Tamper with Time
Written by: HoshiHikari
Disclaimer: I do not own HP! That's right, the characters still all belong to J.K Rowling As for the plot, it might have been done before, so I won't take credit for that either
Summary: Complete darkness had befallen across the entire world, wizardry and Muggle alike. The final battle between Harry and Voldemort takes an unexpected turn. Now, the remaining survivors are thrown back into time. Harry must now face a younger and stronger Voldemort, the Voldemort that is currently at the height of power. Can Harry fulfill his destiny before the entire world collapse around him and is consumed by Darkness…again?
Author Notes: "…." talk Italic thoughts/dreams /…/ Parseltongue Snake language underlinetext/letter/writings bold/italicslyrics from songs
Hpstoryguy: thanks for the review. Glad you think its original!
Blade-Claven: thanks for the review! Really, you had a maze idea too? Well hopefully mines, or this one would turn out different. Btw, what fic's do you write?
gallandro-83: thanks again for another review! I'm sorry I've been quite unhelpful with answering questions. I try not to spoil anything, but I understand that is hard to answer anything then. With the name calling, the thing is that they call each other their real names when its really serious or something to pay attention to. Well, true Harry could obliviate Peter, (you're not the first to suggest so), but then that wouldn't be fun…at least for the story. It'll be too easy and as you say, not complicated at all. Things can't always go smoothly. Well, as to when Peter would show up, his older self does show up in this chapter, however the boy Peter won't until a few chapters later.
Night-Owl123: thanks again for another review!
Kaaera: well here's the next chap! Not much does happen in the maze…but hopefully you will understand. What happens in the maze isn't as important as what happens afterwards.
Thanks to all who reviewed!!
I'm going to update my bio often so please check it out
Chapter 15 The First TaskA whistle blew. Stone watched as his younger self and Cedric speed into the maze. Without realizing it, his own feet began to move as he sped off after them, as though afraid to loose sight of them.
"Lumos" Stone cried out, dashing after the people in his memories, catching up to them the minute he reached the first fork. Without thinking he took the right one, abandoning his younger self and continued pursuing the image of Cedric Diggory.
Stone followed Diggory in and out of the passageways. His mind seemed to be torn between the past and present. He had a difficult time deciphering what was there that might have seen through Diggory's eyes and what was actually there for him, Stone to rid of.
Suddenly the determined Hufflepuff wasn't smiling any more, but seemed deep in thought. Stone looked around startled. There before him was the cup, the Triwizard Cup, or was it the Head of the House Cup? Stone was so lost that he could not tell.
"Take it then. Go on take it, you're there."
The line stun in Stone's heart. He had asked, insisted on the other to win. Yet Cedric was stubborn. Stone's heart ached. It was because of this that had led Cedric to his death.
"Just take the cup" "No" Cedric walked towards Harry and supported him. "You deserve it" Cedric repeated. "I'll get you there, and you take it" "No" Harry was just as stubborn.
No one spoke for a while as they closed the distant between them and the Cup.
"Both of us"
There, he had said it. Stone stared in awe. Suddenly he lunged forward and grabbed the cup, and somersaulted a few feet away. If it was a portkey, he wasn't going to let either his younger self or Diggory get a hold of it.
Indeed….it was a portkey. Instantly without thinking, Harold sent out Red Sparks. If he was going to disappear, at least someone would be notified.
The surroundings changed drastically, finding himself once more at the graveyard. There was a glow of red sparks from overhead.
Shoot! The sparks were too late. It wasn't suppose to appear here, but back there, back at Hogwarts.
He looked around startled to see that Cedric was with him…but Harry wasn't. Harry Potter wasn't there. Stone groaned and flung his hands in the air. He gasped at what he saw. Quickly he looked down at himself and gave a screech. He was young again, in fact, so young that he was his fourteen year old self again. However, he did not have time to think, as a voice penetrated his mind. "Kill the spare"
"Kill the spare" a high cold voice said. A blast of green light blazed through the air. Without thinking, Harry pushed Cedric roughly to the ground, tumbling above the champion as the spell missed them by mere millimeters.
"Cedric!" Harry called out, giving a sigh of relive as his friend gave a groan. "Harry" Diggory muttered. "Quiet." Harry said as he pulled the other up.
