Er.... hello *waves cautiously from behind a large rock (hiding from silver-chan)*
Teacups here i'm sorry it took so long i hade no inspiration but its done! yey!!!
Disclaimer: if i owned, teacups would be the Bad guy, *evil laughter* Mwahahahahahaaaa!
The Third task had begun…
As Harry and Kurama approached the Quidditch pitch, through the evening mist, that was starting to form as the night cooled the days heat, the stands came into view, swarming with people Harry gulped slightly, even the enormous stands looked insignificant against the majesty of the Maze.
Harry jumped slightly when Kurama addressed him, "Your nervous." He said with that serene smile of his, though it was more a statement than a smile Harry nodded.
Kurama's smile faltered slightly as they approached the other champions, to be replaced with an apathetic look that betrayed nothing of internal feelings, which unbeknownst to Harry we're of dread and trepidation.
Ludo Bagman motioned for the champions to take their places before performing a Snorus charm, announcing that the Task was about to start.
Kurama stood at his entrance to the maze; great walls of Spiders Trap Yew loomed before him, mist curling round his ankles creating an almost hypnotic affect.
The Maze spread for miles, stretching even as far as Kurama's demonic eye's could tell, even in this form his senses we're far sharper than even the most trained human and possible Psychic.
Harry likewise stood at the edge of the maze, the Hypnotic affect made him want to tear his eyes away and never look back, but unable to look away.
The maze was terrible and beautiful; it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up with something akin to awe.
Ludo was explaining the rules in his magically enhanced voice; Harry dimly wondered how Kurama was going to send up red sparks if he didn't have a wand.
They heard a shot. The task had begun.
Harry entered the maze, the towering hedges cast ominous black shadows across his path, he wondered was it because the hedges were so tall and thick or perhaps because they were a magical species of yew, but as he entered the maze the noise from the cheering fans fell away becoming more muffled the farther he stepped into the maze.
Hesitantly he looked back, but was un-nerved to find that the way he had just come had disappeared leaving nothing but hedges.
He gulped faintly and faced his chosen path, and with a lot more confidence than he felt strode forward.
oOoOoOo
Kurama crept forward pausing every now and then to turn and leave a glowing plant that would, if you saw it of a blue bell, only it glowed a soft lilac colour.
The red head made his way forward, eye's sharp, flecking gold in attempt to dissuade the maze's illusions.
He sniffed distastefully as he remembered just why he disliked this particular plant the maze was crafted from, it was called Spider's Trap yew because it behaved like a spiders web, one tangled impossible to escape,
"Well not impossible, just tricky..." he mused with a wiry grin.
Sensitive ears now almost elfin as he drew on his Youkai, the more he drew upon his power the less human he looked hair tinting silver at the ends and eye's flickering gold.
Eye's scanned the area, if this is the web where's the spider? Hand reaching into his hair to reach for a rose seed.
A twig snapped behind him and whirled round, claws extended with a fully bloomed rose poised between.
The mist was shifting, betraying the creature approaching.
Insect like joints clicked and creaked in an unnatural discord, thin pointed legs advanced in and unearthly rhythm, pincers reared clicking opening slightly to reveal a second set, smaller but wicked looking.
The armored plates along the creature's exoskeleton shifted to slide over each other, as it reared onto its many back legs horrific pincers clicking again, as it let out a whining gurgling shriek.
Kurama fell into an instinctual fighting pose, fully transformed to his second form, silver ears flattened at the grating sound that was the sound of nightmares.
Muscled arms flexed betraying their fragile appearance, to show the strength hidden beneath the place skin, the rose shed its petals as the deadly thorn whip extended and was brought down on the creatures defenses, spin's stronger than any man made fibre, slashed through impenetrable armor with ease.
The thing screamed in its shrieking tone as its thick acid green blood spilled forth the viscose liquid more like oil that blood, it shuddered once before falling to the ground dead.
Cold gold eyes looked upon its foe dispassionately, no pity for foolish creatures that attacks the strong when they them selves are weak.
The Youko continued on his way, silvered against the dark looming hedges golden eye's glinting in the darkness, the dark mating mark vivid against the ivory skin, the lord of the forests was on the prowl.
oOoOoOo
Harry whispered to the wand in his hand "point me" he breathed, the wand shuddered before hovering a couple of inches and spun to face towards the westward path.
