All Along the Watchtower
Chapter 12- The Road to Hell
Harry stood on the edge of the roof. His team were a scant mile from the target, perched on a neighbouring manor. Harry closed his eyes and felt the cool summer breeze brush his face. Boomer and AJ were waiting patiently. He felt out the wards, trying to ascertain what they how they were overlaid. Harry knew what he had to do. It was impossible to suppress wards from his distance and the combat jump they would be performing left almost no time for action without alerting the caster.
The spell he was to cast was created by Master Aubrey; Keeper of Wards at the academy. It had no particular incantation and was more an expression of will and determination. It created the illusion of the Warder fainting as often when one sunk deeply into maintaining their magical constructs. In truth the caster's magic flooded the Warder's nerve centres and higher brain functions, disrupting neurotransmitter levels and wreaking havoc with their limbic system, often destroying their memory completely and in rare occasions causing a severe brain haemorrhage. It would be a painless and silent death. When it was done, he'd take control before the Wards fell.
Harry's mind drifted from his plan and back to Cho. Only a few minutes after her asking, Cho fell asleep. Harry enjoyed the moment for as long as he could, suffering the odd electrical shock as she coughed just to be there and take it all in. Harry knew he'd need something to hold onto when he fell and he hoped his future with her was enough.
Before he left Harry placed Blue Rose in her arms, hoping she would be comforted by the cool serenity and unwavering certainty it could provide. Harry watched as the entire blade, sheath included, lit up with an ethereal white glow and when the light faded, the sheath was midnight blue, as was the leather around the hilt and the guard had changed from its silvery state to a pale gold metal. Where the guard met the sheath was a golden Raven, instead of the sky blue rose Harry had named it after.
It was exactly what happened to the Devil Bringer. Harry remembered as the battered and scraped, ruby encrusted sword was encased in the same light and when it settled the blade was completely different. Devil Bringer was oversized, ungainly blade at nearly four and a half feet in length and the blade while being relatively thin was almost three and a half inches in width. The cross-guard contained two rubies in the face of lion, inscribed in such detail and likeness it had to be magical. Harry couldn't keep it at his waist, instead having to either carry it on his shoulder or a scabbard on his back. Harry chose to strap it to his back and kept it within easy, if not awkward reach.
Harry breathed deeply, enjoying his moment of thought until his radio clicked. "Charlie Team, this is CIC, your jump is a go. Repeat; jump window is now open."
"Confirmed CIC, Charlie Team is a go." Harry waited a moment before turning.
Boomer waited silently with AJ, Harry grinned, the night was about to start with a bang. "Ready?" Both nodded as they pulled up hoods, put on their goggles and zipped up their jackets. "Disillusionment charms now; Dissuago," Harry said, rapping himself on the head awkwardly with his wand.
Harry shuddered as the cold feeling trickled down his neck and he looked up to find Boomer and AJ completely invisible. "Alright guys, jump in 3…2…1…jump!"
xxxxx
Harry's Momentum Arresting Charm worked perfectly, slowing him to a complete halt just a few inches above the Manor's roof. His mind was another matter and he instinctively lay flat. The Death Eater, formerly in control of the Wards was dead, she would never see the light of another sunrise but Harry was having trouble pulling her constructs in a tight vein he could control without much thought. Harry dispelled the Unplottable Ward as it was essential to the Reapers infiltration and loosed the Condension Field which attracted magic to power the Wards. It would allow the use of their Muggle equipment. Harry keyed several generic signatures to the Anti-Apparition Ward, clearing the way for the other infiltration teams.
Harry heard a muffled cry, his eyes shot open and his hand darted to one of the 'ballers. Harry rolled onto his back; a silencing spell was cast less than half a second before the silver tipped bullet tore from the chamber but his shot only earned a small tuft of ash as it tore through the disintegrating Guards shoulder.
"Shit!" A voice Harry recognized as AJ hissed in pain.
Harry leapt to his feet, moving across the roof until he was at AJ's side. "You okay?" Harry examined AJ's arm, his enhancements peeled away the darkness and allowed him to see the wound. It wasn't life threatening, but didn't look pleasant either.
"Just a scratch," AJ said through gritted teeth, the wound was only a graze. He was lucky; if his Lieutenant was a better shot he would be dead.
"Thanks." Harry said and with a tap of his wand and the wound stopped pouring blood but was still open. Harry shook his head and vanished the blood; it was beyond his skill to heal fully. "Did you see Boomer?"
"I'm here." Boomer said as he emerged from the darkness. "I set down a little over the way, took two down. We have a clear shot at entry through skylights on the second or third floor. Or we can take the attic route." He looked at AJ who had finished wrapping a dark bandage around his bicep. "What happened to you kid?"
AJ was indignant. "I'm not-"
"- a kid," Harry finished rolling his eyes. "I shot him."
Boomer gave a wary look.
"-by accident," Harry assured.
"Which way boss?" AJ interrupted, not hiding his annoyance well.
