Reality twists 24/39

[herumtreiber]

Title: Reality twists 24/39
Chapter: King's Cross
Author:herumtreiber 
Genre: Post DH, romance, adventure, time travel
Rating: R
Epilogue compliant? No
Chapter length: ~2,429 words
Disclaimer:  I do not own Harry Potter or related characters, nor do I make any money from writing these stories.
Warnings for the fic: Angst, violence, noncon, character deaths (not the protagonists)
Summary: Harry/Draco/Daphne. Draco in Azkaban, plus time-travel. Explores the idea of powerful magic pitted against a nuclear bomb and the implications for the world. Noncon - evil Hermione and Ron – Atlantis may appear later on, and another meaning of the Prophecy. How a Time Turner can win a game. Very ecological use of the Fidelius charm; Dementors abound, but...


Table of contents


23. The importance of Parseltongue

Harry felt trapped. He didn't know how Draco would react, and he knew that Hermione was indeed a psychotic bitch intent on killing. He didn't have any wand, and the Protection Charm which could guarantee his life had just become inactive.

So as he saw the mop of blond hair come closer, he did what he thought would be unexpected, he jumped Potter and started hitting him, landing good punches at the face and chest. He even managed to break his nose. Funny that both Harry and Draco could now boast of having broken Potter's nose! That reminded him that the person who'd cast Episkey on Harry to heal him was Tonks.

Harry punched Potter hard for that one, while Potter tried ineffectually to defend himself.

Draco walked in, expecting to see maybe one Harry, or perhaps two of them. Instead he entered to watch the battle of the Harry Potters. He could see that one Harry was delivering efficient, hard punches and the other indeed fought like a girl. He ordered the Chamber, "Protect the real Harry Potter!"

Potter made an effort and pushed Harry far away. As Harry was falling down near the wall, Potter took out his wand and pointing it toward Harry said, "Sectumsempra!" The curse was partly deflected by the magic of the place, but a part still landed on his chest. Draco's Protego shield arrived too late.

Harry fell to the floor, he lost quite a bit of blood before Daphne got near enough to heal him. He lost consciousness.

Harry woke up and realized he was no longer in the Chamber of Secrets. He looked around and recognized King's Cross, the train station. He remembered the vision he had of Dumbledore here. He looked at a figure wearing a mauve and silver robe and recognized Dumbledore. Albus said, "Hello, Harry. I'm sorry you have fallen out of favor with your friends. I'm sorry to say many good plans have come to a standstill because of Mr. Malfoy. Still, it would be a pity to lose him, wouldn't it? It would be wonderful to have the strength needed to truly protect him. To have the means to beat the odds, time and again, to never know defeat."

"I can offer you that, Harry. You can still be the heir of Gryffindor, and the Protection Charm will protect you and those you care about."

Harry asked, "But won't that impinge on the free will of the world?"

Dumbledore answered seriously, "It might do so, a little bit. Eventually the world will become a unified place, under the guidance of a ruler inspired by the bravery and courage of Gryffindor House. Dark magic will be truly contained where it belongs, and all sentient beings will be able to live in harmony. I know Miss Granger may have done unsavory things, but she is a Gryffindor at heart and can be easily redeemed."

Harry replied forthrightly, "I don't want your ritual."

Dumbledore countered angrily, "Then you force me to do this! This ritual can be done through several years, requiring only symbolic steps which you may not have realized you already performed. You were bitten by a basilisk, cut with a knife of deceit, sustained the Golden Snitch of peace and most importantly, held the Deathly Hallows. Each of these had intrinsic value, together they weave the ritual I will now perform on you."

HRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRH

Potter was harshly bitchslapped by an enraged Draco Malfoy. "The magic of the Chamber tells me we are losing Harry, bitch! He's being taken to a place far away, mentally. I suspect the crazy old coot. I also think that you fight like a girl, and you can only be the redoubtable and efficient Chipmunk Granger! You think you're so clever, but I will use you."

"You have the capacity to reach Harry in a way I cannot, you can insinuate yourself into his thoughts. You will do so forthwith and will disrupt whatever Dumbledore has planned. If you don't, then I will turn you into a basilisk and you will remain in the Chamber forever. So that you know I can, let me show it."

Draco passed the wand over one of Potter's hands and it turned into a reptilian claw. Hermione tried to morph it back but she couldn't. Obviously Draco could do what he had threatened.

