Awakening the Dragon

Chapter 12

Dumbledore had returned to his study after quietly requistioning several potions from Poppy's supplies to ease his bruises and magical burns from the feedback from the reflected spell and he sat behind his desk fingers steepled beneathe his crooked nose fighting to control the anger at his schemes being thwarted. Harry must be made to realise that this was the only safe place for him where Albus could mentor him in defetaing Tom Riddle.

He knew he wouldn't be able to convince Harry to return, Wu would have to much influence on the boy now, he must be brought to believe his presence at the village was a major threat. Forming a plan he rose from his seat and made his way to the fire place and tossed several sprinkles of Floo powder into the flames and knelt sticking his head into the green fire. "Serverus would you please come to my office." He slowly pushed himself to his feet adjusting his robes and wincing as his knee's crackled. He placed his office floor deep in thought till finally the door opened and Snape walked in.

"You wished to see me Albus."

Dumbledore nodded and moved behind his desk and retook his seat and smiled at him. "I have good news, I found Harry, the bad news is I could not convince him to retrn, so I have something for you, a way for you to gain favor once more with Voldemort."

Snape looked at the old man worriedly. "What is it you wish me to do."

Albus smiled knowingly at his potions Master. "I want you to tell Voldemort where to find him."

In the Room of Requirement Ron stood looking at Terry Boot an Hannah Abbot in annoyance. "Look, bloody hell it's not hard!" He started to pace back and forth his hands waving erratically about him as his face went red. "Hannah you defend, that means shields, banishing charms, anything that will help you to defend you both, you don't worry about attacking!" He turned his attention to Terry. "And you, for Merlins sake you stun your own shield partner are you bloody stupid!"

The surrounding members of the DA sniggered watching Terry flush in embarrassment. Ron whirled glaring at the rest of them. "I don't know what the bloody hell you lot are laughing at you are all just as bad." He glared at them before looking at Luna. "C'mere and we'll show them what the hell they are supposed to be doing. Luna her eyes wide nodded and drifted from behind the groups and came to stand before him her wand drawn from it's usual place behind her ear and she smiled brightly at him. Ron pointed to Terry, Hannah, Ernie, and Anthony goldstien and Padma. "You lot do your best to defeat Luna and me alright." Nodding the students started firing off Spells at the pair who moved in almost perfect concert like they had spent their entire lives doing this, Luna's shield springing into being perfectly timed to deflect each strike and curse and stunner while Ron moved with her his wand barking off spells as the pair systematically took out the other students till fnally on the floor all that stood were Luna and Ron panting for breath.

The other members of the DA looked on stunned at the pair before ginny grinning broke free and started to revive the fallen members. Ron swiped his fingers through his hair sweeping the sweat soaked locks from his eyes and he glared at them. "That is how it's done." He sighed stretching his arms and shook his head. "Look it's late, we'll continue this at the next meeting ok."

Nodding the members started tp file out till Only Ron and Luna where left and she smiled brightly at him making him extrememly nervous. Slowly she glided across the floor till she reached him and stood on her tip toes and gently pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you Ronald."

Ron stood there stunned as he watched Luna glide out of the Room of requirement leaving him alone with a somewhat goffy smile on his face. "Bloody mental that one."

Harry rubbed at his arms trying to get the circulation flowing in the cold mountain air that had replaced the warm autumn winds that had blanketed the Shi valley. His breath fogged as he trudged through the snow carrying firewood for the cabin that he and Hermione now shared. He fought the smile that threatened to bloom on his face as he remembered the few changes that the pair had had to make when living together without any kind of supervision. He still blushed at the memory of walking into the wash area that had been set up and finding Hermione in the Tub. He had been so tired from training with Grandfather Wu he'd barely reacted till Hermione started shouting at him to get out and even then he found himself simply standing there looking at her till it finally clicked in his fatigued brain she wasn't wearing any clothes.

Most of the friends they had made in the village had a good laugh at both their expense. It had taken Hermione a week to start talking to him again after that little mistake. Now a month later he found himself truly enjoying the feel of living with Hermione and the feeling it engendered in his soul that were more than he should have for just his friend. He shook his head ridding himself of his day dreams as he headed back to their cabin when he shivered, a feeling he had long hoped he wouldn't experience again anytime soon made his skin crawl. The timber fell from numb fingers as he clutched his head as the screams of his mother washed through his mind.

