Last time, we witnessed Max being tempted by Voldemort. Max promptly shoved the offer away, and all but promised to kill Voldemort, when Harry came back from killing Naginni. He then threw the severed snakehead at the image of Voldemort. And now, on with the show!

Chapter 41: The Man With The Glowing Blue Eyes

Harry didn't know how it got started, but somehow, Will and Bloom had argued over who was the faster flyer: Guardian or Fairy. He didn't know who said what first. All he knew was that when he stepped outside, Bloom and Will were flying around, each trying to outrace the other. "How long have they been at this?" asked Harry. "At least two hours." Said Hermione. "My money's on Will." Said Ron. "Put me down for Bloom." Said Neville.

Later…

"They've been in the air for almost five hours now!" exclaimed Sky, "How much longer can they go?" "They'll go for as long as they have to," said Matt, "Because when Will tries to make a point, she'll keep going until she can go no further." "That's the same with Bloom," said Sky, "Once she gets started, she can't be stopped." "Before the two of you go into the whole, 'my girlfriend is better than your girlfriend' act," said Laura, "I think we should stop those two up there."

"Why?" asked Harry. "Because," said Laura, "I think this is a waste of time and energy that could have been spent trying to find the Death Eaters main base, or more importantly, the Necronomicon." "Has anyone told you that you can be such a killjoy?" asked Matt. "Constantly," answered Laura, "This is not my idea of recreation.

"Your idea of fun," said Steve, "Is to lock yourself in your room for hours at a time, and read until you can't see straight." "At least I'm learning something." Said Laura. Meanwhile, Will and Bloom were in the final stretch of their race, the finish line just one mile ahead of them. "They're almost even!" exclaimed Flora. "Come on Will!" exclaimed Taranee. "You can do it Bloom!" yelled Stella. With a flash, the two flyers crossed the line simultaneously.

"Good race," panted Will as she shook Bloom's hand. "We'll have to do this again," said Bloom, "Just to see who should have won." "The point is that the two of you gave your all." Said a voice from behind the two girls. They turned around to see a tall man, his face hidden under a hooded cloak, but his glowing blue eyes were plainly visible.

"Aren't you that man?" asked Bloom. "Yes!" exclaimed Will, "You're they guy who told us to come here!" Just then, Max and Harry arrived on the scene. "So," said Max, "You've decided to mess with our lives yet again." "What you call messing," said The Stranger, "I call tweaking the circumstances." "Well what you call tweaking," said Steve as he entered the area, "Not only did it got Ken Somerset killed, it got 'Cajun Man' stuck in frozen sleep. Plus it nearly got Jill paralyzed."

Steve then turned towards Will. "Let's not forget the fact your friend nearly died from being bitten by that big snake." He then faced Bloom. "How about the fact that you nearly got killed by those Warlocks twice." "Hay Lin's going to be fine," said Will, "she'll be back sometime tomorrow." "I don't know what problems you have with the Ramblers," said Bloom, "But my problems with the Warlocks have nothing to do with The Stranger." Max then stepped forward. "Just say what you have to say and leave." "What I have to say," said The Strange, "Is for Harry's ears alone." "What you say to me," said Harry, "You can say in front of my friends."

"Very well," said The Stranger as he began: "The time when you must face Voldemort is fast approaching. To defeat him, you must use the powers given to you the night Voldemort first tried to kill you." "What's he talking about?" asked Bloom. "He's talking about love," said Harry, "Dumbledore said that love is the key to defeating Voldemort once and for all. But I still haven't figured that part out yet." "That's why I'm here," said The Stranger, "I'm here to show you the way to those answers."

"Hold on!" said Hermione, "When you first appeared to us, us as in Harry, Rona and myself, you told us that you were here to observe, but not to interfere." "I am only showing Harry the path," said The Stranger, "Only he can choose to walk it." "Don't do it Harry!" said Steve, "This guy's nothing but trouble." "I'll be the judge of that." Said Harry. He turned towards The Stranger and asked, "What do I have to do?" The Stranger responded by saying, "Just read a book."

