A/N: This chapter was extremely hard for me to write. I could picture every scene in my head, exactly how I wanted them to go, but getting the words on paper was like beating my head against a dead hippogriff (which, in case you've never done that, is very frustrating). Anyway, here's the final chapter of Year 2, as close as I could get it to my initial vision. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own neither Harry Potter nor Naruto
Chapter 17: Swords, Sorcery, and Sacrifice
Sarutobi and his allies stood in a square clearing deep in the heart of the Forbidden Forest. The horde of Acromantulas were waiting just outside in the cover of the trees, none of them wanting to be the first to venture into the clearing, for fear of the arrows that the centaurs were shooting with deadly accuracy. Soon enough, however, their bloodlust would push them beyond the state where fear could rein them in.
Sarutobi decided it was time to do his part to strengthen their defenses. He focused his chakra and bent at the waist to bring one hand in contact with the earth. "Earth Release: Four-Wall Fortress." Around the perimeter of the clearing that Dumbledore had created, the earth rose up to form thick walls fully ten feet tall. The advancing Acromantulas were abruptly blocked from view.
"They'll have to come over the walls," Sarutobi called out. "Pick your targets carefully!"
The centaurs stomped their hooves in approval, some of them letting out loud war-cries. Since the spiders would have to come over the wall, the archers had a level target at which to aim. It would be like shooting fish in a barrel. The rustling and clicking of thousands of angry spiders grew even louder, making Sarutobi grimace. Maybe fish in a barrel was a slightly misleading figure of speech.
"Archers at the ready," Bane called, nocking an arrow and drawing it halfway. "Loose at will!"
It was Bane who shot the first arrow, catching one of the braver Acromantulas just as its head popped up over the wall. The arrow sank deeply into one of its angry red eyes, piercing its brain and killing it instantly. Its momentum carried it over the wall, where it dropped like a heavy sack of flour to the ground. It was the first of many, and soon the ground closest to Sarutobi's earthen walls was littered with the corpses of giant spiders.
The air filled with the distinctive twang of bowstrings snapping, the ominous thrum of arrows slicing through the air, and the agonized, inhuman shrieks that followed when arrows hit their targets. Even with the unerring accuracy that the centaurs possessed, they were at a grievous disadvantage. Now that the Acromantulas had given in to their bloodlust, they were driving forward without fear of the arrows that claimed so many of their lives. Spiders clambered over the corpses of their brethren in order to get to the small group of defenders in the center of the clearing. More and more poured over the walls, and if they ever managed to close with the centaurs the fight would be over.
It was thanks to the magic-users that the centaurs weren't overrun. Sarutobi was conserving his chakra carefully, aware that he would need to face Orochimaru before long, but he made sure to send a wave of fire toward the walls whenever it seemed that the archers on his side were having trouble with the increasing numbers of their foe.
Dumbledore was also using fire, controlling it with his wand and making a hellish barrier that few Acromantulas were brave enough to approach. Sarutobi didn't know how long Dumbledore would be able to keep his spell going, but for now his side was actually the most secure of them all. Sirius was using a spell that seemed to act like an exploding tag, gouging chunks out of approaching Acromantulas and creating disorienting bursts of light and sound. Hagrid was the most erratic, sending a variety of differently-colored jets of deadly light from the end of his umbrella. Occasionally Dumbledore swept his fire spell over to Hagrid's or Sirius' flank, roasting the front line of spiders and giving his friends some breathing room. He could only do this for a short period of time, however, or risk allowing his own side to be overwhelmed.
Sarutobi had never before been a witness to such pure slaughter. The defenders had the advantage of both position and magic, and the Acromantulas died by the hundreds as they attempted to close the distance from the walls. The ground was littered with the smoldering corpses of spiders, more joining the ranks of the dying with each passing second. It was horrifying, senseless, and without purpose. It had Orochimaru written all over it.
Still, the defenders were holding. Not a single one had yet fallen, and their attackers had yet to come within ten feet of their position. If the fight continued like this, then the centaurs would be victorious. But Sarutobi knew this was merely the beginning. Orochimaru meant to soften them up by throwing the Acromantulas at them. The centaurs would use up their arrows and the magic-users would run out of steam. Then Orochimaru would send in something else. And even though Sarutobi knew it was coming, he had no choice but to play this game by Orochimaru's rules. If they stopped using magic and chakra, the centaurs wouldn't be able to hold off their attackers by themselves.
It was obvious to them all when Orochimaru initiated the second phase of his attack. The Acromantulas fell back from the walls, and for a second silence descended in the Forest. Some of the centaurs started to cheer, but Sarutobi quieted them with a curt order. Something was not right… he could sense something coming closer. Something powerful.
A cry echoed through the woods, warped and twisted from rebounding off of tree branches. It was high-pitched wail, almost a scream of pain, and there was something frighteningly… human… about it. The source of the cry came into view, bounding over the wall with a jump that wouldn't have been out of place for a shinobi. It was a bulky form swathed in dark robes, moving too fast for anyone but Sarutobi to react. He flung a kunai with an exploding tag at the creature, but it merely wrapped its cloak around itself more tightly. The cloak must have been reinforced with some kind of magic, because the assailant came through the explosion unscathed. It landed on a centaur, dodging the handful of arrows that had been shot at it, and drove its prey mercilessly into the dirt.
There was a flash of motion and then the centaur was dead, its neck snapped cleanly by the dark creature. There was an instant in which no one moved, broken when the robed fiend brought up its hand, revealing a wand. Sarutobi reacted as fast as he could, but not in time to save the centaur that caught the brunt of the beam of red light erupting from the wand. It was a blasting curse so powerful that it passed through its first target and hit the centaur behind it. By that point a dozen arrows were already in the air, and Sarutobi's jutsu had taken effect.
It was an Earth-release technique that turned the ground around an enemy into quicksand. The creature let out a roar of rage, and struggled ferociously against the earth trapping its legs. The arrows landed, riddling the creature like a pincushion but seeming to have no other effect than to enrage it further. Sarutobi vanished with the Body-Flicker jutsu and reappeared directly behind the creature. He sank his kunai deeply into its right eye, noting with satisfaction that whatever protection Orochimaru had given this monster didn't extend to the parts of it that were exposed.
At last the creature ceased its struggles. The centaurs – and Sarutobi too, for that matter – stared at it with horror. "What kind of-"
But Bane's sentence was cut off, as Sarutobi sensed the creature growing hot to the touch, its skin beginning to glow in an ominous fashion. There was no time to retreat, and the corpse was about to explode.
Sarutobi proved then and there that he was the foremost shinobi of his generation. He performed two one-handed seals simultaneously, splitting his chakra into two Earth techniques at once. He put both hands on the ground and desperately channeled chakra into the earth. The first technique was a more extreme version of the quicksand jutsu, which sank the dead creature deeper into the ground. The second technique formed a hard shell of rock, as hard as Sarutobi could create, around the corpse.
