Through Darkness and Light

Chapter 17

Darkness's Voice

Harry's heart beat madly against his chest but his wand didn't waver as he stood protectively in front of Elessar. Images of black shapes in long tattered cloaks flashed through his mind, the dementor's fleshless hands hanging at their side. He grappled with his imagination and shoved it back into his subconscious. He needed to get a hold of himself.

He glanced behind and saw Elessar regain her footing, her eyes were closed but whether in concentration or pain, he couldn't tell.

"What do you mean 'the power has attacked again?' What power?"

"On Halloween the teachers and I felt another force, one that was not Sirius Black," she said in between breaths. "It was a spell that had been diverted from its original target."

"Do you know who was behind the spell?"

"I do not."

"And what you just felt, that was the same person?"

"Yes."

Harry adjusted his hand on his wand, already turning slick with sweat. What should they do? Was Elessar really all right? She looked pale, at least from what he saw from the moon's light.

"Why did the power affect you like that?"

Elessar's golden eyes blazed for a brief moment as she scanned the forest. "It is an ancient power; whoever is behind the magic holds ill will towards me." She straightened up and he noticed that she gripped the necklace she always wore. "And it doesn't want me to interfere."

A winter wind swept through the glade. The earlier warmth dissolved and the snow crept onto the fringes of the meadow.

Harry rubbed his eyes; that couldn't be happening, it had to be his imagination.

Veins of ice snaked up the flowers he had noticed earlier, turning them solid even as he watched. A dark fog crept along the edges, sucking into its depth all light that touched it.

"What's happening?"

Elessar's eyes remained on the boundary, watching the snow creep into Treebeard's old home. "The magic is fading."

She raised her head higher and took a deep breath. There was no shocked expression or obvious sign of fear as he would have expected from anyone else, but her tone told him she was afraid.

He shivered and the cold seemed to wrap around him. If she was afraid, he had no idea how he was supposed to feel.

"Fading? How can that be possible?" He inched closer towards Elessar, seeking comfort in her presence. "You said this place has been here for thousands of years, how can the magic be fading now?"

"Zirak is awakening," she whispered and it sounded like she spoke more to herself than Harry.

"Wait, I thought you didn't know who was behind the attack? Who's Zirak?"

Elessar's eyebrows rose before her face settled down into her normal expression. Somehow Harry just knew that she hadn't meant to say that name out loud.

"Zirak and the one behind the power are not the same."

"So then who is Zirak? Why is his awakening doing this?"

He needed answers; needed to understand what was happening. Harry only knew of dementors that had the power to turn the living world into one of cold with just their presence. Were dementors and this Zirak connected somehow?

As if of its own accord, Harry's mind drifted to another memory, one that had occurred at the end of summer when he ran away from the Dursley's.

"That fog," he whispered and the pieces clicked into place, "this fog is the same as the night that..."

A strange voice, faint and weak as if it were speaking across miles called to him. "Please, help me."

"Professor, I just heard -"

"I know," she said her voice strained.

Elessar strode forward, heading in the direction of dark haze, now lingering on the outskirts of the meadow.

"Wait a second, who was that?" He called out while rushing after her.

"Harry, you must stay here."

"Are you mad? I'm not going anywhere without you, not after what happened when that other magic was used. You might need my help and we need to help whose ever out there."

In one fluid motion Elessar turned around, her cloak billowing out behind her. She gripped Harry's shoulder, holding him in place as he tried to dart ahead of her.

"Let me go! Professor, we have to help them!"

"As a teacher I am charged with keeping you safe and where I go now is a place of danger. You must stay."

Harry tried pulling his arm away and was surprised that she held on, apparently not the weak, fragile elf all the students thought she was.

"Look," he said with force, "someone needs our help and you need me."

"Don't be foolish! There is still magic here that can protect you in a way I cannot."

He stopped struggling.

Strands of hair stuck to Elessar's face, no longer in its flawless braid. Her eyes pleaded with him to listen. "Professor Lupin would never forgive me if anything to you. Nor would I forgive myself."

Professor Lupin? What did he have to do with anything? Harry's eyes widened as he remembered their conversation on the way here and Elessar's reaction. She really was hurting over that fight they had; what did that mean?

The cold seeped through his jacket and it felt like his whole body was going numb. He shook himself from those thoughts as they had more pressing matters at hand.

"What's happening?" he asked, but Elessar remained silent. Well, if she wasn't going to answer than he'd just have to see for himself.

Shra had told him to use his emotions, so that's what he did. He didn't push away his fear or the anticipation for what was happening, and instead drew from them. The world changed, fading from perfect lines to blurred ones.

An outline of the fëa current traveled over the ground crossing in between his legs. The colors and strands were too faint for him to pick out and even if he could see them he wouldn't have any clue what they signified. He knew they were spirits but not from what.

