Return Of The Elemental
Chapter 23 – Trial And Error
It had been 4 days since Harry had been taken into Ministry custody and Hermione was beside herself with worry. She knew that Harry had somehow shut down their mind link, well it was either that or he was hurt.
No, don't go there again Hermione. She thought to herself. She was currently waiting in the Order of the Phoenix room, lost in her own thoughts whilst all the others turned up. She completely ignored Dumbledore as he got up to speak, she ignored everybody.
It wasn't till a small gasp from her made everybody realise that she was there. She blushed and ducked her head to avoid the stares than opened her mind up to the one who had contacted her.
/ Harry? Are you alright/ Hermione sent quietly.
/ I'm fine Hermio… / Harry tried to say, but what little breath he held in his body wouldn't allow him.
/ Harry what's wrong/ She asked hurriedly. But instead of hearing his voice again she received images of all the things that had taken place whilst he had been held in the Ministry dungeons. She witnessed second hand, all the pain, the hurt and betrayal he had gone through.
If anyone was looking at Hermione's posture and face during these times they would have compared the head girl to a bomb that was just about ready to go off.
The last image that Harry sent was the one of the traitor Dante, using the hate filled Cruciatus Curse on him. That was it for Hermione, she stood up and a dangerous wind started to pick up around the room, parchment and quills flying round everywhere.
Hermione ignored it all though as she turned her white eyed gaze upon Dante, who looked as though he had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
'You will pay for what you have done.' Hermione spoke in an eerie voice, a voice that was laced with power. In a flash, 'Hope' was in her hand and pointed directly at Dante's heart. With a wave of her staff she had thrown the swirling winds in the office directly at Dante. The wind crashed into the traitor's chest and heaved him backwards till he collided with the back wall with a force that obviously had broken a few bones.
Hermione then stalked over to Dante's crumpled form and waved her staff once more. Ropes flew out and wrapped themselves around the unconscious object. Satisfied with her work she let the winds die down, and with it her wavy hair and her white blank eyes returned to normal.
Without saying a word she apparated out of Hogwarts and into the dungeons that were Azkaban, then, hoping it would work she apparated into Harry's cell and dropped Dante unceremoniously on the floor. Looking up at the Death Eaters fiercely she lifted her staff up and said.
'Anyone who can give me the names of Death Eaters that work in the Ministry will be greatly rewarded, you have 2 minutes.' She then conjured the right amount of parchment and quills and watched as some of the greedier cell mates reach swiftly for the two commodities and start writing furiously.
When it was all done she collected the parchment and was about to leave when one of the greedy Death Eaters spoke up.
'Ya said ya would reward us greatly din ya?'
Hermione then turned a cool gaze on the man.
'Be grateful I don't kill you.' She then left back to the Order room where all conversation stopped upon seeing her. She made her way calmly back to her seat and sat down, ignoring everyone but Dumbledore.
'Dante was a traitor, I have taken him to Azkaban and whilst I was there I picked up some names of other Death Eaters who are working at the Ministry. It is all here, now if you'll excuse me I think I'd like to go to bed.' She then stood up and handed the documents to Dumbledore and apparated back to her room where she tried to contact Harry again.
/ Harry? I did it sweetie, I got Dante, his in your cell at Azkaban. Are you alright/ She said tearfully.
/ I will be… / He replied breathlessly as the connection died once again.
Hermione then spent that night trying to get to sleep, but couldn't, knowing that right now Harry was probably being tortured because he was being the man he was. She prayed that night and hoped that the trial would speed up just so she could see her beloved again. Crying pitifully she fell into an uneasy sleep, dreaming that Harry was selling fairy floss but telling her she couldn't have any because she wasn't special.
Harry blinked his eyes open slowly. Rubbing a hand over his cheek he felt the roughness of stubble. Trying to lift his other hand proved fruitful due to its dislocation. It had happened during one of his lasts bouts with the Cruciatus Curse. Wondering if it was all worth it, he tried to sit up but failed and just slumped back down on the mouldy floor.
