DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter Ten - Return of the Hell Hound
Emerald orbs were focused angrily upon the clock hanging on the far wall, fisted hands clenched tightly around a pink feathered quill. Leaning forward slightly, Harry narrowed his eyes, certain that the clock had died. With a click audible only to his ears, the minute hand took a creeping step closer to the twelve o'clock mark. He slumped into his chair with a soft moan, letting his head fall back so that his gaze was focused upon the raftered ceiling. In his hand, the quill snapped. The sound jerked the dozing wizards behind him awake, sending them scrabbling nervously in their seats and drawing the Professor's narrowed eyes to their section of the classroom.
"Why aren't you taking notes?" Draco whispered, glancing at his companion with an arched brow. He tapped the untouched parchment before Harry with the feather of his quill, drawing the dark-haired male from his obviously tedious thoughts.
Because I was alive when the Goblin War of Bristlegrunde happened. In fact, I've even spoken with several of its more . . . unfortunate attenders. "Everything he's telling us is in the textbook he expects us to read. Now, I can either read the book, or listen to him drone on. I am, however, not doing both." Harry grumbled to the blond, "I'm sure as Heaven not going through this pointless battle twice." That said, he returned his uninterested gaze to the ceiling and the small spider dutifully crafting its web amongst the dark wooden beams.
"I'm sure as Heaven?" Draco repeated, brow drawing down. He gave a faint shake of his head at the words, wondering where exactly Harry had picked the strange saying up. "I don't believe I've heard that one before. Are you sure you don't mean 'Hell'?"
Harry straightened suddenly, green orbs widening as his gaze darted around the shadowed chamber. The urge to slap his hand over the blond's mouth was barely suppressed, as was the quick apology to his lord that leapt to his lips. Realizing Hades was unlikely to pop in and demand an apology for the deliberate smear to his realm, he relaxed. A dry laugh escaped him as he slumped back into his chair, fingers absently toying with the broken quill. "Really? That's quite strange. Where I come from, it's a very common saying."
"Oh? Where was it you came from again?" Draco asked quietly, waiting with bated breath for the other wizard to respond. His attention was drawn from Harry by Theodore Nott, the brunette nudging him rudely with his elbow. Eyes slitting angrily, he turned his unhappy gaze upon his fellow Slytherin.
"Have you seen Pansy?" Theo hissed loudly. He drew back at the glare Draco was directing at him, face paling. "I-I-she's missing!"
One slender eyebrow slid upward in surprise and Draco gave the Slytherin section of the classroom a cursory glance. "So she is," he mused. He brushed his chin with the silver feather of his quill, lips pursed thoughtfully. "Harry? Have you seen Pansy?"
"Nope," mumbled Harry, oblivious to the rising tension among the wizards sitting around him. His eyes remained focused on the broken quill he held, teeth grit in concentration as he carefully lined the splintered ends up and pressed them together.
"Are you sure?" Theodore asked suspiciously.
Hands stilling, Harry turned and fastened gleaming orbs upon the angered wizard. "Quite," he replied stiffly.
Harry's lack of concern for the blonde witch was reasonable in Draco's opinion. Parkinson had done nothing but harass and pester him since his arrival at the castle. Shrugging the witch's disappearance off for now, he opened his mouth to reassure Nott but closed it when a voice broke into the Professor's monologue and disrupted their conversation.
"Excuse me, Professor Binns." A voice called angrily from the opposite side of the room. "I can't hear you because someone is talking."
"Bitch," Draco hissed, pale eyes locked on Granger. His hands clenched around his quill and he silently wished it was his wand. He turned his gaze to the front of the chamber where the ghostly professor waited and pasted an expression of extreme surprise on his face at the accusation.
"I see," Binns drawled, floating slowly above the first two rows of desks. "Five points from Slytherin for disrupting my class."
"My most profuse apologies, Professor," Harry purred placing a hand on Draco's knee beneath the table. "I was merely curious over whether Thrickton's failure to hold Glipper Gulch could be directly blamed for the low number of Yelgish Goblins alive today. In my quest for knowledge, I failed to ask the proper individual." Before Professor Binns could wipe the look of extreme shock off his face, the bell rang concluding the class.
"Where did that come from?" Blaise demanded, pushing out of his chair slowly. He exchanged a glance with Theodore and shook his head. "Have you already read the chapter?"
