Disclaimer: Harry is not mine…. Please don't sue

Chapter Thirteen. Defeat at Gate Thirteen.

Harry raced from the common room. Blood pounded in his ears, his heart beat furiously against his ribs so that he thought he would burst.

He jumped down rather than ran down the stairs and kept running like a wild man to the Entrance Hall. For the briefest of moments he stopped clutching his side his emerald eyes darted about.

It was oddly quiet, yet Harry knew something tremendous was about to happen. It was like the eye of the storm.

He took one tentative step forward, pondering on the wisdom of what he was about to do. He took another and in that short about of time he was sure.

He had to save Hogwarts!

Harry was running again, running as fast as his legs would carry him down to Hagrid's little hut and dashed into the forest.

Harry did not stop he kept going. His breath caught in his throat and he gasped as if in pain.

'Harry where are you?'

'Damn it,' Harry thought, 'Hermione's awake.'

'I'm in the forest…' Harry sent, his feet barely skipping a beat.

'The forbidden forest?'

'No I thought I would take a little walk in the gardens, Regin.'

Regin took the hint and was silent.

'Not a good idea mate.' Harry silently agreed with Ron but did not admit it. It was too late now anyway.

'Something's happening…'

'Harry this is definitely not a good idea.' Ron was in his mind in the next instant.

'I'll get Snape,' Astah suggested almost calmly.

'No.' Harry tripped and stumbled over his own feet and fell fast first into a tree root. His eyes voluntarily watered. 'I don't want Snape to get suspicious yet.'

Harry felt Tristram Malfoy agree silently. Of all the members of the Fifth House he had the greatest difficulty with the mind communication ability. The problem was he was so closed and reserved that it took a lot of coaxing and encouragement for Harry to get Tristram to trust him to enter his mind. But what Tristram lacked in trust he made up for in his subtly.

'Protect your common rooms, warn the teachers of dangers.' Harry was aware of his hypercritical statement before it left him… 'Yes even Snape.' He sighed but it could not be helped Snape had the right to know just as any other teacher at Hogwarts.

Harry had stumbled back onto his feet and was now running madly through the forest. Gate Thirteen was not far away…

In the back of his mind Harry registered how strangely quiet the forest was. There was not even the hoot of an owl in the air. All was still, breathless, as if the forest was holding its breath waiting for something to happen.

Ready to fall in a heap from exhaustion Harry reached Gate Thirteen to find…

'Nothing… its peaceful as nothing had been here in the first place…'

Harry fingered his amulet absently; he had been so sure of the danger. He sighed then slumped on the forest floor; it had felt so real. Perhaps he was going mad after all.

As Harry was about to stand and leave the forest he heard the unmistakeable sound of a twig snapping.

Harry' breath caught in his throat once more, his hand was already on his wand and he was scrambling to a standing position. Someone or something was making their way near the ward. Harry readied himself and backed near a tree to attempt to hide himself in the darkness.

'McGonagall says come back this instant,' Hermione suddenly sent frantically.

"I can't," Harry said to himself before he could check himself. He clapped his hands over his mouth and silently swore at himself for his clumsily stupidity.

"Who goes there?" a cold high voice demanded. Harry felt chills creep up and down his spine. It was voice he knew; a voice that plagued his nightmares; a voice that tormented his soul… Harry's blood ran cold and he forced back the bile that was building up in his mouth.

"Lumos Maxima." The clearing became lighter and Harry had his own wand at the ready.

Harry was half blinded by the light; no doubt this was the intruder's intention. But when Harry shield his vision he confirmed his worst fears. He was looking into the cold red slits in the deformed frame of You-Know-Who. Of Voldemort.

Harry did not let Voldemort register surprise. Barely had his opponent's lip opened in slight shock when Harry screamed, "Expelliarmus!

Voldemort held up his hand with a sneer and the spell diverted and fell uselessly to his right hand sided.

"Harry Potter, we meet again," Voldemort hissed, "I've learnt much since we last met."
"I think you would find I have learnt much too."

Harry focused as sent a force strike at Voldemort. He was pleasantly surprised Voldemort loose his footing he was kneeling on the forest floor.

WHACK!

WHACK!

WHACK!

Harry focused a burning slap on Voldemort's pale cheeks. Deep down in his guts Harry was enjoying hurting the man-thing that had caused him and those close to him so much pain.

Harry's anger soared along with his elation. Concentrating on the hem of Voldemort's robes Harry soon had his worst enemy on fire. Not the red burning, cleansing fire of refinement. But hot, angry white fury… Silver flames licked the inside of Voldemort's cloak. The black mage roared in fury and with a flick of his hands the fire became still and useless.

"Now that you have shown me not to underestimate you," Voldemort stood.

Harry's legs were not working. What had he done? He was rooted to the spot he couldn't raise his wand to protect himself.

Voldemort straightened his robes, he had Harry transfixed unable to move. A cruel twisted smile played over his pale lips, which he licked in anticipation. He lifted his wand to aim at Harry's chest.

Harry didn't hear the curse being uttered but he felt a pain ripping through his mind, his body convulsed and he tasted the mud of the forest floor through the gnashing of his teeth. Harry had no idea if he screamed or cried out for mercy or how long the curse itself was applied.

Harry knew it was not 'crucio' that had been uttered. This curse was subtly different. It had attacked his mind. His body was reacting even when the curse had been lifted. The pain in his torso was almost unbearable. It was like a greet grizzly bear had caught hold of his guts in clawed cruel hands and was wrenching and twisting his insides.

Eternity later the curse was lifted leaving Harry face down, panting. Struggling to sit up using his elbows, Harry coughed painfully. Rich blood spilled from his lips. He coughed again and the blood came forth in clumps that stained the forest floor.

The curse repeated and Harry flung his body to the forest floor, his face in his own lifeblood. Harry drifted into cold, hard blackness... and he knew no more.

A/N: Sorry it is small. And I'm not sorry for the cliffhanger…What will happen to Hogwarts? I'm proud of this chapter…! And I love cliffhangers Mahahahahahaha!