Smaragdus arcanum Lunam
Cloud Sorano
14
Hogwarts, Scotland
Edward felt true terror for the first time in his entire life as he saw fire-shaped dragon heads roaring as they came around the corner of the piles of lost things, licking after Ron's heel. He could feel the intense heat on his skin.
"Feindfyre!" Ron explained. "Crabbe set it off! He couldn't stop it!" He looked over his shoulder. "Come on!"
Harry turned and spotted brooms. "Come on." He grabbed them and tossed them to Hermione and Ron. He got on his and turned to Edward, "Get behind me and hold on." Edward did as he said and wrapped his arms around Harry's waist. He bit back a yelp as they shot up in the air and started to fly across the cavernous room toward the doors at one end.
They passed Draco and his henchmen, trying to climb on top of a tall pile of furniture, struggling to get away from the flames that were quickly spreading around them. The entire room was up in hot fire.
"We can't leave them!" Harry shouted over the roar of the fire.
Ron gaped, "He's joking, right?" He turned his broom to follow Harry back to where Draco and Goyle hung from the top of the pile. Crabbe had fallen into the flames below. "If we die for them, Harry, I'm gonna kill you!"
Harry reached out and grabbed Draco by the hand and held him hanging as they flew. Ron had caught Goyle, and Hermione passed close by him.
Hermione looked over her shoulder; the flame has reached the top of the lost things, burning and roaring behind them. She gasped as the sentient fire, taking the shape of a dragon, rushed at them. "Harry!"
They barreled through the air and stumbled down outside the room as the brooms had given up flight; the bristles burned to crisp. They fell and rolled to stop on the ground. Harry dropped the diadem and clutched his head as if something was screaming inside. Edward grasped Harry's shoulder and looked into his eyes, "Harry!" He winced and heard the ominous voice echoing in Harry's mind.
Draco and Goyle stumbled to their feet, looking from Harry to the Room of Requirement with wide eyes. He scrambled backward and turned, running with Goyle at his heel.
Ron grasped the basilisk fang that Hermione fished out of her bag. He grabbed the diadem and stabbed it. Black ooze spilled from it, and it screamed.
Edward turned to the diadem and took it, pitching it into the flame that roared. They watched as the head of the person who created formed in the fire screamed and roared with the fire. Hermione waved her wand in a quick motion, and the doors slammed shut. Cool air kissed their skins, and they sighed in relief.
"Harry?" Edward asked as he turned to Harry, pulling his hands away from his face. "Are you okay now?"
Harry nodded and looked up to Edward. He reached up and wiped the soot from his face. "He knows. The snake is the last one." He inhaled a long breath and exhaled. He knew it was unnecessary, but it was for his comfort, to calm his racing nerves. "It's the last Horcrux."
Ron frowned. "Look inside him, Harry." He didn't like it when Harry connected with Voldemort, but it had to be done. They needed to know where the snake is. "Find out where he is, if you find him, we can find the snake."
Hermione nodded. "And we can end this."
Harry sighed. "Guys… uhm." He sat up and wiped his face. The soot came away, and he looked to his hand. Both Edward and he don't sweat at all, but he knew he looked like a mess. "There's something I have to tell you." Edward helped him to stand up. "The reason why I could hear him in my head, see things he does and all that… was because I was a horcrux too."
Hermione gasped. "Oh no…"
Ron paled. "He was… oh bloody hell."
"But when I turned," Harry looked to Edward, "in a sense, I died, and the horcrux could not handle the change and died too."
"So, you can't reach him in your head anymore?" Ron asked. Harry shook his head.
"What are we going to do now?" Hermione asked.
"I can try," Edward spoke up.
Ron and Hermione looked at Edward with surprise. Hermione asked, "Really? There must be hundreds of minds to filter through…"
Edward nodded. "I just need to find one." He closed his eyes. "Someone with a thought…" He was silent for two long minutes before he spoke, "Ah… there he is. He is angry… it's like a bright beacon. Really angry. I can now pick his mind up. He's not occluding his mind, he's too emotional to do it. He's thinking of speaking to Severus Snape… he's in the boathouse." His eyes opened. "Where is this boathouse?"
