It's My Life
It happened so fast that no one had time to register the fact Dolores aimed for Harry and tried to send a stunner at Harry, but he easily blocked it with his wand.
"Harry, what are you doing!" Severus demanded.
"Proving a point." Harry said.
"Not against her, she's a fully trained witch!" Severus argued.
"So are Voldemort and Dumbledore, and I've beaten them both." Harry told him. "It's not to be cocky…But, I need you to trust me, Dad."
"I-I do trust you, son…I just don't want to see you get hurt." Severus replied.
"I won't." Harry promised him. "Come on, Dolores…You've wanted this all year long, a chance to teach me a lesson. Here you go, let's see if your book work pays off in a real fight that you said we'd never be in because we wouldn't get attacked. You've attacked me…If I win, you go to prison for various crimes."
"If I win?" Dolores asked.
"I'll deny everything that happened, say I was looking for attention. I'll even leave Hogwarts…" Harry offered.
"Done." And then she didn't give him any time to prepare before sending another spell Harry's way.
Dolores tried again and again, but she couldn't land a hit on Harry or he'd get her with one of his own. For fifteen minutes, the two dueled it out before Harry flicked his wand at her and a blue blast sent her back and through her own barrier, smashing it to bits and fading as she landed on her butt. When she went to attack again, Harry beat her to it and got her wand away from her.
"That's quite enough from you." Harry said as she looked at him with surprise, but anger. "You're not going to beat me, so give up. I have more pressing matters to see to than deal with you." Harry put his wand away and turned from her to walk away. Dolores glared as she summoned back her wand and shot a blasting curse at Harry.
However, the teenager whipped around and held out his hand as the blast stopped and levitated ever so slightly above his palm. "Attacking when someone's back is turned is not good dueling etiquette, Umbridge. I expected better from a proper woman like yourself." Harry snapped his fingers as the blast disappeared.
"I told you that was enough, but perhaps I should make myself more clear…" Harry turned his wrist slightly as Dolores lifted off the ground and then Harry shoved her backward into one of the stone posts. Harry only shifted his index finger to swipe left as Dolores's wand was ripped from her hand again. Harry closed his hand to a fist as ropes tied Dolores to the post, her arms at her sides. Harry snapped his fingers again as Dolores's mouth closed tightly and she couldn't talk. "You can just hang there until the Aurors arrive to take you away. Have a fun time in Azkaban." Harry told her.
"I'll take care of her, Potter-Snape." Minerva promised. "And well done. I've never been prouder of one of my students than I am right now."
"Thanks," Harry smiled.
Draco was first to embrace Harry in relief he was okay, also not caring who was watching; the blonde gave Harry a quick, but deep kiss on the lips. "That was dangerous! You idiot! God, there are times I want to smack you, Potter."
"Potter-Snape," Harry corrected his boyfriend of three months.
"But bloody hell was it hot too." Draco shivered and Harry shook his head gently. Teenage hormones at their finest.
"That's quite enough of that," Severus sighed. "Maintain yourself, Mr. Malfoy…Summer is only four days away."
"Thank Merlin for that…" Draco hugged Harry again, causing Harry to chuckle a bit, and then Draco let go.
Harry got a hug from Hermione, Luna, and Pansy, then he high fived or shook hands with the boys who surrounded him. Finally, Harry was facing Severus and felt like he was about to get scolded for challenging Dolores, but instead, Harry felt the arms of his father wrap around him protectively. There was a concerned, but relieved aura around his dad. Harry hugged the man back.
"Are you alright?" Severus asked. "I-I know you won, but you took the cruciatus curse five times. I don't even know how you're standing, how you fought it…And I'd be happy to find out later, but right now, I just need to know you're okay, son?"
"I'm alright, Dad…" Harry nodded gently. The vision struck him again and the worry took over him.
"What is it, what's wrong?" Severus questioned.
"Si-Sirius…Sirius is in trouble. Voldemort has him, at the ministry. H-He's torturing him." Harry informed. "I saw it earlier too, r-right before things happened with Umbridge."
