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 27 – Solaris and Puck

The months passed quickly into winter. Gryffindor had beaten Hufflepuff in Quidditch but only just. Ravenclaw, as Harry had guessed, destroyed Slytherin with a 300 to nothing victory and a win now seemed impossible.

It was cold out by Hagrid's hut as they stood for this care of magical creatures class. This was Harry's last lesson before his Christmas break and even though he liked Hagrid's classes Harry wished this one would be over soon so he could get back inside.

"I 'ad wanted ta bring a Seraphim to class fer this lesson," Hagrid boomed out over the students. He seemed to be the only person that was not affected by the cold, "but none were willing to come, and it would be very hard to find one.

"They're masters of illusion. They can hide themselves and even their home from both Muggles and Wizards," Hagrid continued. That seemed to make sense after all. Almost all of Solaris's classes had involved some kind of illusion. "They can be very hard to spot when they don't want to be seen, becoming all but invisible or even becoming someone else entirely."

"You can identify a Seraphim by, if they aren't hiding them, their magical wings. Their feathers are anti magic, making um almost impervious to most magic. Like Goblins, Seraphim prefer to fight hand to hand, usually with very sharp weapons.

"Now…" Hagrid paused looking up over the class. Harry, and the rest of the class turned to see who Hagrid was looking at. Harry felt his eyes go wide as he spotted Professor Solaris walking down through the snow towards them. He had on his normal black robes and his arms were wrapped tightly around him. He looked very cold and not at all pleased to be outside. Harry couldn't believe it. Had Solaris volunteered for this class, just like Dobby or Firenze?

"Sorry, Hagrid," Solaris said over the crowd of students. "I need to have a word with Draco Malfoy, if he is here."

"Uh, yeah, alright," Hagrid said waving at Malfoy to leave. Malfoy looked like he wanted to do anything but leave with Professor Solaris. However they did not go far, only walking out of ear shot to talk. Hagrid started speaking again but Harry wasn't listening. He was watching Malfoy and Solaris wondering what they could be talking about, trying to will his ears to hear them.

"'Arry!" Hagrid said. Harry turned back surprised.

"What?" Harry asked.

"I'm sure whatever Professor Solaris 'as ta discuss is private," Hagrid said uncomfortably.

"Sorry," Harry said. Hagrid nodded and looked a little relieved.

"Anyhow…" Hagrid continued. Harry heard the crunching of snow as Malfoy rejoined the class. He had a distressed look on his scarred face.

At last Hagrid finished up and assigned no homework for the Christmas brake.

"Well," Ron said stretching. "Looks like Snape was the only person mean enough to give us homework."

"Professor McGonagall also gave you homework," Hermione reminded him.

"Hermione do you have to rain on everything?" Ron asked rolling his eyes and looking at her.

"Besides," Hermione said. "I am sure now that we have some time off from class we are going to be training the DA a lot more."

"Yeah," Ron said excitedly. "I've been doing research on tactics and such…" Hermione coughed. "…uh, we've been doing research. Harry, we should move to training outdoors. Let everyone get a feel for what combat will really be like." Harry nodded. He had been wanting to do that every since Lilith had completed their training program a few weeks ago and suggested the should 'train as they fight, fight as they train.' She had said that all they had to do now was practice, practice, practice, so that's what they had been doing.

"I also sent a letter to Fred and George's joke shop," Hermione said. Harry couldn't believe that Hermione wanted to get pranks and gags from the twins. "I asked them to send me lots of extendable ears, so we can start training with them to communicate with people."

Both Ron and Hermione had been finding ways to integrate spells into the hand to hand combat that Lilith had taught them. Neville had started training some select members in the art of healing. Harry had tried to sit in on a couple lessons but found he didn't have quite the stomach for it.

Overall in the few short months since the start of the year the DA had become almost unrecognizable. With more than a hundred members they were well organized and very capable. But they still had not fought against anyone else.

Hermione let the DA know that they were to stay at school over break so they could move to the next level of training. Harry had expected at least one complaint or protest but everyone seemed fine with this. Harry was very proud of everyone's hard work.

