Chapter Twenty-Two: The Catacombs
The cool breeze ruffled Harry's hair as he stared upon the bare and desolate trees that had long since been devoid of leaves. The first snow would eventually cover their bareness in time, turning the landscape into a winter wonderland. Tears stung Harry's eyes, formed by the cold that assaulted him. He blinked against the chill, before drying the tears with his sleeve. Blinking once more, Harry turned his attention to his solitary companion, who was curled into the depth of a red sleeping bag. The only part of the boy that showed was his now red nose. Harry smiled slightly. 'My constant shadow.' He did not blame the child for remaining close while in the Dark Lord's fortress. Jonas like every Wizarding child acquainted Voldemort as the bad guy. Harry frowned slightly. His father had not yet confronted him about the boy's presence, nor had he met with him. This relieved Harry, though he knew such a meeting was inevitable. Despite one less concern, he discovered that the sense of dread that engulfed his heart still remained. It did not help that he felt that he was standing before a chasm blindfolded. He quickly brushed these thoughts away, since they were altogether unwanted and pointless.
In the distance, hints of the sun became evident as it poked its way upward. It had been awhile since Harry had sat like this, simply watching the sunrise. It was one of the regular happenings of life that he missed. Absently, he bit at his bottom lip, before leaning back into the hard wooden bench. Even the light of the sun could not cure him of this damn feeling. Harry exhaled in exasperation and stretched his legs out before him, trying to strike up his blood flow.
"Marvolo." A familiar female voice echoed on the balcony. "Don't you think it is a little cold out here?"
A smile became visible on Harry's lips. "I find that the cold clears my head."
Harry heard the rustle of garments, before he saw the black robes out of the corner of his eyes.
"Really?" Bellatrix whispered, mimicking his posture. "I find that sleep clears the mind better. There are no thoughts to vex the mind."
"Only dreams." Harry murmured now looking fully at her.
"You have not been sleeping these past days."
His eyes shifted away. "Every time I try to sleep, I see images. But when I awake I can't remember them. I feel like I have lost something… something very important." He paused. "It eats at me that I can not remember."
"Dreams are just as they are… dreams. Don't trouble yourself over them."
Harry eyed Bellatrix. It was like her to brush such things away. "I suppose it could be concerning some of my earlier missions."
Bellatrix's gaze darkened. "I would think you were passed that stage. You have to grow up, Harry. Leave the past were it belongs. Feel no remorse. There is nothing to fear from ghosts. Only the living can harm you."
"We have come a long way, Bella." Harry whispered, causing Bellatrix's eyes to widen slightly. "I remember, when I was little, you hated me. For all purposes, I understand now, but when I was little I couldn't." A smirk appeared on Harry's face. "I remember that first mission that you and I were put together for. I was six at the time. It went sour."
"It ended well."
"But at the time, it looked bad." His voice trailed off. "I think that mission is how this began. You became my protector."
Lestrange shifted in her seat. "Why bring this up, Marvolo? I do not like this gleam that I see in your eyes." Her warm hand touched his cold one. "Why do I feel that-."
Harry pulled his hand away. "Don't say it, Bellatrix, and then perhaps we can continue to be blind. Besides it will only make our lives miserable to guess the future."
"I hate goodbyes." She stated, staring sullenly at the forest below.
"Always one to disregard." He rose from the bench, looking down at the woman that had been like a mother, albeit a twisted one but a mother all the same. "I know you are not one for sentiments, but I-."
"I know." Bellatrix stated simply, refusing to meet his eyes.
Harry smirked. "Words are meaningless." Harry blinked and when he opened his eyes, his jaw went lax. The sun seemed to cast a ghostly glow on the woman who sat alone on the bench. 'Why do you seek meaning in everything?' He questioned in his mind before bending done and lifting the sleeping form of Jonas. "Let's go in."
Bellatrix shook her head and continued to lounge on the bench. "I will catch up in a bit." Her gaze returned the sunrise, though her eyes seemed focused on something far more secluded.
The afternoon had progressed. The first snowflakes began their descent from the gray clouds that seemed endless. These first flakes, however, did not remain. Instead, as soon as they land on the still warm earth, they melted into nonexistence, leaving no evidence of their being. The only memory that would last regarding their descent would be the entertainment they provided for one boy.
