Disclaimer: I do not, in anyway own the wonderful world of Harry Potter, or Charmed. I am just dabbling in the world they left for us. Though I do own the plot...
Chapter 60
Three Days Later,
part 1...
"Three days, it's been three days and we don't even know if he's okay."
"Piper, it's going to be okay, don't worry, Leo and Neville are back out there looking for him, tracking him and they will find him."
"But what if they don't?" Piper said exasperatedly, "Phoebe it's been…"
"Three days, we know." Paige finished, in a bored sounding tone. "Piper, we've been over this, Harry went through something nobody should have too. You went through it with Prue; I went through it with my parents and for goodness sake, your son's girlfriend was killed right in front of him and then let's not forget what her parents are going through. Their daughter was ripped from them in an instant, and isn't going to come back, but Harry still can. He is still out there."
"I know and I feel for them, I really do, it's just…"
"You already lost him once and you're afraid of losing him again."
"Phoebe, we've talked about this, no voicing my feelings until I choose to voice them."
"Sorry Piper, it wasn't an 'Empath' thing, I swear. It was a sisterly one." Phoebe said as she came to sit next to Piper, wrapping both arms around her, pulling her closer. "Now, when are they getting here?"
"I think Leo said something about an hour or so." Paige responded.
"Which was an hour ago, so that would mean they are due here any minute." Piper said as she disengaged herself from her sister's grasp, but not before she squeezed Phoebe's hand softly. "I need to go get started on dinner, goodness knows they will be hungry." And with that, Piper set off for the kitchen.
"Should we follow her?" Paige asked.
"I think she just needs some time to herself. Besides, she's at her best when she's in the kitchen. It calms her down." Phoebe answered.
Just as she settled herself back onto the couch across from Paige, there was a burst of white fire that filled up the entire entryway, and as quickly as it had come, it went, leaving behind four people. "Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ron and Hermione, we're so glad you came." Phoebe said as she made her way over to the group. She pulled Mrs. Weasley into a hug and did the same with the other three.
"Thank you for having us over. The Burrow…well, it just isn't the same at the moment, it…Where's Piper?" Mrs. Weasley asked, changing the subject.
"The kitchen." Paige responded.
"I think I'll go…uh…" Without finishing her thought, Mrs. Weasley left the group and made a beeline for the kitchen, her husband's eyes following her movements.
"Molly does best when she's…"
"Cooking, yeah, Piper's the same way. Can I help you with those?" Phoebe asked, gesturing to the bags he held.
"Thank you, but I think I'll just run upstairs and put them…if you don't mind."
"Not a problem, feel free to take the room you usually do."
With a nod, Mr. Weasley turned and headed silently up the stairs. Phoebe's gaze lingered on him a moment longer and then turned to face the other two. "Alright you two, spill."
She led them into the conservatory and they each took a spot and sat down. Ron and Hermione sat on the wicker couch just to the left of the doors leading outside to the patio, while Phoebe and Paige chose the seats on either side of the pair. It was Ron who began.
"They've been like that for three days now. Mom held it together long enough, but as soon as she saw them bringing in her…dad took her home. She never leaves Gin's room, not that I blame her."
"What about the school. What's going on there?" Paige asked.
"It's surprising really. After Harry left…" she paused, looked down and then sighed, "After he left, you would think that the Knights, both old and knew would slip without him there, but it was just the opposite; they're the ones who took up the slack and made sure everyone was alright. The professors didn't know what to do before the Knights stepped in. As soon as they all saw the Headmaster…"
"It wasn't pretty. Some of them held it together better than others, but even then, we should be grateful the Knights stepped in when they did."
"How is the headmaster?" Phoebe asked, trying to keep the venom from her voice. The other three noticed and just looked at her. "What? The man tries to kidnap my nephew and not only that, but leaves him to be raised by…those people and let's not forget Christmas when you four showed up at the base of our stairs…"
"I wish I could say you were wrong, Miss. Halliwell,"
"Phoebe, we've known each other long enough and goodness knows I'm getting tired of having to tell you that Hermione." Phoebe said with a smile.
Hermione blushed; Ron spoke. "Sorry about that Phoebe, some things just take Hermione a bit of time to learn." He turned to look at Hermione and found her smiling at him, Hermione continued.
"It has taken me a long time to learn that people of authority over me aren't always as…benevolent as I make them out to be. Goodness know if I knew back in first year what I know now…the point is, that people are fallible and I know the Headmaster has a lot to make up for, but I just have this feeling we are going to see a different person when he wakes up. Sometimes it take a brush with death or a massive assault to the senses to change a person."
