Hellfire in New York

Hellfire in New York

Chapter 21: Selene's Homecoming

Harry was hurting, near to exhaustion, and he still had a long fight ahead of him. Orthrus, the three-headed demon dog, was the most formidable opponent he had ever faced. At first, he had been heartened to discover that massive chains secured to huge ringbolts in the chamber floor restrained the beast. He could advance no more than halfway across the room, so his three opponents could stay outside the reach of his slavering jaws and great, clawed paws.

But they quickly found out that Orthrus had other abilities that seemed to reside in his three heads. One spat fireballs; another could cause a rain of fire by howling at the ceiling. The third could breathe on the floor, causing it to erupt in sheets of short-lived but fierce flame. Worse, the creature was incredibly tough, shrugging off Dante's hail of bullets, Harry's most powerful hexes and even Draco's Unforgivable Curses. Driven to extremes, Draco had even cast Avada Kedavra with little more effect than to stun Orthrus momentarily.

Dante had been rash enough to advance more than once into the demon's reach, to slash at it with his great sword. That weapon had caused more damage, opening deep cuts. But even the inhuman toughness of the demon-hunter did not allow him to stay close to Orthrus for long.

Harry glanced at his companions. Draco was close to collapse. His smart, grey attire was blackened and ripped, and his skin showed numerous burns. Dante had fared better, protected by his leather duster, but he had been bitten and clawed and was bleeding freely. Harry himself had been burned, though the tough polymer of his uniform was flame retarding, or he would have been in far worse shape.

"This is no good!" Harry panted. "We have to work together! Come on, all at once, target the head in the middle!"

Dante grinned. "Let's do it!" Draco merely nodded.

The three sprang forward as one, directing a barrage of bullets and magic at the central head. For a moment, Harry feared they wouldn't succeed, but then the head fell limp, while the other two bellowed howls of agony!

But they had got too close, and Orthrus leaped forward. One great paw smashed into Draco, sending him flying backward to lie in a broken heap against the wall. One of the remaining heads snapped at Dante. He twisted to avoid the blackened fangs, but was also knocked aside. Harry was both lucky and agile, flipping back out of the reach of the other remaining head. But he was tired, and the floor was slippery with demon blood. He lost his balance, fell badly, and felt a rib crack and his left shoulder dislocate.

Harry heaved himself upright, swearing fluently, then stopping as he imagined Molly's scowl. Mum would not like that! he thought wryly, surprised and a little guilty about how naturally he thought of Ron and Ginny's mother as his own. He shook his head - no time for wool gathering!

Then Dante was at his side, grasping his left arm in an iron grip and, with a wrench that sent a blaze of pain through Harry, setting the shoulder back in its socket.

"Thanks," Harry groaned, rubbing his arm. "We have to do that again, if we can. But we're one short. If Draco could get up, he would've done. Bastard better not be dead - I want to kill him myself one day!"

They watched Orthrus, who had retreated back as far as he could. One of his heads was nuzzling and licking the dead one, whining pathetically. But the other glared at them, snarling, "Kill you! Burn you! Make you suffer as I do!"

Dante hesitated, then said, "Look Harry, I may be able to get at least one more of those heads, but I have to get in close to do it. There's a way, but it's not pretty. Even if it works, it may leave you facing the last one on your own. Don't suppose you got a lightsaber somewhere in that uniform, do you?"

"What the bloody Hell's a lightsabre?" growled Harry impatiently before remembering that he had, in fact, seen Star Wars, but he'd been sitting next to Kitty at the time and his head had been so full of her perfume and presence that he'd barely noticed the film.

Dante made a dismissive gesture, then tensed, listening. An instant later, Harry heard it too, a sound from beyond the door through which they had come. It was an odd, near-human howling that was at once familiar and strange to Harry, filling him with fear, elation, loathing and relief all at once.

Both men turned, forgetting Orthrus for a moment. Something struck the door with a mighty blow, then again and again. On the third stroke, the bolts gave way and the door swung open. Through it floated a black shape, one Harry had seen before.

