Chapter 10: A Power to Kill
Sirius felt his own heart stop after Delia's announcement. Kairi quickly pulled Delia away and gathered her into her arms while Demin, Remus and Sirius knelt around Harry. Demin quickly performed the strongest reviving spells he knew.
"I can't get him breathing again!" Demin said desperately after a few minutes. "Remus, go get Dumbledore and have him meet us in the hospital wing."
Demin then quickly gathered Harry in his arms and ran at a dead sprint to the Hospital wing, followed by a frantic Sirius and crying Kairi and Delia.
"Madam Pomfrey!" Demin yelled as he burst into the hospital wing and laid Harry on a bed. "Madam Pomfrey!"
Madam Pomfrey come out of office a moment later looking harassed, "There's no need to yell I can hear just fi . . . what's happened?" She instantly asked, noticing their fearful faces and the still form of Harry on the bed.
"He's not breathing and I can't seem to help him," Demin said helplessly.
Madam Pomfrey didn't waste a second before she started throwing reviving spells at Harry. Two minutes later Dumbledore and Remus walked into the ward. Dumbledore immediately commenced in helping Madam Pomfrey with the reviving spells. She wasn't having better luck with them then Demin had.
Sirius was gripping Harry's hand tightly, seeming to be in a state of shock. 'This isn't happening. Harry's fine, this is just a nightmare. This isn't happening.' Sirius kept repeating inside his head over and over again.
"I don't get it!" Madam Pomfrey said, flustered after five agonizing minutes. "Nothing's working! If we don't find a spell soon, it will be too late!"
Demin stood there desperately trying to think of any possible spell they hadn't tried yet. He wouldn't lose Harry. He couldn't lose Harry.
"Demin!" Kairi's voice said suddenly, penetrating threw Demin's thoughts. "The Bond of Mortality spell."
Demin looked at his sister sharply. "Do you think one of us has a strong enough bond with Harry to perform it?"
"Not you or I, but I know Sirius does," Kairi said confidently, getting up and handing a still sobbing Delia to Remus. "It's our only chance, I will not let Harry die! Especially since we don't even know who did this!"
"What is the Bond of Mortality spell?" Professor Dumbledore asked, looking up from Harry. "I've never heard of it."
"The spell is a ancient Elf spell. It's dangerous and there's no guarantee that the person we send after Harry will come back alive," Demin said hurriedly explaining while moving forward so he stood opposite his sister across the bed.
"What do I have to do?" Sirius asked instantly, having heard the entire conversation.
"Sirius we are going to send your spirit after Harry's. Only my brother and I can perform the spell and it can only be performed once on a person. You will have a limited amount of time before we call you back," Kairi said, reaching across the bed to clasp her brother's hands. "All you have to do is place your hands on top of ours when we perform the spell. You understand the risks?"
"Yes," Sirius said with determination, placing his hands on top of Demin and Kairi's. "I will not let Harry die."
Demin and Kairi nodded once, before starting to mutter the spell rapidly in the old ancient language. Immense power begun to flow around Demin and Kairi's hands and then into Sirius's body. Before long Sirius's entire body was glowing with power and as Demin and Kairi finished their spell Sirius collapsed onto Harry's stomach motionless.
"All we can do now is wait," Demin said, releasing his sister's hands and staring at the two motionless bodies.
"How long will Sirius have?" Remus asked anxiously, skin completely ashen.
"We can give him one hour," Kairi said, tears trailing down her face unchecked. "After that we will have to call him back with or without Harry."
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Harry slowly pulled himself to his feet looking around. Where was he? The last thing he remembered he was racing Delia down Hogwart's hall, but as he looked around it was clear to Harry that he wasn't there anymore.
It appeared that he was in somebody's house, as he glimpsed a family portrait of a man and his wife and two little boys on the painted walls. But how did he get there? He suddenly realized that raised voice and cruel laughter was coming from below and to Harry's horror a new high-pitched laughter joined the group. Voldemort! 'What was going on?' Harry thought desperately.
The next thing Harry heard was anguish torturing screaming from a woman below. Harry was about to throw caution into the wind and rush down there to help who ever it was when he heard a soft frighten voice from an slightly open door never by.
Harry tentatively crept into the room and quietly shut the door behind him. He listened closely and pinpointed the noise to the corner closet. He walked over to it and opened it carefully to reveal two terrified little boys.
"Are you two alright?" Harry asked quietly.
