Chapter 31

Lupin supposed that, under the circumstances, any practical wizard or witch would be petrified by what was going on about him. It was true that it was a nasty scene bent with violence and hatred and the acrid taste of revenge. Dragons were howling in agony from all sorts of directions, and there were cries for help and grunts of pained determination released from the witches and wizards fighting for their very existence. It was utter chaos, but Lupin wasn't as afraid as he probably should have been. Of course that could have something to do with the fact that he had smashed his head into the ground several minutes before and was just starting to regain his proper senses.

The last two days for Lupin had been exhausting, seeing as Ron had ordered him to apparate to the closest wizarding town and then (accidentally he hoped) given him the wrong coordinates. Seeing as Ron didn't seem to need a directional system to apparate Lupin suspected that that was a completely plausible excuse. However, the ex-werewolf still hadn't been happy to reappear along a path that was five miles from the town he needed, only to discover that it was a muggle town (though it was a great stretch friendlier then the last one he had visited all those months before). Not having any muggle money he had needed to barter his passage to the next town over (recognizing it by the name Ron had given him) and had spent the journey huddled in the back of a rickety truck that had last been filled with onions, some of which had rotted and were left where they lay.

Then of course, once he had arrived within the town it was too late to be allowed access to the public floo network, despite the fact that he announced the urgency of his state. His wizardry identification had worked against him yet again as it clearly stated he was a werewolf and his magical kind decided that, despite his emergency, he could wait until morning to travel. Then they proceeded to provide him with the rattiest accommodations the town could offer, right above the local pub. Therefore, despite his attempt at haste, it took him much too long to arrive at Hogwarts and when he did it was to discover that Ron had already been there.

It hadn't been difficult to see that Harry had not been allowed to speak with his friend. The young, dark haired wizard had been standing as rigid as a wand and his vivid green eyes, partially concealed by his glasses and black fringe, were fuming. There had been no time for words however, as their group had hurried to the rooftop to prepare what minimal defence they could. Lupin had walked off with Madame Hooch and a determined Hermione when Dumbledore had finished his instructions, and had watched from a distance as the aged wizard had spoken for several long minutes with Harry. After that things had happened fairly quickly. Harry had walked off to join McGonagall, and then Ron had come crashing in. Hermione had gasped in sudden worry at his appearance, but she hadn't moved an inch to see if he was okay, despite the anxiousness she felt.

After Harry and McGonagall's group had flown off towards the forest it hadn't taken long before they could see bursts of magic intermingled with dragon's breath in the distance. It had been heart pounding, watching what was going on but not being a part of it. That feeling hadn't lasted long however as the massive beasts had quickly approached the castle despite the diversion. It had turned into a massive free for all as some of the dragons landed; tearing away small sections of the stone wall and others had flown overhead spitting flames and lashing out with their tails.

Somewhere during the fight Lupin was distracted as four flaming haired men burst out of the almost hidden stairwell and thrown themselves into the fray with an energy that encouraged Lupin's own fight. He had been trying to keep an eye out for his comrades, but it was becoming more and more difficult by the minute, when suddenly a large number of the dragons they were fighting seemed to dwindle to only a few threatening presences. Without thought Lupin had raced off around the corner to see Dumbledore and McGonagall standing in the midst of at least ten beasts; a powerful shield cast by the headmaster was deflecting the blows and fire from the animals, but it was taxing the older man strength considerably. Lupin yelled and ran forward, hoping to distract some of the beasts.

In hindsight it may not have been the best course of action, but it had been the only thing at the time that he had thought of. The smells of the beasts and the heat of the fire was confusing his senses and hindering his ability to think clearly. As it were, three of the beasts felt he was distraction enough to leave their current prey and stalk after him. It took a moment to realize that against three he was severely out numbered, out sized, and (though he hated to admit it) outmatched. He threw all the hexes and curses he could, but the animals only stumbled from the blows and became more incensed.

They surrounded him and had started creeping inwards when Lupin smelt the familiar scent of Ron. Moments later the young man had rushed into view, a wild look in his eyes and his whip snapping about menacingly, cracking like bullet shots in the air. The dragons had not been impressed by his display, happy enough with Lupin as their focus point. That, Lupin could confidently say, had been a mistake on their part, because Ron became absolutely enraged as they came closer and closer to ending Lupins existence.

The Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor whirled around in circles as he tried to watch his three attackers, aware that at any moment they would strike. Then, with no warning, the large red and orange-scaled dragon with glittering translucent wings collapsed to the roofs top and did not move again. One of his last two attackers stopped their approach and stared at it in confusion, the other was inclined to ignore its fellow's death (at least he had assumed it was dead at the time) and continued to advance. It flung its long but thick tail around and Lupin leapt into the air to avoid it. It managed to clip his right foot and throw him off balance, forcing him to fall to the ground and roll around to get up. He'd twisted his ankle.

"I said Stop!" He heard Ron holler somewhere in front of him even as the creature lifted its tail again. This time it would no doubt catch him, but then it too began to fall to the ground, just as the one previously had. Its black eyes rolled into its head, and he realized with a jolt that it was going to fall right on top of him! He lunged forward, quickly trying to escape by ducking under its long neck and come out on its other side. However, he hadn't been fast enough and the wind gushed out of him as the creature's lower neck collapsed over him. He slammed onto the ground and saw stars as the air was forced from his lungs. It took a moment for sound to come rushing back to his ears and he felt the heavy flesh pinning him on his stomach from the waist down.

"Lupin!" Ron yelled, obviously not knowing what had become of him. He went to yell out in return and had to pause a moment and catch his breath as a bout of coughing attacked him. Then he tried again.

"I'm okay! I'm okay Ron!" He called out, hoping his young friend would hear him. He heard the crack of the whip and watched as Ron stepped into the open space before him looking over in relief as he saw that Lupin was in fact alive. It was then that the professor remembered that there was still one more dragon behind him and he tried to look over his shoulder, seeing nothing but the dragon pinning him.

"Ron! Help Dumbledore and Minerva!" He yelled out even as Ron seemed to be turning around to look behind him.

"I don't need to, it seems they all got bored with them." He called back and with a sudden rush all the dragons that Lupin had tried to distract only moments before once again fell into his line of vision. They swarmed around, some flapping in the air, others resting in agitation on the roofs cold surface. Because of their massive size and impressive number they stayed back, leaving a good deal of space around Ron and Lupin, occasionally they would snap at each other, imitating basic dragon hostility as their eyes stared blankly.

He looked back at Ron, only a little more then five meters from him, and frowned as the hardened man wavered a moment on his feet. Ron had stripped from his jacket at some point during this fight, now dressed in a t-shirt and pants that looked worse for wear. This was how he had dressed since Lupin had met up with him and it held no affect to the wizard; what bothered him was the way he was holding his right arm to his body, as though protecting it. He was keeping his eyes firmly guarded on the creatures surrounding them, his feet set shoulder width apart and his hair, stringy from sweat and grime, barely moved in the occasional burst of wind. His shoulders were hunched slightly: he was tired.

Dumbledore and McGonagall appeared in his line of vision and greeted Ron, both keeping their untrusting and sharp gazes on the creatures around them. Dumbledore looked over at Lupin, frowned and pointed his wand in his direction. The pinned professor heard him sharply begin commanding a wingardium leviosa only to have him stop the incantation half way through and calmly turn to look across from them. Somehow, from somewhere, another person had entered the circle of dragons without Lupin noticing. Then the rapidly beating wings of the beasts sent the beings scent in his direction and he almost regurgitated his meagre lunch from the stench. He smelt like decaying flesh that had been left for days in the sun, and with the smell came a feeling of darkness that seemed to surround him in despair. This was the Dragon Lord.

OOOOO

Ron's chest seemed to squeeze tightly as the evil wizard was once again so close to him. He had a moment of utter panic, the urge to run away from the being that no longer felt human. Instead of running, however, he stood frozen to the spot and then had to remind his lungs how to expand. The darkness that was becoming so familiar to him invaded his senses, it made him dizzy, and negative thoughts began to cloud his mind before he could get a hold of himself. This is no time for a panic attack you twit! He commanded himself, looking briefly to the right to see that Lupin was still there (where would he go though, being pinned under that creature), and then to his left to note that McGonagall had her wand poised to attack while Dumbledore looked almost relaxed as he watched the newcomer with sharp eyes.

