Well of Shadows
Uninvited Guests
By Ruskbyte
Chapter Fifteen
~ Uninvited Guests ~
Hermione was looking at Hagrid, who was looking at Snape, who was looking at McGonagall, who was looking at Dumbledore, who was looking at Ginny, who was looking at Harry, who was looking at Lucius
Malfoy with wide eyes and a gaping mouth.
"A truce," Harry finally managed to say, after nearly a minute of silence.
"Yes," confirmed Malfoy, his face twisted in an unhappy grimace, "a truce."
Harry shook his head in wonder and asked, "What have you been smoking?"
~And where can I get some?~ he heard Ginny think. Oddly enough Harry could not tell if she was being serious or not, but considering the circumstances he was willing to dismiss the question as something shock-induced.
Malfoy sneered, "Unfortunately I have not been indulging in anything. My Lord Voldemort wishes for me to negotiate a truce between his forces and your own."
"Why me?" asked Harry, puzzled. "Why come to me and not Dumbledore?"
"The Dark Lord knows where the true power of the light lies, Potter," growled Malfoy, the distaste he obviously felt audible in his voice. He waved a hand, dismissively, at Dumbledore and the others and said, "Dumbledore is a weak and tired old man, his power is no longer a match for Lord Voldemort now that he has returned, infused the strength of your own blood. He knows that you are the only one who has the potential to equal him in power."
Harry struggled not to bristle at the insult to Dumbledore, but took note of Malfoy's words and commented to Ginny, From the look of things, Voldemort doesn't know I've shared the power of the Order with you.
~Then he'll be in for one hell of a surprise~ observed Ginny.
*Aye,* said Heracles, *best we keep this a secret.*
Osiris agreed, *Yes, it will be our --how do you say it?-- the ace up our sleeve?*
"Voldemort will never permit anyone to be his equal," Dumbledore said, his eyes sparkling dangerously. "He would never willingly ally himself with anyone that possibly provide a threat to his reign."
"He doesn't want to ally with us," observed Harry, mulling thoughtfully over Malfoy's words. His eyes narrowed and he permitted himself a thin smile. "He isn't making this offer willingly either. It's because of Draco, isn't it?"
Malfoy grimaced and nodded reluctantly. "My son is... proving to be something of a problem."
Hermione snorted. "Killing too many Death Eaters for your liking is he?"
"Be quiet Mudblood!" Malfoy snapped. "These matters do not concern the likes of you!"
"But Hermione is correct, is she not?" asked Dumbledore. "Young Draco has turned upon you and is now following his own path. We know that he has been slaughtering indiscriminately."
"Voldemort released a power that cannot be controlled," agreed Harry. He smiled at Malfoy and said sweetly, "And now he's begun to realize that Draco is just as likely to destroy him as he is us. So he's turning to the only people who might be able to help him. Us."
Malfoy nodded unhappily. "Yes. Be certain that my Lord will never ally himself with you, Potter, but he is willing to put his feud with you aside for the time being. Until the current situation is resolved."
Harry arched a surprised eyebrow while Ginny asked, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend? Is that what you're getting at?"
"Shut up, Weasley!" Malfoy barked, glaring at her. He looked at Harry, his cold grey eyes filled with venom. "This offer is for you alone, Potter. Lord Voldemort will halt all attacks against Muggles, Mudbloods and the like, provided you cease all your activities against his Death Eaters. Only after Dra- my son has been eliminated, shall things return to how they were."
"I will submit to your terms on one condition," Harry said with a calculated look in his eyes. He ignored the few startled and disbelieving gasps from those around them. Even Malfoy seemed quite surprised by his ready acceptance of Voldemort's offer. "A demonstration of good faith on your part."
"What?" asked Malfoy cautiously.
Harry spoke clearly enough for everyone in the hall to hear him. "Peter Pettigrew. Wormtail. I want him. I don't care if he's dead or alive, in one piece or dismembered, as long as his face is identifiable."
Malfoy blinked and blurted, "Impossible."
