Purpose

~ Chapter 45: Soul Traveling ~

Nearly six in the evening...

The company took their time in returning to the castle, although Draco was walking ahead of them, taking very big strides. Hermione kept glancing at Harry as though he had done something to his oathbrother. Her green-eyed friend finally gave a small laugh.

"Don't worry about him," Harry said, smiling gently at her. "I think he is just in the same state as your partner now."

His friend looked at him in bafflement, then blushed when she finally understood his words. "Oh..." She looked at her redheaded partner, smiling fondly at Ron's preoccupied expression.

Harry's smile faded as he stared at the Potions Master's back. His oathbrother was still not talking to Snape, but it seemed that the Potions Master was being too hesitant about making up to his godson. He sighed, and his godfather turned a thoughtful look at him.

"You all right, Harry?" Sirius asked in concern.

"Huh? Oh... yeah... I'm fine," his godson answered, but somewhat distractedly. Sirius narrowed his eyes, then he slowed down, leaving Harry alone with his thoughts.

: Something bothering you? : Fenix's mindvoice filled the depths of his mind, and the look he gave her was somber. He pointed his chin at Harry, and she gave a brief nod.

: He is behaving rather strangely, : Remus agreed.

Harry was unaware of the silent discussion going on behind his back. A distant part of him advised him to inform someone of the strange feeling he was experiencing, but there was another part of him that was simply too curious to halt his concentration. There was a strange thrum that was filling a small part of his mind, and it was not coming from himself. Harry recognized it as the place where Voldemort had constantly used to link himself with the boy. Voldemort? I thought I had burned off all connections to him? He stopped in his tracks and called his godfather.

Sirius broke off from the conversation he was having with the Fire Master and her partner, quickly going over to his godson. Before he had the chance of asking why the boy had called him, Harry quickly said, "Sirius, I'm feeling something that Voldemort is feeling." The twenty-six people in the company stopped, and looked grimly at the boy who had spoken.

: I thought we had bu- :

: I've been asking myself that for the past few minutes, Drake, : Harry informed his oathbrother in a tired mindvoice. Then he switched to the normal way of speech. "I know I can gain more information if I concentrate harder, but do you think I should try that?"

Harry felt a mixture of relief and disappointment when most of them shook their heads. He was relieved that he was not going to be 'with' Voldemort but disappointed because the thrumming inside his head was growing steadier with each passing minute.

: Let's get to the safety of the castle first, before we decide to do anything, : the Fire Master spoke to them. : Something strange is happening to the people inside the castle but my Elementals refuse to tell me what has gone wrong. All I'm able to feel now is trepidation, disappointment and anxiousness. And all of those emotions seem to be pointing to the Headmaster. : That information stopped everyone from protesting against her idea to investigate the situation about Harry and the Dark Lord. Their pace picked up, all moving quickly toward the castle.

**********

About eighty-five minutes ago, in the partially destroyed manor.

Voldemort's world had narrowed down to only the circle of space where he had stood his ground and the opponent across him. Damn him! Does he not feel the pain? The Dark Lord snarled to himself, taking a moment to reassess the situation. Dumbledore had been hit squarely by a Cruciatus Curse, but it was not giving the effects that Voldemort wanted. There was a kind of grim determination in the Headmaster's eyes, and his eyes flashed dangerously. A loud shrieking sound filled the mind of Voldemort, and the Dark Lord collapsed, trying to block the noise out. Not moving the hand that held his wand, Dumbledore lifted the Dark Lord and the latter crashed against an oblivious Malfoy.

The loud shrieking that was filling the Dark Lord's mind was preventing him to form a coherent thought, but still, his will was strong. Voldemort had the nature of a true-born sorcerer, and a red haze began to drown out the bells inside his head. He slowly pulled himself up to his feet, cruelly kicking Malfoy away from him. Voldemort was smiling, and Dumbledore hesitated for a moment. That was enough for the Dark Lord. Black, and smoky fumes quickly filled the room and the people quickly fled from the harmful fumes. Lestrange cursed and grabbing hold of the unconscious Malfoy, they retreated to a safer part of the house, leaving the Dark Lord alone with his challenger.

Dumbledore choked on the fumes, and stumbled backwards, coughing. His right arm began to tingle painfully, aware that the fumes were reacting with his wand somehow. The Headmaster summoned for a strong whirlwind and it swept the fumes away. The brief attack left the Headmaster gasping for breath, eyes watering painfully. Round two: Voldemort gained a point.

**********

Presently at Hogwarts.

