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Behind Emerald Eyes
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Chapter 34 –
The Riddles of Battle
The sun was sitting low on the horizon, threatening to sink down and expel it's golden light. The sky was awash in scarlet and roan, with slight wisps of clouds fading from sight as quickly as the sun. The land was cast in a multitude of shadows, which danced beneath the trees and with the silent figures as they walked through the town. It was deserted. The homes lay vacant and looked as though they had not been used for quite some time, with the front lawns overgrown and wild, and the paint on the walls faded and peeling.
"We should have known there would be an Anti-Apparition Charm up," Nymphadora Tonks hissed from the corner of her mouth as she walked at the front of the group. They all had their wands out, ready for anything which happened to come their way.
"It's probably best that we didn't apparate in," Harry said from her side, scanning the flickering shadows between the buildings with a pair of hawk-like emerald eyes. "He would've known sooner then." There was silence as Tonks digested his words. Her forehead was furrowed and she glanced quickly at him.
"Are you sure it's Him?" she asked with a slightly quivering voice. Harry glanced at her and swallowed a lump in his throat. His hands had suddenly become wet with perspiration.
"There's no one else it could be," he answered after a while. "All signs point to his return."
"But how?" Tonks demanded; stopping and turning to face him. "How can he be back? I watched you kill him! I watched his Merlin-forsaken eyes glaze over with the sight of Hell!"
Harry shook his head sadly. "I don't know how he came to be, but it has to be him. Who else would be so intent on knocking me off, that they used the one person I loved to draw me to them? Only Voldemort is that savage."
"But what if it's someone else?" Tonks said desperately. "What if it's only someone copying all Voldemort's old motives. Like a – a – cat copier."
"Copy cat," Hermione corrected from Harry's other side with a sigh. "And she has a point, Harry. This could be someone you knew once, and they've decided to mimic Voldemort to get back at you."
"It's quite probable," Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody growled, limping towards them. "I've seen my fair share of copy-cat killers in my time, and let me tell you – they're hard to tell apart from the real thing. That's how I got this," he said, showing them his wooden leg. "Wasn't expecting Kirkoroff Vladimir's attack to come from someone else. Constant vigilance!" he barked at the end, causing Harry to flinch noticeably.
"If it's not Tom Riddle, then it's someone who looks incredibly like him," he muttered, the image of the handsome, icy man flashing through his mind. There was something haunted about his eyes – much like the way Tom Riddle's had been. But there was something else within the arctic depths; something sinister and somehow personal.
He heard a sharp intake of breath at his side. "There it is." Harry looked to where Hermione was staring, and he felt his throat constrict. The Riddle Manor. The high white walls were stained with years of abandonment and neglect. Vines had climbed their way over the windows, stretching spiny feelers towards the slanting roof with dislodged tiles. The front lawn was overgrown, with waist-length grass which waved at them as they approached. The large, iron gates, with a bold, bronze R on the top ... were open.
"This is it," Harry said, clutching his wand even harder. He looked around at the others – they were all wearing faces of readiness and anticipation – Hermione nodded at him. He nodded back. They were ready.
. . . - - - . . . - - - . . .
A black robed figure stumbled down the stairs inside Riddle Manor, his white mask clutched in his hand, and his young face flushed. He collapsed into a bow before his Master, glancing quickly at the girl huddled in the corner of the room. She glared at him.
"Master," he panted.
"Yes, Robinson?" the tall man asked, placing a look of handsome curiosity upon him.
"It's him," the Death Eater said quickly. "They're here."
There was silence as an evil grin spread across the Dark Lord's face. He turned to look at his prisoner. "Guess what, dear Ginny?" he said softly, watching the girl look up at him with wide, frightened eyes. "Your hero's here."
. . . - - - . . . - - - . . .
"Keep your eyes open," Harry told them. "Who knows how many Death Eater's the Dark Lord will have."
"What happens if Ginny isn't here?' Hermione asked him softly. He sternly kept his head forward.
"Then we keep on fighting until we find out where she is," he replied determinedly. Though, inside, he was burning. What if she wasn't here? What if it was a trap to get him here and kill him?
Then I will die fighting.
A sudden movement ahead of him on the road drew him to a stop. A line of black-robed figures had spilled across the street, blocking their entrance into the gates. A lead Death Eater walked forward and Harry thought there was something familiar about that determined strut.
"Oh look, if it isn't Potty and his Order of Bird Watchers!" the Death Eater drawled, twirling a wand in his fingers. Harry smiled despite the situation. Malfoy.
"Let us through," he demanded, putting up a show. Hermione had stiffened at his side at the sound of Malfoy's voice and her face had grown confused. Tonks, however, was grinning. Harry started walking forward, watching as the line of Death Eater's straightened, and thrust their wands forward. Malfoy, however, remained where he was, the white mask hiding his smirk as he gripped his wand in front of him.
"As you wish," he replied with a slight tilt of his head. Everything happened in very quick succession. Malfoy flipped around as Harry and the others sprang forward. "Stupefy! Stupefy! Stupefy!"
"Petrificus Totalus!" Harry shouted, watching as four Death Eater's went down. "Stupefy!"
Malfoy's surprise attack had taken many of the Death Eater's down, but now that they had realized what had happened, they were fighting back. It was a shower of multi-coloured sparks and bolts of electricity. Harry dodged and ducked, while firing spells into the scattering line of robed figures. The Order Members were fighting with as much enthusiasm, sending many masked spells at the Death Eaters which knocked them down. Harry had moved himself, so he was now side-by-side with Malfoy. Ron was a powerful dueler, and Harry watched him with a strong sense of pride. The red-haired man would send multitudes of curses at the enemy without so much as blinking an eye, all the while keeping an eye on Hermione as she fought behind him.
It was this that caused him to be hit with a sizzling purple cause in the shoulder. He gasped and collapsed to the ground, while Death Eater's closed in around him. Harry shouted, sprinting towards them, sending stunners at their backs. A few fell, while others turned to shoot curses back. He blocked them all, rebounding them back at their casters. He could see Ron on the ground, struggling to stand. A Death Eater kicked him – savagely – in the chest.