Harry watched on slightly amused as Jonas chased after the November flakes. His tongue extended trying to catch them in his mouth. A smile crept onto Harry's face. How different Jonas's childhood would be from his own. Already at this boy's age, Harry had begun his services for his father. He had been using muggle weapons and some magical spells. Instead of tasting fresh snow, Harry had tasted blood. He had only watched from his secluded studies as the snow fell, wondering silently what the white substance would feel like if it would touch his face. A frown replaced the smile.
Snow did not hold happy memories. His mind flashed back to him, walking idly down a country road. The cold snow had stung his face, while the winter air caused his blood-soaked hands to harden. His thoughts were brought back to the moment when he felt a presence beside him. Harry turned his head and looked at his father.
Voldemort's eyes followed the gleeful child. "When you returned from internment, I did not like the change that I saw in you. I believe you understand me well, Harry. You have always been used as my tool. Even knowing this, you do not hate me."
"I could never hate you." Harry stated. "I should… but I don't. You have done too much for me. Ours is a partnership."
Voldemort nodded, turning to return to the warmth of the fortress. "Keep the child. He might prove useful." He whispered, pausing on his way to the door. "There is a task I need you to fulfill for me."
Harry's eyes peered over his shoulder, resting intently on his father's back.
"I have one Horcrux remaining. It is notebook containing the collective research of Rowena Ravenclaw. I believe you will remember the appearance of the notebook."
"Of course," Harry murmured in memory. "I was the one who 'purchased' it for you."
"Now I need you to guard it, and then bring it to me." His father paused. "I will disclose its location to you shortly. Bellatrix and Draco will be accompanying you. The catacombs are too dangerous for a large group to enter. The passage ways are too narrow."
After disclosing this mission, the Dark Lord left, and Harry returned his attention to the joyful chortles of the boy before him. As he watched, he could not help but wish that time would freeze forever at this moment. But there would be no such gift.
Dorian leaned back in his chair, staring warily at his companions, Neville Longbottom and Hermione Granger. The pair had invited him to the Hog's Head, though they had been secretive on their purposes for the rendezvous. However, now that he was here, Dorian had begun to dislike where this conversation was leading even so he choose to remain. His hand grasped tightly onto the handle of his mug. The butterbeer contained within rippled at the slight shaking of his hand.
"What do you think, Dorian?" Hermione asked tentatively.
He released his mug's handle. "It is dangerous and foolish. I don't think Professor Dumbledore would have approved of this."
Neville looked straight into Dorian's eyes. "The year before and this past summer, Dumbledore was training me and preparing me to find the Horcruxes. Only one remains now. I propose to find it and destroy it."
Dorian's lips thinned. "The one around Harry's neck."
"No," Neville said, his gaze never straying from Dorian. "He gave that to me willing before he left Hogwarts. All that remains is Rowena Ravenclaw's notebook. According to Pierce, it is hidden in a catacomb that is located in the countryside just outside of Oxford."
"We could use your help, Dorian." Hermione pleaded silently.
"Voldemort has probably already sent someone to either remove the Horcrux or guard it." Dorian paused, shifting his eyes between his two friends. "This will lead you to your deaths."
"Maybe, but at least we will me doing something to stop Voldemort." Neville spoke with conviction, his hands clenching into fists as he spoke the Dark Lord's name. "He will most likely have sent Harry to do this task. He has a soft spot for you."
"I won't do it." Dorian pushed back his chair, rising from the table. "He has done so much for me. I will not in return do this to him. He saved my life… I know he got Fudge to sign that reprieve for me. I will not… I cannot ask more from him."
"I understand, Dorian." Neville stated also rising from the table. "It will be just Hermione, Tonks, and I, then."
"Tonks? She's going with you?"
Hermione nodded. "She refused to let us go alone. Sirius was going to come also, but decided against it for the same reasons you have."
Neville extended his hand to Dorian. "Thank-you for hearing us out."
His own hand clasped Neville's. "Good luck. I do hope to see you again." He said before hugging Hermione, who had tears stinging her eyes as she returned the embrace.
"We will see you hopefully soon, Dorian." She whispered. "Keep out of trouble."
"You know me, Hermione, I am trouble." A lopsided grin briefly touched Dorian's face before it vanished. 'How do they expect to succeed where Dumbledore failed?' He looked at the pair once more before leaving the pub. Inhaling the brisk November air, he had one last thought. 'It is good to be alive.'
Inside, Neville turned to Hermione. "We knew he wouldn't come." He stated.
