Author: Magiquill9
Chapter 17: A Traitor in Their MidstShips: Harry and Ginny, Hermione and Ron, Bill and Fleur, and Lupin and Tonks.
Chapter Synopsis: The Burrow is destroyed. Hufflepuff's cup is destroyed taking someone else down with it. Grimmauld Place is attacked.
Story Summary: HBP raised as many questions as it answered. How can Harry find a horcrux? How can he destroy the horcruxes? Everything was laid out, and we were about to jump off the cliff. Here's where the cliffhanger ends and the adventure begins. Join Harry and friends as they struggle to lead the wizarding world out of despair, fight the good fight, and put an end to the evil that is Tom Riddle.
Disclaimer: Ok guys, sorry for that short chapter on 16, I just had a bit to accomplish and had to make it here. We have a lot to do in this chapter. Find the cup, destroy the cup, kill someone off, destroy the Burrow, attack Grimmauld Place, and discover a traitor. Our Harry is a busy little wizard isn't he? He's got about, let's see, until chapter 23, so 6 more chapters, including this one, and then we'll be at chapter 23, which I have had planned for awhile. Just to let you know in advance, that chapter is only like 1,000 words. Then we will have chapter 24, chapter 25 which will be the end, and an alternate ending so I can write a type of sequel with a plot I've read about and thought was very good. So we've got 9 or 10 chapters to go. Thanks for sticking with me so far. You all have been great. And I've nearly topped my first story's stats. We're almost there. 7 more people add it to their favorites, 8 more people set it to alert, 2 more c2's and 32 more reviews, and I've topped my old story in every category. That will most definitely be impressive. Sorry for rambling so long. Here is Chapter 17: A Traitor in Their Midst.
WARNING: CHARACTER DEATH IN THIS CHAPTER!
"So are you sure it was a lethifold then? You saw it leaving?"
"Yes. Exactly like a dementor, except they suffocate you in your sleep. Then they eat you without leaving a trace of the victim. It was in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
"I wish I wouldn't have told her to take a nap..."
"Why?"
"Because she wouldn't be dead."
Harry chose to go down the trapdoor first, and he felt something shiver over his body, particularly his arm. Regulus followed next, holding his wand like a sword and slashing the darkness with the light his Lumos was producing. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all looked on anxiously, and Ginny confidently walked down the trapdoor. But it was like she hit a wall. She couldn't get through the barrier. She bounced back and was knocked unconscious.
"Ugh?" Ginny squeaked in surprise, before slumping on the wall.
"I'll look after her," said Ron. "Hermione, they need you more than me."
"But how do I get through?" she cried.
"Take my hand," Harry said. He offered it to her, and she watched as his arm emerged from the darkness. She grabbed it and Harry pulled her down into the depths of Voldemort's personified Hell. She felt the barrier but it passed over her. They began to walk down the staircase, Regulus leading the way, and Hermione still gripping Harry's hand tightly. Abruptly, they reached the bottom and it leveled out.
"Lead the way Regulus," Harry whispered quietly, his voice carrying throughout the tunnel.
Regulus led them on, and then abruptly stopped.
"The first test," he stated. Regulus pushed up his sleeve, revealing his dark mark, and pressed on it. The tunnel began to shimmer, and light up. A rock on Harry's side began to glow a bright green.
"Hah!" Regulus exclaimed. He pointed his wand at the rock and cried "Morsmorde!"
The rock began to spin, and it spun in on itself. Then it disappeared with a pop. The three of them began to walk inside, but Regulus held a hand up.
"Only two of us can go on, the rock will reappear once we pass through it. Which one of us stays behind?"
Harry looked at Hermione, and looked at Regulus. Hermione already knew the answer. She launched herself onto Harry.
"Please be safe Harry, and come back to me ok?" She kissed him on the cheek for good luck. Harry gave her a comforting hug and kissed her on the forehead.
"I will Hermione, don't worry." Satisfied, she nodded, although it was a little slow, yet accepting. She sat herself on the ground and began to twirl her wand idly.
"Let's get going then," Regulus said. Harry and Regulus walked through the opening and the rock swiftly reappeared, separating Hermione from them. Harry put his hand on the other side of the rock and prayed to himself 'keep them safe.