"Wait, what do you mean, 'when he wakes up'?" Paige asked. It was Ron who answered this time.
"The Headmaster is barely hanging on as it is. Madam Pomfrey seems to think it has something to do with the spell that hit him. But it's as though his life force was ripped out of him, or at least, most of it. She has no idea what to do or try, and according to her, she has tried it all, everything she knows to try."
"She said something, when we were there last, checking on a few of Knights, that she was going to be calling in every 'marker' she had out in the world, everyone who owed her a favor, in the medical community at any rate, to see if they can help."
"Surely that can't be all of it. This is Vol…"
"Don't say his name!" Ron yelled, causing all three women to jump. "Sorry, it's just…the names taboo."
"What are you talking about?" Phoebe asked.
"It's just a theory," Hermione began, and then turned to face Ron, "One I might add that hasn't been proven yet."
"What do you mean?"
"There is a consensus among those in the school, a vast majority of those within the Knights, that the Dark Lord has placed a curse upon his name. Ever since the battle, even shortly after he left, he began taking out or doing as much damage as possible to almost every Wizarding community out there, not even the States have been spared his wrath."
"But what does that have to do with…" Paige tried to ask, but was cut off by Ron.
"The thing is though, that among those attacks, even during, he will leave from wherever he is, taking a contingent of Death Eaters and Demons with him and attack the most innocuous of places. Places known to house a small community of Witches and Wizards, hidden amongst the muggles. Now why would he do this? Why would he stop a very successful attack one place, just to go attack the random witch or wizard? He wouldn't. Not unless he had something to gain by wiping them out."
"But that is all conjecture Ronald. There is no proof."
"Except for the fact that in almost every case of him attacking someplace small, we, the Knights are able to get there in time to save those who are being attacked. And the only thing that is consistent among them, is that they have admitted to using his name."
"Okay, as interesting as that is, let's go back to the Headmaster thing. I find it odd that this Dark Lord would have the one person who is said to be the only thing he ever feared right in front of him and not outright kill him. It just doesn't make sense. Anyone worth his or her salt would off said person just to have them out of the way. Like I said, it just doesn't make sense." Phoebe said resolutely.
Ron and Hermione shared a look. "It's not that simple." Ron replied.
"Madam Pomfrey suspects that the spell itself was designed to incapacitate as long as the caster remained in its presence. When the Dark Lord fled after he…tried to kill Harry, the spell should have ceased to work, thus restoring the Headmaster to, at the very least, somewhat normal."
"Somewhat?"
"Walking, talking, stuff like that, although from how she talks about it, he would have some difficulty doing these things, but still be able to do them."
"So then what accounts for his current state?" Phoebe asked.
"Seeing as Ron transported the both of us to the Great Hall when I got hurt, we don't know what went down after we left." Hermione said matter-of-factly. "And even then, as we hear it, there were precious few who remained on the battle field after the Dark Lord...fled."
"And those are the ones who were in need of the most help. So even if they saw what went down, they won't be able to say anything for some time."
"They were hurt that badly, but I thought your society could heal anything pretty quick?"
"We can," Ron began "and even as we speak they are are the mend. They should be good in a day or two, but because the level of injuries they sustained we're so great, they had to be placed into a magical coma. They should be up and moving in the next few days."
"Great. With them out of commission and everybody else having been stuck in the castle, in one form or another, how the hell are we supposed to find out what happened to Dumbledore and why Harry went off?"
"I believe I can answer that, or at least, bring to you someone who saw what happened." A voice called out from nowhere, but everywhere, all at the same time.
Ron and Hermione jumped from their seats wands raised, tips alight, spells at the ready. The sisters followed them into a standing position as well. The four of them looked around, each hoping to find the source of the voice. When nothing more happened or was said, Paige called out to the room.
"Alright, whoever you are, you can show yourself or face the consequences." There was a light chuckling at this.
"My dear, you could try, but you would indeed fail." The voice said, as it and its owner materialized in front of them.
The four gasped at him. "Ezekiel!" they all said at the same time. A confused look was shared by the four.
"Wait, how do you..?"
"Harry." Hermione said as she began to lower her wand. "Didn't he tell you who took him from the manor that day when he and Ginny came for a visit?"
Paige shook her head. "No, he didn't."