Harry was uneasy. The prophecy he had heard in St. Mungos had been at the surface of his mind ever since his divination lesson with Solaris. Part of it had said 'The shadows will again be free again at five past the New Year.' Harry could think of only one shadow, the one in his head. Three times they had locked it away but according to this prophecy it would get free again at some point, 'five past the New Year' according to the prophecy. At first Harry had just assumed that it meant 'five months' past the New Year, and five months were a very long time from now. But the more Harry thought about it the more he had begun to worry. The New Year was drawing closer and Harry felt himself wondering if he had misinterpreted the prophecy. What if it didn't mean months? What if it had meant minutes, hours, days or maybe even years?

Harry had tried reading the book that Professor Trelawney had given him at the start of year, but it was no good. The passages in the book talked about time interpretation all seemed to contradict themselves every other sentence. In the end Harry tossed the book back under his bed. Why had he even thought that he would find something like that helpful. Divination was a hoax, none of it was real. The scar on Malfoy's face, Harry had seen that.

But just as easily another prophecy contradicted. 'The boy who lived shall lose the love that he holds dear.' Harry hadn't lost Ginny that night, he hadn't even lost Hermione. He had lost no one. It was a prophecy that hadn't come true and that's what worried Harry so much.

---

Christmas had come and gone. It had been enjoyable but Harry for the most part couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling keep haunting him whenever he was left to think on his own. Harry wanted badly to talk with Ginny about the prophecy that kept running though his head but he was too frightened. And at the same time he kept telling himself that none of it was true, prediction had already come and gone and nothing had come of it.

Tonight was New Year's Eve. The start of school was drawing closer and Harry had neglected all of his homework. He sat on his bed reading the book Hermione had given him called the Art of War written by a muggle called Sun Tzu. It had some very strange ideas in it. Hermione had told Harry that she had made Ron read it and that he had enjoyed it very much.

It wasn't any good though Harry just couldn't concentrate. He would read a passage of text but it was like he hadn't stored any of the information in his brain at all. His mind kept wonder to other things, well one other thing.

The sun was setting. Harry checked the watch that Ginny had gotten for him for Christmas. It was seven forty. Less then five hours before this day was over. It had been a day that Harry had worried about, the first multiple of five, New Year's day. Harry turned back to the book.

'In the operations of war, where there are in the field a thousand swift chariots, as many heavy chariots…' Harry read to himself from the book. A strange sound drew Harry's attention away. It was a very odd sound, like something vibrating against wood.

"Ron what's that sound?" Harry asked. Ron looked up from the chess game he had been playing against Neville, who, had just wandered off to the bathroom a moment ago. The vibrating noise sounded again and Harry was able to trace it to Ron's trunk. Ron shrugged obviously not knowing what it was either.

Moving carefully from his bed, as not to knock over the chess game, Ron got down on his knees in front of his trunk and opened it. He began pulling things from inside. Finally he pulled a bluish mirror out. It was vibrating in his hands. Ron shot Harry a distraught look.

"But that's impossible," Harry said setting his book face down on the bed not wanting to lose his place. Harry got off his bed and moved over to stand behind Ron so that he would have a better view of the mirror. "I left my mirror on Avalon and who would be calling us from there?" Ron shrugged. Suddenly the mirror activated. The face of a young girl appeared in it. Harry recognized her as one of Seraphim he had seen on Avalon, her name had been 'Eeesee' or something like that. Ron and Harry exchanged concerned glances.

"Uh, hello," Harry said looking into the mirror. For a brief moment he wondered if he was in some kind of trouble for leaving his mirror behind. But the look the look on the girls' face told him that something else was very wrong.

"Where is Solaris? Where is Puck?" the girl asked from the mirror.

"I'm not sure," Harry said. "What's wrong?"

"It's Avalon," she said. "He is here! We're under attack! Please you must find Solaris!" There was a crash in the background and shouts. The girl turned with surprise on her face. The image flickered and went out.

