Chapter Seventeen

Harry nearly screamed as consciousness returned. The pain in his wrists was almost unbearable. Looking down, he saw nails had been driven through his wrists and into the stone wall behind him. Where his blood touched the gleaming iron, the metal smoked as if it had been dipped in acid.

Harry reached out with his magic trying to push the iron out of his skin. Sparks flew off the metal. Harry's back arched as if he touched a live wire. Every muscle locked. After what seemed like hours, but couldn't have been more than a few moments, Harry's muscles unclenched.

"That didn't look pleasant at all," a cultured voice said. "I doubt you'll be trying that again."

Harry looked up to see a man with untidy black hair and emerald green eyes walk into the room. The man wasn't muscular, but possessed a thin wiry build that seemed to be adapted for speed rather than strength.

"Abaddon I presume," Harry said trying to keep his voice calm.

The man smiled and bowed mockingly. "You are correct sir. I usually don't converse with my counterparts before I kill them, but you intrigue me."

"Counterparts? Were you dropped on your head as a child?"

"No, but I was hit in the head with a killing curse."

"Yeah well, I was hit with a killing curse to, but I didn't decide to pull a pinky and the brain and try to take over the world."

Abaddon's lips twitched. "Actually, I'd probably be more like a Lord Zed. I want to destroy the world or at least kill all my counterparts."

"Wasn't that a movie? What else did you steal ideas from?"

"Hey, if it's a good idea, why not use it?"

"Assuming I believe you, why would you want to kill your counterparts? They've done nothing to you."

"True, but they also have this habit of trying to stop me when I invade their world. Trust me, I've seen many variations. I saw one world where we joined Voldemort. I saw another where our counterpart was gay and ended up with Draco Malfoy. By far the most err unusual world was one where we married Ginny and named out son Albus Severus Potter." He smiled widely.

"I took great pleasure in killing that version of me. I mean Albus Severus? Why didn't we just add Tom Marvolo to the name and be done with it. Then the poor bastard would have the name of all the people that ruined our life." He sighed mockingly. "And that version of me and his son had just made up to. So tragic when lives are cut short."

"What are you talking about? Dumbledore hasn't done anything to you. Sure he can be a secretive manipulative son of a bitch, but he hasn't tried to control my or your life."

"Not in this world, but Dumbledore can't be trusted. In my home world I was locked in Azkaban because it was assumed I killed my relatives. Only Ginny stood beside me. The rest of my friends abandoned me. It was then that I realized that Voldemort was right in a sense. There was no true good and evil, only stupid morals that we humans try to live by. Unfortunately for humanity, those morals change like the wind.

Ginny helped me escape from Azkaban with some Muggle weapons. After I took my revenge on those who betrayed me and killed Voldemort on general principle. I decided to travel to different worlds. I took on the name Abaddon because I was once of the light, but fell to the darkness."

"Cute story, but it doesn't explain why you decided it'd be fun to kill the alternate versions of yourself."

Abaddon shrugged. "Power. I learned that I could kill my alternate selves and take their magic for my own. No matter which world we are in, one thing remains clear. We are a powerful wizard. I've killed three different versions of myself and you'd be surprised how much power I gained."

"You sure love hearing yourself talk don't you?"

Ginny appeared from the shadows. Seeing her, Harry raised an eyebrow. "Yours?"

Abaddon wrapped an arm around her. "Mine," he said possessively. "She's gained a taste for murdering her alternate selves. She especially hates those worlds where she is a money hungry potion using slut. So far, she's only got to kill one of those versions of herself, but there are many worlds."

"I can understand that, but even the slutty versions of her deserve to live. I don't like the idea of a homosexual version of myself out there, but it's not my place to kill him. She tricked me using glamour. She's shorter than mine and not as hot."

Abaddon's arm tightened around Ginny. "That's your opinion."

"So the brunette is Hermione?"

"Yes and no. You see she was one of the ones that betrayed me, but she was… persuaded she made a mistake. Her body is now being used to host another one of my supporters. Don't worry, she's still in there. She knows everything that is happening, but can't do anything about it. I didn't plan it that way. Hell, when her body's new owner took up residents Hermione was insane, but she has a stronger mind than I gave her credit for. She's regained her mind now."

"Well, you sure are a vindictive arsehole aren't you? I guess this is the part where I say things like, err let me see, you won't get away with this. The light will prevail or good will always triumph."

Abaddon chuckled. "You certainly have a lot of spunk. I'm going to miss you when you're dead."