It almost wasn't enough. The force of the explosion was much greater than an explosive tag, or even a dozen explosive tags. It shattered the shell of rock encasing the body and tore through the earth, creating a shock wave that sent Sarutobi crashing into the row of centaurs behind him. Strong arms caught him, but the force of the blast had knocked many centaurs to the ground. Several were bleeding from gashes on their exposed torsos, as the blast had propelled bits of rock through the air at high speeds.
"What the hell was that?" Sirius shouted, echoing the sentiment of everyone there, Sarutobi included. He knew that Orochimaru was the mastermind behind that creature, but that gave him no clue as to what it was. That final blast had contained chakra! He could sense it as the explosion gained force, but there wasn't enough chakra to create a blast of that magnitude. Sarutobi experienced a sinking feeling as he realized the truth – Orochimaru had somehow managed to fuse chakra and magic to create a weapon with enormous destructive potential.
Dumbledore stepped forward, his face looking even graver than Sarutobi's. "That," he said, pointing at the crater where the creature had once been, "is Augustus Rookwood. Or it was. I recognized him when his hood fell. He was once a servant of Voldemort, and until very recently was a respected employee of the Ministry."
Sarutobi cursed freely. "It appears that Orochimaru has wasted no time finding wizards for his experiments."
"An' he has more," Hagrid said, a frown creasing his face. He pointed out into the Forest. "Listen!"
More cries echoed from the Forest, similar to the sounds made by the monster that had once been Augustus Rookwood. Sarutobi tried to keep count, but stopped being able to distinguish additional enemies around ten. When the rustling and clicking of the Acromantulas began again, Sarutobi knew they were in trouble. With an entire squad of those magic-wielding beasts wreaking havoc in the middle of their formation, they would be unable to keep the Acromantulas at bay. Even if Sarutobi and Dumbledore could kill Orochimaru's monsters, they were created to self-destruct, meaning it would be just as dangerous to kill them as to leave them alive. The centaurs would be overrun in a matter of minutes.
Sarutobi was the veteran of enough battles to recognize when it was time to retreat. The walls that he'd created, while useful when they were holding off the Acromantulas, had now become their enemy. It was the centaurs who were now like fish in a barrel, just waiting for the sticks of dynamite that were Orochimaru's twisted wizards to come blow them all to hell. If they wanted to survive, it was time for an orderly retreat.
Sarutobi drew on years of battlefield experience, raising his voice enough to be heard over the cacophony of the approaching monsters. "We must retreat! Back to the castle – we'll make our stand there!"
Sarutobi knew that the centaurs didn't stand much chance of making it all the way to the castle. They would have to fight long before reaching the walls. But there was hope, and it came in the form of reinforcements from the Ministry. Wizards trained in combat might be able to neutralize the threat from Orochimaru's experiments, as long as there was enough of a number advantage.
But Sarutobi wouldn't get to see the outcome of this particular battle. "Bane, you're in charge," he cried out, actually startling the centaur.
"You're not coming with us?"
Sarutobi grinned at the centaur, who had impressed him with the loyalty he commanded from his fighters. "No," he said. "I'm going to wait here for Orochimaru. It's my hope that without him to drive them, the Acromantulas won't advance past the edge of the Forest. Then all you'll have to deal with will be the creatures. Make sure you try and maintain your distance," Sarutobi added as an afterthought. "They explode."
The centaur gave him a wry grin. "I hadn't noticed."
Dumbledore came over to Sarutobi, glancing around at the walls where their enemies would soon reappear. "Are you sure that Orochimaru will choose to fight you? If he knows you're waiting for him, won't he just avoid you and continue towards Hogwarts?"
"No," Sarutobi said, completely certain. "Orochimaru wants to kill me. He thinks he's stronger than me, and he may very well be right. I'm practically the only person standing in the way of his sovereignty in this world. He'll come to meet me."
Dumbedore acknowledged this with a nod. "Then I'll stay and fight with you. Perhaps the two of us will be enough to stop your former student."
"I would be glad of your help," Sarutobi said. "Now, let's see what we can do to get these centaurs out of here safely. Hagrid, Sirius!" The two straightened in response to his tone of command, almost coming to attention. "You're taking point – clear a path back out of the Forest. Bane, keep your centaurs moving. Don't stop even if the spiders manage to close with you – the minute you stop moving forward, you're lost. As soon as Orochimaru is dead, we'll rejoin you. With a little luck, the Acromantulas won't leave the Forest."
They nodded tersely, wands and bows held in white-knuckled grips. There was no use waiting any longer – another few seconds and the Acromantulas would be up over the walls.
"Now!" Sarutobi said, activating a modified Earth-style jutsu. The wall closest to Hogwarts began to shift, not sinking into the ground but falling outward with punishing force. The sickly sound of dozens of Acromantulas being squished made Hagrid wince. Then the herd of centaurs charged towards the opening, unleashing a hail of arrows into the waiting horde.
Hagrid led the charge, brandishing his umbrella like a broadsword. Sirius was on Bane's back, clutching the centaur around the neck with one hand while furiously sending out blasting curses with the wand in his other hand.
Sarutobi held out his hand to Dumbledore and activated a genjutsu that would keep them safe from the senses of the Acromantulas. Then he used an Earth-style jutsu often employed by shinobi from Iwagakure. It allowed the user to sink below the earth, hidden from the eyes and ears of the rest of the world. It had a fairly recognizable chakra signature, which Sarutobi was counting on to tip off his former student. He didn't want Orochimaru to have any trouble realizing that he was still in the clearing.
Within minutes the sounds of battle had receded, the Acromantulas tearing off after the centaurs in full force. Sarutobi gave it a few more minutes to be sure, then brought himself and Dumbledore to the surface. He dispelled the genjutsu and turned, scanning the surrounding treetops for any sign of his former student.
"Orochimaru!" he called out, his voice firm. "Let's end this now!"
A familiar dry, slithery voice responded immediately. "It would be my pleasure."
Orochimaru appeared from the wall directly in front of them, seeming to ooze out of the wall and take solid form before their eyes. His gaze fell on Dumbledore, and the Snake Sannin laughed. "Is this the ally you bring to fight me? An old man even more decrepit than yourself? You must be even more desperate than I believed."
"I'll let you be the judge of how 'decrepit' we are," Sarutobi replied.
