Unusual ending - chapter 14 - 1/2

[herumtreiber]

Title: Unusual ending - chapter 14 - part 1
Chapter: fourteen - part one
Author:herumtreiber 
Genre: Slash, time travel, romance, adventure
Disclaimer:  I do not own Harry Potter or related characters. Nor do I make any money from the writing of these stories.
Rating: R
Warnings: Sexual content
Epilogue compliant? No way!
Chapter length: 2878 words
Beta: None.
Summary: Old meets new. Harry walks all over Draco's heart, and when he realizes his mistakes he does the unforgivable so Draco takes him back. Time travel. During HBP, disregards Deathly Hallows - that means everyone's alive, except Sirius, but...

Table of contents

Slithering & Struggling - part 2

Albus Dumbledore was in his office, rummaging in the drawers of his desk. He was trying desperately to find the Snitch where he'd put the clue he intended to leave for Harry, to aid him in the completion of his daunting task. Not finding it, he stood up and went to the perch near his desk. He petted his phoenix, Fawkes, and complained loudly about his lack of success tracing Voldemort's horcruxes.

"Fawkes, I don't know how many of these devices Voldemort has. But I hate to think that perhaps our Harry is one of them."

Fawkes trilled disconsolately, his keening a marked contrast to his cheerful phoenix song. Albus ruffled the bird's feathers softly and continued hoarsely, "I must say I suspected Voldemort had this particular trick up his sleeve long ago; but it wasn't until you came bearing that memory vial that I could be sure it was so."

Dumbledore stepped in front of Fawkes and looked at the bird's beady eyes as if he was trying to read Fawkes' mind. He'd tried in vain to get any hint from the phoenix about the memory vial – which Fawkes had been clutching in his claws - that showed the discussion between Voldemort and one of his Death Eaters; but all Dumbledore's prying had been in vain because the phoenix appeared to be clueless. This particular memory held tantalising clues about where Voldemort planned to hide one of the horcruxes.

Ever since Dumbledore got the memory he'd been searching relentlessly for the horcruxes and had retrieved only one - or rather, Hagrid had surmounted the magical traps and brought it back. Surprisingly the relic was also one of the Deathly Hallows, which Albus intended to leave behind for Harry to help him in his final confrontation with Voldemort if something should happen to him. Last week Albus had stumbled upon another clue that clarified the hints he'd heard in the memory – the location of a cave that Riddle would have used to hide one of his horcruxes. Dumbledore suspected it was one of the Founders' relics.

Dumbledore was startled by the sudden appearance of an amorphous light, Remus' Patronus. After hearing the awful news of Harry going to Slytherin Castle to rescue Draco Malfoy - one of Albus' spies - Dumbledore felt he urgently needed the help of the Order. He could not risk Harry's life before his master plan was perfected.

Albus rapidly called Grimmauld Place and was answered by Mundungus Fletcher, who promised to get the others and Floo into the Headmaster's office. Then Dumbledore sent a Patronus message to Minerva McGonagall and Hagrid.

Albus paced back and forth in his office, peering intently at all his shiny magical trinkets. Coincidentally he'd received the memory of the horcruxes a few days after Harry violently destroyed this room, another proof – if he needed one - that the Gryffindor's actions were influenced by Voldemort's sliver of a soul residing in him.

Soon Mundungus appeared in his office – his straggly hair even more unkempt than usual -followed an instant later by Mad-Eye Moody, who stumbled a bit when he came out of the fire. Moody limped towards Albus and said in a growling voice, "What's the matter, Albus? I sent a message to Shacklebolt, he should be here in a minute."

Moody looked around the office, examining it minutely with his magical eye, as if searching for Death Eaters hiding behind the desk. He lifted a whirring contraption from the desk and held it at arm's length. He turned to Dumbledore. "Kingsley was in a meeting with Scrimgeour. I hope he can get the Aurors to help us."

Dumbledore touched the shoulder of his old friend. "I'm afraid young Harry has foolishly gone into the serpent's nest. He has jumped into danger again, trying to rescue his friends."

