Chapter Thirteen- Shattered Hearts
Sora dived to the ground and rolled away underneath a jet of icy black flame, cursing.
Things had definitely taken a turn for the worse.
'Powerful', people had said. 'Insane,' also turned up when discussing Riddle. But no-one had mentioned that Voldemort was currently two steps shy of immortal.
Which was a shame, because that was crucial information.
Harry wracked his brain for some sort of spell to end things, but fell short. Instead he threw a bone-breaking curse and hit the floor as well.
If he survived this hellish day, he was going to look up the spell Voldemort was using.
More importantly, how to block it.
Caught between a dead basilisk and a wall, Sora was hit dead on by a crucio, but to the red-eyed wizard's surprise, merely shook for a moment before visibly throwing the magic off. In that moment of surprise, Sora regained his feet and shot up into the air, landed lightly on the dead basilisk, and ran along it's sagging back before somersaulting to land at Harry's side.
A quick scan in Riddle's direction showed they'd done little real damage. Which wasn't fair, because they really had. Damn dark magic.
Taking a deep breath, Sora leveled a Stopgra at Voldemort, throwing extra energy into the spell.
"Harry, we've got to get out of here. There's got to be a way to hurt him. Undo whatever he's done to make himself near bloody invincible." Harry nodded, straining to breath properly.
"Dumbledore has to know. Bastard never tells me anything." He managed around gasps.
Not as fit as Sora, and still suffering from the effects of the sleep potion, Harry was about ready to collapse.
The time spell would fall any moment now.
"We've got to hit him with everything that we've got, then run for the entrance."
"Right. On three."
"Why the hell wait? On my mark…" The spell holding Riddle shattered, and Sora yelled "Now!"
Simultaneously, the youths attacked, at the exact same moment that Voldemort threw a particularly potent torture spell and also the moment that Fawkes flared into life above their heads.
The magic collided with all the force of two out of control semi's slamming into each other while traveling at high speed. Sora and Harry were sent flying back, impacting with the carcass of the dead basilisk, while Voldemort went backwards and tripped backwards over the forgotten form of Severus Snape.
While Sora and Harry had a safe if disgusting landing, Voldemort slammed straight into the hard and unyielding statue of Salazar Slytherin. There was a loud snapping noise, and then the wizard fell to the ground in a heap.
Momentary silence.
"No way it's that easy."
Broken bones were nothing to this wizard that had made his life's work to defy death. His serpentine body twitched on the ground, and then unnaturally began to rise, raised as if on puppet strings. The stink of dark magic increased, and before Sora and Harry's horrified eyes the wizard raised his wand with a sense of finality.
A rib was protruding straight out of the shattered wizard's chest, one arm bent at an unnatural angle. Riddle's head had an odd cast, an uneven slant to the features from where his head had impacted with the statue, and somehow the worst thing about that shattered body was the complete lack of blood.
Voldemort should have died, at the least he should have been in unbearable pain, but he was smiling as he raised his wand, his pale bloodless body beginning to hide behind layers of magic.
Caught in the horror of the moment, none of the combatants noticed the Phoenix, now oddly silent, hovering overhead.
--
Harry couldn't look away. Couldn't tear his eyes away from the horrifying promise in crimson eyes. He tightened his grip on his wand, strangely hot, and remembered like one in a dream that not once had his and Riddle's wands met this night, creating Priori Incantatem. He raised his own wand. They both opened their mouths…
In seconds, the connection would be once more created. However, eyes locked with each other, both wizards forgot a rather important element in their fight.
Sora.
--
Sora didn't know what was happening between his friend and the dark wizard who had attacked them, but he didn't think it was a good thing. Both were about to cast spells, and Sora could feel it in the tension in the air, in his blood.
Immortal, huh? He hadn't expected that. At all. But he refused to stand by and let his friend down. So as the two wizards cast their magic, Sora too lunged forward, flinging Oblivion to intercept them, and then took hold of Oathkeeper in both hands.