"Harry, are you absolutely sure? Sirius is supposed to be at his house, awaiting trial…He knew not to step out." Severus reminded.
"His trial is today!" Harry told his father. "It was supposed to be at 3:00 pm, b-but Lucius said he and Sirius would be there earlier to talk about how the trial would go. Dad, I'm sure….I-It's just like when Arthur got attacked. I know this is real." He stated. "Please? Please, we have to go there now. I have to make sure he's alright."
Severus stared at his son for a moment, then nodded and stood. "Minerva, I have to take Harry to the ministry. It seems there's a chance the dark lord has taken Sirius and is torturing him. Harry isn't going to let it go until he knows for sure his godfather is safe."
"Go on, we'll handle things here." Minerva nodded.
. . .
Draco, Blaise, Theodore, Luna, Neville, Hermione, Ron, Pansy, Vincent, and Gregory had all followed Harry, who walked with Severus, towards the dungeons. Snape had said they could come, just to support Harry, and they ended up all in Severus's office.
"Dad…" Harry stopped his father from getting the floo powder. "You can't come."
"You've lost your mind if you think you're going alone, Harry. Absolutely not. I forbid it." Severus stated firmly.
"I hadn't planned on going alone, but with members from the army…Yes." Harry informed.
"I admire your skill, and theirs. I know what the army is capable of…But this is not the best test to display them. This is the dark lord himself." Severus began.
"Which is why you can't come, Dad." Harry said. "Voldemort will be there, and you can't risk your status as a spy. That's what you keep telling me." He reminded. "If I get hurt, you won't be able to control yourself. Voldemort will see right through your act of being his spy and he'll kill you. I told you, I'm not losing another father."
"Harry, this is too dangerous." Severus remarked.
"Okay, okay…So how about we go? Me with these guys here," He motioned to his friends and boyfriend. "We'll go and scope things out. You stay here and contact the Order to meet us. When they start fighting, we'll leave with Sirius. We'll only fight if we have no choice, defensively to get away. Is that fair?" Harry asked.
"I really don't like it…But it does make the most sense." Severus sighed. He hated when his son was right, damn teenager using logic like he would to make a point. "Fine. But you go right to Potter Manor if there's trouble. Understand? Activate your ring and take everyone there, then you'll contact me immediately afterward."
"Yes, Father," Harry nodded.
"Where did you see them?" Severus questioned.
"I don't know. Some room with blue, glowing spheres." Harry answered.
"Hall of Prophecy. He's going after the prophecy about you destroying him. He must want to know the whole thing…" Severus mumbled. "I don't like this, Harry. It's a trap, do you understand that."
"I suspected as much when I saw him with Sirius…But I can't just ignore it, Dad. I know you're my dad and I love you…But Sirius is family too. I can't just look the other way. Would you? If you knew Voldemort had me, would you ignore it for the image or save me?"
"I'd save you obviously." Severus said quickly.
"Then don't ask me to ignore saving Sirius over something like risking my life. I do it every day. Every year. I told you something always happens at the end of the year. This has become the normal. I'll be okay, I'm a survivor. I'll be careful, I promise." Harry vowed.
"I'll be coming with the Order." Severus said. "The dark lord won't think it strange if I've been dispatched to protect you to hold my place as a spy." He informed.
"Then I'll see you there, but we can't let the dark lord know who I am to you…" Harry stated.
"I can maintain myself, Harry…I've done it for years." Severus said.
"Alright, then we're going. Defense Army, pair off!" Harry called.
"I'm going with you." Draco held onto Harry's arm.
"Harry…Keep your wits about you. The dark lord doesn't play nice." Severus stated.
"That's fine…Because neither do I." Harry said in a calm tone. "Ministry of Magic!" He tossed the powder down and went with Draco.
"Go." Severus told the others. "Watch each other's backs."
"Yes, sir." The others said before they all went two by two through the fireplace.
