Author's Notes:

This chapter is strictly PG-13 because of violence.

I don't have much to say this update, because I've been extremely busy. A writing consignment came in between Chapter 32, and I had to finish its first half in a day. Being a Content Writer for a website is no easy feat. So, I'm a little behind my target for next chapter. If I don't update it on 10th July, I'll definitely do it on 11th. Keep your fingers crossed!

For this chapter, just read everything carefully, because except for characters and some beasts, everything else is new and off my mind rather than JKR's world. In case of any confusion, ask away.

Due to the shortage of time—and as I know you'd mind more if I don't update versus less talk—I'm replying to your answers in combination rather than individually.

Still, thanks are in order for Green Eyes, Missy May, Akanksha, Mahjabeen, imran1, Silver Phoenix Fire, yorkvillebird, thephantom114, Macy, Omair, and Heather for dropping by Feedback is something that we writers eat, dream, and sleep on. So, keep them coming!

Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to Silver Phoenix Fire, for guessing a lot of things right by reading the last chapter and my author notes, and Missy May, forsimply being there regularly. Enjoy your own chapters, you two!

Here are some answers:

- Yup, that's Voldemort all right. You knew it, he was coming. –glum stare-

- The whole transformation thing with Ginny and Harry is due to the whole time warp and different dimensions. It isn't permanent, so Harry will get over his punky look. -winks-

- So, how did Voldemort reach the temple? As explained before, there are strictly two kinds of people enter Caeli. One, the heir; second, the scroll bearers. Of course, Drifters can too, but Ursula didn't see that—which proves that she was no all-seeing entity. As Caradoc told Dumbledore and gang, Voldemort has the rest of the two scrolls, (of Earth and Fire). So, that's how he entered. He had the scroll, so he entered Caeli and reached the temple before Harry and Ginny.

- About the creatures, you'll get the whole deal in this chapter. As Silver Phoenix Fire, got it right, the creatures are sheltered in the Watchgate. Read this chapter to find out.

- Molly didn't die in Platform Nine and Three-Quarters incident. Three students and one witch died. The witch was the eldest sister of Michael Corner, so that may shed some light to what he has been doing all year.

- They have to go the the temple, because of the fusion of the Vita Scroll. The only place, all the four scrolls and unite and form a single one. The plan was that the heir should have the scroll and get the power passed onto her by Ursula. But, you know when Voldemort has the news of such a thing, things screw up for the worst. -glum stare-

Read this chapter carefully to get most of the weird things that has been happening throughout the fic. This is the time, those little details that you didn't understand in previous chapters, would start to make sense.

So, without further ado:


Chapter 31 – Shadows of the Watchgate


When Ginny entered the temple, lights flooded it—just like when she had stepped into the corridor leading to this chamber. The temple they had thought to be two-storied, turned out to have a broad roof, crowned with a central glass-dome.

In the expansive lengths of the hall, surrounding the central basin, four stone-statues of giant, black panthers sat, with amber flaming eyes, flanked by uncountable arches and columns. The four guardian panthers, in perpetual sitting position, were staring off into distant space, with eyes that blazed out of their sockets.

Ginny didn't linger on these details however, because what she saw as she entered the chamber along Harry turned her blood cold to ice. The one she feared for years, the one whose younger-self had haunted her dreams, Voldemort—the one whose mere name induced fear in the wizarding folk—was standing beside the central basin. His snakelike face; his thin lips, contracted into a superior smile, enjoying the shaking figure of Harry; his crimson eyes; all these horrific details came into light with the sudden brightness that swamped the chamber; making her dizzy with trepidation.

However Harry had described him, looking at him directly for the first time, twisted Ginny's stomach into a horrible knot. She had never seen such a horror. Ever.

"What do we have here? Gentle comrades and a lady?" A cold, mirthless laughter rang in the chamber.

Ginny grasped Harry's shoulder, following Caradoc, who did the same. With determination Harry stood up and shot a hateful glare at Voldemort.

"Really, Potter, you never cease to amuse me, with your little tricks, that is. However, they're not going to work this time.

"Expelliarmus!"

"Not so fast, Voldemort." Cardaoc came in between the spell and stopped it with a blue wispy cloud that he shot from his own wand.