"No no no no no…" He struggled to focus, reinforcing his mental shields against the assault on his mind. He could see dark shapes flitting through the forest's edge and he cursed his foolishness at leaving his wand behind. He had grown complacent and careless believing himself safe here in the village. Slowly the Dementors started to float from the tree line between the homes of his friends and slowly drifted silently towards him. Suddenly in the background the shouts and cries started to rouse the villagers as homes started to burn and the sounds of magical curses being cast filled the air.

The Dementors drifted closer to Harry, their decaying hands reaching for him when suddenly the air was rent with a keening cry and a sword blade, it's edge burning blue in the cold air sliced through the hooded cloak setting it ablaze.

"Harry!" Yoshi shook the young wizard till the glazed expression on his face faded and Harry's focus returned and he took in the scenes of the village. All around him he watched as black robed Wizards fought with the Shi warriors and lost having no idea how to handle being attacked by Ki charged weapons and magical powers they had never encountered before. He could see Hermione and Noriko perched on the roof of one of the homes, bows drawn, blue tinged arrows streaking through the air striking and burning the flesh of the Dementors, who shrieked and turned against whoever was nearest. While the Shi had the ability to defend themselves against the soul eaters, very few of the Death Eaters were able to cast successful Patronus and fell prey to the same monsters they had sought to unleash on the village.

Harry found his hand wrapping around the hilt of a Katana and he nodded in thanks as he finally joined the fray. His sword edge gleamed as it arced through the air leaving death eaters and Dementors lying bleeding in the snow or fleeing for their lives.

Finally he stood gasping for breath his sword clutched in his hands his knuckles white as his breath heaved in and out of his lungs, fogging in the crisp wintery air as cheers went up in the camp. They had won.

"Well, well little Potter seems to have learned some more trick while he's been away."

He felt himself stiffen as the voice of the woman he desperately wanted to kill issued from behind him. Slowly he turned and he stared at Bellatrix Lestrange in pure unbridled fury.

"The dark lord will reward me greatly for destroying you, you foul little half blood." She raised her wand, a cruel smirk on her lips as she watched Harry raise his sword and with a casual flick of her wand she used the disarming jinx causing the sword to flip through the air, hilt aimed towards her out stretched hand.

Harry snarled almost in anger as he felt the sword shoot from his grip and in a moment of desperation and anger he gestured at the sword casting a banishing charm upon it. He watched as it rocketed across the distance between himself and Lestrange. She stared as the sword spun the hilt no longer pointed at her hand instead the wickedly sharp looking blade arced towards her faster than she could react.

She blinked and she stared down in horror at the hilt of the sword blade that was buried through her chest. She tried to speak but her throat didn't seem to work as no words issued from her mouth. Instead she sank to her knees in the snow blood staining the fresh whiteness crimson, as she lay there, her vision dimming she saw Potter standing above her. His gaze dark and foreboding and he reached down, his hand wrapping around the hilt of the sword and with a grunt he yanked it free. If Bellatrix had the strength she would have screamed, instead she died alone on the snow dusting the village grounds.

Harry stood there unblinking before the sword fell from his fingers the knowledge he had killed her slowly sinking into his mind and he balked, his hand covered his mouth as he struggled not to throw up. The cries of the injured and dying filled the village air as he staggered backwards, his eyes wide in horror.

"Harry?" Hermione walked slowly towards him, like someone trying not to spook a wild animal, her hand raised reaching for him. "Harry's it's ok."

Harry stared at her horrified watching the tears well in her eyes and he shuddered pain wracking him as he felt the loss of his godfather even more strongly, there was no satisfaction or pride in having killed Sirius's murderer. He lurched forward as he grabbed a hold of Hermione, clinging to her like a drowning victim clutching a life preserver as he tried to survive the storm raging in his soul.

Hermione felt his tears against her exposed skin and she felt her own trickling down her cheeks as he wailed like an injured animal as years of pent up pain and rage spilled out of him. She had no words, no knowledge from books to help her with this so she simply held him running her fingers through his hair whisper soothing words to him, letting him know she would never leave him.

Slowly he pulled away from her, his eyes bloodshot, his cheeks muddy with tear streaks and he stared down at her, emerald green meeting chocolate brown. He wasn't sure how long her stood there, moments, hours, he didn't care anymore, he knew what he wanted. He cupped her face in his hands and before she could say anything he kissed her.

TBC…

AN: Sorry it's been so long, but combined writers block and real life have conspired against me recently preventing me from getting things done. I suppose I should thank JKR for her book and her interview…it made me determined to get my stories complete.

Waves his Delusional Battle Flag

Yours truly

The Delusional and stupid KaiLunMau