Hearing the looks being played with, he readied himself for another dose of the Unforgivable.
'Well Potter, it seems as though its time to say goodbye, although don't worry I don't want to let you go without giving you my farewell present.' The silky voice of Winston Ramosa said amusedly as he placed Harry under the Cruciatus.
Harry screamed out as his left dislocated arm moved at an impossible angle and snapped again. Finally the curse was lifted and he felt two pairs of hands roughly lift him and drag him to what he guessed would be his trial. Trying hard not to yell every time his body moved he prepared his mind for the beating it was about to take. He knew he would get Veriteserum and he knew how the truth potion worked. And with his brain already on fire from his latest Cruciatus he was wondering slightly if he would turn out as mad as a cut snake.
Hearing a gasp in his head, he looked up and was surprised to see that he had arrived in the courtroom. The gasp in his head belonged to his sweetheart and he tried to smile but only could manage a grimace for her and he was saddened to see a tear fall down her pale face. He winced as he was thrown into the chair and gasped as chains held his legs and arms in place just like he witnessed back in Dumbledore's pensieve all those years ago.
Looking for the man now he was surprised to see a burning fire in the man's usually kind blue eyes. In fact everyone who was there for him seemed to be angry in one way or another.
I wonder why. He thought briefly, but then turned his eyes on the Minister and sneered at the poor excuse for a man.
'I hereby bring this trial to order. Firstly I would like to apologise to you on behalf of Mr Potter for his appearance, all week he has been trying to get himself hurt whilst he has been staying in one of the luxurious rooms in the Ministry. Obviously he wanted to try and blame something on us, I don't know, I don't understand how a murderer's mind works. For that is what Mr Potter is, a murderer.' Ramosa then looked down at Harry and barked.
'Administer the Veriteserum.' A small man then came out of the shadows and tilted Harry's head back and dropped 3 drops of the potion in his mouth. Already Harry could feel its effects. His brain was being ripped apart as it sorted all his memories into one gigantic bowl. His eyes became clouded as his view took place right behind his eyes. Vaguely he heard the first question being asked.
'You are Harry James Potter, are you not?' Ramosa started.
'Yes.' Harry replied.
'Where have you been these last couple of years?'
'Travelling.'
'Where have you been travelling?'
'All over the world.'
'You are trying my patience Mr Potter, where have you been?'
'Australia, Nepal, the Pacific and some Islands.'
'Finally and why were you there?'
'Training.' Harry's monotone voice replied simply. He was quite lucky that he had such an incompetent interrogator
'With whom?'
'A friend.' You could see that these answers were causing Ramosa grief, and as a vein pulsed out of his neck he shouted.
'Did you kill Reece McCullum?'
'Yes.' There it was, the truth was finally revealed and the murmurs went round the room as Harry sat there limply and Ramosa stood there with a feral grin on his face.
'What are you?' He shouted over the noise of the audience before anyone could stop him.
'An Elemental.' Harry said. The whole courtroom went silent at this statement as everyone looked stupidly at Harry.
'A what?' Ramosa asked again triumphantly.
'An Elemental.'
'What's an Elemental?'
'Someone who controls the elements.'
'Are you telling me Mr Potter, that you belong to a legendary race that has been dead and gone for over 1000 years?'
'Yes.' That was it, the gathered reporters went berserk as they scribbled down the information that had just passed Harry's mouth.
'Very well, I think we've gotten all the information we need. Administer the antidote.' The small man then came back and dropped 3 drops of a black potion down Harry's throat.
'Harry Potter, I hereby sentence you to a life imprisonment at Azkaban. You shall pay for the wrongdoings that you have caused the Wizarding world. And as is ruled by Wizarding law, your wand or staff will be broken.' A roar of disbelief went up as Ramosa gave his verdict, surely they wouldn't lock away the one person who was doing something good. Even the reporters stopped writing to look at the mad Minister. They all then watched as he brought Harry's staff up in the air and then was about to smash it when Harry's voice halted him.
