Disclaimer: I alas do not own Harry Potter I wish I did but I don't. All I own is this computer I'm working on and a few other items in this room of mine.
A/N: There we are you lot of sharks your new chapter and I hope you like it seeing that it took me this long to get it right and its nice and long 18 pagers by my word processor, I would like to say I do enjoy hearing how much you enjoy this fic and hope you keep on enjoying it. Also you well be waiting a while for the next one as I am working on part two of Dark Allies as well as this one and I have been working on this one a lot but don't worry you'll get your next chapter in a few weeks if not a month. Also if anyone has some art talent feel free to do some art work for this and send me some I do like a good bit of art work every now and then.
Chapter 18: Summoning
/ Telepathic /
24 December 1996 18:03 PM AD
HarryHarry felt as though he had been doused in ice water.
Albus Dumbledore was settled deep in his high backed chair reading over some reports that seemed to absorb all of his attention. Harry had heard that there had been an attack by Death Eaters in the vicinity of the school and he wondered if that might not have something to do with Dumbledore's preoccupation when he should have been in the Great Hall.
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DumbledoreProfessor Dumbledore sighed softly as he considered the appearance of the Death Eaters so close to the school. It was disturbing that they were becoming so bold but there was little that he could do at the present time other than ensure that Hogwarts was protected to the best of his abilities.
The recent attack had disturbed him but not enough to cause him to consider disrupting the schools limited number of occupants over the Christmas break. Sending them to their various homes or to carers assigned by the Ministry if parents and relatives were out of the country or incapable of taking the students at this time was far from his preferred option. The students remaining at Hogwarts, after all, were those who had nowhere else to go. To protect the students and staff he had been working on strengthening the wards that protected the castle and grounds and devising variations that differed from the usual wards one would expect to find surrounding an institute for magical education. There was no need, he thought to make it any easier for Voldemort's minions by using the same old same old. Besides, variety was the spice of life.
He had just finished working out the latest variations on the major wards surrounding the castle itself when his door opened and a silver cloaked man strode in and stopped abruptly. He knew that his presence had been noted and curious about this invasion into his inner sanctum Dumbledore remained in his seat with his head bent over the papers on his desk. What would his intruder do if he thought his appearance had not been noted?
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HarryHarry sighed. The Professor had made no move to indicate that he had noted his unexpected visitor, which meant that if he was lucky-and extremely careful-he might manage to get out of this with Dumbledore none the wiser. With a half step back into the shadows nearer the door he watched to make certain the professor did not move and then slipped back out onto the landing by the gargoyle.
He cursed softly under his breath as he whispered a quick summoning charm. "Damn it all. What is the use of having a marauders map if I keep forgetting to use the darn thing? Note to self. Check the map, stupid, before you barge in. Then get the feather or whatever it is you need."
With a flurry of material a cloak appeared before him and he sighed softly as he drew it about him, the world darkening slightly as it always did when he donned the invisibility cloak. He should have been better prepared for the unexpected to happen. He should have taken the cloak with him before leaving from Rowena's rooms and donned it before he came in search of the Phoenix feather.
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DumbledoreWell, that had not been quite so entertaining as he had hoped it would be. How dare his mysterious visitor back out of the room and not go about his business so that he might learn more of the man. Still appearing to study the report he flicked his gaze about the room, even leaning back in his seat with his eyes narrowed and murmuring about the need to work a charm to enchant a tree or two in the Forbidden Forest.
Ah, now that was interesting. Rowena Ravenclaw was floating up through his floor and looking about expectantly. She even looked quite shocked to see him there. Perhaps this might not be so straightforward after all. Clearly Rowena had not expected to find him there but had expected something, or someone else to be here.
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HarrySafely enshrouded in the folds of the cloak Harry stepped back into the office in time to see Rowena float up through the floor and to the upper level of the office. She settled herself into one of the headmasters overstuffed armchairs and grinned at him, inclining her head toward Dumbledore letting him know that she could in some fashion see or sense him.
'At least she was not in the room to see my first grand entrance.' He mused. 'I only hope that the professor can't see me. I've been invisible around him before and he seemed to sense that something was wrong. Don't look up, professor. Just read your papers and let me get the chance to get over to Fawkes.'
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Dumbledore'Ah'. Albus watched as the man shrouded in the invisibility cloak walked with exaggerated care across the length of the room. 'Now that is interesting. An enchantment to shield your face, to shadow and distort but still, what an uncommon likeness to… Hmmm.'
He watched the slow silent progress, remembering to shuffle his papers and resisted the urge to grin wickedly as the invisible man froze with a small gasp.
'This is far more entertaining than eating dinner.' he mused. 'I do hope Minerva keeps me some sweet rolls though.'
His invisible visitor moved closer to Fawkes and Dumbledore considered calling a halt to the matter there and then. The Phoenix was a rare and wondrous creature who had great magical abilities. Certain body parts were requirements in powerful potions and spells and he wished no harm to come to his Familiar. He and Fawkes had been together for many years and he would not permit harm to come to his friend even though he knew quite well that Fawkes was perfectly capable of defending himself.
With a sigh he straightened in his chair, stretching and giving himself the chance to glance up toward the upper level of the office. As he suspected the shade of Rowena, whom he had always suspected roamed Hogwarts but until this day could not say that he had actually seen, was still in the room and absorbed in watching the invisible intruder.
'Now just what are they up to?'
He was about to make a comment when the intruder bowed respectfully to the watching Phoenix and leaned forward but remained a good two steps back from the perch.
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Harry'I don't believe how nerve racking it is to have to cross this room with Him sitting there. I'm almost sure he doesn't know that I'm here but… I don't know. He's not an easy man to read. I wish Rowena would stop grinning.'
He managed a small and polite nod to the watching ghost and froze at the rustle of paper. A panicked glance at the headmaster revealed him to be sitting in his chair still, a bundle of papers now in hand and seemingly taking no notice of him at all.