Harry, knowing once more that he was stuck in memory, waited patiently for Wormtail to appear, wand already out and pointed at the general direction that the man was to come. Cedric did as he was told, copying what Harry was doing.
"Wormtail" he greeted calmly, as the man revealed himself.
"Expelliarums!" The rat yelled out. Cedric taken by surprise, lost his wand. Harry however did not, as by now he had far more experience then any one person could imagine.
"Avada Kedavra!" As quickly as he had obtained the wand, he sent the spell directly at Cedric. This time, he pushed Diggory behind the tomb stone, managing to jump away from the curse. Harry who was still silently rejoicing that he had mange to keep Cedric alive, cursed as more killing spells was issued.
"Cease" a cold voice interrupted and Wormtail stopped. "Keep the spare, he matters not. Focus on Potter and the task at hand, Revive me."
Cedric was panting hard, on fours as he tried to obtain breath. Somehow dodging the spells, both boys had lost the wands.
"You filthy traitor! You rat!" Harry yelled after losing his wand and once more being tied securely on Tom Riddle's tombstone. Cedric was tied next to him, a tombstone away, shivering, and obviously too stunned to move or speak.
Wormtail continued with his own business, taking out a bundle from within his robes. He then pushed a cauldron filled with water in front of Harry.
"I saved your life! I didn't let either Sirius or Remus kill you!" "You were soft" was the reply. "like your father and mudblood mother"
"My parents were your best friends at school! How dare you call mum such a thing!" Harry paused screaming. "Why did you betray them in the first place??!" Harry thought quickly as he noticed Wormtail was wavering in movements, and did not continue what he was doing.
"Wormtail. Enough. Finish your task. I will deal with Potter later…properly" a cold high pitch voice hissed. Wormtail scurried and began what he had started.
"What about Professor Stone? Professor Harold Stone! Did he not teach you anything? Did he not try to prevent you from being a Death Eater?"
"Oh yes…oh yes…he did try." Wormtail mutter with the utmost hatred, not caring how he might have known such a person. "but then he abandoned me. He abandoned me. He made a promise, and he broke it. There was no one left to pick up the pieces but me. If you were me, you would have chosen the same path, Potter."
"What did he promise? What did he promise you? Answer me Wormtail!!" The rat did not reply. Wormtail continued on his task, holding the bundle tightly until the surface of the water was ignited in sparks.
Harry shut his eyes, as he saw Wormtail unravel the thing in the bundle. He did not have to look. He knew what it was already. He knew who it was. Though his eyes were shut, the image once again surfaced in his mind.
The thing had the shape of a crouched human child. It was hairless and scale looking, a dark raw reddish black. It's arms and legs were thin and feeble, and its face was flat and snakelike, with gleaming red eyes.
Once more, Harry's mind began to twirl with the same thoughts that he had once had, the first time he had witness it. 'Let it drown' 'Let it drown'.
Pain that was only matched with that of his throbbing scar erupted as Wormtail used his remaining hand to forcefully slash the crook of the teen's right hand, catching the blood in a vile.
He turned his head away and waited for what was destined to come. By now the culdron had turned a blinding white. It was only mere minutes before what was to emerge would emerge.
"Robe Me" was followed by a high cold pitched laugh.
Sure enough, as Harry had predicted, and confirmed with Cedric's scream, he knew that Lord Voldemort had resurfaced and risen again.
Footsteps approached, and Harry open his eyes unwilling as a long spider like finger touched his forehead, parted the hair and touched his scar.
Beside him, Cedric breathed out a couple of "Harry, Harry."
Voldemort spoke softly almost silently. "I see you've brought a friend. Care to introduce us Potter" Harry spat at him.
"If you're going to kill me, then get it over with Voldemort. I don't have all day and I doubt that you do either. You need not make it ceremonial. You need not call your Death Eaters. You need not go through your dam family history."
"My, my, a skilled Legilmency are we now?" Voldemort hissed. Harry grunted, disagreeing but making no outward comment. Seeing no response, Voldemort spoke again.
"Surely your little friend would disagree. After all it is the Rebirth of Lord Voldemort. More then four should be here to bear witness. Witness to the rise of the Dark Lord and the fall of the great-Boy-Who-Lived" Voldemort turned to Cedric. "Splendid idea is it not Diggory?"
