Disclaimer:
J.K. Rowling is the owner of Harry Potter. Stories she has written and characters that she created are not mine. I don't take credit for any of her work. I do thank her for providing such a wonderful universe to dream about and write in.
Harry Potter and the Shadow of Evil
By: Starwin
Chapter 16 – The Shadow of Tom Riddle
Harry opened his eyes. He was standing on top of his bed in his dorm room. The walls all curve up towards the high ceiling above. The room looked very odd but it was still familiar. Ron and Neville were sitting on Ron's bed, the two of them where playing wizard chess. Harry walked over to watch.
The figures on the chess board weren't the normal wizard chess pieces instead they were all little Hermiones, dressed in different costumes. Harry took a step away, this was really strange.
"Knight to," Neville counted the tiles on the board, "D9." Neville announced. The knight moved on its own to the space Neville had announced. From the looks of it Neville was wining. "Check!" Neville cried.
Ron rubbed his face, he looked tired. Harry had never seen him losing this badly before. Harry looked over the board. He could see a couple okay moves but nothing that looked like it would very much help Ron.
Ron moved his hand over his Queen, he was going to try and take out the knight! Harry could see it was a bad move, that it was a needless sacrifice.
"Wait," Harry said. Ron stopped and looked up at Harry. "You can stop the night with your castle," Harry said pointing to the castle hidden across the board. Ron looked around at the pieces as though seeing them for the first time.
"Oy," Ron cried, the tiredness leaving his face. Ron moved his castle to take the knight and Neville countered by taking the castle with a nearby pawn.
"Thanks Harry," Ron said. "I don't know what I was thinking! I think I've got it from here." Harry nodded. Suddenly Neville took hold of the chess board and tossed it to the floor.
"That's cheating!" Neville said angrily. "You aren't supposed to help him!" Ron didn't seem to notice anything that had just happened, instead he continued to gaze at where the chess board had been.
"Five moves and I have you," Ron murmured to himself. Neville stormed away towards the door.
"I'll catch you later mate," Harry said waving at Ron as he followed Neville. Ron didn't seem to hear him as he continued to watch the empty space.
Neville moved through the door and closed it behind him. Harry was only a few steps behind Neville but when Harry opened the door, Neville not on the other side.
Instead Harry found himself at the start of a long hallway. There was door along the wall not far from the one Harry had just come out of, on it hung a sign that read, 'out of order.' Harry pushed open the door and almost did a double take.
The room beyond wasn't a room at all. There was no floor, no walls, no ceiling. It was a void that moved out forever. Bright red stars filled the spot between the empty black. Scatted about through the void were hundreds of people all casting spells. Harry could faintly hear shouts of, 'imobullus' and 'repairo' coming from the people all around the void.
Harry stepped back and closed the door. He decided he would instead try his luck with the hallway.
Harry moved down the stone passage. On the walls were paintings. Some Harry recognized as his own memories, others he didn't know at all.
Something odd was happening to the passageway as Harry walked down it, the walls were twisting the floor was becoming the ceiling. Harry thought he would fall but he stayed on the floor as it twisted. It didn't feel like he was upside-down at all. In fact it felt as if nothing had changed. Harry looked behind him to see the twisted walls of the ceiling becoming floor. He didn't have time to worry about things like this. He had to focus, had to find Hermione and get out of here quickly.
The headache was becoming more painful, even in here Harry's head pounded hard. He knew, though he did not know how he knew, that things were becoming worse. That if he did not find Hermione and return her to her own body she would not survive much longer.
Ahead of him there were noises echoing off the walls, like the sounds of stone scraping against stone. Harry moved faster. Someone was kneeling facing a large hole in the wall.
It was Hermione she was lifting a small gray brick into place. Harry stopped next to her, she didn't seem to have noticed his arrival.
"Hermione!" Harry said, relief in his voice, "Come on we have to get you out of here." Hermione didn't respond, instead, using her wand, she created another brick and began lift it into place.
