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 17 – Broken
Breakfast Saturday morning was pleasant. The rest of the DA lesson had gone very well despite everything that had happened at the start. Harry had been worried that the students might not put their hearts into the training or even want to end the lesson early because of the attack. But if anything the attack had made everyone work harder than Harry would have thought possible.
The meeting had gone on much latter than Harry had planed and it was only because Ginny noticed how late it was, that everyone had been able to make it back to their dormitories with a few extra seconds to spare before lights-out.
The returning members had preformed far beyond expectations, obviously many of them had been practicing over the summer. The new students, for which there were many, were not bad at all. The mere fact that they had stayed after an attack that had almost cost some of them their lives was proof enough that they would do whatever it took to win.
Many were able to master the first set of spells Ron had prepared, another surprise for Harry. He had to admit that he was impressed with Ron. Never had he thought that Ron would've been able to do the things he had.
But even though Harry was impressed he was also feeling paranoid now. It didn't seem like Ron at all. The Ron he was sure he knew would never have done all those things on his own. Harry had been deceived once by an imposter, he vowed never to let it happen again, too much was at stake.
Another big surprise was the Slytherin students, far from being arrogant or cruel, much what Harry had come to expect from them, they were just like any of the other students. They had done very well in the lesson and not a single member gave any argument about Slytherins being part of the DA.
Ron had explained to Harry, after the meeting, that Hermione had set up the plans to meet with the Slytherins during the week but since she and Harry had not been able to go Ron had gone in their place. Hermione had convinced him that having allies in Slyhterin house was too important to pass up. And Ron had agreed, in the end, that, at least from a strategic stand point, allies among enemies were the best kind of allies.
The DA had many enemies, of that Harry was certain. Though there could be many people who might have attacked the DA that night Harry knew the attacker must be Malfoy.
The fake Ron had vanished instantly after the attack, just like Malfoy always did. And like all the other attacks Malfoy had been spotted some place else at the time of the attack, Harry's new Slytherin allies had been able to confirm that.
However there was one striking difference between this attack and every attack before it. Everyone in the room had seen the attacker. So far only Hermione had been able see any attacker.
At the moment Ginny was leaning against Harry's arm eating a piece of toast. Her soft chewing broke Harry's train of thought or rather turned his thoughts towards something else. Hermione. Harry hadn't been able to get her off his mind even though he had been able to get her out of it.
Everything around him, even Ginny, seemed to remind Harry of her absence. Harry was starting to feel uncomfortable with his thoughts. He really was starting to have feelings for Ginny. She had proven herself time and time again to be more than just a loyal friend and Harry was also feeling other things he couldn't really explain, things that frightened and excited him.
Desperate to talk about anything that would draw his thoughts to something else Harry struck up conversation with Ron.
"So," Harry said looking at Ron. "Any plans today mate?" Ron swallowed whatever he had just shoveled into his mouth.
"Oy Harry!" Ron said shaking his head, "Today we have try outs for chasers remember?" Harry felt surprised, how had he forgotten! That was right, today was Saturday. "Ginny put up postings on the notice board in the tower. We're going to start some time after lunch."
"Great thinking Ron," Harry commented. Ginny looked up at Harry her mouth screwed up in an angry sort of frown. "and Uh… Gin." Harry added quickly and then kissed her on the forehead apologetically. "Sorry, I guess I'm still tired. I really do wish you'd gotten captain instead of me mate."
Ron smiled weakly, obviously it was still a painful subject for him to be reminded of. The rest of breakfast past fairly quickly. There were other things that Harry had wanted to talk about, like Hermione and the DA. But he found that every time he started thinking about them the last thing he wanted to do was talk about them.
---
A lot of students had shown up at the Quidditch field for the Gryffindor tryouts. The rest of Harry's team had also arrived. Ron had set up the testing plan. Since all they needed were chasers they were going to put students in groups of three and see if they had some of the basic skills to play.
Ginny and the rest of the team were helping group out the students. Harry, suddenly realized he had missed something, something he couldn't understand how, until now, he hadn't spotted. They didn't need three chasers they only needed two. Harry pointed this out to Ron. Ron gave Harry a uneasy sideways glance.