Ron's eyes lit up, "It's down by the lake. We've to go through the front." Ron started, leading them toward the front entrance of the castle. Hermione was close by behind him.
Harry grasped Edward and gave him a quick kiss. "Thank you. You're more useful than you know."
Edward frowned and held onto Harry's hand as they ran after Ron and Hermione, ducking spells that whizzed by them. Stones exploded around them from the impact of the spells. Bodies were littered across the ground. It was a battleground, two sides fighting against each other.
As they stepped outside, Edward had to inhale a gasp as he watched few giants swing their clubs, knocking people aside and bellowing. He bit back a whimper as the smell hit his nose.
Harry grimaced and covered his nose. The air was putrid with smokes, flames, sweats, and blood.
"Harry… there are blood…" Edward said as they ducked behind a boulder to avoid the swinging club from a giant.
Hermione snapped her head to Harry and Edward. "I thought you said wizard blood doesn't bother you."
"It's not the wizard blood." Edward explained. "It's the other creatures. There are many different bloods. Dragon blood smells delicious to us. There are so many different bloods in the air and too much of them." He grimaced as spells exploded near them.
"Blimey." Ron softly cursed. "What can help you not smell them? We need Harry to focus!"
Hermione muttered to herself as she tried to think and snapped her fingers, "Bubble-head charms!"
Harry waved his hand, shooting spells to the side. "Then cast it!" He shouted and flicked his palm, sending a Death Eater flying backward.
Hermione waved her wand toward Harry and Edward. They gasped and inhaled. She asked, "Well?"
Edward felt his face and frowned, "I don't feel it. But I can't smell anything anymore. It's working."
"Good. You won't feel it. It's invisible. It's like a small pocket of air around your nose and mouth. It's used for underwater and it looks like a bubble under water." Hermione quickly explained and shot a spell toward a Death Eater.
"Come on." Ron said as he ran toward the end of the courtyard. They followed him and down the spiraling stairs that led them to the small building on the lake.
They ducked and crouched low on the outside of the boathouse; they could hear Voldemort talking to Snape within. Harry waved for his friends to be quiet. Edward tilted his head, trying to listen in. He could only hear one mind, and it was the villain of Harry's life. The other one has a powerful shield, so strong that he almost believed the man didn't exist, but it was his voice that gave him away.
"You have performed extra-ordinary magic with this wand, My Lord," Snape said, his voice deep but low, beguiling. "In the last few hours alone."
Edward glanced up to see the cracks in the shield above them that domed the entire area of Hogwarts ground. So, it was Lord Voldemort who had shattered it. He gripped Harry's hand.
"No!" Voldemort nearly shouted; his mind and tone were full of frustration and anger. He swirled his robe around his legs, his snake coiled beside him, ready to strike if needed. "No! I am extra-ordinary. But the wand resists me."
Edward tugged at Harry's hand to draw his attention, "The wand, what is he on about?"
Harry held a finger to his lips. "The Elder Wand. One of the Hallows. He has it. He took it from Dumbledore's grave." He gave an image of the knobby wand to Edward. "To possess it is to be powerful, but I am not sure why it's not working for him."
"Could it because he is not the Master of Death?" Edward asked, looking pointedly at Harry. "You are the Master of Death. You. I know it."
"But how? I did not win the wand."
"Who did then? Voldemort believe this Snape is the winner of the wand."
Harry's eyes widened, and he snapped his head away from Edward to peer in the glass window. He could see Voldemort staring at Snape. Snape's expressionless face started to crack, and he could see fear in the black eyes.
Voldemort continued, twirling the death stick in his hand, "There is no wand more powerful. Ollivander himself has said it."
Snape watched Voldemort warily; the man was like a caged beast, dangerous and ready to strike at any time. His gaze flicked down to the snake beside him, she hissed softly. "Tonight, when the boy comes. It will not fail you, I am sure…" He said softly, trying to pacify the enraged Voldemort, "It answers to you, and you only."
"Does it?" Voldemort seemed calm but dangerously as he asked.
"My lord?" Snape asked.
"The wand, does it truly answer to me? You're a clever man, Severus." Voldemort grinned, "Surely you must know… where does its true loyalty lie?"