"I look forward to it… sensei." Orochimaru settled into his unique taijutsu stance, his face transfixed in a rictus of hate.
oOoOo
It was not easy being a clone. That was the realization that had come to Sarutobi's Shadow Clone after over eight hours of trying to keep Harry Potter safe. A proper Shadow Clone had all of the intelligence and memories of its creator, but only a fraction of the power and even less respect. There was also the incontrovertible fact that clones were stuck with the dirtiest jobs. After all, did jobs get much worse than having to face off against one of Orochimaru's freak shows, with the lives of hundreds of children hanging in the balance?
The clone didn't dare dispel, because there was no way Sarutobi could get here in time. The clone was fairly sure that wherever he was, Sarutobi would be stuck in battle anyway. That meant that the clone had only one job: protect the students of Hogwarts. But it had a pitiful amount of chakra, worth no more than perhaps three large-scale jutsus. Looking at the wizard before it, the clone sensed that in terms of sheer power it was far outmatched. It would have to rely on speed, cunning, and more than a bit of teamwork to defeat Lucius Malfoy.
The Heads of the four Houses spread out slowly, putting a little distance between themselves so that they would have room to dodge or conjure. They kept their wands raised, no one wanting to fire the first curse. Lucius was the first to act, conjuring a shimmering haze into the air that obstructed their vision. Sarutobi's clone knew that the purpose of the spell was to keep them from sending accurate curses towards Lucius. One of the benefits of the first stage of a Curse Seal was increased speed (Sarutobi had learned this from Anko, so the clone knew as well), so Lucius would doubtless begin casting while keeping in motion to avoid counter attacks.
Sure enough, red beams of light began to shoot out almost at random through the hazy cloud. There were so many, however, that the Hogwarts teachers had their hands full casting shield charms to ward away the flying curses. The clone simply dodged, his reflexes more than equal to avoiding attacks coming in a straight line. It was debating the merits of trying a flanking maneuver when Lucius emerged from the cloud, moving much faster than an ordinary man.
His wand sprayed a blast of fire that spread wide enough to consume all of the teachers. They shot concentrated columns of water into the fire, but Lucius seemed to be matching their combined efforts easily. Sarutobi's clone dug into its precious chakra reserves and formed the seals for a large-scale Water-release jutsu. It unleashed the technique with pinpoint accuracy, taking control of the water coming from the wizards' wands and reinforcing it with chakra.
The flames were extinguished, but Lucius took the opportunity to send a Stunner directly at Professor Sprout. The Herbology Professor created a Shield Charm in time, but when Lucius' spell made contact the shield splintered and dissolved, overcome by the sheer power that Lucius commanded. Professor Sprout collapsed to the floor. Sarutobi's clone quickly pulled her away, shoving her through the door to the Great Hall. It caught a glimpse of hundreds of worried faces, as the Professors who weren't useful in a fight tried to keep the students in order.
Relocating Professor Sprout took barely a second, and then Sarutobi's clone was back in the fight. This time it moved immediately to flank Lucius, pushing itself to the limits of its speed. Lucius was sending punishing curses at the remaining three teachers, but they had learned from Professor Sprout's error. All of their Shield Charms were made at an angle, so that even with Lucius' overwhelming magical strength, his spells glanced off to the side when they connected. However, even a partial hit splintered their Shield Charms entirely, requiring them to recast again and again. Snape was fighting admirably, dodging and weaving to minimize the amount of spellcasting he had to do. McGonagall and Flitwick were considerably less spry, but their command of magic had been honed over many decades. They hardly moved at all, but they turned aside spell after spell without flinching or giving ground.
Then McGonagall saw the clone racing into position, and she took precious seconds to perform a complicated bit of Transfiguration. The two nearest suits of armor came to life, hopping from their pedestals and advancing on Lucius with their broadswords raised. The time it took McGonagall to activate the suits of armor cost her dearly, as she wasn't quick to activate a Shield Charm before the next spell hit. The Stunner hit her in the chest, and she dropped to the floor.
Lucius changed direction like a viper, sending curses towards both suits of armor in a split second. They shattered beyond repair, the magic animating them insufficient to stand up to him. But that was the split second the clone needed to cast his second powerful jutsu.
It was a column of fire meant for speed, aimed straight at Lucius' back. Lucius gave a bestial roar before the flames hit, and Sarutobi's clone could feel the wave of power that began to emanate from him, even stronger than before.
Oh, dear. That can't be good.
The flames engulfed Lucius completely, hissing and crackling as they sought to consume him. But when the technique ended, Lucius was still standing. Only now he was… different.
The jagged black lines covering his skin had been bad enough. But Lucius' new form seemed to have left humanity entirely behind. Lucius' shoulder-length, snow-blond hair had become even longer, extending down as far as the floor. It fanned around him as if caught by a steady breeze, stray tendrils whipping back and forth. There was even a faint shimmer, so it seemed as if his hair was lit by some inner radiance. The pupils of his eyes were completely white, and his skin had become a dark, leathery grey. Two long fangs jutted down from pale lips, which were curved upwards in a demonic smile.
"That tickled," Lucius sneered, his voice deeper and rougher. There was madness in his eyes that had not been there before, and Sarutobi's clone remembered what he knew about a Curse Seal's Second Stage. It granted the user great power, but made them unstable, more prone to vicious and erratic behavior. Lucius had fought almost like a gentleman before, even using Stunners instead of Killing Curses on McGonagall and Sprout. The clone doubted that Lucius would be so merciful now.
Snape took advantage of Lucius' preoccupation with Sarutobi to send a Cutting Curse at Lucius' unprotected back. But Lucius' long mane of hair moved of its own accord, coming together to form a shield against which the Cutting Curse dissipated harmlessly. Lucius' new defense reminded Sarutobi of nothing so much as Gaara of the Sand, the Kazekage's son – Lucius' hair reacted to any incoming threat exactly as Gaara's sand did, protecting him from harm and lashing out for close-to-mid-range attacks.
Fantastic, the clone thought wearily. Now he's magic-resistant, too.
It was time for a difficult decision. The clone didn't want to make it, but he knew there was no other choice. The clone had only enough chakra for one more serious attack, and Professor Snape and Professor Flitwick would soon be overmatched by Lucius' second form.
It was time to call in reinforcements. Even if they were very small, inexperienced reinforcements indeed.
The clone pushed more speed through his legs, stopping by Professor McGonagall and carrying her into the Great Hall. As he placed her gently next to Professor Sprout, Sarutobi searched the crowd for the three faces he wanted to see. There they were: Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood directly in front of their fellow classmates, their wands already in hand. The clone nodded to them.
"Come on, you three. It's time for your final exam."
oOoOo
It seemed that Dumbledore had put quite a bit of thought into how to counter the advantages that shinobi had over wizards. Sarutobi found that out first-hand when Orochimaru targeted the Headmaster first. The Snake Sannin led off by circling the two older men at top speed. He threw kunai from every direction, all of them aimed at Dumbledore rather than Sarutobi. Sarutobi could have tried to intercept them with his own weapons, but he trusted Dumbledore to be up to the challenge. If he couldn't block a few kunai, then frankly it was best that Sarutobi find out now.