The two in questioned abruptly snapped opened their eyes to expose identical bright blue eyes. With a start, Harry realized they were twins. They had identical brown hair, cut short. They had on the same blue shirts and tan shorts. Even though they were different people the faces help similar terrified looks. They couldn't have been more then six years old.
"Who . . . are . . you?" One of the twins managed to stutter.
"My name is Harry and I'm not here to hurt you," Harry said smiling gently at them trying to block out the horrible screaming coming from below.
"Harry Potter?!" the other twin spoke up, amazed.
"Yes I am," Harry said smiling. "You two must be wizards?"
"It worked," the twin that had spoken first said, ignoring Harry's question. "It really worked!"
Harry looked at the boy confused. "What do you mean it worked?"
"We called for you," the second twin said softly. "And it worked."
"You called me?" Harry asked totally taken aback.
"Yes. Our daddy and mommy have always told us stories about you and how you defeated the Dark Lord when you were a baby. And how you continue to fight against him to this day," the first twin said, pulling his legs up to his chest. "We knew if you were here you could help us and our parents, so we called for you."
Harry just started at the two twins stunned. How could two six-year-old wizards have the power to call him to them?
"What are your names?" Harry asked calmly even thought he felt like his head was on spin cycle.
"I'm Caleb Collier and my brother here is Mathew Collier," the second twin said introducing them.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Harry said, thinking fast. "Does Voldemort know you're up here?"
"I don't think so," the one called Mathew answered, Harry noticing that neither boy winced at Voldemort's name. Whoever their parents were, they were clever to teach their children not to fear that name.
"Mommy came into our rooms and shoved us into the closet. She told us to stay quiet and not to move no matter what," Caleb said a tear escaping his eyes. "That's when mommy went down to help Daddy and the screaming started."
Harry felt his heart twist in pain. These kids had probably already lost their parents, yet they were being braver then Harry would ever imagine six-year-olds could be.
"I'm going to go help your parents, but first I've got to get you two out of here," Harry said, a plan forming in his head.
"How?" Caleb and Mathew asked at the same time.
"Have either of you used a portkey before?" Harry asked. The twins nodded and Harry went on to explain. "I want you to find me a favorite object of yours in this room. I am then going to charm it to take you to Hogsmeade. From there you two will have to take the road south and make your way to Hogwarts, where there will be people there to help you."
"We get to go to Hogwarts?" Caleb said excitedly. "Will are parents be coming too?"
Harry felt like crying. "I'm not sure."
"Grandpa Albus will be there though!" Mathew piped in.
"Albus Dumbledore is your grandfather?" Harry asked feeling extremely sick.
"Yes! Our mommy is Grandpa's only daughter, but only a few people know that. Are mommy said it has to be keep a secret. So we don't get to see Grandpa Albus very much," Caleb said sadly, searching the room for the objected Harry had asked for. "This will do," the twin said holding up a round clear globe.
"Alright bring it here," Harry said, trying to remain calm. Did Voldemort figure out that their mom was Dumbledore's daughter or was he here for a different reason? He just hoped he was there to help explain when Dumbledore heard the news.
Harry quickly performed the spell on the glob and handed it back to Caleb. "It's set to go off in thirty seconds, so Mathew get over here."
The other twin obeyed and placed his hand on the globe too.
"Thank you Harry," the twins said together smiling before disappearing from the room.
Harry stood there for a few moments trembling, not with fear, but with fury. How many more lives will Voldemort destroy before he was stopped? How many?! As far as Harry was concerned Voldemort would meet his doom tonight, even if it mean he went down with him!
With that Harry stormed out of the room and down the stairs only to stop when he come into the kitchen where twenty five Death Eaters and Voldemort were circled around the twins' parents who were both lying on the floor motionless. Harry felt his heart skip a beat and a tear make its way down his cheek as he realized he had been too late, but not too late to take revenge for them.
"Come my faithful followers, this was a waste of time. Demolish the house and see if you can't find the item I am looking for, or anything else of value. Then burn the house and leave the mark," Voldemort instructed while strolling to the door. "And don't take all day. We have an very important meeting at the ministry in one hour."
"Not if I stop you first," Harry's clear voice rang threw the room. There was dead silence throughout the house after Harry's announcement. Voldemort turned slowly, red eyes boring into Harry's.
"What a pleasant surprise," Voldemort said sinisterly. "I can now take your head with me when I go to the ministry tonight. A perfected gift to leave for the world from me."