"Oh." Was all Hermione said before turning back to Ezekiel, "Why are you here sir?"
Ezekiel smiled. "I am here in the hopes to shed some light on the situation we currently find ourselves in. I apologize for not coming sooner, but the person who saw this only just came too a couple of hours ago. He shall be here soon, that is if you allow it."
"Should we..uh…?"
"It would be best if you could, dear, time is of the essence. Everyone is going to want to be here." Ezekiel answered with a nod.
~~~~hpgw~~~~
A lone demon shimmered into existence in the underground cavern. Not a moment after he appeared did he begin to look around, looking to see if he had been followed. In the distance, the dying screams of his fallen brethren could still be heard, echoing off the cave walls. Even as far away as he was, he could still hear and even worse, feel, their screams. The dying shrieks filled him with a dread that he fervently wished to shake. He did a one-eighty, still looking to see if he was alone. He was. But even here he knew he wasn't safe. In retrospect, it would have been wise to keep moving, but as it was, he needed to catch his breath. It had taken everything he had to get out of that room alive and then shimmer to five other caves before coming back to rest at this one. He should have known better.
It was as the last scream started to fade into nothing, did he let himself relax. He let the silence that had fallen fill his very being, as though it were an old friend welcoming him home.
"Surely you didn't think it would be that easy did you?" a voice called out, shattering the silence.
The demon jumped, shaking in fear. He knew who it was. He knew there would be no running from him. None of their kind was safe, not anymore. He turned, body shaking in fear. "You're scared. Good. I will make this so much easier."
He knew he should, but the demon could help it. "You won't get a thing out of me."
"I might not get any useful information out of you, but I will gain from you nonetheless."
The demon gulped. "What is it you want?"
The figure's steely-green eyes bore into the demons black ones. The demon shivered involuntarily, taking in the appearance of the person in front of him. His clothes were torn in places, whether his clothes had been torn or burned, he really couldn't tell. Dark smudges littered both his clothes and his body. There was no doubt in the demons mind that this was the person who had just been decimating the demonic ranks two caves over. The one he had apparently not escaped from. He again met the figure's eyes, however unnerving they were to look at.
"What is it you want?" he asked again.
The green-eyed figure again chose not to acknowledge the demon before him. Instead he raised his arm, palm up, as though gripping the air and as he did so white flames, tinged with black, erupted from the cave floor, enveloping the demons very being. The demon's screams, pure and unadulterated, filled the cave along with the glowing black and white flames. In one fluid movement, the figure's open palm viciously snapped shut, constricting the flames so tightly around the demon that he exploded.
The figure stood in the reigning silence, looking down upon the ashes of the once demon with contempt and loathing. "I want revenge." the figure said just before he swiped a hand towards the still-smoking ashes, banishing them from existence.
As the ashes were blown away, the figure squared his shoulders, gave a determined sigh and disappeared from the cave in a flash of black fire, now tinged with the faintest of white.
~~~~hpgw~~~~
Piper surveyed the destruction around her. She couldn't believe her eyes. Beside her, Leo and her sisters, the Weasley's and Hermione just stared wide-eyed, mouths open at seeing what had happened to the once beautiful school grounds. It had only been three days since she had last been here, but from the limited amount she had been able to see from the pitch, the school grounds looked to be a peaceful place. What she was seeing now, the holes in the ground, in the distance, the Quidditch Pitch, it was a wreck. But that's not what made her heart drop within her chest. Not too far away, less than thirty feet, she watched, her heart breaking, as she saw her son close his eyes in preparation of the spell that she knew he felt coming. Her heart broke even further when she saw Ginny jump in front of the curse that had been meant for her Harry. Beside her Molly gave a strangled cry. She moved to stand next to her friend and out an arm around her, drawing her closer. It was one thing to be told how it happened, but to see it…
To Pipers left she witnessed Ron pull Hermione into a hug, attempting to turn her face away from what was happening, but was stopped by a pleading look from the girl in his arms. Her eyes were drawn back to the scene that was continuing to unfold before them. She needed to see this. No matter how hard it was to watch this, her and her family needed to see this so they could figure out how to go from here and help the Headmaster. Regardless how she felt about him, he was still an innocent and she had a duty to help those who needed her. She was pulled from her musings when she heard the self-titled Dark Lord taunt her son.
"Not the result I was hoping for," Voldemort began, smirking "but it will do."