Harry took off at a jog, reluctant to stay still for too long yet apprehensive as he had yet to come across an obstacle and was starting to feel like prey being hunted without his knowledge.
As he turned the next corner guided by his wand, cold fear set in, a crawling icy feeling crept through his being he turned as hairs stood up on the back of his neck, and there advancing from the other path the one he came through was the cloaked figure of a Dementor.
The robed figure extended an arm, one scaly hand revealed its self extending its deathly thin hands stretching the seemingly the pale green skin over to large joints, giving it a skeletal appearance.
Harry yelped and stumbled back wards, exclaiming loudly "Expecto Patronum!"
His wand produced silvered smoke forming a corporeal stag it bowed its magnificently crowned head, it pawed the ground then charged.
The dark figure of the Dementor stumbled back, tripping on its robe slightly.
"Wait a second, since when do Dementors stumble?" Harry thought wildly as his Patronus circled round for another charge.
Harry exclaimed "You're not a Dementor!! You're a Boggart! Riddiculus!"
The Dementor exploded into wisps of smoke; his Patronus did one final circle before disappearing.
Harry sighed, I wish it stuck around I could do with some company, he mused looking up at the ever-towering hedges, he sighed again and ran off in the direction his wand pointed.
Not aware that eight gleaming ruby eye's were watching him.
oOoOoOo
Things weren't going well for Cedric Diggory, the whole maze gave him the creep's and earlier he could have sworn he heard Fleur scream and send up red sparks.
The bronze haired boy rounded another corner, "Just how many are there of those?" He wondered idly, checking carefully each time he did not want to run into another of Hagrid's Giant-Blast-Ended-Skrewts.
Checking the coast was clear he advanced.
He paused at a cross road of four paths, he froze and whirled around just in time to see a giant pair of incisors and Eight eyes, instinctively he sent up red sparks, before his world went black.
oOoOoOo
Harry began to wonder if he was going mad as the walls of the maze seemed to be getting closer together and more dense.
"Or maybe I'm getting close to centre of the maze, hopefully"
Close he was, as out of the corner of his he spied the glittering cup, he gave an exhilarated smile and ran towards it, not noticing the pearlescent web's he broke as he ran.
Suddenly he tripped, he turned and saw his legs had gotten tangled in the white silk, he reached his hand out hesitantly and touched the thread.
It was slightly sticky and clung to his fingers as he pulled the thread of his ankles.
Behind him approached a many-legged thing, singled clawed legs covered in thick wiry black hair padded silently on the moss of the floor of the once neatly kept Quidditch pitch.
The thing opened its gleaming obsidian incisors, inner set clicking softly, but it was enough as the boy froze and reached for his wand.
Harry turned slightly and saw in his peripheral vision he saw eight ruby eyes.
An Anchromantula…
Pincers clicked next to his ear, half a breath away from his neck before suddenly it let out a terrible shriek and read backwards. Harry felt something warm and faintly sticky trickle down his back.
Cautiously he reached back and placed his hand on his shoulder bringing it forward he held his hand in front of his face.
"You don't have to worry it's not your blood, you can open your eyes"
Harry did so gazing in morbid fascination at the black treacle like liquid, before looking up at the where the voice came from.
Kurama smiled down at him, pristine white robe's splattered with black blood, his long hair silver, and his Fox like ears twitching for the slightest sound.
"Here" He offered a clawed hand, which Harry took gratefully as he wasn't one hundred percent sure he would have been able to stand up by himself, or alive for that matter if Kurama hadn't saved him from the giant spider.
Speaking of…. "Kurama what happened to the Anchromantula?"
Kurama cocked his head to one side, in a manner not unlike his distant relatives the fox.
"Anchromantula? Is that what it's called? Hmmm I didn't injure it too badly, it scuttled off after I attacked. Personally this maze seams' to have a preference for giant bugs, unusual but then again there was that one in a northern province of Reikai, that on had a preference for a rather vicious species of dragon"
Harry flinched slightly, unsure weather it was the idea of more giant invertebrate or the memories of his own encounter with a particularly vicious breed of dragon.
Then he remembered The Cup!
He whirled around and there the Spider, probably one of Aragog's relatives, dislodged it Harry mused.
He then turned to Kurama and said, "why haven't you taken it? You would have won by now."