"I wouldn't count on it," Harry said coldly. "I am not the little boy you fought against two years ago."
Voldemort laughed. "You think you can beat me Potter! Then go ahead and give it your best shot."
In an instant Harry raised his wand and yelled, "Expelliarmus." The red light shot out of his wand only to be swatted away by Voldemort as if all Harry had done was throw a toothpick at him.
"Potter say your prayers," Voldemort said, raising his wand and smiling evilly. "Crucio."
Harry quickly threw up his shield only to have it crumble instantly when Voldemort's curse hit it, giving Harry the entire impacted of the curse. He fell to the ground in pain clenching his teeth, refusing to scream. A moment later the pain was lifted and Harry stood up shakily.
"You're pathetic Potter. Just like your parents," Voldemort hissed. "I don't know what made you think you could beat the Heir of Sytherin, when the Heir of Gryffindor could not. Prepare to die Potter."
Harry didn't understand. He could do the magic, but he had absolutely no power behind it. Harry slowly looked around the room realizing that without his new powers he was a dead man.
Harry had enough time to registers that fact before Voldemort raised his wand throwing another curse at him. One thing Harry still had was his reflexes as he dodged out of the way of the curse and was on his feet, quickly knocking over Death Eaters as he ran out of the room.
"Get him," Voldemort told his Death Eaters almost lazily. "Then bring him back so I can finish the job."
Harry ran through the house not really knowing where he was going, only registering he had to get out or all he had trained for to save this world will have been for nothing. If only he knew how he had gotten there in the first place.
Harry soon found himself cornered by five Death Eaters. Knowing he couldn't even take them out with magic he swiftly disarmed them physically by quick sharp blows to the back of their heads. He fought his away through the Death Eaters, making a mental note to thank Demin for the months of brutal training. That's if he ever saw Demin again.
Harry made quick work of Voldemort's pathetic Death Eater's only to find himself being blocked by Voldemort himself.
"You know what they say, if you want something done," Voldemort said, smiling triumphantly. "Do it yourself. Avada Kadavra."
Just as Harry was planning on dodging to the right a figure from the left tackled him while he heard a familiar voice muttered, "Astro Plane." Before Harry felt himself disappear again.
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"Albus?" Snape's voice said, interrupting the peacefulness of the hospital wing.
Albus got off the chair and approached Snape quickly while the rest of the occupants glared at him murderously. "Severus what is it?" Dumbledore asked noticing Snape's face.
"I found something or rather two somebody's in Hogsmeade a couple of minutes ago. I think they were looking for you," Snape said fidgety.
Dumbledore gave Snape a searching look, noticing his fidgety appearance and apparent nervousness he decided that he probably better see to whoever it was. "Where are they?"
"Just outside the door, Sir," Snape said, leading the way out of the hospital wing.
"Grandpa!" Two excited voices said as soon as Albus opened the door. Albus was taken by surprise.
"Caleb, Mathew, what are you doing here? Where are your parents?" Albus asked after returning the children's hugs.
"Harry told us to come here, before he went to help are parents." Caleb told his Grandpa. "You were right about him, he is courageous."
"Harry?" Snape spoke up. "As in Harry Potter?"
"Yes!" Mathew said eyeing Snape. "We called to Harry and he came to help us. He sent us here with a portkey."
Albus looked totally taken aback while Snape looked disbelieving. "It is impossible that it was Harry Potter that assisted you. He is here right now!" Snape said simple, then seeing Albus's face he added. "Isn't he?"
Albus looked up at Snape a look of confusion in his eyes. "In a sense yes, Harry is here Severus, at least his body is."
"What do you mean?" Snape asked.
"About thirty minutes ago Harry collapsed in one of the corridors for no apparent reason and he wasn't breathing." Dumbledore said softly. "We couldn't figure out what happened and we couldn't get his heart working again."
"Harry's dead?" Snape asked all emotion gone from his voice.
"As of now, yes Severus Harry is dead." Albus said solemnly. "Our new DADA teachers have performed a very complex spell and Sirius has gone after him. We will know in thirty minutes if Sirius was successful."
"But Grandpa we just saw him and he was fine!" Caleb said persistently. "He helped us get out of the house and said he was going to go help are parents against Voldemort."
"Voldemort?" Dumbledore said sharply.
"Yes he was the one attacking are house." Mathew said.
Snape and Dumbledore traded horrified looks. Dumbledore started to move when Snape stopped him. "Albus you can't. If Potter is really dead we can't risk losing you too! Please Albus I'm begging you do not go."