"We'll take the second floor entrance, stay close. Boomer take the rear, AJ stay in the middle, no arguments you're injured." Harry ordered. He used the SAT image on his PDA and the GPS tracker to navigate across the roofs of the Manor. By Harry's estimates it was almost double the size of Hollow Manor which he considered stupidly expansive but Vampires were known for their extravagant taste. In minutes they reached the skylight. Harry, AJ and Boomer crouched at each side.
"AJ check the latest thermal sweep for patrol patterns. Boomer prepare to breach." The two Reapers nodded wordlessly. Harry turned away and imputed the secure frequency into his PDA and clicked the Radio in his ear. "Academy Actual this is Charlie Team, authenticate R-J-J-L-D-W-C-7."
"Charlie Team authentication confirmed, this is Academy Actual authenticate R-3-D-C-T-H-A-S."
"Authentication confirmed Actual. Insertion is complete, breach is imminent, all Hostiles on our roof side are clear. Alpha Team is go, repeat Alpha Team is go."
"Actual confirms; we will pass word to Alpha Team. Proceed with primary mission protocols."
Harry scrambled the signal and turned back to his team. "Ready?"
"We're good to go Lt, the vamps are concentrated in the North Wing but there are a few patrols, we might hit one or two." AJ stated.
Harry nodded. "Boomer, do it."
Boomers muttered a Cutting Curse's incantation and his wand scraped along the glass and then he levitated the panel of glass to the side.
Harry dropped into the hole first, landing lithely on the rich crimson carpet. His hand snaked to one of the ballers' holsters and he attached a custom built silencer to its barrel as AJ and Boomer dropped in next to him.
Their weapons in hand, Boomer's P90 and AJ's MP5 provided silver security to his back. Harry's Team advanced through the richly decorated hallways carefully. Taking time and care to make sure they weren't being followed; they doubled back a few times to be sure. Harry found the decor of the stately Manor to be lacking the grace of his former home. The crimson carpet was disturbingly dark and the paintings, while lacking the animation of their magical counterparts were just as unsettling. They either depicting bloody massacres or the dark beauty of various vampires, each of the majestic portraits mimicked the pale, marble like skin of their subjects perfectly, every majestic curve and minor detail painstakingly crafted. The starling crimson eyes of the occupants which seemed to follow Harry's gaze were eerily disconcerting.
Harry knew he was imagining it. No magic emanated from the portraits, not the slightest spark. Still it made him tread faster, speeding to reach the sanctity of the cellars sooner rather than later. And five minutes later Harry began the descent down a winding staircase hidden in a dark cupboard, well away from the magnificent granite feature which he knew connected the southern wing with the main house. The small second floor staircase was a direct route to the underused kitchens.
"Boss stop," AJ whispered.
Harry halted; hand still on the door handle and threw a glance at AJ. AJ pointed to his PDA and Harry looked to his own, the image read five cold sigs and three hot. They were clustered at the far end of the room. He signalled AJ and Boomer, silent running all the way.
Harry pulled the door quickly and caught his first kill off guard. The vampire jerked as Harry's bullet penetrated his temple, fiery ash rained down on the girl whose neck it was buried in. The girl staggered and fell to the tiled floor. Two more vampires died as the last two turned to his team, dropping their prey like used matches. Not a trace of the mysterious grace Harry had gazed upon in the portraits about them, blood dripped from their mouths and fangs as they snarled, sensing the team's magic, salivating in anticipation. They were nothing but mindless animals, the blood lust so strong they couldn't think straight.
Harry took great pleasure as he loosed three more rounds in a dispersal pattern, giving his target the pleasure of running into its death. Some Vampires may have been fast enough to dodge bullets but this one wasn't. He was a pile of smouldering ash in seconds. The other wasn't far behind.
Harry's team made it to the girls quickly. He slipped on the blood slicked floor as he kneeled down and knew they wouldn't survive. One was completely still, the tanned girl propped up in a corner whom Boomer was trying to tend to was choking on her own blood by the looks of things; the Vampires had bitten too deep. And Harry's own patient, a fiery haired teenager, was the reason for the blood slicked tiles with her throat slit by fang. Harry's wand went to her neck and he poured green healing magic, he muttered every charm he could remember, feverishly trying to stem the flow. His wand glowed green despite its coat of fluid as his magical willed her skin to knit.
But Harry just didn't possess the natural calm required or the subtle skill of a healer.
The girl looked up at him, fear and anguish twisting her face into a bloody mural. Her hazel eyes pleaded with him, begged him to save her. It was hopeless and Harry remembered that feeling all too well. He relented his ministrations and his wand dulled, disappearing back into its holster, he suddenly had the urge to pull at his sleeves again as he watched as her eyes close peacefully. He lay her down before standing and he took one of the 'ballers again and put a silver bullet through her heart. She would die human. He could at least grant her a clean death. He looked her over, tattered clothing, bruised and bitten all over. Death would have been welcome for her after what the Vampires put her through.
