Harry frowned. "Just Luke?"

"My last name's not important," Luke said. He looked at the wand in Harry's hand with curiosity. "So, you a child of Hecate or something?"

Harry frowned even more. "Who? No, I'm a wizard."

Luke gave him a look. "If you say so. Here, press your…wand into the crystals."

Harry frowned but did it. He stepped back in surprise as the crystal suddenly brightened, its neighbors quickly following suit until the whole cavern was illuminated.

"Yeah, saw them do that with sunlight," Luke explained. "They absorb and pass on the light to each other. Pretty cool. Can you do more than just make some light?"

"Of course," Harry said testily. "I've been using it for the past seven years."

"Good. Cause you're going to need it. I've already run into a couple beasts in this place." As he said this, his hand fell to a large, wicked sword on his hip. "Whoever's behind this is playing a strange game. And I mean to find out what it is and put a stop to it."

"Yeah, me too," Harry nodded. "I have a life to get back too."

Luke smirked at that.

"What, that's funny to you?" Harry asked, glaring at the older guy. He was starting to get tired of his attitude.

"A little," Luke nodded. "But only because I don't have a life to get back too. I just want to know what in Hades is happening here and why they brought me."

Harry stared at him. "You must have some life back ho-"

"No," Luke interrupted. "I don't." His voice brooked no questions and Harry backed off a little. "Now, let's figure out how…" he stopped suddenly, looking at Chewie. Harry did as well and felt his hair stand up. The big guy was looking around very slowly, bow raised. As Harry watched, the side of Chewie's head twitched and he turned in a direction.

"He hears something," Luke muttered, drawing his sword out and holding it easily in his hand.

A sudden laughter rang out across the chamber, sending chills down Harry's spine. He tightened his grip on his wand and he saw Luke do the same with his sword. "What do we have here?" The voice was both deep and shrill at the same time, booming at them and making Harry feel like it was scraping against his ears. "Two little pups and what appears to be a mutated ursanthrope. And here I was hoping for a challenge."

"Come out of the dark and I'll show you a challenge," Luke snarled. "I've taken on some of the worst monsters across the globe. You don't scare me."

The laugh came again, grating at Harry's skull. "Believe me, you've never faced a threat like me."

Harry was holding his wand up, trying to pinpoint the voice's source as he moved the light around and thought he saw something scurry to the left. He swung his wand that way but whatever it was had vanished.

"Before," the voice continued, "I thought I was at my best. The strongest, most powerful there was. Undefeated in combat, the greatest of my brothers. I thought, foolishly, that I would never die. But then that cowardly deer stabbed me from behind. The coward's way. But now, I have returned. And now I truly have nothing left to fear."

Harry felt Luke stiffen beside him, something about what the voice was saying resonating with him. "If you're truly the greatest, why don't you come out and fight?" Luke asked. "Seems pretty cowardly to stay in the shadows."

"Wwwhhhrrraaarrggghhhh!" Chewie growled in agreement.

"All in due time," the voice said. "I wanted to first understand. I wanted to know why I had been saved, been brought here on the verge of death to this mysterious world. But now, I believe I know."

"Well, do enlighten us," Luke shouted.

Where are you? Harry thought. Then he realized he was being an idiot. He was acting like Luke and Chewie with their weapons raised when the weapon he had had many other uses. Like finding those who were hidden.

"This is a contest. A contest of champions. We're here to see who will rise or fall."

"Revelio," Harry whispered.

"Only the greatest will prevail. And I am going to make sure that is me. Which means that I am now tired of playing with my food. So, yes, I think it's time to come out and fight."

There! Harry's spell found the voice and he acted without thinking. "Bombarda!" he cried out into the darkness and the rocks suddenly exploded above him. And he distinctly saw another figure fly through the air as tiny pebbles rained down. "Got him," Harry smiled in relief.

Then something landed behind them with a loud thump. They all turned as one and saw the creature before them. And all of them let out simultaneous gasps of horror.

