I do not own anything from the harry potter universe, unfortunately.
"Normal Talking"
'Thoughts'
"Parseltongue"
P_A_T_R_E_O_N /Akida_Pendragon
"Think fast!" Moody yelled as he suddenly began banishing small stones at Harry. Harry was currently engaged with a pair of three training dummies and had to fall to the ground to dodge them. He then had to quickly roll out of the way of several stunners sent by the animated dummies before he got back to his feet.
"Umbra Serpentis!" He cast three shadowy snakes shaped like Cobra's erupting from his wand with glowing white eyes. They wrapped themselves around the three dummies and sunk their fangs into what would be the neck. He then ripped his wand back causing all three to smack together.
"Reducto!" He yelled as the spiraling blue spell flew from his wand and hit the three dummies turning them to ash. He lowered his wand and rested his hand on his knees trying to catch his breath. When Susan had said she could get a good instructor to help them train he may have had an inkling as to who she meant.
But Moody went beyond anything he thought. Compared to the classes in Hogwarts that was child's play to how he was teaching them now. Looking over he saw his girlfriends equally as sweaty and exhausted from training and wearing workout clothes like he was only a bit more feminine in design, courtesy of Hermione.
"Good reaction time Potter. But you got knicked." He said and Harry was confused until Moody pressed down on his shoulder blade and Harry felt a pain erupt.
"Adrenaline keeps you going but if that had been a curse you would be out for the count."
"I-I'll be faster... next time," Harry said breathing deeply.
"If this was real there could've been no next time," Moody said.
"Obviously," Harry responded.
"Hermione your up!" Hermione looked up took a breath and stood as she and Harry switch with a tired high five. Hermione took up her spot in the middle of the training yard. She took up a wide yet easily maneuverable position. Something Moody drilled in early that they would be fighting not dueling. No need for fancy dueling stances you needed something to keep you grounded and firm on your feet but highly mobile so you can run and move if need be.
"Go!" Moody yelled and banged his staff against a rock as it morphed into a stone representation of a werewolf. It was silent save for some scraping and rolling sounds from the stone surface. It locked onto Hermione and charged.
Hermione despite her tiredness was quick to react as she dashed to the left as the werewolf due to its great stony weight was not so quick on the turn.
"Incarcerous!" She said and in a flash of light, a rope flung from her wand and wrapped around the lower limbs of the stone werewolf causing it to stumble. She quickly backed away to create more distance between herself and the monster.
"Bombarda!" She yelled and the reddish-orange spell shot from her wand straight and true into the werewolf's face as it freed itself from its bonds. There was the resounding boom from the exploding curse and a cloud of dust obscured her view. All was still for a moment until a chunk of stone was suddenly flung at her and she was quick enough to erect a shield to block it. But soon more stone was slung at her as she had to start running again. She made a straight dash to a nearby boulder but failed to reach it in time before one of the stones hit her in the hip.
She hissed in pain but made it to the boulder and took shelter behind it. One after the other chunks of rock hit her boulder as her mind raced on how to deal with it but then it stopped. The sound of a rock hitting the boulder was replaced with the sound of thumping steps.
"Avis!" She cast and a sudden flurry of bright yellow birds rushed around her and she could hear the charge come to a stop as grating and scrapping stones filled the air. She stepped out from the boulder just enough to see the stone werewolf still cracked and another boulder a bit away with large bits taken out of it which must've been what it was throwing at her.
"Oppugno!" She yelled and the flock of birds began darting towards the werewolf but they would be useless against its stone flesh. This is why with a flick of her wand the birds suddenly turned to iron becoming fast metal missiles and hitting the stone wolf breaking off pieces of it and one final Bombarda was all it needed to fall apart completely.
Hermione stepped out of her boulder but was shoved suddenly to the ground by a rough and hard-clawed hand.
"Seldom is the wolf who hunts alone Granger," Moody said limping over. Hermione turned her head spitting dirt from her mouth seeing a second stone werewolf holding her down.
"What did you do wrong?"
"I failed to take account of my surroundings after I defeated one enemy," Hermione grumbled.
"Exactly! Never assume you have only one opponent, always assume they have a backup! Constant Vigilance!" Moody barked out and with a wave, the two would-be werewolves returned to simple stone and rolled away. Hermione groaned as she rose the pain in her hip flaring up.
"Hey, Moody! If you're done killing the love birds I need Harry up in the library." The group looked up at the balcony and saw that it was Jones who called out to them.
"Aye! Get out of here. Tomorrow we begin apparition training!" Moody said as he walked away. Harry was the first to get to Hermione as he helped her stand.
"You okay?" Harry asked and Hermione nodded.
"Yeah, just a bit bruised. Daphne will help me out, go and see what Jones wants." Hermione said as Harry smiled and Daphne came to heal her up. Harry then left the girls and left the field rolling his arm a bit to alleviate the coming soreness.
"Master Harry, can Dobby be getting you anything? A potion perhaps?" Dobby asked as he popped into existence beside Harry.
"No, thank you though. I just need to head to the Library how is Kreature doing?" Harry asked.
"He is still quite perturbed with Master Harry's decision to live here instead of Grimmauld place. But Kreature respects your decision."
"Thank you, Dobby, how about you go and see if the girls need anything," Harry suggested and Dobby nodded enthusiastically before disappearing with a pop. Walking through the Halls of Veilstone Harry smiled at the vast difference in atmosphere.
While it wasn't bustling with activity it didn't feel so empty as when he first came here. House elves populated the space doing some cleaning and regular upkeep and maintenance. There were a few members of the old Order of the Pheonix here as well. Remus and Sirius were both here for now. Amelia came by every so often to check in with status updates. As it stood right now they were still checking the other members of the order to ensure that Dumbledore hadn't gotten to them or if they were still loyal to him.
"Hey Harry." a voice sounded and Harry waved and greeted the person, who was Blaise.
"Hey Blaise, were you off too?" Harry asked.