Without waiting for a reply, Voldemort called forth Wormtail, had the rat stretch out his left hand and then called his 'family'.
Almost instantly, pops rang through the graveyard. Masked and heavily cloaked wizard after wizard apparated before them, and crawled their way up to their Lord, kissing the hem of his black robes while murmuring "Master" over and over again. They backed away and then another approached, forming a circle around the Lord, Harry and Cedric, leaving gaps in between.
"Welcome, Death Eaters," said Voldemort quietly. "Thirteen years…thirteen years since we last met. Yet you answer my call as though it were yesterday…We are all still united under the Dark Mark, then! Or are we?"
A shiver rang through the circle.
"I smell guilt" Voldemort continued. "There is a stench of guilt upon the air."
A second shiver ran through the crowd. Harry, knowing the full speech by heart, paid no attention to it. Instead he turned to face Cedric who had a helpless glazed distant, fearful expression. Giving the other house champion a forceful everything-will-be-alright-smile Harry turned his gaze by at the Death Eaters, studying them.
They were all dressed in black and masked, hidden slightly in the shadows. There was a tinge of green that outlined the suit, when light reflected off of it. Silently Harry counted the group. 10 was what he had counted the previous time: Wormtail, Avery, Lucius, Macnair, Crabbe, Goyle, Nott with three passed in silence. This time however, he recounted twice, and ended up with 11 present. He knew something wasn't right, but what was it? Harry thought hard, trying to figure out who it was.
It was defiantly not Bella or her husband as they were still in Azkaban. Nor could it be Karkaroff as he was the coward. Snape? No he was a spy and would not come. Then maybe Crouch? Impossible, he was at Hogwarts, Voldemort confirmed that. Then maybe someone else, or maybe he miscounted the first time. Harry was pretty sure that Karkaroff was the coward, Snape had left Voldemort forever and Crouch was the Dark Lord's loyalist man.
"Severus" Harry snapped back as Voldemort's voice penetrated his mind with that name. "My most faithful servant and friend. I see you did not run into any trouble tonight."
Snape's slippery voice confirmed the identity. "yes Master. Headmaster Dumbledore trusts me completely. He thinks I'm a spy for him. However I am your spy. He believes that tonight I will rescue Potter. He knows not that I'm the real reason why he is here."
Voldemort laughed. "and Karkaroff and Crouch?" "They are dead" came Snape's reply. "Indeed, Severus you have Lord Voldemort's gratitude."
There was a stir and unrest among the Death Eaters.
Harry didn't seem to notice. His world seemed to crumble around him. He was in denial. It couldn't be Snape. It just couldn't. Not after all that they have been through. He was one of three who was closest to Harry and pretty much irreplaceable. Snape's betrayal, if he did betray, would mean much more then Wormtail's betrayal to his parents.
Then in a louder voice, Voldemort spoke again. "Yes, it is through Severus Snape's efforts that our young friends arrived here tonight. Yes, Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory has kindly joined us for my rebirthing party. One may go as far as to call them my guest of honor."
"Severus, if you would do the honor" Snape stepped closer to Voldemort, his hood fell off to reveal a pale emotionless face. The Potion Master took both Harry's and Cedric's wand and headed toward them.
Harry searched desperately in the older man's eyes for anything, anything at all that might tell him it was all a dream. There was nothing, he could find nothing.
"Severus, Professor! Sir!" Harry called out sounding desperate. His head was spinning and his legs seemed to give way from under him. The man's face had given nothing, it was emotionless as usual. Trying to probe the man with his Legilmency, Harry was frustrated to find that the mind wards became even stronger.
From his side, he could hear Cedric yell incoherent insults mixed with curses and threats. Whatever the two boys said, Snape ignored it completely.
With a swift movement the ropes that Wormtail had tied disappeared. Harry's body who had been supported by the ropes fell as his legs gave way from under him. Snape acted as though he had not noticed. Then, beginning softly he began to speak, while he untied Cedric.
"I see Potter you have not taken my words to heart. If I recall, I had deliberately warned you the day that something of such magnitude would arrive. I had warned you to be careful Potter. We're not in a time and space of our own. Anything can happen. Yet, you did not heed me. You're ruthless and reckless as always."
