Disclaimer: Check first chapter for full disclaimer and other warnings.
Chapter 34 – Cooking Lessons
In these first days of July, the weather was unforgiving.
It was hot.
But tourists still went to the beaches. Vacation time near Thessalonica was always the same. For Hermione and Megan, though, it was one of their most relaxed moments. Both of them had changed from their usual holiday schemes. The years before, Hermione was always pushing her parents to visit places in her thirst of knowledge. Megan and her had always been single children, and the fact that they would spend their vacation together was strange, and refreshing, for both of them.
"See this one?" asked Megan. "He's far gone already."
Hermione giggled, a totally un-Hermione sound. "Yeah, he's got to get it! He's got to get it!"
A monumental slap resounded on the crowded beach, as an angry woman left a dumbfounded man to sit on the sand.
Hermione and Megan looked at each other and spoke at the same time. "He's got it." And they erupted in laughter.
The two girls were practising one of the most universally played games, especially on beaches: commenting. As it was, they were now watching the young men trying to seduce the female population of the beach, and were commenting their luck, and lack thereof.
As they had pushed their parents to spend the vacations together, said parents were relaxed too, as they didn't have their only child to entertain anymore. Hermione and Megan spent their days switching from the beach to the hotel pool, with an occasional educational visit thrown in between. After all, it was still their first trip to Greece. Sometimes, Megan asked about her brother and her family, and Hermione answered to the best of her knowledge, even if said knowledge was limited by what Harry himself had known about his own family during his first years. They had grown closer in a few days than in the whole school year, and both secretly hoped that their friendship would continue the following year.
"Hey, Meg."
"Yes, Herm?"
"There goes another one."
The two girls returned to their activity, unaware of the pink-haired woman nearby, lying so as to tan her back, and smiling in the crook of her arm.
Cardiff, that Sunday morning...
"Harder, Harry. Harder."
"I'm... trying..."
"Hold it... Hold it... Now!"
An explosion of light occurred in the secluded garden of Elijah Lovegood's house. Luna was training Harry in the handling of his element, while Harry had to maintain his elemental vision at the same time. Doing this, Harry had a better understanding of his element, and was attaining a higher goal after each exercise.
After juggling with lightning spheres for a while, Harry learned to dissipate his power harmlessly, either doing nothing, or by displaying fantastic forms in ephemeral lightning. After eating with Luna's father, they then exited to Harry's refuge, where they would practise some more. Now that he could disperse his energy safely, he had reflected, they could spend a longer time working in there.
And spend a long time they did. Harry wanted to insulate his mind so as not to be prone to mental attacks from anyone, whether it is Elementals, Death Eaters, Aurors, or even Dumbledore. To do that, he had to train his mind resistance more and more, which they did for a full day in his refuge. While only three hours elapsed outside, the two teens worked on this for eight hours straight, slept there, and continued for another eight-hour stretch afterwards. Needless to say, Harry was quite tired at the end, but he was now able to block her attempts quite successfully. His passive defence could block her even without concentrating, and her active defence could eject her in mere seconds. While they were eating their midday meal, Luna asked him something that had been bothering her for some time already.
"Harry, what is the shape of your mind protection?"
"What do you mean?"
"The few wizards I met who had a mind protection had envisioned it like a wall. You didn't."
"Well... each wizard can think of anything he wants as protection, right?"
"Yes, and?"
"And when you meet such a wizard with a mind wall, what do you do to get past his protection?"
"I fly over... oh!"
"Exactly. I wanted something protecting me from all sides. On top of that, I also wanted something self-repairing, and from which I could also interact with the outside world. The problem with a wall is that it restrains the attacked wizard inside his mind."
"What was it? I never saw something similar anywhere. Looked like a gelatinous blob."
"I won't have much trouble from non-muggleborn wizards, then. That was a cell."
"A... a cell? What is it?"
"Every living creature is made of billions of cells, Luna. Muggles learn that in school, in a class called Biology. Cells are self-sufficient gelatinous blobs which are protected from the outside world by a membrane. What you saw is the membrane I protected my mind with."
"Protection from every angle, allows interaction... Interesting..."
"You know, there is more to it. I have read more about cells, and I know that some have self-defence mechanisms intended to render the membrane acidic in case of attacks. As soon as I can include this, I'll be able to use a passive defence to counter-attack mind intrusions." He grew thoughtful, his fork in mid-air. "I wonder what acid could do to a mind..."
"In any way, you've grown out of my league."
"Huh?"
"I can't teach you anything else, the most I can do is continue being thrown out of your mind every few seconds or so. What I could do, though, is introduce you to Joshua Ch'larwen."
Harry looked up. "Who is he?"
"It's one of the Air Masters in London; he is responsible for the branch of elementals modifying peoples' memories when an elemental surge occurs. He holds much political power. And he's one of the few Air Magiuses."
"You'd do that?" He sounded more hopeful than doubtful.
"Yes. Actually, I gave the name to your Fire elemental friend, but I guess the paper got lost since you didn't know about him."
"Thank you, Luna! How could I thank you properly?"
"Harry..."
"Yes?"
"...you could destroy Voldemort."
He looked at her. "What do you mean? I barely escaped with my life each time I met him. I can't reasonably hope defeating him!"
"Perhaps, but you are stronger, now, aren't you?"
"Luna! I can't reasonably think about that! He's the bloody dark lord!"
"And you're the Boy-who-Lived."
"Don't call me that! It was a fluke, nothing more."
"Are you sure?"
"What?"
"Are you sure it was a fluke? Or don't you think that your instinct of survival launched an elemental surge?"
"I don't know! I-"
"...and don't you think that by training you sufficiently, you could take him on?"
"Honestly, Luna, I don't know!"
"I prefer this."
"What?"
"You don't know, yet. It's better than your plain refusal. Besides, Trelawney made a prophecy."
"I remember. So?"
"Well... I think that 'light true warrior' referred to you. I'm not a specialist in decrypting prophecies, though. You should ask someone else, someone like professor Dumbledore."