"Just heading to my room to check on some things how about you? From the looks of it, you probably need a shower." Blaise joked. After Saurfang had updated and improved the home's security Harry decided to invite his closest friends to improve their safety. Just until the new term starts for Hogwarts.
"Is everyone settling alright?" Harry asked and Blaise nodded.
"From what I can tell, Luna is helping out Jones in the Library. I think Neville and Tracey are looking over the greenhouse. Professor Remus is also in the Library right now. That's about it."
"Yeah, I'm heading to the Library right now."
"Ha, good luck. Pretty sure Jones invented new swear words from what I heard."
"Oh, fun." Harry joked shaking his head amusedly.
"Hey, thanks for this Harry. You didn't have to house us here, but I'm thankful."
"Of course, with... whatever it is out there right now, I want my friends to be safe."
"Plus the training."
"Obviously."
"Right, better get to the Library see ya mate," Blaise said as he continued walking and Harry made his way to the Library. Upon entering the usual, well-kept library was frankly ransacked. Piles of open and closed books littered the tables and those that didn't fit were on the ground. He easily spotted Remus slumped against a desk flicking through a large leather-bound tome before he sighed and closed it. When he looked up he saw Harry.
"Ah Harry, come to join the fun?" Remus asked the usually kind man showing signs of great fatigue despite the full moon being almost two weeks away.
"Well, I was invited so it would be rude to not at least make an appearance," Harry remarked as a pile of books shifted and from it, Luna emerged her hair looking just as frazzled as normal.
"It's not in this pile either. Hello Harry, Hello pretty wolf." Luna said waving to Harry and then his shadow where Demona was currently.
"What are you looking for?" Harry asked.
"At this point, anything and everything that has to do with creatures that cause or use fear as well as extreme cold," Jones said as she slid down a ladder from one of the upper shelf levels.
"Harry no offense to your inheritance and apparent ancestors. But what the hell!? How in all this knowledge and crap can not one single Tome have any mention of the demon Cissa saw?" Jones fumed as she descended a spiral stair coming down to the lower level again.
"No matter how vast a person's knowledge the unknown shall remain unknown. It's possible that this being is so ancient or was so well hidden that no Wizard, Witch, or Muggle has ever seen it."
"Then how did Riddle find it?" Jones asked.
"Maybe he tripped over it," Luna suggested and Jones just sighed.
"You haven't found anything?" Harry asked and was genuinely surprised this Library was huge and not one book contained anything.
"Nope, I checked through the Potter vault with Saurfangs help as well. Still nothing. Sirius is checking the Black Family library with Kreature but so far they are about as successful as we are. The Bones family library was dry, and Daphne's folks didn't have anything either. McGonagall is currently checking in Hogwart's restricted section but I doubt that will turn up anything either."
"So then what do we know?" Harry asked pulling out a chair and placing the books on it on the table.
"Pretty much everything it is not," Remus said.
"Like, we know definitely that it is not from this world. It's almost like a dementor but it is not one. What we do know is that it uses fear, I think it's probably some form of telepathy as it seems to know exactly what will make a person feel the most terror possible. I don't know if this empowers it or if it just does this for fun." Jones said.
"Perhaps it's time for a break. We've been at this all day and we won't be able to figure this out if we all are burnt out." Luna suggested nodding to herself with a smile. "The Nargles will surely notice if we are so tired." She added getting a light chuckle out of Jones.
"Yeah, go on you two, I'll clean up here and Harry will help me," Jones said Luna just nodded and got out of her Book pile, and left. Remus looked between the two and was a bit more hesitant but he left as well. Now it was just Harry and Jones.
"How are you doing?" Harry asked concern clear in his voice.
"How am I doing? How am I doing!? I want to rip my fucking hair out! There is nothing! Not a hint of clue on what this merlins be damned thing is! Bugger me sideways." She said falling into her chair and holding her face in her hands. Harry wasn't surprised at this outburst, if there was one thing that Jones liked being it was in the know. She liked knowing things, hell she proved that when she put Draco in his place the day they first met. She continued to prove it throughout the rest of her time in Hogwarts and even more as she works with Madam Bones. But this was something she didn't know anything about and that made her mad.
"It's alright Megan."
"No, it is not! This thing..." Jones stopped and took a breath "I know how to deal with idiotic spoiled purebloods. I know how to deal with Deatheaters. Dementors, Giants, Dragons, Giant Spiders! I know how to deal with these Harry. But... I don't know how to deal with this, Thing. I don't even know where to start." Jones said and sat down pinching the bridge of her nose.
Harry didn't have words of comfort, he knew better than to offer any empty promises or assurances to Jones. He was also scared, not just for himself but for his friends, and his family. Images of what the Horcrux showed him of his loves dead passed through his mind. Now it was becoming a scary possibility that he didn't know how to deal with, and neither did anyone else here.
That was when he felt a rush of hot air against his face he turned surprised as he didn't even notice Demona manifesting herself beside him. He looked inter her smoldering eyes bright as embers and yet red as crimson blood. She began showing him something through their link. Feelings he recognized as hatred, fear, and a desire to survive.
Then came the flashes of a landscape, molten rock, and ashen forests. Towers of obsidian and a blood-red sky with sudden shocks of blue as lightning arched across the black clouds. Volcanoes burst in the distance and images of other Hellhounds and other beasts of a Hellish nature.
Harry realized Demona was showing him her home dimension the Hellscape. The realm that forged her into the beast she was and then she showed him images of tears like rips in the fabric of reality from which white frost and frigid Darkness poured through. Her hatred flared as a screech emanated from the tear.
"You know what is?" Harry asked and Jones looked up to see him talking to Demona. He received a mixed answer from her, she recognized it and she fought against them but she couldn't confirm in any way what it was. But then she showed him another image, the image of his Grimoire, and an emotion he could only describe as curiosity.
"Maybe... at the very least he could point us in the right direction."
"Do you think you can share with the rest of the class who doesn't speak Demon Dog?" Jones asked.
