Lovers In a Dangerous Time
Prologue
The Very Thing That Makes you Wanna Die.
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Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter or any information attached to JKRowling. A big thanks to the band Barenaked Ladies for the use of their wonderful song titles and lyrics.
Warning:
This story will be rated M for violence, language and sexual situations. This is a love story containing dark and evil situations, don't say I didn't warn you.
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It was late in the day and a dense fog covered the land, thicker than it has been in months. The night sky was barely visible through soft silver mist that hovered so daringly. The ground was starting to become moist as dew settled across the grass. The trees were slowly swaying in the breeze that seemed to sweep through the air bringing a biting chill with it. If it wasn't for the many bodies standing around the area, one would think this moment came straight from a creepy old black and white movie.
Harry stood in amazement as he glanced around the wooded area that overlooked the village of Godric's Hollow. The smell of burning flesh and singed trees lingered in the air. Harry fell to his knees to avoid gagging from the putrid smell as he tried desperately to catch his breath. All around him the sounds of grown men in pain pushed at his brain until it felt as if his head would explode, by all accounts he's lucky it hadn't.
The sound of heavy feet, crunching at leaves and twigs growing louder caused Harry to remove his head from his hands and look up. He was thankful to find a friendly face that was trying so hard to smile. Hovering above him, looking as if he had been cut in half then sewn back together wad Lupin. Remus knelt down to Harry's level and looked him in the eyes, years of sadness seemed instantly gone from his face.
"It's over Harry, all your suffering is gone. We're free." Remus stretched a hand out towards Harry in a grand gesture of brotherhood. Harry proudly lifted his hand and clenched onto Lupin's forearm as Harry allowed him to pull him off the ground.
Harry took another glance around the smoldering trees and realized that several bodies were emerging from the dense brush, each looking tired but over joyed at the same time. Several of the people he held most dear in his heart came to the forefront. Ron Weasley was helping a limping Hermione through the undergrowth of the forest. All of the Weasley brothers, including Percy were gathered around their mum, dad and Ginny, holding each other tightly. Several Hogwarts teachers and past classmates and Ministry officials were entering the opening where Harry was standing. Each of them were looking at Harry with awe and admiration for his talents as in turn they each started to clap and cheer him.
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Not but an hour ago Harry arrived at the resting spot of his parents, in Godric's Hollow looking worn and aged beyond his years. Having spent the past few years hunting down and destroying Voldemort's Horcruxes one by one with the aid of his two best friends. Now at the age of twenty all this time of suffering was finally coming to an end. The last and final Horcrux had eluded him for nearly six months until Hermione, the genius, stumbled upon a note that Tom Riddle so carelessly left behind in his old Muggle orphanage. It seemed that he had devised a way to turn small living creatures immortal as long as the person that changed them survived. This was the last key they needed to discover that Nagini, Voldemort's precious pet was in fact the final Horcrux.
So here it was, Halloween night, nineteen years after the death of Harry's parents and Harry was ready to avenge their deaths and rid the world of the dark wizard forever. Voldemort had been avid about returning to this spot each Halloween the past few years in hopes of confronting Harry, or catching him with his guards down, and killing him. But not tonight, Harry was ready. An army of Order members, ministry officials, friends, and protectors were waiting in the woods just out of site of Harry as he leaned over and kissed the top of his mothers tombstone.
As predictable as ever the fog that announced the arrival of Voldemort's Death Eaters started to drift and weave around the small graveyard. Harry could smell the darkness of evil breath all around him as his wand suddenly grew heavy in his pocket. His heartbeat increased to astounding speed as the slow rattling breath that pushed out of Voldemort's lungs were mere inches from his back. He could feel the air move as Voldemort's hand inched towards his neck as silently as he could.
Without even blinking, Harry wiped out his wand and in one fluid motion as if he had been practicing for this moment for years, he turned around and rammed his wand into Voldemort's neck. Clear shock and hatred poured over Voldemort's eyes as he looked at Harry. His snake like nostrils flaring as Harry pushed harder with his wand. Instantly he heard dozens of feet moving quickly towards them and Harry assumed his Death Eaters were coming to his aid. His gaze was so transfixed upon Voldemort that he didn't dare look over his shoulder for confirmation.
"Well, well, little Harry has finally learned how to play." Voldemort snarled as he waved a hand for his Death Eaters to stay back. "But not very nicely I must say, I see you have resolved to destroying items that are very precious to me."
"You mean the bits of your soul you have been tucking away everywhere?" Harry replied smugly. "Yeah, I've been having loads of fun rummaging through your old possessions, and burning them."