"Lt, this one is still alive."
Harry tore his eyes away, watching Boomer cradle the injured girl. Harry made his decision with not but a twinge of regret. "Leave her; we have a mission to complete."
Boomer looked up in amazement. "What? We can't leave her!"
Harry shook his head, as much as he liked Boomer he was an idiot at times. "Yes, we can. She'll only slow us down and probably die anyway." Harry said grimly moved closer to Boomer, ready to haul him up. "Get up. That's an order."
Boomer looked down at the girl; his messy job of healing the damage to her artery wouldn't hold for long. "No, you guys go. I'll go back up the stairs and get out-"
"-no you won't." Harry interjected harshly. "We need you to set the charges, you're the demolitions expert and she's as good as dead, be realistic!"
"With respect, sir; we can't just leave an innocent girl to-"
AJ stepped in, kneeling down and placing a small knife in Boomer's hand. "The emergency Portkey, it'll send her straight to the Doc." He turned to Harry. "Lt, you just need to punch a hole in the Portkey Ward."
Harry nodded grudgingly. Punching a hole in a ward was like a submarine activating a sonar ping; it could alert every wizard in two miles who was looking in their direction. He couldn't take down the ward, if any active Portkeys started teleporting they'd be screwed. And Harry's best time creating a Portkey was five minutes and that was concentrating on his task fully, not with bullets and spellfire.
"I'll do it, but we're fucked for getting out of here if we hit a wall!" Harry's eyes closed and he set about punching the hole.
Boomer lay the girl down, placing the small knife in her hand. It would be a miracle if his spell held long enough for Doctor Landry to stabilize her, but he had to try.
"It's done." Harry said as he opened his eyes, only to see the girl disappear in a flash. He glanced at AJ. "Scout ahead."
AJ nodded, taking the hint.
Harry looked at Boomer expectantly.
"It was the right thing to do." Boomer said quietly. "You know it and I know it."
"We don't always do the right thing! The mission comes first. You know that and I know that!" Harry stated. "What happens if we get caught? We don't have an emergency Portkey, was that girl's life worth more than my life, AJ's life or your life?"
"Yes!" Boomer said looking up. "She was a victim; we've had plenty of victims. Some not too much different than her, it's a bitch when the lines become so blurry isn't it? Is this really worth it just to become like them?"
"Yes." Harry said, turning away. "It has to be."
"If that makes you sleep better at night keep telling yourself that! We both know what roads paved with the best of intentions!" Boomer snapped back.
"I've been knee deep for a while Boomer, I've reserved my seat in hell, it's just getting there that'll be the trick."
xxxxx
The basement was as dank, damp and dreary as Harry thought it would be.
Boomer was setting the last of the explosives and AJ was watching the door. That left Harry to maraud the expansive basement for any vampires. He found three feeding on an unfortunate teenage boy. Harry had emptied both the 'ballers' clips into them and a bullet penetrated the dead boy's heart. Harry walked through the winding rows of boxes carefully. He was surprised his magical ping hadn't alerted any Death Eaters to their presence, pleasantly surprised. The mission was going smoothly, except the small bump in the road between himself and Boomer.
Harry knew Boomer was right; trying to save the girl was the right thing to do even if she had hardly a prayer. Boomer's spell would have scarcely last a minute after she arrived at the infirmary. It would've been a miracle if the Doc or one of her nurses found her soon enough to reinforce Boomer's patchy job.
It wasn't that he didn't care; it was that he couldn't care. He couldn't afford to care.
If Harry dwelled on all the lives he had taken or he had allowed himself to let go of, he knew he'd go crazy. Harry found it hard to force back his guilt and try to compartmentalize his life in such a way he could ignore it easily. It took him almost three years of constant practice to temper his mind in a similar style while learning Occlumency to an effective degree. Harry still struggled with it but used that control, when fighting, to block the river of compassion which flowed through his mind. He couldn't hesitate, not when the mission and the Reapers were at stake, he'd sacrifice almost anything for them. The girl simply lay in the way of that.
Harry heard a click and his eyes were drawn to his PDA. Radio silence was a given on the mission, it was Rossi. "Alpha Team?"
"Drop the formal shite, how're you and your guys gettin' on?"
"I've finished my sweep, when I get back Boomer should be finished with the last of the explosives. Why are you breaking radio silence, don't you trust us?" Harry replied as he came up on Boomer.
"Don't be stupid. I need you guys to pick up my informant and extract him, he's a VIP, prep him for extraction fully. The location is been sent to your PDA. Richie and his mob have tried but they're stuck; can't get by patrols without stirring up a shit storm. You guys have a clear shot." Rossi explained.
Harry nodded to himself, surveying the location on his PDA. It wasn't too far away but did run close to a few Vampire patrols as they entered the main house. "No problem Alpha, go from our end."
"See you at the RP."