"Demona, she's faced something like it before in her home realm," Harry said causing Jones's eyes to go wide.
"Say what!? Well, what is it?"
"She doesn't know, she was too focused on killing them to study them. But she thinks that maybe Grindelwald may know."
"But you've already flicked through the Grimoire there was nothing."
"Right, but I never asked Grindelwald himself," Harry said and Jones's eyes narrowed.
"You talk to him? And you never mentioned it?"
"Only once, and I wasn't planning on doing it ever again," Harry said.
"But how? As far as I know, he's still in prison and I don't think you left for a prolonged period anytime recently." Jones inquired.
"It's a ritual, I have everything I need in the workshop. I perform it again, and ask Grindelwald if he knows anything or maybe point us to someone who does." Harry explained.
"I want to be there," Jones said and Harry thought about it. He had no problems with that but Grindelwald might.
"Alright, but just be careful what you say. I don't know how he'll react with you there."
"Fine, let's go now," Jones said Harry nodded and got up but winced as the sting in his shoulder flared up. Jones saw this and her expression softened.
"You know what, let's get some food first. Then maybe Daphne can fix you up."
"Yeah, that sounds nice." Harry and the girls had been training nearly all day so some food would be nice. Together the pair made their way down to the dining Hall. Harry saw that the girls were there along with Neville and Tracey, as well as Luna and Remus. They were seated around the table which was loaded with food enough for all of them. Harry took his seat at the head of the Table which he protested at first but Daphne was having none of it. He would have to get used to it for the future when they entertained guests.
"Where did Moody head off to?" Harry asked.
"Back to the Ministry. He has a raid tonight, another Dark family pulled most of their artifacts from their vaults before the Goblins could secure it and are on the run." Susan said.
"So does that mean your aunt won't be getting home until late again?" Hermione asked and Susan nodded.
"Yup she wrote to me this morning saying she had Wizengamot meetings nearly all day plus smaller meetings as well. She's secured the Riddle Manor and is ready for you to come and see if there is a Horcrux there." Susan said.
"Good, I'll go first thing in the morning then."
"Not just leaving us to fend for ourselves with Moody are you?" Daphne asked her eyebrow raised.
"Of course not! I would never." Harry grinned and Daphne giggled a bit.
"What about you Jones? Any progress on your search?" Hermione asked.
"Don't even get me started. Harry and I do have a new lead we'll look it up after Dinner."
"Good. That's good." Hermione said and began to eat. Harry went to eat as well but winced a bit as he reached to fill his plate. Daphne caught this quickly and rolled her eyes as she got up and walked over to him.
"You should've let me take care of this before you left." She said taking her wand and mumbling an incantation, Harry felt relief flood his body as he felt many of his bruises begin to fade and his shoulder felt much better.
"Thank you, love," Harry said and Daphne smiled before kissing him lightly on the cheek.
"Of course Darling." She replied before returning to her seat.
"Ah, aren't they just so sweet?" Tracey said with a grin as she nudged Nevile. That was something else, he hadn't gone over everything that happened over the summer with his friends yet but he noticed the changes, especially in Neville.
For one he hadn't heard him stutter with his words once. He is far more confident than he was the last time they were together. Also, he had a new wand, Acacia about ten inches with unicorn hair. It suited him well and since he's got it he's had far fewer problems with his magic since then.
"Yup, but so are you. What were you and Neville doing in the Greenhouse all day? Some... plowing?" Daphne asked a smirk on her face as Neville nearly choked on his food and Tracey just laughed.
"No, we have more respect than you do." Tracey returned with a grin of her own.
"I was just admiring the collection. It really is something, so many different species of plant that I've only read about," Neville said after regaining his composure.
"Careful Davis, wouldn't want some other flower stealing your man away from you," Blaise said.
"Oh I don't think I have anything to worry about, there are many reasons why I'm better than plants. Right?" Tracey asked Neville a playful smile on her lips as he just nervously took a drink from his goblet.
"How wonderful, Blaise am I better than plants?" Luna asked, not in a challenge or anything but just in her usual innocent Luna way. It was Blaise's turn to be taken off guard.
"Well, yes I would say so," Blaise said a small smile forming on his lips.
"How so?" Luna asked and again no one could guess if she was doing this on purpose or if she was just being genuine.
"Yeah, Blaise tell us?" Harry encouraged earning him a scowl from the dark-skinned teen. Harry just chuckled as Blaise tried to answer.
"Well, I would say that you are... much more clever than a flower." Blaise tried and both Harry and Neville could feel the cringe flowing from their respective girlfriends as they heard his answer. Even Blaise was mentally berating himself for such a stupid answer. Why did Luna turn him into such a fool?
"That's very nice! I think you are very clever too!" Luna said a wide smile on her face as she returned to her food. Blaise looked around and saw both Neville and Harry not meeting his gaze while their Girlfriends just shook their heads in disappointment, and Jones was trying her best not to laugh.
"I... um, well I also think you are much prettier than a flower too," Blaise said suddenly and gulped thickly as Luna turned to him again. Her deep blue eyes not giving away anything. She didn't respond for a moment before a smile somehow even wider than her first split her face and Blaise could feel his heart skip a beat.
Then without warning, she got up from her seat and began skipping down the Hall humming to herself. Blaise looked after her then back to the table.
"Okay, I'm fairly sure I didn't mess up that time why'd she leave?" He asked and Neville just shrugged.
"Don't look at me," Neville said as he turned to Harry.
"I don't know," Harry said and Jones just cackled.
"Boys boys it's not that deep. She's happy, maybe mister casanova wannabe should go after her." Jones said as she pushed away her now empty plate. Blaise looked at his plate before standing up and heading towards where Luna skipped off too.
"Yeah go get her Tiger!" Harry joked and Blaise without looking just flipped him off before exiting the dining hall.
"Never would've thought of Blaise as the nervous type," Hermione said and Susan and Daphne both shrugged.
