Previously—
"Aurors!" Madame Bones commenced, and her men stepped to attention. "I want you to divide into three groups. James, you will lead the front group with Black. Jackson, you and Doverly have the middle. Longbottom and Dawlish have the rear. The rest of you Aurors jump into one of the three groups. Those with the better dueling skills to the front." She ordered swiftly before looking to the Minister and the rest of the Jury members. "I want half of you between the middle and back group of Aurors while the other half of you goes between the front and middle groups." She said, leaving no room for arguments.
"I will be in the front group with you." Amelia added firmly as she looked at Harry who merely nodded.
The group quickly leapt into position, with both Harry and Dumbledore at the lead, behind them Lily, James, Remus and Sirius. It would be a slow procession, but Harry figured they would make it. With a nod at the old Headmaster, Harry stepped into the hall, his sword raised and his emerald eyes focused on a flood of Inferi. The nearest to them several meters down the hall, were gnawing on a bloodied leg…
Chapter III – Battle for the Ministry
Harry stepped forward, moving cautiously, and within three steps all the creatures looked up, their empty socket-eyes focused on him as though they could see. A groan rose up from the undead as they turned their rotting flesh bodies towards the teen abandoning their cold dead meal in hopes of a warm live one. As one, they lurched brokenly forwards, dragging their entrails uselessly behind them in an oozing trail of bodily sludge as skin fell from bones. As they ambled nearer, the stench rose up, burning the eyes and noses of everyone.
Lily tossed a quiet tripping jinx while trying not to gag, causing the first wave to fall down with a sickening crunch before more Inferi trampled them to the floor, moving towards the group unfazed and uncaring for their own. "Inanimatus Conjurus!" James yelled as he conjured a bunch of small grey stones which he and Sirius levitated then banished towards the Inferi. The stones moved like bullets, piercing the rotten flesh, knocking off pieces of gore, and only managed to slow them slightly with a slight wail of anger.
"Inferi are weak to fire!" Remus shouted to the group, and with a wave of his wand launched a medium sized ball of flames at the undead corpses, easily burning a dozen or so to ashes.
"I should have known that." Harry berated himself as he stepped in front of the group. "Stay behind me, this could get ugly!" He ordered as he pointed his blade at the oncoming Inferi. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes and concentrated.
"Harry!" Lily shouted in fear as the animated dead lurched forwards and came within a meter of her son.
Emerald eyes shot open. "Fiendfyre!" He shouted, thrusting his blade forward into the chest of the closest undead as a dragon of fire shot forth from the blade in a long column of bluish purple fire that was still connected to his blade. The fiery dragon shot forth incinerating all undead it touched instantly, easily traveling the length of the hallway, scorching the walls to a dark black, before the fire collided with the far wall, melting the stone to a molten puddle.
Harry pulled his blade back, killing off his Fiendfyre. He swayed slightly as his sword, glowing white hot and fell to the ground, steam rising from it. The teen lifted his hands and blew cold air onto his lightly burned hands chilling them instantly before he cast a cooling charm on his blade and picked it up once more. "Holy Fiendfyre." Sirius breathed as he clapped Harry on his non injured shoulder. "You are one impressive kid!" He admitted with a proud grin, many others nodding their agreement.
The teen winked at his Godfather before he marched forward, easily peering into each open doorway, his sword poised for action. He did this for all six doors that had once lined the hall, the wooden doors incinerated much like the Inferi were.
They all progressed forwards, wands, or in Harry's case sword, at the ready, and their footsteps were muffled by the thick layer of dark ashes that littered the ground. Harry led them to the base of the stairwell that led upwards to level nine before he looked over his shoulder and met eyes with Albus. The young Potter nodded once before he ascended the steps quickly, making not a single sound unlike those who followed him.
As he reached the top, peeking to the right, he was suddenly tackled from the left. Harry fell to the ground with a heavy hoofed beast upon his back. A hoof was digging into his mid back as the beast held him down; its lion head ready to bite him. The Marauders aimed cutting hexes and arrow shooting hexes at the Chimera, quickly dislodging it from Harry's back.
Once freed from his hold, he rolled over and slashed his blade across the roaring monster's throat, covering his saviors with a spray of crimson blood before the creature let out a pitiful noise and fell to the ground dead. With a grunt, Harry regained his footing and shook his head. "Thanks." He whispered to the group as he rolled his injured shoulder tenderly, wincing slightly. "My reaction time is far down." He muttered to himself.
