Title: TBWLTBPK
Chapter: The Nightmare Begins
IMPORTANT! A/N Here you go. Also at the subscript (1) imagine the simple Dead Silence Theme playing which can be found at (http: / www. youtube. com / watch?v = UGlAtM2glEw) just remove the spaces.
(http: / www. youtube. com /watch?v = eKZijgbAnIU) this is the video that inspired Hermione's Nightmare, and will be the source of any more that might or might not happen to others.
(http: / www. youtube. com/ watch?v = d55IIlJI3Uc) this is what Vlad is playing.
I would at least open the first and last one while reading this!
"I knew you did something!" Blaise shouted once he and Lock were back in the Dorms. Lock did not respond. "Well why don't you say something when I say something! Who did you tell him to stay away from?"
"You already know don't you!" Lock shouted back.
"You know he's most likely going to kill you now, right?" Blaise inquired. Lock looked at him in surprise. "I'd tell him before he finds out on his own."
DID YOU READ THE A/N YET? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBWLTBPK . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Harry cracked his knuckles and lifted his quill. "Only one problem left." Harry's eyes flashed completely red. "There, all done. George, Fred, I'll be back later." Harry called out.
Fred nodded and resumed playing with his yo-yo. Harry gave them a smile before shadowing out of the room. He reappeared in a deserted hallway near the Slytherin Dorms. Harry rubbed his arm, trying to work up the courage to do what he was about to do. A shadow lifted from his shoulder and fleshed out to become him.
"Come on Harry. It'll be fun." Anti-Harry said red eyes trained on Harry.
"No it won't. I don't like to be mean."
"Stop being a wuss." Anti-Harry hissed, crossing his ink black arms.
"I'm not being a wuss! Stop being so mean to me."
"Look, you are going to go in there and find who did this. Draco is running out of time!" Harry sighed and fleshed out a sword. The sword glinted brightly, the handle and blade made of ebony. Anti-Harry tapped his foot.
"What?" Harry asked.
"Give me a weapon you moron!"
"No!" Harry shouted. Anti-Harry touched his finger to a tattoo. The next moment he was armed with a dark green arrow and an ebony bow. Anti-harry started to walk towards Slytherin dorms, Harry ran after him before stopping him. "You can't go into Slytherin Dorms. Just go back to being a tattoo."
"You wish. Why don't you want me to come?"
"Because you're evil!" Anti-Harry glared. He shoved the bow and arrow at Harry before dissolving into a mist. Harry sighed in relief and then faded the bow and arrow back on to his skin. Harry gripped the sword tightly as he stepped through the portal to Slytherin Commons. Everyone turned to look at him as the door grated shut.
"Where's Wynchester?"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBWLTBPK . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Faust crept into the room where he knew Draco was being kept. He halted at the door but was poked harshly in the ribs for it. Faust gave Blaise a glare before continuing into the room. Blaise closed the door behind him and illuminated his wand. Faust walked over to where Draco was laying and gasped in surprise. Blaise came over.
"What is it?" he hissed. Faust shook his head.
"It can't be. He's a... Vila."
"What? He can't be a Veela, only girls are Veela. Right?" Faust glared at the ignorant human.
"Not Veela, Vila and a fire one at that. He is so going to kill me if he wakes up. Heck Jack is going to kill me." Blaise peered a bit closer at Draco. He did not notice anything different. Draco was only sleeping.
"Just, hurry up." Blaise told him pushing him a bit closer to Draco. Faust frowned at the physical contact.
"No, let him die, he's mine."
"What did you say?" growled a voice from the shadows. Anti- Harry smirked as the two boys gave out surprised squeaks and the black boy fainted. "Over here you bastard." He said regaining his anger.
Faust looked over to where the voice was coming from to see a shadow copy of Harry. Anti-Harry walked over and lifted the fake student by his tie. Faust began to claw at the ink black hand that held him, struggling to get air. The real Harry then shadowed into room at that moment and slashed his sword at the shadow him. It made little contact, only making a small cut on his arm. Harry clapped his hand over his own arm, feeling blood start to drip from it. Anti-Harry grinned as ink splashed on the floor from his cut. Anti-Harry's wound closed up and Harry looked up at him.
"Harry, you can't hurt me. However, let's not worry about that at the moment. The real problem is that Lock doesn't want to take back the pain he's brought." Harry let his sword sag in his hand, the tip touching the floor. Anti-Harry stood next to the first year and they both looked at Faust.
"Is that true Lock?" Harry asked. "Because if it is I will kill you." Faust looked between Anti-Harry and Harry, worry etched on his face. The young devil ran for the door but was stopped by the Anti-Harry who stretched himself out to tower over him. Faust took a step back.
"O-okay, it's true. I'm sorry." The blade of Harry's sword poked at his chest. Faust looked down at it.
"Reverse what you've done Faust. Draco isn't going to die because he's my best friend." Faust's face darkened.
"What about me?" he hissed. Harry's green eyes narrowed.
"I don't know you."
... TBWLTBPK ...
"Where did Harry say he was off to?" George asked his brother. Fred shrugged, trying to untangle himself from the yo-yo string. "How long ago did he leave?"
"I don't know, maybe like half an hour ago." Fred told him. George frowned.
"I was wondering because I thought of a possible side effect." Fred looked up.
"What is it?"
"Well his tattoos are also shadows, so wouldn't they burn in the sun?" George asked. As the two boys pondered the question, a mirror appeared and started to ring. George warily walked up to it, Fred hopping up behind him.
"Uh... hello?" Fred said. The mirror rippled and then they were looking not at their reflections but Death the Kidd.
"Hello, is the prince there?" Kidd asked in a bored tone.