Something flashed into Harry's eyes as Snape looked at him directly in his eyes, for the first time since they had arrived at the graveyard. Harry tried to stare deep into his eyes, but found nothing. He could still remember clearly. Only before he had entered the Maze, had Snape said the exact same words.
"and I told you then, the day you fall, I will be there"
'I'll be there' that line rung in Harry's head over and over again. Snape, well Swell, had promised that he would show up when Harry needed him, at whatever cost. The only problem was, he didn't know that the Professor would show up on the opposite side and remain there.
Snape let out a chuckle that somehow ended up as hysterical laugher. "Yes, yes, indeed. I must bear witness to the death of Harry Potter!"
Snape suddenly grabbed Harry by his wrist and shoved the holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches wand into the boy's wand hand. At the same process the Potion Master's fingers touched what seemed to be a ring on Harry's hand. For a brief moment Harry felt renewed strength enter his body and he welcomed its warm presence whole heartily.
"Snape!" Voldemort's sudden interference made Harry jump out of his skin. He had totally forgotten where he was and who he was with. "Is he ready."
Snape nodded, stepping away and addressing the boys for a final time.
"This time, neither of you will escape. There will be no one to …
Remember Cedric Diggory nor Harry Potter. There will be no one to remember those that are foolish enough to choose the right path and not easy one. There would be no one to remember what happened to the boys who bravely and heroically yet foolishly stayed a crossed the path from the Dark Lord. No one, no one will remember Cedric Diggory or Harry Potter"
Harry's thoughts stormed through his mind. Though faintly at first, he suddenly recalled the words. The Headmaster had spoken of something similar after Cedric had died. Now, Snape was saying the same thing, with an added twist and this was before Dumbledore's little speech. Harry didn't have time to think as Voldemort spoke again.
"Now I believe your dear old Professor have praised you all enough." Voldemort scowled. "Now I ask you one last time to join me. It would be a waste to dispose of you…." Voldemort trailed off. "As a matter of fact, I belive I would miss having out little duels." He paused. "Besides you really don't want what your Professor said to come true would you now boys." The Dark Lord's lips curled up into a smile.
"Never" came the unison voice of two currently defeated boys. Though each had their wand back, neither felt the security that it had once provided. The Dark Lord for a miniute acted as though he was hurt badly by the turned down offer. However, it dispeared only to be replaced by a sneer. "I should have not expected anything less from a Potter and a Diggory. After all, both you're families have remained loyal to Dumbledore since the stone ages."
"I believe you both have been taught how to duel Harry Potter, Cedric Diggory?" Voldemort's eyes flashed red, glittering in the darkness. There were grunts of replies and the Dark Lord took it as a 'yes'.
"We bow to each other." Both Harry and Voldemort bended slightly, both pair of eyes were locked with each other. Cedric however, in the end had to be forced to do so. "Very good Diggory." Voldemort smirked. "and now we will face each other like a man…straight back and proud…the way James died" he paused again. "who shall be first."
Cedric, not knowing why stepped forward. He like the rest of the world felt the obligation to protect Harry even when he knew they were both going to die. He got into a dueling stance when someone stood before him, that someone being the Boy-Who-Won't-Die.
"Harry no…" Cedric cried out, but was silenced by the look he received. Harry had turned to look at him, his eyes seemed to pierce straight through him. For an instant Cedric thought he saw the weariness in those emerald eyes, a look that could only be matched by Dumbledore's. The look of wisdom passed Harry's years surfaced in and out of them only to be suppressed by maturity and the stubborn defiance of space and time. It was a look that caused him to shudder and if he hadn't known better, would have ran and cower before the looming figure, the way many older and powerful men would have. At heart, Cedric knew that this battle wasn't meant for him to fight.
"And now we duel" Voldemort spoke surprised to find the determined, confident victory face sewn on his enemy. There was something in the look of Potter's eyes which caused him to flinch inwardly. Something told the Dark Lord that Potter was acting in a way that he shouldn't be, however, he did not know what. There was a sense of readiness, a sense of overconfident triumph, as though he knew what was to come.
"Avada Kedavra!!!!"