'Will you be doing me the honours of taking me to Azkaban, minister?' He wheezed. Ramosa turned around and sneered, Harry continued on.
'Just think of the headline, Minister Ramosa, shuts down dangerous villain. You'll be in all the papers around the world.' If there was one thing that Harry knew about Death Eaters, it was their greed. Already he could see Ramosa's sneer turn into a victorious grin. 'You could even smash my staff there.' He added.
'You know your right Mr Potter. Carson, you and your photographer can come and do the coverage.'
'Might I suggest Rita Skeeter as well? She can do a report for Witch Weekly, who knows, you might even be in the running for there most charming smile award.' Harry just kept giving it and the Minister kept lapping it up.
'Yes, your right. Right well, let's be off shall we?' He then walked forward and waved his wand making the shackles slither back into there places. He then ordered two men to pick Harry up and lead the way out of the courtroom with himself and both Carson and Skeeter behind him.
Sending a tired wink back over his shoulder to Hermione, Harry let his head slump forward as he started his journey to Azkaban.
'Yes, you stay like that Minister, yes, exactly like that. Yeah grab him by the scruff of his neck and point his own staff at him. Oh, it's magic, now just hold the pose.' Nicholas Carson said passionately. He was jumping around from here to there as he told his photographer to take the pictures of a defeated looking Harry who was being held by the proud minister.
'Right, now smash his staff, Winston.'
'Wait. Wouldn't it be better if we do this in the cell? That way you can show the world that I will be defenceless against all the people I have captured.' Harry said enthusiastically.
'Yeah, alright.' Ramosa said gullibly.
They all then made there way into the cell. Carson and Ramosa first and then all the Aurors that had come with the minister and lastly the few Aurors that were standing guard at Azkaban. All stood around and looked at Harry who was-.'
'Where is he?' Ramosa shouted.
'Excuse me minister, I was just tying my shoelace, could you come back out here to pick me up, I just feel a bit weak due to all the Cruciatus Curses you put on me.' He then whispered out of the side of his mouth. 'Are you getting all this Rita?'
'Of course Harry dear.' The excited reporter said as she watched her quick quills feather fly across the page.
'Excellent. Minister, why aren't you coming, I can't get up.'
'I'm trying you little shit, but I cant there's something stopping me.'
'Really?' Harry said, shocked. 'Can none of you get out?' He then watched pleased as one by one the Aurors and Carson hit his shield and bounced back. He then gingerly got to his feet.
'Mione.' He said and smiled as the warmth and power of his staff filled his veins. Checking it over he was happy to notice that not a scratch was on it.
'How did you do that?' Ramosa positively blanched.
'Magic.' Harry replied, smiling at the shocked looks he was receiving. He then waved his staff and the cell door sealed itself again. With another wave all the new prisoners' wands flew to him and he smashed them with a blast of magic.
'I'll be seeing round Ramosa.'
'You're too late Potter!' Ramosa snapped. Harry turned round and looked at him to see that Ramosa was sneering at him.
'What?'
'I wonder how Hogwarts will feel with Dementors for professors.' He said evilly, smirking as he saw Harry apparate away quickly.
When Harry arrived at Hogwarts his breath got caught in his throat. A sea of Dementors was on the front lawns making there way up to the school. All feelings of the Cruciatus were gone as Harry took in the scene. The teachers and higher year students were all out in a line in front of the massive force moved towards. He apparated again and landed right in front of the line of Hogwarts defenders.
Smiling grimly at some of the stunned faces, he sent a quick glance to Hermione before he lifted his staff and shouted.
'EXPECTO PATRONUM.' The ghostly forms of his guardians appeared as well as his faithful Prongs. He then watched as his guardians and Prongs charged the mass of hooded figures. The shrieks filled the night as Harry's Patronuses contacted with the Dementors.