Draco continued, "I know you are a Metamorphmagus, Granger. Living near one has heightened my awareness of them, and that makes me wonder how you could turn out to be so. But first things first, go to Harry!"

HRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRH

Harry despaired, Dumbledore had started chanting and he felt the power beginning to coil and ready itself to be transferred to him. To Harry, it seemed as if all his struggles, his fights had been for naught. Draco's valiant attempt to disarm the Protection Charm would go to waste. He appreciated some security, but he could discern that what Dumbledore wanted was ultimately the complete control of the world.

Harry wondered how Dumbledore would benefit from this, and whether he would appear in the future in the flesh thanks to some providential Horcrux. Harry also asked himself why Dumbledore seemed so worried to prevent Draco from having the shame of killing him. Maybe he didn't care so much about Draco's soul purity as much as denying him the chance to make his own Horcrux.

Harry was stymied; because the previous symbolic steps had been taken willingly by him, he was forced to stay and witness how Dumbledore's crazy plan came to fruition.

The chants grew in volume, when he felt a mental itch that grew into a nagging feeling of inadequacy.
You have to fight back, Harry! Do it for me!
Do it for whom?
I don't want to be a basilisk!
What do you mean?
What's happening with Dumbledore?
He's chanting.
You have to get out of there before he finishes the chant. It can only succeed if you are in the Chamber. To get free you could imagine yourself in Hogwarts or with your friends. Do it with enough attention to detail, and the trance state of Dumbledore's world will collapse.
Hurry!

To escape, Harry visualized Daphne's birthday, her face when she opened the presents. Draco putting the silver bracelet on him, talking with Daphne's parents, dancing and suffering Daphne's thwacks. Presently King's Cross disappeared, and Harry was briefly in no man's land.

Soon enough, however, Harry woke up, in fact he was forced to be awake by two thwacks from left and right. Opening his eyes he saw the rest of the Silver trio looking worried. Any concern that Harry might have felt disappeared when he looked into their eyes, the passionate green eyes of Daphne and the stormy grey eyes of Draco.

A nagging voice said, "I brought him back, change back my hand!"

Draco was in a good mood, so he passed the wand over the claw and turned it back to a hand.

He mock-frowned at Harry and said, "Whatever will we do with you, Harry? I know: Mobilicorpus!" He guided a spluttering Harry out of the room. When everybody left the area, he said motioning to Hermione, "Keep this prisoner inside. They will not leave or communicate with anybody."

Harry saw an amused-looking Ginny, a confident Neville and a smirking Snape.

Draco announced, "Before we're finished with our business at the Chamber, we still have to make it secure. There were many rogue Phoenixes and Death Eaters that were here, and probably many more know their way in. This will remain an Achilles' heel for Hogwarts unless it is neutralized. I want to do a Fidelius charm, applying it to the Chamber. For the Secret Keeper I have the perfect person who will look over the Chamber for many years."

Draco called for Myrtle. After some minutes, the ghost appeared walking through the wall. Once Draco explained the duties of a Secret Keeper, Myrtle was unsure whether she was good enough. She had been killed when she was an adolescent, and she retained forever some of the qualities of that age group. Finally Draco convinced her with the argument that she already took care of Chamber business. She would now have some official capacity regarding that.

Draco performed the Fidelius, and Myrtle was chosen as Secret-Keeper. They felt the wash of magical energy as it enveloped the Chamber and battled the old wards set by the former Headmaster.

As they were ready to leave, Myrtle floated next to Draco and whispered in his ear, "The Chamber of Secrets may be found below Hogwarts."

Finally they left for the night Ginny and Neville wanted to say hi to Andromeda and Antares, but they looked knackered and left without entering, promising a visit later. Severus went to visit Narcissa, who had been taken to Malfoy Manor by Andromeda.

So the Silver trio was left alone. They spoke about the ordeal, Draco's process of deductions and Daphne's simple answers, the fight in the Chamber, Dumbledore's sneak attempt to force the Protection Charm. They sometimes threatened to break down, but the others were there to help.

Eventually they fell asleep, cuddling each other. Draco transfigured the bed into something bigger so they could be comfortable, and Harry felt he was in an enviable position: he had a sandwich of blonds, in which he was the meat.

HRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRH

The next day, after waking up a grumpy Harry and Daphne, taking care to evade her clumsy morning attempts to thwack him, Draco had a hearty breakfast.