Harry shook his head to the plate of chicken wings and Hermione passed it to the others. The company had immediately washed and headed just as quickly to the Hall for their dinner. Their friends who had remained behind during the sortie had greeted them with an almost forced enthusiasm. Harry's quick eyes did not miss the strained, haunted look that had flickered across McGonagall's eyes as she welcomed them. He managed to exchange a look with the Fire Master, but she just gave a shrug. Her silver eyes became steely however, just as they went up the slope to enter the castle.

Now, all of them were seated at a Gryffindor table. Harry felt strangely uneasy, both from the strange feeling at the back of his mind and because Fenix, Snape, Sirius and Remus were being unusually quiet. He was sure that they were not 'talking' because if they had, he would be able to hear the 'echo' that only people like the Fire Master or the Elves could hear. What on earth is going on? Harry frowned as he ate, and Alamanda fidgeted uneasily in her seat when she saw his angry face. The Hall is just too quiet today. Finally, the green-eyed boy lost his cool. Fenix, who was sitting two persons away from the boy, jumped in her seat when Harry suddenly slammed both his fists on the massive table. He stood up.

"Harry!" Hermione and Ginny exclaimed at once, their faces looking shocked at his behavior.

"Where in hell is Dumbledore? Or Aberforth?" Harry turned around, his green eyes gazing steadily at Kingsley before he turned his attention to Moody.

"Don't know what you are talking about, boy," Moody grated, calmly putting his fork beside his plate. "They're in Dumbledore's office."

: Forget it, Harry. : The Fire Master's mindvoice filled his mind.

: Moody's lying! : Harry's mindvoice was harsh with tension.

: So what? : Remus questioned him. He was staring at the green-eyed boy coolly.

Harry looked at them in disbelief. He turned to Sirius, but his godfather was not even paying attention to them. He abruptly sat down, not looking at anyone as he angrily bolted down his dinner. He was concentrating so intensely on finishing his dinner that he actually bristled when McGonagall rested her hand on his shoulder. The boy had the grace to blush when Fenix gave him a tight mindslap to remind him of his manners. And I wonder why she is always the one to reprimand me. I guess I should count myself lucky that it's not 'Uncle' Severus, Harry thought in amusement, putting his anger away.

"Dumbledore, Aberforth and Charlie," the Transfigurations teacher began in a quiet voice, her eyes not looking away from the boy's face, "I'm not exactly sure where they have gone, but..." she paused. Harry remained silent. "I fear that they have gone to confront the D- Voldemort."

**********

Ginny dropped her fork, meal completely forgotten. Ron looked just as dazed as his younger sister. He closed his gaping mouth with a snap, and his ears began to turn red. Harry looked down at his plate. Hearing Voldemort's name caused several visions to flash across his mind. The scenes rapidly changed. Buzz of conversations filled his ears but he was not able to comprehend the words.

His oathbrother, finally realizing that Harry's eyes held a glazed look, abandoned his seat and hurried straight to Harry. He pushed McGonagall away absently and began shaking his oathbrother's shoulders, repeatedly calling out Harry's name.

Still, Harry could not hear any of them, nor was he able to see the table messed with their dinner dishes and his friends. His vision was entirely filled with white, hazy light, occasionally seeing dragons flying through the scene. He felt fear, then sickened as he felt human flesh burn under the fire from the dragons. He was sickened as Death Eaters ran blindly into blind spots, not reacting quickly enough as they drowned in a sea of sand.

Fenix felt as she had the need to vomit when she probed the boy and quickly blocked her gifts. Draco had stopped shaking his oathbrother, his silver eyes showing his helplessness as he watched Harry, who was lost in an unknown world.

**********

Harry found that fear could be tangible. He could taste it, and could almost touch it. He saw Charlie, stuck beneath a mass of rubble. He saw an Auror who was the one named Reef. He was desperately urging a dragon to move the stones from the trapped Weasley. Harry saw the Headmistress of the Beauxbatons Academy with another witch, running recklessly to follow a battered Malfoy and Lestrange. The Death Eaters and the rest of Voldemort's followers were in total disarray, absolutely confused by their Master's absence, and the presence of the dragons. They were not able to make a stand to protect themselves. But... He heard his little voice again. In Harry's urgency to find Dumbledore, he saw Aberforth and another man dueling with Mulciber. Aberforth's gray hair was matted with blood. The thick red liquid dripped slowly down the length of his face. The Dumbledore collapsed; Harry saw Aberforth's comrade cursed and shouted at the unconscious man. The wizard gave up, giving his full attention to the specialist, hitting the Death Eater repeatedly.

