Harry Potter and the Celestial Zone
Chapter 19
13th September 2005
"Severus, I have reviewed your plan, and I fully agree with the reasons, which I have myself mentioned before, as you recall. I just have one problem with it. Harry has already proven to be very powerful, something neither you nor I can match. You don't seem to have taken this into account." Albus Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk while Severus Snape paced in front of his desk.
They were actually considerably more relaxed than they should have had reason to. The reason for this was that Voldemort seemed to have gone into retreat for some reason and Severus hadn't had any news from the Dark side. Albus now turned his attention to the task at hand, which was Harry Potter, and finding out how he'd gotten quite so powerful so that they could use his methods to give the order an advantage over the Death Eaters.
Severus's plan was simple. They'd have Harry talking to the headmaster about inconsequential things, they'd wait till the carriages were away, then they'd have Harry incapacitated and ruffle through his memories. It was almost perfect other than just one thing, which Albus had brought up. Severus frowned, "We can both duel him then. If possible we can get the other professors to join in, or any other Order members actually."
Albus frowned, "It's a week away, I shall see what I can do. In the meantime, why don't you go finish your research?" recognizing it for the dismissal it was, Severus Snape left the office.
………
Harry Potter wandered around Hogsmede, alone. Hermione was having fun with Neville, Ron, Ginny, and the others, while he had other things to consider. He'd happened across three jewelry stores so far, but none had anything close to what he felt he was looking for. The last one had come close, but the ring was just too loud for him. He wanted something smaller, more subtle, but at the same time magnificent.
An older man came out of a side lane, following Harry's slow pace. After a while he spoke up, "Sickle for your thoughts?" Harry chuckled, "Something for her. Nothing so far though." The man laughed, "Ah, youth and its freedoms. Why don't you come with me? My son-in-law has a small jewelry store close by, and he partially copies designs from the muggle world. Fascinating, they are, but nothing wrong with them."
Harry followed the stranger, soon arriving at a small shop. The windows didn't hold much, apparently jewelry was a side business. Harry entered and smiled as something quickly caught his attention. It was a Mobius Ring, in pink gold, with a single small diamond at the topmost point. There was little space, but Harry could easily envision lettering on the space near the gem.
Something else quickly caught his eye as well. It was pretty plain, a white gold band, thing on the underside, thickening to the opposite end where a ellipsoidal ruby sat. There were dark patches on the sides too, and the jeweler explained they were for runes. Harry chuckled, thinking of some more obscure runes he'd found in their private library. He couldn't choose actually, so decided to buy both customized, "I'd like to place orders, one of each ring. The mobius in pink is fine, but I'd like the gem to be a sapphire and Sardonyx combination instead if you could."
He paused as the jeweler took his order, "as for the rune ring, if you could leave the rune areas clear, I'd appreciate it. If the ruby could be replaced by a Citrine? Yes, that would be good." The jeweler placed the order in a small folder, "We'll bill you, Mr. Potter, have a good day."
………
Hogwarts' Leaving Feast was always a sight to behold, and an event to die for, but Harry had other ideas. He and Hermione skipped the feast, not bothered at all about the house cup, and slipped into the Astronomy Tower. Harry locked the door and held her close as they silently gazed at the moon together.
"We'll be leaving tomorrow sweetie, you know what's going to happen right?" She nodded, "Zi Yan said she'd meet me at Hogsmede. I told her how to get there, so she'll find me. You're going with Xing Yun?" Harry nodded, "Yes. I'm going back to Dragon Lake to complete my training."
They stayed that way, enjoying each others' company in contented silence before Harry turned her round so her left was facing the moon while her right was in shadow. He got down on one knee and her eyes widened, "Hermione, I know that you love me with all you heart. You've always been with me through think and thin. Without you and our love, I wouldn't have survived our many adventures. We are not even a year together, but I know, I love you with all my heart. You are the only one, you are my soulmate. You make me happy. I want to share the rest of my life with you. Hermione Granger, would you do me the honor of marrying me?"
………
"Harry m'boy, I need to speak with you." Harry was instantly on his guard and activated his aura reading ability. Deceit and lies colored the man's aura, and Harry knew it couldn't end well, "No. If you must delay me from boarding the train, then so be it. But I won't be lured into whatever trap you've laid.
Dumbledore was taken aback, "I assure you I have absolutely no bad intentions." The immediate thought that flashed through his mind before his Occlumency shields could protect it and Harry picked it up, "At least not for yourself. Yes, yes. I shall meet you on the cliff facing the station then, you and Snivly can duel me there. Oh, and before I forget, you are headmaster, not my guardian, therefore its Mr. Potter to you. Lord Potter may be more appropriate, but that's secondary."
Dumbledore went red in the face and stormed away. 'how did he know the plan?' was the question constantly nagging at him.
…
Harry shook his head and chuckled, "Well now, that was a good bit of guesswork if I do say so myself." He ignored any concerned looks all round and quickly ate up his toast before standing up, "I'll meet you before you go sweetie, be safe alright?" He kissed Hermione quickly before hurrying back to his dorm.
………
"My faithful Death Eaters, today is the day. Today we make a statement, today we destroy Hogwarts!" approval roared through the ranks of his soldiers, and several Dark Marks flew into the air.
Beastial roars rose behind the Death Eaters and Voldemort laughed, "There are our allies, thanks to our recently deceased member, Xuan Mao, Demons have taken form and strengthened our ranks! Death to the muggle-loving scum of Hogwarts! Move out!"
