As soon as he felt his body being twisted, the training that his friends had put him through kicked in. He landed on his feet and instantly put up a strong shield, as nothing came flying towards him, he took it down and took a careful sweep of the area. At first glance he had arrived in a cemetery, tombstones were placed in organised rows and few trees stood around the edges. The sky had darkened by now but he could clearly see several houses in the distance and a few smaller buildings around him. A noise had him spinning around quickly and dropping to the floor as a bolt of red came towards him. Quickly erecting a shield, he waited until it absorbed two other spells before leaping to the side and shooting off his own stupefy, incarcerous, immobulus and petrificus totalus. He hid behind a tombstone for a second to catch his breath and did a double take as he noticed the name on it read Riddle. He felt his heart sink and quickly disillusioned himself before rising from the behind his barrier as he realised no one was firing anything else.
A large lump of a person was sprawled on the floor in front of him as well as a package of some sort. As he focussed on it, his scar burst into fire and he quickly locked his occlumency shields in place as white spots darted in front of his vision and his stomach rolled.
"Harry Potter."
The voice sent shivers down his spine and caused his hair to stand on end. It was soft and hoarse like the owner was recovering from a disease. As quiet as it was Harry heard it plainly and he instantly put a hand to the stag hanging around his neck and whispered "Blackened Home." It took him a second to realise that there must be anti-portkey wards up as he didn't even feel a twitch. Taking a few steps to the side he took one forward to have a closer look at the figure he now recognised as Pettigrew but still out of sight of whatever form Riddle had taken.
"Ah there is no escape, boy."
A twisting in his gut gave Harry the feeling that he was probably right.
"I can sense your fear from here. I told you once that you could be great…You still can be. Join me."
"No."
"Then you are as foolish as your mother."
Seeing the body twitch again, Harry raised his wand to cast a stupefy when a smudge of movement out of the corner of his eye had him quickly turning before falling back in order to avoid the colossal snake that had tried to grab him. Getting to his feet he started to scramble back shooting containment charms and stunning spells at it. The snake was 12 feet long and as thick as Harry's two legs together, the fangs were long and snapped dangerously at him as the creature managed to twist out of the way just in time as the earth next to exploded. He pulled his knife from his boot and it lengthend in his hand and he swung sharply causing the creature to coil away.
"Nagini, do not kill merely keep." Riddle's voice eased over the sounds adding a hiss to it which Harry recognised as Parsletongue. Whatever the Dark Lord wanted him for, he at least wanted him alive for now; somehow Harry didn't find much comfort in that.
The snake struck once more and Harry decided to merely start running as he came up with a plan. Turning his back on the beast he moved quickly around the tombstones, casting a stronger disillusionment charm on himself as he went hoping it would mask his scent and casting several confusion and re-directional charms to keep the beast occupied and freeing his hands as he put the knife that had shrunk back in his boot.
As quickly and as quietly as he could he moved around the graves and made his way back through the grass to where he had left Riddle and Pettigrew. Unfortunately when he got back he realised that the traitor was already awake and free from his bounds. He had a large cauldron in front of him with a fire underneath it.
The potion! Harry's mind suddenly snapped onto it. They were going to do it right there and then!
"Wormtail. Finish with that and come. Give me your arm so I may call my followers to me once more, I am impatient to see who will return and who will flee. We will need their help to find Potter, clearly. I cannot wait until I am at my full power."
Harry heard a slight hissing to his left and once more ran to another part this time behind the area where Riddle and Pettigrew were and opposite where he handed landed with the cup. The cup! It was a portkey, maybe it could take him back the way he had come?
Catching sight of Nagini moving over one of the graves in front, he made another plan and started sketching a capture ward where he was, the ward used several runes that Daphne had taken great delight in showing him when dealing with angry animals. He had just finished doing one when a blinding pain shot through his skull causing him to cry out and clutch at his head, it was unlike anything he had felt before even with his dreams. He felt it echo through his mind and straight into his soul, carrying pain with a mingling of satisfaction. He wasn't 100% sure what had happened but the ting in his gut got stronger and so he quickly started to make his way back around hoping to near the cup without drawing attention to it or himself.
"Wormtail. Go and find Potter."
Not bloody likely. Harry thought to himself as he snuck around a pale white tombstone with ivy crawling over its edges.
He heard the now familiar whisper of a hiss and started creating a second ward before shuffling on. He was about 5 metres away from where had landed, 6 from the cup. Pettigrew was further away on the other side of the clearing and was using the point me charm as well as several other finding spells. Just as he decided to go around one of the leafless trees the Dark Lords voice rose from his blankets once more.
"Ah here they come."
Harry froze as loud pops echoed through the graveyard. Black-cloaked and white masked figures were appearing all over the place and they rushed to spread in a circle around their master.
"My lord?"