"Hermione?" Harry asked concerned. She didn't seem to hear him. Harry put his hand out to touch her shoulder but before he could touch her, he felt a burning sensation in his hand, he pulled back. The burning faded.
How was he supposed to get her out of here if she couldn't hear him and he couldn't touch her? Harry shook his hand as the last of the burning felling moved out his fingertips.
Harry looked past Hermione and out the hole in the wall that she was repairing. If had thought the last room had been strange it was no comparison to what lay beyond the hole in the wall. The Burrow sat, fully intact, in a field of green grass. Beyond the Burrow were holes in the sky. There were more people outside standing upon scaffolding repairing the holes as if they were nothing more than a damaged building. Through the holes Harry could see parts of the back void but it was not filled with starts it was filled with large moving images.
Harry took a step back, was that the way he was supposed to go? He didn't think he could fit through the small hole in the wall. Harry was about to try and see if he could would fit when off to his left there was a click.
Harry turned and drew his wand. A dark wooden door had swung open. Harry moved over to it. The room beyond seemed to be the only normal thing so far. It was a sitting room of some kind but Harry couldn't recall having ever been in it.
Harry took a deep breath and stepped into the room beyond.
---
The moment Harry stepped into the room he knew he had made a mistake. He felt his skin begin to burn. His scar erupted in agony. Harry turned to retreat through the door but it swung suddenly closed.
Harry dropped to his knees. He had felt pain before, horrible pain, but this was far worse than anything he had ever had to endure. Harry fell on his side his body twitching as the daggers of fire cut away slowly at his body.
"STOP IT!" Cried a voice from somewhere behind Harry. "STOP IT, YOU'RE KILLING HIM!"
The pain dimmed but it did not fade. Harry's scar still burned on his head. Harry's hands were shaking as he pushed himself up from the ground. Harry looked to where the voice had come from and saw, to his surprise, Hermione standing next to one of the couches.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Said a voice that Harry didn't recognize. "Are you okay?" Harry felt a hand take his to help him stand. Harry looked up at the face of the young boy whom he did not recognize.
"I thought you…" the boy looked frightened and Harry was reminded suddenly of Dobby. "I thought you were someone else!" The boy said timidly.
"Hermione," Harry asked as he got to his feet, "What's going on, how did you get in here so fast?" Hermione raised an eye brow as if to ask what Harry was talking about.
"Oh," Hermione said suddenly as if only just remembering, "well I'm also outside aren't I. I mean…"
Harry shook his head.
"You know what, I really don't want to know." Harry said. "We don't have a lot of time we have to get you out of here." Hermione took a deep breath.
"Harry, I've discovered someone important, someone you need to meet." Hermione said. Harry nodded.
"Fine, once we get out of here you can tell me all about it," Harry was starting feel annoyed. Didn't Hermione understand that the longer they stayed the more danger they both were in?
"Harry, meet Tom Riddle," Hermione said indicating the small boy that had helped Harry up. Harry felt suddenly panicked. TOM RIDDLE? But, it couldn't be. This boy was no more than ten or eleven years old. As Harry looked at him he could slowly begin to see the resemblance between this boy and the sixteen year old Tom Riddle that Harry had encountered in the diary and again in the Chamber of Secrets.
Harry looked over at Hermione, he felt panic rising in his chest.
"What…" Harry started but couldn't seem to find any words to follow after that.
"It's sort of hard to explain exactly what happened," Hermione said. "Well… no it's not hard to explain, perhaps hard to understand or to believe might be a better…"
"Hermione," Harry said stepping past the boy who was watching them. "We don't have time for this." Hermione looked surprised.
"Why not?" Hermione asked. Harry opened his mouth but came out with a lack of words, he wasn't sure he even had a clue what was really going on. He just knew they were running out of time, he could feel it.
"Just trust me, we have to go, now!" Harry said taking Hermione's wrist.
"But we can't leave yet!" Hermione protested as Harry tried to pull her towards the door. Hermione snapped her wrist free from Harry's grip.