But Dumbledore rose to the challenge admirably. Instead of trying to block kunai with a Shield Charm, which couldn't protect him from every direction, he created a shimmering cocoon of magical energy. The kunai disintegrated as soon as they passed the perimeter, falling to the grass in a cloud of metal powder. Next Orochimaru added explosive tags, but Dumbledore's new shield seemed to muffle them, drawing in the energy of the explosion and suppressing it. Sarutobi wondered if Dumbledore's new shield was actually Transfiguring whatever came within its reach, or if that would consume too much energy. It wasn't very important at the moment, however, so Sarutobi stopped trying to analyze Dumbledore's technique and went after Orochimaru.
He pushed himself to match the speed of his former student, and led with punishing flame attacks. The two shinobi were like twin sparks of light, shooting off and colliding around the calm center that was Dumbledore. He waited patiently while they dueled, maintaining his defenses and looking for an opening when their motions were slow enough for him to follow.
Dumbledore got his chance after Orochimaru created a particularly large wall of mud to neutralize Sarutobi's roaring flames. The mixture had become a wave of super-heated mud just as deadly as lava, and both shinobi jumped apart to put distance between themselves and the technique.
Dumbledore waved his wand, and then snapped it toward Orochimaru. All around them, the leaves in the branches of the trees outside of the clearing began to quiver and shake. In a rush of dark green they took to the air, leaving their branches brown and lifeless. The leaves hung suspended for a second, and then turned into a swarm of silver knives.
They shot toward Orochimaru in endless volleys, directed by Albus who was waving his wand like a conductor. It was a beautiful symphony of death, with silver knives flashing through the air as they bore down on Orochimaru. Sarutobi stayed near Dumbledore, ready to protect him if Orochimaru tried to counter-attack. Sarutobi hoped that Orochimaru would try to escape underground – if he did, Sarutobi would immediately send a shockwave through the earth that would send Orochimaru right back into the air. But their opponent was too smart to play into his hands, instead choosing to ward off only those knives that came too close.
He dodged with what seemed like inhuman flexibility, until finally there were no knives left to attack. Without the dense green canopy, the late evening sun shone brighter around the clearing, the barren trees taking on a skeletal look. Orochimaru snarled at them, clearly surprised that the two were putting up such a strong defense. With Dumbledore capable of creating a barrier that enclosed him from all sides, Sarutobi didn't have to worry about protecting his friend. It was like fighting with a Hyuga, only Dumbledore didn't have a blind spot. And his ability to use magic to fight from a distance meant that he didn't need to be as agile as a shinobi. There were perhaps only a few wizards in the world who could wield magic skillfully enough to counter Orochimaru, but Dumbledore was one of them. It also didn't hurt that Sarutobi was very close to Orochimaru's skill level on his own.
Sarutobi was preparing for another attack when he felt a feather-light touch on his mind. "It's me, Albus," the Headmaster's voice said in his mind. "I'm using Legilimency to communicate silently. I have a plan. If you can bring him to close quarters long enough to keep him in one place for a second, I think I can immobilize him."
Sarutobi had heard of Legilimency, and realized now that it was every bit as valuable as the mind-reading abilities of the Yamanaka clan. Perhaps more, since Legilimency was a skill that any wizard could learn, given enough perseverance and motivation. If he lived through this, Sarutobi promised himself that he would start Harry, Ron, and Hermione learning Legilimency as soon as possible. He thought the word "yes" very loudly, trusting that Dumbledore would know that he understood the plan.
A blast of fire was enough to spur Orochimaru into motion, and then Sarutobi followed up by charging forward. He drew his kunai, causing Orochimaru's eyes to widen in surprise and anticipation. They began a taijutsu duel that went back and forth too quickly for Dumbledore's eyes to follow.
For Sarutobi, though, he knew he couldn't keep this up for very long. Orochimaru had more stamina and, he suspected, more strength. Sarutobi's edge before had rested in the fact that he knew so many powerful techniques, and had the chakra control necessary to counter Orochimaru's moves while conserving his energy. But Dumbledore said he had a plan, so Sarutobi was going to trust him.
Sarutobi lunged in with his kunai, bringing all of his strength to bear against Orochimaru. The Snake Sannin pushed back, both hands supporting his kunai as he tried to force Sarutobi's blade down.
"Your mistake, sensei," Orochimaru sneered. "Unlike you, I don't need my hands to attack."
He opened his mouth, and Sarutobi glimpsed the head of a snake extending from Orochimaru's throat. But at that point Dumbledore already had his wand in the air, and with a single flick all of the silver knives lying abandoned on the floor were Transfigured into coils of gleaming silver wire.
The wires drew taught and flew into the air, homing in on Orochimaru with single-minded intensity. As he was still locked in the contest of strength with Sarutobi he could not dodge in time, nor could he form the hand seals for a technique that might allow him to escape. The wires wrapped around him multiple times, snapping his arms to his sides and binding his legs together. The snake continued to come out of his open mouth, and from the snake's mouth came a sword. Sarutobi recognized it instantly – somehow, Orochimaru had gotten his hands on Kusanagi. The sword cut through the wires and began working to free Orochimaru, but no sooner did one of the wires get cut than it reattached and snapped back in place.
Sarutobi did not need Dumbledore's help to recognize his opportunity. He sent a searing column of fire straight for Orochimaru, and the Snake Sannin let out a horrific scream as he burned. But in the heart of the flames, Orochimaru took on the form of a small white snake, sliding out and away from the wires before they could tighten.
Orochimaru regained his human form, but his pale skin was bubbling like wax, and to his disgust Sarutobi saw that sections of Orochimaru's face were peeling away. "Damn you, you senile old fool!" Orochimaru snapped, his voice now a hissing rasp. "Why won't you die?"
Sarutobi shrugged. "I have powerful friends. You, on the other hand, have nothing but a diseased mind and a soul too dark to stand the light of the sun. Come – it is time for you to die."
Orochimaru laughed wildly, a horrible, wheezing sound coming from burned vocal cords. "Don't get ahead of yourself, sensei. I'll admit, your friend is powerful. But he's old, like you. I have only to wait, growing stronger even as you grow weaker. This world has many opportunities for me, and until now I've been ignoring them in order to focus on killing you. In fact, if my servant has done his work, one of those opportunities is waiting for me as we speak. Good-bye for now, sensei. Don't die until I come to kill you!"
Cackling madly, Orochimaru vanished in a swirl of leaves. Dumbledore went to stand next to Sarutobi, peering around in every direction. "Is he gone?"
