§
Before Harry could even work up a good scream, he felt a pair of power arms envelop his chest and then he was floating through the darkness rather than free-falling. Craning his neck back, he found that the inkiness would not part to let him see her. Even without seeing though, he knew that those ivory wings had folded open again.
After a moment, she began to emancipate light from her body, becoming a torch against the dim as they landed, allowing him to see when she dropped him onto the ground.
"Ow," The boy winced from the surprising fall to the ground.
The wizard turned to glare at his teacher, who glared back at him with the same ferocity and said smoothly, "I saved you, didn't I?"
Exasperated green eyes moved away from the woman's lighting form to sweep around the cavern. There was something familiar about the bones, wet rock, creeping moss, and disproportionately big snake skin...
Wait... giant snake skin? Potter's mind clicked, swiveling his head back in the direction of the offending object.
If his mouth had not gone abruptly dry, the teenager would have groaned aloud. He knew this place, and of the horror it once held.
"Nice place." Blair commented finally, breaking the silence into laughable little pieces and moving to pick up a piece of wet wood, frown at it, and light it with touch. It took a few tries due to the dampness, but in the end she managed to get a steady flame and handed the torch to her mortal companion.
"What's wrong? Did you wet yourself during the fall?" The fiery creature asked with an arched eyebrow at his quietness.
The seeker picked himself up and took the torch. "I know where we are."
Kryeen turned back to him, impatiently waiting for continuation.
The black haired individual ignored her obvious irritant for a moment to gather himself away from the unpleasant memories. The student shook his head to clear his thoughts.
"The Chamber of Secrets."
The immortal started, and the orphan could almost see her skimming over the newly acquired memories.
"As in the place where you fought Tom's memory?"
The boy-who-lived(barely from that event) nodded.
The professor addressed his wary, taut poise. "The snake is dead, you remember."
The Chosen One shot her a pointed look. Is she going to keep telling me my memories now?
"I know. I'm the one who killed it."
The golden-eyed being shrugged at his tone. "Well you seemed scared of a dead snake."
Okay, scar-face had a good reason to be pissed by now. Here, his supposed Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher had pressed some carving on the cave wall and dropped them both into the Chamber of Secrets.
Press the shiny button to see where it goes. I'm not sure who is saving who!
"How would you like going back to the forest where Blayne died?" The visibly angered youth demanded.
That shut her up.
§
She took a sharp left and would have tumbled over if not for a pair of arms to encircle her waist.
"Geez Hermione, when I said hurry, I didn't mean do a triathlon." Ron frowned a little as he hoisted her back onto her feet.
The witch gave him a pointed look, fuming. "Harry is out there with that lady, Ron! You heard what Ginny said, Voldemort—don't you dare flinch—is after him!"
The Weasley rubbed his ear from her rant, almost sure blood would be pooling from it. "I know that. You think I want anything to happen to him? He's my best mate!"
"Well you sure aren't acting like it." The brunette replied hotly, her curls standing on end.
"Just because I'm not klutzy enough to barrow down staircases does not mean I'm, not worried about it. I am—my sister was in tears, bloody hell! I'm scared shitless. There now are you happy?!"
The pair stood toe to toe, glaring at each other for a moment. Within a breath, the girl had her arms clinging to his chest, sobbing as he held her tightly.
"R—Ron I'm s—"
"Yeah, I know." The boy tried not to look too smug as he stroked her hair. "Let's just... find him, okay?"
Granger released him, giving him a quick peck on the cheek as thanks. Her smile was enough, even through red-rimmed eyes.
"Right. Now come on!" The muggle born dragged him down the stairs, still keeping up a fair pace despite her previous fall.
Neither of them dwelt on the exchange. Feeling could be dragged out and examined later. Right now, there was a troublesome piece missing in their golden trio.
The light shafted through the windows, waning into early morning. It should have brought ill thoughts, that so much time had passed since the two messengers returned, one fighting, to the castle. But as they gave a decent sprint throughout the castle, passing between students blissfully ignorant to the events occurring at the very same moment; hazel eyes couldn't help but admire how her hair turned gold in the refractions. He was being guided by this soft, course light. And he was sure that he would follow it into any night.