"It is to be expected." Albus commented gravely as he eyed the young boy. "You were tortured a few days prior to now, you haven't yet recovered from your wounds and you are likely exhausted as your body is trying to heal." The old man reasoned. "Perhaps you would like to go to the middle group so as to not over exert yourself?" Albus suggested with a worried expression that was mirrored on several faces.
Harry sighed and shook his head as he turned right. "I can not." He stated as he led them forwards down the empty corridor that led to the single lift that went to this floor. He paused only once he reached the open golden gate. "We all won't fit on this in one go…" He said as he looked back over the group with a blank expression.
"It's nothing an enlargement charm can't handle." His mother said with a wink as she stepped forward and used a charm that expanded the interior space of the lift, while leaving the outside the same size as before. With a small smile and a nod, Harry moved onto the lift and their rag tag group followed hastily. Once they were all boarded, they ascended upwards, wands leveled at the grates for when they opened next.
"Level eight: Atrium." The cool female voice stated as the lift shuddered to a halt and the doors opened. Wintry air drifted into the lift, causing people to quiver and gasp as ice froze the doors halfway open. The Atrium was packed full of Dementors, and once the door opened revealing fresh feasting for them; they shrieked their high-pitched wail…
Many of the rag tag group fell to their knees, tears falling from their eyes only to freeze upon their cheeks. Hands clutched at heads as though to protect them from the memories. Cries rang out as almost everyone fell useless to the assault of bitter memories that were heaved upon them. "Expecto Patronum!" Dumbledore called out as he shot forth a silver phoenix from his wand and into the Atrium. With speed the Patronus soared and crashed into the nearest Dementors, pushing them back. Though the ones knocked back were easily replaced as the swarm grew nearer.
"Expecto Patronum!" The Marauders and Lily shouted, and four more silver creatures, a wolf, a hound, a doe, and a lion, raced forward and joined the phoenix in driving back the nearest of the Dementors, but they were easily being pushed back themselves. It didn't look good.
"Can anyone else do a Patronus?" Dumbledore called over his shoulder, eyes not once leaving this silver phoenix.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry's voice rang up clearly over the shrill cries of the Dementors as the teen snapped out of his stupor of bad memories. From the palm of his hand rushed a giant silver dragon that roared a challenge. The great beast surged forwards, its form so silver it appeared to be more of a brilliant white. The spell crashed into the nearest clump of black cloaked soul suckers, obliterating some on contact while many more were repelled backwards.
The dragon surged forwards and soon joined the five other Patronuses, but even with their combined efforts they were slowly driven backwards towards the lift. Harry gasped, causing the fighting members of the group to glance at him as he dropped to one knee, one eye closed in concentration, his breathing labored. On the battle field, the dragon began to loose its brilliance, and soon was vanquished by the Dementors.
As his Patronus was beaten, Harry fell down to his hands and knees and was panting heavily, a cold sweat upon his skin as chills raced up his spine. Sounds, images and feelings crashed furiously in his mind and he fought to push them out. He struggled to reinforce his mental barriers. He failed miserably before he fell into the depths of his mind.
Green flames rose up in many of the grates and white robed Order members poured into the Atrium, aiming their own Patronuses into the fray. With shrieks of terror, the Dementors were being pushed back, their oppressive aura lifting slightly. That was all Harry needed. The teen slammed his barriers back into place and stood shakily, raising his trembling hand towards the black and silver battle. "Expecto Patronum!" He gasped, and just as before, his great dragon lunged forwards and within minutes the whole fleet of black cloaked monstrosities fled from the Ministry, returning to the cold dark of one of the many headquarters of the Dark Lord.
"Harry!" James exclaimed worriedly as he quickly caught a hold of his dangerously swaying son. "Are you alright?" He questioned as Albus moved to speak to the Order members that had just Flooed in, and were still continuing to Floo in. Harry managed to nod weakly as Remus conjured a bar of chocolate and handed it to the trembling teen that ate it slowly, feeling warmth return with each tiny bite.
"Thank you." He whispered once he was done his chocolate, eyes meeting the honeyed ones of the Werewolf.
"You're welcome Harry." The older man said with a wry smile. "Though I think it would be best for you to avoid Dementors from this day forwards." He advised with a worried look. He had never seen someone so shaken from the Dementors, even the rest of their rag tag group, which was being escorted to safety by the Order, didn't react as badly. Whatever was in the teen's past must have been quite troubling.
"Maybe you should go back too." Lily suggested as she worriedly stared at the paler then normal face of her eldest son, she didn't want to loose him again.