It was the huge black broadsword that had hung in Selene's study - the sword that Harry had been vaguely afraid of. But now it was no longer simply a piece of forged metal. The runes carved along the blade glowed with black light, and the weapon floated lightly in the air, emitting its eerie song. It seemed to hesitate for a moment, then moved toward Harry.

Instinctively, Harry dropped his wand and stretched his right hand out. The sword turned in the air and the hilt settled into his hand like a pet returning to its master. The blade purred as Harry's hand closed round the grip, and suddenly his mind was full of images, of words, of names.

He was Dorian Hawkmoon von Koln, battling the Beast Lords of the Dark Empire.

He was Druss the Legend, Captain of the Axe, hurling Nadir warriors from the walls of Dros Delnoch.

He was ur-Lord Thomas Covenant, Unbeliever and white gold wielder, numb and starving, confronting Lord Foul the Despiser.

He was Captain John Sheridan, commander of Babylon 5, determined to defeat the ancient, alien Shadows.

He was Elric of Melnibone, last of the Bright Emperors, albino warrior-mage, wielding his black runesword to slay the gods themselves.

He was Harry Potter, and the sword was his sword, it had always been, would always be, his sword, whatever guise he or it took. It was the Black Sword, the blade of the Eternal Champion, and its name was Stormbringer.

Harry turned to face Orthrus, who was gathering himself for another attack. The massive broadsword should have been too heavy for him to lift, but it floated in his hand as lightly as Godric's sword had all those years ago. He was filled with energy, with strength. He glanced at Dante.

"One head each, this time. You go right, I go left!"

Dante nodded. "Just remember, whatever you see, it's still me!"

With that, a red glow surrounded Dante for a second, and he was transformed into a winged, demon-like figure wielding a fiery blade. He took to the air and swooped on Orthrus.

Harry, all his pain and tiredness gone, charged the demon dog, swinging at its neck and dodging to one side as it snapped at him. Stormbringer snarled as it sliced into the flesh, drawing a wail of agony from the creature. Harry was no swordsman, but that didn't seem to matter - the howling runeblade was fighting for him. A strange, fierce ecstasy possessed him as he fought, hacking at the weakening demon, yelling in a language he did not know.

On the other side, Dante was flying around the last head like a flaming hawk, stooping in to slash with his red-hot blade. His demon form seemed immune to the fireballs hurled at him.

Orthrus was weakening rapidly, and the end came quickly as Harry severed one head and Dante thrust his blade through the eye of the other. The great dog collapsed, twitching. As Dante hovered above it, a swarm of red globes flew up into his hands. Then Orthrus faded and vanished.

At once, the sword in Harry's hand began to scream and twist in his grip. He released it, and it rose into the air, hovered for a moment, then made a slashing motion. For a moment, there was a cut in the air, a gap through which an unearthly blue light shone. Stormbringer darted forward into the light, the cut closed, and the sword was gone.

Harry sagged, suddenly all his pain and exhaustion rushed back on him. His cracked rib was throbbing, his burns stinging. He had also acquired several new wounds, slashes from Orthrus' last desperate struggle. The strange battle-fury that had come on him while wielding Stormbringer had faded. The disappearance of the blade left him feeling at once bereft and relieved.

The flying demon alighted beside him and, with a red flash, became Dante again. The young demon-hunter seemed to have taken some kind of Healing Potion - all his wounds had vanished and he looked as fresh as if he'd had a good night's sleep. He looked Harry up and down, then said, "Go take care of Draco. I got an errand to do."

Harry recovered his wand, and stumbled over to where Draco lay. His old enemy had managed to drag himself into a sitting position against the wall. Draco's jacket and shirt had been almost ripped away from his chest, and four long, deep gashes parted the white skin of his torso. He had already lost a lot of blood, but was still conscious. He smiled faintly.

"Well, Harry, it looks as if you're going to see me die after all!"

"Not today, Draco," Harry told him, beginning to close the slashes with the tip of his wand.

"Don't be an idiot, Potter!" Draco coughed, bringing up bright blood. He spat, and continued hoarsely, "You can close the cuts, but you're no Healer. The internal damage is too much. Damn! I'd been looking forward to a long match with you, Harry. Looks like we're both going to be disappointed!"