"Yes," Sarutobi said, having registered the disappearance of Orochimaru's chakra signature. "Apparently the two of us intimidated him. Honestly, that went better than expected. I was thinking of trying a Sacrifice jutsu on Orochimaru, giving up my life to kill him, but I don't know if I would have been quick enough to catch him. Now he's on the defensive."
"But he'll be back," Dumbledore warned.
"Oh, I know. But at least we have time to regroup, and perhaps win some new allies. Your magical barrier was very effective – perhaps we can teach it to this Order of the Phoenix that I have yet to meet. Make no mistake, Albus… when our paths next cross with Orochimaru's, he will get more than he bargained for. As the next generation grows, they always surpass those that have gone before – that is the Will of Fire, and not even Orochimaru can change that."
Albus bowed his head, looking tired. "I hope you're right."
Sarutobi clapped a hand on the Headmaster's shoulder. "We'll just have to wait and see. Now, should we go rejoin Sirius, Hagrid, and the centaurs? They may need some help disposing of Orochimaru's creatures."
Albus leaned a little on Sarutobi and then straightened, a steely glint in his eyes. "By all means. After meeting their creator, I find I'm not in a very forgiving mood."
oOoOo
Harry had never thought that he might face something more terrifying than Voldemort in Quirrell's body. He still had nightmares of the slitted nostrils and the high, cold voice speaking to him from the back of Quirrell's head. But the monster that Lucius had become made Voldemort's spirit appear weak by comparison. This was evil that was not constrained in another's body, malice that held only a faint vestige of humanity. Harry glanced to either side, reassuring himself that Ron and Hermione were there with him. At least he wouldn't have to face this alone.
Lucius' lip curled up as he saw Sarutobi and the three Gryffindors approaching from the Great Hall. "Decided it was futile, have you?" Lucius said in a rough voice that was more like a snarl. "Come to surrender? Well, you've left it a little too late. I was willing to be nice before. But now I'm not sure why – after all, why not use the power I've been given? Albus has protected his precious Mudbloods for so long… but now I have the means to teach them a lesson. I'll get to you in time, Harry Potter. First I'm going to have a little fun."
That settled it, then. Even if Harry had been considering the possibility, giving himself up wouldn't solve anything. The only thing they could do was fight.
Snape practically hissed when he saw Harry and his friends. "What are you playing at, Sarutobi?" he snapped at the Defence Professor's clone. "You should have brought Potter to safety! I thought that was what you were doing, otherwise I wouldn't have let you go!"
Harry was shocked. Had Snape just expressed… concern for him? He had wanted Harry to escape? It made no sense, especially because Snape was now glaring at him, his expression the exact opposite of concern.
"You underestimate these children, Professor Snape," the clone answered calmly. "Besides, do you think they would consent to run away while their classmates remained vulnerable to this madman?"
"Of course we wouldn't!" Hermione shouted out, unable to restrain herself. Ron and Harry nodded fiercely in agreement. They were all terrified, but they were the only ones with any fighting experience to speak of. This was their place, between innocent people and magic wielded in the service of evil.
"Besides," Harry added, staring at Lucius balefully, "we don't have to beat him. We just need to hold him off long enough for Dumbledore to get here."
Lucius regarded Harry with interest, and then began to chuckle darkly. "You think Dumbledore will save you? The old man's probably dead as we speak! My master, a being whose power you can't even imagine, will not let him live."
Harry felt a strange sense of peace, which allowed him to respond to Lucius' jab with a laugh of his own. "Dumbledore is not dead. If he was, I'd know. We all would. He'll send us all the help we need to defeat you."
"Such loyalty," Lucius sneered. "Yet it will do you little good. Consider yourself lucky, Potter, that you are valuable to my Master. Make sure to watch carefully as I kill your friends. I'll take particular care with the Mudblood brat."
Lucius waved his wand almost lazily at them, and a beam of light much thicker than a normal spell shot towards Hermione. She dove to the side, bringing herself closer to Snape and Flitwick.
Sarutobi looked at Snape with a challenging gaze. "Will you follow my orders?"
Snape looked back angrily. Flitwick snapped at him, the little Charms Professor's voice going even higher because of his agitation. "Is this really the time for a silly rivalry, Severus? We're not exactly in a meeting of the Dueling Club here!"
Snape bowed his head reluctantly. "Command us," he said with an ironic smile.
"Flitwick and Snape, keep us covered with Shield Charms! The rest of you, try to find a spell that can get past his defense. His hair forms a magic-resistant barrier."
"And what will you be doing?' Snape asked pointedly. The clone sighed.
"I'm almost at the limits of my energy, but I'll do what I can to keep him occupied."
As far as Harry could see, Sarutobi's clone was just being modest. As soon as it stopped talking, it became a blur of motion that ringed around Lucius almost too fast to follow. It threw a hail of shuriken from different directions, aiming for his eyes and limbs. But Lucius was well-protected by the mane of hair that surrounded his body like a cloak. Thin tendrils of his hair snapped out, snake-like, to knock shuriken out of the air or make a grab at the elusive clone. But Sarutobi's clone was fighting defensively, realizing that its value was greatest as a distraction. Harry had seen Sarutobi's clones dispel before, and knew that the moment one of Lucius' attacks connected the clone would disappear. That was why it gave Lucius such a wide berth, and concentrated on peppering him with relatively weak attacks from all sides.
Lucius wasn't able to move very far or very fast due to the clone's interference, but his wand was free to cast spells at the wizards waiting before the Great Hall. His curses were easily three times the size of a normal spell, which meant that in terms of power they must be exponentially greater. Harry, Ron, and Hermione couldn't have dodged forever, and their Shield Charms weren't nearly enough to turn aside such vicious magical attacks. That job fell to Snape and Flitwick, who began casting nested Shield Charms, one inside the other, to avert each of Lucius' curses.
As for Harry, Ron, and Hermione, they tried to find some spell that might prove effective against Lucius' seemingly impenetrable defense. Their initial curses merely rebounded off of the shield of hair that rose of its own accord to block any incoming attacks.
Next they tried a combination attack, wherein Ron cast Reducto on the floor at their feet, sending a spray of splintered wood into the air. At the same time Hermione cast the Enlargo charm, turning the small splinters of wood into five-foot-long wooden spears, and Harry finished the attack by using a powerful repelling charm to send the spears hurtling towards Lucius. But Lucius turned his wand on the incoming volley, reducing the weapons to piles of ash with a great blast of fire.
They tried clouds of poisonous gas, spells from multiple directions, and even, out of sheer desperation, Wingardium Leviosa. The closest they came to even inconveniencing Lucius was when they cast Reducto in tandem at the floor beneath his feet. The combined force of their spells blasted a hole in the wooden floor almost four feet deep. But Lucius was nimble enough to jump clear, and after that he was careful to guard against a similar strategy.