"Well we already have everything else," Harry said. "You're keeper. We have two beaters, who could be better, and I am seeker and I guess Ginny's a chaser." Ron frowned. "What?"
"Well," Ron said, "I thought you and Ginny were going to trade off being seeker." Harry felt confusion on his face, was Ron serious, trade off being seeker? "I mean, since you hadn't said anything I just kind of assumed that was what you wanted. It's what I would have done if I was captain."
Harry was starting to feel an uncomfortable knot in his stomach. How had he let it get this far and not have said anything. He knew he had been busy but that wasn't an excuse. He had to tell Ginny that this year she would be a chaser instead of seeker. Otherwise they would end up with an extra player on the team.
"Hold up everyone," Harry said raising his hands into the air. Chatter stopped among the prospective new chasers. "Team huddle, over here."
The rest of the team returned over to Ron and Harry, they were looking at them with uncertainty.
"It seems we've sort of miss counted. We only need two chasers this year." Harry said. Ginny looked at the two beaters standing next to her, then at Ron and finally at Harry.
"Well of course," Ginny said at last. Harry felt relieved this wasn't going to be as bad as he had first thought. "I mean, I already assumed you were going to take our third chaser spot Harry."
For a moment Harry stood stupid, that hadn't been what he'd been expecting at all.
"Uh, no," Harry said. "Actually I was thinking you were going to take a chaser spot and I was going to return to seeker." If Harry had been expecting Ginny to accept this pronouncement with no protest he was sorely mistaken.
"Excuse me?" Ginny said putting her hands on her hips and narrowing her eyes. "And why would you think that, we already have a seeker, and you've already had a turn!"
"Well," Ron said breaking in, "Harry is a better seeker." If she could have, Harry was sure that Ginny would have shot fire from her mouth at her brother.
"Are you saying that I can't play seeker?" Ginny said angrily.
"No, no!" Ron cried now looking panicked. "I just mean that… uh Harry… uh is… um a better… a better seeker...Ginny." Ginny whirled on Harry like it had been him who had called her lousy.
"That isn't fair!" Ginny said poking Harry hard in the chest with her finger, "I'm just as good as you are! We won last year and we can win again this year with me as seeker!" That wasn't quite as Harry remembered it, true Ginny was good but she wasn't 'just as good' as Harry was.
"But Ginny," Harry said. "I really am better than you." It was quickly apparent that this was the worst thing Harry could have said. Ginny's face became red and her hands tightened hard on her broom, so much so that for a moment Harry was sure she was going to snap it.
"So it's Ginny now…" Ginny said calmly. Harry wasn't sure what had just happened but he knew he had done something horribly wrong.
"Look," Harry said in protest, "I'm sorry but that's how I think we should play it and I'm the team captain, it's my call."
"You mean its Ron's call," Ginny said in the same unnervingly calm voice. "He's really running the team because you don't care." There were tears on Ginny's face now.
"That's not true!" Harry said but even as he said the words he knew they were a lie. He did care about Quidditch and about playing but he really didn't want to manage the team at all. He had just assumed Ron would do that part.
Ginny looked up at Harry. Her face was bright red.
"I'll fight you for the seeker spot." Ginny said the calmness in her voice changing to anger.
"Fight me?" Harry repeated with an uncertain laugh. He hadn't brought his wand out with him and Ginny was the last person he wanted fight!
"First one to get the snitch is the seeker." Ginny said her eyes not leaving Harry's. Harry relaxed and he felt a smile come to his face. See wanted a fly off to see who the better seeker was. Now that he could do.
"Alright," Harry said. "Your on, first one to get the snitch is seeker." Harry looked over at Ron. "Let it free mate." Ron looked between Harry and his sister and then nodded and hurried off to the box that contained the Quidditch balls.
Both Harry and Ginny mounted their brooms. Ginny's face was still red and she still looked very angry. Harry took a deep breath. He could do this. It was true that Ginny was good, but Harry knew he was better. He would prove it and then there would be nothing to argue about.
