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mhalachaiInevitable Seventy-One: The Killing Moon
by Mhalachai
Disclaimer: Laurell K. Hamilton owns all things Anita Blake. J.K. Rowling owns all things Harry Potter. Only the story is my own.
Note: Part of this chapter refers back to the conversation between Harry and Nathaniel in chapter 30, Middle Ground.
Rating: PG-13
Warning: Violence.
Words: 5,570
Previous parts here.
~~~~~~~
"Nice hat, Dean."
Dean threw a pillow across the room at Ron's head. "It's a Muggle pirate hat!"
"Looks like something Hagrid would use to feed the animals," Ron said, batting the pillow away.
"Harry, back me up here!" Dean pleaded.
"It's a pirate hat," Harry said distantly, staring down at the cloak on his bed.
"See?" Dean grabbed his transfigured cutlass and headed out the door. "Don't be long, you'll miss all the food."
"Come on, Harry," Ron said, heading after Dean. "Just put the cloak on, no one's going to care if your costume isn't perfect."
"Yeah." Harry shook his head. "Look, I'll be down in a few minutes, why don't you go and see Hermione?"
Just as Harry thought, that got Ron moving out the door. Once Harry was alone in his dorm room, he went to the trunk at the end of his bed to fetch his Invisibility cloak. He couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding that hung over him.
It could just be that you're freaking out over Halloween for the obvious reasons, he chided himself as he layered his Invisibility cloak, inside-out, with the Viking cloak he was wearing to the Halloween party. Just because Voldemort killed my parents on Halloween in order to get to me and kill... me...
Harry's fingers slowed. For all that he's told himself he didn't need to talk to Dumbledore about the Horcruxes, Harry hadn't forgotten about the creation of a Horcrux. Voldemort only made them with important murders, Dumbledore had said.
Like cutting through two highly trained and desperate wizards to get to their helpless baby?
Harry found he was sitting on the floor, and he had no recollection of how he got there. It couldn't be true, he couldn't be a Horcrux. He wasn't a Horcrux!
I don't have a piece of Voldemort's soul in me, I don't! A person can't be a Horcrux.
But Ginny had worried she was a Horcrux, and she would know what it was like to have a piece of Tom Riddle's soul riding along inside her.
Harry grabbed a handful of bedspread and pulled himself upright. He pushed his hair out of his eyes, and as his shaking hand moved over his forehead, he brushed against his scar.
His scar. His connection to Voldemort for years, sending him emotions and visions from the evil wizard. His scar, which he had received when Voldemort tried to kill him when he was a baby.
Harry couldn't help himself. He laughed, and if it was bitter and hard, there was no one around to hear.
Six Horcruxes down, one to go.
Harry slumped on the bed, energy suddenly gone. This couldn't be it. It couldn't end like this. He was supposed to be one of the good guys, and in the books, the good guys didn't have to be destroyed to vanquish evil.
Only this wasn't a book. This was his life, what remained of it anyway. Hadn't he wondered, back in St. Louis, if he was going to survive the fight with Voldemort?
Either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.
The prophecy scratched at his mind. Maybe Nathaniel's interpretation of the prophecy was right, that Harry had to die in order to defeat Voldemort.
Diary, ring, locket, Harry recited dully in his head. Goblet, wand... and me. Six Horcruxes down. All they needed to do was find the golden goblet now, the one that belonged to Helga Hufflepuff, and the seventh Horcrux, and they'd have the key to destroying Voldemort.
Harry vaguely wondered where the seventh Horcrux could be, and how they could destroy them, and if he had to die to stop Voldemort.
He didn't want to die.
The door creaked open. "Harry?" Ron said hesitantly. "What's taking... What happened?"
Harry looked up at his friend, standing in the doorway in his lion costume. "What?"
"You look like someone just died." Ron let go of the door and came a few more steps into the room. "What happened?"
Harry forced himself to stand up. So he might have to die to defeat Voldemort. He'd been thinking about that for years, it shouldn't lay him out to have it shoved in his face. Even if it meant he had a little bit of Voldemort's soul wedged in him like a diseased splinter. "There are strange likenesses between us," the ghost of Tom Riddle had once said in the Chamber of Secrets.
"Nothing happened, Ron." Harry flung his double cloak over his shoulders, invisibility side in, then went over to the mirror to check his appearance. "Nothing's changed."
Harry had promised to take Ginny and Luna to the Halloween party. He'd promised to destroy the Horcruxes and defeat Voldemort. He always kept his promises.
Taking a last look in the mirror, Harry pulled off his glasses and tossed them on his bed. The image in the mirror was eerily similar to the image of his dead father, the way his ghost had looked in the graveyard when Voldemort had come back to life. The resemblance wasn't comforting.
"Come on, let's not keep the girls waiting," Harry said, turning from the mirror.
Ron caught Harry's arm as he tried to pass. "What is it?" he demanded. "You were fine a few minutes ago."
"I'm still fine," Harry said, pushing Ron away.
Ron glared, managing to look fierce in his lion costume. "Stop it! You're not fine, you haven't been fine in weeks!"
Harry backed up until he hit the wall. "You-- Just let it go, Ron."
He expected Ron to argue with him, but the red-head just stared at him for a long moment. "You know I'm your friend, right?" Ron asked.
"Yeah." Harry blinked hard to get rid of the sudden stinging in his eyes. "Maybe tomorrow? We could talk or something?"
"You're on." Ron clapped his hand on Harry's shoulder and pulled him towards the door. "Now, we need to get down there before Hermione comes looking for us."
Harry wanted to say something else, to apologize for what was to come, but the words stuck in his throat. He let Ron drag him out of the room.
Every step felt as if he was moving closer to the end.
~~~
In spite of all the chaos in his head, when Harry saw Ginny and Luna, he almost tripped over his own feet.
Ginny laughed when she saw his expression. "I think we win," she told Luna.
"What are you wearing?" Ron demanded of his sister. He yelped when Hermione hit him on the arm. "What?"
"Leave her alone!" Hermione settled her headdress on her hair, managing to look prim in spite of the flimsy toga. "They look wonderful. What are you?"
"We're the Norns," Luna said matter-of-factly. She smiled up at Harry. "Your costume is quite nice."
"Um... yeah." Harry shook his head. "I like yours, too."
Ginny laughed again and took Harry's free arm. "Very Viking. But I thought Viking warriors wore skirts?"
Harry gave her a look as he took Luna's hand. "Stop it."
Hermione fell into step beside them as they started towards the stairs. "There were three Norns," she pointed out.
"What's a Norn?" Ron asked, confused.
"The three sisters in Viking mythology who sat at the base of the Tree of Life and wove the threads of everyone's lives into the Tapestry of Time," Hermione told him.
"Three witches," Ginny corrected. "But since you're the only one who would know that, we're not going to bother with a third."
Hermione narrowed her eyes at Ginny. Ron, recognizing the danger signs, took Hermione's arm. "So, do we know what Dumbledore's got planned for the party?" he asked.
"When I walked past the Great Hall after dinner, I saw a flock of bats flitting about." Luna squeezed Harry's hand. He wondered why her palm was so clammy. "I wonder if the ghosts will be there?"
"Probably," Ron said, tromping past a group of costumed Hufflepuffs on the stairs. "Nearly Headless Nick said they'd make an appearance."
"I wonder what else we'll get," Ginny said.
"Hopefully no trolls," Harry spoke up, getting a firm nod from Ron. "And no ogres. No giants."
"Ghouls?" Ginny said hopefully.
Harry couldn't suppress a shudder. Remembering the smell of burning ghoul, after he and Anita had been attacked in the graveyard in St. Louis, was enough to kill any vestige of an appetite. "I certainly hope not."
"You're no fun."
"Ghouls aren't fun," Harry protested as they swept into the Great Hall. In the hours since dinner, the Halloween decorations had multiplied. Glowing jack-o-lanterns hovered in the air, shadowed by the aerobatic displays of hundreds of bats. Candles and cobwebs hung from every surface, giving the Hall a haunted, ancient appearance. Tables laden with food and drinks ringing the already crowed room.