'I should have gone back to her room and waited until the map showed he had gone down to the Great Hall. Ah, damn. I've come too far now to run and hide like a little kid. The girls will be back soon and I have the spell to cast. I need that feather.'
He stopped two steps away from the Phoenix who was watching him with bright eyes, feathers ruffled though he did not seem to be alarmed. He knew without a doubt that somehow Fawkes not only knew that he was there but could see him perfectly well. Taking a deep breath he bowed from the waist and looked up to meet the bird's brilliant gaze. There surely had never been so beautiful a creature as a Phoenix, he mused.
"Good evening, Fawkes. I don't mean to disturb you or the professor but I find myself sorely in need of a feather from a Phoenix's tail. Could I trouble you to ask that you provide me with one?"
The bird clicked his beak, eyes bright on the shrouded figure standing before him. Harry again bowed, remembering the lessons he had been taught about such creatures by his long dead mentor. The Dragon Lords had known a great deal of information about magical creatures and his teacher had stressed repeatedly the need to be polite to creatures that held the level of magic a Phoenix claimed. A creature so totally infused by magic must never be underestimated or insulted and should never have any material component from their body stolen. Such would curse the spell for which the desired item was required to fail.
"I assure you that I need the tail feather for a good cause, Fawkes. It is to help fight against Voldemort and it is very, very important."
A quick and slightly panicked glance at the desk revealed that Dumbledore was searching through a draw for something and he looked quickly to the bird once again. After a long moment in which he could feel the weight of the creature's gaze on him, assessing him, Harry breathed a sigh of relief as the Phoenix plucked a flowing feather from its tail and stretched out toward him.
"Thank you." He breathed, bowing a third time. "It is for a good cause, Fawkes."
He started for the door, immensely relieved that he had managed to acquire the feather and could now escape without the professor being any the wiser and was only three steps from the door when the rustle of brocade robes froze him in lace.
"Going somewhere with that, young man?"
Spinning around he found himself to be under the scrutiny of serious blue eyes. The professor was standing behind his desk and Rowena was hovering on the upper level of the office and she certainly was not grinning now.
Harry uttered a brief and blistering curse that would have startled Filch into retreating pale faced had he heard it. Caught in the headmaster's office with an item that was seriously magical in nature and wearing his fathers invisibility cloak. If Dumbledore recognised the invisibility cloak he could very well put two and two together and come up with Harry Potter. Dare he just bolt out of the office or perhaps a more subtle approach was called for?
He could not expect Rowena to take a hand in this. She had not been keen on the idea of him coming to visit Fawkes in the first place and every mistake he had made this evening had been his own. He was going to have to get out of this himself and not involve anyone else. Especially not Rowena Ravenclaw, Silvanestri or Hermione and certainly there must be no mention of Tonks. Perhaps his disguise would stand up to the Headmaster's scrutiny and he might still wriggle out of disaster.
"My apologies for disturbing you, Professor Dumbledore. Just needed to speak with Fawkes over a matter of magic. I'll be going now." Since it was obvious that he was watched he slipped off the invisibility cloak.
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DumbledoreDumbledore leaned forward and rested his hands on his desk, one hand resting on the wand that lay there. He would need to take care as he had no true idea of the abilities and potential of his visitor. He had a school full of students to protect not to mention a vicious and evil adversary to fight and he had no indication if this was friend or foe. Despite Fawkes giving the individual a feather he needed to make certain that this was not one who did not oppose Voldemort. There were many who wished to stay out of the conflict to come, taking neither side but some of those supposedly neutral bodies had their own agendas. He would not face more than one opponent at a time and if this man was a threat he needed to know it.
"And a good evening to you too. What is it you that you require this feather for, Sir?" His hand closed around the wand and he walked around his desk, not openly threatening but warning that he would take action should the need arise. 'I dare not let my guard down with this one. I know nothing of his ability's and strengths or weaknesses.' He came to a stop with the desk at his back and half the rooms distance between himself and the intruder.
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HarryHarry smiled hoping that Dumbledore could not see it through the shadow of the magic that disguised him. "I have a need that requires I use this Phoenix feather nothing more. I had hoped to speak with Fawkes without troubling you but now." He bowed to Fawkes to acknowledge the birds cooperation. "I ask that you place trust in my intentions and permit me to go on my way, Albus."
'What am I going to do? He doesn't know me in this guise and I can't hurt him or kill him because he is need for this war even if I am the one prophesied to finish it… If I can take him down without levelling the school. I don't really know how powerful he is but everyone says he's the most powerful wizard in the wizarding world. Equal to Voldemort or better, I wonder? Damn prophecy say's I'm the one to do the job though. How do I get out of this without fighting him? If I have to take him down how do I do it without going to full strength?'
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DumbledoreDumbledore considered Fawkes for a lengthy moment and than stared hard at the stranger "Albus? Sorry but only my friends call me that name and I am quite certain that I have not previously given you that privilege. You can call me Professor and if you want to keep and use Fawkes's feather then you will have to do better than that."
He said waved his wand to clear an area of the room, subtly moving aside certain items of a somewhat volatile nature that looked to be quite harmless. If the stranger standing before him took it into his head to start trading spells he did not want to take out half of Hogwarts by accident.
Responding to the magic used in the room the Phoenix feather flipped out of Harry's grasp and floated to the floor to one side. With a click of his beak Fawkes took off from his perch and landed on the floor, inclining his body protectively over the feather.
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HarryStartled Harry whipped out his wand "A duel! I demand that the referee be of my choosing." He looked over to the fire to where Rowena now hovered. "Rowena would you care to be the referee for this match?"
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Rowena Ravenclaw'Foolish, Harry, very foolish but I can not permit you to lose face now. I think Dumbledore suspects who you are else he would already have taken action against you and that spell was not aimed at you. Young and foolish but this must now play out. You called the duel, not Dumbledore and all I can hope to do is ensure that Hogwarts remains standing and that you do not get out of control.'