"You're kidding." Said Harry. "No, I'm not," said The Stranger, "The answer to killing Voldemort is in a book. Said book is in the office of the late Albius Dumbledore." "Dumbledore had the key all this time?" asked Harry in disbelief. "He had the book," said The Stranger, "But the key to reading it was unavailable to him, or you. That is, until today." "The Heart of Candracar," said Will as she pulled out her crystal, "It has the power to reveal secrets on paper. That's why you told us to come here."

"That and more," said The Stranger, "There's another piece to the puzzle." "Here we go again," said Steve, "Just get to the point." "The missing clue," said The Stranger, "Is within eyesight of the book you seek. It is an item you have used in the past, only once." "The sword of Godric Gryffindor!" exclaimed Harry happily, "The one I used to slay the basilisk!" "Yes," said The Stranger, "These two items are your keys to unlocking the means to finally destroy Voldemort."

"And what of the Necronomicon?" asked Max, "My people have been looking allover for it. One has died for it, another may never wake up again, and Jill's crippled." "I'm not f#ck$ng crippled!" exclaimed Jill as she limped over to the group. Aaron Spartan was walking beside her, making sure she wouldn't fall. "Max is right about one thing," she said, "Too many people have been hurt and/or killed over it."

"Very well then," said The Stranger, "I shall tell you where to find what you seek." "You're sh$tt$ng us!" exclaimed Steve. "I assure you Steve Austin," said The Stranger, "I am quite sincere. But there is just one condition." "Whom do I have to kill?" asked Steve. "You must say please." Said The Stranger.

"Forget about it you sack of pig vomit!" exclaimed Steve as he turned away. "Steve!" said Max, "You're just going to walk away from the best chance we've had yet to find the Necronomicon?" "If being stubborn and having too much pride are crimes," said Steve, "Then find me guilty. I'll not lower myself to appease this manipulating bastard!"

"If we don't retrieve the Necronomicon," said Max, "Then the government shall lower our annual budget. If that happens, the Bureau is going to start downsizing. If that happens, I'll make sure you're the first to be downsized." "That's fine by me," said Steve, who was rapidly losing his cool, "I'm tired of taking orders form you, you mother-f#ck$ng, fun hating, socially rejected, dateless wonder!"

At this, Max's face flushed with anger. "You can say anything about me, but if you drag my mother into this, I'll rip your body in half from bottom to top!" "Well come on!" exclaimed Steve, "I've been waiting for a chance to take you on in a real fight for a long time!"

"Do something!" exclaimed Bloom to Jill. Jill then limped over to Max, whispered something into his ear, and Max backed off. "Steve," said Jill, "I know you're stubborn and have a lot of self pride, and I respect that. Now you know how much Max cares for his mother, and bringing her into this dispute is rather low, even for you. Now apologies or else." "Or else what?" asked Steve. "Or I'll tell your grandparents back home about your extensive collection of erotic pottery." Said Jill.

At this, Steve blanched. "You are one cold, scheming bitch, Jill Sparrow. But let us get one thing straight: my grandparents must never know about my tiny fetish, ever." He then shook Max's hand saying, "I'm sorry." He then turned to face the stranger. "May I please have the location of the Necronomicon?" "Since you asked so nicely," The Stranger gave Steve a slip of paper, "What you seek shall be at this location in two hours. That, and something else unexpected" The Stranger then faced Harry. "The book you seek, you shall know it when you see it."

"Wait a moment!" exclaimed Hermione, "You still haven't told us who you are!" However, The Stranger was gone. "I hate it when he does that." Said Will. "That's just what I was about to say." "What now?" asked Ron. "Now," said Max, "My team gets the Necronomicon back."

"Well," said Harry, "It looks like I'm going back to Hogwarts after all.

The end of chapter 41. Next chapter, Harry finds what he needs to destroy Voldemort once and for all. See you next time!