Chapter 10. An Eventful Halloween (2nd Part) Proposals
Some kind of magical-alarm went off at Hogwarts's not long after the attack at Hogsmeade began. The Professors that had reunited in their own common room to grade papers and get everything for their upcoming classes ready could hear it.
The instructions were given out immediately: those Professors who were Heads of one of the Houses would go to the respective tower to keep an eye on the students who remained in the castle (which mean McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick and Slughorn –as Snape's replacement.–) Professors Sinistra, Trelawney, and Vector would patrol de halls along with Mr. Filch; while Hagrid and Substitute-Professor Grubby-Plank kept a watch on the grounds. Dumbledore fire-called some of the members of the Order of the Phoenix, like Sirius, Tonks, Remus, Kingsley and some others; they would be going to Hogsmeade.
Billie was supposed to be accompanying the last group, but almost as soon as she stepped out of the castle she felt something. A strange power.
"This energy-signature, I've felt it before…" Billie murmured to herself, so low not even the Headmaster heard her. "But it can't be…yet I can't take any chances."
And with that she stepped away from Professor Dumbledore unnoticed and walked into the Forbidden Forest. She didn't really seem to care at all about all the things she had been told that happened in that forest, the dark creatures that lured in it; she was certain none of them could be worse than some of the things she had seen before.
.---.
The attack of the DE took many off-guard, Mel and Draco weren't the exception. They were walking near the shrieking-shack when suddenly a red shot of light passed right next to Mel, the curse obviously aimed at her had missed by mere millimeters.
Mel couldn't help but cry out as she jumped backwards in surprise.
Draco didn't even have to ask what was wrong, he already knew it. With a move of his hand his wand instantly moved from its place in his sleeve to his hand (it was in a wand-holster), and he dropped into a neutral stance, ready to attack or defend.
Mel quickly followed suit, adopting the same posture, except that she had her left hand raised and ready too, to freeze or explode anything if needed.
The fight began just a few seconds later. They weren't that many DE, just about half a dozen; but the fact that they knew who Draco was seemed to fuel their anger to be even more vicious than they normally were when attacking the teens.
Mel had resorted to freezing the scene a few times to prevent a tragedy from taking place, yet it wasn't easy. The dark wizards seemed to be way more powerful than that awful night at the graveyard two years and a half ago, they didn't stay frozen as long as before.
Draco knew no one was supposed to discover Mel's identity, so he did his best to fight off the DE, so she didn't have to use her 'special powers'. Yet Mel was also really worried for Draco, knowing he was in an awful lot of trouble because the DE considered him a traitor; she knew things would be really bad for him if she didn't keep him safe. Eventually the desires both of them had to protect each other became their downfall. Or more specifically: Mel's.
A cutting curse hit her in the arm, it wasn't enough to cause much real damage, but definitely sufficient to make her lower her guard; at least long enough time for a Cruciatus Spell to reach her, sending her in a whirlpool of pain as none she had ever experienced before.
Draco witnessed when the Unforgivable hit Mel and he silently berated himself for not having been able to prevent that from happening. Yet he also knew he couldn't dwell on it and instead do something to help his dear friend.
To everyone, especially the DE, surprise, even when the curse was obviously causing the gal a great deal of pain, no sound left her lips; she just plainly refused to let any sign of weakness show to her attackers.
With a burst of energy and anger Draco got rid of the remaining attackers (three of them, since the other two were already bound and unconscious). Leaving only the one who was currently having fun torturing Melinda.
Draco tried to use his own wand to attack the DE and therefore pull him out of what he was doing to Mel, but there was a very powerful shield upon him that made the young man's spells bounce off, ineffective.
Draco couldn't really handle the sight much longer, he concentrated as hard as he could, raised his bare hand and snapped his fingers in the direction of the man's wand.
There was a crack and Mel's semi-unconscious body dropped to the ground unceremoniously; the then DE turned to face Draco, an expression of confusion covering the smirk he had had while torturing the girl.
"What was that?" The DE asked.
Draco didn't give him an answer, his expression stern. His blood was boiling with anger at what he had done to the one who had been his first true friend, the one person to whom he owned his present freedom and happiness.
The DE attacked Draco; as he used a nonverbal spell the blonde had no way of knowing what the man had done, but it didn't matter either; he just snapped his fingers again, breaking the magic before it reached him.
The DE repeated the maneuver several times, always obtaining the same result.
"No one messes with those I care for and gets away with it." Draco hissed, his voice colder than an iceberg. "No one."
And before the DE could even know what was coming at him, the ice-blue eyed young man snapped his fingers once more and the man dropped to the ground limply.