Harry muttered, terminating the signal. Harry waited until Boomer finished priming the last of the C4 and extended a hand, "Detonator." Boomer placed it in his hand without a word; Harry put it in one of his front pockets.
AJ watched the exchange curiously, listening half-heartedly; there was an obvious tension between them. But AJ stuck to his mantra, it wasn't his place to say anything. He was an Assassin; he followed his orders and did his job as was expected of him. Even if it wasn't his first career choice but being of his family that decision was made for him.
AJ wondered if the girl was the reason the Lt and Boomer were at odds. Although he and Boomer bickered, Boomer was a guy he could look up to and his teacher in many ways, someone who didn't particularly like the hand he was dealt but persevered anyway. He knew of Boomer's doubts, that he lacked the detachment needed to an Operative in the Order.
AJ shook his head in irritation as the Lt finished up. It was simple. Extract an informant from a vampire infested mansion and try not to get killed.
He didn't understand how the two could be annoyed, it was the try not to get killed part that was rattling through AJ's head.
xxxxx
Harry's team found their route through the winding crimson corridors uneventful. Only a few piles of ash were left in their wake but he felt things were too easy, much too easy. Harry took the next turn carefully, no sentries or guards. The target was a Death Eater. The vampires steered well clear of the room he or she was in, undoubtedly they would rather not be tempted to eat their future allies.
They stacked at the door and he looked to his PDA again. They would have to be precise and quick, the Death Eaters couldn't trigger any alarms as Harry held the keys, but if one realized they could Apparate away in the panic it would cause problems. "Boomer, optic cam, check positions, when we breach cover AJ. AJ, go for the hostiles on the left. I'll clean up."
AJ began prepping his MP5, attaching a dot sight and double checking his suppressor and ammunition. He knew most would take it as an affront to be on gun duty but to AJ gun duty wasn't a chore, he loved guns. He simply wasn't a great Element or magic user. AJ knew his best skill was marksmanship. It was the area in which he outshone his older cousins and could hold as his own impeccably with the best the world could offer. He would take his Barret at 1500m any day and he would blow his target's head off with a high calibre round before they could think twice about raising a wand. When finished he looked at his PDA and the live feed from Boomer's optic camera to check his targets positions.
Harry looked up as Boomer retracted his feed from below the door. AJ signalled ready and Harry secured the 'ballers in their holsters and produced his wand. Harry's arms shivered as magic streaked through his damaged nerves and veins, it made him feel alive. He hadn't used it in a fight for days and duelling always gave him a rush.
Harry nodded to Boomer and his boot smashed the door inward. He moved himself to the side as AJ threw in a stun grenade. The Death Eaters were easy pickings. Most were disorientated and AJ took down three before he had to duck behind Boomers shield. Boomer concentrated on deflection as Harry decimated the last of them. One fell from an arrow of sickening green energy and the other's quickly erected shield was destroyed by a stream of fire and he was eviscerated by an over-powered Sectumsempra.
Harry looked at the last black robed figure of the room. Draco Malfoy.
Harry could recognize the white blonde hair and aristocratic posture anywhere, and the nose he broke in the Quidditch Cup Final of his sixth year. It was actually an accident on Harry's part; Malfoy wasn't a half-bad seeker and he ended up sporting a broken wrist that day. Unlike his family Harry was rather tolerant of the Slytherin. They hadn't crossed paths often and mostly left one another alone. Harry had even helped him out of a tight spot in Fourth Year with a few Gryffindors that he was sure Malfoy would remember. Harry guessed the change of allegiance was self-preservation. Malfoy's weren't known for acts of heroism.
"Malfoy," Harry said with a simple nod.
"Potter," Malfoy returned, hiding his surprise through years of practise.
"AJ, fix the door. Boomer secure him for Exfil' while I report in." Harry moved away and keyed in Kaden's secure frequency.
"I assume you've got the informant for extraction?" Kaden asked, his voice cracking slightly over the radio.
"Informant is secure. Charlie Team is fully operational." Harry said.
"You're authorized for immediate exfiltration, get the RP, we'll see you there."
"See you there." Harry said, cutting the signal; AJ was watching the door and Boomer was securing Malfoy. Boomer took the hawthorn wand and threw it. Harry caught it, surprised Malfoy hadn't protested. He fingered it gently, the trace on the wand proved Malfoy was powerful, not greatly so but a fair bit better than average. He knew how to manage his power to maximise viability, in other words he didn't blow his load on ten AKs and roll over like most of them. He could be useful, Harry decided.
"Let me see it." Harry stated.
Without a word Malfoy pulled back the arm of his black robe and turned up his forearm. The fading black serpent was a constant source of pain, especially when his loyalty to the Dark Lord begun to wane. It made him weaker by the day, poisoning him until it would become noticeable to others. That was why he had to go to the White Robed Ones. They could help him, like they helped others.
"Is that good enough for you Potter?"