"It only opens from the other side. Come on, we still have a long way to go." Harry pressed on, and watched in amazement as Regulus guided him through the death chamber. The very earth shook under Harry's feet as he walked. Occasionally, a stray beam of light would come near him and Harry would be forced to cast a shield charm or duck. Regulus seemed unfazed by them and kept on. Harry just stared in morbid fascination at the hiding place of this horcrux.
Harry walked forward and looked around him at the walls. Regulus abruptly stopped in front of him and Harry walked right into him. The result was that they fell into the pit that had been made to stop them. Regulus cursed. They landed roughly and picked themselves off the ground.
"Pay more attention Potter. That could have gotten us killed." Harry attempted to conjure a rope to get them back up while Regulus tried to levitate himself. Neither try worked.
"There's a spell preventing the use of magic," Regulus said.
Harry felt a ward similar to something he remembered from before, but couldn't quite place.
"We'll have to climb up, and if we can't then I'll just have to throw you up first, and you levitate me out." Harry nodded his agreement. It was quickly obvious that they couldn't climb out, so Regulus picked Harry up.
"One, TWO!" Regulus threw Harry as high as he could. Harry gripped on to the hard floor that they had been on earlier and hit the side of the cave with a thunk. He pulled himself up and managed to make it up. Harry realized he was on the other side of the pit, where they needed to go. He swished his wand, then flicked it while chanting, "Wingardium Leviosa," and pointed it at Regulus. Nothing happened.
"Try conjuring me a rope," Regulus called out. Harry did the best he could, and he was able to pull what could pass for a rope out of thin air. He threw it down to Regulus. Regulus climbed up the rope, walking on the side of the pit while Harry braced himself up on top. Regulus finally made it up with a final heave and the barrier around the pit came into existence, shimmered, and then disappeared.
"Well, let's keep going."
They pressed onward and saw a table.
"The horcrux," Harry said.
"Wait," Regulus warned.
"Yeah, I have an idea. Accio Horcrux."
Regulus tried to stop Harry from casting the spell, but it was too late. Harry stared expectantly around him, waiting for something to happen. He saw all of the cups shiver, but that was it. They approached the table cautiously and looked at all of the cups. Every single one of them was filled with a substance.
Regulus looked at each cup carefully. They were all replicas of Hufflepuff's cup.
"Well, each cup is the same, except the liquids inside are all different. One of them is the horcrux, but I have no idea which one. They all seem to anchor the cup though. You can't pick it up unless the cup is drained."
"Try a scourgify. Or an evanesco maybe," Harry ventured hopefully. Neither worked.
"There has to be another way," mused Regulus. Harry was worried. Hermione was the one good at this kind of stuff. Not him. He would have to figure out which one was the real one. He stared at each cup closely. He looked at the third on his left.
"Finite Incantatum!" Nothing happened.
"It was a good idea Harry."
"Harry walked along the table looking at each cup, there were a total of seven in all. Harry remembered an obstacle years ago that had to do with potions and cups. Was it worth a try? It had been the third one then. Could it be the third one now? Harry tried to pull the cup up but it wouldn't budge. How then, was he supposed to drain it? Reminiscent of the cave, Harry conjured a small cup that fit inside it and drank it a little bit at a time. Regulus stared at him.
"What are you doing!"
"I think this one is it." Harry continued to slowly drain the cup of the potion. He was slowly but surely feeling the pain coming on. He had been through a lot of torture sessions before though, so the pain was nullified. Harry had grown a tolerance for it. It hit the level of Cruciatus about three-fourths of the way, but Harry continued stubbornly until he drank the last drop. Harry was then able to lift the cup off the table. When it did, the cup flew straight onto his forehead and attached itself to his scar.
"Ahhhh!" Harry yelled. The cup began to try and get inside his scar, if that was possible. Regulus positioned himself on Harry's side, but the pain was too much to bear.
"Don't move. Reducto!" The cup shattered and Harry saw Regulus make a strange motion with his wand. Harry realized it was the spell Dumbledore must have done. Harry finally noticed something that had come out of the cup, which now lay in pieces on the floor, with the large chunk sitting innocently on the ground. A spirit seemed to come from within the cup and sat between Regulus and Harry. Regulus jabbed at it with his wand and it dove right at him. Harry saw a flash of pure white light come from Regulus's wand and watched in awe as the spirit dodged, then latched itself onto Regulus's dark mark. He howled in pain. Then he subsided, and began to curse fluently.