Ron glanced back to stare at the man, he could see several dark stains on the brown robes but he could make out no face as the overly large hood and the shadows hid it. Ron had yet to determine where the light that slightly illuminated the entire area surrounding them came from. The dragons were slowly becoming more agitated as they stood by and watched at a distance, but they were not making any moves to attack, not while their master was there. For a moment he had the urge to spout out some ridiculous greeting, something that would make the moment seem even more cliché then it already was. We meet again was the first line he thought of, but the anger and fear that was stirring in his stomach had him bite his tongue. He was not going to say the first words!

"So we meet again." Ron glared, somehow not surprised at all that this 'Dragon Lord' would say exactly what he was thinking. It sounded just as cheesy as Ron imagined it would.

"Apparently you have a knack fer trouble." He bit back sharply. There was a moment of silence before the wizard stepped forward, coming that much closer to Ron and causing a shiver of sick distaste travel down his spine.

"I will offer you one last chance to join me boy. Voldemort may be defeated, but I will not fail as he has." The man's voice held an edge of uncontained excitement, but whether it was at the prospect of his victory or of having Ron join him they would never know. Ron laughed disdainfully, hearing the bitterness in the sound and wondering exactly when he had become so cynical. He glared into the hooded face.

"Yer pathetic. You didn't even know your idol was dead until two days ago! You've lost yerself in a world of utter lunacy and if you think that I would ever lower myself to your level then yer even more starkers then I'm giving you credit for!" Why oh why couldn't he just shut up for once and not antagonize the villain? Even as he said this the villain in question stood taller in anger, his hands, complete with a wand in one, clenched into tight fists and a momentary stillness settled in the air. Even the beating sound of the dragon's wings (which Ron was trying really hard to ignore) seemed to dull as the being took offence to his comment

"And you, young wanderer, will regret your decision."

"Not bloody likely."

"Enough of this. I have come here to avenge my friend and mentor, not to waste time speaking to insignificants such as your self. I demand that he show his face!"

"I'm not following you." Ron snapped.

"The one who killed Lord Voldemort! I demand that he show himself, we have business to conclude. I demand to see Harry Potter!" Ron couldn't help flinch at his best friends name being thrown at him so forcefully and with such revulsion. His name brought on a flood of guilt that he had been doing his best to avoid, but even as the raw emotions emerged within him, so did his rage. How dare someone speak of his friend with such utter lack of respect! He found himself stepping forward in threat as his fear of the insane wizard transformed into anger. It was that moment when Howlite and Hornblend chose to make an appearance, flying out of nowhere and wrapping themselves firmly in his soiled hair as though they belonged there. He ignored them, but the soft and authoritative voice of his old Headmaster could not be so easily dismissed.

"Do not take action in haste, young Ronald, you do not yet understand what we are dealing with." Which of course meant that Dumbledore did understand, at least some, of what was going on.

Ronald then reminded everyone present that it was haste and not logic that usually determined his actions; especially when his friends were threatened, whether they were dead or alive.

"You want to see Harry? I'd be glad to send you to him, though I highly suspect that he's in heaven, while you would go straight to hell."

"Impossible! I have no patience for your incompetence, bring him to me!"

"One, you are in no position to make such a demand, and two, he's dead, so I won't be bringing him anywhere." He spit the words out through gritted teeth and glared.

"In case you haven't noticed I am in the perfect position to make demands, and I refuse to believe he is dead. You're hiding the coward away." Coward! COWARD! I'm going to rip off yer pureblood jewels and feed 'em to ye…

"Then you'd better start believing; he died at my hands two years ago." Well, that seemed to shut the wizard up a moment. He heard a soft exclamation from McGonagall but ignored it, focusing all his attention on the dark wizard before him.

"Well, that certainly answers a few questions we've all had." Dumbledore spoke up as though this was a meeting among friends and Ron shifted slightly on his heels as the powerful wizard stepped closer to him. He didn't dare look over at him though, as he did not trust taking his eyes off of the filth before him, even for a second. Every nerve in his body told him that a moment of distraction could cost him this fight. Besides, he found it difficult to look at his old headmaster and not feel an overpowering rush of shame and guilt. It would be best if he just avoided eye contact with anyone from Hogwarts from now on.

"Dumbledore," the hooded being hissed, "I know you are hiding him. Bring him to me at once."