"My kind of party," Ron exclaimed when he spotted the food. Hermione just shook her head.
"Do you want to get food first?" Ginny asked, bumping her hip against Harry.
Harry looked at Luna, who shrugged a bare shoulder. "If you want," Luna said.
"Sure." Harry let Ginny and Luna drag him towards the food. They were almost at the table when Harry spotted a familiar purple and silver wizard's hat near the front of the room. "Hey, I have to go talk to Dumbledore," he said, twisting away from Ginny's grip. "I'll be back in a minute, okay?"
He didn't stop to hear Ginny's response as he waded through the crowd. He skirted a group of excited fifth-years and ducked around Professor Sprout, and finally spotted Dumbledore at the end of the teachers' table.
"Ah, Harry," Dumbledore said as Harry drew closer. The headmaster raised his glass in a toast. "How are you?"
"Fine, sir." Now that he was here, he had no idea what he wanted to say to the man. "Um, how are you?"
"Quite well," Dumbledore beamed. "Would you care for a couple of ice mice?"
"No, thanks," Harry said, feeling his stomach twist at the idea of food. Mentally, Harry was kicking himself. What had he expected? To tell Dumbledore out in the open that Harry suspected he was the sixth Horcrux? That Dumbledore would dismiss the idea as wrong? Harry managed to stop himself from walking away, and asked, "Would I be able to speak with you tomorrow?"
A flicker of seriousness interrupted Dumbledore's good cheer. "Of course," Dumbledore said, not letting the distraction seep into his voice. "Come see me after breakfast."
In spite of everything, relief washed over Harry. If anyone would know what to do, it would be Dumbledore. "Thank you, sir."
Dumbledore held up his glass again. "Now, I believe there are two young ladies eager for you to rejoin them," he said, indicating behind Harry.
"Thank you, sir." Harry gave Dumbledore a nod and stepped away from the teachers' table. He glanced around the room on his way back to the girls. The costumes made it difficult to tell who was who, but at least everyone's face was clear.
So no Death Eaters at the ball tonight, Harry thought grimly. He pushed the dark thoughts to the back of his head as he rejoined Ginny and Luna.
"Now what?" Harry asked, wrapping an arm around Luna's waist. He squeezed her gently, until he realized that the dagger he'd stuck in his belt was digging into her side, and he eased up.
"Now what what?" Ginny shot back, eyes sparkling. "Oh, they're going to start the music!"
"Great." Harry was less enthusiastic. To girls, music usually meant dancing, and he was still traumatized by having to dance at the Tri-Wizard Ball. Even though Sylvie had showed him how to dance at his going-away party in St. Louis, he knew he'd trip over his own feet.
The music started. A few couples drifted out onto the dance floor, hanging near the fringes. Ginny turned to Harry and Luna with a happy smile. "Want to dance?"
"You mean in front of people?" Harry blurted.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Dance with him, Luna," she ordered.
"What are you going to do?" Luna asked as Ginny skipped back.
"Going to go for a dance with a friend!" Ginny spun around and wound her way through the crowd. "Hey, Neville, dance for old times' sake?"
Harry watched as Neville looked up, frowning. The other boy had been frowning a lot since he'd learned that his wand was probably a Horcrux. "Pardon?"
"Dance." Ginny held out her hand. After only the slightest hesitation, Neville took the offered hand, and bowed low over it. "Great!"
Harry wrapped his arm around Luna's shoulders as Neville and Ginny spun their way onto the dance floor. He wasn't sure what he was feeling. It couldn't be jealousy, because it was only a dance and Ginny wasn't his property. But seeing how Neville's hand rested on Ginny's hip made Harry let out a tiny grumble.
Luna laid her hand on his chest. "Harry?" she said, drawing his attention. "Would you like to go dance with Ginny?"
"No." Harry stepped back and formally took Luna's hand. He was going to dance with Luna, damn it, and he wasn't going to let anyone see how much it bothered him that Ginny wasn't in his arms. He wanted them both and he knew it wasn't possible, at least not forever. But at least for the next little while, if even only for a day, he'd be with them in any way they wanted. "I want to dance with you."
~~~
"I need some air."
"What?"
Harry leaned closer to Ginny and shouted over the music, "I have to go get some air! I'll be right back!"
Ginny nodded, then screamed as Luna spun her back into the mob on the dance floor. Harry shook his head as he fought his way to the side of the room. The teachers had retreated to the end of the Hall, letting the dance continue at its fever pitch. McGonagall looked particularly pinched as someone increased the strength of the Sonorus spell on the music, but Dumbledore continued to tap his foot in time with the music while talking to Professor Slughorn.
Harry threaded his way along the gutted food tables toward the Entrance Hall. He had almost reached the doors when a hand caught him. "Harry!" Hermione called, breathing hard. "Are you leaving?"
"Getting some air," he told her.
She tugged on his cloak, pulling him back into the Great Hall. "Are you okay?" she asked, loud voice strangely anonymous under the deafening music. "You're looking rather melancholy."
"I'm fine," Harry lied.
"Harry." Hermione glared at him. "You've been acting really weird since--"
"Since I came back from St. Louis, I know." Harry kicked at the wall. He didn't want to deal with Hermione and her continued rant about how he'd changed. Especially not tonight.
"Since we met the twins in Hogsmeade!" Hermione yanked off her headdress and pushed her straggling curls out of her face. "Since you took off early to talk to Neville about something, which was directly after the twins told us about the wand!"
Harry looked away.
"Is that it?" Hermione pressed. "You think Neville might have an idea about the Ravenclaw wand, the--" She cut herself off before she said the fateful word. "Did you talk to him?"
"Yeah." Harry took a deep breath. He hadn't told anyone about the possibility that Neville's wand was a Horcrux, but... but. If Harry was a Horcrux, was contaminated by a piece of Voldemort's soul, then he had to consider the very real possibility that he was compromised. "I think it's his wand."
Hermione clapped her hands over her mouth. "Oh, no!" she breathed.
Harry nodded. "And there's more... sort of." He tried to say that he thought he was the sixth Horcrux, but he couldn't admit it out loud. "Look, I'm going to talk to Ron about something tomorrow, can you be there?"
Hermione nodded. "Harry--"
He stepped back, suddenly feeling the press of the room on all sides. "I have to go outside," he said again. He didn't quite run out of the room, but it was damned close.
The Entrance Hall was dotted with talking couples, and a few people who were doing more than talk. Harry sped past them, wincing when he heard Snape taking points off Ravenclaw. Better them than me, Harry thought. He ducked into an alcove and flipped his cloak around, Invisibility side covering him from head to foot.
Feeling better already, Harry continued outside. Two Aurors stood on the steps, talking absently. Neither of them noticed anything as Harry hurried down the steps on silent feet. The air was crisp and clear under the light from the gibbous moon.
Sucking in deep breaths of air, Harry meandered along the outer edge of the castle. The night was quiet, with the soft sounds of evening.
Harry didn't want to die.
He didn't know what would happen after he died. Maybe there'd be the heaven that the preacher always talked about in church, on those boring Sunday mornings growing up with the Dursleys. Maybe there wouldn't be anything at all, just like falling into a deep sleep from which there was no end. Hell, maybe there was no point to being alive at all, and all this pain and suffering had no goal, no reason.
It didn't make any sense. If there was no point, then why did everyone cling so hard to life? With a sudden intensity, Harry wished Anita was there, so he could talk to her about this sort of stuff. She was the only person who had a life as dangerous as his, who talked to him like he wasn't a kid. She'd know what to say. She'd know how to stop Voldemort.
But that was a futile wish, Harry knew. Anita was never going to come to Hogwarts, and writing her a letter or calling her just wasn't the same. Still--
Harry froze. The normal night noises had just stopped.
The world held its breath, but for what? Harry adjusted the hood of his Invisibility cloak and peered around. Yes, Potter, leaving your glasses up in your dorm room for vanity's sake, fucking brilliant plan! Harry chastised.
Then, around the side of the castle, in the distance, something moved across the grass.
