Um, yes, I am still alive, I've just not updated in a while. I do apologise profoundly. Thank for all the support, the encouragement and the reviews so far. I really mean it. Also, if you wish to ask me questions and maybe get some spoilers, come to my forum and post, and I will get back to you as quickly as I can!
As you can see below there is bad language in this chapter. If you don't like reading the 'f' word then AVOID this chapter, but this is an essential chapter to the story. I had to use that word in order to get the point across, especially when someone is angry. I do apologise again, but this is the only chapter that I really go over my boundaries with swearing. Enjoy!
WARNING! - VERY BAD LANGUAGE!
Chapter 16
Those Who Fail To See
Within seconds Harry had bounded forward, waving his wand to make Neville float and zoom beside him as he ran back in the direction of Ron and Hermione. He only hoped he was not too late to save him. He would not be able to forgive himself if Neville died.
"What's that?" Ron asked, as he peered at the mist. They could hear the faint noises of screaming coming ever closer. Hermione glanced at Ron and raised her wand. She was not sure what was coming towards them but she hoped it was something that would not harm them.
The two waited, their hearts beating fast as the screams came closer.
Harry stumbled out of the mist, his eyes practically streaming with tears. "Hermione! Help me!" He fell to his knees, Neville's convulsing body falling to the earth. The screams were fainter but still filled with the edge of agony. Hermione rushed forward, her wand held out.
"Tell me, what happened?" she demanded.
Harry choked trying to explain. "Neville tripped…that object. He picked it up, I tried to stop him….I was too late. He started convulsing. I had to bring him back here."
"Harry, the only thing that could make Neville do that is dark magic. He's holding the Horcrux!" Hermione exclaimed, as she bent down to examine Neville.
"Huh?" Harry looked confused. "How? It's meant to be a shield? It's so small!"
"Yes, I know, but the shield is small. The books never said how big it was. Besides the object is the shape of a very small shield. For all we know it could be a knee shield or a shoulder shield. It doesn't have to be an actual big shield like you were thinking of."
"Oh." Harry felt stupid in thinking that the shield was going to be a big object. "Okay, what can you do?" he glanced down at Neville. His eyes were screwed shut, his hands clenched round the object.
Hermione frowned. "Well, I suppose I could use curse breakers….but it does depend on what curse is on the shield. For all I could do I could just make it worse for Neville."
Harry growled, anger ripping through him. "Just do something! If you don't he will die!"
"I know!" Hermione bit her lip, trying to hide the tears that threatened by wiping her face. She lowered her wand and began muttering counter spells, praying with all her might that one of them would work. For over five minutes she continually muttered before she went through the whole cycle again. Still nothing happened. Sweat gathered on Hermione's face, as her face fixed to determination. She had to find a cure. She had to.
"I wonder…" she pointed her wand at herself so that she conjured up a shield to protect her, and with her wand pointing at the object in Neville's hands, she leaned forward and prised his hands open. The object fell to the floor, and Neville stopped screaming. A spark of pain rushed up her arm but it stopped almost immediately.
Then before she could do anything else, Harry had raised his wand and destroyed the small shield. Instantly the darkness around them began to fade, and they all realised that the Horcrux's hold on the valley was over.
Both James and Remus felt like they were living in a dream. The attacker was staring up at them, a strange red glint in his eyes. Whether he liked it or not, James had a feeling that this was Sirius: it did explain why they could not find his body after seeing it. James frowned. He wondered what Voldemort had done…surely he could not have turned Sirius? It sounded impossible but James knew from experience that it wasn't impossible to break a man, especially if the right methods were used in breaking them.
"What can we do?" James asked, careful to keep his eyes focused on the man.
"Only thing we can do." Remus answered, and in a flash he had stunned the man into unconsciousness. "We can't take any risks. If this is Sirius, and he is working for Voldemort, we can't take the risk that he may change his mind and try and say that he only faked it. The red in his eyes show that he is being controlled by Voldemort. Only Dumbledore can help him."
James nodded, his black hair falling over his eyes. "I can't believe it. All this time, and we never suspected." His eyes flashed dangerously. "Come to think about it, it's the type of thing Voldemort would do."
"I know, which is why we didn't realise." Added Remus. "Come on. We need to get him to Dumbledore."
Leaving a note for Poppy, the two wizards levitated the unconscious form out of the hospital wing and into the darkness of the school.
"How is he?" Harry asked as he glanced over at Neville's prone form. Hermione looked up.
"He should be okay. Let him rest. I've done what I could do; it's up to Neville now."
Harry nodded, biting his lip. "Right. We've got to find the last Horcrux. If I'm right it should be a cup that once belonged to Helga Hufflepuff. But there is a small chance that I'm wrong."
