I'm back! Let's do this, everybody! And Happy Birthday to me!
The red gargoyle was numb all over at the sight of his former rival, as Macbeth sat down in a chair in front of him, smirking.
"Yes, lad, it is I, and probably not very welcoming for yeh, even after saving your life."
Brooklyn folded his arms. "Probably could've handled them myself," he snapped bitterly, looking away, not wanting Macbeth to see him blush.
Macbeth just chuckled at the young gargoyle's foolish bravery. "I'm sure you could've. But tell me, what had happened to you to meet a boy like Harry Potter to be chased by Snatchers?" He asked.
Brooklyn wasn't sure to tell him his story, since he had fought against Macbeth and Demona before. Macbeth noted his mistrust.
"I know you have many reasons not to trust me, but I won't use your story against you. I swear," he said, putting a hand over his chest then raising his other one.
Brooklyn decided to take it, for now like Peter, and began to tell Macbeth everything, from Puck's spell to Malfoy Manor, even adding in that Snape had killed Dumbledore, which quite shocked Macbeth, but the warrior really liked the bonding story between Brooklyn and the child.
When Brooklyn finished, Macbeth remained silent for a bit, having no words, rubbing his temples, finding hard to fathom how much Brooklyn had to go through to help his bond brother defeat this Dark Wizard he had been hearing about.
"I think there could possibly be a way you could achieve back your Stone Sleep, lad, there was a item I had found one time in my travels that could help."
Brooklyn's eyes widened in excitement at the idea of being able to have his Stone Sleep again. "What is it?" He asked. Macbeth got up and dug through a closet, until he found a pendant, almost like those Una had.
The red gargoyle stared, wide eyed at it. "This is an ancient amulet I received from an old woman I met once, it can allow one gargoyle to turn to stone whenever he/she desires, not just during the day. They simply have to hold onto it, and think about turning to Stone.
Been holding onto this for who knows how long, not sure why I kept it, but just had to. And now that I found a gargoyle who can actually use it…" he held it out to Brooklyn, who took it.
"Macbeth, this is…" Brooklyn gaped, still not having any words.
"There's no thanks needed, lad. Your Stone Sleep could probably now fix yer sprained ankle and that scar on your shoulder," he said.
Brooklyn though, had another idea of how to thank him. "Macbeth, since I've been trying to find my brother, Harry, it's been rather tiresome traveling alone. And you did save me. So...so I would like the company, if you want to," he mumbled, looking down after putting the amulet on.
The old warrior looked a little hesitant about being a part of this. "This is a rather big favor to be asking of me. And since your friend Demona is involved and our connection is still active I really don't know. I just wanted a quiet remainder of days away from it all," he said.
Brooklyn nodded in understanding. "It's okay, I won't force you to come, I'll just stay here for the night and continue on tomorrow," he said in a small melancholy tone, getting up, wincing a little from his ankle.
"Sure, lad, you can stay for the night." Macbeth said, seeing the loneliness in Brooklyn's eyes and now feeling a little guilty for turning him down.
Brooklyn managed to find a spot where he can turn to Stone, and remembering what Macbeth said about the amulet, closed one hand around it, concentrating, and adding turning back to flesh in the morning, which is the time he needed to leave.
He growled feeling the familiar stone skin covering him, and he felt himself slipping into sleep, as he turned once again into stone after all those years without it.
The next morning, Brooklyn roared, breaking through the Stone skin, sighing in relief, feeling much better after a night of Stone Sleep. He smiled as he tested his sprained ankle on the floor, but no longer felt pain. The amulet really worked.
He had breakfast that Macbeth made him, which wasn't too bad, and was given more supplies like before with the family.
Just as Brooklyn thanked Macbeth for helping him and for the amulet, Macbeth stopped him before he used the door handle.
"Wait, Brooklyn, I had thought about what you have been saying, and decided it would be an honor to come with you. One can enjoy living alone for so long, and I can use some action," Macbeth said. Brooklyn looked quite happy at the idea of having someone come with him.
"Thank you for deciding to come, Macbeth, that really means a lot," he said in a happy tone, holding out his hand. Macbeth smiled too, as he shook Brooklyn's hand. He glanced once more at his cabin before closing and locking the door, for he already packed a bag for himself.
The two stared out into the distance. "Shall we?" Macbeth asked, as Brooklyn nodded. "Let's go find my brother," he said, and the unusual pair set off on their harrowing journey.
Macbeth and Brooklyn both traveled on for some time, beginning to enjoy each other's company more after their own solitude, two former enemies being able to come together. Brooklyn found himself being reminded of Hudson more and more from Macbeth, that made him happy and sad at the same time.