"Okay!" Ron shouted from across the field. "I'm letting the snitch out now!" Harry caught a glimmer of gold as the snitch raced up into the air. He watched it as long as he could before it darted off and was too high to see. When a minute had passed Ron shouted again, "READY… SET… GO!"
With a push off the ground Harry was air born soaring towards the spot where the snitch had been. Ginny was right beside him. Her broom was not nearly as fast as his but she still handled it very well.
Suddenly she veered off, Harry turned looking in the direction she was going, he had learned from experience that following an opponent was often a trap and he wanted to make sure that before he committed the snitch was really there. He didn't see the snitch anywhere in the direction Ginny was flying, she couldn't have found it so quickly. Harry was about to change direction to follow and make up the lost distance when Ginny suddenly began to fall very, very fast. For a moment Harry thought something had gone horribly wrong but then he saw it, the snitch hovering close to the ground.
She had led his vision away from the snitch giving her a large lead towards the real prize. It was very clever but not clever enough. Turning Harry zoomed downwards with all possible speed. He was catching up with Ginny as she plummeted towards the ground. Quickly Harry drew even with her.
The snitch seemed to sense their approach and fled at full speed along the ground trying desperately to escape its pursuers. Harry pulled up at almost the last possible second, Ginny did the same right along side him. They weren't more than ten feet above the ground now traveling with impossible speed. Both brooms were moving very fast but Harry's Firebolt was faster. He passed Ginny his hand reached out for the snitch and Harry caught it.
There was cheering coming from the students that had been watching as Harry returned back to where his team mates were standing. Harry held up the snitch in his balled fist and the crowed of Gryffindors roared their approval. Harry couldn't help but smile.
Ginny landed a few feet away from Harry.
"Well I guess that's that," Harry said holding out his hand. "Good run for it Ginny you had me for a second with…" Ginny turned angrily on Harry snarling like a wild beast and stopping him mid sentence.
"You cheated!" Ginny said angrily, there was furry in her eyes like Harry had never seen before. "You only won because of that stupid Firebolt!"
"What?" Harry said uneasily.
"You know what, I quit, I don't want to play on a team with a cheater like you!" Ginny shouted and stormed off the field as the crowed of Gryffindors watched whispered. Harry felt uncomfortable. The people that had been cheering for him only seconds ago were staring at him like he was some kind of freak to be gawked at.
Harry felt Ron's hand come to rest on his shoulder.
"I think I need to be alone," Harry said, "can you handle this?" Harry asked indicating the students. Ron nodded uneasily and Harry headed off to the changing room.
---
Harry punched the locker again. There was already a large dent forming in the front. Harry pulled his fist back and struck again, harder. This time there was blood but still Harry couldn't feel anything.
How could he have been so stupid, why had he been such a jerk. Something inside him was broken but he couldn't tell what it was. He couldn't feel what it was. Harry's fist hit the blood smeared locker again.
This wasn't his fault. He had been seeker first, why had Ginny tried to take it away from him? Why couldn't she just have taken the chaser spot? Harry hit the locker again there was a snapping sound as one of the hinges broke free from the frame. Hot tears were running down Harry's face.
Harry felt the cold bump of a heartbeat in his pocked. Instinctively Harry reached into his robe with is bloody hand and pulled out the heartstone. In the locker room the stone looked black in color and between his finger tips there was almost no heartbeat.
Harry turned the stone in his fingers looking at it as thought he was expecting answers or a voice telling him what to do now or how to feel. But the stone remained cold and it spoke no words.
This was Ginny's fault, she had toyed with his heart. She had given him this collar to control him. Harry crushed the stone into his hand. Everything was her fault.
She had been the one to let Tom Riddle out of the Diary. She had almost been responsible for killing Hermione. She still had dreams about Tom Riddle, she still thought about him and worst of all, Harry knew, she still loved Tom!
Harry roared angrily, rage overtaking his brain, the need for vengeance and retribution to great to think about anything else. He wouldn't stand to be under her control any longer. With all his might he hurled the heartstone against the wall. It impacted with the sounds of glass and shattered into tinny glittering pieces that floated to the floor like dust.