"When I get my hands on him! Oh, he'll be sorry for jinxing us." The young woman began to ramble mindlessly again as frustration took over. "Just wait until I see his scarred little face again!"
The wizard found an amused smile making its way to his face despite the direness of the situation.
"You might have to fight for that right."
Still holding hands, they turned as one down the neck hallway. The head of her class spared him an incredulous look back.
"What, you want first shot?"
The Keeper snorted in that endearing, Ron-like fashion of his. "It'd be nice, pumping some sense into his heroic ass. Still I don't think it will happen."
They were passing their last corner, and the windows no longer lined their path, removing the luminescent glow from her form. It remained instead, in the passionate burn of her amber eyes. As they reached their destiny and finally turned toward him.
"Then who?"
"No, Aidan I will not release the hex. Why? Because you were in my way! What? No, I don't care if you're supposed to look after me! I am going and BRINGING HIS SORRY SELF HOME!" A determined, feminine voice slammed from a little further away, approaching them.
The red-head flashed a smirk and his companion understood immediately.
"Ginny."
§
Aidan Smith had his hands full. Well, more or less his face filled with bats flying around from an enraged Weasley daughter.
She was damnably stubborn. Really, it was going to be the death of her. However, she was not going to die after he made a silent pact with the boy-who-lived and a slightly more effective promise to the revered warlock they had just left. Dumbledore had pardoned him, of course; just as the red-head had said.
Selfless...
"Kid, lift the spell now!" The renegade demanded, batting at the flying creatures around his head.
"If I'm such a kid, then my spell must be so much more pathetic than yours." The girl began, battering her lashes in mock demure. "So why doesn't the big, strong death dealer just undo my little hex?"
"G-" The blond paused to swat at a bat that got dangerously close to his nostril. "-inny, I promised your boyfriend and the Headmaster that I would protect...you?" His hazel eyes took in her startled, almost wounded change and his voice twisted accordingly.
The bats were ignored as pain emancipated from the 5th year.
As unexpectedly as it came, it vanished from the Chaser and instead a grim determination set her smooth jaw.
"Harry is not my boyfriend."
Sensing he was venturing onto bloody territory and not stupid enough to pursue, Aidan backed down with a reassuring wave of his hand.
"In any case, I'm in charge of your well-being for the moment and that means that dangerous rendezvous are out of the question." Before the young man could continue his rant, a pair of brilliant, steeled brown eyes latched onto him and withered the argument with their passion and resistance.
"I am going after Harry, Aidan. Don't try to stop me because we both know that I would win in a duel. I care about him and I am not letting him throw himself away for our sakes." Her tone was softer, but somehow much harder to argue with.
The freed man didn't comment, but instead stared at this strange, significant little woman. The set line of her face, fever stirred up in her eyes, purposeful stride, and yet some lingering doubt in her entire poise. He had seen that look on someone once. And it had impacted his childhood enough to recognize it now.
"You're in love with him, aren't you?" The runaway murmured, dark eyes understanding and prying.
To he benefit, the youngest Weasley didn't blush as most girls would have when confronted with such a deep, sincere question from a near stranger. Granted, a near stranger whose life she may have saved, if not drastically altered.
"Who knows?" She replied calmly, and their eyes met for a lingering time.
Footsteps interrupted the moment as a group of familiar magicians poured onto the scene.
"Tonks, Moody, Shacklebolt, Professor Moody... what are you all doing here?"
It was Remus who replied, looking younger then he had years ago.
"We're here to help you find Harry, of course."
§
"Blair," The said person called out in the gloom to his only companion in the desolate caverns.
"Yeah?" The immortal replied without turning back around to speaker. She was sating her curiosity for the place she had only seen in another's memories.
"What did you ever do with Salizar's tomb and that Guardian? Whatever... came of that?" The green-eyed heartthrob asked as he walked a few paces behind, tense and warily scanning the surroundings.