"Do it anyway," Harry told him. He narrowed his eyes, stepping close to Malfoy, and said in a threatening tone, "Or I'll consider leaving Draco to his own devices and concentrate all of my efforts solely against Voldemort. And you."
~Harry what the blazing hells do you think you're doing?!~ asked Ginny. She was clutching him tightly by the arm. Harry glanced at her, but did not fully turn away from Malfoy, and saw the alarm blossoming in her wide eyes. ~You're trusting the word of Tom Riddle! This bastard's a Death Eater! He planted Tom's diary where I would find it. I almost died! You almost died! And his son sent my brother to the sodding Hospital Wing in a bleeding coma!~
Trust me, Gin, he assured her, looking back at Malfoy, I have no intention of trusting Voldemort as far as I could throw the castle,
*Which isn't saying very much, Harry,* chided Isis' voice, *especially when you could knock the entire planet out of its orbit.*
~Harry, you know they'll betray us - it's a trap!~
I know. That's why I'm milking the opportunity for the only thing it's worth.
After a minute consideration Malfoy smirked knowingly. "Trying to win your godfather's innocence and freedom, eh, Potter?"
Harry nodded. "It's the only thing Voldemort has that I'd ever want."
*We should bloody hope so!*
"I never did like rodents," Malfoy mused, stroking his chin. Finally he nodded, "Very well then, I will present Lord Voldemort with your demand. If he sees fit to grant it, I shall return."
The fugitive Death Eater reached into his robes with one hand, clearly intending to activate his Portkey. Harry and Ginny had only started with the beginning stages of deactivating Malfoy's Portkey and had been so surprised by Voldemort's offer of a truce that they had completely forgotten to continue their efforts. However, before Malfoy could trigger the Portkey that would spirit him from Hogwarts, a piercing shriek rent through the air.
"RRRIIIIEEEEEAAAAAAAAAARRRRRHHHHNNN!!"
Everyone, even Malfoy, froze in place. The bestial roar reverberated throughout the Great Hall and the rest of the castle, chilling the blood of all who heard it. It was sustained for nearly half a minute before slowly tapering off.
"What was that?" gasped McGonagall, clutching a hand to her chest.
"A dragon," breathed Hagrid, sounding positively delighted.
There was a moment of silence as everyone contemplated this startling revelation. Harry made sure to watch Malfoy closely, wondering if perhaps this was some trick of Voldemort's. He was satisfied to see that the Death Eater was as surprised, and worried, as everyone else. Then the cry was repeated --louder, closer-- and in chorus.
Harry shared a look with Ginny and together they extended their senses outwards. It was not easy, navigating around the morass of magic that permeated Hogwarts, but together they were able to look beyond the walls of the castle and to the grounds. What they found was alarming.
"Shit," Harry cursed, earning surprised looks from everyone.
"What is it?" asked Hermione apprehensively.
It was Ginny that answered, her voice grim, "Unless we are very much mistaken... Draco has sent us some friends of his to play with."
***
There were five of them. Once they had been Common Welsh Greens, a breed of dragon with smooth green scales that was --well, as the name implied-- fairly common in the British Isles. Now, however, they were twisted and warped shadows of their true selves. Literally, for Draco's manipulations had turned the massive beasts into creatures of impenetrable black and biting cold.
"You didn't mention anything about the Well being able to do this," remarked Snape waspishly as they stood on the ramparts facing the Forbidden Forest.
The rest of the staff, the fifty Aurors stationed at the school, as well as a good many of the more adventurous students, were arrayed there. Several people were conspicuously absent. Most noticeably Lucius Malfoy, who had activated his Portkey immediately after identifying the dragons as his son's work. Then there was the husband and wife pair of Gregory and Hilary Proteus, of whom nobody had seen hide nor hair of the entire evening. Still, there were close to two hundred people on battlements, watching as the five shadowy dragons circled in the night sky.
"We didn't mention it, because we didn't know he could do it," retorted Ginny, her eyes fixed on the five winged shapes that crossed back and forth high above them.
Beside her, Harry nodded and silently asked the Order, ~At least you lot certainly never told us about the Well of Shadows altering living creatures into... whatever these things are.~
*None of the previous Wells have ever done anything like it,* Merlin offered as an excuse.