"With you." Snape responded. "Of course, My Lord."
Voldemort shook his head, "The Elder Wand cannot serve me properly, because I am not its true master. The Elder Wand belongs to the wizard who killed its last owner."
Edward gripped Harry's hand tightly. Hermione covered her mouth to keep herself silent as she gasped in surprise. Ron paled beside her.
Voldemort stepped toward Severus, "You killed Dumbledore, Severus. While you live, the Elder Wand cannot truly be mine." Severus stepped back. "You've been a good and faithful servant, Severus. But only I can live forever."
"My Lord…" Severus said, his voice hinted terror.
"Nagini, kill!" Voldemort snapped, and the snake was faster than any could blink, striking three times at Severus, ripping his jugular out, and striking him in the chest where his heart was. Severus stumbled backward and hit the wall, and slid down. Then Voldemort and Nagini vanished.
Harry scrambled around the door to the boathouse as he heard the apparition pop. He knelt beside Severus and reached out, trying to stop the bleeding on his neck. Severus inhaled a small gasp, feeling the young man's icy cold hand, looking up into Harry's eyes. "Take it…" He gestured to his eyes as he sobbed. A silver tear fell from the corner of his eye.
Harry turned to Hermione, shouting, "Give me something! Quickly, a flask. Anything!"
"Take them to the Pensieve." Severus muttered and grasped Harry's hand, pulling away from his wound. He stared up to Harry, "Look at me…"
Hermione handed Harry the vial, and he quickly collected the silver tears. Harry corked it and looked down at Severus with sadness. "Professor… Please, we can save you. I'm a vampire now, I can turn you." Ron snorted behind Harry, and Hermione smacked him in the arm, tears rolling down her face.
Severus shook his head, "So that's what happened to you." He flicked his eyes to Edward and, with all the strength he could muster through pain, nodded to the young man. "Thank you for keeping Harry alive." He turned back to Harry, "No," He inhaled a shaky breath, "I've done my part. No more," He looked to Harry and reached up with a bloody hand to Harry's cheek. "You really have your mother's eyes…" Severus softly whispered and exhaled his last breath. His hand fell, and his head rolled to the side. Harry reached out and felt the man's chest; the heartbeat stilled under his hand. In a short time, he knew Severus was true to Dumbledore the entire time. Flashes of memories of all the times Severus had stepped in for Harry, he had saved his life countless times and expressed his concerns for him in his own way. He knew Severus was an honorable man. He reached up and closed the onyx eyes. He rested back on his heels and looked down to his hands in his lap; the vial with silver liquid sloshed within glistened in the dim moonlight.
Edward knelt and turned Harry's face. He softly said, "Vampire can't cry." He reached up and wiped Harry's eyes, surprised to see silver tears rolling down.
Harry closed his eyes, resting his face in his lover's hand. "I hurt for him. He's young but his life was full of pain. He did so much for us."
"But he has a message for you," Edward laid his hand down over Harry's hand, where the vial was, and closed it. "You need to see it soon."
Harry nodded and stood up with help from Edward. Then Voldemort's voice filled the air, echoing, "You've fought valiantly, but in vain…" Harry stumbled and clutched his head. "I do not wish this. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a terrible waste. I therefore command my forces to retreat… in their absence, dispose your dead with dignity," His voice echoed around them thunderously. "Harry Potter, I now speak directly to you. On this night, you have allowed your friends to die for you. Rather than face me yourself, there is no greater dishonor."
Ron snarled softly, "He's one to speak."
"Hush." Hermione murmured, grasping his arm.
"Join me in the Forbidden Forest and confront your fate. If you do not do this, I shall kill every last man, woman and child who tries to conceal you from me." Voldemort's voice faded away, and silence filled the air. They could hear the battle had stilled, and no longer spells were flying.
"Harry?" Hermione asked concernedly.
"I'm fine." Harry replied as he stood up straighter. "I need to go to the Headmaster's office," he looked to his friends. "Go and help the others. I'll find you." Ron and Hermione nodded and left.
Forks, Washington
"They killed James!" Victoria screeched, her red hair wild around her head, and she looked feral.