Harry had to clench his teeth to keep from screaming. Whoever it was, wasn't moving normally. The person's movements were jerky, like a puppet with too few strings. The skin on the back of Harry's neck stood up as he watched the figure's progress across the lawn. What was it? Was it an Inferi? Why was it so close to the castle?
Harry knew he had to go and fetch the Aurors. They'd know what to do, that was their job. But, he told himself as he took a deep breath, he had to know more before he told them.
Quickly, Harry shifted into his Animagus form. Even before his paws hit the ground, he knew two things. First off, as soon as he changed into a wolf, something was pulling on him hard. That something wanted him in the Forbidden Forest, and it wanted him there now.
The other thing was even more chilling. With his wolf sight and sense of smell, Harry had no trouble identifying the broken figure moving toward the woods.
It was Reece.
Harry let out a low growl. There was no way that the power in the woods was getting Reece. Reece was his!
Without another thought, Harry tore silently across the lawn, the ground silver shadows under his paws. He was going to bring Reece back home, and nothing, not even Voldemort, was going to stand in his way.
If Reece was hurt, or dead... Animal fury and rage swept through Harry. Harry was going to kill anything that hurt Reece. Reece was just a pup, a little kid! He was under Harry's protection, and Harry had let him be taken from the castle!
No matter how fast Harry ran, Reece's broken pace was too fast for Harry to catch up. The boy disappeared into the blackness of the trees before Harry could reach him.
Harry dropped his nose the ground, scenting out Reece's trail over the forest floor. Over a patch of gravel, Harry found a spot of blood on a sharp rock. Reece was in bare feet, Harry realized, and he'd cut his foot on the rocks.
Pointing his nose in the direction of the growing blood trail, Harry ran.
He heard the voice drifting up over the rise. It was a thin voice, high and just wrong, singing a terrifying song. Harry ducked behind a tree and changed back into his human form.
The moment he shifted back, waves of terror crashed over him, driving him to his knees. The sing-song voice pierced Harry's skin, driving the fear into his flesh.
His fingers dug into the dirt as Harry desperately tried to cling to sanity. All he knew was cold and fear and terror... and Reece was even closer to whatever was causing this.
Harry reached down into himself for a reserve of strength he didn't even know he possessed, and pulled his Occlumency around him like a shield. His concentration wavered and almost failed, but he remembered the hot animal rage he'd felt when he'd realized that someone was taking Reece, and with one last push, he slammed his mental shields into place.
He could finally breathe again. The voice was just a voice, still creepy but no longer overpowering. If it had a voice, then it had a body, and if it had a body, then Harry could defeat it and get Reece back.
Pulling his hands out of the dirt, Harry drew his wand. The sharp pain in his left hand made him look down. In the moonlight, Harry could see that he had broken two of his nails, down to the bleeding quick. The cloth of his Invisibility cloak brushed his arm. Harry tore the cloak off.
The song stopped abruptly, settling an awful silence over the forest. Cautiously, Harry crept forward. As much as he wanted to rush in there and tear Reece away, he had to think. Whatever was causing this was probably powerful enough to squash Harry like a bug if he was stupid. For Reece's sake, Harry couldn't be stupid.
"Little pup." The voice sent shudders down Harry's spine. "Will you be my pet?"
A whimper. Reece.
Harry peeked over the edge of the rise. In the shadowy moonlight, he could see Reece on his knees in front of a... Harry didn't want to call her a 'woman', because that would mean she was human, and the figure standing in the moonlight certainly wasn't human at all. She was skeletal, smaller than Reece himself, with spider-web silver hair and long, bloodstained fingers. The ragged fabric of her dress floated in the still air. It took Harry a moment to realize that she floated an inch above the ground.
The creature grabbed Reece's hair and hauled him to his feet. The boy's eyes were wide in the moonlight, the cords in his neck straining as he tried to breathe.
Harry almost tore over the ridge, before he noticed the too-still figure in the dark behind the woman. The utter lack of movement told Harry what kind of creature he was dealing with, and a memory of a conversation with his grandfather slammed home with startling clarity exactly who he was dealing with.
Vampire.
Moroven, Damian's maker. Night hag, mora, a vampire that fed on fear in the same way as Jean-Claude fed on sex.
And she wasn't alone.
Harry counted two others in the shadows, watching Moroven hold Reece. The only shred of luck was that the wind was blowing in his face, which meant the vampires hadn't scented him. Yet.
Moroven stroked a finger down Reece's cheek. "It has been too long since the wizards have let me have a wolf to play with," she whispered. Her free hand continued down. With a violent movement, she ripped open Reece's robes to bare his chest. Reece shrieked as Moroven raked her fingernails down the boy's chest, leaving bloody claw marks down to his belt. With a flick of her wrist, she turned Reece in her grasp, pressed his back to her front, and pulled his head to the side, stretching out his neck in a long line.
Harry didn't know what do to. If he attacked now, Moroven could rip Reece's throat out, but how could he wait?
Moroven grabbed Reece's arm and stretched it out, away from his body. "Scream for me, pet," she whispered in Reece's ear. He clamped his mouth shut, and in spite of all that was happening, Harry was impressed by the boy's strength.
Then Moroven broke Reece's arm with a loud wet crack, and he screamed.
"Stop it!" Harry shouted, running over the rise. His wand was out and pointed at Moroven. He wasn't going to be able to cover all three vampires and he knew it. He was being stupid and they were all going to die, but there was no way he could let that monster hurt Reece any more. "Let him go!"
Moroven wrapped her arm over Reece's chest and hugged him to her. "Let go of my new pet?" Her whisper was as mocking as it was terrifying. "But I've only begun to enjoy him."
"I said, let him go!" Harry focused on Moroven. Why hadn't he learned more on ways to fight vampires?
Moroven licked Reece's cheek. "They say a child's tears are the sweetest nectar," she said, smiling with bloodstained teeth as Reece let out a sob.
Harry wanted to throw up. "Let him go back to the castle, and you can play with me," he managed to squeeze out. "I thought you liked Vikings."
All expression wiped from her face. "Who are you?" she demanded.
One of the vampires behind Moroven crept into the moonlight. There was something very wrong with his face, as he'd been taken apart and put back incorrectly. He lifted his head and sniffed. "Smelled like Damian," the vampire said, his voice like rocks rubbing together.
Moroven jerked Reece's head back to an almost unnatural angle. "You dare come before me and not bow in my presence?" Her eyes began to glow, her hair blowing in an invisible wind. "On your knees!"
The power of her voice drove Harry to the ground. He tried to stay upright, but the pressure on his shoulders grew heavier until he was curled almost double on the dirt.
"You are the boy Voldemort wants," Moroven continued. Harry managed to lift his head. She smiled at him, fangs sharp. "You are the reason I have come."
"What, feeding off fear and tormenting children is just a diversion?" Harry said haltingly.
Moroven grabbed Reece's arm above the bend of the bone, and squeezed until the boy screamed again.
"Stop it!" Harry shouted, aiming his wand at Moroven's head. He didn't know any spell to make her stop without catching Reece in the crossfire. "Stop it! Let him alone!"
Moroven let go of Reece's arm. Over the boy's panicked sobs, she called, "I know what you want."
"What?" Harry exclaimed. "I want you to let Reece go!"
"Reece." Moroven patted the boy's bleeding chest. "Is that your name, pet?" When Reece didn't respond, she grabbed his throat, choking. "Is it?"
"Yes!" Reece managed to say, his face mottled. Harry was about to fry Moroven, anything to get her off Reece, when the vampire suddenly released the boy. He fell to the ground and rolled to the side, gasping.
"Damien was my favorite, for many years," Moroven said liltingly to Harry. "I miss him, but I will give him one last gift, through you."
"What gift?" Harry said warily, inching closer to Reece. It was too late to summon his broom, or call for help. He was going to have to get Reece away from the vampires on his own.
"I will give you what you want." She spread her arms wide, her hair and dress spreading out behind her in a macabre halo. "You can have what you want."
"Great." Harry moved another inch closer to Reece.
The other vampire in the shadows, almost normal-looking after the other vampire, stepped into the light.
Holding Helga Hufflepuff's golden cup.
"Only one," Moroven sang, floating down to Reece. "You keep one, and the other is mine."