Somehow that does not make me feel better, said Ginny.
*It's not our fault.*
*It 'as been several zousand years since ze last Well,* said Joan. *Osiris and Isis should 'ave been ze ones to know its capabilities.*
Osiris defended his wife and himself by stating, *Anubis preferred to conjure up sandstorms and plagues. He never gave any indication of being able to manipulate dragons or anything else.*
~Great~ groaned Harry, tensing as one of the shadows bellowed. ~That's just what we need. Malfoy showing that he can be innovative.~
Any suggestions? Ginny asked.
"Any suggestions?"
The two teenagers turned to see that Dumbledore had come to stand next to them. Just behind him was Professor McGonagall and Duncan Idaho, the senior Auror in charge of the division that was now permanently stationed at Hogwarts.
*Not much we can do from here,* admitted Alexander reluctantly. *If the Well has managed to change these dragons into creatures of pure shadow - normal magic will not have much effect against them.*
"Only the Order has enough power to deal with these creatures as they are," Harry said. Idaho seemed a bit unwilling to accept this, but a hand from Dumbledore stilled him. Harry continued, "It would be best if you let me handle this."
'Me'? Don't you mean let 'us' handle this? asked Ginny, not liking the implications of how Harry had phrased that last bit.
~No. I'll be handling this situation alone~ he answered.
"What d'you mean by that?" she asked, scowling unhappily at him.
"I'm going to go out to meet them," Harry told her. He smiled grimly and looked to where the dragons were cruising low over the Forbidden Forest and said, "After all, if you'd think back to the last time you saw five dragons, you would remember who it was that brought them down."
For a moment Ginny puzzled over his words, but then the memory came back to her and she stared at Harry in disbelief. She shook her head and waved towards the dragons. "Dammit, Harry, those are live dragons we're talking about! Real ones! They're not a state of mind for your base instincts to tear limb from limb!"
Harry frowned. "My Animagus form is the only thing that can match those creatures in a head-to-head fight. I doubt Draco's imbued them with much strength beyond what they had before he altered them. With you and everyone else providing support and distraction from down here, I have a good chance of defeating them."
*You are out of your mind!*
~You've told me this before~ he replied, ~has it ever been able to stop me?~
"Fine, then I'm going with you," Ginny declared staunchly, folding her arms and glaring at him, challenging him to try and stop her.
"No you won't," Harry protested. "I can fly, you can't."
Gritting her teeth Ginny had to admit, albeit reluctantly, that Harry was right. Not only was her Animagus form unable to fly --something that would doubtless prove useful in battling a clutch of dragons-- she would also be a great deal smaller than her opponents. Harry's form, however, was easily capable of surviving a one-on-one fight with such creatures. But against five of them...
It was Dumbledore that spoke. "How do you want us to help, Harry?"
"Get the students into the Practical Fighting Techniques auditorium," Harry ordered, turning to appraise the waiting Dragons, which had come to ground at the edge of the forest, not far from Hagrid's hut.
"From what we can tell, these things are similar to Dementors," added Ginny, reaching down to grasp one of Harry's hands in her own. "Not identical, not by a long shot, but close enough that a Patronus might be able to slow them down. At the very least they'll be a distraction that Harry can use to his advantage."
Dumbledore nodded in understanding. "Then I shall request that any students capable of producing a Patronus remain to lend what assistance they can."
"Have whoever's looking after the other students activate the school's shields and lower the auditorium," suggested Harry, squeezing Ginny's hand and turning to face her. "Our repairs and modifications to the Situation Map might not be finished, but everything else is in working order. I think it best that we get those we can out of harm's way and also prevent the dragons from possibly entering the school."
"Minerva, see to it," ordered Dumbledore. "I shall remain here to organise the students."
"Very well, Albus," agreed McGonagall, who immediately departed back into the school.
Harry are you sure about this? Ginny asked him, pulling him into a hug. She could all too clearly remember the last time Hogwarts had been under siege. The hundreds of Dementors had laid a pall of cold over the school, which some of the younger students still had nightmares about, and Harry had come far too near death's door for Ginny's comfort.