It read his intent, and eager, tugged at his hands, dragging him forward as he focused everything upon stopping this unnatural evil in front of him, in saving all the innocent people helpless above.
A painful, yet welcome warmth ignited in his chest, and he threw his head back heedless of his surroundings as Oathkeeper erupted with power, taking his energy and his desire and transforming it.
It happened very quickly. Oblivion sang a dark song as it cut the energy beam forming between the two wizards almost as it formed. The Keyblade shot away into the darkness, vanishing mid air and returning to Sora's heart. Both wizard's staggered, painfully, as their magic back-lashed, and by then it was too late for either to stop what was happening.
Sora wasn't sure, but he thought he might have screamed. Raw energy was circling around him, feeding into his impromptu spell, the Keyblade magnifying and focusing it. Both he and the Keyblade glowed a brilliant gold, and as his feet left the floor Sora had a heartbeat in which to wonder if he'd done the right thing. Then thought and doubt was gone, as the Keyblade's energy lashed out and trapped Tom Marvello Riddle.
It felt like forever, but in reality it was seconds only, that the bright beam of energy connected the Keyblade and the dark wizard lasted. Fawkes sang a single note, holding it far beyond a human's capacity.
There was a loud click, exactly like a key turning in a lock. Then the brilliant energy throbbed once and then erupted away, screaming throughout the chamber as it was released before, much like Harry and Voldemort's spells, back-lashing violently. Sora fell to the floor and did not move.
Breaking from his shock, Harry flung himself next to his friend, wand still trained on the motionless Riddle. Seconds began to pass, but to Harry's shock, Voldemort didn't take advantage of the two youths, instead standing exactly as he had been before the spell began. Harry, unnerved, was sure he didn't even blink. Slowly, Voldemort brought his hands before his face, and stared at them.
"What…What have you done?" Harry's mouth fell open, but before he could gather his thoughts enough to ask, the wizard had vanished.
Silence fell over the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry was the only one conscious as that peculiar post-battle peace spread.
--
Fawkes was sitting on Sora's chest, humming and crooning softly, bright eyes fixed on the boy's pale face. Harry knelt next to his body, shaking fingers searching for a pulse. He found one, and slumped in relief, and then looking around at the utterly destroyed chamber Harry began to worry how they were going to get out of there. Not even looking at Snape, Harry began to struggle his way to his feet. Remembering that Fawkes could do a phoenix form of apperation, Harry bent over, hands on his knees, and stared the phoenix straight in the eyes.
"Fawkes? Thanks for coming. And…whatever it was you did. But Sora really needs to get to the hospital wing. I don't think we can make it on our own. Can you please take us?"
The phoenix flared his wings, uttered a handful of notes, and Harry had just enough time to lunge forward and grab hold of Sora before the flaming bird whisked them both away.
Leaving Snape forgotten at the feet of Slytherin's broken statue, which was strangely fitting.
--
Madame Pomfrey was still unconscious, so the sudden arrival of two blood and slime covered students and a phoenix in her pristine healing room didn't surprise her at all. Fawkes managed to land the two right on a bed, which was handy because neither student, one unconscious and one close to being so, had the strength to move.
Harry blinked tiredly, registering that he was lying on something warm and soft, and having fought off the urge to sleep for some time, immediately succumbed. They were both there and they were safe. Questions could come later.
It was an oddly tranquil scene, considering the blood, the dirt, the slime, and the two unconscious people on the floor.
Fawkes tucked his wings in close to his body and began to sing softly, a low haunting tune that whispered eerily throughout the healing wing.
--
Goofy had been unobtrusively trying to wipe the blood off his shield when he caught sight of the Map. Dumbledore and Donald were standing in front of an ordinary sink with a ghost girl, trying everything within their combined powers to open the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. Not understanding magic, Goofy had nonetheless tagged along, desperate to find his lost friend. So, the map.