---
Harry met up with Ron at dinner time, Harry was glad that Ginny wasn't there. He hopped she was up in her room crying her eyes out. Harry tried to talk to Ron a couple times, to ask how the chaser picking had been but Ron didn't seem to be able to open his mouth.
Finally, tired of Ron's unpleasantness Harry got up and left. It was Ron's fault too, because he was such a stupid git! Harry had intended to head up to the dormitories to go to bed but instead he found himself outside the front gates of the castle.
For a very brief instant Harry thought of going down to Hagrid's hut. The smoke coming from the hut looked warm and inviting. But the moment passed and seeing Hagrid's hut reminded Harry of thoughts too painful to think about right now.
He felt a strange mixture of feelings inside himself. So many he couldn't sort out on from another. But for all the feelings floating around inside his chest not one was able to make it to his head. Harry couldn't think of anything, his mind was blank unable to string any thoughts together.
His feet found their own path, leading him about, for how long he did not know. The school grounds seemed endless and all the same as he walked. He was unsure if he was going in circles or in a strait line, either way he didn't care. The sky was starting to become dark and the surroundings were not familiar at all.
He stopped walking. He was in some place he had never been before, a field of grass. Had this been where he was going? Harry didn't think so. This place didn't seem like any place that he wanted to go.
The stars were shinning brightly now and the ground was covered in a ghostly white. Harry looked down at his hands to see them glowing and he was reminded of the events that had happened in his mind when he had almost lost Hermione.
He knew what he had to do, where he had to go, knew that by doing so he would be endangering himself and possibly facing expulsion. But he didn't care, he had to see her, had to make sure that she really was okay because she was all he had left.
With the night as cover for his travel Harry created a finding orb and set it on its way. Talon followed quickly behind the glowing orb as it rose up past the clouds and rushed out across the dark sky.
The orb moved very quickly but Talon moved just as fast, it was as if the orb knew just how fast he could fly.
---
The finding orb vanished into the roof a nearby building. The city was very dark but Talon could still see muggles out on the street. Circling once Talon spotted an ally in which he could land without being noticed. Once on the ground Talon became Harry again and without wasting a second Harry hurried around the corner towards the entrance to St. Mungos.
Harry's steps slowed as he spotted a group of teenage muggles hanging out along the sidewalk, very close to the hidden entrance. Alarm bells were going off in Harry's head. These people did not belong here. Something about them just wasn't right.
As Harry drew closer to them one of the teens spotted him and whispered to the others. They all moved off the wall and blocked the sidewalk. Harry knew he should feel something but fear didn't seem to be making it to his head just now, he felt empty like nothing mattered. Whatever these muggles wanted, if they delayed him it would be the last think they ever did.
"Hey mate," one of the teenage boys said. The boy's face was unshaven and his clothing was dingy. Silver chains hung from his pockets. Everything about him shouted bad news to Harry. "There's a toll for using our sidewalk. Well just take whatever you have on you."
"Get out of my way," Harry snarled. Part of Harry couldn't believe he had just said that, but that part was quickly silence with roar of rage inside him. "I don't have time for muggles like you."
Some of the teens laughed and Harry noticed that a couple of them were girls. One had a lot of makeup on her face and didn't look very pretty at all.
"I don't think so," said one of the boys as he pulled a switch blade from his pocket. Harry took a step back and drew his wand. More laughing. "What'a you gona do with that, poke us?"
"I was thinking more along the lines of kill you," Harry said viciously. Laughter came again but it seemed more uneasy this time.
"You had your warning," the boy in front said, "it's your own fault." The teens began to advance on Harry. Harry was about to start casting, he was ready to kill them all, but the teens froze as a low grow came from behind them.
Harry felt his eyes go wide as a tall shadow with glowing red eyes towered behind the teens plunging the area into shadow even under the bright lights of the street laps.
With lightning speed black wings erupted from the shadows back, razor claws hovered above the teens preparing to strike down upon them and a roar that shook the ground echoed out into the night. Without hesitation the teens began to flee pushing past Harry and running screaming with fear.