Harry had no reply. Much as he had once hated Draco, he had no wish to see the man die. He turned away to see what Dante was doing. The tall, blond figure stood before an alcove that had previously been hidden by Orthrus' bulk.

In the alcove was a statue, larger than life-size, of a full-figured woman with a lion's head. She held a large hourglass across her shoulders. Dante appeared to be involved in a silent colloquy with the image. After a moment, he extended his cupped hands towards it; something in them was glowing redly. Then the red light vanished, to be replaced by a green one. Dante bowed to the statue, turned and came quickly over to the others.

"How's he doing?" Dante asked Harry.

"I'm dying, you great oaf!" snapped Draco, before he coughed up more blood.

Dante shook his head. "Don't think so, man. I got something here that'll have you back on your feet before you know it."

He dropped to one knee beside Draco, explaining, "Anywhere demons start popping up, you find those statues. They're shrines to some very old gods - maybe the ones who first created the demons. Anyway, those little globes I collect are like crystallized demon blood - you have to recite an old prayer to make it harden like that - but if you offer them at the shrines, you can get magic stuff in return."

He held up a crystal orb about the size of a goose egg. Carved on it was a smiling face; inside, green fluid glowed. "I call these Vital Orbs. They can heal the worst injuries. Here!"

He pressed the orb to Draco's chest. For a moment, the young wizard was surrounded by a green aura. When it cleared, all his wounds were healed, and he looked healthy. Well, Harry thought, as healthy as Malfoy ever looks! Dante turned to Harry and held out a crystal star filled with the same green potion.

"Here, you're not so badly hurt. A Vital Star is enough to put you right. Just hold it to your chest and relax."

Harry did so. For a moment, a refreshing coolness seemed to flood through him, and then his strength and energy returned. It was not the unnatural power of the Black Sword, but his own youthful vigour that he felt.

He got up and stretched, as did Draco. "That's better!" said Harry. "But how did you heal yourself, Dante?"

Dante shrugged. "It's kind of a side-effect, I think. The longer I spend in my demon form, the more my human body heals. Not that I can stay in demon form for very long - it takes energy that I have to build up from fighting as a human."

Harry digested this in silence. It seemed his newest ally had more in common with their enemy than with him. Still, there was something about Dante that made Harry trust him instinctively. We're two of a kind, he caught himself thinking.

Then other thoughts intruded. Harry? Harry!

There were two 'voices': Ginny's and Kitty's. Harry closed his eyes and at once saw an image of the girls. They were standing close together, both looking into the locket Ginny was holding, the one he had given her for her sixteenth birthday, and both touching the silver bracelet on Kitty's wrist, his parting gift to her over a year ago. Kitty and Ginny working together? I'm doomed! Harry thought to himself before he replied to the girls.

I'm here. I'm fine. What's going on?

Thank Merlin! came Ginny's thought. We just had an almighty scrap! All OK, though!

What about you? asked Kitty.

The usual - nasty fight with a demon dog. Now I'm going into the Temple. I've got Draco with me, and a demon-hunter called Dante. We're going to settle things with Selene once and for all! You lot sit tight and get ready for trouble if I fail.

You won't fail, Hawk! Kitty told him. Just play it cool, and don't take any fool risks!

Bloody right! Ginny added. Now, have you got clean underpants on? she teased.

After what I've been through? Harry retorted. I'll never be constipated again!

He felt Ginny laugh, then grow serious. Whatever happens in there, Harry, never forget I love you - we love you.

I love you, too. All of you! Harry sent a mental kiss, then the contact faded.

Draco was watching him. "You were doing that mind-talking thing again, weren't you?" he asked.

"Telepathy?" queried Dante. "You're a telepath?"

"Only part-time," Harry told him.

Draco frowned. "Mind-talking. I'll have to learn that trick!"

"No chance. For one thing, you'd need a mind," Harry replied. "OK, the Temple proper must be through that door Orthrus was guarding. Let's get in there. We don't have much time."

"You may be right, Harry," Draco put in, "but I for one have no intention of going in there half-naked." He flicked his wand at his shredded clothing, repairing the damage instantly, then did the same for Harry's uniform. "We should at least look respectable," he told the other two. "First impressions are so important."