~Don't worry, Gin~ he assured her, holding her in his arms. Harry released one hand and took hold of her chin, tilting her face up to his for a tender kiss. Stroking her cheek with his fingers he smiled softly at her, ~As long as you're here, nothing too bad will happen to me.~
***
It was odd, Harry mused, how he could be in the midst of a life and death battle against five incredibly dangerous opponents and yet at the same time be worried about where Hagrid was going to sleep the next night.
The five dragons, or rather the creatures the dragons had become, had fallen upon the cosy wooden house with unbridled fury. Draco's manipulations had removed the dragons' ability to breathe fire, but their sheer physical strength had not been diminished. Hovering unsteadily in the air Harry could see the shattered remains of Hagrid's house below him as he struggled against the wrestling form of one of the three remaining dragons.
With help from Ginny and the others spread across the castle's ramparts, Harry had managed to eviscerate the first dragon he had gone up against with little effort on his part. Silvery Patroni had lit up the midnight sky with their glow, weakening the dragon enough for Harry to shred its belly and throat with his gleaming claws.
Unfortunately the element of surprise, as well as the concerted effort of those lending their aid, was no longer available for Harry to take advantage of. The remaining dragons had quickly flung themselves into the fray and it was all Harry could do to hold them off. The many Patroni and other spells from those on the castle walls were distracting the dragons, yes, but Harry was not having as easy a time of it as he had originally expected.
Ginny managed, through their link, to provide most of his aid against whichever opponent he was currently fighting. The rest were reduced to little more than colourful displays of light and noise that served to distract and confuse those dragons Harry was not grappling with.
The second dragon to fall had done so nearly ten minutes earlier and Harry had yet to make any progress against the surviving three. The trouble stemmed from the fact that the remaining dragons seemed to be taking turns, although their actions did not appear to be coordinated in any way. It was simply that they all seemed to want a piece of Harry and had several times pulled each other off him in order to have the dubious honour of fighting him themselves.
Needless to say Harry was rapidly finding himself being worn down.
//AAAAARRRRGGGHH!//
The dragon Harry was struggling against had somehow managed to latch it jaws onto his left arm, biting down hard and ripping at the flesh. Gasping in pain he pulled his other arm free and reached across to claw at the dragon's face. The creature resisted at first, now so much stronger than normal, but eventually Harry was able to pry it loose.
~Harry!~ came Ginny's cry from below them, ~Swing around, now!~
Thrusting with his wings Harry managed to pivot himself and the struggling dragon about in the air, bringing the dragon round towards the castle. He narrowed his eyes against the glaring light as a dozen Patroni streaked through the air to slam into the dragon's exposed back. The shadow beast roared in anger and twisted in Harry's grasp.
It was enough, however, for Harry to strike a fatal blow.
Lunging his head forward and spreading his strong jaws wide, Harry tore at the dragon's exposed throat. Biting down fiercely Harry could feel his golden fangs sinking into the shadowy non-flesh and with a jerk he ripped his head back. A spray of black blood erupted from the dragon's throat and the creature gave a strangled gurgle as it fought hopelessly against Harry. Its claws tore into his chest and arms, but Harry ignored its struggles and forced his wings to lift them higher as he battled to lever himself above the dying beast.
With a hiss of pain as the dragon slashed a deep line across his chest, Harry smashed a fist into its face. For a moment the dragon ceased its wild thrashing and Harry gripped it firmly with both hands and swung himself around and onto its back. Howling in protest the dragon writhed and bucked in an attempt to pull free, but Harry clung to it like a limpet. With a bestial roar he slashed his talons into its wings, tearing through the leathery membranes easily.
Kicking off against its back, Harry rose higher into the air as the crippled creature plummeted to the ground. He watched as the dragon crashed on top of the ruins of Hagrid's hut, a long and jagged wooden beam spearing through its torso. Shrieking in what had to be unbearable agony the animal writhed and jerked for long seconds before finally falling limp.
~Three down~ declared Ginny with satisfaction.