Dumbledore gave Snape an irate look and Snape immediately let go of his robes. "I will not sit here waiting for news to come to me telling me my daughter is dead, Severus." Dumbledore said harshly. "I'm leaving. Please find someone to look after Mathew and Caleb."
With that Dumbledore swept down the corridor and out of sight, leaving a shocked Snape behind. It was exactly a moment later that he grasped his arm in pain.
'Not now.' Snape thought 'Please not now'
But the pain stayed and he knew he needed to go. He looked around and found Caleb and Mathew still staring at the spot their Grandfather had last been seen. Making a quick decision he stormed back into the hospital Wing dragging Mathew and Caleb with him.
"Madam Pomfrey, look after these two," Snape said thrusting the two twins towards her. "Give them sleeping potion and let them rest, Dumbledore will explain later." 'I hope' Snape added to himself
With that Snape turned and left the hospital wing with four curious eyes following him out.
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Harry had just enough time to perceive that he wasn't in the Collier's house anymore, before he was roughly pulled into sitting position forcing him to look at his Godfather's very angry face.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING!" Sirius shouted. "YOU ARE NOT UNDER ANY CICUMSTANCE READY TO FACE VOLDEMORT! I SHOULD KILL YOU MYSELF!"
Before Harry could utter a word in his defense Sirius had pulled him into a tight hug. "If anything ever happened to you . . . " Sirius started, but broke off as his voice choked up.
Harry just sat there and let his Godfather hold him. He had absolutely no idea what was going on, but the fact that his Godfather was there now made him feel completely safe.
"What happened?" Harry asked after his Godfather had released him. "The last thing I remember I was running with Delia through Hogwarts halls when I was suddenly pulled into that house."
"We were hoping you could tell us," Sirius said.
"We?" Harry asked looking around.
"Yes we," A lady's voice answered him from behind.
"Lady Diane!" Harry exclaimed. "What are you . . . How did you . . . ?"
"I believe them are the questions I should be asking you," Diane said sternly, looking into Harry's eyes. "I was told about forty minutes ago that you had died because you had used one of your advance powers way before you should have."
"What do you mean one of my powers?" Harry asked confused. "I never used any power."
"The ability to Astro project," Diane said.
"To what?!" Harry asked bewildered.
Diane sighed. "The ability to leave your body for a short period of time."
"Is that what just happened to me?" Harry asked.
"Yes, but like a told you before, you did it way before your body was ready to handle it and it killed you Harry," Diane said. "Are you sure you didn't purposely use this power?"
"Yes," Harry said pulling his knees to his chest so he could rest his chin on them. "But the house I was sent to belong to a family by the name of Collier . . . "
"That's Dumbledore's daughter's house!" Diane said in shock.
Harry nodded sadly. "Yes I know. While I was there I met their twin boys Mathew and Caleb. They told me that they had called me there."
Diane looked at Harry sharply "Did they tell you that?" she questioned.
"Yes they did," Harry said. "Why?"
"That explains everything," Diane muttered to herself.
"Really?" Sirius said impatiently. "Do share with the class."
Diane smiled at Sirius, her face relaxing. "The two boys called to Harry for help, thus forcing Harry's astro projection powers to manifest itself early. There was absolutely nothing Harry could have done to stop it."
"I don't get it though," Harry said, tilting his head. "How can two six year old boys have the power to accomplish that?"
"Because they are twins," Diane said simple. "When twin wizards combined their powers they become united as one. They share the same thoughts, the same breaths, the same everything. Their wizard power itself was tripled when they did it. That is why their call for help reached Harry and why it pulled him out of his body."
Sirius and Harry stared at Diane stunned. "Does this mean Harry will be pulled out of his body every time someone calls to him for help," Sirius asked after finally finding his voice.
"No," Diane said shaking her head. "For two reasons. One I don't think the twins intentionally combined their powers to call him and I don't think anyone else would be powerful enough to do so. And two I have been instructed to bind this power so it will not happen again, whether it be intentionally or not. Harry is not ready to use this power and until he his it will be locked away."
Harry heard Sirius breathe a sigh of relief behind him as he himself felt a tremendous burden lifted from him. Even though the ability was cool he had no wish to repeat the events that had happened today.
"Diane," Harry said suddenly remembering something. "How come I couldn't use my power?"
"Because it takes a great amount of control and focus to use your powers in astro form," Diane said. "And a lot of time and practice."