Harry's lip curled as he recognised the aristocratic voice of Lucius Malfoy.
"Hush Lucius. I know that my being is frightening. Wormtail is working on preparing my body as it should appear. Unfortunately he was useless enough to lose a key ingredient."
As Riddle questioned his followers, Harry's ears picked up a strangled, angry sound, glancing behind him he smirked at the sight of Nagini twisting and turning and flinging her large tail into the invisible shield that domed her body. He quickly covered her with a silencing charm and reinforced the wards, letting out a sigh of relief as he leant against the tombstone of Miss Ann Riddle and thought about his options. The Death Eaters must have found their way here somehow, obviously it was done through the dark mark somehow but could he summon the Unspeakables…Taking a quick glance behind him he dashed straight ahead and further away from the glow of the fire and circle of cloaked figures and hid behind a tree. With the whispered words a stag appeared in front of him, it was smaller than normal about the size of his palm and wasn't glowing as brightly. Maybe magic knew he couldn't be discovered? Harry banished the thought for later and spoke quietly. "Riddle graveyard. Hurry. Death Eaters and snake-face here as is the rat. Doing the potion" It immediately darted away disappearing within seconds. Unfortunately, that was all that was needed to discover his spot and as Harry turned back to decide on his next step he was met with the grim, grey face of Pettigrew before his world went dark.
As Harry came too he kept perfectly still, keeping his breathing low and even. A beat thrummed in his head and his shoulder was hurting strongly. He could feel the cold, hard flat surface of a gravestone behind him and the warmth of the flames on his front. He could hear Riddle droning on about his plans for the traitors, his voice louder now and he could hear the responses of the servants as they answered their 'Lord'.
Taking a risk; he opened his eyes and found himself staring straight down at his shoes, the firelight flickered over him and he could see several strands of thick rope woven around him tying him to the stone in an upright position. Moving his eyes around and keeping the rest of his body perfectly still he took note of two people standing about a metre to the side of him. Figures old Voldie would want to present his prize as part of his circle, Harry thought rolling his eyes. He didn't know how long it would take Prongs to travel to Hogwarts or how long it would take the Unspeakables to find him but he'd be damned if he was going to be left trussed up like a turkey for Christmas carving. Concentrating he gave a small smile as he felt the daggers still on him, at least he wasn't totally defenceless. As slowly as he could Harry lifted his head and leant it back against the stone, he was being held just outside of the circle that contained about 35 figures. The cauldron stood 4 metres from Harry and Pettigrew was moving around it, making sure the fire remained burning. His wand was laid on a high table that also had the blankets which housed the Dark Lord and as he laid eyes on it Harry once more felt the twinge on his shields, he flinched harshly and immediately a chuckle made its way up and then around the circle.
"Ah the Boy-Who-Lives awakens at last. We were starting to think you never would join our little gathering."
"I enjoy a party as much as the next person."
"Then you'll enjoy the entertainment."
"Is it the cooking of your little snakey, Tom?"
There was a pause before a soft murmur of "Crucio." Had Harry screaming and writhing against the stone as he felt his muscles being inflicted with more pain that he ever thought possible. Electricity flowed through his blood boiling it, it sunk into his bones and attacked with a ferocity that felt like they were being pulled from him as his skin was peeled away. It ended with him panting against the stone as he wrestled to put his feet back under him and stand straight.
"I will find Nagini and when I do I will let her stalk her prey."
"You're so sure, you'll find her alive?"
Another pause.
"I am sure of it. Wormtail, begin."
Pettigrew bowed and scurried around to the cauldron, the rest of the Death Eaters remained silent now and Harry felt the stirrings of true fear in his stomach he couldn't reach his wand or knives and yelled at his brain to think of something quickly.
"Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son!" Pettigrew through several yellowish bones into the cauldron. "F-flesh of the servant, willingly sacrificed, you will revive your master!" Harry's breakfast churned as he realised what he was about to witness and immediately shut his eyes before hearing a scream of pain, when he opened them again Pettigrew was clutching the stump that used to be his hand. "Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe." He approached Harry with a determined yet fearful look in his beady eyes never once looking directly at Harry.
"He calls you Wormtail. The name given by your friends, friends that loved you, cared for you, protected you. Friends that you killed, murdered." Harry shouted desperately.
"Silence!" Barked another figure. But the damage was done, there was a brief flash of something…regret Harry thought that that made him only make a shallow cut in Harry's arm with a glistening silver blade before hurrying back to the cauldron. Then he made his way back to his master and unwrapped the blankets, Harry shuddered in revulsion and turned to his head to spit up the bile that rose at the sight of the body. It had once clearly been a human baby's body not anymore though, the flesh was rotted away, leaving lank skin that was greyish in the light. Wormtail neared the cauldron and lay his master in it. As soon as Riddle sunk, Harry started to move as quickly and quietly as he could, the Death Eaters had neared the cauldron and he managed to twist a hand free and reach down to his knife, keeping an eye on the smoke rising he started to cut himself free until he only had two more bands around his chest.