The curls in Hermione's hair bounced when she nodded her head. "It was worth the try. He is perhaps the only thing that proves that Harry has a shred of humanity left." Her eyes darkened. "I will never forgive that monster for killing Ron."
"We can't be certain."
"I am."
Neville knew there would be no arguing with her. She was firm in her belief that Harry had been Ron Weasley's murderer. "Let's go 'Mione. There is nothing left for us to do here, besides Tonks is waiting."
The atmosphere inside the catacombs was fitting, Harry thought idly. To either side of him holes were craved into the walls. The final resting spot for various souls, now housed a variety of protective curses and one Horcrux. Somewhere, Harry could hear running water dripping from some crack in the hard concrete. Turning to look behind him, he was greeted by Bellatrix Lestrange's dour expression. The torch Harry carried wavered slightly from his movements, leading him to feel a tug on his robes. Looking down, he saw the pale face of Jonas. Harry uttered no words of comfort. The boy would have to learn that there were far worse things then the dark.
"How far until we reach the entryway?" Draco's voice called.
"It's not far." Harry answered, running through his father's words. "I see the dead-end now."
"Don't say 'dead' end." Draco's drawled, causing a smile to appear on Harry's face.
"What other term would you prefer me to use, Draco?" Harry retorted. "Besides, it is altogether fitting after all we are in catacombs."
"Cul-de-sac would work far better."
"Enough bickering." Bellatrix said sharply. "We do not want a muggle caretaker to hear voices in a tomb."
Harry nodded. "Bella, take this." He said as he handed her the torch that had become a necessity since they would all require their wand. His hand entered his robes and removed his wand. Using a series of complicated movements, Harry was able to open the door. His stomach plummeted as he looked at the narrow staircase that led down into the depths of the earth. On either side was a chasm that appeared to have no end. The stone staircase itself appeared to have seen better days.
"Shit." Draco muttered as he looked over Harry's shoulder. "How are we supposed to get down that?"
"Watch your steps." Harry said, clapping Draco's shoulder. Then he bent down, swinging Jonas onto his back.
"It's not fair that he gets a piggyback ride." Draco muttered, glaring icily at the boy. "Why is he even here? This is no place for a kid."
"There was no other place for him." Harry rejoined before beginning his descent.
Bellatrix brushed passed Draco, closely following Harry. "Keep up, nephew."
"Yes, Auntie."
Outside the crypt, three pairs of eyes watched silently. They had been there from the beginning.
"Do you think it is safe?" Hermione Granger asked, keeping her voice to a mere whisper.
Neville and Tonks exchanged looks before the Auror nodded her head. "When we are in there stay quiet. Use the Disillusionment Charm that I taught you, and then we should be fine."
Both of the adolescents nodded their heads. Moving there wands in synch, the three blended into their surrounds, even so, they were still able to see each other do to a special modification to the charm.
"Let's go." Tonks hissed as she led the way in.
Inside the catacomb, the three made out the faint glow of a torch in the distance. Tonks motioned them to follow her with a brief wave of her hand. Neville saw the gleam in Tonks's eyes. 'We're lucky that we arrive at the same time. All we have to do is allow them to ride the protections for us.'
Tonks's face creased in concentration. Neville could understand why. The young Auror was not known for her stealth skills. 'Perhaps, this time she won't trip on her own feet.' Neville though hopefully. His attention moved to Hermione whose hand was running against the cold stone walls as if she needed support. In front, Neville heard Draco's voice, commenting about a dead-end, followed a swift quip on Harry's part. Neville's face set grimly. Getting passed Harry would be a difficult task, indeed.
Their Auror companion stopped them just before the landing of the stairs. "We wait here until they have completed their descent." Tonks whispered.
Below them, Harry fumbled on one of the stairs, quickly regaining his balance. His cargo's grip around his neck tightened to the point that it was also cutting off Harry's airflow.
"Harry, are you alright?" Bellatrix asked concerned.
"Yes, be careful with that next step."
"Thanks for the warning." Draco called appreciatorily, his face pale from the strain of navigating down the stairs.
"Anytime."
The light from the torch that Bellatrix held illuminated the path before Harry, though not to the extent that he would be able to see five steps in front of him. Briefly, he wondered how much longer it would take until they reached the base. His father had only said that the descent would be long. He had never said how long. Harry's leg muscles tightened from the stress he felt has he carefully planned every move. Sweat teemed down his brow and into his eyes, despite the cold air. Secretly, he began to regret not grabbing an extra robe.
