Change In A Star's Alignment
Chapter 30:
Harry had never run so quickly in his entire life. All he could think about as he ran was of Draco having to duel Lucius. He couldn't believe that Lucius would actually kill his own son. Thinking of the blonde dying caused Harry to pick up the pace even more.
After what seemed like a lifetime, he reached the corridor he had seen from the map. He turned the corner to find Fenrir holding Draco against him, the blonde trying his hardest to get free. Knowing that Severus was on his side, Harry stunned Fenrir as quickly as he could. As Fenrir fell, Draco went with him, having only been supported by the Death Eater.
Lucius, who had been speaking to Severus at the time, turned at the sound. A look of confusion crossed his face before he saw Harry a little ways down the hall.
"So Mr. Potter, it seems we meet in this corridor again. This time however, you seem to be attempting to take away my son, rather than my House Elf…"
"Don't think that you'll win this time Lucius, because you'll be thoroughly disappointed." Harry sneered.
"Oh please!" Lucius spat, "Last time was sheer luck, Potter!"
"Is that why you brought along backup? Because I beat you out of sheer luck?" Harry replied with a smirk, the whole time slowly inching towards Draco.
"That's enough!" Lucius yelled, "It's time we settle this."
Harry finished the short distance towards Draco, leaning down to see if he was injured. He discovered that the blonde had been hit with the Cruciatus Curse at least twice and there were quite a few cuts along the blondes face and chest.
Just then, Lucius started his attack on Harry. He quickly put up a shielding charm to buy him a little more time. He used silent magic in order to heal most of the cuts as best as he could. Once he was sure that the blonde had at least stopped bleeding, he turned to face his attacker.
Lucius had been looking at the raven-haired boy in shock, for he had used the darkest and strongest magic he knew, yet he hadn't been able to pierce the boy's shield. It even looked like the boy was paying any attention to the curses whatsoever.
Harry saw the look of shock and realised that he had shown his hand earlier than he wanted. Lucius wouldn't hold back know, that Harry was sure of. He sighed to himself before standing up from Draco's body, preparing for a tough duel. Harry watched however, as Lucius beckoned Severus over, hissing at him to 'deal with it' for him.
Harry and Severus shared a look, both knowing that in order to keep the Potions Professor's loyalties from being known, that they would have to duel properly. Harry would have to let Sev get a few spells in, otherwise Lucius would know what was going on. Severus sauntered towards Harry before starting the duel.
Harry sighed slightly in relief when he saw that Lucius was watching from the sidelines. That meant that he wouldn't have to worry about him trying to get to Draco before the duel with Severus was complete. It was the first time all night that Harry was glad it was Lucius and not some other Death Eater, knowing that it was only the elder Malfoy's pride that was keeping Draco alive at this moment.
The duel between him and Severus lasted only five or so minutes, as Harry realised that Lucius was starting to get bored and wouldn't wait forever. Harry let one of Snape's cutting curses get through his shield before stunning his Professor as he had Fenrir. Harry then turned towards Lucius, prepared to fight again.
"That's one nasty cut there." Lucius laughed.
Harry looked down at his leg, seeing that he was in fact bleeding quite horribly. He simply smiled up at Lucius however, as he pointed his wand at his leg and preformed a silent healing spell.
"Not anymore." He said smugly as Lucius froze.
"Well… I see I've underestimated you, Potter." The elder Malfoy all but hissed, "However, you are no match for me."
"We shall see." Harry replied with a small smile. He would be lying if he said there wasn't a part of him that would enjoy hurting Lucius for what he had done to his Draco.
With that said, Lucius had had enough. He sprang into action, obviously trying to catch Harry off guard. It didn't work however, seeing as Harry had been waiting for an attack since he had left his and Draco's room. He quickly deflected the cutting curse sent his way before sending one of his own back.
He had to admit that Lucius was a fierce fighter, but Harry still had the advantage. While Lucius had to say the spells aloud, Harry was able to say one thing while sending something else silently. After about five minutes of this, Harry learned that the elder Malfoy had one trick up his sleeve.
"Nagini!" Lucius yelled, "Get him!"
Harry watched as the great snake slithered towards him while also trying to fend off Lucius' spells.
'Nagini!' Harry spoke in Parseltongue, 'Do you not remember me?'
'Why would I be remembering you?' the snake asked.