At that moment Kingsley Shacklebolt came out of the Floo. After he nodded to Dumbledore, he shook the ash off his violet robe; the light of the sconce glinting off his golden earring. Two slim men garbed in Auror robes were right behind him. Turning to Moody, Shacklebolt said in his rumbling baritone voice, "Scrimgeour refused to help us. He has no concept for fighting the Death Eaters. What he's done is pretend to be tough and imprison people like Stan Shunpike!"

Kingsley put his strong arms around the two men that had come with him. "But these two gentlemen heard me talking about our need and offered their help" – he pushed the young men forward, the light falling on the blond hair of one and the dark hair of the other – "they graduated from Hogwarts not so long ago."

Dumbledore nodded when he recognised John Doherty and Alan Swann, two young Hufflepuffs who graduated the year when Cedric Diggory died. Incensed by the death of their dear friend, they'd joined the Aurors and completed the course in record time. They were reputed to be talented Aurors.

The three members of the Order and the young Aurors looked expectantly at Dumbledore. Moody jostled Mundungus. "Dung, you called the other members as I told you?"

Mundungus' shifty eyes looked towards the phoenix as he uneasily replied, "Wiv all these goings on, I forgot. Sorry!"

Albus lifted an eyebrow and shrugged. "We have to rescue Harry from Voldemort, for he is the only hope we have. But there's something that we must not allow Harry to do."

Mad-Eye Moody lifted his silver flask and took a gulp of firewhiskey. He often needed it when dealing with Albus.

Moody looked intently at Dumbledore with his good eye, while his magical one whirled uncontrollably. He smacked his fist against his head, muttering, "Bloody impostor Death Eaters, they can't even treat my eye properly!"

When his magical eye calmed down, Moody continued, "And how do you intend to go to that" – he snorted – "Slytherin castle that I'm sure is fiercely protected with wards?"

Dumbledore looked towards the end of his desk, to the perch where his phoenix looked at them inquiringly. "I'm sure Fawkes will take us to Harry, a Gryffindor in dire need of our assistance."

Albus approached his desk and put his hand on a book lying there. "But whatever we do, we must not kill Voldemort. I want your word on that!"

Mundungus nodded distractedly and gave his word. The two young Hufflepuffs - after Doherty exchanged a concerned glance with his brunet friend, who lifted his eyeglasses and then looked admiringly at the Pensieve and the magical instruments - decided to follow their old Headmaster's directives and nodded also.

Kingsley looked sharply at Mad-Eye; the two Aurors exchanged a wealth of information in that glance, used as they were to reading each other's body language in the field. Kingsley realised they both disagreed with Dumbledore, and he decided to reserve his judgment.

Moody, who'd been silently fuming, exploded. "Are you mad, Dumbledore? What's this about not killing You-Know-Who? I thought that was the whole purpose of the Order!"

Dumbledore used a conciliatory tone. "You must understand, Alastor! If we kill Voldemort he'll just return like he did before. He has the magical means to do that!"

Albus winced, remembering keenly the time when Voldemort possessed Harry - the darkest moment in Albus' life - and the recurrent nightmare he had that Voldemort's evil soul might just migrate to Harry and possess him if Harry was the one that survived their confrontation before they destroyed all the horcruxes. The Prophecy itself strongly hinted at this outcome.

Dumbledore added urgently, "Voldemort might even possess Harry! You must promise me you won't kill Voldemort until the time is right, or young Harry's soul will perish!"

Mad-Eye Moody snorted and took another swig of his firewhiskey. He turned to Dumbledore and growled, "You're barmy, Dumbledore! If You-Know-Who has something that brings him back, why not just keep killing him until he runs out of tricks?"

Moody limped towards the desk and in his anger, he swept his hand over it and the magical instruments fell to the floor with a crashing sound. He turned to face Dumbledore, his magical eye rolling in distress - his face twisted in a ferocious scowl. "You insist Harry is the Chosen One, yet you won't let me or Lupin instruct him! You don't know the Death Eaters as much as I do!"