"YEAH IS HE THERE?" shouted a girl about their age with chin-length, bright hair with bangs, and light blue eyes. If the twins were to be in an anime show, their eyes would have popped into the forms of hearts.
"No he isn't, but you could always talk to us."
"Hey, are you hitting on my sister!" shouted a sixteen year old with long caramel hair. "I should kill you!"
"You can't kill them Liz! They are perfectly symmetrical!" Kidd shouted in a panic. The younger girl gave a barking laugh.
"Well can I at least hit them?" Liz shouted back. Kidd paused to think for a moment, bringing his fingers up to his chin.
"I suppose that could work but only if you make sure their bruises are symmetrical." Kidd told her. Liz grinned.
"I can do that."
... TBWLTBPK...
Faust looked over at Draco and muttered a few words, causing the little light above his heart to glow brighter and his breathing to become steady. Harry lowered his sword and stepped back, satisfied. Anti-Harry grimaced at his counterpart's forgiveness.
"Hey Harry, I still think we should beat him up." Harry looked up at the tattoo.
"No. Now go away...whatever your name is." Harry said with a huff. Anti-harry looked at Harry.
"Name?"
"Yeah, what's your name, it can't be Harry." Anti-Harry closed his eyes in thought.
"I don't have a name." He told them.
"Oh, well, now your name is Adrian." Harry decided. Adrian blinked before smiling.
"Adrian, thanks." The shadow boy said.
"Your welcome, now leave." Adrian glared but left the room. Harry turned to Faust.
"You should leave too. I don't want you to put him in a coma again." Faust glared but started walking out of the room but shut the door again as he saw Madame Pomfrey coming.
"The Nurse is on her way!" Faust told Harry. Harry gave him a smile as he grabbed Blaise's wrist.
"That's your problem." He said as he shadowed away with his classmate.
... TBWLTBPK...
Liz stepped through the mirror only to transform into a demon pistol. Kidd looked at the fallen gun on the other side of the glass before stepping through himself and picking her up.
"It seems as though you can't be in your human form here either Liz." Kidd said tossing the pistol into the mirror. Liz changed back to her human form and scowled from inside the mirror.
"I can't seem to be human anywhere!" Liz shouted. "Not here, not Halloween Town, only in your father's office."
"Well I suppose it's for the best, you talk way too much." Kidd told her. The Weasley twins and Kid grinned as Liz stormed off angrily. The remaining girl watched her go before looking at the redheads with doe like eyes.
"I'm Patti."
... TBWLTBPK...
Faust PoV
I quickly searched for a hiding place; finally deciding that under the bed was my best option. I clung to the underside of the bed as the door creaked open and Madame Pomfrey came in. I watched as she walked over to the cabinet and pulled out several vials, the glass tinkling as they hit one another.
"Okay, time for your medicine." Madame Pomfrey muttered to herself.
"What medicine?" asked a voice, that I knew to be Draco. The vials dropped from Madame Pomfrey's hands, Draco catching them at the last moment, seeing me under the bed. Draco gave an almost feral smile before he straightened back onto the bed and handed the vials to Madame Pomfrey.
'Oh I am so screwed.' I thought as I tried to think of a way to escape before Draco could find me again. Madame Pomfrey waved her wand over Draco's form and frowned at the results.
"Mr. Malfoy, why are you wearing a glamour?"
'So that's why Blaise didn't understand.' I thought.
"What glamour?" Draco asked in confusion. Madame Pomfrey frowned. I began to panic as my gripped slipped a bit. I was going to fall and be found out. I heard another set of footsteps approaching the door and I wondered who it could be. The door opened once again, and stayed open. However, whoever it was still in the doorway.
Third Person
Harry opened the door and Madame Pomfrey looked up at him.
"Mr. Potter, what are you doing here?" Draco looked over at the door and several things happened. Draco's glamour fell, Faust dropped from under the bed and made a run for the door, and Harry blocked him with a sword. Madame Pomfrey took out her wand and petrified all of them.
Madame Pomfrey sighed and pushed a stray lock of hair back into place. Being a nurse was becoming increasingly difficult. Poppy unfroze Draco first and smiled warmly at him. "Mr. Malfoy, were you not aware you had a glamour on?" Draco shook his head. Poppy smiled and handed him a mirror.
Draco took the mirror and looked at himself in shock. His hair had grown to his midback and was now a whitish blond with the tips being a fire blue. Draco peered at his eyes and was relieved to find that they were still the same. He grinned to reveal that all his teeth were slightly pointed, as were his ears. Draco handed the mirror back to Madame Pomfrey, noticing a small patch of orange on his inner left wrist. He brought his arm closer to his face to find that it was his skin, only it was more leather-like and in the shape of a flame.
"Madame Pomfrey, what happened to me?" Draco asked the Nurse.
"I'm not sure Draco. I was hoping you would be able to tell me. The creature you've turned into doesn't exist outside of Halloween story books."
"Which creature would that be?"
"A Fire Vila."
"No, no-one in my family is a Veela." Draco stated. Faust broke the spell that had bound him and shook out his limbs.
"Not Veela, you moron. Vila." Draco gave a noise between a hiss and a screech before he had a ball of fire in his hand. The tips of his hair were now a black colour and were poised around his head, ready to strike.
"Did you just call me a moron?" Draco shouted.
"I-I'm sorry." Faust stuttered. Madame Pomfrey placed a comforting hand on Draco's shoulder. Draco let the fireball dissipate and relaxed his form. Harry finally broke the spell and looked at the three others in the room.
"What's going on?" he asked, looking at Faust.
"I don't know," Harry's grip tightened on his sword. "I swear I don't know! If what the nurse is saying is true, then Draco is a Halloween creature. We need to contact Jack!"