"He's good at presenting and keeping up appearances. He was the pretty boy in our year, but not many got to know the real him. It's always about appearances and Luna is just unlike any other girl he's ever dealt with. It throws him off." Daphne explained. The rest of dinner went without issue as the group talked and once Harry was done he left with Jones.
"Oh, I'm going to pop over to my home for a bit. I'll be back later." Susan said as she rose as well.
"Need help?" Hermione offered and Susan shook her head.
"No I'll be fine, just want to grab a few things," she said and left leaving Daphne and Hermione alone to talk with Neville and Tracey. Harry and Jones made their way to the enchanting room it was the best place to perform rituals and Jones made sure to lock the door.
Harry wasted no time as he began to gather the ingredients needed for the ritual. Jones stood back giving him space and watched as he began to draw the circle. She was greatly intrigued, runes were one of her best subjects, and yet she had never come across these runes. The way they were drawn wasn't built from any known dialect she was familiar with and wasn't similar to any other forms of runology that she studied.
Harry carefully drew the circle and meticulously placed each ingredient in its spot. Once he was finished he stepped back and stood next to Jones.
"Demona, now," Harry said drawing his wand as his Hellhound manifested itself from the shadows, and from her maw, a slow burn of crimson flames poured towards the circle.
"Protego Diabolica." Harry chanted as the familiar azure flames lept from his wand and he controlled it with practiced ease now manipulating it and merging the two flames to form the purple fire as he did the first time around.
Just like last time the purple fire swirled around forming a twisting cone and for a moment Jones was stunned. It was beautiful to behold and yet she felt something like a lack of energy when the flames flared up. She steadied herself as the flames died down and her eyes widened. She knew who Harry was calling but still, seeing him in person like this.
Her throat felt dry and her knees felt even weaker. This must've been just an illusion of some sort, but even still she could feel a pressure fall on the room. She had seen quite a few Deatheaters since graduating and working with Amelia. But the man that stood before her... he made them all seem like whining children with just his silence. Then the man opened his eyes and she was caught by the gaze of that unnatural silver eye.
That's when she realized she was shaking looking down as her hands trembled and she clenched them. She glanced over to Harry but he didn't seem to be affected at all. Maybe it was his exposure to the Grimoire and its magic, she didn't know.
"So here we are again." His voice was smooth and deep. It held a certain authority that Jones had never experienced.
"Yes, I'm sure you've already heard the news. Or at least I hope you have." Harry said raising his left hand to reveal his Grindelwald ring.
"Indeed, it was quite the momentous occasion in my prison, they questioned me for days after it was announced. No rest for the wicked." He spoke his casual tone setting off every warning bell in Jones's head to turn tail and run.
"I need to ask you something, a few things actually," Harry said as Grindelwald's eyes flicked over to Jones who he seemed to just notice and at that moment Jones wanted to be invisible.
"And who is this? One of your loves you spoke of?" Grindelwald guessed remebering their last conversation.
"No, this is Jones... my sister." That statement managed to snap Jones out of her oppressed mind as she looked at Harry and grinned. Taking a deep breath she calmed herself.
"Yup just here to make sure nothing goes south. You are a murdering psychopath, you understand." Jones said finding her confidence again. Grindelwald observed her for a moment before laughing.
"I like her." He said before turning his attention back to Harry. "Now are these questions you must ask? Or more demands, it was bold of you last time and I am not in the habit of being overly generous." Grindelwald said.
"It's about something that Riddle, meaning Voldemort, has found," Harry said and looked at Jones.
"It's a creature of some kind, from what we know it causes fear and uses some sort of cold magic," Jones said.
"Sounds like a Dementor to me. Are you sure it's not just some mutated form?" Grindelwald and both Jones and Harry could see he wasn't very concerned.
"No definitely not," Jones replied.
"That's my best guess." Grindelwald shrugged and began to examine the room.
"Grindelwald, we need this. After all, if we can't face this thing then I could die and your legacy dies as well." Harry said and Grindelwald just smirked.
"No, it would not. My Grimoire would eventually be found and someone else would take up my name." Grindelwald said.
"After everything, Harry has already done? You would just throw him aside?" Jones demanded anger seeping into her voice. Grindelwald fixed her with a stare and yet he showed no emotion beyond indifference.
"I am old, young Lady, I know I am not long for this world. A handful of years at most. The dead and the living have no business with each other. Though I will admit that Harry is quite the inheritor to my Legacy and it would be disappointing to lose him. However, I know that he would not be the only one, there will always be another." Grindelwald said it was similar to what he told Harry before when he had to choose between accepting the role or not. Only this time it was his state of living that would decide if the Grimoire moved on or not.
"That's a load of-" Jones began but was cut off by Harry.
"Jones." He said and shook his head Jones scowled but held her tongue. "Grindelwald, I understand your postion. At least partly, but I know that what you value above all is freedom. What Riddle wants to accomplish is the subjugation of all people not just muggles, but wizards and witches and all manner of magical creatures. I want to fight against it, I want to fight against his subjugation of fear and terror. Help us do that." Harry implored as Grindelwald raised his chin pursing his lips in consideration.
"You speak true, I will admit that," Grindelwald said pacing in his circle the purple ring of low flames illuminating him ominously. Then Harry thought of something, there was only one thing that Grindelwald had left in his vault. And Harry hoped that it was something precious to him.
"Dobby!" Harry called out and the Elf popped next to him.
"Yes, Master Harry? Oh, dear!" Dobby asked then jumped back when he noticed Grindelwald.
"It's okay Dobby. But listen..." Harry then lent forward and whispered into the Elf's ear and Dobby nodded and disappeared for a moment before coming back with a cloth-wrapped parcel.
"What is this?" Grindelwald wondered watching the exchange.
"Well, when I claimed your name I also inherited your vaults."
"Emptied I know. No respect." Grindelwald lamented and Jones rolled her eyes.