"Now Mr. Yorkshire, you know very well that I can't do that." Ron just managed not to flinch at the incriminating words.

"Then I will have to supplement his death with this school and every single child you have hidden in its bowels." Ron's breathing hitched and he felt the waves of restrained magic pouring off of Dumbledore as he stood so close to him. A dragon at the back of the large group screamed in glee.

"You will do no such thing young Richard. Have you so completely forgotten your roots! What has driven you to this madness?"

"Madness? I've been accused several times this evening of harbouring such a trait but I fail to recognize it within myself. If it is in anyone it is you, Albus Dumbledore. You and this pathetic excuse of a school!"

"It wasn't so long ago that you were a proud member of this very foundation." The Headmaster reasoned.

"Is every egotistical, power hungry, world dominating, evil wizard from Hogwarts!" Ron couldn't contain his bark of surprise. "Honestly, isn't it Durmstrang's turn to be blamed for screwing up its students?" It didn't surprise him that neither wizard answered his outburst, almost treating him as though he wasn't even a part of this scenario. Well, he supposed he'd gotten used to being pushed into the background over the years.

"This very foundation is what convinced me that the wizarding world cannot continue in such a fashion. Allowing mudbloods to learn wizardry and witchcraft, allowing half-breeds to work within its walls as though they're equals! I will not stand by and watch the purity of the wizarding world dwindle to muddled bloodlines and crossed breeds. It is disgusting and impure. You would have us sink to the level of muggles." He spit in rage.

"That is a rather profound judgement, considering what you have transformed into to create your ideal world." There was underlying venom in Dumbledore's voice, mostly disguised and maybe not recognizable from a distance, but Ron heard it. And he felt it as the wizard's magic seemed to crackle sharply around him in disgust.

"I have done nothing but become the wizard I was meant to be."

"You have ceased being a wizard altogether. Your hunger for power and lack of humanity has driven you to forsake the pure essence of magic altogether. You have become a Banista!" Ron's eyes widened in shock as the title registered in his agitated mind and he stared with new knowledge at the evil creature standing not ten meters from him. A Banista was perhaps one of the most taboo subjects within the wizarding world, often only discussed by scholars whose expertise was dark magic. Of course Ron's older twin brothers had told him stories while growing up about witch's and wizards in the past that had turned banista, often leaving him with nightmares for a week after as he imagined one was hiding in his closet. Of course once their parents had discovered that the twins had been speaking of the banista to Ron…well, his mother had taken them by the ears out of Ron's room and they had never uttered a word to him about it again.

His father had been the one to explain it to him, at the tender age of eight, and he had never forgotten a word of that conversation:

"The Banista," he had softly said, while sitting next to Ron in the family kitchen, "are witches and wizards who have forsaken the very meaning of magic by twisting it into unspeakable darkness."

"You mean they use the unforgivable curses?" He'd asked, wide eyed.

"They very well might have, but it is deeper then that. Magic is a gift Ron, and we are very lucky to be able to wield it as we have throughout our entire existence. But sometimes there are magical people who believe they need more magic, more power. Now, you know that good magic can be extremely powerful, in fact as long as there is good magic it should be able to overcome dark magic of any form."

"George said that dark magic could be stronger then good magic."

"It can, but you must believe me when I say that no matter how strong a person wielding dark magic can become, there is an equal in good magic."

"If they are both equal, then why did you say good magic could overcome dark magic no matter what?"

"I didn't say that Ron; you need to listen to everything I say to you not just what you want to hear." His father had rubbed his forehead a moment, as though trying to decide how to explain this to a child so young. Ron remembered being intrigued by how serious his father was acting. He only ever saw him this serious about things when it involved money and whether or not they had enough to get everyone Christmas gifts that year (though Ron wasn't supposed to have overheard that conversation with Mum).

"Good magic can almost always overcome bad magic, but sometimes a wizard can become too powerful in the dark arts, and that results in many deaths." Frowning, completely serious, Ron leaned forward and asked quietly:

"Just like You-Know-Who?"

"Yes, just like him" His dad confirmed. Ron frowned.

"Was he a Banista?"

"No, he was too attached to his ideals of pureblood. He merely mastered the dark arts. A Banista goes one step further. They become so involved with the dark magic that they allow it to take them over. They are no longer wizards or witches, and some people believe that they completely cease to be human."