Harry stared at the cup. Even with the silver moonlight washing out the colors, he'd have recognized it anywhere. "What would I want with some stupid cup?" he said, trying to bluff.
Moroven hissed, the skin drawn tight on her face like a mask. If she reached up and tore off her face, Harry was going to start screaming himself. "Christoff's bitch is not as discrete as she likes to believe! You seek this as you seek the other treasures of Voldemort, hidden in my lands!" Her bare feet touched the ground. "Pick one! The other is mine for all eternity!"
The last known Horcrux was in his reach. If he destroyed it and the others, then Voldemort would only have one chance at coming back, and Dumbledore could stop that from happening. If Harry had to die to stop Voldemort, his death would mean something, instead of being a futile waste.
Reece was staring up at Harry with wide, pain-filled eyes.
If he stopped Voldemort, Harry could save countless lives. Muggles, wizards, witches. No one else would die because of Voldemort. All he had to do was to take the cup from the vampire's hand. All he'd have to sacrifice, for the future of the Wizarding world, was one little boy.
Harry reached out and grabbed Reece's robes, hauling the boy to his feet in one fluid motion. "Run!" he shouted, putting himself between Reece and the vampires. "Stupefy!"
The broken vampire flew backwards into a tree. Harry didn't stop to see what Moroven would do; he whirled and ran after Reece. The boy wasn't letting his broken arm or bare feet hold him back. He tore ahead of Harry, running as fast as he could. Harry ran hard, wand clenched in his fist. Around him, screams of fury echoed off the trees. So much for an honest deal.
There was no warning before the vampire fell from the sky, pushing Harry down before attacking Reece. Harry crashed into the ground, a tree root catching him in the face. Something gave way painfully, but there was no time for screaming. Harry managed to lift his wand and choke out, "Incendio!"
The vampire on top of Reece flew off the boy and burst into flames. As the figure burned alive, something fell to the ground, glinting gold in the firelight.
The cup.
Well, Harry wasn't going to look a gift Horcrux in the mouth. He stumbled to his feet and grabbed the cup, dancing back before the flaming, screaming vampire could reach him. Shoving the cup into his shirt, hauled Reece to his feet. "Can you run?" he asked the boy.
Reece managed to nod. Harry told himself that the grey tinge to Reece's skin was just the moonlight. "I..."
Harry shoved Reece. "Don't talk, run!"
The boy stumbled, but doggedly took off again. Harry spared a glance at the burning vampire. One vampire down, but that left the broken vampire and Moroven. Did the stunning spell work on vamps? Did it really matter if Moroven was still loose and after them?
Stop thinking and get back to the castle! The vampires had drawn Reece into the woods for a reason. Something about the castle held them off. If it was Dumbledore or some other kind of magic, Harry didn't care. He had to get Reece out of the woods and away from the vampires.
And don't forget about me! Harry reminded himself as he stumbled over a tree root. I want to be safe too!
Up ahead, Harry spotted a break in the trees, and the most welcome sight ever. The lit window of Hagrid's hut.
Less than a hundred feet from the hut, something slammed into Harry. Claws tore at him, raking through cloth and skin and down to bone. Harry couldn't even find the air to scream as he was ripped apart.
Someone else screamed, a high screaming roar. The broken vampire was hauled off Harry, suspended in the air for a drawn-out moment. Harry saw Reece, half-shifted, tearing at the vampire, but it wasn't going to be enough. The vampire was already turning on Reece, hands curled into killing claws.
Harry lifted his hand, barely registering that he didn't have his wand, and pushed all his fury at the vampire. Burn, he thought as blood filled his mouth.
The vampire flew back, bursting into flames before exploding.
Barking sounded close to Harry's ear as he choked on copper blood. "Harry!" sounded a familiar voice. "Harry, what happened? Oh, look at ye-- Harry!"
Harry tried to tell Hagrid it was okay, that he'd saved Reece and he had the Horcrux, but he couldn't breathe. Then suddenly Hagrid was lifting him of the ground and things in Harry snapped and shattered.
The pain vanished as everything went black.
... to be continued
by Mhalachai
Disclaimer: Laurell K. Hamilton owns all things Anita Blake. J.K. Rowling owns all things Harry Potter. Only the story is my own.
Note: Part of this chapter refers back to the conversation between Harry and Nathaniel in chapter 30, Middle Ground.
Rating: PG-13
Warning: Violence.
Words: 5,570
Previous parts here.
"Nice hat, Dean."
Dean threw a pillow across the room at Ron's head. "It's a Muggle pirate hat!"
"Looks like something Hagrid would use to feed the animals," Ron said, batting the pillow away.
"Harry, back me up here!" Dean pleaded.
"It's a pirate hat," Harry said distantly, staring down at the cloak on his bed.
"See?" Dean grabbed his transfigured cutlass and headed out the door. "Don't be long, you'll miss all the food."
"Come on, Harry," Ron said, heading after Dean. "Just put the cloak on, no one's going to care if your costume isn't perfect."
"Yeah." Harry shook his head. "Look, I'll be down in a few minutes, why don't you go and see Hermione?"
Just as Harry thought, that got Ron moving out the door. Once Harry was alone in his dorm room, he went to the trunk at the end of his bed to fetch his Invisibility cloak. He couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding that hung over him.
It could just be that you're freaking out over Halloween for the obvious reasons, he chided himself as he layered his Invisibility cloak, inside-out, with the Viking cloak he was wearing to the Halloween party. Just because Voldemort killed my parents on Halloween in order to get to me and kill... me...
Harry's fingers slowed. For all that he's told himself he didn't need to talk to Dumbledore about the Horcruxes, Harry hadn't forgotten about the creation of a Horcrux. Voldemort only made them with important murders, Dumbledore had said.
Like cutting through two highly trained and desperate wizards to get to their helpless baby?
Harry found he was sitting on the floor, and he had no recollection of how he got there. It couldn't be true, he couldn't be a Horcrux. He wasn't a Horcrux!
I don't have a piece of Voldemort's soul in me, I don't! A person can't be a Horcrux.
But Ginny had worried she was a Horcrux, and she would know what it was like to have a piece of Tom Riddle's soul riding along inside her.
Harry grabbed a handful of bedspread and pulled himself upright. He pushed his hair out of his eyes, and as his shaking hand moved over his forehead, he brushed against his scar.
His scar. His connection to Voldemort for years, sending him emotions and visions from the evil wizard. His scar, which he had received when Voldemort tried to kill him when he was a baby.
Harry couldn't help himself. He laughed, and if it was bitter and hard, there was no one around to hear.
Six Horcruxes down, one to go.
Harry slumped on the bed, energy suddenly gone. This couldn't be it. It couldn't end like this. He was supposed to be one of the good guys, and in the books, the good guys didn't have to be destroyed to vanquish evil.
Only this wasn't a book. This was his life, what remained of it anyway. Hadn't he wondered, back in St. Louis, if he was going to survive the fight with Voldemort?
Either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.
The prophecy scratched at his mind. Maybe Nathaniel's interpretation of the prophecy was right, that Harry had to die in order to defeat Voldemort.
Diary, ring, locket, Harry recited dully in his head. Goblet, wand... and me. Six Horcruxes down. All they needed to do was find the golden goblet now, the one that belonged to Helga Hufflepuff, and the seventh Horcrux, and they'd have the key to destroying Voldemort.
Harry vaguely wondered where the seventh Horcrux could be, and how they could destroy them, and if he had to die to stop Voldemort.
He didn't want to die.
The door creaked open. "Harry?" Ron said hesitantly. "What's taking... What happened?"
Harry looked up at his friend, standing in the doorway in his lion costume. "What?"
"You look like someone just died." Ron let go of the door and came a few more steps into the room. "What happened?"
Harry forced himself to stand up. So he might have to die to defeat Voldemort. He'd been thinking about that for years, it shouldn't lay him out to have it shoved in his face. Even if it meant he had a little bit of Voldemort's soul wedged in him like a diseased splinter. "There are strange likenesses between us," the ghost of Tom Riddle had once said in the Chamber of Secrets.