Laurent watched Victoria warily. He had met up the pair, Victoria and James, years ago, and they joined him in traveling from place to place, as nomad vampires go. But there were times that he wonders about the sanity of the pair. Now James is dead.
He didn't like it. It all went wrong when they entered the area. He had heard rumors that the area of northwest Washington state belonged to a coven. But James and Victoria didn't care and killed many people, more than necessary. Usually, they would kill one or two and then move on. But there was something that made them want to stay. He stayed, but his gut feeling was telling him that he has to leave.
Victoria screamed and felled another tree. It fell with a loud boom in the forest. They were deep in the Olympic National Park, no one within for miles. Laurent moved away and leaned against another tree, complementing Victoria as she attacked another tree with her claws out of rage and grief.
They did find the coven that lived in the area. They had told them to leave, and Laurent was all for it. But James had to go after that smell he picked up. Victoria had laughed and brushed it off, saying she rather wait until he gets his fill, then they could move on.
Now James' dead.
Laurent frowned. It went wrong when James had decided to stay and go after the scent he wanted to find. James had killed a man, and now the coven is after them. And on top, something strange. He wasn't sure what it is.
"Victoria. We need to leave. Whatever killed James will find us." Laurent said as he got tired of her temper tantrum.
She whirled around and snapped at him, "They killed him! The Cullens!"
Laurent shook his head. "I don't think so. I think it was something else. James picked a wrong person to hunt after." He recalled how they came across the ashen remains of James near the house that belonged to a dead man. But there were no traces of any of the Cullen coven in the area. There were the smells of the forest and lots of wolves. It was unusual for a pack of wolves to be so close to any human habitats.
"I don't care!" Victoria screamed at him. "I will kill them all!" She jumped up into the treetops and vanished.
Laurent sighed; he turned and ran. He has to warn the Cullens and get the hell out. He could feel eyes watching him. He didn't like it.
Hogwarts, Scotland
Harry and Edward looked down at Severus. "In the very last minute, I could read his mind. He cared for you very deeply and was very worried about you."
Harry waved his hand, righting the dour professor from his slumped position to lying pose, and knelt, arranging the man's hands to rest on his chest and brushed the black hair away from his face. Severus looked as if he was sleeping. "If only I could help him to live."
Edward laid his hand on Harry's back. "He doesn't want that. He was looking forward to the beyond, where it is peaceful and quiet. To be with your mother once again."
"Yeah," Harry softly said as he stood up. They silently made their way out of the boathouse and back to the front entrance of the castle.
Edward tried to listen in Harry's mind but found himself blocked and knew Harry needed time to himself, to his mind alone. He kept close to his lover as they silently made their way through the castle. They passed several people that were carrying bodies to the Great Hall. They walked by the Great Hall, and they paused to look in, seeing bodies being laid down. Madame Pomfrey was going around, healing whoever she could.
He turned and entered the Great Hall and moved down the line of bodies on the floor. He found his best friends with the Weasleys. He approached them and paused a few feet away, watching as they huddled around a body, crying. Harry looked down to his side and swallowed. Lying side by side were Remus and Tonks, their hands stretched out to touch each other. He closed his eyes as sorrow filled him. The last of the Marauders have fallen. He opened them to see Hermione and Ron approach him, tears tracked down their faces. Hermione hugged him tightly, sobbing quietly into his shoulder.
"Who?" Harry asked.
"Percy," Ron replied quietly. "Fred said Percy saved his life, pushed him away from the wall that fell on him. But Fred's leg is broken, he might lose it."
"I am sorry."
"Me too." Ron nodded.
Hermione let go of Harry and wiped her face furiously, making black streaks across her cheeks from her dirty hand. Harry thought she looked more admirable, strong, and willing to fight for the right thing. "I need to…" He held up his fist, holding the vial. They nodded at him, understanding what he needed to do. Ron hugged Hermione close to him as they watched Harry turn away with Edward in tow.
Forks, Washington
Carlisle looked up from his reading and closed the book. His mind was on Edward and Harry, concerned about them. Alice still saw the future, but it has slowed down in between visions, and she had announced that there was some break happening and she wasn't seeing anything anymore for the time being.
There was a slight noise in the distance outside the house. He turned to his wife, Esme, and softly said, "We have a visitor, it's one of the nomads."