"Lily…James, even…Please watch over him." Severus sighed gently before he went through the fireplace to get to Grimmauld and call on the Order.
. . .
Arriving at the ministry, the group kept a low profile of making their way through the building. Harry led them along until he saw the door from his visions.
"Wands out, watch each other's backs." Harry stated.
Soon they were in the room, the prophecies everywhere. Harry made his way though, trying to find Sirius and Voldemort.
"Maybe they've left?" Luna suggested.
"He's around…I sense him." Harry muttered.
"Hey, Harry…I know we're looking for the dark lord and your godfather, but…This orb has your name on it." Neville pointed out.
Harry made his way over to the shelf and reached out for the globe, bringing it into his hand. "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…" The voice spoke.
"What do you suppose it means?" Pansy wondered.
Harry was quiet, thinking about what he just heard and then flashing back to when Albus told him that he had a piece of the dark lord inside him. A piece of the dark lord's soul. Harry also recalled when Dumbledore talked about there being more than one soul piece. As long as these existed, Voldemort couldn't die.
"Harry, we got company." Draco warned.
The group had their wands ready as a death eater walked forward and the mask vanished to reveal Lucius Malfoy. Harry and Draco both knew the man was probably just playing his role. That means they had to play theirs too. Harry held his wand on the man, pushing Draco behind him.
"Where's Sirius?" Harry asked.
"Bit occupied at the moment." Lucius informed. "Now, I only need that prophecy and we can both go our separate ways."
"You do anything to us, and I'll break it." Harry warned.
A cynical laughter was heard as Bellatrix Lestrange walked up. "He knows how to play. Ha-ha. Itty, bitty…Baby, Potter."
"Bellatrix Lestrange…" Neville realized.
"Neville Longbottom, is it?" Bellatrix wondered with a psycho-like smile. "How's mom and dad?"
"Better now that they're going to be avenged!" Neville went to attack, but Harry held him back.
"Easy…" Harry told him.
"Now, let's everyone…Calm down. All we want, Harry, is that prophecy." Lucius tried again.
"Then Voldemort should have come to get it himself. I only came for Sirius. Where is he?" Harry demanded.
"You dare speak his name? You filthy half-blood!" Bellatrix raged.
"That's rich coming from someone obsessed with a half-blood herself. Or didn't you know that Lord Voldy is one too?" Harry snarked.
"He is n-," Bellatrix began.
"He is. His mother was a pure blood, his father was a muggle. Conceived of a love potion his mother was giving his father, then abandoned at an orphanage until Dumbledore brought him to Hogwarts." Harry said. "You think I don't know my own enemy, Bellatrix? I think I know more about him than you. Watch who you're calling a half-blood…You're in love with one."
"I kill the brat myself!" Bellatrix went forward, but Lucius stopped her.
"That's not why we came, Bellatrix. Stick to the plan…" Lucius told his sister-in-law. "It's alright, he's just a curious lad…Aren't you, Potter? Prophecies can only be retrieved by those they are about." He added. "You were necessary for this task, I'm afraid. Quite lucky for you, really."
"Haven't you always wondered about the connection between you and the dark lord? Why he was unable to kill you when you were just an infant? Don't you want to know the secret about your scar? It's all there, in your hand." He paused, holding out his hand. "All you have to do is give it to me, and I can show you…"
Harry eyed the orb. "I've waited fourteen years…" Harry said calmly.
"I know, so unfair…But now the truth can finally be realized," Lucius offered, staring Harry in the eyes. A look that said not to destroy it, not yet. A look Harry picked up asdo what you have to do, but get out.
"I guess I can wait a little longer." Harry remarked. "NOW!" He yelled.
"STUPEFY!" The group cast as the death eaters that had begun to surround them were blasted back.
"Get back to the door!" Harry demanded as they ran for it, blasting their way out until the got to the door and jumped out, falling down some long passageway.