"No." Harry shook his head negatively as he awkwardly pulled out of his father's grasp and straightened out. With a deep breath, his quivering stopped, and he stood tall, and blank as ever. "I must continue on. Voldemort has made an enemy of me, and I never let my enemy have a chance at victory. We can not allow him to gain control of the Ministry." He stated darkly as he picked up his sword that he had dropped earlier during the onslaught of soul sucking fiends.
James and Remus exchanged a nervous look, as Sirius clapped the teen on the shoulder. Lily however was staring into her son's intense eyes, worry clearly dominating her mind. "Do not fret… I have fought much worse in far more dire circumstances." Harry commented lightly, though his words did little to appease the woman, and also caused the three Marauders to look somewhat worried.
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"Are you sure?" Jason questioned Lucas as he stared into his twin's eyes.
Lucas nodded. "Positive." He stated as he peered cautiously around their empty dorm room, his hands retrieving their invisibility cloak from his trunk where it was more then often kept.
"Let us go then." They both said simultaneously with matching grins upon their faces. They nodded to each other before concealing themselves beneath their heirloom cloak. With quiet steps they slipped from their dorm and down the hall into the common room which was bustling with much activity, as students poured over books and parchment, scratching away at either their latest homework piece or curious free time research. It was seemingly a normal day in Ravenclaw.
Cautiously they moved through the bustling, yet relatively silent common room, dodging anyone moving between spots to sit and bookcases crammed with every color of book imaginable. Once they arrived at the door out, they leaned against the wall and waited. Time ticked by and after ten minutes someone, a fifth year, finally opened the door, mumbling about things he needed to research in the school library.
With ease, they slipped out their common room behind him before sneaking off down the hall and down the winding stairwell. Once free of their fifth year housemate, they sprinted deftly to their mother's office and slipped inside unseen and unnoticed. With a deep breath the two moved over to the fireplace and took a handful of green powder each.
The Potter twins exchanged a grin before they tossed the powder in, causing the dim glowing embers to spring to life with a towering wall of green fire. With no hesitation, they stepped into the flames and shouted. "Ministry of Magic!" And with a swirl of magic they vanished from Hogwarts and arrived into the Ministry's Atrium. It looked like havoc had taken place recently.
Mismatch green and hazel eyes briefly met before they surveyed the wet and icy floor and walls and the seemingly crystallized fountain. They knew what had been here moments before their arrival, and if the evidence of coldness wasn't enough, then perhaps that chilling sensation that still slightly lingered in the air gave it away. There even were a poor couple of blank eyed people who were led unknowingly away, their souls gone. Silently the two Ravenclaw students surveyed the scene, keeping close to a wall to avoid being accidentally bumped into. "There." Lucas muttered to his brother, as he motioned with his eyes towards their family.
"They are alright then… I wonder how the trial went." They both said with a thoughtful look before noticing the five people they had been tailing move towards the stairs and hastily climbed them, followed by many others who sought to regain the Ministry. With hesitation, the two followed, cautious and observant. They wanted to see this for themselves, not get a sugar coated version later of what had happened.
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The three Potters, Remus, and Sirius all moved towards a set of stairs that ascended to the higher levels, and quickly climbed them both following and being followed by others in white and crimson that had much the same intensions as they did. As they topped the stairs and opened the door, a volley of spells met them. Harry, having anticipated such a move tossed out a powerful shield spell, that caused the oncoming spells to crash uselessly and crumble. After the volley had ended, he hastily dropped his shield and cast a shockwave spell, knocking down the nearest group of Death Eaters that had cast the volley.
Three black robed men fell backwards to the ground, giving Lily and Remus the chance to bind two. Though the third managed to regain his bearings before he dispelled the charm meant to bind him, and tossed a sickly yellow curse out at the red headed Lily. James with a grunt, knocked Lily roughly to the side before ducking under the curse leaving it to collide with the wall behind him, his hazel eyes locked onto the Death Eater.
"You have no hope." The Death Eater taunted as he motioned behind him at the fray of battle where black and crimson clashed with the ferocity of Titans, and at the corpses and spells that were numerous behind him. "The Ministry is ours, surrender and I may just show you mercy." He said with arrogance that hinted that he would not show mercy.
Harry snorted, bringing the man's attention to him. "Ah, the traitor." The Death Eater sneered, though he sounded quite pleased. "My Lord will be very pleased with me when I hand over your bloodied corpse to him upon our complete take over of this pitiful Ministry." He said with excitement as he leveled his wand on the teen.
