FOUGHT IN A WAR
by Sa1boy

Chapter 14: Elf Day

"Severus, where is Hermione's body?"

Harry had to act quickly if he was going to save his friend Ron from attempted murder, and bring back Hermione Granger from the brink of the here and now. It had just been discovered that the power of the Amesis also took on ownership of the dead. He had commanded Hermione's soul to return, but in order for her to be able to leave the place in between, another had to willingly give there life in exchange.
Winkey the oldest of the house elves offered her life, that the 'ONE' would be saved, and destroy the evil white one. But in order to get Hermione back from the dead, her body and soul needed to be re-united.

"Like all other casualties of the last battle she would still be in the cocoons Aragog spun to protect them until you were well enough to say goodbye to them" Severus said in a very quiet almost apologetic voice.

"That doesn't sound like the sort of thing Dumbledore would gladly do for me from what I have heard today!"" Harry was having really big issues in believing that for all his childhood was pre-scripted and manipulated by a man he had thought of as a grandfather. Now he knew better, and one thing Dumbledore could not be counting on, was a new darker Harry, the one that would walk over coals for anyone died when he found he had been betrayed by a person he had at one time genuinely loved.

"Harry he didn't preserve them. I did. I knew that you would get better, and believed you deserved the chance to say goodbye to them." Severus added, Harry looked at him and smiled.
Harry would get to Dumbledore in time, first things first; he needed to save his best friends.

"Elf!" Harry shouted to no one in particular, five elves shimmered into view; it was now obvious to both Severus and Harry that Winkey was deadly serious about the elves being his to command.

"Go and find the body of Hermione Granger, take as many soldier elves as you need but bring the body back here immediately." Harry didn't want to leave anything to chance; turning to Severus he gave a heavy sigh, almost immediately the elves returned through a magical gap in the wall, a levitated cocooned body in front of them.

"Masters must enervate the body, and fetch to touch with Winkey, then call Missy again and Winkey leave and Missy return to the ONE."

Winkey had been patiently waiting, keeping the portal open to the here and now open whilst the body of Hermione was located; she would soon be leaving this world.

Severus Snape moved closer to the elf and putting his hand on her head bent over and kissed her, Harry looked startled, he knew Severus was fond of the elf, he often saw her telling Severus off for not eating enough, not that Severus knew, Harry had always been hidden under his invisibility cloak, but didn't realise the true extent of his feelings.

"You have been a trusted friend and wonderful companion to me, I will truly miss you."
Following on from Severus' s lead Harry walked to Winkey bent over and placed his hands on her head, the most reverent greeting to give an elf, and bowing as he retreated slightly spoke of his thanks,

"Today elf and wizard unite against the darkness, let no elf be a prisoner in shackles, let today be known as the Elf day, and from this day forth all rejoice the sacrifice she has made." using his wandless magic and uttering the enervate spell, the lifeless corpse of Hermione Granger sprang to life, Winkey looking almost angelic as she reached out her hand, and leaving the now spoke a typically elfin line

Harry shouted at Hermione to reach out and take Winkey s hand,
"Come on Mione, one more push you can do it, reach out."
In the distance, beyond the light Hermione's voice could be heard

"I'm trying Harry, it's hard, I can't break free, help me Harry, please" Hermione's screaming voice pleading and begging for Harry to help"Ron needs you, he is in grave danger, take the hand come back to us, PLEASE" Harry's voice was mirroring the nervousness of the situation, he knew that if Hermione didn't let go of the doubt she would be lost forever, he was lifted out of his panic by a loud scream bounding from Severus Snape

"Miss Granger you insufferable little bitch, either grab that hand or I will shag your boyfriend to within an inch of his Ginger life."

Winkey started to glow, it was time for the transfer, it seemed that Severus's tactics proved effective, Winkey still holding on to the hand of Hermione's enervated corpse, had a light passing threw her, like waves of energy leaking from every pore into Hermione's body, like a conduit, Winkey s life force and magic was forcing Hermione s back where it belonged.
The light show seemed to be stopping, Winkey turned to Severus and bowed, a tear in her eye, then to Harry she spoke as she entered the light and from this world forever

"I live for the one as I die for the one"

"Ron wake up love, it's me your mum." Molly Weasley was stood in front of the house, Ron had fallen asleep by. Elves who were extending a friendly hand to Ron, offering help to him to get off the floor""
"Your not my mother, you're a devil, who are these, your demons? Well you will not have me."
Ron hurled his wand hand out and threw an unforgivable curse at the nearest of the house elf's who deflected it off the walls of the small cottage nearby, the roof of the cottage caught fire as the other elf stunned Ron. Debris from the blast hit Ron on the head.