Mad-Eye rubbed his wooden leg and limped towards the perch where Fawkes was. "I will promise you nothing! I'll help Harry fight You-Know-Who, and if we come out of this alive, I'll train him myself!"

Kingsley bent down to pick up one of the smashed trinkets on the floor.

Moody's gaze swept imperiously around the circular room until he reached Shacklebolt, who stood up regally and nodded his support. The two Aurors would fulfil their duty and try to kill Voldemort, even if Dumbledore objected.

Moody turned to look sceptically at his old friend. "You've failed before, Dumbledore. You don't practice what I say. Remember, Constant Vigilance!"

Mad-Eye wished he had his portable Sneakoscope with him, but it always went off when he was next to Mundungus, so he'd left it inside his magical trunk.

Dumbledore, seeing the combative Auror's refusal to listen to him, decided to keep secret his master plan concerning Harry. If Alastor Moody was so protective of Harry, then he would not look kindly upon Albus' plan to have Harry willingly surrender to Voldemort and let himself be killed after Harry had destroyed all the horcruxes. With Harry dead, Voldemort would be bereft of horcruxes and could easily be killed by another daring student like Neville Longbottom.

Peering at Dumbledore's desk, Moody saw with his magical eye that a silver memory vial was inside the topmost drawer. He noticed it had an etched sigil of a serpent biting its tail. Frowning, Moody decided to investigate it further because it sure looked as if that vial came from a Death Eater.

Moody pretended he'd slipped on the floor and was falling down. He grabbed the drawer to support himself and pulled it out. When he stood up shakily he put his hand inside the drawer and grabbed the memory vial, putting it inside his pocket.

Dumbledore ruefully shook his head when he realised that Remus and Tonks were not rushing into his office; probably both of them had dashed off to Harry's defence. Though how they would pass through the wards that protected Slytherin Castle, he didn't know. Albus sighed in relief when the door opened and Minerva came into the room, Hagrid walking just behind her.

Noticing Moody taking a swig from his hip flask, McGonagall frowned disapprovingly whilst Hagrid greeted eagerly the speccy Auror – Swann had been one of his most enthusiastic students.

Albus motioned for the group to approach Fawkes so they could travel to Slytherin Castle.

---

Dobby stood in front of the boys, defiantly facing Bellatrix Lestrange. Bella had approached the group stealthily from the back of the corridor.

When she noticed the dead body of the huge serpent behind the boys, Bellatrix yelled angrily, "You killed my Master's pet!"

Bellatrix vowed to avenge Nagini's death. She intended to herd the boys toward the hall where the Dark Lord waited; but that didn't mean she couldn't have fun with them. The Black witch cackled madly and prepared to kill them, except Harry Potter who was reserved for her master.

When Bella saw her nephew Draco standing next to Harry, holding his hand, she exclaimed, "You broke your Unbreakable Vow, Draco, you should be dead!"

George elbowed Fred, and the twins looked at each other with identical leers. George said, "He hasn't broken it yet..."

"... though he might if Harry..." continued Fred.

"... doesn't put out!" chorused the twins whilst Harry shook his head, wondering what they were talking about.

Draco rolled his eyes at the twins' antics. Then he turned to his aunt, smirking.

"Sorry to disappoint you, auntie – but you don't know as much about Vows as you profess," drawled Draco, his eyes still searching for his wand near Nagini's corpse.

When Bella - mad with anger - cast a dark spell at Draco, it was Harry who threw a shield in front of them. Dobby tried to walk through the shimmering shield and defend them against the crazy Death Eater, but Draco's hand on his shoulder kept him from passing through. I'll really miss the primadonna elf if he goes and kills himself. Life without Dobby's theatrics is too dim to contemplate, thought Draco melodramatically.

The twins tugged Harry's and Draco's robes when they saw who was behind Bellatrix. Fenrir Greyback had followed Lestrange when she ran from the hall. Greyback licked his lips at the thought of feasting on those luscious young bodies.