It took his a moment to understand what he was seeing, with the unfamiliar aurors moving all over it as they combed the castle and ensured the safety of the students, but Goofy's eyes were drawn to the familiar name of his friend. The dog knight blinked, letting his shield fall away into nothingness as he grabbed the map off the corner of the sink where he'd placed it.
Sora. Harry. Fawkes.
The hospital wing, he noted.
"Donald! Dumbledore sir!" He began excitedly, all but tripping over himself as he rushed forward.
"Not now, Goofy," the duck mage snapped, lifting his staff again as he tried glaring the blasted sink into oblivion.
"But Sora," the knight began, but again Donald cut him off.
"Yes, Sora, who we are trying to find, so please, Goofy, would you just-"
This time it was Goofy who cut him off.
"But Sora's here! On the map! He and Harry have appeared in the hospital wing!" There was a moment of silence, then…
"WHAT?!"
--
"Where is that boy?" Donald was panting as he waddled at high speed down the corridor after his two longer legged companions.
"I'm going to fry him and then have a long talk about not gallivanting off into hidden chambers…" Dumbledore and Goofy were a close tie as they slid through the hospital wing doors. The doors began to snap shut again just as Donald panted up to them, and already annoyed from his exertions and the earlier fight, the mage merely muttered under his breath and blasted them into kindling.
See the doors try to hit him then.
Neither Dumbledore or Goofy even noticed as they swept past the sleeping figures of Hermione and Ron, and crowded instead around a bed containing two sleeping youths and protected by a phoenix.
They looked bad, covered in blood and decomposing basilisk gore, and it was hard to see how badly they were hurt. With a piercing look at the boys on the bed, Dumbledore skirted around and then knelt beside the unconscious Madame Pomfrey, lifting her eyelids to check her eyes and taking her pulse. He appeared to be thinking deeply, before he came to some sort of decision, and lifting his wand, brought it swishing downwards in a curiously circular motion. A silvery light touched with blue drifted out like mist and settled over the occupants of the room. Nothing happened for a long moment, and then people began to stir. McGonagall stirred uneasily, reaching out as if to pull up a blanket that wasn't there, and then sat bolt upright.
"Harry," she gasped, still caught up in her last conscious moments. Her wild gaze fell on Dumbledore and calmed somewhat, but she paled further when she gained her feet and saw the object of her thoughts so pale and bloody on the bed. Madame Pomfrey woke slower, having been caught by surprise by the potion, and waking more because of the uncomfortable floor than anything else. Of course, waking up to find Albus Dumbledore about a foot away staring intently at you would shock the hell out of you too, so she screamed and fell back again, hitting her head rather hard.
She groaned painfully.
"Albus, what on earth…" The old wizard helped her to her feet, and she stared blankly around her kingdom for a moment before inevitably her eyes fell on Harry and Sora, who were a mess.
"Oh my goodness! What on earth happened!" And forgetting her sore head the medi-witch bustled forward, knocking both Dumbledore and Goofy out of the way and nearly trampling poor Donald.
"You were all suffering under the effects of a sleep potion, it seems. Mr. Potter and Sora here sought out the cause of the disturbance and seemed to run into some trouble in the Chamber of Secrets. I am still uncertain as to Severus's location at this moment, but that will surely resolve itself soon. If you would please…" The wizard trailed off as the medi-witch seemed to forget his presence, whipping her wand over her patients and mumbling under her breath. She sprinted across to a cabinet she had been organizing hours earlier and snatched a few, muttering about troublesome Potter's and how she should have known.
"Hardly a scratch for his trip in the Forbidden Forest capturing Death Eaters, and he manages to damn near kill himself here in Hogwarts…" Speaking of Death Eaters, the spell Dumbledore had cast was unprejudiced, and woke them as well.
"What the fuck?"
"Where the effing hell are we, Merin?"
"Don't use my name, genius! It's obvious we've been captured!"
"By who? You said the kid wasn't going to be any trouble, and now look!"
The male-turned-female snarled and fought the restraints.
"Where is he? I'll KILL 'im!"
Stunning spells, however, are prejudiced, extremely so, and seconds later the motley group were once more blessedly silent.