Charged on by their hero, the rest of the Hogwarts defenders sent out their patronuses. In the corner of his eyes Harry saw a familiar Otter swimming through the air towards the Dementors. New shrieks filled the air as the demons were charged away. But they didn't stop, they kept coming, like a never ending tide. Harry and Dumbledore sent more and more but soon they couldn't continue and Dumbledore dropped to a knee. Harry tried to stay strong and even called all his guardians out of his staff and sent them on their way.
Blaze seemed to be doing something with his song and more shrieks filled the air as the hope song of the Phoenix attacked their beings. The attack doubled as Emmeris flew in from the owlery and sung with Fawkes. Tallis slashed and bit at the cloths that were the Dementors and Taipan blew fire at the intruders but still they came.
'Harry, we must retreat inside Hogwarts, we can do now more.' Dumbledore said from behind him. Harry nodded and was about to follow the old man and the rest of the defenders back inside when he heard a roar from Tallis.
He turned round and paled. His Earth guardian was surrounded by a hoard of Dementors. Harry started running ignoring everyone that called to him. He felt another pain stab his chest. As Tallis was slashed with a sword across his right leg.
Another, as a sword swiped the lion's chest. And pain, all he knew was pain as his heart exploded.
He knew why, for when he looked up through tear filled eyes he saw a sword pierced through the centre of Tallis's broad chest. Another one of his friends had died. Taipan and Blaze let out a roar and trill of anguish, another of their fold had been lost.
Let it out Potter. Let it go. A voice snapped in his head.
Harry stared and called Blaze and Taipan back into his staff. He then walked forward towards his fallen friend. He could feel his heart swell with pain as a Dementor pulled the weapon that had murdered Tallis, his blood slid down the blade and ran off the end to land on his golden fur. He then watched dazedly as the Dementor looked directly at him and brought the blade to where its mouth was and somehow devoured the blood of his friend.
Let it out Potter. NOW. The voice shouted.
Harry did. The power that he had felt bubbling inside him erupted out. His eyes darkened to that of black spots, his staff raised above his head and he brought it down, hard on the ground. The ground shook and the sky grew darker as though someone was turning down the lights. Harry's form stood out from the dark. His aura was pulsing as he moved closer and closer to Tallis and his killers.
'Die.' And with that simple word, Harry brought his hands up to the sky and screamed.
The sky opened up and lighting bolts of red and blue came down and turned the Dementors into a melting blob. Those that weren't hit tried to glide away, but Harry released more lighting, this time greens and white joined the highlight of colours and more dark menaces fell, their dying wails would haunt the grounds of Hogwarts for ever.
'Die.' Harry said again. This time a single black lighting bolt came down and hit the ground. As soon as it hit, a force moved out in all directions and hunted down the rest of the escaping Dementors, killing them instantly.
When it was all over Harry dropped to his knee's and buried his face into Tallis bushy mane. He wept and sobbed as yet another of his friends was lost.
'You were a great friend Tallis. May you find happiness in your next journey, may it be more peaceful then this one.' He then waved his staff and Tallis swirled into a mist and vanished back into the stone.
Getting up, Harry looked around at the wreckage that he had caused.
Good Potter, I will come for you tonight. The voice said softly but Harry ignored it as he saw a small group of people hovering around someone. He began running, he pushed people out of the way and made his way to the front.
'NO.' He yelled. Dropping to his knee's he once again stuck his face in a bushy mane.
'She was still trying to fight. She wouldn't leave you.' Dumbledore said sadly.
'Hermione, Hermione, Hermione, Hermione wake up please. Hermione.' Harry said over and over again.
'She wont wake Harry… she has been kissed.' Dumbledore said fatally.
'Shut up. Shut up.' He then picked Hermione's limp form up in his arms and apparated them both to their room in Gryffindor Tower. Placing Hermione down on the bed carefully he then took off her shoes and placed her under the covers, brushing the hairs off her pale face gently.
/ Hermione/ Harry sent through their link. But he received nothing.
He then lay down next to her and placed his head down on her chest, listening to the slow thump that was her heartbeat.
'Stay with me Hermione. Stay with me…'
Flyin Eagle