Once, Brooklyn and Macbeth encountered wild Dementors who had attacked them. Brooklyn ordered Macbeth to stay behind him, blocking out the feelings of misery, thinking of Harry and pointing his wand.
"Expecto Patronum!" He roared, and Macbeth gazed in wonder as he saw Brooklyn's Phoenix Patronus for the first time knocking back the dementors into the darkness away from them.
"Mighty impressive," Macbeth said, nodding his approval, for Brooklyn had told him earlier about patronuses.
...
Eventually Brooklyn decided that the one possible way to find Harry was to go to Hogwarts, but not directly to the front gates themselves, and send a Patronus to his little brother to meet him there. That sounded like a plan to MacBeth, who wanted to see Hogwarts for himself.
The two made it to the far side of the Black Lake that was deemed far enough away from Hogwarts so they couldn't be detected, while giving Macbeth a pretty good view of the castle.
Brooklyn proceeded to set up the tent he required from a kind man during their journey.
"So, how's old Goliath been?" Macbeth asked, while he gathered wood for a fire.
"He's still pretty much the same Goliath, a good leader and still cares for each of us," Brooklyn replied. "But what about you? From what I heard, you haven't seen Goliath since he helped you in France," he said.
"Like I said, not much since then, still tryin' to find the one true love out there for me, but haven't found her yet." He said. Brooklyn smiled.
"I'm sure you'll find her one day, it had been the same with me trying to find my own mate. But there's this one girl, she's human, that I formed another bond with. She's at Hogwarts with my Rookery brothers right now. Her name is Katie Bell."
"Sounds like a good looking lass you have there," Macbeth commented, as the two of them eventually decided to bunk for the evening by the water, Brooklyn casting out enchantments to hide themselves.
"Yeah, I'll be glad to see her again when all this is over and he's gone," Brooklyn agreed, starting to pull out the tent the father he met earlier had been kind enough to give him. Thankfully for them he made sure not to say Voldemort's name out loud anymore, he didn't want to have to go through the whole Malfoy Manor incident again.
Brooklyn was getting ready to send his Patronus when Macbeth noticed something on the horizon, a huge flying something. "Brooklyn, look over yonder," he said, pointing. The red gargoyle glanced upward, eyes widening, as he spotted what was flying. Oh boy, was that a dragon?
As it came closer, he recognized it as the largest breed, an Ukranian Ironbelly, as fierce as the Horntail and bigger than the Horntail. It roared, seeing the duo on the ground. Brooklyn drew his wand, telling Macbeth to get behind him. Macbeth frowned.
"I can handle a dragon, lad, I don't need protection—!" He shouted, as the beast blasted fire in their direction, causing Brooklyn to shove Macbeth out of the way of its inferno.
"I'm sure you can, but I owe you, so you're under my watch," Brooklyn shouted back.
Macbeth narrowed his eyes, but then agreed what Brooklyn said made sense.
Amidst the chaos, Brooklyn at first thought he was hallucinating, but voices could be heard from where the dragon was, and sounded awfully familiar.
"We're dropping!" Yelped one voice, as the Ironbelly glided above the Black Lake. That really did sound like Ron. But how did they get on a dragon?
Brooklyn gasped as he saw the three people fall off the Ironbelly into the water, and they were struggling to stay afloat.
"What are you doing, lad?" Called Macbeth as Brooklyn took his amulet and saddlebag off, handing it to him.
"I think my friends were on that dragon, I have to save them!" He shouted, taking in a breath, then jumping into the air, he dove into the water.
Brooklyn swam through it, seeing the people before him, and noting one who was having trouble keeping his head afloat. That must be Harry! Please let it be him! Brooklyn prayed silently, breast stroking as hard as he could to Harry, reaching out with his hand and managing to grab his brother's arm, gripping him close, and swimming to the surface, memories of the second task coming back to him when he saved Gabrielle like this.
He broke the surface, gasping as he struggled to swim to shore, already seeing Ron and Hermione on the shore where Macbeth was, who was helping them.
Brooklyn pulled himself onto the shore, panting heavily as he laid Harry next to him. Harry glanced around at who saved him, and his eyes rounded. It couldn't be…
"B-Brooklyn?!" He choked, feeling tears filling his eyes at the sight of his big brother once again after so long. Brooklyn put on a small grin. "Hey, little bro," he greeted in a breathless voice.
Harry felt himself starting to sob, embracing Brooklyn in a hug, remembering like it was only yesterday that he had lost his brother to Bellatrix, having nightmares about what they would do to him, and now here he was, back with him and his friends like Harry had dreamed of.
It's gonna be fun doing the finale as long as I have my fans to help! Not sure with Demona whether to reform her or not. Maybe she can do some sort of sacrifice in the end or something. Let me know.