"What are they then?"

"Nobody knows, and that is why they are so scary. No Banista is ever the same as another. They master different powers and darkness depending on what their ultimate goals are, and then they become a new form of creature."

"Can they be stopped?"

"Yes, but it is very difficult. They will always have weaknesses, but that depends on what they have become. They can become impermeable to magic; curses and hexes are absorbed into them, not harming them at all."

"How many of them have there been?"

"Not many. Hardly any in fact." His father's hands twitched nervously and he watched in fascination as they wrung together. The very subject made his dad scared, and if it scared him, then Ron was immediately assured that he too should be afraid.

"Are there any now?" He asked, fearful.

"Oh no, no no, none at all thank goodness. The last one was centuries ago, but we never forget how much death that one witch caused."

Well, Ron thought, coming back to the present, it looked like the time had come for some other crazy wizard to become the darkness he was trying to master. The question now was: what evil had he focused on? What darkness consumed the very souls of living things?

"You have no idea what I have become! How dare you accuse me of such a title!" the figure before them hissed, outraged. Ron stepped slightly away from Dumbledore, suddenly deciding that a wider space between them might make an attack from the crazy being less focused and easier to evade.

Then, without warning, the man reached up and removed his hood abruptly glaring at Dumbledore with spite. If Ron had been expecting some scaly monstrosity with red eyes like Voldemort had been, then he found he would have been disappointed as he looked at the outraged face of a tanned, brown eyed, brown haired, average man, though his face was sunken, creating a hollowed out look and he had massive purple bruises sitting under both eyes. And his eyes…bottomless black holes that looked as though they were starving to be filled with light and knowledge. They looked like…like…

He felt a tug on his entire body despite the fact that he wasn't moving as he gazed, trapped, into those eyes. He screamed, not able to help himself as the fear and panic clouded his focus and he tried to fight against the sudden assault, against the attempt at stealing him from his own body and putting him deep within the black pits. All he could see were the eyes…the eyes…

Two bright flashes suddenly burned into his retina, one gold and one a piercing red and he stopped screaming abruptly. Falling forward and mashing his already bruised knees into the hard wet surface. He sucked in a breath as though it were his first and held his eyes closed. His head was filled with a red-hot pain and he clutched at it, trying to push it back together and force the pain to stop. At the time he didn't know how long it took for him to regain his senses, but he would later learn that it all took place in mere seconds.

"His eyes!" He gasped out. "Don't look into his eyes!" He cautiously opened his own, needing to see what was happening. His vision was blurred and he saw bright red and golden dots but after a few blinks he could see well enough to look around. What he saw made him absolutely furious.

"Stop!" He pushed to one knee and glared, trying to regain his strength after the recent attack. He was still trying to recover from draining the three dragons that had been attacking Lupin only minutes before. Honestly, you'd think stealing other creatures energy on such a massive scale would power him up, not make him weak in the knees. None the less, his fury fuelled him now and he glared, slowly latching onto the dark energies about him, despite how vile they felt. As he yelled he gained the attention of the evil thing before him that looked so much like a normal wizard, and Ron was relieved as it broke eye contact with his two professors. However, they did not seem to come back to themselves.

"Release them." He ordered, still on one knee. The thing laughed at him, but he could tell the sound was pinched with confusion. Ron could still feel the man's dark powers reaching out at him, trying to claw into his body despite the fact that Ron wasn't looking into his eyes. It instantly became clear that this Richard Yorkshire didn't need to look into a person's eye to control them, but for some reason he had to see Ron's. Odd that.

"Or what, you'll spit on me? You've nothing but a whip to fight with and I assure you that such physical attacks will not affect me." Ron stared at its chin, refusing to look up. "I am more powerful then you could ever imagine!"

"You know, I am getting tired of people underestimating me." Ron growled and with a quick hand movement he sent Yorkshire's wand flying across the roof to land somewhere behind the fallen dragons. Immediately Ron began to draw on the energies about him again to replace the tiny amount he had just used.

"Fool, I don't need a wand to end the lives of all those around me."