Dumbledore... Harry could not hear anything. The world was suddenly with silence and felt cold to him. He could not feel the warmth of his godfather. He could not feel the silent assurance of the Fire Master. He could not feel the encouragement of his friends. He felt empty. Why? A detached part of Harry's mind asked again and again. I'm so cold... so... cold. I can't feel anything... I can't hear them...

He watched the images impassively. Dumbledore... Harry half-heartedly placed his concentration on finding the Headmaster. Wait... I should not go... It could be a trap. But... am I... dying? But they say that you will have a flashback of memories as you go. But I can't see Sirius's face... I don't remember the faces belonging to my friends... I can only remember their names.

**********

Hermione watched Harry's lost expression and finally lost control of her emotions. She fled away from the Hall, sobbing loudly, and Jaheera quickly left her place to follow the Granger, to make sure the girl would not do anything foolish. Remus and McGonagall quickly instructed the rest of the students to make themselves scarce, leaving the area to Sirius and the usual company. Dean held Ginny comfortingly but the girl was just too numb to react to anything. Sirius had lifted his godson from the bench, quickly placing Harry down on a hastily made pallet. McGonagall left with the elves to make sure that the other students stay out of mischief.

Ron knelt by the pallet, grasping Harry's cold hand. Draco was sitting on a bench, his head buried in his hands and shoulders shaking with terrible grief. The boy did not care about the consequences by showing the weaker side to his friends, now that he had shown that he could easily have nervous breakdowns just like normal people. Why can't Harry hear me? I was right there in front of him! Can't he see me?

They heard a small gasp coming from Harry. Looking at him carefully, they found out that the boy was chuckling softly, but his green eyes showed great despair. Tears trickled silently down his cheeks. "I can't see Ron's face..." the boy whispered. "I don't remember Hermione's smile..." a broken sob emerged from Harry's throat. His voice became more desperate. "I can't feel Drake in my mind... I can't feel him at all..."

**********

Harry was still devoted in his search to find the Headmaster but it felt as if he was slowly losing his mind. Why did I want to search for him? Harry asked himself. He stopped, standing totally alone in the haziness. I was never alone before... I had never been truly lonely before... the Dursleys were always around, even if they were mistreating me... Harry felt that he had been cut off from the world completely. I'm truly on my own now... Sirius... help me...

**********

"Sirius..." the boy called out desperately.

"Harry. I'm right here." Sirius was now holding his godson tightly in his arms, feeling afraid suddenly. "God... come on, Harry. Get a grip! Wake up!"

"Sirius... I'm so cold..." Harry's voice trailed off.

Draco's face was wet with tears, and even Fenix was crying. She had tried her best to close off all her empathic channels, but the intensity of emotions was straining her hold on her emotions. Of all people in the Hall at that moment, she was the only one who understood why Draco was grieving. I can't handle this, Fenix thought to herself, then finally collapsed in the far corner of the Hall. She huddled, trying not to give way to more tears. Her partner went to her, trying to comfort her, but the waves of despair that were coming from the people in the room were just too great for her to handle.

: Take her outside! : Aelwyn suddenly screamed in Remus's mind. : Now! : The werewolf looked wildly around the Hall, alarmed by the Sylph's command. He deftly scooped the small woman into his arms, and left the Hall by the side entrance.

"I want to remember... everyone..." Harry whispered again.

Snape had quickly enfolded his godson in his arms, putting aside their earlier argument, to give support to the Slytherin. Draco suddenly screamed in pain, crying out his tears of frustration. Harry may not be able to feel his oathbrother, but Draco was feeling the despair that was amplified by the boy who had taken the oathbond with him. The Slytherin was given no choice but to experience what his oathbrother was going through.

: Knock me out! Just hex me into oblivion! Shit... the pain! : Draco babbled to his godfather.

The oathbrothers gasped. Draco immediately stopped crying and Snape released the boy from his arms. His silver eyes were unseeing, his sharp, angular face contorted with anger and fear. Harry's face however, was shocked, but it was quickly replaced by grim determination.

"Dumbledore's in deep trouble," Draco answered the voiceless question.

**********

In the courtyard...

Remus had been pushed aside by Fenix's invisible helpers. Bright, crimson fire was engulfing the Fire Master at a fast rate and the werewolf frowned, not understanding the scene before him.

