Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its related works. The rights to the books, movies, and everything else belong to J.K. Rowling and her many business affiliates. This is a fan made work of fiction that will never earn me a single penny. Now buy something official so you can support the woman who made this world possible for us to play in and explore.
Harry Potter And The Game of Death
Level 1
Chapter Three: Expecto Patronum
"Expecto Patronum!"
The world began to change once again. The soft golden light which had filled the area during the tutorial session vanished as the figure of a massive silver stag burst forth from Harry's wand. The glowing figure raced towards the targeted Dementor, its antlered head dropped down low, as the Dementor's spectral hand reach out to touch Harry's face.
"Skraaa!"
The Dementor's recoiled from the silver-white stag with a horrifying screech. Harry slapped his hands against his ears in an attempt to drown out the dreadful noise; they were worse than the howls from when Harry had plunged the Basilisk's fang into Riddle's diary.
As he did, the Demontors began to flee. Their dark robes whipped through the air as the stag chased them, harrying those few who were slow to leave. challenge to the those few yet to flee. Those ones screeched even louder than the rest, as if the Patronus' mere presence caused them to fear pain.
Only when the last sound from the distant Dementor's had ceased did the great beast formed from Harry's magic stamp its silver hooves into the dirt and raise its head triumph. Then, with a shake of its powerful head, the Patronus disappeared in a flash of light, its purpose complete.
Quiet began to return the forest. And with it, a return to normality. The ever-present feeling of despair brought by the Dementors very presence was finally gone. The wind in the air felt less harsh. The smell of the forest, less cloying. And the light from the moon that peeked out from behind a cloud seemed the brightest thing that Harry had ever seen.
A wonderful feeling of euphoria spread through Harry's body as his spirit rose in relief over his victory. But it soon passed. And when it did, a wave of exhaustion took its place. Harry stumbled to his knees, his vision swimming and his body wracked by pain.
At the same time, multiple dings, their noise softened by Harry's wavering senses, went off simultaneously in his ears as tiny boxes of text appeared before the blackening vision of his eyes. He even thought that he could hear Hermione calling his name, but the girl sounded as though she were miles away as the overwhelming feeling of vertigo assaulted his senses.
It took every gram of willpower Harry possessed not to fall unconscious. Brought on by stress and magical overexertion, Harry had felt this pain twice before and had fallen unconscious both times. But this time Harry did his best to fight through it, keeping his eyes focused on a single blade of grass.
After all, things were not yet safe. Sirius was still in need of urgent medical treatment. Hermione was unconscious. And the natural dangers of the Forbidden Forest were sure to return with the departure of the Dementors.
He had no idea how long it took, but eventually the feelings of vertigo and needles began to subside. When it had reached a point where his limbs no longer felt completely numb, Harry tried to force his body to rise. Only for two slim hands to grab hold of his face and hold it level.
Hermione's soft brown eyes bore into his emerald orbs as the bushy haired girl looked him over worriedly. "Harry! Harry, are you okay? Can you hear me?" She asked him frantically, her brown eyes wide with worry and fear. "You don't look well. You – well, you look terrible, actually – but you did it, Harry! You cast the Patronus Charm and saved us! I knew that you had it in you. I just knew it!"
Harry could feel her small hands trembling as they held him. But even so, a strength flowed through them and into his body. One which comforted Harry in a way that few things could.
With his strength returning every second, he managed to nod and place a hand on her own. "I can hear you, Hermione. Thank goodness you're okay."
The girl smiled at his words. "That's what I want to say, silly git. I knew that you were weren't terribly injured, at least physically, but when I saw your face so pale and drawn…" Words failed the normally loquacious girl as she stared at him. Her lips pursed, and for a moment Harry thought that she wanted to kiss him.
But that could not be right. And wanting to alleviate her worry any way he could, Harry pushed her hands away from his face and moved himself into a sitting position. He looked at her while gathering the breath he needed to speak. "I'm fine, Hermione. Just… just give me a moment and I'll be right as rain, you'll see soon and then we'll… urk!"
While he was speaking the nausea had come back with a vengeance. What was worse was that the battle to keep it all in had been lost before Harry could even try mount a resistance. All he could do was turn his head and proceed to heave out what felt like every bit of breakfast, lunch, and dinner he had eaten for the past few days.
He felt Hermione place a hand on his lower back as he retched, rubbing small circles into it as if to comfort him.
Only after the final heave had ended and Harry was certain that nothing else would be coming up the same path did he wipe his mouth with a sleeve. A sheepish look was on his face as he stared at his best friend from the corner of his eyes.
"Erm, I'm sorry that you had to see that, Hermione," Harry said in embarrassment. "After saving the two of you from a bunch of evil soul suckers, it's probably not very cool to just throw up like that."
Hermione smiled softly at his words and shook her head. "It's alright.
"Really?"
"Yes, Harry. Of course it's alright," the girl said with a wry look upon her face. "I think that escaping near death at the hands of a flock of Dementor's gives you a free pass on things like that."
"But you didn't do that just now. Only I did. Like an idiot, or a weakling."