"It's still up in my room, put in the storage closet." Aduru replied casually while she ran a hand down a section of rock.
"Don't do that!" The tragic celebrity snapped as he caught her doing it.
Golden eyes blinked. "What?"
"You pet a rock in the other cave too and that's how we ended up here. I'm not letting you do that again." The teenage boy muttered sullenly.
The spicy-haired creature shrugged it off easily. "What's twisting your boxers? Loosen up."
It proved that the 6th year had adjusted and was used to her strangeness by simply not turning a head at this question.
"Why do you keep it? Why did you get it up in the first place and start all that trouble?"
"As I recall, it was your little friend that challenged me."
The dark haired individual resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "And you couldn't think of a less destructive way to do so?"
"Searching."
"Searching for your past?"
The DADA teacher seemed much more interested in the freakishly large snake skin than the conversation.
"I still don't see how that has to do with Slytherin."
..."He dabbles in much of the dark arts."
"And?"
"Blair?"
"He was one of the few wizards, no mortals, to know of the existence of death dealers."
"But wait, you told us all."
She smirked. "Yes, well I've never been one for protocol now have I?"
"I suppose... but I still don't understand."
"I had heard of Salizar Slytherin in my travels. When I found out he had knowledge of our existence, I thought that somehow I might find what I was looking for with him."
"How would Slytherin have to do with your past?"
"Don't touch that and listen!"
"Forget about it." The enticing form turned so abruptly it made the Seeker start.
That darkness—which he now knew to be hurt—flashed through her eyes. Potter took a step forward, a hand reaching out on instinct.
"Blair..."
Eposis shook her head and shrunk away from his touch. "Leave it be. Let's just get you back to your friends."
Fear of digging the blade deeper clamped his mouth tighter than any muzzle of threats. The teen wizard nodded and the pair began walking again. The atmosphere was charged, but not foreboding as in any other person's company. Kryeen was too oblivious of etiquette to invoke the right of awkward silences. The tunnels still made Harry shiver and memories flash through his mind's third eye.
Tom, the Basilisk, Faux, Ginny...
Ginny
Be safe.
His silent plea to the fates distracted him to the point that the sixteen-year old almost stumbled into the toned back in front of him when it came to an unplanned stop.
"What is it?" He asked, veridian eyes scanning for anything interesting.
"It's his history." The woman formerly known as Ally had an ancient tome in her hands written in a snaking hand and yellow with time.
The human recognized it as Parselmouth, and looked up at her concentrated eyes.
"Can you read it?" That would be something new, if not unsurprising.
"Parts of it. Some of this is beyond my reach though. It's the tongue of the snake, right?" The tri-color haired woman reverted back to strange dialect and was near endearing.
"Let me see it. I can translate the text for you." Her pupil promised, taking the heavy, worn book from her grasp and automatically assuring himself that it was not in fact, Tom Riddle's diary. However, it was a journal of sorts...
"Hang on, this is Slytherin's personal book." His gaze poured over the symbols with confusion as he looked back up at her.
"Is it now?" The death dealer commented with dangerous, vicious interest. Whatever that interest might invest was delayed, however, by a sudden crushing sound further down their tunnel.
When the Hogwart's attendee's eyes next met the fire creature, the knouter was already fast in her grip and his grim furrow was met by her taunting grin. His stomach tied in knots, untied itself, and then re-tied again until he was sure that he most had vomited inside himself. The reminiscent fear was too great. Well, maybe not fear. Dread was a better word. The underage wizard was still recalling a fight with a true monster, and the pain of its venom as he neared death. He was seeing a younger girl with bleached skin and gray-sheened hair of sienna. He still heard a darkly attractive youth laughing at his naivety and foolishness. He could still smell blood. His blood, her blood, reptilian blood. It had been everywhere and he a little too young to deal with it all. He could feel the fang piercing his shoulder, the poison wreaking havoc to his premature body and the close embrace of death. And if he tried hard enough, he could still taste the tears. Her tears for him; for his sacrifice and her manipulation. The phoenix's tears for his life, willing the life back into him in their salty purity.