Anger welled inside him, and Harry thrust his wand forward. But before he could put words to his curse, a jet of black light shot from his wand and streaked lightning fast at the Death Eater. He didn't even have time to move as the curse struck him, sending him many meters into the air, and back. He landed with a quite audible and sickening crunch on the pavement. He didn't get up.
"Ron!" Harry shouted, crouching by his friend while placing a golden barrier around them just as a series of stunners hit it. "Mate, are you alright?"
"Yeah," Ron gasped painfully. Harry looked at his friend's shoulder in horror. His shirt had been ripped apart from the impact of the spell, and his skin was sliced as if he had been struck by a thick spear. It was bleeding profusely and Harry tried to stem the flow but it soon had saturated his hands and most of Ron's shirt.
"You're not," he said hurriedly, feeling as though his blood had turned to ice. "This might hurt a bit but I need to stop the bleeding."
"I trust you," Ron gasped, with an incredibly pale face. Harry felt briefly warmed by Ron's words, before he noticed his friend's eyes starting to glaze.
"Ron! Stay awake, mate!" he shouted. "Stay with me!"
Ron opened his eyes and squinted up at him. "I was just resting my eyes."
"I'm sure you were," Harry chuckled dryly. "Brace yourself." He grasped his wand, ignoring the way it slipped through the blood on his palms. "Ferunia!" Bandages sprang from his wand tip, wrapping tightly around Ron's chest and up around his shoulder. Ron gasped and his head went back in pain, though Harry kept tightening the bandages. He pulled his wand down; inspecting the material covering Ron's wound. It was tight and looked as though it would stay. But he didn't know how much good it would do Ron – his wound was inflicted by magic and magic worked in horrendous ways.
"How does that feel?" Harry asked worriedly. Ron looked up at him with a pale and sweaty face. He tried to look down at his shoulder but it must have caused him too much pain as he let out a shaky breath and let his head fall back.
"It feels as though I have a hole in my shoulder," he chuckled but Harry didn't find it funny. "Nah, it's fine, mate. Thanks."
"I don't have any Pain-Numbing Potion – Hestia has it," Harry said as he chewed on his lip, looking up. The battle was almost over, but there were still quite a few Death Eaters left fighting. Most of the Order was still up and fighting and they outnumbered the remaining Death Eaters by quite a bit. It wouldn't be long before it would be over and they would have to make their way up to the old house. Harry looked back down at Ron.
"Don't worry, Harry," Ron said, sitting up again. "I can still fight."
"But not very well," Harry countered. "Stay here and keep this barrier up – I'll go find Hestia and get the potion from her." Ron tried to object but Harry cut him off. "Stay here. I'll be back." Before he could reply, Harry dropped the shield and stood away, so Ron was forced to put it back up. As soon as he was out of the shield, a series of curses were sent towards him. He blocked most of them though one stunner streaked across his leg. He could feel his skin burning but ignored it. He needed to find Hestia.
He scanned the street – the fighters and those lying, motionless, on the road. He felt his heart hitch at the sight of a couple of Order Members lying amongst the black-robed Death Eaters. He hoped they were alive. As he blocked a stunner and sent a Full-Body Curse in the direction it came from, he spotted Hestia. She was fighting with her back against that of Remus, both of them sending a curtain of variously coloured spells to the five Death Eater's they were dueling.
Harry made his way towards them. "Protego!" he blocked a stunner as it came towards him. "Petrificus Totalus! Stupefy! Expelliarmus!" The Death Eater was struck by all three, collapsing to the ground with his arms and legs straight by his sides. The wand flew into the air above his head, and Harry caught it. He deftly snapped it on his knee and threw it beside the fallen Death Eater with a grim sense of satisfaction as he stepped over him.
Three of the Death Eaters had fallen by either Remus' or Hestia's spells and the two of them had broken apart to take the enemy on by themselves. Harry quickly maneuvered his way towards Hestia, dodging a curse as it was sent his way, and spinning to stun the Death Eater which had fired it at him.
"Hestia!" he called. "Stupefy!" the Death Eater she was fighting dodged Harry's spell as well as hers. He sent one back which Harry blocked with Protego. "Fernunculus! Expelliarmus!" His Boil-Inducing Curse struck its target, though the Death Eater stumbled, and by chance was missed by the second spell. Hestia caught his eye and smiled.
"Thanks!" she shouted.
Harry ran up to her, ducking a curse as it flew over his head. "Can I have a bottle of the Pain Numbing Potion? Ron was hit by a nasty purple curse," he said and she gasped. She rummaged through the pack on her hip, pulling out a small phial of red liquid.
"Get him to drink it all, but it'll only last for an hour at most," she said quickly. Harry nodded and thanked her profusely, before making his way across the body-strewn road. He found Ron still sitting on the ground, but in a position that enabled him to turn quickly. He didn't have the Barrier Charm protecting him.
"What are you trying to do?" Harry laughed as he joined his red-headed friend. "Get yourself killed?"
"Nope, get myself a few stunned Death Eaters," Ron answered, narrowly avoiding a Cruciatus Curse.
"Here, drink all this," Harry said, thrusting the bottle of potion in Ron's hands. "It'll numb the pain for a while. Hopefully, we'll be well out of here before it wears off."
"Thanks mate," Ron said, drinking the potion in one gulp. He shuddered afterwards though immediately looked better. "Should make the most of it, ay?" he laughed, taking Harry's hand to help him up.
"Yeah –" Harry went to answer but felt something strike his back from behind.
He was on fire. His body was on fire. Thousands of red-hot knives were stabbing into him, tearing his flesh apart. He fell to the ground, swallowing back screams of anguish. The pain was endless and he was beginning to see red spots in front of his eyes. Just when he thought he would forever be in excruciating pain, it stopped. He was left panting on his hands and knees, his whole body throbbing and stinging from the after-effects of the Cruciatus Curse. He felt bile rise in his throat, and he spat blood out onto the road.
"Harry, mate, c'mon. You need to get up." Ron's voice seemed so far away and he struggled to understand the words. His ears were ringing. "We have to find Ginny."