Each Shield Charm that Snape and Flitwick cast was weaker than the last, and sweat began to stream down their faces. They were pouring every ounce of magical energy they had into turning aside Lucius' attacks, and it was clear that very soon they would collapse.
When that happened, Harry wasn't sure what he, Ron, and Hermione could do. They could create decent Shield Charms, but not on the level of Snape or Flitwick. Once the Gryffindors were on the defensive, Lucius would have them at his mercy. Sarutobi's clone was doing the best he could, obstructing Lucius' vision and keeping him from moving freely by pelting him with a hail of projectiles. But it just wasn't going to be enough. Something needed to change quickly, or this fight was going to end poorly for all of them.
Just then, a flash of red appeared in the corner of Harry's eye. He chanced a quick glance upward, and saw a familiar shape in the rafters far above Lucius' head. It was Fawkes, and the phoenix was clutching something small and dark in its talons. Harry couldn't see what it was for a second, but then he realized – it was the Sorting Hat! Harry had witnessed first-hand what was hidden in the Sorting Hat, and he was willing to bet that the Sword of Gryffindor could succeed where all their spells had failed.
Harry experienced a burst of elation. Dumbledore had come through for them.
The only question was how to get the sword without Lucius noticing. He could probably blast Fawkes and the hat out of existence if he became aware of their presence. Harry needed some way to keep Lucius occupied.
And he had one. Sarutobi's clone paused for a second behind Harry, whispering quietly so that Lucius couldn't hear. "Can you kill him with that hat?"
"Yeah," Harry murmured back, noting distantly how odd that sounded. "I need a distraction."
"I can do that," the clone said with satisfaction. "But I can only give you one shot. Are you sure about this?"
Harry gulped, but one look at Snape and Flitwick, who were barely standing at this point, convinced him that the risk was worth taking. "Do it."
Sarutobi's clone disappeared again, becoming a shimmer that moved to the opposite side of Lucius. The clone reappeared, his hands blurring to form a series of hand seals. "Now!" he shouted. In the rafters, Fawkes let go of the Sorting Hat. At the same time, Sarutobi unleashed a blast of fire that assumed the form of a dragon, bearing down on Lucius. Lucius' shield of hair became a cocoon, wrapping around him tightly and hardening into a seamless silver shell.
Harry ran like he'd never run before, extending his wand and crying, "Accio Sorting Hat!"
The Sorting Hat, which had been falling gently down, became a dark bullet headed straight for Harry. Harry jumped, the heat from Sarutobi's flames washing over his face and sucking the air from his lungs. He extended both hands at the top of his leap, catching the Hat and drawing the Sword of Gryffindor in a single motion.
Harry was barely a yard from Lucius' cocoon, and he threw all of his strength into a desperate lunge. Even as the sword pierced the cocoon, a single whip of hair detached from its surface, solidifying into a spear, and jabbed out towards Harry. He felt a jolt through his arms as his sword connected with something solid beneath the cocoon. An instant later Harry felt pain like he'd never imagined, crying out in agony as Lucius' attack sank deeply into his stomach, just underneath the breastbone. But Harry held on, driving the Sword of Gryffindor deeper with all his might. Lucius' scream joined his own, soon joined by voices that sounded far sweeter to Harry's ears.
"Harry!"
Ron and Hermione were by his side in an instant, holding him up as his knees started to buckle. The residual smoke from the dragon flame technique dispersed, revealing that the clone was nowhere to be seen. It must have poured every bit of chakra it possessed into the technique, giving up the remainder of its life to offer Harry the best possible chance.
The cocoon surrounding Lucius began to shrink, and the silver spear through Harry's stomach retracted. They could now see Lucius' face, and the transformation seemed to be reversing itself. His skin was reverting to a pale color, his fangs drew back up inside his mouth, and his hair was once again the greasy, shoulder-length mane that Harry remembered seeing so many months ago in Flourish and Blotts. Harry tried to summon some emotion when saw the sword sticking out of Lucius' chest, but he just felt empty.
Lucius took a step forward, staggered, and fell to one knee. The unthinking hatred had gone out of his eyes, and he looked lost. "Tell… Draco…. I'm sorry…" He fell backward, the sword dislodging from his body as his back hit the floor. Then Lucius Malfoy breathed his last.
Ron was busy wrapping a section of his robes around Harry's midsection, while Harry leaned heavily on Hermione for support. The blood loss was beginning to make him feel woozy.
"I think…" he said, struggling to make his uncooperative lips form the words, "I'll just… go to sleep."
"Don't you dare!" came Flitwick's squeaky voice from somewhere in the distance. "Harry Potter, don't you dare close your eyes! Severus, we must bring him inside to Madam Pomfrey immediately!"
Harry did his best to keep his eyes open, but he regretted it when the all-too-familiar face of Professor Snape came into view. The Potions master wore his usual sneer, but there was something different about it. With darkness at the edge of his vision and his mind in a haze of pain, it took Harry a moment to figure out what it was. Finally it came to him. It was Snape's eyes – they held no malice, only a grave calm and… could that be respect?
"Calm yourself, Filius," came Snape's silky drawl. "Potter's merely enjoying the attention. It's just a flesh wound."
Flitwick was angrier than Harry could ever remember experiencing. "I'd hardly call getting impaled a flesh wound, Severus!"
Snape let out a sardonic chuckle. "It is for a phoenix."
There was a musical cry from the rafters, and as he looked up Harry found Fawkes spiraling down towards him, fiery wings stretched wide. It was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
oOoOo
Sarutobi's hunch had paid off – without Orochimaru to drive them, the Acromantulas had stopped pursuing the centaurs at the edge of the Forest. When Sarutobi and Dumbledore rejoined them, their allies were busy fighting eight of Orochimaru's robed creatures. From the numerous smoking craters littering the ground, it was clear what had happened to the rest.
There had been many casualties already, however, and the last of their attackers were proving to be wilier than their fallen comrades. They used their enhanced speed to keep the centaurs ringed in a close circle, and then fired deadly curses into the crowd. Sirius was doing his best to block these spells, and Hagrid was taking giant swings at their agile assailants with a tree branch as tall as his cottage. The centaurs were loosing arrows constantly, trying to fell the creatures by hitting them in the eyes.
Sarutobi and Dumbledore advanced from the Forest, ready to turn the tide in favor of the defenders. They were both extremely surprised when they were interrupted by a series of cracks, followed by two dozen wizards with wands out. Leading them was Fudge, who took in the mob of centaurs and robed monsters with an expression of complete shock.