Voldemort's desire to kill Harry was clearly evident on his disfigured face as he pushed himself harder into Harry's wand. "Go on Harry, kill me. For the first time I see death in your eyes, do you have the strength I wonder?"
Harry was tired of these mind games he was ready to do what he had come for. He quickly removed his left hand from his wand, leaving his right holding on tight. Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a second wand, it was long and skinny and so old it was a amazing that it was still in one piece. Harry took a hold of Dumbledore's wand and a jet of red light shot out of it forming a type of sword. With his own wand still at Voldemort's neck he ignited that one as well, shooting a stream of lightning into Voldemort's face. With one fluid movement, Harry crossed one hand over the other, causing the two streams of light to cross paths and within a split second, Voldemort's head rolled off his shoulders and hit the ground with a sicking thump. Grey blood spilled from his body as it fell backwards and almost instantly started to decompose. The smell of his befouled blood stung at Harry's nose as he looked up into the forest in front of him.
Screams of anger raged all around Harry as dozens of Death Eaters, werewolves, vampires and creatures of the night came charging towards him. Harry extinguished his wands and sent two sets of gold and red sparks into the forest over the heads of the running Death Eaters. As Harry readied for the attack the shouts of his waiting friends emerged from the trees and started shooting spells in every direction.
Harry's heart jumped wildly as he heard the sound of one of the Death Eaters cry, "Protect Nagini! The Dark Lord isn't dead yet, you must protect Nagini!"
Harry quickly fell to the ground and rolled out of the way of flash of purple light that shot towards him. As he readied himself to stand again he saw it, the slither of a long green tail and the hissing of fangs as Nagini made her way towards Voldemort's still body beside him. Harry eye's gleamed as his goal came closer and closer towards him. He was thankful that most of the Death Eaters were too preoccupied by Order members to pay much attention to him. Only a few managed to keep their focus on Harry.
As he watched Nagini out of the corner of his eye he ducked and maneuvered around spells as he shot off some spectacular ones of his own hitting one Death Eater in the leg with a stunning spell. Something hit Harry hard across his right shoulder causing him to drop his own wand and scream out in pain. The dark cloaked figure that laughed when he heard Harry cry didn't know what hit him when Harry raised Dumbledore's wand and knocked him out cold. All around him he could see people falling from spells, Harry desperately hopped that none of his friends were injured.
Finally after battling off two more Death Eaters, one being the evil traitor, Wormtail, Harry had a clear view of Nagini. The sight he found was beyond disgusting. Nagini was actually eating the limp body of Voldemort, she was half way up his right arm by the time Harry could reach her. Harry took one look around to make sure he wasn't under attack then walked up behind the enormous snake. He had learned from dealing with past Horcruxes that the best way to destroy them was with fire. Harry pointed both of his wands at the snake as she continued to devour Voldemort, he smiled, steadied himself then said, "Belventus"
A blast of blue flames erupted from the ends of both wands, the force of the spell reverberated through to Harry's very core. Instantly the snake's scales started to blaze and singe. The smell of rotting flesh filled the air as Voldemort's body stared to burn too. Harry watch the blaze burn as the snake twitched and wiggled in pain, releasing Voldemort's arm as she tried to escape and find rescue. But none came and as the fire burned through her last layer of skin she exploded with such force that Harry fell backwards. He watched as Nagini and Voldemort's body dazzled with fifty foot tall flames and burned the trees above.
Sounds of pain and terror erupted all around him as the Death Eaters fell to the ground in agony. Harry thought this may happen. Hermione told him it was likely that once Voldemort was finally destroyed that the ties that bound the Death Eaters to him may break causing severe pain or even death to the Death Eaters. All around him, Voldemort's followers who didn't bare the dark mark started to run as they realized what was happening, but thankfully the Order members were stunning them one-by-one and pulling them into one location. Harry continued to watch as the last and final trace of Voldemort turned to ash and floated away.
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Ginny had managed to escape her mum's crushing embrace so she could step forward and be at Harry's side. Tears were spilling down his face as cheering and clapping continued to fill the air. Harry placed his wands into his pocket and wrapped his arm around Ginny's waist, pulling her in tightly. They continued to embrace as they watched the various ministry officials gathering up the shriveling Voldemort supporters and making them vanish one by one, no doubt being sent off to a cozy cell in Azkaban.
The cheering stopped as everyone attended to their wounds and visited one other asking how damaged they were. Sadly the worst of the damage seemed to be coming from Hermione who was unable to move her right leg without intense pain. Harry looked over to see Lupin and Tonks in a rather private embrace as were Mr. & Mrs. Weasley. Harry however was suddenly more concerned with the red hair and freckled face that was pressing so gently against his own. Ginny kissed Harry sweetly then leaned her head on his shoulder.