"He is coming…" said a small voice cutting apart the argument between Hermione and Harry. Hermione's eyes went wider.
"What, who's coming?" Harry asked turning to look at the little boy but the young Tom did not appear to hear Harry. The pupils in his eyes had turned white and his face was expressionless.
"I knew it!" Hermione said, Harry looked at her. "Harry quickly, we have to get out the door!" Without warning Hermione grabbed Harry's wrist and with surprising force she pulled him across the room.
There were almost past Tom when his shadow, which had been only a small circle on the floor suddenly cut out along the ground and raced up the wall. Hermione came to a dead stop, Harry collided with her back.
The shadow reached the ceiling and began to spread along the walls.
"I don't think you will be going," said a deep rumbling voice that shook the room. Red glowing eyes opened upon the shadows head. One of the arms pulled free from the wall and took form becoming claw like.
Harry reacted, the path to the door was still clear, but Harry knew it wouldn't remain that way for long. Harry took Hermione's arm and pulled her behind him as they rushed headlong at the door. There wasn't time to open it, Harry just had to hope it was not as solid as it looked. At full speed Harry collided with the dark wooden door and it broke away as if it was made of paper.
The two students tumbled out onto the grass on the other side. Harry looked around. The hallway that he had been expecting was not here. They were outside some place, not far from what looked like the forbidden forest. It was night time and clouds show silver in the dark sky. The grass was illuminated by the twinkling stars and the glow of the moon.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked looking over at Hermione who was laying on her back next to him. The moon light shinned against her body with its soft glow. Harry was transfixed with her image. Hermione suddenly sat up.
"Harry, the tree, we have to lock it!" Hermione shouted as she pointed a finger back the way they had tumbled from. At first Harry wasn't sure what Hermione was talking about but as Harry looked to where Hermione was pointing he suddenly realized where he was. They were at the base of the Whomping Willow.
From a hole near the roots of the tree glowing red eyes appeared. A tendril like hand moved its way out onto the grass. There was a growl from next to Harry and the beautify girl he had been staring at a moment ago had vanished to be replaced by a brown furred, tiger-like, cat. Without waiting for Harry the cat covered the distance to the tree its claws striking at the shadow monster.
The branched of the tree remained motionless. Why had the tree not struck as she approached.
"Talon! Help me!" came Hermione's voice from the tiger as it battled with the shadow. Harry didn't even have to think about it, he was Talon. The song of the Phoenix filled the air accompanied by the horrible wailing of the shadow monster.
Light illuminated the tree and the ground around it in red as Talon soared into the sky, then dove back down his talon's slashing at the face of the shadow monster. The eyes sank back into the hole at the base of the tree trying to escaped the attacks and the bright light.
Paw's morphed back into Hermione. She pulled a shinning white key from her robes and pushed it against the knot at the base of the tree. The branches began to move and whip around wildly. Talon flapped his wings, moving to avoid the on coming attack. But Hermione was trapped as the branches lashed down around her.
Talon circled out around the tree. A branch lashed out at him, Talon rolled narrowly avoiding it. The branches came faster each time almost hitting Talon as he maneuvered to avoid being hit by them as he moved with lighting speed towards Hermione.
Finally his talon's closed on her shoulders, there was a burst of flame and they were high in the sky above the castle, the tree far below them.
---
Talon set Hermione down gently on one of the turrets of the castle and released her from his grip from her shoulders. Taking wing he landing a few feet away before transforming back into Harry. Hermione rushed him and wrapped her arms around him crushing his body to hers.
Harry was about to protest but he never got the chance, Hermione's lips were pressed hard against his. Harry took her shoulders and pulled her away. Hermione looked at him, her eye's pleading.
"Hermione," Harry said out of breath. "We can't… I mean we don't have time… I mean… not…" Hermione's lip was starting to tremble.
"We have to get out of here!" Harry said shaking her slightly. "You know a lot more about this stuff than I do, how do we get out of here!" It was moment before Hermione answered.