"What…" he gasped, then his eyes fell on a particular person. "Sirius Black!" Sirius immediately swept the Invisibility Cloak over his shoulders, but Dumbledore knew that the damage had been done. Fudge had no time to ponder the mystery of Sirius disappearing, however, because the robed creature closest to him took the opportunity to try and blast him out of existence. Six Aurors raised Shield Charms at once, and Fudge was hustled to the back of the group.
With the battle lines drawn, there was no more talking. The Aurors and Ministry wizards began casting spells to bring down the attackers, allowing the centaurs to regroup. With the combined efforts of the centaurs, wizards, and Sarutobi, the remainder of the attacking force was soon disposed of. The Ministry wizards paled when Sarutobi informed them about the corpses' unfortunate tendency to explode, but containment charms cast by over twenty wizards and anchored by Dumbledore kept the blasts from harming anyone.
The weary survivors of the fight finally allowed themselves to breathe, while the newcomers from the Ministry surveyed the smoking ruin of the lawn around Hagrid's cottage with astonishment. Now that the danger was over, the Minister pushed forward through the crowd, loudly demanding to speak to Dumbledore.
"What is going on here, Dumbledore?" Fudge practically screeched. "I demand to know what's happening. What were those, those… things?"
"I believe they were once wizards," Dumbledore said sadly. "They were sent to attack Hogwarts. I recognized only one of them – it was Augustus Rookwood."
Fudge looked at him blankly. "Augustus? From the Ministry? Preposterous! Although, come to think about it… he hasn't been into work in over a week."
Well, that seemed like good enough proof to Sarutobi, even for someone as stubborn as the Minister. "I suggest you inquire after the whereabouts of former Death Eaters," Professor Sarutobi said to Fudge. "It seems likely that the man who sent these creatures to kill us created them by performing experiments on wizards. It is my belief that he wished to throw people off his trail by choosing only wizards who used to serve Lord Voldemort."
And also to make a statement, Sarutobi thought. By turning Voldermort's former servants into his twisted creatures, Orochimaru was sending the message that there was a new Dark power on the rise. But from the utter confusion on Fudge's face, Sarutobi got the sinking feeling that the message was going to go right past the Minister.
Fudge looked Sarutobi up and down. "Who are you?" he asked bluntly, "and how do you know who sent these things?"
Sarutobi glanced at Dumbledore surreptitiously. He was prepared to tell about his true origin, if the Headmaster thought it would help. Dumbledore shook his head almost imperceptibly. Apparently he didn't believe that Fudge was ready to hear about other universes, and Sarutobi had to agree. The Minister seemed to react quite poorly to new information. But Sarutobi could at least warn Fudge of the danger.
"I am Professor Sarutobi," he said calmly, "hired by Dumbledore to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts. And I know the man who sent these horrors. His name is Orochimaru, and I have fought with him before. He means to make himself into the next Dark Lord, more powerful even than Voldemort."
Fudge flinched back at the name. "Are you… are you insane? Another Dark Lord? It's not possible."
"I have no reason to lie to you," Sarutobi said reasonably. "I only wish to see this country escape the evil that Orochimaru brought to my home."
Fudge appeared to have a thought, and then a sly gleam came into his eyes. Fudge whirled on Dumbledore, and Sarutobi's heart sank. Fudge was dismissing his words out of hand. "What about Sirius Black, eh?" Fudge inquired. "I saw him. He was here! What have you to say to that, Dumbledore?"
"Nothing," Dumbledore sighed, "just that I still firmly believe that Sirius Black is innocent. Cornelius, the threat from Orochimaru is real, and it is not coming from Sirius Black. I implore you to see sense."
"I see exactly what's going on," Fudge shouted, his face growing red. "You try to distract me with crazy tales about new Dark Lords, while all the time you hide Sirius Black from justice! I won't let you get away with this, Dumbledore!"
Fudge whirled on Sarutobi, pointing an accusing finger at him. "As for you, it's clear you're Dumbledore's creature through and through. But I doubt you're accredited to teach magic in this country! Mark my words, Dumbledore, things will be different next year. You've disregarded the Ministry for too long!"
Fudge led his Aurors away, marching close enough to the Forest that they could Disapparate back to the Ministry. Hagrid waved his tree branch at them, muttering darkly.
At that moment Sarutobi experienced the mental shock that came from his Shadow Clone dispelling. Sarutobi was hit with a rush of memories, the entire fight against Lucius condensing into a frenzied whirl of impressions.
It was so obvious, once Sarutobi was able to organize his thoughts and process the new information. It was just like Orochimaru to arrange for his servant to kidnap the Boy Who Lived. Then he could inhabit Harry's body after killing Sarutobi, not only gaining the ability to use wizards' magic but also enjoying Harry's fame and influence into the bargain. The "opportunity" that Orochimaru had mentioned before in the Forest must mean Harry, and it appeared that Harry had foiled Orochimaru's plan by defeating Lucius on his own.
That meant that Sarutobi knew where Orochimaru was going next, and if they hurried…
"Dumbledore!" Sarutobi snapped. "Can you take us to Malfoy Manor? I think that's where Orochimaru is going next!"
Dumbledore didn't ask him how he knew, but simply strode off toward the Forest, where he could use Side-Along Apparition to transport Sarutobi to Malfoy Manor. Sarutobi only hoped that they weren't too late.
oOoOo
Narcissa and Draco were in the dining room when Orochimaru arrived. Draco was asking question after question, and Narcissa was doing her best to answer them without giving away too much. But then Orochimaru appeared before them, his face a burned nightmare of scar tissue.
"Where's Lucius?" he rasped.
"Mother, who is that?" Draco whispered, his eyes riveted on the intruder.
Narcissa smoothed one hand over Draco's hair. "Hush, darling." She turned to Orochimaru, struggling to keep her voice level. "Lucius hasn't come back yet."
Orochimaru cursed violently. "That means he failed," Orochimaru snarled, "and Sarutobi will know where to find me. I must make do with an inferior body for now."
Orochimaru's eyes fell on Draco, and he looked the boy up and down with an appraising gaze. "Hm… strong, healthy. As good a choice as any to become my host while I familiarize myself with this world's magic. And his father survived the Curse Mark, so the whelp must have inherited a bit of that strength of will. Come here, boy!"
Orochimaru gestured imperiously at Draco, who clung a little tighter to his mother's hand.
Narcissa fell to her knees, pure panic in her eyes. "Please… take me instead… leave my boy alone."
Orochimaru looked at her as if she was a piece of lint clinging to his robes. "What use would I have for your body? I would need to switch too soon, and your magic is most likely weak, as well. Just think of this as an honor – your son, or at least his body, will soon rule this world."
He started toward Draco, while Narcissa let out a defiant shriek. "NO! I'll kill you first! Avada Kedavra!"