"Okay. I'll owl him tomorrow. Meanwhile, how are you going to introduce me to Mr Larwen?"
She giggled. "His name is Ch'larwen. I can communicate with him through the element, when we get out of this place. I don't think it would be wise to speak with the outside world while our time is accelerated."
"Well... no, you're right. London or Cardiff?"
"Let's take London. If he's available, it will be faster."
They straightened themselves up, and portkeyed to Harry's bedroom at the Freyrs'. Joan and Michael had relocated at the funfair at the beginning of the summer term, and the house was empty.
"Nice." said Luna, before sitting in the bed, taking his head in her hands.
"Thanks." whispered Harry. He didn't want to interrupt her discussion, and sat near the window, looking outside. It was already late in the afternoon, but the summer sun was warming the surroundings.
He was watching the neighbours coming back to whatever family outing they went when Luna spoke again, surprising him.
"Okay."
He turned to her. "Okay what?"
"He finished his day, and will meet us now."
"Where?"
"Oh! It's their main headquarters. It's funny, because it's not that far from Diagon Alley. I don't know how much time is it via the underground, though."
"Don't fret about that, I have Diagon Alley memorized."
"Okay. Let's go, then?"
"Let's. Just a moment."
He concentrated, and took on a different appearance. Tanned complexion, long brown hair, and blue eyes. She held his ring, and he portkeyed them both in Diagon Alley. The alley was quite quiet, the heated pavement being a reminder of the day's average temperature. They left through the Leaky Cauldron, towards Muggle London, and walked a few streets until they reached their destination.
Coventry Street wasn't far from the Leaky Cauldron, and the upscale buildings there didn't imply any vows of secrecy from their inhabitants. Harry looked at Luna questioningly, but she merely smiled and entered one of them. After passing three doors and two guard shifts, they finally arrived in a large office where a thin man in his sixties was having an animated conversation at the telephone.
"No! You know, as well as I know, that you don't want the job."
"..."
"I already posted the notices. But-"
"...?"
"If you want. Feel free to apply. I'm not reading that mail, you know, so I can't help you."
"...!"
"Stop ranting, Mark, it won't help!"
"..."
"That's it. Bye."
Joshua Ch'larwen, whose name was written on the door and on several muggle diplomas on the wall, hung up, stood up and shook their hands.
"Hey! Luna Lovegood! It has been quite a long time, isn't it?"
"Half an hour, Mr Ch'larwen."
"Still that sense of humour! And didn't I tell you to stop calling that way?" the man laughed, patting her back before turning toward Harry. "And who might you be, young man?"
Harry was disguised with his usual Gabriel attire: spiked black hair and ruddy eyes. "I'm Gabriel Swift, sir." he said, shaking the man's hand.
"Luna here told me that you were a Magius, but she didn't elaborate."
Harry felt drawn by the man's eyes, but the open door behind him did upset his sense of privacy. Before he could say anything, though, the man laughed.
"Don't be afraid. The Air around the door prevents overhearing. Can you hear the rustle outside?"
Harry tried to listened, through the open door, the noise of the people outside, but found that there was complete silence. His doubts quieted, he turned back toward the man.
"I'm a wizard, and I learnt a short time ago that I was a Lightning Magius."
"Lightning?" the man's eyebrows shot towards his bald forehead.
"As in... Lightning, sir." Harry smiled.
"Can you demonstrate? Or are you Untrained?"
For his answer, Harry held his hand in frond of his chest, hiding from the door and the outside people, and summoned sparks around his hand. After dismissing them, he added "I have very little training, though. Luna helped because I didn't stop messing with accidental surges."
"I hope that you reined your emotions, now. It wouldn't be good to make this building explode."
Harry smiled guiltily. "Yes, sir."
"Now, if Luna trained you, what do you want?"
"Actually, Luna was the first to inform me of everything, but someone else trained me first."
"Ah? Who?"
"The father of a friend of mine, Tamara O'Malley. I don't remember his first name, though."
"WHO?" The man had been so easy-going since the beginning of the discussion that his tone of voice surprised the two teenagers.
"Mr O'Malley, sir. Why..." started Harry, before the man stopped him by raising his hand.
His eyes narrowed towards the door, his lips reduced to a thin line, he spoke slowly. "Speaking of the devil..."
Harry turned around swiftly, but a sudden pain in his forehead made him fall back in his seat, unconscious.
Voldemort's cottage...
The ranks of black-robed wizard and witches swayed back and forth, chanting a strange incantation in guttural tones. In the middle of the room, a blood pentagram was drawn on the floor. Several braziers, scattered around the room, were emitting a crimson smoke. And two men were discussing behind the room's doors.
"I tell you not to do it, we have more urgent matters to treat."
"It's too late, O still-nameless ally." The sarcasm was dripping from Voldemort hissing voice. "My faithful followers have already begun the summoning chant. Besides, I know that the only thing you want is the Ministry. Still, as long as I don't know why, I won't dedicate my fighting forces to a desperate cause."
"I don't want the Ministry down! I want an item from there! It's like a pensieve, only larger..."
"How do you know it's there? It could have been relocated in Gringotts, or even with this old fool Dumbledore?"
"No, I can feel it. I need it, and I need it soon, or..."
"Or?"
The man's voice lowered suddenly. "Or the consequences may be dire."
Voldemort's normally slanted nostrils flared. "Is it a threat? Are you threatening me?"
"No! I didn't speak about you. I spoke about-"
"Well! If it's the same to you, I have a summoning to achieve. And if it isn't, you can shove off, I don't need you."
At these words, Voldemort entered the incensed room, making sure to slam the doors in his wizened and still-unknown ally, which spoke darkly. "Youngsters..."
The current dark lord thumped his way through his followers, stopping only when in front of the pentacle. Reading from a levitating book, he spoke the last verse of the ancient incantation, and the inside of the pentacle seemed to disappear slowly, to be replaced by a pentagon of blackness, so dark that it seemed to attract the nearby light.
