Lightning Dragon's Roar

by Zero Rewind

Harry takes inspiration from a manga called Fairy Tail, as well as the great creation we call "The Internet". What follows is a different path taken. A path of strife, rebellion, and above all, power. Welcome to the New Age. Timeline moved to the 2010s. Eventual X-over with Devil May Cry 3, Stargate: SG-1, Smallville, Dresden Files and Ranma.

49. Chapter 49

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any other fandom I manage to squeeze in this story.

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Lightning Dragon's Roar
A Harry Potter Fanfiction
By Zero Rewind
© 2015
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Chapter 49: Horcrux

The portal closed with the annoyingly loud ripping I was getting used to.

Should I be getting used to it?

I made my way back through the Realm of Darkness, with Erebus and Balthazar as my companions. I couldn't even imagine what it would be like to not have them beside me.

How had I lived through all of these years without their counsel?

"So, what do you think?" I asked, my voice carrying through the realm. "About the war. With Clark's help, I think we've dealt with the Red Court problem."

"Keep it in mind." Erebus said. "That you have simply raided a single one of their lairs. However, your words hold truth. Several high ranking members of their Court have been dealt with."

§High ranking members.§ Balthazar repeated in a mocking tone of voice. My right arm felt a little itchy from the snake's irritation. §A Lord of Outer Night has been killed. They have existed for over three thousand years. Thirteen of them.§

"Twelve of them now." Erebus mused. "Ancient beings they were, but immortals, they were not."

"How do you know if they were immortal or not?" I asked curiously. "You know, aside from the fact that it was lying dead after Clark gored it with a single punch."

"Immortals can only be killed through certain circumstances." Erebus said.

I waited for the sword to elaborate, but he left it at that.

How curious.

"I killed you, didn't I?" I said, instead, hoping it would get him off his game, reveal something to me.

"You mistake my defeat for death." Erebus answered irritably. "To truly kill an immortal being such as I, it must be done within the period of—" The blade stopped.

"The period of…?" I pressed.

No answer.

Woah.

This was the first time that Erebus put up such a resistance against my orders. Usually, he would simply answer my questions immediately. No fanfare, no waiting.

Just straight up information.

I tried another route.

"You said it yourself back at Temen Ni Gru, Erebus." I said, firmly. "You are under mine command. You would answer my question."

"Your attempts at an older form of your English language are amusing. You could have simply employed Modern language and gotten the same results…" Erebus said, but he could still feel the thrum of power from my words.

"But there is no choice." The ancient Devil Arm said, before pulsing slightly.

The entire world around us shook under the sword's power.

"What're you—"

"Preventing any listeners from overhearing us, of course." Erebus almost snarled. "Fae like the Winter Queen have spies everywhere. Everywhere."

I heard a few sounds in the distance. Cries of protest came, followed by loud cries of pain.

Wow, people were listening in. Rather, faeries, not people.

I stayed silent, and let the Falchion do the work.

A few seconds later, we were encased in a black colored, almost fully opaque shield. I could slightly make out the outside, but for all intents and purposes, we were hidden from everything.

"We are now sufficiently shielded. Not even the Queens of Summer and Winter can hear our words in my ultimate space." Erebus stated confidently.

Ultimate space. I'd have to ask about that, some other time.

"Is the information really that imp—"

"That and more, young mortal. You do not know what it is you're asking of me, but I shall give it to you, regardless of your foolishness." Erebus cut me off rudely. "Immortals can be killed at the moment in which the barrier between the Human realm and the spirit world— in other words, Nevernever— are at their weakest."

I was going to retort angrily, but the Devil Arm's words stopped me right in my tracks.

"The barrier between the worlds weakening…" I repeated, my mind whirling. "When does that even happen?"

§All Hallows Eve. When immortals steal power from each other to add to their mantles.§ Balthazar interjected.

"Correct, young snake." Erebus praised.

All Hallows Eve. I should have known.

"It all comes back down to Halloween, doesn't it?" I said, mostly to myself, before shaking off these thoughts.

"Immortals can die at Halloween." I repeated. "They can take, or have their power taken from them, as well."