Draco hadn't killed him, he didn't have enough power to do it yet; though there was no doubt that if he had been able to, he wouldn't have hesitated to do it. However, he had managed to cause some minor brain damage to the dark wizard, which had caused him to fall limply to the ground, affected some of his short-lapse memory and maybe the long-lapse one too. And even then Draco didn't believe that to be enough.
A moan of pain brought Draco out of his musings. He immediately pushed the thoughts of the DE aside as he dashed to where Mel was currently recovering full consciousness.
"Are you alright?" She asked to Draco worriedly.
"I should be the one asking that question, you know?" Draco replied worriedly.
"I'm fine." Mel replied, though for the weak tone in her voice it was obvious she was lying.
"Can't you heal yourself?" Draco asked.
"Not really, it's the only disadvantage to the powers as a white-lighter, I can heal others but not myself." Mel replied.
"That's stupid." Draco said bluntly.
"Tell me about it." Mel replied, she let him help her onto her feet. "Yet, it's not like I have any 'real' wounds to heal, besides the shoulder that is. We both know the Cruciatus Spell attacks the brain cells so you 'feel' pain, without your body really being hurt at all. The only reason you can't move afterwards is because your brain keeps sending the message of pain."
"I know, I know. We don't have to get all technical about it. Well, seeing as these bastards are already unconscious I suggest we better go find the others."
"Yes, they might need some help."
"My thoughts ran more along the lines of 'you' receiving 'help' from 'them'. Even with all the technicalities they might still be able to help you somehow."
Mel didn't answer to that, she knew Draco only wanted to help her.
Draco was just beginning to help her walk back to Hogsmeade when the sound of a twig breaking alerted them to the presence of yet someone else. The reaction of both of them was immediate. They spun around, wands in hand, Draco moving slightly to stand in front of Mel in a protective gesture.
Despite their injuries they were mentally (even if not exactly physically) ready to fight off anyone that may come. However, nothing could have prepared them for whom they actually saw standing before them:
"Draco…" The man whispered his name in a voice the blonde remember pretty well.
"Severus Snape…" Draco whispered, not quite believing it.
Mel's reaction was immediate, she raised both hands and was only a fraction of second away from activating her powers.
"No, wait." Draco put his free hand on her shoulder.
"But Draco he's a DE, a danger to us all and…" Mel couldn't believe Draco was considering the possibility of hearing what that man wanted to say.
"And he hasn't done anything against us." Draco finished. "I have a feeling he has something to say, something important. Lets hear him out first, ok?"
"Fine." Mel agreed, still not liking the idea. She turned to her former Potions' Professor and said coldly: "Just one suspicious movement and I swear I'll blow you up."
"You shouldn't go around making empty threats Miss Halliwell." Snape said casually.
"Who said it was an empty threat?" Mel retorted. "You don't know me Snape, not in the slightest. Don't believe you know what I'm capable or not of doing."
"After being in the receiving end of a Cruciatus curse no one is capable of much." Snape told her, and he seemed to be talking out of personal experience.
"You have no idea of what one is capable of when those close to them are in danger." Mel declared seriously. "Of what I'm capable of those I care for are in any danger…"
There was something not in her words, but in the way she spoke them that made Snape believe she was very capable of doing what she had just said.
But if the young woman's words weren't enough to shock the former professor beyond what he had ever believed possible, what followed did: Draco Malfoy, smiling, at her; not a cold smirk, or an evil grin, but a true, warm smile.
Snape had known Draco for a long time, and he had never seen the boy smile the way he was doing in that moment. Who exactly was Melinda Halliwell? What had she done to make that boy change so much, and in such a little time? There were undoubtedly many questions, but the answers would have to wait for a better time, right then he had things to do.
"I'm here to give you information about the last horcrux." Snape declared simply.
"Horcrux?" Draco almost couldn't believe his ears.
"Yes." Snape replied. "A horcrux is…"
"We know what a horcrux is." Mel interrupted him swiftly.
"You do?" Snape asked, slightly surprised.
The teens knew why the man was like that. Everything related to the horcruxes was supposed to be pretty confidential. In fact, the only reason they knew about it was because Harvey had talked about them with Harry. The things in which Voldemort had left pieces of his soul, there were six of them and Professor Dumbledore, along with Harvey, his closest friends and the Order of the Phoenix had been searching for them for about a year and a half. So far they had destroyed three horcruxes: Riddle's diary, the Gaunt's ring and the Slytherin locket (which they had found hidden in a secret room in Black Manor). They were currently searching for the fourth: Hufflepuff's cup. They believed the fifth was Nagini, Voldemort's pet-snake, while the sixth and last was supposed to be something that had belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw, yet they didn't know what it could be or where to find it.