"Expelliarumus!!!"
Harry was ready. He braced himself for what was to come. The green light met the sparks of red in mid air…and then it transformed into the pure golden thread of light. As before the wand began to vibrate and shake with an intense ferocity, threatening to break. A look at Voldemort told Harry that he was not expecting this. Voldemort growled at the smug expected smile on his enemy as the two began to lift of the ground and float in the air.
From below, the Death Eaters, Cedric and Snape stared wide eyed with astonishment. The large circle that they had formed, began to tighten, but started to expand once more. Numerous beams of light shot in all directions, crisscrossing all around them until the two floating wizards were enclosed in a golden, dome shaped web.
"Do nothing!" Voldemort commanded. "Do nothing unless I command you!" he yelled at the relentlessness in his Death Eaters.
Then it began. The unearthly beautiful song filled the air, piercing the calm silent atmosphere that had befallen them. The phoenix song gave Harry all the hope he needed, all the strength he needed to keep himself from losing his grip as well as focusing on moving the beads toward Voldemort's wand. Somehow, he felt the presence of Dumbledore in the air, no, not just the man's spirit, but his actual presence.
"Don't break the connection" The first time that Harry had heard this, he had only thought it was merely a friend. But now, a cold shiver ran down his back, and goose bumps that did not exist earlier sprang to life.
"Don't break the connection Harry" Harry's heart thumped loudly as he recognized the voice, as he recognized his own older voice tell him to do so. Suddenly all his confidence drained from him. The belief that he could do it now, because he did it before left him as soon as it had come.
The beads started to retreat and head back towards Harry. Voldemort gave a triumph shriek as though he had already won.
"Harry concentrate, you've done it once before, you can do it again" the voice continued. If Harry had not known better, the words of encouragement would have been enough to drive the beads straight into Voldmort's wand. However, that did not happen. The more the voice spoke, the more frustrated, confused and strength less he became.
"Hold on Harry" Harry jerked hard. That voice had been real, and it had come from the ground, from one living Hufflepuff that he had led to his doom.
"Focus Harry. Focus my boy. Don't let go now. Don't let him get to you." That voice stung him the way the first voice did. The only difference is, this voice was alive, and was in proximity. It was rich and full of renewed sense." I have said this before and I will say it again. You have shown bravery beyond anything I could have expected of you tonight Harry. Not only have you managed to keep Cedric alive but managed to stay alive until the present time. Now Harry, finish off what has been started. Finish off what is meant to be completed. Priori Incantatem"
The voice had barely finished when spells erupted from the Death Eaters. They needed not to be ordered to destroy the newcomer as it was common sense to do so.
"Professor Dumbledore…" Harry breathed, acknowledging the man more to himself then to the others. Sure enough a quick glance confirmed the identity. The Headmaster of Hogwarts was indeed present alive and battling the Death Eaters. What was peculiar though was the old man wasn't wearing the Headmaster robes that Harry had remember seeing only minutes before he had entered the maze.
Instead, and Harry gave a shiver, noting this, the man was dressed in his death gown, the very robe that Professor Albus Dumbledore had died in twenty four hours before the time traveling incident occurred. It was a robe that Harry knew the man had not acquired until shortly after Hogwarts had fallen as it was a thank you present from himself to the man.
"Harry, you heard the headmaster. You know what must be done. Now do it" and then Harry felt an invisible pair of hands overlap his own. He concentrated hard using every last particle of his mind to force the bead back toward Voldemort. Then slowly, very slowly the bead halted and just as slowly moved towards his enemy. Voldemort watched, frustrated. He suddenly felt a wave of raw magic flowing out of the boy. Then he recognized it and its power. "You!!" he spat out. Voldemort should not have done that as the bead went straight into his wand.
There was a laugh, a shrill cry, one that under different circumstances would have made the Dark Lord proud. When it stopped a voice next to Harry, spoke, no, sneered out at the man. "Yes Me."
Harry gasped nearly dropping his wand and almost broke the connection immediately. From below him, someone else let out a shriek of surprise. Harry's finger twitch, not daring to look at the echo floating next to him, with hands overlapping his own.