"Thank Hades," Harry hissed, rocketing out of his chair. He ignored the questions and gathered his books, practically shoving Draco toward the exit. Dipping his head slightly, he lowered his voice and whispered into the blond's closest ear, "You owe me."
"Owe you what?" Draco exclaimed shrilly, shooting a look over his shoulder. He stiffened at the emerald fire burning in the dark-haired Slytherin's eyes, a delicate shiver overtaking his lithe body.
"Whatever I want," Harry purred, orbs glowing with promise. Giving a devilish laugh, he scooped Draco's books from his arms and hurried him to their next class. Hopefully, the clock in the Ancient Runes room moved a little faster then the one in the History classroom. And hopefully, Pansy's disappearance wasn't looked into too deeply . . . especially since Sirius had been the one to hide the blonde's body. Giving a shake of his head, he silently hoped the minor demon would remember where he put her; Heaven forbid they have a repeat of the Rastlin incident.
XxXxX
Harry stood upon a narrow ledge, his eyes fastened upon the gleaming crescent hovering in the dark sky above him. Somewhere among the shadows an owl shrieked, its haunting cry drawing him from his reveries. Curling his lips in a silent snarl, he lifted his hand and eyed the almost identical shape etched into his skin. Yeth was late and he was running out of time. The rasp of cloth against stone had him tensing visibly and flexing his fingers, working the stiffness from his joints. Flakes of snow began to slowly drift from the heavens, settling upon his shoulders in a mantle of ice. A soft curse had him relaxing his stance, his eyes returning to the pale moon.
"All you Retrievers are the same," Sirius complained. The minor demon took another shuffling step forward, wide gray eyes locked on the frozen ground located fifteen stories below. He wobbled dangerously as a cool wind whipped around him, tugging mercilessly at the long black cloak he wore. "You can't find a cozy little alcove in an unused corridor or a dark corner in the dungeons to meet. No, of course not. Instead, you go out of your way to find a place that's completely inaccessible to anyone with half a brain."
Darting an amused glance at his companion, Harry smiled. "You'd survive," he replied easily. Turning with the grace of a panther, he glided further down the ledge, placing one foot carelessly before the next. His eyes flicked over the naked trees in the distance, the orbs narrowing to mere slits as he searched among the bare branches and coniferous evergreens. He breathed in slowly, tilting his head as the slightest whiff of brimstone became apparent upon the breeze.
"That's not the point," whined Sirius. Grimacing, he teetered after the raven-haired demon, his arms held out for balance. "Couldn't you find somewhere warm and dry to brood?" The minor demon winced as the wind wailed, catching the falling flakes and sending them billowing around the pair in a blinding wall of white.
Lips curving in a small smile, Harry paused with the toes of his boots resting over the edge of the narrow stone ledge circling the top of the castle. He raked the frozen lake and its surrounding cliffs with a disinterested glare, nostrils flaring as he breathed shallowly. When he found nothing of significance on the currents, he growled, hands fisting unhappily. His eyes were hooded as he swivelled to look at the other demon, the orbs glowing an eerie shade of green. "I'm awaiting the arrival of Yeth," he informed Sirius quietly. "Now, why are you not watching Severus Snape?"
Crossing his arms defensively under the penetrating gaze of the Retriever, Sirius huffed. "The blasted wizard smeared Liquid Iron all over his bloody door." His bottom lip came out in an angered pout as he contemplated his findings. "I don't think he likes me. Either that, or he really hates you. Of course, I haven't been here long enough for him to hate me. So it must be you. Did you threaten him? Ooh, did you look inside his head? I bet you did the Retriever thing. You did, didn't you?"
Raising a single finger, Harry arched a dark eyebrow. "And you couldn't find another way into his chambers?" He asked softly, disbelief clear in his voice.
"Even if he did leave, it's not like he's going to go far from the castle in this weather." Sirius replied dismissively, beginning to chafe his hands together.
A flash of movement drew Harry's eyes and attention away from Sirius. Below them, a heavily cloaked figure pushed against the wind. Eyes brightening, he froze; only the trailing ends of his cloak swaying wildly with the winter wind. His nostrils twitched as he sniffed delicately, emerald orbs following the individual's path. "Severus Snape," he breathed, lips curving in a devilish smirk. Tipping his head slightly, he shot a look at his shivering companion. "And what if he does decide to leave while you're up here?"
Sirius snorted. "Where in Heaven would the man go? It's not like he has a hoard of witches vying for his attention in yonder village." He snapped back, desperately rubbing his hands together. His teeth chattered as he shivered, the sound causing him to cringe and shoulder deeper into his thin cloak.