I thought about that, for a second; the symmetry of the second statement.

"There is always balance in the world." I said, a dangerous idea forming in my mind. "Demons and Angels. Summer and Winter. Life and Death. Power lost and earned. If immortals can die on Halloween, then, would it not be logical to say that they can also be born there, as well?"

Power thrummed in the air, and it felt as if I was slapped in the face.

"Is it not enough." Erebus snarled angrily, his voice gaining an ethereal quality for the shortest of moments. "For you to know that immortals can be killed? Do not ever make a mention of this again. Promise me this. You do not know what forces you are dealing with right now. You foolish child! Have you any idea of the danger—" The sentient sword stopped itself, realizing who it was talking to.

I gulped. It sounded insanely important, if Erebus was acting so rashly.

"…I." I stuttered. "I promise. I won't inform others of the possibility." I said slowly, but stubbornly. "But from this point on, it is an option on the table, should our situation ever become so dire."

"Don't tell me, now." I cut whatever response Erebus had to that. "I understand that we shouldn't screw with the natural order of things, and a situation that would result in a need to become immortal is probably never needed. But, if we ever do need it—"

"Only then will I even consider divulging the methods required." Erebus said, firmly.

"Fair enough, my friend." I smiled, and, with an effort of will, slashed at the barrier with the dark blade. I walked through the hole, and continued on my path as the barrier fell down.

"Why didn't you do that after our meeting with the Winter Queen?" I asked, curiously. "The barrier, I mean."

"The information shared was not pertinent enough, boy." Erebus whispered, his tone and demeanor seemingly normal again. "I abhor wasting energy on trivial matters."

I suppressed a shiver at the sword's sudden change of mood. It was unnerving to see it; a reminder that he was not quite like me, or Balthazar.

"Because the state of Wizarding Britain is 'trivial'." I made air-quotation marks.

"Indeed."

I rolled my eyes.

"Back to the main subject, then." I continued where we left off before that little episode. "There are probably smaller pockets of Red Court vampires all over the UK, but we've just taken care of the main threat, as well as one of their Lords."

§Should keep them out of England for a few years.§ Balthazar added.

"Agreed."

I nodded, and sat down. Everyone was waiting for me at Grimmauld place, and I didn't want to go back there without some sort of game plan.

Clark said it, himself. They were all relying on me, and if I went in there and told them we'd just wing it then there would be problems. Problems I didn't want to deal with, right now.

"A few questions, Erebus. Can the effects of a Taboo reach the Dark Realm?" I asked.

"No." The black Falchion clattered in his sheath. "You can say the name Voldemort within my realm. It is impossible to Apparate into the Nevernever."

"I see." I said. "That makes sense, yeah. Okay. This is the best place to plan, then."

I clapped my hands together.

"Our forces are practically non-existent." I started, recalling the conversation I had with Sirius, Daphne and Clark before seeing the older man off. "We know that Tristan fled after killing Diggle, one of the Order members."

"What's so important about this Tristan?" Erebus asked me.

"He used a special kind of purple flame, even stronger than Fiendfyre." I explained slowly.

"A human, using the cursed flames of Orochi?" Erebus said in surprise. "He must have gone through the Riot of the Blood if he killed his own allies in battle."

"Wait, what?" I asked.

Orochi? Riot of the Blood?

I was reminded of the monster I had fought during my battle with Voldemort's soul fragment. The green hydra, Orochi. But, this probably had nothing to do with it.

Or, did it? A name like Orochi wasn't exactly common, and most video game lore come from old legends, which have a small grain of truth in them.

"An old rival of Lilith's." Erebus wheezed out almost. "Orochi was a deity of the earth itself, a protector taking the form of a many headed dragon."

What did I just say?

"But, his essence was corrupted after seeing the dark nature of the humans, and he decided to join the Demonic legions of Mundus in order to enact his revenge upon mankind."

Erebus stopped for a few moments, letting the information sink in.

"Perhaps Orochi has reconsidered his position, and taken on a human pupil?" Erebus wondered.