Harry looked at the Dark Mark warily. From what he had learned from Abe about them they were anything but pleasant to all but the most devout of followers. It could also be used to track traitors of the Mark. "You know what I have to do?"
Malfoy shook his head.
"Good. Boomer, make him a gag." Harry said as he closed his eyes, laying his palm over the Mark.
Boomer ripped a long strip of fabric from one of the dead Death Eater's robes. He folded, twisted and tied it off. "Bite down on it. It'll help, trust me." Boomer said, his words were of experience and he watched Malfoy do as instructed.
Harry closed his eyes and drew most of the Mark's taint from Malfoy's body to the surface. Not enough to rid him of it, but enough so that the connection was tenuous and the Dark Lord would not be able to find him. "This is going to hurt like hell." Harry warned as his hand covering the Mark burst into flame.
Pain exploded in Malfoy's forearm and he bit into the makeshift gag as hard as he could, hopelessly trying to dispel the pain as the white-robed-one other held him straight.
Harry pulled away from Malfoy panting hard. He could feel the malice and hatred poured into the creation, it almost made him physically sick. Never in his darkest moments had he felt like that; that need; that want to cause pain. Harry shook himself, trying to ward the feeling away. He looked up, Malfoy was slouched in a chair, taking deep, ragged breaths as Boomer applied a Numbing Charm and bandaged the horrible burn. Harry threw Malfoy his wand. "Just in case," Harry said. "Follow our lead and you'll get out. If not, don't hold your breath."
Malfoy hissed in pain as he caught it. "Thank you Potter, I understand. You do however have-"
AJ sounded panicked as he interrupted. "-Lieutenant...we've got...ugh-"
Harry turned in time to AJ stumbling back from the door and falling to the ground.
"Boomer take the right, I'm on the left, Malfoy pull AJ away and get down!" Harry shouted already tearing through the door.
Pings reached his ears as bullets tore into his shield. He identified six Vampires on his side of the hallway and advanced with reckless abandon. Harry channelled his Elemental through his wand, making it even more potent and it left a sulphur rich tail as it seared through the first vampire on contact. The next made the mistake of running at Harry only for a torrent of crimson flame rendered him ash.
A multi-coloured whip of flame ignited from Harry's wand as he charged a simple fire spell with his Elemental magic. Harry ducked as he came into range, an iron wrought sword cut through his shield where his head was and Harry brought the whip around and the superheated flame decapitated the assailant and his friend.
Four down, two to go.
Harry's wand disappeared almost and his hand settled around the fresh leather grip of Devil Bringer. Harry pulled it from its sheath just in time to parry a wicked looking rapier; a rapier stood no chance against his blade. Harry pulled back, drawing the large blade horizontally, right to left, allowing it to almost fly from his grasp as he followed through with only one hand. As he spun Harry triggered the hidden blade in his sleeve, with a snick it tore through his jacket and was buried in the bad of the vampire's head before it disappeared again.
Harry looked the last in his crimson eyes as he stared down the barrel of an aging FN FAL and this wasn't the way Harry envisaged he'd go. It was a bit anti-climactic. Harry dropped his sword, kicking it for away and taking a step himself. He was still a foot outside of effective CQC range. The Vampire motioned to the silver handguns, Harry used one hand to pull the straps and drop them to the ground.
The vampire made the wrong move as he stepped forward to grab the silvery blade at his feet. As his hand touched the Mythril blade he drew back burned. Harry seized upon the mistake by stepping forward, his hand grasped the underside of the barrel and he pushed upward. The Vampire's skin while marble in look; was as frail as most demonic hybrid's. Harry's enclosed hand broke its' nose in a wet crack of bone and cartilage. Harry wretched the rifle from the Vampire's hand and spun, swinging it around until it the butt connected with the Vampire's temple, shattering the stock and knocking it to the floor.
Harry dropped the useless weapon motioned his wrist again, the hidden blade extended again with a snick and Harry plunged it through an eye socket.
xxxxx
Harry staggered as he passed the door, an unexplainable pain shot through his head but disappeared quickly. He ignored it and rushed over to AJ and his would-be-medics. There was a lot of blood; AJ's was distressed with pain and Boomer was furiously working his best magics to stem the blood loss.
Malfoy was useless at the side.
"Malfoy!" Harry snapped. "Watch the door, now!" Malfoy acquiesced and turned to Boomer. "How bad is it?"
"Bad." Boomer replied without looking up. "We need to go now or he won't make it!"
Harry nodded. "I'll call in a full pull down; we'll be out in minutes." Harry tapped his PDA.
"Pull out now! They know we're here, crash all wards and pull out now-"
Harry winced as the radio signal descended into a screech of magical interference. As ordered Harry closed his eyes and sought out the part of his mind which controlled the wards. "Fuck me sideways," Harry said stunned. The wards weren't there. Someone had taken them from him without a fight. He'd been tricked, it was the only explanation. "Get him up!"
"What?" Boomer said, looking up from his patient who was moaning incoherently as he tightened a bandage.