Voldemort sensed a panic somewhere in his mind, but he didn't have time to investigate as he had still work to do. Still chanting, he directed his wand towards an unconscious muggle young woman, who had been abducted from the nearby village. Levitating her, he placed her on top of the black pentagon, head down. The girl had been chosen for her spotless appearance, as well as her virginity. As if on cue, every Death Eaters cast a Cutting curse on her, and she started to bleed from the multiple wounds. As soon as blood started to fall in the black pentagon, a rumble started to shake the room. In the middle of the ordeal, she woke up, and started to trash about until one of the black-robed wizards cast a petrificatus on her. After a few minutes, there was no more blood to drop, and the dead body was thrown haphazardly against a wall. Voldemort was satisfied of the ritual's progress, but a deep rumbling voice suddenly echoed through the room, bringing him back to the reality.
"Mooooooorrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeee..."
He looked around, on the verge of panic. The book had said one virgin, not two! The hooked demon must be powerful to haggle even before being there, he thought. Looking around his Death Eaters, he quickly assessed if there could be one to help him. He didn't know his followers' love life, though, and could only ask.
"Who is still a virgin among you?"
The Death Eaters looked at each other. For the ceremony, they hadn't put their masks on, as it served mainly to hide from the outside world, and it also prevented correct speech. After Voldemort's question, though, a few young women from the followers' ranks felt that it would have been a good idea, as they brothers, friends, or other acquaintances designated them. Some of them even cursed the pureblood education that had pushed them to avoid sex before marriage.
The five of them couldn't do anything when most of the surrounding Death Eaters, men as well as women, cursed them with the petrificatus and brought them to the Dark Lord. Voldemort looked at them, and, without warning, cursed the one who had appeared the most reluctant. If they aren't ready to sacrifice themselves, he thought, they're going to be sacrificed. He smiled at his own humour while magically removing the strips of clothing from the intended victim. He then levitated her and repeated the steps leading to her death. All in all, the dark lord was having fun. It didn't lessen the impression of panic in the back of his mind, though, but he would take care of this afterwards.
Now was the time.
Exhilarated, he motioned to his followers to start the chant again, and they proceeded while he shouted the incantation louder and louder. The whole room started to shake under the power of the summoned demon. The stones around the pentacle crackled, but the magic of the ritual held the structure together. This pentacle was the base of the summoning as it provided a prison for the summoned fiend.
The demon's head slowly appeared from the drawn figure, and the witnesses gasped. Some of the youngest Death Eaters passed out, while others blanched or released internal fluids. The head itself was as large as the five-sided figure. Voldemort himself widened his eyes in wonder at the beast's size, and the panic at the back of his mind intensified. However, the dark lord knew about demons, and knew what would happen next.
The demon, noticing the difference in size between himself and his prison, reduced his own size to fit. It was a tight fit, and the demon's leathery wings were bent at uncomfortable angles, but it held.
"WhAt dO yOu nEeD fRoM mE?" asked the summoned creature in a rumbling voice.
Voldemort knew that he could ask only one thing between three: power, riches, or a service. He also knew that he had to make another sacrifice depending on what he asked. Before the ritual, he had reflected about it. He didn't think he needed more power for himself, as he was only second to Dumbledore in duelling, and the old man had a century of experience. He didn't need money, because most of his followers were the richest pureblood families of Britain. He wanted a service, though. He wanted his only remaining obstacle down, even if he had to sacrifice a bit of his power in order to do so.
He wanted Dumbledore down.
Hogwarts...
Albus Dumbledore looked up sharply. He had been discussing school arrangements with Minerva again, when something rang at his peripheral mind. He couldn't place it, though, even when spending several minutes exploring the many contingency spells he had placed on himself during his 150 years of spellcraft.
Sighing, he went back to McGonagall, dismissing the incident to his tired mind, and tried to take the conversation from where it stopped. However, the second he opened his mouth, he saw a pillar of fire erupting from the darkening sky, and striking the ground, making the whole castle rattle.
"What... what was that? Albus? Are they back?"
The old man didn't have time to answer, though, as a rumbling voice, older than the very walls around them, resounded around them.
"aLbUs dUmBlEdOrE!"
McGonagall looked at the window and blanched. "Oh my god!" was the only thing she could utter, before sitting on her seat.
Outside the castle, a mere inch from the wards, a 10-foot tall creature stood in a charred crater. Its leathery wings and horned skull didn't leave much imagination about where it came. What were even more freakish were his four muscular arms as well as the molten lava aspect of his whole body.
Dumbledore suddenly understood the ringing in his mind. 110 years ago, when the fashion was to summon lesser demons to do wizards' every little whim, he placed a contingency spell on himself, warning him when a demon was launched on him. It had helped a few times. When the ministry had restricted the use of demons, he had rejoiced, but forgot to remove the spell. Knowing how demons worked, he had the choice, now. He could hide and try to protect himself in Hogwarts, knowing that the summoned fiend would do his best to find him. Or he could go battle him in the open. Whatever the battle result, the demon wouldn't touch the school. These beasts were always programmed with one target in mind.
Noticing the size and power of the beast, he sighed. He wouldn't be able to save himself. The only thing he could do now, was save the school.
"Minerva... Minerva!"
The bleak tone brought McGonagall to her senses. "Albus?"
Not looking at her, he spoke slowly. "Take care of the school."
"What do you mean... Albus? Albus!" the Headmistress began to fear for her colleague.
"It is here for me, and for me only." he said, his back to her.
She rushed to him frantically. "We'll find a way, we always find a way..." she said, looking around.
"Yes, Minerva. I found a way so that the school's leadership won't be involved in that battle."
"What is-" she started to ask, before noticing the wand aimed at her.
"I'm sorry. Stupefy!"
Dumbledore grasped the crumbling body of the Headmistress, and laid her gently on the couch. Then, looking at the window, he estimated that he had mere seconds before the beast would apply its program, destroying Hogwarts if he wasn't to show himself. What could he do in mere seconds?
Nothing.
He apparated a dozen yards behind the demon. Even if Hermione quoted Hogwarts: a History time and again, it was possible to Apparate on Hogwarts ground. It just was extremely difficult. But the Headmaster, having all leeway on the wards, was always able to.