"That was the most amazing thing I think I will ever see." Ginny whispered into Harry's ear then kissed him once more.
Harry walked around the clearing shaking hands with various people before they said goodnight and vanished to be with their families or tend to the new arrivals at Azkaban. It wasn't long before Harry, Lupin, Tonks and the Weasley's were the only one's left standing. Bill, Fred, George, Percy and Charlie all said their thanks to Harry then left to rest and bandage a few cuts and bruises. Ron had already left with Hermione to head for St. Mungos, Mr. & Mrs. Weasley along with Ginny were on their way to meet them there after one last hug from Harry.
Mrs. Weasley hugged Harry tightly then said, "You are to come to the Burrow tonight, no questions asked."
"Yes Sir!" Harry said with a serious face as he saluted her like a soldier. "I just want to say, er...goodnight to my mum and dad then I'll be around." Harry said sheepishly.
Lupin put a hand on Harry's shoulder, "Take all the time you need, your safe now." And without further comment everyone vanished leaving Harry alone standing in front of his parents graves.
Slowly he walked up to his parents headstones and knelt down in front of them. He busied himself with clearing away twigs, leaves and dirt as he steadied himself for what he had to say to them. It was hard to speak to the deceased, let alone two people he barely ever knew. Without knowing it, tears started to splash down his face once more as he twisted his fingers the engraving of his father's name. He traced the words, Loving Father almost ten times before he was able to bring himself to talk.
"I did it dad, he's gone. The reason you died, the reason you were in hiding...he's gone. The world is going to think I did it to save humanity, to rescue the world, but their wrong. I didn't if for you, for both of you." Harry said as he touched his mother's headstone. "You gave your lives for mine, and finally I was able to repay you. I hope your proud of me, cause for the first time in my life, I'm proud of myself." Harry cried some more, tears spilling onto the cold earth below.
"Oh how very touching."
Harry jumped to his feet at the sound of the intruders voice. He looked behind him and in a split seconds time he saw a man, or what he thought was a man dressed in heavy black cloaks with pale skin looking back him, a hungry expression in his eyes. Before Harry had a chance to move, speak, draw his wand or react in anyway he noticed something that made his heart stop. This was no mere man, a true life vampire was standing only inches from his body. Fangs bared as he reached out a hand and wrapped it around Harry's neck.
Harry couldn't move as utter fear seeped through his body, he couldn't scream, he couldn't make a sound, this vampire had done something to him, he could feel not only hunger but magic running through his touch. In one sweeping movement the creature leaned down and wrapped his teeth into Harry's neck, drawing blood and sucking with feverish joy. When he had his fill he tossed Harry to the ground and licked the blood off his lips. Harry reached up and covered the holes that had be left in his neck.
The vampire leaned down over Harry's weak, blood drained body and smiled. "They call me Malincov, one of the many vampires that served the Dark Lord but refused to be deemed a Death Eater. It's a shame your little Ministry buddies let me go so easily, I will miss all my friends as they rot away in Azkaban. But they will be greatfull when they find out what I have done to you." Malincov said with the air of a small child getting a treat at the candy store.
"And what's that." Harry managed to say rather breathlessly.
"This!" Malincov slit his wrist with his long talon like nail, blood ran down his arm and over Harry's shirt. With his uninjured hand he pushed Harry's head back into the ground and shoved his bleeding wrist over Harry's mouth. Harry shut his mouth and fought like mad to get out of his grip but he had never dealt with someone with such strength before not to mention that Harry's lack of blood was making him weaker by the moment. As much as Harry fought against his attacker one single drop of Malincov's blood escaped his lips and ran down Harry's tongue. That one drop of metallic tasting, cold blood was enough.
Malincov knew his job was done as he stood up and looked down at Harry who had pure terror running through his eyes. "I want you to suffer for all eternity as I have Potter, I want you to become one of us and know what the pull of evil feels like. Let's see what the world thinks of you now, boy." Malincov said as he started to walk away but not before he kicked Harry hard in the ribs cracking at least two as he did so.
Author's Note: Thank you for reading Lovers in A Dangerous Time. This story is the combination of reading too many romance vampire novels and many late night writing sessions on my laptop, sitting on a bean bag, listening to the Barenaked Ladies. For anyone who follows the different stories I have written I would like to say I'm sorry for not updating in quite a while. I lost my Internet connection for almost a month and all I have been able to do is write, but not submit any of my chapters. I thank you for being patient and I hope you enjoy this new story...it's quite different than anything I have done before and quite possibly my best work yet.
SilverWilver