From below, Dumbledore briefly halted his battle took a glance up and then returned to his battle, wondering why Harry would be so afraid. It wasn't like the echoes were going to hurt him. Cedric and Snape had done the same and were both momentarily stunned to see James and Lily above them. Snape who had been expecting this, as he did hear what happened after the third task later from Harry, recovered quickly. However, it was the figure, the echo next to Harry that had caused him to shriek.
The once sandy neck long hair, with a few bangs sticking out in front was now silver. Behind the smaller rounder glasses was the blue, slightly tainted emerald eyes. The image of Harold Stone floated next to Harry, his hand overlapping his younger self's hands. James and Lily were behind Harry and Stone, one on either side of them.
"Fight him son. Don't give up. It will be alright…hold on" James whispered. "You're not alone anymore Harry. We're here. We're here for you." Lily continued. The two also stretched out their hands so that now four pairs of hands, eight individual hands were grasping onto the slim rode that protruded out of Harry as though lending their power and strength. Then Stone spoke the words that Harry found quite difficult at the moment to do. "Trust Swell. He will get you and Cedric out alive. Trust him."
"Harry" the voice of Dumbledore from below distracted his attention from the echoes. "When you are ready, break the connection! I will buy you time. You and Cedric take the Cup, it will Protkey you back to Hogwarts."
Harry took in a deep breath. This was it. The time was drawing near.
"Harry, we linger moments after the connection is lost." Stone explained. "We too will buy you some time" Harry gulped as he got ready. "Don't worry Harry, you are a survivor, you will make it. We will make sure you do." Lily winked at him. "Harry…" Harry turned to look at his father. "Prongs will protect you longer then I can" he whispered. Harry was somehow confused. "The echo would only last for mere minutes, however the memory of me, the me within you will last for eternity. I am within you Harry, don't ever forget that." Harry did not seem to understand, though he knew where his father was hinting. "Moony did not mean to teach you how to defend Dementors. He meant to show you that I exist, I exist in you, and I will protect you." Harry nodded, understandingly.
The pair of hands lifted from the wand and were place on his shoulder, both of them. "When you're ready Harry. Do it…Do it…NOW!!" Stone yelled. Harry flung his wand downwards, and he was thrown onto the ground, hitting it so hard he thought he had broke them. However he did not, as he was still able to stand.
Voldemort cursed. "Stun them! Get them!" For a moment, the Dark Lord was surrounded and held back by his victims. However, as predicted, they soon disappeared, first into mist, and then into thin air.
Harry ran, fighting brutally through the Death Eaters. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!!" The silver stag erupted from his wand and galloped recklessly through the Death Eaters. Where Prongs stripped through, a glowing, binding light was left behind. The stag charged toward Cedric and Harry took the chance to grab the other by his wrist.
"Avada Kedavra! Crucio! Crucio! Avada Kedavra!!" came from all directions. "You alright Cedric?" Harry asked as the Stag lead them towards the Cup. The Death Eaters as well as Voldemort were closing in behind him. "Yeah Harry. This isn't going to kill me. I won't die like this!"
The two had nearly reached the Cup when Harry held out his wand. "Accio Trophy" He was one spell too late. The cup did leap up, however it flew toward someone else. Harry cursed loudly. He swirled abruptly trying to reach for it as it passed him, only about two feet away. Yet still the same, he missed it and his hand grasped at air. He whirled around just in time to see someone 10 feet away grasp at the handle. For a fleeting moment the two were staring at each other. "You!" Harry sent a spell, but it missed as the portkey in the Cup activated at Snape disappeared.
"You bastard Snape!" A string of frustrated curses and swearing followed. Cedric growled, he too had seen Snape disappear, and knew that with the Potion Master's disappearance, their last hope for escape for survival was also gone.
Then the voice of Professor Dumbledore filled the air. "Harry! The Portkey would go directly back to Hogwarts. I will go after Snape and personally hunt him down." Harry's mind was whirling. He couldn't believe it. Dumbledore, Professor Albus Dumbledore was abandoning them at the most critical moment, most crucial moment. This was definitely not the Albus Dumbledore that he remembered or have known.
Cedric must have felt the same, as he spoke in objection. "but Professor we need you here! You can forget about that bloody traitor! Does the capture and conviction of Snape mean more to you then us? Then the life of Harry Potter?" The Hufflepuff was shouting furiously, questioning his Headmaster.