Ginny.
He coughed heartily, allowing a strong hand to pull him up. He wiped the blood from his lips, opening his sore eyes to look into the blue, caring ones of Ron.
"Are you alright, Harry?" he asked worriedly. Harry smiled dryly.
"Bloody marvelous," he answered.
"That's good," Ron said with a smile. "I thought you'd feel like crap."
Harry laughed. "Yeah, that too."
"All the Death Eaters are down; I just stunned the last one who was torturing you," Ron said and Harry finally looked around. It sickened him what he saw. All the Death Eaters were, indeed, stunned and bound. Tonks was taking their names, while Bill prepared a something in his hands. Hermione, Hestia and Remus were treating the injured, while Moody was doing something by the pavement. It looked as if he was covering something with a black cloth...
Harry's insides turned to ice and he swayed on his feet. Ron grabbed his arm to steady him, looking at him cautiously. "What is it? After-effects of the curse?"
Harry numbly shook his head, eyes glued on the black-cloaked figure who was now covered in a blanket. "Wh-what ha-happened? Who's that?' he stuttered, as Ron looked to where Moody and Charlie Weasley were now conversing. He turned back to Harry with a dark look.
"A Death Eater got what was coming to him," he answered, only furthering Harry's discomfort and writhing stomach. His mouth had suddenly gone dry and he went to unclench his fists but found they were stuck together. He drew them up to his face and wished he hadn't. His hands were covered in Ron's blood. It had dried and was now sticking his fists together around his wand. He stared at them then at the covered body on the pavement.
He had killed a man.
I'm a murderer.
He suddenly found he couldn't breathe. He doubled over, placing his shaking hands on his knees, trying to think straight. But he couldn't. He could only think of, and see, the dead Death Eater. He could see him flying through the air after Harry had cursed him. And he could still feel the satisfaction of seeing and hearing the Death Eater land on the concrete with a loud, sickening, crunch.
I'm a murderer.
He dropped his head and emptied the measly contents of his stomach onto the bloody road beneath him. He clenched his eyes shut but still could see the unmoving body, killed by his hand...
He vomited again, trying to rid his body of the filth that it surely contained. Someone was speaking, somewhere, in the distance. A hand was on his back though it did not comfort him.
I'm a murderer. Just like Voldemort...
He had not even wanted to kill Voldemort, and only did it because he knew that Voldemort was no longer human. He was a monster. But that Death Eater, even though had tried to kill Ron, would still have had a family out there somewhere.
He tried to reason with himself that he had not meant to kill him. But a nasty voice inside his head drowned out all other thought.
You wanted to kill that Death Eater. You wanted to see him dead. And you liked it when he hit the pavement. You were satisfied to know you had destroyed another life. You liked it.
"No..." he whispered hoarsely. I didn't want to! It was an accident! He was going to kill Ron!
You liked it.
"Harry? Can you hear me?" It was Hermione and she was speaking from somewhere in front of him. He kept his eyes closed, shrugging off the hand which was resting on his shoulder. "Please, Harry. We need you. We have to find Ginny."
Ginny.
Maybe it was best if the others went alone. That way, he wouldn't endanger Ginny's life, or anyone else's, any further. They wouldn't want to be lead by a murderer...
"Harry? C'mon mate." It was Ron. "That Death Eater would've killed me if you hadn't of got him first. I'm glad you did it mate, and I know you didn't mean to kill him. But that's what happens in war. People die. I'm just glad it was the enemy this time."
Ron had never been one to speak so wisely, but his words seemed the loudest of the voices in his mind. The nasty voice was replaced by his and suddenly air was in his lungs. He kept his head bowed though opened his eyes slightly. The first thing he saw was his blood-stained hands. He quickly thrust them into his pockets, straightening up.
Hermione and Ron were standing in front of him, with the rest of the group spread out across the road. Luna was not far away as well, with that dreamy look still in her eyes – though it seemed to be dampened by reality, as a large scratch ran across half her face. She still managed to smile. Tonks and Kingsley were standing where the previous bunch of Death Eaters had been. They must have been taken somewhere. Draco Malfoy was standing at the back of the group, closest to the partially open Riddle Gates. He had an expressionless look on his unmasked face, as he stared straight at Harry – his silvery-blond hair was in disarray around his aristocratic face. He raised a single eyebrow, as if in silent query as to what was going on.
Then, Harry let his eyes wonder to the opposite side of the street, feeling his heart thump painfully in his throat. He let out a rattling breath he didn't know he had been holding when he spotted the body-less pavement. The dead Death Eater had been moved. He moved his eyes back to the group, and caught those of a haggard looking Remus.
"I'm sorry, got a little caught up," he said hoarsely.
"Don't worry mate, I know how you feel," said Ron with a broad grin. Somehow, Harry didn't think Ron knew how he felt. But, he nodded anyway, suddenly feeling ashamed at how he had reacted.
"No need for apologies, Harry," Remus said with a sad little smile, that made Harry realize he wasn't alone. He returned the warming gesture and straightened up once more, pulling out his hands with a sigh.
"Can someone –?"
"We're right ahead of you, Harry," Fred said, pointing his wands at Harry's hands. "Scourgify!" the blood instantly vanished, leaving Harry feeling lighter and much cleaner.
"Thanks, guys," he said, flexing his fingers. His wand was still covered in dry blood but decided it would have to stay. He needed to get Ginny. Now. "OK," he said in a determined, strong voice. "Let's go."
. . . - - - . . . - - - . . .
"They've gotten passed first group, master," Bellatrix Lestrange said by the side of the Dark Lord. They were in the Drawing Room, staring out the window to watch Potter and the Order of the Phoenix reassemble and start for the gates.
"Excellent," he replied with a strange glint to his icy eyes. "It won't be long before they're in the castle. Please send Robinson to bring Ginny up. I want her with me when I introduce myself to Harry." Bellatrix nodded, bowing lowly, before moving out of the door. When it shut, the Dark Lord sighed, taking a hand to his chin. He could see Harry Potter down by the gates, directing his followers into positions. He could understand why so many witches and wizards followed him – he had a certain sense of power about him.