"Hello! Are you there?" Harry shouted at the mirror, but it did not activate again. Harry and Ron exchanged dark looks. "Ron, get the D.A. ready to go, just like we've practiced," Ron nodded. This was it. This was what they had been training for. The moment had come, the war had started. Voldemort had made his move and now it was up to Harry and the D.A.

Harry went for his map in his trunk but found that it wasn't there, he had forgotten it was still in Ginny's room. How was he going to find Solaris without the map, he could be anywhere in the castle. The only hope was that he was in his office.

Sprinting downstairs Harry rushed out the portrait hole and down towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts room. He pulled open the door but, the room was not on the other side. Instead he was looking at the strangest thing he had ever seen. He was looking at himself holding the door open in front of him, who was looking at himself, who was looking at himself and so on to infinity. It was like looking into a hall of endless mirrors. Harry stepped though, as did all of his images. He didn't have time for this. He had to quickly solve this illusion.

Harry tried to organize his mind, to put all his thoughts in order. What was this illusion, how did you get past it? The answer drifted to him. Harry stepped backwards and took hold of the door he had just come through. Himself in front of him did the same. Harry turned around after the door had shut and found himself in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class room, it was empty.

Harry rushed past the desk and up the staircase to Solaris's office. Without knocking Harry threw the door open but Solaris was not inside. Harry couldn't believe it. He had wasted so much time and Solaris wasn't even here.

"Harry?" said a voice from behind Harry. Harry turned. Solaris was standing behind him with papers in his hands. "I see you managed to get past the mirror illusion outside, that was for my next class but I guess I'll…"

"Avalon is under attack," Harry interrupted. The papers fell from Solaris hand.

"What," Solaris said and Harry could see panic in his eyes. "How do you know this?"

"I left a mirror on Avalon and we just got a message a few minutes ago." Harry said. Solaris face became hard.

"I must return to Avalon," Solaris said urgently turning and moving down the stairs to with quick steps. Harry followed behind him.

"We're going with you." Harry said. "I have an army ready to fight. We've been training for this for a long time." Harry had expected a protest from Solaris but he did not even show any sign that he had heard Harry as they moved quickly out of the class room. "Is there a way to get us all to Avalon?"

"Yes," Solaris said. "But we must hurry. Tell your army to meet us at the lake."

'On our way,' Hermione's response came back before Harry had even had time to think it. 'I'll be there once I've gotten it from Snape's office.' Harry nodded, even though Hermione could not see him.

"They're on their way," Harry said. Solaris nodded and the two of them moved almost at full sprint out towards the lake. As they exited the gates of Hogwarts, Malfoy blocked their path, his wand was out and he looked angry.

"This is your fault!" Malfoy said. "If it hadn't been for you none of this would have happened!" Malfoy shouted. There something was different about Malfoy. Harry couldn't place his finger on. "It is time we end this now," Malfoy leveled his wand to attack.

"We don't have time for this," Solaris said drawing his sword. Harry was surprised, never once had Solaris drawn his sword at Hogwarts nor had he ever taken such action against a student. Malfoy was breathing hard and angrily now. It did not seem like he was frightened of Solaris at all, like he was ready to attack him without hesitation.

"I have no quarrel with you," Malfoy said his eyes focusing on Solaris. The way he spoke did not sound like Malfoy at all. He sounded almost like Solaris.

"Get out of our way Malfoy!" Harry said pulling out his own wand.

"That isn't Malfoy," Solaris said. "It's Puck." Malfoy frowned.

For a long moment Harry's brain seem to lag behind. 'Puck?' Where had he heard that name before. Then Harry had a brief recollection of the Seraphim clad in the red armor back on the island of Avalon. The one that had challenged Harry's right to remain there.

Harry seemed to realized something as he stared at Malfoy trying to see how Solaris could even think two looked alike at all. But then Harry spotted it. He saw something that had been right there in front of him the whole time. Malofy's scar it was on the wrong side of his face. The air rippled around Malfoy and the illusion faded as Harry saw past it. A Seraphim clad in red armor stood before them. His wand had changed becoming a long, sharp halberd.

"How long have you known, Solaris?" the Seraphim in red armor asked, his fist was clenched tightly around his long spear like weapon.