Giving a disgusted shake of his head, Harry sighed. His right hand shot out suddenly, closing in the folds of Sirius' cloak and dragging him forward until only the heels of his boots rested upon the thin stone ledge. With little effort, he held his struggling companion in place, narrowed orbs tracking the Potions Master. No one would be out in weather like this by choice, he thought. His attention was diverted by the green glow that encompassed his left hand, the light emanating from the first vial swinging gently back and forth. "Yeth," he murmured, even as his keen ears picked up the haunting bay of the hell hound.
"Harry!" Sirius squeaked, eyes focused on the ground directly below him. He yelped as he was roughly shaken, his hands reflexively reaching back to paw at the digits locked in the cloth of his cloak.
"Tell me, Sirius, who is that?" Harry asked cooly.
Stiffening at the tone, Sirius focused his gaze on the dark form and narrowed his eyes. "Well . . . it's really hard to tell from all the way up here. Maybe it's a student?" The slightest hint of desperation was clear in his voice, the notes mingled with an unhealthy dose of hope.
"It's Severus Snape," Harry purred softly. His words caused the minor demon to whimper in fear, the icy fingers once again pawing at his hand. Giving Sirius a hard shake, he shifted closer to the edge of the roof, deliberately causing his incompetent minion to lose his balance and tip forward. Almost immediately the gray-eyed demon began to thrash, hands and legs waving madly. Smiling innocently as Sirius yelped, he glanced down and widened his eyes. "How do you propose to go after him when you're up here pestering me?"
"Well, I could-"
"He'll be gone by the time you make it down the first flight of stairs." Retorted Harry with a sharp shake of his head. He lifted his burning orbs and searched for the Potions Master among the snow. His brows arched in surprise when he managed to locate the wizard a fair distance away, his head tipped down to shield his eyes from the whipping snow. "Perhaps I should help you down?" Ignoring the muted pleas for release, he returned his gaze to the wizard. At the speed Snape was traveling, Sirius would never make it out through the main doors. With a frown, he tightened his grip on the minor demon's cloak and bent his knees. In an explosion of black cloth, he leapt into the night, catapulting Sirius before him.
While Harry couldn't fly, with the proper momentum he could achieve an impressive glide. He utilized that skill now, shooting through the sky like a falling star. His cloak billowed out behind him like dark wings, the fabric cracking in the wind.
Sirius, on the other hand, hurtled through the air with all the grace of a thrown rock. And his landing perfectly matched the description. With a bone breaking thud, he slammed into the frozen ground and rolled several feet, coming to a halt in a pile of snow.
Landing nimbly beside him, Harry swatted his cloak back into place and nudged his companion with the toe of his boot. "Follow," the Retriever snapped, his gaze dropping to where the minor demon lay gasping for air in the snow. He frowned and gave a shake of his head when Sirius groaned and rolled over slowly, lifting a feeble hand to touch his temple. Rolling his eyes, he reached down and tangled his fingers in the front of dark-haired demon's shirt, hauling him to his feet. "I'll not repeat myself."
"Bastard," Sirius replied weakly, shoving Harry's hands away. Muttering under his breath, he limped off after the Potions Master, pausing only once to shoot an angered look at the Retriever over his shoulder.
Relieved to see his orders being followed for a change, Harry swung around and broke into a light jog. He headed into the Forbidden Forest, darting between the thick trunks and snow laden branches. Fallen trees were easily negotiated, as was a narrow vein of rapidly tumbling water. Sounds of the forest flooded his ears, from the soft whoosh of an owl's wings to the crunch of snow under a centaur's wide hoof. His pace slowed only when the vial hanging from his wrist glowed a vibrant green. Lifting his chin, he inhaled, wrinkling his nose at the strong smell of brimstone and sulphur. Though the smell clouded his senses, it also relieved him. Yeth had finally returned. Smirking grimly, he prowled forward, head swinging from side to side in search of the hell hound.
It was a rasping rumble and the flash of a shining red orb that drew him to a halt. His hands fisted at his sides, knuckles whitening before he slowly unclenched and stretched the stiff digits. Green eyes slitted, seeking a repeated flash among the shadows. The air left his lungs at the sharp crack of dead wood, the sound spinning him around.