"Told you he was gay," Dante muttered to Harry as the three approached the door. It swung open before them and they went through.

The temple was vast and circular, lit with red flames that flickered in huge bowls supported by statues representing every foul, twisted type of Hellspawn. There was no altar, but a dais in the centre held four objects.

One was a black, heart-shaped stone, which emitted a wild howling. Then there was a silver chalice, down the side of which black water dripped constantly accompanied by the sound of a woman weeping hopelessly. Next was a large, iron-bound chest made of dark wood. Its lid lay open. It seemed to be filled with grey dust, and from it came a deep groaning. Finally, there was a brazier forged of blackened metal - the flames in it were red as blood, yellow as sulphur, and it screamed as it burned.

These objects were ranged around a phenomenon that could only be the Hell-Gate. It was a crystal vortex, spinning rapidly and flashing all the colours of the spectrum, as well as some which had no Earthly name. From it came the sound of hundreds of deep voices chanting in unison in an unknown tongue.

Harry's senses should have been overwhelmed by this onslaught of sound, yet he heard Draco's dry voice very clearly beside him.

"I appear to have misjudged the formality of the occasion. I feel rather overdressed!"

Between them and the dais stood Selene, stark naked and incredibly beautiful. She smiled at them and held out her arms.

"Come to me," she crooned. "Come, my victorious warriors. You shall be mine and I shall be yours, forever!"

Draco rolled his eyes, and Dante gave a snort of laughter. Harry called, "Leave it out, Selene! Your Glamorus Potion doesn't work on these two, and I'm full of antidote - we sussed out what you were doing ages ago. Now, can you take all three of us on, or are you going to surrender and get dressed?"

Selene's response was to make a complex gesture, unleashing a blaze of white light from her hands. The three men slumped to the floor.

Harry recovered consciousness to find himself chained to a pillar, his arms above his head, his wand laid mockingly at his feet. On his left, Draco was chained, and on his right was Dante, with Rebellion and his pistols in front of him on the floor. Then Harry heard Selene's voice again.

"Such a waste!" she was saying. "Two powerful wizards and a half-demon. Such power I could take from you!"

She came within their range of sight then, still naked, and apparently in some form of ecstatic semi-trance.

"The power builds," she told them. "The Gate reaches deeper. Soon, my parents will be here to make me perfect. Then I shall rule as Regent of Hell, and my demons shall come and go as they please, feeding as they will. But the best, the most powerful, they will bring to me, so that I may gorge on them. Their powers will be mine - I will become the goddess I was born to be, a worthy daughter to my father!

"But you three," she gazed at them almost regretfully, "you are too dangerous, too strong, too cunning, to leave alive till then. You must die now, before you can interfere again!"

Harry saw something out of the corner of his eye, so he called out to Selene, "There's something you don't know!"

"What?" she asked. "You have a secret, Harry Potter?"

"Yes!" he replied. "But it's not for these two to hear. Come close, and I'll whisper."

She came to him then, pressing close, teasing him with her body. He inhaled her exotic perfume, her wild womanly musk, and bent to her delicate ear. "You're already beaten!" he whispered.

Selene leapt back, and the chain holding Dante's left arm snapped with a screech of tortured metal. Harry had spotted Dante working with his superhuman strength on the fetters, and had deliberately brought Selene within range. Dante swung the heavy chain like a whip. The end of it crashed onto Selene's head, sending her to the floor in a spray of blood. With one hand free, Dante was able to snap the other chain quickly. He snatched up Rebellion and cut Harry free, then went to release Draco.

But Selene was already on her feet. Half-demon, like Dante, she was too tough to die easily. Harry snatched up his wand. Selene was weaving arcane gestures in the air, summoning some power, something that, Harry knew, would likely kill them all.

There was only one thing to do; one spell that might work. It was almost a relief, in a way, to have it out in the open. With a sense of finally bringing the two disparate parts of himself into a single, harmonious whole, Harry raised his wand.

"Avada Kedavra!"

The bolt of green light took Selene full in the chest, and she howled, a horrible, inhuman sound. Then her skin seemed to melt, sloughing away to reveal another Selene beneath. She was still beautiful, in a terrible way. Her skin was ebony black, her hair as white as Dante's, but her eyes glowed red, and the sensual mouth was filled with cruel black fangs.