Arriving behind the beast, Dumbledore tapped his wand handle on the ground thrice, and it grew to become a gnarled staff, capped with a pulsating sapphire. The dancing light was casting eerie shadows around the former Headmaster, and every witness would have been in awe. That is, if there had been witnesses.
The demon wasn't in awe.
It had a task.
And it was going to start executing it.
Coventry Street, London...
Harry woke suddenly, drenched in sweat. Jumping up, he started to rant at the people present.
"We have to warn Dumbledore! Volde-"
He stopped abruptly. His previous moments of wakefulness came back to his mind and he winced. These people weren't wizards. However, if everything followed its course, he would have a dead Headmaster in a few moments, minutes, even.
He looked around. He was still in Mr Ch'larwen's office, but its owner had disappeared, as well as Luna. There were three people there: an old woman with white hair and deep blue eyes, clad in a navy blue dress; an athletic man looking in his early forties, with brown hair in a ponytail and brown eyes, dressed in brown overalls; and a young man in his twenties, his red hair recalling Harry of the Weasleys. They had been discussing while he was unconscious, or rather, the redhead discussed while the woman only refuted his sayings, and the other man nodded all along.
Whoever they were, Harry had only one contact here, and it was urgent to find him.
"Where is Luna? And where is Mr Ch'larwen?"
"I don't know who this Luna is, young man," answered the old lady, "but Mr Ch'larwen will find you whenever his current job will allow it."
"You don't understand, I need to find him as soon as poss-"
"You don't understand." started the redhead. "Mr Ch'larwen isn't somebody you can annoy like that."
"I have to find him, it's a matter of life or death!"
"Hmmm hmmm." in his nonchalant way, the athletic man was more unnerving than the two others.
"Somebody is going to die and I NEED HIS HELP!" Harry had shouted the last part, his anger at the three reaching a level where he wasn't mastering his emotions.
The three other gasped.
"That is something new." the woman said.
"I never encountered one." the redhead replied.
"Hmmm hmmm." answered the other man.
"Will you answer me, DAMN IT!" Harry exploded, and his energy sphere exploded as well.
To leave the unconscious teen in the quiet, as he suspected a heated discussion, the Air Master had brought his fire colleague three rooms down. Mark O'Malley was here because he wanted the job that had been freed after Joshua's undersecretary's retirement. The two men hated each other with a passion, though, and it could never work out. It was to say this, and exchange several heated arguments about responsibilities, that the two men had isolated themselves.
In the main room, people had been working the end-of-the-day shift, and only a few of them stayed. Those few would have something to tell their colleague the next day, as the door to their boss' office exploded off its hinges. Said boss then ran to the office, followed by a worried Fire Master. Even if he hadn't had time to greet him, especially as he was unconscious, Mark had recognized the young man, and the explosion wasn't a good sign.
Upon arriving in the destroyed office, though, both Masters could only laugh at the sight of the three elementals cowering behind the overturned desk while Harry was ranting. Ranting about...
Joshua looked around in alarm. He quickly placed memory blocks on the four other elementals present, and took Harry by the shoulder.
"What!" the young man was ready to curse again.
"It's me. Calm down. You're calm, now." The voice, and the subconscious message accompanying it effectively calmed Harry.
"Now. What is it about Dumbledore?" the Air Master had caught the name in Harry's rant and had mentally frozen the others, so as to discuss freely with him. Obviously, it was urgent.
Harry decided to cut short, as he had lost enough time already. "Voldemort summoned a demon to kill him."
"Oh my... How do you know?"
"It's not the point! I'm sure of it. I'm going to Hogwarts to help him, but I can't do everything alone. Especially as I don't have a wand."
"How can you be a Magius and not have a wand?"
Harry threw him a dark glance, and he understood it wasn't his main topic of interest right now.
"Okay. When?"
"When what?"
"When is it going to strike?"
"Now! Right now! Can you do something? Are the elementals proficient with demons?"
"Actually... it depends on one's element. There are..."
"Cut, please."
"Okay, okay. The most indicated element is magma. It is a mix between-"
"I know what it is." Harry interrupted curtly. "Are there many available?"
"Unfortunately, no. They are quite rare, like the other intermediate elements. We don't know why, but intermediate elements seldom transfer to children intact. It always loses-"
"Sorry, but I don't have time for this. Another idea to fight this beast?"
"I'd say water because the beast works on fire."
"Okay. I guess there are many of them."
"Yes, but-"
"You know where Hogwarts is?"
"Yes, but-"
"Can you bring demon fighters there as quickly as possible?"
The young man was feverish, and his fervour was contagious. Joshua Ch'larwen began to think about a battle plan, before Harry shook him.
"Can you?"
"Yes!"
"Thank you. Be quick, I don't know how much time I can buy. Lakelogliewarts!"
And Harry disappeared. Joshua looked at the spot he had been in shock. That young man, even if he had been able to wreak havoc in his office, wouldn't be able to fight a demon alone. And he knew it, and he expected his help.
He went to his overturned desk and pulled it upright with a flick of his hand. He then picked a small notepad from this first drawer, and exited the room, heading to the telephone hub, and leaving the four other elementals there, to be dealt with later. If he was to contact several Magiuses at the same time, he needed all the lines he could get.
Harry landed on the usual patch of grass near the lake. Professor Sprout had made the grass grow back where he had burned it a dozen days ago, but new patches of burnt and otherwise damaged ground proved that a battle had started here...
...and the surrounding sound proved that it wasn't finished yet. There was a deep rumbling sound resembling a laughter emitted from an impossibly large throat. There was a deep pounding on the ground as if horses were charging around, only it wasn't horses. There were sounds of battle, as if thousands of soldiers were hacking at each other. There were sounds of magic, the energy crackling in the air, as spells saturated the air in magic. And finally, there was a voice, a formidable, booming voice, which Harry would recognize even in its currently deformed and tired state.