"And let you get eaten? Never! I have a little more decorum than that." He said with a teasing smile."
Harry flushed embarrassed and muttered, "Just take it "
Kurama just smiled, Irritated Harry turned to ask if he was being annoying on purpose, when the Anchromantula came from know where catching the two of guard, Kurama jumped out of the way dragging Harry with him, but was knocked from his course when the spider crashed past them knocking the cup straight into their laps.
Harry felt the familiar (if not unwelcome) tug of a port key as they were pulled to an unknown location.
oOoOoOo
They landed with an almighty thump upon the ground, the cup flung away.
Harry groaned, as did Kurama (although slightly more delicately, but Harry had the feeling if he ever vocalized the thought of the (usually) red haired fox being delicate, he might not live too long and would be wary of every Daffodil he saw)
Kurama straightened up from his instinctive crouch, and scanned the area; it was a dimly lit graveyard with many head stone's in the varying stages of aging and disrepair. The black outline of a church dimly visible and rolling hill's led into a large valley, with a large old house silhouetted against the twilight.
At the centre next to a particularly monument's stone angel with a mournful expression and ivy covered wings, stood a large caldron supported on legs carved to resemble snakes with emerald eyes glinting because of the single source of light, the strange glowing lilac flame.
Harry stared at the fire; it was magical meaning wizards we're in the near vicinity.
Harry called out to the silent fox, "The cup was a port key! I wasn't told that at the beginning, were you?"
At the shake of the head, Harry murmured "Perhaps we should get out of here?"
A tense nod, eye's unmoving from the two advancing figure's coming down the overgrown path into the cemetery from the old manor.
Harry raised his wand, following Kurama's example.
Kurama began to growl, startling Harry; it was low and deeper than expected, a sound rumbling like thunder from the fox's core, teeth glinting sinisterly as his lips twisted into a feral snarl.
"Karasu..." breathed, the word dripping with more abhorrence and disgust than Harry thought possible, but there was a faint trace of fear as well.
The figure, dubbed Karasu stepped into the glow of the lilac flames.
The man with the aura of a bloodthirsty beast, was tall far taller than Kurama though, unnaturally slender, sharp jagged line's formed his visage, boney shoulders hip's wrapped in an expensive looking trench coat that clung to the thin spidery frame.
Long raven black hair fell far past is waist and closer to his knees, part of it fell across a face that could be considered handsome by some if it weren't for the unholy smile that revealed far too pointed teeth and bloodthirsty glowing violet eyes, Broad black wings spread out behind his disproportionately to the skinny frame supporting them. Even the feathers them selves we're jagged and seemed to pulse with the intent to do mortal harm.
"Hello, my beloved fox."
He spoke in a deep rasping tone that made the hair's on the back of Harry's neck stand on edge and his heart fill with ice, the feeling of immense trepidation was only dissuaded by the excruciating pain that raced through head from his scar.
The second figure approached carrying what appeared to be a bundle of robes, except for a deathly pale almost pearlescent arm, sticking out at an awkward angle.
"Peter Pettigrew" he hissed through gritted teeth, almost blinded by the pain as groped weakly at Kurama's arm.
Kurama growled at the crow in front of him, his thoughts erratic, why is it when you kill your one mortal enemy they come back from the dead stronger than ever?
He felt Harry grasp his arm, he looked down for a split second, Harry's face was contorted in agony, his eye's flicked back to where Karasu stood.
Only he was gone.
He felt long thin boney finger's disturb the hair behind his neck, as they reached around his throat, caressing his jaw slightly, his posture stiffened as he pushed Harry away in time, for a small bomb to go off where the boy had previously stood.
Kurama however did not move an inch from where he stood, his arm extended from where he had thrown Harry, the crow behind him, his towering figure all that more threatening with the great black wing's extended and slightly curled around Kurama.
The contrast between them was great, the fox was clad in white tainted with black along with the black brand gracing his clavicle, his long hair tumbled like quicksilver over one shoulder, a look of uncharacteristic fear on his beautiful face, the crow dressed in black, with his long raven hair and ebony wing's contrasting with is ivory skin in such a manner that made it unholy and almost deathly pale.
The sinister, sadistic smirk marred his features once more, as he murmured,
"Foolish Itooshi, you should have known better than to let him touch you."