Sliding from the shadows like smoke, the hound growled and ducked its narrow head. Its form was almost insubstantial in the darkness, the sleek lines of its body blurred. Only the demon dog's glowing crimson eyes were truly distinguishable; the brilliant orbs shimmering unnaturally. Those orbs held a feral gleam, a hint of wildness that shouldn't have been there. Curling its lips back from inflamed gums, the hell hound snarled, sending saliva splattering upon the ground.
Taking several careful steps forward, Harry stilled, his eyes narrowing as a growl tricked from the beast's maw. He tipped his head and inhaled slowly, watching the animal warily. Something was wrong. His brow drew down and he slid his left foot back, taking a small retreating step as the hound prowled forward. "Greetings, Yeth." He said softly, shifting his weight onto the balls of his feet. Without thought, his right hand drifted to the small iron sword dangling from his wrist. As if sensing his intentions, the hell hound growled, its ears held flush to its skull.
Both Retriever and hell hound remained tensed, their gazes locked upon each other. With a soft snick, the iron blade dropped into Harry's hand and the dark dog lurched forward. Muscles bunching, the raven-haired demon sprang to meet the black blur. In a swirl of dark fabric and writhing shadows, the pair came together.
Fangs raked the side of Harry's face, the hound's breath warm as it snapped wildly at his exposed throat. He turned his head to the side and inhaled shallowly, lips pressed tightly together as he struggled to hold the demon dog away from him. As his arms quivered with the strain, he stared into the glowing red spheres, startled to see the anger bubbling within the orbs. With effort, he shoved the animal away, sending it tumbling across the icy ground. Before he had a chance to regain his breath, the hell hound was bounding back toward him, a haunting cry slipping from its mouth. His sword came up as the animal neared, knuckles whitening as he prepared to strike. When the time came, he swung.
Like the shadows it was made of, the lithe form dissipated, the whistling sword passing through the air where it had stood. Cursing angrily, Harry hefted the blade and swung around, his gleaming eyes scanning the surrounding forest. He hissed softly in warning, baring his teeth in a show of defiance. His fingers wiggled on the sword's gold inlaid hilt as he swivelled slowly. Snow swirled down between the reaching branches overhead, the flakes settling upon his dark hair.
Tentatively stretching out his aura, he sought Yeth among the shadows. It took him mere seconds to locate the hell hound; its aura glowing a brilliant shade of scarlet in the nearby brush. Drawing a slow, even breath, he merged their consciences together. His mind was immediately entangled within the dog's; it's senses and thoughts becoming his own.
Anger swept through him as he jerked his mind from the hound's, clamping his jaw and fisting his free hand. The hastily laid aura and command he'd placed within Yeth's conscience had been erased and replaced . . . with one very similar to his own. It seemed that Voldemort had discovered the lurking hell hound and decided to return it after making a careful revision. What had originally begun as a fairly simple hunt had been turned into a search and destroy mission . . . with a Retriever as the target. That meant that the High Court demon had been unable to find a memory of Harry within the hound's tangled mind. He still had the advantage, then.
His train of thought was brought to an abrupt halt as Yeth exploded from the darkness, snow flying in his wake. Knowing that the hound would be of no further use to him, he yanked the blue vial from the silver band upon his wrist and sent it hurtling at the beast. Glass shattered upon contact, the liquid splashing across the hell hound's scarred flank. Almost immediately smoke began to rise from the spot, blue flames crawling over the demon dog's side. Yowling in pain, Yeth stumbled and fell into the snow, rolling wildly in an attempt to extinguish the small blaze.
"I'm sorry," Harry whispered, lifting an arm and covering his nose with the sleeve of the shirt he wore. In an explosion of indigo flames, the hound vanished. Brow pinched in distaste, the raven-haired demon prowled forward and peered at the ground where Yeth had laid. Dropping slowly to one knee, he reached into the puddle of slush and closed his fingers around a small piece of metal. He withdrew the melted charm with a saddened sigh, staring at the blackened silver and dim ruby eyes. Rising fluidly, he returned the hell hound to its place upon his wrist.
A small smile slid across his face and he tipped his head back, staring at the moon. Voldemort may have been powerful but he was also stupid. Curiousity over the hell hound's appearance would draw him to Hogwarts; as would the mysterious identity of its sender. Chuckling softly, Harry whirled around and stalked back toward Hogwarts, the iron sword gleaming promisingly in his hand.