Harry was frozen too. It was the shadow monster from his mind, it was here, it was real! Harry had to do something, he had to fight back. Aiming his wand at the shadow monster Harry waited for it to take a step towards him. But to quite the opposite the shadow monster retreated a few steps before becoming smaller. The glowing red eyes dimmed and went out. The wings and claw like hands shrunk back, into the monster.
"Obliviate!" the monster said. Harry felt something rush over his head and the screams of the teens, who had been running down the street, stopped. Harry looked back over his shoulder to see the teens standing looking around as though they didn't know where they were.
Harry looked back at the shadow monster.
"I am surprised that your first course of action was attack," the shadow monster said. "I would have thought defense might be your preference." Now that the moment had passed Harry was unsure how he had been fooled, it hadn't been a monster at all, it had been an illusion.
"Solaris?" Harry said. The dark shadow that evaded the principles of light pulled away from the man's face. It was indeed Solaris, his wings wrapped down around him and between the slits Harry could see his glowing armor. "But how?"
"A simple illusion, actually a combination of simple illusions, I thought you would have seen right past though, Mr. Harry Potter, since you were the only one to get all correct answers on the detection test." Solaris said.
"No," Harry said. "I mean how did you know I was here?" Solaris laughed as though the question was funny.
"I have been charged with your safety, I make it my business to know where you are." Harry wasn't sure if he should feel grateful or angry about this, but at the moment he didn't feel anything.
"I'm going to see Hermione," Harry said defiantly. Solaris nodded. Harry had been expecting a fight or an argument of some kind, in fact he had almost been hoping for it, but Solaris gave no protest. "You're not going to try and stop me? Not going to give me detention or something for breaking the rules and coming here?"
"Your actions are yours to chose," Solaris said. "I am here only to protect." Harry was confused, Solaris seemed like a totally different person than he had been at Hogwarts. But at the same time he seemed exactly like the person Harry had known outside of Hogwarts.
"But you're a teacher," Harry said.
"We are not at school, we are not in class and so here I am not a teacher." Solaris said. Harry wasn't satisfied, a part of him wanted to argue more, wanted a Solaris to stop speaking nonsense and just tell him the truth! But another part, a larger part, of him wanted to see Hermione.
"Fine, whatever," Harry said waving Solaris off. Harry moved to the magical entrance of St. Mungos passed through. The lobby was very crowed for it being so late at night. Harry made his way to the reception desk as he had no idea where to find Hermione and didn't think that using a finding orb inside the building would go over so well.
Harry was third in line, the person at the front was talking very, very fast. So fast in fact that Harry couldn't understand a word he was saying and apparently neither could the medi-witch that was tending the counter.
"Yes, yes," the medi-witch said. "Fill this out and a healer with be with you as quickly as possible." The man moved out of the way and took a seat filling out the form with a blur of speed. Harry stepped up as the line moved forward, as he did Harry became aware of someone standing beside him. Harry looked over and was surprised to find Solaris there. For some reason Harry had completely forgotten that Solaris was here.
He was dressed differently now and Harry couldn't imagine where he had found the time to change clothing. Solaris' cloak was just white cloth and not feathers. The armor had been covered over by a robe. Solaris seemed to be just another wizard in the crowed.
"Yes, next please," the medi-witch at counter said. Harry had been so taken up in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed it was his turn. Harry stepped up to the counter. "What can we help you with dear?" The medi-witch asked.
"I'm here to visit a friend, Hermione Granger," Harry said.
"Ohhh, I'm sorry," the medi-witch said, "but it's far too late for visitors tonight, come back around 10 tomorrow and we should be able to let you up."
"We have a special note permitting the visit," Solaris said. Harry felt taken aback, clearly the medi-witch was too. A special note, how was that possible, who could have written it, surely not Solaris. Solaris pulled a piece of parchment from inside his robe and handed it to the medi-wtich. She read it over and finally handed it back.
"Alright, a short visit, but please by quiet and do not wake any of our patients. Who did you want to see again?" The medi-wtich asked as she pulled up a clip board.
"Hermione Granger," Harry repeated. The medi-witch tapped the top of the clipboard with her finger and the pages flipped back over the top.