Harry regretted saying the words as soon as he had finished speaking. They were petty and insecure, and selfish, and came when he should have just been happy that his best friend was still alive and next to him.
For a moment it seemed that his words had caught his friend off-guard. And when she spoke, it was in a quiet, almost vulnerable tone he rarely heard her use. "You're right. I did not heave my guts out like that," Hermione said as she stared at the ground. "What I did was collapse on the ground next to you like some damsel in distress, forcing you to save me from some dreaded magical creature. For the third year in a row, I might add."
"But that was just because the Dementors –"
"Aura affected me? Yes, Harry, I am perfectly aware of that," Hermione said tartly. The bushy-haired girl wrapped her arms around herself as if to ward off the lingering cold. "The issue is that it's become a parren, Harry. I am not a damsel in distress! And I hate how being in that sort of position makes me feel. But the Dementors, they… they made me feel weak. So… small in the face of everything. As though my entire existence was just insignificant. And worthless."
Harry opened his mouth to dispute her words, for they were dead wrong, but Hermione kept speaking. And her next words hit him like a punch in the gut. "I don't know how you do it, Harry. How you keep facing these insane horrors year after year. All without going crazy. Or dying. And I'm just so, so terrified that one of these years your luck is going to run out. And that when it happens, my best friend in the world will be gone. Forever."
A lull fell between them after that.
Harry was at a loss on how he should respond to his best friend's fearful confession. How could he explain to her that everything he did when he was placed into those kinds of situations just… happened. That it was usually not done on purpose. And that more often than not, it was just a lot of luck and help from someone else that pulled him through in the end.
He was not smart like her. He was not powerful like Dumbledore. Nor did he have a large and wonderful family to rely on like Ron. He was just Harry. And that without the tragedy of his parent's death, Harry felt he would just be a run of the mill wizard who was decently good at Quidditch.
A soft ding from the Game rang out as he tried to come up with an answer to Hermione's question. Hearing it at this unexpected juncture caused Harry to flinch and swear in surprise.
Misreading his reaction, Hermione reached over to grasp his shoulders. "No, you don't need to say anything. It's not your fault, Harry; none of it is your fault. I wasn't mad or anything when I said that just now. I'm just tired, and scared, and really, really happy that you've saved me. I mean us. Again."
She paused to sniffle and wipe her eyes. "And just to be clear, I am glad that you keep on saving the day. You're my best friend in the entire world, and nothing will ever change this fact. I just wish I didn't need to be saved in the first place. Because bad things keep happening to you for no good reason, and because you deserve someone able to help protect you. Not someone like me who just keeps getting in the way."
Over the years Harry had seen many expressions cross her face. He had seen her contemplative, like when she worked on a particularly tricky essay. Or happy, like when the two of them bantered with one another during meals at the Great Hall. Harry had even seen her terribly sad, such as when he had gotten upset with her over this past year over the way she had handled his Firebolt situation.
But even with all that experience Harry had never seen her like this. Ever. And seeing it now made him hurt.
To reassure her on just how wrong her words were, Harry took a page out of her book and gathered her into a tight hug.
"You don't need to worry like that Hermione," Harry said as he squeezed her gently. "It was you who gave me the strength to cast the spell tonight. No one else. Just you. Hermione Jean Granger. The smartest witch in all of Hogwarts, my best friend for life, and the bravest girl I've ever known."
Harry tightened his grasp on her as he spoke the swords straight from his heart. It was the honest to goodness truth. Even if she did not realize it herself.
A quiet sob reached Harry's ears as he felt Hermione nod against him. "Just remember those pretty words the next time we have a giant row like we did over the Firebolt. Okay?"
Desperately searching for a way to lighten the mood and escape from the doom and gloom that been around them, Harry could not resist putting a little cheek into his response. "And what makes you think that we'll have another big row like that in the future, hm?"
"Because you are Harry James Potter, you prat. And nothing is impossible where you are concerned. For better or for worse."
Harry smiled and gave a soft laugh as she lightly punched his shoulder in emphasis. "Maybe so, but hopefully not for a very long while. No crazy shenanigans for me, please; a normal magical life is all that I want."
"Uh huh. I'll only believe that when I see it happen, Mr. Potter."
The pair laughed softly at Hermione's words. Yet even after their laughter had ended, they still held each other close, basking in the support the other provided. Only after several seconds did they let go of the other as if moving on a prearranged signal.
Hands now free, Hermione dabbed at her eyes with the hem of her robe. But when the brilliant girl spoke, it was in a much stronger, firmer, tone of voice. "Now that the Dementors are gone, Harry, and we're safe for the moment… what do you think we should do? I don't know much about first aid, either magical or mundane, but I do know that Sirius needs treatment. I did a spell to slow the bleeding before I collapsed, but that's the limit of what I know to do."
Those words felt like someone had placed Harry's hands against an electric socket. In his haste to cast a Patronus, his confusion over his new power, and the talk with Hermione, Harry had somehow forgotten about his godfather's condition.
Furious at himself, Harry looked at Hermione. "I'm not sure. What do you think we should do?"