A mock surprised look formed betrayed by the menacing look in his eyes, "Ahh but what is this! A mating mark! I'm surprised at you, letting that foolish Nue dominate you so, did you not once say to me that you'd never submit to anyone? Has the great Youko Kurama fallen so that he allows another to be his mate?"
He pouted slightly fiddling with some loose silver strand's that hung by Kurama's face, whilst the other hand tightened further warning the captive fox not to move, as he held them to the light of the full moon that now hung over the graveyard in a sky clear of clouds.
"Pity, I liked the red, it reminded me of your beautiful blood, Ahh never mind I shall have all of you as my mate, once I kill that foolish lord that took you from me…"
He smiled cruelly, promising ill-omen acts, placing the hand that had previously been toying with moonlight coloured hair came down to rest deliberately on Kurama's stomach.
"… And the unborn child of his."
Kurama's previously fearful face, twisted into a look of furious abhorrence, he ripped the blasted crow's hands from his and snarled with more ferocity than ever.
Harry shuddered from where he lay against the angel tomb, where Kurama had flung him, Kurama's wrath previously unseen by his eye's now shook him to the core at the petrifying magnificence. The figure of Peter Pettigrew cowering behind the caldron clutching at the bundle of robe's that was hissing violently.
The fox flexed his claws in fury; The Crow had gone so far as to threaten his Mate and unborn kit? His beast howled for the slaughter in penitence for the threat.
His golden eye's became ruby as he howled exhilaration at the thought of tearing the feathers from the Crows wings and crunching his bone's between his jaws, his form shifted and the Mist began to form with vehemence, swirling with ferocity akin to a storm.
The beast that leapt forth was nothing like the form Harry had seen previously, whereas before the creature though massive and menacing, it had been playful and calm even when fighting with Yomi, this creature that came from the mist was different.
It's jaw's were wide and snarling with intensity, its powerful muscled flanks we're tensed and poised to pounce for prey, its paws were flexed and talon like craw's gleamed, Ruby eye's glowing and trained on the hazard to its family, it's very being seemed to pulse with the intent to massacre its opponent.
The creature gave a howl that screamed, maim, slaughter, Vengeance!
The Monster attacked powerful flank's rippling with intent as the bunched to give power to the pounce that broke the bones of the fully transformed crow.
The horrific Crow was of similar size of the fox, only smaller, its razor-like beak opened to reveal fang's like that of a snake which filled the mouth of the bird, Iridescent Indigo eye's gleamed, scaly legs (of disproportionate size) extend talons flexed causing jagged lines in the dirt, a lizard like tail extended where feathers should have been, feathered only at the end.
Harry looked on at the gruesome battle that was more like a one-sided slaughter, as the two behemoth sized beasts rolled down the hill, biting and tearing with claws, blood staining the grass.
So engrossed in the battle equal to that of the titan's of mythology, that he did not notice Pettigrew dumping the sickly white form in the large caldron, and mumbling some incantation, whilst adding ingredients.
He was only broken from his revere when a blood-curdling scream issued from Pettigrew as he severed his own hand from his body.
He yelled out, drawing the crippled man's attention, the deranged man advanced upon him murmuring, stumbling over the words as though in a dream,
" Blood of the enemy… Forcibly taken… you will… resurrect your foe"
Harry started, he did not want to find out what that meant, and as the thing in the rag's had been addressed as Master by Pettigrew, and the only master that Pettigrew had, to the best of his knowledge was Voldemort, and he Did Not want that man to come back into the mortal plane of existence any time soon.
He stumbled backwards, as the rat swung the ornate knife at his legs, groping blindly for his wand.
An almighty crash distracted Peter from his pursuit of Harry, he let out a despairing shriek of anguish as the two brawling beast's had overturned the caldron, as one paw shot out to steady the canine form, it crushed the caldron beneath its weight, killing whatever was left of the white skeletal form of the Dark Lord.
Harry found his feet, and raised his wand to the traitor of his parent's, whom had turned to face him, "Peter Pettigrew, you traitor!"
The rat like man sniveled and attempted to form the word's "Advad—"
"Expelliarmus!" Harry bellowed first, the wand flew out of the traitor's hand, before shouting "Petrificus Totalus!" and the form crumpled.
Harry approached the form carefully, paying no heed to the carnage Kurama's was creating nor the strangled shriek Karasu emitted.