"Okay, here we are, room 642," she said tracing her finger down the clipboard. "Sign here please," She tapped a sign-in sheet on the counter, Harry signed it on the last open line. "And time please," Harry looked at the clock, 11:47pm, and added the time.
Solaris and Harry moved over to the lift in the back that would take them up to the sixth floor. They were alone in the lift. The last time Harry had been here it had been with Ron and Hermione to visit Mr. Weasley who had been injured by… him…no, by Voldemort, Harry reminded himself.
Harry pushed the thought from his head, he needed to talk about something else anything else. Harry looked over at Solaris who stood with his white cloak wrapped around him. He was looking at the doors to the lift his face emotionless.
"Where did you get that note from?" Harry asked. Solaris did not look down at Harry but instead continued to watch the lift doors as though he was expecting them to spring open at any second.
"The headmaster provided me with it, after the incident in the great hall tonight," Solaris said.
"What incident?" Harry asked. To Harry's recollection there had been nothing that had happened.
"Professor Trelawney arrived near the end of dinner, she did not seem to be herself," Solaris said calmly his eyes still watching the door. "Her words made no sense to me and she spoke with a voice that was not her own. Once she was silent Dumbledore sent me to find you," Solaris produced a note and handed it to Harry. Harry read it.
Special visiting persimmons granted to Harry Potter,
By Order of Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Approved by…
Harry felt his eyes go wide.
…Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic
"Fudge signed this? But, Fudge hates me, why would he sign this?" Harry asked. Harry didn't understand, if Dumbledore had written the note when had Fudge had time to sign it.
"I am surprised you don't see it Mr. Harry Potter," Solaris said. "Did you cheat on your magical detection test?" Harry looked down at the note again. Something Funny was happening. The letters were starting to change somehow, to become different shapes.
"It's a fake?" Harry said looking back at Solaris.
"It's a polly-morphing note, taking on any message desired by the user," Solaris said. Harry looked at the bottom of the note, new words were starting to appear, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Harry felt a smile come to his face for a brief moment, he was contented to know that even Dumbledore didn't seem to be above buying tricks and jokes from the Weasley twins.
"There is also something else," Solaris said as he pulled an orb from inside his robe. Harry had seen an orb like this before, it was a prophecy orb. Solaris handed it to Harry. "Dumbledore said that last time he hidden the truth from you the price had been far too high. He told me to show you what you need to know."
Harry looked into the orb and could see a glowing light inside. The orb was warm in his hands. Harry was starting to feel uneasy. He wasn't sure he wanted to hear this message.
"Speak the words, 'Ago en actrum' to view the images within," Solaris said.
"Ago en actrum," Harry said holding the orb, whatever was inside he was about to find out. Light spiraled in a cone above the orb. The face of Professor Trelawney appeared as though projected into the light. She spoke in the same voice Harry had heard before, a voice that was not her own.
Upon the Hour between the days the dark lord he does go
What he seeks he soon shall find unguarded and alone
The boy who lived shall lose the love that he holds dear
The shadows will again be free again at five past the New Year
Harry had no words to speak, it was like a riddle. And then the second to last line, Harry realized its meaning, 'the boy who lived,' that was him, 'shall lose tonight the love that he holds dear.' Harry felt a sudden panic, his first thoughts were Ginny, but she wasn't alone, Hermione, Harry realized. The door of the lift opened without waiting Harry burst through the half-opened doors dropping the orb and drawing his wand as he sprinted down the hall.
There was shouting coming from a room not far away. Harry was running as fast as he could praying he wasn't too late. Room 638. The shouts were louder now. Harry pushed himself to run faster. Room 640. Harry skidded to a halt at the next door. Room 642.
"LET GO OF ME, GET OFF! SOMEONE HELP!" Harry recognized the voice as Hermione's.
"Be silent bitch!" Shouted another voice. Harry took forceful hold of the doorknob and tried to turn it but the door was locked. Harry hit the door hard with his shoulder but it did not move. Harry stepped back to use his wand to blow the door apart.