"Arrogance is a dangerous thing." Harry commented before his form vanished from sight, causing not only the Death Eater, but also the Marauders and Lily to jump, startled. Before they could even raise their wands, the Death Eater crumbled to the ground, his mask rolling from his lifeless face. Harry stood behind him, his bloodied sword in one hand. "Always watch your back." He advised coldly onto the cooling corpse as he crouched down and used the man's cloak to wipe away the blood.
"Er.. How did you vanish?" Sirius questioned nervously, his eyes locked onto the blade being cleansed of blood. Seeing his godson murder a human being in cold blood had been unnerving, but not so much as the fact that Harry didn't even flinch at his actions.
Harry looked up, cold green met blue. "Magic." Harry answered simply, sounding as though he believed his words to explain all as he stood up just in time to turn around and slash his sword through an oncoming spell, cleaving it in two.
Without another word, Harry weaved his way into the fray and vanished from sight. "Shit!" James cursed as he too rushed into the fight, he needed to find Harry and protect him.
Harry ducked under a stunner and cast his own stunner at a black robed witch before he rolled to the right just as the killing curse smashed into the ground in his previous position. In a swift double roll, he regained his footing and plunged his katana through the throat of another Death Eater, just as a cutting curse nipped his already injured shoulder, reopening the wound that had just barely stopped bleeding. With a quiet grunt, he swung around and cleaved the head clean off the shoulders of another. A warm shower of blood drenched his once white shirt, and splattered across his face, yet he paid it no heed.
Quickly, he leapt over the fresh corpse he had delivered to the ground, and with a jerk of his blade he cast a bolt of electricity at an enemy, causing her to shriek in pain. His spell distracted her, giving him plenty enough time to clear the distance between them, and before she could recover, he slammed his blade up to the hilt into her stomach; emerald eyes met pale blue, as a soft gasp escaped his newest victim. The woman's mouth formed a silent 'oh', before Harry slid the blade from her, allowing her to crumble to the ground, bleeding to death. She wouldn't last much longer.
Without a backwards glance he tossed a quick stunner at the back of some Death Eater before he ducked under an Avada Kedavra shot at him from behind. In a fluid movement, he went down and rolled before standing just to the left of his assailant. With a swift jab, he ran his blade into the man's thigh, causing him to drop his wand and howl in pain. Not waiting a second longer, Harry withdrew his blade and swung it up in a raining arc, lopping the man's head off in another waterfall of crimson.
Spinning around, he conjured a shield and repelled a barrage of arrows with a strange high pitched metal on metal sound as it impacted and scattered back to the caster. The Death Eater in question merely burnt the repelled arrows, and banished the smoldering ruins back towards Harry who hastily rolled to the left and stayed in a crouch as he conjured a fiery whip.
With a flick of his wrist, he latched his flaming whip onto his opponent's wand arm, causing the man to scream as smoke billowed up from his arm and his robe began to burn. He yanked suddenly, causing the man to stumble forward and crash to the ground just as the spell was cancelled. Harry deftly rolled a few times, avoiding another cutting hex, before he tossed a banishment charm on the man he had knocked down, sending him flying into a stone wall. The man slid to the ground, slumped over and unmoving.
Harry whipped around and stepped to the side, half avoiding a slashing hex which ripped open his left side in a deep cut that spread down his arm. Unfazed he stunned his attacker and ducked under another green curse that hit the man he had knocked to the wall, instantly killing him.
Slightly amused that they were inadvertently killing their own, he thrust his sword through the back of a Death Eater, and ducked as an Order member cast a stunner at him. Harry quirked his brow at a pink haired witch earning himself an apologetic shrug. With a roll of his eyes he spun around and froze as something unexpected caught his eyes…
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Lucas and Jason looked on wide eyed as they watched their mother fell three Death Eaters with a single charm, before being saved from an unknown curse by some Order Member they could not identify. With an exchanged glance, the two of them moved into the room, clearing the doorway just as more Order members raced into the battle. With a gulp, they slid over a fallen corpse, their mismatched eyes staring into lifeless brown ones.
When they had chosen to follow their family, this wasn't what they had expected. They had anticipated a glorious battle of good versus evil, and what they were witnessing was far from that. It was a chilling blood bath, screams echoed through the wall, depicting pain and immanent death, as blood and corpses painted the floor a morbid picture. The twins felt quite shaky, ill to their stomachs. They now understood their parents' blatant refusal to allowing the two of them to join the Order.
