Chapter Fourteen

Who dares to awaken us?

Harry had left long before dawn. He made sure not even the werewolf could sniff him out this time. As he had told Draco, it was time to visit the stars. Sirius was always on his mind, always reliving his guilt. It was time to make his peace and put his only family to rest. He may have never known his parents but he hadat least knownhis Godfather. He loved the man, much like a son could a father. You were the only father I knew. The only father I had, even if you were an ex-con and on the run.

It was deceptivelyeasy to enter the Ministry since learning the arts of Circe. And now he stood before the one thing of his recent nightmares. The Veil. Or as Mama Rhea had called it, the Guardians of the Veil, Guardians of Lost Souls and the Dead. She had mentioned a lot to him about it. But he wishedhe could have saved his Godfather. It was all he ever wanted, could ever want.

I love you, Sirius. And as much as I desire to save you I can't. Not if it meant the loss of those innocent to this war. No more bloodshed, no more missing, and no more broken families.

He had allowed the warm tears to fall. After all, he knew what he was giving up. His heart's desire, even if it was slightly different from First Year at Hogwarts when he desired his family, his parents.

And when his tears fell before the Veil, something slithered forward. Something sensed a presence before them. That same something recognized the signature. It was the same as the presence that had been there almost ten years before. Ten years ago when a living being had entered their Realm. And their Mistress had not been pleased.

Who dares to awaken us? They refused to show themselves, speaking in the foreign tongue of their creator.

Harry jumped as a strange sound echoed through his head and theroom. A memory of Mama Rhea talking about the tongue of the Guardians popped up. The Guardians speak the ancient languages of all tongues. But no-onehas been able to accurately speak of the Guardians nor have we been able to understand them. "Hello?"

Who dares to awaken us? They couldn't understand why no one answered them when clearly someone was standing before them. Who dares?

Harry closed his eyes, remembering. He always believed he was Harry, just Harry. But someone had said he was a great wizard, he just had to believe. With a deep breath, Harry did the one thing that always seemed to fail him. He believed. He believed that for once he was a great wizard, that he wasn'tjust Harry, that he was worthwhile. I dare.

The Guardians slithered in surprise as the first mortal being spoke their language. No one had ever managed such a feat, only their Mistress and Master. And you are?

I am called Harry Potter.

Why have you awakened us?

I did not. I only meant to say goodbye. And to await the arrival of my enemy.

Enemy? This was something they never understood. Their Mistress' mother always mentioned their Master as her enemy but never why. They only knew of the souls crossing over to their Realm to be sorted, to be judged, and to be placed.

Harry immediately understood. But how he could not question. He is not my enemy. I do not believe it. He was someone who everyone pushed aside. His life was terrible and he turned to the only thing never to fail him, the Dark. This they knew. Their Master was Dark. One had to be when dealing with the dead, especially the tortured souls. He never had anyone to depend upon, only himself. His past life led him down the path, torturing him further. He trusted no one, nothing. Not even those loyal to him. The Guardians said nothing as the young man before them began talking, almost as if he werealone. It seemed the young man was realizing something he had never known, something he was just learning, something no one seemed to understand. And Harry was. Harry was realizing why everyone feared Voldemort, why Voldemort hated.

The world made Tom Riddle into Voldemort. And they didn't want to own up to their mistake. They didn't want to realize that they had a hand in what they created. Nor did they want to fix it. They simply wanted to destroy something they made in hopes it wouldgo away and never return. But what they didn't know was that history always repeated itself. You can't hide your problems. You must fix them with hopes it will never be repeated. You must learn from the first mistake and hope it is never too late to fix.

And he knew Tom hated. Tom hated how life was dealt him. Voldemort was born simply because Tom had broken beneath the strain. He had no one to depend upon. The ones he thought he could trust never bothered with him, simply distrusted and suspected. No one bothered to help him when he needed it. Tom had hoped, had faith, thatsomething good would happen but every day soon grew worse as he realized no one cared. He had to return to the life he always knew, knowing he would always return. The Dark whispered in his ear as he grew to depend on it. Soon he grew to realize it was time for a change but he didn't realize Tom would be lost forever, never knowing he could have had a friend. Voldemort grew hungry for power and revenge. It led him to the life he now lived, a life of fear, hatred, and bloodshed. Nothing but Death and Dark.

He had no one. No one who cared. No one to own up to their mistake. And that is why they turned on me. He and I are alike. We are the same. We've seen the terrible, the reality. We knew the shades of gray as the Dark whispered in our ears. But I had a light. I had a chance. I had the loyalty, the love, the friendship, the reason to thrive. I knew I had to return to my reality with the knowledge that someone cared. Ron cared. He willingly rescued me from my life knowing he would be in trouble with the Ministry and his mother. Tom didn't have that.

Tom? Who is this Tom?

Someone buried beneath the Dark. A lost soul since the Dark took over. Harry mentally shook his jumbled thoughts aside. He could feel the link growing stronger. Voldemort seemed happy and would soon arrive. May we bargain?

You wish a living soul. They may have not understood many things in life nor had many understood them but they knew about bargains. Lady Demeter tried to bargain for their Mistress' freedom, when she did not wish to leave her husband's side.