"Yes." Draco took charge of the situation. "It doesn't matter how or why we know. What does matter is what information you could have that may interest us."
"You shouldn't talk to me in that tone boy." Snape didn't like Draco taking his usual attitude against him.
"I talk in whatever tone I wish to Pro…no, Snape." Draco told him. "You're no longer my professor, and therefore you can do nothing about it. You came here for some reason, I'm waiting to know what it is."
"I know what the sixth horcrux is." Snape declared. "It's a wooden music box that belonged to Ravenclaw; the Dark Lord had given it to the Lestranges for safe-keeping so right now it could be in the power of an auror, or even in the Ministry."
Draco sighed, that was certainly troublesome.
"How do we know what you're telling us is the truth, and not only a trap?" Mel asked.
"You don't." Snape replied calmly. "But what reason would I have to tell you such a lie?"
"There could be many reasons." Mel replied. "As I said it could be a trap. If Voldemort…"
"The Dark Lord doesn't even know what you're doing, yet." Snape interrupted her. "And you shouldn't go around saying his name as if it were nothing."
"Oh, you mean: Voldemort?" Melinda taunted shamelessly. "Vol-de-mort. Voldemort! Tom Riddle! Whatever his name, I really don't care. He's a crazy bastard, and we've gotta stop him before he destroys the whole world, period."
"You must be really crazy girl, or be wishing for a very painful death." Snape hissed.
"Oh no, I like my life very much, it's a good life." Mel said casually. "The thing is, I'm not afraid of fighting whoever I need to in order to defend myself and others. I was born with the power to do it, and I'll do it, no matter what or who or why. Got it?"
Those words definitely shocked Snape, he never expected to hear something like that. Melinda talked in such a careless manner, yet she sounded pretty sure of her words.
"It seems She was right." Snape commented. "Dumbledore has finally gotten himself some powerful allies."
Those words left both teenagers pretty confused. Who was 'She'?
"But then so does he." Snape continued.
"You're talking about the Shadow Lady, right?" Mel guessed suddenly. "Who is she?"
"I don't know." Snape answered truthfully. "I already did what I came to do. It's up to you if you take that information seriously or not. What happens from now on with all of you will no longer be my problem."
"But it'll be." Mel said, softly now. "'Cause if we get to fight again, what will you do then?"
"That's my problem, not yours Miss Halliwell." Snape spat.
With that he spun around and moved to leave.
"You know, it's not that bad to admit that sometimes you need help." Mel called to him. "It's really not that difficult to admit one person can't do everything on their own. We're not gods, we're humans, we can commit mistakes, and we can be forgiven."
"Not all of us…" That was the last things they heard from Snape before he disappeared into the Forbidden Forest.
.---.
Harry and Hermy weren't as surprised when they found themselves surrounded by DE as their friends had been. They both had been able to feel the evil energies approaching before even the first DE had apparated.
Hermione created a psychic-wave that could easily throw off half of the dark wizards at the same time. She was about to repeat it to get rid of the rest when suddenly she brought both hands to her neck, her breathing quickly became labored.
"Hermy!" Harry cried out worriedly. "What's wrong?"
"Can't…breathe…" Hermy whispered back at him.
Harry immediately concentrated and created one of the strongest shields he could around his charge and himself, effectively cutting off the 'connection' her attacker had with her.
"Are you ok now?" He asked her.
Hermy just nodded as she took deep breaths; that had been a close one.
"Come out you bastard!" Harry called in a serious tone. "Or are you such a coward that you prefer to attack my friend from the shadows instead of facing us directly?"
"Such strong words, spoken by a mere child…" A cold hissing voice spoke. "Yet it isn't any child, but the twin brother of the one who deprived me of my powers for more than a decade. I have to wonder, kid, are you as powerful as the boy-who-lived, or a simple nuisance?"
"Why don't you come out and we can find out?" Harry dared him, wand in hand.
"You shouldn't call out challenges without first knowing who you're talking to, boy." The voice taunted him.
"Oh, but I know perfectly well who I'm talking to, Voldemort…or was it Tom?" Harry replied in a slightly mocking tone.
One of the DE still standing didn't seem to like the one in which Harry spoke to his 'master', so he threw a Reducto at him.
Neither Harry nor Hermy moved a muscle. The light of the spell hit the shield, made it vibrate slightly and then simply vanished into it. The shield was just too strong.
"Seems She was right, I may have underestimated you, boy." Voldemort finally came out.
"Stop calling me boy." Harry said calmly. "I have a name: Harry Potter."