Albus Dumbledore, to fight his adversary on the same ground, had enlarged himself. He had cast several spells on himself to strengthen his robes and his underlying skin. He continued to cast spells on the demon, striking him with his staff sometimes. The demon, however, seemed to heal itself each time, and attacked Dumbledore with renewed vigour.
Harry didn't know since how long it had been going, but the old man was starting to show signs of fatigue. It was time, now.
Harry could fight in two ways. Three, in fact, but, without a proper wand, he couldn't very well cast spells. He could attack with his elemental energy, and he could attack the demon bodily.
Bodily? Was he mad?
In fact, the enlarged Dumbledore had given him the idea of transforming himself into a dragon. After all, this particular transformation was acquired, now. The added bonus was that he could use Lightning while in any form.
Hidden from both fighters, he concentrated and felt the usual tingling in his whole body. After long seconds while his bones grew as well as his muscles, while his skin hardened and fangs and claws elongated, he stood up and took flight immediately. No need to warn the fighters about his presence. Flying on top of the battlefield, he studied Dumbledore tactics, and quickly found a pattern. Attack spell, defence spell, strike with staff. The demon wasn't really affected by the spells, as they only bought time for Dumbledore so that he could cast his repetitive defence spells. The most damaging was the staff strike, and Harry decided to strike then. While the two fighters continued, he focussed on his current anger and anguish, and summoned a ball of lightning large enough to encompass his present shape, and more. He waited for Dumbledore to cast his defence spell and threw the energy sphere on the demon.
Dumbledore was in his sequence, and he struck with the staff, not really realizing what had happened. When he finally noticed, his eyes grew wide. The creature in front of him was held by a crackling field of energy, barely able to move, and visibly unable to heal the magical staff wound. The energy field was lowering steadily, and he could only make good use of his staff during that time.
While he repeatedly struck the fiend, he also uncorked a vial of potion from his pockets and drank from it. It never had time to do so during the real fight, and was content to be able to do so now, as the strong peppering-up potion kicked in.
While Dumbledore struck the demon, Harry hadn't been inactive too. Noticing that the energy field was dwindling, he prepared another, this time much stronger. He concentrated on everything he held dear. His friends, wizards and muggles... His activities... His discoveries...
...his love.
When he finished concentrating, he had released a ball of lightning so intense that it was entirely white. He hadn't wanted it to be too large because Dumbledore wouldn't be able to strike the beast otherwise. The white ball shed as much light as a little sun, and Dumbledore, still striking the demon, grew alarmed of finding shadows on the ground where there hadn't been before. He looked up, and froze at the sight.
Bad idea.
Harry kicked himself mentally.
He hadn't warned his professor about his presence in the fight. He didn't give him a warning about his miscellaneous powers either. The only thing that Dumbledore could think of was that there was another power there, another unknown threat. The problem is that his enemy had finished absorbing the energy shield at that moment, and sent its two right fists at the same time.
Harry winced upon hearing the bones cracking and seeing the man flying backwards, but he held on his Lightning ball. He had wanted to throw it in the same way, but the demon was already rushing toward the old wizard's prone form. Not having time to concentrate on sending his energy sphere onto the demon, he plunged toward the demon, his ball in tow.
When the old man opened his eyes, awoken by the ground shaking under him, he was quite shocked of the sight in front of him. Two beasts of legend were fighting each other. The very same demon he had been fighting was incapacitated by a sphere of white light, but that didn't prevent it to strike back, sending spears of searing fire at the dragon between them.
Between them.
The previous Headmaster then understood that the dragon was there to help him, and, while, still lying on the ground, he drank several potions to recover from his fall, he couldn't stop wondering who sent it and why.
While the old man recovered, Harry was trying to push the demon away. He had understood at some point that the demon's one and only goal was Dumbledore's demise, and several tactics couldn't be applied there: if he moved aside trying to lure the beast away, it would lunge at the still lying wizard.
So, the most he could do, like his first hit, was pushing it away. For the umpteenth time, he ran toward it, intending to jump on it. The ground shook, but the demon didn't move away. Demon that powerful didn't fear anything, and wouldn't flee from any attack. However, the sheer inertia of the dragon made it fall on its back again, with more wounds on its torso from the dragon's claws.
Said claws, though, as well as a good part of the dragon's side where the demon had retaliated while falling, were visibly burnt. It wasn't a good idea to tear into a creature made of magma, even while adding Lightning to the strike.
However, under Dumbledore's surprised gaze, the dragon's claws and hide quickly found their normal aspect. Unbeknownst to him, Harry was using his shape-shifting abilities to heal himself. It was tiring him, though, and, panting, he flew back to the spot he was before, right between Dumbledore and the demon.
While standing up again, warily taking hold of his Sorcerer staff, Albus Dumbledore wondered about the creature in front of him. He knew about demons, and he knew about dragons, but he never thought that a dragon would be able to fight such a beast. Even his staff was damaged by the magma creature. He also never witnessed a creature able to regrow their burnt claws and skin as quickly as the one in front of him did. He was thankful, though, for his life would have been forfeit otherwise.
A rumbling growl interrupted his thoughts, and he noticed that the creature programmed to kill him was standing again. This time, however, the incapacitating sphere that restrained it had dwindled to nothing and the creature's growl became a full holler as it charged back toward the dragon.
Said dragon reflected quickly and assumed that the best course of action, given the circumstances and both opponents' bulk, was to charge back. The ground trembled even more than before as the 2-legged mass of magma and the 4-legged mass of muscle ran toward each other.
The impact was terrible, and both creatures stumbled back a few steps. The demon was quicker to react, and, now that it wasn't hindered by the lightning ball, used his wings to advance toward his initial target.
While he was in mid-air and gliding toward Dumbledore, though, a roar erupted behind it and the dragon went on his burnt paws with difficulty, before using its wings too.
It was a sight to behold. Even if he had recovered enough to cast many protection spells on himself, Albus Dumbledore was quite frightened at it. Two of the most powerful creatures known to man were charging toward him. His battle reflexes kicked in, though, and he cast a powerful Cutting curse to slice through one of the demon arms. The curse was powerful enough to cut through centuries-old trees, stone, and even metal, but the magical internal structure of the demon held, and it healed almost instantly.