"Alright, both of your give me your wrists." Faust warily held his wrist out to Harry. Draco held out the wrist that did not have the leathery patch of skin. Harry grabbed each wrist, and shadowed them all to the Room of Requirement.
...TBWLTBPK...
Barrel wandered the hallways during his free period wondering what he should do. As he rounded the corner, he ran straight into Shock. The two 'eleven' year olds fell backwards, their glamours cancelling each other out. Shock sat up and gasped, her skin was green again, and her hair all stringy. Barrel groaned as he sat up, but his eyes lit up as he saw Shock.
"I forgot how beautiful you looked." Shock stopped her panicking and looked at Barrel with calculating black eyes.
"We need to find Lock; he'll know what to do." Barrel sighed as Shock got up and walked away.
"Stupid!" he muttered to himself. The little skeleton got up and ran after the witch.
... TBWLTBPK...
Harry released both boys as soon as they landed in the room. George and Fred grinned at him, both of them wrapped up in a yo-yo string. Harry gave an exasperated sigh.
"The string isn't even that long! How did you both get stuck in it?"
"Well you see-" George started.
"I was stuck in it"
", but then Kidd called"
"-saying he needed to speak to you"
"Wait, Kidd called? What did he want, and how did he call you?" Harry asked in confusion.
"He used the mirror." Fred told him.
"To call back he said to dial, 42-42-564." George explained. Harry walked over to the mirror and, feeling foolish, wrote the numbers on the mirror. The mirror started to ring, causing Harry to jump in surprise. Suddenly Kid was looking at him from the other side of the mirror.
"Prince Harry, you're needed in Halloween town."
"Great, because that's where we need to go. How do I get there?"
"If you desire it, you must will it. If you will it, it will be so." Kidd told him cryptically before Harry was looking at his tattooed reflection once more.
"What?"
...TBWLTBPK...
Shock huffed a bit as she reached the top of the stairs. Her mask was warm, relaying that Lock was near by. She looked behind her to see Barrel lying on the landing two floors below.
"Barrel, get up here." She hissed loudly. Barrel rolled his head to look up at her. The sunlight trickled through a window, making her glow. Barrel struggled to his feet before hustling up the next flight of steps. He was one flight below Shock when Adrian swooped down from the ceiling and grinned mischievously at him.
"S-Shock!" he called out in fear. The witch looked over the banister to look directly at the red-eyed, grinning Adrian. She let out a scream of fear. Adrian stretched up to the banister and plucked the wand from her trembling hands.
"Now, that won't do. Come on I only want to be friends." Adrian told her sincerely, and he was sincere but the fact that he looked like the embodiment of evil didn't help.
"Leave her alone!" Barrel shouted, running up the stairs and drawing his wand. Letting out a powerful stupefy, Adrian was knocked into a wall. Well he was knocked into what should have been a solid wall but instead the shadow boy phased through it. Shock frowned as she looked at the wall. She stepped towards it and her mask became warmer.
"Lock is through this wall." She commented as Barrel came up behind her.
...TBWLTBPK...
Adrian feel to a crumpled heap and Harry's feet, sobbing loudly. Harry looked at the twins for guidance but they shrugged their shoulders. The eleven year old looked down at the 'himself' and sighed.
"Adrian, what's wrong." The ink boy sat up and sniffled a bit.
"No one likes me." Harry gave a grimace. He knew he should say 'Well, I like you,' but he really didn't and he never lied.
"Uh...you don't exist?" Harry said. Draco snorted in amusement. Harry looked at him. "What?" Draco just shook his head before turning to Adrian.
"Perhaps you should look for friends on the shadow plane?" Lock stared at Draco.
"How do you know about the shadow plane?" Draco shrugged.
"I know a lot of things now, and I now realize my past advice wasn't so great." Draco looked at Adrian. "You are too young to venture into the shadow realm alone, you might as well be friends with Harry and me." Adrian smiled revealing pearly white teeth. Harry scratched the back of his neck.
"Um, Draco, can I talk to you?" Draco nodded and led them to the corner of the room.
"What's wrong Harry?" Harry rubbed his arms before looking over at Adrian.
"Draco, I really don't want to be Adrian's friend. He scares me." Draco looked over at Adrian who was laughing along with the Weasley twins.
"He doesn't seem that scary to me." Draco told him.
"You haven't seen what he is capable of, he has all the evil thoughts I've ever thought, all the pain I've ever had, and he has no heart!" Harry hissed. Draco frowned.
"You're the one being the jerk Harry. Adrian is not evil or anything, he's only ink. You transform soon and he'll probably be gone too." Harry stared at Draco.
"Fine, take his side! What do I know seeing as he's obviously only the darkest part of me!" Draco laughed loudly.
"Oh, I'm so worried about the darkest side of you! Harry, you wouldn't kill a fly, you wouldn't even shake a spider off your arm. If he's you, then, there is nothing to be afraid of." Draco gave one last smile before walking away. Harry watched him leave, eyes like steel.
"My soul is darker than you know."
...TBWLTBPK...
"How can someone be through a wall?" Barrel asked. Shock shrugged and sat one the tiled floor staring at the wall. Barrel hesitantly went to sit next to her. All was quiet and still, the only sounds being there soft breathing and the faint hooting of owls. Barrel frowned a bit before touching a piece of exposed ground. Barrel pulled his hand away as a green sprout wiggled its way up from the ground. The little sprout transformed into a rosebud that grew a pair of tiny legs and began to dance around in enchanting circles. Shock glanced over and her brown eyes widened in surprise. 'Eric' was back.
"Barrel, your glamour, its back." Barrel looked over at the girl he loved a smiled.
"Your glamour is back too, Melissa." Shock looked down at herself and smiled, and then she noticed the little rosebud.