"Do you know where Tristan can be found, then? If he's learning from this Orochi, then they must be doing it somewhere. Right?" I replied. If I could get Tristan to join with me, then maybe our odds wouldn't seem so stacked against us.

"My apologies, boy." Erebus apologized. "But I do not know."

And that was that.

Help was beyond reach.

Neville was in hiding, striking at the Death Eaters at random intervals.

Tristan was who knows where, doing who knows what with that creature.

My allies were limited, and our enemy was the Ministry of Magic itself, backed by the Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

Was I afraid of them? Hell No.

I could take care of myself just fine.

Death Eaters couldn't keep up with me.

But I doubted I could stop this war by simply killing every single Death Eater out there. I could take on whole groups of them, sure, but an entire army of thousands, already prepared for my arrival?

The other option was to kill Voldemort, himself.

I would have to track down, and destroy his Horcruxes. It was the only plausible way I'd even have a chance at killing the guy. Previously, I had toyed with the idea of destroying his body, and letting him roam as a spirit for a while as I destroyed his Horcruxes, but I scrapped that idea.

It was possible there could be more than one way to bring someone back to life. The existence of the Philosopher's Stone proves it. So, even if I did get rid of the bones of his father, it still wouldn't get me anywhere.

The best plan, I was dismayed to say, was to break the Horcruxes and kill him afterwards.

The diary was destroyed. The scar on my forehead was also gone. Dumbledore had taken care of one. How many more were there?

There had to be more.

Dealing with my scar Horcrux had allowed me to incorporate parts of it.

Seven was always one of Voldemort's favorite numbers. He seemed to think it held magical properties. Why wouldn't the crazy maniac tear his soul up six times to do it?

So, going with the assumption that there are originally seven Horcruxes, I could only deduce that four of them remained.

I got back up, and continued on my path, before reaching the desired point and opening a way back to the human world, right in a nearby alleyway, away from prying eyes.

I thanked Erebus for his discretion, and silently made my way to Sirius' home, watching my surroundings very carefully. I extended my energy outwards, feeling out for any possible magical presence aside from mine.

Nothing. I kept moving.

I got to Number Twelve with no issues, and knocked on the door. The old frame opened up, revealing Daphne. She was already out of her red silk pajamas, wearing a black tank top, black pants and combat boots.

Her golden blond hair was tied up in a ponytail, reaching right underneath her neck.

She wore a wrist holster on her left hand, where she put her wand.

I only had one word.

"Wow."

Daphne smiled, her blue eyes glittering, before backing up and holding the door open. "I'm glad you like it."

I went inside.

The door closed behind me.

"We're the only ones here, right now." Daphne said.

"Yeah? Where did Sirius go?" I asked, following the girl down the stairs to my room.

"He said to give this to you." The girl skirted her way past the block that was at the center of the room, and grabbed a small box, handing it to me. "That it was from Dumbledore."

I stopped, looking at the box with an intense gaze.

Dumbledore; just thinking of the man made me sad.

I quietly sat down on the bed, placing Erebus behind me. Daphne followed suit.

I began to open it, but hesitated.

"Um." The girl said uncomfortably. "If you don't want to show this to me, then—"

"No, it's fine." I said, shaking my head. "I probably need someone else here for this, anyway."

I opened the box.

There was a Snitch, and a letter beside it.

I grabbed the letter, first, and began to read out loud.

My throat tightened. That was Dumbledore's own handwriting.

"To— To Harry." I read. "Flip the stone over three times in your hand, and call my full name."

"What stone?" Daphne said. "There's only a Snitch in there."

A small while passed, and she made an "ooh" sound.

"What is it?" I questioned.

"It must be keyed to your flesh, and the stone's inside." Daphne said. "You probably got it during one of your Quidditch games that you won over the years."

"So, how do I open it?" I asked. "Do I have to bleed on it or something?"

Daphne laughed, amused.

"No, you just touch it." She said, kissing me on the cheek. "Silly."

So I grabbed the Snitch and looked at it. It shook for a few seconds, before the golden metal shell broke open, revealing a black stone, with a jagged crack running down the center.

