CHAPTER 21: Showdown at Siren's Rock
"Granger? Granger!"
A voice was calling her, a familiar voice, but she was finding it hard to focus. She opened her eyes wearily, and saw the blue eyes of Draco Malfoy looking into her face.
"C'mon, get up, get up, you little mudbl-"
"Malfoy?" she whispered, her eyes were blurry and they were straining to focus. Behind Malfoy there was a crowd of people looking down over her.
"Granger, you've got to get up. For some reason we cannot enervate Potter. He seems to be seriously hurt. Come on, Weasley here says you know how to snap him out of it." Draco shot a glance at Harry, who was laying flat on his back, his shirt completely disintegrated and his jeans in tatters. His breathing was shallow, and no ordinary spell was working on him. For some strange reason, he was totally immune to their magic. "Wake up dammit," he hissed.
"What happened? The last thing I remember was being stunned, by Ginny of all people!" she sat up, a bit disoriented. "What are you doing here?" She glared at him, then rest her eyes on Harry, who looked to the world as if he was dead. "OH MY GOD! Harry!" She sprung up from the couch and went to his side. "What happened?"
"Well, it seems that Bellatrix Lestrange had you two captive, and Potter got in a bit of a squabble with that Hunter, of whatever it was, to get to her. Good riddance to that bitch." Draco looked at Harry's still form. "Never thought that I would be on his side in anything, far less duelling alongside him. That's two off the list, for good." He smiled in a grim satisfaction. "Just Voldemort to finish off now."
Hermione was beyond confused. She thought that Draco would be the first in line to follow in his father's footsteps, but he was talking about killing Voldemort as if it were stopping at a bar for drinks.
"Since when did you want to kill him?" she accused him. His face hardened and his eyes glowed red.
"He murdered my parents two days ago."
Everyone went dead silent, their faces stricken with horror. "Potter and I have something in common now, and Voldemort is a dead man. Get him up and running, we have some unfinished business to settle with Riddle." Hermione did not know what to say. She watched Draco differently now, he was no longer a nuisance and a spoilt brat, and these new developments had somehow eradicated his pettiness. She laid her hand on Harry's chest and concentrated. The Solidus charm was fighting to keep him alive, but right now what he needed was a Healing spell to keep him from slipping into a coma.
"What happened to Harry?" she asked Ron with a serious expression on her face. Ron was pacing up and down, he couldn't believe what had just happened a few minutes ago.
"He should be dead, but he isn't, he should be dead, I don't know, it's just too much, he nearly died out there...how in hell did he survive?" Hermione frowned. Ron was in hysterics, and not much help to her.
"Can anyone tell me what happened?" She finally got through Harry's automatic magical defence, and took out her wand. "Resuscitarus!" she incanted. Harry stirred, but did not wake. She frowned down at him; what was wrong with him? "CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM!" she screamed into the dead silence.
"He took the brunt of the Death Eater's Killing curse, and survived," Luna Lovegood knelt down next to Hermione, peering at Harry's face. She put her ear to his chest, checking for his heartbeat.
"WHAT?" Hermione screamed at Luna and visibly began to panic.
"Oh and it seems that the Hunter temporarily drained him of his magic and life energy, before Malfoy here showed up and saved his life," She was calmly opening his eyelids one at a time, and checking his pulse. "Excuse me," she said matter-of-factly, crawling around to Harry's side. She leant down over him and put her mouth over his.
'What are you do-" Hermione stopped herself, she couldn't believe it. Luna was giving Harry CPR. Luna breathed life back into him, and pumped his chest a few times, then repeated the process.
"UURAH!" Harry's eyes flashed open, and he gasped, desperate for air. He turned over to his side, coughing up some blood lodged in the back of his throat. Hermione was so relieved she burst out in tears and grabbed him tightly, hugging his head close.
"Now don't go suffocating him, Granger, he had to fight for his life twice already for the night," he smirked. "C'mon scarhead, we need to talk." He offered him his hand, and Harry looked up at him incredulously. He took it, and Draco helped him get up. The medallion that hung around Draco's neck caught his attention.