"There." Bellatrix stated aloud. "The three doorwayss the Lord spoke of."
Harry nodded eyeing the three gaping holes that held the appearance of three extremely lofty doorways. "We split up here. I will go down the right, which houses the Horcrux, Draco you will go down the left and guard our exit, while, Bella, you will have the center, which is a dead-end. I believe you have been briefed concerning the various spells that your passageways hold?" His only answer was two nods. "If our intelligence is any good, the 'vandals' should be arriving anytime. After they are dealt with, we will return to the fortress with the Horcrux." Harry pointed his wand at the torch, and began to replicate two other ones. "Here, Draco." He said passing one to the blonde. The other he kept for himself, while Bellatrix continued to carry the original.
"Let's get on with it already." Draco said, proceeding to walk toward his specified passageway. "See you on the other side."
Harry nodded. His gaze shifted to Bellatrix who stood beside him. "You will be careful?"
She smiled. "There is no fun in that." Walking toward the center passageway, she paused. "Marvolo, no shame and no regrets… remember that."
Lestrange disappeared down the tunnel, leaving Harry feeling suddenly alone. Wordlessly, he slung Jonas down to the ground. "You can walk now… just stay behind me."
"Ok," was the only response Harry received from the boy.
The walls narrowed until they reached the point that Harry was forced to turn sideways to continue. Out of the corner of his eye, he instantly noticed that the walls curved in further. Pausing, he eyed his companion. 'His frame is small enough that he can get through.' Harry frowned. 'But once through-.' He broke that thought off. "Jonas, we need to go back for a moment." As always, the boy obeyed without little thought. Once in an area where Harry could freely move, he turned to the boy. "I need you to do me a favor."
"I would do anything." Jonas's silvery eyes beamed with such a radiant light.
"I can't fit through-." Harry hated himself. "I need you to be my eyes… my body."
The boy looked at him confused. "Will it hurt?"
"N-no, it won't. I won't let anything happen to you." Harry whispered before with his free hand he removed his wand. "There is something I need you to do for me. It is something that only you can do." Harry bit his lip fighting back the undesirable memories. "It will only be for a while." His wand moved in a familiar motion, and the result was immediate. Instead of the usual alert eyes, Harry's eyes met dull glazed ones. "Take this." He handed the child his own wand, and switched to wandless magic to control Jonas.
'Go down the tunnel, Jonas.' His thoughts beckoned to the youth, and the child obeyed. In his mind, Harry saw what Jonas saw. He became alert immediately when he saw a green light hovering at the end of the tunnel. 'Duck!' The boy's body collapsed to the ground, even as Harry flung himself up against the wall allowing the light to pass by. 'Get up fast and enter the room.' Harry's mind hissed. 'Run to the far left corner, dodge any spell that comes in your direction, once you're in the room, then halt.' Harry's ears picked up the harsh sounds of wards being launched, some coming close enough to the boy to cause Harry to cringe.
Raising his hand, Harry projected an image of what he wished Jonas to do with the wand. Shortly afterwards, a short hissing sound greeted Harry. Letting out a sigh of relief, Harry watched as the walls retracted. Inside, Jonas stared dully at the opposite wall, completely unaware of Harry's approach. Reaching for his wand, Harry noticed that the youth was bleeding from where a spell had grazed his temple.
"It looks like I didn't keep my word, hmm?" Using his wand, Harry cleaned and healed the gash before awaking the boy. Once awake, Jonas immediately began to survey the room. Harry noticed the boy seemed to freeze when he saw the spell damaged walls. 'He knows, they were meant for him.'
"Why are there so many traps in here?" The boy asked quietly.
"To keep intruders out." Harry answered. "No one but the master, or those who bare his permission, can enter here." His eyes floated across archaic walls, which were decorated in swords of times long past. Two rows of pillars ran across the breadth of the room. At the end of the room was another door created out of metal. Beyond that door rested the Horcrux. "Jonas, you are to remain here."
The boy nodded.
Opening the door, Harry pushed on toward the next room, his wand clenched tightly in his hand. A silver door stood before him, twin snakes engraved in its metallic surface. Raising his wand, he pointed it at the door. "You will part for me. For I am the Dark Lord Voldemort's heir." He hissed in Parseltongue.