"Nothing happened, Ron." Harry flung his double cloak over his shoulders, invisibility side in, then went over to the mirror to check his appearance. "Nothing's changed."
Harry had promised to take Ginny and Luna to the Halloween party. He'd promised to destroy the Horcruxes and defeat Voldemort. He always kept his promises.
Taking a last look in the mirror, Harry pulled off his glasses and tossed them on his bed. The image in the mirror was eerily similar to the image of his dead father, the way his ghost had looked in the graveyard when Voldemort had come back to life. The resemblance wasn't comforting.
"Come on, let's not keep the girls waiting," Harry said, turning from the mirror.
Ron caught Harry's arm as he tried to pass. "What is it?" he demanded. "You were fine a few minutes ago."
"I'm still fine," Harry said, pushing Ron away.
Ron glared, managing to look fierce in his lion costume. "Stop it! You're not fine, you haven't been fine in weeks!"
Harry backed up until he hit the wall. "You-- Just let it go, Ron."
He expected Ron to argue with him, but the red-head just stared at him for a long moment. "You know I'm your friend, right?" Ron asked.
"Yeah." Harry blinked hard to get rid of the sudden stinging in his eyes. "Maybe tomorrow? We could talk or something?"
"You're on." Ron clapped his hand on Harry's shoulder and pulled him towards the door. "Now, we need to get down there before Hermione comes looking for us."
Harry wanted to say something else, to apologize for what was to come, but the words stuck in his throat. He let Ron drag him out of the room.
Every step felt as if he was moving closer to the end.
In spite of all the chaos in his head, when Harry saw Ginny and Luna, he almost tripped over his own feet.
Ginny laughed when she saw his expression. "I think we win," she told Luna.
"What are you wearing?" Ron demanded of his sister. He yelped when Hermione hit him on the arm. "What?"
"Leave her alone!" Hermione settled her headdress on her hair, managing to look prim in spite of the flimsy toga. "They look wonderful. What are you?"
"We're the Norns," Luna said matter-of-factly. She smiled up at Harry. "Your costume is quite nice."
"Um... yeah." Harry shook his head. "I like yours, too."
Ginny laughed again and took Harry's free arm. "Very Viking. But I thought Viking warriors wore skirts?"
Harry gave her a look as he took Luna's hand. "Stop it."
Hermione fell into step beside them as they started towards the stairs. "There were three Norns," she pointed out.
"What's a Norn?" Ron asked, confused.
"The three sisters in Viking mythology who sat at the base of the Tree of Life and wove the threads of everyone's lives into the Tapestry of Time," Hermione told him.
"Three witches," Ginny corrected. "But since you're the only one who would know that, we're not going to bother with a third."
Hermione narrowed her eyes at Ginny. Ron, recognizing the danger signs, took Hermione's arm. "So, do we know what Dumbledore's got planned for the party?" he asked.
"When I walked past the Great Hall after dinner, I saw a flock of bats flitting about." Luna squeezed Harry's hand. He wondered why her palm was so clammy. "I wonder if the ghosts will be there?"
"Probably," Ron said, tromping past a group of costumed Hufflepuffs on the stairs. "Nearly Headless Nick said they'd make an appearance."
"I wonder what else we'll get," Ginny said.
"Hopefully no trolls," Harry spoke up, getting a firm nod from Ron. "And no ogres. No giants."
"Ghouls?" Ginny said hopefully.
Harry couldn't suppress a shudder. Remembering the smell of burning ghoul, after he and Anita had been attacked in the graveyard in St. Louis, was enough to kill any vestige of an appetite. "I certainly hope not."
"You're no fun."
"Ghouls aren't fun," Harry protested as they swept into the Great Hall. In the hours since dinner, the Halloween decorations had multiplied. Glowing jack-o-lanterns hovered in the air, shadowed by the aerobatic displays of hundreds of bats. Candles and cobwebs hung from every surface, giving the Hall a haunted, ancient appearance. Tables laden with food and drinks ringing the already crowed room.
"My kind of party," Ron exclaimed when he spotted the food. Hermione just shook her head.
"Do you want to get food first?" Ginny asked, bumping her hip against Harry.
Harry looked at Luna, who shrugged a bare shoulder. "If you want," Luna said.
"Sure." Harry let Ginny and Luna drag him towards the food. They were almost at the table when Harry spotted a familiar purple and silver wizard's hat near the front of the room. "Hey, I have to go talk to Dumbledore," he said, twisting away from Ginny's grip. "I'll be back in a minute, okay?"
He didn't stop to hear Ginny's response as he waded through the crowd. He skirted a group of excited fifth-years and ducked around Professor Sprout, and finally spotted Dumbledore at the end of the teachers' table.
"Ah, Harry," Dumbledore said as Harry drew closer. The headmaster raised his glass in a toast. "How are you?"
"Fine, sir." Now that he was here, he had no idea what he wanted to say to the man. "Um, how are you?"
"Quite well," Dumbledore beamed. "Would you care for a couple of ice mice?"
"No, thanks," Harry said, feeling his stomach twist at the idea of food. Mentally, Harry was kicking himself. What had he expected? To tell Dumbledore out in the open that Harry suspected he was the sixth Horcrux? That Dumbledore would dismiss the idea as wrong? Harry managed to stop himself from walking away, and asked, "Would I be able to speak with you tomorrow?"
A flicker of seriousness interrupted Dumbledore's good cheer. "Of course," Dumbledore said, not letting the distraction seep into his voice. "Come see me after breakfast."
In spite of everything, relief washed over Harry. If anyone would know what to do, it would be Dumbledore. "Thank you, sir."
Dumbledore held up his glass again. "Now, I believe there are two young ladies eager for you to rejoin them," he said, indicating behind Harry.
"Thank you, sir." Harry gave Dumbledore a nod and stepped away from the teachers' table. He glanced around the room on his way back to the girls. The costumes made it difficult to tell who was who, but at least everyone's face was clear.
So no Death Eaters at the ball tonight, Harry thought grimly. He pushed the dark thoughts to the back of his head as he rejoined Ginny and Luna.
"Now what?" Harry asked, wrapping an arm around Luna's waist. He squeezed her gently, until he realized that the dagger he'd stuck in his belt was digging into her side, and he eased up.
"Now what what?" Ginny shot back, eyes sparkling. "Oh, they're going to start the music!"
"Great." Harry was less enthusiastic. To girls, music usually meant dancing, and he was still traumatized by having to dance at the Tri-Wizard Ball. Even though Sylvie had showed him how to dance at his going-away party in St. Louis, he knew he'd trip over his own feet.
The music started. A few couples drifted out onto the dance floor, hanging near the fringes. Ginny turned to Harry and Luna with a happy smile. "Want to dance?"
"You mean in front of people?" Harry blurted.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Dance with him, Luna," she ordered.
"What are you going to do?" Luna asked as Ginny skipped back.
"Going to go for a dance with a friend!" Ginny spun around and wound her way through the crowd. "Hey, Neville, dance for old times' sake?"
Harry watched as Neville looked up, frowning. The other boy had been frowning a lot since he'd learned that his wand was probably a Horcrux. "Pardon?"
"Dance." Ginny held out her hand. After only the slightest hesitation, Neville took the offered hand, and bowed low over it. "Great!"
Harry wrapped his arm around Luna's shoulders as Neville and Ginny spun their way onto the dance floor. He wasn't sure what he was feeling. It couldn't be jealousy, because it was only a dance and Ginny wasn't his property. But seeing how Neville's hand rested on Ginny's hip made Harry let out a tiny grumble.
Luna laid her hand on his chest. "Harry?" she said, drawing his attention. "Would you like to go dance with Ginny?"
"No." Harry stepped back and formally took Luna's hand. He was going to dance with Luna, damn it, and he wasn't going to let anyone see how much it bothered him that Ginny wasn't in his arms. He wanted them both and he knew it wasn't possible, at least not forever. But at least for the next little while, if even only for a day, he'd be with them in any way they wanted. "I want to dance with you."
"I need some air."
"What?"
Harry leaned closer to Ginny and shouted over the music, "I have to go get some air! I'll be right back!"