"How did you get that?" he asked, his voice grating through his damaged lungs. Draco's face darkened, and he tucked it inside his jersey.
"We'll get to that." Draco turned to Cho. "Got a room where we could talk? In private?"
"We could speak outside here, I trust everyone," Harry retorted, his hands on his knees.
"This has something to do with your murdered parents," Draco said calmly.
Harry was momentarily dumbstruck. He stared at Draco hard, but Draco wasn't laughing or trying to irritate him. He nodded, and they both left the room. When they were alone in Mrs. Chang's office, Draco turned to him and said flat out:
"Voldemort murdered my parents Friday, just as he murdered yours. I'm going after him. You in?"
Harry's jaw dropped. He couldn't be serious. "What?"
"Potter, did I stutter?"
"B-but..." Harry couldn't believe his ears.
"Look at this," Draco took off his coat, then the medallion and then the Halo he pocketed from his mother. "My mother was wearing these when she died, the medallion and the cloak belong to no other than my uncle and your godfather, Sirius Black. I'm not sure if this Halo is hers, but I'm going to bet the same charm your mother used on you before she died is the same charm my mother used on me, and this is what she needed to do it." He handed Potter the Golden headpiece with the crystal embedded in the front. "I've had days to contemplate what happened Friday, and every minute I spent trying to find a way to get even. And everything leads back to you."
Harry was holding the halo in his hand. This was a powerful magical object indeed; it practically energized him with magic. It felt as if it held Life itself. Malfoy was now like him, he knew what it meant to lose both parents to Voldemort.
"Malfoy, about your mom, I'm sorry." Harry really was sorry. She was just another victim; another bystander in a vicious web that surrounded himself and his nemesis. Why did the people around him suffer loss and death just because he was alive?
Draco just stared at the dark haired boy, he was fighting back any sort of emotional response. "Yeah. Well. I'm sorry too." He turned away from him, and picked up a quill from the desk, running his fingers through the feather. He hesitated before he said the next few words. "How do you feel now that we've actually killed Lestrange and the Hunter?"
He felt different somehow, he felt as if something had changed inside of him. Harry remembered the power of the sword, and the satisfaction of seeing Sirius' killer burn into nothingness just before his eyes, her screams piercing the quiet night. Draco eyed him, trying to read the emotions that crossed his battered face. The right side was bruised and swelling, his eye almost shut with the puffiness. Harry looked at Draco, and his eyes alighted with a blue glow.
"I feel nothing. Lestrange needed to be wiped from the face of this earth." He replied, hatred in his voice. "As does Voldemort."
Draco watched him, and for the first time in a long while, he smiled.
"Excellent."
Alastor Moody lay in a semi conscious state in a muggle hospital. The doctors had done surgery on his wounds, but he had already lost his right hand. He could barely move, and had tubes running from his nose and arm, his only source of life. St. Mungo's doctors had replaced his magical eye for a regular fake one when they admitted him in to the private hospital, and so far the surgery had been a success. He looked around through his only good eye, the place was stark white and mint green, it had a cold, sterile feeling to it. He felt the medallion summon him earlier this night, that's why he woke up. It was Potter's medallion that called, but he was too weak to give him any sort of feedback, much less go to his aid.
"Harry, you're on your own."
At Hogwarts, Minerva McGonagall was donning her old battle robes. Her cloak and medallion were lain out on the bed, and she watched them with an air of impending doom. There was a fleeting moment of mind contact with Professor Dumbledore, sort of a plea for help, then it was suddenly cut off. She contacted the Weasleys, Arthur and Bill Weasley were coming to meet her at the school. Snape was already waiting downstairs, and a few other of the Order were also congregating. The mission to save Fletcher had gone horribly wrong, and Dumbledore needed another team to get them out. Her face was set in stone, she was getting too old for this. The rest of the order was now called into action, and all were meeting at Hogwarts to form a plan, a plan that needed to be implemented without hesitation.