Suddenly the Death Eaters surged back into their original positions as a thin figure started to rise, with renewed motivation Harry went fast and with a final yank he was free and quickly slid behind several rows of gravestones holding the knife tightly as he thought of his next plan as the Dark Lord stood tall in the middle of his admirers who at once bowed.
"Wormtail, robe me."
Pettigrew hurried forward and put a cloak around the shoulders as the man rose from the cauldron and placed himself on the floor next to it.
Harry suddenly left warmth infuse his being and immediately spied a small cat leaping its way towards him. Vexmoors voice left quietly as it curled into Harry's hand. "Visual sighting, awaiting confirmation to attack, get the cup and back to Hogwarts now."
Although a part of him wanted to stay a fight a larger part told him it would be stupid. Now he just needed his wand, he breathed deeply and focussed himself. He's read up on wandless magic and had attempted it several times with limited success. Now was an emergency he places his knife back in his boot, stretched his hand out and willed his wand to come to him. Nothing. He heard Riddle call out for him and again he thrust out his hand but still nothing, he was getting desperate as he flung his hand out a third time but was forced to dive and cover himself as a flash of red struck a gravestone near him causing chunks of stone rained down and he gasped in pain as one struck his left shoulder.
"Mr Potter, I don't believe I gave you permission to leave. It upsets me when people do that" Came the smooth tones of Riddle.
"Good thing I enjoy pissing you off then." Harry shot back as he stood tall and proud.
The Dark Lord gave a low chuckle and he motioned to his followers.
"Seal him in but do not touch him. That privilege is mine."
At once the Death Eaters spread out into a larger circle with their wands pointed at him.
"We have met to do battle twice now, Potter. Will you fail a third?"
"The first time your body was destroyed by a baby, the second time by an 11 year old boy who knew barely any magic. I think it is you who failed Tommy boy."
The face contorted with rage, eyes narrowing into slits and the Dark Lord screamed out the torture curse. Harry reacted purely on instinct, throwing himself left and stretching his hand out, this time he felt the wood slip into his palm snugly and immediately threw up a shielding charm. The Death Eater behind him collapsed to the floor in agony as the Dark Lord eyed the younger man.
"Hm you managed to surprise me. Never again. Reducto!"
Within three seconds the two were engaged in a serious duel. Spells were flung at each other as they both battled their best. Harry was suddenly grateful for the schedules he'd been put on, a year ago even half a year ago it would have been an impossibility to keep up with the Dark Lord, now though he was able to hold his own and see the surprise on his enemies face as Riddle's spells continuously bounced off his shields.
"Your skills are more advanced than I assumed. You make an almost worthy adversary."
Harry felt a flair of anger at the patronising tones and quickened his fire, causing Riddle to take a step back.
"Reducto! Stupefy! Expulso! Confringo!"
Once more Harry felt thankful for Theo's intelligence about using dark curses as the dark lord used fire whips and powerful blasting curses. He created another snake and sent it spinning towards Harry who summoned a gust of wind and blew it straight into the face of another Death Eater who screamed and attempted to remove it before the snake sunk its fangs into him and he went still. Several times Harry used a deflective shield and sent the Dark Lord's curses straight into his followers who crumbled to the ground screaming. He then sent a tombstone at Riddle who merely batted it away like an annoying fly and retaliated by sending a trio of trees towards him which he only just managed to redirect.
Suddenly Riddle whipped his wand around him and summoned an enormous fiery serpent, it hissed at Harry and immediately struck and without thinking Harry sliced his own wand and screamed "Fiendfyre!" His own wave of red-hot flames this time in the shape of a Phoenix and swept over the snake, spinning with it through the graveyard catching another two Death Eaters in its wake before Harry managed to wrestle the control back and it vanished.
Harry didn't waste time thinking of his first success with it, he merely turned back to the skeletal form of the murdering being in front of him and struck with an explosive charm that forced Riddle back several steps. The snake like face was grim and sharp and his eyes glowed a deep red as he sent several tombstones flying towards the young wizard who dodged and twisted to avoid the colossal rocks without wasting magic.
"Your aim seems a little off, Tommy. Can't even hit a fourteen year old!"
His jeer was met with a fresh round of spell fire from Riddle and a deep cutting curse pierced his thigh causing him to fall to the ground, quickly summoning a strong shield he was amazed at the ferocity of Riddle's attack and even more surprised that his shield held. Summoning his strength, Harry forced his shield to burst outwards and instantly thrust several tombstones Toms way, he followed it by blasting the earth near him and caused confusion with the Death Eaters as he sliced a tree at its base and blasted it apart. Riddle turned the chunks of stone into water and quickly threw the tree away from him deciding instead to use the Unforgivables against Harry who quickly pulled several tombstones in front of him. Unfortunately, he was tiring now, his head was still thrumming a beat and his leg refused to let him stand.