"That's amazing, how are you doing that?" Barrel shrugged and touched the exposed dirt a few more times, causing even more flowers to grow and sway around to the melody of the sparkling light. Barrel stood up and extended his hand.
"Would you care to dance M'Lady?" Barrel asked. Shock giggled and slipped her pale hand into his. Barrel pulled Shock to her feet and the two began to dance to music that only existed between the two of them. Eric twirled Melissa around, her dark brown hair floating lazily through the air. Melissa laughed as their music swelled, filling the corridor with the enchanting sounds of the piano. Eric caught Melissa's eyes and they were unable to look away. Hogwarts hummed in approval as two sets of soul mates were brought together. Eric and Melissa. Barrel and Shock. Hogwarts added the tinkling of bells to the already passionate piano piece. Barrel slowly began there dance once more, and Shock gave a small laugh as bubble-like spheres appeared in the air around them. She released Barrel's hand to pop one, however when she touched it a small light appeared on the inside instead, and, it too began to dance. Barrel stared in amazement as Shock went around and lightly touched each sphere. Barrel kneeled down and placed his whole hand on the exposed soil for a minute, when he lifted his hand little flowers buds shot up one after another, in an almost endless line. Shock looked at him.
"Okay, now you really have to tell me how you do that." Barrel smiled at her.
"Everyone has a talent, Shock. Mine, is animating things, although I've never been able to create flowers before, it's just not Halloween-like. Lock's talent is speaking to weapons, and it seems that yours is making things beautiful." Shock lightly hit Barrel's arm.
"Barrel!" she hissed, turning bright red. Barrel grinned.
"Shock, I really like you and was wondering if you'd like to be my girlfriend." Shock blush burned brighter.
"Of course Barrel." A quiet fell over them once more as they embraced, the small flower buds dancing intricately around them. Barrel's eyes widened as a door appeared in front of him.
"Shock, there's a door." Shock let go and turned around to see a marble door.
"Should we go through?" she asked. Barrel nodded and led the way.
...TBWLTBPK...
Hermione growled loudly in frustration causing the librarian to shush her. Hermione's honey brown eyes narrowed but she made no other noise. Ron sat next to her playing with a feather. Hermione flipped through the rest of the book before handing it to Ron who dutifully placed it in the rejected pile of books. Ron gaze travelled up the large stack of books. The redhead stood up and walked to the bookshelf that was across the way, scanning the titles. Hermione finished skimming another book and held it out, when the book was not immediately taken she shook her arm, but there was still no response. Hermione looked up and realized that Ron had gone to search for a book in the paranormal section. Hermione made a noise of disgust and got up from her seat. The young girl walked up to the redhead and crossed her arms.
"What do you think your doing? We are supposed to be researching, not reading about things that don't even exist." Ron did not respond and Hermione frowned. She walked behind Ron and stood on her tiptoes to look over his shoulder. There printed on the page was a picture of the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. A woman with skin as white as pure energy sat in the middle of a ring of fire, wearing a dress that was as black as the night itself. Her hair pooled at her feet a glimmering silver. Her eyes gazed at them with love, understanding and peace even though they were as grey as cold steel. Her face had a motherly expression and one hand was held out as if welcoming her into the printed pages. Hermione tore her gaze away to read the caption. "The Mother of All Vila in her prime."
"It's quite an interesting story." Ron said. Hermione jumped, forgetting that she had been occupying the space with another being.
"What is interesting?" she asked.
"The story of the Vilas creation is. Meant to be the perfect beings wielding the elements, but they had one major flaw." Hermione's eyes widened in curiosity.
"What is it?"
"The need to eat souls." Hermione's gaze fell upon the picture.
"She didn't eat souls, right?" Ron too looked at the picture.
"No, nor did she intend for her children to become monsters. They were meant to be perfect, to keep her happy in her old age. She was a Muggle born witch, rumoured to be more powerful than Merlin, but then again, it is only a myth right. A Halloween tale passed down from generation to generation." Ron closed the book and raised an arm to place it back on he shelve. Hermione stopped him and took the book from his grasp, reading the cover.
'Tales from Halloween Town.'
"Halloween Town? Ron this book may not be a myth. We have to show this to Harry as soon as possible." Ron nodded and they went to go check out the book, their previous research forgotten.
...TBWLTBPK...
Harry walked over to the group and grabbed Draco's wrist. The blond's eyes became black pools with red irises, black veins appearing around his eyes. "Draco." The blond blinked and his eyes once again became grey.
"Have you figured out a way to get to Halloween Town?" Harry nodded and a shadowy circle, similar to the one the young winged demon had made.
"You guys want to come?" Harry asked. Fred and George declined.
"Sorry Harry, our new invention will be ready in about an hour, can't afford to miss it." Fred explained. Lock glared slightly at Draco as he stepped into the circle. Harry teleported them before Adrian could make a move towards the circle. The three boys landed with a thud in Halloween Town. Draco pulled his wrist from Harry's grasp and glared at him.
"You left Adrian behind on purpose."
"What? I did not!" Harry lied. Draco frowned before running in the direction of the Vampire's home. Harry sighed and didn't bother to run after him. "Come on Lock, we have to go find Jack." Lock was surprised that Harry had spoken to him in a kind manner so he followed the heavily tattooed boy into the courtyard.
"What about Draco?" Lock asked.
"Why are you asking a question you don't want the answer to?" Harry responded. Soon enough the two boys were in front of the Skellington Residence. Lock looked over at the Jim band.
"Is the Bone Daddy home fellas?" Jim nodded and opened the gate for them. "Thanks Daddy-O hit you on the flip side."
