Harry Potter and the Guardian of Light
Chapter 10: The Third Piece of the Devil
Disclaimer: I don't own this great series of books.
A/N: And here is chapter 10, cheers.
After receiving the letter from McGonagoll he was unsure whether he should accept it as a favor, or deny it to her for the obvious reasons. Not only did people think he was a kidnapper but hogwarts wasn't as safe as it appeared to be his first year.
He almost immediately had Ron gather some of the others for a meeting in the new room. Sitting in his throne like chair he watched Hermione,Ginny and Talon walk in followed by Ron, Luna, Neville and Cho...his inner circle of subjects you could call them.
When everyone was assembled he sighed slightly "Well everyone, i had Ron retrieve all of you because i got a letter from McGonagoll. She has asked me to substitute as defense against the dark arts teacher...it seems the new one disappeared."
Hermione blinked a few times processing the new information before finally speaking "You can't harry! It would be a perfect chance for voldemort to get you, being all alone and all!"
Ron groaned, once again he disagreed with Hermione. "Are you crazy? What if he took the last teacher? Then those kids need to be taught to defend themselves, and who better then Harry!"
Neville thought it over for a moment before smiling "I think Ron is right...anyway Harry could always come back after classes were over, he doesn't have to spend nights there you know"
Hermione groaned slightly looking at Harry who seemed to agree with them "Well! Can you at least take someone else with you...like a teachers assistant?" Cho would have volunteered for that except for the fact Harry would probably be arrested and her checked for the Imperious curse.
"Well i guess that would be alright...but who do i take?" Everyone seemed interested and he quickly sighed, he thought about taking Ginny or Hermione...but Emotions might distract him. Finally he decided that he and Ron would fool around to much and smiled "I'll take...Neville" At his friends shocked look he smiled "What do you say?" When he nodded Harry Stretched "Well then meeting adjourned."
He made sure to put in his letter the fact he would not spent nights at hogwarts, but instead leave school grounds and aparate back to there new mansion. Sighing slightly he retreated into the study where he found Hermione...still studying as always. "What are you reading?"
Looking up from her book for only a moment she smiled "Famous traitors to the Ministry...though i might find something on Rab..." With a nod Harry slipped into a chair. Pulling out his new book. He wondered why Talon had been so intent on him taking this book...necromancy...what was it exactly?" He felt Hermione lay her head in his lap as she continued to read and chuckled reading the introduction.
Necromancy is a strong and powerful ability capable of reanimated the dead, not to live again but to fight for your own goals, keeping the form of a lifeless slave. From the mastering of this hard to learn skill you can literally bring skeletons from miles below the earth, up from there graves to defend you. A body that has the raw magical energy to preform such feats will undergo changes almost immediately. Within days a master of this magic will feel stronger, as if he can take on the world alone.
For an already powerful wizard to learn this magic is to receive the power to make armies, which obey every command without hesitation. From This stems the ability to make and control Skeletons, Mummies, zombies, Dementors, and vampires if the user can master the partial Death spell. Vampires are by far the hardest to control because they were never actually dead, but only partially so to the point blood is needed to sustain them. There independent minds make them very rebellious and much magical energy is needed to command such fierce creatures.
Despite the fact he was sickened with the fact of transforming someone into something so...horrifying, he still continued to read. Hermione smirked slightly at his concentration, leaning up to give him a kiss. She swiftly broke it as she heard a loud shatter.
The two teens whipped there heads toward the door to see a horrified Ron with a broken cup in pieces below him, Hermione quickly jumped up seeing his hurt expression. Cringing slightly Harry sighed...he definatly didn't mean him to find out like this "L-listen Ron...i can explain"
It was obvious Ron was not looking for an explanation as his fists balled up "I suspected something...but i kept saying that you would never do that to me Harry! Well obviously i was wrong wasn't i! You have fame, glory, and my little sister! But once again Harry Potter has to have everything doesn't he!"
When Harry attempted to speak he cut him off quickly...the same happened for Hermione "I don't want to hear your dam excuses ok! You just can't help but make sure i am always stuck behind you with nothing i have ever wanted!" Harry saw Ron's fist go white from the pressure just before it connected roughly with his cheek.
As Harry was thrown to the floor he cringed slightly rubbing his cheek a hurt look in his eyes while Hermione kneeled to check on him. "RON! How could you? He has been nothing but your friend..." With a grunt Ron turned and raced out of the room slamming the study doors behind him.
Passing through the kitchen he promptly stopped by his sister as she made tea "Do you know that your 'boyfriend' is also going out with Hermione?" Wincing at the sound in her brothers voice she let out a long sigh "Yes i do Ronald and no i will not break up with him, it has been...worked out"
Picking his jaw up from the floor Ron couldn't help but stared wide eyes at his sister, here she was allowing Harry Potter to go out with other women probably because she was scared he wouldn't keep her around. "I can't...believe you!"
Ginny watched her brother storm up the steps and listened to his door slam echo throughout the huge mansion before shaking her head. Heading into the study she saw Hermione nurturing Harry's cheek despite his objections "So he found out did he?"