It was gruesome and soul-wrenching. The thirteen year old Potters shuddered with fear and grief as their ever observant eyes took in the dead and the living, struggling against each other in a clash worthy of remembrance. In their unsettling surveillance, they both spotted a raven haired figure at the same moment. "Harry…" They both whispered wide eyed as he cleaved a woman's head from her body before effortlessly spinning in place and sliced a man sneaking up behind him clean in two.
It was with morbid amazement that the two watched wide eyed as their long lost brother moved as though dancing through allies and foes, saving his side and decimating members of the opposition. It was fascinating, and yet so wrong… With a gulp the twins exchanged a glance, though their inattentiveness cost them dearly…
Suddenly a figure crashed into them, knocking them sideways, the cloak concealing them slipping from their forms, revealing them to the room. "Well, well…" A man hissed darkly as he stalked towards the twins upon the floor. "Two kids on the floor, ready to die with their blood traitor father!" He sneered as he leveled his wand at Lucas.
The man opened his mouth and began to cast a spell, though was suddenly halted as his eyes bulged and his jaw slackened a trickle of blood running down his pale chin. The man crumbled to the floor, a black and silver Katana deeply imbedded in his back, piercing through the man's black heart.
Twin set of eyes looked up and met frowning emerald, before their savior rolled under a green killing curse and sprinted over to the two. Quickly, he wrenched the blade from its bloody sheath as he observed the two. "I don't know why two Hogwarts students are here admits the fray… but I can't let either of you be hurt." Harry stated softly as he frowned at the twins that stood several inches taller then himself. "Come." He stated as he led them towards the door they had entered through, Harry defending them against any assaults.
"Harry!" Lily shouted as she spotted her eldest near the door, her voice sounding relieved until she noted the two behind him and paled. "Lucas! Jason!" She exclaimed in worried shock as she raced over to her three sons and hastily embraced her youngest. "What in the world are you doing here?!" She demanded as she began ushering them to the door, tossing a grateful smile at her eldest son who merely shrugged before returning to the fight.
Lily pushed the two teens through the door and hastily moved them down the steps to the Atrium, muttering curses over her sons' appearance in the ministry. The twins knew they would be in for a lecture soon enough…
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Cautious and cold emerald green eyes surveyed the room before him. He noticed very few Death Eaters were left standing, the foolishly brave amongst the Dark Lord's ranks. He could see several black robed cowards in the back, racing up to the next floor, in hopes of regrouping and making a stronger front at the next level. Without a glance to the dead, Harry slipped past the few remaining enemies and behind his allies and moved up the stairs at a slower then usual pace for him, his breathing slightly labored.
The floor above the Atrium was mass pandemonium.
Gory tendrils of mutilated corpses and bodily bits were hurtled in all directions without discretion. Blood slathered the walls in a sickly sheen and the acid scent of open bowels and blood clogged the air like polluted clouds of rank ruin. It was disgusting. Even Harry, one who had seen far too much for one so young could feel the bile as his emerald eyes fell upon the savaged and brutalized corpses that had no means of identification. Harry shuddered, and swallowed his disgust and uneasiness before slowly lifting his eyes to look upon the figure that stood in the midst of the gore. It was a man who looked wild, in great rags that were drenched in cooling blood, and bits of muscle and bones clung to his form, testifying that he had been the brutal murderer. His yellowed eyes met emerald.
A growl rose up, and Harry realized that he was no man. He was a werewolf. The man-wolf hunched down, his hackles up as he raised his stained hands, jagged claws aimed towards the arrival. "Prey?" He asked with a gravely voice, drool leaking from his bloodied lips.
"No." Harry stated, his voice showing no sign of his inward nervousness.
"No…" The werewolf growled, sounding somewhat disappointed as he seemed to relax. "More fleeing from below." He snarled darkly, referring to all the Death Eaters that had past his way after running like cowards from the floor below.
"Not fleeing." Harry said softly as he brought his silver sword and pointed it at his foe. In his condition he knew he stood no chance against this werewolf.
Greyback howled at the sword and snarled as he wearily eyed the silver. He didn't like silver. It hurt. With a sudden lunge he stomped forward with a great burst of speed that didn't match his wit. Harry, eyes wide at the sudden lunge, barely managed to toss himself to the side to avoid being rendered in two by the mighty beast.
This was a man who hadn't even switched into his werewolf side, and yet he had all the speed, might and violence of an average werewolf on the night of the full moon.