"You mean you don't want to be here with me?" She asked her eye's not leaving his face. The glow of the moon upon her was intoxicating. This seemed more like a dream than reality. And like a hand had slapped him in the back of the head he realized that it was a dream and not reality.
"You're trapped inside my mind," Harry said holding her tightly and trying to make her understand with his eyes that right now this was more important. "I know, because you know, that if you stay here for much longer you won't be able to get out!"
There were tears rolling down Hermione's face.
"Please," Harry begged, "how do I get you back to your body?" Hermione closed her eyes.
"You can't," she said, her voice chocked. "It's already too late." Harry let go. He couldn't believe it, he would believe it. Harry took a step away. Hermione looked different, the moon light glowed through her, she was becoming transparent. Hermione opened her eyes to look down at her hands. Her face was filled with sadness as she looked up at Harry.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said. A forceful wind rushed across the top of the castle turret. Harry held his arm up to block the wind. He felt tears burning across his face. The wind pushed him slowly away from Hermione. Her feet lifted from the ground and she began to rise into the air.
"No," Harry growled. "I won't let it be this way." Harry threw his arm against the wind as though trying to push it out of the way. The air rushed against his skin trying to drag him back. Harry dug his feet into the stone and fought towards Hermione.
Hermione was more than her height above the ground, if not for the glow of the moon Harry would not have been able to see her transparent form. Harry's hand shot into the air, the tip of his finger brushed against her foot but he could not reach her to pull her down. Harry jumped trying to take hold but she moved just far enough for his hand to grab only air.
"I've come too far to lose you like this!" Harry shouted. His fist wrapped around something invisible that dangled from his neck. With all his might Harry leapt into the air. Hermione was far above him but Harry knew he could make the impossible jump.
His hand clasped around her ankle. Harry took hold as they rose into the sky.
"Hermione!" Harry shouted. "You have to stop!" Her head was turned up looking into the stars in the sky, she did not seem to hear him. Harry was losing his grip, he felt his hands slipping.
Harry's fingers came free, he lost his grip and began to tumble backwards into the air.
This couldn't be happening, he had been so close. Harry's body turned about in the air as he fell the hundreds of feet towards the stone turret rushing up at him. Harry collided with it but the stones did not stop him, his body tore through the stone and pulled it apart like fabric.
Below was the sky and below that the castle Harry had just crashed into. He was still falling. He spotter Hermione she was rising quickly up at him in a moment he would pass her and fall through the hole again.
The moonlight was causing her to glow and she looked almost like a ghost.
'But she isn't dead!' Harry told himself as he sped towards her. 'And I will make sure of that!' Harry reached out for her as he rushed past. For one perfect second it was like time had stopped. Hermione's eyes were closed and Harry couldn't recall her ever looking more beautiful than she did now. But she was little more than a faint silver outline, like a wisp of smoke. The second ended and Harry rushed past her again.
This was torture, he was destine to fall past her, over and over until the instant she vanished, unable to save her! If only he had his broom, then he could fly up and save her!
But he could fly! He did have wings! Harry willed himself to become Talon, to fly. What happened next was something Harry was not prepared for. Four white wings sprung from his back, just like the ones Solaris had.
They flapped like arms and Harry slowed in the air. His direction changed and he rushed back towards Hermione as she rushed away from him. He could barley see her any more. See was almost completely transparent.
Harry came level with her. He was only inches away, he put his wing around her pulling her ghostly form against his. Harry felt his fingers press down on the invisible object around his neck. There was a warm glow and a bright flash of light.
For a moment Harry thought they had floated up into Snape's office but this had a much different feeling from the place he had just been, it was too real. Harry was still holding Hermione in his arms unwilling to let her go for fear she would vanish. Harry held her tightly in his arms. His wings had vanished and he was unsure how he could still be flying.
"Potter," Snape hissed. Harry looked down to find Snape hunched over below him. He wasn't looking up at Harry but rather he was talking to a Harry sitting in a chair below Harry.
Harry blinked not sure what he was looking at. Had something gone wrong, were they both dead now?