"Neither do I!" Ron spat and raised his arm again, pointing it directly at the ex-wizard. He called out for his energy, slowly feeling it draw towards him across the short expanse between them. He called for it the same way he had called for and manipulated the dragons before him, not wanting to kill but wanting to render immobile for a long stretch of time. Immediately he noticed a problem as the sour energies around his enemy resisted his call, moving slowly towards him as though they were frozen molasses. Then he felt a sharp answering tug as the being once again tried to capture his own soul. For the first time Ron realized that using his chanelling abilities in such a way could weaken his hold on his surroundings as he placed his body and mind in a slightly altered state. He refused to let the being control him, and he refused to break the connection.

He pulled harder at the energies, beginning to see them take a visible form on the path between them, emerging as black strings snaking around each other as though attempting to stop their momentum. He pulled harder. He heard himself yelling in effort. He heard his enemy yelling back, though he couldn't decipher what either of them was saying. Then he recognized an ancient power that didn't belong to either the banista or his dark magic, it belonged to the dragons that he had possessed. It was what controlled them, and even as Ron sensed this, he knew he could never release it. It was too deep within the darkness, it was lost among the black hole of death and despair.

Ron broke his attack off in agony as the dark energies began to hurt him, and he gulped for air as he tried to steady himself on his knees. He couldn't stop this thing. Not like this. To simply pull at his energy from a distance, it wasn't going to work. Ron stared in hatred as his body shivered, suddenly noticing the icy chill in the air as it blew through his wet clothes. Across from him, still standing but obviously very shaky on his feet, his enemy stared back. Ron met his gaze, no longer concerned that looking into his eyes would harm him.

"Impossible." The thing wheezed, glaring. Ron didn't answer, catching his breath and thinking. What the bloody hell was he going to do now if he couldn't simply drain this thing of its energy? He began to worry, feeling the sense of imminent failure begin to loom. He wouldn't be strong enough to stop this thing, and it would kill everyone!

"How?" It hissed. "How can you resist me? I command souls and you are not soulless!"

"Yeah well, someone's tried that trick on me already. I guess you could say I've built an immunity towards it." Ron growled back and finally, finally pushed to his feet. He noticed with satisfaction that his enemy took a step back as he stood. So it seemed the Banista was just as weary of him. Good, that was something at least. But it seemed that that was also bad, because now that he was aware of exactly how large a threat Ron was, he wasn't going to leave anything to chance anymore. Ron swallowed painfully as the closest of the dragons began to swoop towards him, crying out as though they were headed to their final battle. He needed a moment to regroup, he didn't have enough time to gather his strength to stop them.

OOOOO

Harry watched in horrified fascination as Ron pointed his arm at the brown robed wizard with empty black eyes. He didn't know what to do; Dumbledore and McGonagall were apparently stunned only two meters from Ron and the Dragons were finally beginning to notice him. He saw Lupin lying pinned to the ground not far from the group, but at this distance he had trouble making out the look on his face. Hell, he didn't care about Lupin's features! It was Ron who was currently in a fix! He stepped forward only to halt abruptly as his long lost best mate opened his mouth and started hurling obscenities at the wizard across from him, calling him all manner of filth and cowardice. Then the evil wizard (for Harry hadn't yet heard that he wasn't a wizard) yelled back, in an equally furious voice, insults and vile names. Harry wasn't sure if either being was aware of what they were saying, but one look into Ron's wide and focused blue green eyes told Harry that Ron, at least, was unawares.

Then Harry noticed very faint shadows forming, almost invisible in the dim lighting, but definitely there, floating between the two of them. Then, mingling with the shadow, were faint swirls of colour, all sorts of colours that seemed to be trying to tie up the struggling shadow. Then abruptly the swearing stopped and the cloud disappeared, leaving Harry wondering it he had even seen it as he looked between them. Ron looked shaky, but he was doing an excellent job of hiding it as he glared at his enemy. Harry felt a slight pull of darkness surround him and his negative thoughts once again tried to gain a foothold within his mind. He shoved them away with a force of long practice.

"Impossible!" The evil wizard wheezed, bending slightly at the waist as if he were pained somehow within his stomach. "How? How can you resist me? I command souls and you are not soulless!" He commanded souls? He…commanded…oh how could Harry have been so stupid to not realize why the darkness around him felt so familiar? Dementors! This wizard had somehow gained the power of the Dementors and he had manipulated it to control all of these dragons! It wasn't identical, but the fundamentals were all there and Harry had missed it!