---

Remus frowned when he saw where they'd arrived. This was some kind of torture room. There were all kinds of spiky and ominous metal contraptions around. The walls were festooned with chains, and a rickety table groaned under the weight of several maces. Exactly the place where Voldemort would bring the young people to get initiated, thought Remus disgustedly.

As if they had planned it from the start, Blaise took a position next to Pansy and Tonks, whilst Cho, Parvati and the two Gryffindors approached Remus. Narcissa dashed out of the room, her blond hair swirling around her head - her mind traitorously picturing the broken body of Draco,

Pansy held Tonks' hand tentatively and said, "My father told me the way to You-Know-Who's throne."

The Slytherin girl looked at Tonks' face; seeing Bellatrix' visage grinning at her without her usual madness lurking just beneath, Pansy barely repressed her shudder. "We will go there." She bent down to pick two Death Eater masks and passed one to Blaise. She motioned for the black Slytherin to go first and Tonks – essaying a cruel smirk to perfect her Bellatrix persona – walked just behind her.

---

Bellatrix advanced imperiously on the students, Greyback right behind her. Harry cast a spell easily evaded by the shaggy and unkempt werewolf. Taking advantage of the moment - and knowing that two of the boys did not have wands - Bellatrix shot a spell at George that threw him to the floor, leaving him motionless. Harry, Draco and Fred looked at George's unmoving body with despair. Exploiting Harry's consternation, Bellatrix cast Expelliarmus and divested Harry of his wand.

Mindful of the Dark Lord's orders, Bellatrix knew she could not kill Harry Potter, but she could play with him.

"Liked my spell, ickle Harry? It's the same one I used on your godfather" - Bellatrix sashayed towards the horrified boys – "should keep the blood-traitor immobilised till I lift it."

Bellatrix turned exaggeratedly to the left and right, enjoying her cruel mockery of Harry Potter. "Pity there's no Veil around when you need it!"

Greyback growled and Harry turned to him, scowling fiercely. Bellatrix threw the same spell against Harry – so intent was Harry on revenge that he didn't see it and it was only Draco throwing himself in front of him that protected him.

Harry saw Draco's body fall to the floor and snarled ferociously, casting a wandless spell and throwing Bellatrix against the wall. He ran towards her but Greyback moved to intercept him. If Bellatrix still obeyed the Dark Lord's orders, bloodlust and the urge to maim sang in Greyback's ears, telling him he should bite these boys.

---

Voldemort sat on his throne, waiting impatiently for the moment when Harry Potter should arrive. He looked around for his favourite, and when he couldn't find Bella he decided to Crucio her for disobeying his orders – until he saw her approaching from the other end of the hall, two of his Death Eaters behind her.

Voldemort frowned when he noticed Bellatrix stumbling over a small stone on the floor next to the carcass of the dragon. Time in Azkaban had not been kind to her - or she'd cast too many Crucios and it was impairing her mind. He anxiously tapped his claw-like fingers against the golden throne.

"Where were you, Bella?" asked Voldemort impatiently.

"I was looking for… Harry Potter, wasn't I?" said Bellatrix tentatively.

Severus unobtrusively approached the fake Bellatrix, sighing inwardly at the oblivious Death Eaters and their Lord. These fools don't realise that this isn't their Bella. Since when does she stumble? And if Tonks is here, that means that the werewolf is not far behind. This should be interesting, indeed, thought Severus whilst he toyed with the Portkey inside his robes.

"I told you all that I" – Voldemort pointed a bony finger at his thin chest –"must be the one to vanquish Potter!"

The Dark Lord stood up and advanced on Bellatrix, intending to call Dolohov and the other Death Eaters so they could witness his victory. He noticed Bellatrix' sweating face and he snorted, thinking that the strain of being so near Harry Potter and not killing him was slowly unhinging his Bella.

Voldemort recalled fondly the moment of his resurrection in the graveyard. And it was with a sense of symmetry – of the past reaching to the future and closing the circle triumphantly - that he changed course and moved towards Pettigrew, and used Wormtail's Dark Mark to call the other Death Eaters to his side.

Whose wand is it anyway? - 2/2