For a second, Harry thought it was Remus, the creature looking remarkably like his old professor did when he had transformed several years ago. But no, this was something else. Something larger, taller than Chewie with shorter, oilier fur and a large black armored breastplate over its skin. The creature had sharp nasty claws that held a large hammer in its hands with a pick on one side. A war mattock. Harry recognized them from those toy soldiers he played with back under the cupboard so many years ago. He did not like seeing the full-sized version. Worst of all was the tail, a slimy, pale, naked thing that writhed on the ground, whipping around as if it had a mind of its own. The creature snarled at them all and Harry saw intelligence in its eyes, a deep wickedness.

"Now you see what you face," the creature said. "I am Vorjavik, the Rat King Warrior, War Marshal of Vermire. And today, I am your death."

Chewie was the first to respond. "Wrrraaaaarrrgghhhh!" he yelled and pulled on his crossbow. Harry almost flinched as instead of an arrow, a beam of red light shot out with an almost explosive sound and blasted into Vorjavik. The so-called Rat King stumbled but his armor seemed to absorb the blast. Harry realized that the sound was similar to the films his cousin Dudley watched all the time. It was some kind of gun.

"Hmmm," Vorjavik smirked, looking at the scorch mark on his armor. "Never seen a weapon like that before. But no matter." He then moved, faster than Harry thought possible. He kicked Luke in the chest, sending him flying, and swung his mattock into Chewie who tried to catch it but only succeeded in lessening the blow slightly, the mattock knocking him badly to the ground.

"Stupefy!" Harry yelled and a shot of red light burst from his wand. Vorjavik, however, seemed to sense it and leapt out of the way. He snarled and his tail whipped around, striking Harry in the middle and sent him crashing on his backside. Harry groaned but was on his feet quickly, narrowly avoiding a strike of the mattock. And as Vorjavik raised it again, Luke was suddenly there, deflecting it with his sword.

"Alright, war marshal," Luke said through narrowed eyes. "Let's see if you can live up to your brags." He then swung his blade.

Harry saw he was alright for a second and ran to check on Chewie who was attempting to rise, his paw over his chest. "You ok?"

"Wrarrgh," he replied, jerking his head a little. Harry interpreted that as he would be fine but still decided to help him up. He then turned back to Luke and felt his throat go dry. Luke was skilled, no doubt about that, striking and parrying with the rat monster at such speed that Harry almost couldn't follow. But Vorjavik hadn't been boasting. The mattock might have been a heavy weapon, but the marshal handled it with ease, countering every one of Luke's attacks. He also used his whole body, lasing out with his claws or his tail, tripping Luke up and always forcing him on the defensive.

"He's going to lose," Harry muttered. He had to help now, or else Luke would be dead. Thinking fast, Harry knew he had to wait for an opening or else he might hit Luke as well. But that opening might come with Luke's death and he couldn't wait for that. But as he was trying to think of some way to make an opening, one arrived as Vorjavik kicked out with his foot into Luke's chest, flooring him. Harry acted fast, thrusting out with his wand and yelling "levicorpus," which yanked Vorjavik up by his feet and left him dangling in the air.

"Yaaahhh!" he screamed in frustration. "What trickery is this?" he glared over at Harry and his wand. "You play with the magicks boy. That will come back to haunt you. Or it would if I wasn't about to rip your spine from your body."

"Sure you will," Harry replied, keeping his wand steady.

Luke slowly got up, watching Vorjavik carefully. "You have him?" he checked.

"For now. Just need to keep steady," he said.

"Good, do that while I take care of him," Luke said, raising his sword. Harry blinked. Was Luke really about to kill Vorjavik? That…didn't seem right to him. In battle was one thing, but Vorjavik was now basically their prisoner, at their mercy. Killing him in cold blood felt…wrong. But before he could even voice his concerns, Vorjavik took the choice out of his hands. With an expert throw, the rat warrior threw his mattock right at Harry who instantly ducked underneath it as it whirled over him and into the wall. As he did, the spell dropped and Vorjavik dropped to the ground.