Draco was treated to stereoscopic visions of green eyes, both sets stormy. He offered coffee as an offering and they ate the meal with gusto.

Afterwards they discussed what they would do with Granger. Draco was of the opinion that it would be extremely dangerous to kill her. She probably had more Horcruxes and would be brought back easily. It would be so much better if she remained where she was. Her power could be chained, a source of food provided and she could stay there for years. Perhaps she would change her mind, perhaps she wouldn't, but if she remained alone in the Chamber, she would not have the means to kill them.

Daphne concurred, and Harry was unable to put any major objection. He felt that Hermione deserved to suffer, after killing Tonks and robbing her power.

They went to Myrtle's bathroom. At first she didn't want to reveal where the Chamber was to Harry and Daphne, until Draco gently coaxed her.

Finally, Draco went to the sink, and said: Open up! The entrance was opened and Harry was astounded. He said, "That wasn't parseltongue and yet it worked!"

Draco replied smugly, "I had a bit of a discussion with a recalcitrant door and threatened the Chamber to obey me or I would destroy Slytherin House!"

Harry was flabbergasted, "You, destroy Slytherin? But you're the poster boy for them!"

Draco answered, "I may be, and I enjoy being there immensely, but I love my family more. Nothing can be more valuable than my family!"

They reached the prisoner's room and entered. Potter looked calmly at them. Draco said, "I suggest that you morph to your natural form, Granger, unless you want to look like this forever."

Potter looked nervous and his visage transformed into the face of Hermione Granger.

Draco took out the Elder wand and pointing it towards Hermione, he swished it elegantly and muttered, "Catenas 90." The spell acted, binding 90 per cent of Granger's powers.

Draco commented, "Your powers are bound. The Chamber keeps a watch on you. You will not leave this Chamber for many years. You will not be allowed to die because you might have another Horcrux ready to be used. This place is now under a Fidelius charm with a most unlikely Secret Keeper. Your friends cannot find you here."

Then he called his House Elf Stidgit, who appeared with a crack. Draco instructed the elf to bring meals daily to a specific warded room in the Chamber.

HRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRH

Eventually Draco started to write a lengthy letter to the Daily Prophet, preparing his revenge. He sent the missive with his Eagle owl Barnabas.

Two days later they were having breakfast when Harry appeared, short of breath after having apparently run from their rooms. Harry asked, "Is it true?"

Draco replied dispassionately, "What is true?"

Harry countered, "That you want Percy to be Minister and Lucius to be the Chief Warlock."

Draco replied a little edgily, "I think Percy would make a perfect Minister. He has worked long years in the Ministry. To the light purists, he comes from good stock. Shacklebolt cannot do anything against it, as you would know. Lucius is perfect for the Chief Warlock post. He will provide entrée for the purebloods, he'll generate enthusiasm for the government. He's bound to obey me, and I could control him."

Harry asked, "Who controls you? How can you accept that such a Death Eater can be such an influential person in the government? After what Lucius has done, it's a wonder that his redemption is accepted so easily."

Draco answered angrily, "Who controls me? I do, my motivations, conscience, power, whatever you want to call it, control me, just like they do in your case, or Granger's or Dumbledore's. It really pains me to see, Harry, that you, who enjoy redemption so much, would deny other people their own." Draco was seething, and Daphne realized that she ought to distract the Seekers.

She asked, "How is Narcissa, Draco?"

Draco replied, "She appears to be fine. They tried to hex her repeatedly, but the Protection Charm worked. She has given me their names and I have taken appropriate revenge. And Harry, please stop worrying, I didn't kill them… much. I wish you'd look for an instant away from your black and white world into the real, gray one. But we must agree to disagree for the present."

Daphne commented mystified, "I had the strangest feeling in the Chamber, at one point, the spell which tells me how long until Scorpius' conception went haywire, at first it was 7 years, then 12 and later 34 years. Actually that alerted me that Draco might be in danger. Then Ginny appeared out of nowhere and when we looked in that room, we saw Draco being covered by that disgusting cloak."

Harry asked timidly, "So you never doubted me?"

Draco answered softly, "After I saw the memory, I knew it wasn't you. Still, you and Mother were in the hands of unknown parties intent on discrediting you. I played the part of enraged lover, hoping to buy you some time."

25. Justinian