Piper watched as her son fell to the ground, all sign of life leaving his eyes as he looked upon the fallen form of Ginny. She felt Molly put an arm around her and give a slight squeeze, showing her support now, as Piper had done for her. She looked the Weasley matriarch in the face and noticed tears streaming down her face. Molly gave a slight nod and Piper pulled her into a hug; both holding on to the other for comfort. Piper may have not lost a child, but they both knew that whatever happened next had caused Harry to fly off to the unknown. She felt Molly pull back and Piper did as well, both turned back to the scene in front of them.
They watched as Harry cried with reckless abandon, while holding the still form of Ginny. None of them knew how long they watched this, but it wasn't long before a figure began to make their way to the weeping boy and his girlfriend. The Halliwell's, the Weasleys, Hermione and all gasped at what they saw unfolding before them. There, walking slowly towards the pair, limping slightly, was the Headmaster, looking a little worse for wear.
"Harry," called the Headmaster in a raspy voice, as though it were painful for him to speak. Harry gave no indication of having heard the man, still sitting there on the ground, rocking back and forth, Ginny in his arms.
"Harry, my boy, you need to come with me. There is much that needs attending to." Again Harry didn't move.
"My boy, her loss is regrettable but there is nothing we can do for her now. There are others who need…" Harry's head snapped to face the Headmasters, eyes alight with a fire that had since been absent. It was a look of pure hatred. Those watching the scene knew that the words that Albus Dumbledore had just chosen to use had caused something to stir in Harry and they knew that what was going to happen next would not be pretty.
"Regrettable? Her loss is regrettable?" Harry hissed, eyes flashing.
"Harry"
"No, you lost your right to me this past summer." Harry's magic flared causing a wind to whip around him. His cloak rippled open, his hair danced atop his head as he took another step closer to the Headmaster. "Ginny Weasley was worth more than you could possibly ever imagine. She has done more in this fight again Tom than you ever have. While you and your damned Order sat back and did nothing to even attempt to stop Voldemort, we made surgical strikes against his force. She was on the front lines as we drove back his forces."
"Harry, neither of you should have left the castle, neither of you should have…"
"Should have what?" Harry yelled, the wind whipping around him even stronger now, magic now also joining the fray. Swirls of white, black and gold flew around Harry as he drew even closer to the man before him. "Should have let you dictate the terms of fighting him? You Albus Dumbledore have no right to say a thing. Ginny died protecting me and that shouldn't have had to happen." With every word, the swirling of magic and wind became even greater, more forceful. "Not only did she protect me, but she put her life on the line to protect you. You wouldn't even be here if it weren't for her. You Albus Dumbledore are a menace to not only me, but the ones I love."
Everyone watched as Harry began to slowly rise from the ground. He glared at the Headmaster even harder now, eyes filled with such hate and conviction. He was a foot off the ground when he spoke again, malice dripping from his voice, covering every word. But that wasn't the worst of it. When he spoke, there was more than just his voice. It was as though magic itself filled his very being and was judging one, Albus Dumbledore.
"You sir, are a plague to the Wizarding world and have meddled in her affairs for far too long. There are consequences for every action and you have run from your long enough. Never again will you harm the people of this world or the ones I love." There was finality to Harry's words that scared those who were watching the scene unfold before them. As Harry finished what he was saying, the magic that was swirling around him, almost completely obscuring him from view, pulsed a few times before it began to lash out. It attacked the ground below him, the sky above him and the one standing in front of him.
Dumbledore duck a few of the strikes that were aimed at him. The Halliwell's and Weasley's watched as the magical strikes began to be more frequent, with less time between strikes and began to fear for what it seemed that Harry was about to do. They all gasped as one of the strikes passed through all of them, hitting the ground just behind them. If this weren't a memory, Piper was sure that they would all be in need of some serious healing. Strangely though, Piper noticed, that the area around Ginny was untouched. It was as though her son's magic was intentionally steering clear of her body, protecting her from harm.
Piper's attention was brought back to the main part of the spectacle before her when she saw the Headmaster put a hand into his robes. "Harry, you need to stop this!" The Headmaster called out, having to yell above the crackling magic, raising his wand, aiming it at Harry.