Harry shook his head violently, "We need to go now!"
"What? We can't, he'll never-"
"Potter we're going to have company!" Malfoy interjected.
"Boomer get him up. We're blowing our way out, Malfoy, you up for it?" Harry said, staring at him expectantly.
Malfoy sighed. "I never did expect to get out of this alive."
Harry grinned wickedly as he stood and with a twitch of his wand the door exploded into the hallway. "Keep up and you might."
xxxxx
Harry was on point throwing up shield after shield as Malfoy picked off any he could but they were being pushed further into the main house. The Death Eaters and vampires were well co-ordinated and blocked every potential exit. The 'ballers were out of ammunition and from what Harry had glimpsed AJ was completely out of it.
"They're attempting -Avada Kedavra- to box us in Potter, we have to break through not fall back!" Malfoy screamed over the storm of spellfire.
"I know!" Harry's wand desperately waved in another complex pattern and a Mantis Shield interlaced with Elemental flame spewed from his wand, covering the group in an iridescent blue glow which quickly dissipated into a kaleidoscope of colour.
"They've had every chance to kill us –Demprimo-" Malfoy almost smiled as the purple jet of magic exploded, throwing shards of hardwood from the walls and with a flick of his wrist turned silver, decimating a group of vampires.
"I know-" Harry muttered again as his shield collapsed. A few well-placed AKs would have killed them right enough but Assassins were rarely cornered and taken prisoner even less. Whatever Death Eater spun this web had planned it and knew what he wanted.
"Lt, we're near the main hall," Boomer shouted over the noise, his PDA was almost fried from all the magic but gave them a lifeline.
"Good," Harry muttered. "Fall back, I'm running out!" His pseudo control of the wards was more draining than it should've been and the constant shielding was taking its toll. They fell back quickly with Malfoy shifting to point and Harry covering the rear. Resistance was waning as Harry brought down the ceiling with a Concussion Hex. The Death Eaters struggled to climb over the wreckage before a serpent of twisting Fiendfyre turned them into blackened husks and the vampires into nameless ash.
Harry threw up a Barrier and ran down the hallway to catch them at the Entrance Hall doors. "Don't stop until we're out!" He said as he used his wand to force the door open and the four men emerged into a grand chamber, easily big enough to fit a small house. The black granite staircase reached out into both wings of the House, accentuated by the grey marble floor and a magnificent crystal chandelier was floating in the air beneath the stain glass ceiling. The doors were equally as grandiose, massive oak panels which almost matched Hogwarts' in size and fortitude. Locks ran the entire length and the magical sigils and runes carved into the frames would provide unfailing protection to the entranceway should it ever be assailed.
Holy shit, Harry thought as he saw thirty or so heavily armed Vampires and their black hooded leader. He had one hand on Devil Bringer, putting a buffer between them and his team. If need be, Harry was sure he could hold them off long enough for Malfoy to get the doors open.
Harry watched as the Death Eater approached. His robes weren't too dissimilar to Malfoy's but reinforced by dragon leather and better designed for battle, cutting away the cloak and leaving only a hood. The wizard lowered his hood, revealing his short cropped black hair and dark features. "I believe introductions are in order?" He said politely with the slight twinge of an American accent.
Harry gritted his teeth and stayed silent, the patronizing bastard knew he tricked him and wanted to rub it in.
"No?" He asked; a slight frown. "In any case you may address me as Lord Stryfe, Mr Potter."
Harry's eyes widened in surprise but he hid the gesture quickly.
Stryfe smiled. "I know exactly who you are Mr Potter. One does not escape being the most promising Hogwarts student since Albus Dumbledore without notice. It was a shame I was too old for the Tri-Wizard tournament, I would have relished the challenge." He sighed in remembrance. "I am Lord Stryfe, apprenticed to the Dark Lord Voldemort leader of the Circle of Immortals."
"Well colour me impressed," Harry snorted. "If I can stand toe to toe with your boss I'll take my chances."
"Now, now Mr Potter, I clearly have the high ground. Come quietly and your friends can leave. Even the traitor if you wish however his Aunt desperately wishes for some time alone with him." Stryfe said pleasantly enough but grinning maliciously at Malfoy.
Harry was lost in thought, unless he could get in the middle of the vampires and…wait? Harry grinned as he looked at the vampires. Well played Stryfe, well played. Harry thought in almost admiration. It was a hell of an illusion.
"Do we have an accord Mr Potter?" Stryfe asked as his hand slipped into his robe grasping his yew and dragon heartstring wand.
Harry's hand left the Devil Bringer; he couldn't discern how many were actually vampires and not part of the illusion Stryfe crafted to accentuate the numbers. He couldn't risk it. His wand in hand once Harry more poured fire from it, blackening an area of marble to encase himself in a well-known Anti-Apparition Rune.
Stryfe nodded in approval. "I am not an unreasonable man, I shall allow you to say goodbye to your comrades."