"Release the connector!" Snape said there was urgency in his voice. Harry's body reacted on its own, his hand slowly lifted and his eyes moved to his thumb and forefinger that were press together. Harry pulled the fingers apart. For a moment they felt as if they had been glued together.
Hermione suddenly zoomed out of his arms, Harry tried to reach for her but she was already gone. Harry felt like a stone and he dropped down falling out of the air and on top of himself.
Harry's eye's snapped open. Snape was very close to his face.
"Did it work, Potter?" Snape asked his sharp eyes searching Harry's face.
"I don't know," Harry said. "I found her and we fought back this big black shadow monster," Harry was trying to recall all the events but the details were becoming fuzzy. "And then we were in your office and Hermione, she was pulled away!"
Snape took a long breath. His face relaxed and he pushed away from Harry.
"I didn't think you would be able to do it, Potter," Snape said. The headache that had been plaguing Harry was gone. The pain in his scar had also vanished. "We have done all we can. The magic of the connector should pull Miss Granger back to her own body." Snape suddenly whirled on Harry.
"Potter," Snape said his face coming uncomfortably close. "If any of this is ever uttered outside my office…" Snape snatched the charm around Harry's neck and yanked it free breaking the silver chain. "Now get out."
---
Harry hurried quickly to the room he had left Ron and Ginny in. He couldn't believe that he had petrified his friends. Harry didn't even know where to being or how to apologize to them. What had come over him?
But Harry found the classroom empty. For a moment Harry felt panicked. But looking at the clock on the wall he realized that he had been gone for over two hours.
It was almost dinner time now, maybe they were in the great hall. Quickly Harry turned and headed for the great hall.
Clusters of students were arriving for dinner. Harry pushed his way between them trying to get into the great hall. What was the next step to take after finding Ginny and Ron? Apologize to them? No, Harry decided, they would understand he'd done what had to be done. They had to find a way to get to St. Mungos Hospital. Perhaps by Thestral?
"Mr. Potter," chimed a voice from the doors as Harry appeared in a gap at the front of the crowd of students. It was professor McGonagall.
"Sorry Professor," Harry said as the student next to him let out a cry of protest as Harry pushed his way past.
"A word Mr. Potter," McGonagall said. For an instant Harry thought of blowing her off. He had more important matters to attend to than being lectured on pushing his way past some people. Harry was about to protest but something about the look on Professor McGonagall's face told Harry that this was about something else.
Harry followed as McGonagall lead the way along the wall avoiding most of the students. She lowered her voice.
"I have just received word from St. Mungos that there has been a change in the condition of Miss Granger," McGonagall said. Harry didn't know what to think, it had to be good news, it had to be that she was okay didn't it?
"Is Hermione alright, is everything okay?" Harry said his voice chocked.
"Calm down Mr. Potter." McGonagall said. "Head Healer Eifled has sent word that she has awoken from her strange condition. They have requested she remain at St. Mungos for the remainder of the weekend but that for the moment she appears to be quite alright." Harry felt incredibly relieved. "Oh and Mr. Potter, Madam Pomfrey has also informed me that she will be returning tomorrow and that she would like you to return to the hospital ward for observation."
"Uh, okay," Harry said.
"Well," McGonagall said her voice returning to normal volume, "off you go Potter."
---
Harry spotted Ron and Ginny sitting in their normal places at the Gryffindor table. For a moment he considered sitting some place else but he wanted to tell them Hermione was alright.
Ron spotted him as Harry moved up behind Ginny. He looked non to pleased to see Harry. Ginny turned and nearly leapt from the table to embrace Harry. Harry hugged her back, he was glad to see her, glad she was okay. Ron gave a cough.
Ginny pulled back and gave her brother a fierce look. But Harry could see part of the reason Ron had found to interrupt, many people around them were staring at them. Harry let go of Ginny and sat down next to her.
"Hermione's okay," Harry said. Ginny looked relieved and even Ron's face softened but he still looked angry. "Look Ron, Ginny, I'm really sorry, I don't know what came over me."