"There goes my damn arm," he said. Regulus did that same spell again, and Harry watched as his arm turned into how Dumbledore's had been: black as the darkness. It was more than Regulus's arm though. It went all the way up to his left eye. He held only one eye open and limped noticeably on his left leg.
"Let's get out of here."
"Not so fast." Harry spun around at the sound of an intruder. He saw a head appear out of the shadows. Harry didn't recognize the man, but then Harry held onto the scream that had risen to his throat. This wasn't a man. His body was that of a lion, and Harry knew without seeing he had a scorpion's tail. It was a-
"Bloody manticore. Its skin repels just about everything magical and the stinger will kill you faster than a basilisk's eye." Harry heard it crooning softly.
"It likes to do that before it devours its prey," Regulus added.
"5 points to Slytherin," Harry muttered. Regulus forced a weary grin onto his face.
"Then let's kill it without magic," Harry stated.
"How do you propose we do that?"
"Easy. We just need Fawkes."
"And how do you expect Fawkes to come to you?" Regulus asked incredulously.
"I don't. I just know that he's loyal to Dumbledore, and I'm loyal to Dumbledore, so if I am in great need and he can help me, he will. Dumbledore was a great man, and Fawkes is just as great."
A flash came from Harry's right, and Fawkes appeared, trilling softly. Regulus shook his head disbelievingly.
"There you are Fawkes. Can you flash us out of here?"
Fawkes shook his head softly. He sang one quivering note. Inside Harry's head he heard, 'you can only get in, not out. I'm stuck here with you. Here is your sword though, it helped last time.' Harry noticed the sword of Gryffindor in Fawkes' talons. Harry grasped it firmly and stared defiantly at the manticore. It returned his gaze, whipping its tail menacingly.
"Do you know how to kill a manticore Harry?" Regulus asked.
"Not really," Harry admitted. "I was just going to try and stab it and see what happens."
"Well, it's basically immune to magic, and we'll have to dodge the stinger. So what do you propose?" Regulus asked.
"You cast spells at it and I'll try and hit it with the sword. You might want to conjure another sword or maybe some spears to throw at it or something," Harry said thoughtfully.
"I'm still weak from the horcrux but I'll do the best I can."
"Try not to use spells that are too dangerous. I'm going to use a disillusionment charm." And so, Harry did. He cast one on himself and wondered whether or not the manticore could see him. It wouldn't matter though. He would just have to rely on luck. The manticore had not moved because it couldn't decide which one of them to go after but once Harry had cast his charm, it chose Regulus. Regulus dodged the stinger and fired off some spells at its back while it skidded across the cavern. Some of the rocks from the ceiling fell onto their heads. Harry kept on coming from behind the manticore. He heard Regulus kept yelling out all these spells and some would hit the manticore, causing it to pause, but then continue. Harry snuck up behind him and when it was face to face with Regulus, cut off its tail. It howled painfully. Harry's sword started to shimmer for a minute and then became fully solid again. The tail writhed on the floor angrily. Harry cast a reductor curse at it with his other hand and it shattered into a million pieces, scattered across the dirt floor. It took a swipe at Regulus and Harry thrust the sword at it, forcing it to miss Regulus and instead collapse onto the ground, wounded. Harry sliced its' head clean off while it was on the floor and then wiped his sweaty brow.
"We did it," Harry said.
"Yeah," said Regulus painfully.
"Let's get out of here." They turned their back on the fallen manticore and began to walk out, Fawkes leading the way, but then Regulus cried out in pain.
"Regulus what happened?"