He could not wait to meet him, face-to-face. He wanted to find out what made him so strong, so determined. He wanted to know why so many of his Death Eaters feared him. The Dark Lord smiled lightly, turning from the window to look at the man in the chair before him. Chains wrapped about the man's legs and chest, with a Silencing Charm on him so he couldn't speak.
"I do not know how Lord Voldemort could not see your lies," the Dark Lord said softly, walking towards the bound man. "But I have known since the day I summoned you, Severus. I have known about your job for Dumbledore's – or should I say Potter's – Order. And I have been feeding you just the right amount of information to have you play straight into my hands. And it is only this which has kept you alive for so long... too long. Yes, Severus, I think the time has come for you to pay for all your crimes. But first, I wish to see Harry Potter – the one you have risked everything for."
Severus Snape stared up at the Dark Lord with endless dark eyes, a pale face set and ready for what was to come. He only wished to be free from this life he called hell.
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Harry walked slowly along the path, wading through the waist-high grass with wary steps. The others were spread out around and behind him, each with their wands out, with spells ready on their lips. The house was looming in front of them, as if watching – waiting – for them to go inside. The front doors were closed, though for some reason, were free from vines. They actually looked as if they had been roughly cleaned, with the door handles glinting in the fading light.
The grass was swaying as if creatures lurked just beneath the surface. Harry remembered this muggle movie once, where dinosaurs roamed freely beneath the grass. They picked off a group of people one by one as they walked through it to the other side. This reminded him of it and it made him uneasy.
"Keep your eyes on the grass," he hissed to Hermione and Ron at his sides. "I think there could be Death Eaters hiding in it." Both of them nodded, passing along the message. Soon, the group was treading with much more careful steps, using their hands to part the grass as they walked through it. Harry watched the others from the corner of his eyes, making sure they were okay, and that no one was sneaking up behind them. Ron's bandage on his shoulder had slowly become stained with blood, and his face was slowly becoming coated in a shiny coat of sweat.
Harry paused in his walking, turning to face his friend. "Ron, is the potion wearing off?'
"No, it's fine," Ron said, though his voice shook slightly.
"No, it's not. You should have some more." Harry said, scanning the others. "Hey, Hestia? Can Ron have another bottle of potion?" The black-haired witch nodded, going into her bag. But, as she was searching, Harry suddenly heard a rushing sound and looked to see some of the grass being brushed apart as a spell swept through it. He went to shout a warning, but it was too late. It had reached the spot where Hestia was standing and hit her beneath the emerald blades.
She seemed to freeze, with her hand outstretched and the potion bottle sitting in her palm. Her face was set in a delicate calm, the same look of shock and fear in her eyes which Cedric's had portrayed. Slowly, as if it was the wind pushing her, she sunk down below the waving grass. Harry was frozen, too shocked to move, a call of warning still waiting on his lips. All he could hear was the wind blowing the reeds around him and his own heart thumping in his chest.
A call reached his ears, and he turned his head only to be knocked over by Ron as a green flash of spell light rushed over their heads. The two of them landed on the damp ground, the grass folding beneath them. "Thanks," he said quickly, as Ron merely nodded. The shouts of spells sounded around them, and the air above their heads was suddenly alight in multi-coloured flashes. The strong scent of grass was suddenly overwhelming as it was burnt by the spell-fire.
Harry put himself in a crouching position, making sure his head was still beneath the surface of the reeds. He could hear the hurried calls of the Order Members and others that must have been from the Death Eaters. Grasping his wand in his fist and readying himself, he sprung up.
"Stupefy! Stupefy! Stupefy!" His spells were released into the general direction of the house, though missed all their targets, as the Death Eaters ducked back down into the grass. Harry sank down also as a series of spells sizzled just above his head. He swore loudly, trying to think of a way out of this. Something sprang to his attention, and he thought it was worth a shot. He placed his wand flat on his palm, and said, "Point Me," while thinking of the Death Eaters.
The wand spun about his hand, before coming to a rest pointing in a westerly direction from them. Making sure to keep the wand pointing in the right direction, he placed it in his fingertips. "Incendio!" The spell shot through the grass, catching it alight as it went. It burnt a trail in a straight line where the Four-Point Spell told him where the Death Eaters were, and he readied himself to fire spells after it. When he saw movement, he hissed the Extinguishing Spell, followed by, "Stupefy! Stupefy!"
He watched the spells fire down the hollow, burnt path, grinning when he was rewarded by a loud, "Ahhhh!" Harry and Ron started off down the track, keeping their eyes on the grass at their sides. They were trying to stay below the surface, but it was hard work running in a crouch. It seemed as though someone else had the same idea as Harry because the sky was now blotted out by thick black smoke. Any fire they saw, they placed the Flame-Freezing Charm on.
"Flamma Congelo!" Ron shouted when they crawled through the tunnel to turn and face flickering flame. "Flamma Congelo!" The Death Eaters Harry had stunned were lying partly in the grass, with flames slowly licking their legs and clothes. Harry watched for a few seconds before gritting his teeth. He wasn't a monster.
"Flamma Congelo!"
"Let's keep going this way!" Ron panted, pointing in the direction of the house. "We can get a better view and take out any Death Eaters on the way." Ron's face looked incredibly pale and sweaty – and it wasn't from the heat of the fire. His bandages were now soaked in blood and the Pain-Numbing Potion must have worn off. He no longer could get any because the potions were with Hestia...
Harry didn't want to think about it.
"Ok," Harry answered, following Ron's crouched back closely. They didn't know how the others were going, as the sound of shouts had diminished somewhat but he hoped they were all right. As he crawled behind Ron, Harry heard rustling in the reeds beside him. He only managed to raise his wand in time as a figure came at them.
"Stupef –!"
"Fernun –!"
Both of them stopped at the same time while casting their spells, realizing who it was they were facing. "Potter?"
"Malfoy?"
"What are you doing here?" Draco demanded, though it didn't sound the same coming from him while on his hands and knees.
"Err...the same as you actually," Harry said. "Where are the others?"