"It's okay, I've already explained to Ron that you did what you did because it wasn't really you doing it," Ginny said. Harry glanced at her in surprise. That was the last thing he had expected to hear. Ron still looked angry. "And Ron just hasn't gotten over it."
"Look mate," Harry said apologetically. "I really am sorry! It worked, Hermione is fine and no one got expelled." Ron pushed his plate away angrily and stood up. Without a word he left the great hall.
Harry watched him all the way to the door. Sometimes Ron was thicker than block of wood and now was no exception. Harry wondered how long he would have to put up with Ron's bad temper.
"Ignore him," Ginny said into Harry's ear. "He isn't really mad at you." Harry knew Ron well enough to know that but it still hurt him. The rest of dinner was quiet and by the end Harry was ready to head to his room and crawl into bed but Ginny stopped him.
"Tonight is the DA meeting, remember?" Ginny said. Harry had completely forgotten, to him it was still Tuesday. Harry nodded and together they headed for the room of requirement.
They were almost there when Ron waved them down.
"Hey, Harry wait up," Ron said. He looked different, he wasn't mad anymore but it was something beyond that.
"You okay mate?" Harry asked. Ron looked uneasy for a moment.
"Fine," Ron said shrugging. This was the last thing Harry had been expecting. He hadn't expected Ron to recover so quickly from how he had been less then thirty minutes ago in the great hall. "I just needed a walk to cool my head." Harry looked at Ginny, she gave him a small shrug. She didn't know what had cause the change in Ron's attitude either.
"Well come on then mate," Harry said patting Ron on the shoulder. "We have a meeting to run." Ron looked uneasily at Harry's hand for a moment. Harry thought that he was about to start shouting again but he smiled back and put his hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Right…uh mate," Ron replied.
"Are you sure you're alright Ron?" Ginny asked. Her eyes were narrowed.
"Yeah I just… just have a lot on my mind." Ron said uneasily. Now that Ron said it Harry could see what had been wrong. He had forgotten how much Ron hated speaking in front of people and tonight he had a big speech. Harry hopped Ron had found time to work on it during the week, they had only talked about the basics last weekend and without his or Hermione's help Harry wasn't sure if Ron would have been able to complete his task.
"Come on," Harry said. "We have to go set up." Harry led the way to the room of requirement. It was still as it had been last time they were there. Ginny and Ron began moving cushions out to prepare for students.
Tonight would be the full introduction of the idea of warlocks to the group. They had touched upon it last meeting but this meeting would be the first steps and some training. Admittedly Harry hadn't had time to get all he had hopped to have ready for tonight, he would just have to wing it.
Students began to arrive and take their seats. Ginny was watching the door and Ron was sitting in his chair his hands clenched against his legs. He looked very nervous. Harry thought about going over to him to give him some words of support but his attention was on all the new faces he was seeing.
Harry couldn't believe how many more people there were here tonight. Last time there had been about thirty students but tonight he counted more than a hundred. The room didn't seem big enough to hold all the members but the crowed packed in.
The last of the members arrived and Ginny locked the door then struggled her way through the crowed.
Faces stared up at Harry. He recognized many of them but at the same time had never seen many. All but Slytherin house appeared to be in attendance tonight. Hermione's words nagged in the back of Harry's head. There had been plans to meet with a group of nine Slytherins looking to join, but that had been on Wednesday and neither Harry nor Hermione had been awake to go meet them.
Harry stirred up his courage. He already knew the words he had to say for this part. He just wished he'd had more time to practice them.
"Welcome, returning members, and prospective new members," Harry began. "Before we get started there are…" but what there was the members would never hear. A loud knocking came from the door to the room.
---
Harry's voice trailed off. Quickly he signaled Ron and Ginny to take up points of attack. They had practiced this before. Other members of the DA stood and drew wands aiming at the door. Perhaps it was just a late comer. Harry moved through the crowed cautiously. If it was a teacher Harry had no idea what to do.