: She's sharing the grief with us. We can't afford her to break, not today, : Aelwyn answered the werewolf. : Only Draco can reach his oathbrother... if he can... but he needs Fenix's powers. : The fire abruptly stopped and Fenix emerged from the small cyclone of fire. She gave a brief smile to her partner. The two of them went back into the Hall.

**********

Dumbledore was in trouble. Deep trouble. The Cruciatus Curse and the poisonous fumes that Voldemort had loosened upon the Headmaster were finally beginning to react with the Headmaster's body system. But the Headmaster had also unwittingly trapped Harry and himself in Voldemort's grasp.

"I am certainly lucky that I have the opportunity to kill not one, but two wizards tonight." Voldemort trailed his fingers lazily across the length of his wand, looking down at Dumbledore's blood-smeared face. "It is stupid of you to bring the boy along."

"I realize that."

Voldemort laughed soundlessly.

**********

Back in Hogwarts.

McGonagall had returned to the Hall, and was hovering anxiously near Harry's bed. Hermione, too, had returned, having taken a calming potion by Madam Pomfrey. Harry's oathbrother was kneeling at one side of Harry while Fenix on the other, and Sirius was supporting Harry's head on his lap.

Harry still could not see them, but he could feel their presence, reassuring him in a way that was beyond words. They dispelled the coldness that had crept into his heart and with the warmth returning to him, he could hear Ron's laughter and Hermione's giggle, the merriment that had occurred in Sirius's sitting room. But what had made him happier but in a small way, galled him, was the resonating oathbond he had with the Slytherin.

He heard Voldemort's threat to Dumbledore dimly, and those who were linked with him, felt his sense of bafflement.

"But Dumbledore had not called me. I was searching for him." Harry's ghostly voice filled the room. He stared at the Dark Lord dispassionately, summoning his gift quietly. I am going to get skinned by Fenix. I think I'm going to drain myself in fifteen minutes time. Voldemort, after studying Harry's ghostly form for a few seconds, was convinced that the white glow surrounding the Gryffindor was just a form of spiritual energy. The Dark Lord turned his back to the astral projection.

Harry's small movement did not attract Voldemort's attention and the boy quickly send the power to the Headmaster, quickly snapping off the immobility spell. Dumbledore held his wand tightly. The instant Voldemort cried out, "Avada Kedavra!", the Headmaster's wand created a barrier in which the curse was completely absorbed. Muttering off an incantation, the tables had been turned against the Dark Lord. Voldemort froze.

Harry's soul aided the Headmaster up to his feet, and the wizard tried not to flinch from the boy's bright, ethereal glow. Harry turned to the Dark Lord and spoke in a quiet, questioning voice. "This is not the end of it, isn't it?" he asked. "He is not going to be killed by me tonight."

"Yes," Dumbledore agreed, dusting off his robes from the accumulated dust.

Harry's astral projection moved closer to the Dark Lord, making Sirius to struggle to keep a tight rein on his mouth. Voldemort's eyes flickered with conflicting emotions for a brief moment. Harry gave a sigh, and placed his palms an inch away from the Dark Lord's shoulders.

"I don't think you will remember a single thing after this. You will not remember that I am the one who is going to drain you and your followers of every source of power. You will be weak for a few months at least, to give me some ample time to prepare myself. Then again, you probably won't remember the words that I have just spoken. But you will keep on thinking that Dumbledore was the one responsible for your helplessness. You will only remember that he had spoken these words, 'We will meet again. When it's time'." As Harry spoke to the Dark Lord, the boy glowed brighter and brighter. Voldemort gave a soundless scream as he felt his harvest of magical reserves dissipating away into nothingness. Incandescent light pierced through the half-ruined manor, reaching out to a distant group of Death Eaters who had successfully escaped the wrath of the dragons.

Voldemort's group of people fell unconscious as Harry's gift touched them, releasing the purified magical energy he stole from them back into the earth. That was all Harry could do in such short notice of the opportunity that had been given to him. It would take Voldemort or his followers about four months before they would be able to cast a simple candle-lighting spell.

The light died, and Harry sighed with relief. He turned to look at Dumbledore. "I've got to go back before they get into more hysterics," he said. And I want to ask Fenix why the Sun God did not warn me that I'll be feeling the strange things. For that matter, why didn't he warn me that I could go astral-traveling? The Headmaster nodded. "You ought too, as soon as you have seen to everyone that had followed you here. The dream-spell would only last for two hours and you might want to be gone from here before he awakens." Harry paused and the Headmaster gave him an inquiring look. "I might be wrong," Harry said slowly, "but I think Professor McGonagall will give you a trashing, once you've placed an inch of you into the castle."

**********