Harry's jaws slammed together as pain racked his body. His muscles clenched and unclenched uncontrollably. It felt as if hot coals had been placed underneath his skin. Slowly, the pain subsided.

"Was that fun?" Abaddon asked cheerfully. "I'm surprised. Usually I get a bit more of a reaction by this point. Ah well, I guess I'll just have to try harder. Don't worry, I'll make you scream."

Harry coughed and spat a glob of blood onto the floor. "You're not going to buy me dinner first. Man, I've heard of cheap dates, but you take the cake."

Abaddon's eye twitched. Electricity leapt from his fingers. Harry writhed under the assault. His skin blackened and charred, his body convulsed, and all the hairs of his body stood on end.

When Abaddon stopped, he stared at him, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Interesting," he murmured stroking his chin.

Harry looked up at him. His vision was blurred and he had trouble focusing.

"You're healing. As fast as I hurt you, your wounds vanish." With a flick of his fingers, the nails jerked out of Harry's wrists.

Harry felt the wounds close. He flexed his hands, but the muscles merely twitched and shook violently. Looking down, he saw that although the wounds had closed, the skin was red, raw and shiny. It would take more time for his wounds to completely heal. He tried to stand, but his legs shook violently.

"I'm going to take you to a cell and observe you. You may be useful to me after all."

"Oh boy," Harry groaned.

He tried to stand again, and almost made it, until Abaddon made a shoving motion with is hand, slamming him back to the floor. "Stay down, I think I like you where you are. I'm going to enjoy ripping the flesh from your bones, just to see how well you heal."

Abaddon's hand began to glow. "Fortunately for you, I want to give you some time to rest, so enjoy your little nap."

XXX

"What do you mean he's missing," Ginny screamed.

"The wards alerted me to his disappearance a few hours ago," Dumbledore explained patiently.

"And you're just telling us this now," Lily growled.

"I thought he might have gone on a mission."

"We have to find him," Ginny said frantically.

"We will," Lily said soothingly.

"Can Fawkes help?" Hermione asked.

"That is a good idea," Dumbledore said. He turned to his familiar.

"Fawkes, can you find Harry?"

The phoenix trilled before vanishing in a flash of fire.

He reappeared a few seconds later, half his feathers burned off. He hit the floor with a pitiful squeak and lay there, eyes glazed.

Luna looked down at Fawkes. "I think he was blocked," she said picking him up and beginning to heal him.

Fawkes gave her a grateful look before closing his amber eyes.

XXX

"Fascinating," Ginevra said as she watched the gash she'd made in Harry's chest heal seamlessly.

Harry strained against his invisible bonds, but to no avail.

"Oh, your adorable," Ginevra said. "You just don't stop fighting do you?"

He had begun thinking of his wife's evil counterpart as Ginevra in order to differentiate her from his wife.

"I'm glad you think so," he said. Concentrating, Harry extended the nails on his left hand. He felt them change into curved razor sharp claws.

"Yes," Ginevra continued as if he hadn't spoken. "You're like the stories Muggles have about werewolves."

Ginevra conjured an ax. "I am curious if you can regrow limbs."

Harry's eyes widened. "Pretty sure I can't do that."

"Let's find out." She swung the ax down at his leg.

Harry rolled bringing up his clawed hand to block the swing of the ax. The ax struck his claws in a shower of sparks. The invisible bonds binding him vanished in a shower of blue light.

"Oh good," Ginevra said smiling widely. "You do have a little fight left in you."

Harry growled. His ears became more pointed and wolf-like and his teeth became fangs. "I've got more than a little fight left," he said.

Ginevra waved her hand causing the ax to vanish. "Well good, I was hoping you wouldn't just lay there and let me torture you."

Her right hand flew up, a blasting curse leaving her fingertips.

Harry ducked. The curse smashed into the wall behind him, showering him with stone chips. He gestured at Ginny, sending a wall of flame towards her.

Ginevra hastily conjured a shield to block the flames. "Not bad…" she began and was promptly interrupted when a stone fist popped out of the floor and slammed into her face.

She flew backwards smashing into the stone wall. Turning her head, she spat out a tooth and a mouthful of blood.

"That does it," she snarled. "No more miss nice girl."

"Wasn't aware you were being nice," Harry said.

"Well now you are about to learn different." Five killing curses flew towards Harry's head.