Back to Harry and Sora.
"Goodness, Albus. What on earth happened to them? They're both filthy, and I keep getting readings of dark magic off them. Someone's hurt them, and their energy levels…I haven't seen Harry so drained since that incident with Quirrell!"
As she spoke the witch was concentrating on the unconscious Boy-Who-Lived, while Donald snuck cautiously around her and began to cast Curaga spells on Sora. Wounds healed- especially a nasty cut from a dark curse that had tried to cut him in half. Once more Sora's clothes proved their worth by magically repairing themselves and vanishing blood and basilisk remains. His hair and skin was still coated, but still, effort noted. Madame Pomfrey finally noticed the results and turned to stare at the little duck mage. Donald took advantage of her shock and cast a Curaga at Harry as well.
"I'd forgotten just how good that was," the nurse began slowly, once more waving her wand over the boy's and staring at the results.
"They're exhausted, Albus, and I think they're going to sleep for a while, but they're going to be okay." She smiled at the group around the bed, including Hermione and Ron who had woken at some point and silently joined in the proceedings. Hermione relaxed her death grip on Ron- to his relief- and then burst into tears of relief into his shoulder.
"Thank-you Donald, for your aid," Dumbledore said formally to the little mage.
"And to you as well, Goofy. From what I understand, it was you two along with Sora and Harry that defended the school when it was helpless. Words cannot express my gratitude."
Minerva was nodding agreement, wiping tears from her eyes as she smiled at her favorite group of Gryffindor's.
"Now," Madame Pomfrey said briskly, breaking the moment,
"Let's get to work on getting all that gore off them. I can't wait until I hear this explanation. It promises to be interesting."
…
"Is it me, or does Harry have an earring?"
--
Dumbledore and the aurors went to work waking all of the enchanted sleepers, and then Dumbledore had the wonderful job of preparing an explanation for a Minister that he didn't have yet. Not to mention, one Severus Snape was still missing, and if his hunch was correct, still in the Chamber of Secrets, possibly in need of aid. For some reason, Fawkes refused to leave Sora and Harry's bedside, and without him Dumbledore had no access to the hidden chamber.
Realistically, he had his wand and the stunning spell would wear off soon. Near miraculously, the teacher had gotten through the entire fight with Voldemort unconscious and without being hit with stray spells. Some decaying basilisk remains had fallen on him, however, and he'd been lucky he hadn't been crushed under the broken statue.
He was perfectly safe. He would find on waking, though, that a non-parseltongue couldn't get out on his own…
--
Harry and Sora slept. And slept, as the castle woke up, promptly went back to sleep because it was late, and then got up again. Harry had regained his color and began to move in his sleep, freaking out his devoted watchers as he began to hiss in parseltongue. Sora, however, now pale and perfect without wounds, nonetheless remained still and unmoving, his skin too pale and his voice still. If it wasn't for the rise and fall of his chest, he might have been dead. Donald and Goofy spent their hours next to his bed, telling his stories about their homeworld and begging him to wake up. Physically he was fine, and Madame Pomfrey maintained an outward façade of calm as she reassured the worried duo. This sort of thing was out of her expertise, and she suspected the Keyblade had something to do with it.
Then Harry woke up.
--
…?...
Harry was confused. Very confused. He was also so thirsty he thought he might have been able to drain the lake dry. His blurry vision told him the world had become white, and Harry immediately thought- ah, Hospital Wing.
He'd really been there way too often.
Now, why was he here? Someone was talking about aurors and cleanup, and Harry listened as he tried to piece things together and locate his glasses.
There! Now he could see! Ron didn't notice his audience had suddenly stirred, and was still talking.
"Glad they took those Death Eaters, mate, truth was they were freaking me out. Every time they regained consciousness they started ranting, and they had foul mouths. Mum would have washed their mouths out, that's for sure!"
"Ron? Where's Sora?" Ron squeaked and fell sideways out of his chair, but Harry barely noted his friend's surprise, for his memory had ambushed him. He looked around the room and at last spotted an area surrounded by curtains.