Lock started up the stairs, Harry following close by. With each step, they took Lock lost more of his glamour, until at last only the little devil remained. Lock knocked on the door, stuffed his hands in his pockets and waited for someone to answer. "Who is it?" asked a voice.
"It's me Lock, Harold and I must speak with Jack." Sally bit her lip in worry, she didn't trust Lock.
"Just a minute." She called out, quickly running up the stairs. "Jack! Jack! You are needed at the door!" Jack looked up from his readings to gaze out the window. Storm clouds were approaching, at a very fast pace.
"I'll be right out Sally!" Jack told her as he got up from his seat. The old skeleton made his way downstairs and opened the door to reveal two rain-drenched boys.
"Jack, my friend has been turned into a Halloween creature and I wish to know why." Jack paid no mind to the boy; instead, he glanced fearfully at the storm that was only going to get worse.
"You brought him here, didn't you?" Jack asked. Harry nodded.
"He's with the-" Harry's sentence was cut short as Jack ran past him, running with the agility he had in his prime.
"We have to get him out of here!" Jack shouted over his shoulder as a large thunderclap roared in the air above them. The sky was now dark as the boys ran after the king. They held onto each other's wrists as hey ran through the violent storm, lightning only illuminating the way for brief moments at a time. They saw Jack disappear into the vampire's home and drag out an enraged Draco. Draco was screeching loudly, sounding like the demon he so appeared to be. His vibrant red hair whipped around, black tips attempting to impale the king. Eyes were now pools of black with red irises, fangs were elongated. Harry's heart raced as he saw his best friend struggle to escape.
"Leave him alone!" Harry shouted through the rain. Lock whirled the boy to face him.
"Are you insane? Jack let's go and we all die!" Harry looked over at Draco.
"No, we won't." Harry made to run to his friend but Lock trapped his wrist. "Let go of me!"
In Jack's arms, Draco had stopped struggling as soon as he heard Harry's desperate yell. He saw Lock and his eyes narrowed dangerously. The boy began to struggle more violently, the rain came down in torrents, and lightning repeatedly threw itself at Draco. Harry threw out a ram only for it to dissolve in the rain. "No! Draco, stop fighting him!" the door to the vampire's home flew open as a blur exited. Lock was suddenly sent flying to the ground, his grip on Harry finally broken. Vladimir appeared and helped Harry to his feet, and then he was glaring at the smaller boy with glowing purple eyes.
"Leave now, and take your friend, it is dangerous for him to be here while he is still a fledgling." Harry nodded and took off towards Draco.
"Draco!" Draco's head snapped to the direction of the voice. "Draco give me your hand, we have to go." Jack became angry.
"What are you doing?"
"You have to trust me!" Harry shouted. Jack frowned but released the Vila. Draco stilled and gazed at his surroundings. Draco's hair struck at the wrist joints of Jack's left hand before he was clinging to Harry as a small child does to a parent. Harry stroked his friend hair as he teleported them back home. Harry laid the passed out boy on a couch and warned the twins not to touch him.
"Why?" George asked. Harry hesitated.
"Because, he is not well, that is why." Harry told them. Harry then noticed that Melissa and Eric were in the room. "How did they get in here?" Harry hissed, glaring at the twins. Barrel stepped forward.
"We were looking for uh, Faust. We need to speak with him about some occurrences."
"Well, I'm sorry to tell you this but Faust isn't exactly who you think he is." Shock sighed and stepped forward.
"Neither are we, Harry. Why do you think we also carry around these masks?" Harry backed away and shook his head in denial.
"No, not you guys too." Barrel and Shock nodded sadly.
"We were sent here to protect you by Jack, but since then so much has happened. We realized that we could just be your friends and just protect you because that's what friends do." Shock explained. Harry shut his eyes in anger.
"Where's Adrian?"
"I don't know..." Fred said.
"I think he said something about friends." George added. Harry ran a hand through his thick, green hair in frustration and ran out of the room.
"Don't wake Draco until I get back." He ordered.
...TBWLTBPK...
Kidd stumbled out of the portal that his father had created for him. The sun began to filter through the storm clouds as he walked though Halloween Town searching for Jack. Doors opened as the creatures began to venture outside, fear of what had just occurred fading with the sight of the royal boy. The creatures cheered for the soon to be shinigami out of respect causing the boy to become annoyed.
"Stop that, I am not your prince and your actions could be considered treason!" The creatures stopped and stared at the boy. Kidd took a deep breath and released it. "Where is Jack?"
"Over here Kidd." The skeleton rasped out. Kidd's orange eyes widened as he ran over to the fallen King.
"Jack, what happened to you?" The skeleton frowned.
"A fledgling and one that has already found a mate they wish to pursue." Kidd fell to his knees.
"Uncle Jack, are- are you going to be okay?" Jack didn't respond. "God dammit answer me! Uncle, will you be okay?" A silver tear rolled down the white face of the King.
"Fire Vila fledglings leave nothing to chance." Jack said. Kidd's eyes filled with tears as the last of the clouds drifted away.
"Uncle, please there must be some way."
"Watashi wa fējinguda, ōji o erushi, no gishiki o kaishi shimasu.
"Īe! Oji, watashi no mama ni shinaide kudasai."
"Sore wa riko-tekidesu tamashī o hoji suru ni torappu."
"Mōshiwakearimasenga, oji no jakku. Watashi o yurusudarou ka?
"Mochirondesu, watashi no oi." Kidd bowed his head in gratitude. Suddenly a thought hit him.
"What about the prince's form, it is only the fifteenth of September."
"Talk to Lock, the boy knows more than he let's on." Jack retracted something from his breast pocket with his right hand and placed it in Kidd's hand.
"Give this to Sally." With those final words, the ruler of Halloween slowly faded to dust.
