Harry Potter: The Vanishing Student

Chapter 16 of my Harry Potter story, the main climax of this story, enjoy.

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Boris Yeltsin: Thanks, yeah, here we go :)

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or its characters.


Chapter 16

They landed in an ungainly heap on the floor with a grunt when they finally arrived at their destination. With much grumbling they managed to disentangle themselves and stood up, looking around.

"Where...is this?" Amara queried worriedly.

They were what appeared to be a run down ruin of a large old building, albeit still habitable, based on the bed and other supplies there. Jeff moved to the closest window and, standing on his toes, peered out through the window, it was grimy but still just possible to look through it.

"I can see lights not too far away...I think it's Hogsmeade." He remarked.

That surprised them a little, the Portkey hadn't taken them all that far, just to some sort of hideaway not too far from the village which was quite close to Hogwarts, in fact the very site of the train station that had brought them to the school.

"Okay...why here?" Amara asked.

Jeff turned to her and shook his head. "No idea, someone set it up, but why?"

"Merlin's Beard!" Carla suddenly burst out.

The others turned to her and then followed her gaze and also froze, their expressions turning to ones of horror to match hers. For there, at the end of the chamber they were in, was a large portrait, within which they could see.

"Jamie!"

He was indeed there, trapped in the portrait, he looked weak and was sunk to his knees, but was still reaching up to the canvas, as if trying to reach through it to get free.

At once the trio began to run towards him.

As they did so Carla noted. "It is the Portrait Curse, but how?"

But they only got about half way, reaching a trio of pillars that once acted as support for an upper floor, when suddenly a spell was cast, they yelped and before they knew it, they were bound with ropes, securing them to the pillars.

"My doing, dear girl, and I'm not about to let any of you three ruin my work."

Their eyes widened in horror and shock as the caster stepped out into the light, standing in front of them.

"Mr. Warren!?" They cried in shock.

James Warren smirked, wand pointed at the bound trio, all at his mercy.

"Yes. You just had to get in the way, just like that boy...how worthless." He snarled. "Still, it proved a good test of my efforts and has paid off."

"How...how could you, we trusted you and you-!" Carla shouted.

At the same time Amara raged. "You won't get away with this, I swear, you're gonna-!"

"Oh shut up." He groaned.

With a flick of his wand more ropes were conjured and wrapped themselves around the girls lower heads, threading through their mouths, between their teeth causing them to let out a few muffled screams, but no intelligible sound could be made. Then James turned his wand on Jeff, immediately the Slytherin boy's mind raced.

James smirked.

"Your turn, I guess?"

Jeff shook his head. "I don't understand this, why are you doing, what have you done. You make it sound as if you've accomplished something but what?"

He could see, to his relief, that his words had worked, he had played on James' ego and he grinned, lowering his wand.

"Well, I've got quite the accomplishment indeed, I suppose it can't hurt to tell you, since you'll all be joining your little friends." James remarked. "Yes, I was the one who was after Jamie back since Halloween. I've been working on something here since I first arrived, research, that part was true. What I didn't say was I was researching the Portrait Curse, something that'll be very useful to my group."

"Group?" Jeff wondered, one hand working its way into his pocket. "And what does Jamie have to do with this?"

James waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, he's just a specimen, nothing important. He was just easier to get to since he was practically all his own. But yes, my group, a group of exceptional Witches and Wizards who will change the magical world forever, such a shame you had to get in our way, this little trap wasn't meant for you."

"Not-?"

"But anyway...it doesn't matter. Once you are all part of my newly weaponised Portrait Curse, you'll make fine examples for my group and they will have to appreciate my efforts. I will successfully take my masters place and you'll be able to at least be at peace knowing you're making the Magical world a much better place than it is now." James announced with glee.

The girls gave muffled yells at this, shocked, outraged and even a little worried. But Jeff was quiet, still trying to listen, he was trying to buy time, but just in case, now his hand was out of his pocket he also had managed to slip his wand into his hand, for he could see the danger coming.

James was shaking his head and was raising his wand.

"Well, unfortunately...I don't owe you any more explanation so...it is time to-"

Jeff had no choice but to act now. "Flipendo!"

James let out a sharp cry as Jeff's spell hit him and he was knocked back off his feet. Jeff tried to tug himself free, the girls doing the same but it was no good and soon James was on his feet and swiftly disarmed Jeff and cast the same spell he had used to gag the girls in order to silence Jeff now too.

"Stupid brat, now I will make you-" He snarled but quickly had to stop.

The reason being he had to swiftly cast a Shield Charm to block the spell that had been aimed at him. He glared, yet even behind that anger was fear, since Professor Bennett then emerged from the shadows and glared darkly, looking far more dangerous than she had ever been. It was clear to the three captive First Years now just how scary Professor Bennett must have been during her famous exploit.

"So you've finally come."

Professor Bennett smirked. "Yes, thanks to Jeff and the stone I gave him. It allowed me to track his location and apparate here at once. You've been trying to lure me in using Jamie, that's who that Portkey was for, wasn't it?"

"Yes, but you've been delivered to me regardless." James snapped.

"Not quite, you wanted me at your mercy while I'm here willingly, to deal with you. To see you here attacking First Years, how despicable." Bennett said darkly. "Not surprising though, given your master. Did you learn how to torment kids from Solomon."

That caught the captives attention and made them freeze, James was connected to the Dark Wizard Solomon that Professor Bennett had faced.

The colour had drained from James' face, he realized he had been exposed.

"How...how did you-?"

"I had my suspicions from the moment I saw you first arrive. I didn't object to you being here as it allowed me to keep an eye on you." Professor Bennet explained. "Now it's over, Ezekiel."

They immediately guessed that was James Warren's real name. Hearing it however enraged him and he immediately launched a spell at Professor Bennet who immediately deflected it with a Shield Charm. She countered, he blocked then again and then he attacked and she blocked and countered, they didn't even speak, they simply cast spell after spell at each other and yet they couldn't hit each other. At one point Ezekiel attacked but Bennett apparated out of the way and appeared behind him, only narrowly missing him with her counter-spell by Ezekiel ducking out of the way. Then he launched a powerful stunning spell and this time, when deflected, it split into two and struck Amara and Carla head on. Jeff let out a muffled yelp through his gag as he saw both girls go limp, out cold. That was when he saw the look of panic on Ezekiel's face which he soon saw the reason why too, other Professors had arrived. Almost as soon as they arrived, Professor Sprout rushed over to the captive First Years to try and help them. Professors Flitwick and Slughorn rushed to help Professor Bennett while Professor McGonagall hurried over to the Portrait.

"It's over, Ezekiel." Bennett snapped.

"Never!"

With that yell he cast another spell that was deflected, this time hitting Jeff. The last thing he saw was Professor McGonagall's spell working, Jamie landing in a shivering heap on the floor in front of her, free from the portrait. Then Professor Dumbledore apparated into the room and then he was hit and all went black.


End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.