger to him. In fact it was sort of amusing.
Amusement fled when without warning Dudley's blood went up in flames like gasoline touched with a match. The Weredog was more than a little sensitive of fire at the moment. In fact he panicked. Logically figuring Dudley was the source of fire the Weredog flung Dudley as far away from himself as possible with a howl.
Harry had finally managed to reach the platform. He was bloody and bruised but still in fighting form.
Still Harry had one giant problem. The High Priestess was not happy with the interruption of her ceremony. It was very rare that they were able to offer such a great sacrifice. This was a very important ceremony and it was being made a mockery of by these. Outsiders!
When Harry had the nerve to stand before her on Her platform in Her Circle of power she reacted. In a motion learned from years of practice she slit the horse's throat wide open. Instead of going into the ceremonial bowl it splatter across the platform as the horse jerked in it's chains. She didn't even bother to watch but moved to deal with the person who Dared to ruin Her ceremony. His blood would have to wash away his sins because she planned to bathe in it.
The High Priestess moved to confront the Outsider with the ceremonial blade held out ready to carve him up like a Christmas goose.
Harry and the High Priestess clashed. She was trying to shish kabob him and he was trying to tear her throat out so they were even. Harry managed to make a few scratches and she managed a few cuts but nothing serious.
The fight changed when the black dog appeared on the platform and sunk his teeth into the High Priestess's right leg. She screamed and brought the blade down on her attacker. The dog cried off in pain and Harry charged forward.
A lot of things happened at once from here. Harry grabbed a handful of hair and bared her throat to be ripped out. The High Priestess ignored the pain and moved her blade towards the Outsider's heart. Then Dudley's flying bloody flaming body with fox accessory fell right on top of them. The force of Dudley's body caused Harry to rip out the High Priestess's throat and thrust her blade right through Harry's heart.
The circle practically exploded with magical power and it was completely wild. Blood always activated the circle but the High Priestess was usually focusing the magic. Now the blood of a Stormayne (the horse), a Darkke Hound (the black dog), a Werebeast (the High Priestess), a Firestarter (Dudley), a Frost Fox (the fox), and a Wizard (Harry) was being spilled on the circle and most of the creatures involved were edging death which increased the power of the magic.
The cultists were looking on in awe and fear. The magic being generated was a tangible weight in the air. Like a London fog, heavy and so thick you could choke on it. So much power and they had absolutely no control of it.
A shockwave of light and magic erupted and everything went black.
********************** end chapter four************************
Author's notes- _ "@*&#(@*#%$%^@(#&)@*_@()*&^%$#%^&*(_@)*(&^%#&%"
You can quote me on the above. This is the most painful thing I've ever had to write. I rewrote this thing about fifteen or sixteen times!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Arrrrgh!!! I'm sorry it took so long for me to get this out. I was really trying to get Harry to Hogwarts in this chapter but it was just not going to happen. Too many things were happening in this chapter already.
To all my reviewers I bow in thanks to you. It is your words that help me continue writing even when I want to tear me hair out in frustration. I hope you find the final results worth my aggravation. So please review, Review, and let us not forget REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!! Pretty please.
No Harry isn't dead. I just thought I should mention it.
Expect Lupin and an explanation on the difference between a Were and an Animagus. Maybe Hogwarts and maybe not. Harry has a lot to do and he hasn't even discovered about Snape yet.
Next chapter- "Clan of the Blood Moon"
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