Harry ducked a sudden swing of a gory clawed hand and brought his sword up nicking the beast's shoulder. A pained howl shook the room as he backhanded the teen across the ribs sending him flying into the solid wall with a sickening snap. Harry gasped, his breath stolen from his very lungs as the acrid taste of blood reached his tongue while his vision swam dangerously. He could feel his freshly mended ribs break.
Fenir was on the teen before he could regain his bearings and raked his claws ruthlessly across his chest, tearing cloth, skin and muscle. Harry let out a pained gasp before he brought his sword up and sliced the werewolf who was moving forward to bite him. With a second howl, Harry's blade connected, causing the beast to leap back to inspect his wound. It burned.
Harry used his non-injured shoulder to brace himself on the wall, he was panting heavily. Blood was quickly fleeing his body in great rivulets leaving the teen to grow weaker and weaker. Greyback was furious! Foam was frothing from his jagged lips, his nostrils wide with anger. He took one frightening step closer before he was suddenly tackled from behind.
Emerald eyes watched exhaustedly as the beast was thrown to the ground, Remus upon his back looking enraged. "You will not hurt him!" Remus shouted ferociously as he slammed his fist into the wolf-man's face before leaping out of the way of his claws. "Incendio!" He yelled with his wand aimed at the wolf.
A fire ball was flung from his wand and ignited the pitiful rags that the man-beast wore, causing Fenir to howl in agony as his skin bubbled and melted. The smell of burning flesh and hair danced with the putrid stench as the werewolf rolled over and over again. Harry, seeing an opportunity to strike, jumped forward and ran his dear katana swiftly through the howling beast's chest, piercing its heart.
A howl shook the very foundations just before the werewolf breathed his last and joined the dead upon the floor. "I have waited for this day for a long time." Remus whispered softly as he stared somewhat disbelievingly down at the creature that had cursed him. "Thank you." He whispered before looking at his nephew and paling drastically at the wound upon his chest. "Harry!" He exclaimed as he moved to steady the panting and swaying teen.
"We need to get you out of here!" He exclaimed with worry.
"No." Harry stated through clenched teeth. "I can't. He is still here." He stated breathily as emerald met concerned amber. "Please." He whispered softly. "If you can do any healing spell please do it, but I have to go on." He stated as he clutched Remus' robes in his bloody hand. "Please." He asked.
Honeyed eyes looked conflicted. His heart wanted for him to take the child somewhere safe and keep him there for ever. His wolf side wanted to mother the boy. Yet his mind knew the boy would never be at peace if he couldn't go further. "Alright…" He whispered reluctantly as he looked down at the gashes across Harry's chest, relieved that the teen had not been bitten.
With a few whispered words, Remus managed to slow the bleeding and bind the wound. He was no healer, and that was the best he could do. "Thank you." Harry said with a soft smile before he took a deep breath and released the older man before removing himself from his grip.
Harry looked at Remus one last time before slowly sprinting towards the opposite stairs and clambered up them and out of sight. Remus wasn't sure he had done the right thing, but he felt somewhat happy at that honest smile directed at him. Their Harry was still in there.
Footsteps behind him caused Remus to whip around his wand out, just as James and Sirius lunged up to the fifth level. "Holy shit!" Sirius exclaimed, going pale, as James' jaw dropped. The room was pure carnage. A butchery of what looked to have once been humans. "What the hell happened here?" Sirius demanded as he eyed Remus for any injuries.
"Greyback." Remus answered softly, eyes not meeting his friends. He felt guilty seeing them after having left Harry go off on his own yet again.
"Where is he?" James whispered as he got over his shock, though he looked quite green.
"Dead." Remus said, eyes moving to the lifeless corpse of the wolf-man.
"You did!" Sirius exclaimed as he rushed forth and wrapped an arm around his dear friend's shoulder. "I knew you could!"
Remus softly shook his head. "It wasn't me. I helped, yes. But it was not me who dealt the final blow." He whispered.
"Then who did?" James questioned; his wand out as he looked for anyone alive amongst the carnage.
Remus looked over at James unsure how to answer before he final stated "It was Harry."
Sirius and James stared at their sable haired friend. "Where is he?" James questioned in worry, his eyes scanning the corpses, hoping against hope that one of the mutilated bodies wasn't his son's.
"Upstairs." Remus admitted. "I couldn't stop him." He said with worry. "And he is hurt." He added on.
James nodded at the man firmly. "Then let's go." He said before the three of them turned and raced through the gore and up the stairs to the fourth level of the Ministry.
