Disclaimer; see in Part One.

Hidden Bridges

Ryoko Porter

Part Sixteen

'Eros is the first, the creator, the principal from which all things proceed. The relation of the sexes… is really the invisible central point of all action and conduct, and peeps out everywhere in spite of all veils thrown over it. It is the cause of war and the end of peace, the basis of what is serious, and the aim of the jest; the inexhaustible source of wit, the key of all illusions, and the meaning of all mysterious hints.'

Arthur Schopenhauer

Luna Grey stood firmly behind this alien of a man, who aimed his wand against her husband. She'd heard him call Julian the "Lord of Snakes", which she didn't fully understand. But nothing of the situation mattered to her, other than the man that she loved was being threatened.

'You must be the legendary Luna Grey? Am I right?' Chris speculated harshly as he'd turned his head just enough to see who was threatening him.

'I am, though I don't know about "legendary",' Luna answered with a bit of curiosity.

'Would you like to know what your beloved husband became after your death?' Chris grinned wickedly. But he didn't give her time to respond, or even continue his mocking of her circumstances.

Without even a second to react, Luna was lifted high into the air by slimy tentacles that wrapped tightly around her entire body. It took her a moment to realize her plight, with her wand dropped to the ground and the blood rushing to her head. However she did not scream like some damsel in distress, but instead took the time to assess what had happened. Observing closely she realized that the horrible arms that had her, were coming from slots in the back of her enemy. There were eight of them in all, though only two were wrapped around her. The other six endlessly long arms were creating havoc around the room, making her watch as the four students who'd stayed tried desperately to stay out of the way.

Seeing one of the powerful tentacles whip towards them, Harry pushed Hermione and Ron away, as he took Draco in the opposite direction. The timing he had was impeccable, his foot being barely missed as he jumped out of the way. Desks were crushed, and Harry thought that he could hear Hermione cry for her flattened books. But he didn't have time to think about that, as another arm came hurtling towards Draco and himself.

Julian for his part put on a show of indifference, but had a worried look in his eyes if anyone had the chance to see it. He knew that anything that he could do would only provoke the wild man, and so he would do nothing until a better chance was apparent. Besides, he was curious as to what this Chris knew about what he was into.

'You see Julian? You are not the only one that can make themselves a god!' Chris crowed proudly. 'I took your wife's notes! And I made myself strong enough to defeat you!' Luna suddenly cried out in pain, as the two tentacles started to strangle her. 'Come on, oh great Lord of Snakes! Let me see what truly makes you great!' Chris demanded.

'You are a fool, Christopher Weasley. Coming over the Hidden Bridges just to kill me, when I am here to insure that I never exist in the first place. But I suppose that to a man of brawn such as you, my plans would be shrouded in mystery,' Julian said slowly. 'And so, I cannot allow you to further threaten my plans. Or the life of the woman of whom I LOVE!'

Julian's eyes began to glow the eerie green they had before when he was angry, and his body began to shift and melt into that of another creature entirely. His arms stretched into huge leathery wings that stretched well over a hundred feet in span, that he used to keep his balance. As his body traded his legs for a long serpent's tail that twisted around the entire room. Yet most terrifying was his head, which split to make two huge serpent heads. One of the heads had a mane of scales that resembled that of a lion. The other had a fin-like thing running down the back of its skull. As both heads had teeth that looked to be even longer than the basilisk's to Harry. Completely changed, Julian towered over Chris and his tentacles. Just one of the heads was the size of his body, making it a bit of a mystery to the observers as to how he fit into the space.

In his amazement and fear, Chris loosened his hold on his captive, giving her a chance to gulp down the air she so desperately needed. Unfortunately though, he did not drop her. But instead moved her as far away from the heads as he could. Then his other arms went into the quick work of grabbing the other four occupants of the room, using them as bait also. As he continued to point his wand at the "snake creature" that he intended to kill.

'You obviously care enough about these people not to crush them! So I wonder if you'll attack me, when you know that I hold their lives within my power?' Chris yelled at his opponent. Yet the heads simply observed him, as if they'd never intended to attack him. Just as if they had only mild curiosity about him and his doings. 'DO SOMETHING!' Chris cried desperately, not knowing what else to do. He'd frozen up in his amazement of the site of the man he'd finally found after so long. He simply didn't know what spell to use.

'AVADA KEDAVRA!'

End Part 16.

Mwahaha! Another cliffhanger! But I promise… the next one won't be.

Ryoko Porter