"Why should I care?" Malfoy replied, but at Harry's stern look, said, "Spread out through the grass. I saw Granger back over there with Longbottom. She's trying to figure out a way to get rid of the grass –"
And just as he said it, the entire front lawn vanished; leaving behind a brown expanse of earth, with small tufts of grass remaining that were being consumed by flame. Harry, Ron and Malfoy were left out in the open, as well as everyone else. He quickly blocked a multitude of Stunners as they swept towards him, rolling to avoid a Killing Curse, before taking aim towards the front steps of the house.
"Stupefy! Expelliarmus! Impedimenta!" The first two spells missed, but the third struck one of the Death Eaters as he tried to scramble out of the way. He was left moving incredibly slow, until a well-placed Stupefy from Ron knocked him down. Harry whipped around; blocking spells and curses at every chance he got. He sent some back as well, too busy blocking to aim properly. Ron and Draco were in the same position, until they decided, on mental agreement, to back up against one another as Remus and Hestia had done earlier.
"Stupefy!" Harry shouted.
"Batia Bogus!" Harry thought it strange that Ron use the Bat-Bogey Hex in battle, but thought nothing more on it.
"Lethargus!" Malfoy shouted the Comatose Curse – a highly dark spell which placed the victim into a coma. Harry didn't care at the moment; too busy keeping himself and the others alive. There were hardly any Death Eaters left standing, and quite a few Order Members had fallen as well. Harry could see Luna and Neville fighting by the gate, Luna's hair loose and flowing around her head as if jinxed. Hermione and Kingsley were standing in the middle of the yard, as well as Fred and George – who's usually joyful faces were alight in savage determination. Then, Harry spotted Hestia, lying face down and motionless by a burning tuft of grass.
Another victim.
"Imperio!"
The Unforgivable Curse hit him unawares and his mind was wiped thankfully blank for a matter of seconds. Kill your friends, a sinister voice insisted in his mind. Harry merely shook his head, forcing off the curse, to gaze, unhindered, at a very shocked Death Eater a few meters in front of him.
"I'd rather not, thanks," he said coldly. "Petrificus Totalus! Adglutino!" the Death Eater didn't have time to react, before he was knocked off his feet and fastened to the dirt with invisible glue. "We need to get into the house!" he shouted and behind him he felt Ron tense as if struck. "It's the only way to find Ginny and stop all this!"
"Protego! There are more Death Eaters inside, Potter!" Malfoy hissed. "Lethargus!"
"I know, but it's better than being out in the open. Stupefy!" Harry replied. "Protego!"
"Then how the bloody hell are we meant to get in with this lot cursing us?" Malfoy shouted. Harry looked out and found that more Death Eaters had assembled around the fence line, all shooting spells towards them and the others. Harry blocked a stunner before watching as a Killing Curse shot towards them.
"DOWN!" he shouted as he dropped to the ground, glad that Malfoy, for once, listened to him. The curse shot harmlessly over them, but their position left them very vulnerable. Harry rolled to avoid being hit by a Crucio, instead landing in the burning remains of a tuft of grass. The flames – unfortunately free from a charm – burnt into his side and stomach. He gasped, rolling back over and patting the fire quickly out. But, it only got worse. He was once more hit with a Cruciatus Curse, and his already weakened body curled outwards in pain. He dared not scream, instead biting down on his tongue to keep from yelling.
The pain did not last long, and when he opened his eyes, he found Malfoy watching him cautiously. "I'm fine," he bit out, quickly springing to his feet. It made him incredibly dizzy, but he gasped out a spell and stepped to the side as one shot by him. His feet struck a form on the ground and he fell, tumbling into something soft. He squinted out and saw red – glittering red.
Ron.
"Oh, no... No..." he couldn't believe it. He wouldn't. He fumbled over his friend's body, blind panic seizing his heart. "It can't – you can't – no..." he fingered Ron's wrist, his hands shaking so much he couldn't get a good grip. "Please!" he muttered, crawling over to grasp at Ron's neck. He still couldn't find a pulse. "No! Ron? Wake up, mate! It's me – it's Harry!"
Ron didn't move. "Please, get up!" Harry moved his arm, startled to find it covered in a thin sheet of blood. He looked to Ron's shoulder, pulling back his ripped shirt to find the bandage completely soaked in blood. It was even running off, down his arms. "Ron! Get up! C'mon! I'll take you to a Canon's game!"
Someone grasped his shoulder, and pulled him up. It was Malfoy. "What's your problem?" the white-haired man hissed. "We're in battle! Protego!"
"It's Ron," Harry muttered, pulling himself free from Malfoy's grip, to fall back to the ground. "He won't wake up and I can't find a pulse." He didn't dare put those two facts together. That would mean ... something he wasn't ready to hear. Draco gave him a cold look, quickly blocking another spell and firing one back, before looking down at him again. He rolled his eyes, bending quickly down and placing a finger to Ron's neck. A second later, he withdrew his hand, wiping it on his shirt as if ridding it of some invisible filth.
"He's alive – though barely." The man said, before turning to dodge a curse.
Those were the most beautiful words he had ever heard come from Malfoy's mouth. He looked down to Ron's bloody, pale face, and he released his tight hold on his friends shirt.
"You'll be fine, Ron. I'll get help!" Harry whispered, ignoring a spell as it struck the ground beside him. "Scourgify!" The blood and bandages vanished; leaving a clean, gaping wound in it's pace. It wasn't long before blood was once again seeping down Ron's shoulder and arm, soaking his torn shirt. "Scourgify!" Harry said, and then quickly after, "Ferunia!" Clean bandages wrapped tightly around Ron's shoulder and chest once more. When he was sure they were secure, Harry took a deep breath. "Ennervate!"
There was a moments pause, in which Harry held his breath. Then, Ron stirred. He let out a shaky sigh, tightly grasping his friend's hand. Ron's eyes slowly opened, squinting against the light. He looked up at Harry with slightly glazed eyes, before he gasped, clutching at his shoulder.
"Hurts – so – much..." he stuttered, as Harry held his hand tightly.