"Well, there was this," Harry said coming forward and stretching his arm over the circle to hand the parcel to Grindelwald. Grindelwald looked at it for a moment before he took it. His hands puffed slightly with ash as he did betraying the unnaturalness of his body. He examined the parcel for a moment before he began to unwrap the cloth. Harry stepped back as he did and when he revealed what it was his eyes went wide.
For a moment something flickered through his eyes and his face, recognition, and regret. Grindelwald held the mysterious black box in his hand. Sleek and un-opened for who knows how long. Grindelwald took in a breath and ran his fingers over the smooth surface almost reverently. Then miraculously the box flicked open but neither Jones nor Harry could see what was inside it.
It was quite some time that Grindelwald stared at whatever was within the box. Finally, he closed it and took a deep breath his eyes closed, and tilted his head back. When he opened his eyes again it was like he was looking past the ceiling, higher than the heavens.
"Okay Ariana, fine." He spoke to himself but the other two could still hear it. He looked back down his face set back to its uninterested expression.
"Any more details about this thing you can share?" He asked.
"It's powerful, it was able to singlehandedly break several of the most dangerous Deatheaters out of prison as well as incapacitate over two and half dozen guards. They are all still recovering and all of them say that they didn't actually see the creature but rather something that they fear the most. The inmates that were questioned reported the same effect. The one who found it, Peter Pettigrew, was so afraid that he killed himself." Jones explained.
"And where did he find it?"
"I don't know specifically it was a forest in Romania, Hoia-Baciu is what it was called," Jones said.
"Of course, the Blood Pool," Grindelwald stated.
"What is that?" Harry asked.
"The Blood Pool is said to be a gateway of sorts. A Hell gate specifically, that is of course rubbish. What it truly is, is a pocket dimension that has taken a life of its own. Holding many horrors in its depths. The pool can only be visited once, but those that survive the experience are rewarded, but to claim that reward they must send someone else to claim their prize. This robs that person of the chance of their own reward. A clan exists, inhuman but they guard the pool. Not from anyone or anything searching for it, but rather from anything getting out. The only time that something can get out of the pool is when it is given as a reward. Riddle must've found the pool and survived his encounter thus earning his reward."
"And then he sent Pettigrew to fetch it for him." Jones surmised.
"Yes, From what you described I can think of only one creature that fits your description. It has no name truly but in my studies, I have come across it before, it is a type of Demon. I call them Nightmare Demons, normally they exist in a separate dimension and can only affect our dreams feeding off the fear they cause with bad ones. Hence the name Nightmare Demon, it is much more dangerous when summoned to the real world. In order to stay in our world it must form a contract, in this case, most likely with Riddle. Like any Demon, the contract requires blood payment and a final sacrifice of one's soul." Grindelwald explained.
"Who would be stupid enough to pay that kind of price?" Jones asked and Grindelwald chuckled.
"Those who believe they can outsmart Demons. But no matter what kind of Demon you deal with, you can never outsmart their contracts."
"And Riddle thinks he's outsmarting this one because of his Horcruxes."
"Horcruxes? Pathetic cowardly magic and it wouldn't work on a Demon. You may confuse it for a moment but it would just tear your soul from whatever crevice you hid it in."
"And the blood payments?" Jones asked.
"Since demons are not of this realm they require a source of power to use the full strength of their abilities."
"But Demona doesn't need that?" Harry said looking towards his Hellhound.
"Your Hound isn't a Demon but a Hellbeast, even if she comes from a different dimension both her magic and physical form function differently than a Demon. A Demon is the embodiment of deep emotion and principles, it'd be more accurate to say that a Demon is an idea given power and form. In this case, Nightmare Demons are the embodiment of fear and cold. The more their victims feel fear the stronger they become. So when it went to Azkaban with so many weak-willed inmates..."
"It was like a buffet! It was able to feed on all that fear and nearly freeze the place over and freed those Death Eaters." Jones finished and Harry narrowed his eyes.
"So if we weren't afraid, would that cause it to lose its power over us?"
"No, it would become less dangerous but you can never truly take a Demon's power away. But it would make it slightly easier to deal with but in the end, it is still a Demon."
"Well Demona showed me memories of hers, she's faced it before," Harry said and Grindelwald shook his head before answering.
"You are mistaken, if this Demon came from the pool there is no way your Hound would've seen it before. However, as you know my studies breached the boundaries between dimensions and I know that the realms of the Hellscape and the home of Nightmares border each other closely. That closeness causes the realms to clash together forming tears. Hellbeast and Demons of the Hellscape are natural enemies of the Beasts and Demons of the Nightmare realm. So your hound has faced something like this creature before but not this specific one."
"So could Demona defeat this Demon?"
"If it is one of the weaker ones, it is probable. However given its current achievements, I would say that it is a higher-ranked Demon, your Hound can help but she cannot fight alone." Grindelwald said and Demona growled a bit at that comment.
"Okay, but what can we hurt it with?" Jones asked, "Demona can help us fight it but what can a Wizard or Witch do against it?"
"Hellfire, Purgatory fire, or Fiendfyre. Even the common Incendio could help if it is powerful enough but it won't be as effective as the others. Harry, have you reached the part in my Grimoire where I discuss these flames?" He asked and Harry nodded.
"I did, though something came up and I had to set it aside for the moment," Harry said and Grindelwald scowled.
"Given the circumstances, I would say that you should focus solely on finishing your training! I am not helping you now just so you can put in only a half effort!"
"I'm not! But it doesn't matter if I master every spell in our Grimoire if Voldemort still has Horcruxes that need to be destroyed!" Harry shot back stressing their jointness in his sentence, he didn't take up his name and all the troubles that come with it just to be treated like an outsider. The two stared at each other for a moment before Grindelwald continued.
"In any case, the magical flames all come from different realms and all will be effective against the Demon. You won't be able to kill it, as I said Demons are just ideas and concepts given form so if you do defeat it, it will just manifest again after a time. You need to either seal it or banish it." Grindelwald said and Jones thought back to what Narcissa had shown her.