"Since I first saw your scar, Puck," Solaris said. "The mirror image illusion creates just that, a mirror image. I had to find the real student you impersonated and ensure that the scar was on the wrong side. I do not know why you have done the things you done but we do not have time for your games. Voldemort moves against Avalon."

"I know!" Puck said angry. "It is Harry Potter's fault. If he had not been so hard to kill the Dark lord would never have attacked our home."

"What! Wait…" Harry said. "It was you!" The sudden realization stuck Harry. It had not been Malfoy attacking him all this time. Malfoy did not have a time turner. Puck had been using the Seraphim gifts of illusion. That why Harry was one of the few people who had been able to see him. And it had not been until Harry had scared his face that the regular attacks had stopped. "So you've been in league with Voldemort this whole time? Why? And why did you attack Ginny?"

"He promised that if I did his bidding he would not attack Avalon. As for the girl she just got in the way." Puck snarled. "I was unable to kill you, but it something I am about to rectify." Puck lowered his long spear like weapon and rushed at Harry. Harry's mind blanked, he didn't have time to cast a spell or move. Solaris moved out in front of Harry, there was clash of metal.

"We do not have time, we must return home." Solaris said. His voice was strained as he held back Puck's attack with all his strength.

"Home, it is not your home!" Puck spat. "You abandoned Avalon long ago. It is your fault that this happens now, Solaris."

"It is both our faults, or have you forgotten that, Puck?" Solaris said. They pushed apart. Harry had only a moment to move aside as Solaris moved quickly backwards.

Solaris' wings erupted outwards. Shreds of his black Hogwarts robes sailed into the air. He was clad in the same light blue armor Harry had seen on him back at Privet Drive. The two Seraphim stood two lengths apart. Both had their wings spread open like claws hanging around them. Their armor glowing in the dying sun as it set. The white snow on the grown made it look as though they were fighting on a bright white light. Solaris made the first move this time, Puck blocked as Solaris' sword struck the metal shaft of his halberd.

The battle became much faster as the two exchanged blows with incredible quickness that Harry almost couldn't see their movements. Their feet kicked snow into the air as they danced about each other and weapons sent sparks into the air around them with sound of clashing metal.

Harry aimed his wand trying to find an opening, but they were too close together, Harry couldn't risk casting a spell. All he could do was watch and hope that his army would get here quickly and that Hermione would be able to get the thing from Snape's office.

There was a roar of pain as Solaris' blade tore through one of Puck's white wings. The fallen white feathered limb fell to the snow splattering it red with blood. The Seraphim pulled apart from each other. Puck's lower wing wrapped around the stump of the one above it, cradling it like a broken limb. There was rage on Puck's face.

"I cannot allow you to return to Avalon," Puck said, his eyes flickered to Harry. "I cannot allow you to take him there."

"You fear the uncertain future Puck," Solaris said. "Of all the Seraphim I have known you were the only one that ever told me to question my destiny. The only one that ever considered for a moment that the things Titania had seen might not come true. But you have changed."

"Because I was a fool," Puck said with anger in his eyes. "I could not see what was right in front of me, yet everyone else could. Even you saw what would happen, what you would do. From the day you were born the evil was inside you and nothing could change that. Your future was written. Just like his," Puck looked at Harry again.

"What do you mean," Harry said. "What future?"

"Your future is set in stone, just like Solaris," Puck said. "…and the dark lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the dark lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…" puck said in a chant. Harry had heard that before, it was the prophecy he had heard in Dumbledore's office, but how could Puck possibly know that. Dumbledore had told Harry that he had shown no one the prophecy, save for Harry. "…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…And none who live shall put an end to evil she makes whole…or break the chain that anchors, the shadows immortal soul." Harry had heard that too but, not the second part.

"That's not what the second prophecy said," Harry said angrily, now Puck was just making things up.

"I was there," Puck said, "I heard the words with my own ears." Harry looked at Solaris.

"He speaks the truth," Solaris said, "those were the words that were spoken."