"Yeah well, someone's tried that trick on me already. I guess you could say I've built an immunity towards it." He knew without a doubt that Ron was referring to being controlled and almost dominated by Giles McTagert's reincarnation of the Chakra Incantata. Harry's eyes narrowed as he understood that this wizard was trying to steal Ron's soul, and had maybe already stolen both Dumbledore and McGonagall's. But then the dragons, who had been waiting with an odd air of forced anxiousness, began moving forward and Harry panicked as he saw them head straight for Ron.

He pointed his wand, thinking of all the good times he and his best friend had had together, everything they had survived together, and how they had always been there for each other. Harry wasn't about to fail Ron now.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" He yelled and out of his wand burst a shining silver stag galloping towards the dragons that were closest to attacking Ron. And then, much to Harry's utter surprise a second stag, just as large and brilliant as the first charged out of his wand after it, turning off to chase a different crowd of dragons. And then, if that wasn't enough, a flaming red and gold phoenix, outlined in the same radiant silver as the two stags, burst forth from his wand, screeching with a cry that demanded battle. Harry dropped his arm in amazement and watched as the magical bird swooped around in the air and headed straight back towards Harry. His eyes widened as he was suddenly unsure of its purpose (even though he had created it) and he dove out of the way a moment later to see it fly over his head at four dragons that had been almost on top of him.

Every single beast under the mad wizards control fled in terror, hurtling their huge bodies over the side of the castle as they tried to escape the three patronus's that were quickly clearing out the massive crowd. The phoenix disappeared over the high wall separating them from all the others that Harry had just run away from to join Ron. As a sudden silence seemed to rein the area Harry whipped about to look for Ron, hoping for all he was worth that the silver stags had reached him in time. Ron wasn't standing where he had been a moment before. Harry looked over to where the evil wizard had been only to notice that he had moved as well. But neither had moved far as his gaze fell upon them both locked together in a bunch of flailing limbs. Ron didn't pull his punches as the two tangled dangerously.

It was only a moment before the Dragon Lord had stuck his foot out and tripped Ron, who fell like a tonne of bricks. During his fall, however, he managed to pull the wizard down with him, his fists tightly clutching the dirty brown robes. Harry started running towards them, stopping just close enough to watch but not certain what to do. If he jumped into the fight he could confuse Ron more then help him. He stood, tensed to intervene when Ron, breathing hard and twisting in a way Harry didn't think possible, pinned the wizard beneath him. The wizard looked up and grinned mockingly, not even winded by the struggle.

"Physical force no longer affects me." He hissed, and as far as Harry could see he was telling the truth: despite all the blows Ron had landed there wasn't one mark on the man's face.

"I didn't plan on hurting you with my fists." Ron hissed, his voice laced in bitter anger as he leaned closer. Then, without warning the red haired man (and yes, up close Harry could honestly say that Ron's hair was glowing) planted his right hand across his enemy's forehead and placed the other over his heart. The wizard turned dementor's (though it was odd he wasn't affected by Harry's patronus) eyes widened and though it was impossible to read the emotions in the black orbs it wasn't difficult to read the sudden panic scrunching his face.

"Noo…" he began to cry out but was silenced abruptly as a black mist began to rise out of his body and swirl around Ron's hands. Harry didn't see any other colours this time as he watched intently. It seemed to take an hour, but in reality it was only a minute as Ron's body began to shake overtop of his prisoners. Harry felt a cold fear begin to grip his limbs as he watched the scene unfold. He watched Ron with such fierceness that he didn't even notice others come to stand beside him until one of the four red heads quietly hissed their brothers name.

"Ron."

"Do not touch him." The very weak voice of Dumbledore warned as he suddenly stood next to Harry, obviously having much difficulty standing.

"It's hurting him." Hermione's normally argumentative voice was intensely quiet as she appeared on Harry's other side, gripping his hand.

"Dark energies such as these will always hurt those who walk the path of light. He will overcome them."

"You can't be sure of that." Snape's cynical voice spoke from somewhere behind.