He saw the knife Peter had used and saw the vines growing over the grave's, an idea struck him, and cut the vine's into length's and wound them round Pettigrew's wrists and ankles tying them securely.
Perhaps he could prove Padfoot's innocence after all?
He then (collecting the rat's wand on the way, making sure both dagger and wand were as far away from the owner as possible) crept down the hill following the trail of disarray until he came across what was now a clearing amongst an outcrop of trees, there he came across a rather strange sight.
In the centre of the clearing amongst shed feather's and next to the mutilated form of Karasu, was a large blood stained fox, relatively un-harmed, apart from one nasty scratch along his left hindquarter, Biting contently away at the crow's jugular.
Looking very much the part of the cat that had caught the canary.
The giant fox shook its head finishing its assurance that the nasty crow was dead, he sat up looking at harry and wagged his tail's.
The morbid irony of the sight, coupled with everything that had happened, sent Harry into hysteric laughter, tears streaming down his face.
He gently padded over to the hysterical human limping from the wound, he nudged the human to his feet and guided him back up the hill with reassuring nuzzles, so contradictory to his previous actions towards the crow, stupid carrion bird.
When Harry calmed down he told Kurama what happened Kurama nodded a strange sight for such a large creature. He asked Kurama if he would carry the captive Death Eater, and explained shyly when given a questioning look.
Kurama lowered his bloodstained muzzle to the Death Eaters limp form and carefully bit his robes holding him like a rag doll. He then padded over to where Harry was waiting next to the cup.
They looked at each other, then simultaneously and placed their hand, or giant paw on the cup, Kurama lowered Pettigrew so he was touching the cup as well, and they felt the tug in their navels and disappeared from what was left of the demolished graveyard.
oOoOoOo
They landed in the cheering stands; Harry fell forward onto the grass, whilst Kurama tossed Pettigrew to the ground as he fell side ways onto his uninjured side, finally surrendering to blood loss when he saw his mate approaching with the medi-wizards and witches.
oOoOoOo
When Kurama awoke he was still in his final form only somewhat smaller from lack of energy, He blinked blearily up at his smiling, but tired looking mate and nuzzled his love's hand.
Suddenly he froze and whined slightly, The Baby!
Sensing his mate's fear, he smiled and murmured, "Your both fine love the baby's safe and healthy, the potter boy's fine too just a few scrapes kept mumbling about the graveyard and such. The man you brought back means the boy's godfather can prove his innocence and he can adopt the boy"
Kurama relaxed, and Yomi continued his usual façade falling away showing his worry for his mate and unborn child
"You scared me Kurama, when you collapsed covered in blood I feared the worst, I felt more fear than I have ever before, true terror at the thought of loosing you, both of you. I love you too much to lose you"
Kurama looked at Yomi, his form smelted into mist and reformed as a tired looking red head, "I love you too Yomi, I was afraid Yomi I froze like a child when that man threatened to harm you, I'm afraid he won't stay dead, scared that he'll come back and harm you or the Kit."
Yomi growled slightly and embraced Kurama, holding him gently cradled against his chest, "That man is dead, if he so much as thinks' of harming either of you, If Koenma doesn't have him banished to oblivion, which I highly doubt, I will send him there myself."
Kurama nuzzled into his chest smiling before surrendering to sleep, his mate soon following.
They were guarded in their slumber by the stoic form of Hiei and their friends and family.
It was only after the final feast, when Harry and Kurama were alone again, the Youko was sitting under the Womping Willow, when Harry approached, the red head smiled warmly and patted the ground beside him, Harry sat.
"Err…. Thank you…" he began, " for everything I mean I don't think I'd be alive right now if it weren't for you."
Kurama, smiled slightly, it was just a slight tilt of the lips, "You will always have friend's amongst Youkai Harry especially for when the war starts"
"Do you think he will come back? Voldemort I mean."
"Yes, his soul has not yet been collected by the ferry girls"
They lapsed into comfortable silence before Harry broke it again, "I've been meaning to ask you, are you really Hiei's mother?"
Kurama laughed standing up, "yes, by adoption I am after all he is only 7 and a half in demon years."
Harry squawked slightly, "7 and a half!!???"
Kurama just laughed again walking away in the direction of his mate and two sons.
You have Silver-chan to thank for this one as its a get well prezzie ^^
Ta~teacups