Harry took hold of the handle. His wand was ready in his hand. Harry opened the door and found, to his shock a group of Slytherin students at the door. And standing in front of them was a moderately unhappy Ron.
"Hey Harry," Ron said. "Sorry I'm late, we had to wait for one of the Slytherins who was… What's wrong? Don't tell me you're still mad at me about dinner?" Harry pulled his head back inside. Ron standing against the far wall his wand out. Harry looked back out the door at Ron.
'What the fuck?' Was all Harry's brain could shout. Harry looked over at Ginny. She couldn't see what was happening outside the door but a few of the students behind Harry could and whispers were starting to fill the air as heads turned about.
Harry motioned for Ron to come in. Ron seemed taken aback to say the least when he spotted himself standing on the far wall, pale and starting to look nervous.
"Quick, Ron," Harry said in a whisper to the Ron that had just come in. "What's Ginny's middle name?" Ron looked taken aback for a moment. Harry pointed his wand at Ron's chest.
"It's Molly, like my mom," Ron said in protest. "Blimey Harry what's going on?" Harry turned to face the other Ron.
"We have a spy," Harry said.
"MAXIMUS EXUXUS!" Fire erupted from the tip of the wand of the Ron standing against the wall. The ball of fire rolled across screaming students towards Harry. Harry threw his hands wide and the ball of fire vanished as it impacted with a shield of light. When the shield vanished devastation remained. Many students were badly injured some might even be dead. And the fake Ron had vanished.
"We have to get them to the hospital wing!" Ginny cried as she moved up next to Harry. Other students were screaming and shouting.
"Quiet everyone!" Harry shouted over the screams. The room did not become silent. Some of the students were fighting to get to the door. Harry didn't have time for this. They wouldn't be able to get all these injured students to the hospital wing in time and even if they did, Madam Pomfrey was not there to help any of them.
Harry could see no other choice. Without thinking Harry began to change, to become Talon. There was a burst of flame and Talon appeared above the wounded students. The cries of pain still came from the injured but almost all of the rest of the room became silent as they watched the phoenix.
Talon looked at the devastation. Black charred skin met his eyes from almost every direction. Hair and clothing had been burned off and some students lay still and motionless. Others cradled blackened flesh with bloody hands. There was no need to force his tears because Talon cried for the horrible sight before him.
Doing his best through blurred vision Talon moved from student to student letting his tear drops fall on their burns and split skin. A few of the student's wounds however did not heal. When at last Talon had no more tears to cry he became Harry again and moved among the students. He had been able to save many of them but some he was not sure about.
The rest of the students had been moved back by DA members to give room. Neville and a few other students had moved in and were using simple healing spells to treat the wounded.
Harry moved over to Neville. He was over a small boy who looked as though he might be in his first-year. He had blond hair and his face was pale. Neville had his hands wrapped against his neck.
For a moment Harry felt as though he had wittiness all this before. It was a strange felling. The moment passed.
"How is he?" Harry asked uneasily, the boy wasn't moving.
"He didn't make it," Neville said pulling his hands free, Harry could see blood on Neville's palms. "I did all I could but…" Harry put a hand on Neville's shoulder. This was horrible a student had been murdered and it was Harry's fault. The DA was finished, Harry would not be able to avoid expulsion this time. He would take all the blame, it was his club he was responsible.
Harry rubbed his face, he felt very old and very tired. This had been the second person he had watched die.
"It's not your fault Neville." Harry said. "It's mine, I should have known better, I should have been more careful." Harry looked around the room. What he was about to say next felt impossible to say. They had only just started and already they had failed. "The DA is…"
"Wait," Neville said. He was holding the boy's wrist. Harry looked down, his heart was pounding. "He's… he's alive!" Neville said. "It worked." Neville was smiling but he looked very tired. Harry noticed a red tear rolling down Neville check. Harry knelt quickly next to him.
"Neville," Harry said concerned. "Are you alright?" Neville looked like he was short of breath. Harry put his hand against Neville's chest. Neville's heart beat was uneven and his breathing was ragged.