The ghost nodded, aware that Dumbledore was watching her and from the expression in his eyes he was not eager for this duel to take place. He was only too aware of the artefacts of power in the office at this time and the potential for disaster. In too many ways Harry was a Dragon Lord but she had to hope that the influence of the headmaster and the teachers from Hogwarts as they had trained his burgeoning young talent would exert influence over the wild streak of the old Lords. If they were fortunate such teachings would temper the Dragon Lords tendency for heavy handedness that Harry had been displaying of late.
They needed Harry strong but not out of control to face Voldemort.
'I can at least impose limits as referee and I know that Dumbledore at least will take the hint I give him if only to ensure that Hogwarts remains standing. Sorry, Albus, but take a fall on this one for the good of us all.'
"Of course. I agree to referee the duel." 'I need to curtail Harry's use of magic. Forgive me, Albus but at least he will not be wildly throwing around rune magic.' She lifted a ghostly hand in a gesture to take position. " All weapons are permitted and legal spell castings, no fire charms or high level curses."
Only too aware of the Professors startled look at the limits she had set on the duel involving physical weaponry Rowena took up a position in the air above the two men.
"First to fall losses. Begin."
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Dumbledore'Weapons? Weapons in a duel of magic? That has never been permitted.'
Dumbledore noted the slight lifting of the wand, eyes narrowed as he recognised the power of Fawke's feather contained within the wand and understood what it was the shade of the founder intended. Disgusted at her intention that he take a fall he fired a disarming charm first and was unsurprised that his target managed to roll out of the way of the feint. The true second level disarming spell hit his target as the off balance duellist landed on the carpet and the wand flew out of his hand and to Dumbledore's waiting grasp.
"Ah." Dumbledore murmured. "I win."
With a flick of his wrist he sent the wand sailing toward Fawkes who lifted from the floor with the tail feather in his beak and grasped the wand mid air in his talons. The phoenix flew to his perch where he set the wand down before settling himself the feather still grasped in his beak. The phoenix felt rather smug that his master had won so quickly and decisively.
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HarryA snarl escaped him and his hands were moving before he even realised what he was doing.
"I don't need a wand to beat you Old Man."
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Rowena'No! Harry, get a grip on yourself. You can't break the conventions of the duel.' She was afraid that it was already too late.
"The duel is over. Victory is awarded to Albus Dumbledore."
Even as she spoke she knew that this time the Dragon Lord in Harry was rising too quickly for the old Harry to win control. Dragon Lords had never taken kindly to defeat.
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Dumbledore
Dumbledore looked on as his opponent drew his twin-blade from the folds of his cloak where it had been concealed and knew that there was going to be more to this duel. He recognised what was happening and knew that action had to be taken to contain the nature of the beast that could yet destroy them all. He still had hope that they could temper uncontrollable power into something beneficial.
'I might be an old fool but I' not a total idiot. I think I need to take precautions.' Gathering magical energy he reached for the familiar touch of his staff. Particularly that of Minerva.
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Harry"Now let's get the real match started." Harry's voice had deepened, settling to a baritone as the power flowed through him.
'Why didn't I just jump instead of roll? I… I have no choice do I?' The struggle within the young man was deep, hidden beneath the rising power flows and his hands caressed the hilt of the exotic weapon. 'I need the feather tonight.'
He watched as Dumbledore moved carefully to one side, a slow cautious step. The old man did not move like an old man and the fire in Harry flickered brighter, sword moving into a guard position and the magic of the weapon blocking the disarming spell that hit it. It was enough to shock Harry into realising what he was doing.
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DumbledoreDumbledore narrowed his eyes as the disarming spell was deflected into a wall. The sleeping headmasters in their paintings began to stir, some who had been awake and watching beginning to take exception to the goings on in their office. He must not allow them to distract him and he wanted to bring Harry back to himself but not give away that he knew who this tall young man was.
'I know you but I do not see that I have to reveal that. We need you strong, not uncontrollable and a danger to everyone. In truth you can be more of a danger than Voldemort has ever been. Perhaps I do need to take that fall. Perhaps I can talk you around? Bury the Dragon Lord and bring out Potter?'
"Interesting trick you have there. Care to explain how it works? I'd love to know how you managed it."
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HarryHarry pulled back his arm, raising the sword in his hand above his head so that both blades were sticking out on ether side of his head. He gathered himself feeling the thrill of battle surge through him even as something deep within him recognised the man he was about to decapitate.
'What…? Dumbledore? Professor? I… no… I can't do this. I must not do this.'
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Rowena
There was a positively demonic look to Harry as he prepared his advance, sword raised above him and that fire in his eyes was pure Dragon Lord. Suddenly fearful that she was going to need to help Albus take out a bigger threat to peace than Voldemort Rowena prepared herself to take action if the professor looked to need it.
Was that a suggestion of intelligence returning to Harry's eyes? Was that the faintest suggestion that Harry was not lost to the Dragon Lord and yet might contain that awful potential for power and mayhem?
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HarryWhat was he doing? He could not seem to stop the words from flowing out of his mouth or his hands from gripping the sword. He had been duelling the professor and the result of that had been idiotically predictable so why did he want to take the professor apart?
There was something wrong with him and he had to take control. He could not permit this to happen.
"But I am still standing and I will not be bested by an old fool who panders to the limitations of lessors who purport to be greater than their powers. None of todays arrogant little upstarts who purport to be wizards know how to resist simple charms and spells. None of you know how to craft armour made to resist the most basic of spells. My armour is superior to anything you have and my sword will come to me at the utterance of a word and none of you have the power to contend against me. No one else matter. It does not matter what others do. It does not mater what you do. Know me and my power!"