Luke was stunned for a second but then lifted his sword to attack. Vorjavik, however, was ready for him and his tail whipped out, wrapping around Luke's sword arm and twisting it around so fast that he was forced to drop it to the ground. The tail yanked him forward right into the monster's claws. "Now I'm go-" Vorjavik started but whirled around, as if sensing Harry was about to attack. The stunning spell had already left his wand when the rat moved, bringing Luke's body as a shield so the spell hit him instead. Luke instantly slumped into unconsciousness, Vorjavik throwing him aside.

"Now then, little warlock, let us see how your little tricks fare against a true warrior," he growled, licking his lips.

"Oh, I think they'll fare quite well," Harry replied and pulled with his wand, an entire mass of bones following its movement. Vorjavik barely had time to blink before he was buried beneath the mountain of skeletons. But even so, Harry could hear him screaming underneath.

"Come on, Chewie," he said, running over to Luke's fallen form. "We need to get out of here."

Chewie growled in agreement but as they moved, the mound of skeletons shuddered and then a claw erupted from the top. Harry swore, hoping that the bones would buy them a few minutes at least but Vorjavik seemed much stronger than he looked, and he already looked pretty strong.

"I will flay you alive!" the rat roared.

"I think that's our cue to leave," Harry muttered but Chewie simply hoisted his bow and started firing it at the emerging figure, forcing it back down again. Vorjavik heaved upwards and sent several skeletons flying down at them, forcing them to duck aside. And as they did, he freed himself and rushed down right at them. He made for Harry who lifted his wand high and was about to utter a spell when Chewie launched himself up and tackled the rat midair, sending both of them crashing back down. Chewie raised his large fists and pounded into Vorjavik, roaring all the while, but Vorjavik fought back just as hard, scratching and biting all over Chewie's body. Chewie roared out in pain as Vorjavik bit down hard on his arm before grabbing hold of his enemy and lifting him up high, throwing him across the cavern into the wall.

Vorjavik slammed hard but recovered fast, hitting the ground on his hands and feet and rising up again. "You are no true warrior," he growled at Chewie. "You rely only on your strength and your weapon. My whole body is the weapon, the power of speed, skill, and strength all at my disposal. Taking you down is child's play."

"Petrificus totalus!" Harry cried with his wand, hoping to catch the rat unawares but the creature was good, dodging fast and narrowly avoiding the spell. He glared over at Harry and then reached down to the floor and hefted up his mattock where he had thrown it earlier.

"Why you were chosen for this contest is beyond me," he sniffed at them. "You are pathetic wastes. Only the strongest will survive this. You hardly a challenge."

"You keep saying that, and yet we're still here fighting you," Harry told him.

"Not for long," Vorjavik growled and charged.

"Wwwhhhrrraaaarrrrggghhhhh!" Chewie roared at him and opened fire with his bow, blasting away at the charging figure but Vorjavik was good, dodging each blast or deflecting it with his mattock. He attacked, swiping the bow aside and then kicking with both legs at Chewie's chest, sending him crashing into the ground. He then leapt up to bring his mattock down but a well-placed stunning spell managed to knock him aside. Unfortunately, the armor he wore absorbed the worst of it, leaving him conscious and angry so Harry kept at it, firing spell after spell at him. He ducked and rolled to avoid most of them but a few got threw, the impediment jinx slowing him long enough for Chewie to grab hold of him and start squeezing him. Vorjavik growled and groaned a little, the first sign of pain on his part, but he quickly recovered as he turned and brought his jaws down on Chewie's shoulder, ripping a chunk of flesh and fur out. Chewie roared out in pain, dropping Vorjavik and stumbling back but that only gave the rat the moment he needed.

