Purpose

~ Chapter 44: Counter-attack ~

At the Forest...

The three of them were looking at the nine dead bodies of the giants with profound distaste. Fenix wrinkled her nose at the strong odor emanating out from them. By the time they had finished dealing with Voldemort's nonhuman helpers, it was nearly five in the afternoon. The three of them were getting irritated by the moment, clearly unhappy with the behavior of their fellow teammates.

"They're not being fair." Draco dug his heel onto the turf.

"Let's hurry up, Fenix. I stink," Harry complained, earning a chuckle from her.

"I'm hungry," the Slytherin muttered.

"Do me a favor," his oathbrother said directly to him. "Let's not talk about food now."

Draco just looked archly at Harry who was examining the dead giants carefully. Fenix had walked to their opposite side and he sighed. He wondered if she would suggest that he should turn into his true form, and then to his embarrassment, she firmly told him that they should not spend their energy carelessly.

: Then how do you suggest we get them burning? : the Slytherin asked impatiently.

: Harry would act as our amplifier, or maybe a more appropriate term is that he would be a funnel directing our energy. Just do what you usually do when you want to take on your true form, but instead of redirecting it back to yourself, you send it to Harry, : she explained to both boys. : So, do you think you can handle this? :

Harry was still thinking deeply that his oathbrother had to catch his attention by giving him a sharp slap. "Ouch!" he yelped and glared indignantly at the Slytherin.

: Stop wasting time, Green-Eyes, : Draco said. : Were you listening to Fenix? :

: Of course, I was! You did not stop to think that I would be the one who will harvest your power! : he shot back testily, then turned to the Fire Master who was looking at them with annoyance. : Just how am I supposed to 'amplify' the fire? Fenix, I absolutely do not want to create a major Firestorm in this Forest by accident. :

: A good point, : she admitted grudgingly. : I guess we have to modify our plan then, : she finally spoke up after a moment of thinking. : I guess we have to abandon that amplifying method. I want you to create a shield instead. Theoretically, if Drake's and my power are combined, it would probably be hot enough to do the job. So, you ought to create a very tough shield. :

Harry looked at her with a horrified expression. : Fenix! What if I don't do it right? :

: If you don't, I guess we have to be prepared in getting lectures by several different species then, : his oathbrother spoke up indifferently.

Harry looked helplessly at the two other people, before sighing in acceptance. He took a deep breath, then began to meticulously build a shield, and it began to close upon the three mortals with the dead giants. The air began to crackle with energy and Harry frowned. Why do I always glow every single time I do this? Is wizardry that different from my new Power that it absolutely has to be ostentatious? Damn it! I'll think about this later . . . when I have the time, he thought with determination.

: Take your time, Harry. There's no need to rush. : He heard the Fire Master advised him.

I am not rushing. He told himself. The wheels in his mind were turning at a fast pace. This place will suffer some serious forms of damages caused by the overload of magical powers. This could affect the ecosystem dependent in this particular area. His shield began to turn visible, a white, bubble-like structure protruded out from the area. Is there any way I could negate the excess power? Should I send it into the earth? But, can it take the pressure? A fine thing it would be if Hogwarts is to suffer from an earthquake, once I do that.

The shield began to thicken, and Fenix could feel its strength. She looked fondly at the green-eyed boy who was working on his shield with his eyes closed. So young, yet he had already faced his worst nightmares, and it is going to get worse in the future. Dear Phoebus. This boy already has to shoulder a lot of responsibilities, but then, so does his oathbrother. The Fire Master looked away and stared at the immense shield. The wall had thickened further and she could not help but wonder about the limitations of the maker. She rested the flat of her palm against the energy shield, feeling its soothing warmth and also tested the strength molding it. Her face turned grim as she brooded. His Gift is really strange. Is it because he is a wizard as well? I guess Harry is right. I have to watch him carefully to make sure that he does not fall prey to his Gift.

Draco watched her worried expression but he kept silent, knowing why she was looking that way. His power is different from ours, and has no rules that I'm aware of. Unlike him, we have absolute control on what we want our Fires to be or what to do. Harry's Gift is far too nebulous to take on its form, but I don't think it even has one. The Slytherin wondered why his oathbrother was taking such a long time to finish casting his shield. Draco began to pace, trying not to think about what he was subjecting his sense of smell to. Huh ... Harry might need to set up a whole list of ethics to follow soon. Judging by the way he had lost control that night, his Gift is much stronger than mine or Fenix combined.