He did not recognise his own voice. He wanted to scream as he felt the muscles responding to instructions he did not give. He hated the power coursing through him. He would not sit back and let this terrible semblance of the arrogance of the Dragon Lords rule him. He was better than this. He cared what happened to other people. He did care and despite what had happened in the past that had caused the death of his Godfather he did care for this old man.
He felt his arm drop and fingers release the hilt of the sword at the exact moment to effect a prefect casting. He heard his oddly distorted voice and the snarl of satisfaction and superiority and he wanted to scream a warning.
"Now, Dodge this old man."
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Dumbledore'I'm feeling my years today.' He dropped to the ground and allowed the blade to spin harmlessly over his head. 'Wake up, Harry. I can feel you starting to fight it.'
He was remotely aware of the blade carving an arc through the air and of Rowena dodging it, which he might have found amusing at another time since she was already dead but for now he had other things to think on. The braggart that was pure Dragon Lord had given him the clue to take him down and if Harry could not regain control then he was determined to do just that.
He climbed nimbly back to his feet refusing to acknowledge the twinges of old bones and muscles protesting the need to move so fast. He might be old but he was not in poor condition and he was still up to a fight.
"Well now. You just threw away your weapon. I have won."
He felt the movement in the air and heard the shouts of his predecessors warning him of the blade's return. He saw the dawning horror in the eyes that told him there was something of a significant altercation happening between Harry and the Dragon Lord within him and with a quiet sigh he made his decision. He had to take down the man and hope that they could wrest Harry from the powerful possession of that arcane power he wielded or he had to take a fall and hope that Harry would respond.
Bracing himself for what was to come and hoping that it would not be obvious he prepared a powerful charm spell with binding elements and noted the horror in the green eyes. Now if only he could hold Harry there and banish the Dragon Lord.
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Rowena
'He can't be so fool as to forget the sword? To think it is out of the fight?'
Rowena watched the swirl of the sword, the rise to the apex of the arc and that timeless second before it began the return spin to its wielders hand. She reached a hand instinctively toward Albus but knew that she could not pull him from the line of the weapon. She noted the small shuffle of slippered feet, the half turn secondes before the strike and knew what he was about.
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Harry'No! No! I can't let it happen! Please duck! Oh please duck now.'
Harry stared with wide eyes as the blade come back from the up stairs room of the office. The magic of the sword ensured it came right back on the exact course it had taken to reach the apex of the throw and that now placed the weapon at Dumbledore's back.
"Duck!" the single word of warning exploded from him.
He noted Dumbledore move to take the half step that would see him safe but at the same moment he saw something else. The wall behind the headmaster's desk was suddenly full of a very familiar figure that sent a chill down his spine as the desk lifted to the energy released by the poltergeist's appearance.
'NOT NOW PEEVES!' Harry thought and horror filled him as the desk rammed into the old man's unprotected back, knocking him directly into the path of the blade. With something that sounded suspiciously like a sob he turned his head away from the horror he was about to cause.
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Minerva McGonagall'Albus is not one to miss a meal. I wonder what is keeping him?'
Her fellow professors, minus Hagrid were enjoying the meal, watching the banter of the students who shared the dinner with them. She was pleased that so few needed to remain at Hogwarts for the seasonal break. She was a firm believer that family needed to be together at Christmas but there was always some who had no place to go. For them Hogwarts tried to rise to the occasion and give them a memorable and enjoyable Christmas.
/ Come now! Someone is trying to take one of Fawkes feathers. /
The touch to her mind was unmistakably Dumbledore's and she was on her feet without thinking. The three other house head were likewise up and moving and she spared only a second to motion to some of the teachers to remain and watch the children. She did not need to alarm them but then she was running from the hall.
Who would dare to try to steal one of the Phoenix's feathers? Such highly magical creatures were well capable of defending themselves and Albus was afraid of no one. Could it be that he was actually afraid for whoever it was intent on stealing the feathers, one of the most magical items of a Phoenix? It was purely Dumbledore to worry about the perpetrator, of course. What more could she expect from the leader of the Light.
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Dumbledore'Peeves you bungling idiot, why did you have to barge in now of all times?'
"No! Nooooo. Not me! It was not me!"
He could hear Peeves as he wailed, fleeing the office and the result of his foolery. Perhaps after this the poltergeist might curtail his annoying activities. For a week at least.
Dumbledore lay on the floor listening to the outraged tirade coming from every picture on the walls of the office. His predecessors were horrified at the goings on and he wished they would shut up so that he could concentrate. If this had not pulled Potter back from the brink of losing himself to the ancient magic then nothing would and he would not know until he could see the boy's eyes.
His hand was clamped over the bloody stump of his wand arm. The sword at least had been razor sharp and had severed the limb cleanly at the elbow. He had no doubt that Madame Pomfrey would be able to repair the damage but he hated the necessity of remaining in the hospital and there was little doubt that that was exactly were he was going to find himself very soon now.
There was a clunk and thud and he saw the blade lying on the floor near him and resisted the sigh. That held promise that Potter was suitably horrified with how things had turned out and was now more him self.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." The whisper was in Harry's voice, undisguised and barely audible.
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RowenaHorrified she stared at the tableau. Around her the office rang with the outrage of the past headmasters. Before her Dumbledore lay still and Harry was staring at his hands clearly in a state of shock, the double blade resting at his feet where he had dropped it. If Dumbledore had intended to shock him out of the possession he had certainly succeeded but now she was afraid that Harry was lost in the shock and was going to be incapable of functioning. While they did not need Harry to be a true Dragon Lord they certainly did not wish him to be a vegetable either.
First thing was first though and she drifted over to the fallen headmaster who stirred as he felt her cold touch. "Get the boy to wake out of the shock." He whispered, revealing to her that he was well aware of his surroundings.
"You're a tough old bird, Albus Dumbledore." She whispered.
"I'll be a dead tough old bird from blood loss if you don't hurry up." He tartly commented.