If the floor below was a massacre, then the fourth floor was pandemonium.
Crimson robed figures flung hexes all around, not aiming, simply firing in hopes of felling their foe. Friend hit friend more often the foe. And rumble rained down from demolished offices and wayward spells. It was as though the Aurors were headless chicken, running rampant and unchecked. Sirius stood there, staring stupidly as an Auror flung a spell towards a black cloaked person, only to miss his target by a mile.
"Vampires…" Remus breathed with wide eyes as he saw one move in no more then a blur to evade a spell. The Aurors were fighting against Vampires, but they stood not a chance.
Elegant looking creatures, pale as moonlight and fair as fair could be, danced through the chaos with grace; mostly going unscathed as they slit throats of the foolish humans. Some even paused and took a sip of their beloved nectar before slaying their foe, but for the most part, they were toying with the humans.
Only one fight seemed to be legitimate though, and the three marauders spotted Harry clashing blades with a tall handsome Vampire, who was smirking and speaking with the teen as their blades clashed. "Harry!" The three exclaimed before moving into the fray, though they were hindered in their progression and separated to be toyed with themselves….
"You are strong." The Vampire stated with a fang filled grin as he sidestepped an arc of his opponent's sword, his inhuman speed giving him a lead. "Svift." He added; his thick dark accent enthralling. "And yet, you are mortal?" He questioned, almost as though he disbelieved those words even though his senses told him it was true.
Harry ducked under a sword swing a small grin on his pale features. "You are strong too." Harry stated with a nod of his head as he stepped to the left and parried the blade. "For a vampire." He added teasingly as he ducked under a jab.
"You have fought my kind before?" He questioned with a dark eyebrow raised curiously.
"Yes." Harry stated with a shrug that pulled painfully at his ribs, causing him to wince as he parried another blow and launched one of his own. "It was once upon a time, in a dark forest late at night." Harry admitted as he sliced a few strands of long onyx hair from his foe's head.
"And vere vould this forest be?" He questioned as he nicked Harry's left cheek, crossing a red line upon the silver scar already there.
"Somewhere." Harry stated, he didn't remember exactly where. With a grunt he dropped down and slashed at his adversary's knees. Though he missed as the Vampire leapt over the blade and landed swiftly, his blade arcing down towards Harry's head. With haste he rolled out of the way, grunting his ribs' protest as he swung back to his feet in time to parry a blade.
"Though you are injured and I am going light on you, you are still doing very vell." The Vampire admitted as he stepped back to avoid the teen's blade. "Perhaps Voldemort's side isn't the strongest?" He stated more then questioned.
"You support the strong?" Harry inquired as he whirled around in a parry.
"No. Ve support the vinner." He stated with amusement.
"He won't win." Harry stated as their swords met in a furious clash of angry sparks. Both of them took a step backwards before stepping forwards again blade upon blade before each stepped to a side. Harry jabbed, the Vampire parried. Then the Vampire slashed and Harry dodged.
They seemed quite equal… if it were not for the fact that Harry's foot work was sloppy and sweat was beaded on his skin. Black spots swam in his vision, his head pounding with pain. His body screamed to stop. He was tired. He hurt everywhere. But he refused to show his discomfort while his foe looked like he was on a relaxing stroll in the gardens at midnight.
Harry lunged forward, unsteadily. The Vampire, seeing his opening, smacked the teen's hand with the blunt side of his blade, knocking the katana to the ground with a clatter lost to the noise of the battles. Suddenly the Vampire vanished from before the teen and appeared behind him, one arm gently around his stomach while the other held his non bleeding cheek.
Harry went still. "This vas fun." The Vampire whispered softly as he ran his fangs slowly across Harry's neck, causing shivers to cascade down his spine. "Your blood smells like the finest of vines." He added; his eyes closed as he moved his hand under the teen's shirt. "Delicious and poverful…" He murmured before brushing his lips over the teen's neck.
Suddenly and without warning, sharp fangs sunk into Harry's neck, causing him to gasp before a fluttery warm feeling engulfed him. The thrall of the feasting Vampire ensnared him. His legs felt like jelly, his arms like lead, and he was unable to move as tingling warmth spread throughout his body.
Almost as soon as it had begun, the Vampire withdrew his fangs and licked the wound shut tenderly. "Heaven." The Vampire moaned richly as the wound healed into two silver scars. "You are an Eden in the vorld." He whispered tenderly as he kissed his mark. "My name is Emrys Cruze, Lord of the Nightving Clan." He whispered, his lips moving against Harry's pale neck. "Ve vill meet again. For nov I leave you and my kinsmen vill come vith me." He stated as he reluctantly slipped away from the teen and signaled his people to leave.