For a moment she stood there, then she began to howl again. Whisps of smoke rose from her skin, as if it were smouldering. Slowly, she sank to her knees in obvious agony.

Dante and Draco came to Harry's side. Draco used his wand to unlock the chains that still hung from Harry's wrists. "What did you do to her?" he asked, awestruck.

"He killed her," Dante said grimly. "He killed all that was human in her. What's left is pure demon. But demon flesh can't exist in this plane. When you summon a demon, you coat it in Earthly flesh so it can survive here until its shell is destroyed. Since Selene hasn't been summoned, there's nothing of Earth left in her now. If she stays here, the demon part of her will die, too."

"Father!" Selene screamed, and the chanting from the Hell-Gate grew louder. Two figures emerged from the vortex, both of which Harry recognised.

One was a small, old man, with a monkey-like face and a long beard. He carried a staff identical to the one Harry had destroyed earlier. The other was young, black and handsome, and wore Hogwarts robes. Harry shook his head in disbelief.

"Salazar Slytherin and Blaise Zabini!" he gasped.

Slytherin spoke, his voice was a hiss, more snake than human, but in archaic English, not Parseltongue.

"So, these be they who durst wound my daughter! Whither be her champion?"

In a violet flash, a seven-foot tall figure in dark armour, wielding a massive sword, appeared beside Slytherin. The ancient wizard spoke again.

"Champion, deal thou with yonder half-demon. Esquire, slay the minion of Gryffindor. I myself shall deal with this traitorous one of my own House!"

The armoured figure bounded forward and began a fierce but honourable duel with Dante. Zabini advanced on Harry, wand raised.

"You're dead!" Harry raged, bewildered. "Wolverine killed you the day Voldemort died! They brought you out of that dungeon in pieces!" His shock had made Harry drop his guard, and suddenly he was Petrified, unable to move or speak.

Zabini came closer, speaking in an angry, bitter voice. "Yes, Potter, I am dead. Cut into sections by that half-Muggle, half-animal monster you call a friend! Sent to Hell to suffer the pains of the damned for my loyalty to my Dark Lord! For that, Potter, you will die first. Then I shall seek out this Wolverine, and he will not die until he begs to!"

A strange calm came over Harry. He heard Ginny's voice - Whatever happens in there, Harry, never forget I love you! He clung to that thought, summoning her dear face into his mind, wanting his last thoughts to be of her.

Zabini raised his wand, then there was a loud boom, and Ginny's voice yelling "Expelliarmus!" Zabini's wand flew from his hand. He turned, snarling, "Little whore!" He sprang at Ginny, grabbing for her throat. She met Zabini's charge with one of the powerful mule-kicks she so favoured. He crashed to the floor, Harry staggered as the Petrificus spell faded, and Ginny levitated the fallen wizard back into the Hell-Gate.

Then she was in his arms, and he was kissing her, and for a moment, the world was irrelevant. The clash of swords brought them back. Dante and the armoured demon seemed evenly matched until a lucky blow with the flat of the demon's massive sword sent his opponent to the floor. The demon raised his sword to kill, but Ariel darted forward, phasing into him. For a moment, he stood rigid, then he dissolved into a cloud of black vapour that was sucked back into the Hell-Gate. Kitty was left standing alone for a moment, then her knees gave way.

But Ginny was there, her strong arms around her friend, lowering her gently. "Kitty, are you OK?" she asked anxiously.

"That was seriously weird!" muttered Kitty.

Ginny slipped deeper into her natural soft burr as she said, "Don't do things by 'alves, do 'ee, moi lovurr?"

Harry was watching Draco's duel with Slytherin. For one of the greatest wizards in history, Salazar wasn't doing very well. Of course, Harry mused, he's about a thousand years out of practice! There was also the fact that magic, like Muggle technology, had advanced over the centuries. Draco was clearly getting the best of things, driving Slytherin slowly back.

Then long sparks spat from the cobra head of Salazar's wand. Draco blocked them with a shield and Slytherin swore foully.