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HarryHe felt the chill of the ghost as she came to him, her touch to his cheek enough to wake him from the horrible dream that had seemed to envelope him. It had to be a dream but when he looked around him he found that the dream was frighteningly real.
"Do you intend for him to bleed to death while you simply look on?" Rowena scowled at him. "Harry for goodness sake snap out of it. We can talk later but for now you have to stop the blood flow and get him comfortable and get the hell out of the office before anyone else comes. Peeves will have the entire castle in here soon."
Peeves? Where… but the poltergeist was gone and he was alone with a ghost, a Phoenix that was giving him very dirty looks and an old man lying bleeding on the floor.
"What have I done?"
"Later." Rowena almost snarled. "We will talk about the dangers of being a Dragon Lord later when there is more time."
He stumbled a step forward and that movement seemed to snap him out of the dream state of disbelief. The practical training of a Dragon Lord now reared within him. As intent as it had been on killing the professor moments before now it was concerned with keeping him alive. He knelt beside the professor, ignoring the pool of blood he knelt in and reached to lightly touch the stump.
"Damn… why do… you… want… Fawkes….feather?" The whisper startled him and he only hoped that his disguise would protect his identity from the old man.
"'Why do I want Fawkes' feather?'" He shook his head slightly. How had it all gotten so out of hand? "I needed… need the feather for a ritual. It was my intention to invite you but…"
He could not go on, instead concentrating on easing the blood flow of the severed limb and Dumbledore did not speak again, seeming to be content to lie there and permit the man who had been trying to kill him to now save his life.
'I don't understand what happened. Why I suddenly tried to kill him.'
At Rowena's glare Harry shrugged slightly. Had he intended to invite Dumbledore to the ritual? For the life of him he did not know what he had been thinking.
"I think the Hospital wing is the only place you will be going now."
He glanced around and noted the Phoenix watching him with bright eyes. Accusing eyes and Harry wondered if Fawkes would still give him the feather. He needed the cooperation of the phoenix or the spell would fail but lying was definitely not a good idea in front of such a creature. He could only do the best that he could and hope that Fawkes would believe him or forgive him.
'I am so expelled when he finds out it was me who did this. I'm sorry. I never intended it to come to this.'
Harry pressed his fingers against a pressure point just above the elbow and felt a small surge of magic move through him. He was horrified at what he had caused and that supreme confidence he had in the prowess and abilities of the Dragon Lords quailed under his fear and rising anger. He was better than such barbarity and it had taken such a brutal act to make him see what he could all too easily become. There was more than a grain of truth in the legends of the Dragon Lords.
Look what he had already done? He had mind wiped some of the best people he knew. People who were trying to save both the wizarding world and the Muggles and he had treated them abominably. Look at what he had done to Ron, though he still felt that Ron had deserved it, but to so brutally and thoroughly beat him when he was so out of the boys league? He had had no right to do that and Charlie… How could he ever look Charlie in the eye again? Twice he had mind wiped him.
He had a lot of thinking to do if he was not to become the A typical Dragon Lord.
"The ritual needs to be done." Rowena hovered near him. "Get a move on."
"Hold here." He gently moved two of the old man's fingers to the pressure point. "It will help control the bleeding."
"We have to go." Rowena warned, knowing that time was running short and she dare not chance the resurgence of the Dragon Lord.
He did not want to move. He did not want to do the thrice damned ritual any more but something good had to come out of this horror. If he could perform the ritual and perform it well then some good might still come out of this mess.
He tried to still the trembling, the training of his Dragon Lord mentor suggested that that was shock and he needed to get control of himself. He found the headmasters cloak lying over a chair and draped it over Dumbledore to keep him warm and hopefully out of shock which would only complicate Madame Pomfrey's treatment and finally walked over to stand before Fawkes perch.
'I have not been getting alone with the man but I don't want him dieing on me. I never meant for any of this to happen' He thought to himself. 'I really need to hunt down and kill that Poltergeist… again.'
He inhaled sharply at the thought. A very Dragon Lord thought, he realised and that frightened him. He was aware of the bird's eyes firmly on him and he felt the weight of that look and knew that he could not hide anything from the Phoenix. This creature was more than capable of knowing him, as both Dragon Lord and as Harry.
'I need to learn how to merge the two selves together.' He noted the birds head dip and knew that Fawkes had followed the thought and was judging him.
The door to the office thumped against the back wall as it was thrust wide open and Professors McGonagall and Snape appeared in the doorway. Behind them Harry knew that at least the other two house heads must be waiting and guessed that at some point he or Dumbledore had triggered some form of magical alarm.
"What on earth is…" McGonagall's face paled when she saw Albus Dumbledore lying on the floor his right arm missing from the elbow down and an unknown man standing next to Fawkes. "Albus!"
The ghost stood between them, separating Harry from the irate professors and he saw Dumbledore lever himself up a little and whatever action they would have taken on their own was stilled by the Headmaster. They looked between the unknown man and the headmaster and Harry saw hands twitch but their wands remained down and not raised threateningly at him.
Harry looked at the four Professors and nodded to them "There has been a misunderstanding. I need to ask Fawkes for a feather, nothing more." He looked to the phoenix and bowed respectfully. "I am sorry. I did not mean for any of this to happen. I know that I have a problem and it must be dealt with… and it will be. Please. I need to see to this ritual and for that I need the feather. It may save lives later."
Fawkes seemed to weigh the whispered words and his eyes never blinked as he stared at the armoured figure towering over him. There was nothing threatening in Harry now and he sensed genuine contrition and true determination to see that he controlled the wild nature of the Dragon Lord and that natural arrogance. With a click on his beak the Phoenix dropped the feather before Harry and permitted him to reach forward and take it.
With a quiet sigh Harry nodded and bowed to the bird. "Thank you. May I have my wand too?" He slipped the feather into a pocket hidden within his cloak and waited.
