Chapter 16

Transformations

I chased him into the entrance where the hourglasses for the four houses were displayed for all to see. They were reset to an even number for the start of what was supposed to be a new and safe year. But for now they were useless and idle.

Radu doubled back, trying to take me by surprised. I reacted by jumping out of the way as the blade came down. He turned the blade sideways and swung in an upward arch, deflecting my thrust. I made a move for his neck and was blocked again. Radu knocked back my sword and jammed the butt of the halberd into my stomach. I fell back and blocked a close blow for my stomach.

"I used to think you were strong," I said. "But I was wrong."

I caught the next blow and forced him into a wall.

"You're a weak, decadent, and obsessive coward. You spent seven hundred years obsessing over a stupid memory and sold yourself out to that freak Voldemort. You were willing to kill me over it and instead you killed the girl I loved."

"I gave her the best gift of all time," Radu retorted. "Death means the end of all our sorrows. And when I take your head you'll finally appreciate it in a way that no mortal can."

"Go to hell!"

I thrust and was quickly blocked. I side stepped his counter attack and swiped again, slashing his shoulder, higher than the first mark. He paused in shock and I took advantage, stabbing him in his right shoulder. He kicked out and I pulled back. Blood poured from the wound soaking his robes and the pain was so great he had to use his halberd in his right hand. The weapon was more useful with both hands and I knew I now had the advantage.

"Is that offer for a rain check still good?" he asked, weakly.

I grinned and attacked. His block was just barely enough to deflect my attack, but it was weakening. Each retreat I made a new slash in a portion of his body. The pain was strong in his eyes and the very real fear that he could lose, reflected in his face. Then, he made his mistake. As I charged he tried to make one last swing. I jumped, bending my body to miss the blade and doing a complete flip over his body. Then I turned around and stabbed his left arm, causing him to drop the halberd.

"Wow!" I said. "Amanda taught me that!"

I swung upward, fast and swift. The blade met flesh and the spinal cord was severed, snapping noisily. His body remained standing for a few moments before collapsing next to the head.

Breathing heavily I walked towards the hourglasses, looking at the one for my house.

"Ten points for Hufflepuff," I joked, mirthlessly.

A fierce wind picked up in the entrance. The doors to the entrance were still open, but the wind wasn't coming from there. In fact, wind wasn't the right word for what was happening. It was like a sensation of being at the center…the center of something strong and powerful.

A thick mist billowed at my feet and a chill overtook my body, forcing me to take a deep breath. Lightening struck my body, surging throughout my body and turning me into a strong conductor.

Memories of a far off time entered my mind.

FLASH!

"You're a worthless parasite," an older man with a thick black beard said. The language is different from my own but I understand it clearly. "I outta sell you to the tartars and see if they can't make a better slave of you than I can a son."

FLASH!

I am reading an open piece of parchment delivered by a trained dragon.

"You have been accepted into the noble Drumstrang Academy, to join your brothers in the ranks of Wizardry and make your mark in the world."

"Father, father! I'm a wizard father! Can I go?"

FLASH!

Years later a crusade of carriages drawn by invisible horses delivers the students of Hogwarts to Durmstrang Castle. Another carriage drawn by Abraxans flies down and lands on the fields, discharging the beautiful ladies of Beauxbatons.

FLASH!

The Goblet of Fire spits out a piece of paper, which Headmaster Von Teppes catches and reads.

"The Durmstrang champion will be…Radu De Monez!"

FLASH!

Scoring high points in the three challenges and finally reaching the Triwizard Cup.

The memories were fast and many. I couldn't see them all, but it gave me stronger sympathy for Radu's plight.

I even saw myself through his eyes at the Quidditch World Cup as I lay on my back in complete terror. He recognized the immortality within me, as many of the older ones can do.

The lightening stopped and the storm passed over. I sank to my knees exhausted and charged at the same time, taking deep breaths, getting ready to return to Amanda's side and face the awful truth of Cho's death.

I avenged you.

But then…something strange happened. It was the presence of another one of us in the castle.

"Amanda?"

I went back up the stairs, slowly, but not from the exhaustion. All my wounds, all the aches and pains and the fatigue were gone now thanks to the power of the Quickening. But the memories and the strengths of Radu De Monez couldn't erase the memory of my failure. I came all this way to save her, only to let her die.

The Great Hall was quiet for the first time since I could remember it. No more laughter, no more great times, no more first-years embarking on the greatest journey of their lives. No more professors sitting at the head of the room, talking animatedly about classes or other interests, gazing out at the future of the wizarding world.

Would it ever be the way I remembered it again?

Amanda knelt beside Cho's body, holding her in her arms. The presence died down but I was too grieved to notice it.

"So much for my first fight," I said. "I should never have come back to this world. I endangered Fred, George, and you."

I dropped to my knees again, beside her. The grief and sadness acted as a buffer to the shock that was to come.

"The blood-"

The stab wound was gone and there was no more blood. Her chest rose and sank with each new breath as she looked up at me. Amanda knelt beside her.

"You're gonna have a lot of work to do," she said.

I took Cho's hands into my own and smiled.

"I know. We all will."

Hello old friend,

If you're reading this now it's because I couldn't keep our twenty-year dinner date. But the pretty girl who just sat down across the table from you has the money to pay for dinner and beer, if you're still hungry.

The world has changed in all this time and we haven't. But you'd know more about that than I would, wouldn't you old man. But while the Second War has long died down between the death eaters and the good guys, the wizarding world is still in danger so long as we are still alive.

In twenty years I've taught her all that I could about our worlds. But now I need you to teach her. Not because I'm afraid she'll die, but because I know that one day we will be the last. And she must win.

Meet me here in another twenty-years. Then you can tell me your real age, Methos.

Sincerely,

The Hogwarts Champion