"WHAT! Why didn't you tell me," Harry said angrily. Dumbledore had not given him the whole prophecy, he had lied.

"I gave you what I was told to give," Solaris said. "What Dumbledore asked me to." Harry stepped away shaking his head. "If you believe so much in the absolute future Puck then you must know that you cannot win. That Harry will go to meet his destiny today." Puck's face contorted with anger and holding his halberd out, he rushed Solaris. This seemed to be what Solaris was waiting for though because he stepped aside and with a quick movement brought his blade across Pucks chest.

Puck's momentum carried him forward and he crashed into the snow. Solaris sheathed his sword and looked sadly down at the Seraphim he had just mortally wounded. Puck lay on his side, the white snow around him quickly turning crimson. With the last of his strength he rolled to his back and looked up at Solaris. There was a forced smile on Puck's face, blood trickled form the corner of his mouth.

"I guess none of us can escape our fate," Puck coughed. "…one by the hand of his brother…" Puck gasped for air, "…the other by the hand of his enemy… the sons of Oberon shall not see the sun together again… as the shores of Avalon are stained with the…'cough'… blood of the fallen…but hope…" Puck's voice trailed off. His head lowered slowly turning slightly so that his unblinking eyes fell on Harry. And Harry knew he was dead.

Harry looked at Solaris who had his eyes closed and his head bowed.

"…but hope shall not be lost." Solaris said finishing the quote. "They were the words our mother spoke on the day Puck was born. We must hurry to Avalon, hope shall not be lost.

---

Harry and Solaris arrived at the edge of the black lake. The D.A. was already gathered there. Harry could see that they had geared up and many were wearing the shields Lilith had brought them and some even had on the black power suits. Hermione and Ginny stepped out of the ranks of students moving to Harry as he approached.

"Are you alright Harry," Hermione asked. Harry licked his lips and gave Ginny and uneasy look.

"Yeah," Harry lied. "Hermione did you…" She held out something wrapped in a handkerchief and handed it to Harry. Harry took it and stuffed it into his pocket quickly, he would put it on during the boat ride to Avalon. "Alright Solaris, were ready to go. So how do we get there?"

Solaris moved past the ranks of students to the edge of the lake and waved his hand over the water. "Setemus metaus Oberones, tata et Avalon!" The water in the lake began to boil. A fleet of boats, like the one Hermione and Harry had traveled in, rose from the water as though they had been sunken, waiting below the surface.

"Solaris how long will these boats take?" Harry asked because the last time he had taken a boat from Avalon the trip had taken three days. If this trip took the same amount of time they would arrive far too late.

"The trip will be swift," Solaris said stepping into one of the boats. "Follow behind me and do not lose sight of my boat."

"Ron," Harry said. Ron moved closer to here, "get everyone in the boats, try and make sure squads stay together." Ron nodded and then began shouting orders. They had never trained to pile into boats before but Harry thought that D.A. did very well.

Soon every boat was full. Harry got into the same boat as Solaris and pointed Ginny and Hermione to different boats as he asked Ron to come with him to formulate strategy on the way over. Solaris stood at the front of their boat, his wings opened from around his body. His hand pointed out across the lake.

"Boats of Avalon, take us home," Solaris said. Suddenly the boat jolted forward and began to move very fast. Solaris wrapped his wings down around him and crossed his arms but still remaining standing.

Harry looked around as the other boats began to speed alongside. Though only a moment ago the Harry had been able to see the other side of the lake a thick fog appeared in front of them. The boat rushed towards it very fast. "To Avalon," Solaris whispered to himself. "And hope we're not too late."

Authors Notes:

We are getting close to the end, only two chapters beyond this, both are written I just need to check and proof and such.

Unfortunately it might be a while. I know you are so close to the ending and (at least I hope) you want to know what's going to happen however you will most likely have to suffer another week at most of not knowing.

I have just finished off HPatHBP (book 6) and even though my work is all written and done prior to release, my editing is not. At the moment I am however feeling sapped of strength and editing does no appeal to me at the moment.

I wont say anything about book 6 other its left me on a down note (but so did book 5).