The phoenix again clicked his beak and Harry reached to curl his fingers about the wand. He froze as Fawkes mantled and lightening fast the bird stabbed at his hand with his beak but that beak did not draw blood. Instead a controlled bite, a warning and Harry felt a surge of magic and understood that it was a warning. With that the bird took wing and landed before Dumbledore, magical tears already weeping from those bright eyes.
Harry picked up his wand and with a deft flick of his wrist it was gone into the folds of his cloak. Fortifying himself with a deep breath he turned to face the assembled Professors. "I believe that Professor Dumbledore needs your assistance. I have no wish for another needless confrontation."
He looked to the ghost of the founder, half hoping that she would order the group out of his way but Rowena remained mute, watching but taking no further action. He knew that he had damaged his standing with the founder but he also knew that she was willing to help him overcome the urges of the Dragon Lord. This night had been a mistake but one he was to learn from and come from a better person.
'Please move. I don't want to hurt any of them. Enough hurt has been done already… though if Snape is going to be difficult I wouldn't mind throwing him around the room a little…' the thought caused him to wince. Already a hint of the Dragon Lord returning and that simply would not do. He was going to have to gain control of these urges. 'Perhaps I should simply allow Silvenestri to finish that staring contest they started.'
Professor McGonagall, Flitwick and Professor Sprout moved out of the way but Professor Snape remained standing in the doorway, staring at Harry.
"They may be afraid of you but I'm not." A quick flip of the wand and muttered incantation saw Harry's wand fly from his cloak and into Snape's hand.
Harry seemed to shudder and a hand lifter imperiously and the great two bladed sword on the floor was suddenly in the air and flying into his hand. He had not even consciously thought to summon the sword and he could feel the stir of the Dragon Lord within him, but he could see that old man on the floor and the Phoenix weeping to heal him and he fought to keep his sanity.
He tilted his light and was unaware that the light showed his lower face, clearly displaying a cold and calculating smile to those who watched. The portraits of the headmasters were silent now each of them looking worried but Snape remained facing off against Harry with wand in hand.
"Do you think you can take me Snape or is that famous Slytherin cunning going to save you?" He could hear that deep voice again and feel the pull of muscles as his sword once again was raised ready for another throw. "Don't make me do it you greasy-git."
'No! I won't let you. I won't do it.' He fought against the urge to throw the blade and he could see Snape wand rise to cast a spell and he could almost see the snide comment the Potions Master was going to throw at him.
"Enough."
The quiet voice sliced through the air and both sword and wand were lowered without conscious thought at the authority it carried. Dumbledore slowly climbed to his feet, his wand grasped in his left hand his right arm missing from the elbow.
"That is quite enough, both of you. Snape, permit him to leave undisturbed." His eyes were serious as he turned his attention to the armoured figure. "Go. Do what it is you must but see to it that no danger comes of it to Hogwarts."
He moved between the Potions Master and Harry and his gaze never moved from the shadow shrouded face. With a gentle sweep of his remaining hand he motioned toward the door.
Harry took a steadying breath, forcing down that arrogance once more and with unfeigned respect for the old man offered him a bow and a small apologetic smile.
"I am sorry that things got out of control. I shall go and if it please you and you are still capable, know that you can witness the ritual if you wish."
He glanced at the other Professors who were watching him as though they expected him to explode and wondered if he might not himself. He did not know himself this night and it frightened him but he was not alone and he would have help to control this thing that constantly rose within him and frightened him with such terrible behaviour.
He then looked around and found Rowena floating over everyone's heads, still keeping between him and the group by the door though she was watching Dumbledore and he could not mistake the respect he saw there for the Headmaster.
"Rowena can I trouble you to gather everyone and prepare? We need to make ready for the ritual and I ask that you tell the others to disguise their identities."
He saw the watching professors flick their eyes up to the ghost and the recognition that came over them as they realised who it was who floated in the headmasters office. He was thankful that she smiled at him as she faded away and guessed that she now trusted him enough not to lose control again. Or perhaps trusted Dumbledore enough to know that he would not permit matters to get out of hand.
Dumbledore sighed, drawing every eye back to him as he looked around the office. "I need to have a few words with Peeves. Well now you do realise that I must know who you are but first..."
Dumbledore bent down carefully and Harry winced as he picked up his severed arm and looked at it with detached interest. Making the hand wave at him once or twice he nodded his head as Fawkes rose to perch delicately on his shoulder. "I'll just get this reattached first, if you don't mind. Should not take too long. I presume that you will be performing the ritual within the Great Hall? Yes, I thought so. Snape, Flitwick, Madame Sprout, would you see that the students are safely in their house common rooms. Minerva, come with me to the hospital, if you would. We need to talk."
Harry nodded once in respect to the Headmaster as he left the office, mindful of how Snape glared at him but the Potions Master made no move to delay or stop him
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Dumbledore had thought that he would never escape from Madam Pomfrey. He had opted to use the floo to reach the hospital wing to expedite the healing of his arm but he had known that the school nurse would not wish him to do more than rest and sleep to aid in the healing process. With her healing magic and a selection of powerful potions she had had little difficulty in reattaching his lower arm. He was well aware that he needed to rest to aid in recovering both his strength and from the blood loss but he felt that he needed to be present for this ritual if only to keep his professors from interfering. He opted to escape Madam Pomfrey while she prepared a bed for him by using the floo system and popping back to his office, deciding to walk down to the great hall to gain additional time to think.
Events had all too quickly gotten out of hand and that was, unfortunately, all too common where Dragon Lords had been concerned. The legend could be quite frightening and it was unfortunate that they had had trouble but done was done and there was no going back. At least he knew exactly what it was that Harry was into and forewarned was forearmed. He need not tell anyone about the exact nature of the incident or who was involved but he knew and that was all that was important. Nor would he permit Harry at this time to realise that he knew precisely who it was who had entered his office.