"Absolutely correct." Dumbledore yelled back, levelly. The headmaster was fighting a lone battle as he was fighting his own little group of Death Eaters, while the boys were fighting another set. "Nothing means more to me then the survival of those who oppose Voldemort. You two will forever have my support." He paused and then seemed to address Harry more then Cedric. "and unless I truly believe and have a hundred percent confidence that the two of you can escape victoriously with minor scratches at the most, then I would not abandon you." Another pause. "I must to what I must do. Harry you understand. My place is not here."
"but…"
"This war has been prolonged long enough. You know what you must do Mr. Potter. You know what you must fulfill. You know you are the only one capable of doing it"
For the second time, since the appearance of Dumbledore, Harry felt as though he knew the man, yet the man felt like a complete stranger. Something was off, very off, yet the same thing that caused this off-ness also gave him reassurance as it did help answer one assumption that he had.
Then in a rather happy note he added. "I'll be expecting to see the two of you alive in my office, with that man's head on a stake…"
Harry didn't take in all that the old man was saying. First, he was too busy battling with the Death Eaters. Secondly the longer the Stag was in play, the more energy and the faster his energy began to drain. Third, well Dumbledore at the moment made no sense.
"Harry James Potter" Dumbledore's voice overrode all noise. "Cedric Amos Diggory, remember the only way to defeat Tom is through a show of strong friendship and trust, something that I know the two of you have already come to term with." The old man was cut off by a high pitch laugh from Voldemort.
When Dumbledore did pick up he spoke very quietly, almost incoherent. "I need you to trust me Harry. In due time, everything will be explained." He chuckled softly. "I will not again fall into the trap around my beautifully built, brilliant plan." Harry took a quick look at the headmaster. Dumbledore too was looking keenly at him, as though the two were in the middle of another 'chat' in the headmaster office with the exception of the battle going around them. "You bear the power that Voldemort has not. The Power to defeat Lord Voldmort. The Power that will save both you and Cedric." Another pause. "neither can live while the other survives." That last line was barley audible, but Harry had grown to be able to lip read, and the message came clear as stone. Harry's eyes grew to understanding. "Prongs" Dumbledore gave a hard look at the Stag who suddenly nodded as though understanding the silence. "Good luck Harry, Cedric" With a pop, Dumbledore apperated away.
Cedric as well as Voldemort had been listening to the conversation that made no sense to either of them. Cedric was curious while Voldemort had momentarily stopped attacking as he was drawn to the conversation as though a huge secret was being revealed in front of him. When Dumbledore had disappeared, it took a while before he reacted, and when he did, he was laughing as he realized the old fool would not come back.
"So the Muggle-loving fool has given up on the savior of the world and his sidekick." Voldemort sneered. "Coward! Running from battle at the most critical minute, going back to his safe hold to let two boys defeat me??" He laughed hard, the Death Eaters falling his example. The group that had been battling Dumbledore now rejoined the others to form a larger group who had a single target.
Harry and Cedric stood very still as they were surround in a tight circle, enclosing upon them. Prongs took his stance, standing protectively over them, forming a silver shield.
"Cedric" Harry spoke quietly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for getting you involved in this. Aside from our differences, I want you to know you are my friend." Cedric bit his lower lip. He knew that there was no chance of survival now that Dumbledore had left. He had doubted what the headmaster said, and it was clear that Harry thought so too. Yet, he was in no mood for good bye feelings. "Harry, What differences?" he asked raising his eyebrow. "not after all we've been through. The good and the bad. Heck, like Dumbledore said, by tomorrow morning, we'll be laughing our necks off at the foolish things we are thinking of!"
Harry and Cedric now stood back to back, so that their backs rested on each other. Both had their wands out and was ready for an attack. At least, the good part was, they didn't have to watch their backs for unexpected curses as they knew the other would watch out for them.
"What a pity." Voldmort approached the two as the Death Eaters parted to let their Master through before closing the gap again. "Trying to hold your own? No ward, no defense would work. You're father could protect neither your mother nor you…What makes you think a mere image of him can do so…?"