"Hang on, I'll find you some more potion," Harry said quickly, glancing up to find both himself and Ron inside a golden webbed shield. Malfoy was dueling a Death Eater on the other side, looking as though each spell cost him a great deal of energy. Merlin... he's using up most of his energy to keep Ron and me safe! Before he could ponder this any further, Ron let out another painful moan. "Stay here, I'll be back."
He quickly passed through the golden shield, amazed at how many Death Eaters had fallen in the short time he had been distracted. He hurried across the barren earth, dodging a curse as it was cast at him, and blocking another. He passed by Hermione, who did not have time to speak to him as she was in an intense duel against an unmasked, female Death Eater, who's blond hair was stained in red. Harry had his eyes locked on the body of Hestia Jones, only thinking of getting the Potion satchel to help Ron.
He finally reached her body and he felt his heart hitch at the sight of her open, staring eyes. He found himself caught up in emotion, too saddened to move. A Stinging Hex caught his leg, and he almost fell. He turned and shot a stunner at the Death Eater, annoyed that he managed to dodge it.
"Crucio!" the man shouted and Harry blocked it with a strong shield.
"Stupefy!" he shouted, disappointed that his spell missed again.
"Avarda Kedavra! Die Potter!" The Killing Curse rushed towards him and he quickly dropped to the ground to ignore it, firing a stunner before he had hit the ground. His spell finally hit target, and he watched with a grim smile as the Death Eater fell to the earth. Harry turned his head and flinched when he found himself staring into Hestia's life-less eyes. He froze, seeing himself reflected on their glassy surface.
All noise came rushing back and he remembered what he had set out to do. He forced back the torrent of emotion as he fumbled with the pack on her hip. He unclipped it and waited for a few moments staring into Hestia's face. Before he pushed himself to his feet, he whispered, "I'm sorry."
. . . - - - . . . - - - . . .
"My Loyal Followers, I believe you have all heard by now that Mr. Potter has finally joined us," the Dark Lord announced to the half-full room of Death Eaters. There were murmured responses. "At the moment, they have almost broken through the second group, and soon they will be inside. Once there, my third group will be waiting in the Entrance Hall for them, as well as my friends." The Dark Lord grinned, showing off his perfect white teeth. His cold blue eyes flashed.
"Master," a Death Eater came forward on his hands and knees. "Why are you letting them inside the Manor? Why not destroy them while at their weakest? It would be so easy!"
"Because, Macnair, that would be just that: easy. I want to test the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter. I want to see how far their abilities go. So far, they have surpassed my expectations of them, though, once inside this Manor, they may fail. But, send word to the Third Group, I want Potter alive."
Ginny Weasley, who had been chained at his side, let out a silent cry for help – any help.
. . . - - - . . . - - - . . .
"There you go, Ron," Harry said, watching as his friend swallowed the Pain-Numbing Potion in one gulp. "I wish I could give you more, but too much can be dangerous."
Ron nodded distractedly, a far-away look in his eyes. "That s'k," he mumbled vacantly. After a few moments, the distant look in his eyes vanished, leaving them a harsh, blood-shot blue. "That's better."
"Can you stand?" Harry asked, taking his friend's hand.
"Yeah, I think so," Ron said, letting himself pulled to his feet by Harry. He swayed slightly and the blood on his face made him look deathly ill, but otherwise, he looked a bit like his old self. "Where are the Death Eaters?" he asked with a lightly creased brow. "Weren't we fighting them just before?"
Harry nodded, hiding a small smile. "Yeah, we were. Bill transfigured them into rocks and put them in his bag. He said it was easier that way."
Ron gave him a wide-eyed look. "Bloody hell!"
"Yeah, that's what I said," Harry chuckled, letting Ron lean slightly on his shoulder. "Are you sure you can walk?"
"I'm fine," Ron said, and as if to prove his point, let go of Harry's shoulder. He was able to hold himself up, even if he looked incredibly drained and exhausted.
"That's my boy," Harry said softly, gaining a glare from Ron. "We should get going again, before we're caught out in the open."
"Don't you think it's a bit weird?" Hermione asked as she sidled up to his side.
"What?" Harry asked.
"That the Dark Lord is letting us regroup and head into the house?" she said as Harry drew his eyebrows together in curiosity. "It's as if he wants us to go in."
"Well, we have to, don't we? There's no other way – unless..." he thought back to his dream before his fourth year. Hadn't there been a back entrance, through the kitchen? "What if half of us go to the back and the others go through the front, that way, if there's an ambush, all of us wont get caught?"
"That might be a good idea, Potter," Moody said gruffly, surveying him through his magical and normal eyes. "That way, we'll know at least some of us will have a chance to get to the Dark Lord."
"And Ginny," Harry added, thinking about his girlfriend and unborn child. What would happen when he saw her again? Would he be able to rescue her and take her home?
The chances of that were very, very slim. But he still had to try.
"OK, so you, Granger, Tonks, Lupin, Kingsley, Charlie, Longbottom, Ron and Malfoy go the back way. The rest of us will go the front. Any problems?" Moody barked, and when no one objected, he clapped his hands together. "What are you waiting for then? Get going!" They didn't need to be told twice. The two groups broke apart, Harry leading some of their number to the back, and Moody leading the others towards the front door. He wished them a silent good luck, knowing it was all he could do.
The back of the house was almost as wild as the front. The grass was slightly shorter, just coming up the their thighs, but the back wall was completely covered in vines. The group paused, staring at the thick mass of ivy and thorns.
"Umm...Harry? Didn't you say there was a door?" Charlie asked curiously.
"There is a door here – somewhere..." he said, walking forward with his wand. "Diffindo! Diffindo!" His cutting spells sliced through the vines, leaving blank spaces on the wall. The others, catching onto his idea, were soon casting the same spell over and over. Soon enough, they had cleared a space in the wall which was showing the top part of the door. Tonks went forward and pulled down the rest of the vines, standing back to admire her work.
"Good work, guys," she said with a grin. "Now...who wants to go first?"
"I will," Harry said immediately. Draco threw him a disbelieving look.