"It can- regenerate itself." And Regulus collapsed onto the floor from the stinger's hit. Harry summoned the remains of Hufflepuff's cup and levitated Regulus. Then he ran out, with Fawkes covering his back. Harry grabbed Regulus's wand, slid the sword onto his belt, and began casting spells at the manticore as they worked their way back through the cave. It was still headless but it was slowly regenerating it. Harry kept on backtracking, and twice fell, only to be lifted by Fawkes before a talon could hit him. Harry cast one more spell at it, then fell right into the pit. He swore. The manticore stood on top, staring at its' prey. It stood precariously on the edge, and then jumped in. Fawkes acted. He picked Harry up along with Regulus and flew them out to the other side of the pit. The manticore crooned angrily. It couldn't get out. Harry kept walking backwards warily until they made it back to the rock where Hermione was. A couple times he had to hit the ground when spears flew from the side of the cave, and Harry was actually hit once by a jelly-legs curse. Harry finally made it to the rock and yelled at Hermione to open it.
Harry listened, waiting for her voice. He heard a hesitant "Morsmorde," a shriek, and then the rock whirled around, and then finally disappeared. Harry walked through, with Fawkes and Regulus trailing behind. Hermione engulfed him in a hug and all Harry could see was bushy brown hair.
"We need to get out of here. Regulus is hurt. Fawkes, flash him to the Burrow, we'll meet you there." Harry extricated himself from the sea of hair and looked at Regulus. Harry took one last look at Regulus and slid his wand back into his grip before Fawkes took him away. Harry felt his wrist, but he couldn't feel a pulse. Harry remembered him saying that the sting was fatal, but did it get him? Harry didn't know.
"Come on Hermione, let's get Ron and Ginny and apparate to the Burrow."
"Yeah, let's go. You got the horcrux then?"
Harry pulled out the remains of the cup to answer her question. As they made their way back to the trapdoor, Harry recounted the adventure they had. They made it back to the trapdoor without trouble, unless you count the two times that Hermione ran into a wall because it was 'too dark to see light' and landed on Harry. They reached up to it and Harry shoved it open. Ron and Ginny were just where they left them, only Ginny wasn't looking too good. She had regained consciousness, but she still looked the worse for wear. Hermione had remembered to grab Harry's arm so they could make it out, and then they went to apparate to the Burrow.
"To the Burrow guys, we'll meet you there." Harry spun on the spot to apparate but then shouted at his friends.
"There's a ward, don't do it!" They stopped in mid spin and looked at him. Harry had an idea.
"Aberforth!" Harry yelled. The wizard walked through the door to them, after taking another swig from his flask.
"Do you have the portkey?" Harry asked frantically.
"Right here," he said, pulling it out. Harry grabbed the portkey they had used to get there and Aberforth reactivated it. They all grabbed on, and the familiar pull on the navel came, whisking them away to Grimmauld Place. Once they hit the ground there, they walked outside and apparated to the Burrow. Aberforth stayed at Grimmauld place to grab a drink.
Harry had apparated to the edge of the lane, where he and Dumbledore had apparated to last time, and they approached the Burrow. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had all appeared near him. When they came around the bend and the Burrow was in view, it was not a pretty sight.
Harry saw the elder Weasley's fighting off what looked like inferi. The corpses were trying to get to the garden. The house itself was already in flames, and that seemed like one of the only things that were preventing the inferi from charging. Harry saw Fawkes with them, trying to help as best he could. Harry gathered the three of his friends.
"We need fire, that's the thing that inferi hate most, and can't stand. That will hold them off. Hermione, you're good at fire, so you start casting that. Ginny, just start firing incendio's, Ron, come on, let's go. I have an idea."
Hermione and Ginny cautiously approached the inferi from the back. Harry watched them as they began to throw fire at the intruders. The Weasleys, still struggling, kept on retaliating and holding them at bay.
"Look, Dumbledore cast this spell in the cave that held them off. I think I can remember how he did it. It was a pretty strong spell though; I'm not sure if I can pull it off. So if that doesn't work, then here's what we need to do." Harry started to explain his plan but he was cut off by a cry in the horizon.
"Bloody hell, its Charlie!" cried Ron.
"And look what he's riding," continued Harry in awe. Charlie flew in to reinforce the troops, on the back of none other than-
"Norbert! Can you believe he brought a bloody dragon?"
"They must have sent him a message with the patronus," reasoned Harry.
"Right, well, let's do that spell Harry."