"Harry! You're awake! Thank Merlin!" Harry's excursion from bed to floor as he tried to get to Sora was briefly stalled as his oddly emotional friend practically tackled him.
Thank goodness Madame Pomfrey wasn't there, her outraged shriek would have busted eardrums.
"Good to see you too, mate. How long was I out?" Harry said awkwardly, patting Ron on the back, remembering that when he'd last seen the red-head he'd been lying still in enchanted sleep.
"Two and a half days, Harry. Me'n Mione have been going mad with worry." Patting Ron on the shoulder again, Harry found his feet.
"What are you doing?! You need to lie down." Harry began once more on his trek- and it felt like a trek, he still ached- to Sora's bed.
He presumed it was Sora's bed, anyway, since it was the only bed hidden and all the others were empty.
"I'm fine, Ron. I've got to find Sora." And before the red-head could stop him, Harry pulled back the curtains and peered in.
If Harry looked bad- and he did- Sora looked worse. He was just so pale. So terribly still for someone with such energy normally. His eyelashes were dark crescents over pale cheeks, his hair the only color he had. Harry's eyes were dry, and his throat ached.
"This…this is my fault." He rasped, as a worried Ron came up beside him to support him.
"Harry James Potter, if you even think about trying to blame yourself I will personally hex you." Hermione stepped into the Hospital Wing carrying two cups of hot chocolate. She was scowling.
"And what on earth are you doing out of bed? You're still weak- lie back down this instant!" Harry didn't fight as she sat the cups down, marched over and began to drag him back to his bed. He lay down without resistance, but his eyes never left Sora's still form. He didn't say anything, but he kept thinking of Cedric, and Voldemort. Sora was just so still. Then Harry remembered what had happened in the chamber, and frowned. What had Sora done? What had he done with Fawkes and the Keyblade that had drained him so? That had frightened Voldemort so? For Harry clearly remembered the look of horror on the dark wizard's face as he stared at his hands as if they'd changed somehow. Harry hadn't seen anything different…
He realized his friends were talking.
"Sorry. I was thinking."
"It's alright, we're just so glad you're alright. Sirius…" and Hermione's voice dropped, "Sirius will be too. It's all we've managed to keep him out of the castle." Harry opened his mouth to ask, but Madame Pomfrey chose that moment to make an appearance.
"Mr. Potter! You're awake! Why didn't you too call for me?" And with her usual bustling determination she swept over to him potion in hand. Harry eyed it nervously.
"What's that? Madame Pomfrey, please, what's wrong with Sora?" The stern witch softened slightly, although she was still fully prepared to stuff the potion down his throat herself if she had to.
"He's alright, dear, he's just very, very tired. He needs to rest." Harry remembered the strange magic Sora had cast and agreed that exhaustion made sense.
Still.
"Now, Harry, you need to drink all of this, it's for the residual dark magic you were hit with." Oh, Harry thought. So I'm Harry now, not Mr. Potter? He eyed the potion again, and sighed.
"I bet Snape made it extra tasty." Harry managed with extreme sarcasm for someone who was only just awake. Madame Pomfrey winced.
"Professor Snape is still missing, I'm afraid", she began, and Harry stared at her, eyes impossibly wide.
"Missing! But how could he be missing? He was in the Chamber of…" And Harry drifted off as he realized just how the professor could still be considered missing. He snickered. He couldn't help it, the irony was too much. He began to laugh.
"Mr. Potter! What on earth is funny about this?" Oh, so I'm Mr. Potter again. Harry tried to speak around his hilarity.
"Snape…he's stuck! A Slytherin! Stuck in the Slytherin Chamber of Secrets…with a dead basilisk." He tried to go on and explain, but breathing was becoming an issue.
"I'll go get Professor Dumbledore," Hermione offered, eyes wide as her friends' cheeks went crimson.
Poppy mumbled her thanks and began to inch towards her cabinet. She had several calming draughts in there…