The attack ended and through the glow of the shield Harry could see the Dark Lord making his way towards him, before he made it more than three steps a huge explosion to the left of them caused earth, roots and stone to rein down. From the direction, Harry felt his heart lift as Sirius, Remus, Vexmoor, Robins, Arrans, Madam Bones and about 15 other aurors came running into the clearing.
At once the graveyard became a battlefield, bright sparks flew from either side as curses, hexes, charms and several Avada Kedavra's were yelled out. Through his shield – that was still standing but fading – Harry could see Sirius and Remus making their way straight to him, ducking under Death Eaters and taking out who they could but ultimately keeping Riddle away from him as they shot trick, offensive and defensive spells at the most feared man.
Eventually they made their way to his side and Remus took control of the battle, keeping a constant stream of magic towards the Dark Lord as Sirius placed another shield over his godson and himself as Harry's shield shimmered out of view and he collapsed into his godfathers arms.
"What took you so long?"
"Well you know we like to make an entrance."
Sirius face tightened as he saw the blood on Harry's robes but as Harry clasped his arm and whispered his assurances, the extreme worry lessoned slightly.
"Right up you come Prongslet, can't have you sleeping on a battlefield. Getting you back to Hogwarts now."
"But they need help-" Harry said weakly pointing at the aurors who now had several co-workers by their feet.
"Harry, you've done enough. Let them do their job and me do mine and get you back to safety." With the grey eyes resting on his green ones Harry could do nothing but nod causing his dogfather to sigh in relief.
"Great, lets get you to the entrance that's where the anti-portkey wards stop."
"Wait the cup is closer, I think it can take me back coz it was able to get through."
Sirius looked conflicted for half a second before he nodded firmly. Wrapping an arm around Harry's waist he pulled his godson up as Harry put an arm over his shoulders and gripped hard. Seeing Harry being helped Riddle had increased his attacks until Moony was only just managing to keep on the defensive while ensuring Harry and Sirius were protected.
"Think you can get it on your own?"
"You're not coming with me?" Harry questioned, fear and dread racing over his face.
"You know I need to stay. I promise I'll be back soon but you need to go Prongslet." Sirius' eyes were warm and fierce and Harry felt his nervousness fade a little.
"See you on the other side." With a brief shoulder squeeze Sirius turned towards his best friend and started his own brand of spells at the Dark Lord. The Blacks were notorious for the dark curses and with such a powerful threat against his godson Sirius had done enough research into blood boiling, bone breaking and organ liquifying curses to get a one up that Remus did not. The two fought side by side using every spell that they knew, one eye on Riddle and the other on Harry who was making his way to the cup as well as taking down Death Eaters from behind as he snuck past, heading towards the cup that was still lying innocently on the ground.
"Stop Potter!" Screamed Tom as he tried desperately to think of some way to get around the two marauders who were a lot more ferocious than he thought they would be, his miserable servant hadn't spoken of the werewolfs true strength; instead telling his master that the wolf usually kept the power supressed.
Unfortunately for him though the Death Eaters had their own problems. The Unspeakables were unlike normal aurors, they weren't contained by the same vows that stopped the aurors from the more vicious curses. The three were experienced in their fields and had studied magic extensively and their expertise showed as between the three they had already incapacitated 12 Death Eaters with a variety of spells that not even the Dark Lord recognised, Madam Bones was also showing her strength and prowess as she battled fiercely only holding back on the black curses but only just, bodies lay in front as she sent fire and ice towards her opponents. The aurors were doing their best to take down those that terrified their world as well as protecting their comrades.
Harry sprinted towards the cup but caught sight of a flash of red coming towards him, throwing himself into a roll and without thinking his hand went into his right boot, gripped the knife and threw it hard. Pettigrew screamed and crumpled clutching at his leg where the blade was deeply imbedded and sticking out the other side slightly and Harry felt some vicious sense of satisfaction as he watched the blood leak out of the wound and Pettigrew moaned loudly.
"Harry go!" Came Sirius' roar as he spotted his godson still hovering around.
With a glare that held an amount of pleading Harry raised his wand and with just the thought, summoned the cup to him thinking at the last second to lay a hand on Wormtail and could only watch with battered breath as the scene before him swirled away and he was slammed into the Hogwarts grounds, he lay on the ground panting staring up at the night sky. He could hear the yelling of the crowds and the explosions of cheering caused by the cups return. Dumbledore appeared above his vision first but he was quickly shoved out of the way by a pale face and piercing blue eyes surrounded by a champagne halo of hair.
"Heya gorgeous, told you I'd be back." He managed along with a crooked grin before he felt the exhaustion take hold and let himself slip into oblivion.