Harry cast his mind back to the day in the cave, and remembered Dumbledore coming back to Harry's aid. Flamma orbis. That was it. The spell that made a ring of fire around them made of scarlet and gold. He could use it to part the sea of inferi and get to the Weasleys. Harry tried it once, absently, and non-verbally. To his amazement, a ring of fire did appear, and it scorched Ron's eyebrow, the same one that had vanished during the apparition test.
"Ouch!" shouted Ron.
"Well I think I've got the spell. Let's go." Harry ran with Ron to rejoin Hermione and Ginny, and to try and pass the army of inferi. Charlie and Norbert were wreaking havoc on the army and the tide was slowly turning. The Burrow continued to burn, the flames dancing merrily. Harry wielded his wand like a torch and shouted the spell into the air.
"Flamma orbis," Harry yelled. And the ring of fire surrounded him; it's golden color blinding those too close to it. The inferi, dazed, scattered as Harry passed by them. They reunited with the Weasleys, several of whom looked the worse for wear. Fred's robes were torn, and he was bleeding from a large scratch on his arm; George had a split lip and a bruised knuckle, presumably from where he had punched one of the offending corpses. Fawkes was doing the best he could, creating flames and singing to brighten their spirits. Regulus lay on the ground, as cold as the hands of the inferi who were crawling towards them. Twice Bill was almost bitten, but they succeeded in downing the inferi before they could attack. Harry shuddered to think what would happen if they were bitten. Better not to find out.
"We need to just apparate out of here!" shouted Mr. Weasley over the noise.
"Agreed. Let's go!" yelled Bill.
"Charlie! Meet us at Avalon with the dragon! Warn the Lovegood's and the Diggory's first if you can!" Mr. Weasley yelled. At Charlie's nod, Mr. Weasley sighed and he grabbed Mrs. Weasley and apparated on the spot. The twins nodded at each other and followed suit. Harry grabbed Ginny and Ron grabbed Hermione.
"To Grimmauld first." Harry said. Bill left next, Charlie began to fly off, and the four of them prepared to leave before they were swarmed by the army of inferi. Harry moved to grab Regulus, but Regulus suddenly stood up out of his own free will. Harry's eyes met Regulus's, and it was a scary picture. His eyes were as black and soulless as the inferi around them. They had changed him. Harry apparated as the inferi Regulus tried to take a swipe at him. The last thing he saw was the Burrow collapsing inward on itself before he and Ginny disappeared with a pop. They all reappeared in the kitchen and Aberforth hardly seemed to notice their reappearance. But he did.
"You all should get some rest, it's been an eventful day. But what happened to Regulus?" Aberforth asked.
"He's dead," Harry said softly.
"That's a shame. Do you have the horcrux?" At Harry's silence Aberforth sighed.
"He tried to destroy it himself didn't he?" Harry nodded.
"And did he destroy it?" Harry nodded once more. "That and the manticore are what ended up killing him. And then an inferi." Aberforth swore.
"A fate worse than death itself, if that did happen. Oh no. This isn't good," Aberforth muttered to himself.
Harry had to strain his ears to hear it, but decided he was better off not commenting on it.
"You should get some rest. It's been a long day," Aberforth repeated. Harry nodded.
"Ginny let's go get some rest. Hermione, Ron?" Harry asked, but they had already left to the library. Hermione wanted to find something. Harry sighed and slipped his hand into Ginny's. It was nice to feel her warmth again. He had missed her. They walked up to Harry's room and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"How are you feeling Gin?" Harry asked sincerely. He still held her hand and he rubbed it a couple times to try and entice her to talk. She moved her other hand to rub a bump on her head.
"Not too good. I feel like I hit a brick wall. That barrier was like the one that night at Hogwarts," Ginny said quietly. Harry wondered if she knew how close to the truth she was. Harry also wondered if now was the right time to tell Ginny. He didn't really want to tell anyone. Regulus had known, but he was dead now. So Harry was really the only one who held his secret. Of course Voldemort and the death eaters knew as well, but Harry wasn't sure if he was ready yet. Some of the things Voldemort had said had hit too close to home.