Then SLICE-CRACK, the head of the first elf rolled off his shoulders his magic pouring forth into the ground, its last words spoken ""The One", then Ron looked up and saw a Demon with a sword, he had Apparated out of thin air on seeing the elf guard sent to safely retrieve Ron, he was not allowing the work he had done to be upset by no house elf. The other house elf stood in between Ron and Dumbledore denying the old wizard access to his assassin, Ron scrambled back against the cottage walls as the elf and wizard battled it out. Rubble hitting Ron, he slumped out of consciousness.

Hermione's body sprang to life a green glow dying in her skin as she fell back to the floor, her breathing heavy, she regained composure and lifting her head looked Severus straight in the eye, lifting an elongated forefinger she pointed it at him, and with a slight glow of the tip, he was thrown against the wall.

"Nobody fucks my boyfriend, but me." Hermione and her new powers were back.

"Welcome back Miss Granger, glad to see I can still elicit a reaction from you even in death, now if you would kindly release me, we have work to do." Severus kept his tone as monotone as was possible, even for him, he cast a glance to the shocked looking Harry, who quickly jump started himself out of the shock he was in. Jumping in between Hermione and Snape, the power of her inherited elfin magic useless and ineffective against the ONE, Harry rushed forward to grasp Hermione in a hug. Severus Snapes voice sounding over the back of Harry as he could be heard hitting the floor with a thud

"That's the last time I help bring a know it all back to life," Harry giggled at this, staring into Hermione's eyes that looked ready to kill, he cradled her head into his shoulder and allowed her to release the hurt she had been bottling up, the tears she cried soaked Harry's shirt, after a couple of minutes Severus started to prepare some tea from a set he had just conjured up, as Hermione tried to comprehend what had happened.

"How am I here, I was dead. I couldn't move I was trapped, I felt like I was wrapped from head to toe in clear film and couldn't breathe, yet I knew I wasn't suffocating, I could only see the darkness, then the light came with your voice, and an angel came and said she was there to show me out. I tried to push free of the constraints, tried too touch the hand of the angel of light and come back to you and Ron."

"Shush, there now, let it out Mione" Harry attempted to soothe Hermione with light taps and rubbing on her back, realizing that they were also against the clock, so to speak. And not wanting to allow Hermione to fall into any form of back to life depression, he decided to inform her of the Ron situation.
Tears flowing freely down Hermione's face now, Severus found he was unable to stop a sole tear rolling down his cheek as he listened to Harry's explanation of events over the last 12 weeks.

"It was one of the house elves that gave you life; her magic resides in you now, it was important for you to live, one had to replace you. You can do the recriminations later, right now I need you to focus, and get back to the here and now. Do you understand?"

Hermione looked at Harry with hurt in her eyes, the last thing she would have wanted was a house elf to die, let alone die so she could live. She did however trust her friend knowing he would protect any innocent with his life; she took a deep breath and composed her self. Accepting the cup of tea from Severus Snape with a slight thank you and wiping the tears away from her eyes with a dusty sleeve. Which she quickly cured with a snap of her fingers she was clean and her hair tied back in a huge pony tail. She asked Harry to continue.

Harry recapped events on the final battle, how he had been paralysed, how the spy who betrayed them was likely Dumbledore. He explained to her the prophecy of the Amesis and how that affected his getting better, how Draco had cared and loved for him throughout all that time. He tried to stick to the important facts deciding that all other info could wait 'til they were all safely away from Hogwarts.

"Where is Ron?" Hermione walked to the window, looking out at the grounds surrounding Hogwarts, she saw that the small cottage at the gates to Hogwarts was in flames, there seemed to be a mini battle going on between elf and a lone tall white figure, it was Dumbledore.

"Harry, come quickly, Dumbledore appeared out of no where and is attacking the house elves you sent with me, I tried to get Ron to cover, quickly please, oh hello Hermione, you better come too."

"Hermione, go and retrieve Ron, and Hermione, just get him out of there, we can fight Dumbledore later." Hermione on instinct snapped her fingers and she popped out, the elf side to her giving her a new and unique ability, Harry tuck off towards the door.

"Severus, go to Draco, tell him of events. Tell him I love him," then rushing through the door way, ten elfin guards shimmering into view and ran with him, Harry rushed to the main door and a possible confrontation with his old mentor.

Dumbledore cut down the second elf and was moving towards the castle to his chambers and rejuvenation when he saw Harry and a group of house elves running down the steps towards him, he bashed his staff into the ground and the ground shook, he then fired lightning bolts from his hands and these in turn exploded in the middle of the oncoming assault, more house elves appeared,

Hermione popped in just to witness the bodies of at least five elves blow up, and the hysterical almost cold and callous cackling of Dumbledore's laugh, a body moved under a small pile of rubble, Hermione saw the tell tale sign of red hair, she rushed forward to her lover, he was moaning, and had a deep cut on his head, Hermione bent down and pulled him into her chest,

"Ron I saw the house burst into flames are you alright"

"DONT TOUCH ME "

"But it's me Hermione,"

"NO, YOU'RE ONE OF THEM A DEVIL

"You're delirious"

"LIES, I SAW THE DEVILS SIGN."