"You vill be mine." He stated with a grin as he licked his fangs, vanishing into the darkness.
The Vampires vanished, leaving many stunned and confused, though Harry wasn't watching them. His eyes were locked upon Emrys' last location as his knees suddenly gave way. He sunk down, though his brain did not register the pain from his fall. "Harry!" James exclaimed as he rushed roughly through the confused Aurors and over to his son, his two best mates following from their respective positions.
James put his arm around Harry shoulder. "Are you okay?" He asked worriedly as he looked at his spaced out son unsure of what was ailing him.
Sirius squatted down in front of the teen and waved his hand before emerald eyes with a frown. "He was bitten." Remus whispered as he brushed a finger lightly over the fang scars upon the small teen's neck.
James paled. "No." He whispered as he moved to look, hazel eyes latching onto the marks. "No." He whispered again as though to deny it.
"Was he… turned?" Sirius asked nervously.
"I don't think so." Remus stated thoughtfully.
"Then why isn't he responding?" James demanded in a panic as he held his son tighter in his embrace.
"I think… he is still under the feasting thrall." Remus stated knowledgably as he studied the bite. "He should snap out of it in a moment."
True to Remus' words Harry came back to his senses and tensed within his father's arms unused to being held. "Erm… Could you please release me?" He questioned quietly, his voice void of emotion.
James reluctantly released his grip and met his son's eyes. "Are you alright?" He asked softly.
"I've had worse." Harry admitted with a sigh. "Though… that was the first time I've been bitten by a vampire." He added with a sheepish grin as he reached up and ran a finger lightly over the mark, shivering as he touched it.
"We'll let's get you out of here." James said softly.
"No." Harry said as he dropped his hand and shook his head. "Voldemort is close." Harry said as he stood up, shaking. "I may be weakened, tired and hurt but, I am the only person capable of standing against him." Harry said softly. "And I wanted to show him how much of a failure his attempt to destroy me was." He added with a weak grin and a wink.
"But Harry." James began, slipping into a fatherly voice.
"Don't 'but Harry' me." Harry stated sharply as he regarded his father icily. "I am a weapon." He stated and held a hand up to the protest of the others. "I was raised a weapon and a weapon can not, will not rest until they finish their task at hand; no matter the repercussions upon said weapon." He explained. "It has been my life, and it is how I have been taught."
The adults were speechless. "Please understand." Harry added softly as his katana reappeared in his hand.
Slowly the three nodded. "We will try." James said.
"That is all I can ask." He stated. Harry offered a soft smile before he turned and slowly crossed through the rumble rooms, and down the hall leading to the far stairs.
The three marauders followed after the young teen.
The four of them ascended the stairs and arrived upon the third floor.
There were very few Aurors on the third level, maybe a handful and only half yet still drew breath. Scattered desperately in the fray were people dressed as Ministry workers who were all anxiously casting spells in a desperate attempt to push back all the Death Eaters in the room. They had built barricades of sorts, using fallen rubble, upturned desks and sideways filing cabinets to shelter them. The ministry workers braced their walls, tossing spells over the top every chance they could get before they ducked back down letting the enemies' curses crash into their enforced barricades.
Around one-hundred Death Eaters were swarming the visible part of the floor, and Voldemort was amongst them causing more havoc then all the others combined. He blasted, he killed, and he caused pain all without slowing. He was in his element. The screams, the fire, the pain, and the anger fueled him to do more damage, take more lives and cause more suffering.
Harry blinked and beheaded a Death Eater from behind, annoyed that they were cocky enough not to watch their backs; assuming Greyback would stop any advancement of enemy forces. With a flick of his wrist he knocked several enemies skidding across the once clean floor.
"Voldemort!" Harry shouted causing everyone in the room to glance over at the voice. Voldemort turned, his crimson eyes narrowed as he eyed the teen that he had thought to be dead. "You know!" Harry stated above the deafening silence that over took the room as all focused on Harry. "You really shouldn't leave your pets to finish your job for you, as you can see they failed. Your Chimeras were weak, your vampires disloyal and your werewolf an idiot." He summed up, grinning coldly though no humor was in his deadly emerald eyes.
Hp –hp –hp –hp
End of chapter, sorry it is short. I have been busy, though I promise the next chapter will be longer.
Please review, thanks!