Harry raised his wand to strike again but the rat's tail came out of nowhere, tripping his legs from under him and dropping him hard to the ground. He groaned and tried to get up but was too late, only able to watch as Vorjavik lifted his mattock and then swing the sharp end right into Chewie's side. Chewie bellowed again, though softer now, but before he could try and retaliate or back away, Vorjavik whirled and slammed the mattock's blunt end into Chewie's chest, a crack echoing out as it did. Chewie stumbled for a second and then collapsed.

Harry stared. He could see the big guy's chest still rising, but weakly. He had to get him out of here now. Which meant it was all up to him.

"And now for you," Vorjavik turned to him, having the same idea. But Harry was done now. He had spent most of the fight on the sidelines, forced to watch his new allies get taken down hard. He had taken on Voldemort himself as well as numerous dark wizards. He had survived an enormous, killer serpent when he was 12. He could handle a giant rat warrior right now.

Vorjavik charged with the mattock again but Harry whipped out his favorite spell and sent the weapon spinning out of the rat's hands. Vorjavik gaped for a second, taken by surprise, but then came again with just his claws and teeth. Harry ducked under him as he did and then used a spell to send him flying across the room into the wall. Harry pressed forward, holding him against the wall, not letting up.

"You cannot keep me here forever!" Vorjavik growled. "You will tire. You are, after all, only human while I am a therianthrope, a werelord. I can wait."

"You're right," Harry agreed. "You can and you will." He then lifted Vorjavik up again and hurled him another wall. As he did, he dropped the spell and instantly cried out, "incarcerous!" Thick cords appeared out of thin air and wrapped tightly around the rat creature, holding him fast. Harry walked closer and then muttered, "petrificus totalus," this time his spell working. Vorjavik's body stiffened, going completely still. But even as it did so, Harry could still see him fighting back hard. Whatever he was, it apparently made him resistant to magical attacks, like Hagrid's giant blood. But for now, he was down. Harry rushed over to Luke and placed his wand in front of the guy's face. "Enervate," he muttered and Luke's eyes instantly fluttered open.

"What…?" he started, blinking as he woke up.

"Come on, we got to move," Harry told him, heading over to Chewie's fallen form.

"What happened to Vorjavik?" Luke asked, following him.

"He's over there," Harry gestured to the band of ropes over the rat's body.

"Good," Luke nodded, lifting his sword up. "Time to end this."

"No," Harry stopped him. "He's too powerful."

"He's chained up," Luke argued.

"Last time, I thought we had him but he found another way. He's already proven resistant to my magic. If he sees you coming to kill him, it might give him the strength he needs to break out and I don't think we can last another round with him. Or you could try to kill him and actually just break him free. He's too cunning. Chewie needs help now. We have an opening so let's get the hell out of here."

Luke stared at him for a second before glancing over at Chewie's prone body and Vorjavik's bound one. He sighed and then nodded. "Let's go."

Harry nodded and turned back to Chewie. The wounds were bad. He was bleeding heavily from the side wound and a bit from the shoulder bite but the worst wound seemed to be the chest one. Unfortunately, Harry didn't know what to do or see how bad it was. All he knew was that they couldn't stay here.

"Wingardium leviosa," he said and lifted Chewie up into the air with ease, walking him towards the tunnel Luke had pointed out and through it as fast as he could, trying to put as much distance between them and Vorjavik as possible.

So sorry to end like that but have to keep up the suspense. Is Chewie gonna make it? You'll have to keep reading to find out.

Vorjavik is a character from the book series Wereworld where the ruling class of the country Lyssia are all werecreatures of some sort. It's kind of like a YA version of Game of Thrones, very violent with lots of different locations and villains. Vorjavik was a minor villain in the 4th book and came out as one of the best fighters but was taken out early. So I decided to give him a second chance here.

Hope you're all still liking this story and please leave a review if you can and drop me any other character recommendations from your favorite books, movies, shows, or comics. (Games are a little difficult as I haven't played too many, sorry).