Two to go he finished, trying not to let the pain he was feeling seep into his thoughts, even though he knew Ginny was fully aware of his condition.
Blood was seeping from gashes to his arms, legs and across his chest. His muscles ached with every motion he made and Harry was certain --if you could see beneath the thick white fur which covered this form-- that his entire body would be a mass of bruises. Both of his wings were more than a little tattered, from his recent midair wrestling match, and he was worried that perhaps something in his left wing was either sprained or torn or broken.
The worst, however, was the cold.
Harry had never believed anything could be colder than the chill which surrounded Dementors like a cloak. Apparently he was wrong, for the frigid cold these shadow creatures Draco had created seemed to seep into every pore, fibre and cell of his body. It blanketed his entire being in the same way the bitter cold of winter settled over the highlands, only worse. It penetrated his body, his muscles and bones, with a relentless numbness. If it weren't for the power of the Order and the innate magic of his Animagus form, he would not have lasted this long.
Not only that, but the cold was beginning to affect his mind - distracting him, which was probably how the last two dragons managed to sneak up on him so easily.
~Harry look out!~
//Oh shit!// he exclaimed as he looked up just in time to see the two surviving dragons barrelling towards him, wings spread wide and taloned arms outstretched. One tackled Harry at the waist, both arms snaking around his body crushing him in a vicious bear hug. The other dragon whipped past and snapped its long tail in his face like a whip. The first dragon, after raking his back with its claws, flung him to one side and swept off to join its companion, leaving Harry to his own devices.
It was funny in a way, Harry thought as he fell in a daze to the ground, how he seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time falling from great heights. Perhaps Hermione had the right idea and he should keep his feet firmly on solid ground in the future.
*Do a spell! Any spell!* came a frantic shout from the Order.
I'm trying, he replied, noticing that the earth seemed to be rushing up to meet him with indecent haste. He twisted as he fell and tried to flip himself over. Give me a minute!
*I think we've only got about five seconds!*
As it turned out, it was less than that. Harry slammed into the ground in a thunderous crash that shook the foundations of the castle. He heard loud cracks as several ribs and one of his wings were broken upon impact. Blinking his eyes rapidly Harry tried to roll onto his hands and knees, but found that the world was spinning to and fro beyond his ability to balance.
//Ugh!// he grunted, forcing himself to move regardless of the waves of dizziness that were assaulting his senses. Shaking his head, in a foolish attempt to clear his blurred vision, he asked, How was that?
*I've seen better,* was Isis' dry reply, *but at least you're not dead yet.*
"Harry!"
Looking up Harry saw that he had crashed close to the castle wall and Ginny, in a state of mild panic, was almost directly above him. Wearily he raised a hand and tried to smile at her as he thought, Not to worry, Gin, I'm okay.
"Behind you!" cried both Dumbledore and Idaho, who were standing on either side of Ginny. They were pointing frantically and both summoned up a Patronus as Harry spun around.
The two dragons had landed near the edge of the Forbidden Forest, just over fifty yards from where Harry was crouched. Hulking low and seeming to blend into the perpetual darkness of the forest, the two shadows began to slowly stalk towards the castle. They were moving side by side, the tips of their wings just brushing against each other.
Harry's eyes narrowed to thin slits as he watched a score of Patroni and other spells streak down from the wall behind him. The dragons were being buffeted by enough magic to kill just about anything, but they were only slowed down, weathering the waves of energy that came at them with almost contemptuous ease.
With a low, almost inaudible growl, Harry began to charge.
In less than half a dozen steps he was already moving at a full sprint, crossing the distance between the castle wall and the approaching dragons in a matter of seconds. His ribs hurt like Hell and it was all he could do to ignore the stabbing pain which lanced through his chest with every step he took. In a way the pain drove him on, provoking the simmering ferocity that always seemed to bubble within him whenever he changed into this form. Letting the pain fuel his growing ire, all Harry really had to concentrate on was his broken wing, which hung limply from his back and caused him to lean slightly to the left. At the very last moment he ducked down and rolled towards them, gritting his teeth in pain as his broken wing pressed against the ground.