Harry staggered as he looked at the fog, and would have fallen if Elessar didn't have a hold of him. All he saw was black. The fëa current brushed against the haze, any strands that came in contact with the darkness withered away until nothing was left.

He let go of the fëa sight and turned towards Elessar. The grip on his wand tightened. He refused to give into fear.

"This place isn't safe anymore; you're not going out there alone."

For a moment Elessar stood there regarding Harry, her gold eyes piercing into his own green ones. "Very well," she finally consented, "then come with me."

She did not glance back at Harry, but strode purposefully towards the dark fog. He followed after her and taking one last deep breath to calm his nerves. Would this be his last adventure?

"Harry," Elessar said without turning around, "I ask that you trust me."

He would have told her that was a silly question; after all didn't he just follow her into the heart of the Dark Forest in the middle of the night? But his voice didn't work so he nodded, knowing perfectly well that she couldn't see him.

Grass and flowers, brittle from the cold shattered under the weight of his feet as if subzero levels had instantly frozen them. Would they freeze as well if the fog touched them?

As they drew closer the temperature dropped several degrees; even Harry's adrenaline was unable to block the consuming cold. He tugged on his gloves, switching his wand from one hand to the other, while doing his best to not drop his guard.

Elessar's voice deepened as she approached the edge of the glade and the ebony mist. "Be gone Alcarinor, retreat to your cage. You will not keep me from the one who has attacked this night."

At least, that's what Harry assumed she said. Her Elvish seemed to carry on the air and he felt the power of the fëa prickling against his senses.

The fog hesitated, no longer coming towards them but not retreating either. It swayed around the base of trees though there was no wind to cause such an act. Harry heard something that sounded like laughter, a faint echo resonating from within the black haze.

"Leave this place!" A blue light shot out of Elessar's outstretched hand slicing through the center of the fog.

The laughter was cut off and the mist dissolved under the brilliance of Elessar's magic. Two feet of snow encircled the nearest trees; winter no longer invaded the glade. A blackberry bush stood half-frozen, its leaves on the right side stiff while several patches remained lush and green.

Elessar's arm sank wearily to her side and she turned to Harry. "Are you well?"

"Yeah, I'm fine but what about you?"

"I shall live."

Her tone didn't inspire much confidence but he figured it was better not to press her on that matter. No witch or wizard could draw on the kind of magic without the aid of a wand; he only imagined what kind drain that must be on her spirit.

"What was that thing? Is that the Zirak person you were talking, but you called it 'Alcarinor?' What did it want?" All these questions tumbled out of his mouth and for every one he asked thought up two more.

Elessar shook her head. "They are one and the same; Zirak and Alcarinor. But ask me no more on this matter for I will not answer. We must hurry."

She waved for him to follow and she sped through the forest, the exhaustion he had seen earlier gone.

"Hold on! Professor?" He ran after her and muttered, "Lumos." A blue light burst out from the tip of his wand, at least this way he would be able to see where he was going.

His breath came out in a white mist and his lungs burned from the cold as he ran after her. He watched as Elessar maneuvered in between the trees, her elven grace allowing her to move without slowing as she ducked underneath a low-hanging branch.

This side of the meadow was like a fortress, the bushes and trees an interlocking tangle. Harry pushed branches out of his way and swerved between trees.

The light from his wand cast a blue tint on the ground. He jumped over a fallen log and snow powder flew into the air as he landed on the other side. He stumbled forward desperately trying to keep his momentum going.

"Do you even know where you're going?" he asked when he finally caught up to her.

"I am following the trail; this time he did not cover his tracks."

"He who?"

"The one who attacked on Halloween and the same spell I felt in Treebeard's glade."

Harry kicked a mound of snow into the air. "And that Zirak, Alcarinor, whatever his name is, doesn't want you to find this guy?"

Elessar nodded and abruptly halted causing Harry to skid in the snow as he tried to stop.

"What was that for? I thought you said..."

Elessar waved her hand, indicating that he should be silent.

Branches cracked under some heavy weight and a shape emerged from among the trees, shadowed by the darkness around it. Something staggered towards them, its body hunched over. A weak light illuminated from a long horn, dimming even as he watched.

Harry's breath caught in his throat. "A unicorn."

The unicorn limped into the clearing, its dark eyes regarding them. He felt rather than saw the intelligence in her gaze, eyes that saw into the very parts of his conscious that he wasn't even aware of.

Her white mane hung limp and her ears twitched back and forth. The light from his wand overpowered the faint light from her horn, diminished as it had become.

With great effort the unicorn raised her head towards Elessar. "You have come. The centaurs said it would be so."

Elessar's eyes widened, but Harry saw no other sign of surprise. She replied in Elvish, "What can I do to ease your pain?"

Pain? What was she talking about? He lowered his wand and saw a small silver pool forming at the base of the unicorn's front hoof.