Harry ignored the words. Instead he spoke again to Cedric, whispering lightly. "Together?" he asked simply. "Yes together." Cedric confirmed. In one voice, the two screamed, "Avada Kedavra" over and over again, aiming recklessly at the people around them. Of course the Death Eaters as well as their Lord responded with a series of their own spells. Red Light, Yellow Light, Silver Light were all rebounded by the Stag. The Killing Curse however, needed to be dodged and that was a difficult task.
Cedric was the first to feel the strain as he was becoming too exhausted. He didn't say anything, but he felt more then saw his defenses and accuracy fall. Harry made no comment, though he was fully aware of his friend's situation. He knew that Cedric wasn't going to last long. Prongs flickered a few times as the battle wore on. Voldemort had a triumph look on his face as he himself had barely even started his favorite hobby. In good time, the boys would wear out naturally, and then he was going to win.
"Cease! Get out of the way! They're mine!" Voldemort roared, stepping so close that he was only ten feet away from his enemies. "Crucio!!" The streak of red light, rebounded at an odd angle as Prongs deflected it easily. Voldemort didn't care. The weariness was clear on his enemies. It would only be a matter of time.
Harry knew that this was it. As much as he tried, Prongs began to flicker, and he was worried that he wouldn't be able to last any longer.
'Worry? Fear? When have I been afraid of anything? When have I coward before Voldmort? Never! Come on Harry. I've look Death straight in the eye a thousand times or more. I've watched everyone fall before you. This is no difference.' Then another nasty thought entered his mind, answering the question. "because, once again you've killed another, another innocent life.' It mattered to him not that Harry Potter died, but it did matter that no one innocent again would fall prey to death.
A sudden calmness, easiness washed over the Boy-Who-Lived as it became clear of the task at hand. There was no escape, no way out. Death waited calmly on the battlefield, waiting to take its victims.
"Crucio!!" Rang out again and again, until finally Prongs had grown faint to the point that it looked as though it would disappear with another blow.
"Cedric, this is it. There is no escaping. No hope from the world. It's just you and me." Cedric made a loud gulp. "Harry, I'm with you through the end. I've got you're back." "Thank you"
In an instant, Harry let Prongs disappear, causing the final defense to disappear. Somehow, Harry felt relived as though a pressure, a force was relived from his shoulders. A screech of triumph came from Voldmort, and then two final curses were thrown directly at them.
Harry watched in slow motion as the jet of green light closed the distance between them. One of them headed for himself, the other toward Diggory. He waited, knowing that there was no escape from death. Then Harry felt a hand take his own and held it firmly. He didn't have to look, he knew it was the Hufflepuff. A comforting warmth began to rise from his hand. He didn't notice it at first, but then its presence became clear.
Then the second unexpected thing happened that night.
Voldemort screeched in outraged. A light small and barley noticeable began to surround Harry. It's pureness spread and soon surrounded Diggory. Voldemort gasped, as he squinted, the light was blinding, and he could barely see.
"Harry what's going on" Cedric asked curiously. "I don't know Cedric, I don't know." "You're disappearing!!" quickly glanced down at himself and it was true. His eyes then fixed on the killing spell that was only 3 feet away. He squeezed Cedric's hand, instinctively, as though afraid they would be separated.
"Get them!!" Voldemort screeched. "Don't let them get away!!" Chaos spread quickly as more spells were cast at them. Yet none of them ever made it. The light from Harry blinded and forced everyone backwards.
"HARRY!!" Cedric screamed. "Cedric don't let go!! No matter what happens don't let go!" Half of Harry had already disappeared and the other half was threatening to do so. Harry felt a very familiar tug at his nape. He took a stronger hold of Cedric as the world began to swirl and spin. In no way was he going to leave the other behind.
Voldemort cursed loudly frustrated as there was a pop, and both Harry and Cedric had disappeared. What frustrated him more, angered him more was that the two killing spells had already hit the outskirts of the victims clothes. It was so close, but the Boy-Who-Lived and his Hufflepuff friend had once escaped his clutches when he thought it was not possible.
Done!! How was it? Yes, it was long, very long. Haha! Don't ask me why what happened actually happened. It will be explained in due time. So yes, a couple of different things occurred…very different things occurred, some more noticeable then others. Hope you liked it! Review!!