"Damn you, boy!" he raged at Draco. "Neither my magic nor this otherworldly periapt is a match for thee! But thou durst not slay the very founder of thine own House!"

"You think so?" Draco asked. "Y'know Salazar, I always thought you were overrated. Avada Kedavra!" Slytherin fell dead, a look of pure shock frozen to his face before he dissolved into smoke.

Selene howled again. They all turned to look at her. She was on all fours now, her black skin bubbling as if acid clung there. She lifted her head and screamed, "MOTHER!"

The chanting from the vortex was replaced by a soaring female chorus, and a new figure emerged, a woman. She was beautiful, bearing a strong resemblance to Selene, except that her hair was as red as Ginny's. The figure glided forward, naked from the waist up, but wearing a black skirt that reached to her ankles. The garment seemed to be made of fur and leather, and it appeared to move of its own accord. Harry was puzzled for a moment, then as he heard Ginny hiss in disgust, he realised the skirt was actually a mass of live bats!

"Nevan!" growled Dante, who had recovered from the demon warrior's blow. Nevan raised a hand, and suddenly none of them could move. Something very like electricity crackled up from the floor, holding them all rigid and in pain. "Now," she purred, "whom shall I kiss first? The handsome young hunter? The cold-hearted, cunning wizard, or the passionate, fierce one? Or should I start with the clever little Mutant or the powerful young witch?"

"You should try one whose experience matches your own!" came a new voice, a rich, commanding bass.

Nevan spun, gasping in fear, as the chanting from the portal rose in a scream of protest. The figure that stepped from it was cloaked in shadow, but was easily twelve feet tall, its great, batlike wings seeming to stretch the width of the Temple. Mighty horns curled from its head, and red eyes glowed out of the depths of its face.

"It can't be!" Nevan gasped. "Not possible! Sparda, is that truly you, beloved?"

"Don't pretend, Nevan," replied the dark figure. "I loved you once, but you've never loved anyone but yourself! Even your pet wizard couldn't hold your heart for more than a century.

"So, now, you have a choice." A massively muscled arm emerged from the shadow-form, holding a curved, many-bladed sword. Sparda continued, "You can either fight me, here and now, or you can take your daughter and return to Hell. Think fast, Nevan; she has little time left!"

With a careless gesture, Nevan released her human captives. Draco dropped to one knee. Dante drew his pistols and levelled them at Nevan. Ginny and Kitty both fled into Harry's arms, and the three of them clung together, watching. Nevan shook her head.

"I never was a match for you, Sparda - no-one was! And despite what you think of me, I am a mother!"

She went over to Selene, who now lay motionless on the floor, and picked her up as lightly as a child. "Come, little one," she murmured. "Let us go home." With a final glance at the humans, one that spoke eloquently of vengeance, Nevan carried Selene back into the Hell-Gate, where they vanished.

Dante stepped toward the shadowy demon, his face a play of emotions. "Father...?"

Sparda was suddenly surrounded by a red glow, one Harry recognised. When it cleared, a human figure stood there, a tall, broad-shouldered, white-haired man very like Dante, except that the face was lined with experience and the body more solid - that of a man in his prime, whereas Dante was just out of his teens. His clothes were like Dante's except for a long, black coat.

The legendary Dark Knight slung his bizarre sword across his back and stepped forward, smiling. "Got a hug for your old man, Dante?"

The embrace was a fierce one, then Dante pulled back. "Father, I...Mom...Vergil...I couldn't -"

Sparda held up a hand. "They chose their paths, son, as I did, and you have. Your mother is where I can't go - yet. As to Vergil, you and he will meet again, I think, when it's time.

"But for now, I can't stay long, there are souls back there who need me, who look to me for hope and leadership."

Sparda turned to regard the others. "When I'm gone, you must destroy the Gate. Push all four Keys into it. But hurry! With Selene gone, all she's created will begin to fade, this place will vanish, and everything will go back to what it was before. You fought well and bravely, all of you. At least I know I'm leaving this world in good hands!"

He turned again to Dante, and once again hugged him hard. "I'm proud of you, son. Always remember that! Vergil was wrong: you don't have to be me to continue with my work. Carry on doing what you're doing, and we'll see each other again, someday."