The two snakes' eyes glimmered with a brilliant green light, which seemed to connect with his wand. His hand shook as his wand vibrated. One of the heads pulled free from the door, eying Harry with disdain.
"You smell of much blood, child." It hissed, its forked-tongue flickering as it did so.
It partner's head snapped free. "You give us a title, and expect us to part. Tell me why should we give you entrance."
Harry eyes narrowed dangerously. "Because my father commands it… that is why you will let me pass."
The two heads looked at each. A wicked smile spreading across the first one's mouth. "And so we will let you passed, human who reeks of blood, only because the master wishes it. Because otherwise we would have devoured one who carries the tainted blood of a muggle-born. Though, methinks, you have covered such an ignominy with the blood of others quite well."
The second head nodded. "Pass through," it hissed. "For I find you worthy of being."
A loud noise filled Harry's ears as the snakes returned to their places and the silver door sprung open, revealing an eerily blue lit room. Clouds of mist rose from the floor, forcing Harry to quickly cover his mouth and nose from the offensive odor. His eyes quickly found the object of his mission. Resting in the center, surrounded by what appeared to be acidic vapor was the notebook of Rowena Ravenclaw. Harry had no doubt that it was protected by some sort of barrier otherwise it would not be able to survive in this atmosphere. Harry paused, turning his left ear toward the doorway. 'Voices.' Harry thought. 'They are here… the fools.'
Slowly, he reentered to the hallway.
Neville warily eyed the three separate tunnels. He knew that would need to separate to find the Horcrux. However, he was reluctant to do so. Tonks eyed him briefly before starting down the center.
"Neville, you and Hermione should remain together."
"What about you?" Hermione asked stubbornly. "You can't go by yourself."
Tonks winked at her. "I'm a trained specialist. This is my job… dealing with Death Eaters. You two keep your noses clean. Constant Vigilance!" She said quoting her boss's favorite saying. "We'll meet up here, later." She turned back to look at the crippled staircase.
"Hermione and I will check out the right." Neville stated, eyeing the two sets of foot print that were imprinted in the layer of dust that clung to the stone floor. "Those appear appears to belong to a child… curious."
Hermione's mouth tightened. "Voldemort has probably become engrossed by the thought of exploiting children into become his assassins."
"Be careful." Tonks whispered. "If your theory proves to be true, Hermione, don't hesitate. There is nothing to be done. Dumbledore proved that with Harry. Good luck." Tonks, then, vanished into the darkness.
"Come, Hermione." Neville said as he led her to right corridor.
Neville and Hermione carefully trudged against the cold wall, being careful to not create a sound. His face contorted with emotions as he tried to prepare himself for the events that would transpire. Across from him, Hermione was exceedingly pale, however there was no emotion written on her face. Neville frowned sadly. He did not like the changes that he had seen in Hermione since Ron had been murdered. His friend had become just as cold and lifeless as her boyfriend. Neville wished to see that radiance that had once sprung from her being.
"Neville," her voice hissed. "Just up ahead there is light."
He nodded in reply. Inches from the doorway, Neville froze. In the center of the room, a little blonde hair boy sat crouch, drawing in the dust. A expression of horror seemed glued to Hermione's face, however she continued forward, tears streaking down her face.
"Have they done to you as they did to him?"
The youth jumped to his feet, gasping in shock.
Hermione stretched her hand out to him. "We can save you… your life can be different."
Hermione jumped backwards into Neville when she noticed Harry was standing in a second doorway peering at her.
Harry moved nearer, eyeing them coldly. "Step away from the boy."
"You, monster!" Hermione shouted vehemently. "What are you going to do to him? Do you want him to be like you?"
Harry rested his right hand on top of Jonas's head. "No, that is not what I want. He will get the end that I will never have." His eyes ran over Hermione's appearance. "You should not be the one to talk, I think. I can see it in your eyes." Harry pushed Jonas behind him. "That look I see in your eyes is very familiar… I have seen it before. I remember." Harry paused and smiled. "I see it in the mirror ever time I look at my reflection."
Hermione shook her head. "We are not the same."
"Not yet." Harry whispered. "But if your eyes are any indication, someday you will be."
Harry shifted his eyes to Neville. "Do you also seek revenge? I killed your beloved Albus Dumbledore, after all."
Neville returned the gaze. "Yes, you did, but I have been told that you left the gun that did the deed behind."
"Don't fool yourself, Neville." Harry murmured. "I still have an arsenal of other weapons. There is no turning over a new leaf. The gun simply had lost its uses to me."