"I'm okay," Neville said taking Harry's grip in a strong hold. Neville's breath started to even out. And as it did the boy laying on the ground gasped for air and then continued to breath steadily. When Neville released Harry's wrist there was blood left behind.
"Blood healing," Neville said. Harry had never heard of that before which wasn't surprising, healing, besides perhaps Arithmancy, was a field Harry knew almost nothing about. But from the way Neville looked Harry didn't liked the sound of the spell.
"Neville, you didn't!" Ginny cried. She was among the students that had pressed in to watch the scene.
"Neville," Harry asked, "what exactly did you do?" Neville looked Harry in the eyes.
"I gave up some of my life to heal," Neville said, "two years of my life to give this boy the chance to live out the rest of his. I just need some rest and I'll be fine." Harry helped Neville to his feet and found him a cushion in the back of the room where he set his friend down to rest. "Thanks," Neville said sitting down heavily.
"No, tonight Neville it is everyone here who owes you thanks." Harry said. Neville nodded and closed his eyes, leaning against the wall to sleep.
Harry stood and turned to the rest of the room. His point had been made for him in far more detail than he would have wished but he now had to say it. Harry looked around at many of the students that had been injured. He felt something stir within him. He wasn't sure who it had been that had done this but Harry would find out.
"What I am about to say might sound harsh after the events we have just witnessed," Harry said, the room was quiet, everyone was listening to him, "the DA is not a joke, not a club. The danger is very real and the possibility of death is very real. But it is your choice. You have seen what we fight against, enemies that strike to kill with no regards for anyone. If we do nothing they will kill us. But if we fight, we can win. Action does save lives.
"Tonight, we have seen true heroism. Neville has give part of his own life to save another. Those of you that feel you would do anything but the same should not stay. We are not just another club, we are an army. And we will stand against Voldemort and we will fight!
"Those of you that accept this and want to fight, those of you that will not go silently into night, those of you that will stand with me, stand and be recognized." Harry was breathing hard. The words had come to him as he spoke. His voice had been strong and he had not been afraid to speak them. He had led the class as a teacher before but this was a different feeling it was a feeling that felt natural.
To Harry's surprise every student moved to stand, even those that still had injuries. Harry felt pride well up in his chest.
"The journey will not be easy. Our enemies reach has no bounds," Harry continued speaking no longer to frightened students but to soldiers. "But we will train hard, and when the time comes we will be ready to fight and to win." Harry held his hand out to the seats. "Sit and we will show you a way to a future without evil."
Authors Notes:
And you have completed chapter… hey what chapter am I on?... One second let me look through my checklist and figure out where the heck I am.
Avalon… check
Return to Hogwarts… Check
Love interest in -strINstream error: name not retrievable- … check
Lots of Unanswered questions…check
Evil Shadow with glowing red eyes…check
Crazy trip through Harry's mind…check and check again
Attack on the DA…check
Harry potter takes over the world and names it Ted…chec… hey what the fuck… how did that get on my list? Damn it Alex stop writing in plot points!
Yes that's correct reader you have finished chapter 16 of Harry Potter and the Shadow of Evil. The list above isn't even close to everything that's happened so far so anyone skipping ahead to this chapter, though I have no clue as to why you would, go back and read the others before finishing this one, if you haven't, because there are a lot of important things! Of course since you're reading the authors notes at the end I will assume that you already read this chapter, in which case, if you haven't read the previous chapters, unread this chapter and go back and read the ones before it!
There, now that I have thoroughly confused everyone with my ramblings I am free to begin work on my next book 'Harry Potter and His Evil Twin, Ted!' Err well no… not really…
I'll just go back to working on the next couple of chapters instead. But first!
REVIEWERS THANK YOU!
READERS thank you! (readers, you know the drill no reading the line above until you leave at least one review, and believe me I will know, Santa works for me)
I am working at full steam to get the next chapter out as quickly as possible. Wednesday looks like the date but I make no blood oaths!