"I can." Harry responded for them all, staring intently at his friend as the tall form, bent over pinning his victim, shook almost uncontrollably. It was an intense moment more before he suddenly ripped his arms away and violently fell off of the one beneath him, shoving his body even further from them all. His face was pinched in agony, but it was his eyes that Harry immediately noticed, they were a swirling mass of blackness and blue, each fighting for dominancy. Harry pulled his hand from Hermione's and dove towards his friend.

"Ron! Ron fight it!"

"I can't!" He howled, his right arm clutched tightly to his stomach and he wailed and tried to thrash about, pushing himself further from the group.

"Ron, you must release the energies!" Hermione snapped, coming close but not touching him as Harry was currently wrapping his arms around his friend's shoulders.

"No!" Ron hissed angrily, glaring wildly at them all as they approached him. "No, not here! The school! The shields!" He tried to explain through his torment and Harry understood immediately what the problem was.

"Accio broom!" He screamed forcefully and was not surprised when, mere seconds later, brooms came flying from all directions and began stopping and dropping to the ground beside him. Some did not make it all the way to him as they crashed into those standing around them. He shoved his wand in his robe pocket and grabbed a broom with his left hand. Wrapping his right arm around Ron's waist he hauled the writhing man to his knees. It was high enough as he manoeuvred behind him and slid the broom between their legs. In seconds he was taking off, flying them over the side of Hogwarts and towards the edge of the forbidden forest at a furious pace, holding tightly to Ron so he didn't dive off.

They tumbled to the ground in landing, but neither noticed and Harry grabbed at Ron.

"Okay! Now Ron, release the energies!" He ordered, panic for his friend making him almost hysterical as Ron struggled within himself. The red head planted both his hands on the ground, his fingers digging into the grass and dirt but he cried out a moment later.

"I can't!" He wailed and was unable to explain any more then that. Harry didn't need an explanation though as he looked at Ron's right wrist and saw the grotesquely swollen flesh, and the bangle that was biting into the reddened skin. He dug frantically in his robes for his wand and pulled it out, touching the tip to the metal.

"Allohamora" He commanded sharply, and the thing seemed to shatter, breaking into no less then five pieces and falling from him. Immediately Harry felt Ron stiffen and he wrapped his arms around him in support. The ground around them began to tremble, birds in the trees took off, crying out startled. It lasted moments and then everything seemed to sink back into the stillness that was night. Even more so now, it seemed, as the only sound Harry could hear was that of Ron's and his own harsh breathing.

His friend collapsed trembling into his arms and Harry worried as his hair went through a rapid change of colours before settling on his natural flaming locks. It was then that he noticed two tiny creatures wound tightly within them, casting off an extremely faint, almost unnoticeable glow. He decided to ignore them for now.

"Ron? Ron mate, open your eyes. Let me see those baby blues eh?" He stared down at his friend hopefully and got no response. "Ron?" He tapped his face lightly. That did the trick as Ron's eyes shot open and stared around wildly. Harry sighed in relief as he saw they were their normal vibrant blue. Ron's panicked gaze froze suddenly as they seemed to register Harry for the first time and he stared, unmoving.

"Are you okay Ron?" Harry asked softly and Ron blinked, exhaling a suddenly harsh breath and not looking away from Harry's face. "Ron?"

"Fer some reason," he croaked out in an effort that sounded painful, "I thought I survived that fight."

"What are you talking about mate? You did survive." Harry replied, tightening his hold in relief as he realized that everything would be okay. He heard the sound of people landing nearby but refused to break eye contact with his friend, so glad to finally have him back. "I missed you Ron." He confessed, not at all embarrassed about it. Ron blinked and then his eyes went wide as though he understood something profound but wasn't sure he could believe it. His hands were suddenly wrapped tightly in Harry's robes and his irregular breathing increased.

"Harry?" He gasped and Harry nodded, not understanding this sudden attack of apparent anxiety.

"Yeah Ron, calm down okay? Take some deep breaths." But his friend was no longer listening as his eyes began to roll into the back of his head.

"Harry." He whispered just before going limp within his arms.

TBC

Well, there you have it, he finally saw Harry! Now you can stop being mad at me for never letting Ron know he's alive! I'm working like a mad dog, so again I apologize for not replying to the reviews, but I really thank you guys for them!

All the best!

Next Update: September 23, 2005 (look, I got the dates right this time!)