"I cannot go on." The unicorn collapsed, a blur of white crashing to the ground.

They rushed forward and Elessar placed her hands on the unicorn's side. There was a large gash along the unicorn's ribcage, pieces of white skin hung loose and were soaked in silver blood.

Harry lurched backwards at the sight. Never in his life had he seen so much blood.

Elessar pressed her hands against the wound, the blood spilled in between her fingers and trailed down her wrists.

"There is nothing you can do for me, Anvanime."

He heard a sharp intake of breath. "What did you say?" Elessar asked quickly in Elvish.

"My son, he told me." The unicorn's sides shuddered and her breathing labored. Blood trickled out from her nose forming a small puddle on the ground.

"I am called Celeste. My son, Star Dancer, and I have been fleeing from the fallen one. My magic is gone; I could not stop him."

From his coat pocket he pulled out a handkerchief that had his mother's initials embroidered on it. Lupin had recently given it to him after a walk they had together only a few weeks ago. He wiped the blood away from the unicorn's face.

The unicorn opened her eyes at Harry's touch. "You look so much like your father."

He fumbled with the handkerchief. "My father? You knew my father?"

The unicorn closed her eyes again, too weak to answer.

Then everything Celeste said kicked in; both her and her son were being hunted by someone and she knew his father. This was the reason why his parents had sought his help, fighting against death to warn Harry!

"You," he said quietly, "you're the one my Dad talked about. He knew that this would happen!"

Elessar's mouth lowered in shock at Harry's words and she leaned over the unicorn's ear, desperation in her voice. "Your son, where is he? Who did this to you?"

"Please, help him." The unicorn's chest rose and fell.

"Elessar, you have to do something; you have to save her!" She couldn't die now.

Celeste coughed and blood sprayed onto the ground and specks of silver landed on his pants. "You must not let the Dark Lord come into power," her voice faded, "either of them."

Dark Lords? But there was only one, Voldemort. What was she talking about?

Harry shook his head. None of that mattered; all he cared about was saving her. He watched as Celeste's eyes dimmed and the light from her horn faded. She had to still be alive.

Harry stroked her white mane, its coarse bristles running in between his fingers. Her body was still warm; if he concentrated hard enough it must just stay that way. "Please, you can't die. Your son needs you; don't leave him!"

Elessar bowed her head and her hands fell away from the unicorn. "May the light of Valinor guide you home. Nayaer, mellon nín."

Streaks of silver blood traced across her pants. She absently wiped some of the blood off her hands and onto the fabric.

"Her light has gone; all I can see is this overwhelming darkness." She brushed her fingers across the unicorn's forehead. "Even now it's trying to destroy her."

His voice shook, "What could have done this? And why?"

"There is much I don't know. Come, Harry, I sense her son just ahead. We may already be too late."

Too late? His mind froze as he processed those two simple words. He watched absently as Elessar stood up, like she was a character in a film, in front of him but not exactly real.

Harry stood. One foot in front of the other. Good. That was something he could do. All he heard was the crunching of snow underneath his feet. He glanced down at his hands and saw he still held his mother's handkerchief now soaked in silver blood. What should he do with it now? He couldn't throw it away.

"Harry!"

He glanced up and saw Elessar in front of him, her eyebrows drawn together. Was she worried?

"You must pull yourself together."

Harry said nothing, instead his focus returned to his handkerchief. He absently traced his mother's embroidered initials. "I failed," he whispered. "My parents, they came to me for help, and I failed."

"No, Harry," Elessar replied in a soft voice. "There is another who needs our aid. Would you let him face this darkness alone?"

Her words penetrated through the haze in his mind, soft-spoken tones hinting at Elessar's own loneliness. Star's mother was gone and now he faced these dangerous trials with no family to teach him or lead the way. But right now he needed Harry's help.

He shook his head and held the handkerchief tightly to his chest, not caring about the silver staining his jacket. He would be strong.

"Will you come with me?"

He tucked the handkerchief in his pocket; he would clean it later and treasure it all the more. "I'm fine now. We should hurry."

Elessar nodded and together they followed the trail left by Celeste. The thick intertwining trees ceased as if a giant had sliced a straight line through the forest with an axe.

A rock wall loomed above them, ascending into the darkness. A few scattered trees hung off its uneven surface, their roots digging deep into the cracks. Shadows extended upwards from the light cast by his wand.

As they neared Harry saw a narrow opening in the cliff's side, a black hole with creatures he could only imagine hiding in its depths. "We've come this far."

"Then let us not turn back and continue on. The unicorn is near but will not last long."

Any fear of what was hidden within the dark caverns dissolved and he nodded. A new sense of resolution rushed through him, the surge of energy he needed to keep going. He would not fail.

* * * * * * * * * * *

The drooping branches concealed Sirius from view, his black fur the perfect camouflage. He watched Harry and Elessar descend into the cave, his claws digging into the snow.