With his protection spells, Dumbledore had been able to stand the demon's attacks, one after the other, but the infernal creature now wanted to finish it. All four fists flew forward, each connecting with a different part of the wizard. One was aimed at his pelvis, one at his stomach, one at his chest, and the last to his head. Having only two arms, Dumbledore raised them to protect his vital areas. His pelvis was broken instantly. His stomach had internal damage too. His left arm, protecting his head, was broken in two places. His right arm had been holding his staff, and the demon's attack sent it to the other side of the battlefield. The other result of being hit in the lower region with such strength was that the old man was now making a disgraceful flight in the air, towards...
...towards the rocky part of the lake shore, head first.
Albus Dumbledore was quite out. The last spells had almost emptied his magical reserves, and he wasn't up to use wandless magic right now. He had lost his staff, and couldn't slow his fall. He closed his eyes, waiting for death to take him.
He waited.
And waited.
Nothing happened.
Well... nothing to him anyway. He was still hearing the unmistakable sound of the dragon's roars, and human voices.
Voices?
Startled, he opened his eyes and immediately wished he hadn't. He was still in the air, upside down, and the vision in that position wasn't comfortable. Closing and opening his eyes again, he noticed several things going on.
First, he was going down, slowly, and, at the same time, he was recovering a proper position.
Second, the voices belonged to a group of people which looked undoubtedly muggles to him.
Third, one of these "muggles" was having his hand in the air, toward him, and he noticed that the movements of the hand were reflected by his own position changing.
Fourth, several persons were exiting Hogwarts, heading toward the battlefield. Undoubtedly, the Headmistress woke up or had been awoken, and was coming to his rescue.
His rescue?
Fifth, the battle still raged. But this time, the dragon's roars had an unmistakable tinge of pain in them. Noticing the rumbling sound of the approaching demon, Dumbledore looked up and understood why. The demon was advancing toward him, but the dragon was trying to hold it back by sticking to its back, tearing at everything with fangs and claws.
Now, it wasn't a good idea to stick any creature to a living lump of magma, if the sizzling sounds were any indication of the dragon's pain. Even with a shielding layer of Lightning element, Harry was in pain and quickly tiring. He hoped that the few humans he was noticing in the distance were the promised cavalry.
Joshua Ch'larwen was in a bad mood. He had had to convince spouses, kids, and other parenting figures that it wasn't a joke, and several of his contacts weren't even at home. Still, in the five minutes that had followed Gabriel's departure, he had managed to contact eight Water Magiuses and one of the only two Magma Magiuses in the whole world. As Magiuses knew of the magical world and its schools, he directly asked them to meet at Hogwarts, and they all used their elemental transportation ability to head there.
Once there, they all understood the urgency of the situation, as a 10-foot tall demon struck a tall sorcerer with its 4 fists, sending him flying in the air. Air was Joshua's element, and he stopped the old man's fall, making sure not to break more bones that he suspected were already.
The others conversed quickly, and decided to quench the mass of magma with water. Concentrating, the eight Water Magiuses sent the water from the lake in the demon's face. Despite the intensity of the jet of water, looking like it came from several fire hoses, the demon only slowed down, before reaching toward Dumbledore again.
The Magma Magius, seeing that, concentrated on his elemental vision, before gasping at the revelation.
"Joshua! The demon! It's bodily connected to the sphere of Magma! It's healing from everything we send to it."
"Is it possible to cut the connection, Pietro?"
"I don't know, I..."
"I suggest you try. I think he is after the old man. I'll provide distraction, but be quick, or we could all taste your element firsthand."
"Okay."
Said Pietro concentrated again, while Joshua moved the still form of Albus Dumbledore in the air. The demon was still hindered by the dragon on his back, but, sensing his enemy's strength lowering, it made a vicious move, rolling on itself to crush the dragon under his burning weight. Harry was almost out, though, and didn't move in time to avoid the hit. When the demon stood up again, Harry thought he was going to die, but the demon's goal was elsewhere, and it took the air to follow the moving wizard around the lake.
"What are you doing?"
The voice was conveying contempt, disgust, and threat. The sneer accompanying it was almost audible also. Severus Snape had reached the group of elementals, and could only witness that the old one was moving Dumbledore around. He drew his wand, intent on making this stop, before hearing gasps around him. Except the two men concentrating, everyone else was looking at something behind him. He turned around.
And found himself in front of a paw.
A leathery paw.
Looking up, he came face-to-face with Harry. Or rather face-to-snout with a dragon.
Even if Harry was tired, he had noticed that the Potion Master was being his usual intolerant self, and he could only stop him. Shape-shifting his vocal box a little, he spoke in a deep voice.
"Let them help."
Everybody gaped at the voice, especially the wizards, and especially Hagrid. The half-giant had left his hut since the beginning of the fight, but seeing the magnitude of power displayed, he had been hiding in the forest. Now, he could only look at the dragon in wonder. Dragon couldn't speak. Well... they couldn't speak English. It wasn't even possible.
While everyone was quite taken with the dragon issue, Pietro had finished his job. He didn't have to say it, though, because the demon stopped following Dumbledore and uttered an angry rumbling yell.
"NOW!" he said to the Water Magiuses.
And, to the wondering gaze of the wizards, the eight raised their arm and water came from the lake to form a sphere around the demon. The hissing sounds coming from the airborne water bubble were a clear indication of the weakening of the fiend. Meanwhile, Joshua brought Albus back to the groups, and a discussion erupted about the fact that weakening the demon was good, but insufficient. They had to banish it back to its home, and they could do it with only one thing. Albus' sorcerer staff.
Harry was having trouble staying conscious, now. He had been doing his best to heal his burns, but he was exhausted. Now that the wizards and elementals were working together, he trudged to the forest, under the watchful gaze of Snape and Hagrid. Once sufficiently inside, hidden from the curious gazes, he tried to transform back to his normal shape, but was so worn out that he fell into unconsciousness while doing so.