Nodding slightly Hermione placed her hands slowly at her hips "Yes he did, and then hit Harry! I should march right up there and hit him back for you!" At Ginny's scowl towards her brothers actions harry sighed "Relax! It's nothing serious...he could have Hexed me instead...plus i deserved it, i did know he liked you after all..."
Smiling sweetly Hermione brought her hand up to his cheek "That's sweet...but it still doesn't excuse him! He had his chance, gave him 6 years of school to make a move, but he waited so long i realized it was you i loved...should have realized it after the yule ball though..."
With that Harry grinned "Oh...yes you were absolutely stunning...you have no idea how much it took not to drool..." Hitting him playfully over the head Hermione smirked pressing against him "If you play your cards right...i may just dress up like that again..."
Chuckling slightly Ginny slid into a chair "Oh no compliment to me?" Rubbing the back of his head he pried his eyes off Hermione "You looked great Ginny...and as Neville tells it your quite the dancing girl"
There conversations were over as Luna came bursting into the room looking absolutely ecstatic. As Harry attempted to calm her down the bushy haired bookworm scowled "What did they find a horn freckled whatever..."
Shaking her head quickly Luna smiled dreamily "I found the initials R.A.B" The silence in the room was broken only when Hermione rushed forward "No way! Let me see!" Taking the book from Luna she quickly read through the paragraph "Oh Merlin i think she's got it!"
Reading it over once again Hermione grinned "Reinald Aron Brockofether, employed by the ministry as an auror, thrown out after being proven a Death Eater. Attempted to return to the Aurors by bribing them with important information, saying that he was tricked and now betrayed his former master."
Passing it over to Harry she patted Luna on the shoulder. Harry smiled slightly "This is great Luna, we will definatly have to check this out...why don't you two go see what you can find about where he might be now" The two bookworms nodded and flew out the door.
It was late that night when Luna and Hermione returned to the conscious world with there information, and the entire circle of Lord Potter formed in the conference room, even Ron, of course he still refused any attempt to be talked to and mostly showed up because of his sisters threat of a bat-boogy hex.
As the last of them were seated the two girls stood up, Luna smiling brightly as she spoke "It seems Reinald lives in a large tower like mansion with countless floors" At everyones looks she shook her head and continued "he lives alone near a secluded forest except for the staff of wizarding servants under his command"
When the various information from personality, test scores in school to various crimes committed was finally over talon stared closely at his apprentice "Well then, do you want to head out immediately or wait awhile before tackling this Horcrux?"
Sighing slightly Harry slumped back in his seat closing his eyes for a moment "We should make some preparations, we need to get going immediately." with slow nods the room slowly emptied except for Talon "You know Harry you really are pushing yourself a little to hard..you will be lucky to come out of this war alive"
Sighing slightly Harry smiled slowly standing with a long held back yawn "I know that Talon...but no one else can do it..if i don't make it i will go down making sure Voldemort can no longer cause his trouble..."
Nodding slowly Talon headed towards the door "Alright then, don't forget to keep up your studies though, you will need every spell you can master to overcome a dark lord with more secret spells then any wizard i know..." As he watched his mentor leave Harry let out a drawn out chuckle.
"It amazes me how he seems to know so much about voldemort...i wonder what his story is" Leaving the room slowly Harry slipped into his white robes taking his staff and a small pouch of items which could eventually be needed.
When the group assembled in the entrance hall even the new members of there little adventuring group were fitted in white robes with some sort of animal on the front, thanks to Talon once again. Tapping his staff on the floor to gain the conversation fit kids attention Talon smiled "Ok well, let us go then?" when everyone except Ron nodded they all examined a picture of the woods and took it to memory, aparating away from the Potter Mansion.
As the last to arrive Neville grumbled dropping down from the branch he somehow ended up in, brushing leaves off of his robes. Silence overcame the talking group as they one by one noticed the size of the home, a giant tower like setup with spiraling steps on the outside twisting up to the top which was currently in the clouds, the empire state building couldn't even compare to the size of this titan of structures.
Sighing slightly Ginny groaned "Well this sure is going to be a long climb..." With the slow nods of the rest of the party they began the stair climbing adventure from Hell.
With what seemed like hours the top could finally be seen despite it still being a good distance up from them. Panting heavily Hermione blew a stray piece of hair from her eyes "We should have brought your dragon Harry...would have been so much easier"
With a quiet chuckle in between ragged breaths Harry slowly was able to get words out "yes...well...didn't...think...of...it" At the top they found was a magically supported house like structure much larger then the giant tower in width. Dropping down on the large balcony in front of the door the only sounds flowing in the air to each others ears were the harsh breaths of there friends.
Harry could practically taste the sweat on his body while he slowly pulled himself to his feet supported by his staff "Well...anyone alive enough to walk should come on." His ears were filled with the groans of everyone while they slowly forced there legs to bring them up, Talon being the only one not completely dead.
He soon noticed the still sitting body of Ron who stared out into air "I'm not going...go on without me" he turned down the pasturing protests of some of his 'friends' before they finally sighed and left through the door, his eyes widened when someone riding a giant bird hit him with a slumber spell and took his sleeping form.
A/N: Dun Dun Dun, Ron is gone for a reason.