'Cheeky boy. No humility about Dragon Lords and you are far from controlling that arrogance, but you are aware now of the dangers. I will give you time to absorb the lesson and see how well you cope with the knowledge about yourself.'
Harry was seated in the Headmasters chair at the head table and was flanked by three people, two to his left and one to his right. Knowing the identity of the Dragon Lord Dumbledore had no doubt who it was who accompanied him but he was not of a mind to share his suspicions with any of the Professors who waited for him to one side of the head table.
The little girl who was dressed in a silver cloak and who wore a black dress with jet-black hair and whose green eyes seemed to look into your soul was undoubtedly Silvenestri and now he had a good idea of just who Silvenestri was. The disguises were magical in nature and quite well executed, but what did he expect? Dragon Lords were nothing if not proficient in spell casting.
Next was a young woman seemingly no older than any of students from the sixth year, her hair a rich violet colour and her eyes a deep blue. She too wore a silver cloak and beneath its folds her robes were black. The third gave the appearance of being older than the eldest of the girls by a mere few years and had light brown hair and clear coloured eyes. She was sitting on the arm of the chair Dumbledore normally occupied in which Harry now sat and one hand constantly ran through his hair. Her black robes peeked from beneath the silver cloak and little of her figure could be seen beneath its enveloping folds.
The nightly feast had been cleared away and the tables drawn to the sides of the hall, making room for this ritual that Dumbledore was admittedly curious to see. Harry had gone to a great deal of trouble to gather that phoenix feather so the Headmaster was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and permit it to be undertaken within the hall. Here there were a great many safeguards that would permit him to take action should anything disastrous occur.
The hall was empty of everyone but the Head Boy and Head Girl at this time who were both Ravenclaw's and he wondered if that was Rowena's choice to have them present or if Harry had asked for them and if so, why? The four Professors who were the Heads of the respective House's of Hogwarts, Minerva, Snape, Flitwick and Sprout were standing in front and to the side of the head table.
Dumbledore returned he's sight to the man seated in his place, judging whether he was in the presence of the Dragon Lord or Harry, or perhaps that third persona that they needed to strengthen, the one who was a combination of the best of both persona's. Harry was drinking something from a cup while rubbing a hand gently up and down the brown haired woman's back in a caress that caused the Professor to wonder if there might not be help in controlling the Dragon Lord persona from that quarter. It was amazing, the power of love, as borne out by Lily Potter's love for her son. Perhaps there was help here to control that more violent personality and to allow the Harry he knew to come to the fore and control the legendary temperament of his other self.
Resting in front of Harry on the table lay the great two headed sword and the wand that Dumbledore had recognised as Harry's. The feel of the phoenix feather at the core of that wand was unmistakable to him. The tail feather taken from Fawkes rested near the wand along with a second feather, some scales that he thought might be from Merefolk and a long strand of pale gold hair of a colour and texture he associated with the mane of a yearling unicorn.
'Interesting choice of components.' He mused silently.
Harry looked up and Dumbledore wondered if he really saw that momentary flash of relief in his emerald green eyes. The eyes were a far more vivid and deep colour than Harry's natural eye colour and he wondered why he had not chosen a different colour to disguise himself. It was of no consequence though and he watched as Harry drew the others after him as he came closer.
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Harry"Ah, Albus… Professor." He recalled that he was being presumptive and insulting to name the Headmaster so familiarly.
"Albus." Dumbledore murmured which drew a rustle of consternation and surprise from the other professors.
"Albus." Harry offered a small bow of gratitude at the concession. He wondered again if the Headmaster had recognised him but felt certain that if that were the case he would not now be standing in the Great Hall. No, he had not been recognised but he had to be more careful.
"Please have a seat. I offered seats to the others but they declined my offer. I fear that they do not trust me."
He noted the Headmasters newly healed arm in its sling as he escorted Dumbledore to the High chair and saw him settled there. With Dumbledore settled into his seat Harry adjusted his hood slightly in what he recognised as a nervous gesture and sighed. He had to get on with this and trust that he could control both himself and the magic or he would forever live in fear of the power within him. It had seemed easier to control the Dragon Lord's arrogance since Tonks had joined him and he wondered if perhaps she might not be his greatest salvation.
Tonks was standing at his side, as he preferred her to be and he turned to her finding himself presenting her in a rather formal and courtly fashion to the old man. "I like you to meet my Lover, Silver. The little girl is called Gold and last but by no means least is my friend Violet."
Dumbledore watched as Silver enveloped Harry in a quick hug while the other two smiled and shook their heads as though amused by the two.
"And your name, Sir, before we go continue?" Dumbledore inquired after Harry gave Silver a quick kiss on the cheek.
Harry straightened to his full height, the illusion gifting him with a couple of inches extra elevation and smiled. Pulling back his hood to reveal long black hair tried back in a neat pony tail and dark emerald eyes looking he bowed formally to the Professors gathered. He knew that if they saw through the illusion they would see him as a somewhat older version of Harry but he had tried to model himself after Sirius Black
"You can call me Nameless. At this time that is the most appropriate name. For this ritual I need some help. It calls for three people of at least 15 years of age and six years of magical study to be safely performed. As you can see Gold is much less than the required age and Rowena, being deceased is unable to full fill the task. I ask that one of you assist in filling the vacant place?"
He removed his sword and the wand from the table, placing them within the folds of his cloak as he waited for the professors to decide which of them would take the vacant place. If none of them would then he was in serious trouble, unless either the Head Boy or Head Girl would agree to perform the ritual. He was hoping that Dumbledore was curious enough to order one of them to comply.
Dumbledore considered the professors in silence for a moment and then stood slowly. He was tired, he had lost a lot of blood and he would by far prefer to be tucked into bed and working on that resting that Madam Pomfrey had insisted on. However, he needed to know what was happening in his school and weakened as he was he still had more than sufficient power to act should the need arise.