"Something you are not going to be doing anytime soon," Sirius put in.
"I don't plan on it," Harry said. "I'm guessing that Diane is the reason you are here Sirius?"
"Er . . . not exactly," Sirius said a little nervously. "Kairi and Demin performed the Bond of Mortality spell . . . "
"THEY WHAT?!" Harry shouted, turning around to face his Godfather. "You could die from this spell! What were you thinking?!"
"I was thinking that I didn't care if I died from this spell, because without my Godson my life is not worth living! I will not lose you Harry," Sirius said just as fiercely.
Harry just stared at his Godfather in disbelief. But his angry soon faded as he realized he would have done the same thing if the roles had been reversed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you," Harry said turning away. "How did you find me anyway?"
"That's where I come in," Diane said grinning. "You see after I had been notified I was given orders to find you. I came here first to the astro plane hoping you were here, only to find your Godfather instead. He explained to me who he was and what he was doing here. So between Sirius and I we were able to locate you. After that I sent Sirius down there to get you with instruction on how to return."
"Yes and when I appeared in the house it was just in time to see Voldemort throw Avada Kadavra at you," Sirius said grimly.
Harry grinned at his Godfather, "And I for one I'm very grateful that your old body could still move quickly enough to save me."
Sirius just gawked at his Godson, before a smile appeared on his face. "Yeah well I wouldn't test my abilities to often."
"Deal," Harry said. "So how long until Demin and Kairi call us back?"
"Not sure," Sirius said shrugging. "They didn't mention any time limit to me."
"I don't think you have long to wait," Diane said smiling as she noticed Sirius starting to glow.
Sirius and Harry noticed it too. "Thank you again Lady Diane. For all your help," Sirius said wrapping his arms around Harry.
"You're welcome," Diane said smiling at Sirius. "Make sure to tell Kairi that as far as I'm concerned you and her were made for each other."
Sirius laughed and promised he would.
"This isn't going to be the last time I see you, is it?" Harry said to Diane.
Diane smiled and shrugged. "If you would stop getting yourself into trouble, then you wouldn't have to see me at all."
Harry laughed. "Thanks for taking care of my Godfather. He probably would have gotten lost for eternity if you hadn't."
"I would not have!" Sirius said indignantly.
"You both are more then welcome," Diane said. "Until next time." She said as Harry and Sirius's waving forms disappeared.
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Demin and Kairi released hands for the second time that night, except this time they were both smiling.
"Sirius has him," Kairi announced happily to Remus, Delia, and Madam Pomfrey who all seem to breathe again after that declaration.
True to her word Harry and Sirius both started breathing again and two minutes later they both open their eyes.
"Harry!" Kairi and Delia squealed at the sometime, Kairi roughly pushing Sirius out of the way before lunching herself at Harry followed by Delia.
"It's great to see you too," Harry said gasping for air. "But if you don't let me breath soon you might have to perform that spell again."
Kairi laughed and pulled herself away only to throw herself into Sirius arms telling him he was her hero.
Demin was next to hug Harry. "If you ever do that to me again, you're dead."
Harry laughed "You might want to find a new line, that ones already been taken by my overprotective Godfather."
All Harry got was a smack on the back of the head from both Demin and Sirius for that comment. It wasn't until Remus had also hugged him and then demanded to know what had happen did Harry remember the twins. He abruptly sat up.
"Did Mathew and Caleb get here alright?" Harry asked, frantically looking around. At first all the adults, except Sirius, looked at him confounded.
"You know those two?" Madam Pomfrey asked, pointing to the two sleeping forms in the corner. Harry sighed a relaxed against the pillows.
"Those two were the reason Harry collapsed in the first place," Sirius said, none too happy.
"Sirius," Harry said warningly. "They're children and like Diane said, they didn't do it on purpose. You can't blame them."
"What!" Remus cried totally confused.
"You saw Diane again?" Demin asked stunned.
"What are you two talking about?" Kairi demanded.
Harry was about to explain what had happened when he suddenly remembered something else. He vaulted out of bed as quickly as he could. "We've got to go to the ministry building now!" Harry said hastily.
"Why?" Sirius asked perplexed.
"Voldemort plans on making his first big move tonight. He's attacking the ministry," Harry said, before racing out the door followed quickly by the others, who all knew better then to argue with Harry when it came to Voldemort.
THANKS TO MY BETA READER NATURAL ANTHEM