"Ideally?" Hermione's brow furrowed in thought as she took her time in replying. "Well, ideally we would have a way to either call for help or to heal his wounds with magic. But since neither of those are possible, I think that the next best option is to have one of us stay here while the other fetches help from the Castle."
Harry immediately shook his head in denial at the suggestion. The place they were in was called the Forbidden Forest for good reason. It was filled with creatures and other natural dangers that could prove fatal to even a full-grown witch or wizard. Some of which Harry could personally attest to knowing after several close encounters throughout their time at Hogwarts.
He told her as much, only for the girl shake her head at him.
"I'm sorry, Harry, but that is the only option I can think of. So which role do you want?" Hermione's voice trembled a little as she looked at him. "Do you want to stay here with Sirius? Or should I stay with him while you get help? It's your call, but the choice needs to be made soon."
"No." Harry stated emphatically while shaking his head. "There has to be another way. One that we haven't considered."
"There isn't. So choose, Harry. Please."
Harry's mind whirled as he considered the possibilities. Was there a spell they had learned that could do something in this situation? Not that Harry could remember, and Hermione certainly had a better head for such things than he did.
He started thinking of other possible ways to send a message. Maybe he could call for Fawkes? Or Hedwig? Or maybe Harry could even use his Patronus Charm to send a message to someone just like the Game… had… said…
That was it!
Eyes widening in excitement, Harry shot to his feet with his wand raised high. "Expecto Patronum!"
The large silvery stag burst forth once more, rushing out and filling the forest with a silvery white gleam. But Harry had no eyes for its beauty and focused instead on the slim hope he had just remembered, battering aside a throbbing headache from having cast magic in his weakened state. "Hey, um, stag… spirit… thing, is it possible for you to carry a message to someone and lead them back to us?"
The silver stag nodded its antlered head. Harry felt a cool wave of relief pour through him at the confirmation. The Game of Death had been telling the truth!
"Brilliant!" Harry yelled in joy. "Then this is what I need you to do. I need you to find Professor Dumbledore and tell him that Hermione and I are okay. That we are trapped in the Forbidden woods, and that we have a very special and badly hurt dog in need of serious medical attention. With an emphasis on the 'serious' portion of the message. Got it?"
The great silver animal nodded its head once again and flew into the sky. It moved faster and faster as it sped onward, its tiny silver light vanishing into the darkness of the forest.
Harry heaved a sigh of relief when it was gone and turned to flash Hermione a grin. "See? I told you that there would be another –"
Whatever else Harry had been about to say was cut off as Hermione tackled him to the ground. A wave of pain followed the hit as his best friend straddled his waist, squeezing him with a death grip as questions poured out of her mouth.
"Harry, that was bloody brilliant!" Hermione yelled enthusiastically as her warm brown eyes shone in the moonlight. "How did you know a Patronus could carry a message like that? Is it something that all Patronuses can do? Is it unique to just yours? Nothing I read in any of the books – and you know me, I read every book about Patronuses I could get my hands on the instant you mentioned that Professor Lupin was teaching it to you – not one of them even mentioned it. Not even once! So just how did you think of that? Because that was bloody brilliant Oh! If it's something that all Patronuses can do, is it like a seventh sense? Or like a secret magical ability that you can now do at will? Oh, you must tell me everything! You must! It's just so amazing!"
Harry tried to tell her, but the girl's powerful grip on his chest was cutting off his supply of air and leaving him unable to answer her questions. For better and worse, the vulnerable Hermione of a few minutes ago was gone, and ferocious bookworm Hermione was back. With a vengeance, Harry might have added could he speak.
Pushing against her grip with all his might as she continued to chatter, Harry finally managed to gasp out a reply. "Hermione! I can't… breathe! Let go…please…"
Hermione let go of his chest with an embarrassed squeak. Rubbing his aching ribs, Harry gave his excitable friend another smile. Despite the pain, it was good to have her back to normal rather than the weepy person she had been mere moments ago. "I can answer your questions, Hermione, but you've got to promise me something first."
She nodded her head with vigour. "Anything. You know that you can trust me, Harry. So please, just go on and tell me how you did it already!"
"Okay…, but first you need to swear to keep it secret. I know that I can trust you, but this is something important. It needs to stay between just the two of us until I can figure more things out. Or maybe between just us, and Ron, and Dumbledore. Okay?"
Hermione impatiently nodded her head and gestured for him to continue. And after a slight hesitation, Harry readied himself to tell her about the Game of Death.
But his words drowned out by a sudden explosion of magic. Harry's head turned to track the cause, and when he saw it, a wave of hope shot through his body.
For hovering in the air above them, one hand clutching the foot of his phoenix companion, was Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts.
A/N: Not much to say for now, other than I recommend that readers not read too deeply into the "Hermione is brilliant and Harry knows it" parts. Hermione is smart, and to write her otherwise would be a disservice to her character. But she has her flaws too. And I intend to play with both her strengths and weaknesses as the story progresses.
For those interested, I have placed all of the trait descriptions, character levels, and so forth in a stand-alone chapter of this story. You can find it on the site's chapter list marked as "A Gaming Glossary."
Until Next Time,
Elsil