"I will not ask that any of you take part in this unknown ritual. I will take the vacant place. You will all stay back and be ready for anything should there be a problem."
Minerva nodded once, sharply and glared at Nameless in clear warning that if anything happened to the Headmaster he was gong to regret it. Snape looked upset and about to protest but a shake of Dumbledore's white maned head silenced him and the remainder of the professors nodded in agreement.
Nameless seemed to hesitate and then nod in agreement gathered up the four items on the table and finding Rowena at the far end of the table moved to join her. Silver and Violet stood behind him and Gold moved out of the immediate group, standing to one side.
Harry looked at Dumbledore but new he dared not protest. The professor had so much experience and would undoubtedly be capable of protecting himself if something went wrong. If anyone survived a disaster during the ritual it would be the canny old man who had forbidden his staff to participate.
"Rowena are the circles readied?" He called over to Rowena.
"The circles are ready to be moved. Where do you want them?"
"Right here." He indicated the centre area of the Great Hall and motioned Gold to remain back as the ghost drifted toward the area.
Rowena floated in the centre of the hall and began to chant. An eerie sound echoing oddly in her ghostly voice. None of the watching professors could understand her spell though Dumbledore looked to be listening hard. Harry hoped he would not recognise the language though he supposed it did not really matter. At some time he was going to learn that Harry was the Dragon Lord but at least not tonight. The chant seemed to gather power and strength. At the peak of her chant the cleared area in the middle of the hall became eerily light and five glowing circles appeared rotating in mid air. The circles slowly settled to the floor as the chant slowed and Rowena fell silent.
Harry surveyed the four circles, checking the accuracy of their placement and noted the professors murmuring about the ancient rune denoting the elements, one in each of the four outer circles. The inner fifth circle contained the four elemental runes and a fifth rune to act as the focus in the centre. All of the runes were glowing with a pale purple light.
Dumbledore looked up from the rune circles to watch as the man who called himself Nameless passed the Hippogriff feather to Violet and then the Unicorn hair to Silver before he moved to face Dumbledore and held out the Merfolk scales to him.
"You are to chant the spell written into the elemental circle for water. I ask that you trust me and leave the rest to me, Albus."
Nameless placed the scales in his hands and Dumbledore was pleased that the boy's voice did not betray any fear that anything might go wrong in the casting of this ritual. Harry, or rather Nameless appeared to trust that he would not deliberately mess up the ritual.
Harry watched as Dumbledore nodded agreement to him and walked over to the water circle. He held his breath as the Headmaster surveyed the runes within the circle and with a softly uttered word he placed himself at the edge of the circle. The ring of light flashed for an instant and at a motion of the professors newly repaired arm, now out of its sling the light gentled and resumed its rhythmic rippling. The circles attended by Silver and Violet took longer to calm as they took their places and he had to admire the old wizard's skill. It reminded him that for all his power he still did not know enough to go against the old man without a great deal of luck.
Harry placed himself at the circle on a diagonal opposite to that occupied by Dumbledore and calmed the light quickly as it reacted to his presence. Ensuring that everyone was in their place he drew a deep breath and leaning forward he placed the phoenix feather within the circle and began the chant. The level of the light flared and acquired a red glow that danced like fire.
He watched, repeating the chant as Tonks placed the unicorn hair within the circle she stood at and began to chant. After the first run through a flush of green rippled through the light. She repeated the chant as Dumbledore began his chant, placing the Merfolk scales within his circle.
Harry was on the third repeat of his chant as Tonks began her second and Dumbledore spoke the first round of the chant and the professors deep voice caused his circle to flush aqua blue. By this time his own circle was flickering and dancing flame and he knew that Dumbledore was not going to disrupt the ritual. As he began the fourth round of the chant Hermione placed the Hippogriff feather within her circle and began the first cadence of her chant.
He fell silent as he completed the fourth round of the chant, his circle now leaping flame. Tonks completed her fourth round and was bathed in forest green light, strong and steady. At the completion of his fourth round of the chant Dumbledore appeared to stand at the edge of a rippling pond full of blue water and Hermione completed her fourth round to stand on the edge of a soft white light that seemed to echo a roaring wind.
Harry turned his attention to the fifth circle. The light from the four elemental circles seemed to flow into the centre circle and mingle, running into each other, dancing around each other. As one all four of the casters spoke the final cadence of the rune chant, their voices echoing and merging into one and the centre circle was filled with the illumination. The sharp tang and electricity of high level magic was in the air, rising on a higher and higher beat as they brought their chants to a crescendo.
He held in mind the words of the fading chant as he whispered in the maelstrom of forces his summons. It had to work and at this moment he knew that it would indeed work. With confidence he sent his summons out into the gathered magic.
'I summon you who are the Leader of the Forgotten.'
He repeated the mantra over and over again as the combined voices of the elemental casters fell silent and the roar of the magic filled the Great Hall.
All at once the four elemental circles flared with light, forming columns of fire, emerald and aqua and white pure light to rise higher and higher until they struck the enchanted ceiling of the hall. For a moment the soaring arches of the Gothic architecture was plainly visible as the enchantment's clashed and then the columns shrank, diminishing swiftly to play within the circles once more before flickering out.
With the dying of the light Harry looked immediately to the central circle where the lights swirled and danced, four colours combining in a multitude of combinations, uniting and dividing and forming into a shape. Slowly, forming and dissipating as the light swirled and eddied and then reforming again and again something formed within the circle.
Harry held his breath as the shape become more solid with each cyclic swirl of light until he found himself staring in rapt fascination at a tall young man with draconic wings arching from his back. Long hair swirled around him in the currents and eddies of light revealing to the rapt watchers the unmistakable pointed ears of an elf.
Nameless found himself smiling and suddenly fighting against the resurgence within him of the Dragon Lord. He would not lose control now though and he fought down the surge, remaining in control of himself as he whispered his success.
"The Forgotten have returned."
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