...TBWLTBPK...
Harry ran through the corridors, not caring who might see him. It was just his luck that the only person who did see him was Snape. The potion's teacher grabbed the back of Harry's clock, forcing him to stop. Harry gave a growl of anger. "Let go of me." He commanded. Snape sneered.
"You think you can intimidate me boy?" Harry saw red. The boy whirled around, causing Snape to lose his grip on the cloak.
"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?" Snape frowned at the boy's outburst.
"Please silence yourself, Potter," Snape said as he grabbed Harry's shoulder and started pulling him down the hallway to his office. Harry glared at the man and touched the tips of his forked tongue to the piercings in his lip. The professor gave a small shout of pain before he was glaring full force at the student. "I do not know what power you possess, but I promise you, if you dare use it against me again, you will regret it." Harry nodded, shaking in fear. Adrian rounded the corner at that moment and approached the potions professor.
"Let go of him." Adrian said. Snape gripped Harry's shoulder a bit harder in his anger.
"Who are you, and why are you telling me what to do?" he spat.
"You are hurting him, and he is scared. Let him go." Adrian answered, ignoring the first half of the question.
"I think I'd know if I was hurting him." He scoffed. Harry's eyes filled with tears, the current situation reminding him of his home life. Adrian touched Harry's arm and shadowed him away, returning a second later with a murderous glint in his eyes.
"NEVER, touch him again." Adrian shadowed back to where he had left Harry, three corridors away. The young boy was wiping away the tears in his eyes. Adrian walked over and wiped away a stray tear. The shadow boy gave out a hiss as part of his finger dissolved. Adrian quickly repaired it, and then looked to Harry for answers, but Harry was gone.
...TBWLTBPK...
Kidd stared down at the heavy key in his hand and slipped it into his pocket. The boy carefully picked up his uncle's suit and folded it, them he slowly proceeded to the Skellington House to deliver the news to Sally. The citizens of Halloween Town fell into line behind the boy, heads bowed. The Mayor called out the sleeping vampires. Vladimir zipped to the front and stared down at the empty suit. "No." Vlad looked up into the tearful eyes of Kidd, his own eyes fading to lilac. "Is he... is he really gone?" Kidd nodded. It started to drizzle as Vlad hung his head and stepped into the line behind Kidd. They reached the creaky metal gate and the vampire boy stepped in front to push it open. Kidd thanked him and began walking once more, slowly climbing the steps. Kidd reached the door and Vlad knocked on the door. A smiling Sally opened the door, but her smile quickly vanished when she saw a tear-stained Kidd carrying her husband's suit.
"Kidd, where is Jack?" Kidd just shook his head. The rag doll looked over the crowd, searching. "Where's Jack!" the elder vampires slipped something into Vlad's hands. It was an urn. Sally saw the ivory urn and burst into tears. Sally stepped out of the doorway and Kidd stepped through. While it was tradition for only family to be in the house, Kidd could not handle Vlad's despairing look as he went to close the door. The suited boy held the door open and Vlad stepped in, closing it behind him. Sally led them to the shoji in the house, in which beyond was Jack's tranquil garden. The sounds of a gently trickling river met there ears as they began to walk on the narrow stone path that was flanked by stone lanterns. The trio waited patiently just outside the uchi-roji for Reaper to arrive. When he did, Kidd placed the suit in his arms and pushed another shoji aside, allowing Reaper to enter the inner garden. In its centre was the tea 'room', which was adorned with a hanging scroll, formal chabana flower arrangements, clean whisks, tea scoops and other equipment. Reaper placed the suit on the ground at one end of the able while he himself sat seiza style on a tatami mat as he began the rituals of the ceremony he was about to perform. As he meditatively sipped the tea, he allowed certain memories to flit over his consciousness, all with the same subject. His brother Jack. By the time the tea bowl was empty Reaper had run out of memories to remember. Reaper placed the bowl back on the mat and took a breath.
"Waga tomo yasurakani."
...TBWLTBPK...
Harry sat between the twins, both trying to calm the boy down. "Merlin, I'm so stupid."
"Harry, you are not stupid." George told him.
"I am! I gave him more power!" Harry shouted.
"What do you mean you gave him more power?" Fred asked. George opened his mouth to reprimand his brother but Fred gave him a look that told him to trust him.
"I was angry and terrified and I allowed him to make contact with me. It felt like something was sucking the anger out of me. I looked up and Adrian was an even darker green. So I panicked and came here." Fred nodded.
"That wasn't your fault; you didn't know it would happen." Harry stared at his feet. "If it makes you feel any better, he'll be gone by tonight."
"No, he won't." Shock said, causing the twins to glare at her. "I'm sorry, but he needs to know this. He will only take in that which makes him stronger. That means duplicating someone's powers in their own body then absorbing the duplicate. This can kill the victim though if they are not able to handle that much power."
George lightly touched Harry's shoulder, only to have the boy shake it off.
"So, we have to drench him in water so he'll melt away."
"That is exactly what you should not do," supplied a new voice. Shock and Barrel looked up to see Lock shaking water droplets out of his hair. Harry looked up and was met with a scowl. Harry stepped protectively in front of the still unconscious Draco. Lock rolled his eyes in disgust. "The reason you shouldn't try and melt him is because each drop of ink releases a nightmare."
"The how come nothing happened when I released the ram."
"You were in the land of nightmares, something did happen but it wasn't be bad." Lock told him.
"What happened?" Shock asked.
"Twillie is with child." Barrel's jaw dropped.
"That's not even possible."
"Well Harry's already done something impossible before this. I think as long as we don't tell Harry he can't do something, he'll be able to do it." George said with a sly grin. Harry rolled his eyes.