Voldemort's face looked stricken. "And, you are?"

"Don't you recognize me?" Caradoc questioned him challengingly.

Comprehension dawned on him. "Caradoc Dearborn, is it not? You were the one who stunned Avery and Shapeshifted to his form?" Voldemort stepped forward. "The Unspeakable, who vanished before falling to his doom…? How does it feel to finally face your death, Caradoc? You surely know that you shall die the same death as your friends did, years ago?"

Without waiting for an answer, he went on, "You see, my powers are unrivalled, and you can't stop them with your puny tricks." Voldemort clicked his fingers and directed his wand at Caradoc, a violet light shot out of the end of his wand and ate away the blue protective wisp in front of Harry. "Even if you are a Drifter; your powers are no match for the great Lord Voldemort!" His voice boomed in the chamber.

"For starters, we know what you've come for. You've acquired two scrolls," Caradoc baited. "I reckon you'd been after it even before the Potters."

Voldemort glanced at Harry before answering. "It is an amusing tale indeed…" He crisscrossed his spidery fingers in front of his robe, as he moved away from the light of the central basin. "Indeed, I had my eyes on the scroll for some time now…

"You see, Harry," He fixed his wide, red eyes on him, "instead of getting my mother's love, I received all the ancient books that were passed onto her by her Pureblood forefathers. One of them contained the secret of the Vita Scroll. Of course, no one knew where it was. With years of research I was finally able to acquire evidence when the Department of Mysteries started researching it. My plans were ruined however, by your do-gooder parents and godfather! How strange it always has been. Our paths had kept on crossing even after that, until it actually ended one fateful day…

"Needless to say, every witch and wizard knows what happened after that. How the bad You-Know-Who got what he deserved and the Boy-Who-Lived saved the wizarding community, even if his poor parents died saving his life… Oh, how very touching!" Voldemort hissed contemptuously as his eyes smoldered with disgust.

"I didn't asked to be marked! I never wanted all that!" Harry yelled; he was having trouble in controlling his anger, along keeping his mind shut to Voldemort's intrusions. He knew from the point he had entered the chamber that Voldemort would try his best to use him as a puppet against Ginny. He would not let the creature fasten its coils on him again! With his last breath, he decided to fight this fiend, who called himself the Dark Lord.

"Ah! So the Muggle-loving fool has finally told you about the prophecy?"—Ginny and Caradoc looked quizzically at Harry, but he didn't notice—"The old man has been quite busy this year. Parading all over the world, and finding time to teach you Occlumency as well? He's cracked, hasn't he? Under the schemes I've made him run around everywhere…" A satisfactory sneer played along his thin lips.

"He's the most powerful wizard of this time! DO NOT speak of Dumbledore like this! He knows more than you ever did!"

"You are a sentimental fool like your mother, Harry—"

"WHY do you always have to be so evil?" Ginny interrupted her face red with fury.

Voldemort's red, livid eyes shifted towards her. "Ginevra Weasley, I presume? We haven't met face-to-face before, but Lucius tells me I've left quite an impression on you…" He looked meaningfully at her, while she blanched. "Enjoyed my diary, dear girl?"

Ginny pursed her lips, willing them not to tremble, while Harry clamped his hands on hers to comfort her.

Harry started coldly, "You were always a bully, Voldemort. You must've bullied Michael Corner into sending me here. Why don't we cut to the chase?" His face was contorted with rage. "We know what you're here for. And let me tell you, whatever you do; it can't be greater than the heir herself!"

"My, my, quite a savior you have become, boy! Already saving damsels in distress?"

"Why don't you just SHUT UP!" Harry had enough, as the frustration he had been feeling since the death of Sirius, boiled to the surface. The whole tormenting year passed through his mind, as he considered his defeat after defeat… The lost Quidditch match... His transformation bungling, just because of too much transference from Voldemort… He was sick to his bones for living under a continuous shadow of doom. He would do something, anything, about this monster in front of him, or die trying!

"Watch that temper of yours, Harry. Very bad for your health." Voldemort sneered at him. "I will possess the scroll, and you won't be able to do anything about it. I shall seal my immortality today!"