………
"C'mon Headmaster, the wards have to thin out for the students to leave, so lets get on with this. I believe neither of us want the students to suffer." Albus nodded and raised his wand while behind Harry Severus raised his. The twinkle returned to Albus's eyes, "Indeed." BOOM!
Rocks flew, craters all over the area. A skeletal figure stepped out of the smoke, "Dumbledore…" Severus started and fell over backwards, "Master!" Albus lowered his wand and faced Voldemort, "Tom. I didn't think you'd actually risk coming here." The Dark Lord smiled thinly, "Harry Potter too, as well as my loyal servant Severus, trying to find a way to kill Harry for me.
"No matter, I shall kill you, Dumbledore, then I shall kill Harry. And Severus, my dear Potions Master, your punishment shall follow. Oh, and to make sure there is no interference." He raised his wand and an odd veil-like darkness lifted to reveal not only his Death Eater inner-circle, but ranks upon ranks of Celestial Zone Demons. Harry gasped, "I don't believe it! She actually went through with it?"
Voldemort laughed, "So Harry Potter knows! Yes Potter, she taught me how. And it shall be your doom! Attack!" Dumbledore immediately waved his arms in a long smooth stroke, incapacitating most of the inner circle before he was beset by the Dark Lord. It was a fierce battle, but Voldemort was undoubtedly going to win, his spells packing almost twice the power than they had when they'd fought at the Department of Mysteries.
Harry himself was beset by Demons, and wielded his spirit sword with the skill of a consummate swordsman, matched only by his skill and power with his wand. He almost easily stunned, killed, or otherwise took down Voldemort's inner circle, taking relatively few injuries. Snape, he noticed, stayed far away.
…
"And here I thought we'd be able to have a beer or something while waiting!" he was clad in green, wielded a green long sword with a dragon decal on it, and sported a strange green mark on his forehead. His companion was a busty, long haired woman wielding twin dual edged swords, and was dressed in white and purple with a large tiger decal on her left chest.
"You have to admit it is good practice though. We'd never have had such great numbers back home you realize? Plus, our students are moving much better than before, wouldn't you think?" Light toned words, but did not do the situation justice. They weren't beset by only demons, but also by Greater Nether Demons, which were definitely not of Celestial origin. Zi Yan evaded one only to notice another too late. She gasped and closed her eyes, but the blow never came.
"Phoenix Spreads Its Wings!"
Mass destruction was a forte of the Red Phoenix, and Phoenix performed marvelously. Flames engulfed the hordes of demons, burning them to a crisp. A tall lady with short red and gold hair fired bolts of fire from her hands and gave them a hard look, "I'll handle these, the cliffs and the forest are beset.
………
"Ah Dumbledore, how the mighty have fallen indeed." Voldemort was leaning casually against a rock while Dumbledore rose unsteadily to his feet before facing Voldemort again. Harry sighed, "The demons are weak against blasting curses and solid spells. Voldemort's mine."
"Ah, Harry Harry, why's this? Why not let me deal with Dumbledore for you? The meddlesome old man is really a thorn in your side, is he not?" Harry sighed, "That's between him and me, and shall be settled between us. I realized there was no way he could come close to matching your power while I can. That would show him how wrong he actually is. Of course, if he still doesn't accept, then you may deal with him as you see fit. I'm merely looking out for myself in this. Ready?"
…
"That's one MEAN demon."
"Actually I doubt very much that it's a demon."
"What else could it be? It's obviously a snake demon derivative."
"Perhaps a snake-like human?"
"Impossible, we'd have felt something if someone had combined with a snake demon."
"Perhaps it is heritage or something a long time ago."
"Whatever it is, these demons are shabbily summoned."
"Agreed."
"Then let the killing begin."
…
"Indeed Harry, you are more powerful than the old fool believed. Join me, I always welcome the powerful at my side, and with your power we could make great things happen." Harry blocked a dark blue spell and dodged a dark red beam before charging, "My parents died at your hand. You shall die at mine. Make no mistake, my parents' deaths will be avenged."
A few exchanges later, both were beginning to pant and Voldemort snarled, "Why fight? Your parents died so you could live, not so you could die too. Join me and live. Or even just run and live." Harry snarled back, "Never. Running is not my method and I'd never join you." He got hit by an ugly yellow curse and earned a burn on his leg. Fortunately his aura and armor protected him.
"That's enough Harry." A hand squeezed his shoulder reassuringly and Harry looked up at his teacher, "He must die, he killed my mum." Xing Yun nodded sadly, "Such is the nature of things. But you aren't his match yet. He will win, you are powerful but he is as powerful and has more skill." Harry growled and kicked a rock, "He's endangering the students." The master chuckled, "Ah, but you're now being narrow minded. Open your senses. He can't win."
Harry closed his eyes and extended his consciousness, using the ambient power threads to his advantage. The Forbidden Forest was alive with power, but more so than usual. A flash and it disappeared and the feel of evaporating summoned presences came through. The village was alight with heat and power, but the heat suddenly disappeared and the same evaporating sensations were felt. Harry focused on his location and found the now familiar sensations of summoned power being released.
He opened his eyes and grinned, "Phoenix and Zi Yan are here. Yes, there is no way he can win against three spirit guardians." He smiled at Voldemort sweetly, "Your armies are gone Tommy boy, I think you should leave now before those responsible come up." Not a moment later, Zi Yan and Phoenix floated gently down into the clearing, earning a somewhat appraising glance from the dark lord. "Indeed, I am over matched without my unreliable inner-circle. But we shall meet again, Harry, and next time, I will be ready."
……… . ………
A/N: Next chapter, Dumbledore and Harry have another chat.