They all watched in awe as Harry's eyes flashed the brightest of green at the movement the man in front of him had just made. It was now clear that before, Harry had been toying with the Headmaster, but was now going to end it if the look in his eyes was anything to go by. Harry's arm raised, palm facing out and a pulse of magic flared across the swirling mass that surrounded him and in the next moment, the Headmasters wand shattered. The bits of wood that were left fell to the ground, smoking. The Headmaster gaped, wide-eyed, as he pulled his hand to him, cradling it. It too was broken. The Headmaster looked down at the remains of his wand at his feet. He sighed and then looked back at the boy in front of him. If Piper didn't know any better, she could have sworn that a look of pity and resolution had crossed the old wizard's features.
"Harry, my boy, I am sorry. I have done wrong by you and I deserve everything you choose to throw at me. Please, forgive me." He said as he took a few steps closer to Harry, staring into his eyes.
She knew what was going to happen before it did and it was only a moment before it happened that the others around her gasped, figuring it out too. Piper looked at her son, pain filling her up to the brim; she leaned a little more onto Molly, her legs growing weaker by the second. She watched as Harry met the old man's gaze, pure hate pouring out of them. Piper fell to the ground as her son uttered a single word, "No."
Everyone watched as Harry gathered the magic surrounding him, pulling it in closer to himself. He held it around him for only the briefest of moments, before he threw his arms outward, flinging the magical shell around him out in all directions. It hit the headmaster with such a force that it sent him flying backwards through the air. He landed with a thud and the sound of a crack fill the now quiet night.
Harry lowered himself to the ground, the swirling magic no longer surrounding him as he had used it to power what he had just done. His eyes flashed green again the moment his feet touched the ground. He slowly turned around to face the still prone form of Ginny Weasley, pain flickering very briefly across his face before it became an expressionless mask. Slowly he raised a hand and waved it over her. Where there had once been nothing, a white and blue shield shimmered into existence around her, as though it were protecting her. Piper heard Molly gasp beside her and made a note to ask her about it later as her eyes were on her son and what he was doing now.
She watched as he came to stand over the unmoving Headmaster. Only the barest movement in his chest signaled that he was indeed alive, but only just. Harry sneered, but didn't seem about to do anything else. It was clear to Piper that Harry thought him not long for the world and was fine just leaving him there, not caring in the slightest. She continued to watch as he stepped over the man and allowed his gaze to fall upon the school. Again, an emotion flew across his face, but it was so brief that she wasn't sure if she had really seen it. From the grand castle before him, his gaze fell to the area around him. There wasn't much around him to look at. There was emptiness to the grounds around him. There were a few bodies lying around, mostly that of either bound Death Eaters or Demons. Harry ignored them and gazed back up to the castle. His gaze lingered only a second before coming back to the magically shielded Ginny. His face and eyes hardened and an instant later white flames, tinged with black, sprang up from the ground and surround him. They seemed to consume him and as soon as they came, they went, taking Harry with them.
~~~~hpgw~~~~
Moments after Harry had vanished in the mass of flames, did the scene before them begin to darken and a pulling sensation gripped Piper around the middle and the next thing she knew, she was back standing in the conservatory. Lying there, on the table in front of her, was the object that had allowed her to see what had transpired out on the battlefield while she and the rest of her family, the Weasley' and Hermione, had been stuck in the castle. Piper raised her head and looked at those too surrounding the table. It was going to take some time for them to sort through all that they had just witnessed. From the group before her, she let her gaze travel to the man who had brought them this device, along with the memory. Ezekiel Stone, the man who had months ago been able to get P3 the band that had put her "back on the Map". She had no idea what to think of the man, but she was grateful to him for showing her what exactly had happened to make her son go m-i-a.
She sighed and was the first to break the silence. "Phoebe, why don't you and Paige, take everyone into the front room while Leo and I get us something to drink and maybe eat, from the kitchen." Her sisters nodded, not saying a word as they led the group into the other room.
Piper turned and headed quickly into the kitchen, letting her hands do all the work. She jumped slightly when she felt a pair of hands come to rest upon her shoulders. She turned around and her gaze fell into the concerned one of her husband. Her shoulders drooped and she gave a sigh and did not fight it as he pulled her into a hug. The moment that she felt his arms completely envelope her, she relaxed into his embrace and began to cry.
A/N: I ended the chapter here because I felt it the best place to leave things...for the time being. In the next one (which I am currently working on) we should be picking up right where I left off, give or take a few minutes. Thank you for your patience for the amount of time it took for me to get this chapter out to you all. I was just missing a few things and it has only been recently that it all seemed to come together. There is a lot more to come, before the end, but the end is indeed in sight. Hang in there, it will be worth it, this I promise you!
See you all soon!
Mudbloodpotter.