The crack ran through what looked to be a triangle inside of a circle.

I grabbed the stone.

"Harry." Erebus suddenly spoke from behind us. "Do you know what that is?"

"…No." I said. "Do you?"

"It carries the stench of Death itself." Erebus said.

I shook my head quickly.

"I don't think Dumbledore wanted to kill me, Erebus." I said in amusement. "What could he have possibly gained from that?"

"No, I meant it was in possession of Death, at some point of time."

Death.

"You're talking about Death like it's a person." I answered skeptically.

"In a sense." Erebus said. "I am more attuned with the nature of death due to my own nature. All I am saying is that this belongs to the realm of Death. I know not of how it came to be here."

"So, interesting trivia, then?" I almost scoffed, before turning the stone three times in my palm, and calling out "Dumbledore."

And then I stared as a previously empty spot was filled out with a familiar figure.

"Maybe, you're right about this stone belonging to Death, Erebus." I said, standing as slowly, and grabbing the dark blade in the process. "Because I'm either hallucinating, or Dumbledore is right in front of me."

"I am real, Harry." The wizened old man spoke, except he looked younger, healthier. Like he was in his prime again. "As real as the Resurrection Stone allows me to be."

"What do you mean, Harry?" Daphne asked in confusion, following my line of sight. "There's nothing there."

"I didn't see him until you grabbed me, boy." Erebus said. "It's unreal. This stone possesses power over the spirits?"

"Why is that such a big deal?" I asked. "There are plenty of ghosts in Hogwarts, and there are plenty of spells to affect them. How is this any different?"

"You don't get it." Erebus continued. "Spirits are different than ghosts. Ghosts are shades, with barely any substance to them, and consigned to remain in their limited areas for all eternity. Spirits are more complete remnants, as they have power in the realm of Nevernever, and slight power in the real world, if they chose to stay. Most simply leave off to wherever dead souls go."

"Well put." Dumbledore praised with a smile, though it looked pained. "It seems you've gained an important ally during your quest at Temen Ni Gru, Harry. I am sorry I was not able to meet you, in person."

I motioned for Daphne to place her hand on my own. She complied, and gasped immediately afterwards, glancing in the same direction I was.

Yep, she saw the old timer, all right.

"H-Hello, Headmaster." Daphne stammered. "Nice weather, huh?"

I turned to her and mouthed "nice weather?"

She responded by lightly punching me.

Dumbledore tried to chuckle, but it came out garbled as he winced while doing it.

That's when I realized. I took him from heaven, or wherever it was he ended up.

"This stone." I started hesitantly. "Forcibly pulling the dead from their final resting place can't be… pleasant. Why?"

"You are correct." Dumbledore allowed, for a moment showing his immense discomfort. "It is a clawing, agonizing pain, but I welcome it, if it means bringing peace to our world."

"Agonizing pain is a nice way of saying it." Erebus spat. "Resting spirits aren't meant to be trifled with. I suggest you get what you need, and swiftly."

"Then there is no time to waste." I said promptly. "My scar, the diary, and whatever you had taken care of; those are three of V's Horcruxes. I think— I'm not sure— that he has four more left, somewhere."

"A ring belonging to the Gaunt family, the last known descendants of Slytherin." Dumbledore explained. "It was owned by Tom's maternal grandfather, before falling into the hands of his uncle, Morfin Gaunt, who was killed by Tom. Tom then took the ring, and turned it into a Horcrux."

"What's a Horcrux?" Daphne whispered.

"Later." I said, before turning to Dumbledore.

"Right." I nodded. "What else is left?"

"After you had disappeared, I had extensively researched any and all matters pertaining to possible candidates to be used as Horcruxes." Dumbledore explained, voice shuddering slightly from the pain.

"I found another location, a seaside cave in which Tom hid another Horcrux— the locket of Salazar Slytherin. I penetrated through the cave's defenses, and retrieved the Horcrux, suffering greatly in the process and reducing my life expectancy by months."

"Did you destroy it?" I asked.