Esme looked worriedly from her seat; she was reading a new house decorating magazine she had gotten in the mail. "They should've been gone a while ago."
"I know." Carlisle placed his book down and left the office with his wife in tow. "Let's find out what he wants. He must now discover that James is dead."
"A terrible way to go but it has to be done. He was crossing the line." Esme softly told him as they entered the living room. Alice was still on the couch, quietly talking with Jasper.
Rosalie appeared from somewhere through the kitchen, a frown marring her face. She was followed by Emmett. She asked, "Why is the nomad here?"
Carlisle held up a hand to signify them to keep calm and opened the door before Laurent knocked. "Laurent." He said, greeting the dark-skinned vampire.
"Carlisle." Laurent said as he dropped his hand, he was about to knock. He looked slightly frantic. "I came to warn you."
"Come in." Carlisle said as he moved aside to allow the other vampire in the house. Laurent nodded his thanks and stepped in.
Laurent's red eyes met the golden gazes of the other vampires in the house. He knew if he makes a wrong move, he is dead. So, he remained near the door and keeping his posture relaxed, to not offend anyone. "Victoria is upset. She wants revenge for James' death."
"We didn't kill him." Carlisle told him.
"I know. Something else did. I don't like it. I am leaving." Laurent said, his hand on his chest. "I do not wish to cross whatever is in the wood here."
Carlisle bowed his head once. "Very well, good luck. And thank you for letting us know about Victoria."
Laurent bowed his head, deep enough to show his respect. He stepped back to the doorway and watched warily to the other Cullens. Then he was gone.
Alice frowned as she watched the dark-skinned vampire vanish. "He's heading north."
"At least he will be gone from the area within an hour." Carlisle said as he turned to his family. He looked to Alice, "Any update on the battle?"
Alice shook her head. "It's quiet now. I saw small flashes of bodies, they're picking up their wounded and dead. But it won't be long before they start again."
Laurent ran north. He wanted to get away from the Olympic territory as fast as he can. He should've listened to his instinct when they first came into the area. Never in his entire vampire life, he feared something more than the Volturi. Whatever it was, was dangerous to the vampire.
He stopped in a small field and looked around. He froze; he could sense them. They were in the woods around him. So many of them. He glanced around, trying to figure out what they were. He held his hands up, "Whoever you are… I am leaving, I promise."
The growl filled the air, and he twirled to see a dark shadow emerging from the wood. His red eyes widened, and he realized what had killed James. Several more growls echoed the first, and his eyes darted to the sides and saw several more emerging through the woods. "Wolves. I should've known."
He saw the opening to one side and darted.
The howl of several wolves filled the air, overlapping the mix of snarls, snaps, rips, and piercing screams.
AN:
Sorry it took me a while to post this. I wrote majority of the chapter (Hogwarts part) before I went on my vacation. Now it's been a week after I returned and back to work has been a bitch (returning teaching in school face to face after a year of being online, rough week to adjust). I also had to fill in the Washington part here. I know it's not much, but I don't want to focus too much on the Twilight part here. It's all about Harry and Edward.
Well - Percy's dead instead of Fred. Laurent's dead too.
I had a great time in Florida. I already miss the warm, the sun, the awesome parks I visited. I loooove the Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley/Knockturn Alley at Universal Studio! My son commented, "Feels like I am not in Florida here..." We had great time and spent most of our days in both sections instead of the rest of the park, ha! I want to go back. I bought Draco and Hermione's wands. Had to search for the regular version instead of the interactive ones (didn't need that one). Got Hermione's at the front store of the park. Draco's wand was at Borgin and Burkes' shop in Knockturn Alley, which was pretty cool. Hagrid's Motorbike ride was the best! Gringott Bank ride comes close to second! My son, as much he is not a Harry Potter fan, enjoyed his time there and ranked Hagrid's Motorbike ride #1 over the Hulk and the Rip Rock It Rides! He wanted to do another round but we couldn't because of the reservation time. I think I will go back in couple of years and when I do, I'm so getting Harry's wand and Ravenclaw robe!
The next chapter is going to be interesting... I plan to post it sometime by this weekend.
Until then...