"It was in a box when Pettigrew brought it back, it was sealed with wax and silver chains," Jones said and Grindelwald nodded.
"Yes, an old Jewish style of sealing, though any very powerful sealing magic that is used to trap spirits would work. If you can find any that are meant for Demons those would be best, in history while the Wizarding world hasn't dealt with other dimensions very much the muggles have. And when a foolish Muggle summons a Demon the Magicals would need a way to deal with it."
"Wait how can Muggles summon Demons?" Harry asked
"Many of the old rituals of the world do not require the caster to use magic themselves, which is why many of them involve sacrifice. But that is of no importance at the moment. I would suggest banishing it instead, many exorcisms exist that will work anything that can work on an XXXX classification of spirit or creature will work on a Demon if the person performing the exorcism is strong enough." Grindelwald explained and Jones was taking mental notes and storing the memories safely in her mind palace so as to not forget.
"Then what?" Harry asked.
"That is all I have. There are other rituals in... our, Grimoire that could help, I suggest you finish them so you can start teaching others these magics." Grindelwald said and before Harry could retort he noticed that Grindelwald began to flake and break apart. Grindelwald looked at the box he still clutched in his hands that were slowly deteriorating around it. He laid it down outside of his circle gently and pushed it away to safety.
"Goodbye, Harry Potter... I have a suspicion that this will be the last time we ever meet." Grindelwald said rising back to his feet and looking Harry directly in the eyes Harry met his gaze unflinchingly. Grindelwald smirked and bowed his head slightly before closing his eyes as his false body fell apart and like last time the flames erupted around him and consumed him before disappearing leaving nothing but a purple-tinted scorch mark. Harry and Jones didn't say anything at first as Harry went to retrieve the Mysterious box but just like before there was no seam and no way to get it open.
"Gotta wonder what's in there huh? He changed his tune real quick when he saw it." Jones said and Harry shrugged.
"Kinda, I'm just glad it worked." He turned to see if Dobby was still there but it would appear that he was not.
"Where did Dobby go?"
Earlier, however, Susan found herself stepping out of the Floo in her home and stepping into the ancient Bones family Manor that has been in her family for a hundred generations. Greeted by a large greeting and seating area with comfortable red and black colored furniture. warm brown wooden floors and various carpets. Veilstone keep was breathtaking but Susan would never lose her fondness for her childhood home.
"Susie dear, what are you doing here? We expected the house to ourselves for some time." A portrait of her grandfather said her Grandmother sitting next to him.
"Oh Grandpapa, I just came to grab something." She said putting her best front up to hide the nervousness that was building in the pit of her stomach.
"Forget something? Is it something un-lady like for you beloved?" Her grandmother's question caused Susan and her Grandfathers' eyes to widen.
"Katherine! Have some decency! That's our Grandaughter!" Her grandfather sputtered but Katherine just waved him off.
"Oh, hush you loved it when I did it for you Mortem." She said causing Susan to hide her face and shake her head.
"That is not the point!" Susan shook her head and quickly retreated from the entrance room and navigated her way to the second level of the manor. It wasn't as large as Veilstone but the Halls were still rather long and decorated with portraits of her ancestors going back to the time of Merlin himself. Many of them greeted her on her way and she said hello as she went.
Her final destination was the Family Library. Jones had already raided it a few days earlier to see if she had anything about the creature they were facing. Unfortunately, there wasn't, while the bones had many tomes targeted towards dealing with dark and unnatural creatures even by magical standards they had nothing that was like the monster that attacked Azkaban.
"Hello dearie, I thought you were staying at your suitor's home?" A voice said as Susan opened the door to her Library while not as big and grand as the one in Veilstone Keep it was still respectable. Susan looked over to the Portrait of her Great Great Great Great Great Grandmother. Rebecca Bones was one of the greatest Matriarchs that the Bones family has ever seen and a powerful witch while she was alive.
"Hello Nana Rebecca, I've just... I've come to pick up something." Susan said as she moved over to the shelf on the back wall opposite the door.
"Still hoping to find some clue like the last girl? I'm sorry dear but we just don't have a tome describing such a creature." Rebecca said and Susan shook her head.
"No, I know. I've come for something else." Susan said and her Grandmother was confused until Susan began to rearrange books on the shelves pulling some out while pushing others further in. Rebecca's eyes widened.
"Susan! What do you think your doing!?" She exclaimed as she watched Susan continue her work. Susan didn't answer as she finished her task and when she stepped back the books were arranged in such a way that the shadows from the overhanging lamps above the shelf made shadow marks that formed runes. Someone else would've had to translate but not Susan. She along with all the children of the Bones family knew what it said.
"Jusqu'à la mort nous marchons, jusqu'à la mort nous combattons, jusqu'à la mort nous maîtrisons." Susan spoke the ancient french motto of the bones family. The one that her ancestors had spent a hundred generations trying to bury. And here she was, the first Bones daughter to ever dig up their past.
"Susan!" Her grandmother called again as the runes made by the flames flared a ghostly green hue and the books moved back to their original place and the shelf moved back into the wall with the sound of stone scrapes and metal clicks. They then moved off to either side as a single Black cabinet decorated with silver finish and skeletal art designs moved forward with the same clicks and scrapes.
"I'm sorry Nana, I know what I am doing."
"Do you!? Do you understand how long the Bones family had to fight to clear our reputation of this stain? You will set us back generations!" Rebecca hissed out as Susan approached the cabinet but hesitated at her Grandmother's words. She knew she was right, but this was something she needed to do.
"I know Nana, but... you don't understand. Everyone is doing their best and bringing something to the table, Daphne is an up-and-coming healer and enchantress, and Hermione is the brightest witch of our age. And harry, he has a Hellhound at his beck and call, he can summon a beast of Azure flames, and he can command the shadows and magic that I can barely wrap my head around when I see it." Susan said her chest tight as she spoke.