"Alas, no." Dumbledore groused, the emotion he was showing completely new to me. "The locket was a fake. I remember the words in the message, and realizing who exactly it was that took the Horcrux."

"Who?" I asked.

Dumbledore told me.

I froze. "Regulus Arcturus Black? You're saying it's in this house, in Sirius' brother's room?"

Dumbledore nodded.

"Why did you not tell anyone?" I asked.

"By that time, Hogwarts had been attacked, and there was no time to act." Dumbledore said, shaking his head. "I died that very night."

"R-Right." I said weakly. I shook my head. "I'll deal with that later. Do you have any more information?"

"I believe that his snake, Nagini, is a Horcrux." Dumbledore said, his voice getting shaky. "I don't have much time, Harry. I believe that another one of his Horcruxes lies within the Hogwarts walls. As for the last one, I do not know."

I nodded, my eyes tearing up slightly. "That was more help than I ever expected, old man. Thank you."

"It is the least I can do to make it up for you, Harry. I have forced you in situations that no child should ever have to face, but you've exceeded my expectations every time. I am proud of you." Dumbledore struggled to say now, but he was smiling through all of that pain.

I gave him a long, forlorn stare.

"Go on, old timer." I said, throat tightening. "Rejoin your sister Arianna, and say hi to my parents for me, will you? Tell them they have to wait for a long time to see me again, okay?"

"I will." Dumbledore said, before fading away. "Good luck, Harry."

I stood there for a few tense moments, and let out the breath I hadn't known I was holding, before putting the stone back in the open Snitch, and closing the box.

Daphne was looking at me in concern.

"I'll— I'll be fine. Just give me a moment." I said, and she nodded. My mind was reeling.

I told Daphne what Horcruxes were, and what my mission was.

She seemed to take it rather well— you know, aside from the horrified stare and the understanding of how old Tommy wasn't dead yet.

"Old man always has the answers." I sniffled, and wiped at my eyes.

I let out half of a laugh, and half of a sob. "Even when he's dead, he's still teaching me lessons."

I swallowed down my grief, and stood up.

There was work to do.

"Kreacher."

There was a loud crack, as the Black family's House Elf appeared.

"How may Kreacher assist half-blood scum master Potter?" The elf asked in his bullfrog's voice, giving me an exaggerated bow, before looking at Daphne respectfully. "Ah, Kreacher sees master Potter is spending his time with more suitable witches."

"I'm glad you approve." I said wryly, before getting to the point.

"Locket of Slytherin. Regulus Arcturus Black." I said, and the elf looked at me with wide eyes, as if the words were a slap to his face. Scratch that; let's go with a kick to his nuts instead.

"What does master half-blood know of this?! How do you know of Master Regulus' locket?" The House Elf was on me in an instant, grabbing my pant legs and shaking them hard.

He had called me "you".

Coming from a House Elf, this was probably a declaration of war or something.

At least, I knew I was on the right track.

Dumbledore was right, as always.

"I know that I'm going to destroy it." I said calmly. Confidently.

The elf stopped shaking my pant legs, and gave me the most intense look he could muster.

"Do you have it?" I pressed. "We don't have much time, Kreacher. I'd like to get rid of V as soon as possible."

It was then I noticed that the elf in question was breathing a little bit too quickly, like he was hyperventilating.

And then Kreacher hugged my leg, sobbing and shaking with happiness. At least, I thought it was happiness. It was all very creepy and weird, to be brutally honest.

"Master Potter would do this for Kreacher?" I heard the old elf's hopeful voice.

"Of course." I nodded, and that seemed to close the deal.

Kreacher led us through the Black family's home, leading us to a bedroom that few people seemed to use. Regulus' bedroom.

"Looks like the Slytherin rooms." Daphne said approvingly. Emerald and silver colors were everywhere; the walls, the drapes, the windows. On the bed, I could see the Black family crest painted over.

It read "Toujours Pur."

It was French for "Always Pure."

But, how did I know that?

§Guilty as charged.§ Balthazar hissed out. §Remember how I can read and write in seven different languages? Now, you can, too. Speaking will be a little harder, but you should be able to understand them, just fine.§

Now that was actually pretty cool.