...TBWLTBPK...
Hermione sat down on the floor in defeat. Ron and she had still not found Harry and they had already checked in all the plausible places he would be. Ron stood next to the bushy haired girl and sighed. "I have an idea of where he could be!" Ron shouted out suddenly before he ran off.
There was a silence before Hermione's ears picked up the haunting song of a music box.(1) The girl stood up, dropped her book bag to the floor, and slowly walked through the door from which the sound was emitting. The doorknob creaked as she turned it, and walked into the pitch black of the room. Only after the door slammed shut behind her did Hermione realise that the song had stopped. A little flame appeared in the middle of the room and Hermione walked towards it to find the music box. It was old and rusty, and the figurine sitting on top was not a beautiful princess but rather the embodiment of evil himself. Adrian. The figurine's eyes flared to life casting a red glow across the room. Hermione, despite better judgement, turned the little skull shaped knob to start the music. The room seemed to flicker in and out of existence as the music shakily played. Hermione tapped the small knob and the music became smoother and the room a scene from a horror movie. It seemed to be a circus storage room with a blood soaked bed of spikes, steel entrapment chamber with a foul stench emanating from it and guillotine with the neck-hole shaped like a skull. Hermione carefully walked over to the steel box and peeked through the open slit. The girl gave a scream as the corpse inside opened it is eyes and gave a hungry shriek. She quickly backed away and stabbed her hand on the bed of spikes. The girl grabbed her hand and fell to her knees, trying to hold back a scream of pain. Her brown eyes strayed to the basket by the guillotine. She was relieved to find that only skulls were in the basket. There was another loud howl from the chamber next to her. Hermione got to her feet and ran to the music box. The witch tried to stop the little knob from turning, but the only thing she succeeded in doing was causing the room to change. Each wall now depicted a horror scene, like a projection.
"You can do this, one of the walls has a door, and all you have to do is find it." She told herself. The young girl approached the first wall and placed her hand on it, planning to slide her hand across it to find the doorknob. This is not what happened; the girl was instead pulled into the scene. Hermione waved her arms about as she suddenly found herself on a high wire tightrope. There was a crowd of killer zombies waiting below, hoping for her to fall. Hermione took a deep breath and looked to see what was at the other end of the tightrope. It seemed to be some kind of door, shaped like a bat atop a pedestal. Hermione carefully starting to walk across the tightrope, the clowns watching her every move and she moved closer and closer to the other side. She saw a gleam from the corner of her eye and turned her head to identify it. Behind her was a hooded figure holding a scythe, with a swift motion the rope had been cut and the witch began to fall.
Ron frowned as he passed the same portrait again. He could have sworn this was where he had left Hermione. "And where the bloody hell is that bloody music coming from!" he thought aloud. He heard a shrill scream from a room right across the hall. "Hermione!" the redhead tried to open the door but it was locked. "Bloody hell! Hermione!" the boy started to pound on the door.
"Is there a problem Mr. Weasley?" asked the smooth voice of Severus Snape. A loud scream from inside the room answered his question. "Stand back Mr. Weasley. Reducto!"
The door blasted into several pieces and the hallway was flooded with a red light. Severus Snape was shocked by what he saw, the whole room was a horror movie, and a student was trapped in a wall. The potions professor walked to the middle of the room and lifted the music box, intending to smash it on the ground. The little figurine grinned at him as the box played its last notes and faded away. The figurine fell to the floor with a clank as Hermione was ejected from the wall. Ron rushed to her side, and tried to find the source of the bleeding. The young girl was sobbing loudly and muttering unintelligible sentences. Snape lifted her into his arms and proceeded to carry her to the Infirmary. Ron was about to leave when he almost stepped on the figurine. The boy stooped to pick it up and placed it in his pocket before running after his professor.
...TBWLTBPK...
Sally stared at the ancient key in her hand. The key that unlocked the third stair step inside the house. Inside of that stair step where seven more keys, keys that every King hoped he would never have to use. Sally sighed as she went to look out her window, and what she saw brought a slight smile to her face. Vladimir sat next to Kidd in the courtyard, obviously talking Kidd's ears off. Kidd suddenly moved into action and stuffed a rock in the offending boy's mouth. Sally giggled as Vlad's expression became puzzled and he swallowed the rock so he may begin talking once more. Sally shook her head and went to find a place to hide the key.
. . .
"What's your favourite colour? I think your favourite colour would be yellow, because you seem like a person who would like yellow. My favourite colour is black, but I don't have any black clothes, all I have is an endless amount of white tee-shirts and jeans, everyday I wear the same outfit, it's kind of annoying."
"You know what else is annoying?" Kidd asked in a fake cheery tone.
"What?"
"You are, you... you boorish fool." Kidd ended is a whisper, as he walked away. Vlad watched the other boy go, and then he left, to go speak with Sally. Vlad hovered up to the window and knocked on the glass. Sally looked up from the dishes she was washing and smiled. The rag doll put the dish down, walked over to the window and opened it.
"Thanks." Vlad said flashing a smile at the redhead. The young boy landed on the floor with a soft thud, causing Sally to jump. Vlad gave a chuckle and took a seat at the piano. Sally eyes lit up even though the sight was a sad one. Vlad had a gift when it came to the piano, but the boy only played it when he was sad about something, or confused. Vlad started to play the bone white piano softly as Sally began to wash the plates once more.
"Dead silence?" she asked knowingly. Vlad continued to play the song.
"Yes." He answered his tone not like his usual joking self. Sally sighed and began to dry the dish, content to listen to the soothing sounds of a Halloween lullaby. She wished she could help Vlad but she was dealing with her own emotions. She startled when the notes jarred. "What does it mean to be boorish?"