A wall of crystal appeared in front of the spells. Ginevra's eyes widened as the curses were reflected back at her. She ducked and rolled barely avoiding her own rebounded spells.

The crystal wall melted and shifted, becoming a unicorn that charged at her. She screamed as the horn plunged through her right wrist pinning her to the wall.

She stared up at Harry, her eyes wide. "How can you hurt me like this? I am your wife."

"No you're not. You smell too fishy to be my Ginny."

Ginevra's eyes narrowed. With a wet squelching sound, she ripped her arm free of the wall. Ignoring the blood leaking from her arm, she took a step towards him.

"I've played with you long enough. Abaddon usually likes killing you, but I think I'll do the honors this time. I'm sure he won't mind."

"No," a voice said from the doorway.

They both turned to see the blue-eyed Hermione standing there.

"What do you mean no?" Ginevra growled.

"Just what I said," blue-eyes said. "You know the rules. We can only kill our counterparts. Besides, Abaddon is intrigued by this one."

"Why?" Ginevra said. "He can heal himself. What use is that for us?"

"Because we are still susceptible to aging and death, but if we can replicate his healing ability, we could gain immortality."

"Fine," Ginevra said walking towards the door. "I'm going to go heal myself. What are you going to do?"

The Hermione look alike smiled. "I'm going to chat with Harry here. I have an idea, but I need to run some tests. If what I believe is true, you might not want to cause him any more injuries than you already have."

Ginevra scowled, but left the cell slamming the door behind her. As soon as her footsteps could no longer be heard, Hermione convulsed. Her blue eyes turned to a chocolate brown. She put out a hand and nearly fell.

Without thinking, Harry caught her and gently lowered her to the ground. "What the hell?"

"Ariana always did underestimate me," Hermione panted.

"Ariana?"

"Yes, her spirit took over my body after I was driven insane. She's been keeping me around to insure she could stay in my body."

"So you aren't really Abaddon's puppet?"

"Not willingly." She looked down at the ground. "I deserve this. I betrayed him, sent him to Azkaban. I didn't believe him. It is my fault he turned into the monster he is."

"No," Harry said firmly. "You did betray him, but the only one responsible for Abaddon's choices is Abaddon."

"But everyone betrayed him," Hermione wailed. "Everyone left him. It's our fault."

"He could've left," Harry said. "He could have escaped and left you all to deal with Voldemort. It's what I'd have done."

Hermione looked at Harry her eyes wide. "You are different."

Harry smiled kindly at her. "I've had an insane fae queen trying to kill me all my life. To make matters even worse, the Wizarding world has hated me because my Father closed the gates of Elphame. I understand betrayal. For a long time, I was bitter at the Wizarding world, but then I realized something."

"What's that?" Hermione breathed.

"People can only make decisions with the information they are given. Whether Muggle or Wizard, the media can't be trusted to tell you the whole story. It is up to people to do the research and pick the wheat from the chaff. Now in the Muggle world this can be done, but in the Wizarding world, there is one news publication in Great Britain and that is The Daily Prophet. The Daily Prophet is about as honest as your average politician, so the Wizarding public can't exactly be blamed for being brainless sheep. It doesn't excuse their actions, but it does explain them."

"What does that have to do with Abaddon and myself?"

"You betrayed him, but he took his rage out on multiple worlds. I can understand revenging himself on those that betrayed him, but he's been punishing multiple worlds for his imprisonment. You've suffered enough I think. What say we get out of here?"

"But Ariana may take control of me again," Hermione said worriedly. "Besides, she said my soul was damaged and I wouldn't survive her leaving my body."

"Well, I have good news and bad news," Harry said.

"Oh?"

"The good news is that your soul is fine."

"And the bad news?"

"Ariana's going to get your body, but I can get you out of here. Are you interested?"

"How?" Hermione asked.

"Got a knife?" Harry asked.

XXX

Dumbledore sighed in disappointment as Luna sat Fawkes back on his perch.

"Couldn't find him?" he asked the bird.

Fawkes gave Dumbledore a look that asked more plainly than words, "are you an idiot?"

Dumbledore winced. "Sorry," he said stroking the bird's head.

"How are we going to find him now?" Lily asked.

Dumbledore looked up at the ceiling. "Oberon," he called.

XXX

"What are you planning?" Hermione asked nervously as she handed Harry a silver dagger.

In answer, Harry carved a rune in the shape of a cup in his arm. Pressing two fingers to the bloody cut, he concentrated. The smell of burning flesh filled the cell. When he took his fingers away, the wound had turned into a scar burned into his flesh. "I've never actually tried this before, but the theory is sound."