"That's right." Voldemort nodded. "Harry Potter, the forgotten son of James and Lily Potter. It's such a pity that someone with such courage and power is so overlooked by all of those around him, even his own family."
"You don't know anything about me."
"Oh but I know. I know you possess great power, and knowledge, yet no one has ever paid you attention. You've always been nothing but your brother's shadow; the twin of the boy-who-lived. Aren't you tired of living in the anonymity?"
"Truthfully not, I very much like my life the way it is right now."
"Oh but you could have more, so much more. If you just joined me…We could do great things together. You and me…the world would be ours."
"You're nuts."
"Not really. You and I aren't much different really; both powerful wizards, both with though pasts, wanting nothing but to prove ourselves. We both have been underestimated by those around us, and together we can prove to everyone in the world how foolish they were not to venerate us when they had the chance."
"Venerate? Now I really think your brain isn't working properly."
"Don't mock me boy! I'm giving you the chance to be great! To be a god!"
Hermy wanted to say something, but didn't know what. The shield was long gone, yet they hadn't been attacked again, yet. Though that didn't mean she wasn't ready to fight.
"Let me see if I understand this." Harry said suddenly. "You expect me to ally with you. To turn my back on my friends, my family, on my own principles and help you destroy the world I love? You definitely are insane!"
"No, not destroy it, transform it." Voldemort said cynically. "Make it a better place for us! With us as the kings!"
"Not in this lifetime, in fact, not in any lifetime." Harry declared dead-serious. "Listen to me carefully Tom, because I won't repeat myself. I would never help one who has allied himself with creatures as treacherous as the demons from the underworld, the scum of the very hell; I would never go against what I've been taught my whole life, to protect the innocents. But specially, I will never, ever, betray those I care for. You expect me to collaborate with you, you who have tried to kill my own brother more times than I can count! Never! I will first do everything in my power to see you destroyed once and forever."
"Then, if you don't come to my side, you will die." Voldemort declared. "Both you and your girl." He raised his wand. "Crucio!"
It all happened too fast. A scream could be heard as the spell hit, but the victim hadn't been Harry, nor Hermy, but a DE. Hermy was in fact standing in front of Harry, her hands raised, she had just used her telekinesis to deflect the spell.
"Over my dead body…" She hissed at Voldemort.
With more courage than even she believed herself capable of she created a new psychic wave that sent all of the enemies flying backwards until they hit walls, trees or the ground.
"As you wish." Voldemort declared, being the less affected by the power, he raised his wand once more and attacked. "Avada Kedavra!"
"No!" Harry called out.
There was a green flash of light that hit a psychic-shield Hermy had barely managed to pull up. She had both hands up and her brow furrowed, signaling just how much she was having to concentrate to keep it.
The spell began cracking its way through the shield, it was obviously a lot more powerful than the one she had deflected the previous summer to save Professor Dumbledore. There was a greater evil behind it.
Yet before the spell could hit its target it was met by a golden flash of light that annulated it before going straight for Voldemort, sending him to the ground rather hard.
Harry was standing right next to Hermy, his own hands raised, he had been the one to expulse the golden flash, energy in its purest form.
"It seems She was right." Voldemort said thoughtfully as he got on his feet. "You aren't mere kids…things shall get very interesting…"
"Don't mess with me and mine unless you wanna die in a very painful way Tom." Harry said fiercely. "And I'll let you know this isn't a threat, it is a promise."
Voldemort didn't said a single thing more, he just disappeared, it seemed he had had enough, at least for the moment being.
Relieved Hermy let her shield and hands down as she laid against Harry's chest, she was just too tired at the moment.
"You alright?" Harry asked.
"Exhausted." Hermy admitted. "But I'm worried about something, Harry. Who is She?"
"I don't know." Harry admitted.
And truth be told, that worried him as much as her.
So, now you've seen what our dear heroes are capable of. But even if there isn't a third part for the "Eventful Halloween", the day hasn't yet come to an end. Many surprises are yet to come, and some won't be exactly pleasant.
Someone asked me to write down a description of each character, along with the powers they posess, I'll be doing just that, but until after the next chapter. The reason is because in these few chapters is where most of the important characters are showing their real powers for the first time (at least in the fic). If I uploaded the list first I would be ruining some surprises. But don't worry, the list will be done, you'll see it soon enough.
Hope you'll leave reviews, I'm getting less now than when I began this fic, I hope you people will decide to grace me with your opinions or at least some signal that you're reading this, please.
In the following chapter: We'll know what Billie found when she followed her magical senses, what the consequences of the large attack will be, maybe solve a part of the cryptic puzzle formed by Lavender's and the Three Fate's prophecies (maybe confuse you all even more). The Games of War, are coming.