With lighting speed Solaris moved between the door and Harry, his wings spread wide. Harry could see the flash of a blade as Solaris cut the door from its hinges and kicked it down into the room.
Both Solaris and Harry rushed into the hospital room. Framed against the window on the far wall a group of four Death Eaters clad all in black were struggling to subdue Hermione as she kicked and punched at them
The Death Eaters froze at the sight of the newcomers, clearly they had not been expecting anyone to be able to get in, especially not a Seraphim and Harry Potter.
"Harry?" Hermione cried in surprise as she turned to see who had entered. She was dressed in a white hospital robe and Harry felt his checks go red as he realized that Hermione was standing half naked in front of him. The moment quickly passed however as the Death Eater she had been fighting with took advantage of her laps in concentration and wrapped his arms around her in a crushing hug so that all she could do was struggle against his embrace.
"Let her go," Harry said coldly leveling his wand at the Death Eaters. There might be four of them and only one of him but he was ready to fight them all.
"An unexpected bonus," one of the Death Eaters hissed. A wand point out at Harry from the group of Death Eaters, orange light shot from the end. The Death Eater standing closest to Harry struck the others hand away and the orange light impacted outside in the hallway.
"No," hiss the lead Death Eater, "we are only here for the girl."
"That's too bad," Solaris said. There was a roar of rage and Solaris leapt across the room his sword cutting a path in the ceiling as it traveled in striking position above his head. Shouts of Death Eaters erupted as Solaris landed next to the group and cut down the Death Eater that had shot the spell at Harry. The other Death Eaters broke from the group trying to get clear of the swinging blade. But in the confined space there was no place for them to escape too.
Harry couldn't use his wand here either he might hit Hermione, he only had the option that had worked so well against almost every adult wizard he had ever fought, hand to hand combat. It almost always seemed to be something that older wizards were not prepared to deal with.
He let out a roar of his own as he rushed across the room at full speed and punched the Death Eater in the front of the group right in the center of his face. The man clasped his hands to his mask and Harry struck him again, hard in the stomach. Harry pulled out his wand with his left hand and pointed it at the face of the Death Eater holding Hermione.
"Let her go," Harry snarled. "Or I turn your head inside out." The Death Eater released Hermione and put his hands in the air in surrender.
"Fawl bawck!" The Death Eater, that Harry had punched, shouted it sounded like his nose had been broken. Harry had expected them to dissaperate but far from it the Death Eater that had been holding Hermione and the one that had shouted retreat both turned jumped out the window. For a moment Harry thought they were jumping to their deaths, this room was six floors up. But instead quite the opposite they raced upwards into the sky, flying away. Outside bolts of magic shot into the air after the Death Eaters, someone was attacking them from the ground.
All but two of the Death Eaters managed to make it out the window. One, Harry could see was clearly dead. He was upon the floor a great gash down the front of his body exposing a horrible sight of his insides and a welling of blood. The other was fighting against Solaris. The Death Eater had a black glowing sword in his hand and the two opponents were locked together at the blade. Harry couldn't get a clean shot at the Death Eater, not without hitting Solaris.
"Everyone halt!" shouted a voice from the doorway. Harry turned to see Aurors pouring into the room, their wands drawn. This momentary interruption was all the Death Eater needed, like his companions he jumped out the window and soared up into the sky. Solaris turned to follow.
"I said stop Seraphim!" The man shouted again. Solaris drew back from the window, his wings wrapped down around him like a cloak hiding his sword and his armor.
"All of you are under arrest, by decree of magical law, you will be taken down to the ministry for trial." The man said. "You will hand over your wands for destruction." The man held his hand out, behind him six Aurors stood, their wands all pointed into the room. Harry felt Hermione's hand against his waist as she stood behind him. Harry did not move to give the man his wand.
"Aurors at the ready," the man said when Harry did not hand his wand over. "The next command will be for them to attack, now, your wands." The man said again.
"LOOK OUT!" Shouted one of the Aurors. A blot of magic was fired up at the ceiling. Harry had just enough time to glance over his shoulder before Solaris landed behind Harry and Hermione. White wings wrapped down around them. There was shouting. A hand produced a round stone with runes along the outside, Harry knew he had seen it some place before, but where?