When she arrived downstairs, she nodded grimly at all those present. Surveying them all in her most severe stare she announced in a grave voice:
"The enemy now has the advantage. Albus Dumbledore, Rubeus Hagrid, Nymphadora Tonks, Charlie Weasley and Remus Lupin have been captured in an effort to rescue Fletcher. "
There was an intake of breath, and a few visibly paled. Eight wizards were congregated there, and all of them were dressed for combat. She was the only remaining member of the Original Order of the Phoenix, hereby automatically becoming the leader of this rescue effort.
"Our actions tonight will shape the future as we know it, and for the better when we succeed, because failure is not an option. Our primary objective is to retrieve our comrades, be they dead or alive. Our secondary objective is to eliminate Tom Riddle- self proclaimed Lord Voldemort. Our rescue effort is priority, and we will retreat immediately on success. If our comrades are dead, we will make sure that our enemy burns in hell. Any questions?"
No one uttered a word, there was only a look of steely determination on their faces. McGonagall nodded regally.
"We leave immediately."
Maureen Chang was now leaving her friends at the trendy wizard restaurant. It was a bit after midnight, and she was sure everything was under control at Cho's party. That victory in the court case was a release for her, she had drowned herself in work ever since Harry's case was brought to her. She would just wish him happy birthday when she got home and let the kids enjoy themselves. Her daughter was so looking forward to this party, so she hoped everything had gone smoothly. Saying goodbye, she disapparated and reapparated at her front gate. The first thing she noticed was that there was no music playing, and everyone seemed to be dead quit inside, all of them standing in some state of shock. She ran inside, and nearly everyone screamed or jumped at her sudden appearance in the doorway.
"Cho! WHAT HAPPENED?" Her daughter was crying, tears slowly running down her face. Everyone seemed to be scared out of their wits at something, and a pretty girl with a white pants was avidly talking to a tall red haired boy. She recognized them as Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, Harry's best friends. But where was Harry?
"MOM! WE WERE ATTACKED! BELLATRIX LESTRANGE WAS HERE!" she ran up to her, and hugged her tightly. "Harry..- Harry.." she sniffed, "Harry, nearly died...but-bu he saved us.."
"Where is he now?" Mrs. Chang asked, holding her daughter close.
"In your office… talking to Malfoy…"
"Lucius Malfoy's son!" She released her daughter and whipped out her wand, storming inside her study area. There was a blonde boy standing next to Harry, and both of them turned at Maureen's presence. Harry was in a mess, his bare back was streaked with blood, and his whole right side of his face was swollen and discoloured. His jeans were now just tatters, and there were visible bruises and scrapes on his arms.
"Oh my God.. Harry you okay!"
Harry looked directly into her eyes.
"No. This has gone too far, for too long. The next time I allow Hermione or anyone else for that matter to be used to get to me is the day that I no longer exist. It ends. It ends tonight. Draco, Let's go."
"That's what I'm talking about," Malfoy replied, brushing past Maureen Chang.
"Where do the two of you think you're going?" Mrs.Chang ordered in her most stern voice. Harry and Draco paused, and turned to face her. The blue eyes of Draco glowed red and Harry's green eyes shone blue. She took an involuntary step back. What in the world?
"We'll tell you when we get back." Draco replied, and swept out of the room, his cloak billowing out behind him.
"Thanks for everything," Harry responded. "Tell Cho I'm sorry." He left as well, closing the door behind them. He caught up with Malfoy who was storming down the corridor.
"Can I hold the Halo again?" he asked. Malfoy handed it to him abruptly.
"Take it. That part of my life is no more- and I have no time for pretty trinkets." Harry looked at his face, Draco had really changed, the determination on his face could only be recognised as one possessed. Harry knew what that felt like, and decided not to comment. But there was one thing he must do before he left.
"I have to speak to someone first."
"Be quick Potter. I will be outside."