With a hiss he leapt up, immediately between the startled dragons, and twisted. His left wings arced out wide, the razor-sharp golden tips of the feathers slicing into the one dragon's belly. As he moved, Harry kicked out and snapped one clawed foot across the face of the second dragon. Landing nimbly, for a creature of such great size, he continued to spin around and brought his other leg and its glistening claws up for a second bone shattering spinning kick to the dragon's face, rending the scaly flesh into bloody ribbons. With pained roars both dragons collapsed, one clutching at its savaged underside, the other nursing the one side of its face.
~Yes!~
//Got them!// he exclaimed, hopping back a dozen yards. If his face had been capable of it he would have grinned, but he settled for baring his golden fangs in satisfaction.
~You all right?~ Ginny asked, her concern coming across strongly through their bond.
I think so. Just let me... finish... them... Harry's thoughts trailed off as the dragons turned on each other and seemed to embrace. For a moment it looked as if they were trying to comfort themselves, but this impression quickly faded as their great shadow forms, dripping with a thick black ichor, began to merge. Harry looked on in horror and groaned, //You have got to be kidding me.//
"RRRIIIIEEEEEAAAAAAAAAARRRRRHHHHNNN!!"
Common Welsh Greens were not the largest breed of dragon, which meant that they were quite a bit smaller than an Imperial Arch Griffin. Even the largest dragons, such as the Hungarian Horntail, were barely able to match Harry's Animagus form in size. This had thus far been the main advantage Harry had over the five creatures Draco had dispatched to Hogwarts.
I think I'm in trouble, Harry observed as the two badly injured dragons seemed to liquefy and blend into each other. It was not unlike watching two wax statues melt and slowly amalgamate into a single lump, but still retain their original shape.
~Harry, get out of there. Now~ Ginny was telling him as the resulting single dragon took a few of lumbering steps towards Harry. Her voice was filled with the same apprehension Harry was feeling as he watched the massive shadow before him. ~Apparate somewhere - get back into the castle!~
"RRRIIIIEEEEEAAAAAAAAAARRRRRHHHHNNN!!"
It was like being hit in the gut by the Hogwarts Express steaming along at full throttle. The shadow tackled him with a shoulder, lifting him off the ground and into the air before slamming him against the stone wall behind him.
One unbelievably strong hand was gripping him by the throat, slowly tightening around his airways. Harry reached up and tried to pry the dragon off, but it grabbed his arm with its free hand and easily tugged his arm to the side. With what almost seemed like relish, it gave a deep growl that could pass for a chuckle, the dragon twisted viciously and Harry screamed in pain as his right arm was wrenched from its socket, accompanied by a wet pop.
Baring its teeth and looming over him to stare into his eyes, the dragon spread the fingers of its free hand wide, baring its scimitar sized talons. The throbbing pain of his dislocated right arm disappeared beneath the burning sharpness that stabbed through his body as the dragon thrust its hand into his side, sinking its claws deep into his body. Harry struggled and fought to free himself, but the dragon had levered itself over him and he could not gain enough leverage to counter it.
With almost demented glee the dragon twisted the claws it had buried in his side as it continued to strangle the life from him with its other hand. Its dark wings were spread wide and high, eclipsing Harry's view to just the impenetrable blackness and void which the dragon was swathed in. Dimly, as his struggled against its grip with his good arm, Harry could hear Ginny and the others up on the ramparts calling to him. He was having trouble making out their words and they sounded very far away.
Harry's bright green eyes slowly drifted shut.
***
A moment of silence.
***
With a flicker two blazing emerald orbs snapped open.
The dragon seemed almost surprised, Ginny thought, as Harry's eyes glared at it from across the narrow gap between the two combatants. Its head had reared back a bit and it had stopped jabbing its claw into Harry's side. The two colossal creatures were poised in mid-struggle, as immobile as a bronze statue, though a grand one.
Harry? she asked, tentatively, wondering why he was no longer struggling to free himself from the dragon's hold on him.