As nobody else than Albus could take the staff, Joshua went, still holding Albus tightly in his element, to search for the missing staff, hoping that it was still in one piece. Once found, they came back and found the prone form of the demon twitching on the lake shore. Using his staff in his good arm, Dumbledore tried to ignore the sparks dancing in his eyes while he was uttering the demon banishing spell. Once done, he fell into unconsciousness.
"Albus!" yelled the wizards at the same time, trying to get a hold of him.
"I wouldn't do that!" interrupted the old Air master, strengthening the Air shield around the old wizard. "He suffers from heavy exhaustion and several broken bones. I will put him in a proper bed if you want to treat him, but I will do it myself."
"Who are you?" asked Snape suspiciously.
"My name is Joshua Ch'larwen, and I think we have a wounded old man here, so if you would lead the way..."
The two groups headed for the Hospital wing, both happy to have the demon disposed of, but still wary of each other.
Harry slept for a long time. A very long time. The charmed bed continually fed him potions through intravenous needles, so that he wasn't forced to wake up. He slept a full month there, and, when he finally awoke, he first couldn't remember what he was doing there. His limbs were stiff despite the potions, and he was having a breath problem. It wasn't until he went into his mind to organize his memories, while brushing his teeth, that he noticed his refuelled magical centre, and he recalled the events which took place so long ago.
Long ago?
He cursed himself again, because he still didn't have the clocks he wanted. Even if his own watch was working perfectly, he couldn't tell what time it was in the outside world. Or even what day.
He decided to take the safest route, and, after a quick shower and a quick meal, he spoke the words allowing the ring to portkey him to his room at Joan and Michael's place. From there, he inferred that it was late in the afternoon. He called in the house, but the owners were obviously at the fair.
Deciding that he wanted to keep an eye on the proper time now, he left the house and headed to the nearest shopping centre. It was open, and Harry went first to the newspaper kiosk to find about the date in a discreet way. When he found out, though, he gaped. Three days had passed since his run-in with the infernal beast, which means that he spent a month healing in his refuge!
"Hey, boy! You buy it or what?" asked a wary kiosk owner.
"Err... sorry." answered a still flabbergasted Harry, before putting the newspaper back on its stack. At least now, he was fully healed and functional. Because several shops were closing already, he sped toward his next target and bought several wristwatches and clocks. If he was to experiment on them, he reflected that he had to buy a few sets. Some of the mechanical watches and clocks also had the date on them, and he hoped to be able to adapt them to the hideaway's skewed time frame.
On his way out of the shopping centre, he noticed that a shop wasn't closing yet. It was one little shop where he rarely went, not needing second-hand books. What had attracted his gaze, though, was the lightning bold on the cover of an old textbook on a muggle university's course in electricity. He skimmed through the other books, and found a booklet about watches and clocks. It was mainly hints to keep them functioning, not an in-depth explanation of their workings, but he guessed that he could use a few of its advices. He paid for the books and left. After he found a dark place, he portkeyed to his refuge again, to drop his purchases and think about his next move. Three days had passed since he left the elementals and wizards together to deal with a demon. He absently wondered what had happened since then, and decided to find out soon.
While he positioned the books in his bookcase, though, he noticed several stacks of papers there, which he remembered taking from his vault. He absently scanned them, but held his breath when a particular drawing held his gaze. It wasn't a complicated one, as it displayed a box of some sorts, but the drawing included a decorated lid and several annotations. What struck him was that the lid looked like the one closing the box resting on top of his bookcase.
In a rush, he put the paper on the desk, grasped the chair and moved the box from its resting place to the desk. Following the annotation, he put his fingers on several key points and spoke the indicated sentence.
"Sesame, Open."
He was smiling because of the muggle reference, but, to his disappointment, nothing happened. He took his head in his hand in frustration, but, the moment he removed his fingers from the box, he jumped at the contralto voice coming from the box.
"Who is questing for my secrets?" it asked.
"Harry Potter."
A silence.
"Wrong answer."
"Harry James Potter." said Harry, a bit annoyed at the wizards' constant use of full names.
A silence.
A click.
The lid opened, and Harry was disappointed to find only three items in the box. The first was a wand, and the name written on the handle was Ginevra Shaun, his grandmother. The second was a book, written by the same person, and Harry opened it to the first page, only to find a handwritten message.
Dear descendant,
I know that you are a descendant of mine because I just finished charming the box with the appropriate spells. Know that I failed to protect myself from the Death Eaters. They found my cottage, and I can't escape because of their wards. I don't have my ring anymore because James was working on it. Without it, I can't use the weapons too. Well... I'm stuck. I'm going to use my other wand to make a big fireworks, hopefully taking many of them with me.
This book contains my last findings in Technomancy, as well as a complete guide to my hidden chambers. I hope you can find a good use to both. I will now close the box and activate its charm so that it will go back home.
Time to remove some Death Eaters from the face of the earth!
PS. James, if it's you, I hope you fare well, my son. If not, I hope you didn't inherit the Potters' insufferable ability to get in trouble.
Harry cried on his grandmother's last words, but a word nagged at his mind, until he remembered that a third item rested in the box. It was a leather box, and, when it opened, he found something he never thought he would find in a magical environment, even with his recently acquired knowledge in Technomancy. It was something he didn't have problems to identify, though, thanks to his muggle upraising.
In the box, glinting in the hideaway's ambient light, were two M-1911 .45 handguns.
In the office of the Minister of Magic, a man was working hard. He had the body of Arthur Weasley, but he didn't work in the same way. Next to him, another man was working in the same direction, adding comments and criticism when he felt the written documents weren't complete.
Arthur Weasley and Broderick Bode were writing law texts.
"What do you think of this one, Joe?" asked Arthur.
"Hey! I already told you not to call me by this name! There could be people listening."
"Sorry, what was it, again? Frederick?"
"Broderick. What did you want to tell me?"
"This text: The werewolf community, comprising dangerous individuals, shall be monitored at all times, as per the law 44-E."
