Chapter 9: This isn't the Harry Potter your mother knew

A/N 2 chapters in two days, I am either A: bored out of my mind at work or B: wanting to make up for the lack of updates…take your pick. I almost had this done last night but, I had to rewrite parts of it because it seemed too god mode like and ripping off other fics without realizing it.

Several months passed in the world of our hero's of the wizarding world. "I smell guilt." Voldemort spat as he walked up and down in front of his followers. He glared at each one "One or more of you are spies for that mudblood lover Dumbledore!" He snarled, his eyes raking over the group of Death Eaters. "Lucius, I told only you about the raid on the Bones and yet the Ministry and the order of the stuffed turkey were there. Bella, I told only you about the Hogsmeade raid and yet the turkey and that traitor Snape was there. Avery, I told you about the raid into London and yet…we were stopped…" His wand quivered as he moved to point it at them "I refuse to believe that so many of you are disloyal. Open your minds and look at me." He said.

One by one he looked into the minds of his followers. As he moved to the next person, each Death Eater that had their mind raped by the Dark Lord fell the ground panting. Bella even had blood oozing from her right ear from the harshness of the probe. "I believe you are true to the cause. Does anyone know how Dumbledore is tracking you? I have shielded this place from all tracking spells and to alert me if there is one but I find none upon any of you."

At Hogwarts, Harry sat in front of the mirror slowly eating his popcorn. "This is better than TV." He said as he offered some to Snape who declined it. "I Fear that it will be soon time for the final confrontation with this Dark Lord, Headmaster." Harry said to Albus.

"I dare say you are right. Are your riders ready for it?" The old headmaster asked Harry. Months prior when Minister Bones reappointed Dumbledore as the Wizarding Headmaster, he took the time to tell Harry of what was hidden in the bowls of the ministry. Once he heard it he laughed and offered to take the orb to Voldemort himself but as far as they knew, he had yet to hear it.

Harry shook his head "No, I need more time. Neville and his gold Dragon Alice, Luna and her black Dragon Snorlack, Ron and his silver dragon Serenity, Hermione and her purple Dragon Ravenclaw, Ginny and her red Dragon Elizabeth, Katie and her pale green Dragon Cliodna, Terry and his gold dragon Helga, Hannah and her navy blue Dragon Morgana, Susan and her white Dragon Maeve, Daphne and her emerald green Dragon Salazar, Blaise and her sky blue Dragon Norvel are all not ready. Hagrid is the most advanced out of all of them! For heaven's sake Albus, they just got their goblin made swords yesterday." Harry ran his hand down his face. "I need more time but I don't see it happening. We need to keep Tom from being too drastic. I don't see being able to take them into true combat for at least another 4 months to train them in their blade work. My other students have been a great help in training them but they are in training themselves."

Harry started to pace. "I can't use time turners because the dragons will not react well to it and their riders can't be separated from them like that. It would drive them insane." He looked at his old headmaster. "Can you keep Moldy at bay?" Harry asked

Dumbledore nodded "With this spell of yours Harry, we can."

Harry nodded "Good."

Another year passed. It had been two years since Harry returned to Hogwarts. Several new riders had joined the order, including his Godfather, who had been cleared of his charges when they caught Wormtail on a raid. They didn't even need to use the truth potion as he sang like a bird he was to try to worm his way out of punishment. Sadly, at least for him, he was pushed though the veil of death within a week of his capture. Most of the students in their seventh year chose to train as support for the Riders, to lend magic when they can. They often healed the riders and their dragons from excessive training wounds.

Ron had actually started a new form of Quidditch, using their Dragons vice brooms. The Quidditch stadium had to be tripled in size but everyone did enjoy watching the Dragons and their Riders practice. Harry stood watching the latest game as Serenity caught the quaffle in her mouth. Ron was stroking her neck when Harry felt it. All of the Dragons stiffened for a moment as they sniffed the air. Harry called out "Godric!" before turning to the aged Headmaster. "Get all the non-combatants into the School. Tom has arrived." He said, worry on his face.

"He must have figured out that we were watching him and had one of his idiots plan the attack." He said before leaping onto his Dragon. "Riders, to the main gate!" He said. Ron and Hermione where on his right and left sides. He glanced back to Hermione, projecting his thoughts to her / Hermione, thank you for helping translate our spells into ones we can use without wands./

Flashback

"Harry, can we use our own spells in the ancient language?" Hermione asked.

Harry nodded "I actually translated a few spells such as the stunning spell as medaeria and to rennervate, Vaelaesari. I have also done a few other spells. It is a matter of proper translation and intent."

His friend nodded to Harry. "I think I can do that, it will help me understand this wandless magic."

Harry smiled as she turned and moved to leave "Oh and please let Ron know that both of you are invited to dine with me tonight. There is much that I am sure you want to know. For me, it's been 30 years since I last really spoke to you two."

Hermione smiled at that. "We will be here at 6." With that she left the room.

End Flashback

As the twenty six Dragons and their Riders landed behind the main gates of Hogwarts, Harry looked over the walls and frowned. Hogsmeade was burning. "Master Rider, it would seem that they have their own Dragons and Riders." Hebron said, his keen eyes watching with horror as the innocents were being killed.

Harry looked to Ron for a moment and was about to step forward and speak to the riders and those that had chosen to support them, most of the school and a few others had amassed behind them. Wistfully, Ron's voice was heard.