"I'll go, Potter, just in case there are Death Eater's waiting inside. They wont fire if they see me, and I'll distract them while you lot can do – whatever it is you do," Malfoy said, and Harry had to agree that his plan was better than his was.
"Send us a sign or something and we'll come in after you," Harry said quickly as Malfoy moved to the door.
"Don't you worry your pretty little head about it, Potter," Draco said with a smirk. "I'll be perfectly fine. Alohomora!" The door unlocked, and Malfoy reached for the handle, turned it, pushed it open and disappeared inside. There was a thick silence as the group outside readied themselves for attack. They struggled to listen to what was going on inside the house. There were muffled voices, one of them Malfoy's, before silence once more. Harry exchanged nervous looks with Ron, before gripping his wand, and sticking his head inside the ajar door.
He had to quickly withdraw it as a spell struck the wall beside him. "I guess his plan didn't work," Ron said dryly, flattening himself against the vine-covered wall with the others. Harry stuck his wand into the door.
"Stupefy!" he hissed, quickly taking his arm back and listening as shouted voices reverberated in the kitchen. Suddenly, the door exploded, sending shards of burnt wood across the over-grown lawn. Death Eaters started pouring from the door, not knowing that the Order were right behind them.
"Stupefy!!" Tonks shouted, striking one Death Eater squarely in the back. "Stupefy! Stupefy!"
"Crucio!" one of the masked villains shouted, sending the curse towards Tonks. She managed to block it, sending a stunner back. It didn't take long for them to take down all the Death Eaters, quickly transfiguring them into small black stones.
"More rocks for Bill's collection," Charlie said with a grin, placing the stones into his pocket, "He's going to be so happy."
"Enough of that," Kingsley said. "We need to go in and see how the others are going."
"C'mon, then," Harry said, sliding his way through the door with his wand poised in front of him. The kitchen was empty, with two dark shapes lying on the dusty tiles. Harry hastened forward, turning one figure over to find the blank face of Malfoy staring up at him. "Ennervate!"
Draco's face twitched and in one liquid movement, his wand was jabbed into Harry's neck. His eyes widened in surprise at seeing who it was, and he slowly lowered his wand, a pink flush creeping up his neck. He pushed Harry out of the way, standing to sweep dust from the front of his robes. He nodded. "Potter."
Smirking, Harry said, "Malfoy."
"Stop the niceties; we need to keep moving," Hermione said, weeping back the loose tendrils of hair which had been snaking down her face. "Have you forgotten why we ar here?"
Harry gave her a hard look. "Do you think I'd ever be able to forget that?"
"No, but the way you're acting, I'd be surprised."
"Right..." Draco said. "The front of the house is that way, through the hallway and the Dining Room. The Dark Lord's quarters are upstairs, though he spends most of his time in the East of the house, in the Meeting Chamber and the Drawing Room."
"What about Ginny?" Harry asked quickly. "Where does he keep her?"
"The Dark Lord keeps her downstairs, in the bottommost room," Malfoy said, but added, "Though, he keeps her with him most of the time. He believes she is a 'prize worth keeping'."
Harry gaped at him, suddenly feeling very ill. "He doesn't...hurt her...does he?"
"No, actually, he doesn't. He leaves that chore to Lestrange," Malfoy answered simply.
"Lestrange? As in Bellatrix?" Tonks snarled. "I thought that bitch would've rotted long ago!"
"Unfortunately not," he said with a cold look in his eyes. "Aunt Bella has been keeping her priorities in place, alongside the Dark Lord. I don't know why he keeps her around; I think she's a little too mad for comfort."
"I can't wait to see her pay for all she has done," Hermione said darkly, gaining a startled look from Harry. "Well, first Neville's parents, Sirius and now Ginny; she deserves to die a very painful death."
"For once, Granger, I'd have to agree with you," Malfoy said. Ron gave him an incredulous look but kept his mouth closed. Harry silently agreed with Hermione – he had wished Lestrange dead since his fifth year.
"Let's keep moving," Charlie said, breaking the tense silence. "I haven't heard anything from the others." Harry thought that strange and the more he thought about it, the hairs on the back of his neck started prickling. The group of them started down the hallway, wands ready in front of them and eyes and ears alert for approaching danger. It had grown dark, the scarlet light from sunset having vanished, as well as its gentle heat. As they approached the front of the house, Harry started to feel incredibly cold, and goose-pimples had risen along his skin. He turned to see a foggy breath of air exit Tonks' mouth.
"Guys..." she said with a shaky voice. "I don't think its just Death Eaters we have to worry about."
Just as she said it, the hallway opened up into a wide Entrance Hall, with the white tiles strangely clean. Harry stopped, a curse dying on his lips. About twenty Death Eaters had their wands on them, and as he turned, he spotted Kingsley and Neville at the back of the group, both frozen with fear with wands pointed at the backs of their heads. Turning back to the front, Harry felt his breath catch in his throat.
In the centre of the room were Dementors, and on the floor in front of them, were the rest of the Order of the Phoenix – bound with ropes and supporting various injuries. The Death Eater at the front of the group stepped forward, a hand rising to its face to remove the mask. A haunted, scarred, once handsome face was uncovered. A pair of familiar, yet cold, grey eyes swept over them.
"Little baby Potty, how nice of you to join us," Bellatrix Lestrange taunted with a broad, savage grin. "And I see you've brought your little friends once more."
"Lestrange," Harry spat. "Where's Ginny?"
"Oh, that's no way to treat your superior, is it? And as for your little Weasel-Girl, she's just fine, though that's not what I can say for that piece of filth growing in her body. I should have told you a while ago, Potter, not to stick things where they don't belong." Some of the Death Eaters let out guffaws behind their masks, only infuriating Harry more.
"If she is hurt –!"
"What? You'll sick your friends onto me," she said, stepped over to a roped Bill. She kicked him fiercely in the side, so much so that he fell over. "Like you did with these so called 'Dumbledore's Best'?" She started laughing manically, throwing her head back so her tatted dark hair spilled back from her face. "Surely you can do better than that."
"What? Better than I did the last time we met?" Harry growled. "Better than killing Voldemort?"