"They'll just leave you the moment they know. That is why I have no true friends Harry. Just followers. Because followers depend on me to give them something: power. And in turn they obey my commands. Friends however, have nothing to hold them together, no balance, no give and take. It can go all one way. Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived. That's a high title isn't it? Some even say better than Lord Voldemort. They are mistaken of course, but still, people will flock to you, as they undoubtedly have. But they are not friends. Just followers. And once they find out the truth, they will leave you. Once they see-"
"No!" Harry cried.
"Alas, I thought you were ready. I suppose not," Voldemort sighed. "Crucio!"
Was Voldemort right? Harry didn't know, and he didn't dare risk it. Maybe he would tell her another time. Maybe when she woke up. He was too tired to think properly.
"Let's get some rest. Here, you can sleep in here. I'm going to check on something then I'll be back."
"Stay with me Harry? Please. I don't really want to be alone right now. The Burrow is gone, and I don't know for sure if my family is ok. Just this once?"
"Ok Gin. I'll come back and we can stay in here. You'll be safe. I promise," Harry said. He leaned over to her and kissed her. Ginny kissed him back and Harry felt all her pent-up emotions coming out. He slid his hand through her hair, silently marveling at its' softness, and he just soaked in Ginny's love. He broke it off and laid her head on the pillow.
"I'll be back," Harry said. Ginny sighed and nodded. She blew him a kiss as he walked out and Harry caught it, slipping it into his pocket for later. Ginny giggled and rolled onto her side, succumbing to sleep.
Harry headed back downstairs. He placed the remains of Hufflepuff's cup in the drawing room by the tapestry and walked into the kitchen to grab a snack. Aberforth was gone to who knows where, and Ron and Hermione were in the library. The rest of the Weasleys had gone to Avalon. Harry would meet them there soon enough, he had just needed to pick up Aberforth and wanted to deposit the cup. Harry got a sandwich made and sat down at the table, chewing it thoughtfully.
Harry reached over to grab some water absentmindedly and heard a strange noise. Harry looked around and glanced up at Ginny's room; that's where the noise sounded like it had come from. Harry started to get up and check on her, but realized he had knocked over the water. That must have been what he heard. He settled back down and continued eating his sandwich. When he finished, he headed back to the sink and washed the plate. It was the only clean plate he had been able to find in the kitchen and he wanted to keep it that way. Once he finished he headed back up to Ginny's room. He walked in but she wasn't there. The bed was empty, and the whole room looked almost spotless. You couldn't even tell someone had been there. Harry walked back downstairs and ran into Aberforth.
"Have you seen Ginny?"
"Which room was she in?" Aberforth asked. Harry looked at him strangely because of the odd question but pointed at her room nonetheless.
"That one."
"You should sit down Harry."
"Why," Harry asked guardedly.
"Ginny is dead," Aberforth said.
"What!" Harry screamed. "How?"
"I believe she suffocated, and then was eaten. They leave no trace of their victim."
"What the hell would do that?" Harry screamed. He breathed rapidly, in an attempt to calm himself. This was all just some sick and twisted joke. Ginny. His Ginny. She couldn't be dead. It wasn't possible. They were supposed to be together, forever. She wasn't supposed to die. Not like this. Harry would kill him. Voldemort had just signed his own death warrant. Ginny couldn't be dead. Harry breathed slowly and looked at Aberforth. Aberforth drank from his flask and regarded Harry thoughtfully.
"A lethifold."
"So are you sure it was a lethifold then? You saw it leaving?"
"Yes. Exactly like a dementor, except they suffocate you in your sleep. Then they eat you without leaving a trace of the victim. It was in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
"I wish I wouldn't have told her to take a nap..."
"Why?"
"Because she wouldn't be dead."
"I'm sorry Harry." It was an inadequate response, and they both knew it. Harry sat in silence. Hermione and Ron finally came out of the library from Harry's screams. Hermione's hair was all over the place and Ron had a goofy grin on his face. Harry couldn't tell them. Not now. He would have to hope they were too into each other right now to notice Ginny was missing.
"We need to go to Avalon. Everyone's waiting for us. Let's go," Harry said, his eyes taking on a determined flash of silver and his tone flat and emotionless. Ron and Hermione just shrugged it off and the four of them apparated to Avalon.
There is chapter 17, I hope you all enjoyed it. Please leave a review. And let me just say one thing: Everything is not as it seems. Remember that.