"Theory?" Hermione squeaked.

"Relax, this should work fine."

"Should?"

"This is a containment rune. It allows a person to contain another's soul in their body. With this, I can carry you out of here."

"What then?"

"I'm pretty sure my Hermione will consent for you to merge with her. She will be the dominant soul since she was born in this world, but at least you will exist. What do you say? Are you in?"

"What do I have to do?" Hermione asked.

Harry took her hand, pressing their forearms together. The rune on his arm began to glow. A blinding white light filled the cell and Hermione's body crumpled to the ground.

Harry could feel Hermione's presence inside his mind. He heard her voice as if she were standing right beside him.

"Press Ariana's hand next to the door. Since she's keyed into the wards, we should be able to use her magical signature to get out of here."

Before Harry could move, Ariana's eyes blinked open. She stared at him for several seconds, her blue eyes wide. Harry watched Hermione's brown hair lighten to a dirty blond.

"I can't let you escape," Ariana said softly.

"And I can't let you keep me here, so we are at an impasse."

Ariana gestured firing a jet of flame from her palm.

Harry opened his mouth and inhaled the fire. He grinned cockily at her. "That is one spicy meatball."

Ariana clicked her fingers. Harry found himself surrounded by a sphere of ice. He grunted as the walls of the sphere contracted.

"I knew you had a gift for the elements of fire and earth," Ariana said as the walls continued to contract, "but that means you aren't as good with the elements of water and air."

Harry moved his hand. Flickers of flame appeared around his hands. With a scream of effort, he unleashed a wave of fire. His energy quickly waned as the ice around him began to melt. By the time he was free from the magical ice, he could barely stand.

Ariana strode towards him. "Impressive, but it appears you are completely drained. What are you going to do now?"

In answer, Harry reached for a ley line only to find nothing there. Frantically, he tried to draw magic from his surroundings, but it was like there was no magic around him. It felt as if he were in a void with nothing around him.

"Sorry, but when we realized you could recharge yourself from ley lines we made sure to ward your cell against that sort of thing. No sudden comebacks for you." Her fist flew out clipping Harry in the jaw.

Harry left his feet and landed flat on his back. He looked up at Ariana as she lifted her foot over him.

"Let's see how good your healing powers are, shall we?"

Harry grunted as she stomped down shattering his ribs. Blood spurted from his mouth. She stepped back and watched him.

Harry felt his ribs slowly piece themselves back together. "Owe," he growled trying to get back to his feet.

"It's almost a shame how easy this is." Ariana kicked him in the face, shattering his nose and slamming his head into the floor. "Who'd have thought with the right rituals I could have the strength to fight you."

I'm going to kick the crap out of you and then let Abaddon finish you off. What do you think of that?"

"I don't think that's going to happen today," Oberon said appearing in the cell. He looked surprisingly solid and real.

"Oberon?" Ariana said with a giggle. "Look at you. Where'd you find the energy to appear in corporeal form?"

"Your wards are quite powerful. Now, you're going to let my son go."

"Or not," Ariana said. "We have plans for him."

"Yeah, I know. Your plans are the same as my Ex-wife's. Unfortunately for you, I'm not going to let that happen."

"What can you do," Ariana said. "You're a ghost."

Darkness engulfed Oberon. His voice dropped several octaves. "So are you," he thundered.

His shadowy hand flew out and sank into Hermione/Ariana's chest. With no more effort than it would take to open a bag of chips, he tore Ariana's possessing spirit out of Hermione's body.

Ariana looked down at Hermione's fallen body with wide terrified eyes. As she watched, the body slowly crumbled to dust.

"Time for you to go I think," Oberon said.

"No," Ariana shrieked as she was enveloped by a blinding white light.

As the light faded taking Ariana's spirit with it, Harry felt all his injuries heal. A surge of power flowed through him as his magic connected with the nearest ley line. He slowly stood up and stared at his Father.

"Go," Oberon said. "You need to hurry. Abaddon knows his wards are down. Get back to Hogwarts and strengthen the wards. I'll hold them off until you're gone."

"Right," Harry said. "Thanks Dad."

Oberon blazed with power. His golden eyes shone so brightly Harry could barely stand to look at them. "That's what Fathers are for," he said his voice taking on an echoing quality.

Taking one last look around the cell, Harry vanished in a rustle of air.