//RRRRRrrrrr...//
The low and menacing growl answered that question. Ginny could quite clearly remember the last time she had heard that sound. From his reaction, standing beside her, Ginny could tell that Dumbledore had also realized what had just happened. With only that one deep growl as a warning, the Imperial Arch Griffin --Ginny found herself unable to refer to this untamed beast as Harry-- exploded in action with the suddenness of a once dormant volcano erupting.
The Griffin's good arm swung up and he latched his hand around the wrist of the hand the dragon was using to strangle him with. There was a loud snap as he gave a deft twist and broke the dragon's wrist, ending the choking hold on his throat. Baring his gleaming gold fangs the Griffin forced his right leg up as the other beast howled in pain. With a roar that left Ginny's ears ringing, the Griffin kicked the dragon off him.
//RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!//
Ginny swallowed as she watched the dragon sail through the air, kicked by the Griffin with enough force that it actually managed to reach the edge of the Forbidden Forest. With a thunderous crash that uprooted several trees and caused them to collapse around it, the dragon tumbled to the ground.
A trail of smoking black blood followed it, burning the grass it lay upon, and leading up to the now wounded monster's savaged right arm. The Griffin had never released his hold on the dragon's wrist and, combined with the kick, had torn the limb off at the elbow. Glancing down at the severed forelimb in his hand, the Griffin snarled and threw the bloody appendage to one side, before turning his attention to his own wounded body.
With what sounded like an almost human grunt of displeasure or annoyance, the Griffin clutched at his limp right arm. Growling he twisted to one side and with a deliberate motion slammed his shoulder into the stone wall he had so recently been pinned against. The impact held enough force to cause the entire wall to tremble, almost knocking several people to their knees, as the Griffin threw back his head and howled from the pain.
Another howl joined his and the Griffin spun around to face the dragon, which was clambering to its feet. With a rumble like approaching thunder, the Griffin seemed to consider his foe for a moment, flexing his right hand as if to test it. Apparently everything met with the Griffin's approval for he let loose a triumphant shriek and launched himself into the air with a single beat of his tattered but still magnificent wings.
The dragon had stumbled clear of the toppled trees it had crashed into, but this only left it open to the Griffin's assault. With a roar he dropped down on the dragon from above, smashing his right fist across its face. His left hand immediately shot up, from somewhere near the ground, and landed an uppercut to the dragon's jaw that lifted the massive beast off its feet.
Relentlessly, in a display of such savage fury that nobody watching could bring themselves to speak, the Griffin fell upon the fallen dragon like an enraged demon. His arms were rising and falling in a blur, sprays of thick black blood arcing with each stroke of the Griffin's taloned hands that were ripping and tearing at the dragon.
A bloodthirsty scream rent the air as the Griffin leapt to his feet and kicked at the dragon's chest before grabbing it by its whipping tail and hauling it closer to the castle. The shadow enshrouded beast struggled and twisted about, but all this accomplished was to allow the berserk Griffin to come at it from behind.
Bellowing he straddled the writhing dragon's narrow middle and grabbed firm hold of its one wing. Somehow the dying animal must have known what he was attempting, for it seemed to redouble its efforts and grow frantic in its attempt to escape, but the Griffin was relentless. Its muscles strained and rippled and bunched beneath its thick white fur. Lifting one leg and jamming his knee into the small of the dragon's back, the Griffin heaved and pulled with ever ounce of its unmatchable strength.
Sweet and merciful heavens, Ginny thought, bringing her hand up to her mouth in horror as the Griffin began to literally tear the dragon apart. With a sickening noise that sounded like wet fabric being ripped, the Griffin wrenched the wing he was pulling on free.
The dragon screeched in unsurpassable agony as its wing was torn from its back. Joining its scream of pain was the Griffin's roar of delight and triumph as blood fountained from the gaping wound. With a cruel hiss he tossed the twitching appendage to one side before resuming his earlier hacking at the dragon's body.
"Mon dieu!" Ginny heard Fleur choke out. Not surprisingly the Ancient Runes professor was a pale green in colour and was visibly struggling against being sick. More than one person, mostly students and younger Aurors, had failed and were retching miserably as they turned away from the butchery that the Griffin was dealing out.