The crowd in the main area were talking amongst themselves in frantic voices, the whole fight outside and Draco's parents being murdered the main topics of conversation. Hermione alone was silent, leaning against the wall by herself. She refused to talk to anyone right now; she was still in a state of shock. She heard the events of tonight from everyone's hysterics, and saw Harry's condition when she woke up. Her initial reaction was that she thought- and honestly believed- he was dead. His face was in a mess, blood was splattered all over him and his clothes were basically non-existent. She had managed to keep a cool head at the time but now as it really sunk in she was more scared than ever.
Harry nearly died tonight, and it was because of her.
Ginny told her how Lestrange used the Imperious curse to get both of them outside, therefore goading her true target out to fight; using her hostages as trump pieces. She could have picked anyone here, but directly targeted her as bait. And because of that, everything had changed.
Harry had killed two people to rescue her.
That thought ran over and over in her head ever since he and Malfoy went to talk some ten minutes ago. Her tears ran freely down her face and ruined her carefully applied make-up ,but she didn't care. Her first boyfriend of only a few days had to kill someone at his sixteenth birthday party. What kind of life is that? He was strong, but no one is invincible. Her fears coursed through her like wildfire; sooner or later he would not be the victor in these deadly battles. She couldn't fathom that, she couldn't lose him so soon. Not now, not ever.
As if he was reading her thoughts, Harry came up to her. He pulled her into a hug, and held her close for a few seconds. She openly cried unto his shoulder and put her arms around his bare back, feeling the warm skin beneath her fingers.
"Hermione. I need you to do something."
She sniffed, and looked into his battered face. "Anything," she whispered. She owed him her life, but more than that, she loved him dearly.
"Release the protection you have over me. Severe all remnants of your presence in my mind."
Her eyes widened, he could not mean that. "Wh-what?..Why?" she stammered.
"Just do it." He said, his voice toneless. His words cut like steel, but she would not do so without reason. She glared angrily up at him.
"Not unless you give me an answer." She was steadfast.
"If I do not come back tonight, HE will, and he would come for you first. I cannot allow and will not allow that to happen. If you don't do as I ask, I will fight you out. I can tell you from my experiences with Snape that it won't be pleasant. So please, just ...just do as I ask. For me." He whispered that last softly.
A scary feeling bubbled inside her, it sounded as a last request. She could sense the agony inside his mind, but she also felt the resolution that stood there like a giant impenetrable wall. It was if he was heading to war, he knew what need to be done, and knew that he may not come back. She realized now who the 'HE' was, and now her eyes narrowed to slits.
"You are NOT going to fight him, you can't!" she begged.
"I can't?" His eyes glowed faintly. "Hermione…" he looked deep into her eyes. "I- I love you. Remember that, no matter what happens."
Her heart soared, he said what she waited so long to hear. She smiled sadly, and held him close again. She held her wand in her right hand behind him, and whispered an incantation, pressing her lips to his bruised face. Harry felt the swelling ease and the pain gradually recede. His right eye had full vision again, and Hermione looked at him deep in his eyes.
"I won't let you go." She said firmly, tears welling up again. He felt her commitment, but he could not allow this to continue. For everyone's sake.
"I'm sorry, Hermione." He held her face between his palms, and gazed directly into her eyes. "Leglimens!"
She was momentarily stunned, an immensely powerful presence entered her mind, and shut down the Occlumens charm, breaking through her defences as if it were merely twigs underfoot. There was a sharp pain, and she nearly fell down, but Harry held her close and she slumped into him.
"I'm sorry, this will be the last time I ever hurt you." He put the Halo of Life into her bag. "Keep this for us: it belonged to our mothers."
Hermione was so dizzy from that mental assault she could barely stand. He scooped her up in his arms, and carried her to a cushy recliner. Harry kissed her lightly on the lips, tenderly caressing her face. She feebly tried to reach for his hand to hold him back, but he stepped out of her reach. He strode out of the room and his cloak and sword jumped immediately to his command. Wrapping the cloak around his shoulders, and slipping the sword into his belt, he stormed out, not giving anyone else another glance. Everyone refrained from bombarding him with questions, backing off to let him pass. At the last moment, Harry paused at the door, and turned his head slightly to address someone.