"Don't fool yourself, Harry."
Harry's head tilted, a feeble smile spread across his face. "But that is what I am gifted at, Neville. I trick myself to make my life seem worth living… but enough about me, Neville. You are trespassing here. Trespassers do not have long lives unfortunately."
"Once you told me that you would not kill me." Neville stated silently.
"There was a clause to that sentence that stated that unless my father ordered you death." Harry's face briefly showed regret. "I am sorry, Neville, but I did warn you to stop this foolishness. I truly am sorry." With that last admission, Harry pushed Jonas behind one of the pillars and pointed his wand first at Hermione.
Bellatrix heard the noise of spells being launched. It was possible that either Draco or Harry were removing them from their passageways, however she doubted this. A feeling of unease clouded her mind. She made her decision and began to leave her designated room. She was needed elsewhere. The sound of a pebble told her that perhaps her concerns were warranted.
"Your next move will be your last!" She screamed at the intruder.
"Don't shoot! It's me!" A familiar voice shouted.
"Marvolo?" She asked. "Why are you not guarding the Horcrux?" Her eyes narrowed in anger. "Your father will be greatly disappointed in your actions."
"The intruders are taken care of." Harry answered, raising his wand to level it to Bellatrix's chest.
"What are you doing!"
"I'm sorry, Bellatrix." A red light emitted from the wand, hitting Bellatrix's chest.
The Death Eater stumbled back in pain, watching horrified as the face before her morphed into a completely altered face. This face, too, was familiar. And it stunned her to see remorse in her eyes.
"I am sorry, my Aunt." Tonks whispered, looking down into the lifeless eyes that stared up at the ceiling. "But you had to be stopped. You were too dangerous to live."
Granger easily escaped his first spell. She had even surprised him with her quick reflexes, but they were not going to be fast enough. She dodged behind a pillar, panting so heavy that even Harry could hear her at a distance. His attention jerked to Neville, who was trying to get passed him to the Horcrux.
"That won't work." Harry sent an exploding charm toward Longbottom, causing the target to quickly retreat. Dodging an attack from Granger, Harry retreated behind a pillar. "So what now? You are without a plan." He asked pleasantly before seeking cover behind another pillar nearing his way toward Granger. His ears listened for movement but he caught nothing. They weren't moving. 'The fools,' he thought to himself. He now hid against the other side of Hermione's column. Removing a dagger from his robes, Harry moved quickly until he had it press against her throat.
"You want to kill me don't you, Granger." Harry whispered in her ear. "Why? What causes such hatred?"
Hermione tried in vain to see his face but the dagger at her throat prevented it. "You killed Ron!"
The dagger loosened slightly but remained. "Perhaps… perhaps not. Though it is true that it is because of me that he died."
Hermione jabbed her elbow into his stomach, causing Harry to release her. Her wand leveled with his face as he smiled at her. Harry dropped his wand, catching her of guard.
"Know your opponents, Granger." With a flick of his wrist, Harry got her wand to fly to him. He caught him hand. Harry peered casually at its wood surface, and then he snapped it in half. "You will thank me one day, Granger. Perhaps it would be more merciful to kill you as well, but something tells me that your part in this war has ended." He glanced at her eyes that teemed with tears. "Don't become something that you are not."
"Harry!" Jonas screamed, causing the black hair youth to jump. "He's going into the room!"
Harry tore across the floor, reaching the room as Neville tried to dissipate the barrier. He sent a dagger gliding toward Neville. The dagger itself just merely grazed Longbottom's left shoulder.
"Please, Harry, Voldemort mustn't continue."
"Perhaps," Harry whispered. "But I will decide that later."
"Neville, duck!" Tonks screamed, raising her wand toward the barrier. A clear beam struck causing the barrier to disintegrate, leaving the notebook bare to attack.
Harry's eyes flashed with wrath as he moved to strike Tonks. "I should have killed you in that hallway. It is a mistake I will rectify!"
"Neville, destroy it!"
A tap of his wand, Neville sent the book falling from its pedestal.
Harry immediately turned his wand away from Tonks and aimed it at the notebook, halting its fall, except the damage had already been done. The acid was too great for the book to withstand. And even as Harry sought to raise it, the notebook crumbled into oblivion. Ironically, it had been his father's own paranoia that had destroyed the book. His father should have known better then to protect his Horcrux with something that could have destroyed it. Voldemort's plan had been flawed. However, the Dark Lord still possessed one other thing that prevented his demise… a prophecy that could never be completed as long as he held Harry in his possession.