And then she was there, scalding touch bringing him back to the present. He was a little surprised to find he didn't mind the burn.
"Sounds like someone's at the exit."
§
Hermione wasn't sure what her best friend was trying to accomplish, slinking around in the shadows like that. However, she forgot to care as soon as she caught a flash of his dark cloak and dark hair. She heard the party calling her back in the distance, as she sprinted the gap between them. Either to hug or to hit the boy, she wasn't sure.
"Harry!"
His chartreuse orbs widened in surprise, but before he could collect himself to gasp out anything she was around his neck, crying freely.
"You stupid—Oh! How could you Harry! How could you leave us like that—you selfish... oh, Damn it Harry you could have died!" The female of their trio vented as she clung to her best friend's filthy body in the dark of the cursed place.
"What... How?" Potter scrambled for words as he saw his preciously kept people emerge from the dark like little lights, saving pieces of his heart.
"We came for you of course." Ron said a little stiffly, his pride still wounded.
In response, his best mate cracked a genuine, overfilling smile and punched him on the shoulder.
"Oh come on, I had to keep up with the crazy one over there."
Their instructor piped up from the shadows. "Ha, and who is the one who leaped from a cliff I might ask?"
"YOU DID WHAT?" His sister yelled in his ear, tears still collecting in her bush of hair.
Wow, his ears just popped as he rubbed the side of his head sheepishly. "Stuff happened, but we're okay now, really." He emphasized when it looked like she was going to argue.
"Well if that's the case, let's get out of this damned place." Moody's large eye was going haywire with the threatening aura of the chamber.
"Yes, you have a very, very long lecture awaiting you, idiot." Tonks had streaked hair today.
Feeling content for the first time in very long, the Seeker felt someone brush by him. One body was retreating, away from the infectious joy of the reunion.
"Blair?" He called her name softly.
His savior paused, giving him a daring smirk that didn't quite cover the nostalgic look in her eyes. "There is no way I'm sitting through that lecture with you, kid."
However, Potter understood.
This is your happiness. I don't belong.
The raven-haired boy frowned, but allowed her to trudge through the rocky exit away from them.
But I want you to be a part of my happiness.
§
Kryeen wasn't angry at him for his moment. It was one of this beautiful moments that fills your heart until it's ready to burst. A rare scene of true friendship, comradeship, and love.
But I am a death dealer. I cannot, do not have capacity for that anymore.
One bloodied hand made its way up to the phoenix feather necklace.
I've fallen beyond repairs.
Maybe if she could have gotten angry, resented the damn mortals for their insignificant feeling; the Aduru Eposis could have stayed. She understood anger, it was a shield. But for some reason, his brooding forest eyes had a way of robbing her of her internal shields.
Blair inhaled deeply, still smirking daringly. Bloodied, smiling, and reminiscent, she looked every inch a solder returning from war.
That is, until light feet disrupted her introspection.
"Celia?" The fire immortal questioned as the familiar girl barred her path, eyes shut.
There was a pause, and the witch's purgatorial senses felt the warp in the pacifist's aura. She tensed, gritting her teeth at the built up suspense.
The beautiful teenager slowly opened her eyes, and they were the many levels of rippling turquoise.
"Larka!" She hissed.
The water immortal smiled through her puppet. "We need to chat, Aduru."
"Damn you!" The golden woman clenched her teeth.
Daemon's too attached for me to kill the wretch.
However, the weary mind could not create a plan before one dainty hand lifted and the anthrax of languages was spoken.
The golden eyes dilated and slid shut as Blair crumbled to the floor.
§
Sorry for the long wait. I was on vacation in December and then midterms are coming up. :-X... I'll try to get the next chapter out as soon as possible. Reviews always add motivation if you kindly would.
And yes, the crazy writer did have a point for the whole Guardian of Slytherin arc. It took me long enough to bring it back, huh?