Hermione stepped forward. "We've done enough work to locate the probable places. Have faith and we will find them all."
"If I do," Harry vowed, "This will soon be over."
Dumbledore was frowning. He had been mystified when the two wizards had arrived, bearing the form of their attacker. He had run diagnostic spells on Sirius, and had come to the conclusion that he was under a really powerful spell. It was not the imperious, he had said, but he had no clue what it was. He had not come across this ancient magic before, and the only thing the headmaster could offer was his idea that James had to break into Sirius' mind and try and bring the old Sirius back. He was positive that Voldemort could not destroy what a man had been, only hide it away.
"Shall we do this?" James asked, feeling numb. He hadn't expected this.
The headmaster nodded. "It is the only way."
He raised his wand, muttering: "Enervate!"
Sirius stirred, his dark eyes flashing angrily as his eyes came into focus. James raised his own wand, ready for anything, but he stepped forward, keeping his voice soft and unthreatening. "Please, let me talk to you."
Immediately Sirius cursed. "Go away you bastard. You have nothing to say to me." His voice was filled with hatred, etched so deeply that James feared that he really meant it. To Sirius, he does, but Voldemort has done something to him. I just know it.
Tap.
James tossed a look over his shoulder. Remus was staring at him, holding out his hand. "What?"
"Maybe it is best you give me your wand?" he suggested. "He'll feel less threatened by you."
Sirius shouted out: "I do not fear a pathetic traitor and torturer, you little shit!"
At this, eyes swivelled to Sirius once again and James swallowed. "Torturer? I've never tortured you." He said simply. He felt Remus take his wand from his hand, and he and Dumbledore step back. Both of them, he knew would hide their hands in their robes.
Sirius' eyes darkened, and it seemed to James, he was sending death wishes his way. "You lie. My lord told me everything what you did to me!"
James forced himself to remain calm. "What did I do?"
"You cruel insufficient bastard tortured me day and night! Not letting me rest until I gave you what you wanted! You wanted Lily! You knew I loved her! You deserve everything you get! You mother-fucker." He finished.
Silence.
"I would never do that do you." He stated. "You're my best friend, my brother. I have no reason to harm you. I…"
Before he could finish his sentence, Sirius cut him off. "You're bastard James Potter! And I will gladly dance on your grave!"
"Then why didn't you?" James asked. Maybe if he played along with Sirius, he could make him understand, remember who he was.
"What?" his voice seemed softer, then, but James dismissed it and ploughed on.
"I did die. I died in 1981. Voldemort killed me, and Lily."
Flash of blue-grey in the eyes; again James did not notice.
Sirius's voice was low and hard. "If you're dead you wouldn't be here. Once again Potter, you prove you are nothing more then a liar and a bastard who is not even content with torturing other people! You should really die for what you did to me!"
Dark magic seemed to close in on him, and James felt his skin prickle. Sirius was doing something, he could sense it…he just didn't know how. Auror instinct perhaps? Or was it something more? Whatever it was, it had suddenly made itself known. Without knowing what he was doing James was shouting: "DUCK!" and he dived to the left as (with tremendous speed) Sirius bound free from the bonds that held him and lunged for the door.
Dark power erupted from Sirius' palm, and it blasted Remus and Dumbledore off of their feet. Both fell hitting their heads. Dumbledore was up instantly but Sirius was already at the door. Struggling to his feet James tried to reach the door only to find Sirius holding a wand - and he realised it was his own that Remus had been holding. Ancient words muttered and a white light spread out, blinding him. He threw up an arm, but to no avail he could not see.
James stumbled trying to keep his balance, but to no avail, he could not. He fell again.
Gradually the light disappeared but Sirius was no where to be seen. He was gone.
The sun was just setting as Harry and his team settled down to rest. They had walked away from the valley, the darkness that had consumed them was gone. Neville had woken two hours ago and had claimed that he was alright to travel. Now they settled down for the night. Harry glanced up at the stars that twinkled above him.
Somewhere out there is the Cup of Helga Hufflepuff. I will find it. And then its Nagini. I cannot fail or the world will plunge into darkness. Voldemort cannot win. He mustn't. I won't let him.
TBC
Please review and let me know what you think! The story is slowly coming to a closure, but a lot more has got to happen yet! I promise! Don't go away or you'll miss it!
I know it is a little short but the next chapters are longer, more to my normal standard.
Next chapter is entitled: To feel elated - in which Harry and company attempt to track the final Horcrux; James get's very annoyed at Dumbledore's lack of wisdom, and Voldemort is - once again - up to his old tricks.
Stay tuned, for hopefully that chapter should be up very soon!
MissBlackPotter