"What are you saying?"

"The lightning bolts in the sky, his demons were here all along, in our hearts and souls, waiting for a sign from him, and NOW THEY'RE DESTROYING OUR SCHOOL."
"But they're not devil's they're house elves"

In the distance Hermione could see Dumbledore firing lightning bolts and the ground around was shaking as if there was an earthquake taking place

"Listen, do you hear them drawing near in their search for the sinners? Feeding on the power of our fear, and the evil within us. Incarnation of Voldemort's creation of all that we dread when the demons arrive, those alive would be better off dead!"

"There must be something worth living for
There must be something worth trying for
Even some things worth dying for
And if one man can stand tall
There must be hope for us all
Somewhere, somewhere, in the spirit of man"

""Once there was a time when I believed without hesitation. That the power of love and truth could conquer all in the name of salvation. Tell me what kind of weapon is love, when it comes to the fight. And just how much protection is truth against all, Harry's might.""

"There must be something worth living for
There must be something worth trying for
Even some things worth dying for
And if one man can stand tall
There must be some hope for us all
Somewhere, somewhere in the spirit of man"

"Didn't I warn them this would happen? Be on guard, I said.
For the Evil One never rests. I said exorcise the devil.
But no, they wouldn't listen. The demons inside them grew and grew.
Then Harry gave his signal. And destroyed the love I knew."

"No Ron, Oh no, that is not so, there must be more to life. There has to be a way that we can restore to life. The love we used to know. There has to be a way that we can restore to life. The light that we have lost."

"Now darkness has descended on our land and all your prayers cannot save us
like fools we've let the devil take command of the souls that God gave us,
to his altar of evil like lambs to the slaughter we're led, when his demons arrive, the survivors will envy the dead!"

"There must be something worth living for,"

"No, there is nothing!"

"There must be something worth trying for-"

"I don't believe it's so -"

"Even some things worth dying for. If just one man could stand tall,
there would be some hope for us all. Somewhere, somewhere in the spirit of man"

Ron drifted into unconsciousness, Hermione cradled his head close to her chest, and cried bitter tears, what had they done to her lover, this good and kind man had been turned into a bitter and twisted replica of himself, his mind had gone, he believed Harry to be the devil, Hermione needed to get him to safety.

Dumbledore could see that Potter was down; he laughed a maniacal laugh, as over fifty house elves popped into view all surrounding the one, with a shield of beautiful blue light, Dumbledore realising he could not defeat them all, let out another maniac laugh and Disapparated out of the line of fire.
Harry had fallen, one of the lightning bolts had hit him directly, he needed Draco's healing ability, Hermione would have to save Ron on her own, and he ordered the nearest house elf to take him to Snape Manor.
Hermione when she had secured her lover would have to follow, alone.

Dumbledore entered his enchanted room of pensieves, he was not happy with events of the day, but had struck down the mighty Potter and his elves were no match for his power, he had strengthened his hold on the castle wards, now only he could control its power. Retiring to his chambers he needed some relaxation, the type any run of the mill sadist would enjoy. With a flick of his wand the back wall of his chamber sunk into the floor showing a whole display of torture devices and racks and chains on the walls, shackled at the hands and feet with leather looking hood tightly pulled over his young head Colin Creavey was screaming for mercy. His young body was bare, deep welts and burns had not been allowed to heal, his voice lost due to lack of water, stains down the inside of his legs a combination of his own waste and that of Dumbledore's assaults into him.

Dumbledore ripped off the leather looking hat, only it wasn't actually leather, it was solidified tar; Colin feinted from the sheer pain as Dumbledore yanking the hood off the back of his head scalping him. Laughing like a hysterical banshee, Dumbledore swung the support Colin was in and entered him viciously from behind, putting an engorging spell on his old withered cock, he impaled the poor boy, to giving one last thrust which broke Colin's back, finally giving him peace.

Casting a curse the body and the scalp burst into flames, Dumbledore letting his robes fall back down to the floor, walked out of his chambers whistling a happy tune.

Hermione and Ron were shown to a private wing of Snape Manor by a house elf, who was then instructed to put up several wards to deny exit from the room.

Draco had healed Harry simply with a kiss and was tending to him in there bed chamber unaware that Hermione or Ron had arrived.
Harry was very tired and needed rest, Draco decided what better way to usher his lover off to sleep than to make love to him, Harry of course had other ideas.
Whoosh with a small gesture of his hand, the softest and most seductive instrumental music started to play in the background.
Draco took him in his arms, kissing him sensually and slowly nibbling Harry's ear

"I am so in love with you Harry, I want my whole body to be possessed by you from now until the end of time, I want my mind know the true feelings that arise in your soul when you touch me"

"Nudity," Harry whispered

Song lyrics: Spirit of Man