"It can mean you're ill-mannered or insensitive. Why?" Vlad placed his hands in his lap.
"Kidd said I was a boorish fool."
"Vlad, you can't let that boy talk to you like that. You have to stand up for yourself, because I know you were just trying to cheer him up." Vlad made a humming noise in the back of his throat. Vlad resumed his playing of the piano piece, thinking over what Sally had just said. In a whoosh of wind, he was gone.
...TBWLTBPK...
There was a loud groan from the couch as Draco woke up. Harry immediately went to his side and waved a hand in front of his face. Draco frowned and slapped the offending hand away. "Use your words, numbskull."
"How about we kill you instead." Lock spat out. Shock and Barrel gaped at their friend. Harry released a weapon from his arm and faced Lock.
"It wasn't his fault, if anything it was yours, you were the one who said we should see Jack." Draco sat up and grasped the back of Harry's cloak.
"What is he talking about?"
"YOU KILLED JACK!" Lock shouted, making Harry drop his weapon. Lock made a sound like a whisper of metal on earth and the sword's edge lay on Draco's neck.
"Wh-what are you doing?" Draco shouted in fear.
"Lock, what do you think you are doing? Killing is wrong!" Shock shouted, brown eyes wide with horror. Lock turned to her with fire in his red eyes.
"Says the murderer." Shock stared at him, quivering with disbelief. Barrel went up to Lock, rage in his blue eyes.
"Watch your mouth, Lock! You have no right to talk to her in that way!" Lock turned the sword to Barrel's throat. The Hufflepuff paled and backed away. "L-Lock, what are you doing? I'm your friend." Lock walked forward, grabbed the hilt of the sword, and thrust it under Barrel's chin.
"I have no friends." Shock found her voice.
"It's inhumane! You can't kill him Lock! You were once human!"
"That doesn't make any sense!" Harry shouted as he fleshed out the bow and arrow. Lock pulled out his wand and Stupefied the twins who had tried to set up a sneak attack. The same red light made its way towards Shock, and Draco.
"No, it makes sense. It is inhumane." Barrel gave a small sound of relief. "But, then again, I've never been human."
"I knew it." Harry turned towards the voice to find Kidd stepping out of an intricate mirror. The crazed red-haired boy turned to Kidd with hate in his eyes.
"What are you doing here, Kidd?"
"Everyone has a dark side, and certain events trigger this side to come out." Kidd said as he casually pulled out his guns, charging them with his spirit energy. "It seems we've found yours." Lock glared at Kidd. "Let go of the sword." Lock smirked and dropped the sword, but then it a sudden sweep of black the sword sliced Draco in the stomach. Draco came to consciousness with a scream. Lock stared greedily at the blood as it dripped from the other boy's stomach. It was enchanting, it was amusing, it was...wrong. Lock's irises faded to blue as he stepped away from the injured boy. His hands fisted in his long red hair as he gave a scream of denial. Everything faded to black after a shot from Kidd's weapon.
"What did you do?" Harry shouted as he saw Lock fall. Kidd placed the pistols back into his pockets.
"You need not worry. I haven't killed him...yet." Kidd added with distaste. Harry took a calming breath, and continued to wrap Draco's wound with dark green bandages.
"What did he mean when he said he was never human, him and I were friends when we were alive." Barrel whispered as he revived the twins and Shock. Kidd sighed and walked back to the mirror.
"It is not my story to tell." Kidd stepped through the mirror and faced them from the other side. "Call me when he awakes."
"Of course." Harry responded as Draco gave a hiss of pain. The price turned towards the blond, sadness written upon his face. "Do you remember?"
"Shouldn't you be taking him to the Infirmary?" Shock called out from where she was standing next to Barrel. Harry turned to her, a raw desperation in his eyes.
"I need answers first."
...TBWLTBPK...
Hermione gave another shuddering jolt from the bed, causing her wounds to reopen. Ron paled at the sight of the blood and shouted for Madame Pomfrey. The Nurse came running over, bandages already at hand. Ron watched the process that Madame Pomfrey was about to do, he knew the routine by heart. The black-soaked bandages would slowly be peeled from Hermione's arm to expose large, deep bite marks. Madame Pomfrey would shake her head and quickly cleanse it before rewrapping it. Next, her hand would be undressed and the sunlight would filter through Hermione's hand as Madame Pomfrey held it up to inspect it. The hand would be dipped in a liquid medicine and wrapped once more. Madame Pomfrey would do a scan that would come back inconclusive and then leave to work on her other patients. Ron flipped open the book that they had been trying to deliver to Harry, reading the story aloud.
"The Birth of a Cerberus. Once there had been a werewolf whom was enamoured with a woman. The werewolf's name had been William, and though his beastly form was simply magnificent, his human half fell short. The woman once had the name of Perisica, and she was beautiful like the setting sun. William met the young maiden, haven woken as the dawn broke the day after his transformation. As his eyes fell upon her golden orange hair, tanned skin and sparkling smile he became mesmerised and vowed to take the woman as his own. William sent Perisica gifts a plenty and..."
"R-Ron?" The redhead looked up from the book to see Hermione struggling to sit up. He rushed over to her side to help her. "Ron, it was horrible. It all felt so real."
"I should check your wounds." Ron told her, unwrapping her arm.
"W-wounds?" Hermione glanced down at her arm and screamed shrilly, the noise reverberating off the walls.
END CHAPTER.
Translation
"I am fading, get the prince and initiate the ritual.
No! Uncle, please don't leave me!
It is selfish to keep the soul trapped.
I'm sorry Uncle Jack, will you forgive me.
Of course, my nephew."
QUESTIONS? I WON'T UPDATE IF I DO NOT GET FEEDBACK!