"We'll see about that!" Harry, who had been nudged by Caradoc to use his scroll, clutched it in his hand, and concentrated hard on Voldemort.

As if smelling trouble, Voldemort took out his two scrolls, and aimed one of his spidery hands towards Harry.

The ground beneath him trembled, for a moment everything became imbalanced. Harry made Caradoc and Ginny hover in the air along him with the Ventosus Scroll, so that the tumbling ground couldn't do them any harm.

Getting the clue, Ginny tried her scroll as well. For a moment nothing happened, which gave enough time to Voldemort to send a glowing fireball at Ginny, which was promptly blocked by Caradoc. In the other second, heavy clouds came ripping the ventilation shafts of the chamber and started smattering every inch of the chamber.

"Foolish girl!" Voldemort cried and raised his hands upwards, as if praying to heavens.

Rain fell harder still. However, it was for only a matter of seconds, because what followed made the rain stop, as Ginny lost her concentration, and went face first towards the ground. Caradoc, in time, caught her before she hit the floor. Her eyes rolled up into her head, while her breath seemed to come fitfully.

"Ginny!" Harry shook her, and looked at Voldemort, who seemed to be chanting something under his breath. "What have you done to her, you monster!" he yelled at him, getting no response whatsoever.

Ginny, however, was locked in her own mind, where such locks were opening, the keys of which had been well-protected and hidden in the bloodstream of Weasley family for centuries. The bits of information that had been passed on from gene to gene finally woke up, induced by the familiar atmosphere of the temple made by her ancestor: Ursula Weasley. She didn't know for how long she remained deep within her mind, but when she opened her eyes, she knew such secrets that had never been accessed before. She knew what she was supposed to do, just as the watchers of the Watchgate had informed her: Everything's predetermined...

Harry's concerned face swam into view, as she sat up. She looked at Voldemort, around whom some swirling entities were gathering, which made Ginny stand upright swiftly. She signaled at Harry to give her the Ventosus Scroll.

Harry did so. "What happened? Are you OK?"

"I'm fine, Harry. I need to call my watchers. I need to call upon my guardians…."

Harry didn't understand what she was saying, but from her serious expression, could easily fathom that she knew what she meant to do.

Ginny grasped the two scrolls in her hands, and clutched it close to her heart by crossing her arms above her chest. She closed her eyes, concentrating hard on both the scrolls. She felt Ursula's blood flowing inside her, watching over her—more than that, she felt as if a part of Ursula that had been saved inside her, spoke along her—as she whispered to the guardians, "I know all of you are there… I know you watch and you wait… The allegiance that you showed my great ancestor, Ursula Weasley, I request that you show the same to me… I've come as her heir before you, to acquire what is rightfully mine… I want your unwavering loyalty… Don't be swayed into the treacherous path that's been shown to you… Choose the right path… Come forth to the LIGHT!"

Harry had been beside Ginny, when she finally cried out, "LIGHT!" looking at Voldemort's slow progress of shadows.

For a moment nothing happened—a moment pregnant with too much hope, if there was one—when finally Harry saw tiny balls of light speeding towards her from the corridor. The tiny spheres reminded him of the sphere in which the sea serpent had vanished to after handing the scroll to them, promising that they would meet again.

Caradoc caught Harry's questioning gaze, and nodded at him. "Ginny's calling the forces of Light from the Watchgate." He cocked his head at the corridor.

Harry turned around to see that the tiny lights were bursting out of the Watchgate, and so did the lazy shadows that glided towards Voldemort.

"Voldemort's using all his powers to divide the forces so that he has more creatures than the Lighter Side, to war that is," Caradoc clarified.

Now, Harry understood what kind of war was foreseen. This unique war was not going to be fought over wands but through mystical creatures. He could almost feel something magnetic in the air, as if the whole atmosphere was charged with restless spirits waiting to be set free.

The tiny spheres that danced about Ginny started bursting out, taking form and shape, while Voldemort's creatures seemed to solidify slowly, gliding in a tight circle around him. More light flooded the temple, as the creatures were called from the Watchgate. In a while, the whole temple was reverberating with roars, snarls, and screeches.