There was no more crazed laughter. Instead, Bellatrix was staring at him with a slowly reddening face, her cold eyes slitted like those of a predatory beast waiting to attack. "I think that comment deserves a punishment, don't you think? Which one of your little friends should I ask the first kiss be delivered to? Hmmm..." she turned and started pacing in front of the bound Order Members, staring into each of their blank faces. "Decisions...decisions... so hard! Hmmm... How about one of the blood-traitors? Yes! That would be brilliant!" she said, stopping in front of Fred ad George. "Two for the price of one! You two can share a Dementor, can't you? Oh yes, why I even bother asking! Of course you can!"
"Touch them, and die," Harry hissed, gripping his wand even tighter. Bellatrix grinned at him, flicking her wrist. A Dementor swept forward, pausing at her side.
"Those two, thanks dear," she said, pointing to Fred and George. The Dementor bowed its hooded head, a scaled hand emerging from beneath the folds of its robe.
"No! Expecto Patronum! Stupefy!" Harry shouted, his spells flying from his wand as two blurs of red and white. But, before they could reach their targets, they seemed to dissolve into nothingness, fading into mere wisps of coloured cloud.
"Now, now children, play nice," came a smooth, echoing voice. Harry whipped his head around, feeling his chest tighten at the sight of the Dark Lord. His cold grey eyes were resting on Harry, a flash of recognition shooting across them like a frozen bolt of lightning. "Harry... How nice to see you – at last."
Harry stared at him with emerald eyes of malice. So this was the man who had taken Ginny from him and killed Dave. The man who had threatened the life of his unborn son. The man who looked so much like Tom Riddle.
"What do you want from me?" Harry said at last. "I don't even know you." He heard Hermione stiffen at his side, more than likely at his change in decision. At the beginning, he had been so sure this was Tom Riddle – the younger version of Voldemort. But now that he was seeing him first hand, there were differences. The bone structure, for one. Tom Riddle never had those high cheekbones and jutting chin, his features had been more curved. The height was about the same, though the hair was a but lighter. But the eyes... they were Tom Riddles.
"I thought you would've figured it out by now, Harry," the man said in that same, smooth voice. "All the clues, the similarities, the connections. I thought it was obvious who I was and what I wanted." At these words, Wormtail appeared behind him, and in his silver grip he carried a chain. And on the other end of it was...
"Ginny!" Harry breathed, and he went to move forward, but the Dark Lord shook his head.
"No false moves, Harry, I don't want my friend's hand here to slip." Ginny's eyes had locked with his and he could see the pain, sadness and sheer desperation in their hazel depths. He wanted nothing more that to run over and wrap his arms around her. But he knew he couldn't. She looked so frightened. Her clothes were dirty and hung off her thin frame as if she had lost a lot of weight. And as his eyes landed on her stomach, he felt as though the room was spinning around him.
She mouthed his name silently and he didn't think he could stand and do nothing any longer. He turned his attention back to the Dark Lord, who had watched their exchange with a small, infuriating smile. "What do you want?" Harry snarled. "Have me, but let everyone else go!"
"My, how did I know you would say that?" the Dark Lord said with a chuckle. "I must be a Seer! Quick, any minute now I might recite a prophecy!" Bellatrix was laughing, as well as many of the masked Death Eaters. The Dementors shifted slightly. "No, Potter, I won't release my only means of leverage."
"Then tell me what you want!" Harry shouted angrily.
"I want you to suffer," the Dark Lord said suddenly, his previously light face now much darker, as he stepped forward. "I want you to suffer like I have suffered my entire life. I want you and all your friends dead. But first, I want you to watch me kill your son, and then, your precious Ginny."
"But why? I haven't done anything to you!" Harry said. "I don't know you!"
"Oh, but you do, Harry." The man said, coming closer still. "I watched when I was younger, as you grew and slowly came into your powers. I watched as you battled with the demons of your mind and the horrors of your past. I watched, because I could do nothing more. You took the one thing from me I ever loved."
"And what was that?"
"My father."
Harry recoiled. "What? I didn't take your father! I don't even know who your father is!"
The Dark Lord came closer, an icy spark growing in his eyes. "You do and you have your whole life. You took my father from me twice, the second time for good. And I will never forget about that."
Harry just stared aghast at the deranged man, while Hermione gasped behind him, as if discovering something he didn't know. He glanced to Ginny and saw silent tears sliding down her cheeks. "I don't know what your talking about," Harry said. "Your father? I took him from you twice? But – how? I mean – I..." his jaw dropped as sudden, harsh, realization came crashing upon him. "No!"
"Oh yes, Harry. You banished my father when I was only a boy, and just when I didn't think I would ever see him again, he came back to me. But then, barely three years later, you took him again. I understood then what I ha to do. You had to die for what you did to me."
"Your father..." Harry breathed. "Voldemort..."
"Yes. You didn't see that one coming did you?" The Dark Lord said, smiling a dark smile, as the eyes he inherited from Tom Riddle, flashed in deadly thoughts of revenge.
. . . - - - . . . - - - . . .
Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter and never will.
wipes forehead with back of hand
Whoa...
How long is that It's huge! And I still didn't get to where I wanted to go! That's the longest thing I've ever written! Don't expect another chapter of that length in a while. I can't believe I wrote that!
So... how was it? And the ending... lol, priceless. That was for all you who didn't know who the Dark Lord was. "Yes. You didn't see that one coming did you?" Haha. 19 and a half pages! Almost ten thousand words! I will never get over it. But I feel a strange sense of accomplishment, if I came first in an exceedingly hard test. Strange... though good!
So, thanks to those that have reviewed, and I hope this is to your standard!
Oh yes, and I better add that I now have a Yahoo!Group. The URL is in my profile, under Homepage. So, click that, and then it will redirect you to the Group. It's got all my stories up there plus any other things I want to write. Post messages and reviews, whatever you feel like. I hope to see you there!
Later Days...
DW
Ps. Poor Hestia! She wasn't meant to die, but she got caught in the crossfire of my mind! Sniff. And I was just starting to like her. Though, for the next chapter, prepare for more deaths.