Ginny nodded, then screamed as Luna spun her back into the mob on the dance floor. Harry shook his head as he fought his way to the side of the room. The teachers had retreated to the end of the Hall, letting the dance continue at its fever pitch. McGonagall looked particularly pinched as someone increased the strength of the Sonorus spell on the music, but Dumbledore continued to tap his foot in time with the music while talking to Professor Slughorn.
Harry threaded his way along the gutted food tables toward the Entrance Hall. He had almost reached the doors when a hand caught him. "Harry!" Hermione called, breathing hard. "Are you leaving?"
"Getting some air," he told her.
She tugged on his cloak, pulling him back into the Great Hall. "Are you okay?" she asked, loud voice strangely anonymous under the deafening music. "You're looking rather melancholy."
"I'm fine," Harry lied.
"Harry." Hermione glared at him. "You've been acting really weird since--"
"Since I came back from St. Louis, I know." Harry kicked at the wall. He didn't want to deal with Hermione and her continued rant about how he'd changed. Especially not tonight.
"Since we met the twins in Hogsmeade!" Hermione yanked off her headdress and pushed her straggling curls out of her face. "Since you took off early to talk to Neville about something, which was directly after the twins told us about the wand!"
Harry looked away.
"Is that it?" Hermione pressed. "You think Neville might have an idea about the Ravenclaw wand, the--" She cut herself off before she said the fateful word. "Did you talk to him?"
"Yeah." Harry took a deep breath. He hadn't told anyone about the possibility that Neville's wand was a Horcrux, but... but. If Harry was a Horcrux, was contaminated by a piece of Voldemort's soul, then he had to consider the very real possibility that he was compromised. "I think it's his wand."
Hermione clapped her hands over her mouth. "Oh, no!" she breathed.
Harry nodded. "And there's more... sort of." He tried to say that he thought he was the sixth Horcrux, but he couldn't admit it out loud. "Look, I'm going to talk to Ron about something tomorrow, can you be there?"
Hermione nodded. "Harry--"
He stepped back, suddenly feeling the press of the room on all sides. "I have to go outside," he said again. He didn't quite run out of the room, but it was damned close.
The Entrance Hall was dotted with talking couples, and a few people who were doing more than talk. Harry sped past them, wincing when he heard Snape taking points off Ravenclaw. Better them than me, Harry thought. He ducked into an alcove and flipped his cloak around, Invisibility side covering him from head to foot.
Feeling better already, Harry continued outside. Two Aurors stood on the steps, talking absently. Neither of them noticed anything as Harry hurried down the steps on silent feet. The air was crisp and clear under the light from the gibbous moon.
Sucking in deep breaths of air, Harry meandered along the outer edge of the castle. The night was quiet, with the soft sounds of evening.
Harry didn't want to die.
He didn't know what would happen after he died. Maybe there'd be the heaven that the preacher always talked about in church, on those boring Sunday mornings growing up with the Dursleys. Maybe there wouldn't be anything at all, just like falling into a deep sleep from which there was no end. Hell, maybe there was no point to being alive at all, and all this pain and suffering had no goal, no reason.
It didn't make any sense. If there was no point, then why did everyone cling so hard to life? With a sudden intensity, Harry wished Anita was there, so he could talk to her about this sort of stuff. She was the only person who had a life as dangerous as his, who talked to him like he wasn't a kid. She'd know what to say. She'd know how to stop Voldemort.
But that was a futile wish, Harry knew. Anita was never going to come to Hogwarts, and writing her a letter or calling her just wasn't the same. Still--
Harry froze. The normal night noises had just stopped.
The world held its breath, but for what? Harry adjusted the hood of his Invisibility cloak and peered around. Yes, Potter, leaving your glasses up in your dorm room for vanity's sake, fucking brilliant plan! Harry chastised.
Then, around the side of the castle, in the distance, something moved across the grass.
Harry had to clench his teeth to keep from screaming. Whoever it was, wasn't moving normally. The person's movements were jerky, like a puppet with too few strings. The skin on the back of Harry's neck stood up as he watched the figure's progress across the lawn. What was it? Was it an Inferi? Why was it so close to the castle?
Harry knew he had to go and fetch the Aurors. They'd know what to do, that was their job. But, he told himself as he took a deep breath, he had to know more before he told them.
Quickly, Harry shifted into his Animagus form. Even before his paws hit the ground, he knew two things. First off, as soon as he changed into a wolf, something was pulling on him hard. That something wanted him in the Forbidden Forest, and it wanted him there now.
The other thing was even more chilling. With his wolf sight and sense of smell, Harry had no trouble identifying the broken figure moving toward the woods.
It was Reece.
Harry let out a low growl. There was no way that the power in the woods was getting Reece. Reece was his!
Without another thought, Harry tore silently across the lawn, the ground silver shadows under his paws. He was going to bring Reece back home, and nothing, not even Voldemort, was going to stand in his way.
If Reece was hurt, or dead... Animal fury and rage swept through Harry. Harry was going to kill anything that hurt Reece. Reece was just a pup, a little kid! He was under Harry's protection, and Harry had let him be taken from the castle!
No matter how fast Harry ran, Reece's broken pace was too fast for Harry to catch up. The boy disappeared into the blackness of the trees before Harry could reach him.
Harry dropped his nose the ground, scenting out Reece's trail over the forest floor. Over a patch of gravel, Harry found a spot of blood on a sharp rock. Reece was in bare feet, Harry realized, and he'd cut his foot on the rocks.
Pointing his nose in the direction of the growing blood trail, Harry ran.
He heard the voice drifting up over the rise. It was a thin voice, high and just wrong, singing a terrifying song. Harry ducked behind a tree and changed back into his human form.
The moment he shifted back, waves of terror crashed over him, driving him to his knees. The sing-song voice pierced Harry's skin, driving the fear into his flesh.
His fingers dug into the dirt as Harry desperately tried to cling to sanity. All he knew was cold and fear and terror... and Reece was even closer to whatever was causing this.
Harry reached down into himself for a reserve of strength he didn't even know he possessed, and pulled his Occlumency around him like a shield. His concentration wavered and almost failed, but he remembered the hot animal rage he'd felt when he'd realized that someone was taking Reece, and with one last push, he slammed his mental shields into place.
He could finally breathe again. The voice was just a voice, still creepy but no longer overpowering. If it had a voice, then it had a body, and if it had a body, then Harry could defeat it and get Reece back.
Pulling his hands out of the dirt, Harry drew his wand. The sharp pain in his left hand made him look down. In the moonlight, Harry could see that he had broken two of his nails, down to the bleeding quick. The cloth of his Invisibility cloak brushed his arm. Harry tore the cloak off.
The song stopped abruptly, settling an awful silence over the forest. Cautiously, Harry crept forward. As much as he wanted to rush in there and tear Reece away, he had to think. Whatever was causing this was probably powerful enough to squash Harry like a bug if he was stupid. For Reece's sake, Harry couldn't be stupid.
"Little pup." The voice sent shudders down Harry's spine. "Will you be my pet?"
A whimper. Reece.
Harry peeked over the edge of the rise. In the shadowy moonlight, he could see Reece on his knees in front of a... Harry didn't want to call her a 'woman', because that would mean she was human, and the figure standing in the moonlight certainly wasn't human at all. She was skeletal, smaller than Reece himself, with spider-web silver hair and long, bloodstained fingers. The ragged fabric of her dress floated in the still air. It took Harry a moment to realize that she floated an inch above the ground.
The creature grabbed Reece's hair and hauled him to his feet. The boy's eyes were wide in the moonlight, the cords in his neck straining as he tried to breathe.
Harry almost tore over the ridge, before he noticed the too-still figure in the dark behind the woman. The utter lack of movement told Harry what kind of creature he was dealing with, and a memory of a conversation with his grandfather slammed home with startling clarity exactly who he was dealing with.
Vampire.
Moroven, Damian's maker. Night hag, mora, a vampire that fed on fear in the same way as Jean-Claude fed on sex.
And she wasn't alone.
Harry counted two others in the shadows, watching Moroven hold Reece. The only shred of luck was that the wind was blowing in his face, which meant the vampires hadn't scented him. Yet.