'I wass the one to free you from the cage at that Zoo! I freed you!' Harry frantically hissed, trying to get the snake to see reason before it could bite him.
'You-you what?' Nagini questioned, stopping for a second 'I've never been in a cage…'
It was obvious to Harry in that moment that for whatever reason, Nagini was unable to remember being in the Zoo.
'Yesss, Nagini! You were! I wass there with my Aunt and Uncle and Cousssin Dudley and hiss friend! My coussin had been ssmashing hiss fissts againsst the glass and then we spoke! You told me of how you were bred in captivity and then I made the glasss dissappear and you got away!'
Harry watched as Nagini stopped completely to think about it. It was obvious that there was some recognition deep down within the snake. He watched as there was a tiny spark within the black eyes.
The snake shook its head before hissing, 'I'm ssorry… I-I don't know why I didn't recognize you. Or even why I'm here right now!'
At first Harry thought that Nagini was lying, but it soon became obvious to him that the snake was telling the truth. He was just as confused as the snake was before everything clicked into place and he fully understood what was happening. He realised that, being Voldemort's closest companion, the Dark Lord had turned Nagini into a Horcrux. It made sense now why the snake hadn't remembered anything since being with Voldemort and also explained why Harry would have the dreams about Voldemort from Nagini's perspective.
Harry watched as the snake backed off, leaving Harry to deal with Lucius once again. However, during his moment of contemplation, Lucius cast 'Expelliarmus', causing his wand to land neatly in the elder Malfoy's hand.
"I took that trick out of your handbook Potter." Malfoy boasted.
Harry smirked, "So what you're saying is, in order to win a duel, you have to use my methods. My, my… does Voldemort know you're taking dueling tips from a teenager?"
"Shut up Potter! You're in no position to pester, now are you?"
"You underestimate my abilities." Harry said before stunning the Death Eater wandlessly, "You should really stop doing that."
He rushed back over to Draco, sending his Patronus to Pomfrey and McGonagall at the same time. He noticed that Draco had lost a lot of blood, but there was nothing he could do about that without the potions from Pomfrey. All he could do was finish closing all of the wounds properly so that there would be no scarring.
Once there was nothing else he could do for Draco except wait for the potions, he levitated Fenrir, Severus and Lucius so that they were lying side by side. Once that was done, he walked over to the elder Malfoy and sneered down at him.
"This is for Draco." He said before casting a cutting curse at Lucius.
He made sure the cut went from the man's temple to his jaw on the opposite side. He wanted to be sure that everyone, including him, would see his failure. He closed the wound before it could make the man bleed out, but not before it scarred nicely. He then made sure to but a charm on Lucius so that no matter what potion or glamour he used, he would never be able to hide the scar.
Once satisfied with his work on Lucius, he went back to his Draco. He sat on the floor with him until a minute later when McGonagall arrived with Pomfrey on her heels. Harry sighed in relief when he saw that the Medi-Witch had brought plenty of potions with her.
"He'll need blood-replenishing potions. At least two of them." He said as calmly as he could, "I took care of all the external stuff for sure, but I could have missed something internal."
"Don't worry Mr. Potter, I will handle it" Pomfrey said before casting her diagnostic spells and giving him the potions he needed.
Meanwhile, McGonagall levitated the Death Eaters into her office before turning to Harry to get the full story. He gave it to her, leaving out the part about him and Draco kissing. He was about to leave to follow after Pomfrey and Draco when he was stopped by Nagini.
'Harry…' Nagini hissed, sounding solemn.
'Yess? What iss it?'
'Will you promisse me ssomething?'
Harry looked at the snake, trying to figure out what it could possibly want from him that he could give. 'Perhapss' he finally said.
'Next time you ssee me… Kill me…'
Harry stood, stunned. He couldn't believe that he had heard Nagini correctly. 'But why?' he wondered.
'I will forget mysself again, I am sssure of it… I am not sstrong like you. Pleasse.'
'Alright… I promisse' Harry said, bowing his head in respect towards the snake he had set free so many years ago.
With that, Nagini slithered away. There was a part of Harry that wished he would never have to see the snake again so that he would never have to make good on his promise. However, he also knew that it would have to be done in order to destroy Voldemort.
Harry sighed to himself before walking towards the infirmary.
He has his Draco to see…