Solaris fingers began to tap the runes very quickly, each tapped rune began to glow with blue light.
"Mori tempest abs finis et intravalya!" Solaris said as he pressed the center of the stone. There was a blinding flash of white light and Harry felt weightless.
---
"Aurors at the ready," Etron said. Potter stood defiantly, his girlfriend hiding behind him, her face just as rebellious. "The next command will be for them to attack, now, your wands."
"LOOK OUT!" one of the Aurors from behind Etron shouted. A stunning spell rushed by going wide of the Seraphim who had leapt from the window. For a moment Etron thought he was going to attack but instead the Seraphim landed behind the children, wings spread wide.
"ATTACK, NOW!" Etron shouted. Spells flew through the air striking the wings as they curled around the children. Etron halted his Aurors attacks with a hand. No magic could penetrate a Seraphim's wings, except for the killing curse. "Killing curses," the Aurors looked at each other, "now!"
Etron aimed his wand ready to strike and kill the creature but before he could even utter the first word a ball of fire erupted around the Seraphim, there was a flash of light and a roar of thunder, the three had vanished.
Etron moved to the spot the children had just been. A circler section of the floor had also left with them and through the hole Etron could see people looking up at him from the room below.
"Don't just stand there," Etron shouted angrily as he whirled on his Aurors, "Find them!" The Aruros hurried out of the room. Etron pulled a small round mirror from his pocket. The face of Kingsly Shaklebolt appeared upon it.
"The Death Eaters have escaped," Etron said into the mirror. "Students from Hogwarts were also present here, they fled in the company of a Seraphim." Shaklebolt looked surprised.
"Hogwarts students, are you sure?" Shaklebolt asked.
"Yes, one was the student who had been brought here from Hogwarts, a girl named Hermione Granger and her accomplice was non other than Harry Potter." Etron said. "Both refused the order to surrender their wands. The Headmaster must be called to the Ministry at once." Shaklebolt nodded thoughtfully, pondering over the words.
"You are right, I will see that Dumbledore is notified immediately." Shaklebolt said and then the mirror went dark. Etron slid the glass back into his pocket and a smile spread across his face. So far everything had gone according to his master's plan.
Authors Notes:
Thank you for taking the time to read (and review, but only if you reviewed can you read the stuff in the parentheses) chapter 17 of Harry Potter and the Shadow of Evil.
Thank you also to Thelvyn for pointing out a misspelling that existed throughout a couple chapters. I have corrected the word in all the places I could find, as it was under many different spelkings. Again I check the best I can but I can only check so many times. If you spot other misspelled names point them out and I will correct them in as timely a manner as is possible.
I won't answer any of the questions that will be answered by the story but I will repeat, for any who missed (or because I didn't make it clear enough), the following answers.
One: Malfoy does have something; I personally think it's the case of the uglys. Guess all you like, you'll just have to see if you're right or wrong later on.
Two: Solaris didn't notice the events in his class because no one, except for Harry, noticed the events.
Three: No one but Harry (and some readers) have asked any questions about the events in the great hall, this is because Dumbledore asked people not too ask or talk about the events of that night.
Four: The attack in Hagrid's class, as far as the teachers are concerned, wasn't an attack, it was just a fight between students.
Five: I know that generally readers like to know the pairing for a story, however, for this story part of the tension is brought on by not knowing the final outcome. Therefore I will not be revealing the answer to the question, Harry? In any of my authors notes. You will have to wait and see or figure it out on your own. Sorry to any readers that don't like it that way x
These are all points that I tried to conveyed to the readers, but being the author my brain sometimes skips reinforcement of these facts, I am also limited by time and again can only proof so many times. If anyone was confused on any of these questions I hope this clears those points up.
A final note and then I am done. I do not consider this chapter complete in its structure. I think that with some time it could be made to flow a bit better, however, due to my lack of time it will have to do. All the points that needed to be hit are here and a possible rewrite might be made latter to make it more reader friendly.
Chapter 18 coming soon to a computer screen near you.