Moroven stroked a finger down Reece's cheek. "It has been too long since the wizards have let me have a wolf to play with," she whispered. Her free hand continued down. With a violent movement, she ripped open Reece's robes to bare his chest. Reece shrieked as Moroven raked her fingernails down the boy's chest, leaving bloody claw marks down to his belt. With a flick of her wrist, she turned Reece in her grasp, pressed his back to her front, and pulled his head to the side, stretching out his neck in a long line.
Harry didn't know what do to. If he attacked now, Moroven could rip Reece's throat out, but how could he wait?
Moroven grabbed Reece's arm and stretched it out, away from his body. "Scream for me, pet," she whispered in Reece's ear. He clamped his mouth shut, and in spite of all that was happening, Harry was impressed by the boy's strength.
Then Moroven broke Reece's arm with a loud wet crack, and he screamed.
"Stop it!" Harry shouted, running over the rise. His wand was out and pointed at Moroven. He wasn't going to be able to cover all three vampires and he knew it. He was being stupid and they were all going to die, but there was no way he could let that monster hurt Reece any more. "Let him go!"
Moroven wrapped her arm over Reece's chest and hugged him to her. "Let go of my new pet?" Her whisper was as mocking as it was terrifying. "But I've only begun to enjoy him."
"I said, let him go!" Harry focused on Moroven. Why hadn't he learned more on ways to fight vampires?
Moroven licked Reece's cheek. "They say a child's tears are the sweetest nectar," she said, smiling with bloodstained teeth as Reece let out a sob.
Harry wanted to throw up. "Let him go back to the castle, and you can play with me," he managed to squeeze out. "I thought you liked Vikings."
All expression wiped from her face. "Who are you?" she demanded.
One of the vampires behind Moroven crept into the moonlight. There was something very wrong with his face, as he'd been taken apart and put back incorrectly. He lifted his head and sniffed. "Smelled like Damian," the vampire said, his voice like rocks rubbing together.
Moroven jerked Reece's head back to an almost unnatural angle. "You dare come before me and not bow in my presence?" Her eyes began to glow, her hair blowing in an invisible wind. "On your knees!"
The power of her voice drove Harry to the ground. He tried to stay upright, but the pressure on his shoulders grew heavier until he was curled almost double on the dirt.
"You are the boy Voldemort wants," Moroven continued. Harry managed to lift his head. She smiled at him, fangs sharp. "You are the reason I have come."
"What, feeding off fear and tormenting children is just a diversion?" Harry said haltingly.
Moroven grabbed Reece's arm above the bend of the bone, and squeezed until the boy screamed again.
"Stop it!" Harry shouted, aiming his wand at Moroven's head. He didn't know any spell to make her stop without catching Reece in the crossfire. "Stop it! Let him alone!"
Moroven let go of Reece's arm. Over the boy's panicked sobs, she called, "I know what you want."
"What?" Harry exclaimed. "I want you to let Reece go!"
"Reece." Moroven patted the boy's bleeding chest. "Is that your name, pet?" When Reece didn't respond, she grabbed his throat, choking. "Is it?"
"Yes!" Reece managed to say, his face mottled. Harry was about to fry Moroven, anything to get her off Reece, when the vampire suddenly released the boy. He fell to the ground and rolled to the side, gasping.
"Damien was my favorite, for many years," Moroven said liltingly to Harry. "I miss him, but I will give him one last gift, through you."
"What gift?" Harry said warily, inching closer to Reece. It was too late to summon his broom, or call for help. He was going to have to get Reece away from the vampires on his own.
"I will give you what you want." She spread her arms wide, her hair and dress spreading out behind her in a macabre halo. "You can have what you want."
"Great." Harry moved another inch closer to Reece.
The other vampire in the shadows, almost normal-looking after the other vampire, stepped into the light.
Holding Helga Hufflepuff's golden cup.
"Only one," Moroven sang, floating down to Reece. "You keep one, and the other is mine."
Harry stared at the cup. Even with the silver moonlight washing out the colors, he'd have recognized it anywhere. "What would I want with some stupid cup?" he said, trying to bluff.
Moroven hissed, the skin drawn tight on her face like a mask. If she reached up and tore off her face, Harry was going to start screaming himself. "Christoff's bitch is not as discrete as she likes to believe! You seek this as you seek the other treasures of Voldemort, hidden in my lands!" Her bare feet touched the ground. "Pick one! The other is mine for all eternity!"
The last known Horcrux was in his reach. If he destroyed it and the others, then Voldemort would only have one chance at coming back, and Dumbledore could stop that from happening. If Harry had to die to stop Voldemort, his death would mean something, instead of being a futile waste.
Reece was staring up at Harry with wide, pain-filled eyes.
If he stopped Voldemort, Harry could save countless lives. Muggles, wizards, witches. No one else would die because of Voldemort. All he had to do was to take the cup from the vampire's hand. All he'd have to sacrifice, for the future of the Wizarding world, was one little boy.
Harry reached out and grabbed Reece's robes, hauling the boy to his feet in one fluid motion. "Run!" he shouted, putting himself between Reece and the vampires. "Stupefy!"
The broken vampire flew backwards into a tree. Harry didn't stop to see what Moroven would do; he whirled and ran after Reece. The boy wasn't letting his broken arm or bare feet hold him back. He tore ahead of Harry, running as fast as he could. Harry ran hard, wand clenched in his fist. Around him, screams of fury echoed off the trees. So much for an honest deal.
There was no warning before the vampire fell from the sky, pushing Harry down before attacking Reece. Harry crashed into the ground, a tree root catching him in the face. Something gave way painfully, but there was no time for screaming. Harry managed to lift his wand and choke out, "Incendio!"
The vampire on top of Reece flew off the boy and burst into flames. As the figure burned alive, something fell to the ground, glinting gold in the firelight.
The cup.
Well, Harry wasn't going to look a gift Horcrux in the mouth. He stumbled to his feet and grabbed the cup, dancing back before the flaming, screaming vampire could reach him. Shoving the cup into his shirt, hauled Reece to his feet. "Can you run?" he asked the boy.
Reece managed to nod. Harry told himself that the grey tinge to Reece's skin was just the moonlight. "I..."
Harry shoved Reece. "Don't talk, run!"
The boy stumbled, but doggedly took off again. Harry spared a glance at the burning vampire. One vampire down, but that left the broken vampire and Moroven. Did the stunning spell work on vamps? Did it really matter if Moroven was still loose and after them?
Stop thinking and get back to the castle! The vampires had drawn Reece into the woods for a reason. Something about the castle held them off. If it was Dumbledore or some other kind of magic, Harry didn't care. He had to get Reece out of the woods and away from the vampires.
And don't forget about me! Harry reminded himself as he stumbled over a tree root. I want to be safe too!
Up ahead, Harry spotted a break in the trees, and the most welcome sight ever. The lit window of Hagrid's hut.
Less than a hundred feet from the hut, something slammed into Harry. Claws tore at him, raking through cloth and skin and down to bone. Harry couldn't even find the air to scream as he was ripped apart.
Someone else screamed, a high screaming roar. The broken vampire was hauled off Harry, suspended in the air for a drawn-out moment. Harry saw Reece, half-shifted, tearing at the vampire, but it wasn't going to be enough. The vampire was already turning on Reece, hands curled into killing claws.
Harry lifted his hand, barely registering that he didn't have his wand, and pushed all his fury at the vampire. Burn, he thought as blood filled his mouth.
The vampire flew back, bursting into flames before exploding.
Barking sounded close to Harry's ear as he choked on copper blood. "Harry!" sounded a familiar voice. "Harry, what happened? Oh, look at ye-- Harry!"
Harry tried to tell Hagrid it was okay, that he'd saved Reece and he had the Horcrux, but he couldn't breathe. Then suddenly Hagrid was lifting him of the ground and things in Harry snapped and shattered.
The pain vanished as everything went black.
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Date: 2006-10-02 01:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 01:22 am (UTC)(Going out for dinner, back in a couple of hours.)