Just as the last spirit-shadow solidified near Voldemort, the scrolls of Earth and Fire, that he had been clutching, flew out of his hands to the central basin, which made the scrolls hover vertically over it, diagonal from each other. Similarly, with a Griffin's screech, last of Ginny's spirit-sphere burst out, and her two scrolls of Water and Air, joined the central basin, hovering diagonally over it.

Now, a whole scroll formed—the first glimpse of the Vita Scroll—with the exception of the cross where they were supposed to fuse, such that a prominent plus sign flashed out of the scrolls. An invisible energy seemed to pass through each scroll, making its different letters highlight alternatively.

Harry gazed at Voldemort's line, which had two gaps in between. Along a lone Dragon, and a Manticore, stood a pair of Saber-toothed Tigers, Clawed Fishes, Chimaeras, Boars, Lethifolds, and Dementors. The same Giant Snake that had made his mother shudder was circling Voldemort still, as if engaged in a highly intellectual discussion with him.

Harry was pleased to see that there was no gap in their own line, which started with a pair of Dragons, Snow Tigers, Bears, Gytrashes, Unicorns, Thestrals, a lone Sphinx, Vampire, Sea Serpent and a Griffin—the last two were obviously the guardian of the scrolls they had obtained.

The whole scene looked bizarre and rather strange. Who would have thought, that the fate of goodness and evil would be decided as savagely as this? Blood to be spilled. Sweat to be leaked. Strength to be fazed. Roars to be unleashed. Screeches to terrorize and dominate... A battle that would raze the roof of this temple teetered on the edge of a beginning, as the creatures in both the lines seemed to solidify. They were not mere shadows anymore but as real as living, breathing, beings.

Harry looked at the gathered army, almost goggling at the magnificent sight. One acute difference that he saw between the creatures of the Light Side from the Dark Side was the color of their eyes; flaming red versus ice blue, both of which seemed to be roaring in respective creature's sockets. All of whom gathered in a line beside their respective leader, showering fire, cold and hot, from their eyes at each other.

Harry doubled back to the Vampire, as his eyes dilated with recognition. It was Marak, the same vampire, who had warned him in a Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson.

"How can you be here?" Harry stepped closer to him.

"Do I know you?" Marak looked at him with his blazing ice-blue eyes.

Harry was taken aback by the answer. How could he not know him, when he, himself, had warned him about the danger to come? Harry stared back at Marak, nonplussed. "Don't you recognize me? You warned me about something unexpected to come…?"

"From what year are you, little one?" Marak asked, the ice-blue fire softening.

"Er… Nineteen ninety-six," Harry replied.

"My present self must have contacted you, little one. I was recruited just a hundred years ago… My shadow, that is."

That, explained quite a lot about Marak's warning. He must have tried to warn him about Caeli's effect on humans. He was just about to ask him, how he was in two places at the time, when he was interrupted by a familiar voice.

"I told you, we ssshall meet again…" The sea serpent inclined its head towards him, while the Griffin beside it flapped its wings.

Harry recognized the Griffin as the one saved by his mother. The Griffin seemed to be doing his own scrutiny over Harry.

"Everything looks in order." Voldemort's voice registered, making Harry look up sharply.

Caradoc, who had been talking to the Sphinx, moved beside Harry, while Ginny finally opened her eyes and stared fixatedly at Voldemort. There seemed to be a new resolve running through the Light Side, even felt by the creatures standing within.

"Not a bad lot, either." Voldemort sneered arrogantly, while he looked at their army, comparing it with his own.

"You must've guessed that the gaps belong to the guardians I have killed. So very loyal they were; however, not so powerful."

A shudder ran through the Dark Side. Voldemort's creature seemed to be in his total control.

"Deceitful, thisss one isss…" the sea serpent hissed in Harry's ear.

Harry nodded in agreement, and looked at Ginny, whose face was set boldly. "Ginny, do you know what to do?"

"Yes. Just as Dumbledore explained, a battle will ensue… All of these magnificent creatures will help us in getting the scroll."

She pressed Harry's hand, while his mouth went dry. An errant thought suddenly bloomed into his mind: What if something happens to her… What if I can never say—

"Good luck, Harry."