"Nice. We should extend that one to any and all dangerous beasts, though."
"I know. But remember, we can't massively pass laws, we have to do it smoothly. The text on the werewolves will be sent today, and we'll extend it next week."
"Okay. You did pass the one on the Death Munchers, right?"
"Yes. Let me fetch it for a sec... here it is: Any wizard suspected of dark activity will be immediately subjected to a trial with a preliminary hearing with the Ministry's authorized investigation personnel." He looked up at the other man, a smirk on his face. "That's you and me."
"Good to know. I think we will have a good set of contacts soon."
"Yeah."
They worked in silence again, until 'Joe' spoke again.
"What are you going to do with your 'family'?"
"I don't know yet." answered the other man. Looking at Broderick, he smiled evilly. "I think I'll ask the Aurors to put that wretched house under Fidelius. After all, we are at war with this... Volredom?"
"Voldemort."
"Ah, yes. Dark Lords always had a kick to find stupid names. My... so-called family won't come back for a few days, and they'll have quite the surprise then."
They laughed darkly.
"You could also disown them, you know."
"Now, that's an interesting idea. As I formally gave you that right, can you hold the office while I make a stop at Gringotts? I'll move their belongings to another vault."
"Sure. Nasty idea, by the way. Speaking of Gringotts, we should include those pesky goblins in the dangerous creatures list, soon."
"I already thought about it."
They chuckled again, before composing themselves. The outside world wasn't aware that the Minister of Magic was a different person yet, and there was no need to let anything leak as of yet.
In Romania, a few days later...
"Thank you, Charlie."
"Yes, thank you, dear brother-"
"-that was very informative."
The Weasleys were taking leave of their brother, ready to be portkeyed away from Romania. They talked a bit more until the local employee of the Ministry's Department of Transportation told them it was time. Charlie left the room after a last round of embraces, and the timed portkey activated mere seconds afterwards.
They arrived in the Ministry's Transportation Room and, as it was already midday, they decided to take a meal at the Leaky Cauldron. After asking an employee to notify Arthur of their arrival, they left the Ministry and headed for the inn.
They took their meal happily, recounting their memories of the Romanian trip, but they didn't notice the dark looks sent their way until dessert. Just as Ron was going to plunge his spoon in the waiting vanilla cream, a hairy hand beat him to it.
Following the arm until they saw the person behind, Ron gasped. He was angry about somebody wasting his food, but the hate and anger he noticed in the person's eyes was intense, and made him hesitate.
"Hey! Leave us alone!" shrieked Molly, not having noticed the man's fury.
He looked at her with amber eyes. "I could tell you the same, Weasley."
"We didn't do anything to you, now leave, or I call Tom."
"You didn't do anything? You didn't do anything? What about this, huh?"
The man removed his hand from Ron's ruined dessert, and showed it to her. On it, a stylized wolf's head was embossed, as if it had been marked with a hot poker.
"What do you mean? What is this?" asked Molly, still not understanding.
"You don't know? Were you outside the country for a time, woman?" seethed the man.
"As a matter of fact, we actually were. Now tell me what you want or I'll call Tom on you."
"I doubt Tom would take your side now, you know. And as to what this is, you should ask your wretched husband!"
The man left the inn with these words. Stunned, the Weasleys looked around and found only hostile glares directed their way. Quickly finishing their meal, they agreed to split up, the kids going back home while Molly would ask Arthur about it. Ron was the first to the Leaky Cauldron's Floo access. He threw some powder in the fire, speaking clearly.
"The Burrow!"
To the Weasleys' surprised gaze, nothing happened. Ron tried again with no more success. After Fred and George snickering comments on their brother's inability to use the Floo, their subsequent tries failed too. When they tried to enter the Ministry through the Floo, it failed too. Hearing their attempts, the innkeeper went to them.
"The Ministry closed their Floo access, Mrs Weasley."
"Why, Tom?"
"You don't know?"
"Well... no."
"I don't know either. You should ask your husband." he said, contempt dripping in his voice.
Molly didn't have time to ask for details, because Tom turned away from them. Not understanding the Floo problems anymore than the hostility toward them, they left the Leaky Cauldron to muggle London, heading for the outside Ministry entrance.
After telling their name and their intention in the magicked telephone booth, the elevator brought them to the Ministry lobby, where they got an unpleasant surprise. A dozen Aurors were waiting for them, wands raised.
"Mum, why are they threatening us?" asked a frightened Ginny.
"I don't know, dear."
"Molly, Fred, George, Ronald, and Ginny Weasley," spoke the Auror leading the squad, "you are accused of treason against the wizarding world. Give up your wands and follow us without resistance."
The words stunned the surprised family more efficiently than a Stupefy. Molly fainted, and the twins lost their cheerful expression. Ron was angry and Ginny looked fearful. Why would they be accused of such a crime?
"This is a misunderstanding!" began Ron. "Check with the Minister, we are from his family!"
"This is a direct order from the Minister himself." answered the Auror curtly. "Now give your wands."
"But-" started Ron. He didn't have time to elaborate, though, as two beams of light struck his chest. He dropped to the ground, unconscious.
"Give up your wands. Now!" ordered the Auror to the shocked Weasleys.
Not understanding, and still stunned by the ordeal, they relinquished their only mean of defence to the squad, before being rudely escorted to separate prison cells in the Ministry dungeon.
Their imprisonment was harsh, and the Aurors keeping them always made fun of them. Sarcasm and mistreatment began to be their daily lot. Molly cried herself to sleep each day, and the children weren't faring better.
Two days after their imprisonment, they heard a commotion outside, but couldn't make heads or tails from it. Ginny could, though, because her cell door opened to let black-robed wizards in. She didn't have time to scream, though, as a Stunner sent her into oblivion.
When she woke up, she was flabbergasted again to find herself in a circle of the same black robes. The deformed laughter escaping from the white masks made her shiver with fright. She had been kidnapped by Death Eaters.
To be continued in next chapter: From the Frying Pan Into the Fire...
It's not getting easier.
Nor is it homelier.
Why did they
get her? A test?
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