Fenix was not thinking about anything in particular when a bell-like sound filled the area inside the shield. The wall flared and the energy making up the shield began to whirl. The Fire Master had not been expecting that and was even more stunned when she turned around. And she felt relieved that she was not the only one feeling that way; Draco was staring at his oathbrother with incredulity.

What in the name of the Nine Gods does Harry think he is doing? Fenix gazed solemnly at Harry. The boy had shifted, standing at a close distance to the dead bodies. His form was totally engulfed in white light that his features were barely visible. He raised his arms and in the blink of an eye, lines of energy quickly shot out from the shield to merge with their owner. Without hesitation, Harry coaxed the earth to send out its own lines of power, and captured them deftly when they appeared.

Fenix stared at the boy with amazement. The boy had created an outlet for their excess energy to enter and would not be wasted, since it would be fed back into the earth. She caught Draco's attention and the boy nodded, getting ready to receive a signal from his oathbrother.

: Well, do your stuff. : Harry's mindvoice filled their minds and Fenix was able to tell that the boy was straining to keep his hold on the shield. The two other people need no more prompting from the caster.

Fenix released her Fire like a cannon ball and it quickly filled the area in a matter of seconds. The three stood calmly inside the conflagration, watching the brilliant blue fire began to feed on the dead bodies. Draco's green and black Fire swept through the Fire Master's gaps. The fire began to dance on its own accord and increased its intensity, covering the heap of dead bodies. It was impossible to look if the fires had done its job, they had totally screened off the view of the three mortals. But as the Fires had reached the maximum level that Harry's shield could withstand, Harry activated the energy lines. The fire was quickly sucked in by the lines and was transmuted into something milder and moldable force. Within minutes, Harry felt his shield weakening and warned the two to pull their Fires back.

Their Fires danced madly with the earth's tune before they zoomed off toward their respective owners. Harry managed to reclaim his shield before it fully disintegrated and shared the left over energies equally among his peers. He let the earth lines return to their original places and sighed. Their task for the day had been accomplished.

It took several minutes for the glow surrounding the three people to fade, and Harry gave a tremendous sigh that the Fire Master echoed. Harry gave a weak smile to both of them and Fenix grinned widely at him, while Draco just looked relieved. Harry gazed at the circle of black soil that they were standing on.

: I guess that's it for the day, : Harry said, massaging his aching arm.

: Let's go back to our company of lazy fellows, shall we? : Fenix turned her back to them and took the lead.

: Yeah, let's go. I'm famished, : Draco said.

His oathbrother shook his head in wonderment. He still has an appetite after all of this? He followed the two slowly as they headed back to where they had left their friends. The company had stubbornly refused to move from their position. They had no intentions of having to tolerate the stink coming from the giants. Harry sniffed experimentally at his shirt. Well, either I smell normal, or the stink of the giants had numbed my sense of smell. Then he decided not to dwell on that thought, preferring to keep his eyes open and to watch the path before him.

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Occurring in the time span when the Sun God had descended in the Forbidden Forest.

The group of fifteen people had Apparated near the edge of the forest surrounding the ancient building, which was also the hideout of Voldemort and his followers. Although the area was Unplottable, Voldemort could not erase it from the maps made by the Muggles. The Dark Lord could not hide the island from the attention of the Undines, since they were constantly exchanging information with their counterparts. That was one of the advantages that Dumbledore had, and the wizard was careful not to take the Elementals' help for granted.

Charlie and two others had separated from the main group, to get to their dragon company. Reef followed the two younger men cautiously. He was a Dragon Rider before he became an Auror, and since his own Hebridean Black was among the troop, Reef was inclined to follow them. It had seemed a little farfetched that the released, and protected Hebride Dragon, had taken off on its own to head to the meeting point where the other Dragon Keepers were lying in wait to make their move, but that was what the Sylphs had reported. The reason why Reef had identified the Dragon as his was because of the bands of anklets that had been attached to one of the Dragon's hind legs. The only thing that worried Reef was that the Dragon had not caused any problems to the other dragons or their keepers.

The thing that had amazed the rest was the Hebridean Black's keen sense of subterfuge. It had actually passed through the protections of the Dark Lord and had landed safely without being sensed at all, but of course, assuming that the Elementals had not falsified the incident. It actually helped the dragon troop that Voldemort had made this isolated and unfriendly island- according to the Muggles- his stronghold, and the chances of them having to cast memory charms on Muggles were almost nil.

