Possession
Chapter XV - Death of a Defender
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Harry frowned as he walked down the corridor after dinner. He wasn't ready to go back to the Common Room, he didn't feel like studying and with the outside curfew restrictions in place this year, he couldn't go outside so that meant he was reduced to roaming the corridors as he tried to work out what was wrong.

Hedwig and Sirius accompanied him of course, Sirius at least had given him an understanding nod as he'd told his friends he wanted a little time to himself.

He'd dreamed again last night and he'd seen the Dursleys. That's what had been bothering him. Like the dream before with the Muggles his scar hadn't hurt but this time it had gone further. This time, there was something, someone comforting him. He'd felt the arms around him, the soothing stroking motions on his back and the comforting power that had wrapped around him, mixing with his own aura, assuring him that he was safe.

And then there had been a voice, below his consciousness but there never the less. It wasn't the shadowy voice he had been hearing, its tone and inflections were all different but he knew he'd heard this voice before. He'd seen everything Voldemort had done and he'd heard the voice telling him that it was keeping its word and the Muggles who had hurt him would never hurt him again.

And he'd believed it.

And that was where he was confused.

He remembered the promise. The person with gentle red eyes who had made him feel so wonderful had made it to him but how had they then got Voldemort to carry it out for them? They'd shown him love but then had gone before the Dark Lord had come, hadn't they?

The thought that his unknown lover had been taken by the Dark Lord and that now Voldemort was in some twisted way ensuring that Harry's lover kept his promise was almost too much for him. He couldn't bear the thought of that unknown person being taunted by the Dark Lord. Not when he meant so much to Harry. He shook his head, pushing dark locks out of his eyes as he dismissed the matter momentarily. It didn't make sense now but he was sure he would get an explanation some day. And he would know why his scar didn't hurt.

In his dream, the Dark Lord had been brutal. Harry had seen that immediately and despite the fact that it wasn't Voldemort's promise, his actions were ensuring that the Muggles wouldn't ever hurt Harry again. Once the Dark Lord was through with them they wouldn't be capable of hurting anyone.

Harry blinked as a sudden vision came to him. The Dark Lord was still on his throne but the Muggles were being dragged out. They were covered in blood and none of them were conscious but Voldemort had a small satisfied smile on his lips and he seemed momentarily sated. With chill eyes he looked around the room and as he had before, his gaze settled on Harry.

"You see, my little one." A white hand had gestured towards the puddles of blood on the floor. "Thus I have kept my word, so that they can never hurt you again."

The Dark Lord had smiled and Harry felt the comforting warmth surround him again before he blinked his vision returning to the Hogwarts corridor.

No... Voldemort hadn't... He hadn't made such a promise... He'd never make that promise... He'd never...

"Well, well, well... If it isn't potty Potter."

Harry looked up startled at the voice. Hedwig hooted and Snuffles growled low in his throat, hair rising on the back of his neck.

"Draco!" Harry hissed.

The blond Malfoy appeared, stepping out from behind a tarnished suit of armour with a smirk on his lips. "Imagine finding you here."

"What do you want?" Harry asked with sudden belligerence. He didn't want to deal with Malfoy now.

"Not much, Potter," Malfoy snarled back, pulling his wand out.

"What?" Harry went for his own wand but before he moved he felt a stunning spell hit his back. He staggered forward, fighting its effects but all he could see was Draco's grey eyes, lit with an unholy light and then he fell to the floor. Help me... The thought escaped just before the end.

"Well... That was easier than I expected," Millicent drawled.

"Humph! That's why he's such a dumb-ass. He never suspects."

"Grrr..."

Draco looked back over towards Potter. The boy was sprawled on the floor and the two animals assigned to guard him were hovering over him, eyes burning with hatred as they stared at the younger Malfoy. The growl had come from the dog as it stood with its four paws planted firmly on the ground in front of its fallen master, every hair on its body bristling and its teeth barred. Hedwig hovered above Harry, her claws flashing before her as she extended them forward.

"Finally, some fight!" Blaise grinned, twirling his wand through his fingers before snapping his arm out, shouting the curse, "Stupify!"

Snuffles jumped but with the stiff guarding position he had assumed he was too slow to avoid the curse completely and so fell heavily back to the ground with a thud. Hedwig hooted bending her head down to size up her opponents before she feinted, flicking her tail to give her direction and drove forward, clawing at Millicent as she raised her wand.

"Argh..." She screamed as Hedwig drew blood, leaving claw marks on her shoulders.

The owl withdrew again to hover over Harry again, her yellow eyes daring them to come closer.

"Stop being a baby," Draco snapped as he raised his wand, firing off a curse.

Hedwig hooted contemptuously as she dodged the curse before folding her wings and swooping at the blond boy, striking with her beak before she once again returned to Harry.

"Stupid bird!" Draco snapped as he shot off several more curses. Eventually he managed to hit Hedwig but only because Blaise had joined in and the two of them had managed to corner her in mid air.

Hedwig didn't faulter though and to the horror of the two boys she glowed with the energy of their combined curse, changing even further from the mere snowy owl they had known. In an instant she morphed, growing larger as her feathers merged together forming definite armour plates over her body. Her talons lengthened again and a crest appeared on her head, several spines rising defiantly. Her wings also changed, the end of each flight feather growing a barb. She hooted again and there was a clear warning in her voice.

She didn't pause but instead swooped in again, clawing at Draco's eyes before sweeping back and diving at Blaise. Millicent screamed again and threw herself to the side but Hedwig was faster, whipping out one talon and striking the girl again, high on her arm before she swung around, lightning fast, driving once again at Draco.

Malfoy growled seeing the white streak that was Potter's owl hurtling towards him again and suddenly everything became clear. He didn't feel fear seeing those long claws extended towards his grey eyes, he felt nothing as he raised his wand and spoke the words with clear enunciation, "Avada Kedrava."

The green light flew true, hitting Hedwig's chest. She screamed, the sound reminiscent of a humans voice as she clawed the air before dropping heavily to the ground, wings sprawled around her form as the light faded from her yellow eyes.

"Finally!" Draco snarled as he bent down to pick up Harry's wand. "Let's go," he ordered Blaise and Millicent as he turned away, trusting them to pick up Potter for the next phase.

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Voldemort paced his chambers, ignoring the concerned hisses from his pets. Something was wrong. He could feel it. He just didn't know what.

He'd seen Harry again tonight just for a moment because the boy had been awake but it had been long enough to show him what was happening to his attackers and it had cheered the Dark Lord but soon after a chill had passed through him and his instincts had begun to warn him that something was no longer as it should be.

He'd ordered his Elites to check the strong hold and had paced around the walls himself but nothing was amiss with the wards and charms that surrounded the building. They were all as he had set them. He's spoken to Nangini but she hadn't sensed anything wrong and he'd even questioned Wormtail on the state of affairs at the Ministry but there was nothing in the works.

The Dark Lord hissed, gripping his wand tightly as he continued to pace. He'd tried questioning the darkness but it had been unresponsive and no shadow had come, no matter how much power he had put into the call. He doubted his feeling had anything to do with them but he had run out of options and couldn't escape the knowledge that what was wrong was important.

He hissed again, flexing long fingers into claws. Whatever it was, he was going to find it and then...

Then it or they would regret awakening his ire.

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