An ingenious plan, if he thought so himself. No one would ever know what happened, the perfect set-up to dispose of his godson. Sirius didn't want to think what would have happened if he hadn't spotted the two leaving Hogwarts.

However, his rational side thought differently. After all, why would Elessar call spirits if she was going to send Harry among them? There were more questions than answers, from the evil he felt earlier to the unicorn seeking Elessar's help.

This area pulsed with power, a darkness that seemed to cling to the earth. She should never have taken Harry here.

The glass phial warmed against his fur.

You know exactly what's going on don't you? Well, let's not keep your master waiting.

All that mattered was protecting Harry and he couldn't do that waiting outside. He dashed for the cave's entrance. He was being rash and he knew it, but that's what made him Sirius Black.

He stumbled when the cave's smell assaulted him, causing his stomach to jerk in protest. It was a mixture of rot and festering illness, the still air keeping the odors from spreading. How could she take Harry there? Could she not sense the evil?

"That is most unwise," someone called behind him.

Sirius slid several feet in the snow before his nails gripped the frozen ground. It was the voice from Halloween. He spun and his lips lifted to reveal yellowing teeth. The moon's light wasn't enough to penetrate the forest's depth.

"Who the hell are you?" He projected his thoughts, knowing that the person could hear.

"You, mortal, are not worthy of such a gift."

Mortal? Could this be a demon he was facing? Demons were the only creatures left from the ancient world, but this magic felt nothing like any demon's he'd met before. Who the bloody hell was this guy?

Sirius might be reckless, but he was no fool. He was a wizard without a wand; a head-on confrontation didn't leave him with good odds. If this guy was insinuating he was an immortal, then let another immortal deal with him.

He leapt for the cave and from the corner of his eye saw a purple light streak towards him. The light passed by him and formed a barrier around the entrance. He crashed into the shield and fell to the ground, causing snow to spray into the air. The wall shimmered for a few seconds before disappearing.

"You shall not interfere."

He lifted his nose from the snow and stood, favoring his left side. Blood pounded in his ears. "You were the one who killed the unicorn."

The hackles on his back rose and his tail stood straight out behind him. "How could you do such a thing?"

The voice did not answer. Instead Sirius felt a light pressure on his mind and he fought against the force dissolving his mental barriers. He would not let this happen again.

A beam shot from the glass phial, its light ripping through the immortal's magic.

"You dare to defy me?"

Sirius smirked. "I guess so."

"I will not allow you to fulfill my father's foresight."

Anger laced through the voice's words, a barely contained fury that caught Sirius off guard. This was the first he'd ever heard real emotion, and that was just what he needed.

"What's wrong? Daddy gave away your inheritance? Sent you away because he decided you were too evil to have around? Really, that's a shame."

Sirius felt on top, elated with triumph. He was back in his glory days with the Order, fighting against evil.

"You know nothing."

"Is that right? You're afraid of me, of something you don't want me to do. That's all I need to know."

The voice hissed, "You fool...what? Does she not fear the weakening of his prison?"

There was movement to the left and he spun towards it. In the shadows, hovering at the edge of the trees stood the outline of someone.

What the hell was he talking about? No matter, it was time he taught this immortal a lesson. Sirius crouched and smiled.

"The first test is at hand," the voice stated in his now calm tone. The cloak whipped about him, though the hood remained firmly in place. "I will have no part in what comes."

With that the figure faded, dissolving into the black depths of the forest.

"Oh no you don't!" Sirius yelled. He was about to go after the stranger when a shadow fell around him, blocking out the moon's dim light. A wave of power hit him in the back and he stumbled forward.

He wretched his body around and froze. Darkness poured out of the cave's opening, its tendrils slithering up the side of the cliff while others stretched towards the forest.

"What the hell?" In his mind he saw the image of Harry from earlier in the day, smiling with his two friends, but the image faltered as black crept along its edges. Harry was still in the cave.

"Harry!"

The darkness turned towards him and within its core he saw a face smile. The sound of laughter echoed around him.

Sirius transformed back to his human form and scrambled backwards. Black vines encircled his ankle and crept up his leg.

He gripped the phial tightly and a light blazed forth from it, so intense that he shut his eyes.

He felt curiosity and something akin to amusement coming from the darkness. When he opened his eyes he saw that a white glowing barrier surrounded him, protecting Sirius from whatever was behind the power.

Lying in the snow he heard a voice yell from within the cave, "A Elbereth Gilthoniel o menel palan-diriel, le nallon sí di-nguruthos! A tiro nin, Fanuilos!"

A blinding light shot out from the entrance, shattering his barrier into small particles of energy. The darkness screamed. Sirius rolled over onto this stomach and covered his ears.

"Harry," he moaned. He needed to get to Harry.