Boomer was adamant. "We're not leaving you Lt! Fuck that, even you can't take on that many vampires and a Death Eater. They'll slaughter you; I'd rather stand and fight!"
Harry smiled at Boomer, he was fine but AJ wasn't at all. "It's not the time for that Boomer. I can look after myself, AJ needs you. Now go, and tell Kaden to grab his gun and fucking shoot that fucking cat as many times as he can!" Harry finished with a slight grin.
Boomer's face screwed up in confusion. "What?"
"Tell him, he'll understand." Harry assured as he watched Boomer take his place at AJ's other side.
"See you soon Lt." Boomer said as he, Malfoy and AJ disappeared with a loud crack.
Harry turned back to Stryfe and walked from his prison. "How many of those are real?" Harry asked, gesturing to the vampires.
With a wave of his wand and a stream of sliver the illusion vanished. "None of them, I'm surprised you agreed to my terms after noticing my illusion."
Harry shrugged. "I was never good at poker and really I fancied my chances with a few of them and you."
"Really?" asked Stryfe, cocking an eyebrow at Harry's confidence.
Harry smirked, "Yeah."
"I take it that you shall not come quietly?"
Harry shook his head vigorously in excitement and readying himself by unclipping the Hardballers holsters and allowing the Devil Bringers to fall from his back. "No chance."
"Do you have terms? I only request that if one of us has to die, it be by a wand, I will not be dishonoured by a muggle death."
"I'm never one to play by the-" Harry's wand intercepted the orange curse and deflected it easily, only for it to splatter on a silver shield. "Nice try, my turn."
Harry didn't mutter an incantation but the serpent of flame spewed from his wand once again and the fire encased the Stryfe's shield before dissipating and harry followed it up with a blasting curse which exploded against Stryfe's shield with force enough to push him back. Harry parried three streams of magic before erecting a shield as the magical chandelier was pulled down on top of him. Harry threw it to the side with a movement of his hand and swish of his wand to direct it but Stryfe was on him again, battering his shield with hexes and curses.
Harry dived out the way of an arrow of green energy; it only succeeded in decapitating an ugly bust of a fat looking vampire. Harry flicked his wand and sent the remains careening into the path of another AK, it exploded, shattering completely. Harry countered with a Blasting Curse which destroyed the marble at Stryfe's feet, throwing him into the air and crashing into a wall. As he was recovering Harry advanced mercilessly. He was finishing the little bastard and going home to her.
Harry advanced as Stryfe recovered his poise. Three over powered hexes destroyed a hastily erected shield and Harry muttered the final words Stryfe would ever hear. The arrow of dark energy...hit a wall?
Oh fuck! Harry thought as a powerful bludgeoning curse impacted his back, launching him in the air and breaking a few ribs. Harry impacted the wall Stryfe used to occupy hard and with a loud, excruciating pop, Harry's wand arm fell limp. Harry screamed in pain as his shoulder was dislocated and his wand fell away. Harry recovered as quickly as he could; he ignored the pain and summoned his wand into his left hand. He conjured bandages and secured his useless arm against his side, his side hurt too but he ignored it as best he could.
Harry turned to the gleeful looking Stryfe. "What're you smiling about, the Dark Lord's about to be down an Apprentice?"
Harry decided enough was enough; if he wanted to play with his wards to gain an advantage then Harry would pull his own card. He wasn't going to play with the bastard. He was good, more than good, not many could've manipulated a ward that quick. Harry would have to destroy him, completely; descent the duel into a slugging match rather than a skill of finesse and quick reactions, Harry knew no one had the power to stand toe to toe with him except the Old Man and Dark Lord.
Harry's left arm went rigid as he pointed it straight at Stryfe, who mistook it as some form of salute until Harry shouted. "Everto Incendia Adveho Velo." The blackened fire streaked from Harry's wand, seeming to suck in light as it tore through Stryfe's strongest shield as though it was tissue paper. Stryfe dived away but the flame followed in his wake and with a loud crack he reappeared at the top of the black granite staircase.
He looked scandalised. "The Demon Fire, that is impressive. My Master will enjoy your company I think."
"Damn fucking right it is!" Harry stated as the blackened flames continued to burn through anything, even warping the marble, it was no longer under his control. The Demon Fire would eventually consume the mansion and even the forests around the manor unless an extremely skilled Water Elemental like his Master was brought in to control it. Demon Fire when summoned could only be pointed and set loose.
"You confidence is admirable Potter, especially when at such a disadvantage."
Harry shook his head, Allie I had better get my life back. "That's rich coming from a guy who's about to die!"
You will, I so swear on my Angelic Grace.
Stryfe spread his arms. "I'm tied into the wards; if I am killed this entire mansion will go up like the Fourth of July."