Pain filled Harry as he felt a bolt of magic hit his back. Without thinking, he sought to escape the room, where he was trapped by two of his foes and a pond of acid, both being ways that he refused to end his life. Harry pushed passed the Auror, knocking her backwards but not hard enough to give her an acid bath. He hid behind the pillar that held Jonas. The boy looked at him with horror, especially when he saw blood crawl down the pillar that Harry was resting against.
"You're not going to die, are you?" Jonas asked fearfully.
"Weeds don't die." Harry answered. 'Two options,' Harry thought. 'Neither is overly appealing.' The mission had failed. 'Now I can either try to kill them and perhaps die in the process or just let them go.'
Harry could hear their rapid footfalls. They were not even going to try to search him out. Sinking done, Harry rested his head on the bloodstained pillar. 'You can get up and kill them.' A voice taunted him. 'They will go to the staircase.' Pushing himself to his feet and turned to Jonas. "Try to keep up."
Tears blurred Harry vision as he ran down the corridor. His pace was greatly slowed by the fact that every step produced pain from his torn back. Once on the main landing, he watched as the trio fought the stairs on their attempt to escape. Raising his wand, Harry sent an exploding spell. Large pieces of the bridge fell into the chasm below, however the spell had not reached the span of staircase that housed the trespassers. Fierce anger coursed through Harry's veins as he watched them escape. 'I have failed you again, father.' Harry's back throbbed mercilessly. 'Why have I become so weak?'
"Harry," Draco called as he ran into view. He took a quick look at the fallen staircase before looking at his friend. "What happened?"
"The mission failed! That is what happened." Harry hissed angrily. "Where is Bellatrix?"
"She did come."
Harry looked down the center corridor. Tonks had only appeared later. 'Where had she been beforehand?' His heart suddenly stopped. Despite his injuries, Harry made it to the end of the tunnel in record timing. Before him, he saw the fallen form of Bellatrix Lestrange. Her eyes staring at something that Harry could not see.
A frenzied chuckle escaped his mouth as he peered at the still form. Wiping his eyes with his hands, Harry looked once more at her. He kneeled beside her, staring into her glazed eyes.
"What is it that you see?" Harry asked quietly. His eyes blinked, however tears would not come. He reached to close the eyes. "I never believed you would die. Perhaps, that is how it goes. We are mortal, but somehow I always expected you to be there." His face distorted as he laid his torso over hers in an awkward hug. There was no warmth in the embrace, only a hard reality. "I won't cry, because you would not have wanted them."
Harry lifted her body into his arms and left the death chamber behind. Outside, Draco's mouth dropped in shock when he saw the lifeless body of his aunt in Harry's arms.
"Let's leave, Draco." Harry whispered. 'No shame and no regrets.'
Voldemort stared at the corpse that was laid before him. A flood of varying emotions filled him. One of the few he could identify was fury, which filled his entire being. His eyes left the still form of Bellatrix Lestrange and moved to his son, who face looked like marble. Voldemort was briefly thankful that Harry had finally allowed the gashes across his back to be healed. Wordlessly, Voldemort ran one of his long fingers down Bellatrix's cheek.
"I am sorry, father." Harry whispered, refusing to look at the scene before him.
"I was wrong to make those Horcruxes." Voldemort answered. "One should not fear death. I refused to see the naturalness of it… though I loath it all the same."
"Nymphadora Tonks is responsible for this."
"You wish to hunt her down?" Voldemort asked, his eyes never leaving Bellatrix's face.
"Yes." An embittered voice replied.
Voldemort took one look at the fiery eyes and shook his head. "You will remain here, Harry."
"I will kill her!" Harry shouted.
"I need you as my right hand, Harry, especially now that Bellatrix is dead."
"I will only fail you."
"Everyone has their shortcomings, Harry, even you." Voldemort whispered. "No one is infallible. There is always one day when luck cruelly sides against you." A twisted smile spread across Voldemort's face. "That is all life is… it is all luck."
"It is cruel that we are given life and then in time all too short it is ripped from us." Harry said quietly.
"Isn't it?" The Dark Lord rose to his feet. "I will have need for you in the morning, but for right now, let's bury the dead… for that is all that is left to do."