They all slowed and levitated a moment, then fell on their fronts, groaning. The room was empty except for a large archway with a foggy center.
"Where are we?" Theodore asked.
"No idea, but that clearly wasn't the door we entered the room from…" Harry stated.
"There's a fireplace over there, we can probably use it to get to the main level," Draco stated.
"Don't you hear the voices, they're coming from the arch?" Harry remarked.
"There's no voices, Harry…" Hermione informed.
"No, I hear them…" Harry told her.
"I can too," Luna agreed.
Harry sensed danger, and his rings went off. "Get behind me." He ordered quickly as they all did, wands ready.
Dark clouds descended over them, whipping around as everyone tried to hold their ground. It was over as soon as it started and Harry stood to look around, finding his friends all being held by death eaters. Lucius approached slowly.
"Did you actually believe…Or were you truly naive enough…To think children could stop us?" Lucius taunted calmly. "I'll make this simple for you, Potter…Hand over the prophecy, or watch your friends die." He held out his hand. Harry placed the orb in Lucius's hand carefully as the man held it up, proud of the accomplishment.
"Now, let my friends go…" Harry told him. "I gave you what you wanted. I want my godfather too."
"Yes, yes. So impatient, can't even allow a man to bask in his triumph. Ah, very well. A deal is a deal." Lucius sighed. "Release the brats. Your godfather will be released once we're gone…"
The other teens were let go and a light flashed behind Lucius. "The godfather has been released…" Spoke Sirius's voice. Lucius looked to see Sirius there. "Get away from my godson…" Sirius drew back his fist as Lucius gasped. Sirius mouthed a sorry to Lucius before landing him a right hook. The Malfoy Lord dropped to the ground and the prophecy rolled away as Harry grabbed it and looked at Lucius.
"Destroy it…" Lucius whispered as more and more Order members descended in flashes of white.
Harry threw the orb down as Lucius was about to grab it back from him. Lucius played the part of looking shocked and disheartened. Surprisingly, while Harry saw Tonks, Remus, Kingsley, Alastor, and Sirius there for the Order…No one else was. Hadn't Severus said he'd be there with them. Or…Maybe not just yet? A blast almost hit Sirius and Harry, but Sirius blocked it and fired back before taking Harry around a large rock to duck behind. Tonks was already getting the others with Alastor to keep them covered from danger.
"Now, listen to me, Harry…I want you to take the others and get out of here." Sirius told Harry.
"What? No. I'm staying with you. I did all this to save you, Sirius. I saw what Voldemort was doing to you…" Harry remarked.
"And I will never be able to thank you enough, Harry…But let us handle this now. You've done beautifully, we've got it from here. Go, Severus is waiting beyond the fireplace for you." Sirius mentioned.
However, it didn't take long for them to both be under attack. Sirius and Harry rose together, fighting back against Lucius and another death eater. Lucius was just playing his role, so Sirius and Harry weren't aiming to hurt him. But it was that moment that everything went so wrong. Sirius took out the death eater who tried to send a cutting curse at Harry, knocking the man out, then Harry managed to disarm Lucius before Sirius blasted the man back as gently as possible. The other teens were hidden behind an alcove of rocks while guarded by Alastor and Tonks.
"Seems I arrived too late. All you are getting detention for this stunt! Potter, why am I not surprised you were leading it?" Severus strolled in casually.
"I told you I had to save my godfather." Harry told the man.
"You'd give your father a run for his money with those skills, son," Sirius put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Good work." Sirius pulled Harry into a hug as Tonks missed getting Bellatrix, and the woman landed behind Harry, preparing her wand.
"Avada Kedavra!" Bellatrix cast.
Sirius pulled away from Harry. "Harry, move!" Sirius pushed him to the side just as the curse struck Sirius's chest.
Harry quickly pushed himself up and stood, seeing Sirius sway a bit, then give Harry a small smile before he fell back into the fog of the archway, being pulled in. Harry could only stare, the realization hitting him that Sirius just…Sacrificed his life to save him.