"Er… you too…" There were so many things that he wanted to say to her, but couldn't make his lips move to say them. There will be time… Harry could only hope.

"May the best side win," Caradoc added grasping both of their shoulders, while staring at the opposite end.

The creatures on both sides pawed and clawed at the floor restlessly. They knew they were soon to be unleashed on each other. They were waiting, as if with abated breath.

And with a single flick of Voldemort's finger, the Manticore came forward, lashing its scorpion tail about in an arc, snarling in an unearthly twitter. The Sphinx from their side came out and met the Manticore with a steady glare, not making a single noise. Soon, all the creatures were head to head, fighting an anomalous battle.

Harry produced Prongs and unleashed him on the Dementors who fell way back. The giant snake seemed to be guarding Voldemort, not participating in the battle. Caradoc and Marak were keeping an eye out for any attacks on Ginny.

Harry moved closer to Voldemort—away from the spot from where Ginny was leading the Light creatures. He was however interrupted by a Chimaera, blocking his path. Harry was only thinking, what he should do about this three-headed beast, when the guardian Griffin came trotting towards him and with one swipe of its steely beak, severed the goat-head of the Chimaera, who went whimpering away.

Harry didn't know that when he would look at the Griffin, he would find his own mother riding it. He blinked, as every sound around him muted, and became insignificant. The only figure he saw was his mother's, staring at him with her emerald eyes—his eyes—riding over the Griffin that had hugged her so lovingly years ago.

"Mum!" A strangled whisper escaped his lips, as he pinched himself to make the illusion go away. But the vision didn't waver.

However, Lily Potter did slide out of the Griffin's trunk. Without even uttering a word, she came towards him and hugged him close. "Oh, Harry!"

Harry couldn't believe what was happening. Is this a dream? Did that Chimaera finished me off? Still, he felt such deep love emanating from her hug that he was forcibly reminded of Mrs. Weasley's rib-cribbing hugs to her children. Aloud, he muttered, "You are not some illusion, are you?"

"Of course not!" Lily let go of him and observed him at an arm's length.

"How come you're here then?" Harry asked, baffled.

"I don't have much time, son…" She looked around urgently.

"I—I saw you! When you visited Caeli with Dad… You can't be alive…?" Harry didn't want to sound hopeful, but through the hoarse croak from which his words came out, it was evident that she understood his query.

Her eyes became misty. "I'm just a shadow, Harry, made to rise again because my blood called me… The creatures will be cornering you soon, and I have just few words to spare, so listen closely… I am here today, son, because I developed a bond of trust with this mystical Griffin."—The Griffin in turn unfurled, and furled its wings—"This creature saved a part of me in itself when he gave me the scroll to protect. When we—your father and I—found out about Caeli, and came here; I discovered my own shadow in the Watchgate. As I'm no creature, I can't be commanded by any side, I still have my freewill. The Griffin, when saw you, called to me, telling me that my own flesh and blood was here. You see, son, I was carrying you when I came here, and that's why you remember all that… because of the close bond we share..."

Her voice broke with emotions as tears welled in her eyes. "I loved you from the moment you were only a speck in my womb, I loved you still when you grew full and strong. I used to talk to you, sing to you, telling you stories of our adventures…"

"So that's how I heard your voice… 'Let those who rest more deeply sleep, Let those awake their vigils keep...?' It was you, who incanted this, wasn't it?"

"Yes! The protective spell that I used over our house, and to protect you, my son. It is the same spell, we deciphered from Watchgate's core. You see, we loved you so much that we wanted to be close to you, even if we die. You see, my dear child, your father and I, still live inside you."

His mother's sweet voice touched his heart so much that tears sprang to his eyes. He felt such an ache for her that he couldn't describe in words, even if he tried, so he grasped her hands and kissed them. "I miss you so much, Mum… If only you were with me, all of this would've been so much easier…"

She hugged him again. "I'm always there with you, Harry! You have my eyes. You can always see my world if you try. We Potters always had a strong bond with our family. Don't forget your strength and determination. You would be surprised, the things you can make it happen if you use your willpower."