XxXxX
Sirius staggered through the snow after Severus, his shoulders hunched and his eyes narrowed against the whirling flakes. He mumbled angrily as a shiver racked him, wrapping his arms tightly across his chest. How he wished he was at home . . . safe and warm beside the fires of hell . . . a dirty martini in hand . . . maybe even a certain incubus for entertainment. His wishful sigh was lost in the whining winds.
Gritting his teeth as a thin layer of magic brushed over him, he glanced over his shoulder and expanded his aura, watching as a veil of silver leapt into existence before the castle. He shot the warm structure a morose look before returning his gaze to Severus' back. A startled yelp nearly escaped him when he found the wizard a dozen feet ahead of him, a glowing piece of parchment resting in his gloved hand. Cursing Harry, Sirius broke into a limping jog. He pulled together his meager stores of magic as he moved, carefully gathering the power and nurturing it into a simple charm. With a faintly whispered word, he cast the sphere forward, smirking triumphantly as it hit its target before the wizard had a chance to disappear. His triumph look faltered when the Potions Master vanished, leaving him standing stupidly alone.
"Harry's going to kill me," he stated. Turning around, he began to plod back toward Hogwarts, head lowered in shame. A burning sensation around his navel was the only warning he was given before he was being thrust through limbo. Before he was given the chance to digest the fact that his spell had worked, he was deposited unceremoniously in a bank of tightly packed snow. Swearing loudly, he hauled himself free of the icy mass and stumbled to his feet.
"Who's there?" A voice called warily.
Mouth snapping closed, Sirius stilled. He swivelled around slowly, relief rushing through him at the sight of Severus Snape standing anxiously before him. When the wizard lowered his wand and shook his head, the minor demon grinned, watching as Snape spun around and strode forward. Shooting a victorious look at the ground beneath his feet, he loped after the wizard. Harry was so going to owe him after this trip.
Through a series of darkened corridors he trailed the wizard, appearing as nothing more than a shadow to the individuals they passed. Deeper and deeper they went; down staircases and through narrow doors, over puddles and piles of crumbled stone. Boredom was beginning to set in when Snape stopped suddenly and pushed open a pair of doors. Pursing his lips, Sirius slid in behind the wizard, barely remembering to hold the shadow spell he'd woven around himself as his eyes fell upon the lone figure perched at the front of the room.
There, before him, sat Voldemort. The Voldemort. One of the darkest demons to ever grace Hades Hall. His trickery was unrivaled. His mercilessness and maliciousness whispered into the ears of newly spawned demons. He was the stuff of legend.
And he was butt ugly.
Mouth snapping closed, Sirius narrowed his eyes and leaned forward, desperately searching for the High Court Demon's nose. He straightened moments later, certain that a prolonged search would do no good: the snake-faced demon was noseless.
"You're late, Severus Snape."
The crowd of robed figures jumped at the sudden announcement, shifting nervously as Voldemort glared angrily at them. Sirius fought the urge to drop to his knees and cower, instead slinking deeper into the hovering shadows and folding his arms. He watched as the Potions Master dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead to the cold stone floor, murmuring apologies to the uneven cobble.
"I don't have time for this," Voldemort snapped, sinking deeper into his wooden throne. "Tell me, my loyal servant, when do the students of Hogwarts next gain the freedom to visit Hogsmeade?"
Severus lifted his chin enough to look at the tips of Voldemort's scuffed boots, eyes closing tightly as he prepared to give his answer. "Tomorrow, my lord." His whisper was greeted by a soft scoffing laugh, the sound echoing eerily around the chamber.
A shiver slid down Sirius' spine at the haunting sound, goosebumps rising along his arms. He moved to rub the bumps away, freezing as Voldemort straightened suddenly and sniffed indelicately through the two narrow slits in his face. Did those really qualify as nostrils? He silently mused as the High Court Demon returned to his relaxed position. Voldemort's next words had him freezing and sinking deeper into the comforting darkness.
"Excellent. Tomorrow, while the students are in Hogsmeade . . . we shall attack."
A/n: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review. My most sincere apologies for not updating sooner but RL interfered with my writing schedule.
DramaQueen1193 - Glad you like it.
DaughterofDeath - Short and to the point, eh?
Amber v - Next chapter shall contain a lot more HD action.
blkmagicklily - lol, I'm very happy you're enjoying it.
Lady-Frisselle - I'm thinking chapter twelve or thirteen will have that most waited for scene. Probably chapter twelve, as long as chapter eleven goes according to my notes.