"Susan, you bring more to this than you know, you don't have to do this. You shouldn't feel the need to prove yourself to anyone, and if your suitor doesn't agree-"
"No! Don't talk about him like that! No one is forcing me to do this, I know I have nothing to prove and they all love me just as I am. But I won't... I refuse to bring anything less than my best! I know a good bunch of spells, and I can be clever. But I know that I can be more than that. I don't need to be, but I want to be. If they are bringing everything they have, then I will be damned if I refuse to do the same." Susan said as she turned her eyes hard her hair was fiery in the light and her expression is one of fierce determination.
Rebecca was stunned for a moment, Susan had grown up so much but still, that did not change the opinion she had of the actions she was taking.
"I fear you are making a mistake but... you will be the next head of the Bones family, this is ultimately your decision. All I can do is advise strongly against it." Rebecca said and Susan nodded and approached the Cabinet, and at her touch, she heard a series of clicks. When the final click rang out the cabinet doors unlocked and a slight puff of dust flared from the seam.
Taking the handles Susan opened the door and her heart hammered in her chest as she stared at the book that lay on a simple pedestal in the cabinet. A book bound in black leather and bound with bones. At the center of the book was the older Bones family crest, one that has not been seen in centuries.
The top of a skull, with fangs replacing the teeth and two horns protruding up. and encircling the skull was a ring of twisting vines laced with thorns. She took in a breath as she reached out and immediately she could feel her magic resonate with the book, the cold feeling washing over her felt foreign but not unwelcome, as strange as it was. Staring at the book her hands quivered a bit as the sudden weight of what she was doing truly hit her and the book felt like a stone in her grip.
But she steeled herself, Susan Bones would not back down, and if Harry had taught her anything it is that it is how magic is used that is important. She stepped away and the cabinet closed itself before the shelves moved back to their original spot and no one would be the wiser about what she had just done, at least until she reveals it.
Rebecca could only stare amorously at the book in her descendant's hands. She shook her head, saddened that Susan was doing this, and could only hope she didn't come to regret it.
"Susan... Good luck my child, I wish you the best." She said and Susan felt a pang of guilt but she couldn't buckle now.
"I won't say I'm sorry for what I am doing, but I am sorry that I've disappointed you," Susan said not sure how else to phrase it.
"Go on girl... Strength be with you... Necromancer Bones." Rebecca said it was her last play to get Susan to put the tome back but it didn't work as Susan just held her head high and walked to the door. But before Susan could reach it she heard something. She stopped the confusion on her face and Rebecca looked hopeful thinking that perhaps Susan was having second thoughts.
Susan pressed her ear to the door and heard it again.
"Susan!" a feminine voice called out and Susan was thoroughly confused.
"Auntie?" She called and opened the door, the hall was unusually cold as she stepped out and looked in both directions. The hall was also dark which was odd, the lamps were all on but now their light seemed to struggle to illuminate even the wall next to them.
"Flecky?" Susan called the House elf and knew something was wrong when said elf didn't show up. "Flecky?" She called again and no answer.
"Susan!" The same voice called down the hall that led to the living room. It sounded oddly familiar yet strange at the same time. Before Susan could investigate the rug under her feet shifted causing her to tumble back into the Library and the door swung shut.
"Ow! What?" Susan asked bewildered as she looked towards her Nana and saw the gaunt look she bore.
"That is not your aunt," Rebecca said as her head flicked to the right and the shelf to her right clicked and opened revealing a hidden path. Susan knew of it too but was confused as to why she opened it.
"Get in Susan! Get to the Floo and don't stop. Go!" Rebecca ordered and Susan didn't question her as she stepped into the passageway. It was narrow and went between the wall and the room. She heard the click and the shelf moved back in place and Susan made her way through.
"Susan my love, where are you?" The voice said again sounding like her aunt but she knew that wasn't right, her aunt was stuck at the ministry she wouldn't be coming home for some time yet. Susan continued to move but stopped when she heard just beyond the wall the sound of steps.
"Susan." The voice called with a giggle that sent shivers running down Susan's spine and a cold sweat begin to drip down her neck. She gulped and began to as quietly as she could move on.
"You do not belong here! Begone from this house!" She heard one of the portraits of her ancestor scream and just as he did she heard a crash.
"Susan. I have something for you, won't you come out?" The voice continued. Susan moved a bit more clutching the tome close but failed to notice a wooden board being oh so slightly warped and it caught her toe. She stumbled a bit and her heart hammered in her chest as she tried to control her breathing.
She waited in silence and when nothing happened she sighed thinking that whatever was calling to her didn't hear her.
"Found you." A voice whispered just over her shoulder causing Susan to scream in fright as she tumbled forward more and twisted around to face whatever it was. Her blood turned to ice at what she saw. It wasn't her aunt.
It had her hair, it had her skin, but this... thing was not her beloved aunt. Its eyes were empty, just hollow sockets a horrible grin split its face contorting the expression far beyond what was possible. It wore her aunt's clothes but it wasn't her. She was still for what felt like an eternity with the creature just staring back without eyes.
Then its mouth snapped open becoming circular like a lamprey with jutting jaws and crooked sharp teeth. And a horrible screech wrenched itself out of its throat as it reached for Susan. Its fingers stretched into more lamprey-like worms.
Susan screamed and drew her wand quickly and blasted the creature with magic that caused it to stagger for just a moment but it was enough for Susan to find an exit and tumble out of the passageway back into a hall. She got up book and wand in hand and ran.
"Run! To the Floo with you! Quickly!" The portraits around her screamed at her as the twisted horrible fake of her aunt smashed out of the wall. Her body contorted further to make her arms longer and her neck stretch out.
"Susan! Susan! Susan!" It called its voice not matching its form as it chased her. Susan glanced back at the monstrosity and was horrified by how it moved. It ran jaggedly arms flailing and mouth gapping with its crooked teeth. An unnatural hideous laugh emanated from it that chilled Susan to her core. She didn't realize that she had begun to cry her eyes stinging with tears that clouded her vision for a moment as she turned to descend the stairs.