And Harry could not lie. Something said not to, not if he wished to bargain with such ancient beings. My heart desires him. He was family. The only father I knew even if law dictated him as my Godfather. But I cannot condone such travesties upon the innocent of this world. Nor can I hurt those of my life more than they are now. It is not fair nor is it right. I cannot fall back on my selfish desires. I have done that already and my life fell apart. No. What I desire now is to free someone who deserves it. The Dark has destroyed many lives because one had abused it in hopes of gaining respect, love, and trust.

No one is Light nor Dark. Our Master knew this.

One cannot live without the other. And I am destined to defeat the other. Or allow Voldemort to overrule Tom. I want to save Tom. He deserves a life of friends, love, and loyalty. He deserves what he never had.

And the one we have? He stays?

Tears gathered quickly, shimmering around emerald. Deep inside Harry could feel his entity howling in despair. Charon had wanted to see Sirius, wanted to run with him. Both had hoped to regain a pack member lost. Both knew their werewolf friend would also like to regain a lost member. He deserves it as well, innocent of what they charged him with. But he knew love, loyalty, and trust. He left behind his family, hoping for a light to carry him on. Two friends carried him. They were his life, his light. And when he lost them, revenge and Dark was his light. Until he knew me. I was then his light. He protected me, gave up his life for me. And I honor that. But I wish to show Tom that as well.

The Guardians grew quiet, leaving a nervous Harry behind. And none too soon as his scar exploded in pain. "Harry Potter. Finally returned to England." The hissing, serpentinevoice called out to the emerald-eyed male. "Welcome back, boy."

Harry turned to face his nemesisand his few truly loyal followers. "Tom."

"See any stars, my little one?" The screeching, babyish voice caused Harry to have shivers of disgust travel his spine.

"No, Lestrange. Only the Guardians."

Laughter smattered throughout the Death Eaters when a refined voice called out, "No such thing, Potter."

Harry smirked inwardly. He realized that Voldemort had just brought the inner circle, one of which was suspected as a spy. And he also realized that there were two others that old Voldie didn't know about. "Only if you know of Circe and the older legends, such as Gods."

But what none of them knew was that someone else was present. The Guardians had brought forth their Mistress. In their shadows she awaited to speak to the worthy mortal but instead she found the male occupied. Her voice low so only her Guardians could hear, he is the one?

Yes, Mistress. He speaks of a lost soul beneath the Dark, wishing to save him.

Ah, I understand. One of such innocence beneath the knowledgeableness. He is seasoned to the Dark but still remains innocent within the shadows. He has been tempted many times but has ways to keep from giving in. He is worthy. Bring my husband. He must know of this. She turned immortal eyes back to the scene as the Guardians slithered away into the shadows.

"Nowhere to run. No one to save you now, Potter. Everyone has left their savior."

"Those who never trusted me nor knew me haveleft me. Actually, they left what they thought was me, their golden savior. But those who truly count were always there. Did you not know that? I escaped going to Azkaban for a reason. I had help setting this all up. I knew that Fudge couldn't touch me outside England. And what better place than the Amazon. No living being has ever been able to map out the entire Amazon. I was safe from his clutches and any of those supporting him or you. I also learned that the Amazonians knew of magics long forgotten. I learned the olden ways of Circe. I even learned of the legendary Gods and their druid descendants."

And why have I been dragged from my bed? I have no souls to judge until later. My minions can handle this.

Ah, but my Lord husband, we have such a delicacy. It seems a worthy mortal since our immortal time has knowledge of our Guardians and language. He stands there, facing his enemy, in hopes of saving him from the Dark that consumes him.

And his price? It seemed her husband was wary of the boy's seeming gift. And he had reason to. Those who came to him to save a soul never listened to his warnings.

But this time it seemed that the young man had already named his price. Saving his enemy from the Dark that consumes him.

The true Dark Lord frowned, turning red eyes to the boy in question. Never had he seen someone willingly give up what they truly desired for a price. But as he looked deeper, he realized the boy was sacrificing himself. It seemed that's what the boy's life was all about. He was always giving something up to make others happy, hoping they wouldn't ask for more and knowing they would. And the more they asked the more he tried to give. Granted. I want that soul. Now.

The Guardians quivered in anticipation as they swirled about, waiting. Their Master accepted the worthy one's bargain. He was giving up his heart's desire for the saving of another. "Goodbye, Harry Potter."

It is goodbye of the Dark.

Voldemort froze as a strange sound flowed over him. He could not move a single finger. Confused, he tried calling out to his followers but someone else beat him to it, I want his Dark followers.

Harry realized what was happening as shadows flowed from the Veil at the feminine command, No! Not them! They were the ones to lead me this far. They were the ones who made me realize! He had willingly sacrificed himself again to protect three of the followers by throwing himself into the deadly grasp of the Guardians.

Unwillingly, the Guardians had turned their touch deadly as they grabbed the souls for their Master and Mistress. And had captured an innocent. Never had they made the mistake of grabbing the wrong soul. Mistress! Master!

They dropped the lifeless body to the cold floor, gently as they could. They took souls, not return them. "Harry?"

Three figures ripped away their masks in concern as they fell to their knees, shaking the slowly cooling form of Harry Potter. "What is going on here?"