The terrain of the island made up for Voldemort's lack of stronger protections. Although there were trees surrounding the area, sharp, jagged rocks protruded out of the landscape, and the area was also filled with quicksand. Charlie had also heard rumors that there were also Banshees and Red-Caps lurking in the area. They crept about the trees with caution and quickly hid behind a grove of trees when they heard footfalls approaching their area. Reef scrutinized their hideout carefully before Charlie pulled him down. They held their breaths.

They're too damn near the platoon ... have we been discovered? Charlie thought worriedly and he whispered quickly to his two friends. Reef shook his head, clearly mouthing the word 'Impossible'.

"The dragons and their riders should be around here somewhere," a voice whispered harshly.

A string of obscenities pierced the relative silence of the woods. "Maybe that old Seer is slipping. I wonder why our Master still keeps that man. He's totally useless in important situations. Dumbledore had already prevented us from spying, who is to say that the wizard is not trying to fool us about counterattacking us in our own ground?" another voice spoke up.

"You said it yourself. What if this is what Dumbledore wanted us to think? I don't think it's a good idea if we leave without checking. Let's go back and start scouting again."

The three hidden men were frowning. Charlie felt something brush against his left side and was about to reprimand his colleague. But Gilmore was at least three feet away behind him. It was then when the three men realized that they were not alone in the clump of trees.

"Be at ease, Charlie. It's me," Aelwyn informed the three high-strung men. "Leave the two Death Eaters to us. Or rather... the Dryads." Her voice was mischievous. "Well, don't just sit there. Get moving!" The grove fell silent. Reef looked at Charlie curiously, then shrugged to himself.

"Let's go. It will not be fun if Dumbledore decides to play all by himself," the Auror remarked.

"But what are the Elementals going to do?" Gilmore asked, as they emerged from their hiding place. The three men began to run, deftly avoiding the quicksands that were in the area.

"I don't think I want to know," Charlie replied, panting slightly.

They suddenly came into a clearing and a great rush of wind almost bowled the three men over. Charlie managed to retain his balance and looked up, then he was mesmerized by a pair of brilliant, violet eyes. The huge dragon tucked its membrane-like wings back and calmly stared at the three little humans. Charlie and Gilmore slowly retrieved their wands from their pocket, and Charlie's heart leapt in his throat when Reef casually homed in closer to the dragon. The immense creature still watched in great calm. It finally moved when Reef stood at approximately three meters away from the dragon. It stretched out its right talon forward, as if to strike at the Auror. The other two men watched the scene with terror. But it was not the dragon's intention to hurt the human. It used its long claws to dig something out from underneath Reef's collar. One claw skillfully lifted a chain that was hung about the Auror's neck.

The dragon shifted, and leaned closer to the ground. Swinging its huge, slender head to its side, its right eye examined the item on the Auror's neck. Then it slowly withdrew its talon carefully. Charlie stared at the Auror in amazement.

I have never seen dragons display such intelligence! And this dragon isn't being aggressive at all! Excited thoughts filled the Weasley's mind. He shuddered, trying to shake off his feeling of trepidation and saw that the Auror was beckoning them to come closer. The two younger men hesitated for a moment before Charlie made the first move. He slowly approached the Auror and the dragon, not taking his eyes off the Hebridean Black.

"We don't have much time on our hands but I want to quickly introduce the two of you to Ebudae." The Auror stopped speaking when Charlie gave him a hysterical look. "Don't look at me like that! He just won't respond to anything else except that," Reef spoke in a slightly exasperated tone. "He is going to sniff your hair for several seconds and then we absolutely have to go to the platoon."

Gilmore gulped. The young Keeper had not come across anyone who was so firmly bonded with his dragon that it becomes more than just a tool for riding or items for conservation. "Are you sure that... ah... Ebudae here would leave our heads and limbs intact?"

"Don't be such a git! Hurry up, will you?" Reef said crossly.

Charlie tentatively moved forward, close enough so that the dragon could bend its head down. Nervous sweat began to drip down the Weasley's forehead as he felt the warm breath coming from the dragon's snout. He quickly moved out of the way when Ebudae stopped sniffing at his hair and the dragon moved on to Gilmore. Routine satisfied, the dragon swiftly turned around and maneuvered deftly in between the trees. The three men followed closely behind the shadow of the dragon, though far enough from the sharp, pointy tail that was swinging back and forth.

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Series of thunder shook the island, muffling the terrified squeals of the two scouts as they were engulfed quickly by a sentient quicksand. Aberforth turned his head quickly, his hard, steely eyes scanned through the trees to perceive where the screams had come from. The screaming finally died, and more than one person in the company shuddered at the opportunistic way the Elementals had attacked Voldemort's followers.