With that, Sparda turned away, transformed back into his true self, and flew into the Gate. Without a word, Dante and the three wizards approached the dais. Draco stood by the chalice, Ginny by the stone, Harry by the brazier, and Dante by the chest. At Harry's nod, the three wizards levitated their Keys into the vortex, while Dante picked up the chest and hurled it in. The Hell-gate darkened, groaned, then shrank and vanished.

For a moment, the four looked at each other, then Kitty said, "I've contacted Cyclops. He's getting everyone back to the original Club sections. We better do the same!"

"Where do we go?" asked Ginny.

Harry pondered for a moment, then said, "The place where we first came in, Ginny. It's the only one we're both sure of. If you take Kitty, Draco and I can manage Dante, I think. All right if I guide, Draco?"

"Going to have to be! Look around you, Harry, this place is fading fast!" Draco replied.

It was true. The Temple's outlines were beginning to blur and waver. Ginny grabbed Kitty again, while Harry and Draco took up positions to either side of Dante. Moments later, they were standing at the foot of the ladder that led up to the trapdoor where they had infiltrated the Club only three or four hours ago, Harry realised.

"Time flies when you're having fun," he remarked to Ginny and Kitty, who both laughed, as did Dante.

Draco rolled his eyes. "This is what you call fun, Potter? I always suspected you were at least mildly psychotic!"

"I still think he's gay," Dante told Harry. "Does that trapdoor lead out of here?" Harry nodded, so Dante went on. "Well, I better get going. Selene had hunting packs of demons out, and there'll be some clearing up to do."

He shook hands with Ariel and Firebird, kissing both of them lightly on the cheek - neither of them had any objection to that, Harry noted. Then he shook hands with Draco, remarking, "You're a pretty mean wizard, dude, but you need to get into shape if you're ever gonna match Harry here."

Draco smiled coolly. "Go well, Dante."

Finally, Dante came to Harry, grasping his hand firmly, then pulling him into a brief hug. "Harry, it's been a blast, man!" he said. "Look, if ever you need me, give me a call."

He handed Harry a business card that bore a line drawing of a female figure, dramatically posed, and the legend Devil May Cry above a phone number and email address. "Give me a codeword, so I'll know it's you," Dante said. Harry grinned and told him "Gryffindor." Dante nodded, gave a mock salute, climbed up the ladder and was gone.

"I'd best be gone, too," remarked Draco. "The Hellfire Club will be in some disarray for a time, so my plans will have to be put back at least. I just hope Shaw's attachment to Aunt Bella doesn't completely cloud his judgement. Women do strange things to a man, don't they?"

"Watch it, Draco!" said Ginny, while Kitty laughed and said, "Like you'd know?"

Draco allowed himself a pale smile, then put out a hand to Harry. "Well, if nothing else, today's events have proved that we can work together, Harry. My offer from before still stands, you know. Do give it some consideration."

Harry took the hand - there was no reason not to - but replied, "You consider this, Draco. If you gave up your little plots and went straight, you'd make a fair Auror. Then we could work together. Just think about it, Draco."

Draco gave a short bow which might or might not have been of assent, then said, "Well, good day, Ginevra. Miss Pryde, a pleasure to meet you. Harry, we'll meet again, I'm sure!" He Disapparated with a boom.

"Well," said Harry, "what now?"

As if in answer, Cyclops' voice sounded in his ear. "Hawk? Can you and Firebird Apparate back to the mansion with Ariel? Minerva's making a Portkey for the rest of us. We'll see you there."

Minerva? Harry wondered, then replied, "Can do, Cyclops! Everyone OK?"

"Pretty much," Cyclops answered. "A little tired, a few bruises, a lot of stories to tell. Showers and hot meals all round, if I'm any judge."

"OK, see you soon. Hawk out."

Harry grabbed Ginny, pulled her close and kissed her for a long time. Kitty stood by and tried not to watch, then Ginny reached out and pulled her into a three-way embrace.

"Right!" said Harry. "We need to Apparate back to Xavier's."

"So let's do it!" said Ginny, tightening her grip on Harry and Kitty. "On three. One...two...three!"

There was a boom, and they were gone.