Harry produced the remote detonator from his pocket. "Last I heard that was part of the plan!"
xxxxx
Kaden looked over the battered, shot and bruised Reapers. Ollie had taken a shot to the leg and was resting against a tree. Richie had a bad wound across his abdomen but still insisted he was combat ready despite being hunched over. Rossi wasn't worse for wear except a few scrapes. Sheppard had a broken arm and Jack's forehead was spitting blood as he nodded in and out of consciousness; Rossi was trying to keep him awake. That left Kaden to worry about Harry's team; they were the only ones left. Last Kaden heard before the radios blew out, AJ took a bullet to the stomach.
The thought was wretched from Kaden's mind as with a loud crack; AJ, Malfoy and Boomer appeared in front of him. "Holy shit," Kaden said as he moved forward, staring at the blood soaked bandage around AJ's abdomen. "What happened?"
Boomer and Malfoy set AJ down next to Ollie as Boomer explained. "It was a trap. All of it, they wanted Harry…some kid…called Stryfe cornered us with about twenty seriously tooled up vampires…Harry turned himself over for us…I don't see him going without a fight…we still have time-"
Kaden ahead of him; he knelt down next to AJ who was semi-conscious. "Hey kid," AJ looked up at him groggily, "you're going to be fine okay, then maybe I'll let you win some time, alright?" Kaden said smiling slightly.
AJ just slurred something along the lines of 'not' and 'kid'.
"That's what I like to hear," Kaden whispered as he looked into his cousin's ice blue eyes. He got up. "Rossi, gear up." He looked to Richie, "You game?"
The stoic Lieutenant straightened himself with a grimace. "A scratch won't keep me down."
Kaden couldn't help but smile but it faded as he found Sheppard in his way. "You got something to say?"
Sheppard steeled himself, cradling his broken arm but trying to keep his hand within distance of his Colt. "You have to destroy the Manor, we will be lucky if anyone of significance is still inside. This mission is worth more than one man's life, this action could save hundreds."
Kaden snorted, looking him up and down. If it came to it Kaden didn't have a problem putting him down. "It's not your mission or team. Now shut your fucking mouth and get out of my way!"
Sheppard moved between Kaden and the imposing figures of Rossi and Richie. "Then you leave me no choice. By order of the Elemental Council and the Assassin Training Corp Commander Mei-" Before he could finish Sheppard staggered forward, crumpling to the dirt.
Richie looked down at him stoically. "It would seem Major Sheppard was hit by fallen rubble and may have had an unseen injury…" Richie trailed off with a glimmer of a grin, sheathing his sword. "We never leave a man behind."
"Dead or alive, we all go home together." Rossi said, he owed Harry that much. He brought Paul home when he could have left him and if it came down to it he would bring Harry home too.
Kaden turned to Boomer and threw him his emergency Portkey, as did Richie. "Get these guys home as soon as you-"
All their eyes were drawn away as explosion tore through the majestic structure in the distance. Kaden looked on in shock as the building collapsed in on itself, "Boomer, Malfoy; go now, bring back a med-team. Rossi, Richie move!"
xxxxx
Harry was floating.
His worries slipped away in seconds.
It was bliss.
His mind wasn't assailed by a madman for the first time in his life. He could stay in that moment forever. Harry sighed in complete contentment.
The only thing missing was; her.
Harry's eyes shot open only to be confronted by white.
He was standing on nothing?
Harry looked down himself. For some reason he was in his formal robes, except everything was white, even the leather belt and normally crimson sash.
All he could see was white, not blinding light, just white.
He stepped forward.
Nothing.
Harry pulled down his hood and looked around.
Nothing, absolutely nothing.
"Where am I?"
"You are in what humans call purgatory; you are in the place between worlds of the living and the dead."
Harry turned to find a well-dressed man, slightly taller than he in a white suit and overcoat standing behind him. His short hair was flaming red, clashing brilliantly with his silver like eyes. Harry took a step back. "Who are you?"
"I am Aral, an Angel of the Lord, your guardian and protector."
"You're the guy Allie was talking about?"
Aral nodded stoically. "I was watching as Allison interfered in the Archangel's plans. She wasn't supposed to tell you anything, she will be punished."
"For giving me a choice in whether I lived or died? I thought free will was a big thing to God?"
Aral tilted his head curiously at his human charge, he knew nothing of God. "To our Father yes, to myself and my brethren, no. You will do as asked and be granted life once more. It was my purpose was to guide you on this path, Allison interfered and it was not her place."
"But-"
"Enough," Aral said forcefully, "there is not time. You are to complete your task by any means. The Archangels don't care how you feel about it, or what you want. You can either rot in the pits or be granted life. I shall know when you have succeeded."
Harry felt a cold trickle on his forehead, his scar. His hand went to it and it was wet, Harry looked at his hand. Blood? "What-"
Aral looked saddened. "It is time."
Harry panicked, breathing heavily. "Not yet, please, just let me see…ahh-" Harry fell to his knees as an unbearable pain sailed through his forehead.
Aral placed a hand on Harry's bloody forehead. "I am sorry my child. May the Lord protect you."