"Ron!" he called. "Look after her. I'm counting on you." There was an eerie silence, and he left without another word. He strode out towards Malfoy, who was examining the katana he held in his hand.
"Think this might come in handy," he grinned, absolutely relishing his new acquisition. "What took you so long, Scarhead?"
"Shut up Malfoy." He made his way to his bike, and put on the jacket Tonks gave him as a present.
"You know where he is?" Malfoy asked him.
"If he could get in my head, I could get into his. I'll find him."
"Knew you had it in you," Malfoy smirked.
"Shut up and get on." Harry ordered again.
"I like the new you. Takes after my own dear heart," Malfoy smiled
Harry sneered. "Whatever." He mashed down on the gas, and the engine roared to life. People were already swarming out of the house to find out where they were going, but both of them were already soaring into the night sky.
Stealth was no longer the main objective and McGonagall's team was streaking low over the cold Atlantic, their broomsticks going as fast as possible. They were making good speed, the icy spray drenching them within minutes. Siren's rock, the home of Azkaban prison, was within sight, the cold and ominous towers of the wizard gaol looming high in the night sky. It seemed the night was darker around the nightmare place, the fog clouding the base of the craggy shoreline. Behind and to the northwest of the impregnable fortress lay a deserted muggle castle, the last place of contact with Dumbledore and the others. The team felt the cold magic drain of being so close to the dementors that inhabited Siren's rock, and made a large arc to keep out of its range of affect but still keep decent time. Circling around, they saw the tiny island with the fort looking like a toy house in the distance.
"We're nearly there," Bill Weasley said, fearing for the safety of his brother. His mother had cried and cried when they left, she had to stay and tell the others when they came back form Harry's party. But her two oldest sons and husband was bound for battle, no woman should have to endure that type of fear. The memories of the boggart in Sirius' house were now coming to the forefront, her fears now becoming a reality. She wanted her family home, and safe in her arms.
The team landed and disembarked inside of the walls of the giant fortress, in the courtyard in front of a large wooden double door that rose metres high.
"We know who we are dealing with. We shall show no quarter, neither shall we expect it." McGonagall rallied her troops. " We get in, we find Dumbledore and the others, and we get out. If it comes to battle, we attack with full force. Snape, Charlie, Arthur, Proudmore, you would be the main attack team. The others and myself will be the search and rescue effort. Let's go."
They approached the door, and Severus Snape pushed it, and amazingly it swung open. Their wands were out, and everyone spread himself or herself out as to not be in each other's way. They made their way through the main dining hall, then through some sub rooms and hallways, emerging in what seemed to be an enormous mess hall or assembly area. It was open to the elements, and dark clouds covered most of the night sky. The wall parapets and turrets rose high and surrounded them on both sides, the way they came behind them, and another pair of wooden doors leading to the next section of the fortress at the far end. But what was the main attraction of the eerie battleground was what was in the centre.
There was a raised stone dais in the centre , on which the stood a very ancient archway. Hung from it was a veil that fluttered rapidly, as if a strong wind was blowing ceaselessly into it. In front of the veil stood a lone hooded figure, his face cast in shadow, his hands folded in front of him, the forearms resting in the opposite sleeves. High above the veil, Dumbledore and his team were caught in a stasis field, revolving high off ground around the archway, resembling dial hands in a demonic clock. Their bodies were unmoving and still, their cloaks hanging limp beneath them.
"My god," Snape muttered, examining the horrific scene. The Drk lord couldn't have achieved it so soon- it was impossible. He couldn't have found the-
"WELCOME!" Voldemort's voice hissed. "I see you are all here, and now it is done. The second war has finished before it has even started, you are now mine." He drew his wand slowly from his robes, stepping forward to the group.
"STUPEFY!" Arthur Weasley attacked, pointing his wand. When nothing happened, he was momentarily shocked. "What in Merlin's name?" he gasped, looking incredulously at his wand.
"He has found the way. It is too late…." Snape muttered in a defeated tone,
"Ah my once loyal servant realizes the futility of your entire pathetic order." He laughed to himself, and pointed at the door behind them,. "Collorportus." It sealed itself shut, and now there was no escape. The rescue effort each tried a spell, all to no avail. With no means to defend themselves, and no cover to hide, they all stood there, defiant in their cause.