The Headmaster looked up into the gray sky. He wondered if the weather was a natural pattern or if it was caused by the Elementals. Dumbledore's eyes fell onto the stone manor. "Blade," he called softly, and the named wizard appeared by his side.

"We're ready," the Auror confirmed and the Headmaster nodded. "We just have to wait for the Riders to make their move before we break all the spells that are shielding the building."

"There's the signal!" the Auror's wife informed them, pointing at the controlled flashes of lightning that danced across the gloomy sky.

The group of twelve assorted wizards and witches waited patiently in the vicinity, all holding their wands out. Activity began to swirl from the heart of the woods and finally, the area darkened for a brief moment as great shadows flew across the island from several different directions. And their target was the stone house that Voldemort had taken for his home.

Reef held onto his seat tightly, feeling the muscles of his dragon straining to keep its altitude and speed. The Auror was crouching so closely to the dragon that he was practically unseen by other riders. His dark gray uniform blended in perfectly with the shiny black scales of his dragon. Charlie's Longhorn overtook them and Reef was able to see the dragon's stomach distended slightly. Ebudae was doing the same, and the dragon held it until...

**********

Voldemort was calmly contemplating on the words of the old seer. The war will last for years... He began laughing inside the barren room that jumped to his feet when great roars pierced the air.

"Dragons!" Voldemort heard someone yell and then he heard something crash onto the stone walls of the manor.

"Master!" His ever-faithful servant quickly appeared by the door, eyes showing his fear, not because they were under attack but because his servant was afraid he would lose the Dark Lord. "We have to leave!"

There was a strange whistling sound coming from the window and Voldemort ducked just in time as a dragon let loose its terrible flame. "Quick! Gather the rest!" Voldemort grabbed his wand and cloak, and followed Lucius quickly. The dragon slammed against the brick walls.

Some of Voldemort's followers were brave enough to come out from the protection of the building and began to concentrate on hitting the dragons with Stunning Spells. Most of the dragons withdrew, including Reef's Hebridean Black, to fly out from the attacking range. Then came the most feared dragon of all, a Hungarian Horntail. It somehow surprised Charlie that all dragons and riders were still much alive and intact, even in the company that particular dragon. A great bellow came from the angry dragon and the humans on the ground were too slow to remove themselves from the dragon's line of attack. The dragon's head snapped and great fire came shooting out from the dragon's throat. Death screams rang from the burnt Death Eaters.

Voldemort's eyes turned dark with anger as more and more of his followers were burnt by the dragons and one that was stupid enough to taunt the Horntail, found himself being torn apart and gulped down by the dragon. The Dark Lord was smart enough to have set up an escape route for all of them. "Hurry!" Voldemort heard his servant's wife shrill voice and it was immediately followed by a wail when Michelle Haren appeared suddenly and flung the woman against a wall with a flick of her wand.

"Crucio!" Mulciber shouted, waving his wand at the sorceress's back but it bounded off harmlessly when Julian Mingleweeve deflected the spell with a Shield Charm.

"Let's not be rude that we absolutely have to interrupt the ladies," the oldest wizard said in a sardonic voice and vanished, along with the specialist.

"Where are you running to, Lestrange?" Madam Amelia Bones called out. "You certainly don't intend to leave me without some entertainment?" Her hand snapped out and a jet of brilliant purple light suddenly shot out from the tip of her wand to hit the Death Eater's face.

Absolute chaos broke out as another dozen of Aurors and Riders appeared into the house, intervening with the Death Eaters escape routes. With the dragons keeping watch outside, Voldemort's followers had no choice but to Apparate from the place. Unfortunately, Dumbledore had taken enough time to build a shield, that will hold long enough for him to pay his respects to the Dark Lord.

"There will be no forgiveness," Madam Maxime spoke harshly, her eyes gleaming with deep-anger as she stared at the one-eyed Malfoy. He did not see her wand but found his vision blackening as he was hit by a spell.

"We meet again, Tom Riddle," Dumbledore hailed the Dark Lord in a quiet voice. Voldemort froze, then turned to face the most powerful wizard ever known in the history of the Wizarding World. He stared coldly at the wise blue eyes belonging to the wizard. "I wonder, will the time be now?" the wizard asked, gazing calmly at the student he once knew. Voldemort remained silent, drawing his wand out and pointed it threateningly at Dumbledore.

"Why don't we test it?" the aged wizard spoke up, almost to himself. Voldemort found himself being chained by golden ropes and his face scrunched up in pain as it tightened about his chest. But Voldemort was a strong wizard, too, and he willed the bindings into nothingness. Round one: a draw.

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