But that moment was all it took as she missed a step and with a yelp, she fell down a flight of fifteen stairs the pain from colliding with the steps and the bottom was immediate as it battered her body. She moaned on the ground but whipped back up when she heard that laughing again. At the top of the stairs, the creature stood looking down at her and walking step by step.
The clothes around its torso wriggled a bit before the sound of tearing entered her ears and they ripped apart showing another lamprey-like mouth with sharp rib-shaped teeth and dozens of tentacles with barbed ends. Susan flourished her wand even despite the pain in her body.
"Incendio!" She shouted and a gout of flame erupted from her wand and for a moment it seemed effective as the creature shrieked and retreated for a moment. Susan took this moment to descend the rest of the stairs but her ankle was twisted and in her desperation, she just fell allowing gravity to take her down further bruising her body. Painfully she reached the bottom and got to her feet and with a nasty limp she shambled over to the Floo.
"SUSAN!" The creature called its voice layered with her aunts and something inhuman. She looked back and saw the creature lunge at her through the flames, as ice and frost doused them and Susan took the Floo powder and threw it in.
"Veilstone!" She cried out and dove, the emerald flames engulfed her and she found herself on the other side. She smiled for a moment but the feeling of relief was short-lived as she felt a sudden pressure and needle-like pain shoot through her leg and already injured ankle. Looking back she was horrified to find that her legs were still on the other side of the Floo and she was suddenly wrenched back.
"No!" She cried out as she raised the one good leg she had out of the Floo and held it against the side. She then desperately gripped on anything that she could her book and wand having been flung away when she dove through.
"Help!" She screamed out as the yanking got worse and strong with every second and the pain in her leg was shooting through her body as hot tears stained her cheeks.
"Harry!" She called out in vain as with another yank she heard a pop and a new source of pain flared from her hip and she cried out! At the moment the only thing keeping Susan in place was pure adrenaline and sheer terror. Then in a moment of clarity, she had a realization through the pain.
"DOBBY!" She cried out and to her immense relief, the elf appeared without a second to bare.
"The soon to be- Oh no! Susan!" Dobby said then yelled when he saw the state she was in. He rushed forward to grab Susan's hand, but despite the many qualities that Dobby held physical strength was not one of them. After failing to pull her back Susan was dragged in further and she screamed in both fear and pain.
"I-I'll get Harry Potter! I-I will!" Dobby said.
"No! Don't leave please!" But it was too late as Dobby disappeared and Susan cried out even more as she struggled to hold herself. Dobby went back to the library and looked at Harry.
"Dobby, where did you go?" Harry asked but Dobby shook his head.
"M-Master Harry! Susan, she's in trouble! Come quick!" He cried and Harry's eyes narrowed as both he and Jones grabbed the elf he brought them back to the greeting room and when they saw Susan she reached for them desperately.
"Help me!" She screamed and Harry wasted no time in diving forward and hooking his arm under hers and began to pull. Jones came around and gripped Susan from the side planting her own feet as she pulled as well.
"Susan I can't go there! Come home! Come back! SUSAN!" The voice cried through the Floo as Susan let out a desperate sob. Harry and Jones continued to pull and some bits of the creature were being pulled through they began to bubble as if the air was like acid and it let out an inhuman screech and wrenched Susan back, even more, causing the girl even more pain.
"Harry burn it!" Jones yelled.
"I can't it's too close I'll hit Susan too!" Harry yelled back but both were silenced by the sound of crunching bone and tearing flesh, then without warning all three were sent tumbling back but Harry didn't waste a second.
"Demona!" He called and from his shadow, the Hellhound emerged and blasted a torrent of Hellfire into the Floo causing more screeches then Jones took her wand and closed the Floo quickly. When they both turned back they saw why Susan was let go. And Susan began to hyperventilate at what she was seeing. Her left leg... it was gone, torn just below the knee strands of flesh and muscles as well as a piece of her bone jutting out were all that was left. Then the pain hit her as she screamed out clutching the stump. Spurts of blood flew from her wound as she screamed, Jones and Harry were at her side in a flash.
"Keep your leg up, we need to tie it off, stop the bleeding!" Jones said helping Susan to raise her leg as the girl beat the ground with her fist in some vain attempt to stave off the pain she was feeling.
"Incarcerous!" Harry yelled and a rope flashed into existence wrapping it around Susan's leg and tightening. This seemed to help a bit as the bleeding stopped spurting out but was still really bad. Susan was looking very pale at this point and Harry looked to Dobby bloody and desperate.
"Dobby go get Daphne!" Dobby did so appearing not a second later with a frazzled Daphne with him.
"Dobby? What are you- Oh gods!" Daphne said but stopped when she saw Susan. Her wand was in her hands in a second as she ran up to Susan and began to mumble an incantation. She continued on and her efforts were working as the wound began to mend but only slightly and the bleeding slowed considerably.
But Susan was in really bad shape, she was frightfully pale and her head began drooping along with her eyelids.
"No! Susan stay awake!" Harry said coming around and shaking her slightly to keep her eyes open.
"We need to get her to Saint Mungo's now!" Daphne said as the door burst open and Hermione came through.
"What is going- Susan!" She cried once she saw and Harry wasted no time picking her up and holding her close.
"I closed this one, go to the entry hall Hurry!" Jones said as the group stunned and panicked raced to the other Floo a trail of blood following through their wake as they rushed Susan to get medical attention.
_SCENE_
Well... fuck. That was terrible, but this is war, no one is safe. Sorry for the late upload everybody but I hope that the chapter was worth the wait. We got some information on the creature, the Nightmare Demon. Hope you all enjoyed that and please let me know what Y'all think! And if you want to support me and help me get these chapters out more regularly you can support me at P_A_T_R_E_O_N /Akida_Pendragon you don't have to but it would be greatly appreciated! Until next time this has been your Average, Ordinary, Everyday Fallen Angel!