"If death summons us, I will go bravely, and not without a fight!" McGonagall cried, standing proud.
"Die you will, but not before you witness my triumph over Harry potter. You are no doubt clueless to why your magic does not work. That expedition into the department of mysteries was not a complete failure, for the news of the Animagus Black's death inside of this ghastly abomination was of great interest to me." He walked around the great archway, his face still shadowed by the dark hood he wore.
"This, this was worth the embarrassment of having my servants defeated by mere school children. This, my esteemed guests, is worth the failure to learn of the prophecy. It is worth more than life eternal. What you see before you is the essence of death itself, the Demhencia. Within the immediate area of this, I can nullify all of your spells, and reincarnate death itself into beings to obey my will. What you fools think are dementors are wizards who no longer have a soul, neither substance, and feed on life to survive, bringing death and despair to all." He raised his hands up to his captives, giving glory to his demonic instrument and the sacrifices that orbited it.
"They are the angels of hell."
"Now that I have you all, the supposed Elite of wizard-kind, your deaths will empower me even further, to heights I cannot even dare comprehend. For it is I, Lord Voldemort, who have found a way to control death itself: re-incarnation, soul stealing, anti-magical sorcery; all very, very useful indeed. I have been to the depths of Hell, and spoken with the Dark Angel Lucifer himself. He has recognized my ambition, adopted me, and now I am his chosen prophet and faithful servant."
The very words chilled McGonagall down to her spine. Everyone was visibly horrified, backing up to the wall.
" This, is the portal to a special Purgatory, but there is only one exit, and that leads to my master. Through here there is no entrance to heaven, and souls remain forever more, in nothingness."
Proudmore and Bill Weasley cracked first, the horror of it all driving them into madness. They ran to the door and began to bang on it with their fists, neither feeling nor caring as blood began to flow from their bleeding hands. Snape's eyes darted left to right, his rationale and cool exterior crumbling before Voldemort's eyes. He screamed, and charged the door with his shoulder, banging on it ceaselessly. Arthur and McGonagall paled even more, and Arthur rolled up his sleeves for muggle battle, knowing he was about to die.
"I do not fear you." McGonagall declared, her voice full of fight.
"Do not fear me. Fear for your soul. Avada Kedavra!"
In a flash of green light one of the most respected witches in the world was gone, and would never return. The others screamed, and began to pound on the door even more intesely, screaming at the top of their lungs. Arthur alone stood fast, but knew that he was a dead man.
"Ah. I sense some spirit in you. Your power is strong, but your skills are pathetic. However, you would do nicely." He pointed his wand at Mr. Weasley and he froze, gripped by an invisible force. Voldemort swung his wand to the sky above in a sharp manner, and Mr. Weasley now revolved around with the others, totally immobile. His last thought was of his family and his loving wife, then succumbed to the paralysing spell.
Hermione stood outside, staring at the night sky. Her wand was in one hand, the Halo of Life in another. The wind blew her long curls about her, and she closed her eyes solemnly...tears running down her face. She knew destiny was calling, and her actions decided whether her loved one lived or died. She incanted an ancient magic, and the spell was set. Ron came up behind her, and called her tentatively.
"Hermione?"
"Harry is going into battle tonight," she said softly. "Our future will be decided here, this very night- and Harry is the only person who could stop him."
"He went after Voldemort," Ron said, now fully realizing what was happening.
"I can still sense him, but faintly. This Halo is extremely powerful, and it is what I need. It was not by coincidence Malfoy brought this." She spoke in a low tone, knowing that tonight she was going to do something she never thought she would have to.
The Ultimate Sacrifice.
"I'm going to help him. Are you coming?" Hermione said bravely.
"Yes," Ron replied without hesitation. "How…" he began.
"This will take us," she said, taking his hand. The ground around them glowed slightly, and a light yellow circular symbol materialized underneath them. "Harry, we're coming."