Draco winced and looked away from the green flash, but Orochimaru had already disappeared. He reappeared next to Narcissa, effortlessly holding her wand hand immobile. "I'm disappointed," he whispered. "Why try to fight the inevitable?" Then his other hand flashed up and down again, light glinting off of a silver object.
Draco didn't even have time to scream before the knife buried in his mother's chest. She slumped forward to the floor, a small pool of red spreading on the tiles that had been pristine only a moment before. Draco stared at Orochimaru, transfixed, his mind unable to process what was happening.
Orochimaru came forward again, closing the distance to Malfoy in a single breath and carelessly snapping the wand that Malfoy clutched in his right hand. "Your mother was brave," Orochimaru whispered, reaching out to take Malfoy's hand. "I made her death as painless as I knew how. Now come with me. We must find somewhere safe before I can turn you into my next host."
But when his hand grasped Malfoy's, there was a hissing sound and a smell like burning flesh. Orochimaru snatched his hand back and cradled it against his chest, snarling at Malfoy with pure hatred. "What did you do?" he demanded. "What spell did you cast?"
It was Albus Dumbledore's voice that answered him, making Orochimaru start like a guilty child. "Draco didn't cast any spell. It was his mother, who sacrificed herself while trying to save her son. It appears there is much you don't know about our world."
As Orochimaru turned to face Dumbledore, Sarutobi used the Body-Flicker jutsu to place himself between Orochimaru and Malfoy. "Let's finish what we started, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru snarled. "Not today, sensei. You may have outmaneuvered me, but I have Time on my side. I'll be back, and next time I'll bring this entire world crashing down around your heads." Cackling madly, Orochimaru vanished with a puff of smoke.
Dumbledore sighed. "We really must figure out a way to trap him somewhere he can't slither away from."
"We'll worry about that later," Sarutobi frowned, stepping away so that he could turn and look at Draco. The Malfoy heir was staring at his mother's body, clearly deep in the clutches of shock. Sarutobi performed a quick genjutsu on him, sending the boy into a deep slumber. Sarutobi turned to Dumbledore, who was looking very grave. "What fate awaits this poor child now? And what spell was it that saved him?"
Dumbledore levitated Draco onto the dining room table, and conjured a pillow for his head and a blanket to cover him. "His mother died for him. In our world, that creates a powerful magical protection in the blood. Draco's very touch is now anathema to Orochimaru. It is the same protection that saved Harry Potter when Voldemort tried to kill him all those years ago."
Sarutobi's eyebrows raised, and he regarded Draco's sleeping form with astonishment. "That… complicates things."
"It does indeed," Dumbledore replied.
But Sarutobi already knew what he had to do. "Give him to me," he said to Dumbledore. "I will take him into my custody. He is my responsibility, after all – if I'd never come here, his parents would still be alive."
"You are not at fault," Dumbledore insisted, gently but firmly. "When a tyrant decides to subjugate the innocent, the only one at fault is the tyrant."
"Still," responded Sarutobi, unmoved, "I am responsible for him now. Besides, Orochimaru knows about the blood protection. It is one thing to be narrowly defeated by his old sensei and the greatest wizard of the age. It is entirely another to be defied by a twelve-year-old. He may have had his sights focused on Harry before, but from now on young Draco will be just as much of a target, probably even more."
"So you wish to offer him your protection?"
"More than that," Sarutobi said thoughtfully. "He has led a spoiled, sheltered life. This may be the first time he has ever experienced loss. He will need someone to talk to, someone to help him come to terms with his sorrow. I have lost many close friends and family in my time, and understand his pain more than most. Perhaps, in time, I can help him grow stronger because of this."
Dumbledore looked hopeful, but still unconvinced. "That's a large burden you'd be taking on your shoulders. Draco is very young, but his values and beliefs are set in stone, handed down from his father. I also fear what will happen to him once he gets past this initial shock. I fear that he will be so consumed by hatred for Orochimaru that it will come to define his life. Watching over Draco may be impossible for anyone, even you."
"But Professor Sabby-tabby will not be alone," came a squeaky voice from the direction of the kitchen. The two Hogwarts Professors looked down in astonishment, and came face to face with a House-Elf. The elf's ears were covered with thick bandages, and his round eyes filled with tears as he watched Malfoy sleeping on the table.
"Dobby would have helped Master," Dobby said, his eyes lowered in shame. "But Dobby had to iron his ears, and couldn't hear when the bad man entered the house. Only after Mistress… after Mistress died… did Dobby know there was trouble. But now Dobby is here, and ready to do anything to help Professor." His orb-like eyes shined at them, moisture threatening to fall.
"Dobby," Dumbledore said, sounding astonished. "It is nice to meet you. But I… I can't imagine that Lucius Malfoy or his family was ever kind to their servant. Are you sure you want to do this? It is in my power to grant you your freedom from this family, if you wish."
Dobby's eyes widened at the word "freedom," but then he shook his head violently. "Professor Dumbledore truly is great," he said, awe-struck, "but Dobby wants to help Master Draco. He… he's all alone, except for Professor Sabby-tabby. Dobby wants to help, if he can."
Sarutobi was looking mildly scandalized at Dobby's version of his name, but he passed it off after a fit of coughing. "I would be glad of your help, Dobby," Sarutobi said gravely. "I fear that Draco will have great need of a friend like you in the coming years."
Oblivious to all the plans that were being made regarding his future, Draco Malfoy slept on. His dreams were dark and full of terror, but whenever the nightmares rose up a familiar face appeared and sent them running. Draco ran after his mother's face time and again, only to see her disappear, fading into the darkness just beyond his reach. Somehow, though, just the sight of her made him feel warm and safe. His mother's voice echoed in his mind, and he clung to her words as if they were a buoy in a stormy sea.
"I'll protect you."
End of Part 1
A/N: So Sarutobi's year at Hogwarts comes to a close, and the pace of events is accelerating quickly. Fudge has Sirius and Dumbledore firmly at the top of his blacklist, while Peter Pettigrew is still at large. Orochimaru has escaped as well, and is off to make sure that his position is much stronger before he risks another strike at Hogwarts. Meanwhile, poor Draco's world has been turned upside down, and the only people by his side are Sarutobi and the House-Elf he's only ever abused. One way or another, things are going to get crazy at Hogwarts next year.
Also, if you've been following this story through Part 1, please take a second to review. If you have any questions I'll answer them, and just hearing from people is a huge source of inspiration for me.
Finally, the pattern for the next few chapters will be very different from what I've done so far. I'll be alternating chapters between Malfoy's point of view and another character's point of view, focusing on the events of the summer before everyone goes back to school. If you're curious about the second character, I'll give you a hint: he lives in a place where the fires are only lit for magical purposes :)
See you next time!