"What in Hades' name is he doing?" asked Snape, watching as the Griffin rolled the near dead dragon onto its ravaged back. With a howl the shimmering white Animagus raised both arms above his head before plunging them deep into the dragon's chest. The dragon was barely moving, even as the Griffin tore its chest open, splintering its ribs, and exposed its steaming black insides.
Ginny grit her teeth and fought down the bile she could feel rising in her throat as she watched the Griffin eviscerate his foe. Licking her lips she said weakly, "Harry's... a little out of control right now."
Snape looked at her in disbelief. "You call that a little?" he asked, pointing at the scene as the Griffin tore the dragon's heart out and crushed it in his fist, spraying blood in all directions. Snape shook his head and exclaimed, "That isn't Potter, that's a monster!!"
//RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRR!!!!//
The Imperial Arch Griffin, having effectively slaughtered his enemy, threw his head back and roared his victory. The cry rang through the air and threatened to shatter every window in Hogwarts had it not been for the Unbreakable Charms that safeguarded each pane. The crushed dragon's heart dropped to the ground beside the mangled and blood-strewn carcass as the Griffin revelled in his conquest.
At least now it's over, Ginny thought.
Then, to the alarm of everyone watching, the Griffin turned his flaming green eyes towards the castle and growled.
//RRRRRrrrrr...//
Nobody could mistake the vicious gleam in the Griffin's eyes as anything but eager anticipation for battle. He wanted to continue, to fight again and again, to revel in the bloodlust that was consuming him. In that moment a boundless fear grew within the hearts of all those watching, for they knew that what was standing over the ruined and gutted body of the dragon was not Harry Potter, but something far, far more dangerous. Something they would not be able to stop.
*Ginny, you have to stop him,* declared Merlin's voice, which to her surprise sounded as stunned and uncertain as Ginny felt.
Stop him? she repeated, shaking her head. How? You - you saw what he just did! How can I stop that - that... how?
Sun Tzu's calm, yet stern voice answered, *You did it before, you will do it again.*
Ginny protested, That was different! That wasn't real! It was a state of mind where I was able to meet him as an equal. I can't do that here.
*You have to do something,* came the reply, *before he does.*
Knowing that the Order was correct, Ginny swallowed nervously and Apparated off the battlements and down onto the lawn. The Griffin whirled to face her, forgetting about the castle as he saw her suddenly appear not fifty feet away. His eyes narrowed to fine slits as he growled menacingly and took a earthshaking step towards her.
Ignoring the cries of alarm and horror from those still standing on the castle wall, Ginny lifted her hand to the Griffin, palm up. She tried to calm herself and keep the trembling in her voice to a minimum as she softly called Harry's name. The Griffin's eyes narrowed further and he took several deep breaths as it stared down at her. Slowly he relaxed his stance and tilted his head to one side, appearing to consider her as something other than a quick snack.
"Yes, Harry," she confirmed, nodding slowly, "it's me."
A flash of light, like the famed aurora borealis, washed over the Griffin's form. There was a rush of air, a tinkling sound like glass breaking, and there he was. His clothes were in perfect order and not a trace of blood or dirt was evident anywhere on him. The only thing that marked him as having been in a fight was the absolute disarray of his hair --which really wasn't that great an indicator-- and the slightly glazed look in his vibrant green eyes.
"Harry?" she asked cautiously, slowly approaching him.
Harry looked at her, his eyes unfocused, and asked, "Did we do it?"
"Yes, Harry, we did it," Ginny told him. Her voice filled with pride as she reconsidered all that had just happened and rephrased her words, "You did it."
"Ha! We did it!" he exclaimed triumphantly. Then his bruised face took on a curious expression and, with a bubbly excitement, Harry pointed behind her, "Look! Lookie!"
Ginny curiously turned to where Harry was pointing, but saw nothing that could possibly cause him to grow so excited. He was pointing at nothing, absolutely nothing. Ginny returned her attention to Harry, who was swaying unsteadily on his feet and asked, "Look at what, Harry?"
"Buttered toast!"
At this point Harry, mercifully, passed out.
TBC...