Take my love, take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care, I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me
Take me out to the black
Tell them I ain't comin' back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me
There's no place I can be
Since I found Serenity
But you can't take the sky from me...

(A/N, that is the Baled of Serenity, from Firefly)

As Ron sang the second to last line, he stroked his Dragon's neck who seemed to purr softly. Harry smiled as it seemed that the song had raised the spirits of the assembled fighters. "Ron, I think you found our war cry, You can't take the sky from me." He said softly. He turned to look at the Riders and Hogwarts fighters. "Here is the plan; Ron, Hermione and Neville are with me. We will clear the sky of these fake Riders. Stay away from Moldy. He is mine and mine alone. He WILL kill you and your Dragon if you get too close. And remember; try to stay away from the jets of green light. Your dragons should be fine from one or two strikes but it only takes one to kill you and too may and your Dragons will die." Harry turned to face the supporting fighters.

"Try to protect yourselves as much as you can. Try to use Letta as much as you can to hold them. Let the Riders lead the charge and if you can't hold the line, fall back." The others nodded before the they cried out.

"They can't take the sky from us!"

Ron smiled as the Dragons leapt into the air. From the farside of the village he heard a magically magnified voice "You're not as good thought you were Potter! I have my own Dragon Riders!"

"Gawd, does Moldy ever shut up?" Neville asked as they flew closer to the Dragons. The other Dragons had stopped shooting flames from their mouths on to the village and rose to face Harry's small group. Harry shook his head as he counted ten Dragons.

Harry reached out with his mind to touch the mind of the lead Dragon and frowned as he heard her thoughts. /Everyone and everything must DIE!!/ Screamed the Dragon. Harry sighed. "Damn, we are going to have to kill the Dragons to free them."

"We can't save everyone Harry. Sometimes we must fight to protect the ones we love." Hermione said, though there was a tone of sadness in her voice.

Harry frowned slightly before he felt Godric dive forward. He raised his blade, but it was not Godric's blade but the new one from the Goblins that had been made for his hand and use. /Dragons should not have to fight their own even if they are wild Dragons/ Harry heard Godric say. He agreed with the statement and was sure that the other Dragons said the same to their riders. They had little worry about metal attacks like Harry was used to but Harry demanded the tightness of their minds while in combat.

With a snap of his teeth, Godric grasped the lead Dragon's neck and twisted slightly. With a sicking crack, the Dragon's neck broke. Snapping his own head around to the next Dragon, Godric let the one he just killed fall to the earth. Harry glanced around to see what had happened with the other three riders in their first assault. Harry saw two Death Eaters falling from their mounts, very clearly dead from the blades that Ron and Neville held, judging by the blood that fell from them. He saw Hermione's hand dropping as she finished her spell. He looked at the third death eater and his dragon being wrapped in ropes. The two of them were falling like a rock and for a large cluster of Voldemort's Death Eaters.

The remaining six dragons seemed to pause as Harry and his other three riders turned to face them. /Dragons we do not wish to kill you but your mounts have done horrid things to others. Turn and leave this field. Return home and we will not follow. This is not your fight/ Harry told them. They seemed to pause for a moment before snapping at each other, ripping the Death Eaters from their seats. They seemed to bow in the air before turning and leaving.

"Well there is that. Now let's help the others." Neville said, turning to look at the other riders. He almost laughed as he noticed that the Dragon Riders had caused the Death Eaters to fall back or that most of them were dead. "Not that there is much to do." He looked at Harry "Are we that good or are they just that bad?" He asked.

"Both Neville, the Death Eaters are just thugs and when a group bands together with a plan, they are often beaten back. Ah I see Moldy... He does not look too happy." Harry said as Godric hovered over the land. Most battles he had been in before where so massive even with the mages that it would last for hours but a few Death Eaters were not much work.

"Tom Marvolo Riddle otherwise known as Lord Voldemort, AKA The Moldy One, AKA He-Who-Did-Not-Have-Enough-Common-Sense-To-Stay-Dead, AKA He-with-too-many-hyphens-in-his-name…" He looked at Ron for a moment "What was that other stupid one? Oh yes, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-named, I challenge you to a magical duel. Winner takes all." Harry yelled at Tom Riddle from his mount.

Voldemort looked at Harry from his position on the ground, his wand pointed at Dumbledore. Both men had paused when Harry started to yell. Albus looked at Harry. "Harry no…" He seemed to whisper but Voldemort and Harry only had eyes for each other. "Winner takes all Potter? I win you will bow to me and call me Master before I kill you?" He asked.

Harry nodded "I agree to your terms. I want a magical vow that I will be able to land and no one else will be targeted by you or any of your Death Eaters. We will fight in the Quidditch pitch."

"Agreed." Voldemort said "I Lord Voldemort swear upon" Harry cut him off.

"That's not magically binding Tom. Your birth name Riddle." Harry calmly said.

Voldemort scowled before speaking again. "I Tom Marvolo Riddle swear upon my life and Magic that Harry Potter may land and I will not target anyone in the duel."

Harry nodded as the vow took. He glared at Riddle before they walked for Hogwarts. With a flick of his hand, the gates to Hogwarts opened and he lead everyone inside.

A/N I've had a few ask me if Eragon will be in the story line, the answer is yes. It is one reason why Harry went back to Hogwarts, to get more Riders to face the madman. Now I was going to write more but I wanted to spend more time writing the duel and the aftermath.