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Date: 2006-10-02 01:52 am (UTC)On the other hand... YEAH! FIC! But... you can't leave it there. I cannot wait for the next part.
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Date: 2006-10-02 03:14 am (UTC)Next part hopefully soon. I have a four day weekend coming up.
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Date: 2006-10-02 01:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 03:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 01:57 am (UTC)Anita is going to burst something when she finds out.
Oh, and I love you. :smooch:
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Date: 2006-10-02 03:17 am (UTC)Anita is going to burst something when she finds out.
Oh, in so many fun ways.
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From:no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 01:58 am (UTC)I could express the opposite of firefox1490 sentiments, but hate is such a strong word. My favorite part of the chapter would have to be Harry's epiphany, his paradigm shift. Ending up on the floor without realizing how he'd gotten there--brilliant, yet some pretty morbid thoughts for Harry.
I really enjoyed the chapter, though. Aching with anticipation for the next.
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Date: 2006-10-02 03:27 am (UTC)Plus Harry whumpage, which always makes things get zippy.
Harry's epiphany, his paradigm shift
yeah, this is going to make things rather interesting for him in the next little while. Well, over the next day (Oh, Halloween)
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Date: 2006-10-02 02:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 03:38 am (UTC)Almost, but not quite :P
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Date: 2006-10-02 02:19 am (UTC)Harry! Reece! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
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Date: 2006-10-02 03:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 02:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 03:44 am (UTC)Only if Anita's dumb enough to start a land war in AsiaYeah, pretty much.More on how Reece was pulled out of the school in the next chapter :)
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Date: 2006-10-02 03:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 03:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 03:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 03:51 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2006-10-02 03:12 am (UTC)Second, How can you leave it there?????? Noooooo! And Anita is going to be pissed and so is Jean-Claude and Damien... and probabley Richard too. But leaving it there? How can you do that? You... you... you, evil person you. I need to know what happens. Poor Harry with the angst and the whole "am I a horecux?" thing. You just love to torture him don't you?
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Date: 2006-10-02 03:55 am (UTC)And leaving it there? That's the best part. As cliffhangers go, it's not the worst I've done. I take heart in the fact that we have 9 chapters left and killing off Harry at this point might been seen as a bad idea :D
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Date: 2006-10-02 03:36 am (UTC)And it's tickling ideas in my head. Also? I'm wondering what kind of fall out this will have. Harry getting hurt will upset to different degrees all kinds of people.
And then there is Snape. What will our favorite 'evil'-Professor think? I hoenstly, if I were Snape, would be confused as fuck by Harry. Seeing as he belives him to be a werewolf. It is rather interesting that Harry isn't truly a werwolf and yet he is more alpha than Reece.
It could be because Reece is still youngish though. And I really love how Harry sees him as a puppy.
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Date: 2006-10-02 04:05 am (UTC)Snape's reaction in the next chapter :)
It's totally because Reece is twee. Give him a few years, and that kid's going to be a total handful.
(Of course, that presumes anyone survives the next nine chapters)
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Date: 2006-10-02 03:42 am (UTC)There's gonna be big trouble, eh. Damian's old master attacked Harry, who's supposed to be under the protection of "that other master"(sorry can't remember his name righ now).
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Date: 2006-10-02 04:12 am (UTC)Yeah, Christoff and Elsa are going to be wicked pissed, but that's nothing to how Anita's going to react :D
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Date: 2006-10-02 04:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 05:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 04:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 05:02 am (UTC)Although, last time he went on vacation, he met Anita, and wackiness ensued. Huh.
So basically, he can't catch a break.
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Date: 2006-10-02 04:48 am (UTC)coherent? what? me?
omg.
what just happened?!? oh, harry. he does have rather a hard time of things, doesn't he? can't wait for more! so good to see a new chapter :-)
and remus? where is remus? i think that is the one bit we are all waiting for. i hope he wasn't around to get stuck in moroven's trap - doesn't appear to be the case, which is good.
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Date: 2006-10-02 05:05 am (UTC)where is remus?
An excellent question. One I hope to answer in good time. All in good time *steeples fingers*
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Date: 2006-10-02 05:03 am (UTC)This is my dance, the dance of glee, for Mhal has brought new fic!
Great chapter! For so little screen time, Moroven has already established herself as a deliciously creepy villain, very much in the mould of the best AB antagonist-vampires.
I hope Harry isn't too badly injured...as soon as he started making "talk to you tomorrow?" plans, I thought *something* would go awry. It's the low-key version of "what could possibly go wrong?"
And poor Reece! Reece-whomping makes me a sad panda. *wibble*
Very much looking forward to the next chapter, and the fallout :)
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Date: 2006-10-02 05:13 am (UTC)as soon as he started making "talk to you tomorrow?" plans, I thought *something* would go awry
Yeah, I thought about that, but really, Harry just wanted to have a good time with his girls, and talk about the pressing matter of his impending death (due to Horcrux issues) the following day, hopefully after he got some kissies from the ladies.
Alas. Vampire whumpage instead. The kid can't win.
And Reece can't win either. That kid might do better far, far away from the WW.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 07:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 02:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 08:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 02:40 pm (UTC)I'm glad you enjoyed! I have had the ... I dunno, I guess you can call it the screenplay, for this chapter in my head for quite a while. For all the build-up of Halloween, I don't think Harry really had any idea that these days were going to be quite to problematic.
Now, all I need to do is to have Dumbeldore go fetch Anita to Harry's "deathbed". Yeah, she's going to enjoy that.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 08:36 am (UTC)Damn, horocrux's suck, how do the gryffies know if they are horcruxes or not, and how hard is it for them to live with that thought. Poor Nev, he always gets the dirty end of the stick doesn't he? Alot going on here mhalachai, as always you have surpassed our expectations of your writing. I don't know how you do it, such a complicated plot, it's alot to keep in your head. I don't know how you can't reread Inevitable! I reread it whenever i'm bored and no one's updating fics...which has actually been alot recently, as there have been alot of writers who haven't had time to update, Rl and school i suppose. Oh well, ce la vie, non? Thanks for such a great update, and so soon after the last as well. Hope everything is going well for you :)
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Date: 2006-10-02 02:40 pm (UTC)Similarly for the vampires v. Voldemort. Back a zillion chapters ago, Requiem (or maybe Byron) told Anita that Voldemort sent a delegation to the Vampires of London for support, and that went badly. Similarly, Christoff seems very anti-Voldie. We will see in the next chapters what Morvoren's take on this is.
I can't reread Inevitable; I get sucked back in and then have no time to write :) I think I'll reread it when I'm done, then fix all the glaring errors in grammar and such.
Glad you enjoyed the chapter :)
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From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 10:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 02:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 11:32 am (UTC)Thanks for the update... I have to run the kids to school, but I knew I had just enough time to read it. Will comment fully later. :)
Word to your Muggle,
LunaLovegoddess
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Date: 2006-10-02 12:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-02 02:39 pm (UTC)I've been setting up Moroven for a while now, just little things. I needed to pull her in, if only to explain what I'm going to do re vampires in the finale.
Glad you enjoyed the chapter!
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Date: 2006-10-02 02:16 pm (UTC)The action and the angst
Angst over Harry's stupid idea that he is a 'crux... (stupid boy)
and the action... wow that is the most exciting fight and flight and fight scene I've read in a while.
I actually stood up when I read this part.
>And don't forget about me! Harry reminded himself as he stumbled over a tree root. I want to be safe too!<
Nothing like a life or death situation to make someone choking on angst to get his priorities straight!
I know you have been busy and all but this story is still fresh and vital
Thank you
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Date: 2006-10-04 12:03 am (UTC)Harry does tend to think better when he's under fire, I will say that.
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Date: 2006-10-02 06:28 pm (UTC)This was awesome. The right amount of action and JUST the right amount of sexual tension. I wouldn't mind seeing Harry dressed up as a Viking. Plus, i would PAY to see Hermione in a toga. ::shakes head::
I can't (can) wait for the next part!
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Date: 2006-10-04 12:06 am (UTC)The ST was to make up for the ANGST and PAIN I will be putting Harry through for the rest of the story. Let's just say, it's all downhill from here.
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