She had been kissing his forehead, when her form wavered. Harry's eyes shot open from their half-closed position. The Manticore had stung the Griffin, and the mystical creature was having trouble keeping itself on its paws. Without even saying goodbye his mother's form ebbed away to nothingness. It was as if everything that had happened in a few minutes had been provoked by his twisted imagination.

He gave a wounded animal cry that burned his throat. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Blindingly, as if his wand was not a piece of wood but a dagger, he slashed it at the beast's scorpion sting.

With a mad twittering cry, Manticore sank to its forelegs.

Harry opened his eyes to see the bloody sting lying beside the moaning Manticore. He also registered the blood covering his own wand. He didn't have a clue how he did it. How could—

"Harry!"

His head snapped up to see Caradoc's wounded profile coming towards him. It seemed that some creature had attacked him. With a wave of his wand, Caradoc issued blue smoke from his wand, which covered the Manticore as a swarm. In a second, the Manticore swayed to his left and moved no more; his form became a wisp of smoke and dispersed in air.

"I am fine!" Caradoc said, looking at his concerned expressions—Harry doubted it, but didn't interrupt him. "We need to finish this. Voldemort is gaining on Ginny, even with fewer creatures. We must join forces to vanquish his creatures."

"But how? I dunno how to…" Harry looked at the basin, where the scrolls seemed to be trapped in a perpetual hovering position. There were some changes in the light though; Harry clearly noticed that the white light was changing to muddy-white.

"Just follow me." Caradoc came towards him, and seized his right hand fiercely. "I know Voldemort and your wands are brothers, if you duel, the Priori Incantatem will come to effect. However, you can channel your energy into mine, and we can both blast at him."

He took out his steely wand. Up close, Harry saw it continuously changing its malleable form.

"If we directly blast at him now, his strength will waver; his creatures will become more vulnerable to attack."

They staggered backwards, as their Hungarian Horntail swiped at Voldemort's Fireball, continuing its chase.

Harry glanced at Ginny, who was still guarded by Marak; she had her eyes closed and it seemed as though, she was leading every creature with her mind.

"I will do a complicated spell,"—Harry snapped back towards Caradoc—"which will drain his energy. What I need you to do, is concentrate with all the might and power you possess; concentrate Voldemort's power ebbing away from his body, give it your best bloody shot, Harry!"

Harry nodded gravely at him, and firmly gripped Caradoc's left hand.

"On my mark, Harry."

Harry closed his eyes and channeled all his hate towards Voldemort, the reason of every bad event in his life.

"Let's go!" Caradoc swished and flicked his wand twice in triangular motion, and shot an icy blue beam at Voldemort.

Harry was relieved to see Voldemort hiss excruciatingly. His creature's profile wavered all around them, as the Light Side swung back mightily.

Sputtering, Voldemort glared at Caradoc, as the light of the central basin changed to its original brilliant white.

"I didn't come all this way to be thwarted by a Drifter!" Voldemort shot violet sparks at Caradoc, which seemed to elongate as they traveled towards him. Caradoc used his powerful Livor shield against it, but Voldemort's spell stubbornly stayed put, puncturing holes into the shield.

Before he knew what was happening, a Lethifold stretched and attacked Caradoc. Harry whipped his wand out to perform another Patronus Charm, when Caradoc's shield got perforated by Voldemort's spell and hit him square in the chest. He dropped to all fours, convulsing.

As Harry shot Prongs at the Lethifold, the giant snake came slithering out of the shadows and stung Caradoc's vulnerable leg. Harry tried to reach him, but the snake tenaciously bared its fangs to sting again.

"LEAVE HIM!" Harry shouted in Parseltongue. "LEAVE HIM ALONE! PLEASE!"

The snake stopped, and looked at him closely.

Harry ran towards Caradoc, who had sprawled on the floor. He was coughing blood and seemed on the verge of losing consciousness.

As Harry's lips formed to say no, seeing Voldemort raising his wand for the finale—what seemed to be Caradoc's last breath, he whispered to Harry, "R—re-repay the debt…" and vanished from the spot.

-x-X-x-

In the next chapter: Harry will be tested beyond his dreams. Would he and the Heir survive the test of fate? –Coming Soon–

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