Always look at the silver lining, I guess. Otherwise I'd probably just go insane.

There were a few pictures of what seemed to be the Slytherin Quidditch team, with Regulus as the Seeker, on the walls.

Kreacher fiddled around in the room, before snapping his fingers. A hidden compartment opened up on the side of the nightstand, revealing the locket in question.

It was a gaudy, ugly thing, with an S spelled out on it. How anyone could consider this a priceless heirloom, I would never know.

"Kreacher did his very best to follow Master Regulus' order to destroy it. Master Regulus gave— gave up his life in the cave. The monsters dragged Master Regulus down, but Master Regulus gave Kreacher a mission!" The elf sobbed and sniffled, wiping at his face with the rag that was his clothing. "Nothing Kreacher did made any mark upon it. Kreacher tried everything he knew, but nothing, nothing would work. Powerful enchantments in the casing… Kreacher punished himself, and tried again, and punished himself, and—"

"I think I understand, Kreacher. I'm sorry about Regulus' suffering, but I promise you." I nodded gently at the sad elf, before drawing Erebus from his sheath. "I will destroy this locket. Do you think you can do it, Erebus?"

"I am able to destroy it, but…" Erebus trailed off. "I would prefer to consume it, instead. The knowledge gained could prove to be beneficial to our mission."

"So, a localized Dark Stream then?"

"It should be sufficient, yes."

"Okay." I said, and pointed the dark sword at the locket. "You two might want to move aside. I don't know how bad this will get."

I focused my will and invoked. "Dark Stream!"

The Darkness came out of the powerful Devil Arm, a small, heavily concentrated stream of power colliding with the Horcrux.

It mercilessly poured right through the enchantments laid up on it, before beginning to devour the fragment of Voldemort's soul within.

§Stop! What are you doing!?§ The locket actually hissed out.

Daphne and I jumped, and stared at it in surprise.

"Did it just—"

§Yep.§ Balthazar answered back.

"I'm eating you, child." Erebus said impassively as the Darkness seemed to chomp on piece after piece of the locket, making it hiss in pain with every millimeter it gave.

The locket pulsed slightly; the energy released slamming against me with the force of a sumo wrestler. Kreacher and Daphne were knocked over, but I took it head on, my increased strength allowing me to take such abuse.

Erebus' Dark Stream hadn't slowed down at all.

A few more pulses came, stronger this time. Daphne had gotten back up, and waved her wand, shielding herself with a pocket of wind that absorbed the kinetic force with ease, harmlessly dissipating it everywhere.

She was good. I'll give her that.

§Please, you don't have to kill me.§ The locket of Slytherin begged. §I can make you great! I can give you untold riches!§

"You are a fool. Devouring you will give me full control of your knowledge. Your promises hold no weight because I can simply take what I want." Erebus almost purred out as he overcame yet another piece of the locket.

And so, the locket devolved into shrieking extremely loudly and pulsing with power, but Erebus was an ancient and powerful demon, and a locket meant to kill humans was probably not ready for such an encounter.

As for Daphne and I, the female Slytherin easily redirected the telekinetic attacks of the locket, shielding the both of us for the entirety of the process.

Its attacks grew weaker and weaker, until they felt like nothing more than a kitten's paw against my face.

And then, with a final, shrill cry, the Horcrux finally became quiet, the Darkness overrunning its husk and feeding on every single piece of its being, feeding back into the dark sword.

Erebus pulsed slightly in response.

"That hit the spot." The Demonic blade said. "I will require some time to sort through all of this knowledge."

I sheathed the blade, and turned to the incredulous looking Kreacher, and Daphne, who was just getting back up.

"Well, that's four down." I said with false cheer. "And, that was an awesome job, Daph!"

"Heh." She smirked, the fierce look in her eyes making me want to go another round with her at that very moment. "You should see me when I use it offensively."

"Then, it's settled." I nodded with a smile. "You're coming with me on a camping trip!"

"Uh…" She said, frowning in confusion. "Okay?"